Framework for a Shared Future: A Way Forward on Democracy, Integration and Peace
- Part 4 -

Along Longkumer *

Framework for a Shared Future: A Way Forward on Democracy, Integration and Peace
(Text of the 11th Arambam Somorendra Memorial Lecture delivered on June 10 2016 at Lamyanba Shanglen)
By : Along Longkumer
Founder Editor, Morung Express

The concept of 'region-states' is worth studying in the context of North East India. This concept is coined by Kenichi Ohmae. According to him, region-states are natural economic zones and they may fall within a country or they may straddle the borders of two or more countries.

Perhaps Prime Minister Modi was referring to this idea of 'region-states' when he described the entire North East region as a 'Natural Economic Zone'.

Cross-border and inter-regional cooperation, which is also central to the idea of 'Naga integration' as earlier mentioned, will hopefully assist in a significant way in the process of moving towards greater unity and connectivity, not just of the Naga areas but the North-Eastern States of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and its people.

At least in Europe, a conscious effort has been made to frame policies on cross-border cooperation with the larger goal of working towards "European territorial co-operation".

The idea or premise behind such an approach, whether we call it region-states, cross-bordercooperation or integration beyond borders, is to dilute the border effect and promote both social and economic cohesion; to contribute towards peace, security and respect for the rights of minorities.

Policy makers in India should also study such arrangements and incorporate similar ideas into its system wherever it is required and feasible to do so. Some of the problems in India that are related to economic backwardness, ethnic unrest, geographical isolation, administrative disconnect and political alienation could do with out-of-the-box imaginative solutions like the ones mentioned above.

I think the sky is the limit when it comes to developing the North East region as an entity. If we can resolve and set aside our differences and work on commonalities, there is hope for the future. Looking at the larger picture of the region as a whole therefore, finding answers to the question of peace, democracy and integration is going to determine to a large extent our place in the world.

We need to work on a 'framework for a shared future' of the region.

Before I conclude, I want to propose a way forward.

The ideas that have been brought out in this lecture will hopefully lead us into action in the not so distant future.

Whether it is 'Naga integration from within' or in other words the idea of a 'localised integration' without disturbing existing State boundaries;

Whether it is working towards a federal solution to issues of ethnic identities in Manipur or

Whether it is the idea of region-states or a Greater North East as just mentioned in the last segment, all these are inter-connected to one another and also to the larger theme of peace, democracy and integration that has been discussed.

Moreover the ideas I have presented is aimed at peaceful resolutions to the current conflicts and differences we are faced with in our neighbourhood and region.

To write new political and social narratives based on the themes mentioned above is not going to be easy by any stretch of imagination. Let's be realistic. It is going to take time; mutual understanding and goodwill; removing the trust deficit and restoring relationships.

The larger goal of restoring relationships can happen if we can invoke the principles of peace and fraternity. I am hopeful.

To repeat Walter Lippman's famous prophecy, "the waves of the future are not of war or violence, but of peace and peaceful co-existence".

The Meities, Nagas, Kukis should also embrace this prophecy and work towards that.

Of course, a lot of effort at different levels will be required.

I want to revisit an event that I attended in Manipur's Senapati town sometime in November 2012. Then the Editor of The Morung Express, when I was invited to speak I had suggested the formation of a forum between the Meiteis and the Nagas in order to address our differences. The next day I was told that the media in Manipur gave a lot of prominence to this story and it was positively highlighted.

It is somewhat surprising that despite having a shared history, the comparative advantage of our geography and despite the strides in human thinking as also the connectivity provided by globalization, the Meiteis and the Nagas in particular have not been able to communicate well enough orthink and work on a common vision and platform for a shared future.

Maybe 50-60 years back this was not required because of the mutual understanding and the political order that prevailed. I am sure most of us present here will agree that Manipur in the 1960s is very different from Manipur of 2012 or 2016.

Given the situation like the one prevailing in Manipur, it is very important to have more of people to people contact or else our problems and conflicts will not get resolved.

Meitei and Naga civil society or for that matter Kukis and Nagas, Meiteis and Kukis, there has to be a common forum to talk and resolve.

When the invitation to give this lecture came to me, this unhelpful and awkward situation that Meiteis and the Nagas find themselves in, where we are not even on talking terms, the result of long felt grievances exploding and obviously the differences over the outcome of the Indo-Naga peace process, all this played on my mind.

As I said at the very outset I was determined not to let the conflict and differences come in the way of sharing some of my thoughts and ideas. During the course of this lecture, I have spoken on some of the difficult issues confronting us. I hope I have addressed them respectfully without hurting sentiments.

Though you may not agree with me on every point, I know that you have listened patiently with an open mind so that a process of dialogue can begin on the challenges facing all of us as peoples.

I want you all to believe as I also do that we can create solutions to some of the pressing problems of the day.

We should not allow the present conflicts to linger on because you will agree with me that any conflict situation does no good to our peoples. It is counter-productive for peace, development and the shared future of our peoples in the neighbourhood in particular and the North East region in general.

As I had said right at the outset of this lecture, the Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis all need to explore a framework for a shared future.

If we want to change the conflict situation we are faced with or resolve the differences that exist, we need to start imagining with an open mind and start discussing ideas as late Arambam Somorendra would have liked.

I respect and salute the determination of the people of Manipur to find their rightful place and my firm belief is that with due consideration you will reciprocate the same towards other struggling peoples, including the historical and political rights of the Nagas and their aspiration to live as one people.

With this concluding thought, I want to once again thank the Arambam Somorendra Trust for giving me this honour and also for the confidence you have shown that we can achieve something meaningful through this dialogue and interaction.

The Arambam Somorendra Memorial Lecture is a place to begin such a journey of peaceful resolutions.

Thank you.

Concluded.....