Indo-Naga Peace Talks and India's Northeast :: Panel Discussion Report

October 18, 2020

9th anniversary of People's Campaign for Resurgent Manipur (PCRM)

The People's Campaign for Resurgent Manipur (PCRM) commemorated its 9th anniversary today with an online panel discussion on “Indo-Naga Peace Talks and India’s Northeast¬: Identities, Aspirations and Way Forward.”

The panellists include
Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), New Delhi);
Vikas Kumar, Faculty, AzimPremji University, Bengaluru;
Subir Bhaumik, Editorial Director, The Eastern Link; and
Pradip Phanjoubam, Editor, FPSJ Review, Imphal.

They were joined by
Bano Haralu, journalist and
Xavier P Mao, professor, NEHU as commentators.
Rupachandra Yumnam, the editor-in-chief of Impact TV moderated the discussion.

As in the previous occasions, in pursuance of its aims and objectives, PCRM marked its 9th Anniversary by looking at a critical issue that we confront: Identity based aspirations in India’s Northeast. Since its inception in mid-twentieth century, the postcolonial Indian State has been facing the challenge of dealing with the aspirations of its variegated population.

By adopting multicultural political ethos and other institutional mechanisms, the Indian State seeks to address some of these aspirations. To some extent, such an attempt has been successful in addressing the aspirations. However, those associated with nationalist varieties have remained unresolved. This is particularly true in the case of those nationalist assertions in India’s Northeast.

Undoubtedly, the Naga nationalist assertion is a salient one amongst those aspirations. In fact, it is a phenomenon that predates the birth of the republic itself. The issue has led to one of the bloodiest armed confrontations for decades since mid-twentieth century. Many attempts in the past to resolve the issue have not succeeded so far.

The latest attempt to bring an amicable solution to the Naga issue is the ongoing negotiation between the Government of India and the Naga nationalist representatives since 1997 to date. This effort has been marked by contentious issues, particularly those which come from the competing aspirations of peoples in India’s Northeast and those emanating from the imperatives of the Indian State as well as the political interests of its ruling class.

The programme started with Babina Chabungbam welcoming the participants and Dr. Shanta Laishram gave an overview of the People’s Campaign for Resurgent Manipur.

Sanjoy Hazarika noted that as far as Indian state is concerned, the peace-talks are part of the nation building process. But there is a need for dialogue and to take people on board. Dr. Vikash talks of the general orientation towards the region of the Indian State and how it has changed from the Congress dominated period to BJP/RSS dispensation.

Subir Bhaumik asserted the need for looking into the Naga issue as a political problem rather than a military or socio-economic issue. He also pointed out the need to be transparent while talking about peace.

While deliberating on the issue, Pradip Phanjoubam emphasised on the evolution of the idea of nation-state and how it is important to locate the problem in the present-day India. He also noted the need for valley people/CSO to rethink their positions on the aspirations of the people in the hills.

As commentators, Bano Haralu spoke on the need for a space for dialogue and how certain political facts are detrimental to the entire conflict-resolution process, while Prof Xavier P Mao spoke on, among others, the dangers of being in a religious and monolithic state.

After the moderator Rupachandra gave his concluding remark, the programme ended with vote of thanks by Kapil Arambam.