F I G H T F O R W A R D

 

June 7

 

civil war

 

noun

1. a war between citizens of the same country.

 

To describe or even process what is happening has been difficult. And I say this knowing that it is nothing, absolutely nothing compared to the agony, the heartbreak, the terror and despair that thousands back home have had to deal with.

 

Manipur has had a long history of abject suffering, one that has been exacerbated by its distance (as do other north-eastern states) from mainland India. The out of sight, out of mind lens with which it is viewed by most Indians, politicians notwithstanding is a given. Of course, some of the viewpoint for this is changing, but progress in this regard is still a long way coming.

 

What has been happening over the past month though is indescribable.

 

Yesterday, as other days, I had wakened with a sense of hope. That things would change. And that peace is coming, rest, for my people.

 

The rest of the day saw something else instead.

An interview that, for all its putrid detail, enlightening, in the raw, visceral hate and bigotry brought out on full display:

https://youtu.be/VDJnPewUhmU

 

An article I read had been shared again, but with new details, more horrific, gruesome.

https://scroll.in/article/1050452/how-a-seven-year-old-boy-and-two-women-were-burnt-alive-in-an-ambulance-in-manipur

https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/seven-year-old-boy-mother-relative-burnt-alive-in-ambulance-in-outskirts-of-imphal/cid/1942840

 

The faintest glimmer of hope quickly replaced by an overwhelming, helpless rage. How blindly broken, how morally denigrate, how inexplicably bound in hate must one be to do what you did to that little, innocent boy?

 

What is evident, although hardly surprising, has been the stark silence.

But that is to be expected now.

 

If the scores of half buried bodies on riverbanks, simmering pyres, entire families walking miles and internationally acclaimed sportspersons being dragged through the streets did nothing to sear the collective conscience of a nation, then what are a few hundred dead souls and smouldering churches in the far east?

 

It would be foolish to expect some form of response, forget humanitarian, since the collective spine and/or voice of the fourth pillar vanished roughly a decade ago, having intentionally plunged as they are, into the abyss of some misplaced, albeit well-financed servitude.

 

To expect the same from the current leadership, both state and central, of course is an unnecessary and futile exercise in optimism, given their habitual lack of acknowledgment of any form of responsibility whatsoever.

 

And so, I ask this.

For those that, for a few pieces of silver, forced, coerced their people to vote a certain way, I hope it was worth it. Apparently, it still is.

For those that held prayer services to an idol rather than to the one above, I hope he answers your prayers now.

 

And for the rest of us, there is only word.

Believe.

In hope. As insurmountable and unattainable as it might seem now.

 

Believe that better days are coming.

 

Believe that truth will prevail.

 

Today, while the rest of the world continues to watch and wait, we must stand firm and stand together.

Our leaders, so-called representatives, may fail us.  

And those that can do, say something may fall quiet.

It may feel like a long, lonely road ahead with nothing but the dank, stark odour of death and darkness.

It will feel like the forces of evil are too much, too many, and us, too few, too feeble, too frail.

 

And as hard as it sounds.

Don’t fight back.

Evil exists. And how we choose to react to it is what matters.

Fight forward.

Onward.

 

Picture: Grandma and baby, Kangpokpi, Manipur

  Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

   for the rights of all who are destitute.

 Speak up and judge fairly;

   defend the rights of the poor and needy….. 

   ~ Proverbs 31:8-9

#Manipur #peace #justiceformypeople #knowjusticeknowpeace #nojusticenopeace