ON THE EDGE OF EMPIRE — Four British Plans for North East India,
1941-1947: Edited by David R. Syiemlieh; Sage Publications India Pvt.
Ltd. Rs. 795.
Even after 66 years of Independence, India’s North East remains an
enigma to many. A region predominantly tribal is still waiting for peace
and tranquillity despite Naga, Mizo and other accords over the years.
The continuing rule of AFSPA and underdevelopment of the region haunts
their lives. After many an election and assurances by the powers that
be, the tribals of the region are yet to be assimilated. Demands for
separate land (state) from every identifiable tribal group are echoing
over the hills all along. In a sense, the ‘Seven Sisters’, considered to
be vital to the security of the Nation, are feeling peripheral.
In such a backdrop, David R. Syiemlieh’s “On the Edge of Empire - Four
British Plans for North East India, 1941-1947” is indeed an eye-opener
which provides an overview of the empirical thoughts of four British ICS
officers serving in the region. They are Sir Robert N. Reid, Governor
of Assam (1937-42); his successor Sir Andrew G. Glow (1942-47); James P.
Mills, Advisor to the Government of Assam for Tribal Areas and States
and his successor and fellow officer Philip F. Adams.
Prof. Syiemlieh, former Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University and
presently Member, UPSC took active interest in the history of North East
through out his career. His interest drew him to study the mystery
surrounding the Crown Colony Plan/Protectorate. His painstaking efforts
to bring out all the important documents from the concealed vaults and
let them speak for themselves are really laudable. This secret plan was
conceived during the closing years of the British rule and discussed at
the highest levels of the colonial administration for setting up a Crown
Colony comprising the hill areas of the North East India and the tribal
areas of Burma. The Plan couldn’t be put into action for various
reasons. By the middle of 1946, the Plan was wound up. The British came
to realise it was ill-timed and conceived too late to shape up a
protectorate of their own.
However, according to the documents presented in the volume, the British
officials put their mind in studying the conditions of inhabitants of
hill areas of the North East in a more organised manner. Every possible
reaction from officialdom, political and social strata are answered in a
coherent manner. The theme of all the four notes is to preserve the
culture, language and traditions of the tribal and allow them to look
after their needs by self-administration of their villages. Even the
lingua franca was considered in a serious manner by these officials.
James P. Mills, who gave a detailed plan ( in 26 chapters) succinctly
says, “The practical advantages of treating the union of States as a
Colony till such time as they are sufficiently advanced to unite with
India are so great that the ideas should not be rejected out of hand.”
He was also quoting a precedent of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and
Swaziland in Africa to protect the inhabitants against exploitation and
in furthering their progress. Incidentally, with his interest in
anthropology built up during his service in India, he was faculty in the
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London from 1947
to 1954. These empirical thoughts were framed following two events. The
hills that came under the direct control of the Raj were categorised by
the Government of India Act, 1919, as Backward Tracts. While the
majority of the tribes acquiesced with the term (may be because they
were unaware of any development work in their areas), the most visible
and modern Khasi-Jaintia were unhappy being put into this category.
Consequently, the 1935 Government of India Act applied different
nomenclature for the tribal areas.
The hills were categorised as either Excluded Areas or Partially
Excluded Areas. Hence, Robert Reid, then Governor of Assam, in whose
jurisdiction the issues of these Areas fell, wrote the first piece in
November 1941. It was a confidential note titled A Note on the Future of the Present Excluded, Partially Excluded and Tribal Areas of Assam.
This was followed by his advisor and Secretary to the Government of
Assam on Tribal Affairs James P. Mills. Reid’s successor Andrew G. Glow
as Governor in 1942 added his wisdom considering the political
development at that time. His advisor and Secretary to Government of
Assam Philip P. Adams followed suit with his own vision.
On the eve of partition, there was clamour to take in the hills areas of
North East with East Pakistan, while a section led by Assam Premier
Gopinath Bordoloi expressed concern over the Crown Colony Plan and also
that the hill people had not “assimilated” with Assam. Hence, the
responses of the hill people of North East India towards partition and
independence were varied. Nagas took advantage of the emergence of East
Pakistan to negotiate with India. Some of the Khasi states realised that
they had much to lose in joining India but found it was the only
solution open for them. To some extent, Mizos were brought nearer
realities. However, the integration of the region into the Indian Union
was not quite complete until Tripura, Manipur and the Khasi states
signed instruments of Accession and merger agreements with the new
Indian Government. While Tripura and Manipur were accorded Union
Territory status in 1950, the Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Mikir, North Cachar
and Lushai Hills were provided with District Councils to safeguard their
forest, land and tradition. And the process of integration is still on.
This volume edited by David R. Syiemlieh is indeed a great work for
those who are interested in tribal development and more specifically the
development of the northeast of India. Notably, Mr. Mills’ detailed
presentation to empower the tribals in their own areas will be an
eye-opener for activists. Preserving the language, culture and tradition
of hill people amid development is a daunting task indeed. The notes
contained in this volume show this can really be done with real love.
0 comments:
Post a Comment