Meitei and Kuki students share stage in hopeful peace initiative at Mapao Zingtun
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, December 04 2025: In a rare and inspiring display of unity at a time when Manipur continues to grapple with ethnic tensions, Sorshia Christian College and Mapao Zingtun village jointly organised a Peace Initiative Programme that brought Meitei and Kuki students together on one stage.

The event, held at the Needy Home Academy campus, resonated with messages of harmony, healing and shared humanity.

As per a release issued by the Sorshia Christian College, the programme began with a symbolic moment - the unveiling of a peace stone by Rev K Ayui,a revered pastor known for his decades of work in peacebuilding.

The ceremony was led by Rev L Simon Raomai, president of AMCO, who emphasised that even amid conflict, the people of Manipur still yearn for harmony.

A welcome song by the staff of Needy Home Academy, followed by greetings and invocation from Rev Ayui, set a prayerful and reflective tone, with special intercession for children growing up amid fear, displacement and uncertainty.

Welcoming the gathering, Tuisin Raman, Dean of Students, recalled the village's conscious decision to keep its institutions open to both Meitei and Kuki learners, even as violence engulfed other regions.

In a vibrant cultural segment on "Unity in Diversity", students from various communities - Meitei, Kuki, Naga and Pangal -presented traditional dances, songs, dramatizations and a poem centred on "Unity of Manipur," reinforcing the message of shared identities and collective responsibility.

Retired IAS officer Dr RK Nimai stressed that peace cannot be imposed from outside, but must grow from communities willing to reject the cycle of hatred.

He urged youth to become "bridgemakers" and choose words and actions that heal rather than divide.

Dr Lokho Puni, Retd IFS and former MPSC member, also reminded the gathering of Manipur's long history of interconnection between hill and valley communities.

A moving performance by children from Needy Home Academy became an emotional highlight, as they expressed their simple hopes for classrooms instead of relief camps and playgrounds instead of barricades.

Sithonliu Pamai, SDC of Island Sub-Division, Kangpokpi, congratulated the organisers for safeguarding a space where Meitei and Kuki children continue to grow together.

The Needy Home Academy Choir later performed "Heal the World," with participants from both communities joining in - an image that deeply resonated with the audience.

Dr R Chance, Chairman of Needy Home Academy, thanked local leaders, civil society organisations, volunteers, students and faculty for sustaining a peaceful environment despite prevailing tensions.

He reaffirmed the Academy's commitment to nurturing shared spaces of learning and dialogue.

The event concluded with a pledge and prayer for healing led by Rev Achung Zingkhai, urging participants to rise above misinformation, reject hate-driven narratives and become ambassadors of peace in their homes and online spaces.

Organisers emphasised that this initiative is not a one-time event, but the beginning of a long journey to rebuild relationships strained by conflict.

The Mapao Zingtun Peace Initiative now stands as a beacon of hope - a reminder that the path to reconciliation begins with courage, shared spaces and the willingness to listen.

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