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Front Page >> Opinions > Story
Step 2: In the <body>, place the 
Manipur Deserves Respect From Its Own People
By The Critiquer
Recent exchanges between the Chief Minister and MLA BD Behring on the floor of the State Assembly touches on a very important issue. BD Behring alleged that the Kabow Valley was given away to Myanmar by Jawaharlal Nehru and queried further if the Congress-led SPF government had any plans to further forgo parts of Manipur to Myanmar. The Chief Minister replied saying that he would resign if there is any valid and authenticated proof that the Kabow Valley was gifted to Myanmar by Nehru. Notwithstanding his reaction, we have to acknowledge that there are serious concerns developing on the Manipur stretch of the Indo-Myanmar border.

If the agreement between the Government of India and Myanmar at the 12th sectoral level meeting to hand over 2 bridges – the Valley Bridge and the Hamilton Bridge- as noted by BD Behring, to Myanmar is any indication, then we need to bring this issue in the forefront. Manipur’s territorial integrity obviously need to be defended both on the national and international front.

On top of this, it is quite refreshing to hear a Naga MLA talk about concerns pertaining to the boundaries of Manipur in this fashion and this is noted within the context of the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) peace talks where all Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur are demanded to become part of a Greater Nagaland. What was in the mind of BD Behring would be interesting to figure? Was he talking about safeguarding Naga areas for a future Greater Nagaland or did he have Manipur in mind?

SD Behring also raised the issue of vanishing border pillars at the Indo-Myanmar border and observed that some of the pillars have been missing for the last 22 years and his assertion that if the territory of Manipur is re-measured today, it would be definitely much lesser that what is generally accepted should also ring bells in the ears of anybody that is concerned with Manipur’s territorial integrity. From the look of things, Manipur seems to be always on the receiving end, be it vis a vis Myanmar or Nagaland and I am referring to the Dzuko Valley on the Manipur-Nagaland border.

Turning to the RPF statement on the occasion of its 27th anniversary, the outfit has rejected the avenue of peace talks and have reposed its faith in an armed struggle for achieving its objective of the liberation of Manipur from Indian rule. Its Chairman Irengbam Chaoren asserted that preserving the integrity of Manipur is intimately associated with the goal of its liberation and pointed to the important task before the people of Manipur to resolve differences existing among different communities of the state and build a unified movement for its liberation. However, the approach as to how these differences amongst the different communities of Manipur can be resolved is something that no has an answer(s).

It would be also appropriate to dwell on the aspect of a possible civil war in Manipur much in the same fashion as the one that occurred in Bosnia as noted in the RPF statement. Now that is a scary scenario and no one ever wishes that to happen. But the way politics is shaping up in this state at the moment calls for a deeper and expanded look. The three major ethnic groups residing in Manipur – the Meiteis, the Nagas and those belonging to the Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic group seem to be engaged in polarizing politics, with none of them really bestowing the respect that this state deserves.

The Nagas led by the NSCN (IM) brand of politics is hell bent on joining hands with their brethren in Nagaland when in reality the Nagas of Nagaland do not seem to care much whether the Nagas of Manipur join them or not. The whole hue and cry seems to emanating from the Nagas of Manipur. How the politics in a future Greater Nagaland would shape up would be interesting to know indeed. On the other hand, we have people belonging to the Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic group and lingering dissatisfaction amongst the various ethnic sub-constituents also faces Manipur where they have called Manipur their home for ages. Other than Mizos, which have their own state, the other constituents of this ethnic group dreams of a future homeland where all the sub-tribes get together and form what is called the Zomiland.

The above scenario is very unsettling and seems like Manipur is forever doomed to living with this situation whether peace does or does not exist. There is this big psychological and emotional divide that prevails in the state by way of the Hill/Valley divide and the Meitei/Tribal divide and these divides are a nasty block when we come to talk about emotional integration which the dominant Meitei majority has been espousing. Lack of developmental activities is one area that the Government of Manipur can look into and that surely would be good starter for this difficult and arduous task of bridging this malicious divide.

With the situation in Manipur deteriorating on a daily basis, I am sure everyone is aware what damage it is doing to the polity of Manipur. In chaos and in anarchy, it is highly impossible to remain strong and dream of constructive ideas and plans. Everything is done on a much scaled down atmosphere. Are we as people of Manipur- the revolutionaries, the civilians, the police and military, doing anything other than leading this once peaceful state into a state of complication, convolution, discord and disorganization? As a Manipuri and as a human being, it is sad to see my own state lying in such rot when we know that we have such potential to be the torch-bearer of the North-East. Look at Sports for instance and how it has made us all proud.

Last but not the least, the sense of chaos and confusion continues with the existence and mushrooming of many armed groups from various communities advocating various agendas and goals which are aimed at the interests of the people in which that armed group belongs to. Such numbers distill in the political atmosphere of the state an outright sense of helplessness even in the state government machinery. Adding to this misery is the lack of a sense of unity even amongst the armed groups. Much political and military might can be harnessed by way of unity of these groups and in the process project an image and perception of strength and determination which is unfortunately missing.

As people belonging to the state of Manipur, it is time to show some love for this much troubled state of ours which has nourished and nurtured us and which has given us this sense of belonging - the sense of belonging that you can only derive from having Manipur as your homeland. As a Naga, as a Kuki, as a Hmar, as Meitei- all we say is that we are from Manipur but also the fact that you are a Naga or a Kuki or a Hmar or a Meitei is your birthright and no one take that away from you.

Manipur is what it is because it is multi-cultural and multiethnic and that is very special. It has taken ages for Manipur to shape up to what it is today. It has become home to all the various communities which a lot of people do not have the courtesy to even acknowledge. To them, it always is a case of the grass being greener on the other side. And we should also remember that does not hold true.

If it ain't broke don't break it.

*** The writer can be contacted at thecritiquer@gmail.com

 

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