Nandini Sundar: The Path to a Conflict-Free State

Nandini Sundar must answer - What has shaped the life of tribals such, as to make them appear poor despite being inhabitants of the richest region of India in terms of natural resources like forests and minerals? Only India's economic development is being hugely powered by the use of natural resources but why tribals'€™ socio-environmental wealth is being stereotyped as road blocks? Why only modernist education, health, housing, etc should be seen as development and not the environmentally conscious, co-harmonious learning and living be also treated with equal respect? Why urban way of alienated, insensitive, destructive life of millions living together is seen as advanced but mutually dignifying, trustworthy, creative life-scape of tribals is stamped as backward? Why only industrialized, patronizing behaviour be seen as progressive but tribal philosophy of live and let live seen as stagnant? Sorry Nandini but activists like you seem to be silly friends of tribals.

Your way of solutions look only peaceful temporarily but in the longer run they will too unleash destruction of tribal way of life. In a mad world where modern education is not providing jobs to most of those who have worked at achieving it through decades or centuries; where healthy life is getting dependent on allopathic medicines, gym; where buying a four-walled room is becoming a life long struggle; can we say it honestly that we are thinking of improving tribals' life or the fact is that we want to see them become as wretched as us or may be worse? Yes, tribals have innumerable problems today but please assess genuinely and you will find that not at all for most troubles they can be blamed for their situation. It is both the modernist adventure of capitalists and dogmatism of communists which has turned the oldest inhabitants of planet earth into helpless citizens of 'nation-states'.

Dear Prof. Sundar, as much we dislike success measured by rising stock markets, we equally are apprehensive of imposed so-called progressive agenda. Imagine a hypothetical situation – if one fine day our powers get swapped – and we impose on you to live like us and even force you to smile at it to show delight – will you accept gladly? Finally, wish to say that though we certainly admire your struggle against our contemporary marginalization and torture but we also hope that you will also earnestly think of valuing our dream of living the way we want to. The way to save a bird from a carnivorous is not by caging it in your home.