Manipur
which is known as ‘Jewel in the Crown’ or the “Land of Jewels”
is burning. Curfew, bundhs, protests, hartal, blockades are common words and
deeds too. Ever since a Delhi-based news portal `Tehlka’ published incriminating
photographs showing a former militant being roughed up before he was shot by
Manipur commandos in Imphal followed by the death of a pregnant woman Rubina in
the crossfire, the state has not stopped making news. Despite the present situation
and unrest in the state, I have
no option but to stay here due to job compulsion. All my near and dear who are away
from the state of Manipur and working in different cities have been
worried and continuously inquiring about my well being. To calm their fears and anxiety, I tell them
that `I am okay, but the condition is bad’.
Nancy
(name changed), a friend from Manipur who is working in one of the IT companies
in Delhi persistently rings me up enquiring about her aged parents and the
sufferings at their `old age’ in the
‘new age’ problems of protests and bundhs. I remember, post 23 Jul incident,
one night she gave me frantic calls and many a missed calls to find out about
her parents I promised her that, I
will visit her parents during the relaxed curfew hours (5-9 AM). Although she has two brothers, they are
married and working outside Manipur due to lack of employment opportunities and
corruption/bribery for any job. They had left their home
town in 2004, in a similar situation as today. On completion of her studies, Nancy like her brothers, was also forced to move out of Imphal as she
could not get any government job despite having the requisite qualification.
She didn’t have enough money
to bribe the higher-ups. She moved to Delhi and joined an IT software company as Front Office Girl. But within three years
she became `Front Office & Lobby Manager’ through her hard work and
commitment and not by bribing the higher -ups as prevalent in Manipur.
While Nancy is
in Delhi, Manipur
continues to burn. As in the past, the Manipuri women are the only visible
street protestor. They are using every possible (known) strategy to oust Chief
Minister, Mr. Ibobi Singh and repealing of the draconian law-Armed Forces
Special Power Act. But nothing seems to be working. Women have used every
imaginative symbols to capture the attention of the national and world
audience. I recollect the ugly situation in 2004, when 13 naked women protested
against Assam Rifles infront of Kanglafort at Imphal. This time too, women have again used the similar
strategy but as a symbolic protest of making a sort of protective fence out of
their phaneks (a sort of sarong worn by Meitei women). In other words it is an expression of outrage,
a cry of desperation and their only way of showing; how naked and helpless they
feel in the absence of a rule of law where justice doesn’t prevails. A state,
which have produced world famous Rajeev
Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winner; Mary Kom, renowned
dramatists like Ratan Thiyam and many sportspersons,
with famous personalities and outstanding intellectuals could be a number one
state amongst the other North Eastern
states. Unfortunately, Manipur has become the top state in India, nay, the NE in terrorism and
related activities. As per latest report, 36 insurgent groups are active in the
state. Remorsefully, the state has become anarchic and unsafe. Those who can
afford have moved out of the state, living in better conditions but (un) happy; unhappy thinking of their folks living
in hell like condition.
Although
Nancy is in Delhi, she too faces many problems there. In
Manipur it is due to terrorist related problems. But in Delhi, it is identity crisis and survival.
Most North easterners are referred to as
`Chinkies’ and sarcastically as Hakka Noodles and girls form the region have to
ward off from preying eyes. Whether it is Manipur or Delhi,
safety & security is a major concern. On one occasion I had the opportunity
to interact with the young generations from Manipur and asked them a volley of
questions. “Why they are not trying for jobs in Manipur? What are the compulsions
for leaving their home & home town leaving behind their helpless parents? Are
they happy being away?” They all looked at me as if I am an alien! Instantly and
in unison they all said; “Don’t you know the situation created by various
militant groups and police commandos? Don’t you know the corruption level in
the state? Where is the job opportunity?
Is there any Multi National Company in the state? Don’t you know, out of 365
days in the year 200 days are bundhs and hartals? Do you think that we are happy being away
from our own homes?”
Having
heard these replies in form of questions, I didn’t have any answer. I was left speechless.
Many a proding questions came to my mind.
Will continued killings, bombs blasts, bundhs, hartals, curfews, protest by
women, JACs bring peace in Manipur ? No. If not, then what?
Even
the Prime Minister of India has expressed his disdain at the CM’s utterances in
the State Assembly that `Manipur has
become ungovernable and to bring back a semblance of governance, some amount of “killing” of the
underground forces is inevitable’.
He may be right up to some extent as PLA, PREEPAK & KCP (MC) are committing atrocities on the general
public by carrying out grenade attacks, bombs, extortion and abduction for ransom. But wanton “killings of innocent
people or surrendered militants by the state police commando cannot be any
justification and is condemnable.
Those
of us who watch the situation from a distance can only sympathies and agonies the sufferings and pain by our
near and dear ones in Manipur? We can not pretend to be `happy’ being away from
Manipur. It is time to bring sanity in Manipur and other violence-impaired areas
of the region through a network of peace builders who are not looking for
personal and political gains but by those who will work for humanitarian
reasons only. There is no happiness for the people of
Manipur either in Manipur or else where in India (Un) happy : being away ??
Being away, is no solution.
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