Tag: kanglaonline

It is quite an interesting coincidence that as the world sings to the tune of the old adage of ringing out the old and ringing in the new with the coming New Year, Manipur will be virtually ringing out its old government and ringing in a new one. That is, presuming the people are ready or desirous of doing so. For it is not at all impossible, and at this moment quite likely, that the old will return as it is, perhaps with some minor changes here and there. As for instance, it is quite likely many of those sitting in the Opposition benches would seek to return to the Assembly on Congress ticket in the belief and hope that the Congress would still be party to head the next government. But as they say, it is impossible to predict the exact outcomes of any free election, and indeed even the most scientific and organised pre-election opinion polls and exit polls have been known to fail miserably in judging the electorate’s mind – any electorate’s mind.

This is not to say the old cannot become renewed. Everything about life is about this ability to renew and rejuvenate. The old gets replaced by the new sometimes literally, but at other times metaphorically. The old also can reinvent to become new all over again, and this theme is the script behind the romance of so many of the most successful enterprises in life. Steve Jobs’ Apple Computers is the one most fresh in mind to have done this, not once but several times under the charismatic leadership of one of the most amazing technological and marketing genius of all times. However, be it the old team or a new set, what is important is, the state must choose a government with promises a new agenda and a new beginning; a government which is new but at the same time able to pick up from where the old one left.

While we hope a sense of the new is ushered in with the coming year and the imminent change of guards in the government, we also must underscore the importance in a change of attitude of the people in general. After all there is much to be had from the universally acknowledged thumb rule that people get the government they deserve. The Manipur electorate must be able to sit down, reflect and make an assessment of the past, and then project into the future to decide what would be best for them. What has been said about the need for the ability to renew and reinvent by politics and politicians, should equally apply to them. They must live up to the reality and expectations of the time and measure their decisions accordingly. They must keep in mind that the world is always in constantly state of flux and that no two moments are the same. The paradoxical logic of the impossibility of entering the same river more than once is the perfect metaphor to describe this situation. In other words, the river is there as the same river but because it is always changing, every time somebody enters it, it is also a different river. Anybody who is unable to acknowledge this profound truth, will be doomed a redundant future and finally reduced to insignificance.

Sadly, at this moment, the fixation of almost all sections of the society seems to lean towards either a revivalist or revisionist view of the past and history. This can never be in the interest of anybody ultimately. What is called for is the resilience to accommodate the demands of the time. Even as we enter the New Year 2012, let it be the collective pledge of the people of this state to be ready to change and accommodate present challenges instead of always looking to the past for salvation and succour. Let them together pledge to face the brave new world of the future rather than live in the false belief of a return of past glory. At this moment, Manipur desperately needs a reinvention of itself for it is now faced with myriad new challenges brought about by myriad new consciousness which have spawned with time. Once upon a time, these consciousnesses, as for instance those which are causing the explosion of ethnic nations, were not there. Today inevitably as per the demands of the times, they have come to stay and there is no point in wishing they do not or should not exist. The progressive way forward is to acknowledge this new reality and then strive to evolve a new outlook that accommodated and put to rest the causes for all the frictions threatening to tear the society apart. It is with this outlook, we appeal to the electorate of the state to vote in January, so as to ring in a new Manipur.


Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/awaiting-a-new-order/

On an absolute scale, there can be no doubt whatsoever Manipur has developed. A former Governor of the state 15 years ago, who had recently visited the state said in private he is certain this is so. A lot many others, including people from the state who had been away for any significant length of time too concur with this observation. But even if this is so, there are certain questions that still beg answers before any verdict on governance in the state can be legitimately pronounced. One of these is very obvious. On a relative scale, can the thumbs up the former Governor and other non-resident citizens are willing to extend to the state administration still be an accurate assessment? That is to say, while it is true Manipur probably has grown in terms of new infrastructures that have come up in the last decade or so, could they have grown more given the quantum jump in the availability of development funds proportionate to the overall growth in the Indian economy? Again, while in terms of quantity things may have improved, can the same be said of the quality as well?

So many articles have been written on this by all hues of writers in the local dailies as to how even the newly renovated roads in Manipur fall vastly short in quality compared to roads even in neighbouring states of Nagaland and Assam. Even without going to the remote hill districts to make this comparison, take the best made roads in Imphal, say for instance the Airport Road stretch from Imphal or the one that runs around the Kangla Fort touching the Raj Bhavan, right in the heart of the capital city, or the short stretch that cuts through the administrative hub of the civil secretariat and the chief minister’s residential bungalow cum office complex. Why are even these roads substandard and uneven on the surface? They had been broadened and bitumen reinforced but the road surface still tells a different story. This difference would be missed as long as a comparison is not available, but somebody who travels out of the state and sees even roads in Assam and Meghalaya would suddenly realise how much has not been done. The old frustrating question remains, why is this being allowed to continue? Why are all those responsible for this so disrespectful about the work they do? Why have they ceased to take pride in the quality of workmanship they produce? If it is a question of scarce means, it would have been understandable, but it is everybody’s knowledge this is not at all the case. The shortfall in the quality on the other hand is on account of money meant for these projects not being spent fully on the projects. In a state bereft of industries worth the name, there are many as rich as any successful entrepreneur anywhere can be. The marble mansions spring up amidst the growing ghetto landscape of Imphal and other major townships bear testimony to this organized thievery. Yet the state remains remorseless.

There are of course many public buildings, grand by Manipur standard, such as the Assembly complex Mantri Pukhri, the Convention Centre at Palace Gate, the Manipur Film Development Centre also at Palace Gate etc, which now majestically adorn the Imphal cityscape. There are also plans for a 5-Star Hotel, airport expansion, and many more. On one hand, all of these are being built with funds from the Union government hence in the literal sense they are unearned, so there is nothing to shout from rooftops and claim these as achievements. On another hand, in this postmodern and democratic age, these grand structures represent the re-emergence of the State as a disproportionately imposing institution once again, soaring and intimidating the ordinary citizens into virtual insignificance. These buildings obviously would be out of bounds of the ordinary public, zealously guarded by the state’s armed constabularies as they would be, clearly marking the dividing line between the State and the people. In this sense, the only architecturally democratic structures which have also been allowed in this city modernisation process are the new Keithels. While all these projects deserve appreciations, they should have been balanced off by a reciprocal push to develop other infrastructures which are truly for the public, such as parks, better water supply, roads, better public transport system, better traffic regulatory mechanisms, better government schools etc. This imbalance having not been addressed, the million rupees question that remains answered even if outside observers see visible development in the state is, whose development is it?

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/whose-development/

On an absolute scale, there can be no doubt whatsoever Manipur has developed. A former Governor of the state 15 years ago, who had recently visited the state said in private he is certain this is so. A lot many others, including people from the state who had been away for any significant length of time too concur with this observation. But even if this is so, there are certain questions that still beg answers before any verdict on governance in the state can be legitimately pronounced. One of these is very obvious. On a relative scale, can the thumbs up the former Governor and other non-resident citizens are willing to extend to the state administration still be an accurate assessment? That is to say, while it is true Manipur probably has grown in terms of new infrastructures that have come up in the last decade or so, could they have grown more given the quantum jump in the availability of development funds proportionate to the overall growth in the Indian economy? Again, while in terms of quantity things may have improved, can the same be said of the quality as well?

So many articles have been written on this by all hues of writers in the local dailies as to how even the newly renovated roads in Manipur fall vastly short in quality compared to roads even in neighbouring states of Nagaland and Assam. Even without going to the remote hill districts to make this comparison, take the best made roads in Imphal, say for instance the Airport Road stretch from Imphal or the one that runs around the Kangla Fort touching the Raj Bhavan, right in the heart of the capital city, or the short stretch that cuts through the administrative hub of the civil secretariat and the chief minister’s residential bungalow cum office complex. Why are even these roads substandard and uneven on the surface? They had been broadened and bitumen reinforced but the road surface still tells a different story. This difference would be missed as long as a comparison is not available, but somebody who travels out of the state and sees even roads in Assam and Meghalaya would suddenly realise how much has not been done. The old frustrating question remains, why is this being allowed to continue? Why are all those responsible for this so disrespectful about the work they do? Why have they ceased to take pride in the quality of workmanship they produce? If it is a question of scarce means, it would have been understandable, but it is everybody’s knowledge this is not at all the case. The shortfall in the quality on the other hand is on account of money meant for these projects not being spent fully on the projects. In a state bereft of industries worth the name, there are many as rich as any successful entrepreneur anywhere can be. The marble mansions spring up amidst the growing ghetto landscape of Imphal and other major townships bear testimony to this organized thievery. Yet the state remains remorseless.

There are of course many public buildings, grand by Manipur standard, such as the Assembly complex Mantri Pukhri, the Convention Centre at Palace Gate, the Manipur Film Development Centre also at Palace Gate etc, which now majestically adorn the Imphal cityscape. There are also plans for a 5-Star Hotel, airport expansion, and many more. On one hand, all of these are being built with funds from the Union government hence in the literal sense they are unearned, so there is nothing to shout from rooftops and claim these as achievements. On another hand, in this postmodern and democratic age, these grand structures represent the re-emergence of the State as a disproportionately imposing institution once again, soaring and intimidating the ordinary citizens into virtual insignificance. These buildings obviously would be out of bounds of the ordinary public, zealously guarded by the state’s armed constabularies as they would be, clearly marking the dividing line between the State and the people. In this sense, the only architecturally democratic structures which have also been allowed in this city modernisation process are the new Keithels. While all these projects deserve appreciations, they should have been balanced off by a reciprocal push to develop other infrastructures which are truly for the public, such as parks, better water supply, roads, better public transport system, better traffic regulatory mechanisms, better government schools etc. This imbalance having not been addressed, the million rupees question that remains answered even if outside observers see visible development in the state is, whose development is it?

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/whose-development/

Elections to the state Assembly have been announced. There is just about a month left to the appointed day on January 28. Although the campaign pitch has still not climbed to familiar cacophony, one can sense already the election mood heating up. The usual rumours of back-stabbing politicians currently in positions of power, trying to eliminate potential rivals within the same party are doing the rounds. The stories of these political intrigues, though some are far-fetched, would have to have some basis. After all, as the old saying goes, there cannot be smoke without fire? As part of this game of intrigues, marked so far by shadow boxing and of course air dashes to New Delhi to attend the durbars of the high commands of various national parties, many supposedly proxy candidates are being foisted by powerful interests as either independents or else as candidates of other recognized parties, to demoralise and if possible defeat party colleagues. In the days ahead, these games should come to the fore, and in all likelihood even turn bitterly violent. It is unfortunate that such insidious games have come to be a prominent character of politics in the state.

If this is what dampens the spirit of those who still espouse positive faith in politics, there are more disappointments ahead which should become open soon too. Candidates in Manipur’s politics virtually go out, haggle and buy voters, as if the latter were mere commodities. This being the case, the profile of those who contest elections in Manipur have radically changed over the past few decades. As a rule, only the filthily rich enter the fray. The adjective “filthy” is important. There are people rich from their healthy instincts for entrepreneurship or else valuable skills. Though rich, because each rupee they won is measured against their own sweats, they respect money. In direct contrast, the “filthy” rich class became rich not for the possession of any respectable or socially accepted talent, but because of their lack scruples in looting public money. Most of the times they are government contractors but often also former bureaucrats and indeed politicians who willingly made themselves part of the client-patron nexus with government contractors and together looted the public exchequer. Almost always, they have no respect for money, for they have not earned it. They would for instance not understand the import of timeless statements on the value of work such as the one by Abraham Lincoln in his letter to the teacher of his son, pleading with the latter that his son be taught to imbibe the wisdom that a dollar earned is worth far more than five found. It would thus be interesting to take note how many of those who come out to contest this elections fit into this new “filth rich” contractor profile.

One more thing is predictable. Nearly all of the putative candidates now would be running after the party tickets of the ruling Congress. Among these would be prominent MLAs in important leadership positions in their respective parties. Thus, in a few days from now, all the talks of the beauty of multiparty democracy would be reduced to a huge farce. In effect there would remain just one party – the ruling Congress, and practically every candidate would be angling for its ticket. In an extension of this farcical game, those who do not manage to get the Congress ticket would then shamelessly turn coats and proclaim themselves as die-hard Congress nemeses. To heighten the sense of tragicomic, they would also suddenly begin harping on the virtue the multiparty democracy and the checks and balances this system provides to governance. But wait, there are bigger tragedies ahead. The most profound of these is, the electorate would see nothing wrong in this. They too would happily become part of this game too, and without even batting an eye, pledge to vote for the candidate who doles them a few hundred rupees more than the other. A lot of this has to do with poverty, but not to all extent. For today a new culture of Mammon worship which has dawned on Manipur, thanks to our so called leaders who have been so selfishly shaping and nurturing it in the hope of ensuring their longevity in politics. Hence, not just the poor, but practically everybody would partake in this five yearly unholy and wild electoral orgy, never bothering they only put more nails in their own coffins each time they fail to exercise scruples in elections. They should pinch themselves awake that the “filthy” money that would buy their votes is proportional to the substandard roads and other decaying important infrastructures which have become their collective destiny today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/election-carnival/

Elections to the state Assembly have been announced. There is just about a month left to the appointed day on January 28. Although the campaign pitch has still not climbed to familiar cacophony, one can sense already the election mood heating up. The usual rumours of back-stabbing politicians currently in positions of power, trying to eliminate potential rivals within the same party are doing the rounds. The stories of these political intrigues, though some are far-fetched, would have to have some basis. After all, as the old saying goes, there cannot be smoke without fire? As part of this game of intrigues, marked so far by shadow boxing and of course air dashes to New Delhi to attend the durbars of the high commands of various national parties, many supposedly proxy candidates are being foisted by powerful interests as either independents or else as candidates of other recognized parties, to demoralise and if possible defeat party colleagues. In the days ahead, these games should come to the fore, and in all likelihood even turn bitterly violent. It is unfortunate that such insidious games have come to be a prominent character of politics in the state.

If this is what dampens the spirit of those who still espouse positive faith in politics, there are more disappointments ahead which should become open soon too. Candidates in Manipur’s politics virtually go out, haggle and buy voters, as if the latter were mere commodities. This being the case, the profile of those who contest elections in Manipur have radically changed over the past few decades. As a rule, only the filthily rich enter the fray. The adjective “filthy” is important. There are people rich from their healthy instincts for entrepreneurship or else valuable skills. Though rich, because each rupee they won is measured against their own sweats, they respect money. In direct contrast, the “filthy” rich class became rich not for the possession of any respectable or socially accepted talent, but because of their lack scruples in looting public money. Most of the times they are government contractors but often also former bureaucrats and indeed politicians who willingly made themselves part of the client-patron nexus with government contractors and together looted the public exchequer. Almost always, they have no respect for money, for they have not earned it. They would for instance not understand the import of timeless statements on the value of work such as the one by Abraham Lincoln in his letter to the teacher of his son, pleading with the latter that his son be taught to imbibe the wisdom that a dollar earned is worth far more than five found. It would thus be interesting to take note how many of those who come out to contest this elections fit into this new “filth rich” contractor profile.

One more thing is predictable. Nearly all of the putative candidates now would be running after the party tickets of the ruling Congress. Among these would be prominent MLAs in important leadership positions in their respective parties. Thus, in a few days from now, all the talks of the beauty of multiparty democracy would be reduced to a huge farce. In effect there would remain just one party – the ruling Congress, and practically every candidate would be angling for its ticket. In an extension of this farcical game, those who do not manage to get the Congress ticket would then shamelessly turn coats and proclaim themselves as die-hard Congress nemeses. To heighten the sense of tragicomic, they would also suddenly begin harping on the virtue the multiparty democracy and the checks and balances this system provides to governance. But wait, there are bigger tragedies ahead. The most profound of these is, the electorate would see nothing wrong in this. They too would happily become part of this game too, and without even batting an eye, pledge to vote for the candidate who doles them a few hundred rupees more than the other. A lot of this has to do with poverty, but not to all extent. For today a new culture of Mammon worship which has dawned on Manipur, thanks to our so called leaders who have been so selfishly shaping and nurturing it in the hope of ensuring their longevity in politics. Hence, not just the poor, but practically everybody would partake in this five yearly unholy and wild electoral orgy, never bothering they only put more nails in their own coffins each time they fail to exercise scruples in elections. They should pinch themselves awake that the “filthy” money that would buy their votes is proportional to the substandard roads and other decaying important infrastructures which have become their collective destiny today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/election-carnival/