Communal Harmony and Integration

L. Shyamjai Singh *

After 70 years of independence India is still facing three basic challenges of minimising disparities eradicating discriminating and avoiding alienation. The reasons are not far to seek. India being a big country of big communities, tribes and sub-tribes speaking different languages and dialects has multi-social customs and festivals and religious faiths.

The development programmes and projects, if not implemented under equal facilities and balances and prospects for the people as per geographical regions, the economic disparity will prevail. Similarly the Manipur state situated in the North East Region will not be an exception to it.

During the last sixty eight years development works are confined mostly in urban areas rather than the rural areas, Road communication is also not good as compared with the urban areas.

Electricity work was not adequately available in rural and different hill areas. This has led to the disparity between rural and urban areas in many respects of development and progress. That dissatisfaction of the rural and hill areas is the hurdle towards promotion of harmony. Hence the overall development process for improving the living standard of the poor rural people will be affected to a great extent.

Non Government Organisations and local clubs and other organisations of different communities have to be approved to take part in the development works programmes. Change of thoughts and joint efforts have to be made for general upliftment of economic standard.

All the concerned Govt. agencies have to be contacted for taking up all feasible development programmes which can give direct and quick result to the local residents. Constant contact and interaction among various communities are encouraged by all possible ways in order to create sense of awareness and maximum sharing in the social responsibilities and effective motivation. Our unique composite culture based on social harmony and integration could be survived through indomitable will of the nation.

Manipur is abode of more than thirty six tribes seven scheduled caste, Muslims, Nepalese Biharis, Bengalis, Marwraries, Punjabis and Meiteis who account for sixty per cent of the population there is not elements of social discrimination among the various communities except the recent anti-India feelings incited by the underground elements and anti-social groups.

Never in our long history the communal riot had never flared up between the Hindus and Muslims. But recent conflict between the two major tribes, the Nagas and the Kukis caused mainly by the utopian concept of Greater Nagaland at the aegis of NSCN-IM. The majorities Meiteis with a liberal attitude towards every section of society will have to make themselves involved in all social aspects of economic and administrative treatments.

Youth camps are the best means for promoting harmony and emotional integration and as organising camps in various places where many communities led down can give ample opportunity for associating together among themselves. Inter community marriage is a good step towards sharing common bondage of lone and fraternity, constant contact and joint sharing in the joint concern of manifold complex issues will surely minimise callous misunderstanding.

The tendency of the minority government to keep in isolation under the old conditions of frustration could only be minimised through frank and open mind in all dealings for economic and social welfare indiscriminately until and unless the balance and equitable prosperity could be brought about among the communities no harmony and integration could be promoted.

All the major decisions towards the common cause of the country and state Government or Non-Government Agencies should be made on the basis of peoples welfare, political and geographical consolidation without winning the heart of the public cannot be sound policy of integrity.

India is the home of secular democracy; every person should be proud of being an Indian in the mainstream of the country. If so regional integration based on emotional mind and moral integrity with deep thought and humanity will work ‘well towards end of abstract vision.

The most constructive element of unity and communal harmony is to be enhanced at any cost through massive middle class levels too. It is quite appropriate to remember few words of Indira Gandhi - “Every Indian has the right to demand its right full claim; but it should not infringe into the right of other community”.