‘Beltola incident’: an Opportunity for Greater Growth

Mr. Wilfred Topno

In the wake of the ‘Beltola-Guwahati tragic incident’ of 24th Nov. some issues/concerns like involvement of Jharkhand leadership, Adivasis of Assam as ‘integral part of greater assamese society’, issue of integration versus divide and rule, social divide between Adivasis and Assamese etc are emerging. These certainly needs healthy, constructive and open debate, discussion and clarifications. Only this process will remove the prejudices, unnecessary fears and suspicions among the members of ‘greater assamese society’. Only this process will strengthen the tread that binds the ‘greater assamese society’ leading to lasting peace and prosperity. With this frame of mind I would like to add my own reflections to some of these topics.

In the involvement of Jharkhand leaders in the context of the present problems of Adivasis there are certain fears and suspicions; and a number of questions have been raised. In the struggle by the Adivasis of Assam for ST have the Jharkhand leaders ever raised the issue with the Centre? Have they every shown solidarity with the cause of the Adivasis of Assam? Have they ever talked to the Centre government about the problems faced by the Adivasis of Assam? Some people find negative answers to such questions and hence they conclude that if they did not do anything for the Adivasis of Assam then, now Jharkhand leaders have no business here. Before making such a hasty conclusion it is also important to find the facts and figures. Adivasi leaders of Jharkhand and else where have played some role in the struggle for ST for the Adivasis of Assam. Couple of Adivasi leaders have raised the issue of ST for Adivasis of Assam in the parliament couple of times. Whenever Adivasi organizations from Assam like AASAA, Adivasi Council of Assam (ACA) went to Delhi to pressurize the Center for ST and other issues and problems of Assam Adivasis the Jharkhand Adivasi leaders always formed part of the team. All the Adivasi leaders from Jharkhand and else where are members of ‘All India Adivasi Coordination Committee’, which is also demanding the ST for Assam Adivasis. After the ethnic violence between Adivasis and Bodos adivasi leaders visited, had dialogue with the state and centre, and raised the issues on relief and rehabilitation for more than two lakhs of Adivasis, some whom lived the relief camps for more than a decade.

In the context of the seriousness and gravity of the ‘Beltola incident’, which has shaken the whole of northeast, the nation and beyond should leaders need invitations to visit the victims, or give a helping hand in solving their problem democratically in political forum? If ‘Beltola like incident’ would have happened to the main stream of assamese community in Shillong would the assamese leaders from Assam wait for an invitation to visit and help the victims? In the type of government we have in India it believes in the solution of problems through debate in the various representation systems; and if the Jharkhand leaders are helping in the present problems of Adivasis including the ST issue, which really needs strong forum to convince the centre, then should we not be open to such help and possibilities? However, if the motive of the Jharkhand leaders or for that matter any political leaders is to divide Assam, or politically take advantage of the situation then it our obligation to remind them to be in their places.

Another question that is emerging is if there is social divide between Adivasis and Assamese. In the wake of the ‘Beltola incident’ many groups, media, well-wishers and sympathizers, and even Adivasis themselves have reaffirmed that Adivasis are integral part of the ‘greater assamese society’. However some say ‘the Beltola incident’ sharply reflects the social divide between Adivasis and Assamese, whereas others hold the opinion that one incident like Beltola really does not reflect and represent the whole reality, and it should not damage the peaceful co-existence of these communities for almost a century. Some have argued that the dynamics of ‘greater assamese society’ will in course of time heal all wounds, and hence adivasi leaders from outside Assam should not interfere here since they are not aware of the meaning and implications of the ‘‘greater Asomiya society’’, which is a mosaic of diverse ethnic groups and migrant communities. Now the whole question is how do we, the components of ‘greater assamese society’ understand by such expressions as “dynamics of greater assamese society’, “the meaning and implications of greater assamese society” in relation to the present problems and the other deeper issues like poverty, illiteracy, health, culture, and exploitations and marginalization in tea industry? How do we understand these expressions in the context of the system of government we have in India? Can we realistically say that the dynamics of the ‘greater assamese society’ will solve the problems in course of time? Will such solutions help the Adivasis of Assam to get out the above mentioned issues of poverty, illiteracy, health, exploitations and marginalization? What has been the role of the main steam of assamese society, the government, the media and the ingelligencia in the past in tackling such issues of Adivasis? How has this role been reflected concretely in terms of budget, government schemes and policies for the educational, social, cultural and economic developments of the Adivasis? What has been the role of the main stream of assamese society, the government, the media and the intelligecia in relation to grave and critical issues like that of the ethnic violence of 1996 between Adivasis and Bodos? If questions like these are seriously reflected and sought together by all the members of the ‘greater assamese society’ only then it will lead to a lasting peace and prosperity, and strengthen the treads that bind the ‘greater assamese society’. Beltola incident’ is a crisis but every crisis is also an opportunity for greater growth if we learn to take in a spirit of optimism. Perhaps this crisis is offering an opportunity for all of us to think, search and work together to build further ‘xunor asom’ (golden Assam).