Unsustainable Identity

It is quite intriguing to witness the continuing sensitive nature when it comes to any issues that relates to our  identity and the consequent quite vocal response that ' identity' can generate everytime .

I don't think many of us would be surprise that Identity issues can bring about various forms of opinions especially in our present situation and status where we have many who are in to their own ' Identity-stage' -  e.g. misplaced identity, identity crisis, identity consciousness , identity promotion, in-harmony with ones identity .

In a community like ours where ones individual and national  identity had been generally shaped and  influenced by the existing religion,  the prevalent media etc; it is unfortunate that it had led for many of the Manipuris to have a misplaced identity . An identity formed by a very xenophobic academic curriculum, a xenophobic media which have lead  to this misunderstood identity. 

Please bear, but I would like to share an example -

It is like a dark complexion person brought up in a fair skin world where every curriculum , every form of entertainment and every form that resemble or 'the state of  being beautiful' has become associated that is 'fair and not dark'.  And growing up in such a skewed and xenophobic environment allows one to develop a very malfunctioned identity .

Unfortunately  the signs of inner-conflicts starts once one try to sustain this misunderstood identity as the real identity and attempts to harmonise it with the globilised world . Lets think where  the dark skinned person uses  every form of cosmetic products and medical treatment to look fair or going further by even trying  to live in the culture of the fair skin so  to feel fair and superior!!

But in a globalised cultured society where skin colour doesn't reflect ones status or knowledge or dignity , such a NAIVE infatuation gets easily noticed. Such behavior which have been a product of being part of being a naive popualation or victim of skewed media and environment , are not accepted as part of a civilised world. But rather describe as inhumane and uncultured !!

Unfortunately  in a society like ours ,  the prevalent xenophobic media  and the right wing masters continues to direct and manipulate the naive minds ,leading to many more MISUNDERSTOOD IDENTITIES . Worst still , the naive minds  are  encouraged rather made to be comfortable in this  misunderstood identity by manipulating  the  arrogant and egoistic attitude of this naive population.

 As been mentioned by Patricia Mukhim , this misplaced identity have become so much part of ones lifestyle that they become so obsessed with , that no amount of reasoning or reality would allow the naive brains to introspect .

But in a cultured and developed society , where development and civilisation are based on transparency, these false identity cannot be SUSTAINED with any dignity, apart from exposing ones naiveness and arrogance.

Today, we witness two broad sets of people who talk about identity. One who understand the facts and the social reasons behind today's Meetei Identity and another set of people who justify or tries to ignore the the present day identity status of the Meeteis, for in such justification or undermining acts, it allows themselves to be indulge in their false identity which they have to like so much that it feels to be an inherent part of themselves.

And there are those who doesn't want to know themselves cos they can't make the effort , but have all the time to criticise those who are trying to do so. 

It probably is good anthropological and social research study for the 'misunderstood identity' population of Manipur have begun to see those who are in not the same 'mindset' as them as a THREAT , A THREAT to their comfort , social status and particularly an hindrance to sustain their false identity.


I sometime wonder how Barack Obama would have done if he had tried to hide his Black ancestor background, and just try to project himself as a white . This could mean attempting  to become white with cosmetics or medical treatment to be like 'Jacko' !! and then use word such as 'democracy' or one's freedom to choose to look how they wish to look like , and those who question his self-esteem with relates to his black background as xenophobic and interfering .

I don't think the develop world or civilised people would have ever accepted such a Obama as leader as a visionary !!

But He didn't live that, did he? He was proud of his Kenyan roots, his white mother ,his white grandmother ,  the upbringing in Indonesia etc  He was as mentioned above a person of high self esteem and confidence and in harmony with his roots and upbringing .

But I am proud to say there is huge resurgence of Meeteis who have passed the stage of identity crisis , but are in content with the identity that there rich culture heritage and culture have bestowed , and have initiated the phase of promotion of harmony with their identity. e.g. They no longer are shameful of names in their mother tongue , but have taken the wonderful  oppurtunity to name their beloved sons and daughter in beautiful names in their own  mother tongue . And in such act, they don't have the arrogance to flaunt the beautiful names, but are just contented  with it like any other cultured people does.

(Just like The japanese or the italian or the french or the koreans etc  who  doesn't flaunt or show any arrogance in  their beautiful cultures or identity, but are just contented and happy with it.).