A Dialogue between Naga and Meitei
- Part 2 -

Z. K. Pahrii Pou *

Naga: What is your view on the three Bills recently passed in Manipur Assembly?

Meitei: At present, Manipur is a dangerous state. Whatever one does (good or bad) is suspected by the other. Regarding the Bills, I think there was no enough consultation held with prominent civil organisations of the hill tribes although it was vigorously pursued by the valley based civil organisations for many months. Had our public leaders and elected MLAs properly consulted all stakeholders before it was placed in Assembly, the three Bills could have been materialised with or without modification. However, the hill tribes also need to study the Bills in detail and come out with workable suggestion to save Manipur from being exploited by outsiders and global market forces.

Meitei: What is your observation on ST status that I am fighting for?

Naga: I have no objection to a particular community seeking for ST status. I cannot encroach on other’s right. It is interesting to know that all human races, who are now considered as ‘civilised and developed’, have gone through the stage of tribe at one point of time in their history. I myself feel that a time will come for me too to leaving behind this status.

But if you think it’s beneficial for your community, then I don’t have objection. The only concern that I have is that whether such status/provision will really help the common people in your community. Even in Nagaland there is ‘backward tribe quota’ but all the privileges were availed by powerful and rich people. The benefits of quota hardly reach the poor and the remote part of the state.

Naga: What are some of the factors that make us difficult to live together?

Meitei: I think there is the religious factor. Meiteis embraced Hinduism in large numbers and the hill tribes Christianity. The questions of ethnic nationalism and territorial integrity as well as taxation/extortion imposed by various insurgent groups are some other factors. I suspect that there are many powerful people including some politicians, bureaucrats, rich businessmen and others who do not want the struggling masses to live together peacefully because they get benefit as long as there is conflict.

Meitei: What are the dividing factors according to you?

Naga: I agreed to all the points you have just mentioned. One thing which I don’t like is the ambitious effort of some of the valley elites who always try to play the role of ‘big brother’ for the hill people. Also when some MLAs and public leaders express that there are no Nagas in Manipur, it hurts my sentiment. Although I live in Manipur, I cannot be called as ‘Manipuri’ because it carries both Hinduism and Meitei overtone (as discussed above). I felt threatened sometime when the majority government pass Laws/Acts that are likely to trespass my traditional rights. There is also big gap between the hills and the valley in terms of development projects. May be these are considered as ‘injustices’ by some of my leaders and so seek for a kind of alternative arrangement.

Naga: What are the ways and means in which we can live together?

Meitei: It is not easy to survive in today’s world without unity and harmony across the various sections of people and ethnic groups. The threats to life are many. Together we must fight against militarisation in Manipur: the militarisation of society, militarisation of religion, of employment and of development. This militarisation process has benefited the few powerful leaders, the army officers, the local elites and the rich business class at the cost of the majority poor and the powerless.

Displacement and destruction caused by mega-development projects need to be stopped. We need to arrest communal politics and corruption in various departments too. Oppression against women needs to be given a serious thought by all of us. We must also stand together for the wellbeing of small farmers, of fishers, of petty traders, of auto drivers and rickshaw pullers, vegetable vendors, weavers, daily wage labourers, old aged, widows and others who are struggling for daily food. All these ‘internal colonies’ must come together and fight against the divisive and destructive forces.

Meitei: What do you suggest for bringing unity in Manipur?

Naga: I also agree that unity is the only means to survive. We have to replace trust deficit with confidence and ethnic chauvinism with a universal sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to have face-to-face dialogue as often as we can. Bandhs and protests do not bring unity. Shouting from TV or Radio that ‘we are one’ is not enough. We need to form association or clubs with members from various ethnic and religious groups.

Exchanged cultural programmes can be conducted so that hill people visit valley areas and the valley dwellers vice-versa. We need to respect each other’s culture and sentiment. Customary laws and traditional practices should not be suppressed or replaced by modern law unless agreed upon by all stakeholders. Since there is bigger area of land available in the hill areas than in the valley, more development can be taken up in hill areas than just concentrating it in the valley.

Most of all, we need to have love and trust that transcends sexism, ethnicism, individual and political interest. If love is present in our land, all other problems will be solved and we can settle in any parts of Manipur.

But when there is no love, there is no trust; and when there is no trust, there is no unity; and when there is no unity, there is no peace; and when there is no peace, there is no security; and when there is no security, there is no development; and when there is no development, society breaks up, collapse and perish.

Conclusion:

History is good as long as it helps us to know our unique identity. But when it is used to create division and hatred in the society, it becomes dangerous. One should never twist history to fulfil or assert one’s own interest. Obsession with past glories or history is likely to create problem not only at present times but also for the future generation.

What has happened in the past is difficult to bring back in toto. Therefore what is happening today and now here is important that we must take care of to save life. Understanding the reality of present world and living accordingly may help us to pursue together the cause of greater common good and bring in a better society.

For suggestion or discussion: zkpahr(aT)gmail(DOT)com

Concluded...