Samir Kelekar: I would certainly like to know more on this front. In fact, I have some very good friends from Nagaland. They are tribals but all converted to Christianity.I have heard a lot from the RSS brigade, as to what is going on in Nagaland, Manipur etc. In fact, there are special laws out there to curb any rebellions/ peoples' movements.It is time the rest of India gave more attention to the North East.The Kashmir issue is also very complex. A lot of Hindus have been forced to flee from that place. Surely, one can't have India to be secular only in some parts.
Response: 1.Samir, I have read books on the north-east quite sometime ago and I do not recollect the names of the books and authors off-hand. I will, however, try to source those books and pass on the names and authors to you. In the meanwhile I did a google search and came across the following books. From the synopsis accompanying these books they seem to be quite authentic. You may try accessing them. They are - India's North East Region by Nishchal N. Pandey Folk Tales of North East India<http://books-on-north-east-india.blogspot.com/2007/09/folk-tales-of-north-east-india.html> (Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd. ) Angami Naga<http://books-on-north-east-india.blogspot.com/2007/09/angami-naga.html>by R. Suri Art and Culture of North - East India<http://books-on-north-east-india.blogspot.com/2007/05/art-and-culture-of-north-east-india.html> Discovery Of North East India (11 Vols.)<http://books-on-north-east-india.blogspot.com/2007/05/discovery-of-north-east-india-11-vols.html> by S.K. Sharma 2.The northeast has been neglected and has suffered tremendously since independence. For one, it is geographically separated and isolated from the rest of India. It is divided into multiple tribes many of them from warrior races (some even head-hunters), each tribe having its own language and dialect, some following the matriarchial system, influx of people from outside who do not understand or appreciate its unique culture,lack of employment opportunities (there being no industries), treated as a colony by New Delhi with bureaucrats coming on deputation, throwing their weight around, living like rulers, harsh laws, excesses carried out by the Indian security forces, extremely corrupt politicians, bad governance, drugs, alcoholism, sharing of ethnicity, food habits and culture with south east asian neighbours, impact of partition, liberation of Bangladesh and influx of people from there, etc Till today, there are no good communication facilities between the north-east and the rest of India. Many of them do not have airports or rail links or cellphone towers. Roads are bad or non-existent. To compound their isolation, the rest of India have no clue at all about the people, their lives, their culture and traditions. In Delhi where many of them come for employment, they are mistaken for chinese. 3. I would take any information from RSS sources with a bucket-full of salt The late V N Gadgil who lived in Pune in the heart of RSS territory and who knew them intimately used to call them the R(umour) S(preading) S(ociety) for their propensity to disseminate mis-information or dis-information. The RSS which is driven by its ideology of establishing a Hindu nation tries to view everything from its narrow prism. Hence its craze for re-writing history according to its view. 4. So far as Kashmir is concerned, the kashmiris feel shortchanged as the then Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, the father of Karan Singh, signed the deed of accession without taking them into confidence. The kashmiris have demanded a plebisite for self determination. They do not want to join either Pakistan nor India. This is compounded by rigging of polls, excesses committed by Indian forces, backtracking by the centre, interference from Pakistan, rise of hindu communalism in the rest of India, corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, etc. Contrary to what is portrayed in the media, more muslims have died and suffered because of the unrest than hindus. It is true however, that large numbers of kashmiri pandits have been displaced from their homes, during a spurt of communalism which engulfed the region for a while. The kashmir problem today has become very complex and defies easy solutions.The people have been alienated, they do not have confidence in the government or the system, there is insurgency aided and supported by Pakistan, communalism, etc. 5. If secularism has to succeed in India, it is imperative to first separate 'church' from state. Two, there has to be a spirit of reconciliation between the major communities like Nelson Mandela did in South Africa. We have much to learn from him. Three, an atmosphere of tolerance and large heartedness has to be created giving everyone enough room within the overall constitution. Four, the state should come down hard on all acts of hate and violence from whichever community.Five, the educated elite owe a responsibility to speak out against acts of hate or violence. Six, political parties and politicians who exploit religion should be banned or voted out. And I could go on and on but let it suffice for now. 6.Goa too is facing a similar situation. Goans are feeling threatened by the influx of outsiders. Goa too has been exploited and treated as a colony by the deputationists who came from Delhi or outside. Even the political parties are susceptable to strings pulled from Delhi whether they be from the Congress or the BJP. Goa too has a unique culture different from the rest of India. Many of my maharashtrian friends have remarked how they find the Hindu Goan so different being cultured, genteel, largehearted and tolerant unlike what they saw among themselves. Regards, Marshall
