By Stuart John Groser, Executive Secretary, SODNER-Group, Ukhrul
In these times of unrelieved turmoil, change, confusion, doubt, temptation and terror, when we are living in a state where there is almost total anarchy, most people are looking for meaning in their lives.
The anarchy, discontent and unrest that is shaking the state cannot be dealt with by politics alone or by legitimate violence (or in other words by state sponsored terrorism) or by any other form of terrorism, but by getting closer to the central and intimate places of personal life and moral conduct and by changing our entire thought processes and outlook towards other people and towards life in general.
It is no use imagining and hoping that some new political formula can be improvised that will save what is left of our crumbling society or restore what has been destroyed. There is no use in putting the blame on someone else or looking into the future for some new revelation of what man needs in order to survive.
The revelation has already been made - man has conquered the jungle about him and the barbarian within him. The age old principles of dedication to work and duty, the transcendent criteria of truth, justice and sacrifice and the grace of love and charity have made men free.
Only in this profound, stern and time tested wisdom can we find the light and courage we need to bring about the change we are seeking. It is only by the principles of universal brotherhood and by recognition of one another as human beings that we can bring about an end to the corruption, senseless violence and killing that is wrecking our state.
Hitler and the Nazis propagated the theory that all non-Aryans were ‘sub-human’ and thus became notorious for their brutal killing of Jews and those other ethnic groups that they placed on the same level as the Jews.
They suspended the Rule of Law, detaining, torturing and killing people merely because of their inferior ethnic origin. This took place over forty years ago and was condemned by the entire world; but if we look around us today we can see the same thing happening in our state.
The authorities are using detention without trial (which may be imposed without explanation and without having to justify it in any court - refer AFSPA) torture and killing ‘encounters’ to curb insurgency. The insurgents are retaliating by placing IEDs, making indiscriminate attacks on camps, attacking convoys and patrolling parties of the security forces.
Most of these retaliatory measures have taken place and are continuing to take place in crowded public places. But the most heart-rending and painful problem is that of the violence, rapes, beatings, torture and death to which 'suspects' (innocent bystanders/civilians) are subjected to during combing operations and interrogation by the security forces.
However all the blame cannot be placed on them - the insurgents too have their share of blame to take. They are looting the poor passengers travelling on the highways, kidnapping and killing people who belong to other ethnic groups or tribes or states or even to another political group.
Once we start looking at one another as human beings who feel the same pain and bleed as each one of us does, then we can start on the road to recovery. The superiority complexes, ethno-centric thinking, greed and ego trips that we are having today must give way to a spirit of oneness.
We are all human beings first and foremost so why this senseless violence and killing of one another? What do we gain by it except more bloodshed and hatred? Have we become bloodthirsty animals? Will our blood-lust be sated when our beautiful state becomes another Vietnamese or Cambodian Killing Field? When will we, the Civil Society, have enough of all that is troubling us?
It is only when we, the People (the Civil Society), say ‘Enough,’ and rise up against all that is troubling us and making our lives miserable that it will stop. As long as we remain passive bystanders, spectators and witnesses - thanking God that the violence etc has not affected us personally - the corruption, senseless violence and killing will continue and we will all go on being the sacrificial offerings in this ‘Demonic Feast’.
From time immemorial Manipur has been a peacefully beautiful state with all peoples and tribes living together and working for the common good. Let us, irrespective of caste, creed, tribe, state or ethnic affiliation, come together and join hands so that we can restore it to its former glory.
Thus we can prove to the world and to ourselves that all differences can be transcended by a genuine love and concern for our fellow-men and a deep and cherishing love for our State.
http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Others/Articles.htm
In these times of unrelieved turmoil, change, confusion, doubt, temptation and terror, when we are living in a state where there is almost total anarchy, most people are looking for meaning in their lives.
The anarchy, discontent and unrest that is shaking the state cannot be dealt with by politics alone or by legitimate violence (or in other words by state sponsored terrorism) or by any other form of terrorism, but by getting closer to the central and intimate places of personal life and moral conduct and by changing our entire thought processes and outlook towards other people and towards life in general.
It is no use imagining and hoping that some new political formula can be improvised that will save what is left of our crumbling society or restore what has been destroyed. There is no use in putting the blame on someone else or looking into the future for some new revelation of what man needs in order to survive.
The revelation has already been made - man has conquered the jungle about him and the barbarian within him. The age old principles of dedication to work and duty, the transcendent criteria of truth, justice and sacrifice and the grace of love and charity have made men free.
Only in this profound, stern and time tested wisdom can we find the light and courage we need to bring about the change we are seeking. It is only by the principles of universal brotherhood and by recognition of one another as human beings that we can bring about an end to the corruption, senseless violence and killing that is wrecking our state.
Hitler and the Nazis propagated the theory that all non-Aryans were ‘sub-human’ and thus became notorious for their brutal killing of Jews and those other ethnic groups that they placed on the same level as the Jews.
They suspended the Rule of Law, detaining, torturing and killing people merely because of their inferior ethnic origin. This took place over forty years ago and was condemned by the entire world; but if we look around us today we can see the same thing happening in our state.
The authorities are using detention without trial (which may be imposed without explanation and without having to justify it in any court - refer AFSPA) torture and killing ‘encounters’ to curb insurgency. The insurgents are retaliating by placing IEDs, making indiscriminate attacks on camps, attacking convoys and patrolling parties of the security forces.
Most of these retaliatory measures have taken place and are continuing to take place in crowded public places. But the most heart-rending and painful problem is that of the violence, rapes, beatings, torture and death to which 'suspects' (innocent bystanders/civilians) are subjected to during combing operations and interrogation by the security forces.
However all the blame cannot be placed on them - the insurgents too have their share of blame to take. They are looting the poor passengers travelling on the highways, kidnapping and killing people who belong to other ethnic groups or tribes or states or even to another political group.
Once we start looking at one another as human beings who feel the same pain and bleed as each one of us does, then we can start on the road to recovery. The superiority complexes, ethno-centric thinking, greed and ego trips that we are having today must give way to a spirit of oneness.
We are all human beings first and foremost so why this senseless violence and killing of one another? What do we gain by it except more bloodshed and hatred? Have we become bloodthirsty animals? Will our blood-lust be sated when our beautiful state becomes another Vietnamese or Cambodian Killing Field? When will we, the Civil Society, have enough of all that is troubling us?
It is only when we, the People (the Civil Society), say ‘Enough,’ and rise up against all that is troubling us and making our lives miserable that it will stop. As long as we remain passive bystanders, spectators and witnesses - thanking God that the violence etc has not affected us personally - the corruption, senseless violence and killing will continue and we will all go on being the sacrificial offerings in this ‘Demonic Feast’.
From time immemorial Manipur has been a peacefully beautiful state with all peoples and tribes living together and working for the common good. Let us, irrespective of caste, creed, tribe, state or ethnic affiliation, come together and join hands so that we can restore it to its former glory.
Thus we can prove to the world and to ourselves that all differences can be transcended by a genuine love and concern for our fellow-men and a deep and cherishing love for our State.
http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Others/Articles.htm
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