Silence of the Talkative Prime Minister

Dr. Puyam Rakesh *

An air of uneasiness has enveloped the entire state of Manipur over the silence of the talkative Prime Minister of India. Why this conspiracy of silence? This remains the most difficult part to be decoded. Yet, the bloodshed in Manipur has tainted the walls of the United Nations. Majority of the legislators from the state have been camping in New Delhi without much success. When lotus blooms in Manipur things turn for the worst. The June 18 incident was a loud blast, too.

Interestingly, lotus is part and parcel of the Manipuri cultural heritage. The flower is offer to the deities and goddesses. Its roots are used in making local delicacies. The leaves are organic disposable plates. Now, the stems are raw materials to produce organic fabric. However, lotus is becoming a sign of bad omen in the political dictionary of Manipur. Why this political incompatibility?

In the last state assembly elections, a new record was set with BJP winning absolute majority in the house. Many BJP central leaders came for election campaigns to accomplish the success of the party. To be frank, electoral politics in the state is not something worth analysing. Generally speaking, people throng for tickets of the ruling party at the centre. Ideology has little place. Public issues hardly matter. Election manifesto is symbolic. False promises are still made. Elections come and go.

But this time, the people of Manipur had high expectations. The public mood is gloomy now. If not BJP government, what is next? At present, the Congress party seems to be not a viable option. Other parties are weak. There is no regional party worth its name. A non-BJP stable coalition government is unlikely. The next assembly elections will be a tough game. Or, have the central leaders decided not to conduct elections in Manipur anymore? Maybe the state is too small to be of any significance in the game of number.

Unfortunately, Manipur remains a “small fry” in the whole set-up of this vast country. Sometimes it turns into a prickly sand particle that irritates the eye. But it is the only true home for the children of this ancient land. Till now, thousands of youths and womenfolk of the land are confronting with the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This creates an unsettling atmosphere altogether.

One key issue in Manipur is the mushrooming of voluntary organizations. Who are to blame? A responsible leader has recently raised a complaint regarding the numerous voluntary organizations mushrooming in the wake of the conflict. Indeed, Manipur is a fertile breeding ground for organizations of many colours. It is in our blood.

This tiny state has been burning for the last five months. People are really concerned about the possible outcomes. You can’t expect the people to be silent. At least they can form new organizations to protest. In one sense, it symbolizes popular dissatisfaction at grass-root level. Meanwhile, the million dollar silence maintained by the talkative Prime Minister is also acting as a catalyst to breed more organizations.

Some informed citizens are of the view that there are two main reasons behind the explosion of organizations in Manipur. The first is the limitation or failure of the then existing organizations in fulfilling the demands and wishes of the people. Secondly, there is no dearth of people who want to be leaders of some sorts in our society. We must accept this social fact wholeheartedly. In some cases, people have lost trust in some such organizations over time. Lack of mass following is the proof.

Do we have a fertile battleground of ideologies? Not really. Do they create unwanted confusion? Oh yes! Something is wrong. It will be a good research topic. A note of celebration can be added, however, on successful exercise of the freedom of association under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.

Amidst the chaotic situation, some people have even questioned sincerity on the part of civil society organizations leaders. It is a well-known fact that some organizations enjoy endurance and vitality with a history of spearheading many mass movements in the state while many others operate with limited presence and influence among the people. Allegations and counter-allegations abound. Yet, the leaders of these new organizations have not been successful in providing any better solution so far.

Naturally, some of these organizations might have political leanings. However, not all are the products of some opposition or rival parties for political mileage. To be frank, the ruling class seems to be lost in their make-believe world of all is well in Manipur. People are not blind to their gimmicks and political drama though. The tussles within local meira paibi bodies and youth clubs are open secrets.

Notwithstanding all these, a balance of heart and mind is desirable. Timing is crucial. People behind both military and political surgical strikes know the importance of a second in the whole preparation. Punctuality is missing in our society. Time and place are important factors. What ought to be done and said within a given time frame is part of the leadership qualities. In other words, we need good leaders in such challenging times.

The crisis is still unfolding with some hidden textures of political life in the state yet to be widely understood. Many things are left unattended by the parties involved. Truth is bitter. There is no luxury of making informed choices. Information warfare feeds to the confusion of the general public. Thus, information has become the key resource here. Lack of it also contributes to formation of new organizations.

Like the legendary story of Dr. Faustus who made a bargain with the devil to gain limitless knowledge (power) in exchange for his soul, many people are apprehensive of the positions of the elected legislators and the centre’s indifference in solving the months long violent crisis adds fuel to the fire. Lack of easy access to the central leaders and the emotive reactions over President’s rule are points to be noted.

Some individuals close to the state’s inner circle made utterances in favour of the incumbent state leadership. They mean to say it is natural for the Pebet chick to feel uncomfortable when the mother Pebet asks the despotic cat (disguised as a sage cat) to wash the chick clean before eating the same for better taste. Ignorance and innocence go hand in hand. The end result is awaited. Will Manipur be the land of Dr. Faustus or Mother Pebet?

As reliable information is not readily available people are swayed constantly by emotions and sensational news. The proverbial rumour-mongering (tok-nga sandokpa) of Manipur had its field day. Let’s not forget we are living in the information age. It is high time we create a new culture and innovative practices of information gathering, analysis and documentation. Otherwise, our society can be easily manipulated by malignant forces for their selfish ends.

It is generally agreed that politics is at the heart of all disputes and conflicts. Under such circumstances, truth, trust and love are not readily available. Language of love is missing. There could be no political solution to the current turbulence unless a solution at the societal level is worked out first. Topics relating to political culture and political socialization need proper attention.

One can start with the participatory political culture prevalent in the Imphal Valley and other two sub-cultures found in the hill areas of Manipur. The democratic and semi-democratic traditional socio-political institutions of the Naga tribes constitute a distinct sub-culture in its own right. It is in a different stage of advancement compared to the participatory political culture found in the Imphal Valley.

The second political sub-culture found in Manipur is that of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo society. Chieftainship is at the heart of the issue here. Chieftainship and its associated socio-cultural and political practices and way of life are transgressing upon the realm of nature causing many problems. The realm of nature filled with virgin forest and wild life is being depleted while the realm of man is expanding unsustainably. In doing so, social harmony and ownership of land are affected thereby causing tension and mistrust among the different communities.

Towards lasting social harmony and peace in Manipur, the political sub-culture of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo society must engage in serious dialogues with the participatory political culture of the valley as well as the sub-culture of the Naga tribes. This can help establish mutual respect and understanding. Any political design towards social harmony and peace in Manipur without a thorough understanding of these socio-cultural and political realities will be a waste of time.

Intellectuals and civil society organizations should create public platforms to engage in dialogue over crucial issues relating to natural resources, survival, growth and co-existence in the bio-diversity rich zones of the sub-Himalayan region. Building a shared destiny is not possible without addressing some of these critical issues at our hands.

We live in a shared space called ‘Indo-Myanmar region’ in the sub-Himalayan belt. The Kuki-Chin-Mizo people are settled in Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. We are destined to live as members of a family or as neighbouring communities. This is a socio-cultural and political fact of this region. Choices we make for a better future must take into consideration such realities of our existence.

As a matter of fact, the rulers and wannabe rulers of this land must keep this in mind. It must be followed by constant search for ways and means to understand and foresee the evolving socio-economic and political contingencies in the region. Parochial and subject political sub-cultures found in the hill areas call for creativity and critical thinking on the part of the rulers to deal with the distinctive inclination of mind and socio-cultural habits of the different ethnic groups that constitute the Manipuri society.

The existing political system also needs creative intervention to meet the increasing expectations of different sections of the society. It will not be a far-fetched conclusion to admit that political institutions and practices prevalent in the state can act as both parts and products of the political culture (or the sub-culture). In fact, some enduring principles and practices that serve the interests of a particular section of the society are present in every society. However, these traditional institutions and practices are employed as source of legitimation to certain claims and, for acts, to serve the interests of the particular section of the society with detrimental effects on the collective interest of the whole society.

It is highly suspected that some traditional institutions and practices are being manipulated by certain vested interest groups to serve the cause of disintegrating Manipur with wrongful means. Or, maybe some powerful agencies are working hand in glove to convey a political message to the dissenting groups operating in Manipur.

Moreover, the crisis situation is also a natural product of the failure of political socialization process and also, our inability to change the socio-economic aspects of the ethnic minorities. Besides, re-thinking of both the political culture of the ruling class and mass political culture is necessary to get a holistic picture of the prevailing scenario. It includes ‘all is well’ attitude of the ruling class, the sense of frustration and helplessness over the silence maintained by Prime Minister Modi and general attitude of ‘Let’s go to Delhi’ for every scratch and cut in the state.

Social and cultural factors shaping the political culture and the agents of political socialization in our society are also responsible for the present conflict situation. Moreover, spread of higher education, penetration of mass media and socio-economic changes also help consolidate and reinforce the traditional socio-cultural values and institutions to re-enforce the distinctive political sub-culture.

Unfortunately, the same has been wielded this time as a weapon towards achieving separate political aspiration and building of different narratives to counter the idea of Manipur. In fact, these are the signs of relative weakness of the centripetal force operating in Manipur. Both the state and society must develop a multi-pronged approach to deal with the situation.

In addition, spiritual intervention is also necessary. We need spiritual cleansing of the land. This fury of madness must be put to an end. We must sincerely do our inner work at soul level. Fear, greed, suspicion and hatred are spreading in all four corners. Our hearts and minds are engaged in a tug-of-war. Individual life is in distress. The five elements are not in balance. Collective living is in total jeopardy. Negativity is engulfing our world. We cannot build strong national character without such an act of purification.

Despite having numerous holy books of many religions, our spiritual life is in a shamble. Heaven and earth are at war with each other. The human realm cannot flourish in this situation. This purification process (leitai-nongtaiba) running through the seven realms of the earth and seven realms of the heaven (leilon 7 nonglon 7) is of utmost importance. Who can offer this prayer of purification? Only men and women of clean heart and pure mind could do so. The truth is they are very rare to find in this land.

In a society where justice is denied and truth is tainted, social degeneration and political decay are no strangers. The state must not take the forefront, but the society, to redress these issues. Tilling of the field is in progress. The sage farmers must come forward to sow the right seeds of their choice. Without such an understanding, this topsy-turvy social reality will continue. There is both dilemma and stone-walling involved in the present crisis.

Interestingly, the two political touch-me-nots in present day Manipur are imposition of President’s rule and change of Chief Minister. For the sake of analysis, let’s put it in plain words for the general public to understand the current situation with some clarity. There is no need for proclamation of President’s rule (Article 356) in the state of Manipur. The central government has both the hardware and software to deal with the break-down of law and order situation without such a move. Don’t forget the Indian Constitution is the lengthiest one in the world.

Besides, the political cost will be high to indulge in any such malpractice while dealing with a tiny state having absolute majority of the assembly seats in favour of BJP. Political face saving is the mantra here since the onset of the violence. It is part of the centre-state relations involving administrative powers. The state government has been complying with Union directions (under articles 256, 257, 258 and other relevant provisions). The removal of Chief Minister of Manipur from the chairmanship of the Unified Command is an arrangement undertaken under these provisions.

But what is interesting about the reactive nature of some of the elected legislators from the state regarding this matter is the prevailing sense of insecurity on their part. Are we talking about the trust deficit between New Delhi and Imphal on some crucial issues? If there is any such issue, the reactive mode is understandable. Otherwise, the heavy political traffic between New Delhi and Imphal before 3rd May was that of a honey-moon period. Loss of control over the political steering wheel in such a short period will be a deadly sin.

It is a safe conclusion to state that New Delhi pundits have been focusing on political face saving measures so far. However, the leadership at the centre is allergic to any international embarrassment that can taint the image of Bharat Mata. Taking serious note of the happenings, External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar, has spoken about the situation in the border state at the UN General Assembly. The “small fry” has turned into a fly in the eye.

At this moment, the pressure on the elected leaders of the state from the centre must be high enough to disturb their sleep. On the question of changing the chief minister of Manipur, who could be the better alternative to deal with the complex situation? Frankly, we don’t have any right now. Thus, standing on this high moral ground, any transgression beyond the permissible limit is likely to be dealt with every coercive means at their disposal. It is definitely the political red line. One need not forget the ensuing tug-of-war over the fate of Manipur.

Meanwhile, if the central authority is silently working on manufacturing a mechanism to stop assembly elections for all time in the state, the message will be an invitation for disaster in the state. There will be no turning back from series of violent incidents. Most importantly, any political surgical strike to stop elections forever in Manipur will also be a political nightmare for New Delhi, too. There is an embedded message in the cries of the people.

Also, for the sake of better decisions, the elected leaders hailing from the tiny state must be aware of the emerging geopolitical realities in the neighbourhood. Security is the primary consideration in all these transactions. Border areas security and the geopolitical challenges coming from China are solid. China (together with Russia) continues to defend the Myanmar junta and it has to pay the price in cash or kind.

Being a landlocked state, Manipur is looking forward to establish transport connectivity with its Southeast Asian neighbours via Myanmar. In July this year, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that 70 per cent of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project is completed during his visit to Southeast Asian countries for India-ASEAN and East Asia summit meetings. The Kaladan multi-modal transport connectivity project is another strategic connectivity initiative ready to be operationalised in this volatile Indo-Myanmar region.

Meanwhile, China has been vigorously working towards implementation of several Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects including the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. Mention can be made of Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, Qin Gang, meeting with Myanmar junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, on 2 May 2023 in Naypyitaw.

The Chinese leader visited the Wanding-Ruili border crossing point in Yunnan province before crossing into Myanmar on an official visit to push forward the various development projects agreed upon between the two sides during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2020 including construction of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

The end of the current political turmoil in Myanmar will unfold new challenges to the geopolitical environment of India and its allies. It also includes the proposed China-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor. This development is in the wake of stagnation of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor initiative. What next after the closing ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023?

Coming back to the conspiracy of silence, Prime Minister Modi is not silent at all if you have eyes and ears opened to the record of his foreign trips and exchanges made with his foreign counterparts in the recent past. After the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Europe, the emerging geopolitics in West Asia with Israel and Iran vying for supremacy in the region has added more dishes to the already complex geo-political platter. Will North Korea and China remain as silent spectators? Hectic schedule of the talkative Prime Minister has lot more to say.