Arunachal Pradesh means the “Land of the Rising Sun”, because, being in the eastern most part of India, it is the first part of the county to be kissed by the rays of the rising sun. But now sinister dark clouds hover over Arunachal. Why?
On March 6, thousands of Arunachalis in different parts of the state organised peaceful prayer rallies in protest against the impending revival or implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA) 1978.
This included a rally organised by the Christian Forum of Bordumsa at St Joseph’s Church, Rajanagar, Changlang district.
In Itanagar, the capital city, close to twenty thousand Christians took out a similar protest in a peaceful and prayer manner, participated by people from all walks of life, including formers Ministers.
It may be recalled that this Act was passed in 1978, but it gathered dust for 46 years until it was resurrected by a petition filed in the Guwahati High Court seeking framing of rules for implementation of the aforesaid Act.
I have a personal connect with Arunachal because my wife, Meera, was working there as a government teacher for some years circa 1980.
Together we had re-visited the state in 2018 for the death anniversary of my former colleague Prembhai, whom my wife was instrumental in bringing to Arunachal.
A copy of this Act was given to me in 1990 by former Arunachal MP, Bakin Pertin, who was then a member of the National Minorities Commission, during my first tenure as the National President of the All India Catholic Union.
I was also present at Prembhai’s Banderdewa Ashram when Sri Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal, announced to thunderous applause that the APFRA would be repealed in the very next session of the State legislature. That was 7 years ago.
Now, contrary to what the CM had then solemnly announced, this Act is seeking to be implemented through the back door.
The modus operandi is similar to what happened in neighbouring Manipur two years ago.
At that time the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur for Meteis had filed a plea in the same High Court seeking Scheduled Caste status for the non-tribal Meteis, who are mostly Hindus.
Interestingly, Hinduism came to Manipur just a couple of centuries ago, preceded by Islam via Bengal.
We know all too well what happened in Manipur after the High Court order. The State went up in flames causing a deep ethnic divide that resulted in the murder and rape of hundreds of Manipuris and the displacement of thousands of tribal Kukis.
But as the Prophet Hosea says, “If you sow the wind, you will reap a whirlwind” (Hos 8:7). It resulted in the Chief Justice of the High Court being summarily removed.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was also ultimately booted out, placing the State under President’s Rule.
It was widely believed that Biren Singh was brazenly partisan. He was likened to Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burnt.
Will Arunachal go the Manipur way? Perish the thought. There is still time to learn from recent errors.
The Arunachal Christian Forum submitted a Memorandum to the CM on November 24 last year emphatically stating that Arunachal was a peaceful State and there were no cases of forced conversion.
Then why is this act? Because of its ambiguous wording it had the potential to be misused or abused.
This Memorandum was signed by the Forum President Tarh Miri and its General Secretary James Techi Tara.
The North East Catholic Research Forum also submitted a Memorandum to the CM of Arunachal on February 12 expressing similar concerns.
It was signed by John Shilshi IPS (R) and 45 top academicians and lay leaders from across the North East.
The Act is ostensibly meant to protect tribal traditions. The reality is that the Catholic Church in particular has been in the forefront of actively promoting, not just protecting, such traditions.
I recall that 44 years ago my wife was assisting Rev Kulandai in preparing an initial English-Nishi dictionary for the people, as it was one of the major tribal languages.
Notably there are 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes in Arunachal.
In the light of the above it is hoped that the Arunachal government will not take any foolhardy step that could jeopardise the peaceful co-existence of the Arunachali people, by trying to ram this Act down their throats.
I appeal to the CM and all the legislators to rise above party lines or ideologies, in the best interest of the State and the nation.
(The writer is the Convenor of the Indian Catholic Forum. Views expressed are personal)
