True meaning of Statehood
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 22, 2014 -

Making the case stronger for the public demand of granting Statehood to Manipur after long years of struggle and various movements, the then Manipur Territorial Congress Committee submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India as well as to the President of All India Congress Committee (AICC) on November 8, 1968, conveying the frustration and disappointment of the people of Manipur has reached a stage for a big political revolution on account of the dilly-dallying attitude of the Government of India towards the demand for grant of Statehood.

The memorandum signed by its President RK Birchandra Singh also made it clear that despite being a unit of the ruling Congress party, the Committee had drawn up a programme for launching mass non-violent agitations if the demand of the people was not fulfilled before 1972 so as to facilitate participation of Manipur in the General Election of 1972 as a full-fledged State.

Such was the strong stand taken to push forward the public demand for granting Statehood that after 23 years of remaining, first, as a Part-C State since 1949 and later as a Union Territory, the Government of India took no time in making necessary spade works for enactment of North Eastern Region (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 to grant Statehood to Manipur along with Tripura and Meghalaya on January 21, 1972.

But forty-two years after attainment of Statehood today, one question that can be asked is whether the people of Manipur have actually achieved what they have set out, struggled and fought for.

In another words, how far the democratically elected successive Governments that came to power in Manipur over the last 42 years has been able to fulfill and realise the aspirations of the people.

The answer to this question should not be difficult for anyone to find if they look around themselves and understand the reality of governance in the State for the last 42 years.

The political culture in the State has been so restricted in everything that none of the democratically elected leaders, more particularly those in the ruling party, have not been able to say or do anything without the prior consent of their ‘bosses’ who are sitting on the hot seats of New Delhi.

Even in comparison to Tripura and Meghalaya, which have been granted Statehood on the same day, raising the political status of Manipur has not brought about any corresponding increase in the tempo of developmental activities.

This has given an altogether different meaning to the struggle for Statehood and its attainment in Manipur.

On the other hand, the people who have struggled and fought for attainment of Statehood have distanced themselves from participation in the Statehood Day celebration, which is becoming more like an annual ritual performed within the secured garrison of some security battalion or in the confined of some conference hall of the fortified Old Secretariat building.

Perhaps, it’s time to reflect upon this harsh reality for finding the true meaning to attainment of Statehood.