Pieces for peace - Unacceptable ?

Free Thinker *

Many are asked directly or indirectly – to find a solution to the terrifying ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. I have already suggested that – the solution lies with the hundred odd State leaders – political, over-ground, under-ground, MLAs, SoO chiefs, etc.

Until and unless they are tamed the strife will continue; I have also suggested to all and sundry that unless a bilateral ceasefire is expedited from above and a dialogue facilitated, peace will remain a far cry.

Even if a million soldiers are posted in the State, we can’t have an amicable solution. We may manage temporary normalcy, not a lasting one. Superficially we may restore normalcy but no profound peace and tranquility. Until and unless both sides start thinking coolly about the miseries of the common people and relent even a semblance of calm is not possible.

Nobody knows the inner feelings of the people – whenever they talk to the media or write they hide their inner feelings. This is my observation. I may be wrong, but one thing I see is that people are really scared of their leaders standing behind them fully armed. People are not expressing their views honestly-they are talking in the language of their so-called leaders.

This is extremely unfortunate that the world does not know what the masses want–what the world receives today is the lopsided views, history, narratives, opinions, etc. If I rightly read people‘s pulse–both communities now desperately want peace and restoration of normal life.

But their leaders are not allowing so–because their ambitions are more crucial than the lives of the common people. They often bluff the people saying that what they are sacrificing today is for the future common good. What common good – when you are sowing hatred and enmity ?

Many of my friends are telling me – you are still longing for peace and normalcy? They tell me on my face that there will be no peace at least for a generation. There is too much hatred, ill feelings, distrust, and misunderstanding between the two communities.

Above all many lives have gone from both sides and innumerable homes destroyed, forget about properties. Those who have lost their homes and family members – what kind of compensation are we going to give ?

The ground situation is still pretty bad–only yesterday a police armory was looted by an uncontrollable mob. And three persons were killed. One respected law-maker a few days back suggested that three Union Territories may be created. Such propaganda creates more chasm in society and it is just like pouring fuel to the fire.

Those who studied ‘Italian Unification’ and ‘German Unification' perhaps dream that they can do a Garibaldi or a Bismarck in this Indo-Myanmar region. My only query is whether it is still relevant to build a Nation-State in the name of culture or language or religion in a multi-polar, myriad world.

Is it still necessary to carry forward the idea of sub- nationalism ? The problem with us is that we still believe in the books we studied 30 or 40 years ago – that too written some 80 /90 years back, containing very old ideas.

Some of the ideas embedded in those books include ideologies like Communism, Socialism, Imperialism, Neo- imperialism, Colonialism, Neo-colonialism, Feudalism, the Cold War, the Cuban Revolution, the Story of Che, etc. Many of us are in fact radicalized by such redundant ideas. Few of us start behaving like Castro, and some of us have started thinking like Karl Marx.

Even at this stage, I am still hopeful that something good will happen to this land of Jewel. There are thousands and thousands of people on both sides who still believe that peaceful co-existence is the only solution. Kukis and Nagas still co-exist in the hills, why can't Meiteis and Kukis co-exist ? Rather it is the co-existence of three major groups – the Meiteis, the Nagas, and the Kuki- Zos.

Ultimately what is important for the people is to redeem peace and normalcy at any cost. For this both sides need to surrender – then the peace will prevail. Both sides must surrender to the competent authority. Hopefully, all will get mercy and amnesty from both the Executive and Judiciary (except for heinous crimes like rape and murder).

Naga parleys have been going on for the last 24 years. SoO with Kuki–Zo militants has completed 18 years; peace dialogue with Meitei groups may now start under an agreement - talks may continue for another 2/3 decades; that is how this part of the world moves on and it is progressing.

As suggested earlier too, the solution is simple – let them kill one another till the last man, or stop violence and start a dialogue.

It is not impossible for the local leaders to come forward and have a dialogue either in Delhi, or Guwahati. Take risks and be ready for a compromised formula under the guidance of Dilli. Direction must come from the top CEO of the country. Let us see who does not fall in line.

As an insuperable optimist, I still hope for peaceful co-existence without dismembering the motherland into pieces in the name of peace.