By – Amar Yumnam
While thinking about the communication, knowledge and understanding between the South East Asian part of India and the South Asian part (particularly the centers of power in Delhi), I immediately feel so jealous and longing for a world Will Durant spoke: “Those [Teachers] jealous ones who would guard their knowledge from the world would only have themselves to blame if their exclusiveness and their barbarous terminology have led the world to seek in books, in lectures, and in adult education, the instruction which they themselves have failed to give.” He was speaking of this to get out of a world where “[T]he gap between life and knowledge grew wider and wider; those who governed could not understand those who thought, and those who wanted to know could not understand those who knew’. His book, The Story of Philosophy, is one of the most read and inspiring to learn more of the classics on society, state, progress and retrogression, relationships, communication, etc.
My attention particularly relates to what has been happening in Manipur in particular and the region in general. Here I would like to speak of certain typical Bharat characteristic. During the past few months, I have had the advantage of participating in quite a few international (including United Nations) and national webinars; I have chaired some as well. When a question is put, the international scholars do not hesitate in straightway answering that the particular area he/she has not looked into and not a focus of the research under way. In the case of the Indian scholars, they would attempt to answer every question whether related or not, and pretend possessing a good knowledge of the area.
Now coming to the region, I can say with confidence that the powers that be in Delhi and the “Indian” scholars do not intend to understand the region. The region commands no economic value and no social advantage but only a political display of loving the “beauty”. and pretension to be knowledgeable. A latest example is a Pre-Summit Webinar before the arrival of the Japanese Prime Minister. Two sessions were on Business between the two countries through Eastern and the South East Asian part. The discussion was chaired by the head of the Council of Economic Advisors of the PM. There was a Japanese as well. I was definitely “impressed” by the lack of both education and knowledge of the speakers: A. None of the speakers knew about the parameters of contextualization of the points being put. B. Well, investment was mentioned but, in the sense, at least thirty years old. C. Infrastructure was indeed talked but without any reflection of the contemporary sense. D. I have had the opportunity of interacting with Japanese scholars both in Manipur and Japan. But the present speaker reflected very well how weakened Japan is today as compared to at least a decade back.
From all these continuing observations and experiences, there is nothing wrong in the people of the region, particularly Manipur, feeling that India cares a hoot. Manipur’s tragedy today is characterized by: I. Local administration has only personal political ambitions and no intention for prevailing upon the federal authority to apply mind to the issues of the region. II. The power to decide on anything for the region is in Delhi without feeling about the contextual necessities for urgent policy attention. III. In events more than one, the complaints of the people are against the Assam Rifles. It may be recalled that the Assam Rifles happen to be the force used in annexing Manipur. Thus, they might be inheriting the legacy of how to play with the people of the region with suppression as the approach.
Whatever the case, there is ethnic conflict in Manipur for more than three years. With the State’s administration being happy with only continuing in power and without causing any displeasure to the political bosses at the Centre, the retrogression is very costly to all. The Council of Ministers, specifically the CM and the Home Minister, should have digested the dynamics of the conflict by now. The world has experienced both Constructive and Destructive Conflicts. If the CM and HM cannot move the conflict towards a constructive end, it would be in the fitness of things that they leave their chairs; time is very critical for our youths in this digital age. The moral damage of the conflict is much critical besides the loss of valued lives. Daniel Kahneman puts: “Duration neglect and the peak-end rule in the valuation of stories, both at the opera and in judgements of Jen’s life, are equally indefensible. It does not make sense to evaluate an entire life by its last moments, or to give no weight to duration in deciding which life is more desirable.”
