Manipur, oh My Manipur
PC Lawmkunga *
Manipur, oh My Manipur :: Pix - TSE
My world of serenity got shattered by a savage internecine conflict between the two major communities in Manipur which till recently co-existed in peace and brotherhood. The fact that these two communities which are engaged in this war of attrition are no other communities than those with whom I enjoyed a great camaraderie for over thirty years shocked me the more.
My heart bleeds to see the loss of many precious lives and the wanton destruction of countless valuable properties on both sides. That hitherto friendly neighbours should turn into sworn adversaries overnight is hard to believe. The harrowing tales narrated by the innocent victims of this insanity made one shudder with horror.
The fact that many hundred homeless people in the hill and valley are still languishing in the relief camps in their own State beggars all description. It is unimaginable that valley and hill areas, once a single entity, have become out of bound areas for either of the communities involved in this unprecedented mutually destruc- tive conflict.
It seems that an invisible second Berlin Wall is erected in the most unlikely place, that is in Manipur. It is a surreal experience from which I want to awake. It is painful to see that peace and reconciliation has eluded them for the last 18 months.
Actually, this is not the Manipur I knew. Today's Manipur is very un-Manipur utterly different from the erstwhile Manipur which I held with love and respect. The Manipur I fondly remember was a land where all manners of people co-existed in relative peace, a land where diverse culture and traditions flourished without impediments from each other.
It was a land where all communities enjoyed each other's hospitality and where there was no distinction between hill and valley on communal lines. One was always proud to introduce oneself as a denizen of Manipur well-known for being a sport powerhouse with its rich culture and customs.
It was the Manipur with a fast pace of infrastructural developments albeit impeded by sporadic interferences of some outlawed outfits. Gifted with plethora of tourist destinations, the Manipur of the yesteryear was a paradise for pleasure seekers.
No tourist can afford to miss a visit to Loktak lake, the biggest freshwater lake in the North East with the only floating National Park in the world. Boating on the vast expanse of the lake dotted with floating islands was the delight of all outside and domestic tourists.
Manipur's enchanting panorama is only matched by the receptive people of Manipur whose generosity and munificence are unparalleled. Even those who had initial trepidation on their maiden visit to Manipur (perhaps due to insurgency), once they landed up there, found that their initials fears evaporated soon upon being beckoned by the amiable and warm attitude of the people, Meiteis and tribals.
With regard to air and road connectivity, it is second only to Guwahati thereby giving them an easy way back home after a fulfilling sojourn there. Therefore, it is no wonder that at the end of their visits, these visitors went back with sweet memories of Manipur firmly etched in their memories. But today, they will think not only twice but many times over before they set foot on Manipur again for any purpose.
Manipur has not earned the epithets 'Land of Jewels' and 'Switzerland of the East' for nothing. Given its salubrious climate, friendly topography and its rich and vibrant culture with a variety of festivals, dances, music, song and drama, there is little wonder that Manipur has been given many beautiful monikers by different people.
Which drama is more enjoyable than Raas Lila and which drumming style is more lively than Pung Cholom in the world ? Which festival in the world can claim to be more colourful than the Sangai Festival which attracted worldwide attention ? There is still a host of other festivals celebrated with equal fervour like Lai Haraoba, Yaoshang and Cheiraoba.
Can we obliterate from our memory the annual Kut festival celebrated with big fanfare when colourful costumes of Kuki Zo with their cultural dances were showcased by different Zo Kuki tribes ? Rongmei Nagas too have their own share of inimitable cultural festival like Lui-ngaini. So do the Tangkhuls their eye-pleasing Luira Phanit. These diverse cultures made Manipur a beautiful garden in which many flowers bloom.
Today, those flowers seem to wither and lose their sweetness in the air of mutually destructive strife. The Lakshman Rekha-like situation puts the Meiteis and the Kuki Zos into their respective geographically delineated confines.
A state of no common office space, no more joining each other's festivals, not sharing common humour between the two communities turned the paradise into hell. Manipur does not deserve this topsy-turvy situation at all.
O Manipur, my Manipur, what is ailing you and making you groan with pain today ?
No particular community is more important than the other in any State. They all float together, or they all sink together. It is only when they sink their difference can the State be safe for all and be able to heave a big sigh of relief. The present situation is mutually destructive where there can be no winner. A phoney victory of either of the community would be a pyrrhic victory, so costly, if not divisive.
What is the prognosis for this uncertain situation ? How long do we think we will allow the situation to go out of hand ? Is a political solution in the offing ? Will a third party's (non-State players)'s intervention be advisable ?
One may be tempted to feel that it is time silent majority of the intellectual and spiritual leaders put their heads together to bring about cessation of violence, during the pendency of political solution. Who said, "The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people"?
Today, standing accused in the dock are not the perpetrators of violence, but the good people who chose to remain silent and refrained from condemning in the strongest possible term these evil forces which are destroying the social fabric in Manipur.
Who will have such a chutzpah to come forward and offer their services to bring about peace ? We should not allow Manipur to be a Hobbesian's state of nature where brute force rules the roost. Manipur should not be a study in violence and brutality. We urgently need a roadmap for a lasting peace.
We are all eagerly waiting for restoration of normalcy which, as of today, is not in sight. Peace efforts from the powers that be may be appreciated, yet they are yet to bear fruits. Meanwhile, mutual show of strength and jingoism is going on unabated.
To mitigate the present intensity of confrontation, it will be highly desirable if politically neutral right-thinking citizens from both sides take pro-active role to set up a negotiating table and convince the belligerents to embrace the spirit of 'forgive and forget' as early as possible.
This is the first requisite to restore peace and security in Manipur before any political solution is worked out. Our beloved Manipur has had more than its quota of afflictions and pains for too long. We cannot afford to remain insensitive to its misfortune and allow her to sink further into a morass of unwanted ethnic friction. Let us act today, tomorrow may be too late.
We want a peaceful Manipur where love and understanding once again reign.
* PC Lawmkunga wrote this article for The Sangai Express
The writer is former Chief Secretary of the Government of Manipur
This article was webcasted on October 29 2024.
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