Saving future Manipur – the need of the hour
- Imphal Times Editorial :: August 18 2019 -

The greatest tragedy of our society, as it turned out, is the inconceivable reluctance to embrace change and accept the realities of life.

What made it worse is the fact that there is an ever-present expectant air of anarchistic freedom.

Perhaps, the public have got so attuned to the protracted disturbances and social unrest at a subconscious level that we have now come to accept these frequent social unrest and flare-ups as a way of life.

There is no other plausible explanation for the innumerable acts of wanton violence and irrational destruction which apparently provides sadistic pleasures to the rapidly growing rank of perpetrators.

The underlying current of uncertainty and uneasiness that has pervaded our society, even at the best of times, speaks more for the situation we all have come to experience and abhor, but have been forced to endure.

One of the most affected section of the society during the present social flare-up, or any social unrest for that matter, has been the student community.

One would be hard pressed to come up with a single year without the disturbances and interruptions in their academic activities.

With such protracted disruptions year after year, do we now have the right to expect the students to perform to their optimum and to compete with students from the rest of the country and come up trumps?

Don’t we at least owe them the responsibility to shield and protect them from influences and disruptions which take them away from their main priorities- to acquire and assimilate knowledge which will help them achieve their dreams and help in changing the society for the better?

The social tension erupted in the aftermath of the death of a 14 years old girl in a suspicious way inside her hostel room at Standard Robarth School, even though sounds for justice of a students, now I becoming a threat to thousands of students.

The trust deficit towards the law enforcing agency of the state is one reason for the current fiasco.

If the present regime fails to believe that ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ than the condition of our future is at stake.

We need to provide the future of the state, an atmosphere free of apprehensions and tensions- an ambience conducive to development of knowledge and progressive thinking.

Students, especially those who are below 10 standard should not be made to indulge in agitations and protests, except under extreme circumstances when absolutely required.

We have been increasingly witnessing the participation of very young students, some as young as primary level, either voluntarily or through coercion, in various demonstrations, protests and agitations.

They need to be made to understand their priorities and be provided with enough space and support to realize their full potential.

And contrary to popular argument, home schooling in the state is a concept whose time is yet to come.

For now, schools remain the only practical option for imparting knowledge and teaching social interaction skills to the impressionable young minds.

While it was announced that there is no objection or opposition to reopening of schools by any group, organizations or students’ bodies, yet the school authorities are wary of resuming classes, lest some self-proclaimed crusaders of the people comes along and mete out instant justice which would invariably involve vandalizing and destroying the school properties.

Meanwhile, the students of Standard Robarth Hr. Secondary School are losing out on valuable time and opportunities.

It has however opened yesterday but it would be the most prudent move for us all if we can ensure a disturbance-free atmosphere for the students in the state.

We owe at least that much to ourselves and to the future of the state.