By Ananya S Guha
Assam is in turmoil once again. And, this time too it is linked to the immigrants’ issue. In Goalpara the events have taken once again a religio – ethnic dimension. Last year too violence erupted in this district and people were killed in police firing and many were displaced.
The Rabhas – the local tribal community in the Goalpara district and in the lower Assam district came out ostensibly to protest against the holding of the Panchayati elections, areas they felt fell under the district council. The Bodos, the Dimasas and the Rabhas had been asking for autonomy, and after local district councils were granted, they have demanded statehood. In the process, and after police fired on the protesters, the people went on a rampage dismantling homes of the immigrants from Bangladesh.
This was a repeat of what happened in the Bodo areas last year, plunging the state once again in social, political and ethnic turmoil. The tragedy is that this goes unnoticed by the Centre, and there is an impasse to the problem of immigration. However what started as a frontal attack on the state government turned into an ethnic calamity, bringing to question the immigrant issue once again. And again, it is dispute over property and land. It is saddening to read about local children unable to appear for the school examinations, as their books have been burnt, or have lost their parents. One intrepid girl said that she would appear for the examinations, as her father always wanted her to be educated.
What will the authorities do in such situations? How do we find lasting solutions to the vexed issues of illegal migration? Even as the cataclysm continued, students and other related bodies accused the state government of pampering the immigrants for vote banks. This has come full circle. Ever since the 1980s this issue has struck at the chords of Assam leading to dismemberment of the state, which in reality is a mosaic of cultures.
The tragedy is that communities are pitted against one another and there is an undercurrent of tension between the ‘tribals’ and the ‘non tribals’ as well the immigrants. This has led to demand for autonomy and separate states. Once autonomy in the form of local district councils are granted, then larger issues surface. How are the authorities going to look at these vexed problems, so that Assam can remain united? What is the solution, simply treating them as law and order problems is not the solution.
The common ‘enemy’ in Assam is the Bangladeshi immigrant as he eats into the fertile land, leading to deprivation among the local people. Any wrath against the government is turned to animosity against him. What checks for the immigrants can be put here? The government both state and central does not look at the problem fair and square. It always tries to evade the central issue and in the process things simmer and then go out of control.
It is high time a concerted policy is adopted to tackle the problems in Assam and in the neighbouring North Eastern States such as granting temporary work permits and renewing them after a particular duration. Otherwise, the turmoil in the shape of ethnic riots will continue to haunt the North East Region especially Assam which is the largest state in the region.
Assam is the largest state in North East India in terms of population and anything that happens there in the form of social turmoil affects the rest of the North East Region. Thus, happenings there at the socio political level have to be seen in larger contexts. This becomes not only sensitive but also impinges broader issues such as the insider outsider dichotomy. In fact, Assam has been suffering for over three decades due to militancy and the call for smaller tribes and communities asking for more autonomy. In between there have been the vilest bomb blasts where children and women have been mauled and killed. This is the tragedy of this beautiful state which can boast of diversity and multiplicity of communities and cultures in the most varied way.
Yet we have not been able to hold these cultures under a single yoke because of lack of understanding of diversity and its processes by the law makers. Diversity at its best is harmony, but at its worst it can be cruel and killing. That is exactly what is happening and what is required is not only District Councils being formed but a look into real issues of economy and unemployment.
The same is true for the other states of North East India. A social or political malaise is symptomatic of deep wounds and is a cause effect of history. Unless we read the past to understand there will be no insightful understanding, empathy for what is happening in the present.