By Pramod Boro%
Sounds of gunshots are not a rhythm of the flute but a signal of gloomy days ahead….
One step back by Meiteis and another step back by Kukis may change the entire uncertainty in the conflict-ridden state of Manipur and people can live without fear and return to their normal life and once again move ahead with the development agenda in the state. Peace in Manipur is entirely dependent on the Meiteis and Kukis. If they move their towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood and move their hands away from the trigger of the guns, peace will become an inevitable reality. And the State and Union leaders can get rid of sleepless nights just to listen about a day when there would not be a single gunshot fired and not a single death in Manipur.
This one step back will save the innocent lives and property of the state and individuals and help focus more on development and the resolution of important regional issues. Students can go back to schools, farmers can plough their fields, and daily wagers and small vendors can start their daily earnings.
Killings and counter-killings, burning, determining who is in the right and who is in the wrong, land rights, political rights, and cultural rights dominate public discourse in the aftermath of any conflict. However, before a conflict or in normal times, no one examines all these factors, except for a small number of conflict resolution scholars. When a situation arises, politicians seek political advantage, social organizations experiment, and businesspeople take advantage of abrupt price increases, economic blockades, etc. After a certain point, everyone must abandon the plans they had at the time of the conflict, alter their mindset, and resolve to live together once more. In times of conflict, if groups pledge that they will never live together again, we later realize that the world is our home, which is referred to as Vasudeva Kutumbakam, and that we must reconcile as human beings with the highest value of humanity which is the immunity against inhuman acts.
There are instances where nature itself repairs human society and fosters an environment conducive to reconciliation. India fought against British imperialism, but within the second generation of the freedom movement, an individual of Indian descent became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Racism existed in the world, but Martin Luther King Jr.’s hopes and desires were realized in the United States. Many countries that fought in the previous century have become allies in this century building strong economic and cultural ties with each other. Humans are social organisms and cannot survive without society.
Hence anger, antagonism, violence, killing, and hatred are short-term companions in human instinct; arising in a particular situation and persists for a brief period, like a flood, and then it recedes. It never persists for an extended period, and the basic instinct of mankind to love and understand the sufferings of others heals it at a particular time. As constituent elements of humanity, we must adhere to the natural order and not the vested interests of individuals or groups at this time.
Currently, life is difficult not only in Manipur or among some communities but also in the region and nation, as this conflict poses a threat to peaceful co-existence and national sovereignty. If we examine the entirety of human history, we have failed to avoid violence and strife. In every century, there have been wars or conflicts in some part of the globe. People endure a great deal in the hope of the return of peace and normalcy and successive generations read about it in the history books. It is for the first time in history, that a Union Minister has spent three days in Manipur recently to find a solution to the ongoing conflict and clashes.
It is not in government policy to ensure that the next generation is never again victimised by these senseless conflicts in which we lose our loved ones. As soon as normalcy is restored, social organisations and many stakeholders forget, and so do the people who read about these incidents. In the political and policy-making ecosystem, there are competent leaders and civil servants who are well versed in history and deliver engaging lectures and pass the most difficult civil service examinations. But they do not feel the need to focus on such issues once they are on the job. Political leaders and bureaucrats who are content with their routine duties do not entertain any long-term discussion on conflict resolution even after insistence from some of their peers. If the Constitution contained a clause on conflict resolution, officers and leaders may have been required to take these incidents seriously as part of their duties.
During many periods of conflict, the discussions in the Indian Parliament on such conflicts have been overshadowed by the tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition parties and other partisan considerations. In normal circumstances, however, it may be an item on the Parliamentary Business agenda to develop a policy to address the recurrence of these types of incidents in various parts of the country at different times.
We have learned from recent events in Manipur that there can be conflict between communities that have lived together for centuries. Therefore, we cannot foresee where and when conflict and violence will occur between communities. Similarly, the Flood Control Department officials believe there will be no floods in the coming year, so they do not manage the embankments and river dykes in a timely manner. However, when the floods come and destroy houses and thousands of acres of farming land, turning the rich into poor overnight, we realise that the floods would not have caused any damage if the embankment had been timely and properly constructed. This is precisely what occurs during times of community violence and conflict. It is because we lack both long-term flood mitigation and conflict resolution policies.
Our great Guru of non-violence MK Gandhi said the immediate result of violence is destruction. But still, we do that, Why? if it is for our survival why do we kill others, if we fight for our rights why should it be at the cost of another’s rights? If it is for our security why do we make others insecure by killing and burning them?
In any conflict situation, one side engages in violence while the other side discusses security measures; one side murders innocents while the other discusses peace. But everyone knows that when there is violence and murder, neither security nor tranquilly can exist. The same individuals who provoke violence also complain about insecurity. If those who provoke violence were to strive for peace, lives would not be lost.
In my opinion, the present situation can be resolved if the Meiteis take one step back and the Kukis take another stride back. This is feasible since Meiteis love Meiteis and Kukis love Kukis. And both communities cherish humankind. If both communities declare the cessation of violence and control their own people to save each other, which we cannot do during violence using sophisticated weapons, we do not require paramilitary, army, or to spend crores of rupees on security arrangements that could be used for other development and welfare programmes.
The enemy of human society is violence, which is not only the failure of the government but also of all institutions, organisations, and intellectuals. People who belong to a community physically, mentally, psychologically, philosophically, and emotionally constitute a government. During conflict and war, no one can be neutral on the ground, despite the fact that the Constitution mandates neutrality in the performance of governmental duties, which must be manifested in practise.
Attributing blame on one another will not resolve the issue of conflict and violence. To permanently overcome the problems, we require profound comprehension, action, and will. There are numerous colleges and universities, religious and social institutions that teach the importance of integrity and social well-being. There are numerous government departments that address these issues. Numerous people have conducted research on conflict resolution, and there are Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working around the clock on these issues. However, conflicts happen and when they do, everyone selects a safe place and argues on behalf of the society they belong to. Even religious leaders who advocate for peace and humanity allegedly take sides in most cases.
In Manipur, we have observed a robust civil society and very active human rights activists who have worked tirelessly for justice and to ensure that their laws safeguard their people. To safeguard human rights in the state, they have fought numerous cases at various national and international levels. Despite this, the status of human rights in their own state is gravely threatened, and the state’s hard-won calm has been suffocated by its own citizens during the ongoing conflict.
Among the north-eastern states, Manipur holds a unique position in sports, art and culture, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship. Positive news emanating from Manipur has inspired and made us feel proud as citizens of diverse states. We heaved a sigh of relief when all types of conflicts between state and non-state forces ceased for several years. However, recent acts of violence stunned us all and once again disrupted the normalcy, peace, and happiness of a state that has been lauded in recent years for its many positive developments.
Suddenly, a large number of precious lives, including one’s beloved siblings, sons, and parents, were lost before their eyes. Our hearts are shattered by the uprooting of the beautiful families in which our mothers and sisters raised us. The home, which is the safest place on earth for humans, providing us with affection, courage, morals, and motivation to live, has been reduced to ashes. Nobody has time to consider the mother, sibling, and children because we have not learned a lesson that compels us to consider such circumstances. We are accustomed to considering only the offensive and defensive. If one group considers safety, the other considers conflict. This raises the question of where this violence will end. Do we truly cherish our children? If we truly care for our offsprings, are hatred, violence, and conflict gifts for their future?
Considering all these incidents that have persisted for centuries, I believe there should be a long-term strategy to transform our generation from being threatened by violence and insecurity to growing up in an environment of safety, tranquility and hope. Only if our next generation pledges not to engage in any form of violence, conflict, or hostility and pledge for a peaceful coexistence can we hope for a better future and appropriate development. This will not occur naturally. It takes a lot of ground work, mutual respect and cooperation.
I feel that we should have a curriculum that teaches children about peace and co-existence from an early age, so that they can experience the fruits of peace throughout their lives. Simple logic is comparable to when a doctor completes his training and begins treating patients; when an engineer completes his training and begins designing infrastructure, and when a lad completes his military training and is prepared for battle. Similarly, a person who receives spiritual training becomes a spiritual leader during his lifetime. If our children are taught the meaning of peace and happiness, they will think twice before engaging in any form of violence or negative behaviour towards others. If human society teaches these two values from the outset and as part of informal and formal education, I believe we would eventually have a peaceful society.
Even if not in the entirety of India, let us have a curriculum in every school that teaches Peace and Happiness so that we do not have to confront inhumanity in the future. I pay homage to the precious lives lost in this conflict in Manipur, and I pray that Peace will soon prevail. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” I am optimistic because I have always believed that.
(The writer is Chief, Bodoland Territorial Council and former President, All Bodo Students Union)