Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference- Voltaire
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Indian constitution provides rights for equality to all the citizens of India, regardless of colour, creed, sex, religion, on personal liberty, against discrimination, job opportunities, minorities, religious affairs, governance and much more for the well being and upliftment of the state both economically, socially and in all aspects to the citizens, as a whole. Legislations are enacted, passed and commissions appointed to achieve these desired goals for equality.
Yes, we are all born free and equal in dignity and rights as the United Nations declares in their Article 1 of humans rights declaration. It is an inherent quality of every individual on this planet earth by virtue of their being humans and no one can be subjudiced.Social evils of caste distinction and stratification were so much prevalent during the 18th and 19th century among the Indians, that served as a huge bottleneck for unity, for creating a sense of brotherhood and which ultimately delayed the process of Indian independence, I presume. And of course, post independence, these evils has been a major issue and still it is prevalent in some certain section in the Indian society. I wonder who and why such caste system and social stratification among the humans should have its origin.
We Nagas are socially, culturally, physically, historically unique and different and indeed we believe we are different from the Indians. Don’t we? And in fact, with this Mongoloid features and with so much affinities with the South-East Asian nations, it does not give us any lineage with the Indians and to its culture, or does it? Then why talk about Naga Sovereignty?
In our Naga society, from the historic cultural lineage and from the information I learnt through my parents, my grandparents and from respected elders and through reliable books on our naga culture, in no way have I heard and read about the prevalence of social stratification and the caste distinction! It must be my ignorance but what information to be proud of. Backward tribe tag, is it a necessity? The Head hunting culture, an act of valour, pride and a legacy maintained in yesteryears and which we, the present generation today proudly claims it, did the Indians practice it?? They call it Barbarism!!
So where did this social distinction, the so called Backward Tribe tagline had its origin in our Naga Society?? Yes, for holistic and inclusive growth and to be at par with the fast changing scenario, those sections of the society who are economically and socially backward in area needs to be specially focused and addressed. But in reality, is it not at the expense of this Backward Tribe tag, only those creamy sections are really benefitting? Now, is this equality?
With due respect but, now the so called “backward tribes” are so well ahead and well fed that we the advance tribes can no more out ran them in the race to the finish line. And still more demands pour in. And who is advance and who is backward anyway? A need for deep retrospection or maybe a time has come to reverse the tagline instead. Not a jibe but this Backward Tribe Tag has become a jinx for me in job opportunities. And it really does hurt when you are always excluded in the competitive exams by a mark or two and even by a decimal, not once, twice, but thrice! Always has been on the receiving end.
Let me be straight to the point. I have some few thoughts, questions and suggestions in mind, which I wish to express.
1. Why not exclude the “backward tribe” tag and instead include “backward area” tag- it could be a town or a village for their underdevelopment. By tribe, I am a so called “Advance Tribe”, but when it comes to practicality, I come from an economically and educationally backward area, bordered to a backward village. Had I been born on the other side, I would have been tagged a “backward tribe”.
2. Why not exclude those peoples who already have access to and possess all the modern amenities and who reside and have a private residence at the district headquarters and towns? Say, two individuals, branded backward, or may not necessarily be backward, brought up from such different environment; surely the one with access to the modern facilities will have an edge over the other.
3. Why not exclude those, whose any member in the family is a Regular Government employee, unless a 4th grade.
4. If the Backward tribe tag has to exist, why not put some year limitation for it, expiration of which will be subject to a commission’s review and approval for further renewal based on the examination of the area’s developmental results?
5. In exams, why should the so called backward tribes be given “two way traffic”; competing both in the general and the backward category?? No matter how well they score, if they have opted for the backward quota why not they be confined to their own domain of BT category?? Why not the cut-off marks be same for all the backwards tribes?? Let them compete among themselves too and feel the competitive environment as we do. Why not different cut-off marks for the different tribes of the general category then?? That would be fair.
Reservations in jobs and other fields is for sure optimistic as it is for the upliftment of those poorest sections of the society but tribal backward quota system in itself is an evil - a social stigma for the society. Are the right individuals benefiting?? No Naga tribe is backward but for the lack in development of certain areas. Please, a need for deep retrospection.
Equality of rights means that some people cannot simply impose obligations on others, for the moral agency and rights of those others would then be violated- Tom G. Palmer
