Sovereignty calls amid One Nation One People narrative
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: August 17, 2021 -

VALLEY-based civil societies commemorating the independence day of Manipur on August 14, Naga organisations celebrating independence day of Nagas on the same day to assert that there would be no compromise on the demand for sovereign existence of all the areas inhabited by its cognate tribes and the non-SoO group Kuki National Front declaring boycott of India's independence day celebration in pursuance of its demand for creation of a separate Kuki state sum up the uneasy calm besieging Manipur.

Though it is unthinkable that the Union government would easily yield to demands of any of these communities or groups, it's an undeniable fact that Meetei and Naga organisations continuing to commemorate the independence day of Manipur and Nagas for the past many years lays bare the diverse socio-political sentiments of the major communities settling in the state.

Regardless of the commoners belonging to all the communities unequivocally yearning for peace and development, civil societies making it a point to commemorate the day when the then British regime renounced administration of the colonised areas, including Manipur, one day ahead of granting freedom to India, implies that the movement for sovereign existence will sustain till the central leaders take cognizant of their demands and try to resolve the issue.

That these organisations wouldn't be giving up the demand any sooner could be comprehended from the commemorative events marked by hoisting of flags of Manipur and Nagas in different parts of the state on August 14, and civil society leaders flipping the pages of history to validate their demands.

Notwithstanding the fact that there has been divergent views and interpretations of the sovereign existence of Manipur, Nagas or Kukis, especially among scholars and historians of the respective groups, in Manipur's context the fact remains that it was a thriving kingdom before squabbling over the throne among the princes brought the Britishers and facilitated their administrative grip in Manipur for decades.

History itself is proof that Manipur got independence one day ahead of India and the national flag of Manipur was hoisted at the sacred Kangla.

Similarly, Naga organisations too have been insisting that the overwhelming mandate for sovereignty given during the plebiscite held before the British handed over power to India should be upheld by the government of India.

The demand for separate constitution and flag for the Nagas being championed by the NSCN-IM has been the primary reason for the on-going peace talks and signing of the historic framework agreement with the government of India unable to make much headway years after the deal was struck.

The existing differences over socio-political aspiration and sentiment among the communities settling in Manipur ring out the message that even if the demand of a particular community is ceded by the Union government more issues would crop up unless the Centre could come up with a magic formula satisfactory to all.

Interestingly, by scrapping Article 370 that guaranteed special or technically autonomous status that served as the foundation for Kashmir joining India more than seven decades back, the BJP-led government rung out the message loud and clear that with the overwhelming majority it commands in the parliament all resistances against its agenda for One Nation One People will be insignificant.

With the Union government leaders not mincing words in branding as anti-national whoever raises objections to its policies or seemingly arbitrary decisions, it shouldn't be surprising if the centre construes the demand or celebration of independence day of Manipur and Nagas as acts of dissent.

Similar to many Indians believing that Kashmir had been a legitimate part of India and hailing the Modi government's decision to scrap the special status of the Kashmiri people as heralding a new era of progressive and powerful India, possibility of the Union government taking stringent measures against organisers of Manipur or Naga independence day cannot be ruled out.