Resignation ? No Sir !

Free Thinker *

Manipur has made another history pertaining to a high-profile resignation letter. Nowhere in the world such a letter is read out in public using a loud speaker – that too by another person – not by the person who intends to resign. After reading out the letter in public, the same was allegedly snatched away and torn by the public.

The popularity of the leader is immensely overwhelming – hundreds of people have come to stop him from submitting the resignation letter. In fact some supporters have even virtually laid their bodies in front of the CM's car, doing everything in their might to prevent the letter from reaching Raj Bhawan.

On the other hand people who are eagerly waiting the letter reaching the right person became frustrated. The letter could not reach Raj Bhawan . Someone tried to fix the pieces together – but in vain – took a photo and circulated it.

The wording of the torn letter says –“Hon. Governor Madam, I hereby submit my resignation as Chief Minister of Manipur. Thank you for your cooperation and guidance during the past few months. With Warm Regards” – To, Smt Anusuiya Uikey, Hon’ble Governor Of Manipur, Raj Bhawan, Imphal (Courtesy NE live).

Today the topic for discussion in every locality is about the ‘Resignation Letter’ though we have many kinds of letter. There are different types of letters , namely – Introduction letter, Birthday letter, Credit letter, Promotion letter, Letter of Marque, Sponsorship letter, Letter of Thanks, Chain letter, Open letter, Business Memorandum letter, Letter of Credence, Letter of Intent, Letter of Recommendation, Cover Letter so on and so forth. But my interest is in love letters and affairs.

There are Educative Letters also, like “Letters from a Father to his Daughter” – a publication containing letters – written by Panditji for his daughter in the summer of 1928. Those were personal letters written to a daughter: the writer introduces his daughter to the wonders of the world we live in. His understanding of history was so modern and liberal that the book remains as relevant as it was then. (Granddaughter says).

When he was in Italy Napoleon began to hear the rumours that Josephine (his wife) was being unfaithful to him in his absence. He did not want to believe the rumours and his letters to her became even more passionate in response. Napoleon’s world famous, extremely passionate letter of November 21, 1796 , is quoted everywhere in the world of love , romance & jealousy.

Letter writing between Nehru ji and Edwina ji , became scandalous – because it became a regular affair. The fifties were spent with Edwina caught between her husband and the man she had given her heart to. Each spring she would go to India, where she would stay at the Prime Minister’s house, and most years Nehru would come to Britain. At first, they had written to each other every day, but within a year it was weekly and by 1954, it was fortnightly.

What was the nature of the relationship with Nehru ? Edwina’s authorised biographer, Janet Morgan, has claimed, having talked to ‘those who knew them well’, that it was purer than a physical relationship, that Nehru respected Dickie and would not have abused that trust. ‘To all her lovers she had given only the shell of herself.

In exposing her doubts and hopes, she had exhausted herself to Nehru in a way that was more profound than a mere physical embrace. Nothing must be allowed to degrade the precious relation-ship.’(The Mountbattens, By Andrew Lownie – Courtesy – Deccan Chronicle review)

But many renowned people like Khushwant Singh thought otherwise. When he was the press officer at the Indian High Commission Nehru ji came to attend the first Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference. He remembered that Nehru ji visited Edwina at midnight – it was reported by Daily Herald London with a picture – captioned “Lady Mountbatten’s midnight visitor ".

It was also added that Lord Mountbatten was not in London. Khushwant Singh narrated, “there seems to be no doubt that there existed some kind of emotional, and possibly………… between the Lady and the Prime Minister.”

The importance of letter is well established everywhere in the world .Whether it is a love letter or a resignation letter – each one has its own meaning and significance! When you receive a letter normally you are supposed to react according to the content of the letter. When a ‘bombshell letter’ is blown up in thin air (before reaching the desired destination), it is enigmatic and magical. Prescription is perhaps working.

“Segai biramle nung na …..paba thoktana paba thoktana ….machet machet kaya ha thokna”.