Hospitality

The ‘Wall of Reimbursement’ was visited in Churachandpur to honor the lost life during the ongoing struggle in Manipur. File | Photo Credit: PTI

S46-year-old Hard Lishangatham lost everything-from his home to his livelihood-on May 3, 2023, in caste violence destroying Manipur. It was forced to stay in a relief camp in Bishanupur, which is several kilometers from its now-flat house in Churchandpur, Lashangatham sold Shooze juice from Roadside.

In 2023, more than 250 people have died in the violence between tribal cookie Zo and Meteyi people in the north-eastern state. During the recent visit to Manipur after the President’s rule on 13 February, I met Lishangham, while he was busy serving juice for customers. I was struggling to understand the Meiteilon language that another victim of violence, a woman selling vegetables, when Lishangatham spoke inside, in her broken Hindi, she translated what the woman said. As I dropped the notes down, he churned fresh sugarcane rods in the machine and brought me a glass of fresh juice. I told him that I did not ask for it. Lishangatham just smiled and insisted that I drink it. As he also refused to allow me to pay for juice, I had to forcibly put some money in his pocket. Even at the time of adversity, well knowing that his daily earnings were essential for the existence of their family of six, staring at the uncertain future, Lishngatham enhanced this hospitality.

I then requested the government to speak on the video about their expectations. When I asked if he had any complaint, he said that in a curved voice, “There should be no other fight. We will not get anything by fighting. I want to say all this.”

In 2019, after the weakening of Article 370 on 5 August, I was sent to Kashmir Valley to report on the situation between security and information blockade. There was no internet. Since constitutional changes were to be introduced in the former state, thousands of people were raised and kept in preventive custody.

Outside the Shopian police station in South Kashmir, I met a group of men. One of them, Gulzar Ahmed Vegi, was searching for her 11 -year -old son, which she did not see for 22 days. Vegi said that his son was picked up by security forces from his home in the last week of August. Since then, he was coming to the police station every day to know his son’s hideout.

I took these details down. As I was about to leave, Vegi offered me food. He said that he was worried that I had come from Delhi in all ways and there was nothing since the implementation of a security lockdown in the entire region. His house was a few meters away. He told me that he would be happy to have lunch at home. His gesture and his ability to rise above his personal tragedy and welcome a complete stranger shifted me deeply.

As reporters, it is easy to become a condensed, but people like Lishangatham and Vedi strengthen our faith in humanity. While adversity is often associated with negative emotions such as bitterness and anger, it can equally reduce compassion or help people double their long -held beliefs and values.

Lishangatham and Vedi also remind that they are not just figures. Lishangatham is not one of the 62,000 people who have been forced to stay away from their homes 22 months after the violence in his state. Similarly, Vegi gave a reply to his son’s place. His voices remind the establishment of its duties.

Both these victims, along with others, opened their hearts and homes for me because I was a journalist who was ready to listen and write my stories. Talking with him also serves as a reminder for me that journalism is not the only chronicle of events and events; It is a public service.

vijaita.singh@thehindu.co.in