EMBROILED MANIPUR – MUSHROOMING PEACE.

At distant land of Manipur
Where valleys and hills meet
There lies a mosaic woven
With threads of golden history,
Ethnic tensions plodding simmer
A cauldron of past and present
Meitei, Naga, Kuki, communities
Bound by foliage of verdant land,
Struggling for their identity
For space to breathe and grow…

Insurgencies have scarred
The hilly and fertile land
Voices raised in demand
For a quick and full autonomy,
Each echo of a gunshot
Evoke a cry for recognition
Each act of violence
A plea for a different future,
The earth is tender and heavy
With stories of recurrent strife
Yet beneath the shoots of discord
Sprouting seeds of peace waiting…

Government prompt actions
Policies full of promises
Like wind stirring in valleys
On the surface of a deep lake,
Sometimes it’s frozen and still
Sometimes bizzare turbulent
Fueling fears and hopes
Aspirations amid clashing,
The Meitei seek status
The tribes guard their hills
A shower of claims
And counterclaims
Of belonging to motherland…

Land is a precious gift
A source of life and conflict
Its ownership a battle fought
In courts and shimmering hearts,
The hills became a sanctuary
For those who dwell there
Protected by aged laws
And coveted by many,
In the valley dreams of access
Of breaking sound barriers
In the hills dreams of preservation
Of keeping heritage intact…

Economic disparities
A chasm deep and wide
Development a distant promise
For many still aspired,
Unemployment a shadow
Over all youthful hopes
Infrastructure is lagging
A barrier to progress,
Yet in every challenge
Lies the seed of opportunity
A chance to bridge gaps
To build rainbows across…

Recent erupting violence
A spark igniting old wounds
Clashes and displacement
A recurring cycle of pain,
Yet in the aftermath
Chance to afresh rebuild
To forge connections
To seek a different path,
Every conflict a reminder
Of the cost of division
Every moment an opportunity
For healing hearts in peace…

Dialogue a bridge across
The chasm of mistrust
Open and all inclusive
Embracing all voices,
Reconciling a journey
Long breathless and arduous
But necessary and vital
The foundation of peace,
Understanding the light
That can guide us through
Mutual respect the soil
Where trust can grow…

Inclusive development
A vision of shared prosperity
Jobs concretely created
Infrastructure strengthened,
Education and healthcare
Reaching every corner
Political representation
A mirror reflecting all faces,
Fair just and inclusive
A platform for every voice…

Autonomy is a promise
Of respect for tradition
Of safeguarding heritage
Of honoring customs,
Security is a shield
Impartial and effective
Law enforcement acting
With wisdom and restraint,
Conflict and resolution
Mechanisms of peace
Mediation, truth, reconciliation
Are the pathways to harmony…

Education is the master key
For a future of respect
Teaching history and culture
The richness of diversity,
Civil society and those hands
Which weave communities
Bridging the social gaps
Fostering grassroots harmony,
Monitoring and accountability
The pillars of regaining trust
Ensuring rights are protected
Justice into all upheld…

At distant land of Manipur
Where valleys and hills meet
There lies a silver dream
Fragile yet positively resilient,
A dream of people’s unity
Of peace and shared future
Where every voice is heard
Every life is equally valued,
The path is challenging
The journey ardously long
But together in unison
Step by step in progression,
We can reach the horizon
Where the sun early rise
On a land eager to heal
People desperate to be united,
A future bright with possibilities
With hopes looming at horizon…