LET US LEARN FROM THE PAST
By Vuphil Lianzathang

When will we be able to learn from the past? All the small tribes living in the hill areas of Manipur are apparently thinking themselves as great nations even one tribe think itself greater than the other and so on. It is no secret that Unity among the tribals is not possible because of this poisonous instinct dominating the mental realm of the tribals.

Some tribes wanted to dominate the other even if it is crystal clear that the idea is impossible. All the tribal peoples have tasted the hollowness of fighting one another. Our past has taught us clearly that no one has benefited from war, I must say ethnic conflict, but I would say war because we think ourselves as nations. Instead of good living condition and development it (war) brought us death, poverty, ruinous, famines and untold miseries to the survivors of the conflict. A living testimony is there among the tribals. We are wonderful great nations of our own.

RELIGIOUS PRACTISE AND BELIEF

I think I may not be mistaken if I say that as many as 99% of the tribals living in Manipur are Christians by faith whether their practical lives testify it or not is another thing. UNITY and LOVE are the principle and the base on which all Christians should stand whether he or she like it or not. I need not quote the Bible verses because there are many people regularly reading the Bible and Bible graduates. It appears some times that those who seldom read the Bible have more Biblical knowledge than those who have graduated from theological Seminaries. Even in some Churches there are many unhealthy practices where some people cannot work without what he or she think holding a powerful position.

UNITY AND LOVE

A place, a Society, a group, a people, a Nation, a family where there is no love and unity cannot be called a suitable place for living and growth of Christianity. In such places true Christianity is difficult to nurture and instead it died down and suffer a slow dead. Discrimination is against the teaching of Jesus Christ. In our country discrimination is so high and I think there is no one who never ever feel the pinch and sting of discrimination against the tribals in Manipur. A person who does not care for Unity and Love cannot be called a true Christian. Unity and Love should always be the chord that binds us together whether in politics, religious, Social and Cultural life. Unity and Love can work among us when our leaders know the teaching of Jesus Christ, His principle of life such as " Servant Leadership," which the non Christian leaders will never accept and understand. Even among Christian organizations Servant Leadership life is rarely seen rather as good as absent.

HONESTY AND TRUTHFULNESS

For the Christians honesty and truthfulness are the characters by which people should know us and call us as such. Jesus worked out the command of God on earth honestly and truthfully. Jesus' honesty to the word of God made Him worthy to be the sacrificial lamb of God. A true Christian will work honestly and truthfully not only in religious realms but also in the sphere of Social, Cultural, Economical and Political activities. Now as the political turmoil in Manipur has emerged one again in the form of bandh, dharna, total shutdown, public curfew etc. These are on the line to come up in the coming days. All the tribal leaders are reportedly coming together at LAMKA town in the imposed named Churachandpur District to discuss about the prevailing political situation in Manipur. Not long ago we have seen high volatile political movements in our State. And as we all know one person was reportedly died in Imphal in the last ILP related movement. Consequent upon the ILP movement the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the popular 3(three) bills which have been vehemently protested by the tribal people sacrificing nine precious lives. It is for everyone to see that at the beginning of the protest, all the tribals were united cohesively and thereby the movement was gaining momentum and we were on the edge of achieving our demand. It was apparent that those who are on the other side of the fence were realizing the immediate need to take care for the welfare, well being of the tribals.

However, unfortunately, some people turned the other side and the movement subsided to a certain degree. But we have honest and God fearing leaders who stand for the people through thick and thin and as a result the protest movement has been sustained with great difficulties. Now as the tribal leaders are meeting for the same cause once again we need not look back to 19th centuries or 20th centuries but looking back to only five or six months will tell us who stands for whom and who is honest and who is not. Let us learn from the past. Let us fear God.
UPA V.Lianzathang