There comes a time in history when the will of the people has to be imposed. The Nagas too have arrived at this critical juncture in history. By ‘history’, we’re not referring to a one time event but the ultimate corresponding consummation of time and space requiring reflection for its clear outcome. The history of America is a case in point. Without the person at the helm of power having taken a decisive stance at one point of time, seemingly against the ‘will of the people’, that is not only painful but tragic too, there’s no denying the fact that had not Abraham Lincoln
taken the extra-ordinary measure to end slavery and unite both the north and the south, there would not have been the USA as it is today, for which they could be well proud of. So, resultant history without the past, present and future has only relative reality. Absolute reality could only be drawn by including the future as the basis of its foundation. For this reason, any decision that has drastic detrimental affect on the future of a society is futile. The future belongs to our children and any expedient move that jeopardized their history is a thoughtless act.
There are extra-ordinary circumstances that make it mandatory even for the voice of the unborn children to be embraced in the decision of a nation. Without this the clear voice of the people could not mandated. When there’s so much corrosion of the people’s existence with so much threat at play and out of such corruption of their will, the people themselves could not voice their own belief and conscience and concern, then there’s a pause in history.
The plight of the Nagas in Manipur has nowhere in history been so threatened from the dominion of the major community/Meiteis as it stands today. It is so disoriented and distorted from normal co-existence and mutual reality. Even, the reality of a threat has so much been twisted and disowned. The war of ‘silences’ so much indulged in the past by way of national highway blockade by the Nagas and the ever looming counter threat of the Meiteis in the valley trying to muffle any protest from any quarter by sheer overwhelming number has gained so much currency and gathered so much momentum that the Nagas society has been numbed as a dumb spectator without any say in the decision of the Manipur government.
When a society is threatened without adequate means of ventilating their obvious conscience, further coupled with counter intervention from the majority community, the spectacle of such society is a matter of much suppressed identity. No matter how much the Nagas in Manipur conceived themselves to be and their notion as a nation, it is slowly corroded from insidious silent-sickening-specter of two massive and mighty forces arrayed against them – Indian forces in one hand and the Meiteis on the other hand, working in tandem with other allies as the Kukis. The presence of the meiteis as to sieve and drain the emotions of the nagas as means and measure to make the nagas mince no word of their aspiration is a pitiable means to ensnare, enslave and ensure their compliance. In the session of the Manipur legislative assembly, it became a routine affair that the Naga representatives or their MLAs remained mum and mute when it comes to Manipur territorial integrity. There’s simple logic behind this: silent threat, overwhelming number of people in overwhelming support of the status quo of Manipuri’s territory. What would you say when the hills formed 90% of the total territory but the majority of the people of about 70% are concentrated in he valley thinking that the hills belonged to them? The hills have their own jurisdiction of land with each and every village having their own well demarcated boundaries, customs and cultures. Now, the latest onslaught of the Meiteis is to dismantle all such existence of age-old practices to suit their interest of land owning in the hills. What say that the voice of the majority won’t prevail in the long run? A day will set in when the governance of the hills would be made by the people in the valley. Living under Manipur since its inception has taken its toll and there’s so much corrosion of the people’s psyche.
The Naga people’s aspiration has so much been subverted. Even when government’s employment or their share of the pie is grappled by the major community, there’s only muffled grin and grimaces. There’s only occasional twist and turn of protest just because something has to be done – a protest not borne out of genuine belief in the government to rectify measures but whimpers just as animals do to register disagreement –complete loss of faith and trust in the government.
Conclusion: frontal organizations
to take the mantle
However, no matter how grim the situation represents, a common ground needs to be paved – reconciliation on common destiny and interest and as peoples living together as good neighbors, respecting their differences for peaceful and mutual co-existence without dictating terms to one another. The writ of the major community as the voice of the people must go, because all rights are based on justice which cannot be denied, just because the majority thinks otherwise.
The dictum of the UNC and ANSAM, the writ of the NSCN or other militant outfits as the voice of the people could only be understood in the context of such vicious times.
It is sad to say that no political parties in Manipur have not made much leeway and not made enough effort in this direction. Instead, the usual political poll plank of divide and rule has so far ruled the roost. In this direction, the arrival of the NPF in Manipur though misconstrued by many as espousing the cause of the Nagas has proved misrepresentative.
Politics of cross border Division and distortion
In his new avatar as a Politian and the ideologue of the NPF in Manipur, Samuel Risom an outspoken advocate of the Gauhati High Court affirmed his unwavering faith in the gospel of the spirit of reconciliation insisting on his mantra, ‘when you’ve learnt to shed tears for your neighbors, you won’t shed their blood’. He was referring to mutual respect and concern as the basis for solution to the myriad problems of the state – Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis and other groups in the hills and the valley. Politics in Manipur is at its lowest ebb and there is urgent need for persons who could steer the people of Manipur out of the quagmire of destructive chauvinism or communalism which is so prevalent in today’s Manipur after its evolvement as a state, post-British-rule. It is heartening to note that people like Samuel Risom offers new scope for the existence of Manipur with his vision of social equity. Manipur needs new breeds of politicians, competent enough to lead the masses into a new era free from social, political and economic stagnation. May the tribes of free thinkers increase for the progress of Manipur.
Therefore, Settlement could only be secured though political dialogue and communal politics should be shunned. The need of the hour is people with positive outlook and vision. Therefore, the future of Manipur hinges on choosing politicians and parties that can rise above the narrow hills and valley divide. Or else, Manipur will always burn and burn away to be the most primitive state. The fate of Manipur lies with people who can show them their destiny, convince them with the dream of a society free from hegemonic politics, and inspire the people with a new attitude respecting one another’s rights. Because, this is the Manipur inherited from the British and India, thrust upon the Nagas without their consent. And no matter the boundaries, neighbors will always be neighbors.
taken the extra-ordinary measure to end slavery and unite both the north and the south, there would not have been the USA as it is today, for which they could be well proud of. So, resultant history without the past, present and future has only relative reality. Absolute reality could only be drawn by including the future as the basis of its foundation. For this reason, any decision that has drastic detrimental affect on the future of a society is futile. The future belongs to our children and any expedient move that jeopardized their history is a thoughtless act.
There are extra-ordinary circumstances that make it mandatory even for the voice of the unborn children to be embraced in the decision of a nation. Without this the clear voice of the people could not mandated. When there’s so much corrosion of the people’s existence with so much threat at play and out of such corruption of their will, the people themselves could not voice their own belief and conscience and concern, then there’s a pause in history.
The plight of the Nagas in Manipur has nowhere in history been so threatened from the dominion of the major community/Meiteis as it stands today. It is so disoriented and distorted from normal co-existence and mutual reality. Even, the reality of a threat has so much been twisted and disowned. The war of ‘silences’ so much indulged in the past by way of national highway blockade by the Nagas and the ever looming counter threat of the Meiteis in the valley trying to muffle any protest from any quarter by sheer overwhelming number has gained so much currency and gathered so much momentum that the Nagas society has been numbed as a dumb spectator without any say in the decision of the Manipur government.
When a society is threatened without adequate means of ventilating their obvious conscience, further coupled with counter intervention from the majority community, the spectacle of such society is a matter of much suppressed identity. No matter how much the Nagas in Manipur conceived themselves to be and their notion as a nation, it is slowly corroded from insidious silent-sickening-specter of two massive and mighty forces arrayed against them – Indian forces in one hand and the Meiteis on the other hand, working in tandem with other allies as the Kukis. The presence of the meiteis as to sieve and drain the emotions of the nagas as means and measure to make the nagas mince no word of their aspiration is a pitiable means to ensnare, enslave and ensure their compliance. In the session of the Manipur legislative assembly, it became a routine affair that the Naga representatives or their MLAs remained mum and mute when it comes to Manipur territorial integrity. There’s simple logic behind this: silent threat, overwhelming number of people in overwhelming support of the status quo of Manipuri’s territory. What would you say when the hills formed 90% of the total territory but the majority of the people of about 70% are concentrated in he valley thinking that the hills belonged to them? The hills have their own jurisdiction of land with each and every village having their own well demarcated boundaries, customs and cultures. Now, the latest onslaught of the Meiteis is to dismantle all such existence of age-old practices to suit their interest of land owning in the hills. What say that the voice of the majority won’t prevail in the long run? A day will set in when the governance of the hills would be made by the people in the valley. Living under Manipur since its inception has taken its toll and there’s so much corrosion of the people’s psyche.
The Naga people’s aspiration has so much been subverted. Even when government’s employment or their share of the pie is grappled by the major community, there’s only muffled grin and grimaces. There’s only occasional twist and turn of protest just because something has to be done – a protest not borne out of genuine belief in the government to rectify measures but whimpers just as animals do to register disagreement –complete loss of faith and trust in the government.
Conclusion: frontal organizations
to take the mantle
However, no matter how grim the situation represents, a common ground needs to be paved – reconciliation on common destiny and interest and as peoples living together as good neighbors, respecting their differences for peaceful and mutual co-existence without dictating terms to one another. The writ of the major community as the voice of the people must go, because all rights are based on justice which cannot be denied, just because the majority thinks otherwise.
The dictum of the UNC and ANSAM, the writ of the NSCN or other militant outfits as the voice of the people could only be understood in the context of such vicious times.
It is sad to say that no political parties in Manipur have not made much leeway and not made enough effort in this direction. Instead, the usual political poll plank of divide and rule has so far ruled the roost. In this direction, the arrival of the NPF in Manipur though misconstrued by many as espousing the cause of the Nagas has proved misrepresentative.
Politics of cross border Division and distortion
In his new avatar as a Politian and the ideologue of the NPF in Manipur, Samuel Risom an outspoken advocate of the Gauhati High Court affirmed his unwavering faith in the gospel of the spirit of reconciliation insisting on his mantra, ‘when you’ve learnt to shed tears for your neighbors, you won’t shed their blood’. He was referring to mutual respect and concern as the basis for solution to the myriad problems of the state – Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis and other groups in the hills and the valley. Politics in Manipur is at its lowest ebb and there is urgent need for persons who could steer the people of Manipur out of the quagmire of destructive chauvinism or communalism which is so prevalent in today’s Manipur after its evolvement as a state, post-British-rule. It is heartening to note that people like Samuel Risom offers new scope for the existence of Manipur with his vision of social equity. Manipur needs new breeds of politicians, competent enough to lead the masses into a new era free from social, political and economic stagnation. May the tribes of free thinkers increase for the progress of Manipur.
Therefore, Settlement could only be secured though political dialogue and communal politics should be shunned. The need of the hour is people with positive outlook and vision. Therefore, the future of Manipur hinges on choosing politicians and parties that can rise above the narrow hills and valley divide. Or else, Manipur will always burn and burn away to be the most primitive state. The fate of Manipur lies with people who can show them their destiny, convince them with the dream of a society free from hegemonic politics, and inspire the people with a new attitude respecting one another’s rights. Because, this is the Manipur inherited from the British and India, thrust upon the Nagas without their consent. And no matter the boundaries, neighbors will always be neighbors.
