Protective Thinking: North-East Tribal Communities Need Each Other

By Pakinrichapbo | EMN

This article’s title may puzzle many readers, but not the astute readers who may begin to rethink on why and how Northeastern tribal communities need each other now and in the future. I shall try to highlight unavoidable relevant factors on why we need each other by taking the past and present accounts of Northeastern regional politics from the time modern Assam, as a separate province, was constituted in 1874 by the British Govt. of India (and not by the political dominance of the then Assamese populations to administer large tribal populations in the Northeast region).

The main purpose of this article is to build a bridge between tribal groups and not incite any communal misgivings; and, at the same time, describe what the tribal communities had faced since the arrival of the British Colonial Power and after the transfer of Power to Newly Independent Indian Govt. By studying the exploitive history of the various tribal groups under the British Colonial authorities during the pre-Independent era and later in the post-Independent period, it has forced me to think that these vulnerable tribal communities need to seriously study on why they need each other. These tribal traditional landowner groups have been exploited economically, socially, and politically chiefly aided by their backwardness and their refusal to learn anything valuable from the past has facilitated their exploitations even to this day.

Sensing absolute domination by external factors, numerous tribal groups fought for self-determination by resorting to arms struggle that brought about more destruction leading to the implementation of AFSPA. Until the tribal people give up their futile violent arms struggle, AFSPA will remain indefinitely. What we need now is an ethnic alliance with the progressive diplomatic approach with timely compromises on certain sensitive issues regarding land and resources. These tribal groups have an aspiration for having their own “Nation-State” in order to protect their traditional land, identity, and to empower themselves economically. However, this could not be achieved because these groups (instead of supporting each other by compromising) continue to engage in direct confrontation on the basis of ethnic lines. As long as they oppose each other, they will be easily manipulated as usual by larger non-tribal communities, and their demand for statehood or more autonomy will never be fulfilled. If these tribal groups fail to cooperate and establish a working alliance, all the present vast unoccupied lands and territories will soon be captured by non-tribal immigrants. And do not forget that a huge portion of the tribal lands in the northeast are already occupied and owned by nontribal immigrants.

The aspirations of the Northeast tribal groups such as the Boros, Nagas, Kukis, Karbis, Dimasas, Garos, Hmar, etc. are very much similar, except the case of the Nagas, where it touches matters concerning sovereignty and integration, while the rest demand for statehood under the Indian Constitution. Whatever the differences, if these ethnic groups fail to come to an understanding and build a working alliance, their demands of statehood will only remain a demand on paper occasionally accompanied by imposing bandh called by respective ethnic groups.

Tribal Communities and Their Political Aspirations
Apart from the numerous tribal groups’ agenda of attaining statehood, the Nagas rightfully claim that they were neither conquered nor subjugated by any outside forces until the arrival of the British Colonial power in their lands. This historical fact still keeps the idea of Naga Nationalism alive. This instills fear on tribal as well as non-tribal communities to safeguard each respective state’s integrity, which was largely facilitated by the transfer of power from the Colonial British power to the newly established Union Govt. of India.

Certainly, there are countable Naga populations in Nagaland, Manipur, and other Naga inhabited areas that do not agree with integration demands of the Naga Nationalist groups. Also the repeated claim of the Manipur Govt. that there is no Naga owned lands in Manipur has further hurt the sentiments of the Naga communities making it more determined for us to carry on our political aspiration. In addition, we need to stop pointing fingers towards the Union Govt. since we seem to believe that every sort of disunity among us is part of a grand conspiracy by the Indian Intelligence to intentionally destroy and undermine Naga political movement.

Similarly, other tribal groups having their own aspiration of attaining statehood should think twice before opposing Naga aspirations as their respective states’ governments headed by non-tribal communities will never consider their statehood demand. Here, the Naga Nationalist groups cannot ignore to make a sensible compromise on their part for without the support of neighboring communities all Northeast regions are likely to unite in their opposition against Naga political aspiration. In National or international law, without support and recognition from another state, no new state can be established and recognized.

Tribal communities also ought to understand the nature of Indian national politics if tribal communities wanted to safeguard their customs, lands, resources, and identity to empower themselves economically. Indian National politics colored by religious and caste intrigues facilitated by the rules of numerical strength based on population and size of states, guaranteed by the provisions of the Indian constitution, which tribal communities will never reach in the near future, should b properly understood before the tribal communities blindly following such an unhealthy system.

Majority of tribal communities have observed but never thought deeply about what is usually discussed in the Indian parliament and what the tribal MPs from the Northeastern states do in the parliament apart from their rare speeches delivered once in a blue moon. Issues regarding the Northeast region are not given serious attention in the parliament; for instance, the devastating Assam Flood, a few months ago, had never been considered as a National calamity. In such conditions, what will be the best option for minor tribal communities of Northeast? “Delhi Chalo” program will make tribal communities puppets and is making us puppets more than ever.

Tribal Identity Crisis
Tribal communities of Assam demanding statehood like Boros, Karbis, and Dimasas never agreed to be called Assamese, for they say they have their own language and distinct tribal identity. We should not forget that even the Assam State Assembly could not give a proper unambiguous definition of who the Assamese are. Besides, the origin and development of Assamese language are absolutely different from dialects of tribal communities in Assam. Assamese Script is said to have closely resembled with the Mithilakshar script of the Maithili language, as well as the Bengali script. In short, these tribal communities are one of the oldest settlers even preceding Ahom dynasty ruled Assam.

The arrival of the British accompanied by educated Bengali community soon completely changed Northeast politics and its demography. Before the establishment of the British administration, each tribal community was living independently. It is only with the arrival of the British that new state identities were created, forcing the powerless tribes to succumbed to new non-indigenous identities. As a result, many small tribal groups have lost their indigenous dialect and identity, and are now absorbed into greater linguistic Assamese identity. For the record, King Suhungmung was the first Ahom King to adopt Hindu name ‘Swarga Narayan’ and the history of Assam change along with it, leading to usage of Assamese language over their Tai-Ahom language. Only recently has the Ahom language been revived.

The same identity crisis plagues the Nagas and Kukis of Manipur. The majority of Nagas and Kukis hate to be called Manipuris. Now, the readers may know why. In India, as a result of one’s birth, one comes under General, ST, SC, or OBC category of citizen. Not to forget that larger communities can never give up the habit of exploiting minorities in every aspect.

Next shortcoming is the unequal representative system in Parliament and State Assemblies. Under such system, the majority communities will always hold the political power unperturbed to dictate the minorities. For instance, in states like Manipur, the total tribal elected representatives in state assembly does not even reach half of larger Meetei community. Such a political system forces the minority to be at the mercy of the majority run govt.

Manipur tribal communities have the largest population working in the metro cities due to lack of earning avenues in their own home state. For Tripura, the case is worst. The indigenous population of Tripura is now demanding for their own state in their own traditional lands as they are overpowered in every sector by the unchecked inflow of immigrants.

Tragedy after tragedy afflicts Northeast’s tribal communities; yet, the lack of mutual support has blocked the political aspirations of the tribal groups. In face of such realities, we need more of each other now more than ever.

The Destructive Role of the Union and states government
Though the flow of funds from Central Govt. for developing the backward tribal communities are high, funds allotted are not judiciously used for economic empowerment. The funds are mismanaged by the respective state governments along with the cooperation of the tribal elites consisting of elected representatives, bureaucrats, and leaders at district and village levels. Having said this, my honest intention is to highlight the poor conditions and major causes of such conditions of all vulnerable tribal communities of Northeast region and suggest a way forward.

Let’s take the example of Assam and Manipur. In terms of infrastructural development, Assam and Manipur are quite ahead than their neighbouring states. Yet, the number of tribal communities of Assam and Manipur living below poverty line is quite high. Majorities of the tribal youth population continue to flocks to Indian Metropolitan cities for better job opportunities. They do so not fearing racial attacked for they need jobs to support their families. Such flocking of tribal youths to metro cities applies to all the Northeastern tribal communities. Here, the tribal people are also to be blamed for being ignorant to check their respective govt. policies. For instances, tribal population of Manipur has always accused the Manipur Govt. of step-motherly treatment; yet, they do nothing legally to check the policies of their govt. Instead, the elected tribal representatives getting cabinet berth silence the whole tribal populations, such trends continue and the condition of the poor tribes continue to remain unbearable. As a result, the development gap between the valley and the hills continue to widen. One of the major causes for such an outcome is the result of securing more representatives in their respective states assemblies’ base on size and population of the communities further cutting along religious lines, caste, and ethnicity instead of equal representation.

In parliament, the number of representatives from all Northeastern states does not even reach the quarter of huge state like Uttar Pradesh. The same applies to the Northeastern states, where tribal elected representatives at state assemblies are much lower compared to larger communities under general category. Under such a system, the dominant groups will continue to dominate the minority groups socially, economically, and politically. Since the majority holds political power without any rotation and tend to run the government arbitrarily, the final result is that the poor tribes have no access to impartial governance in terms of equal opportunity in employment to public offices or access to capital to start entrepreneurship and small business, forcing the majority of the tribal youths to flock to metros for better earning prospective.

Possible Roadmap
To end any form of exploitations, it shall depend on how the exploited victims respond by using their intelligence, just as the way the African-Americans responded to slavery and denial of their civil rights. So how should the tribes respond? Tribal communities need to remind themselves that rapid industrialization and building of infrastructure alone can neither guarantee total elimination of poverty nor promote better living conditions. Take the example of Mumbai and other states with metro cities, where the conditions of the farmers, laborers, and slums dwellers have not improved due to exploitation by crony and corrupted politicians dancing to the tune of capitalists in running their state govt. The sad part is that tribal communities still own a large tract of lands, yet they have no vision to develop their lands and instead flock to already develop states with a metro city, where they are exploited in different forms.

Only the attainment of their political aspiration can the tribal communities free themselves from their exploitative conditions. When you have no political power, you will be left at the mercy of the dominant groups. This is what’s exactly happening to the poor tribal communities in the Northeast.

In the end, the tribal communities have no option but to rethink on each other common interests and build working alliance by establishing effective ‘Northeast Tribal League’ to support each other in achieving each respective political aspirations. Through timely compromise and by building a good network of communications among the tribal communities, Northeast tribes can augment each other’s goals. In case failing to establish working alliance among tribal communities of Northeastern states, the bondage of poverty and repeated socio-economic exploitations of the tribes will continue. Tribal communities of the Northeast must decide within a few years time before it’s too late whether to succeed by employing non-violent cum democratic legal process to achieve their political aspiration or to continue being a puppet.