Tamil Nadu has Nothing to Cheer about the Indian Atomic Bomb
TAMIL TRIBUNE, June 1998 (ID. 1998-06-01)
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DEFINITION
Hindians: People whose mother tongue is Hindi (similar to Tamil speakers are sometimes referred as Tamilans or Tamilians).
There was much cheer and self-congratulation about the recent testing of five atomic bombs by the Indian government. From the perspective of Tamil Nadu, I see nothing to cheer about this newly gained expensive, high technology weapon and military might. This is a Hindian atomic bomb (not an Indian atomic bomb) whose sole purpose and rationale is the protection of the Hindi heartland and the northern borders close to this Hindi land from its northern neighbors, namely, Pakistan and China.
Am I so self-centered to think only of Tamil Nadu and not look at the defense needs from an All-India perspective? As long as the Indian government makes military moves solely on a Hindian-centered rationality, considering only the protection and welfare of the Hindi heartland and the borders close to it, but neglecting the protection of its Tamil citizens, I also have to look at it from a Tamil Nadu centered point of view. If the Indian government gives due consideration to the concerns and security needs of Tamil Nadu, then I will reciprocate and look at its newly gained military might from an All-India perspective. Let me elaborate.
Indian government's military spending during fiscal year 1995-1996 was 8 billion US Dollars (approximately 25,000 crore Rupees). Over 10% of this money came from taxes collected in Tamil Nadu. Bulk of the military expenditure (possibly 99% of it) goes for the defense of the northern borders. It is understandable; after all, almost all the defense needs are in the north because of the hostile and powerful neighbors in the north. Southern defense needs are miniscule because the only country to the south is the tiny Sri Lanka whose military cannot stand even a day against the Indian army in conventional warfare.
Tamil Nadu has its "defense needs", however miniscule they may be. These are legitimate concerns and needs, and Tamil Nadu expects the Indian military to fulfill its obligations to Tamil Nadu. A truly national army should protect all its citizens. What are Tamil Nadu's defense needs? (Some of these concerns are discussed in some detail in my article "Gujral and the Fishermen" [Reference 1]. We will discuss them briefly here.)
In recent years the Sri Lankan navy is shooting and killing Tamil Nadu fishermen in international waters. (It is quite possible that a few of those killed did wander into Sri Lankan waters by mistake but even that does not give the Sri Lankan navy the right to shoot and kill citizens of a friendly neighbor. Such incidents never happen anywhere else in the world between friendly neighbors.) Well over 100 Tamil Nadu fishermen were shot and killed by the Sri Lankan navy in a few hundred separate incidents; many more were seriously injured and cannot work and support their families; millions of Rupees worth of boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen were destroyed. In spite of repeated requests from the Tamil Nadu state government, the Indian government refuses to protect the Tamil Nadu fishermen. We do not need atomic bombs, ballistic missiles, aircraft carriers or submarines to protect these fishermen. The oldest ship in the Indian navy could take on the Sri Lankan navy ships shooting at our fishermen. But the Indian government refuses to protect the Tamil Nadu fishermen from the Sri Lankan navy. In fact, all it would take to stop the Sri Lankan navy from shooting our fishermen is for the Indian government to warn the Sri Lankan government that the Indian navy would pursue and shoot at any Sri Lankan ship shooting at Tamil Nadu fishermen; Sri Lankan navy will never shoot at our fishermen again. Would you believe it? The Indian government refuses to warn the Sri Lankan government! Think for a minute. When Pakistani army shoots at any Indian citizen at the northern borders, Indian army immediately retaliates. Further troops are rushed to the area and the Indian government sends a stern and unequivocal warning to Pakistan. But here, in the south, over 100 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been killed by the Sri Lankan navy and the Indian government refuses to even warn Sri Lanka. By the way, number of Indians killed in the northern borders during the same period more than 100 Indian citizens from Tamil Nadu were killed by the Sri Lankan navy is less than ten! The reason why there are so many killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen in contrast to the very few in the northern borders is that Pakistan knows that India would retaliate if it shoots at Indians. The Sri Lankan government knows equally well that it can kill Tamil Nadu fishermen with impunity and the Indian government would not come to protect them.
The second concern of Tamil Nadu relates to Kachativu Island. This island belonged to India and Tamil Nadu fishermen have been using it as a rest stop during long fishing trips for centuries. It all changed during the 1970s. The Indian government handed over the Kachativu Island to Sri Lanka in spite of the fact that the island is important to Tamil Nadu fishermen. When our fishermen complained at that time, the Indian government quieted them saying that they could continue to stop and rest on the island though it now belonged to Sri Lanka. In spite of that agreement, the Sri Lankan navy shoots at Tamil Nadu fishermen going near the island and India would not even complain about the violation of the agreement. (Kachativu is not the only area where our fishermen are shot and killed. In fact this is only a small fraction of the killings.)
Consider this. India refuses to concede even a centimeter of land to China or Pakistan in the north. India fought a major war with China over disputed territory in the Ladakh sector in 1962 and lost thousands of soldiers and the war cost India hundreds of millions of dollars. India fought a war with Pakistan over disputed territory in the Kutch sector. (India fought two more wars with Pakistan on other issues.) There were several minor skirmishes with Pakistan over minor Pakistani incursions into Indian territory. The disputed areas in Ladakh and Kutch are not populated areas and are of no civilian use. In spite of that, India fought major wars at heavy financial cost and soldiers' lives to protect the northern borders closer to the Hindi heartland. Here, in the South - far off from the Hindi heartland - India hands over the Kachativu Island to Sri Lanka in spite of its importance to Tamil Nadu fishermen.
There is a pattern and rationale to Indian government's military moves and decisions. India's primary concern is the security of the Hindi heartland and, by extension, the northern borders closer to the Hindi heartland. (They consider that India is Hindia and everyone other than Hindians is a peripheral second class citizen.) As a good Indian citizen, I am willing to accept it from an all-India perspective, BUT what concern me are (1) Indian government's refusal to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen from the Sri Lankan navy, (2) the handing over of Kachativu Island to Sri Lanka in spite of its importance to Tamil Nadu fishermen, and (3) the reasons behind these anti-Tamil Nadu actions.
There is a "Hindian-centered reason" for sacrificing over 100 Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Kachativu Island. India wants a friendly Sri Lanka to its south, even if it means ignoring Tamil Nadu's legitimate concerns. Why? India does not want its traditional enemies in the north (Pakistan and China), closer to the Hindi heartland, to have listening posts or other facilities in Sri Lanka, endangering Indian army, navy and air bases in Tamil Nadu and other southern states.
These Indian military bases in the south are not intended for the protection of the south; there is no threat of incursion into Tamil Nadu or southern states by Pakistan or China; the only country close to the south is Sri Lanka and its tiny military is no threat. These bases are reserves in case of an all-out war with Pakistan or China in the north; personnel and equipment from these bases will be moved to north to replenish losses there. India is appeasing Sri Lanka by allowing it to shoot at Tamilnadu fishermen with impunity and by handing over the Kachativu Island in order to prevent its enemies from establishing listening posts or other facilities in Sri Lanka to spy on South Indian military bases that are important to the protection of the northern borders and the Hindi heartland. In other words, Tamil Nadu fishermen's lives and livelihood are sacrificed with the Hindian-centered view of protecting the Hindi heartland and the northern borders close to it. This is simply not acceptable to Tamil Nadu. Under these circumstances, Tamil Nadu has nothing to cheer about India's atomic bomb.
Tamil Nadu will gladly pay heavy taxes to develop and deploy nuclear weapons although it is only for the protection of the Hindi heartland and the northern borders close to it if the Indian government puts an end to the Hindian domination of Tamil Nadu and other non-Hindi states in every sphere of life. We demand the following actions on the part of the Indian government:
- Stop the killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.
- Reclaim Kachativu Island from Sri Lanka.
- Stop the imposition of Hindi language and culture through central government jobs and radio/television.
- Stop the economic discrimination and exploitation of Tamil Nadu. (Billions of rupees of Tamil Nadu taxes are transferred to Hindi heartland states through central government grants and projects. It should stop.)
These four points are not just one woman's opinion. All four points are part of the election manifestos of the two major political parties of Tamil Nadu, namely, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Until the Indian government fulfills these four points and demonstrates its intention of treating all Indians as equal (unlike the present status of treating Hindians as first class citizens and Tamils as second class citizens and vassals), there is nothing for Tamil Nadu to cheer about the recent testing of atomic bombs by the Indian government.
REFERENCE
1. Gujral and the Fishermen (by Usha Ramanathan), TAMIL TRIBUNE, December 1997.
2. Who Rules India? (Part I) (by Thanjai Nalankilli), TAMIL TRIBUNE, November 2000
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