Enough evidence Manipur was independent: Chaoren-II
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 25 2022:
For the last 2000 years, Manipur has a recorded civilizational national yearning.
In its civilizational progression there reflects a sense of community of having lived through momentous journey of collective struggle.
However, the present day degradation of collective life in Manipur and its inability to live up to its civilizational legacy is due to the hegemonic power patronage enforced by Indian state.
If such a situation is to linger on the future of Manipur is at stake for it is to certainly worsen.
The only way out is to ensure a vision and political life where the people of Manipur shall have their exclusive and independent rights over their national resources and adoption of new horizon of development by abrogating India's unwarranted colonial interference in Manipur.
Contrary to the spirit of independence, India has consistently projected Manipur as perennially underdeveloped and parasitic on Indian funding as a part of its colonial ideology, which indeed is not only out-dated but also unsuitable to modem day political values.
The people of Manipur need to wake up from this colonial slumber and preaching by re-orienting themselves that projected dependence of Manipur on India as nothing, but a colonial make over, Chaoren said, adding that the failure on part of the administrators to inculcate suitable ways of exploiting indigenous resources has led to reinforcement of colonial false consciousness making the people helpless.
The apparent psychology of dependence on India has made them think dependent and structurally deprived the people of Manipur from making their own process of development.
The state of affairs has degraded to such a level that despite Manipur's location in a prosperous geopolitical international borderland, it has not been able to harness any significant gain, Chaoren added.
According to Chaoren, the prolonged internalization of the belief that only the imports from India feed Manipur has prevented the effective usage of National Highway 37 as a route for Manipur's economic prosperity.
The state government has for long failed to envision a policy that can positively deal with the potential of a hugely populated Barak Valley with an approximate population of 45 lakhs as a potential export market for Manipur through Jiribam as an economic gateway.
On the other hand, neighbouring country Myanmar is known for its rich agrarian produces and precious minerals and resources.
An effective trade system with Myanmar through Manipur's border town Moreh can boost up WESEA into a regional market plaza but this has been never been understood by those who are at the helm of affairs.
Efficient system of transportation is a major condition for the growth of trade and commerce and is the backbone of any country's national development but the government in the state has not been able to realize the need for a critical perspective.
The previous and the current governments have consistently shown their lack of vision in this regard.
The ongoing propaganda of the Government of India to project Act East Policy as anathema to develop trade in WESEA is a mirage.
The people of Manipur should never be belied by such a befooling false promise that is never meant to be realised.
If India was really interested in actual development of Manipur mentioned as their North East state in WESEA, it should have abandoned her geopolitical outlook on WESEA.
On the other hand, the people of Manipur need to understand the significance of fertile wetlands, agrarian spaces, and hills which are naturally endowed with avenues for livelihood.
Not only the government but also the people of the land need to wake up and seriously contribute towards full utilization of such a potential economy, Chaoren observed.
The excessive internalization of parasitism and dependence on India is a tragedy of Manipur.
Not only this, the people of Manipur are also increasingly becoming reliant on a grant-in-aid subservient economy.
Such devaluation in the form of economic subservience is sign of continuous relegation of the rich heritage left by our ancestors.
The devaluation has become such a serious trend that people are increasingly succumbing to the allurement and dictates of a class of people at the helm of affairs.
Furthermore, in the name of the Constitution, the subservient mentality has become so entrenched that some sections of Manipur society have begun to invoke constitutional provisions to acquire new status.
If the trend continues, our people are surely going to become people perennially dependent community who would not be able to walk anymore without a support.
Continuous disrespect to our selfhood and national dignity has been denigrated with the ever-increasing number of people who are hell bent on acquiring the power at any cost thereby inducing a state of brutal electioneering and social fragmentation.
The situation has so worsened so much that it has converted Manipur into a den of corruption and drug trafficking.
(To be continued) .
Comment
