The Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council (Part vii)

A review of past events

By Rebati Mohan Sinha, Mumbai

There is a reasonable space and role for everybody who is working in the social field, but it is also important that we understand that politics of social responsibility can not be left to the whims and fancy of certain individual.

Since last one month we have been washing our dirty linen in public on BM Development Council because we see things not the way they are; but the way we are. It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable. Social accountability is a very crucial to organizations in general and NGOs like Mahasabha in particular.

On this Mahalaya day, the Sep. 7th, I would like to mention here that thoughts of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ continuously reverberate within us. This is attachment, and from attachment comes possessiveness in thoughts such as ‘I did it’ or ‘this belongs to me’ ......such sentiments distance us from our core(soul) and attachment and innumerable egoistic tendencies like acquisitiveness, competitiveness, envy, anger fear and animosity bombard us. Today this qualities are depicted as demons in Mahamaya. We must get rid of all these ills.

Let me reproduce few selected lines of news items published on Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council(BMDC) in last three consecutive days, 26th, 28th and 30th September in Sentinel for readers to give reasons which may be quite beneficial to the society at large and Mahasabha in particular. Here are the brief news.

Sentinel, Silchar Sept 26.

“Chances of Kartiksena Sinha, the controversial MLA from Patherkandi becoming Chairman of proposed BM DC was very bleak, hinted Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala. Soueces said, Dinesh Prasad Goala had suggested the name of Dr. Deben Sinha, president NBMM, the apex body of Community.

The source also said, Mahasabha(NBMM) after consultation with two Ministers, Dinesh Prasad Goala and Gautam Roy as well as Siddique Ahmed had proposed the name of leading representative from their community to be inducted in the council.”

Sentinel, Guwahati Sep 28.

“ Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha(NBMM) and Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Parisad have come down heavily on Assam Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala for interfering in Mahasabha`s internal matter on the issue of the proposed BM DC.”

“NBMM had proposed the name of MLA Kartiksena Sinha as the chair person of the council through a resolution passed unanimously. Mahasabha has not changed this decision till date. NBMM vice president Anil Sinhga Gautam said in another press release that in its executive meeting the NBMM had unanimously decided to project lone MLA of the BM society......”

Sentinel, Silchar Sep 30.

“ NBMM disown statement by DILS Sinha and Sinhga Gautam.”

NBMM Secretary General Uday Sinha today said, the comment made by DILS Sinha and Gautam were their personal and not of the NBMSP and NBMM.”

On the name of Mahasabha(NBMM) we have read three different version from three sources on three different dates. Not only Secretary General of Mahasabha disowned the news item published on Sep 28th but was also silent on news published on Sep 26th. What does it mean? It means Sep. 26th news item was accepted by Mahasabha. If the Secretary General disowned Sep.28th statement given by Vice President, NBMM, can we presume that the former is superior to later? And has the former had an attempt to clarify from the later before going to the press? It means, there are plenty of communication gaps among the office bearers of NBMM. In other wards organization structure is very weak for which so many contradictory statements are appearing in news papers. This is not a good sign on any organization. It will bring disgrace later, tomorrow or day after.

Let us discuss this news item published on Sep.26th which had been silently accepted by Secretary General, NBMM that Mahasabha had a consultation with two Ministers. Now the question may arise, who were persons deputed to, rather authorized to consult with these Ministers? And in which Central Executive body meeting, this decision was taken? Sources said there was no such meeting held after July 4th. Then who had gone and met Ministers without the nod from Central Executive Body? It may be noted, no matter how prominent a person`s status in a society or a top ranking office bearer, he can not be above the board and give statement in press at his whims and fancy. The important part of it, the day of this news broke in Sentinel, the second in command of Mahasabha was asked, whether he new of such development, he blatantly denied and also reiterated that there was no Executive Body Meeting held in recent times. If some one sums up the news of these three days 26th,28th and 30th, definitely he would be out of track i.e. which is the correct news he will not be able to choose.