It is interesting to see that people of Manipur are having a blast of 'what they have created' for themselves over the last two decades. Many
concern layman and writers have written so much on how to solve the intricacies that lie within Manipur.
If we look back in retrospection, the way things has taken place, we will be amazed at how degraded our
society has become.
During the early 90's before the outbreak of the infamous communal clash, people of Manipur had more or less enjoyed the warmth of their
kindred brethren over hills and valleys.
Those peaceful days, as I look back, will not come again in the near future. Until this present
generation who called themselves the 'representatives' of people, who justify their cause agree to set an atmosphere wherein the outcome can be for the
'true liberation of the Manipuris'.
Let us cast our nets of hope in the rural areas. What do we catch? Is what most of the Manipur leaders will not be able to explain-
chaos in all sectors.
Let me mention one particular district in this case- Churachandpur. The district was the most peaceful and the fastest developing
town in Manipur in the late 80's and early 90's. Students from other states came to study in large numbers, but today the story is otherwise.
Let those people who claimed to 'represent' the communities come up and explain why Manipur has become a centre of conflicts- not only with the
so-called 'Delhi' , but within different communities itself.
The state machineries in rural areas have been deserted and shifted to the towns. The sub-divisional officers, in order to get their
attestation, one has to go to unregistered offices in the towns.
The Primary Health Centres are there in books and drawers of secretariat at Imphal. The people are waiting for some 'superman' to bring this, as I love to
call, "File Hospitals", to the needy.
Hundreds has died of dysentery, typhoid, etc. due to lack of basic health facilities in remote areas. Last
but not the least, and I feel the most important is the lack of proper education.
At one point of time Manipur had given birth to a group of educationists who do the state proud at various levels. They now have
become a legacy.
These few points can be an eye opener if one truly feel that we need to take some action about it. And that action should be in a dedicated and
warlike approach.
When people are truly educated, they sometimes may be fooled by few people, but an educated person cannot always be fooled.
It is not enough to be literate but educated. Manipur have become a 'land of literates' and that is causing most of the problems that we
encountered today.
It is only with true education that, the once glory of Manipur, can be rebuilt!
Let us try to give our children a peace of mind
and a state that they would lovingly cherished to be a member of that generation.
Robert L Sungte from Mangalore University, writes for the first time to e-pao.net.
You can contact him at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on 11th August 2005.
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