Territorial Integrity of Kangleipak and the Meetei Strategic Culture
- Connecting the people, land and their cultures -
- Part 3 -

Puyam Nongdrei Khuman *

A picturesque verdant hills view :: Pix - David M Mayum

Re-instating the Leipal and Sampal through Hill-Valley Unity:

A famous line from the puyas say: "Sambalna mana mashing charani". The fence is supposed to protect the vegetables in the garden but it is eating the vegetables nowadays. This act is surely self-destructive if those trying to disintegrate the state can analyse it deeper.

The Meetei worldview does not treat those beyond the ranges of hills as barbarians and their history recorded many instances when the sons and daughters of this land went far away to those foreign lands. However the Meeteis glorified their land as 'Sanaleipak' planted by god.

At the present juncture, the Meeteis should focus on reinstating the almost lost 'sampal', 'leipal', and most importantly the 'pan-ngaakpas' through emotional integrity.

While the Meeteis try hard to convince the 'Hous' (or Haos) to relook at the history of this land, the 'Hous' can critically analyse how important the question of territorial integrity is for the larger interests to be safeguarded in the long run. No Meetei would like to inherit a homestead without 'leipal' and 'sambal'.

As Meeteis cannot migrate somewhere more strategically located, Meeteis are destined to make every attempt to protect this ancient land whether with sweat or blood.

Many Meeteis sing: "Kanglei Sana Pungmayol Laina Thaba Lamdamni." Even after much coercing, Meeteis haven't thought of changing the 'pan-ngaakpas' but have been trying to rebuild the old ties disturbed by remarkable vicissitudes during the long course of Kanglei history. Those against the integrity of the state must analyse deeply before they make claims which cannot be accepted.

Martial Arts and Strategic Culture:

The Meetei martial art forms like Thang-Ta, Mukna and Sarit-Sarak are priceless treasure of knowledge for the people of the state.

In Sarit-Sarak and Mukna, both the 'offense' and 'defense' are organically linked. This says that one needs to be a strong defender and offender at the same time giving rise to 'active defense' as the safest principle. A good attacker can be a good defender and vice-versa.

Thus Meeteis are trained for both defensive and offensive warfare. The use of swords and spears for close duel fighting shows the combat effectiveness of these art forms. These skills can be developed into modern military doctrines for large scale warfare.

We can conclude saying that both defensive and offensive strategic culture are blended in Meetei culture. One must be a good defender as well as a good attacker by mastering the Meetei martial art forms. This strong martial tradition is not to be used against the helpless and weak.

But our construction of 'Leipal' and planting 'Sambal' signifies a defensive culture to protect our interests as our first line of defense.

Any intrusion, however, will be counter-attacked. And this is a step towards developing the 'just war' tradition.

What is within the enclosed homestead is our inherited legacy left behind by the ancestors and we must not mind protecting the same.

Conmcluded ....