ASUK said that if people’s minds are not colonized or if they have the correct ideology/philosophy, they cannot be suppressed by weapons of any kind nor can they be used by vested interests as per their whims
TFM Desk
Alliance for Socialist Unity (ASUK), an umbrella organization of proscribed groups in Manipur has announced a total shutdown in the state on October 15 from 6 AM to 6 PM. However, emergency and medical services, religious rituals, rites of passage related rituals, water and power supply will not be within the purview of the total shutdown.
In a press statement, ASUK recalled that that Manipur came under British Empire in 1891. After 57 years later (1947), Manipur regained its sovereignty with the end of British colonial rule. For over two years, Manipur remained independent but was annexed by India in 1949. For the last 74 years, Manipur has been relegated to a dependent state. After the annexation of Manipur on October 15, 1949, the people of the state have been observing the same day as “eclipse days” as an expression of resistance, said ASUK.
“This was the day when we cloaked ourselves in shame as a result of Manipur becoming a colonized territory. Terming the day as “eclipse day” is an apt action. Since that day till now, we have gradually slid down the ladder of progress. In the beginning, our external or physical “body” was colonized. But now even our “minds” are being colonized; including our way of thinking and philosophy”, claimed ASUK.
ASUK said that the people have lost their esteemed character and moral values as society moves towards deterioration into a state of being where one refuses to listen to the others riddled with disunity. “We are at the lowest juncture of progress where members of the society do not trust other members and look down upon the other with suspicion. We are at a stage where we have to genuflect to the powers that be instead of facing the challenge. This is the sign of a society heading towards self-annihilation”, ASUK added.
The alliance pointed that the cause of the current condition is a fallout of colonialism. Colonization is characterized by gross injustice as pointed out by intellectuals, said ASUK. “If the minds are not colonized, the physical beings cannot be colonized for long. To colonize the minds after physical colonization is the prime objective of the colonial masters. For 74 years, India has tried to colonize our minds. Today, it seems to be on a successful ride towards the same objective. The colonized minds accept the colonizers as having cultural superiority leading to infusion of inferiority complex and alienation. Thereafter, the society and the individual will be filled despair/hopelessness), loss of confidence, meek acceptance of higher authority that truly portrays subservience”, said ASUK.
ASUK said that if people’s minds are not colonized or if they have the correct ideology/philosophy, they cannot be suppressed by weapons of any kind nor can they be used by vested interests as per their whims and the resources of their land cannot be extracted. “The strongest weapon used to colonize the minds of those already physically colonized is to uproot their knowledge/cognition strength ultimately leading to the epistemic injustice of colonialism”, opines ASUK.