I can see myself only through a mirror. And I know that I would never see myself like other would see me. Being a mirror lover, I let people see the world through a mirror. Prior to which, there’s an array of glasses. An array of conductors and semi-conductors known as sensors, which lies behind the mirror, and senses everything. A gentle press on a button called shutter button let the memory card record what I saw through a mirror. And they call that a Photograph. A mirror aided cameras, with a memory card are what they called Digital Single lens Reflex Camera 😀
Sometimes, like fashion, technology keeps on changing and revolving. Sometimes bulky cameras are the no. 1 fashion, sometimes not. Sometimes, handy cameras are more fashionable. Handy cameras with a flipping mirror is near to impossible…(may be). When size does matter, technology comes to the rescue…Hence a camera technology without a reflex-mirror was developed.
Being a Leica fan for a very long time, but who doesn’t afford, I sold my 7 years old DSLR and some accessories, and invested it for a camera which look alike Leica the most (they might not like it, though)… a Fujifilm mirrorless aka an SLT camera. Customizing all the knobs and buttons to make it more ergonomical (like my DSLRs), I started to see the world through a translucent glass. My vision is now in translucence.
Here are some few pictures through my translucent vision. Of course, this is not a review article of a camera…just about pictures made by using fujifilm X-E3. If you wanted to read about the reviews and comments of this camera, just google it! 😀
A view from my veranda…just a random shotOn the bank of Chite Lui, SIPMIU is constructing a sewage treatment plant. The course of the Chite lui has gradually changed, as compared to our childhood daysSome part of Republic Veng, Aizawl
One of the reason why I opted for a smaller camera is street photography. Just a few minute across the Bara Bazar…
A school boy waiting for his nanny was enjoying the sidewalk near Dawrpui ChurchTwo Wheeler taxis are a new addition to Aizawl Traffic, cheaper rates, faster mode…A roadside fastfood stall…tea and snacks are available and so is “kuhva hring”Non-locals freely work here in Aizawl, provided they have a statutory permit. If they have that permit, then, there’s no discrimination from the locals.2nd hand garmentsA 2nd hand toy vendorIt would be every child’s dream to have a house full of toys…a toy seller unintentionally often make the children cry…heheAs the working hour is over, offices are closed. This young boy while waiting for his father, who was a caretaker of this office sat and play with his father’s phone.Night life in Aizawl is peaceful…there are few food vendors selling tandoori chicken. But most of the restaurants and shops are closed in the evening.I saw these youths playing mobile games in front of a closed shop, I parked my bike, and clicked…they didn’t knew that they were photographed! 😀
At the end of the day, I remember Gabriel Fuchs words “the more people are interested in photography, it is the manufacturer who gained the most, not the user…”
June thla khan eng engemaw post ka tuma, mahse ka post lo. Ka ziak hman lo a ni. Tunah pawh ka la ziak ta chuanglo a. Engtikah nge ka ziah ang pawh ka hre chuang lo a. Engtak chu nge post ka tum pawh ka hre chuang lo. June thlazet kha chu ka damchhunga ka tawn ropui ber a ni hial awm e. Khatiang kha ka tawng leh tawhin ka inring lo. Heta han sawi tur chi a ni em pawh ka hre thiam lo e –
June thla khan chanchin lawmawm tak kan chhungkuain kan dawnga, Chanchin Tha avangin ka tawn ngailoh ka tawng bawk.
June thla khan ramsa vang êm êm mai, ramsial/sele kah a nih thu a thang chiama, thuneitu te pawhin hma an la zuia, dan bawhchhetu an hling nghal chat mai. Ropui tak a ni. Ka tel vena, BIOCONE (www.biocone.org) pawhin Sorkar hmalakna lawmawm a tih thu leh sorkar a thlawp thu te, dan bawhchhetu te a dem thu te a chhuah bawka. Chutih mek laiin Mizorama phul hmun nuam ber leh lian ber te zinga mi, Sialsuk tlangah tuten emawni thing an lo phun ve mek thung a ni awm a. Sialsuk tlanga phulhmun hi thing han awm khep khupna tura Pathian duan chu a nih loh hmel khawp mai; Tlaizawng leh Vaube an phun a ni awm a. Hman deuh khan pawl pakhat chuan Hmuifangah “Far tiak” an phun chiam tawh bawka. A chang leh ngaw hmun thiata phulhmun siam kan tuma, a chang leh phulhmuna thing phun kan tum leh ang lawia, a awmsa hi kan ngaitheilo viau zel mai chu a ni, eng kan ti zo ta nge mawni?
Artukkhuan (Mirabillis jalapa)
Project Zo-pangpar
Ka thiannu Dr. Saithani’n Mizorama tualto pangpar thlalak min rawn zawt thut maia, ka lo nei mumallo viau lehnghala. Ka ngaihsak tawkloh vang a nih rualin hmuh tur hi a vang ve hrim hrim tawh bawk a ni. A zarah tlem chu ka lakhawm ta hlauha, Mizo pangpar tam zawk par loh lai a nih leh zel avang erawh chuan lakkhawm tam a har viau. Fur laia pangpar thlalak tur zawn chu hmuh tam a har teh e. Mizoramah hian thing leh mau, thlai chi hrang chi engemaw zat kan neia, heng te hi ram tam takah awm velo, an awh ngawih ngawih a ni. A mi chenga te hian hlutna chang kan hre thinloa, ram danga mi kan lalut zela, kan ngaisang êm êm zel zawk mai thin bawk sia, a manganthlak ngawt mai.
Fur pui
Fur lai a ni a, ruah a sur nasaa, lei a mina, tui a lian bawka. Kawngpui chhuat a bala, tlang pang a min a, In a chima, hmun hrang hrangah chhiatna a thleng nasa hle. Mi tam tak tan chuan ‘Furchhia’ a ni a, a runthlak tak zet a ni. Mi eng emawzatin an chenna an chana, an nunna an chan phaha, chungkua a tiavai phah bawka. Inkalpawhna kawng a chhiaa, chakkhai lamna a buai zova.
Furpui hmahruai Ruahthimpui
Fur hi kum tin a thleng thina, pumpelh theih a ni lo. Furpui avanga chhiatna thleng thin tam tak pawh hi pumpelh harsa tak a ni ang. Chhiatna a thlen tam tak tihziaawm dan erawh a awm ngei ang. Inbuatsaihna tha leh ruahmanna felfai awm se chuan kan tawrh hi tun aiin a zia ngei ang. Josefa anga tam laka inven dan ngaihtuah chuak thiam ram hruaitu kan mamawh a ni ta ber awm e.
Wrath of Monsoon. Hunthar Veng leitlahniam (June 13, 2017)
Furchhia han ti thin mah ila fur avanga thlai thar, ei leh bar hmu kan ni miau maia, kan tui tlan lah fur avanga a hna kang chatlo a ni si. Thenkhat tan chhiatna zakhua, sorkar lu ti haitu nimahse, mi tam tak tan, nungcha te tan, thilsiam dang te tan erawh nunna hnar a ni lawi si.
Furah chuan Dingdi (Asclepias curassavica) pawh ama tawk tein a lo vul ve chik cheka, en hnaih poh leh a mawi ting mai a
Thlasik khawvawt leh thal khawroin a hmeh ro, fur ruahtui avang lo hring leh dup thin kan tlangram hian ruah bawhawk a ngam lo zual ta viau mai hi erawh a mi chenga te kan inenfiah a ngai viauin a lang. Khuarel chhiatna kan tih tam tak hi chu a mi chenga ten kan chenna leh a vel kan enkawl uluk loh vang leh kan fimkhur tawk lo vang a thleng tam tak a awm ngei ang, a nih loh vek chuan kan ram hi a chhe ve hrim hrim a ni ang!
He’ng thu hnep hnawl te te hi June thlaa post ka tum zinga mi thenkhat, ka tih mumal takloh te kha a ni ta mai awm mange!
The land of the head hunters was transformed into a land of peace within a short span of time. It was the Lord’s doing. The advent of the Missionaries in the now called Mizoram was in three phases. The Lakher Pioneer Mission (LPM), the last of them all, was established in September 26, 1907 at Saikao Village by Rev. R.A. Lorrain. Since then, his legacy remains there.
Some part of Saikao Village. July 7, 2012
Saikao, previously known as Serkawr is a small village in Siaha district of Mizoram. It is around 300Km from Aizawl, the capital of the state and around 51 Km from Siaha.
The Lakher Pioneer Mission Compound, Saikao
The Lorrain’s Ville Bungalow was built on a hill top in 1914 by Rev. Lorrain himself, using a tin roof, a wooden floor and a ‘dap’ wall (splitted bamboo matted together).
Lorrain Ville, a Bungalow built in 1914 by Rev. RA LorrainTrophies at Lorrain’s Ville
Rev. Violet Louise Anne Mark, the third generation of the LPM decided not to return to England. She has been staying at the Lorrain’s Ville till today. Affectionately called as ‘Pi Vaili’ by the locals is the grand daughter of Rev. R.A. Lorrain. Born on April 16, 1938, at Saikao, her mother was “Tlosai Zua No” (Princess of the Lakher), the daughter of Rev. Lorrain. Her father was Mr. A.B. Bruce Foxtall. She was married to Rev. L. Mark, a Mara theologian in 1968. She was ordained as a minister in 1994 by Rev. Lambert Garter at Saikao.
Rev. Violet L. Mark (Photo courtesy – Soul Photography, Siaha)
Rev. Violet turned 80 today (April 16, 2018). May God continue to be be with her.
Rev. L. Mark
The Mark’s were blessed with four offspring – 3 sons and 1 daughter.
Grand Childrens of the Mark’s.
The bungalow has been neatly maintained by the Mark’s. As you walk inside, you can feel the presence of the Lorrain’s. Things were kept as it was.
The living room
The living room was set up in such a way that it was like stepping into a time machine and going back to the 19th century England.
A research colleague, Dr. B. Malsawmkima sat on the rocking chair of Mrs. Lorrain
Rev. Lorrain developed the Mara Alphabet and translated the bible in his study room in the bungalow.
Study room at the Lorrain’s VilleThe Holy Bible used as a reference by Rev. R.A. Lorrain for translation into Mara
Rev. Lorrain was a trained medical personnel. It was his knowledge in medicine that gained the trust of the head hunters (Lorrain, 1920).
Biography of Hudson Taylor and other Medical Books and a typewriter
Ms. Tlosai, the daughter of Rev. Lorrain was an excellent pianist. It was said that most of the Mara Gospel songs were translated and written by using this upright piano. Which was freighted in 1932 to Tlabung by boat, it was then disassembled and transported to Saikao by means of pony.
A Dale Forty upright piano
The Maraland celebrated its Gospel Centenary in 2007. Saikao village, being the provenance of the Gospel in the area, remained in the hearts of the Mara Community and the whole Mizoram. The dedications of the Pioneer Missionaries will always be cherished. The legacy, which remained there will also be an evidence of their dedications.
A monument erected at Saikao to commemorate the Gospel Centenary of the Maraland.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
[Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)]
Oftenly I heard about the LPM and their legacies which remain there at Saikao. Visiting the LPM has always been in my bucket list. On July the 7th 2012, while venturing around the Siaha Forest Division, we had our brunch at Kaochao (Kawlchaw) Forest Beat House. We were then taken to the village forest plantation around the legendary Saikao village. We took the offroad to cut our journey short. We crossed the Chhimtuipui river, heading straight to Saikao through a fair weather road. The road was bumpy and slippery. If not for a robust Gypsy, we would have stuck on the way.
Crossing the river Chhimtuipui
Luck favoured us. The ACF, who was the Liaison officer for the monitoring team was born and raised up at Saikao Village. The LPM Premise was his childhood playground. He took us to the Bungalow and we finally met the Last of the Pioneer Missionary.
It was an impromptu visit…had it been a pre-planned visit, I would have not wear a camouflage shirt…and lucky me for that boy standing in front of me…who hideth the chempui carried cross-draw at my waist 😀
Even though it was ecology which brought us there, it was more a pilgrimage to me. A pilgrimage to witness the love and the grace of God.
Today, on her 80th Birthday, our prayers are with Rev. L. Mark and his family, who lovingly cared for Rev. Violet, as she is bedridden due to hypertension and other old age ailments. #prayforrevviolet
A heartfelt gratitude to –
Soul Photography, Siaha for permitting me to use Rev. Violet’s portrait.
Mr. Beihrochhua, a close friend, for helping me to get the necessary information.
Zirna tluang pangngaiah pawl 6 thleng chauh a zira, mahse pawl 6 thleng chauh zir zawng zawngah chuan ani aia fing hi an awm kher lovang. Hna thawk chungin private-a pawl 9 exam-in a pass leh a; pawl 9 pass zingah ani aia thiam leh hre ril hi an awm chuang hek lovang.
Kan naupan laiin lehkhabu pan te, a kawma a ziaktu hmel chuang, ngaihnawm zet mai hi ka u hian min chhiar sak thina. Ziak leh chhiar ka thiam ve chinah erawh chhiar sak ngailovin chu lehkhabu ngaihnawm chu ka chhiar ve thin. “Tunlai Khawvel Thlirna” tih lehkhabu ka chhiar atanga ka hriat, Upa C. Rokhuma thuziak te hi Mizo ziakmi te kutchhuak zinga ka chhiar hmasak ber a nih ka ring!
Upa C. Rokhuma, Sept. 4, 2015
Pianpui finna sang leh thuk tak nei, zirtirtu, zirtirtu te zirtirtu, sipai bang – Indopui II-na Veteran, Sande Sikul zirtirtu te zirtirtu, ziakmi, pa titi thiam, thil chik mi, pa chak, pa taima, Pathian tih mi, vantlang tana mi inpe, scientist, mi rinawm…a tlar thui teh e! Upa C. Rokhuma tluka Mizo mipui te tana thawhhlawk hi an tam lo khawp ang!
A chanchin tlem
Upa C. Rokhuma hi July 21, 1917-ah Reiek-ah a pianga, unau 9 zinga a upa ber a ni a; farnu 3 a nei. A nupui Pi Lalrinthangi (L) nen hian kum 1939-ah an inneia, fa mipa 4 leh hmeichhia 3 an nei a, tu 19 leh tuchhuan 15 an nei bawk. Upa C. Rokhuma hian 1934 – 47 chhung khan hmun hrang hrangah zirtir hna a thawk a, 1946 – 1953 chhungin sub-Inspector of School hna a thawk bawk. Guru Training School (Teachers Training School)-ah kum 1955 – 66 Instructor hna a thawk a, MSSU hnuaia Sunday School zirtirtu training Instructor hna kum 1967 – 1978 thleng a thawk bawk. Tin, Indopui II-na hunlai khan Sipaiah a tang bawk.
Upa C. Rokhuma, Sept. 4, 2012
Vantlanga tana mi inhmang tak a ni a, YMA President a ni thin a, Mautam tam lo thleng tur laka inven nan 1951-ah Tam do pawl a dina. Ruahmanna hrang hrang an siam te chu sorkar pawhin ngai pawimawhin theih tawpin hma an laa, Mautam tam pawh a ziaawm phah hle. Mautam chungchanga hriatna thuk tak nei a nih avangin Kum 2006 – 09 chhoa Mau a tam leh pawh khan mithiam te thurawn lakna pawimawh tak a ni chhunzawm zel bawk.
Upa C. Rokhuma, Sept. 4, 2012
Vantlanga tana a hnathawh that avang hian kum 1992 khan India President hnen atangin PADMA SHRI chawimawina hlu tak a dawng a, hmun hrang hrang atangin chawimawina chi hrang hrang a dawng bawk.
Synod Boys Hostel-a kan awm laiin tum khat chu inkhawm a kaihruaia, zai tura The Barnabas (Male Voice) te a sawm kha mitthlaah a lang reng thin! Miin thiam an tih thu te, sawi lawk se tape recorder-a lo record a chak thu te kha a sawi a, Kohhran mipui te pawh kan nui hak nghe nghe. Upa C. Rokhuma hi Chhimphei Presbytery Inkhawmpui, Bungkawn kohhrana kum 1978-a neihin Mission Vengthlang Kohhran Upa ni tura a nemngheh, rawngbawlna kawnga mi thahnemngai, Kohhran humhalh mi a ni.
Padma Shri kiangah ni khat
Tawnhriat ngah te kawma, an titi ngaihthlak hi kan chak thina, chung zingah chuan Upa C. Rokhuma hi kan kawm chak ber te zinga mi a ni a, naupan lai atanga kan ngaihsan tawh a nih avang te pawh a ni tel bawk ang. Pa upa lam a nih tawh avangin thawn thut chilohah kan ngaia, a tunu, Lalrokimi kaltlangin len kan duh thu kan hrilha, Sept. 4, 2012-ah remchang min lo siam sak ta hlauh maia kan lawm hle a ni.
Sept. 4, 2012: Kei, Upa C. Rokhuma leh Rochana
Kan kawm tum hian Upa Rokhuma hi kum 95 mi a ni tawha, a hriatna that zia leh thil a chhinchhiah theih zia hi chu sawiloha leng a ni. Kan kawm chhung zawnga mak kan tih leh kan sawi tawp theih loh chu a rinawmna kha a ni. Kan zawhna kha a hriatloh zawng a nih hlauh chuan a hriatloh thuin min chhang maia, a rinthu a sawi ngailoa, hre awm angin min chhang lo, “Ka hre hauh lo mai” a ti thên mai. Nia a hriat dan emaw a duh duh danin emaw, engpawh mai kha sawi ta se keini, hre pha velo kha chuan kan awih vek awm si a! Mahse dawt min hrilh duh miahlo leh a hriat loh a hrelo ngam kha kan ngaihsanna tizualtu a ni.
Upa C. Rokhuma, Sept. 4, 2012
Zawhna inkarakik pui pui, rilrua lang apiang kan zawt a, Rochana’n Mizo History leh Politics lam te, thil chi hrang hrang a zawta. Keiin Science lam, a bikin ecology leh conservation lam engemawzat ka zawt thung a. Heng zawng zawngah hian, “keini te chu lehkha thiamlo kan nia, kan hriat ve te hi chu a lau em mai…ka aiin in hre zawk daih ang…” ti chungin kan hriat ngailoh tha tha min hlui a, kan phur deuhin zawhna kan siam belh zela, a hriat loh zawng chu “ka hre hauhlo mai…” tiin min chhang zel thung a. Maumitvel lo pianchhuah dan ni a pi-pu ten an sawi thin min hrilh te, Tut lui dunga sa an pel thin dan a sawi te kha a ngaihnawm teh e. “In hre duh em?” “duh tho mai” “tho mai chauh maw…in hre duh tak tak lo a niang maw…” tia an fiamthu zauh te khan a ti ngainatawm zual sauh bawk.
Tawngkam mai nilo, a chetzia zawng zawng nen… Sept. 4, 2012
Kum 95 chhunga a tawnhriat hrang hrang, a bikin Mizo nunphung leh khawtlang inrebawl dan, ram leh hnam an humhalh dan te, ramngaw leh nungcha an enkawl dan te nen min hrilh a. A In a sak laia a bang tur dap a chik dan leh a thawh rim zia a sawi te phei chu a ngaihnawm tak zet a ni.
Upa C. Rokhuma, Sept. 4, 2012
Mizoram khawchin mumal takin a chhinchhiaha, ruah tui tlak dan, ni chhuah leh tlak hun thlengin. Khawpui rik hun leh buh thar inkungkaih dan a sawi thin te khan Applied science lama a rilzia a tilang chiang hle. Mahse heng zawng zawng hi chinchhuakin ka zawt hman ta lo. Serthlum enkawlnan bika a duanchhuah RK Mixture chungchang leh Par arsi hnuaia serthlum a that duh thu a sawi te pawh kha ka zawhchian hman tak loh zinga mi a ni. Mahse a taka a thil tih, a tawnhriat atanga a sawi a ni si. Hetiang indigenous knowledge hi science & technology than zel nana kawng pawimawh hmasa a ni a. Inter-cropping te phei hi chu tun thlengin mi tam takin PhD degree an hmuhna a la ni reng bawk.
Seiko sana
Hemi tuma Rawmi chi ka pek kha ti tiak thei tak maw!
Upa C. Rokhuma, Sept. 4, 2012
Vawi khat dang leh
Kum 2015, April 29 khan a huana thakthing kung thliin a chhem tliaka, thakthing project kan khawih lai a nih avangin sample la-in a huanah, a tupa Hriatzuala (Te-a) nen kan kala. Haw pahin a Inah kan lut kawia, kum 98 mi lai a nih tawh avangin a taksa a chaklovin a lo chaurau ve hle tawh a. Khuma mu chungin a fa thenkhat te nen an lo inkawm a. A aw a la fiahin a ri hriatna a la tha a, a rilru pawh a la fim vek bawk. Amah kawma kum 2012-a kan len tawh thu leh ka research ka zawh tawh thu te ka hrilh chuan min lawmpui ve hle a, chibai te min buk hial. Hei hi Upa Rokhuma ka hmuh hnuhnun ber a ni ta. [ Pu C Rokhuman Mautam chungchang a sawi ka record download duh chuan click mai tur].
An venga raw lianpui mai, mam pel pul, eng rua nge tih an hriat mailoh hi, Hriatzuala nen bawk hian kan va en nghal a, Rawmi (Dendrocalamus sikkimensis) a lo ni a.
A hun hnuhnung
Vawiin, Nov. 23, 2017 hi he khawvel a chhuahsanna champhaphak vawi 1-na a lo ni ve leh ta reng mai. Pa hrisel tak, natna êm êm pawh nei ngailo kha, thawhah avangin Nov. 15, 2016 zanah Aizawl Hospital ICU-ah enkawl a ni a. ni thum hnuah Private ward-a sawn ngam khawpin a tha leh a. Mahse a thawhrimna te chawlhsana, a nupui, kum 2015-a a sun tak kiangah, Pathian angchhunga chatuana chawl ve tawh turin Nov. 23, 2016 chawhma dar 11:30 khan he khawvel hi a lo chhuahsan ta a ni. A tuk, Nov. 24, 2016-ah thlahliam a ni.
Zofate ro dang zawng zawng khuma finna leh hmasawnna kawnga bung thar min kaipuitu, Upa C. Rokhuma’n Mizo fate tana a hnuchhiah zawng zawng hi a hlut zawng chhutchhuah theih loh khawpa hlu leh tam a ni a. A thawhrim rahchhuah tam tak te hi thangtharte tan a zira zir fe tham a ni ngei ang.
