AMWJU team brings hope, gives healing touch for Shaiza family
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, June 16 2021:
There's nothing like humanity.
And there's nothing that could ever bring it to its knees.
Even in the midst of the tribulations brought on by the current Covid-19 pandemic, it is still alive to bring hope to the distressed lot.
And one thing about humanity that stands out is: it comes at a time when it matters most.
A bereaved Leishiwon Shaiza, her children and her daughter-in-law and grandchildren got to see a glimmer of hope in the darkest phase of their life.
They were grieving the loss of a beloved husband, loving father, father-in-law and grandfather in the person of Thotshang Shaiza, a senior journalist who succumbed to the cruel viral disease on June 12 last.
It was because of humanity that a team of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) came visiting.
Nothing could be timelier than this heart-warming visit that brought a healing touch to the grieving household.
Clad in traditional Tangkhul mourning dress, Leishiwon and her family members stood in a row as they warmly received the team into their residential campus.
The Shaiza family shared an emotional moment with the visiting scribes as they got to see the warmth and love of their departed father's fraternity.
An emotional exchange of sentiments ensued.
The five-member team led by the union's advisory committee member Sobhabati Samom and its acting secretary Khundrakpam Jyontindro came all the way from Imphal with a package of generosity, compassion and human decency to ease the pain of the Shaiza family.
Sobhabati, who was closely associated with Thotshang Shaiza for years, poured out his feelings and recalled how he had an overnight stay in their house during a Shirui Lily festival in 2019 .
The AMWJU team extended a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 and a set of hand sanitizers, apart from a display of solidarity.
The team also assured the family of a helping hand in whatever way it can to honour Thotshang Shaiza's contributions to the state's journalism.
"In these hours of my family's grief and trauma, I have no words to describe the joy of my family to see you coming here all the way from Imphal to keep our spirits up," said Leishiwon, wife of the deceased scribe, as she tried to hold back her tears and stifle a sob.
Tears welled up in her eyes, as she said that her beloved husband had dedicated much of his life to journalism.
"Even in his last days, he was very much concerned about his responsibilities as a journalist.
He was hopeful of returning to his work even as he struggled to overcome the disease.
He fought a good fight, but God has a destiny for him," she sobbed.
Calling the disease as the cruellest one ever known, Leishiwon said: "I wish and pray that let my husband's tragedy be the last and none of you ever face the same fate." She then wished the visiting scribes a blessed and healthy life throughout their life.
Relating her father's dedication to journalism, Thotshang Shaiza's eldest daughter Mingyashim Shaiza, who had done her Masters' In English Honours and is currently running an event management agency in Bangalore, told the visiting team that she would not go back to Bangalore and would follow her father's footsteps as a journalist to keep his passion alive.
Late Thotshang Shaiza was Ukhrul district correspondent for Tangkhul newspaper The Aja Daily till his death.
He was also associated with ISTV News and The Impact TV News.
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