Understanding Blooming Manipur : More than just flowers
- Sangai Express Editorial :: June 20, 2013 -

Saying it with flowers. It is this and more.

From Ima Keithel in the heart of Imphal to Aoon Keithel in Moirang and now almost ready to spread its wing to Thoubal, Kakching and Kangpokpi, the concept and the philosophy behind Blooming Manipur should be seen beyond the potted flowers that adorn these market places.

Sure the flowers are a refreshing change and have had a profound impact, visually, aesthetically and hygienically but it is more than flowers that please the eyes of the onlookers.

A value system, instilling a sense of belongingness to a place and respecting the sanctity of a place beyond the mere understanding of a place which helps in adding to the family’s kitty should be equated with the missionary zeal under which Blooming Manipur has been taken up by some committed people, locally based as well as those settled outside the country.

In its true sense, Ima Keithel is not merely a commercial centre but is deeply intertwined with the history and identity of the land and her people. So is the case with Aoon Keithel at Moirang.

The coming together of the past with the modern day approach of respecting the history and culture of a place. Blooming Manipur still has a long way to go, but it is a positive start.

A start which is aimed at sensitising the ‘owners’ of the market stalls that the place they are occupying is not just a space leased from the Government to earn a living, but is part and parcel of their heritage. For long and even now, all the commercial centres in Imphal including Ima Keithel, have become dumping grounds where garbage and filth pile up with each passing day.

A free for all zone, where one can spit, dump the day’s garbage, pile up the filth and leave it as if it no one’s case to bother and give a thought to.

It is this mentality which Blooming Manipur has taken upon itself to dispel and instead sensitise the women vendors of their responsibility towards keeping their place clean and hygienic. A thought process that can take roots only when a sense of belongingness is imbibed.

No doubt, it will not be an easy task. A tough call it will be for the ideals of Blooming Manipur to really catch on.

But efforts have to be made and these efforts need to be seen beyond the potted flowers and plants that have come up.

Time will tell whether the noble intent behind Blooming Manipur will have a lasting impact on the mentality and thought processes of the people, but a message has already been rung out and that is as the custodian of the place, the responsibility of keeping the place, Ima Keithel in this case, should also be shared by women vendors.

Ideally respecting the sanctity of the place which helps in keeping the kitchen fire burning should not be such a tough call to follow, but it would certainly not be an easy task to change a mindset which has taken deep roots down the decades.

A mindset which says that as long as it is public property, it is no one’s case to take care of it.

This all pervading mindset is visible not only in the case of Ima Keithel but also in other parts of Imphal and Manipur.

And so it is that every lanes and by lanes have become narrower with each passing year.

So it is that the natural drainage system, known as the khongbans in the local parlance, have become dumping grounds for everyone. The message which Blooming Manipur is seeking to convey is profound and should not be lost on the people.

It is more than just flowers adorning Ima Keithel and other market places, but is a reminder to the people of their responsibilities towards public property, especially those without which the history and culture of the land and her people would not be complete.