By: Robert J Baite
We have come a long way in making way for our society to plunge into the deep abyss of fear, intimidation and insecurity. Today, it would not be an exaggeration to say the least that our society is afflicted with all forms of suppression, violence, diktats and what not. We live in constant fear and there is no telling when we might rub the wrong side of somebody or organization. Life is dirt-cheap and it is this very fact that we have come to accept that anyone can kill another human being and even escape it without batting an eye-lid.
Yes, accept it or not, we have to accept that we are living in very troubled times. Sometimes, I wonder why we have come to treat human lives so cheap and trivial. Whenever I hear of news of how somebody has been shot at or killed for reasons known best to the perpetrators of the dastardly act, I shudder and think how one human being can treat a fellow being like ants or mosquitoes. Or have we become a nation where criminals have become a majority of the population and run the roost and dictate our lives?
By criminals, I mean to include corrupted politicians, tainted bureaucrats and officials and last not the least our so-called social organisations and their leaders who spit venom to create rift between the different communities. Today, the time has come to such a stage where we do not know which path to choose. If you do the right thing, you may not get appreciation from different quarters. And if you do the wrong thing, you may not escape.
To put it bluntly, life in Manipur is indeed miserable. Only those who have deep pockets and the connections survive and sustain. For the common people, life hangs on a fine thread between the devil and the deep sea. The trouble with us is that we do not have any voice. Though killing and maiming are taking place by scores daily, we have not heard a voice that demands a stop to these insensitive, inhuman, brutal and senseless acts of violence. Look at the recent irrational attack on the ISKCON blast.
This paper's editorial has pointed out more than once how we have failed to react. It seems the condemnable incident at the temple is now out of public's mind. Instead, we are now focusing on other issues, holding dharnas and what not. But have we given any pressure tactics asking the Government to produce the perpetrators of the terrorist acts at the earliest? How can we be so naive and ignorant? Peace can only come when the common people revolt against all forms of violence. History has been a witness as to how the common public have changed the course of history. If we want to change the course of history of our contemporary Manipur, the time is ripe now. It is time to call a spade a spade.
For 'this, we need to unite and defy the forces that are threatening the social fabric of the society. Yes, a social revolution is the need of the hour. With the state of affairs deteriorating day by day, I believe it will not be long time. INTEGRITY AND US Integrity or integration is one oft-repeated word in the State today. We hear it at almost all seminars, workshops and public functions. For instance on the observation of World Tourism Day at Hotel Imphal last week, speakers dwell on how tourism can bring integrity among the inhabitants of the land. Or a workshop on Quality Education. Invariably, the topics will include something about improving education in the hills and thereby bring integrity.
The foundation days of our numerous organisations are now focused on integrity whereby leaders of different tribes are bring invited and expected to shout from the podium about the long relationship among the different communities of the State. Even an accident recently at RIMS Road was whipped with communal fervour with one party alleging that such accident can destroy the fragile integrity! It would not be wrong to say at this very outset that the word integrity is sometimes misinterpreted. Some perceive integrity as a move to subjugate the minor communities and bring them to the fold of the majority.
On many occasions it has been observed that integrity relates to the boundary of the State thanks to the demand of the NSCN(IM) for integration of Naga inhabited areas. Facts should be made clear. With the issue being hot and sensitive, extra care must be taken while interpreting the word. It should be made clear that integrity has nothing to do with subjugation and suppression of minor tribes nor does it relate to boundaries. Integrity, in the context of Manipur, should mean more interaction between the different communities of the State. For instance, taking care a person from the hills who come down to Imphal for personal or official visits. Such gestures of goodwill towards them are rare in Imphal especially when one knows that he is a tribal.
For example, rickshaw pullers demand more fare. Shopkeepers treat them as third class citizen and cheat them charging, exorbitant prices. At this juncture, I remember some moons back when I was a volunteer for a tribal organization guiding and informing the shoppers from the hills in Imphal during the Christmas season. The shopkeepers at the Khwairamband Bazar got incensed when we accompanied our tribal brethren during their shopping. The reason, they could cheat them is that we were present there. We also got into squabbles when the shop-keepers and our volunteers had a clash-fist to fist.
Needless to say some of the volunteers (I was lucky) and the traders had to spent some time at the City Police lock-up for a few hours. Above these, the constables at the major check points target these tribal people and extract some amount on one pretext or another. This is where the idea of integration does not work at all. At this very outset, we should now ponder how we interpret the word integrity. I believe instead of giving lectures on podium about integrity, we should reach out. Organisations harping on integrity on stages ,should now reconsider their stand. They should organize trips to inner areas of Manipur. This may be voluntary but the volunteers must be dedicated and self sacrificing.
On the flip side, tribals from different areas of the State may be invited to Imphal and let them know about the culture and traditions of the majority community. We may invite them for different festivals like Yaoshang, Bor Pujah, Janmasthami etc. We may also organize trips for the Meitei community to attend celebrations and feast at tribal areas. Will the NGOs, Meira paibees and other organisations subscribe to my humble appeals?
No comments:
Post a Comment