Reviving Ties
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: May 30, 2013 -

Referring to the shared future awaiting the two neighbouring countries, which had been freed from the British colonial yoke, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was reported to have said on the day of Myanmar’s (earlier Burma) independence on 4 January, 1948, “As in the past, so in the future, the people of India will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Burma, and whether we have to share good fortune or ill fortune, we shall share it together.

This is a great and solemn day not only for Burma, but for India, and for the whole of Asia.” However, the truth is that despite sharing a 1643-km long land border and strategic waters of Bay of Bengal as well as being close allies of Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) in the 1950s and later on as members of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Myanmar has always remained low priority in India’s foreign policy.

In fact, after the 1962 coup, which heralded military Junta rule in Myanmar, the not so thriving bilateral relationship between the two neighbouring countries almost came to a complete halt, with exception, of course, to the tethering border trade agreement which was signed in January 1994 to facilitate cross border trade on some select items.

It was only in the wake of recent political changes and growing influence of China in the resource rich neighbouring country that India has been alerted and started paying serious attention to reviving bilateral ties with Myanmar.

On the other hand, the relation between Manipur and Myanmar, which was known to the Manipuri people as ‘Ava’, is not of recent origin and it can be traced back to the growth and development of both the civilizations itself.

It is a historical fact that even centuries before Manipur became a part of India, the erstwhile independent kingdom continued to have close socio-politico and economic contacts with Burma, enjoying friendly good times as well as experiencing bitter enmities.

In this light, the current visit of an Indian official delegation led by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh of Manipur to Myanmar assumes greater significance. Officially, it may be to attend a two-day long Region Investment and Business Conclave cum Myanmar-India Trade Fair being facilitated jointly by Sagaing Region Government, Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (UMFCCI) and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC); but for the people of Manipur, the importance of the visit does not end with that.

It is a rare opportunity for the delegates, especially from Manipur, to rekindle and reaffirm the aged old ties with their Myanmarese brethren.

So, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh appeared to have struck the right chord when he made an emphatic appeal to the accompanying Indian investors not to think for India alone but also for Myanmar so that the two countries could co-exist, and made various proposals for enhanced air and road connectivity, for promotion of not just trade activities but also investment and extended helping hands in areas like sports, culture, education, sports, etc.

However, all these good intentions turn out to be so hollow and meaningless when he started drawing the attention of Myanmarese authorities for providing land for construction of a hospital under PPP model at Mandalay.

When his own Government back home has not been able to ensure proper health care to the people and all its health institutions are remaining in such pathetic condition, what is honourable Chief Minister of Manipur talking about? It sounds so ridiculous.