The immigration problem is a long-drawn-out saga that began before India attained independence. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Syed Muhammed Saadulah, the premier of the state who helmed the Muslim League government, undertook an extensive land settlement policy called the Line System as a part of his ‘Grow More Food’ campaign, where lakhs of Bengali-speaking Muslim migrants from erstwhile East Bengal were settled as agricultural labourers in the districts of Lower Assam, particularly Barpeta, Goalpara and Barak Valley.
In 1971, the Indo-Pakistan War triggered a humanitarian crisis that led to over 10 million Bangladeshis settling in refugee camps in Tripura, Meghalaya, West Bengal and particularly Assam. In 1979, draft enrolments in Mangaldoi bypolls showed 47,000 doubtful entries, out of which 26,000 were confirmed to be outsiders. The inclusion of several foreigners in the electoral roll led to indigenous Assamese people from all walks of life coming together for a massive agitation against the demographic invasion of the state, demanding revised electoral rolls in the entire state. The Assam Andolan intensified and continued for two more years until the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. However, the problem was far from over and the Accord provided little to no solution for the demographic invasion of Assam.
After repeated attempts, the Election Commission of India published a final delimitation order for the Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies, which gives newfound hope to the people of Assam.11 Many new seats have been created to accommodate indigenous populations in Upper Assam, such as Makum, Sissiborgaon, Demow, Ranganadi, etc. At the same time, the number of constituencies has also increased for reserved areas of hill tribes such as Karbis, Bodos and Dimasas. For instance, Karbi Anglong now has six Scheduled Tribes (ST) seats instead of five. The delimitation exercise solves the most long-standing issue that has been the central theme of Assamese politics. It seeks to achieve the important task of ensuring that the indigenous people of Assam have the final say in determining the destiny of Assam’s politics.
Additionally, we have taken steps to free up encroached lands, especially those surrounding the most sacred Barpeta and Batadraba (Nangaon district) Satras. These actions have gone a long way in restoring the glory of our magnificent satras and centres of Assamese Ekasarana Dharma. We are also working towards transforming the Nilachal Hills into a Maa Kamakhya Devi Corridor on the lines of Kashi and Ujjain, which will not only promote pilgrimage and tourism but also enhance the civilizational glory and prowess of Assamese socio-cultural life.
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Asserting Assamese Culture
On 13 April 2023, a historical moment unfolded as over 11,304 Bihu dancers, artists and instrumentalists etched their names in golden letters, setting the record for the largest Bihu dance performance at a single venue in the Guinness Book of World Records’ folk dance category. This momentous achievement was a source of great pride for the state of Assam.
The people of Assam celebrated the 400th birth anniversary of her bravest son, Bir Lachit Borphukan, with great splendour. On that occasion too, the state made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in the ‘Largest Online Photo Album of Handwritten Notes’ section with the entry of over 42.94 lakh handwritten essays on the folk hero.
The commemoration of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan was a grand and impressive event, spanning three days, held in the national capital. Dignitaries such as PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other notable Union Ministers graced the occasion with their presence. In the lead-up to this event, the streets, bridges and even the metro trains of Delhi were adorned with the image of the Ahom general. This was not simply a celebration of an Assamese hero but a tribute to a national icon, an honour seldom witnessed before.
In December 2022, the Centre bestowed the long-awaited geographical indication (GI) tag on the gamosa, marking a momentous occasion for Assam’s most revered article. The significance of this recognition cannot be overstated, as it affirms the unique cultural identity of the state. Notably, the gamosa has also gained popularity beyond Assam’s borders, with influential personalities such as PM Modi adorning it—be it during his various tours throughout the country or his Yoga Day programme in New York City. This has helped to propel the gamosa onto the world stage, further enhancing its significance and recognition.
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Externally Aided Projects
Assam has also been blessed by several externally aided projects supported by various central government agencies under the guidance of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The state government has laid special emphasis on the implementation of the central government’s flagship programmes. Schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), etc., have been implemented successfully across the state. Steps have also been taken to ensure that the scheme benefits reach more and more targeted beneficiaries in a hassle-free manner.
The 120 MW Lower Kopili Hydro Electric Project funded by the Asian Development Bank, is expected to be completed by December 2024. Further, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up a 24 MW Karbi Langpi Middle-II Hydro Power Project for `300.70 crore in West Karbi Anglong has been signed between the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. We are also working towards generating 3,000 MW of solar power in the state by 2026. As part of this, three solar power projects have been inaugurated in Amguri, Udalguri, Samaguri, Cachar and Boko over the past 24 months. The government has approved a joint venture (JV) agreement between APGCL and Oil India Limited (OIL) for setting up 25 MW solar plant at Namrup in August last year.
This excerpt written by Himanta Biswa Sarma is from Modi’s Northeast Story edited by Tuhin A Sinha and Aditya Pittie has been published with permission from Rupa Publications.