Uday Chetri
This write-up contains two parts. First part deals with the strenuous procedures of filling up and the submission of the application form for updating of NRC 1951 and the second part deals with the most arduous challenges our community had ever faced in defending our rightsto be included in the Clause ‘6’ of the Assam Accord 1985 which we never imagined in our wildest dream too.
The Supreme Court directed the updating of the National Register of Citizens in Assam in2013. Pursuant to this directive, the Registrar General of India issued a formal notification on 6-12-2013 to officially commence the process. The entire NRC process was monitored by the Supreme Court bench of Ranjan Gogoi and Rohinton Fali Nariman. On 30- 07-2018, the firstDraft of updated NRC was published with many names excluded. On 31-08- 2019, the final NRC list was published, excluding 1.9 million people. This NRC updating process in Assamwas a monumental exercise. It was widely considered as one of most extensive and complex citizens- centric identification drive globally. Involving massive resources, significant government effort, momentous cost and affecting nearly every resident with mental anxiety. This exercise is arguably the biggest administrative exercise in Assam’s history to achieve the Assam Accord. At the same time, we cannot therefore, overlook the involvement of every resident and involvement of leaders of all the organisations of ASSAM irrespective of caste and creed and their intellectual fraternity in these massive exercises ever held in Assam to assist the common fellow citizens filling up the NRC form. Fortunately, we had among us a learned, sagacious retired Indian Administrative Service officer, dedicated social worker and a litterateur of repute Shri D.B. Chhetri. During that time, everywhere there was confusionamong the people because of very cumbersome process of filling up the application form.That was very lengthy process of finding and filling up the forms ascertaining the family tree and legacy data etc. Now, I do not have to write here elaborately how every household of our community in Assam faced the brunt. Because every one of us was riding in the same boat.Subsequently, the issue came up regarding non-categorisation of our community as original inhabitants of Assam during the updating of NRC 1951.
Without mentioning the unwavering commitment and devotion of Shri D.B.Chherty in the runup to the filling out and submission of NRC application forms in the NSK by our people, his role in compiling and writing the historic Memorandum on CLAUSE 6 of Assam Accordwill remain incomplete. It is, therefore imperative to outline Shri D.B.Chhetry’s role inmitigating the difficulties associated with filling in and submitting the application form in the NSK. This goal could be achieved simultaneously and precisely under his able guidance. Our people in particular, all-over Assam were very much worried. It was Akhil Assam GorkhaSammelan which called a meeting of finest minds, intellectuals and renowned personalities, social workers, politicians of our community for the first time in Hotel Atithi, Paltan Bazar Guwahati on 01-03-2015. All the organisations of our community attended to discuss abouthow our community should proceed and gather relevant documents for filling up the NRC forms. This meeting was attended by all the known organisations of our community. In this meeting a decision was taken as per the advice of Shri D. B. Chhetry to printout a Pamphlet in Nepali Language containing detail instructions spelling out the procedures to be followedin filling up the application forms and listing out documents clearly that are necessary. We cannot ignore the role of the proprietor of the Hotel Athiti Shri Yubraj Sharma too. His unwavering support physically, rationally, and logistically during those challenging period through which our community had to pass, will always be reminisced.
Shri D.B. Chhetry also visited many areas in Assam organising awareness programmes explaining the importance of filling up of application forms. Shri D. B. Chettry along with the team of Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan attended such awareness programmes distributing pamphlets and advising the people how to fill up the application form and how to search legacy data, etc. Because, as we knew how cumbersome was the process of filling up the form and submitting the same in the NSK at the beginning.
Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha under the Presidentship of Shri Damber Dahal organised meetings on dated 03-04-2015 and 12-04-2015 at Nepali Mandir, Nowgaon and Amlighat near Jagiroad respectively inviting all organisations. AAG attended these meetings led byShri D.B.Chhetry along with Late Kashinath Upadhaya, Uday Chetri and Kumar Chetri.District representatives of ANSS from almost every part of Assam including Dr, Chinta Mani Sharma, the then General Secretary of Nepali Sahitya Sabha Assam and Late Agni Sharma of BOKAKHAT also attended this meeting. Shri D.B.Chhetry apprised the delegates about themeeting held with the state co-ordinator Shri Prateek Hajela, NRC, Assam on 09-03-2015 and handed over a representation regarding clarifications and conflicting data on some aspects of NRC. A team of AAGS led by Shri D. B. Chhetry called on State co-ordinator on 05-05-2015 and submitted a memorandum to delve into the difficulties encountered in some NSKs and sought clarification on certain essential points while filling up application by our community.
On 11-04-2015 a team led by Shri D. B. Chetri consisting of Shri Kashinath Upadhaya,President of AAGS, Shri Uday Chetri and Shri Kumar Chetry visited Boko for awareness meeting on NRC where people from remote areas like HEKRA attended the meeting in large number. The meeting was organised by Kamrup Zilla Kalyan Samity, Boko. The meeting was presided over by the President of KZNKS, Boko, Shri Nilamani Upadhaya, Professor of Boko College and Shri Dilip Chetri, General Secretary KZNKS and representatives from various parts of Rural kamrup, surrounding areas of Goalpara like Hekra, Mandira, Lampi and Dodhnoi attended the meeting. The meeting dealt with the awareness programme for updating of NRC. Shri D. B. Chhetry elaborately explained the guidelines of NRC updatingprocess. We also distributed the leaflets printed in Nepali Language for understanding the guidelines easily. The leaflet was printed by AAGS. KZNKS, Boko did stupendous work for the villagers helping to find out the names in the Legacy data. They maintained Register for every village of Nepali/Gorkha including Lampi of the CO-district, Boko. Even Lampi which is predominantly inhabited by the Gorkhas did splendid job in the runup to the arduousactivities of searching legacy data, family tree, filling up the application form and ultimately submitting in the NSK (NRC Seva Kendra)
On12-07-2015, Shri D. B. Chhetry, Uday Chetri and Dr. Tirtha Nath Upadhay called on Assam Sahitya Sabha’s President Dr. Dhrbajyoti Bora at his residence and handed over a memorandum apprising him of the difficulties faced by the Gorkhas/Nepalis in filling up the NRC form. AAGS thanked Assam Sahitya Sabha for adopting draft proposal for automatic inclusion of names of all original and indigenous inhabitants of Assam including Nepali/Gorkha community on 09-7-2015. The apex literary body of the state has unanimously prepared a draft proposal in this regard and the Sabha will file a writ petition in the Supreme court by July 12th 2015, Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bora the President of Assam Sahitya Sabha informed this delegation.
Meanwhile, on the issue of original inhabitants i, e Khilongia, a separate memorandum was submitted to the then Minister of revenue and Assam Accord implementation Deptt. Dr. Bhumidhar Barman who headed the cabinet subcommittee on11-01-2016. This memorandum has been published in Assamese in a booklet (akhom suktir shai Nang Dafar ullekhit ‘Akhamiya’ Khangyat Akhamar Nepali Janagostir Antarbhukti khambandhay Khanmalit Tathya Khamoh) form and distributed all over ASSAM detailing the history of Gorkhas/Nepalis and also given to other prominent organisations of Assam. It was the brain child of Shri D. B. Chhetry. The delegation was comprised of Shri Kumar Chetri, Shri Om prakash Sharma, Shri Pitamber Joshi and the delegation was led by Shri Uday Chetri, Vice president, AAGS.
As the days rolled by, some disturbing facts about NRC updating came to light, particularly about the expression “Original Inhabitants”. Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan in collaboration with its advisors namely Shri B.L. Sharma (Retd.) Industrial Tribunal,Dibrugarh, former Hon’ble M.P Shri R.P. Sharma and Shri D.B. Chhetry anticipateddeprivation and discriminatory mindset in the NRC updating process as regards classification in case of identifying “O.I.” Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan in its sole initiative on 14-07-2016 organised a meeting held at Hotel Athiti, Paltanbazar inviting all Nepali/Gorkha stakeholders/Organisations in Guwahati. This meeting was conspicuous by the absence of the oldest organisation “Assam Gorkha Sammelan”. All other organisations attended the meetingincluding All Assam Gorkha Student Union. The newly elected members of Assam Legislative Assembly namely Shri Ganesh Limbu and Shri Bhaskar Sharma graced the occasion with their valuable suggestions. The formation of the Gorkha Joint Action Committee was outcome of this meeting with Shri D.B. Chhetry as chief co-ordinator, Shri Uday Chettri and Shri Rakesh Chetri as co-ordinators to draft out a memorandum to be submitted to Chief Minister of Assam, Union Home Minister, and Registrar General of India in course of time. The memorandum to the chief minister of Assam was submitted on 11-07-2016. The memorandum comprehensively elucidates the history of Nepalis/Gorkhas in Assam starting from the days of NaraKasur. It also throws light on the Census records of 1872, the first ever census operation in undivided Assam of Nepalis/Gorkhas of Assam. It further reiterates remarkable contribution of Nepalis/Gorkhas in the Freedom movement and the sacrifices of our people in Assam Agitation were aptly acknowledged as martyrs by the people of Assam. State Government’s recognition of Nepali Cultivators and Graziers as protected class in Tribal Belts and Blocks and also conferred OBC status to Nepali/Gorkhasof Assam itself were well within the parameters of constitutional provisions without which it could not have been executed. A 15-member delegation from different organisations of our community except Assam Gorkha Sammelan and All Assam Gorkha Student Union representatives led by Shri Dal Bahadur Chetri called on the Chief Minister of Assam Shri Sarbananda Sonowal on 11-07-2016. After meeting the Chief minister, The Gorkha Joint Action Committee was dissolved.
A delegation comprising of Shri Uday Chetri, Vice president, Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan, Shri N.N. Upadhay, President Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh, Assam unit, Shri Bhabani Prasad Sharma, Vice president, Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha. Dr. Hem Chandra Gautam, Head of the department of commerce, Guwahati University, Shri Bimal Chetri, Sr.Advocate, Guwahati High court, Shri Narayan Sharma, Advisor, Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan and Shri Kumar Chetri, Secretary, Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan along with Shri Sanjay Kumar Chetri Advocate Delhi High Court led by Shri D.B. Chhetry, called on Registrar General of India on 20-07-2016 and submitted the memorandum detailing the comprehensive history of our community in Assam and how it was being deprived of the status of ‘O.I’ in spite of their sacrifices recorded in the history for development of present day Assam. The RGI assured the delegation of taking up the matter with the state Co-ordinator and the State Government.
On 22-7-2016, the same team led by Hon’ble member of Parliament, Shri R. P. Sharma also called on the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh at his residence and apprised him of the conundrum faced by the people of our community while dealing with various stages of the update process of the NRC. It was altogether a 10-day self-financed tour.
After returning from New Delhi all the stakeholder organisations were invited for a meeting in the premises of Nepali Mandir, Paltan Bazar, Guwahati on 07-08-2016 to apprise them of the outcome of the meetings with the RGI and Home Minister. Almost a month elapsed since we met RGI and the Home Minister, we did not receive any reply from them. Subsequently RGI was requested to let us know about the action taken from his end through e-mail dt.08-08-2016. Again on 12-08-2016 reminder was sent to RGI through e-mail. Receiving no reply, Shri D.B.Chhetry spoke to Shri Sailesh Kumar, RGI over phone and enquired about the matter on 19-08-2016. He informed Shri D.B.Chhetry that he was waiting response from the State Govt during discussion. Meanwhile a meeting was fixed by the State co-ordinator on 23-08-2016 on NRC to discuss about the clarification on ‘OI’ issued by latter in the newspaper. It was without any iota of doubt that this is the outcome of the constant follow up and continuous persuasion of the matter by non-other than Shri D.B. Chhetry. A delegation led by Shri D.B. Chhetry comprised of Shri Uday Chetri, Vice President, AAGS, Shri N.N.Upadhay, President, BGP Assam unit, Shree Durga Khatiwada, Vice President, ANSS, Shri Bimal Chetri, Sr. Advocate, Guwahati High Court, Shree Ganga Dhakal, Gen. Secy, AAGS called on State Co-ordinator. A memorandum was submitted detailing the history of Nepali/Gorkhas in Assam Agitation. Two separate representations were also submitted seeking clarification on ‘O.I’ issued through newspapers by the State Co-ordinator and a list of the titles/Sub Titles/Surnames of Nepalis/Gorkhas of Assam was also handed over to the State Co-ordinator so that at the time of scrutiny in the NSK, the officials do not getconfused. Shri Prateek Hajela appeared to have been very much impressed with our Memorandum and the list of Titles/Sub-Titles/Surnames of our community. Searching and finding the titles/Sub Titles and Surnames of our community was a herculean task which was accomplished by Shri D.B.Chhetry. We had more than two hours of discussion with State Co-ordinator on NRC. It was satisfying and very good discussion ranging almost every aspect of NRC.
On 21-11-2018 called on Mrs. Kangana Mahanta, IAS, Executive Director, NRC, Assam and submitted a memorandum as regards Grazing permit, Title mismatch and list of titles, surnames and castes which was also submitted to the State Co-ordinator on 23-08-2016. The delegation was led by Shri D.B.Chettry and accompanied by AAGS President, Shri Narayan Sharma, Shri Uday Chetri, Shri Agraj Chetri, Shri Pitamber Joshi, Shri Akhil Sharma and Shri Mohan sharma.
Under the leadership of Shri D.B. Chhetry, we paid goodwill visit to various intellectuals, educationists, writers, litterateurs, social workers of Assamese community and even politicians of Assam to apprise them of our enigma as regard non-inclusion of our community’s name under ‘O I’ category. And sought for their advices.
0n 8-03-2019, we called on Samudra Gupta Kashyap, Free lance Journalist under the leadership of Shri D.B.Chhetri. The delegation was comprised of Dr.Khagen Sharma and myself at his residence at Panjabari.
A delegation comprising of Shri Naba Sapkota, Durga Khatiwada, Dr, Khagen Sharma and myself led by Shri D.B.Chhetri called on Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bora on 16-03-2019 at his residence at M.G.Path bye lane on the G.S.Road opposite Christian Basti. We spent about two hours discussing various apprehensions arose in the minds of our people as regards implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and about the cut off year fixed as 1951 to determine the Original Inhabitant. He informed us about a writ petition filed by Assam Sahitya Sabha in the Supreme court for inclusion of the communities belonging to the ST, SC, ST(H), OBC, MOBC should unconditionally be included under the categories of O.I. As per the Sabha’s draft proposal, people belonging to the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes beside those belonging to OBC and MOBC including the tea Tribes and ex-tea tribes and 12 communities of Nepali origin living in Assam, should have automatic entry to the NRC. He further suggested us to file a writ petition in the constitutional bench which is going to start the hearing after the publication of final draft of the NRC ON 31ST July 2019. After the discourse lasted for about more than two hours, I have handed over the HistoricalMemorandum submitted earlier to the various head of the then Govts. both State and the Central.
An exhaustive discussion was held at Dr. Kamal Chetry’s residence among Shri D. B.Chhetry, Dr. Kamal Chetry, Shri Uday Chetri, Dr. Deben Sapkota, Shri Durga Khatiwad and Shri Agraj Chetri to name committee as Nepali Bhasi Kakyan Samiti on 24-3-2019
Shri D.B.Chhetry led yet another delegation on 26-03-2019, comprising of Shri Durga Khatiwada, Shri Ganesh Limbu, M L A , Dr. Khagen Sharma, Shri Uday Chetri, Dr. Deben Sapkota, Shri Ranjib Sharma, Shri Dawa Sang Lama, Shri Agraj Chetri, Dr, Tirthanath Upadhay called on Chief Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal at his residence under the banner of Nepali Bhasi Kalyan Samiti.
A delegation of Nepali Bhasi Kalyan Samiti called on Hon’ble Minister Shri Himanta Biswa Sharma on 01-04-2019 under the leadership of Shri D.B. Chhetry along with Shri Durga Khatiwada, Dr. Kamal Chetri, Shri Uday Chetri, Dr. Khagen Sharma, Shri D.S. Lama and Dr. Deben Sapkota and Agraj Chetri. Discussion with the Hon’ble Minister was focussed on Clause ‘6’.
We called on Shri Sumanta Chaliha who was one of the members High Level Committee constituted by the MHA, Govt. of India on 15th July 2019. The delegation was comprised of Dr. Khagen Sharma, Dr. Deben Sapkota, Shri Agraj Chetri, Shri Uday Chetri, Shri Nabaraj Khanal, Shri Dhakaram Kaflay and led by Shri D.B. Chhetry. On the onset we profusely thank him for writing about Nepali/Gorkhas in a writeup (Akhamiya Khilanjia Nepali khampradayer Marma Baydana) published in “Khadin” weekly newspaper dated 16-08-2019. We spent about one and half hours focussing mainly on the categories dividing the entire population of Assam viz Indigenous Tribal Assamese, Indigenous Assamese and other indigenous Assamese of Assam. We asked him which category we belong to. He replied 3rdcategory. And we also asked him whether we can enjoy the provisions under Clause “6” or not. He replied, they must produce 1951 documents or prior to that and they must have written Assamese as mother tongue during census operations.
On 30-08-2019, under the leadership of Shri D.B.Chhetry, a delegation comprising of Dr. Khagen Sharma, Dr. Deben Sapkota, D.S.Lama, myself and Agraj Chetri called on Shri Arabinda Rajkhow at his residence. More than two hours of discussion was held ranging various issues pertaining to our community. He was very much in favour of our community to be included under ‘O.I’ category. He also requested us to let him know saliant points for study about us. He would raise our conundrum in the meetings he was going to attend. This meeting was arranged by Shri Ranjib Sharma, Chairman, Sita Jakhala. A copy of the Memorandum was also handed over to him.
(CLAUSE IV)
Clause ‘6’ of the 1985 historic Assam Accord mandates constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve, and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the indigenous Assamese people. It stems from Assam Movement, aiming to secure political, land and cultural rights for indigenous communities against illegal emigrants. The first High- level Committee was constituted on 7th January 2019 to implement the clause 6 of the Assam Accord with retired Union Secretary M.P. Bezbaruah appointed as its chairman. Later on, the committee became infructuous (failed to function) because six of the nine members, including the Chairman declined to be part of the panel, primarily due to protest for Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and discontentment among the various stakeholders.
Following this failure, Govt of India, Ministry of Home Affairs reconstituted a new 14-members High Level Committee for implementation of Clause VI of Assam Accord 1985 headed by retired Judge Justice Biplab Kumar Sharma vide Notification No.11012/04/2019-NE VI Dated 15th July, 2019 for implementation of Clause VI and later on issued a Public Notice on September 16, 2019 calling upon all the stakeholders, social organisations, individuals etc.to give their views, comments, suggestions on measures to be taken as regards the following: Reservation of seats in Lok Sabha, Bidhan Sabha, Local Bodies for indigenous people of Assam. Protection in employment under Govt. of Assam, Central Govt, Semi Central Govt. PSU and Private sector in Assam. Measures for protection, preservation of cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the indigenous tribal, indigenous Assamese and other indigenous people of Assam and protection of land right of indigenous tribal, indigenous Assamese and other indigenous people of Assam.
Actual exercise of writing a comprehensive memorandum to be submitted to the High-Level Committee virtually begun following a brainstorming session organised by Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, a premier literary organisation of Assam inviting all non-political organisations, intellectuals, historiographers, and litterateurs of the community to deliberate and decide the course of actions to be initiated vis-à-vis clause VI of the Assam Accord on 17-03-2019. This meeting was held in the auditorium of the State Museum, opposite Dighali Pukhori, Guwahati. The house was packed with many delegates from different Districts of Assam. In this meeting too all most all the organisations of our community were present except AAGSU. Shri Bhaskar Dahal, General Secretary of Assam Gorkha Sammelan was the lone member present in the meeting. The inaugural speech was delivered by Shri D. B. Chhetry. In his speech, he elaborately explained detailing the challenges encountered while writing the memorandums submitted to different heads of the state including State co-ordinator, Chief Minister, Union Home Minister and Register General of India after the notification of updating of NRC 1951 in Assam.
After comprehensive deliberation in the house covering all aspects of the issues, a Core Committee was constituted under the guidance and leadership of the sagacious personality Shri D. B. Chhetry. The core committee was comprised of Shri Naba Sapkota as Vice President, Dr Khagen Sharma, Shri Uday Chetri, Shri D. S. Lama, Dr. Deben Sapkota, Shri Agraj Chetri as members. Since the day on 17th march 2019 the committee was constituted and it took exactly 7(seven months) to complete the compilation of the memorandum having 187 pages including annexures. Shri D. B. Chhetri and his team carried out wide-ranging ground works to search Prehistoric and historical background in connection with the migration of Nepali/Gorkha and its settlement in Assam since the commencement of the updating of NRC 1951 for which Gazette notification was notified on December 6th ,2013.
On 18-08-2019 a general meeting was called at AROHAN, Sarvey Guwahati to apprise all the stakeholder organisations and intellectuals besides the members of the samity about the Memorandum. The Memorandum was discussed thoroughly highlighting the pros and cons very minutely because it would decide the future of the community. Shri D.B. Chhetry elucidated the Memorandum clause by clause. It took almost two hours to deliberate on the Memorandum in its entirety.
At the time of submission of the Memorandum to The High-Level Committee some rift cropped up among the stake holders on the issue of submission of the memorandum. Some wanted to submit the same Memorandum in the name of their respective organisation. But, the problem was solved amicably and agreed to sign unanimously by all the organisations in a meeting held on 18-09-2019 in the residence of wise and discerning personality Shri D. B. Chhetry in presence of all the organisations vis a vis Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Assam Gorkha Sammelan, Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan, All Assam Gorkha Student Union and Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha including other imminent personalities of our community.
We have completed compilation of the Historic memorandum under the astute leadership of Shri D. B. Chhetry and fulfilled the responsibility entrusted upon us in a meeting held at State Museum Auditorium under the patronage of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha on 17th march 2019. On 20-09-2019 we handed over the Memorandum to the Nodal Officers appointed by Home Ministry, Govt of Assam, Shri Prasanta Kumar Kathkatia and Shri Prabin Chandra Bora. The delegation was led by Shri D. B.Chhetry. Accordingly on 2-12-2019, High Level Committee summoned the delegates of our community for hearing. All the stake holding organisations of our community were present in the Hearing.
High level committee submitted its report to the state Government on 10th February 2020. Since the State Govt. delayed to put it in the public domain for about 5 months, All Assam Student Union a constituent of the 14-member High Level Committee (HCL) on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord made the confidential report public due to Government’s delay in acting upon it
On 29-09-2019, Lok Jagaran Manch, Assam, organised a meeting in B. Baruah College auditorium which was attended by a very large crowd. The speakers included very renowned personalities and social activists like APW’S Abhijit Shama, Advocate Bijan Mahaja, Smt. Anjali Daimari, Shri Aditya Khaglari, Retd. Judge Shri Agarwala and many other Students Unions’ (mostly Tribal except Bodo Student Union and ASSU) Presidents. In the meeting, everybody rejected the final NRC published on 31st August 2019 which was full of faults. Every speaker reiterated that the cutoff year must be 1951.
Shri D. B. Chhetry spoke in details about our community’s embarrassing situation if the cutoff date is fixed 1951. Of course, he explicitly reiterated about our historical background and let the massive crowd know why most of the people of our community could not produce the relevant documents of 1951 and prior to 1951. Even he talked about the Grazing permits issued during British era. Our people were extremely apprehensive for not able to do so.
The compilation and execution of his writing is a gift, evident in his impeccable panache. He has been compiling and writing representations and memoranda throughout the period spanning almost 9 years since the time of announcement of updating of NRC 1951, Assam. His commitment to the task was remarkable, especially given its herculean and time-consuming nature. His indomitable spirit in finding the crux of the problem while compiling historical events that decide the future of our community was immensely praiseworthy. Unless he is confident in any historical data, he relentlessly continues to search for it. To ensure relevance and authenticity, he never gave in, despite facing all the obstacles while gathering information, data, numbers, facts and figures. We had to visit quite frequently to District Library, Guwahati and Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies, Assam. Narayani Handique Historical Institute, Pan bazar, Guwahati to find historical books and other relevant written articles, reports, records, newspapers, and other documentary proof of our community. Of course, we must admit and appreciate the suggestions and the advice that Shri Bishnulal Sharma put forward time and again drawing from his vast knowledge and study of the prehistoric, historic, social and ethnic cultural legacy of the community. Shri BishnuLal Sharma, in his book ( Asomiya-Nepali Manuhar Itibritta) has elaborately described it.
This historic feat of compiling the memorandum could have been achieved under the astute leadership of Shri D. B .Chhetry whose unwavering commitment and perseverance at the age of over 80 years at the time of compiling of the Memorandum is simply unprecedented. A deep commitment to leaving a lasting legacy for the future generation is reflected in his irresistible and untiring efforts throughout the entire period since the announcement of updating of NRC. Such historic feat could not have been accomplished with such precision in so short a time frame without the devotion and the inner urge to do something for the future generation. At the same time, we must acknowledge the humble efforts and allegiance put together by Dr. Khagen Sharma, Dr. Deben Sapkota, Shri D.S.Lama, Shri Agraj Chetri, Shri Kumar Chetri, Shri Bisnulal Sharma, Dr.Khemraj Nepal, Shri Mitradev Sharma.
(Writer is a Prominent Social Worker. Address: Noomati, Guwahati, Contact No. 7002830699)
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