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