Churchill’s moment : Manipur’s Opium challenge
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Chongboi Haokip
True leadership inspires lasting change, definitely when driven by integrity and the courage to stand by one’s convictions. I sincerely believe we can do it together against this opium crisis in Manipur. I view Manipur as one and grieve the loss of young lives to drugs and despair. The recent floods have made me concerned.
I am also deeply concerned, as direct opium consumption can significantly impair fertility and increase the risk of miscarriage. We need to do proper risk assessments and strengthen awareness programmes. Even exposure is troubling due to the potential for absorption and the potent hormonal and cellular effects of these compounds. Children are most precious gifts from God, and it is our moral duty to protect them, even in the womb. According to the scripture - Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3 NKJV).
Churchill’s courage in hard times inspired me. I am grateful to have the opportunity to reach out to you through this platform. Churchill’s 1940 speech ‘We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets’ embodied unwavering resolve. Facing disaster, he rejected surrender and inspired Britain to stand firm. His defiance became a lasting symbol of courageous leadership in the face of adversity.
Likewise, Manipur faces a critical battle against opium, an enemy destroying lives and society. Its leaders must show distinctive courage, clarity, and resolve to turn this crisis into lasting reform.
A Crisis That Threatens Everything
I am very concerned that the illegal opium poppy culture would become a culture embedded in Manipur, like some other places in the world. It is worrying that the opium crisis risks becoming part of Manipur’s culture. It destroys lives, families, and the environment, and of course – Manipur’s dignity. Every community in Manipur suffers from its impact. It is the battlefield Manipur’s leaders must confront without backing off - the same clear-eyed determination that Churchill brought to Britain’s crisis.
The Foundation of Political Will
Churchill understood that morale depends on acknowledging both danger and progress. Since our former Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched the ‘War on Drugs’ in 2018, Manipur has demonstrated what political determination can achieve. The results are tangible: a 60 percent decline in opium poppy cultivation area between 2021 and 2024 (D. Achom, April 14, 2024). Approximately 19,000 acres of poppy fields were destroyed through systematic operations (P Mazumdar, Dec 2, 2024). Major seizures, such as the July 2025 raid in Jiribam, which recovered narcotics worth Rs 76 crore, demonstrate the tightening of the law, as reported by The Times of India (TOI, July 20, 2025).
Technology has strengthened the anti-opium campaign. Satellite and GIS tools now help locate hidden fields, enabling proactive enforcement. Alternative livelihood programs have begun but require more substantial and lasting support. Political will is growing, and a foundation for progress is in place.
The officials, police personnel, and administrators working on these initiatives often face threats from criminal networks. Their courage deserves recognition. Churchill called such people the ‘few’ upon whom so much depended. Manipur has its own ‘few’ men and women who risk their safety daily in the service of their State’s future.
The Gap Between Good Start and Historic Victory
Yet Churchill never confused early resistance with final victory. He knew that determination must intensify, not plateau. Similarly, appreciation for Manipur’s progress must not become acceptance of what remains insufficient.
Here lies the crucial question : Can enforcement alone win this war ? Technology can locate poppy fields with increasing precision. Armed forces can destroy those fields with increasing efficiency. But neither technology nor force addresses the essential question: What happens to families who depend on illegal poppy cultivation for survival when their fields are destroyed ? Farmers need sustainable livelihood alternatives for lasting solution.
Poppy destruction without economic alternatives
Manipur’s approach is strengthening. Real progress requires Churchill’s lesson : win hearts and minds. Manipur must move from force to partnership, building lasting alternatives through unity and shared purpose. Real progress requires Churchill’s lesson: win hearts and minds. Manipur must transition from force to collaboration, building lasting alternatives through unity and shared purpose - a challenging task, but achievable.
The Power of Community Partnership
Let us be open to one another. Okay, would you agree with me ? - Manipur’s actual progress in the fight against drugs depends on community cooperation, not more potent weapons or technology. Like Churchill, leaders must unite people through shared purpose and treat citizens as active partners in change.
Crop substitution succeeds only when communities are actively participating. Farmers must help plan, in choosing crops, and get training. Real progress comes from shared ownership, with local leaders and groups working alongside the Government.
Turning imposed solutions into shared missions creates lasting change. It makes enforcement a shared commitment and transforms farmers and communities into partners in progress.
What Leadership Must Do Now – where it is not done yet
Churchill’s leadership offers a precise blueprint. First, he spoke with honesty and without avoidance. Manipur’s leaders must continue to do the same by openly sharing the scale of the crisis. When people understand what is being done and how it protects their children’s future, they stop resisting and start standing with the effort.
Second, Churchill demanded accountability from everyone, including himself. Manipur needs clear and measurable accountability. Public dashboards should continue to track on our progress.
Third, Churchill coordinated across all fronts simultaneously. I trust our head of Government has done and will continue to do the same.
Fourth, Churchill was never afraid to confront powerful interests. Manipur must continue to support law enforcement in pursuing cartel leaders, punishing corrupt officials, and resisting any group that undermines the fight against drugs for the sake of our future generations.
Fifth, Churchill matched destruction with rebuilding. Likewise, Manipur must pair enforcement with development, using the same resolve to create jobs, infrastructure, and training that make legal farming viable and illegal poppy cultivation obsolete.
The Moment Is Now
Churchill’s legacy was not built on perfect decisions - he made numerous mistakes. He built his legacy on firm resolve, a refusal to surrender, and the power to move ordinary people to extraordinary effort.
Manipur’s generation of political leaders stands at its own finest hour. The foundation has been laid through years of difficult work. We can mobilise resources. What is needed now is determination to go further, to press harder, to commit more fully to both enforcement and transformation.
The fight against the opium crisis must rise above politics. It requires unity, cooperation across all levels of Government, and long-term commitment. True leadership means every party and community standing together. Everyone has a part in rebuilding Manipur.
Reflection on Churchill Moment - our future to win!
Churchill once said ‘In every person’s life, there is a moment when they are called to do something extraordinary, something that fits their ability and purpose. It is a tragedy when that moment arrives and finds them unready or unworthy of what could have been their finest hour,’ Manipur has been tapped on the shoulder. The moment has arrived. The challenge is clear. Political will launched this war - now that same political will, amplified and sustained, partnered with community power and wisdom, must win it.
Manipur’s recovery depends on unity between the government and the communities. Lasting change needs strong leadership supported by collective action. Every person has the power to bring light, inspire others, and make progress possible.
This moment is Manipur’s hour. This moment is when leadership defines its legacy for generations to come. And together-Government and governed, leaders and led, all communities united in common purpose - this is our future to win!
Statement : I do not support illegal poppy cultivation. I support sustainable alternatives that strengthen society and help affected farmers in Manipur. I stand firmly behind the Manipur Government’s ‘War on Drugs’ campaign. As a strong, united community, we must work alongside Government agencies that are helping farmers abandon illegal poppy farming. We, the people of Manipur, can eliminate unlawful poppy cultivation through collective effort. I call upon the entire Manipur community to unite as one team in this fight against illegal cultivation of poppy, working together to create sustainable livelihoods and a healthier future for all.
About the author: Chongboi Haokip, MCIHort, is an international development consultant specialising in agriculture, horticulture, and trade facilitation.
True leadership inspires lasting change, definitely when driven by integrity and the courage to stand by one’s convictions. I sincerely believe we can do it together against this opium crisis in Manipur. I view Manipur as one and grieve the loss of young lives to drugs and despair. The recent floods have made me concerned.
I am also deeply concerned, as direct opium consumption can significantly impair fertility and increase the risk of miscarriage. We need to do proper risk assessments and strengthen awareness programmes. Even exposure is troubling due to the potential for absorption and the potent hormonal and cellular effects of these compounds. Children are most precious gifts from God, and it is our moral duty to protect them, even in the womb. According to the scripture - Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3 NKJV).
Churchill’s courage in hard times inspired me. I am grateful to have the opportunity to reach out to you through this platform. Churchill’s 1940 speech ‘We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets’ embodied unwavering resolve. Facing disaster, he rejected surrender and inspired Britain to stand firm. His defiance became a lasting symbol of courageous leadership in the face of adversity.
Likewise, Manipur faces a critical battle against opium, an enemy destroying lives and society. Its leaders must show distinctive courage, clarity, and resolve to turn this crisis into lasting reform.
A Crisis That Threatens Everything
I am very concerned that the illegal opium poppy culture would become a culture embedded in Manipur, like some other places in the world. It is worrying that the opium crisis risks becoming part of Manipur’s culture. It destroys lives, families, and the environment, and of course – Manipur’s dignity. Every community in Manipur suffers from its impact. It is the battlefield Manipur’s leaders must confront without backing off - the same clear-eyed determination that Churchill brought to Britain’s crisis.
The Foundation of Political Will
Churchill understood that morale depends on acknowledging both danger and progress. Since our former Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched the ‘War on Drugs’ in 2018, Manipur has demonstrated what political determination can achieve. The results are tangible: a 60 percent decline in opium poppy cultivation area between 2021 and 2024 (D. Achom, April 14, 2024). Approximately 19,000 acres of poppy fields were destroyed through systematic operations (P Mazumdar, Dec 2, 2024). Major seizures, such as the July 2025 raid in Jiribam, which recovered narcotics worth Rs 76 crore, demonstrate the tightening of the law, as reported by The Times of India (TOI, July 20, 2025).
Technology has strengthened the anti-opium campaign. Satellite and GIS tools now help locate hidden fields, enabling proactive enforcement. Alternative livelihood programs have begun but require more substantial and lasting support. Political will is growing, and a foundation for progress is in place.
The officials, police personnel, and administrators working on these initiatives often face threats from criminal networks. Their courage deserves recognition. Churchill called such people the ‘few’ upon whom so much depended. Manipur has its own ‘few’ men and women who risk their safety daily in the service of their State’s future.
The Gap Between Good Start and Historic Victory
Yet Churchill never confused early resistance with final victory. He knew that determination must intensify, not plateau. Similarly, appreciation for Manipur’s progress must not become acceptance of what remains insufficient.
Here lies the crucial question : Can enforcement alone win this war ? Technology can locate poppy fields with increasing precision. Armed forces can destroy those fields with increasing efficiency. But neither technology nor force addresses the essential question: What happens to families who depend on illegal poppy cultivation for survival when their fields are destroyed ? Farmers need sustainable livelihood alternatives for lasting solution.
Poppy destruction without economic alternatives
Manipur’s approach is strengthening. Real progress requires Churchill’s lesson : win hearts and minds. Manipur must move from force to partnership, building lasting alternatives through unity and shared purpose. Real progress requires Churchill’s lesson: win hearts and minds. Manipur must transition from force to collaboration, building lasting alternatives through unity and shared purpose - a challenging task, but achievable.
The Power of Community Partnership
Let us be open to one another. Okay, would you agree with me ? - Manipur’s actual progress in the fight against drugs depends on community cooperation, not more potent weapons or technology. Like Churchill, leaders must unite people through shared purpose and treat citizens as active partners in change.
Crop substitution succeeds only when communities are actively participating. Farmers must help plan, in choosing crops, and get training. Real progress comes from shared ownership, with local leaders and groups working alongside the Government.
Turning imposed solutions into shared missions creates lasting change. It makes enforcement a shared commitment and transforms farmers and communities into partners in progress.
What Leadership Must Do Now – where it is not done yet
Churchill’s leadership offers a precise blueprint. First, he spoke with honesty and without avoidance. Manipur’s leaders must continue to do the same by openly sharing the scale of the crisis. When people understand what is being done and how it protects their children’s future, they stop resisting and start standing with the effort.
Second, Churchill demanded accountability from everyone, including himself. Manipur needs clear and measurable accountability. Public dashboards should continue to track on our progress.
Third, Churchill coordinated across all fronts simultaneously. I trust our head of Government has done and will continue to do the same.
Fourth, Churchill was never afraid to confront powerful interests. Manipur must continue to support law enforcement in pursuing cartel leaders, punishing corrupt officials, and resisting any group that undermines the fight against drugs for the sake of our future generations.
Fifth, Churchill matched destruction with rebuilding. Likewise, Manipur must pair enforcement with development, using the same resolve to create jobs, infrastructure, and training that make legal farming viable and illegal poppy cultivation obsolete.
The Moment Is Now
Churchill’s legacy was not built on perfect decisions - he made numerous mistakes. He built his legacy on firm resolve, a refusal to surrender, and the power to move ordinary people to extraordinary effort.
Manipur’s generation of political leaders stands at its own finest hour. The foundation has been laid through years of difficult work. We can mobilise resources. What is needed now is determination to go further, to press harder, to commit more fully to both enforcement and transformation.
The fight against the opium crisis must rise above politics. It requires unity, cooperation across all levels of Government, and long-term commitment. True leadership means every party and community standing together. Everyone has a part in rebuilding Manipur.
Reflection on Churchill Moment - our future to win!
Churchill once said ‘In every person’s life, there is a moment when they are called to do something extraordinary, something that fits their ability and purpose. It is a tragedy when that moment arrives and finds them unready or unworthy of what could have been their finest hour,’ Manipur has been tapped on the shoulder. The moment has arrived. The challenge is clear. Political will launched this war - now that same political will, amplified and sustained, partnered with community power and wisdom, must win it.
Manipur’s recovery depends on unity between the government and the communities. Lasting change needs strong leadership supported by collective action. Every person has the power to bring light, inspire others, and make progress possible.
This moment is Manipur’s hour. This moment is when leadership defines its legacy for generations to come. And together-Government and governed, leaders and led, all communities united in common purpose - this is our future to win!
Statement : I do not support illegal poppy cultivation. I support sustainable alternatives that strengthen society and help affected farmers in Manipur. I stand firmly behind the Manipur Government’s ‘War on Drugs’ campaign. As a strong, united community, we must work alongside Government agencies that are helping farmers abandon illegal poppy farming. We, the people of Manipur, can eliminate unlawful poppy cultivation through collective effort. I call upon the entire Manipur community to unite as one team in this fight against illegal cultivation of poppy, working together to create sustainable livelihoods and a healthier future for all.
About the author: Chongboi Haokip, MCIHort, is an international development consultant specialising in agriculture, horticulture, and trade facilitation.