"The road to Transition"

"You can't hold a man down without staying down with him." Booker T. Washington.

I read an article "Roots of Manipur insurgency" by Binalakshmi Nepram. The article gave me a good insight on how insurgency was born in Manipur. And it is rather interesting circumstances leading Manipur to become a part of India on October 1949 reluctantly. The rest is history however, I cannot deny the fact the underground organizations in Manipur came into existence out of resentment to Indian rule since then. Hence, labeling the state of Manipur as Disturbed Area before the revolution can turn into shape and made an impact.

In my opinion, the present problem with the many underground organization in Manipur is the lack of direction and goals despite the history of Manipur as their reliable alibi. Based on their timeline, it is clear they are not interested with the political solutions or negotiation but rather independence from India. In retrospect, it doesn't mean that the central government should ignore the history of Manipur and conceal every facts regarding the root cause of insurgency. I stil believed 'now' is the right time for all the underground organizations in Manipur to come under one roof and change their ideology for political solutions rather than armed struggle. They really need to make sense of their existence with principles rather than extorting and moral policing with threats.

The choice is there on the table; and they got to decide sooner than later because the present Indian Army onslaught of insurgency groups in Manipur and around the international border in co-operation with Myanmar can annihilate their existence. For the love of Manipur and for better future, lay down the arms and manned up for political solutions. Follow the Mizoram model of insurgency to electoral democracy because holding guns against the Indian Army or the Police won't bring peace and solution but only bloodshed. 

Whereas on the other hand, 'we' as the people Manipur also comes with the responsibility to make our state a better place for today and the future. Unfortunately, we've been electing and supporting the wrong politicians to represent us in the state assembly, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for too many years. Just look at our current chief minister, cabinet ministers, MLAs, two MPs in Lok Sabha and one member in Rajya Sabha. Do you really believe they are the right people working for us and for the state? I don't think they got the balls to stand up for the people and lead us to right direction. But how did they become our elected representative? You gotta be honest with your answer... :)  

We are very aware that Manipur is one of the most corrupt states in India. As long as we continue to elect the corrupt politicians and until the underground organizations make sense, don't ever think the central government is going to revoke the AFSPA and withdraw the army. It has to be joint efforts in order to successfully clean up Manipur for responsible governance and better future. Our individual responsibility is to choose our representatives wisely not influence by coercion of the Rs. 500 note. We are better than this. Do you not agree? 

The Indian army doing their job with command from the central government but the system got to change. I just cannot fathom the fact that they are not accountable to civilian court as per the AFSPA although they are working under the directives of our constitution. Assuming, if we can persecute the President or PM of our country for any wrongdoing or against national interest, why is it not possible in army? It is about the accountability as a citizen of this country but not as army. After all, defence services are very much part of public services as envisaged under the constitution. Think about it!

Food for Thought: "When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw." Nelson Mandela.

Thank you.

"The Blind side of News media in India"

"Whoever controls the media, controls the mind." Jim Morrison.

Good Morning!

Do you think the news media in India is fair and just with the reporting of domestic current news and affairs? Generically, I believed the news media is not doing enough when it comes to domestic news reporting except around the time of general election. To prove my point, are you aware of the current situation concerning the north east states of India excluding the recent attack on Army convoy in Manipur killing 18 soldiers by an underground organization? Or, you are only aware of the fact that Mary Kom is from Manipur after watching the movie "Mary Kom" starring Priyanka Chopra. Then, believe me, the media has done nothing when it is concerning about the plights and the hardships of people living in the north east states of India.

However, when it comes to mainland India or the metropolitan cities, they'd even go to the length of reporting a dog killed by speeding car or a high affluent family car stolen away by thief because the driver left the car key behind. Well well, my friend, there are more important news to report like the violation of human rights by our own law approved by the Government of India which is still enforced in most part of north east India wherein the most victims of the law comes from the state of Manipur. I'm left pondering; why don't they highlights the Draconian law which is in the form of Armed Forced Special Power Act and its consequence rather than blaming the people as not co-operative? Why don't thay report about the staged encounter killings by the police and the Indian army? What is about Irom Sharmila fights? 

And why don't they expose the corrupted politicians and bureaucrats from north east India, and above all, the higher authority betrayal to people living out there? In Manipur, corruptions and its related money operates in parallel to normal business transaction. The fact is that you can literally buy a job post in state government sector. Try asking anyone from Manipur about the price tag for the post of Sub-inspector rank working for the Police department. Some will say Rs. 20 lakhs and some other will say Rs. 25 lakhs; and if you can afford the said amount, you'll get the job easily without any fuss. You can termed the corruption in Manipur as "The Wall street of Corruptions" wherein the market is always open for the rich people investing their money in government jobs and the return on investment is guaranteed. Unfortunately, the corruptions in Manipur is a topic ignored by the news media in India. It is like cutting us off from the rest of  India. But why?

Instead they'd rather stage a platform for a hot debate and telecast live on prime-time news hour slot wherein the participants and the speaker(usually the editor-in-chief) starts bullshitting each other inside the studio in order to increase TRP ratings rather than reporting the real news needing the attention of the people all over India. It means the news media in our country has its own agenda and priority which is an extreme violation of journalism and news reporting ethics. And sadly, when they do report any news concerning north east India, the news is all about music loving people, dog meat eaters, the short skirts and vice versa. The news media in India have to know that the real news of north east India doesn't originate from major metropolitan cities wherein the news source are the students and employees from north east India. 

But the real news is still out there in the region; and they need to investigate starting with the ground reality from the perspective of people living out there and identifying the root cause of corruption as well as insurgency related issue. And when the truth is exposed, only then, people all over India will realize the central government 'divide and rule policy' and also for wasting a hell lot of taxpayers money on defense budget every year. According to Union Budget for fiscal 2015-16, the central government led by Narendra Modi will allocate Rs 2,46,727 crore to defence sector even though we are officially not at war with any country. Alright, Pakistan is the only threat to our country. However is the allocated amount of Rs 2,46,727 crore justified when 179.6 million people in India are starving as per the revised methodology and the poverty rate of Manipur is 36.89 percent?

The truth is we don't deserve the cold treatment from the news media in India even though our culture and appearance are somewhat different from the mainland India. We are all humans and foremost the rightful citizens of this country. We can feel the same pain like the families of the brave 18 soldiers killed in an ambush attack in Chandel District (located in Manipur) because we too have lost our brothers and sisters to gross injustice and custodial killings. Yet the government will always stay without any remorse because the Draconian law like Armed Forced Special Power Act is valid for them and our justice system will continue to protect the government interest by hook or crook if the news media continue to watch from behind silently like an agency of the government.

My only expectation from the news media in our country is do their job honestly irrespective of people origins and regions. Only then, India can move forward as one in the right direction for progress and development. And I bet, no one will say India is a developed country whereas the north east states of India is neglected. Don't you agree? 

For your information, on 23 March, 2009, the United Nations asked India to repeal Armed Forced Special Power Act, an act that they considered to be contrary to the Article 4 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations Commissioner on Human Rights at that time, Navanethem Pillay termed the law as "dated and colonial-era law" breaching the contemporary international human rights standards." The United Nations also questioned the constitutionality of the Armed Forced Special Power Act under Indian law.

Food for Thought: "We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." John F. Kennedy.

Thank you. Have a good day!

"Savages"

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi.

Good afternoon!

I was wondering how did the British empire in the 19th century was able to ruled us for more than a century? It creeps my mind despite the fact that India used to be a rich country during those days. But thank God! Mahatma Gandhi was born in India and for helping the nation unite as one against the British rule, and thereby, paving the future of our nation under democracy on 15 August, 1947. After India's independence, in my opinion, more or less the freedom of the entire population is rather prerogative with no accountability. What kind of freedom is it when we've been unable to choose a leader capable of leading our nation in the right path for more than 60 years until recently when we all blindly believed Modi will lead us to "Achhe din anne wale hain (English: Good days are coming)"? The good days should have happen right after the British rule!

What really disgust me the most is the politics starting from grass-root level, i,e, villages, Panchayat, council, etc. In the grass-root level, the politics revolves around only Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act, Rural area development fund, council election, etc. But in the end, all the funds ended up in the pocket of few selected parties instead of the larger population wherein some few good people really deserve the funds after sweating for it. I'm not writing this just because it comes in my mind rather it is fact that this is happening in my village as well as in other villages in Manipur. The so called ignorance and innocence that used to be associated with village is long gone and I would rather termed it "savages" now. We don't need to be the savages rampaging on each other when we can do things in a rightful way.

The problem is not the politicians or the leaders starting from grass-root level rather it is 'we'. There is a saying, you can't help a person who step on a dog shit even though he sees the shit that was lying right in front of his way. Whatever the piece of pie thrown upon at us from the central government, we all ended up fighting like a dog ready to hurt each other for an ounce of the pie. This the reason why we deserved all the brickbats from our own politicians we have elected since India's independence. Although it hurts but we can do nothing because we let our mind function like a frog in a well. There is this politician in Manipur who commented about his fellow opponent who used to be professor in a University like this, "My dear friend, you do not need to always thinks like an educated person because many people doesn't think like the way you do!" The comment make sense but know that it is directed towards us.

Obviously, the truth is that we never think about the future like Mahatma Gandhi did for us. And he'd be really ashamed of us to witness our current situation from up above. The days of Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (English: Food, clothing, and shelter) are long gone. For God sake! We are living in the 21st century and if let our mind revolves around "Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan", the conniving leaders from the grass-root level and the politicians will continue to exploit us. Our father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi, thought about the future of our nation so we can live our life with honor and respect besides food, clothing, and shelter. We need to learn from our history so we do not repeat. Throughout the history for humankind, there has been Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein as well as the other tyrants and murderers. For a time of they were invincible. In the end, they always fall. It is high time for us to think and act in a wider frame unlike the savages.

Food for thought: “It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” Mahatma Gandhi.

Thank you!

"Ram Lakhan pilgrimage to Hajj"

"Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment." Mahatma Gandhi.

Good morning!

The other night I witnessed an ordinary moment which defies nothing exemplary but something that brought a smile on my face. On my way to home from work, I saw "Ram Lakhan Deluxe coach" written on the backside of a bus. When my cab overtook the bus, it simply blown my mind away. The bus was carrying pilgrims travelling to annual Islamic pilgrimage to Hajj. There is nothing to brag about it. But if we can nurture ourselves with meaningful thoughts by looking at famous paintings or drawings, why not see and cherish the meaningful things dancing just in front of our nose in reality everyday?

Of course, India is a secular country and there is nothing to stress about it nor debate about religions. It is a fact that people have overcome "Divide and Rule" principle started by British and passed on to Indian politicians in 15 August 1947. Divide and Rule principle is no better than Adolf Hitler "Mein Kampf" manifesto. It is obvious politicians in India would never want us to stay united; and they rather scheme the centuries old principles tweaking and turning at the cost of many innocent lives for the sake of absolute power. Power is always dangerous; and it attracts the worst and corrupts the best. It absolutely true when Lord Acton said "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

The current ISIS onslaughts of innocent people in Iraq is the present day example of fanatics in full throttle racing towards absolute power so they terrorize every living souls who does not follow their barbaric laws. ISIS is a terrorist organization and it is unfair to dig out the similarity with our country Parliament Act "Armed Forces Special Power" passed on 11 September in 1958. However the Act is completely a Draconian set of regulations still enforced in North East states of India and Jammu & Kashmir. The Act has no place in any of the civilized Democratic countries. The central government can enforced the Act if any states of India is deemed to be "Disturbed Area."

Do we know how the Armed Forces Special Power Act come into existence? Right after the partition of India and Pakistan in the year 1947, the unrest between Hindus(including Sikhs) and Muslims was at peak. If not for power struggle between Nehru and Ali Jinnah, the unrest could have been prevented. Similarly, if not for the British interest in India in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the British "Divide and Rule" principles of uniquely identifying the leaders of Muslim as well as its counterpart leaders could have been ineffective. But in the end, almost every politicians before and after India freedom succumbed to the lust of power. And to hold on the power, killings, community riots, etc. becomes the tools to negotiate power between all the interested parties.

Once all the interested parties have come to an agreement, the Act come into existence because the government fear the repercussion if people revolutions and the threats of newly formed militants. After all, when the Act is like a bulletproof for central government to hold on the power.

According to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, in an area that is proclaimed as "disturbed", an officer of the armed forces has powers to:

1. After giving such due warning, Fire upon or use other kinds of force even if it causes death, against the person who is acting against law or order in the disturbed area for the maintenance of public order.

2. Destroy any arms dump, hide-outs, prepared or fortified position or shelter or training camp from which armed attacks are made by the armed volunteers or armed gangs or absconders wanted for any offence.

3. To arrest without a warrant anyone who has committed cognizable offences or is reasonably suspected of having done so and may use force if needed for the arrest.

4. To enter and search any premise in order to make such arrests, or to recover any person wrongfully restrained or any arms, ammunition or explosive substances and seize it.

5. Stop and search any vehicle or vessel reasonably suspected to be carrying such person or weapons. Any person arrested and taken into custody under this Act shall be made over to the officer in charge of the nearest police station with the least possible delay, together with a report of the circumstances occasioning the arrest.

6. Army officers have legal immunity for their actions. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under that law. Nor is the government's judgment on why an area is found to be disturbed subject to judicial review.

7. Protection of persons acting in good faith under this Act from prosecution, suit or other legal proceedings, except with the sanction of the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by this Act.

The Act itself is a Draconian law where people just become an liability to central Government rather than its entity. The Act has been misused many times by the army in Manipur. For instances, the Manorama Rape case, the fake encounters, Malom massacre where ten civilians were lined up and shot to dead, etc. I don't know if the Act is a tool for central government so they can divide and rule but it certainly seems to be. And I'm still afraid if the politicians in power should misuse the sentiments of people based on religions.

My point is we are actually the power and we can decide our own fate. And the fact is that majority of people in India can live in harmony despite the differences in religions and culture. We don't need a law like Armed Forces Special Powers Act in a democratic country like ours and the central government need to review its stance in North East states of India and Jammu & Kashmir.

Thank you. Have a good day!

"Consequence"

"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." Anne Frank.

Good morning!

Do we still remember what our parents used to say when we play with a knife when we were growing up? I'm pretty sure the answer to the question is “son/daughter put away the knife and you do not play with it again or else you'll get yourself hurt.” I thought about it, and it seemed to me the precautionary advice from our parents seemed to be one of the greatest lessons we have learned, i.e., “consequence.” Hopefully, I will be articulating every lesson learned from my parents when I have a family of my own.

The lesson about “consequence” is that it enables us to think before taking any kind of action.

If one thing that can be interpreted as the reason for the senseless killings and hating, it has to start with a statement or an action without knowing the consequences of it. In democracy, we believed in the power of people but seldom do we realize the Machiavellianism tactics of politicians exploiting the very power of democracy. More or less, the hope for a better future clouded our judgement when choosing our representatives. That’s where when the politicians are able to penetrate within our mind and manipulating it in every possible way to have an upper hand against us. Yet, we are still happy because we still live in a democracy country rather than a country under dictatorship. But after all, the present democracy is like a mirage in a desert but the reality of mirage is an illusion.

Everyone, and of course, has the right to ask and know, how do we make this right? It is as simple yet it does need your judgement from your conscience in order to be in terms with your decision based on your intelligence. Imagine a big country like us where more than billion people are repeatedly let down by our own power entrusted to 545 people after every five years. And the irony of our country democracy is that a common man is happy when the price of onion is dropped although the standard of living remains the same. But we have to know that a real democracy do not give from his right hand in order to steal it again from with his left hand. And there is no room of negotiations like 50:50 when it comes to freedom and the entitlement as a rightful citizen.

In fact, the people of Delhi has experience the consequence of choosing the same representatives again and again but they have also make it right this time around in the month of February 2015 Delhi election. The result was groundbreaking because it let me to believe in democracy once again. It is not about endorsing a particular party rather there leader out there who are willing to work for the people and also there are looters masquerading as leader. Every single day, we have to use the very lesson of ‘consequence’ we learned as a child from our parents. After all, parents have the best interest for their children.

Food for Thought: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Albert Einstein.

Thank you. Have a good day!