What experts are saying about BJP leaders hailing  ‘Assam Movement’ in Silchar time and again

A sense of simmering anger and disappointment has dawned upon our valley regarding the consistent undermining of the prestige of language martyrs – ‘Bhasha Sahids’. It is getting increasingly evident that the ruling dispensation has become oblivious to the sentiments of the Bengali speaking citizens of Barak Valley.  “Are we so dispensable,” is what the Valley seems to ask the Government of Assam.

What began as a possible faux pas by the Honourable Chief Minister at Assam University’s convocation, seems to have percolated to all the echelons of State Ministry. One may want to believe that the mistake is slowly getting metamorphosed into a cultural hegemony.

Sarbananda Sonowal, while addressing Assam University’s Convocation ceremony, said that Assam University is a product of Assam Movement. The comment was dubbed as a factual inconsistency by some while many leading intellectuals and opposition leaders considered it as a blatant disregard for our history.

It was disconcerting, to say the least, to observe the stark silence of the BJP leaders of our valley regarding the controversial comment by the Chief Minister of Assam. In all likelihood, the BJP leaders would have wanted the spark to get doused into irrelevance and normalised silence.

Before the torrid air around Sonowal’s comment could subside, BJP’s national president, JP Nadda stood tall in Silchar and hailed the martyrs of Assam Movement. He said with pride, “It is the BJP that took Assam Movement nationally.” Assam Movement has sentiments associated with it. In Barak Valley, where the majority are Bengali, it is a dark chapter. A few slogans explain it – “If you see a snake and a Bengali, kill the Bengali first”, “Assam for Assamese”, etc. were easily seen written on the graffitied walls across the Brahmaputra Valley.

They spearheaded a movement against alleged Illegal immigrants which according to them were “Ali, Coolie, Bongali, Naak Sepeta Nepali” (roughly translated as Muslims, Hindustanis, Bengalis and blunt-nosed Nepalis).

If someone thought Nadda’s speech at Police Parade Ground was a general message for the entire state, the Minister for Environment and Forest, the Government of Assam,  “Parimal Shukla”(as introduced by Nadda) Suklabaidya gave a Republic Address at the same ground echoing the same thoughts – appreciating the Assam Movement and the martyrs of the same.

The Minister went ahead and etched out a detailed tablature of all the things Assam Government has done to celebrate the Assam Movement. While recognising the martyrs of Assam Movement is entirely acceptable, an absolute silence on the martyrs of ‘Bhasha Sahid Andolon ‘  was reflective of the string of blunders that the ruling dispensation has committed visavis ‘Bhasha Sahid Andolan’ and it’s ‘Shahids”. The Information and Public Relations department, went on to send a press note on the same where the minister, elected from Dholai constituency in Barak Valley, is quoted saying, “Assam Government will celebrate martyrs day on December 10 every year.”

Quite expectedly, it drew severe flak from the civil society and the Opposition too. The reactions were acerbic yet reflective of a deep sense of betrayal.

Speaking to our correspondent, Professor Tapadhir Bhattacharjee, Former Vice-Chancellor of Assam University Silchar, seared into the ruling dispensation. Professor Bhattacharjee believes, “We are victims of ‘Magaj dhulai ‘. Our amnesia has been well crafted by years of severe brainwashing. Our identity has been hijacked by a systematically imported idea. That idea, outrightly borrowed from elsewhere, seeks to obliterate the Bengali consciousness in the residents of Barak Valley. The experiment has been successful and the scope for breaking this dreaded spell of hallucination looks grim.”

Professor Bhattacharjee didn’t restrain himself in saying, “Our cultural templates have been replaced by the totems of communalism and dogmatism. A proud race has been reduced to a spineless conformist herd. A grotesque herd which celebrates gradual destruction  of its cultural identity and dances to it remains.”

Arjun Chaudhuri, Assistant Professor, Department of English, G. C college, presented a different perspective on the issue. “Let us overcome our parochialism. A united and integrated India needs to rise above such prejudices. All Ministers have the right to exercise their freedom of speech and expression. I am sure that they will be able to explain their position better. But I must say that there should not be any preference of martyrs of one language over the martyrs of any other language. All linguistic groups have their own sense of prestige and dignity. He reiterated, ” Let us rise above our parochialism.”

Professor Chaudhuri went on to say, such statements were made by the political leaders of other political parties. “But then if BJP says something it becomes an issue…” said the professor.

Historian and author, Dipankar Ghosh who wrote the biography of Bimalangshu Roy, said that the former Silchar MLA never subscribed to the views currently peddled in the society. He also said that the father of Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy, late Bimalangshu Roy had once made a forum with all MLAs from Barak Valley to oppose partiality of any sort. In an interview with Barak Bulletin, the author said, guardian Bimalangshu Roy is being missed in today’s day, as he was Bengali’s pillar of strength.

The pillars today either do not exist or have crumbled feels Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Congress MLA from North Karimganj constituency. He didn’t hold back his punches and tore into the ruling government. “They can sell their mothers if they can sell our language to the calls of their bosses,” said Purkayastha.

He continued, “Let alone speaking for the abject condition of the people of our valley, these leaders are toeing the line set by their ideology. Do they talk of employment in Barak Valley? Do they talk about the paper mill? Do they talk about the health infrastructure in our valley?”

Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha asserted, “I don’t get why the people don’t seem to understand that there will be nothing left of our culture and identity in the near future. It is almost scary to see the Sylethi Bengali spirit of living is so helplessly getting destroyed by the BJP leaders in broad daylight.”

While Kamalakhya Dey Pukayastha is going all guns blazing in taking a jibe at the government, the opposition, as a whole never opposed or rather took a solid stance on Bengali sentiments. Not now, nor when they were the ruling party.

Not only the opposition, but the cultural fraternity has also failed to raise a collective voice. On May 19, this year, the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council has scheduled an examination. May 19 is marked as a holiday in the academic calendar as “Sahid Dibos” is celebrated on that day in Barak Valley.  But then, ‘Martyrs Day’ as per the government is December 10 and no opposition to that from the ones who get busy in calligraphy, singing, and dancing on that day.

Sanjib Deblaskar, president, Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan, Silchar Town Committee struck a  melancholy note on the prospect of Bengali consciousness in Barak Valley. “Our people are enjoying a mass hallucination. Nothing of importance matters to them anymore. They are driven by the hope of a magical land that will never come. They have forgotten their roots, their heroes, their world view, their commitment to their culture.”

Researcher and columnist, Deblaskar opined, “Religious bigotry and communalism have driven this generation into the death pit of decadence. A decadence that will efface the beauty of our culture. Are we remotely perturbed by such a blatant display of hegemony of an alien culture? I am afraid that we are not.”

Adding, “All I hope is that the residents of our valley will get out of this intoxicated state before it’s too late.”

It remains to be seen whether the Government of Assam seeks to heal the wounds inflicted by, what many believe, systematically cultured disdain for Bengali identity and heritage. The ongoing issue has reached a certain melting point where the Government must allay the anxieties of the people of Barak Valley. With Assam Assembly elections just around the corner, State Government seems to be finding itself in a very precarious position with regards to its respect for the heritage of this valley.

While the chief minister speaks about assimilation, each time he visits the valley, it is clear that it is just a lip-service. As for local leaders, it seems, hailing Assam Movement is a shortcut to getting or retaining the ticket to contest the elections from the party that is likely to win again.