Syllabus Mapping
Mains-GS-I: Geography – Climate-induced disasters, resource exploitation
Introduction
Recently, Norway’s Parliament issued a formal apology for its assimilation policies targeting the indigenous Sami, Kven, and Forest Finn people. These policies, implemented between the 1850s and 1960s, aimed at suppressing indigenous cultures, languages, and practices, causing long-term socio-economic and cultural marginalization.
While Norway’s apology is a step toward reconciliation and justice, it raises an important question: Who will apologise to the Himalayan indigenous communities, who have faced similar marginalization due to colonial rule, post-independence nation-building, and neo-liberal economic policies?
Historical Parallels: Norway and the Himalayas
1. Colonial Exploitation and Marginalization of Indigenous Communities
• Nordic Experience:
o Norway’s Norwegianisation policy sought to erase indigenous Sami culture, imposing language suppression and economic hardships.
o These communities lost land rights and faced economic discrimination for over a century.
• Himalayan Experience:
o The Himalayan region spans across India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan, and is home to over 52 million people belonging to diverse ethnic groups like Gaddis, Kinnauras, Lepchas, Bhutiyas, and Mishmis.
o During British rule, the Himalayan communities were forcibly integrated into the colonial trade system, accepting exploitative policies related to silk, tea, gold, salt, and opium.
o Trade blockades devastated local economies, making them dependent on colonial policies.
2. Post-Independence Development and Exploitation
• Timber & Resource Exploitation:
o Forest laws in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were enacted to ensure a regular supply of timber for railway sleepers.
o An estimated 80,000 km² of Himalayan forests were felled between 1853 and 1910, leading to severe deforestation.
• Hydropower Projects and Displacement:
o Large-scale hydropower projects in states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh have been set up without tribal consent.
o These projects bypass local laws, disregarding traditional land rights and customs, often facilitated by bureaucratic corruption.
o Ex-CM of Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Tuki (2015), stated that 40% of the state’s power would meet India’s energy needs, but at the cost of severe environmental degradation and displacement of indigenous people.
• Climate Change and Disaster Vulnerability:
o The Himalayas are facing climate-induced disasters due to resource extraction and deforestation.
o Increased glacial melting, landslides, and flash floods have put millions of indigenous people at risk, yet the state and national governments have failed to address these issues adequately.
Challenges Faced by Indigenous Himalayan Communities
1. Erosion of Cultural and Linguistic Identity
• Indigenous languages and traditions in the Himalayas are gradually being marginalized due to modernization, migration, and state policies.
• Unlike Norway, which has implemented policies to protect the Sami language, India has failed to institutionalize protections for Himalayan tribal languages.
2. Exploitative Development Model
• Tourism, hydropower, and mining have become the dominant economic activities, but they come at the cost of environmental destruction and loss of indigenous lands.
• Hydropower projects, often referred to as “hydro-criminality”, have led to land grabbing, loss of agricultural land, and forced displacement.
3. Weak Governance and Tribal Rights Protection
• While India’s Fifth Schedule and Forest Rights Act (2006) provide constitutional safeguards, enforcement remains weak.
• A nexus of bureaucrats, politicians, and corporate interests has led to the large-scale acquisition of tribal lands for commercial projects.
4. Environmental and Economic Marginalization
• Himalayan communities are highly dependent on forests, rivers, and traditional agricultural practices, but government policies favor commercial resource extraction over local livelihoods.
• Unlike Norway’s Sami Parliament, there is no autonomous tribal governance structure for Himalayan indigenous communities.
Lessons from Norway: The Need for Reconciliation and Apology
Norway’s formal apology to the Sami people is an acknowledgment of past injustices and a step toward restoring indigenous rights.
For the Himalayan indigenous communities, a similar acknowledgment is long overdue. India must:
1. Recognize Historical Injustices
o The Indian government should officially acknowledge the colonial and post-colonial policies that marginalized Himalayan tribes.
o This could include a formal apology, similar to Norway’s approach, as a first step toward reconciliation.
2. Implement Stronger Legal Protections
o Strengthen enforcement of the Forest Rights Act to ensure indigenous land and resource rights are protected.
o Introduce special status protections for Himalayan communities, similar to the Sixth Schedule for Northeast India.
3. Promote Sustainable Development
o Develop eco-sensitive zones to prevent uncontrolled tourism, mining, and deforestation.
o Invest in community-led renewable energy projects instead of large-scale, disruptive hydropower projects.
4. Preserve Indigenous Languages and Cultural Practices
o Establish language protection programs and include Himalayan tribal languages in school curricula.
o Recognize traditional knowledge systems in environmental conservation policies.
