Defacing the spirit of Ima Keithel : More than a market place
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 05, 2012 -

The eye sore that is Ima Keithel today :: Pix - TSE

Ima Keithel is not just a market place. It is this and something much, much more.

A place which is conjoined with the history of the land and the people and a place widely seen as one of the selling points of Manipur in the international fora and it should be clear why Ima Keithel is seen beyond the mere understanding of a site where goods are sold and bought.

In many ways it is also a symbol of where the Manipuri women stand in the larger social context of the land and this means a lot.

Literally Ima Keithel translates into Mother's Market, which is a salute to womanhood. In respecting the historical significance of Ima Keithel as well as in putting its symbolism on a pedestal, the Manipuri society is also paying tribute to a place which is the economic backbone of quite a large number of households and families in the State.

A place which has managed to blend the symbolic and historical significance with the present and the material necessities of life, that is Ima Keithel.

The lofty position accorded to it and the symbolic meanings attached to it, however can be grounded in a trice, not for any other reason, but due to the sheer disrespect that the very occupants may demonstrate towards it, consistently.

The report that today Ima Keithel is just a notch or two above a dumping pit should be an eye opener on how indifference and apathy can deface not only its physical appearance but also the intrinsic values that are associated with this hub.

It was not so long back that the European Manipuri Association launched a drive, Blooming Manipur, in which the primary objective was not only to beautify Ima Keithel but also to promote a sense of custodianship amongst the women vendors.

Laudable efforts from the EMA and out of the box thinking, if we may add. Maybe it is this out of the box approach which has not managed to catch the fancy of the Government and its agencies, notably the Imphal Municipal Council.

A Government which failed to capitalise on a fantastic work initiated by a voluntary organisation and occupants of the historic place who are insensitive to the legacy of the place and the script is ready to deface Ima Keithel.

Galvanise the Imphal Municipal Council to get its feet moving. Set up waste disposal bins at all strategic points within the market.

Impose hefty fines on those who litter and not only on the occupants of the market place, but also on the customers and visitors.

Make sure that there is enough water provision to clean up the mess after a fish is filleted. Get the IMC to remove the trash bins regularly.

Allowing the filth and rot to define Ima Keithel will amount to nothing less than painting ourselves as a people who do not know their history.

The historical importance and symbolic meanings attached to this place should not be allowed to go down the drain due to the lethargy and insensitivity of the Government and some people.

Afterall symbolic meanings are much more than mere symbols. It is a living, breathing spirit that defines a people and a place.