Deprivation of Citizenship in Assam: A Burning Script by Kamal Chakraborty
People will live all over the world
The world belongs to the people
আসামে নাগরিকত্ব হরণের দহনলিপি
বিশ্বজুড়ে থাকবে মানুষ, লেখক - কমল চক্রবর্তী
বিশ্বজুড়ে থাকবে মানুষ
পৃথিবীটা জনতার
I am working on translating the book আসামে নাগরিকত্ব হরণের দহনলিপি // Transliteration: Assam-e Nagorikottwo Horoner Dohonlipi by Kamal Chakraborty from Bangla to English. I will be posting parts of the book, mainly the case studies mentioned in the book, every week or every other week as and when the translation progresses. When I spoke to Kamal Chakraborty, seeking his permission, support, and blessings before I start the rather daunting task of translating his book, he mentioned something that captures the essence of his work and what I am trying to do. He mentioned, this book is a warning to the rest of the state where NRC is yet to be implemented, to understand what went through with the people of Barak, the people of Assam. People need to know what went down after the sword of citizenship test was put down upon lakhs of people. Having worked on the ground, he has collected enough stories and evidence of pain and bureaucratic trauma unleashed upon people. My interest is in translating these stories from Bangla to English so that people can read them, can reach a wider audience. I hope in the coming weeks or months, this is translated into other Indian languages so that people can read, know, organise, collectivise, and fight it better and learn from the experience of Assam.
A few details about the book and the publishers of the original book written in Bangla
The book was first published in February 2021 by Kotha Bikolpo Pariwar, Silchar, Assam. The book was further edited and came into existence thanks to Sreelekha Sengupta, Sohini Chakraborty, Meghdoot Sen, and Bijoya Korshome from Kotha Bikolpo Pariwar Publishing.
The book is dedicated to,
those who are being made into "not-citizens" by the legal sword of the citizenship test, people who are being thrown into "detention-camps", the book is for the people and their poverty and panic stricken-outcasted-existence.
In the original:
নাগরিকত্ব পরীক্ষার আইনি খাঁড়া দিয়ে "নো - সিটিজেন" করে দেওয়া হচ্ছে যাদের, "ডিটেনশন -ক্যাম্প " - এ ছুঁড়ে ফেলা হচ্ছে যাদের, সেই দরিত্রীবাসীদের হাহাকার - আতঙ্ক - অনিকেত - অস্তিত্বের প্রতি
Author’s Bio (translated from the book)
Kamal Chakraborty is a notable figure in Barak Valley for his work around sincere activism around NRC, D-Voter’s List, Detention Camps. Mr Chakraborty is an ex-employee of Hindustan Paper Corporation, Cachar Paper Mill. After taking voluntary retirement from his work at the paper mill, Kamal Chakraborty was deeply involved in various protests with the mill workers who had lost their jobs due to the Paper Mill shut down and were in extreme crisis. The author shared various experiences during the NRC process in Assam on social media at different times with a commitment to stand by the people. This book is the documentation and collection of various such experiences. Born to Late. Shubhodhlal Chakraborty and Late. Hanshirani Chakraborty in Badarpur, Cachar Kamal Chakraborty has been involved in various social work, including working with fishermen of Barak Valley, Jhinuk Cultural Organisation, and various other organisations in different stages of life. The author has been a part of the popular film movement for the people since the early ‘80s and of the independent literary movement with Pratisrot Patrika.
Contact Details of the Author
Kamal Chakraborty
E-mail ID: kamalchakraborty.70@gmail.com
Facebook: Kamal Chakraborty | Facebook
Translator’s Bio:
Riya Ghosh Ray belongs from Silchar, Assam and currently is an Independent Researcher, Translator, and Freelance Writer working with various organisations in the development sector. She has a background in Literature from Delhi University and later did her MPhil in Sociology from Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. Research interests broadly lie around Sociology, Medical Anthropology, Research Ethics around hSCR, Reproductive Health, Urban Studies, Public Transit.
Contact Details of the Translator
Riya Ghosh Ray
E-mail ID: riyaghoshray29@gmail.com
Twitter: Riya (@riyacusk) / Twitter
