Do we have good leaders and leadership ?

Manibabu Likmabam *

The new Assembly building :: Pix TSE

Our is not so a big society. I mean to say about Manipuri society- hill and valley. Geographically we do not have bigger areas. This Manipuri society could have been developed like other developed countries in the world which are smaller than Manipur, had there been good leaders and leadership. Till now we have not come upto the stage of development, a society should have.

Frankly this society needs responsible, sincere, capable and educated leaders and strong leadership. These days, elected legislators are considered leaders. Yes, hypothetically considering they are leaders of the society. Now Manipur does have sixty elected leaders (legislators), forty leaders represent valley, twenty represent hill areas. They are not permanent. But they are the movers and shakers who should work for the development. Now, we need to see their responsibilities towards the Manipuri society and community.

As per wisdom of the great leaders our first responsibility is to the society and community, second to our family, and third to ourselves. When this hierarchy is reversed a society starts degenerating. Social responsibility ought to be the moral obligation of every elected leader. Responsibility is the key factor to development.

A good elected leader should first discharge full responsibilities to the society to which he/she belongs. Societies are not destroyed by the activities of the rascals but by the inactivity of the good leaders. What a paradox! If good leaders can tolerate under-developed situation in their own land, how can they be good leaders.

The question is, are our elected leaders discharging their duties as socially responsible leaders? These leaders promised to do many things before they get elected. Leaders with character accept responsibilities and they make decisions and determine to shape their society towards development. Accepting responsibilities involves taking risk, sacrificing own comfort and being accountable, which is sometimes uncomfortable.

Nowadays, it seems, most elected leaders would rather stay in their own comfort zones and live irresponsible lives without making fulfilment of what they promised before they get elected. These leaders sometimes drift through time waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen.

In Manipur there are sixty two elected leaders and one nominated leader. Altogether sixty three leaders. Are not they the leaders for all round development of Manipur this tiny small State which is a 'unity in diversity'? Three leaders represent Manipur in the Indian Parliament. Are not they speaking in the Parliament for the development of Manipur?

And these sixty leaders (elected) including three women have to take full responsibilities for the betterment of this society. Don't we (electorate) need a bit of analysis whether these leaders are discharging their duties responsibly and sensitively as we know we elected them. These leaders should not deviate themselves from the main agenda they put before they become elected leaders. Social comfort, well-being of the people and development of the State should be their priorities.

And their own comfort by constructing buildings and purchasing land properties should not be their first agenda. However, it seems, it is just the reverse in Manipur. To whom should we blame, who! We ourselves or they elected super¬facial leaders. Fifty-fifty as we are all responsible for this society.

Yes, of course some elected leaders in the past did some unforgettable works for Manipur. They really discharged their duties and used wisdom to help establish universities, SAI Complex, saved valuable land from selfish encroachers and established remarkable State assets. Let us see our elected leaders of the present Manipur Legislative Assembly- whether they are in the right track or in the wrong track. If they are in the wrong track, their elected leadership is over in the five years only.

This time most of the elected leaders are young and energetic and some of them are highly educated and some of them are qualified professional before they join the bandwagon of elected leaders. Some of them who belong to the Congress party become Ministers and start discharging their responsibilities as soon as they assume office. Very good beginning.

Leaders are not made, but born. But in the context of elected leader, they are rather made than born. And as such we (electorate) have the duty to make them perfect leaders. Ours is democracy. We can put our arguments to them positively. Sometimes it is funny to know that some of these elected leaders do not know the norms and rules of the legislative Assembly. They cannot speak either Hindi or English properly, which is essential for a leader as they need to communicate not only with the leaders of the country but also with the leaders and people of the world.

A leader needs to know what the present trend of development in the world. It would be our sincere request to read some good books for becoming good leaders and strong leadership. Only when these elected leaders become sincere, responsible with commitments, this small State (Manipur) will be in the right track of development. For God's sake, please do something good for this land.

Some of the young elected leaders, who become Ministers, hold important portfolios, have started discharging their duties. Take for example Dr Kh Ratankumar, Works Minister, started discharging his social responsibilities. He undertook a journey to Jiribam to quicken the ongoing work of road construction. And this is the National Highway through which essential commodities reach Manipur - lifeline of Manipuris. Hopefully, Dr Ratankumar, may pay visit to other roads, particularly inter-village roads in rural areas.

Some of the inter-village roads are in the deplorable condition. Even though every constituency has got elected representative for all-round development rural areas remain underdeveloped for decades.

Is it wrong to blame the Member of legislative Assembly of the area concerned? Road development is the main factor for all-round development in Manipur. Please take interest in rural roads as well.

Human resource is no doubt the backbone of a society. Without value base and quality education, a society would remain scramble. Hopefully, young and energetic education Minister M Oken, would do everything possible for bringing a change in education sector. He is very understanding, soft spoken, educated who could deliver the thing.

Though his promise of bringing a change within six months in already deteriorated education scenario is a little bit exaggerated, we need to help him in every effort. Hopefully, we may not be reading anymore complaints from MSF, AMSU, DESAM etc of not having teachers in schools, of broken school buildings, collapsed walls, after six months.

Other Honourable Ministers in this third term of O Ibobi Singh led SPF Government would definitely discharge their socially responsible duties. Members of the Legislative Assembly from all the constituencies should showcase some concrete development works in their constituencies so that people would think them as their good leader.

Without power supply nothing is possible in this century. Manipur has been reeling under erratic power supply for countless number of days. Thank god, inspite many dark nights, brilliant students from this soil get through Indian Administrative Services examinations, NDA etc. Every students, when asked, expressed their resentment on acute power supply.

This time Chief Minister would leave no stone unturned to improve the power supply. His Government initiative to award Rupees 2 lakhs each to those students who could clear IAS and other allied examination is a very positive step, welcomed by all.

Can we expect very credible and concrete works from our three Honourable Members of Parliament? Please remember people expected a lot from the three Members. Why don't they put collective effort to materialize Jiri-Imphal railway line, Imphal-Mandalay bus service for economic upliftment of the people. General election is in the early part of 2014. This time voters have to be persuaded with some stories of what had been done by the Honourable two MPs.

At the end, elected leaders may try to turn from superficial, man-made leaders to born leaders by discharging their social duties responsibly. Only when Manipur does have good leaders with conviction and commitment, development may not be far way. For God's sake, some elected leaders from the hill areas should not indulge in disintegrating Manipur. Above all we need to wait and see what happen just after the election of Indian President. Some elected leaders are perhaps burning midnight oil to change the "Mali of Heinoumakhong".