May Peace Prevail and Let It Begin With Me

Ronaldo Laishram *

Manipur Population Density : 2001 - 2011

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
Martin Luther King Jr.

It is the high time we have to step out from the hills of North East and we need to expose to the world. Recently, there is some unfortunate tension among us. We all need to realize the solution to curb the ill poison which sprayed upon us. Lately, there are some communal agenda and hatred in our state. But the regretful thing is that It is between us (brothers-Meetei, Kuki, Nagas etc...).

And the miserable news is that social networking sites help to spread false propaganda like wildfire. Please don't spread rumor during this peak moment. I don't know why some people spread false propaganda. Don't ever imagine that it will help to solve the problem. We have to be honest, truthful if we want to achieve what we want.

So I request you to kindly stop spreading false propaganda about the current issues. Our Human tongue performs two functions-one of taste and other of speech. If we eat judiciously and with temperance, we shall have no health problems. If we use our tongue for eating uneatable or overeat, health problems will arise.

Likewise Speaking bitter, unpleasant and unpalatable words to people is certain to antagonist them, even to turn them into enemies. Sweet and pleasant speech befriends people and exercise wholesome effect on our social relations. An unsavoury tongue is sure to pollute the social relationships and create tensions which will bring nothing but misery and sorrow. So, I request all to bring peace in our motherland.

Let us know something regarding us. Since ancient times, the Meetei people have lived in the valleys of Manipur alongside the Nagas, and Kukis in the hills and valley as brother. It should be noted that all the different ethnic groups are of the same Mongoloid group, and have very close similarities in our culture and traditional habits.

But none of us is very much conscious of our diversities. The need of the choice is to know our diversities so that we can understand our commonalities that reach very much present in our folk history and cultures. If we make a triangular translation of the cultures of the Meiteis and other ethnic groups putting the former at the vertex of the triangle and the latter at the base, we will be able to understand the similarities shared by the groups.

Only when we can perceive our common part and present we will be able to lead a harmonious and peaceful life. Here, the role of the majority group is also very important. The Meetei, being a majority group should give up their cultural arrogance so that they can provide protective and supportive coverage to the minority groups and others group must also abandon the arrogance and support to majority, so that we can live happily with cooperation.

Only then we will be able to reorganize the cracking structure of our society and we can think of a multi-layered society in terms of cultural autonomy and co-existence.

Manipur originally known as 'Kangleipak' which is said to be a 'Golden Land' as the saying goes, "Manipur Sana Leipak, Chingna Koina Pan Saba, Haona Koina Pan Ngakpah", is the ancestral home of the Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas. Manipur is characterized by ethnic diversity.

Now my question is that why our brothers Kukis and Nagas are against and show irresponsible things regarding the implementation of Inner Line permit system (ILPs). ILP is for MANIPUR and they are also a part of MANIPUR. They will also be protected by this system. I don't know the main reason behind their protest.

But, I can assume that the violence and communal hatred was started by some mistrust and wrong analysis/interpretation of the bills by some self vested personal interest groups and they used the innocent people by advertising the false propaganda and the innocent one join blindly.

Why us (Meetei) stands against odds for the implementation of this system. Many of my friends asked me why do you want to implement ILP system (You need to know what ILPs in first visit http://e-pao.net/.. Link here ) in Manipur and what will happen if other states and demand the same.

Let us look something.........
The total area of Manipur is 22,327 sq. km. Out of this only 2,238 sq. Km are valley, where all the groups(majority Meeitei, Kukis, Nagas, and non-locals) are staying together while the remaining areas are covered with hilly tracts., where only some groups like Kuki, Nagas are staying.

One important point which need to mention here is that Majority Meetei are not given permission to reside in the hilly area. We are only confined in this small area. Yes, by somehow hook or crook we will stay here. (Look at the density of population, the problem is for majority which has high density but small area) But, the problem lies here.

According to the census 2011, The Meiteis who constitute the biggest community among the indigenous people of Manipur exceed the population of non-local people by just 44,334 persons. According to 2001 census report, the total population of Manipur was 22,93,895 out of which non-local people constitute 7,40,448.

The total population of the Meiteis who constitute the largest community in Manipur was 7,51,822 which was just 47,334 persons greater than the total population of non-local people. Given these incompatible growth rates, the population of non-local people should have certainly overshot the population of Meiteis by following years.

So, Implementation of ILP is very much necessary for the safeguard of our socio-poitico culture which include both Valley and Hilly area.There is nothing wrong with the implementation of ILPs. We all need is to support and cooperate in order to protect MANIPUR. That is our aim. I hope my tribals brothers and sister will cooperate to us.

For God sake, please don't have any communal intentions. Last but not the least, We need to know that we are brothers and son of Manipur . All we have to do is to protect and safeguard our state Manipur.

May Peace Prevail and Let It Begin With Me.

"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." - Albert Einstein

"Peace begins with a smile" - Mother Teresa