"Endangering Our Identity" in the plight of North East!

Augustine J Khongsai *

A Map of North East India

"Identity" by birth or death is our virtue and permanent. It is inherently inbuilt and environmentally responsive via culture, custom, religion, place of birth or death, habitat, food habit, settlement, activity, livelihood, movement, vibration, etc...., genetic & biologically manifested through colour, caste, race, sex, hair, skin, facial appearance, body structure and so on.

Therefore, identity recognised and interpreted one's position, status and belongingness. It is by this "identity" that people from North Eastern (NE) States or commonly known as 'Seven Sisters' States with little variation of valley dweller (particularly in Assam), oneness picturesque is visible in the Central platform.

Many historians, scholars and writers view that, people from all the NE States were intricately linked and bonded by their 'common ancestor'. Yes, it is in fact true, as people from these regions are 'indistinguishable' in the eyes of the valley/plain people except amongst north easterners. Though there might be little variation and fluctuation as their ancestors bifurcation was ancient. Considering this fact, how are (were) each and every identity, individuals, races, ethnics, communities, tribes, etc differed from one another. By virtue of this, are we not 'one'! by which 'two' can't imply.

The 'Seven Sisters' includes Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura separated from the rest of the Indian union by a 'chicken neck', inhabited by numerous tribes of this common ancestor (though it might not apply to some group, majority shared the legacy).

In Manipur Kuki & Naga tribes are majority in head count, not excluding any other smaller ethnic groups and the alike of these two major groups. On the other frame, Meiteis overwhelmed the valley. In the same way the rest of the NE States are also inhabited by multi-tribes, as rich as Arunachal Pradesh being occuppied by more than 60 tribal distinct groups, the largest number in the NE States.

From time immemorial the genre had provided them a 'common term' emerging from their ancestors locational/regional pattern of settlement that passport and identify one another. Folllowing this lineage, earlier explorers and experts nomenclature them as 'Hill People' as they mostly dwelled along the foot and top of the hills. But this term 'Hill People' is recorded in diffferent dialects to each tribe groups convenient. For instant, 'Hill People' in 'Thadou-Kuki' means 'Kuki'. The same applies when the Nagas called themselves as 'Hill man or Hill people'. Therefore, in the present scenario, 'Hill People or Hill man' professed one's 'identity'.

India is a diverse nation. Our ideology towards 'Hill People or Hill man' or Other backward classes is not too far-sighted to blindfold us due to narrow perception, conception and angular orientation within one's mind. In the recent element, the United Naga Council (UNC) and All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) has moved for 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Naga community only utilising 'Hill man or Hill people' as a tool to achievement of one's own aspiration.

This could lead to dilution of the authenticity & sanctity of the 'Hill People' and simply invoke intense hatredism. In parallelism, few other communities are awaken & wiser and would only experiment in their future course of separate movement. 'Trickle down theory' is fitting here, unending story like a 'fairy tale'.

No exception, it is cultivated in the mind of every ethnic group the ultimate aim of separate favouritism. Be it Kuki, Meitei,...etc. And using 'Hill People' as only single identity for attainment of one's only quotas/reservations could only cut/hamper/fatal the throat of all 'Hill title' nationalists, "endangering one's identity'.

Is the demand for "Sadar Hills" creeping in here! Yes and No. And will the Govt of India(GoI) repeat 'Divide and Rule' policy—Lord Dalhousie. If yes, then the Union-State relation could be a hell on earth! Could the GoI spoon feed and grant all wishers and wishes! ????

Something about the Indian Union is 'Federal in Nature' as laid down by the Constitution, whereby power is shared between the Centre and the State, in which the Central acts as 'centripetal force' while the State as 'centrifugal force' or vice-versa. Or both acting simultaneously as centripetal or centrifugal force.

May I not detail it, but one must have clarity that how the 'Union' was born (created) and what cohesive forces are binding it. It is the 'Constitution' which acts as this cohesive force that survived the Union. The Constitution is Supreme.

But asking myself, if the 'Constitution' fails then what could be the fate of the 'Union' as the binding thread is rippling. For instance Jammu & Kashmir Issue, Tamil Issue, Naxalite Red Corridor, Telangana State demand, Greater Nagalim, Bodoland, demand for autonomous district etc... uncountable agitations, sanctions and demands. It is simply tied up by the Constitution. The jerk could be plucked at any moment.

Social Activist Anna Hazare group talks about the supremacy of the citizens over the Constitution in their Lokpal version. And they are! Then the question of the 'Union' be a sabotaged & perplexed in such a diverse society. Be it good or bad, had all the demands of Anna Hazare be conceded and assented, then what could be the outcome?

Are you prepared? Do you realised how mighty, tiny or powerful you are! Does my 'identity is endangered'. Will the Unique Identification number (UIDAI) of Nandan Nilekani chieftainship prevail me here as a rescuer! I doubt.

It is undeniable the fact that Anna's movement from one angle is unleavened mass elevation and salvation. I think he is a good Samaritan. These statements hire us to ponder deeply. Now, where the fate of the 'Seven Sisters' lean upon.

In chaos, fight, kill, retaliate, band, blockade, corruption, kidnapping, robbery, ransom, bullying, etc... amongst the same group. Interpreting in my own, do we really digest and sense the significance of 'Seven Sisters', not 'Seven brothers' or 'Seven fathers' or 'Seven mothers' or 'Seven children', what soever! Is it appropriate to be called 'Seven Enemies' then. No!....We should not.

The challenge ahead!

If I am to jot down the socio-economic condition, educational institution, health care sector, sanitation, immunisation, life infrastructure, living standard, literacy, availability of potable water, transport systems etc... it will take me a fresh page where the condition is not far better than the 'slum dwellers of Mumbai' or 'Charles Dicken's story.

What does this signal—discrimination, egotism, jealousy, humiliation, domination, negligence, underestimation, isolation, condemnation, torture, attrocities, power, rape and even murder. This shows lack of love, care, wish, concern, humility, inclusion, help, initiation, internalisation and dissemination. Whom to be blamed? Considering its locational and geographical disadvantages, the region is economically deprived, infrastructurally remote, educationally incompetent and politically marginalised.

Does the Govt take any initiatives to combat these social malignant and diseases plaguing the society. Yes, they are but lack the 'spirit' though they have the 'soul'. The 'spirit' is the citizens (ie you and me). Without the spirit's hand the 'soul' is helpless. And this 'spirit' is the union of all people from 'Seven Sisters' States.

Amongst many schemes, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) has proved little credentiality during 11-FYP. Now it’s time to keep an eye on National Rural Livehoods Mission (NRLM) a proposal in 12-FYP. The usual way of luring you into temptation and sin, a blame game.

Besides, the situation is worsened by its own toilers. Various types of tensions, unrest and disturbances are being created. Fight for separate nationalism. Encroachment and acquisition, privatisation, distribution of others periphery etc. Will all these coercive forces to create one's only 'Eden Garden' be a success without the consent of your own blood brothers and sisters or in condemnation of your fellow being.

The solution lies where the question is from! The desires and identity could be saved and prosperous only when these hearts and souls work in union as the old saying, ' United we stand, divided we fall'. For 'The meek shall inherit the earth' says the Holy Scripture.