In the 80s and 90s, local daily newspapers had a steady flow of revenue from ‘Sendokchaba’, a sort of clarification to the general public for one’s wayward behaviour or indulgences. These clarifications were very popular among newspaper readers then. After partaking the daily dose of crime and violence, readers would scan the dailies for these ‘Sengdokchaba’ column. Those issuing such clarifications are drunkards, drug abusers and anti-social elements, in which they pledge that they would not repeat the ‘offence’ again.
Yet, there were many repeat offenders. Those were the days when local goondas had begun their exit from the social space and giving way to the ‘Naharols’ as the insurgents or revolutionaries were commonly referred to. In the early days of insurgency, a reformist agenda was foremost in the activities of the ‘Naharols’ and family members would appeal to them to properly school their wards from further indulging in wayward behaviour or commit offences detrimental to the family and society at large. These ‘Naharols’ were highly respected among the general public as they took particular care not to antagonise the general public and not befall in circumstances where they are like fish out of water.
The term ‘Sengdokchaba’ was already there but put to good use by the Naharols. Later on, a new terminology like ‘Waakhal Taaba’ or ‘Waakhal Taahanba’ was added to the Manipuri vocabulary. One could roughly translate the terms as to acts of convincing or being convinced of one’s wayward or anti-social behaviour. Somehow, the act of ‘Waakhal Taahanba’ was stretched from giving a pep-talk and few slaps to sometimes beatings to convince them of their anti-social behaviour.
Repeat offenders or those involved in serious crimes like rape and molestation, corrupt practices and impersonation of ‘Naharol’ was firmly dealt with exemplary punishment. Somewhere along the way, the plot was lost either due to excesses or arrogance or disillusionment on the part of the Naharols in a classic case of those fighting for the rights of the oppressed imitating the acts of the oppressors as succinctly discussed by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire. That is how the Naharols became ‘fish out of the water’ and the champions of counter-insurgency winning half the battle in perception.
It took years for such a situation to come about in the case of the Naharols. But in recent times, it took only a few months for the champions and guardians turning on the general public to impose their writ. With the advent of social media platforms, individuals have begun issuing ‘Sengdokchaba’ in Facebook and other social media avenues and robbing the revenue which was otherwise the domain of daily newspapers. It is quick and without costs.
And people have resorted to the easy way out for issuing clarifications and it is becoming quite popular. It has become a fashion for self-proclaimed reformers and watchdog groups to issue diktats on anything under the sun through the social media. The general public instead of protesting against the diktats chose to remain silent and follow the diktats while reservations are kept to oneself. Recently, some ‘unknown’ miscreants fired warning shots at the gate of the residence of a women leader who condemned the acts of the ‘unknown’ in election natters. Again, a polling agent and her husband was given pressure to take back their complaint of booth capturing.
(The views expressed are personal)
