Changing Political Ethos
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 19 2015 -

While the process of constructing ‘creation myth’ is universal, its forms and contents do have definitive local variations. Encounters with other civilizational ethos have also brought in the idea of universality in a quite unique experience - transcending small and specific histories.

While universality of the moral principle and history are often talked about as human aspirations, ideas such as “good and evil” are embedded only in the life-worlds -- in specific cultural narratives and histories.

These narratives and histories also do tell us extraordinary tales of people following the prompt of their inner sensibilities, be it political or social. Sometimes, these narratives become a counter model to the overarching political economy.

Although the ethical and moral values are produced and reproduced through inherited traditions, the question over the control of mass sentiments becomes contentious with the emergence of emancipatory demands. However, there has been adequate clarity of thought with regards to the rights and privileges of people in the region.

These socio-political changes have brought about tremendous impact on the day to day lives of the people and have even shifted spatial location pertaining to their aspirations.

The communities have also critiqued changing sensibilities acquired as a result of changes in belief system or change in value system with the advent of modern institutions.

Observers have given due importance to the socio-economic dynamics unfolding within the society over the decades.

Prominent historical markers like that of colonialism or the overwhelming encounters with external worlds and modernity had set into motion new dynamics.

Thus, reading of traditional worldviews cannot be independent of contemporary concerns.

However, not much has changed when it comes to the political disposition of the masses of Northeast India.

Having said this, their positions cannot be reduced to simple rationalist and liberalist understandings of political or social positions.

The desirable and undesirable ways of life visualised by different communities in the region have always translated into regulative norms and code of conduct, sometimes acquired and at times imposed.