Encounter with Pakhang::The man in search of his roots
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 05 2013 : "In Mizoram, where I was born and brought up, every passing vehicle would stop by voluntarily to help anyone in need.

I did not know that it would be so different here.

Are you also leaving me behind like others in the middle of this jungle?" .

These were the words of 65-year old Pakhang that moved and evoked the humanitarian spirit of Team Hueiyen to overflow.

Wrapping up the Hueiyen-Reach-Out trip to Jiribam sub-division during Yaoshang holiday, the members of Team Hueiyen were returning to Imphal when they saw Pakhang standing all alone with his car broke down near the Tupul-17 milestone.

By that time, the sun had already set and the cold mountain wind was blowing so strong that anybody returning home specially after a long and tiring journey like the one that Team Hueiyen had undertaken would not have given any other thought than reaching home first to take a warm shower and stretch out the wearied limbs on a cozy bed.

Still then, on seeing the pitiful plight of a lonely stranded man, members of Team Hueiyen got down from their vehicle to enquire about the problem.

Mizoram born Manipuri Pakhang in front of the post of 10 Assam Rifles at Kotlien

According to the account given the stranded man who identified himself as Pakhang, he is born and brought up in Mizoram.

His father, Tombi, was an Army man and married a local woman while being posted in Mizoram.

After the death of his father, Pakhang and his mother continue to stay back in Mizoram and they have their house at Zarkawt in Aizawl today where he runs a textile business.

Though Pakhang knows that his father was originally from Naoremthong Laishram Leirak and he has relatives there, he hardly had any contact with them.

But this time, he thought of visiting them during Yaoshang and he set out from Aizawl all alone in his Alto car in search of his own kinsmen and women in Manipur.

"While coming, I had no idea about the bandh being called in Tamenglong district.

It was on reaching Nungba that some Army personnel in a check post cautioned me from proceeding further for the night.

So, I spend the night in the Army camp and set out again the next morning.

At Awangkhul area, some bandh supporters stopped my car and asked where I was going.

When I told them everything, they said it would be better for me to wait till the bandh is over.

They even took me to a hotel and offered tea to drink.

When I told them that I had not taken meal, some of them said they would arrange Nga Kouta (tinned fish) and took away the key of my car.

I had not even finished the tea when the woman who runs the tea-shop came back to hand over the key, saying, 'Makhoina Chabi Piraklabanina, Chatpa Yare Haiba Oiramgani (Since they have given the key, it may means you can go)," Pakhang recounted.

However, much to his surprise, Pakhang found his car some distance away behind a road turning with all the wind shields smashed.

Without realizing that the bandh supporters have also caused damage to the fuel tank, Pakhang came driving his car when the fuel got exhausted at the spot where Team Hueiyen met him.

Since the vehicle of Team Hueiyen runs on diesel and there was no possibility of towing the broke-down car, it was decided that Pakhang should left behind his car and come along with us upto the nearest place where petrol could be arranged.

So, we came together till the post of 10 Assam Rifles at Kotlien.

On the way, we also talked to an autorickshaw driver, who fortuitously was already aware of the predicament of Pakhang from an elderly Kuki gentleman that Pakhang had requested for help earlier during the day.

After arranging the required petrol in our own jerrycan from a nearby shop, Pakhang left along with the autorickshaw driver and some other local youths, who were very enthusiastic about helping someone in need and can converse in Mizo even more fluently than themselves.

Apart from noting down the contact numbers of Pakhang as well as that of the accompanying youths, the Assam Rifles personnel had also given their own contact number for seeking help in case of any problem in bringing back the broke down car.

They also assured that Pakhang can put up the night at their camp and not to be worry about his safety and security anymore.

With that assurance, Team Hueiyen left behind Kotlien and headed for Imphal fully contented over the little that we could do for a fellow human being in trouble.