It is one final period—the remaining two days of the year 2015—many people will be making New Year resolutions, an opportunity to gauge their goals. It is also one final period for people who pledge to shed their old habits and so they burn their esophagus and stomach as they stuff the hard and the soft fluids into their trunk till the brim for the ‘climaxo-effect,’ a tradition sort to bid adieu to the old year. Well, we are reminded that the best resolutions are made by people who have the ability to comprehend the farthest point they could see—such mind has more certitude and less doubt. Now, of the many things we foresaw, one situation is noted—the people of the Northeast region cannot escape from the impact of the Act East Policy when the government of India ‘accelerates’ its spade works to cement ties with the 10-member ASEAN bloc in 2016.To face the situation, understanding our immediate eastern neighbour and maintaining a fine rapport with it will be extremely important. Sadly, the much-needed focus on start-ups pertaining to the Indo-Myanmar relation is missing. This absence is an impediment for the hearty going in the implementation of the Act East Policy. What causes this deficit is best known by the people who inhabit the highest realms of political punditry in both the countries. One probable cause is that Myanmar and India failed to see their engagements beyond normal relations. They are yet to realize that a hot romance between the two entities is extremely important. Once that is developed, both the countries will begin to overlook hiccups that come along. We know that in any steamy romance everything becomes a molten kind, and free of avarice and vindictive urge. (There are several problems cropping up every another day even as these two neighbours deal things pertaining to the Act East Policy—see the Kaladan Project issue). To begin a good romance understanding the mind and heart of the other is vital. Today, even after 20 years of ‘looking eastward’ nothing has changed on the ground—a legacy of bad policy. For the general people of the Northeast India the idea of Myanmar is just Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese timbers and the latest entrants—the surgical operation and the NSCN-K. When politicians, civil organizations, the government agencies are not talking about the Look East Policy/Act East Policy or Myanmar for how long the media can manufacture stories? Unless there is a new impetus the media cannot go on harping on the half-glass-full impression of the situation. Concerted seminars and lectures are important. We have about 30 universities in the Northeast region. If each of these varsities can organize at least 5 events on Myanmar or Act East Policy in a year the 150 programmes will definitely give tremendous impact on the people. Another important point this column would like to suggest the concerned authorities is to clear all the hurdles faced by the journalists in the Indo-Myanmar border. Security forces personnel often hamper the free working of journalists in the border areas. Lastly, whether we are to stop looking east or not is another approach altogether but one thing is clear—a steamy hobnobbing with Myanmar will continue to be very important for the Northeast region for the simple reason that we cannot choose our neighbours. We should start believing in doing things differently. Can this be one of the resolutions for the coming year?
