by Oinam Khuman Ngakpa
We always wanted to be someone who sits inside the AC in suits and sarees; talks in American accented English, move around the foreign locals and pursue our own selfish goals and careers. At best, we would write something for our motherland or contribute few thousands generously to someone for a social cause.

The point is, the frame of mind of today’s youth is tuned in such a way that their aim is to study well, earn well and lead a good life with a good family. They don’t think of politics as a career option at all. That’s the mindset now. Perhaps, for the same reason private schools which accounts for largest number of students at high and higher secondary level are least interested in imbibing such culture and ambition. Perhaps, for the same reason very few good students who love the institute stand for college / school election. Perhaps, for the same reason there are only a countable number of highly qualified and educated politicians in the state in so many years.

We assumed that there will be always someone to run our motherland and left it in the hands of those knowingly they will at best create anarchy or chaos. In the past five to six decades there was none who could do something very right for the state. None of the government that ruled the state did anything which was outstanding and could be remembered. Instead, the politicians jumped from one party to another in search of power and money.  Money which is the basic means of survival has rather become the selfish goal for the politicians to build castles for themselves and let the common man survive on tattering infrastructures.

The line for water has become longer, the number of hours in load shedding is record long, the roads are filled with potholes, a little drizzle is enough to flood many places, the corruption is rampant, the unemployment and under-employment has touched sky high, encounter happens daily, every job demands a shameless price to be given, job creation is painfully low, many family has lost their sons and daughters - some to guns and some to in search of jobs for survival, etc. but, we the common man have learnt to adjust the situation. Still we insist that our sons and daughters should become only engineers and doctors.

Perhaps, we have forgotten that it is the politician who can change the fate of the state and not the doctors, engineers, JACs or so-called numerous freedom fighters who have lost their ideology.

We blame everything to the government. From so called encounter to poor roads, the government is the punching bag. We complained that the state is rotting but, we never wanted to take part in the political affairs of the state and are least bothered about how the state is governed. At the most, we would write something sitting in AC room saying that things are rotting and wrong. Who are we to complain when we have problem to be the part of the change? Morally, we also play a part in decomposing the wonderful motherland into something like war-raven state by running away from our duties and responsibilities. It takes lot of courage to stand up to do this and we don’t have the courage and strength. Worst part, we hate to admit but, love to criticize.

“Agar Gandhiji beta beta, biwi biwi kehkar ghar pe baithe rehte to tum aaj kisi angrej ka letrin saaf kar rahe hote”.  The line is quoted from movie Nayak. I hope the above line may inspire some of us to jump into the gutter and part of the cleansing system. “If people are happy with their 20K salary job, and live an ordinary life, then who will come out and bring the change?” – another dialogue from the same movie (translated to English). This hits hard enough to all of us if you have even an iota of love left for your motherland.
There are two types of human if you watch it closely. One who will criticize, bark all the time like a dog and one who initiates the change. We are like a kind of dog who keeps on barking on everything and everywhere – saying this is right or wrong. But, we always wanted to stay away from being the part of the change system.

We idolized Che Guevara but, we hate to admit that they also fall short of their own dreams. We have forgotten that there was also Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela who took part in the change system by leading the country as Head of the Country. We have enough of Guevaras who are hiding in bushes of hills and far away countries. Now we need people like Fidel Castro, Lincoln, Martin or Nelson who stands and speak up, to represent the voices of the poor and the weak.

Agreed that we have lost faith in the current political system where corruptions, chamcha-giri are widespread. It will take lot of courage and determination to bring in a change where everyone will start having more faith in the system. The path will be full of problems; every turn will bring a new challenge to overcome. But, unless we don’t take the path now, it will be too late for the next generation. The next generation will be left with nothing if we decided to close our eyes, ears and fail to stand up at this time.

The need for you to be part of the political system has come not because everything is fine, smooth and route is well defined. But, because the gutter has stopped flowing and has become standstill since it is filled with all kinds of dirt you can simply imagine. Someone needs to pull up the sleeves and go down the gutter to cleanse without minding how dirty it will make him. It may be noted that many of America’s leaders enter politics from other arenas-business and law being the two most common. Though, politics as a profession has fallen out of favor but it is still the heart of a democracy. If you learn how to fashion a political career then perhaps you can become a generation of professional politicians who run things differently.

The path is not meant of soft hearted people like you who will prefer to stay away. It is for those who have the courage and determination to do so. Maybe even Rambo will fall short for such tasks.  We need to awake the hero inside every one of us to bring a change because change is never easy how small it is.

If you still think that there will be someone else to remove the dirt while you are sitting in AC room far away then stop cribbing and stay silent because you are not worth to say or write anything. States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions. What are the moral standards that we have set? What have we done to encourage ‘good’ politicians and kick out the bad ones? These are questions that can be easily asked but so tough to answer.

Development can take place only when there is change in the system which is in the hands of the politicians. The power of a politician is immense and if used properly for the welfare of the people can cleanse the dirt. The very law that binds the person in power from making the changes can be amended with a little effort by going beyond the selfish goals. But the very first step to remove the dirt is to replace the bad politicians with good ones.
There’s no bad politics. There are only bad politicians. True, that power corrupts people but power can also correct the people. The person in power makes all the difference. So let’s fight for the chair instead of picking up a gun if we really want growth in our state.

by Nehginpao Kipgen
The politics of a nation is strengthened by the participation of the people who run the government and the opposition who checks the balance of power. A government earns credibility when it can tolerate the varied views of its citizens.

It is fortunate that there has been no major global conflict since the end of World War II in 1945. However, it is disheartening to see that there are nations who still would not tolerate the dissenting views of its own people, especially individuals who are admired by the international community.

The struggles of Dalai Lama of Tibet (now under China) and Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma are an inspiration to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Yet, the very same individuals are treated as if they are threats to peace and security by governments in their respective native lands.

Tenzin Gyatso, popularly known as the 14th Dalai Lama, has been in exile since the failed Tibetan uprising in 1959. Born on 6 July 1935, the 74-year-old Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader and head of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala, India.
Aung San Suu Kyi, born on 19 June 1945, is the only daughter of Aung San, who negotiated the independence of Burma from the British rule. The 64-year-old Suu Kyi, after having lived years abroad, returned to her native country in 1988.

There are a number of similarities the two individuals share in common that have earned them international respect.

First, both are recipients of the much coveted Nobel Peace Prize. Dalai Lama was awarded the prize in 1989, and Suu Kyi in 1991. Second, both are recipients of Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the United States of America. Dalai Lama received the award in 2007, while Suu Kyi was bestowed in absentia in 2008.

Third, both individuals are denied the chance of political leadership in their own countries. The two enjoy significant support internationally, mostly from the Western world. Despite their popularity at home and abroad, one has spent his life in exile for over 40 years, while the other has spent 14 years of her life under house arrest.

Though Dalai Lama openly claims that his movement is for a genuine autonomy and not complete independence, the Chinese government accuses him as a dangerous separatist. His recent visit to the White House on February 18 was strongly protested by Beijing.

In his Cable News Network (CNN) interview aired on the evening of 22 February 2010, the Dalai Lama was asked what he wants from president Barack Obama and America. The Dalai Lama stated his three commitments, including the “promotion of human value in order to create a better world, a more compassionate world, a peaceful world.”

Washington’s welcoming of the Tibetan leader heightened the strained Sino-U.S. ties, which happened in the face of tensions over U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, China's currency practices and internet censorship.

With China’s rising economic power and its critical role in international politics as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, Washington needs Beijing’s partnership, especially on issues such as imposing tougher sanctions on Iran, preventing nuclear proliferation in the Korean peninsula, and forging a new global accord on climate change.
The United States also wants to prove to the free world that it is a champion of human rights. The 70-minute meeting between president Obama and Dalai Lama perhaps pacified many who say that Obama has focused on global issues with Beijing at the expense of human rights.

On the other hand, Aung San Suu Kyi is serving her latest 18 months of house arrest. In its ruling on February 26, the country’s Supreme Court rejected her appeal for freedom. A reason was not given for the decision.

Suu Kyi is one individual probably feared most by the military junta. For many Burma observers, the court’s ruling was not surprising. Even if the junta considers releasing her before the proposed general election this year, it is likely to come with conditions. The more likely scenario is that she will be freed after election.

One reason of Suu Kyi’s unlikely release before election is that the military learnt a lesson from the 1990 general election, in which the military-backed National Unity Party secured only 10 seats, while the National League for Democracy, Suu Kyi’s party, won 392 seats in the 492-member assembly.

The military would not want history to repeat itself. Aung San Suu Kyi apparently enjoys a strong support from the peoples of Burma’s diverse ethnic nationalities. Despite the reservation of 25 percent of parliament seats for the military, the opposition still has a greater chance of winning more seats provided that there is a free and fair election.
Despite the troubles the two Nobel Peace Laureates have faced, their spirits for the freedom of their own people are unrelenting. Similarly, the support from the international community does not seem to dwindle either.

It is still, however, precarious if and when they will be given a chance to head the governments in their respective countries. Recent developments pertaining to the two democratic icons have once again caught the attention of the international community.
Nehginpao Kipgen is a researcher on the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma (1947-2004) and general secretary of the U.S.-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com). He has written numerous analytical articles on the politics of Burma and Asia that have been widely published in five continents (Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America).