Surge of insolent Arunachalees

Neither a soothsayer nor a psephologist can predict the outcome but can analyze based on empirical and anecdotal evidences. Evidences though cannot be scientifically validated yet one is sure that it would not be far-off the marks to state that there is a writing on the wall – “ensuing 2014 Assembly Election could be a watershed event in the annals of Arunachal’s political discourse”.

Purely deducing from the recently concluded grass-root Panchayat Election, women and youths, who were so far treated as the insignificant cogs in democratic processes, seem to have come of age irrespective of whether they made the desirable impact of winning.  Though winning is not a matter for consideration at this changing time. Till the last Assembly election in 2009, the state’s political discourse was heavily guided and governed by kinship and matrimonial alliances; and venal voters did play the role of “fence-sitters” and of “swinging-voters”. Without deviation in the current trend, next election would not be a contest between candidates but it would be “play-off” between venal voters versus aspirational youths and women. The recently concluded Panchayat election, 2013 provided couple of significant pointers to the changing social force and political discourse.

Optimistically, there has been a breach into deeply entrenched and well guarded patriarchal structure in the tribal society is a significant positive development. ‘My core supporters were youths and women who defied the diktats of family elders,’ said Sange Tsering Thongdok, the newly elected 30 years old Zilla Parishad Member from West Kameng district.

Secondly, for the first time, more than 50% of the state’s literates had voted. Recall that as per 2011 census report, literacy rate has been recorded at 65.38%. For lack of reliable data, even if we assume 15.38% of the literates to be non-eligible voters (between 18 and 7 years), we have the magical 50% figure who certainly understands the meaning of democracy much better.

Third, second election after the implementation of “33% women reservation quota” witnessed many “self-dependent” women contestants without consideration for win/loss; unlike in the “first 33% reservation quota election” wherein significant numbers were dummy candidates.

Four, dominating election issues were developmental subjects, not kinship. Many PRI leaders roped in educated youths as part of campaign team unlike older days when illiterate elders used to move around to mobilize kinship.

Five, many incumbent PRI leaders who were denied ticket by the party bosses won based on performance and many lost despite bankable party tickets which were given on “clan-based” political calculation. There have been similar new trends

Finally, on the contrary, venal voters did play a significant spoiler, which might remain a cause of concern as youths and women take to the street for cleansing of existing rot in system. Prodded by the local youths and women, Thongdok, in his early 30’s, gave up his teaching profession. He did concede spending significant fortune on venal voters yet revealed that his coffer was filled with donations. ‘There’s silent yet buoyant under-current of restlessness emanating out of absence of transparency in public probity and inequality for opportunities,’ says Thongdok.

As a grim reminder of partial and farcical institutionalization of democracy in the state, let’s run through the fact that when NEFA was carved out of Assam and Union Territory was formed, literacy rate was mere 11.29%, though this fact is little insignificant. Even in 1980’s with just 20.78%, Arunachal Pradesh was granted statehood in 1987 for reason best known to coterie of congress leaders. No one understood the true meaning of transition from Union Territory to Statehood except few who were power-mongers. No one questioned the wisdom behind statehood till early 2000.  

Insolent youths have started questioning; demographic composition is changing, aspirations are far greater than ever before with advent of technology. The youths that have emerged as the new Arunachal’s voice is far more critical of the existing power-structure and social set up. It would be suicidal and fool hardy of the politicians to ignore the concerns of exasperated, vociferous, assertive new Arunachalees, that I call the “Surge of insolent Arunachalees”