EIP: Reclaiming Our Sovereignity
Prakash J. Mascarenhas, Bombay, India. Carried forward from The Indian Union And Its Rights On Us
I have shown that India's claim on the EIP, as a natural right of any kind, reclamation or whatever, is false and non-existent, contrived. I will now take up the further questions:
There is a general sense of dissatisfaction among the citizens of the EIP, today, under the rule of the Indian Union, a universality of dissatisfaction which was not there during the Portuguese rule.
Many youth, though, not all, question why their elders did not resist at the time of Nehru's aggression, and an even smaller minority wishes to correct this lack by taking up arms even today and rectifying this wrong.
Let us consider this question first of all, from the viewpoint of the majority: those who consider, if they consider the question at all!, that it is closed, and that we have become irretrievably part of the Indian Union.
Now, first of all, we must consider our situation and the options that are available before us.
We are threatened as a Community. We are threatened by the influx of aliens, an influx that has already made us into a minority in our own land.
A situation where we have no dignity, no respect and no standing in our own land. A situation where aliens come in and arrogantly arrogate to themselves the right to belong in our country, without reference to us, and without so much as a 'by your leave.'
A situation where our language and our culture - our unique, Indo-Lusitanian culture, is dying out, and in the real and grave danger of being entirely extinguished.
And then the options for remedies.
Do we have any? Are there any?
Can we, by 'Constitutional Means,' achieve the incorporation of our rights in the legal statutes? Can we, by 'Constitutional Means,' persuade the Indian Union to enact such laws in our favour, granting us the rights to restrict the entries and settling of aliens, their purchase of properties, the language question, etc., etc.?
Let us look around us, at what has happened to similar aspirations within the Indian Union. Have any such movement, by any people, really succeeded?
The only 'success' we can see, a real success, if we can call it that, are the similar, though limited rights granted to the Nagas. However, the sacrifices and sufferings that the Nagas had to undergo, and are still undergoing, is totally incommensurate with the crumbs thrown their way to pacify and placate them. Do we want some such similar thing for ourselves?
Again, the Indian Union has contumaciously refused the just demand, consistently made, for the incorporation of ALL the Naga lands into the Naga province.
That brings me to the further Question: We should we beg for what is our birthright? Moreover, I ask, why should we beg those who have wronged us, and robbed us, without even a real figleaf of a justification, whether moral or legal, for what is ours?
We have seen, and I have demonstrated, that the attitude of these people is that of Conquistadores: Conquerors and Victors. Do we have to tolerate this attitude? Why must we tolerate wrongdoing and wrongdoers, and why must we tolerate being patronized? Why must we allow ourselves to be patronized, I ask, in our own country?
What can be the basis of any sense of obligation towards the Indian Union on our part? Does it have any legal or moral basis?
In my understanding, I can see only one explanation for this response: The Stockholm Syndrome.
We are a peaceable people, we don't want an unnecessary fight, we prefer to retreat rather than fight.
However, as I see it, we have no more ground to retreat from. We have our backs to the wall. We can now either commit suicide, by surrendering entirely, or we can fight, fight to reclaim and redeem ourselves.
If we are to survive as a people, as a Community, then we must fight. We must fight for all that is dear to us. We must fight to overthrow this evil and malicious imposition upon us.
If we will not fight, we will assuredly die out. If we fight, we run the risk of being defeated, but we also have a chance at winning.
Prospects of A Liberation Struggle
But what real chance do we have of taking on the Indian Union, and of successfully forcing it to undo its mischiefs against us? How small is our number as against that of our opponents! However on earth can we delude ourselves with the prospects of victory against such odds!
Our cause is just. And we are not alone. Not only God, but many men and states will assist us, if we sincerely set out to undertake this task.
And although Portugal has not pronounced on the matter, I am certain that Portugal will, considering that it sympathises with us, recognizing that we have been wronged, and that it still has a responsibility towards us, will also aid and assist us in this task.
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