A widow takes care of the deserted lone govt building at Sugnu

T. Vincent Zou *

Ms. Niangzahat :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

Sugnu one of the oldest town in Manipur has interestingly only one Govt. building that is quite historical to begin with. The building is non other than the I.B. locally consider being the symbol of the Town.

Believe to be constructed by the British during the colonial period, it still stand as the only guest house that never entertained any guest since the last 3-4 decades; except for the security personnel deputed from time to time. The I.B being surrounded by villages on all side promote some fear psychosis among the Villagers honestly when Security personnel were deputed.

To be precise some security forces occupy the said Building in the past (from time to time), and many civilian becomes the victims when there is an exchange of fire between the security forces and the militants. Keeping aside the security factor for the time-being, the renovation works of the building is 7-8 years old and the recent storm also has causes some destruction.

One interesting factor about this historical building is , there is practically no Govt. appointed chowkidar or care taker since the last 2 decades except a strange widow who look after the lone Govt. Building (Sugnu I.B) voluntarily.

Ms. Niangzahat , locally known as Nianghat a widow herself was struggling to find herself a place for shelter after her husband eloped with another woman more than 20 years ago. Deciding to live her whole life in isolation, from all the family/social evils she find the deserted I.B as her new heaven.

Daring the local superstitious believe about the I.B being a haunted place, Ms. Nianghat move in to accommodate herself, thereby taking care of the deserted Building ; preventing it from being misuse by any unscrupulous persons to carry out any unwanted youthful activities .

She has on many occasion suffer even a physical assault from many drugs addicts, goons and gangs, thieves, and many unscrupulous youths; which all compel her to rear 6 to 7 dogs for security.

Interestingly, any strange/new movement Day and night around the small hill top(the I.B) will be highlighted by the sounds of her dogs barking. Bravo..! .

In accommodating herself in the building, she has in one way not only prevent its destruction, but also preserved the sanctity of the Sacred Place of worship which is just adjacent to the building with just a distance of 7 to 9 meters. The sacred place/temple which is locally known as 'Lalakuon' is believe to be the resting place/path way of the 'local God-Wangburen'.

No doubt every citizens of Sugnu knows very well that she deserved more than the post of a mere choukidar.

But what matter most around the air is, should the decision towards the said Choukidar post be more political than being consider from a genuinely social base perspective…? Leaving the rest for the Third eye ..... long live Sugnu my Home sweet home.!