Violence is taking a disturbing turn
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 22 2011 -

Violence has become a way of life in this state.

A tendency has set in where people with perceived grievances, or actual problems simply resolve to sort out issues through violence, or by hurting the rights of innocents as a short cut to air their complaints, and this development is no longer a matter of conjecture. Many innocent people have lost their lives and/or property in vile actions of violence and cruelty.

In this miserable situation there is at least a small breathing space in the fact that the majority community in the state, have exercised maximum restraint and understanding.

As of now two communities, ethnically, linguistically and culturally as different from each other as water is from oil are involved in a tussle which is potentially explosive.

The caps are so far kept tight by both blaming the majority community.

That is, two groups each having belligerent agendas against each other have decided to go hammer and tongs at the majority community, a community which has faced the brunt of their reckless and excessive actions which have hurt innocent lives.

Any creed, religion or culture would have been numbed by such vitriolic and vile hatred of some wrong doing that has not been properly defined. This small write up wishes to express that this mindless wreaking of death and destruction will not be, unfortunately, seen by outsiders as causative effects but rather as inherent traits of those who perpetuate violence.

To try put the perspective in the right manner.

Is the present government in the state responsible for this current crisis? One would have to say, 'Yes'.

Is this present government solely responsible for this mess? The answer is probably 'No'.

Is it a part of our colonial legacy? The answer is again 'Yes'.

Is O Ibobi bashing going to bring a solution? Without being an Ibobi apologist the answer would have to be a clear 'No'.

And the reasons are very simple. All indigenous communities are represented in the Legislative Assembly. Related to the present crisis, why is it that their shortcomings in trying to influence the present government is being conveniently forgotten by those who have taken to the streets to protest?

Why should not they, the elected representatives, be leading the stirs? And if CM, O Ibobi is callous and uncaring, they can always make representations to the central leaders at their heart's content.

Another enigmatic fact is, why is it that parties pitted one against the other, or have decided to, for convenience's sake turn against a third party, never trying to understand our colonial legacy?

Or for that matter why have they never considered to delve into the question whether successive governments in Delhi, either from lack of interest, or whatever else, have never chosen to erase the British colonial outlook and policy in the north eastern part of India?

However to come back to ourselves. Where will violence lead us? Are we to teach the young children the creed of hatred and distrust? We cannot permit this, for this would be the height of unfounded vileness.

Or is the mood going to be belligerent and dismissive to a heart to heart talk? In that case, whatever worry or ire this write up has provoked could be lightened to an extent by an apocryphal joke about the Assamese.

An Assamese, not conversant either with English or Hindi, much loved an English phrase. He wanted to impress a Hindi speaking friend with this phrase. The Sanskirt word for 'question', Prashn, one believes is pronounced as 'Prasana' by the Assamese.

During the course of an animated discussion, the Assamese brought up the English phrase, in Hindi, 'Prasana, Khadha nahi hota hai'.

That is, 'The question does not arise'. One hopes, we here, do not land up in the Tower of the Babel speaking intelligibly to each other.