Two ladies were beaten and displayed naked by a mob in Manipur in May of this year in a horrifying event. Then just two months later, the nation’s attention was drawn to it. Priyakant Laishram, an actor and director, informs us that this is not the only horrific incident to have occurred in the state. “Also coming to light are more rape and murder incidents that purportedly involve women from both the Meitei and Kuki groups. Men continuing to use violence against women as a weapon of war, a method of coercion and intimidation against communities is unfair, horrifying, inhumane, and humiliating,” he bemoans.
Several Bollywood celebs, including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Kiara Advani, spoke out against the act and demanded justice for the victims after the footage of women being abused went viral. Laishram, however, finds it “beyond depressing” that such a terrible occurrence occurred in order to attract the attention of powerful individuals.
“A very long time—two and a half months—of total stillness. It is extremely depressing to observe how our culture and nation perpetually wait for some horrific incident to occur before speaking up, even if it means endangering the lives of others. Laishram laments that “Bollywood and the central government continue to ignore events in India’s northeastern regions while overreacting to events in other foreign countries. Their stance is crucial because they have the ability to persuade billions of people and promote peace or a solution. Hence, it hurts when they just choose ignorance, he continued.
The director, who is known for tackling taboo topics including child abuse, male rape, LGBTQ concerns, and the drug epidemic in his films, acknowledges that some Bollywood superstars have begun speaking out, but he contends that it is too little, too late.
“Unimaginable damage has been done over the past few months, making it difficult to enact reform right away. We must to band together with the genuine goal of aiding the devastated Manipur state, not only for show. I do, however, hope that more powerful individuals from other Indian states would step up, continue to speak out for the struggling state and its people, and support the implementation of rational laws that will bring back the state’s tranquillity.
Despite the fact that it affects the security of the entire state, Laishram is worried about his family. “My state’s situation is terrible. My entire family, both close and distant, is currently in Manipur. The Valley, where my family resides, has recently witnessed some relaxation while the rest of the area is still under curfew and experiencing disturbances. Some of my extended family members who reside in isolated and hilly parts of Manipur are experiencing home evictions and are having a very hard time obtaining refuge. There have been nonstop shootings and total internet blackouts for almost three months. It is quite challenging to explain how my people live there. When I phone anyone close to me, I experience a terrible sense of unease and worry, wondering whether this may be the last time I speak to them,” he reveals. “We are so afraid inside.
Laishram also discusses the elements that, in his opinion, help the mainstream cinema industry perpetuate prejudices and a lack of knowledge about the subject. He cites the dearth of information about Northeast India in textbooks, the media, and other sources as the cause. “In order to avoid promoting negative stereotypes, the mainstream media and the film industry must first be educated about the region and its diversity and cultural richness. Media should present Northeast India and its inhabitants in a more complex and accurate way. More Northeast Indian journalists, authors, actors, and filmmakers who can provide a truthful perspective on the region are needed, he added.