Manipur has fallen

Misao Hejang Hangmi *

Our one time peaceful State, without any willingness from her part, is unfortunately sliding towards the point of no return – communal division and high stake deal for political mileage.

Land, that has been politicised, became a bone of contention, and all parties (Kuki, Naga, Meitei) are correct in their own version regarding land occupation/ownership.

The friction of own version of truth sparks a situation where one does not feel hesitant to use whatever means, by forgetting to listen to feelings and consciences, to achieve an end.

Fanaticism has made us mad and the big 'I' take over the 'WE' that ultimately result into the demolition of peaceful co-existence, and giving a blow to the age old tradition of love and peace.

Sadly everybody has forgotten that means never justify the end or end never justifies the means. The NSCN (IM) ethnic cleansing of the Kukis in the early 90s as a means will never justify their end.

The Kuki and the Naga standoff will continue till the end of the world, at the same time the emotional hatred between the Meitei and the tribals will linger from generation to generation unless each back off and come to third alternative solution based on win-win solution.

The community vying for power and hegemony, no doubt, has become the venomous disease that has inflicted us, deadlier than HIV/AIDS. There is no medicine to cure, and no scientific formula to heal except self realization through reflection on the futility of violence and taking concrete steps (reflection) to restore harmony.

The big question is "Who reaped the benefit" out of it ?

We have seen with our naked eyes how our mothers, children, the poor, the sick, young and old of our society bore the brunt of this political game. Plans cannot be worked out, dreams cannot be pursued, always living in a state of uncertainty and surrounded by a bunch of unreliable, ever money hungry security wallas who can take lives just for a penny, forget about the disgruntled insurgents.

This is perhaps the only State where one's skills, knowledge and experiences have no space in the recruitment process and one has to succumb to bribery. A State where the have nots have no space at all. We have seen the end result in the performance of the security personnel (Police and IRB).

Our State has fallen in all spheres – social, economic, education and political. Thanks to the political leaders and the revolutionary groups who created a situation where just a slap to a thief can evoke communal riot.

I wish those gone days of love where 'mangai or itao' the bonding word between the people of hills and valley with no room for discrimination and hatred return again. Where being human is more than enough to live together.

When did our lovely State started to falter ? Who sowed all these seeds of prejudices, biases, and hatred ?

Believe it or not today you are always seen from the lens of suspicion the moment you reveal your identity.

Are our education and religion responsible for this ? Or should we blame the technological advancement and the rapid pace of development ?

I should say our materialistic world has reduced us into a level where one does not care for the human value systems. Our greed for material gain makes us deaf to the cry of our feelings and conscience.

We no longer act in accordance with our intuitive feelings bestowed upon us naturally (unlike animals) and any action outside the feeling is always negative.

To conclude I would like to leave a message to the political leaders (politicians) and the revolutionary leaders that we (masses) are really fed up with your vested game of interest.

We just want to live with dignity, lead a normal life and reap the benefits of democracy where education and economy thrive, where we are not misled and co-exist peacefully.