In Kolkata, Manipuris work together for peace in homeland

A week after ethnic violence ripped through Manipur leaving more than 60 people dead, thousands homeless, and thousands more evacuated, the situation is limping back to normalcy. While the State Government said curfew would be relaxed gradually in all districts and internet restored from May 13, Manipuris living in Kolkata, representing both the major communities Meiteis and Kukis, are working together to find ways to bring back peace to their troubled homeland. Manipuri in Kolkata (MIL), an umbrella organization that has both the Meiteis and Kukis communities as members, is organizing peace meetings to ensure that their members are insulated from the hate and can play an active role in rebuilding the State.
Roshan Khumukcham, vice president of Manipuri in Kolkata, said: “We estimate that about 20,000 people would have been rendered homeless in this mindless violence. We, at MIK, have decided to do our bit to bring the situation to normal, even though this will take a very long time to heal.”
MIK members have decided to pool resources so as to be able to send relief materials to those rendered homeless in the violence. “We are currently doing a need assessment as well as understanding what kind of help and resources we can provide from Kolkata,” said Roshan Khumukcham.
Officebearers said the organisation is also taking steps informally to ensure that no conflict arises among the communities from Manipur living in the city. It was made clear that the issues that gave rise to the violence were constitutional in nature, and not primarily communal.