LESSON FROM SADAR HILLS

T.L Kipgen

  Since the beginning of launching the full fledged district status for Sadar Hills till today the Naga under the banner of UNC and ANSAM have been blocking the way just as the erstwhile Berlin Wall was hindering the easy passage of German people. The selfish tactics of UNC and ANSAM has impoverished not only the Kuki community but also other communities like Nepali and Naga. Would it not be easier for people of Makhan villagers to travel to Kanggui (Kangpokpi) than to travel Senapati HQ? Apart from money and time saved due to shorter distance, they can enjoy the benefits of installation of new DC and SP offices in Kanggui. Those people who will be covered under Senapati district after demarcation can also enjoy it because addressing to their problems will be much faster in DC and SP offices of Senapati HQ due to lesser population pressure.

It would not be wrong to accuse UNC for the sorry economic affairs of Sadar Hills. Had UNC or ANSAM not opposed and Sadar Hills been declared 40 years ago, the economic status of Sadar Hills would have been in much progress. Kanggui town would have been adorned with many big and beautiful buildings of the government and private sectors. Economic standing of the denizens of Sadar Hills would have been much better than it is today.

We especially the IPI HAM? speaking group of Kuki are scattered all over the areas of North East overlapping with the area of other communities who are mostly antagonist towards our existence. What was our ancestors thinking when they settled to area as far as Karbi Anglong? Do we find solace till today living among the Karbis in Karbi Anglong and Dimasas in Dima Hasao? What we only receive is a bitter statement from Karbi militants that we are migrants coming from Nagaland and Manipur. The situation in Manipur is no difference. We have been found in every districts of Manipur as a minority group. We are scattered too far as if we like separation from one another. Our bad habits have made us an uninvited guest in those districts be it Ukhrul or Tamenglong though we are the bona fide citizen or rather owner of that land.

UNC and ANSAM are able to show off their mettle anytime because they clearly know our weak points. These two organizations will not drop their voice of Naga ancestral land as long as they are in upper hand. The situation would have been much difference if our population surpasses to those of Naga tribes by 55-45 in the whole of present Senapati district. They would not roar like lion if we have better strategic location, bigger towns and villages.  The population surpass could had happen if we had stuck together in our present demand district and not wander off far in other areas. Dont you think we are also guilty of our fate for we dont prefer to live in one compact area? (See the case of our sparse population spreading in all over hill areas of Manipur).

Imagine that the entire IPI HAM? speaking group is living densely in one big area with no space for other communities. Lets say the compact congregation of all our people in one big area is Sadar Hills with a definite demarcation area of 7000 sq km, no overlapping boundaries with other communities and a population of 500000 (Rough calculation- If we combine all the area we occupy in the whole North-East and our population, the total of it might be around this figure or even greater than this). With that kind of compact area and population, we would be able to build big towns and cities. For example, we would have Kanggui and Motbung towns bustling with people, commercial shops and vehicles just like Kohima. Our neighbours Meiteis and Nagas would not dare to belittle our existence as Kukis. In this situation, nobody would dare to come out in front to oppose our move whatever it is.

   

We have learned a bitter lesson from Sadar Hills that isolation leads us to nowhere. The failure to fulfill the dreams of Sadar Hills is a living example of how important it is to live together as one big unit to get something. Sadar Hills teaches us to stay together closely. Better late than never. Lets put a brake to our old habits of living in separate village. Rather let take a firm stand to live together in one village and make it into a big town for security and prosperity.  Unity is strength and living together in one unit is prosperity.