Manipur in dire straits
- Imphal Times Editorial :: May 29 2016 -

When a guardian wait and watch to heal the wound without giving proper medication in time, the act was often described as ‘negligence’, ‘irresponsible’ and so and so.

It’s is perception that, even after knowing the wounds will be healed in the passing of time, there is no dearth for criticism.

This is human society of 21 century. Competition everywhere, the onetime valued first division student is now of no used unless the marks he get crossed 90% and above. And this is a signed real world.

And there is every reason for criticizing the guardian who waits to heal the wound of his ward instead of taking to physician for speedy cure.

Manipur, the erstwhile kingdom, which became a part of India in October 15, 1949, is now seriously suffering from a chronic illness.

The wound is getting serious day after another and everyone knows that “it is bleeding”. That is why the guardian of this erstwhile kingdom, now a state of India, needs to find an immediate cure.

The wait and watch policy which has been seen following for a quite long time is going to worsen the wound and definitely there is will criticism from almost all corners for being irresponsible guardian.

History still tells how the then erstwhile kingdom after becoming a part of India was treated after its merger to the Indian Union. It was given the status of Part C state. Status of a state was only given after peoples’ movement.

Then there was an issue about the influx of foreigners’ which is being continued till today. Amidst the various issue the most controversial accepted by critic as draconian act AFSPA is still enforced.

And people across the globe whoever have some understanding about the history of Manipur knows how the people of this region had struggled to get their language included among the scheduled language of the country.

At all these issues none are timely cured, some – like granting of state status and inclusion of the Manipuri language among the scheduled language have been granted after a series of protest and some which discriminate the entire people of the state from the rest of the country still have not been taken as a matter of serious issue. This is about AFSPA.

Amidst this the burning issue of Inner Line permits system which has its roots as early as late 1960s is still keeping Manipur in the frying pan.

“The more you fight your enemy the more he learnt your weakness”, the saying seems true and it’s being utilized as we see today’s Manipur.

The issue which all the people of the state had unanimously fight together have now received opposition from groups of people.

And more over the new concept of demanding ST status and publicizing it as the only means to protect the indigenous people and propagating it as an alternative to ILP demand is pulling back the genuine issue dividing the people of the reason into several groups.

Now the demand for ST status for the Meitei Meitei community which is being patronized by groups of people is also another invitation of another bitter confrontation with the smaller underprivileged community of the state.

This is being stated because these few months every years is putting the state into state of war like situation harassing the students which are the pillar of the future.

The just declared result of both class X and Class XII is not surprising, but one should rather appreciate on how the student managed to get through in such a chaotic situation.

Almost everything has been ruined and if the education atmosphere is disturb the future of Manipur is surely to be landed in serious trouble.

Are these wait and watch attitude a strategy to end the future of this state? A matter that each of us need to ponder upon.