Q. With reference to the separatist movements in North Eastern India in post-Independence era, consider the following statements:
1. In Assam, the non-Assamese demanded a tribal State to be carved out of Assam.
2. People in Mizo hills demanded independence as they believe they were never a part of British India.
3. The Naga movement was led by Laldenga.
How many statements given above are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Post Independent India had witnessed many movements for regional autonomy and secession especially in the North Eastern India. These movements frequently involved armed assertions by the people, their repression by the government, and a collapse of the political and electoral processes. The accords were reached after a process of dialogue that aimed to settle contentious issues within the constitutional framework.
Statement 1 is correct: At independence the entire region except Manipur and Tripura comprised the State of Assam. Demands for political autonomy arose when the nonAssamese felt that the Assam government was imposing Assamese language on them. There were opposition and protest riots throughout the State. Leaders of the major tribal communities wanted to separate from Assam. They demanded a tribal State to be carved out of Assam. Finally, instead of one tribal State, several States got carved out of Assam. At different points of time the Central Government had to create Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh out of Assam. Tripura and Manipur were upgraded into States too.
Statement 2 is correct: After Independence, the Mizo Hills area was made an autonomous district within Assam. Some Mizos believed that they were never a part of British India and therefore did not belong to the Indian union. But the movement for secession gained popular support after the Assam government failed to respond adequately to the great famine of 1959 in Mizo hills. The Mizos’ anger led to the formation of the Mizo National Front (MNF) under the leadership of Laldenga. In 1966 the MNF started an armed campaign for independence. In 1986 a peace agreement was signed between Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga. As per this accord Mizoram was granted fullfledged statehood with special powers and the MNF agreed to give up secessionist struggle. Statement 3 is incorrect: The Naga movement was led by Angami Zaphu Phizo. A section of the Nagas declared independence from India way back in 1951. Phizo turned down many offers of negotiated settlement.
