Bengali Hindus are perennially treated as stateless modern day Jews in this part of the globe specially in entire North East India.The origin of inhibition of this race in North East India dates back about 150 years, but till present day they are looked upon by others more precisely so called indigenous communities as intruders and diaspora of there home land. This aspect I have discussed elaborately in my previous book " Log Out North East India- an untold story of reverse racism".
But if we go back deep in this issue we find Bengali Hindus settled in North East India since the days of Imperial Raj and they were brought by the then masters as clerks to run the administrations. Many were brought for expansion of railways and thus concentration of Bengali Hindus will be found in major rail area like Guwahati, Lumding, Tinsukia ,Bongaigoan, Dhubri( since this was an important rail station till 1947) etc.
These are facts that known to all. On this pretext,I have few questions:
1) What is the definition of original inhabitants? Probably it defines a group people or race staying at a place continuously for an unspecified long time and inculcate all socio cultural systems of the place and embrace the same as their own may be defined as original inhabitants.In this category Ahom of Assam, Khasi and Jaintia of Meghalaya falls in same category of Bengali inhabitants. All those races came to settle in vast North east in different time and different circumstances.What about tea tribes of Assam ? Are they not brought by Britishers from outside? Koch came from Coochbehar of West Bengal to settle in fertile land of Assam and so on.
2) They embraced all local culture and social bonding at per with Assamese speaking people except their language which is their birth right. Moreover all children of Bengali Hindu read and write Assamese correctly and each one of them speak local language fluently. What more is required to prove their identity? Do they need to speak in Assamese to their mother and wife in their home? This is next to impossible and everyone know why?
3) A large chunk of Bengali migrated from Erstwhile Sylhet district of Assam when the district merged with Pakistan during infamous partition of the country.Are those people not original inhabitants of Assam?They simple shifted from one part of Assam to another part after 18/07/1947.Are they diaspora?
4) After bifurcation of erstwhile K&J Hills district and Garo Hills district of Assam for formation of new state Meghalaya Lakhs of Bengali Hindu employees from erstwhile capital of Shillong and Tura permanently migrated to Assam with their family. Are they not original inhabitants of Assam? Under same circumstances thousands of Bengali Hindus came back to Silchar after erstwhile Lusai Hills bifurcated from Assam. They are definitely original inhabitants of Assam.
Last year one gentleman from Assamese speaking community adversely commented in a TV talk show that wherever Bengali Hindus will settle they would construct a Kali temple and go for one Netaji commune. My question is this a crime? Lots of Assamese speaking people are settled in different parts of world are celebrating BIHU under a banner of Bihutali. Are they doing activities against their rights? Moreover, Assamese speaking people should inculcate history to know that it was Netaji Subhash only proposed the name of Gopinath Bordoloi as president of APCC during British Raj instead Sadullah was ready to be sworn in as president of APCC They should instead thank Netaji who saved the hegemony of indigenous Assamese people during the material time.
Last but not the least , I personally do not reside in Assam, so my comments in this regard to be impartially taken.
This is a hard fact and you have rightly highlighted by you,Dibakar. Unfortunately some vested interested people cannot digest this fact. They are jealous of the intelligence,integrity,calibre of the Bengali Hindu community,many of whom had to settle in a place now regarded as Assam,which was the part of the undivided sylhet. Why and under what circumstances Sylhet was included in then Pakistan is known to every body including those who are playing these games now. Yester years Muslim community was their enemy. Today enemies are the Bengali Hindu community. They are changing face as per convenience. Great! But it won't be easy. The truth will prevail. Justice will be delivered.👍👍
ReplyDeletePl delete " by you" in line 2.pl include "in" before " Yesteryears"
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