What's the Refrence Point of Your Identity?

When I was still in-service, often some people, particularly in the organized parties or public functions, obviously curious about my physical features asked me, ‘You are from where’? Jokingly, I would reply. ‘From India? Then, apologetically they would rephrase themselves What they mean is: from which state of India ?. I would then factually tell my original state and also sometimes add that due to frequent transfers in service to every nook and corner of the county, I really do not belong to any particular place. The obvious reason for saying so is due to the common perception of the nature of a state organization in India and one’s true feeling one’s ethnic or cultural identity.

It said that America (USA) is a land of immigrants. Peoples and races of varied cultures from all parts of the world settled in that country though largely dominated by the European ethnics and cultural orientations. Everybody is a true American. There is no distinction between the blacks and whites, at least on paper or legally. Same is the case with other races from other parts of the world,whether,the Asians, the Africans, Latin Americans or Hispanics. But strangely , they do not just refer themselves as Americans. They ,choose themselves to be refeered to as African-Americam,Asian American etc. etc. What could be the reason for this preferred name or reference? This practice may not be official or legal. Personally, I am not aware. The fact, however remains that it is the ‘preferred way’ and people seem not offended. This is due to that that everybody needs the ‘reference point of one’s identity.

Today, the Jewish people could be the most scattered race on earth. They were or had been found in almost every part of the world and countries. They did adopt many of the cultural and other traits of the the host races including their languages where they settled. They are found to be immensely contributing in varied fields of human progress. But they have not and will not lose their identity of being a Jew. Since 1948,the state of Israel has been established then. Though millions of Jews particularly from Europe or north American may not to go to settle there, the state of Israel has become a reference point for each and every Jews around the world. Similar thing would apply to other races or cultures as well. Germany for the Germans races, France for French, the Chinese the Japanese or the Indians etc. The same thing is true if you see in the smaller and narrow context. Even within India, for Marathas – Maharashtra, Punjab for Punjabis, Bengal for Bengalis, Tamandu for Tamils etc.

This being the case, one’s identity and its reference point is but a reality in life. Then what is the point of reference of your identity if you coming from Lamka or Churachandpur district of Manipur? I know many of of us are going to be spread out more and more to other parts of the country or for that matter to the world due to push and pull factors: Due to lack of adequate opportunities at home and more attractiveness and avenues for both economic and professional careers: say for better life. Then can we simply ignore or feign of our own people and the native place of our origin? Yes, some people may say: I was born in Delhi, Mumbai or New York. How about your parents or grandparents? You would not like to trace the origin of your identity. The farther you are physically away from place of your native origin, the more nearer you would be emotionally that place. This seems to be true ,at least in my case. Spending over forty years outside the state of Manipur due to service conditions I always thought about the town of Lamka and the welfare of its people.

In this moment of ongoing conflict, some people who can afford to stay away from Lamka may feel secured and unconcern about the plight of our land and the people. The fact, however is that their concern will not disappear totally from their emotional attachment. Forget about their personal cases. Even their children and grand children who are born outside, brought up and not even have not seen the place Lamka and its people would need their point of reference in their sense of identity in future. If that’s so, should we like Lamka to be congested, dirty, narrow streets and roads, heaps of garbage’s everywhere with lots of crimes and often notorious for communal conflicts on petty and trivial Individual crime issues? Certainly not. Even if we do not live personally there we all eagerly desire the place of our identity reference to be noted for prosperity, decency, architectural uniqueness and full of greenery surroundings and the city worth visiting by one and all. To put simply, our vision: We Would like to take pride in the place for all its beautiful and noteworthy features with wonderful and exemplary urban culture of peace and harmony.

I have written somewhere that other major races of the world have built notable civilizations and cities at various points of history. Some of them have gone into oblivion and many others are still standing tall and famous. We are the people who have never built a city. But this need not discourage or dishearten us. By learning from the experiences of others, we could very well build the best city ever built in the history of human civilization. Are you willing to be a partner in this? If ‘yes’ contribute and get involved in this historical millennium project by investing materially, emotionally and intellectually. This will make our younger generations proud of us. Why look at others. Be the one to be looked at and emulate by others.