The Bus: A French Football Mutiny

 Few weeks ago, I watched a Netflix sports documentary based on an incident that happened during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Some of us might have heard or read about it, well I didn’t and so, it kept me wondering how I missed out on such an interesting plot.

What was the ‘Bus Munity’?

During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, tensions between head coach Raymond Domenech (he is a weird character) and the squad boiled over after star striker Nicoles Anelka was expelled from the team following a half-time argument. In protest, Captain Patrice Evra and the squad refused to train at their camp in Knysna. The players boarded the team bus, closed the blinds, and submitted a written statement that Domenech was forced to read out to the assembled international press. The scandal escalated into a national political issue in France, leading to an early group stage exit and widespread disciplinary sanctions.

The Ultimate Catalyst

Although even before the World Cup tournament, there was some kind of disharmony between the players and the staff members, the front page of the French sports daily L’Equipe triggered the entire crisis. Written in huge, bold text across the front cover was an explicit, profanity-laden insult attributed to Nicolas Anelka toward manager Raymond Domenech during halftime of France’s loss to Mexico (French translated in English: Go F yourself, dirty son of a B). The explosive front page generated widespread political and public outrage in France. Without proper independent verification or full consultation with the squad, the French Football Federation immediately demanded an apology from Anelka. When he declined to apologize publicly in the manner requested, he was officially expelled from the World Cup squad. As explored in later accounts and in the documentary as well, the headline quotation was inaccurate and sensationalized. Domenech himself later acknowledged that while harsh words were exchanged, the specific phrase published on the front page was never said.

Captain Evra held a press conference declaring that the real issue was not Anelka, but a ‘traitor’ inside the squad who leaked private team matters to journalists. The players felt betrayed both by the leak and by the FFF’s swift decision to punish Anelka based on newspaper reports. This directly resulted in the June 20 strike, where the players refused to train and locked themselves inside their team bus, forcing Domenech to read their protest statement to the media. Once the bus strike occurred in full view of international cameras, French newspapers reacted with condemnation, and it got mix reactions from the citizens. Eventually, the French team was kicked out from the tournament in the group stage, which upset so many of the country(wo)men. 

The documentary features interviews with key figures, including former manager Raymond Domenech, team captain Patrice Evra, players Bacary Sagna and William Gallas, and former French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot, she herself came down to South Africa in an attempt to bridge the differences and motivate the players only to turn around in the parliament shortly after and publicly condemned them. It reexamines the media leaks, dressing room atmosphere, and behind the scenes actions leading up to the boycott. The documentary takes an investigative approach to examine both the coach’s and the players’ perspectives without taking sides. The documentary left me with an unanswered question though, who leaked about the fight to the media?

The Moor of Peter the Great

The Father of Modern Russian Literature is Alexander Pushkin and he had African ancestry. This fact fascinated me. Like how, in what way? To quench my thirst, I drove deeper and got to know about his maternal great-grandfather, his life is one of the most interesting stories you will read today.

In 1704 an eight year old African boy was kidnapped by slavers marched across Sahara to Constantinople and presented as a gift to Czar of Russia. Born around 1696 in Central Africa, the exact place of his birth is still debated by scholars. His name was Ibrahim the son of local prince. Ottoman traders sold to the Sultan’s court in Constantinople where a Russian ambassador took notice of him. He purchased the boy, sent him to Moscow and Peter the Great did something extraordinary, he freed him, baptized him to Abram Petrovich making himself Godfather and raised him alongside the royal family. In 1717, Abraham was sent to France to master military engineering and mathematics. He studied at the Royal Artillery Academy, fought as a captain, was wounded and captured by Spanish forces. He moved among the intellectuals of Paris and he chose a new name Gannibal (Hannibal- Gannibal being the traditional transliteration of the name in Russian) after the Carthaginian General. When he returned to Russia in 1723, he brought with him a mind that could reshape the empire. When Peter the Great died, the court turned hostile, in 1727, rivals exiled Hannibal to Serbia but his engineering skills was too vital to bury. He built fortresses, earned his pardon and when Peter’s daughter Elizabeth seized the throne making her the Empress in 1741, she summoned him back. She promoted him to General in Chief in 1759, the highest military rank in Russia. He oversaw the completion and expansion of Ladoga canal, strengthened fortresses across the empire and trained the commanders who would expand Russia’s borders for generations. He died in 1781 at age 85.

His life is a testament to how destiny unfolds in a mysterious way, from a kidnapped prince to imperial architect; blessed with an intellect and talent that dismantled the hierarchy, it tells the story of resilience in the face of forced displacement.

 

 

Beyond the 90 Minutes: Football Tournaments as Triggers for Domestic Abuse

So, the World Cup is over. While like the whole country I enjoyed watching the World Cup, I came across an article that reveals a surge in domestic abuse during sporting events; this is highlighted even by United Nations. People with abusive partners suffer even more during major men’s football tournaments, causing NGOs to raise the flags. It is something which many of us are aware of and it is backed by multiple research papers.

England being the home of football has launched various campaigns to check the growing number of domestic violence cases during football tournaments. In 2014 FIFA World Cup, domestic abuse rose by 38% after England lost and by 26% when they won or drew. The households, the family is often the outlet for men who are already violent before a football match. A widely cited 2014 study by Lancaster University found that reported domestic abuse incidents increased by 26% when the national team, played, 38% when the team lost, and stayed 11% higher the day after, regardless of the outcome. The violence is not confined to England alone, even in South America during Copa America tournament; there has been spikes during matches. In 2026 FIFA World Cup, the domestic cases spiked to record-breaking high, according to data released by the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), the tournament saw the highest number of tournament linked domestic abuse incidents ever recorded.

There is a compelling argument that elite athletes should speak out. Footballers, particularly male players who are idolized by young boys and men, possess massive cultural influence. When players condemn domestic abuse, promote healthy relationship dynamics, or advocate against misogyny, it carries significant weight with demographies that traditional public health campaigns struggle to reach. However, on the flip side, sometimes, some active players themselves face accusations and allegations of domestic abuse, and to keep their images intact, clubs and leagues often engage in legal proceedings, internal investigations, or contractual protections. If in case, the player in the past made stand against domestic violence but later he is convicted in such matter, then it becomes hypocritical and superficial virtue signaling. Hence, it leads to cautious public relations messaging and institutional silence, which overshadows broader advocacy efforts. Moreover, many high-profile athletes rely heavily on corporate sponsorships, because domestic abuse is a serious and polarizing topic, personal PR advisors often urge players to stick non-controversial charitable causes unless a statement is managed by a major campaign or league initiative.

Anyway, civil societies and law enforcing agencies cannot just sit and depend on the athletes to spread awareness. Alcohol consumption increases aggression and escalates abusive tendencies. Research from the London School of Economics revealed that alcohol related domestic abuse also spikes significantly when a team wins, peaking in the 3 hour period immediately following the match due to alcohol fueled celebrations. Apart from alcohol, it has been pointed out that the reasons for the spike in the domestic violence during major tournaments are caused by stress due to heavy emotional investment, tension or sudden disappointment or extreme happiness after a win, which can act as emotional shocks. Also the see the cultural narratives surrounding male sports dominance can foster toxic dynamics of control.

Domestic violence during major sporting tournaments like World Cup or league cups cannot be totally stopped but it can be minimized to a certain degree if key triggers are addressed like excessive alcohol consumption, launching awareness campaigns and strengthening community support system are immensely crucial. I want to end this post by saying, ‘Football doesn’t cause abuse. Abusers do.’  

 

 

Curses, Urban Legends and Football

Our generation’s wildest curse theory on internet is the Kardashian curse that claims individuals experience declines in career or personal life after romantic relationships with members of the Kardashian-Jenner family. In my opinion, it is just a hoax and curse theories have always floated around, with little to no substantial proof. However, in the world of sports too there have been numerous curse theories and urban legends, football is not an exception. Whether it be the curse of Chelsea’s jersey no. 9 or Manchester United jersey no. 7 or Mbappe curse, a viral football narrative focused on Kylian Mbappe being the reason for the failure to win the UEFA Champions League by the club he plays for, these narratives and theories make sports interesting to watch, especially when one is waiting for the curse to be broken. Nonetheless, there are two cases, which have boggled my mind. Take a look.

Curse of El Cilindro

Rivalries among football clubs are common but the story which I am going to narrate will make you think to what extend this bitterness, jealousy and hatred can go. In Argentina, the Racing Club won the Intercontinental Cup in 1967; fans of their fierce local rival Independiente broke into the El Cilindro, the ground of Racing Club and allegedly buried the corpses of seven black cats around the grounds to hex the club into eternal bad luck. It resulted in Racing losing numerous matches leading to trophy and title drought. After hearing about the rumours and witnessing series of misfortunes, the fans of the club performed exorcism but to no avail and in 1980, coach Juan Carlos Lorenzo had the pitch dug up to find the cats but workers only found six skeletons. In 1983, the club was relegated to second division and in 1999, it filed for bankruptcy. Everything changed in 2001, when during its stadium renovations; the final seventh cat skeleton was uncovered. That same year, Racing Club won the league championship title, ultimately breaking the 34 years old curse to rest.

My sceptical mind made to do a little bit of internet search. The story seems to change every time I read. It is true that they dug the stadium but the exact year varies. In some version, it is not even cats, but frogs and in some version, to neutralise the curse, seven toads were buried. I do not know whether to call it a placebo effect, psychological play or their eventual success was due to upgradation in football facilities, training and coaching skills. Anyway, whatever the actual story of the curse is, El Cilindro is one of the most unexplainable mysteries in the football history.

 The Curse of Béla Guttmann

Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known as Benfica, is a professional football club based in Lisbon, Portugal, that competes in the Primeira Liga, the top flight of Portuguese football. They have won the UEFA Champions League (then known as European Cup) back to back, 1960-62. However, after 1962, the club has reached eight major European finals but lost every single one. Why?

In the early 1960s, Benfica was the most formidable team in Europe. It was led by the  Hungarian manager Béla Guttmann, they won back-to-back European Cups (now the UEFA Champions League). They famously defeated Barcelona 3-2 in 1961 and a legendary Real Madrid side 5-3 in 1962. After this monumental success, Guttmann approached the Benfica board of directors and asked for a salary increase and a title bonus, which was well deserved. However, the club's president flatly refused. Furious at the disrespect, Guttmann packed his bags and quit on the spot. As he stormed out of the club doors in 1962, he allegedly cursed,

   “Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European Champions again!”

What initially seemed like an angry rant turned into a terrifying reality. Benfica remained highly dominant domestically, but every time they reached a major continental final, things went disastrously wrong. After witnessing series of failures, the club took the curse so seriously that ahead of the 1990 European Cup final played in Vienna (where Guttmann was buried), Portuguese football legend Eusébio whom Guttmann had once coached visited his grave. Eusébio knelt down and wept, begging the ghost of Guttmann for forgiveness and to lift the curse. Sadly, it didn't work; Benfica lost the next day.

In 2014, the club even unveiled a massive bronze statue of Béla Guttmann at their stadium holding his two European cups, hoping a tribute would appease his spirit. But, the drought continues. As per Guttmann's timeline, the hex will not expire until 2062.

 

 

 

Receding Hairline Among Naga Men

Every society is ageist in some way or the other. There is an extreme glorification of youth, made worse by mainstream media then and social media now. Hence, facelift surgery, fillers, collagen, retinol etc are terms which we hear more often than acetylene. Ageism is faced mainly by women, for women the expiry date comes faster compared to men, that is the belief set by the society. However, with all the advancement in beauty sciences, if one has the money then looking forever 21 is nearly possible. 

We talk about women and their efforts to look and stay young and beautiful. On the bright side, it is working. These days, women are aging better than man. Gone are the days, when we heard, age on their (men) side. Signs of aging are not confined only to wrinkles and liver spots, weight gain and receding hairlines are also indicators of aging. And talking about receding hairlines in men, I have noticed that the older Naga generation was less concerned about it and has embraced their baldhood, if there is any word as such. However, latter millennial and Gen Z men are taking preventive steps or seeking treatments to fix the issue of receding hairlines.

I did a surface level research (not intensive, to be honest, I do have the time to write a thesis on this issue) on what causes receding hairline in a man. What I learned was, receding hairline in men can be caused by genetics or hormones, lifestyle or environment, medical conditions or medications. Experts have pointed out that 95% of men with a receding hairline is driven by two main factors, genetics, where one inherit the tendency from either mother's or father's side of the family and the DHT hormone, man's body naturally converts testosterone into a byproduct called Dihydrotesterone (DHT). If one is genetically sensitive to DHT, then this binds to receptors in the scalp's hair follicles. 

While genetics is considered as the top reason, certain factors can speed up the process or cause temporary shedding that makes the hairline look worse. Some of which are chronic stress, vitamin deficiencies and traction alopecia. Sometimes, hair thinning along the front is a secondary symptom of an underlying health issues like, thyroid imbalances, scalp infections and side effects of medications. It is worth noting that almost all men experience a shift in their hairline between the ages of 17 and 29. That is called maturing hairline, where there is a transition from a rounded, juvenile hairline to a slightly higher, more defined adult hairline which usually move back about 1 to 2 cm above the temples. This is completely normal and does not indicate you will go bald. It is only when the recession continues past this point, unevenly deepening at the temples, and is often accompanied by thinning at the crown (the back of the head) then it can be term as receding hairline.

But at the end of the day, like we always say, it is better to seek professional help if we are seeking for a detail analyses.

 

The Dark Corners: Online ‘R worded’ Academy

Content Warning: This post contains discussions of sexual violence, including drugs and *ape. Reader discretion is advised.

The definition of safe and healthy relationship is built around consent, alongside several other things. When I read about Gisele Pelicot, apart from admiring her bravery, it made me question the world we are living in, the relationships we share, the crime stories which never seems to cease but above all, how much the phase, ‘fact is stranger than fiction’ remains relevant.

Coming back to Gisele Pelicot, she was the woman in France who discovered that her husband had been drugging her and *aping her while she was sleeping for over a decade and she was clueless. What made this case more horrifying was that she discovered that he had been inviting other men, total strangers, into their home to also *ape her while she was unconscious and for years, she had no idea what was happening to her. She was of the belief that she was in a loving marriage and trusted the man she was with, this is so heart wrecking. Overtime, she began to experience memory lapses and weight loss and confusion. Considering these symptoms, she was led to believe that she was developing Alzheimer’s. It was only in 2021, when her (then) husband was arrested for filming women up their skirts in a supermarket, the truth was revealed. The police searched through his digital devices, they uncovered a library of abuse. There were 20k photographs of Gisele that were carefully catalogued over the years. Investigators believe that not only was she assaulted by her own husband, but between 2011 and 2020, she was assaulted by at least 72 men.  Her husband Dominique Pelicot had been drugging her with sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medications and then recording those assaults and saving those videos. When the case went to trail in 2024, the verdict was, 46 men were found guilty of rape, two attempted *ape and two sexual assaults. Dominique, the husband received a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, may he rot in the jail and in hell and beyond hell for eternity.

Hold on! It is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Korean Nth room incident was horrifying but it was not the season finale.

CNN did a month’s long investigation, which revealed that there is a much larger, more hidden ecosystem built around several abuse of unconscious partner/ women that exist online, and one of those websites apparently received 62 million hits in one month. Why it is termed as ‘Online *ape Academy’? These websites act like an academy where men go to learn the details of how to drug and *ape their sleeping partners, they specifically learn what drug (some of it can be purchased online, they are typically odorless and tasteless), how much drug, how it has be done, how to check if she is unconscious, how to make sure it cannot be traced (maybe digitally or manually), how to make sure she doesn’t remember anything, how to record, how to post it online (some perpetrators live stream the act), how to sell it online, how to coach other people on how to get it done. As obvious, payments are often made in cryptocurrency making it very difficult to track. Looks like such online community builds a sense of brotherhood where abuse is encouraged, lauded, and celebrated and their ultimate test of such learning is the execution of such hideous acts?

Statistics show abuse and violence against women are perpetuated mostly by person known to them. Psychologists are of the opinion that such acts spring out not from a sense of desire but by sense of entitlement and control. There can be numerous debates and discussions on how to end this cycle, or at least prevent its amplification. When technological advancement meet twisted minds the result is often dangerous, no say on that, but I find a small ray of hope when men too start speaking against such abuses with an assurance and assertiveness that they are not and will never be one of abusers.

 

 

Love, Shaadi aur Gleeden

After the buzz about Bumble, Tinder, Hinge and category specific like Grindr, Muzz and SeniorMatch, there is Gleeden. Hence, what is Gleeden? It is a dating app designed for extramarital relationships and discreet meet-ups. It was launched in France, introduced in the market in 2009 and marketed as, ‘made by women, for women.’  What interesting is, it has significant number of users in India, making India one of its largest and fastest growing market. The surge in adoption of such dating app in urban India among married individuals could be a result of Supreme Court India’s 2018 judgment which decriminalized adultery, if adultery was a crime then who would have installed such an app.

Since, Gleeden is marketed as, ‘designed by women, for women’, women use the service completely free of charge, while men purchase a credit based subscription model to initiate charge. Even so, the overall user ratio stands at 65% men and 35% women and the users’ ages are between 30 to 45. Bengaluru has the highest user followed by Hyderabad and Delhi, showing the cities is taking the lead, but some of the urban towns are fast catching up. A survey was conducted to identify the primary motivators for using this app, the result shows, loneliness, emotional neglect and time constraint caused by demanding corporate schedule driving users to seek a digital escape. No wonder, the majority of the users reside in the cities.

Let’s talk about the reaction of our society. Traditional Indian society, conservative family groups, and moral watchdogs look at Gleeden users with sharp condemnation. As marriage in India is widely regarded as a scared union, a lifelong commitment, and using an app to facilitate affairs is viewed as an outright subversion of family values. Sociologists and relationship experts view the app’s popularity less as a moral failing and more as a ‘mirror’ to the quiet cracks in modern urban marriages. While society broadly judges any user, women face significantly harsher social policing and shame than men if discovered. Relationship commentators point out that the female surge highlights a silent shift where women are seeking emotional fulfillment rather than staying stuck in lonely marriages.

I wondered what if both husband and wife are secretly in Gleeden, what are the chances of getting caught? It seems the chances are slim as the app prevents users from recognizing each other through a few strict features like ‘private album system’ and yes of course, fake nicknames and blurred geolocation. However, if a husband and a wife did come across each other’s anonymous profiles, they wouldn’t know it was their spouse because to see the clear photo, one would have to send a request to view the other’s ‘private album.’   But the ultimate irony is, if the spouse accepts, they would both instantly see each other’s faces and realizes they are both using this app to cheat. LOL!  It will be a mutual ‘checkmate’ scenario where neither person can easily blame the other.

 

 

 

 

 

Thrift Fashion: Circular Practices through Second-Hand Clothes Market

In the simplest of terms, thrift shopping means purchasing second-hand goods. There are several reasons why buyers opt for thrift goods, the main reason being ‘price- sensitive’. Even among thrift goods, thrift clothing has the strongest consumer base. The buyers of thrift clothes often settles for such clothes because of the availability of genuine foreign designer brands at a reasonable price, which would have been impossible to acquire if it was from designated show rooms. There was a time, when buyers of thrift clothes were looked down, as it subtly implied that those who were not in a position to buy first hand branded clothes settled for second hand/pre-used clothes. However, overtime, affordability is not the only reason behind such purchase. People have grown more sensitive towards the environmental issues. 

No doubt, thrift shopping is one of the ways that make circular economy stronger by extending the lifespan of garments, reducing their environmental impact and minimizing waste. The concept of circular economy which is modeled in production and consumption involving sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, recycling and refurbishing have made the consumers of thrift fashion to be a part of such model, with or without awareness of it. It will be interesting to understand the reasons behind the sell and purchase of thrift clothing, whether it solely for economic reasons or there is an ounce of knowledge of circular economy based on the environmental awareness, my guess settles for the former. The per capita income of the  Nagaland  is relatively low as compared to other states of India. The thrift fashion especially clothes have found a huge market in this region, making the people to get hold of their desired clothes at an affordable price. But, apart from its environmental and financial significance, one should keep in mind that compulsive purchase or hoarding of goods whether it is branded or thrifted is a mental disorder. Take Care! 

Scripted Support, Raw Reality: The Unraveling of the Mary Kom Narrative

I still remember vividly, when Mary Kom's biopic was released in 2014, there were objections regarding the cast of the movie. Priyanka Chopra essaying the role of Mary Kom was not hilarious, it was plain unfitting. The angle of racism and cultural appropriation did the rounds, but eventually the movie was released, it was declared a hit, Priyanka Chopra won awards for her role and yes, Mary Kom must have earned her share of royalty. The movie depicted Kom's husband as a sweet, caring and supportive man, more or less an ideal husband. To add gravity, Kom too had said about Onler's (Kom's ex-husband) contribution towards her success in one of the interviews (the host of that show was Tara Sharma, in case, you need reference). Although biopic often over glorifies a person or tries to whitewash a perceived public image but it has some element of truth in it, it falls under the genre of nonfiction, after all.

But years down the line, the narrative is not the same, things have changed, they have divorced. The things Mary Kom said on Aap Ki Adalat have created havoc. Memes, opinions and reactions are floating on social media platforms. Well, she said what she said, but why she did say what she said? Only she knows. But two things can be inferred: his character depiction in the biopic was a lie or what she said in Aap Ki Adalat was a lie to shift the blame and control the narrative. Whatever may be the case, I am of the opinion that she needs media training.  

And like always, people who are allergic to feminism or have shallow understanding of feminism or does not know what different waves of feminism strives for, have dragged feminism into this matter. What Mary Kom said does not adhere to the tenets of feminism, for she tried to confirm herself in the societal norms by echoing what the society expects from a husband/man. 

Lastly, majority of us must have watched, La La Land.  It had a realistic storyline; will you sacrifice your dreams for the one you love? The two main characters did not; hence, the movie had a bittersweet ending.

 

Us vs. Them: The Persistent Shadows of Faith and Race

We are in a new year. 2025 ended in a bizarre note. Two varieties of news have made me wonder whether this country, India will ever get saner. 

Christianity is one of the minor religions of India. But being born in a Christian dominated state of India, I have only good memories of Christmas. There is nothing wrong in believing a God or identifying oneself with a particular religion or celebrating the birthday of the God, gods and goddesses you believe. However, some people seem to have a problem with all the religions, some with a particular religion and some with all the religions other than their own. Looks like hate is the most followed religion in and across the world and beyond.

There is persecution of the Christians in many parts of the world, and India is not an exception. Each year, during Christmas we hear stories about decorations being vandalised, church services getting interrupted and gatherings being disrupted, and with each passing year it is increasing. Organizations like the United Christian Forum (UCF) have documented hundreds of incidents of targeted violence and disruption of services annually, with numbers trending upward since 2021. I am glad that there were good number of people on social media condemning such incidents. Indians find pride in proclaiming the country to be the mother of democracy but secularism is an integral part of democracy. This country has failed or got low ranks in so many indexes, including religious freedom. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has repeatedly recommended India be designated as a "Country of Particular Concern," citing a sharp rise in attacks on minorities. The data cannot be wrong when attacks on religious minority are apparent. The law enforcing agencies should be vigilant, no doubt, at the same time, the hatemongers should learn to tolerate, accept, embrace the existence of other religions but the problem is how it can be done when religion is a strong vote bank.

Racism faced by the people of Northeast region in India is not a new thing. I have written numerous blog articles on this issue, seems like we are still in 2010s. Racial slurs, racially motivated attacks or racial discrimination are forms of racism but only when there is physical violence involved it is considered a crime, at least in India. We are told not to react, get provoked, ignore whenever we are mocked or lurked remarks are made about out facial features, it makes sense but for how long?

A study by the Bezbaruah Committee previously found that over 80% of people from the Northeast living in metros have faced some form of racial discrimination or verbal abuse The death of Angel Chakma a final-year MBA student from Tripura in Uttarakhand highlights the prevalence of racism even after COVID 19 pandemic has long gone. We often read and hear about various steps and measures to combat racism but that are all in theory, the ground reality is different. Race is an identity, as long as there is 'us vs. them' mentality and the urge to exhibit power and control, we cannot do away with racism. Least we can do is, not to practice racial prejudices ourselves. Moreover, the Uttarakhand Police said, they found no evidence to suggest that the killing of 24-year-old Angel Chakma was racially motivated. Let the investigation take its course and pray that justice will be served. Lastly, I am being realistic when I say; this won’t be the last incident of racism in India.

 

 

Why Compete the Ways...

Ankit Sajwan's revival and healing crusade in Dimapur, Nagaland, was a mega success. But when  some of the clips and pictures of the event were shared on social media, some people seem to have a melt down, excitedly bringing up the topic of rice-bag convert and what not. Hence, these few lines popped up on my mind.

 "Which religion is the best, is for the deads to decide.

 While we live in this world, let's learn to live.

Wisdom is god's eternal gift, age's first kiss.

Kindness the supreme of all, pride the doom's stair."

A Silent Crisis: Call for Improved Infrastructure

The brutal murder of a 22 year old state level basketball player in Nagaland sent shock waves across every corner of our state. I have been following this news, and I was of the opinion that it might be an insider's dirty work (this heinous crime must have been committed by someone known to the victim). I am sure; I am not the only one who thought on the same line. Whatever the motive was, I hope and pray that justice will be served. 

Catching the right culprit takes time, sometimes, days or weeks or even years, and in the worst case scenario, it's never solved and the case becomes a cold case. However, I am grateful to the Kohima police in general and the crime branch in particular for their relentless effort to catch the perpetrator. 

But it won't be a lie to say that our state lacks in public safety and criminal justice infrastructure. Nagaland has only one forensic science laboratory, that too in Dimapur, making the test results delay. Delivering justice is always urgency. It is an established fact, a growing population can lead to an increase in the absolute number of crimes, and there is a correlation between these two. Isn't it high time that the government should invest in above stated infrastructural facilities?

Just an opinion: I wonder why there are no true crime podcasters from Nagaland. Despite of having so many Youtubers and blooming podcasts, there seems to be not a single channel from our state that solely focuses on true crime. If there is or are dedicated true crime podcast in our state then it not only acts as a medium of information but if it's free from conspiracy and propaganda, then it is like a pressure building tool to make government agencies to act swiftly and to look into the lacunae that hinders the delivery of justice. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE TALK ABOUT SUGAR DADDIES IN NAGALAND

By now we all know what 'Sugar Daddy' is. This term can go both ways, either as derogatory or neutral. In the former, it implies a relationship based on financial support in exchange of companionship which can sometimes have sexual component and has power dynamics. In the latter, it is used to describe a wealthy patron in a light hearted way/ often as a joke. 

Sugar Daddy, there is an ambiguity surrounding the origination of this term. There are 3 popular accounts suggesting the origination of this term.

1908- Sugar Daddy was a pet name for Adolph B. Spreckels, heir to the Spreckels Sugar fortune, by his much younger wife, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, who called him her 'sugar daddy'. However, this story serves as unreliably sourced. Etymologists have questioned the accuracy of this story, indicating a lack of contemporary evidence.

1923- The term's first known appearance in print is often connected to the publicity surrounding the 1923 unsolved killing of Dorothy "Dot" King (a New York flapper). Her major benefactor, a wealthy financier, was referred to in her love letters as her 'heavy sugar daddy.' This public attention popularized the terms 'sugar daddy' and 'sugar baby' (or 'heavy sugar baby'), which derived from the use of 'sugar' as slang for money and 'heavy sugar' for large amounts of wealth.

1926- The Oxford English Dictionary attributes the earliest evidence of 'sugar daddy' to a 1926 work by British author Gilbert Frankau titled My Unsentimental Journey. Merriam-Webster also lists the first known use as 1926.

In Nagaland, the term 'Sugar Daddy' seems to have gained popularity post pandemic with other synonyms like Scorpio Uncle, Bolero Uncle and Chini Papa.  It is often used to mock the flamboyant attitude of middle aged men who try to lure young girls or ladies who are way younger than them, by showing off their financial status. It is also used to describe an illicit affair between a rich older man (provider) and a younger woman (receiver).  Although for some it can be a causal term used as a joke or disapproval but it projects the receiver as a 'gold-digger'. On the surface level, we really do not know the kind of relationship the sugar daddy and the sugar baby shares, relationships are complicated and our judgements make it even worse. What I want to say is, we go easy on Sugar Daddies but we are quick in giving moral gyans to Sugar Babies. The gender equivalent of Sugar Daddies is Sugar Mommies, and here we see a reverse, we pass judgements on the provider. No matter the flips, women are harshly judged, they are at the receiving end, always. It is not because women are considered as epitome of virtues and the society expect women to be the flagbearer of morality. Rather it is due to the ingrained misogyny in us. 

Lastly, people in question approach a rumour by releasing a press release, or issue an apology (if needed) or make clarifications through various social media means. However, I am of the opinion that, why give public explanation or clarification for a mere case of Sugar Daddy, when it does not relate with mass scale corruption or damage of public property. Rumour dies quickly especially when it meets the ears of a nonchalant person. To be honest, there are lots of people in our state who have other better works to do then just get entertained by the news of someone's dating life. Let's all chill a bit! 

 

Satanic Worship in Nagaland: Concerning or Just Paranoia

The United States of America has recognized Satanism as a religion. Well, the West's idea of secularism has always been different from India. In India, there has been communal violence, it is not that a particular religion hates the gods or God of the other religion, rather it springs out from the intolerance or hatred towards the community following that religion. Interestingly, when we talk about Satan worship or followers of Satan in Nagaland, the hate is for the god (Satan) they worship, not the followers. The followers are just considered as lost souls. 

Covid 19 pandemic showed the lacuna in the medical facility across the world, poor infrastructure marked by unpreparedness.  If Satanism blooms in Nagaland, does it reflect the weakness or inability of Church in bringing souls closer to Jesus? No!

Religion or preference to worship a particular god or goddess or deity, relies on an individual. It cannot be forced. How long can forced conversion or brainwashing work, after all, at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal experience. 

For any religion to grow, the theoretical foundation should be strong. Nothing offers a bigger basis for understanding its epistemological framework than its holy book.  The Satanic Bible in itself has faced lots of criticism. Founder of Satanism and author of Satanic Bible Anton LaVey has been criticized for plagiarizing sections, and there are various accusations that his philosophies are largely borrowed. Hence, I wonder why Naga youths would blindly follow Satan, when his foremost disciple could not even produce a standard piece of work.   

Maybe, those youths who are fascinated by Satan must have been made to think that they will achieve greatness by believing in Satan. But the truth is, no matter whatever religion one follows, if one does not have the talent, perseverance, hard work or networking and a 'moment of opportunity meets preparedness', then greatness will remain just a word in their lives. 

I am of the opinion that, the discussion surrounding satanic worship in Nagaland is just a mere paranoia and nothing to panic about. No doubt, the church should take measures, if only there is a growing prevalence. But the question should be not, 'What made you choose Satan as your God?' or 'Why did you choose Satan as your God?' or 'How did you end up choosing Satan?',  the question should be, 'Where do you think, you are going to spend your eternity?' Because the answer to this question is marked by opposing views even among the Satanists. 

Charlie Kirk and Billy Graham: How Gen Y and Z Nagas view Them

Charlie Kirk's existence and death was not free from debates, reactions and discussions, around the world. Nagaland was not an exception. In Nagaland, there were two groups, one that admired his speeches and might cherished his legacy. On the other hand, the other group, called out his views, which were often seen as homophobic, transphobic, sexist, regressive, racist, anti-DEI and the list runs wild. However, Charlie Kirk was seen as someone who loved Jesus and projected himself as a person whose foundation was built on Christian faith and values. 

Charlie Kirk might not be so popular among the older Naga generation, but Billy Graham was and still is across Naga generation. No doubt, they belong to two different eras, and Charlie is fit to be a grandson of Billy, age wise. Nonetheless, there are no two opposing views when it comes to Billy Graham, he was loved, liked and admired but same cannot be said about Charlie. When Billy Graham visited Kohima, Nagaland in  November 1972, he brought about inspiring spiritual awakening among Naga Christians. However, if Charlie Kirk was to ever make a campus tour in Nagaland, there could have been some backlash, at least on social media.  

The public perception of Billy Graham and Charlie Kirk differs greatly, and the reasons for this can be attributed to their distinct styles, messages, and historical contexts. Graham's message centered on personal salvation and a direct relationship with God. He appealed to a broad audience by avoiding overly complex theological or political debates. His simple, direct, and energetic preaching style was accessible to millions. Whereas,  Kirk's style is/was often described as aggressive and confrontational. He has been a central figure in the 'culture wars,' using his platform to promote a specific, and often inflammatory, brand of Christian nationalism and right-wing populism.

Billy Graham was known for his personal charisma and a reputation for genuineness and sincerity. He was often described as humble, kind, and without a hint of preening or self-importance. This made him a trusted and respected figure. Unlike Graham, Kirk's work is overtly political. He founded Turning Point USA to mobilize young conservatives and has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. His messaging often includes denouncing political opponents and promoting conspiracy theories.

Graham advised numerous U.S. presidents and engaged with the national discourse. While he had his own political beliefs, he often sought to be a spiritual leader for all, rather than a political partisan. He made efforts to integrate his crusades, a significant step at the time, and was often seen as a force for unity, even if some of his positions on civil rights were criticized by activists like Martin Luther King Jr. for being too moderate.  Kirk has made a number of highly controversial and widely criticized remarks about race, gender, and other social issues. For example, he has been known for promoting the *'Great Replacement Theory,' making disparaging comments about Black public figures, and advocating for specific, conservative social policies.

Lastly, Graham was an early adopter of new media, using radio and television to reach millions. However, he maintained a distance from the 'televangelist' label, particularly as other television preachers became entangled in scandals. His ministry, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was known for its sophisticated organization and was widely seen as above the fray of financial or personal impropriety. Kirk's career has been built on social media and a style of 'debate' that critics describe as designed to humiliate and provoke, rather than to engage in good-faith discourse. This has led to a reputation for being a polarizing and confrontational figure, which is a stark contrast to the perceived humility of Billy Graham.

Thus, Billy Graham holds respect in the hearts of Naga Millennials and Gen Z, while options are divided when it comes to Charlie Kirk. 

*Great Replacement Theory: Charlie Kirk has been widely criticized for promoting and endorsing versions of the Great Replacement Theory, a white nationalist conspiracy theory that claims there is an intentional plot to diminish or replace the white population with non-white immigrants, particularly in Western countries

 

The Difference between Half and Step

 I wonder why so many people make mistake when it comes to differentiating between half siblings and step siblings, half brother and step brother, half sister and step sister. Let me break it down for those who use it interchangeably or those you use ‘step’ when it should be ‘half’.

First Example: Arjun Kapoor is Boney Kapoor’s son from his first wife, Janhvi Kapoor is Boney Kapoor’s daughter from his second wife aka Sridevi. So, Arjun Kapoor is Janhvi Kapoor’s? Step brother? Wrong, he is her half brother because they share one of the parents, the parent being Boney Kapoor. I wonder why so many content creators make this mistake when mentioning about Arjun Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor. 

Second Example: King Charles has two sons namely (like you don’t know) Prince William and Prince Harry), Queen Camilla has a son and a daughter, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes. William and Harry will be Tom and Laura’s step brothers. Why? Because although the former’s mom is married to the latter’s dad, they don’t share any blood relation through one of the parents. 

Now, that you are aware of the difference, kindly correct those who make such an error. Thank you! 

The Fictional Therapist

Of late, if you are following the YouTube news channels then you must be well aware how the once acclaimed therapist from Nagaland fell from the glory, basically through the receipts.

The matter is still under investigation and the judgement is yet to be pronounced. But, the purpose of this post is not to give the therapist, his 'Catch Me If You Can' moment. This post is to reflect on the gullibility of we, Nagas and why we fall prey even if we are, well, not that dumb. 

There can be several factors but to me there are 3 possible reasons why our people fall for such questionable therapist/ health practitioners:

Lack of Health Literacy/Ignorance: Because a lack of understanding about medical science, disease processes, and what constitutes valid medical qualifications can make individuals susceptible to the misleading claims of quacks. They may not be able to differentiate between evidence-based medicine and pseudoscience

Hope and Belief:  Because the human desire for hope is powerful. Quacks often exploit this by making exaggerated claims of miraculous healing and providing a narrative that appeals to belief systems, sometimes even incorporating religious or spiritual elements. The placebo effect also plays a significant role, where a patient's belief in a treatment, even an inert one, can lead to perceived improvement in symptoms.

Aggressive Marketing: Because quacks often engage in aggressive and misleading advertising, making grand claims that prey on vulnerable groups, such as those with chronic illnesses, weight concerns, or mental health issues.

 I know for us one take away from this incident will be, don't trust anyone blindly, specially when it's a matter of our health and overall well-being. Let me end by quoting the famous lines, "Savdhan rahe satark rahe! "

Why I Chose Blogging Over Vlogging

Way back in 2014, one of my friends suggested me to open a YouTube channel. She thought my contents would be engaging and garner a huge audience. But, the thing was, I simply felt/ feel more comfortable expressing themselves in written form rather than speaking on camera. Moreover, I genuinely enjoy the process of writing, crafting sentences, and expressing complex ideas through text.

Blogging provides a pure outlet for this passion. I had to consider my budget too. Vlogging requires a good camera, microphone, and lighting for quality videos/clips. Uploading a blog post requires a smart phone or a computer and internet access.  Blogging has a very low upfront cost. While personality can through in writing, blogging often places a greater emphasis on the quality and depth of the information itself, rather than the on-screen persona of the creator.

At the end of the day, it is all about your preference and your choice to choose the mode in which you want to connect to the world. I chose blogging and will continue to do so. 

 

The Feathered Headgear: Leadership as an Institution

We have been conditioned to think of politicians when the term, ‘leader’ pops up in a speech or a text. However, in its simplest form, it means, ‘someone who leads’. It can be a Union leader, a Religious leader, Military commander or an Institutional head. Throughout the history and some of the fictional literatures inspired by history, leaders have been divided in two categories, a benevolent leader and a despotic leader. The former receives appreciation but the latter receives condemnation, even after they have passed away. But even a despotic leader has his cult of followers. As a teen, growing up with cable television network installed at home, I had the opportunity to watch Spiderman, there was a line, it goes like this, ‘…with great power comes great responsibility.” Time and again, history has proven the mark of true leadership is having a clear vision. This means, a leader should be a visionary. The one who can calculate the moves and the outcome from the means implied even before the battle has began. 

I grew listening to the stories of valour and honour displayed by the men of our land in defending one’s life, property and liberty. It was not about an individual showcasing such feats but as a team as a collective effort least the sacrifice made by one gets subdued in course of time. Thus, it shaped my understanding of leadership, for me, leadership does not mean a person who leads and make his followers win battles under his command, although this adds credit to the ability of the person in charge. A person who acts as the collective conscience of the people has been appreciated as a good leader but such acts require enormous amount of sacrifice. Sometimes, the bargaining chips are not worth the deal and sometimes the deal is better left unsettled and true leadership needs wisdom to choose the best possible option available considering all the consequences which might follow. 

In the context of Nagaland, if the youngsters were asked, who is/was their favourite leader from the state? Then, most of them will either pick up one of the politicians or a nationalist worker, past or present, dead or living. Although the fact remains, leadership does not confine itself only to the political sphere. Sometimes, fixating the role of leadership only to the people in power, leads to a narrower understanding of leadership, which in a way undermines the role of various people who were/are impeccable in their works. 

Leadership as an institution

In this section, I would like to argue about leadership as an institution and not an acquired skill or behaviour of a person. Institution is a set of rules, norms or laws that has been established over time and which draws its legitimacy from the people who obey and pay reverence to it. When we consider leadership as an institution, we are acknowledging the importance of the institution and negating from shifting the blame of failed governance from an individual to an institution. It makes sense, as by the end of the day, leadership is a collective effort springing from either a linear or a non linear power structure. 

Leadership as an institution recognises a systematic nature; it is not just about a charismatic individual, but a collective capacity and set of practices that are deeply integrated into the fabric of an organization. Institutional leadership is fundamentally about establishing, protecting, and promoting the core values, character, and mission of the institution. It defines, ‘who we are’ and ‘what we stand for’. 

How Leadership Becomes an Institution 

Cultural reinforcement is one of the reasons, as culture evolves to reinforce and sustain the desired leadership behaviours and norms. Also the role of visionary leaders cannot be ignored, for they articulate a clear purpose and set the foundation and actively create and infuse core values into the organization’s structure. Thus, “leadership as an institution” signifies that leadership is not just an individual attribute but a fundamental and enduring aspect of an organization’s design, culture, and operation, ensuring its sustained effectiveness and purpose. 

Through storytelling and shared experiences, a collective narrative and identity are developed, reinforcing the institution’s purpose and values. Additionally, behaviours and practices shape the expected behaviours, norms, and practices within the organization, fostering a culture that supports effective leadership at all levels. The institution becomes a social learning system where the knowledge, wisdom, and leadership approaches are passed down and evolved.

Sunep the Rock Hunter

My uncle, bless his heart, is probably the last person you'd expect to see on YouTube. He lives a simple life in our village, Mopungchuket, deeply connected to the forest that surrounds us. For years, his days have been filled with the rhythms of nature – foraging, observing wildlife, and just quietly existing amidst the trees. But recently, something shifted. He started filming his forest expeditions.

Now, my uncle isn't a tech whiz. He uses an old phone, and his editing skills are, shall we say, non-existent. But the real charm, the absolute magic of his videos, comes from his commentary. My uncle speaks what some might call "broken English" with a strong Ao Naga accent. It's a beautiful, earnest mix of mother tongue influence and English words strung together in ways that defy traditional grammar.

And honestly? It's captivating.

He says, 'Bright!' for Bread. His descriptions are raw, immediate, and utterly without pretense. There are no fancy camera angles, no polished scripts, just the genuine wonder of a man deeply connected to his environment, trying his best to share it with the world.

My uncle isn't trying to be a viral sensation. He's not chasing fame or fortune. He's just sharing his love for the forest, one heartfelt, grammatically unconventional video at a time. And in doing so, he's reminded me, and countless others, that true connection transcends language barriers. It's about passion, sincerity, and the willingness to simply be yourself, "broken English" with an Ao Naga accent and all.

Below is the link to his YouTube Channel. Kindly check it out: https://youtu.be/16HhvcfQ4kc?si=VGVmsJB-cd-e7VKe