Vying for political mileage Manipur nears its Dooms Day

Misao Hejang Hangmi *

"No mortal thought as of now finds panacea to our present ailment unless it is by respecting each other’s rights, sentiment and traditions."

Conflict of all nature can be solved by the people in one form or the other. But conflict with political in nature common people hardly have a say. Because there are always players - people with political leverage often with vested interest.

Manipur can be correctly term as the highest political field in the world with different players. Had the problems of today’s Manipur be social or economic it could have been brought to a solution beneficial to all and sundry.

What one has seen and experienced on the ground is that the common people are such simple people who love to help out each other. Unfortunately their unsullied mind and heart are now corrupted with suspicion by the so called political players that subsequently breed communalism. The whole environments have been now polluted. Life in Manipur is second hell.

The hard earned peace and harmony of the people, in no time, can be made nothing by just handful of people who had the remote control at their disposal.

Now the 3 communities – Kuki, Naga and Meitei have their own political interest. Kuki wanted a separate homeland or Kukiland, on the other hand Naga wanted to govern themselves separately which they called it alternative arrangement, at the same time Meitei wanted the whole Manipur to be their own – independent state. In the process of this political tussle/vying for political mileages the people, who once live in peace, are divided on communal line without any willingness from their part.

Meitei being the major community are at better political advantage and can steer the political ship in the way they wanted it to be without having any consideration for justice. One interesting proof in support of this point is that without any consultation and consideration of the opinion of the tribal people many of their lands/villages are attached to the valley districts clandestinely. What is more horrific is that the tribal people are kept in the dark on this sinister design which can be rightly interpreted as Meitei desperate attempt to snatch the tribal lands.

The central government sent a commission to oversee the political representation of Tribal people in Manipur Legislative Assembly and recommended for higher representation from the present percentage. But this recommendation is never implemented by Manipur government for reason best known to them.

The implementation of 6th scheduled in the tribal areas is considered as stab from behind and cannot be digested by the valley people. But they harp on “Ching Tam amatani” which is more of mouth service that is never reflected in the real world action.

Thanks for the disunity among the tribal communities – they are always at loggerhead, one stood as stumbling block to another’s political progress. Both pay the price by being at the receiving end due to their uncompromised clash of interest.

Interestingly tribal communities majority of being Christian by religion professed to be the follower of Christ, prince of peace, but sadly failed to keep and practice its values – love your enemy, do to other as you would like others do to you, love your neighbour as you love yourself.

No mortal thought as of now finds panacea to our present ailment unless it is by respecting each other’s rights, sentiment and traditions. State needs to play pivotal role in this respect and government/politicians should have political will to restore peace and harmony among the communities by impartial introduction of bills and delivery of development programs equally.

Unfortunately we have reach no point of return and one could see the imminent dooms day of our Sana Leibak if it is not by some supernatural power.