Many villages and their people have endured harrowing experiences in the ongoing conflict between the Nagas of Ukhrul District and the Kukis. Fear has begun to reshape everyday life in the area, with farmers no longer venturing freely into their fields to sow new crops. Livelihoods have stalled, and uncertainty hangs over entire communities. Constant gunfire just a few hundred meters away has left them in fear of being targeted.
Amid these struggles, the village of Sinakeithei stands out for its resilience. A foothill settlement on the western side of Ukhrul District, Sinakeithei is nestled among mountains and known for its natural beauty. Home to around 2,001 people across 450 households, the village has endured some of the harshest impacts of the conflict. Surrounded by eleven hostile Kuki villages, it lives under constant threat.
Sinakeithei’s importance extends beyond its geography. It lies at the center of several poppy-cultivating villages whose economies depend heavily on the narcotics trade, and many routes pass through it. It also serves as a gateway to southern villages, making it strategically significant for movement and trade.
For more than four months, the village has endured a siege-like existence. Yet within this hardship, a quiet resilience has taken root. Villagers rush to their fields during brief lulls, when it feels marginally safer. Time has become precious. Before families sit down to eat, they check on their neighbours, ensuring no one goes hungry. In the face of constant threat, the community has learned not only to rely on one another but to carry each other’s burdens.
The elderly, the sick, and children have adapted to a life punctuated by relentless gunfire. The sound has become a grim backdrop to everyday existence. At times, villagers wonder how such sustained firing is even possible-but they no longer dwell on such questions. When a helicopter lands miles away, it signals a likely replenishment of arms in nearby hostile villages. The following day often brings renewed gunfire, echoing from multiple directions.
And yet, even in such conditions, life in Sinakeithei has not lost its soul.
Every Sunday, the church bell still rings.
It cuts through tension and distant gunfire, calling villagers to gather-not just in worship, but in unity. Each Bible verse carries new weight, a reminder of endurance and the steadfastness of faith. At the heart of this spiritual life is a young, gentle pastor who has become more than a religious guide. His calm presence and steady assurance drawn from scripture help hold the community together, offering strength as much as solace.
Governance, too, has taken on a new meaning. The village authority and elders understand the value of every grain of rice. Every act of help from neighboring villages is remembered with gratitude. Nothing is wasted, yet no one is left out or goes hungry. In securing the village, they make no distinction between rich and poor-everyone’s safety is their shared responsibility.
In Sinakeithei, survival is no longer just about endurance-it is about solidarity, quiet courage, and an unyielding will to remain. It has come to carry a deeper meaning. Even amid conflict, children still learn from their elders about care, sharing, and forgiveness.
Here, survival is not only about staying alive. It is about holding on-to faith, to community, and to what it means to be human.
(The views expressed are personal. The author can be reached at kharingpam@gmail.com)
