Sunshine after Unprecedented Storm is what everyone is hoping for....

N Shimrah *

Restoring the glory, vibrancy, strength, harmony and conducive atmosphere that was Manipur is what every individual, irrespective of ethnic tribe, religion, caste, communities living in the valley and hills of the State is deeply longing for. How can we and why should we allow the anger, hatred and violence to keep destroying the fabric and foundation of our harmonious society unendingly.

If human anger and hatred can bring so much damage, harm and destruction than equally, if not more, human compassion, love and forgiveness will even move the mountains and heal the wounds. It is just painful to see what is happening in Manipur today.

It is quite natural and human to retaliate, defend and resort to any means including violent means if one’s stability, existence, survival and home/house are under attack or threatened by any adversary. This is basic human instinct for survival and progress. Today’s scenario in Manipur is sadly and unfortunately going through such unimaginable, nightmarish and horrendous situation especially between Meitei and Kuki.

It is understandable that at this juncture, no amount of good words of solace and peace appeals from various quarters will hit the sense and ears of the parties affected. The only wish from both the parties involved in this conflict could be to achieve their target goal and demands by using any means.

For the hardliners/radicals of each community involved in the conflict, peace will prevail only after completely defeating and destroying the adversary. However, such wild thinking will only aggravate and bring more self-destruction to the society. The present situation is such that the Meiteis are accusing the Kuki militants/Narco-Terrorist of constantly attacking Meitei villages in the foothills of valley areas.

Similarly, Kukis are accusing Meitei volunteers such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun of constantly attacking Kuki villages in the foothills with the help of State forces.

This blame game and counter allegation, pointing fingers at one another will only aggravate the tense situation further. On the one hand if both the allegations are true, then it will also pose great danger to the harmonious coexistence of this multi-ethnic communities living in the State.

Every normal human would surely understand the pain, agony, hatred, anger and untold miseries of both the parties involved in the present clash. However, for how long should we allow this madness and hatred to continue? As a human, we can no longer bear and live with this madness of violence.

From human survival perspective it is impractical and impossible to prolong the present conflict unendingly. I as an individual with all humility and limitation would urge both the parties to pave way for peace building to usher in a ray of hope. We know peace and normalcy will not come very easily at this hour but it is not impossible either. Time is the only healer.

The ultimate want of any human is to live in harmony and peace with their love and dear ones at home. The pain and agony gone through by the affected people at the moment must be unimaginable especially for those families who have lost their love and dear ones and people who are already displaced from their home. But for how long can we remain fighting and killing, torching each other house after living together as neighbors for years.

So far, more than one hundred precious human lives have been lost, over hundreds injured and thousands displaced. Uncertainty of children’s education is of great concern across various communities, loss of business establishments in the State now and years to come will be enormous.

Normal administration and various developmental activities being carried out by the State Government has been badly affected and has come to a halt. People of the State are facing enormous hardships due to frequent curfew, internet ban and National Highway blockade etc.

Under such circumstances, both Central and State Governments must continue to make all-out effort to control and avoid fresh violence. State police forces along with Central para military forces should continue to act very tough and display impartiality while discharging their duties in order to restore and maintain normal law and order in the State.

To quote Aristotle, a famous political philosopher “The Legislator is a craftsman whose materials is society and whose aim is good life”. Let us remind ourselves that we have given our consent to the elected representatives (MLAs) to defend, protect and decide what is best for our society.

However, it is very unfortunate to see unruly mobs/volunteers attacking indiscriminately not sparing even our representatives. Such is the grave situation the State is undergoing currently. The attacks are nothing but a sign of anarchy and chaos prevailing in the State of Manipur. Manifesting people’s frustration through violent means without sparing even the elected representatives is very scary and dangerous.

This kind of soft target culture engineered by certain section in the society will not help in solving the problem but bring self-destruction. Mob culture and mass protest is good at a time of peaceful environment but most dangerous and unpredictable at the time of crises. is when everyone decided to take the responsibility by themselves and resort to taking arms and unruly mob attack.

Violent means should not be considered as the only way to resolve our differences and issues or only means to achieve its target goal. It will be wise to explore other mechanism to advance one interest as well. Any demand or claim can only be sorted out and settled when there is a peaceful and conducive environment. There will be various institutional mechanisms, Rules, Constitutional Provisions and Legislative Procedures to address any demands or grievances raised by any groups or communities before the Central and State Government.

Therefore, resorting to violent means will only delay and obstruct its way.

Normalcy will take years to come. Nevertheless, all right-thinking persons, authorities and stakeholders must keep working towards that end, to re-assure prevailing of normalcy. It is high time to come to the negotiating table and explore all possibilities of finding and building peace rather than blaming and accusing one another.

It’s time to pave ways for finding and exploring peace building amidst turmoil situation that has ravaged for more than a month to this tiny and beautiful State of Manipur. I only wish that all stake-holders will support and assist the newly formed “Peace Committee” of Manipur consisting of 51 eminent members constituted under the guidance of the Ministry of Home Affair, Government of India for restoration of peace and normalcy in the State.

The composition of the Peace Committee members seems to be drawn from wide ranged social spectrum and stakeholders representing various political leaders, CSOs leaders, community leaders and special personalities of the State. The task ahead for the Peace Committee will be enormously hard and very challenging. It will require wisdom, great courage and all out efforts with inclusive and impartial approach in bringing two warring parties into negotiating table. I think it is a right initiative and need of the hour.

Unstinting support to such peace initiative from various communities living in the state is expected and especially from the two affected parties/communities will be very crucial at this juncture. Peace Committee alone will not bring any peace until and unless the affected parties come into sense and are willing to be the partakers of such initiative.

There must be beginning and end for everything. I as a concern ordinary citizen of the state wish to write this piece appealing both parties to make way for peace. Both parties involved in the conflict should also listen to the voice of sanity raised by various communities and concerned citizens of Manipur and across India appealing and desiring for peace and restoration of normalcy.

Until and unless both the parties realize the need for peace and shun violent means, peace initiative will remain fragile, tough and a far cry. Small step and initiative taken by both or at least by one party towards peace initiative process would go a long way in building peace process at this juncture. I am sure, if not all, there will be undoubtedly right thinking and good people from both Meitei and Kuki communities who can bridge the divided line.

For now, restraining from both the parties involved to violent retaliation in spite of provocation is the only way forward in peace building and restoring normalcy in the state. Peace will not come overnight but can be achieved in bits and pieces.

Overcoming hatred, pains, agony with compassion and forgiveness will not be easy but is the only way to start peace building in the state of Manipur.

Let goodness prevail over evil.