We the Mango People

Sanjit Laishram *

You heard about "aam admi" being the backbone of a county. A healthy nation for the people by the people is the motto for a democratic county like ours. But, do we feel proud of being a responsible citizen of the nation. I believe every citizen should. The "Aam Admi" has every right & freedom to protest peacefully against government mishandling of social issues or for lack of infrastructure in any part of the county.

A one rupee hike in petrol prices is more then enough to fuel such civil protest in other Indian States. Does that type of civic protest happen in our state? To protest against the state, to show that the common people are against such frequent increase of prices of essential commodities and lack of basic infrastructure in our state for the welfare of common people. Never ever had I heard of such protest in Manipur in my life time? (Except for some politically motivated protest)

In a state like ours, the citizens are a mere vote bank for the political parties. They feed you, they intoxicated you, and they buy you for a price. It's more like an IPL (Indian Premier League) auction, getting sold to the highest bidder. For the netas winning is a must, after all who don't want to be in power. The aam admi (or the mango people whom I referring to) want to endorse his moment during election days.

Thinking election is only time which they believe, they can get his dues back form the netas, playing the win-win game. Getting sold to netas just for a few thousand bucks is just like, shooting on your own foot with a loaded gun. A moment of lust brings years of degradation to our society.

As responsible & mature adults we are setting a wrong example to our younger generations. They will not forgive us for the things we performed with intent. But the story doesn't end here. They will blame us for all the mess in our society and the lack of social injustice as compare with other Indian States, the lack of infrastructure and social disarray.

You say it, you saw it, you name it – 100 days of economic blockade and not a single issue is raised against the state government-for aam admi they think it's a daily phenomenon, petrol being sold @ 150-200 INR the aam admi happily pays the price- after all personal works are more important for them, Kerosene being sold @40 INR aam admi needs it – no daily power supply, bullock cart roads & unmotorable roads is the 21st century infrastructure of our state- for aam admi it's a pleasure driving on pot holes, public hospitals is the new breeding ground for all the diseases- aam admi believe it's second to Khwairamband Bazar (the biggest dumping ground in Imphal City) – Not to forget the "Zero Cleaning Campaign" by IMC only to assist by aam admi with more garbage all over the city. Here the drainage system is such – It floods before it rain. All weather roads is just another name of the so called big projects on paper- aam admi loves the proven & tested dust roads. After all we are the most unvocal section in the Indian Society. For us the state government is just an issuer of Driving License & Voter ID Card. The ID proof of being a Mango People

For aam admi it is a step backwards when we don't express our displeasure on how the state is beings administrated by the netas. Politicians will take us for granted; they will squeeze our blood and dumped us for their greed. When asked who is at fault "the Bribe Giver of the Bribe Taken" For the rich & wealthy people paying a few thousand bucks as bribe is not a thing of concern, but for someone poor a few thousand is a good fortune which is hard to resist.

In both ways personal interest should not overcome in between personal pride and dignity. Only a change in mind set and a responsible thought by every individual could lead us to a better society, society free from greed and corruption. After all educating ourselves on these issues is more important then the education we learn in school & colleges.

A better and a healthy society lie in the hand of the aam admi – we the common people. It's high time for us to rise against our comfort level to fight against all odds. It's never too late, for all of us to take some hard decisions for a better secure society for the generations to follow us. Only then we can compete with other advance states and nations. Every decision you take, every changes you make, decides on how much you care for the society. And every decision starts with you in it. And only we can make it happen.