Do you want another war ?
The biggest challenge about writing on insurgency and chiefly the insurgent leaders of north east -- the militants and former militants as we tag them often - is to avoid being alarmist.
It is important at the same time not to appear as propagandist either for the 'militancy' as a concept or some militant groups or even for Govt of India and the Indian army.
These are easier said 'virtues' or goals.
I had at times discussed on these aspects of 'reporting' with veterans like Khushwant Singh and Kuldip Nayar separately. To my surprise - during one of my first interaction with legendary Khushwant - when I interviewed him for PTI Golden Jubilee Souvenir (1998) he had raised the issue on his own.
One lesson I drew from them has been that one should always lay emphasis on the "sense" of right and wrongs. And if possible - use these in harness with empathy.
I did not report or write much on United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur. But on NSCN-IM and other Naga factions - I have been writing quite both pre and post 1997.
My studies on the birth and growth of Naga insurgency have revealed that even New Delhi's mishandling of the situations has led to the situations we are in today.
The very concept of 'extremism' (or freedom movement) often provide (or provided) purpose to young men -- with of course certain narratives not defined well.
These days everyone is talking about NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah's forthcoming visit to Somdal village in Manipur. On the backdrop comes another story of 'homecoming' of UNLF chief R K Meghen in 2019.
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| Muivah younger days |
Meghen was arrested in Bangladesh in 2010 and later handed over to Indian authorities.
In 2016, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for "waging war" against India and other offenses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He would be still behind bars in a Guwahati jail.
But he was released in November 2019 after his sentence was commuted for good behavior. Of course in around 2020; the UNLF split into two factions the UNLF (Koireng) led by R.K. Achou Singh and the UNLF (Pambei) led by Khundongbam Pambei.
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| Meghen : Once upon a time |
On May 22, 1990, the UNLF, along with other insurgent groups operating in the Northeast – the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and the Kuki National Army (KNA) – floated a pan-Mongoloid coalition called the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF).
Those were much turbulent days of north east region. Assam saw the worst of the time and in Nagaland - targeted killings, threat letters and also clashes between various factions left havoc like ground zero often.
In Nagaland, Mokokchung town "burned" once and even SP was murdered in 1994.
The IBRF was floated to wage a "united struggle for the independence of Indo-Burma". The UNLF had training camps in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Aftermath of Dec 27, 1994 violence in Mokokchung :: snap - Morung Express
That way taking the discussions further one could say Muivah and R K Meghen are well known to each other.
In Delhi, one retired military officer commented in a lighter vein: "Yes; both are friends and now that Muivah will be in Manipur .... both he and Meghen should meet".
I would not have bothered much about such remarks often said casually over a glass of wine. But the 'journalistic mischief germ' was doing its job in my mind.
For a pause ... I thought : Muivah is 91 and Meghen (born 1944) is 81.
Both have seen the two states, the people and the northeast of India from a different prism. They have the transitions in Myanmar and also in China and Bangladesh.
Both had 'dreams' and more importantly planted huge dreams in people's mind. As a consequent of that people from both communities and in two states of Manipur and Nagaland made sacrifices and youths joined the multiple underground factions when most of them could have had good and settled careers with some other vocations.
"It is worth knowing what is crossing their minds today ... as both are well aware of the contemporary realities," -- the journo in me added that mysterious spice.
I would have probably still avoided talking further. But I also thought how would things turn out if some social workers belonging to Meiteis and Tangkhul Nagas arrange a courtesy call type meeting between the two.
My idea would make deep sense especially because when the crises of 2023 enveloped Manipur - NSCN-IM leaders and other Nagas of Manipur preferred to take the line that both these ethnic groups are 'brothers'. They are indigenous people sharing 'brotherhood' from time immemorial as is often stated.
Both Nagas and Meiteis - despite crystal clear ethnic and also religious differences wanted 'independence' and at times they 'fought' against New Delhi and Indian army together.
There were other elements too.
Meiteis ranging from Meghen, his other colleagues in militancy in various militant groups to 'nationalist' leaders such as Rishang Keishing (a Tangkhul Naga) and also O Ibobi Singh or N Biren Singh (angry old man of 2025) wanted a 'united' Manipur.
Muivah and others in contrast wanted a divided Manipur in the name of 'greater Nagalim'. But intellectual shyness greeted me for the last few days.
I also avoided talking about these with my 'friends' in Delhi. But I spoke to a few Neta type individuals in Kohima and Imphal. The general reaction being : mild laughter !!
A Netflix series - 'The woman in the window' came helpful as I was trying to fight insomnia as my daughter was in her mom's arms and the latter snoring sweetly in a Marxist style from the hills of Tripura.
The series had a protagonist saying - "Curiosity is the evidence of a decreased depression pattern". And my night was done !!
I pulled my laptop. This 'curiosity' drove me to wonder -- what's crossing the minds of militant leaders Muivah and Meghen in the contemporary setting. And mischievously again - what would be a fictional or imaginative Somdal declaration.
What could be a 'joint message' to the people of Manipur, to Meiteis and Nagas of Manipur if the two leaders were to meet at Somdal or some other place?
Honestly; both Nagas and Meiteis these days lack moral clarity. There are other vices and they are virtually going towards a common downfall.
So; what message will these two leaders give ? Can the communities get a new direction and a much importantly, a new sense of purpose ?
ends
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