Shillong 1987
I don't remember which month it was but it was summer! It was just another normal day at school, when a group of boys entered the school premises and asked everyone to leave school. They also told us to stay at home for the next few days. What followed for the next few months could only be thought of as a story by anyone who has not lived it!
We were anyways growing up in an environment where we knew ourselves as outsiders, and we knew the reason...we didn't belong there and we didn't belong anywhere else! We were foreigners in our own country, yes we were foreigners in India.
It was another tribal/non-tribal clash. To be fair, it can't be called a clash as the land supposedly belonged to the tribals and they would resort to violence to create an atmosphere of panic. It was one sided. This year it was directed at the Nepalis however at certain time or the other every non tribal community - the Bengalis, the Punjabi, the Marwaris all suffered. Banners and posters would clearly read 'Non-tribals get out'.
The KSU(Khasi Students Union) took the lead and resorted to violence against the non-tribals. Though initially it was targeted at illegal Bangladeshi however every non tribal community came under the radar. The state Government hardly took any action and watched in silence the death of non-tribals, the setting ablaze of shops and business establishments of the non-tribals, the unnecessary harassment to name a few!The Central Government was silent and indifferent.
When the Students' union leader was detained, what followed was 'blackout'. Yes, we lived in that part of independent India where we had to switch off the lights of our home in the evening. We grew up in the midst of Bandhs and Curfews which were normal and never surprised anyone.
Our schools were closed indefinitely, hurting the young brains and making them fearful of each day. Our school however resorted to taking some classes outside school premises. We went to school in civil dresses, had combined classes with juniors and seniors. We did not have a class routine and lessons were taught on an adhoc basis. We kept learning amidst fear. Yes, we lived that life where we went to school in disguise. We waited for our parents to return home safe, after their work and not a day passed when tension left us. Disruption of Durga Puja celebrations, hurling petrol bombs, deserted streets were the norm of the day.
So began another displacement, non-tribals in large numbers either vacated the tribal dominated areas or left the state for good. Some sold their homes and properties to move to mainland India. Localities were cleansed of non-tribal population. Another kind on an exodus is what had happened unknown to the world at large. This was neither the beginning nor the end of it...
https://do-re-mi-do-re-mi.blogspot.com/2019/06/summer-of-2018.html
I don't remember which month it was but it was summer! It was just another normal day at school, when a group of boys entered the school premises and asked everyone to leave school. They also told us to stay at home for the next few days. What followed for the next few months could only be thought of as a story by anyone who has not lived it!
We were anyways growing up in an environment where we knew ourselves as outsiders, and we knew the reason...we didn't belong there and we didn't belong anywhere else! We were foreigners in our own country, yes we were foreigners in India.
It was another tribal/non-tribal clash. To be fair, it can't be called a clash as the land supposedly belonged to the tribals and they would resort to violence to create an atmosphere of panic. It was one sided. This year it was directed at the Nepalis however at certain time or the other every non tribal community - the Bengalis, the Punjabi, the Marwaris all suffered. Banners and posters would clearly read 'Non-tribals get out'.
The KSU(Khasi Students Union) took the lead and resorted to violence against the non-tribals. Though initially it was targeted at illegal Bangladeshi however every non tribal community came under the radar. The state Government hardly took any action and watched in silence the death of non-tribals, the setting ablaze of shops and business establishments of the non-tribals, the unnecessary harassment to name a few!The Central Government was silent and indifferent.
When the Students' union leader was detained, what followed was 'blackout'. Yes, we lived in that part of independent India where we had to switch off the lights of our home in the evening. We grew up in the midst of Bandhs and Curfews which were normal and never surprised anyone.
Our schools were closed indefinitely, hurting the young brains and making them fearful of each day. Our school however resorted to taking some classes outside school premises. We went to school in civil dresses, had combined classes with juniors and seniors. We did not have a class routine and lessons were taught on an adhoc basis. We kept learning amidst fear. Yes, we lived that life where we went to school in disguise. We waited for our parents to return home safe, after their work and not a day passed when tension left us. Disruption of Durga Puja celebrations, hurling petrol bombs, deserted streets were the norm of the day.
So began another displacement, non-tribals in large numbers either vacated the tribal dominated areas or left the state for good. Some sold their homes and properties to move to mainland India. Localities were cleansed of non-tribal population. Another kind on an exodus is what had happened unknown to the world at large. This was neither the beginning nor the end of it...
https://do-re-mi-do-re-mi.blogspot.com/2019/06/summer-of-2018.html
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