Majuli, ‘island of sorrow’, yearns for better days

Bijay Sankar Bora

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Tribune News Service

Majuli (Assam), March 30

This picturesque river island of Majuli by the Brahmaputra, which has been turned into an island of sorrow for its thousands of backward community people, is yearning for a change that will bring about better days.

Majuli is home to 32 culturally rich vaishnavite monasteries and called the cultural and religious nerve centre of Assam. It has a colourful ethnic tapestry and an environment unique to a river island. It has been vying for the status of UNESCO Word Heritage Site for several years.

“But at the same time, the perennial flood and erosion problem has made the island shrink from original over 1,200 square kilometre area to mere 650 square kilometre land mass. The problem has rendered thousands homeless as piecemeal measures taken by successive governments have failed to tackle the problem. The health service is in shambles, road communication is pathetic and livelihood options are so scarce that common tribal people grope for one to survive,” said Dilip Hazarika at Kamalabari.

“It was for the first time that a Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) visited Majuli, though he came to campaign for BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal who is contesting from Majuli LAC. People who have almost lost faith in politicians, listened to him and are tending to believe that he will connect Majuli to mainland through three bridges across Brahmaputra and improve basic health, education, communication facilities here,” said Binod Payeng, whose village was wiped out by erosion.

He said: “Political parties have exploited gullible Majuli residents by creating a tribal/non-tribal divide. But thousands like us whose life has been devastated by flood and erosion no longer care for what caste we belong to but desperately hope for a respite from this life plagued by poverty and under development.”

Majuli’s incumbent Congress MLA Rajib Lochan Pegu was dropped by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi from his ministry two years ago for failing to address perennial problem of Majuli in the capacity of a minister for water resources. But the Congress has still nominated him this time because he belongs to Mising tribe that comprise over 40 per cent of the total 1.14 lakh voters.

Sanmilita Gana Shakti, a local tribal political party that governs the Mising Autonomous Council and majority of panchayat bodies, has fielded Ranjit Doley in the Assembly polls. The party’s president Dr Ranuj Pegu said: “MLAs from national political parties have over the years proved that they are not capable of wiping off tears from the eyes of Majuli residents.”

Locals’ little hope for change

Perennial flood and erosion has made the island shrink. It has rendered thousands homeless as piecemeal measures taken by successive governments have failed to tackle the problem. The health service is in a shambles and road communication is pathetic. - Dilip Hazarika

It was for the first time that a PM (Modi) visited Majuli, though he came to campaign for BJP’s Sarbananda Sonowal. People who have lost faith in politicians, listened to him and are tending to believe that he will connect Majuli to mainland and improve facilities here. - Binod Payeng