Aheli Moitra
This week, as one carnival in Dimapur flowed into the other, a young woman was seen yelling at an old woman for the latter to empty a spot both had landed up mistakenly booking to sell their goods. Along with her band of boys, the young woman managed to bully the lone old woman out of the stall, who was then left to fend for herself with some help from the organizers.
The night before, as the previous carnival ended, a big band of Dimapur's policemen with lathis and aggression galore barked orders at some young people chatting with each other at the end of a long night. They were not allowed to peacefully inhabit a public space for reasons unknown and the police showed off their powers to bully people from enjoying the perks of being citizens of a free nation.
This week, we saw videos emerging from Manipur of people mercilessly pulling out other people’s bags with neatly folded, and probably hard earned, clothing to toss it into open fire before upturning the bus that the bags and their owners were found in. In turn, more buses were burnt.
Last week, we saw the Nagaland police use their position of power to harm a group of peaceful protestors with tear gas and water cannon. The police gathered at the protest site were themselves filled with fear from the first moment on and applied only direct orders instead of their hearts and minds to the situation.
In all of the above situations, individual and collective response has steered far from the virtues of coexistence. Everywhere, we seem to have bypassed empathy—to understand what it is to be in the other’s shoe. We have, thus, forgone compassion towards each other while operating as members of society. We seem to be going to war to make peace, or a moderately workable temporary situation we call peace.
As the future unfolds, what will these scenarios lead to? As part of the same community, will the young woman be able to work with the older woman? Will the Police not want to function as part of their community when they shed their uniform? Would they treat their children just as violently? How long will reconciliation between the many peoples of Manipur take following the violence?
In the philosophy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., action against injustice must be taken in a way that sees reconciliation and building a beloved community, or shared humanity, as its goal. For this to happen, nonviolence must become a way of life driven by the force of love—not romantic or friendly love, but the kind of love that one reflects towards all of humanity and progresses accordingly. Agape Love.
It is difficult to be faced with an extreme violent situation and be asked to apply love and nonviolence. But larger nonviolent responses to issues can be drawn when we begin to apply nonviolence—reflect upon issues with love instead of hatred—towards everyday issues. So, if the young woman had shown a little compassion towards the elder and set up her stall elsewhere, it would have saved time and given rise to an unknown loving relationship with her community elder. If the police feared the intent of the youth gathered in a public area, they could have done their duty well of protecting them, or alternatively asking them politely to not create problems, or even leave. Manipur can begin a number of processes of dialogue with open minds and hearts that look beyond colonial structures of domination. The same applies to the State structure and its agents in Nagaland.
Now, more than ever, may be harsh times of violence, but they are hopeful times for nonviolence.
Merry Christmas! from moitramail@yahoo.com
