United Nations' International Youth Day

Imphal, 12th August 2016

"FUTURE BRIGHT"

On this United Nations’ International Youth Day I salute the youths of Manipur as the ultimate potential and power of this Jewel of India. It is a day for all of us in Manipur to feel both pride and unhappy. The global sports arena has established the unparalleled nation-building power of the youths of Manipur in the vast and diverse country.

It is time for all of us to reengage our mind on the potential of the youths of Manipur which has been proven time and again so much so that we almost take it as natural and for granted. This established and spontaneous potential has not unfortunately been provided as yet a facilitating support system for full realization of the potential.

There has long been disconnect between the potential and proven capability of the youths on one hand and the character of the governance system in Manipur on the other. While the youths have always been eager to showcase their potential, the nature of governance has been such as to lead them towards frustration and indulgence in activities incommensurate with their potential and capability. The society of Manipur has been paying the price of this disconnect between capable youths and corruptible governance in terms of social upheavals, economic rent—seeking and misdirected expression of anguish frustration.

The land and people of Manipur can no longer afford to allow such a scenario to prolong and waste the potential and capability of our youths. We are a land inhabited by people with established potential.

We are a people whose future can only be bright. Indeed the potential future of Manipur is very bright. But the manifestation of this potential and attain the brightness the land and her people deserve can only happen through two routes to connect the disconnect between the capability of the youths and the quality of governance.

First, the youths should now play the role of change-agent themselves for affecting a change in the regime of governance and put in place a responsive as well as responsible governance. Second, the realization of the first objective would require the youths to focus on positive engagement and meaningful indulgence instead of the present misdirected expression of anguish frustration.

I wish the people of Manipur and the Youths in particular a bright future through collective indulgence in positive socio-political games. Let us forever sharpen our zeal for excellence in every field of life from the research institutes in every disciple to the Olympics. Let the world watch our youths in awe in every aspect of social engagement with human dignity and cultured excellence.

We have it in us. You have it in you; your richness is unmatched. Hats off to you

M. Asnikumar Singh
State Vice President
BJP Manipur Pradesh