ASOM IS UNEMPLOYMENT FREE !

-Shubhadeep Paul-
(Translation of ‘Axomot Nibonua Naai’ by Hridayananda Mahanta. The orginal
writing is in Assamese and adopted from the author’s book ‘Addar Xonali Xapon’)

It is a really a matter of raising your anger! At a time when several

organizations are demanding, protesting and working out other ways
to bring the matter to the notice of the government towards the
unemployment situation and urging it to device some immediate way
out; if someone says that Asom is unemployment-free, won’t it strike
your veins? Various Colleges, Universities, ITIs, Computer Institutes,
etc have been providing thousands of literates. Are they enough lucky
to have a job? How many of them do get jobs? Some of them have
crossed the upper-age limit for working while searching for a
government job. No jobs still. Many who had thought of educating
their children and grow them up into established beings are
themselves losing their love for the world. Many others who had kept
aside from unflurring the ‘Gamosa of Love’ woven with their lovers
waiting for a job are today seeing their lovers as a helping hand for
some other household! After having a degree, still others had roamed
vigorously searching for a job and on getting a failure adopted ‘other
means’ but still in vain, no jobs! No way of establishing oneself. Will it
then be correct to say that there is no unemployment in Asom? The
number of actual unemployed youths rather than the few registered
ones has become an issue of consideration for critics, socially active
people. But on seeing a bunch of youths or their style of living,
clothing, behaviour it becomes almost impossible to say that they are
unemployed. Their life gets trapped between a free meal in their
fathers’ hotel, mobile phone of a latest model and a stylish bike. No
dreams, no planning for future and no readiness for hard work. But is
it life?
Many who come for business in Asom from outside say- it is very easy
to earn in Asom than other parts of the nation. Just before our very
eyes people of other states are earning their living and leading a
peaceful life by their hard work. And we? We are approaching them
happy heartedly for funds for our committees and clubs which we
require in meetings, protests, processions or bihu and pujas. The
inevitable truth is taking a dangerous shave from us- ‘If we cannot
afford it, they can keep on giving funds and donations for our
meetings, bihu functions, large public meetings, public meals, Delhi
tours, Dispur tours, Asom-bandhs, District-bandhs, Municipal-bandhs,
etc. And the dream of a self established, beautiful and cultured Asom
gets crushed!

I recall, when I was studying in the University we had to go to Bombay

(presently Mumbai) for training session in a multi-medicine
production company. That is about twenty years ago from now. Not
going for the strict rules and regulations, discipline (a worker who is
to come at 8 am will not be allowed to enter even if he is only five
minutes late) I rather recall a common businessman. Once, only for a
day, I didn’t go to my work-place due to physical weakness. My three
colleagues went out early in the morning. Four of us stay in the small
room of the hotel. Lunch is generally offered in our workplace. So we
had only to dine in some good restaurant. That day I woke up late in
the morning because I was having a fever. Hungry stomach- I cannot
afford the costly meal of the hotel. So I got down. I bought some bread
and fullmoons and as I was to pay the small shop-owner said- ‘Kiu
Bhaiya, Aap Aavi Yeha? Duty Pe Nehi Giya?’ (Brother, you? At this
time? Here? Did not you go to work today?) I replied- ‘I am unwell.
So thought of taking a little rest.’ At that moment the face of the man
selling bread, omlette, fullmoon bore a surprised look, as if he had
seen the eighth wonder of the world. Can anyone stay away from work
for such a minor illness? May be it is the custom of work. While I was
writing this story (about 11 pm) the three boys came in. I forgot that I
had given a contract of making new electric connections at our old
house to one contractor titled ‘Poddar’. The boys are his. They had
finished their work in two rooms and came here to keep their bags and
tools! ‘Doota Room Hex Kori Dilu Sir, Etia Jaaogoi.’ (We finished our
work in two rooms. We are leaving now.) I am sure- the three boys
don’t call for bandhs, neither they give slogans in newspapers, nor do
they shout lectures in public meetings; but at no cost they think
themselves unemployed. Their salary is ten times that of an electrician
doing a government job. The count of people trying to get a
government job (even of a peon) by bribing lakhs is far high than
people trying to establish themselves with that sum. And this high
count is providing the reason for immigrant businessmen in Asom and
releasing the door of curse for our youths looking for success without
hard work.

Recently Bijoy Krishna Handique, the central minister from our state
has announced that within 38 months the gas cracker project with be
starting with preliminary operations. Three years and two months!
May be appointments will be carried out six months beforehand. But
do our Asom have enough qualified people (for a big industry
qualified technicians is the utmost requirement) to fulfil cent percent
requirements of the project? Its certain that there will be protests and
discussions but lastly we will have to be satisfied with some third and
fourth grade jobs, like most other organizations in Asom! In todays’
life we must be capable to be competitive. For the post a train driver
one would appoint only those person who are suitable for the post and
there will be competition only between five such person who are more
or less capable for it. Only because the train will travel from
‘Lepetkata Station’, a person not capable of driving a train will not get
the job of a driver. Hence the unemployed youths of today must try to
search for the job oppurtunaties that will come forward after two and
a half years and prepare themselves to be fully capable for getting the
job. I too have no preparations, no knowledge, no experience but I
need jobs- else Asom bandh! In this situation, the probability of
neighbouring states snatching such job oppurtunaties is never weak.

A businessman from the Upper Asom district of Tinsukia while

communication with the writer had said- No, there is no
Unemployment in Asom! If something is missing it is smart, educated
youths with fluency in both English and Assamese. Mechanics? Our
own? Nil- no candidates. Forget Chartered Accountants, Is there any
candidate for jobs like daily account keeping from Asom? No. Senior
Engineers and Officers- Assamese people! Oho- No candidates again!
Then where is the unemployment in Asom? All cool, All happy- No
hard work, No difficulties!

This is a bad and sad situation!

Without hard work and difficulties even Arjuna of Mahabharata would

have been the same like others who saw everything except the fish’s
eye. But he did not. Even a lot of pressure and clashes could not
deflect his aim- And a happy success!

Only such educated youths who are sharply aimed at their decision
could bring success. Reversely saying, even bandhs for all the three
hundred and sixty five days of a year if made to happen could not end
the problem of unemployment and shortages.

A few who don’t study, don’t follow discipline, don’t work hard but
run holding the back of easy-money could never show their ability and
keep on creating the feeling of ‘Asom is unemployment-free.’ And this
very feeling is providing an invitation for outsiders here.

If I do not know to ride the new bike which I bought, it is certain that
my neighbour will ask for it and I could not deny him. This law is also
applicable for every job appointment!