Rites of Passage’s passionate style and rich narrative prose plus rigorous research, are typical of Mr Hazarika’s despatches as an international reporter for the New York Times out of South Asia, and his earlier acclaimed books, Strangers of the Mist: Tales of War and Peace from India’s North East; and Bhopal: The Lessons of a Tragedy.

The voices of the unheard in the entire debate on migration are heard through this book. These are what should help determine policy on a subject as difficult as the movement of people.

Migration has resonance for the subcontinent. It raises extremely touchy emotional issues, for India and Pakistan were born in the bloodshed of Partition, and Bangladesh had a similar, bloody birth.

In parts of India, especially its North East, migration is not just an emotive question but one that is seen as related to the very survival of communities. The Assam students’ movement of the 1970s and 1980s, and other agitations elsewhere have forced even national political parties to take the issue on board. This is an important part of democratic change and debate, to bring greater understanding on a sensitive issue. Unfortunately, much of the discussion has become bogged down in rhetoric. This is where Mr Hazarika’s work comes as a breath of fresh air in policy advocacy.

There are numerous innovative ideas in Rites of Passage. Not only do they shed light on macro issues which need discussion, but they point to the direction of strategies at the ground level which can transform extremely complex problems, in a very difficult area, into opportunities.

Mr Hazarika is acknowledged as a specialist in issues relating to the North East and its neighbourhood. Through other initiatives, he also seeks to promote dialogue and understanding in civil society in that region.

The CPR is glad to have given him a base for this study. We wish to acknowledge the role of the Population Foundation for India as well as HIVOS, the Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries, of the Netherlands, both of which funded the research.

Dr V.A. Pai Panandiker

President

Centre for Policy Research

New Delhi

21 November 2000

Chapter One

Introduction

For more than three years, I have been working on issues relating to the demographic and cultural crisis arising out of the migration of people from Bangladesh into Assam. Constituting a wedge of fertile land in India’s North East which is watered by the Brahmaputra, Assam is hemmed in by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Tibet/China, and other Indian states of the region.