Stop Self-inflicting 'Tribalism' & Irresponsible Politics :: Part 1
- Reorganise and Create More Districts on Modern Administrative Principles -

Dr N Somorendro Singh *

A map showing the boundary of Sadar Hills :: Picture Credit - TSE

Why a person or a group should live in fear, suspicion or hate others and pursue self-inflicting 'tribalism' and senseless politics in recent times in Manipur? Tribalism and pre-modern thoughts and practice which should have phased out with time are on full display even on the issues of creation of new districts.

In Manipur there has been a cocktail of tribalism, communal politics, sectarianism and power politics on the administrative decisions, in determining beneficiaries of Government schemes and in Government recruitment. Government jobs, Government funds and politics remain the primary means of social mobility and faster road to power in Manipur due to limited opportunities in other spheres.

Therefore centrality of politics and every issue is politicised in the State including creation of new districts. The overall impact has been common suffering, self-deception, imposition, irresponsible acts and mental stress with no way to get out of the mess.

Self-proclaimed champions of a tribe or community believe falsely and use tribal or communal identity as the only instrument for achieving their political demands. However it proves to be counter-productive and self-inflicting for the tribe or community for whom they want to achieve a district or a new political arrangement. Creation of new districts should have been resolved between Government and people of the concerned areas.

Yet in Manipur the demands and opposition have led to polarisation along communal or tribe lines beyond the areas of proposed districts. Both the demanding and opposing groups project themselves as victimised groups yet they behave in an irresponsible manner and adopt violent methods.

Even inhuman means are used mindlessly by blocking or burning medicines and life saving materials thus devaluing their causes. The more disappointing is the Government's role to the consequent violence and increasing hardship faced by the common people of Manipur for over 50 days.

The basis of the 'justified' demands for separate new districts include
(1) old demand for about 40 years
(2) not aim at 'disintegration' but to strengthen Manipur (specially Sadar Hills)
(3) for better administration and development benefits as these are concentrated in the district headquarters
(4) new districts will provide easier access and 'deserving' development benefits.

Economic blockade and 'violent activities' in addition to 'fasting' continue with a determination till the formation of new districts specially in Sadar Hills. There is no sign of resolving the deadlock and to end the avoidable hyper inflation and agony of the common people belonging to every community or tribe in Manipur. The politics of 'economic blockade' fails to cause 'meek surrender' by the Government.

Everything including petrol is available at a price. It has attracted counter-blockade from the opposing Naga groups. Ironically actions of blockaders and inaction of Government produce black-marketers/profiteers who do great business whenever blockades take place. So blockaders on National Highways in Manipur hills take care more of black-marketers (their wish indefinite blockade) than even their own tribe or community?

Economic blockades, burning of vehicles and Government buildings and other violent methods continue in Sadar Hills for over 50 days while fasting added later on. In case of Jiribam the threat of economic blockade remains while fasting has just started. These 'justified' demands of new districts however are not based entirely on the modern administrative principles of efficiency and convenience, universal principle of equality of humans and geographical contiguity.

Viability on economic sense is a big question as there is not possibility of generating additional revenues. They are sticking to their demands and present boundary only. Of course there is high expectation of bringing more funds from the Government (read Centre) in the proposed districts as hundreds of schemes and development programmes are in operation at the district level.

This factor along with 'concentration' of power and more visible benefits around district headquarters (read persons and 'tribe or community') at the cost of far areas appears to be the prime motivating factors. The demands and opposition are also largely political as these are led by politicians as well as groups outside the proposed districts have joined in the political drama with high pitched propaganda.

The opposition to creation of new districts of Phungyar and Sadar Hills seems to be rooted in the ideology of exclusion, violence and communalism. The first was the violent assassination attempt on W Keishing, MLA who heads the demand committee for new district of Phungyar out of Ukhrul and killing of State forces. The second has been groups among the Naga against Sadar Hills on the theories of 'ancestral land of the Nagas', by branding of Kukis as 'refugees', 'consent' from the Nagas first by the State Government (with whom they already 'severed ties') etc.

The issue of the creation of new districts has been now converted into full display of 'tribalism', communalism and senseless politics by organising rallies and imposing economic blockade and counter-blockade by the demanding and opposing groups. Similarly the groups belonging to Kuki outside Sadar Hills are supporting Sadar Hills districthood directly or at least morally due to communal affinity.

The demand for the immediate creation of Sadar Hills is directly or indirectly related to the demands among the Nagas for 'alternative arrangement'. The other reasons may include the fragile relation between Nagas and Kukis and combination of tribalism and communal politics. The sins of the successive political and administrative leadership of Manipur are also contributing factors.

Some belonging to Kukis would argue that new district of Sadar Hills is not given due to the fear of 'retaliation' by the Nagas. Similarly some Nagas would argue that if Sadar Hills district is given Manipur Government play 'divide and rule' policy among the different communities in the hills and would be doubled or tripled "communal". Manipur Government has already been branded 'communal' by the same groups who are opposing the creation Sadar Hills and Phungyar districts.

There are groups which oppose inclusion in the proposed districts of Sadar Hills and Jiribam or demanding separation from the existing districts to merge with another district on communal or tribal affinity. The logic of land belonging to a particular tribe or community and district for a tribe or community is at work in Manipur. Therefore opposition to the inclusion in the Sadar Hills from the surrounding valley areas has come up.

If one goes by 'ancestral land of Nagas' theory, then the hill areas of Manipur were not created by Nature and does not belong to Government or not common natural resource. It appears that Nagas created Manipur hills and only they own land, so must take prior 'consent' from them. The very claim of land not inhabited and used by someone as theirs is highly provocative, logically hollow and politically bankrupt.

Response by the political and Government leadership in the State are inadequate. Government thinking appears to be that: demands for new districts are ok or 'genuine' but opposition from Nagas may create law and order problem and communal tension. Action of the Government is neither convincing nor acted as per law of the land on the blockaders and violent activists.

People are 'used to' such situation and blockades and anger of the people will end on their own as in the past. The creation of a committee of all bureaucrats to study and recommend on the question of district boundaries seem to misread the issues involved. This is because issues involved are not simply creation of new districts but a combination of politics and other ideologies as discussed above.

So eminent persons, experts and leaders acceptable to large sections of Manipur society must be involved in the process of reorganisation and creation of new districts. The thought that Centre will 'bless' the demanding and opposing groups as they wish is a myth. Because the issues are to be resolved first between the concerned parties in Manipur through dialogue in a democratic manner and by respecting concerns of each other and by removing fear or suspicions of one another.

The responses of the society seem to be that of helplessness or silent anger at the emerging situation. Demanding groups and opposing groups portray themselves as sufferers or as if their rights are violated and demanding justice. However the cruel joke is that their activities including blockade, violence and killing instantly or slowly are based on self-deception and self-inflicting on themselves.

So chances of concerns for others look doubtful. They are determined to continue till their respective goals are achieved whatever it takes. Intellectuals or leaders of every tribe or community do not feel the need for articulating new ideas and innovative solutions. They must have put pressure to the Government and demanding and opposing groups.

So the suspicion is, are the civil society groups, leaders, human rights groups, mothers/women groups and 'educated or eminent persons' in Manipur specially belonging to Kukis and Nagas accepting the uncompromising and self-inflicting stands taken by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee and opposing groups among Nagas? At present there are no opposition parties and leaders ready to address hardships faced by all sections of Manipur society and possible communal conflicts.

Our elected MLAs seem to ignore the need to resolve the mess and agony of their electors as everything is available for them?

To be continued....