Assam and foreigners

Immigration issues in Assam- the view from far.

On the question of being swamped by immigrants from Bangladesh, I have complete sympathy for the indigenous Assamese people. However this is not a unique situation. This piece draws on my experience of living in Assam rough the first anti-foreigner agitations in the late 1970s and early 1980s . 

Recent immigrants face indigenous fury in the UK( Brexit), US ( Election of Donald Trump) and many European countries like Italy and Germany have exhausted their good will with recent migrants.

Globally,immigration has been a reality since recorded history. It is well acknowledged that people will move places to improve their/ family’s lives. The white American of today who claims to be indigenous was an immigrant in the 16/17 th century when they displaced Native American Indians. The British of today can sometimes trace their bloodlines back to Romans/ Vikings/ European descent. 

Immigration has become easier in recent times due to improved communications ( internet / TV/ mobile phones) that highlight the strengths and advantages of migration to today’s successful countries. In the case of Assam, India with its dynamic growth surge must definitely be appealing to people in Bangladesh who wish to have a better life . This is something one can understand.

The core issues generically arising out of immigration anywhere are :

a) Threatened Assamese identity -the indigenous population’s cultural identity is threatened. For eg the far right in Britain is unhappy with the face veil ( naqab)Muslim women wear in public. Norway has banned the wearing of Naqab in public places. The same fear in part has fuelled the rise of Donald Trump in the United States. In Assam, a similar situation exists in areas that have seen recent migration where cultural shifts are takin place. 

b)Secular fabric and civic system pressures:  Immigrant arrival in large numbers can stress local civic systems ( Hospitals/ Schools/ Housing etc) as well as out pressure on jobs. In Assam/India ,this puts pressure as gains in national growth are clawed back by immigration pressures. 

In Assam, Bangladeshi immigrants also have skewed the political system as voters. This is threatening the secular fabric and foundations of India as never before. The Hindu majority party BJP has taken to milking the fear of the ‘Hindu’ population of being swamped by the Islamists. The Congress has over the years relied on Muslim voters in Assam to get elected to government. Both these approaches threaten the secular fabric of India. 

c] Fear- However the fear amongst the local Assamese about immigration from Bangladesh to Assam in India seems to have an added dimension. This is the fear of Muslim religious expansionism and the spectre of living in a state where Shariat law rules unofficially. This is a valid fear given the recent attempts by a sizeable Islamic minority across the planet to enforce their view of an Islamic world on the planet through violence/terrorism and other more nuanced approaches. 

In 1947, the people of the subcontinent had a choice. The choice was to move to Pakistan -a country for ‘pak ‘ or ‘pure’ Muslims or stay in the rest of India that decided to be secular country. 70 years later,secular India faces an immigration deluge from its neighbours founded on a religious identity. India now has to cater for the failure as a state of its neighbours. India and Assam have to find their unique solutions to this problem.

One has to accept that much like a chronic illness like diabetes, there is no getting away from the immigration problem.The condition has to be managed with minimal harm to the host body. Each nation needs to have a clear and enforceable immigration policy. The key word is enforceable as this is where it all falls apart. 

As a first step, a non partisan  expert ‘immigration task force’ needs to be formed at the policy level to study the best practices in managed immigration .This task force needs to come up with a tailored solution for Assam within a rapid time frame of months rather than years. This solution then needs to be debated in parliament and incorporated into law. This would highlight the will of the people of secular India. 

The enforcement should be a joint effort of the federal Indian and the local government with civic watchdogs from all concerned finding a place at the implementation task force level. 

Implementing the above will send out a strong signal to immigrants that the Indian nation state means business.

Finally, its fully justifiable to have an immigration policy/mechanism in place to suit a country’s need 

Dr Devjit Srivastava

11 Aug 2018