Imphal, September 05: Since its humble origins way back in 1986, Hornbill Cable Networks (HCN) or simply "Hornbill" as it is known to most people here, has indeed come a long way.

As the firm completes 18 years this year, the premier cable television distributor in Churachandpur has added yet another feather to its cap: it is in the process of upgrading its distribution cables into Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) and soon blurring pictures on screen, near or far, would be a thing of the past.

By combination of dare devilry, creativity and vision, Hornbill has always managed to stay one step ahead of its competitors.

It is one rare example of the success of private enterprise in a town whose population depends entirely on Government salary.

According to Mangpu Tonsing, the proprietor, electronics and television have been his interest since childhood.

In 1986, Mangpu read one magazine which said something about television broadcasting and was stirred.

"I just mortgaged our plot of land and with the money, bought material including a receiver and parabolic antenna for Rs 45,000", he reminisces.

"There was no one else and it was a huge risk.

All my family thought that I was a fool.

It was indeed a reckless move as we heard at the time that the Radio and TV stations in Churachandpur were about to be completed and commissioned," he added.

"Around that time, there were only five TV sets in the whole town.

I had only two subscribers who received one channel from me.

I sometimes broadcast films too", Mangpu recalled.

"When Star TV started out in 1991, I immediately rushed to Guwahati and bought the equipment.

They give us four channels.

I was the first to get the same from Manipur," he said.

Hornbill has also the distinction of being the first to start videography and introduce daily local news broadcast which it had started since the past one year.

It is also the first to get dealership of TV and other electronic material in the town.

However, it is most well known for its weekly 'Lateel' program (now biweekly) in which local songs selected by its subscribers are broadcast with video.

Presently 20 people are regularly employed by Hornbill.

Why the name Hornbill? Mangpu Tonsing said that the Hornbill bird have been identified with the tribals here since olden times and he liked it.

"Before I entered into this trade, I ran one hotel which I called "Hornbill Lodge", he said.

According to Mangpu, the biggest problem he has faced are when in the early 1990s, the Marwari traders were targeted for killing and most of them leave the state, as they constitute the bulk of his subscribers.

Then there was the ethnic clashes of 1997-98 when he almost ran out of business.

"I managed to tide over these problems due, I believe, to God and a little luck," he said.

Regarding the role of luck, Mangpu recalls one incident.

He wants to start videography and need a camera.

Borrowing money, he went to Guwahati where he met a man who told him that he could get one for him if Mangpu gives him Rs 50,000.After three days, the man returned to him with the camera but told him not to ever trust anybody else like that.

As for starting daily news broadcast, Mangpu said that the idea came from a subscriber who suggested in a letter that they start it.

"We jumped into it without knowing how much it entails, he said smiling.

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