Sir,
Vinod Mehta’s observations in the 2nd November issue were relevant and the outlook is ominous. He has stopped at calling it polarization, but has not gone into specifics. It was not an article on the subject of Maoist violence. Moreover, some leading lights have contributed ably in the issue dated 25th October. Yes indeed the half clad, undernourished tribals are at the receiving end and that for pleading for, not demanding, a fair deal. They have repeatedly been denied their due, governments continue to ignore their rights and even the approved policy of rehabilitation, weak as it is, does not get implemented sincerely. Right now a major tragedy is playing itself out. We are at the threshold of civil war of sorts, with tribes and their mentors on one side and the government forces, which really means the society, on the other. Regardless of the outcome, there will be deep scars which may last for centuries. A schism with no meeting ground can only bode ill for the nation.
Tribals have remained at the margin. There never was clarity on how they should be treated. There has been talk of assimilating them, but no one seems to be clear how to go about it. There is contrary view as well, which would like their way of life to remain undisturbed. Assimilation seems to be more of a theoretical approach, which ignores the basic facts like our inability to assimilate even the OBCs and Scheduled castes, who are much closer to the mainstream both in rural and urban areas. Secondly, there are many more claimants for jobs and occupations than what the system is able to provide. Will there be better opportunity for educated tribals? How will they adjust to the drastically changed environment and will the handful who do manage to get into mainstream help the tribes in general? Surely, it will be only after a substantial number start moving into mainstream and allowed to settle down over a few generations that they will start approaching comfort levels. Anthropologists have to find answers to these issues and work out a strategies to ensure their assimilation. That may still not justify large scale violations of pristine forests and hills for the sake of “development”. Our own record needs to be clean before we can stand up and demand curbs on excess consumption by the developed world, which is at least partially fed by the minerals procured from the areas inhabited by tribes, with scant regard for their welfare.
Arun Kumar

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