The case of Assam, India


"Assam has always been multicultural and multi-ethnic state"
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism held a talk on the topic, ‘State of the Stateless – Story of NRC in Assam’ by eminent scholar Prof. Monirul Hussain, Chair Professor, Centre for North East Studies, Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi. The talk was organized in the background of the current debates on and concerns around the National Register of Citizens in Assam wherein 4 million people have been left out of the NRC which renders them stateless. The talk dwelled upon the historical roots of NRC process and the migration in Assam during the colonial period and even after Partition. Post this migration, indigenous groups opposed the migration and viewed that migrants as foreigners. The conflicts largely draw from the various ethnic disparities amongst the communities that have different demands and expectations from the government, state and the union.Initially the Assamese opposed the Bengali Hindus and Muslims alike however due to strengthening of communal discourse the narrative of Muslims being Bangladeshis and thus foreigners gathered impetus. 
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Prof. Hussain in his talk highlighted that Assam has always been a multicultural and multi-ethnic state. He continued to talk about the long history of different ethnicities and their interaction with each other until the partition of India wherein conflicts between Hindus and Muslims arose.  The massive Nellie massacre (1983) in which more than 1800 people died also created conflicts in the state. The more recent conflicts in Assam, Prof. Hussain noted are arising out of the Hindu communalism in opposition to the Assamese nationalism.

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Regarding the NRC process, Prof. Hussain elaborated his personal experience with the NRC officials and how the process is absolutely arbitrary in nature. Though it’s a judicial process, Prof. Hussain emphasized that the ruling government is meddling in between the procedures.  People are being harassed by the NRC officials as well as the police who are given targets to “identify” certain number of foreigners in their areas, Prof. Hussain added. He said the NRC process is an important process but is being carried out in an arbitrary manner leading to victimization of certain communities. However, Prof. Hussain added that he is hopeful that the ongoing protests and a strong civil society movement will help in restoring the democratic and secular fabric of the state.
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The talk was followed by a question and answer session with the group of 10-12 people which included scholars, professors and students IIT Mumbai, Wilson College and Maharashtra College.

Siddhi Pendke
Program Coordinator
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism

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