Title - Road to Myanmar and beyond

THIS is not about “Burmah Road”, an old 1962 Hindi movie, but the route to Burma (Brahmadesh), once part of Britain’s Indian empire, now Myanmar. Manipur borders Myanmar.Long ago, it was a must-do for every VIP visiting Manipur’s capital, Imphal, to drive 110 km to go across the border to visit Tamu, a small village that lay in Myanmar, literally to shop till one dropped.No one cared for Moreh, a small nondescript village in dense jungles, 5 km ahead of Tamu that lay on the Indian side of the Indo-Burma border. It was tiny Tamu which was the most sought-after destination. It had three shops, two being manned by enterprising Sardarjis.The star attraction of Tamu was shopping where one loosened purse-strings over Japanese goods like nylon saris, crockery, cosmetics, mechanical toys, etc — the kind of things that were not manufactured in India in those days and were dirt cheap.But most appealing was Japanese folding umbrellas with multi-locking systems. Their thick handles had powder compacts, lipsticks or torches concealed in them, being priced at Rs 10 each. Burmese hand-painted parasols with bamboo spokes were sold at mere Rs 5.Tamu scored over the state’s placid Loktak lake and renowned Manipur’s Ras Lila / Thoibi Khamba dances.Near Moreh was a bridge from which dangled a small board with “Burma” painted on it. We drove over it to reach Tamu. Today, one finds a board at Moreh’s this very bridge reading “Welcome to India — Myanmar Friendship Road”, installed by the Border Roads Organisation.

Moreh, where NH 39 ends, has become India’s gateway to South-East Asia. Now a trade hub and drug den, Moreh literally stands for “Millions Of Rupees Enter Here”. It has a remarkable transition as its isolation from a hamlet to a town has virtually ended due to its liberal open border trade practice.

Undeniably, over the years, the scenario has sea-changed. In pursuance of the government’s Look East Policy, a quiet transformation is happening between India’s Northeast and Myanmar, which will ultimately boost international connectivity, trade and geopolitics throughout Asia. Since ages, India has been at the centre of Asia’s most vital trade routes (the Silk Route). Its commanding position at the heart of South-East Asia is enviable.

Now, imagine a highway between once-sleepy Moreh and Myanmar-Thai border. Perhaps driving to Thailand could even become a reality. A bus service between Imphal and Mandalay in Myanmar is also mooted.

In a 20-year dream project, Indian Railways is a signatory to the Trans-Asian Railway Network that will connect 28 countries — India, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Mongolia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bulgaria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc. Work on the Trans-Asia Railways (which aims to connect Istanbul to Hanoi) is now underway near Imphal.