TODAY -

Editorial of the week

SITTING ON A VOLCANO

So much has been written about the long history of Manipur in the wake of the present trouble. The place has had its ups and downs, like all others in the course of history. Hardly anything is left to be said on the historical locus standi of Manipur as a political entity, and hence we would rather attempt an analysis of the present crisis from the perspective of the evolving process of history. In a way, the problem is a direct result of the juxtapositioning of communities, or nationalities, in very different stages of history. We recall here an article by Subir Bhaumik, of the BBC, (who incidentally is from the northeast and has an intimate understanding of its problems), which capsulizes the trials and tribulations that accompany the process of ethnic communities becoming identity conscious and finding the need to define it within the modern political idiom of nationhood. He so aptly points out how this process necessarily involves the transformation of "soft cultural frontiers" within which the ethnic communities live, into "hard political boundaries." The Naga situation seems to be just this. The Naga identity is still nascent, although its proponents would have the world believe it has been in existence since time immemorial, and that the Naga nation was divided up by colonial powers into different parts out of vested interests. This is evident from a number of archival and anthropological material, as well as letters and memorandums presented by community leaders, who as late as the time of the Indian independence and the departure of the British, identified themselves with the Kuki group of tribals. Now most of them call themselves Nagas. The point is, the pan-Naga movement is on an expansion mode, so is the Naga notion of homeland.

All would have been well if this historical and sociological phenomenon of nation formation amongst the Nagas, was taking place in a historical vacuum. But this is far from it and hence the serious obstacles before it. The foremost among these, is the opposition from other communities and nationalities among whom this political process has long taken place and who have for centuries been having defined political boundaries around their own notions of territory. Indeed, we have no doubt that the clash of interest between the idea of Greater Nagaland, and states neighboring Nagaland, is the result of the Naga's notion of homeland beginning to take a political shape, and coming into conflict with the "hard political boundaries" of states which have been in existence for centuries. There are more problems from other quarters as well. The process of nation formation is also taking place within other communities, like the Kukis and their homeland notions too are beginning to harden politically. The scenario is one of a conflict situation of unimaginable violence and vehemence. Inept and insensitive handling by the Centre have accentuated the situation and for the past fortnight Manipur has been virtually sitting on a live volcano, rumbling and trembling to release the elemental fury trapped within it. We for one are of the belief that the situation can be defused only by a common consent to share, rather than tear up this homeland which have been ours for centuries.

Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press

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