The North Eastern States have some geographical peculiarities, it was a region that was not Closely linked to the rest of the country. It has long international orders, but communications facilities were less there its development was neglected to be extent and the problem was made complex by the emigrants that came from other places.
In this complex situation, some complex demands were made:
- Demand for autonomy.
- Demand for independent nations.
- Enmity towards people from other places.
Demand for Autonomy:
At the time of independence, except Manipur and Tripura, the entire North Eastern region was just one State. After independence, the non-Assamese felt that Assamese language was imposed on them. Therefore they demanded political self-rule. The Adivasi leaders wanted to keep away from Assam.
They formed “Eastern India Tribal Union”. Later it was known as “All Party Hill Leaders Conference”. They demanded one Adivasi State, but more Adivasi States like Meghalaya and Mizoram were formed.
Even with this, their demand for self rule did not end. The Bodos, Karbis and Dimasas etc. demanded their own States. The same area was demanded by more than one community. Because of that the only solution was forming tiny States. Some stayed in Assam and gained their right for self rule. The Karbis and Dimasas were given self-rule at the District level. The Bodos were given their self-rule council very recently.
Secessionist Movement Mizoram:
India faced demands for secession from two North-Eastern States Mizoram and Nagaland. After independence, Mizoram region within Assam itself was enjoying self rule. But many of them thought that they were not part of British India and so there was no reason for them to join India. In 1959 there was a serious famine in the Mizo hills. But the Assam government could not take appropriate measures to help the suffering people there. This caused the formation of Mizo National Front (MNF) under the leadership of Lai Denga. From 1966, they started an armed struggle to get freedom. Pakistan aided them and gave them refuge in Eastern ‘ Pakistan. In the conflict many ordinary people were killed. This made the local people very angry.
In spite of the 20-year long resistance, no party made any gain. Then they had a rethinking. The exiled Lai Denga returned from Pakistan and started talks with Indian authorities. In 1986, a peace accord was signed between and Rajiv Gandhi. Mizoram thus became a State some specie rights. ‘MNP gave up their resistance.
The case of Nagaland was very similar’ to that of Mizoram was problem that began even before the Mizoram issue, but it still remains unsolved. In 1951, under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, Nagaland declared its independence. Phizo refused to accept suggestions Tor peace. The Naga National Council made an armed struggle. After some time it made an accord with the India Government. But some other revolutionaries were not agreeable to the terms of the accord. Even today it continues to be an unresolved issue.
Moves Against Outsiders:
There was another problem in the North Eastern region which faced migration of people from other places. There was rivalry between the local people and the emigrants.
The locals thought that lack of foodstuff, unemployment, shortage of land etc, were problems created by the outsiders who Came to the region in large numbers. In Assam, the moves against outsiders were very strong. If the outsiders were not controlled, the locals feared that they would become the minority.
In 1979, the Assam Students’ Union made move against the outsiders. It was against illegal emigrants. There were also many Bengal is in this illegal group. The Student Union protested against the voters’ list which’ included the names of the emigrants. Many unfortunate events took place. Many were killed. After 6 years, Rajiv Gandhi made an accord with the leaders of the Students’ Union. According to that, all the people who came to the region after the Bangladesh War were to be sent away.
