ASSAM'S FALSE PRIDE EXPOSED

After the "sell out" of Sylhet by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee which did not campaign at all in Sylhet, Assam did not remain united as thought by Gopinath Bordoloi and the Assamese intelligentsia. The Assamese leaders sowed the seed of anti-Bengali hat-redness among Garos, Khasi, Nagas, Mikirs, Mizos, Bodos, Kacharis and amongst other ethnic groups. The Assam government was showcasing to the entire country about the states diverse cultural regions and their unquestionable unity.

Soon the nation realized how the Assam government was actually exploiting the non-Assamese people. The non-Assamese then understood it was foolish of them to get swayed into anti-Bengali tirade. Sensing the situation the Central government intervened.

The false pride of the state govt's multi-cultural identity started crumbling.

The mosaic was partially taken apart by the Union government after 1961. Nagas were given their own state Nagaland in 1963. The Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes were given autonomous status as Meghalaya, which was subsequently, in 1972, made into a separate state of Meghalaya. The Mizo district was separated from Assam in 1971 and constituted as an Union Territory which gained statehood status on Feb 20 1989. The North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) was converted into a Union Territory and in 1972 rechristened Arunachal Pradesh which also attained statehood in 1989. The two remaining hill disticts, the Mikir Hills (KarbiAnglong), and North Cachar Hills (Dima Hasao) decided to remain in Assam rather than join Meghalaya. They are now crusading for separation. The predominantly Bengali district of Cachar (then undivided), now Barak Valley, also remained in Assam, though there were serious proposals from Central government to merge it with the predominantly Bengali state of 

Tripura. 

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IMPACT OF OUR POST ON TEA GARDEN WORKERS:: GOVT ACTS PARTIALLY.

Friends, in less than a week of our post regarding tea garden labours in Cachar being discriminated by their owners, quoting Swami Agnivesh, the Cachar administration has decided to act.

Our post had rattled Dispur - specially MLA's like Ajit Singh and Dinesh Prasad Goala - both depending heavily on tea-garden votes, After a marathon meeting, it was decided upon that the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar would instruct tea planters in the Barak Valley to pay Durga Puja bonus by September 30.

Accordingly, DC (Cachar) Gokul Mohan Hazarika, during a meeting of the management, workers’ unions and the administration on the issue of bonus held in his office on Friday, also asked the management to negotiate over the rate of bonus with the unions and announce the quantum by September 22.

Representatives of Tea Association of India (TAI), Barak Valley branch, and Indian Tea Association (ITA), Surma Valley branch, stressed that that their effort will be to pay this year’s quantum of Puja bonus more then what was paid last year.

The quantum of bonus given by the managements of 104 tea gardens in the Barak Valley last year ranged from 8.33 per cent to 20 per cent, a source said.

Addressing the meeting, representatives of the trade unions said all gardens in the Barak Valley have registered profit during last year and a boost in price of the Barak Valley tea was reflected at the Kolkata Tea Auction Centre (KTAC) and Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC). So, the workers are hopeful of a hike in the quantum of Puja bonus this year, they said.

The bonus issue was just an eye wash, as the basic demands of the labourers were not addressed. It is wellknown that propreitor's of tea estates pay crores to the coffers of politicians and political parties.

Swami Agnivesh was quoted: "they get minimal wages in comparison to other parts of the country and are exploited both by the state government and the proprietors of tea estates as there is a strong nexus between them. The daily wage of labourers here is only Rs 72 while in tea estates of south India it is Rs 135 and in Brahmaputra Valley it is Rs 85 per person." 

Agnivesh asked the reason for such discrimination by proprietors and the state government towards workers of Barak Valley when workers in the tea gardens across the country do the same kind of work. He said that tea was one of the most profitable industries in the country and it was very unfortunate that the workers were being discriminated and exploited.

WE NEED YOUR ANSWERS.

It was heartening to notice how the Barak Valley people have shown extraordinary resilience and statesmanship by not succumbing to the communal provocation of the Assam govt through some agents in order to puncture the separation movement.

The recent turn of events in Rongpur locality of Silchar is indicative of the fact that vested interests are working overtime to spoil the peaceful fabric of Barak Valley. 

Successive state and central governments have time and again displayed that they respond to agitations which are violent and lead to breakdown of the law and order machinery. On the other hand, if your agitation is democratic and peaceful, you will never be listened to. As a result, today the central government is ready to talk to other communities but not with Barak Valley leaders. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is planning to divide the people and raise dummy organisations.

But the Barak Gana Parishad will not fall for the bait. BGP president Rati Ranjan Roy is of the opinion that violence in a democratic country is a short term solution to a permanent problem. We shall continue with our democratic mode of agitation - in phases – which shall soon be announced.

We appeal to the people to shed the laidback approach like let others do, what will happen, he wants to become a leader, we shall agitate without them, he will become the chief minister etc. etc. Intelligentsia in Barak Valley are asking a lot of questions - do we have the passion to fight for our own land? When our upbringing has been so low that we don’t click a LIKE to a facebook page for a community / organisation in crusade for separate state, can we shed blood? Are we passionate about ourselves? Do we bond together? Why do we need two Durga Puja pandals in the same lane?

Think friends, we have enough faith on you the people of Barak Valley.

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No Barakland No Rest

Barakland Zindabad India Zindaba

BISHNUPRIYA MANIPURI'S IN BARAK VALLEY

The Bishnupriya or Bishnupriya Manipuri (বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by many in Barak Valley, Tripura, and Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Bishnupriya Manipuri language uses the Bengali alphabet as its writing system. The language is known to its speakers as Imar Thar (ইমার ঠার), meaning "Language of my Mother."

The term "Bishnupriya" is most probably derived from "Bishnupur" along with the suffix "-iya", meaning "people of 'Bishnupur', the old capital of Manipur. Orthodox Bishnupriyas hold that the language was carried over to Manipur by some immigrants from Dvārakā and Hastinapura just after the Mahabharata war. It is further said that these immigrants were led by Babhruvahana, the son of Chitrangada and Arjuna, the third Pandava. They fled en masse from Manipur and took refuge in Cachar, Tripura, and Sylhet during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries allegedly due to internal conflicts among the princes of Manipur.

In the post 60’s – a brave and dynamic leader, a devoted community worker and a great writer was revealed in Bishnupriya Manipuri Community. His Name was Jagat Mohan Sinha, former secretary of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, popularly known as ‘Jagatda’. He played a huge role in the language movement demanding recognition of Bishnupriya Manipuri Language in post 60’s and 70’s.

Another remarkable community worker and a dedicated leader is Late Sri Dinanath Singha of Tilakpur, Bangladesh. He worked throughout his entire life for the betterment of Bishnupriya Manipuri community living in Bangladesh. He worked as the president of Bangladesh Manipuri Samajkalyan Samitee which was joint platform of Bangladeshi Bishnupriyas, Meiteis and Pangans. In 1973 and 1975 a deputation leaded by him met the that time Prime-Minister and that time President of Bangladesh arguing to provide faculties for Manipuri students, patronizing Manipuri culture, construction of Manipuri Mandhavs and broadcasting Manipuri programs in the national media. As a result of his efforts, in 1976 the Govt of Bangladesh started telecast of regular programs from Radio Bangladesh, Sylhet station in Bishnupriya and Meitei language under a common Manipuri line.

The Bishnupriya’s have played a major role in adding to the beauty of Barak Valley’s multi-cultural identity. Barak Gana Parishad pays homage to the Martyrs Rajbabu Sinha and Sudeshna Sinha of the Bishnupriya Manipuri Language Movement. We shall remember them as they belonged to us.

BARAK GANA PARISHAD for SEPARATE BARAKLAND STATE

THE SPECTRE OF LINGUISM IN ASSAM

The 1961 language trouble in Assam led to the strengthening of Hill State movement eventually leading to the creation of separate state of Meghalaya in 1972.

The Assamese think tanks were concerned at the huge influx of Bangladeshi’s into the state. According to them, Islamabad encouraged East Pakistani’s to cross over to neighbouring country for geo-political intent mainly to create reli-demographic imbalance so as to have a hold in politics of India. They entered in lakhs and did menial works, mainly as agriculturist, and spread to the rural areas. Islamabad’s strategy to weaken the divisive Hindus somewhat succeeded at least in the Assam context.

In fact Assam had three language riots since 1947 – one in the early fifties, another at the outset of sixties and the third in the beginning of seventies – and several skirmishes at regular intervals.

As a result of the state government’s policy to impose Assamese language, there was a popular uprising in the predominantly Bengali-speaking undivided Cachar known as the Bhasha Andolon. The Bangla Bhasha Andolon led to Martyrdom of eleven Hindu protestors on 19th May (Unnishe May), 1961 – a scar the Bengali’s will never forget. Consequently Bengali was made the official language of Cachar (now Barak Valley).

In Brahmaputra valley, a series of clashes, both in Upper and Lower Assam plunged the state into a major language holocaust.- fourth riot. The first convulsion coincided with 1951 Census, second with the passage of Assam Language Act and the third with the move of the Gauhati and Dibrugarh universities to impart instructions in Assamese language. A protracted movement in Barak Valley led to establishment of a Central University in Silchar (Barak Valley) in spite of tough opposition from Assamese people and government. The state government was so angry when New Delhi was convinced about the Barak Valley demand, that it sought a similar central university in Brahmaputra Valley (at Tezpur).The Assam government always opposed and played down the central university demand and once offered a campus of Gauhati University during the chief ministership of Hiteshwar Saikia. Barak Valley leader Santosh Mohan Dev supported the Offer for Gauhati University campus, a stand which he was forced to retract following vigorous opposition from the students’ community of which Barak Gana Parishad president Rati Ranjan Roy was an active participant having met Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and other central leaders.

Coming back to the concern of the Assamese think-tanks over influx of Bangladeshi’s, they are now outraged, when they realized that strategically the immigrant Muslims considered it expedient to return Assamese as their mother-tongue during Census in Brahmaputra Valley and sided with the Assamese-speaking people in their crusade against the peaceful Bengali Hindus. Strategically, Assamese leaders opine that in Barak Valley the immigrants returned Bengali as their mother tongue during Census.

Dr Robin Mitra, a senior doctor of OIL (Oil India Limited) was stoned to death by Assamese mob in front of police at Duliajan during Assamese-Bengali riots. There are several other instances.
The Hindus gave their blood everywhere.

Unlike the Brahmaputra Valley, people of Barak Valley have been relatively mature,calm and progressive. The Assam government occasionally tried to play communal cards by proxy. But the strategy to keep the Valley divided continue as tickets for seats in Assembly and Parliament, irrespective of parties, are given only to stooges who would speak more for Dispur and less for its people. The voting emotions are swayed by trends in the national scene and parties with regional headquarters in Dispur capitalises on it.The state government tried to keep the valley into it’s grip through these stooges and sabotaged attempts of rebellion through scientific repressions.

It is time that the people realizes the blunders of the past and unite. Let us work together for realization of a separate state. Please join hands with Barak Gana Parishad (BGP). Please strengthen Separate Barakland movement.

RONGMEI / KABUI NAGAS AND INDIA'S HERO - RANI GAIDINLIU.

The Rongmei Nagas or Ruangmei - also known as Kabui, are an indigenous Naga tribe living in the states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. They were divided when the official boundaries were set by the Government of India. Most Rongmei live in the Tamenglong district of Manipur. Some reside in Imphal valley. The Rongmei tribe is one of the major tribes of Manipur. They are patrilineal and patriarchal. The Rongmei dance “Gaan-Ngai“ is the most popular festival dances which is celebrated annually in December or January.

People in Silchar come across Gaan-Ngai gate near Old Lakhipur-Berenga-Fatak Bazar Road-Pan Patty junction during winters.

Linguistically and phonetically it is Ruangmei (according to the way they call themselves). Rongmei tribe also have their individual endogamous groups.

The four major clans are the Kamei, Gangmei, Gonmei and Pamei followed by other sub-clan like Malangmei, Phaomei, Maringmei, Riamei, Daimei, Panmei, Dangmei,Thaimei, Ruanghmei (pronounce slightly different from the official tribe name Rongmei). Kamei and Pamei are major clan.

Ruangmei is a combination of two words RUANG and MEI meaning SOUTH and PEOPLE respectively. 

Thus Ruangmei stands for the southerners, the ancestral home of the Ruangmei lies in the mountain ranges in the Tamenglong district of Manipur and adjacent mountainous areas of Nagaland and Assam. The Ruangmei settlement area within the territory of Manipur happens to be the southern portion of the vast tract of Naga country and hence those who settling in the southern part of their habitat within Manipur call themselves the Ruangmei - (Rongmei) the southerners. 

The word KABUI has been widely used within and outside Manipur and the name Ruangmei is less known to the other communities.

The Ruangmei territory was conquered by the British in the nineteenth century. Under the leadership of Haipou Jadonang and his successor Rani Gaidinliu, they rebelled against the British rule in the 1930s.

Rani Gaidinliu was jailed by the Britishers but was released when India attained independence. Rani Gaidinliu was a spiritual leader and freedom fighter who was very close to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. India is proud of her daughter – and the Ruangmei community! 

Barak Gana Parishad SALUTES Rani Gaidinliu AND the Rongmei's.

BARAK GANA PARISHAD for SEPARATE BARAKLAND STATE

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Picture : Rani Gaidinliu (Left) in 1970

MEITEI PEOPLE IN BARAKLAND AND THEIR VALOUR.

Barak Valley has considerable Meitei population. The Meitei’s are known for their valour. A descendent of Bir Tikendrajit, Meitei’s migrated to Barak Valley and to the adjoining states of Tripura, Sylhet and contributed to the prosperity of the land where they settled. The Meitei’s have an extraordinary history.What the British did in Manipur was no less dishonorable. In the early 1890s, They used a family feud to capture Manipur and make it a part of their expanding empire in India. They sent a British officer, the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, to Manipur to arrest Yuvraj Tikendrajit Singh (Senapati) of Manipur and deport him out of the state. But Yuvraj Tikendrajit was not a meek person, ready to surrender. He defied the British and challenged the alien officer’s interference in the internal affairs of Manipur. The people of Manipur fully supported him in his patriotic defiance. Finally, Yuvaraj Tikendrajit was captured, named as one of the main conspirators in the “War against British” and hanged to death, along with General Thangal, on 13 August, 1891.

Since then, August 13 has become a sacred day for all Manipuris, who observe it as “PATRIOTS’DAY”. By remembering Bir Tikendrajit, General Thangal and other patriots from Manipur, we keep alive the spirit of freedom and the love of Motherland. Incidentally, the grit, valour and patriotism of the Manipuri people can be gauged from the fact that Manipur was the last territory that the British could capture in the whole of Asia.

Barak Gana Parishad SALUTES Yuvaraj Bir Tikendrajit Singha.

Image of Bir Tikendrajit

FACTS ABOUT HAILAKANDI DISTRICT.

FACTS ABOUT HAILAKANDI DISTRICT:::

Hailakandi district is also bounded by the state of Tripura, Mizoram, sister district Cachar and Karimganj and neighbour country Bangladesh. The district covers an area of 1326.10 Sq.Km. 

It is one of the 3 districts in Barak Valley, located at about 350 km away south from Assam capital’s Guwahati. The district occupies an area of 1,327 square kilometres 

More than 50% of the land in Hailakandi were reserve forests. But the Assam govt had plundered them with impunity through their stooge MLA’s. There are two reserve forests: Inner Line Reserve Forest and Katakhal Reserve Forest covering an area of 741 Sq km. Once this district was rich in wildlife. But now it is limited to only a few rare species such as Hoolock gibbon, Phayre’s leaf monkey, Pig-tailed macaque, White-winged Wood Duck, Purple Wood Pigeon, etc. The district receives heavy rainfall with high humidity in summer. 

Hailakandi was constituted as a civil subdivision on 1 June 1869. Later in 1989, it was upgraded to a district by splitting from Cachar district. The name "Hailakandi" has been derived from the Sylheti word "Hailakundi".

Till the invasion of British, waterway was the only means of connectivity in the district. The British rulers established many tea gardens and for transportation of raw and finished products, Hailakandi was linked with railway line; later road communication developed. Hailakandi’s role in India’s freedom struggle started right from the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857 when leaders from this part of the region had a valiant fight with the British soldiers at a place called ‘Ron Tila’ at Mohanpur.

KNOW YOUR HISTORY:-II

KNOW THE FACTS :::::::::::YOUR HISTORY

Noted historian Shri H.K. Barpujari said, geographically, culturally and ethnically, Barak valley was an extension of the Gangetic valley of Bengal, and historically, there was hardly any evidence to prove that the plains of Cachar ever formed an integral part of the ancient kingdom of Kamrup.

Barak Gana Parishad,led by president Rati Ranjan Roy, during a meeting with Assam chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, in 1998, maintained that Cachar (undivided) was never a part of Assam according to the Treaty of Yandaboo (signed between British and Assam in 1826), and as the British occupied Barak valley six years after occupation of other parts of Assam, and therefore “ we (BGP) have every right to demand statehood status for Barak valley districts.”

The demand had cropped up in the wake of an unsuccessful movement by some quarters in 1948 for a separate state “Purbanchal”.

Most of the students’ community and youths of Barak Valley are not properly educated in these matters. They try to obtain degrees and look for jobs. When they don’t find one they do not sit down and ponder, why? Ask a so-called educated person of Barak Valley any basic question, they will fall flat on the ground, thanks to their university degrees! 

People of Barak valley pay Rs 300 crore annually as revenue to the state exchequer, whereas the state government does not even spend Rs 100 crore for development of the area. The Assam government has failed to provide the minimum requirements for the people of the area,

BARAK GANA PARISHAD demands SEPARATE BARAKLAND STATE

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FACTS ABOUT KARIMGANJ DISTRICT.

Karimganj district is bounded by the state of Mizoram and Tripura, sister district Cachar and Hailakandi, and neighbour country Bangladesh. The district covers an area of 1.809 Sq.Km. The major rivers of the district are Kushiara, Longai, Singal and Barak. 

The present Karimganj district before Independence was one of the Sub divisions of the district of Sylhet in the State of Assam. Earlier it was in Bengal's Surma Valley - a part of Bengal plains. The district is situated between 92-15’ Longitude &92-35’east & between Latitude 24-15, &25-54’ north. Karimganj is the extreme South Western Dist. of Assam. The district along with rest of south Assam is geographically isolated from the main land of India with a poor connectivity by road through Meghalaya State. It is also connected through Metre gauge line starting from Lumding. The economy of the district is predominantly agricultural & forest based.

Karimganj started functioning independently as a district from AUGUST’1986.