Momoko-Livingstone episode
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 21, 2014 -

The objection that was first raised by Anal civil society organisations over the alleged inclusion of ‘Momoko-Livingstone incident’ in the syllabus of political science for college students in Manipur has understandably attracted the attention of so many organisations including an armed outfit for obvious reasons, because everything about ‘this ugly episode’ has been very unfortunate right from the beginning.

The incident of assaulting film actress Momoko by Livingstone Anal, an NSCN (IM) cadre, during a musical concert organised for charity at Chandel district headquarters on the night of December 18, 2013, was something that should not have been allowed to take place in the first place.

But the incident did happen much against the wishes and aspiration of the people. What was even more unfortunate in the aftermath of the incident was the resultant social unrest which could have been prevented.

But such thing didn’t happen and the threat of tearing apart the fragile social fabric remains looming large ever since.

So, when the Anal civil society organisations raised the objection to any attempt to reopen the old wounds, everyone ought to be alarmed.

But the bitter truth is that Anal civil society organisations seem to have raised the alarm bell unnecessarily this time while others including the media in the State have simply lapped it up without any understanding of the issue in depth.

This is most unfortunate of all in the Momoko-Livingstone episode.

Now, the bitter truth that needs to be swallowed and digested by all who are crying hoarse is that there is no such syllabus or text book for college students prescribed by the Government of Manipur or its Education Department where the ‘ugly incident’ has been raked up.

The book in question, “Political Science, Indian Government and Politics, BA 3rd Semester’ written by Naorem Rabei Singh, who is a Senior Lecturer in Pravabati College, Mayang Imphal and published by Atom Hegin Singh, Langjing Achouba, NC Road, is just a guide book, which a college student opting political science may or may not accept.

So, it has got nothing to do with the text books prescribed by the Government or its Education Department for the college students in Manipur.

There is a lot of difference between a guide book and a prescribed text book and this obvious fact should have been known to Anal civil society organisations and all other organisations which are objecting to the alleged inclusion of ‘the ugly episode’ before they go to the extent of blaming the Government and the Education Department so unfairly and start seeing a larger sinister design behind the whole commotion created by themselves.

Of course, how the writer came up with the thought of the ugly episode while giving a two-line example on the deprivation of rights to freedom in Manipur context in question no. 9 under ‘Short Answer Type Question’ section of Unit-II (Constitutional Structure: Preamble, Nature of Indian Federation, Parliament, Executive) of the guide book, is altogether another thing that needs to be dealt separately with the individual writer.