[Assam] Grumbling GAME-Swapnil Bharali (Horizon, The Assam Tribune, July 05, 2008)

[Buljit Buragohain]

 regret ending an article of mine titled ‘Caring NRAs’ (Horizon, February 9, 2008) on a pessimistic note. A subject that I always want to give due credence purely because I am beginning to slowly realize that the best of Assam today resides outside Assam and that the present populace of Assam, including its current political leaders, students, bureaucrats, sportsmen, artists, terrorists, you and me, borders on a quality that hardly makes an impact on the national scene. The article ended thus:

“If NRAs (non-resident Assamese) have to be contributive to Assam, they have to do so with deeds and not words. They have to burn their bridges on their way back and try and work things from the soil of Assam, against the seemingly insurmountable odds” (instead of just giving front-page interviews while on their brief holidays here, else) “they may please remain in their comfort zones and not be bothered about Assam...” (and in which case) “all I can do is quote Clark Gable from Gone with the Wind: ‘Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.’”

Well (sigh!)…Actually I do give a damn. And I cannot help it that I do. This feeling of mine stems from my past experiences and my various interactions with a number of NRAs on an internet discussion forum called Assam Net (1998-2000, if I remember right). I had watched, observed and sympathized with the large number of expatriate Assamese people, the sole topic of concern being Assam. Often, it had appeared to me that these people had indeed missed out on the love for their soil by becoming so career-centric that their desire to earn in dollars/pounds rather than rupees after acquiring their impressive education and skills led them to become expatriates. It had also often crossed my mind, especially seeing the huge amount of time these people spent discussing Assam, that in the process of earning all those dollars/pounds, they had sorely missed being in Assam and were indeed truly concerned that Assam, except for its tea, terrorism and corruption, did
 not find any worthwhile place on the world’s physical, political or commercial map.

Factually speaking, the NRAs were, at that stage in time, very concerned about the terrorism problem of Assam. Not that they aren’t now, but I haven’t had the good fortune to visit ‘Assam Net’ in long years and so commenting on this might just be a mistake. At that stage though, they were so troubled that a few of them, torn as they were between their love for their motherland and their thriving careers in the western world, took an extremely laborious initiative to draft out a lengthy ‘Appeal-for-Peace’ and direct it to all who they thought were part and parcel of the terrorism business in Assam. It was a noble gesture no doubt but to all obvious appearances, a futile wish for peace. I couldn’t blame the NRAs. They were far too removed from the ground realities of Assam to realize the intricacy of its problems and that their appeal would get Assam nowhere on the peace front. Nonetheless, while the appeal was being given shape, there were
 enquiries galore and e-mails flew — the NRAs wanted the newspapers of Assam to publish the appeal so that the ULFA would read it and stop their drivel, New Delhi, Dhaka, Islamabad, Kabul and Rangoon would do the needful in cooperating for peace, Dispur would respond suitably and so finally peace would be ushered into Assam. Everything was fine except for the utterly patronizing tone that the NRAs seemed to adopt (for what they thought was one helluva contribution by them towards their motherland). 

One thing though, stands clear to me: the NRAs for sure, have uninhibited love for their motherland, Assam. It is a pity that they find themselves desperately trying to make a foreign soil their home while their hearts remain forever attached to Assam, their homeland which, eternally, beckons them. And it is pathetic and frustrating that these grumbling, debating, quarreling and yet very concerned NRAs cannot do something substantially more tangible and contributive than what they are doing now because this inadequacy on their part only means a terrible loss for Assam. For me personally though, I can only quote Clark Gable once again!!!

swapnilbharali at yahoo.com

Swapnil Bharali 

(Horizon,The Assam Tribune,July 05, 2008)


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