Ethnic identity - Unending conflict in NE India
- Part 1

By Sapam Dilip *

Every human being has its own distinct identity which separates him from others. He always attempts to pressure such identity. Likewise, a community has its own distinct identity. Such identity is the sole standard for the identification of the community or group.

Preservation of identity is prerequisite for the survival of a group or community. Origin of the race or community, language, religious affiliation, physical resemblance to may be the prime factor for the formation of the identity of the community or group. So, the feeling of the members of a group or community who have common origin and ancestral heritage may be called ethnicity.

Clifford Geertz has defined ethnicity as an activated primordial consciousness. This is the feeling of belonging to an ethnic group to their ancient roots and their ancestral heritage.

The more elaborate definition of ethnicity is propounded by Schermerhorn. He advocates that ethnicity is a collectivity within a larger society having real or putative common ancestry (that is memories of a shared historical past whether of origin or of historical experience, such as colonisation, immigration, invasion or slavery); a shared consciousness of a separate name, and a cultural focus on one or more symbolic elements defined as the epitome of their peoplehood.

This feature will always be a dynamic combination, relative to the particular time and place in which they experience and operate consciously or unconsciously for the political advancement of the group. In short, ethnicity is the process for furtherance of the political advancement of an ethnic group.

Historical background (before British period)

The North-Eastern region of India has been a theatre of conflict for the last four decades as a result of the attempt to assert ethnic identity of every ethnic group. Assam and Manipur have been the most affected States by the ongoing conflict. It will have an origin which lies in history.

It is will known fact that in the ancient period, there were three independent kingdoms in the North-East India. The kingdom of Prajyotescha or Kamrupa was developed by the hindunised Bodo ruling dynasties in the Brahmaputra Valley.

The Ahoms from upper Burma invaded Assam in the beginning of the 13th Century and established a Kingdom absorbing the petty principalities and Chieftain ship. The Ahom Kingdom lasted till the first part of 19th Century when it was conquered by the British.

The Manipur Kingdom was built up in the early centuries of the Christian era and this had a very long career till British conquest in 1891. She becomes a princely State under the British Paramountcy. Tripura also passed through same stage like Manipur.

British period—pre Constitution

The Problem of North East is, in a sense, the result of British administration which was based on convenience and purely profit oriented. History reveals that British had come to India only for the purpose of business. This implies that they thought of making more profit than ensuring development and peaceful co-existence among different communities that inhabited the region from time immemorial.

They never thought of taking up welfare measures for the people whom they ruled for nearly a century. The idea is reflected in their way of administration. The vivid example of it was found in the trial of Raja Nandakumar which was popularly known as judicial murder case, and in the partition of Bengal.

In the legislative sphere, the British enacted laws which were not just, fear and reasonable. They enacted many repressive laws and gave immunities to the high ranking British officers. The passing of Rawlatt Act in 1919 is a clear example of it.

The Act was passed even though all Indian members of Central Legislative Council opposed it. Enactment of the Act intensified revolt of Indians against the British rule.

North-East India was part and partial of British Indian. The same pattern of administration was carried out in the region as well. They had bifurcated the people of the region into hill and plain people.

People had been administered by different laws. They enacted laws for collecting taxes for earning money. The administration in the hill areas of Manipur was the system of indirect rule which legitimised the institution of tribal chieftainship and the village-based Council.

So, it draws a sharp demarcation line between hill and plain people which hampers the possibility of political, social, cultural and emotional unification among these people. It ultimately leads to the formation of ethnic identities of different communities inhabiting the region.

Post Constitution

Constitution of Indian was adopted on 26th Nov, 1949 by the Constituent Assembly which was constituted by the representatives of each and every community or States of the Country. The Assembly had discussed the problems and prospects of the people of the Country.

Unfortunately, Manipur, Tripura and Khasi States were represented by AC Guha, a non-resident representative in the Constituent Assembly.

One can easily imagine how much and to what extent Mr AC Guha might have known the feelings and views of the people for whom he had represented in the Assembly. It clearly shows that there was no chance to discuss the issues of these States with precision in the hot deliberation of the Constituent Assembly.

India is a democratic country based on written Constitution which became effective from 26th Jan 1950. Democracy, as we know, is the Government of the people. The majority opinion of the House ultimately decides the fate of the country, of a community and of an issue.

The number of representatives in the house being calculated on the basis of population, groups who have larger population naturally have good number of representatives. In such a situation, the smaller groups live at the mercy of the larger groups and eventually lose their identity, which has become a common culture in the North East region.

On the other hand, development of our country lies in the hands of planning commission which is neither a Constitutional nor statutory body. As majority groups always take advantage in the number game politics, minority groups are compelled to seek other ways and means to keep their identity intact live a better life.

It seems that colonial legacy is still present in the attitude of the Government of India; they enacted laws that are not just, fear and reasonable. The most appropriate example of it is the enactment of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 which is the reincarnation of the Armed Forces Special Powers ordinance 1942 promulgated by the colonial Power-British Parliament.

Irom Chanu Sharmila has been fasting unto death for the cause of repealing the most draconian law, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 since 2000. Surprisingly, the descendents of Mahatma Gandhi fail to pay due regard to her golden means of protest.

Since she was born and brought up in the minority community her case has not been tabled in the Parliament. Had it been in other parts of the country having large number of MPs, the issue would have shaken not only the Parliament of India but also every nook and cranny of the world.

to be continued.....