Thank You ANSAM for the Altruistic Economic Blockade

Dr. Ksh. Imokanta Singh *

Inhumane, you are saying? You've got to be kidding! I beg to differ. Anybody but UN-SHAME (or is it written as ANSAM?) is fit for labeling as INHUMANE. Please be positive and let us learn to appreciate this organization in unison. I would rather say that ANSAM is quite altruistic, both locally and globally. Its actions are meant for saving this globe from global warming and world food crisis.

Again!? You are just like the stuck gramophone record. Please do not shout. What is the use of spoiling your already hoarse throat? (ATO KIganu LON SERan turanni) No amount of request, praying, pleading, begging, appealing, preaching, coaxing, praising, and rubbishing will bear any result.

ANSAM is also stuck like the old gramophone record like you, blockade ... blockade ... Instead of banging your head trying to unleash all your venoms on it let us try to capitalize on its deeds and regard it as savior of human species. Let it continue with its hobby and one day it will be too used to its deeds that it will forget that there is economic blockade even.

Do not start again Muivah, peace talk, negotiator of peace, Central Government, Manipur Government, Nagaland Government, District Council election, blah blah blah ... I am REALLY tired and not interested, buddy. Let them do their bit. In the mean time let us think of something different. Have you heard of fast depletion of natural resources, global warming, and world food crisis etc? No?!

OK, global warming and natural resource first. How much do you drive your scooter these days? When the case of urgency comes up. Then, how much will be your contribution of Carbon dioxide (CO2) to our beloved atmosphere? Very less, as compared to the pre blockade high days. Then you are contributing to the health of our tired earth and atmosphere. I am sure the number of vehicles standing idle must be higher these days due to want of fuel or to save the scarce fuel in hand.

People must have been very careful not to squander the hard earned fuel, after standing in a leviathan queue for a day or two or after spending a hefty amount to buy it in black, in some merry making trips. I am sure the young dudes in tight pants must also be extra wise not to wander around in their bikes after morning and evening tuitions (some might have even switched over to bicycles bearing all those embarrassments of demotion from bike to bicycle). Man, you have become, un-knowingly, a valuable part of the 'Save our Globe' campaign. The number of vehicles on the roads, I am sure, has come down considerably.

Just think of it, one single drop of fossil fuel takes a long geological time (years, in terms of millions), like eons, eras, epoch, etc. to form. Saving your share of fuel even for one day is slowing down the process of depletion. When you overuse it you are helping in 'hollowing' the belly of the earth and chocking the throat of atmosphere.

This also means increasing the temperature of the atmosphere due to greenhouse gas. You know, in various countries one particular day is selected as 'No Petrol Day' when it is pledged not to buy or use even one drop of petrol. The motive of this movement may range from saving the petrol for posterity to teaching a lesson to the government or oil companies which decide the price of petrol as per their whims.

Whatever may be the politics, the winner is the treasury of fuel. We should be, therefore, thankful to ANSAM for its concern and turning the 'No Petrol Day' movement into 'No Petrol indefinitely'. In lighter veins, ANSAM must be quite concerned of the global warming since it will affect the economy of the Naga community also. How buddy? That is, if there is no winter how can they sell their colourful and warm woolen shawls? So ANSAM is quite far-sighted and very protective of the arts and crafts of its communities (district council election, Muivah visit are just an excuse).

You must be much convinced by now. Next, food crisis? Ok. If you want to know more about it you can always rely on our friend of all seasons 'Internet'. Here we should be trying to thank ANSAM for the food crisis. People say food crisis is not because of low level of food production but because of increasingly competitive ways of food production. Somebody is becoming bigger day by day and some other thinner day by day.

The policy of ANSAM is very egalitarian i.e. bring down the consumption level of those bigger ones so that they stand on the same ground with the thinner ones. The meaning of 'dieting' will be absorbed with letter and spirit in such condition. Dieting, here, by the big people is with a cause i.e. they are selfish and at the same time altruistic, sparing some portion of food for others also.

Thank you ANSAM for teaching us the true meaning of 'being economical'. You taught us to live and consume as if the whole resource will be dried up the next day i.e. we are learning to use our resources 'economically' because of this 'economic blockade' (even I am economical with my words).

Now is the testing time for the much popular and loved belief of some i.e. 'Manipur was independent for thousands of years and could sustain without the help of any other outer help'. Let us put together our minds and find the alternative way to motor our beings and also alternative way of looking at ANSAM.

Let us train our minds not to fall into the belly of desire and temptations, since most of the shortages are created when the desire is converted into the need. So, accolades to ANSAM for teaching us how to live without ostentation (show-off). ANSAM, please get stuck with your hobby while we stride ahead with our new incarnation.