Trip to Maphoudam – A Goddamn Good Tour

Prof. Homendra Naorem *

Maphbou dam

One of the gauche habits of mine is indulging in stealing few extra hours in the morning slumbering merrily over a few hundred thoughts while still be in the warmth of the bed and the last thing I would wish is to be disturbed during those lovely wee hours of the morning, morning at least for me.

But, that day was special. Having been notified and verbally cautioned as well in no uncertain terms that the tour to Maphoudam would kick off by 7 am sharp from the department lounge, I had to ensure myself that I am alive by that hour of that day.

I wanted to take my little daughter, Baby, to accompany us on the tour and true to her dad, Baby is also one of those who treasure their mornings more than anything else. Earlier, when I broke the news about the departmental tour to Maphoudam she was very excited but her excitement was short lived when I further detailed her that she should be ready by 7 am the next day to be in the tour. After a serious thought, she asked me to wake her up by 6.50 am so that she could join us by 7 am!

That day, I somehow managed to sleep-walk by 5.30 am to immersion-heat the water while rushing through the morning routines. How grateful I am to my ever lovely wife who having come back from her morning walk offered me a hot cup of tea, which broke my somnolence. I went for a quick shave and a quicker shower but the main problem still was how to bring the recklessly snoozing Baby to live.

I hate to wake anyone up in the morning! I was through with my bath when the clock had struck 6.45 am and I decided to slowly awaken her when she strongly protested that it was not yet 6.50! It was exactly a race against time then – she took her time to be ready for the trip. We hurriedly grabbed a toast and a thin slice of a cake which was quickly washed down with another cup of lukewarm tea before we finally set out for the tour, exactly a quarter of an hour behind the schedule.

On reaching the department, we, to our surprise, found ourselves to be amongst the early birds. More students and teachers joined us leisurely and by the time everyone had gathered there, it was already well past 8 am when we all finally set out for the tour to Maphoudam.

The road to Maphoudam was both bumpy and dusty. It had taken more than 3 hours to reach the Maphoudam gate and the boredom of the long torturous drive got immediately melted on seeing the huge complex of the dam. But more surprises were in store for us. After about twenty minutes long wait at the gate for the mandatory permission, we were rather bluntly told that we would not be allowed to go to the IB inside the dam area despite our bookings earlier.

The reason – the IFCD minister had come on a surprise inspection visit! The surprise though intended for the staff there, had unfortunately been passed onto us. It's rather difficult to understand why the permission duly granted to us in advance was not honoured just because the minister and his team were inspecting the dam site.

On an optimistic moment, we had imagined the minister welcoming the teachers and students of the University while explaining the rapid developments that have taken place there and how it would be of great service to the people of Manipur. Such opportunities do not come often to the minister. But, that did not happen.

Of course, our ministers have never been known for their magnanimity but for over-exercise of their brute power to keep the people away from the ministerial ambience except perhaps during the election time that too limited to the voters of their respective constituencies. The IFCD minister is no exception! While still stranded at the gate, we could not but remember our former President Dr. Abdul Kalam, who with his indomitable style of reaching out to the people touched the heart of every Indians.

How he liked to be in the midst of the people of this country. For us in Manipur, it may take few more decades for the minister to realize the opportunity... he has lost by keeping the University tour party stranded at the gate of the dam. The presence of the minister in the dam site was made to be unmistakably felt! We perhaps ought to make them realize that point sooner rather than later by giving the ministers surprises every five years.

While waiting for a definite permission from the dam (damn) people we had our alfresco breakfast there right at the gate of the Maphoudam, courtesy the minister. A good one hour had passed without any definite response from the dam authority. Everyone kept asking the other what's up! Though we could not see the dam from the gate area, we saw and met plenty of the dam (goddamn) persons with distinctly different looks ever ready to refuse you anytime and every time!

While at one of the shops at the gate, the shop owner had inquisitively asked me if there were any naga or kuki in the bus to which I comically replied that the bus was like a departmental store, you name it and you have it – meetei, mayang, naga, kuki, muslim, etc. Though he put up a hearty laugh, I was not sure if he was amused at the answer.

Finally, we were (mis)directed to take a different route to an even better spot than the dam area (we were so assured) which was like a good Hobson's choice for us. It was after about one hour's patient drive up the sloppy hills when we hit the dead end of the road – what could have been better than this! Down below we could faintly see the stream and few green lands. But up there, there was no water. We got stranded there again, all hungry and justifiably angry, too.

Meanwhile, some of the students had talked to one of the villagers up there for a possible solution to our genuine human problem. In all humility, the noble villager had gladly accepted to play host to the tour party. Oblivious to what is happening up here, a large section of the students had already excused themselves to the stream down the hill perhaps thinking the lunch would be ready on their return to the spot.

It was already past one in the afternoon when the eigyas (the cooks) literally kick started the just-inaugurated kitchen. Hunger has brought all the students together on the lovely courtyard of the noble villager who had already thrown open his house to all of us without any pre-conditions. When the food was about ready, it was the turn of teachers who had taken good care of students for a break and a quick pre-lunch saunter.

Soon another noble soul was quickly befriended who helped the teachers out of his way and took the trouble of guiding the teachers to a spirited hike up the hill. Oh, what a perfect gentleman the villager was! Our countless salute to the anonymous friend!

The food was finally served steam-hot at half past two in the afternoon and to every hungry soul – stomach to be precise – the lesser known eigyas were like the best of the chefs! One of the eigyas was heard impatiently ordering his juniors to complete the course as fast as possible to ensure that the hungry souls don't overdo it, lest the supply line won't match the growing demands! Soon after the food, we realized that we hadn't had much time to spare and had to quickly put all the accessories back to the bus. Students had done excellent jobs in getting the things ready within a very short period of time.

We started our journey back home by about 4 pm and we had already abandoned the idea of visiting the Maphoudam much against our own will. While driving down the hill I cannot help remembering the noble villagers who had demonstrated the art of hospitality with a big heart.

I wonder how the trip would have turned out to be had we not met those big-hearted noble villagers. For us, the host villager is more like a minister than the actual one at the dam site. We should emulate the noble gesture of the villagers by helping all hill-man in need of help whenever they are in Imphal.

Hardly had we entered the greater Imphal area when the sun had set, the decibel level in the bus suddenly went up way beyond the normally tolerable limit. Almost all the girl students had started calling their near and dear ones for pick-up service. About ten of them would be talking simultaneously on mobile to as many parties outside while the student leader was making important announcements in the bus. No one could listen to anyone.

For some time, it was akin to one of the dins in the Indian parliament and entropy was at its maximum in the bus. I failed to understand why everyone had to literally shout while talking, some could even opt for sms unless one likes it to be ostentatious. Surprisingly, none of the boy students bothered to call anyone for their pick-ups.

Why only the girl students? It beats me. Finally with fond memories of the exceptional heart-touching hospitality of the great villagers at the Maphoudam site, we finally were back at our alma mater by about 6.30 pm. Nobody had remembered the minister by then. Soon everyone like gas molecules effused in no time from the department lounge.

Study tour to different areas in and around Imphal has become a regular feature of the master's program of Manipur University. Every time we have to look for new interesting spots and dams are one of the most favourite sites. The more dams we create, the more choice we can exercise!

Though large sections of the people are against any kind of dam, for us a new dam would mean another new spot for another tour program. And to be first among the few, we must start making plans for making a similar tour to Tipaimukh dam whenever it would be ready to receive us with no surprise visit of any minister! No puns intended!