Bonds of love across the Burmese border

Haorokcham Anil *

A group of Meitei Family in Mandalay, Myanmar in October 2014 :: Pix - R.K. Shivachandra

Myanmar was struck by a deadly earthquake of 7.7 magnitude on the Richter Scale on 28th March, 2025 with the epicenter near Mandalay. Viral pictures and videos shared in the news channels and social media presented the level of destruction and the misery caused. However it became more painful when we saw the toll and widespread destruction with our own eyes and came face to face with the victims.

When I first heard about the earthquake that was also felt in Manipur, the first thing that struck my mind was the hardships that the Manipuri community especially, the Meitei community that resided in and around the Mandalay region and other parts of Myanmar since the last 300* years must be facing.

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, the Mandalay that came to mind, is that of a beautiful city of rich culture, golden pagodas, Royal Palace (bearing similarity with our Kangla Palace), the night life with Karaoke (KTV) stations and a promising business hub.

All of which I witnessed in 2019 when I visited there as part of the India-Myanmar Business summit held under the aegis of Indian Embassy, Myanmar. Meiteis in Myanmar are generally economically weak as per my understanding and have faced many serious challenges especially in protecting the language, culture & identity way back from the era of Burmese Way of Socialism under Gen Ne Win since 1962.

Many have sacrificed even their marital life and remained unmarried for the purpose. The deadly quake had affected everyone including the Meitei community, although no death has been reported from the Meitei community. The far reaching impact of the earthquake had resulted in the Myanmar Government openly requesting for humanitarian help from the international community.

It was one of the rare requests from the international community in the midst of sanctions especially from the western powers. I was suddenly emotionally charged and was ignited with the sense of extending humanitarian aid for our ill-fated blood brothers against all odds owing to the present crises in my place Manipur and in Myanmar.

Humanitarian aid was extended as dreamt with the blessings and the support of the people of Manipur. The amount that we have contributed was small and insignificant in terms of monetary value in proportion to the level of destruction, however the sense of solidarity and emotional connect and our urge to re-ignite our fraternal ties was indeed priceless.

The same is also reciprocated from the other end, smiling, hugging each other with tears in our eyes marked the special bond and solidarity and this has proven that we are still brothers despite long years of separation, geographically and politically; it was one of my happiest moments in my life.

Globalization has enhanced human connections amongst us after 300* years and the internet-based applications has made it easier to stay in touch but, unfortunately in different languages as majority of them has unlearned Meiteilon (Manipuri Language) during these years of segregation.

Many of them have even abandoned the culture, tradition and converted to Ava (Burmese) owing to many political and social compulsions in Myanmar. The lack of attention and disconnect with Manipur might be additional factors, yet many of them still remember that they are the legacy of Meitei. The blood that runs in their body is still Meitei blood.

Many of them whom I personally knew expressed the pain of not able to speak their native language, Meiteilon and expressed a keen desire to learn for the Meitei populace of Mandalay and other places in Myanmar as they wish to integrate emotionally, culturally with Manipur from where they originated.

Is it not our responsibility to make them learn the language and reconnect with us for a greater and stronger Meitei community owing to the new Geo-political & Geo-economical developments in the region apart from being blood brothers ?

If so, then how do we go about it ? Myanmar's education system does not have foreign language study, there are only two universities-one in Mandalay and another in Yangon for foreign language study but Manipuri (Meiteilon) is not in the list and hence formal study is out of option. Moreover, there is less time available to study due to economic and other social reasons.

The best way would be informal self-learning through subtitling of digital Manipuri movies, music videos and Shumang Leela (a unique traditional form of theatre) through Myanmar script and language, a process of learning a native language through another official language.

Entertainment has almost no barrier and it is a potent medium that connects us emotionally irrespective of National boundaries. Manipuri Digital films are very popular amongst Meitei people in Mandalay and other places where Meitei people reside and they are also great fans of film celebrities of Manipur.

It could be one of the sectors that could generate economic growth and provide jobs based on the foundation of rich art and culture of the State.

Subtitling of Manipuri Films and other related media will not be only be utilized as a tool for language dissemination but also as a market expansion of the entertainment industry of Manipur to the South East Asian market owing to the similarities of the people of Manipur and south Asian people.

The active participation from the organizations of Film Industry, Shumang Leela, producers and distributors etc. is of utmost requirement for common interest of people with a vision to promote solidarity and market expansion.