Coming together of the indigenes Need to strengthen it
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A natural outcome or a development pushed by the emerging political reality of the day, but it is significant to note that a Native People’s Committee, Manipur has been formed in the face of the onslaught against the Meiteis and the Nagas. One common word or term which has no doubt played a significant role in bringing the Meiteis and the Nagas of Manipur under this committee is ‘indigenous’. This is what brings to mind what the Ato Kilonser of the NSCN (IM), Thuingaleng Muivah had proclaimed in a one to one with The Sangai Express back in 2005 at Camp Hebron and the line that still remains etched in memory is, ‘There are only two indigenous group of people in Manipur, the Meiteis and the Nagas.’ More than 20 years back and at that point of time the significance of the observation of Muivah did not register in the consciousness of this newspaper, but it was something which was etched in the mind and the formation of the Native People’s Committee, Manipur makes this line all that more significant to this newspaper. Like anyone else in Manipur, the focus of this newspaper, while interacting with Th Muivah, was on the progress of the peace talk with the Government of India, the demands of the NSCN (IM) and the more urgent issues at that point of time such as the kidnapping and murder of Lungnila Elizabeth, the disappearance and later the discovery of the remains of two Senapati children, Hriini Hubert and Muheni Martin. From 2005 to 2026 and Manipur has undergone a sea change in many aspects with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) now supping with the BJP in the same Government, an arrangement which has not disturbed the Meitei community one bit, for remember the NPF rose to prominence riding on the call issued by the NSCN (IM). Political issues but against which the Meiteis and the Nagas of Manipur had never ever raised their hands against each other. And now the coming together of some personalities drawn from both sides under the umbrella of the Native People’s Committee, Manipur and it is more than clear that whatever political differences there might be between the two communities, the differences can always be worked out together without coming to blows with each other. Something which has not been the case with the Kukis and this is where one is reminded of a story from the Jataka Tales or Aesop’s Fables wherein a farmer who was undecided on whether to clear the grass in his field or fence the field first had his dilemma worked out by a wise man-First put up the fence to keep off the strays or outsiders and once the fence comes up then one can clear the grass later-The external challenge one should be wary about. A story read with much interest many decades back, but the significance of which can be seen in the coming together of some personalities drawn from the Meitei and Naga communities under one umbrella or one common organisation. And to make this Committee spread wings and take firmer roots, perhaps the younger generation ought to sit down together and see how they can give a further boost to such a step.
It was sometime back that Manipur was told that the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur and the Democratic Students’ Alliance, Manipur would join hands and work together for the common benefits of all and seeing the significance of such a move The Sangai Express had acknowledged the new development back then. Now it is not very clear how closely the two student organisations are working but it was a great initiative and one hopes the Native People’s Committee, Manipur also work further to see how the coming together of the indigenes can be taken further. Let the indigenous people of Manipur, meaning the Nagas and the Meiteis, come together and share the same platform such as in student bodies and other civil society organisations. Let there be more people to people contact and interactions and obviously trade and commerce is the best route forward. Differences can always be worked out together but the need at the moment is to keep out the strays by putting up a strong, durable fence. The Native People’s Committee, Manipur has taken the first step and it is only right that the people back this initiative and the first step towards this is to respect each other’s uniqueness.
It was sometime back that Manipur was told that the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur and the Democratic Students’ Alliance, Manipur would join hands and work together for the common benefits of all and seeing the significance of such a move The Sangai Express had acknowledged the new development back then. Now it is not very clear how closely the two student organisations are working but it was a great initiative and one hopes the Native People’s Committee, Manipur also work further to see how the coming together of the indigenes can be taken further. Let the indigenous people of Manipur, meaning the Nagas and the Meiteis, come together and share the same platform such as in student bodies and other civil society organisations. Let there be more people to people contact and interactions and obviously trade and commerce is the best route forward. Differences can always be worked out together but the need at the moment is to keep out the strays by putting up a strong, durable fence. The Native People’s Committee, Manipur has taken the first step and it is only right that the people back this initiative and the first step towards this is to respect each other’s uniqueness.