The Drivers on the Highways

Maisnam Chanu Liklainu *

Economic Blockade imposed by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee on August 3 2011

I saw a footage on tube on the economic blockade turning gory the other day. It was quite disturbing. The gruesome death of two women which later added up to three. The driver losing control of his vehicle as it came under attacks. He was profusely bleeding and was seriously injured. Trucks that were on fire. Fatal mishap that was !

This was not the isolated case of the drivers and the passengers. We are always fed with this kind of news. All these gory pictures are very common in Manipur. And the worst affected are the drivers and handymen. Yes, they are the drivers on the highways (The National Highways). They are unsung but very commendable services they have rendered so far.

They are the unsung heroes. Their stories are inspirational. They teach us how we can beat all the odds in life. They are never decorated. They risk their lives and limbs. There are none to honour them for the services they have rendered so far.

Come bandhs and blockades, they are ready for action. They are the bravehearts. There are none to call them gallants. There are none to sing paeans to their yeoman service. They brave the hostile people, the inhospitable terrain and the looters. And they are the harrased lot.

Life is tough for them. They were bruised, beaten and maimed many a times. What drives them to take to roads when dangers are always lurking behind them? I guess they get a thrill in doing that. In this democratic country of ours, when they take to roads, their liberty is curtailed. They meet all kinds of people. Some good, some bad, some ugly and some lousy. Looters constantly look for them. They are constantly threatened by the trigger-happy guys too.

Three national highways connect Manipur to the rest of the world. They are the lifelines of Manipur. Drivers have adjusted to this way of life. The rough and tough life of drivers. They have harrowing and horrifying news to share. Here in Manipur, bandhs and blockades happen on the blink of an eye. The NH-39 is the State's major link route to the outside world.

When the highway is blocked life comes to a standstill. This National Highway number 39 is a major player in our State's economy. Hundreds of trucks ply this route daily bringing essential commodities such as food grains, petrol, diesel, cooking gas, etc from other parts of the country. A large number of passenger buses and other vehicles too ply on this highway.

Why aren't the drivers treated well ? They risk their lives and limbs to bring all that we need. The list is long. We name it and it is there. It is they who have painstakingly carried all the items without fear. Constant threats have not deterred them. Dangers are always lurking behind them.

They simply invite death for a lark. Their life is a constant experiment with dangers. The highways are not safe at all. The sense of security is missing which explains why I stopped going to Mao for an adventure trip and meet up my friends.

Gone are those days when we enjoyed going to Mao. For an adventurous freak like me, it gets all the more worse with all the restrictions imposed on me by my Mom not to take this road. Me and my friends used to hit Mao to escape the blistering heat of Imphal.

The picturesque hill station provides a relaxing and salubrious retreat from the heat and dust of Imphal. The beautiful green surroundings, solitude and salubrious weather just accentuate the beauty of the place. The spectacular views make it the ideal place to hit the place and escape the hustle and bustle of Imphal city.

Manipur is home to several mountain ranges. My connection with the hills go back to those days when I used to accompany my dad to Phungyar. I love going to the hills. I love to have a long joy ride uptil Mao. I enjoyed going to Saitu village. The Mt. Everest College in Mao was the place where I sat down with my friends for coffee.

I remember meeting my college friends. How I enjoyed sorting out the houses of my friends from one mountain top to the other. We tasted different kinds of fish and chicken curries made by our hosts in Mao. It was a gastronomic delight. We love to experiment all kinds of foods. And it was one unforgettable lunch we had on the mountain-top.

We will cherish it in the years to come. It was yummy. Fishes curry sans oil but cooked well by our hosts. Sundays were the most beautiful days of all there. The people and the places were colourful. On this very day people thronged to Church. The Mao girls and guys with Bible in their hands and they were dressed to kill. It was a pleasant sight.

Let us not rob the beauty of the places. We want to explore more and more places. It is the drivers who will take us to these places where we want to explore. Lets make it safe and friendly. Lets not be hostile to the drivers. Let them exercise their rights. They are not to be bashed up, bruised and maimed. We owe them.

Drivers do have a life of their own. They do live far away from the glitches and glamour. They have their little ones waiting back at home. Lets not be rude to them. The least we can do is to be good to them.

Let them carry on with their work. Let them bring the passengers and the goods that we all need without hindrance. Lets not interfere with them. Life is not very secure for them. They don't have the insurance policies to back them.

Yeah, lets not make the national highway the cursed road and the road not to be taken. For, we want to travel...