Pabungmacha was in the second time. Biki and I walked past an Army combing operation in Kongba, right outside his gate. His house is pretty well fortified. Pabungmacha, as every one calls him, is Khuraijam Dhiren, the KD of all the improved rice varieties of Manipur.
KD is a handsome retiree: urbane, courtly, a quintessential Meitei gentleman, Obviously of the old feudal ruling class. His brother, who he obviously still worships, was my uncle’s go-to man, So he has figured out who I am and made all the family connections for me, typical Meitei fashion. How long will his kind be around? He had just stepped out of his bath. He kept his towel on and sat down with us.
Pabungmacha has a gruff voice, polite and tentative with an "OK?” or an “Am I right?” ending most of his statements. He thinks his work was based purely on his own passion. He might have done more had he not been transferred so often within his Agricultural department. Obviously he harbors little patience for administrative types and senseless bureaucracy. Biki is all awed. He sits at the edge of the sofa, eagerly hanging onto every word. He thinks we should make a film on KD. His logic is that no one has had as much impact on Manipur as KD has had. Even uneducated farmers know his name, from all the various KD varieties of rice: Sana Phou, Leima Phou... I cannot but agree.
KD tells us of his hybridizing of some of the 170 varieties of indigenous rice with Filipino varieties, IRRI strains, Hungarian rice. It is absorbing... He brings out a panel of plastic pockets, each containing a sample of rice, of paddy. He is still appointed to the University. What a valuable resource he must be! KD says there are over 250 germs of hybrids at the Rice station in Wangbal. Imasi Noyonsana had said much the same: they are still mining the treasure trove he left behind.
He also tells us of Ok hidak, a natural rhizome insecticide that people have used. He promises to find some for us. What a guy!
Monday, June 07, 2004
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Tonight was the last night of the Lai Haraoba at Lai Awangba. Ima insists we go. Priti and she did the whole routine – praying up on the temple and all while I videotaped. The shaman priestesses were all men ion drag and not very prepossessing I must say. Drag has little to do with beauty.
Of course, Lai Awangba being my father’s neighborhood deity, we got a lot of strangers walking up to us an introducing themselves. One sees why Khurai is seen as somewhat cut from the same cloth – nothing of that level of community participation could have been seen in the more hip localities. Men, young and old, took knives in hand as they, along with the finely attired womenfolk, traced the body of the Python King.
What took the cake was the drag-king performance of Saphabee. A group of neighborhood women lip-synched (is that one of the drag genes?) both dialogue and song. Resplendent in male costumes, and moustaches bristling with virility, they were super. As there is no flat-chested drag queen, all drag kings seem to have luxurious facial hair. One wore glasses and had to be pushed around by the others. It was pure theater, pure art, with none of the unnecessary add-ons and the pure joy of performance. Where else but in a place of worship? We left exhilarated.
Rather, I had to be dragged away from the four drag-priestesses starting the final ritual with branches and fire. So all the men were women and all the women men to the great Lai Awangba.
Of course, Lai Awangba being my father’s neighborhood deity, we got a lot of strangers walking up to us an introducing themselves. One sees why Khurai is seen as somewhat cut from the same cloth – nothing of that level of community participation could have been seen in the more hip localities. Men, young and old, took knives in hand as they, along with the finely attired womenfolk, traced the body of the Python King.
What took the cake was the drag-king performance of Saphabee. A group of neighborhood women lip-synched (is that one of the drag genes?) both dialogue and song. Resplendent in male costumes, and moustaches bristling with virility, they were super. As there is no flat-chested drag queen, all drag kings seem to have luxurious facial hair. One wore glasses and had to be pushed around by the others. It was pure theater, pure art, with none of the unnecessary add-ons and the pure joy of performance. Where else but in a place of worship? We left exhilarated.
Rather, I had to be dragged away from the four drag-priestesses starting the final ritual with branches and fire. So all the men were women and all the women men to the great Lai Awangba.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Cheibi tournament. I discover another Manipuri martial arts. It was Priti’s do, organized by her school. I was underwhelmed. Looked like everyone was just flailing away with leather-covered sticks. Must hurt like hell though. War is not pretty and needs to be choreographed. Perhaps I have seen too many acrobatic slo-mo fights in Hong Kong films. (Self-serving note: I am partly to blame as Gerard would say, for the HK film festival I did in 1988 was the one that introduced HK actions films alongside their art films.)
Saturday, May 29, 2004
It was an astonishing sight to see the smart informed agricultural scientist at home transformed into a dull, gossipy layabout at work. There we were Biki and I, waiting for our ride to Andro our next phase in our quest for Manipuri rice. Our pick up is late and never have I ever sat through a more excruciating three hours as Imasi played down her brilliance in front of her colleagues. Was it because she was a woman? Just the way work environments have become in this dreary place? Perhaps because they have all had to hide out in back avoiding unwelcome drop-ins from separatists?
On the ride out, she perked up like a wilting plant after being watered. Her colleagues aren’t half bad too with their agricultural knowledge. So there is perhaps a conspired dullness after all.
The land is spectacularly beautiful. We left with Ching Chahou Amubi, Ching Chahou Angangbi and 2 others. The rest all stocked up on some of the famed local hooch.
Peak moment: the old toothless farmer says to me: “Young man, tell me, for I have always wondered, are Americans Indians or Manipuris?”
We make and inhabit our worlds. Who is to say which is best? The periphery is the core.
On the ride out, she perked up like a wilting plant after being watered. Her colleagues aren’t half bad too with their agricultural knowledge. So there is perhaps a conspired dullness after all.
The land is spectacularly beautiful. We left with Ching Chahou Amubi, Ching Chahou Angangbi and 2 others. The rest all stocked up on some of the famed local hooch.
Peak moment: the old toothless farmer says to me: “Young man, tell me, for I have always wondered, are Americans Indians or Manipuris?”
We make and inhabit our worlds. Who is to say which is best? The periphery is the core.
Friday, May 28, 2004
The boys finally got their act together. The baseball game took place at Samusang Lampak, right next to Tamo Ratan’s Shrine. (Dig that name, hee hee)
The guys forgot I was videotaping them and really got into the game. These jocks. All the same same. Much better to hang out with than the arty types.
Hope Mike and I can do something with baseball. I told her Manipur is the only place where the game can flourish, with a bit of help. We want to make a film. Nat Geo? Must talk to Jenny when I get back.
Shall we call then the Manipuri Hillbillies? Mike likes the Manipuri Mets. Such a diehard.
The guys forgot I was videotaping them and really got into the game. These jocks. All the same same. Much better to hang out with than the arty types.
Hope Mike and I can do something with baseball. I told her Manipur is the only place where the game can flourish, with a bit of help. We want to make a film. Nat Geo? Must talk to Jenny when I get back.
Shall we call then the Manipuri Hillbillies? Mike likes the Manipuri Mets. Such a diehard.
Thursday, May 27, 2004
What am I to make of “The Rose of Lidice”? Tamo Nara invited us to the latest production of the courtyard theater troupe that did the 9/11 play. It was in the dirty and depressing Chi'nga shopping mall. What idiot thought of leveling the hill for this abomination?
We were there early so go to hang out with some of the actors. I was grilled about the troupe’s prospects in NYC. Oy vey.
The play is set in Czechoslovakia in 1942. Tamo Nara had evidently written a poem, his communist soul stirred by the children who brought him flowers when he visited Lidice with his comrades way back when there was still a Berlin Wall. So was the troupe sucking up to him by putting on this play? Is it how collaboration actually works? After all the Minister of Culture is a poet. Who knows, and what does it matter?
So their ballet was stolen from a film of Anna Pavlova Tamo Nara had. The heroines' names were Milky and Silky – and those you can’t steal from anywhere. And the Hitler was the most hilarious caricature since Chaplin. They must have seen The Great Dictator: the scene with Hitler contemplating the globe would be too scary a coincidence.
It is wonderful to see something that confounds all aesthetic standards. How lazy and conformist the cultural tastemakers truly are!
We were there early so go to hang out with some of the actors. I was grilled about the troupe’s prospects in NYC. Oy vey.
The play is set in Czechoslovakia in 1942. Tamo Nara had evidently written a poem, his communist soul stirred by the children who brought him flowers when he visited Lidice with his comrades way back when there was still a Berlin Wall. So was the troupe sucking up to him by putting on this play? Is it how collaboration actually works? After all the Minister of Culture is a poet. Who knows, and what does it matter?
So their ballet was stolen from a film of Anna Pavlova Tamo Nara had. The heroines' names were Milky and Silky – and those you can’t steal from anywhere. And the Hitler was the most hilarious caricature since Chaplin. They must have seen The Great Dictator: the scene with Hitler contemplating the globe would be too scary a coincidence.
It is wonderful to see something that confounds all aesthetic standards. How lazy and conformist the cultural tastemakers truly are!
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
What am I to make of “The Rose of Lidice”? Tamo Nara invited us to the latest production of the courtyard theater troupe that did the 9/11 play. It was in the dirty and depressing Chi'nga shopping mall. What idiot thought of leveling the hill for this abomination?
We were there early so go to hang out with some of the actors. I was grilled about the troupe’s prospects in NYC. Oy vey.
The play is set in Czechoslovakia in 1942. Tamo Nara had evidently written a poem, his communist soul stirred by the children who brought him flowers when he visited Lidice with his comrades way back when there was still a Berlin Wall. So was the troupe sucking up to him by putting on this play? Is it how collaboration actually works? After all the Minister of Culture is a poet. Who knows, and what does it matter?
We were there early so go to hang out with some of the actors. I was grilled about the troupe’s prospects in NYC. Oy vey.
The play is set in Czechoslovakia in 1942. Tamo Nara had evidently written a poem, his communist soul stirred by the children who brought him flowers when he visited Lidice with his comrades way back when there was still a Berlin Wall. So was the troupe sucking up to him by putting on this play? Is it how collaboration actually works? After all the Minister of Culture is a poet. Who knows, and what does it matter?
Monday, May 24, 2004
Ima talked about fashion this morning. I videotaped her, making sure we closed all the doors so that only the roosters crowing at 4 AM came through on the soundtrack. Aural ambiance I say. We have to finish this in an hour before the milkmaid comes, yelling for attention. Her mother was the milkmaid before her and remembers me as a child. Ima is very fond of the young milkmaid and gives her cosmetics!
The fashion show we went to the other day was what started this discussion. She turned out to be the Chief Guest – how she longs to be just an invitee without have this status conferred on her! She says it makes it impossible to leave early when she is tired or has had enough. The show was interminable but what a hoot. Runway and all. And some gorgeous models, sashaying down the little catwalk like supermodels. Global TV has done its job! Ima’s admonitions about the incorporations of Manipuri traditional fashion into the new struck chords from all the applause it gathered. She thinks baring navel is fine, but why do phaneks have to be worn low when they ride up at the back of the heels, obscuring the embroidered border, she asked?
I too, it must be noted, had my day on TV then of course. Mr. Somi from NYC giving the younger generations POV. I had to stop myself from giggling when I answered that Manipuri models are JUST as fine as New York’s best! Got much applause and call from TV watchers the next day.
Anyway, Ima’s memories of popularizing Moirang Phee borders, so ubiquitous now, as well as that infernal sari Phee'in makes her a progenitor if current fashion. Who would have guessed? I knew the drag actresses follow her fashions sense. But would the average dowdy salarywoman in Sari Phee'in attire know who had started it all?
Tamo Joykumar came with three renditions of Phou Woibee. He wrote RICE QUEEN in English as well. Ami I naughty or what! Hee hee.
I don’t know which I like better: the young pretty rendition or the older one with the broader more Meitei looking nose. The writing is cockeyed. I think it adds charm to the logo.
The fashion show we went to the other day was what started this discussion. She turned out to be the Chief Guest – how she longs to be just an invitee without have this status conferred on her! She says it makes it impossible to leave early when she is tired or has had enough. The show was interminable but what a hoot. Runway and all. And some gorgeous models, sashaying down the little catwalk like supermodels. Global TV has done its job! Ima’s admonitions about the incorporations of Manipuri traditional fashion into the new struck chords from all the applause it gathered. She thinks baring navel is fine, but why do phaneks have to be worn low when they ride up at the back of the heels, obscuring the embroidered border, she asked?
I too, it must be noted, had my day on TV then of course. Mr. Somi from NYC giving the younger generations POV. I had to stop myself from giggling when I answered that Manipuri models are JUST as fine as New York’s best! Got much applause and call from TV watchers the next day.
Anyway, Ima’s memories of popularizing Moirang Phee borders, so ubiquitous now, as well as that infernal sari Phee'in makes her a progenitor if current fashion. Who would have guessed? I knew the drag actresses follow her fashions sense. But would the average dowdy salarywoman in Sari Phee'in attire know who had started it all?
Tamo Joykumar came with three renditions of Phou Woibee. He wrote RICE QUEEN in English as well. Ami I naughty or what! Hee hee.
I don’t know which I like better: the young pretty rendition or the older one with the broader more Meitei looking nose. The writing is cockeyed. I think it adds charm to the logo.
Tamo Nara invites me to the show for the Governor and his daughter. I went because I wanted to see the new rehearsal hall that Tamo Ratan designed. (Exterior hokey, interior great but not insulated enough)
So Arvind Dave, the military spook appointed Governor in the usual manner of New Delhi, asks me about the elections in the US. He knows and cares since his daughter lives there. I sadly admitted I thought Bush would win. (Go Howard!) “Americans are stupid.” He says to much sycophantic laughter and walks away. I was so shocked at his rudeness. Uncouth and condescending behavior and the facile banality of his observation is not surprising from an army man governing a populace that despises him.
So Arvind Dave, the military spook appointed Governor in the usual manner of New Delhi, asks me about the elections in the US. He knows and cares since his daughter lives there. I sadly admitted I thought Bush would win. (Go Howard!) “Americans are stupid.” He says to much sycophantic laughter and walks away. I was so shocked at his rudeness. Uncouth and condescending behavior and the facile banality of his observation is not surprising from an army man governing a populace that despises him.
Tamo Nara invites me to the show for the Governor and his daughter. I went because I wanted to see the new rehearsal hall that Tamo Ratan designed. (Exterior hokey, interior great but not insulated enough)
So Arvind Dave, the military spook appointed Governor in the usual manner of New Delhi, asks me about the elections in the US. He knows and cares since his daughter lives there. I sadly admitted I thought Bush would win. (Go Howard!) “Americans are stupid.” He says to much sycophantic laughter and walks away. I was so shocked at his rudeness. Uncouth and condescending behavior and the facile banality of his observation is not surprising from an army man governing a populace that despises him.
So Arvind Dave, the military spook appointed Governor in the usual manner of New Delhi, asks me about the elections in the US. He knows and cares since his daughter lives there. I sadly admitted I thought Bush would win. (Go Howard!) “Americans are stupid.” He says to much sycophantic laughter and walks away. I was so shocked at his rudeness. Uncouth and condescending behavior and the facile banality of his observation is not surprising from an army man governing a populace that despises him.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
FARMING CULTURE: Biki and I go went out to Ka’ Gokulmani’s jobsite at Senapati. The tea-estate is called Hembung. Very impressive set-up that belongs to some former minister of agriculture. Looks like he is getting some major money from grantmakers all over. Not sure how serious he is about tea or whether this is more a pretty front for a grant cash cow.
The tea garden wasn’t as pretty as the flower garden. Not looked after terribly well, to my untrained eye. Supposed to stop slash and burn and turn the hapless peasants onto a cash crop etc etc.
Pity it is Assam tea when all the guy could have done was get seeds locally for a unique local product. And some local pride dammit!
Anyway, Ka’Gokulmani will get me some tea from Tamenglong and let’s see what I can do when I get back to NYC. I will send some to Les. He liked the Tamenglong tea I sent him in 2000. Getting some stick insects in return seemed fair trade. Poor Sticky and Jessica. Dead, dead, dead. Hope they are Canadian bugs and not tropical for I put them through some Christian rites. Though Dee and I got Sticky to the Blessing of the Animals at St John’s. The bishop goes, Bless you, Sticky, and all who love you. I think he was the only bug officially blessed, not counting the riff-raff who stowed away on some animal there, or some humans too for that matter from the looks of some of them. Hee. Jessica lies in the Biblical Garden, strewn there along with BVD’s ashes. I hope Barbara and Jessica are playing harp together just fine up there.
But I digress. Tea. Yum.
The tea garden wasn’t as pretty as the flower garden. Not looked after terribly well, to my untrained eye. Supposed to stop slash and burn and turn the hapless peasants onto a cash crop etc etc.
Pity it is Assam tea when all the guy could have done was get seeds locally for a unique local product. And some local pride dammit!
Anyway, Ka’Gokulmani will get me some tea from Tamenglong and let’s see what I can do when I get back to NYC. I will send some to Les. He liked the Tamenglong tea I sent him in 2000. Getting some stick insects in return seemed fair trade. Poor Sticky and Jessica. Dead, dead, dead. Hope they are Canadian bugs and not tropical for I put them through some Christian rites. Though Dee and I got Sticky to the Blessing of the Animals at St John’s. The bishop goes, Bless you, Sticky, and all who love you. I think he was the only bug officially blessed, not counting the riff-raff who stowed away on some animal there, or some humans too for that matter from the looks of some of them. Hee. Jessica lies in the Biblical Garden, strewn there along with BVD’s ashes. I hope Barbara and Jessica are playing harp together just fine up there.
But I digress. Tea. Yum.
Biki and I go went out to Ka’ Gokulmani’s jobsite at Senapati. The tea-estate is called Hembung. Very impressive set-up that belongs to some former minister of agriculture. Looks like he is getting some major money from grantmakers all over. Not sure how serious he is about tea or whether this is more a pretty front for a grant cash cow.
The tea garden wasn’t as pretty as the flower garden. Not looked after terribly well, to my untrained eye. Supposed to stop slash and burn and turn the hapless peasants onto a cash crop etc etc.
Pity it is Assam tea when all the guy could have done was get seeds locally for a unique local product. And some local pride dammit!
Anyway, Ka’Gokulmani will get me some tea from Tamenglong and let’s see what I can do when I get back to NYC. I will send some to Les. He liked the Tamenglong tea I sent him in 2000. Getting some stick insects in return seemed fair trade. Poor Sticky and Jessica. Dead, dead, dead. Hope they are Canadian bugs and not tropical for I put them through some Christian rites. Though Dee and I got Sticky to the Blessing of the Animals at St John’s. The bishop goes, Bless you, Sticky, and all who love you. I think he was the only bug officially blessed, not counting the riff-raff who stowed away on some animal there, or some humans too for that matter from the looks of some of them. Hee. Jessica lies in the Biblical Garden, strewn there along with BVD’s ashes. I hope Barbara and Jessica are playing harp together just fine up there.
But I digress. Tea. Yum.
The tea garden wasn’t as pretty as the flower garden. Not looked after terribly well, to my untrained eye. Supposed to stop slash and burn and turn the hapless peasants onto a cash crop etc etc.
Pity it is Assam tea when all the guy could have done was get seeds locally for a unique local product. And some local pride dammit!
Anyway, Ka’Gokulmani will get me some tea from Tamenglong and let’s see what I can do when I get back to NYC. I will send some to Les. He liked the Tamenglong tea I sent him in 2000. Getting some stick insects in return seemed fair trade. Poor Sticky and Jessica. Dead, dead, dead. Hope they are Canadian bugs and not tropical for I put them through some Christian rites. Though Dee and I got Sticky to the Blessing of the Animals at St John’s. The bishop goes, Bless you, Sticky, and all who love you. I think he was the only bug officially blessed, not counting the riff-raff who stowed away on some animal there, or some humans too for that matter from the looks of some of them. Hee. Jessica lies in the Biblical Garden, strewn there along with BVD’s ashes. I hope Barbara and Jessica are playing harp together just fine up there.
But I digress. Tea. Yum.
Monday, May 17, 2004
FARMING CULTURE: I remember meeting Biki on my first trip back to Manipur from NYC. Was that 1985? He was the only guy I met who had actually produced something. He showed me his farm where he made concrete posts. Everyone else seems to leech on memory, bureaucracy, and corruption.
I am glad we had that long heart to heart in Brooklyn last fall. He will be a terrific guy to work with. I like his school idea and offer to give him suggestions and contact on how to realize his dream of an online school. He says he wont work on it if I don’t work with him. I am touched.
Biki can make things happen. He is smart and I am sure his training in linguistics and literature is finding a novel use in his farming!
I am glad we had that long heart to heart in Brooklyn last fall. He will be a terrific guy to work with. I like his school idea and offer to give him suggestions and contact on how to realize his dream of an online school. He says he wont work on it if I don’t work with him. I am touched.
Biki can make things happen. He is smart and I am sure his training in linguistics and literature is finding a novel use in his farming!
I remember meeting Biki on my first trip back to Manipur from NYC. Was that 1985? He was the only guy I met who had actually produced something. He showed me his farm where he made concrete posts. Everyone else seems to leech on memory, bureaucracy, and corruption.
I am glad we had that long heart to heart in Brooklyn last fall. He will be a terrific guy to work with. I like his school idea and offer to give him suggestions and contact on how to realize his dream of an online school. He says he wont work on it if I don’t work with him. I am touched.
Biki can make things happen. He is smart and I am sure his training in linguistics and literature is finding a novel use in his farming!
I am glad we had that long heart to heart in Brooklyn last fall. He will be a terrific guy to work with. I like his school idea and offer to give him suggestions and contact on how to realize his dream of an online school. He says he wont work on it if I don’t work with him. I am touched.
Biki can make things happen. He is smart and I am sure his training in linguistics and literature is finding a novel use in his farming!
Friday, December 12, 2003
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
A bit of typical work for me and how it transpired in famously-fast-New-York-souped-up-City in the age of high-speed broadband connectivity, circa early 21st century. Eh.
All correspondence by email over the course of TWO weeks! Here's how it went:
On 11/18/03 5:50 PM, B wrote:
I missed your hootenanny... sorry. It has been a needy mommy week... sick kid, and all of that... you never can plan, you know... anyway, HOW WAS IT? Are you going to appear on Nov 25, at our think tank at Steven's place? 7 pm? Let me know. I will try to call you. Just got off the phone with J, who says he is going to M in December... he has never seen the tape, you know. Maybe he should sometime...love
S: Oh dear. I have to go to see Movin' Out with my friends from Tokyo that evening. But I haven't heard a final word so if I don't go I will make it. The square dance was great! I took H who loves to square dance and what with Tommy Bledsoe and Rich Kirby doing the fiddling, banjoing and calling, it was wonderful. Never realized how interesting it is - one on one, then changes, then a group... Very flexible. I must have displayed enthusiasm matched only by a need for lessons as someone came up and handed me a card for their dance group.... Wanna go sometime? H wants to! J. Hmm. Want to ask him if he wants to see the tape? I don't know him really. Also let's talk/meet soon and catch up.
B: Well, Somi, Joe should see the tape, really it would be best if he could see it before he goes to Manipur to see Rathan (spelling?). Send him a CD or whatever. I think it would be good for him to know what exists outside of Rathan. He plans to bring him to BAM again in 2005... even though he cannot do the court theater; he needs to know about it. I heard from him that Rachel and LB are going to Manipur. do you know about it? Seems it will be in December. Are they consulting you at all? And yes, I do want to dance with you. Fun. P.S. sorry if you miss us on Nov. 25.
S: Want to give him a call? I don't want to impose on him if he is not interested.
B: I have known Joe for many years, and we consider each other good friends... I spoke to him today, and I asked him if he saw the tape, he said no. I described it, and I think he would definitely be interested, since he is going to Manipur for the first time in his life.... I will tell him you will send it. And I will tell him to view it. Don’t worry. He is not able to produce it; I can assure you that he cannot do it mostly because of space. Actually, but I think it would be good for him to see it, since so many of his colleagues have seen it, and it will give him more background when he travels. For research purposes... I told him that maybe you were going to do a film at this point, but that the theater was very good, and that Schechner really loved the tape. etc. He would be pleased to see it. He is like that; he will view it. I assure you. When you send it, tell me and I will call him.
S: OK thanks!
B: Yes, good night? Good day? Is there a tape of your China trip that I could see, maybe?
S: How DID you guess? Ah you know me too well. I have two - one in China and one in Kentucky. The second is made by the Chinese filmmaker and is really funny. I got to get NTSCs and then well have a screening... with pea soup (I made my first one tonight!). I can come Tuesday!
B: Great. Bring a small contribution in the way of a snack or drink item... bottle of whatever you like, water, wine, Manipurian vodka, etc.
B: Hi oeJ, it is early, or is it late? Anyway, Somi will send you a copy of the tape I was telling you about from Manipur, of the courtyard theater company. I hope you can see it before you go to Manipur, to know a bit more about what is there, and this form, and this particular work, which we would love to hear your feedback about.
B: At some point, we should meet together with Joe, so that you can speak more easily to him directly. At this time, he has asked me to check with you about what to expect in M in December. Here are the questions he has asked:
What to expect in Imphal, Manipur in December-- Weather? Is there something culturally that he should be aware of prior to arriving? Should he bring his own bottled water, toilet paper, food ??? He has no clue what to expect when he arrives... so any information will be sincerely appreciated.
He is departing on December 25th evening. I might ask him to meet us for lunch at some point, if he has time. And if you do, let me know.
S: Sure - great idea. You can give him my email, or number as what he is asking for is kinda large and diverse area to cover...
S: Hi Erin, would you be so kind as to send the WTC tape to Joe with a note to return to me? He needs to see it soon. Thanks! You coming here for hols? Maybe we can get together and look at stuff.
E: Will put it in the mail today. No problem. I am best reached these days at my S address: XXXX@swarthmore.edu. Cheers,
B: Thanks, Somi. J suggests we all three meet for coffee early in the morning somewhere near his place, which is in the East Village... we usually meet at Dean and Deluca, near Union Square. Does this make sense to you? I think it is on University Place and about 12th street. Let me know which is your best day, and I will arrange it for all of us to meet. I prefer 9 am Mon, Wed or Fri; week after x-giving is best. Or next week on Tuesday is ok for me. Nov. 25 at 9 am?
B: Tuesday at 9 am at Dean and Deluca is ok with Joe, how about you?
J: I just penciled it into my calendar and I only await your confirmation. I hope it works for Somi. Best, J
S: Tues morning is not good for me, alas. Kohei Andoh (remember him Bonnie, the guy who worked with Terayama?) is here and I am working on a shoot for him till that morning. If Tuesday, I am free, as I mentioned, to come to S's that evening at 7 since I am not going to the B'way show with the Japanese crew. One possibility is therefore meet a little earlier in W. Village and then we can head up together? When is your departure, Joe? I am good generally afternoons and evenings. Boy, it’s like herding cats.
J: S and B - I am in my office now, Cloud Gate is giving their final performance tonight. I do not have my calendar here with me so on Monday; I shall have SP, executive assistant, contact you with some options. I do not depart for Manipur until the evening of December 25th. Best, J
B: Hi, I am leaving for Japan from Dec. 3-12, so I hope we can all get together before or after that time. Anyway, before Dec. 24 is best for J. thanks to all.
J: We have to meet before you depart for Japan.
B: OK, S, J - How about Monday morning, Dec 1 9 am coffee? Or Tuesday, Dec. 2? I am fine with both of those days. Keep me posted.
J: B and S - I am flying back from Cannes, France on Monday, December 1st and do not arrive until the evening. I have a standing BAM executive staff meeting every Tuesday at 10a.m so I cannot do the morning of December 2nd. I do have a lunch meeting in Manhattan and could meet you both for coffee at Dean and Deluca/University Place and 11th Street at 3:00pm. Can you both do it then? Best, J
B: Hi guys. I am fine with 3 pm on December 2, at Dean/Deluca.
J: Now we wait to hear from Somi....
S: Me too.
SP: Hi there, can you meet Joe for coffee at Dean & Deluca at 3pm on December 2nd? Thanks
S: Yes that will work for me.
SP: Somi has confirmed with me that it was OK too. It's a date! Tuesday, December 2nd at 3 PM at Dean & Deluca
B: IT'S A DATE! DEC 2, AT 3 PM AT DEAN/DELUCA, UNIVERSITY NEAR 11TH STREET. THANKS ALL.
S: Yes indeed.
J: Thank you all and see you there
…
SP: Dear Somi and Bonnie - would you mind coming to BAM at 3 PM? Joe cannot make it to the city. Please let me know. Thanks
S: OK with me.
SP: Thanks Somi, I just spoke to Bonnie who was going to call you. I will let her know. See you later and thank you
S: No prob. Talked to Bonnie. See you at 3.
…
J: thank you for being so kind to venture to my office
S: Hi Erin - You back at Swarthmore? Hope you had a good TG - thought of time spent with you and your mom last year... Just met with Joe and he hadn't received the tape. Did you send it on or is the postal nightmare for Xmas already upon us? His address once again if you couldn't get to it during your final thesis dash... He leaves soon for Manipur so kinda urgent. I am trying to get my dubbing station corrected in the meantime. 3 VCRS and still no-go here! Do let me know one way or another ASAP.
S: Dear Tamo: How are you? I just met with Joe and he's very excited about coming to Manipur to see your plays. Imagine, he hadn't known about getting special permission until today from L and he is getting that done today! I sure hope it can be swung in time for I know you will be able to get it for him.
Tamo, I told J about Tamo Birjit's sumaang lila WTC and he is interested in seeing it if there is time. I would like to see if it can be invited to NYC. I ventured my opinion that while RS thought very highly of it from the footage I had compiled for it, I was not sure if it was quite for BNW. But that since he would be able to get a take of it as a theater and performance expert, I would like his opinion. He thought it might be good for the NPN here - the network that specializes in small production tours but since I am the only one here who has seen the entire play, it would be terrific if he could take a look. His word will count for much.
I recounted what you told me about the time you presented Tamo Birjit's sumaang lila at the national theater festival in Delhi a couple of years ago, your innovations in lighting it and so on, and how the critics there did not know how to respond to it. I also told Joe that since he as only two days there and his main purpose was to see your play I did not want to divert him from that. Since he considers you like a brother as he said to me, I am confident that he will be OK if he misses it owing to his tight schedule.
I have taken the liberty of saying that he can contact you and work it out, rehearsals and everything being what they are there I am sure. He has requested me to send information about it so he may email you regarding setting up a performance. I will send him a tape here so he will get a synoptic gist of it before he leaves.
If my article about the play for Schechner's next issue of TDR comes out before he leaves, I will send a copy with him or Rachel. My mother also has a tape of my footage (NTSC, 30min) that I will ask her to send over to you. It is subtitled so Joe will get a synopsis of the play before he leaves.
But should it not work out and this imposition is coming at a bad time for you, please don't feel the need to do this. As I mentioned, I made this very clear to J and, though intrigued as a New Yorker, he understands completely.
Hope you will have a great time with R, J and company. Wish I were there with them to see your new work too!
S: Hi Joe - Lovely to sit down and talk. I emailed Erin again to get the 30min tape to you. I sent a note to Ratan as well, deferring the decision to him too; so he will expect your email should you decide to see the play. Thanks for your interest. I hope you will enjoy it. If the new issue of TDR with my article comes out before you leave, may I send a few copies with you? The play is called WTC and it is a sumaang lila or M courtyard theater. The director is Birjit Ngangomba. Though, Manipuri style, he is known just as Birjit. It was 2 hours when I saw it but I think they were shortening it somewhat.
Oh, and the woman who sells some rather nice handwoven and embroidered stuff is called Rani and she lives in a neighborhood known for weaving, called Wangkhei. Well known enough to be known as Wangkhei Rani. She sometimes carries one woven style you might want to check out called Engineer Phee - implying that only engineers' wives can afford it, their husbands known for their monumental corruption. The Manipuri shawls are wide, made by women from there and brought over to Rani's, but they make some for Indian tourists that are narrower. You want to look at the silk not the heavily starched cotton; everyone will know what you are talking about. Maybe $15-20, with about 50 rupees to a dollar? There is one ATM in all the eight states at last count, so take rupees from Bombay or Calcutta airport ATMs. No credit cards, natch. Sana Keithel, the traditional women's market, which I am sure someone will tell you about, and worth seeing, carries somewhat cheaper but still good stuff- but usually from another village called U that W women turn up their noses at. Apparently, a W woman eloped with a guy from U, taking her weaving skills with her. Or so the story goes...
There is a very helpful young man called Ranjit (I am pretty sure his name is Ranjit) in charge at Jet Airways in I should you need anything, like jump the line, put you on the next flight and so on. When you get to the airport let him know you need to make your flight and connections and he can do wonders. I think he will remember me. I am sure R knows him too.
Good luck with all your openings. I am looking forward to Klinghoffer tomorrow. Have a wonderful trip.
S: Thanks Bonnie for setting u the meeting - see you Dec 13! And have a great trip.
B: OK, S. The details make my mouth water! Wish we were all going together... J, I hope the show opened well. And best tomorrow, too. I will pass along greetings to Japan for you. Good to see you. Best,
S: Not as mouthwatering as the meat-pie I just made... LOL
B: Cooking and not inviting me? Argh! You need to make dinner for me, sir. Maybe we can invite Joe too? Stay warm. It is about 20 degrees outside! But about 50 in Tokyo... tee hee. Now, I got to get to the packing... or I will never make it to 7 am
S: Yeah... gloat... dinner when you are both back maybe?
B: Yes.
S: My friends at TBS are Kohei Ando and Aki Yamada. Beate adores Kohei. Aki is the daughter of Yoji Yamada who made all the Tora-san pics. She is also a theater director…
B: Thanks, I will send a note and hope to meet him/ them.
It was fun to hear your description of Manipur. Hope it works that Joe sees the WTC piece. Are they a couple? Aki and Kohei?
S: No, they produce for each other when the other is directing. They are both in the arty section of HiDef Division there. Kohei is very senior but a real artist - told you he was Terayama's Assistant Director? Made some lovely short films that I showed at TAS.
B: It is all coming back to me now... yes, I am sure I met him. I think I have his namecard somewhere! OK. Best,
E: I sent it already. Hmm. I did make a copy for myself, and maybe can send that FedEx tomorrow.
S: Thanks Erin! That's cool about the copy. Hold one to it. I will bring him one today - one I didn't want to show because it has some personal funeral stuff for the guy whose death inspired the play. Oh will 9/11 never go away...
Finally, on 12/3/03 4:07 PM, Joe wrote:
Dear S: I so enjoyed meeting and having our discussion. I am very grateful for your perspective on Manipur and the advice you have provided me for my trip. Thank you again. Looking forward to continuing our dialogue when I return from I. It will have to wait until I return from my holiday to Brazil. It's an annual visit to sit on several of the beaches, in particular, Salvador, Bahia. I am back at BAM mid-January. Hope to see you in the lobby this evening for THE DEATH OF KLINGHOFFER. With kind regards, J
- posted by Breukelen @ 7:55 AM
A bit of typical work for me and how it transpired in famously-fast-New-York-souped-up-City in the age of high-speed broadband connectivity, circa early 21st century. Eh.
All correspondence by email over the course of TWO weeks! Here's how it went:
On 11/18/03 5:50 PM, B wrote:
I missed your hootenanny... sorry. It has been a needy mommy week... sick kid, and all of that... you never can plan, you know... anyway, HOW WAS IT? Are you going to appear on Nov 25, at our think tank at Steven's place? 7 pm? Let me know. I will try to call you. Just got off the phone with J, who says he is going to M in December... he has never seen the tape, you know. Maybe he should sometime...love
S: Oh dear. I have to go to see Movin' Out with my friends from Tokyo that evening. But I haven't heard a final word so if I don't go I will make it. The square dance was great! I took H who loves to square dance and what with Tommy Bledsoe and Rich Kirby doing the fiddling, banjoing and calling, it was wonderful. Never realized how interesting it is - one on one, then changes, then a group... Very flexible. I must have displayed enthusiasm matched only by a need for lessons as someone came up and handed me a card for their dance group.... Wanna go sometime? H wants to! J. Hmm. Want to ask him if he wants to see the tape? I don't know him really. Also let's talk/meet soon and catch up.
B: Well, Somi, Joe should see the tape, really it would be best if he could see it before he goes to Manipur to see Rathan (spelling?). Send him a CD or whatever. I think it would be good for him to know what exists outside of Rathan. He plans to bring him to BAM again in 2005... even though he cannot do the court theater; he needs to know about it. I heard from him that Rachel and LB are going to Manipur. do you know about it? Seems it will be in December. Are they consulting you at all? And yes, I do want to dance with you. Fun. P.S. sorry if you miss us on Nov. 25.
S: Want to give him a call? I don't want to impose on him if he is not interested.
B: I have known Joe for many years, and we consider each other good friends... I spoke to him today, and I asked him if he saw the tape, he said no. I described it, and I think he would definitely be interested, since he is going to Manipur for the first time in his life.... I will tell him you will send it. And I will tell him to view it. Don’t worry. He is not able to produce it; I can assure you that he cannot do it mostly because of space. Actually, but I think it would be good for him to see it, since so many of his colleagues have seen it, and it will give him more background when he travels. For research purposes... I told him that maybe you were going to do a film at this point, but that the theater was very good, and that Schechner really loved the tape. etc. He would be pleased to see it. He is like that; he will view it. I assure you. When you send it, tell me and I will call him.
S: OK thanks!
B: Yes, good night? Good day? Is there a tape of your China trip that I could see, maybe?
S: How DID you guess? Ah you know me too well. I have two - one in China and one in Kentucky. The second is made by the Chinese filmmaker and is really funny. I got to get NTSCs and then well have a screening... with pea soup (I made my first one tonight!). I can come Tuesday!
B: Great. Bring a small contribution in the way of a snack or drink item... bottle of whatever you like, water, wine, Manipurian vodka, etc.
B: Hi oeJ, it is early, or is it late? Anyway, Somi will send you a copy of the tape I was telling you about from Manipur, of the courtyard theater company. I hope you can see it before you go to Manipur, to know a bit more about what is there, and this form, and this particular work, which we would love to hear your feedback about.
B: At some point, we should meet together with Joe, so that you can speak more easily to him directly. At this time, he has asked me to check with you about what to expect in M in December. Here are the questions he has asked:
What to expect in Imphal, Manipur in December-- Weather? Is there something culturally that he should be aware of prior to arriving? Should he bring his own bottled water, toilet paper, food ??? He has no clue what to expect when he arrives... so any information will be sincerely appreciated.
He is departing on December 25th evening. I might ask him to meet us for lunch at some point, if he has time. And if you do, let me know.
S: Sure - great idea. You can give him my email, or number as what he is asking for is kinda large and diverse area to cover...
S: Hi Erin, would you be so kind as to send the WTC tape to Joe with a note to return to me? He needs to see it soon. Thanks! You coming here for hols? Maybe we can get together and look at stuff.
E: Will put it in the mail today. No problem. I am best reached these days at my S address: XXXX@swarthmore.edu. Cheers,
B: Thanks, Somi. J suggests we all three meet for coffee early in the morning somewhere near his place, which is in the East Village... we usually meet at Dean and Deluca, near Union Square. Does this make sense to you? I think it is on University Place and about 12th street. Let me know which is your best day, and I will arrange it for all of us to meet. I prefer 9 am Mon, Wed or Fri; week after x-giving is best. Or next week on Tuesday is ok for me. Nov. 25 at 9 am?
B: Tuesday at 9 am at Dean and Deluca is ok with Joe, how about you?
J: I just penciled it into my calendar and I only await your confirmation. I hope it works for Somi. Best, J
S: Tues morning is not good for me, alas. Kohei Andoh (remember him Bonnie, the guy who worked with Terayama?) is here and I am working on a shoot for him till that morning. If Tuesday, I am free, as I mentioned, to come to S's that evening at 7 since I am not going to the B'way show with the Japanese crew. One possibility is therefore meet a little earlier in W. Village and then we can head up together? When is your departure, Joe? I am good generally afternoons and evenings. Boy, it’s like herding cats.
J: S and B - I am in my office now, Cloud Gate is giving their final performance tonight. I do not have my calendar here with me so on Monday; I shall have SP, executive assistant, contact you with some options. I do not depart for Manipur until the evening of December 25th. Best, J
B: Hi, I am leaving for Japan from Dec. 3-12, so I hope we can all get together before or after that time. Anyway, before Dec. 24 is best for J. thanks to all.
J: We have to meet before you depart for Japan.
B: OK, S, J - How about Monday morning, Dec 1 9 am coffee? Or Tuesday, Dec. 2? I am fine with both of those days. Keep me posted.
J: B and S - I am flying back from Cannes, France on Monday, December 1st and do not arrive until the evening. I have a standing BAM executive staff meeting every Tuesday at 10a.m so I cannot do the morning of December 2nd. I do have a lunch meeting in Manhattan and could meet you both for coffee at Dean and Deluca/University Place and 11th Street at 3:00pm. Can you both do it then? Best, J
B: Hi guys. I am fine with 3 pm on December 2, at Dean/Deluca.
J: Now we wait to hear from Somi....
S: Me too.
SP: Hi there, can you meet Joe for coffee at Dean & Deluca at 3pm on December 2nd? Thanks
S: Yes that will work for me.
SP: Somi has confirmed with me that it was OK too. It's a date! Tuesday, December 2nd at 3 PM at Dean & Deluca
B: IT'S A DATE! DEC 2, AT 3 PM AT DEAN/DELUCA, UNIVERSITY NEAR 11TH STREET. THANKS ALL.
S: Yes indeed.
J: Thank you all and see you there
…
SP: Dear Somi and Bonnie - would you mind coming to BAM at 3 PM? Joe cannot make it to the city. Please let me know. Thanks
S: OK with me.
SP: Thanks Somi, I just spoke to Bonnie who was going to call you. I will let her know. See you later and thank you
S: No prob. Talked to Bonnie. See you at 3.
…
J: thank you for being so kind to venture to my office
S: Hi Erin - You back at Swarthmore? Hope you had a good TG - thought of time spent with you and your mom last year... Just met with Joe and he hadn't received the tape. Did you send it on or is the postal nightmare for Xmas already upon us? His address once again if you couldn't get to it during your final thesis dash... He leaves soon for Manipur so kinda urgent. I am trying to get my dubbing station corrected in the meantime. 3 VCRS and still no-go here! Do let me know one way or another ASAP.
S: Dear Tamo: How are you? I just met with Joe and he's very excited about coming to Manipur to see your plays. Imagine, he hadn't known about getting special permission until today from L and he is getting that done today! I sure hope it can be swung in time for I know you will be able to get it for him.
Tamo, I told J about Tamo Birjit's sumaang lila WTC and he is interested in seeing it if there is time. I would like to see if it can be invited to NYC. I ventured my opinion that while RS thought very highly of it from the footage I had compiled for it, I was not sure if it was quite for BNW. But that since he would be able to get a take of it as a theater and performance expert, I would like his opinion. He thought it might be good for the NPN here - the network that specializes in small production tours but since I am the only one here who has seen the entire play, it would be terrific if he could take a look. His word will count for much.
I recounted what you told me about the time you presented Tamo Birjit's sumaang lila at the national theater festival in Delhi a couple of years ago, your innovations in lighting it and so on, and how the critics there did not know how to respond to it. I also told Joe that since he as only two days there and his main purpose was to see your play I did not want to divert him from that. Since he considers you like a brother as he said to me, I am confident that he will be OK if he misses it owing to his tight schedule.
I have taken the liberty of saying that he can contact you and work it out, rehearsals and everything being what they are there I am sure. He has requested me to send information about it so he may email you regarding setting up a performance. I will send him a tape here so he will get a synoptic gist of it before he leaves.
If my article about the play for Schechner's next issue of TDR comes out before he leaves, I will send a copy with him or Rachel. My mother also has a tape of my footage (NTSC, 30min) that I will ask her to send over to you. It is subtitled so Joe will get a synopsis of the play before he leaves.
But should it not work out and this imposition is coming at a bad time for you, please don't feel the need to do this. As I mentioned, I made this very clear to J and, though intrigued as a New Yorker, he understands completely.
Hope you will have a great time with R, J and company. Wish I were there with them to see your new work too!
S: Hi Joe - Lovely to sit down and talk. I emailed Erin again to get the 30min tape to you. I sent a note to Ratan as well, deferring the decision to him too; so he will expect your email should you decide to see the play. Thanks for your interest. I hope you will enjoy it. If the new issue of TDR with my article comes out before you leave, may I send a few copies with you? The play is called WTC and it is a sumaang lila or M courtyard theater. The director is Birjit Ngangomba. Though, Manipuri style, he is known just as Birjit. It was 2 hours when I saw it but I think they were shortening it somewhat.
Oh, and the woman who sells some rather nice handwoven and embroidered stuff is called Rani and she lives in a neighborhood known for weaving, called Wangkhei. Well known enough to be known as Wangkhei Rani. She sometimes carries one woven style you might want to check out called Engineer Phee - implying that only engineers' wives can afford it, their husbands known for their monumental corruption. The Manipuri shawls are wide, made by women from there and brought over to Rani's, but they make some for Indian tourists that are narrower. You want to look at the silk not the heavily starched cotton; everyone will know what you are talking about. Maybe $15-20, with about 50 rupees to a dollar? There is one ATM in all the eight states at last count, so take rupees from Bombay or Calcutta airport ATMs. No credit cards, natch. Sana Keithel, the traditional women's market, which I am sure someone will tell you about, and worth seeing, carries somewhat cheaper but still good stuff- but usually from another village called U that W women turn up their noses at. Apparently, a W woman eloped with a guy from U, taking her weaving skills with her. Or so the story goes...
There is a very helpful young man called Ranjit (I am pretty sure his name is Ranjit) in charge at Jet Airways in I should you need anything, like jump the line, put you on the next flight and so on. When you get to the airport let him know you need to make your flight and connections and he can do wonders. I think he will remember me. I am sure R knows him too.
Good luck with all your openings. I am looking forward to Klinghoffer tomorrow. Have a wonderful trip.
S: Thanks Bonnie for setting u the meeting - see you Dec 13! And have a great trip.
B: OK, S. The details make my mouth water! Wish we were all going together... J, I hope the show opened well. And best tomorrow, too. I will pass along greetings to Japan for you. Good to see you. Best,
S: Not as mouthwatering as the meat-pie I just made... LOL
B: Cooking and not inviting me? Argh! You need to make dinner for me, sir. Maybe we can invite Joe too? Stay warm. It is about 20 degrees outside! But about 50 in Tokyo... tee hee. Now, I got to get to the packing... or I will never make it to 7 am
S: Yeah... gloat... dinner when you are both back maybe?
B: Yes.
S: My friends at TBS are Kohei Ando and Aki Yamada. Beate adores Kohei. Aki is the daughter of Yoji Yamada who made all the Tora-san pics. She is also a theater director…
B: Thanks, I will send a note and hope to meet him/ them.
It was fun to hear your description of Manipur. Hope it works that Joe sees the WTC piece. Are they a couple? Aki and Kohei?
S: No, they produce for each other when the other is directing. They are both in the arty section of HiDef Division there. Kohei is very senior but a real artist - told you he was Terayama's Assistant Director? Made some lovely short films that I showed at TAS.
B: It is all coming back to me now... yes, I am sure I met him. I think I have his namecard somewhere! OK. Best,
E: I sent it already. Hmm. I did make a copy for myself, and maybe can send that FedEx tomorrow.
S: Thanks Erin! That's cool about the copy. Hold one to it. I will bring him one today - one I didn't want to show because it has some personal funeral stuff for the guy whose death inspired the play. Oh will 9/11 never go away...
Finally, on 12/3/03 4:07 PM, Joe wrote:
Dear S: I so enjoyed meeting and having our discussion. I am very grateful for your perspective on Manipur and the advice you have provided me for my trip. Thank you again. Looking forward to continuing our dialogue when I return from I. It will have to wait until I return from my holiday to Brazil. It's an annual visit to sit on several of the beaches, in particular, Salvador, Bahia. I am back at BAM mid-January. Hope to see you in the lobby this evening for THE DEATH OF KLINGHOFFER. With kind regards, J
- posted by Breukelen @ 7:55 AM
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Thanksgiving Dinner was at Zette‘s.
Harvested some begonias from the backyard for the table. They will die soon - except of course the two Kohei took with him back to Tokyo. Bennet's bf David? did such as great job with them the other day at their DUMBO dinner party I assured Zette; but of course these gay boys are like Martha Stewart on testosterone. D might even be on steroids he did such a beautiful job with the dinner table and the food.
A did a good job with the begonias too and she actually used the lovely fall leaves Tim picked up from the yard and threw in when he came by to drop off pics before going over to ex Chris's for Thanksgiving dinner.
Took my new blueberry tart, the new one that rocks. Herewith the recipe:
MICK JAGGERY BLUEBERRY TART
Update: SIR Mick Jaggery Blueberry Tart...
Cadge homemade pastry dough from Mom B
Roll out pastry dough to fit ramikin dish from IKEA (circa E.)
Rub ramikin bottom and sides with stick of butter
Dust with flour
Lay pastry dough on bottom; mend tears as necessary (very necessary)
Wash blueberries (also cadged from Mom B’s freezer)
Take ball of jaggery from Kolkata (also circa E.)
Grate ball of jaggery
Give up; jaggery too sticky
End up adding little lumps of jaggery to blueberries
Add some regular sugar just in case
Lay out blueberries on pastry dough
Spot top with small lumps of butter
Call T and ask what degree to heat oven
Heat to 350
Bake for 30 min
Nice nice. J and K showed up. Their daughter A wants to get married by a Tibetan lama so I promised to help find one. After she has her baby of course. And old neighbors A and D with their daughter E, my favorite cookie baker.
Discussed my Far East Village TV series idea with M. She will find out from her friend (do I know his NYU Prof bf? The one I could not for the life of me remember? This could be so embarrassing…) how they are seen back home. Envy? Resentment? Admiration? Disgust? Will relay back to K and see if his colleague at NHK might be interested.
Harvested some begonias from the backyard for the table. They will die soon - except of course the two Kohei took with him back to Tokyo. Bennet's bf David? did such as great job with them the other day at their DUMBO dinner party I assured Zette; but of course these gay boys are like Martha Stewart on testosterone. D might even be on steroids he did such a beautiful job with the dinner table and the food.
A did a good job with the begonias too and she actually used the lovely fall leaves Tim picked up from the yard and threw in when he came by to drop off pics before going over to ex Chris's for Thanksgiving dinner.
Took my new blueberry tart, the new one that rocks. Herewith the recipe:
MICK JAGGERY BLUEBERRY TART
Update: SIR Mick Jaggery Blueberry Tart...
Cadge homemade pastry dough from Mom B
Roll out pastry dough to fit ramikin dish from IKEA (circa E.)
Rub ramikin bottom and sides with stick of butter
Dust with flour
Lay pastry dough on bottom; mend tears as necessary (very necessary)
Wash blueberries (also cadged from Mom B’s freezer)
Take ball of jaggery from Kolkata (also circa E.)
Grate ball of jaggery
Give up; jaggery too sticky
End up adding little lumps of jaggery to blueberries
Add some regular sugar just in case
Lay out blueberries on pastry dough
Spot top with small lumps of butter
Call T and ask what degree to heat oven
Heat to 350
Bake for 30 min
Nice nice. J and K showed up. Their daughter A wants to get married by a Tibetan lama so I promised to help find one. After she has her baby of course. And old neighbors A and D with their daughter E, my favorite cookie baker.
Discussed my Far East Village TV series idea with M. She will find out from her friend (do I know his NYU Prof bf? The one I could not for the life of me remember? This could be so embarrassing…) how they are seen back home. Envy? Resentment? Admiration? Disgust? Will relay back to K and see if his colleague at NHK might be interested.
Thursday, November 27, 2003
I can’t believe I have to write this a THIRD time. But since I surprised everyone when I mentioned at the think-tank the other night at Steven's that I blog, that I do this is to keep a record of my thinking on various projects I am working on, I am giving this another shot. Tip to bloggers, not that I give this site address out to anyone, hehe: work on Word and then paste. That way you get save and spellcheck functions too!
Anyway what I was writing was about my anxieties about my meeting with Josh this Sunday. If it happens at all. I am convinced he is serious and a good guy. Touched that he wanted to take me to Caroline, Or Change, Tony Kushner's new play at the Public but, alas, I was away at Tomiyo's birthday dinner.
Talked to T and A (nooooo, not Tits and Ass please...) last night about J.
To back up a bit. Kathy ran into Josh at their Middlebury College reunion some time soon after Kathy and I had come back from DC. So September, maybe? He had been a year behind her in college so they didn’t know each other well back then. But apparently J’s ears perked up when he heard I was from Manipur. Naturally I was intrigued too, when Kathy called me. After all it is not everyday I come across someone who had even heard about Manipur, much less interested in it. K thought since he had a family foundation and I was looking for funding for my film with Al, who knows what might happen?
So I called Josh. We had a nice chat though I remember talking over each other quite a bit in our eagerness. I googled him, natch, later that night and found a thoughtful essay he had written on leveraged philanthropy, redefining the bottom line and the possibility of an alliance between ethical biz and social activism. Nice, nice. So not just a rich fratbrat like Dubya....
I invited Josh to my screening of my tape on the 9/11 sumaang lila that I had for Peter at the Tribeca Film Center. Al was there so J was delighted to reacquaint himself as they had apparently met at Bobo’s house back when in SF. Turns out, as Zette informed me later, that we had also met Bobo when Marie de J was staying with her during our Tibet days. Small world as always. New York Fuckin Village.
Josh came over the morning after the square dance at the Brooklyn Brewery so he met Hope on her way out. She was underwhelmed: thought he didn’t meet her eye, didn’t shake hands properly and didn’t evince any interest in who she was. But hey, he had coffee in his hand and what would you do if you dropped in and found a woman leaving after having spent the night, hehe. Of course, he was a little taken aback to hear who she was, she being a celeb of sorts as the former Gyalmo of Sikkim.
I had given our meeting some thought. J wanted to talk about going to Manipur after his World Social Forum in January. Not much time to get that infamous inner line permit. But more importantly, he told me he was interested in human rights and environment issues. I guess his being on the Boards of Human Rights Watch, Witness, and Reebok were good calling cards in anyone’s book – and oh, his work with setting up a telecom network for Grameen too. He also wanted to take his new friend L from Dallas, an Indian American who I gather he wanted to induct into his circle of Dough Nuts?
But where to start? The ignorance and misconceptions about the NE of I plus the fact that that Uplanders (my new term, eh) haven’t had a voice made it a challenge. I showed him my books on Manipuri history, crafts and weaving, my media clip tape (including the Witness film I helped make from Babloo’s footage) that I had put together for R’s debut at Kennedy Center and BAM.
Turns out he and I had both pursued no real or conventional careers but had worked with what had happened to us along the way. I told him that since I started going back to M in 2000, after an absence of 13 years, I had been looking for a way to forge an involvement that made sense to me and incorporated my work history and interests. I told him of my concerns since this was going to be the first time I might be getting to interface my work in the US with my personal history and community. Of course, there was some of that New American Immigrant thing about finding one’s roots and all and for sure, there was a bit of my going to bat for my people since I had been stunned by the degradation in Manipur.
But most importantly, I see it as a cultural project, an experiment. I don’t want to be ruled by altruism and then slide down the slippery slope of do-goodism – though I didn’t quite put it that way to J of course. I mean, greater civilizations have come and gone, and who’s to say we are the better or worse for having lost the Etruscans as they once existed?
On a more immediate level, I could not walk away as he could. Josh can put his money into any misery-spot in the world and it would be well spent. And there is no lack of such causes, and many more urgent and tragic too. So I got Josh to agree to come to Manipur some other time if I swing my contacts there into action and we could not make January deadline for any reason. I guess I wanted to make sure this was not just a side trip but a serious affair. There was some of that need to confirm too when I told him I would need to approach it as a project like any other (he flinched but did not balk at the idea of fee and expenses). Plus I am broke.
I was encouraged that Josh agreed culture was the only viable, strategic alternative in this region and that he and l should only go to look, listen and get a feel of the place. No help, offers, no nuthin. We are talking about real physical danger here too: kidnappings, shootouts, extortion. No kiddiestuff here. He left with some documents on my AppalSeeds project in Gangtok and the Guided Field Trip next fall. And my article on my recent trip to Southwest China with Appalshop that had just been republished in International Documentary. No, no funding requests here. as I hastened to add: just for him to see where I was coming from.
So I was a little concerned when he called to tell me he had been talking and doing some fact-finding through his contacts at Reebok and the Global Fund for Human Rights. For one thing, I want this to be as discreet as possible. And then, is he really interested only in human rights? I have such grave misgivings about this. Not only am I going to get help from Mickey in DC, Poonia and Lalam in New Delhi and I don’t want them to get into trouble, but I am hoping this is going to be the beginning of something that can be big and part of my region-to-region exchange ideas, my effort to build a new philanthropic territory, and to explore culture as conflict resolution. What Alison Bernstein from the Ford Foundation dubbed, at the recent Appalshop fundraiser at Nathan Cummings, a novel approach to cultural diplomacy.
I feel human rights NGOs there are mainly sham and manned by careerists who have learned to play the victim game. Not unlike a beggar who picks at his sores to keep the oozing for pity. My mother, in a quite unrelated vein, and much before my discussions with her about J, had said she saw no point in all this human rights business and the training and workshops people keep attending in the West. Even a good guy like Babloo confines his activity to only the violations of the Indian Army. No doubt truly monstrous and something to be fought but what meaning does the term have if they do not speak up for wives who are beaten by their husbands, older people being abused by their children, children who are raped by relatives?
I named no names but, as full disclosure, I told J I had a brother who was in the field. But Bobby and Anna abused my mother for ten years until I threw them out after that dramatic intervention in the summer of 2001. Anna, the missionary killer of cats, stays in fancy hotels while dorms are good enough for her staff, workers, showcase victims and the live ethnographic specimens she takes with her to feel-good international conferences. To paraphrase what Eleanor Roosevelt said of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, she knows how to talk about democracy but not know how to live it.
I see no point in a human rights approach that is merely a self-serving codependency of the champions of victims and their paper-pushing funding counterparts in the West. I would not stand in their way; some good will come out of it and much needs to be done and it requires a courage that I do not have. But I think unless there is a pre-human rights condition that will shape new attitudes, open eyes and expand minds for a refurbished sense of worth and self-esteem among the populace, there can be no dreams and aspirations to provide the bedrock for change. I am tired of bloody Band-Aids.
Dee tells me I need to be more forceful. Al feels I should be ready to walk if I think J does not see the innovation and opportunities in what I propose. She thinks he should be willing to take a chance. As I am too, of course. Tim told me after my tirade that he does not want to get on my bad side! He warns me against what he calls my severity and to rein in my passion, and especially my lecturing and hectoring tone when I talk to someone who is more powerful than I am. Yes, I agree. I must be careful. They are damn right. So Sunday maybe. This is going to be hard. But what work worth doing isn't? Will ask Josh if he has read what I gave him. What he thinks of them. What he has learned from his research. What does he really want? I have not told my diplomat friends who all standing by to help me everything I am thinking. It is far too complex and will take much time. But my conscience is clear about my intentions and I will sit down with them and have a heart-to-heart the next time I meet them.
Hung up the phone with Tim. I lay in the dark and thought of the last time I saw Yambung. A hunted fugtive smoking in my bedroom – a bad habit he picked up out in the jungles he apologetically explained - and talking into the night till the sun came up. He taught me how to drive on that abandoned WW2 airstrip at Koirengei. I remember him, always broke, running out of gas. I remember playing Francois across him in our production of Men Without Shadows. And I wept uncontrollably.
Anyway what I was writing was about my anxieties about my meeting with Josh this Sunday. If it happens at all. I am convinced he is serious and a good guy. Touched that he wanted to take me to Caroline, Or Change, Tony Kushner's new play at the Public but, alas, I was away at Tomiyo's birthday dinner.
Talked to T and A (nooooo, not Tits and Ass please...) last night about J.
To back up a bit. Kathy ran into Josh at their Middlebury College reunion some time soon after Kathy and I had come back from DC. So September, maybe? He had been a year behind her in college so they didn’t know each other well back then. But apparently J’s ears perked up when he heard I was from Manipur. Naturally I was intrigued too, when Kathy called me. After all it is not everyday I come across someone who had even heard about Manipur, much less interested in it. K thought since he had a family foundation and I was looking for funding for my film with Al, who knows what might happen?
So I called Josh. We had a nice chat though I remember talking over each other quite a bit in our eagerness. I googled him, natch, later that night and found a thoughtful essay he had written on leveraged philanthropy, redefining the bottom line and the possibility of an alliance between ethical biz and social activism. Nice, nice. So not just a rich fratbrat like Dubya....
I invited Josh to my screening of my tape on the 9/11 sumaang lila that I had for Peter at the Tribeca Film Center. Al was there so J was delighted to reacquaint himself as they had apparently met at Bobo’s house back when in SF. Turns out, as Zette informed me later, that we had also met Bobo when Marie de J was staying with her during our Tibet days. Small world as always. New York Fuckin Village.
Josh came over the morning after the square dance at the Brooklyn Brewery so he met Hope on her way out. She was underwhelmed: thought he didn’t meet her eye, didn’t shake hands properly and didn’t evince any interest in who she was. But hey, he had coffee in his hand and what would you do if you dropped in and found a woman leaving after having spent the night, hehe. Of course, he was a little taken aback to hear who she was, she being a celeb of sorts as the former Gyalmo of Sikkim.
I had given our meeting some thought. J wanted to talk about going to Manipur after his World Social Forum in January. Not much time to get that infamous inner line permit. But more importantly, he told me he was interested in human rights and environment issues. I guess his being on the Boards of Human Rights Watch, Witness, and Reebok were good calling cards in anyone’s book – and oh, his work with setting up a telecom network for Grameen too. He also wanted to take his new friend L from Dallas, an Indian American who I gather he wanted to induct into his circle of Dough Nuts?
But where to start? The ignorance and misconceptions about the NE of I plus the fact that that Uplanders (my new term, eh) haven’t had a voice made it a challenge. I showed him my books on Manipuri history, crafts and weaving, my media clip tape (including the Witness film I helped make from Babloo’s footage) that I had put together for R’s debut at Kennedy Center and BAM.
Turns out he and I had both pursued no real or conventional careers but had worked with what had happened to us along the way. I told him that since I started going back to M in 2000, after an absence of 13 years, I had been looking for a way to forge an involvement that made sense to me and incorporated my work history and interests. I told him of my concerns since this was going to be the first time I might be getting to interface my work in the US with my personal history and community. Of course, there was some of that New American Immigrant thing about finding one’s roots and all and for sure, there was a bit of my going to bat for my people since I had been stunned by the degradation in Manipur.
But most importantly, I see it as a cultural project, an experiment. I don’t want to be ruled by altruism and then slide down the slippery slope of do-goodism – though I didn’t quite put it that way to J of course. I mean, greater civilizations have come and gone, and who’s to say we are the better or worse for having lost the Etruscans as they once existed?
On a more immediate level, I could not walk away as he could. Josh can put his money into any misery-spot in the world and it would be well spent. And there is no lack of such causes, and many more urgent and tragic too. So I got Josh to agree to come to Manipur some other time if I swing my contacts there into action and we could not make January deadline for any reason. I guess I wanted to make sure this was not just a side trip but a serious affair. There was some of that need to confirm too when I told him I would need to approach it as a project like any other (he flinched but did not balk at the idea of fee and expenses). Plus I am broke.
I was encouraged that Josh agreed culture was the only viable, strategic alternative in this region and that he and l should only go to look, listen and get a feel of the place. No help, offers, no nuthin. We are talking about real physical danger here too: kidnappings, shootouts, extortion. No kiddiestuff here. He left with some documents on my AppalSeeds project in Gangtok and the Guided Field Trip next fall. And my article on my recent trip to Southwest China with Appalshop that had just been republished in International Documentary. No, no funding requests here. as I hastened to add: just for him to see where I was coming from.
So I was a little concerned when he called to tell me he had been talking and doing some fact-finding through his contacts at Reebok and the Global Fund for Human Rights. For one thing, I want this to be as discreet as possible. And then, is he really interested only in human rights? I have such grave misgivings about this. Not only am I going to get help from Mickey in DC, Poonia and Lalam in New Delhi and I don’t want them to get into trouble, but I am hoping this is going to be the beginning of something that can be big and part of my region-to-region exchange ideas, my effort to build a new philanthropic territory, and to explore culture as conflict resolution. What Alison Bernstein from the Ford Foundation dubbed, at the recent Appalshop fundraiser at Nathan Cummings, a novel approach to cultural diplomacy.
I feel human rights NGOs there are mainly sham and manned by careerists who have learned to play the victim game. Not unlike a beggar who picks at his sores to keep the oozing for pity. My mother, in a quite unrelated vein, and much before my discussions with her about J, had said she saw no point in all this human rights business and the training and workshops people keep attending in the West. Even a good guy like Babloo confines his activity to only the violations of the Indian Army. No doubt truly monstrous and something to be fought but what meaning does the term have if they do not speak up for wives who are beaten by their husbands, older people being abused by their children, children who are raped by relatives?
I named no names but, as full disclosure, I told J I had a brother who was in the field. But Bobby and Anna abused my mother for ten years until I threw them out after that dramatic intervention in the summer of 2001. Anna, the missionary killer of cats, stays in fancy hotels while dorms are good enough for her staff, workers, showcase victims and the live ethnographic specimens she takes with her to feel-good international conferences. To paraphrase what Eleanor Roosevelt said of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, she knows how to talk about democracy but not know how to live it.
I see no point in a human rights approach that is merely a self-serving codependency of the champions of victims and their paper-pushing funding counterparts in the West. I would not stand in their way; some good will come out of it and much needs to be done and it requires a courage that I do not have. But I think unless there is a pre-human rights condition that will shape new attitudes, open eyes and expand minds for a refurbished sense of worth and self-esteem among the populace, there can be no dreams and aspirations to provide the bedrock for change. I am tired of bloody Band-Aids.
Dee tells me I need to be more forceful. Al feels I should be ready to walk if I think J does not see the innovation and opportunities in what I propose. She thinks he should be willing to take a chance. As I am too, of course. Tim told me after my tirade that he does not want to get on my bad side! He warns me against what he calls my severity and to rein in my passion, and especially my lecturing and hectoring tone when I talk to someone who is more powerful than I am. Yes, I agree. I must be careful. They are damn right. So Sunday maybe. This is going to be hard. But what work worth doing isn't? Will ask Josh if he has read what I gave him. What he thinks of them. What he has learned from his research. What does he really want? I have not told my diplomat friends who all standing by to help me everything I am thinking. It is far too complex and will take much time. But my conscience is clear about my intentions and I will sit down with them and have a heart-to-heart the next time I meet them.
Hung up the phone with Tim. I lay in the dark and thought of the last time I saw Yambung. A hunted fugtive smoking in my bedroom – a bad habit he picked up out in the jungles he apologetically explained - and talking into the night till the sun came up. He taught me how to drive on that abandoned WW2 airstrip at Koirengei. I remember him, always broke, running out of gas. I remember playing Francois across him in our production of Men Without Shadows. And I wept uncontrollably.