Hekta Ngamme Haibagi Maongda 'Let them eat cake'
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 20, 2011 -

There is something profoundly self explanatory in the manner in which history remembers Marie Antoinette for her "Let them eat cake" statement much more than her other attributes.

Debates may rage over whether it is factually correct to attribute this statement to her or not, but the fact stands that this very statement sums up the overall factors for the French revolution to take such a bloody turn which saw the King, Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette being executed in 1793 after being incarcerated in prison.

Today this sentence or phrase, whether it has been rightly attributed to Marie Antoinette or not, has entered the English language as something where those holding the reins of power are totally indifferent to the plight of the common people or do not understand the "language" of their subjects.

The popular belief is that the Queen of France uttered this immortal and infamous statement when the peasants petitioned their King that they had no bread to eat. This was what happened in France in the 18th century when monarchy was the system of governance.

Fast forward to the 21st Century to Manipur, where monarchy has given way to democracy, and the uncomfortable feeling that there may not be much to set the monarchy of France in the 18th century and the rulers of present day Manipur apart is overwhelming and we say this not without reason.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and in the case of the Congress SPF Government, we may add, nearly ten years in power has bred a certain political culture which is arrogance, with a capital A and written in bold.

Such a culture has a cascading effect and the arrogance that is seen in the corridors of power—in the office rooms, the official bungalows of the Ministers, in the beacon lights that scream from the official vehicles of the Government Babus and the political leaders—is seen in its cruder form on the streets and roads of Imphal when the cops on duty bark out orders to all and sundry to make way for their boss who is scheduled to pass through the busy route in a few minutes time.

It is seen in the way in which police commandos non-chalantly break the traffic rules and zoom around in their motor bikes through the one way norms as well as in the manner in which heavy vehicles of the security forces are parked plum in the middle of a busy road where parking of vehicles is prohibited, as per the new traffic rules and regulations.

As long as this arrogance is seen on the roads and in the swagger of the politicians and the Babus, then it may be taken with a good dose of honey, but the moment it starts to question the dignity and self respect of a people then it is time to say enough is enough.

"Hekta Ngamme Haibagi Maongda" is a phrase used popularly in the Meitei language and its closest translation in English may come to, "They are throwing their weight around just because they have the muscle power." In other words it means displaying the mentality of a bully in full public glare and this is juvenile.

Private ownership is something that is allowed but ultimately the real owner is the Government.

This is the thumb rule of the understanding of a Nation and this is the reason why taxes are paid, such as land tax, house tax, etc. It is on the strength of this accepted norm that the Government has gone to claim land for the purpose of numerous projects, whether it is for setting up the National Institute of Technology at Langol, the road widening work currently underway at so many points in Imphal, the eviction of people from their homestead as well as the eviction proposal to set up a 5 Star Hotel, the marching orders given to the vegetable vendors at Nagamapal and then shifting them to Lamphel etc.

However what is grossly visible to the eyes of any observer is the utter lack of sensitivity to the sentiments of the people in the process of implementing the projects taken up by the Government. An elderly lady lost consciousness while narrating her ordeals after being evicted from her homestead some days back.

It was certainly not the June heat or a Sun stroke, but the emotional disturbances, the hurt sentiments and the feeling that one has been insulted beyond human tolerance were writ large on the unconscious profile of the elderly woman. This is ominously reminiscent of the "Let them eat cake," mentality of the French royalty.

What the people need is a little bit of sensitivity on the part of the Government. Rude and arrogant behaviour can never justify insulting the sensibilities of the people, no matter what the ends are. Self respect and dignity of existence are some of the inseparable characteristics of mankind and to take this away from any human, who is alive and kicking, is more than condemning him or her to the life of an animal !

This is precisely what the SPF Government has been doing and by all indications looks set to continue. It rankles more and pricks our sensibilities, when any of the Ministers go on a poll mode and start patting them- selves with the brush of development projects, which have been in its implementing stage for years on end. Perhaps, it is time to teach them the difference between politicians and statesmen.

The State Congress leaders may be riding the tide of electoral success at the moment, but this is what they will remain, Congress leaders and nothing more.

To become leaders of the people and the State they need to know the difference between a statesman and a politician. Or else a return to the class room is what the situation prescribes.

Mr Ibobi has to choose between the two and by all account he seems satisfied by remaining just the leader of the CLP. This is reflective of the culture of mediocrity.