UNC : The conviction to speak out its mind : Time to go beyond statistics
- Sangai Express Editorial :: October 30 , 2013 -

Powerful statement. The conviction to say what is on one's mind without beating around the bush.

This is the United Naga Council, a hallmark which was brought out in the public domain in the speech delivered by its president L Adani on the concluding day of the 3rd Zomi Convention held at Churachandpur recently.

But then powerful statements need not always be profound statements or stand the test of time. A point which everyone, especially the UNC should keep in mind. In pointing out that the tribals are hopelessly under represented in Manipur, the UNC president zeroed in on the number of tribal MLAs in the State where only 20 MLAs are present in the House of 60.

Statistics are statistics and while it may reflect the undiluted truth, there are also important and crucial points, which statistics cannot alone answer.

In relying on statistics, the UNC president overlooked the fact that there can be more tribal MLAs in the House of 60 since they are free to contest from any of the 60 seats in the State Assembly.

It may perhaps help in rewinding back to the election to the State Assembly in 1980 when Professor Gangmumei Kamei contested from Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency and was the favourite with many of the voters, especially the teaching community and their family members backing him to the hilt.

That he was bested by Radhabinod Koijam at the last lap is something else, but this point, the point that the avenue for more tribal people to enter the august floor of the State Assembly is there should not be dismissed. On the other hand, the majority community, the Meiteis, have no other alternative but to concentrate on the forty available seats.

Also remember in a House of 60, where tribals constitute only 20 MLAs, Manipur has seen two tribal Chief Ministers, in the persons of the late Yangmasho Shaiza and the redoubtable and veteran Rishang Keishing. Earlier, Manipur had a Chief Minister from the minority community, Md Alimuddin, a Meitei Pangal.

These are facts, but facts which have been overlooked or remembered at the convenience of the different competing forces.

To the credit of the UNC, it must be said that it is one of the few civil society organisations which has never shied away from speaking out its mind.

Whether one agrees with their line of thoughts or not is another matter, but it takes conviction to speak out one's mind and the UNC cannot be faulted on this.

In acknowledging that the sharp social divide is very real, the UNC chief hit the nail on the head and rubbished the "Chingtam Amatanni" slogan, which has merely remained a slogan.

A message that no one or no community can afford to cling on to champion the cause of Manipur. Acknowledging the fact is the need.

However what should also be kept in mind is the point that in asserting one's rights or aspirations, it should not come at the expense of Manipur as a social and political entity. Time has moved on.

In as much as the UNC has moved with the time to raise their own set of demands, the majority community too has moved with the time and their understanding of Manipur is not only confined to the valley areas.

This is a point which the hill based civil society organisations too should take cognizance of.

All histories of all communities or ethnic groups are unique in their own ways. Therefore it should stand true that in as much as the history of the Nagas are unique, the history of the other groups of people inhabiting Manipur are unique in their own ways.

Here it is important to realise that this understanding should rest on the premise that the 'unique history' of each community cannot be seen in isolation of the others.

This is what Manipur is all about.

Understanding Manipur may be difficult but in trying to understand one's own ethnic history, understanding the history of Manipur as a geo-political entity is indispensable.