BORDERS WITHIN: THE POLITICS OF BELONGING AND DISPLACEMENT IN ASSAM

This study analyses the tangled dynamics of displacement, citizenship, and migration within Assam’s borders, highlighting the ongoing crisis that has redefined the region’s social and political landscape. Historically, colonial and post-Partition migration fueled tensions between migrant-origin populations—many of whom became integral to Assam’s economy—and indigenous groups concerned for cultural survival. The introduction of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), alongside intensified eviction campaigns, has transformed citizenship into a precarious status for millions. Mass exclusions under the NRC and the religious criteria of the CAA have created cycles of statelessness and internal displacement, disproportionately affecting marginalised communities, women, and Bengali-origin Muslims. Administrative procedures, such as the recent shift to executive-led expulsion orders, risk bypassing due process and threatening fundamental rights. While development rhetoric is cited to justify evictions, affected populations are often denied rehabilitation and compensation, deepening poverty and insecurity. These policies and practices raise urgent questions about legal rights, democratic values, and who truly belongs. Amid ongoing contestation between indigenous and immigrant-origin groups, the study underscores the need for reforms that uphold constitutional protections, ensure participatory processes, and promote meaningful inclusion. Assam’s experience with internal displacement mirrors global challenges, serving as a critical test for India’s ability to balance identity, justice, and plural citizenship in a rapidly changing society.