Writeup published in The telegraph dtd -04.04.2011 as Guest Column

POLITICS OF RESPECT

Sibananda Kakoti



From the neo Vainsavite movement in the 15th Century , the independent Kingdoms of Guva and other Tiwas , the days of Miles Bronson for resurrection of Assamese language, the confident roles in the pre- independence struggle movement for freedom and so many other important phenomena to the Assam Movement of recent times, the greater district of Nowgong, comprising with present day Nagaon and Marigaon districts, has been the epicenter of most of the major happenings in the life-stream of Assam till today with all its contributions in literary, social, intellectual and political fields. But most unfortunately, the diversified problems faced by this middle part of Assam are still not properly redressed. The focus and concentration was not even at all prominent with so many veteran leaders including one-time most powerful Central Minister and INC President Devakanta Barua to Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, a Chief minister of full two different terms in recent years. The expectations remain unfulfilled and developments are not yet upto the mark. Problems remain perennial and unresolved. As faced by the whole of Assam these greater parts have suffered a lot for the illegal infiltration causing a serious demographical imbalance. Boarder sealing and simultaneous efforts of cultural integration are the need of the hour. The efforts to stop the erosion of the Brahamaputra, conservation of forests and its resources, balance of environment are highly needed for the long term development. While the whole of the area is the most fertile one, the northern and the southern parts are granaries . The horticultural growth along with the pisciculture is immense. But long term efforts for large Green House, Cold Storage, and processing centers both by the Govt or PPP are not at all initiated. A timely plan for capturing the large yields in scientific manner for the long term use and packaging is highly required, which will create direct and indirect employment opportunities in the area immensely .
Since independence, lots of big promises were heard, projects were proposed, but reasons not known, all were shifted finally to elsewhere. A veterinary College was promised and also started functioning but finally was shifted to Guwahati. An IIT was proposed and reported survey was also done at Missa which was finally shifted to North Guwahati. Permanent capital was rumored, a Paper Mill died before it started. A flourished Sugar Mill is in a dying state due to the lack of Govt support and management. An Airdrome is still to be conceived. Such important infrastructural growth is not at all visible in the area and therefore except a little rise of middle class and salaried people no such remarkable development is visible.
An apparent development of infrastructures in some of the constituencies, courtesy National Missions like PMGSY or NRHM etc, are seen which too perhaps needs a balance in distribution. In some parts of the districts these are horrible.
The long term conservation of socio- intellectual growth too, in this area is highly needed. Besides the development as a tourist spot, Batadrava, the birth place of Sankardeva, proper infrastructure with paraphernalia and qualified guidance, an important and scientific study centre with comparative studies of Vaisnavite philosophy of National Standard is most essential as a long term planning. The so called research centers, at present, are not at all in proper shape.
Nagaon too, is one of the integral parts of the peace process, so far initiated by the social intellectuals, some civil society groups, the State and the Central Govts, has shown some rays of hope. A prominent role of this area for a meaningful dealing on the core issues, talks also with others who are still remaining in the deep forest or elsewhere, is much more expected by all. We always look forward to a peaceful society with mutual respect also with equally distributed overall growth..
Besides all these dreams for development, what is more needed is the social and political tolerance which seems lacking amongst most of the political parties. Nagaon seems to be the worst sufferer. The political party in power is always for the services and the other parties, not in power, not necessarily are simply the opposition only. The respect to the opinion of the opposition is always for the healthy democratic values which always deserves respect which seem to be missing day by day.
A vigilant society takes efforts for equal distributions of the rights and benefits offered by the State. The rise of civil society is always important to us. Respect by any political parties to the civil society for the impartial growth is highly expected and compassion is always desirable.
Therefore irrespective of political parties and ideologies, for the equality in the society around, we always expect the respectful protection and safeguard to democratic values from the politicians and political parties, be it in power or not in power.


Sibananda Kakoti is short story writer and a citizen
kaktis@gmail.com