Recently, a union minister has commented that people in the NE needs to feel more Indian. Well, the honourable Union has totally misunderstood the plight and problems of the regions. Instead of trying to analyze critically the ground realities of the situation the minister blames the region for the problems. We need to examine and understand the rational behind such occasional outburst from the center. The very spirit that defines the being Indian needs to be examined in context to the NE Region. Most of the region becomes part of the Powerful Indian Nation through Inheritance from the British Colonial Power after the WWII.
Socially, culturally, economically, historically, NorthEast region has never been a part of the great Indian civilization. This region has not been affected by the geo-political and history upheavals in the mainland India. If you look closely and refer in the books that we read while we are in school, the spirit of Indianess that binds the various diverse ethnic communities together is mainly based on the great Indian civilization that flourished on the Gangetic plain which has whatsoever has no impact on the NE and Manipur history.
It has been quite successful to bring the vast majority of Indian population on a common fold based along this ideology. However, this attempt to bind the peoples of NE into the mainstream India based on ideology is not appealing to peoples of NE. NE peoples cannot feels proud of a history that they don't belong to. It's almost like, my father and grandfather's generations were taught the great history of the British Empire, the greatness of the Victor an age. My father and grandfather could not feel pride on such great history that has little impact on our history and culture and they couldn't convince their heart to feel that greatness and becomes a part of it.
The center govt. is still following this defunct and this useless policy to bring the various diverse communities into single fold of Indianess. The political thinkers in the center should realize this that you cannot convince people based such prejudice views. Unity amongst diversity can only be achieved when the various diverse groups have a common point to feel and agree.
Instead of trying to bring unity based on individual Strength and greatness and common point to agree, the political thinkers and historian of the Indian mainline tries to pursue a policy of imposing the Great Gangetic Civilization on the People of NE. Manipuris are told that they are decedents of Arjuna (the great Aryan Warrior). The Indo-Gangetic Civilization is taught to young kids in school instead of teaching the long and illustrious Manipur History. Kids were taught to sing songs in praise of the Ram and Rahim. Such policy couldn't last long. When the kids grow up, they will ask question like who they are and what their great forefathers were, which none of this could answer.
A fair and good policy would be to allow the various diverse groups to realize the true self and make them feel pride in their own image and history. The political thinkers in India should pursue a policy to bring the various diverse group along this line and be a part the Indian Nation like eye, nose, hand becomes inseparable part of the human body. Bring unity based on individual strength and importance to achieve the functioning of the system achieved through on mutual help. Bring the diverse group together based on FEDERATION.
India a great Federal Nation of diverse communities - a federation where every communities participate in the growth of the Nation. The recent geopolitical changes in Eastern Europe are along these lines of federation. Earlier, the attempt was to bring diverse communities based on the strength of a major community and imposed on the other minorities groups to accept it. It didn't work. Instead it backfires and leads to the balkanization of the Eastern Europe. Now, the trend is bringing a new great Nation based on Federation. This is the only way to bring unity amongst diverse group. All other methods are just mirage.
* Sougrakpam Santosh is an IT consultant in UK and contributes to e-pao.net for the first time through Dr. Bishwajeet Elangbam.
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