By Rosy Yumnam
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;/ Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,”..WB Yeats
The current turmoil in Manipur can be woefully felt through these lines from William Butler Yeats’s poem, ‘The Second Coming.’ The lawlessness in the present situation is inconceivably beyond human imagination. The unfortunate tension between the two ethnic groups, the Meiteis and the Kukis started on May 3 when a tribal solidarity march organised by the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) in Churachandpur turned violent. The march was to protest against the Meitei’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status under the Constitution of India. The havoc that superseded afterwards created a deep chasm that will be imprinted as a profound scar in the history of Manipur.
The loss of innocent lives in both communities is gargantuan in proportion and has immensely impacted the state psychologically, physically, socially, politically and economically. More than 120 innocent people have lost their lives while for the rest affected, they may have to live with life-long mental and physical trauma. Properties and houses of innocent people in both communities have been looted and gutted down and is still continuing as of writing this article. Many religious places, churches and temples belonging to both communities have been destroyed and vandalised in the current crisis. The heart-wrenching stories about the displaced Kukis from Imphal and the displaced Meiteis from Churachandpur, Moreh and other hill areas haunt every sane human at this moment. The physical and psychological wounds inflicted on the victims and the two communities, in general, have given birth to a deep ‘cultural trauma’ in the larger context.
The collective sense of the two warring communities is subjected to an ingrained and irreversible mark upon their existence marking their memories forever. The narratives surrounding the tragedy are varied and unimaginably hard to fathom. But, one truth remains the same, the truth of loss. The notion of ‘Belongingness’ attached to the so-called ‘Home’ for every individual is an identity etched with their being. This turmoil has snatched this ‘Belongingness’ from the victims – both Meiteis and Kukis. With this in the background, the chasm of hatred and distrust engineered between the two communities is deeply woven. The trauma, now, is inflicted collectively. These ‘constructed’ cultural traumas induced a cognitively identifiable existence and became a source of human suffering to carry forward some significant responsibility for the entire episode. Then comes the dynamics of moral responsibility and solidarity relationships which by far have detrimentally impacted the social fabric of the two communities. The divide is deep.
The turmoil is over a month now. And, still, the mayhem continues. The sounds of guns and bombs are the new normal at the moment. The fight continues vehemently. Lawlessness prevails everywhere. The venom of hatred has been successfully sown between the two communities. What we need to understand here is that there are many more communities in Manipur whose existence also matters. The need of the hour is to strive for peaceful coexistence. So far, the state and the central government are at their best in maintaining an awe-like gruesome silence. There have been endless speculations about a deeper political conspiracy vis-à-vis the mounting civil unrest at this juncture. The conjecture of these conspiracies is known to the few who have spewed this violence for their personal gains at the cost of many innocent lives.
The attack on innocent civilians is highly condemnable. If there is any displeasure with the working of the government, there is a way to voice the concerns democratically. Violence is not the solution to put forth demands. Violence will not lead to any peaceful solution. Violence will only lead to anarchy and lawlessness. Violence has destroyed the harmonious existence of both communities. And, ‘Violence’ has done it craftily, methodically and swiftly. We are visibly living these hellish experiences at present. We fail to see the humane fabric lost in this complex labyrinth. At the end of the day, what matters is the loss of precious lives, what matters is the loss of trust and what matters is the loss of humanity. We need to realise that the Meiteis and the Kukis face insurmountable losses. The crisis deepens. The sooner we realise, the better it is.
At the moment, the turmoil deepens. Even so, the government has initiated the so-called peace committee. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a peace committee on June 10, 2023, led by the Governor, Anusuiya Uikey and includes 51 members. The members include former civil servants, artists, litterateurs, social workers, representatives of various ethnic groups and state ministers including CM Biren Singh, MPs, MLAs and leaders from various political parties. The question now is, ‘How far will this peace committee take us?’ Already, many members of the peace committee have shown their displeasure with the inclusion of some controversial members. The need of the hour is a critical pragmatic approach to douse the burning flames. A reconstitution of the peace committee comprising non-political members is a must at the earliest. Proportional numbers of representations comprising academicians, former civil servants, artists, litterateurs and social workers from both the Meiteis and the Kukis are in urgent need. The inclusion of women members from both communities will assist in dispensing the much-needed initiation of a formidable dialogue. Members from the Naga, the Meitei Pangal and other communities who are also inhabitants of Manipur will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the two communities and also this will be significant in working out a credible plan for the entire state.
At the same time, to rebuild trust, we have to remember the help rendered by both communities during the riots. There are touching stories of how both communities became a saviour to their neighbours. Many people belonging to both communities are witnesses to this. War-mongering individuals cannot taint and paint this testimony for their vested interests. It is high time to come out and shout out loud that humanity still prevails. The blame game from both sides has to be buried so that a possible peace talk can be chalked out. The Meiteis and Kukis have to assure each other that they belong together, that Manipur is home to both as it is to the rest of the other communities of the state, and that misunderstandings happen as every group of people struggle for survival. It is only ‘Forgiveness’ which will act as a saviour at this crucial juncture. No external forces can deliver this elusive ‘Peace.’ The sooner this realisation dawns upon the Meiteis and the Kukis, the sooner a possible reconciliation and a practical reconstruction can happen.
So, a profound prayer to both the communities, a prayer to ‘Lay down Arms’. Both communities have gone through an ineffable trauma of innumerable losses and sufferings. With an unbiased and open mind, the rebuilding can begin. Let’s hope. Let’s pray. Humanity is still alive. Let’s strive for it, let’s strive to rebuild a generation of hope and love. Let’s Give Peace a Chance!
Dr. Rosy Yumnam is Associate Professor, The English and Foreign Languages University Shillong E:Mail [email protected]