Dr Bimol critiques colonial legacies, Govt complicity in conflict
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 30 2024: Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam delivered a pointed critique of the colonial legacies that continue to shape the socio-political landscape of Manipur at the Manorama News Conclave, highlighting how historical divisions have been exacerbated by both past and present government policies.

Delivering a speech at the Manorama News Conclave held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on Friday, Dr Bimol condemned the Central government's ongoing complicity in the conflicts, arguing that it has failed to address deep-rooted communal divisions and has instead perpetuated a system of inequity and discord.

He called for a decisive break from these divisive policies and advocated inclusive governance and reconciliation to heal the wounds of the past.

The Congress MP began his address by emphasising on a unique connection between Kerala and Manipur.

He noted that both states, often referred to as "Little Paradise" and "God's Own Country," share cultural affinity, especially in areas such as football, theatre, and films.

He reflected on his experiences of visiting Kerala, stating that this was his fourth visit and recalling his participation in an international film festival in Kochi, where one of his films was premiered recently.

Transitioning to a more serious tone, Dr Bimol delved into the historical exclusion of the Northeast from mainstream Indian consciousness, describing it as a process of "inclusion by exclusion," a concept he attributed to an Italian thinker, while highlighting that.

Northeast India has been integrated into the nation by being systematically marginalised.

Drawing parallels with colonial attitudes towards Africa and Asia, he contended that Northeast India, like many other regions, has been viewed through an anthropological lens rather than as a vital part of India's history.

In a striking comparison, Dr Bimol questioned the national response to crisis in Northeast India versus those in other parts of the country and queried whether similar situations would be tolerated in more central regions like Uttar Pradesh or Bihar.

He further explained how colonial classifications and divisions have continued to impact Northeast India and suggested that these colonial legacies still shape contemporary conflicts and crisis in regions like Manipur.

The inner Manipur MP maintained that the British colonialists created a schism between the communities in Manipur by classifying them into two distinct groups; the civilised people of the central valley and the so-called barbarians of the surrounding hills, which he likened to the European view of Mediterranean people as civilised and Nordic people as barbarians, a distinction injected by the British during the 19th century and further consolidated in the 20th century when they took control of Manipur.

Dr Bimol explained that this colonial categorisation led to the internalisation of these identities, making people view each other as fundamentally different and unrelated.

He also drew parallels between this division and the communal divide between Hindus and Muslims in India, suggesting that both were manufactured by colonial practices along with highlighting how the British reinforced these divisions by imposing a false topographical mapping on Manipur, treating its varied terrain as if it were two distinct regions - hills and plains - despite the geographical continuity of the state.

He criticised the Indian State for perpetuating these colonial legacies in the posUcolonial period, rather than reversing them while noting that the government has maintained the division by classifying communities into tribes and non-tribes.

Pointing out that his community, the Meetei, is categorised as non-tribal, while other groups are classified as Scheduled Tribes (ST), the MP further elaborated on the religious distinctions that arose in the mid-20th century, with Christianity spreading among the ST groups and the Meeteis adhering to a blend of Vaishnavism and pre-Vaishnavite religious beliefs, much like the Japanese blend of Shinto and Buddhism.

During the post-independence period, the Government of India maintained colonial-era distinctions, categorising some groups as Scheduled Tribes (ST) and others as non-ST, while also legally distinguishing upland areas as hills and central valleys as plains, he noted and pointed out the inconsistency of these classifications, comparing the status of Dimapur in Nagaland, which lies in the Brahmaputra Valley yet is considered part of a hill state, while Imphal being treated as a plain city akin to Lucknow or Allahabad.

Dr Bimol also referred to a 1965 decision by the National Development Council to differentiate between "hill states" and "states with hill areas" under which Manipur, along with Nagaland and Kashmir, was classified as a hill state.

He provided historical context, noting that Manipur was a princely state with its own constitution before being integrated into India under the 1935 Government of India Act.

However, unlike other princely states, Manipur's constitution and assembly were dismantled by the Government of India, leading to dissatisfaction and armed movements.

Dr Bimol emphasised that, as part of its counter-insurgency strategy, the Central government has supported smaller tribal armed groups against insurgent movements, contributing to the ongoing violence in the state.

He pointed out that many of these armed groups have never directly engaged with the Indian armed forces but remain in a state of suspended operations, a situation that has fuelled demands for changes in government policy.

Dr Bimol also pointed to the Zale'ngam movement, which seeks an independent nation for the Kuki-Chin groups across Bangladesh and Myanmar, as an example of ethno-nationalist mobilisation in the region and explained that some communities in southern Manipur view a proposed Kuki state within India as a compromise to maintain autonomy while still being under Government of India, consequently leading to a complex dynamic where loyalties shift between supporting the Indian state and advocating for autonomy.

He further explained that the current crisis in Manipur is partly a result of these historical divisions and the Government of India's efforts to control and neutralise armed political groups.

He claimed that the Centre has exacerbated tensions by supporting various factions, leading to an increase in newly armed groups and a complicated balance of power in the region.

The Congress MP also addressed the impact of the Golden Triangle's notorious drug trade on Manipur, stating that as drug trafficking routes have shifted towards Myanmar, there has been a significant increase in poppy cultivation in Manipur, particularly in areas bordering Myanmar.

This illicit trade, he said, contributes substantially to the local economy, with estimates suggesting that the drug trade in Manipur is worth around Rs 60,000 crore, far exceeding the state's budget.

Highlighting the role of competitive democratic politics in aggravating the situation, Dr Bimol criticised the ruling BJP for polarising communities and playing divisive politics and charged the BJP of manipulating various factions, including Kuki armed groups and other community leaders, to further its political agenda.

He called on the Centre to reject any political structure based on communal and sectarian ideologies, urging for administrative reforms that ensure effective governance and equitable service delivery.

He emphasised that failing to address these issues could lead to severe consequences for the country, likening the situation to a Pandora's box.

In a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Bimol urged the government to assert its authority and address the ongoing violence and instability in Manipur.

He criticised the PM's silence and inaction, warning that allowing the crisis to continue unchecked could lead to a failed state scenario similar to Afghanistan.

He called for unity and healing, rejecting any notion that communities cannot coexist peacefully.

He criticised the perceived indifference of the Government of India towards the crisis in Manipur, contrasting it with the attention given to other national and international issues.

He highlighted the normalisation of disorder in the Northeast, where military operations coexist with civilian life, creating a sense of abnormality that has been tacitly accepted.

Dr Bimol urged the Centre to firmly oppose any demands based on communal or sectarian politics and called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur and apologise for the injustices faced by the state, echoing the sentiments of former home secretary GK Pillai.

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