Not long ago, after a spell of heavy rain, I stood overlooking the hills of Ukhrul. The mist still clung to the mountains, streams rushed through the valleys and the landscape remained breathtakingly beautiful. Yet the scars left by fresh landslides on the hillsides told another story. It was a quiet reminder that the hills we have always admired are becoming increasingly fragile. Perhaps I feel this more deeply because my own life has been shaped by these hills.
I was born in Ukhrul. I grew up among the Tangkhul people, learnt to read Tangkhul and still speak the language today. Living here has taught me that the hills are far more than mountains covered with forests. They are woven into the identity, traditions and everyday lives of the people. That is why the changes I see today concern me so deeply.
For generations, the people of Ukhrul have lived in close harmony with the land. The forests have provided timber, firewood, medicinal plants, clean water and food. The seasons guided farming, while the hills shaped the culture, traditions and way of life. Nature was never seen as something to be conquered. It was respected because people understood that their own well-being depended upon its health.
Today, that relationship is under growing pressure.
There is something else we need to think about. For decades, Manipur has lived through conflict and uncertainty. In the midst of these challenges, environmental concerns have often been pushed aside. Yet the hills do not wait for peaceful times. The forests continue to disappear, springs continue to weaken and the weather continues to change. If we wait until every problem has been solved, we may find that some of the damage can no longer be reversed. Looking after the environment must therefore become part of rebuilding a stronger and more peaceful Manipur.
The weather no longer behaves as it once did. Farmers who once relied on experience to decide when to sow their crops now face increasing uncertainty. Some years the rains arrive late. In others, they arrive with such force that fields are flooded and roads disappear beneath landslides. What was once unusual is slowly becoming part of everyday life.
The problem is not only the amount of rain but the way it falls. Intense downpours saturate the soil and weaken steep slopes. Where forests have been cleared or hillsides cut without proper safeguards, the land becomes increasingly unstable. Trees hold the soil together, absorb rainwater and reduce erosion. When they disappear, even one night of heavy rain can leave behind destruction that takes months or years to repair.
Many residents have also noticed that summers are becoming warmer. The pleasant climate for which Ukhrul has long been known no longer feels quite the same. Higher temperatures affect crops, forests and water sources. Springs that have sustained villages for generations are becoming less dependable during the dry months, creating new challenges for farming and everyday life.
Climate change is a global problem, but some of its local consequences have been made worse by our own actions. Unplanned cutting of hillsides, deforestation, poorly managed construction and the gradual loss of natural vegetation have weakened the landscape. Development is essential, but it should strengthen our future rather than place it at greater risk.
Ukhrul deserves better roads, quality schools, reliable healthcare and greater opportunities for its young people. These are necessary for progress. At the same time, roads should be built with proper drainage, vulnerable slopes should be protected and forests should be restored wherever possible. Development and environmental protection should move forward together.
The elders have understood these principles long before climate change became part of everyday conversation. They respected forests, protected water sources and took from nature with a sense of responsibility. That wisdom remains just as valuable today. The task now, is to carry those values forward while using modern knowledge to meet new environmental challenges.
The greatest hope lies with the younger generation. By combining the wisdom of their elders with new ideas, young people can restore village springs, plant trees, reduce waste, promote sustainable farming and inspire responsible development throughout Ukhrul.
Whenever I think of Ukhrul, I think of its people as much as its hills. I think of the stories held by these mountains, the lives lived in their shadow and the children who will one day call this place their own. These hills have given so much to so many for generations. It is the right time that we now do our part to protect them.
We cannot change the climate overnight, but we can change the way we care for the land around us. Every tree we protect, every spring we restore and every responsible decision we make brings us one step closer to a safer and more resilient Ukhrul. The future of these hills is not written yet. It will be shaped by the choices we make today.
Milan Kuwar
BA 7th Semester
Department of Political Science
St. Joseph College, Ukhrul, Manipur
