Posted on 04/07/2023 (GMT 06:00 hrs)
Updated on 20th July, 2023 (GMT 16:28 hrs)
We, on behalf of Once in a Blue Moon Academia (OBMA), hereby convey our solidarity to the people of Manipur, where the Meitei-Kuki conflicts have led to a death valley. It is a matter of regret that the “welfare” state is keeping its mum and is busy with other non-issues such as Uniform Civil Code to divert the attention of the Indian citizens from the real miseries. We are condemning such passivity of the governmentality.
The problem was started by the enumerators, when they were officially identifying different groups or kowms by using anatomo-bio-political tool, viz., census. Let us further explain it on the basis of linguistic identity. In the North-East region of India, people are using two separate languages for communication. In the household, they are using their mother tongues; on the other hand, in the case of intra-group communication, they are using a language for wider communication⤡, e.g., Nagamese, Nefamese. This synergistic, syncretic element was disrupted when the identity politics was imposed through state and statistics nexus. If there is a conflict, there is profit on the part of the state-corporate collusion.
Though the issue is the Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, the “schedule” is itself a controversial and complicated matter. The very definition of “scheduled tribe” [Article 366(25)] as found in the Indian Constitution is tautologous in nature:
“…such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities.”
The Meiteis’ demand is an instance of formal de jure non-elaboration of social hierarchy!
Though the need of the hour is declaring Emergency on the basis of Article 356, the Indian government deployed the Army. However, the army cannot operate due to the huge civil disobedience movement in Manipur. Thus, the Indian Army is bound to appeal for peace, which is an oxymoron in itself!
Women activists in #Manipur are deliberately blocking routes and interfering in Operations of Security Forces. Such unwarranted interference is detrimental to the timely response by Security Forces during critical situations to save lives and property. 🔴 Indian Army appeals to… pic.twitter.com/Md9nw6h7Fx — SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) June 26, 2023
Other than imposing Emergency on the state, the other option to resolve this conflict is initiating non-manipulative dialogue(s) between the victims and the PM as well as the Minister of Home Affairs. During this period of protests, the FM and PM are totally silent. They are busy in making foreign visits, attending election rallies in Madhya Pradesh etc. However, when France is burning, the President Emmanuel Macron cancelled his tour to Germany just 3 days ago⤡. This is nothing more than a “conspiracy of silence” on the part of Indian Government, who has forgotten that the imagined nation state, is not a homogeneous Rastra, but a conglomerate of union of states with heterogeneous, plural codes of cultures.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE MANIPUR ISSUE:
Manipur: The daring women standing up to troops in Indian state VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 30th June, 2023 ©BBC)
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UPDATE (20/07/2023):
Manipur: India outrage after women paraded naked in violence-hit state VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 20th July, 2023 ©BBC)