Editor
I write to express my horror at the violence committed against the owner of Babua tea stall and the earlier violence that took the life of city trader, Vikash Nandwal. This type of ego-driven, violent tribalism should be actively discouraged for the good of the Khasi community itself. Modernity has a deracinating impact on all communities. No identity is worth its salt if safeguarding it entails loss of life through brutal means. Where is the gratitude to non-tribal India for all the privileges awarded to the tribal people of the northeast? Are the pro-ILP people all that naive? Do they not realize that India is actually a HUGE shelter from China … that China would swallow the whole northeast if it did not belong to India? In this day and age of globalism and mass industrialization, blind bigotry and tribalism are as obsolete as all homogeneous identities.
I recall a childhood spent in Shillong where we accepted it as an axiom that as non-tribals we could never expect justice, whether in school or in the work world. Our self-esteem was attacked every day with a racism I have never encountered in the west.
It is high time such archaic forms of bigotry stopped forever
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email
ILP belies its uncertain future
Editor,
Every day through your esteemed daily we get to know the who, how and when of the atrocities committed by ‘unknown miscreants’ on innocent non tribals who are targets of petrol bombs or by burning them alive. Casualty figures through press reflects that two have died and one is still nursing serious burn injuries.
What I would like to ask the Pro-ILP bandwagon of 10-12 organizations’ is whether their definition of ‘illegal migrants’ & ‘influx’ includes genuine Indians settled in Meghalaya or the ‘illegal settlers from across our southern border’. I ask this question since it is quite intriguing as well as horrific to see that victims every time seem to be genuine Indian citizens viz., Vikash Nandwal, Bisheshwar Das and Vidya Devi Chokhani. While slogans and street side talks seem to centre around ‘Bangladeshi settlers’ yet it is quite strange that ‘direct attacks’ are launched on genuine Indian citizens. Probably it is easier to touch non-tribals since they are always a ‘no show’ when it comes to backlash, silently marching away looking for peaceful pastures.
If the pro – ILP team is anti Indians then is this not an extreme case of racism? Should the leaders/ members not be tried in a court of law for treason, planning / abetting crime on innocent Indian citizens? Hindu’s, Sikhs, Buddhists etc., are being deliberately persecuted and ethnically cleansed in this State. So there exists a hidden agenda somewhere, and if this is true then I would request the intervention of Central Govt.
I am a third generation Shillongite though I have moved out of Shillong. It pains me to see how our brothers are being meticulously targeted right from 1979, 1987, 1992 etc., and we are sitting tight and happy with ‘candle light’ honours to the deceased. Nothing will happen this way. It is time we too reacted but in a non-violent manner. I know for a fact that majority of the local tribals do not endorse the aggressive agenda pursued by pro-ILP groups but I can tell you that keeping silent will in no way help this State of ours return to its pristine glory.
If at all there is a time to act, it is now or never.
Yours etc.,
Subhashish Dhar
ILP musings
Editor,
It is absolutely stupid to assume that the tribals of Meghalaya will be ‘protected’ in case the ILP is implemented. The ‘fear’ and ‘hatred’ of the non-tribal who are citizens of this country is indeed xenophobia and these feelings are without any doubt, being stirred up by unscrupulous people with ulterior motives. The medium is of course the semi-educated and sometimes the educated (also with ulterior motives) tribal people. The target is the non-tribal.
There are many who feel that there will be repercussions in other parts of the country against tribals from Meghalaya. This is highly unlikely. The obvious reason is because the rest of the country is too busy to create trouble for innocent people – tribal or non-tribal. Besides, the rest of the country welcomes people without any prejudice. The rest of the country encourages people from anywhere in India as well as abroad to live in harmony.
It is high time for the various ‘leaders’ and pro-ILP groups (who categorize themselves as NGO’s) realized these facts and realized that they are doing more harm to themselves and to the state of Meghalaya. Tribals who do not agree with this state of affairs should strongly voice their opinions and make your presence felt. Do not remain silent.
Yours etc.,
Ashok Guha.
Mumbai