Yambung, Mandalay bus service please

Free Thinker *

For the last 18 years or so we have been planning and talking about a bus service between India and Myanmar; at least we should have a weekly bus service from Imphal to Mandalay (Manipur CM wants thrice a week). By road the distance between Imphal and Mandalay is about 580 kms.

The road net work is already there; Govt. of India assisted in the repairing and improvement of this International Highway; except for some parts and few bridges the route is perfectly okay for travel. The idea of this bus service was conceived under the Look East Policy in the first NDA Government during the regime of Atalji .

Now with the Act East Policy of NDA three, under leadership of Modiji we must start the bus service as soon as Covid is subsided. Of course, we prefer democracy but we can’t avoid dealing with the Dragon & others. Can we ?

This Bus service is going to be a win-win situation for both the countries. People from both the sides will come and go–reasons being - tourism, health, education, shopping, sight-seeing, simply enjoying and travelling.

People of Myanmar (in border areas) will get better medical and education facilities available in the North East India. Particularly those living in the Chin State will be greatly benefitted. Many people in the North East India would love to see their neighboring country which is full of marvelous things, monasteries, pagodas, pearls, lovely people and cheap goods (of free trade economy).

From our side we would be able to link with South East Asia; it is going to be a small step for a giant leap toward east-ward linkages by road. Certainly it is going to be a futuristic journey towards Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore etc.

We can travel by road the entire Europe; why not in Southeast Asia ? We need to open up; we need to change our mindset. Our children are living in a boundaryless world through internet and IT technologies. Elderly people of 20th century are still trapped within National boundaries, idea of sovereignty and Nationhood etc. which are contrary to ‘Vasudev Kutum bakam’(the world is one family).

Interestingly Mandalay is an ancient city (still surviving); it is in northern Burma (Myanmar); it is on the bank of river Irrawaddy. Mandalay was the capital of Konbaung Dynasty. The Royal palace-fort is still there in the middle of a moat. Mandalay is world famous for its gems and pearls. There is a historical bonding between India and Myanmar.

In ancient and medieval period there were instances of Burmese occupation of many parts of NE India; and at the same time on several occasions the Kings and Monarchs of Assam, Manipur and Tripura played havoc and ran over many parts of Burma for booty. There were constant conflicts and skirmishes in and around the borders. In Modern period both Burma and India became parts of the British Raj. Only in 1935 Burma was separated from British India.

Before independence in the 19th and 20th century many Tamilians, Bengalis and Sardarjis were working in Rangoon and elsewhere in Burma because of British connection. They came as traders, laborers, soldiers, clerks and staff of the then colonial masters. They have become Burmese citizens.

There is a Tamil village in and around the Indo-Myanmar border; nobody knows how long they have been there; but it appears the village is more than 100 years old. Again, many Manipuris got settled there in Mandalay because of historical events in the pre British era. These connects may be revisited; mind you, this bus service is going to be a cultural and historical bonanza.

Two years ago Manipur CM made an announcement in the Assembly that the Bus service between Imphal (India) and Mandalay (Myanmar) would be starting from April 2020.

Suddenly Corona crops up. For the last one and half years we are doing Covid business. Many lives have gone and many more are likely to go. Demographically it may be good. But the loss of someone’s loved ones are causing vote lost and withers electoral support.

It is high time to start the Bus Service before the next virus wave. Let us try to start the bus service within a few months. One word of caution-this route is infested by smugglers and drug traffickers; so proper checking and frisking is necessary.

Other items you may allow by taking tips but you must be very stringent on drugs and arms. We should never play with health and security. And we should neither be part of the extended Golden Triangle nor route for its heroin.

Hon. External Affairs Minister ‘Miyamgi Yambung’ sitting in the South Block (Jawahar Bhawan wherever) may kindly do the needful. The agreement or MOU between the two countries for this bus service remains a diplomatic requirement as both the countries are willing to do so.

Immigration posts at Moreh ( India side) and Tamu (Myanmar side) or a joint one at the border may be expeditiously set up at the earliest. The rest can be handled at the local level. Road is ready except for minor irritants; hotels, restaurants and gas stations are available on the way, Dhabas exist en-route.

Bus operators on both sides are more than willing to ply. And above all people in the region, both sides are eagerly waiting for a ride.

Ultimately this will not only improve the economy but also the ties between the two countries. Whether it is ‘Janata’ or ‘Junta’ we have to deal with our neighbors – in diplomacy.