HARD-KNOCK SURVIVOR : MARY KOM
Written by: Lunminthang Haokip

October 22, 2005: The Beginning: What do you say of a country girl of extremely poor parentage who got schooled on behalf of family’s bread and jam at Loktak Christian Model High School and St. Xavier’s Moirang, Manipur, and who switched over her penchant for athletics midway to a passionate love for amateur boxing?
Well, within a span of five sweating arduous years, the Kangathei (Ccpur Dist Manipur)-born die-hard boxing aspirant survived several lethal blows of international sting to finally win the 3rd World Women Boxing Championship at Podolsk Moscow, in year 2005. The name is popularly known as M.C.Mary Kom. MC stands for Mangte Chungneijang - a name given at birth by her dear daddy, M. Tonpu Kom, and mother Saneikham Kom. It’s Mary who makes the Mangte family world go merry.

The motivating events: Failing to get through in HSLC exam that she appeared from Adimjati High School, Imphal. Mary had no fervour to repeat class. When the chapter of studies nearly came to a close, National Open School kept her moribund academic hopes alive. Soon the queen of the rings is going to hang her globes up for a while and shift arena to write her plus-two exams. Looking back, her disinterest in a bookish career was a boon for women boxing.

Rounds of severe hard-knocks of life that the ordeals of educating three sisters and one brother with zero income delivered from time to time to the wretched Mangte family, gave Mary a determination of steel. Poor though in diet, she was rich in fighting-in-perseverance. Trained and nurtured by three coaches, Ibomcha, Natjit and Kishen and geared up to full steam by Khoibi Salam, lOA official, Mary, with Laila Ali for a role model, learned the tricks of her trade from the spine-chilling rhythm of pathetic existence and soon surpassed all expectations, including that of her own.

Achievements galore: Ever since she became the State champion in Women boxing in year 2000, Chungneijang never looked back. Her Sania Mirza-like killing instinct, that every opponent is beatable, brought home medals after medals like a skilled hunter who never returns without taking something back. She did Manipur proud by winning five back to back in National championships from 2000 to 2005. Tourneys become her EL Dorado.

Her never-ending gold-rush began with 2nd Asian Women Champ (Hissar) and the trend continued with championship in 3rd Asian Women Boxing Champ (Taiwan). An exceptional silver break in 1st Women World Boxing Champ (USA) was soon followed by golden come-backs in 2nd Women World Boxing Champ (Turkey), 2nd Women World Boxing Tourney (Norway) and Witch Cup Women Boxing champ (Hungary). Since then, it was gold all the way for the good bold Kangathei-girl who had no silver coin in her pocket to buy edibles during school-days.

Never say die: Attitude is vital for one to make it big in life and Mary had a solid one firmly anchored in the unsinkable ship of her fortitude. She never allowed set-backs of life to let her go off the track of her ambition. Impulses to give up were there. Trying circumstances threatened to throw her off-balance into the dark pit of defeatist mind-set. But the prayer-support of her parent church, her parents and well wishers in MBC kept her going.

When requirements to carry her own pocket money (at least Rs. 20,000 per domestic event and Rs. 60,000 per International event) were made known ready-to-help relatives and Church people never let Mary down. In her own words, “At times when I was pitted against well-groomed international boxers, I felt dwarfed and incompetent. But remembrance of the story of little David who shot down mighty Goliath gave me a shot in the arm.

Ignoring ignorance: Memories of Indian sports-persons whose bronze and silver medals in international meets had been hailed to the hilt are too fresh to be ignored in contrast to the poor response Mary got in her recent 46 kg category triumph in Moscow. The otherwise fun-loving pugilist is a trifle sad that pre-championship promises made by corporate houses are not kept. When it comes to placement, the best Mary got offered was that of a head constable.

With due respect to police constabulary, considering her achievements, that is another case of offering too little too late for Mary. Some expectations still remain a dream and dreams die first in her slippery world of being knocked about. Her living conditions are far from comfortable. But it’s when the going gets tough, the tough like Mary get going. She draws solace from Habakuk 3:17,19, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom.... The fields yield no meat...I will rejoice in the Lord... the Lord God is my strength”.

Acts of appreciation: Coming close to the heels of Baichung Bhutia in whose name a football stadium had been christened, the Government of Manipur recognized Mary Kom’s achievement by naming the approach road of Games Village as Mary Kom road. On top of that, as if they sensed her accommodation woes, Manipur’s Youth Affair and Sports Dept gifted a 13 lakh A-class PDA quarter (A 112-zone-II G/village) to Mary into which she hopes to move in soon.

Not to be outdone, the Tatas offered a periodical contract job which the poverty-stricken sportsperson may as well accept if it’s to be made a permanent assignment later. Feeling that she didn’t get rewards due to her, the knock-out champ said she will hang her gloves up for good if no fitting job comes her way.

Occupational hazards: In this lop-sided age of eve-teasing, Adams are getting curio user and bolder. Being born a girl, for many, is a burden in itself. Vulnerable targets of male-mischief, aggrieved young lasses almost get reconciled to their fate of being roadside Romeos’ delight. But Mary Kom was no coy damsel to tolerate none sense silently.

In a rickshaw-ride from SAI colony, Imphal to MBC Church-service, one Sunday morning, the cycle-rickshaw puller who drove her crossed boundaries of decency in his bid to act fresh. Scarce able to bear the filthy language, the boxer in Mary delivered punches hot and cold on the poor daily-wage earner who had to gasp for breath at the end of the 1st round. Bruised and badly injured, the opponent collapsed before the second round was belled. Boys beware, your cool teasing can land a hot punch on your chin.

Name is Mary: History and society had many bloody Marys. But this Mary is a blessed one. Mary, the mother of Jesus, said in Luke. 1 :46, “My soul doth magnify my Lord”. Mary, the God-fearing pugilist, too did her bit in confessing her Lord. Having a faithful (now hubby) mentor in K. Onkholer to boost her morale, Chungneijang never lacked support in management of her career in amateur boxing. At Hissar, Onkholer had “Jesus 100 percent” written on Mary’s gown.

That she had the faith to confess her Lord Jesus was evidenced by the open display of these words on the back of her shirt, “Jesus is my strength” in the Hyderabad national championship she won. It gives pep to the soul when one watches on TV her praying in the ring before a light and praising God alter knocking someone down. Mary’s secret seems to be, “‘Seven days without prayer makes one weak?” Her strength seems to lie in awareness of this fact.

Mary makes Manipur go merry: “‘Queen of the ring”, NE Sun splashed moments of the all-opponent smashing skilled boxer’s triumph in Moscow. The week, the south-Indian mag, followed suit with an article (Stinging Queen Bees) on boxing with Mary’s achievements prominently interspersed. The people and administration of Sadar Hills, Manipur gave Mary a “hero’s welcome” at Kangpokpi with speeches by circle MLA, Mr. Thangminlen Kipgen, and ADC/Kangpokpi.

In the felicitation jamboree, top class Gospel singers, Chachan Khongsai, Esther Sitlhou, Betsy Haokip and Chongboi Haokip mesmerized the sun-exposed mammoth gathering with their fabulous numbers. In the historic reception, this author appealed to the audience at Thomas ground that if at all Kangpokpi gets a boxing arena in the future, let it be named after Mary Kom. The collective wish of the people of Sadar Hills is that Mary do India proud once again in 2008 Beijing Olympics’. Let’s all pray that her own category is included in the Olympics and India win a gold at last.

Amazing Aizawl: City of Cheer

Gospel crooners of Aizawl: C. Lalhmingmawii & Hluteii

Timothy Gugun Haokip at Aizawl, Jan, 2010

AMAZING AIZAWL : CITY OF CHEER

By : Lunminthang Haokip


Introduction : In a country where state capitals also double up as capitals of communal divide and covered-up deeds worthy of capital punishment, Mizoram’s Hill top city, Aizawl is refreshingly different. If summer is gone from Ooty, as claimed in the add item relating to the sandal-wood smeared southern hill resort , crime and thievery are gone from Aizawl. It’s weird news to learn that the Jail authorities of Aizawl had to borrow Jail-birds from neighbouring states so as to fill up their empty Central Jail in order to bail themselves out from being sacked for lack of criminal in-mates. If the burgeoning musical capital of India is found wanting in any commitment, it is crime-commitment.
Background : Mizoram was far from being the flourishing hill town it is presently. In the year 1900, there was no structure on the ai ( a wild plant)- infested gorge-ridden present habitation of half a million people, save a couple of military barracks. Hard work rendered with a passion reserved for religion on the part of Presbyterian Missionaries, more than a century ago, and the spirited reciprocal response of the local folks together had built the up the hill-top wonder city brick by brick. The Church was/is still involved in every aspect of the wonder-state capital’s gigantic strides of mind- blowing progress. No wonder, the Lord of the Church “who seest us” (Genesis 16:13) was the unseen hand behind the fast-paced development of the thriving urban settlement.
Church- Taught Behaviour : “Tomngaihna” or “Sacrificial attitude towards one’s duty” is the key word to Aizawl’s speedy growth. God comes before everything else. The citizenry did what they could and that they could not, they left to the God of possibilities. The emotional unity to offensively promote the single dialect of “Duhlian” that became Mizo later, could have smacked of ethno-centrism. But the same was central to singularity of Mizo society. One man’s food could be another’s poison. The improved Mizo single-dialect that the early missionaries took pains to add grammatical and phonetic nuances to, turned out to be a super fast-food that all its users could feed themselves upon to linguistic and literary prosperity. The poison of subordinating or suppressing other lesser dialects, although sadly damaging to the affected groups, of course, was supportive to the building of the super-structure of Mizo ethnicity. This factor also accounts for high literacy-rate and the low rate of learning other languages.
Blessing from above : It’s no mean feat that Mizoram’s modernised capital town does not have the self goal–scoring slum pockets its counterparts in other states are burdened with. Agreed that the average Mizo has the above-average bent-of-mind to work with the herd–feeling ants share. Also agreed that the GoI has a soft-corner for the hill state in grant of funds that is due to a peaceful oasis of the otherwise turbulent NE India. But the greed to excel in societal welfare and display of civic sixth-sense is something the visitors to the cement-clad cliff-city find tough to disagree with.
Hassle-free-accident : The recklessness of the accelerator-happy Mizo youth on the steep and twisted roads of Aizawl keeps the concerned parents in mental tenterhooks. Familiarity to peculiarity of bending lanes could have saved lots of potential accidents. Yet in highway and local motor rubbery, road-mishaps do occur out there. Sometimes vehicular accidents turned fatal but unlike in other places , one does not see full-throated shouts and fist-of-fury flying on the wrong riders’ chin. Head-on vehicular collision that could have resulted in collar-pulls towards the nearest Police outposts coolly ends up in smile-exchanging pacification. If that is not a habit formed by decades of preaching the Gospel, what else is? Situations that could have generated heated temperament of 80% temper and 20% mental elsewhere, usually boil down to the reverse in Mizo city.
Midnight musical chill-outs in the open: This author happened to be a part of the milling crowd that braved out of their cozy homes and hotel rooms on the last night of 2009 in the public places of Aizawl where no-ticket musical shows were organised . Magdalene, the Gospel band that rocked the national competitions, drew the largest crowd. Their own chart-rocking numbers echoing heavy metal through world-class sound system kept the whole of Aizawl’s treasury-square awake and shaking a leg on the streets till the break of New Year 2010. A Gospel pop rendition from the budding Mizo-Idol winner, Zoramchhani, went on well with the footloose midnight audience. Enthused fans, holding hands in small groups, danced merrily and hummed the songs in tune with the stage performers. Music for sure is the food of love in Mizoram. And it was played on in high decibel pitch in every street corner. One joke that circulates around Chandel DHQ in Manipur is that, given the mike, and the space, even a Mizo tailor-girl straight from the sewing-machine, can sing better than the local bests.
Disgrace of progress : The Mizo-resilience is simply commendable. Their ability to fight back on the ashes of major setbacks was on par with that of Dhirubai Ambani in the corporate world. Battered and shattered by the MNF-related bombing of the North East Indian town in 1978, Aizawl had rebuilt itself with the zeal and grit the Japs exhibited following the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombing. The economic boom ever since had been enormous and Jap-like. Every tourist or GoI-employee from outside who had been posted there were in no mood to go back or when transferred, reluctantly did so.
The only grudge the ethnic kindred of the Mizos settled in other parts CHIKIM habitations nurse is the sad truth that compatriots from a certain NE state, who were motivated to fight along for the revolutionary-cause in the spirit of talked-in ethnic-bonhomie in the movement of the l 1960s, had been conveniently soft-pedalled in post-statehood insular comfort, by and large. Had ice, well- utilised in summer, been given up in winter?, they ask themselves.
Righteousness exalts Mizoram: Credit must be given to the Missionaries who endured pains to labour and win souls in the then Lushai hills. Nowhere in India Church buildings had been taken so much care and concern of. A tourist heading for Aizawl or Lunglei should make it a point to have a good look at the awesome concrete buildings, superb interior wood-work and classic musical paraphernalia that the prayer-halls out there are famous for. Worship-attendance is habitual and obligatory for all. The Lord’s day is honoured with choicest sartorial propriety. Businesses thrive on the strength of Biblical righteousness. Bank-loans are repaid in time.
Cabs are small but cabbies display big hearts in maintaining ethical integrity in returning personal belongings of careless commuters through well-connected networks. Civil rules are observed and the citizenry, including the tipsy lot, who walk in a blur and talk in a slur, struggle to behave well in public. No wonder, the para-military forces and civil police posted there have little or no work to do. The milk of human kindness spills over full-splash as uniformed patrol-vehicle riders offer lifts to strangers strolling on the side-walks.
Sum-Up: 21st century had witnessed disastrous natural calamities one after another. Tsunami, earthquake, Katrina, super-cyclone, nargis etc. collectively did a fox-trot upon global economic advancement. Poorer countries like Haiti aren’t likely to recover in the near future from the impact of recent earth-shake. When the world witnessed more of gloom and doom, Aizawl had been a consistent city of cheer since the signing of Rajiv Gandhi-led peace-accord. The most visible and tangible truth that almost half of the total population of a state take concrete shelter on a ridge-ridden hill-top, like bees do around a beehive, itself is proof enough that it is “the most High who rules in the affairs of Aizawl and hold the township intact”. None else but the living God could have made the seemingly impossible possible. The Almighty, for sure, takes good care of the churched city that produces Gospel songs like Mumbai does movies.
Mingling with the common folks of the dominantly Mizo township and getting under the skin of the lifestyle of this peace-loving, music-inclined, church-influenced and orderliness-fixated cheerful residents of Aizawl, this author had been inspired to write the following poem which had been made a Gospel song audio-recorded and video-shot by AVZ – amazing voice of Zoram, C. Lalhmingmawii.
AIZAWL: THE CITY OF CHEER
1. Atop hills where deep-root buildings grow,
Across ridges cut for motor-flow;
Amidst ranges left by men-with-hoe,
Along gorges on which decked-homes glow;
There sprawls God-made Zo-city Aizawl,
Blessed with structures nestled cheek-by-jowl.

If you get bored with life of your make,
If you wish for thine youth a retake;
If you feel you need a break that saves,
If you want music your soul craves;
Get set and for Aizawl up you gear;
With care awaits the city of cheer.

2. In a world where folks don’t go by faith,
But try to trick and loot the fool’s fate;
On Aizawl’s lanes, stealing doesn’t happen
Even though things are left in the open;
This feat is no mere freak incidence,
Decades of preaching taught saner sense.

3. Them that honour Him God will honour,
The Lord’s day in Aizawl’s a splendour;
Seeing all shops shut, first-timer’s baffled,
Eyeing all wears hep-designed, one’s dazzled;
Why does God for Zoram His peace keep?
Coz on the Lord’s day, all folks worship.

Side-view of L.Thinglhangphai village

NJT Hall, L. Thinglhangphai, Manipur, India

NJT Hall; L. Thinglhangphai, Chandel district,

Manipur state, India.