Flames in Switzerland of India

By Professor M.C. Behera

Manipur, is known as Switzerland of India because of its picturesque hills and gorgeous valleys is literally burning. Though also called the jewel of the country violence that broke out in Manipur following the tribal solidarity march on 3rd May, called by All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung and the magnitude of havoc it created, is unimaginable in a civilised society of 21 st century. The rally, which resulted in violence, was in protest to the demand of ST status by the Meiteis, the majority community.

The  act  of  violence has been pictured in many shades, between Christian and Hindus, Kukis and Meiteis, tribes and non-tribe or between hills and valley people. Shockingly, the violence spilled over beyond the state to Shillong and even New Delhi. It is also alleged that anti-social elements through social media engineered the violence. However, it is not only Kukis, other Naga tribes also were a party to the solidarity rally. The police are alleged of standing by the side of their community people. So, practically,  it  is a conflict between reservation enjoying and reservation seeking communities.

Following violence Army and Assam Rifles were deployed. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated to safe places. Officially more than 100 persons have lost their lives while scores were injured. As many as 17,000 houses were burnt. People were fleeing in droves with air tickets reaching sky high and train services were closed. Thousands have fled to other states at the first opportunity. Hundreds of students from other NE states were evacuated by their respective Governments. Curfew is still in the state and army and paramilitary forces are guarding the streets and  managing  the camps. Sadly, settled people become refugees. Internet and mobile services were suspended. Curfew was imposed. Politics has not remained far behind. Congress demands 

President Rule in Manipur though similar incidents in West Bengal and Bihar did not invite any reaction. In some quarters, the violence is attributed to the opposition’s handiwork because Manipur is a BJP ruled state. There are also allegations of insider’s hand since the state had already reached a peak of dissidence within the ruling party just before the flare up. One or the other reason cannot be attributed to the incident. The issue is complicated and multiple reasons might be behind the incident of violence.

Whatever may be the reason, it is  humanity in general that has been victimised. It should be mentioned that the solidarity  march  was in opposition to an order of Manipur High Court directing the state government to submit to  the  Centre its recommendation on Meiteis’ representation for ST status within a time frame. Meiteis have been demanding ST status for decades now. The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee (STDCM), Manipur  of the Meiteis  state that their demand is more about protecting the ancestral lands, culture and identity of Meitei people who are threatened constantly by illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Bangladesh and other outsiders. Is not there any other means to achieve the expressed goals than ST status? It needs to be examined. As reported, their demand is based on historical evidence that they were listed as one of the tribes of Manipur before it merged with the Indian Union in 1949. Surprisingly, they missed this status in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order,1950.

So, they demand their status back for which they had filed a petition in Manipur High Court. Aftermath of the violence following solidarity   March in Torbung area of Churachandpur district showed a spread effect, deployment of army, plight of citizens, migration, evacuation, politics, and legal challenge. A recent news item reports that BJP MLA Mr. D.Gangmei, Chair of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in Supreme Court challenging the order of Manipur High Court that stands responsible for escalating tensions between two communities. SLP is filed challenging constitutionality and legality of High Court order. The Supreme Court has minced no words in castigating the High Court that it is none of the business of the court but that of the Government of the day and thrown back the ball to it.

In the backdrop of the High Court order, HAC passed a resolution protesting inclusion of the Meiteis under ST category. The resolution was followed by the solidarity rally and subsequent violence, arson, killing, damage to property and so many other things. The resolution argued that the quota of present ST groups in  government  jobs and educational institutions would be reduced when shared by  Meities  as  ST.  Is the benefit shared equally within a reserved category? It is a pertinent question, but has no significance. A debate on the question might draw a fault line within the category which cannot be risked upon by jeopardising the strength of the community identity.

The petition filed to SC shows that the tribes were  against the High Court order. Then, why was there an opposition to Meiteis’ demand for ST status which is not new. Opposition to ST status is evident from the reason underlying the protest. Reservation has created elite sections within a category, say a tribe. Don’t the elite sections block advantages to flow down to the poorest of the poor? Has not a poor section emerged within non- reserved castes/communities in the development process? The voice on the issue is a silent echo as inequality has emerged in a reservation community in the process of integration with the national development agenda.

A cursory observation would suffice to make one realise an old fault line between reserved and non-reserved categories. Even within the reserved category the fault line exists between better and least placed communities. Is it that old fault line that incited the conflict in the backdrop of reservation claims? It can be argued in general context that reservation stands as a potential factor of conflict between reserved and non- reserved categories. It also facilitates perpetuation of caste and creed with the issue of caste certificate for reservation benefit. In other words, categories  created for reservation on caste and community basis are perpetuated and thus the potentiality of conflict and violence. If Manipur violence can be taken as a lesson, it is the right time to rethink on the question of caste and community-based reservation. When the base is made of categories of conflicting interest, it is not practicable to expect peace, mutuality, co- existence by perpetuating the fault line with institutional support and mechanism.

A Distraught Manipuri Girl her Aging Dog and Old Father 

A grown-up Kuki girl studying in New Delhi has a Meities friend from Manipur and same gender. When she was a child, she fled her burning village following clashes between Kukis and Nagas in the hills. She fled with her beloved puppy and was sheltered in Imphal valley with her fleeing family by the Meities communities. They never dared to go back to hills and settled in the valley along with Meities communities for decades. Life went on. 

Now she is crying since her neighbourhood has been burned by the miscreants in the ongoing ethnic riots and her entire family have fled to the hills. But her father has stayed  put  in the house since the puppy has become old and so it cannot be taken to the jungle. For the father who is also old it is a dilemma which he is still enduring.

She cannot go back to Imphal in this situation. Nor can she send any money to the father since the internet is closed and she also does not have much. In the national capital her Meities friends are ready to help her with open arms.

Despite the riots women of all communities  Meities  ,  Kukis  ang Nagas have come forward and formed human chains to protect the left-over population irrespective of their   caste or religion.  Many  churches  belonging to Kukis have been burned by the rioters. But these women come from all sections and challenge the violent mob.