The Foreigners of Assam

This chapter examines the current nationalist thought in Assam and discourse on Bangladeshi migrants in the state. Assam which is known as a miniature of India, due to its ethnic diversity, has ongoing conflicts between the Bengali Muslims and various other ethnic groups. The formation of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Bengali Muslims’ party in Assam has increased the tension between Bengali Muslims, ethnic communities, and the Hindu nationalists in Assam. This chapter examines the consequences of these recent developments. The interviews with the AIUDF senior leader, representative from the Bengali Muslim community and Assam’s separatist group ULFA, the Hindu and ethnic nationalists, Congress MLA and the civil society members reveal the complex nature of migration from Bangladesh into Assam.