Guwahati: For the ruling BJP AssamProtecting the Vaishnava satraps (monasteries) and namghars (prayer halls) was the key agenda in the 2021 assembly elections, where it registered a thumping victory.
Several Vaishnava-inhabited regions voted decisively in favor of the saffron alliance in the election, a battle of “two civilizations” for the BJP – to oppose the one represented by migrant Muslims. Eight months after the election results, as Assam and Meghalaya As governments finalized a land-swap agreement to settle decades-old border land disputes, it is Vaishnava satraps in villages under the West Guwahati constituency who have protested the handing over of “Assam land”, where their disciples vehemently prevented the alleged Christian invasion of Meghalaya. To perpetuate the Vaishnava culture promoted by the Satras and Namghars.
The influential Rabha community supported Vaishnavism centuries ago around the Mataikhar session in west Guwahati, one of two satraps on the Assam-Meghalaya border, when Christian missionaries were active in the region to conquer the tribal communities here. After retaining the ethos of Vaishnavism in challenging phases despite the support of a few Rabhas and a large number of Garos on the inter-state border ChristianitySatra followers are not ready to give even an inch of land to Meghalaya.
“We are the people of Assam. Our culture, language and education have been Assamese. We will not go to Meghalaya,” said Gajen Rabha, Sessions Officer of Mataikar Satra, one of the oldest satraps on the Assam-Meghalaya border established nearly 500 years ago. The Satras have about 2,500 followers, scattered in several settlements up to Jimirigaon (5 km away), where Meghalaya’s claim is confirmed by the construction of some primary schools and roads built by their government. Nevertheless, the Rabha families living in the plains and hills in this virgin region are linked to Assam through cultural-religious ties. The Netuvajpa session in the nearby Longsai area is another bone of contention where local leaders from Meghalaya have frequently staked their claim since the establishment of two primary schools several decades ago. Netuvajpa Satra has around 1,200 followers, which has given Asom a substantial base session general assembly (ASM), the apex organization of the Sataras, to oppose the handing over of Meghalaya to the areas inhabited by Vaishnava followers in the Boklapara sector.
A total of 1.57 sq km is disputed in the Bokalapara sector and the Assam government, as part of a recent land-swap agreement between the two state governments, has recommended allotment of 0.56 sq km to Meghalaya in this area. The specific pockets recommended to be assigned to Meghalaya are not yet known to local residents, but tensions are rising in the region where the Rabhas, mostly of Hinduism, fear they will lose their Assamese identity, which is no less important than theirs. Is. religious identity.
“Our government should not promote Christianity by recognizing Meghalaya’s right to the ‘Assam land’ protected by Vaishnava disciples in the border areas. Rabha is the community where the formula for converting to Christianity does not work like some other communities in this range,” said ASM general secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta. He said that many Hajong and Konch families on the inter-state border, who are also Vaishnava followers, are not ready to separate from Assam.
“Around 20 Namghars in the border are at risk of land-swap deal. We were already warning the Assam government that the people of Meghalaya are taking the lead in building churches, darbar houses and schools towards Assam,” alleged Mahanta. hem alluvial (47), a resident of Batabari-Bakhalapara village in the same Bokalapara sector, has no Satra linkage but is equally concerned over the government’s move, which may soon reach the implementation stage, if the central government reports on the land agreement. finalizes it. by two state governments
“We are the indigenous people of Assam and speak Assamese even though the boundary was not clear. Who would want to change the place of residence of our brothers and sisters?” asked the badger.
Several Vaishnava-inhabited regions voted decisively in favor of the saffron alliance in the election, a battle of “two civilizations” for the BJP – to oppose the one represented by migrant Muslims. Eight months after the election results, as Assam and Meghalaya As governments finalized a land-swap agreement to settle decades-old border land disputes, it is Vaishnava satraps in villages under the West Guwahati constituency who have protested the handing over of “Assam land”, where their disciples vehemently prevented the alleged Christian invasion of Meghalaya. To perpetuate the Vaishnava culture promoted by the Satras and Namghars.
The influential Rabha community supported Vaishnavism centuries ago around the Mataikhar session in west Guwahati, one of two satraps on the Assam-Meghalaya border, when Christian missionaries were active in the region to conquer the tribal communities here. After retaining the ethos of Vaishnavism in challenging phases despite the support of a few Rabhas and a large number of Garos on the inter-state border ChristianitySatra followers are not ready to give even an inch of land to Meghalaya.
“We are the people of Assam. Our culture, language and education have been Assamese. We will not go to Meghalaya,” said Gajen Rabha, Sessions Officer of Mataikar Satra, one of the oldest satraps on the Assam-Meghalaya border established nearly 500 years ago. The Satras have about 2,500 followers, scattered in several settlements up to Jimirigaon (5 km away), where Meghalaya’s claim is confirmed by the construction of some primary schools and roads built by their government. Nevertheless, the Rabha families living in the plains and hills in this virgin region are linked to Assam through cultural-religious ties. The Netuvajpa session in the nearby Longsai area is another bone of contention where local leaders from Meghalaya have frequently staked their claim since the establishment of two primary schools several decades ago. Netuvajpa Satra has around 1,200 followers, which has given Asom a substantial base session general assembly (ASM), the apex organization of the Sataras, to oppose the handing over of Meghalaya to the areas inhabited by Vaishnava followers in the Boklapara sector.
A total of 1.57 sq km is disputed in the Bokalapara sector and the Assam government, as part of a recent land-swap agreement between the two state governments, has recommended allotment of 0.56 sq km to Meghalaya in this area. The specific pockets recommended to be assigned to Meghalaya are not yet known to local residents, but tensions are rising in the region where the Rabhas, mostly of Hinduism, fear they will lose their Assamese identity, which is no less important than theirs. Is. religious identity.
“Our government should not promote Christianity by recognizing Meghalaya’s right to the ‘Assam land’ protected by Vaishnava disciples in the border areas. Rabha is the community where the formula for converting to Christianity does not work like some other communities in this range,” said ASM general secretary Kusum Kumar Mahanta. He said that many Hajong and Konch families on the inter-state border, who are also Vaishnava followers, are not ready to separate from Assam.
“Around 20 Namghars in the border are at risk of land-swap deal. We were already warning the Assam government that the people of Meghalaya are taking the lead in building churches, darbar houses and schools towards Assam,” alleged Mahanta. hem alluvial (47), a resident of Batabari-Bakhalapara village in the same Bokalapara sector, has no Satra linkage but is equally concerned over the government’s move, which may soon reach the implementation stage, if the central government reports on the land agreement. finalizes it. by two state governments
“We are the indigenous people of Assam and speak Assamese even though the boundary was not clear. Who would want to change the place of residence of our brothers and sisters?” asked the badger.
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