A tableland is an elevated portion or stretch of land which is substantially above and distinct from the surrounding plains. A tableland may be more akin to a plateau. The oxford dictionary defines a tableland as “a large area of high flat land”. In fact even the beautiful Dzükou Valley is often described as a tableland as it is an elevated tract of land adorning our landscape in the midst of our mountains. However, this write-up is not about the majestic Dzükou valley but about the potentially viable tableland in the heart of Kohima town.
This tableland in the heart of Kohima town is ideally located and has great potential for various endeavors and can be instrumental in turning our capital city into a haven for various commercial, enriching and welfare activities. But currently this tableland covering an area of many hectares is not being used for any purpose that may benefit the inhabitants of Kohima. This tableland does not house any shopping malls or educational institutions or university campuses or children’s park or elderly home or hospitals or departmental offices or recreational centers or sports complexes or stadiums or cultural and entertainment houses or any other structure or facility that may benefit and enrich the lives of the citizens of Kohima or anybody who visits our city. The tableland can be superbly utilized for any of the purposes cited above. But ironically it is not so because, for the last many decades, this tableland has been occupied by a paramilitary force who calls themselves the ‘friends of the hill people’.
My earliest memories of setting foot on this spooky tableland can be traced back to a time when I was a class 4 student at Baptist English School (now Baptist High). One day our classes were abruptly suspended without any prior information and our class teacher marched us all the way to this army camp. Upon reaching the camp we were guided into the cinema hall there and were made to watch a movie on the life and adventures of Robin Hood. It was an unforgettable experience. In fact it was the first time I ever saw a movie on the big screen. I vividly remember that after coming out of the hall all the real human figures seemed so miniature because the screen was too big and I was totally enthralled in the show for over 2 hours.
By the grace of God, I have never had any nasty encounter with this so-called “friends of the hill people”. They have an ATM booth within their premises and I sometimes go there to withdraw cash. After using their ATM whenever I walk pass through their sentry gate I would courteously express my thanks to them. And upon hearing my thanks, they have this habit of patting my shoulder and saying “koi baat nahin, Sirji”.
Just few months back also, I went to their camp and met their camp commandant with an application requesting them to allow a govt. school here in Kohima to use their playground for its annual sports event. They were courteous enough to oblige. During this visit also I observed that the guards on duty as well as the personnel manning their office were very courteous, respectful, polite and helpful. Obviously it’s because I went there in times of peace and not in times of war.
In times of peace, these army personnel are very gentlemanly and friendly and they have also proved to be very handy and forthcoming in rendering their valuable yeoman service to the Naga people in times of need. In times of calamities like fire outbreaks, landslides, vehicular accidents, road blockages and other unexpected mishaps, they always come forward and relieved us with their manpower and machinery.
But I never fail to remind myself that they are neither a disaster management agency nor a welfare unit waiting to help people in times of need. I remind myself that they are a full-fledged paramilitary force trained for combat of the worst possible nature. They are trained to round-up people, to interrogate people and to arrest and confront any civilian on mere suspicion. And I also remind myself that, despite all their good and noble gestures towards the natives, they are armed to the teeth and can easily turn into our worst nightmare at the slightest provocation.
The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in India which was established in 1835. This means it was established even before the American missionaries reached us with the gospel. It means it is older than even the awakening of political consciousness amongst the Nagas and the Naga national movement and much older than the statehood of Nagaland. It also means that it is almost 200 years since the setting up of the AR regiment. And in these 200 years many foreign elements and intruders did set foot on our hills but they have long receded into oblivion after leaving their mark on us. So I guess it’s about time that this unwelcomed guest also calls it quits.
The primary motive behind establishing the AR regiment in 1835 was to protect the British tea estates and their settlement against tribal raids. But the British are long gone from South East Asia and their tea estates, which they once owned here, are well-managed by its rightful owners without any more disturbances whatsoever from the neighboring tribes. So, the main motive has been well served long time back. And so it is undue that this regiment continues to linger on over our heads like a pendulum.
At the backside of the gate of the AR camp in Kohima town, a slogan is inscribed in the Tenyiedie dialect urging the visitors to visit the camp again. Foreigners greeting us or conversing with us in our dialect can be a real treat and an unforgettable experience. But when the foreigners themselves are not welcome in our lands, the question of being impressed or touched by them using our dialect does not arise – especially so when they are forcefully occupying our most prominent and vital spot in town without our consent and permission.
During festival times like the Hornbill and Night Bazaars, it is always an eerie and uncanny feeling to see fully armed and uniformed personnel roaming around. Festivals are meant to signify goodwill and good fortune. And programs in honor of our many Naga festivals are usually organized to celebrate and showcase our rich culture and traditions. So, paramilitary forces, in their full combat uniforms, adorning our cultural events are a very unwelcomed sight.
Kohima has been at the centre of many groundbreaking historical events which left indelible marks on our way of life and psyche and continue to shape and mould our society even to this day. But the American missionaries came, did their work and went away. The colonial Britishers came, did their work and went away. The Simon Commission came, assessed our situation and found us to be harmless peace-loving people occupying our own God given lands. The Japanese Imperial army came in 1944, witnessed our valor and sacrifices and went back with many bitter memories and stories to narrate about us and our land. So it is unfortunate that this oldest paramilitary force of India came and established its permanent camp in the heart of Kohima and still continues to flex its muscles in our midst at every given opportunity.
Times have changed and Kohima is today a relatively peaceful place. So the presence of a fully armed army unit in the centre of our capital is a total mismatch and does not befit the yearning of the natives for creating and passing on an environment of peace and tranquility to our children.
This article is not designed to instigate public opinion or public movement against the continual presence of this paramilitary force in the heart of our capital city. But rather it can be considered as an appeal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the locations of army camps which are in close proximity to civilian inhabitations.
If the MHA wishes to maintain the legacy of this oldest paramilitary force, it can certainly do so. But continuing with the encampment of this oldest paramilitary force in the heart of the capital city of one of its states is unwarranted and would only continue to be a thorn in the flesh of many rather than being a symbol of legacy.
This terrain in the heart of Kohima presently occupied by this paramilitary force has great potential to enhance and better the lives of many including both the natives and visitors. So this tableland should be a source of joy, beauty, security and prosperity to all rather than being a place where even angels fear to tread. But unfortunately, this tableland continues to be quite spooky even in this time of peace……..
