Separated By War, Bonded by Love : Villagers of erstwhile Songphel revisit native to share love
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, September 26 2013:
Exactly 20 years ago the situation had forced them to scatter in various districts in Manipur due to the 1990s ethnic problem between the Kukis and the Nagas in Manipur, the erstwhile villagers of Songphal village, Tamei subdivision, Tamenglong district continue to keep alive the non-existent village at least in their spirit.
Songphal village, also called Lhutjachung, was a Kom village reportedly established in 1920.Now scattered in Churachandpur district, Sadar Hills of Senapati district and elsewhere, the former villagers of Songphal come together on September 25 in a location every year to keep alive the love-bond that was shared 20 years ago.
On September 25, 1993 the villagers of Songphal had left their village following a quit notice served allegedly by the NSCN-IM.
Some villagers chose to go to Churachandpur district while others had settled in various villages of Sadar Hills in Senapati district and elsewhere.However, the villagers did not feel at home in their new villages.
Nostalgia was the main thing that used to pre-occupied them.
They contacted each and every villager and had decided that they come together at least once in a year to keep alive the bond of love shared in their former village far away in Tamenglong district.
Each year the venue of the get-together event of the former Songphal Kom villagers changes.
They have chosen to observe the day at New Songphal village in Sadar Hills, Senapati dostrict for this year.
The erstwhile villagers of Songphal from far-flung Churachandpur district, Senapati district and elsewhere had conglomerated at New Songphal village, Sadar Hills yesterday (September 25) and observed the day.
Inviting the staff members of Newmai News Network to the event, chief of New Songphal village, Sadar Hills Vomlal and his wife narrated the ordeal they had experiened.
The villagers were wreathed with nostalgic feeling and recalled how one human could meted out such an act to fellow human being.
It was a heart-rending scene indeed.
"By observing this type of event, we not only able to experience the warmness of ones villagers parted 20 years ago once again but we would also like to show how hard it is to separate from ones co-villagers," said Vomlal in tears, adding, "We do not want such thing to happen again to anyone." According to Vomlal and his wife, the Songphal villagers of Tamei subdivision are now scattered in the Senapati district villages of Iching Kom Keirak, Saikul Kom, Mokok-ching, Luwang Sangol, Mai- bung and Ikouphai.
In the south Manipur district of Churachandpur, these Song-phal villagers have been scattered in Sagang, Khoi-rentak, Harmontlang and Samu Lamkai.
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