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Ethnic Conversions In Chandel District Of Manipur
From Thangjamang Haokip
Small and backward tribes of Chandel district in Manipur like the Anals, Lamkangs and Marings were brainwashed into accepting the Naga political identity through religious proselytization, fabrication of fraudulent genealogical lineage history, economic and political enticements and even brutal coercion by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN). These methods of ethnic conversions clearly violate the fundamental spirit of multi-cultural Indian secular democracy. They also contravene the natural law of justice and the well established norms of civilization.
Remarkably, leaders and members belonging to these small and politically weak tribes who refused to be converted into "Nagas" were forced to dig their own graves and brutally shot dead. H.T.Thungam, a prominent leader of these small tribes and a former Member of Parliament was shot dead by the NSCN in what may be construed as a clear act of intimidation.
Through subtle brainwashing and religious propaganda, the NSCN (I-M) has finally succeeded in making the younger generations of these tribes as strong supporters of the Naga secessionist movement in the name of ''Nagaland for Christ''. Apparently the motive behind these ethnic conversions is the territorial usurpation of the areas inhabited by the Nagaised tribes. In this backdrop it is therefore not surprising that the NSCN (I-M) includes Chandel district within the ambit of its demand for "Nagalim" or Greater Nagaland. The predominantly Non-Naga inhabitants of the district are up in arms against the terming of Chandel as a "Naga inhabited area" for purpose of Naga territorial unification.
There is a clear need to focus on this hitherto unexplored dimension of the Naga problem as it is apparently fraught with dangerous implications and far-reaching consequences for the life of multi-cultural Indian democracy which thrives on the unique principle of UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
North Campus, Delhi University, New Delhi.
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