The present scenario in Manipur is very upsetting and is coming up due to lack of understanding between the peoples who are living under the same roof from time
immemorial. According to me the present situation is the out break of long pending cold war shaped by coming up of religions which basically does not belongs to the region like Christianity and Hinduism.
It is just like a part of the body denying being a part of the system. Here, I remember a story of Mahabharata, the five souls of aggressive sage Durbasha were come out
from his body and black mailed him that if he don't treat his soul with care they will left his body.
To me the reason behind the present problem is same with story of Durbasha and his five souls. I hope it is the responsibility of the Meiteis which are the major community to try to cement the strained relationship.
At the same time other community should not take advantage instead they should cooperate the endeavors of Meiteis who are trying to make up the broken emotional
relationship, though come little latter.
I hope those who have studied outside or worked outside the state would understand the emotional closeness of the different community of Manipur. They are always on
the same side or group when problem comes up and in crisis they try their best to give assistance to each other.
I have lived in areas were there is not much Manipuri community (Meitei/Nagas/kukis). I used to ask my friends and staffs to give information for a single
Manipuri living in that area, I always get at least one, and most of the time they are from tribal community.
I feel so proud that where Meitei cannot venture, at least a clan of tribe or another did. We never think that you belongs to this or that we become one (Manipuri)
in such place and feel very happy to get the chance to speak meiteilon.
My brother-in-law who live in Delhi one day jokingly told me that still in my absence my phone use to come in his mobile, so he or my sister had to do the talking
instead of me. Because, I have a young Muslim friend who uses to call me whenever he wants to speak meiteilon.
Not a single community who belongs to Manipur who have stayed out side the state, never identify themselves as Meiteis/Nagas/kukis/mizos or pangal,
they are Manipuri first then comes their community and their religion.
Has anybody heard a tribal calling Meiteis as Manipuri?
I don't know about other persons or community but I myself feel so good when another Manipuri community friend call me "you Meiteis" whether friendly or frustratingly.
The obsolete meitielon we still can hear from them only.
I still can not forget the incident when an old naga couple comes down from a bus in their best traditional attire to see Sana keithel. History (unique) can
neither be manipulated and nor be created instantly, but the tangkhul community is one of the closest clan to Meitei.
I still am very surprise why the other tribes of Manipur did not claim Meitei Mayek as theirs also. In the past all the clans living in Manipur are so closely
intermingled to each other and live happily.
Who can deny the fact that Meitei are also basically tribal. They should ask for their right in the region instead of asking for a separate land or try to cling to
unrelated clans which are neither similar historically nor geographically grouped (I hope they are also not happy with the claim of the Manipuri naga).
Everybody knows Indian Muslim is termed mujaheedin with rejection in Pakistan. When Bisnupriyas can ask their place in Meitei community why cannot Nagas or kukis? I hope not a single Manipuri is happy with the proposal of Bisnupriyas and I thing same thing will happen in Nagaland also.
In this critical moment, I hope both the community should take the initiative to make the land the little paradise of the earth again. We should think big and
act locally, only that the state will arise from all the odds.
I assure that the entire North Eastern state; in particular Manipur is not less in comparison to other states of India in respect to natural resources available.
In this 22nd century, bountiful nature resources are the envy to all the countries, why Americans are turning towards Southeast Asia in particular India. There are
only two regions in India which have the world's richest natural resources, and our north eastern region is one of them.
See how much potential we have, why we should be dishearten and waste time by fighting between miniature communities while the western people are eyeing on us.
Let comes out of the shell and explore our potentials. We can have a self sustained community provided the people living here are live in harmony.
Dr. Santaguru writes regularly to e-pao.net.
You can contact him at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on 25th July 2005.
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