Sometime back in the winter of 2021, just when there was a respite after the Covid-19 encapsulation, I was invited by Dr. Lorho S Pfoze, the Member of Parliament from the outer Manipur constituency, to stay with him for a few months in New Delhi.After thinking for a few days, I decided to accept the invitation, hoping that I’d have time in between to continue with my work. I work as a freelance software developer. It was late well into the evening on the day I reached the MP bungalow, situated near the famous Lodhi Garden. I was received very warmly, and Dr. Lorho went on to show me where I’d be staying and the cozy little office I’d be working in. I was quite impressed by how organized his office was; it instantly struck me with his meticulous nature of keeping all the office files sorted and arranged in a particular order. He walked me through all the ongoing tasks and how I could be of help to him, while also listening to what I had to say. Suddenly, I felt the need to clear an air, and as bluntly as it could be, I told him, “Ape, I am not a political person.” (The Maos call an elderly person Ape, meaning grandpa). I could sense a sudden halt in his expression. But he took his time and responded, “Well, you don’t have to be political to contribute to society. It’s alright.” Thinking about it now, I don’t even know what that being “political” truly means. Moreover, I should not have been so upfront with my ideology, at least not on the first day of my job. But his response spoke volumes about the kind of person he is.
As I continued my stay with him, delving into the multitude of problems our people face, I began to realize that the complexity of our society, particularly among the Nagas, is far greater than I had initially assumed. One glaring issue is the struggle to define our common goal. We often find ourselves torn between pursuing a political dream and striving for economic prosperity. Should a Member of Parliament (MP) boldly advocate for our Naga solution, potentially neglecting broader interests? Or should he pursue economic goals joining the rest of his fellow parliamentarians? Would our people be satisfied if his speeches should merely sit on the fence?
Regarding his involvement in economic development, leaders from various communities approach him with a multitude of requests, ranging from building community halls and football grounds to seeking personal financial or medical assistance. Personally, I see nothing inherently wrong with these requests; it’s natural for people to have high expectations of what an MP can do for them. However, the simple realization that many of these requests would not be fulfilled overwhelms me. But does the inability to fulfill all these requests mean that an MP has forsaken the principles he vowed to uphold? The concept of utopia for Plato was to attain justice. So, what truly constitutes justice in the realm surrounding our legislatures, both at the State and Union levels?
An MP receives a monthly salary of one lakh rupees. Additionally, they are allocated five crores annually for development funds, known as the MPLAD fund. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPLAD funds were either cancelled or reduced in the pandemic year and the subsequent year. More so, the flow of MPLAD fund goes through the district magistrate. Just as things were starting to recover, Manipur was struck by its biggest community conflict.
However, I am not here to make excuses. People have every right to criticize their elected representatives, and politicians should not be offended by criticisms. Yet, I’d like to highlight some inconsistencies within our expectations. If our people expect an MP to address issues like building village auditoriums, football grounds, or providing financial assistance, then so be it. After all, the people should have a say in governance. However, considering the allocated five crores per year, how many of these infrastructures can realistically be built? A single building could easily consume a significant portion of that fund. But this is just one aspect. There are also various unions and organizations representing different ethnic groups such as Nagas, Meiteis, and Kukis. There are numerous programs and functions that politicians are expected to attend, and being a guest at these events can be a costly affair for a sincere MLA/MP. An MP from inner Manipur once lamented that he often has to decline invitations to our Nagas’ community programs due to financial constraints.
The culture of politicians donating money also perplexes me. While we can request infrastructure development or seek solutions to political, social, or economic issues, demanding money raises ethical concerns. It highlights the contradictions that have emerged within our society. How have we, as a Naga society, influenced the behavior and character of our politicians? I came across a statement yesterday by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, where she mentioned not having money to contest the Lok Sabha polls, 2024. While I take her statement with some resistance, she is so right according to the rules. No sincere legislator would have access to extra legitimate funds beyond their monthly salary. Frankly speaking, it appears there is little room for integrity in Naga politics. In 2016, when Shri. Rajnath Singh, the Union Home Minister, was invited as the Chief Guest to the annual event of the Naga Students’ Union Delhi, the organizing committee, of which I was a part, made a conscious decision not to request any donation from the Union Minister, believing it would demean our dignity. This was how things should ideally be. However, when it comes to our Naga politicians, it’s an entirely different story. Societal pressures and obligations are making our politicians do the devil’s work.
The role of an MP is to serve as the voice of the people in the country’s highest decision-making body. It is up to the reader’s discretion whether he has consistently spoken up for the state of Manipur, advocated for a solution to the Naga issue, or voiced concerns on behalf of the nation. One can easily look up the record; on this front, I believe he easily surpasses that of his predecessors. I stand corrected. In the crowded chamber of 543 members, one has to vie for speaking time. And if he had spoken many times, it surely must be because he worked hard, harder than many of his fellow parliamentarians. He spoke for the Naga solution multiple times, he flared himself to speak about the Oting incident when his mic was muted for reasons best known to them, he has spoken against religious intolerance, he has spoken about the ever-ongoing conflict in Manipur, he has spoken about women empowerment, and many more. And if he had not spoken more, it was because he was not given the chance. Furthermore, if he had not spoken more, it was because he was a lone member from NPF, and moreover, he is a member of the ruling party. I sensed that even at the cost of political gain, he has spoken against the state government in the ongoing Manipur conflict. He has been adamant about language impositions in the country and has spoken publicly against it. During the short time I was there, I dedicated myself to arranging and getting letters ready to be sent to various ministries. Within the next three or four months, I had touched nearly all areas concerning each of the central ministries. While some letters received responses within a month, for most, it took longer. The majority of responses acknowledged receipt of the letter or stated that the concerned authority was looking into it. Dr. Lorho would then follow up with further responses to pursue the matter. The exchange of letters would continue back and forth. At times, I failed to see the purpose behind his efforts, especially when the racks were filled with unfulfilled letters. Yet, he persisted nonetheless. And if, out of fifty letters, one reached an agreement, execution would go through the state and not the central legislature, thus depriving the MP of credit. The process is painstaking, but it is at this point that one truly begins to appreciate democracy.
We didn’t always agree with each other, but we often engaged in discussions while moving from one meeting to another. Once, I promised him that I would form a Science Lovers Club with a friend of mine and that he should be there to formally inaugurate it. He was delighted and frequently inquired about its progress. I consistently assured him that it was in the works. Despite our differing viewpoints, he displayed humility by listening attentively. As a young man lacking patience, I sometimes vented about the problems facing our society, but he always took the time to patiently explain things to me. I consider these moments as invaluable learning experiences. I have learned many things from him, but above all, I can’t help but admire his humility and the respect he shows to every person, regardless of age, wealth, or status. While I consider myself a considerate person, his continuous outpouring of concern for beggars or differently-abled individuals whenever we drove pass by them made me feel less considerate in comparison. One morning, post-pandemic, we were out jogging in Lodhi Garden when a policeman stopped us and began speaking harshly for not wearing face masks. By that time, not many were wearing them anymore, not in the park too. But as always, Dr. Lorho responded softly, ‘We are sorry. We won’t do it again,’ and pulled up his mask, requesting the officer to let us go. As I witnessed the incident unfold, many thoughts crossed my mind. On another occasion, Shri. Om Birla, the Speaker of the lower house, praised Dr. Lorho in a meeting with a group of parliamentarians, stating that they should emulate him because he was the best parliamentarian. These little anecdotes about him fill me with humility and pride in what he stood for as a person. While we may not always agree with his actions or inactions—I, too, have my reservations—there is much I have learned from him as an individual.
Forget personal ingenuity or a good man’s character in the political sphere; what’s more important is how people navigate from here in a state as confused and chaotic as ours. Do we give up? No. One solution I have long been considering is that we start facing the truth. During one of his election campaigns, Dr. Lorho in his interview to a TV presenter from Imphal declared, ‘I come to you as a Naga. A Naga has his vision. So does a Meitei or a Kuki. But if we allow ourselves to understand each other and discuss across the table, there surely is a way to sort out our differences.” (Rough translation) He went on to win the election. The truth may not always be comfortable for someone, but it may be the only way for us to start moving forward. On another occasion, I accompanied Dr. Lorho to the Kuki Students Organisation, Delhi sports meet. He was happy to be among them, but to the surprise of the audience, he candidly stated that he stood before them as an MP not because of their votes. I felt uncomfortable, as did everyone else. However, Dr. Lorho continued by emphasizing the necessity of starting to trust each other. A thunderous applause culminated towards the end. These instances underscore the importance of citizens hearing the truth, as opposed to temporary appeasement which ultimately leads to distrust in the long run. Dr. Lorho’s impartial attitude towards all communities continues to inspire me, even after two years, since I took a different path, as I had to pay more attention to my work.
I leave it to the readers to have their say. It is the duty of the people to judge their representatives by their work, and we all should do so. However, what saddens me is how many of our judgments lack depth of understanding, often stemming from personal greed and motivations. The infamous critique among the Nagas is, ‘What has he done for my tribe?’ At this rate, we risk forever losing the aura of respect we’ve always held for integrity. We shower praise and respect on legislators who make huge donations when invited to our cultural programs, but we consistently fail to reward sincerity or loyalty. The path to corruption is an abysmal pit, and we are all equally guilty of proving the late leader Phizo right: that many of us indeed fall when money is shot through the barrel of a gun. However, it’s not just about money; we also take pride in many wrong values. Count me equally guilty, as I still have to deliver on the promise: the Science Lovers Club.”
The world today is unlike anything we’ve experienced before. Changes are occurring at a pace that outstrips our cultural norms. It’s only a matter of time before many of the values we hold dear today become irrelevant tomorrow. All I wish for now is that we the younger generation awakens to a better and truer future. One crucial step in this direction is rebuilding relationships with one another.
The 18th Lok Sabha election is here. Dr. Lorho won’t be contesting again for the Lok Sabha seat as he failed to win the ticket from his devoted party, although he really must have hoped. So, it must be fair to say that by writing this, there is no motive for political gain. Rather, it’s a time for introspection and self-reflection. Perhaps, my aim was to manage our people’s expectations, preventing them from harboring unrealistic hopes once again. Whether Dr. Lorho gets a chance to win doesn’t particularly concern me. I hope Ape understands my perspective here. It neither concerns me if a candidate from my tribe or your community is sent to the highest legislative body. I am only concerned that every time when this time comes around, the people lose themselves not knowing if it really is worth the strife. It concerns me that we don’t allow individual freedom to flourish. When election time arrives, I wish people would simply treat it like any other day, casting their votes and carrying on with their daily lives. Sometimes I wonder which sane man would contest an election. We never have the courage to address the truth, let alone face it. If one is a true leader, they must instill the quality of integrity in the people, encouraging them to take a stand, whether for good or bad, rather than allowing society to compromise it. A confused society is a tragedy through and through.
It’s difficult to maintain optimism when deep down, I already feel that no matter which great leader we choose this time too, the outcome will be the same as long as we corrupt them.
Peace to all.
Written by:
Khoshow A Leriite
Software Developer,
Author of a novel, “In Search of a Home. Reckoning our world by an undefined mystic being”
You can reach me at khoshow.developer@gmail.com
