Ethnic violence and school education in valley of Manipur

Mamta Lukram *

Days after ethnic violence had the State under its grip from 3rd May 2023 following the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ that took a violent turn, life of everyone has been affected. Economy, education, social and political paradigms took a twisted turn where trust is subjected to deficit phenomena. When people got killed in both sides plucking blame game cards, both sides have narratives of incidents why they are against each other.

The visit of Honourable Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji to Manipur was the ray of hope, people waited for positive. Violence persisted during his stay, escalated further after he went back. Inspite of appeals, approaches and endeavour to restore normalcy, violence continues. Public opinions articulated rationalising the apathy from the Government’s side, both Central and State towards curbing the situation.

In a country like India that eulogises itself with the concept of unity in diversity, when diversities are in trouble, why does it take so long in bringing the situation under control. Binary concepts like mainland-periphery, frontier-central seem apparent in handling the issue. Otherwise the awareness of attracting Central attention would have made concerted efforts to bring the issue under control within no time.

Affected people were massively evacuated and made to stay in relief camps opened in schools, colleges, educational institutes, community halls and other community spaces. Educational institutes were put under indefinite closure with orders of summer vacation. Education Minister, Government of Manipur announced summer vacation starting from the first week of May 2023, extending till date and resumption of normal classes cannot be further assured.

It was considered a thoughtful initiative from the Government side for keeping the reopening of schools under suspension without proper precautions. Education had already been put to a complete halt for more than two years due to COVID 19. Pacing to cope up for the lost years, new educational policies have been adopted across the globe at different level. Manipur is not an exception; it needs special attention to promote education in a progressive manner.

Education in Manipur is taking a reverse run, a backward move. Unplanned indefinite summer break is a negative indicator highlighting how education sector is affected by the current chaos. Disrupting education portrays a future of degrading generations. Unconfirmed information says some schools in the valley have resumed its few selected classes with students in casual dresses at their own risk keeping in view the academic career of students.

The same narrative applies for hill districts too. Unaffected hill districts and places relatively manageable have resumed classes, excepting the valley districts which are overall affected. Education took a hideous turn for self-conservation. When education oscillates under persistent conflict, it succumbs in the struggle. Core concern of education dies as priority shifted to food and shelter.

In our fight for land, identity and basic needs; we are undermining the future generation. In a conflict situation where no guarantee could be made towards it negotiation, consultations should be made with societies which were already in conflict situations for lessons on how they managed to support children’s education. This is the sole responsibility of the concerned authority towards saving its future generation.

Quantitative parameters like Human Development Index (HDI) to measure the qualitative lives under such circumstances would be sceptical. Counting the number of days giving an economic interpretation in terms of monetary cost-benefit analysis focussing on the upward-downward movements of the indicators will never serve the right end. Presentation in data form the loss in conflict situation cannot portray the real picture of the scenario.

Beyond the numbers are the realities of life. Life world including the socio-cultural backgrounds need a humane analysis. When education crumbles, human resources shrink. Legacies of civilization would be a far cry when society is inherited by the ungroomed. Where lies the future of those kids who are born in relief camps, what social responsibilities should be expected from all those kids who are spending days playing in relief camps? So, the future of the children will lead to a stagnant position as nurturing a child cannot be an instant step.

The long days children are exposed to everyday experiences of violent environment filled with news, information, narratives and rumours of hatred will have inter-generational impacts. The horror of the present will implant stained histories of ethnic hatred. Manipur, a small land of multi-myriad ethnic communities, has been glorifying its grand its multicul-tural assets.

The State itself has all classic features of a miniature India; unity in diversity. Now it stands all tattered. What good lessons our younger generations will learn from this phase of social situation is questionable. Prolonged exposure to conflict situation has created a psyche in the mind-set of the public, ready to react and indulge in violence.

Above all, Manipur Government’s directives of indefinite school closure for security reasons are making the student community restless. An informal survey of school going students revealed that they just want to attend school to avoid hearing stories of violence. Some are of the view that as they schools are being closed and there are no internet facilities for online classes too, it opens options for them to join crowds and mobs. The situation encouraged them to stay in groups which provide another opportunity to share stories of ethnic hatred.

One student who had just cleared her High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Exam conducted by Board of Secondary Education Manipur shared her restlessness with the probable situation of schools not opening, “I am worried how I should focus on my aim of life. If we join the war at this age all untrained and get killed, who will shoulder the future of my community ? I want to attend school to gain better knowledge on what politics and good leaders are. I am worried all elders get killed and uneducated youths have to carry on the society….I wish we attend school”

Another boy of class VII standard shared “I heard some schools have secretly reopened with students made to wear casual dresses, not school uniforms. I wish our school too reopen that way, we haven’t studied class IV & V due to COVID-19, I wish we attend full classes. Staying back at home watching news and listening to stories of violence makes me feel scared that we all will get killed in this war. Seeing my school uniforms hanging for long upsets me. I miss my school, my classmates.”

Frustrating narratives sharing grievances over the loss incurred due to ethnic violence and indefinite closure of schools. While interacting with women staying in a relief camp opened at LCM High School of Moirang Lamkhai sheltering displaced people from Churachandpur, they expressed discontentment over occupying a school as relief camp.

They don’t intend to stay there even a single day longer after vacation is over as it is meant for educating the younger generation, however once the summer vacation is over, they questioned over where shall they go back as their houses has already been burnt to cinders in the ethnic violence.

If school education is a marker of a tranquil society and peace couldn’t be restored, will the Government shut down school education or will chalk out alternative arrangement not to affect children’s education remains questionable at this rate. If peace restoration takes months and years and children be refrained from education, PEACE is irrelevant. Assuring reopening of schools is assurance of peace restoration.

It’s high time to put some honest endeavour towards reopening of the schools. Postponement shouldn’t be under- stood as a pragmatic solution to the crisis. Selfless efforts towards resumption of school classes should be.