Two major happenings of the foregoing week were, first, the drive of the MEELAL activists to write Meetei scripts on the number plates of vehicles running in the State from moped to heavy vehicles and the other is the unexpected and unwanted visit of an unseen visitor whom doctors called Bird Flu or Avian Flu. One is a man made fuss and the other is better to put its maker to our providence who takes care of us.

MEELAL volunteers have been making a valiant effort to promote Meetei script for a long time. With their efforts Meetei script has got due space in sign boards and hoardings that are displayed on many establishment and business centres. The titles of the Manipuri dailies are also written both in Meetei and Bengali scripts and some portions of the front pages in also spared for news written in Meetei Mayek.

Now comes the turn of the number plates on the moving vehicles. The Govt authorities have got the apprehension that if the vehicles with number plates written in Meetei script happen to trespass the zone where it is hated most, then it might have flared up an unwanted anger from certain quarter which one can call communal flame. So this time the Government is ready for a showdown of its strength with the MEELAL volunteers.

As the deadline of July 25 is nearing, uneasiness falls on all of us who ride vehicles. The very image of burning down of Central Library comes often in our eyes with the very idea that MEELAL can do whatever it wants to do for the sake of Meetei Script.

As I don’t want to invite the wrath of the Mayek activists and at the same time do not want my vehicle to be stoned or tourched or damaged in the absence of security personal in the road, I urged my son to paint Meetei script with numerals in front of my bike. Then I began my daily journey to school on the 25th as one who had no care and feared none.

On that particular day there were so many security personal on the road, who were new recruits as most of them held lathis instead of AKs. But when I reached Khurai Lamlong some security personal stopped my bike and asked me to scratch off and remove the number plate written in Meetei Mayek. Without any melodrama I quietly remove the number plate.

At my age, the boy in uniform did it with politeness in his words, to a boy of his age the security personal would have acted in a different manner. Later on the day, I was a bit confused and also in a dilemma whether my bike will be a bone of contention between two opposing parties; one to write, another to erase.

Fortunately an amicable solution came and demands of the MEELAL met with the understanding that both Meetei script number and Roman (English) number are allowed in the number plates of vehicles.

In our opinion, there is no wrong in the demand of the MEELAL and there is no sinister design in it. But as the saying goes ‘where there is a proposal there is always an opposer’, it is too much to see the painting of number plates both in English and Meetei Mayek as communal.

In many parts of the country, specially in the south all numerical figures and words on sign boards and numbers in vehicles are done in their own language and script. Those (most in power) can say that Manipuri language (not Meeteilon) is included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution sans scripts till now. So Meetei Mayek is not recognised and bar from painting/ writing in the sign boards. But the Govt has an approved script and automatically when Manipuri language searches for a corresponding script, it will be this approved script (but still some eyebrows are raising from some other groups about the genuineness of the script).

Then the authority should be liberal at least to allow to paint/write the number for those who want to paint. At the same time MEELAL activist should not force vehicle owners to write Meetei scripts by using violent means. And others who are the haters of Meetei scripts should not see it an encroachment to their area and a poke on their fences. They should think it as others business, not an imposition to their culture and language.

In a more fitting way let us say those who want to paint/write Mayek, photo picture or advertisement of any sort they have the liberty to do so provided a number plate with clear English should be in its proper place.

If the reformers of our society have always the inclination that force would have made their goals, then our Manipur would have been a paradise long ago. Because in the past we have seen many forces, many strong hands dictate many issues and destroy many things but our society is still flowing with the same mud, with the same dirts. So the best way for the present is to arouse the willingness, the innate idea of love of fellow being and patriotism in our mind which seemed to have been lost from us for a long time .

About Bird Flu, the ravager in its maiden visit to this State has smitten its victims (hens and chickens) by scores, first in the Chingmeirong area. It has made many people restless, more to those who earn their living with chickens and hens. Why not, Manipur is a paradise on earth. Paradise is loved both by the angels and the devil.

If HIV/AIDS walk boldly in the border State, can Bird Flu be far behind. But the tragedy is the response of the people their nonchalance to this disease which has got no medicine to cure at all. The first impact or impression of any eventuality to our people is rather peculiar.

When there is flood, people come to see the flood as a roadside show and enjoy it. When there is immediate clamping of curfew and people are ordered to remain indoors, then people came out in the open street to see the curfew.

As the news of the disease spread far and wide in every district, in every village, then each and every household has got their pet hens and chickens cooked in their kitchen to have the last taste. Some found themselves busy in making roasted chicken and chicken tandori. Our people seem to belong to the group of stoics and fatalists who has taken things lightly.

Whether it is the false impression about the disease or the dare devil nature of our people, most of the hens and chickens from Imphal reach rural areas in no time. It is true, nevertheless that in a number of occasion all that can be said in their favour is that if the chickens are cooked above 700 Celsius it is fit to be eaten and most people have taken it a chance to have a palatable dish at their dinning table at a very low cost. It is a quality that only one finds in our people, isn’t it?