In quest of 'collective self-realization': Reminiscences of a field trip
A Field Trip To Andro

Yumlembam Khogen Singh *

A Field Trip To Andro (23/02/2014):
First batch MA students, faculties of the Department of Sociology, and the Dean of Social Sciences, Manipur University posing for a group photograph at the entry gate of the Santhei Natural Park, Andro
Photo: Dept. Of Sociology, MU

After a long impediment to education compelled by a contentious Act of reservation in admission, new academic session has kicked off and our University has grown richer with new batch of enthusiastic students. Interaction with newly admitted students brings back the sweet memories of an academic exercise. Here, writer harks back to reminiscences of an academic trip in which students of sociology worked together as a group and shattered some faux differences.

Organizing field trip for students is an integral part of academic activities and Manipur University is not lagging behind in this tradition. In the last academic session, the Department of Sociology, Manipur University organised a one-day field trip to Andro. After altering the initial plans, we chose 'The Santhei Natural Park' in Andro (a Scheduled Caste village in Imphal-East District) as the preferred picnic spot. Apart from enjoyment and learning, the trip meant to foster convivial relationship among the students.

With this humble aim of honing their theoretical knowledge imparted in classrooms with field-based methods, students were asked to reflect upon what they had observed and experienced during the trip. There was no plan to reveal their observations; however, considering the worth of that learning trip, this piece of writing shares some of their intriguing observations along with writer's personal reflections.

Post-trip feedbacks confirmed that natural beauties of 'The Santhei Natural Park', a recreational area in Andro jointly manage by two local clubs fascinated all students. Some of them described the place as the most beautiful park that they have ever seen in their life. At the very outset, students empathetically noticed villagers' hard work and love for nature.

After witnessing the scenic beauty of the area and candid management of the park by local people, some students recollect the park as a gift from the 'Mother Nature' that has been honoured with human creativity. Expressing her contentment, one student declares – 'away from the burden of books, far from the crowd, on the top of the nature- what greater pleasure could we expect?' On being close to nature, students established an ethical bond with the nature and it shows that our ability to appreciate and respect 'Mother Nature' augments when we personally witness its beauty and significance.

Not far away from the Park, growing Panam Ningthou Garden can provide a newer place for recreation. After doing a little bit of beautification, it seems that this Panam Ningthou Garden (in the pipeline), along with the Santhei Natural Park, Kaina Temple, Panam Ningthou Temple and the Andro Living Museum when put together can serve as an attractive tourism package. Festivals like Panam Ningthou Haraoba and Chaoren Haraoba during the month of Lamda (February-March) could have attracted more tourists but the former is safeguarded from outsiders on this belief that intruding observations will bring harm and destruction to the village.

Boys mainly did the cooking (khabei-chegap part) under the supervision of a professional. Gender sensitized boys wondered around their gender roles. One boy jokingly put like this – "...beautiful girls occupied the seats and started enjoying food... we boys happily served them...after a while, we boys too started having our meal. After having meal I began to think about the need for 'men empowerment' in the line of women empowerment". It explains that doing something out of ascribed gender roles may induce appreciation for other gender's roles and sensitize the person to intricacies behind gendered perceptions.

Women were selling handicraft and pottery products around the entry gate of the park. Earlier, women in Andro were making traditional pots for household uses, particularly 'Eshaiphu' and 'Yu Chaphu'. However, these days their pottery skill seems to be more engrossed on making other decorative things like tortoise/ piggy banks, flowers pots/ vases, candle stand, etc. After understanding all these innovations in pottery, young minds were eager to know whether the occupation is an intelligent tactics of facing the challenges of rapidly changing demands amid the strong winds of globalization and modernization.

After observing the perseverance of traditional housing-style, culture, and religious heritage of Meitei society in Andro, some students opined that it could be a sensible choice as field area for research on archaic Meitei tradition and religious life. Setting up her future research agenda, a tribal girl observed – 'I saw some tomb (stone) near the houses. It was really a pleasant surprise to see that there are similarities between caste and tribe in Manipur in terms of culture. I believe there will be still more cultural similarities to be explored'.

Photography was not allowed inside the Panam Ningthou Temple. It reminded students about ethics in social research, and none violated the temple's code of conduct. After realizing the power of fieldwork, a student said- 'Hope, in the coming days more trips are going to be organized as we sociologists have to travel and explore such places'.

On her first visit to a 'Meitei temple', a Tangkhul student from Ukhrul said- 'some of our Meitei friends went and prayed inside the temple. Although many of them were inside the temple and praying, I could not hear any voice. I was surprised because we, Christians make loud sound while praying'. Expressing how she has changed after the Andro Trip, a girl said- 'I am a shy person, but in Andro, I started communicating with those persons in my class whom I had never spoken to. Now I realize that participating in this kind of activity can be of great value, it has changed me'.

Even though the trip happened to be on "Lord's Day" (read Sunday), only a few of them could not be part of the trip. Boiled rice, chicken with gravy, fried chicken, fried-pork, Champhut, Eromba, vegetables salad, etc. were served. However, there was no silly argument over food menu because individual preferences were compromised to fulfill group's interest. Together they organized and worked keeping aside all those gender, caste, tribe, and age-based differences and it made them convince that – 'unity is indeed strength'.

The trip teaches us that realization of the shared aspects of culture between hill and valley people shall foster the bond of loving relationship between communities. Thus, acceptance of our moral duty to ethically treat fellow beings and respect others' culture can be a lasting means of harmonious existence amid existing socio-cultural diversities.

In a lighter vein, amid the air of jubilation and feeling of contentment, they did not forget to appreciate hospitality of the local people and Manipur University's assistance that made our trip to Andro a grand success. Keeping the entire lovely memories intake, we look forward to a more productive and exciting academic year.

* Published as Yumlembam Khogen Singh, "In quest of 'collective self-realization': Reminiscences of a field trip", The Sangai Express, 21 October, 2014.
(http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/44338/in-quest-of-collective-self-realization-reminiscences-of-a-field-trip)