Oye ! Erabot growled "Open Sesame" to NH-53
Haokholala Thangjom *
Let me quote a Meitei proverb, U leitaba maphamda kegena yumbi sai/oi.
Oyez means the call of a public crier or officer of a law court for attention before making a proclamation. I beg your pardon for stepping in the shoes of a public crier as the over cheerfulness or ebullience over the "sluice gate" of the National Highway- 53 thrown open compelled me to do so.
In the book of The Arabian Nights a fable, "Alibaba and Forty Thieves" is one of the interesting stories. According to the rendering, the only means of opening the door or mouth of the fabulous cave full of valuable treasure was to pronounce the spell or conjuring words, "Open Sesame" which was known to Alibaba only.
The economic blockade on the National Highway-39 is more than 44 days old. The physical and economic hardships and torment caused by it was felt by the people and the State Government alike. In the midst of such appalling plight of the people, counter blockade was resorted in the valley areas.
In addition to such situation, the issue of the proposed visit of Muivah to his ancestral village, Somdal made the heads of the Cabinet Ministers reel. But it was surprising that the local newspapers flashed the decision of the Cabinet to depend on Guite Road for relieving the stranded goods laden trucks and passengers for more than weeks together and also to transport consumer and essential goods along the said road.
The grapevine had it that on the suggestion a senior Minister supported by concerned colleagues relying on the "Bush Telegraph" which means rapid transmission of news among primitive communities by drum-beating the decision might have been made.
No doubt, Guite Road is one of the important State Highways which links Manipur with its neighbouring State Mizoram. Alas! out of the total length of more than 320 kms, the Mizoram portion, beyond Tuivai river, the State boundary, is in a very good condition and Manipur side is horribly bad and the bridges also too weak to bear the capacity of the goods laden vehicles.
The hubris, (over-confidence such as invites disaster or ruin) thrown up by immature decision led to hugger-mugger or confusion and dismay. For the vehicles stranded at Jiribam to negotiate the Jiri-Silchar Road, SilcharAizawl Road and ultimately, Aizawl-Imphal Road via Churachandpur is more than 500 kms in distance.
It was quite natural that the "Aracada" or the spell or the conjuring words or decision had gone with the wind. (Meibu phina kuptuna kuina thamba yade). Ignorance of laws is not an excuse, they say. Do not confuse the letter "p" and "q" though it may appear slightly different.
In the midst of such turmoil, Shri Y. Erabot Singh, the Honble CAF and PD Minister (with whom I had been associated in the Manipur Man Building Organisation under the guidance of (Late) Oja Sagolsem Indramani and (Late) Laisram Manaobi Singh) swung into action in the nick of time.
Though, I am a small fry, I also swing into action with the mandate of the people to felicitate him with the words, "Oyez! Erabot Singh Growled, Open Sesame To The National Highway No-53"
"So the women sang as they danced, and said:
Saul has slain his thousands,
And David slain his ten thousands".
Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him"
— I Samuel 18: 7-8.
* Haokholala Thangjom wrote this article for The Sangai Express
This article was webcasted on June 03, 2010.
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