Charred memories of conflict

I ARCHITA RAGHU D OTS, dashes, demarcations.

-  ARCHITA RAGHU

These arbitrary thin lines that crisscross ocean and land, arguably teach us our first idea of global boundaries, during dreary geography classes. Dots, dashes, 'us' vs 'them'. Boundaries leak beyond maps, and spill into the world, brewing hateful divides.

Hurtling past the boundaries of a map, Thangboilal Vaiphei and Andrew, like many citizens from Manipur, cross through National Highway 102B, to reach Churachandpur. "The wobbly road of 102B is the only way for the Kuki-Zomi to enter Manipur, as the ethnic conflict between two communities - Meitei and Kukis-Zomi continues...this journey includes a 20 hours road journey and a few hours in a flight," writes Manisha Mondal, a journalist, whose work was among the 100-odd images exhibited in ICSA on Saturday.

Visuals of the two students in a shaky Tata Sumo braving the path, Andrew checking maps on his phone, and Vaiphei slurping up noodles are scattered across the walls. Capturing a burning, conflict-ridden Manipur, the exhibition features works by Manisha, journalists Rokibuz Zaman and Greeshma Kuthar, and photojournalist Aakash Hassan.