It was November 2017, on Diwali day when Rohan Philem, a 26 years old boy from Manipur got the idea to travel Indian cities on Cycle to create awareness in the country on different issues. Without any delay Rohan in January, 2018 set for his first cycling expedition called “Pollution Free India” from Delhi to Imphal. It took 30 days for Rohan to complete this journey. It was a successful journey, which made Rohan Philem a cyclist star in India, with almost all the leading media organizations of the country covered Rohan with title “Manipur Cyclist”. Since than Rohan has not looked back. He has done numbers of cycling expeditions since then on different subjects. The important one was from Jammu to Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida to raise funds for soldiers killed in Pulwama. It took nine days for Rohan to complete this journey. Rohan’s another famous expedition is when he cylces across India to feed the poor during pandemic. When violence broke out in Manipur, Rohan was in Bengaluru as a motorcyclist, with the message of peace and raise funds for disabled people. He also urged Bengaluru residents to help people living in relief camps in Manipur following ethnic violence. Rohan is also known for opening a First North-East Deaf Community restaurant in Imphal with the name “Voice”. When Rohan was in class 2nd his parents got separated. His father died when he was in class 12th. So he grew up of orphanage background. According to Rohan, he was supported by the church and that’s how he was converted into Christianity from Hinduism. Today Rohan Philem with his NGO “Cycling For Humanity” is on a different mission. He is traveling across India to educate misled Christian community who think that in Manipur Christians and Hindus are at war. Rohan says in Manipur Hindus and Christians are not at war. Neither RSS is involved in the violence as many Christians think. During his ongoing mission Rohan Philem Exclusively spoke to Tehelka in Delhi. The excerpts of his edited Interview are given below.
Q1. Who is responsible for present violence in Manipur ?
After speaking to both Metei and Kuki. After considering all religious angles. And after considering all angles. I came to a conclusion that drug mafia is responsible for the present violence in Manipur. Biren Singh government targeted Kuki’s illegal poppy cultivation. I myself went to Kuki’s poppy cultivation fields to destroy them. After this Kuki started playing minority, Tribal and Christian card.
