Loose Memoirs of a Drunkard
- Part 4 -
Four Days before June 18
By Homen Thangjam *
Four Days before June 18
I was surprised to find a friend of mine from Kakching at my home four days prior to the fateful June 18.
Son of a popular politician, very offended by the word louwai (Manipuri word meaning rural peasants or people from outside Imphal) and sensitive to the question of centre and periphery relationship as it exists in Manipur; I was surprised to find him at my home along with 30 people.
There was turmoil my village, as my folks have never seen as many Ambassador cars (symbolizes VIP entourage in Manipur) other than on wedding occasions or accidental inroads made by victorious college election candidates celebrating their victory!
I fondly remember my old friend for a particular incident that took place at Kangla.
We attended a seminar on restoring Kangla Fort to the people of Manipur. The exact day and year is not important.
Imminent Manipuri personalities and scholars deliberated on the emotive issue; stressed historical significance of Kangla for Manipur and so on. Ruptures of applauses greeted the speakers. The audience was enthralled and we raised slogans.
Just as the final speaker completed his lecture, my old friend from Kaching stood up and asked:
'So far, every speaker has stressed upon the significance of Kangla as our former palace, heritage, symbol of Manipur's culture, tradition, history and unity and a sacred place of worship.
And thus, should be rightfully restored to the people and the Assam Rifles moved to another place. I do appreciate the sentiment of the people of Manipur.
But I have a different understanding of Kangla. I am a loi (currently understood as schedule caste). This is the same place from here the King of Manipur declared that we are lois and that we are impure, who should live beyond the reach of the common populace of Manipur.
My ancestors have lived with stigma and humiliation for generations. This practice and this place, I understand as an institution of oppression or as a symbol of oppression and segregation. What meaning then can Kangla carry for the larger loi communities or other oppressed groups segregated by the rulers of Manipur?'
Silence prevailed over the gathering. Then, all of a sudden, the professor who accompanied us (who invited us to the gathering) started clapping.
The nine speakers took turns not to 'justify' acts of the rulers, but to appease the loi community that it was a historical error, and how human intercourse in Manipur, irrespective of one's caste, community or religion, has 'improved' over the years which is marked by tolerance.
This being the incident, I was more surprised when he said that they have collected a huge sum of money from Kakching and was ready to donate to UCM or AMUCO or whoever was spearheading the protest against the extension of cease-fire to Manipur.
I with my limited resources finally tracked down an AMUCO gathering in Sagolband and donated the money. At the back of my mind, I was apprehensive if the then President of AMUCO would declare it as an act of tribute from the loi community!
to be continued ...
* Homen Thangjam, based in Delhi working in a consultancy firm, contributes regularly to e-pao.net . The writer can be reached at homenth(at)gmail(dot)com . This article was webcasted on September 04, 2008.
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