Critical Tomba 1: General Strikes

The gradually increasing number of suspended low-ranking government employees—thanks to the anti-corruption initiative of the incumbent Government—has raised the likelihood of more general strikes, or popularly bandh, in the forthcoming weeks and months, a senior political analyst told a group of tea drinkers at a stall in Sagolband Mantri Leikai today. He reasoned it is not unexpected considering two major prevailing factors: (i) for any grievances, regardless of reason or intention, it is as common as the rain in June for individuals and groups in Manipur to form a JAC or a CSO, or lately a people’s action committee, and call a strike and (ii) any such strike has been quite a result-oriented way of protest. A tea drinker nodded, while taking sips slowly, and muttered that the people have been indeed witnessing these successful direct action regularly in the town.

💥 Postscript 💥 Microfiction. Nonsensical. Critical Tomba is a collection of tiny stories inspired by Schrödinger-endorsing surreal and real stories that we often hear when we are at the centre of the theatre of the absurd called Manipur. Press to read the full collection.