Words are not enough to express the extreme anguish and guilt felt by a community in the wake of a viral video depicting the barbaric incident in which two Kuki women were paraded naked by a mob and reportedly gang-raped. Even with the pervasive air of hatred and animosity, our heads hang in shame. And it should be condemned outright without any quarter. This is not the time to analyze the ‘cause and effect’ or determinant factors leading to such a heinous crime or that of whataboutery.
Tragedy is that, some political leaders and elements are engaging in such behaviour. And, this needs to be condemned also. We understand that introspection is necessary and every incident needs to be singularly studied and analysed in the backdrop of prevailing circumstances to get to the roots of the present ethnic strife in the pursuit of everlasting peace and communal harmony. But, we must also agree that now is not the time for such an endeavour.
Several factors have led us to the present predicament and everyone knows what really triggered the clashes. Yes, the primal urges or predatory instinct which otherwise lay dormant in each and every human being had been rekindled by the present violence. It laid bare the alarming level of hatred and animosity flowing from a misdirected passion, a state of mind bereft of reason and human compassion. In short, irrationality and mob psychology had taken over.
Yet, now is not to time to go looking for who first started the violence, but to find ways and means to plug the stream of violence first. With the surfacing of the viral video, several other violent acts inflicted by irate mobs from both warring groups have begun doing the rounds thereby vitiating the already charged atmosphere. In fact, everyday and all through the day the social media is awash with the violence in Manipur and we are faced with a dilemma.
Often, we are left with a bitter taste in our mouths after going through the biased tweets and posts coming from both sides and beyond. As per the tweets and posts, Manipur has taken the centre-stage of violence and hate, rape and molestation, savagery and barbaric acts happening across the country.
Not a day goes by, without a political leader or party qualifying the incidents to suit their political agenda. Every other day, political delegations visit the state in the name of assessing the ground situation and for scoring brownie points. While some representatives of national media are temporarily stationed here, some choose to play the judge, advocate and executioner sitting in New Delhi.
What is most damaging to the social fabric is the religious connotation forcibly being attached to the present conflict. Some vested interests on both sides are desperately trying to depict the present violence as that of religious strife and of majority Hindus oppressing the minority Christians. And both sides are playing to the gallery.
As the violence escalates, the Christian lobby or the Church has become hyper-active in America, Britain and Europe with a singular focus on burning of churches and oppression of minority Christians. On the other hand, Hindutva forces are going all out to depict a scenario where the Hindus are overwhelmed by forces of Christianity. Sadly, both the Christian and Hindu lobby have gravely misunderstood the religious orientation of the Meitei community.
Not all Meiteis are Hindus. There are many among them who have adopted Christianity and a minority still adhere to the indigenous faith. Yet, one must also realise that the particular brand of Hinduism being followed and practiced here is much too different from that of North India and as propagated by Hindutva forces.
The ancient culture and value system of the Meiteis are deeply rooted in the Manipuri Vaishnavism which is practised here. Pluralism is inherent in the Meitei society and it is evident in its culture and religious practices. In fact, Manipuri Vaishnavism is a cover devised and adopted by ancestors of the Meiteis to deflect the cultural invasion of Hinduism in the past.
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