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Tensions and Territorial Claims: The Gurkha and Yobin Communities of Vijaynagar

  • Writer: Editorial Writer
    Editorial Writer
  • Apr 6, 2024
  • 2 min read

Summary:

The Miao-Vijaynagar Road, India's longest under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, has inadvertently ignited tensions in Vijaynagar, Arunachal Pradesh, between the Gurkha settler community and the indigenous Yobins. The road's completion in 2022, enhancing connectivity, coincides with a push against the Gurkhas, former soldiers and their families settled by the Indian government in the 1960s. The Yobins, recognized as a Scheduled Tribe, and the Gurkhas both claim rights to the land, with increasing demands for the settlers' eviction, leading to conflicts and a cloud of uncertainty over their future. The upcoming Assembly elections amplify these concerns, as historical grievances, legal ambiguities, and changing demographics underscore a complex tapestry of identity, loyalty, and rights in this remote border area.


Important Points:

  • Historical Settlement: The Gurkhas, families of former Assam Rifles soldiers, were settled in Vijaynagar by the Indian government as a strategic move, promising them land and rights that remain largely unfulfilled.

  • Rising Tensions: The Yobin community's increasing opposition to the Gurkha settlers, culminating in violent incidents and political contention, reflects deeper issues of identity, citizenship, and land rights.

  • Legal and Political Ambiguity: The Gurkha settlers face uncertainty over land leases, voting rights, and recognition, with the upcoming elections serving as a focal point for these disputes.

  • Communication and Connectivity: Despite improvements in road, telecom, and utility infrastructure, Vijaynagar's remote location has long shielded the complexity of its socio-political challenges from wider scrutiny.


Additional Information to Remember:

  • Cultural and Demographic Shifts: Vijaynagar's unique demographic mix, including Gurkhas, Yobins, Chakmas, Hajongs, and Tibetan refugees, illustrates the diverse cultural tapestry and potential for conflict in border areas.

  • National Park Conservation vs. Development: The Miao-Vijaynagar Road's alignment through Namdapha National Park raises concerns about environmental conservation and the impact on local communities.

  • Economic Opportunities and Challenges: While improved connectivity offers new economic opportunities, it also brings to the fore longstanding grievances and the potential for further disputes.

Key Words and Descriptions:

  • Miao-Vijaynagar Road: A strategic infrastructure project enhancing connectivity to Vijaynagar, but also highlighting territorial and ethnic disputes.

  • Gurkhas: A community of former soldiers and their families settled in Vijaynagar, facing uncertainty over their future due to expiring land leases and political opposition.

  • Yobins: A trans-border community known in Myanmar and China as Lisu, recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India. They have historical ties to the Vijaynagar area but face tensions with the Gurkha settlers over land and political rights.

  • Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: A government initiative aimed at improving rural road connectivity, under which the Miao-Vijaynagar Road was constructed.

  • Inner Line Permit (ILP): A document required by non-residents to visit certain protected areas in India, including Arunachal Pradesh. The narrative mentions settlers being asked for ILP, underscoring their perceived outsider status.

  • Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC): A document that certifies a person’s residency status in a particular state. The settlers' struggle involves the shift from PRC to a mere Residential Certificate (RC), affecting their rights and entitlements.


Published in : The Hindu

Date appeared in newspaper : 06 April 2024


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