Once before 20/30 years, Manipur was a peaceful state. In a better description, it is known as land of peace. We could go freely till 10/11 o'clock of night anywhere, everywhere. Same as sound sleep. Social status was also not far below than other states. There was water supply in almost villages. Electricity was enough. The number of poor could be counted. Economy of the state was at least moderate.

In the field of politics, there were not much political parties whether state or national party. Hence, last long state government. Political leaders were also not much illiterate/jack of all trades, master of none unlike today's politicians. For example- R.K jaychandra was an exception. Irregularity of salary to state government employees was not seen. Everyone could visit markets till 8/9 p.m.

As the quantum problem of terrorism was mere, no much killings whether by the Indian/Manipur forces/terrorist. No system of collecting taxes from employees/shop-owners/etc. Even the infrastructure condition might be more developed than today's plight. In the positive developments, we may mention the tremendous changes in the field of sports and games not only in India but also in the world.

We can describe and discuss in brief the plights of Today's modern Manipur under the following heads.

Social Condition:

We may describe the living condition of Manipuri's as far below than the Harraapan Civilization (2500-3000 B.C). Unemployment is more rampant than any other state even though the population is less. The problem is same in case of educated/uneducated young people except the class. Government has not produce any endeavor to create jobs. Also working in private sector/companies is next to impossible. There are no good infrastructures like accommodation, transport, water supply, electricity etc.

If some foreign companies want to come and establish business say a good hospital or computer (after measuring the + and - out coming) : where and how they will be accommodate and what about food ? Eromba, Utti etc. Till now, there is no concept of modern living style like flats/apartments with modern facilities. Private house owners also don't think meticulously before construction of their houses. One more funny thing is in every houses of Manipur there will be one courtyard (sumang, this is for the purpose of various ceremonies which can be done in public hall) and a garden instead of lawn.

This seems all the houses as rural houses that too traditional style. And these things deface the beauty of cement houses. There is no concept for INCOME from the HOUSE. This statement is not an attack to the culture/custom of Manipur but the need of a great and speed change for the betterment /development of the state. Culture and Custom is created by human being. So it can be changed.

State government is quite silent in such a situation where every ruler had already started initiatives to provide modern infrastructures to all who involve in development. It is a matter of shame that Manipur is the only state where the electricity is almost nil. Manipur is totally dark so as industry can not be run. People also do not bother the obligations.

For example: many people don't pay electricity bill or correct bill. They think that it is the property of the government. Property of the govt. means property of the people- a nice concept of democracy. Like this many taxes which are supposed to be paid by the citizens are not paid to the government. One more thing is that whatever the central government proposes some schemes/plans, first we will think in negative way.

For example construction of Tipaimukh Dam is opposed by the people assessing that it will disturb to the inhabitants of nearby villages and even ecology imbalances. Before arriving to such final conclusions, we must calculate the negative and positive consequences meticulously and last we should measure the balance them. It will benefit to the whole Manipuris ( household, industries, other offices etc) and there will be a ray of hope for coming out of the darkness.

The employees of electricity department are rendered duty-less employees as there is no electricity but the government has to pay their salary whether there is work or not. So, electricity department employees who suffering from duty-less situation will be re-continued their duty .We also can expect state income if we sell it to other states properly). No public is interested in water supply, road development and the like. They don't demand the same from their representatives.

The representative also feels that people are happy as don't demand anything for the development. People take more importance taking Rs 500 followed by chicken meal and a small plastic beg of local made wine than the development of their area. The politicians also think in the same way. Misutilization /Non utilization of funds given the central government is also another feature of Manipuri democracy. Ultimately the public are the victim but still enjoy. We the Manipuris are having an extraordinary power for tolerance.

Education System:

Education system is almost dead. Starting from the selection of teachers, to the teaching system. The mode purely indicates pure Manipuri style. Selection is purely based on quantum of money that can be offered to minister(s) and not based on merit like conducting written exam, interview etc. Everything seems to be decided by the ministers led by the chief minister. Why Manipur can not follow what other state does? Nobody ask. Nobody cares.

There is no denying the fact that thousands/lakhs of students had already became the victim of such teachers starting from Lower Primary to College level when they came to compete with other outsider students. Mentality of the Manipuris in this regard is full of dirt. They always ready to offer money even by selling cycle due to the dirty system created by the government and followed by the people. Now, we can count how many students are in govt. run L.P, High schools, Also even without observing the requirement of post, simply they will recruit teachers.

In many government run schools, the numbers of teachers are more than the students. And again there are a lot of high schools and higher secondary schools where the percentage of pass in board examination is ZERO. Whether such institutes deserve to continue as learning places ? What is the policy of the government towards such schools? Because of such wrong policies of govt. now there is no government funds to disburse the salary to the education department employees. Those who plays/played such games should be punished severely.

Majority of the lower primary school teachers even don't know how to teach Manipuri/Meiteilon consonants and vowels. For example English J is spelt/pronounce as bagarza, N for tantena, A for soro, AA for sara in Manipuri/Meiteilon and so on. And coming to English pronunciation there is Manipuri English pronunciation which is difficult to follow by others. It is specially happened to Meiteis. For example let us have a glance as follows.

Air, Year, Ear as Ear, Dead, Death and Date as Date, See, She, and Sea as See, Save, Shave and Shape as Sape, Leave, Leaf, Lift and lip as Lip as if all are same. Past tense and pas participle forms are occasionally used. For example - Call and Called read as Call without differentiating. All those words which is ended by VE ,B and F is read as P. For example FIVE (FAIVE) is read as FAIP and Proverb as Probharp, Chief as Chip. And all those which is ended by G is read as K. For example: DOG is read as DOK, EGG is read as EAK, BIG is read as BIK. There is no difference between Side and Site, no difference among Hat, Hate and Head. And lot of interesting pronunciations and readings.

It is believed that only those who studied outside Manipur can pronounce that too since early stages by Non-Meitei teachers. There is always a communication gap between Meiteis of Manipuri product and outsiders. It is frequently said that these Mayangs don't follow what we say and vice versa. The mistake is opened only when it is exposed to outsiders and nobody cares why and how. Many students including the kids and kins of ministers and top officials are going outside Manipur for study purpose.

Why? What is the wrong in studying inside Manipur? Everybody knows including the layman. And why Manipur govt. is not taking interest in changing the entire education system. Whoever comes in power, first thinks that her/his offspring should be sent to outside. If they do not begin the initiative, than who will take initiative? One clear thing is that there is no good educational institute which can be compared with other good institutions outside Manipur.

Because of outside study system, daily lacs of rupees are draining from Manipur that made the people penniless. And out of the total outside students how many are absorbed their job outside Manipur. Statistically, only a few say 5%. After seeing the above, we should appreciate those got job outside the state by competing with other Mayangs that too without paying even a single paise to the Ministers/Top officials whether the post is high or low. After 10+2 what ?

In Manipur only Medical and Engineering courses are available and still treated as lucrative. There are many other entrance exams like Hotel Management, BBA, BBM, NIFT and LOW etc. And for direct recruitment exams one can go for Army, Navy, Air force, SSC Metric Level and Banking exams for clerical cadre. We should be so hyped or over-enjoyed when Board examination result is out. Because, it is only the initial step to go a gateway and completion is still remains. Many students come back from outside after obtaining their Master's (traditional subjects) Certificate and again participate along with those who completes their degree from Manipur in struggling for getting a job in Manipur.

We want only state government job/services. And again one more thing is if one student is passed in 1st class or position holder in Manipur board examination their parents want to send their children for Civil Services Examination which is highly sophisticated. We don't know other graduate level exams like bank P.O, Graduate level SSC exams, CDS , and from time to time exams like Insurance. Have we ever count the number of people who have passed and succeeded in Bank P.O examination which is the toughest objective exam.

Have we ever made record- who is/was the top executive from Manipur in the Indian banking system. And today the best entrance exam ( for a common man )after Graduate is Common Admission Test (CAT) and conducted by IIMS. The highest paid group in the market today is these products. It seems that no Manipuri has been successful in this CAT exam (not for other institutes) till now.

Manipur has been producing a lot of position holders for many decades and will produce every year. Where they had/have gone? How many had/have succeeded at all India Competitive Examinations? And What type? Had Manipur produced at least one Civil servant or Bank P.O candidate, today our Manipur would have a lot of Beaurocrates. And we can remember that in Manipur the numbers of SC and ST candidates are more successful in the all India level competitive examinations than the Manipuri OBCs and Generals.

Failures are the pillars of success. But it is not practically true and not possible to change into reality. And what about Manipuri girls who are studying outside Manipur? It is more than the fact that more than 75% of these girls want to enjoy their physical youth including foreigners in the name study and nothing else.

One simple request to parents / guardians, please have a surprise visit in such areas and you can really see what your daughter(s) study/enjoy. Surprisingly, even knowing, some of the parents don't care what happens. Those who absorbed their job outside Manipur are also not less than the students. On other hand our iron lady Irom Shalimar is still fasting till the Arm Forces Special Power Act is removed from the state. Who cares? No body.



To be continued....

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