Home » GK Pillai’s Way Out and today’s Manipur

GK Pillai’s Way Out and today’s Manipur

by Rinku Khumukcham
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When it comes to Indo-NSCN(IM) talk, GK Pillai’s name has surfaced repeatedly in the public discussions. Civil Society Organisations have started paying attention to the solutions he offered in a Defense Studies and Analyses seminar in 2011. GK Pillai’s way out for Manipur includes safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur, more autonomy for the hills and scrapping of AFSPA in favor of another similar draconian act. It is laughable what GK Pillai has said when it comes to the draconian law which has repressed people that it should continue in a different name.
Given that Indo-NSCN(IM) talk is coming to fruit, we have come to realize that territorial integrity of Manipur will remained untouched. The contention is on the autonomy for hill, whether the autonomy will be such that there will be a state within the state of Manipur or it will be an autonomy which does not bypass the authority of the state of Manipur.
Moreover, in question and answer session when asked whether Meiteis should be listed as scheduled tribes or not, GK Pillai in the seminar replied that he would be glad if Meiteis become ST and it will be good for Manipur if the Meitei’s choose to “dehinduise.” Now we have ex-civil servants, ex-army men, various civil society organizations, particularly civil society organizations defending and struggling to preserve the pre-18th century culture of people who are demanding Meitei community be listed as scheduled tribe. Their argument is not about the benefits it has in getting government jobs rather it is about the protection of the land and resources in the valley of Manipur from the external threats, ever increasing now with coming of Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Is this going to be the end of the insurgency in Manipur? The answer is difficult. The insurgency is against the merger of Manipur and for a mannaba khunnai.  Neither becoming ST nor safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur satisfies even an inch of what the insurgents have been fighting for. GK Pillai’s way out in not the way out that would satisfy the people who are resisting the Indian state. Furthermore, it is unclear that how the state becoming a hill state with Meiteis listed as scheduled tribe protects the land and resources of Manipur. We have seen the heights of exploitations in the state of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh after these states have been crafted with provisions protecting the land and resources of the tribals.
The situation has become complicated given that the centre has conveyed that administrative integrity would not be harmed. Is it message just for those protesting in Manipur or is it also to the NSCN (IM) ? Is it that different things are being said to the different parties involved in this mess? These things are not clear. However, what is clear is Indo-NSCN(IM) talk, CAB and other can of worms are the designs of the Indian state. The problems and the solutions both come from them now. Another thing worth asking at this juncture is, whether RN Ravi and GK Pillai are the two sides of the Indian coin, one for the NSCN IM and one for the Meiteis.

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