BD Behring : The inimitable Gentleman I knew

John S Shilshi *

BD Behring : Pix - TSE

My association with Tada Behring (as we fondly addressed him) began after I joined the police service in 1988, though I had known him even before that because he was a prominent public figure from Chandel. Being a scholar, he was quick to appreciate and understand the needs of time.

He would never argue on anything vaguely but would speak only from a position of strength, supported by facts and figures that he painstakingly compiled. Though he has had many ups and downs in his political career, he was never known to be bitterly inclined towards his opponents but believed in a healthy competition, which is the essence of real democratic temper.

At first glance, he typically exudes an air of arrogance and dominance, yet once his inner being is fully comprehended, he captivates his opponents with a compelling magnetic pull. There are a few memorable instances of our encounter that I always value, and I feel there is no better time than now to briefly recollect them as we bid him a tearful farewell.

In February 1990, a new Government under the leadership of Shri RK Ranbir Singh was formed. And in that new dispensation, my friend, Morung Makunga, fortunately happened to be one of the blue-eyed boys of the new Chief Minister. So, he had apparently requested the Chief Minister to send me as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Moreh since it was within his Constituency.

While the posting orders were being finalised, Morung Makunga called me to convey that the CM had very kindly agreed to consider his request. However, much to his disappointment, I declined the offer and requested him to reconsider his proposal. He sounded surprise, but agreed to my request.

In our subsequent conversation, he updated me about the change being accepted, but mentioned that CM queried who this officer was, refusing a posting to Moreh. With a tinge of guilt in my mind for not honouring my friend's desire, I moved from 5th Manipur Rifles to Chingai as SDPO in those general transfers.

In May 1992, I was again transferred to Imphal district, and after that the frequencies of my interactions with Tada Behring increased. There was a time he shuffled between Manipur and New Delhi since he got nominated as a Member of Parliament. But, before he took a final call, he consulted some prominent people of Chandel district.

The consultation meeting was prayed over by the late Rev Sumpi John, and in that meeting it was unanimously agreed that he should return to the State Assembly. Rev Sumpi John explained the difference between 'want' and 'need' and said, "We don't want you; we need you." Thus, he returned to the State Assembly, cementing our relationship further.

During one of the State functions at the 1st Manipur Rifles campus, he took me to a comer and said the CM once told him that an officer from Chandel refused to go as SDPO Moreh and wanted to confirm if that was me ? I said, `Yes.'. He asked, why ? Very naively I told him, "Tada, I want to work as an officer and not as guard of a border post."

He took some time to digest, but said nothing further. I presume, the sharp person he was, he understood the essence of my thoughts. A few years later, when I was the Additional SP (R), he dropped by my office to discuss an issue. That time he was no longer an MLA. Coincidentally, my cousin Morhing Shilshi had also dropped in just ahead of him to discuss some clan-related problem.

As he entered and saw my cousin sitting in my room, he told him in Anal dialect, "Your younger brother did something most won't do. Do you know he refused a posting as SDPO Moreh?" Though I didn't have a good command over Anal dialect as my cousin did, I understood what he was telling him. Later I was compelled to explain the context of his remarks to my cousin.

He was that kind of a person: observant, receptive, sharp, and sagacious, with tremendous ability to recall things. After I moved to Delhi on Central deputation to the Intelligence Bureau, he visited us in my quarter in Lodi Road.

He came with a neatly packed sugar, and as he handed over, he told my wife, "Our forefathers used to share rice beer when they met. But after we became Christians, the tradition of sharing has changed. We share moments over a cup of tea. Therefore, this small token is a symbolic gesture from my side about keeping the tradition alive."

I was deeply moved because he was not bothered about the item, the quality or the quantity of the gift he brought for us, but there was genuine purpose and intention in what he did. His actions demonstrated his deep appreciation for our customs and traditions, pointing out the importance of maintaining connections with one another. It provoked my conscience !

During my tenure in the Intelligence Bureau, the frequency of our meetings and sharing ideas with one another reduced considerably because I kept moving to different places. But despite the physical separation, we remained connected, discussing issues of mutual interest. The inquisitive in him was ever hungry for Government of India orders and notifications that had a bearing on Manipur and the tribal people.

So, he would ask me to get him copies, and I would fetch them and provide them to him —mostly by post or through some known person carrying the envelope for him. This way, he became a reservoir of important documents.

I was told when the delimitation issue was hotly debated in Manipur at various citizens forums, he was one of the leaders who provided maximum reference documents, which he had collected and preserved over the years. He did all of that because he never believed in harping on anything without a basis.

As I mentioned earlier, Tada Behring was often mistaken by many as someone who was unfriendly, rude, and arrogant when they met him for the first time because he never was in the habit of mincing words. But once they got to know him well and understood his multi-dimensional prowess, they soon clung on to him.

I remember late Prof. Gangmumei telling me, "BD Behring is a fine gentleman with immense political astuteness. People often misunderstand him because of his straight-forwardness". Likewise, I remember Mr Irengbam Hemochandra, admiring him umpteen times as one of the very articulate tribal leaders of Manipur. Many in his circle hold a similar sentiment about him. For me, my admiration for him is total.

Apart from his inner qualities, I always liked the way he carried himself. He knew his place as a public leader, carefully calibrating what to say, where, and when, which is the hallmark of persons who respect their positions. He never talked cheaply, but chose his words very carefully, as any decent person would. Besides, I liked the way he dressed and presented himself.

No matter what outfit he wore, he wore it with élan, always prim and proper, and never shabbily. Most importantly, he bore a God-given quality of a pleasantness and a smiling face that captivates others easily.

Above all, he was a wonderful human being ! The news of his tragic demise melted our hearts with grief, because we realise the vacuum his departure would entail.

We will miss him very fondly. But we hope that someday he will welcome us with that same broad smile into the Lord's House, where he now goes.

To his departed soul, we say, 'In all of us, you will always live.'

But for now, we say, goodbye, Brother; we will meet in heaven someday.