India celebrated its 59th Independence day amidst fear of terrorist
attacks but with pride for the success of democracy. It is said that it
has maneuvered itself from a beggar country to an upcoming economic power.
This journey is marked by ups and downs. The failure of the Nehruvian
socialism, the success the partial market and partial capital economy,
the Green revolution led by M.S. Swaminathan, white revolution led by
Verghese kurein and most recently the IT revolution.
From the days of
the PL- 48o to surplus food grains. The pre, post and the midnight
children has had their trysts with destiny and and has given a booming
economy and above all a new level of confidence to the Genext.
It is satisfying to read the success story of the country to which we
belong, geographically or by default as some may argue. But what have our
state achieved and what have we contributed.
We were born post the
Nehruvian era and the green and white revolution and however we are
witnessing the IT revolution and the contribution of individual Manipuris.
E-Pao may be an example to cite.
We are surprised to see the pathetic condition of our state(society).
In which field have we strive forward.
Leave state and politics, have we
as a society failed??What have our older generation done to us. Should
we blame them?
Let us introspect into our failures. What were our older generation
doing when the whole country is up in arms in the green revolution and the
white revolution??
States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and
Haryana are successful in producing surplus food grains. Were our older
generations sleeping then or should we blame the government for not
providing canals for irrigation.
Do we ever heard the concept of community
ponds and rain harvesting.
Every co-operative movement has miserably failed in Manipur. MSRTC once
the only means to transport for Manipur is reduced to a fleet of four
or five buses plying between Guwahati- Imphal.
Its the same with Dairy
Industry, cement, sugar, spinning mill and even private entrepreneurs are
affected.
One will be scared to learn the items imported on a daily
basis from food to clothes that we wear to cover our dignity. Do we have
any dignity??
Its said that Manipur has lots of raw material for paper, is it possible
for a paper industry or is it difficult to harness the raw material
itself.
Pineapple, Orange, Tea, Rubber is anything possible at all. If I ask
this question to a middle aged citizen of our society the answer will
be an emphatic no.
Once a learned person told me that infrastructure is a big problem in
the development of Manipur. Why is the quality of roads in Manipur worst
than those in cities like Chandigarh?
Is it that the government gives a
lower quotation on the construction contract than those given by Punjab
government or are our contractors and Engineers traitors. Everyone
knows the answer.
We are aware that we have the best team of Doctors in Manipur. It is
the result of the comprehensive and corruption free entrance test. We are
proud of them.
But why are those cases which cannot be treated in
government Hospitals revered to private hospital and the same doctors who
referred the case treat them in private hospitals.
Are we a leading example in Medical tourism in South-East Asia. Its a progressive trend!! In
the meanwhile poor patients will rot in government hospitals.
Is there
any law to stop patronizing our competent doctors from patronizing
private hospitals? Haven't they install a X-ray machine in the Hills district
yet??
The law and order situation is in its best. We are afraid to go out in
the night lest we meet the law and order enforcer. What else would we
say.
Even our media and press are gagged. It is said that media plays
the role to shape positive public opinion. But our media has become the
mouthpiece of powerful groups.
Is it because our newspaper are published by wealthy individuals with
no professional training as journalist. How many of our editors have
degrees in Mass-communication and journalism.
As a society we are hyper sensitive to the comments of social and
political groups. We have failed to even think of development and progress.
We as a society are non existent in our mindset.
Individualism has
taken priority above all. What is our culture?? Do we still fool
ourselves that dancing in the tune of laiharaoba is our culture or is our
culture that of keeping long hair.
What defines culture of a community is the norms and the rules that the community followed for social political
and economic development over the period of its existence.
What have
our older generation given to us??
Our education system has failed miserably. They have produced
semi-educated youths who cannot earn a living for themselves.
Do we need to overhaul the present system. Why are students taking up politics when their
duty is to study.
And can we explain why are they taking construction
work of the college. Is it for the benefit of the college or for his own
pockets.
Has our University produced any graduates capable of
competing with students from other Universities of the world.
None.
Those who
have done his/her education in Manipur from childhood till Masters level
very sincerely telling will not be able to board a train from Guwahati.
India including Manipur ( read Manipur government)celebrated its 59th
Independence day but Sharmila is still starving. India has its trysts
with destiny but our older generation has failed their destiny.
In the last 58 years they have given us a failed polity, a failed society,
corruption, drugs, wrong education, misleading history, false racial pride,
example to hate other community and above all to accept their wrong
doings as our fate and the making of the external force.
We were enchanted and romanced with Khwairakpam Chaoba's "Chinggi
leirang ammada" but no, we dont want to become the chingi leirang ammada,
who perished unknown and unsung.
We want to bloom to our fullest and
spread our scent to the world and become the cynosure of the world.
In this early morning ( because at midnight Americans are wide awake)
shall we awake into freedom of imposed ideas free our mind and work had
for a socially, economically developed society.
Genxt ( a pseudonym) writes for the first time to e-pao.net.
You can contact the writer at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on 16th August 2005.
|