Under the cover of protests

Our dear State Assam and its inhabitants have earned fame as we are recognized as torchbearers of ‘protests/ andolans’. This is though we are to yet determine what we have gained over the years. I use to keep a tab on the lectures of the various anti-CAA protests rallies and more often than not the flag-bearers of the protest movement often tell the people that “we the Assamese are a warrior race, and we are known for mandolins/protests globally”. We are yet to introspect or dwell on in-depth analysis of the famous six-year-long Assam Agitation. The emergence of a new regional party with a new set of politicians with gamosa drapped on the necks as their trademark style what I could see or realize. Another point is that voluntary public donation during the agitation time later on converted to ‘chanda system’. The emergence of easy money in name of Chanda has a massive negative impact on the minds of the youths. The mushroom growth of so many dols/Sangathan in the State is primarily due to the so-called chanda system. New hopes, new dawns blah blah, but we can count the number of foreigners detected and deported on our fingertips in the post-Assam Agitation. Of course, we welcomed foreigners (in lakhs) and assimilated them among us as proud citizens of India.

Coming to the present scenario, everyone has a democratic right to protest/oppose the policies of the government. The AASU must be congratulated for creating jana jagaran against the CAA (not sure if the Act is explained by point-to-point to the public). Almost on a daily basis in some places, the anti-CAA agitation is on under the aegis of some dols/songothons. Even some unions like the AAMSU (hard to digest) are not lagging behind. Only recently they organized a massive rally in Nagaon where their activists did best to sell/promote themselves as original sons/daughters of the State against the CAA. Less said the better about the assembled crowd in the rally as intelligent people of the state is best to pass on a judgment. Thanks to the advancement of technology, wherewith a dab of a finger on the keypad of a smartphone/laptop the past activities of the AAMSU are easily visible. Who can forget their role in against the NRC in Barpeta where their activists resorted to violence and the NRC process was stalled for months. People do not remember any protests or at least giving a byte before the camera about the silent invasion of extra lands, Kaziranga lands, regarding jehadi activities, rhino poaching in the Kaziranga National Park. They maintained a stoic silence even when in 14 to 18 districts the original inhabitants were reduced to minority, and displaced from their place.

Another point which confuses me is: why do we have so many regional students unions like the Tai Ahom Chatra Sangtha, the AAMSU, the AAASA, the AAKRSU, the AAMSA, the AJYCP, etc, etc? Can’t we have all these student unions come under one umbrella like the AASU? Similarly, when we have Axam Xahitya Xabha, then why are there so many Sahitya sabhas like the Boro Sahitya Sabha, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, etc. The problem is that we the Assamese have never remained united as a result our lands rights, jobs are under threat, in some cases already gone in the hands of non-bhumiputras. Merely doing andolans won’t create a ‘Bor Asom’( Greater Assam) unless and until we channelize our resources in the right way, improve our work ethics, project all the khilongiyas as composite Assamese people. Foreigners (Hindu/Muslims/Sikhs/Jains/Christians/Buddhists and others) must be identified, and no discrimination on the basis of religion is acceptable. At the end, we should be vigilant as it has been observed that one section of Bangladeshis is taking advantage by intermingling with the khilongiyas and projecting themselves as original inhabitants of the State in the ongoing anti-CAA movement. This is unacceptable. We got to remember they are the illegal infiltrators, not refugees who have joined the movement to serve their political interests. Their loyalty towards the Assamese people and integrity towards the nation is always questionable. Right now they are shedding crocodile tears and given the chance they will pounce upon the people as Frankenstein.

Gaurav Chowdhury,

GNB Road, Guwahati.