Making a demographic sense of Manipur
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 04 2011 -
A sitting MLA held a press conference where he informed that from 1950 till date there has been a 35% rise in the population of non-Manipuris in the state. It is not clear how much this constitutes in terms of percentages compared to the total population, nevertheless it is a major cause of worry.
Even if the total present population of non Manipuris is just a few lakhs, within a 50 year period there will be places and leikais which you will recognise no more, and Manipuris residing in those areas will be as rare as the Sangai.
What has been the springboard of this change in the demographic structure in the state? It is social and cultural values which are the factors that have propelled the large scale influx of non Manipuris in the state.
It is our misconceived notion of what constitutes an 'Indian' which has led to our tortured relationship with Indians. In order to prove that we are good Indians we have been hacking away at our millennia old culture and traditions. Why? Because in our distorted perspective we regard them as impediments to becoming a good Indian.
We as a people are timid to assert our stand but we can be self destructive in fighting for a wrong cause. Let us begin with an understanding of what constitutes an Indian.
On the political plane there is no reason to split hairs. Politically we are Indians, and unless India, the political entity breaks up, that reality will not change.
But of the social, cultural and linguistic identity of being an Indian? That, friends, is a notional value. Either you believe in it or you do not.
It you are going to arm twist a Kashmiri to accept the concept of being an Indian as defined by your queered understanding you better wear a good disguise if you are in Srinagar. Let us even leave aside Kashmir, can anyone in his right sense try to impose an arbitrary concept of being an Indian on the Tamils.
You may do so only by making anonymous phone calls from public call offices but nothing more otherwise you might have to lead the life of a hermit somewhere in the Himalayas.
And this also stands true for the other big states in the south, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
And yet the people in these states are all loyal Indians, the only trouble is that you cannot seek impositions on them.
Lest we forget Tamil, the language, is much older than Hindi. The scale of architectural grandeur over tower its counterpart in the north. They have all worked out the way to be Telegu, Kannada, Tamil or Keralite while at the same time being good Indians.
The story of these big states does not complete the spectrum of the definition of being an Indian. In the northeastern region, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram are very honourable mentions. They too have strived to preserve their identities without denying the fact of being an Indian.
Then why should we feel threatened of being demographically swamped over.
First, is the perceived threat true? The answer is yes.
Second, why have we chosen to stand in a demographic quick sand? The answer is because we are a land of extremes.
There is a plethora of experts, sages and leaders, their numbers exist their followers, after all we are a tiny society. Perhaps some enterprising businessman could start a 'Rent a Crowd' service. With a surfeit of gurus and experts, many self appointed, we are still confused whether we want the Inner Line Permit to be enforced in Manipur or not.
Since the concept and acceptance of being an Indian is established let us get down to find ways to preserve our land. Let us stop arguing and tearing each other's hair out.
For us common people, experts make us dizzy and have bad digestion. You might bark back, what about us, we too feel hardly normal, but that will be unfair, you were born that way and it is second nature is you.
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