A DEEP LONGING for change and prosperity has long shaped the vision for society called home. Like many others, the dream is of communities where justice, honesty, and unity flourish; where leaders honour their sacred duty to serve; and where young people grow with hope instead of disillusionment. Yet, the closer the world is observed, the clearer it becomes that corruption, nepotism, malpractice, and strained relationships have infiltrated nearly every sphere of life. Politics has turned into a theatre of personal ambition, development projects are crippled by greed, education suffers from neglect, and even religious and social institutions falter under the weight of rivalry and dishonesty.
This journey represents a search for answers—an attempt to understand why society remains trapped in cycles of failure despite the existence of systems, laws, and structures designed for progress. Through reflection, the depth of collective brokenness is revealed alongside the one true path to genuine transformation. The reflections presented in this article are drawn primarily from the hill regions in particular, and from the state of Manipur as a whole, capturing the shared struggle and enduring hope for renewal within its communities.
Witnessing the Betrayal of Politics
The quest began with politics, for it is here that the destiny of society is most often shaped. Politics was once regarded as a noble vocation, entrusted with the sacred responsibility of serving the people. Yet what emerges instead is betrayal, for sincere leaders are few. Elected representatives, empowered to safeguard the common good, frequently act as merchants of power—amassing wealth, exploiting authority, and later using that wealth to buy votes and secure their positions once more.
Electoral malpractice has become an entrenched reality. Bribery, vote-buying, booth capturing, reliance on armed groups, muscle power and the misuse of public funds are now common practices to maintain influence. Nepotism in job appointments has become a dangerous trend, where opportunities are reserved for the connected rather than the competent. Hopeful young people, lacking money or political patronage, are pushed aside. As a result, democracy itself feels hollow—serving the privileged few instead of the many.
The mindset of voters too has been distorted by decades of stagnation and insincerity from their representatives. Having rarely witnessed meaningful development, many have abandoned high expectations for the future. Instead, they are drawn to immediate gratifications—cash, feasts, or other temporary incentives. In the process, they neglect leaders of vision and integrity, choosing instead those with wealth and resources. Saddening though it is, this has become the prevailing attitude of voters almost everywhere: electing leaders not for their principles or foresight, but for their capacity to purchase loyalty with material rewards.
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The political institution, once founded on the noble vision of serving the common people and advancing the welfare of society, has been hijacked by pseudo-leaders driven by selfish ambition, who have steadily undermined the people’s franchise through the corrupting influence of money politics. Election seasons often become times when emotions run high and reason fades. Many are willing to go to any extent to ensure the victory of their chosen candidate, and as a consequence, social bonds and even family relationships frequently suffer under the weight of partisan division.
What is most disheartening is that people from every sphere—including secular figures and even spiritual leaders—too often compromise their integrity and forsake their principles for personal gain or fleeting recognition from political representatives. In those moments, doctrines, moral values, and social responsibilities once esteemed are forgotten. Faith is diminished, community harmony fractured, and society left weakened in both spirit and strength.
Development and Infrastructure: Dreams Left Incomplete
Turning to development and infrastructure, there was hope that progress might be found in strong roads, steady electricity, and reliable digital connectivity. Yet what emerged was another story of disappointment. Roads remain half-built and substandard, electricity falters, health care facilities function poorly or not at all, and rural areas remain cut off from the larger world. Farmers and traders struggle to bring their goods to market, and communities are left in poverty—not because of a lack of ideas, but because funds meant for development vanish midway. Abandoned projects, shoddy workmanship, and corruption at every stage reveal a painful truth: when greed overshadows responsibility, development becomes an illusion.
Infrastructure is far more than concrete and steel; it is the very backbone of opportunity and the foundation upon which societies rise. Without it, no policy, however ambitious, can create lasting growth. Until corruption is uprooted, development will continue to stumble. Yet, when built with integrity, infrastructure can become the path upon which prosperity walks and hope finds a future.
Education: A Broken Backbone
The journey then turned to education—the foundation of every flourishing society. Surely, here there might be seeds of hope. Instead, what appeared was a system weakened by corruption and neglect. Government schools and colleges suffer the most. Classrooms crumble, libraries remain empty, sanitation is poor, and resources are scarce. Worst of all, many teachers are appointed not by merit but through bribery and favoritism. The result is devastating, as unqualified teachers deliver poor instruction and students are robbed of their potential.
Amidst these failures, the troubling trend of the substitute teacher system has also emerged. In such cases, the officially appointed teacher enjoys the benefits of the post while paying a meager amount to a substitute to perform the actual duties. Ironically, the substitute is sometimes more qualified than the appointed teacher, who secured the position through money rather than merit. The emergence of this system stems largely from inadequate infrastructure for teaching staff and the absence of efficient supervision and connectivity—reflecting how neglect in basic support can erode the very foundation of educational integrity.
These are the harsh realities of the education system—a sobering reminder that corruption not only undermines fairness but also jeopardizes the future of countless students. Education, which is meant to produce responsible and capable citizens, instead perpetuates inequality. Without moral guidance and proper formation, generations grow up disillusioned, deprived of the values of integrity, service, and civic responsibility. If the roots of education are poisoned, the tree of society cannot bear good fruit, and its harvest will always be bitter.
Religious and Social Institutions: Losing Their Light
Turning to religious and social institutions, the hope was to find moral leadership where politics and governance had failed. Yet here too, troubling realities unfolded. Faith institutions, founded to uphold sacred values, often mirror the same struggles for power that dominate the political realm—the only difference lies in how deeply and subtly these struggles manifest. Leadership disputes and partisan alignments weaken their moral fiber, while political entanglements slowly erode the sanctity of their purpose. In some instances, entire congregations fracture, losing sight of the higher calling that once bound them together in faith and fellowship.
At the community level, the same spirit of discord finds expression in disputes over chairmanship, other traditional posts, land and property—conflicts that tear apart villages and strain family relationships. What were once symbols of shared identity and cooperation have become sources of tension and rivalry. Civil society organizations, though founded upon noble ideals of truth, service, and transparency, are not exempt from these challenges. Internal rivalries, power struggles, and competing interests often divert them from their original mission. Instead of uniting people under common purpose, they risk becoming arenas of division and distrust, weakening the very fabric of communal harmony they were meant to strengthen.
The Burden on Ordinary People
As the journey continued, the weight of these failures became increasingly clear—it is always the ordinary people who suffer most. Wealth concentrates in the hands of a few while the majority struggles for survival. Stagnant infrastructure restricts trade, discourages investment, and suppresses job creation. Unemployment rises, especially among educated youth, compelling many to migrate in search of opportunities.
Hope begins to fade and communities fracture. Corruption displaces solidarity with greed, while even religious spaces fail to offer consolation when they themselves are tainted by dishonesty. Beyond material poverty lies a profound psychological burden: frustration gives way to hopelessness, and hopelessness to deep disillusionment. It became evident that no system, however well designed, and no human effort, however great, can by themselves eradicate these social afflictions.
The true crisis lies deeper—within the human heart—and the call for change must first arise from within. Only then can society begin to witness the beauty of a genuine and lasting transformation. Searching for Solutions In this search, many solutions appear: political reform, transparent governance, vigilant oversight of development projects, strengthening the health care sector, renewing education, empowering civil society, and ensuring fairness at the grassroots level. These remain undeniably vital.
Without political accountability, without reliable infrastructure, and without equitable education, no society can truly flourish. Yet, as reflection deepened, a painful truth emerged: even the most perfectly designed systems inevitably collapse when those entrusted with authority succumb to corruption. Perfect laws are powerless where hearts are dishonest, and strong institutions crumble when those who lead them lack sincerity and integrity.
The Turning Point: A Spiritual Realization
This became the turning point of the journey. The quest for change and prosperity cannot be achieved by human effort or perfect systems alone. True transformation does not begin with laws or policies but with the renewal of the human heart. Scripture affirms, “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man” (Proverbs 27:20, ESV). Human greed is endless; left to ourselves, there is no escape. Yet there is also a promise: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37, ESV). In these words lies the answer long sought. Real change is possible only when God touches hearts—when leaders, authorities, and ordinary citizens alike surrender pride, resist corruption, and embrace humility and service. The power to rise above dishonesty and the brokenness of society is not born of human will but of divine intervention.
The Quest Fulfilled
At the end of this journey comes a profound realization: the quest for change and prosperity is not merely political, social, or economic—it is, above all, spiritual. Systems and reforms may point the way, yet only God has the power to renew hearts. When leaders are touched by His truth, power becomes not a tool of greed but an instrument of service. When communities yield to His guidance, unity, justice, and peace take root once more.
True change and prosperity are not beyond reach, but they demand a transformation deeper than laws or institutions. They require submission to God, the eternal source of truth and integrity. Only through His intervention can society rise above materialism, greed, social turmoil, and corruption to move toward a future marked by hope, harmony, and lasting prosperity.
This article traces a reflective journey through both secular and spiritual perspectives in seeking genuine change and lasting prosperity. It affirms that while systems and reforms are essential, enduring transformation can only arise when guided by moral integrity and higher spiritual principles.
(The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ukhrul Times. Ukhrul Times values and encourages diverse perspectives. The author can be reached at semikam@gmail.com)
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