Citizenship Act: ‘Gamosa’ and Other Symbols, Slogans of Protest in Assam

Guwahati: The Assamese 'gamosa' (towelette or gamchha) and the salutation 'Joi Aai Asom' along with the cry 'Ho!Ho!' has become the symbol of the protests raging the state against the amended Citizenship Act.

The 'gamosa', a white and red patterned cotton handwoven fabric, is traditionally offered to elders and guests as mark of respect and honour by Assamese people.

It is being used by the protestors to assert their identity, which they claim has been threatened by the Act.

"The cultural and linguistic identity of indigenous people of the state are at stake and we cannot tolerate this. We are carrying the 'gamosa' which reflects our pride in our culture and very existence," said Arunima Barua, an 18-year old student of a city college.

Many students carry the 'gamosa' with slogans like 'No CAB', 'Withdraw CAB', 'Assam is not a dumping ground', 'We cannot bear the burden of Bangladeshis anymore' written on them.

Many even tie the modest piece of cloth around their head as turbans.

The cries of 'Joi Aai Asom' (Hail Mother Assam) rent the air as hordes of protestors come out on the streets or march in processions to express their ire against the Act.

"The future of our motherland is being threatened and we have to protect it from dangers which may arise due to the implementation of the Act.

"We are reaffirming the right over our land by shouting 'Joi Aai Asom'," said businessman Brojen Deka.

55-year old housewife Abida Begum said that "it is our duty to protect the state for the indigenous people and by shouting 'Joi Aai Asom' we express the immense love we have for our state".

The salutation had become popular during the six-year-long Assam agitation against the illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh and has emerged again now as a protest cry.

The cry 'Ho!Ho!' too has become a stamp of protest by All Assam Students Union against the Act. It is raised by its leaders and is echoed by the protestors in all their meetings and rallies.

Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ridiculed the cry 'Ho!Ho!'. He said the protestors are saying they are fighting for protection of their language, "but is this an Assamese expression?"

AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya retorted, "We are on a mission to ensure the revocation of the amended Citizenship Act. This is our traditional war cry which we will continue to chant till our demand is fulfilled."

Meanwhile on Saturday, the curfew imposed in Guwahati and Dibrugarh town amid violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act, was relaxed o for a few hours, officials said.

After the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was cleared by Parliament, violent protests broke out across the state with agitators engaging in pitched battles with the police, forcing the administration to impose curfew in several places.

The legislation has put the entire Northeast on the boil where people fear that it may exacerbate the problem of illegal immigration