The inhabitants visit the “Wall of Memories” in Churachandpur in honor of the lives of the lost during the ongoing conflict in manipur. File | Photo Credit: PTI
WITHHarad Leishangtham, 46 years old, lost everything-the home of his livelihood-in ethnic violence that ravaged the manipur of 3.
In the violence that broke out between the Kuki ZO and Meitei tribe, more than 250 people were killed in the northeastern state in 2023. During a recent visit to the manipure after the President’s governments on February 13, he broke out between the tribal Kuki ZO, and during 2023 I met Leishangtham while being busy preparing for customers juice. I tried to understand the language of Meiteilon that another victim of violence, a woman selling vegetables, spoke when Leishangtham threw himself. In her broken Hindi he translated what the woman said. When I described the notes, he spewed fresh sugar cane into the machine and brought me a glass of fresh juice. I told him I didn’t ask for it. Leishangtha simply smiled and insisted to drink it. When he also refused to allow me to pay for the juice, I had to forcibly put some money in my pocket. Even in times of adversity, he knew that his daily earnings were necessary for the survival of his family six who stare at the uncertain future, Leishangtham has expanded this hospitality.
Then I asked him to talk about the video about his expectations from the government. When I asked if he had any complaints, he said in a stupid voice, “There should no longer be a fight. We will not achieve anything. That’s all I want to say.”
In 2019, after dilution of Article 370 5, August, I was sent to the Kashmir Valley to report on this situation in the middle of the security and information blockade. There was no internet. As constitutional changes were to be introduced in the former state, thousands of people were picked up and placed under preventive detention.
Outside the shopian police station in South Kashmir, I met a group of men. One of them, Gulzar Ahmad Wagey, was looking for his eleven -year -old son, whom he hadn’t seen 22 days. Wagey said his son was captured by security forces in the last week of August from their home. Since then he has come to the police station every day to meet his son’s place.
I took off these details. When I was going to leave, he offered me food. He said he was afraid that I came all the way out of Delhi and I wouldn’t have anything to eat, because there was a safety blockage in the whole area. His house was only a few meters away. He told me he would be glad to serve my lunch at home. His gesture and his ability to rise over his personal tragedy and welcome with a complete stranger shifted me deeply.
As reporters, it is easy to become cynical, but people like Leishangtham and Wagey tend to strengthen our faith in humanity. While adversity is often associated with negative feelings such as bitterness and anger, it can also cause compassion or help people double their long -term beliefs and values.
Leishangtham and Wagey are also reminiscent that they are not mere statistics. Leishangtham is not just one of the 62,000 people who have been forced to live outside their homes, 22 months after the outbreak of violence in its state. Similarly, Wagey deserved the answer to the placement of his son. Their voices resemble his duties.
These two victims, along with the others, opened my heart and home, because I was a journalist who was willing to listen to what they had to say and write their stories. Interaction with them also served as a reminder for me that journalism is not a mere chronicler of incidents and events; It’s a public service.
vijaita.singh@thehind.co.in
Published – March 28, 2025 01:24 IS
