region
Sixty Years of the Northeast
Countering crisis
As the world enters into a
state of constant rapid change
that touches every conceivable
sphere of life, the land-locked
region expresses willingness to
undo the mistakes of the past
and accept these changes. TNT
attempts an insight into this
changing trend.
Development is a comprehen-
sive economic, social, political,
and cultural process that aims
at the improvement of the qual-
ity of life of all people and the
full enjoyment of all fundamen-
tal freedoms and human rights
without distinction as to race,
gender, religion, status, or politi-
cal belief. It is though a genuine
development that the full poten-
tials of the human person and the
whole human race can be fully
realized. This is how the United
Nations goes about its Declara-
tion of the Decade of Develop-
ment.
This has remained mostly ineffective
for India, which has been struggling for
six decades to bring the country onto
the right track of development. The
34 June 08
Northeast has been suffering the most
from not only under-development, but
also social unrest spanning out over six
decades.
The Governor of Goa, Mr S.C. Jamir,
pointed out that the region, once a ha-
ven of beauty and charming people
with rich social and cultural heritage,
has, over the years, degenerated into
one of disorder, economic stagnancy
and social disarray. “Caught up in an
insular world, our leaders resist con-
structive change, which would lead to
overall development for the benefit of
the beleaguered people, irrespective
of tribe, clan or region, so as to save
them from floundering in the depths of
despair, distress and degradation,” he
said, railing that geographical isolation
and economic backwardness and lack
of infrastructure were hampering the
desired growth of the region.
The comment of this former Chief
Minister of Nagaland came during a
region
brain storming session at the Round
Table Conference on Sixty Years of
the Northeast in Shillong this month.
The event organised by Divya Jeevan
Foundation Society and Aurbindo
Institute of Indian Culture brought
many academicians under one roof
for a comprehensive discussion on the
Northeast’s progress report during the
past 60 years.
Mr. Jamir took this opportunity to float
his idea of unifying the region both po-
litically and culturally so that it would
make the region stronger against the
backdrop of the current political situ-
ation that “is one of disarray, discord,
disunity and without direction.”
“Without undermining the autonomy
of the seven sisters, a system, whereby
the states act as a unified body for the
good of all the people of the northeast, would benefit most if it was allowed to Mr. Sanjay Hazarika, a renowned He advocates introduction of work
should be formed. Without such unity, be used as the bridge between the rest journalist from the Northeast, drew permits and citizen cards to tackle this
our individual voices will be like dust of India and the South Asian countries. the attention of the audience to the fact menace and wants the respective gov-
in the wind. Furthermore, all develop- For him, the viability of road, rail and that when the region was bleeding pro- ernments to take steps to build up a
ment work undertaken in the region air connectivity with the neighboring fusely for various reasons, it would be data bank covering the illegal migrants
countries are of utmost importance. wrong to blame it for under-develop- in this country.
should cut across state boundaries de-
pending solely on the economic and The session entered into a heated ment and illegal migration. The striking feature of this event was
geo-physical viability,” he proposed. discussion when one of the speakers In his paper, Mr. Hazarika blames the involvement of some Bangladeshi
But this proposal for political unity pointed out that the time has arrived various factors in connection with mi- academicians and journalists who pre-
spread an air of confusion among the for the Northesat to go into serious gration problems and castigates politi- sented a fair picture of the state of af-
speakers and someone intervened introspection and find out what actu- cians for encouraging illegal migration. fairs in that country. They said that it
ally went wrong during these many For him, migration takes place because was not India alone, Bangladesh too
questioning the validity of such politi-
cal unity within the framework of the years for which the region has not pro- of push and pull factors and largely it was suffering from Islamic terrorism.
Indian constitution. However, it is re- gressed. is because of economic reasons that “HUJI has been a cause of concern
motely possible for a person like Mr. The speaker sounded a little brash as people from neighbouring countries for us. They have close links with the
Jamir, who himself is a constitutional he questioned – “What has the North- migrate in large numbers to India’s ULFA, which had actually orchestrated
head, to propose something outside the east done for itself?” He said the main Northeast. “The demographic structure an attack on Sheikh Hasina sometime
problem with the Northeast has been in of the region is fast changing because back,” they said.
Indian constitution.
The discussion further went into eco- its approach towards the Centre, which of such migration,” he said, sending They said Bangladesh wanted a bet-
nomic issues, the Look East Policy and it believed has a step-motherly attitude a message to politicians who harbour ter understanding with India and that
the issues relating to transition includ- towards it. But this did not go down such migrants. it should take a pro-active role in sta-
ing security and immigration, social well with many and they got embroiled Nevertheless, Mr. Hazarika believes bilizing the South East Asia – a wake
tensions and federalism. Maj. Gen. in a hot debate till the chairperson in- in good relations with neighbours that up call for the policy makers and dip-
Vinod Saighal believed that the region tervened. could put an end to illegal migration. lomats in actual terms.
June 08 35