Wednesday 12 December 2012

Homie


Time to say good bye has come.
Dear Shillong,I'm leaving you in six days
Take away all my pride and false perception
Give me a chance to reclaim myself.

I want to see my mama and baba
I miss my sister's tantrums
My parents are waiting for me
So do my sister and cute little cousins

I am deprived of my home's sweetness
Living in a virtually simulated room
With useless laptop,tab and phone
I am so deprived of the mud wall

I am leaving you as I leave Shillong
Dear Look Alike,we will meet again next year
But in a different manner.
You are free from my irri now.

I shall be playing in those green grass
With my childhood friends
I shall be riding on the dusty roads
They lead my way to here

I will be cooking with my mother
I will be painting my house with my father
I will be arguing with my sister
I just want to go home

Tuesday 4 December 2012

My Uncle's Diary


This is a diary entry of my uncle who died in 2004.


"Khurumjari" , Rilung greeted the people who were there to welcome her. She came all the way from Hapoli to Guwahati and to Imphal on 26 february 1996. She stayed with Ibethoi at her home for three days. She came to my house at Nambol on 29 february. 1996 was a leap year.

Kago Rilung was doing MA in Manipur University during the early 90's. There were very few non manipuri students in MU at that time. She later completed PhD in Tribal Culture. She was a very bright student.

I taught her some meiteilon words so that she could impress my family elders. And she did just the same

My mother came out to welcome the guest. She didn't know Rilung was not a manipuri. So she started talking to her in Meiteilon. Even if she knew,she would talk in Meiteilon only. She was illiterate.

"Ibemma,nangdi kanano? Emung da changak udana"
Rilung was clueless. Ibethoi told her to enter. Ibethoi answered,"Ima,magi ming Rilung koubane. Eikhoi punna MU da tamminnarambani"

"Oww,ibemma,nangdi masak matou fajeida,rashi su yamna lei. Kadaidagino nangbo?"

Ibethoi again answered,"Ima,Arunachal dagi ne"

My mother asked,"Eh,adugi khun maming dudi amukfao tadri,masu wa khara ngang haludana. Se se Ibemma,ikaiganu"

Rilung said she was not a meitei but an apatani from Itanagar. Their family was from Hong Village(I haven't any idea) in Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. His father was a teacher in some School in Hapoli. But she lived in Itanagar.

Ibethoi interpreted her words. I was at Manggon(veranda)

My mother made food for her and Ibethoi. We all enjoyed the lunch. I went with them to Thiyam Pat. I rowed a boat and showed her the beauty of our lake. She left at around 4 pm.

In the following 15 days,she visited many Kuki villages. We met atleast seven times. I proposed to her to be my wife. But she didn't agree. I was very sad and totally broken. We had been together for 5 years and we love each other but she didn't accept me. She left Imphal on 17 march 1996.

I wrote her many letters to this address

Kago Rilung
Papuhappa P.O . Naharlagun
Itanagar
Arunachal Pradesh Pin .791110

But there was no reply. After waiting 6 months,i finally fell down to my mother's proposal of marrying a Meitei girl

My marriage took place on 16 march 1997. I now have a daughter


On 9 may 1997,i got a letter from Rilung. She explained me why she didn't agree to the marriage. My mother made Ibethoi tell her that she had already looked a girl for me and it is our family's tradition to marry the girl who is accepted by the family. My brother,Achom Birsingh also died because of such inter community clash. My mother didn't want me to die in such clash as she thought there might be one. She begged of her.

My wife is from Thanga Heisnam Leikai,an Island of the great Loktak Lake. I now have a daughter. Her name is Yaifabi Achom. I am going to Itanagar after 6 years for a study on Tribal Life. I wil be visiting Hapoli and Hong Village and hope to visit the wetland farms where she enjoyed her childhood. I still love her,Manglembi khows it. She reckons mine is true love,my dear wife Manglembi.



Achom Ibobi Singh

11 October 2000