Dialogue January-March, 2011, Volume 12 No. 3
Civil society's role in promotion of inter-community relations in the Eastern and North-eastern regions of India
A new dimension in the political and social arena has emerged in this eastern and north-eastern region of India after independence of Bangladesh in 1971. A novel phenomenon of demographic pressure – emanating from Bangladesh started looming larger and larger in these regions. In the eighties designed migration added into lebensraum theory which was encouraged by a section of Indian Muslims in the border states under the protection and patronization of some political and social forces of eastern and north-eastern regions. The continuous infiltration from across the border is slowly and steadily changing the demographic pattern in the border states, especially in the states of West Bengal and Assam. This changed demographic scenario is quite capable of disrupting inter-community relations. Naturally its impact has comedown on the society. From the above realities, we have discussed the changing scenario of pre- and post- 1971 relations among different communities.
Ground realities of inter-community relations in the selected districts of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura:
State : West Bengal : Case study one
1. Relations among different communities in the district of Uttar Dinajpur in the eye of the people before and after of 1971
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
a 18 18 19 22 7 17 14 23
b 7 8 3 1 13 10 8 4
c 7 - - - 23 3 2 -
d - - - - - - - -
Total no of interviews 48.
2. Relations among different communities in the district of Murshidabad in the eye of the people before and after 1971
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 1 23 3 4
a 22 4 5 - - - - -
b 1 5 19 1 - - - -
c - 19 1 23 - - 24 25
d - - - - 28 23 - -
Total no. of interviews 29
3. Relations among different communities in the district of Nadia in the eye of the people before and after 1971
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
a 20 5 4 2 - - 5 -
b 6 2 26 10 - - 20 3
c 4 23 1 18 3 4 - 19
d 1 1 - - 27 26 - -
Total no of interviews 31
4. Relations among different communities in the district of North 24 Parganas in the eye of the people before and after 1971
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
a 16 4 4 4 4 2 - 2
b 17 10 5 4 20 5 3 2
c 19 3 - 1 27 3 2 3
d - - - - 2 2 - -
Total no. of interviews 55
1. Hindu-Muslim, 2. Local-Outsider 3. Bengali-Rajbanshi 4.Tribal- non-Tribal. a. good, b. normal, c. bad, d. worse,
The primary data reveal relations among the different communities. From the above tables, it is clearly seen that post 1971 Hindu-Muslim relations in these districts have worsened in comparison to that in the pre-1971 period. To be precise, historically the Hindu-Muslim relation has become bitter in this region after the independence of Bangladesh. On the other hand, local- outsider and tribal –non-tribal relations in these districts are still as good as before 1971. It is mentionable that, infiltrated Muslim population from Bangladesh are always welcomed by the local Muslims in most of the cases. Barring Bangladeshi infiltration, local-outsider relation is more or less dependent on economic conditions
Atrocities on minorities during Bangladesh liberation war as well as during post liberation period has compelled the Hindu minorities to migrate from Bangladesh to India. Additional Muslim infiltration from Bangladesh has irritated the local Hindus of whom a good number are former refugees from East Pakistan. The situation was further aggravated when Bangladesh declared Islam as her state religion. These are the main reasons for deterioration in the relation between Hindus and Muslims after 1971. Hindu-Muslim relations in West Bengal always gets importance because of their relative population strength and historical legacy
Vote bank politics of political parties complicate the situation:
Political outfits of the region are active in furthering their own party interest, but not the national interest. Slogans of peace and amity among the communities get priority only at the level of propaganda by political parties, but not in practice. Major political parties openly appease Muslims to keep their vote bank intact.
An important micro level observation, based on a number of incidents is that the Islamic fundamentalist forces operating in Bangladesh as well as in India are encouraging Muslim infiltration to reduce pressure of population on Bangladesh, and to expand Islamic influence in the border region so that the Hindu population living in the area is forced to leave the region out of fear, particularly in the case of Tehatta subdivision under Nadia district and Basirhat subdivision under 24 Parganas district. A recent (October, 2010) communal riot broke out in the area of Deganga Police Station under 24 Parganas district of West Bengal is an apt example.
State : Assam : Case study two
5. Relations among different communities in the district of Goalpara in the eyes of the people before and after 1971
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
a - - 17 19 19 - - 19 20 19
b 17 17 3 1 1 - - - - -
c 3 3 - - -
17 18 - - -
d - - - - - 3 2 - - -
Total no. of interviews 20
6. Relations among different communities in the district of Dhubri in the eyes of the people before and after 1971
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
a 4 2 9 18 15 1 - 25 26 12
b 4 4 17 1 13 3 3 3 3 16
c 19 23 2 - 1 7 8 - - 1
d 2 - 1 - - 19 18 - - -
Total no. of respondents 29
1.Hindu–Muslim, 2. Local–Outsider, 3. Bengali-Assamese 4. Bengali–Rajbanshi, 5. Tribal—non-Tribal; a. good, b. normal, c. bad,
d. worse
From the above tables, it is clearly seen that the relations between Hindu-Muslim and local – outsider have deteriorated after 1971. Side by side, relations among the Bengali –Assamese, Bengali – Rajbanshi and Tribal – non-Tribal is as good as in pre-1971 period. It indicates that Bangladeshi Hindu migrants were not welcomed by the local Muslims in this region, but local Assamese people did not oppose them. On the other hand, Bengali-Rajbonshi relation was good because of their similar language, culture and religion. After 1971 Bengali–Assamese and Bengali-Rajbanshi relations have significantly improved.
Deterioration of relations after 1971 will be analyzed in the context of social and political developments in this region during the last three and half decades. Religion is also a factor. Atrocities on minorities of Bangladesh, Islamisation of the society and state, Hindu and Muslim infiltration from Bangladesh to India, patronization of terrorist outfits of north-east region by Bangladeshi government and political leadership etc. are the major reasons for deterioration of Hindu-Muslim relations.
It is worth mentioning that movement against Bangladeshi infiltrators in eighties by AASU and other local organizations had no significant impact on Bengali-Assamese relations in the new millennium. Pre–and post–1971 Bengali Muslim infiltration in Assam has also influenced the Hindu-Muslim relations. But IMDT Act and several anti-Bengali movements in Assam did not create any significant impact in the overall Assamese society.
State : Assam : Case study three
7. Relations among different communities in the district of Cachar in the eyes of the people before and after 1971.
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
a 7 9 7 10 8 7 7 5 8 5
b 9 9 10 10 8 11 10 13 13 9
c 5 1 4 - 3 3 3 4 1 4
d - - - - - 1 - 1 - 1
Total no of interviews 23
8. Relations among different communities in the district of Karimganj in the eyes of the people before and after 1971 .
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
a 2 3 2 2 3 2 4 5 5 3
b 4 5 5 4 4 5 6 5 4 4
c 2 1 1 - - 3 1 - - -
d - - - - - - - - - -
Total no of interviews 10
9. Relations among different communities in the district of Hailakandi in the eyes of the people before and after 1971 .
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
a 1 - - - - - - - - -
b 2 7 7 4 7 3 7 7 6 7
c 4 - - - - 2 - - - -
d - - - - - 2 - - - -
Total no of interviews 7
1. Hindu–Muslim, 2. Local–Outsider, 3. Bengali-Assamese 4. Bengali–Rajbanshi, 5. Tribal—non-Tribal, a. good, b. normal, c. bad, d. worse
The relations between different communities before and after 1971 exposes a very interesting feature. It was good and moderate before 1971, but the relations between different communities did not deteriorate after 1971 which will be clear from the table-7. We think, it is a type of improvement in the context of regional situation. It is also as a result of social awareness among the communities, spread of education and the positive role of media.
In case of Hailakandi and Karimgonj, the relations between Hindus and Muslims fluctuated periodically and has become bad on the basis of local issues. After emergence of Bangladesh the situation turned out to be not so conducive. After 1990 riots in Bangladesh, some respondents, however, attribute this worsening relation to the growth of Islamic fundamentalism and economic reasons and to the influx of Hindu refugees from Bangladesh. As a result of communal politics of Bangladesh, minds of the local people have become communally charged disturbing peace and social harmony. Hindus can not live peacefully in the predominantly Muslim majority areas.
Political parties have a little role to keep peace and social harmony among the different communities :
Political parties' contribution in the promotion of peace and harmony among different communities against prevailing animosities is very little. Most of the time they engage themselves in expanding their support base at the cost of peace and harmony. Even they patronize the divisive and anti-national forces for their narrow party interests. Some of the leaders even maintain contacts with several terrorist groups. Whenever necessary they use these groups for political and other gains, i.e. most of the political parties are playing virtually negative role vis-ŕ-vis peace and social harmony in the society.
State : Tripura : Case study four
10. Relations among different communities in the district of West Tripura in the eyes the of people before and after 1971.
Before 1971 After 1971
Relations 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
a 35 36 8 11 46 23 20 4 8 4
b 8 9 1 3 1 16 22 4 6 6
c 3 - - - - 8 1 1 - 29
d 1 1 - - - 1 3 - - 8
Total no. of interviews 47
1. Hindu–Muslim, 2. Local– Outsider, 3. Bengali- Assamese 4. Bengali – Rajbanshi, 5. Tribal—Non-tribal, a. good, b. normal, c. bad, d. worse
Tribal–non tribal relations in this district as well as the state of Tripura always get importance because of their historical legacy and population strength. Almost all the respondents have opined that tribal-non-tribal i.e. Tribal–Bengali relation was good before 1971 but the situation has completely changed after 1971. 29 respondents feel it is bad and 8 respondents think it is worse. On the other hand Hindu-Muslim relation has deteriorated. Post–1971 population pressure is the major cause of deterioration of relations among communities, particularly, Bengali-Tribal. Bangladeshi migration/infiltration is the main reason behind it. Now Bengali people are at the helm of affairs in the state because of their population strength. Sons of the soil i.e. tribal people are not so happy with this situation. Apart from that, growing trend of unemployment, lack of confidence between Bengali and tribal people and divisive politics add fuel to fire of despairing condition. Their displeasure is now reflecting in the from of terrorism. Though Christian missionaries have also emerged as a factor for this kind of social unrest in the state.
Observations :
It is clear from the study of all ten districts across the three states, that only Hindu-Muslim relations deteriorated after 1971. Other ‘community relations’ more or less remained workable. Though in a few districts this relation was good or normal before 1971 in spite of partition of India on the basis of religion. A new situation in the political and social arena has emerged in the eastern and north-eastern region of India after independence of Bangladesh. Hindus are coming as usual like in the days of Pakistan due to religious persecution and political pressure, but a new feature also started emerging as people from Muslim community, for different reasons and purposes, started coming to India. Significantly, a state religion cannot extend the minimum of socio–economic protection even to Muslims who instead of being satisfied with living in Islamic Bangladesh, have long been voting with their feet, and continuously leaving for secular India, especially Assam and West Bengal. Whereas this is a constant tribute to India’s secularism, this is also a threat to India’s socio-economic–political security. Unfortunately, authorities in India have displayed little alertness in preempting or coping with this threat. These are the basic reasons for deterioration of Hindu–Muslim relations after 1971 onwards.
Far more significant is the perceived threat of being outnumbered and outmaneuvered by the immigrants. Since immigration/infiltration from Bangladesh is an unending phenomenon, their number in Assam and other states are continuously on the rise. The possibility that ultimately, it will marginalize the original inhabitants haunts the north-east. The immigrant population is slowly but surely playing an increasingly important role in state politics. Thus who or which party will remain in power in Assam is totally dependent on the aliens and the people of another country for whose liberation India sacrificed so much.
Conclusion:
The entire scenario characterized by changes in the demographic composition against social and national interests deteriorates the quality of human life. The continuous migration or displacement of people of Hindu community from the border region and unabated illegal migration / infiltration from across the border prove that ‘the process of assimilation of the migrated people to the new environs and their adoption to the new situations of the places of their new abodes has not become an essential link in promotion of national integration and unity of the country rather process of disintegration and communal disharmony.
Finally, as a result of increasing Islamic fervour in the border areas the moderate/ liberal Muslims are gradually losing their grip over their own community on one hand and being alienated from the other religious communities on the other. The entire process is weakening the secular fabric of our civil society leading to further erosion of national integration and communal harmony. Only effective pro-active action using all our political, economic, cultural and diplomatic leverage in relation to Bangladesh can protect our eastern peripheries from the machinations of the Islamic fundamentalists. Thus civil society alone has little role to play for promotion of inter-community relations in the north eastern and eastern region of India.
Reference :
Demographic changes in the eastern and north eastern states: a growing menace to secular harmony and national security µ a project sponsored by ICSSR, New Delhi, conducted by Bimal Pramanik, 2004.