Bandh in Manipur – losing steam?

Ningthoujam Ranbir Singh *

Public Curfew by JCILPS in Imphal on May 7 2016 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

As happened in the past, the state of Manipur is observing another bandh week!!

Series of bands scheduled one after another, called by various organisation/groups on grounds of several grievances lies ahead.

Bandh has become so much a part and parcel of the State that if a week or two pass in Manipur without bandh, people begin to feel ill at ease.

Bandhs are now like festival in Manipur, we have begun to celebrate them in every way we can.

When one travels on the streets, during these bandh days, one find tacit opposition of the general public to these relentless spat of bandhs and blockades. Private vehicles, in sizeable numbers, are generally found plying on the roads, despite sporadic groups of supporters indulging in burning of tyres, driving back vehicles etc. here and there.

Otherwise, some shops are generally found open, and movement of vehicles on the roads, except for public transport, is seen thou little thinner. Of course, it has to be there. For how long, the general public can take it lying down. The callers of the bandhs should sense the mood of the public and hardships faced by them.

Calling bandh is easy, you just give out a press release; but what about livelihood of thousands of streets vendors, rickshaws pullers, auto drivers etc. whose families depend on their daily earnings.

Lives of general public are further aggravated by rising prices of commodities, fuels etc. Greed of hoarders and black marketers are seen in fully cry doing bandh days as they indulge in large scale fleecing by fishing in the troubled water.

When is the realisation going to set in to stop this bandh culture? Calling bandhs and blockades on petty issues, or will it be too much to say ‘at the drop of the hat’.

In my humble assumption, I believe, the bandh callers are trying to draw the attention of the Government machinery. Keeping in view the public interest, will it not be better to organise protest rallies, hunger strikes or any other method causing less pain and hardship to innocent public rather than resorting to bandhs and blockades, every time, for redressal of grievances.

Recently, Shri Govindas Hon’ble Minister, while speaking in a function, stated that frequent bandhs in Manipur is adversely affecting the economic growth.

No two opinion about it, it has been affecting the health of economy of the state in the last few decades and he was just reiterating about the deep wound already inflicted upon various spheres of Manipuri social and economic life. Bandhs are insidiously causing irreparable damage to the progress of the state in every way.

Why don’t we, in our collective wisdom, resolve to put a stop to this menace?

Calls and criticisms have come from several quarters for a halt to this bandh culture, but, we continue to stick to bandhs. God only knows when this weird phenomenon will cease to become a nagging part of our daily life.

But, for all to see, the frequent bands are now losing charm and appeal among the general public and it is a warning bell to all bandh callers.

The need of the hour is that all concerned should sit down and chalk out a new strategy and ways of venting out grievances and find better alternative to bandhs.

With so many issues and problems plaguing the contemporary Manipuri society, also the polarization taking place along political lines in the run up to the Assembly elections which are around the corner, there is no end in sight to these bandhs and blockades.

One can only remain a mute spectator in despair. May be we all have to call a bandh to stop bandhs in Manipur!!