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By Basudev Pal
?It is a matter of great sorrow and shame that after 56 years of Independence a large section of our country is living the life of refugees in their own land for years. They are our own people and it is our responsibility to help them, ?said Shrikant Joshi, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS. He was speaking at a relief distribution ceremony held in Cachar district of south Assam by Keshav Smarak Samiti, Silchar. More than 500 people of Dimasa Vanvasi community participated in the ceremony.
He said that Christian missionaries targeted the innocent Vanvasis for conversion since the British rule and the same conspiracy was on in full swing. ?Extremism is the product of conversion as the converted person'sloyalty and faith change and they become loyal to foreign powers. Many extremist groups took shelter and assistance from other nations to disturb normalcy in India. The Dimasa and Karbi Vanvasis are being harassed by Hmar and Kukis as they refuse to change their way of worship. The Dimasas and Karbis must realise that the strong Hindu society of India is behind them. The only solution is that all must be united as Hindus. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is doing this work since 1925,? he said.
Shri Joshi was given a warm welcome on behalf of the Dimasa community of Sivasthan village. He handed over eighteen handlooms and two hand-carts to twenty families. Shri Debendu Sekhar Bhattacharya, Vice President of Keshav Smarak. Samiti and Bimalnath Chaudhury, Prant Sanghchalak, Sumit Barman, social activist and Prof. Vandana Thansu and many distinguished persons were present on the occasion. Shri Sunit Barman thanked RSS, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, VHP and Kalyan Ashram for selfless assistance to Dimasas during the crucial period.
At least fifty Dimasas have been killed and 28 Dimasa villages were burnt down by the HPC (D) extremists. About 2000 Dimasas are living in relief camps in unhygienic and inhuman condition since April 2003. Keshav Smarak Samiti has decided to give at least one Assamese shuttle handloom to every two Dimasa families by March 2004.
