Delivering a powerful political statement : Missing out on the social issues
- Sangai Express Editorial :: August 19, 2013 -

CM delivering a speech at Independence Day 2013 at 1st MR Parade Ground, Imphal :: Pix - Arunkumar Thongam

In categorically giving the thumbs down signal to the demand for the creation of a Kuki State and Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur outside the State Government, pending a solution to the ongoing talks between the IM faction of the NSCN and the Government of India, Chief Minister O Ibobi has delivered a powerful political statement.

The setting was ideal too. An Independence Day speech. However note the stress on the political part. The Chief Minister did deliver a powerful statement, but the uncomfortable feeling that he sought to address the situation only politically stood out too prominently.

It would have been that much more positive if he had sought to address the social aspects too, without taking recourse to the beaten track of Ching Tam Amattani, a phrase which has outlived its meaning a long, long time back.

The Sangai Express has always stood by and will stand by the understanding of the geo-political reality called Manipur, but in the process it also needs to be kept in mind that the idea of a political entity cannot be understood solely on the basis of the political maps being drawn up or demarcated.

Everyone, from those championing the cause of an Alternative Arrangement to Greater Nagalim or simply Nagalim to Kuki State to the political establishment and others which have stood by the idea and identity of a Manipur as a political entity have conveniently or otherwise overlooked the crucial aspect of the social issues.

In as much as the idea of Nation building rests on political boundaries and limits, social integrity is the other side of the coin.

This is also true in the case of the demands put up by different competing forces within a State, a situation which Manipur is witnessing right now and suffering the baggages that come along with these demands.

In addressing a political issue, it is equally important that the social and economic issues are taken into account.

And the first thing to proceed along this line is to face certain questions, however uncomfortable they may be. Why have the Nagas raised the banner of an Alternative Arrangement ? Why have the Kukis raised the demand for a Kuki State ? Have these questions been addressed to or studied with the seriousness they deserve ?

The long arm of Delhi obviously cannot be dismissed, but expecting Delhi alone to address these questions would amount to passing the buck.

Central to the demand for Alternative Arrangement or Kuki State, is the conceived idea of the majority population, the Meiteis, riding rough shod over the interest of the minority communities.

While it is the propensity on the part of the Meiteis and others standing by Manipur to dismiss this, a relook at the inter-community relationships would not hurt.

The claim that the Meiteis, by virtue of being the majority community, have been exploiting the rights and privileges of the tribals would be taking things a little too far, but yet at the same time, it is also imperative for the Meiteis to get down from their high horse and question themselves seriously on how they see and treat the hill people.

The social connotation of the term Hao should not be forgotten. Hao macha malli, is a term that tells many a story and it is this fact that should be acknowledged.

The inter-personal relationship at the individual level needs to be studied objectively.

On the other hand, it also stands true that the hill people, the common man have been misled by sheer propaganda, that it is the Meiteis who have been appropriating the various welfare measures meant for them.

Just a cursory look at the palatial buildings of some of the officers from the hill areas, who are in charge of departments that deal with the affairs of the hills should be an enough indication.

Kuki State or Alternative Arrangements are political statements, and political statements without referring to the social issues would be mere statements, without any substance.