The Survival and Prosperity of the North-Easterners
in the 21st century: a comparative study
- Part 4 -

By Puyam Rakesh Meetei *

POLICY ASSESSMENT:

We can be prosperous, well-educated in our own spheres but that can be further progressed or maintained only when our doors are free from bullet shots. The un-ability of the Central Government to provide highway task force to make free passage of the commuters to and fro is a clear example of our failure in this field.

A prosperous Manipur cannot be guaranteed by our internal peace only. We have to pass through Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam for our daily activities. Their problems affect our issues very much like our own internal problems.

The ENP is a win-win policy for both the EU members and the neighbours. We are economically, politically and socially dependant on one another. This interdependence will further be strengthened with "globalization" playing its own charms.

It is the right time for us to give a second thought on what to do and what not to do. Our traditional forces of preservation and conservation of our rich cultural heritage against the rising tide of globalization very much demands a true policy design.

We must have one N-E Peoples Annual/Biennial Convention to give a wider scope for cultural, educational, sporting exchanges at Chief Ministers' level. The N-E Indigenous peoples convention is a warm development and every body should start giving a serious thought on this larger gathering representing different peoples of the N-E.

We, the Meeteis cannot remain an 'oasis of civilisation' in the N-E where our stakes are also their stakes. We share the food that they cook. It is up to us to see whether things are happening as we would like it to be.

The ultimate objective must be our "Oneness" with every Baruah, Bordoloi, Gogoi, Engti, Narzary, Konyak, Isaak Suu, Sema, Thuingangleng, Shaiza, Modoli, Gangmei, Pamei, Hmar, Meetei, Khuman trying to make a niche of his own in this beautiful land called "North-East India" for the 'general good'.

While fighting among ourselves for the much needed space and resources we shouldn't forget the external forces trying to engulf us together. Make sure that we still have enough fighting spirit and energy left to fight against the mighty forces like cultural assimilation, globalization and death wind sweeping to uproot the indigenous peoples.

The Meeteis only cannot defend properly against such a strong tide of destruction. SO same is true for the Kukis or Nagas. There is the need to strengthen our cultural exchange, educational exchange, sporting events, people to people interaction programs, women networks, student's bodies and civil societies in this region to lend their hands in making this grand design.

A proper settlement of the N-E problem in the 21st century calls for our active participation, pressure tactics and political and economic upliftment of the masses. A "Grand Design" is the only way for our collective leadership, collective development, collective bargaining and collective suffering.

Every ethnic group is destined to play its own responsibilities to make this successful. The human resources lying outside our present territory have to be exploited for our upliftment no matter where it is residing.

Our N-E Neighbourhood Policy must long to establish good relations with the Myanmarese, Chinese, Bangladeshis, Bhutanese, Nepalese, Thais and other Indians states for cooperative engagement.

The moment our kinsmen can work with us across the political boundaries, we need no physical integration. Borders are still open in Indo-Myanmar region and this must continue for ever. What we need to do is to remind the governments of Myanmar and India that we have our kinsmen across the artificial boundaries.

Natural boundaries are stronger than the artificial boundaries. If we are starving within the political boundary of India, there is the same possibility that we'll starve within the boundary of Myanmar. We cannot give proper food, shelter and education to our Tangkhul/Kuki peoples even though they are starving in front of our open eyes.

Then, why worrying about those across the border. It is a blatant lie that we are so concerned about their well-being. As we cannot help out those dying souls in Manipur, We cannot do any miracle for those living in Myanmar. Our policy is just land hungry.

We need to implement the good neighbourly policy in order to win the confidence of the Government of Myanmar/Bangladesh for working freely among the down-trodden peoples of our blood. The recent hurricane in Myanmar is the proof that the GOM is not in a mood of accepting humanitarian aid from unfriendly states on the ground of security matters.

MY CONCLUSION:

Every Tom, Sunita, Livingstone, Angoubi Julie working for the welfare and understanding among the N-Easterners must give the self lesson that he/she is a North-Easterner first. We must count the number of similarities instead of finding differences.

The Psyche like "if they are green, we must be red" must go immediately. The commonalities and shared values as north-easterners will give way to a cosmopolitan thinking where the flowers of pluralism and multi-culturalism will shine forever.

Concluded....