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Message from the `Land of Jewels'

The people of Manipur want peace and be part of a sovereign India

PHOTOS: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

DEPICTING BORDER ISSUE A scene from the play 'Who are we?'

The place has earned many sobriquets. Lord Irwin called it `Switzerland of India' and in the mythology it is referred to as the `Land of Jewels'. The State of Manipur boasts of exotic landscapes set amidst gentle undulating hills, emerald green valleys, blue lakes and dense forests. Its sheer tranquility and history has inspired many poets and writers over the years, including Rabindranath Tagore who penned the dance drama `Chitrangada' based on Arjun's adventurous tour to Manipur and his marriage with Princess Chitrangada as mentioned in the epic, Mahabharatha.

But today the locales no longer inspire writers and intellectuals. The repressive rule under the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), the alleged rape of Thanglam Manorama by the Assam Rifles men and the nupi lan (war waged by the women against the state government) form the backdrop for writers, poets and theatre personalities.

"Manipur is a forgotten State. The Government of India seems to be least bothered about the welfare of its people and the politicians and bureaucrats do not even care to demarcate a proper border for the state," says Sarungbam Beeren of Manipur Theatre Academy.

Beeren was here with his troupe to stage two plays and appraise the Vizagites about the prevailing situation in Manipur.

`Shooting the sun'

This play revolved round the present political situation where the people of Manipur are virtually governed by two heads of state. "One is the legal government and the second is the various insurgency outfits. Manipur is basically an agrarian society with peace loving people. On one hand the government threatens its innocent farmers with the help of Assam Rifles who work under the protective cover of AFSPA and on the other they are held to ransom by the insurgency groups," opines Beeren. The final scene of the play depicts people advocating for one ruler and restoration of peace.

`Who are we?'

Sarungbam Beeren

In this powerful political drama, Beeren showcases the problem of border. It depicted the plight of simple farmers in a nondescript village, Molcham, bordering Myanmar. He skillfully dramatized the current scenario - how people are robbed, tortured and women are molested by the security forces of Myanmar.

"There is no clear demarcation of the border with Myanmar and neither there is the presence of any security force from our side and the Myanmarese take full advantage of it. Kargil is not the only border of contention. The Indian Government should consider this issue and treat it on par with other border problems. In reality, the villagers are torn between their love for India and safety by becoming part of Myanmar," he adds.

The concluding scene puts Delhi at shame as it depicts a group of Indian soldiers landing at Molcham. The villagers get carried away thinking that their saviours have finally arrived. But it transpires that the soldiers have only brought the body of a Kargil martyr to his mother, for whom it is the second blow after losing her husband in an attack by Myanmarese forces.

After graduating, Beeren had taken up stage plays as his fulltime profession. He has been facing the lights since 1980. On his subjects he says that he draws them from poems, short stories and newspaper clippings. "I add the flesh and dramatise on them further," he adds.

Speaking on Manipuri theatre he says that it is largely dominated by costumes, music and a combination of yoga and martial arts.

"My practise session begins with a couple of minutes of yoga and martial arts. Though the subjects may be common, the art of theatre revolves round the regional culture of every state. And hence martial arts and colourful costume form part of our theatre."

Through all his plays he has been strongly advocating for peace and a unified India. This has earned him the wrath of many insurgency groups. Narrating an incident he says, "In the play `Who are we?' I used the national flag and the anthem to bring the Manipuris close to the country. A couple of insurgency groups approached me to delete it from the play. Their argument was that the Indian Government has been showing a step brotherly attitude towards us so why should we be part of India. I just asked them one question, `If you feel so, why do you use the Indian currency that has Gandhi's picture and the Hindi script'. They had no answer and they left."

Braving threats from insurgents and government forces, Bereen has set his goals clear and high. "The people of Manipur want peace and be part of a sovereign India and it is my duty to project it through my play. The central government should realise it and act accordingly" he opines.

SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE

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