By – Amar Yumnam
The world is now celebrating the completion of the 250 years of Adam Smith’s classic “An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”, which was first published on 9 March 1776. Everywhere the questions being asked are: why his name remains famous and reference to his classic remains relevant all the time. One point I feel very strongly is that in every portion of his book there is a reflection of thinking on the issue and just not a plain expression of some views. As an example, let me just quote a portion from Book 5: “The expense of defending the society, and that of supporting the dignity of the chief magistrate, are both laid out for the general benefit of the whole society. It is reasonable, therefore, that they should be defrayed by the general contribution of the whole society, all the different members contributing, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities. The expense of the administration of justice, too, may, no doubt, be considered as laid out for the benefit of the whole society. There is no impropriety, therefore, in its being defrayed by the general contribution of the whole society. The persons, however, who gave occasion to this expense are those who, by their injustice in one way or another, make it necessary to seek redress or protection from the courts of justice.”
Only now the world is learning the difference between public and society and the inevitability to think for society, but Adam Smith wrote so clearly on these 250 years back. Manipur scenario Today is: A. The persons in power are concentrating on creating personal armies to ensure the continuation in power and eliminate any competitor. B. Anyone intending to contest elections would mobilise some youths to appear like humans busy thinking about the society. What these people are doing mean only for the public and never for the society. They really need to master the difference between the two.
While news come for the arrest of some youths with drugs, the police would naturally celebrate their success. But I feel like crying. When a child grows up and start attending the schools, I never feel that any child would think only for the public and never for the society; every child must necessarily be toying with the idea of when he/she would be able to serve the society. Manipur has no resources – no gold mine, no petroleum or so – on which the social progress can be founded. She has only three areas where we can shine and on which social progress can be founded: (i) Education; (ii) Sports and (iii) Culture. Manipur has had three Chief Ministers who had led so wonderfully in these three areas with the society (not public) in mind – Md. Alimuddin, Rishang Keishing and Yangmasho Saiza. Manipur University took the present shape only because of the leadership of Prof K J Mahale – who worked so wonderfully with limited resources. DM College was an institution known throughout the country and it has been converted to a university. But it does not have any KJ Mahale and no Chief Minister like Md Alimuddin. The present head of the institution of DM University has had no exposure – very unlike KJ Mahale; the last ten years he has had only organising meetings and recording the proceedings without having any right to express his opinion. In the 21st century, we are putting such a person as the head. The prestige of the DM College can never be restored and only God knows what will happen to the ‘elevated’ institution with such person as the head. Education is in a very bad shape in Manipur today.
Sports happen to be the area where our youths are doing well. But it is an area more individually oriented than wide-based. This strength also cannot continue for long with a weakening education system. When it comes to culture, it must be very clear that culture has to be an evolving area and never a static field.
It is exactly here that we need to ask on behalf of the society: Does the Government of Manipur have a Youth Policy. The youths are to be given a strength and a scope for engaging themselves in Socially Productive activities. In the absence of these while the opportunities for feeding the mouth are shrinking, the boys would start trying even, if only for a single chance, in selling drugs. It is the absence of governance for society to be blamed.