A comment on conflict mania in Manipur

P Kham Sian Muan Zou *

Mera Houchongba , re-affirming close bond and ties between hill and valley people at Konung in Oct 2014 :: Pix - Bullu raj

Manipur was once proud of her several enviable names says, "a little paradise on earth", "Switzerland of India", or "a jewel of India". It is, by now, rather absurd and embarrassing to think of Manipur with such optimistic view. No beauty remains static in ages. As such it seems Manipur's erstwhile beauty and harmony gone along with time.

Today, I know not anybody who would find at least some parts of Manipur that is suitable to be regarded as "paradise", "Switzerland" or "jewels". But in contradict, even a minor kids would know how hard (prone with violence) the state is! Unlawful elimination, abduction, black mailing et al is the axiom of daily life.

And one is use to of it with such incidents. Almost every issue of the daily local papers contains the dead pictures of unidentified body or protests of some ethnic groups.

It is rather surprising to know that a decade dead toll of counter-insurgency related killings in this state are more immense then some of the minorities communities.

Absence of such dead pictures in local papers would even seems like "Doctor Who without the Tardis" or Jesus Crist without the disciples! How do these changes come? Whom can we count for such sea changes? The answers lie within us.

In heartland states such as Delhi, if two individuals quarrel Police took initiative in solving the conflict. But in Manipur the system remain silly or absurd.

The whole community needs to interfere in solving the dispute of two individuals if they belonged to two different communities. Precisely, everyone becomes animated to spread the propaganda says, "Pangal attacks Meitei" or "Naga attacks Kuki" and so on, rather than spreading new developmental schemes that remain unknown to some needed individuals.

It is absurd to learn that the word "Pangal", "Metei", "Naga" or "Kuki" would merely refers to an individual or so belonging to one among the above highlighted communities respectively.

But rather then calling their particular individual/s in their name/s one is eager to refer it to the whole member of the community in which s/he belonged. Such practices made Manipur, once sleepy state, metamorphosed into an epicenter of bloody interethnic violence during the 1990s.

The ashes of about 11,800 houses and bloods of over 1,450 persons during these years bolster intra-ethnic ties and inter-ethnic antagonism than ever. Intra-ethnic is good so long if it does not leads to inter-ethnic antagonism. But it seems we are moving on the wrong direction since our ethnic ties are meant to counter other groups.

The root cause of such brutal events might take a shape from the uneven allocation of developmental opportunities or failing to reach the intended beneficiaries, but responding it towards ethnic lines is unworthy and abortive.

In fact, what is needed is to joint hands, as voters in New Delhi did it to the AAP, and elects a promising party that cares Manipur's needs. But such movement seems hard to conduct in state like Manipur since one prefers to continue the system of nepotism to his/her community.

And rather each community wants to remain isolated from other communities. For instance, if valley communities organized some programmes, hill communities are ready to counter against it. Similarly, valley communities did it towards hill communities.

Although one would tax upon the theory of "divide and rule policy" or counted a single particular community, the evils in Manipur are our own creation to great extent. No outsiders have the capacity to disintegrate us so long we are willing to integrate.

Regardless of the current lawless condition there is always possibility to change the situation since it is neither the act of God nor the will of Manipuri. Fugitive in its sense the term "unity" is what the state needs. But this needs to come along with mutual understanding, thrust, and cooperation among the entire communities in Manipur. So long Manipuri ignores this key word Manipur would see no better day.

It is logical to remind that technically Manipur belongs to no single community. Similarly, no single community can make Manipur a better place unless the thirty three hill communities and valley communities join hands together.

The 1990s tragedy – where episodes of violence mushroomed in both the valley and hill districts - gave us the evil of ethnic loyalties. I bet nobody would welcome to experience those episodes of violence in the years to come.

A swift action is needed to restore our former reputation – "a little paradise on earth", "Switzerland of India", or "a jewel of India" – and make Manipur a better place as if it is before. For this everyone need to be prudent towards the attitude that s/he has towards other communities! It is clear, no external authority would take the initiative to solve our internal issues unless we are willing to open our hearts.