Rice and Manipur malady

Marie Antoinette , the queen of France just before the French Revolution said,"let them eat cake "- when everyone was famished for want of bread.Historians are not sure about this statement.But it is infamously attributed to her when everyone was starving in France.Obviously cake is more expensive than  bread; the anecdote has been cited as an example of Marie Antoinette's obliviousness of the precarious condition of the common people.
If our leaders are not aware of the gravity of the fragile ground realty and continuing struggle of the common people for survival , it is unfortunate. When the future of the masses remain uncertain and when everyone's life is at stake we are indulging in something uncalled for. This is certainly not the time to take political mileage or indulge in  hard politics. Remember the virus has already intruded into our territory. It is really serious.
Since time immemorial rice has been playing an important role in the socio- politico- cultural milieu of the Manipur society. People in this region eat rice and it is their staple food.There is no wheat culture ; rice cultivation and consumption is as old as the 2000 years old  civilization of this land.
The significance of paddy or rice can be traced  from the age old practice of 'Lai Haraoba' ( festival of local dieties).'Lai Haraoba' has been explained by Prof E. Nilakanta as "merrymaking of gods and goddesses" whereas  SN Parratt prefers the term "pleasing of the god". Let's not go into the etymological complex of 'Lai Haraoba'. It is a well known fact that in every 'Lai Haraoba' rice/paddy is an indispensable ingredient for the rituals.
The Nupi lal of 1939 ( women's war ) and students agitation of the mid 60s are  directly linked with rice. As long as rice is in plenty, the people of Manipur hardly face any problem. When rice is in scarcity something unpleasant happens in Manipur. Availability or non- availability of rice is an  indicator of the  socio-politico-economic condition of the State. Perhaps we are still an agrarian society.
The age old indigenous brew ' Yu' is also produced from rice.The Sekmais, Andros, Khrukhuls or hill people are experts in making this local elixir. This drink is again as old as our history. Without rice we can't produce 'Yu'. And 'Yu' has been our traditional and cultural drink for the last many many years.There are rituals in our society which can't be fruitfully completed without serving 'Yu'.
The present population of Manipur is above 30 lakhs or simply 3 millions. Obviously the rice production within the State remains insufficient for the entire population. For the last one decade or so we are importing rice from outside . In the last few years our import of rice has increased manifold and Myanmar had become a major source of rice.Burmese rice is quite familiar to our taste.
Rice from other parts of the country  can't be a proper replacement of our local rice. People even say basmati rice is for pulao and not suitable to be taken as rice. The  taste and flavour for our own rice is irreplaceable.Sometimes due to compelling circumstances like diabetes or poverty  people are taking rice brought from other parts. Some 20/30 years back nobody was there to take the rationed rice.People used to call it stinking rice.
However these days we are fighting for the ration rice. It might be because of the impending  crisis like situation. People are running here and there to get rice.There is an apprehension that the lockdown may be extended till the Corona virus is put under control.Somebody is saying that government may crumble because of Covid rice or freebies.
The unfortunate part is that vested interest is actively trying to provoke the incumbent leaders . And surprisingly they are reacting.
At this juncture , when we are fighting a highly virulent and extremely contagious virus we should stand united and encounter the challenge poised by it.
Power struggle may be delayed for the time being.Elections are postponed the world over.Even our Rajya Sabha elections are put off without fixing a future date.The magnitude of the pandemic should be understood by all .
Political mudslinging must stop .It will be prudent to maintain status co for the time being.This is not the right time for politricks or politiking.
People are worried for their lives and they are struggling to survive. Under such circumstances if our leaders are indulging in power politics it will certainly give a wrong message to the world.
It is high time to stand together and tame the virus.Till then let's keep things restored and  restrained .First let's save lives .Then we can redeem our economy and indulge in politics much later.