Since May 3, 2023, tiny Manipur, ensconced in natural beauty, is burning in the flames of fire, hatred and mistrust. Painstakingly built houses have been gutted and families left homeless, living a life of uncertainty in relief camps. In Churachandpur, all houses were burnt to ashes within moments. Can we ever go back to our village? When will schools start? Can we hope for a better tomorrow? There are questions and questions in those lost eyes… awaiting answers. They pass the day with the lingering fear that they might be attacked again.
SETBACK TO BONHOMIE
‘Maiteyi’ is the original habitant of Manipur. This sun-worshipper region is steeped in religious beliefs. A region that weaves silky colorful cloths, offers 108 food items to Govindji, wins gold medals for India, the land of music and dance.
Maiteyis and Kukis enjoyed bonhomie at one time. Even today, Maiteyis say that they have no grudge against the local Kukis. It is all about ‘Chin Kukis’. It is believed that five Kuki families came as refugees from Burma in 1938. The king of Manipur generously provided them shelter. The number continued to grow and today, Manipur stands at the door of peril because of the same Kukis. Poppy cultivation by Kukis after burning of forests, narcotic drugs produced from it, much more…
What if the ‘Maiteyis’ get reservation… Did this explosion take place on the basis of this one issue or was it a well-executed plan of anti-national elements, who went into action with this excuse? And this explosion is far from dying down. The real mastermind is somewhere else.
RELIEF CAMP
This district is named after Maiteyi Emperor Maharaj Churachand Singh of Manipur. Churachandpur has been completely consumed by fire. “We heard there would be violence today, so we were eating, thinking that we would get out after eating, and suddenly the house was set ablaze.” Leaving the food as it is, some took shelter with the Assam Rifles, while others reached the road and tried to move forward in a vehicle. Today, they are spending their lives in ‘Relief Camps’, taking shelter as they can, with just the clothes they’re wearing as their only belonging. There are about 349 camps in Manipur. It is said 4,449 people are living in such camps in Moriang alone.
We could go to only a few of them. Curfew has become a routine thing. Sometimes it is up to 1 PM and sometimes up to 5 PM. Even so, every night after 7 PM (sunrise and sunset happen early here), Myrapaybi or the women come out in droves with torches in their hands and patrol the area and check the vehicles going to Churachandpur. Even the police and army cars are not given concession. They check if there are Kukis or weapons in the vehicles. There should be no harm to the lives of the people in the camp.
The other Maiteyis also have a lot of anger towards the Kukis after hearing the stories of the people in the camp. They have amity with the Thado Kukis who live here since old times. The anger is directed at ‘Chin Kukis’ who are behind the violence. Mainly, the boundaries here are not fenced. Therefore, Chin (a river in Myanmar) Kukis have a free run. They come from Myanmar with weapons; in fact they are sent. Poppy fruits go to Myanmar where narcotic substance is made from it and it comes back to India. Sometimes these trucks come from Mizoram. News arrives from everywhere. The Kukis killed the livestock of those who had to leave their homes, especially cattle, and ate the beef – another reason for the anger.
The Maiteyis feel very insecure now. Chin Kukis are armed with sophisticated weapons and they are not. Manipur has many communities like Maiteyis, Nepalis, Kukis, Tribals and Scheduled Castes. Of them, the Maiteyis are allowed only to live in the valleys. The entire region is surrounded by nine Himalayan mountain ranges, which are interconnected. One can easily move from one mountain to another. The tribes and the Kukis are allowed to live in the hills as well as in the valleys. Therefore, the Maiteyis are perturbed that Kukis, with their locational advantage, can target them easily.
LIFE IN A CAMP
It was found in a women’s survey conducted by the Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Samanvay Drushti Stree Adhyayan Kendra that ‘Contentment Quotient’ of the Indian women is very high. It was reaffirmed here. We went to a camp. The families were arranged in a hall and some rooms. Pregnant women were given beds in view of their condition. There were mattresses, sheets and mosquito nets also. As we entered the hall, what first caught our attention was the puja arrangement. In the Maiteyi society, it is a practice to keep water, flowers, a fruit, incense in a small bowl for the Sun God and Tulsi (Holy Basil) in a plate on a small platform every day. The shiny copper-brass pots and the pooja set-up were a heart-warming sight. Silently we bowed to the women here who continue their daily worship even in a relief camp.
I have been to many camps in disaster-affected areas, but here I had an altogether different experience. Shrimati Shardaji here had arranged separate accommodation for pregnant women and babies. One of the lady workers drives the car herself if a woman goes into labor even at night and takes her to the maternity hospital. The mother and the baby are later brought back.
The day we went there, the number stood at 49. Shardaji asked us, “Will you be here on Monday, June 19? We’ll have the Shashti Puja for newborn babies.” It was a very beautiful scene that day. Earthen kalash containing mango leaves, water, a beautiful rangoli drawn around it, a beautiful bowl (drona) and beautiful spoons made from banana leaf, flowers, small bows and arrows, fruits, prasad, big laddoos made of paddy pop corn. Two babies lay on the mattress – one of them a boy and one a girl. Their fathers had come wearing dhotis. The families worshipped Ganesha, Devi, Vishnu, Shiva and Surya. The maternal uncles were called and handed a bow each. They shot arrows in all directions and told the gods and nature that a new baby had arrived and they should all protect and bless him/her. Later, the fathers of the children gave the uncles money and gave dakshina to us. Everyone was given laddoos of paddy popcorn and hot rice pudding as prasad. The mothers and babies were given food prepared specially for them in the Devi Ahalya temple.
The Maiteyi women patrol their areas at night, and check passing vehicles for Kukis and weapons. Police and army vehicles are also not spared
These were beautiful moments in times of sadness. Deep faith and gratitude towards the universal power is our strength and it is from this that Hindu society stands up again and again.
HUMAN CHAIN WITH TORCHES
The night of June 17 was a unique one. On that day, the Maiteyi community decided to make a human chain between 7 and 8 in the night. Despite the fact that the network had been down for several days, they managed to send messages across the country and abroad, that the society had to stand in chains wherever they may be.
Out of curiosity, we also decided to go to the main road. Women started coming out in droves with torches from the alleys. The road opened up on to a vast open space. Within no time, a human chain stretching over three to four kms was formed with half-handshakes. Some had placards in their hands. Many placards said: “We don’t want division, We want peace”, “Stop divide & rule policy”, “No separate administration in Manipur”, “Flush out the Kuki terrorist from Manipur”. Many women were carrying out tasks like pouring oil on the burning torches from bottles, making people stand in queue etc. The road lit up, the big lights on the highway at the upper side and the torches at the front made a beautiful sight. There was only one question in mind – what was more effective: the lamps, torches or the women holding them? The brethren stood on the street behind, watching.
The chain was dissolved at 8 o’clock with sloganeering. There was no fuss, confusion, chatter or chaos anywhere. The workers said the next day that this scene was replicated all over the streets of Imphal. Rather, they believed the community outside the state would also have done the same in their homes.
KHICHDI OF THE JAGANNATH
The Jagannath Rath Yatra takes place here on Dvitiya. This year, however, there was a break in the tradition. Nevertheless, khichdi and raw material reached the temple from every house. Men and women put on holy paste on their noses, brothers wore dhoti and women wore white robes and went to temple. All this so boldly that one would doubt whether there was a curfew or not. Khichdi was unfailingly prepared at the relief camps as well. All this while the fear of attack from anywhere, anytime, was constant!
The state government has made many buildings of schools, colleges and hostels, available for camps. The society has also come forward spontaneously. This ‘Seva Yagya’ which started from May 5 is going on continuously. If the grains come from the government, the society chips in for provision of salt and spices etc. Every house is helping out with clothes, food and money etc. and also volunteers.
The Chin Kukis come from Myanmar with weapons and unleash violence. They also deal
in narcotics
Seven-eight women in this camp at Ningthoukhong showed their willingness to work on handlooms. The work will start this week by purchasing the necessary yarn, because we have a center working there on behalf of ‘Ima Lakshmi Trust Imphal’, a trust inspired by Rashtra Sevika Samiti. There are five looms. There are also those who ponder over how they can be made self-reliant by positive skill development.
MEDICAL CAMP
Two doctors arrived here for medical aid on June 18. From the airport they were taken straight to the pharmacy to purchase medicines. The medicines were in severe short supply as goods were not coming from outside since last many days. A number of medical camps were organised at different locations and camps, providing treatment to hundreds of people. Dr. Mridulatai Bapat and Dr. Shailatai dentist both did the check up, while Babita, Mema, Girija, Eshwariji, Vellorepatti – the nurses at Ningthokhong – did the work of interpreting between the doctor and the patient as well as distributing medicines. Some patients were also asked to do some exercises. Children’s and women’s games were also conducted. Some women said they had laughed freely after many days. Many of them have not yet recovered from the trauma. Young children are confused, doubtful about their future, suffering from despair, vulnerability and helplessness. Many adults have lost their glasses at home and many are suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. Pills and prescriptions were left at home, and now they do not have the resources to buy them. Such diseases can turn dangerous in the absence of proper medication.
In each camp, we chanted Sarve Bhavantu and Omkar. They were advised to come together everyday, chant Omkar, say a prayer, play with the children, and tell them stories. We felt sorry that we could only cajole them to believe that they would soon be going home.
Homes may well rise again, the government may give land, society may also build houses! Maybe they will build them with their own efforts, but how will the trust, that is lost, be restored? That is a matter of concern. This battle is a long one. At stake is our affinity, tolerance, cooperation, camaraderie and courage. The whole country needs to stand strongly behind them! n
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