Matamdugi Manipur and Matamgi Manipur
- A Contradictory Look Between The Two! -

Sanatombi Angomcha *

Sharing my grief upon how a deafening silence prevails in 'My 'Once Upon a Time' Cheerful Valley' along with my take upon a contradictory look between 'Matamdugi Manipur and Matamgi Manipur'

'Ibotomba? Where are you my son?' – sends an SMS to her son by a worried Binasakhi when her son doesn't respond to her call for the third time.

This is just a mention amongst the various existing trends which prevail in 'Matamgi Manipur'. And it is worth at least a round of applause for such innovations in communication devices in the 'forgotten Indian state'.

The advent of mobile phones embedded with pocket internet is one more improvement which has affected the lives of various youths and professionals in the state. Manipuris have now bid 'Adieu' to the communication barriers which used to be one of the weirdest problems faced by everyone in the state.

However, on a bitter note, the ongoing June month is perhaps one of the worst Junes ever faced by Manipuris. Blockade and flood hitting the lives of innumerable people in the state and prices of daily commodities soaring beyond the clouds, all these have badly affected each and everyone's life out there.

For poor people, its 'loo kokpada len taaba'. The notion of 'chaaganba suganba yaangangba lairaba' has always been there but this time it's a more fearsome one. It is more or less 'Lairaba Eradication' mock-campaign on the go. Needless to mention, the 'pungchai chairaba state of affairs' amongst the so called political leaders.

The 'obscure political motif' of our dear Mapi-Mapaa Saaba political leaders at present seems to achieve a death-blow, particularly when they are held responsible for the present state in which the state is suffering.

'A fool being fooled by a fool' –the never ending ego clashes between our Taibi and Naga-paa-Muivah, the loathsome wind of animosity sweeping between 'Meiteis and Nagas' in particular, the never ending virtual wars, the uprising statehood 'wakhalons' amongst the Meitei Diasporas and various etc etc factors mark the onset of a new era in 'Matamgi Manipur'.

The social unrest, the political chaos, the worsened lives of common people- Is this the Manipur we wished to see when we were kids??

We could not wait to grow up and when we have grown up we keep wishing we had never grown up.

And it is just because reminiscence of those childhood days scores a better mark in our hearts as compared to Matamgi Manipur's appalling state. In fact, it is worth a discussion- 'When has 'peace' ever blessed the soil of Manipur within the last decade?'

The hope of availing peace further seems a wavering mirage to every single Manipuri which indirectly hints everyone to- STOP DREAMING.

Problems and problems everywhere and zero solution for even a single problem and no one ever knows when will all these problems end, (the comma always sustains). Que Sera Sera (whatever will be-will be) - is what people at present feels. Do they either have a choice? No and Never!

During 'Matamdugi Manipur', even a black and white television set bought to home by an earning member of the family was a reason enough to celebrate. The first sound emitted from television simply cheered up everyone's face.

And no matter it was 'sagol hawai souba maanba' screen or doordarshan news live on the television set, we could get glued in front of the blessed electronic box for hours until our moms scolded us.

The plethora of choices in terms of television channels at present doesn't score an appraisal when it comes to comparing the same with the single-channeled television sets of those days.

The best television watching memory (from my individual experience) is that of 'mayam pulab punlaga TV yengba matam' on those 'Nongmaijing Numits'. The Mahabharat serials, Vikram Betaal series, Stone Boy Serial and Chandrakanta stories all evoke good memories in our heart and we simply wish those days come back again.

If there was a tool or device through which time could be reversed back, I would be the sole pioneer to operate the same.

BUT alas! It's not only stupid but also next thing to impossible to imagine things in this way.

Well, within two three years from today, It will not be surprising to find out that 'Bihar is the most civilized Indian state' but it will always be a death-dream to re- discover a peaceful Manipur.

On a saddened note, I am sorry to admit that 'My (Once Upon a Time) Cheerful Imphal Valley' will never flicker upon its lost smile.. never ever again..And the deafening silence will always prevail but for the gunshots and rubber bullet sounds.