Nat Sangkirtana in Brhaddesi Sangeet Mahotsav- I (March 27)
By Samarendra Chongtham
'Brhaddesi' is an immortal musical treatise written by the sage Matanga Muni in the 8th century AD which, for the first time, focused on the distinct musical traditions of the respective regions-different regions practicing and pursuing their own traditions in music. The Sangeet Natak Akademi organized a week long seminar and conference at Guwahati from 13-20 February, 2002 on the regional musical traditions of the north-east including Sikkim.

"Neighbor Turned Stranger": Burma Continues To Be Of Concern (March 27)
Core e-Human rights feature
The political and civil affairs in Burma, named Myanmar by its present military dictatorship, continue to be an international concern as the 58th Commission on Human Rights turns its lenses on this hapless country yet once more this year. A close neighbor of Manipur, and sharing a much more common political, cultural and historical heritage than we would care to admit today, Burma is indeed a stranger now.

NABARD's role in horticulture development (March 27)
By N Guite
National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) as an apex development bank of the country for supporting and promoting agriculture and rural development was set up on July 12, 1982, under an act of Parliament by initially merging the agriculture credit department and rural planning and credit cell of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the entire undertaking of Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation (ARDC).

An Assessment of Jawahar Rozgar Yozna in Manipur (March 24)
By Thiyam Bharat
Since the inception of JRY in Manipur, the state has been able to utilize a sum of Rs. 2,508.20 lakhs till 1998-99 and it is encouraging to note that the scheme
has so far generated employment to the tune of 47.53 lakh man days. The highest utilization of fund available under this scheme was registered in 1995-96
and the percentage of achievement was also recorded highest in this year generating employment of 9.98 lakh man days. Except in the year 1995-96, the target fixed under JRY for generation of man days has not been able to be fulfilled over the years.

Status and scope of horticulture in Manipur -I (March 23)
By Kh Kiran Kumar
The state with rich agriculture resources such as land, rains, water, vegetation etc. and because of the varied agro-climatic conditions, there is a great scope for development of horticulture. However, in spite of these, agricultural productivity and its development is rather low and slow. The horticultural crops which are the most important for this region have a great potential, but are yet mostly unexploited.

Plastics as Food Packaging Material (March 19)
By Th Ibotomba Singh
Plastics and polymers have become a part of our life today. In fact they have become as essential to mankind as food and water. We begin our day by brushing our teeth with nylon bristles. We take bath using plastic buckets. We wear clothes made from Terylene and nylon which are man-made polymer fibers. We use plastic dishes and melamine crockery in the kitchen....

States of emergency: India in focus (March 19)
(CORE E-Human Rights Feature)
As the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights is poised to convene next week for its 58th session, among many other human rights issues, it will be looking into the question of "states of emergency" all over the world. A state of emergency is a temporary situation declared within the territorial boundaries of a State during which certain fundamental liberties of its citizens are kept in suspension.

Manipur State Assembly Election, 2002 (March 12)
By Dr. Konsam Ibo Singh 
Even though the Bharatiya Janata Party which won only 6 seats in the elections held in February 2000, its strength was increased to 26 with 20 others crossing from other political parties over to BJP. BJP became the single largest party. As a result it wanted a ministry led by its leader R.K. Dorendro Singh. This meant Koijam Radhabinod (the writer chooses the normal practice of writing surname first and the name second) to step down in favor of BJP, which was not acceptable.

A post-poll public urging for change (March 08)
By Vikram Nongmaithem
The field day for rats takes an ugly turn as a single political party has failed to win a majority to form a government. The Secular Progressive Front (how secular and progressive it is we are yet to find out) has for the time being occupied a central position and claims to be able to garner a majority to form a government. Since the divided verdict of the people has resulted in a House composed of a motley-crew of MLAs it is very unlikely that the coalition will last very long.

Enforced Disappearance (March 08)
By Dr Laifungbam Debabrata Roy
As one of the United Nations' most important statutory organs, the Commission on Human Rights enters into its 58th session from March 16 to April 27, this year it will be focusing on a number of areas within its wide mandate. One important area is the relatively less publicized human rights issue of missing persons.

Naga women on peace mission (March 07)
By Oken Jeet Sandham
Unlike any other women's organization in the region, the Naga Mothers Association, as apex body of the Naga women took the courage to always meet Naga underground leaders, be it in Bangkok or what it called Eastern Nagaland (Northern Myanmar) in order to convey their profound yearning for a durable peace in their land. 

W.H.O and Mental Health (March 07)
By Dr Shantibala 
Health by the year 2000 AD has been the goal of WHO and we are apparently aware of it. However mere absence of illness is not health. To be healthy a person must be physically, mentally, socially and spiritually healthy. The fact that the mental component has all along been woefully neglected needs to be 
highlighted. 

India's binding obligation to right to Self-Determination (Mar 01)
By Prof N Sanajaoba
Western Terrorism: The suicide attack of a handful of Islamic-Arab youths on Pentagon and WTC on September 11, 2001 has proved that the mightiest super-power is no longer invulnerable against a band of committed international delinquents. American's disproportionate revenge leads to American's aggression on an independent country in direct violation of the charter of the United Nations. 

Internally Displaced People: In Search of Solutions (Mar 01)
By Premchandra Kshetri
Since 1975 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR has been specifically paying attention to the problems of the internally displaced people (IDP). Though causes vary from one state to another, this issue is a legitimate international concern. Mass population displacement owing to various reasons force the affected population to become potential refugees leaving them stranded within their own country without recognition and care.

A Revolution Deferred (Feb 25)
By Th Tarunkumar
By the time you read this, people would have exercised their franchise to elect
the 8th Manipur Legislature Assembly. Given the backdrop of the festering violent insurgencies in which the elections have been held, it is a tribute to the
resilience of the democratic system that elections could be conducted without
the process itself being subjected to any significant challenge by the way of
either boycott calls or any concerned attempts to subvert the electoral process.

Child victim of armed conflicts (Feb 22)
By A Kuber Singh
Manipur has been facing a volatile social order due to armed conflicts and communal clashes during the last decade. In these situations the child population suffers most. The child requires the protection and care of others and at the same time cannot find ways and means for survival at this stage. 

On Ethnicity,Conflict and Development in Manipur (Feb 18)
By Lokendra Arambam
The uprising on the June 18, 2001 in the wake of the extension of ceasefire, 
between the NSCN (IM) and the government of India, to Manipur, which brought extensive damage to life and property in the state, also highlighted critical problems in the uneasy ethnic relationship in contemporary North-East.

Talking peace & conflict dynamics with K Padmanabhaiah
By Binalakshmi Nepram
The fact, however, still remains, and that is, the people of Manipur are still 
reeling from the "Territorial Insecurity Syndrome" that was unleashed after the June 14, 2001 Bangkok Agreement. Threads of ruptured ethnic bonding are still yet  to be woven. Post-June 14, 2001 phenomenon is yet to crystallize into some positive development.

Reconciliation and Rhetoric (February 15)
By Sanjoy Hazarika
In the noise and media hype over a non-war on our North-West, which shows little sign of receding, substantial events in the North-East have been ignored. First, the reconciliation meeting sponsored by the Naga Hoho, the...

The Politics of Shame and Shambles (February 15)
By Vikram Nongmaithem
There was a time not so long ago, when the minds of the great masses of our state populace was buried in a deep and dark abyss created out of political gimmicking by our power starved politicians. 

On Corruption -1 (February 09)
By Chongtham Manihar
I am well aware, expatiating on such a topic, as corruption would be like ploughing the sand. But when seasoned politicians who in the eyes of the public are the very epitome of corruption, start making clarion calls for a...

Talking to the Nagas: Read their lips (February 08)
By Sanjoy Hazarika
It is now more than four-and-a-half years since the dominant Naga militant group entered into a ceasefire with the Government. There have been several meetings between Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, Chairman and......

Muslims in Manipur being reduced to a non-entity (February 05)
By Mohammad Shakil Ahmed
Manipur, lying in the extreme eastern part of India, is a multi-ethnic State. Muslims (Pangals) of Manipur came to the region in the late 16th or early 17th century. Since then Muslims have remained an integral part of Manipur society, participating in the state's various ups and downs...

Christianity in Manipur South-West: A Problem of Dating (February 04)
By John H Pulamte
Ninety-two long years had passed since Watkin R Roberts set his foot for the first time to preach the gospel of Christ to the tribals of Manipur south-west, or to the people of Churachandpur district which of course in those days.....

Meitei-Shan Relations (February 02)
By Heishnam Nilakanta
While the wide arch-shaped region of the Southern Yunnan Plateau and the Shillong plateau are the home grounds of the Shans and Mon-Khmers, probably the original home-place of the forefathers of the Meiteis is not far from the present valley but not beyond the present hill ranges.