IMPHAL, Jan 12: Manipur BJP MLA and 5th Dan Taekwondo master Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday called upon the Meitei community to play the role of a “big brother” in resolving the ongoing crisis in the state and restoring peace and normalcy.

Speaking at a reception organised in his honour at Singjamei Assembly constituency, Khemchand said Manipur is home to 36 communities and lasting peace can only be achieved when every community contributes. “Being the majority community, Meiteis must take the lead in the peace process,” he said, stressing the need to overcome the prevailing trust deficit, particularly between Meiteis and Kukis. He noted that many Meiteis are still hesitant to cross Kangpokpi on NH-39 due to lack of trust, which must be addressed.

Drawing a parallel between faith and martial arts, the former Rural Development Minister said that just as Vaishnavite Meiteis aspire to visit Vrindavan once in their lifetime, he felt his journey in Taekwondo was incomplete without learning in South Korea. He recalled travelling to Seoul in 1990, where he graduated from the World Taekwondo Academy, Kukkiwon.

Khemchand, who began his Taekwondo career at the age of 16 in 1978, was recently awarded the 5th Dan in traditional Taekwondo by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF), the apex body governing traditional Taekwondo.

Vice President of the Assam Olympic Association Raj Kakoti and North East Taekwondo Federation President Peleselie Khezhei attended the event. Kakoti recalled Khemchand’s role in establishing the All Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982 during the peak of the anti-foreigner agitation in Assam. He said the scenario improved after the Assam Accord in 1985, with several Taekwondo students of Khemchand later becoming ministers under the AGP government, including then Home Minister Bhrigu Phukan. Khemchand subsequently trained Assam Police personnel in Taekwondo.

Peleselie described Khemchand as a Taekwondo master not just of Manipur and the Northeast, but of the entire country, urging him to continue guiding the sports fraternity.

Taekwondo exponent R K Shivachandra noted that Khemchand was a key figure in popularising the martial art in India and played a crucial role in forming the Taekwondo Federation of India, where he also served as Vice President.

Reiterating his message on peace, Khemchand said that while people were reluctant to talk about peace a year ago due to the tense situation, there is now a growing realisation that peace is essential to bring back normalcy in Manipur.