UFO providing humanitarian services contrary to popular belief

Phanjoubam Chingkheinganba *

Green Manipur Campaign 2014 by Universal Friendship Organisation (UFO)

Amazingly and contrary to the general perception the Manipuri society has for Universal Friendship Organisation (UFO), an unbiased body which believes in non-violence, this non-profit body is actively involved in providing humanitarian services to the people of Manipur irrespective of the different ethnic communities settled in the state.

More astounding is the fact that the body popularly referred to as Satjal is making remarkable progress in preserving the Meetei (Manipuris) traditional healing treatment to various health related problems.

The organisation, presumed to be just any other idle organisation by the greater masses of the Meetei community in Imphal Valley, recently contributed financial assistance amounting to Rs 1, 12, 130 to the victims of August 18 Moreh incident through the Disaster Relief Committee, under the aegis of UFO.

The body during a recent public meeting also pledged it will continue to provide monetary and other forms of assistance to any victims of the state in the event of any natural calamities befalling the state from August 22, 2015.

Other than this, the organisation which have members of more than 2 lakhs spread across Manipur and Assam, have also hosted and guided several Western individuals who are interested in Manipur in the field of culture, martial arts and foreign tourists who came to the state to receive health related treatments based on Manipur’s traditional healing apparatus.

Testimony of foreigners and environmental campaigns

The Chamalou sub-centre of UFO is one of the different branches of Satjal which believes in actually performing constructive activities rather than providing lip services. They are devotedly engaged in environmental protection campaigns, promoting eco tourism, providing traditionally based health benefits to those who are willing to experiment with it.

The hospitality provided by members dedicated to the beliefs and efforts of UFO also has garnered tremendous positive response from those who arrived at the Chamalou sub-centre of the peaceful organisation.

Thanking A Sanjit who is a dedicated member (General Secretary) of the Chamalou branch of the UFO, Mars Estartus from Baracelona in Spain wrote that Sanjit has been doing his level best to promote community development projects. Estratus who stayed at the sub-centre from February 13 to February 15 this year, also thanked him for introducing the customs and traditions of the ancient land.

Meanwhile, Sanjit told this journalist that they kept records of those foreign tourists in written statements and do not asks for any funds. On the contrary, the foreigners having knowledge that the financial capacity to this body is not enough to sustain their projects have donated a little bit of what they can when it comes to providing them lodging and fooding facilities.

Green Manipur Campaign 2014 by Universal Friendship Organisation (UFO)

Claudio Pelizzeni from Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy who stayed at Chamalou from December 14 to December 16 last year remarked that he was able to see different attractive spots of Manipur and legally managed to “cross the Burma border.”

Beginning December 30 last year, French man Mattiew Venancio who stayed for five days at the sub-centre wrote he was able to understand a lot of new experiences as well and tastes local dishes particularly the fish curries which he said was “delicious.”

He also informed he was able to learn a lot of “Meitei Philosophy, culture” including the Kabui’s festival of Gaan Ngaai during his stay and acknowledged the role played by Sanjit and his committed colleagues to enable the wellness of “his community.” Venancio also urged those interested in Manipur to visit this UFO sub-centre and associate with the voluntary tasks taken by them for the betterment of the community.

Such are the views of these non-biased foreigners who truly studied, understood and experienced the constructive activities of UFO.

Ironically and unfortunately, the Manipuri masses to which this group belongs to them have some sort of ridiculed this organisation on the basis of the indulging in keeping long hairs and puffing few rounds of marijuana.

However, majority of the well to do Manipuri families particularly residing in Imphal areas, who doesn’t associate with any constructive activities for the dying state considers the UFO members as uneducated group of people with no vision without any knowledge of preserving the former sovereign nation of Manipur.

Meanwhile, Centre of Development Society Manipur, or the Iroishemba branch of UFO organised a Green Manipur Campaign/ Plantation programme on December 19 last year during which several foreign tourists came together to promote environmental awareness and to transform that into realities.

The devotion inspired by the UFO colleagues further made Italian Claudio Pelizzeni to make a three minute long video promo about the tree planting campaign.

Green Manipur Campaign 2014 by Universal Friendship Organisation (UFO)

Traditional Manipuri healers succeed where German doctors gave up

A German national, Mr. John, who has been staying in this branch of UFO for the last two weeks have praised Manipuri traditional healers for they have succeeded to a large extent where German doctors have not many much progress in restoring his health problems.

John, an architect by profession, was confined to a wheel chair and was unable to move following an unfortunate incident that happened to him during his childhood.

Reportedly, John was told by the German doctors that he would be possibly confined to wheel chair for the rest of his life. However, John started looking for other options and came across a Manipuri traditional healer Ringo who would forever change his life and make him walk again.

Following the successful treatment by Ringo, John developed a special interest in Manipur and took the decision to approach UFO in order to get in touch with other Manipuri traditional healers. During the numerous massages and physical movement done by certain elder UFO members, condition of John has remarkably improved and he is able to walk properly. John, told this journalist, that his stay in Manipur has been of great significance as his conditions has improved and he has managed to lose a lot of weight.

The German nationals also put in and help implement some architectural ideas on planning of the Chamlou complex of the UFO branch.