Khudei is a significant traditional loincloth that the Meitei community uses and produces. These days, some Manipur residents from different communities also produce it. It is widely utilised by the Meitei community. This clothing is versatile for males, serving various purposes such as a turban to block out the sun while working, scarf, or mufflers. It’s a range of multipurpose items.
This item is typically worn by men for sleeping and resting at home and is also used during specific ritualistic events and on specific days. Middle-aged and older males are the main users of it among men. The Meitei community customarily wears Khudei instead of Pajamas, which are owned by every home, regardless of whether they wear them or not. As society evolves, people tend to wear pyjamas more than khudei. It is quite regrettable that there is a strong tendency toward pyjamas.
However, Khudei did save a lot of lives in Manipur at specific points in time. Khudei is significant and unforgettable in our society because of this. Khudei possesses unique abilities that have prevented countless men from killing. So we better not forget Khudei, we shouldn’t disrespect Khudei in today’s globalised society. People might wonder how Khudei saved lives in Manipur.
As you are aware, there has been a conflict in Manipur between armed revolutionary organizations and the Indian government. Manipur is subject to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) enforcement. Individuals are routinely checked and arrested by soldiers and paramilitary personnel. Numerous individuals were slain and subjected to torture by state officials and Indian paramilitary forces under the harsh provisions of this Act. Having five thousand rupees on one’s person puts one’s life in danger. They’re allowed to shoot and murder individuals.
The government’s efforts to combat rebels under AFSPA, while aiming to protect civilians, also violate human rights and cause significant trauma. A human being’s life was meaningless. If you are a member of an insurgent family, you may be tortured or executed for being a suspect. People used to have trouble falling asleep at night, even in their own homes. Our childhood was spent in battle zones where we witnessed combing operations, in which police/army took individuals away from their houses and abused them in front of their spouses and kids. Innocent family members suffer torture just for having a parent who is a purported member of an insurgent group.
Stories such as these abound in our early memories.
A man in a uniform will knock on our door in the middle of the night in an attempt to find insurgents. Many innocent individuals were mistreated, tortured, and even killed in a fictitious encounter due to suspicion. The AFSPA has made it difficult for large individuals to sleep at home due to the fear of being dragged away by armed police officers. The individuals slept in fear, anticipating the arrival of troops and the possibility of being victims of state atrocity without cause. In the past, violent situations have occurred where people were removed by the army and police at night and discovered dead the next morning with a gun next to their bodies. The right to a fair trial was not guaranteed.
The Indian Supreme Court has heard 1528 cases related to fictitious encounters, where armed forces can kill civilians not directly involved in conflict. The issue is documented by the Extra-Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (EEVFAM), which is primarily composed of victims’ relatives. During the 1980s and 1990s, Manipur experienced numerous disappearances, with families claiming their loved ones were taken away by security personnel.
The situations were abnormally normal back then. If you are a suspect, you could be harmed. When they choose to come to our house, it makes no difference if it’s midnight or broad daylight.
During the time, men wearing khudei were likely seen as innocent by the army and police, while those wearing pants may have experienced brutality and cruelty from soldiers. They could be the victims of a fraudulent encounter. In the past, people would sleep with Khudei because of the dread of being falsely arrested and tortured.
Young people under the age of eighteen were also known to wear Khudei to appear innocent in front of the military. They were terrified to live. Khudei rose to prominence during that era. It was critical to the men’s survival. Our lives are saved from the army and police by Khudei. In order to prove that they were there in the house, that they were not breaking any laws, and that they had not taken part in any insurgent activities, men started dressing in Khudei at night.
The values of Khudei began to be acknowledged. Khudei wearers appear innocent, reducing police abuse risk. Police believe that sleeping in jeans, jackets, or pants raises the likelihood that a person may be directly or indirectly participating in insurgent activities. They assume that without any thought. Since rebels, wear pants, not Khudei. This has been the situation for our people.
It’s true, even though most people wouldn’t believe it. Khudei saves people from abuse, torture, and fictitious encounters. If this is not the case, the number of fake encounters could be up to 100 times higher than it is already. Khudei provided them with calm and hope, thereby preventing suspicions of insurgent activities, and it kept men alive. In men’s minds, it brings little serenity.
Khudei, a crucial safety measure, has a special and lasting bond with our society, serving as an asset and a crucial safety measure. Thus, we ought to appreciate Khudei and comprehend its significance. In the advanced and internationalized society of today, we must not undervalue its significance.
But, in the society of today. Khudei’s importance starts to decline. No one utilized Khudei; instead, at home, most individuals wear pyjamas or pants. We must remember that Khudei prevented us from becoming victims of the state’s oppression, thus we shouldn’t disregard him.
The custom of wearing khudei is one that should, at the very least, be preserved. While everyone is free to dress however they like, at least the Khudei culture must be preserved. As Khudei saves many lives, save Khudei.
Views expressed are personal. The author is the former President & General Secretary of Manipur Students’ Association, Delhi.
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