Thousands of people who had been summoned to Sibsagar, Jorhat and Dibrugarh for NRC re-verification had been ever grateful for the people of Upper Assam for showing extraordinary kindness towards them.
"This is real Axom. Way the civil society of Jorhat, Sibsagar and Golaghat came forward to help these innocent poor people, who sold their belongings to go to Verification centre, would never ever be forgotten. These people were not even organised, they spontaneously gave help t" said Jeherul Islam.
Jehereul arrived from Guwahati to help these people but left pleasantly surprised with spontaneous help pouring in. They were expecting hostile reception of these people in Upper Assam.
"We arrived here to help them fearing hostile situation but rather the ordinary people of Upper Assam on their own have been provided ORS, Food, bathrooms were opened and even medication. Not only ordinary people but the district administration people are so good. Every one of us will remember it forever" said Mr Islam admitting that he did not have to do anything.
"We met Assam Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami and he was so helpful and called up authorities as thousands of people descended on Jorhat," he said.
This view was echoed by Ashraful Hussain. "Majority of these people have never seen upper Assam and expecting a hostile environment. But the people of Upper Assam were so helpful. They are Ahoms, Brahmins, Upper Caste people not that Muslims. On their own, they organized food, baby foods and took care of children. I have no words. This is Assam we are so proud. This is Assam we know. This Assam want every single Bangladeshi to be detected and deported but they know to stand by the humanity" said Ashraful Hussain.
Senior AIUDF leader Aminul Islam was even emotional. " I have no words for this civil society of Jorhat and Sibsagar. District Administration of both the districts has gone out of their way to help up. Especially the ADC Jayanta Goswami was so helpful. Our people were so happy. They opened the staff bathroom and even got them cleaned. They provided medication. These people had no problem whatsoever. The only problem was the long travel and heat and language. These poor people have never ever faced any upper Assam people in their life, leave along ever travelling further from Guwahati" said Aminul.
Most of then had no problem in verification as they had gone through the process at least half a dozen time. " In papers, we had no problem, some of us took time to understand what they wanted," said Ms Nur Hussain.
Ankur Tamuli Phukan, a researcher, who had coordinated some help from Guwahati over the phone, said – Assam has shown what a nation is. First humanity, then rest. This is a proud moment for Assam and every one of the 20,000 people who had been harassed by overnight summon
