Assam Association A Study In Regionalism (1903-35)

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D r. Ramesh Chandra Kalita's study of the early contributions of organized middle-class political life to the constitution of Assamese regional iden- tity and its ideology, is a thought-provoking and factually painstak ing attempt to understand a political phenomenon that is playing an important role in Indian politics today. Even among cadres of all-India parties, one can sense its shadowy presence. Yet official political culture and propaganda are strenuously engaged in deny- ing its existence. Intimately related to the subject is the question of the character of the Indian state.

During the heyday of Rajiv Gandhi's "new look" Congress rule, a message used to be repeatedly flashed across the electronic media: "India is multi-lingual and multi-cultural, but not multi- national." It was perhaps presumed that any admission of proto- national character of regional societies might weaken the integrity of the country. But it appears more and more reasonable to assume that the cavalier dismissal of the fact has in fact done more damage to the unity of the country and its diverse population.

In the sixties of the last century, when the concept of the nation-state, following the successful anti-colonial liberation struggles all over the world, was academically becoming an unquestioned dogma, even western academic scholars adopted the presumption of official circles that regional aspirations were anti-national and "fissiparous." (One may cite Selig Harrison's much-acclaimed book, India-The Most Dangerous Decades, appearing in the late fifties.) It was scarcely realized that the monolithic and centralized concept of the state not only concealed the aspirations of an emerging alliance of Indian ruling classes for monopoly-rule, but was going to widen the inequalities and disparities among subdued groups.

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