[Assam] Demands for Separate states in India

[Rajib Das]

There is no doubt small states and small nations can
survive. For that to happen, however, the will of the
people need to be harnessed by the idea that the idea
of becoming an independent nation is better than
remaining a part of the existing country.

The idea that India could disintegrate always existed
and was pretty strong in the seventies and the
eighties. It existed because the idea of India was
facing ennui. People were not getting the
opportunities to better their lot in life. We all
know, even though a few seek to dwell in the past,
that India has passed this gate for at least the
forseeable future. 

The question is whether the idea of independent Assam
(or Oxom, if you may) has found the will of large
numbers of people and whether it presents itself as a
significantly better alternative than staying within
the Indian Union. To me, the answer so far is a
resounding no. Never mind, Mikeda's exhortations. He
hasn't quite presented a logical argument yet. 

--- BBaruah at aol.com wrote:

>  
> In a message dated 25/08/2006 17:01:36 GMT Standard
> Time, BBaruah  writes:
> 
>  
> Ram 
> Statehood confers a lot of benefits especially to
> the politically aware  and 
> literate sections of the people. Without beating
> about the bush, let us  say 
> that an MLA/MP earns an adequate salary. There are
> lots of people these  days 
> who are either unemployed or not fully occupied and
> would like to be paid  
> politicians. Then there are those who failed to be
> elected for one reason or  the 
> other. A new State Legislature will definitely
> absorb some such people.  And 
> some of them will become Ministers. Let me again
> assert that a Minister is  
> adequately paid.  
> As soon a new government comes to being, there is an
> entirely new set  up 
> with Secretaries to Government, Heads of Departments
> etc etc. There was a  Fourth 
> Grade Naga employee in the State Legislature where I
> worked. When  Nagaland 
> became a State he got a job there as a clerk and I
> am told in course  of time 
> he became a deputy secretary in the new set up at
> Kohima. 
> The All Party Hill Leaders of former Assam made a
> very successful bid  for 
> separation from Assam. They had cent per cent
> support from the hill  people. The 
> Khasi peoples’ demonstration at Shillong was
> spectacular. I have a  feeling 
> that that it  was not  precisely statehood they had
> in mind but because of the 
> impossibility of  seceding from India through
> peaceful means made them to be  
> wiser. 
> The question remained open as to the plains tribals
> of Assam, say for  
> example the Bodos, Mising and many others. Their
> grievances were not a whit  
> different from those of the hill tribals.  
> Now sovereignty. This is the most attractive
> alternative. Punjab,  Bengal, 
> Tamil, Andhra, Maharashtra and most other States of
> India have full  legitimacy, 
> I believe, to declare themselves sovereign.   They
> have territory, a  
> homogenous population, resources, and capable of
> generating a national will.  
> However, none of them has yet produced an Ian Smith.
> It has been proved  without room 
> for any doubt that a small state is viable; these
> days it is not  essential 
> to have a sizable army to defend itself.
> International law prohibits  forced 
> capitulation of an independent country. 
> Assam is a state endowed with natural resources,
> much of it is depleted  
> though. Once Assam is sovereign, you Ram can become
> the President of the  country, 
> Chandan the Prime Minister and I an ambassador of
> Assam accredited to  the 
> Court of St James,   United Kingdom. Nalbari,
> Jorhat,  Dibrugarh will have 
> Governors of our choice. Now a popular and powerful
> Chief  Minister has to kowtow 
> to Central Government to go abroad on invitation as
> an  honoured  guest; in an 
> independent  sovereign country such a situation is 
> unthinkable.  
> I now do not remember where I read but political
> scientists predict  that 
> India will be divided into many independent states
> in course of time.   
> Who are to blame for the possible disintegration of
> India in course of  time? 
> Its people, the political thinkers, the so-called
> leaders of today. The  
> members of the Constituent Assembly envisaged a
> divided India and advised to  take 
> timely steps to integrate India. This did not
> happen. In England it has  now 
> been accepted that   multiculturalism is anathema to
> nationhood(in India we 
> prided with the  slogan ‘Unity in Diversity’).
> The Sixth Schedule to the Indian 
> Constitution  did bring benefits to the downtrodden
> people of India but at 
> the same time it  disintegrated the country. 
> This is a very rough and ready blueprint to do away 
> with your doubts.    
> Regards Bhuban
> 
> 
> 
>  
> > _______________________________________________
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>
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> 


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