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Monika`s Lost Olympic and Manipuri Explosion | ||||||||||||||||||
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Monika`s Lost Olympic and Manipuri Explosion Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams: Chapter 45
Palash Biswas http://troubledgalaxydetroyeddreams.blogspot.com/
Manipur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Champions keep playing until they get it right. -
Billie Jean King
Independence Day - View from the other side of the coin Pranab cautions Pak to keep off J"K issue Monika`s lost Olympic is associated with the habitual rapist Indian Hindu Zionist White Ruling Hegemony practice to use the State Power to crush the aboriginal indigenous People since time Infinite! Only today, I was stunned to read a front page story in a National Daily written by a Guahati Editor. Based in North East, the prominent journalist pleads for Army Action against so called Bangladeshi Illegal Immigrants settled in the River island in Assam. Doing this, he shamelessly justifies the Armed Forces Special Act and advocates to execute the Act in all those areas in North East where it is not implemented. This journalist is known very colse to ULFA and he repents that ULFA activists are always killed in encounter and others spared! The gist is the encounter campaign should be implemented against others ,too! This journalist does not belong to North East. But since he happens to be an editor in a Guahati based daily, he is expected to be aware of the sentiment of North East Indigenous people against the Military repression under AFPSA umbrella! He belongs to the so called Main Land! India rightly celebrates the first Olympic Gold for India. It is ,of course. a rare moment of Glory! May we expect the Manipuri people among us at this moment! It said Monika"s exit was an attempt by mainland India to suppress the people of Manipur and demanded another test! Monika was stopped from going to Beijing on August 6 at the eleventh hour after she tested positive for an unspecified banned substance. However, three days later she was cleared by the SAI of any wrong doing but the relief came too late for her to participate in the Olympics. Recently, only on July 25 th July, I was a participant in a Media Mass Movement discourse organised by NAFRE People`s movement at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat New Delhi! The words pronounced by a Manipuri Activist haunt me every time! He asked, `We did everything! Our mothers stripped themselves before the Kangla Fort and challenged the Army to rape them! Nothing happened. AFPSA continues! Continues the repression! What should we do to communicate the mainstream people of India?’ I have friends in North East! I know them personally. They are opposed to the centre of repression! Thus, they ban Hindi. but in day to day life they communicate in Hindi. We must understand this! Hindi is quite popular in Manipur. But they have to oppose Hindi as the Ruling Class in India plays the Hindutva Politics of Hindi, Hindu , Hindustani!The Global ruling class uses the remote areas of North East for target practice and wargames! The North East Indigenous people are used as guinipigs! But I feel the fire and smoke within from Kolkata! I know the people who seem to be as cool as dynamites are. Who may explode anytime and anywhere! Please read: Create Free Blog - ibibo - Palash Speaks - ibibo Blogs
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nandigramunited: A MAESTRO IN MANIPUR
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Resistance
Imaginary Lines and Manipur
The weightlifter from Manipur tested positive for an unnamed anabolic steroid on August 6 and was pulled out of the Beijing-bound Indian squad hours before the flight to Chinese capital. Unhappy about Sports Authority of India"s flip-flop over dope testing allegedly involving weightlifter Monika Devi, Sports Minister M S Gill today appointed former Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy to inquire into all aspects of this matter. Krishnamurthy has been asked to submit his report within a week, sources in the Sports Ministry said. Gill, who returned here from Beijing early 13th August morning, discussed all aspects of “this unfortunate incident" with his Ministry officials, had a meeting with Monika and spoke to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh over phone after which he ordered the inquiry “to know the precise truth". The meeting between Gill and Monika lasted for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, a general strike has been called in the north eastern states of the country by four different insurgent outfits on August 15 as a part of its boycott of the Independence Day of India. The joint coordinating committee formed in connection with the conspiracy to exclude international weightlifter L Monika from the ongoing Beijing Olympics has reaffirmed its call for a 24-hours general strike form 6 am of August 19 to protest against the discrimination by national level organisations and sports bodies. The Telegraph, Kolkata reports: Imphal, Aug. 13: That August 13 would be marked as a day of mourning was etched on the Manipuri calendar in 1891 when freedom fighter Bir Tikendrajit was hanged by the British. That weightlifter Monika Devi was to perform on this very day at the Beijing Olympics suddenly made the anguish even more poignant. For years, observing Patriot’s Day on August 13 had become a ritual. The same floral tributes, speeches and functions. An inexplicable ouster from the Olympics contingent and the day assumed a new meaning. Unlike in past years, when only the Manipur government held a ceremonial function at Bir Tikendrajit park here, this year student organisations, social organisations and political parties joined the Patriot’s Day programmes. “People in Manipur are observing Patriots’ Day today like never before. Maybe because of the injustice done to Monika. People are considering denial of the weightlifter from Beijing Olympics a form of repression,” CPI state secretary Langol Iboyaima said. Former minister N. Mangi Singh agreed. The day reminded people of the past struggle of the forefathers to defend Manipur and the Monika case has drummed up a sense of patriotism in the minds of the people, he said. The day began with a ministerial team, led by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, paying floral tributes at Hijam Yaichampat, Tikendrajit’s graveyard, and then at Thangal mandir. Ibobi Singh also opened an extended portion of the Bir Tikendrajit park in the morning. The main function organised by state government was held at the park in the afternoon. At the programme, Governor Gurbachan Jagat and chief minister Ibobi Singh goaded the youths to follow the freedom fighter’s ideals. But Monika weighed heavy was on the minds of student leaders. “New Delhi is trying to suppress the people of Manipur. The manner in which she was thrown out of the Indian contingent to the Olympics is a glaring example of the suppression of Manipuri people by the Indian government,” P.C. Newton, adviser of the Democratic Students Alliance, Manipur, said at a function organised jointly by the alliance and the All Manipur Students Union at C.C. Higher Secondary School. Former Thoubal district president of the All Manipur Students Union, M. Madhumangol, admitted that Patriots Day was “neglected” in the past by the people of Manipur. “We should observe the day every year to instil a sense of patriotism in young minds,” he said. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080814/jsp/northeast/story_9689103.jsp Defamation Angle Source: IMPHAL FREE PRESS The bitterness that the injustice done to weightlifter L Monika has left in the hearts of most in Manipur is unlikely to wash away for a long time, and rightly so too. But whatever be the resort, what’s done cannot be undone. However, the redeeming power of justice and retribution must not be taken for granted. In this regard, it heartening that the Union government has conceded to the first demand of the agitating public and today instituted an inquiry into the affair to establish the truth behind what is now evidently a game of petty politics of regionalism. We hope the penalty awarded as per the law if guilt is established at the end of the probe is also proportionate to the offence committed. Second, as the saying goes, in public issues like this it is not enough that justice is done, but justice must also be seen as done, and emphatically too. Towards this end, it would be obligatory on the part of the Union government to meet the other demand by the aggrieved party and immediately take public cognizance of the circumstantial evidences that distinctly point to a possibility of serious miscarriage of justice in the case. It is true that Manipur, and indeed the entire Northeast is easily hurt, but this is because any slight or insensitivity on the part of the Centre towards it, opens up afresh old festering wounds, and the Centre needs to empathise with this. But there are more reasons why the Monika issue should not be treated as trivial. Apart from unfairly making a promising athlete miss what is the dream of any athlete, it is also a serious case of defamation. Surprisingly, this angle has been least focused on by the media or public in the present controversy. The muck from the serious charge doping would have tarnished Monika’s image beyond total redemption even if the charge is cleared. This is particularly so because the charge is on a person whose occupation makes it extremely plausible that she could have been guilty. Susceptibility of drugs use amongst weightlifters is something everybody is willing to believe or suspect as a distinct possibility. Her name is going to be, in fact is already, directly or indirectly associated with the use of banned performance enhancing drugs, even if it is just to say that she is innocent of the offence. Those in the advertising profession will know better how much this constant association of her name with doping is going to harm her image in the average mind. To elaborate with an example, to accuse any girl of being a prostitute is bad, but unless the charge is proven there will not be many who take it too seriously. Instead, all that comes through may be a slap on the accuser’s face. But if a girl working in the hospitality department of a 5-star hotel doing round the clock shift duty, or an air-hostess keeping similar work schedule and spends most off duty hours in hotels away from home, were to be accused of sexual infidelity, and especially if the charge comes from the management, the mud is much more likely to stick even if she is perfectly innocent. The damage to her reputation would also outlive the proof of innocence. Monika’s predicament is close to the latter scenario, but harsher, because her case is now in the public domain. If we were Monika’s legal advisers, we would have suggested her to file a defamation suit against those who made this extremely grave and false charge against her and then as if in a fit of frivolity, withdrew it claiming she is clean. This is not laughing matter. However, having said this, we would also suggest to those who are agitating against the injustice done, to limit their demand to seeking justice, and not go about burning bridges. Monika was victim of a petty politics (or conspiracy if you like) and not everybody is given to such pettiness as was more than evident even in the manner the Indian Weightlifting Federation, IWF, stood solidly behind her during the entire crisis. Again, although some SAI top officials seem to be implicated in this impish game even at the cost of destroying somebody else’s career, nobody will doubt that the SAI as an institution has also been behind the empowering of so many extraordinary sporting talents from the state in the decades that have gone by. Even in the midst of darkness, let sanity not be lost. But to underscore the point once again, in assuaging this hurt sentiment, the empathy of the Centre would be of tremendous help. Amidst reports that weightlifter Monika Devi has been cleared of dope charges, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said on Saturday, 9th August2008, that it was too late for her to take part in the Beijing Olympics. “It is too late for Monika to come to Beijing now and take part in the Olympic Games because we have closed the entry process," IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh said. Asked if IOA President Suresh Kalmadi could do anything to help Monika take part in the 69kg weight category competition scheduled for August 13, Randhir said it was not possible at this level. “What can Mr Kalmadi do? It is not National Games. It is Olympic Games and only IOC can take a decision," said Randhir who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee. Deputy Chef-de-Mission of Indian Olympic contingent in Beijing Baljit Singh Sethi said, “Monika just cannot take part in the Beijing Olympics. As of now, the organisers have not accepted her entry and to be honest I don"t see her competing here". Asked to confirm if Monika was indeed coming here, Sethi said, “See, you cannot stop anyone from coming here. But the thing is she cannot take part. Her name has been withdrawn and how can she compete? She will not be allowed to enter the Olympic village." Singh pointed out the draw of contestants in the 69kg category has been drawn up and Monika"s name does not figure in that. The Union Sports Minister, M.S. Gill, has instituted an enquiry into the circumstances in which weightlifter Monika Devi was not sent to Beijing for the Olympics. On his return from Beijing, the minister had a meeting with Monika Devi and all others concerned regarding the issue and decided to institute an enquiry. The enquiry will be conducted by the former Chief Election Commissioner, T.S. Krishnamurthy. “I have requested him (Mr. Krishnamurthy) to come to Delhi at the earliest to hold this inquiry, and to favour me with his report and recommendations at the earliest,” Mr. Gill said through an official release on Wednesday,13th august. The Indian Weightlifting Federation instituted its own panel to hear the lifter from Manipur and cleared her participation, though, by then, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA0 had withdrawn her name from the entry list and there was no way of re-entering her after August 7. “As Sports Minister, while I am determined to set up an independent, technically proficient dope testing mechanism, which has credibility in the world, and towards which end I have taken certain steps already, I am also equally anxious that no sportsperson should suffer due to any laxity or delay on the part of this testing mechanism. While ensuring prompt and firm action in Monika Devi’s case, I am determined to ensure that such incidents do not happen in future. I want to assure all sportspersons that they will get full consideration and fair treatment from me at all times.” It may be recalled that the Manipur Chief Minister had sought a CBI inquiry into the incident even as agitations have been going on in the State against the manner in which Monika’s case was handled. Coming down harshly on the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the recent dope charges, weightlifter Laishram Monika Devi alleged that the country"s apex sport body has plotted a conspiracy to end her sporting career. ‘"I have no plans to go for retirement. But after the huge media hype, I fear that the IOA, SAI and IWF may not give me the ‘no objection certificate", which will deprive me from taking part in future competitions,'" Monika said. Accusing IOA and SAI of being involved in “a big manipulative game" to keep out weightlifter Monika Devi of the Beijing Olympics, Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Sunday,10th august, decided to push for a CBI probe into the whole episode. “The entire episode appears to be a big manipulative game played by SAI, the national dope testing laboratory and the IOA against a sportsperson whose dream for Olympics has been shattered," Singh told a press conference here. He said as per the international norms the Sports Authority of India (SAI) should have made public the dope testing reports of the Manipuri weightlifter at least 72 hours before her proposed departure for the Chinese capital but this was not done.He said the SAI report was sent to the Indian Weightlifting Federation at 12.30 pm on August 6 while Monika"s flight was at 3.30 am on the same day. Singh said a probe should be conducted into how the SAI report was leaked “in violation of rules". “The SAI, the highest authority of Indian sports, has done a great damage to the career of the Monika, it"s a great injustice with a pre-planned motive, done to an international sportsperson," he said. Singh also said Monika would not be sent to Beijing anymore as there was no possibility for her entry request to be entertained by the Games organisers. “Monika will not go to Beijing now as there is no way for her to compete in the Games," he said. Meanwhile, Indian Weightlifting Federation President Harbhajan Singh blamed the “procedural lapses" for Monika missing the Games. “It was all a procedural lapse and those responsible for it would be taken to task," he said. KCP warns SAI (Manipur) on L Monika The outfit has also asked the Imphal Municipal Council to properly treat Langol area which is presently being used as a dumping site contending that the piling garbage is posing a threat to the health of the people of Langol in particular. On August 6, two days ahead of the Olympics, she was pulled back and not allowed to leave for the Games with the Indian contingent just hours before they were to take their flight. She reportedly tested positive for banned steroids in a test conducted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Later, she was apparently given a clean chit but the entire incident remains shrouded in mystery. Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is believed to have taken up the issue of weightlifter L Monika Devi"s exclusion from the Indian Olympic team. The Chief Minister is understood to have taken up the issue, which has sparked widespread protest in Manipur, with the Prime Minister, official sources said.Earlier, Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) had decided not to participate in any national championship and forthcoming National Games if Monika was not sent to Beijing as part of the Indian Olympic team. The decision to boycott the national championships and National Games was taken at a joint meeting of the MOA, different sports associations and students organisations yesterday in Imphal. A 24-hour general strike was observed in Manipur on 8th August 2008, in protest against the dropping of Monika from the Indian team to Beijing. Monika"s exclusion in the team became a major issue, in Manipur with sports associations organising rallies to protest against the dropping of Monika from the team. Normal life came to a standstill in Manipur on Friday due to a 24-hour general strike called by several social organisations to protest the dropping of weightlifter Monika Devi from the Indian Olympic team to Beijing. Official sources said markets, shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the strike call given by different organisations, including United Committee Manipur (UCM). Attendance in government offices was also reported ‘very low" because of the general strike which began from midnight last, the sources said. Transport services between Manipur and neighbouring states and within the state were also suspended. Sports lovers burnt vehicle tyres on roads at Singjamei in Imphal West district to prevent movement of people in the area. However, no untoward incident was reported during the strike, the sources said. Describing the dropping of Monika as “pre-planned", Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) and Manipur Weightlifting Association (MWA) have demanded a thorough probe into the issue. They said it was an attempt to include weightlifter P Shailaja in the team in place of Monika. With Monika"s exclusion in the team becoming a major issue, state Sports minister N. Biren rushed New Delhi on Thursday to find out the details. At least five sportspersons were injured when police burst tear gas shells on Thursday to disperse a rally organized by sports organisations to protest against the dropping of Monika. A series of protests were followed by arrests but there is no looking back as far as Manipuri students in the Indian Capital are concerned. They gathered in large numbers in the Capital on Tuesday to protest against the way weightlifter Monika Devi’s Olympic dream was ruined when she was preparing to leave for Beijing. Students from JNU, DU, and Jamia Millia raised their voice against the ‘injustice’ meted out to a sportsperson from Manipur. Demanding an immediate CBI inquiry into the doping controversy, they said that those responsible for tyring to disgrace their state must be held accountable. “Despite putting forth our demands to the sports ministry several times, they refused to cooperate. A large number of students, including those who held a meeting with ministry officials were arrested, but we will not give up," said Chinglen, a student from DU. Thokchom Meinya, MP from Manipur, said, “We are demanding a white paper and SAI should conduct an inquiry into the matter. One day they say the test is positive, another day they say it is negative. How can things work in this manner?" Talking about the arrests, Gurdeep Singh, ACP Parliament street police station said, “We detained around 60 students, but have released them after giving them a warning." “I felt sad. Because of her — and Manipur — India could have earned a name in the Olympics going on in China. After the news of the doping controversy, it was said two days later that it was wrong,” said Advani. Indian Express reported:`In what appears to be part of a cleverly-crafted strategy to reach out to diverse groups, Advani on Wednesday addressed a function organised by a Manipur association. In the last few months, he has addressed meeting under the auspices of Church bodies, party’s minority cell and even managed to get superstars like Mammootty for his book-release functions. “A great injustice has been done to Monika Devi. Manipur has an extremely healthy sporting tradition. How many people would be aware that the current Indian soccer team in the Olympics has as many as four players from the state,” asked Adavni. Recalling his rath yatra of 1997, the BJP PM candidate said: “How many people in Delhi, a country in miniature, would be aware of Bir Tikendrajit and General Thangal, the two illustrious freedom fighters from the state,” asked Advani.’ Police burst teargas shells and baton charged hundreds of Manipuri sportspersons who tried to the storm the chief minister"s residence in Imphal on Thursday to protest the removal of weightlifter Laishram Monika Devi from the Beijing Olympic squad after she failed a dope test. A police spokesman said about 500 people, all of them sportspersons, took out a rally and tried to enter the chief minister"s residence when police intervened. “We burst teargas shells and resorted to mild baton charge to disperse the protesters. The situation is normal and there were no reports of any injuries," the police official said. Authorities later allowed five of the protesters to meet the chief minister. “We want a thorough investigation and the intervention of the Manipur government to ensure that Monika Devi is included in the Indian Olympic squad," one of the protesters said. Meanwhile, family members of Monika Devi and locals said the entire episode was a conspiracy and an attempt to defame sportspersons from the northeast. “This entire episode is nothing but a conspiracy against my daughter to promote someone else. We want the test to be confirmed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and request the authorities to repeat the test at the doping test facility in Beijing," Monika"s father L Nabachandra Singh told IANS. Monika Devi, hailing from Potsangbam Nachou village in Bishnupur district, was to compete in the 69 kg category at the Beijing Olympics beginning Friday. “This is another attempt at defaming sportspersons from the northeast and reflects the attitude of the mainstream towards the northeast," said Brajamani Singh, a community elder in capital Imphal. The last minute withdrawal of Manipuri weightlifter L Monika from the Indian Olympic squad has drawn vehement allegations of conspiracy and discrimination from various students, civil, political and sports bodies. Monika….Manipur is behind you R.K. Shivachandra * In the last couple of months Monika had her urine sample tested more than four times and it was then found to be negative. Than how this dope ‘positive news" suddenly sprung up at the eleven hour? The aircraft which was to pick Monika Devi along with her fellow Olympians to China had been abandoned on the charges of being ‘positive" collaborated on purpose with an anabolic steroid in her urine sample. Monika, since the last few months had consecutively been participating in a series of International events. This sudden news has shown the stark conspiracy hatched by the SAI officials against the lone woman weight-lifter of Manipur who had been selected to participate in the Olympic event. Shall we go for further detail other than this? Unfortunately this woman-lifter happened to be from a state called Manipur in the North Eastern parts of India. If she ever hails from West Bengal, Maharastra or Delhi than India would have been stormed by her news, media in and around the capital city of India would have been busy to make it cover story but it is not so for poor Monika, for she hails from Manipur. Dope positive news is not a new story but the way the unscrupulous SAI officials had meted out to her is definitely a case of conspiracy.. this cannot be altered. Shall we continue watching before the television the gleefully marching Indian contingent in Beijing Olympic? Manipuris are not only a second class citizen but 5th class citizen in the views of many sports officials of India. The SAI Executive Director, Mr. RK. Naidu, whoever he may be should be held responsible for this. He refused to give the test report to Monika on the pretext that it was an official document and not to be shown to the athlete. What a devil in his brain. At this juncture we need to see the functioning style of the SAI institutions in India. Sometimes we are inclined to think whether SAI is doing more harm than good especially to our Manipuris. Functioning of Institutions like SAI needed to be closely observed in Manipur. Manipuris can do better without a corrupt Institution like SAI. We have already produced a lot of players long before the concept of SAI was mooted in India. If SAI and its branches in India ever tries to kill the very spirit of sports of the Manipuris, than we may not remain a mute spectators. People like Naidu call themselves Sports Officials, speak as if they know everything but I wonder if they ever had possessed any bones inside their fleshy bodies that belongs to sports. Corruption, nepotism in sports had been practicing in India since long. The step-motherly treatment or the age old concept of Indians sports officials leading them to think North Eastern parts of India as an alien culture; alien race calls for a rethink and be ashamed of their undue behavior towards the heroes in the field. Better recall- this is Manipuris that speaks volumes of Indian sports in the international context. Yet, how we can easily forget the case of Kunjarani Devi who despite of her enough qualification to participate in the Olympic events, however was made to participate at a much later stage when the weight lifter had almost retired from the competition. So also the in case of Sepak Takraw in Asian Games. The Game was dropped from the Indian contingent only because of the fact that all the participants were from Manipur. Thoiba the yesteryears icon in the India hockey scene was simply denied captainship of Indian Hockey team for he was a Manipuri. To many of the Indians of the mainland, Manipuris with flat nose with half open eyes appeared to be more of Chinese than Indians. We are sorry we cannot be one of those pointed nose and hairy Indians as far as our outlook goes. This is something we cannot change and we may be excused. Officials who are intended to take Saileja Pujari in lieu of Monika have now reiterated “There is no need to get another weightlifter. It is already embarrassing enough before the Games and since there is no chance of a medal, what is the point in raking up the issue again," said an official on condition of anonymity. The deputy chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent, Baljeet Singh Sethi, also said: “We are actually relieved it happened before she reached here because it would have shamed the country if she had failed a test at the Olympics." Crook, Hypocrite … are not they? The corrupt officials speak endless dialogue with their sore tooth but not the spirit of sports in their souls. Somebody should tell Mr. Baljeet the so called India deputy chef-de-mission to Beijing Olympics that if the India Government ever afford to invest quarter of the amount of the whole budget of the Indian sports to Manipur, than by now there would have been hundred of medals in Indian"s kitty. If so Indian sports official like Mr. Baljeet would have held his neck high while meeting with his foreign counterparts. The State Government and Centre both should swallow the bitter pill of fact that Monika could be another Manorama"s case in the Manipur"s scenario. This is not the first time the players from Manipur have been deprived by the Indian sports officials in Delhi. Their outlooks are as narrow as they are. Their vision through the thick lenses of their spectacle concentrated in specific zones somewhere in the mainland. I wonder how many of them know that India has a three-time world champion in women"s boxing from Manipur. Monika may be in the Indian contingent or not-tomorrow will tell. Thanks to Minister Biren who had been to Delhi to challenge the cause of Monika. This pen had never been habituated written poems on the bravery of legislators who have already shown a bed example to the people of Manipur. But as a true citizen of Manipur, I simply acknowledge my heartfelt gratitude to the Minister of sports, Manipur that through his endeavor let Monika be seen in the limelight of Olympic in Beijing. Anecdote Traveling for the first time abroad in 1994, I was sitting quiet in the big Cathay-Pacific Aircraft in Hong Kong. In a few minutes the aircraft would be air-bound for Taipei and then to Seoul where I will have to make my final destination. Next to me was an Indian from Maharastra who run a factory in Maharastra, a big shot as he looks. But the kind of typical Indian that everybody would have spotted him out. As the air-stewardess passed by, I have requested for a glass of water which the beautiful air hostess happily offered with a smile. The gentleman next to me also requested the same favour for a glass of water. The quick answer of the stewardess upset my co-passenger, when she replied “Sorry gentleman, let the flight take off!". The gentleman felt a little embarrassment and I simply shy away to sip the glass of water offered by the spotless clean lady of the Cathay-Pacific. The Indian gentleman who was denied a glass of water before it took off murmured to my ears “She thinks you are a Chinese". My inner self also says he is right. Had it been in Delhi he was supposed to have the first glass of water. Sensing my broad nose with my fingers, soon a sense of pride and happiness crept into my mind and that was a wonderful feeling. Defining Unlawful Shall we say, don"t drink water because fishes defecate in it. This is exactly what the SPF Government recently did by reiterating that the Media will be liable to be punished under certain laws if they publish underground related news. The clean politician claimed to have no nexus with the underground element, let him throw the first stone to the Press. I am afraid will there be one? If it is viewed from practical aspects what would be Manipur Newspaper like without filling their columns with such news items. Do we have any news not related to crimes now a days? But when it comes to blame somebody one shouldn"t forget that the finger that points to someone has at the same time another four fingers that contradicts himself. We are all there as a part of it. Be it Government or any element whatsoever under the Sun has its own share either bad or good in the present affair of Manipur. Shall we let the Manipur Press also follow the yardstick of “Myanmar News Light" or “Myanmar Times" published in Myanmar that carries only the Government related news, nothing but developmental news like where the Dam was built, bridges have been inaugurated kind? Military Junta in one way could act themselves as true people"s representatives despite being a military ruled Government in Myanmar. However imposing the style and functioning of Myanmar in this State of India, which is known to be the Greatest Democracy of the World may be unfair. The Press is in dilemma, like the war prisoners who have no right to protest. They are made forced hostages in their own soil. The deep blue sea or the monster is equally dangerous. The Government imposes certain strictures of ‘Dos and Don"ts" on the Press Fraternity in Manipur. Would not this tantamount to breach of laws that violates the sanctity of freedom of Press? I cannot see any reason why should not the Government also be branded another unlawful agency for breach of laws. Press alone shouldn"t get the blame neither Government should throw its weight on them. The SPF Government instead of gagging the mouth of Press can better do something innovative with the help of Medias like other state does. In our neighboring Assam, ULFA is no longer viewed as a dreaded unlawful organization. Tarun Gogoi in his recent statement said his government had recommended the release of some of the jailed ULFA leaders if that would help in bringing peace to the State. He pronounced ‘We are definitely going to ask the government during the talks to expedite the process of releasing the five jailed ULFA leader. On the other hand ULFA is on the rise in terms of violence; struck in a big way killing hordes of Hindi-speaking people across the State of Assam. In such juncture Press plays the most vital kind of role, which the State Government needed the most. This is not in support of any vandalism or in the act of atrocities; it is still believed that every problem has a solution. Let us not say that columns of forces that deployed in Manipur will stamp out insurgency. There should be some other means to bring Peace in Manipur. Kuldip Nayar, renowned journalist, rightly commented “If a government wants to depend on “extra-judicial powers" to administer any part of the country even after 57 years of Independence; there is something basically wrong with the approach of that government. Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Ranganath Mishra admitted that AFSPA was “grossly misused". The present government cannot brush aside his criticism because he was brought to the Rajya Sabha on the Congress ticket." I hope Kuldip Nayar didn"t say wrong. Manipur is virtually engulfed with chaos, turmoil and unrest. Apprehension prevails that Manipur may break into pieces someday. MLAs and MP who got elected from Manipur Assembly Constituencies have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India recently to segregate parts of Manipur and form a bigger state merging with Nagaland. When one fathoms the degree, is there anything unlawful other than this act? What the Government will have to say on this? Laws itself don"t prevail in the Palace; laws are being breached by the rulers and the King becomes dumbfounded. At this point of time laws are not meant to be enforced upon the subjects. So the term unlawful needs to be discussed broadly on a more befitting platform. Yes we are talking on emotional aspects; emotional integrity, territorial integrity and lots more. If His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur or the Hon"ble Chief Minister ever travels on the National Highway 39 that leads to Dimapur of Nagaland only then they would understand as to how the most talked about “Emotional Integration" slipped off in the trouble torn Manipur. Starting right from Gopibung near kangpokpi down the border town Mao of Manipur there are numerous potholes big enough to drown a baby -child. This has been almost an abandoned terrain by our wealthy-hefty Ministers and bureaucrats. I wonder how on the Earth one could find such a deplorable National Highway. The poor maintenance of the road never reveals that the Chief Minister ever slightly ponders the integration issue. Nonetheless the Government talks big things; about developmental works being taken place etc. However driving along the road there is nothing one can be positive or optimistic about in their thought. Every pothole made one to recall the name of Ibobi with a chant of blessing to live long the Chief Minister. Controlling the wheel is all you will have to do nothing comes in mind. As for me this is unlawful; grossly violated the right of basic amenities of the people. Shree Ibobi should get advice from his Nagaland Counterpart how the latter made a road from Khuzama and the rest of the stretches of National Highway in Nagaland akin to the road of Jan path Road in New Delhi. Let us do some practical exercise; not to lament or shedding crocodile tears. Let us make Manipur ever resourceful and economic-self reliant state with good transport and communication. Let us dream Manipur be converted into a large rice bowl, another commercial hub like Bangkok and Yangon in the South East Asia. Manipur by virtue of its geographic location is known to be the Gateway to the South East Asia. Why shouldn"t we take advantage of it? Bangkok or Singapore doesn"t require any emotional integration"s plead. Well Manipur should be a fertile and economic zone where every son of the soil flock together and prosper together. When that time comes the emotional integration chapter will sink itself in the fold of the history for Love and tranquility will prevail across the horizon. Integrity Anecdote: Sadananda the popular singer and star of Manipur silver screen happened to accompany me to Kohima where he had to stage a concert last year. My car in which we were traveling needed to have a repairing for some mechanical defect in a workshop at Senapati. Soon the workshop was crowded with a lot of Sadananda"s fans who were mostly teens. They seemed to be overjoyed seeing their favorite star and having an eyeball to eyeball talk with him. The ever smiling hero of the screen distributed sweets to his fans and small kids alike. Never was Shadananda considered by the crowd that he belongs to a particular community. People simply loved to hear what he said..readily to applaud in favour of him. For the moment the spirit of integration was flying high. I hope any talker or spokesperson who has the capability of being glued to microphone hours on integration issue would not have been able to pull that much crowd as did by Sadananda. It took place in an unexpected time in a corner of Senapati where the theme of emotional integration requires to be planted cautiously and see how it blooms. In one way Sadananda is a more practical crusader of Emotional Integration than anyone else. “The Eskimo has fifty-two names for snow because it is important to them; there ought to be as many for love." The Illusion Have you ever come across any Manipuri who had a local school background and at the same time forgotten his own language in the changing pace of the world? I fortunately met one such gentleman in Zakhama Loyola English School, Nagaland where he was serving as an assistant teacher. This happened way back in 1986 when I was being introduced to him by one of my friends who was also serving as a teacher in a private school nearby Zakhama. The gentleman in question introduced himself as Rajesh hailing from Thoubal district of Manipur never spoke any language other than English but amusingly in the kind of tone which itself revealed who he was. I was amused and further enquired how he had forgotten his own mother tongue? He said ?I came here at an early age and hardly got the chance to speak Manipuri. Now I can?t speak it?. This reminded me of the joke of two Manipuris who pretended to each other of being foreign nationals - one as Thai and the other as a Korean at their first meeting in Mumbai. Later they came to know each other?s identity only when they were dining together in a restaurant where they started murmuring vulgarities in Manipuri dialect blaming oneself for not being familiar with the ?fork and spoon? tradition. Dolak Phom was also a popular person who had been elected as one of the town committee members in the ?Tuensang Town Committee? in 1995. A wonderful personality so eloquent in Phom dialect that one would mistake him as an influential Phom politician. However, he is a Manipuri who never returned home over the years. Yet he still speaks excellent Manipuri. He is quite a capable chap in the Tuensang district of Nagaland who in the process of life married a local woman, thereafter he had been known as Dolak Phom otherwise he was Sanasam Dhiren. One elderly friend of mine who had been breathing the air of Mizoram for forty years now is also a well-known Manipuri in Aizawl but unluckily without a surname of his own. All his offspring opted for the surname and title of their mother and the father seemed to have followed suit. It is not an offensive or objectionable act but what is the harm when one remains true to the self instead of shying away from his origin? Is it a sin to be a Manipuri? Can"t one settle there upholding one?s own identity and roots? In the same case, I came across many Muslim gentlemen who had settled in different parts of the country having inter- marriage life with the locals of the place but they hardly embraced other religion or converted to some other community for mere gain in life. Once I met one of my respected teachers in Shillong who had almost settled in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. He had given me a visiting card when we parted. I wrote a letter enquiring about his well being and recollecting the short encounter in Shillong when I reached Delhi. The reply was so embarrassing and cold and I was warned not to write his full surname on the envelope next time. Later I learnt that ?L? which he uses in short form, doesn?t stand for Leisangthem but the adopted surname of his wife which also co-incidentally began with the alphabet ?L?. Many such persons are often seen around while few could be available upholding his or her identity. A Manipuri Meitei woman who is married to one of my Mao friends serving in the Bank of Baroda seemed to have enjoyed life with her husband and no doubt the child born by them will definitely be ?Maos?. So also is Bimola who married an Angami friend of mine in Kohima village. This is the true spirit. My Mao friend and Angami friend will never change their identity because they married a Manipuri woman. Likewise any child born of Manipuri women married to Sardarji, Bengali and other communities by no means become a Manipuri by blood. We don?t adopt the system of the distinguished tribes in Meghalaya where women have to decide the fate of the husband. This is nothing related to the communal ethos or Manipuri chauvinism. This is simply the question of identity. However one of my friends who was serving in Nagaland, Ibohal, who had married an Angami lady is of different character. His wife will always dress in Manipuri attire and speak polished Manipuri and learning the way of the Manipuris. His effort to make his wife speak the Manipuri language in a Nagamese and English spoken land was never a mater of joke. On the part of the wife she never hesitates to become the most understanding ?better half? of her husband. Moreover following the footprints of the husband and converting herself to the community to which her husband belongs never contradicts the law of the land. But such people come very few and far between. In Manipur we have the example of Banuo Koijam, otherwise the better half of our Ex-Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, she can compete well with the most orthodox Meitei ladies when it comes to maintaining and sharing her husband"s public life. Sometimes I am bemused when the Keralites lit up the light of ?Onam festival?. People from every walk of life in Kerala celebrate it in full spirit. The same is being practiced elsewhere in the world wherever Keralites inhabit. They all gather in a joyous festive mood keeping aside the religious differences. When the ?Gan-ngai festival? season comes around, the Kabui community celebrate the festival welcoming one and all whether one is a Christian or a non-Christian. Sekreni the festival of the Angamis and Chakhesang and Motsu the festival of Aos are age-old traditional festivals. All the Nagas had been observing such festivals since time immemorial much before Nagas embraced Christianity and it still continues. They never despised this colorful festival after they became Christians. Unfortunately any Meitei when he becomes a Christian, (s)he despises Uamang Lai Haraoba of Manipur and will disassociate himself from all the Meitei cultural and traditional rituals as a rule. Very few may come out to contradict it. The conversion of religion is something, which happens for one, love the doctrine and scripture of the religion and it is my humble opinion that it has nothing to do with one?s origin and community. When the Japanese embrace Christianity, they proudly stand in their positions and exclaim, ?We will be Japanese Christians not American Christians?. Unfortunately this spirit and sense of oneness doesn?t flow in the mind and body of those who had opted different religions and settled elsewhere far from the memories of truth. When the cult of Hinduism arrived at this religiously fertile land and when the Manipuri scriptures (Puyas) were burnt, Manipuris seemed to have fully converted into Hinduism. We surrendered everything to the new religion and everybody assumed Hindu names and titles. Such practice has not only sapped the vitality of the people of Manipur but it has also seriously blurred their future politically and identity aspects. Such unfortunate systems had not occurred to other States in India when the people of certain States converted to the religion they loved, but never changed their traditional names. Nevertheless when any of the Manipuri Meiteis convert himself or herself into Christianity, it has become a rule to change his/her name too. When Nonglenba was baptized recently, he has since then became to known as Brother Mark. I wonder why he can?t still remain as Nonglenba despite his conversion to the religion he likes. However Nancy MacCradle Maybe, widow of Jupiter Yambem who perished in the most horrifying attack at the World Trade Center in New York, heralded a new message to the world communities in large and Manipuris in particular. In her short and impromptu speech in a simple inaugural function of ?Jupiter Yambem Center? at Paona Bazaar on September 11, 2002, she asserted ?I wanted to bring my son Santi (Chinglai Lakpa) to Imphal frequently so that he can keep in touch with his father"s roots?. I wonder why Nancy doesn?t wish to erase the memory of Manipur from her son and let her son grow up as a proud American? What made her think to bring her son from a far distant place like America to Manipur every year only to impart to her son the ?Manipuris way of life? and its tradition and culture? This remains a trillion-dollar question to us and especially for the Manipuris who bade adieu to the society of Manipur and want to lead a different life of their own.
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