The Bridge Over River Guundung

THE PLIGHT OF RIVER-SPLIT FOLKS:

Many Kuki-Zo villages settled in harmony in Selkui- Molbem-LTphai to UTPhai-K. Phailien-Teijang zone. They lived on the confluence suburb of Chakpi and Imphal rivers of Manipur. The ethnic conflict of May-June 2023 pushed the poor backblock families to flee from their home and hearth. To save life came foremost to them. Most of the IDPs found temporary relief in the Shelter Camps of Lamka/CCPur. But age-old emotions pulled them back to where they belonged, now and then. Even if the the IDP knows that there’s nothing of much value in the ruined hut, an occasional visit to ‘sweet old home’ soothes the heart like breeze ruffling a pond.

CHILDREN’S EDUCATION IN SHAMBLES:

Displaced people too need their own living space. The District Administration of CCPur may have provided food and roofs to the fate-battered lot. But Jesus said, “Man shall not live on bread alone (Matthew 4:4).” The shattered and scattered hill settlers require means of living and education for their offspring. No parents want gen-next to suffer in illiteracy as they did. If the mom and dad fail to find some work that can sustain them as a family, the kids’ schooling will be at ‘sixes and sevens.’ Now that all belongings had gone for a toss, a son or a daughter holding a job is the only desperate hope.

AANA JAANA BAR BAR:

Home or no home, ‘Hope springs eternal’ even in the heart of the arson-struck IDPs. They want their kids to be better-placed. Remains of tarnished houses had to be retrieved. So they need to shuttle back and forth from ‘make-shift camps’ to ‘charred homes of origin.’ In dry seasons, commuting is easy. Passenger vehicles are up for grabs. But when ‘Guundung (Imphal river)’ gets flooded, access to former home is difficult. Now that they can’t pass through the fringe roads of Kakching Dist, @ this Chakpi-Guundung axis is the only link-route for them and the Lamka to Moreh sojourners.

SORROW OF RIVER-BANK NATIVES:

During rainy season, cross-over options are limited. The only point where the Chakpi-Imphal river- mouth dwellers can cross stream-flow by canoe is between New Bijang of CCPur Dist and K. Molnom of CKG Sub-Divn. The local CSOs made bids to construct a low-cost river-bottom bridge earlier. But the authoriities did not play ball. Mention may be made that Imphal river can be crossed across knee- deep rivulets from the months of December to May. During that period, river course is manageable every which way. Four-wheelers too can ply across. A failed attempt was made to bridge the two banks with a semi-pucca ensemble at river-bottom level.

VOLUNTARY LABOUR FORCE:

Of late, the twin-river delta natives chose a viable spot north of the canoe-crossing point to build a concrete bridge on public donation. The work had started a few months back. The pillars should be laid before the monsoon rains pour in. Mandays were raised from nearby villagers. Voluntary labour was mobilised somehow. But the new bridge is slated to take on the load of four wheelers, if not commercial light vehicles. So the expertise of civil engineers too were sought. Some experts in the field lent a helping hand to realise the ‘ambitious’ undertaking.

BIG-HEARTED DONORS:

On this date, a few columns of the bridge had already been erected. A few more are under progress of being filled with concrete mixture. Bro Tonglal HK, who is the chief of K. Molnom, had been the main ‘mover and shaker’ of this ‘dream project.’ Monetary support came from various unlikely quarters. Prominent among the donors were Kuki Inpi, USA; Mr & Mrs Lhouvum; Mr Jangpao Baite; KWS (Azara), Guwahati; KKL GHQ; Kuki Inpi, TPL; MPC; YPA; and Mr Boipu Sitlhou. KCTPC will ever remain profusely indebted to all the above organisations and individuals whose contribution kick-started the Bolero-bridge on Guundung. May God bless them a hundredfold.

THE ONLY LIFELINE ROUTE:

The Kuki-Zo inhabitants of the conflict-ravaged zone of CKG Sub-Divn had undergone an untold ordeal of the worst kind in 2023-24. The Chakpi-Imphal river ‘Sangam’ region may be located about 35 Kms from CCPur DHQ. But the problem lies in its administrative jurisdiction under Chandel Dist. Chandel DHQ is another 35 Km away on the opposite side. But Lamka/Songpi is more familiar to the distressed IDPs. So they prefer to rub shoulders with residents of the Eimi township they know closer. Besides, passing the valley areas en route to Candel is taboo, for obvious reasons, as of now. The under- construction ‘Guundung’ bridge will be the only lifeline for the hinterland residents to make both ends meet.

LOCALS HARD-HIT BY CONFLICT:

In the June-2023 mayhem, about 60 Kuki-Zo villages of the Chakpi area had either been torched or vandalised. The grain left in the granary, the clothes stocked in the house, and other household items have been ransacked and stolen after the fear-stricken victims fled for safety. The philanthropic CSOs of CCpur Dist and GoM took care of their immediate necessities, so far. The children of the IDPs had to pursue higher studies in outside States. In times of grave struggle for survival, they have no other option but to spend heavily in travel via Aizawl on their way to places of study. Seeking a job is also doubly hazardous. Recruitment centres are far-flung. No proper prep in hassled days!

GOD SPARED OUR LIVES:

We must come in terms with the queer suffering we are in. We know that the going is tough. But it’s when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Students hailing from the twin-river belt must study harder to be in vantage positions to redress the hardship they endure. Our ‘spared’ Church pulpits and pews must go wet with tears of passionate prayer. Let us thank the LORD first that we are still in the land of the living. In the nightmarish turbulence of 2023, we too could have been wiped out along with our property. But God salvaged our lives. ‘Life ho to hope hai.’ We heard of much more deadlier attacks occurring elsewhere.

LET’S CALL UNTO GOD:

On our knees, with a broken heart and contrite spirit, let’s knock heaven’s door in prayer. Only God can make grand things happen for the livelihood restoration of our beleaguered brethren. To gain the Almighty’s favour, we must all repent deeply, confess our sins and beg for heavenly wisdom to tackle our peculiar situation. Others may not hear our collective cry. 4Gs and 5Gs may fail us to connect. Yet, HG - Heavenly Generation - is always super active. Let’s in prayer dial heaven’s number

— Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” The Spiritual Wi-Fi is always ‘on;’ never switched off.