Much has been written about the justifiability and the moral issues involved in our Manipuri girls marrying non-Manipuris. One School of Thought has almost propounded a 'complete ban' on such Manipuri-Non Manipuri marriages and another School of Thought has propagated just the opposite view. My attempt here is not at all to pass any Judgment on this issue; my humble attempt is just to 'visualize' some scenarios which I perceive to be 'Interesting' and which I presume would become 'Realities' in the near future. Obviously, when we discuss such issues, certain uncomfortable 'wild thoughts' are also bound to creep into our minds and I should admit that I am not an exception to this; hence, the so-called 'wild thoughts' have also been presented at the end of this small 'Write Up'. I would pray that my humble attempt does not hurt anybody's sentiment.

A. THE SCENARIO

Scenario No. 1
One scenario is that a number of 'interesting names' may come to exist as a result of 'Manipuri and Non-Manipuri' Wedlock!! Imagine names like Tomba Mukherjee, Chaobi Khanna, Tolmu Chabra, Ibopishak Pandey, Ibotombi Sethi, Khstrimayum Bhattarcharya etc. (in case of Mayang Meitei marriages) or names like Khoimu Thomas, Yaima Jefferson, jack Ibungochaoba Clinton, Laishram Hillary (in case of Meitei Kora marriages) or names like Ho chi Ho Iboyaima, Li ku Lung Nongpoknganba, Hui Li Ibetombi, Yi Hu Ibempishak, Ki Li Tombi etc. (in case of Meitei-Chinese marriages) or names like Khundrakjpam Abu Hakim Mustafa, Yosuf Tollabishak Ayatolla, Hamir Nongdremkhomba Laden Khan, Omar Thambou Mulla (Manipuri Middle East Persons marriages).

Scenario No.2
Another scenario relates to physical looks. We have already seen and would see more of Meitei Nupis giving birth to African babies (masamga tarrrrr khoiradana.. musuk muradana), mayang sons and daughters ('ha ji' type) and Meitei Nupas rearing up pygmy babies, Red Indian kids, 'Kora or Firangi' angangs etc. We may also see more of Chinki Sardars - people with typical Meitei looks but with the 'Turbuns on'. Imagine the 'Meitei Nupi' trying the console her crying African Baby (Makhoinaga kaplakpadi thembadi wanihe .. WA.. WA.. WA !).

Scenario No.3
One good thing may be.. One may just come across Meitei Nupies in far flung places like Tanzania, Zambia, Congo etc. (if one dares to and happens to set foot on!) amongst the Negro people calling you from behind, giving the greatest shock of your life, "Tamo .. Mumbaya Mumbaya iiiiii (African marolniko)... Manipur dagi ra ?....iiiiiiii Mumbaya Mumbaya (African marolniko) ". It would be really great. In places like Hong Kong, the language might be slightly different - "Ho Cho Li Ko, Ta_mo Ma_ni_pur Da Gi Oibirabra . ? ".

B. SOME WILD THOUGHTS

I am just wondering as to how my Manipuri sisters, who have got married to non-Manipuris, must be doing/reacting under different circumstances. Many a times, I do sincerely feel like asking them a number of honest questions frankly for the purpose of quenching my 'curiosity' without any sarcasm attached to them. Here, I reproduce some of them:-

1. What do u do in your home (Mayang home) when u want to have such Manipuri delicacies like ngari, hawai jara, soibum iromba, hentak, thoiding or for that reason, yongchak alu iromba or singju?
   
   

2. Does the smell of such Manipuri delicacies knock off your husband and your in-laws and lead to marital discords?
   
   

3. Do your better half and in-laws insist on you to give up such delicacies because of their 'terrifying smell'?
   
   

4. Do you have meals with your better half and your in-laws when you have such 'smelly delicacies'?
   
   

5. How do you entertain your parents and let them stay in your home when they drop in and insist on having Manipuri delicacies?
   
   

6. How do you discuss things of the past or your 'Manipuri childhood' with you non-Manipuri husband - about that Childhood Dhampa Ispat, Chekai Thombi, the Leiraki Wari, the Koubru Leikha Picnic, the Lamtagi Thabal, the Poinu Gi Labuk, the Wa Kangjei, the Youshang Mei Thaba, the Joipor, the Yaoshangi Nakadeng, the Ishitpa ... so on and so forth?
   
   

7. How do you cry in your home - in Manipuri or in your husband's language ('. meri kismit thik nahi hun..sob sob sob ' kainaka . I presume your better half has to understand your woes)?
   
   

8. How do you react when you give birth to your child and discover that he/she is a total Bihari or Sardarji (or whatever)?
   
   

9. How do you feel when you were asked for the first time to prepare the Mayang Chatni, the Sambar, the Parotha, the Mayang Roti, the Dahi Wada, the Raita etc. instead of our traditional Uti, Iromba, Kangsoi, Chagempomba etc.?
   
   

10. How do you take your 'Sardarji' (with the Turban on) or Bihari (or whatever) son or daughter to your parental home in Manipur and declare him/her as your son or daughter, specially when their complexion or looks does not have anything 'Manipuri'?
    
    

11. Are you allowed praying to 'Sanamahi' or 'Leimarel' in your husband's home and if so, what kinds of arrangements are made for that?
    
    

12. How do you feel when you are required to say in utmost respect 'ha ji mein aa rahi hung' to your Mayang in-laws, instead of the expected 'Baba or Ima-Ibemma Lakchare, Kari Haibigadaba' ?
    
    

13. Don't you sometimes feel like addressing your husband as 'Mai Tamo' or expressions like 'AAA.. Somda Amukta' or by any such appropriate Manipuri words ?
    
    

14. How do you feel when you see a happy Manipuri Couple, leading a happy life in the typical Manipuri style - conversing in Manipuri, having Manipuri siblings, eating Manipur food and sharing everything 'Manipuri'?
    
    

15. What do you do when you sometimes feel like watching with your near and dear ones (read husband, sons or daughters) other 'Manipuri delicacies' like the traditional Lai Haraoba, Sumang Lila, Lai Lam Thokpa, the Pena Khongba etc.?
    
    

16. How do u feel when you can only participate in the Dandia dance or the Bangra when your 'dancing instincts' are all for 'Thabal Chongba'?
    
    

17. Don't you ever feel that you have taken a wrong decision in your life by marrying a non-Manipuri and deprived yourself of that 'Manipuri way of life'?