My experience with Manipuris

Mangesh Purohit *

Pune Manipuri's Friendly Football Match 2009 at R&DE(E) Colony Football Ground, Pune, on December 06, 2009 :: Pix by Vimol Kshetrimayum

I am a regular reader of your articles and I wanted to give a follow up on that.

I have a keen interest in the people and culture of North Eastern states. I have seen lot of people from North east, especially Manipur in Pune. Most of them study in my college.

I am deeply moved by the story of discrimination against North Eastern students. I pray that they get justice and hope that the government taken appropriate measures to avoid such incidents in the future.

I ask for forgiveness on behalf of all the people in the mainland for their behavior against NE students. I know that you people have suffered a lot and you had to face injustice (May be it be in the case of Irom Sharmila).

I am also against the AFSPA and had gather a few friends to protest against it. I watch a video in which Ladies from Manipur had marched to the Army office undressed(I felt humiliated as a man, women had to suffer to such extend in a country where they are respected like GOD).

I will now share my experience with Manipuris, there are lot of manipuris in University of Pune but they aren't that excited to mix up with Punekars like others (Gujarats and Rajasthanis set up sweet shops and South Indians set up Dosa centres in Pune). North Eastern people aren't that much active.

In Maharashtra, Science is the most prestigious stream followed by Commerce. Arts stream is like reserved for the less educated or uncultured people. The big threat to Manipuris is that they are interested to pursue Arts stream. So they are sometimes troubled by people. (I checked out Manipur University and found out that Engineering and Science aren't given that much importance).

The other thing is that Manipuris are not interested in talking to unknown people (had trouble meeting them as they are always in groups). They wear westernized outfits with Ray Ban glasses and are not that simple (Mainland people often misunderstand them as Chinese whom most of them don't like).

The third thing I have found that Manipuris especially girls don't like to be asked about the situation in Manipur, all they are interested and busy is listening Korean songs (I don't know much but I hear about some Ming and Park guys, Girls Generation, Super Junior and T-ara are my personal favourite). I know Bollywood is banned in Manipur (I totally respect your decision to follow K-Pop and dramas, they are interesting than hollywood).

I read about Dana Sangma and Loitam Richard, I feel bad for them but I guess it was partially Dana's fault for being caught copying in the exams. The incidence with Loitom, was totally unforgivable. I hope the responsible people are punished.

The fast of Sharmila ji was kept uncovered by media just like the Case of 'Suicidal of Farmers in Maharashtra'.

I am sorry although I sound like but I am in no ways defending mainland people. I have sent mails to 2-3 newspaper who asked me to "Go away".

I hope that before losing the bonds we must join them again. Manipur's Art and Dance are quite famous in many cities. I hope you start some cultural activities and promote Manipuri art and culture.

I read on the blog of Ann(from NE) that she passed the Civil Services exam. Congratulations to her and 9 others. According to her most of the manipuri youth is addicted to alcohol and drugs and most of them are graduates and are working for militants.

I believe that there are ample jobs for everyone otherwise the Employee News magazine had to be closed down. I hope that someone could help to solve the issue of Sadar Hills and stop the decades of rivalry between Nagas and Kukis and together work for the development of Manipur.

I hope that you make a lot of progress in quick time and the 'land of Jewels' become a famous tourist destination for people like us. (Hope the AFSPA is lifted and we can breathe easily ). The corrupt government is our common problem and I hope we can together solve it for our mutual benefit.

An internship opportunity has opened up in University of Tezpur for research. Hope it benefits someone from you.