Two brothers having separate kitchens do not simply divides the bondage of brotherhood between them. They may have differences, quarrel over petty matters, but they always stand together when any alien forces attack one among the brothers. We still see the same phenomenon among the various communities that has been living together from time immemorial in this region presently known as Manipur. The Tangkhul, the Khongchai and the Meetei among other communities which are living like two separate entities were always seen as one when any alien forces attack them in any form. The alike divided communities always come together as one when any brothers or sisters belonging to any communities that have been co-existing in the region were attack at any part of the globe, be it under racial slur or violation of personnel rights. It has been always among these communities that have been extending hands at time of invasion by alien forces. The ethos of being oneness among the different communities of this erstwhile kingdom comes from the natural instinct that every human being have. It is also the sharing of thought process, either in culture or tradition that the people of this erstwhile kingdom remain undivided even during a time when internal conflict between the communities. Again it is the tradition and culture that remind and strengthen the blood bondage between communities of the region.
Leirum Phee or Luirim Kachon once more bring the memories of how the Tangkhul and the Meetei have been living together as blood brothers since time immemorial. Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his romance with the traditional cloth of two important communities of this region. And it can also be considered as blessing in disguise when the traditional Manipuri Leirum or Luirim has been reproduced with a different name by a Uttar Pradesh based textile industry. The UP based textile industry once more reminded the significance of Leirum or Luirim, that depict the close affinity between the Tangkhul and Meetei.
Meetei people’s uproar against manufacturing of the traditional cloths by the changing its name also wake up the Tangkhul about the important of Luirim Kchon or Ruirum Kachon in Tangkhul traditions. May be it was due to the ignorance on the part of the Meetei intellectuals that sparks a anger among the Tangkhul but then the close affinity between the meetei and the tangkhul is once more in the limelight with the issue of Leirum Phee or Luirim Kachon.
In the wake of the significance of the Leirum Phee / Luirim Kachong, the government of Manipur should take all opportunity to once more strengthen the bondage of brotherhood among the Tangkhul and the Meetei.
The concern of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) in regard to the Luirim/ Ruirim Kachon should be well listen and the Meetei intellectuals too should accept that the Leirum Phee or the Luirim Kchong is a same cloth with traditional values of the region having different name.
