Thoubal (Manipur), Jan 14: Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra kicked off with the former Congress president and scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family taking center-stage in the strife-laden heart of Manipur. Accompanied by distinguished leaders of the Party, he exchanged light moments with the newly-elected party president and seasoned leader, Mallikarjun Kharge. Tens of thousands thronged as the Congress Party's top echelon heralded the bugle for the forthcoming 2024 general elections.
This writer rose before the sun on this Sunday morning, guided
by a local fixer to a relief camp on the outskirts of Manipur. "If you
have tears, prepare to weep them now," cautioned my classmate from our
boarding school in Darjeeling, my companion on this somber journey. While I had
kept abreast of Manipur's plight in recent months, the true depth of anguish,
the personal narratives of loss, and the haunting trauma became palpable only
when witnessed firsthand. Lost in the initial moments, I momentarily forgot my
journalistic duties, my notes, and the footage I intended to capture. How could
I not?
The relief camp housed mostly mothers, infants, and young boys
and girls whose lives had been shattered by sudden ethnic clashes. Dreams and
aspirations lay crushed in the wake of the destruction that gripped this
once-beautiful and pristine land. Upon being inquired about their ordeal, they
recounted tales of horror, stories that will find a place in my upcoming book.
Their shared sentiment: the ruling regime, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
had callously allowed them to bleed, displaying neither care nor compassion.
The anger against Modi was palpable among those who had suffered or witnessed
their loved ones suffer.
Amidst this sea of despair, I encountered a striking young
girl, seemingly preparing for a significant day. Her body language suggested a
worldly experience beyond her years. Cautiously approaching her, I sought not
to overwhelm her with questions but to extend a comforting hand in these trying
times.
A student at Delhi University only four years ago, she
returned to Manipur to assist her single mother in running a grocery store that
had supported her education and upbringing. Now, her mother is no more, and
their store has been reduced to ashes. She did not shed a tear during our conversation;
instead, she asserted that her pain paled in comparison to the suffering of
others. Still driven to make a difference, she expressed her determination to
help her people emerge from this misery. As we bid each other heartless adieus,
I hoped to witness her rise above the adversity, and given the chance, I would
go to great lengths to make a positive impact on her life.
Yet, hers is just one among countless stories echoing along
the streets of Manipur—stories of devastated men, women, and children, failed
by the collective will of the ruling establishment at both the state and
central levels.
This is where Rahul Gandhi's courage and compassion shine.
Unlike the Indian prime minister, who remains strangely silent despite ample
resources at his disposal, Mr. Gandhi, albeit arriving almost four hours late,
offered a sincere apology, attributing the delay to inclement weather in Delhi.
Surrounded by a formidable security cordon, he stands as the most formidable
opponent for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Are these signs of what India holds in store in the days to
come?
(Saket Suman is the author of The Psychology of a Patriot. Views expressed are strictly personal)
