GUWAHATI, April 24 - The xenophobia spread by certain circles in the State during the end 1970s led Assam to social turmoil. The immigrant Muslims were subjected to frequent persecutions as its result. And today also a vicious atmosphere is sought to be created in the State by certain circles, said noted critic and writer Dr Hiren Gohain.
He was releasing Anupravesh; Asam Andolanar Adi Kotha (Infiltration: Genesis of Assam Movement) written by Prof Abdul Manan at the Kanaklal Barooah Auditorium of the State Museum here yesterday at a function presided over by Prof Chandra Sarma.
Dr Gohain observed that the book has been written by Prof Mannan by analysing the issue objectively, applying the theories of social science and statistics. This has thus become a scientific interpretation of the entire issue.
Referring to the Assam agitation, he said that it initially targeted the Bengali-speaking people. It made the immigrant Muslims its target at a later stage. The rumour that was spread during the process to the bye-election to the Mangaldai Lok Sabha Constituency that lakhs of foreigners� names were there in the electoral rolls of the State was initially not believed by the common people. But later, with the circulation of the excerpts from the Sons of the Soil written by American author Myron Weiner an atmosphere was created which made the common Assamese people believe that one day they would be marginalized in their native place.
The population explosion among the immigrant Muslims, which is often cited as an example of the relentless migration from Bangladesh, has child marriage at its root, contrary to the common belief. The banes of poverty and illiteracy have made these Muslims ignorant about the contraceptives.
Against such a backdrop, the above book penned by Prof Mannan should be widely circulated to generate awareness among the people on the issue and also among the immigrant Muslims to generate awareness about their shortcomings, said Dr Gohain.
Prof Udayaditya Bharali, Dr Dilip Bora, Prof Manirul Hussain, Prof Abu Naser Said Ahmed, Prof Akhil Ranjan Dutta and Dr Jogendra Nath, among others, also spoke on the occasion. The book has been published by city-based Ayna Prakashan and the function was organised by Nyay Aru Samata Dabi Samity, Assam, said a press release here today.
