A date with a fashion designer

A day in the life of a fashion designer.

She has worked with numerous international labels in the form of Jean Paul, Roberto Cavalli, Guess jeans and owns a private label called ‘Not So Serious’. Pallavi Mohan is living her dream in the realm of becoming one of the renowned fashion designers in the country.

- Joe Hmachhuana
The life of a fashion designer is intimately linked to visions and tastes that change at a moment’s of notice. Designers reflect the society’s sensibilities through factions of design clothing. A great opportunity to wise up the basic knowledge stumbled along on meeting an old friend Pallavi Mohan at a social gathering.

Pallavi finished her graduation from Camberwell College of Art & Design, London and further more importantly she achieved a degree in Textile Design from the Chelsea College of Art & Design. Today Pallavi has been involved in every phase of designing, earning the distinction of running her own private label ‘Not So serious’ which now has been well received across the world and its retail footprint has been increasing swiftly with the support of leading boutiques such as Carma, Ensemble, Aza & Ogaan. Pallavi is the creative force of Magnolia Martinique (textiles industry) where she is the head of product design.

For Pallavi, designing being a creative field, she has been inspired by nature and different cultures. For a very long time her love for travelling helped her immensely to draw new perspectives in her career. Besides it’s the love and passion for fashion designing that keeps her going strong, fashion industry is a highly demanding job which involves risks from the aspects of producing, packaging, delivering and displaying it to the buyers. Perseverance, creativity and a passion to excel are three things that the likes of a person like her would advise to those wanting to start a career in fashion.

On viewing the blogosphere in the gauge of Fashion Street, Pallavi cites 2010 as a year of a mix trend. Her opinion about fashion is simple and familiar. She acquaints everybody is fashion conscious and they are picking up what suits them and that ‘fashion is individualistic and not a blinded trend chase.’

Pallavi was credited as a designer with an outstanding sense of fabric, flawless finish and inspiring originality at the India Fashion Week in New Delhi. Her AW09 collection was also selected by FDCI for the India show in Amalty, Kazakhstan. Her work experience with numerous international labels has given her a privilege of international design sensibility and has broadened her understanding about the demands and functioning of the industry at a global stage.

The parameter of Pallavi’s success in the fashion world has embodied monumentally with the colossal display of her design thrice in a row at Wills India Fashion Week, an Exhibition of her collection in London and Showcase at Prêt a Porter in Paris.

Pallavi has recently showcased her design based on the theme Alice in Wonderland at Wills India Fashion Week 2010 and she will be doing another showcase in Barcelona in June.

On thoughts about her profession; I feel that nobody can teach you to be a fashion designer; one need to have the naturalness and creativity to be able to translate in this profession.

A fashion designer conceives garment combinations of line, proportion, color, and texture. While sewing and pattern-making skills are beneficial, I feel they alone do not create an effect of successful fashion design. Most fashion designers are formally trained but there are a whole lot more needed to kindle a true lifestyle of success in this business...and Pallavi here seems to be proving the right point.
*All thumbs up*

Kukis for a Development Council?

Untold history and misery of the Kuki people who today want something back for the service they have rendered to the country., demands for a development council

- Joe Hmachhuana

The term Kuki, in literature, first appeared in the writing of Rawlins when he wrote about the tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It refers to "Hillsmen" comprising numerous clans. These clans share a common past, culture, customs and tradition. The term Kuki can be thought of as been synonymous with Mizo and Chin tribes, predominantly all Zo groups.

An important landmark in the history of the Kuki people with considerable social, cultural and political ramifications came with the arrival of missionaries and the spread of Christianity among the Kuki's. The acceptance of Christianity made a departure of their tribal customs and traditions, and along with the spread of English education, it saw the arrival of modernity within the Kuki People.

The first Resistance movement by the Kuki People was the Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19. Kuki was subjugated by the British and divided between British India and British Burma administrations following the 'Kuki Uprising of 1917-19'.Up until the fateful defeat in 1919, the Kukis were an independent people ruled by their chieftains. During WWII, seizing the opportunity to regain independence, Kuki fought with the Imperial Japanese Army and the Indian National Army led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The success of the Allied forces over the Axis group dashed the aspiration of the Kuki people.

Now, for years there has been a well known alert of insurgencies in parts of North East. And it has become a regular daily affair where innocent civilians are deprived of their right or identity and many have lost their lives in a battle to tackle these problems for their people. Over the years Kukis has been fighting for a better future, with groups of humble civilians representing one voice to materialise what has been a dream for years into a reality.

Representing its people, United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), one of the militant groups formed in March 2000 submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister to put across a demand to create Kuki (KHULMI) Development Council (KDC) on the model of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council of Assam, for amelioration of the welfare of the deprived Kukis.

This raises a lot of questions on how the UKLF are planning to go about, especially with the disturbance in the peace march in Manipur and Nagaland. However, contrary to the insignificance of time and conditions; UKLF and its people are thirsty for the outcome of something positive.
*Hmmm*

Shared Solace

In this society, where history has been kept through spoken rather than written words, music has been one essential tool of keeping memories alive—to bring together communities that had once been driven apart.

- Joe Hmachhuana


In a wide a rank of violence and injustice with incomplete explanations yet many theories in parts of the world, if there is one art form that is the precursor of change then it has to be music… a rehearsal of change, a cultural expression of values and beliefs that may still face resistance in our social lives today...existing as dreams waiting to become a reality tomorrow. I just got back from a premier of Songs of Guru Rewben Mashangva, a film produced and directed by Oinam Doren on the musical journey of the folk musician hailing from Ukhrul district of Manipur. It was followed by discussion on masculinities of Folk Music highlighting the works of Rewben and alike.

Rewben is a Folk Singer, musician, composer and researcher and guide for the conservation and evolvement of tribal folk music with 15 years of practice in the field. Rewben is the foremost advocate of Hao music with rich and abundant in depth experience in the field. He plays the Tingtelia (Pena), a violin type instrument which took him 7 years to alter to suit his music, as well as the modern Acoustic guitar and harmonica. Each time he plays in and around his hometown, his son Saka Mashangva accompanies him as percussion player.

I have had a warm privilege to share a stage with him when my band called 'Them Clones' played in Pune several years back. During that time Rewben along with his son performed with Raghu Dixit.

I respect Rewben not only for the music that he has produced, I respect him for his beliefs and effort to prove the world that music alone can fight injustice and open world of possibilities.

*Lage Raho...*

Ima Keithel

Corruption stands correct

The Manipur Government has yet again pushed its State into another level of squabble by neglecting the MoU jointly signed by the representatives of the Ima Keithel and the Government. Leaving the poor and deprived in a tragic loss of livelihood.

- Joe Hmachhuana

The political crap that goes around in Manipur has been affecting the people of villages for decades now. On contrary to the Government’s years of ignorance to implement right doses of justice in this area, civilians are crying in vain on their daily mission to cradle a livelihood to survive. It is a true tragic situation where the rich are getting richer and so on the saying goes.

In order to attest to the rigor... its the glimpse of the poor who sore muscles, shovel gravel, lug woods, dig post holes and lift heavy boulders to reinforce the price of living in disturbed roads of Manipur everyday.

Manipur State Government is held responsible for the dark clouds glooming over Ima Keithel,the second largest women’s market in Asia. Women vendors are deprived of their seats and have descended on the verge of losing hope for what used to be their livelihood.

Displeasure caused by the Government in the name of the modernization has agitated thousands of women traders who have been robbed of their right with corruption, bribery and favoritism. A bulk of corruption leading the permanent license holders into categories of temporary license holders.

A difficult thing to measure or compare, however, is the impact of corruption on poverty versus the effects of inequalities that are structured into law, such as unequal trade agreements, structural adjustment policies, so-called “free” trade agreements and so on. It is easier to see corruption. It is harder to see these other more formal, even legal forms of “corruption.” It is easy to assume that these are not even issues because they are part of the laws and institutions that govern national and international communities and many of us will be accustomed to it—it is how it works, so to speak.

It is no longer a time for a mere combat against corruption; it is battle against the officials’ thrive on domination. Animals higher in the chain eats those in the lower belt. And if you remember we humans are at the top of this food chain. And we are the biggest casualties.

People's choice: Naga Menu

Realising Dreams

For one living away from home town, it's a real desire to contend with a traditional dish, and that’s when some people find a special place in the Nagaland food stall, located in the heart of Dilli Haat. A great deal of affordable Naga cuisine and a must stop over for any food lovers for a quick bite.
- Joe Hmachhuana

To say that the consumption of food is a vital part of the chemical process of life is to state the obvious, but sometimes we fail to realize that food is more than just vital. In order to approach the study of food would be to identify the food variables and to arrange these variables systematically; we may use the word 'Culture'. Culture in a classificatory sense implies pattern or style of food habits.

Determining criterion in this connection, I am proud to publish ‘Realising Dreams’ story of my friend Amenla Longkumer, who along with her siblings Ayinla Longkumer and Chubamanen Longkumer run a scholar of Naga food menu in Dilli Haat. It was the year 1996, when the restaurant came to commencement. And like every other profession in the business field, Amenla too found herself stumbling over few difficult aspects in the beginning. There were many challenges when she started the business, owing to the fact that different people from different background eat differently. And for a restaurant specializing ethnic Naga cuisine, customers were hard to find.

But with passing years and a growth in the proficiency of handling its desired market, the Nagaland food stall today caters to almost every customers from different states and more importantly it kinder foreign clients who make a special effort to grab a grub of Naga special at the restaurant.

Nagaland is known for its wonderfully exotic cuisine, offers the best pork with bamboo shoots. A regular visitor of this place would advice one to experience the authentic cuisine of the State. The famous and delicious Naga Thali has already crossed the universal dividers owing to its magical taste. Akhuni (fermented soya bean) for instance makes a memorable treat. Dishes like Raja Mircha, Ak Ponung, Ak Tsung, Awo Kutsu (special pork head preparation) and Mersu Aaon (Naga’s special fish preparation) swings the rhythm of success at the joint.

Since ingredients do not taste the same everywhere, a special virtue of effort is made to get ingredients transported from Nagaland itself. Special duty is adjudged to summon hygienic food from the management. The restaurant also organize Christmas special, and it makes the visit around this time even more worth while with choir singing carols over the terrific buffet of Naga specials.

The paragon of Amenla’s success is deeply modeled by her hard work and determination. An incredible standard of motive that has helped her pull through the odds without any formal training or education in the related field. Along side many of her achievements; Amenla is acquainted by her sister Ayinla and brother Chubamanen who has added perfect duties in maintaining the service and ambience of the restaurant. In recognition of the restaurant’s remark ability, Delhi Tourism had awarded the Nagaland food stall for its cleanliness and great service among the stalls in Dilli Haat over the years.

The stall represents the essence of Naga tradition and culture through its diamond affair of Naga delicacies. The main target is to focus on the local Naga food items and reach out to new customers. It is a great deal of pleasure to mention that Nagaland food stall represents the food culture of Nagaland and its counterparts, playing a vital role in shaping the realm of North-East states’ tradition and culture to a large number of people in the city today.

Different cultural sects have different eating codes. Men and women, in various stages of their lives, eat differently. Different individuals have different tastes. Some of these differences are overcome through an initiation of reasoning with the differences and providing an innovation to break these boundaries. Amenla and her siblings have achieved those tasks as prescribed, identifying the differences, explaining them, and introducing a new outlet to the other facets of culture, tradition and a monumental like surface to its customers called Nagaland's kitchen which is recently opened and located in Green Park, New Delhi. And I am gonna be heading there straight after work for a major Ak Tsung indulgence.
Bon Appetit!

Trapped in the hole.

Child Labor.

Initiation to precise an act of good faith denomination, and extensive humanitarian mission to rescue the prosecutable and hazardous child labor trafficked in coal mines in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.
- Joe Hmachhuana

If you are a son or daughter of a wealthy family, you probably spend your days much as you do now, at school and at home getting the luxury of having what you want yet throw your stupid attitude around while sitting on your parent’s shoulders. If you were a son or a daughter of a poor family or immigrants, your life would be much different. Having decided to profess in the field of writing not long ago, nonetheless this one gives me a never before pleasure to disclose abuse.

The coal mine is the scene of a multitude of the most terrifying calamities where accidents have no special cases, and these comes directly from the selfishness of the bourgeoisie. Infringement of the law in this connection is revealed in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya where cases of treacherous employment has been engaged in a reckless affair of exploitation and inhuman child practice in coal mines owned by individual owners.

The number of child workers in the coal mining area of Jaintia Hills is still unknown. The age of the children engaged in this area is notably low. There is a trafficking involved in the situation where children are recruited under deception from Nepal and Bangladesh in many cases with the involvement of brokers. Children are often explained to do a simple work in return of a good money and education only to find out the extreme ugliness of the false promises made to them after their arrival. However, without any help and money to return home, they are forbidden to engage in this massive slavery and obey the owners/managers till the time unknown with no rest for the lost and weary.


If you walk up to the Jaintia Hills, you will find a common sight of kids in a long line picking up bits of rocks while coal flow along beneath their feet. Boys would sometimes fall and get smothered or crushed in the huge piles of coal. Worse yet, when the boys turn twelve they would be sent down into the mines where there is a constant threat of cave-ins and explosions. There is also an information on human rights violation such as extrajudicial execution. The workers including children are often locked up in the rat holes as a punishment in the absence of any medical and food assistance which causes them death. Although with the fact that such acts are perpetual killings, no perpetuators are brought to the light of justice.

Deprivation of proper sanitary facilities on basics like drinking water catches one’s immediate attention here. Unhygienic condition and lack of proper sewage system has afflicted people living there with various diseases. It is hard to tolerate the image of the labors using the sewage water in the rat hole for drinking and bathing. It is regrettable that no intervention to this extreme situation by both central and local government has been reported. With 10 labor inspectors appointed for surveillance, the program has failed to gain any positive appeal to the inhuman affair due to lack of transportation facilities provided to the inspectors. Although, this practice is serious violation of Indian constitution, ILO minimum age (Underground Work) convention no.123 (1965) which prohibits any aggression of child laboring in the area under the age of 16, the government seems to turn its deaf ear towards this adversity.

In an approach to bring salvation to this misery, Impulse NGO Network in collaboration with Human Rights Now (HRN), Japan has been taking a great stance to create awareness among the people’s government and media. But with the economics of stipulation getting a slow process with the government,the future of the helpless only seems irresolute.
On my 3 day visit to the area,I evident that 20-25 children are put to work in each rat hole where the working condition is extremely hazardous without any proper medical safety and living condition”.

The estimated number of child workers in the area is 70,000 and it was very difficult to interview the children as they were reluctant to talk and at the same time I had to prevent the intervention by the supervisors and owners of the coal mine who were continuously minding the area. The rescue mission is however not yet the best solution to this havoc as the number of child workers is large and without full and effective implementation from the government, the case may just go worse. Taking the fact that there are 70,000 children homeless, just a section of a society cannot alone provide the right solution. It is a serious point to be noted that the attendance of the government’s interest in this case could be finely mentioned as null.

Although much has been done to change laws about child labor and to make sure that all children get a good education, there still is much to be done. Law against child labor will not apply its true meaning unless we the people show pro-activeness and make a movement to shovel this absurdity.

The on-going mission to rescue this vicious practice needs much more encouragement and support. If we all realize that we can help change this by the virtue of the littlest contribution even in a form of a letter to the authority, it may relish sunshine to the boys in the pits who have lost the art of smile.
Will the government continue to ignore or make a move that is desperately needed? Till then one can only hope for redemption to make its way to Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.

Gangtes in dispute.

Now, the Gangtes are not happy either.

The network of Gangte Welfare Association launched a protest against Manipur University’s high pitched negligence to pay veneration to Late Dr T.S Gangte as adjudicated. What is the reason behind this culmination?
- Joe Hmachhuana

"We want justice" "Manipur University; shame shame." The sentiments fueling rally by the Gangte Welfare Association may have been short lived within its desired area. But the wealthy approach by the rally troops revoked encyclopedia of protest anthems held in the capital. Adding on to the recent residency of the incident in Manipur which took an adverse affect on the Naga peace process, and the reaction which is now said to be settling down at the present.

On my way back from Khan market yesterday, I witnessed an act of animosity shaped in the form of youth flagging banners ‘Long name is not a crime’ and ‘punish the guilty officials’ at Teen Murti in the capital. I decided to halt at the event of finding 'Samuel',a Gangte friend of mine who works in Central Economic Intelligence Bureau and also a fore frontier of his community. Just the right person to help me manicure my curiosity.

I learned that the Gangtes were protesting against the Manipur University’s discrimination of tribal communities for neglecting Dr Thangkhomang Selpho Gangte(Dr T.S Gangte) memorial Gold Medal on its 30th foundation day.


Dr T.S Gangte (1932- 2007) was a well- known figure who had contributed great work through his fine instincts in the sphere of academic and scholastic world. With all respect to his contribution, Manipur University in its press note January 8. 2008 stated liberation of Gold Medal under the name of “Dr T.S. Gangte Memorial Gold Medal”. On summoning a patent question by the tribal students union to Manipur University on its failure, Manipur University gave a tricky reply by stating “It is because of the name Dr Thangkhomang Selpho Gangte( Dr T.S. Gangte) which is too long to be engraved in the medal.” While a gold medal named ’Kanhaomacha Sharma Gold Medal’ exists, the tribal student union has declared they have never come across such a silly excuse in its history.

This fact raised too many suspicions among the minds of tribal communities of the state. With broad alarming negligence of Manipur University to instigate the prospect of the Gold Medal as listed, the disappointed tribal students union asked the authority, ‘Is there any criterion to be a Manipur citizen? or should everyone change their names into Tombas and Thoibis so that the names can be spelled easily for the dominating section of the Manipur state?

Certainly, the protest could have gathered more attention other than just the passers and auto wallas that stopped by to catch a glimpse of the pronominal aid with their graceless questions, if it was not for the Delhi Police (thullas) who opposed the protest to continue to Manipur Bhavan.

Is this discrimination or a fair margin of disadvantage for having a long name? The Gangte community want answers and an intervention of a better law which can provide the real meaning of Justice… a virtue that would give them a sense of belonging and respect.

*Do give your thoughts and support*