Colonization- Decolonization and Recolonization
N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai
(Paper
presented in the SEMINAR ON INDIA AND FRANCE-PAST-PRESENT AND FUTURE organized
by Center for Nehru Studies and School of International Studies Pondicherry
University, sponsored by Government of Pondicherry and Indian Council for
Historical Research New Delhi held on 26-28 October 2004)
Introduction: History
is still shrouded in mystery. Selectively people cling to certain
cliché and try to define history as they conceive it. The mindset of the
general mass is tuned to listen to one-sided views that put a lid on the truth.
Parrots repeat what is taught, and people conditioned to colonial reflexes,
sing lullabies for their colonial masters. It is true all humans and rulers are
not bad, but to differentiate between bad and good rule, a true historian has a
unique role to play. We live in an era of information technology transforming
towards nano-technology era. This era of global village brings to us many painful
stories of the past, when as bonded labors and slaves our people faced the
wrath of colonialists.
Indian
born Kumud Merani had produced a documentary titled Girmit Ki kahani in
Hindi and Sweet Sorrow in English on the injustices meted out to Indian
labourers who were duped and sent to Fiji between 1879 and 1916. This
documentary had won the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Award in the News and
Current Affairs category for the year 2004. Similar travails of Pondicherrians
taken to French colonies are yet to be compiled from archival materials. These
pages need not be kept in dark. What has happened has happened. We have no
prerogative to portray what we want to, instead of telling what really
happened. India obtained freedom at midnight, but Pondicherry at one fine dawn.
Yet there is no comparative study on Pondicherry’s decolonization in comparison
with other French colonies. Nor there exists a comparative study incorporating
Pondicherry’s freedom struggle with other freedom movements in former French
colonies. There is need for India centric comparative study on British,
Portuguese and French colonialism. These remarks are aimed at scholars and
Institutions of Pondicherry intending to stimulate and activate them to rectify
these lapses in our historical thought. Let us think about our past, present
with dreams for future.
Decolonization
Drive of 20 th Century: Decolonization became the societal goal
of the peoples under colonial regimes aspiring to achieve self-determination.
It reflected in the United Nations General Assembly's proclamation on 14
December 1960 of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples - resolution 1514 (XV).
The Declaration states that "the subjection of peoples to alien
subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental
human rights, is contrary to the United Nations Charter, and is an impediment
to the promotion of world peace and cooperation, and that steps should be taken
to transfer, unconditionally, all powers to the Trust and Non-Self-Governing
Territories so that they might enjoy complete freedom and independence".
Also in 1960, the Assembly approved resolution 1541 (XV), defining free
association with an independent State, integration into an independent State,
or independence as the three legitimate options of full
self-government
Liberation of
Colonies: Let us have a look at colonies that attained
liberation. A British Colony and Protectorate Togo land united with the Gold
Coast in 1957 to form Ghana. French administered Togo land became independent as Togo in 1960.Italy
ruled Somaliland joined with British Somaliland protectorate in 1960 to form
Somalia. French colony of Cameroon’s
gained independence as Cameroon in 1960 while British ruled northern territory
of Cameroon’s joined Nigeria and southern territory with Cameroon in 1961.
British administered Tanganyika became independent in 1961. In 1964, Tanganyika
and the former protectorate of Zanzibar, which had become independent in 1963,
united as a single State under the name of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Belgian administered Ruanda-Urundi voted to divide into the two sovereign
States of Rwanda and Burundi in 1962. New Zealand ruled Western Samoa became
independent as Samoa in 1962. Australia administered Nauru attained
independence in 1968. Australian ruled New Guinea united with Papua and became
the independent State of Papua New Guinea in 1975. That is how the fresh air of
freedom was breathed by various colonies in the previous century. Now let us
have a look at the time- table of French colonies on their road to
independence.
French Colonies towards liberation:
Indo-China gained Independence as Viet Nam
(1945) Laos (1949) and Cambodia (1953). French Establishments in Oceania &
French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, St.Pierre & Miquelon, Guadeloupe and
dependencies underwent change of status in 1947. Morocco in 1956 and French Guinea obtained Independence, as
Guinea in 1958.French Sudan became independent Mali in 1960. Ivory Coast after
Independence changed the name to Mauritania in1960. French West Africa gained
Independence as Dahomey (now Benin) in 1960.Niger Colony became Niger and then
gained Independence as Senegal in 1960.
French Somaliland attained Independence as Djibouti in 1977. Madagascar
(1960) and Comoros (1975) gained independence. New Hebrides is under
Anglo-French Condominium. Tunisia attained independence (1956), Cameroon
(1960), Togo (1960), and Vanuatu (1980). Italy Somaliland Trust Territory got
Independence as Somalia (joined with British Somaliland) in 1960.
Others: East Timor
attained independence in May 2002 and joined the United Nations in September
2002 as Timor Leste. In 1963, the Federation of Malaya became Malaysia,
following the admission to the new federation of Singapore, Sabah (North
Borneo) and Sarawak. Singapore became independent in 1965.Following the
ratification in 1964 of Articles of Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the
United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was formed and later changed its name
to the United Republic of Tanzania.
Colonies of Today: United Nations
documents issued in 2002 lists the following areas as ones still considered
being without self-rule. That means colonialism is yet to be completely wiped
out. In AFRICA Western Sahara is first in that list alphabetically. In ATLANTIC
AND CARIBBEAN United Kingdom administers Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Montserrat, St. Helena,
Turks and Calicos Islands whereas United States of America rules United States
Virgin Islands. In EUROPE Gibraltar is under the control of United Kingdom. In
the PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS American Samoa and Guam are with United States.
Pitcairn under United Kingdom and Tokelau remain with New Zealand. Since on
2 December 1986, the United Nations General Assembly determined that New
Caledonia was a Non-Self-Governing Territory, we can say that New Caledonia is
the only colony under France even in this century.
The Catalyst for Change: Decolonization British
style:
The aftermath
of Second World War, led to rapid disintegration of the European empires.
Colonialism downed its shutters. A salubrious breeze of freedom swept
colonialism. Colonies became independent states.
Decolonisation
and the British Empire 1775-1997 by Professor of
Political Theory in University of Wales D. GEORGE BOYCE analyses the ideas and policies that
governed the British experience of decolonization. It shows how the British
political tradition, with its emphasis on experience over abstract theory, was
integral to the way in which the empire was regarded as being transformed
rather than lost. This was a significant aspect of the relatively painless
British loss of empire. It places the process of decolonization in its wider context,
tracing the twentieth-century domestic and international conditions that
hastened decolonization, and, through a close analysis of not only the policy
choices but also the language of British imperialism, it throws new light on
the British way of managing both the expansion and contraction of empire.
With India's declaration of independence it became apparent that it was only a
matter of time before Britain’s other colonies demanded their own independence.
By 1957 only two of Britain’s colonies in Africa had gained their independence
they were the Gold Coast and Sudan. The rest were to quickly receive their
independence between 1957 and 1964. The
characteristics of these independences were the methods with which they carried
out by the British. They followed the same plan in each colony, which was to
prepare the colony for self-rule by training people for the new positions
within government and in other sectors which the British settlers had dominated
in. This meant the new independent country would be able to support her. It
also meant that the likely hood of a power vacuum would be reduced after the
British left, opines a comparative study.
Decolonization French way:
France was
another great imperial power who decolonised after the Second World War
although her reasons and methods were quite different from Britain. Whereas the British realized the colonies
were beginning to become a burden the French believed they had to re-assert
their national prestige by keeping control of their colonies. This may explain
why the French experience of decolonisation was so different to Britain’s.
French decolonisation was bloody and bitter whereas Britains was quite peaceful
and quite painless. France fought two costly and bloody wars over her colonies.
The first of these was in Indo-China, which had been under French rule since
the 19th Century. During the Second World War Indo-China was invaded and
occupied by the Japanese. Vietminh led
by Ho Chi Minh fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese. At the end of the
Second World War the French intended to retake control of Indo-China but before
they could the Vietminh declared independence. Fighting broke out in 1946 and
continued for eight years before the French suffered a massive defeat at Dien
Bien Phu. This was the decisive point of the war with an armistice being signed
soon after. France had lost much in the war including 91,000 men and their
colony. France’s African Empire started to decolonise after the humiliating
defeat at Dien Bien Phu as riots spread across the French African states.
France realized she could not hold her empire together anymore and begun
decolonising. All the French African colonies were granted their independence
between 1956 and 1960 with the exception Algeria. Algeria held a unique place
within the French Empire as it had been formally integrated into France thus
making it not a colony but a part of France itself. An armed rebellion led by
the F.L.N. (Front d'Liberation National) in 1954 led to bloody civil war in
Algeria. In 1958 General de Gaulle was persuaded to come out of retirement to
end the conflict in Algeria. Charles De Gaulle realized that France could not
win the war and that it would be a major strain on the economy to continue it.
He begun talks for independence and he and the F.L.N. leader signed a
settlement in 1962.
French dream to colonize Pondicherry:
History of French in India is a
monumental work written by Colonel G.B.Malleson, which narrates the events that
lead to the founding of Pondicherry in 1674 to the capture of that place in
1761. In the reign of Louis XII, in the year 1503, two ships of the merchants
of Rouen took to seas and were never heard thereof. This marks the first French
attempt to set foot on Indian soil. Though many had the urge nothing concrete
emerged. On June 1 1604 a company was established under Kings letters patent,
granting it exclusive trade for 15 years. This also failed to take of due to
faction feuds among the founders. 7 years later Louis XIII tried again in vain
to activate the company. During 1615 two merchants sought transfer of the
company to them, which was stiffly opposed by the company. Hence as compromise
formula the King created a coalition of both sides and conferred on July 2,
1615 letters patent. The next year two ships set to sail to India. Commodore de
Nets was in charge of the big vessel and Captain Antoine Beaulieu of the
smaller vessel. The Dutch crew in Beaulieu's ship obeying the diktats of their
government left the vessel of Beaulieu. And Beaulieu had to dispose the ship
and join the vessel of Commodore de Nets. In spite of all such travails the
venture was profitable. So the company launched 3 more vessels on trip to
India. Mont Morenci with 162 men, 22 guns with 450-ton capacity, L’Esperance
with 117 men, 26 guns and 400-ton capacity, L’Hermitage with 30 men, 8 guns and
with 75-ton capacity, were placed under Beaulieu’s chief command. In that trip
the Dutch sank L’Hermitage. Next 20 years no further efforts to reach east was
undertaken. In 1642 a new company La Compagnie des Indes with Richelieu was
launched but before ships could set to sail he passed away. A resting place mid
way to Indes became their passion. The first French vessel to Madagascar
reached its shores in summer of 1642.The local people resisted French settlers.
The company had to incur heavy losses in combating local people and ultimately
gave up its claims to Madagascar in 1672. In 1664 French Compagnie des Indes
with a capital of 15,000,000 livres was formed. A charter by the Government
granted the company exclusive rights for 50 years to trade with India with
total exemption from taxation. Government also agreed to reimburse all losses
if any. They first went for Madagascar. On March 7, 1665 with four ships and
520 men. They changed its name to Isle Dauphin. Earlier Portuguese had called
it Saint Lawrence. The local revolt against French occupation continued and
culminated in the fierce massacre of almost all within the walls of Fort
Dauphine. These abortive attempts gradually led to French setting foot on
Indian soil and making it a colony of France.
Reason for India becoming a
destination:
Why do all
colonialists set their eye on India? It is needless here to narrate how French
obtained a foothold on Indian soil and how they later became rulers. It is
vital to know why India was colonized, be it by the British, French and the
Portuguese? The East India Company was founded in 1600 to sell British
woolen cloth to India. Their ships arrived in Surat in 1608 with vast
quantities of broadcloth but the trade soon faltered and died out. What changed
their fortunes was the discovery of cotton, which was completely unknown in the
west, says Ms. Crill who had coauthored a book Trade, Temple and Court:
Indian Textiles from Tapi Collections. Another author of the same
book Ms.Ruth Barnes states that Textile trade surfaces repeatedly in the social
and economic histories of these times. For centuries textiles were crucial
currency in the Indian Ocean trade. If you wanted a piece of the spice trade in
the 14 th century, you did not have a chance unless you showed up in the
Eastern Indonesia with high quality textiles. Well these textile scholars have
stated one reason for India being a popular destination for colonialists.
Colonialists came to market their products but were drawn towards buying Indian
fabrics. ? Millions of Indian cotton arrived in England at that time, so
much so that the wool and linen weavers began to protest and a law prohibiting
Indian textiles was passed in 1700? Says Rosemary Crill of the V&A
Museum, London in her book.
Decolonisation of French India:
Let me quote verbatim the last rituals
performed for decolonising Pondicherry as written in the book Decolonisation
of French India, since I do not want to be drawn in
controversies by writing a new version myself. The procedure incorporated into
the joint communiqué¬ which was simultaneously published from New Delhi
and Paris, ran as follows Desirous of reaching a final settlement on the
question of the French establishments in India, The government of India and the
Government of the French Republic through their representatives in Delhi has
engaged in negotiations. As a result of these negotiations the two governments
have agreement on the following procedure. All elected members of the representative
assembly and the Municipal Councils of the establishments will be met at a
Congress on October 18 in the settlement of Pondicherry to consider the joint
proposals of the two governments for a final settlement of the future of the
settlements and record their decision on these proposals as an expression of
the wishes of the people .An arê´te of the Commissaire de la Pepublique was
published on 11 October in the Journal official of Pondicherry with a view to
acquainting the people the conditions of the consultation. The Pondicherry
Government issued summons to the elected municipal members of the south Indian
settlements and the Representative assembly to meet at Kizhur about 10 miles on
the border of west of Pondicherry on 18 October at 10 o’clock to decide the
future of the French settlements in India. The members of the four settlements
whose election was valid up to 1 st January 1954 had been asked to vote on that
day either for the continuation of French rule in these settlements or for
merger of these settlements with the Indian Union. The importance of the
Congress and the necessity of the members to attend the Congress were expressed
in a circular, which was signed by the Secretary General for French India and
dispatched to the elected members accompanied by the topographical map of the
place where the congress was to be held together with the admission card. There
was a proposal to hold the congress at Karaikal, but that was set aside.
Kizhur, a tiny hamlet situated in Indian Territory was finally chosen in
order to avoid the disturbances, which the presence of Goubert and Muthupillai
might have provoked if the congress had been held at Pondicherry.
Balasubramanian, President of the Representative Assembly acted as presiding
officer of the Congress. Out of 178, 170 members voted overwhelmingly in favour
of the merger with Indian Union and 8 voted against. The results were declared
in the presence of Pierre Landy and Kewal Singh. The period of suspense was
over. The usual scene of excitement tension and violence, which had
tainted previous elections in French India, was totally absent here in this
hamlet. It was so to speak a parody of consultation. France had to agree to
this as a sop to satisfy her constitutional requirements and India had to accept
this verdict given by the members of the municipal councils and representative
assembly whose elections she had protested as irregular. The signing of the
treaty at New Delhi on 21 October followed this. The remaining 10 days
witnessed the French India authorities make hectic preparations for total
withdrawal from Pondicherry and Karaikal. As fixed earlier Escargueil left
Pondicherry for France on 31 st October handing over charge to Pierre Landy.
The French national flag was removed from the top of the Governors house in the
evening of the same day. On 1 November of 1954 at 6.45 in the morning a
document of transfer was signed between Pierre Landy representing France and
Kewal Singh, Indian Consul general and Indian Commissioner designate in the official
residence of the former. In Karaikal too Boucheney aided by Duvauchelle, an
Officer of the foreign department who had recently arrived here, handed over
power to the India administration?
Immediately after this the Indian national flag
was unfurled over the government house to the tumultuous ovation of thousands
of people who had gathered there marking the close of seven-year tortuous
negotiations. Throughout the day there was jubilation everywhere in
Pondicherry, In Karaikal, in Mahe and in Yenam and the rest of India in this
hour of joy. As a result of the historic decision taken at kizhur more than 3
lakh people rejoined their mother country India at the dawn of 1 November
thereby ending 240-year-old French rule on the four settlements of South India.
The people of India welcomed the residents of the erstwhile French settlements
into the larger fold of Indian citizenship.
A part of India separated from the motherland is coming back to us on
its own freewill Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Rajendra Prasad
said we should be equal partners in a common endeavor to work for the progress
and prosperity of India. The congress of Kizhur facilitated the dissolution of
French colonial rule in the French pockets, but French sovereignty over them continued
legally till dejure transfer had taken place in 1962.
FRENCH AND FRENCH CITIZENS IN INDIA
PRESENT STATUS: The colonial rule created a new class of citizens, Indian
born yet French citizens by option. These Indians have roots in Pondicherry but have
their work and homes in France. For those left in the soil of Pondicherry
France has constitutional arrangements to look after the
interests of Indian born French citizens. This arrangement is unique and
deserves close appraisal. The notification issued by the Rastrapathi Bhavan few
years ago had stated that hereafter the Ministry of Non Resident Indians will
be named as Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in English and Pravasi
Bharatiya Karya Mantralaya in Hindi which has come into operation now. But within
our country we have residing Non Resident French citizens but
who are Indians by birth but French citizens by option. It will be interesting
to compare with what French does for Overseas French affairs. When French left
their former colonies, they left large sections that opted to become French
citizens. There are more than 20 million French citizens living abroad in
various former French colonies including Pondicherry, which is a Union
Territory under Indian Union. One hundred and fifty five delegates are elected
by direct universal suffrage by the French communities abroad for a period of 6
years and this body is presided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
France. French citizens in America elect
32 delegates and from Africa 47 seats thus the total of A series of
constituencies is 79. In B series there are 76 seats and the break up is 52
seats from Europe
and
from Asia-Oceania and the Orient 24. Within these 24 seats two are chosen from
Pondicherry. Half of the Electoral College is renewed every 3rd year. All
former colonies are divided into 52 electoral districts, with one or more
delegates per district.
A
country may have several electoral districts, just as an electoral district may
cover several countries. French people residing abroad through their 155
representatives elect twelve Senators to French Parliament. They get elected
one-third at a time for 8 years in 2004 and for 7 years in 2007 and for 6 years
from 2010
The Constitution of 27 October 1946 (IVth
Republic) stipulated that the new Parliament would comprise a National Assembly
and a "Council of the Republic" (as the Senate was called until 1958)
within which "the French of the Exterior" would be represented. This
may be like our lower and upper houses in Parliament. The National Assembly
pondered and decided how to effect this representation. It decreed, in a
resolution dated 13 December 1946, that three "Councillor of the
Republic" seats (out of 320) would go to personalities representing Non
Resident French citizens living in Europe, America and Asia-Oceania-Orient
respectively.
For more than two decade the following
associations were looking after the interests of Non Resident French citizens
in Paris. They are the Union of French Chambers of Commerce Abroad, the French
Overseas Teachers Association, the Non-Resident French War Veterans Federation,
and the Overseas French Union (Union des Franç¡©s de l?é´²anger, UFE), founded
in 1927. These four bodies mooted a suggestion for creation of a "high
council" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The then Prime Minister,
Robert Schuman, and his Foreign Minister, Georges Bidault signed a Decree
setting up the High Council for French People residing abroad. On 7 July 1948.
The first High Council was composed of 55 members: 8 ex officio members (the
three Senator-Councilors of the Republic, the president and director of the
UFE, the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, of the Teachers Association
and of the War Veterans Federation, 42 elected officials, and 5 members
nominated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” The first CSFE elections of 1950
were held in seventy countries of Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, according
to a protocol defined in a Ministerial Decree dated 10 December 1949 and signed
by Robert Schuman.
Article 24 of the Constitution of 25 September
1958 states, "French nationals settled outside France should be
represented in the Senate." Two Executive Orders were issued, on 15
November 1958 and 4 February 1959 respectively, for organizing this
representation and providing the CSFE with new status. The CSFE, while
retaining its advisory role, became the sole Electoral College for electing
Senators from abroad. Their numbers increased from three to six, two
representing Europe and America, one representing Asia-Oceania and three
representing Africa. It was thus divided into three sections for the Senatorial
elections of 23 April 1959. The CSFE had 84 elected members but it became clear that Europe and America
were under-represented in comparison with Africa. The number of Senators was therefore brought
up to nine for 1962 elections. After the creation of the Democratic Association
of French Citizens Abroad (Association Dé¯cratique des Franç¡©s à ¬?
Etranger - ADFE) in 1980, the CSFE was reconstituted in 1982. The Act of 7 June
1982 paved way for the election by universal suffrage of Delegates to the CSFE,
which (with the exception of twenty-one members chosen for their competence but
not having Senatorial voting rights) was no longer a body of appointed
personalities. And the election of twelve Senators thereafter is only by the
elected members of the CSFE. The Minister of Foreign Affairs defines the
objectives and priorities of the assembly chaired by him. The Senators place
before the Senate, the National Assembly and the Economic and Social Council
the propositions, motions, resolutions and wishes expressed by their electors.
The twelve Senators, ex officio members of the AFE, can introduce Bills or
legislative amendments reflecting the hopes and needs of French people living
around the world.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs on the basis of their particular
qualifications designates the appointed councilors. The members of the Council
may form political groups. The college of Vice-Presidents (or
conference of Vice-Presidents) enacts the work of the Council and reports back
to the President. The plenary assembly, attended by the ex officio members, the
appointed members and the elected members, meets once a year in Paris at the
beginning of September.
Members are divided among specialized
committees, which prepare reports for submission to the plenary assembly.
The AFE
exercises real political authority at the moment when Senators representing
French people abroad are elected. Elected AFE members can sponsor a candidate
for the French presidential elections. The AFE is "called upon to give the
Cabinet opinions on matters and projects of concern to French People residing
abroad, and on developing France’s presence abroad". They are not prior
opinions, however. The AFE could rather be said to fulfill the role of a
specialized Economic and Social Council. The Cabinet may consult it, or it may
intervene at its own initiative. AFE members, as elected representatives of the
various French communities abroad, are concerned to defend the interests of
French People residing abroad. They study matters relating to the education of
French people abroad, their rights, their social situation, and their economic
and taxation problems. The AFE may use background studies to inform the French
authorities on specific problems (education, law, social affairs, foreign
trade, taxation, etc) affecting the interests of French People residing abroad.
This French experience is novel and it
must be studied by the Government of India to evolve novel methods to solve the
issues that haunt the Overseas Indians and the newly formed Ministry must
emulate the representative system followed by France. British left India
satisfied with getting 2 nominated M.P Seats in the Loksabha for Anglo-Indians.
France did not plead for seats in the legislature for Franco-Indians. It worked
out the above stated arrangements to manage the Indian born French nationals.
From Fiji to Srilanka people of Indian origin are there. Will it be advisable
if a similar arrangement is made for them under the aegis of the Ministry of
Overseas Affairs? Union Territory Act has provision for 3 nominated members but
it should be done according to the procedure adopted for Rajyasabha nominations
i.e.: educated and social activists alone be nominated. That is another story.
Problems galore left by colonial legacy:
Colonial policy had a couple of goals: (1) to
control the supply of valuable raw materials, such as minerals, petrol, wood,
plantation crops such as rubber, sugar, pepper, cotton etc., (2) to secure a
market for the industrial exports of the colonizing country, (3) country to
settle in for the colonizing country's emigrating population, (4) strategic
importance. Let us have a look at the problems left over by the colonial legacy.
In the colonies, decades, in some countries centuries of colonial rule had
resulted in major changes. In many cases, the borders of the colonies had been
unilaterally drawn by Colonial powers with little regard for ethnicity and
history. The border dispute India has with its neighbours is a left over of
the colonial legacy. The contiguity of Pondicherry is missing and the enclave
territories separated by miles scattered as dots remain in Indian map, which is
also an issue of the colonial legacy and poses problem for gaining statehood to
be on par with other Indian states. The infrastructure established by the
colonial administration served mainly the interests of the colonial
administration. There are many fields that warrant a study. More information
may be in French and their archives. It is high time our scholars scan all such
information to provide an in-depth study of Pondicherry's colonization and
decolonization.
While such study into past is also needed,
there is greater need to study how decolorized nations have faced the
challenges in the post-colonial era. We in India are still facing the issues
left by the colonial legacy. Let us see the experience of Singapore and
Malaysia and the issues, which will be of importance too from our standpoint.
Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore stated once that empires never last forever, that
either the master and subject races finally merged to a unified society or the
empire ends with subject races clashes violently and finally emerging as
separate nation and entity. Ironically, his statement can equally be applied to
the independent country of Malaysia where race and racial issues are still a
sensitive and election issue. Ethnocentrism was and is still not something
that can ever be stamped out.
The Kingdom at a Crossroads written
by Marijke van der Meer tells the story of Surinam. In the late 18th century
the British swapped their South American colony now known as Surinam for
Manhattan, then controlled by The Netherlands. For many years the Dutch
reckoned they had the better of the of the deal, after all the British lost
Manhattan quite quickly, while Surinam only gained its independence in on
November 25 1975.
Professor Oostindie opines that there was not
enough time to find solutions to many of Surinam's long-standing issues.
"The Dutch government did whatever was necessary to accomplish
independence," he says, "basically this was done by not solving
several problems such as the border dispute with Guyana. They offered more
development aid than had been conceived of before and they said that all
Surinamers, even five years after independence, would be eligible for Dutch
nationality, stimulating an exodus to The Netherlands. Today there are just
over 400,000 people in Surinam but there are 300,000 people of Surinamese
descent in The Netherlands. The whole demographic growth of this nation has
been in The Netherlands rather than Surinam. The offer of French citizenship to
people of Pondicherry origin by the French created a similar exodus, which
needs a comparative study.
Reports from a wild country: Ethics of
Decolonisation by Deborah Bird Rose explores some of
Australia’s major ethical challenges. Written in the midst of rapid social and
environmental change and in a time of uncertainty and division, it offers powerful
stories and arguments for ethical choice and commitment. The focus is on
reconciliation between Indigenous and Settler? Peoples, and with nature.
The above stated problems are just examples and
lot remains to be studied about the postcolonial problems left over of the
colonial legacies in all former colonies.
Recolonisation and Neocolonialism:
Colonization and decolonization could be
understood easily as that process is over and a post mortem is possible. But
what about recolonization? This word entered the political discourse in the
aftermath of Iraqi invasion by America. America of the 20 th century was not in
favour of colonization. But in 21 st century doubts over its moves aimed at
recolonization exists in peoples mind. Neo colonialism needs a fresh
study. Now we are one in India, and we cannot think Pondicherry in
isolation from rest of India and its burning issues. We live in an area of free
markets. You should remember that the drive to market their products and
purchase our raw materials only opened the doors to colonial rule few centuries
before. History is repeating in a different form. The export and import of
toxic wastes justified in the name of recycling is now one of the biggest
threats to global environment. The import of toxic wastes by Third World
countries is cause of grave concern. Take for example the Ship Building Yard at
Alang in Gujarat.350 ships are scrapped in India every year. According to
Central Pollution Control Board 12,428 metric tons of hazardous and non
hazardous waste is produced in Alang, which seriously affects soil, water and
air.
Dr.Wishwas Rane of All India Drug Action had
brought out a comprehensive guide called Banned and Banable Drugs. That guide
lists out 23 out of 80 top selling drugs as irrational and hazardous. While our
country becomes dumping ground for hazardous pills banned in West, Indian
Council for Medical Research has clearly established that a herbal product
Vijaysar obtained from a bark of a tree Pterocarpus marsupium helps control
blood glucose levels, yet it has to take off and enter the markets.
Neocolonialism rules the roost, and we fail to resist recolonization by west,
which is trying to capture our medical market.
You may be aware that the Suez Canal (1869) and
Panama Canal (1915) Sethu Samudram Canal (1860) and Tenth Degree Canal have
been mooted to create short navigational routes to bring prosperity to their
respective regions and countries. The French initiative to build Siene_Norde
Canal is an example for the keen interest evinced by developing countries to
promote trade and overall development. You must go back to the pages of history
to know that Thailand then known, as Siam is an enemy country of the British
and an ally of the Japan during the World War II. On the conclusion of the
Second World War II, one of the last secretive acts performed by the colonial
Government of India was the signing of a Peace Treaty with Siam (Thailand). A
Peace Treaty between her Majesty’s Government and the Government of India on
one hand and the Kingdom of Siam on the other, on January 1, 1946 at the
Government House Singapore. The signatories were for the Britain Mr. Moberly
Dening, Political Adviser to Lord Louis Mount batten, for Government of India
Mr.M.S.Aney and for Siam (now Thailand) Prince Viwat Anajai Jaiyant, Lt.General
Phya Abhai Songgram and Nai Serm Vinichayakul. This treaty contains 24
articles. Out of this Article 7 assumes importance in the context of this
letter.
Article 7: Siam undertakes to construct no
canal linking the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Siam (i.e. across the Kra
Isthmus) without British consent. (Keesing's Contemporary Archives 1946-48 Vol
VI, p 7695). This article had done great havoc to Indian shipping costing our
nation billions of extra money by way of fuel imports, in view of shelving of
the Tenth Degree Canal project with the imposition of a condition in this Peace
Treaty. It has also blocked the economic prosperity of Thailand and held up the
development process by half a century and more.
Government of
India and Government of Thailand must look into the unfavorable conditions
imposed by a colonial rule, that too at the threshold of a defeat in Second
World War II on Thailand, an ally of Japan. It is in the interests of India and
Thailand that a Canal be cut across the Isthmus of Kra where the isthmus
narrows to just 75 miles and to develop this canal vigorously so that a detour
of 1500 nautical miles down the Malayan Coast via the Straits of Malacca and up
the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea is avoided. The proposed Tenth
Degree Canal will be an extension of the Tenth Degree channel in between
Andaman and Nicobar islands. The opening of Tenth Degree canal will result is
saving millions of tons of fuel foe world shipping. The Tenth Degree canal
reduces the importance of other major canals of the world namely Suez Canal and
Panama Canal. The Tenth Degree Canal would develop Andaman & Nicobar
Islands and bring prosperity to its economy.
But
instead of thinking on these lines to develop Andaman Nicobar islands, the
colonial mentality makes us think of bartering away 23 remote Lakshadeep and
Andaman islands to foreigners. In Kerala people had to resist moves to hand
over rivers to multinationals.
This how our Moghul rulers, Sultans, Nawabs,
Nayaks and other Indian kings opened the doors to colonialism in yesteryears.
Let not our soil become a breeding ground for neocolonialism. Let us not
welcome recolonisation.
