Jessami : The last sentinel

Akham Bonbirdhwaja Singh *

Condition of Ukhrul-Jessami Highway in Last week of August 2013 :: pix - Jinendra Maibam

One of the farthest points as the crow flies from Imphal could be Jessami of Ukhrul District, but by road it could be just about two hundred kilometres from Imphal, far less than that of Tipaimukh. It can be approached from Imphal by road via Ukhrul. The road from Ukhrul has a pleasant gradient, thanks to BRO who made the road. The Ukhrul Jessami Road was commissioned in 1982.

There is not much sign of recent repairing and the road condition is not that good. It is neither too bad also. It being the border village with Nagaland, the name sounds like a Nagami Name. I had been thinking of going to this village for a long time, as this name cropped up on many occasions in course of my work and people have been talking about the various aspects of interests. I was lucky that on 7th of this November, I had a chance to visit the place for the first time.

During the fanta boom days of 1982-1995, this place was an important place and there were active economic activity, all sorts of goods, local and foreign were available here. Even, the Eemas (lady merchants from plains) were doing brisk business, selling dry fishes, vegetables and sundry items. Those days are long gone, but Jessami still have its own charms.

Jessami is a village with a population 4500 (1600 voters) and has a small township at the tri-junction of Ukhrul, Meluri and Kohima roads. Jessami is easy to locate on the map of Manipur. It is the tip of the map of Manipur if it is placed in front of you.

There are a few places of interest to visit, they are
(i) Lanye Bridge,
(ii) Akash Bridge (both new and old)
(iii) the Northern Tip of the state,
(iv) The Punital Cage near the market place(at present cage has been dismantled), and
(v) The Assam Rifles memorial Stone.

In addition both the rivers, the Lanye River and Chatlou River are also worth visiting. Both the rivers shall be good for angling. All these places make Jessami a good candidate for nature tourism and eco-tourism.

I feel fortunate to have visited the place. This is a place worth visiting. It takes a little over six hours to reach there by road; we can make it in five if the road is better. There are a few lodges in the town, not good ones as was in the fanta boom days (Fanta is colloquial term of wooden beam of double the size of wooden railway sleeper).

The BRO maintains one guest house, it said to be a good one. The guest house of the village council, where we stayed was also really good one. Once the road for border trade with Myanmar from Kharasom (said to 85 km as per recent alignment) is opened, it is certainly going to attract many more tourists. Having more tourists shall be really good for the socio economy of Jessami.

The Lanye Bridge is about 13 km on the Jessami Kohima Road. It on the Lanye River, this river starts from the Ukhrul Peak and meets Tizu River a little beyond Jessami. This bridge is the border between Manipur and Nagaland. It is a beautiful river and both the banks of the river being covered with trees, I must say, the green clothed banks on Manipur side looks a bit more beautiful. The Akash Bridge is on Jessami Meluri Road on River Tiji, about 16 km from Jessami. The old bridge is also nearby. This place was in the news a few years back due to boundary issues. The drive along the river bank is wonderful experience; the trees are mostly broadleaved in the river banks.

The forests of Jessami in early November look like autumn of temperate forests. With the green leaves still intact on various trees, those browning and coppery red leaves of Hog Plums, Coral Trees, Sterculia, Chestnut etc. gave the landscape the appearance of a giant green tree with varieties of flowers on. With natural pure pine forests dominating the landscape on the higher reaches and with the thick cold fogs playing hide and seek, the place is given an exotic look.

The pristine pine forests are long gone, but the remnants and second crop of naturally regenerated Pine forests are still attractive and if protected well, the old glory can be brought back., The rivers are with clear green water unlike monsoon months when the rivers used to carry muddy waters. Fishing with dynamite and poisons has been banned by the village authority and hence, the beauty of water has not been disturbed.

In Jessami, the village council is working effectively unlike villages of Kharasom and Lunghar, where headman system is in vogue. The village has its headman and his name is Ayekhalo Mekrisuh but he is not the administrative head. He is more or less cultural head and controls the traditional revenue.

The Chairman, Secretary and Council members run the affairs of the village. The developmental activity are carried out by the council. The council members are elected by the villagers from amongst them. So, the council is a democratic body. This is one important step in strengthening the village institution and successful implementation of development works.

That is how the development works are good at Jessami. The present Chairman is named Eyete Wesah and I discussed certain issues with him. He has good personality and seems to be balanced man and I had a lot liking for him. He is well articulated and dynamic leader. He can speak English, Hindi, Manipuri, Tangkhul and perhaps Nagami too. One of my friends commented that in the villages with Village Council, there is lack of unity and the headman system is better, but here in Jessami, the village council is working extremely well with full unity.

The Assam Rifles have something to reckon with in Jessami, the Assam Rifles memorial stone in the heart of the township. Here the war with Japanese Army was fought during World War; it was the last sentinel of the British Indian Empire against the Japanese onslaught. The Japanese could not get over the Assam Rifles résistance here and Assam Rifles are very proud of this fact.

Now, Jessami is playing a different role, it is protecting the boundary of the state with extreme zeal. It is proudly protecting the territorial boundary of the state against all odds, like a great border guard. There has been frequent boundary feuds with the villages on the other side of the border, such as Meluri and Matkhu, sometimes back, there were firings even. We all have been reading the news about the role this village has been playing. It is now acting as the last sentinel. This village needs all our support and appreciation.

(I acknowledge the inputs made by the Chairman, Jessami Village Council and my friends S.W. Suisa and H.S. Surrender.)