Spirit of Manipur in collective bind

RS Jassal *

Going through various surprise and astonishing happenings around and anticipating some even more ghastly-cum-threatening to happen; though much against one's wishes; makes one feel that human spirit in Manipur is in a collective bind. What is this that one goes to sleep (if one can sleep) with a hope to get next bright morning but the story gets reincarnation with differing dimensions.

Think of morality and strange killings not only of outsiders but locals too not by chance, but intentional, motivated, meditated ones carried out with indignity. So far the number has risen to 43 in recent past, all menial labourers artisans—Biharis, UP-ites & Bengalese.

Killing of Prof Islamuddin, a Muslim educationist of Manipur University inside the portals of learning by UGs with alleged involvement of students, of Y Krishna Das, a Meitei special class contractor even after delivering Rs 25 lakh of negotiated ransom money, of Dr Kishan Singh and his two colleagues by teaming brainwork of three self-styled officers of NSCN-IM, of J Khathing, a Tangkhul senior socio political activist and long-time associate of the outfit, (his mistake he objected to siphon off 7% of fire tragedy victims relief money), of Deepak Gupta, a radio dealer in broad daylight at Thangal bazaar with stunning sequence of events; it is learnt that it took half an hour for killers (pair) moving in and out of shop including rectifying the defect which had developed in initial triggering of pistol and also due receiving instructions on mobile from far end.

Surprisingly no staff, no watchers raised any hue and cry and even after the shoot out was complete, pair indulged in the act walked out with cool heels though hands yet burning. Under contradictory reporting as if it was not enough, burning alive of Manglem Haokip, and burning of houses at Kwatha Moirang area by one group inviting another group of UG to sort out a local private dispute) and lo! KYKL killing own colleagues numbering nine and forming a new group christened, MDF (Manipur Defence Force) under KYKL nomenclature itself and within days Commander Capt Rishikanta himself getting wounded in Hundung (Ukhrul) and landing in Police net at Imphal to die later. The more you write the more you feel depressed.

Then comes role of frauds at the cost of innocents— some by coercions while others unsuspectingly to raise money in the name of disturbed situation for a national cause which varies from person to person. Ten years back, some self-styled philanthropists collected lots of money especially from Truck/Bus owners with a promise to put up rest house for them initially at Dimapur then at Kohima. In between a news flashed stating Govt of Nagaland had allotted a building to them for the purpose.

Till date neither building is allotted nor any body asked for account of money so collected which is said to have run in lakhs. Another brain wave had shot up in 2001-2002 to collect money from patriots and lovers of Motherland to repair NH 53 for creating round the season alternative road communications to negate effects of NH 39 recurrent blockades.

A lot of money was collected not out of patriotism but threats and major donors again remained Truckers/Busers/businessmen. Neither road was repaired nor anybody dared to ask for accounts so collected knowing well that if Govt with vast resources was unable to conduct repairs how could ordinary people do that without any know-how or infrastructures with them. As that was not enough lately Sharmila Kanba Lup got estranged with two civil society organisations. They detected them collecting money from people for the cause of Sharmila recently. How shameful!

Coming to politico-socials, events are as confusing and crooked as they appear to be simple and straight. Non-holding of elections to District Councils (Hills) pending unexecuted for the past 20 years. It is facilitating the Hill people in all the developmental activities of Central schemes the way they want basically on the analogy of Panchayats in the valley but indecision on incorporating/rejecting of Sixth Schedule provisions which have rather no sanction for hills of Manipur and undecided issue on delimitations appears to be dragging the issue unmindful though.

Hill Area Committee so hugely empowered Constitutionally but which is not so for any other hill areas in India, appears to be nauseating to all the hill MLAs to keep sitting heads down under its weight. Non declaring of Sadar Hills and Jiribam as revenue districts (though functional) is another wonder of the times. It is another avoidable irritant.

It is a matter of common knowledge that economic blockades or bandhs along national highways are prohibited under law. The agencies which enforce and clamp diktats under their names/official seal publicly are triable under central NH law but no one is booked here. Police escorts are detailed, but they also wait for 'negotiations' with 'bandh authorities'.

What happen on the face of it; 'who makes what fortune', is also not hidden from public eye. If the Govt armed with Supreme Court order is incapable to arrest or punish such perpetrators, why DC who is the head of District Administration and under whose jurisdiction NH passes and such offences occur, is not triable under law. Some so called self-styled nationalists go door to door to sell clandestine publications.

If you do not wish to purchase you are dubbed anti-national and threatened to purchase in the name of Motherland for its independence. You get surprised, State is already independent and enjoying full autonomy, regular elections are taking place and social activities are in full swing, judiciary is functioning not sparing even bigwigs and how come this odd looking publication is reminding you 'Manipur is NOT independent'.

Hawker will go away, you pay or do not pay but your mind gets another knot, tightening your spirit in Bind. Is it not an attempt to falsify independence to dependence on disruptive forces? Of course fortunately, there is, in every society, a core of serious minded men and women who search diligently and seriously for the causes of ills, ailments affecting the social fabric of societies they live in and take refuge in spiritual, moral and ethical powers which exist in every individual contemplating to uproot them. With this much chaos around, that time is slowly and steadily catching up to take our lost consciousness to move.

The green signals started tinkling when European Manipuri diaspora prevailed upon two Governmental Medical authorities and organised a medical camp at Khodrak to screen people supposed to be under psycho trauma (if any) specially as a result of OP SUMMER STORM in which 9 to 11 PREPAK cadres were killed. Though there was no civil casualty as reported and confirmed later, yet whether the medical camp conducted by Director Health Services & Director RIMS (first of its kind in Manipur) could detect any such case or otherwise is not made public though apparently there might have been none.

Whatever, it is not possible that there is no such case in Manipur going by various reported incidents. Imagine, nine Tangkhuls gunned down at Nongdam a few years back, 27 Nagas pushed down along with bus (NH53) by segregating Kuki, Meitei and non Manipuris near Ngarian a decade back, 108 children, ladies, men all Kukis gunned down at Joupi (Tamei) during 1992 by Lim guards (Nagas), burning of houses and atrocities committed on unarmed civilians by all sorts of UGs and at times by SFs too whether intentional or circumstantial, the ISKON temple blast, Paorabi blast, Aloogali blast and knocking of doors at midnights or tender hours by UGs, SFs and unlawfuls in the melee of looking for target

So one gets surprised why European Diaspora limited their concerns to Khordak alone where there could be no such case & thereafter kept quiet. Since Director Medical & RIMS have charted the journey in search of providing sound health care to the citizens, they must organise similar camps in all corners of Manipur from social angle, ethical aspect which will provide emotional integrity to the State. This is a good beginning.

It will also assist creation of a collective spirit to fight the evils deep rooted in our societies which currently only GOD can provide us. Since God responds to loving devotion, the least or most we can do is renew our TRUST in HIM through our prayers, for ending human suffering & freeing our spirits in bind;

It is firmly believed that earnest prayers made with pure hearts will surely not go unanswered and that, by HIS GRACE, alone, an era of peace and harmony shall be ushered in. Honoured Meira Paibis & new crop of youth can surely help in providing new directions to the wild winds we are engulfed in.