Manipur lovers & free speech

Free Thinker *

Do you love Manipur? If this question is put to all the people of the State. I strongly believe that we shall get a reply in the affirmative. Then why is this bloodshed and lingering violence accompanied by deep-rooted hatred? We are seriously wrong somewhere.

Because of our short-term gains, dirty politics, and self-aggrandizement, we have made this beautiful state a hell. We have seen it and experienced it too in the last 4 months or so. This is horrendous.

Amidst this horrifying time we have started threatening one another – to prove that who is more patriotic and committed to the cause of Manipur. In the meantime, we must understand that we are living in a liberal democracy where freedom of expression is appreciated. You may be flayed like anything but you must have the courage to withstand that.

You or your party or organization may be wrongly charged or projected. You have the right to defend that. You may even file a civil or criminal defamation suit. But, if you intimidate the person or threaten him/her than it is not a sign of a liberal society. It creates friction which is not conducive to the fraternity.

When someone calls Khushwant Singh, the then editor of Hindustan Times ‘bastard’, - he did not mind, rather he was trying to eulogize it; to me, that was the beauty of free speech, tolerance, and democracy.

We know that everyone is not Khushwant Singh but we must be tolerant enough to face the slur and slander from others. Once again in a function where both Khushwant Singh and L K Advani were present, Khushwant Singh referring to Advani ji, said, “People are dangerous who do not drink and womanize”. Everyone present was laughing including Advani ji himself.

Let the scholars, academicians, thinkers, journos etc. express their views freely. Enough space must be given for them to deliver and maneuver otherwise we shall not grow intellectually; that is what a civilized society longs for; everyone ought to be given the liberty to express their views without fear.

However, the language should be parliamentary and presentable. In a beautiful way you may ask someone to go to hell. That is how diplomats communicate; we are not diplomats, still we must use fine language to run down others. This is a difficult art, but we must learn.

Mark Twain once said, “We have three unspeakable precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and prudence of never to practice either”. So, we can’t say who is right or who is wrong.All the views and ideas must be entertained as long as we can withstand and incorporate them.

Manipur has gone haywire. We don’t know, we are moving in which direction. It is just like a ship without a sail. We desperately need to cool down first and find a peaceful way out together. Let us remain calm and do things without violence. We have done enough damage.

One’s patriotism and belief should not curtail and curb the universal freedom of speech and expression. Nehru once maintained, that you have the right to criticize me because we all believe in freedom of expression of liberal democracy. There are people who love Manipur like anything and they are ever-ready to sacrifice their lives for their motherland. They are ready to go to any extent to save this wonderland. I believe the whole world knows about it.

There are people including youths, women, and laity who love the motherland but do not know how to express it. Sometimes their emotions and sentiments are so highly charged that they become violent. Once violence starts, there is no end to it; in fact, violence begets violence and mistrust propagates mistrust. Then the whole episode goes around and it makes a vicious cycle.

A single cause can't explain the entire violence and bloodshed. The think tanks are really confused by the sudden enigmatic eruption of hatred and heinous crimes in Manipur. It can't be solely triggered by ST demand or clearing of forest land or poppy plantation or influence of Golden Triangle or militancy or personal political ambitions etc. Perhaps this is a culmination of all these.

Why do people want to break Manipur; is there anything that is intrinsically wrong with us? Is it because of the long domination of a particular community? Is it because of the outside influence? or is it because of self-assertion for identity by ethnic groups?

Or is it a mere bargaining agenda so that a few people remain happy, wealthy, and powerful? or is there any international conspiracy to make this region unstable for their strategic politico-economic interest? They can destabilize Manipur but under any circumstances, Manipur can’t be dismantled – as long as lovers of Manipur stand united.

In this topsy-turvy one should not condemn and intimidate our outspoken citizens who remain vocal and fearlessly expressing their views. Freedom of expression must be respected in a liberal society like ours even during a war. Believe me, they are also great lovers of Manipur. To err is a human.