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Like with other civilisations, the predominantly tribal areas of India’s northeast have also witnessed transformation – rapid transformation, which in the words of octogenarian politician SC Jamir, is equivalent to ‘living a thousand years in a lifetime’. Nagaland and tribal people of the northeast are witnessing tumultuous changes in their environment, in their lives and lifestyles and the people with whom they are required to interact. These changes necessitate adjustments and lead to diversified expectations and aspirations.
Historically, in their most pristine form, most people in these areas have lived in relatively isolated geographical areas with very basic needs and desires and most of these desires were conveniently sustained by their immediate surroundings. Without prejudice or ill-will, most of these societies did not have any script which meant that knowledge and wisdom could only be transmitted orally, leaving room for losses and contamination. These meant that in a modern environment, the population was disadvantaged vis a vis others.
Thankfully, with time, literacy levels have increased and better transport and communication facilities and infrastructure have added to the quality, quantity, variety, and diversity of interaction – with other neighbouring tribes as well as people in the country and even abroad. Those who got exposure to the outside world, naturally, have made rapid strides – the early-birds are now occupying the seats of power and responsibility.
Soon, for a population which was self-dependant and able to sustain itself locally, increasingly, significant segments started realising their relative deprivation. Traditionally, a tribal in the northeast had land in abundance which was sufficient to sustain agriculture and livestock for himself or his family or the village. The nearby forests, flora and fauna made up for the deficit and provided the game too. There was little need for interaction with others and hence there was no craving for better roads; loss of life was attributed to divine displeasure and hospitals and medical facilities were not even on their minds; there was no formal system of education and hence no schools or educational institutions. Trade and commerce or movement to other areas was uncommon too but those who did venture out, were decidedly better equipped.
A populace which was simple and unpolluted, was easy to impregnate and manipulate – by way of fresh values and value systems – through the introduction of religion, through education and other niceties of life like clothing, guns, money etc. Lives which revolved around their surroundings suddenly witnessed a magnetic pull for ‘material pieces’. Contentment started yielding to desires, needs and greed. These four elements are distinctly visible in the aspirations of the contemporary society.
Historical elements like limited needs and requirements of the village folk meant that a majority of them never realised the importance of the modern niceties and the craving for good schools, health facilities, roads or public health facilities like potable drinking water, water pipelines or even electricity were never important. Not that the Union government did not try to reach out to the farthest corners; it did. However, with swathes of remote geographical areas and people’s ignorance about the ‘duties and efforts of a welfare state’ and their own requirements, the ones who were better-off i.e., a mix of influential people who go as political leaders and social workers, or as bureaucrats and technocrats or public servantsor as contractors and businessmen ruled the roost –extracting the “whole flesh” while extending small doles to the masses - the crumbs being left to the innocent and ignorant. Sinecures doled out and mushrooming have added to creation of power-centres and the stranglehold.
With traditional and customary material interactions barely evolving beyond barter, the systems for trade or commerce or contractual obligations or fairness were rudimentary and not suited to a fast evolving environment. Those ‘early birds’ who had exposure to education and ‘others’ became interlocutors and leaders, and manipulation by denial of accessto information would soon to become the first step in greed.
For systems where classlessness was a matter of pride, survival necessitated that the powerful were looked upon as benevolent benefactors. These so called ‘benefactors’ of the modern systems of governance quickly realised that with money, they could buy ‘souls’ – almost always. A class of selected few commenced with personal self-aggrandizement and gradually incorporated and co-opted their families and relatives, developing a stranglehold on systems and causing large-scale deprivation. Most people remained excluded from their rights, and whenever they did try to assert themselves, in the face of deficient information and knowledge, it was easy to ‘purchase their loyalties’ either through small doles or emotional blackmail based on village, clan or tribal affiliations or trickery or a mix of these. The common ignorant village-folk were satisfied with whatever extra they could get, in the bargain being deprived of their actual share. It was a cleverly manipulated win-win scenario, only that one was rooted in greed, the other in ignorance.
Traditionally, the society had massive advantages too – the synergies generated from common land and strong village-bonds. These were sometimes used to acquire land for development projects, even free of cost. Occasionally, the parting of land was accompanied by promises of jobs/employment or work or supply orders and contracts. However, with the financial muscle and wherewithal to undertake and execute works lacking, it was often accompanied by sub-contracting and sub-letting of work orders – for a price too. However, this meant that the vested interests could manipulate the bureaucracy and government on the one hand and the by now gullible yet innocent populace on the other. This created a vicious circle of vested interests where despite the Government Conduct rules, some government servants became shadow contractors, often executing works in their own departments under their noses – a case of gratification and bias.
The tsunami of change sweeping the world by way of advances in information technology, quality and speed of construction of infrastructure projects like roads, better education facilities, better medical and health facilities, ease of access and use of luxury items, audio-visual media and social media and mobility have meant that even the hithertofore ignorant masses are in a better position to gather information about anything they want. Development of newer institutions, executive, legal and judicial mechanisms and path-breaking laws like those on freedom of information and whistle-blower protection have meant that the opacity in governance mechanisms and institutions is being challenged. The degree of success against government opacity varies but necessity and curiosity are driving the change.
Some people may have abused these mechanisms as tools to make a quick buck by extortion but these tactics are clearly illegal and criminal. Yet these are also pointers to two things: that the informal-casual mechanisms are more effective than formal ones and that there are skeletons galore in the bureaucratic cupboards. If there are no skeletons, the rationale for ‘backdoor settlement’ rather than sharing information by public authorities on RTI applications would be absent.
Most primitive mechanisms and institutions are ill-equipped to handle the intricacies and complications of modern life. Therefore, adoption of and adaptation to the modern institutions is essential. However, for an ordinary person, the delays in justice delivery are a primary reason for the distrust. Nevertheless, it will not take success on all cases to turn things around – success in one major case which has wide implications or is exemplary would be enough to fuel the aspirations of the masses and make them obedient and law abiding citizens.
Rupin Sharma
rupinsharma@gmail.com