Disgracing Self in Disgracing Others - Attacking One's Religion

Many media houses and various well-known personalities have downplayed the role of religion in the ongoing Manipur conflict which started since May 3, 2023. However, the truth is, the role that religion played in and during this conflict and even before the conflict started cannot be ignored and understated.

According to the 2011 census of India, Hinduism constitutes 41.39% of Manipur population. And it is estimated that about 7.79% of the population are people who follow “Sanamahism” the traditional Meitei religion of the ancient Meiteis. The dominant Hindus and the “Sanamahists” are all Meiteis.

On the other hand, the Kukis are largely Christians with only a few hundreds of them following Messianic and Judaism.

It was not a surprise to many that many religiously motivated attacks were seen especially during the earlier days of the conflict in Manipur because of the things that occurred even before 3rd May 2023. Yes, there were problems, and many churches belonging to the Meitei Christians vandalized and burned down by the extremist Meitei groups during this conflict is the result of it, which ultimately gives us the corroboration that religion is the major element in those attacks. There is no question to it, whether accepted or not.

Coming to 3rd May 2023 and since, in most cases, whenever and wherever the Kukis were attacked, the attackers (the Meiteis) made sure that the church or synagogue or churches in these villages were also burnt down to ashes with their houses and other buildings. This is a fact. That is why, it is acceptable to the Kukis that this conflict is ethnic but at the same time, concomitantly not acceptable for them to dismiss or de-emphasize the role of religion. They are right in every sense because more than 360 churches and synagogues have been looted, vandalized, and burnt down by the Meiteis.

On 3rd May 2023, that evening itself, the Kuki Baptist Convention (India) Centre Church New Lambulane, believed to be the largest church in Imphal, became the first victim amongst all the churches in the Imphal valley. The church was vandalized by the miscreants who threw stones and sticks, throwing fire to the building which fortunately didn’t get burned due to certain reasons. It is said that the Church Pastor and his family, and the Church caretaker’s family were inside the church campus during all those scary times. Later, all the church properties, which included the sound system that was bought only a few months back and believed to be one of the best church sound systems all over India, was seen looted and stolen by people belonging to the Meiteis including the women folk. Added to that, the Meitei indigenous flag known as the “Salai- Taret” was shamelessly installed on top of the church. (Source: WhatsApp/Facebook)

On 13th June 2023, the Meitei attackers after burning down a few Kuki villages in the Khamenlok area took rest inside the Aigejang Church. This group of people, thinking that they had driven away all the Kukis from their villages were all in joyous moods. Therefore, they started drinking and celebrating that they had taken the villages of the Kukis in that area. They were drunk and feasting inside the Aigejang Church. Some of their chants and victorious slogans were also heard by the Kukis who were some kilometers away from the village through the walkie-talkie sets they were using. Their celebration was short-lived when the Kuki volunteers stormed and charged them when the party spirit was on a high note. The same Church building was bulldozed and demolished using an excavator on 27th January 2024. (Source: The Wire/Youtube)

In a Facebook video post shared by a Meitei Facebook user Romio Khaba-Nganba (formerly Romio Chongtham Khaba-Nganba) in January 2024, 8 months since the start of the conflict, the Meitei attackers are seen mockingly mimicking the Christian holy matrimonial ceremony inside the Govajang Church in the Khamenlok area. In the video posted, one man blasphemously acted as the minister of the ceremony taking vows from two other men while some of them watched on, thereby desecrating the place of worship also. It appeared that he later deleted the post, but the video went viral anyway. (Source: Romio Khaba-Nganba/Facebook)

On 8th February 2024, one X (formerly Twitter) user Chingsang_Lakpa posted an edited and immoral photo with the caption, “Is mount Olive the place where this incident happened?” in which Jesus Christ is being raped by men (depicted to be of the Roman Soldiers) who crucified him at Golgotha. The photo was made to mock the Christians particularly the Kukis, who believed that Jesus died for the sins of the world and was resurrected. The odious photo went viral in many social media platforms. (Source: Chingsang_Lakpa/X) .

Similarly, around the same time as above, another X user Satyajit Loitongbam was seen spreading obscene photos – first, where Jesus is hung on the cross, naked, with all his anatomy shown with titles like, “Here is another pic of your Lord”, “You will die like this when we come”; second, where Jesus is standing naked with his backside shown beside a Cross with a heading, “Jesus Christ using KNO, KNA, ZRA, UKLF as proxy war militant”; third, where Jesus is holding a cigarette with a slogan, “Jesus Christ, watching some of the worst people on Earth claim to be his followers”. This man seems to be very happy in sharing all these photos everywhere. (Source: Satyajit Loitongbam/X)

It is shameful that these nefarious things are seen in public and even more disturbing to notice people sharing these items pillar to post with excitement and enthusiasm. And it is appalling that all these are done without any guilt and discomfort. At the same time, it is astounding that the law enforcement agencies are taking no action against them, blind-folding themselves to not see what’s transpiring around them.

The intention to tarnish ones’ religion is obnoxious and illogical for any right-thinking human being. The policies that some extremist or right-wing groups have, that operates within the states of India might have influenced and lured the minds of the people of the once peace- loving state of India. There is no excuse to stupidity. Every citizen must abide by the law and law must not be stopped from taking their own course. The religiously motivated attacks meted out to any religious group or groups are highly abominable and loathsome. Regardless of which society we belong to – whether a Meitei, or a Kuki, or whoever it may be, we must accept that we have become a monster if we’re involved and vital in mugging and desecrating one’s faith. It is excruciating to see that numbers have stooped so low to the point of no return. It is woeful to see youngsters imprudently engaged in attacking one’s religion like never before. Many have used their intellectual faculty and technical proficiency to scorn at someone’s valued beliefs. If anyone committing such heinous crimes after retrospection and introspecting himself or herself has no conviction over all these wrongdoings, he or she has become a matured monster. In trying to defame and affront other’s religion, we must never forget that we are disgracing ourselves and dishonoring the principles and ethics of our own religion.

Many of us have failed as human beings as we try so hard to belong to the core of our community by instigating hatred and animosity towards other communities. We must enlighten and put into a perspective that one doesn’t have to detest other communities for the sake of affiliating to his or her community. It is never a wrong thing to promote our cultures and traditions, and champion our faith and beliefs. Howbeit, we must validate that our actions and manners do not go against the general principles of humankind, and specifically in India, its Constitution.

Religion must be purely based on faith. When that happens, it is highly foreseeable that there will be no cases of sacrilege or blasphemy amongst the diverse populace. The unfortunate things that have unfolded and that are going to happen again are due to the fact that we are foolishly attached to our religion without the understanding of the dogmas of the religion that we follow.

(The writer can be reached at gidosingsit@gmail. com)