Much has been heard over and over again many vocal speakers delivering sermons on 'emotional Integration' in and around Imphal. Many eminent Editors have been highlighting the same, stressing the need of the hour to bring love to all and become emotionally integrated among the different caste and creeds in Manipur in their esteemed Newspapers. Experts and intelligentsias who have similar concern have continuously been expressing their views in many of the daily local vernaculars and English editions emphasizing towards a peaceful Co-existence.

Non-governmental voluntary organizations working on this line pressing hard spare no efforts in an attempt to bring all communities together under the much-needed united umbrella. But the call and approach doesn't apparently hit the target and still leaves much to be seen. Any measures taken up by the majority community with a view to balance the misunderstanding among various communities seemed to have translated otherwise by some section of people and all such efforts reduced into an affair like a snake charmer maneuvering to tame the 'ferocious' Cobra. "We are brothers," one may claim but in the practical aspects it depicts something different and evokes a sense of alienation within the brothers, which seems to grow larger day by day.

Religion and doctrine basing on 'love one another' has less impact in our society. One will preach 'forget and forgive' from the pulpit of the Holy house but how far this has been practiced is yet to be seen. Many will speak on the line of emotional integration in the well-decorated hotel conference halls but the impressive service towards what he calls is yet to be pressed into action. We have hurled allegations on each other on religious lines and others alleged apathy towards the minority section by the Government and lots more but this can't stop one from being loved by one another.

I humbly believe there should be a way out where we can find a solution and start afresh as a new people baptizing to the much-anticipated call of the New Millennium "Love one another". I am neither a resource person who can play a key role in bringing about a 'well-knitted' Manipur society nor a scholar who can pass an overview comment on such delicate issues. However from the layman point of view, I have my own dream of a 'united Manipur'.

NINGOL CHAKOUBA AND EMOTIONAL INTEGRATION

The recently concluded "Ningol Chakouba" of Manipur, which is popularly celebrated by the Meiteis, went beyond the sibling ties to communal ties as it was organized in the previous years. This festival though before few years was confined within the Meitei Community alone; however stepped out of its barrier in a new form heralding a message which brings camaraderie and togetherness to the people living in Manipur.This message ardently reaffirmed the strong bond which had been cherished by brothers and sisters of various communities and emphasized its traditional fervour and gaiety.

This festival is now celebrated at community levels by different organizations at different locations in Manipur. The major role taken up by the All Manipur Ethnical social Cultural Organization (AMESCO), the pioneer of such approach is indeed praise worthy. The Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) too joined in this ideology and started organizing it since 2000 and thereafter many NGOs too followed suit. And these have been seen at different places viz Yumnam khunou, Nongdam, khoyathong, Rengkai, Jiribam, Moreh, Heinoukhong maring, Ningthoukhong, Motbung, Yurenbam and Leibi of Manipur.

In my humble opinion the modus operandi of inviting our sisters of various communities to a sumptuous feast on the day of Ningol Chakkouba have however a different view and proposal. Infact, it has been observed that such auspicious occasion being organized by various public organizations in the local community halls or big halls where some few hundreds people feast together. While the theme of the occasion primarily lies on emotional integration, the way the festival was organized couldn't stand to its theme.

Many of the Ningol belonging to the different communities seemed to have participated the festival without knowing the essence of the festival. The concept by and large seemed to have evoked that Meiteis are organizing a feast where tribal women are also invited and "let us go and take part and see what is that all about" kind of concept. I am not trying to malign this sacred festival or dishonoring the sisters of various communities. This can be beautified and more realistic and emotional. Let us have a look.

Manipur is a fertile land of festivals, merriments and mirth round the season. Here, hardly a month passes without a festival or two. However the Ningol Chakouba never represent any ordinary festival and name itself reveals a lot which is beyond explanation . The love of father and daughters and unfathomable affection between the siblings has all coined together in these two great beautiful words "NINGOL CHAKOUBA". Women by nature have never possessed a surname of their own. The parental home where she belonged was so temporary and her destiny would whisk her away the day marriage bell rang.

Nobody except Destiny knows where she would be heading and landing? For all these reasons "Ningol Chakouba" remains the most significant day for the Meiteis. The festival brings back nostalgic events of the past and thus reaffirmed the inseparable bond between brothers and sisters. In a similar line if we would like to exploit the same spirit with other sisters of various communities , then the mode of organizing the festival needs rectification. Organizing the event in Local Halls has nothing much impressive both in spirit and emotional integration.

To improve it, the whole of the Meitei Community say for instance in my locality 'Kwakeithel', the mode of organizing this festival could be converted to a household affair where in my family I may be allowed to invite a few numbers of Tangkhool sisters or that of any other communities. The local club/organization can take a role in it. They can raise funds and organize it in their own respective sectors. Households who uphold the spirit but are not in a position to meet such expenditures may be partially extended financial assistance by the respective club/organization.

In a locality where there are 1000 Meitei families, can possibly invite around 2000 of our loving sisters of various communities on this day. It will be more natural and emotive. In the process my own sister along with the Tangkhool sister whom I invited should be conferred the opportunity to let them enjoy the luncheon of the day together sharing on the same food in joyous mood. They are supposed to receive the same gift and affection from their father and brothers. In this way a real personal love and cohesiveness could be instilled to the family levels first then to the communities and as such an everlasting bond can no doubt be developed. In the same way our sisters of other community may also call on their Meitei brothers on the eve of Chieraoba (Meitei New Year} with a small gift just as a token of love and respect.

I believe we can organize and cultivate the truest spirit of Ningol Chakouba in an effective way. While we are celebrating the festival at home with full spirit with our own sisters, around the same time if we organize another feast inviting other sisters of various communities somewhere in local club or halls where the spirit is next to non-existent -precisely not impressive. When our Christian brothers invite any Meitei families or friends in the Christmas or in any of their indigenous festivals they never organized a separate party for the Meiteis.

LOVE IS THE GREATEST THING

It is high time for all the human beings living in Manipur to foster a better understanding and swallow the pill of Co-existence and thereby involve them in any move if it is meant for emotional integration. We as indigenous races are definitely lacking and failing to co-operate one another somewhere down the line. But it is also important to understand one another in a very practical and reasoning aspects. It should be assumed that past history has done much harm to the present generation.

However we are not to be misled by such historical accidents and the times call for a down to Earth attitude on the theme that we ought to live together. This always remains top priority. For which we don't have a magic wand to bring all the communities together at a stroke instantly but the understanding based on forget and forgiveness only can give a reply to this question. Manipur is a small state with a lot of peace loving citizens. The concept of separation or bifurcation from the present geographical map of Manipur could only mean a loss for all.

The European Communities have shown an ample example to the rest of the world that they have formed to have common currency and maximize their economic interest. They have all abolished narrow views on citizenship, restriction on trades and other commercial barriers. The motive why these entire powerful Nations should merge together is not far to understand that they want to lead a life of prosperity, a better life and progress. In comparison to the great European communities our State set-up in this tiny land locked hill state is quiet humble in all spheres. Various records have indicated that Manipur was powerful and a bigger country. The union of hills and Plains constituted the kingdom of Manipur. We need to study and digest the good part of the history.

In the present trend people seemed to have taken their own turn independently and nobody lends an ear to the other. The classic Manipuri folk tale of an unscrupulous monkey who had been requested to distribute a loaf of bread by two quarrelsome cats over an equal share and ends up with the shrewd monkey eating the whole portion of the bread -is something worth digesting by the people of this land.

In my personal view emotional integration begins down from the glass root level and it does not require a public address system to bellow at the top of voice nor this message be delivered from the pulpit of a church. We start loving one another in natural and spontaneous way and first and foremost service is to win the heart. That is emotional integration. The ploy of the unseen forces, which adopts the age old divide and rule policy, had already created much barrier within. This continues to develop a sense of suspicion, mistrust, alienation and hatred, which grow bigger day by day.

The wind of misunderstanding had polluted enough and looming large over the horizon of Manipur yet this is nothing to dampen the spirit of the people and not the end. Anybody can speak lies- things can be made more difficult- whatever it is; the people living in Manipur have to pay the price. This is something to be reckoned with.

FACE TO FACE WITH EMOTIONAL INTEGRATION

Emotional integration lies on small things and begin with personal contact at various levels. In one of such opportunities, on a humid midsummer Sunday, I had encountered two Paomei women near Karong of Senapati district, who with their small babies at their back walked unsteadily upward Lairou. The day being Sunday there was hardly any passenger vehicle plying and the road was virtually deserted. I was on my way to Kohima along with a friend of mine and as the back seat of my car was empty and being concerned, I invited them to get into my car so that I can give a lift. They hesitated a little bit but I persuaded them.

The road upto Karong indeed was a long winding one of about 10 Kms or so bouncing over the numerous potholes. It would have been indeed a long journey for the two women had not I cared to halt the vehicle for them. The two women shrank at the back seat in relief. I overheard the murmuring of the two women in Paomei dialect behind me and I was very sure that they were appreciating me. To notice such indication one need not to learn the language, this is a language of the heart- the modern language termed it telepathy.

On arrival at their destination the two women who were obviously religious bowed down a moment in deep reverence and prayed to the Almighty for our safety for the next part of our journey after they alighted from my car. I was really moved by their prayer and that was how I encountered and felt the abstract feeling of emotional integration on that day. This is just a simple experience. There should be many more ways where one can exploit such love and compassion at grass root level. One small sweet gesture inspired a lot of reciprocal acts of goodwill.

It is also still fresh in my mind about the day when I was stranded in one of the landslides caused by the heavy rainfall at Tadubi. The local volunteers spent maximum efforts to clear the mud heaps. Till late in the evening the road was still jammed and as soon as the BRTF cleared the road I made the situation more aggravated for my car fell into a ditch and wheel slipped. Thank God the noble Naga volunteers lifted the car and helped me to reach the other part of the road towards Mao.

Suddenly a wild concept crept up into my mind those sometime natural calamities though it was a curse to the human landscape in this region yet this is also undeniable that such occurrence brings love, co-operation to the various communities and more practicably in Manipur. Let us also imagine if an awesome earthquake suddenly struck Manipur where the Mountains crumble down and valley portion ever swelled up to Mountains, what will be the outcome?

IN QUEST OF UNDERSTANDING

The year of the National Games in Manipur witnessed hordes of talented players and proved to the rest of the world that 'we can do it '. Any Meitei would be happy and proud and would say, " Khuman Lampak is only the stadium in India where all the sports infrastructures are laid together in a close distance". Definitely true the huge main stadium; eye-filling Hockey stadium, Swimming pool, veledrom and Indoor stadium etc are really worth seeing. It is indeed wonderful that all such spectacular facilities are well clustered in a radius of four/five kilometers of Khuman Lampak. Such big sports complex is hardly seen in any other part of the Country. But the big sports complex at the same time has another side of the story too.

There had been voices in various remote places of Manipur that the Government has terribly failed to look after their welfare. "All the infrastructures from education to sports are deliberately installed in Imphal area only''. While I also understand the necessity to have the sports stadiums in Imphal however, there is something, which has to be equally cared to. Sometimes I also wonder had the Government been gracious and thoughtful enough during the National games meet, it could have bifurcated some of the events elsewhere in Senapati, Chandel or Ukhriul district.

This way the government could have rendered an ample opportunity to the people of the remote district who couldn't come up to Khuman Lampak and applaud for Manipur, to at least make them applaud for the players of Manipur by fixing the venue of few of the sports disciplines in their areas. A table tennis match, badminton or Taekwondo could have been well organized in Ukhriul or Senapati district. Should we assume that people in Senapati or Ukhriul district would clap for Kashmir and Rajasthan when it comes versus Manipur? People would have certainly supported Manipuri players. This however, could not be executed.

In the meantime, anybody alleging charges of partiality to the respective sports Association in the selection process would be too far fetched and precisely oft-cited indictment. Let not emotions speak. Talents need to be praised by one and all. This is neither an area where one can bribe the technical officials nor imply unfair means as in the examination hall.

Yes If Manipur has to grow then we need to share all round developments in a way everybody should be happy about. The philanthropic organizations more experienced in dealing with humanitarian works may also check the teachers who are posted in the hill districts and enjoying their salaries without attending the schools. In the hills, most of the teachers found absent-is a regular phenomenon. Inspectors employed under the school education Directorate/council have failed to inspect the schools in the hills and other remote areas in Manipur.

This has also been a factor in developing an artificial gap among the various communities and in particular between the hill and plain . Hardly any student studying in the primary level in the valley understands the "way of life and cultural activities" of the hill dwellers and vice versa. We don't usher an acute education policy where we can let the young generation learn and make them understand their land and people instead we are more inclined to learn the life story of other great men who had never contributed a fraction of humanitarian deed for Manipur and her people. This is quite unfortunate.

THE DOUBLE STANDARD POLITICIANS

MLAs who have been elected to be the representatives of the respective section bade adieu to his own constituency prior to the day he had been declared elected and instead of working for the welfare of his area he would be found busy in accumulating wealth and raising palatial buildings in Imphal only. These people also play a major role in creating an artificial barrier between the hills and valley. They make a lot of tall promises and indulged in many mischievous acts, played on the sentiments of the people only to woo votes. They are habitual liars and can make Mountains out of molehills.

They would say they are being deprived, their genuine causes goes unheard- but they are shrewd enough to understand who got what? Funds meant for development of the unprivileged section always goes to the coffer of the one who took a vow in front of his council members that he would bring a change. Prior to the day Manipur enjoyed the statehood status under the Indian constitution, the Ministers holding the portfolios of the tribal welfare had been all from the tribal representatives. This is also evident during such period quite a sizeable quantity of CGI roofing materials meant for the poorer section in the hills has been flooded in the main-market and then to the individuals in the Imphal areas at considerably subsidized rates.

The sewing machines meant for this class never reached the rightful owners. Who are to be blamed? In my humble opinion such portfolios meant for the 'tribal welfare' should be conferred to one of the reliable Meitei Ministers in the acid test experiment so as to find out how much avenues are there in the hidden shelves, which has never seen the light of the day in the past.

It doesn't mean that the Meitei Minister will perform better but the time also calls for a change. If the hill areas are still suffering under the shadow of poverty despite the loans, grants and other materials in kind through the central packages and State tribal welfare schemes then something has gone wrong down the line. If all these can't improve their welfare then it is time to replace the persons who mismanaged the 'welfare fund' for so long. Yes one can't cry for the Moon.

We will not be able to convert the interior most part in Manipur into Imphal City over a fortnight. We also have visited the interior part of other States including Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.All these States and its interior part seemed to have been reeling under the shadow of poverty. There had been a lot of areas, which are to be looked into. But they lodged complaints with their own representatives in the State Assembly and not with the people living in the State Capital. The time also calls for all the shrewd politicians who make false propaganda and injecting venom into the mind of innocent people on Communal lines to stop such practice for the sake of human kind in this region. We all know that what they visualize is the next Election and the land and people are secondary.

I am writing this short article on my own thought lines and an attempt to bring about the much-anticipated "emotional Integration" in Manipur. My writing could be literally a pinch of salt in the vast sea of experts and intelligentsias. I have already made a sincere appeal that I am not at all a perfectionist in passing remarks on such issues. This has simply reflected the dream of a common citizen towards emotional integration. If my writing were taken in the right perspective then my humble effort in writing this small note is amply rewarded.