Responding to women's mind

- A review of the short film "Ningol Pukning" -

By: S Neken Singh *

To a Manipuri woman, 'Ningol Chakouba' is a valued and exceptional festival.

This annual event is a symbol of love between the married women and their brothers, guardians and parents at parental home. At least once a year, the married women visit their parental home and have lunch with their brothers and parents.

The parents and brothers present gifts to their daughters and sisters. In turn, the later wish their elders with blessings and love. It is on Ningol Chakouba day, that is celebrated on the second day of Meitei month "Hiyan-gei" every year in Meitei families.

The women of the land wait for the day with enthusiasm and eagerness. They adorn themselves with jewelleries and beautiful traditional attires; visit their parental home with all available means to have lunch with their brothers and parents who arrange the tastiest menu of the year for their sisters and daughters.

Poor or rich, ugly or beautiful - on this auspicious day she looks good with smiles on faces, if she is a Manipuri woman.

However to a woman who is infected with HIV, whose beloved husband has died of AIDS, who is fighting for life with a small kid, who has been forced to settle separate at a dilapidated annexe by the in-laws - Ningol Chakouba becomes a flood of tears and heartbreaking event.

The main character "Sumati" along with six year old daughter "Thoi" has been deprived of her rights to stay in the house of the deceased husband by the mother-in-law. All sorts of discrimination and stigmatization have been meted out against the mother-daughter duo.

The widow is looked down upon by the mother-in-law as a disease carrier. She is blamed for the immature death of her only son. The locals deprive the innocent widow of using the public pond, her daughter is also ostracized from playing with other children of the locality.

The most heartbreaking moment is when her eldest brother refuses to invite her for the Ningol Chakouba.

The short film "Ningol Pukning" based on AIDS awareness depicts the social evils of stigma and discrimination which is fuelling the AIDS epidemic in most underdeveloped and developing countries across the world.

In fact, the progress of HIV infection towards AIDS is accelerated by the negative attitude of the society. Love, affection, social support and a positive environment will do a lot in saving the lives of many people who are HIV infected.

The psychological support and positive thinking are the medicines for furtherance of life for HIV positives, apart from the ante-retroviral drugs available for boosting immune power of the human body.

"Ningol Pukning" is such a film which depicts the futility of stigmatizing and discriminating the PLWHAs. Lack of awareness about HIV/AIDS is the only reason for undue social stigma and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS.

If one is well aware that the virus does not spread in social contacts - living together, eating together, sharing utensils, clothes, sharing same ponds, toilets and cloths, then one will not discriminate a person for having HIV in him. Fear persists in the minds of those people who lack knowledge about the virus and the disease.

Manipur is one of the six States identified by the Government of India as high HIV prevalence State. The HIV prevalence rate among the women who attend ante-natal clinics in the State is 13 out of 1000 (according to 2005 sentinel surveillance report of MACS).

It is very dangerous that HIV/AIDS is steadily attacking the innocent women of the state who do not indulge in risky behaviours like drug injection and sex selling works. We are now beginning to see numerous widows and orphans in Manipur. Out of the total 1,61,813 blood samples tested for HIV upto August 2006, there are 23,856 cases of HIV infection. 5323 of them are women.

Majority of the infected women are housewives who get the virus from their husbands. So, pre-marital HIV testing should be the most urgent and most necessary criteria to be fulfilled among the to-be-couples before marria-ge. Otherwise, we are afra-id every married woman of the state will own the same fate of "Sumati" in the film "Ningol Pukning".

HIV testing is beneficial whether one is positive or negative for HIV. The main objective of HIV test of couples is to have a happy married life, healthy spou-ses and children. It is symbol of a responsible husband, a responsible wife.

It also connotes 'Love for the future generation'. Even if someone is found to be infected, timely care may be taken up and treatments are available for a prolonged life. Precaution may be taken up for bearing HIV free child.

HIV testing facilities are available at all the District Hospitals and selected health centres of the state. Pre-test and post-test counselling are provided at the VCCTC centres.

For the HIV infected pregnant women, facilities for Nevirapine therapy to save the to-be born child from HIV infection are also available at PPTCT centres opened at the Gynaecology wards of the District Hospitals and also at some selected health centres.

If a pregnant woman is found to be HIV infected, her baby will be protected from HIV transmission from the mother and she will be given ante-retroviral therapy free of cost.

The ART provision to the mother will continue lifelong so that the woman lives upto a period when her child attains 18-20 years. Not only for the pregnant women but also for all HIV infected individuals whose CD4 count is below 200, ART is given free of cost at the four ART centres (RIMS, JN Hospital, Ukhrul and Churachandpur district hospitals).

The CD4 count machines are available at these ART centres. If a PLWHA adheres to ART properly, if he/she is provided with psycho-social support of friends, relatives and family, if she/he has positive social outlook and thinking, there will be no fear that he/she will die of AIDS in the near future. Life will continue to be meaningful and contributory to the society.

The question whether "Sumati" will be invited for Ningol Chakouba or not is the theme for the film Ningol Pukning – written by Kh. Biswamitra and produced by Manipur AIDS Control Society with Video Film Production Centre, Singjamei.

The clash of opinion between brothers - Biswamitra and Narendra Ningomba over whether an HIV infected sister will be invited for the Ningol Chakouba celebration continue from the very beginning till the smooth ending of the film with the elder brother enlightening himself with the facts about HIV/AIDS and realizing how he discriminates her own sister unduly for a mere infection.

HIV infection cannot break the love relations between a sister and a brother, that also on the auspicious occasion of Ningol Chakouba.

The film was released formally by Dr. SS Sidhu, the Governor of Manipur at the JN Manipur Dance Academy Hall on 17th October 2006, a week ahead of the "Ningol Chakouba". During it's first public screening after release, the audience in the hall are all with tears feeling the emotions of a discriminated widow in her 30s.

The professionalism and popularity of the artistes involved in the film along with long experience and skill of the production team have earned the applause from all circles. The making of the film is not for profit, but for the benefit of society.

Co-directors Kh. Kule-shwar and Kh. Biswamitra have been involved in AIDS control programmes for the last one decade. It is one of their missions in the field which gets satisfactory and applauding response from all.

In reality, stigma attached to people with HIV/AIDS and social discrimination towards them have hampered the effective HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts. Stigma is more serious than HIV and discrimination is more dangerous than AIDS.

Most people can hardly access the facilities available for HIV/AIDS control and prevention due to fear of stigma and discrimination. So, it is time to remove ignorance in the public minds first in order to get rid of stigma and discrimination. Only education and awareness will be able to remove stigma and discrimination.

The film "Ningol Pukning" carries a message, it is an endeavour to teach the society, it is a mission to remove the evils in social minds. It is worth the appreciation and recognition which may be given to a social reformation attempt by the image medium.