Bijhu Nijeni 2011 - MAADI

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Mizoram Chakmas : Struggling
to keep their heads above water
P a r i t o s h C h a k m a
H
Mizoram has won “peace bonus”
from the Centre for being the most peaceful
state in the North East. It is second in the
whole of India in literacy rate, and Mizos
are known for their socalled progressive
outlook. But Mizoram’s ugly underbellies are
was being declared a Union Territory in 1972,
three ethnic minorities – Chakma, Mara and
Lai - were granted their respective Autonomous
District Councils (ADCs) under the
Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India
in southern Mizoram to safeguard their
the minorities in particular the Buddhist rights.
Chakmas who are the most backward, the The Mizo leaders sought to disband
most illiterate, and above all, a severely re- the Chakma Autonomous District Council
pressed lot. The Chakmas in Mizoram are (CADC) several times while leaving Lai ADC
so much suppressed that they are just man- and Mara ADC untouched. Then Prime Minaging
to keep their heads above water. ister Rajiv Gandhi reportedly strongly re-
The Chakmas constituting 8% of the minded MNF chief Laldenga in 1987 when
state’s population are the largest ethnic mi- Laldenga pushed for abolition of the CADC
nority group in Mizoram; yet they still enjoy that – “If you Mizos want justice from India,
little rights and privileges as a community. give justice to your own minorities, the
The Government of India was aware
of the vulnerabilities of the minorities in par-
Chakmas”.
ticular the Buddhist Chakmas at the time of
granting statehood to Mizoram which was
I. Systematic repression
born out of a sustained armed movement by The Chakmas have been victims of
the Mizo National Front. Despite strong op- an “exclusionist” structure and system that
position from Mizo leaders the Government exists in Mizoram which excludes the minor-
of India succeeded in inserting a clause in the ity sections from development and enjoyment
Mizoram Peace Accord of 1986, signed be- of human rights.
tween the Government of India and the MNF, Repression in various forms contin-
which stated that “The rights and privileges ued against the Chakmas under every regime.
of the minorities in Mizoram as envisaged in The idea is to keep the Chakmas illiterate,
the Constitution, shall continue to be pre- backward and to subdue them into submisserved
and protected and their social and sion. Still a majority of Chakmas feel that
economic advancement shall be ensured”. they are living in “Christian State” that is
Before this, at the time when Mizoram Mizoram, not in Mizoram that is an integral
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