Getting obsessive about Arunachal…
Some of you may think I am getting obsessed with Aruncahal Pradesh, China or the North-East…but this issue deserves far more attention that it ever gets…
As I said in one of my previous posts, we seem to be sleepwalking our way into a disaster…
I am seriously tempted to start a “Save Arunachal” movement…(and I am not saying this light-heartedly).
Excerpts from a Rediff interview with Arunachal MP Kiren Rijiju, “”It is time to wake up to Chinese incursions”, March 04, 2008 (emphasis mine, as always):
“… Q: Chinese intrusions have been denied by the army and the government, but you have repeatedly brought the matter to public notice. Could you tell us what is really happening?
A: In my constituency in Arunachal (West), there are many points where Chinese intrusions are happening. And it happens throughout the year….The Chinese (intrusions) are happening in a slow, creeping manner. Inch by inch, the Chinese station their army personnel and bring equipment.
Q: Is it the army or grazers?
A: Grazers are basically a camouflage because the terrain is very difficult. I am speaking of areas from eastern Arunachal (Walong) to the western part (Tawang)….When incidents happen in more remote places, it does not come to the notice of the general public. The army keeps it secret. They won’t let the people know what actually happened.
In one place in Tawang district, some villagers were in possession of rice and grain supplied by the Chinese authorities. When these Monpa tribals were asked (why) they took Chinese help, they answered: “Well, we have not been supplied with essential commodities from the Indian side. To survive we had no other choice but to accept what the Chinese offered.”
But the real issue is that India after 1962 adopted a secret policy not to develop the border areas. The idea behind it is that if we develop the border areas, the Chinese can easily use these facilities in the event of a war. It is a wrong policy. It means that we are in a defensive mode…Our demand has been that we should connect all the border areas right to the McMahon Line by a road network.
Q: Do you think that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s�visit to Arunachal, though he did not visit Tawang, opened the eyes of the government?
A: The government is now realising the hard realities, but it is still committing the same mistake. Why did the PM avoid Tawang? By not going, he has given some leverage to the Chinese who can say ‘he has not gone to Tawang, because it is a disputed territory’. It is an acknowledgement that it is disputed…The PM’s decision gives justification to Chinese claims and encourages them.
…Do not forget that Arunachal is (potentially) the richest state in India. About 30 percent of the power will come from Arunachal alone. Arunachal has petroleum; gas, minerals, and the largest forested area in India. Arunachal has great water resources. …
Q: Is there some understanding in the government?
A: I am telling them: “Don’t fear China, just do your job. Help the people of border areas with roads, schools, hospitals, telecom facilities.” This is the solution. We do not want a war with China.
Arunachal should not be the bone of contention between India and China, it should be the bridge. We have five traditional border posts with China (Tibet), it should be reopened. There should be more people to people contact.
…India does not understand what China is.
Q: Is this changing?
A: It is changing in rhetoric only, not substantially.
…In India, all parties except the Communists are in favour of a strategic partnership with the US to contain China….on the other hand, we are not brave enough to tell China what are our sovereign rights. On one side we are appeasing China, on the other side we want to contain them. Our policy is without any clear direction.
…If we don’t know about our adversary, we can’t face it. You have to know their strength, their weakness, their plans, if we don’t know this, how can we deal with them?
…Ask any Union minister or Member of Parliament, where is Tsona (the Chinese town/district headquarters north of Tawang), nobody knows.
We should realise that if we lose Arunachal, we can forget about Kashmir. Look at the map of Jammu and Kashmir. Half is not in our possession (Aksai Chin, Azad Kashmir, etc). Within the other half, half is Ladakh and one third Jammu. What is left is an 80 km valley between Anantnag and Baramulla. But this small territory (12 percent of the state), but it takes all the energies of the politicians and our resources. For, 60 years our minds have been devoted to this small area.
At the same time, it is very unfortunate that a state of 84,000 sq km with the potential to provide 30 percent of the nation’s energy is today ignored. It is unfortunate and it frustrates our youth.
Don’t forget that Kashmir is claimed by a small country which does not economically or militarily match India, while Arunachal is claimed by a nation far superior to India.
It is time to wake up. Once you lose Arunachal, you can forget Kashmir. If Arunachal goes, the damage will be irreparable.
…Unless we know what China is, India is not safe.
In India today, politicians and journalists seem confused. They don’t understand the background of the border issue.
…The British left us with some roads and a railway network. We have not able to expand it after Independence. Take the railway line in Assam, it was there in the British times, nothing new has been built for 60 years. Same thing in Darjeeling, Simla or Ooty!
Q: I was told that if you make an ISD call from Tawang, the person who receives the call abroad sees the code of China on his phone. Can you confirm this?
A: It happens not only in Tawang, but also on the Bangladesh border, in Meghalaya. There you use the Bangladesh network, since BSNL is not there. The problem is that there are too many restrictions in India. It is what I call negative policies not to develop border areas. So there are no roads, no mobile phones, no televisions, no infrastructure. This is the mindset of our country.
Q: On the Chinese side of the border you have this airport which will receive 5,000 tourists a day to visit the gorges of the Brahmaputra and on the Indian side you have a drastic ‘Inner Line Permit system’. What are your comments?
A: We have too many restrictions, it is unnecessary. We should open up. It shows a lack of confidence.
Q: Do you think that the young generation of parliamentarians or bureaucrats can change this mindset?
A: As a Member of Parliament, I have done enough, I have tried everything, but the response is not enough. …Now people know about Arunachal, but what the government does is another thing. They are too busy with political problems, which are not national problems. It is eating the mind of the leaders and the real issues remain unsolved, unattended.”
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Also read: Time to worry after�all?�and if you want to do a deep dive, here are several�other posts on this topic…�
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I will be one of to join in “Save Arunacahal” . I feel the same way.
Shantanuji, I am wholeheartedly/actively with you on this. Kindly let us know how to proceed. I have been forwarded this rather disconcerting interview. Thanks for highlighting this, can we forward it to Rijiju to start with?
Indian and Anirban: Thanks for your comments.
I have no objection to forwarding this post (and other related posts) to Hon. Kiren Rijiju (and indeed anyone else).
In the meantime, let me think about how we can highlight this issue and bring it on to a broader platform than just this blog.
1. NE India is simply a colony of India? A colony to expoit its rich natural resources to feed Delhi. When people revolts against exploitations, send armys to crush them. This is what Govt of India did during last 60 years, and same policy is continuing. Most Govornors in NE states are retired Military personals, Generals.
2. When problem occurs, which is detrimental to Delhi, then only people in other parts remembers it. They remember simply because, they are going to loose huge natural resources, oil, natural gas, water, tea, forest etc resources. NE is needed only to feed Delhi.
3. I bet, those who talk about Arunachal Pradesh (AP) and China’s design, most don’t know where AP located and how it looks like. Is it a tomato or a potato or an apple; how it tastes sweet or bitter; is it part of India or part of Arunachal nation or China nation or Myanmer.
4. People of NE detaste outside people, simply because they come to NE only to loot and use. Go to AP and NE in general, and see what is the level of infrastructure development. Very very poor. Building underground metros (sub-ways), flyovers in big cities around the country has nothing to do with development in NE.
5. Create awarness of NE to the people of mainland India, which is important. People should visit NE, even it is hard. But alas, they would prefer Singapore or Switzerland. In NE, tigers are on streets even in day times, its full of jungles and snakes, thats what people in mainland thinks. If you wish to do something, try create a “NE Awareness Campaign”.
6. AP is part of India and would remian so. China is playing its own games, Delhi must learn how to play games and deter others to play games on our territories.
Here few sites to learn little about AP.
Map of Arunachal Pradesh
http://arunachalgovernor.nic.in/images/apmap.jpg
http://arunachalpradesh.gov.in/index.htm
http://arunachalgovernor.nic.in/
Bharat
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Dear Sir,
Mr. Bharat has hit the nail on the head. It is because we do not know the travails of the residents of the seven sisters that there has been a vacum created.
I spent my holidays twice in that region and let me tell you, the people are beautiful both inside and outside.
They are very simple and treat you like they treat anybody else.
The places are so beautiful and the sights are breathtaking.
It is neccessary that many of us who go on holidays should make it a point to see that part of “BHARAT” and one will understand how much we have in common throughout this unique nation.
One should see the “Light and Sound’ show at the Assam fort to understand the sheer intensity and greatness of the people of Assam.
Please make it a point ot see at least a part of the seven sisters and one will wonder why this nation has not achieved its position in the world.
Regards,
vck
Well said! Bharat. I was concerned about all this points all these years. My sister had a friend from Manipur. She said the same thing that for potable water they have to go down the hill and bring it. She wanted to visit their place and they said, dont get disheartened by the way we live our life and our daily routine. And they described all these lack of facilities. So it must be true for Arunachal pradesh too. And for that reason we see prosylitisation in India on larger scale. Because many have been rejected.
They are part of India we cannot ignore or reject them. One must do something to push govt. to do something about it? It is congress who ruled all this year and did nothing just looting. Shame on them!
Jai Hind!
http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/26005909/Climate-change-India-may-see.html
There is already unchecked immigration in the north east and it is only predicted to increase with global warming.
Bharat, vck, Indian, Prakash: Thanks for contributing to the debate.
I will add some more thoughts over the weekend.
Many of you will find this article interesting:
Indian Prime Minister Buckles Under China’s Sensitivities on Tawang by Dr. Subhash Kapila
Read this article about another trouble region of NE. And specifically read its most valuable comments by people of Manipur and NE.
A guided tour of ‘outer’ India
by Maloy Krishna Dhar
http://sify.com/news/columns/fullstory.php?id=14630523
Bharat: Thanks for the excellent link…
The conclusion really touched a chord in me:
Manipur is one of the three states that I have not visited so far…So I am as guilty as anyone else..
But someday I hope I can redeem myself…In the meantime, it is vital to make everyone aware of what is going on… Thanks again for alerting us to this excellent article.
Another informative and interesting article on marginal areas of India.
North East of what?
Maloy Krishna Dhar
http://sify.com/news/columns/fullstory.php?id=14639146
…North East of what? Is it North East of geophysical India, of the Indian mindset, or is it something outside India?
…In this historic village was born a Hindu Naga lady, Rani Gaidinlieu to her Rongmei (a tribe) parents. She had revolted against proselytizing activities and territorial incursion of the British at the age of 13, was imprisoned in 1932 and finally freed in 1947.
She was honoured with a Padma Award in 1993, after plenty of haggling with the “inner India” masters in Delhi. Her tribe is now mostly converted to Christianity, though a few hundred Rongmei and Zelaing Nagas still stick to Hindu practices.
Most Hindu organisations were discouraged by Delhi and Kohima from venturing into the area. The minorities had the rights to be converted to Christianity, but had no access to mainland Hindu organisations to preserve their original religion and culture.
…The North East of India is not only in the northeast of India’s geophysical and geopolitical map. It is, in fact, in the remotest corner of East by North East of our national consciousness. Most us take it for granted that it exists, because the printed map says so.
In reality, it does not exist in our map of mind.
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A brief about Nagaland
http://nagaland.nic.in/
Liitle about Nagaland religion:
Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland. The census of 2001 recorded the state’s Christian population at 1,790,349 (90.02% of the state’s population), making it one of the three Christian-majority states in India, and the only state where Christians form 90% of the population. The state has a very high church attendance rate in both urban and rural areas. The largest of Asia’s churches dominate the skylines of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung. Among Christians, Baptists are the predominant group constituting more than 75% of the state’s population.
Nagaland is known as “The most populated Baptist state in the world”. The state’s population is 1.988 million, out of which 90.02% are Christians
How to recover and liberate our fellow brothers and sisters?
I feel, only a ISKCON (Krishna Consciousness Movement) type organization can carry out this task. For this, govts (at centre) and hindu organzations have to provide supports. Western ISKCON followers and Asom/Manipur Vaisnavaite movements, supported by Hindu organizations of India can do wonderful job. ISKCON has spread to far off places in Russia, South America, Africa where there was no original Hindu population.
ISKCON worldwide
http://www.iskcon.com/worldwide/centres/index.html
Bharat
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The Governor of Arunachal comes to Delhi to plead for progress:
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/293400.html
Very interesting read.
This would be a test of pro-China Congress-Left run Govt of India and their loyalty to Indian nation.
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Arunachal CM invites Dalai Lama to Tawang
April 11, 2008 00:34 IST
In what could raise the hackles of China, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama [Images] has been invited to inaugurate a hospital at Tawang.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who is a Buddhist hailing from Tawang, told PTI that construction of the Rs 3.45-crore hospital is complete and the Dalai was invited to inaugurate the hospital. He said that the Dalai Lama had been invited before the Tibet agitation started.
However, the chief minister said that he was afraid the External Affairs Ministry may not give permission to the Dalai Lama to visit Tawang.
The ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party differ on whether the Dalai Lama should be allowed to travel to Arunachal Pradesh, after the unrest in Tibet [Images].
BJP Lok Sabha member from Arunachal (West) Kiren Rijiju, also a Buddhist, said the Dalai Lama is basically a spiritual leader and the Indian government should not impose any ban on his entry in Tawang for inaugurating a hospital.
The importance of the Dalai Lama’s possible visit to Tawang could be assessed from the fact that the spiritual leader, after the failed uprising against the Chinese, had taken the Tawang route to flee to India in 1959.
Secondly, in the 1962 war, the Chinese army had captured Tawang and came up to Bomdila. The Red Army later withdrew.
However, Rijiju, who is the coordinator of the All Party Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, agrees with the chief minister’s stand that Buddhist communities should not be allowed to come out on the streets of Tawang or any other part of the border state, in support of Tibetans.
Arunachal Pradesh is passing through a difficult period and none should be allowed to aggravate the situation, he said.
Khandu said that he has advised the local people to pray for the Tibetans inside the 400-year old monastery, the second largest in Asia after Lhasa, housing 500 monks.
The BJP MP said that people in other parts of the country should, however, openly agitate in support of the Tibetans as India was directly affected by the influx of Tibetans. He is planning to lead the protests by Tibetans when the Olympic torch arrives in New Delhi on April 17.
China has been claiming Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang, the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, as its territory but India rejected the claim and asserted that the state was an integral part of its territory.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/11tibetrow.htm?zcc=rl
Arunachal ‘risky’ for pro-Tibetan rallies
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/15tibetrow2.htm
Excerpts from: “Beijing reloads Arunachal gun”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081112/jsp/nation/story_10099012.jsp
New Delhi, Nov. 11: Beijing today rejected Delhi’s position that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India, saying China had never recognised the “illegal†McMahon Line that functions as the eastern border between the two countries.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Qin Gang accused Delhi of ignoring “historical facts†as he “deeply regretted†external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s comment on Sunday that Arunachal was an integral part of India and that China was “aware†of it.
“China and India have never officially settled demarcation of borders,†PTI quoted Qin as saying at a regular bi-weekly news briefing in Beijing. “The current Chinese government, as well as previous ones, has never recognised the illegal McMahon Line…. India knows this.â€
Rediscovering Tawang
Speaking at the eighth Buddha Mahotsava celebration in Tawang last Sunday, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee sought to allay the fears of India being soft on Chinese claims over Arunachal Pradesh, especially Tawang that is the birth place of the sixth Dalai Lama. Mr Mukherjee asserted that ‘‘the question of parting company of Arunachal or any of its part does not arise’’ and that the State ‘‘has a special place in our heart’’.
Amidst loud applause from thousands of people who had gathered on the occasion, he said one of the parameters that India has been insisting on sorting out the boundary issue with China is that no settled population can be exchanged. The minister also emphasized that the story of the Buddha’s life and teachings exuded a high ethical and humanitarian ideal, and praised the people of Tawang for their intrinsic Buddhist ideology and hospitable nature. Mr Mukherjee said this is a lesson that nothing can be achieved through violence.
Terming terrorism as the ‘‘biggest threat’’ to peace in the post-Cold War era, he advocated the teachings of the Buddha to jettison violence of all sorts.
On the other hand, the people and public leaders of Tawang submitted a memorandum to the External Affairs Minister suggesting the Centre to develop a road through Bhutan to Tawang which would not only shorten the distance between Guwahati and Tawang, but also help both the countries in establishing business. ‘‘Establishment of road connectivity via Bhutan is one of the long-felt demands of the people of this area which will help not only to develop trade and commerce, tourism and cultural exchange between the two sides, but would also help facilitate an alternative road,’’ the memorandum said, pointing to the difficulties faced by the people of Tawang, tourists as well as traders while communicating from Asom via Sela Pass, a road that is frequently disrupted due to heavy snowfall during winter and landslide during summer.
The memorandum also requested the Centre for early sanction of the proposed Advanced Landing Ground, apart from construction of tunnels at Sela, Bomdila and Neciphu to shorten the distance between Bhalukpong and Tawang.
The Centre should wake up and act fast. What can be a greater tourism tragedy than the fact that despite Tawang being one of the most scenic spots in the country with vast potential for tourism, it did not have any ATM facility until last Monday when the State Bank of India (SBI) opened its first — and the town’s first — ATM counter? Should not have this been done long ago?
Arunachal Pradesh Governor General (retd) JJ Singh has urged the people of Tawang to establish small tourist lodges to facilitate accommodation for travellers, and asked the SBI to assist them in their venture — given that ‘‘the people of Tawang are hard-working and there should not be any doubt of non-repayment of loans’’.
While it remains to be seen how the SBI would embark upon that course, what is more important is how the Centre would come to the aid of the Arunachal Pradesh government in developing an excellent tourism infrastructure in the picturesque township — at par with other hill stations in the country. And it is China’s marvellous infrastructure build-up on its side of the border that ought to inform the rediscovery of Tawang and its development as it truly deserves.
The Sentinel, Guwahati, 12 Nov 2008
http://www.sentinelassam.com/