Vengs, Rams in the valley, no Leikais in the hills Of AA and Kuki State
- Sangai Express Editorial :: August 08, 2013 -

Proposed map of Nagalim and proposed Kuki State map :: pix - TSE

Alternative Arrangement, a demand raised by the United Naga Council.

Kuki State, a demand raised by the Kuki State Demand Committee.

Two demands or issues that run opposite to each other and which have the potential to clash head on but which rest on one basic premise-The alleged 'Meitei centric' approach adopted by the Government of Manipur down the years.

In other words, two demands, raised and nurtured by the 'discriminatory policies and programmes' pursued by successive State Governments against the tribal community.

This is best exemplified by the 'Communal Government of Manipur' term used widely by the United Naga Council.

A term used to deliver a political statement, resting on nothing more than populism or a term coined out of sheer conviction ? In a few days time, this term or outlook will manifest in the 48 hours bandh called by the United Naga Council from August 11 followed by the 48 hours bandh called by the KSDC from August 13.

Nothing new, for Manipur has been at the receiving end of this pattern or design for the last ten years or so.

That this pattern or design has been woven around the 'domination by the majority group or community, read the Meiteis,' mentality is there for all to see but will this really stand the test of time or the proverbial acid or litmus test ? On the other hand, some of the radical Meitei groups have been raising their voice of how they have been sidelined in their own land.

An argument which primarily rests on the land holdings law, wherein the Meiteis are not permitted to buy land or settle down permanently in the hills while the valley area is open to all.

So while the valley areas, primarily Imphal is dotted with Avenues, Vengs, Rams, with a prefix, the law forbids the Leikais and Leiraks in the hills.

This is a reality, a fact which no one can refute.

On the other hand, the Meitei centric approach argument is mainly based on the development works being taken up only in the valley areas, chiefly Imphal, while the hill areas continue to be neglected, the people left to their own fate to survive without any help from the Government.

Both sides will have their own merits and demerits, but it would do good to remind all that accusing others of being communal may as well amount to being communal.

Ching Tam Amattani is a phrase which has outlived its time.

It is a dinosaur now.

Time to acknowledge this and move forward.

The big question, however is, how to move forward ? In the first place it is important to sideline the rabble rousers on either side.

This can be done only when the silent majority begin to voice their opinion and concerns.

To a large extent, it is this silence which has given space and created rooms for the rabble rousers, the trouble makers to occupy centre stage and hijack issues.

A situation which should have been addressed a long, long time back, but it is still not too late.

Be sure, to the villagers tilling the soil to feed his children and keep them clothed, to the people living in the interiors, the concept or the politics of Alternative Arrangement or Kuki State will be Greek to them.

Yet at the same time it is ostensibly on their behalf that these demands have been raised.

Flip the coin and to the rural poor living in the far flung places of the valley area, the concept or idea of Ching Tam Amattani may just be a slogan, a slogan which has been drilled into their heads.

Territorial integrity without a sense of social cohesion or social integrity will have no meaning.

This is a truism.

And so while Manipur will remain paralysed for four consecutive days, starting from midnight of August 11, there will be the trouble makers hogging the limelight.

A fruit of the growing trend of worshipping false heroes and making heroes out of pretenders who have nothing more than a political agenda for themselves.