By Albert Thyrniang
Recently in a peace meeting a speaker invoked Napoleon Bonaparte citing his famous quote, “The world suffers a lot, not because of the violence of bad people but because of the silence of good people”. Though the first French monarch of the early 19th century is known for wars and invasions rather than non-violence, yet Napoleon’s quotation is more apt today than in his era. His were the days of dictatorship. Today we are in a democracy – we are free to speak. However, the vast majority chooses to keep silent though we disagree with violence that abounds in our State and elsewhere. The world, our country, our neighborhood, our state, our districts, our localities and perhaps our homes suffer because of our silence.
Patricia Mukhim’s passionate article “Xenophobia will not take us too far” (2nd August, 2013) was stimulated by a ‘young’ person’s letter published earlier in this newspaper questioning the role of the non-tribals in the Meghalaya’s statehood movement. The eminent columnist was surprised that the xenophobic and parochial tendencies went unchallenged. The indifference of elders was exposed when the dangerous exhibition of extremism was allowed to go scot free. The writer goes on to elaborate that the state’s NGOs are led by young leaders. They call the shots and rule the roost. The elders abdicate their responsibility of correcting the young. There have been cases in the past when student leaders even beat up heads of educational institutions black and blue.
In our state it is not uncommon to see school children participating in rallies called by pressure groups with no reference to the parents. NGOs and political parties arrange buses to transport children straight from schools to places of protests. Heads of educational institutions who permit such co-option of school children into politics, act irresponsibly. On one occasion children had to even lose their lives because of such irresponsibility. Students are to be in the classroom learning and not in the street protesting! Everyone should exclude school children from political or anti-government protests.
On 17th March, 2011 under memo No. EDN.81/2006/206 the government of Meghalaya wrote a letter to the Executive Chairman, MBOSE and all the District School Education Officers/Deputy Officers viewing with serious concern the participation of school children in office picketing, bandhs, etc in school uniform during agitation programmes by different NGOs. The letter was forwarded to all heads of schools with strict instructions to ensure that students refrain from participating in any agitation programmes called by pressure and interest groups (it is erroneous to call them NGOs). Heads of educational institution, backed by parents must implement this order in letter and spirit.
The green signal for the formation of Telangana has opened a can of worms, nay a Pandora’s box. The ramification is the renewed demands for Harit Pradesh, Awadh Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal in Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha in Maharashtra among others. Closer home the craze for Gorkhaland, Kamtapur (Assam-West Bengal border), Bodoland and Karbi Anglong has gained momentum. In our own state stirs for Garoland are likely to get an impetus. A dawn to dust shut-down has been called on August 8.
Though the repercussions of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh were expected, the large scale violence in Karbi Anglong caught intelligence and security forces by surprise. Offices, government buses, private vehicles and public representatives’ houses were set fire. National and international televisions flashed images of the shameful destructions in one of the most backward districts of Assam. Protesters consisting of political activists and students’ bodies went on a rampage. The leaders we see in televisions are in their late 30s and early 40s. They spew venom with ease at state and national leaders. They portray an attitude of arrogance and intolerance. They set datelines arbitrarily. They declare bandhs and strikes with impunity. They hold everyone to ransom.
The leaders in turn instigate, indoctrinate and engage much younger people for their selfish ends. Students, teenagers and even minors are employed to pelt stones at police and security forces, block trains and vehicles, burn houses and government offices, cause destruction and damages, create a state of anarchy and mayhem. The head and heart do not work here. Passion and emotions, anger and rage are personified in these protesters. They underestimate peaceful and democratic means. They are out to get instant gratification and reap immediate fruits.
Now, who tells the destructors, destroyers and vandalizers that what they do is wrong? Who will make them see reason? Who will point out that the buses they set on fire are their own? The movements of goods and (ordinary) people will be adversely affected. Who confronts them head on for destroying public offices have to be rebuilt by their own resources? What about the files lost in the flames? Who will stand to lose? Who will tell them upfront that violence is unjustified, however noble the cause may be?
It is noted that Telangana has not come all of a sudden. The declaration of the ‘newest state’ was not made at gun point. During the course of its long movement, there were instances of violence by university students. But in the final analysis they were not decisive. What did the trick was the intense political activism by the Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the last two years. Discussions, consultations and engagements were the key.
It ought to be remembered that individually or collectively violence achieves zero positive results. Non-violence does! History has proved it! Mahatma Gandhi drove the mightiest empire of the day out of the sub-continent through non-violence and Satyagraha. Nelson Mandela ended apartheid though he was imprisoned for nearly three decades. Aung San Suu Kyi is gradually/surely restoring democracy in her country by the Gandhian principles. We got the state of Meghalaya by no drop of blood.
If peace loving people speak out against violence it does have positive effects. On 28th September, 2013, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) had to withdraw its 10-day bandh because the people of Garo Hills, fearlessly defying its diktat, came out in unison stating in uncertain terms that they wanted peace. Recently after the unfortunate alleged molestation attempt of a mentally challenged lady and the mass exodus of migrant workers from Garo Hills, the United Christians Peach Forum (UCPF) held a massive peace/prayer rally. The effect was almost immediate. Underground groups in Garo Hills don’t usually target leaders of particular churches because they unanimously resolve that no money will be paid to anti-social elements. So why hesitate and delay in calling perpetrators to shun violence?
In Khasi Hills, a violence of a different kind is taking place: meting out street justice for the accused ‘witch-crafters’. From ostracism to burning of property to beating up those labeled as practicing witchcraft we now have dog and human excreta as punishment for ‘ki nongai ksuid’. We have no proof about whether or not the accused earn their livelihood and wealth by feeding the ‘thlen’ (devil) with human blood but one thing is sure, the devil dwells in those who forcefully ‘feed’ dog/human excreta to others.
Any form of violence or its manifestation is to be condemned. Wiser and more reasonable elders/leaders should convince the short-sighted mob of the futility of violence. If we don’t we could be guilty of the sin of omission. Keep in mind “Silence means consent”.