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Himalaya and Profit-driven Initiatives
Context:
Recently, Norway’s Parliament issued a formal apology for its long-standing assimilation policies aimed at the Sami, Kven, and Forest Finn peoples.
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- These policies, known as Norwegianisation were implemented between the 1850s and 1960s to suppress indigenous languages and cultures.
- The apology, which comes more than half a century after the policies were in effect, is coupled with measures to address ongoing discrimination. These measures include safeguarding indigenous languages and establishing systems to monitor the inclusion of these groups, starting in 2027.
Challenges in Norway
- Although the Norwegian government has repealed discriminatory laws and provided symbolic rights—such as the establishment of the Sami Parliament—challenges remain.
- Sami languages, for example, continue to face the threat of extinction, and indigenous groups still encounter inequities in healthcare, education, and land rights.
- The Sami experience sheds light on the importance of not only recognising historical wrongs but also addressing their ongoing impacts on Indigenous communities.
Nordic and Himalayan Parallels
- The experiences of Nordic communities like the Sami are not unique in the global context.
- In the Himalayan region, which stretches 2,500 kilometres from Afghanistan to northeast India, a similar story of cultural erosion, resource exploitation, and marginalisation unfolds.
- The region, home to 52 million people, contains a rich diversity of tribes, clans, ethnicities, and religions. These include:
- Himachal Pradesh: Gaddis and Kinnauras.
- Sikkim and Ladakh: Lepchas, Bhutiyas, and Mons.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Abor, Aka, Apatani, and Mishmi.
- Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nepal: Khas, Kalash, and others.
- These communities, like the Sami, have faced waves of assimilation through colonialism, post-independence nation-building, and neoliberal economic policies.
Colonial-Era Resource Exploitation
- The introduction of trade and forest laws greatly impacted local communities. In the northeast, for instance, tribes were coerced into accepting colonial trade terms, involving goods like tea, gold, silk, and opium. In some areas, trade blockades led to economic devastation.
- A report (A.S.R. Foreign proceedings, 1881) notes that the 1874 blockade of trade in the region halted cultural practices like manufacturing tools and disrupted marriages due to a shortage of silk.
- Forest exploitation in Himachal & Uttarakhand: ‘Prehistory of Community Forestry in India’, underlines that between 1853 and 1910, over 80,000 km of railway tracks were laid, leading to massive deforestation.
- Timber was extensively extracted for railway construction. The sal forests of Garhwal and Kumaun were felled to the point of devastation.
Post-Independence Tribal Policies
- Nehru’s approach (Humanistic & Inclusive): Famous quote: “I am not at all sure which is the better way of living, the tribal or our own. In some respects, I am quite certain theirs is better.”
- This humanistic approach influenced policies for about 15 years. However, by the 5th and 6th Five-Year Plans, the focus shifted towards resource exploitation, disrupting local ecosystems and cultures in the Himalayan region.
- Economic Pressures & Environmental Degradation (1990s Onward): Unlike industrially developed states, Himalayan States faced fiscal constraints and were forced to generate their own revenue.
- Key economic activities:
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- Tourism – Mass tourism led to environmental stress.
- Hydropower projects – Large-scale dams and power plants caused displacement and ecological damage.
Hydropower Exploitation: A Case Study
- Example (Arunachal Pradesh, 2015): CM Nabam Tuki projected hydropower revenue of ₹445 crore annually, claiming Arunachal could meet 40% of India’s power demand and achieve financial independence. However, these projects led to:
- Bypassing of local laws.
- Undermining of customary tribal land ownership.
- “Hydro-criminality” – A term used by civil society groups to describe the corporate-bureaucratic nexus facilitating exploitative land acquisition.
Lessons from Norway: The Need for Acknowledgment & Reconciliation
- Norway’s apology emphasises the importance of:
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- Recognising historical injustices.
- Ensuring sustainable development and cultural preservation.
- Key takeaways for the Himalayan region:
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- Acknowledgement of past and ongoing exploitation.
- Policy shifts towards inclusive, sustainable development.
- Protection of indigenous rights, languages, and environmental heritage.
