POLITICS OF IDENTITY AND AUTONOMY MOVEMENTS IN ASSAM: A STUDY OF ITS CAUSES

Abstract

The North-Eastern part of India is popularly known for its diverse culture, social structure, religion and language. At present, this region is a home of various tribes of people and ethnic communities. As a part of North-Eastern India, Assam has also carried the same feature of diversity. Lack of employment opportunities and poverty and also the aimless political process have resulted in gross dissatisfaction among the people. Various ethnic communities from time to time involve themselves in conflict with the local governments on issues over ethnic identity and independence. Firstly, these ethnic groups began their assertions with non-political issues such as development of their language, protection of socio-cultural identity, economic development and so on. But later on, they are shifting their demands from non-political to political. i.e. for separate political identity. At present, Assam has witnessed a good number of ongoing conflicts and movements which voiced their demands for preservation and development of ethnic identity and culture as well as for autonomy for respective ethnic groups. This paper aims to give its focus on the concept of politics of identity and autonomy movement along with the various causes helped to the rise of autonomy movements in Assam.