Boycotting armed militants on auspicious days

A decade back, when I used to contribute news based articles with photographs for various media outlets, I had an astonishing experience while sending a photograph relating the Independence Day celebration in Guwahati Press Club for a New Delhi based news magazine.At that time, the observation of I-Day (also the Republic Day on January 26) in the insurgency-stricken northeast India was a mere government programme across the region under high security covers as the armed militants imposed strict diktats over the celebrations. The people in general of the region avoided the observation mostly because of militants’ threat. So both August 15 and January 26 were assumed as public holidays in the region. Unless on duty, the government officials (not to speak of others) also kept themselves indoors to avoid unwanted situations, as the separatist militants indulged in violence from time to time. Moreover they used to enjoy significant influence and support bases too at that time.

Naturally, when a group of Guwahati based journalists observed R-Day in 2001, there were around ten participants. They first hoisted the National flag at Guwahati Press Club and then took out a brief procession on the street.

Nava Thakuria

To read full text online subscribe the magazine

OR

 Get the copy of the magazine for details contact at email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.