Why is Arunachal Pradesh still Backward?

Why is Arunachal Pradesh still backward? Why are Arunachalees yet to stand at par or shoulder to shoulder and also face to face with others (even with the tribal of other states of the North-east) in the quest of economic prosperity, pursuit of social modernity and endeavor towards political awakening? Has anybody, honestly, ever cared or bothered to ponder and find out reasonable and practical answers to these simple, but awfully haunting questions which are but the reality of our State? Without claiming to be the only one who thinks and cares for Arunachal & Arunachalees and antagonizing the good-intent of any individual, I make my personal observations of the reasons for our state’s lackadaisical life. I would, simultaneously, be biased, if I don’t acknowledge the selfless-efforts and dedicated works of some individuals who have tirelessly and unrelentingly put their energy to see our people and the state alongside national mainstream. We owe a huge debt to them. It’s only due to them that we are at least getting closer to the national mainstream, though obviously at slower pace. Regrettably, somewhere down the lane, we have lost our direction and thus, treading aimlessly. No one, not even the learned intelligentsia and experienced politicians, really seems to know what we exactly want and where we are precisely heading towards. Disappointedly, it doesn’t seem to really concern anyone whether Arunachal is sailing atop the stream of development or drowning. Why indulge in such unnecessary thing and get an avoidable headache is the general mentality. ‘I’, ‘Me’, ‘Mine’ are what matter to us; but unfortunately, not ‘Ours’. I, however, don’t intend to offend our own people by saying so. Yes, who doesn’t think for one’s own self and what’s wrong about it? Certainly, there is nothing wrong in it; but it’s no excuse for all the ill-consequences inflicted upon the State either.Honestly and genuinely so, Arunachal is the most backward of all the states in the country. Our state is enveloped by thick cloud of poverty, illiteracy, lack of basic/minimum amenities of life, in addition to, social prejudices like excessive superstition, male-chauvinism and so on. On the other hand, our state is endowed with the best of natural resources: extensive tract of virgin forests of almost all the types, inexplicable natural scenic beauty, unexplored wildlife, hot-spot of biodiversity, ample opportunity for hydro-power, etc. Interesting paradox! Isn’t it? It’s nothing new indeed. Every single Arunachalee is well-aware of this fact. Also, all of us do feel that our state should also progress, prosper and catch-up with the rest of the nation. But the enormity of the dark cloud is such that the rays of sun cannot penetrate it easily and even the gushing wind is not able to wipe it out. The cloud still lingers on, for we turn-away our eyes from these realities. Either we are too engrossed in meeting our own ends or enormously self-centric or a really weak lot. The first two conditions are inherently present in our society, but the third one is untrue. More than anything else, the root cause of all the problems, in my perception, is embedded in our attitude/mind-set itself. Further, our mind-set is the reflection of our identity and root. At the present scenario considering socio-economic, socio-cultural and political life of our state, we are facing this all-pervading identity crisis. I opine Identity crisis as ‘the individual’s state of dilemma vis-à-vis different ways of life in the existing situation’. As the contemporary world is heading towards global-village due to mechanisms of liberalization, privatization, consumerism, free-market system and globalization itself, the new world unfolds strange and complex realities to us, which we can’t afford to ignore, if we are to exist or perish without them.As such, indigenous ways of life are increasingly being neglected as, apparently, out-dated and unwieldy in the context of present circumstances. Traditionalists, arguably, rubbish such notion and consider this very notion as a threat to life of indigenous people; enthusiastically campaign for preservation of indigenous identity. They, eagerly and earnestly, aspire to give a definite shape to life of the state with distinct Arunachalee characteristics. Modernists, relatively in less proportion presently, hold the contrary view that changes with time are pre-requisite for our welfare and progress. If they had their way, they would have us believe that our ways of life were inferior and blockade to our march towards heavenly abode of modernization. Change and modernization are the buzz-words doing the round for them. Meanwhile, they too are not sure about the course towards this end. That’s what I say Identity crisis. Evidently, these, in turn, mar the real issues of governance of the state.Essentially, either we haven’t fully understood the real meaning of Identity concept or we are being misled or made to believe it the way we do now. Whatever, it’s time that we, individually, inquire ourselves what identity is all about. As one excavates the Identity concept, one will obviously unearth and encounter different connotations of it. For some, it may refer to cultural heritage of tribal society; to many others, it is just about history of evolution of tribal people to the present time. And to me, it’s not only about our customary practices, beliefs, rituals, traditional attires, food-habits; but the invisible and invincible vitality and vivacity embedded with strength, morality and rationality which precisely symbolize our distinct characteristics.In fact, many of our customary practices, beliefs and rituals are laden with superstition, besides, its cumbersomeness. Preservation of cultural identity in its entirety is just impossible or impracticable. We, therefore, ought to be realistic and practical in our outlook in this respect. Insistence on cultural identity breeds rigidity and fanaticism. It’s, indeed, retrogressive in approach. Sounds critical to the earnest efforts of many traditionalists! Sincerely, I never ever intend to belittle anyone, but the truth is that our existence as a community leans on our history of traditional peace & tranquility, community feeling, communal bonding, mutual cooperation & respect, and not on prescribed set of conventions whose relevance to present world are ambiguous; and that’s what we are; it’s our identity in true sense of the word. Any talk of identity will remain just as rhetoric without addressing the inherent aspirations and vitality of our community. In short, we should emphasize not on outwardly physical individual existence, but on retaining our community (not the tribes as we are distinguished now, but Arunachalee community) as a distinct entity.Similarly, crusaders of modernization ought also to remember that they are what they come from. Our cultural life has, since time immemorial, kindled our hopes, aspirations and existence. It has enough vibrancy of its own to rise to any kind of occasion. It’s just by chance, ostensibly because of being isolated by the physiography and topography of the area that we lag behind in terms of technological modernity or advancement. Our technological backwardness shouldn’t be confused with inferior mind or culture. Modern society, on the other hand, is engulfed by extreme form of individualism, high degree of distrust and suspicion towards one another and so on. I would rather not hesitate to refer to it as the lowest level of human mind. It’s, truly, alien to social animal like human being.While cultural rigidity is, itself, the greatest hindrance to the cause of cultural movement, accepting everything modern as it is, is no wise choice either. We need to carefully, rationally, logically and morally put our step, as we step into the world of ever-changing environment driven by unending human wants, relative scarce resources, ever-expanding awareness regarding rights & opportunities and equally large unemployment & economic stratification, in treading the path of governance and administration. As long as we’re self-centered and don’t think in the broadest sense, i.e. Arunachal; until the rest of the lot isn’t enlightened or liberated from the plight of poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, Our individual achievement and prosperity is short-lived, also meaningless. Somebody has rightly said that poverty in neighbourhood is a threat to the prosperity of rich and privileged. This threat is born out of sense of deprivation among the downtrodden which forms the bulk of the population rather than envy that rich frequently attribute to such threat.Fellow-feeling/community feeling along with flexible attitude, including correct identification of problems and subsequent right follow-up approach towards their solution are the guiding principles for the amelioration of the environment of Arunachal. In Good governance and realization of power of our identity only lie the fate of our people and our Arunachal.