APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF BARAK VALLEY
APPEAL
TO THE PEOPLE OF BARAK VALLEY:::BEWARE OF CONSPIRACY OF STATE
GOVERNMENT:::
The state government, aware of the awakening among the
people to demand separation from Assam and carving out separate
Barakland state, is playing with fire and hatched a conspiracy to divide
the people on communal lines. This is indeed a conspiracy to weaken the
separation movement. We must not get trapped into it. We want unity.
The Assam government's strategy will backfire – no divide and rule. The
state government will play many tricks, but the people will have to
exercise restraint and move ahead. The Barak Gana Parishad (BGP) warns
the police not to cross the jurisdiction. We demand separate Barakland
state.
WHY PARITOSH PAUL CHOUDHURY AND UTDC SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED?
WHY PARITOSH PAUL CHOUDHURY AND UTDC SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED?
ANSWER: Paritosh Paul Choudhury, a self-styled journalist once
demanded an Union Territory status for Barak Valley, formed Union
Territory Demand Committee (UTDC), collected huge donations from the
people then made a dramatic climb down demanding Barak Valley
Development Council for which he and his team made several
representation to the Assam government.
To make things laughable, he modified the demand to Barak Valley
Economic Council, as if the term Development did not include Economy! He
is much aged and his ideologies are of the bullock cart age. He opposed
tooth and nail when Barak Gana Parishad (BGP) launched the massive
separate Barakland movement in 1998. As Dispur's agent he continued with
his Development / Economic Council demand to embarrass the Barak Gana
Parishad leadership and to sabotage statehood demand. At a time when
Barak Gana Parishad (BGP) and ACKHSA renewed their demand for separate
state, Paul Choudhury woke from his long hibernation and raised the long
forgotten / abandoned separation issue only to be in the limelight. The
people wants to know what conspiracy is he hatching this time. We hope
that the people are aware of his opportunism and must not forgive him or
the UTDC for doing much disservice to the cause of separation of Barak
Valley from Assam. Paritosh Paul Choudhury, the UTDC and its supporters
will be remembered as BETRAYERS OF BARAK VALLEY PEOPLE.
OPEN MEMORANDUM TO PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
OPEN MEMORANDUM TO PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
To
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office
New Delhi.
MEMORANDUM FOR SEPARATE BARAKLAND STATE
Respected Sir,
While welcoming the decision to create the new state of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, the BARAK GANA PARISHAD (BGP) vehemently expresseses its discontentment with the discrimination of the Centre towards demands for other smaller states in India like Barakland by bifurcating Assam. The demand for a separate state of Barakland dates back to 1960 when the people of undivided Cachar demanded a separate administrative set up on grounds of a distinctive language, culture, tradition, way of life, mindset and off course residence in a completely different topography. Separation from Assam has been the political aspiration of the then undivided Cachar (now compising Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts) for more than 50 years. Rather, this is one of the oldest demand for a separate homeland under the Indian Union. However, demands of separate states in other parts of India are of recent origin.
Immediately before partition, in July 1947, the Sylhet referendum was held. It was virtually a vote on the twin issues of the reorganisation of India on a communal and of the province of Assam on a linguistic basis. Sylheti Hindus who had for decades agitated for a re-union with Bengal now clung to Assam. On the Sylheti question, the Assamese public opinion, too, remained understandably cold, but consistent with its hatred stand. "The only alternative to the state of things is", wrote Gopinath Bardoloi to Sardar Ballabbhai Patel in February 1946, "to separate the Bengali district of Sylhet and a portion of Cachar from Assam and join these with Bengal - a consummation to which the Assamese people are looking forward for the last 70 years". Bordoloi let the Cabinet Mission to understand in April that Assam would be quite prepared to hand over Sylhet to Eastern Bengal (East Pakistan). A year later, under the changed circumstances, it was no longer possible for the APCC to say this so openly. However, the Congress control of the Assam administration was so 'correctly' exercised that it hardly provided any advantage to the local Congress during its campaign in Sylhet to win the referendum. In fact the Congress party did not at all campaign in Sylhet. It was indeed a lifetime's opportunity for the Assamese leadership to get rid of Sylhet and carve out a linguistically more homogenous province. When the results of the referendum were declared, there was a feeling of relief in the Brahmaputra Valley. It was widely suggested there that the Bengali-speaking plains portion of Cachar district, at the least its Hailakandi subdivision, and also four Bengali speaking thanas of the Dhubri subdivision - the stronghold of Bhasani, should have been transferred to Pakistan. The Sylhet leaders were discouraged when they tried to salvage a portion of the district through an effective representation to the Boundary Commission.
Why is there a demand for a separate state of Barakland?
Ans: The demand for a separate state of Barakland is for a number of reasons. The main reasons are:
1. The Assam government was not at all interested to have Barak Valley with the state as Gopinath Bordoloi, father of the Assamese cult who was Assam’s first Chief Minister, was hell bent on getting rid of Cachar to have a Assamese majority province.
2. The Barak Valley people are a distinct race compared to the majority population of the state of Assam and have an entirely distinctive history, language, culture, tradition, way of life, and of course live in a different topographical region with an entirely different mindset. As a result of this, there is a natural divide between the BV people and the majority community in Assam. It is because of this natural divide that tensions rise high.
3. As neighbouring Bangladesh has people of similar race who share similar history, language, culture, tradition, way of life and mindset, the people of Barak Valley are labelled as ‘foreigners’ and face a severe ‘Identity Crisis’ though they are Indian citizens like any other Indian.
4. Ever since, Cachar (lately districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi) have become a part of Assam state, there have been deprivation, neglect and exploitation of it’s people in the hands of successive state governments.
5. The people no longer trust the Assam State Government with regards to its sincerity and commitment towards the welfare of Barak Valley people.
The ACKHSA hereby urge upon the Government of India to bring about a permanent solution to the long pending demand for Barakland on the pattern of Telangana and to preserve national integrity of the country. We have the right to ask as to why articles 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution are not applicable in case of Barakland. Creation of Barakland neither violates any provision of the Indian Constitution nor contravenes the spirit of national integrity. On the contrary, it resembles the socio–cultural diversity of the country. This movement for separate state of Barakland was initiated quite some time back and was the result of continuous socio–cultural, economic and political discriminations of the region by the Government of India as well as the Government of Assam.
We request the state and central governments to grant our demand which is just and genuine. The mass movement of Barak Gana Parishad (BGP) for the separate state of Barakland would continue in different vigorous but democratic forms until and unless there was a permanent solution to the problem which is a separate Barakland state, and a society free from exploitation, suppression, oppression and hegemony is established.
Thanking you
Members of Barak Gana Parishad
To
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office
New Delhi.
MEMORANDUM FOR SEPARATE BARAKLAND STATE
Respected Sir,
While welcoming the decision to create the new state of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, the BARAK GANA PARISHAD (BGP) vehemently expresseses its discontentment with the discrimination of the Centre towards demands for other smaller states in India like Barakland by bifurcating Assam. The demand for a separate state of Barakland dates back to 1960 when the people of undivided Cachar demanded a separate administrative set up on grounds of a distinctive language, culture, tradition, way of life, mindset and off course residence in a completely different topography. Separation from Assam has been the political aspiration of the then undivided Cachar (now compising Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts) for more than 50 years. Rather, this is one of the oldest demand for a separate homeland under the Indian Union. However, demands of separate states in other parts of India are of recent origin.
Immediately before partition, in July 1947, the Sylhet referendum was held. It was virtually a vote on the twin issues of the reorganisation of India on a communal and of the province of Assam on a linguistic basis. Sylheti Hindus who had for decades agitated for a re-union with Bengal now clung to Assam. On the Sylheti question, the Assamese public opinion, too, remained understandably cold, but consistent with its hatred stand. "The only alternative to the state of things is", wrote Gopinath Bardoloi to Sardar Ballabbhai Patel in February 1946, "to separate the Bengali district of Sylhet and a portion of Cachar from Assam and join these with Bengal - a consummation to which the Assamese people are looking forward for the last 70 years". Bordoloi let the Cabinet Mission to understand in April that Assam would be quite prepared to hand over Sylhet to Eastern Bengal (East Pakistan). A year later, under the changed circumstances, it was no longer possible for the APCC to say this so openly. However, the Congress control of the Assam administration was so 'correctly' exercised that it hardly provided any advantage to the local Congress during its campaign in Sylhet to win the referendum. In fact the Congress party did not at all campaign in Sylhet. It was indeed a lifetime's opportunity for the Assamese leadership to get rid of Sylhet and carve out a linguistically more homogenous province. When the results of the referendum were declared, there was a feeling of relief in the Brahmaputra Valley. It was widely suggested there that the Bengali-speaking plains portion of Cachar district, at the least its Hailakandi subdivision, and also four Bengali speaking thanas of the Dhubri subdivision - the stronghold of Bhasani, should have been transferred to Pakistan. The Sylhet leaders were discouraged when they tried to salvage a portion of the district through an effective representation to the Boundary Commission.
Why is there a demand for a separate state of Barakland?
Ans: The demand for a separate state of Barakland is for a number of reasons. The main reasons are:
1. The Assam government was not at all interested to have Barak Valley with the state as Gopinath Bordoloi, father of the Assamese cult who was Assam’s first Chief Minister, was hell bent on getting rid of Cachar to have a Assamese majority province.
2. The Barak Valley people are a distinct race compared to the majority population of the state of Assam and have an entirely distinctive history, language, culture, tradition, way of life, and of course live in a different topographical region with an entirely different mindset. As a result of this, there is a natural divide between the BV people and the majority community in Assam. It is because of this natural divide that tensions rise high.
3. As neighbouring Bangladesh has people of similar race who share similar history, language, culture, tradition, way of life and mindset, the people of Barak Valley are labelled as ‘foreigners’ and face a severe ‘Identity Crisis’ though they are Indian citizens like any other Indian.
4. Ever since, Cachar (lately districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi) have become a part of Assam state, there have been deprivation, neglect and exploitation of it’s people in the hands of successive state governments.
5. The people no longer trust the Assam State Government with regards to its sincerity and commitment towards the welfare of Barak Valley people.
The ACKHSA hereby urge upon the Government of India to bring about a permanent solution to the long pending demand for Barakland on the pattern of Telangana and to preserve national integrity of the country. We have the right to ask as to why articles 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution are not applicable in case of Barakland. Creation of Barakland neither violates any provision of the Indian Constitution nor contravenes the spirit of national integrity. On the contrary, it resembles the socio–cultural diversity of the country. This movement for separate state of Barakland was initiated quite some time back and was the result of continuous socio–cultural, economic and political discriminations of the region by the Government of India as well as the Government of Assam.
We request the state and central governments to grant our demand which is just and genuine. The mass movement of Barak Gana Parishad (BGP) for the separate state of Barakland would continue in different vigorous but democratic forms until and unless there was a permanent solution to the problem which is a separate Barakland state, and a society free from exploitation, suppression, oppression and hegemony is established.
Thanking you
Members of Barak Gana Parishad
Description
Barak Valley (বরাক উপত্যকা) is located in southern Assam, India. The place is named after the Barak river. Barak valley mainly consists of three districts namely Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi.
POPULATION: MORE THAN FOUR MILLION: Barak Valley is the homeland of Bengalees, Kacharis, Hmar, Bishnupriya, Meitei, Rongmei Nagas, Hindi-speaking and tea garden people.
GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES:
The Barak Valley covers an area of 6222 sq. km. and is administratively divided into 27 Blocks, 321 Gaon Panchayats and 1050 Villages. The valley is geographically isolated not only from mainstream of India but also from the rest of the state of Assam owing to difficult topography of the adjoining areas. It is surrounded by other states of India viz., Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur and a long vulnerable international border with Bangladesh.
The topography of the valley is heterogeneous having hills, low lands and plain areas.
The Barak-Surma-Kusiara river system passes through this valley. It is geographically the part of what was known as Surma Valley in pre-partition days consisting of the old districts of Sylhet (now included in Bangladesh) and Cachar.
Barak Valley is therefore the extension of greater Surma/Meghna Valley of Bengal in all the way from culture to geography.
The main city of the valley is Silchar. Other major towns are Karimganj, Hailakandi, Badarpur, Lakhipur, Sonai, Patherkandi etc..
The vegetation in the valley is mostly Tropical evergreen and there are large tracts of Rainforests in the northern and southern-eastern parts of the valley, which are home to Tiger, Elephants, Malayan sun bear, Capped langur, hoolock gibbon, etc. The forests of Barak valley were once rich in wildlife but now vanishing due to human onslaught. Rare species found are Hoolock gibbon, Phayre's leaf monkey, Pig-tailed macaque, Stump-tailed macaque, Masked Finfoot, White-winged Wood Duck, etc., have been recorded.
The Asian elephant has already vanished from most of the valley. The southern part was also recommended as 'Dhaleswari' wildlife sanctuary. Barail is the only wildlife sanctuary of the Barak valley region. It was initiated by noted naturalist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury, who originally hailed from this region in early 1980s. This sanctuary was ultimately notified in 2004. Hailakandi have Inner line reserve forest and Katakhal reserve forest.
Notable Persons from Barak Valley are:
• Kamini Kumar Chanda (Social Activist))
• Abdul Matlib Mazumdar (Former MLA)
• Arun Kumar Chanda (Former MLA)
• Moinul Hoque Choudhury (Former Union Minister)
• Syed Mujtaba Ali (noted litterateur)
• Abdul Muhib Mazumdar (former Advocate and minister)
• Mohitosh Purkayastha (Former MLA)
• Rati Ranjan Roy (News Journalist, Columnist, Social Activist)
• Nurul Huda (Political Activist)
• Bimalangshu Roy (Senior Advocate, Former MLA)
• Prof. Bhaktimadhab Chattopadhyay (Ex Principal, Cachar College)
• Debojit Saha (Singer & Television host)
• Karnendu Bhattacharjee (Former Member of Rajya Sabha)
• Kabindra Purkayastha (Member of Lok Sabha)
• Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya (Member of Lok Sabha)
• Santosh Mohan Deb (Former Member of Lok Sabha)
• Prof. B. B. Bhattacharya (Ex Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)
• Prof. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee (Ex Vice Chancellor, Assam Central University, Silchar)
• Dr.Zohurul Hoque (Translator of the Qur'an in three languages - Assamese, Bengali and English)
• Jagannath Singh (Trade Union & Tea Garden Leader / Former MLA)
• Sujit Choudhury (Journalist)
• Dr Sujit Kumar Nandi Purkayastha (Former Principal, Silchar Medical College & Hospital)
• Baidyanath Nath (Social Activist)
• Ranabir Roy (Journalist – Editor, Dainik Sonar Cachar)
• Chengkong Kabui (Singer)
• Jatindralal Dutta (Journalist – Editor, Prantajyoti)
• U.Churamoni Singha (Ex Principal, Guru Charan College, Silchar)
• Nepal Chandra Das ( Former Member of Lok Sabha)
(More infos - uploads in the offiing - Please bear with us)
About BARAK GANA PARISHAD
BARAK GANA PARISHAD was formed by RATI RANJAN ROY in 1995 in Barak Valley of Assam for creation of a separate state called 'BARAKLAND' or ' BARAKBHUMI'.
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