Madness Reigns But Your Efforts Would Not Be In Vain, Isaac!

By Seikholen Thomsong

Isaac Hmar wrote for the Sangai Express.He was a poltical and social activist in his own right and a Student Union leader too. He addressed issues of far reaching political, social and economical consequences fearlessly day after day in Manipur. Readers who look for his byline first thing in the morning, when they open up their daily newspaper over a cup of hot tea/coffee would no longer find his articles. He was shot dead by unidentified men in Mizoram a few days ago.

Isaac had become a writer of great repute in the last few years. I had the opportunity to know his family since a long time ago. He and his brother Oliver studied in Delhi. They were close to a bro-in-law too. Thus I came to know them all the more better. Prof Laldena is a very nice gentleman and an intellectual who has no peer who would accomplish what he has achieved. Oliver was a real friend of mine, someone who would encourage me and motivate me whenever we sit over a cup of tea or a few drinks depending on the time of day we bump into each other. A few months back he and I sat over a few drinks and recalled the good old days when he was in Delhi regarding some business interests of his. Now he has lost a brother and a friend and I feel the condolence I offered on the phone was somehow not sufficient.

India is one of the most dangerous places for writers and journalists. The number of journalists killed in this country annualy rank next only to the defence personnels (The Army). We do not require a New York Times or the Times magazine's reports to tell us that. Maximum of the journalists and writers who have fallen prey are those working in conflict areas- the North East India, Jammu & Kashmir and some naxal infested states in mainland India.

This is because people who hold the power of the gun except for a leader or two are either half bred or illiterates who do not value the virtue of a positive criticism. Just imagine what would be your outlook in life if the highest education that you could avail is the tenth class of some below average institution which does not teach you values of life? Not all schools or educational institutions impart anything besides education (sans its various values). So how can the mass of people in these areas have that broadmindedness, the ability to see some worth in a criticism, the ability to discern between what is meant to help and what is meant to harm.

To be brutally honest the people of these trouble torned areas would realise that what they require at this stage may not be political self governance but a complete and well meaning education. What use is having a nation when the people who have to inherit it are just like the murderers of my friend Isaac, bereft of logic, intellect, farsightedness or vision of what the intelligentsia can contribute to the welfare of the state and its people. I mean what do the killers achieve by killing someone who through his dedicated works and fearless honesty un-earths some mistakes of ours?Momentary satisfaction that their hurt or insults have been avenged?I do not honestly know what they gain out of killing a writer?

I mourned the murder of (late) Gengoukhup for the fact that he was a writer that I had read since my early boyhood and grew to respect. Now we mourn the death of yet a budding writer. Had his life not been cut off so tragically he would have become a great writer and a conscientuous leader in the days to come. The reason why he had to be killed may be political, personal or even related to business. But it is madness all the same.Killing is insane.

The madness would thus continue. Even then the efforts and contributions of people like Isaac would never be in vain. How long can they keep annihilating anyone and everyone who have the balls to speak out against something that they see as wrong?

May his soul rest in peace!