A breath of fresh air
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: August 28, 2024 -

GIVING a spin on the famous pronouncement made by Dr Samuel Johnson, who compiled the first extensive English dictionary in 1775, that "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel," Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist George Bernard Shaw was said to have remarked in his inimitable style, "Politics is the last resort for the scoundrel".

The context in which the two literary giants had interpreted and described "patriotism" and "politics" as the last refuge or resort of a scoundrel may be quite different and intriguing.

But the observations they made many moons ago are interestingly very true of the present political condition in the country and elsewhere around the globe.

In fact, one could say with conviction that it is not even the last resort or refuge anymore but the very first in most cases.

Today, criminalisation of politics has become a norm rather than an exception in India with political parties, regardless of their political ideologies, giving tickets to people with criminal background to contest in the elections.

What's more, some of these people with criminal past are sitting in the Parliament and state assemblies across the country to make laws and take important administrative decisions for governing the states and the country.

So, the public perception towards politics and politicians in general has not been very positive.

This should be understandable. But there is still another valid reason, which is even more poignant, for this negative public attitude towards politics and politicians.

During election times, politicians would not only come knocking at the door of the people seeking their votes but also make numerous promises to work for their welfare and bring about developmental changes in the society.

But once they got elected, these politicians are nowhere to be seen, and it is time now for these voters to stand at the gate of their elected representative for redressal of their grievances.

In short, the table has been turned.

In the light of this suffocating political atmosphere, the announcement made by MLA of Thangmeiband assembly constituency Khumukcham Joykisan to adopt all three relief camps set up in his constituency for people displaced by the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has come like a breath of fresh air.

Aimed at providing comprehensive support to the internally displaced people (IDP), the MLA has pledged to address various grievances and needs of the displaced people so as to ensure they receive the necessary assistance for improving their living conditions.

We don't know exactly how many displaced people are currently seeking shelter in the relief camps set up at Khoyathong Tombisa-na High School, THAU Ground, and Khomdram Selungba High School but it's a given that these people have been facing numerous challenges in living in these relief camps and dealing with a multitude of issues including job loss, financial difficulties, food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, disruption in education of their children, etc.

It's true that the government is also extending assistance and doing its bit in giving succour to the displaced people.

However, as the assistance being provided is not insufficient enough to meet their basic needs and address their grievances satisfactorily, we appreciate the fact that MLA Joykisan has recognised this gap and stepped forward with a commitment to support the internally displaced people who are seeking shelter in different parts of constituency as an elected representative.

As Joykisan has suggested, all the 40 MLAs from the valley and the 20 MLAs from the hill districts should also join hands in supporting the displaced people; and even if some constituencies do not have relief camps, their elected representatives could still help in supporting displaced people living in other constituencies.

This, we dare say, is a damn good suggestion that should not be spurned by any of the elected representatives in Manipur if they still want to be in the good book of the people despite their inability to find a solution to the present crisis.