INDIGENOUS MUSLIMS IN ASSAM: HUMAN RIGHTS AT PERIL

“Human rights include those areas of individual or group freedom that are immune from governmental interference or that, because of their basic contribution to human dignity or welfare, are subject to governmental guarantee, protections, or promotion”

-Benett


Every year the entire world observes Human Rights Day on 10th of December and most ironically millions of people in this world, on the other grey part, are deprived of their basic rights. This, though not unknown to all, is the crucial aspect as far as the rights of the people are concerned. Thanks to Franklin Roosevelt who in his famous message to Congress in January 1941talked about four essential freedoms namely freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear. He basically emphasized on every aspect of Human Rights as a whole. Then the Universal Declaration on Human Rights has paved the way for the people of the world to enjoy the basic rights of humankind. But it is going to be approximately 60 glorious years, since 1948, yet several categories of people have been deprived of their rights which are considered essential for the development of mankind. For example, the Muslims in India are running ahead in the race of such cases, particularly those in Assam. Though various committees, organizations, associations have been formed to fight for their people, yet a significant result is what the whole Muslim population is expecting. How far the government is responding to the rising demands of those people who constitute about 30% of the total population of Assam? Or what kind of endeavour the people are giving regarding their rights?



By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

Tribal Women and Issues of Health in Assam

Health is one of the key ingredients of human development. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) considers health as one of the components of Human Development Index (HDI) along with education and income generating capacity. Health security is a challenging issue worldwide as million die due to poor health conditions and basic health care facilities. The Indian scene is not exceptional in this respect. The scene is very gloomy in case of tribal communities of India. They are in a very disadvantageous position regarding this aspect. Since it is related with development of human beings, it is pertinent to add that health problems have been one of the challenges faced by the people of North East India basically the tribal women of Assam. Several reasons may be identified behind those problems which include first of all habitat, illiteracy, ignorance, then lack of consciousness, the parameters of cultural ethos, at some point of time tradition, etc. Whatever the reasons, it is women who are always associated with health related issues and problems like high mortality rate, low life expectancy, malnutrition, sexually transmitted diseases, extra pressure of child bearing, lack of safe drinking water, lack of proper sanitary facilities, etc. The proper steps by policy stakeholders are significant in this regard.
                   
                                   By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

Impact of Globalization on Socio-Cultural Identities of Tribal Communities of North East India

Nowadays very often the issues related to Globalization have occupied the discussions between scholars, theorists, researchers, etc. Globalization though it has its impact on economy of a country particularly, yet it has parallel and equal affect on socio-cultural aspects of any group worldwide. The significantly alarming fact regarding the socio-cultural identity of basically the third world countries is the main area of concern for the stakeholders in the last and present century. The most striking and disturbing impact of globalization has been on the socio-cultural identities of basically the ethnic and indigenous tribal communities of the world, particularly India, a country rich in culture and tradition. It has been a threat to all those tribal communities of North Eastern part of India to be very specific, as it carries with it a significant characteristic and that is cultural sameness or universalism. It plays a negative role in annihilation of cultural identities and extinction of their richness in indigenous knowledge by its cultural hegemony and a powerful weapon of language i.e. English. It even contributes to a drastic change in the social structure including art, culture, literature, folklores, and dance forms of those groups by incorporating global trends sponsored by Western states. The revolutionary change in communication technology has undoubtedly brought the people together under one single umbrella, yet at the same time it causes fears about loss of cultural identity of those groups. At some stages it undermines the very foundation of the existence and livelihood of those groups.

By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

J.D.S.G. College, Bokakhat

Health and Women in India

Though the recent Maternal Mortality Rate is very low in comparison to previous years, yet it draws more concern as it is not up to the required mark. The following link provides some facts that will surely demistify the cloud over the real fact.

http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/india-maternal-mortality-plummets-still-highest-in-the-world

Watch out the possible image of mankind through roots

Understanding the Genesis of the Bodo Movement of Assam

In today’s trend of politics several themes have been overlapping with each other in such a complex way that one observer cannot easily explicate the particularly of a single theme. Whether it is regarding multiculturalism or pluralism, whether it is recognition or it is difference, the inherent complexity has always kept the analyzer away from the theme. It is in this context, convenient to state that the politics of recognition, being not exceptional has been a dominant theme in the arena of contemporary politics and has interconnections with identity, multiculturalism and of course with difference. There are minority groups demanding recognition of their identity and accommodation of their cultural differences. Recognition is required in order to have an undistorted identity as minorities often feel depreciated in relation to the majority. As Taylor asserts that the politics of difference must be based on mutual respect of the right to culture of each group: the right of the minority to preserve its cultural integrity and resist its assimilation by a dominant or majority identity. In this regard the Bodos of Assam and their struggle for a separate Bodoland is such an instance which incorporates many broad things viz. recognition, assimilation, identity, etc. The Bodo people from the very beginning opposed the assimilation strategies of the greater Assamese identity as they have a distinct language and culture. Recognition of their distinct identity would help them to assert their aspirations and most importantly difference. But the successive failures of the greater composite Assamese umbrella to accommodate the demands of the Bodos had further aggravated the situation and consequently massive launch of movement. Formation of BLT and NDFB (later periods) has provided the required impetus for the dissenting voices. Rest is the prolonged agitations by both BLT and NDFB in the 80s, 90s. Though opposition by BLT ended as a result of Bodo Accord II of 2003, yet their other representative namely NDFB never ended their struggle considering the fact that the accord II had never satisfied the needs of the community. The present scenario witnesses the continuous violent agitation by this group in reaction to the insufficient commitments of the government of Assam.



            by
Sasanka Dhaval Saikia
J.D.S.G. College, Bokakhat

Understanding the Status of Women: The Myth and Reality

Everyone respects his or her mother. But he forgets the fact that his mother is a woman who at some point of time passed her life as a girl, sometimes as an adult girl, sometimes as someone’s wife, sister, and there are so many roles which a woman plays in different theatrical societies. This various kinds of respect to different facets of women by the males obviously differ in different situations. But the significant and at the same time unfortunate aspect for the women section is that they are the ones who have to suffer. From the boundaries of dark kitchen to the barriers of society they are the lone victim. Patriarchy dominates the whole proceedings of the entire life of women. Though it is not a new phenomenon yet oppression and deprivation of women by the so-called social stratification and the very presence of patriarchal form of dominance is still explicit in the present formation of society and this aspect should be seriously treated so as to find a minimum ground for the liberation of the women and also to provide a platform for them to demonstrate their existence. Though this is not unknown to all, yet the condition and status of women have been degraded with the passing of time. But thanks to some tremendous and brave efforts of some educated women, activists, and writers as well. Also thanks to the contribution of feminism which has been providing the helping hand to them in nurturing their hitherto non-existent identity and position. Along with those efforts, some courageous attempts of TV series should also be added at this juncture.

Now the question is- who to be blamed? The societal formation and structure which is always anti-women? Or patriarchy? Or Manu? Or Balmiki? Or Ved Vyas? Or women? Except the last one, others can be blamed undoubtedly. But what could be done if women involve themselves in the carnage of women in society? However, this aspect won’t be studied in this paper. Who is responsible for the demonstration of ultimate inhuman act when Draupadi was dragged into the hall by Dushashana, the brother of Duryodhana? Dushashana or Vyas? Or the patriarchal structure which might forced Vyasa to depict rather a deteriorated and perverted position of women in the form of Draupadi? The Balmiki Ramayana sings the same tune. Why was Sita asked to prove her purity? Did that act of Rama prove the inherent greatness of one of the great kings and also Gods of Hindu mythology? We can, to some extent, forget the scripts of mythology, but who are responsible for the fears of real world?


----------------------


References

Barman, Sivanath and et all 2002 ‘Asomiya Nari- Oitijya aru Uttaran’(in Assamese), Students’ Stores, Guwahati.
Balmiki Ramayana (translated versions in internet).
Tulasi Ramayana (translated versions in internet).
Heywood, Andrew 2000 ‘Key Concepts in Politics’ MacMillan
Borgohain, Alpana 2004 ‘Schools of Feminism: An Analysis’ Journal of Politics, Department of Political Science, Dibrugarh University.
Mahabharata, (translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguly).
Lerner, Gerda 1986 ‘The Creation of Patriarchy’ Oxford University Press.




                       By sasanka dhaval saikia
                       j.d.s.g. college, bokakhat

Development and Environmental Degradation: With Special Reference to India’s North East

Environment plays a crucial lead role in maintaining the livelihood of all living beings including humankind, the dominant survivor of the ecosystem. However, mankind, whether compromising with future generations or not, has been degrading the ecosystem in order to meet their various needs for so many years. This act thus has resulted in ecological imbalance and ultimately put a question mark on the sustenance of human beings in the coming years. The fast growing demographic changes, migration, poverty, industrialization, urbanization and also the global needs/demands across all the countries of the world have threatened the very base of ecology. Mankind has always been relying on the ecosystem and since their origin has exploited the nature for their development and sustenance. But nobody is conscious and curious about the sustainability of the ecological system on which their future depends. The forces behind environmental change include not only the natural processes, but also the cultural, political and economic processes, which play their respective roles in shaping the environmental changes[i]. At this juncture it is pertinent to add the historical efforts of the UN and its Brundtland Commission of 1983 which talked and vociferously argued for sustainable development and it says:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
It also added that- Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity.
Although the fears about sustainable growth and development started in 1970s, yet a clear discussion on sustainable development emerged on an international level in 1992, in the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), popularly known as ‘The Earth Summit, held at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Out of its five significant agreements Agenda 21 proposes a global programme of action on sustainable development in social, economic and political context for the 21st century. The key aspects identified for sustainable development are:
a) Inter-generational equity-this emphasizes that we should minimize any adverse impacts on resources and environment for future generations.
b) Intra-generational equity-this emphasizes that the development processes should seek to minimize he wealth gaps within and between nations (Kaushik and Kaushik 2008).
The significant World Summit on Sustainable Development, held at Johannesburg in 2002 should be added to this discussion since that summit also highlighted the issues of global environmental concern.
India has also witnessed the threats of environmental degradation with growing trends of modernization and urbanization in the late twentieth century. The concern for environment is seen explicit in the minds of Indian stakeholders too.
India’s North East or popularly known as the ‘Seven Sisters’ is considered as one of the richest regions of the country as far as natural and biological resources are concerned. But the rapid growth of population, extension of infrastructure and economic modernization has together put immense pressure on not only the ecosystems of river valleys, but also the hills and mountains as well causing great loss to the exceptionally rich regional diversity in particular and the environmental in general[ii] .

References

[i] N.E. Longston quoted in Abani Kumar Bhagawati 2009 ‘Ecological Security’ in Akhil Ranjan Dutta (Edited)2009 ‘Human Security in North East India’ Anwesha, Guwahati
[ii] Abani Kumar Bhagawati, ‘Ecological Security’ in Akhil Ranjan Dutta (Edited)2009 ‘Human Security in North East India’ Anwesha, Guwahati
[iii] 

              By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

              J.D.S.G. College , Bokakhat, Assam

Understanding Conflict and Peace: The North Eastern Experience

In today’s world the meaning and significance of peace have been distorted by various forms of conflicts and so it becomes difficult for everyone to understand the real and undistorted picture of peace. It is obvious that in order to understand peace any observer or interpreter has to incorporate conflict into his/her study. Because both the terms are so interconnected that a study without the other is meaningless. Often defined as absence of hostilities or conflict, peace in contemporary world plays a crucial role in not only political terms but also social and economic terms. The global peace scenario is often affected by various terrorist activities, military operations in the name of crushing terrorists around the world, various separatist demands within the boundaries of nation states, clashes between different nations regarding boundaries, and the list goes without ending. Certain problems have also affected the peace situation of India. Whether it is boundary problem with China or the separatist demands of different anti-state actors, whether it is communal riots occur frequently in different places or various social movements, India witnesses a long history of socio-economic and political unrest in the post-independence era. The North-East India is the most conflict prone area of India. Peace situation often challenged by different separatist groups viz. ULFA, NDFB, NSCN(I-M), Tripura National Volunteers, Mizo National Front, etc. and thus making NE the area of insurgency and counter-insurgency. The causes may be summarized as relative deprivation, legal and illegal migration, cultural nationalism and so on. Various peace accords and ceasefire agreements have been took place till date, yet a unanimous solution is still a far cry for the people of this region.
References



by
Sasanka Dhaval Saikia
j.d.s.g. college, bokakhat

Tu Jaane Na (Full Song) Atif Aslam - Ajab Prem ki Ghazab Kahani - Atif A...

Mon Jai (Assamese)

Reasons to be remain happy

Here is a link which will provide you the philosophy of life, the reasons to be happy besides all sorrow and hard luck. This will take you to a journey beyond the boundaries of men's sorrow, upheavals in life. It is reality, it is in fact life for everybody....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZy2v7T_8jM&feature=player_embedded

The role of women in tackling climate change

Here is an interesting fact about the role of women in stopping the fast changing climate change worldwide. This video portrays women as a means to tackle global warming and climate change. The following link will help in understanding how women play an inmportant role in fighting the battle against nature's fury. Watch this.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid34626169001?bctid=50859881001

Semester System in Higher Education in Assam: A Choice or Need?

Introduction

In this globalized world each and every nation is moving with the fast changing trends and in conformity with the modern era each has adapted itself with or without the desired capability. Basically for the third world countries, it has been a challenging task as their infrastructure does not allow them easily to cope with the new and advanced world. Yet many from the south have readily accepted the heavy burden imposed upon them by the advanced north. It is not exactly a debate about north and south. It is in fact a debate about the challenges frequently faced by the developing and underdeveloped world. Like economy and culture, education is another aspect which has been adversely affected by the modern globalized world. If we talk about India, the education system is fast changing and it requires many years to be fully equipped with modern amenities. Semester system is one of the demands of the globalized world and surprisingly except the IITs (Indian Institute of Technology), University of Hyderabad and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; no institute has complete application of semester system in India. Though recently the universities in India are trying to implement this system to meet the demand of the new world, yet it looks like a far cry for them. This paper will try to focus basically on the advantages and disadvantages of the semester system in case of India in general and Assam in particular, and the paper will try to find out the possible solution whether semester will help the students and teachers as well or not.


The Indian Scene:
The National Knowledge Commission (term ended on 31st March 2009) constituted by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and other committees and commissions set up the University Grants Commission have emphasized on the uniform semester and credit system. Even under the 11th plan of the UGC the Chairman S. Thorat has urged all the Central Universities to bring reforms in examinations through semester system[i]. Though there were oppositions regarding the implementation of this system, yet the UGC is firm in this regard. The All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO) a consortium of around 600 students from Jamia Milia Islamia University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University protested the move to change the examination system to semester system instead of annual evaluation[ii]. Before going to this debate whether to implement this system or not, let’s have a close look into the advantages and disadvantages of the semester system. This will add the required impetus to this study.
The advantages of Semester system:

The semester system undoubtedly has many advantages which can be summarized as follows:

1. The system will minimize the burden upon the students because they can appear in the examination twice in a year than once in a year.
2. Since the students have to sit in the examination on half yearly, they can learn more due to intensive study.
3. Due to internal evaluation through seminars, home assignments, etc. they will make study more about the subject concerned and it will make them more aware about the subject, they study.
4. It allows greater freedom and scope for designing and delivering a variety of courses that the students can pick flexibility from in order to enhance the quality of their learning as also their career options.
5. The system will lead to better coordination between teachers and students.
6. For the teacher, this will be particularly beneficial because half yearly evaluation of students will enable the teachers to know their students better and to reevaluate their teaching aptitude if needed i.e. more flexibility in teaching can be imparted in this method.
7. In this system, students get chance to rectify themselves within a short period of time, because examinations are held in short intervals.
8. In this system, students are kept engaged for maximum time and thus they get less time to spend in unnecessary activities.
9. The system maintains discipline in its working procedure.
10. Under this system the students will be more focused and it will control absenteeism.
11. It also enhances the interaction between students and teachers and thus will help both.
12. Students will not have to wait for the end of the year to write an examination .in this system.
13. Semester system promotes inter-disciplinary education.

The disadvantages of this system:

Apart from the advantages, this system entails some disadvantages too and those are as follows:

1. So far as the current structure of higher education is concerned, this system will not yield a fruitful result. Though the present teacher and students ratio is 1:18, it is just an average. In science stream the ratio is much lower than the average, but in arts stream this average is much greater. Specially in rural areas, the infrastructure is too poor to start such a system.
2. This system will impose heavy burden upon the teachers as well as the students. Half yearly evaluation will leave less amount of time for teachers to concentrate on teachings. Moreover, the higher secondary section, particularly in Assam is associated with the degree colleges. This section imposes heavy burden on the teachers. As such more pressure on the teaching staff will affect the teaching skill of the teachers.
3. Adverse affects will also be there in case of the students. More burdens in the form of internal assessment will discourage the youths to go for higher education.
4. Students will not get enough time for extra-curricular activities which will adversely affect the route to personality development. It may also deteriorate their mental health as well as their interest towards their study.
5. In this system there are slender chances of biasness as internal assessment is a part and parcel of the system.

The points discussed above clearly denotes that the semester
system has both merits and demerits. Now the main question that arises is that whether Indian universities are ready to implement this system or not? Are there any certain constrains which do not allow those to apply the system? Does the infrastructure stand as one of the constrains? Finally is it a need or a choice?

Assam: A Different Angle:

If we talk about Assam a rather different aspect can be seen. Being a comparatively backward region Assam is not in a position to apply semester system in higher education because the infrastructure is not adequate to meet the new demands. Moreover the colleges in this region have Higher Secondary courses under their banner and they have immense burden. Adding semester system will put extra burden on not only the teachers but also the students. Though Gauhati University has started introducing semester system, yet a lot to do after this. In a letter to the editor of the English daily the Assam Tribune it has been focused that the colleges under Gauhati University have opposed the move to introduce semester system calling it as a problem of infrastructure. The writer accuses that every time they talk about lack of infrastructure, a frequently used term to cover up their inaction and disinterestedness[iii]. Though it will be difficult for colleges to cope with this new system but it will benefit the student community as a whole in competing with other students. The problem will be double for the rural areas as they are comparatively in a disadvantageous position to implement such a system which requires a greater pace of development as such. Here the interests and willingness of the government is another aspect that plays a pivotal role.

The Overall Findings:

In the concluding remarks it can be stressed that semester system is in conformity with the global practices and standards and being a member of this globalized world every student has to cope him or herself with the new trends and demands. Since universities like JNU, Jamia Milia Islamia and Hyderabad are successfully implementing this system, all other universities particularly Assam should also try to do so to compete in the globalized world. But one important aspect should also be given weight is that before implementing such system there is an urgent need to bring revolutionary changes in the current structure of higher education. Finally, for a third world nation like India semester system cannot be a choice as it is a need for India.

Endnotes:

[i] www.du.ac.in
[ii] www.thaindian.com June 15
[iii] The Assam Tribune, December 16, 2009

By
Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

N.B. This a part of the seminar paper presented in Zonal Seminar on Higher Education organized by Golaghat Zone, Assam College Teacher's Association(ACTA) in the month of January, 2010

Dams and IDPs: The Inherent Issues

Since development process is inevitable for socio-economic uplift of any country, it is crucial to formulate planning, but without hampering the issues related to the sustenance of humankind. Government plans various programmes and projects to meet the different needs of the people and also to cope with the speed that the entire world travels. Dams are one of such projects which ironically have both positive and negative aspects. India stands as one of the major dam builders of the world and in fact it is the third largest with over 3600 large dams and over 700 more under construction at present. Dams were constructed to meet the required power demands, irrigation, etc. Several Hydro-Electric Projects were initiated and constructed and at the same time those projects every time entailed a worrying factor and that is displacement and environmental degradation. Millions of people were displaced by those projects and not surprisingly the rehabilitation efforts were derisory and in most of the cases the government or policy makers failed to rehabilitate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). So it is mandatory for the government to accommodate the IDPs. Along with displacement, another factor involved with this is environmental degradation. But keeping in view the broad areas of study covered by these two issues, this study or analysis will try to focus only on displacement issues.


Internally Displaced Persons

There are various reasons behind every displacement. It may be dams, mines, industrial development, wildlife sanctuaries and national park, and development of new towns or cities, etc. It is here pertinent to understand what does IDP mean? According to the Wikipedia online dictionary ‘Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are people forced to flee their homes but who, unlike refugees, remain within their country's borders’. However a United Nations report, Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement uses the definition:
“Internally displaced persons are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border”(Wikipedia.org).
Though it entails different meanings but the core remains the same and that is massive displacement of peoples. In one of her articles on displacement Anupama Hazra views that:
“The two forms of internal displacement of critical concern in Asia are conflict-induced displacement and development-induced displacement. Indeed, the two are often linked. Forced displacement caused by development policies and development projects often produces internal conflicts and violence within societies, especially over land and resources, directly leading to conflict induced displacement”
Significantly the two are linked and both incorporate a serious concern within themselves. Interesting thing is that whatever the reason behind displacement, at international levels it is violation of human rights. Though the state is entitled to shape development policies, yet it is the entire responsibility of the state to accommodate those displaced as displaced persons suffer loss of privacy, limitations on their capacity or ability to work, and restrictions on their access to basic health and education services. They often do not enjoy full civil and political rights. As again to quote Hazra “Displacement jeopardizes their physical security and impacts negatively on their quality of life and potential for physical and emotional growth. Family and community life may be damaged or destroyed, opportunities for cultural activity may be restricted, and their identity as a people may be put at risk”. Such can be the adverse effects of development and displacement within a country.
UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) reported that by the end of 2007, there were a total of 51 million IDPs, 26 million of whom were displaced due to conflict, and 35 million displaced due to natural disaster (Hazra 2009).




Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

J.D.S.G. College, Bokakhat
E-Mail sasanka27@yahoo.co.in