We shouldn't let our mind be colonised: Oken-II
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 25 2018:
Finding holes in the recent statement of the Chief Minister during a public meeting wherein he is reported to have said, "Now that we have a father in the Prime Minister, we have nothing to be apprehensive,"N Oken said that this reflects what is inside the mind of the Chief Minister.
The statement may have been uttered unconsciously or sub-consciously but this in reality is a reflection of a dependent mindset, said the KYKL leader.
This is akin to the relationship between France and their colonies before the French Revolution, said the statement and added that Narendra Modi has been working to promote co-operative federalism in the relationship between the Centre and the States.
In essence what Modi wants is that Manipur and the Centre should help each other and this is not paternalism, added Oken.
On the other hand the thought process of the Chief Minister of Manipur is a relationship wherein the Centre guides the State like a father directs his young child on what and how to do things, such as you can do that, you cannot do that, feed him, hold his hands as he walks.
This will be something like what South America (the then slave owner) did with their slaves, alleged Oken or else the Chief Minister may have been infantalised or it could be a case of a new found system of neo-patrimonialism within the party.
To really know what is the fact, a psycho-analytical study may be conducted, advised Oken.
This mindset reveals a process that without the help and support of India, the people and the land cannot survive, alleged the KYKL leader further.
On the other hand what is surprising is the silence of the intellectuals, as if they have accepted all that has happened, added Oken.
Instead of being incensed with what was said at Gujarat, there were some who tried to pacify the angry students.
This is a clear indication of the intellect of the people being colonised (intellectual colonisation).
The KYKL chairman added that while the revolutionaries are pre-occupied with winning back the lost sovereignty of the land, they have not been able to look at the intellectual colonisation of the people.
Stating that there is a gulf of difference in the strategy to win back the lost sovereignty of the land and the colonised intellect of the people, Oken said that revolutionaries should pay attention on how to free the colonised intellect of the people.
This is more important.
Oken reasoned, "when our intellect is colonised, then isn't it natural we as a people will be colonised ?"' .
Thus it is imperative that the intellect of the people are freed from colonialism, said Oken and quoted Steve Biko, a revolutionary from South Africa, "The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed" .