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...
* B. Angousana Sharma, A Retd. Soldier, wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer is President, Masters Athletics Federation of India and Vice President of STDCM and can be contacted at sharmaangousana(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was posted on February 18, 2015.
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