The Enigmatic VII: The Enigmatic Manipur society
-Past, Present and Future-

Paramananda Chabungbam *

Prologue

Now, we can say that we are living in a heterodox and profane world. We, ourselves (Government, Public and Security forces) successfully made an unsuccessful deep rooted culture, a culture to remain unexplored, inefficient and underdeveloped, fighting against each other. When neighbour states and other Indian states have progressed so much that they are independent in many areas, they are part of globalization. They let outside world influence them and at the same time influence the world.

But where are we, we are dwindling our value system, creating nothing but doomsday. It is so sacrilegious that we discontinued with our own development. Many journalists, columnists, scholars, and students have discussed and written many articles on Manipur social issues. I have also put my best to reconcile the broken social links and increase the awareness level of our state brethrens on social and behavioral issues. Everyone above has given in effort and shared their critical observation and viewpoints on almost all social problems only to make our society grow, to see a society where people are empowered, healthy, free, cooperative, industrious and united. But it is unfortunate that their voice is not heard, may be their expression is vague and ineffective OR the public for whom they have written are so engrossed with their empty minds that they neither have time nor courage to think about their own development. Our society can see the green-green social atmosphere only when each one of us increases awareness level of self and about the world.

It is true that economic development results into social development, but it is also true that social development results into economic prosperity. In fact, if your inclination towards social development is very strong then, your potential & ability towards wealth generation boost the socioeconomic status. It does attract investments and funds from various corners of the world. Even 'disrespectful' is the word I would use as a euphemism to tell about the present state of our Manipur society. Please visit/revisit THE ENIGMATIC-V: 'Naked Protest' of women: What more? It is beyond 'mores'! -A call for Empathy not Sympathy- and THE ENIGMATIC-VI: Exhibition of Animal Instinct -Beware of the animals around you and the one in you too! – This is the time, the time to focus on objectives within your reach, not on philosophical beauties like peace, equalities etc., which are very impractical and far from existence.

Linking the times: Introspection

Years ago, when school students were asked to write an essay on 'discipline' or 'moral values', they used to write a lot about Army and Policeman. In fact, that was their inherent impression about the uniform-people. What a nice ramification! But few decades are enough to change people's mind. I have a strong feeling that those students who wrote about and compared discipline with army and police, now, in their adulthood must be feeling repentant. Their lamentation when mixed with the behaviour which security forces are exhibiting in the eyes of people of all generation resulted civilians to sense the fake & phony image of uniform-people.

It is so sickening that the people are fighting for destruction and stopping development. While exhibiting such irrational & filthy behaviour, they have forgotten that they themselves are ruining their future and generation. Let's not talk about other countries, enough talking about western countries, we are now so behind that I even feel reluctant to benchmark with neighbouring states within the Indian Territory itself. I think, our state is in such a horrible state that the only way to overcome these issues of ransom, corruption, burglary, despotism, drug addict/trafficking is to eliminate everyone engaging in these anti-social acts. Let the person involved be your child, brother, sister, father or mother, go ahead and finish if the importance of quality life, self growth and social development are not their concern (even after several counselling and guidance talk). You may ask why to take this extreme action when police force, legal bodies and government are there? Because, the answer itself is a question, "Do you still rely on any party/group/force/individual in Manipur? Do you trust them?" You are also aware about their involvement in illicit and dissolute acts. We need to change them or replace them entirely before their evil spirit marry with demons in civilian dress to create the most dangerous venom to defunct our society. In crux, I am talking about revolution –mass revolution.

With the kind of web-like nexus in existence between the groups in power, you can't think about transparency you want to see in both government and non government groups. However, you allow them to lead you either because of the fear or baseless vote you exercise. Our North-eastern states probably are the least affected states from the prolonged recession the world economy was facing recently. Amongst, Manipur must be the least affected state in the North Eastern India. It is not a reason to rejoice, Manipur is least disturbed by recession because of bare industrialization & globalization! We normally continue with our strikes, rallies, killing, extortion and corruption.

Again, I'll say that Manipur has witnessed innumerable cases full of horror and inhuman acts. They will remain as unhealed sores in the psyche of our people. When realized that these sores are caused by our own people; complexity worsens the society by bringing in more difficulty & danger in managing inside conflicts & ethical values. Amidst, we also witnessed activities aimed at social reformation both by NGOs, Govt.offices and underground militant outfits. E.g, elimination of alcohol & drug addicts, rapists etc. but other side of the coin overshadows it.

Road & Drainage hitch

For many years, we were watching the Khwairamband Bazar development layout map till it became a scrap! It is strange when you compare speed of construction works in NCR and fast developing cities with what we see in Manipur. Flyovers are built in 6-8 months time in many fast developing cities. Is there any difference in the way people of Manipur understand the value & importance of development and the way people of other cities? Yes, it seems like our Government authorities & groups involved have a different meaning of development. Nothing to be surprised about, trust, it is self explanatory to you also :)

Lavatory is given most importance in constructing a new house, similarly, road & drainage planning is key and first step to city-town development. You see our home sweet home –Imphal and other district townships, you hardly find any systematic way of action planning and execution. Seeing the way things are deployed, anyone would say that there is no coordination between the Govt. departments involved. When you talk about road & drainage, it is obvious that you have to think about other associated departments (Electricity, Telephone, Municipal Corporation etc.). You don't see the much demanding need of time, Cross functional group of all the departments. You all have witnessed that initiative of a department is spoiled by another department quite often in Manipur. I really wonder why they don't try to tap in some management concepts and come up with comprehensive & practical plans.

Electricity problem and its impacts

Students need electricity to read and write, without it, the Government is holding back their development, the pace in which they should grow. A practical way to know our poor standing is to compare Manipur education system & facilities with the education system & facilities of fast-developing states of India. You will see a huge gap and realize that we are very much behind in terms of technology know-how and subsequently in the race of civilization (people are in the stream of globalization to glocalization while we are nudging each other to eliminate ourselves, still yet to see civilization). Education & youth development is the key to bring employment and social change but shockingly, the young generation of Manipur is put to read in candle light & lantern. This is when most of the students in other states are groomed in the right direction with all education amenities – eye friendly light system, AC, ergonomics compliant facilities etc. It seems like the government as well as non-government groups in Manipur are so busy counting fingers to number their assets without even acknowledging the severity of these prolonged socio-economic problems.

Imposition of flat Rs.195 monthly electricity bill on domestic consumers for such a long period is a sign of poor governance. This force practice looks specious but actually it is a madcap imposition. When the Electricity Department and State Government knows the reasons of power problem (reasons: Link here ), why not coming up with a long term action plan yet? What they have been doing for these many years? Knowing that many families are using electricity illegally, instead of giving strict instruction to the staff to patrol and cut the illegal connections, they are riding on this 'fixed rate'! This is a live example of harebrained deployment of Manipur Government. Moreover, the most unacceptable exercise in this context is that there is fix monthly bill (regardless of usage), but power supply has never been regular. The power department (deliberately, I am not using capital letter as the department deserves no respect) displays load shedding programme (Link here) but unfortunately, we have not seen their programme delivered! This Dec'09, we saw hundreds of bulbs, inverters & electrical items ceased due to sudden high voltage power supply. Ideally, Government should compensate the lost. (Let me share this, I'm in 2BHK apartment using refrigerator, TV, PC, etc. Monthly, my electricity bill is Rs.120 only).

Let us not forget that building youth means building our future, when our students are struggling with 2-3 hrs of electricity in night, students in other cities are taking a break from consistent-continuous study and engaging in other value adding isearch, game etc. again powered by electricity. Thus, our young minds are behind time –in education, technology know-how and channelizing creativity & innovation.

Education System

Students who came out from the Board of Education Manipur and the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur in 1980s & 1990s have been struggling & slogging to get job (I'm not even talking about worthwhile job). Why? Thanks to the education standard and the tight-fisted practice of giving stingy exam marks to students. That was when Education Boards and Universities in other parts India have already started impacting job market by preparing & releasing students with good marks. A mentionable point is that when our brethrens (who are serious about study) join University/Institute in any other place (except Manipur), they stand out, not because of look but sincerity & creativity. Comparatively then, it was easy to secure 70-80% marks in South Indian & North Indian schools and colleges while, only few students could reach 1st division marks in Manipur.

As a result, job vacancies in mainland India are mostly filled in by students from other states. They easily fulfilled cut-off percentage, thus, could apply job easily for Govt. jobs and private conglomerates. We had to face hardship searching job, but nevertheless, once got into, it is quite visible that our talents & creativity is recognized. Thus, education system has been a contributing factor to our high rate of unemployment. It is obvious to note that those 1980-1990s passed out are in 20-30 years of age now, the age group which demands & struggles for career establishment, to meet liabilities & responsibilities. This group, when frustrated and constantly exposed to series of disappointment may end up engaging in antisocial activities. Not wrong to say that the education system was also a part in the parcel called 'Wobbly Manipur'. Now, the practice of assigning marks sees a positive change, it will not at least encumber our young brethrens to move on.

Points to ponder

Realise that our bull-eye should be to take optimal advantage of the PRESENT to get out from old-shaded-web of thinking about PAST. We ourselves are the one with whom we can rely upon. Think that we are the government, we are the security, we are our future.

Life should be of a purpose, not of an impulse. This 'should be' remains as an abstract affair in Manipur. Overall, Manipur is at the 23rd rank (out of 27 states covered in the National Council of Productivity survey 2008). I've highlighted & discussed about few social issues, but there are 'n' number of other problems like no proper residential area plan, irregular & unhygienic municipal water supply, illegitimate acts of law enforcement bodies, feeling of suspended human rights etc. Moreover, there is no sign of exploring & commercializing our natural resources and rich cultural heritage & sports which otherwise could give us ample employment in our own motherland.

Mapping Manipur: closing rhyme of the series "The Enigmatic"!
>>> The world is progressing length and breadth. India and its major cities are raising their performance bar with galloping development and expansion in almost all industry verticals. The rampant industrialization is making the habitat warmer, difficult for normal living. Here the thrust is climate control.

>>> Manipur is decaying length and breadth. Imphal and its neighbouring districts are compromising their value system with galloping development and expansion of lawless nature of ruling groups. The rampant crimes are making the habitat warmer, difficult for normal living. Here the thrust is felony control.

Dear Readers,
This seventh part is the last part of my series "The Enigmatic". It still inspires me to continue exploring our people & society as a critic with a strong heartfelt fervour for social development. The 'enigma' prevails; we will discuss it under different titles & ways. Let we all be nurturers of civilization (it definitely brings peace & harmony for which you all slogan & rally).