Roadmap to peace and tranquility in the context of Manipur Hill areas
- A Theological Perspective -
- Part 1 -

Rev Th Mangthianlal *

Senapati as seen from the Road through the lenses of Bunti Phurailatpam :: July 2012

1. INTRODUCTION:

The context of Manipur Hill Areas is a mosaic emblem mixed with intricacy. It is not an easy endeavour but a complex one to attempt to bring out a theological perspective on the roadmap to peace and tranquillity in the context of Manipur Hill Areas. But in spite of its challenges, there lies a great opportunity. All the Manipur Hill tribes embraced Christianity, are One Body in Christ, and are devout followers of Jesus Christ and believe in the Holy Scripture – the Bible, for faith and conduct.

Herein lies our commonality and point of contact for theological framework of reference in trying to answer the struggles, divisions, conflicts, confusions and sufferings we faced due to violence and injustice which deprived our generation of peace and tranquillity. Today, that is precisely what I hope to tapped in this One Day Manipur Indigenous Tribal People Peace Process Consultative Meet. Below we will briefly dwell on Christian thought on peace and tranquillity. Then we will attempt to bring out a theological perspective on the roadmap to peace and tranquillity in the context of Manipur Hill Areas.

This is not an exhaustive attempt but I hope and pray that it will contribute to the big picture of the theological framework on the roadmap towards understanding, acceptance, reconciliation and peace between the Hill tribes in particular and also to all communities in Manipur in general. I also hope that this humble venture will remain biblically faithful and contextually relevant.

2. CHRISTIAN THOUGHT ON PEACE AND TRANQUILITY

Christian understanding of peace and tranquillity is a broad one and encompass all of life's affairs and human state. "It [Shalom] meant peace, but not simply the absence of hostilities; it meant true harmony, that is, people living together in the right order that God intended. It is thus a richer concept of peace than the closest Greek equivalent, Irene, which means the absence of conflict. Shalom is a state in which everything is well, complete and present.

"1 Simply put, from a Christian understanding, peace and tranquillity is a divine state of order where children plays joyfully in the streets without any apprehension, farmers till their fields without anxiety, villages need no sentry post to protect the villagers, mountains are filled with songs and birds are chirping joyfully, trust and love is within the four walls of the classrooms, no one is judge by the village one comes from or the dialect that one speaks, travellers on roads and highways not only feel secure but enjoy the beauty of nature and the harvest fields are echoing with laughter and gladness.

3. A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROADMAP TO PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF MANIPUR HILL AREAS

In the following attempt is made to bring out some theological perspective on the roadmap to peace and tranquillity in the context of Manipur Hill Areas.

3.1. Reaffirming that all Human Beings are Made in the Image and Likeness of God

In Gen. 1:26 we saw - "Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness..."2 This image and likeness of God reflects that human beings are the representatives of God on earth.3 This calls for, if any peace process amongst Christians has to not only survived but fruitful, the foundation must be an acknowledgement that we were all created in God's image and likeness. If we are all the walking image of God on earth, it calls for respecting and honoring one another on equal footing at the individual and collective level. This premise has to be ascertain at all levels.

3.2. Teaching Our Children Peaceable Lifestyle

Peace process which invests in children will be productive. Children in Hill Areas must be taught the art of peaceable lifestyle and when they grow up they will be peacemakers. The Bible exhort us of the importance of teaching our children God's commandment: "Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away...and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deut. 6: 6-9). And if we do that they will not depart even when they are old (Prov. 22:6).

Mahatma Gandhi, a man greatly influenced by the Bible once said, "If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children."

3.3. "Do Not Covet"

Ida Glaser said, "God is not only interested in what we do, but in how we think about other people."4 Being envy and jealous of our neighbours and other villagers or tribes can be one of the root causes of interpersonal or inter-tribal conflicts. We must guard our hearts, minds and eyes from coveting habit. The word of God commands: "You shall not covet...!" (Ex. 20: 17a).

3.4. Creative Approach in Peace Process

God, in Jesus Christ, in order to redeem humankind kind from their eternal damnation gave us His only Son in a person born of virgin Mary...crucified at the Cross...buried and raised gloriously on the third day...If we have such a God who creatively redeem us, His followers can pray and ask for creativity in our mundane life for ideas that works.

While I was in South Korea, on one particular day when the day's outreach was over and as we return for home, our team met with a group of university students who were on agitation that day asking for a fair deal for the students. Since I am interested in how creatively in North East India we must adopt some measures which are non-violent and legal, I followed them – hoping to learn something from this group. On watching them their demonstration in front of their university for enough time, it seems to me they were more like an entertaining group. They sang song about Korean student movement and a respect of their student leaders. They performed arts, skits and made speeches. From time to time they made slogans with a tone which are very peaceful.

I think in peace process and conflict mediation in Manipur, we can come up with many creative ideas if this kind of consultative meet is organized often. Movies like Cry Freedom and other peaceful demonstration and rights movement must be watched and encouraged to informed our thinking and break down violent mentality which is deeply ingrained in our human system in the process of struggling for justice and sustainable peace.

For instance: "We will not part with an inch of our land!" can be substituted with "We are ready to part with an inch square of our land for the sake of peace!"

3.5. "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth"

Lisa Sowle Cahill, talking about the cyclical violence in East and Central Africa said, "[T]here is ongoing division in society and the church over histories of victimization, trauma, and collusion with perpetrators."5 And in the end, nobody will be left to occupy the land.

Joshua White said, "Christians believe that Jesus gave us example of a peacemaker: he showed us how to make peace... Jesus made peace in many ways...And he demonstrated a new way for people to love one another. He was truly a peacemaker."6 And one of the way Jesus showed us is to be meek. And in meekness we will enjoy peace and inherit the land.7

3.6. Christian Groups and Churches in Manipur Form a Platform to Shoulder the Peace Process

"[T]hat they may all be one" (John 17: 21) is Jesus high priestly prayer. His prayer focused on the people of God's role in living in unity and also that they may have a concerted-united effort in mission. One way to make this prayer come true is to form a platform where Churches and Christian groups in Manipur can come together anytime on matters related to peace and peacebuilding without any sectarian or political agenda and wholly independent in its objective and operation. It is also important that All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) must be strengthen at the state, districts and local levels so that bigger and more vibrant roles can be played by all interested Christian groups and Churches.

3.7. Careful Confrontation

"Reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself" (Lev. 19:17)

"Confrontation can become very ugly and may turn out eventually in a disastrous state. But it is an art and can be learned. The aim of careful invitation is to invite another to change without demand," says David Augsburger.8 According to him, "Life without confrontation is directionless, aimless, passive. When unchallenged, human beings tend to drift, to wander or to stagnate...Confrontation is a necessary stimulation to jog one out of mediocrity or to prod one back from extremes."9

If this art be practice in a large scale and applied individually and corporately, it will not be long Manipur will be in the right peace track.

To be continued....