Assam encompasses a broad multicultural population and is home to many ethnic groups and tribes. Among the eight states in India’s Northeastern Zone, Assam is also one of them. It is immensely possessed by a variety of races, social, religious, and language diversities. Ethnic allegations in the state of Assam have existed for years. Assam is populated with ethnic communities that are firmly adhered to their inherited principles. The state’s inability to meet its objectives is due to the calls for independence of language and religious issues by different heretic groups and revolutionary circumstances originated by the competitive ethnic groups. To understand the disputed conflict, it is important to look into the state’s historical events, the societal and cultural context, and the political agendas of the state.
The source of the language contest in this area was solely supported by the authoritarian and controversial language policy under the colonial period, and post-independence officials further continued it. The colonization of Assam was designed to achieve colonial objectives. It was done by reshaping society and legitimizing the economy of the state. The main objective of colonial manipulation was to customize legislation, estate funds, and income tax procedures. The colonial period paved the way for immigration in Assam, which further worsened the situation. The disagreement between the indigenous working class and the settlers was further exacerbated by the British ‘Divide and Rule’ approach. The British in the linguistic community had implemented an open-border policy that placed local residents in a position to be taken by an established and surpassed population, both socially and economically. Ultimately, immigration turned out to be a serious concern, as it would have led to Assamese-speaking people being a minority in their area. Altogether, British imperialism successfully fostered enmity between different ethnic and religious groups.
The demand for priority advantage based on ethnic roots is the primary source of conflict in Assam. Based on ethnic boundaries, many communities ended up striving with one another over receiving advantages. These communities displayed a racist mentality towards other communities, especially minorities. In the case of communities like ethnic Assamese, Bodos, Karbis, Dimasas, Adivasis, and Rajbongshis, violent ethnic armed groups are prominent. All the communities claimed the territory as only their ‘homeland’, which engaged communities in contests to declare their claim over the region.
In Assam, it is a difficult situation for the ethnic communities to protect and uphold their distinct cultural heritage. Cultural exclusivity has overtaken cultural diversity in Assam. Self-demonstration demands from the smaller communities to preserve their existence lead to clashes between them and the ruling communities. When the Bodo Accord was accepted, the demand for independence and liberty by small communities like Tiwa, Rabha, Mising, Deori, Thengal Kachari, Sonowal Kachari, etc. commenced. It raised a sense of insecurity between the communities, turning one ethnic group against another.
The presence of clashes between the different tribes is also one of the reasons for conflict in Assam. For instance, the ethnic conflict in Karbi Anglong District between Karbis and the Diamsas in Assam. The clash between tribes and non-tribe residents also causes conflict in the region. The areas of Assam populated with Bodo people show conflict between Bodos and Muslim communities, which is an example of conflict between tribes and non-tribes. The main cause of conflict between tribe and tribe, or tribe and non-tribe, is because of competing interests or opposing political intentions.
Being a multicultural and multilingual region, Assam has witnessed rebellion and autonomous ethnic clashes. The most prominent reason for the rise of the dreaded insurgent group ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) is the loss of identity among the local inhabitants of Assam. This loss of identity led to a growing feeling of lack of interest and alienation towards mainland India. Also, the developmental divide and the negligence by the government regarding infrastructure development have flared up the insurgency problems. The main trigger for the formation of the insurgent outfit ULFA was an event known as the Assam agitation.
In this event, the illegal immigrants were believed to be involved in electoral malpractices and vocal voting in the Lok Sabha election of 1978. ULFA’s formation was in response to the government’s use of force against the electoral march practice. The presence of ULFA was greatly reduced by effective counterinsurgency operations. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was used to handle this rebellion in the state of Assam. Other insurgent groups in the state of Assam include the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO).
Another controversy associated with the state of Assam is the issue of the NRC (National Register of Citizens). As per the 1951 census, the National Register of Citizens had a list of all the genuine citizens of Erstwhile Assam. Because of illegal immigration, the Supreme Court accepted a petition to update the NRC for the state of Assam. The problem with the updated NRC is that lakhs of people residing in the state of Assam have been left out of this list, and the future is uncertain. This fact has led to nationwide protests, as the people included in the excluded list are mostly Muslims.
In conclusion, the main causes of ethnic tension in Assam include immigration, ethnic independence, and identity politics. To counter the ethnic conflicts in the state of Assam, the government of India needs to have adequate policies. Given the state’s NRC update, there is uncertainty about whether it will contribute to solving the immigration problem or result in social instability.
The author is currently pursuing a Bachelors in Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, Islamabad
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