In Majuli, lotus-shaped hope blooms

BJP’s historic win in Assam has locals desperately hoping for change

WrittenBy:Subhabrata Dasgupta
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The Boatman, by Rocky Barua. Photo courtesy: flickr.com/rockyb
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Twenty-year-old Jaan Hazarika is a proud man today, as are many of his fellow Assamese men from Majuli, and they’re celebrating in front of the counting station to show it. “I am very happy that the state’s Chief Minister belongs to our small island,” said Hazarika, who works various odd jobs as the slogans like ‘Vande Mataram‘, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai‘ and ‘Sarbananda Jindabad‘ resound all around Majuli.

Majuli, which is an island town, is cut off from the rest of the state. It’s only accessible from Jorhat, a major urban centre in Assam, but from there, one has to take a ‘tempu’ (a shared auto). An hour-long bumpy ride brings one to Nimati Ghat, where steamers ferry travellers, along with cars and even scooters, to Kamalabari Ghat in Majuli. It’s picturesque, but this comes with its problems. Connectivity is a major problem. To get a functional network, telecom or internet, one has to take a four-wheel drive (referred to locally as ‘Mazik’) for a 30-minute bouncy ride to nearby Garmur, which has some amenities like a few small shops, a guest house, couple of tea shops, and just one internet café. The last ferry to the mainland leaves at 3pm.

“Majuli is an important cultural centre,” said Hazarika. “I expect the new government is going to develop it as a major tourism destination that will create employment opportunities.” There are many hopes that people in Majuli are nursing right now. After all, it’s here that BJP’s chief ministerial candidate contested during these recent assembly elections that have proven to be historic for the party.

Counting is still going on, but with Congress trailing far behind, it is now a certainty that BJP is going to form its first government in North East India, with its ally Asom Gana Parishad. Sarbananda Sonowal, who contested from Majuli for the party, will be the Chief Minister of Assam.

Talking to media in Majuli, Sonowal expressed his gratitude to the people of Assam. “The people of Assam have given us their love, care and respect,” he said. “The people of Assam have given the BJP much love, and we will pay back in kind, many more times.”

If in fact Sonowal does “pay back in kind”, he has a lot on his hands.

Unemployment is a major issue in Majuli, but it’s one of many. Khargeshwar Das, an elderly voter who is very happy at BJP’s victory, feels the central problem is infrastructure. “Kaam hua hai,” he said. (“Work has been done.”) But not at pace with people’s expectations.”

Ratneshwar Doloi, a BJP worker, was optimistic about the state’s prospects and says, “Now that the state and centre will both have BJP-led governments, it’ll help in the infrastructural development of the region.” Doloi joined the party after he heard Sonowal give a speech during the election campaign in the region. “Last summer, my wife died,” said Doloi. “We could have saved her if there was a proper medical facilities here, or even a proper road to take her to Garmur.” Doloi said he hopes that now, with a new government, there will be a growth in the facilities available.

While the jubilance in the BJP cadre and supporters was evident, the silence on the side of the Congress too was reflective of the party’s disappointment.

“Fifteen years of anti-incumbency is hard to tackle,” said Bhaskar Pegu, a Congress worker. “We are down but not out. It won’t be long before we bounce back with amazing energy. People have accepted us in the past, and they will accept us again in future.”

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