Seeking asylum in our own birthplace on the card

Samarjit Kambam *

Sit-in-protest at Kabui Mothers at Kakhulong demanding Inner Line Permit System :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

The future of our State is at stake. Guys! Please give a second thought by fast forwarding our minds a few decades into the future. We can visualize the unfolding of unwanted events lurking like a phantom, the result of a silent and calm kind of conquest, a deceptive calmness, a bloodless conquest – the influx of outsiders. We will be sidelined or are sure to become refugees in our own state, or we may become an extinct group of people if the present trend of influx of outsider continues. And please bear in mind that this is not only impending but is already happening.

It is a very welcome development where indigenous people of Manipur become collectively conscious of the usefulness of implementation or re-implementation of Inner Line Permit with a great momentum. Nothing can be truer that the influx of migrants or people from outside our state which we call "Mayans" is taking place at such a huge magnitude that the indigenous people of Manipur can be declared as 'endangered'.

Officially or not, the truest fact is that the number of outsiders have almost outnumbered the indigenous people of Manipur particularly the Meeteis to a great extent. Thanks to JCILPS and FRIENDS for their whole-hearted effort in bringing up this issue of Inner Line Permit after a long slumber to the national mainstream through mass media and other means of communication (mention may be made of short documentaries on Inner Line Permit System in tandem with Manipuri digital films).

The bold and heroic steps taken up by the NGO 'FRIENDS' since 2012 over the demand of implementation of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur is truly praiseworthy. The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System urged the Chief Minister among others, to verify driving licenses, domicile certificates, electoral rolls of all constituencies before the already conducted 2014 Lok Sabha election to identify illegal migrants and foreigners who settled in various districts of the State after 1980 and delete them from the electoral rolls of Manipur and to set up illegal immigrants check posts at Mao Gate, Jiribam and Moreh Gate.

I love my ancestors. They fought the Burmese, they fought against the British even though Manipur was a small princely state during that time. In fact, their bravery is above reproach. But sometimes, I feel like cursing out ancestors. Our ancestors signed the "Annexation to India" accord and we are now being brought up with a step motherly attitude by the mainland India. Our ancestors kept mum when 'Ningthi Turel' was gifted to Burma by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India as a part of leaving behind his legacy of peaceful co-existence. Our ancestors were too compassionate, too kind hearted.

The result – Djuko Valley is not ours anymore. The Inner Line Permit System was there during a time for the North Eastern States viz Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. The other states are still implementing the system but is null and void for Manipur now. Our ancestors didn't know 'vote banks' played by dirty politicians for their own selfish means during that time. The outsiders were their vote banks. While the politicians thought only for themselves during that time our ancestors were ignorant about dirty politics. Now, we are bearing the brunt of the consequences.

It is a very unfortunate, pathetic and a forgone conclusion that the Bengalis have outnumbered the indigenous people of Tripura. In the present scenario, if our state i.e. Manipur goes in this trend, the same situation is on the card if swift action is not carried out for implementation or re-implementation of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur, we the indigenous people of Manipur will meet with the same fate of Tripura's status quo. In fact, out movement for implementation of ILP Is almost too late. But there's still time and hope and in this critical time keeping our hopes alive is of paramount importance.

We, the indigenous people of Manipur must rekindle our hopes and go for the battle till we win. There should be no turning back, no retreat, otherwise we will never attain our goal. However late it may be there is a silver lining that the indigenous people of Manipur are aware of and conscious and going for the goal collectively. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and other social networking sites and smartphone platforms such as Whatsapp, the unison for striving towards a particular goal gets quicker, simpler and easier particularly amongst the youngsters through exchange of innovative ideas, constructive criticism, virtual debating etc.

A couple of years back, the demand for implementation or re-implementation of ILP gained greater momentum with the Joint Committee's PIL(Public Interest Litigation) as the support to the cause by all valley and hill district people and the feasibility of bringing up the issue as a Bill by the govt. However, even if the Bill was passed by the House, the Union Minister's objection of implementation of ILP in Manipur was a big let-down and de-motivating factor.

The main handicap on the part of the state govt is that ILP is a central issue and needs approval from the Centre. In fact, it is a very complicated issue for as per Indian constitution any citizen of India can go and settle in any part of the country. This complicacy has turned out to be a stumbling block in our movement. But the separate law for the north eastern region of India is not uniformly maintained.

Let's proceed on with our movement more vigorously and with greater thrust than ever before. Our ancestors even though simple and kind-hearted had very short vision. That's the reason for total economic control by the Mayans. At this juncture I would like to mention the sudden spurt of cooking salt mania a few months back where panic buying was witnessed in every districts of Manipur.

The reason behind that unwanted phenomenon were the handiwork of some big distributors and agents with the sole aim of selling away all the bags of salts lying in their big godowns with the quality of the salt deteriorating. Go to any part of bazaar area of Imphal be it Paona or Thangal Bazar, you'll see only Mayans everywhere. I am not a racist, but it really pained me when they control the economy and determine the price of essential commodities at their whims and fancy.

All the shops be it grocery, hardware, vehicle spare parts, clothes are owned by them. They are deeply rooted in the very heart of Imphal city. Truly speaking they have ruled upon us in terms of economy, trading and business. The prices of essential commodities are decided by them in connivance with some chameleon politicians and we are at their mercy. In fact we have become economic slaves.

It's time to act before we become their physical slaves. Go to Dharmasala area at night after 10 p.m. all alone, you won't find a single Manipuri. Instead, you may get beaten or even get lynched for trespassing their territory. See, how lowly, pathetic and miserable we have become, living at the mercy of the Mayanchas in the very heart of Imphal city, the core of our state, our Manipur, our Sanaleibak, our Meitrabak, our Kangleipak. I am not being communal but when we look at the way things are turning up, I prefer to side with my own indigenous groups because we are threatened not only economically, but in our very existence.

If this trend continues, we may be deprived even of our living space. At this juncture I really thank and give my sincere regards to Tapta Jayanta usually known as Tapta for his articulate work of creating awareness about the gravity of the situation and the status quo prevailing in Manipur by means of his fusion songs with true to the bone lyrics thereby offering as an eye-opener to the people of Manipur.

In the past, our state had its own passport system to regulate entry of outsiders, but it was abolished in 1950. Since then, there has been alarming increase in influx of outsiders mostly as migrant workers. The resolution passed by the State Assembly to put pressure on the Central government to extend and adopt the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations 1973 is like the cover of an empty book.

There is no assurance, no guarantee that ILP will be re-enacted in Manipur as this issue needs approval from the Centre. I want to bring home the point that a lot depends on our attitude. We must let the outsiders know that they are no more welcomed. It is time to show that we are more resourceful, talented and do not require their services.

Let's awake from our lazy slumber and do the works which they have been doing in our own home place. Why do we have to depend on them our hair-cut, for repairing our shoes, for water-running and other manual work? Why should we let them build our houses when we have plenty of talented indigenous workers and labourers. Every work, be it manual or otherwise has its dignity.

Let's not depend on outsiders for works which we ourselves can easily perform. Now, the indigenous young bloods of Manipur are highly educated, more business oriented and enterprising. Let's stop sitting idle and begin a 'movement' by doing works by ourselves for "work is worship". Meanwhile the state govt should try its level best to enact our own law to prevent settlement of outsiders in Manipur (lest those who were born and brought up in Manipur). If this trend of influx continues, we, the indigenous people of Manipur may be seeking asylum in our own State. Let us i.e. the indigenous people of Manipur prevent ourselves from becoming 'history' before it's too late.