Generating mistrust
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 01 2015 -
When the Northeast India is considered a region by virtue of being locked in a political and economic cartography, there is a need to review and also shut paths which had been rendered ineffective in the past.
The idea of Northeast in the colonial period was conceptualized purely in its geo-administrative and strategic context.
However, in the post colonial period, efforts were made to reconceptualise the region based on the objectives of development.
While making attempts to make the conceptualisation different from the rationale of the colonial regime, most efforts on infusing new paradigms have been resisted.
The resistance came not because these efforts were inapplicable but due to the imposed outlook without considering the aspirations of the several ethnic formations.
The proponents of those treating the region as one has not been able to translate the objectives of development into a collective vision.
This is precisely due to the overzealous endeavours of pushing forth an oversimplified mantra based on broad developmental indicators like building infrastructure, connectivity and capital driven growth.
The imagination of setting the region on a rapid development pace has often eclipsed sensitive socio-political issues which had caused untold turmoil in the Northeast.
Even the current socio-political churning has indicated that the idea of pigeonholing the region would only spawn clash of motives and principles.
The refusal to accept the existence of multifarious ethnic interests has further confounded the problem.
Over the years, it has been assumed that there will be a meeting point or a common platform where the interests of the several ethnic groups could be voiced.
Unfortunately, the prolonged silence of any ruling dispensation bet it at the Centre or the States over the years has only produced even more complex configuration of ethnic interests.
On the part of the eight States, it has also become all the more expedient to chart out collective vision irrespective of their prized uniqueness while thwarting efforts to homogenise an area strictly based on mere geography painted umpteen times by stereotypical layers.
Therefore, an impassionate review of all policies towards the region has become imperative.
For, each of the issue neglected will only generate further mistrust which can possibly trigger bigger round of conflict and political instability.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.