| caption: |
British Colonial administration in the Naga Hills |
| caption: |
wider implications of the Naga situation |
| text: |
It may at first seem that the subject of the Naga Hills and its reaction to the political changes in India is petty and not worth recording. India had so many far more pressing problems. But the problem of the Nagas is the problem of 25 million tribal peoples in India. The Nagas were proud and vigorous and ready to fight for their way of life in a way that many of the tribes on the plains can no longer do. The small struggle in the Naga Hills was symbolic of the struggle all over India. Ministeries in India frequently have narrow sectarian interests and exploit the tribal people. If they follow out-dated theories of 'uplift' and 'assimilation' the policy will end in the destruction of the tribal people as surely as it ended in the destruction of the 'red man' and the Maori. |
