Imphal Times Supplementary issue 2 Editorial MEITEI-NAGA RELATIONSHIP Wednesday, September 19, 2018 By - Amung Hungyo Having observed all the hues and So much so, the narrow plains severed Naga’s land to make the (A Naga Public) cries in both the print and electronic comprising 20% of the present state of Manipur, Ukhrul Spirit of Hijam Irabot still runs media about the slogans of bandhs, geographical area have 40 MLAs Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. strikes, dharnas and blockades, I while the rest 80% of the total land Keep in mind, the compact and Will Naga Political Solution in Manipur Journalists find that “the Meitei community is area is given just 20 MLAs. Only contiguous Naga country was negatively impact Sanaleibak? really very proud to say that they in this state, mob is the ruler and never allotted by the The Meitei’s Manipur or have 2000 years of history.” I authority in any matter. One Government of India nor was Kangleipak or Sanaleibak will lose Media will resume to play its part appreciate their love for their land cannot easily forget the incident loaned by any Manipur Rajas. nothing by removing Naga and history. I have no objection to like the one which happened in So, India cannot manipulate the territory from the present Map of the Meitei’s having 2000 years or December, 2012 popularly known Nagas’ fate like this. Among Manipur. It can be still larger than Almost every section of the Manipuri society including 7000 years history. What I wonder as Momoko Incident of Chandel many others, we are narrating Goa. There are independent the Government today started recognizing Lamyanba most is their objection to other which shook the entire state and just a few common domineering countries in the world whose Hijam Irabot as the leader of the state. Every Manipuri people having that long, say longer rocked the State Assembly and chauvinistic mentality of geographical areas are smaller today realize that Hijam irabot is a multifaceted leader of or shorter period of history. affecting the hill people, mainly the the Meitei society leaders. They than Imphal Valley, but are super the erstwhile reason who had sacrificed his entire life for Sometimes, their claims sound Nagas who had gone to Imphal for hold in high esteem of their rich countries. I am sure Imphal the future of this erstwhile nation. He was communist and childish- seeing everything so fine purchase of things for Christmas feudal kings, their history and will remain an important have always stand for the poor and deprived section of the on their side and ugly on the other’s and New Year festival. Another their domain, but feign principality not only for India but society. side. Anything which a Meitei does mob rule was witness in December, ignorance about the Nagas also for the continent of the entire September is a significant month, as everything is beautiful, laudable and admirable 2016 when the Meitei public whose history could have been Asia. Sanaleibak is indeed a happened was in this month. He was born on September and whatever a person from another declared a counter-blockade at even longer, further back, like beautiful place with salubrious 30 of 1896 and left for heavenly abode on September 26. community does is intolerable to Imphal against the UNC’s that of the Aborigines of North climate and panoramic them. For example, the Meiteis economic blockade. The Nagas America. They feign ignorance landscapes and fresh water lakes. He went underground on September 21 of 1948, he was struggled and got Meitei/Manipuri were mainly targeted. Many about Nagas political struggle Their valley is fertile and it will declared terrorist as he was considered a threat to the language or Meitei’s mother tongue vehicles and properties belonging for the last 60-70 years; they continue to produce surplus food ruling capitalist class. admitted as one of the Major Indian to the Nagas were set on fire while feign ignorance about why the grains. Well apart from other activities, Irabot’s contribution Languages. None of the Meiteis the Meitei-dominated Manipur infamous Armed Forces Special The Meiteis are hard working. In to this erstwhile nation is the introduction of journalism objected to that on the ground that government remained a mute Powers Act (AFSPA), 1951 was medicine and health, the Meiteis for the first time. He was the first to edit and publish a it is sectarian or ethnic line/based spectator who only intervened enacted by the first Parliament outshine the rest of India. In newspaper in the soil of this region. It was during Manipur’s privilege. after so much damage was already of India. The Nagas have motor and electrical engineering, pre-independence and post independence that the legend Secondly, sometimes it is quite done by the unruly Meitei mob. unwritten history. They lived in the Meiteis shall continue to had light up the foundation of journalism. confusing to guess why the Meiteis The Congress government led by isolation and in primitive village provide workmanship to all its The journey of Manipur press began and from cyclostyle are objecting to the Nagas’ claims Mr. O. Ibobi Singh had to obey state for too long, even longer neighbouring communities. Thus, to letter press then offset machine and now there are 12 to their legitimate rights. They keep the mob. Mob rule still continues than the so-claimed history of the Meiteis will lose nothing in the 6 th Schedule and Article 371 C in the state. The recent problem Manipur. doing justice to the Nagas which to 16 page full colour newspaper published every day. Besides, of India’s constitution for the at the Manipur University is a It is sheer nonsense on the part is long overdue. addition of Cable news and now with the beginning of a minorities/hill areas defeated. They sufficient proof. Here too, the of the Government of India to The Nagas on the other hand new era the print and electronic mass media have reached are now objecting extension of the Congress led by Mr. Ibobi and believe the Nagas respecting its shall continue to struggle even beyond expectation. The importance of the media being Article 371 A which is being in Mr. Gaikhangam have hurled the (India’s) Constitution being harder than before to make both understand by the people across the country and globe vogue with the counterparts of the blame on Delhi (see The Sangai trampled by the Manipuris. The ends meet. They will continue to considered “Media today is the fourth estate of democracy”. Nagas in the present states of Express, 4 th September, 2018). Nagas too are humans and have require the Meiteis to teach Now, the question that we are putting up is “ Is media Nagaland. The government of India Again, the Meiteis, as they sentiments. The Government of Maths and Science in the hills, to still a fourth estate in today’s democratic Inida” knows these parts of the Supreme prefer, the Manipuris, seem so India shall one day pay for what run electricity and to keep their The dream that the new information age would be one Law of the land being defeated by fond of advocating their pre- it has done to the Nagas, that vehicles running. The Nagas, of greater enlightenment, of a rational discourse and the Meitei-dominated state of merger status by referring to is, for keeping Nagas in the though somehow emancipated greater participation has not come true. Manipur. The so called “People of their long years of history which hands of the Manipuris for so with political autonomy, their Manipur” without the hill people is show at the end the exact size of long. If the Government of India inhospitable terrains will not Understanding the power if media, every ruling trying to defeat the Article 3 of the their territory (in the Merger cannot do justice, admit now. change and shall continue to government in today’s India are trying every means to put constitution or to rewrite the said Agreement) as 700 Sq. miles or The Nagas need not talk with it. depend on the Meiteis and the media under their control using every means is not directly. article with words/phrases they 26,500 paris clearly excluding the The Nagas have every right to valley to meet their food grain The fourth estate, however, is more powerful than want. Is the government of India hills from the Sanaleibak or go to the world communities for requirements, medical and health ever. It is shaped by two dominating principles - not convinced of the Meitei Kangleipak. To which, the finding justice right now. We services and what not. sensationalism and simplification, which the American Society’s desire to overlord the government of recently have trusted the wrong entity ( The writer can be reached at sociologist Robert McChesney, in his book Rich Media, Poor Nagas forever? independent India arbitrarily for twenty long years. [email protected] om ) Democracy, defines as the consequence of “hyper commercialisation”. It has led to ever fiercer ratings and circulation wars, which inevitably leads to what is called I F B UDDHISM I S N OT A R ELIGION O R P HILOSOPHY T HEN W HA T I S I T “dumping down”. To succeed, the media industry tries to appeal to the lower instincts of people. By - Thangjam Sanjoo Singh Analyst today said that the 2014 Indian election which W A Y O F L IFE give rise to the popularity of Narendra Modi and made a Though we called the teaching of the certainly will not take him to his desired acts of worship. The flowers that soon nature of things, they gained swiping win in the election is because of the tactful utilization Buddha ‘Buddhism’, thus including it destination. fade and the flames that die down deliverance. Y es, the lotus awaits the of all form of media including the social media. among the ‘isms’ and ‘ology’s’, it does A doctor diagnoses the ailment and speak to him and tell him of the sunlight and no sooner does the sun After coming to power, the government didn’t let go not really matter what we label it. Call it prescribes; it is left to the patient to test impermanency of all conditioned shine than the lotus opens and brings the media while strict surveillances are also conducted to religion, philosophy, Buddhism or any the prescription. The attitude of the things. The image serves as an object delight to all. the social media. other name you like. These labels are Buddha towards his followers is like for concentration, for meditation, to Here in this teaching no attempt is made Veteran politician , Yaswant Sinha, in an interview of little significance to one who go in that of an understanding and gain inspiration and to endeavors to to probe into the ultimate origin of man with a web site channel had stated that the Narendia search of truth and deliverance. compassionate teacher or a physician. emulate the qualities of the Master. and things – to inquire into the Some prefers to call the teachings of The highest worship is that paid to the Those who do not understand the question: ‘Is the universe eternal or Modi government is doing marvelous in utilization of the Buddha a religion, others call it a best of men, those great and daring significance of the simple offering, not? Is it finite or infinite?’ media. The one time BJP leader speaks volumes when he philosophy, still others think of it as spirits who have with their wide and hastily conclude: ‘This is idol The Buddha was not concerned with said so. But what is more interesting is how the Modi both religion and philosophy. It may, penetrating grasp of reality, wiped out worship.’ Nothing could be more such metaphysical problems which government took interest in media. however be correct to call it a ‘Way of ignorance and rooted out defilements. untrue. only confuse man and upset his mental As per his assessment , in four years the narendra Life’ . But that does not mean that that The men who saw Truth are true As to where Buddhism is a equilibrium. Their solution slowly will Modi Government spend over 4000 crores of rupess on Buddhism is nothing more than ethical helpers, but Buddhist do not pray to philosophy that depends upon the not free mankind from misery and ill. personalize publicity. code. Far from it, it is a way of moral, them. They only reverence the revealers definition of the word; and whether it That was why the Buddha hesitated Modi leadership knows the power of media and is spiritual and intellectual training of Truth for having pointed out the path is possible to give a definition that to answer such questions, and at times using it with a purpose. leading to complete freedom of to true happiness and deliverance. will cover all existing systems of refrained from explaining those which And it is sure that in 2019 parliamentary election, mind.The Buddha himself called his Happiness is what one must achieve philosophical thought is doubtful. were often wrongly formulated. The media will be a battle ground. The one which have no teaching ‘Dhamma-vinaya’, the for oneself; nobody else can make one Etymologically philosophy means to Buddha was practical teacher. His sole Doctrine and the discipline. better or worse. ‘Purity and impurity love wisdom. ‘Philosophy has been aim was to explain in all its detail the respect for media will be defeated. But Buddhism in the strictest sense of depend on oneself. One can neither both the seeking of wisdom and the problem of dukka, suffering the Now, when it comes to the state of Manipur, N. Biren the word cannot be called a religion, purify nor defile another.’ wisdom sought.’ In Indian thought universal fact of life, to make people Singh understood well on how to handle media will do all for if by religion is meant ‘action or While lying on his death-bed between philosophy is termed darsana , vision feel its full force and to convince them the needful. One thing his government failed to understand conduct indicating belief in reverence the two Sala trees at Kusinara the 80 of truth. In brief, the aim of of it. He has definitely told us what he is the importance of small media which will also certainly for and desire to please, a divine ruling year old Buddha seeing the flowers philosophy should be to find out the explains and what he does not explain. play its part. power; the exercise or practice of rites offered to him, addressed the Venerable ultimate truth. Some scholars, however, do not In the age of internet, what the Chief minister of or observance implying this…; Ananda thus : ‘ They who, Ananda, Buddhism also advocates the search appreciate this attitude of the Master, Manipur and his colleague should understand is that there recognition on the part of man of some are correct in life, living according to f or truth. But it is no mere they even doubt his enlightenment and will be no such thing as big media or small media as the higher unseen power as having control the Dhamma - it is they who speculative reasoning, a theoretical label him as agnostic. Scholars will tools invented by Mark Zukerburg and other software of his destiny and as being entitled to rightlyhonor , reverence and venerate structure, a mere acquiring and ever argue and speculate. These are expert has enable to reach out what has been published to obedience, reverence and worship. the Tathagata (the Perfect One) with storing of knowledge. The Buddha not questions of today or yesterday, as a many people across the globe and the state even Buddhism certainly is not such a the worthiest homage. Therefore, emphasizes the practical aspect of they were raised in the time of the religion. Ananda, be ye correct in life, living his teaching, the application of Buddha. Even Sakuludayi the more than those of so called big media whom they gave In Buddhist thought, there is no according to the Dhamma .Thus, knowledge of life – looking into life Wanderer, for instance, asked about more priority. awareness or conviction of the should you trained yourselves? This and not merely at it. the past and the future and the September is the month of the father of Manipuri existence of a Creator or God of any encouragement of the Buddha on living For the Buddha, the entire teaching Buddha’s reply was categorical: Journalism Hijam Irabot , and every September each of us form who rewards and punishes the according to the Dhamma shows is just the understanding of the ‘Let be the past, let be the future, I will will remember the spirit of the “Father of Manipuri good and ill deeds of the creatures of clearly that what is of highest unsatisfactory nature of all teach you the Dhamma. Journalism”, media will play its role to remain as the fourth his creation. A Buddhist takes refuge importance is training in mental, verbal phenomenal existence and the “When this is, that comes to be, estate to make the democracy a successful , as the spirit in the Buddha but not in the hope that and bodily conduct, and not the mere cultivation of the path leading away With the arising of this, that arises, of Hijam Irabot still runs in our blood. he will be saved by the Master. There offering of flowers to the Enlightened from his unsatisfactoriness. This is When this is not, that does not come is no such guarantee. The Buddha is Ones. The emphasis is on living the his ‘philosophy’. to be, only a teacher who points out the way right life. There are many instances where With the cessation of this, that ceases.” Letters, Feedback and Suggestions to ‘Imphal Times’ and guides the followers to their Now, when a Buddhist offers flowers people gained enlightenment and can be sent to our e-mail : [email protected]. individual deliverance. or lights a lamp before the image of the release from taints by merely This in a nutshell is the Buddhist A sign-board at the parting of the road, Buddha or some sacred object and watching a leaf fall, the fall of water, doctrine of conditionality or For advertisement kindy contact: - 0385-2452159 (O). for instance, indicates directions and it ponders over the supreme qualities of a forest fire, the blowing out of a Dependent Arising. And this forms the For time being readers can reach the office at Cell is left to wayfarer to tread along the the Buddha, he is not praying to lamp. This struck a chord in them foundation of the Four Noble Truths, Phone No. 9862860745 for any purpose. way watching his steps. The board anyone; these are not rites, rituals or and realizing the impermanent the central conception of Buddhism.