Tag: Editorial

Irom Sharmila Chanu’s release from judicial custody is remarkable. After 13 years of confinement, the Manipur Session judge finds not enough evidence to support that Sharmila was attempting to end her life. Whatever reason the State administration may give for her forced confinement, it is clear that the attempt was to nullify her political activism undertaken for revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. Or rather, it has been an attempt to silence the voice – a voice which champions the cause of human rights. Needless to say, her crusade against the Act has no parallels. Rightfully, Sharmila has been at media’s focus. Sharmila has been a favourite ‘story’ of the media. She deserves attention because of the rarity of her act, against the draconian Act. Media will continue to report Sharmila’s story even after her movement comes to an end – given that AFSPA is revoked from the Constitution of India. Sharmila’s struggle is being witnessed at a time when news reporting can have background music, capable of sprinkling emotive effects into a story. Post liberalisation, the 24 x 7 television news channel has added new dimension to news reporting. There are competitions among the news channels to deliver the latest news, with fastest reporting to meet the fast-pace life-style. Business logic also suggests that the channels meet the profit demand of corporate ownership. For instance, the flock of television channels that have landed in Imphal in the wake of Sharmila’s release cannot return back empty handed without a story. A television news crew is almost a small-budget film crew, with cameraperson, reporter and their equipment. Financial investment into this kind of news trip is something one cannot give away as charity money for a cause. Reasonably, in their attempt to get a ‘story’, different from their competitors’, they try to extract as many stories out of Sharmila. Insensitive to the fact that Sharmila has just come out from a confinement, wherein she was forced fed, the only question that the television journalists seem to have is a “How do you feel?” Words are virtually put into her mouth to suit their premeditated stories. This is not to question their professional commitment, or to put their credibility at the altar of ruthless diatribes, but a gentle reminder that they have a big responsibility, considering the depth and extent of their reach. Sensationalism must be checked. In our attempt to get the best story, one should not trample upon the subject. Sharmila did not descend from the heavens in a supernatural phenomenon. She rather emerges from the clutches of an oppressive apparatus, which has dislocated the people in their own land. What is extraordinary about Sharmila is that she is an ordinary human being albeit with an extraordinary spirit. Let us give her some more breathing space, for she has pledged to continue her struggle. On her release, Sharmila has appealed that instead of felicitations and adulations to her, people take the right pledges, which shall be beacon for a decisive act against this affront of an act against humanity.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/breathing-space-for-sharmila/

The extremely haughty manner in which the NDA government dismissed the finding of the Justice Hegde Commission which was mandated by the Supreme Court of India to look into the very serious allegations of fake encounters in Manipur is to say the least, alarming. It seems to confirm the widely held apprehension that under the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there is a real danger of the executive assuming too much asymmetrical power for itself, even those which should rightly belong to the judiciary and legislature. It may be recalled the Justice Santosh Hegde Commission had come out with the startling report that of the random cases of alleged fake encounters he picked up for examination during his enquiry, he discovered to his consternation all of the allegations had convincing evidences. To this the Centre simply said the procedures adopted by the Justice Hegde Commission for the enquiry was flawed. It also virtually said there had been no fake encounters in Manipur, and had there been even one, the responsible security personnel would not have gone unpunished, saying, as quoted in a report by The Times of India which appeared on August 17, that “the Union government shall not tolerate even one false encounter and shall not spare anyone guilty of false encounter, but at the same time, it is necessary to ensure that no innocent security personnel is harassed for an official act performed in good faith and without any mala fide intention.” It may be recalled, the Santosh Hegde Commission was appointed on the direction of the apex court following a public interest litigation, PIL, filed by two NGOs, namely ‘Extra-Judicial Execution Victims Families Association of Manipur’ and ‘Human Rights Alert’ which alleged there had been at least 1,528 extra-judicial killings in the course of the last 30 years in Manipur.

The matter is alarming because the Centre’s reply was not in any way about providing counter evidences to prove the allegations wrong, employing prescribed procedures of democratic adjudication, but was more akin to simply issuing an official fiat which audaciously called a judicial commission flawed and its findings untenable. In other words, it is placing its own knowledge and understanding of a given grave criminal situation, arrived at from reports of its own executive functionaries, above those of a judicial commission. This is despite the fact that the writers of these executive reports are often the accused in the cases under scrutiny. How can an accused be made the judge of the case if justice deliverance is the objective of the entire exercise? A lot many intellectuals in the past had argued with optimism that India’s democracy has too many safeguards for any single party, much less individual, to endanger. Among these safeguards that they cited were the independent institutions of democracy, such as the judiciary and free media, and therefore this surprising trifling of a judicial probe’s findings must strike as disturbing to any believer in democratic India.

This is not to say all judicial probes must be held as sacrosanct. Behind the judiciary too are humans and as humans they are equally prone to mistakes, weaknesses, biases, incompetence, prejudices as anybody else, including not the least the men behind the executive. The opinions and verdicts of the judiciary too can be, and must be, challenged whenever they are seen not to be in the cause of ultimate justice, but there are accepted ways of making these challenges. Simply dismissing a judicial commission’s report as unacceptable must therefore be seen as an aggression on democracy itself. The Union government, or for that matter the State governments, are perfectly within their rights to defend any law they make, not just the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA. The Centre does precisely this on this instance, justifying the AFSPA as an extraordinary means to counter an extraordinary situation. Some of the arguments may even be hard to refute. But the reminder we want to flag here is that in this defence, it cannot also be its own judge. Such a collapsing of powers into a single hand happens only in a dictatorship, and when this happens, all believers in the virtues of democracy have a right to ask if they are not being led into a dictatorship. The executive wields the guns of the State, but the sublime beauty of a democracy is that the power that flows out of the barrels of the State’s guns, is not in the sole control of the direct wielder of the guns, but jointly held as shared responsibility of the various pillars of democracy. This beauty is what is being shaken by the Centre’s unceremonious rebuff of the Judicial commission’s report.

It would however be unfair to level this allegation of the executive demolishing the other pillars of democracy to the NDA government alone. The UPA government under Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh was in many ways only marginally better. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission which recommended radical changes to the AFSPA, in particular making the AFSPA accountable to civil law by abolishing it and incorporating much of its provisions to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, UAPA, is just one prominent example. Although nothing was overtly stated to humiliate the commission and its findings, the UPA government too simply chose to kill it by ignoring and deliberately forgetting its existence altogether. Historically speaking, though it is too early to say anything for certain, we may not be altogether wrong to hazard the guess that the biggest challenge to Indian democracy may ultimately turn out to be how the nation and its rulers handle the AFSPA issue.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/afspa-as-indias-democracy-test/

School textbooks are not just teaching handbooks. They are windows to an ever-unfolding world. Teachers act as medium that connect students with the world through the textbooks. School textbooks promote attitude and values that ensure preparedness of well-informed citizenry of our future generation. In this regard, a letter to the editor which was published on August 18 issue of IFP demands serious attention of all stakeholders. The writer is a teacher serving in government school disturbed by a particular sentence: ‘He will send Chaoba to a government school which normally does not provide what we call quality education’. This sentence is from a school textbook prescribed by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur. The book is prescribed as Social Science textbook to be taught in the sixth standard. The sentence, one finds, in the chapter ‘Making A Living’. This chapter explains different ways of earning one’s livelihood. According to the book, Chaoba’s father is a landless daily wage earner. He cannot afford to send Chaoba to a good school; therefore he will send Chaoba to a government school ‘which normally does not provide quality education’. In the letter, the teacher enunciates her dilemma of passing the message to her students that could tantamount to demoralising her students, if she were to translate the meaning of the sentence. The teacher at the same time acknowledges the general view that government schools are not the first choice for a good education, and that there are systemic flaws responsible for the poor performance of these schools. Nonetheless, the teacher is also aware of the subtext of the sentence, which would have a negative impression on the young minds of those who study in the government school. The teacher contends that the statement would not only demoralise the students but also the teachers as well. She rightly points out that the book was reviewed in 2012 by eight expert members, assigned by the Board. She enquires the learned scholars ‘whether inclusion of such sentence arouse doubts in the mind of the students or not?’ The teacher’s concern suggests the need for evaluating the school textbooks, of the content and pedagogy of the books. And perhaps, teachers are the best people to point out the failings. For they are the one who are constantly in touch with the curricula. They know and feel how children in the classroom respond to a subject, or a particular sentence. This is not an outright validation of the teacher’s contestation against the capability of the curricula experts. However, the authority of the BSEM and curricula experts should make it a point to relook into the book and the sentence mentioned by the teacher. The teacher who has written the letter has been very sensible on her part as a teacher who not only connects the world with the students through the textbooks but someone who cares. Her voice represents all other voices, which have identified one area of the impediments that enfeebles the connectivity. Her act of speaking out should be appreciated. By her action, the teacher has moreover challenged the general belief that government teachers are highly paid non-performers, who do not attend class regularly. There are serious teachers who are serious about teaching.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/chaoba-and-his-government-school/

Ten years ago, student activist Pebam Chittaranjan laid down his life against imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in the State. Chittaranjan self-immolated on August 15, 2004. Internationally acclaimed and national award winning film ‘AFSPA 1958’ directed by H Pabankumar is worth recalling, those familiar with the film cannot forget the last scenes of the 77 minutes long documentary film. Chittaranjan spoke on camera about his strong opposition against the Act, catching his breath in between words. Apparently the shot was taken when Chittaranjan was nearing his end, with burn injuries all over his body. This is not to valorise the act of self-immolation by the young activist, neither to initiate a debate on suicide. But this is to put on record the act of resisting the Act, which is still in imposition in the State today. Chittaranjan’s decision to self-immolate with fire may be extreme. Yet he was firm with his opposition even during the last minutes of his life. Here, it is important to recall that 2004 was a significant year in the protest history of Manipur against the Act. The alleged rape and killing of Thangjam Manorama by paramilitary forces on July 11, 2004 evoked widespread protest against the Act. Women activist disrobed themselves in front of the Western gate of Kangla, which was then occupied by the 17 Assam Rifles, in protest against the atrocities of the securities forces meted out to Manorama. They demanded punishment of the personnel who were involved in the act, and also shouted slogans against the security personnel to come and rape them. This was when Manorama’s body was still lying at the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Science. Her family had refused to accept her body in protest. A few days later, activist of Manipur Forward Youth Front tried to self-immolate in front of the Chief Minister’s bungalow. Protest agitations were seen erupting at different corners of the State; this was in spite of the curfews which were imposed by the authority to control the situation. Chittaranjan’s self-immolation protest was very much part of the chain of events that have occurred. The then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh had promised to replace the Act with a ‘human Act’. Assam Rifles was shifted away from Kangla as a symbolic gesture towards fulfilling peoples’ wish by the Government of India. A committee to review the Act, known as the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee was instituted. Needless to say, the recommendations of the Committee was not made public, and it could have remained hidden within the confines of the Home ministry had not The Hindu published it for public scrutiny. The Committee has recommended for repealing the Act, no doubt about it. Yet the Government of India, it seems, has been trying to sweep aside the recommendations, which means the Act will stay. This is even more evident from the recent response of the Union Home ministry to the report submitted by Justice Hegde to the apex court, which inquired into alleged fake encounter killings by armed forces and police in Manipur. The ministry has defended the Act that ‘it provides the barest minimum legal protection to the security forces … and defended the protection to security personnel from local police and criminal trial’. It is left to be seen, whether the political parties, except Congress, which promised repeatedly to work towards removal of the Act would have anything to say on the matter. The civil societies, on the other hand should re-prioritise the issues in hand, for justice still eludes Manorama and her family, and many other families.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/remembering-chittaranjan-2/

Ten years ago, student activist Pebam Chittaranjan laid down his life against imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in the State. Chittaranjan self-immolated on August 15, 2004. Internationally acclaimed and national award winning film ‘AFSPA 1958’ directed by H Pabankumar is worth recalling, those familiar with the film cannot forget the last scenes of the 77 minutes long documentary film. Chittaranjan spoke on camera about his strong opposition against the Act, catching his breath in between words. Apparently the shot was taken when Chittaranjan was nearing his end, with burn injuries all over his body. This is not to valorise the act of self-immolation by the young activist, neither to initiate a debate on suicide. But this is to put on record the act of resisting the Act, which is still in imposition in the State today. Chittaranjan’s decision to self-immolate with fire may be extreme. Yet he was firm with his opposition even during the last minutes of his life. Here, it is important to recall that 2004 was a significant year in the protest history of Manipur against the Act. The alleged rape and killing of Thangjam Manorama by paramilitary forces on July 11, 2004 evoked widespread protest against the Act. Women activist disrobed themselves in front of the Western gate of Kangla, which was then occupied by the 17 Assam Rifles, in protest against the atrocities of the securities forces meted out to Manorama. They demanded punishment of the personnel who were involved in the act, and also shouted slogans against the security personnel to come and rape them. This was when Manorama’s body was still lying at the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Science. Her family had refused to accept her body in protest. A few days later, activist of Manipur Forward Youth Front tried to self-immolate in front of the Chief Minister’s bungalow. Protest agitations were seen erupting at different corners of the State; this was in spite of the curfews which were imposed by the authority to control the situation. Chittaranjan’s self-immolation protest was very much part of the chain of events that have occurred. The then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh had promised to replace the Act with a ‘human Act’. Assam Rifles was shifted away from Kangla as a symbolic gesture towards fulfilling peoples’ wish by the Government of India. A committee to review the Act, known as the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee was instituted. Needless to say, the recommendations of the Committee was not made public, and it could have remained hidden within the confines of the Home ministry had not The Hindu published it for public scrutiny. The Committee has recommended for repealing the Act, no doubt about it. Yet the Government of India, it seems, has been trying to sweep aside the recommendations, which means the Act will stay. This is even more evident from the recent response of the Union Home ministry to the report submitted by Justice Hegde to the apex court, which inquired into alleged fake encounter killings by armed forces and police in Manipur. The ministry has defended the Act that ‘it provides the barest minimum legal protection to the security forces … and defended the protection to security personnel from local police and criminal trial’. It is left to be seen, whether the political parties, except Congress, which promised repeatedly to work towards removal of the Act would have anything to say on the matter. The civil societies, on the other hand should re-prioritise the issues in hand, for justice still eludes Manorama and her family, and many other families.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/remembering-chittaranjan/

The recently concluded Glasgow Commonwealth Games once again established beyond doubt the sporting prowess of Manipur. Athletes from the State won one gold and four silvers, doing the State and the country proud. All the medals were from mainstream Olympic sports disciplines, namely weightlifting, boxing, judo and hockey. Our congratulations go out to all of the winners, as well as to the other members of the 14 strong contingent of sportspersons from the State who participated although did not manage to come home with a medal. The very fact that they were selected as the cream in their different disciplines to represent a country of a billion and more people is in itself a big achievement. Moreover, if there is anything of the traditional and beautiful description of the Olympics spirit left in sportsmanship, the glory of sports is in the participation not in the winning. A lot has quite unfortunately changed in the competitive scenario of the modern times, increasingly determined by the new culture of consumerist commerce and advertisement, and like in all other fields, in sports too nothing else is beginning to matter except winning. This, we suppose is the brave new world of sports (or “grave new world” if you like, to borrow Aldus Huxley’s rather cynical twist of the phrase), that the new generation of sportspersons have no choice but to imbibe. The Asian Games are round the corner, all of them, and probably some more as there would be more sporting disciplines in these games, will have the opportunity to prove themselves again. The competition this time would be much stiffer in many, indeed most of the disciplines, judo and weightlifting in particular, with the entry of some sports powerhouses of East Asia and many Central Asian splinter countries of the former USSR. Our best wishes nonetheless go out to all of our sportspersons.

In boxing, where pugilists from Manipur put up a sterling performance at Glasgow, bringing back two silvers, the standard of competition would be more or less at the same level, therefore the prospects of a repeat of the feats at the CWG are bright. Even if the Cubans, Americans and Asian boxers were around, CWG boxing would still be considered world class. This is so especially in the extremely competitive men’s boxing. Unlike women’s boxing, men’s boxing has been around much longer and had reached its saturation point for long ago, with the implication that those who come out on top, can consider themselves standing on a plateau from where not many more can go higher. But the plateau is crowded with talents, and probably in each weight class, there are 100 other boxer who on his day can beat any reigning champion. This being the case, Laishram Debendro and others, though very good, would still have to be always on the alert and fiddle fit. In women boxing which is relatively very new, the saturation point is still not reached. This is why the standard keeps improving substantially each year. It is also apparent, after some weight classes were included in the Olympics for the first time in London two years ago, the lure of the Olympics is inducing more and more talented women boxers to take to the sports. This is a caution for Manipur’s shining stars, Mary Kom and Laishram Sarita. Both are punching above their weights because there are only a relatively few weight classes in women’s boxing admitted as Olympic discipline as yet, and age is not on their side either. The upcoming Asian Games and the next Olympics two years hence probably would be their only realistic chances for a prestigious international gold. But the way to this glory is going to be far from easy. Even within the country, the competition is stiffening, as we all are witness to.

These words of caution notwithstanding, our congratulations and gratitude to all our sports stars for putting our State on the national consciousness for a positive reason for once. They are truly our goodwill ambassadors, and it is they who made the new government at the Centre take notice and award the State handsomely with the promise of a Sports University. With this prospect in mind, sports authorities in the State ought to take note of the pattern of sporting excellence the State throws up consistently. There is no point arguing that producing world class sportspersons in certain sports disciplines would be simply out of our reach. It should be equally clear that the opposite is equally true and that given our general physiognomy, environmental conditioning through the eons, cultural orientation, we can also produce world beaters in certain other sporting disciplines.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/sporting-challenges/

August the 13th has once again arrived. Thangal General and Bir Tikendrajit were hanged to death on this very day near the Imphal Polo ground. The place, as we all know has been named as Bir Tikendrajit Park. Belinda Morse in her book “Calamity and Courage”, which traces the life and times of Ethel Grimwood, wife of the then British political agent to Manipur: Frank Grimwood, describes the event that took place on August 13, 1891, at a quarter to five in the afternoon near the Polo ground that ‘much drama was attached to them’. The execution was heavily guarded by 500 Gurkha Rifles. Both prisoners were escorted to the gallows by fifty riflemen. Tikedrajit climbed the ladder by himself, but Thangal General was carried from the jail as he was weak and moreover the general was 86 years old then. Belinda also quotes an account given by an English officer of the event, of how the general laughed out loud when he was about to meet his end. Tikendrajit and Thangal General were ‘convicted of waging war against the Queen’ by a special court. This was when British colonialism was well spread across the globe and Manipur was a small kingdom. But now, British colonialism has become history and Manipur is no longer under monarchy. Convicted as criminals by the British, but patriots to Manipur; several accounts of the event have been written by many writers and historians. Adapted into theatrical plays as well, the All India Radio Imphal’s play on Tikendrajit has been one of the most popular among the listeners. August 13 is observed as Patriots’ Day each year in the State. Even after 123 years of the event, we keep alive the story by remembering them each year, to be retold to the generations that are to come. Year after year, the State has been observing Patriots Day. The day is specially mark by floral tribute to the statues or monuments of the heroes. Patriotic song and poetry competitions in the schools and colleges are also one of the important events of the day. However a pertinent question is: How does the present generation perceive the story of Tikendrajit – Thangal and their patriotism? One cannot deny or reject the variability of perception from one generation to another. Active learning generation, particularly students, who are also active on issues of the State would have many questions to ask, for they are born in a different time. Or have they stopped asking questions at all? This is a question, which the teaching community will have to pay serious attention to. Questions are born out of critical minds, which are always hungry for discovering the nuances of a story. And how do we groom these minds, at a time when the British are no longer our enemy. They are our friends now, who play Polo with us during the Sangai Festival. This is a time, when our ‘identity’ is considered to be on the verge extinction. And ironically, our identity can only be saved by a regulation passed by the then colonial British. This is a time, wherein the army of a country where we belong to can kill anyone at mere suspicion. Or are we attaching too much ‘drama’ ( to borrow Belinda’s words) into our patriotism without any substance?

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/withering-patriotism/

The National Film Awards instituted from 1954 onwards is considered as the most prominent and prestigious film award ceremony in India though various other film awards are handed out in the course of a year by private bodies and by state governments. For the national awards, a national panel appointed by the government comprising of film makers and other officials selects the winning entry with the President of India presenting the awards. Over the years, some awards have earlier come under scrutiny and accusations over nepotism. Yet, there is no doubt that the National Film Awards, is still regarded as the most distinguished and respected in film circles. The announcement of the awards every year is followed with great media interest and commentary. Increasingly, there is a now a shift in what were once called ‘regional films’ getting edged out by Hindi films though there are layers to this phenomenon. In an earlier era, Hindi films also called Bollywood films were considered to be potboilers and the stuff of cheesy masala content. The ‘regional films’ were what was considered more mature though even within Hindi films, there were ‘art films’ that moved away from the Hindi film stereotypes of song, dance and drama.

In the scheme of the National Film awards, films from Manipur made its entry into the world of films with Matamgi Manipur in 1972 and was awarded the National film award for best Manipuri film the same year. The film had an actor who was to turn director and incidentally, the most feted film director of the state till date — Aribam Syam Sharma. Making his directorial debut with Lamja Parshuram in 1974, a huge commercial success in Manipur, Eigya Syam as he is popularly called and known by, went on to make critics stand up and discover the tiny state of Manipur with ‘Imagi Ningthem’ receiving the Golden Montgolfiere in the Nantes film festival in 1982. Later, his ‘Ishaanou’ (1990) was screened in the Under Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Another critically acclaimed film director of the state and who was technically trained in the craft of film-making and whose works got feted on the national level was MA Singh who unfortunately did not get to see great commercial success back home.

Interestingly, most of the early Manipur films were works of collaborations of entrepreneurs from the state who had no background or training of film making but who were determined that Manipur should also be a part of the global cinema movement. These entrepreneurs raised money and collaborated with technicians and artistes from outside the state to raise the foundation of the Manipur film industry. The huge costs involved in making 70 mm films, the lack of technical infrastructure and the limitations of society and culture meant that the output of films were kept to a bare minimum till 2000 when the ban on Hindi films in the state led to the emergence of digital films. The medium of local cable channels as a platform for showcasing local names and their artistic talent also meant new faces coming to the fore in the film industry which now churns out more than 50 films every year.

But the core question now is whether the increase in film output has brought about more qualitative films that leaves audiences spellbound with its narrative, characterizations and aesthetics as the earlier films did. The Manipur film industry even has an in house censorship mechanism that lays down stringent guidelines on what can be shown on screen, what language can be used, what costumes can be worn and how scenes should play out on screen which means that before Manipuri films are sent to the Central Censor Board, they go through a fine tooth comb that looks out for ‘cultural’ sensitivity. Tellingly enough, when the 61st National Film Awards for 2013 was announced, there was no Manipuri film in the honor list even with a ‘quota’ system in place. This, even as those in the film making line should be attempting to stake claim to the National film awards not in the language category but in the main category given the quantum leap in film making concept, resources and the markets available for films with universal themes.

Leader Writer: Chitra Ahanthem

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/manipuri-films-on-the-national-scene/

The State education minister must go through a thorough reality-check before claiming that education scenario in the State is improving. Very recently, the minister in his speech on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebration of Oriental College said that education has come back to its right track, and it is improving. The minister and the education department must be having their own benchmark of measuring the improvement in education sector. Or, if there is any, we would say, their benchmarking system has serious flaws. On the same day when the minister was making the statement, students of Tamphasana Girls’ Higher Secondary school took to the streets protesting against the lack of adequate teachers in the institution. The students of Ananda Singh Academy School too have protested a few days back against the lack of teachers and other basic infrastructures in the school. Time and again, the same demands have been raised by other schools which are located in the heart of the Capital. This cannot be taken as an indication that all is well with educational institutes in other parts of the State. The schools in the towns by virtue of their location could grab media attention and hence the reportage. Yet, it has been our effort to report stories that pertain to education and the embodying malaise in the system. These reports could be from the peripheries as well. Our August 10 indicated schools in Jiribam Barak Circle have fairly the same problem that the educational institutes in the Imphal town are facing. Was it not this year that the grandiose idea of ‘Centralised Admission System’ was flaunted by the State education directorate? So called eight ‘elite’ government schools from the Imphal were selected for the centralised admission. The idea was that centralisation will bring uniformity in students’ enrollment, besides availing them quality teachers and good infrastructures which the eight schools purportedly have. The two schools, which are TG and Ananda Singh, needless to mention are included among the eight selected schools for CSA. Spurt of protests by students from these schools against the lack of teachers and infrastructures expose the barrenness, both in terms of idea and action of the education department towards the improvement of education in the State. IFP in this column had earlier contended the idea of a centralised admission would be like giving death sentence to other schools in the State by concentrating all its resources and energy to a selected few schools in Imphal. However, in spite of the disturbing realities, the education minister has the audacity of projecting a rosy image of the State education scenario. Alongside, our learned education minister has once again opened the debate of what education is meant to be. Not only the education minister, but also the Chief Minister has been appealing to the students’ community to refrain from taking part in movements which are not related to education. Should we remind that students were in the forefront both in the statehood and the language movement of the State? Without the students’ participation in these two movements, the demand for a full-fledged State and 8th Schedule would have remained as demands. Though, one cannot deny the wider involvement of other stakeholders in both the movements. For a simple example, was not Bhagat Singh a student leader when he met his martyrdom struggling for the independence of India? It is impossible to think of independence movement, for that matter, to be included in the syllabus of the then education system of colonial India, which is against the logic as well.

But how would someone like Bhagat Singh, who in his early 20s fired by the imagination of freedom lay down his life for the country. The answer lies in the education that can be acquired outside the syllabus or the educational campus. Lessons of immediate social realities are learned from the social-political theatres, which are beyond the institutional boundaries of any education system. We do not however endorse protest march of the students on the streets at the drop of a hat. The cause of the protest has to be genuine. Nonetheless, the appeal made by the two leaders is deceitful and will be self-defeating. What the State needs today is a robust education policy, not soothing speeches.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/rethinking-education/

A State police personnel was injured, hit by a misfired tear gas shell on his face, just a day or two ago. Ironically, the tear gas shell was meant to disperse college students taking out a rally demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State. Agitations are galore in the State at present and such reports fill not just the front pages but even the inside pages of local dailies. Student rallies, sit in protests demanding ILP implementation have become staple of the State today. However, the concern here is not of the movement demanding ILP implementation, but the use of tear gas shells, smoke bombs and rubber bullets to control agitating students.

Manipur University hostellers are shouting their guts out over what they call “unreasonable order” to vacate their hostels. Moirang students erupted over the tragic and bizarre death of a young student trying to mediate a fight between a mohori and his labourers, as reported by local dailies. Yairipok residents are yet to find truce with the government over the suspected killing of a 33 year old housewife who was found dead with knife injuries on her body and continue to agitate. Ukhrul protested the arrest of eight NSCN (IM) cadres following the killing of ADC member in an ambush. Student unions of eight higher secondary schools in Imphal have been protesting lack of facilities and teachers in their schools. There are several other agitations confronting the State at the moment which are much subtler than these mentioned. Nevertheless, the State has its hands full of agitations.

Now the most common visual in all these agitations is the police being pitted against the students. The police, being the law and order controlling machinery of the State, are the ones sent to control any disruption of peaceful atmosphere. Police personnel in riot gears with tear gas shell launchers and guns slinging across their shoulders are pitted against students in uniforms. Student participation in violent agitations is another topic which needs a space of its own for discussion.

Is tear gas the only way to quell protests? Over the past few days, many have been injured in police action to control agitations, most of them students. Is the use of tear gas shells, smoke bombs and lathi charging against students, ethical, at a time when efforts are on to abolish corporal punishments from the classrooms? Although the two are of different contexts, the consequences could be the same.

Now, violent measures like firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs have been used not only where there are violent instances of protestors resorting to road blocks, stone pelting and attacking passing by vehicles, but against students taking out rallies. Students hold placards and shout slogans during such rallies. Does this mean that the State police is equipped with only tear gas shells and smoke bombs to control dissent? Many would love to disagree. Why not use water cannons for a change. Maintaining law and order would always remain the main prerogative of the State, but in a democratic setting, this doesn’t mean it could trample on the peoples’ aspirations.

Another important aspect witnessed during the agitations is that the education environment has been disturbed. Students are outside their classrooms, while they should be inside. Instead of waiting for the issue to get out of hand and then act, the sooner the government comes out with ways to solve the issues, the better it would be for both the general public and the State.

Leader Writer: Wangkheimayum Bhupendra Singh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/is-tear-gas-shell-the-only-answer/

While observing the 69th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, the city’s mayor called on US President Barack Obama and other world leaders to visit the city to see the scars of the atomic bombing first hand. He said, “If you do, you will be convinced that nuclear weapons are an absolute evil that must no longer be allowed to exist.” Japan, being a victim of nuclear bombing during the World War II, has gone through sordid experience of how devastating nuclear attacks are. The nation therefore has every right to draw the attention of the nations across the globe, highlighting the futility of nuclear weapons. But is there possibility of a world without nuclear weapons? Tom Dunn, an emerging commentator on international relations in his essay, ‘Is a world without Nuclear Weapons a realistic prospect?’ gives a hard-hitting argument that there can never be a world without nuclear weapons. Dunn contends that there is unlikely scenario of all territorial and ideological disputes around the world being resolved, nuclear disarmament will remain elusive because unfortunately, the technology and knowledge, with the potential to be resurrected as new conflict emerge, will still exist. Even years after the end of the Cold War and the Warsaw Pact, nuclear weaponisations are still very much on the agenda. This is despite signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The treaty recognises five countries as nuclear-weapon countries: The US, Russia, UK, France and China. The treaty is signed by many countries and it is said that more countries have signed the treaty than any other treaty on arms limitation in the world’s history. Four countries have not signed the treaty. They are: North Korea, India, Pakistan which have openly conducted nuclear tests and arguably Israel, which is believed to own nuclear warheads.
Indeed, territorial disputes and associated turmoil are something which we hear and see daily on the television news channels, whether it is Gaza in West Asia or Ukraine in Eastern Europe. And not so far away, the boundary dispute between India and Pakistan, who are equally equipped with nuclear warheads, is matter of grave concern. Though, there are no indications of an immediate nuclear strike between the two nations, uncertainties still loom large as the relationship between the two have remained unstable. Here, Hiroshima’s mayor drawing the attention of US President Obama is more than appropriate. Obama before getting elected to second term as President had claimed that he has a commitment to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. However, the international communities have not witnessed any meaningful step being taken up by the Obama administration towards his commitment of nuclear disarmament. Moreover, it is also undeniable that the US has been either directly or indirectly involved in most of the conflicts that have been taking place around the world. With the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons in its coffer, the US has always been at the helms of international affairs to superimpose its role as the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the world. In spite of the economic and cultural ties that are being established between different countries, there are no visible signs of long lasting peace as many of the conflicts have remained unresolved. Question may be raised, whether ideal concept, like ‘universal brotherhood’ will remain a utopian dream or not.  Or where do we locate ourselves, on a day like the Hiroshima Day? Being a citizen of a strife-torn place called Manipur on this planet, we do have our preoccupations. Perhaps, the answer lies in coming out of our domestic cocoons, at least for a day; and raise voices on issues that may seem unconnected with us, however small the voices are. But that would be a meaningful step towards universal brotherhood.  

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/on-hiroshima-day/

While the upgrading of Sanjenthong Bridge, work for which is currently underway, has been long overdue, the manner in which this project was conceived and executed, betrays the impulsive and ad hoc thinking of the government. It is sometimes difficult not to believe the Manipur government is bothered about, or else capable of, vision farther than the immediate, and this project has only strengthened this doubt. So very often, witnessing these developments, the analogy that strikes is that of the high school classroom lesson in which poet Kalidas as a boy learns a lesson the hard way when he was given the job of chopping down the branch of a tree, and he did so sitting on it. The Sanjenthong Bridge on the Imphal River, by is far the most important link between Imphal West and Imphal East, and there is unlikely to be anybody who is not happy at the thought this bridge is being upgraded and widened. Because of the ever increasing volume of traffic, this link point between the two bustling districts of the capital city, sharing between them many major government and private institutions, was becoming a traffic bottleneck trying everybody’s patience practically all through the day, every day, round the year. While the intended public good of the project is beyond doubt, it is in its execution a lot is left to be desired.

Since linking the two districts is vital, even while the plan for upgrading the Sanjenthong Bridge was being prepared, the government ought to have thought of ensuring other link roads were at least in usable condition. What we see now instead is yet another instance of the public being taken for granted. Like the boy realizing cutting the branch he was sitting on would be ultimately to his peril, the government too, after blocking off the arterial Sanjenthong Road, suddenly  seems to have woken up to the reality, trying its best only now to make the little used Moirangkhom Bridge road worthy. As expected, the narrow, single-lane, dirt roads which lead to the bridge from either end, now are in perpetual traffic congestions for most time of the day all days. When it rains, the mud slush the traffic ploughs through is a horror, and when it is not raining, the dust cloud the traffic kicks up is not only an ugly sight, but would surely be a major health hazard for those living along this stretch of road. Like this one, there are a number of other bridges linking the two Imphal districts, they all should have been first made traffic worthy before shutting off the Sanjenthong Bridge. Sadly, with perhaps the exception of Minuthong Bridge almost all the other bridges, or their approach roads are still not in any shape to handle an increased volume of traffic.

Beyond mere inconveniences of commuters, shutting off main thoroughfares without adequate preparations have other long term damages which may not be noticeable immediately. If the shutdown is for an extended period, it can spell the death knell for many marginal businesses along the road. Owners of Photostat shops, photo studios, car workshops, grocery stores, vegetable vendors and many more running small businesses at the Palace Gate market will vouch this enthusiastically. Many of them are already agonisingly feeling the slow strangulation. It needs no reminder, in an employment avenue starved State, this is extremely bad news. But what has been done cannot be undone, and there is nothing much more to do than empathise with those adversely affected. Every good thing has a price, but it is unfortunate only they have to bear the major brunt of a project undertaken for the benefit of all. The chief minister, Okram Ibobi, has pledged the new Bridge would be complete by the end of the year, before the popular annual Sangai Festival. Though past records of such government promises would likely make many sceptical, we do hope the government does everything in its power to ensure timely completion and reopening of this vital road.

Meanwhile, the government must also pay serious heed to the Imphal traffic, which was rarely ever well managed. Even before the blocking off of the Sanjenthong road, this chaos was bad, but now it seems irredeemably out of control. Our roads shamelessly are ill made and unable to last out a single monsoon, most of them are without pedestrian walkways, almost all of them have no cycle lanes although cycles still remain an important mode of transport for many, passenger vehicles park wherever a putative passenger waves at them, no vehicle user seems to understand or else care following traffic norms or etiquettes, and at their whims squeeze their way through jams, worsening the chaos in the process, designated parking areas are few and far between… Why can’t the authorities see all these are important factors in determining the quality of everybody’s life in the capital city? Or is it another clichéd case of Emperor Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burned.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/good-intention-bad-execution/

The performance of Indian sportspersons in the just concluded 20th Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, finishing fifth in the medals tally with 15 gold, 30 silver and 19 bronze for a total haul of 64 medals behind England, Australia, Canada and hosts Scotland is now being overshadowed by the news of the secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association getting arrested for an alleged assault on women. Another unattached wrestling referee has also been arrested for an alleged sexual assault. What one can infer from the reaction to the alleged incidents is the manner of immediate response. Latest emerging reports say that the two have been let off for lack of concrete evidence. Nearer home, we have had disclosures of a coach molesting and harassing five students at the Sports Training Centre at Takyelpat which came on the heels of an earlier incident when Ng Dingko ended up beating students at the Sports Authority of India, Manipur complex. But no stringent action has been taken apart from condemnations and transfers. With the Ng Dingko case, it was the aggressive stance taken by civil society groups that led to the police case being taken up against him for there were efforts to go soft on the boxer.
 
With growing incidences of elected representatives going on record to threaten that women should be raped, that women who get sexually abused or harassed are calling for such against them because of the way they dress, where and when they go etc, that men get aggressive because of mobile phone use or eating chowmein; the reports of sexual violence on women and children getting on an increase is no surprise. There is a strange misogyny prevalent in the Indian society that deems fit to put ‘women where they belong’, to bracket women into water tight compartments that end up restricting movement and social interactions, with the end result that the emphasis on what women can do and cannot do leading to ‘just deserts’ for women who go foul of these dictates. On the face of it, women have more ‘freedom’ and ‘equal rights’ but the reality is that societal prejudices, concepts and tolerance of what a woman can and cannot do have not really changed much.
 
A vast section of young and not so young men in the country today deem it completely ‘normal’ and accepted to indulge in the practice of what is known as ‘eve teasing’ that in reality translates into harassment. Worse, women who are subjected to ‘eve teasing’ are supposed to feel privileged with the attention so showered and any complaints, to such cases are mostly met with amusement rather than a positive response to take swift action against those indulging in the said act of eve teasing. One only needs to see what happens to girls and young women who take a strong stand against being eve teased or being ‘followed’ in the form of vicious attacks and the use of acid, leaving many disfigured. If ever a study were to be taken up in Manipur with regard to the nature of eve teasing and its trends, the result would indicate a not so surprising fact that it is often men in security uniforms who indulge in the act. Another lesson in irony where those in positions of power and authority to take action in cases of sexual violence are the ones who are perpetrating it further.
 
Yes, laws with regard to sexual violence in the country have been strengthened in the aftermath of the brutal gang rape and subsequent death of a para-medic student in New Delhi in 2012 while the police and legal systems have been asked to step up in terms of their response to cases of sexual violence against women and children. Yet, these developments have not deterred any perpetrators of sexual violence but worryingly led to a spurt in cases of sexual violence against minor girls. While stringent action needs to be taken up against those indulging in sexual violence, the real game changer will be an attitude shift vis a vis the place of women in the society. This in turn, can only come about when there is a conceptual clarity of gender norms and practices.
 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/misogyny-and-sexual-violence/

August 1 to 7 is observed as World Breastfeeding Week. One of the United Nation’s important bodies such as the United Nations’ Children Fund endorses the observation. It says the week is to highlight the vital role of breastfeeding that it plays in the lives of children and the critical importance of promoting the value of breastfeeding globally, nationally, and at the community level. This year’s theme is: ‘Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal – for Life. It is also linked with one of the eight Millennium Development Goals to be achieved. Though there has been criticism against the MGDs from various social commentators and planners, that there is lack of analysis and justification behind the chosen objectives. Criticism apart, the importance of breastfeeding needs to be acknowledged universally. As goes the popular Manipuri modern song ‘Khomlaang laman singngamloi nungi – minungshi chaobi – he ema’, its loose translation would be: ‘The debt for the milk you nourished us – will remain forever – Mother kindhearted’. The lyric of this song is from B Jayantakumar Sharma, written with patriotic fervor; it heightens one’s love for motherland. N Pahari by giving voice to the lyrics has immortalised the song. The denotation of mother’s milk in this song has its centrality with the bond that is shared between mother and child, or a patriot with his or her motherland. It reflects how entrenched is the impression of mother’s milk both in the personal and social psyche. When a child is born in the Leikai, a lactating mother would always volunteer to breastfeed the newborn, while the mother takes her time to regain strength after the delivery. This was a common social practice among the Meitei community not so long time ago. But now the practice has been replaced by bottled milk powder. Doctors normally advise to feed the baby with the milk powder until the mother’s recovery. At the same time they strictly advise young mothers to ensure feeding the baby with colostrum milk, which is invaluable to the newborn in warding off diseases.

As part of the global observation, the week is also being observed in Manipur. Having witnessed some of the observations that have been taking place this week, it would not be wrong to say that most of the observations have been predictably ceremonial. It usually goes with a formal function, with some speeches from the dignitaries seated on the dais. Followed by media coverage of the event on the following day, the speeches will be more or less highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding and the significance of the week-long observation etc. This has been the practice for other observations like the environment day, wet land day, population day or the fire service week for that matter. In place of the ceremonial one, what are badly needed are concrete policies and actions in respect to the issues in focus. The annual observation should be a day of assessment, of the related actions that were taken out during the 365 days. Breastfeeding week, particularly for the State would be to assess the working atmosphere of the lactating mothers. For instance, it is mandatory to have lactating rooms in all public buildings, whether cinema halls or auditoriums in other advanced countries. A study on the dietary habit of the State is also a must. Consumption of tobacco has phenomenally increased in the State. Tobacco (Zarda Pan) is being consumed widely by a large section of the population, which include pregnant and lactating women. Studies have shown that tobacco has adverse effect on the baby’s health. Women who are engaged in informal sectors are often vulnerable to inimical working atmosphere. We often witness lactating mothers street vending with their children. In fact, women are a major chunk of the informal work force in Manipur. These are some of the issues that are needed to be addressed, rather than rhetoricising the glory of Manipuri women and motherhood on a week-long observation of breastfeeding. Let us score the real winning goal.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/a-winning-goal-for-life/

By: M.c. Linthoingambee

The Intellectual Property Rights are certain areas brought abut to make amends for safeguarding right with effective statutes, bodies and various other institutes. India still has a long way to go because the Constitution of India has not expressly mentioned its father clause of providing measures and protection to these rights. But are Indian inventors, writers, singers, composers, etc protected? Yes, we have existing statutory legislations to grant refuge to the above mentioned. We can say the sky is the limit for these areas of law is put under constant corrections and amendments for improvements. China and India competes hand in hand for new status of population explosion ranked in the first and second respectively and now they have more to compete for with the congressional caucus moderating and claiming these two countries as the perpetrators to Intellectual Property Rights with China moving the violation percentage of Intellectual Property Rights at 73 per cent followed by India at 60 per cent. The out
come of these discoveries has led even the US to keep a close watch on the Intellectual property violations of these two countries and a few others. That’s the silver platter just being opened to the ideology. India for example, has one the highest percentage of producing generic medicines and tag lined for counterfeiting of goods.

The piracy rates on Intellectual Property Rights has by far exceeded in heaving way for hoarding huge amount of black money which are used for unwanted activities. The shops in and out of Delhi in the country have their fair share of pirated copies of software, programs, books, movies, etc. We see more pirated copies of computer programs being sold for a lesser price which is befitting to the many college going students who happen to be main users of these programs. And we have even paid witness to pirated books being sold in the open at various street stalls even before its release. For popular books like Harry Potter, more copies get sold in the black market to meet to the demands of its buyers. Let’s face it! It’s better to earn a little more for a common street vendor under such circumstances to go by in a day. But all these do not necessarily get recorded in the good books as perpetrating a certain right attained or given to an author or an inventor must be respected and not violated in the hope of earning a little extra black money. Certain measures need special attention but a little cross story runs in the family.

There are boundaries to target the recourse and we are often at a loss for words. But India has certain exceptions to these violations. India being a poor country unlike most is the major provider of generic medicines at a cheaper rate than those heavily tag with expensive price tags. For a person suffering with the ailments of cancer or HIV/AIDS it is better for them to use a cheaper medicine which comes under their budget rather than expensive treatments. For each person that suffers in Africa or a backward country, India has been one of the chief providers of generic medicines with its pharmaceutical industry battling to find new processes and products which have the same properties, chemical components and medicinal value of an originally patented product. Keeping aside the unsettled chapters of a diary, the issues of patent and copyright has constantly been coming in the limelight although one might add that it’s a shame India does not have patent over the famously consumed Basmati Rice which originated from India itself. We need to go and take back what’s rightfully ours.

Unfortunately, there is only a handful of legal experts or persons dealing entirely in the field of Intellectual Property Rights in the country. So, innovators might lose hope of inventing newer and inventive step of a new creation which might be industrially applicable and fit for use in counting the economic benefits. Once there was a story of great copyright piracy protective measures that happened around the time of 2001 which my teacher recounted with me, where it was a major one of a kind thing for the first time in Indian cinema history that the legal representative of the movie filed a suit against anonymous for selling pirated copies of the movie even before its released. It was a story of the shocking producer who had to predict the fundamentals and outcomes of going ahead with the suit. It was a tough choice but if we want to stop the evils of piracy that is spreading like an unwanted cold has to be tackled with new tactics. A few inventive measures only come into place once in our times. The Jaylalitha Government in Tamil Nadu also took up an initiative to place a statute in order called the Goonda Act to act as a mechanism to inflict the characters of being a ‘goonda’ which means a thug in Hindi to battle and fight the evils of copyright piracy in the state as a whole.

At the end of the day, we are just claiming for the true purpose of a creator to be exercised effectively which may occur in the form of designs, geographical indication, copyright, patent, circuit designs, etc. Necessity is the mother of inventions and maybe we did right in naming something like the nuclear designs of not coming under the authority of patentable inventions. That’s a tight stuff of the back but we need more and more inventions which may befit the role of attaining and safeguarding humanity but not destroy them in the process. Let’s face it at the end of the day everyone wants a level playing field to exchange the ides and inventions of Intellectual property and we must give them that wonder stage.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/the-creators-protection/

The State witnessed some sporadic violent incidents related with the demand for implementing Inner Line Permit System over the last few weeks. First on the list is the brutal clampdown on students agitating for getting the act implemented in the State. As most of us know, ILP was purportedly designed to protect the indigenous people in the erstwhile Bengal Frontier Region from being corrupted by outside influence. Notwithstanding the official rationale which attributed the appalling police action as retaliation to the provocation of unruly students, not too many right thinking individuals are convinced. Neither has the Deputy Chief Minister’s face saving act by apologising to the people gone down well with many.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s report ‘Crime in India 2013’, Manipur has one of the highest population to police force ratio in India with 1,020 policemen per one lakh population. The United Nations recommended norm for societies not facing a major security challenge is a minimum police strength of 222 per 100,000 people. An increase in the population to police force ratio has not translated into more security for people but may have helped in employment generation. As per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India ‘Police’ and ‘Law and Order’ are State subjects. Therefore, the onus is on the State governments to decide the composition of the police forces, its modernisation and equipping them adequately to face the challenges to internal security.

The sixty thousand dollar question here is whether the government has been able to contain insurgency to a considerable degree by employing more police personnel. The recent incident where a police officer smacked the face of a student who was running scared from police personnel is the latest in cases of police brutality. Almost a decade ago, a similar repulsive incident made headlines across the world. We can only hope that the State police will not prove Marx right by repeating the tragic incident as farce in the future. The Deputy CM’s assurance that some of the security personnel will be groomed to behave properly while dealing with ordinary citizens is welcome.

Coming back to the another violent incident related with ILP in which some vigilante civil body set ablaze a truck for carrying some 20 odd non locals, it can be only said that sane and rational individuals should mull a lot before taking the law into their own hands. ILP implementation is an emotive issue for many in the State but violent agitations alone will not suffice in getting it implemented. The merits of their argument will go a long way in convincing the powers that be who will inadvertently take the final call on its implementation. A healthy debate between those who are against its implementation and for its implementation will be a good start in that direction.

We need to study how other countries deal with similar demands. Making an in-depth study about what the US government does for protecting the Polynesian people in Hawaii would be a great idea. Similar studies about certain laws enacted by the Canadian government in some of its provinces where white settlers can’t buy or own land can be of immense help.

Manipur doesn’t exist in vacuum and is only a microcosm of the bigger world where various groups of people are also struggling to survive whatever the challenges are.

Leader Writer: Svoboda Kangleicha

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/ilp-violence-and-history-repeating-itself/

Manipur Legislative Assembly’s concluding week of the Assembly session saw intensive agitation for implementation of the Inner Line Permit, ILP system in Manipur. Protests demanding the implementation of ILP were brewing up slowly in the State. This year’s February Assembly session was also marked by modest protests on ILP, taken out at different pockets of the valley. However the July session saw the protest shifting its gear for a more intensive one. We would say the protest in and around the Dhanamanjuri college campus, and Thangmeiband area near the Assembly complex by students gave an impetus to the intensity of the protest. The State Police’s brutal action towards student protestors was something that shocked the people to a large extent. What followed was spontaneous reaction in form of protests in different areas. The atmosphere is still charged even after the Assembly session. One can easily sense the resentment against the Government. ‘Insensitivity’ of the 60 MLAs to the demand of the people, is one common tirade employed by most of the protestors. As seen on the placards and heard from the slogans of the protestors, the demand for resignation of 60 MLAs for their failure to empathise with the people’s demand has been a popular call. The demand not only lacks pragmatism, but a far-off one to achieve. True, political demand does come with political rhetoric too. Sometimes, protestors on camera even claim that they can sacrifice their lives for ILP. Nevertheless, collective wisdom of the people must decide if ILP is a cause worth laying one’s life for or not.

Time and again, the elected representatives are blamed for their insensitivity to issues of the State. In a parliamentary democracy, the representative assembly is the most important decision making body. Decisions on behalf of the people are made, to serve the best interest of the people. It is important to have parliamentary debate before major decisions are made. The recent Assembly session was a budget session, which means important financial decisions pertaining to the State and its economy were taken. In this regard, we need not restate how many among the 60 representatives took part in the debate. The number hardly reaches 10 per cent of the House’s total strength. If any, leave aside the rigour of the debate, the number of participants would clearly reflect the level of involvement of our honourable representatives. This is not to indicate that the House should be turned into a market place like environment, with so many to speak and none to listen. But we demand some rightful noise in the House during an Assembly session, rather than mournful silences. Debate, which is the backbone of democracy, was sadly missing in the House. One could contend that the majority of the House belongs to the Treasury Bench, and therefore the silence. But what about the wholesome participation of the members when the ‘privilege’ of the House was supposedly breached by an outburst from a human right activist during a television discussion over the ILP issue? Apart from all the important decisions taken during the session, was there even a hint of discussion on June 24 Majorkhul fire incident which occurred in the heart of the town. The Chief Minister and his motley group of VIPs were witness to it. They already had a brush with the looming danger of the faulty urban planning. What about the June 4 School van accident which took place at the CM’s home turf? It was the accident which exposed the negligence of the transport department in implementing safety guidelines for the children. We clearly see lack of sensitivity on each count. But, mind it, they will not resign.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/will-they-resign/

The agitation for the introduction of the Inner Line Permit system in Manipur is yet again throwing up uneasy light on ways our civil society works. While the justification or suitability of the Inner Line System, a direct legacy of the British promulgated Bengal Inner Line Regulation of 1873, in meeting the present challenges of the State, is another matter, it is the manner of the agitations for its implementation by our civil society bodies, and the government’s response to them, which needs further deliberations urgently. True, the two may be likened to the familiar analogy of the disease and its symptoms, and that the primacy in any long term problem solving strategy must without dispute lie with tackling the disease first and not the symptom. However, as is often the case, both the disease as well as its symptoms can become equally serious life threatening challenges to the patient concerned. There can be no better or more immediate example than that of the dreaded AIDS (Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome), the cause for which is the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The disease is a killer, but equally, secondary infections such as tuberculosis to which the patient’s resistance have been destroyed, can devastate.

A lot has already been said on the ILP, the historical compulsions which made the British think of introducing it in its province of Bengal to which Assam was initially incorporated and the ramification of this frontier policy in what is now known as Northeast India. The significance of this regulation has greatly transformed in the present times, though this new meaning attributed it was not exactly what the British intended at the time of its introduction. The IFP has carried closer studies of these matters in earlier articles and will publish more in the coming days in the hope that more lights are thrown on various aspects of the issue at hand, and the possible benefits and drawbacks of the ILP understood better. For now however, the focus will be on the manner social agitations, including the current one, are pushed in Manipur, as well as the way they are retaliated by the government, for there is something very disconcerting in these developments.

This is not a recommendation for aping whatever happens elsewhere in the modern world, but one of assessing our own situations by referring and comparing them to how other progressive societies have handled similar situations. The current agitation in the State is spearheaded by students therefore a look at this youthful and extremely vital section of our society is imperative. True to the saying that the future belongs to the young, behind many of the most powerful social movements throughout the world have actually been the articulations by students’ communities, of various political and social aspirations thrown up before them by the changing times. Manipur too has seen its fair share of youthful restiveness. But the problem here is, the term “student” tends to be painted with a broad brush and used indiscriminately. While you often see 40 year old “student” leaders who have long ceased to be student, directing and orchestrating student agendas, you also more often than not see school students in uniforms barely out of their toddler days being led into the streets like lambs to the slaughter, to be the foot soldiers of aggressive protests. This is a pity. What the chief minister, Okram Ibobi reflected on the matter when he told the Assembly on the last day of its Budget Session on Monday, that these agitating students should not stray into politics just as yet, resonated strongly on this observation.

The jarring thing then is, while elsewhere in the world, student movements germinate, incubate and mature in university campuses, here in Manipur political thoughts seem to take birth on high school playgrounds. It is indeed a pain to see kids in school uniforms being pushed into frontlines and made to brave retaliations by the State. To every onlooker’s horror, the State has been at its brutal best in clamping down on these bewildered, slogan shouting, boys and girls, still wet behind their ears. There can be no excuse whatsoever for this lack of restraint, and the forces involved deserve unqualified universal condemnation. However, the manner in which these school children are dragged into the adult world and consistently made cannon fodders of political agitations, the full implications of which these children are unlikely to be familiar with, is tragic and no less condemnable.

If those who come out on the streets to confront the State on contested public issues were to be students and faculties of universities and colleges, it would have been expected and appreciated. The movements they initiate too would also more easily win the moral support and confidence of the public. The universities are acknowledged seats of higher learnings and birthplaces of revolutionary thoughts and ideals, and students as well as faculties here are looked up to as agents and catalysts of ideas capable of ushering in changes for the larger common good of society. Unfortunately, while university and college students have been conspicuous by their silence on social issues, their faculties have been indeed on strikes, unfortunately, more often than not on issues of service perks and other benefits supposedly denied them.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/children-in-public-agitation/

‘Manipur is a sport powerhouse’ is an oft-repeated statement. With a long list of names that have made it to medal winning hall of fame for the state, there is indeed cause for us to feel pride for the sportspersons who have made a name for themselves and for the small state they belong to. Apart from sportspersons making their presence at the finishing podium and being decorated with medals, there are numerous football players in the various professional teams spread across the country. At the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glassgow, sportspersons of Manipur are making their mark in various disciplines in continuance of earlier sporting events at national and international levels where they have performed well. The performance of our sportspersons at various levels of competition is what has given the tag of ‘power house in sports’ and ‘sports loving state’. But a little bit of deeper analysis is needed to ascertain whether sports is indeed a mass scale and popular choice that is being nurtured.

While there are no real studies in this regard, it would not be wrong to say that along with a talent and aptitude for sports, many take it up as an entry ticket to a better life, a Government job placement or such. A majority of sportspersons from the state in fact is from less privileged backgrounds and become the main income earners for their families once they make a mark on the sports scene and rewards pour in. The lack of infrastructural support for sports disciplines can be seen in the narratives of the lives of football players who make do with bare feet while practicing with pomello fruits (nobab) and hockey players who make do with hockey sticks and balls fashioned out of cane or bamboo while there are no swimming pools to speak off apart from natural ponds and lakes. It is in this spirit of making a mark in sports despite the lack of support that there has been a train of thought on the level that sportspersons can reach with a little bit of backing.

The financial allocation for a Sports University in Manipur in the Union budget 2014 in fact, comes with the mention of the state being deserving of the aid while also making a mention of sports being a medium to bring youths to the mainstream. On another track, the mention of the word ‘mainstream’ is sheer irony as sports in India is still mostly about cricket and little else. We all know for a fact that cricket is played by less than twenty countries at the international level and despite there being a ‘world cup’ for the game, it is yet to be included as an Olympic sport discipline. Despite this lack of an international following, it is cricket that has all the financial backing and support in the country. The allocation for the Sports University is welcome news but one would do well to see that things are strategically planned, executed in a transparent manner and quality maintained. When Manipur organized an edition of the National Games in 1999, we got a range of sports related infrastructure but facts and history stand witness to the fact that a lot of contractors were the ones who benefited the most. And who can forget the heady rush that was on public display regarding who took off electric fittings, furniture and even flower-pots?

But apart from the all too important financial backing, aided by transparent overseeing and quality control for sports related ventures in the state, there has to be long term strategies to inculcate a love for sports on a large scale and not just let it be confined among lower income families. Another area that needs to be looked when it comes to supporting sportspersons is in their pursuit of academics. Many are often unable to be regular attendees in their places of study given their participation at various levels of competition and it’s only fair that educational institutions makes concessions for sportspersons by either instituting extra classes for those competing at state, national and international levels and going the extra mile of scheduling examinations as per their sports schedules. No amount of funding input can help the cause of sports if there is a shortfall in terms of holistic approaches.

Leader Writer: Chitra Ahanthem

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/building-support-for-sports-2/

‘Manipur is a sport powerhouse’ is an oft-repeated statement. With a long list of names that have made it to medal winning hall of fame for the state, there is indeed cause for us to feel pride for the sportspersons who have made a name for themselves and for the small state they belong to. Apart from sportspersons making their presence at the finishing podium and being decorated with medals, there are numerous football players in the various professional teams spread across the country. At the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glassgow, sportspersons of Manipur are making their mark in various disciplines in continuance of earlier sporting events at national and international levels where they have performed well. The performance of our sportspersons at various levels of competition is what has given the tag of ‘power house in sports’ and ‘sports loving state’. But a little bit of deeper analysis is needed to ascertain whether sports is indeed a mass scale and popular choice that is being nurtured.

While there are no real studies in this regard, it would not be wrong to say that along with a talent and aptitude for sports, many take it up as an entry ticket to a better life, a Government job placement or such. A majority of sportspersons from the state in fact is from less privileged backgrounds and become the main income earners for their families once they make a mark on the sports scene and rewards pour in. The lack of infrastructural support for sports disciplines can be seen in the narratives of the lives of football players who make do with bare feet while practicing with pomello fruits (nobab) and hockey players who make do with hockey sticks and balls fashioned out of cane or bamboo while there are no swimming pools to speak off apart from natural ponds and lakes. It is in this spirit of making a mark in sports despite the lack of support that there has been a train of thought on the level that sportspersons can reach with a little bit of backing.

The financial allocation for a Sports University in Manipur in the Union budget 2014 in fact, comes with the mention of the state being deserving of the aid while also making a mention of sports being a medium to bring youths to the mainstream. On another track, the mention of the word ‘mainstream’ is sheer irony as sports in India is still mostly about cricket and little else. We all know for a fact that cricket is played by less than twenty countries at the international level and despite there being a ‘world cup’ for the game, it is yet to be included as an Olympic sport discipline. Despite this lack of an international following, it is cricket that has all the financial backing and support in the country. The allocation for the Sports University is welcome news but one would do well to see that things are strategically planned, executed in a transparent manner and quality maintained. When Manipur organized an edition of the National Games in 1999, we got a range of sports related infrastructure but facts and history stand witness to the fact that a lot of contractors were the ones who benefited the most. And who can forget the heady rush that was on public display regarding who took off electric fittings, furniture and even flower-pots?

But apart from the all too important financial backing, aided by transparent overseeing and quality control for sports related ventures in the state, there has to be long term strategies to inculcate a love for sports on a large scale and not just let it be confined among lower income families. Another area that needs to be looked when it comes to supporting sportspersons is in their pursuit of academics. Many are often unable to be regular attendees in their places of study given their participation at various levels of competition and it’s only fair that educational institutions makes concessions for sportspersons by either instituting extra classes for those competing at state, national and international levels and going the extra mile of scheduling examinations as per their sports schedules. No amount of funding input can help the cause of sports if there is a shortfall in terms of holistic approaches.

Leader Writer: Chitra Ahanthem

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/building-support-for-sports/