Extremely short public memory : Of human skulls and others
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 09 2015 -

Public memory is short. This much is true, but what everyone seems to overlook is the fact that it is the Government which stands to profit from such a memory lapse.

It was not so long time ago that a hue and cry was raised over the discovery of skeletal remains from the campus of the erstwhile Tombisana High School.

Not that the public were satisfied with the assurance given by the Government that the case would be handed over to a competent authority from the Centre to investigate, but it is interesting to note the manner in which the issue has been given a quiet burial.

Short public memory, the expertise of the Government to throw sands into the eyes of the public or sheer indifference ?

No easy answers here, but it stands that numerous cases have been given the quiet burial after the initial commotion.

More than likely that the matter too will be given the quiet burial again and it is not to repeat the earlier cases that the public need to be on their toes and keep on reminding the Government to get to the bottom of the matter.

This is not to suggest that mass scale agitations should be launched but just a reminder to all that what is at stake here is about human lives and the manner in which human rights have been violated with impunity.

Talking about human rights brings to focus the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the indefinite hunger strike launched by Irom Chanu Sharmila and the daylight killing of Rabina and Sanjit at BT Road in 2009.

Everyone including those who took to the streets and campaigned for months and forced the closure of schools in the State seem to have forgotten about the case.

Collective amnesia. A point which everyone here should take note of. It is this unwillingness or inability to remember the past which has hindered the progress of the people and the land.

Nothing to suggest that there is a remedy somewhere near, but the mindset and attitude of the people have to change.

Not caring to pursue a case to its logical conclusion can only be to the loss of the people and this is one important point which should not be forgotten.

There are numerous cases which have been buried after the initial hue and cry and only right that people start asking questions about these.

For nearly 15 years Irom Sharmila has been on a fast demanding the revocation of AFSPA, but she comes to public memory only when she is produced before the Court or when the date to observe the Malom massacre comes.

This says something profound about a people who more often react rather than respond to a situation.

It is the same thing with the territorial integrity of the State.

Numerous organisations have taken up the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of the State, but the tragedy is the importance of this slogan seem to come alive only on June 18 every year.

Something more needs to be demonstrated.

Let the people continue with their daily chores and existence but there are some issues which should not be buried in the sands of time.