An Ordeal at Khambi

Robert J Baite *

Last week, I had an opportunity to visit Khambi. Khambi is around 30kms from Phungyar, just a few distance from Indo-Myanmar Border. I was invited there to grace a cultural programme. Tabee insisted that she would also tag along as she has never been to Ukhrul District. So, we also took along our two kids. We went by two vehicles- one mine and the other by office van.

We started out at 7 in the morning since the programme was to begin at 11. To reach Khambi, one has to drive and reach Finch Corner. From Finch Corner crossing, you have to take the right road where you reach Shangshak. It is worth to mention that Shangshak is a place where the Second World War was fought with the British Army approaching from Myanmar side. A war memorial is still in place which is least to say quite dilapidated. The Government may be suggested to develop the War Memorial park so that it can become one of the tourist centres in Uhrul District.

Coming back to our sojourn to Khambi, I was leading the team. The road was quite good as unexpected but there were lots of stone pebbles in between. I don’t know how it happened. The van driver signaled me to stop. When I checked out to see what had happened, it was too late. There were trails of black engine oil behind. When we checked underneath the vehicle, we found out that there was a hole in the engine oil chamber. We stopped the vehicle in the jungles. We scratched our heads to fine a solution. One truck came from the opposite and we stopped to ask if they had any M-Seal to plug the leak. Luckily they had. One of my colleagues crawled under the car and plugged the chamber. It was already 2 in the afternoon.

Then, we drove for about 5 kms when my car spluttered to a stop at place near Leishi. There was not a soul to be seen. The car has to be pulled and there was no vehicle in sight. We waited for more than four hours and by God’s grace, a Shaktiman came. We stopped it and asked where they were heading. A young jumped out of the Shaktiman and informed that they are going to Sorde, which is around 12kms from our destination Khambi. We pleaded with them to drag our vehicle till Khambi. They agreed and they brought out some iron wires and attached to my car.

My camera-man Deben took the wheel and our family was shifted to the van. When we reached Khambi, it was already 6pm. We were warmly welcomed by the village authorities. We participated in the night function with me behind the camera. The Shaktiman dragging my car reached us one and half hours later. After our team assembled, we were treated to a sumptuous dinner with buffalo meat on the menu. We ate heartily and afterwards we were assigned the pastor quarter for our night’s sack.

Next morning, we woke up and we decided to take a tour of the village. My wife and the kids stayed back. We discovered that it was not a big village. There was just a straight road flanked by log-houses on both sides. The youths coming from neighboring villages were taking morning walk. We had tea at the Chief’s house. The chief explained that there is an alternate road where one can reach Nongpok Sekmai. He informed us that the road is not so good but the distance between Khambi and Imphal is shorter by atleast 40kms. It is hard to believe because we can see the hills of Myanmar from the village itself. Maybe, the Government can contribute its mite in developing the road that connects the area with Nongpok Sekmai. It can even become an alternate road to Mandalay.

We requested the chief to arrange some mechanics who can fix the car. Two guys who claim to know something about mechanism of the car came and spent more than two hours under the bonnet. Then, we pushed the car to the foothill and pushed it down to see whether the car engine purr back to life. After four pushing’s, we gave up.

The one pouch of Sekmai which we took along with us was also finished. The sun having set, we were called for dinner. When enquired, the youths informed us that Khambi is a dry village. Even Talab is banned in the village. Naturally, we had to go dry and have our dinner without the customary peg.

The second day of the function was held in the open ground with exhibition of various cultural items. There were colourful dances, exhibition of traditional games and songs. The older generations enthusiastically participated in the function by rendering old folk songs.

In the meantime, we were looking for a vehicle to pull our car. We discussed with the village authorities and they assured us that they will provide one. We waited and waited. Our minds went blank as there was nothing we can do. It seemed like we were stranded on a small island surrounded by deep sea.

In the night, logs of firewood as high as a one-storey building were lit in five different places in the open ground. Boys and girls sang songs and danced. Since there was nothing for us to do, we kept ourselves warm by the fire-place at the quarter. We spent the night gossiping and roasting paan (vegetable bulb). Incidentally, the paan is, meant for the pigs. Unlike in Imphal, where pigs are fed with leftover food, there the paan is cooked along with pumpkin and rice which the pigs devour with delight.

The next day we decided to abandon the car. Our idea was to reach Imphal and come back with a mechanic and repair the car. Otherwise, there was no other alternative. Putting our thinking caps together, we decided to travel by the van. The village authorities informed us that a jeep would be coming from Phungyar to our rescue. But then, we had already spent two nights and we had given up hope that a vehicle would come.

Therefore, eight of us crammed inside the Van and left the car at the chief’s place. On our way, a jeep came and stopped us to enquire if we were the one who needed a vehicle to pull our car. We nodded in positive and we returned back again. We were least to say relieved. We reached the place were my car was parked. However, the driver of the jeep said that he can drop us till Lambui only. We pleaded with him to drop us till Imphal. But he was adamant. With no other alternative, we decided to test our fate and agreed to his condition.

Since the car was pulled two days back with the ignition on, the batteries were exhausted. Therefore, the brakes did not work. With one hand on the steering and the other on the hand brake, Deben took incharge of the car. Finally we reached Lambui where the jeep driver bade us farewell. Now the next task was to hunt for another vehicle. We tried two to three vehicles but no one relented. It was getting dark. We were desperate. Finally a Bolero came and agreed to pull the car till Imphal. The god-send angels revealed that they were from Electricity Department who had gone on tour to Ukhrul on some official works. Deben took over the wheels again. With no headlights, no brakes, we finally reached Imphal.

It was indeed an ordeal which one will never forget. The other day when I asked my son Benjamin whether he wants to visit Ukhrul again, he shook his head left and right!.