Kids Can Inspire...

This is a conversation between a mom and her five and half year old son. The lady was telling her son (in very simple words) about the problem of illegal immigrants in Assam, the threat it poses to our future generations and on the socio-economic-cultural scenario of the State. The duo was just spending some time with each other in the evening after dinner.

Conversation:

The lady told her son, “I guess, maybe in another 15 years, we will have to immigrate to another part of this globe. Due to the problem of illegal immigration and the many incidents happening in Assam, we will become foreigners here after some years.” She did not try to elaborate the problems as the boy was too young to understand. She was only lamenting about the situation and wanted someone to listen to her, as it looked like a problem that has no solution. She said “We will try for your higher education in London or America.” The little boy was a little annoyed. He was very fond of his house, his neighborhood, his school and his friends.  He said, “Ma, why should we go from our place. This is the place where I was born and am living. If anyone has to leave it is them (the people you told me about), not us.” The mother persisted sadly, “But we are few in numbers and strength, so if we become fewer over the years, there will be no other alternative left”. The little boy got excited, “Few in number. What do you mean by that?”, he continued “ It is not numbers that count, it is DIMAG (Brains) coupled with strength, that will enable us to overcome such problems”. He then started speaking in Hindi (an evident influence of the cartoons) “Hamei aage bahrna hei. Bhagna nehi hei. Tumhe nahi pata?”. (We have to go forward. We cannot flee. Don’t you know this?). “How will they replace us?  They have no idea about how to enter our houses, how to switch on the T.V. or use the bathrooms. We know our place; they have no idea about it”. The innocence of the child coupled with his love for his motherland, brought a smile to his mother’s lips. She did not expect this kind of reaction from her son. She definitely learnt a few lessons from him. He showed her that nothing is impossible. No situation is so bad that it can’t be taken care of. And that the solution lies in the problem itself. She told her little one, “Now you go off to sleep…my boy. You need not worry; we will take care of what rightly belongs to us.”

After thought: 

ü  After the Asom Andolan, that took place in the 80’s there were no proper steps taken to stop infiltration of the people from across the porous border. The Asom Andolan was an attempt to check this immigration of foreigners, but then the leaders of the movement forgot the cause after they came into power.

ü  Over the years there has been unabated infiltration and occupation of our lands, even at the cost of deforestation of the forest regions, displacement of wildlife and rapid cutting down of trees and hills to accommodate the over population in the region.

ü  The economy of Assam has shown almost no growth in the past years, due to over population and dwindling job opportunities.

ü  Land patta and voting rights have been given to these foreigners by our political leaders, thus, making them permanent citizens of the State.

All these are done just to get the votes of these people, so that a Govt. stays in power or that it comes back to power again. Does  holding the reins of power, amassing wealth for their families, living in style, and moving in red light cars and people waiting to meet them, mean so much to them?

Would we ever sell our MOTHER for such small reasons? It is really a shame for the people who gleefully watch all these things happen and don’t even care. Now leaders like Narendra MODI have to come to our State to remind us about our rights and duties. This is heights of ignominy; being indifferent; and hiding our inadequacies under the veil of being accommodating...

If's

• ·       If our political leaders have some patriotism in their hearts and think about their future generations; we would be in a better position.
• ·         If the political leaders think beyond amassing wealth for their sons, grandsons and great grandsons and work towards the development of the State and its people, we would not have thought of fleeing from our own land.
• ·         If he intellectuals of our State take up this issue beyond the discussion forums and work for a proper workable solution; we could have given a better life to young people of our State.
• ·         If the younger generations who work for a livelihood and at the end of the day think about how to improve their lifestyle (by eating out, or going for a movie at a multiplex with friends and family or having a drink every evening) and think beyond the mundane, we can plan a beautiful Assam for the generations to come.

As the saying goes “It is better late than never”.  If we take up this issue, create awareness; and work towards a solution for the betterment of all, we still stand a chance to live in our State with dignity.

And by the way, how many of us really have the opportunity or education to go out of Assam and settle down with our families or to send our children abroad for higher education? The ones who are putting us in troubled waters (the political leaders) have these capacities, so they don’t care.

ARE WE FOOLING OURSELVES?