Editor,
AZ Phizo was the leader who started the Naga freedom movement and cooperated with the Japanese in World War II and even fought by the side of Subhas Bose of the INA. After India gained independence, Nagaland was made a part of the Indian state of Assam. Instead of empowering Naga people, Indian armed forces forced Phizo to go into exile in 1960 and Naga National Council agreed to sign the Shillong Accord of 1975. This led to the formation of the NSCN under the leadership of Isaac C Swu, T Muivah and Khaplang. But it split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN (Khaplang). Is Greater Nagaland that includes parts of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and even Myanmar a distant dream? The recent peace agreement of NSCN (IM) brings hope for the Naga people. ULFA’s sovereign socialist Assam is another side of NE insurgency. After Khaplang, now Paresh Baruah is emerging as the next leader of all NE insurgent groups.
These underground groups are fighting for independence and other surrendered groups are for regional autonomy. Total Independence is a complex issue since NE infrastructure is meagre to stand alone in the 21st century. The second option might be beneficial to cope up with other states of our country. Mizoram is the best model where insurgency translated into successful electoral democracy. Their Church has immense sway over everyday life and politics. We have witnessed enough struggle, bloodshed and parallel economy. On the other hand, India’s neighbourhood has been supporting insurgency in the North East to weaken India. The larger issue of illegal migration caused social conflicts and identity crisis in this region. Govt should also address key issues of minority communities that face religious persecution and restore normalcy. Infrastructure development and employment generation are core issues which can emancipate the North East from insurgencies.
Yours etc.,
Kamal Baruah,
Via email
The power of words!
Editor,
This refers to your report “Amit Shah under attack over remarks on Mahatma Gandhi” (ST, June 11, 2017). The Congress demanding that BJP president Amit Shah and PM Modi should apologize to the families of our freedom fighters and to the 125 crore people of this country for throwing mud at the Father of the Nation is totally unacceptable. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Rajmohan Gandhi has rightly said that Gandhi was a man who overcame “the British lion” and “snakes of communal poison,” in the country making him more than a “chatur baniya.” Amit Shah is an excellent strategist and he is right in saying that the “Congress was never a party based on principles”. Shah belongs to the same baniya cast of the same Gujarat where Gandhi came from. There is nothing wrong in what he said. In fact, having the quality of baniya Gandhi was able to make India Free from the British. Shah has accepted that his remark a “bahut chatur baniya” for Gandhi is used for the Congress merely as a “special purpose vehicle” and for securing freedom from the British. Congress’s notion itself that the word is derogatory and the assumption that it was used by someone as an expression of insult, itself shows what Congress thinks of the baniya community who are respectable members of the society. Mahatma Gandhi, with a lot of foresight (he was a very shrewd baniya) knew what was going to happen in future. If one goes to the whole statement of Shah one will find that he was trying to praise the Mahatma for his ‘foresight’ to predict what the BJP believes to be an irreversible decline of the Congress but ended up using the wrong words, especially at a time when caste politics is one of the major issues facing the country.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad – 15
Whither CSR?
Editor,
The number of banks, institutions, factories and other business houses having offices here in Shillong can’t be counted. Fortunately for them it only means business and nothing more. There is a social disconnect between these business houses, corporate offices, companies etc.,and the society. By society I mean the rural populace where a trip to any remote village will find lack of many civic amenities and facilities including livelihoods. What has been their social contribution is not much known nor publicised, except for a few organisations like the Rotary Club, Shillong Round Table to name a few which have contributed towards the improvement of the lives of rural people. The rest of the business groups run by tribals and non-tribals have not shown any concern except only when their business interests affect them. Perhaps the state government should call for a more pro-active approach from these business groups, considering that Government of India has also made it mandatory for big companies to contribute 2 per cent of their profits towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Yours etc…
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong:
Law should be even-handed
Editor,
Your editorial, “CBI raid on NDTV” (ST, June 9, 2017), has rightly pointed out, ~ “No one is above the law but law should be even – handed and not arbitrary.” Tagore had aptly given words to people’s aspiration to live in a country ~ “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.” It is because of this very aspiration that no dictatorship ~ even the dictatorship of the proletariat ~ could survive. Now, people all over the world want to have democracy as the lifeblood of their nation. And this lifeblood needs for its survival a constant supply of free and fresh air in an environment ~ “where knowledge is free”.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata