POLITICS IN ASSAM A SELECT ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of
of iibrarp $c Snformation ^tiente 1994-95
BY SHEHNAZ BASHIR Roil. Number 94 - LSM - 08 Enrol. Number U-7999
i UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF Mr. Shabahat Husain (Chairman)
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 1995 G Up.
2 6 t^.^'^' ^995
,?.*'•* f-,.'-
US2674 Phonf (0571) 400039 Telex "^64—230 AMU IN Fax 91 0571-400528
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY, ALIGARH—202002 (U.P ). INDIA ^^
/?•/. No. Dated. October 27. 1995
This is to certify that the M.L. & I.Sc. dissertation of Miss Shehnaz Bashir on •Politics in Assam: A select annotated bibliography* was compiled under my supervision and guidance.
( Shabahat Husain )
fed in Cc/r.pm<
^'••^^' \-vsS\
--.•It WJ'•"-:•„-.
In Memory of my brother Late ANWAR BASHEER RFN of Assam Rifles, who sacrificed his life for the country in eastern borders fighting the terrorists on 7th October 1992 at the age of 24. CONTENTS
Page NO.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 1-2
PREFACE 3-5
PART - I
1. Introduction ..... 6-52
2. Geographical Situation
3. Brief History of Assam
4. Problem of Assam
5. Politics of Assam
6. Political Parties of Assam
PART - II
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 53-133
PART - III
INDICES
- Subject Index 134-13^
Author Index 136 - 13S
- Title Index 140-149 List of Journal's Documented 150 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all let me remember, the Almighty ALIAH TA'ALA who Bestov^ed upon me the capability to achieve this target.
I express my deep sense of respect, profound gratitude and indebtedness to my Supervisor, Mr. SHABAHAT HUSAIN, Chairman, Department of Library and Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, for suggesting the problems, ext€>nding his guidence and continued assistance for me and has alvrays been a source of encouragement during the entire course of investigation.
I feel immense pleasure in expressing my deep sense of gratitude, heartful devotion to Mr, Hasan Zamarud, Reader, Department of Library and Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for his useful and invaluable suggestions, v.hich greatly helped me to come out from difficulties faced during the work.
I am highly thankful to Professor Mohd. Sabir Husain, former Chairman, Department of Library and Information Science for his guidence and suggestions whenever needed. I stand deeply indebted to the other teachers of the Department namely Mr. Mustafa K.Q.Zaidi, Mr. Almuzaffer A.G.Khan, Readers, Department of Library and Information Science for their cooperation during my stay in the Department. - 2 -
I express my endless sense of indebtness and gratitude
to my father Mr. Bashir Ahmad Ansari.
I will be failing in my duties if I do not mention the name of my elder brother Mr. Javed Bashir who is always a scjurce of inspiration for me. My deep and sincerest thanks are also due to my mother and brother Mr. Shahid Bashir, Dr. Adeebul Arfeen and my friends Mrs.Afshan Wasim and Sheeba Rehman. Thanks are due to Mr. Wali Mohd, Khan, Incharge of old periodicals section, Maulana Azad Library and Mr. Azmat- ullah Qureishy who has done his best in typing this disserta tion in time.
(SHEHNAZ BASHIR) - 3 -
PREFACE
Introduction
News about north-east India or Assam rarely used to receive prominent coverage in national dailies,, This has drastically changed the last ten years. Now-a-days there is bound to be some news iterns or other published material relating to Assam in every major daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly, this is because of the continued crisis on our north east frontier.
Scope
The present study in the form of annoted Bibliography resembles together all the significant literature dealing with the "POLITICS IN ASSAM". I hope this Bibliography would be of some help to those who wish to know about the subject.
Methodology
The study includes 200 selected annoted Bibliography of articles on the topic collected from Maulana Azad Library, A.M.U, Aligarh.
Standard Followed
Care has been taken to follow strictly the rules and practice of Indian standards for Bibliographic References - i -
for each entry of the Bibliography, thus it gives uniformity for the Bibliographical references through out the Bibliogra phy. The ite-Tis of Bibliographical references for each entry of periodical are arranged as follows:
(a) Naaie (s) of author (s) (b) Full Stop (.) (c) Title of contribution including sub-title, if any
(d) Full stop (.)
(e) Title of periodical
(f) Full stop U)
(g)' Volume number
(h) Coma (,)
(i) Issue number
(j) Semi Colon (;)
(k) Year of publication (1) Coma (,) (m) Month of publication (n) Se-ni colon (;) (o) Inclusive pages of articles.
Arrangement
An entry is proceed by subject heading in capitals the entry begins with entry element (in a surname) of the author in capitals • followed by the secondary element (i.e. - 5 -
foreneme) in parenthesis and then title of the articles, which
followed by the title of the periodical, its volume, issue
number, date of publication and page number, each entry is
then followed by an informative abstract of the article,
Speciman Entry
ASSAM, POLITICS - ACCORD
GUPTA (Sheikhar). Assam : Endangered Accord. India Today,
11, 5; 1986, Mar, 15 ; 64
Assam gana parishad (AGP) government took over the
political seen has changed profoundly. It was one thing to
shout slogans; its quite another to give them administrative
shap. Ihe historic independence day - accord that promised
so raiuch present particularly difficult challenges.
Index
The index part contains as Author index and title
index. Each index guides to the specific entry or entries
in the Bibliography and is hoped that would provide very useful help in search of literature. PART-I INTRODUCTION - 6 -
INTRODUCTION
The state of Assam situated in the northeast of India, is connected to the rest of India by a narrow 18-mile wide corridor. Assam has common ooundaries with Bangladesh and Bhutan, with China and Burma not far away. Until a few years ago Arunachal, Nagaland, Meghalaya (vhich are now States), and Mizoram (now Union Territory) were parts of Assam. The present geographic area of Assam is 78, 523 square kilometres. The population of Assam was 3,225,000 in 1951 and 14,625,152 in 1971, By the oeginning of 1981, the population had swollen to about 20 million.
In many ways, AssaTi is the richest State in India. It produces more than 50 per cent of India's natural oil and gas; 58 per cent of India's and 30 per cent of the world's tea; 60 per cent of Indie's plywood; and about 30 per cent of Indie's jute. The land is very fertile and suitable for tea, jute, rice, citrus, pineapple, sugarcane and vegetable production. Assam also has much undeveloped hydro-electric power potential. Limestone, iron ore, paper pulp and some other resources have hardly been used.
Perhaps because Assam is somev;hat isolated geographically, some people still believe that Assam is inhabited by an unci vilized bsrbarie people. Even Mahatma Gandhi supported these beliefs when he compared the Assamese people to the Coles, 3hils, and Pindaris in an article in Young India in 190S. On Gindhi's visit to Assam in 1921. Pandit Hemchandra Gosvjami - 7 -
pointed out the mistake by showing him ancient AssaTiese litera ture;, art, and fine hand-woven clothes. After returning from Assam, Gandhi v;rote another article entitled "Lovely Assam" for Young India and gracefully corrected himself.
2. GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION
Assam is one of the most beautiful regions of India ^'ith blue hills green valleys and the majestic river Brahmaputra. Assam stands virtually unrivalled in respect of the variety of her natural resources and the diversity of her populotion. Assam is situated in the North-East corner of India, the foot hills of the Eastern Himalayas. The present state of Assam is situated between twenty-four and twenty-eight degrees north latitude and eighty-nine and ninety-seven degre--^s east longitude. The long alluvium of the Brahmaputra or Assam proper, extended at the beginning of our period from the river Minati Manah, on the north bank of the Brahmaputra to the foot of the Himalayas close to the frontier of China. On the north, it v/as bounded by the hills inhabited by the Bhutas, the Akes, the Duflas and the Abors. The hills occupied by Mishmis, the Khamtis and the Singhpos separate Assam from China and Burma. To the South East lay the states of Cachar and Manipu.r. From the Palkai hills which form the natural boundary with Burm$, runs the irrecjular chain of mountains commonly known.-as the Assam Range, occupied by the Nages, the Jayantis, the Khasis and the Goras, westward in succession. Girded on almost ill sides by mountains, Assam remained practically isolated, for very long. Although the - 8 -
river Brahmaputra fomed the highway of cormiunication. Naviga tion ^^°^9 "the river before the age of steam was always uncer tain and at times extre'nely hazardous. Geography had imposed a formidable barrier on her contact with the rest of the world although Assam was accessible to the dwellers of the neighbour ing hills tnrough numerous passes and river routes and in fact, for ages the fortunes of the hills and plains, were closely related and inextricably interv^oven. Assam proper means the 3rahmaputra Valley. I'he great river Brahmaputra enters Assam from the North-East frontier and flows through the state east to west traversing a distance of 805 kilometres. It is said that v.'h^t the 3angetic valley is to the history of North India, the Brahmaputra valley is to the history of Assam. Assam's culture and civilization flourished in the plains on both sides of this river. All ancient kingdoms of Assam arose in this valley. The Brahmaputra valley has witnessed a variety of his torical upheavals. Ihere is a large concentration of Muslim population on both sides of the Brahmaputra. In Nalbhedi district, for instance there are j^laces where Muslim concentration of population have suffered the vvorst rype of inhuman eviction during the past three years.
rhere is a net-v;ork of rivers flowing into the 3rahmaputra both from the north and the south. Most of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra become furious during the rainy season as the rainfall is very heavy in zhe months of May,June and July, - 9 -
Floods are commonplace in the Brahmaputra valley and have con tributed to the creation of riverine areas known as "Chars". 2 These areas take shape after the floods are over and the water has flowed away; with later floods these areas are sometimes absorbed and submerged into the body of the river^ and the houses and huts are washed away by the forceful waters, resulting in the helpless inhabitants of the banks of the river being rendered homeless.
The name "Assam" v;as derived from the Sanskrit word Asama' which means peerless. The name 'Assam' is, in fact, peerless judgeci by her exquisite natural beauty, cultural richness and human wealth. For example, Assam is remarkable for the number of its languages. It is a paradise for philologists. A number of vernaculars are spoken in Assam which are indigenous to the province. There are even seven languages of Asiatic origin outside India whose speakers figure among the Assamese, v;hile no less than 11 European languages were spoken in Assam by its European settlers.
The history of Assam is as colourful as the land itself. It dates back to -he Vedic period. Assam v^as known as "Prag Jyotisha" or the place of eastern astronomy in the earliest days and was mentioned frequently in Indian scriptures, mythologies and poetical works as "Kamrupa". In a later period after the mighty Ahoms took over the administration of the lend in 1228 this eastern-most state came to be known as "Assam." The state forms the core of the North-Eastern region of the country and - 10 -
Guwahati/ the big7est city of Assam is the gateway to the North- East. The North-Eastem states comprise Assax, Meghalaya/ Manipur, Nagaland/ Tripura, Mlzoram and Arunachal Pradesh. Ttie temporary state capital, Dispur, stands tov/arcs the South-East of Guwahati. The geographical area of Assam is 73,523 sq. kilometres; tnere are IS districts in Assam; the number of inhabited villa:es is 21,995, and the number of uninhabited villages is 1.106; there are 72 tov/ns and 31 .'-'uhkuma psrishads, 135 development blocks and 717 Gaon panchayats. The major rivers of Assam are known as the 3rahma?utra, Kopili, 3?rak, Manah and Aie. The total population of Assam is 1,46,152 con sisting of 77,14,240 males and 69,10,912 females. The percentage of literacy is approximately 27 and the density of population is 27 per sq.km. - 11 -
3. BRIEF HISTORY OF ASSAM
3.1 Early History
In ancient timeS/ Assam was known as Kamrupa and its
capital Was Pragjyotishpura (present Gauhati). King Narakasura
and his son Bhagadatta were famous rulers in the Mahabharata
period, circa 1000 3.C. The Varman Dynasty was founded by
Fusyavarman in 355 A.D. I^e Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang,
visited this country around 640 A.D., at the invitation of tis
ruler Bhaskaravarman, He left a vivid account of the country
and its people. From his account it is known that Kamrupa was
about 1,700 miles in circuit and included the Brahmaputra Valley,
Bhutan, Rangpur district (now in Bangladesh) , and Cooch Bihar
(now in West Bengal) and extending its western limit to the river
Koshi in Bihar. Later this country was ruled by various dynas
ties: Plas, Koches, Kacharis, and the Chutiyas. There was no
stable Government due to constant warfare among the princes. In
1236 A.D, the Ahoms, a Mongolian tribe from Thailand crossed
the Patkai Range through Burma and conquered upper Assam. Sukapha
was the leader who entered Assam with a handful of nobles and
about 800 .nen, v;omen and children. In the next two centuries,
the Ahom defeated the Koches, the Kecharis and other local rulers of lower Assam including Goalpara. The country as named "Assam"
after the Ahoms. The Ahoms had an excellent administrative system \^ith Cabinet Ministers under the Bargohain and Buragohain.
The power and prosperity of the Ahoms reached its peek during the reign of King Rudra Singha (1696-1715). - 12 -
The Mughals invaded Assam seventeen times between the 13th and 17th centLjries. The Assamese people are proud that they successfully resisted the incorporation of Assam into the Mughal Empire. Lachit Barphukani v;as a legendary general in defending Assam from the Mughals. For tardiness in building a rampart for defence against a Mughal attack, Barphukan himself slayed his own maternal uncle, the reason being: "My maternal uncle is not greater than my country." In the seventeenth and last battle, he went to the battlefield of Saraighat riding in his sick bed to fight the Mughals. Even today his name sparks patriotism and courage among the Assamese masses.
In the sixteenth century Hindu Vaishmavaism spread through out Assam's Brahmaputra Valley under the great Hindus sage Sankardeva (died-1568), when Muslim influence was at its zenith elsewhere in India. The Maharaja of Cooch Bihar was a promoter of Sankardeva's Vaishnavaism. Sankardeva spent the later part of his life in the court of the Maharaja and there he v;rote most of his valuable works. He was also a social reformer,
Tne Ahoms were 3uddhists but married local girls and edoptecJ local language and religion. About the same time as the Phom invasion. Brahmins and Kalites moved to Assam from the area around Kanauj in Uttar Pradesh. The forefathers of Assamese Muslims came to Kamrup along with the invading Army of Mohammad Ibn Sakhtiar in 1206, 30 years before the Ahomas came to Assam. According to the historian Dr. K.K. Barpuj ari, l-iuslim settlements - 13 -
might have commenced in western Assam long before the 16th century, but their movement into upper Assam cannot be traced prior to the invasion of Nawab Mirjumla, in 1662. They were employed for deciphering and interpreting Persian documents is craftsmen and ?s artisans.
The vocabulary of the Assamese language was enriched by Persian and Arabic words. The 'Zikir' and 'Zari' songs v;hich are also called 'Azan Fakirar Geet' occupy --n eminent place in Assamese literature. Shihabuddin Talish who had accompanied Nawab Mirjumla, found nothing similar among the Assamese Muslims of Islam except the name; their hearts were inclined f^r more towards mixing with the Assamese than tov.erds association v.'ith the Muslims, he claimed. Some Sikhs, who had presumably accomp anied the Mughal invaders settled themselves in some villages in Nowgong l^istrict. They still practice their religion, but like the Assamese Muslims, they are Assamese in all respects. Some Burmese soldiers also settled at Singimari in the Goalpara District. These different ethnic --^roups mixed and became one nationality during the 600 years of AJnom rule.
3.2 British Period Pdvalry among the Ahom princes weakened the Ahom adminis tration. In despair. Prince Gaurinath Singha accepted help of the British in 1786. The British restored peace and returned to Calcutta. The rival Barphukan (Governor) , Badan Chandra, invited the Burmese to fight against the king in 1817. The Burmese - 14 -
swept over the country three times bringing destruction and misery. At the request of king Purander Singha the British drove out the Burmese invaders. After the treaty of Yandabo with Burma on the 24th of February, 1826, Assam became a part of British Indie. The Burmese did not have the right to cede Assam to the British since their sovereignty was not really established, Moreover, when t±ie treaty was being signed Assam was already free of the Burmese presence. Any agreement on Ass?m, at the most should, therefore, ha^'c been on tri-lateral basis. Thus the British possessed Assam through fraud, deceit and power.
First, a British Agent administered the devasted area of Assam. In 1838, Assam w?s incorporated into the Bengal Presidency By 1842, the entire Assam Valley has come under British rule. In 1874, a separate province of Assam including the Sylhet district (now in Bangladesh) and the Cachr.r district were created and administered by a Chief Commissioner with its capital at Shillong. The people of Syihet protested the merger with Assam on the grounds of cultural identity and historic association with Bengel, ana that Sylhet the golden calf was being sacrificed for a new idol called the province of Assam. The Viceroy did not concede to the protestors. In l':J05, Lord Curzon created a new province called 'Eastern Bengal and Assam*. The partition of Bengal wes resented and in 1912, this arrangement was reverted to the old province of Assam and remained that way until 1947.
i^iring the British rule several things happened. Rebellion against the British was org-nised by Gomdhar Konwar, Roopchand - 15 -
Konwar and Peoli Barphukan in 1828-29. The rebellion was suppressed by hanging Peoli Barphukan in 1828. India, including AssaTi, revolted against the British in 1857 and Assamese leader Maniram Dewan was hanged in 1859.
The Bengali language was imposed in Assam from 1S31 to 1872. Dr. iMiles Brown prepared the first Assa-nese-English dictionary. American Missionaries published the first Assamese monthly 'Orunudoi' in January 1S45. Cnief Commissionpr, Sir Henry Cotton established Cotton College in Gauhrti in 1901. Because of efforts by Chief Commissioner Fuller, the Assamese language was recognized by the Calcutta University in 1903,
The British started tea cultivation in 1839, established saw mills, started coal mining and explored oil at J-'igboi in 1890. To transport these products, construction of railroads Between 1874 and 1905 over Rs. 315 million were invested for the development of tea, coal, oil, sawmills and rail\'.eys. Bengalees were the primary beneficiaries of these economic developments. -engalees were hired as administrators as well as operators of railways and other industries. Therefore, Ber.g^lese immigration to Assam started with British r^ie.
The Assajn Legislative Council comprising the British, Bengalees, and Assamese had its first sitting on January 2,1913. It served only in an advisory capacity. The Council encountered many problems. Political Parties were divided along the lines of Hindu-Muslim and Assamese-Bengalee. During 1917-1926, the - 16 -
Assamese as well as the Bengalees wanted linguistic provinces and recommended transferring Sylhet and Cachar to Bengal. 3ut Saiyid Muhammad Saadulla, a prominent .'-luslim leader of the Sibsa- gar district, objected. In a public speech on January 6, 1926, he said that as long as Sylhet remained in Assam. Muslims who constituted one-third of the provincial population would remain a respectable minority and hold the oalance of Assam's electoral politics. But when the Muslim-majority district of Sylhet goes to Bengal, they \%'ould lose that position in Assam forever. On the other hand, the change would not have increased the propor tion of Muslims in Bengal's population, not even by one per cent. Thus, Sylhet remained in Assam serving the interest of the Muslims.
In 1937, self-governing pov, er was given to Assam. Saad ulla became the first Chief Minister. In the next ten years Saadulla held five terms and Gopinath Bardola served as Chief Minister for tv.'o terms. The National Congress high-command decided not to participate in self-government and hence asked Bardoloi to resign. In the absence of prominent Assamese leaders in the Council, Saadulla - a Muslim League leader - took advantage of grafting thousands of Muslims in Assam.
3.3 Assam Under Independent India:
In 1946, it Was decided to give independence to India and partition India. M.A.Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, demanded that Assam be included in Pakistan. At the time of partition. - 17 -
Assam was almost handed over to Pakistan. The Cabinet Mission included Assam and Bengal in the same crbup; they were to decide by a simple majority vote which one of the two domains they would like to join. Assam would have been out-voted and include-G in Pakistan. Gopinath 3ardoloi, who became Chief Minister of Assam that year, decided not to sit in the section with Bengal. Mahatma G,-indhi backed this decision. He defended Assam's right to provincial autonomy, and its crucial fight for maintaining its political and cultural identity. He vrote in "Harijan" on December 29, 1946:
No one can force Assam to do what it does not v.'ant to do. Not only a Province but even a single indivi dual can rebel against Congress and by doing so,serve it, assuming that the Province or the individual is in the right. I have done so myself. That would be a kind of Satyagraha against the Congress for the good of the Congress .. for the independence of India it is the only condition. Each unit must be able to decide and act for itself.
On January 3, 1947, the Muslim League declfired direct action against the Sssam Government for its aforesaid decision and Khilji Dastas of -che Muslim League was sent from East Bengal to conduct illegal raids on Assam lands. Gandhi stood by Assam at this critical moment and saved her from inclusion in Pakistan.
Assam and the Northeast Region remained isolated from the rest of India for two and one-half ye^rs. All rail and - 18 -
road connections to India were through the Rangpur district and this district had gone to Pakistan. In 1950, Assam was connected to the rest of India by railways and roads through Siliguri.
Hindu refugees numbering 273,000 from East Pakistan moved to Assam at the -ime of the partition of India. Based on previous experiences, the Assamese people were unhappy, but the Government of Assam settled them against their wishes. According to M.V. Kamath:
There are other events that the Assamese have not forgotten such as a demand to incorporate the district of Goalpara in West Bengal and to carve out a new state from Assam by the name of Purbachal, made before the States Reorganization Commission (l953-r55) or efforts to convert Assam into a bilingual State in 1960, at the time of adopting Assamese as the State language of Assam. The Assamese people believe these demands would not have become possible if they v.'ere politically strong and economically viable.
After the discovery of nev; oil fields in ?\ssam in the 1950*3, the Government of India decided ageinst expert opinion, to build a refinery at Barauni, Bihar, in spite of chronic unemployment and industrial backwardness of Assam. After protests and demonstrations, a small refinery was built by the Government of India in Gauhati, Assam. - 19 -
In 1962, China invaded Assam. The Chinese Army crossed the Himalayas and came to the foothills, only 49 miles from Tezpur, Rana K.D.N.Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Derrang district started the evacuation of Assam by destroying currency notes, coins and records in the State Benk on November 10, 1962. Telephone installations were to be destroyed oefore his depar ture. Many of the families who had homes oj:tsidfc' Assam evacu ated. 3ut the permanent inhabitants of Assam preferred to stay home and face the enemy than die of possible fatigue, starva tion and disease on their v,'=y to or in refugee camps outside the State.
The Muslim immigrants who came from East P?kistan raised the flag of Pakistan to welcome the Chinese. Prime Minister Jaw^harlal Nehru virtually aban-ioned Assem. He made a pathetic farev. ell address over the radio on November 12, 1962. "My heart goes out to the people of Assam," he said. However, for some unknown reason the Chinese pulled back. Assem remained v;ith India, but acceleration of the invasion by the civilians of 3angladesh and Nepal began. Since 1963, AssaTi also has been split into five States.
India assisted the liberation movement in East Pakistan as Bangladesh was born during 1971. Assam gave refuge to millions who left to save their lives from Pakistani soldiers. Some of them returned to Bangladesh and then came back. Since, Bangladeshis have been moving into Assam and other States in - 20 -
the Northeastern Region by the thousands e^ch d=y. in spite
of repeated requests by the Assamese people since independence,
the Government of India has not taken any steps to stop this
infiltration and deport illegal irrmigrents. A popular movemenr
against colonization by foreigners from Bangladesh and Nepal
has continued since June 1979.
4. PR0 3L£iMS OF ASSAM
Assam v;ith its oeautiful land and glorious part has
Deen facing lots of proolems v.'hich are given belov.-:
4.1 Facts of the Situation:
1. Assam is an ancient land. It hr-s a heritage, civili zation and culture as old as any other State in India. The Assamese people also have the rignt to exist and preserve and foster their own identity.
2. The indigenous population of Assam is now only one- third of the total population. One-third of the population con stitute migrants from other States of India, migrants from East Bengal (later Sast Pakistan and now Bangladesh) and migrants from Nepal who came to Assam before 1951, and became citizens automatically. The other one-third of the population are illegal imiTiigrants (and their descendants) v;ho came from Bangladesh and Nepal after 1951. Though every one may not agree with this estimate, it cannot be denied that the influx of foreigners has been extremely heavy. - 21 -
3. Ttie heavy influx of foreigners h?s upset the demographic, socio-economic and political stability of Assam and jeopardized national integrity and the existence of the natives. For millions of Assamese, the burden of foreign nationals has gone far beyond any tolerance levels.
4. The problem of illegal immigrants assumed gigantic dimension due to the total neglect by the Government of India and elected officials of ^-.ssam whose greed for .ower has out stripped their concern for accepted principles of political morality. It is ^mazing that genuine Indian cigizens living abroad cannot enter India without a valid passport '/.hile the foreign nationals from Bangladesh and Nepal can and have entered and settled in India without any restriction.
5. The natives of Assam no longer trust their elected representatives, and they have kept a gr=ss-root protest move ment going since September 1979. In fact, they may have waited twenty years too long. That 2.3 million of them courted arrest is a sufficient demonstration of their solidarity and disp leasure against foreign nationals. Since the 'quit India' movement of 1942, this is the most strongly supported one..
6. The long lasting movement had done immeasurable harm to India as well as to Assam. If it is continued, there will be greater instability and further may hem in the region. Suppression of sentiments by use of the military cannot solve . the problem. We need to work for a permanent solution. - 22 -
7. The imposition of millions of foreigners by force v.'ill be a source of constant friction, communal imbalance and an impediment to progress and prosperity in the region.
4.2 Recommended Ground Rules in Seeking a Solution:
1. The accusations of secessionist, anti-3engalee, parochial and so on against the movement are creating bitter ness end mutual suspicion. These are provocations which con fuse the real issue and are counter productive. These accusation? should oe abandoned and the real issues should be confronted.
2. India did more than enough for the Hindu refugees coming from Pakistan up to 1965. They had enough time to decide which country they wanted to live in. It is also reported that many of the foreigners own property in India as well as in Bangladesh or Kepal. Many of them are an^bivalent, just like Kenya-Indians, India does not have any mere legal or moral responsibility to continue receiving immigrants from Pakistan or Bangladesh, whether they are Hindus or Muslims.
3. The strength of India's national unity and integrity lies -with the strength of each individual State and not with its vjeakness. It is a mistaken assumption that India v;as ever united. Underthe 200 years of 3ritisn rule, India was united as an administrative unit. Only during the independence movement did India get united egainfet a co^non enemy and decide to stay united. 'i,"e need to s-rengthen unity v.-nile 'Taking room for the existence of various regional cultural groups. Lr v.e cannot - 23 -
recognize rnd respond to this need, united India cannot exist. Therefore each and every cultural and ethnic group, especially the small ones, must be given safeguards.
4. The Constitution of India and citizenship laws cannot be abandoned or used aroitrarily. They must be applied uni formly.
4.3 Proposed Solution:
In addition to the measures demanded for solution by the Ail Assa-Ti Studetns Union tnere are three other sets of solutions suggested by the Gandhi Peace Foundation, the N.tional Convention on the Assam Crisis and oy the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A five-member study team of the Gandhi Peace Foundation conprising 3. G. Verghese, Bashiruddin Ahmed, Govindrao Despande, Narayan Desai and Ravindra Upadhyaya visited Assam in March 1980. The team had visited several centres and refugees camps in the State and held discussions with a large number of indivi duals ?>nd associations to try to understand the broad sentiments, aspiration and misgivings in the minds of various segments of the population.
The team suggested that the foreigners entering since 1951, should be identified, the Bangladeshis who entered after March 25, 1971, snould be deported; other Pakistanis or Bangla deshis should temporarily be classified =s "Stateless" persons - 24 -
until their stetus is determined. The team also suggested the setting up of a National Commission to probe and report on all issues surrounding the current crisis in Assam and the Northeast.
"The National Convention on the Assam Crisis", organized vjith Mahesh Sharma as Secretary, \-ias held on January 4,1981, in New Delhi. It v.'as a non-partisan convention of prominent citizens including : R.R. Diwakar, V.M. Tarkunde, 3.G. Verghese, S.D. Sharma, S.H. Vatsyanan Agyeye, Inderjit, Kuldeep Kayar, K.N. Malik, K.C. Sudarshan, Lala Hansraj Oupta, P. Parmeshwaran, :3al Apte, K.R. Malkani, Shantinarayan, Dr. Laxiinarayan Lai and several others from different parts of the country. The conven tion was presided over by Jainendre Kumar, the eminent litcrateur and Gandhian thinker. These were special message from Acharya J.3. Kripalani, M.C. Chagla, and K.S. Hegde.
The Convention unanimously adopted the following resolu~ tion: 1. VJelcoming the assurance of national political parties given to the CONVHlsTION by the representatives of Bharatiya Janata party, Janata Party, Lok Dal, Congress (U) and CoTiiiunist Party of India that the Assam problem should be resolved on a National basis uninfluented by party considerations. Is of the definite viev; that the Assam problem must be speedily and amicably resolved by a process of negotiations. . ^
2. The CONVENTION expresses its deep appreciation of the oeaceful and non-violent character of the Assam movement and - 25 _
notes that its leaders have condeTined v.-henever any stray inci dents of violence have taken place.
The CONVENTION deplores the repression unleashed on unarmed Satyagrahis and feels that a climate of confidence must be created by
(a) putting an end to repression;
( b) lifting press censorship;
(c) releasing all detenues; and
(d) v;ithdrawing ^11 cases and .-unitive proceedings.
3. The citizenship of India rests on and can only be deter
mined by reference to the Constitution and the relevant laws
ther(5unto. The task of detection of the foreigners should start
immediately with the N.R.C. 1951 and Electoral Rolls 1952 as
the basic documents along with any other documents that may be
relevant. The detection of the foreigners should be followed
by deletion of their names from the electoral rolls in order
to facilitate bonafide electral process.
4. Further the continuing infiltration across the border
must be stopped by the Central Government taking all necessary
and effective steps to seal the oorder without delay.
5. 'The CONVENTION feels that the Government should invite
Assam movement leaders for negotiations either in a Tripartite
Conference of CJovernment, movement leaders and the National
opposition parties or for bilateral discussion at the very earliest. - 26 -
6. In order to take all necessary follow-u? actions on a continuing bases in furtherance of the deliberations of this CONVENTION, the Chairman Shri Jainendra Kumar is hereby autho rised to appoint a Standing Co.-nmittee of Non-Party Citizens on Assam."
The Bharatiya Janata party observed January 11, 1981,
as "Assam Day" throughout the country. On this occasion its Piesident, Atal Sehari Vajpayee announced the following 7-point formula in Jaipur for solving the foreigners' problem in Assam:
1. There should be detection of all foreigners, the should be done on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Consti- . tution and the existing laws made thereunder, making use of the NKC, 1951, and other relevant documents in the determination of foreigners, an appeal shall lie v/ith judicial tribunals so as to ensure the credibility of the process.
2. As agreed upon by the leaders of the movement in a spirit of compromise, all entrants up to 1961 sho-ald be regular ized. 3. The n?mes of fovereigners, who came bet\-."een 1961 and 1971, should be removed from the electoral rolls. However, it should be accepted to principle that the burden of those who came betwesn 1961 and 1971 would be shared by other States as well detail of this would ' - ' /be v.'orked out in consultation with the new Assam Government. - 27 -
4. Elections to the new State Legislature and the Lok Sabha should be held on rhe basis of the revised electoral rolls.
5. As already agreed by the Government, those foreigners who Came after 1971 have to be deported. The case of bonafide refugees would be considered on the basis of policy pronounce ments made so far.
6. Infiltration of foreigners, v;hich is still continuing should be completely stopped by sealing the border and creating a no-man's land. If necess.^ry, issuance of identity cards and maintenance of birth, marriage and death registers should also form part of the steps to be taken for halting infiltration.
7. All representative measures against the movement and Press censorship should be withdrawn, all those detained in conn€?ction with the movement should be released and all pending detention orders be cancelled.
Vajpayee also suggested that the Government should initiate a massive programme of economic development of Ass=m and the entire Northeastern Region.
It is therefore clear that there is a general consensus among the movement leaders, the Gandhi Peace Foundation, the National Convention on Assam Crisis, and the Bharatiya Janata Party of the detection and deportation of foreigners. In the - 28 -
opinion of this author the follov/ing are the nneasures for a just solution. Essentially most of these are restatements of what has been said by the organizations mentioned above.
1, The Government of India should accept the constitu tionally Valid 1951 dateline, as proposed by the Gana Sangram Parishad, for identification of foreigners. This does not mean that all the foreigners thus identified vrill be deported. Acceptance of this dateline will help to fefuse the present volatile situation and stalemate and will serve to strengthen the Constitution of India. This acceptance will also make way for detailed negotiations between AAGSP and AASU with the Gover-nment of India. It has been reported that the Assam administration believes that the foreigners could be screened within six months. The i^Tational Register of Citizens of 1951 is Said to be the most reliable document for this purpose. This register should be updated. The entry date of each foreigner should be recorded based on available proof. Attention should not be paid to backdated citizenship certificates vjhich were issued illegally.
2. The next step is to decide what to do with the foreigners. It has been reported that the movement leaders are agreeable to accept the foreigners v;ho came before 1961 and Mrs. Gandhi has agreed to deport all foreigners v.'ho came after March 25, 1971. The forengers who came to Assam between 1961 and 1971, should be declared "Stateless" persons temporarily. - 29 -
Then the legality and stipulation of the Indira-Mujib Treaty should be thoroughly examined. It is co.Tmon knowledge that at the time of the India-Pakistan war in 1965 and the Bangladesh liberation movement in 1970, there were heavy infiltrations from East Pakistan. The Government of India snould persuade Bangla desh to take back its citizens. India accepted "Stateless" persons from Sri Lanka even though they migrated there long before the birth of independent India. Any person not accept able to Bangladesh or Nepal should be rehabilitated in other States of India. It is not just to force Assam to take all the burden of foreign nationals. The Government of India should provide economic aid to Bangladesh and Nepal to rehabilitate repatriated citizens. International communities Also may be ^sked for financial assistance.
3. Assam should be granted special protection as in Kashmir, where no real estate property can be sold to any out
sider. Since Assam is^o strategically located and has such a serious problem due to immigration, this special protection is absolutely necessary.
4. Citizen identification cards should be issued in Assam. This has already been done in Sikkim. This mechanism will help the identification of any foreign national.
5. There should be tight security at all the borders. 6. In order to match territory and language, the district of Cachar should be taken av;ay from Assam. - 30 -
7. India should formulate its immigration policy and develop enforcement mechanisms. 8. The Government of India should also look into the grievances of Assam and the Northeast Region in economic and overall develoj:>ment.
rhe movement leaders have genuinely expressed their grievance as \vell as compassion in fighting for a national cause. 3harat Norah, en AASU executive member, said : "Every person will be given the time and chance to prove that he is a genuine Indian citizen." A leading Assamese v.-riter and poet said : "V/e're not saying that these foreigners should be driven out as beasts or that we should not have humanitarian consi derations. We are fighting for our identity. The problem should be solved in a logical and constitutional way." Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, (General Secretary of AASU, said : "We don't want independence from India. We want justice. Our agitation will continue in a peaceful and democratic way till our demands are fulfilled." Nioeron Bora, President of FLP, said that he is ready to honour any national and international law and agreement.
Assam has shown enough tolerance, compassion, and concession. Mow it is time for the Government of India to face reality and apply the even hand of justice. Any further move to subdue the people of Assam by calling the movement a "law and order problem" •will be dangerous, expensive and counter- - 31 -
productive. It is now up to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to
show that she stands for justice for all, that Assam is not a
colony and the people are not second-class citizens, that the
democratic de.Tiands of the people are honoured, that the Consti tution is not violated, and that fche is capable of correcting past mistakes. The leaders and people of India should assume a national duty to work for a just solution in Assam. - 32 -
5. POLITICS OF ASSAM
The Assam Move.Tient was initially a mass agitation against the infiltration of foreigners, particularly the Bengalies into the land of Assam. According to the leaders of the Movement they v;ere not only eroding the cultural identity of Assam but elso nosing a serious threat on both the political and economic fronts. The indigenous tribals ^nd the Muslims of Assam were a party to the Agitation. Hov,ever, during the course of the agitation an unhe-=lthy development took place v;hich severely effected both the Agitation and the Accord, the intrusion of communal forces like the Ki>S and the Vishwa Hindu Pari shad v/hich gave this genuine mass agitation a communal turn. The communal element stole the Gandhian and democratic base of the Agitation professed by agitators in the beginning. The RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad stealthily gave a conomunai tv.ist to the anger of the indigenous Assamese tribals. This resulted in the alienation of the Muslims of Assam from the Agitation.
On the other hand, the Movement fell into the hands of •che upper-caste Hindus of Assam, Involving the indigenous Assa mese tribals in communal attacks on Muslims, against immigrant Bengalis on the other, the upper caste Hindus emerged as the only decisive force in the Agitation. It v;as this social section of Assam which ultimately represented the Agitation a_t the Accord negotiations. The decisons that were reached shovjed - 33 -
a total disregard for the tribals of Assam as well as the Muslims. In a number of villages it was only one Muslims one who became victims of the attacks of the RSS, thejribals and the upper class Hindus, involving the indigenous tribals and the native Muslims in communal riots. The upper-caste negotia ted the Accord without any regard for the tribal and Muslim minorities of Assam. The Accord and the Agitation have ulti mately gone in favour of the interests of this upper-caste Hindu section, which primarily sought power and supremacy over othex- sections of the population in political and economic terms. Although the movement was initiated by people of Assamese-origin comprising both Muslims and Hindus, the commu nal t:urn of the agitation disappointed the whole Muslim element. As a result, the Muslims were alienated and isolated from the movement alongwith their leadership. This deliberately created ccmmunal atmosphere led Muslims to live constantly in a state of fear, Muslims are looked upon with distrust in Assam inspite of their identification with Assamese culture.
The practical implications of the Accord also affected the Muslim community more than any other. The majority of evictions took place in the Muslim settlements, particularly of the inhabitants of the floods (char) areas. These people had been changing their living sites as the floods frequently eroded their land and destroyed their houses, although many of them possess land documents of as far back as 1932, they were served - 34 -
eviction notices and their houses demolished without consider ing the calamities that have been responsible for their dis location. Their lands in most cases have been seized by dec laring them as forest areas or as professional grazing reserve (PGR) areas. Illiteracy as well as innocence have worked to the disadvantage of these Muslim settements as they have never realised the importance of preserving the necessary documents, which in many cases were lost in the floods and dislocation. These human factors were not taken into consideration by the Accord signataries for the backw=>rd and oppressed minorities. It is not only Muslim settements that have been so affected but indigenous tribal. Mikiri, Bodo and Ahma settlements also, problems were neglected by the upper-caste in the negotiations with the Central government. The Accord altogether ignored the fact that a number of Bengalis, particularly Muslim Bengalis, were invited by the local government administration in the past to help in the cultivation of crops, tea and jute, A dispass ionate look at the agriculture of Assam will clearly reveal that those Muslim Bengalis have been chiefly responsible for: the agricultural growth and prosperity of the State, The longevity of their stay as well as their substantial' share in the uplift- ment of the economy of the state has hardly been credited in the Accord,
The problem of immigration in Assam has been very com plex one. Those who claim Assamese origin have themselves had foreign ancestors. The immigration from Bengal was not spon taneous but encouraged by the British government and later by - 35 -
Congress, Most of the Hindu Bengalis had come to serve as officials in the British government and ultimately settled on the land. Being educated, they contributed towards the enrich ment of the Assamese culture and language. To consider them foreigners is not reasonable as they have themselves become part of the Assamese culture. Most of the im.-nigrants, parti cularly the Muslims/ accepted the cultiiral traditions and values of Assam alongwith its languages like those Assamese who were once foreigners themselves. The Assamese culture in fact is a mixture of different ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups who have settled in Assam in the past. The Muslim immigrants who have tremendously contributed towards the culture of Assam, particularly Assamese literature, have also been declared foreigners at times. These facts deserved consideration while framing an accord eP- the issue of immigration. It is on these grounds that the implementation of the Accord has become a difficult task. As a result, a considerable amount of arbitra riness has been seen in the implementation of the Accord, Had the Assam leadership been mindful of the demands and issues of the minorities while framing the Accord with the Central govern ment, there would have been little of the worry and harassment that is now increasingly felt among the minorities. This state of affairs is posing an ominous threat to the integrity of the State, Already, in some parts of Assam, people have started thinking in tei-ras of separation. To avoid such consequences the Assam leadership should realise the importance of democratic -. 36 -
methods to sort out the problem and/ taking the leadership of all the minorities in confidence/ give full and due attention to their issues before Assam turns into an arena of civil war. We should learn the lesson from history of Assam that not giving adequate attention to different tribal segments has led to separation and eventually divided Assam, This can happen again if the v/aves of discontent among the minorities especially indigenous tribals-the original sons of the soil go unchecked.
The Accord has been a failure. It has in no case solved the problem except that those who wanted to capture power have achieved their aim. The Accord has not only sent waves of discontent among different sections of the population, but also divided the leadership. It appears that the problem of foreign nationals was a pretext made by the upper caste Hindus to gain control over the Movement to form a government. The basic demands of the Movement led by AASU were the establishment of a university at Gauhati, an oil-refinery at Gauhati and a brige over the Bhramaputra. These popular demands were side-lined and the issue of foreign nationals assumed overdue importance as a political weapon in the hands of the upper-caste Hindus.
It is not time to sort out the real issues of Assam and not give unnecessary importance to ixmaginery Issues. I^e impl But since the Accord Is Intrinsically beset with problems, its implenaentation will remain a problem, especially identification/ detection and verification of foreign nationals. It is iinfor- tunate that the implementation pgencies are showing a hic^ degree of arbitratiness in this regard. Under the garb of implementing the Accord, ethnic, religious and linguistic prejudices have again begun to play their role. The Accord has created more problems than it has solved. The only section of the population of Assam feeling secure is the upper-Caste Hindus. Among some tribals like the Bodos, it has given rise to separatist trends, as they are demanding their own homeland. Among the Bengalis, it has created a feel ing of linguistic suppression. And among the Muslim, their religious as well as cultural freedom is felt at stake. The likelihood of further uprisings in Assam can by no means be ruled out. There is still time to give fresh thought to re writing of the Accord in the interest of the whole population of Assam, - 38 - 6. POLITICAL PARTIES OF ASSAM 6.1 AJYCP; The Asora Jatlyabadl Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), the All Bodo Students Union (A3SU) and the Karbi Anglong Students' Association (KASA), have all come to openly oppose the dis criminatory implementation of the Accord. Ihese student orga nisations are demanding autonomous territories for their respec tive areas. These are the gifts of the Assam Accordl The Asom Jatiyabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad has urged the State Government to make alternative arrangements when indi genous person are evicted from Government land. The Parishad has at the same time suggested to the Government to take a stem attit:ude in the matter of eviction of suspected foreigners and non-indigenous persons. The Parishad in a statement said that a delegation of the AJYCP had met the Forest Minister, Sri Bharat Chandra Narah and discussed with him the situation arising out of the Government decision to evict encroachers. While expressing serious con cern for the landless people, the Parishad said that political interests were behind the encroachment on Government land. There were instances of encouraging by certain political parties to meet their narrow ends. The Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahante accused the State Congress (I) of being behind the current agitation in - 39 - Karbi Anglong JJO as to create problems for the Asom Gana Parishad Government and thus make political capital out of it/ with an eye on the next elections. Talking to newsmen at the Janata aiavan here, Mr.Mahata Said that the State Government has informed the Centre about the Congress (I)'s role in the agitation. Mr. Mahanta said that the law and order situation in Karbi Anglong ciuring the 100-hour bandh has remained peaceful barring a couple of minor incidents. Altogefeher 24 persons have been arrested by the police during the bandh so far, he said, PTI Adds: Burning of a road bridge, attempted cases of arson, blockade of roads in some places, stoning of running vehicles and a few i ncidents of assault marked the IQO—hour bandh in Karbi Anglong and North Hills Districts. The bandh began on January 16. The bandh which affected normal life, v.'as in response to a call given by the Autonomous State Demand Committee and the Karbi Anglong Students' Association, denanding creation of an autonomous State comprising the two hills districts - Karbi Anglong and the North Cachar Hills. Talking to newsmen here today, the Chief Minister, Mr.—..-.- Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, said that twenty-four persons had been - 40 - taken into custody so far in connection with various incidents. When problems are not solved peacefully on a democratic plane, disturbances taking the form of violence and chaos are unavoidable. Whatever \ The lOO~hour bandh, for which the call w-s given by the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the Karbi Anglong Students' Association (KASA) to press their demand for the creation of a separate autonomous State, crept into its fourth day this Morning. It is regretable that the bandh which started almost peacefully last Friday morning at 5 a.m., should have been marked by some violence later on. A road bridge has been burnt, and there have been several cases of attempted arson; road-blockades, incidents of assault and the stoning of vehicles. So far, about 24 persons have been taken into custody, and though the Chief Minister of Assam has claimed that there has been no visible impact of the banch, the fact remains that some violence has marred what should have remained a peaceful demonstration, preferably without a long bandh. It is not as though Mr. Prafulla Kamar Mahanta had not taken initiatives to make the bandh redundant. He had invited the representatives of ASDC and KASA for talks at the capital on January 16, and the two organisations had agreed to come provided the talks could be held without any preconditions. The Chief Minister had responded positively even to this. It - 41 - was generally hoped that the bandh would be called off and the two organisations would come for parleys on January 16, How ever, the expected talks did not take place, 6.2 AASU The inherent shortcomings of the Accord are there, and even the AASU and other groups in Assam are not happy with the AGP Government. The All Assam Students Union (AASU) is disgusted with the implementation process of the Accord. They have launched their agitation in different ways i.e., picketing the Government offices, observing bandhs etc., in Assam. Mahanta himself is not satisfied with the progress. But Phukan thinks that the process of detection has made some progress. But all of these leaders and organisations blame the Centre for the lethargy in this progress. The following report will explain the situation to some extent: Normal fxinctioning in most central government offices in the Brahmaputra valley was affected following picketing by the members of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) In protest against "Centre's delay" In implementing the Assam Accord. Barring two cases of assault on railway employees at Mallgaon, the day passed off peacefully, according to official reports, * * * * - 42 - The police fired at least six rounds in the air to dis perse an unruly mob of pro-and anti-bandh factions in Lakhimpurl in Cachar district today. The clash was between the local Manipuri community supporting the bandh and the Bengalis oppos ing it. No one was injured. The situation was well under control, according to official reports. 6.3 AGP The 12-hour state-wide bandh called by the ruling AGP Government in Assam in protest against the Central Government's alleged lethargy in implementing the Assam accord was for the first time not only obseirved in the Brahmaputra valley but also partially successful even in the Bengali dominated districts of Cachar and Karimganj. The AASU has also observed a total Bandh in Assam, which was an indication of the future plans of the agitationists. Despite hectic negotiations till late in the night between leaders of the AGP and AASU to persuade the latter to v."ithdraw the call for a statewide 12-hour bandh in protest against the alleged police atrocities under the AGP government, the students went ahead with it, and the state observed a total bandh. Faced with protests and demonstrations since the death of an AASU executive member in police firing in Nalbari in the - 43 - early hours of November 2, the Government has been attempting to pacify the students. In fact/ all the four principal demands of the AASU-to hold a judicial inquiry into the incident to pay adequate compensation to the family of the deceased, to dismiss the concerned policemen/ and to ensure that such inci dents do not recur have been conceded by the Government. V^5^en the student leaders left after the discussion with the AGP leaders, including the Chief Minister and the Home Minister they v,-ere optimistic that the call would be withdrawn. However/ after the AASU executive met in Gauhati University/ the Government v,-as informed the AASU would go ahead with the bandh. The AAfJU leaders pointed out that "we are not observing the bandh to press the Government to concede our demands, but to draw attention to the continued police repression in the state ruled by a popular and democratically elected government. 6.4 AGSU Meanwhile, the All-Gauhati Students Union (AGSU) has been demanding the resignation of the Home Minister/ Mr. Brighu Phukian. A silent procession was organised by the students and a memorandum handed over to the Chief Minister to demand the resiignatlon of the Home Minister. The failure of the AGP government to impleaeht the Assam Accord is but natural. But the truth is that the Assam government realizes now that the implementation of the Accord is not in anyway an easy - 44 - job. On 23rd December 1986, Mr. Mahanta said that he had warned the Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, that unless the Assam Accord Was fully implemented and the Centre fulfilled its part of the bargain, a Punjab.type situation may develop in the state. Asked whether the State Government would go ahead and implement the Accord on its own if the Centre was unwilling, Mr. Mah?nta said they were already going ahead in those areas where the State Government could take the initiative. In a press conference, to mark the AGP Government's one year in office, the Chief Minister Mr. Mahanta "lashed out at the Centre for not amending the illegal Migrants (Determina tion by Tribunals) Act, 1983, without which it was virtually impossible to detect and expel the post' 71 foreign nationals." This shows the realization of the State Government about the fact that the Accord is not going to solve any problem. The Chief Minister admitted, "We have not been able to fulfil the aspirations of the people in one year, as it is a gigantic task and an overnight change is not possible. The Assam Home Minister, Mr, Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, said that some reactionary forces are found to have been indulging in the false propaganda that the Assam Gang Parishad Government has not oeen doing anything regarding detection and deportation of foreigners as per the provisions of the Assam Accord, - 45 - "This is far from truth and in fact the State Government has ta^en all possible steps in this direction which the follov;- ing statistics will prove", ^Ir. Phukan said in a statement. He said that from the March 1 to October 31 this year, 36,257 cases regarding alleged foreigners who had infiltrated on or after March 25, 1971, have been taken up by the state police force for investigation as per the illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983. Investigation in respect of 19,111 cases had since been completed and 2,611 cases had been referred to the tribunals. The police department had also undertaken detection of forei gners who had infiltrated in between January 1, 1966 and March 24, 1971. He said till October 1986, 2,42,442 cases had been registered under the Foreigners Act of which investigation in respect of 23,452 cases had been completed. A total of 5,414 cases had been referred to the tribunals. The police had also been keeping vigil on new infiltrators and re- infilitrators and during the last eight months 1,080 such persons had been detected and deported. The Home Minister said the border wing of the police force, and the district executive forces in the state had been engated in the operation. Instructions have been issued to see that genuine citizens are not harassed. "It is, therefore, apparent that action taken by the state police force with limited resources is coraTiendable",he claimed. * * * * - 46 - 6.5 U.M.F. I^e minorities' leaders in Assam think the Accord was a conspiracy against the.ii, as it deprives them of their basic democratic rights. The UMF is opposing the idea that the Act should be amended. "The Assam Accord is a complete conspiracy and has given birth to a rule •»^hich wants to thrive on a naked vendetta similar to Fascism, according to Mr. Abdur Rauf Choudhari, Assistant General Secretary of the United Minorities Front, Assam. Mr. Choudhari told reporters that the extent of political murder, threat, intimidation and attacks on minorities in all possible forms have crossed all limits and demanded that the Accord be annulled. He said th«t the UMF will protest against the wrongful eviction of bonafide citizens from Assam. Stating that there Was no census in Assam is 1981, he alleged that by taking advantage of this, millions of bonafide Indians are being per secuted on "Preposterous" grounds es foreigners. He demanded an immediate census for Assam to be conducted by a competent central team. The UMF has also demanded that the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1985, should not be amended and the existing "unconstitutional" system of issuing permanent - 47 - residential certificates by the Assam Government be stopped. The Front also demands that the CBI should investigate, the mysterious killings of eight political leaders during the AGP (Assam Gana Parishad) rule including the brutal murder of UMF President, Kalipada Sen. Regarding the detection of foreign nationals the UMF has pointed out that it could not ignore the harassment that it might cause to genuine citizens. The Union Government itself has started understanding the dangerous implication of the Accord, and the way it is being implemented. The AGP government, facing difficulties regarding the implementation of the Accord, blames the Centre for laxity in the progress. Recently, the Assam Chief Minister, Mr. Prafulla Mahanta, has questioned the sincerity of the Union Government in implementin'g the Assam Accord. Addressing a press conference after a two-hour meeting on the subject with the Union Home Minister, Mr. Buta Singh, The Chief Minister pointed out that it was more than a year since the Accord had been signed. "He still does not seem to know all the clauses of the agreement", was the complaint of Mr, Buta Singh. "How then, can be implement it?" Mr, Mahanta was particularly unhappy at the Centre's footdragging on amending the Illegal iMigrants (Determination by Trihjuna:s) Act, 1985. - 43 - The State Government, he said, had been essured by the Prime Minister himself that the said amendment to the Act would be introduced in the then on going session of Parliament. But there is no sign of this bill till now, "The Government of Assam is greatly handicapped in detecting illegal infiltrators in the state {without the nece ssary amendments) ", he claimed. The AGP Government is interested only in the implementa tion of the Accord; it does not care much for the deteriorating law .and order situation in Assam. Nevertheless, "under the existing law", said Mr. Mahanta, "about 2.42 lakh cases had been registered for investigation till last month. Of these, the work had been completed in 23,452. About BO per cent of the latter work, he said, "had 'oeen clocked from March till October this year." While expressing satisfaction at the pace of survey work for the fencing along the 269 km border vith Bangladesh in Assam, the Chief Minister vas critical at the manning of the frontier. "It is just not good enough", he stated in reply to a query on whether illegal migration continued. "I have asked for at least two more battalions of BSF from the Home Minister". The Chief Minister also expressed disenchantment at the Centre's tardiness in moving on clauses in the Assam Accord - 49 - relating to withdrawal of disciplinary action against employees taken during the Assam agitation, setting up a new oil refinery in the state and other issues relating to economic development. * * * * The Union Home Minister, Mr. Buta Singh, emphatically told the Assam Chief Minister, Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, that the law and order situation in the state was causing concern to the Centre, particularly hindrances in the proper functioning of the public sector undertakings. Mr. Buta Singh asked Mr. Mahanta to take the deteriora tion in the law and order situation in the state seriously and try to Improve it, Mr, Mahanta who met the home minister, urged the latter to expedite proposals for amending the Illegal Migrants (Deter mination by Tribunal) Act. The Centre is treading with caution, particularly on this issue, because zhe State Government's demand reflects only the views of the dominant Assamese speaking community and does not seem to ta]s:e into account the interests of the minorities who together constitute a significant segment of the population. The Union Government is keen to ensure that while carry ing out detection and deportation of foreigners, genuin^e- Indian citizens are not harassed. It has therefore decided to discuss the various issues involved in detail with the state government. - 50 - 6.6 ULFA Assam is also not free from the secessionists as some of the hard-core students within Assam Agitation have formed the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in collaboration with the NSCN rebels. The intelligentsia felt that the NSCN headquarters in Burma provides training for the ULFA recruits and the ULFA, of course, has to Pay for the training and arms to the NSCN rebels. The ULFA, however, gets shetler at the NSCN headquarters at Challam beyond Somra tracts in Burma with the sole object to co-operate and collaborate with the NSCN rebels in an operational strategy against the Indian Security Forces. Parsh Barooah, who is one of the top leaders of ULFA is said to be in the NSCN camp in Burma and was directed by the Chinese authorities to function through the NSCN rebels. The ULFA has already involved in extremist activities in Assam. Itie murder of Kalipad Sen, the leader of the United Minority Front (UMF) by Paresh Barooah is an Indication of new beginning of terrorism in Assam, The extremists in iMeghalaya are also inspired by the leaders of National socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) to demand autonomy from the Indian Government. The Khasiphur National Council, a chauvinistic organization exclusively of Khasi tribes has already given a call for an autonomy movement in Neghalaya. Ihe recent agitation against the non-Khasis indicate their growing hatred and intense desire to cooperate with the other liberation fronts in the regions. 'Bie "Seven- - 51 - Sisters Liberation Army" comprising the seven States has once again become active to create an independent state through an armecJ struggle. Formation of another underground organization called "NAI'IMAT" consisting Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya/ Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura further strengthened the hands of autonomy forces in the region. There has been, however, an impressive performances by the Central Government to ameliorate economic progress in this sensitive region, particularly from I960's when the sisterly states of Nagaland were following her example of armed struggle. North-Eastem Economic Council is entrusted to deal with the economic task of the region, Meghalaya is experiencing a tremendous progress in all spheres since inception of the statehood on January 20, 1972. At present, there are 644 small scale industries out of which 547 are in the Khasi Hills, 43 in Garo Hills and ments to fiinction without disturbance. On 18th November, Mr, J. Hazarika met representatives of the AASU-AGSP, the Assam Jatiyabadi Dal, the Purbanchatjiya Lok Parishad and requested them to give him time to settle the issue and not resort to further agitation. Seven political parties represented on the assembly issued a joint statement regarding infiltration of foreign nationals. Their statement appealed to youth, students, workers, peasants and intelli gentsia to-create a peaceful atmosphere, so that the iss,ue could be solved through constitutional and judicial procedures - 52 - with justice to all concerned. The statement also expressed fear that the outbreak of violence had created difficulties in the path to a peaceful solution. On I9th November, the Deputy Prime Minister said that an interim solution for the Assam troubles might be possible. He scoffed at the suggestion that the situation had deteriorated because of a weak Central Government. 6.7 ASSAM SAHITYA SABHA (ASS) At the beginning of the nev; financial year, the Assam Government ordered that the annual grant-in-aid which it gave to the Assam Sahitya Sabha be withheld, since the Sabha had been supporting the movement against foreigners in the State and taking an active part in the agitation. On 5th April, the Secretaiy General of the Sabha, Mr. Durgeshwar Sharma, said that the adnninistration was maligning an age-old body of literatures at the instance of vested political interests. The AASU and AGSP alleged that they had been told by the administration that no official fund or other assistance could be sanctioned to the Sabha and the Government suspected the funds would be used to procure arms and ammunition with the money. The matter was raised during the tripartite talks. Soon after, the Government released 50 per cent of the grant and agreed to give special casual leave to employees attending the Sabha's annual conference. PART-II BIBLIOGRAPHY - 53 - ASSAM, ECONOMY 1. GANESH SINGH. Changing rural Economy of Assam. Link. 34, 42; 1992, May, 31; 14. The Economy of Assam is essentially agrarian besides tea, which has limited spread effected in the economy of the state, the development agriculture is focussed primarily on the cultivation of various food and non-foodcrops on small land-hollding. All of these are dependent on the raw material obtained locally more importantly the state can look formed to harvesting two crops a year. —, POLITICS 2. ASSAM : Dangers of Rightist offensive. Link 25, 31; 1983, Mar ; 20; 13 Union Home Minister has no doubt clarified his govern ment's stand that dismissal of the Assam Ministry would mean "suomission to the reign of terror and maghem the new ministry cannot meet and talk to the people because the people do not have confidence in it." He said that Assam was under army rule. This will be a tough challenge not only to the Congress - I but also to other parties v;ho fought the Assam elections in the face of heavy odds. - 54 - 3, ASSAM, PUNJAB What Need. Link. 23, 29; 1983, Feb. . / 27; 6 Talks between the centre end the Akali broke down in the Capital just about the time violence broke out in Assam, the Akalis have since then returned to Amritsar and the most controversial ever election is over in Assam. The question everyone is asking now is : What next in Assam and Punjab, 4. ASSAM SETTLEME'JT. Economic Times. 12, 144; 1985, Aug ; 17; 5 Perhaps the nation could not have wished for a more welcome announcement from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Inde pendence Day by the Prime Minister than the settlement reached between New Delhi and the leaders of Assam agitation. With the settlement in Assam the ground well of the forces of normalcy should prepared the stage for consolidating constructive element in the other states of the region. 5. ASSAM TALKS Bogged again. Link. 24, 13; 1981, Nov ; 3; 10 The Assam agitation leaders held insisting that all 1961-71 entrents- into the state from Bangladesh should be oufeted at one-go. While the talks between the Central and the^ Assam agitation leaders were going on, Assam govern or Prakash Mehr^ arrived in the capital, possibly, to apprise the Centre on the political situation in the state. - 55 - 6. ASSAM TANGLE. Link. 25,13; 1982, Nov. 7; 6 The Centxe was in no better position in the case of Assam either time is running out fast in case of Assam as in that of Punjab to prepare itself for every eventuality, a proposal for arming itself with the power co extend the President's Rule in Assam v;as considered by the government. They as well as others also wonder why the government was keen on securing the power only a few days before the talks were scheduled to open with the Assam agitators. 7, ASSAM: Time for Decisive moves. Mainstream. 22, 3-7; 1983, Oct., 22; 93 Efforts to whip upon agitation are on again the Assam. The reasons are not far to seek the February killings have alineated large sections of the people and created arift in AA3U and (GSP) gana sanghram parishad, the proportion of the "original" Assamese and Assam - speaking people has of course gone up after independence due several nev-" states having been carved out of Assam during the past 35 years. 8. D;uy< CLOUDS hover again over Assam. Radiance. 19,16; 1983, Aug. , Sep 3; 2 Hov;ever unwise and cruel might have been the decision of the government to proceed v;ith the setting up of tribunals - 56 - for identifying the "foreigners" in Assairi, because of the fact that thousands and thousands of the Assamese have no homes left from where to produce the documentary evidence of their domi cile as the h: inhuman carnage early this year it should have been a good reason for the agitationists not to decide to resume the agitation. 9. DAS (Indira). Lost glory. Haunts Ahonns. Link. 31,33; 1989, Mar , 26; 15 Although the demand for an Ahom land is still a faint cry, there is no gain saying thr-t this powerful race, which once ruted Assam and which now finds itself reduced to the unenviable status of a backward com,munity, is mar.ting with resentment. And con indeed, at the first opportunity, spread like forest in search of a dream for a seperate Ahom state. 10. HAZARIKA (sanjoy) . Limits of tolerance. Times of India. 155, 2oi 1992, Aug., 26; 6 While making out thet the Assamese lack''^ sense of history. That they are parochial, communal lazy and fanatical he has ignored. What many v;ould describe as "bengali chauvi nism" the roote of Assemese suspicion and hostility to Sengal go back and hostility to Bengal go back most recently to the l9th century when Assam came under British control, the poli tical middle ground had regained its role. - 57 - 11. JOSHI (Mahesh), Assam, India . and Gandhi. Mainstream 18,41; 1980, June, 7; 7 Assam is the tragedy of India it is a crisis of consti tution. Assam is caught in the whirt wind of Indian duality - the duality of being simultaneously Indian and Assamese. The test the government of India must accept in toto what the stated of Assam finally proposes. 12. MENON (Ramesh) . ASSAi-1. Timber trail. India Today, 12,22; 1987, Nov., 30; 63. The Profulla Mahanta government has presented a report which indicts Salkia for Tiisusing his powers to allot timber. 13. MISRA (udavon). ASSAM Sahitya Sabha Culture and Politics. Economic and Political Weeklly. 17,22; 1982, May,29;899. Ihe Assam Sahitya Sabha, easily the most important literary organisation of the Nort-East, has just concluded its 49th annual session in Diphu, headquarters of the Karbi analong district. The earlier hostalgia about undivided Assam and a dominant Assamese languages was absent and there appeared to be a healthy acceptance of the fact that Assam today is just one of the several constituents of the North-East, 14. MUSTAFA (Seema). Neros fiddle while Assam Burn^-.. Secular Democracy. 16, 2; 1983, Mar ; 5. Assam if burning - this was the AASU slogan, or at least part of it; and since then it has become a veritable catch - - 58 - perhapse. The Assam police should be recognised. Villagers insisted that they were attacked by the Assam police v.'hich opened fire on them with the agitationists. 15. PARDESI ((Sianshyam) . Assam, Crisis : Dangerous Portents. Mainstream, 18, 32; 1980, Apr , 5; 7. The All-Assam students Union (ASU) did not give the call for picketing, this time enquiries revealed that the students would by and large, accept the call, being given by the purbanchaliya Lok i-arishad (PLP) . The class society in Assam is based upon feudal made of production in the village the urban bourgeoisie consists of the bureaverats, can tractors transforts, owers, planters and the medium-size industrialists. Assam today brings out the crisis for the entire nation. 16. PRA3HU (A N ). One more feather on Ragiv's Cap. Economic Times. 12, 146; 1985, Augt ., 19; 5. From Punjab to Assam is a long distance but the apparent case with which it was convered by the Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi, v;as noted v.'ith chaers by the iok Sabha last week. The Lok Sabha will discuss next week the report of the national institute of public finance and policy on "aspects of the black economy in India" according to the present schedule.The five week monsoon session of the house will be over on August 23 next. - 59 - 17. RAJKHOWA (Naresh). Assam : Turn in the tider. Mainstream. 2 2; 1984, Feb., 25; 33. Avery significant recent development in the agitation against foreign nationals in Assam has been the admission by the student leaders that the Assam proolem was basically political and has to be solved politically. AASU which met at the Gauhati University on Febfuary 6 passed a resolution to this effect AASU v, =s given the responsibility to suggest how this could be brought about. 18. ROY (Subir) and SHARMA (Pranay). Muslims Blinded in Assam. Radiance. 19, 6; 1983; June, 19-25; 6 The outskirts of Mangolda;^ town were in the grip of serious violence right from the morning of Thursday, February 17, midwpy through the election week in Assam in the morning three Assamese villages Dhula, Hirapara and North Trunk Road had been attacked. 19. SEN (sumanta) . Award to Saikia Now Makes little sense. Times of India. 155, 273; 1992; Nov., 19; 8. The Assam Chief Minister, Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia, must be happy on being av,'arded the Jawaharlal Nehru award for bringing peace to a strife tarn state - the institute of Economic Studies award was presented to him on November 14 by Union Minister for '.welfare Mr. Sitaram Kesari. Mr, Saikia himself knows that the surrender of arms by a section of the ULFA has been nothing cut a charade. - 60 - 20. SOLUTION BY Committee, Times of India. 153, 258; 1990, Sept., 18; 8 All that the eight round of tripartite talks between the central and Assam governments and representative of the Bodos succeeded in producing was one more expert committee thereby postponing final decision on the problem to another day. The centre probably hopes that the Committee will settle at least the question of rhe land area inhabited by Bodo tribes if sucn a settlement is reached, it could well form a pattern for setting similar demands in other parrs of the country. 21. SYED SHAHABUDDIN. Beginning of a new Ethnic Confrontation in Assam. Radiance. 21,23; 1985, Oct., 13-19; 3 The memorandum of settlement betvseen the government of India and the All Assam students Union (.--ASU) and the All Assaim Gana Sungram Parishad (AAGSP) , generally welcome as it is, suffers from many inherent contradictions and built in inconsistencies, which may create new tentions and give rise to new confrontation during the phase of implementation. 22. TALKING TO ULFA. Times of India. 155,55; 1992, Mar , 4; 8 rhe arrival in the capital of a five member delegation of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) for talks with the centre marks a major and welcome development. ULFA's earliest start that there is nothing to negotiate but the - 61 - modalities of session from the country no longer holds; but no one has stated what the new demand is. All this greatly narrows the centre's already limited options more, it calls for extraordinary negotiating skills as well as patience. 23. VvHY NOT a white paper on Assam? Radiance. 19, 7; 1983, June 26-July 2 ; 1 In the context of Assam three important developments rhave taken place. First the recruitment of Assam task force has begun? secondly the minorities in the state have protested against the slipshod setting up of tribunals, and thir ly, the rightists press as well as some aceredited spokesmen of the government are trying to tell the people that the past election violence was not communal. ; ACCORD 24. ALI (Omar A). Assam Accord implementation makes little headway. Economic Times, 15,72; 1988, June, 12; 3. On the face of it, not much has changed in the Brahma putra valley over the past three years. Guwahati looks quite of the country side still common place albeit their the same so does the rest/new propnents the plains tribals ageting for a seperate homeland now sing a different time. 25. ASSAi^ DISCORD. Times of India. 152, 236; 1989, Nov.4; 8 After colling tneir heels for three days waiting for Mr. 3uta Singh to chair the first tripartite talks on the 1985 Assa.Ti accord, both participants from the state decided - 62 - that they had enough. Declaring that the Union Home Minister has added insult to injury, the All-Assam students Union said that his failure to be present for a meeting that he had him self Called only confirms that Assam* s concern rank low in the centre's list of p riorities. AASU's threatened out blockade/ however, is unlikely to draw an active response from the centre given its pre-occupation with the general election. 26. ASSAM SEMAI>ITICS. Link. 23, 42; 1981, May, 31; 6 The issue was sorted out by making the president and the general secretary of .-ASU profulla Mahanta and 3rige Pukhan a Muslim youth and another AASU man members of the conmittee from the students side and the three joint convence of the AAGSP representing the senior leaders of the agitation. 27, BORA (Dulal) . Centre's move jolts opposition in Assam. Link. 28, 18; 1985, Dec., 3; 7 The minorities had been agitating over the Assam accord and had even formed a separate political party called the united minority front (UMF) with the aim of challenging the congress, in the ensuring poll battle. Phukan's views are likely to gain support within the AGP when the issues comes up the hardliners are oound to back him. - 63 - 28. DOUBTS ON Accord. Times of India. 148, 228; 1985/ Aug., 17; 8, The accord on Assam is on a psr with the one on Punjab. While it ends the impassic which has paisoned the atmosphere in the state for over five years and thus cases the situation, it remains to be seen whether it will lead to a lasting solu tion of the basic problem. Now that the principle of free and fair elections has been successfully asserted the issue is whether these will produce a stable political set-up while we have our doubts we shall be only too glad if they turn out to be misplaced. 29. GUPTA (Shekhar). Assam : Endangered Accord. India Today. 11, 5; 1986, Mar , 15; 64. Assam gauaparishad (AGP) government took over the political seen has changed profoundly. It was one thing to shout slogans; its quite another togive them administrative shaP. The historic independence day accord that promised so much present particularly difficult challenges. 30. KHANNA (K C ) . Minefield of Uncertainties: Assam Accord and after. Times of India. 57, 231; 1985, Aug.,20; 8. 3y far the biggest gain to flow from the Assam accord as in the case of Punjab, is psychological. Mr. Rajiv Gandhi has emerged as a leader V/nom the disgrunted whatever their - 64 - grievances. Strength or organisation trust. In a sense there fore the triumph of the forces of natural unity in Assam symbolised by the accord, is complete that is why their move ment iomed larger-than-life till the end. 31. MASOOD PESHIMA.M. Thoughts on the Assam accord. Radiance, 21, 20; 1985, Sept., 22-28; 5. When Mr. Rajiv Gandhi succeeded in reaching an accord v\ith the Akalies over Punjab v.'hich later on culminated into the tragic assassimation of Sant Harchand Singh LongowAl. It was equally hoped that a settlement would also be found to resolve the vexed issue of foreign nationals in Assam it was not however, visualized that the two settlements that of Punjab and Assam would follow- in such quick succession. 32. MENON (Ramesh) . Assam, failed Accord. India Today. 12, 20; 1987, Oct., 31; 70. After 24 months of peace, the All Assam Students' Union plans to renew its agitation this time to de.'nand the implementa tion of the accord. 33. SHARMA (Kalpana) , Assam accord skimming over troubled Waters. Indian Express. 5 3,2 99; 1985, Se? ,, 1; 8. prime i^iinister Rajiv Gandhi made a dramatic announcement from the ramparts of the Red Fort the morning at 3 a.m., after several houses of gruching talks, a memorandum of settlement - 65 - had been stated between the government and the leaders of the Assam students movenient, thus bringing to an end the painful six-year-long agitation provides on the sport reactions to the accord from a cross-section of people in Assam. 34. sRI RAMAl^(J) v.tiich 'accord' has won in Assams. Link. 28,21; 1985, Dec., 29; 4. The prospect of political instaoility for Assam is strengthtened by evidences of conflicting interepretations of the accord (or what is more frequently spelt as its sprit) inside the state's ruling party itself. 35. VASFI (AU^.af 8Mj:^) . Assam Accord likely to inject un certainty besides consolidating anti-Muslim atmosphere Radiance. 21,18; 1985, Sept., 8-14; 1. A comparative study of Punjab agreement and Assam accord makes one point clear: The Central Government has two sets of yardstricks, one for the Sikhs and another for Muslims. The reason is the periodic, codly calculated accer.-uation of the Assamese sub-nationalism, a glimpse of which can be seen in the agitationst latest reiteration of their old demand that the Bengalis living in Assam should imbibe the Assamese culture and language. One really doest not know how -he congress-I reconcip all this with its much talked of and much- publicised secular stance, now a emphemism for double dial. - 66 - —, HISTORY 36. ASSAM • Unscholarly Chauvinists.Economic and Political Weekly. 13,45; 1978, ^7ov., 11,1843 The teachers has been doing research on the histoiry of Assam for the past several years, achieving a ?h.D. on the subject and has written articles for scholarly journals which not been utterly undistinguished cities by praise or blame. In the many handle districtwise or statewise call for by the All Assam students Union (AASU) . How ever when the DIG in-charge of the central range w,= s confronted with the family story, he said: 'the police has requested magisterial enquiry into the whole incident. MEDIA 37. MEDIA'S SINISTERgaj^g^ Link, 25, 31; 1983, Mar 20,15 During the non-aligned sum±it the western media tried to make out that there was nothing universal about the Assam situation as it was a third world phenomenon. —, —^ PARTY 38. INSURGENCY IN ASSAM. Times of India. 153, 311; 1990, Nov., 17; 8 The depredation of this secessionist and terrorist outfit have reached such a stage that the ruling Assam gana parishad has ceassed to govern in all but indeed. There is enough hard evidence to name suggest that the AGP, or at least - 67 - certain factions in it prefer to do business with ULFA either rnrough compulsion or, what is worse, through their on own volition. No such discussions are pessible with the ULFA.which sees no futurefor Assam within the Indian Union. —, , AASU 39. ASSAIL TALKS. Link. 25, 14; 1982, Nov., 14; 10 In the Midst of widespread speculators about Assa-ti also going to the polls, the central phase of talks with the leaders of the gana sangram parishad and the All Assam students Union has assumed added importance. The agitation leaders, there fore, fell that this new formula was worse in the sense that it did not even want to wait till the election and also tied down the tribunals explicity by the provisidns of the immigrants expulsion act. 40. CHOUD?iURY (sujit) . Assam : Quest for homogeneity. Mainstream. 25,7; 1986, Nov., 1; 11 The Assam provincial congress committee it is understood, has been faced with approposal of amalgamation of the Chittagong Hill tracts with Assam in the new adjustment of 3engal territor- ries between the east and the west. The agitation launched by AASU in 1979 aimed at disrupting this equilibrium. It would be a serious mistake to dismiss the demands of AASU as a clamous of some adolscent students. - 68 - 41. DAS GUPTA (Barun). Assam government in crisis. Mainstream 27,18; 1989, Jan., 28; 71 The All Assam Students Union (AASU), which can right fully claim to be the creator of the AG? goverament is now taking an increasingly anti AGP stand. The situation became more complicated because the AASU the militant Assam Jgtiya tabadi yoba chhatra parishad (AJYCP) and the extrimist United liberation front of Assam (ULFA) have their supporters in the cabinet. The Assamese people have already found out that the Assam accord cannot throw out from the state those Indian citizens they consider undesirable. 42. GOYAL (D R) . Assam will not burn. Secular Democracy 13,3; 1980, Mar ; 11 Assam will not go up in flames. The All Assam students Union has positively responded to the second invitation of the prime Minister, one very glaring example was a statement by Dulal Chand Barua that the number of sufiltritors in kamrup district alone was 36 lakhs. There is no body in Assam v;ho would object to the deportation of foreigners but nobody any where would accept jeopardising civil rights of the people. 43. NEEDLESS FEARS. Indian Express. 5 3, 314; 1985, Sep ., 16; 6 The Nest Bengal left front's resolution on the Assam accord, adopted by the state Assam by last Friday strikes an - 69 - alamlst and critical notewhichies inappropriate and could have been avoided. It rightly pointed out that the shifting of the cut-off year from 1971 to 1966 is a concession to the agitationists but ignores that AASU and the AAGSjg which spearheaded the Assam agitation wanted 1961 as the cutt-off year and that there would have been no accord without a measure that of give and take. It is however the reassuring / the resolu tion emphasises abstience from anything which night distrub the peace in Assam. 44. NOT By agitation. Hindustan Times, 65, 62; 1988, Mar_ , 2; 11 The All-Assam students Union not only starved refineries of crude oil but also rendered adisservlce to the state. The trady implementation of the Assam accord is a matter of concern to botl? the state government and the AASU but the former has realised that nothing while can be gained by incit ing the people to agitation the state government is justified in its demand that the amendment bill should be introduced during the current session of Parliament. A3SU 45. WELCOME PAUSE. Times of India. 152, 241; 1989, Aug- ,30; 4 The decision of the All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) to suspend its agitation for a seperate Bodoland following talks - 70 - with the Assam government and the centre in New Delhi this week comes as a welcome Assam tthis year. The ABSU and the Assam government have no option but to adhere to the dialogue they have at least begun. —, —, AGP 4 6. ASSAM : AGP Under pressure. Economic and Political Weekly. 24; 8; 1989, Feb., 25, 3^9 With internal discussions showing signs of disappearing with the two tribal agitation in the karbl Anglong district an^ by the 3odes gathering momentum and the ominioos change in the leadership of the All-Assam students Union, it is going to be an uncomfortable year for the Assam gana parishad government. 47. BANERJIE (indranil). Assam : Fair Beginning. India Todav. 11,2; 1986, Jan., 31; 64 After the initial display of youthful wonder-ministers driving their own first cars, one of them stopping at a road side gar.:ge to get his speedometer fixed, hardes of AGP supporters Streaming into Janta 3hava\n, the secretariat - the AGP government quickly got into stride. '.Jhile the young caoinet revamps the stake burcapceracy, many myths are being born, mostly on how Mahanta and his men will soon change Assam. - 71 - 48. CHINAI (RUpa). AGP wants everyone to adopt Assemse Culture. Indian Express. 54,248; 1986, July 13; 3 Lok Sabha MP and trioal leader Samar Brahma Chowdhury discusses the problems of tribal groups in the Assam valley, 49. GUHA (Seema) . Assam imbroglio. Economic Times. 13,290; 1937, Jan., 20; 31 Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) the first student country, shot into power on the wave of most euphoria. TTie spearheaded the six year old movenent against foreign nationals and signed the memorandum of settlement with the government of India were now called upon to shoulder the responsibility of implementing the Assam accord. Ihe AG? leaders would not like to concede this claim in fact the December 8 bandh called by the rulling party, is to asserve the people of Assam that AGP is still the champion of Assames interests. 50. T'lENON (Ramesh) . Assam : Dream turns sour, India Today, 13, 17, 1988, Sept., 15; 122. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) government has been a steady erosion in its popularity, and it has no one but it self to blame. Its ministers, wbo won the elections promising to sweep out the corrupt political culture of the earlier regimes have easily succumbed to the temptations of power. - 72 - 51. SONWALKAR (Prasun) . Tripura's lesson for Assam. Times of India. 153,311; 1990, Nov., 17; 8 The Chandra Shekhar government will soon have to take one of its trickiest decisions. Assembly elections ere due next month even as the united liberation of Assam (ULFA) cantines to dip al- will into the coffers of industry and trade. vVhile a major section of political opinion is opposed to holding the election now the ruling Assam gana pari shad (AGP) is keen rhat it take place on schedule. The indication are that barring the AGP, all political parties of Assam would agree to a tripure-type arrangement. DISSIDENCE 52. DAS GUPTA (Sarun). Assam Government in crisis. Mainstream. 27, 18; 1989, Jan., 2B; 71 Dissidence and scandals are plaging the Ason Gana Parishad government v;hich complete its third year last month. Even it staunch supporters feel shaky when asked if it will complete the remaining two years of its term. The Assames people have already found out that the Assam accord cannot deliver the goods: it can not throw out from the state those Indian citizens they consider undesirable these problem are likely to aggravate in the months ahead and will be a test for xMahanta's political ™at^^ity and leadership. - 73 - —, —, —, EVALUATION 53. ASRARALAM AGP failed to restore confidence among the Harassed and tortured minorities," Radiance. 22,42; 1987, March 29-April 4 ; 7 Would days to come bring forth a condition in Assam more borendous for Assamese Muslims than Hindus in Punjab, more uncontrollable for Mahanta than Barnala, /more perilous for peace fulous for peaceful Hindu masses than Sikhs in Punjab and above all more deterimental to the inte grity of the country than it is scased in the Punjab theater does the centre, at this hour play a two-fold and dual game, atonce, with the minorities of Assam and with the AGP? —, , , FACTIONALISM 54. DISSIDENCE ROCKS Stele ruling party. Link. 31, 20; 1988, Dec; 25; 28 The Assam Gana Parished (AGP), the ruling party in the state, hasbeen recked with dissidence. Eleven formers ministers have charged Chief Minister Profulla Kumar Mahanta witJn violating party discipline by making insinuations against them in the press. The position of the Chief Minister has became all the more vuluerable as there have been allegations of hepotism against him. 55, PARDESI (C3ianashyam) , Factionalism eroding the AGP. Link. 31,4; 1988, Sept, 4; 31 Early this month Guwahati witnessed high political drama, Ihe Chief Minister, Profulla Kumar Mahanta and the - 74 - Home Minister Bhrigh Kumar Phukan, submitted their"resignationB" to the party secretary it would however be different for the AGP to fulfil the first condition because Mahanta has little control over his ministers. Further his own position in the power structure depends on the corrupt elements. BdSF 56. PRA3HAKARA (M S). Clandestine Outfit. Frontline. 10, 12; 1993, June, 5-18 ; 38 The 3oro security force (BQSF) is arguably the most clandestine of several such outfit in Assam. Unlike the United liberation front of Assam (ULTA) which the police and other security agencise were able to penetrate. The BiSF has been impenerable the BdSF traces ill origins to the young Boro Nationalist Association (YBNA) formed at a conventional at adalguri in Darrang district on Janury 17-18, 1983 Techni cally of course, the demand is made on Tata Tea; but the company has maintained it is not doing anything outside the full knowledge and support of the state and central government authorities, CPI (M) 57, RAMAN. CPI (M) Launches reforms to check uneven growth. Economic Times. 32,33; 1992, Apr, 6; 1-4 Faced with a surge in the number of recruits in post 1980 and highly uneven region-wire growth, the Cpi (M) has begun sprueing up the party's organisation and machinery and - 75 - that of its front outfits. The organisational reform which is going on quietly after the partys Madras Congress, covers varied aspected such as modernisation of the party setup, maintaining accounts of the partly fund and property, allowajices to the whole timers, self education of the cadre end to corirupt practices and above all, a stronger does of ideological education. The party has suggested a five-point programme for strict adherence by the state committees and the lower wnits. GNLF 58. ASSAM'S ANGUISH. Times of India. 152, 51;1989, Feb,20;8. Assam government has been pushed into a corner by the killing of a Ason Gana Parishad leader allegedly by 3odo extremists during the 120-hour bandh now in progress at the call of the All Bodo Students Union. Equally disquieting are reports that the students group has forged links with the Gorkha National Libration Front (GNLF). Either way its poli tical rival, the congress may use the situation to reassest its hold over the state's politics. 59. ASSAM LIBERATION front flirts with Naga group and China. Link. 29,23; 1987, Jan, H; 4 About one hundred so-called United Liberation Front of Assam recruits have crossed into Burma on the w^y to China - 76 - for training is subversion. They are expected back later this year to launch insurance by efforts on the other side is the united tribals Nationalist liberation front, one among sev€?rel "liberation fronts" stoking the fire of violence and separatism in the North-eastern states, says padmanand Jhaafter avisit to Assam. 60. BANERJEE (RUBUVi) . ULFA : Recanting faith. India Today. 17, 16; 1992, Aug, 16 ; 65. Guerrillas who once waged war against the state are now embracing it. Seeking protection against their former comrades. Better known as Sidhartha Phukan, the former central publicity secretary had now started an assamese. ULFA had lost control over arms and we had to part ways to put a stop to the reign of terrors 61. BISWAS (soutik). ULFA I New Haven. India Today. 16,23; 1991, Dec, 15 ; 70. » Calcutta is fast becoming a sanetuary for the outawed ULFA. Away from the heat of the battle in Assam the without have established bases here for routing money abroad to buy arms. Yetsix mllitarils gave them the ship. Also curiously for a militant organisation like ULFA, no arras were found in the possession of the asserted. - 77 - 62. CHOICES IN ASSAM. Times of India. 153, 83; 1990, Mar,27;8 Mufti Moha-Tmad Sayeed has left the decision about whether the United Libratlon Front of Assam (ULFA) should be banned or not to the state government. It is widely believed that some elements in the AGP, and also the All Assam Students Union (AASU) have close links with ULFA and era even suspected to be its active supporters. There is as both New Delhi and Guwahati know full well on time to lose. 63. COPING WITH ULFA. Indian Express. 57,116; 1990; Apr,17;8 The recent murder of the industrialist Mr. Surendra Paul, and the kidnapping and subsequent release of a brother in law of the Assam Chief Minister Mr. P.K.Mahanta, have once again underlined the alarming dimensions reached by activities of the United Liberation Front of Ason (ULFA). His foot in the month, ill in formed statements create confusion, and alienate even the governments of the area, and they foriiEfY in the peoples mind the 'impression that the E^i:^/c(f'^the'"cTd^ntry does not care for them. //*/ ^ u- A" y^ ^, x 64. EFFORTS TO Solve ULFA tangle in llmbo1f^5UllM^©f India. 155, 147; 1992, June 20 ; 8 ULFA leaders have come over ground and expressed them selves in favour of holding talks within the frame work of the Constitution there is agnouring feeling among many in the - 78 - state that such moves may be part of an advance - and retreat strategy. If fail the front had not organised "military action in Indian territory but "^'as concentrating on action against the Myaumar Army. 65. FARZA^TD AHMED. Assam : Breaking through. India Today. 11, 2; 1992, Jan, 31; 71. Assam '^hief Minister Hites war Sgikia seems not to know when the going is good top ULFA leaders like central publicity secretary Sidhartha Phukan, central committee member Saden Dalla konwar, and hardcore activist noon Ali and Dhurva talukoat have been held. Warned Haliram tarang of the autono- nomous state -^emand committee ; "Unless there is apackage for the whole of Assam, talks with the ULFA will have nomeaning. 66. GANGULI (Amulya). Assam after ULFA : Old grievance may persist. Times of India. 154, 312; 1991, Dec,31; 6 It made a similar retreat in the immediate aftermath of operation 3ayrang also, although the brief lull in its activity then was later recognised as a period when the orgenisation was regrouping itself. The ULFA may have used the feeling of being only one among many unused by the Assamese to win sympathised among the Brahmaputra valley politicians/ efficials and the ordinary people. - 79 - 67. GANGULI (Amulya) , Extremist Game plan : ULFA Negates Assam&se History. Times of India. 155,190,1992, Aug,ll:8 The ULFA has grown out of the AASU's special brand of j parochial militancy, it currently enjoys some what greater political clout even if born of fear than its ideological godfather. The ULFA separatism has show however that the compulsion of a pluralistic society can faster ever stranger alliances. The ULFA stand, then may mark a turning point in Assamese politics, though not in the way it has in mind. 68. GUHA (Seema). ULFA'S left stance only a facade. Times of India. 154,48; 1991, Feb,25; 8 The united liberation front of isom (ULFA), the latest separatist group to hit the national headlines with its macabre killings and burning its victims alive, is also the least understood. ULFA's Marxist Leninist views were forced on it by the NSCN, and ULFA Jound it expendient to embrace them. Though the largest plains tribal com-iunity, the Boros, have been regularly clashing with ULFA other tribals groups have understanding with them. 69. NOTALKS KITH ULFA. Times of India,154, 41,1991,Feb,16;8 Recent killings in Assam, including the murder of a nephew of the former Chief Minister, Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia and tea state manager in Dibrugarh, allegedly by the United - 80 - Liberation Front of Asom, should serve to under score both the strength that the guerilla group continkres to command and the folly of advocating negotiations with it at this stage. At the same time. New Delhi should look seriously into the causes of discontent in Assam and take corrective steps in a comprehansive manner, 70. PERILOUS BALANCING Oct in Assam. Link. 33, 18; 1990, Dec, 9 ; 9 One possible reason for the AGP willingness to turn a Nelsons eye on the ULFA activities as the nature of the ULFA targets. The non-Assames. Virtually sidelined in the state with the ULFA calling the shots. What was needed of the old antogouism towards the union government. 71. PROSPECTS IN ASSAM. Times of India. 155,3;1992, Jan,3;8 The arrest of nearly all the senior leaders of the ULFA and the death of its so-called deputy commander-in-chief, mean that the organisation has been virtually decimated. It was infact the revolusion felt by them over the ULFA's extor tion kidnappings and murder which compelled it to rethink its strategy and offer a unilaterial cease fire, 72. SEN GUPTA (uttam). Assam : state of strife. India Today, 15,24;1990, Dec, 31; 22. - 81 - Even with army taking on the banned ULFA, the state faces a prolonged stretch of instability. The discovery of wars graved exploded ULFA's Robinhood image and revealed the cruelty it indulged in under the guise of meeting out justice. 73. THING TO do. :mdian Express. 57,112; 1990, Apr,12 ; 8 The situation in Assam, where the recent murder of the Industrialist, Surendra Paul is yet another indication of the menacing dimension assumed by the activities of the United Liberation Front of Assam ULFA, is also alarming. 74. ULFA LEADERS freed for talks : Saikia. Times of India. 155,11; 1992, Jan, 13 ; 8 ULFA leaders had not opposed this proposition the Chief Minister stated but would not disclose the details of Informal talks, including the venue and the leaders with whom the talks were reported to have been held. A communication recovered recently between Mr. Rajkhowa and Hirakjyoti Mahanta, Deputy Commander-in-Chief who was killed in an army operation on the eve of the New Year revealed that there were some differences between the two on the issue of holding talks with the government. 75. ULFA*4 ULTIMATUM. Times of India. 152,358, 1989, Dec, 28 ; 6 - 82 - It is not the content of the recent set of pronounce ment by the United Libration Front of Assam (ULFA) but the Timing of its statement that is significant. In a secret meeting with several Guwahati based journalists. ULFA leaders announced that they had decided to launch a "National Libration Struggle" for a sovereign socialist Assam". Thus despite its indetermination strength^ the ULFA has strategi cally placed itself on the political map of Assam. < 76. ULFA WARNS BJP against N.E 'Xatra. Times of India. 155, 198; 1992, Aug, 22; 6 The United Liberation Front of Asam (ULFA) has warned the BJP against talking out its proposal yatra in the north er'St on the illegal migrants issue Describing the BJP as a "communal our fasciet organisation the ULFA statement said the party would be held solely responsible if there was any untoward incident. 77. UNCERTAINTY IN ASSAM. Times of India, 15 5,79; 1992, Apr, 2 ; 6 There is a greater need today for the authorities to be patient with ULFA now that the organisation is split in its attitude towards the peace process censidering the der- termined effort Mr. Saikia made to bring the ULFA face to face with the centre, the latest development must have been highly discouraging for him for they hold out the dismal proppect of once again plunnging Assam into vollent turmoil. - 83 - UMF 78. ASSAM MI-'^uRlTIES against Atnendment. Radiance, 22,49; 1987, May, 17-23 ; 4 The united minorities front of Assam has stoutly opposed amendment of the illegal migr-nts (determination by tribunals) Act as demanded by the Assam Chief Minister as, in its view, it would only compound the miseries suffered by the minorities. A similar problem was the large-scale evic tion of minorities from government land by the Assam government taking advantage of one of the clause of the Assam accord. The UMF demanded that there should be one eviction of minori ties farmers from their land without giving then alternative land, 79. ASSAiM MINORITIES ready to launch an agitation. Radiance. 22, 38; 1987, March, 1-7; 12 Assam United Minorities front (UMF) is a political organisation working for the preservation of minorities democratic rights. This from was formed on 9th and lOth fit November 1985 at Hogai, Assam in a meeting participated by three lakh people. This large public meeting was presided over by Santi Ranjan Dasgupta and the late Kalipada Sen was elected as its first president. Mr, Golam Usmani was elected as the General Secretary of the front. - 84 - 80. UMF MEMO ON minorities. Situation in Assam. Radiance. 23, 1; 1987, June 28 - July 4 ; 9 A38-raembers delegation of the United minorities front (UMF) led by Shri Shanti Ranjan Das Gupta and A.F.Golam Osmani President and General Secretary respectively had been to Delhi from 29th April to 7th May 1987 and mat and submitted Memorandum to the President of India, Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and apprised them of the prevailing situation in Assam. 81. UMF MEMO TO ASSAM c.M. on Harassment of Religious and linguistic minorities. Radiance, 22, 42; 1987; March 29 - April 4 ; 7. That a systematic attempt to forctibly dislodge the minorities families, belonging both to linguistic and religious is being undertaken by organised armed ganges in mongaldai sub-division of the district of classang resetting in the creation of very tense situation. The present Assam problem had its oeginning in this area. In 1979 during the revision of the electoralRolls, attempts were made to disinframchise Lakhs of people of this area by talking recourse to fraud and intimation effically and non-officielly. —, —, PROBLEM 82. ASSAM : Dangerous facets. Mainstream. 18, 34; 1980 April, 19 ; 6. - 85 - These trends are both parochial and communal any effort at settlement of the complex issues thrown up in Assam today Can hardly offord to ignore these unsavoury aspects of the Assam agitation. The office of the Assam tribune and Dainik Asom became one of the centres of the Sangram Parishad and AASU; most of the statements issued in the name of these organisations were drafted there. 83. ASSAM : The vicious circle. Link 23, 48;1981, July, 12 ; 25. The Assam talks have become an end in themselves where the emphasis, both of the government end leaders of the agi- tacion who come to Delhi in never larger delegatings seems to be to keep. The talks going at any cost. The agitation leaders point out to these as contradictory. 84,. BHUYIAN (Bhubaneshwar) . Sense and Nonsense of Assam Agitation. Secular ^emecracy, 16,6; 1983, July; 24 Ihe agitators - the All Assam students Union, the All gana sangram parishad (AAGSP) and the All Assam Karamchari Parishad (AAKP) - emotively declare that what they are fight ing is the last battle of Saraighat after which the land would turn into a virtual Keaven. The foreigners issue is not as enormous as it has been made out to be. - 86 - 85. CENTRE SHOULD Act. Times of India, 148, 160; 1985, June, 10 ; 8. It is amazing that two neighbouring states with in India showed continue for years to settle scores violently over a fetty border dispute. The Assam Nagaland border squabble goes back at least two decades, many would say it goes back into the last century and is really a nangover of British mishandling of the problem, that Saikia and Mr. Jamir have now agreed to revert to the status quo-ainte and to have further talks for a long-term solution. But promise by Chief Minister to adhere to agreements can not .be relied '. on any more, 86. FORCE OF Banning. States Man. 137, 283; 1994, Nov,30;8. The Central Government have announced that the ban on the Bodos security force, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland and the United Liberation Front of Asorr\ is to be extended for a further period of two years from November 27, 1994. The people in the firing line, the garden managers with few exceptions, find no support from their seniors living in the safety of Calcutta or Guwahati. 87. FARZAND AHMED. Assam : temporary truce. India Today. 17, 1; 1992, Jan, 15 ;32. The release of six hostages and declaration of ceasefire may have given Hiteller as ^aikia a reprieve but it may will - 87 - on turn out to be only a tactical set retreatA^LFA's past. 88. MISRA (Udayan). Assam Stron arm tactics and after. Economic and Political Weekly. 17,7; 1982, Feb, 13 : 227. The indecent heste with which the Assam Government invited the Congress (JO to form a ministry in the state has once again demonstrated the battleness of a parlimentary system where parti son governors have an important say. Another dis turbing trend in the near total suppression of nev;s of the Assam agitation by the government agencies. 89. NARAYAN (Hemendra). Talking around in cireles. Indian Express. 53, 180; 1985, May, 5 ; 8 Despite sporadic rounds of talks between the leader of the Assam agitation and the Union Government, the issues raised by the agitators remin unresolved. The another talkes a comprehensive look at the five year - old movement and reports that even though no concrete steps have been taken to tackle the foreign nationals issue the state government has begum to gear up for parliamentary elections in Assam. 90. OPPORTUNITY IN Assam. Times of India. 152, 116; 1989, Apr, 27 ; 8 A diffecfe fall-out of the imposition of President's Rule in Karnataka is evident in the harder stand taken by the Assam government on the Bodo issue. The A3SU also has given - 88 - no indication of desisting from violence. Itiis is evident from the latest bomb explosion in Kokrajhar though it is possible that the ABSU leadership is not fully in control of the situation. The Bodo leadership may not be able to enforce a pause in the agitation even if it agrees to talks. 91. 3EE.4A MUSTAFA. Denouncement in Assam : Wages of drift. Economic Times, 17, 224; 1990, Dec, 6 ; 10. The imposition of President's Rule in Assam was the only possible alternative left to the Central Government. AGP may start taking more extreme position in order to stay in the race. The AGP government earned a reputation for rank inefficiency and corruption with not a single aspiration of the Assamese being fulfilled. The last words then go to Mr. Jaipal Reddy when he seys, "these people know how they begin but they do not know v.'here they will end." 92. SHARMA (Kalpana). Troubled Assam : Elections are the best option. Times of India. 153,146; 1990, May,29;9. Although the Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Prafulla Mahanta, claims that his government is in full control and will deal firmly with the problem arising from the activities of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), effective intervention is extremely doubtful. In the same spirit, the ULFA has tried to encourage villagers to help themselves by introducing shramdan programmes. - 89 - 93. STEP TOWARDS Peace. Times of India. 155,13; 1992, Jan, 15; 8. The 15-day suspension of army action in Assam encourages hope of a permanent settlement of the verod problem in the near future. It will also send a much-needed message to the world and aspiring terrorist, that India is well capable of resolving its internal differences. There is every need therefore for the centre and the state government to ensure that the talks do not get grounded by any minor hiteb. 94. SURI (Surindar). Resolving the Assam proolem : Students leaders are Ready. Times of India. 28,148; 1985, Jan, 28 ; 8. The new government Delhi has initiated prompt steps to resolve the long-smouldering conflict in Assam. The present mood of cooperation and of willingness to make a fresh Deginning must be turned to good account before it begins to wear off 6or the people of Assam as for the nation, delay would be dangerous. 95. TEXT OF Citizenship bill. Times of India. 148, 321; 1985, Nov, 19 ; 7 In the case of every person seeking registeration under his sub-section, the opinion of the tribunal constituted under the foreigners (Tribunals) order. Where ? person - 90 - required to file a declaration under this sub-section does not have the capacity to enter into a contract such declaration may be filed on his behalf by any person competent under the lavv for the time being in force to act on his behalf. 95» THWARTING EVIL Designs. Link. 25,30;1983, March,6 : 15. The body count/ though meaningless at thus stage, continues in Assam, other wise a peaceful state. Thousands have been killed and villages have been razed to the ground. Hatred and for have gripped the minds of Assames people. ITie entire state is the victim of a frenzy the like of which the country has not witnessed since independence. 97. TROUBLE IN Assam. Times of India. 148, 308; 1985, Nov, 5 ; 8. The Union Home xMinister, Mr. S.3.Chavan, has assured the parlimentry consultive com.Tilttee attached to his ministry that the government would soon talk steps to safeguard the interests of the minorities in Assam. AASU, however, question this interpretation and argues that for the next lO years the status of the immigrants who came in between 1966 and 1971 is no different than those who did so after 1971. 3e that as it may, the agreement is awkward and does admit of two wholly contradictory interpretations. -gi gs. ZULFIKAR AHMAD. Chief Minister of Assam lands on the Deiemma. Radiance. 22, 48;1987, May, 10-16 ; 9. The Chief Minister cf Assam Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who once headed the AASU for a period of about six years made many tall talks to the people of Assam that the problems facing by Assam would be solved forthwith if the movement leaders are voted to power. Assamese vent mad in pleasure when the historic Assam accord between the movement leaders and the Central Government was signed on the 14th August, 1984; as the Assamese people thought that through the imple mentation of the Accord a paradise on earth in Assam would be birth. —, —, —, BODO 99. 30SE (Kunal) . State for the Bodo£^. Economi Times. 15, 330; 1989, Feb, 26; 8. The Asam Gana Pari shad (AGP) government cannot in any v.ay absolve itself of the charge of neglecting the interest of plains tribal people of Assam by stating at this stage that the (A3SU) has launched an agitation for a separate state for the Bodor at the instigation of some central eaders particularly the Union Home Minister, Mr. Buta Singh, the 3odo crisis cannot be solved quickly. However, what the AGP government must do immediately is to tape a series of measure which v;ill restore the confidence of Bodos in mainstream Assamese leadership. - 92 - 100. CHINAI(Rupa). Fighting for a cultural identity. Indian Express. 53, 320, 1985, Sep , 22 ; 8. Victims of a history of development of their lands, obliteration of their distinct linguistic, cultural and political identity and econonnic neglect. The Bodos a major tribal group of Assam - are seepted of the recent accord with the governnient. Tracing their glorious history the author warns against the consequence of not heeding the rightful demands of these groups. 101. DANGER OP Dodoland. Democratic World. 18, 37; 1989, Sep , 10 ; 1. It will be dengerous to encourage division of states and territorist in a bid to placate some millant movement. After the first round of tripartist talks, the ABSU president Upendra Nath Brahma declared that there would be armed revolt if the centre did not concede Bodoland. A separate state in Assam "My understanding is that the centre is ready to divide Assam." It will affect the unity of the nation. 102. DAS GUPTA (Barun). Tripartit e talks on 3odo issue. Link. 31, 47; 1989, July, 2; 10-11. Admist unabaijed violence the All-3odo Students Union has sponsored a 340-hour bandh from June 26. Meanwhile tripartite talks on the problem are likely to be held in the - 93 - first week of this month. While the congress is undoubtedly trying to exploit the Bodo agitation to embarrasement AGP government the latter cannot -^Q absolved of its share of the blame. 103. ^AS (Indira). Why the Bodos are angry. Link. 31, 31; 1989, Mar, 12; 15-16. Perhaps ane of the gravest problems the Bodos have had to face over the years relates to land despite restric tions on land transfers between tribals and non-tribals, immigrant Bengali Muslims and Hindus have gradually takent over larges areas of agricultural land. Laws Protecting tribal land were minierpretec and misused to deprive the tribals of their lands. With unfortunate results - almost 60 per cent of their land was taken over by non-tribals. 104. KEEP TALKING. Indian Express. 57, 118, 1990, Apr, 20; 8. The outcome of the fifth round of tripartite talk in Delhi on Wednesday among representative of the Central and , Assam Government and leaders of the movement for a separate state of Bodoland, has been the setting up of a tripartite co.-nmittee to study the demand of the Bodos in all its aspects and make recommendation. This indicate a thow in the atti tude of the militant leaders. Ihe Bodos on their part must eschew rigidily. - 94 - 105, NANDA (Mira Rani). Bodo issue : A silver lining on Assam's sky? Link. 35,2; 1992, Aug, 23; 16. Willingness on the part of the moderate Bodo agitation to consider the governments proposal for an autonomous council for the Bodo people within Assam is a welcome deve lopment. But still one has to go a long wyy to sec a successful resolution of the Bodo problems, 106, NANDA (Mira Rani). Bodoland : Nest of problems. Link. 34, 45; 1992, June, 21 ; 13, Experience shows that ^s and when the moderate leader ship in any kind of movement is deliberately or otherwise weakened. The hardliners take up the guns. Bodoland agita tion seems to be going the same way. 107, SUMANTA.. Profiles the Bodo agitation. Times of India. 152, 84; 1989, Mar, 26 ; 8, The Bodo tribals can never draw any parcellele with the Nagas, the Mizos and the Khasis who had Nagaland. Miroram and Mec^alaya carved out of Assam perhaps they themselves realise this and hence the current efforts to woo the Muslims to their side. 108, TENTATIVE PROGRESS, Times of India. 152, 279; 1989, Oct, 7 ; 8. - 95 - Ihe outcome of the second tripartite talks on the Bodo issue held this week in Delhi has to viewed with greater caution that of the first round in August. Mr, Brahma has renewed his promise that the ABSU will eschew violence, and Guwahati has offered to review cases pending against the activities. —, —, —, — - ACCORD 109. KAKATI (SatisK ). Close look at the Bodoland accord. Illustrated Weekly of India. 113, 1993, July, 3-9;28. In the polyglot population of Assam, the Bodos have occupied a distinct position since the pre-historic days. However to have found out a sche.Tie towards solution of the Bodo problem is seen as the beginning for meeting the aspira tions of the ethnic elements of Assam and at the same time in keeping the Assamese society in peace but it all depends on whether the different segments of the society will approach the new experiment with a proper and realistic understanding, not allowing emotion to aright decision on the sensitive issue on the tribals of Assam cloud. —, -—, —, —, AG. ITATION 110. BODO AGITATION, Economic Times. 15, 334, 198^, Mar; 2;8. The two-decade long Bodo agitation claimed national attention when at the annual conference of all Bodo Students - 96 - Union (ABSU) in December last, a decision was taken that henceforward the niovement would work for realising its three major political demands. The demands are the creation of a separate state to be called Bodoland on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, the formation of district councils in the tribal- dominated areas on the southbank of the river and the Bodo Kacharis in the hill district of Karbi Anglong (ABSU) also complains that state patronage for the development of the Bodo language and culture is also lanking, the Bodo should eschew violence and the Assam government should view the Bodo problem with understanding and sympathy. 111. CHANCE IN Assam. Economic and Political Weekly. 23, 44; 1988, Oct, 29 ; 2243. The decision of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) head 112. DAS GUPTA (Barun). Bodo agitation. Background prospects. Mainstream. 21, 39; 1989, June, 24 ; 15. The ruling AGP seems to have at last woken up to the danger that the Bodo movement poses to ill government to understand the present situation fully. One has to look back to the genesis of the movement for a separate tribal state in Assam. Vivid accounts of police atrocities on tribals have come out in the Assam press. One hopes the proposed tri partite talks between (A3SU), (UB), the Assam government and the Central representatives will pay the way for a political settlement. 113. DAS (Indira). Why the Bodos are angry. Link. 31,31; 1989, Mar, 12 ; 15. Perhaps one of the gravest problems the Bodos have had to face over the years relates to land. Dfespite restrictions on land transfers between tribals and non-tribals, immigrant Bengali Muslims and Hindu have gradually taken over large areas of agricultural lands. Lands protecting tribal land were misinterpreted and misused to deprive the tribals of their lands. With unfortunate results - almost 60 per cent of their land was taken over by non-tribals. - 98 - 114. EYELESS IN Assam. Times of India. 152, 63, 1989, Mar 4 ; 6. The Bodo agitation in Assam gets more serious every day with continuing bandlis, mutual killings and destruction of public property. Itie most ominous recent development is the decision by the Santals and Koch-Rajbangshis, two other raingrities in the state, to support the All Bodo students Union agitation because of the killing of a young Santhal in police firing and the illegal deportation to Bangladesh of a Koch Rajbangshi women. The AGP should get what it deserve but not at the cost of national unity, 115. GOHAIN (Hiren), Bodo Stir in perspective. Economic and Political Weekly, 24, 25; 1989, June, 24 ; 1377. Ihe Bodo grievance can be best redressed through a package deal which may include eviction of non-tribal people who have encroached on tribal land after acut-off year crea tion of small autonomous regions v;here the Bodo population is comparatively numerous, special safeguards for Bodo language and culture and, most important, sharing power with the ^ tribals at the highest level in the state with Bodo members having permanent birthes in the state cabined and the smallar tribes being represented on it by relation. - 99 - 116, MAHAPATRA (Meera). Bodo extremism and its mindress violence. Link, 35, 11; 1992, Oct, 25 ; 18. The recent spurt in violence in the Bodo areas has drawn considerable attention all around while the moderate and the millitant wings of the Bodoland agitationists are competing for leadership, violent activities by the Bodo security force are taking a heavy toll of innocent lives. 117. I-IENON (Ramesh) . Assam : Role Reversal. India Today. 15, 5; 1989, Mar, 15 ; 85. The most original of them all the tribals, were taking up endgels against the Mahanta government says Upendra Nath Brahma President of the All Bodo Student Union (ABSU) in the vanguaset of the agitation the movement will like on as the Bodos will not be weighed under Assamese dominance and will strive to keep their identity, besides a separate state the Bodos want the inclusion of the Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution, 118. MISRA (udayon). Bodo Stir : Complex issues, unattainable Demands, Economic and Political Weeklv. 24, 21 ; 1989, May, 27 ; 1147, It was perhaps too much to expel that the AGP govern ment in Assam would be able to shake off the legacy inherited fro'm decades of congress rule of neglect of the tribal people - 100 - and of trlbals areas. Instead it was too enmeshed in its own narrow political calculations to pay need to gene tribal grievances, 119, RATTAN (Kamaljeet). Assam : Striking a separatist statee. India Today. 15, 6; 1989, Mar, 31; 53. Agitation for separate ho.-neland by Bodo tribals turns violent. Circumstantial evidence proves very clearly that the centres hand is behind the entire agitation. T^e police have unearthed half a dozen gun-making factories and seized cartridges and exposive in tribal areas, 120. SONWALKAR (Prasun) , Land alienation is the main problem for Bodos. Times of India. 152, 54; 1989, Feb, 23 ; 8. As many as 60 per cent of the Bodos are said to be landless today, l^us with reduced land holdings, they are forced to enter reserve forests, which once again brings them into confrontation with the authorities, BORDER 121. ASSAxM ARUNACHAL Border situation tense. Radiance . 22, 49; 1987, May, 17 - 23 ; 4. The Assam-Arunachal pradesh border problem has taken- .• ~ alarming proportions apparently owing to provacative actions - 101 - of Assam government, talking to newsmen Arunachal pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Apang said that he would request Union government to convene an urgent meeting of both Chief Ministers to solve this issue. , , CHILDREN, HEALTH 122. AGNIHOTRI (SK) and KHAN (SA). Status of Children in Assam. Social Welfare. 31,10; 1985, Jan, 17. Assam is one of the states having a very high rate of infant mortality. The situation can be remedied only when better health services, unitrition and safe drinking water are provided. Most of the villages in the high ranges depend on reinfel springs and during the dry season children walker\Jpng distance to fetch water. —, —, CORRUPTION 123. MRS GANDHI ON CORRUPTION, Assam Sc Communalism. Radiance. 19, 4; 1983; June, 5-11; 9. Ihe government has also been accused of not being serious about dealing with corruption. Corruption trains away a good portion of funds. It is unfortvinate that an impression is sought to:;be created that India is a corrupt country. Several opposition parties conveniently overlook the complaint, which they themselves have made against one another and propagate that the congress alone has corruption. - 102 - —, —, ELECTION 124. ASSAI'l : Election at Bayonet-point. Economic and Political Weekly. 18, 5; 1983, Jan, 29 ; 125. Under the guise of constitutional compulsion and democratic rectitude an enormous fraud is being prepetrated in Assam whose in conditions which the Chief Election Commi ssioner has himself conceded are far from normal elections are being sought to be held for the 12 6 seats and the 12 still unfuled Lok Sabha seats. It is such a transparently defec tive, indeed invalid, electoral roll that is going to be the basis for the conduct of the conning polls in Assam. 125. ASSAM CAULDRON is boiling once again. Radiance , 2 , 27; 1985, Nov, 10-16, 10. Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it. The difficulty is that in this process of the repetition of history the much presented Muslim minority of Assam would it is feased, once again be forced to pay the price. The latest mission to Assam is to report on the congress I winning chances integrity and popularity of the AASU and AAGSP aspirant the minorities allege several afflcers are working in a partisan manner. 126. ASSAM ELECTIONS : Sitting with fingers crossed. Radiance 21, 28 ; 1985, Nov, 17-23 ; 1. - 103 - Election to the 126-seat legislative assemly in Assam, dissolved on August 18 this year and in animated suspension till then are to be held on December 16. Some other by- elections, six for Lok Sabha and 11 Assembly seats invarious states including election to one metropolitan council seat in Delhi will also to held on the same day. 127. ASSAM ELECTIONS in Phases. Link. 25, 17; 1982, Dec, 5 ; 6. Ttie Election Commission's announcement that Andhra Pradesh, Kamataka and tripura would go to polls early next year has triggered guerring game about elections in Assam, This phasing of election in Assam has been worked out keeping in view the area of influence of the Assam agitators. 128. ASSAM : On-the-spot study. Radiance. 19, 5; 1983; June, 12-13 ; 3, It is claimed that the recent elections were held in Assam out of a constitutional compulsion. Obviously a lot of other hidden forces and old resentments came into play resulting in this catrage. The fact that the AASU and AAGSP leader were arrested in Gauhati immediately after the talks failed only made matters worse in trying to eliminate organised protest and bay cott the government paved the v;ay for a free for all. - 104 - 129. ASSAM POLLS and beyond : Uncertain prospects. Link. 28, 18; 1985, Dec, 8 ; 8. Girish Mathur talks of the dilemmas of the Congress, the division in the Ahom Gana Parishad and the dangers of defaulting on a frontal fight against communalism and region- lism in the North-Eastern state. 130. CHAKRAVARITY (Nikhil). Hold Elections in J & K. Punjab, Assam. Mainstream. 29, 24; 1991, Apr, 6 ; 5. As Part of the general elections for the Libk Sabha has come the speculation whether there would be polling in Kashmir, Punjab and Assam, about Assam the approach is different at most of the opposition parties are for reseraption of the normal ele<:ted government and this can be possible only through the verdict of the ballot box. The military operation against the ULFA was just a convenient alibi and the military operation too turned out to be a bit of a fiasco as it could hardly dislodge the ULFA. 131., CONTEI-JTIOUS POLL. Times of India. 148, 311; 1985, Nov, 8 ; 8. The election in Assam for the 14 Lok Sah^a on 126 Assemly seats on December 16 will perhaps be the most conten tious ever. The resulting polarisation of forces has forced the congress to chaurt an uneasy course. The state government - 105 - has asked for a strong force of 439 companies of armed police to maintain order during the poll. This figure itself speaks of the magnitude of the task it faces. 132. FARZAI^D AHMAD, Assam : Electroal entangle-ments. India Today. 15, 19, 1990, May, 15 ; 35. The ruling AGP faces a desperate situation. \Vhat is worrying is the widespread belief in the state that ULFA is operating with the AGP's blessings. Though AGP leaders stantly denyany such links, some of them has stuck. 133. HAZARIKA (sanjoy). Assam ; full cricle. Indian Express. 54, 77; 1986, Jan, 19 ; 2. Rising above economics and gains of elections, even more importent than the survival of the AGP government is the issue of reconciliation between the Assamese and fahe other communities. 134. PRABHAKARA (MS), ISSUE in Assam. Frontline. 9, 24 ; 1992, Nov, 24 - Dec 4 ; 48. The preparation of an electoral roll jaans the names of "illegal aliens" has been a longstanding objective In Assam, The current controversy in Assam embraces, beginning from the issuance of the guideline itself everything that has followed therefrom. The officials entrusted with the task maintain - 106 - that as for as they are concerned they could initiate the in special enumeration/ the course of intensive revision only after the constituencies and polling areas concerned are identified by the state government, 135. RAY (TAPAS), Poll pointers : Mixed fortunes for the Congress (I). Frontline. 10,?;; 1993, Mar, 12 ; 21. In Nagaland the party was about to form a government on its own with an absolute majority. The Nagaland peoples council (NPC) complained of blantant use of money and musele power by that Congress (I), and surhozelia its secretary- general, said the administrative and the central observers had remained mute spectators. As such Nagaland seems to be poised for another phase of instability, 136. VASFI (Ausaf Saied). Assam in for yet another spel of un-certainty. Radiance. 21, 30, 1985, Dec, 1-7; 1. What, however, is not understandable to the common man is the rationale behind the effort to cai;apult the AGP to power by denying the right of franchise to its present and prospective tictims* 137. WHY POLLS cannot answer Assam's social questions. Link. 28, 20 ; 1985 ; Dec, 22 ; 8. - 107 - In the present state of polarisation, writes Girish Mathur, it is impossible for any political group or party to acquire the acceptance of all the four ethnic socio-economic groups - the Assamese, the Ahoms, the Muslims and the tribals. —, —, , ELECTORAL ROLLS 138, ELECTORAL ROLLS issue, hotting up again. Link, 31, 19; 1988, Dec, 11 ; 28, The popularity of the Assam Government has been consi derably eroded following an offensive by the Congress. The Bodo agitation and difference on the base year for revision of the electoral '^olls. —,—, EMPLOYMENT 139. ASSAM ROW over Employment. Economic and Political Weekly, 13, 29; 1978, July, 22 ; 1167, Organisations of different political shades seem to have joined hands and these include the non-political All Assam Students Union the NSUI as well as the Ason Jatiyalabandi Dal which sports the slogan 'Assam for the Assames, "Rie employment Review committee's Report has given a further boost to the demands of the students, although nothing tangible has as yet resulted except for the decision to shift the BRM offices to Bongaigaon and the stalling of the appointment of some 40 Engineers from outside the state. - 108 - —, —, LANGUAGE 140, PARDESI (Ghanshyam), Assam : Language polities. Mainstream. 24, 42; 1986, June, 21 ; 8. Being a multi-lingual state Assam periodically faces language controversies, erupting some times on to large scale violence. Under the three-language formula, in Brahraputra Valley, the students can choose Assamese, Hindi and English a few words about the political history of Assam to under stand the controversial aspects of the language issue, The Assamese may then be reduced to a minority status. Yes, in Assam, —, , , MANIPUR 141, LANGUAGE OF Contention, Times of India, 155, 58 ; 1992, Mar, 7 ; 8. Although the agitation for the inclusion of Manipuri in the eighth schedule has gathered fresh momentum. It has to be remembered that the grievances of the Manipuri language. Demand coordination committee date back to more than two years, In the case of Manipuri, too, there have been complications over the Assamese government, recognition of Bishnupriya Manipuri they speak as a Tibetan Burman one. - 109 - —, —, MIGRANTS 142. ASSAM AGITATION: Chauvinist movennent. Radiance. 19, 4; 1983; June, 5 - 11 ; 5. This non-political, social service organisation of the Muslims of north-e.^st India is of the considered view that the current agitation ,in Assam, which started in 1979 for driving away-so-called foreigners from the state is a Chauvinist movement. Now they have about 80% of Assam government posts and about 60% of central government posts in Assam. Thus the government in Assam is almost in their hands. 143. ASSAM : Crucial talks. Link. 23, 26; 1980, Sept, 28 ; 8. After eleven months of chaos there are prospects that the issue of foreigners may finally be solved at the current round of talks between Union Home Minister Giani Zail Singh and leaders of the All Assam Students Union and the All Assam Gana Sangrani Parishad (AAGSP) , The government and to a large extent developments in Assam itself have also brought home to the agitation leaders the gravity of the sufferings of thiir state as the agitation prolongs. 144. AT-3EST a first step. Times of India. 150, 162; 1987, June, 12 ; 6. Confronted by the persistent demand of th©..Assain government for a whole sole modification of the illegal - 110 - migrants (determination by tribunals) Act the centre has seportedly decided to refer the contentions issue of burden of proof under the Act to the Attorney-General of India, Two considerations seeme to have prompted Mr, Rajiv Gandhi to take this rather extra-ordinary step. The last word lies with the Supreme Court. 145. CITIZENSHIP : Assam Gorkha's fight. Secular Democracy. 20, 4-5, 1987, Apr - May; 58. The Gcbrkhas in Assam have finally declared war on the citizenship issue. The Assam Gorkhas began to make noise as soon as they learnt that Mr. Ghlngh . had been invited for negotiation by the centre. That is those who have come to Assam before 1971 should be given citizenship rights-except voting rights for ten years. 146. CUTTING THE GORDIAN Knot. Times of India. 143, 9 ; 1985, Jan, 9 ; 8. The high level committee on the Assam problem, appoin- tecl by the Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, has finalised in consultation with the state Chief Minister, Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia, the detail of the initiative it proposes to take to resolve the "foreigners issue". All this makes the conditions propittious in Assam more/than even before for a true break through propetious. - Ill - 147, KAMAROOPI. NOW there. Now Not there. Economic and Political Weekly, 27,30; 1992, July, 25 ; 1593. Three themes dominated the debate on the no-confidence motion in the Assam Assembly, the Chief Minister's contor tions on Illegal migrants from Bangladesh, the state made over formal talks with ULFA and the denands for a separate Bodoland and an autonomous hill districts region. 148. MAZARBHUIYAN (Nazrul Haq) . Assam . Myth of foreign influx, foreigners- How many , Voice of Islam. 6, 13, 1980; Sept, 30 ; 10. The Assam agitationlsts have damaged a lot of life and property belonging.to minorities during the year long move ment demanding the expulsion of all the "foreigners" from Assam and the government the Assam agitations had failed to define the form Bahlragat and "foreigners" in the Assam context the All Assam college teacher Association (ACTA) men tioned that the number of foreign nationals in Assam is 40 lakhs. 149. MAZUMDAR (SK). A 'CLASS' War in Assam. Link. 25, 46; 1983, June, 26 ; 17. The Assam agitationlsts and their mentors are success ful In camoulfaging the real character of the agitation by as projecting the issue/ of "foreigners" who might have entered - 112 - this country in post-1951 years. The recorded history of Assam of the Ahon period, however, is replete with the terra "foreigners" or its synonyms, some of which dates back to more than 300 years. 150. MORE NEILLIES in the offings. Radiance. 19, 17; 1983, Sep , 4-10 ; 1. That the centre and the Assam state government have some thing to hide on the massacre in and around Neiilie in February this year is clear from the stubborn and persistent refusal to institute a high level judicial probe and issue a v,hite paper. 151. ONUS OF Proof. Times of India. 150, 233; 1987, Aug, 22 ; 5, Going by a number of reports, the centre seems to be close to reaching an agreement with the government of Assam on amending the illegal migrants (determination by Tribunals) Act which it has been argued constitutes in its present form an obstacle in the process of deteching and deporting foreigners from that state. The centre will do well to explore the possibility of a via media along these lines rather than accepte the Assam government positions in principle. - 113 - 152. RANJAN (C N Chitta). Disturbed Area or Disturbing approach. Mainstr&am. 18,33; 1980, Apr, 12 ; 12. The way the centre and the local bureaurecy have dealt with the seven-month-old agitation in Assam over the"fore- iigners" issue hardly bears the stamp of statesmanship or even of common sense again the question of"foreigners" had been in the air ever since influxe from across the inter national border began long ago. The solution does not lie in emergency measure at least now the Prime Minister. 1533. RECEIPE FOR Harassement. Times of India. 151,94, 1988, Apr, 4 ; 6. The union government has at long last acceded to the request of the AGP government in Assam and amended the illegal migrants Detection by Tribunal Act to enable easier detec tion of past-March 1971 migrants who are to be deported at per the provisons of the Assam. So even if to° many depar- certainly pave the way for greater tions ere not attempted the amended law car/harassement and extortion by wer-level state functionaries. 15 4. TRADE WITH caution. Times of India, 150, 125; 1987, May, 6 ; 6. The anniuncement by the Assam Chief Minister Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta that the centre has agreed to amend the illegal - 114 - Mi grants(Detection by tribunals) Act only confirms ^ number of reports that followed Mr. MahantaSs recent visit to New Delhi, it is also passible that the centre is keen to contain and pacify AASU which has the alened to launch an agitation, including a bandh on June 5, to secure the implementation of the Assam accord. More generally it must tread with caution in its talks with the Assam government. MINORITIES 155. ASRAR ALAi'^. Assam : Past-Nicllie period. Radiance. 22, 38; 1937, Mar, 1-7; 12. Assam still reverberates, nothing went in to the melting pot. not even after AG? took over to some it has become more worse, atleast, for millions, of minorities- Muslims, Bengali Hindus, tea-garden labour of Chhotanagpur of Munda, Craon and Santal origin tribals, other than Assamiese and Nepalis more face put on fear. 155. 30RA (DULAL) . Even tussle for the tusker. Link. 28, 18; 1985, Dec, 8 ; 4. Itie minorities in Assam are the fulerum of the elec toral campaign. >/hile the cangress is vying to retain their support, the AGP wants to wrest this crucial advantage for itself. - 115 - 157. CONGRESS APPROACH to foreigners in Assam : Study in Retrospect. Secular Democracy. 13, 7; 1980, July ; 18. Assam's problem of foreign nationals has evoked the Nation's interest and every one is very much concerned and eager to find out a solution. After partition of India there was heavy influx of refugees into Indie. A part of that influx entered Assam. 158. FRESH DRIVE to Rout Muslims in Assam. Radiance, 22, 38; 1937, Mar, 1-7 ; 12. Several thousands of people from majority comnrrunity gathered on Feb.2 at gohinbhati (Chaulkhown) apparently to drive forcibly out the old inhabitants belonging to minority community from their houses and to occupy it. The mob was said to have equipped with lethal v.eapon including fire arms. 159. MUSLIM Majlis-e-Mushawarat's Resolutions. Radiance. 19, 5; 1983, June, 12-18. rhe All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat having deli berated over the present situation in Assam in the light of the information now available from various official and non- official sources, the All-India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat h?ving studied carefully the Prime Minister's letter of May 11, 1963 to the Home Minister and other Ministers containing important directives and suggestions on the problems facing the minorities. - 115 - 160„ NAYAR (Kuldlp). Assam's feeling of Betrayal : "Muslim community as a whole feels insecure. Radiance. 22, 42; 1987, Mar, 29-Apr 4 ; 6, Talk about strong actions against migrants has increased the fear of Muslims talking to a few of the Muslims I found that the apprehension of being insted from the state still existed in their minds. 161. PROBLEMS FACING the minorities in Assam. Radiance. 22, 42; 1987, Mar 22-Apr 4 ; 6. The following Resolutions adopted at the delegat session of first annual conference of xinited minorities front (UMF) . Assam held on the 7th February 1987 in Goalpara show what problems are the minorities facing in Assam and VJOW the UMF plans to solve them. 162. STOP THIS Harassment. Radiance. 19, 33, 1983, Dec, 25-31 ; 2. Those who know the RSS, the not-se-defunct Jana Sangh and the BJP also knoS^j that Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, West Besgal, Mizorara and Nagaland occupy top positions in the list of their priorities after what is known as the Hind- belt. The youth Congress I President Mr, Tariq Anwar has righjtly aske<3 the Union Home Ministery to interence and stop harrasement of the Muslim Minority in the districts of Katihar and Purnea. - 117 - The coraraunalist contention is that 35,000 Bangaladeshi Muslims have entered into India. 163. TAMEER-E-MILLAT on Assam. Radiance. 19,1; 1983, May, 15-21 ? 1. Mr. fiahiro Oureshi general secretary of the All India Majlis Tameer-e-Millat who is leading a team of Majlis workers doing relief work in Assam has after taking stock of the situation and the conditions prevailing in the relief camps submitted a memorandum to Mr, Hiteshwar Saikia, Chief Minister of Assam, Among other things the following suggestions h«ve been made in the memorandxim, 164. WHOM THE Assam Jamaat wants to see in the legislature. Radiance. 21, 30; 1985, Dec, 1-7 ; 6. Ihe advisory coxincil of Jaraaat-e-Islami under the Presidentship of Maulana Syed Sharasul Huda, Amir-e-Halqa Assam, reviewed the situation prevailing since the announce ment of the election in the state and after a thorough deli beration, passed the following resolutions on November 17, —, —, —, , BENGALIS 165. PARDESI (Oianshyam). Complications in Assam. Mainstream 13, 44, 1980, June, 28 ; 27. - 118 - The Assamese students' agitation had frightened the Bengalis because they believed that one of the objective was to make Assam the home of the . Assamese done. This was how ever preceded ^y ^^^ killing of an Assamese students in one of the villages huts of Assamese peasant in Batabari, two kilo metres from her village. , —, PRESIDENTS RULE. 166, BIDWAI (Praful). Uptill task in Assam : case for swift surgical strike. Times of India. 153, 3277 1990, Dec, 6 ; 8. 'The imposition of President's Rule in Assam, it is apparent that New Delhi's action has not earned it the kind of opprobrium that many had expected and which the Asara cana Parishad hold so emphalically predicted. In fac its perceived investability may have greatly so-ftened its impact. The argument for a brief spell of presidents rule remains a power ful one. Indeed^ the AGP's majorilarianism put Assam into a powerful one. 167. CENTRAL RULE for Assam, Times of India. 153, 321; 1990, Nov, 29 ; 8. Itie centre's decision to place Assam under President Rule will be welcomed if only becauses there seems to be no alternative to it. ISne reason for this should be participating - 119 - in a situation of dyarchy or dual power in most districts and it can carry on its compaign of extortion of the AGP and AASU, rhe former's precursor and leader of the "anti-foreigns" agi tation. It is to be hoped that the centre will be able to raakcf such a choice even in the apropitious conditions that prevail in the country. 168. HOLD ELECTIONS quickly. Economic Times. 217; 1990, Nov, 29 ; 8. The imposition of President Rule in Assam will surprise only those who have not followed the steady deterioration in the law and order situation in the state the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), with the tacit blessings of the state government, had made a mockery of the a rule of law in the state. The present government owes nothing to the AGP, and has taken a step that should have been taken earlier. The first task obviously, is to re-establish the rule of law by putting a speedy end to the activities of ULFA. This has happend in state after state and will probably happen in Assam as well, in which case things will be back to squase one. 169. PRESIDENT'S RULE in Assam. Democratic World . 19, 48; 1990, Dec, 2 ; 1, It ha4 to bring Assam under the President's Rule, declare the whole state a distribed area and put ban on the - 120 - activities of the United Liberation Front of Assam, commonly known as ULFA, and other subversive outfits, the All Bodos Students Union had been through the Mahanta Strategy and opposed election in the prevailing atmosphere t^-they could not be fair or free from violence. Whatever has happened has been so primarily because of prevorication of Mahanta and his policy of drift. —, —, , REHABILITATION 170. JAMAAT FOR RTC on Assam. Radiance. 19, 1; 1983, May, 15-21; 1. For lasting peace and durable solution of the Assam problem. The Jamaat-e-Islaml Hind has suggested around table conference of all the groups and parties concerned with the issue the organisation has asked the government to pay full compensation for the less of life and property and also make immediate arrangements for the rehabilitation of the uprooted. , —, RHINO 171. ASSAM. Turn of the Rhino. Link. 24, 35? 1982, Apr,11,10 Before the current budget session of Parliament is over the Swarmy riverine grastlands of central Assam would have provided the states anti foreigner movement with another martyr The unihorned kaziranga rhino. Itie bill now before parliament seeks to empower the central government to take the rhinos out - 121 - of Assam without the state government's concurrence and with out compensation in order to facilitate the translocation plan mooted in the report. —, —. RSS 172. RSS SHOW in Gauhati. Link. 24,31; 1982, Mar, 14 ? 31. The Assam agitationists having taken to the more mundance worke progranxme Gauhati offered the correct exposure the RSS show needed. As regards Assam agitation leadership, it is already unhappy with Vajpayee's double talke and the local BJP units efforts to wean away some of the best brains behind the movement. —, —, SOCIAL 173. KUTTY (Mudhavan N). Social parameters of ^gsam. Link. 25, 2; 1982, Aug, 22; 36. The north-east is already the graveyard of such facile government assumptions and Assam is the latest laboratory where the formula has its trial in the circumstances the tendency to dismiss the agitation and the conflicts in Assam a totally devoid of a nationality content would be all the more damaging for the left in the longrun. - 122 - TEA INDUSTRY 174. DOOM DOOMA'S flight to safety. Economic Times. 17,210; 1990, Nov, 18 ; 8. When Ayatollah Khomeini's Iranian government took captive the officials of an American electronics company, charging them with being spies, the company organised a spectiacular rescue mission to get its captive officials out of iron. Representa tive of the Indian Tea Association (ITA) immediately got in touch with the Assam Chief Minister. The Chief secretary and the director general of police. The Chief Minister advised the tea companies to deal with the situation in their own way, company spokesman are tightlipped about their plans but seem to expect that they will be able to go back into the state if President's Rule is imposed in Assam, 175. PRABHAKARA (MS) . All for security. Frontline. 11, 6; 1994, Mar, 25 ; 38. The Assam Tea plantation security force (ATPSF) was formed after prolonged discussions with the Indian Tea Associa tion and the government of Assam in the contest of what the ITA's new letter Tea India described as the reign of terror inlcashed against the tea industry and its personei Assam by and feblonious gangs/ -xtortionists with pretensiQixs, - 123 - _ TERRORISM 176. ASSAM ON the brinX. Times of India. 152, 15, 1989, Mar, 16 ; 6. some violence In the wake of the Bodo agitation In Assam was to be expected In view of the inability of the state government to bring them to the negotiating table after their 120-hour bandh last month. The danger Is all the greater because the Bodo areas are difficult to police. In fact all political elements In Assam must deem It their responsibility bie Join hands to restore peace in the troubled state. 177. ASSAM ON the brink. Times of India. 155, 244; 1992, Oct, 15; 8. Tuesdj^y's explosion In a train In Assam, killing as peo ple has came In the wake of a series of disturbing develop ments suggesting that the state is once again facing an uncer tain future, ^art from the ULFA, the other groups which have been operating are the Itinar people convention (HPC) not to mention the newly established Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front and the tribal National Security Army Force. A quick initia tive to reach a settlement with the ABSU and the ASDC, which Was within grasp, might enfeeble the extremist cause and generate a new atmosphere of hope, 178. EXTREMISTS AND the Beginning Connectioo. Link. 27, 44; 1985, June, 9 ; 17, - 124 - Police asserts have a carroborated the suspicion that a small section of the Assamese youth had close contacts with pro-Beijing extremists. 179. FARZAND AHMED, Assam : pushed to the brink. India Today. . 16, 18; 1991, Sept, 30 ; 4A. ULFA'S killing spree has compelled the government to take a tough stance. It had counted on a people's movement building up against the army deployment but the Assamese seemed to welcome it. 180. GANGULI (Amulya). Tackling terrorism : Irony of changing response. Times of India. 155, 50 ; 1992, Mar, 9 ; 8. T5ie recent resumption for a few, hours of operation Rhino in Assam because of a "Communication gap" between the army authorities and the state government was a significant pointes to certain attitudes. The fact that the talks with the ULFA cbuld start,at such short notice suggested that the Chief Minister's emissaries were in touch with the rebels even when the state was afficially supposed to be at war with them, 181. INSURGENCY IN Assam. Times of India. 153, 311; 1990, Nov, 17 ; 8. The depredations of this secessionist and terrorist outfit have reached such a stage that the AGP or at least - 125 - certain factions in it prefer to do business with ULFA either through compulsion or, what is worse, through their own voli tion. No such discussion are possible with the ULFA which sees no future for Assam with in the Indian Union. 182, MISRA (Udayon) , Army killing in Assam. Economic and Political Weekly. 30, 15; 1995, Apr, 15 ; 793. Dozens of youth have been killed by the army in take encO'Uter in Assam and the people have lost all faith in the eye wash enquiries conducted by the state administration into these killings. 183. PORTENTS IN ASSAM. Times of India. 155, 277; 1992, Nov, 24 ; 8. The death of 30 people in two bomb blaste in Guwahati the blowing up of a vital road bridge and call for 1001-hours bandh given by All Bodo students Union (ABSU) mean that Assam is once again poised on the brink of a turmoil reminiscent of the 1979-85 ant1-foreigner agitation. What all the suggests is that Assam is siting on a pouder-keg with the various restive ethnic groups full of complaints about the existing arrangement, 184. PRABHAKAR (MS) . Troubled State : new wave of violence in Assam. Frontline. 11,6; 1994, Mar, 25 ; 37. - 126 - These optimistic prognostications were made in response to pointed queires in the context of the renewal of intense violence by ULFA especially following the killing of Prabhat Saikia Nagaon district contnander on December 9 and the attack on jagori police station in Nagaon district on December 26, The killing constituted an important message and preceded an actual "written com-nunication sent by ULFA to several members of the Indian Tea Association" a few weeks later requiring the presence of there representatives at a rendervous to dis cuss the active participation of tea industry in Economic development of Assam. 185. PRABHAKAR (MS). Tea and terror : An abduction and its aftermath. Frontline, 10, 12;,1993, June, 5-18 f 37. The abductors were militants of the Boro security force (BDSF) , ccxnmitted to waging an "armed struggle" to secure a sovereign Bodoland.However Tata Tea has taken the stand that it will under no circumstances pay any ransom. Be it Assam or any other state, deals have been struck with militants when it suited those in authority, victims have been allowed tobe killed when they did not hot carry weight. 186. SAIKIA READY for talks with ULFA. Times of India. 155, 145; 1992, June, 18 ; 8. ULFA Militants are in favour of a negotiated settlement of their grievance within the frame work of the constitution - 127 - vhile the rest of the constitution while the rest hold on to their demand for an independent Assam through armed struggle the Assam Chief Minister Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia gave the incjression his government was prepared to gave a long sope to the "protalk" faction of the unitdd liberation front of Assam (ULFA) in government bid to get most of the hardcore faction of the militants to the negotiating table, 1S7. SAIKIA TO Meet top UJ*PA leader today. Times of India. 155, 138; 1992, June , 10 ; 8. Ihe question of resumption of Army operation against ULFA raillitant in three districts of Upper Assam would be decided at acrucial meeting between the state chief minister Mr. Hiteshwar Saikia and a top-ramking leader of the millitant organisation in Guwahati. The Chief Minister also informed central leaders about the ongoing negotiations on autonomy deojands by the hills and plains tribals of the state. ISS, SHARMA (Naba) . Militant segment gaining Upper hand. Economic Times. 16, 156; 1989, Sept, 3 ; 1-8. ISie fresh spate of violence in Assam since August 29, the day following the much awaited Delhi tripartie talks and Mr. Upen Brahma's assurance that ABSU (UB) would eschew-, violence, only speaks of his gradual loss of control over the - 128 - Bodo Youths, especially over the militant segment of his organisation though he showed up with more than .g 40-member complement, he as if to propitiate his armed cohorts, had to reaffirm immediately in Delhi itself that ABSU would never compromise on the question of Bodo land and a separate state would have to be created before the expiry of the current year. AGP may not be much worried for any such eventuality, for even otherwise it did not and will not have any stake in the Bodo dominated areas like Kohrajhar district and Udalguri sub-division. 189. ULTRAS RULE roast in Assam Valley. Link. 32, 37; 1990, Apr, 22, 4. What began as a resentful murmur of the United Libera tion Front (ULFA) , the militant arm of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) , to expel foreigners' or the non-Assamese from Assam, has now in the last ten month acquired a sinisterly sesessionist colouring its high time, writes Sujit K.Chak- rai^orty, the centre took sense stem steps to hamstring the AGP-backed ULFA menance. Any delay could only quicken what is virtually becoming a genocide. ASSAM, POLITICS, PROBLEM - TRIBALS 190, AMNESTY" INTERNATIONAL. Tribals « in crossfire between government and opposition groups. Link. 36, 21-22; 1994, Jan, 2-9 ; 16. - 129 - Across the world indigenous people are often caught in the conflict between. The tribals people have suffered arbiitrary detention, torture, tape extera-Judicial execution and "disappearances". These implicated in the human rights vio lation are often shielded from justice. 191. BOSE (Kxinal) . Simmering discentent among Assam hill tribals. Economic Times. 15, 364, 1989, Apr, 2 ;3. The Asom Gana Parishad Government which by any reckon ing failed to make a proper assessment of the Bodo's intense feeling of neglect by the mainstream Assamese society, is now facing simmering discontent among the hill tribals of Marbi- Anglong and North Cachar districts. The Autonanous State Demands committee (ASDC), constituted nearly three years ago is spearheading the movement of hill tribals for an autonomous state within Assam. 192. BURMAN (^BK) , Technology transfer to tribal Areas. Mainstream. 27, 44; 1989, July ; 29. The task of the social activists, - the planners ,the administrators, the implementing agencies was that of getting these good things transplanted in^underdeveloped''^ areas and among "Underdeveloped" people. In Karbl anglong of Assam not only the tribals, but also the officials were pointing out the adverse effects of the fall-out of the adjoining cement factory - 130 - on the forest environment, agriculture and health of the people of the area. 193. GUPTA (Anish), Distinct Entities : Autonomous tribal councils of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills in Assam are to take real power soon. Frontline. 24, 45; 1994, Nov, 13-19 ; 48. • The tribal-dominated districts of Karbi-anglong and north cachar Hills (NC Hills) in Assam will attain a new status opening another chapter in India complex history of ethnic management. Most officers don't have a stake here; they merely last out their terra and make a fast buck if they can it anticorruption plank has gone down so well with the public that even some Congressmen are planning to align with the party. 194. PARDESI (chaneshyam). Assam : Restless plains tribals. Mainstream. 25,15; 1986, Dec, 27; 34. There is apeculiar demographic situation in Assam. Since theje ^as no census in 1981 we can make a rough estimate and say that Assam's curtent population is a little over 20 million. The plains tribes live in what is called the tribal belt stretching from Kokrajhar in the far west of Assam to North lakimpur in the east in supper Assam. Thus the tribals - 131 - make up the 20 per cent bottom rung of the various communities living in Assam. 195, PAUL (Madan C). Udayachal movement, plains tribal and social structure In Assam. Social Change. 21, 2; 1991, June ; 59. Ihe demand for Udayachal state did not come out from a vaccum hxit from the womb of unequal socio-economic and political system Itself. The plains trlbals were increasingly aware of their appresslon and justice done to them, making them restless. 196. REVDUr OF the Trlbals. Democratic World. 18, 38; 1989, Sept; 17 ; 4. There are clear indications that some of the movement in North cast and central India have the tacit support of outsiders. The keen Interest being taken by the outside world on the Bodo agitation the jharkhand movement and other orga nised agitations give a new dlmention to the whole problem. It is true that the Assam government and other government have failed to protect the lives and properties of the trlbals and other bakward people. 197. ROY BURMAN (BK). Prdblems and prospects of tribal Development in North-East India, Economic and Political Weekly. 24, 13; 1989, Apr, 1 ; 693. - 132 - The tribe as a social formation may be identified in two ways: first as a stage in the history of evolution of societies second, as a society organised on the basis of kinship ties which enable to be a multi-functional grouping. Within this conceptualisation of the tribals. What been the constraints to their development in north-east India, 198. TURBULENCE IN Assam. Times of India. 150, 183; 1987, July, 3 ; 6, The relatively successful 36-hour-long bandh in some district of Assam called by organisations of the plains and hills tribals should serve to highlight a new dimentlon of the continuing ethnic and political turmoil in the state. Incidentally# that spotlights the dangers inherent in the decline of the congress v^ich alone was able to serve as a bridge between various groups in Assam. —, —, — - —, LANGUAGE 199„ MOHAMMAD A3DUS SAMAD and SUNDARBAR. Tribal undermines Assam's existence. Radiance. 23, 37 ; 1988, Marh - Apr, 27 , 2 ; 10. In order to appease the tribal of Assam, AGP government has finally given recognition of Bodo, Rava and Kurbi languages in Assam, Despite the recognition of tribal language, AGP - 133 - could not appease the tribal community in Assam, Meanwhile as long as there was only foreigner issue in Assam, but after formation of AGP minister, Assam has igegun to confron divers problems posing amenace to the existence of Assam which is more dangerous than foreign issue. WOMEN LABOUR 200. GOGOI (K), Ex-Tea garden women labour in Assam. Social Welfare. 29, 11-12; 1989, Feb - Mar; 8. The ex-tea garden women labour in Assam constitute a major manpower force. Regularly supplying semi-skilled and unskilled labour in certain part of Assami With their hardships growing day by day on account of the rising prices of food, clothing and housing serious efforts should be made to improve their living conditions on all fronts. PART-in INDICES - 134 - SUBJECT INDEX Entry :No . ASSAM, ECONOMY 1 ASSAM, POLITICS 2 - 23 ASSAM, POLITICS - ACCORD 24 - 35 ASSAM, POLITICS _ HISTORY 36 ASSAM , POLITICS - MEDIA 37 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY 38 ASSAM, POLITICS , PARTY - AASU 39 - 44 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY - ABSU 45 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY - AGP 46 - 51 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY - AGP - DISSIDENCE 52 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY - AGP - EVALUATION 53 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY - AGP - FACTIONALISM 54 - 55 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY - BdSF 5e ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY - CPI (M) 57 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY -GNLF 58 ASS.AM, POLITICS, PARTY _ ULFA 58 - 77 ASSAM, POLITICS, PARTY _ UMF 78 - 81 ASS,^M, POLITICS, PROBLEM a2 - 98 ASSm, POLITICS, PROBLEM, BODO 99 - 108 ASS.\M, POLITICS, PROBLEM, BODO _ ACCORD 109 ASS;^M, POLITICS, PROBLEM, BODO, AGITATION 110 - :12 0 ASSm, POLITICS, PROBLEM _ BORDER 121 ASSi^M, POLITICS, PROBLEM - CHILDREN, HEALTH 122 ASSi^M, POLITICS, PROBLEM - CORRUPTION 123 - 135 - Entry No. ASSi^/ POLITICS, PROBLEM - ELECTION 124 - 137 ASS^iiM, POLITICS, PROBLEM - ELECTION, ELECTORAL ROLL 138 ASSJ^M, POLITICS, PROBLEM - EMPLOYMENT 139 ASSi^M, POLITICS, PROBLEM - LANGUAGE 14 0 ASSAM, POLITICS, PROBLEM _ LANGUAGE, MANIPURE 141 ASSJ^, POLITICS, PROBLEM - MIGRANTS 142 - 154 ASSi^M, POLITICS, PROBLEM - MINORITIES 155 - 164 ASSAM, POLITICS, PROBLEM - MINORITIES, BENG/iLIS 165 ASSJ^, POLITICS, PROBLEM - PRESIDENTS RULE 166 - 169 ASS;^, POLITICS, PROBLEM, REHABILITATION 170 ASSi^, POLITICS, PROBLEM - RHINO 171 ASS;iM, POLITICS, PROBLEM - RSS 172 ASS/U^, POLITICS, PROBLEM - SOCIAL 173 ASS/kM, POLITICS, PROBLEM - TEA INEUSTRY 174 - 175 ASS^iM, POLITICS, PROBLEM - TERRORISM 17 6 - 189 ASS;5LM, POLITICS, PROBLEM - TRIBALS 190 - 198 ASSm, POLITICS, PROBLEM - IRIBALS, LANGUAGE 199 ASSm, POLITICS, PROBLEM - WOMEN LABOUR 200 - 136 - AUTHOR INDEX S.No. AUIHOR(S) Entry No 1. AGNIHOTRI (SK) KHAN (SA) 122 2. ALI (Omar A) 24 3. ASRAR ALAM 53,165 4. BANERJEE (indranll) 47 5. BANERJEE (Rubun) 60 6. SHUYAIN (Bhubanishwar) 84 7. BIDWAI (Praf ul) 166 8. BISWAS (soutlk) 61 9. BORA (Dulal) 27,156 10. BOSE (Kunal) 99,191 11. BURMAN (BK) 192 12. «3iAKRAVARTTY (Nikhil) 130 13. CHINAI (Rupa) 48,100 14. CJiOUDHURY (Sujit) 40 15. DAS GUPTA (Barun) 41,52,102- 112 16. FARZAND AHMED 65,87,132, 179 17. GANESH SINGH 1 18. GANGULI (Amulya) 66,67,180 19. GOGOI (K) 200 - 137 - 20. GOHAIN (Hiren) 115 21. GOYAL (DR) 4 2 22. GUHA (seema) 49,68 23. GUPTA (Anish) 193 24. GUPTA (shakhar) 29 25. HAZARIKA (Sanjoy) 10,133 26. JOSHI (Mahesh) 11 27. KAKATI (Satish) 109 28. KAMAROOPI 147 29. KHAN (SA) and AGNIHOTRI (SK) 122 30. KHANNA (KC) 30 31. KUTTY (Mudhavann) 173 32. MAHAPATRA (Meera) 116 3 3. MAZARBHUIYAN (Nazrul Haque) 148 34. MAZUMDAR (SK) 149 35. MENON (Ramesh) 12,32,50,117 36. MERA (Udayon) 13,118,138,182 37. MOHAMxMED ABDUS SAMAD 199 38. MoSOOD PESHIMAM 31 39. MUSTAFA 14 40. NANDA (Mira Rani) 105,106 - 138 - 41. NARAYAN (Hemendra) 88 42. NAYAR (Kuldip) 160 43. RAMAN(_pj 57 44. PARDESI (Ghanshyam) 15,55,140,165, 194 45. PAUL (Madan C) 195 46. PRABHAKARA (MS) 56,134,175,154, 185 47. PRABHU (AN) 16 48. RAJKHOWA (Naresh) 17 49. RANJAN (C NChitta) 152 50. RATTAN (Kamal jeet) 119 51. RAY (Tapan) 135 52. ROY BURMAN (BK) i'^'i. ^197 53. ROY (Subir) and SHARMA (Pranay) 18 54. SEEMA MUSTAFA 14-.91 55. SEN GUPTA (uttam) 72 56. SEN (suraanta) 19, 10^ 57. SHARMA (Kalpana) 33,92 58. SHARMA (Naba) 188 59. SHARMA (Pranay) and ROY (Subir) 18 60. SONWALKAR (prasun) 51,120 - 139 - 61. SRI RAMAN (J) 34 62. SUMANTA > 107 63. SUNDARBAR 199 64. SURI (Surinder) 94 65. SYED SHAHABUDDIN 21 66. VASFI (Ausaf Saied) 35,130 67. ZULFIKAR AHMAD 98 - 140 - TITLE INDEX S.No. TITLE(S) Entry No. 1, AGP failed to restore confidence among the Harassed and tortured minorities 53 2, AGP wants every one to adopt Assamese culture 48 3, All for security 175 4, Amnesty international tribals in crosfire between government and opposition groups. 196 5, Army killing in Assam 182 6, Assam accord implementation 24 7, Assam accord likely to inject uncertainty besides consolidating anti-Muslim atmosphere 35 8, Assam accord skimming over troubled waters 33 9, Assam after ULFA 55 10, Assam agitation 142 11, AssamlAGP xinder pressure 46 12, Assam Anguish 58 13, Ass.ara:Arunachal border situation tense 121 14, Assam;Breaking through 65 15, Assamjcauldron is boiling once again 125 - 141 - 16, Assam crisis 15 17, Assam:Crucial talks 143 18, Assam Dangerous facts 82 19, Assam Dangers of rightist offensive 2 20, Assam discord 25 21, Assam:Dream turns sour 50 22, Assam Elections 126 23, AssamvElections at Bayonit point 124 24, Assam; Elections in phases 127 25, Assam: Electoral entranglements 132 26, Assamx Endangered accord 29 27, Assam: failed accord 3 2 28, Assam; fair beginning 47 29, Assam: full circle 153 30, Assam government in crisis 41,52 31, Assam imbroglio 49 32, Assam in for yet another spell of uncertainly 136 33, Assam, INDIA and Gandhi 11 34, Assam: language politics 140 35, Assam liberation front flirts with Naga group and China 59 - 142 - 3 6, Assam minorities against amendment 78 37, Assam minorities ready to launch anagitate 79 38, Assam; Myth of fofeign influse 148 39, Assam on the brink 176,177 40, Assam on the spot study 128 41, Assam; past - Nellie period 155 42, Assam polls and beyond uncertain prospects 129 43, Assam, Punjab - what next 3 44, Assamj pushed to the brink 179 45, Assam Quest for homogeneity 140 46, Assam; Restless plains tribils 194 47, Assam; Role reversal 11 48, Assam Row over employment 139 49, Assam Sahitya Sabha Culture and politics 13 50, Assam semanties 26 51, Assam Settlement 4 52, Assam; State of Strife 72 53, Assam striking a separalist stance 119 54, Assam stron arm lacties and after 88 55, Assam talks 39 56, Assam talks Bogged again 5 - 143 - 57, Assam tangle 6 58, Assam; temporary truce 87 59, Assam; the vicious circle 83 50, Assam; timber trail 12 61, Assam; time for Decisive moves 7 62, Assam; turn in the tide 17 6,, Assam; turn of the Rhmo 171 64, Assam; Unscholarly chauvinists 3 6 65, Assam will not burn 42 66, Assam's feeling of betrayal 160 67, At - Best a first step 144 68, Award to Saikia now makes little sense 19 69, Beginning of a new ethnic confrontation 21 70, Bodo agitation 110,112 71, Bodo extremism and its mindless violence 116 72, Bodo issue 105 73, Bodo land 106 74, Bodo stir complex issues unattainable demands 118 75, Bodo stir in perspective \1_5 76, Central rule for Assam 167 77, Centre should act 85 - 144 - 78. Centre's move jolts opposition in Assam 27 79. CJiance in Assam 111 80. Changing rural economy of Assam 1 81. Chief minister of Assam lands 6n the Dilema 98 82. Choice in Assam 62 83. Citizenship Assam Gorkhas fight 145 84. Class war in Assam 149 85. Clares-tine out fit 56 86. Close look at the Bodoland accord 109 87. Complications in Assam 105 88. Congress approach to foreigners in Assam l^i 89. Contentinuous poll 131 90. Coping with ULFA 63 91. CPI (M) launches reformes to cheek uneven growth 59 92. Cutting the Gordian knot 146 93. Danger of Bodoland 101 94. Dark Clouds ho-eer again over Assam 8 95. Denouncement in Assam 91 96. Dissidence rocks state ruling party 54 97. Disstinct entitles 193 98. Disturbed area or disturbing approach 152 - 145 - 99. Doom dooma'sflight to safety 174 100. Doubts on accord 28 101. Efforts to solve ULFA langle in limbo 64 102. Electoral rolls issue hotting up again 138 103. Even tursle for the tusker 156 104. Extremists and the Beijing connection 178 105. Extremists game plan 67 106. Ex-.tea garden wc»tjen labour in Assam 200 107. Eyeless in issam 114 108. Factionalism eroding the AGP 55 109. Fighting for a cultural identity 100 110. Force of banning 86 111. Fresh drive to rout Muslim in Assam 158 112. Hold Election in J & K, Punjab, Assam 130 113. Hold election quickly 168 114. Insurgency in Assam 38,181 115. Issue in Assam 134 116. Jamaat for RTC on Assam 170 117. Keep talking 104 118. Land alienation is the main problem for Bodos 120 119. Language of contention 141 - 146 - ,-^ Limits of tolerence 10 120. .py^ Lot glory haunts Ahoras 9 \j^22 MEDIAS sinister game 37 -23 Militant segment gaining upperhand 188 1-. Mine field of uncetalntles 30 125 M°^*^ neillles in the offing 150 126 ^^^ Gandhi on corruption Assam and * communallsm 123 j^p- Muslims Blinded in Assam 18 ^23 Muslim MaJlis-e_Mushawart's resolutions 159 j^29 Needless fears 43 *^_ Heros fiddle while Assam turn 14 j_3j_ No talks with ULFA 69 2^32 Not by agitation 44 j^33 Now there, now no there 147 ^34 One more feathe on Rajiv's Cap 16 135^ Onus of proof 151 12^, Opportunity in Assam 90 237, Perilous Balancing act in Assam 70 138, Poll pointers 135 139, Portents in Assam 183 140,, President's Rule in Assam 169 - 147 - ,., Problems and prospects of tribals developmen- 141» tation north east India, 197 -,- Problems facing the minorities in Assam 161 2^2 Profiles the Bodo agitations 107 2*^ Prospects in Assam 71 2^45 Recipe a for Harrassment 157 Resolving the Assam problem student leaders 146» are ready. 94 147^^ Revolt of the tribals 196 j,^Q^ RSS show in Gauhati 172 149« Saikia ready for talks with ULFA 186 ^t^Q Saikia to meet top ULFA leader today 187 J53^ Sense and Nonsense of Assam agitatic 84 1^2 Simmering discontend among Assam hill triblas 191 •^53 social parameters of Assam 173 j_54 Solution by committee 20 155^ State for the Bodos 99 3^5^^ Status of children in j^ssara Social Welfare 122 157^ Step towards peace 93 158, Stop this Harrassment 162 159, Tackling terrorism 180 - 148 - 160. Talking around in circles 89 ^g^^ Talking to ULFA 22 152 Tameer-e-Millaton on Assam 163 163, Tea and terror 185 164 Technology transfer to tribals areas 192 155 Tentative progress 108 166, Text of citizenship bill 95 167 ^ing to do 7 3 168. Thoughts on the Assam accord 31 169. Thwarting evil designs 96 170. Trade with caution 154 171^ Tribals unddr mince Assam's escistence 199 172,, Tripatite talks on Bodo issue 102 173 Tripura's lesson for Assam 51 174, Troubled Assam 92 175, Troubled in Assam 97 176, Troubled state 184 177, Turbulence in Assam 198 178, Udayachal movement plains tribal and social structure in Assam 195 179, ULFA leaders for talks 74 180, ULFA New Haven 61 181, ULFA • Recanting faith 60 - 149 - 182. ULFA*it Ultimatum 75 ^S3. uLFA's left stance only a facede 63 184, ULFA's warns BJP against N-E>rYatra 76 185, Ultras rule roost in Assam valley 189 186, UMF memo on minorities situatic in Assam 80 187, UMF memo to Assam CM on harrassment of Religious and linguistic minorities 81 188, Uncertainty in Assam 77 189, Uphill task in Assam 166 190, Welcome pause 45 191, Which "Accord" has won in Assam 34 192, WhCHn the Assam Jamaat wants to see in the legislative 164 193, Why not a white paper on Assam 23 194, Why polls connot answer Assams social question 137 •^9^» Why the Bodo are angry 103,113 - 150 - LIST OF JOURNALS "1, Democratic World K2, Economic and Political Weekly 3. Economic Times 4. Frontline 5. Hindustan Times 6. Illustrated Weekly of India 7. India Today 8. Indian Express 9. Link 10. Mainstream 11. New Age 12. Orgainiser 13. Patriot 14. Radiance ^ 15. Secular Democracy ^16. Social Welfare 17. statesman 18. Sunday 19. Times of India 20. Voice of Islam