The Zeitgeist in Manipur, Land of Paradoxes |
Haokholala Thangjom * |
When all political parties launched a demand for a full-fledged State, the Naga Integration Committee of Manipur led by Ng Mono, president and Rishang Keishing as general secretary submitted a memorandum to Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister on the 23rd September 1969. They stated, ‘The question as to whether Manipur demands a statehood or otherwise is hardly concerned with the Nagas. The talk of granting district autonomy to the hill people of Manipur has made no sense’. Moreover, most of the tribal leaders were lukewarm to the Statehood demand. In the midst of such condition the tribal leaders who supported the Congress Party under the aegis of the Manipur Tribal Leaders Council strongly supported the demand. A delegate comprising Stephen Angkang, Paolen Haokip, late K Kalanlung, late Kakhangai, Late Shompa, Kamkhangthang Guite and led by me met the Prime Minister and other Central leaders in May and November 1970. The two salient questions put forward by the Prime Minister were the issue of state official language under Article 345 of the Constitution and district autonomy in the tribal areas or hill districts. As a follow-up action, as a Congress MLA. I moved a private member’ resolution on the state official language urging the House to pass a resolution to make Manipuri or Meiteilon the State official language in addition to English which was discussed on the 15th April 1977 and unanimously passed by the House. Consequently, as the chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on the State Official Language, i introduced the relevant bill which was passed by the Assembly and enacted as The Manipur Official Language Act, 1979. It was an undenying fact that I felt the heat of some disgruntled tribal MLAs who tried to make me a soft target or a sitting duck on language issue. After enjoying the euphoria of being a full-fledged state, for a few years, the two eerily parallel political phenomena, namely, the self-determination movement of the revolutionaries and the Damoclean Naga Peace Talks had shrouded the entire state. (Let us hope that the peace talks does not pronounce a Kangaroo court verdict). Let us try to remove the zeitgeist or the feeling or spirit of the people that Manipur has become ‘A State of extremes’ caused by confusion, crime cult, corruption and chaos in the society. Let the tie of tribal autonomy that bind together the State be restored without further loss of time as it has complete fifteen years that all Autonomous District Councils had been dissolved and not a single tribal MLA or Ministers dared to burn his finger for such a long time for the revival of tribal autonomy. Viscout Morely said, ‘Democracy is not only a form of Govt but a way of life also’. It is pathetic that democracy in our State has already drifted towards Timocracy, a form of Govt in which ambition or desire of honour a guiding principle or Plutocracy which is a Govt by the wealthy. Let us devote ourselves to save our State from becoming ‘Kala Pani’ (erstwhile name of Andaman and Nicobar islands) where people from other States dread to come and work. Let us lament, ‘I love thee Manipur with all thy faults’ as Poet Wordsworth said, ‘I love thee, England with all thy faults. * Haokholala Thangjom, a ex-Cabinet Minister and former political advisor to CM, wrote this article for The Sangai Express. This article was webcasted in e-pao.net on 30th August 2007. |
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