The Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council (Part-vi)

By Rebati Mohan Sinha, Mumbai

Since last fortnight there are people from our B.M. community never missed a chance to wash one’s dirty linen in public. We should not only cry for Development Council, we must develop our mindset also that brings happiness to all. We must develop an immunity to negative criticism. Make the best of every situation and remember, all times are not the same , ups and downs are part of life. Look for the positive in every person and in every situation. One must take the criticism graciously and evaluate, if it makes sense,then accept and implement. Always thank other person for criticizing in constructive manner. One of the deepest desire of human beings is the desire to be appreciated. We should not forget it.

Everyday, as a new scam breaks out whether in sports, politics, business, health care, in education and public distribution system, I watch their disappointment. The cities, once adored, are now owned by builders, criminals, extortionists and politicians, who are often all three. People we once looked down for their lack of scruples are the new icons in a world where all art, music, sports in fact all achievements are measured in terms of who earns how much, a fact that is gleefully plastered across all media. What we once shunned is admired. What we once disapproved are now the ideals of a new society being built up on the premise that whatever makes money is good. Wealth is the new measure of a person’s place in a society. Can we deny it?

The unity forms the crux of a community, integral to the very essence of the word, because you can`t have community that is disjoined and divided and still try to pass of as collective spirit. Love thy neighbors, celebrate their success just as you would grief for their failures. This is what we are taught for, to believe, to do because it creates harmony and balance and makes us better individual, who can then go on to create more wholesome communities; but what happens, when your fellow community member outruns you in the race or outnumber you at the bank, where does the unity go then? I believe it is time for a manual to be produced for social workers who have annoying and debilitating habit of doing just the opposite of what is preached. We have all the wrong responses and reactions at a time when all we need to do is to provide unconditional support.