The Land of Turmoil and Question of Survival

Manipur was called ‘The Jewel of India’ (Sana Leibak/leitang) by J.N Nehru, the first PM of India. At that moment, the land might have shown its merit to be labeled so. Glancing at the physical assets – fertile alluvial soil, rainfall, abundant foodgrains and the so called Imphal Valley – rice bowl of Manipur, it is no less than any other land.

Geographically, 8% of the land is made up of valley and 92% hills1. This valley is almost capable of supplying the needs of the whole population. But now, this prized phrase has seen a stark paradox. What has become of our land- the land of jewel that once upon a time gained so much of glorious pasts-history, culture, society and polity? The land, that was proud of its cultural mosaics and natural beauty, has now been miserably scarred by turbulences. Murders, abduction, rapes, loots, harassment, insurgency, bomb-blast, bundhs, drug addiction, juvenile delinquencies, hunger, HIV/ AIDS and all sorts of social deviance have gained so much ground and are pervasive like wildfire everyday and every hour. We have been living in the mist of cataclysm.

The Inert Civil Society

Civil society refers to a group of people or organization having a common objective of working for the development and welfare of the people and society as a whole. Our society has been moulded and ‘transformed’ by the characters of this turmoil. Societal and individual perception and disposition have been modified and co-habiting the disturbed environment. The civil societies and pressure groups – philanthropic organizations, students’ bodies, etc. who vowed to work for common good could not find a way out to escape the situation. They find no option but to dance, most of the time, to the tune of some stronger and powerful ‘bodies’ while tackling the problems. Everyone, after all, values our own life more than anything else. Often, they are crippled by disunity amongst themselves, paucity of resources and strength, that, they are too feeble to stand and fight against the tides. And sometimes, no doubt, they fall prey of opportunism compromising their cause with something attractive coming their way.

‘Society’ and ‘Religion’ – a dialectic duo

At the other end, the religious leaders are no exception. They are the most versatile and dynamic human beings who are adept in adjusting themselves with the existing space. Interestingly, they are genius in “fitting their heads with the caps” being offered. Unsurprisingly, they have their own ‘principle’ which is politics and religion are like the tribal mythical ‘dog and goat’ legend, that can never go hand in hand; and based on this notion, they would always tend to keep themselves aloof of the ongoing turmoil. But, one wonders if anyone can really escape the atmosphere. The Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God”. (Matt. 5:9) An eminent Sociologist, Durkheim propounds that worship and religion is essential to “social cohesion and stability” 2 besides, attaining salvation. Based on his theory we can infer two main essences for mankind: Society (Secularism) and Religion. It should be remembered that they have mutual and interactive relationship in a rather small tribal society, like ours. Something that takes shape in one sphere gets reflected in the other end. This shows the mechanical relationship of the two. The characters of the Churches today – how far they are superficial, materialistic and ‘foreign – crazy’, have been well illustrated by a Lunminthang Haokip:

“In the company of skin and dollar worshippers, suggestions to win souls through specific confession, repentance and setting things right are pooh-poohed; long faces are drawn at long prayers, and at seekers of God’s promise and guidance. NRI-culture is introduced in God’s ministry. TV – no problem! Political confabulations – no problem! Restitution- there’s problem. They serve not our Lord. Self is served in the name of Jesus.” 3

The above lines express how far the Church administrations have been overweighed by the love of worldly riches and materials than the much needed spiritual growth. Church should reflect the character of piety and divinity. Nevertheless, how far it is advantageous to apply God’s gifted knowledge and understanding in the ministry of Church has been extensively emphasized. “The fruit of hard labour put forward by the learned pastors in the past had been reaped by the Khasi and Mizo people, and the content of their society and politics had been stamped with the ‘Christian ticket and sealed’ which will be hard to rub off …Christian vision devoid of three important tenets – spiritual maturity, physical maturity and societal maturity, cannot be called a true and complete religion.4

The Frustrated Youths – macho desperados

So many youths are frustrated and desperate. The educated youths are the most frustrated section of society in the state where the existing systems of education and economy fail to give them a decent job and living, that so often, are lured to join “the other stream of life” – militancy. There are about 3.2 lakh educated unemployed youths in the state in 19985. The resource potentials too have been dwindling and almost at the brink of extinction that they can no longer provide the people of any productive and adequate manual work for living. So also, the uneducated and unskilled youths, attaining no content toiling the unproductive and uneconomical lands, look forward to any other shortcut means of survival. They too easily fall prey of the macho-nationalism in the promise to ‘sacrifice for their (imaginary) lands and the people’. Here, they can definitely ‘earn’ their ‘living’ without much a work to do. Let’s see how morally dreadful the problem of unemployment is in the word of Puttaswamiah:

Unemployment frustrates an individual and is a stumbling block for the development of the country. It is a great evil, it is a poison, and it pollutes the society and wrecks the political fiber of a country. It creates devils, it turns good into bad, and it changes an honest worker into a criminal. It encourages dishonesty, patronizes corruption, glorifies falsehood, and brings out the dark side of human character. 6

So, all the problems that we are facing today in our State – rebellion, conflict, insurgency, killings, strikes and blockade, etc. are directly or indirectly the impacts of unemployment problem.

The Politicians – masterbrain of terror!

The leaders and politicians in our land are none other than exclusively ‘sanitized moneticians’ who are mad about gripping power and wealth. With no qualm, they can be labeled as the mastermind of all evils – who are talking of peace, unity, integrity and fraternity with their lips and throwing ‘meat among the hounds’ with their hands, which is why there is no lasting peace in our society. When the selfless shepherds ‘transformed’ into vociferous beasts it is the sheep who suffers and bear the brunt. They do not care who lives and who dies, who suffers or who prospers as long as they ‘satisfy’ their own bellies. “…You have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them…” (Jerem. 23:2 NIV) Their main vision is no farther than the distance between one election to another. The main agenda seems to be the intention of amassing wealth and resources within the stipulated tenure and be prepared to fight and, of course, win the next election again! In order to achieve this desire one is prepared and ready to do anything, ready to remove any obstacle coming of one’s way – even to the extent of taking human life. Won’t it be a white lie, when one claims to love the community/nation but do not care for the love of its human kind and the surrounding environment, which actually compose of the so called ‘community or nation’?

Ethnic Jingoism – a malady

Manipur is the land of ethnic diversity. It is the land where various awarded nomenclatures and ethnic identities are extolled and given the top priorities, on which, all revolutionary groups based their objective of movements. One may retrospect the armed movements in Manipur which are firmly rooted with the ideology of “mythical golden past” and the ethnic identity and uniqueness of one’s history. But, is there any group of people whose history is not unique? This is indeed a political rhetoric and selfish expression of one’s identity. We are afraid that the ethnic and human identity which we boastfully talk of as “past roots” could prove to be a “future rout/doom”. This axiom can find its relevance in our present society where armed conflicts and feuds have taken heavy toll on the people’s life.

So often, human lives worth less than animals when one-sided and self-instructed ‘laws of the jungles’ prevail and govern the people’s behaviours. No one seems to realize the fact that none but only God can give life to human being, and this life worth more than the power, wealth and status that we are fighting for. How long we still have to sacrifice and how long we have to shed our precious blood fighting for our based ethnic purity, identity, homelands and ‘hollowed’ vision of sovereignty? We have been illusioned by our ‘struggle’ so much so that we often fail to recognize the faces of our brothers and sisters. To quote David about the degree of ethnic jingoism in our present society:

Today, the main obstruction of development in the North East is the problem of ethno-nationalism. Some of our brethrens think that all the problems of the world – diseases, poverty, ignorance and evils- can be solved with “sovereignty”. They could understand and see nothing beyond “politics”. What we need at present is not “patriotism” or insurgence as such but inclusive growth. It is not patriotism but market competition that will bring development. People of one of the poorest countries on earth, Burma for example, do not lack the feeling of patriotism in them. Ethno- nationalism or patriotism, like religious fanaticism, is a kind of malady and it is a blind-love. If we desire to meet a bright future ahead, it is more important that we sow in our present students’ mind not the love for “nation” but the love for mankind or humanity. When there are more people in the society who love the “nation” more than the humankind, the future of development seems impossible”.7

Causal Factors – Development or Insurgency?

As a matter of fact, there is a rooted factor of this turmoil. Out of the many, we would like to point out the economic cause. Poverty is a curse and can be the root of all evils in the society. T Here, the cause of poverty is both intrinsic and extrinsic as well. In our regional context, lack of job opportunity is the main factor, which itself is the fallout of industrial backwardness. This problem has originated from within and without the region. Many people might have held insurgency responsible. In fact, one can not afford to be one-sided and bias in drawing conclusion because the argument goes like the riddled ‘chicken – egg’ story – where none is sure of the egg or the chicken that existed first. It is worth to note that even “before militancy broke out, there has been virtually no development in the region either”8.

Development and insurgency are the two mysterious twins – where one can hardly make judgment of. Backwardness and underlying poverty ultimately leads to insurgency in most cases; so also, insurgency and its resultant unrest makes industrial development impossible thereby impoverishing the region. It is a vicious circle of problem. Both point fingers at each other. The failure of the state’s machinery is inextricably one good reason behind the present situation. While other sister states are talking big of MNCs, SEZ, Globalization, FDI, and other development key words, our state is unable to repair and maintain miserable network surface roads, which virtually become so awful during monsoon seasons. Out of more than 6000 units of Small Scale Industries in 1995-96, 44% are reported sick, and 85% of the micro enterprises in the state are working without power and 21.13% without premises (workshed). There is an overall negative growth of 35% of all these state undertakings9.

Nevertheless, the problem – related factor is also much of extrinsic. The geographical location has much implication on the way to infrastructural development as well as the attention of the central government. It is said that the central government can hardly realize the existence of N.E.India had not there been insurgencies in the region. A Shillong based journalist, Mukhim once said that ‘insurgency has become the most effective instrument’ to bang the ear of the central government for the North East India10. The shrewd New Delhi, who is a genius in handling this type of issue, act tactically manifesting its indifference and lack of interest in solving the decade – old problems of militancy.

Question of Survival

Although ‘lack of economic development’ is a much-hyped slogan, most of the time ethnic chauvinism and power–hunger occupy the most important position in Manipur society. Therefore, we may have to find some other ways of survival strategies in this cut-throat competitive world. India has initiated economic reforms since 1991, ushering industrial liberalization. FDI have started spreading their wings in India since then. Economic growth almost touched 10% GDP. However, one fundamental question is how far it has benefited the N.E India in general and Manipur in particular? With no second thought we can definitely say that it has not benefited our state Manipur. Unemployment, poverty and crime are the testimony of it. So, it is high time to stop short and deeply ponder over it.

In the midst of turbulent, somehow, the societal transition has to keep its pace. Of recent, the Central has somehow turned its deaf ear to the burning Manipur, though in a less intensity. In fact, we can not totally depend on the central Govt’s aid for development, which is hardly sufficient to support and maintain “the bulky and rusty solkari engine”. It is said that more than 80% of the annual state’s budget (90% from Central aid) goes to employees’ salaries; no money is left for developmental purposes. It looks a far cry hoping for development to come from the State’s government. It is a high time that we find a way to live, survive and establish our own business.

To begin with, can we just look into the system of the agriculture that we have been practicing since time immemorial? For instance, our jhum land – paddies have been hard hit and almost wiped out by impact of Mautam which is due to the onslaught and attack by rats. Won’t it be viable to switch from rice cultivation to some other else, say horticulture, sericulture or floriculture for that matter, or something that cannot be attacked by rats? Market, no doubt, will be a problem given our own State alone, but then, we should think of expanding it to outside Manipur. Certainly there will be some way out. Another example could be mentioned from the market of charcoal burning (it is not advisable though). As far as I know, there use to be a time when these charcoal burners sold charcoal in Lamka town alone where the price use to get fluctuated unprecedentedly due to rise or fall of the demand. But today the price has become more stable because of high demand of it from outside, especially Imphal. Another important ‘tools’ for business we need here in our land is fruit processing systems (unit) and storage facilities. It will be feasible for us to set up such units in our land too while it is something very much possible in other states. To start any enterprise one needs to apply at least two important things – capital and brain (entrepreneurship).

So far, some developmental activities have been initiated by the Central for Manipur. Road and railway connectivity have been introduced in the state, i.e. Jiribam-Tupul railway line. Apart from the existing dams, the newly coming up has a promising future in the way to agriculture development and power supply for the people of Manipur. The Thoubal river project and Tipaimukh dam project are other leviathans giving signals to development in agriculture, industry and tourism. In order to start and develop any sort of industry – large, small or medium, we need electricity. Moreh, which is officially the centre of international border trades and other potential trading hubs such as Behiang (Singngat) have given a positive signs of boon for the people in future11.

Infrastructures are the path to development. We all need to learn the spirit of stewardship by taking good care of them. There are many petty but grievous incidents of thefts of tools, iron rods, etc used for making small/large bridges, spoiling of culverts, street lights, community halls/centers, or anything being set up for the welfare and common benefits. Development that we have been talking about all these times has to begin from grass root level and for that, every citizen shoulders responsibility – which we actually lack.

We, for example the Zou community, occupy and own extensive and valuable lands. That is a good part of blessings we have received12. However, we do not seem to recognize this privilege due lack of awareness or rather imagination. Harvesting the bountiful produce of our fertile and blessed lands- paddy fields and extensive forests, we have indulged in all kinds of lavishness, merry-makings, revelries, jollification, drinking and immoralities for ages and ages, so much so that, we bothered not to wake up for the clarion call of the fast speed world competitions. One sad thing: now we are in the process of losing all our lands thanks to poverty which is the outcome of our own (economic) mismanagement. Owning or being bestowed with rich and fertile lands is the foremost important factor of production/economic development which we were in familiar terms of late. But, it seems a little too late. So, it is time we check this issue.

Besides, there is high potentiality to various investment in Manipur provided we the people change our attitudes (perceptions) towards them (welcome them). The most important thing to do in the first place is to broaden our outlook and open our ‘inner and outer door’ wide to usher in the wealthy investors from outside. For this, the need of the hour-peace and tranquility is the first step towards development and way to survival. It will be wise to remember that our bundh culture is the arch-rival of enterprise culture. In this way, we can slowly, but surely solve the myriad problems of unemployment as well as poverty that have been inherited to us by the protracted unrest in our land. We may conclude by referring the suggestion made by Dr. R. Gopalakrishnan, Economic development has to be given the utmost priority. Waiting for normalization in political relations will only accentuate the problems of economic backwardness. Development has to be initiated and implemented simultaneously with efforts reducing the instances of insurgency. Once the development has been brought back to the rails, other related issues like unemployment, etc, will gradually scale down. Law and order machinery will also gradually become effective. The significance of policing in different terrains (aspects) has to be recognized and acted accordingly”. 13

When all sections of the people (society) in our land are economically sound the social problems will extensively be solved and no one will be attracted or compelled to go to jungles for rebellion then. We are not certain of how long this turbulence will still have to go on, but we do hope and pray in our hearts that we shall overcome someday and realize all our dreams into reality.

Notes and References:

1 Singh, IT (2008). Current Manipur G.K . MPSC & Police Exams.

2″http://durkheim.itgo.com/religion.html”>http://durkheim.itgo.com/religion.html 9/17/2008 12:17:38 AM

3 Haokip, Lunminthang (2007). Addressing the NGO-ing of the Churches.
http://www.kukiforum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=187:addressing-the-ngo-ing-of-the-church&catid=42:article&Itemid=100076

4 Zou, David Vumlallian (2004): Tangmi Pha leh Zawnna Sal Pawtna”, Khristian Tangkou
Jan-April 2004 issue, p. 2

5 Statistical Abstract of Manipur, 1998. Manipur Statistical handbook.

6 Puttaswamiah (1971). Unemployment in India: Policy of manpower, New York: Oxford
university press

7 Zou, David Vumlalalian (2008). Lungsim, Sumsin leh Nehsui Zaleenna Gam Ah (Where
Minds and Markets are Free), Zoheisa Silver Jubilee Souvenir (1983-2008).
Shillong: ZSP S/B Pub. Pp. 13,14

8 Phanjanbam, P (2001). “Insurgency and its Impact on the Development of Manipur”, in
‘Constraints in Development of Manipur’, C. Joshua Thomas (ed.), N. Delhi: Regency
Pub. p.21

9 Govt. of Manipur: An Analysis of the Performance of the State Public Sector
Unsertakings, 1998-1999.

10 Mukhim, Patricia (2007). Politics of Violence. The Telegraph: North East.
Guwahati, April 30.

11 Singngat was declared a Model Village, a 3-crore project under the Indian
Army’s military civic action in 2006 and it was due to complete in 2008.

12 John Paunou (2007). Iluona Gam (Khuote) En in Khanglou Vai, Zopatong, Jan-Mar. 2007,

13 Gopalakrishnan, R , et.al (2005). Conflict to Reconstruction – Some Observations on Nagaland and Manipur. New Delhi: Regency Pub. P. 147

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*The author of this article is a Research Scholar in NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya, India. He can be reach at [suopizou@gmail.com]