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Recently by GT
- Insurance.
- The Next President.
- The mauling of adivasis in Assam.
- Nandigram: What is the problem?
- Gujrat: Knowing is not enough, we need to remember.
- Quo Vadis?
- Transition to democracy -1.
- Not so fast.
- What now?
- Geelani's views?
- So finally ...
- Kaal.
- No Title
- No Title
- Further on in the debate:
- Reply to Masadi continued:
The mauling of adivasis in Assam.
Adivasis in Assam are not Christians, neither are they "low-castes". They have been demanding "low-caste" status and this demand is new. They organized a demonstration in Guwahati, some of them looted and burnt shops and cars, the locals beat them up and stripped some women as the police looked on.
Who are these adivasis? After the war of 1857 (where there was active participation in Assam) the Brits discovered tea. Forests were cleared and swamps were drained. The stock market in Calcutta soared and frauds were comitted. However, the locals refused to work in the malaria infested areas. The Brits. got the adivasis from the Chota-nagpur area almost as slaves. The "tea-garded laborers" as they are called were kept secluded. One should not blame the Brits alone, the same pattern on abuse and seclusion continued after independence. Like the Muslims in Assam, these people voted en-masse for the Congress and had a few powerful leaders of their own too (Pawan Singh Ghatwar, I think).
Of late, like the Muslims in Assam, the tea garden laborers are flexing their muscles. In the process they have clashed with the established Assamese elites who have appealed to ... what else, but chauvanism. This fight will soon be played out in the political arena. I see the adivasis forming a coalition with the (Muslim headed) Minority front. They may even get to form the next government if they form careful coalitions. I hope that happens.
I got to know an adivasi first hand while fishing along the Kalang river in Assam in the mid nineties. His name was Nandalal, a giant of a man. I remember him shooting a pellet in to his palm from a distance of 1- 1.5 feet from an air-pistol! He taught me how to hunt wild roosters with a catapult ... yes a catapult! And I did bag one!
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One day they invited my dad to a wedding in their temporary tents and bush shacks close to the site. One of the wedding ritual was that the groom climbs on a nearby tree and the bride pleads him to come down. He repeatedly refuses it. At the end when she promises to always obey him, serve him (seva), and earn for him for the rest of her life, he comes down. That concludes the wedding ceremony.
Their women are of very strong character and are such hardworkers that they put pathan workers to shame. One day when I was with my father at construction site during my summer holidays, two of them came to my father asking for a break. Upon inquiry one of them told that she was about to have baby and other would help her to deliver it. Both of them disappeared behind a heap of bricks and delivered baby within half an hour. My dad had no idea, that it would be that quick. he sent them some food and water and asked them to go to a shade nearby. Three or four hours later the mother wrapped her baby in a a chaddor, put it on a charpai and asked my dad to resume work. My dad refused but she insisted. My dad gave her some light work for the rest of the day. She completed her shift.
(I hope that happens.)
Why?
Regards
GT
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