Manipur: The story so far ...

"The irony of reality is such that those for whom so many articles and proclamations

are made or written for never cares to read them or follow them"

Andy E.

Imagine living in a land like ours. In a year of twelve months

and seven seasons, two things are constant in our society.

It occurs one after another irrespective of anything that is

happening in the world. They are Haraoba

(Festivals, Concerts, Shumang Leela) and

Awaba (Bandhs, Blockades, Curfews, Terrorism and

Extortion). The two companions walk hand in hand,

together in a dance of decadence and depravation,

creating an environment of hopelessness and

morbid outlook on its inhabitants.

There is no sign of any positive change or any sign

of foresight amongst those who wields money and

power, except cynicism and vengeful criticism rather

than a constructive one.

For those few who are forward looking and helpless

in the eye of such storms, they have chosen to migrate

and settle down elsewhere for good or bad.

Some of the trends and transitions taking place in

my land are astounding.

Before the advent of industrialization, our society

has embraced industrialized lifestyle. Before the

advent of proper education and pragmatic health service,

we have adopted to live like affluent middle class.

The adult inhabitants are obsessed with the prospect of

making easy money and it is no wonder that

many have been duped in this process by

ambiguous schemes, projects and diseases…

Academic is a sham because none of the institutions

are functioning, as it should be. It seems like the students

are not imparted anything in the schools.

Rather they spend months after months attending

numerous Tutorial Groups, which are apparently more

helpful and more expensive. It is such a mystery

how parents are able to afford such lifestyle,

their extravagance, which are taken as liberty by

bike riding, car crazy and mobile phone addicted

adolescents.

Competitiveness is taken for granted. An obsession

with Medical and Engineering career prevails amongst

the so-called general population whereas those who

enjoy reservation status are into competitive

examinations for administrative career.

Granted that these choices are the results of

the system in which we function where there is

absolutely no competition based on merit or integrity.

How unfortunate that Reservations, like Grants and

Loans are heavily manipulated and exploited as vote

banks in our flawed democracy.

If the bigger picture is seen, there is a growing gap

and an invisible wedge created between technical people

(who are mostly general category) and

top administrators (who are becoming predominantly

reserved category) especially in our land. This is a dichotomy

because an ideal society should be based on coordination

and co-operation, not on contradiction and complexes.

There is no limit for corrupting minds and abilities of

the inhabitants by reinforcing their lowly status. They are

subjected as historical misfits instead of encouraging

them to walk shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the

privileged group after one or two generations. It would have

been better if based on economic status rather than

a social one, which inadvertently creates psychological

complexes.

The parent seems hard hit by another obsession and

wants to shine in their offspring's glory.

Irrespective of their abilities and mental strengths,

the parent never ceases to pressure their young

ones to attain and achieve everything under the stars if

not the impossible.

Social activism guided by material gains and political

opportunities are the highlights of the day. How ironic

that despite so many grievances and

public outcry, the public continues to

remain mere pawns to manipulative

politicians and activists, and all end up

bickering for money and personal

favors when the time for choosing their

leaders come. They seem to forgive

and forget everything except the idea

of exercising their rights, sadly without duties.

Institutions and organizations, which are the

supposed to be islands of the brave

and noble, have turned into wimps who

are more scared than they care to admit.

Herein lays the paradox of our so-called

democratic institutions. They have become

biased, unreliable and mere spokesperson

of various agents who use intimidation,

sycophancy and lawlessness as tools of

manipulation and exploitation.

How Unfortunate! You imagine but I live it.

Anand E.