Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Separatists keep state under siege: Imphal, Dec 20: Separatist rebel armies continue to keep Manipur under siege, leading to a sense of hopelessness among large sections of the state’s 2.3 million people. Manipur, bordering Myanmar, is the only state in India’s restive Northeast where none of the frontline separatist groups has entered into a ceasefire with the government as a prelude to the beginning of peace talks. “People’s frustration over continued violence in the state is increasingly getting reflected through plays and literature where the underlying theme is against violence and the quest for peace,” said Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of Imphal Free Press, a local English daily. Analysts attribute several reasons for the growth and sustenance of insurgency in Manipur. “An ineffective civil society initiative towards brokering peace, the locational advantage that the rebels have by way of the area’s proximity to Myanmar, and a nexus between the insurgents and politicians are some of...