In a society shaken by crisis, where silence screams louder than action, Jeresh Khumanthem—also known as Mr. Jocker—pens a powerful poem titled “Matam gi Mantri.” This piece is a sharp, honest portrayal of the betrayal and incompetence of today’s political leaders in Manipur.
Unlike traditional poetry that praises the powerful, Jeresh calls them out.
She doesn’t write from a place of fiction or fantasy, but from the heart of pain, observation, and truth. Through each line, the poem exposes how far today’s ministers (mantri) have strayed from their purpose. While the people cry, bleed, and suffer, these so-called leaders sit in silence—privileged, protected, and indifferent.
The poem also highlights a tragic contradiction: the ones entrusted with saving lives are the very ones who turn their backs on those suffering. Instead of standing with the masses, today’s ministers appear lost in comfort, detached from reality.
Jeresh paints a heartbreaking picture of Manipuri mothers mourning their sons, of youth losing hope, and of a once-strong people now left to fend for themselves. She calls out the hypocrisy in politics and the lack of conscience among those in power.
One of the most chilling truths she drops is that the wounds of the common people are traded for money, their pain buried under the weight of political gain. It’s a clear message that corruption isn’t just policy failure—it’s a direct attack on humanity.
A Young Voice for the Voiceless
“Matam gi Mantri” is more than literature. It’s resistance. It’s the sound of a young Manipuri soul refusing to stay quiet while her homeland suffers. And in doing so, she becomes a voice for thousands who feel abandoned, unheard, and betrayed.
It reminds us that real change doesn’t come from those who sit in seats of power, but from those who rise, speak, and demand better.
Manipur needs more voices like Jeresh’s.
