AROUND 1985, Sir John Hackett in his book The Third World War, remained sceptical of India’s continued unity. He observed that India was disintegrating as a political union and devolving into smaller coalitions of mutually hostile proto-states. India proved him wrong through political tolerance and resilience to secessionists’ and insurgents’ demands.

In the post-Partition period, India was wracked by insurgencies in her eastern states, the Khalistan and Naxalbari movements, and the Dravidian south movement. The latter was a reaction to fears that the majority of the population, mostly fair-skinned Hindus, would always dominate the South (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu). Through talks, India was able to neutralise N T Rama Rao, Lal Denga, Ramachandran and a host of others.

India agreed to create new states (Chandigarh, Telangana, etc). Insurgents became chief ministers. In Tamil Nadu, the pro-centre All India Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam emerged and defeated the secessionist Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam. Resilience paved the way for resolution of issues peacefully through talks.

But this was in the past. Now India is heading towards disintegration. New Delhi’s atrocities in Indian-occupied Kashmir, north-east (Bodo/Boroland) and other states, and the creation of Telangana state has set off a domino effect. The Institute for Conflict Management estimated that till June 22, 2018, there were at least 805 fatalities in 12 districts spread across the four north-eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland).

India is on tenterhooks. The Rashtraya Swayem Sevak Sangh’s onslaught against non-Hindus to create a Hindu Rashtraya (nation) is in full swing. The Indian courts took no action after Babri Masjid’s demolition.

Dolat Ram Thakur

Tharparkar

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2018