IMPHAL, July 28: The people in Manipur should not look on the lines of differences that were created by the colonialists. Instead, people must look for the shared and common interest for the future of the state and its people.
This was a lecture delivered by Dr Bimol Akoijam in memory of late Ungshungmi A Shimray, fondly known as UA Shimray on his 2nd memorial lecture held today at the conference hall of Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong.
UA Shimray, an imminent scholar, an academicians and a social scientist passed away in 2009. He was the second child of A Aza and A Kachipui of Chingjaroi village. Further, he had longtime associated with the Imphal Free Press contributing articles on critical perspectives.
Dr Akoijam, who teaches at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi opined that identity crisis that infests Manipur is as a result of the division that was once created by the colonialist. These divisions were again consolidated by the present government, he added.
On the question of history, he asked people not to be so conscious about it because its all the worldview of the enlightened European. He went on to quote Bankim Chandra’s “We don’t have history. We must have a history”.
Referring to insurgency in the northeast, he said the problem is the result of military deployment to crust the assertion of different communities during the independent years. Post colonial conception of the northeast is yet to be changed, he added.
Akoijam also said that the people are made to be dependent on New Delhi for everything. Ninety percent of the annual budget is granted grand-in-aid by the centre. The elected leaders are made to serve the “national interests” at the cost of the people’s interest.
On the question of different political movements in Manipur, he cautious the people not to be divided on silly matters. “Both the politics of defending and dividing Manipur is equally dangerous”, he said from a liberal perspective.
The professor also asked the people to welcome more dialogue in the future. Only dialogue will solve the problem of the present differences. Future is not a destination to be arrived at but something that is to be created from the present, he added.
Today’s memorial lecture was chaired by the founder and the outgoing director of Guwahati based North East Social Research Centre Dr Walter Fernendes. The panelists include Joyson Mazamo, Sanjay Barbora and Ram Wangkheirakpam