I spent more than two decades of my service life in North East India before settling down permanently in Bangalore. Recently the news of six communities demanding ST tag in Assam has bemused me. I have some amount of knowledge regarding the ethnic structure and demography of the region.
One thing I discovered that student politics is a stumbling block to development in Assam and North East India. Infact, student politics has ruined the north-east and Assam. For the so called 'student' leaders, misleading communities and tribes have become a profession.
The only group of people or community of Assam which is free from student based politics are the Kolitas or the Kalitas. This group of population in North East India which migrated to the Brahmaputra Valley more than 2000 years back from the Mediterranean Alpines are the only Alpine Caucasoids to have merged into the Brahmaputra Valley civilization in a harmonious manner. This sub-community of the Assamese society is different from the Brahmins brought in by the Ahom kings or the Kayasthas from other parts of India. The Kolitas are the least politically motivated section of Assamese population. This reflects the progressive nature which they have inherited from their European ancestry.
I hope the Kolitas don't start demanding Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Tribe tags like their other counterparts in Assam. There is less possibility of this because these Alpines have no student organization to waste precious time and take undue advantage of the Indian Constitution.
PermalinkSubmitted by chitradhar on Wed, 24/12/2008 - 04:06
Tanks for sharing this article. One thing i have noticed that the student union politics in assam and in entire north east state spoil the states growth. Everywhere there is communilasism and in assam specially now a days every alternate person wants their reservation against ST, SC, OBC and if it's not fullfilling their needs then they start violating. This is really worst. If student union really wants to do something for assam then please do your job to improve education system in assam. Lots of meritorious student in assam will not get enough exposure due to financial crisis and many other reason.
Why not student union will do something innovative solution so that everyone in assam will get good education.
I request student union people not to destory the culture. Not to divide our entire commuity. For the outside world we sould identify as assamese people not the people belong to SC and he/she is from assam. We(Assamese people), in this competitive world still on backfoot just because of this communal war. Every other people in assam now a days try to get her own state, they dont think as a whole community. Who is responsible for this, i would say the people from political background, student union, and other organisation.
I request all the political parties, student union people to stop this violant and start to improve our community by teaching them,think about the economic situation of assam improve them so that we as an assamese have some identity in the outside world
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Defying the countrywide resistance, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday welcomed the 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail. Talking to reporters in Delhi on Saturday he said that those opposed to it should not prevent others. He called the decision a bold one and said that under no circumstances should it be reversed. According to him, it would benefit the farmers, consumers and boost the rural economy with the setting up of cold storage and other infrastructure. Gogoi was among the first to ask the Centre to take the decision of FDI in multi-brand retail as it would help in the growth of small and medium enterprises, cottage industries and overall rural economy.
The Asom Gana Parishad on Saturday burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Petroleum Minister S Jaypal Reddy in the district protesting against the steep diesel price hike. AGP workers in Barpeta district unit shouted slogans against the UPA government and demanded immediate roll back of the price hike that will lead to economic hardship of the people. District leaders said that the UPA government does not think about the general people's problem as the price of all petroleum products and essential goods will naturally rise.
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Khasrul Islam, manager of Ajmal Foundation, who was present on the occasion...
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