The Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organised a virtual panel discussion on 17th December, 2020, at 2:00-6:00 pm (IST). The event was attended by a large number of participants from India and abroad.In his welcome address, Prof M Amarjeet Singh, the Hony Director of the centre thanked the Chief Guest of the event, Prof Najma Akhtar, the Vice Chancellor of JMI, the panel and the participants for sparing their valuable time to attend the event. Thereafter, Prof Singh introduced the distinguished panel.
In her inaugural remarks Prof Najma Akhtar, the Chief Guest of the event, expressed that the central government has been trying to bring a lasting peace and bring viable economic development in North East region of the country. She pointed that this region is the only territory of the country that has a separate ministry called the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Despite these efforts, some areas continue to be conflict-affected. Living in such situation, the people have suffered tremendous hardships and sufferings.Prof Najma Akhtar also expressed happiness that the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research,JMI was being recognised as the Centre of Excellence by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
The panel discussion was moderated by Prof Savyasaachi, Department of Sociology, JMI.In his talk Mr Subir Bhaumik, former BBC correspondent and author on North East India, underlined the situation of conflict in the region as “constant trend”. He made an interesting observation that the Act East Policy, in the context of North East India, should not just aim at improving connectivity and commerce but also to bring lasting peace in the region.Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu, Department of English, Nagaland University and Advisor to the Naga Mothers Association, talked about the complexity of the ongoing Naga peace process.She expressed that peace process in the region must be seen from case to case basis. She also argued that the ongoing Naga peace process is “definitely in the minds of the central government”. She also pointed that the Nagas are eagerly waiting for early resolution of the conflict and suggested that the women should be given important role in the official peace negotiation.Mr Pradip Phanjoubam, the editor, Imphal Review of Arts and Politics, analyst and author, dwelt upon the idea of homeland and state. Referring to homeland claims in the North East region, he argued the problem of overlapping homeland claims of the ethnic communities. It is also interesting that the political mobilisation to transform homeland into state like structure often led to conflict in this region.Mr Bertil Lintner, former correspondent with the Far Eastern Economic Review, analyst and author, gave an interesting overview on the shifting trends of insurgency movements in the North East of India.
The talk also underscored the external factors. Understanding and examining insurgency in the region is incomplete without taking into account the region’s immediate neigbours.Prof Kham Khan Suan Hausing, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad, examined when, how and under what circumstances three actually existing models of autonomy in North East India viz., homeland state autonomy (Nagaland and Mizoram), decentralised autonomy (Bodoland and Sixth Schedule areas) and devolutionary autonomy (Manipur’s tribal hill areas, Assam’s plain tribal councils) are likely to territorially manage ethnic conflicts and promote peace and stability.
The question and answer session was moderated by Mr K Kokho, Assistant Professor of the centre. The panel discussion concluded with a vote of thanks.