Air India AI-171 plane crash, Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur united in a rare show of solidarity

What occurred?

Two members of the cabin crew from the ethnically divided state of Manipur — Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma (Meitei) and Lamnunthem Singson (Kuki-Zo/Thadou) — lost their lives in the recent Air India accident. Despite enduring ethnic conflicts, both communities conveyed collective grief, sharing messages of condolence and paying tributes.

Function of Grief in Fostering Social Unity:

Collective grief serves as a pathway for understanding, mending old rifts of separation.

Shared grief promotes human bonds, transcending ethnic identity during periods of loss.

Civil society organizations from various backgrounds seized the opportunity to demonstrate solidarity, empathy, and a desire for peace.

The tragedy revived the concept of shared humanity, putting aside demands for individual governance and pride-driven claims.

The event underscored how calamity can briefly erase conflict divisions and promote emotional solidarity among divided groups.