Wearing mantle of Lordship sans humaneness!

If nothing else, at least God-given sense of self respect nudges us to the point of inevitable question mark: what have we got as citizens in general and as tribals in particular, in Manipur all the while 70yrs since independence, 45 years since statehood? Democratic, secular republic that India is, clearly defines her exclusive domain as of the people, for the people and by the people. Here in Manipur, thanks to spineless, toothless and visionless leadership and the hangers-on sliming around non-stop, we tribals and nagas in particular have developed and refined the culture of being lorded over by friends of the valley . Sure enough, friends in the valley have grabbed the vulnerability of the tribals as golden opportunity to subject us to their lordship.

‘Efficacy and authenticity’ of human existence stands established beyond question on the strength of God-given honour and dignity that every man and woman is endowed with. God-given ‘honour and dignity’ is what sustains and propels us to greater height of civilizational race generation after generation. Anything said or done contrary to this inviolable principle is downright denial of fundamental justice and therefore is brazen act of dehumanisation. People who dream high and big and who go on to realising and living big dreams, are those who tenaciously safeguard human honour and dignity, come what may! What is our take on this? Are they up for sale, for trade-off? What do we elders/leaders live for and owe ourselves to whom? Is it for ourselves and to ourselves leaving the younger generations as ready preys for predators?

Wake-up call to those of you at the helm of public governance focusses on unrelenting ‘one-sided approach to and action on’ any and every public issue. Absolutely untenable and yet leaders and elders of both hills and valley seem completely oblivious of the truth that Manipur as it exists today is home to numerous ethnic tribes making up more than 40% of the state’s population and of course owning 90% of the land. Even so, what defies barest common sense is, no matter how trivial or earth shaking any issue be, finality on any public issue be measured in terms of what meets the taste/interests and standards set by the valley people. No matter how seriously flawed and convoluted their logic be, Manipur that they want show-cased is one populated by tribals (43%) kowtowing to their diktat of the 57%.

Height of absurdity stands conclusively proven by sheer ingenuous attempt to move the union governmentt through legislative resolution no. 120 dated .22.12.2017, for amending Art. 3 of the constitution to the effect that Manipur should not suffer application of the said Art. Art. 3 is one such constitutional provision that legitimises democratic political aspirations of the people and in as much debunks sanctity of or finality to existing political boundaries of the states. That is how, as against 14 states at the dawn of India’s independence, there are now 29 states. Just can’t help wondering if the entire motivation behind this frolicsome attempt is to keep the tribals in bondage in perpetuaty to gross injustice barricaded with arbitrary Lordship.

On the reverse, who on earth can justify total desecration of constitutional mandate as enshrined in Art.371 (c) underscoring thereunder absolute necessity for special safeguards/protections in favour of Manipur tribals? Briefly stated the rationale behind special constitutional provisions Art. 371 (c) is to ensure equity and fairness in socio-politico-economic development for the entire populace of the state. However, in their wisdom and of course humongously blessed by our mandate holders /leaders, they remain hell-bent on treating fairness, equity, mutual respect n mutual trust as surest signs of weakness and stupidity and therefore, would never let go of their stranglehold on the tribals. But then, how long?

We elders/ leaders shall and can never escape being held accountable for all manners of our narrow inward bound actions (everything for us few, here and now) to younger generations and of course to the living God, the creator. Future for the younger generation is the one and only reason for the elders/leaders to live on till... Rather than giving the utmost of ourselves in pursuit of their future that is robust, vibrant and honourable, should we elders/leaders allow ourselves being bullied into mortgaging their future to shame and pain in return for whatever...? Can we ever justify being wilful partakers of a system assiduously engineered and designed to perpetuate a legacy of doom and gloom for the upcoming generations? Should this be the fate that our future generations inherit from us? We may say, never ever! Match it with credible life in action.

It is for the youth specially the educated youth to unshackle yourselves of inertia and get on to being positive, constructive n assertive on whatever should and must happen in order to secure your future of honour and dignity. Comes with malice to none.