| Unified Theory
The heat is on the Manipur-Nagaland theatre of conflict again. The fault line between two seemingly conflicting and incompatible interests is threatening to come to the fore again, even as the substantive issues are being discussed on the Naga issue currently in Bangkok. While the government of India is hopeful of reaching an agreement with the NSCN (IM) and resolving once and for all the 53 year old Naga problem, Manipur’s worry is, as had been spelled out so many times before, other problems, having direct and grave bearings on it own future, may be set off.
It is ironic, and also shows a great and indeed tragic limitation of the peace process that the search for peace should give rise to apprehension for violence and mayhem – a sampling of the shape of things that can come about, was had during the turbulent summer of 2001 after the Center conceded without public consultation or an effort to gauge public mood, to extending its ceasefire with the NSCN (IM) “without territorial limits.” A decision, which it incidentally had to with much embarrassment, swallow, earning the bad blood of those on the other side of the fault line as well. At the moment it does seem the peace process has reached a dead end. An unenviable situation where the only thing on offer is a Hobson’s choice. For those not familiar with the phrase, it is a situation explained so well by the phrase in Manipuri “Kaale Phu, Kaandre Phu” (You get a thrashing if you do it, you get a thrashing if you don’t.” A situation in which the choices available is no choice at all.
We however do not believe there is anything as a Hobson’s choice. We believe the choices open in any effort to resolve conflicts are always immense, and it is only the narrowness of vision and the inability to adjust to the ebbs and flow of time, as well as diplomatic poverty that leaves politics as well as the people bankrupt and clueless about answers to their problems -- some of which, as the present one we are going through, are extremely menacing. We believe any solution that takes us to a dead end, or leaves us with a Hobson’s choice, is the result of false approach to the problem at hand. In the multi-ethnic, multi-creed northeast, most particularly in the Nagaland-Manipur theatre of conflict, we believe, and we are sure many more on both sides of the conflict do too, that the hunt for the Holy Grail is not just about to come to an end. This precisely because the Holy Grail lies elsewhere. If the current solution is pushed on without modifications, we are sure solution to one problem will spark off many more.
The Holy Grail then must be in a unified theory. A happy situation in which the problems of all concerned is taken care of by the same solution. We cannot afford to lose sight of this Holy Grail at any cost.
It must be the vested interest of all, for in the end the story is about the future well-being of all of us and our children. As to what this unified theory should be, is there to be evolved through a dialectical process. A spirit of accommodation and ability to see from the point of view of opponents will be vital. The objective must be to find a common ground where we can all walk without having to tread on another’s foot. A community or ethnic specific solution cannot be the answer.
Let us elaborate. All of us are aware how contentious the question of homeland is. Its sacrosanct nature is, we contend, the one most powerful engine that drives the various movements amongst the various ethnic communities in the northeast region. It is important to the Nagas, as much to the Meiteis, the Kukis, and many others. But these concepts overlap. The sedentary farming community, the nomadic hunter gatherers, to the more organized bureaucracy of the feudal monarchy and finally to the modern constitutional democracy, all have their concept of homeland and national boundaries. Because all these exist in the same time frame in the region, we have no doubt that our best chance of peace lies in evolving a theory of sharing this common homeland.
(Courtesy: The
Imphal Free Press)
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