Student Activism in Barak Valley: An Analysisin the context of Pre-90s and Post-90s Era

Abstract

 Barak Valley comprising three districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj is strategically located in the southernmost part of Assam, India. But in spite of its strategic location, the region is quite underdeveloped in comparison to the Brahmaputra Valley. The people of the region have a long tradition of struggle- struggle for language and culture, struggle for University, Broad Gauge rail services etc. Study reveals that students of the Barak valley were very much alive on various issues affecting the interest of the greater section of the society. The interesting fact is that they were not only active in their movements on the roads, but they also kept their footprints in the socio-cultural as well as economic development of the regionthrough various means. It is however found that in the post 90s period, this scenario took a U-turn as no significant student movement, worth the name, in Barak Valley has been visible. The present paper is designed to highlight the student activism in both pre 90s and post 90s era and at the same time, to make an enquiry to the post 90s situation so far as student movement is concerned. However, it is important to mention that the paper is the outcome of a study which was conducted objectively with the help of data collected from different secondary as well as primary sources which included survey and field work through questionnaire and schedule.