Moral Responsibility

By Deke Tourangbam *

In regard to a recent comment published in E-pao.net by one of our respected writer Chaoba Phuritsabam regarding irresponsible article published against Northeastern and Manipuri women. I would like to reconfirm on the same and request the EPAO team to thoroughly check any content for credibility of the article especially if it is going to harm the image of our society especially Manipuri women.

Though said I would also request the E-pao.net team to do something about the fast deteriorating social and moral values among Northeastern and Manipuri people who are bringing a bad name to the community.

Northeastern people living in Delhi and other metro cities of India face many hardships and discrimination which can be confirmed by the fact that we have a separate N.E Helpline forum to address to such problems.

Problems of social discrimination, sexual molestation, Rape and physical intimidation have been reported time to time and published frequently in national dailies. Though one may defer but there have been many instances when northeastern people try finding rooms and proper accommodation had been denied on the ground that they are uncivilized and immoral.

Few years back a prominent police officer from the N.E deputed in Delhi had formulated a Dress-Code Booklet for the Northeastern students studying in D.U to safeguard them from discrimination. However the step was rejected outright by the students. In a similar line a Principal of a reputed D.U college in North campus had proposed a Dress Code specifically for the women students from the Northeast region stating they wore "Revealing Dresses".

No doubt Delhi is regarded as a RAPE CAPITAL but whenever a girl from the Northeast is raped or molested the MORALITY and CHARACTER of the victim rather than the perpetrator has always come at the forefront. One can recollect the famous Daula Kuan rape case of a N.E girl. As per the records of the court hearing proceedings published in Times of India Dec'09 issue- The defense counsel had commented that the girl was of immoral character as she led an "Active Sex Life" and was not a virgin when the rape occurred and thereby defending the case. This perhaps was an insult to the Northeastern people in general.

Even a separate helpline number to Police patrol for Northeastern community was suggested by Mrs. Sheila dixit, CM of Delhi overlooking the number of cases with Northeastern people. News reports had also come in national dailies of Northeastern girls involved in prostitution and drug peddling rackets along with African nationals.

Things have also come up regarding cases of drug addiction, Live-in relationship, Prostitution, Unwanted pregnancies and abortion as once reported by a certain Northeastern student union in Delhi.

Perhaps all such things have reflected the community in such a poor light that it has created a misconception in the minds of other Indian societies as is depicted in a recent Bollywood movie "tere Sang" dealing with Teen pregnancy in which there is a mention that a Manipuri girl can give her consent for sex once she attains 14yrs of age and will not be considered rape (Also mention in Wikipedia –age for consent of Sex).

Thus considering all such facts we can't deny the fact that we all northeastern community living outside our region are equally responsible for the degenerating moral values. There are some who directly bring disgrace to their community by involving in immoral activities and wearing Vulgar looking dresses BUT equally responsible are those people who keep a blind eye to all such things.

Though proper care must be taken while publishing any article which harms the image of our society but at the same time any such behavior that will be responsible for defaming the community should not be ignored.

India is a democratic country and everyone is free to do anything as She or he pleases but whatever authority should be followed with responsibility. Infringement of personal liberty is equally frowned upon but if that liberty reflects the community in a poor light than it should not be tolerated.