Nehru Visits Assam

Newspapers and radio stations throughout India gave priority to announce the visit of India's Prime Minister, Jahendra Nehru, to Assam.

Assam was the most geographically isolated and most politically neglected state of all India. Yet Assam was a critical area for India's survival.

Nehru was a strong leader of his nation. He carried considerable clout in international affairs. A visit to Assam was not an entirely comfortable situation for him. "Why is such a popular man nervous about visiting this area," I asked a longtime Assam resident.

"Because he is a Hindu," came the quick answer. "He would like to have Hindi be the official language in all India. There is a language war in Assam. Eight months ago, on the fourth of July to be exact, one hundred and five dead rioter's bodies were retrieved from the Brahmaputra River. This happened here in Gauhati. We don't know how many more murdered rioters floated downstream."

"This was all due to a language dispute?" I questioned. "Yes, it was triggered when a clash occurred whether Assamese or Bengoli would become the official language here!"

Our time slot will not be sufficient for me to tell of the tremendous devastation of life and property losses. Several tea packing plants were destroyed by fire. Shipping facilities were greatly damaged. No shipments were allowed into or out of Assam for several weeks! There is no accurate count of human lives lost or monetary loss amounts.

"Then we all have to be cautious not just the prime minister!" I added.

Expectant spectators numbered in the hundreds, each eager to catch a glimpse of their highest official, assembled around the airport field; an army of guards was on site to protect their leader from harm. The early morning plane brought Nehru from Calcutta. The neatly attired, tall, slender leader descended from the aircraft. A roar of shouts, cheers, and jeers filled the air! His copper coin-colored face showed concern. He managed a broad friendly smile. While waving to the boisterous assembly the prime minister was hurried safely to the Governor's 1960 Plymouth car.

The Governor gave the Prime Minister a warm welcome to Assam. The trip to Shillong, the capital city, could be reached only by a mountainous one-way, narrow, rough, winding road of sixty-five miles. A tiresome ordeal any day!

At the half-way check point where a half hour delay was necessary for clearance of uphill and downhill traffic there was an open-air bazaar. It was midmorning tea time! In expectation of the eventful visit, all kinds of local handmade tribal gifts were offered for sale. The locally grown tea was served to the dignitaries. A big show of locally grown fruits and vegetables were proudly displayed. The display that caught the most attention was of beautiful golden Assamese silk which is one of the best silk products produced anywhere.

The uphill and downhill traffic gates were opened. Within minutes the village bazaar was left isolated from automobile and truck traffic until the next wave of vehicles arrived.

It was lunch time when the Prime Minister and his party reached Shillong.

Nehru's afternoon activities involved proposed solutions of current local problems, ranging from boarder-line disputes, rioting, language differences, over population, wild life preservation, education, and unrest. A favorite quote of Nehru was that when one problem was solved, many more needed answers.

The five-year plan looked into the future. The huge dam, now under construction as a cooperative venture between the United States of America, Romania and India's Central Government, was a popular topic. Family planning was discussed. Poultry and fish farming held high priority and were supported by the department officials for immediate action. My two newly formed extension projects at Assam Veterinary College and Assam Agriculture College, with each program calling for village participation, were approved. Many other plans lingered, but as always in India, they were dismissed with: "It will be done in due course."

Gala evening events had been in the making to entertain India's highest leader and local officials. Meta Chowdry, President of Hills Tribal Cultural Center, my neighbor, persuaded me to use my backyard for rehearsal of the evening entertain-ments.

The evening hours were spent in relaxation. The high-up political leaders were ready for frivolity!

The Garo Hills Rabbit Dance was the first tribal hop. To the beat of huge leather drums, the gorgeous girls skipped and hopped. Imitating hopping rabbits, their beautiful bodies caused delight among the spectators! Next on stage were the Semi-Naga's with their war dance; their long spears and flashing steel bush knives stirred up shivers among the onlookers. Rightly so! After all, it had been only ten years since one of their group voluntarily donated his sharp beheading knife to the American Baptist Mission at their 115th anniversary celebration. He had beheaded fifty-five people, but Christianity taught him people other than himself deserved to live. Now he had no desire to kill!

The Lushi Hills Bamboo Dance brought cheer back into the feelings of the crowd! The fourth dance group from the Khasi Hills Tribe, displayed their royal ornaments! This matriarchal society where women rule, exhibited their Queen, who wore the age-old gold crown! She was beautiful enough to rule any man's heart!

The Tripura dancers came on stage with a display of their many colored Assam silk saris. Sitar instruments sent forth their five-beat music in tune with the tabla drum. Smiling dancers stole away all the weary feelings of the past few tension-filled hours. There had been no violence, for which everyone was grateful.

The weary Prime Minister was happy to spend the night in the well-guarded Governor's mansion.

This page is maintained by Dr. Wood's son, Harold W. Wood, Jr., of Visalia, California.
My E-mail address is: harold@planetaryexploration.net

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