13th August "Patriot's Day"

Sorojit Singh Khulem *

Bir Tijendrajit Park - Shaheed Minar in Imphal

Evening of 13th August 2011 was a total festive evening. Every hedge/ tree top was well decorated with elaborate lighting arrangement, people in all age groups nicely dressed up, in real festive mood were enjoying the evening appreciating the lighting arrangement, photographing, video recording etc. The crowd size would be much more than the crowd on any Diwali/Emoinu Day evening.

That evening I approached seven groups of people in different age groups (from Nityaipat chuthek to BT Park) and asked them two questions (interestingly the responses from all the groups were same). The interaction was as follows:-

Ichasha/Inaosha.........
Ei karigumba amata hunge.
Ngashi mei yamna thalisibu karigino?
Ngasise 13 August ne.
Adu ni ne ei na gyan tadrise. 13 August, "Patriot's Day" sibu Haraoba Numit la natraga Awaba phongdokpa Numit la?
Adu yaurakladi eikhoi su khangdare.

I am really confused what our present generation feels about "Patriot's Day" Is it a day of solemn remembrance or a day of festivity?

In the following days, during my consultation with my friends, a friend suggested that the lighting on 13 August could be prelude to the Independence Day celebration.

In my opinion "Patriot's Day" is a day of solemn remembrance and not a day of festivity. However, Observation of the Day as "a day of solemn remembrance" or "a day of festivity" will be by the people depending on their awareness of the occasion and conscience.

My request to all the people (who believe that "Patriot's Day" is observed in the remembrance of the great heroes who sacrificed their live for Manipur) is on the Patriot's Day
(a) Please light a candle/Meinum/lamp in your courtyard in honour of the Great Heroes
(b) Please abstain from festive activities.

If the lighting on 13 August was prelude to the Independence Day celebration, my humble request to all the citizens is to postpone the Independence Day celebration to at least 14 August from this year onwards.

I would even suggest sanctifying the "Shahid Minar" and some area around it to avoid disrespect to those great souls who sacrificed their lives for Manipur.