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Free Thinker
Violence begets violence. If we are trapped again in this vicious cycle – we may not be able to come out easily. We have seen it at regular intervals. Common people are put under the diktats of the radicals. They are emotionally and sentimentally black mailed in the name of identity, culture, survival, and freedom. Now the pertinent issue is – Can common people start living without fear and violence ?
Honestly speaking, people in Manipur want peace and normalcy more than anything else. Only a handful of people are trying to continue with the turmoil because they think that a situation of flux and uncertainty would serve their purpose. Each militant group has its own agenda. Most of the time common people suffer due to the aggressive gory activities of these extremists.
Some feel that Manipur desperately needs a political solution. By disarming the extremists and flushing out the rebels can’t bring a lasting solution. Under a strong hand using military might and police force normalcy may be restored but it can‘t bring about lasting peace. There may be some truth in this contention. But there is a big ‘but’ - if the solutions are sought beyond the ambit of the Bharat Constitution – there lies the stalemate.
A group of conservative hard-liners still believe that Manipur should regain the pre 1949 status – that is to regain the Sovereign Status. They are still fighting for an independent Nation. Their stand is that Manipur was annexed to India by force; the merger agreement was signed by the then Maharaja of Manipur under duress. He was put under house arrest in Shillong till he signed on the dotted lines.
Then comes the issue of 16 tribes which come under the umbrella of Naga – seriously long for an independent Nagalim (Greater Nagaland). What the majority of Nagas want is peace and harmony in their villages. If that is disturbed they become agitated. The Nagas are also not a consolidated community having a homogenous identity. Some leaders try to inte- grate among themselves but that is not happening. Again, the Nagas of Manipur, Naga-land and Myanmar – still remain fragmented. However a few Naga leaders still dream of a United Nagalim.
On the other hand Kuki-Zo-Chin group (14 tribes) started arming themselves to guard themselves. In the 1990s there was a campaign in the hills of Manipur to consolidate the Naga lebensraum. The Nagas believe that these Kuki-Zo-Chin tribes intruded in their territory. When they did not leave the villages – violence erupted.
Then the Kuki-Zo-Chin people seriously started organizing into armed groups for self protection. Surprisingly they also fight among/between themselves – may be for hegemony or ego satisfaction. Quite often it is alleged that these armed groups get the internal as well as external support; at present mostly they are under SoO (Suspension of Operation mode) – which is now under serious review.
It is a well known fact that insurgent groups of the North East were having camps in Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Due to the changing geo-political situation in the last 12 years or so the camps in Bhutan and Bangladesh were dismantled. However the rebel camps in Myanmar are still operating. There is a possibility of some resurrections in Bangladesh as a result of the changed scenario.
The young people (GenZ and Alpha type) of today are more concerned about their own security, education, job, future and of course their material needs like mobile phone - without which their life is finished or meaningless. This young generation does not bother much about land, culture, identity or ideology or sovereignty. They are more or less ‘Charvaka’ followers and global citizens – more inclined towards unfettered freedom.
The common people (old generation) still want a peaceful life in the State itself. They desire to be buried in their own land. They are attached to their villages, love their identity, culture, custom and believe in their age old tradition. The new generation will flee for greener pastures but the older generation will continue to live till they die in their own birthplace.
Everyone can continue their struggle but with no violence; it may be for an independent Nation, or a Separate Administration, or a Union Territory, or even for ST status, or greater Nagalim. The demand may be for anything and everything; see the GenZ and Cockroaches paradigm – learning from them is no sin. People of Manipur have suffered a lot in the last 50-60 years due to violence. In the last few years the intensity of bloodshed increases – bringing about untold miseries.
No one is listening, then –“Akla Chalo Re ...”