N Kamei
You have heard it with your ears, you have seen it with your eyes and you have read about it in the papers. And now I want you to recollect and remember. Let me tell you this that the Meiteis are naturally excellent actors and actresses – a man can act just like a woman and vice versa.
India did not withhold anything that was good from the Meiteis: She allowed the Meiteis to learn the Hindi language, Hindustani music, imbibe religion, dress and culture, food habits, all-round progress and developmental activities, etc. This highly raised the standard of the Meiteis. And what did the Meiteis give India in return – gratitude? No.
Instead, the Meiteis banned the Hindi language and movies and burned Hindi literature and audio-video cassettes.
It was the Bengali script that has made the Meiteis what they are today. And now the Meiteis have condemned and burned all the books written in Bengali script. They even went to the extent of burning the State Central Library and once banned the local dailies against publishing in the Bengali script.
Most of today’s educated and elite Meiteis owe their beginning to the Christian mission schools. They have strange ways of showing their gratitude – by killing the Catholic priests, brothers and sisters, demanding huge sums from the very institutions that had cradled and nursed them in their school days, and burning down the Christian churches.
Not satisfied with these, they resorted to systematic ethnic cleansing-the victims were Bengalis, Biharis, Marwaris, Punjabis, Nepalese and all the non-Manipuris. Slogans like ‘Go back foreigners’ rent the air. And those who dared to stay on were forced to pay heavily in order to raise and strengthen the many Meitei underground organizations that had mushroomed. They even hated and killed the Muslim minorities.
On 14 June, 2001, after over 5 decades of fighting between the Nagas and India, a cease-fire between the two was extended to all Nagas inhabited areas. The Meiteis were against this. They wanted the Nagas and the Indians to continue killing each other. They chanted slogans like – ‘There are no Nagas in Manipur’ (because all the Nagas in Manipur are in the four hill districts of Manipur – namely – Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul), ‘We oppose extension of cease-fire in Manipur’. They even criticized Christianity – the faith of the tribals in Manipur, calling it ‘foreign’ and ‘American’.
On 18 June, 2001, the Meiteis
1) burnt the Indian national flag and the constitution and hoisted the Pakhangba flag (7 colour flag).
2) burnt the State Legislative Assembly Hall.
3) ransacked the CM’s bungalow, MLA’s quarters and burnt their vehicles.
4) finally, they made an attempt on the Governor’s life. However, the Governor’s security men foiled their evil plan. 18 rioters were shot. Now the most interesting part is that the Government of Manipur (Meitei) has proudly declared those 18 rioters as martyrs and June 18 (that day of looting and arson) as Integrity day and state holiday.
The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has been brave enough to confront the Manipur Government in this regard. Various Naga organizations are also supporting this just cause. I am sure the Indian
Government and all right thinking individuals and organizations will do the same. Ever wondered why people groan?
“... when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
Prov. 29:2
