NE: ‘Mini India’ yet unsafe, says Achumi

L.K. Achumi, district and session judge, Dimapur, Thursday, said that Northeast is ‘Mini India’ in terms of diversity and a garden of ‘Eden’ in terms of its natural beauty, yet he lamented that to rest of India and the World, northeastern is a place where ‘lives’ were generally ‘expensive and unsafe.’
Speaking as chief guest at a seminar on ‘Indigenous Rights’ organized and sponsored by World Mountain People Association (WMPA) and Indigenous Cultural Society (Centre), here at Jakhalu building, City Tower Junction, Dimapur, Achumi said that the region has been witnessing political movements of different kinds including seeking a Home within Home to that of building a separate Home away from Home generally dissatisfied with the common Indian identity for which he added that the search for exclusive mono culture ethnic identities have yet to develop into a search for common identity of the region.
While referring North East India to as seven sisters, the chief guest said that the ‘mini states’ of the region were yet to be discovered in regard to the ancestors who had begotten them and are ‘still’ not sure as to who their brothers and sisters were.
He lamented that the political unrest which had effected the atmosphere of the region were so far characterized with confusion and uncertainty.
Achumi further highlighted the factors which had contributed to the political unrest in North East India, by terming it due to the non-committal rule of the British Colonialists, Politics of survival, economic backwardness, communication problem, inter state or community problems and the role of the local elite, whether India is safe for minorities, “Sons of the Soil” and “Immigrants”, economic development, mass media coverage, emotional psychological aspects, development according to their own genius and internal colonization.
The chief guest also suggested that in order to achieve long lasting success, attempts to solve the problem of political unrest in Northeast India would have to take various consideration including policy of accommodative integration, spirit of interdependent existence, sustainable economic development, upholding the existing constitution or legal safeguards, respect for minority rights, freedom of religion and Indian Christian ecumenism.
He also felt that political problem needed to be solved ‘politically’ and the solution was possible only when all the factors which were responsible for the problems were identified and handled with patience.
“Politics is an art of possibilities in the midst of impossible aspirations. There has to be a principle of give and take, one needs to learn to look at things from the point of view of other’s and there should be openness to bargain, adjustment and compromises”, he asserted.
He further urged the political forces in the Northeast and the central leaders to come to a table to seriously negotiate for lasting peace and harmony in the region while also calling upon the Church and social organizations to come out to condemn ‘what is evil in the sight of God,’ thereby emphasizing the universal brotherhood/sisterhood of all mankind to lead the people in the path of righteousness, peace and justice.
Dr. V.C. Kanito Chishi, former MLA and advisor to chief minister and K. Ella, director, Prodigal’s Home, Dimapur, also spoke in the seminar.