Of Monstrous Men-Eaters and Women-Eaters in Manipur

Jenni *

Lai-khutsangbi - An Artwork by Meisnam Jackson
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I was fascinated with the Spiny Anteaters or Echidna when I first saw these marvelous creatures on Animal planet years ago. But rather than being enthralled by its long sticky tongue that protrudes from its snout to collect the prey, I was beguiled by its name. In Greek mythology, Echidna was a half woman half snake creature, also known as the "Mother of All Monsters" because most of the monsters in Greek myth were mothered by her. And I wondered why taxonomist gave such a monstrous name to these adorable creatures!

Leaving the immaculate Anteaters in their wilderness and coming back to the Homo-sapien society of Manipur, we have plenteous of reports on crimes against women by men and vice versa. Reports of lechers and perverts raping and smothering women, of infants and child being assaulted and raped by pedophiles and episodes of molestation, voyeurism and badgering of women by the opposite sex have become an everyday affair with jumbo increase day by day.

Magazines like Nupi Gi Punsi have been successfully showing the plights of Manipuri women by digging out the skeletons from the closet; exposing the inglorious face of Manipur society that is so pompously synonymous with 'women empowerment'!

Reports of men eloping two women or of married men caught in compromising position with young girls in dingy restaurants have become trivial affairs of our society that come off every now and then. Such Women-Eaters create undue panic among married and unmarried women who yearn for Utopian love and marriage. Besides generating frustrations among the general public, such incidents infuriate those men who have always vouched for integrity, modesty and chastity.

But newspaper columns are also filled with reports of women indulging in licentious activities, and of women being home-breaker and wedding crashers. 'Mou ama mangkhre' titled shumang lila and songs have already added new spices to our entertainment industry, however embarrassingly hilarious it may sound.

Many men also reported being cheated by women with well planned izat-dabi. The opinions expressed against such men-eaters by the male section of our society are indeed embarrassing for a woman to read. Their resentment and frustrations against such incidents is quite overwhelming!

Such reports and incidents about men-eaters and women-eaters are occupying the newspaper columns everyday, competing with our traditional news of bomb blast, gun shot, Manipur integrity and economic blockade. In yore days, newspaper reports about rape and murder of women used to be a state issue. But nowadays, such incidents have become a garden-variety news masala that should be read and expectorated. It's ever increasing like some sort of evil volcano ignited by modernism, erupting out of a traditional bosom.

The alarming increase of misdemeanors and felonies against men and women by the opposite sex has been attributed to a number of reasons by the wiser folks of our society. The increasing use of mobile phones and modern gadgets, mimicking other modernized society with little knowledge and resources, money madness, the result of living in a still evolving society that is contaminated in all levels, increasing corruption, unemployment, and an every increasing frustration among the youths in the struggle for existence are some of the many reasons. The reasons may be personal, political, social, and economical or an interrelation of all. However, the real underlying causes can be known only by in-depth research.

Having said these, we shouldn't be disheartened. I have witnessed many a true love stories, of couples living happily ever after, of real life Mills and Boons heroes and heroines, of men respecting and upholding the rights of women and vice versa. I can also proudly say that some of the most ingenuous, decent and unblemished men and women can be found in Manipur itself. Here is a place where Taylor Swift can find her Prince Charming with whom she can ride off into the sunset on a white horse.

The recent increase in the number of the educational sponsors for the Students in Need is an example of how Manipur have great many sons and daughters who are benevolent and compassionate enough. There are also innumerable budding philanthropists who nurture such beautiful thoughts and deeds in their heart, waiting for the right moment to proceed with their humanitarian acts.

Indubitably, we also have great sons and daughters of this soil who got a heart big enough to give another chance to those men-eaters and women-eaters who are ready to rehabilitate and transform their lives by mending their ways.

I salute all the kind hearted sons and daughters of Manipur and your love for humanity!