OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: The Politicians are 'Superficially Genuinely' concerned about the people pulse and feeling only once in Five Years and that i.e. during the time of the elections. It is only during the campaigning period for the elections that they would wear 'the sack-cloth of self enforced humility' and embarked on a half-hearted tour of their constituencies.

Once the 'Election Pendulum 'swings in their favor and they are elected or returned to the Assembly, then the people and their constituency are soon forgotten Why should they care about the people's welfare anyway? When they are busy amassing untold wealth, their sons and daughters studying in the best educational institutions in and outside the country, living a lavish life style and driving around in swanky cars.

Who would have time to think about the peopled and the electorate who elected them to corridor of power?

The People are just a 'means to an end'; a spring-board and a plank which the Politician uses to catapult themselves to a position of power, eminence and authority. Well we the electorate are also to be blamed for having voted such type of man to be our representative.

The Irony with Democracy is that 'the best man hardly competes or stands for elections'; it is the scoundrels who do. I am not saying that all the Politicians are Scoundrels. 'Five Fingers are not the same'. (Logic and Reasoning – to be used for the last statement)

"A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS NOT A DANGEROUS THING": I am sure we all must have heard of the well known adage: 'A Little Knowledge is a dangerous thing'. In the town of Churachandpur this adage has to be modified and altered a bit to suit the prevailing situation in this Gun-Filled Town.

Churachandpur District like mentioned earlier is a home to many 'Independent Homelands'. Hence knowing too much or talking too much could jeopardize your life and put your own neck in the line of fire.

Pleading Ignorance is the 'in thing here' and knowing little and minding one's own business is the safest bullet proof blanket that one can wrap oneself with. In Ccpur 'Ignorance is not a crime; its bliss'

Rule No 2 for survival in Churachandpur: 'SILENCE IS GOLDEN'

THE 57 MOUNTAIN BRIGADE: Ever since the Government of India launched the operation code named 'Operation All Clear' there is a permanent Brigade now stationed in Churachandpur. The Army Brigade Headquarter is located at Tuibuong, just opposite to the S.P.'s Quarter.

The 'Jawans' are led by one Brigadier – Brigadier R.K. Sharma, a true Gentleman who has been serving the Country loyally for many years now. Then, there are other Army Officers who are more popular than their counterparts in the Brigade, to name a few

1) Colonel Ralli - Ever Polite and hardworking, always on the go
2) Major Michael - Cool Dude
3) Major Rathee - Helpful, Kind and Courteous
4) Captain Raghavan - Young, Energetic, with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm (A Touch of Chennai!)
(Not the Captain Raghavan played by Sunil Shetty in the Shah Rukh Khan Starrer "Main Hoon Naa', the Hindi Movie buffs should not get confused ;)

Then there is one Lady Officer – Khandani or Khandali (I don't exactly remember; my memory must be fading the years are catching up with me) who would give talks about 'Careers in the Armed Forces' in various Schools.

This is a positive development – the people from the north east India needs to be encouraged to join the National Mainstream. The 57th Mountain Brigade is truly an Army Brigade with a Humane Touch.

It is always interesting to study the composition of the Indian Armed Forces – the personnel are drawn from the various parts of the country. The Armed Forces and the Members of the All India Services help in fostering National Integration. I must add here that India's Diversity is not her drawback but instead her greatest asset.

THE MUSICIAN COP OF CCPUR IS SICK AND AILING: The Most well known Police Constable under the Ccpur Police Station 'The Musician Cop' @ Timothy Joute has been sick for many months now. He has been on the 'sick-list' for the better part of this year and has not reported for duty in a real long time.

Timothy Joute – the Cop who prefers the sound of his guitar than his duty gun; needs no introduction to the people of this town. When he was hale and hearty and fit as a fiddle, he would effortlessly sing and break into a song impromptu ( picking up his beloved guitar; keeping his gun aside) when ever he had the chance, strumming people's blues away with his deft guitar playing, spreading sunshine and smiles all around.

Timothy also known as Timo is truly one unique person blessed with so many talents. One can only hope that He will get back on his feet alive and kicking so that he will be able to spread 'some more sunshine and laughter' to the people of this town in these hard and desperate times, who in the grip of constant fear and uncertainty have forgotten how to smile at ease.

As far as I am concerned this whole town has lost its nuts and has gone complete bonkers; unless and until the people who calls themselves 'Lamkaites' shed their communal colors and so chronic a communalism; narrow mindedness; confrontation for co-operation; mutual destruction for peaceful-co existence, the situation in this town will in all aspects will only deteriorate further. And many more precious lives will be wasted; triggered into the wide open grave for death is insatiable.

The three Ps of Peace – Progress – Prosperity, have boarded the bus for Aizawl way back in the early 1990's when the Gun started dictating the terms. Even 'Little Miss Innocence' has caught the last 'Midnight Bus' bound for the Coast; and they all have left the communalized residents of this dry cosmopolitan town to their own devices

Churachandpur is passing through a bloody turbulent phase. The Love in this town has grown stone cold; the only love that grows is the Communalized Love for one own community which leaves a lot of space to discriminate which in turn generates hate and its hatred that makes the fingers pull the trigger, I wonder how many more deaths it will take till the realization dawned upon us that many a life has been 'triggered' basically for nothing.

The Distant Dawn/ The Distant Dusk; the Church Bells ringing; another day/ another night is coming on. A baby would be born; maybe an old man would die; somewhere two lustful lovers catch a spark; some where else two lovers would kiss each other good night. Some one would be triggered out of his existence.

No matter what happened or what might happen. You just have to 'Move On' or have to learn how to 'Move On'. Life is about moving on and taking each day at a time; forgetting the past and looking ahead with hope and running the race faithfully.

Nothing in Churachandpur would change over night for the better; before any change can take place there have to be first a 'Change of Heart'.

Churachandpur 'These Days' is in a truly ruthless, reckless and graceless age.

Read Part I | Part II