GUWAHATI, INDIA, October 12, 2005: Finally, faith outdid terror in Assam. For the first time in more than two decades, the celebrations were without the fear and mayhem that separatist rebels or youth radicals precipitated during this time of the year. In Guwahati, Assam’s capital, the administration claimed that there were 375 Durga pujas, up ten per cent over last year. “The atmosphere is of great relief. People have been moving around all night with their families; even the shopping malls were open all night in Guwahati. This was unimaginable even a year or two ago,” said Samir Sinha, deputy commissioner (metropolitan) for Assam’s Kamrup district. The reasons are not far to seek. The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) is preparing to start negotiations through a committee of civil society leaders, both the Bodo rebel groups have abjured violence (one has signed an accord, the other is negotiating one) and only the hill districts of North Cachar and Karbi Anglong are disturbed by tribal feuds. In the Bengali dominated Barak valley, the celebrations are expectedly gorgeous but even in Assamese dominated Upper Assam, many celebrations were reported. “Durga puja in Assam in no longer linked to ethnicity,” said Udayon Mishra.
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