Vested interest is trying to divide us beyond repair

Free thinker *

ILP : The remains of Government Office at Churachandpur on 05 Sep 2015 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

At the outset let us pray for the departed souls who have sacrificed their lives for the rights and cause of the people. Hopefully State shall compensate in the most appropriate and dignified way. I am not a believer in violence. But when people die for a cause we normally pay respect to them. For everything, we can find a solution through dialogue.

I am not preaching Gandhi or Mandela or Su Kyi. One thing is crystal clear that violence leads to deaths and destruction and ultimately we ourselves are the losers. Sometimes violence begets violence and consequences are more dangerous and disastrous.

Old fermented formula of divide & rule

There is a very old fermented formula of divide and rule. Britishers were famous for deploying this policy of divide and rule and they were remarkably successful particularly in the Indian sub-continent. If somebody is indulging in this policy in our context it is likely to succeed, because there is already trust deficit among the Kukis, the Nagas, the Meeties due our own follies.

So let us be very very careful; others can play mischief with us and can further divide us beyond repair. If we don't restrain ourselves more people will die, more properties will be destroyed and many more people will suffer.

Sometimes we need to believe them

The Home Minister of the State , who is the Deputy CM of the State and who is also from the hills has given the assurance that all the three Bills are not going to affect the rights and interests of any indigenous people in the State. It is equally relevant to mention that these Bills were passed in one voice in 11 minutes and while passing them all the MLAs were present in the House including those who represent hill constituencies. Still, if we have any apprehension let us sort it out with the State government.

These Bills are yet to become Acts (laws). His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur has the power to even send them back for reconsideration. If the hill people have some genuine grievances they may even take it up with the government or even with the Governor. Bills can be reconsidered and Laws can be amended hundred times. But let us do it without violence through discussion, debate and dialogue.

If problematic, bring amendments orchanges

Frankly speaking most of the people in the State are really not aware of the details of these Bills. Only a few leaders, journalists and interested persons might have gone through these Bills. These Bills need to be studied and analyzed thoroughly.

Firstly, it is extremely necessary to go through these Bills before reacting to these. Perhaps hill people are misguided or instigated by some vested interest or by some agents saying that these are Bills drafted by a community for their specific interests which are against the interests of the hill people.

Clause by Clause understanding of these Bills will make things clear. If there is any objectionable clause/provision it may be rectified through amendments.

Who are the natives, all are outsiders

The rocks of Manipur are millions of years old, though the existing soil is as recent as 2000 years or so. Please confirm it with the Geologists. What I am trying to say is, it is difficult to say who did settle first on this land. In a way we all are outsiders. Circa 33 AD Rulers are believed to be from Sino-Tibetan region. That means all of us come to or settle in Manipur in the last two thousand years.

What is wrong if Kuki-Chin groups join us in the recent past. They are now part of our history and tradition.'1951' is only a date because we all know the impossibilities.

Assam's '1971' is still a humongous task. There are hundreds of laws in this country which are hardly implementable e.g., anti- smoking law or dry-state status or PESA(Panchayat Extension to Schedule Areas)Act. So we don't need to worry, law will take its own course. By the way who are the aliens in the United States? Perhaps all, except the Indians.

Naming babies according to culture & tradition

These days many Americans are naming their children after guns perhaps because of their vibrant g-culture. For instance children are named as Gunner, Shooter, Caliber, Pistol, Trigger, Berretta, Browning, Kimber, Wesson, Magnum, Remington and so on .

According to a survey Gunner is the most popular among them all. In our case, based on our present culture we may name our children accordingly e.g., Bandhheibi, Charahenba, U-pheiba, Mamangthabi, Laobi, Khongbi, Maningchatpi, Tunghanbi, Nungthabi, Naorikapa, Tyrethaba etc.; we may also have some English names like, Curfew, Blockade, Striker, Rubber- Bullet, Teargas, Burner, Rally, Marcher, Barricade, Banner, Arrested etc.