ROOT IS DECAYING
Today, Assam is one of the poorest and the most problem-ridden states of the country. Natural calamities, mainly floods, insurgency, terrorism, ethnic tension coupled with infiltration and demographical-cultural changes, economic backwardness and poverty, massive unemployment and overall cynicism among youths have brought development to the backyard and progress to a halt.
The economy of Assam represents a unique juxtaposition of backwardness amidst plenty. Growth rate of Assam’s income has not kept pace with that of India’s during the Post-British Era. The Per Capita Income of Assam in comparison to the top ranking nine states/UTs of India during 1980-81 and 2005-06 as below speaks for itself.
The economy of Assam continues to be predominantly agrarian. However, agriculture in Assam is yet to experience modernization and is lagging behind. With 1.5 million hectares of inland water bodies and numerous rivers and streams and 165 varieties of fishes, fish production is still not self-sufficient. Despite being favourable production conditions for tea and petroleum and introduction of a few new industries, Industrial development of Assam is inhibited by its physical isolation from mainstream economy and neighboring countries.
The overall situation is gloomy. Should we remain silent spectators when we know that our roots are decaying?
GIVE NOSTALGIA A CHANCE:
History provides witness to the fact that people with love and passion for their motherland can make a difference. Stagnancy gripped cultural life of Assam caused by elimination of Assamese as official language of Assam during 1836 to 1872. A group of dynamic Assamese students studying in Calcutta University led by Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbarua created an organization ‘Ashomiya Bhasar Unnatisadhini Sabha’(1889) which eventually inspired a renaissance in Assamese literature.
Yes, nostalgic minds with a purpose and in synergy with similar minds can make a difference!
LET’S GIVE BACK AND GET BACK
We the urbanites, away from our native places probably have been doing well in our professional lives. We have been doing well in our professional lives with global exposure, information, confidence, name & fame and money. But what we do miss out on is our connection to our roots.
The people in our native villages (or suburbs) have all the resources. But they need the know-how to utilize them in a better way to garner economic benefits, technology for efficient production and linkages with the markets. But most importantly, they need mentors whom they can trust and who can give them the know-how and confidence. They would have been proud to know our achievements and would have advised their wards to take our guidance. But, engrossed in our own professional lives we are far from their reach- physically and emotionally.
Let’s give back out of what we have and in the process reconnect with our missing roots! That’s what is meant by Pratyavartan.
BRIDGING THE GAP BY WAY OF ‘PRATYAVARTAN’
Pratyavartan does not necessarily mean physically going back to the roots. There are numerous ways to reconnect with the missing root; the motive however shall have to be to contribute. ‘Pratyavartan’ is an initiative to explore the ways to synergize nostalgic minds to act upon and change mindsets of urban and rural population in order to bridge the gap.
Note:
1. Readers interested in knowing more about ‘Pratyavartan’ a concept being promoted by the author may visit www.pratyavartan.com.
2. The author has recently shifted to Assam to initiate an area based integrated rural development for sustainability project to revive and rejuvenate a dead and stagnant river to benefit 20 villages. The primary objective of the project is to create sustainable livelihood for people through mass participation and to bring sustainable development. It is one of the Pratyavartan endeavors.
Sarat Barkakati, New Delhi
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