Month: September 2011

by Heigrujam Nabashyam
Sadar Hills has long ceased to be a question of district. The Manipur government cannot pretend or be in denial of this development; nor that would help in any way. Fact is, Sadar Hills has become two opposing world views of the two contending parties. In plain words, the question appears to be : who owns Sadar Hills ?

The question finds a direct root in the British legacy of the colonial days. It has born out of the British policy of reserving moles and hills of the then Manipur for the hill dwellers for their convenience and strategy. And this legacy of the British administration was the original and primary source of the ideas such as one’s ancestral land, etc.

And what was equally, if not more, responsible for the development of this kind of historical junk – classification, identification and reservation of the natural landscape by the colonial people, was the pathological fear of the subservient minds of the British subjects of Manipur – perhaps the post-British generations, too of this godforsaken beautiful land –  that did not question the whimsical act that ultimately led to the growth of conceptual and cerebral fissure in the society of Manipur on the hill-valley line.

Man by nature are greedy; once given an opportunity, it would be very difficult to make one share it later that opportunity with another, because it becomes one’s nature and would ultimately claim it to be one’s birthright, etc.

Manipur, even after coming of age, when values of equality, fraternity and democracy was the Mantra of our politics, 90 percent of the land of Manipur are out of reach even for the fellow brethren. This is unthinkable in a civilized world. And this is the source of many of the ills and problems of the weird world of Manipur.

Now, politics is the name of this game. But to play the game there should be a fair and legitimate norm. What Manipur in today is, the game is being played on an uneven, unfair and absolutely illegitimate ground. This is the curse and that we are all under its spell. We have even forgotten, under the spell of course, that it is destroying all of us without any distinction.

Definitely our first task is to come out of this spell and that this won’t be an easy task too. But this is what politics and the political activists – especially the elected representatives – are expected to perform; because that would decide what the future and our immediate tomorrow, too – would hold for us in this badly blighted land.

The Sadar Hills is one such ill, born out of this curse. But what is unfortunate is the government fails to inspire confidence in the minds of the public that it would find a durable solution so that we can bear the pains and sufferings that are inflicted on us by its habitual inactivity. People expect words from the chief minister that would evoke confidence in us that Manipur is not a Mapu Paandaba Lum – a land with no one in charge.

Even an SPF government apologist must understand that the health of this ancient land have seriously deteriorated during the rule of this most stable government ever.

Everybody knows Sadar Hills is a complicated problem. But the government has to handle it one way or the other. That is the job of the government.

Recalling the last upheaval of the Sadar Hills during W. Nipamacha’s period – I had the privilege as a member of a group of social activists, to interact and discuss the issue of Sadar Hills with the members of SHDDC led by its Chairman and the General Secretary – that was a serious meeting, though unofficial. When I talked to the members of the Committee, I had pointed out that Sadar Hills was much more than a question of district, rather it had become a symbol of Manipur. It is a microcosm of Manipur and no community can play the communal card and every community must respect it.

I had also pointed out that bandh/blockade of the Sadar Hills to demand upgradation into a district was not commensurate to the importance and beauty of the Sadar Hills that bind all the districts of Manipur – hills and valley together.

On behalf of the group of activists and on behalf of the then suffering public, I made the appeal to withdraw the strike/bandh because that had only lessen the importance of Sadar Hills and would ultimately destroy its own beauty.

Luckily nobody from the SHDDC had contradicted or opposed to what I had proposed.

The next day the SHDDC withdrew the strike/bandh after signing an agreement with the W. Nipamacha Singh government.

A decade had gone and the spirit of Sadar Hills remains the same; but the issue of Sadar Hills aggravates. The problem is, our political leaders appear to have lost on the decades-old issue. And let nobody be under the illusion that Delhi has the solution unless our elected rulers do their homework.

It is them to understand the intricacies of the matter; pinpoint areas to be focused; visualize and plan for viable alternatives only then Delhi or whoever, can help us. But sadly, the SPF government seems to have abdicated its responsibility. Do we not deserve a responsible government that would steer clear of the mess made by the O. Ibobi Singh government?

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/the-sadar-hills/

by RS Jassal
Many have given their views over genealogy creation of Sadar Hills including one new version by Lt.Col. Rajender Singh Retd that it stands for Special Area Development Region by Mr. Maxwell. However if you scan the development done there is hardly any evidence traceable. After careful study of some history books, articles and assessments from ground realties it stands:

Pertinent Realties
(a) How Pettigrew was settled at Mission Compound Kangpokpi after his initial stay at Ukhrul objected to by the then locals at Ukhrul.
(b) First ever cantonment of 129  houses belonging to Kuki’s was established at Keithelmanbi Chief of Keitheilmanbi  who happens to have retired from Assam Regt is holding documents with him.
(c) Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh’s wife Princess Ishwari Devi brought 200 retinue of Gorkhas with her as part of royal send off. Bulk of them were settled at Irangpat I & Irangpat II. This location extends Kalapahar – IT road to Chhalwa hills on IT road short of Tamei.
(d) There are three to four houses belonging to Bhutia’s also settled on IT road & about 40 to 60  Buddhist were settled around  in Moreh/Tamu, perhaps all with proper agreement of the Regent Maharaja and Communities  having permanent  controls over their lands.
(e) Yangangpokpi to Litan – New Heaven are having a good number of Kuki villages & Nepali dwellings intermittently staying, together. Interestingly , Litan, Sawungmong (Tumionpokpi)  on Kangpokpi- Hengbung road, Mayangthana, Mayang Naga on same road & Chiru Kangchup with Chiroi Humdangba are mixed population – Naga on one side & Kuki  on the other in West on Silchar road indicate – close , agreed settlements since past  century or above. To Saikul in East & areas where these settlements are, appear to have been lying vacant at some stage or the other. This buffer zone for fears from either side valley/hills might have dictated to remain unoccupied. So Regent/Maharaja created Sadar areas like elsewhere in India – Delhi Sadar,Jallandar Sadar, Lucknow Sadar-, Benares Sadar & so on meaning by areas closer to main HQ were writ  of the Britishers prevailed and  in Sadars  Hills  settlements desired by them  invited no problems: Please give analystic thought to it.

Present Status:
Population wise it meets all the requirements for a revenue district ADC office with enhanced powers is functional. People representing all the communities are staying amicably and without   problems except with Damocles’ sword hanging over heads of Kuki’s and milestone of past hanging on the neck of Nagas both for treatment beyond their control since ailment is reality.

Govt. of India & Manipur are trying hard to find out solution without hurting any community(s) psyche. Many moderate Nagas also wish that district can be created but with mutual discussions & understanding. It is also a fact even if district is not declared; its functioning will not diminish in value & content. The present day population cannot be evicted, since areas were never measured from revenue point of view.  It will be a Herculean task to decide on boundaries in a perfect manner. Nagas say boundaries first, Kuki’s say District first. Government does not desire to disappoint any community. PM of India Dr. Manmohan Singh says at no cost any community be put against other for narrow political ends. Both sides are governed not by conscience BUT by people with guns behind which is dangerous.

Suggested Solution
All communities must respect the wisdom of Hon’ble Chief Minister and regard the Chief Secretary as a representation of godly court to decide on the boundaries of this would be extant district where weight age be  given to the ‘district of the people’ and  not ‘district of ethnics’.

Kuki sticking to economic blockade conveys the ethnic colour when we talk of having a district of the people. So in all fairness, economic blockade must be called off. Full use of 90 days for the Chief Secretary to submit report be made, with liberalism, so that concerned Naga, Kuki and Gorkhas can move out to the Secretariat for submitting their views and documents freely and frankly.

Need of the hour:
No body should issue any inflammatory statement to vitiate the atmosphere. The more we delay, the more loss of developmental hours for the economic uplifment of ‘common man’ Let this solution prove that leaders once determine to solve a problem are really capable of doing so when moving in real earnest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/sardar-hills-issue-peopling-role-of-leaders/

by AW Khaiyar
The Govt. of Manipur has often interpreted the RIGHT TO FREEDOM in shrink in the constitution of India into two terms. Countless of evil incident and event have been encountered by common citizens of our state, to my surprise the price of life differ from community inspite of the same cases. May be its not worthwhile to mention but situation compels me to state the genuine facts that the government of Manipur is solely responsible for lawlessness in the state: the concern department never take positive steps least the situation is out of control, the nature of bandh, strike, blockage, hunger stick, etc, etc is the seed sawn by our government and now people are suffering in cultivating all these miseries. One cannot see any good Samaritans from present government other than discovering the most deadliness poison environment of communalism and senseless responsible. Believe or not you will never or else hardly see VIPs on their headlight visiting the deceased nor hear condolence   nor they will shed crocodile tears when tribals are the culprits needless to mentioned ex-gratia. No citizens of Manipur will deny me in saying whenever any students from privilege class(Meitei)  molest, harass, fail to notice their where about, the whole city is ceased with placard of solidarity of peace and appeals and heed the heart of ………………. But my Sister belongs to non privilege class (Tribal) have only mourning dear ones with their tears and lovely last garlands. No worldly placard, no ex-gratia and no condolence but surly our God is with you and may He grant you an eternal life.  Dear fellow beings I have no say of disparities: rich or poor, friends or enemy, when we are struggling for live but it’s our moral responsible to respect the lifeless body. Senseless activities are increasing day after day people with attitude of “the law is with me” increases taking advantage of deteriorating government. Silence is not always indicator of acceptance rather it may be a sign of desperation in case of the minority community in Manipur, every steps of our government is incidentally or intentionally widening the gap between the love of the valley and the hills. Our sister who is found dead with marks of strangulation and multiple injuries found half naked at Cheiroching, Chingmeirong under Lamphel Police Station is morning with pain claiming where “WOMAN DIGNITY” is where is “MY FREEDOM TO LIVE” waiting the government to answer.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/where-is-my-right-to-live/