The troubled Ukhrul

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The troubled Ukhrul

By: Jacob Shaiza *

The beautiful hill station of Manipur, Ukhrul is no longer as charming as made to believe. Proud people are the inhabitants of Ukhrul or Hunphun as it is now known, but without much to show off.

Rumbling of social division is the order of the day in Hunphun today. What meaning does it carry when the scenic beauty is without any supporting spirit and this is Ukhrul today.

The Ukhrul town comprising around 3000 households and 27 clans with the customary king as the head of the Village Authority (V.A) is in deep mess, notoriously for the misdoings of some persons with sinister plan in their pocket.

Once upon a time Ukhrul or (Hunphun in local dialect) was the birth place of Tangkhul civilization that took shape for a new beginning in the form of christianization by Rev. Willian Pettigrew in 1866 and which gradually started education among the local inhabitants.

Significantly, Hunphun locals enjoys all these added advantages as compared to other Tangkhul villages. Having a glorious history as the only recognized customary king among the Manipur Hill Districts, Hunphun was the melting pot of the Tangkhul customs and the unique symbol of Naga history.

Ironically, the divisive shadow engineered by a group of dubious personalities with inflated ambition appeared over Hunphun that posed a direct challenge to the time honoured Hunphun customs and to victimize the king by declaring his existence as no longer relevant.

But the die-hard followers of the king refused to be shakened and thus the battle of either to go with the custom or choose other system began but in a very unbecoming upmanship.

It may be recalled that for 17 years H.A Haoreingam was the acting headman. But a time comes when H.A Sarimaya, his elder brother and the legitimate Headman decided to take the historic steps to re-occupy the throne.

Accordingly, he occupied his royal seat on 7th January 2005. But to his dismay and for no rhyme or reason his brother refused to hand-over all the relevant files and records and even question his right to the royal seat.

This was something that goes against the customary right with dimensional repercussion that ultimately draws the attention of NSCN (IM) general secretary. Th. Muivah who declared in no uncertain terms that H.A Sarimaya is the undisputed Headman of Hunphun and directed his brother to hand-over all files and records.

It was on 26th June, 2005 when Haoreingam reluctantly hand-over files and records with many still missing. To add fuel to the missing records crisis two persons appeared on the scene on this particular juncture claiming themselves as the speaker and secretary of Hunphun public meeting.

This two controversial persons AS Shangreiso and Sirawung Ragui were however disowned by Sarimaya on the ground that they were never elected with his authorization and as sanctioned by VA constitution. Tangwung Luiyaiwo, on 5th July, 2006 at Dimapur also flatly denied that these two persons were elected by the public. Interestingly, Shangreiso and Sirawung are regarded by Tangwung as his mentor.

Evidently, 26th June 2005 is a dark day for the people of Hunphun for many reasons that did not go down well with the customary practices. The helplessness of ex-headman HA Haoreingam being used as pawn by some unscrupulous persons was exposed on this day in its true colour.

The hegemonistic game plan of AS Shangreiso and Sirawung Ragui was demonstrated here in a very unbecoming manner. The controversy over the manipulative lists of Village Authority members also began here. Thus, for all these reasons the present turbulent state of affairs in Hunphun has its root on this day.

Hunphun being the capital district headquarters of the Tangkhuls and the centre of the Wung Tangkhul Region of NSCN(IM) administration, a parallel Government that is nurturing to run a full-fledged Government in the nearby future, the Hunphun divisive crisis cannot fail to pull NSCN into it.

But unfortunately, many NSCN leaders burn their fingers in the process of playing the role of trouble shooter. Close observation indicates that impartial arbitration was found lacking in NSCN’s exercise of power over the issue. Th. Muivah’s personal attention was also drawn as the issue was a matter of Tangkhul customs that is directly linked to the unique history of the Nagas.

The Hunphun public meeting was one important step suggested by Muivah to study the pulse rate of the public over the burning unsolved issues that involved a faction of Village Authority (VA) members who wanted to introduce a chairmanship system on the pretext that the customary headman is too weak. But as this step involves diluting the customary values it could not be translated into a meaningful public debate.

A public meeting was nevertheless organized by HA Sarimaya on 10th July, 2006 at Rashing Hall, Hunphun to establish the collective views and opinions on the issues faced by the Hunphun VA and the divisive anti-custom campaign that is strongly initiated by certain forces.

In the meeting the headman made a fervent appeal to the public to preserve and stand by the values reflected by the custom and the beneficial effect of being one in customary principle.

Notably, the meeting was attended by almost all the high dignitaries belonging to Hunphun but based in different parts of the country. Nothing good seems to be expected out of the meeting as the two factions traded allegations and at one moment things almost run out of control.

Crucial as the meeting was, NSCN(IM) sent four observer members. The heated atmosphere was however brought to amenable stage due to the nationalistic deliberation initiated by the senior members like ex-Chief Secretary of Delhi, W. Shaiza, Somi Zimik, Chief Security Commissioner, Indian Railways and others who stressed on going with the customs rather than open the door to the eventual destruction of Hunphun customs.

These two prominent speakers pointedly but poignantly reminded the members on the national values that cannot be separated from Hunphun customs.

Taking the cue from Th. Muivah, they share the emotional meeting they had with him who told them that the blood, tears, and sweat they had undergone for all these years are all because of the unique custom of the Nagas that define the true meaning of the unique history of the Nagas. The present Indo-Naga talk is given importance based on this undeniable fact.

A good sense however, prevailed and adopting a magnanimous stand, both the rival groups ultimately agreed on the need to appoint a committee for a reconciling role and to remove all obstacles for a smooth functioning of the Hunphun Village Authority. It was taken for granted that the members of the committee are without any factional leanings.

The other important highlights of the meeting was the respect for democratic election when Protem Speaker Reading Luikham and secretary Ringphami Ragui were elected.

The self-inflected wounds that both the groups suffered will take its own time to heal.

It is however, to be admitted that the inflated ego has to be given way to greater interest of the Hunphun public in the course of strengthening the hands of the Headman in guarding the unique customs of Hunphun and justify its place of pride in the unique history of the Nagas.

Jacob Shaiza wrote this article for The Sangai Express
This article was webcasted on 03rd August 2006.

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