New Wine in Old Bottles or Old Wine in New Bottles

JC Sanasam *

MLA jointly taking Oath at Manipur Assembly at Imphal on March 14 2012 :: Pix - David M Mayum

In terms of wine they say old wine in new bottles is considered much more precious than new wine in old bottles. But in case of politically elected members, according to public expectations, new fresh energetic, intellectual individuals with far sighted vision and wisdom are generally much preferred than the old time-tested rusted ones are.

However, we commoners think, if the new wine is brewed with new enriched valuable ingredients the effective flavour may merit much better and score much higher than the old one; how true it is, we have no idea.

Maybe, the same holds true of the elected incumbent performers as well. If the incumbents shred off their rusted layers and come out well polished with a new invigoration, who knows, they may taste like the fresh sparkling champagne.

I remember what our friend Ibochouba, skeptic as he is, in the evening of the last election-day on the 28th January, complained and muttered, "What a waste of time, money and energy this election is! I wasted my precious time of 3 hours in the long queue under the scorching sun. I could have enjoyed a good novel or a good movie instead.

Election or no election Manipur will ever remain without electricity, drinking water, tolerable roads and will remain under this drudgery of lawlessness under the hands of the same type of jokers. This is just much ado about nothing."

He was one who refused initially to turn out for punching the EVM; however he did it on our insistence only. And he says now, "See, it is just new wine in old bottles or you may say old wine in new bottles, whatever…"

What really should matter now for the new elected members is to create a new energy to meet the challenges and the vindication implied by the people. The challenges are many and the jobs tough.

In addition to establishment of basic infrastructures demanded by this upcoming city and peripheral townships and corner villages, the government is late enough to prepare itself to meet the impending impact of the 'Look East Policy' wave.

It is to preen away the land's reek, from its dirty feathers and to do away with the old worn out dusty rags, scraps and muddles; replace them with 3-5 star hotels, holiday resorts so on and so forth. If the state knows its ways how to handle things it will be no wonder, who knows, the state may become a Singapore on a land mass. Singapore became one of the cleanest and richest places in the world without any of its own resources.

Yes, most of all, another first thing to do is to bring a lasting peaceful solution to the ever growing insurgency problems and ever scaling crimes. Many think-tank men say it is the priority. The 'I-will-do-it' mindset is what is essentially required perhaps.

Ibochouba still would not stop his pranks, "They should work like our 'Arangpham-Phamba' uncles or brothers who manage our marriage, shraddha ceremonies and the like so well. Yes, they are sort of hired managers. They are being well paid through our revenue, tax-collection and government properties. The only difference maybe they are to work ceaselessly and relentlessly, not on occasions only. And the irony is that they sail along like the Roman colonizers did in history." Period.