The growing gap between the hills and the valleys

By Sanjib Meiteicha *

Well, I am not very aware of the ground realities happening there. And I am neither any sympathizer nor a supporter of any groups or organization in Manipur. However, being a Manipuri, I have been following each news being reported in various newspaper.

My common observation from the various press release of the tribal organizations in Manipur is that they become more and more intolerant. Every word, sentence and press release from them is filled with intolerance and misconception towards valley people specially Meiteis. There is always veiled communal sentiments lashed with misconceptions.

This is really disheartening. I don't think the common people of hill districts have such a bad feeling about the valley people.

I vividly remember a dear friend of mine from Chandel. I felt so proud to be with him as friends then and still having fond memories of those time. But, the leaders of the so called frontal organizations of hill people are making mountains out of moles in order to fulfill their unachieved goals.

Perhaps, the self style leaders of these so called organizations are less civilized, incompetent, narrow minded, adamant, lazy and who would have been a social junk in a competitive society but want to live a lavish life by exploiting sentiments of innocent people. Well, the government is also really ignorant, incompetent and vision less which further act as a catalyst to the people's already delicate sentiments.

Lets accept that the whole Manipur is facing a big problem of poverty, political instability. It's our unity and love which can bring a change in the society and most importantly to the socio-economic standards of the common people.

Why these frontal organizations are not giving any importance on the hot issue of child trafficking which catch the headlines nowadays? What kind of work have you done sincerely in order to uplift the financial conditions of common people?

Tribal community of a Nagaland village wowed the then president of India Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam by their sincerity, hard working and self-development initiatives. We must learn from them. Until and unless people are sincere towards uplifting our society, there wont be any progress. Government will be as usual: non-helping, ignorant, insensitive.

Having said so, we, as a society need to take a portion of the blame also. Why do we forget that these (non)esteemed politicians ruling Manipur are also Manipuris representing every nook and corner of the state? Of course their greedy/disgusting nature are the reflection of current Manipuri mindset.

Given a chance, most of the leaders/politicians will behave similarly. This is a big social failure. At the end, we, as a citizen, too have a big responsibility towards the society so that we have a good future. If the society is responsible and good then there will be good politicians, administrators and even some genuine leaders/workers of community frontal organizations who will work for the better interest of the society rather than the current breeds of leader/workers whose main aim is to make hay while the sun shine. So, lets shun violence, hatred, misconceptions among ourselves try to bring a social renaissance of a prosperous society.

Well, in an underdeveloped society like ours, you leaders (all valley and hills), don't you ever mimic or dream about the lavish lifestyles led by other leaders of prosperous communities. Your active participation with sincerity is needed. If you sit idle and become self-style leader who are, well, very good in misleading innocent people, then remember you are eating out poor people's earning. You need to take up productive and innovative works.

If you are a leader, then become a job giver to the poor people instead of contract seeker from the government projects. Bring in you creativity, innovations to uplift the living standards of poor people. I have just read an article from e-pao that financial conditions of people of Ishika, a village somewhere in Shaikul road have improved drastically by growing potatoes.

So much so that some people! even send off their wards to outside state for higher education. It really light my day up and wish much more prosperity to the hardworking villagers. I would like to thank Govt. Agricultural College for their innovative works which really bring positive changes in peoples life. Instead of mud-slinging, hatred among ourself, lets move on to bring positive changes in the society.

Lets try to explore each and every possible way so that no stomach of the people of Manipur go hungry, no child is deprived of quality education (well, RTE has been passed but God knows how will it work).

Who on the earth would any parents would like to handover their children to orphanage or some so called charity organizations? Who do not want to bring up their children of their own? Yet, many poor parents are handing over their children to those illegal organizations compromising their love believing that it will give better life to their children.

Why don't we look into the problem more deeply? This reflects the social economic condition of real Manipuri people. To those people who can reach the mass people, I appeal to take up the basic issues sincerely so that we as a society prosper together.

I really do not know how did people of different communities live in Manipur together in the past. Apart from all the love relationship between valley and hill people as apparent from many traditions and rituals, there might also be wars, religion differences etc..

But, those were well a history. We can not dig out those stories to make the basis of creating a gap between hills and valleys. The world has move on to become a global village. We can not afford to be left behind in the race of development.

Well, as for me, I fully understand that writing this article really does not serve any purpose other than attracting comments. Further, if my observation regarding the gap between the hills and the valleys is nonsense and it really does not exist at all, then I will be the happiest person.