By Thoudam Manihar Singh
At present there appears to be a total confusion of what is happening in our State "Manipur". The future of Manipur is in the hands of our politicians. There are some politicians who engage in politics for personal gains. But, we need a political leader of distinguished ability and a statesman who is skilled in Government affairs. Moreover, we require the patriotic intellectuals of our State to get together and think seriously about the future and welfare of our State to suggest ideas for progress, leaving aside the nature of finding fault of idiots and ignorant people. Let us learn to forgive and forget. Dr Kamal says "Ishwar leiribamaktada karigi meena meebu laman khumgadage, ngakpiyu ngakpibaga mannaba athoiba dharma ama leitrabani".
Some say that India is shining. But the ancient status of Manipur had fallen into ruin. Everybody desires status and security. We may point to the poverty and unemployment among our youths, the price rise with the vision of Sixth Pay Commission, acute shortage of water for cultivation and regularly irregularity of electricity. Free and compulsory education, under Article 21-A of the Constitution is simply a rumour which cannot be taken as an evidence in many villages of Manipur, without establishing Government Primary Schools for the poor children, like a mirage in the desert, but with mushrooming of private and mission schools which the poor parents cannot afford. Even though it is under the provisions of Directive Principles and other provisions, in the Government Policy the long arm of justice cannot reach to the poor children who are the pillars of the nation.
To solve the problems facing the people we need a good leadership amongst the intellectuals of our society. History tells us that it is intellectuals alone who can give leadership to the nations. Intellectuals are the eyes and brains of a country, and without them the country is blind. In our society we have different classes of people, like Politicians, Judges, Lawyers, Academicians, Government Servants, Professionals, Doctors or Engineers or Officers including Defence Services, Farmers etc. In some States, large number of farmers have committed suicide. According to history, among the intellectuals, it was the lawyers who gave leadership to most nations. For example, the American President, Abraham Lincoln, who led the nation to victory over slavery was a lawyer. In the Russian Revolution, the leader of Russia was Lenin who was a lawyer, although he did not practice for long. During Indian Independence struggle, most of the leaders were lawyers. They are Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, CR Das, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Rajaji etc.
Doctors deal with medical problems, engineers deal with technical problems, teachers deal with academic matters etc. But, it is the lawyers who deal with entire society. The cases which come to the lawyers are all sections of society eg criminals, businessmen, Government servants, labour matters, people having matrimonial disputes, politicians etc. Hence, lawyers are directly connected with the entire society and they are having the knowledge and pulse of the society. Thus, they are best suited to solve the problems facing the people, and it is for this reason that they give leadership to the nation. And, amongst intellectuals it is lawyers who are best suited to give leadership to the nation. But in our present society only a few lawyers are taking the role of leadership. Even though different sections of citizens of our society are dedicated to their own duties, it is the duty of intellectuals to think about the future of our State as the sons of this soil. We must give suggestion, advice for the welfare of the people of our society, for the future of our generations. Let us remember "Chafu kairaga, kwkna haraoee". A stitch in time saves nine. Again, Rome was not built in a day.
The brains of all human beings are made by God. But, the difference of Italian brain, Indian brain and the brain of a Manipuri may be studied by a scientist or a doctor or an Anthropologist or some experts. We also need to consult experts on various subjects eg History, Economics, Arts, Science, Literature, Political Science, Philosophy, Jurisprudence etc to get knowledge of various subjects about which an educated man should know something. It is also better to be noted that study of law and getting law degree is not only for the purpose of becoming Vakil (Ukil) as a profession attending the courts, as a means of earning for livelihood. The word law of the subject, is a rule of conduct, recognised by custom and decreed by formal enactment. It is the terms and conditions of society, State or country. It is the duty of a citizen to know law of the nation. There is no restriction to study law by any citizen after passing twelfth standard or graduation in Arts, Science, Medical, Engineering etc except some terms and conditions in admission of the course. There is no specific combination of subjects as in the case of Medical or Engineering Course. Again, the profession in law is not the only superior profession. A lawyer is not possible to be a Doctor or an Engineer. But, a medical graduate or Engineering graduate may study law. There are many other attractive or superior professions according to the choice and aim of a person. Every profession is required in our society. Nowadays some people like to become a Minister to be a rich person as a profession of Business. But, Bill Gates, Ambani or Tata may not be interested in contesting elections. The choice or thinking of every person is different. While Rabindranath Tagore is awarded Nobel Prize, Mahatma Gandhi is not considered. But, the currency with the photograph of Mahatma Gandhi is required by even a child.
That, in order to solve the present situation in Manipur, we have to first understand the feature of our State. We have enough Politicians, Statesmen, Doctors, Engineers, Businessmen and other many intellectuals. The most striking feature of Manipur is its diversity, so many races with racism, so many religions, castes, languages, ethnic groups, cultures, etc like a Mini India. India is a rich country with poor people. According to its federal structure Manipur is annexed as a State under the merger agreement. To keep the country together and to cater to regional aspirations, the Tamil people have their own State Government and the Naga people have their own Government of Nagaland State, like the Gujarati people, the Bengali people, under the Central Government.
There have been immigrants into Manipur since the period while it was a sovereign country for thousands of years, and most of these immigrants settled down in Manipur and got assimilated in this tiny State. But, there have been no mass migrations from Manipur to other States, countries except during the time of Chahi taret khuntakpa. Why people have been migrating from outside Manipur into Manipur and very few people have gone from Manipur to neighbouring States? The reason is that, even though there is no sign of industrialisation in Manipur there was agricultural society in this State. For agriculture one requires level land, fertile soil, rivers and rain for irrigation etc. All these, Manipur had in abundance and it is known as a paradise on earth. It is natural that people migrate from uncomfortable areas to comfortable areas. This is the reason for great diversity in our State, like India. Hundreds of different kinds of people have been coming into our fertile soil from outside with their own cultures, languages, ethnic features etc and they made Manipur their home. In earlier period there was permit system of entry into our State like any other countries where there is a practice of passport system or visa . But, from the year 1950 permit system was discontinued in Manipur, unlike what is still in existence in some States like Nagaland, Mizoram, known as Inner Line Permit System of the British period. Further, railway line is reaching in Manipur, but in Dimapur, Nagaland there is restriction of non locals under the Inner Line Permit System, beyond the railway station. In our homes we need fencing along our ingkhols to save from the cattles or protection from non-family members, as the Government of India is erecting fencing along its boundary with Burma or China. Such act of fencing of our homes is not against the custom or tradition of our society or national or international law. Even the Bir Tikendrajit Park, Pologround in the city is being protected by a nice fencing and there is also restriction of free movement into it. Under the Constitution of India there is a provision for reasonable restriction, in the rights to freedom.
In view of this tremendous diversity in our State it is absolutely essential that all communities, religion, castes, lingual and ethnic groups etc are given equal respect and are treated equally, otherwise it will be impossible to hold our State together for long. This is the modern age, and nobody is prepared to be treated as inferior. This is the modern age of democracy and equality. Hence, only secularism and equality for all can hold it together. There were the ideals which our great Emperors Ashoka and Akbar taught us, in the Indian History. As such inter-caste or inter-religions marriage is to be encouraged, by our Manipur Government by having policies of reservation as it is being done in some States of India. Even today many Englishmen have surnamed themselves with Taylor, Smith, Carpenter, Baker, Butcher, Gardener, Painter, Mason etc as there are some yumnaks in our Meetei society according to their forefathers' tradition during the period of our Iningthous. Nowadays the children of Maibas, Maibis, fishermen, carpenters, Doctors, Engineers etc do not become the same person of their ancestor's profession, occupation. He comes to the city and becomes an electrician or motor mechanic, or having acquired education he becomes a clerk, or a lawyer, engineer, doctor etc. Caste system is not encouraged. There should not be any discrimination between a male and a female child. IQ of an average woman is the same as that of an average man. Madam Curie was the first person in the world who won two Nobel Prizes-one for Physics and another for Chemistry. So many women are becoming officers in the Army and Police of this State of Manipur and India.
Further, Dharma is for the stability of the society. Religion is for controlling wild animal-instinct in human beings and for having a civilised and cultural society.
Therefore, considering all these, we require the patriotic intellectuals of our society to get together and think seriously about the future and welfare of our State.
This article was published on The Sangai Express