Citizenship 2: Assam and the Electoral Roll

In our first episode on citizenship, we focused on the definition of citizenship being discussed within the Assembly. While the Constituent Assembly was still drafting the clauses on citizenship, it tasked BN Rau, the constitutional advisor and the Constituent Assembly Secretariat, a non-political, administrative body with creating India’s electoral roll. But there was a pertinent question that needed to be answered: Who would be on the roll? 

Then, as now, Assam emerged as a hotbed where citizenship and identity battles were fought. 

Joining us in this episode is Makepeace Sitlhou, an independent journalist covering India's Northeast for several national and international publications. Makepeace takes us through Assam’s complicated journey with identity and citizenship including the role of the influential Assam Students Union, a 1979 electoral exercise that stirred xenophobia in the state, and the flawed structure/incentives underlying the foreigner tribunals in the state. 

You can also catch Makepeace on Suno India’s podcast Cyber Democracy. 

References: 

1. The Foreigner, Makepeace Sitlhou
2. Strangers in their own land, Makepeace Sitlhou
3. How India Became Democratic, Ornit Sahni (Book) 
4. The Spoils of Partition, Joya Chatterji (Book)  
5. Constituent Assembly Debates
6. The journey from “migration certificate” to “citizenship card”, Anindita Ghoshal 

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