The Peacemaker
Noted writer Indira Goswami tells about her endeavour to bring ULFA to the negotiation table for an amicable settlement.

. Often people ask me these questions. The people are keen to know what provoked me to take up the job of bringing the Centre and ULFA to the negotiation table. Is it because of political ambitions or is it for something else, which cannot be seen in naked eyes? Is it a part of a well thought out plan or is it just a decision taken in haste?

As the peace process has made some progress and a break through does not look all that impossible, I think it is time now for me to answer these questions. I can only hope that the answers will be able to stop the people about speculating my role in the ongoing peace process.

But before answering the questions, let me provide a brief backgrounder that led to today’s situation. Though for years I am settled in Delhi, I visit Assam every summer, the place of my birth. There I spend my time by reading books, meeting people, visiting countryside. I must admit here that a month’s break rejuvenate me to go through the grind of my busy schedule in Delhi.

It was in 1993, during one such vacation, couple of boys came to meet me. They requested me to attend a programme on Bishnu Rabha, great tribal leader and a friend of our family. I readily accepted their proposals. There were two reasons behind my decision. First, I thought I should think myself lucky to be invited in such a programme and secondly it would provide me a chance to see the countryside.

On the appointed day, the boys drove me to the hall where the function was organised. It was nicely organized and I was enjoying every bit of it. But one thing which could not escape my attention was the behaviour of some of the organizers. It seemed that they were expecting something worse to happen. Every time a person enters in the hall or a truck passing by, they became nervous. I suspected something wrong and waited for the function to be over. 

The mystery unfolded after the function got over. The boys came to me and confessed that they were ULFA cadres. They also asked me for some books which I have written. They told me that women cadres of the ULFA are interested in reading those books. Initially my response was that of anger. In no uncertain terms, I told them that they did a bad thing by hiding their identities. Anyway, as I was not in a mood to drag on the issue beyond a certain point, I told them to arrange for my return to Guwahati.

At that time one of the boys made a strange proposal. He requested to visit one of their camps. I was bit hesitant. Then I decided to go with them. Frankly, the writer within me had a major influence on this decision. In search of plot for my next novel, I started to an unknown destination in a jeep.

While I agreed to visit the ULFA camp, I could not anticipate what was in store. Army operation was in full swing. The boys a circuitous route to avoid the army. Even in that route, they put off the headlights of the jeep. It was pitching dark and we were driving through a jungle. Till today, I do not know how the driver managed to drive in that darkness. It still remains a mystery to me. Sometimes during the journey we had to take cover as the boys accompanying me suspected the presence of the Army nearby.

Today, it seems easy to share that experience with you all. But believe me it was different on that day. We would have been killed if the Army could spot our jeep. Anyway, after driving deep inside the jungle we reached to a house. It appeared that someone with his family was living in that house. There I saw ULFA boys were resting in a room, while the girls were busy in kitchen.

All of them assembled in the courtyard when they heard that I had come to meet them. There I spent some time, mostly with the women cadres of ULFA, enquiring about their family backgrounds, reasons behind joining ULFA. We discussed few other topics too. Those who are familiar with my books must have read these already. When it was time to say goodbye, I really left with a heavy heart. Within that short span of time, those girls won my heart. I gifted them some of my books and started my return journey to Guwahati.

Since that day I am in touch with some of the boys and girls associated with ULFA. But at that time I never thought about my present role. It came much later. They used to call me over phone. They used to tell me about their dreams, sufferings, and anguish. Sometimes I used to quietly listen to them; sometimes I used to advice them to the best of my ability.

It was during that time, I received a call from Paresh Barua. Frankly, I was little surprised by receiving a call from him. I never anticipated that. He thanked me for visiting the camp and requested me to write about the sufferings of the people of Assam. Since that day we spoke on many occasions over phone. More we came to know each other; I got a feeling that contrary to popular belief he is not adverse to an amicable settlement through negotiations. I came to know Arabinda Rajkhowa also. I went to their homes, met with their family members.

Once I met Arabinda Rajkhowa’s father. He was a freedom fighter and spent many years in jail during British rule. Once I categorically asked his opinion about independent Assam. To my utter surprise, he told me that he is not in favour for such a demand though he feels there are some genuine grievances that should be addressed at the earliest.

Though I became close to ULFA leaders and cadres, I never tried to broker a peace between the Centre and ULFA. I always regarded it as a private affair and did not make it public. But operation All Clear changed everything. During the operation and after that I received number of calls from ULFA cadres informing me about their plights, enquiring the whereabouts of their near and dear ones in the Bhutan camps. I have the list and I have already handed it over to the government. In that list, I have given names of those women ULFA cadres who are still in the dark about the fate of their husbands.

At that time, as the plight becoming unbearable I decided to write a letter to Government of India for an amicable solution of the problem. I wrote a letter to the then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. But before he could apply his mind, NDA lost power at the Centre and Dr. Manmohan Singh took over. To me it came as a boon. I know Dr. Manmohan Singh for years. We were colleagues in Delhi University. I know how serious he is about the problem plaguing the North-East. I know he will sincerely make an effort to solve the problems. So, I decided to write another letter to him and true to my belief he responded quickly and positively.

Here I would like to mention about one incident. As you all know that ULFA is keen to discuss sovereignty, I consulted some constitutional experts. They told me that there is nothing wrong in discussing the issue. Let them have their say and let the government decide that was the unanimous opinion of those experts. Armed with their opinion, I contacted one top politician and requested for his help. But the person rejected my proposal and told me that he cannot indulge such demands. He was rude to say the least. I was pained. But thanks to the Prime Minister as he never put any precondition which could jeopardize the peace process.

In short, this was how I got involved in the peace process. Now let me answer the questions. I never desired to be a peacemaker. I am a writer and I want to concentrate more on my writing. I have no political ambitions. In the past, top leadership of various political parties had requested me to join them. But I refused to oblige them. I have not accepted Padma Shree. I got Janpith Award, the highest literary award of the country and that is enough for me. But, ironically enough, right now I am playing a role which I never envisaged.

Why did I take up the responsibility? For the last 27 years, Assam has witnessed enough violence, bloodshed. Many lives were lost. Mothers lost their sons, wives lost their husbands and children lost their fathers. Enough is enough. Now, it is time to stop this unnecessary loss of lives. Give peace a chance to make a return. We can’t remain mute spectators any more. But we should all join our hands to usher a new era of peace in Assam. Success or failure does not bother me. These things are not in my hand. But what I can do best is to make an effort. I never gave up anything without giving it a sincere try. In this case also I am doing exactly the same thing. I am trying my best for the return of peace in Assam. If I succeed in my endeavour, that’s great. But my world will not change if I fail. At least I gave it a try. That feeling will help me to keep going.    

(As told to Suvendu Roy Chowdhury)

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