Not the time to rub anyone the wrong way Make friends not enemies

If at all Manipur or rather the Meiteis have to learn anything from the over 17 months of conflict, it is this-it makes no sense to step on the toes of anyone, anyone who is not a party in the ongoing conflict. In just a few days time Manipur would have completed 17 months of ethnic conflict and would be stepping into the 18th month and the important question is whether any lessons have been learnt or not. A look at the reality should tell its own story and 17 months should have been more than enough for Manipur or the Meiteis to be able to tell the foes from the allies and those who have preferred to maintain a strictly neutral stand. The question however is whether any thoughts have been given to differentiate between the friends and the foes and those who have remained neutral. There will be no answer to this poser in black and white, but it stands that Manipur seems to be standing alone in the ongoing conflict and this is where it becomes important for everyone to come around to the reality that it would defeat the very stand of the Meiteis if more nemesis are created in the ongoing conflict. It is along this line that the Meiteis also need to embrace the reality that the ongoing conflict is being fought not only at the ‘battlefields’ but also at many other fronts which in other words should mean that everyone is chipping in with whatever is at their disposal. So the trader engaged in his or her job of keeping the wheel of trade churning is at least ensuring that economic activities are not brought to a complete halt. In the long run, it is the economy which will feed the ‘soldiers’ at the battlefront, it is the economy which will ensure that the people of Manipur do not become beggars in their own homeland and it is economic activity which has given some sort of a direction to the lives of many who are surviving in the different relief centres set up across the length and breadth of the State. And to keep the wheel of the economy churning it is important to ensure the no more nemesis are created or indulge in any activity that could lead to tension or misunderstanding with anyone who happens to belong to the people who have remained neutral in the ongoing clash. Disregarding this would only push the Meiteis into a more precarious state and that would definitely defeat the very purpose of protecting the continued existence of Manipur as a distinct geo-political reality. And when one says the people who have been maintaining a neutral stand, it should be understood within the context of Manipur and within the parameter of people who come under the definition of ‘indigenous people’ of the land and place.
Past 17 months and in all these months, it may be taken to mean that Delhi has not lifted much of a finger to come to the aid and assistance of the people who they call their own. Assam is a place which has close ties with Manipur since the days of yore with a place plum in the heart of Guwahati coming under the name Manipur Basti. Plus Manipur and Assam are under the same BJP Government. Tripura is another State with which the ancient Manipur kingdom is understood to have had close ties, even striking up matrimonial relationships and Manipuri is recognised as one of the minority languages there. Despite these seemingly close ties and affiliations with two neighbouring States, Manipur has not heard of any move coming out in support of the place and her people in the ongoing clash. The point that is being sought to be made should be clear to everyone. Manipur today seems to be standing all on her own and in such a circumstance it makes no sense to throw one’s weight around and in the process step on the toes of anyone who are not in any way involved in the ongoing ethnic clash. Manipur needs to take one, hard look at herself and acknowledge the reality and act accordingly. This is not the time to make more enemies. This is not the time to throw one’s weight around amongst the people. Time also for all to acknowledge the inherent internal weaknesses and take steps to rectify these and certainly rubbing anyone the wrong way is not the way. The past 17 months should be enough lesson.