N Biren’s commitment to BJP and his mentor Narendra Modi is beyond any doubt. His loyalty to his party and ideology is so strong and was shown to the world with his controversial speech at Gujarat. In his speech he tried to show that in ancient days, Krishna tried to unify North East with India (by kidnapping Rukamani?), in these days, Narendra Modi is trying the same. In short, to N Biren, Narendra Modi is Krishna in contemporary India. His ideology of one India one culture guides him in sailing the stormy politics of North East in general and Manipur in particular. From this ideological stand, a strong nation should be created with Hindu Nationalism or on the basis of the philosophy of Hindutva. There is nothing wrong with his loyalty to his party or commitment to his mentor.
Remembering any Indian hero, including Jhansi Rani, at the soil of Manipur is not wrong. But, the State of Manipur should know the reason of the remembrance of a particular hero and not all the heroes of same kind. Jhani Rani was brave and tried to fight for the sovereignty of her kingdom. There were many such notable kings including Bahadur Shah Zafar who fought with East India Company. Why should we remember them selectively or why we should not celebrate the acts or events related with some other Indian heroes? It is related with your commitment to a particular political ideology or your definition of Nationalism or Indian nationalism. If you pay homage to Jhansi Rani, why you should not to Bahadur Shah Zafar?
Building a nation, we remember the words of Mahatama Gandhi, needs to strengthen the rural people. Empowering them is a key to development of India as a nation. Serving them by organizing a few camps is not what empowerment demands in the name of Go-to-village, but strengthening administration in rural or hill areas. Strengthen the Panchayat is the demand of the day. However a moot question that came up in the collective mind of Manipur is that how the issues of rural development is related with the Anglo-Manipuri War 1891 which was fought between Manipur and UK, not between Manipur and East India Company. Is 1891 War inferior to 1857 Sepoy Mutiny? Is the War rather irrelevant today for any observance than the philosophy of Go-to-village approach to rural development? Are not 1891 having any position in the politics of Hindutva or Modi’s scheme of national integration?
The publication of a special issue of Manipur Today on 23 April 2019 does not matter much. You may publish or not. The question is on the explanation given by the government for not publishing such a special issue. The government said the special issue would not have any achievement of the Government as there was Model Code of Conduct. Is your achievement more important than the homage to the heroes of 1891? In the collective mind of the Manipuris, 1891 is a great moment that defied the dictate of imperialist British. It was the great moment how Manipuri as a nation showed the world of their love of freedom and independence. It was the great moment the heroes could die for their motherland when its sovereignty was at stake. N Biren should understand that paying full homage to Manipur’s heroes would not diminish his loyalty to his party or commitment to his mentor.
Writer: Sh. Ajit
