Northeast India: A land of divided loyalties

Union Home MinisterAmit Shahhas held wide range of discussions with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, top army brass, the police, and other stakeholders during his ongoing visit to the ethnic violence-hit northeastern state. Matters pertaining to those who mattered in the appointment of former IPS officer Kudeep Singh as the security advisor to the state have also come in for closer scrutiny.

Over 70 people have been killed while scores of others have been injured in the violent clashes that broke out in the state since May 3. Thousands have fled Manipur with over 7,000 people now taking shelter in Mizoram. Kukis share ethnic bonding with the Mizos and hence the demand for Greater Mizoram has also been rekindled.

In many places, common people have accused Manipur Police with failures, and also that they have been partial towards the Meiteis. Maybe a former army man would have done the job better, more so because a man in olive green can command more respect from the foot soldiers. In Manipur itself, ex-military officers are available and their services could be enlisted.

It is also high time that the people concerned appreciate that the officers and soldiers of Assam Rifles played key roles during the initial phase when the trouble started. One can say that the state of Manipur as a whole, and the three segments of the society - the Meiteis, the Kukis and Nagas - cannot be seen flirting dangerously with civil unrest. The northeastern region has seen enough of such clashes and enough of so-called ethnic 'cleansing'.

Biharis, Bengali Hindus and Gorkhalis have been at the receiving end in Shillong, and people have left for good. Forget tribals-non tribals; episodes like the Reang-Mizo differences and Naga-Kuki issues of the 1990s were really unfortunate. It is time sanity prevails and the 'sincerity' displayed by all becomes important achievements; and more so for the government(s) of the day, both in Imphal and in New Delhi.

One is aware of the strong elements of 'us' and 'them' syndromes in the region. Some years back while working on these inherent issues between two and more communities in another northeastern state (not Manipur), I was told by an expert that the 'logic of us and the ideology of others' motivates the root cause of identity politics in the northeast. And here lies the real challenge.

Today, the Nagas and the Meiteis stand together despite tribal-non tribal differences. The Nagas have their own issues with Kukis, and in the past they "could not trust" each other. In the mid-nineties, the Naga-Kuki clashes used to be a nightmare both in Nagaland and in Manipur. In 2001, when the Naga ceasefire was extended to parts of Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, the Imphal valley burnt for days.

In other words, when it comes to 'integrity' of Naga contiguous areas, there is mutual distrust between the Nagas and the Meiteis. There were some inherent conflicts also. While the NSCN-IM led by Thuingaleng Muivah always stood for Nagalim or Greater Nagalan, former Chief Minister of Manipur late Rishang Keishing (also a Tangkhul Naga) was all along a 'nationalist' pro-India, who was part of the resolution of Manipur Assembly that 'not an inch' of Manipur state could be compromised.

Therefore, under the given situation, Nagas ought to be given credit for keeping things cool when they could have gotten emotional and excited.

"In this season of rumour mongering and intense provocation, there are people among Nagas in Manipur and rights organisations who have understood the gravity of the situation and displayed maturity," said a source. This is, therefore, certainly a sign of maturity displayed during a crisis situation.

Observers also believe that though ground situations are different, even Kukis and Meiteis will have to display 'maturity' and a kind of 'calmness'. There is yet another issue of governance or the lack of it. A deep divide in Manipur police on ethnic lines became very evident in the ongoing conflict. Of course, sources maintain that this has made "the task of the Army, Assam Rifles and other CAPF units even more difficult".

Over 1,350 automatic weapons have been looted from the police during the ongoing unrest and this certainly does not augur well for the state administration. Moreover, the roles of two organisations - Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun - have surfaced lately and these ought to be looked into. Past experiences elsewhere suggest the internal security scenario and an environment under 'unified headquarters mechanism' as in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam have been very helpful and such mechanisms should be put in place in Manipur at the earliest.

Wrap up

It is one of the paradoxes of our times and the northeast region which the policy makers ought to comprehend effectively. As of April 2023, as many as 8,000 insurgents surrendered in the northeast since 2014 and joined 'mainstream society', says the Government of India, yet none can deny the violence and multi-pronged troubles the state of Manipur has witnessed.

Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Manipur also coincides with the Modi government completing nine years in office, and also an obvious fact that in less than a year the country will plunge into electoral mode.

Seven airports were built in the last nine years in the northeast, 4,016 km of road projects are currently ongoing and around 2,000 projects worth Rs 22,000 crore have been sanctioned for the region since 2014.

Waterways have been given a mega boost and 19 new waterways have been added as the lifelines of commute and trade, eight additional airports operationalised and 100 per cent broad gauge electrified under North East Frontier Railways. Some benefits too could be measured.

In order to respect public opinion and appreciate the native sentiments, something considered overdue was done. There have been were noteworthy instances of recognition of hitherto unsung heroes, including Lachit Borphukan and Rani Gaidinliu.

In terms of connectivity, the Bogeebil rail-cum-road bridge, the longest such project in India, has been achieved. What has definitely excited the people of Manipur is the Jiribam-Imphal rail line, the world's tallest girder rail bridge, which has also been taken up.

Another such milestone has been the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, which is India's longest bridge. Officials also claim good progress in organic farming in Meghalaya while the agro-based products of Nagaland, including 'Bhoot Jholokia' (hot green chilly), have reached London.

The Sangai Festival of Manipur and the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland too have been encouraged. PM Modi himself inaugurated the Hornbill Fest of Nagas in 2014 within months of assuming office.

The sum and substance, why we are still complaining? Why people still do not hesitate to burn effigies of central leaders over minor to major controversies and issues? Actually, these contradictions are not puzzles per se. They are the real messages. Come and try to understand our problems in detail and sympathetically before anyone can claim that you have mastered the knowledge about northeast and have fallen in love with this region.

One message is people's confusion. Can I be a 'nationalist' - that is committed to India - and yet be a good native Naga or a Mizo? Or do I have to give up being a good Kuki, Sema or Angami and then become a good Naga or a good 'citizen of Manipur'?

The policy makers and the Indian 'mainstream' intellectuals have to come out of the old legacy. They have to give a convincing message that no man need to fear that by becoming a nationalist, he will make himself an anti-Mizo or anti-Naga.

In his masterpiece 'The Conquest of Happiness', Bertrand Russel says: "The man divided against himself looks for excitement and distraction... he loves strong passion." Russel further explains that "passion" takes the man "outside himself". This applies to human kind at the global stage, but it applies more to the people of the northeast.