Let the tribals self-rule
The editorial "Dilemmas of self-rule" (16-31 May, 2018) makes it clear that there should not be any dilemma about the announced self-rule by a Chhattisgarh village, which can be considered as the tip of the iceberg. Successive govern ments in the Centre and in the state, irrespective of their political ideology, have never descended to the tribal person's door to understand their viewpoint and angst. The governments, elected to serve the people, have behaved like the masters and cloaked themselves with the state's might. They wish to see the tribals line-up before them with folded hands, entreating for basic development that otherwise are their fundamental right.
On the other hand, tribals want to manage their land and forests on their own. This hiatus between the two viewpoints has grown since Independence. Let the tribals self-rule. There is no threat to the state or to democracy. We need people like Mahatma Gandhi or Vinoba Bhave at this juncture to better understand the tribals. KIRAN SHARMA SUNDERNAGAR, HIMACHAL PRADESH