“The conflict situation in Manipur that erupted since 3rd May this year has gifted me the biggest pain of departing my mother forever and the responsibility of a mother to take care of my two younger brothers”, lamented Laichonbam Dollina Devi of Kangchup Kharang in Manipur’s Imphal West district.
Dollina is the only daughter of Late Leichonbam Ongbi Abemcha who have lost her life in a firing incident that took place on November 7 at Kangchup Kharang, after being hospitalized for than a week. The 16 years old girl expressed her worrisome that if the situation becomes worsen how she could survive with her two brothers – one only four years old and onother in class eight standard. She could not bear the cry of her youngest brother asking to make video calls to her mother as usual they did during her mother stay at hospital. Still the young boy believes that her mother is still alive and in the hospital for her treatment and will return back home soon. She has no answer for her little brother about her mother rather than making many lies.
Narrating about the incident, she says that on November 7, 2023 her mother went to her home from the relief camp in the morning to clean their home and bring some winter clothes. On that particular day, she told her mother not to go home leaving the relief camp. Even they had words on this matter. At around noon sounds of gun fire were heard. Some women folks staying at the relief camp told her that her mother was hurt in that incident and was hospitalized. On one hand some womenfolks narrated her that her mother was safe. She remained confuse whom to believe. She prayed to God to protect and safeguard her mother from that incident.
As evening approached, all inmates returned to the relief camp but her mother was not there. She waited for her mother’s arrival but her mother never returned back. At night her father confirmed about her mother got a bullet injury at her back and being hospitalized at RIMS Imphal. It was told that her mother was carrying some wet clothes being washed from home and some jars which contain toffee, chewing gums from her owned shop at home. Her mother was treated in the hospital for some days and succumbs to death due to severe breathing problem on November 17.
Staying at the relief camp at Phayeng, Dollina was admitted to XI Science at Ibotonsana Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Uripok sponsored by the State government and others such as books, uniforms, shoes and bag etc being gifted by some philanthropists. She was happy that she could fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher and overcome all the traumas of violence when she started going to school. But after one week she could not attend her classes as she could not bear her autorickshaw fares of rupees sixty per day. Then again due to some illness, she could not attend her classes. From the day of her mother’s injury onwards she is unable to attend her class. She gave tuition to some children at the relief camp where she is staying. That small savings she kept for her school autorickshaw fares. With her mother, she joined the training programmes of making candles and agarbatis organized at the relief camp to make some earning staying at the camp.
Before staying at the relief camp at Phayeng, her family was staying at different places of their relatives. Still there is fear, tension and insecurity in her minds as the conflict is continuing. Due to fears of gun firing that occurred in her locality she used to faint several times even on the road. As narrated by Dollina that her younger brother who is studying in class eight told her cousin sister that he wanted to quit his studies and want to support his family. He has a strong desire of building a memorable monument for his mother when he grows up. Dollina expresses that she will try to engage herself in some part time jobs after class XII examination to support her father who is a driver for a tour and travel agency. Now her father could not continue his job because of the prevailing situation in the state. She has a wish to get the strength and energy to make her two brothers fully educated and to become successful persons in their lives. All those lovely and memorable moments that was shared with her mother appears in her mind all the moments, Dollina expresses.
“Recalling all those moments, I feel crying but I try my best to control my emotions to recharge my strength thinking about the responsibility that is imposed on me by conflict situation in the state. I really missed the love and care showered by my mother”, she said. Many questions arise in her mind every day – When will the crisis come to an end? When will her family live together in her house? How long they will stay in the relief camp? Who will replace the role of her mother in her life? When they will have a mind without fear? And many more … She also asked herself who is responsible for her set of questions. She appeals the authorities concerned to put all efforts to stop the war and bring peace and harmony in the state.
There are many more Dollinas who have lost their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and their dear ones. Who will wipe away the tears that have been brought by the violent incidents in the state?
