Manipuri Pony and Manipur Police

Chingangbam Gulshan *

Israeli mounted police patrolling near Gaza border

One among the five Indian equine breeds, the Manipuri pony, is on the verge of extinction. As we drive by Imphal city no one seems to be noticing the dreadful and pitiable conditions of the nearly dying ponies; never realising that we are seeing the reflection of our own state on these godly creatures.

These very ponies once gave Manipur her share of glory in the not so distant past when an arambai-wielding Manipuri warrior would be feared from Ahom to Ava. Today, we still boast of introducing Polo to the world, courtesy-the Manipuri pony.

I don't say nothing is being done at the outset. But it's just on the outset. The Tingkai Khunou Farm is a flop-show, supposedly due to lack of funding. Only a handful of Polo Clubs now exists. The pony being a semi-wild breed has to be left free in the open for grazing but due to urbanisation and drying up of the '-pats' (marshes) little can be done. Not to neglect the ever-rising unemployment rate and poverty of the people.

Reasons for their depletion are many and I would refrain from pointing out further more as many had already said and done.

I demand a quick-fix to the issue. After toiling my brain for days I have come up with a solution and I want the state government to implement it right away if you are reading this........

CREATE A 'MOUNTED WING' IN THE STATE POLICE FORCE.

Here is a tentative Plan of Action:-

1. Kick-start breeding of ponies.

2. Attach the wing to MPTS.

3. The bazar-area can be better manoeuvred by ponies.

4. Clad the ponies with suiting attires.

5. Parade them out on I-Day or R-Day.

6. Manipur Police Polo Club to be founded.

Once set and done, this will be beneficial to both the parties.

As for the pony, what all good will come is understood. For the police the icing on the cake would be good public opinion which it badly needs. The Manipur public has got something to do with horses which is considered divine (Shamadom Ayangba) and carries a weight not as much but close to 'Kanglasha'. I don't know if it would be too much to say that they can save fuel and contribute less to carbon-emission if the bazar is patrolled by mounted officers but this is an area to research into.

When one of the best police forces in the world, the Israeli Police has a mounted wing, I believe there is no harm in following their 'hoofsteps'. And there is also an example not so faraway but in South India where tradition is being kept alive by training their police in Kalaripayattu, our equivalent of thang-ta.

Eventually, it's all about inculcating the tradition and preserving our identity without which we are faceless.