The adjective called - Biren

Kakai Singsit *

Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated Behiang Police station at Singhat (CCpur Dist) on June 24 2019 :: Pix - DIPR

Call it adventurism or pork-barrel largesse as our Chief Minister unleashed a slew of sobs and subventions in the wake of his elevation tothe Chief Minister. On the first day of his elevation he had proclaimed his intention of bridging the economic lacuna as well as the social schism that had afflicted the state since its inception.

The thrust given to do away with the economic disparity that exists between the hills and the valley and priority for the alleviation of the hill area was music to the ears of the hill people. The slogan "Go to the Hills" is the sweetest culinary of pork ever served on the plate ofthe hill people to feast with.

He has created an ambience conducive for trust building and filled our woeful hearts with spectrums of hope for a better tomorrow. With one stroke he broke the hill people's misgivings with Manipur government and the indignations that was churning in our hearts.

And the mantra was trust building. Candidly put, his actions were surreal, for the hill people had never in their wildest dream believe that a caring CM will come. This is what any government is expected of them- to have amity with its subjects and create an atmosphere conducive for building trust and co-operation.

A maiden speech or public pronouncement by any head of state should be taken seriously as it underlines the intention of that government for the days to come. Being a subaltern political observer and a keen believer in social and economic justice, I said to myself- Voila! Here is a man whom we can take for his words.

And lo! He delivers!

The opposition Congress during its 15 years rule had miserably failed in bridging the breached and taking people's confidence into account in the domain of governance.

The ending of the five month long economic blockade just few days after his ascension was truly statesmanship of the highest order and deserves our fulsome accolade as it brought to a close our long sufferings which had reached the seven heaven.

There were insinuations doing the round imputing it to political shenanigans between the present government, a UG group and the centre arm -twisting over the issue.

Not to worry these are the rituals of the opposition party who had done nothing to ameliorate the people's woes but sulks and spread canards when somebody does it.

The grit and determination to cross swords with the all-pervasive corruption that is pandemic in Manipur is a much welcome package that will surely have a great consequence in the days to come. Surely, this is a cumbersome task for any government as corruption is intrinsically embedded and firmly entrenched in our blood, system and ethos.

The previous dispensation instead of fighting this menace rather wallowed with it and furthering it to a pinnacle that was never witnessed in the annals of the state. Success might be partial in this domain but at least avaricious government officials and police personnel have to think twice before demanding bribe or chai-pani paisa from the public.

True to his words - he landed at Ukhrul and was accorded a bear-hug reception contrary to his predecessor whose reception was frigid and smeared with volley of bullets.

Again, there was a buzz running riot that the present dispensation was having a cloak and dagger understanding with abête noire outfit. I dare you, it's a flagrant lie.

Wherever he visits whether it is Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur – it is a humdinger. The rip-roaring reception that has been accorded to him is a sign that the hill people have finally come out of their reticence and ready to do business with Biren Singh and his government. And surely, this is a good sign.

For the present CM is a man who knows how to strike a good chord with the people, a man who knows how to ride the turbulent current and a man who understands the pulse of his people. Again, it was his good intention and the amiability in him that must have endeared him with the hill people.

The Churachandpur imbroglio that simply refused to end with many of the parleys ending inconclusively but the determination to sit together and thrash out whatever divergence of view they carry, had finally brought down the curtain. The convergence came in form of a man- a man who is the epitome of peace. Whereas, the past dispensation just let the matter simmer instead of bringing forth, a solution.

Biren, a man head and shoulders above his contemporaries and his predecessors as well, every inch a gentleman when one sees and discerned his political finesse I say everything portents well for the health of the state. And lo! The dizzyingly murky hang-over of the previous misgovernance has slowly dissipated.

And we all are witness to this optimistic era- the dawn of peace in Manipur. If one assesses the portents and the omens, it won't be an overstatement that Manipur is in the cusp of a better and brighter tomorrow.

As you had traverse the bumpy road of NH-2 during your epochal visit to my district, Kangpokpi -all for your goodness, I was told that rollicking crowds accosted you right from the threshold of the district boundary and wherever you go you are accorded fulsome reception. You deserved it because you earned it.

I, envy you Sir, because you are more like a heart-throb matinee idol of Bollywood than a politician given the fact that people are vying to meet and shake hands with you irrespective of poor and rich, drunk or sober, patrician or layman. You have raised the bar of politics so high that politicians who were at one point of the time an object of derision and scorn from the public have slowly regain people's faith.

I regret the fact that I was absent during your historic visit to Kangpokpi as I was on an errand to the hinterland of Tamei sub-division and had to tarry my stay as the vehicle plying in the area venture out only once or twice a week depending on the availability of passengers. If not I would be one of the palanquin-bearers and gladly will vie for it.

Witnessing the saga of the Biren-led BJP government is like watching a Hindi-movie thriller with riveting twists and turns with intricate plots to dislodge the hero. The interplay of fate and compounded by the slyness of the villains and his cronies at times threaten to end the thriller in a way the people of Manipur might have not wanted but mark my words- the hero will triumphed in the end.

For the people of Manipur love him dearly as he had carved a place in their hearts. Whatever is the outcome of this sordid drama he will firmly etch in the heart of the people, for ages to come.

In the evening of 16th December, 2019, all the apex students' organisations from the hills including students from Manipur University went for an epochal Christmas carol at his official residence where he was likened to the 'Prince of Peace' for his stupendous contributions in ushering peace into this strife torn state of ours.

Yes, 'peace' is the most elusive adjective in Manipur and if the man who epitomised it is gone than I have a premonition that the day is nigh when we will be at each other's throat, like we had always done, in the erstwhile.

And this is where I would like to rest my case.