An Exploration of Myanmar Through the Eyes of Manipur Media Persons
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October 2018 Vol. XXXIX No. 6 MANIPUR TODAY AN EXPLORATION OF MYANMAR THROUGH THE EYES OF MANIPUR MEDIA PERSONS October 2018 | Manipur Today | 1 in this issue Chief Editor Heisnam Balkrisna Singh, MCS Director, IPR 04 kaleidoscope Senior Editor L. Ashok Kumar Singh, DIO 12 wildlife week Editor Sagolsem Snehprabha, DIO 14 wildlife make in manipur Editorial Board 18 Seema Sanjenbam, PRO L. Roshan Singh, PRO irawat day N. Bidyananda Singh, Translator 19 Oinam Shyamo, Translator 20 gandhi jayanti News hygience Inputs from NEWS Section, DIPR 21 award Cover & Design 22 Banabanta Ngangom, DEO 24 travel Photographs DIPR Photo Section 28 state festival Contact reaching out DIPR Manipur 30 Moirangkhom, Imphal Manipur 31 sports email: [email protected] www.diprmanipur.in news digest diprmanipur 33 diprmanipur digital economy Printed at 34 NEST Advertising, Moirangkhom cultural identity No. of Copies: 1000 37 52 identity MANIPUR From the Editor-in-Chief TODAY istory has been created when the Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Manipur organised a 9 Day long External HConducted Press Tour of Manipur media persons to Yangon, Myanmar from September 9-17, 2018. The external tour heralds the first foreign exposure of Manipur media persons to reciprocate the visit of Myanmar Press Council in Imphal during last year’s Manipur Sangai Festival. Manipur Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh during the flag off ceremony said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Act East Policy has been implemented to build cordial relations between India and its neighbouring countries. He hoped that such foreign tour would strengthen the relationship between India and Myanmar. A 28 member delegation has explored Mandalay, Yangon and Inle Lake of Myanmar. Meeting and interaction with the members of Myanmar Press Council was the focal point. At sidelines, the team engaged in various activities like visiting historical places associated with Manipur, interaction with Manipuri Diaspora living in Myanmar, discussing issues concerning their socio-economic life, call on the Indian Consulate officials at Yangon, discourse on the prospects of Indo- Myanmar bilateral relations and of course, learning the best practices Inle Lake in Shan State exhibits in attracting global tourists and maintaining the lake’s eco-system by their government and people. The memories and experiences of Myanmar trip are very profound. It taught us many lessons. Understanding the country and its hard working people itself enriches and enlightens our intellect. A trip to pagodas, palaces, rivers, heritage parks and crowded city streets throws lots of insight into the glorious Burmese civilization, might of majestic royalty, culture, manners, food habits and the present system of governance. Above all, the essence of Buddhism rules the roost in every aspect of Burmese society. People are very humble, noble, honest, although there exists a yearning for complete restoration of democracy. Familiarities and similarities are often noticed everywhere which enthral our hearts. Indeed, the tour signifies a goodwill gesture of Manipur media persons to the Myanmar counterparts to foster and strengthen the neighbourly relations in several aspects which will embolden the governments of the two countries to venture into various fields in the future. (Heisnam Balkrisna Singh) KALEIDOSCOPE AN EXPLORATION OF MYANMAR THROUGH THE EYES OF MANIPUR MEDIA PERSONS H. Balkrisna Singh Editor-in-Chief irectorate of Information But this year’s external press & Public Relations tour is quite unique. Myanmar, D(DIPR), Manipur has been popularly known as the “Land conducting external press tours “The world is a of Golden Pagodas” has been outside Manipur over the years. book and those who selected as the destination for The objective of conducting such the external conducted press tours to Indian cities is to provide do not travel read tour. Selection of twin cities, an exposure and interaction only a page” Yangon and Mandalay and Inle of media persons of Manipur Lake in Shan State, largest State with the media fraternity of - St. Augustine in Myanmar was a bold decision other Indian cities and study in view of the democratic their mode of functioning. changes in the country. In fact, October 2018 | Manipur Today | 4 FLAG OFF carrying us reached Sagaing, On 9th September 2018, Shri the capital of Sagaing Region. N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister Sleep eluded us from witnessing of Manipur flagged off the the majestic Ningthi (Chindwin) delegation of 28 persons including River in Sagaing Region. The officials of DIPR, Manipur led by onward journey brought us to the Director, Shri H. Balkrisna our first destination at Mandalay Singh, representatives of local by nine in the morning, the and national print and electronic delegates immediately checked media based in Manipur, in at Hotel Iceland, a 3 - Star representatives of Act East Policy Hotel. Committee led by its Convenor, VISIT TO MINGUN AND Shri R.K. Shivachandra and Shri KAUNGHMUDAW PAGODA Indramani Naoroibam, scholar of Mandalay is the second Manipuri history and archivist. largest city of Myanmar and the The participants enjoyed a last royal capital of erstwhile traditional Manipuri lunch at the Burma. It is located 630 km Trade Centre, Moreh en-route to north of Yangon. The city is Tamu. After getting immigration the economic centre of Upper and customs clearance, the team Burma and considered the hub set out on its maiden journey to of Burmese culture. A continuing Mandalay in three hired Omnibus influx of Chinese immigrants, from Tamu. mostly from Yunnan, in the ROAD TO MANDALAY past two decades, has reshaped The distance between the city’s ethnic makeup and Imphal to Mandalay is about increased commerce with China. 595 km. The trip takes about 15 Despite capital Naypyidaw’s hours. We started the journey recent upsurge, Mandalay from Tamu towards Mandalay by remains Upper Burma’s main afternoon on the same day by commercial, educational and negotiating the two-lane Indo- health centre. Myanmar Friendship Road along Any visitor from Manipur Moreh-Tamu-Kalemyo-Kalewa travelling to Sagaing, Amarapura, (160 km stretch with 69 bridges), and Mandalay would not like to Yangon was particularly selected hilly terrains and rivers crossing. miss the historical places and as a reciprocal response of the The rural landscape in interior majestic monuments associated visit of delegates of Myanmar Myanmar is quite similar to the with Manipur’s history. A visit Press Council during the Manipur rural settings of Manipur. The to Manipur origin people Sangai Festival, 2017. New only difference is that theirs’ concentrated settlements in developments in the Indo- is less inhabited, but greenery Mandalay city itself throws Myanmar bilateral relations decorates the vast meadows. lots of insight into the lost which allowed crossing of An eagerness to observe the communication with Manipuris land borders between the two wide canvas of Kabow Valley of Myanmar and the land of their countries from 8th August 2018 by evening was marred by dark ancestors. paved the way for a road trip for clouds hovering over the sky. On the second day of the media persons of Manipur inside The smooth road and enjoyable trip, the 28 member delegation Myanmar which have not been ride ensured a sound sleep for all visited Mingun, a small town in explored so far. Accordingly, a passengers travelling overnight Sagaing Township, north-west of nine-day road trip to Myanmar on board. At night, we had a Myanmar, located 11 km up the was planned from 9th-17th Burmese dinner in the middle of Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River on September 2018. This trip is the the journey. Everyone had a fair the west bank of Mandalay. The first-ever foreign tour of Manipur share of adventure, the Burmese Mingun Temple (Buddhist temple) media persons organised by way. By next early dawn when is a monumental uncompleted DIPR, Manipur. we wake up, the three vehicles stupa built by King Bodawpaya in October 2018 | Manipur Today | 5 1790. King Bodawpaya also had Mandalay along the Asian Hotel 63, we visited National a gigantic bell cast to go with Highway No.1. The onward Races Village, a heritage park his huge stupa, the Mingun Bell overnight ride to Yangon which located at Thaketa Township. weighing 90 tons, and is today takes 8 hours from Mandalay It is a living museum exhibiting the largest uncrack ringing bell was an awesome journey and lifestyle, culture, and costumes in the world. a memorable exploration of of different ethnic communities After lunch, the team interior Burma. However, due of Myanmar viz. Bamar, Rakhine, visited Kaunghmudaw to travelling at night, we have Shan, Karen, Chin, Mon, Kachin, Pagoda, a large pagoda on not been able to observe the etc. During the visit, we received the northwestern outskirts of topography of the landscape. information that Myanmar Sagaing in Central Myanmar. It Around midnight, the bus Government has earmarked land is an important pilgrimage and driver stopped at a big roadside for setting up of a heritage park tourist destination in the Sagaing restaurant for dinner. The ethnic for Meiteis (Kate) of Myanmar. area. The Manipuri connection Asian cuisine available in the We have decided and determined of this gigantic pagoda is that majestic restaurant relished us a to apprise and pursue the State in 1738, Maharaja Garibaniwaj mouth-watering experience. Government of Manipur for of Manipur entered the pagoda LOCAL SIGHT SEEING engaging with the Myanmar Government for construction of and put a sword mark on the On the third day of the trip, a Manipuri Heritage Centre at eastern door of the pagoda. Shri we reached Yangon, formerly the National Races Village. Indramani Naoroibam, historian Rangoon, the capital of Yangon and archivist narrated the Region of Myanmar in the early In the afternoon, the team significance of Kaunghmudaw morning. Yangon served as the from Manipur visited a few Pagoda to Manipuri media capital of Myanmar until 2006, Meitei families in the heart of persons and other delegates.