Norway’s apology illuminates Himalayan communities’ similar injustices

Source: The post Norway’s apology illuminates Himalayan communities’ similar injustices has been created, based on the article “Who will apologise to the ‘Himalayans’?” published in “The Hindu” on 6th March 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Governance-mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Context: The article discusses Norway’s apology to indigenous groups for past assimilation policies and compares it to the exploitation of Himalayan communities in India. It highlights resource exploitation, cultural erosion, and the need for similar acknowledgment and justice for Himalayan tribes.

What was Norway’s apology about?

1. Norway’s Parliament apologized for past policies of Norwegianisation that targeted the Sami, Kven, and Forest Finn peoples.
2. These policies, enforced between the 1850s and 1960s, aimed to erase indigenous languages and cultures.
3. The government also proposed steps to combat ongoing discrimination, including protecting indigenous languages and monitoring inclusion efforts starting in 2027.
4. Despite repealing discriminatory laws and establishing the Sami Parliament, challenges like endangered languages and inequalities in healthcare, education, and land rights persist.

How are Himalayan communities similar to Nordic indigenous groups?

1. Cultural Suppression: Similar to Norway’s Norwegianisation policies that suppressed Sami languages, British trade blockades in 1874 disrupted Himalayan communities. The blockade halted access to iron and silk, stopping cultural practices like marriages and traditional agriculture (A.S.R. Foreign proceedings, 1881).
2. Resource Exploitation: British forest laws destroyed large parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand forests to supply timber for 80,000 km of railway tracks between 1853 and 1910, similar to Nordic exploitation.
3. Economic Marginalization: Hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh bypassed local laws and tribal land rights for profit, mirroring past economic policies against Nordic tribes.
4. Environmental Threats: Both regions face climate-induced disasters that threaten traditional lifestyles and resource security.

How did Indian policies impact Himalayan tribes after independence?

1. After independence, Prime Minister Nehru advocated for respecting tribal lifestyles.
2. However, by the 5th and 6th Five-Year Plans, rapid resource exploitation disrupted these communities.
3. The 1990s brought fiscal policies that pressured Himalayan States to generate revenue through tourism and hydropower, causing environmental damage and cultural loss.
4. Despite legal protections, customary land rights were often ignored in favor of profit-driven projects.

Why are hydropower projects controversial in the Himalayan region?

1. Hydropower projects have caused large-scale land acquisitions, often bypassing local laws and ignoring tribal land rights.
2. For example, Arunachal Pradesh’s hydropower projects were expected to generate ₹445 crore annually, but civil groups criticized this “hydro-criminality” for prioritizing profits over the environment and cultural preservation.
3. This has led to the marginalization of traditional practices and ethnic diversity in the region.

What lessons can the Himalayan region learn from Norway’s apology?

1. Acknowledge Historical Injustices: Norway apologized for suppressing Sami culture through Norwegianisation. The Himalayan region needs to recognize past exploitation, such as the 1874 trade blockade that halted iron and silk supplies, disrupting local traditions.
2. Protect Indigenous Rights: Norway’s measures to safeguard Sami languages highlight the need to protect Himalayan tribes’ cultural practices and land rights, often ignored in hydropower projects.
3. Legal and Policy Reforms: Repealing discriminatory laws, as Norway did, could help Himalayan communities preserve their identity.

Question for practice:

Examine how the policies of resource exploitation and cultural suppression have impacted the indigenous communities in both Norway and the Himalayan region.