Challenges of identity – A view about Manipur

By Shanjoy Mairembam *

Sticking to the past glory and investing whole effort to preserve the identify of century old tradition/culture/kingdom on Today's (2010) environment is something the current generation should be thinking in the mode of 'Reason Vs Assertion' approach. How far we can bring along the past identity with us to the future is what worth analysing rather than living in the past century on Today's reality?

Examples:

1) Meitie UG groups claimed to fight against Indian govt based on 1891 Anglo-Manipur war and Merger agreement (1947-1950), etc. But, do we really indeed need to have another structure of Kings/queens of Imphal based kingdom now?

Please note: Within Manipur, Imphal kings are not the only clan who rule over Manipur in the past. There were other kingdoms which we know about and even within Meities, there were other well known Meitie kingdoms which NEVER agrees/accepts the rule by Imphal based kings over their land (because they destroyed their kingdoms & prosperity).

So, does it make sense to demand by some Meitie UG groups based on Imphal-based Meitie kingdom and bringing up concepts of "Kings/Queens" in Today's' world??? Majority of Manipuris will never bow down or care to listen to what/where of the kings/clans of Imphal kingdom.

2) If Meitie UG groups can get Manipur independent (even if let's assume for now), Are we again going to have a democratic form of govt (or Imphal-based kingdom again), how much difference does it make with the current form of governance in Manipur? None in the so called Indian Govt rules over Manipuris.

Elected MLAs of Manipur rule Manipur people and every Manipuri is entitled to every other rights of being an Indian (as per the Indian constitution) across the entire geography of India. Rather, it's frightening that we don't get such rights within Manipur; but we can enjoy 100% of our rights outside Manipur.

Though we can understand that India stills lacks on law enforcement due to various reasons; issues of some Manipuris not getting certain rights are not due to Indian govt, but lack of communication between Manipuris and other Indians (i.e. relationship among people and not the govt).

3) Manipur is a mini-India wherein lots of diverse communities, religions, customs, etc are living. And so, there can't be a kingdom of Meities or Nagas, or Kukis, or Muslims, or Christians, or Hindus, or etc. The problems/issues that India is facing currently in terms of diversity of people are the similar problems Manipur is facing now and will be facing in future.

In these circumstances, we should be considering on the idea - how much we will be benefited by this or that action (rather than finding True or False); and we should not be projecting the past identities and glories to create sense of superiority or inferiority complexity among us. Another point worth noting here is that there are 30-40 UG groups (all-together from every community group).

Does Manipur (the term 'Manipur' itself is not sure what it refers to) have the chance of being an independent country or state or prosperous union where every community can have equal share??? Can these UG groups agree among themselves practically (the answer is a BIG NO)????

4) Groups/Associations of Meitie are digging the past history / civilization to show how great/good Meities are in the past. Interestingly, they provide the info in a way not only other communities but also own Meitie community will feel threatened/old-fashioned/outdated, i.e. Approach is wrong/in-appropriate and the core issue herein is not with the content/message but the medium of expressing the info.

Examples:

(1) Forcing kids to read and write Meitie Mayek; Forcing Newspapers and media to use Meitie Mayek all of a sudden, etc. Even if Meities will feel proud to have their own scripts, majority will oppose because the change is not harmonious; rather it targets the personal views/ideas of majority of Meities. So, these groups of Meities trying to preserve the past are branded "fanatics" or "hooligans".

(2) Teasing/blaming Mayangs (by definition, any non-mongoloid looking Indian) for everything happening in Manipur (for culture, religion, etc.) is totally wrong. If we look back in the past, who was the one agreeing to have Hinduism or caste system, etc. (i.e. the things these Meities preservation groups are showing hatred at) in Manipur since then???

The person responsible was not in-fact Santidash Gosai or any other Mayangs of the past; it was the Imphal Meitie King who forced the entire people of Manipur to convert without their consent. Because, King and his higher officials had the power to do such actions (and it wasn't Santidash Gosai or other Mayangs)... Then, why blame everything on Mayangs.

(3) Who cares meities or other N-E communities were this or that in the past on the global/national aspect; or say (on the similar context), do we really care what happens to rest of human beings in other part of the globe???

If we want our culture/past identity be appreciated by everyone, please show respect/appreciation to other Indians/global nationalities instead of scolding and telling past stories in the way of victimizing the current generations of our neighbors. Or else, it's just similar to 'Barking within a closed room' and it shows the sign of lack of common sense on those who trying to preserve the past.

(4) Again, Are the current Mayangs responsible for every problem happening in Manipur???? Its BIG NO... Issues in Manipur (whatever issues we can name) are caused by Manipuris (Meities, Nagas, Kukis, Muslims, Christians, etc) within Manipur.

None from outside Manipur forces us [Manipuris] to act or dance to their tune. It's the Manipuris in power dictating to their wishes (not the wishes of Delhi or Mayangs) to people of Manipur. And, Manipuris in power refers to MLAs, ministers, CM, Police officers, Militants of Underground Groups, local associations, etc...

Finally, it's time for introspection ... 99% of faults/mistakes is with us only and not with others....