To state that there is a plethora of associations, organisations, unions and other voluntary bodies in Manipur will not be an overstatement.

Each of these organisations or voluntary bodies have all sprung up in the name of doing something good for the people as well as for the society.

Their aims and objectives may range from protecting the indigenous culture and identity of the people, to promoting quality education, fighting social ills such as drug abuse and the menace of alcohol consumption, promoting social solidarity between the different ethnic groups of the people, protecting the interest of the student community, fighting human rights abuses to being the van guard of everything that symbolises Manipur.

Given such a large number of self appointed guardians of society and committed people, Manipur should have been an ideal place.

However contrary to what should be the ideal situation, in the backdrop of so many ‘committed’ organisations, Manipur has been going from bad to worse with each passing year and today it perfectly fits the bill of a failed State.

Apart from the absence of any semblance of governance, the State is also plagued by a number of other ills.

The education system has gone to the dogs, the rising unemployment has given birth to a generation of frustrated and dissatisfied youths and there is moral decay all around, best exemplified by the political netas and their chamchas as well as the suited, booted class, commonly known as the officers of the State Government.

Moreover there is a growing chasm between the different ethnic groups in the State. In fact nothing is right and that this should be the case despite the presence of so many ‘well intentioned’ voluntary organisations should give us enough food for thought !

We know the political class has failed miserably in delivering the goods, but let's diversify and study the other weak spots.

Why is it that despite the presence of so many organisations, all with an agenda to do something good for the people, Manipur sees no improvement at all ?

The main cause, as we see it is the absence of the coming together of minds. To quote a senior, retired teacher, we have too many Lups (voluntary organisations) but no coming together of the minds and this is one reason why Manipur has gone to the dogs.

We find merit in the observation of this senior citizen for the simple fact that the coming together of minds and spirit is much more important than the mushrooming growth of sundry organisations or Lups.

Until and unless there is a marriage of compatible minds, the future of Manipur is anything but bright.

The term ‘coming together of the minds’ should not mean all the people saying yes to one point without exercising one's mental faculty.

On the other hand it should mean a free exchange of ideas and opinions and if no common ground can be found, then at least everyone should agree to disagree.

What we are witnessing in Manipur today is the opposite. We are at that stage where everyone thinks they are right and the opinion and ideas of the other do not count and at times should be silenced through coercion and muscle power.

This is nothing but committing Hara Kiri.

Let the sane voice and sensible minds come together and chart out a road map for a better Manipur.

Let this be the responsibility of every thinking individual in the land.