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Manipur and the Paradox of Security

Book Review

Reviewed by Teinkoo Soibam

The situation of security in Manipur today has gone from bad to worst. It is no longer a question of law and order problem but increasingly a socio-political and economic problem of the various ethnic groups of the state. The security concerns are not merely confined to insurgency and counter-insurgency operations, and its repercussions on the general public and society, it also encompass the ethnic tensions faced by the state and the people as a major challenge to the peaceful co-existence of the numerous ethnic communities. The scenario is a cluster of complex and myriad issues ranging from identity formation by various ethnic communities to gross human rights violations especially by the security forces. In a very common parlance, the notion of security is closely related with the concept of security forces or the police. The people look up to them as an agency for ensuring public order, protection of the people and property for a peaceful and secure life by maintaining law and order, and prevention and detection of crime. However, people in Manipur have developed a different perception of these law enforcing agencies. Mistrust of the public towards the security forces are large, where they are seen as tormentors rather than helpers.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771500

Spatial Pattern of Literacy in Manipur

Article

By Luckyson R. Panmei

Literacy is one of the important demographic elements, which is a good measure of human progress towards modernisation. It is an important indicator of the socioeconomic development of an area. The literacy rate of Manipur has increased tremendously in the post-independent era. The provisional census data of 2011 shows the literacy rate of the state (79.85%) much above the national average (74.04%). However, the spatial pattern of literacy in the state varies from region to region. The present paper is an attempt to study the spatial pattern of the literacy levels prevailing among various sections of the total population in Manipur. It also discusses the male-female differentials and urban-rural differentials literacy rate of the state from 1951 to 2011. It is found that the overall literacy rate of the state has been increasing, while, the literate male population is higher than the literate female population. One important aspect of studying the urban-rural differentials in literacy rate of the state is that, the urban area are mostly concentrated in the valley area, except some small urban areas and a census town in the hill districts. The literacy rate of the urban areas is higher than the rural areas. Less urban-rural differentials in literacy is the characteristic of areas marked by relatively high degree of urbanisation, educational facilities, medical facilities, transport accessibilities, etc.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771483

Pettigrew’s Children: Tracing the History of Print Culture in Tangkhul Language

Article

By A. S. Shimreiwung

For oral societies, the adoption of written literature signifies an important shift in their modes of communication, recording, and also led to the emergence of literary works. It is important to trace the history of print culture, as we can analysed the process of how new modes of writing began to take shape in a society that was fully dependent on oral communications. This paper will attempt to trace the emergence of written literature among the Tangkhul Naga tribe in Manipur.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771461

Nagas Role in World War II

Article

By Khrienuo

The Second World War (1939-1945) is an important historical event of the World. Even for the Nagas they considered it as an important event in their history. This is primarily due to their participation in the Battle of Kohima, which was a part of the Burma Campaign between the British and the Japanese during the Second World War. The Burma Campaign was fought from 4 April 1944 to 22 June 1944. The Battle of Kohima took place at Kohima, the present capital of Nagaland, which is situated in the Northeastern region of India. The Nagas role in the Battle of Kohima was of great importance and their role in the battle cannot be ignored, as it was one of the factors which contributed to the victory of the British in the battle. Nagas participation and contribution to the “Battle of Kohima” will be discussed at length in this paper.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771446

Approaches to Development: A Sociological Examination

Article

By S Parmawi Haokip

Development and its various synonyms and euphemisms have become a commonplace word which everybody uses and apparently understands. But in academic circles where popular terms are often defined differently and with greater measure of scepticism, the concept remains elusive. Development has been conceptualised as a process of economic growth fostered by industrial investment and a competitive culture of enterprise and profit maximisation. It can be also be defined as liberation from the strictures of colonial and imperial domination in which nations secure the right to self-determination and self-reliance, as a state of welfare in which ordinary people enjoy freedom from want, disease, ignorance, insecurity, exploitation and oppression. This paper seeks to develop three arguments. First, development thinking has not been the single paradigm for which it is often taken, but that all along it has been a heterogeneous set of approaches that has been not only variable over time but highly diverse at any given time. Second, it zeroes in on one particular unresolved dilemma in several forms of development thinking, the disparity and tension between endogenous and exogenous dynamics in development. This, too, may point towards a reconceptualisation of development as a transnational problem. Third, it explores the current tendency to rethink development as a process that is not reserved to ‘developing countries’ but that all societies are developing, as a part of the global process.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771425

An Analysis of Urban Local Self Government in the Sixth Schedule Area of Mizoram

Article

By Jangkhongam Doungel

The paper attempts to trace the genesis of Urban Local Self Government with indepth analysis of the Urban Local Self Government functioning in the Sixth Schedule Area of Mizoram. Though the provision for establishment of Town Committee has been incorporated in the original Sixth Schedule to the constitution of India, it is not yet fully enforced in the Autonomous District Councils of Mizoram till now. Therefore, the paper attempts to analyse the steps, taken by the Autonomous District Councils of Mizoram in Urban Local Self Government.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771408

Urban Development and Developing Society: A Case Study of Guwahati City

Article

By Purobi Sharma

The urbanisation process in Guwahati, in which population concentration, land expansion, emerging site and situation have gradually created a formidable urban centre. This paper highlights the question of planned urban development in Guwahati which reflects the urbanisation pattern of the whole region. As a prime city it needs proper urban perspective for economic development of the entire region. The management pattern is highly confusing and ad-hoc and entirely dependent on the will and the interest of the State and National Government. The sporadic development programmes simply reveal a situation of utilisation of funds sponsored by the Government. An attempt has been made to discuss land development pattern which in turn reflects the nature of public policy towards growing urbanisation in a backward economy. It is highlighted that the economic status of the city, as a high revenue earning seat for the Government, deserves promoted urban management. The perspective of growth of vital urban leadership at the city level is part of it.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771395

Witch hunting in Assam: Strategising Alternative Media for Women Empowerment and Overcoming Superstition

Article

By Joya Chakraborty and Anjuman Borah

Witch hunting is a superstitious practice that leads to the persecution and death of hunderds of women in India every year. This practice is prevalant in different parts of the country in various degrees and mostly single women and widows become targets of this least talked about violence on women. Empowerment of women and inculcation of scientific temper among the paople can be seen as the means to root out such practices from the society. The present paper anlyses the prevelance of this custom in Assam and through case study of the initiatives undertaken by Assam Mahila Samata Society (AMSS) towards rescue and rehabilitation of the victims, attempts to understand the role of alternative communication strategies in mitigation of the problem. It is observed that AMSS uses an interesting mix of awareness and capacity building activities through women’s collectives designed specifically to provide a grassroot support system within the communities.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771379

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Levels and Trends of Infant and Child Mortality in Meghalaya: Result from Life Table and Hazard Analysis

Article

Phrangstone Khongji

This article examines the levels and trends of infant and child mortality in Meghalaya state utilising the data on NFHS 2 and NFHS 3. This article reveals the relevance of some of the socio-economic and demographic factors in explaining child mortality in the state of Meghalaya. Utilising life table and hazard model, the present studies shows that rural residence, mother’s low educational status, mother’s working status, the low standard of living, etc., all these variables are associated with high infant and child mortality. The study also reveals that the relative risk of dying for the first five years decreases with the increase in the preceding birth interval. Young mothers and those with short interval births are also at higher risk of child death. As far as the sex of the child is concern, male mortality is higher than those of females.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12771373

Drugs, Small Arms Proliferation and its Casualties: The Tragedy of Commons in Manipur

Article

By Gou Son Lian

The paper is an attempt to delve into the nexus between insurgency and contraband narcotics in Manipur by analysing some of the communal clashes in the state and the geopolitical changes that resulted in the present situation. It discusses the close relationship between drug trafficking and insurgency in the state contradicting some of the popular beliefs and claims about the involvement of insurgents in regulating and banning drug trafficking in the state. It also look into the effect on the common people in the political, economic, social and identity issues of the tribals in the hills of Manipur.

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