The visage of economy in a war torn society
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 09 2011 -
LET IT be clarified right from the word go, that by using the term 'war' in the heading of this editorial it is not being suggested that war has broken out in Manipur, the term is just an English idiom.
Normally one does not have to go to such hair splitting ends to defend one's use of words or phrases, but such is the psychological climate pervading Manipur that it is best that one explains one's intentions before any misgivings ensue.
It is like putting one's hands up the moment he or she leaves home, and to lower them only after one closes the front door. Eerie? So what, it is a small price to pay for one's good health.
Getting back to the topic, an economy is, without using jargon to define it, the way people conduct their daily transactions, either through cash, or through kind, so as to make at least a marginal benefit to cater to their basic needs, Peering through from that perspective let us all try to know who have been the biggest beneficiaries of the economy of trouble ridden Manipur.
On the higher end of the scale, the list is, not according to severity, corruption, with its child, nepotism, drug dealing , arms smuggling, extortion and blatant misuse of power. On a lower scale operate hoodlums whose preferred way to earn money is through intimidation, coercing and name dropping. At the lower rung are those who steal vehicles, cycle lifters, small time drug peddlers, pimps and prostitutes and dupesters.
It does not take an Albert Einstein or a Stephen Hawking to realise that having studied the above supplied facts and information, those who rule the roost in Manipur's economy are those engaged in corruption and nepotism, dealing in drugs, smuggling arms and people who have decided to make it as a profession to relieve other peoples' hard earned wealth through threats and violence.
And though they may represent the might of Manipur's economy they are frugal people. All these unattached entities combined together spend less on stationery in a year than what the Weight & Measures Department spends in a week.
Perhaps discerning people could argue they spend almost nothing on stationery because they can hardly read or write, but that's another story to be told on another day. There are so many unfold stories of Manipur, but it will all be opened for public gaze, it will take some time, that is all.
Meanwhile, what do we teach our children? Follow the proven path or fail? Or what? It is a perplexing conundrum. Are we to fold up their text books and replace them by books entitled.
'A 100 proven ways to sell drugs without being caught', 'Nepotism revisited' 'Succeed in corruption and understand its appeal', 'How to overcome snags in arms smuggling' or for the youngsters, 'A beginners guide how to lift a cycle cleanly' 'Teach your kids the basics of extortion and intimidation.'
Will praying help us? History shows it does not. The system has to go through its life cycle. Seeking divine help will only lead to the scenario of a group of young priestesses sprung upon by a rapine group of desperados.
The head priestess prayed for God's help with devout passion, and when the inevitable happened, she screamed 'Oh God, you are punishing the wrong person.'
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