ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES AIU INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTRE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

PRESS CLIPPINGS IN EDUCATION DECEMBER, 2019

Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner

ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES AIU INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTRE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

PRESS CLIPPINGS IN EDUCATION 07 DECEMBER, 2019

Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner

ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES AIU INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTRE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

PRESS CLIPPINGS IN EDUCATION 11 DECEMBER, 2019

Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner 6 THE TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

MESSAGE FOR TODAY You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Assamese language at stake – ABRAHAM LINCOLN ■ Amal Baishya cious to believe that the migrated gion of the remaining figure (i.e., speaking 80,648. Muslims from Bangladesh have ac- 1,14,345 – 1,516 = 1,12,429)? Cer- In a State where the Hindu popu- he Citizenship (Amend- gali language in the State. No one cepted Assamese as their first lan- tainly Muslim, since there’s no oth- lation decreases and the Muslim ment) Act, 2019, of late, would deny that the Bengalis have guage. It’s nothing but a planned er religious community there. So, population increases, the fear of be- has created a turmoil in made steady inroads to the North- blueprint of some forces hostile it’s clear out of 1,46,516 Muslim ing endangered by the diminished Assam with a number of east since quite a long time. Of late, against Assam and the Assamese. population in Kalgachia, 1,12,429 Hindu number is unfounded. Al- Torganizations resorting to agitation the issue of the Citizenship Following the much-talked As- speak Bengali! Thus, the majority ready the Bengali Muslims have Sonowal’s U-turn protesting it. It’s really surprising (Amendment) Bill, now an Act, has sam Agitation against the foreign of migrated Muslims in Kalgachia surpassed the Hindus in nine dis- The assertion of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reit- to see the polarization of forces, fuelled anxiety among the Assamese nationals in the late 70s to early 80s, are Bengali speaking and not Assa- tricts including Dhubri, Darrang, erating his ‘commitment’ to uphold the interests of the peo- perhaps for the first time in the community. The anger against the Dr Hiren Gohain opined, “The fall- mese speaking ones. Goalpara, Nagaon, Morigaon and ple above anything else would sound rather hollow against State, on the issue starting from Act stems from a fear that the Assa- out of Assam Agitation for deport- 2. In Baghbar: Religion-wise: . It’s surprising, even after the disturbing backdrop of the State Government’s shock- students’ organizations to political mese language will be further sub- ing the foreigners will convert the Hindu-10,949; Muslim-2,84,251; that, a section of learned people and ing inertia in convincing the BJP-led Government at the parties, from the fundamentalist to sumed by giving citizenship to the State of Assam a Muslim-dominat- Language-wise: Assamese speaking intellectuals of Assam are still try- the radicals, from the artists to the illegal Hindu migrants from Bang- ed one.” (The Sunday magazine, 45,022; Bengali speaking 2,50,091. ing to mislead the masses hiding the Centre about the perils that will befall the Assamese people intellectuals. The platform, look- ladesh. The media and a section of Vol-10; Issue 33; 6-12 March, 1983). In Baghbar, the number of Hindus shocking truth. under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) regime. ing massive with supporting pil- people and organizations have cam- That’s what the reality is in Assam is only 10,949. But the number of The facts and figures of the last Let alone taking up the matter with its Central leadership in lars of the Jatiya Sangathans, ar- paigned with misleading Bengali-speaking people two Censuses reveal an alarming the right earnest – something done immediately and force- tistes’ fraternity and civil society, propaganda that the Bill is 2,50,091. So it proves, scenario before us. This is how the fully by the governments in the neighbouring northeastern has mobilized the masses to draw would push the Assamese The facts and figures of the last at least 2,39,142 of Mus- vested interests have long com- States – the Chief Minister has been busy placating the the attention of the media. But the language into an endan- lims accept Bengali as posed a silent aggression since the party bosses and now has taken recourse to the outrageous unanswered question, or rather the gered corner affecting the two Censuses reveal an their mother tongue. early 20th century engulfing the argument that Assam does not stand to be affected by the question tactfully avoided till date, secular fabric of the nation. alarming scenario before us. There is another Assamese and their language from Act, as a very small number of Hindu Bengali migrants would remains: Is it really for a legitimate But if we look into past alarming trend we could multi-angles like a venomous octo- cause to the greater interest of the statistical facts, the picture This is how the vested interests see in Barpeta. During a pus. The historical traitors like Badan get to settle down in Assam under the Act. Does the Chief Assamese? Or is it merely to op- that comes into light is to- period of 10 years from Barphukan are still there who enjoy Minister who himself was in the forefront of the anti-Bang- pose a political force which is de- tally different. When the have long composed a silent 1991 to 2001, the and make a mockery of the destiny ladeshi movement in the 1980s have to be reminded of the termined to uphold the ethical iden- last Census recorded a aggression since the early 20th number of Assamese- of the Assamese people mingling dangerous consequences of the unabated cross-border in- tity of a nation powered by its age- substantial increase of speaking people in Bagh- with the present day Maans. filtration from Bangladesh for decades which has already old civilization in this part of the Bengali-speaking people century engulfing the bar was reduced by a Recent crime records show that effected visible demographic changes in Assam? How can world since the days of the sages? in Assam, it was misinter- Assamese and their language margin of 88,427 while many Muslim youths, influenced by the Chief Minister now make a U-turn and say that only a The Assamese people, by nature, preted that the increase that of Bengali speaking the Jehadi fundamentalists active handful of Hindu migrants would gain citizenship in Assam, are emotional, particularly when was only due to rapid in- from multi-angles like a was increased by across the border, are not only try- given the reality that Assam already has a large population the question of their existence as a crease of Bengali Hindus 1,38,650. In the same ing to organize and lead the migrat- nation arises. They are uncompro- in Assam. At the same venomous octopus. period, the poor figure ed Muslim community, but have of (post-1971) Hindu migrants as revealed in the just-con- mising when they feel the language time, a group of intellec- of the Hindus was re- also joined hands with some local cluded NRC updating exercise? And will not the CAA flung they speak is insecure. But, unfor- tuals has tactfully created duced from 14,112 to intellectuals provoking the people open the floodgates for fresh streams of Hindu migrants to tunately, these are the reasons for an impression that all the migrated today; what he’d foreseen more than 10,949 indicating the fact that the against the Assamese-speaking enter Assam in the coming days? It is an open secret that a which they’ve been cheated every Muslims from the East Bengal 35 years back for which he was con- migrated Muslims had opted Ben- East Bengalis. They try to deceive fairly large chunk of the vanishing Hindu population from time, not only by the shrewd polit- (Bangladesh) had accepted the As- demned even publicly. It’s was out gali instead of Assamese as their the people citing the figures of Dhe- Bangladesh have over the years settled down in Assam ical parties, but even by the non- samese language as their mother of our emotions that we found it too mother language. maji district where there’s a down- and with some two crore Hindus still remaining there, it is political organizations also. These tongue leaving only the Bengali Hin- difficult to digest him at that time. 3. Dalgaon (Darrang): Religion- fall of Assamese speakers. The rea- only a matter of time before a majority of those make Assam are the vested forces, taking advan- dus responsible for increase of Ben- Let us underline the figures (as wise: Hindu-80,141; Muslim- son in Dhemaji is something far their home – secure under the full protection they will now tage of the simplicity of the Assa- gali-speaking people in Assam. But per 2001 Census) of religious and 3,23,309; Language-wise: Assamese from what they tried to justify – mese people, which come forward if we analyse the figures of the last linguistic population pattern in speaking 92,923; Bengali speaking the different tribes oppressed by get from the CAA. to lead the campaign in front while Census in only five revenue circles Kalgachia Revenue Circle under Ja- 2,79,120. some ultranationalist Assamese In the light of these disturbing concerns, the Chief keeping alive their personal inter- of lower and middle Assam, it be- nia LAC in : 4. Lakhipur (Goalpara): Religion- opted to mention their own lan- Minister needs to come up clean on which side he is – ests and political benefits behind. comes clear beyond doubt that the 1. The pattern of population in wise: Hindu-44,378; Muslim- guages instead of the Assamese as with the people who he claims to represent and whose The fear of the Assamese of be- reason behind the increase of the Kalgachia: Religion-wise: Hindu- 1,77,821; Language-wise: Assamese their mother tongue in the last interests he is bound to uphold constitutionally and mor- ing marginalized as a linguistic mi- Bengali-speaking people is the in- 1,516; Muslim-1,46,516; Language- speaking 89,531; Bengali speaking Census. It is high time that we ally – or with the self-seeking leaders of his party bosses nority in its homeland is not im- flux of migrating Muslims from East wise: Assamese-speaking 33,790; 1,14,071. should be alert to defeat the vindic- in Delhi for whom the life-and-death concerns of a small practical. The concern is genuine, Bengal. There’s no fault to pinpoint Bengali-speaking 1,14,345. Here in 5. Chamaria (Kamrup): Reli- tive motive of the evil forces that community like the Assamese locked in an existential and can’t be ignored in view of its them as Bangladeshis because, Kalgachia, only 1,516 are Hindu. If gion-wise: Hindu-17,496; Muslim- always make effort to swallow the struggle mean absolutely nothing. The Central BJP lead- past experience of language crisis there’s no record of Muslim migra- we assume that, all of them are Ben- 82,307; Language-wise: Assa- Assamese like an octopus tactfully vis-a-vis the presence of the Ben- tion from West Bengal. So, it’s falla- gali Hindus, what could be the reli- mese speaking 19,153; Bengali suppressing the facts. ers have let down the Assamese masses badly even though they had reposed their full trust in them hoping for some positive change. It is apparent that for the BJP, the Assamese community is no more than the proverbial Season of protests: what some words say sacrificial lamb and the party would not think twice to sacrifice the Assamese at the altar of their cheap political ■ Sanjeev Kumar Nath difficult to recognize the plaster Indian Constitution and force Bills couldn’t think of a word to describe dividends. But the question the people are asking is why saints that smile at you from the and Acts through people’s throats, this rare phenomenon of someone does the Chief Minister who heads the State Govern- hen a victorious people who had elected them to be large posters or hoardings installed are entirely wrong because no one not seeing something that is every- Roman general re- their representatives. at strategic points in the cities or has understood anything about what where. No word came to me via the ment and carries on his shoulders their hopes and aspi- turned home after The words that were spoken into towns across Assam. Sometimes the Government is trying to do. Can ‘dull tom tom’ in my brain, either. rations should act in utter disregard to a life and death a major victory, the ears of the triumphant Roman they will just be smiling at you, try- there be more pretentious self-im- But then I stumbled on a word that matter of the masses. theyW would have a huge procession general (‘Remember you are mor- ing to hide all the volcanic personal portance and arrogance than this – to made me think, although I cannot say and meeting to celebrate the victory. tal’) helped him to remain grounded ambitions and terrible hypocrisy think that they alone have understood that it helped me understand the Restore normalcy The whole ceremony was called a in reality. I am not a Roman general inside and look as innocent and cute things correctly, that all the intellec- mystery of someone not seeing triumph, and yes, the modern Eng- and am not in any need of being re- as possible, or sometimes you may tuals, thinkers, students, all the peo- something that is right in front of his It’s apparent that the Government failed to anticipate lish word ‘triumph’ can be traced to minded of my mortality or fallibility, see them especially attired, taking ple who have been protesting are eyes. The word is ‘blindsimming’. It the feelings of the masses while rushing ahead with the that. Nowadays of course, not in but sometimes an internal mono- part in one of those big religious rit- without any brains? refers to a person who is not blind, Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The spontaneous protests Rome, but here in Assam, and , logue inside me takes me aback. I uals apparently organized for the ‘Amnesia’, of course, is endemic but prefers to be so. It’s a rare disor- by the people across the State prove without a doubt that we have such triumphs after a gov- may be looking at the hoarding of a benefit of the whole society. Yes, of among our high-profile and high-fly- der, and may perhaps be understood CAA is unacceptable. Various organizations by staging ernment completes its first one national or state politician smiling his course, the money for the rituals ing politicians, and even some of the in terms of what is technically called non-violent protests have send across the message loud month, 100 days, a year, and so on. best smile, trying to look as inno- you may not have much faith in, and double-faced intellectuals who give Body Integrity Identity Disorder. and clear to both the State and the Central governments The victorious Roman generals, by cent, kind and generous as possible, the hoardings, ultimately come from us almost daily dose of wisdom Although I wish no one ever has that the imposition of CAA will be detrimental to the fu- the way, had a slave appointed to do a and suddenly I would hear this small your pockets, and you can do noth- through newspapers and TV chan- this terrible condition for real, our ture of the State. However, it has been seen that some specific job – to whisper “Remem- voice inside popping out one or two ing about having to gawk at these nels. So no one now remembers who Government today seems to suffer ber you are mortal, remember you words that completely deconstructs hypocrites all the time. talked about what flowing through badly not only from blindsimming, elements by resorting to violence, damaging public prop- are mortal, remember you are mor- the image of innocence and kindness ‘Braggadocio’ is the air or brash, the big water pipes in Gujarat. And but from several other disorders. It erties and indulging in arson are trying to derail the peace- tal…” continuously into his ears even before me. Just the words, no sen- arrogant self-confidence with which is there a word for not noticing any is not just blind, but also deaf, and ful protests against CAA. It is not the peaceful protests as the general moved around in great tence. Here are a few of the words so many of our elected representa- irony? For example, the irony of an without any feeling. It does not see, but the vandalism resorted to by the miscreants that has pomp and glory. Unfortunately, our that so bother me. tives in the government carry them- erstwhile student leader, famous for does not hear, does not feel. Or may- disrupted the normal life in the State. To contain the vio- elected representatives today often A ‘plaster saint’ is a person who selves. One thing that has been like a spearheading protests, now scoffing be it is just sleeping, for sleep robs lence, curfew has been clamped in several parts of the forget that they are not just mortal, tries to project an image of himself refrain with them for some time now at the silliness of protests? one of one’s sensations. Will all the State including Guwahati. Internet facilities have been but fallible, and often they quite for- or herself as morally perfect, with- is that all the protests and anger And of course, there are those who din of protest wake it up? And what if restricted. Army has been deployed. Those indulging in get these sobering truths, and strut out any weaknesses or flaws in char- against the Government’s attempts are in the habit of saying, “Protests? it is only pretending to be asleep, what violent activities have fulfilled their purpose of causing about with contempt for the very acter. I’m sure you will not find it at nullifying the secular nature of the What protests? I haven’t seen any.” I if it is only playing possum? problems to the common man. While the police have ap- prehended a good number of miscreants across the State, Letters it needs to be thoroughly investigated if someone was CAA 2019 and Assam’s predicament orchestrating the violent activities in an organized man- to the for the immigrants, then it is their that the Government is trying to that they are the people’s repre- also by people who have seen the ner to derail the peaceful protests against CAA. responsibility to distribute the “convert Assam into a second sentative and their primary duty is agitation. I am one of those who The curfew has disrupted normal life and people are EDITOR immigrants throughout the country. Kashmir”. Such baseless propagan- to represent what the masses want. actively participated in the six- having a harrowing time. Despite relaxation of curfew It is not the responsibility of one da only helps in creating more If and when their party wants to do year-long agitation against illegal during the day, life is yet to limp back to normal. People Sir, – The question should not be State to take the burden of every confusion in the minds of the something which is not acceptable immigrants. I know that there is are facing the acute shortage of essential items. Panic ‘why I oppose the Citizenship single illegal immigrant that some already confused Assamese people. to the common masses, the elected no mention of Muslim or Hindu in (Amendment) Act, 2019’. The buying is making the matters worse. Many shops in Gu- person in power have sympathy While the fact remains that the leaders are supposed to bring the the Assam Accord; however, question should be ‘why would any with. Mainstream India is segregat- Government has made December unhappiness of the masses to the during the years of agitation and wahati have simply run out of stocks as the supply line Indian support it?’ Why would any much after that, we knew illegal has been disrupted. The problem of the common man has ed on the basis of religion and 31, 2014 the last date of entry for notice of the party high command. Indian so readily agree to give constitution, but not Northeast India eligibility of citizenship through the Voting for the BJP and bringing immigrants meant Muslim been compounded as due to the shortage in supply of citizenship to foreigners? If so, then and Assam. Assam’s problem is not CAA 2019, such communication is them to power does not mean that Bangladeshis. In that agitation, foodstuff, the prices have skyrocketed. A section of trad- the Government should sign the religion; the problem of Assamese totally against the facts of the actual the masses will agree to everything the Assamese Muslims and ers taking advantage of the situation are fleecing the Refugee Convention, 1951. The people is illegal Bangladeshi Act brought by the Government. in their agenda. The elected leaders Hindus participated wholeheart- customers by increasing the prices. The disruption of Bangladeshi issue is more regional immigrants, as it has been for many Anybody, irrespective of religion, of a place or region are not edly. We were told by different the internet has hit the people and business hard. The than national. As national identity is decades. It is a foul play by the will not be considered for citizen- supposed to follow the instructions leaders at that time that there were more than one crore illegal internet-based services have been hit causing a great not under threat due to infiltration Central Government to veil the ship, if that person enters India after of the central leadership blindly. of illegal Bangladeshis into Assam, I immigrants, mostly Muslims, Assamese people’s identity December 31, 2014. And also, the Today, the masses have come out to deal of problem. The ATMs have gone dry. People scram- do not think mainstream India from Bangladesh. At one point of struggle with a blanket of commu- fact remains that the people who seek answers from their elected bling for cash are thronging the ATMs, leaving the few would give it much thought. The time, even the Government of nalism. This Act is not only against are being talked about here are representatives as to why they did refilled ATMs run out of cash in an hour or so. Price rise reason for this insensitive attitude India said that it was more than the Assamese, but against every already either residing in refugee not represent the common man’s coupled with cash crunch has compounded the woes of of mainstream India might be 50 lakhs! Indian. It is another Act that will camps or as normal citizens sans views. We expect our MLAs and the common masses. On top of it the fuel shortage threat- because of the trend – the trend of We have hugely sacrificed and, further divide the united India into certain citizenship rights. So a MPs to come out with answers as general public applauding most of therefore, I want to know where ens to make life come to a standstill. Most of the fuel far more smaller pieces. Yours etc., “demographic disaster” as talked to why they failed at their primary the unconstitutional and dictatorial these 50 lakh people are after the stations were closed. Those which were opened hardly DIBYAJYOTI SAHARIAH, about by the writer needs to be duty of serving the common man. steps that have been taken by the final NRC. We should now strongly had enough stock to meet the needs. The LPG cylinder Nagaon. explained. Yours etc., RANADHI Furthermore, the Assamese people Central Government in the name of demand for a correct NRC, categorically reject any attempt to supply too has been hit. Instead of indulging in the blame aggressive and offensive policy to Wrong comment SARMA, Jalukbari. immediate implementation of divide our society in the name of game, the Government on a top priority basis must initi- create an India by stripping off all Sir, – I would like to express my Primary duty Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and religion. Yours etc., DEBJANI ate all possible steps to restore normal life in the State. that India stands for. regret and shock over the letter, Sir, – This is in reference to State fight against CAA in the court of BARUAH, Jorhat. The authorities must ensure that the supply chain is not Apart from the demographic shift captioned ‘Massive show of will and BJP president, Ranjit Dass’ law. Yours etc., RINTU KAKOTY, disrupted and that there is no shortage of the essential that will happen post CAB, the resolve’ (AT, Dec 14) in which the statement that their party never Correct NRC Chandmari, Guwahati. items. It is hoped that the prevailing situation in the State bigger and simple question is: Why writer speaks about certain tried to hide the fact that they Sir, – The present agitation Articles (within 1000-1100 words) and will make the Government see reason and take steps to should Assam bear the burden of apprehensions which are baseless. I would bring an amendment to the over CAB/CAA is being partici- Letters to the Editor for publication in withdraw the CAA. the illegal immigrants? If the would like to request the author to Citizenship Act, 1955. I would like pated in by youngsters who have the editorial page may be sent to the Central Government has sympathy explain what he meant by stating to remind all the elected leaders not seen the Assam Agitation and email ID: [email protected]. Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner

Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner Scanned by CamScanner