As we approach the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed on August 9 annually, let’s have a look at how some of the things written in the United Nation (UN ) manifesto about the original inhabitants are against the Constitution of India. Yes, the crux of the issue is ‘original inhabitant’.
August 9 was declared as World’s Indigenous Peoples Day at the UN General Assembly meet on February 17, 1995 through the resolution 49/214. But even after 12 years of discussions, a consensus couldn’t be reached about who should be called ‘original inhabitant’. So, finally it was decided that the UN declaration will not impose any obligation on the nations accepting the day, and that the declaration would work as a policy vision document for the rights of people within the scope of respective Constitution of different countries.
In its official vote, the Government of India supported the UN declaration, but with a rider. It stated: “India votes in favour of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on the condition that after independence all Indians are natives of India.” The Indian stance came following a debate in the Constituent Assembly between KM Munshi, Vishwanath Das, Jaipal Singh Munda and BR Ambedkar. After an initial opposition, Munda, too, whole-heartedly supported the Constitution, which stated that all the residents of India are its original inhabitants. It also stated that the term Scheduled Tribe is to be considered only under Article 342; there was no mention of words like tribal or original inhabitants/ natives. The debate also mentioned the special provisions that the Constitution had given to tribes. The Indian stance also clarified that our Constitution provides far more rights to our tribal people than those mentioned in the UN Charter. Further, different tribes also have their representatives in Parliament, and laws have been made to protect the rights of tribal people, as and when required.
This is the reason why certain provisions in the UN Declaration on Indigenous Inhabitant like self-right, citizenship of another nation, adopting the religion of another nation as one’s own religion, self-determination, financial help from other nations etc go against the spirit of Indian nation and its Constitution.
Foreign Policy experts reiterate that European nations, who rule over other countries and indulge in brutal genocide of original inhabitants, have no moral right to ‘advise’ India on how to treat its people, and on what rights should be given to them. As against advising India, the colonial powers should take a leaf out of Indian Constitution and its Parliamentary system and learn to give proper rights to the original inhabitants of the countries they rule over.
Colonial Genocide
In the West it is known as colonial genocide or settlers’ genocide. The expansionism of Western European powers (Britain and Spain) carried out Colonial genocide in Europe, America, Africa, Oceanica and Asia. The number people killed were equal to those killed in Hitler’s Holocaust. And more brutal.
According to researcher Raphael Nemkin, colonial genocide was conducted in two phases. In the first, native culture and lifestyle was destroyed, while in the second natives were forced to adopt the coloniser’s way of life, culture and religion. The second one is also called cultural/ethnic genocide. It was so severe that the powers-that-be didn’t shy away from using biological weapons like viruses (small pox) and bacteria (cholera).
According to Government estimates, the population of indigenous people in America alone decreased from 145 million to 70 lakh from the 15th century to the 18th century, thanks to colonial genocide. Not satisfied with this, the colonisers drove more than seven million natives out of their country. Using the Indian Removal Act of 1830, they pushed natives into the barren areas in the west of Mississippi River. This tragic event is remembered as a River of Tears in the history of America. In other parts of the world, including South America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand too, the natives were driven out and massacred in a similar brutal manner.
This brings us to last year’s theme of UN WIGP, which is “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination”. Can it hold true for India, which is already battling with separatism and Naxalism? Should India allow Naxals and separatists to create a separate nation? While the UN theme can be applied for people in the countries that are still under the colonial rule, it will spell doom for India, which is surrounded by enemy nations.
India has a history of 800 years of struggle with foreign invaders. Everyone knows how divisive forces took advantage of our internal problems and diversity and caused a bloody Partition in 1947. Also, let no one forget that as against the West’s divisive view of cultural diversity, India has had an all-inclusive culture for centuries – it provides an environment of peace and coexistence to all communities irrespective of their language, caste, creed, religion and way of living.
Still, anti-India forces have continued to conspire against it, inciting people in the States located along the international border like Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram, for asserting their ‘individuality’. This can easily be a part of a larger international conspiracy based on the Thousand Cut Theory of the Partition of India.
“Ancient cultures realised that “all are not one but everything is one.” We can have different forms and expressions, there is no point in viewing this diversity negatively; we need to respect diversity because that is the expression of oneness expressed in different forms”
–Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak,Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, at 8th International Conference and Gathering of Elders organised by the International Centre for Cultural Studies in Dibrugarh, Assam
The recent seizure of banned literature from various terrorist and Maoist organisations as well as ISIS and PFI has made it amply clear that they are getting international help to invoke people into seeking their separate identity based on their different regional, linguistic, religious, cultural and/or community practices. By doing so, they are causing a threat to the internal security.
India’s strength is directly proportional to the strength of its weakest community, And, this is why the Constitution of India provides an equal opportunity to all – rich or poor, strong or weak. Through its firm belief in equality, harmony and brotherhood, India is capable of eliminating all alienating forces, within and outside the country.
Bharat honours its Janjatiya community
To highlight the contribution of its tribal society in struggle for freedom, in 2021, on the occasion of India’s 75th year of Independence, the birthday of Birsa Munda, November 15, was declared as Tribal Pride Day. Birsa Munda was tribal freedom fighter, belonging to Munda tribe, who revolted against the British Christian missionaries for conversion activities. He was one of the youngest revolutionaries.
The Central Government celebrates Tribal Pride Week every year during which various events are organised to showcase their cultural and linguistic distinctiveness. Every aspect related to existence, identity and development of different tribes is deliberated upon during the week-long celebrations. How many other countries can claim to have given more importance to their local heroes than they have given to the Colonial figures? Do we want to read our history, or that of the invaders? Do we celebrate November 15 and Birsa Munda or August 9? The youth of India have to decide! Significantly, Chief Ministers of seven out of 28 States today belong to the tribal community. Even the Head of the Government, President Droupadi Murmu, comes from a tribal community. Since 2007, August 9 is increasingly being celebrated in tribal dominated areas, during which tribal societies organise cultural events, and there is a significant participation of youth. There is nothing wrong with that, but one must also remember how European powers massacred scores of original inhabitants in nations it ruled/s, and mourn the lives lost.
How World’s Indigenous Peoples Day came into being?
Columbus Day (October 12) is also called the Day of (European) Race. It is a national holiday in most of the Colonial countries, including America, and is celebrated with great pomp and show.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. Once, the King of Spain ordered him to find a sea route to India, and bring back Indian spices. But, instead of reaching India, Columbus entered the American island of Bahamas (on October 12, 1492). He didn’t have Indian spices with him so as a replacement, he captured native women and sold them in Venice for prostitution. Some of the women were produced naked in the King’s court as gifts for him. For the next 300 years, this ill-treatment of native Bahamas women continued. But, for America and other colonial countries, where the natives are still being oppressed by the European race, Columbus is considered the ‘father of the nation’. So much so, that in 1996, the then American President Bill Clinton declared Columbus Day as a national holiday and ordered that it be celebrated with great grandeur.
Following President Clinton’s Proclamation 6608 on October 8, 1993, native people all across the United States began protesting against it. They wanted the day to be called Native Genocide Day. Now, Columbus Day was an official proclamation, and hence was celebrated by other Colonial nations as well. America wanted to end this controversy, so, it began exploring options for having a separate World Indigenous Peoples Day. The first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples (WGIP) was held on August 9, 1982. On February 17, 1995, this day (August 9) was declared as World Indigenous Peoples Day by a UNGA Resolution 49/214. n
August 9 should celebrate indigenous people, and their achievements, but anti-India here forces use this day for religious conversion and spread their divisive agenda, and sadly, they have been quite successful in their endeavour so far. Social media is misused to generate and spread anti-India content, as also the content which ignites passions within different communities. Even people holding high offices join enemy forces and indulge in such activities.
We must realise that not just the tribal people, but each and every resident of India is its original resident. Our forefathers made sacrifices so that we could breathe in a free country. People from all walks of life contributed for India’s Independence.
We must understand that the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples is a ploy to divide India, and we all must vehemently respond as one to this conspiracy, following the motto You, I am one blood. So, this August 9, remember the global genocide of indigenous people, and resolve to show the path that India follows, to everyone.
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