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Sometimes and quite sometimes, it is sickening to listen or read the local news in the local media - print and electronic. The reason is simple, the news are sickening then anything. But as they say, it is the mirror of the society, I just look at it.

Anything is news, from hauling up a liquor baron with 100 litres of Hidaak-liquor to lynching someone by a mob, with no one to be accountable. From the news of the deceptive government attempts, in the just concluded class boycott - which I consider the funniest play ever played by a state government, recorded in history, to the silly statements that followed - a never ending story.

Deception, injustice, hypocrisy - these things happen everywhere. These are part of human activities. But what differentiate Manipur from others is the way the actors are acting - acting without any regard to moral responsibility or sense of accountability, bereft of any taste - just crude, rude and raw - without any class. It is a great shame. Such unbelievable behaviour on the parts of the powers that be insult the wisdom of the society, which claims 2000 years of history.

Everybody knows, the world has become very aggressive and very bad. But, being leaders, there should be some norms to do a thing. I do not have a proper word or expression to describe the manner, how the Ibobi Singh government, ultimately got the students to their schools and colleges, except to say that the nationalist chief minister of Manipur had worked very hard for 4 months, for our children to get their right to education which "is more important than right to life" - a historic achievement of the Ibobi Singh government.

Now, leaving behind the 4 months long drama - such situations are not unusual in Manipur - what has the government plan for our children? We know, the world that our children would be facing would be much more aggressive and more bad than what it is today. And, the world of our children may also be something which may be difficult for us to cope with. The gap between us and our children may also be difficult to be bridged, unless we accept the fact that, we are responsible for what it is today and for what our children would have become tomorrow. So, what is our plan ?

Incidentally, the centre formulates some substantive policy, on an All India character, which may not, all the time, be compatible with the ground situation in Manipur. To take an example, to educate each and every children of the country, including the children on the streets, the centre has launched a noble mission, involving billions of Rupees - Sarva Shiksha Aviyan with mid-day meal, so that each and every children of the country, would be educated.

Manipur has got its fair share of this noble mission, in terms of huge funds given by the centre. Fact is, for any policy or programme, of the centre taken on All India character, if fund is available the state government simply implements it without applying its mind to assimilate it into the ground situation. And as reported and as anyone could see, on the ground, the noble mission turned into big business in Manipur, cared by no one. No wonder, the insurgents and other armed groups ask for their share of the spoils. And naturally, the government would blame the insurgents for obstruction to works for their share of the popular percentage, like for those, who run the state, for all development funds.

Now, that apart, a moot question may be asked, how do the government and the common man look at education - school and higher education? Quite commendably, the quality of our school education is manageable - courtesy of private schools and institutions. But much more can be done by the cash-rich government like, extending substantial financial assistance to build better infrastructure, etc. to deserving private schools and institutions, without unnecessary interference.

However in Manipur, I can understand, even though I am not educationist, or a scholar or a pundit - something is very wrong with the centres of higher education and learning - colleges and university. This is a serious matter, and the government is expected pay due attention. One important aspect for a centre of higher studies - college or university - is, it functions as a bulwark against odds and challenges and finds new ways and new ideas. And to cope with the changing time visions are created by creative minds. These are rightfully expected from centres of higher learning.

It is true that a centre for higher studies and learning needs huge funds. And it is the government or a corporate body which can finance or invest such funds. But, no college or the Manipur University do not complain of any shortage of funds for development of the institutions, if my information is not wrong. Therefore, it may be said that it is not funds, which is responsible for the deplorable quality of our colleges and university. Let us admit this simple fact, honestly. And let not the prevailing condition, be the excuse, too. Because we know that the centres of learning can alleviate the atmospherics. Threads also cannot delete ideas, too. And most important, we are dealing with the future of our children.

Whatever maybe, we are aware that it is the teachers who can make a difference and the government must also pay due recognition. Therefore, it is time to ponder for all concerned - the teachers, the government and the civil society - to find ways so that our centres of higher studies earn some respect. Encouragingly, we find quite a few scholars and pundits engaging actively in socio-political matters of the state. However, their ideas and views must be meaningful and be able to connect us with the rest of the world. Our acts must have a global bearing so that we will not be left behind others, any more.