Northeast Community Dialogue Kicks Off

By Preety Acharya

New Delhi, May 13 : The first community dialogue for better understanding issues faced by north-eastern residents in Delhi took place on Monday at Humayunpur, Safdarjung Enclave. The north-eastern residents have complained that their neighbours have installed cameras in front of their houses, which is interfering with their privacy.

The Northeast residents of Delhi were accused of wearing short clothes, drinking and dancing till late night by their neighbours in the three urban villages of Safdarjung area.

Over 100 people took part in the meeting, including natives of the Northeast, residents welfare association members, Delhi police, Northeast India Forum Against Racism (NEIFAR) and Aman Biradari.

“The meeting was held to improve communication between communities. The major problem, which north-easterns are facing, is the sudden rent hikes. People have complaints that their landlords have been raising the rent suddenly and if they refuse to pay the asked amount then they have been thrown out of their houses,” said Binalakshmi Nepram, social activist who organised the meet.

“There were some complaints that people have installed CCTV cameras to keep a tab on people from Northeast living in some of the areas which is a breach of the privacy. The north-eastern residents were also accused of roaming around with Africans. We tried making people understand that we shouldn’t have issues in mingling with people from different countries and states,” added Ms Nepram.

The organisers tried to make the local residents understand that wearing short clothes is common all over the world then why to target north-easterns. “As far as drinking and dancing late night is concern, we have asked Northeast residents not to make any nuisance after the official 10 pm deadline,” said Ms Nepram.

More such meets will be taking place in the city to decrease the communication gap between the communities.

North East student Attacked

A 19-year-old Manipuri boy was attacked with a pointed weapon during a robbery attempt in north district’s Mukherjee Nagar on Sunday night.

According to the police, the victim, identified as Chamapani, had gone to meet one of his friends in North Campus at about 11.30 pm Saturday when at least three unidentified assailants grabbed him. When he resisted, one of them stabbed him on the head with a pointed object.

India Looking At Bus Service Between Imphal, Myanmar

New Delhi, May 13 : Seeking to forge closer connectivity with the Asean grouping, India is looking at a bus service between Imphal in Manipur and Mandalay in Myanmar, and another road connection linking Mizoram with Myanmar, a top official said Monday.

Addressing an international conference on cross-border connectivity here, Anil Wadhwa, secretary (East) in the external affairs ministry, said a free trade agreement (FTA) with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on services and investments would be ready for inking during the meeting of their economic ministers later this year.

An FTA with the Asean on trade and goods was inked in 2009.

"Under the East Asia Summit, negotiations are progressing towards the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Trade volumes between Asean and India, Asean and Japan, Japan and India, and India and the US have been seeing incremental increase," he said.

Listing the connectivity projects with the Asean, Wadhwa said completion of the trilateral highway linking Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar was an "immediate priority".

Acceleration of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project that seeks to connect Kolkata port with Sittwe port in Myanmar by sea, as well as a river and road link, are also immediate priority, according to a press statement.

Wadhwa said that in addition to the initial commitment of 160 km on the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemiyo (TKK) road, India is committed to another 120 km on the Kalewa-Yargyi sector and upgradation of 71 bridges on the TKK section of the trilateral highway.

"The feasibility study for the Kalewa-Yargyi sector is currently under way. We are looking at an Imphal-Mandalay bus service and technical discussions are to begin.

"We also have an MoU with Myanmar for a project on the Rhi Tiddim Road. The Kaladan Multimodal Project in Myanmar includes road and inland waterway links to Sittwe port, as also the potential for collaboration in developing an industrial zone or SEZ in Sittwe."

Wadhwa said India was seeking to strengthen the rail network in the northeast and added that funding from the Asian Development Bank and World Bank would be welcome in this.

He said the "Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ERIA) has already done a study projecting the potential for the sea-link between Dawei, in southeastern Myanmar, and Chennai".

"Maritime connectivity can be strengthened further between India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and production chains established from the Mekong region to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Mumbai-Bangaluru-Chennai Industrial Corridor, in addition to linking up with ports on the eastern seaboard of India such as Ennore, Vizag, Sagar etc.

"Backend linkages through coastal shipping networks and riverine navigation will be important in this context so as to generate sustainable volumes of trade related traffic," he said.

Wadhwa said the joint working committee on maritime connectivity would seek to establish a maritime link between India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

India has also proposed an "open sky policy" on cargo on a quid pro quo basis to the Asean.

"This would help increase trade, especially in perishable commodities," he said.

Wadhwa said Japan was "already partnering in some of the important connectivity infrastructure projects in India, including the northeast.

"We should be able to define further specific steps for increasing this collaboration with our partners."

The Secret British Plan That Fell Through

By V. B. Ganesan

ON THE EDGE OF EMPIRE — Four British Plans for North East India, 1941-1947: Edited by David R. Syiemlieh; Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd. Rs. 795.

Even after 66 years of Independence, India’s North East remains an enigma to many. A region predominantly tribal is still waiting for peace and tranquillity despite Naga, Mizo and other accords over the years. The continuing rule of AFSPA and underdevelopment of the region haunts their lives. After many an election and assurances by the powers that be, the tribals of the region are yet to be assimilated. Demands for separate land (state) from every identifiable tribal group are echoing over the hills all along. In a sense, the ‘Seven Sisters’, considered to be vital to the security of the Nation, are feeling peripheral.

In such a backdrop, David R. Syiemlieh’s “On the Edge of Empire - Four British Plans for North East India, 1941-1947” is indeed an eye-opener which provides an overview of the empirical thoughts of four British ICS officers serving in the region. They are Sir Robert N. Reid, Governor of Assam (1937-42); his successor Sir Andrew G. Glow (1942-47); James P. Mills, Advisor to the Government of Assam for Tribal Areas and States and his successor and fellow officer Philip F. Adams.

Prof. Syiemlieh, former Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University and presently Member, UPSC took active interest in the history of North East through out his career. His interest drew him to study the mystery surrounding the Crown Colony Plan/Protectorate. His painstaking efforts to bring out all the important documents from the concealed vaults and let them speak for themselves are really laudable. This secret plan was conceived during the closing years of the British rule and discussed at the highest levels of the colonial administration for setting up a Crown Colony comprising the hill areas of the North East India and the tribal areas of Burma. The Plan couldn’t be put into action for various reasons. By the middle of 1946, the Plan was wound up. The British came to realise it was ill-timed and conceived too late to shape up a protectorate of their own.

However, according to the documents presented in the volume, the British officials put their mind in studying the conditions of inhabitants of hill areas of the North East in a more organised manner. Every possible reaction from officialdom, political and social strata are answered in a coherent manner. The theme of all the four notes is to preserve the culture, language and traditions of the tribal and allow them to look after their needs by self-administration of their villages. Even the lingua franca was considered in a serious manner by these officials.

James P. Mills, who gave a detailed plan ( in 26 chapters) succinctly says, “The practical advantages of treating the union of States as a Colony till such time as they are sufficiently advanced to unite with India are so great that the ideas should not be rejected out of hand.”

He was also quoting a precedent of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland in Africa to protect the inhabitants against exploitation and in furthering their progress. Incidentally, with his interest in anthropology built up during his service in India, he was faculty in the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London from 1947 to 1954. These empirical thoughts were framed following two events. The hills that came under the direct control of the Raj were categorised by the Government of India Act, 1919, as Backward Tracts. While the majority of the tribes acquiesced with the term (may be because they were unaware of any development work in their areas), the most visible and modern Khasi-Jaintia were unhappy being put into this category. Consequently, the 1935 Government of India Act applied different nomenclature for the tribal areas.

The hills were categorised as either Excluded Areas or Partially Excluded Areas. Hence, Robert Reid, then Governor of Assam, in whose jurisdiction the issues of these Areas fell, wrote the first piece in November 1941. It was a confidential note titled A Note on the Future of the Present Excluded, Partially Excluded and Tribal Areas of Assam. This was followed by his advisor and Secretary to the Government of Assam on Tribal Affairs James P. Mills. Reid’s successor Andrew G. Glow as Governor in 1942 added his wisdom considering the political development at that time. His advisor and Secretary to Government of Assam Philip P. Adams followed suit with his own vision.

On the eve of partition, there was clamour to take in the hills areas of North East with East Pakistan, while a section led by Assam Premier Gopinath Bordoloi expressed concern over the Crown Colony Plan and also that the hill people had not “assimilated” with Assam. Hence, the responses of the hill people of North East India towards partition and independence were varied. Nagas took advantage of the emergence of East Pakistan to negotiate with India. Some of the Khasi states realised that they had much to lose in joining India but found it was the only solution open for them. To some extent, Mizos were brought nearer realities. However, the integration of the region into the Indian Union was not quite complete until Tripura, Manipur and the Khasi states signed instruments of Accession and merger agreements with the new Indian Government. While Tripura and Manipur were accorded Union Territory status in 1950, the Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Mikir, North Cachar and Lushai Hills were provided with District Councils to safeguard their forest, land and tradition. And the process of integration is still on.

This volume edited by David R. Syiemlieh is indeed a great work for those who are interested in tribal development and more specifically the development of the northeast of India. Notably, Mr. Mills’ detailed presentation to empower the tribals in their own areas will be an eye-opener for activists. Preserving the language, culture and tradition of hill people amid development is a daunting task indeed. The notes contained in this volume show this can really be done with real love.

Arunachal Landslides Hit Traffic

Itanagar, May 12 : Landslides triggered by the first monsoon spell have snapped surface communication to Tezu in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.

According to official sources, heavy landslides beyond 5 km point from Tohangam (O Point) have brought vehicular movement to a standstill.

In order to restore road connectivity, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has deployed both men and machinery; but it is struggling to clear the debris as continuous rainfall was hampering restoration activities, sources said.

“Due to sinking of the steep hill and continuous mudslide, it is foiling our rigorous efforts. For few hours the mud was cleared and the road was made thorough but the continuous rain is creating hurdles in restoration works,” BRO official P K Gupta informed.

The Alubari Ghat, connecting Tezu with Namsai, had also been closed owing to surging waters of the Lohit river and its tributaries, sources said.

Meanwhile, passenger vehicle services from Tezu to Tinsulia and Itanagar have been suspended for last three days resulting in scarcity of essential commodities, sources added.

A report from Pasighat stated that normal life has been severely affected in East Siang district following incessant downpour in the past couple of days.

Continuous downpour in the district had resulted in water logging in many places at Pasighat, the headquarter town while the Siang river and its tributaries were in high spate.

Zeliang Tipped To Be Next Nagaland CM

Kohima, May 12 : T.R. Zeliang, Nagaland minister for planning and coordination, is likely to become the chief minister, with more NPF legislators joining his bandwagon.

Zeliang has been camping at Kaziranga National Park in Assam for the last four days with 22 NPF legislators supporting him lodged at the Iora resort.

“More MLAs are expected to join Zeliang’s camp,” said a source close to the minister. He said eight Independent MLAs have also decided to extend support.

He said the NCP, which has four members in the 60-member House, was likely to extend support to Zeliang. “We are expecting the NCP, the BJP and the JD (U) to extend support to our minister,” the source said. So far, Zeliang has the support of 27 NPF legislators, including senior cabinet ministers like Khuzoluzo Nienu and Keyanielie Peseyie.

Sources said the new chief minister could undertake a minor reshuffle in his cabinet and did not rule out axing a few ministers and parliamentary secretaries. But Zeliang’s aide said the NPF will maintain status quo, whoever becomes the next chief minister.

Noke Wangnao, who is another contender for the top post, criticised the rival camp for politicking from the jungles in Assam.

NPF president Shur-hozelie Leizietsu said the party would intervene if legislators failed to find a consensus candidate for the chief minister’s post. The party has formed a core committee consisting of several senior leaders for the smooth transition of power.

The committee has been meeting both the camps to solve their differences, while chief minister Neiphiu Rio has convened a meeting of NPF legislators tomorrow.

Mizoram boy, who lost both his hands when he was nine years old, clears higher secondary exams

Willpower, perseverance triumph over adversity

By ZODIN SANGA

Paukhanmunga Aizawl, May 12 : Impossible has no place in the lexicon of 18-year-old Paukhanmunga. Most people may lose hope after losing both their hands, that too at a tender age of nine. But Paukhanmunga, through his sheer perseverance and indomitable will, decided to carry on with his education and his hard work bore fruit after he passed the higher secondary examination of the Mizoram Board of School Education this year. Tragedy struck in 2005 after he finished mowing the grass near the electric transformer at Khawkhawn village near the Manipur border in northeastern Mizoram. When he switched on the transformer, the high voltage surge from the machine knocked him down. He said he was asked to mow the grass by his uncle, who was an employee in the power department. When he regained consciousness, he was in Aizawl Civil Hospital. The doctors had to amputate his hands to save his life. “I lost all hope and the world had ended for me while I was lying in the hospital. Then, a man visited me and wrote something on a paper which gave me the courage to fight on,” Paukhanmunga said. The man who visited Paukhanmunga in the hospital was Lalchamliana, a popular singer, who had also lost both his hands as a child. “My dear friend Munga, you are a normal person. You can do anything if you have the will,” was Lalchamliana’s message. The first thing that Paukhanmunga did once he returned to his village after 47 days in hospital was to go back to school. “In the first few months, my friends and teachers took notes for me. But by the year-end exams, I could use my arms to write,” he recalled. When he passed Class X from his village school, it was to the much amazement of all villagers and his family. His mother insisted he give up studies because of financial problems after his father passed away. But he felt that he had the qualification to pursue his dream of further studies. “Forget relatives, we did not have any friend in Aizawl. But my ambition was to continue higher education there,” Paukhanmunga said. After running from pillar to post, Paukhanmunga finally approached L. Thangmawia, a college lecturer in Aizawl, who was a native of his village. The lecturer agreed to provide all possible assistance to the boy to help him get admitted to a higher secondary school. After some efforts, the Mamawii Higher Secondary School in Aizawl gave special consideration and admitted him even after their seats were full. Even though Paukhanmunga did not get any compensation from the power department, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has provided him financial assistance of Rs 1,600 per year since 2005 till he passed Class XII. In Aizawl, some generous people and the Zoram Educational Trust (ZET) also provided him financial assistance. Paukhanmunga lives in a rented house at Mission Vengthlang here with his mother who sells vegetables for a living. “My ambition is to become a graduate and look for a job to feed my family. Side-by-side, I will pursue higher education in university,” he said. His elder brother works in a jhum field in his village. Given a chance, he wants to become a motivational speaker for physically challenged teenagers like him.

Tension: Mizoram-Assam Border

Border face-off: Tells Mizo cops ‘not to hesitate to use guns’.

A day after policemen from Assam and Mizoram faced-off on the inter-state border, Mizoram’s Home Minister R Lalzirliana visited the disputed area Wednesday and said Assam’s Police, forest officials and locals “acted like a band of dacoits”. He also asked the Mizoram Police stationed there “not to hesitate to use guns if necessary, nor show mercy to the thieves”.

Lalzirliana visited the area along with Forest Minister Lalrinmawia Ralte, two Parliamentary Secretaries and top Mizoram Police officials. A third platoon of armed police from Mizoram’s 1st IR battalion has been deployed in the area and emissaries have been sent to Hailakandi, the headquarters of Hailakandi district in southern Assam.

“No government or band of dacoits should henceforth destroy houses, steal animals or trample on crops within Mizoram,” Lalzirliana said.

Assam Police and forest department personnel had along with locals from Assam on Sunday dismantled four Mizo houses on farmland near Buhchang village in Mizoram’s Kolasib district. Earlier, on April 23, the same people had taken 50 planks of timber and several domestic animals from the area.
 
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On both occasions Mizo farmers were ‘threatened’ to leave the area as Assam Police claimed it belonged to their state’s 21st IR battalion camp.

The Mizoram government had responded on Monday by sending two platoons of armed police to patrol the area and had registered a case of dacoity against the Assam personnel. The Mizo community, meanwhile, rebuilt their dismantled farmhouses.

On Tuesday, however, Assam Police entered the area for a second time and dismantled the houses as the Mizoram Police were affecting a change of guard.

Mizoram once again responded by sending a platoon of armed police headed by 1st IR battalion commandant C Lalzahngova to the area.

Lalzirliana on Wednesday also gave the owners of the dismantled houses Rs 30,000 and three bundles of tin-roofing material each.

Opposition parties and voluntary organisations in Mizoram have taken exception to the incidents and condemned the government for its “slow response”.

The Mizoram Congress party, meanwhile wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Assam’s Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday.

In the letter they said Mizoram’s party heads “condemn the recent actions of Assam officials” and called for the “immediate intervention of the Central Government… otherwise the Mizoram Government will be compelled to reciprocate the Assam Government’s action.” Both states are ruled by the Congress.

UGC asks universities to include NE history

By Vanita Srivastava

New Delhi, May 2 : The University Grants Commission (UGC) has requested higher education institutes to include history and the cultural heritage of northeast in their courses.

“A delegation of northeastern students recently submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister with regard to problems being faced by the students of the northeastern region who are studying in various institutions of the country. One of the demands covered in the memorandum is the inclusion of history and unique cultural heritage of northeast India in the national curriculum,” a notice on the UGC website said.

The HRD ministry had earlier constituted a task force to promote educational opportunities and welfare of students from the northeastern region. The team in its report suggested the curriculum be modified to include in English literature stories from the northeast translated from different languages. It also recommended that the history of northeast (pre-colonial, up to independence) should be taught at school, graduate and post graduate level.

The task force also recommended regular cultural exchanges between institutions in the northeast and other areas. “The  university is requested to take steps, as it may deem appropriate to implement  the above recommendations,” the UGC notice said.