Wednesday, August 01, 2007

THE LEIBAK OF TURMOIL AND QUESTION OF SURVIVAL

S. Thangboi Zou,
NEHU, Shillong

Manipur was called ‘The Jewel of India’ (Sana Leibak/leitang) by J.N Nehru, the first PM of India. Then, the state might have shown its worthiness to be labeled so. But now this ‘phrase’ has seen a stark paradox. What has become of our land- the land of jewel that once upon a time gained so much of glorious pasts-history, culture, society and polity? The land, that was proud of its cultural mosaics and natural beauty, has now been miserably scarred by turbulences. Murders, abduction, rapes, loots, harassment, insurgency, drug addiction, juvenile delinquencies, HIV/ AIDS and all sorts of social deviance have gained grounds and pervasive like wildfire everyday and every hour. “We are in the midst of turbulent transition” (David, 2006).

Our society has been moulded and ‘transformed’ by the characters of this turmoil. Societal and individual perception and disposition have been modified and co-inhabited with the disturbed environment. The civil societies and pressure groups - philanthropic organizations, students’ bodies, etc. who vowed to work for common good could not afford to find a way out to escape the situation. They find no option but to dance to the tune of some stronger and powerful ‘bodies’ while tackling the problems. Most of times, they are crippled by disunity amongst themselves, paucity of resources and strength, that, they are too feeble to stand and fight against the tides. And sometimes, no doubt, they fall prey of opportunism compromising their cause with something attractive coming their way.

On the other hand, the religious leaders are no exception. They are one most versatile and flexible human beings who are adept adjusting themselves with the existing space. Interestingly, they are genius in ‘fitting their heads with any cap’ that is being offered. Unsurprisingly, they have their own ‘principle’ which is ‘politics and religion are like that of mythical “dog and goat” story, that never go hand in hand, and based on this concept, they would always intend to keep themselves aloof from the ongoing turmoil. But, one wonders if anyone can really escape the turbulence?

The educated youths are the most frustrated section of society in the state where the existing systems of education and resources fail to afford them a decent job and living, that so often, are lured to join the other stream in life - militancy. So also, the uneducated and unskilled youths, attaining no content toiling the unproductive and uneconomical lands (and burning charcoal), look forward to any other shortcut means of survival. They too easily fall prey of ‘macho-nationalism’ in the promise to ‘sacrifice for their (imaginary) lands and people’. Here, they can definitely ‘earn’ their ‘living’ without much a work to do.

The leaders and politicians are none other than the exclusively ‘sanitized moneticians’ who are mad about gripping power and wealth. With no qualm, they can be labeled as the mastermind of all evils- who are talking of peace, unity, integrity and fraternity with their lips and throwing ‘meat among the hounds’ from their hands.

Manipur is the land of ethnic diversity. It is the land where various awarded nomenclatures and ethnic identities are extolled and given the top priorities, on which, all revolutionary groups based their object of movements. One may retrospect the armed movements in Manipur which are firmly rooted with the ideology of “mythical golden past-which might never existed”, and the ethnic identity and uniqueness of histories. But, is there any group of people whose history is not unique? This is indeed a rhetorical and selfish expression about one’s identity. One should not fail to learn that human identity which is about “past roots” could also prove to be a “future routes” (David, 2006). This adage can find its relevance in our present society where armed conflicts and feuds have taken heavy toll on the people’s life. So often, human lives worth less than animals when one-sided and self- instructed ‘laws of the jungles’ prevail and governed the people’s behaviors. No one seems
to realize the fact that none but only God can give life to human being, and this life worth more than the power, wealth and status that we are fighting for. How long we still have to sacrifice and how long we have to shed our precious blood fighting for our based ethnic purity, identity, homelands and hollowed vision of sovereignty? We have been illusioned by our ‘struggle’ so much so that so often we fail to recognize the faces of our brothers and sisters.

However, as a matter of fact, there is a rooted factor of this turmoil. Out of the many, we would like to point out the economic cause. Poverty is a curse and can be the root of all evils in the society. The cause of poverty is both intrinsic and extrinsic as well. In our regional context, lack of job opportunity is the main factor, which itself is the fallout of industrial backwardness. This problem has originated from within and outside the region. Many people might have held insurgency responsible. In fact, one can not afford to be one-sided and bias in drawing conclusion because the argument goes like the riddled ‘chicken and egg’ story - where none can be so sure of the egg or the chicken that existed first. Development and insurgency are the two mysterious duos- where one can hardly make judgment of. Backwardness and underlying poverty ultimately leads to insurgency in most cases; so also, insurgency and its resultant unrest makes industrial development impossible
thereby impoverishing the region (N.E.India). Both point fingers at each other.

Nevertheless, the problem - related factor is also much of extrinsic. The geographical location has much implication on the way to infrastructural development as well as the attention of the central government. It is said that the central government can hardly realized the existence of N.E.India had not there been insurgencies in the region. A Shillong based journalist, Patricia Mukhim once said that ‘insurgency has become the most effective instrument’ to bang the ear of the central government for the NE. The shrewd New Delhi, who is a genius in handling this type of issue, act tactically manifesting its indifferences and its lack of interest in solving the decade- old problems of militancy/insurgenc y.

Therefore, we may have to find some other survival strategies in this cut-throat competitive world. India has initiated economic reforms since 1991, ushering industrial liberalization. FDI have started spreading their wings in India since then. Economic growth almost touched 10% GDP recently. However, one indispensable question is how far it has benefited the NE India in general and Manipur in particular? With no second thought we can definitely say that it has not benefited our state Manipur. Unemployment, poverty and crime are the testimony of it. So, it is high time to stop short and deeply introspect over it.

In the midst of turbulent, somehow, the societal transition has to keep its pace. Of recent, the central Govt. has somehow turned its ear to the burning Manipur, though in a less intensity. In fact, we can not totally depend on the central Govt’s aid for development, which is hardly sufficient to support and maintain “the bulky and rusty solkari engine”. More than 80% of the annual state’s budget (90% from Central aid) goes to employees’ salaries; no money is left for developmental purposes. So far, some developmental activities have been initiated by the Centre for Manipur. Road and railway connectivity have been introduced in the state, i.e. Jiribam- Tupul railway line. Apart from the existing dams, the newly coming up has a promising future in the way to agriculture development and power supply for the people of Manipur. The Thoubal river project and Tipaimukh dam project are other leviathans giving signals to development in agriculture, industry and tourism. Moreh,
which is officially the centre of international border trades and other potential trading hubs such as Behiang (Singngat) have given a positive signs of boon for the people in future.

There is high potentiality to various investment (FDI, etc.) in Manipur provided we the people change our attitudes (perceptions) towards them (welcome them). The most important thing to do in the first place is to broaden our outlook and open our ‘inner and outer door’ wide to usher in the wealthy investors from outside. Therefore, the need of the hour- peace and tranquility is the first step towards development and survival. That way, we can slowly, but surely solve the myriad problems of unemployment and poverty that has been inherited to us by the protracted unrest in our land.

Any comment: thang_zou@yahoo. co.in
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Xavier Nengkhanlam Adds.....

Manipur tambang ding ahilam nathei khol hileh Pu Nehru in nagen pha khollou getlou, agen dingdan kan theilou in "The future Hell of turmoil and gnashing of Teeth"
nachi zaw dingin gingta ing.

Khatvei vei ka ngaituana ah Kawlte leh Bengalite ngian (Chalak pilna) sangin Kol tah tahte ngian hat leh hiamjaw khat ata diai maw chi ngaidan kanei hun atam mama hi.

Manipur buaina tuam tuamte thamlou in Northeast pumpi a buainate i et kawi kawi chiangleh asung lang pansa hing na tawsawn khat umjing hileh aki lawm hi.Northeast pumpi buai in ei leh ei kihau in buai nanlei jong khawh sah sanga ahatmaw lang lang semkuang dinga kithawi, ui leh ui banga ei ki maitua sah a hing kihau sah India policy hoilou khat um ahi dante theisiam chiatlei khanlawna khat piangthei leh kilawm
sa ing.

Ahin lah laisiam leh mipil, neijou leh vaihawm siam leh mipi khual kawm a vision kichian tah nei Northeast ah tu sangin ahing tam zaw chiangin mipite lah ah jong
khanlawna hing um van, ihi chi a hichi ima vele, hichi sih lei hichi lou ding hi haia, hichi chi nawn da va ui u-le-naute aw chi hun khat zing ninou suah bangin
hing suah sam nalou ding am a chi ka ngaidan ahi mai hi.

I Zou thinker ten i groupsite a ahing gelkhiat thei jel ma bangun hun kikheel hun (Transition period) a ding nalai ihi manin ei khang (Generation) pen khang hampha leh khang hamsia ihi mai uh hi.

Gam khangtousa te tangthu en sim kawi kawi lei ama uh jong tu leh tu a ei dinmun a adin hun uh na tam mama hi.Akhua atui uh jong tulai eite dinmun a aum hun uh
na om tham hi.

July 18,2007 ni-in manga jong bat phah lou Chicago khopi lailung (Downtown) ah mite hinkhua khantou dante leh hausatnate munuam in ka vah kawi kawi hi.Tuanah Sears Tower innsawng sang 1996 tan a khovel a innsawng sang pen pen a kigen, tun alina a pang, tuami sawng dawn kava ka nuam kawita hi.Innsawng sang (Skyscaper) sang pipi tam mama ahi manin heipen ahei chi jong kathei lou jiahin kapei na lang lang ah mite ka dong kawi kawi hi.Dahkal 3 vel nua in tuami Sears Tower kichina mun kava tungta hi.Dollar 18 pia in electric lift zangin atung dawn sang pen ah mi 50 vel tawh minute 3/4 sungin ka tungtou pai uh hi.Tuanah mun tuam tuam kimu in, khopi sunga innsawng sanga kigente inei lang peh ah kitung in, agal a Michigan diilpi lian mama leh atung a lawng neu leh lian laamte kimu hi.Tualeh khopi sung a meilengte, bus, car leh adang dangte neu nou nou in kimu giap hi.Mihingte pen kimu pha nawn lou hi.Ahin Cent 25 (Eilam ham leh seki) tang khat siahawm khat a ithun leh durbin (Binocular) jangin mun gamla pipi leh anei langa mi vah lele te kimu thei hi.Tuami ni-in khua jiing ahi manin ka lungtup bangin tuami ni a kagal mu phahna tan sanga
gamla zaw kamu thei sih hi.Chih chiangin kava ka kia diai chi koima getlou keiman jong kathei jou sih hi.

Ka gennop pen ahi leh tuami innsawng sang dawn ah Chicago khopi kisat (Established) dante, nidang lai Chicago khosunga teng mite khosah dante, a galhang (Hero) te uh leh tami khopi in tuasia tuapha atuah dante alim tawh kitah khe dim dem hi.Tuana lim kitahte thanuam tahin ka ban sim sim hi.Tuate lah a thulu khat Zou ham in letkhe lei "Nupinu bawng (Cow) in Chicago khopi haltum hi" chi khat kamu hi.Aw, vakon de chi
kawm kawm in tuana thupiang kigielte kasim sim leh a tangthu tam bang ahi hi.
"Nupinu (Amin ka manghil tazuai a..) bawng (Cow) khat in khonvah kide (Lighted lantern) khat palpua kha ahi manin, tuana pansan mei hing kipan in Chicago khopi
phelzaw dingte hilou khopa nithum akat nua in Chicago khopi tum dil del hi.Tuanah Water Tower (Tuidaw sang) mai mai kang lou hi" chi kasim kha hi.Tuami sil dahuai tuahun lai ading in leitung kiliing sah jou thusia lamdang akigen pente lah a khat ana hi hi. Tua kum ahileh 1871 ahi a, a Khopi katsung mawng mawng October 8 apan October 10 tan ahi hi.

Kalung a hing kilou sil tampi aban ban in hing kijom tou den den hi.Singngat ka neu pianna ahi manin, tam khua ana kang jing pen keiman jong tamvei tah kana mu ahi manin Chicago khopi katdante tawh ka ngaitua chiang leh, midang tu a i phah joulou te jong Singngat te banga na buai tham adan veve vemaw chi ngaidan atha in kanei law hi.

Tuajiahin hunkhat chiang leh tu a i dinmun hing kikheel sam nalou ding ama.Anai pena gending in Mizoram jong abuai lai-in anah buai sam vele.Ahin tuchiang leh gam thoveng pen hitadi thei phot sam hi a chi bang ngaidan kanei jel jel hi.

Ahin tami hun kikhel hun a dingkha ei khang pen khang hamsia khang hun a ding ihi dante uh ka gel chiangin hasiat ahuai hi.Nanleh, ei khang ah tam bang thuah tasih lei itate khangin na thuah ding hijel ahi chiang leh amaute lungsiat huai isah ding dante sangin eiman ama haw thuah dingteng mah iki thuah mai jong amaute ading a ibawl thei pen, ei ut leh ut lou thu hilou a, himai lou ding amah unaute!

Khua jiing e, nanleh daibang ang then hunding hing um sam nalou ding ama!

Ichi adam liai liai tah zen zen leh entou jel lei ave maw guai!

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