Assam government’s dubious decisions and bias actions are giving birth to new problems for the peaceful citizens of the state day by day. The Dimasa dominated North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council had earlier in the year 2008 demanded to change the name of the district after the Dimasa. The district’s Non-Dimasa people raised their voice against this demand. They formed a new platform to protest by the name of Indigenous Peoples’ Forum (IPF). The Government of Assam bowed down before the tyrannical demand of DHD(J) to change the districts name as Dima Hasao on March 30,2010 in the backdrop of the rupees thousand crore scam in the district, said IPF General Secretary, Ngaidam Puruolte, while addressing the media persons in Guwahati on October 30,2012. He said that the N C Hills Autonomous District Council was formed in 1952 with a view to bring about all round development to the various backward Hill Tribal people of the N C Hills district. At the time of its inception of the Council there were six (6) members from Dimasa community and an equal number of non-Dimasa communities. The agreement among the leaders of that time was reached that if the lone member of the state Assembly is Dimasa, the Chief Executive Member (CEM )of the Council would be a non-Dimasa and vice versa. Accordingly, a Dimasa, J B Hagzer was the first MLA from the district and a Hmar Chawnhau Khawthlang became the first CEM of the Council. However, this agreement could not last for long and Chawnhau Khawthlang remained the first and last CEM from the non-Dimasa community. There were delimitations of the MDC constituencies to the council in the years 1967 and 1978 in which the number of the Dimasa members was increased from 6 to 15 and that of Non Dimasas from 6 to 8 only. After these delimitations, the Dimasas applied their policy of dominating the Council. On the other hand, the innocent non-Dimasas remained unaware of their hidden designs and were satisfied to remain peaceful under communal harmony, Puruolte said. He alleged that the Dimasas through their students’ organization, the Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU) raised slogans as ‘Cachar for Kacharis’ and’ N C Hills for Dimasas’ and claimed that 90 percent reservation of all government jobs and other facilities for the Dimasas in early 1980s. At this point, the non-Dimasas could know about their evil designs and to fight against it they formed a non-Dimasa platform called All Tribal Integrated Committee (ATIC). A rift between Dimasas and non-Dimasas emerged in the history of NC Hills‘ politics from that time, the IPF leaders explained. The Dimasas in their attempt to turn the district into exclusively theirs, tried to change the name of the district after the word Dimasa into Dima Halali in 2001.The non-Dimasas also to counter their move formed a forum in the name of Indigenous Tribes Front (ITF). Due to strong opposition the proposal for the change of name of the district was dropped. Afterwards, the Dimasas switched over to ethnic cleansing policy. In their attempt to oust other tribes one by one from the district started waging ethnic clashes with the help of the DHDs against the Hmar in 2003, against the Karbis in 2005 and against the Zeme Nagas in 2009. By this the Dimasas dominated over the N C Hills Autonomous Council and tried to change district’s name and ultimately succeeded by signing a peace accord for Dima Hasao Territorial Council by both factions of Dimasas through a tripartite agreement with Government of India and Assam government on October 8,2012. The N C Hills district was renamed by ‘force’ Dima Hasao on March 30,2010, the IPF alleged. It may be mentioned in this connection that Dima Hasao district has 35 percent population of Dimasas according to electoral rolls of 2008. However, considering all the facts non-Dimasas are disappointed and feel that there is no chance for survival of non-Dimasa communities in Dima Hasao district and therefore they demand for creation of a separate non-Dimasa Autonomous District for them. The non- Dimasas argument is that if for 35 percent population of Dimasas an autonomous district could be constituted there is no harm in constituting an autonomous council for 65 percent non-Dimasas. Their
demand is to give them a home land where they can live in peace, IPF leaders said.
I respect the view of IPF leader that he has expressed his concern for the non-dimasa. It sad to put here that with the little dubious knowledge of the with the records of old history,may not be much helpful for both the communities.Dimasas has never neglected any other tribe or by any means. Even today you can see many dimasa people and villages don't get the rights and prevailages that you people living in the headquater of district town get.I am sure other tribes don't have many villages that dimasa villages have. These dimasa people of far village did not understand the dirty politics you leaders play in the name of coummunity,religion and creed.Have you ever exprienced the pain of the innocent people they suffer when they are affected because of your misleading leaders be it dimasa or hmar. As an educated leader will never lead his people in the darkness of route. Stop blaming only dimasa and dimasa.Just because of few hungry politician go wild for their pocket duty dosen't mean that everybody is guilty here. Just keep blaming and saying dimasa and non-dimas it has become a poison noise to every dimasa or people and for these may have to pay heavy to both the communities.
20 Jan 2012 - 4:39am | Anup Arandhara
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