Pena tells story of Manipur at Peace Connect
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 20 2025: Over 500 local peacebuilders from across the conflict-ridden regions of the world came together in a unique conference called the Peace Connect from 13 to 17 October 2025 at Nairobi, Kenya.

Sessions covered wide range of topics including decolonization of funding, trauma healing, non-violent resistance, civilian protection, indigenous peace processes, seeking justice and accountability, shifting power, leveraging technology, self-care and Tai Chi classes etc were held, according to a press release issued by the Human Rights Alert (HRA) .

Dona Ngairangbam, popularly known as Pena Dona, representing the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, showcased the Manipuri tradition of Pena as a form of indigenous storytelling and healing.

In the context of the present violence ravaging her community, she showed how her Pena classes with IDP children in Manipur help them cope with their traumatic-uprooted lives.

Babloo Loitongbam of HRA was also present as a part of the delegation of Global Peacebuilders' Network (GPN) .

He spoke during the plenary session from the Asia Working Group on Civil Space and Rights in Crisis asserting that civil society can no longer remain neutral, as repressive regimes are systematically silencing independent civil society voices.

While supporting the proposal for a strong resolution to support the ceasefire in the Gaza situation, he cautioned that other protracted and equally serious situations, which are out of the global media glare, should not be neglected.

He pointed out the situation in Myanmar where the bombing of schools and hospitals are still reported regularly; as well as his own context of Manipur where the Government has simply abdicated its responsibility to protect the population.

He proposed for a universal approach to address the breakdown of rule of law, universal human rights standards and internal humanitarian laws.

Unlike the post-World War II global institution building processes - which was inspired by values of peace, democracy and human rights - the ongoing institutional building processes seem to be directed more towards challenging geopolitical hegemony with little effort to promote these higher values.

He appealed that the progressive forces should make every effort to ensure that the achievements of the last decades are not eroded in the emerging new world order.

The conference concluded with an intercontinental fusion of Manipuri Pena and Sudanese traditional music.

Comment