- Dept of Sociology
Tezpur University
Assam: INDIA
Chandan Kumar Sharma
Tezpur University, Department of Sociology, Faculty Member
- Sociology of Environment, Sociology of Development, Migration Studies, Ethnic Studies, Agrarian Change, Social Movements, and 13 moreHistorical Sociology, Culture Studies, North East India Studies, Identity politics, Ethnic Conflict, History of Sociology, ethnic conflicts in Assam, Issue In Assam, Sociology, History of Colonial India, Northeast India, Urban Studies, and Urban Sociologyedit
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Land alienation among its tribal communities has been one of the most disquieting issues in contemporary India despite existing laws for the protection of tribal land and habitat. This situation is attributed mainly to requisition of... more
Land alienation among its tribal communities has been one of the most disquieting issues in contemporary India despite existing laws for the protection of tribal land and habitat. This situation is attributed mainly to requisition of tribal land for various developmental activities undertaken by the state as well as its indifference in enforcing the existing laws. The situation in Assam clearly illustrates this. Despite the existing laws, the tribal communities have been unable to retain their ownership of the land. This paper shows that while the state-led development activities are significantly responsible for this, the various informal ways in which the transfer of tribal land takes place at a private level are also no less alarming. Explicating the dynamics behind this process, the paper divulges the multiple informal mechanisms, embedded in community network and trust at the local level to negotiate the protective land laws to facilitate the transfer of tribal land to non-tribal communities.
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This book presents a broad overview of the challenges posed by COVID-19 in India and its neighboring countries. It studies the differing responses to COVID-19 infections across South Asia, the variegated impact of the pandemic on its... more
This book presents a broad overview of the challenges posed by COVID-19 in India and its neighboring countries. It studies the differing responses to COVID-19 infections across South Asia, the variegated impact of the pandemic on its societies, communities and economies, and emerging challenges which require an interdisciplinary understanding and analysis.
With a range of case studies from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, this book,
Analyses the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, including the structural challenges faced by farmers in the agricultural production and migrant workers in the informal sectors;
Examines the shifting trends in migration and displacement during the pandemic;
Explores the precarity faced by LGBTQ+, transgender, Dalit, tribal, senior citizens, and other marginalized communities during the pandemic;
Discusses the gendered impact of the pandemic on women and girls, combining with multiple and intersecting inequalities like race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, age, geographical location, and sexual orientation;
Sheds light on the position of health infrastructure and healthcare services across different countries, and the transitions experienced in their education sectors as well, in response to COVID-19.
A holistic read on the pandemic, this book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of sociology, medical anthropology, sociology of health, pandemic and health studies, political studies, social anthropology, public policy, and South Asian studies.
With a range of case studies from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, this book,
Analyses the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, including the structural challenges faced by farmers in the agricultural production and migrant workers in the informal sectors;
Examines the shifting trends in migration and displacement during the pandemic;
Explores the precarity faced by LGBTQ+, transgender, Dalit, tribal, senior citizens, and other marginalized communities during the pandemic;
Discusses the gendered impact of the pandemic on women and girls, combining with multiple and intersecting inequalities like race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, age, geographical location, and sexual orientation;
Sheds light on the position of health infrastructure and healthcare services across different countries, and the transitions experienced in their education sectors as well, in response to COVID-19.
A holistic read on the pandemic, this book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of sociology, medical anthropology, sociology of health, pandemic and health studies, political studies, social anthropology, public policy, and South Asian studies.
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With urbanisation advancing at a rapid pace, it becomes imperative to analyse the process of urban planning and governance with regard to the creation of urban spaces. The dichotomy between urban commons and public space creates an... more
With urbanisation advancing at a rapid pace, it becomes imperative to analyse the process of urban planning and governance with regard to the creation of urban spaces. The dichotomy between urban commons and public space creates an interesting distinction in how urban space is conceptualised. This paper focuses on the urban commons (here, wetlands) in Guwahati city, the gateway city in the Northeastern region of India, which have been converted from community spaces to "public spaces" and are continuing to undergo this transition for its overall development. However, this conversion has led to increased privatisation and regulation of these urban commons which are designed to cater to a specific class of citizens. This paper draws on the experience of the wetlands within the city and discusses the impact of urban planning on them to bring forth the debilitating condition of the city"s urban commons. It also elaborates on the process of conversion of urban commons into public spaces and analyses the exclusionary form of governance that emanates from the rubric of urban development for the "public".
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Social movements among the communities designated as ‘tribal’ have been endemic in India since colonial times. Extensive dependence on and use of forest product and community ownership of land continues to be the important hallmarks of... more
Social movements among the communities designated as ‘tribal’ have been endemic in India since colonial times. Extensive dependence on and use of forest product and community ownership of land continues to be the important hallmarks of the tribal societies. While a section of them have taken to settled agriculture, a large section of the tribal people continues to engage in traditional practices such as hunting, fishing, gathering, terrace cultivation, shifting cultivation, animal husbandry, etc. The colonial policies which brought the agricultural and forestlands of the country under the control of the colonial administration and created commercial interest thereon seriously undermined the traditional land, livelihood and habitat of the tribal communities. Their enragement found expression in a series of revolts against the colonial regime in various parts of India. However, despite existence of several protective measures, the exploitation of the tribal people and the resources in their habitats continues in the post-independence period too. Ironically, the Indian state has not only ignored the genuine issues of tribals for long, it has time and again tried to supress their voices by using force. In recent times, due to aggressive pursuance of neo-liberal model of development by the Indian state, there has been large scale alienation, deprivation and anger among the tribals. This has again steered these communities to the path of protest and movements. While some of these protests have been to protect their habitat and livelihood, some others have been to seize political power for themselves. The objective, organisation and mobilisation of these movements have been subject of serious sociological interest. This chapter discusses various issues and dimensions concerning the conceptualisation of tribe and tribal movements in India.
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The essay explicates the 19th-century colonial economy of Assam and its role in the 1861 peasant revolt at Phulaguri in central Assam. In doing so, it takes into account the local and immediate factors that pushed the small and the... more
The essay explicates the 19th-century colonial economy of Assam and its role in the 1861 peasant revolt at Phulaguri in central Assam. In doing so, it takes into account the local and immediate factors that pushed the small and the marginal peasantry of the wider area around Phulaguri to stand against the repressive economic policies of the colonial regime. The essay also examines the role of the local elites and various segments of the local communities in the revolt as well as the mobilizational aspects of the revolting peasants.
The essay historicises the nature of the process of social development in the northeastern region of India and its implications.
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The essay is a tribute to Dr. Amalendu Guha, the pioneer of Marxist historiography of Assam. It takes a synoptic view of his works, the debates they have generated, and their overall contributions to the understanding of the... more
The essay is a tribute to Dr. Amalendu Guha, the pioneer of Marxist historiography of Assam. It takes a synoptic view of his works, the debates they have generated, and their overall contributions to the understanding of the socio-historical processes of the state.
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This paper recounts the historical evolution of the FVs in Assam, its impact on the traditional peasant economy of the state and the growing conflict between the FD and the forest dwellers. It critiques the approach of the state toward... more
This paper recounts the historical evolution of the FVs in Assam, its impact on the traditional peasant economy of the state and the growing conflict between the FD and the forest dwellers. It critiques the approach of the state toward conservation and the forest dwelling communities in Assam as well as certain provisions of the FRA in addressing the specific nature of the relationship between the two.
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This paper argues that the formation of the Assamese society is a product of a historical process in which both the tribal as well non-tribal groups played equally important roles. As opposed to the contention that posits a binary... more
This paper argues that the formation of the Assamese society is a product of a historical process in which both the tribal as well non-tribal groups played equally important roles. As opposed to the contention that posits a binary opposition between the caste and tribes in the Assamese society, the latter represents a unique case of tribe-caste interaction.
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The last two decades have witnessed an unprecedented rural out-migration from northeast Indian states, especially Assam, to other parts of India. Thousands of poor rural youths from the region have migrated to the more prosperous parts of... more
The last two decades have witnessed an unprecedented rural out-migration from northeast Indian states, especially Assam, to other parts of India. Thousands of poor rural youths from the region have migrated to the more prosperous parts of India in search of livelihood, mostly as unskilled labour in the informal sector. While rural out-migration has not been a new phenomenon in Assam, such out-migration in the past was mostly confined to the state. Although the immigrant groups in Assam pioneered this new trend of out-migration, subsequently, the indigenous communities also followed suit. This paper explicates the interplay of historical forces that have contributed to this phenomenon and its impact on Assam's rural social landscape through an empirical study conducted among the Nepali community, an erstwhile immigrant community in Assam.
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The phenomenon of identity assertion among its various ethnic constituents over a protracted period of time has significantly shaped the socio-political discourse of contemporary Assam. This assertion has been explained as a part of the... more
The phenomenon of identity assertion among its various ethnic constituents over a protracted period of time has significantly shaped the socio-political discourse of contemporary Assam. This assertion has been explained as a part of the process of social evolution of these backward groups, designated as the Scheduled Tribes by the Indian constitution. This assertion is informed not only by an attempt at constructing a distinct cultural order by the newly emerging elites of these groups, it is also characterized by their demand for a share in the existing politico-economic dispensation. However, ever since these demands have transformed into movements for ‘self-determination’ demanding separate ethnic homelands, an array of questions has emerged on the processes of democratic governance and development in Assam. While the democratic aspirations behind these movements are generally recognized, the threat the exclusivist tendency inherent in them poses to the multi-ethnic landscape of Assam also can not be undermined.
This essay examines the above issues in the context of the identity assertion among the Misings, a plains tribe of Assam. After explicating the social, cultural and economic background of the Misings, the essay delineates the trajectory of their identity assertion over almost three quarters of a century. In doing so, the essay illustrates the process of emergence of an educated middle class among the Misings, their demand for politico-economic rights, the turnaround from political to cultural issues, and finally the movement for territorial autonomy. It also underlines the fission and fusion – inter and intra-group – and the role of the state in shaping the course of the Mising identity movement.
This essay examines the above issues in the context of the identity assertion among the Misings, a plains tribe of Assam. After explicating the social, cultural and economic background of the Misings, the essay delineates the trajectory of their identity assertion over almost three quarters of a century. In doing so, the essay illustrates the process of emergence of an educated middle class among the Misings, their demand for politico-economic rights, the turnaround from political to cultural issues, and finally the movement for territorial autonomy. It also underlines the fission and fusion – inter and intra-group – and the role of the state in shaping the course of the Mising identity movement.
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The social systems of the north-eastern hill tribal communities have remained deeply embedded in their unique land relations. The emerging political economy in the region—as manifested in the various infrastructure projects, urbanisation,... more
The social systems of the north-eastern hill tribal communities have remained deeply embedded in their unique land relations. The emerging political economy in the region—as manifested in the various infrastructure projects, urbanisation, cash crop plantations, etc—has, however, accentuated an onslaught on these customary land relations.
The new Arunachal Pradesh (Land Settlement and Records) (Amendment) Act, 2018 has generated fresh apprehensions about further dispossession of the hill tribes.
The new Arunachal Pradesh (Land Settlement and Records) (Amendment) Act, 2018 has generated fresh apprehensions about further dispossession of the hill tribes.
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Abstract The policy of the Government of India (GoI) to turn its northeastern region, especially Arunachal Pradesh (AP), into ‘India’s Future Powerhouse’ by generating massive hydel power from almost all its perennial rivers has led to... more
Abstract
The policy of the Government of India (GoI) to turn its northeastern region, especially Arunachal Pradesh (AP), into ‘India’s Future Powerhouse’ by generating massive hydel power from almost all its perennial rivers has led to widespread protests in the region. These protests are based on the apprehension that this new ‘development’ initiative of the government would spell disaster to the river ecosystem and the livelihood and cultural heritage of the people of the region. The protests are also informed by the fact that the region is seismically very active, geologically fragile and ecologically sensitive. The conflict between the government’s new logic of development in a region considered as a distant security frontier and the local people’s apprehensions and questions about the character of this development has unfolded a complex discourse entangled in the interplay of issues concerning development, environment, people’s rights and rule of law.
Keywords Assam, AP, dam, development, protest, northeast
The policy of the Government of India (GoI) to turn its northeastern region, especially Arunachal Pradesh (AP), into ‘India’s Future Powerhouse’ by generating massive hydel power from almost all its perennial rivers has led to widespread protests in the region. These protests are based on the apprehension that this new ‘development’ initiative of the government would spell disaster to the river ecosystem and the livelihood and cultural heritage of the people of the region. The protests are also informed by the fact that the region is seismically very active, geologically fragile and ecologically sensitive. The conflict between the government’s new logic of development in a region considered as a distant security frontier and the local people’s apprehensions and questions about the character of this development has unfolded a complex discourse entangled in the interplay of issues concerning development, environment, people’s rights and rule of law.
Keywords Assam, AP, dam, development, protest, northeast
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The tea plantations in the Northeast Indian state of Assam, launched by the British colonial regime in the mid-nineteenth century, had considerably transformed the socioeconomic profile of the state. Its impact on the state's peasant... more
The tea plantations in the Northeast Indian state of Assam, launched by the British colonial regime in the mid-nineteenth century, had considerably transformed the socioeconomic profile of the state. Its impact on the state's peasant economy, however, was enervating. Controlled by the British companies, the plantation sector saw few local planters, although a section of the Assamese peasants traditionally engaged in tea cultivation in their homestead on a small scale. After India's independence, many Indian entrepreneurs entered the plantation sector largely because of the departure of the British planters. The Assamese entrepreneurs found it difficult to emulate this due to lack of capital. Since the 1970s, however, a significant section of the local small and middle peasants, as a part of a conscious drive, took to small tea plantation (STP). The last two decades have witnessed a dramatic growth in the number of such small planters, which has brought about a major change in the rural social landscape of Assam.
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Abstract The policy of the Government of India (GoI) to turn northeast region of India, especially Arunachal Pradesh, into “India’s Future Powerhouse” by generating massive amount of hydel power from almost all its perennial rivers has... more
Abstract
The policy of the Government of India (GoI) to turn northeast region of India, especially Arunachal Pradesh, into “India’s Future Powerhouse” by generating massive amount of hydel power from almost all its perennial rivers has led to widespread protests in the region. These protests are based on the apprehension that this new ‘development’ initiative of the government would spell disaster to the river ecosystem and the livelihood and cultural heritage of the people of the region. The protests are also informed by the fact that the region is highly seismic, geologically fragile, and ecologically sensitive. While in the hills of Arunachal Pradesh which constitutes the upper riparian areas of the rivers, the smaller tribal communities are restive about losing their traditional access to land, water and forest with the construction of the big hydel projects besides getting overwhelmed by the inflow of outsiders, in the plains of Assam which constitute the lower riparian, the trepidation among the communities is manifold including the change in the normal flow of water in the rivers, excess flow of water during monsoon, adverse impact on the wetland ecology and the livelihood of the people, and last but not the least a looming anxiety about the devastating impact of a possible dam break, given the known seismicity and geological fragility of the region. The conflict between government’s new logic of development in a region considered as a distant security frontier and the local people’s apprehensions and questions about the character of this development has unfolded an interesting but complex discourse enmeshed in the interplay of issues concerning development, environment, people’s rights and rule of law.
The policy of the Government of India (GoI) to turn northeast region of India, especially Arunachal Pradesh, into “India’s Future Powerhouse” by generating massive amount of hydel power from almost all its perennial rivers has led to widespread protests in the region. These protests are based on the apprehension that this new ‘development’ initiative of the government would spell disaster to the river ecosystem and the livelihood and cultural heritage of the people of the region. The protests are also informed by the fact that the region is highly seismic, geologically fragile, and ecologically sensitive. While in the hills of Arunachal Pradesh which constitutes the upper riparian areas of the rivers, the smaller tribal communities are restive about losing their traditional access to land, water and forest with the construction of the big hydel projects besides getting overwhelmed by the inflow of outsiders, in the plains of Assam which constitute the lower riparian, the trepidation among the communities is manifold including the change in the normal flow of water in the rivers, excess flow of water during monsoon, adverse impact on the wetland ecology and the livelihood of the people, and last but not the least a looming anxiety about the devastating impact of a possible dam break, given the known seismicity and geological fragility of the region. The conflict between government’s new logic of development in a region considered as a distant security frontier and the local people’s apprehensions and questions about the character of this development has unfolded an interesting but complex discourse enmeshed in the interplay of issues concerning development, environment, people’s rights and rule of law.
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All ethnic identity assertion movements are characterized by a parallel attempt at creating a new cultural or symbolic order displacing the old dominant order recognized as the one belonging to the exploitative group-real or perceived.... more
All ethnic identity assertion movements are characterized by a parallel attempt at creating a new cultural or symbolic order displacing the old dominant order recognized as the one belonging to the exploitative group-real or perceived. Often explained as a process of revivalism, the working of the process of self-identification can be found in the renunciation and even destruction of the symbols perceived to be belonging to the perceived enemies or oppressors. The Bodo nationalist discourse is also no exception to this. The dominant (though this domination itself is relative) Assamese community as well as the cultural symbols associated with it has been the target of the Bodo nationalistic discourse since mid-twentieth century, especially since the late 1960s. The objective evidently is not only to reject the socio-political dominance of the former but also to shun the symbols associated with it.
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India is a country with considerable geographical, social and cultural diversity. This makes it indeed a challenging task to explain and theorize the multi-dimensional, diverse social realities in India. It is even more challenging to... more
India is a country with considerable geographical, social and cultural diversity. This makes it indeed a challenging task to explain and theorize the multi-dimensional, diverse social realities in India. It is even more challenging to grapple with the issues and processes of social change in the country. Nevertheless, different concepts and approaches have been put forth to the study of social realities and the processes of social change in India. ‘Sanskritization’ and ‘Westernization’ are two such concepts propounded by M. N. Srinivas, the doyen of Indian sociologists to “explain some features of religious, cultural, and social change in India” (1985: 1). Both the terms, apparently opposite to each other, have generated much debates and discussions highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and above all, interrelationship. This essay provides a general outline of these concepts, their interrelations and limitations.
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The creation of the forest villages in the northeast Indian state of Assam, like the rest of India, was a part of the colonial forest management policy. These villages were established within the limits of the reserved forests for assured... more
The creation of the forest villages in the northeast Indian state of Assam, like the rest of India, was a part of the colonial forest management policy. These villages were established within the limits of the reserved forests for assured supply of labour for the colonial forest department. Later on, many recognized forest villages came up with landless peasants migrating to the forest areas in search of land and livelihood. However, their growing population and demand for land coupled with the highhandedness of the forest department gave rise to intense conflict between the two. This conflict has assumed a much more complex character in the recent times giving rise to serious contestations and challenges with regard to people’s rights and conservation approach of the state.
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The demand for exclusive homelands among a growing number of ethnic groups in the northeastIndia is posing a serious challenge to the multicultural socio-political landscape of the region. The roots of these demands can be traced to the... more
The demand for exclusive homelands among a growing number of ethnic groups in the northeastIndia is posing a serious challenge to the multicultural socio-political landscape of the region. The roots of these demands can be traced to the colonial cartographic principles which driven by the colonial strategic imperatives had fixed particular ethnic identities with definite territories. This policy has been further perpetuated by the postcolonial Indian state generating ethnic divisiveness with disastrous consequences for the region and its people. However, rather than contesting this policy in principle, the ethno-nationalist leadership also have engaged themselves in a violent space-centric politics that is often informed by an overarching rhetoric of self-identity. The essay contends that there are many sites of inter-community convergence in the region which get suppressed under such overarching rhetoric. These sites of ethnic convergence must be emphasized for securing durable ethnic peace in the region.
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Assam experienced strong peasant upsurges both in the colonial as well as in the post-colonial period. Issues involving the peasantry dominated the political discourse of the state till mid-1970s. However, the anti-foreigners movement... more
Assam experienced strong peasant upsurges both in the colonial as well as in the post-colonial period. Issues involving the peasantry dominated the political discourse of the state till mid-1970s. However, the anti-foreigners movement (1979-85) pushed the importance of the peasantquestion to the periphery as the issue of illegal immigrants came to dominate the political discourse of Assam. However, it was during this period that the peasant landlessness became most acute in the state. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) emerged as an influential peasant organization in such a backdrop. Soon it succeeded in mobilizing a considerable section of the indigenous poor peasantry, especially in Upper Assam, to the path of movement. Though the movement’s initial agenda focused on the issue of providing tenurial rights to the landless and marginal peasantry occupying scheduled forest lands, it soon came to include other issues concerning the poor peasantry such as providing tenurial rights to poor peasants occupying government lands and proper implementation of various pro-poor government schemes. Later on, KMSS also came to oppose the construction of mega hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh threatening the peasant economy in the downstream Assam. Thus, the KMSS movement gradually underwent a significant expansion in terms of issues as well as space. KMSS is not affiliated to any other political organization and its leadership as well as participants hail from within the rank of the small and poor peasantry. This paper presents a background of the emergence and evolution of the KMSS and the movement it spearheads over the last few years.
The large-scale influx of infiltrators from the south and the north-west has compounded fears of insecurity and large-scale land alienation. Infiltration has been a fall-out of not merely recent government policies, but once formed a part... more
The large-scale influx of infiltrators from the south and the
north-west has compounded fears of insecurity and large-scale
land alienation. Infiltration has been a fall-out of not merely recent
government policies, but once formed a part of the colonial
government’s moves to resettle and develop the region.
north-west has compounded fears of insecurity and large-scale
land alienation. Infiltration has been a fall-out of not merely recent
government policies, but once formed a part of the colonial
government’s moves to resettle and develop the region.
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"The immigration issue in Assam and conflicts around it Chandan Kumar Sharma Department of Sociology, Tezpur University, Assam, India Assam, the northeastern state of India, has experienced strong anti-outsider sentiment for more... more
"The immigration issue in Assam and conflicts around it
Chandan Kumar Sharma
Department of Sociology, Tezpur University, Assam, India
Assam, the northeastern state of India, has experienced strong anti-outsider sentiment for more than half a century now. What makes the Assam case unique is that it has faced both internal as well as illegal international migration in massive scales giving rise to intense existential fear and apprehension among its smaller indigenous communities. Their lack of the required political authority and the indifferent attitude of the Indian Union
government in addressing the issue have only multiplied its magnitude. The article explicates the politico-economic dynamics of the immigration issue in Assam and the social tension and conflicts around it in a historical perspective and suggests that a multi-pronged approach backed by strong political will is imperative to negotiate the challenges of immigration in the state in an effective manner.
Keywords: Assamese; Bangladesh; indigenous; immigrants; northeast"
Chandan Kumar Sharma
Department of Sociology, Tezpur University, Assam, India
Assam, the northeastern state of India, has experienced strong anti-outsider sentiment for more than half a century now. What makes the Assam case unique is that it has faced both internal as well as illegal international migration in massive scales giving rise to intense existential fear and apprehension among its smaller indigenous communities. Their lack of the required political authority and the indifferent attitude of the Indian Union
government in addressing the issue have only multiplied its magnitude. The article explicates the politico-economic dynamics of the immigration issue in Assam and the social tension and conflicts around it in a historical perspective and suggests that a multi-pronged approach backed by strong political will is imperative to negotiate the challenges of immigration in the state in an effective manner.
Keywords: Assamese; Bangladesh; indigenous; immigrants; northeast"
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That whatever is written is more prestigious and trustworthy than what is not written is a very widely prevalent notion. But this veneration for the written material as well as the dichotomy between the written and oral is a construct.... more
That whatever is written is more prestigious and trustworthy than what is not written is a very widely prevalent notion. But this veneration for the written material as well as the dichotomy between the written and oral is a construct. The written tradition often starts with the putting down of the oral material into writing. And indeed, there was a time when orality (speech) enjoyed superior status over writing. My contention here is that such hierarchies are constructs of the dominant power structures of a particular period of time and they should be dispensed with for a dialogical relationship between the oral and the written discourses. However, the reluctance to give due credit to oral discourse still persists which is held to be a legacy of the 19th century preoccupation of historiography with ‘fact’ and ‘documents’. They are no doubt essential to historians but they do not themselves constitute the history. They have to be processed by the historian before becoming history. The exercise of processing involves interpretation and hence different meanings. Moreover, excessive dependence on documentary evidence may often lead to misleading results. For example, historical accounts of the reigns of kings are often biased in favour of the kings. Besides, even during the colonial rule and after that there are instances of destruction or concealment of documents. [Pandey 2000 (1997): 11] And alongside the destruction of ‘information’ there is also an attempt to construct new proofs both officially and non-officially in an organized fashion. All these raise question marks regarding the presumed solidity of the written discourse.
The oral communication of remembered experience, however, could be meaningfully used to throw new light on events that might get distorted by the ideological predilections of the dominant discourse of a particular period. Those who are invariably at the receiving end of such ideological prejudices are the marginalized, voiceless groups in the society. Giving voice to such voiceless groups has been a strong impulse in the development of oral history.
This paper shows that oral discourse, though largely a neglected domain provides significant insight into the understanding of the social existence of a particular community. This is especially true of the erstwhile non-literate communities that remain marginalized within the dominant discourse. In the wake of ethnic resurgence among such communities in the contemporary world, oral discourse often emerges as the only agency through which the distinct ethnic identity of these communities can be established. This paper explicates this fact in the context of the Bodo ethnic group in Assam.
The oral communication of remembered experience, however, could be meaningfully used to throw new light on events that might get distorted by the ideological predilections of the dominant discourse of a particular period. Those who are invariably at the receiving end of such ideological prejudices are the marginalized, voiceless groups in the society. Giving voice to such voiceless groups has been a strong impulse in the development of oral history.
This paper shows that oral discourse, though largely a neglected domain provides significant insight into the understanding of the social existence of a particular community. This is especially true of the erstwhile non-literate communities that remain marginalized within the dominant discourse. In the wake of ethnic resurgence among such communities in the contemporary world, oral discourse often emerges as the only agency through which the distinct ethnic identity of these communities can be established. This paper explicates this fact in the context of the Bodo ethnic group in Assam.
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This piece is a brief commentary on the violent situation that arose in the northeast Indian state of Manipur in the first week of May 2023, its background, implications and possible path of its resolution. Although the history of... more
This piece is a brief commentary on the violent situation that arose in the northeast Indian state of Manipur in the first week of May 2023, its background, implications and possible path of its resolution. Although the history of inter-ethnic violence in Manipur is complex, the communities in Manipur must come together to find a sustainable political solution to the recurrent ethnic violence in the state.
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The essay is an evaluative account of Gandhi's work and philosophy during 1869-1915
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Research Interests: Northeast India and Assam
The essay is a tribute to Dr. Amalendu Guha, a pioneer of Marxist historiography of Assam. It takes a synoptic view of his works, the debates they have generated and their overall contributions to the understanding of the historical and... more
The essay is a tribute to Dr. Amalendu Guha, a pioneer of Marxist historiography of Assam. It takes a synoptic view of his works, the debates they have generated and their overall contributions to the understanding of the historical and contemporary socio-historical processes in the state.
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The recent ethnic bloodbath in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) areas of western Assam only shows that the state is not getting any respite from such human tragedies. Such ethnic scourges have been a recurring... more
The recent ethnic bloodbath in the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) areas of western Assam only shows that the state is not getting any respite from such human tragedies. Such ethnic scourges have been a recurring phenomenon in the state in recent decades, indicating that the problem has deeper roots.
The BTAD conflagration brought back the immigration question to centrestage. However, while a section of opinion tends to paint all immigrants with one brush as ‘illegal immigrants’, the other section tends to describe the whole issue of as a ‘myth’. Clearly, both the viewpoints are flawed and prejudiced.
The BTAD conflagration brought back the immigration question to centrestage. However, while a section of opinion tends to paint all immigrants with one brush as ‘illegal immigrants’, the other section tends to describe the whole issue of as a ‘myth’. Clearly, both the viewpoints are flawed and prejudiced.
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The withdrawal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been a long demand of the people of the northeastern region of India. The Act imposed in several states (or parts thereof) of the region with the objective of fighting... more
The withdrawal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been a long demand of the people of the northeastern region of India. The Act imposed in several states (or parts thereof) of the region with the objective of fighting insurgencies has resulted in serious violation of human rights of ordinary citizens. Civil society organizations, judiciary, human rights group and international organisations have been unanimous in their views against various provisions of the Act as extremely undemocratic and unconstitutional. While the recent decision of the GoI to withdraw the Act from certain parts of the northeastern region is a welcome step, the intent of the government toward the region will be clear only when the Act is finally withdrawn from the entire region.
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While the article welcomes the updation process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi citizens from the state, it argues that without a repatriation treaty with Bangladesh, this... more
While the article welcomes the updation process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi citizens from the state, it argues that without a repatriation treaty with Bangladesh, this objective will remain unattainable. Besides, the recent initiatives of Union government with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill pose to strike at the very root of the NRC updation process.
Research Interests:
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पूर्वोत्तर में स्थानीय लोगों का लगातार कम होता अुनपात उन्हें परेशान कर रहा है, नागरिकता विधेयक न उन्हें कोई समाधान दे रहा है, न आश्वासन।
Northeast's participation in India’s freedom struggle is a tale of valour and courage which started in the 19th century itself with peasant uprisings against the British and resistance by the hill people. The political events in the rest... more
Northeast's participation in India’s freedom struggle is a tale of valour and courage which started in the 19th century itself with peasant uprisings against the British and resistance by the hill people. The political events in the rest of the country culminating in Independence in 1947, found a strong support and response in this region. The article describes the various forms and phases of the freedom struggle in northeast India and the leaders who spearheaded them.