Communal, Secessionists and Separatists

There are 19 sons of soil/tribes in Tripura ( erstwhile Tipperah ). They were majority before. They are microscopic minority today for historic reasons. What were those historic reasons? First; the partition of India in 1947: Lakhs of refugees sheltered in Tripura from the place of East Pakistan (erstwhile East Bengal ) during the period from 1947; Secondly; the birth of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) - an independent sovereign country: it had also resulted influx of refugees in to Tripura in 1971. Arguably; there was no records maintained although an uninterrupted influx continued every day. If any authority of the Government of Tripura when be asked on influx from Bangladesh; the reply would be negative. Owing to such unrecorded influx, the population in the State is increasing rapidly and reducing the population of sons of soil in to 23%(actual) and covered up recorded was 29.5% in 1991 Census. When the Jarwa & Boa of Andaman are on extinct with less than 500 population; the sons of soil in Tripura/Tipperah is also following the identical line of extinction slowly and gradually; as within the 68 years of merger with India on 15-10-19949; its population got reduced so much so that it would not take much time more for extinction from the face of the world.

The plight is that when the sons of soil in Tripura make any demand for them within the framework of the Constitution of India; they are branded as communal,Secesionists and Separatists. If they were communal; the refugees who fled due to communal riots in East Pakistan following the partition and came to Tripura for their lives and on humanitarian ground, their rehabilitation in the State was demanded by the members of the sons of the soil. Where is the scope to indicate that the sons of the soil were communal. Now, on the question of Secessionists and Separatists; who should be treated Secessionists and Separatists? Those who organizes a movement with an objective to secede from Indian territory and form an independent country can be treated to secessionists and Separatists. The people of Tripura in TTAADC areas are not demanding such rights. Their demand is elevation of TTAADC to a full-fledged State under the Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution of India. It is very much a constitutional rights for the sons of soil to counter themselves from extinction like the Jarwa and Boa communities of Andaman. This is a demand is appropriate for them for saving from extinction. It is disgraceful for the sons of the soil in TTAADC of Tripura (India) that they are being branded as communal and separatists for a demand which is verily within the parameters of the Constitution of India. In spite of the fact that the demand is legitimate and constitutional, the ruling Communist Party of India(Marxist) CPIM- a political party in the State is branding the members of Tipraland State Party demanding for a full fledged State and others to be communal, secessionists and separatists with an intention to derogate them and extinct them.  The tribal branch organizations of CPIM like Gana Mukti Parishad, Tribal Youth Federation and Tribal Students Federation and their leaders like Mr. Bajuban Ryan, Mr. Jitendra Choudhury, Mr. Niranjan Debbarma, Mr. Narayan Rupini, Mr. Aghore Debbarma, Mr. Ranjit Debbarma, Mr. Radhacharan Debbarma, Mr. Pranab Debbarma and Mr. Ranjan Debbarma have joined the same chorus that is sung by their political bureaus of the CPI(M). However,  sensing the danger of extinct, the people have launched a democratic peaceful movement for achieving the demand. Let us hope that the Government of India takes heed of it.  

  

Singlung Visted

A rustic market Singlung;
At Twidu of Ompi in Tipperah;
Draws hundreds of villagers;
Their needs buying and selling.

Folks live are Tipperahs;
Of clan Jamatia, Koloi and Molsom;
A social texture with harmony;
Living in hamlets of integrations.

Date: 17/02/2016.

Campaign

Campaign for Tipraland al Sabual;
It was 13th day of February, 2016.
Met many who lend their hands;
Stunt at their commitments.
Held another meeting at Sonapur;
In the evening before supper.
Herd me many patiently;
Host explanation was on points severally.
A meeting on 14th Day of February, 2016;
With hundreds of people therein;
At the courtyard of Kripa's inn.
Kripa the Ex-CEM of TTAADC;
Who was a parch for many.
The last meet of the day was;
A place of eighty residents;
Known as Joymangol;
With many thronging for rights;
Rights! Rights! for survival fights   

The Demand and the Constitution of India

The Chief Minister of Tripura Mr. Manik Sarkar held public meeting on 11^th February,2016 at Damcherra (near Tribal Rest house) in view of the ensuing General Election to the TTAADC Village Committees-2016. The speech of Mr. Sarkar was  reported in the local daily “Pratibadi Kalam” on 12^th February, 2016. The meeting was amongst others attended by Shri Rajendra Reang, Executive Member and Member of Tripura Legislative Assembly; Shri Rajendra Reang, Member of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and veteran local communist leader Mr. Gandhasingh Rupini. The Chief Minister appealed the people of the area to prevent the youths from  falling in to Tipraland Trap. Mr. Sarkar alleged that the Congress, Tripura Upajati Juba Samity(TUJS) which is presently Indigenous National Party of Tripura(INPT), Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura(IPFT) and Tipraland State Party(TSP) were corrupt and looted the public fund when in power. It is noteworthy that Tipraland State Party(TSP) has been formed in October, 2015 was never in any way form any sort of Government or local self Government till date.  This political party has been formed with sole objective of a demand on elevation of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council(TTAADC) in to a full fledged “Tipraland” State under Article 2 & 3 of the Constitution of India due one reason that the Tipperahs including other 18 tribes have been reduced to microscopic minority and facing extinction for the reasons that  about 824000 refugees sheltered in Tripura ( erstwhile name Tipperah ) since India attained independence on 15^th August, 1947 and till 1971. It is to be noted that Tripura merged with India on 15^th October, 1949. The intrusion from erstwhile East Pakistan which is presently Bangladesh continues uninterrupted day till date. If these trends of intrusion continue, one could be rest assured the sons of the soil will certainly extinct from the face of this planet earth.

Mr. Sarkar, the Chief Minister of Tripura further said, “ 184 Kings of Tripura who belongs to the same race did do anything for the development of his people or subjects”. The most important fact is even if one concludes for a logic that the kings did nothing for his subjects ( although many things were done ) but they left a territory for his subjects to live on even though the kingship was no more. A demarcated territory is a mandatory component for any particular race that they should claim for their identity which the 184 kings had given to his subjects. The refugees who  had been sheltered following the partition of India and until birth of Bangladesh; is in Tripura(Tipperah). Yet Mr. Manik Sarkar could make a such proposition that 184 kings of Tripura did nothing for his subjects. The kings of Tripura handed down a territory for his subjects which had also sheltered wretched refugees of East Bengal which became East Pakistan after partition of India and sheltered even who turn to be refugees as the birth of Bangladesh took place. The soil on which Mr. Manik Sarkar is stepping on is of 184 kings of Tripura. Let us imagine for a moment that there was no sovereign country called Tipperah or Tripura in the past and no kings ruled over it. As a principle of partition of India in 1947, Would it be with Pakistan or India? Remember that this is an imagination. The people of Chittagong Hill Tracts wanted to be with India but Redcliff Commission had made it with Pakistan in spite of the fact that 97% of the population of it was non-Muslims  at the time of Partition of India. Therefore, imagination of not having ruled over Tripura or non-existence of Tripura did not ensure Tripura would be with India. If Tripura would have been part of Pakistan, it would have been part of Bangladesh today. These wretched refugees would not have found a place like Tripura for a shelter. The people of Tripura who were sons of soil had also demanded their rehabilitation on humanitarian ground. The demand for Tipraland State has been termed by the Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar as Tipraland Trap. Why should it be called a trap? Is not the demand in conformity with the Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution of India? It is Constitutional without any iota of doubt. Then why is it called a trap? Are we not citizen of India to demand Tipraland under the Constitution? This tentamounts that  members of   Communist Party of India ( Marxist ) do not have faith in the Constitution. They intend to usher gradually the sons of soil of Tripura in to extinction. The extinction of the race Tipperah including other 18 tribes be ascertained first and then development activities can take place for them even later. When extinction is endangering them the development activities can hardly take place. It is to be noted that development activities can not prevent extinction. The example of Andaman where development activities have taken place but the sons of soil like Jarwa and Bo are extict for which neither CPI(M), INC or BJP nor any other regional parties have any political agenda so that they will not extinct. No political party or organization will do it. It is  for a few committed members of the extinct races/tribes who should come forward for their own rescue. The political parties come for their political gains but not for prevention of extinction of a race for extinction is not in their political agenda. 

Communist Party of India (Marxist) is against the Demand for Tipraland for race and tribes who are struggling for their existence and the demand is within the parameter of the Constitution of India. The Chief Minister of Tripura made a statement in the floor of the Tripura Legislative Assembly on 8^th January, 2016, “ Tipraland is not unconstitutional”. It is constitutional because the provision under Article 2 & 3; is already there. Tipraland is not unconstitutional just because Mr. Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister, stated in the floor of Tripura Legislative Assembly. The provision is within the framework of the Constitution of India. It sounds as if the Chief Minister stated, it is there in the constitution. It is there in the Constitution of India right from the Constitution of India that was adopted and dedicated to the nation on 26^th January, 1950. The Communist Party of India  (Marxist) including the Chief Minister, Tripura have been campaigning against Tipraland Demand since 2009 from the year in which it was began. Their campaign is – the demand is of “separatists”; “communals” and against “social integration and communal harmony”. Who are separatists? Those who demand to secede a territory from Indian Union  are secessionists. The demand for elevation of TTAADC to Tipraland under Article 2 and 3 within the framework of Indian Constitution  can not be defined as separation from Indian Union as it is not establishing a sovereign country. It has to be passed by the both houses of the Indian Parliament. The Parliament is the authority to grant statehood not the Tripura Legislative Assembly. The land in Tripura is the land of the Government of India; the power and legislative authority as conferred by the Constitution of India. Why are people who demand it termed to be communal? As many as 31 States are there in India. They had been granted statehood according to the same provision of the Constitution. In all other cases, the communality cards are not played. The demand for statehood is the Tipperahs and other tribes are facing extinction. This is on question of extinction. The people of the said  communities are raising their voices but to suppressed them a conspiracy is hatched and communal cards are being surfaced by carefully to distance them from their legitimate demand on Tipraland State. The Government of India has a responsibility to protect the dying(extinct) communities as Tripura merged with India for all aspects protection from extinction. Tripura State did not merge on 15^th October, 1949 by signing agreements which would lead them to extinct. The sons of soil were un-communal as they had demanded the rehabilitation of refugees whey were wandering for a shelter. Communality has no place in Tipperah societies. Like any other races and tribes in India ; there should be space for empowering them with self-governance under the Article 2 and 3 of the constitution of India. Terming and branding them as “Separatists”; “Communals” is a conspiracy in preventing their democratic rights and fundamental rights under the Constitution. It leads to the connotation that they have been reduced to second class citizen of India which the Tipperahs and other tribes do not consider that such thing is not taking place in India and they have full faith in the Constitution.   Every cloud has a silver lining.

A Destination

A child unable turn when just born;
Gathers strength every day and able to turn;
Slowly and gradually crawls;
Crawling to strolling;
All for towards from dependency to being self;
To be in the world;
A being developed ward.
  
 

A grassroot democracy

What is grass root democracy is a stage in which lowest stratum of election is held and elected by the people of the local limits. This has been facilitated by the 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India. The lowest stratum of elected body in India Gaon Panchayet. There is no exception in Tripura State of India. Democratic process is good but can flourish where people are educated and exercise to take right decision without being influenced by speeches of the political parties in the best interest of the people of the local limits concerned. A country with its educated citizens can implement democracy. In India, there are literate citizens. The term "literate" means a person who can read, write and count. The irony is that during every election whether Parliamentary, Assembly and the so called lowest stratum elections, there will be occurrence political party clashes among more than one parties. There have been no elections in India without such clashes, even sometimes it led to occurrence of deaths for such political clashes. A country should be called democratic country when holding of general election of any level is conducted in a peaceful manner in all aspects and respects.

Perhaps - A cry in the wilderness

The Tripuris of Tripura who were better known as the Tipperas ( Tripuri, Reang, Jamatia, Noatia and Halam ) of Tipperah ( presently Tripura ) during the rule of their own 184 kings merged with India on October 15, 1949. Prior to merger with India the Tipperahs were majority. Tipperah was independent even during the British India. Due to the riots in East Bengal 15,000 Bengalis took refuge  and due to Raipur riot 4600 Bengalis refugees sheltered in 1946 in Tipperah. Million of Bengali refugees began to flood in to Tipperah since 1947 and until 1971. The official record was less than actual figures of refugees who were really sheltered. Although the cut off date was 25th March, 1971. Lakhs of Bengali people intruded in to Tipperah. These refugees plus intrusions have made the Tipperahs reduced in to 23% actual (but the concocted record was 29%)  in 1991 to appease the Tipperahs. The Administration ( Central Government of India ) has granted them(refugees) citizenships. By virtue of their being citizens of India, the educated refugees turned bureaucrats and politicians have taken control over the State Administration. As a result, all decisions in respect of rights of Tipperahs on land in spite of being sons of soil remain not executed. The fact that land as to whether recorded or not in the name of individual occupied; traditionally it should belong to the person concerned or to the community. But it was un-recognized for the interest of refugees. So land was allotted to the refugees. The sons of soil became landless. Within 68 years of Tipperahs' merger with India, the Tipperahs are microscopic minority.

 

Another scenario that can be seen in Andaman, the sons of soil (bo and Jarwa) are on the verse of extinct. The last Jarwa language speaker was lady; died in 2013. The total population of Jarwas today is about 500. The original communities are extinct. No regional or National Political Parties like Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP); Indian National Congress(INC) and Communist Party of India (Maxist) CPI(M) or any other political parties in India are not talking about them. Therefore, they have gradually come to an end. To me; this is also a kind of imperialism in a new form in the world. Now, in this situation - a proposition can be derived that a developed communities will engulf another un-developed and backward communities and the developed communities will do that without any hindrance.

 

In case of Tipperah, the sons of soil(Tipperahs) when they resort to movements for their rights are termed to be separatists and communal. The refugees who have come to Tipperah and reduced Tipperahs in to minority are above all these terms. Demanding for what is within the framework of the Constitution of India by them is termed to separatists and communal. If they are separatists and communal, the settlement of refugees in Tipperah would have been vehemently opposed. They valued humanity. If this is rewards of their valuing humanity, perhaps; the worst is imminent for them. What is that worst? It is extinction that is imminent like that of Bo and Jarwa in Andaman. The fact remains that even if they do not fight or struggle for their rights: they will extinct. It is a matter of time; may be another 68 years as in the last 68, their population have been reduced to 23%.

 

The present Sixth Schedule Area, that is Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council(TTAADC) is the result of the vigor movement launched by Tripura Upajati Juva Samity (TUJS) - a regional Party in 1967. In the words of CPI(M), they were communal and separatist. Is communality and separatism to demand  for the protection of their own communities interest within the framework of the Constitution of India? Achieving TTAADC took 18 years. It was passed by Indian Parliament in 1984 by an amendment(49th) of it. The CPI(M) never supported the demand and supported the same when they(Gana Mukti Parishad) found that their party members are eroding from their shade. The CPI(M) opposed means the Gana Mukti Parishad will echo the same. The members of Gana Mukti Parishad(GMP) are sons of soil in Tipperah but it is the parrot of the CPI(M). The GMP have no role in spearheading demands for Tipperahs unless told by their CPI(M) Bengali leaders who are heads of the Party in Tipperah. The CPI(M) when in opposition 1992 submitted in an all party meeting that the population of tribes in Tipperah was 23% in 1991. Therefore, Inner-line Permit should be introduced in TTAADC and all intruders in to Sate from Bangladesh should be gathered in a camp and deport them to protect the population of tribes in TTAADC. The CPI(M) came back to power and formed government in 1993. Introduction of Inner-line Permit in TTAADC was one of the issues in their election manifesto. The same was one of  issues in the election manifesto of CPI(M) in 1998. It is 22 years by now, the CPI(M) ruling government Tipperah(Tripura) never bothered to move the Government of India for introduction of Inner-line Permit in TTAADC. This is how CPI(M) is sympathetic towards them. During their rule, the following issues remain unsolved:-

1. Land alienation and land restoration.
2. Acquisition of tribes land in the name of public interest tent-amounting to making landless in a
    strategic manner.
3. Allotment of land to non-tribes in TTAADC for reducing them in to minority in TTAADC also
    like in whole State. It is a deep rooted conspiracy against them
4. Introduction of Inner-line Permit in TTAADC.
5. Sarkar Language on Kokborok script.
6. 17500 backlog vacant post for them not filled up but kept them in abeyance and same quantum of  
     posts created and filled up.

The above reasons are enough to liquidate gradually the sons of soil/tribes from Tipperah(Tripura) in the process that has happened in Andaman.

The tribes/sons of soil or Tipperahs under the leadership of Mr. C . R Debbarma as President, Mr. Sonacharan Debbarma as Vice President and Mr. Gurupada Debbarma as General Secretary have formed a political party, "Tipraland State Party" to struggle and move for Statehood, "Tiprland" by elevating TTAADC. This is within the framework of Indian Constitution(Art.2&3). The demand statehood is not for deprivation of development for them alone. It is for existence. If the Tipperahs do not exist on earth, development will be meaningless. First, issue on existence has to be solved. If the community exists and the land for them is intact, the development can still take place in an appropriate time.

 

Post Event

When an event is scheduled - there are stages at what time the preparatory measures are to be completed in a defined manner. The most important thing is a check list is to be prepared so as to every step of it should not be left out. There should review of event to be taken place whether it is going to the right direction as has been decided. Is there any change to be brought in? or there in no time for such changes at hand. Finally, the event takes place. The post event evaluation in respect of benefits derived out of the event - in the long run and short  term to be followed up and for whom it is to be done should be clearly indicated.  

The Democracy and its Image

The connotation of the term "Democracy" is not required to be explained. The power and authority of the people is exercised through a set of people to execute the mandate that they have authorized them. This is not happening in many of the countries in the world. Beast is coming out to hold the power and authority of the people is exercised  not for the interest of the people but for the set of people's representatives to hold for themselves. Therefore, violence is resorted during election in the name of democracy to prove that they are pro-people whereas others are not.

Does the International Communities notice extinction of small communities

There are different races in various countries in the world. They have been in existence from the time that the mankind existed. With the passage of time, in search of their necessity in all aspects; they had moved from one place to the other. The growth and develop have taken place all over the world at different degrees. Some of the emerged as developed nations and some are developing nations. Within these developed and developing nations: there are  communities who are known as tribes; constituting a very small groups; they are marginalized today. They are sandwiched between developed & developing. Perhaps, they are found in all the countries in the world. Necessarily, they may not call tribes. Like the tribes of Andaman engulfed by the developed communities and their existence is threated. The gravity of their existence threat is much less described. Perhaps, after a few years the history of their extinction will be read in the human history. Likewise, the Tippersa ( presently known as Tripuri) of  Tripura(India) are also encountering the same. This has happened in Tripura because of refugees coming to this State from erstwhile East Bengal which became Pakistan which was known as East Pakistan. The period during which refugees sheltered was 1947 to 1971 and it resulted the refugees became majority by 69% and while the sons of soil who were once majority reduced to 31% as recorded but its actual percentage would be presently about 23%. Tripura merged with India on 15th October, 1949. Within 68 years of merger, the Tipperas and 18 tribes are now 23% and how many more years would be required for them to completely extinct?

 

This is age of neo imperialism. No powerful nation(s) does not require(s) to subdue over another country physically. It has many forms now. (1) Migrate to gradually and legalize it - capture its administration and rule over the people by the migrants; (2) Capture the economy of a State - the State can be ruled by the capturing State for the captured State is bound to be dependent on capturing State. This is the neo imperialism today.  

The Destination

Walk and walk till destination is reached,
Thou shalt find rough roads;
falter  and tumble again and again;
Get up to walk and walk till destination.

What is thy destination?
A land for Tiprasa.
Who are they?
They are the sons of soil
of this land Tipperah.
184 kings from they an heir;
for this cause I tread to walk in care.