It is not uncommon to come across the idea that Christian missionaries are responsible for terrorist activities in India's North East. Before I proceed to clarify the matter I wish to state that I am from northern part of Manipur in India's north east; and it's an area that has witnessed so much of unrest and killing over the last 60 years. So I am sharing this from first hand experience, and not as a distant observer writing through hearsay.
First of all, it would be debatable whether the whole thing is terrorist activities or freedom struggle movement. One side will read the matter as terrorist acts whereas the others will read it as freedom struggle. It depends on perspective! After all Bhagat Singh was a terrorist for British Raj, but for Indian nationalist he was a patriot. But since the post is written primarily to clarify the name of Christianity I won't take side. So I would prefer the term 'militants' instead of terrorists. They are militants ( because they are not moderates!).
The Nagas are roughly 90% Christians, with the remaining still counted as animists. Their number total around 2 millions. The Naga militants have taken to arms since 1950s, fighting against the government of India for the last 60 odd years. They are spread out over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Myanmar. The other ethnic community among whom militancy is active is the Manipuri/Meetei. At one point of time there were 18 different groups from this community alone fighting against the Government of India. Even today there are various groups like RPF, KYKL, UNLF, PREPAK and KCP, with most of the groups split into different faction. These people are attributed as 88% Hindus approximately; 11% Muslim and 1% others. The third community among whom militancy is active is the Assamese. If one excludes the Bodos and the Bangladeshi migrants, the percentage of Hindus among Assamese may be around 85-90, the rest comprising of Christians, Buddhists, animists and others.
If one would attribute Naga militancy to Christianity then Manipuri/Meetei and Assamese militancy would have to be attributed to Hinduism ( and that of Kashmir to Islam. But let us leave out Kashmir for now). Attributing Naga militancy to Christianity while refusing to attribute to Hinduism the militancy of Assamese and Manipuri/Meetei is just unfair. But in reality attributing the whole militant groups to a particular religious group is to be ignorant of the social and political dynamic of the North East. If one is wishes to learn the truth and at least be concerned to be helpful in solving the problem it is important that one digs deeper the social and political dynamic of the people there.
Though religion is extremely important, for people in the North East India their ethnic identity is also extremely important. For political reasons which historians know better it is not easy for many people in the North East India to identify themselves as Indian just as much a Gujarati or a Malayali or a Bengali would do. So the above ethnic groups that are taking to guns to fight for whatever cause they believe in it is not due to their religious persuasion, but due the their ethnic affiliation. Though group like NSCN is believed to have adopted “Nagaland for Christ” their cause is still due to their ethnic affiliation.
The problem in the North East India is not just their own creation; India is equally responsible, if not more, for the problem there. So it is important that we all go deeper in our engagement in each other lives. Only then can we hope for something better.
I agree that I also prefer the term militants or insurgents to "terrorists". I do not deny that these militants terrorize but again even the police and the army too uses the same technique! And mostly terrorist acts are counter productive.
ReplyDeleteUsing religion or the name of God (like "Nagaland for Christ", and most Nagas objects this) is obviously abuse of religion. Therefore I do not agree that just because a particular section of people or media 'links Naga Militancy to Christianity' the militancy in Assam and Manipur and J&K should be linked to Hinduism and Islam respectively is equally condemnable (and not equally attributable).
The root cause of Militancy may be many and complex and I agree that historians will know better. But it is very important for the general public to remember history correctly and one sided view of the history generally breeds myths and myths are powerful tools to breed hatred, suspicion and fear.
GOI is certainly responsible for the present mess. However the people as a community or as individuals can not entirely shrug off the responsibility and throw the blame on the govt alone. After all it is the general public who faces the brunt of terrorism/ militancy/ undevelopment and not the legislators and bureaucrats who creatted the mess in the first place. Therefore the people should rise against these militant activities and the govt should take a proactive role in winning the confidence of the people.
It's sad that majority, I should say, of Indian citizens have no idea of what's happening in the North East. Let alone trying to understand the problem why allegedly over 200,000 people have died fighting against Government of India this 50-60 years, many people don't even know the capital of the north eastern states and that people of mongoloid features live in the north east India. For many Indian citizens those with mongoloid features must be from Nepal or China or Japan etc. With this ignorance widespread no one questions Government's policy. It's just only in city like Delhi people have come to hear about North East... and that too began only few year ago.
ReplyDeleteApril 7, 2011 9:18 AM
Okay, what abut the poor people in the middle of militants and army ?
ReplyDeleteResonantly I red a novel about Naga people and their real condition during 60s , author Mr. George kurian one who lived there as a school teacher, long ten years, from Kerala.this book titled' Over the hills and down to the Valleys'published by Amazon .com