Wars, it has been so rightly pointed out, have many domestic uses. There is nothing like the spectre of external aggression and a threat to the integrity of nations and communities which can sink internal differences, even the most bitter ones, so much so that often these threat perceptions are deliberately manufactured by those in the hot seats of political power to divert attention away from the causes of their immediate headaches and failures. This is also particularly the case if the leaders concerned are weak and at a loss about facing their problems head on.
History is witness, and historians tell us today, that the medieval crusade of Christian Europe against the Muslim world, was not so much religious but political in nature, and often had less to do with saving Christianity than saving civil unrests and coups at home. Once upon a time, sabre rattling of the nature was also very common in India, blaming Pakistan, and to some extent China, for its every ill. Remember the famous but never seen “foreign hand” that was supposed to be responsible for any trouble that flared up in the Northeast. Isn’t it quite a surprise that all the paranoiac din, almost all of a suddenly have died down? A second look will also reveal that the mellowing of the official hysteria almost nearly coincided with India’s growing confidence in itself and its ability to handle its domestic problems.
In similar manner, “crusade masquerades” are also becoming increasingly frequent these days on the smaller canvas of Manipur. What Manipur is witnessing today in the violent ethic conflict between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo group of tribes, there is little doubt, is about such populist masquerades by politicians and intelligentsia on both sides of the conflict, played out loud and out and insensitively, ending up getting out of hand and control. It is a tragedy the state has landed in, but even the worst tragedy must ultimately end. As the saying goes, even the darkest cloud has a silver lining.
What needs to be remembered is, tragic as the ethnic feud indeed is, therefore the most urgent issue to be tackled, the government has also many other urgent and overwhelming issues at hand which cannot be ignored under any circumstance. The rising unemployment rate therefore the willingness for candidates to pay bribes for every little government job and every little promotion; all round insecurity of citizens; the deplorable state of roads; return of acute power shortage capable of stunting enterprises; sinking standard of education; escalating corruption; rising incidents of arbitrary application and interpretation of law; use of draconian law in resolving trivial issues; depleting hope etc, which all need not only intense focus and dedication, but equally importantly, imaginative remedial measures on both short and long term considerations.
These are only some of the issues no government in the state, nor the opposition were seldom willing to apply their minds seriously. Come to think of it, the state’s entire collective of elected leadership through the decades have not made known their opinion on many of the most issues vexing issues of the state. We do hope in the meantime that sense returns to the state and peace and normalcy is restored so everybody can get on the serious business of building a future for themselves and their children. Of course, for those who have to start from the scratch thanks to the mayhem, and more so for those who have lost loved ones, the state must leave no stone unturned to help them get back on their feet. Manipur together must fight for the courage to mourn with all of them, regardless of which side of the conflict fence they belonged, so as to make it easier for them to overcome their griefs.
Editor, Imphal Review of Arts and Politics and author
