At present, there are 43 Government Colleges in the state of Manipur. Out of which 7 Government Colleges are in the entire Hill Districts. Let me not go about the others Hills district. Going by the fact, there is only one Government College in Ukhrul District- the lone Pettigrew College. It has been there since most of us were still in the womb. Nothing much has changed; rather it has deteriorated from bad to worst. The staff is beyond the required requisite number, many representations have been address to the Government of Manipur for immediate intervention by the TKS-the apex student body of Tangkhul. The Government has many a time promise but failed to deliver the promises every time. The indifferent attitude of the Government of Manipur towards the development of the Hill Peoples and sidelining the tribal issues is a fact which cannot be ignored.
The Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland entered a cease-fire agreement on 1st August 1997 to begin political negotiations at the highest level without conditions at a mutually agreed third country. The talks encountered innumerable difficulties. However, both sides have showed increasing confidence in the peace-process. In a joint communiqué with the NSCN (Amsterdam, 11 July 2002), India recognized the unique history and situation of the Nagas. Furthermore, the Government of India renewed the invitation of the Prime Minister to the leaders of the NSCN to come to India to expedite the peace dialogue. More than sixty rounds of talk, to find a peaceful solution.
Nurtured and protected by rolling hills, for thousands of years Nagas lived under village council systems, free from foreign aggression. It was only in the eighteenth century, however, with the coming of modern arms, outside forces began to threaten their freedom. At the closing of the nineteenth century, approximately a third of Nagalim was under British control through Assam and Manipur. Thus, like many others in the region, Nagas went through a period of British rule.
The fundamental differences underlying the social and cultural practices between Hindu and Naga societies-for instance, the Nagas egalitarian communal social structure differed greatly from the stratified caste system of Hindu society. Thus, Britain understanding the futility of trying to impose a feudal bureaucratic governance system on the Nagas and instead chose to recognize Naga village councils as legitimate [Representative] authorities. In 1929, when Britain began preparations to leave Asia, Naga Club (the earliest Naga organization formed by school educated Nagas in 1918) made it known to Britain that Hindu and Muslim based societies had very little in common with Naga society. Further, one hates the Naga for taking pork and the other for taking beef. It was clearly impossible for them to live together in harmony; and Nagalim should be left on its own. India made preparations to occupy Nagalim by force. When this was brought to Gandhi’s attention on 19 July 1947, he declared that the Nagas had every right to be independent of India if they choose to do so. Further, he declared that he would oppose India with his life if it decides to take Nagalim by force.
However, Manipur Government under the stewardship of Ibobi CM of Manipur and their judicial system is trying to paint Naga issue as law and order problem and not political. Suppressing the Naga ongoing movement through brute security forces could not take anywhere. Rather, it should be amicably solved through political dialogue by understanding the unique historical background of Naga.
Tennoson Pheiray
Ukhrul
