SEASON OF HOPE DELIVERANCE

Malsawm Kipgen

Election is one of the most important personas of democracy. Wikipedia defines election as a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. For layperson, election is a short season of getting something from an individual for the work done by standing in a long queue. For some active people, it is a season of merry making. Does anyone care why election is there periodically and why we do we have to elect?  .

Supreme Court has said that anyone who does not cast his/her vote has no right to complain about the representative. Given the kind of intending candidates one has to choose, the notion of compulsory voting as suggested is quite sardonic. If the intending candidates in every constituencies have the charisma of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Anna Hazare, who would not want to cast their valuable vote for their super hero?

Democracy is the same yesterday, today and forever. Democracy was, is and will never be bad for society. Democracy is like a good boy while politics is like a bad boy of the same family. Democracy wants to do good for the family but politics think otherwise. Democracy does not compromise no matter what but politics is ever ready to do anything if it senses gain. And election becomes the energy booster for politics to go at any length.

Election is round the corner in this part of mini India. The momentum of preparation is at the highest. Politicians in this present juncture must be doing intense work; tired and have a sleepless night. Nevertheless, sacrifice for time, money and health are part and parcel of electioneering. Meanwhile, innocent voters are watching the political high drama worthy of Oscar Award played elegantly by political parties of all sizes. The season of delivering hope to the dear voters manifest itself in manifesto, hand-outs, advertisements and public speeches. No season last forever neither it comes quickly that includes the season of election. It becomes therefore very pertinent for the voters to extract something if its even for a day from this season or else the connoisseurs hope deliverers will have it all. How nice it would be if election is based on the prosperity of A-Z voters. Election that we practice or election that we usually think is based on the foundation of gain. What and whose gain? That gain you have on that particular day only as a voter. That gain you have for 5 years after election as a successful candidate. It is better to have prosperity than to have a temporary gain.

It seems that economic development comes second in the measuring device of development in our state. The debate and discussion, allegation and counter- allegation, the play of blame game on the issues of FA, territorial integrity and economic blockade have overshadowed the most important issue i.e. the economic development or rather say economic power for the poor people in the valleys and hills. The higher the volume of talk the higher is the chance of allegation and counter allegation. This talk show will not and cannot feed the hungry mouth. There are poor people among the Meiteis; there are poor people among the Nagas and Kukis. The very idea of economic prosperity for this section of society is desirable and important for building trust and making bond of understanding among different communities. The eradication of poverty including horrible road conditions, non availability of safe drinking water, poor electricity, non availability of teachers and doctors in the remote places of Manipur as well the dispensation of buying capacity to all can be very useful for bridging the gap among three entities of the state. The longer the people are kept in darkness, the more he will become aggressive and uncooperative. The end result can be destructive for the state.

      The practice of administering oath to elected representatives is not effective and productive. On the day of oath taking, he or she swears in the name of God or allegiance to truth and then on the next day he/she forgets everything. Sincerity, honesty, diligence, dutiful and truthful is the tree of a good representative. Are these qualities there in the heart and mind of our representatives? How many of them have it? Instead of this old practice of oath taking, a lie detector must be placed before the representatives. One lie, one electric shock. This type of machine is the need of the hour to detect the liar who is lying, who is conspiring and who is deceiving the people. Lets all fold hands and pray to God for a peaceful and fruitful 2017 Manipur State Assembly election. Let's all pray that the hope of a better life given in the election become a reality. Finally, let the wise and honest representatives run our state.