Black Day

TH Michael Lamjathang *

Introduction:

I have composed a few thoughts on Black Day from the past, present and future observance with reference to a Biblical perspective.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (Joh 1:1). Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", and Numbers 23:19 clearly indicates that "God is not like human that it never changes his mind" for which the scriptures are always true now and forever, early or late. Also, mankind is here to carry out God's word.

Incident:

On this day the 13th September, 1993 in the Indian state of Manipur as many as 108 innocent Thadou-speaking indigenous Thadou Tribe were massacred in Joupi Village, Gelnel Village & Janglenphai Village by the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim, Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). The day the ground is more sinister than the color Black in the demesne of the apparition.

The ferocity of the NSCN-IM from 1992-1995 claimed more than 1,000 Kuki lives, uprooting 360 Kuki Villages,and displaced nearly 100,000 of the Kukis. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) called it an "Ethnic Cleansing of the Kukis" and the CNN called it a "Genocide of the Kukis" by the Naga separatists.

The name "Black Day":

Black is not a color, strictly speaking. It is the absence of all color. Technically, Black absorbs all aspects of light and conceals it. It has come to signify hidden, fearful or bad experiences. It is linked to the unknown or the unseen. A black dress is an expression of sorrow when someone dies.

Thus, the absence of any sorts of hopes and defending the human rights by the state Government and the Indian Government during the bloodshed violence (1992-1995) of the NSCN-IM towards the Thadou can be thought of as a manifestation of the properties of the color Black.

Since then and henceforth, Black Day is a day of expressing our mourning, sorrowing, grieving, lamenting for and in commemorating the 1000+ victims who have lost their lives during the 1992-1995 bloodshed by the NSCN-IM.

Christian perspective:

90% of the victims belong to Thadou community. And, 99% of the Thadou populations are now Christianity. It is the nature of humanity that even afterwards we are termed ourselves as followers of Christ – our redeemer, we still don't possess the power to forgive our enemies when the scripture Matthew 5:44 vividly says "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,".

The scripture also says to "Forgive and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37)", it also assured "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Amen! Know that, Promised are fulfilled only after fulfillment of Commandment.

The Bible gives clear cut instructions on the sins to be avoided. But, we still break those commands. Even then if we repent and confess we can be forgiven. And, killing of souls being seen in the 10 Commandments as sin, massacre of 1000+ lives by the Naga Separatist is a sin. But, it is not us to judge. God's word being truthful and never breaks, they will be under judgment which we should give and left to God.

Conclusion:

Those who lost their lives lived out Christ's way and are true patriots. Commemorating the memory of the departed souls for the glory of the God and the closeness of our heart towards God may not be a sin as per my belief. But, indeed a sin, if it is with the intention of revenging the past incident and cursing our persecutors.

The attacks on the Thadou by the NSCN-IM was not because of the sinfulness of Thadou or due to the righteousness of the NSCN-IM. They set on us and killed us and we responded in kind. Hence, we are all sinners in the eye of God and there is not a great or small sin but are both termed as sin equally.

Let us not only remember the departed souls who left for the heavenly abode on this 13th September, 1993 but also the lost souls during the entire ethnic cleansing and let us all repent to God and let Reconciliation prevail amongst us.

God bless you for reading this message. Lest we forget the 13th September, 1993!