Daughters of Highlanders, What should I give you,
A skirt or a sword, a pen or a pant?
What shall I teach, elegance or arrogance,
To love mother earth or Learn Martial art?
The world is not as cruel as
The lust of the beasts, idol worshippers!
Heartless Mother empowered her sons
To rape innocent girls in broad daylight
The riots burnt down houses, Churches
Shamelessly loot the abandoned houses.
O Sons of Highlanders, what shall I give you?
A book, an automatic gun or run away?
I have no better choices, FIRE! FIRE!
For self defense, before they kill you
An oil keeps the wick glowing,
Devil militants, their evil politicians
They go hand in hand in valley
While we live hand to mouth in hills.
O my poor hungry children, drink water
Take which ever way, of the calling,
A pen or a gun, the Bible or drugs?
The arms that shook the land in turmoil
The pen, the greedy filed false accusations?
Children, O descendants of highlanders,
In the gun culture, the age of technology,
Know thy roots, learn our great history
Our legend forefathers, in defense of dignity, territory
Fought bravely against the mighty British government
Have faith in humanity, fight in unity
Let justice be your identity,
Put God first, Stoop not so low to rob enemy’s property
Or trodden down in your own ancestral land
Your women and children be safe
The clarion call of Thingkho and Malchapom
Bear the pain, the loss, with this pen,
One day we will reap the pain of our labour
Sing valour song in honour of the departed souls.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128