Social dynamics of Eigam
- Part 1 -

Lunminthang Haokip *

Craving For Attention: Nothing elates the Eimi-ego better than putting on a show. Late P.T. Yamthang, a social critic who was best known for keeping his audience in ceaseless splits when he, in his elements, chit-chatted on people in wayside tea-stalls, exploiting his own satirical flair for verbal-gymnastics, once said this.

The Original Showman: A sleek jeep whizzed into the State Secretariat, and came to a screeching halt. A booted, suited and bespectacled Late Pu Thangkhanlal (a Minister, then) dismounted in style with a cap in hand. In split seconds, about half-a-dozen political workers (all Eimi) of the high-flying Zou-leader with the midas-touch, flaunting heads turned grey by sub-urban dust, jumped down one by one from the back of the Singhat-soil-smeared vehicle with the pride of a paratrooper and rubber-necked around, each loudly thinking, "Am I being seen by others?".

The VLPB: The progressive village-level power-broker (VLPB) dons this ostentatious mind-set to perfection. Calculatingly ambitious, his type as a rule, marries, sorry, elopes with a gullible daughter of the susceptible village-chief that he may have a larger stake in administrative affairs. He's a high school drop-out; but lack of higher education is suitably compensated for by native craftiness and a persuasive oratory-skill. To keep up with his double-standards, he lives in a house partly roofed with thatch-leaves and partly with C.G.I. sheets.

Guru-Chela: The smart-operator employs simple modus operandi. He volunteers to offer a sumptuous meal to appreciate and dish-honour every visiting dignitary including district and block-level officers. He's so close to the circle Law-maker that the latter even issues signed blank letter-heads to him. The bonhomie between the two grows firmer with every show of unflinching loyalty by the speculating power-broker during polls.

Hassled Ego: The Legislator-turned-Minister can count on the succour of his supple yet subtle supporter as long as he gives the faithful follower free access to the perks and privileges of minister-dom. While the 'chela' savours being pampered and introduced to biggies, a snide remark from the Guru's family is enough to for ever alienate the touchy 'Kismet ka thikadar' and make him switch over allegiance to rival camps. Reminds me of a saying in Hindi, "Jaisa Guru, waisa chela".

Itches Of The Neo-Rich: Decades ago, when the flow of funds wasn't throttled by overdrafts and bans, the VLPB frequented offices with the delight of a hypochondriac at a medical convention. Following the sudden glut of schemes for the poor, in his frog-in-the pond mentality, he thought he had more money than he knew what to do with. Neatly stacking up a few tens of thousands of rupees inside his inner-room trunk-box, and putting his finger vertically across his lips, he warned the wife of his youth in low tone , "Silly woman, keep the doors properly locked when you go out. This is not our lifestyle and living standard of the past".

The Necessary Evil: The stocks of the moneyed dream-merchant soar in rural transactions. He is consulted and approached in every matter. Self-centered, he enjoys the undue importance he's showered with. In our pathetic back-blocks, means fall far short of needs. The period between the harvest and the fall of the next year's spring-season is set aside for various social and religious activities.

Event-Itch: Village foundation day or youth day is to be exulted over with fanfare. A poor family is to send off their daughter in holy marriage. A memorial stone awaits to be laid. Christmas will be celebrated with butchery of a few oxen. The village is to host the parish spiritual conference immediately after the area sports-meet. The schedules are hectic. The artistic damsel is anxious. How's she going to finish loin-weaving the shawl she desperately needs to sell off before the tourney commences?

Days Are Dark: Elsewhere, the debt-rich father of the bride-to-be sulks. Tradition demands that he forks out dollops of pork and beef for village-folks and sundry kindred to feast upon before his daughter is decently bid adieu. Besides, the bride is to be sent off along with fresh household paraphernalia. In this year of horrible harvest, how on earth is he going to make both ends meet in the later-half?

Broker of Situations: If problems come, can the VLPB be far behind? In the absence of big rivers in his vicinity where he can spend time fishing, he loves to fish in troubled waters. Loans are given to those who are in dire-straits to be paid back in kind (read paddy), with interest. If they can't repay, there's no harm He'll write off the debts with an eye on advantage to bargain when election comes. (To be contd)

Revelling in harmless hyperboles, Hemlet Baite shot to fame with one-liners like, "I came to know about my super-stamina the moment I cut banana-trunks deep with a knife". He also had a knack for underplayed buffoonery and churned out subtleties like, "I felt immensely pleased when my mom, one fine day, confided in me in whispers that I am older to my younger brothers".

The Imaginary Barter: The endearing clown had this jaw-splitting tale to tell, "Once in utter hunger, I loitered around the eateries of Imphal city with a few coins in my pocket. The coins were too meagre to buy me a square meal.

I therefore positioned myself in front of the restaurants and tried to quench my hunger by inhaling the sweet aroma of the food-items on offer. Catching me red-handed in the offbeat act, the manager of the eatery insisted on my payment for the invisible aromatic inhalation. I was shocked. And in a flash of witticism, for which I lauded myself, I shook the coins in my pocket and told the manager that the clanking sound the coins produced was my tit-for-tat answer to the bogus notional bill demanded clearance of. That way, somehow I could settle scores with the restaurateur's chutzpah".

The Suave Comedian: Then came in the fun-laden scenario glib-tongued scene-stealers like Sonmang Chongloi who catered to the taste of the classes with utterances steeped in twist of irony like, "Among the politicians, Rev. T. Lunkim walks closest to God".

He was equally candidly bitter about his better-half, "At night, in my sub consciousness, when my tender skin touched the extra-rough, skin-edges of my wife's heels, I thought the neighbour's saw-mill-blade had cut me apart."

To be continued...

Lunminthang Haokip

* Lunminthang Haokip wrote this article for The Sangai Express
This article was webcasted on April 04, 2016.