Food For Thought On Land, Communal And Politics!
- Part 2 -

Gitchandra S Oinam *

Rahul Gandhi once said that "We will never build a nation until we starts respecting and recognizing common man." Nation First, Party Second, Self Last is the BJP slogan. These words are seemed very simple but a very sharp weapon for nation building. No matter whether it's someone from political left or right, we just need a voice to stand up and defend the nation, state and communities. Say a very simple word "nation first, state first and respect the common man" our entire problem will be solved.

There is a very special lesion we can learn from Finland--a human but technologically advanced country (famous for Nokia company); known as land of thousand lakes (187, 00 lakes) and night less summer nights (above Artic circle) with a proud King's Road. But, you will meet a special kindness not met anywhere else. If you value hospitality, trust and friendship meet the Finns. If you long for natural beauty and relations, go to their country.

And discover much more than you expected. They also believe that the strength of a small nation lies to its culture (J.V. Sneliman, Finnish statesman and philosopher). His words must have been taken seriously because, ever since, Finns (Scandinavian group) cultural life has been marked by intellectual curiously and breadth of vision, courage and a desire to create something new!

Now, may you kindly attempt to answer some questions? Can we separate communal and arrogance from politics?? Generally, minority communities are more communal and majority community is more arrogance. Anti- communalism crusader, Dawood Bohra reformer and liberal Islamic scholar Asghar Ali Engineer has crossed swords with many within Muslims community, after investigation says—it is politics, not religion which causes communal carnage. Amongst many actors that help in creating communal hatred is the doctored history we teach in our schools. He remembers Aurangazeb because he has been presented as a villain but we have forgotten his brother Dara Sheikh, who composed Hindu-Muslim unity by translating Hindu scriptures into Persian.

Whatever we speak about issue is nothing but a part of politics. Civil society members are welcome to join in political party for political affiliation rather than issue plays by civil society in the name of non political. Their scope is very limited. But in Afghanistan, civil society is almost non existence to resist and raise its voice against the vested interests within and outside.

Why issues last long in Manipur? Because, when money comes politicians will put into their own pockets and when problems comes they threw it out to people. They want to solve the problem by reading Rs 3/- cost newspapers, also, only after the problem is chronic/ serious. How cheap is the experts / intellectuals comment, now a day? Realizing this, intellectuals do not comment to the points. Our intellectuals will debate politics of the fire brigade when our home is on fire! (Sekhar Kapur, film maker).Fire brigade will never come in time on the fire side because of traffic congestion and bad road condition!

To The Main Issue: Nagas do not need to worry for land. Why Nagas are so scared to Kuki's one step ahead? Kukis are the people everybody must give attention with care and love especially by the Naga people. Kukis are never fear to challenges but fear in love. According to Kuki elders, the simplicity of Kuki is that they asked for guns and red cloths when British officer asked them what they want from British. Because they are not land greedy people but they want to be a chief/ leader.

That is why Kuki villages are thinly populated (about 15-20 households per village are still existing), migrated from one village to another to establish a new village to become chief and live freely. The concept of Kuki home land is coming up only after Naga-Kuki ethnic clashes. Sadar hills people (Kuki dominated) must not be living under the lease agreement with Nagas. How the history and land matter coming up to Sadar hills district up gradation?

It is nothing but a politics--simply fear to derailment of dream and objectives of greater Nagaland. Unlike other districts, Senapati District has two Autonomous District Council (ADC) since 1971; one at Senapati District HQ and another one at Kangpokpi (ADC). Other districts of Manipur have only one ADC each.

Sadar hills people want to upgrade the existing ADC into full fledged district as it has become an obstacle towards development and progress. They are not asking greater or less geographical area of Sadar Hills. Where the fund for Senapati District goes to? Sadar hills share is very little. Please check DoNER ministry website and State government website. Naga body like UNC want consensus on Sadar hills district creation. However, Consensus can't be bringing from distance; instead, Naga body must cooperate and join to CRA&PB to find out a consensus.

Economic blockade is meaningless, it must be lifted immediately; and still, Naga has hope-1) love the Sadar hills people 2) co-operate to CRA&PB and 3) support to Mr. Gaikhangam to become CM. Zaliangrong people will need representatives both Prof. Gangumei Kamei and Gaikhangam. Unfortunately, both the leaders are fighting election in the same assembly constituency. Congress party has one param para informal agreement between Congress leaders for CM post—if the leader of hills can get more numbers of elected MLAs than valley, CM will be hills leader; again, if the valley leader can get more number than hills, valley leader will be the CM of Manipur.

The same informal agreement was made between Rishang Keishing and Th. Chaoba. Th. Chaoba got more numbers than Rishang Keishing; unfortunately, Th. Chaoba was defeated in the election therefore, his chance of becoming CM was missed and Rishang Keishing had become the CM. Further, Rishang Keishing's most disappointment in his life was his defeated in the Phungyar Assembly election. (To my interview at New Delhi about 7 years ago) or, he must remained holding the position held by O. Ibobi, as an undisputed grand old elected leader.

Naga has to support a Zeliangrong leader, now a day. Why the differences coming out between Nagas?

Reasons- Tangkul Naga tribe has leadership capability, relationship skills and politically experienced. Example is Late Yangmashok Seiza and Rishang Keising are capable leaders; Tangkhul girls' greetings are very sweet.

Zeliangrong people are scholastic. Example is Professor Gangumei Kamei and Professor Horam. Their disadvantage is that the Rongmei tribe (kabui) is not found in Naga tribes list of Nagaland. And, Zeliang tribe in Nagaland has only about 1.3-1.4 lakh population. Their influence to other Naga communities is very poor (reports from my interaction with Zeliang people of Nagaland). Naga political foundation and its movement has many draw back that is why they couldn't come to immediate conclusion of Naga reconciliation (between Naga factions) and permanent settlement of Naga political problem (from my study on Naga politics).

Keep faith to NSCN and GOI peace dialogue, please lift the highway blockade. Think something for yourself, your friends, your children and your parents who born and brought up you—they have share in every minute of happiness and sorrow for you. Forget your feeling, emotion and stand that I can't do it as I have committed to issues/ causes. Also, don't hurt the feelings of others. Do you know human to be extinct within 100 years?

The human species is likely to go the same way as many of the species that we've seen disappeared. After then, no one will cry for my land or your land. Frank Fenner, an Australian scientist, who helped eradicate small pox from the world, has created a new sensation by predicting that the human race will be extinct within the next 100 years (page -13/TOI/21/06/2010).However, aborigines showed that without science and production of carbon dioxide and global warming, they could survive for 40,000 or 50,000 years. But, we have faith to our scientists that they could do something to save mankind to a certain extend.

Seram Mangi's (Retd. News Editor AIR, Imphal) article "State Information and Public Relations Day" is fabulous, elegant, outstanding, gorgeous and fantastic. Is DIPR a public rejections department? For any quarry, contact only head of department or responses may change you mind to negativism. Don't believe in rumours, unconfirmed reports and informations without any authenticated sources.

From Seram Mangi article "Media strategy and media management have now become a challenging task. Simply issuing press releases or organizing news conferences are easy routine works. Formulation of media strategy and its implementation to cater to the need of the situation have to be seriously thought of. Various media particularly the print media have to be managed, if not controlled in a right perspective. The people manning the information department have to see that the eyes of the media fall on the positive things of the government and around it. Therefore trained professionals are needed in the information department of any government or undertaking. "

DIPR has to upgrade its functioning from the present Information and Public Relations to Information, Public Relations along with Knowledge Management. Role of media is not only giving information to the people but also, media has to educate and entertains people. Role of journalist is not only reporting and editing news.

We learn from people, children, nature, elders, books and society etc and we teach to the people again after analyzing and knowledge management; in such a way, our society is growing and media is helping to grow it. I found it in "Poknapham" vernacular local daily paper, which has all organs of –information, education and entertainments. Take it easy; only three small projects can improve our society and understanding –very fast!

Lastly, Appreciate to Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman; Planning Commission of India; now, get a second wind to write after M.S. Ahluwalia argued that laws should be changed to allow Universities for hire foreign faculty in the country. It advocated for an international flavour in varsities that could happen only if the government lifts restriction on hiring international faculty.

"Unless this is changed, it will to difficult to make it to the top grade" Ahluwalia said. Under the existing rules, Indian varsities are not allowed to recruit foreign faculty and the challenge before Planners, Policy Makers and Educationalist—both in public and private sectors—is to build world class universities that could be counted among the Top 200. Further, 12th Five year plan aims to make primary education more widespread and higher education more research based, Ahluwalia concluded.

Concluded...