My commentary on the “ selfish Manipuri diaspora” seemed to have struck a wrong chord with many Manipuris outside the state and some wags told me it was akin to exploding a Little Boy in their midst.

The fallout is that, in the internet, discussion groups and email exchanges, I am being branded as an apostate, a turncoat, if not a pariah. In the real world too, I got calls from friends in Delhi and elsewhere to know why I mounted this coup d'état at all? Do I nurse grudges against any diaspora groups and thus have an axe to grind by criticizing them?

Such and many other angry responses and questions poured in, and of course these include a three-part article in this paper that sought to dismiss my portrayal of Manipuri diaspora as a work of shoddy research. It must be admitted that the efforts that produced the 'The selfless side of Manipuri diaspora' in response to my 'Selfish Manipuri diaspora' was a truly global one that might have called for clinical coordination among six Manipuri expatriates living in different time zones of the world.

I am taking their suggestion at its face value, and this article will sweep the debris—and hubris—of the diaspora under the carpet and seek to present the movers and shakers of the Manipuri diaspora in a bright neon light: how some of the extraordinary diaspora collectives are helping in bolstering emotional unity and a global Manipuri identity.

With these parameters in mind, here's a list of five great (and not so great) diaspora groups that deserve our kudos, scrutiny and perhaps brickbats. Mind you it is a subjective D-I-Y list, not based on any scientific survey.

1. E-pao.net: I don't think there will be anyone who will contest this slot for e-pao. E-pao wins hands-down by any benchmark of patriotism, philanthropy and sacrifice among the so-called diaspora groups. Not only is it the most popular forum of the global Manipuris, it is also the most professionally run internet venture of the Manipuris anywhere.

We talk of democratization of media, but e-pao makes that possible in bits and bytes in a tangible way. If I wrote Selfish Manipuri diaspora in it, someone can hit back with selfish Ranjan Yumnam with as much freedom and prominence as I did— in a matter of seconds.

That's the magic of internet, but e-pao harnesses its intrinsic potential to its fullest, bringing together Manipuris living all over the world and spawning a popular culture that cuts across geographical boundaries. A quick glance at the homepage of e-pao would indicate that it is highly accommodative of any shade of opinion that might be considered inappropriate or too dangerous for a newspaper to give airing to.

What makes e-pao team, based in Bangalore, really commendable is their humility—the men behind it would prefer to put the brand ahead of personal fame. A few years ago, when I contacted a founder of this web portal requesting him for information and a profile picture of their team for use in a national paper, he declined it politely saying they would be mighty embarrassed by the exposure. Not even the Googles and Yahoos of the world have that kind of ascetic-like detachment.

2. Manipur Students Association, Delhi (MSAD): MSAD is as much bedeviled by charges of lethargy and as by activism. Though it has been at the forefront of mobilizing students for any major Manipur's issues like the extension of GoI-NSCN ceasefire and repeal of AFSPA, it has to face constant allegations of internal bickerings and misdirection. (Disclosure: I was once a secretary of the MSAD and in this capacity, along with other student representatives, handed memorandums to the President of India on several occasions).

MSAD nonetheless deserves credit because it has the resilience to spring to life whenever the situation calls for, turning itself into a de facto platform overnight and a rallying point in the most testing times for Manipur. Does it have links to UGs based in Manipur? I don't know, but surely it needs to safeguard its independence as the only umbrella student organization based in the politically significant capital of India.

3. Manipur Research Forum, Delhi: Founded by professors, scholars and journalists in New Delhi, the forum publishes a journal called Eastern Quarterly that can boast of a reasonable quality. The group also organizes a monthly seminar, many discussion sessions and guest lectures.

The group engages mainstream academicians and also introduces issues of regional importance to them in a truly two-way traffic of ideas. (Disclosure: I took part in some of its fun-filled editorial meetings and helped launch its website with a techie friend). Mr. Th. Tarunkumar, Dr. AK Bimol and Professor Bhagat Oinam are some of its leading lights—and my mentors.

4. North American Manipuri Association (NAMA) and European Manipuri Association (EMA): These are the organizations that really fit into the definition of diaspora groups. They are named here, not because they have done a filthy lot for Manipur, but because they have held the banner of Manipuris high in their respective professions and also kept their Manipuri values intact amidst the distractions of foreign cultures.

5. Manipuri diaspora yahoo discussion forum: Joining this group has a price: it clogs your inbox in no time. No issues worth discussing is left out from its discussion threads. Started by one feisty gentleman, this competes for eyeballs and mindspace with Manipuri group, another worthy discussion forum in the cyber realm.

Insurgents' thought police have somehow noticed this group, and having been thus encouraged or despite that, this forum considers itself an intellectual powerhouse.

Who engages whom is a moot point. Another downside of these email intellectuals is that, the intense and well-meaning debates in this forum almost always degenerate into ego clashes, brawls and self-righteous pronouncement of prescriptions for all issues confronting Manipur.

If I remember correctly, it put off a leading editor of an English daily of Imphal whom they invited only to be shouted down with the choicest abuses and name calling. The editor understandably left in a huff.

The lesson here: if you want to join this forum, besides having a point of view, have a thick skin and never tire of defending your ideas. And steer clear of non-issues, false starts and battle of egos.

Of course, these are not the only diaspora groups doing constructive work despite their seeming aloofness from their homeplace. I might have missed many and numerous others unknown to me.

Mention can be made of Kanglaonline group, Manipuronline (credit goes to Mr. Chandan Irom) and of course my friends at Linux Manipur (Mr. Ringo Pebam et al) and professionals like Mr. Somi Roy and Mr. Bishwajeet Elangbam who are doing their bit in their own niche areas.

Am I taking a line entirely different from the one I pushed in 'The Selfish Manipuri Diaspora'? No.

The only thing that I wanted to say was and which I am reiterating now is this: these Samaritans form a miniscule section of the Manipuri diaspora.

The majority does little, none at all or not enough. They are what I called the selfish lot, soulless people lost in the rat-race. 'The Selfish Manipuri Diaspora' was about them, not the conscientious Manipuri expatriates, who unfortunately reacted with fury.

Having said that, responsible diaspora groups too need to upgrade their contributions to the society to the next level: from tokenism to substance. I hope I am understood.

*** E-mail may be quoted by name in Whistleblower's readers section, in a future article, or elsewhere unless the writer stipulates otherwise.