[Reader-list] A good tribal is a displaced tribal, ready to move out with folded hands

[Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi]

The perspective posted reminds one of the memories of "red indians" in the
16th century onwards, in United states of America, first chased out of their
lands, then herded in to "reservations' to convert them of their faith in
nature to a faith of the percieved saviour of mankind, then butchered as
slaves and squaws.!
that is "civilised" mankind for the tribals of mankind............! But moot
issue is again another perspective, the one posted by some one about the
haves and have nots fighting for the rights, with violence, have nots have
been always used by the haves, to fight their wars against the rulers, be it
now or then, the haves use the poor, downtrodden and dalits for thewir war
to grab power, with money gained by any means, like, ransoms in kidnaps,
like hafta vassols, and pay this as majdoori or wages to have nots to fight
and sacrifice their life to empower the haves to gain power,means does not
justify the end as all the while it is the poor that is killed by the poor
for the haves to have their political outlook propagated, as these leaders
and their sympathisers sit cozy in the societal jungle while the poor
tribals assuming they will get their "rights' get only wages, majdoori out
of majboori of poverty as they fight for the naxal activity.
love and regards,
rajen.

On Sat, May 29, 2010 at 8:09 PM, SUNDARA BABU <babuubab at gmail.com> wrote:

> The socio-political reality of India is that a far away tribe or sometimes
> even a foreign tribe can understand the real plight of the tribes in
> central
> India. But caste-Hindus of whether central India or elsewhere, cannot
> understand any thing of these tribes. Obviously, New Delhi would not even
> bother to know!
> -Babu
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: jarjum ete <jarjum at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> Friends,
>
> They say, there are three sides of a story.. mine, yours and the right
> side.. Someone says there is a fourth side, the wrong side... Another says
> there is a fifth side, theirs. So, everyone has his or her side of the
> story. There are many sides to a story. But that side is not the whole
> story. Who has the perspective ? Who has got the whole story ? Posing the
> problems is easier than resolving them, with Sincerity. Again, the question
> is, who is sincere about solving the problems ?
>
> Well, why people take to violence could have many reasons. Even murders are
> justified, very unfortunately. But am sure no one wants to get killed.
> Similarly, I believe, not many (except a psycho, perhaps ) would willingly
> or happily kill if given the opportunity to lead a normal life with an
> opportunity to live with some dignity.
>
> Who are these Maoists ? As a mother, I know the concerns of a woman who has
> carried a baby in her womb. Even a tribal woman in the deepest forests has
> the same dreams of a woman in the most advanced society of this world. And
> �I strongly believe that every parent hopes and dreams for a share of a
> dignified life for her/his child.. Apparently, our present problem of
> violence, termed as Maoism or Naxalism in India, has emanated from the fact
> that our (tribal) children, in those states, have been treated as children,
> as if of a lesser god. And, all will surely agree, discrimination and
> injustice, cannot be accepted or tolerated for too long. Some can be
> exploited and suppressed for sometime. but all cannot be befooled all the
> time.�
>
> In his recent letter to the President of India, dated 17 May 2010, Dr BD
> Sharma, former Commissioner, SC/ST, has enumerated a list of 20 major
> broken
> promises made to the tribals of India. No.19 says "A good tribal is a
> displaced tribal, ready to move out with folded hands". And he is one of
> the
> few authorities on the issues of the tribals of India. As a tribal person,
> I
> endorse this view of his. The tribals of this supposed Great Nation have
> always been expected to move out every time, from their ancestral lands,
> for
> the sake of 'so-called development' of the country.�
>
> Where are the lakhs of tribals who have been forced to vanish from their
> homelands over so many decades, leaving their lands for development, in the
> interest of the nation ? Will the ones who are running away from their
> homes
> for their lives, in the violence-ridden areas, ever return to their
> villages
> in the future ? I suspect. They will be stuck in some relief camps for
> �sometime... and then they will dissolve into the vast unknown world, in
> search of food and medicines for their little children, perhaps.�
>
> 'If they don't move out of those lands on their own, create a situation
> which will force them out, flush them out of their holes....make them leave
> their homes on their own.'... That seems the obvious modus operandi, the
> mantra for acquisiton of tribal land for 'projects'. Correct me if I am
> wrong. But this is how it looks like, from this far corner of the country.
> Perhaps, as a fellow tribal, I empathise more. Perhaps, from this distance,
> my perspective is clearer. And since I am not directly affected by the
> neglect, injustices, deprivations and casteist-oppressions in the rest of
> India, I am able to talk against the violence and violations, the killings
> and bloodshed unleashed in those affected areas. But I think, if me or my
> family was one of the victims of the so-called development projects that
> treat the tribal people like insects (even insects are protected today !),
> I
> would have been equally angry and violent and I might not have said no to
> one of my children joining the cadres of the rebels, despite knowing very
> well that the Solution never lies in Violence.�
>
> Friends, having expressed my solidarity to the oppressed who have turned
> violent, unfortunately, and having shared my sentiments as a fellow-tribal,
> I appeal to all of you out there, with your fingers on the keyboards of
> your
> computers, please join the faceless voices of concern to build a campaign
> for a review of the development paradigm in the tribal areas of India. Yes,
> it is very difficult when our own leaders are using us and exploiting us,
> but it is possible that our younger ones, who are a little more educated
> and
> aware than their parents, would get to be heard. They might feel better if
> they are able to decide about what they want to do on their lands. Why
> can't
> they have that space ?
>
> Have a good day !
>
> In prayer,
>
> Jarjum Ete, activist,
> Former Chairperson, Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women.
> and�
> President, Galo Welfare Society (GWS), Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar.�
> ( the Galos, still listed as Gallongs as per the Constitution of India, are
> one of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh - we are also working on the
> correction of our tribe's nomenclature.)
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-- 
Rajen.