In the month of March Manipur government hosted a tourism festival with much Ga Ga. But it was showered by the blood stained bodies of 14 migrant labourers and Yaoshang festival was showered not by abir by blood and bhajan kirtans were replaced by litany and obituary. Whoever perpetrated the nasty crime sent a message to the whole world that this is not a proper destination for tourism. Hardly when the issue of this nasty killing dying in the discussion among the people another festival of Rathayatra is received with the shooting of another six migrant labourers of which four are succumbed and the rest two escaped with severe injuries.
Manipur is a beautiful land. Mrs. Ethel Grimwood even said “It was more beautiful than some of the most beautiful places of the world.� Japanese during their world war second expedition described it “A flower on the lofty height.� To Lord Irwin “It is Switzerland of the East.� But till date it is remained as one of the most unfrequented places of the world.
No sooner than this land started opening its gate to the outside world after the Second World War, the people experienced arms struggle called the Naga struggle for freedom popularly known as Naga hostile which is ending in the internecine war among them claiming more lives than plague, HIV-AIDS Malaria put together. This model is successfully emulated in Manipur. Now we can boast of having arm militia groups for almost all the communities except Brahmin. A community having only nine thousand populations has arm militia thereby confusing best of the statesman to think for the future of this land.
If the boat we are sitting is rocked by someone and some group of people according to their own will, the life and the future of all the persons sitting in the boat is in danger. Hence each one of us has right to rise our finger.
In the second millennia BC world trade in Chinese silk, Indian cotton, Southeast Asian spices flourished and intercontinental relation started with different trading items. There was social mobilization, cultural exchanges, spread of religion and philosophical ideas among the different people of the world and each gained from each another. Our neighbour Burma (Myanmar) also was greatly influenced. Unfortunately all the development of the second millennia had diverted its route from our part of the continent. But why? The most potent cause may be the existence of the xenophobic elements in abundance among the people of this part of the world.
“Don not got to java. Those who go there never come back.� This is a warning among the traders of Europe. Perhaps some of their predecessors have had awakward experience while travelling to java. In java in those days there was a Negreto tribe who eat human flesh of course roasted. But in spite of the strong warning traders go to java because they were also told that those who luckily come back through property could last for seven generations. The ancient script of Manipur also speaks of the existence of three main tribes the Lai, the Mi and the Till. The Lai the most civilized and the Til the most barbarous. The text also described the feature of the Til which resembles the java tribe. Hence, in ancient time the community that frequently crossed this land was from Bengal. Among them also said “Don’t go to Kirata’s land.� Thousands perished on the way to reach the valley. They reach at a very later age. Five hundred years after flourishing in other Southeast Asian countries. They brought many things, philosophy, religion of love, books, civilization in many aspects which some people may not like to appreciate. Sir Johnstone was surprise to see a civilized people surrounded by head hunters. At the same time people showed exemplary courage at the time of war. In the famous Naga expendition when kuki warriors were about to annihilate all the woman and children of the defeated Naga village which British soldiers and officers remained as a silent spectators it was the Meetei soldiers (Manipuri Hindu soldiers) who saved the ill fated Naga woman and children from the merciless killing of the Kuki soldiers. (Manipur and Naga hills by Sir James Johnstone). Today the offspring of those brave and deeply religious people are killing innocent migrant labourers for no fault other than poverty. These migrant labourers are victims in their own home state. The caste ridden society and the political machineries headed by gang turned politicians have left them in wretched condition. During the colonial era they were forcibly taken to different parts of the world and used as bonded labour. The state, in spite of the most resourceful state in India still remained the most backward at least in regard to human development index.
Anti alien feeling in the form of anti mayang is very strong among some people in the valley. Several hand-outs and public speeches mentioned about the issue of mayang outnumbering tribal. How far the propaganda is correct is a matter to be examined. But many mayang who had been living in Manipur more than one hundred years in leaving the state and those remained are concentrated in a two square kilometer Khwairamband bazaar area. Some people have anti mayang feeling likewise some hill tribes have anti meetei. They do not like to see meetei brothers settling in the hill though not openly refused. Meetei are willing or unwillingly accepted assimilation with other ethnic people. This kind of assimilation is very rare in the hill tribes. Assimilated society is more developed than the unassimilated society. The far different gap in the development between the Meetei and the hill tribe may be attributed to the theory of social assimilation. It is not the cause of the lack of infrastructure alone.
The xenophobic elements let loose their xenophobia for different purposes at different times. In Maharastra, recently, Raj Thakare adopted the method and attacked the north India not even sparing the iconic personality like Amitabh Bachan. His purpose was to establish a political platform in Maharastra for his newly formed political party. The Maharastra Nava Nirman after breaking away in frustration from his uncle Bal Thakare’s Shiv Sena. But the means he adopted for his own political achievement would send as ugly message to Mumbai becoming a financial city of this sub-continet. Multi-national companies have started shifting their business estate to other cities having cosmopolitan atmosphere. The fast development of Bangalore is a clear example. Collumnist Gurucharand Das, discussed the issue in his article Men and Ideas on 23rd March of 2008 issue of Times of India. He writes, why Japan, Germany, France are loosing as against USA in attracting multinational companies is because of the presence of the xenophobic elements in these countries. The rise of China and India as against many Asian and European nations is that these two big countries for centuries opened its doors to outsides. Malaysia’s Bhoomiputra have seriously affected its policy of attracting foreign investment. Its dream for booming economy has been shattered.
In the past our king had rejected Sir James Johnstone's proposal for tea plantation. Had it been accepted our present highways would have a different look. Rail would have reached Imphal. For fear of British expansionist to reach Manipur the proposal was rejected. But Manipur could not block British expansionist reaching Manipur. Had the proposal been was accepted the economy and infrastructure of the state would have been different. The only negative result would be the tea planters from Bihar permanently settling in the hills of Manipur.
Mowing of migrant labourers would bring no good result to many wise men of the state. I don't know what the fool and superwise men would reap from it. As long as we have jobs for them they will come. The moment we have our own men to replace them they would not stay here for a moment. Simply frightened them by killing ten twenty would not budge them an inch. They have the history of working in the most difficult places. They have laid the railway tract and planted sugar cane in the lion infested parts of Africa where the natives refused to work. When hundred are killed one-thousand would come. When one-thousand are killed one-lakh would come. Who knows finally they may come with guns.
Massive development works being taken up by the government as well as the construction of private houses needs many labourers which our state would be not able to supply. I asked one top ranking engineer of a construction company as to why they are not engaging our local labourers. He said that he used the few available but most of them reported late in the morning and wanted to go back after 4.30 pm while the labourers from outside the state worked upto 9 pm. This shows that we are still believed in "nom nom sagai tong chanaba leite takhel thang." No, we have to changed our work culture. There are lot of worked to carry out for the massive development works in the state.
No doubt the killing was condemned one and all although some organisation after a long pause and some with a hook. C.M. Ibobi not only condemned the killing but also expressed dissatisfaction to some civil societies for not sending out condemnation notice instantly.
Who is to be blaamed? Government is to be blamed for allowing perpetrators to commit any crime at will and at random. It is a clear example of the completely paralysed law and order of the state. Government seems to be depending too much on the arm police less in the intellignet network. but a situation like this in Manipur need a good intelligent network. This will also help in reducing civilian casualities. People see unprecedented movement of security personals but central library was easily burnt down and when the culprit claimed the crime they had committed government remained silent. When civil societies in the name of prohibition beaten up citizen black and blue where is the state? What action have this government taken when an underground organization claimed to have apprehended PWD personals siphoning huge sum of money. State remained a silent spectator. When highest security zone Babupara MLA quarters was raided by the police and apprehended underground elements what action the state have taken to bring the culprit to book? Matter is going to be covered up. There are many other issues showing the weakness of the state. But a weak state is prone to anti-state activities like a weak health prone to many diseases. Since the machinery of the state is handled by the honourable CM and his ministerial colleagues blames for all the anti-state activities and mismanagement have to be shouldered without grumbling like a gentleman. Here I rembered a Chinese proverb "Better light a candle than curse the darkness." After Rathajatra another big festival Durga-puja is coming in the month of October. How the state is preparing?
Seeing numerous action having negative impacts on the society and future of the state which does not spare even the hospital, temple or educational institutions and the sit in protest in all localities and by all governments and semi-government departments, killing of the mother while serving food to the children, highway robberies, internecine was among different arm groups it is not time to shout the slogan EE mashel hatnaganu but don't kill either EE mashel or not and time to give farewell to arms.

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