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In the India state of Assam, raging fires engulfed homes, smoke covered the skies, and terrified people fled in all directions. The riots eventually left 73 people dead, 35,000 displaced and more than 1,700 houses reduced to ashes.
This is no accident, in fact, similar violent conflicts have continued in the land since India's independence.
Back in 1983, it was also in Assam that an even bloodier massacre shocked the world, and in just one and a half months, more than 3,000 lives were lost in the flames of hatred.
What is it that makes this land a purgatory on earth? The answer goes straight to the heart: **separatism**.
Assam, which covers less than 3% of India's land, has become a chronic disease that plagues the India government like a maggot on the tarsal bone.
For no other reason, its special geographical location determines that once it gets out of control, it will have incalculable consequences for India and even shake the foundation of the entire country.
To understand separatism in Assam, we must look into the depths of history. Unlike the rest of India, Assam is not very well connected to the India subcontinent.
In the 7th century AD, it was part of Tibet; In the 13th century, the Ahong Dynasty was established and became the territory of the Yuan Dynasty of China; In the 19th century, United Kingdom colonists invaded and forcibly incorporated it into British India.
It was not until India became independent in the 20th century that Assam was annexed to India. This complex history has left Assam and India with a lack of cultural identity and sown the seeds of separatism.
However, history is only the fuse, and what really makes the fire of separatism burn is the long-standing neglect and inaction of the central government of India.
Assam is remote and has a level of economic development that lags far behind the India average. In India's first long-term plan, the six northeastern states were even completely ignored, and it was only after popular protests that a project was symbolically allocated in the second plan.
This economic inequality has exacerbated local dissatisfaction with India's central government and provided fertile ground for separatism.
To add insult to injury, Assam is also a multi-ethnic and multi-religious region. Assamese, Bengalis, Bodo, India and other ethnic groups live here in a mixture of India religions, Islam, Christianity and other religious beliefs.
The contradictions between different ethnic groups and religions are intricate, and conflicts occur from time to time. However, when dealing with these contradictions, the central government of India often lacks effective means, and even adopts simple and crude methods, which further intensifies social contradictions and adds fuel to the fire of separatism.
Under the interweaving of historical, economic, ethnic, and religious factors, the separatist forces in Assam have continued to grow.
According to statistics, there are at least 72 separatist groups active in Assam and surrounding areas, many of which have strong armed forces, such as the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Assam.
The demands of these groups varied, ranging from the desire for independence to the desire to join neighboring countries such as Myanmar. But their ultimate goal is the same: to free India from domination.
To achieve this, these isolated tissues go to great lengths. They smuggled weapons, drugs, timber, etc., and amassed a huge fortune; They extort local government employees and enterprises, and even form a kind of "disguised taxation";
They also transfer funds overseas for investment to provide themselves with ongoing financial security. The India government has repeatedly encircled and suppressed these groups, but all of them have failed.
The reason for this, in addition to the strength of the separation organization itself, is also closely related to the complex geographical environment of Assam.
Located in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, Assam has a complex topography and dense jungles, providing a natural hiding place for separatist groups.
What's more, Assam shares borders with countries such as China and Myanmar, and its borders are loosely managed, making it easier for separatist groups to carry out cross-border activities. Once the India government encircled and suppressed, members of the separatist groups could easily flee to neighboring countries, leaving the India government helpless.
The India government is not unaware of the seriousness of the problem, and over the years, it has tried to solve the separatist problem in Assam by force, peace negotiations, and other means, but the results have not been satisfactory.
The separation organization is like a small strong that cannot be killed, the wildfire is inexhaustible, and the spring breeze blows and grows. The reason for this is that the India government has never been able to get to the root of the problem.
The India government is so jealous of the separatist forces in Assam not only because of its internal chaos and violence, but also because of the special geographical location of Assam.
Open the map of India, you will find that in the northeast of India, there is a narrow corridor connecting India mainland and the six northeastern states, which is the famous Siliguri corridor.
At its narrowest point, the corridor is only 23 kilometers and is like a fragile "chicken intestine" that connects the heart and limbs of India. Assam, on the other hand, is at the choke point of this corridor.
Once Assam becomes independent, the Siliguri corridor will be severed, the six northeastern states of India will become "islands", and the connection with India mainland will be completely severed. At that time, India will not only lose a large part of its territory and population, but also face huge geopolitical risks.
Historically, India has repeatedly clashed with its neighbors over the Siliguri Corridor. In 1962, the Sino-Indian border war broke out, and the People's Liberation Army once approached the Siliguri corridor, and the gateway to New Delhi, the capital of India, was opened, and the government and the opposition were shaken.
This incident has left an indelible psychological shadow on India. And the separatism in Assam has undoubtedly touched the most sensitive nerve in India once again.
To make matters worse, separatism in Assam could also have a "domino effect". India is a patchwork of ethnic, religious and cultural patchwork, with complex internal contradictions.
In addition to Assam, there are other states in the six north-eastern states that also have separatist tendencies. If Assam succeeds in becoming independent, it will inevitably have a huge encouraging effect on separatist forces in other states, triggering a chain reaction that will eventually lead to the disintegration of India as a whole.
Faced with the "hot potato" of Assam, the India government is in a dilemma. They are well aware of the seriousness of the problem, but they have never been able to find an effective solution.
Suppression by force will only exacerbate contradictions, intensify conflicts, and ultimately lift a stone to shoot oneself in the foot. In the peace talks, it is difficult to find a solution acceptable to all parties, let alone to guarantee that the separatist groups will keep their promises.
In fact, the India government has also tried some soft policies, such as implementing economic development plans in Assam to improve local livelihoods, and trying to eliminate separatism through economic development.
But these measures have had little effect. On the one hand, India's central government grants often fall into the pockets of corrupt officials, and very little really benefits the people;
On the other hand, economic development is a long process, and it is difficult to change the backward appearance of Assam in a short period of time, let alone bridge the historical and cultural barriers.
More worryingly, nationalist sentiment in India has been rising in recent years, India religious nationalism is gaining momentum, and the exclusion and suppression of ethnic minorities and religious beliefs have also semakin intensified. This will undoubtedly further exacerbate the ethno-religious contradictions in Assam and provide new soil for separatism.
The separatist issue in Assam is a concentrated manifestation of India's internal contradictions and a mirror of the India government's ability to govern. This issue is not only about India's territorial integrity, but also about India's future destiny.
Assam, a seemingly inconspicuous land, is pulling India's nerves and affecting the situation in the entire South Asian region.
For the India government, Assam is a "chicken rib", tasteless to eat, and it is a pity to abandon it. How to solve the separatist problem in Assam will be a difficult problem that will test the wisdom and ability of the India government.
For the people of Assam, they yearn for peace, for development and, above all, for a better future. However, in the shadow of separatism, their hopes seem so slim.
Where is the future of Assam? Will we continue to be mired in separatism, or will we be able to find a path to peace and development? This is a question that perhaps only time will tell.
Resources:
The Ethnic Problem in Assam, India and Its Coping Strategies, South Asian Studies Quarterly, 2012
Analysis of Northeast India's Separation and the Spillover of Terrorist Activities to the So-called "Arunachal Pradesh", International Forum, 2011
Why are there so many riots and clashes in Northeast India? 》 Huanqiu.com May 19, 2023