Where is Mautam?

In North East Sun issue dated June 16-30, in the “Letter to the Editor” section, the following letter which I had written in response to David Buhril’s article “Tipaimukh in Hunger-I” appears:

Apropos David Buhril's article "Tipaimukh in Hunger Part-I" (North-east Sun May 16-31 issue), it is disheartening to note that the article deliberately ignores the other subdivisions of Churachandpur district of Manipur and focuses only on Tipaimukh subdivision. It may be mentioned here that the mautam is more or less as severe in the other subdivisions of Churachandpur district (viz. Thanlon, Henglep, Singngat and Churachandpur subdivisions) as it is in Tipaimukh subdivision. This is substantiated by the findings of the Manipur Hill Journalist Union (MHJU), a conglomerate of working journalists based in the hills of Manipur, in their on-the-spot survey undertaken from 14^th to 19^th November, 2007 and endorsed by none other than the Deputy Commissioner, Shri Sumant Singh as well as the Chief Secretary of the state, Shri Jarnail Singh who had communicated the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs. In fact, a Central team led by Shri Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture had already surveyed the area and confirmed the occurrence of famine in the district.

The general populace of Churachandpur are disheartened to know that a magazine of such repute as yours focuses only on the plight of the Tipaimukh people while ignoring the plight of the greater part of the populace. My humble appeal to you is to highlight the plight of the hungry masses from other subdivisions of the district as well.
Joy Tonsing,
Lamka, Manipur

This is the original letter which I had sent to the Northeast Sun, the ones in bold have been deleted:

Apropos David Buhril's article "Tipaimukh in Hunger Part-I" (North-east Sun May 16-31 issue), it is disheartening to note that the article deliberately ignores the other subdivisions of Churachandpur district of Manipur and focuses only on Tipaimukh subdivision. What is even more ridiculous is the writer's claim that Tipaimukh is the "epicenter" of mautam (famine). It may be mentioned here that the mautam is more or less as severe in the other subdivisions of Churachandpur district (viz. Thanlon, Henglep, Singngat and Churachandpur subdivisions) as it is in Tipaimukh subdivision. This is substantiated by the findings of the Manipur Hill Journalist Union (MHJU), a conglomerate of working journalists based in the hills of Manipur, in their on-the-spot survey undertaken from 14^th to 19^th November, 2007 and endorsed by none other than the Deputy Commissioner, Shri Sumant Singh as well as the Chief Secretary of the state, Shri Jarnail Singh who had communicated the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs. In fact, a Central team led by Shri Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture had already surveyed the area and confirmed the occurrence of famine in the district.

The general populace of Churachandpur (known as Lamka by the locals) are disheartened to know that a magazine of such repute as yours focuses only on the plight of the Tipaimukh people while ignoring the plight of the greater part of the populace. Such a myopic, narrow and parochial attitude would undoubtedly harm the long term interests of the magazine while at the same time alienating the people in other areas of the district in particular and the northeast people in general. My humble appeal to you is to highlight the plight of the hungry masses from other subdivisions of the district as well.

Joy Tonsing,
Lamka, Manipur

David Buhril’s reply in the said issue of NE Sun

Dear Joy Tonsing

Lack of time and the absence of roads and transportation did not allow me to tour all the hungry constituencies of Churachandpur. I also mentioned about the other subdivisions and shared problems and issues in Tipaimukh in Hunger-Part I & II. The entire focus of my writings has been on the issues, which still remains unabated today. The geography and other identities are secondary. North East Sun welcomes unreported or under-reported issues from everyone. We look forward to voicing them all.

My take on David Buhril’s reply to me:

Lack of time? He has the time to tour the Tipaimukh subdivision which is in the farthest corner of Churachandpur. So this is clearly a case of lack of intention. He never has the intention of covering the other subdivisions even if time is not a constraint. To reach Tipaimukh, he has to pass through the other subdivisions of the district.

Absence of roads and transportation? To the best of my knowledge roads are not absent in Ccpur district. Guite Road, Tipaimukh Road, Tedim Road and Sugnu Road are the main roads that interconnect the various subdivisions of the district. It is a sad fact that in the writer’s world only Tipaimukh Road exists.

Also the writer never shared problems and issues of other subdivisions in Tipaimukh in Hunger-I & II. I can say this with certainty because I have gone through both the articles. I am not blind, Mr Buhril.

If geography and other identities are secondary, why should the title of the article scream “Tipaimukh”.