Tuesday 4 August 2015

Ahead of UK visit Narendra Modi again targets British : this time for  Naga insurgency


New Delhi. Narendra modi's world vision becomes clearer - day by day . Extending the Shashi Tharoor's argument of "reparation from British" and Keith Vaz's  demand of "return of Kohinoor" Modi now blames former colonialist and modern day neo-colonialist for fomenting Naga insurgency in north eastern region of India, bordering Myanmar and China.
On the occasion of signing of historic "Naga peace accord" Modi put forward a new " Naga Narrative" which nullifies earlier narratives of " Unique Naga history", "An Independent Nagaland " "Nagalism", " Naga Sovereignty" and "Greater Nagaland".  He squarely blamed British for keeping Nagas isolated and insulated from rest of India. He said Naga insurgency was a British conspiracy and was only an extension of their "divide and rule" policy.
In presence of West backed insurgent group "National Socialist Council of  Nagaland"(NSCN-IM) chief T. Muivah,  Modi said, " It is a legacy of the British Rule. The colonial rulers had, by design, kept the Nagas isolated and insulated. They propagated terrible myths about Nagas in the rest of the country. They deliberately suppressed the reality that the Nagas were an extremely evolved society. They also spread negative ideas about the rest of India amongst Naga people. This was part of the well known policy of divide and rule of the colonial rulers." 

And all these harsh words towards British (and Baptists) were spoken in the presence of  almost all Naga insurgent leadership, who still talk in terms of India versus Nagaland. Though Modi did not mention Baptist church by name, the tone and tenor of his address was quite clear. He blamed the foreign powers  for driving a wedge between Nagas and Indian people. He mentioned Nagas as proud people and guardians of India's eastern frontiers. His message was clear- as a part and parcel of India, Nagaland and Nagas can dream of a secure and bright future. He said, "You are also the guardians of our eastern frontiers and our gateway to the world beyond." 
Muivah , who till yesterday , (and who knows even now), advocated idea of  Naga Nation and Greater Nagaland was listening to  Modi in silence. Muivah tried to invoke Mahatma Gandhi in support his idea of Naga Nation. Some how "Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi" gives an impression  that Gandhi was sympathetic to independent  Nagaland . Modi might be aware or unaware of the Gandhi's stand. Nevertheless he said seconded Muivah's assersation that if Gandhi had  lived today Naga problem would have been solved. In Modi's view Gandhi's legacy would have made Nagas and other Indians -one people.
It may be recalled that Modi's ideal and  BJP's ideologue Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay in his presidential speech to national convention of Jan Sangh held in Calicut in 1967 said that Congress government's wrong policies fuelling separatist tendencies in north east region. He said, " today we are having to reap its ill-fruits. Creation of a separate Naga Sate for a population of just three lakhs has greatly encouraged these separatist trends. And foreign missionaries in the region have been doing their worst to incite disruptive forces.
The government has been holding prolonged negotiation with the underground Nagas, But no fruitful outcome is yet in sight . Meanwhile, it has been reported that these Nagas are hobnobbing with communist China . Outburst of sporadic violence also have continued. Manipur particularly has seen an intensification of such activity. Obviously, the extremist section is availing of the present interlude only to prepare for a bigger revolt. The government of India must be extremely vigilant. It should consciously exert to  isolate the rebels and deal with them sternly."
It would be in place to mention here that half of the population of the state comprises of Hindu Nagas. New Delhi's dialogue with Nagaland till now has been exclusively through the medium of the Baptist Mission. The Hindus tribes have never been given the recognition due to them. This must change. Their interests and rights also must be safeguarded."
These are the words spoken 50 years ago; in the meantime the demography of state completely changed . Thanks to Baptists Church, the state is now "Christ Land" with 99 per cent Christians. Indigenous  religion and culture are preserved only in a few villages . They are  like " Indian reserves" in United States.
Modi's guiding organisation Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) started its activities in north east region only in seventies. But it was too late. Nevertheless, today Church is on back foot, conversion has slowed down and indigenous people are asserting their  identities . In changing world realities, with imperialists and colonialist on retreat,  Modi can  change ground situation in the region. Indian people owe a lot to innocent animist tribals of this region.

Details of Naga peace accord is not yet disclosed. One hopes that accord would facilitate full integration of Nagas in the national mainstream.