Readings from the Fringes
2
How Many More Days, Democracy?
Sameer Tanti
BACKGROUND
Sameer Tanti is a renowned Assamese poet. He was born in 1955 as the son of tea garden
labourers. There has been no peace in Assam for more than half a century. Sameer Tanti was
born and lived in the midst of these troubles. Violence, bloodshed, guerrilla attacks, loss of
land and livelihood – in short, there is no peace in Assam.
There are two things at the heart of Assam’s troubles:
1. Infiltration by people from Bangladesh
The infiltration into Assam by outsiders such as Bengali migrants has led to ethnic tension
between the indigenous population and the Bengali migrants. As a result, there is periodic
eruption of violence and bloodshed.
2. Bodoland issue
Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam. These ethnic groups have controlled
large parts of Assam in the past. They have demanded a separate state called Bodoland. Being
a separatist movement, government deals with it stringently. There has been a lot of violence
and loss lives in the name of this issue as well.
It is in this context that the poem is to be read and appreciated.
INTRODUCTION
‘How Many More Days, Democracy?’ is written in the context of the prolonged trouble-torn
history and cultural legacy of Assam. Communal tensions and separatist agitations have
plagued Assam for several decades. In the poem, there is lamentation for the blood spilt, the
mass deportations, and the oppression of minorities. The expectations raised by independence
and democracy remain unfulfilled. So, the poet asks: Is India really free? What has happened
to our democracy?
What is democracy?
Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
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2
How Many More Days, Democracy?
Sameer Tanti
BACKGROUND
Sameer Tanti is a renowned Assamese poet. He was born in 1955 as the son of tea garden
labourers. There has been no peace in Assam for more than half a century. Sameer Tanti was
born and lived in the midst of these troubles. Violence, bloodshed, guerrilla attacks, loss of
land and livelihood – in short, there is no peace in Assam.
There are two things at the heart of Assam’s troubles:
1. Infiltration by people from Bangladesh
The infiltration into Assam by outsiders such as Bengali migrants has led to ethnic tension
between the indigenous population and the Bengali migrants. As a result, there is periodic
eruption of violence and bloodshed.
2. Bodoland issue
Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam. These ethnic groups have controlled
large parts of Assam in the past. They have demanded a separate state called Bodoland. Being
a separatist movement, government deals with it stringently. There has been a lot of violence
and loss lives in the name of this issue as well.
It is in this context that the poem is to be read and appreciated.
INTRODUCTION
‘How Many More Days, Democracy?’ is written in the context of the prolonged trouble-torn
history and cultural legacy of Assam. Communal tensions and separatist agitations have
plagued Assam for several decades. In the poem, there is lamentation for the blood spilt, the
mass deportations, and the oppression of minorities. The expectations raised by independence
and democracy remain unfulfilled. So, the poet asks: Is India really free? What has happened
to our democracy?
What is democracy?
Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
1|Page
