The most hyped but little followed-up report of the government of India on the North Eastern Region (NER) is the Shukla Commission Report of the mid-1990s. The report mentioned, inter alia, of the need for bridging the psychological gap between the NER and the rest of India.

The report has not only been made to suffer the normal fate of most of the government reports in India, but there are also fears if the great mind-set is still dipped in its casteist outlook and designs in place to sabotage any bridge being completed.

How opinions formed: Before we elaborate on what are the realities getting unfolded, we may briefly mention on how opinions are formed by different groups about each other. Though there are relationships recorded and based on history, we must accept the fact of the intense intercourse between Manipur and India as a post-Merger (post 1949). The livid experiences of these varied and various interactions are foundations for forming opinions of each other.

There was a period extending upto about the early 1960s when the Manipuris expected and looked up to the greater Indian interaction as a matter of pride and hope for future. Given the historical background and the composition of the relative population groups, it is very crucial how each treats the other.

In particular, it is critical how Manipuris getting exposed to the larger Indian network were made to feel. But it now becomes clear that majority did not enjoy an equal and accepted social status in the larger milieu despite wonderful rapports at the personal levels.

This laid the foundation, among others, of the emergence of movements based on discontent and aimed for breaking up of the still-fresh merger. The caste-based Indian Diaspora could not absorb and accommodate the Manipuris, and make a tasty ingredient of the kshichri.

Still embroiled: What is really disturbing is the continuation of this trend in this century as well. The emerging disconnects between the desire and the action of the Manipuris must be one of the unfortunate consequences of this continuation of the mixed scenario of the status of the Manipuris. But this is not our point of focus now.

What irritates us is the continuous prevalence of an unhealthy aspect of the Indian mindset insofar as the NER is concerned, Shukla Commission or not. This gets reflected in various forums globally, circa 2007. My daughter being asked by an educated person in Chennai where Imphal is, and my daughter giving a fitting reply as it being a place somewhere in South Korea is still a common reality.

A highly reputed Non-Resident Indian faculty in an American business school boldly stating that “the NER can be easily ignored, and all the trade [with South East Asia] can be conducted through the Chennai Port” in a workshop on free trade agreements in Los Angeles is a 2007 happening.

The NRI could not comprehend the probability of another non-Indian looking Indian as well being present in the workshop and, the avoidable debate ultimately between two Indians on American soil. Whatever it is, his first statement, which betrays his Indian mindset and compromises on his academicness, had already done the damage.

Imphal scenario: The most conspicuous Indians in Imphal are the army and para-military personnel. I have read in the newspapers of their efforts to win over the hearts of the people of the State. But they have utterly failed to realise that winning hearts is much more than a camp-phenomenon.

On the other hand, the sincerity of the efforts should be reflected in their daily behaviour. It is exactly in the later realm which is the cause for daily irritation. If one has to travel for about ten kilometres or so in the Imphal area on any day, one is sure to be confronted with this irritation.

There are umpteen instances when a group of army vehicles would be moving on the roads at their own leisurely speed and without allowing any other vehicle to overtake (which definitely is accompanied by the arrogant gesturing of the sepoys standing in their vehicles to the following vehicles). It is as if only they are on duty and business, and the rest are disposables.

The other regular happening involving the army and para-military forces is equally irritating, but has a much more damaging impact on building a culture for the rule of law.

Whenever any group of army vehicles are near the various traffic points where the traffic policeman (policewoman) is on duty, it is a very common sight for some sepoys to jump out of the vehicles and control the traffic for their convenience utterly sidelining the person on duty for the purpose.

The democrat and the culture of the rule of law in me would not mind the traffic policeman (policewoman) on duty giving precedence to the army vehicles, but the army themselves usurping the precedence is simply unacceptable arrogance.

In fine: In fine, I would like to emphasise that nation building in a heterogeneous country like India is a very delicate and serious business. At a time when the mindset of the government of India seems to be seized with the endeavour to address the problems of the NER, there equally appears to be designs to deliberately sabotage the completion of the psychological bridge.

I would not like the daily behaviour of the Indian army and para-military forces to belong to the later category.