Dear Santa, please bring us Peace in Manipur!!

Lien Gangte *

Manipur Catholic Mission Congress :: 10-13 December 2010

How do we solve a problem like Manipur?

Or can it be solve? Whose fault is it?

Now, blame it on the neighbour is a game we have mastered for decades and we have cast our eyes elsewhere when the matter is undeniably close to us and within our homes.

Every time I read the news or talk to my folks back home, I am regrettably bombarded by news about blockade, killings and the list goes on. Sometimes the unfortunate feeling creeps up my mind and I feel a slight discomfort in talking about my homeland.

But this thought fortunately lingers only for a little while and I am proud of my Sana-Leibak.

My thoughts follows;
To see long lasting Peace and Communal harmony, we need to outgrow old feuds and individual hatred for each other. We should find ways to start building the foundations to renew old ties and friendship.

We spent unlimited hours of our limited lives focussing on our indifferences rather than celebrating the similarities we share. Once we take these little steps, then only unity will show its face in our society and Manipur will yet again grow and become a homeland of a Peace loving, hardworking and a civilised nation.

I can sit here and talk endlessly about how my society ought to change but unless I start changing myself, this thought, however meaningful it sounds, will remain a thought within me with no impact.

So, I suggest we agree to start individually?

Let us put a stop on our land engulfed in the shadows of the past.

We have fought, killed each other and stole many happy moments from each other but are we to linger with these unwanted qualities of the days gone by or do we move on to face a future that is full or promises and growth?

We are a nation within a nation and it pains me to say that without realising, we have done all we can to tarnished the image of our land, culture, traditions and our co-existence.

Human efforts to destroy our beloved Sana-Leibak are unfortunately significant and we can see the progress but is it too late? I guess it's never too late.

The land we lived in has managed to remain faithful to us and if we start rebuilding, we can turn the table around and Manipur will regain its glorious past and face the future!

My plea today to all my people is that, rid yourself of negativity and let us together celebrate the unique cultures, traditions, languages and natures around and build a Manipur where nothing stands between us. We are all equals in God's eye and so must we stay!

I am just an individual (With none of little voice) but it is excruciatingly painful to see the land I grew up and loved very much fizzling away in some sort of doom land.

I am limited to what I can do but with Christmas coming, all I ask from God is to restore peace and Goodwill among the people of Manipur!

Merry Christmas to everyone!