The first and arguably the most important step in defeating a malady be it of the physical self or the society is the recognition and acceptance of the fact that there is an ailment. The second step would be a proper diagnosis and identification of the source of the ailment. The next step would of course be to formulate and follow a line of treatment of choice. While physical ailments can and are often subjected to a system of treatment following an accepted protocol of consultation and diagnosis, social ailments are often much more difficult to detect and insidious in nature.
The not so subtle and consistent social as well as political storms that have been brewing for quite a few months now has all the symptoms of a major malady, and yet the powers that be has so far managed to portray a picture of normalcy, albeit not without suspicions and reservations from the general public. This abject denial of an inherent social and political fault is starting to contradict the efforts of those who walks the hallowed corridors of power in the state, and as an eminent sign of desperation and indignation, the voice of the people are gradually getting chocked with fear and apprehension of retaliations and retributions. These autocratic manifestations of abuse of power and position has not gone unnoticed by the general public, but is still unsure of the repercussions of voicing their concerns, and hence the uneasy silence. And yet, if the past is any indication, there has not been any force greater than the collective force of the people, more so in a democratic setup such India of which Manipur is very much a part and parcel of. Perhaps the public also needs to accept the fact that the present social and political situation is partly a result of its major mandate, fuelled perhaps by the failure of the previous regime steeped in corruption, cronyism and favoritism, each succeeding term worse than the last for the previous three consecutive terms (2002 to 2017) in power. More than likely, the present electoral manifestation of the public has been an experiment with an alternative power, marketed by a person whose indulgence is vainglory is second to none with an uncanny knack of selling sentiments to the majority. It would be one of the greatest blunders in political history to subdue the aspirations of the public and deceive its judgment through coercion to protect individual interests by those who are entrusted to take the state towards the path to progress and unity.
History should not be discarded as incidents of the past but rather be regarded as benchmarks for a better future, and if we cannot or refuse to learn from history, we are doomed. The most crucial attribute of a true leader is the rare ability to take the blame and pass the credits. Accepting the anomalies be it social or political will prepare a better groundsheet for rebuilding a better state. For all the aspirations and hopes of the people of Manipur which are more involved and informed than ever, it is clearly evident that the search for a leader who can rise above the trappings of power, personal interest and relationships must continue.
