Tribal And Democratic Federalism
- Part 1 -

B. Angousana Sharma *

Umanglai Haraoba (Kanglei) Festival at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen on 14 Feb 2015 :: Pix - Daniel Chabungbam

Introduction:

In the Scorching Criticism and the arduous destiny of democracy in the form of federal order of governance, in the tribal bound territories of the country, is yet halfway to administration, seems hard nut to crack, for development, but might create more corrupt elements, due to unmaintained transparency, in between the people and the government.

The gaps and loopholes in the law and administration; the parentless institution; emasculated cultured intelligentsia; irresponsibility of the leaders of the people, loosing moral of the Societies under the influence of the undemocratic cult of the ~ounger generation are indescribable insiqma of down turning civilization of the societies, in the nation. Therefore, to corroborate informations from the clvil societies with the relevant segments of the Institutions, would therein, materialize the infinitudes of Democracy.

Henceforth, Federalism or decentralization of administration under the ambit of the constitutional proviso of the country will be paramount of democracy, which descends to the local self government Infinitude of the meaning of the term, Tribal, Democracy and Federal, as per experiencing definition is under discussed.

Tribal/Demography : The term tribal was defined as; remote, savaged, under-civilised, backward society, indigenous peoples, less prospects of a society with the following characters and qualifications in the paras I,. II, III & IV.

Demography: Demography is not merely population of the Tribal indigenous people of the East. It is also an account of the Tribal people in regard of development, education, social, migration, upliftment of economic status, security and protection of the Tribal society.

I. The Society living in the naturally and geographically Isolated location; as of the fact, communication to the other societies over the mainland, could hardly establish or could not establish. For example, the North East province of India was found under dense forest, into the Brahmaputra and Surma valleys who are bound inaccessible; when the British was lended into the region. Therefore, British merchandising Agents had the accounts of the tribal peoples of the region.

The Brahmaputra and Surma valleys both had various tribes as per records of the British expeditions during 1800 till 1900 ADs. The Eastern Frontier covered the whole Eastern Province from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Tripura. All the four states in the province were found inaccessible due to the areas falls under naturally, geographically and physically isolated terrains.

The Tribal communities into the province namely- Ahom, Abor, Dafla, Bodos, Koch, Manipuri, Kuki and Naga are prominent tribes into the province, were found wholely isolated from the other communities of the mainland, of Bharatvarsha.

II. Qualification of the Tribal should have a separate language, which will be different to the main land, but communicable to all tribal communities inside. the societies into the region. For example- Manipuri, There were numerous tribes in Manipur In the name of Manipuri as : Meitei, Kabui, Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, Koireng, Thangal, Anal, Kom, Komlathabi, Kuki, Thadou etc. But, the Manipuri (Meitei) language is common and communicable to all.

In the mean time, the tribes of Manipur also maintained their own segmentary languages. In like manner Naga: in Naga, Angami, Sema, Lotha, Chakasang, Ao, Mon, phom etc. are prominent tribes. But, the tribal communities had to develop a language in the name of Nagami, so as to communicate to all Naga tribes which is now dominating language of Nagaland.

III. The 3rd qualification of a tribal society is culture. The society has to had the culture which is very important to a tribal society. As: In Meitei the NAAT (Culture) is very close to the society, even been adopted VAISNAV Dharma. The beauty in Meitei as Vaisnavaites would be examplary; that, when Vaisnav had been immerged into Meitei, preservation of the previous NAAT was appear to had been observed and protected in the society.

For example, being Vaisnavaites we preserved and observed all occasions, which being maintained as SANAMAHI, LAI-HAORAOBA, LAI-CHAKLON KATPA, SAGEI-CHAKLON-KATPA, CHEILAOBA, LAMABA-TUMABATHADOKPA, EPANTHABA, THOU-TOUBA, KHAYOM-LAKPA, YELHINGTHABA, SAROI-KHANGBA, LUHONGBADA KABOK CHAIBA, USINSINBA, NUMIT- KHURUMBA, LAI-MAPAN THOKPA, LAI-LOUKHATPA, LAI-LOIBA, KWAK- TANBA, CHEI-THABA etc. etc.

The very important event is a person to have been declared death, the MAIBA has done KHUTTHABA or declaration of death,as doctor cannot declare death of a person in the Meitei society, which is symbol of the tribal culture.

Another super culture is ARANGPHAM, the management team for any ritual occasion. There is no such significant culture of management in the world. Beautification of a preparation arranged by the family for a specific occasion is presented as purity and perfect with the hands of the ARANGPHAM. Such culture is unique being tribal society, in the world.

IV The 4th qualification to be a tribe is shyness. Almost tribal peoples are reluctant to see the outlanders. Because, the tribal society use to maintain own ness. They use to survive locally. They live on natural resources. They hardly depend upon sophisticated materials.

For example: Meitei was living in the isolated basin, so called Imphal valley, of the hills surrounded. Meitei used own fabric. The women of every home had the culture of looming Cloths. Therefore, Meitei used own produced cloths Theretoo, Meitei developed silk culture which was famous in China.

In like manner all the tribal communities have their own costumes and wears. Thus, Eastern Tribal societies had own cultures of construction of own houses with the materials, product of local. Thus, tribal have the 'nature of shy and reluctant to meet the outlanders.

V. The prominent character and identity of a tribal community in India is Nonveg in common. Example in Meitei is, Non-veg Society. Meitei is fish eater, Meitei eats the Waikhu (Craps), Meitei favourites hand churned and finger treated vegetables with harsh chilli (IRONBA) mixing with dry and fermented fish. Nausek (a winged insect) is favourite item for IRONBA. Therefore, Meitei has 100% qualification of a tribal society. -

Meitei still maintained the above cited NAATS (Culture) since time immemorial. Therefore, the NAAT (culture) of primitive Indigenous Tribal Peoples (ITPs) are still maintaining without neglecting any eventuality, as forefathers traditionality. The Meitei is among the permanent ITPs in the world. As for example the census report of 1891, 1901, 1931 were recorded evidences of Meitei is a tribe, the indigenous tribal people of the world. Therefore, Meitei society has to come into the United Nation's, Un-recognised Nations Peoples Organisation (UNPO) immediately. The UNPO in turn has to consider to recognise Meitei in the UNPO Societies.

The term Tribal was Known to be a society of remote, savaged, undercivilised, indigenous peoples. According to the United Nations Convention No. 107 of 1957 of the International labour Organisation (ILO) on the Indigenous Tribal People (ITPs) statuesque was said to have been destined "to modernization.

Therefore, the changeable phenomenon of the Tribal status of ITPs were vastly recognized, rather constitutionalised in various sub-continents. As matter of fact, the Indian Constitution also has elaborately considered on reservatioin of backward communities in theArticle-16, 46, 330, 335, 342 etc. ofthe constitution of India.

But, the said Convention No. 107 has been decreased with the declaration of Convention No. 169 of 1989: In which Convention the decision of the Convention No. 107 has been rejected as obselete, hence declared the Tribal Society is permanent, not changeable. And therefore, the reservation facilities shall have to be conditional, in regard of scheduled tribe as permanent.

Therefore. once a society has been recognized as Tribal the society will remain Tribal. This is definition of Tribal. Causing which. reservation of employments for the scheduled tribe communities, have also been accounted with the protection of scheduled tribe areas, in the Article 339, shall maintain for generations.

To be continued...