To achieve "Separate Administration" learn from Meghalaya: Pu H. Chinkhenthang, IAS (Retd)

(Read between the lines before you agree or disagree)

To Achieve Our Goal of S.A. We Must Take Lessons From Our Fellow Tribals of Meghalaya

Part - I: Brief Account of Their Movement

In 1952, Khasi-Jaintia, Garo, Mikir, North Cachar and Lushai Hills were given ADCs under 8th Schedule under Assam. But they were not happy as the state government tried to control them in every sphere. Soon they felt that a separate state was the only alternative. To this end they form Eastern India Tribal Union (EITU) in 1954 and launched a movement for a separate state with the slogan, 'No Hill State No Rest'.

In 1957 general election they swept  the polls in the hills and Captain Williamson Sangma, a Garo, was made the lone  Minister from the hills. But when a bill for making Assamese as the only official language was admitted by the State Assembly in 1960 in spite of strong, united opposition from hill MLAs, he resigned in protest.

Now they felt the need for intensifying their movement. Having found some lacunae in EITU, they formed All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) to make it more inclusive and give new dimension and strength to the movement. In 1962 General Election they won most of the seats in the hills. But when the official language bill was finally passed by the Assembly in 1962, they all resigned in protest. When by-election to fill the resultant  vacancies was held, the APHLC decided to contest but to resign again when the election was over, and they again swept the polls in the hills.

Due to the formation of MNF in Lushai Hill which aimed at sovereignty, and lack of enthusiasm on the part of leaders of Mikir and North Cachar Hills, by late 1960s APHLC became a movement for Meghalaya state. And as the Union Government dragged on its feet, APHLC resorted to Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) from 9 September 1968 all over Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills completely paralyzing all government offices.

To make the long story short, though different models of autonomy under Assam were offered, they would accept none but a full-fledged state. Their sacrifice, united and tireless efforts for nearly 20 years finally bore fruit when the state of Meghalaya was inaugurated on 15 December 1972.

Part - II: What Lessons to Take (Mark the Difference Between Them And Us)

1. Compared with our problem, their problem arising out of the Assam Official Language Bill/Act was miniscule, but their Minister and MLAs had no hesitation to resign in protest.

On the contrary, as if the wanton destruction of our life and property and our untold sufferings due to their CM's ethnic cleansing policy is a trivial matter, our Ministers and MLAs never think of resigning in protest even as they dare not attend Assembly for fear for their life. 

And with rare exception, amidst cry of distress of their people, most of them seem to have gone into deep hibernation in their hideouts except when they wake up momentarily to sign a memorandum, or make noise for wrong reasons. Can we call them public leaders? Public leaders ought to be at the forefront at times like this.

2. Khasis live in 10443 sq km Khasi Hills, Garos in 8167 sq km Garo Hills and Jaintias in 3819 sq km Jaintia Hills - their respective, well demarcated ancester lands. The present population of Khasis and Garos of Meghalaya are about 14 and 9.5 lakhs respectively. They belong to completely different tribes and origins. Even then they all fought together for a Hill State, and neither the majority Khasis nor Garos ever voiced demand for Khasiland or Garoland. If there was some difference over the naming of the state, it was amicably settled by adopting a neutral name.

Unlike them we descended from the same ancestors, belong to the same family, speak more or less the same dialect, share the same small territory. At any point of time, our combined population in manipur and the area we occupy would be less than that of the Garos of Meghalaya alone. We are to small to be divided.

That being our case, at this juncture when we need unity the most to withstand a common and formidable enemy and achieve our cherished goal, if we give more importance to our nomencture than to unity, voice conflicting demands like Kukiland, Zoland or Hmarland, and if someone tries to monopolize or hijack our movement, these being highly sensitive and divisive, will not bode well for unity and for our future.

Since the  time Mizo Union and Khul Union were formed in 1946, there have been arguments and counter arguments around nomenclature with no end and solution, and there never will be. Hence, for the sake of unity and strength, why not bury it for the time being, and stop giving communal name to an unborn state. Instead, let us strive together unitedly to achieve our goal with a single slogan, No U.T. No Rest as our fellow tribesmen of Meghalaya did.

Part - III: The Need For a Common Face And platform

Too many cooks spoil the broth. Soon after trouble broke out, CORSAM was formed to carry forward the movement for SA, followed by Zo United, but they become non-stsrters. Now the idea of Kuki-Zo council has been floated, but will it be different? For God's sake can we not give a name without divisive nomenclature tag?

What about ITLF?

One year ahead of 3 May 2023, when many of our leaders or groups, oblivion to Biren's diabolical designs against us competed with each other in singing paens and giving presents to him to find his favour, some of our foresighted leaders formed ITLF to counter his evil designs, and carried out counter-measures even before trouble broke out. When trouble broke out in the open, it became a readymade organisation to handle the situation. 

Having representatives from all our tribes, it is the most inclusive, neutral or non-communal organisation, and is the only one which has been recognised and accepted by many as the umbrella organisation of our movement. Then, instead of throwing up controversial names one after another and stalling progress, why not accept ITLF as our common face to present our case at the negotiating table, with inputs and augmentation from other bodies as may be needed?

Also, to organise protests, demonstrations etc. connected with our movement in the name of individual tribe or tribes tend to create misunderstanding, conflict and division. This can be avoided if such things are organised in the name of ITLF or COTU only wherever they operate, without excluding or sidelining any group.

Part IV: Unity, Patience, Determination to be Our Catch Word

Hardly any movement for statehood takes less than 20 years. Telengana took 45 years, Jharkhand, Meghalaya and Mizoram about 20 years. No doubt we have one advantage: total physical which we would never be able to achieve with our wisdom, has been accomplished because of Biren's ethnic cleansing drive; only formal seperation is needed. Yet, to expect to get our demand within a few years particularly under the present regime will be like living in fool's paradise, and soon we will lose hope and the will to fight.

Now, to achieve our goal we must (i) maintain a strong bond of unity, (ii) maintain the status quo of physical separation at any cost, (iii) not shift our goal post an inch, (iv) wait with patience without losing heart. If we do these, how long one can deny our rights. But, if we let slip this golden chance -- given to us by physical separation -- because of disunity, it will never come back, and we have to blame ourselves only.

~  H. Chinkhenthang
Ex-Principal Secretary, Meghalaya

~ W/P

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