Kindling of an Insurrection: Notes from Junglemahals

353 Pages·2020·3.106 MB·English

by  Chandan Sinha

Hindu Minority in Bangladesh a i
Kindling of an Insurrection

Hindu Minority in Bangladesh a iii
Kindling of an Insurrection
Notes from Junglemahals
CHANDAN SINHA
LONDON NEW YORK NEW DELHI
iv  Kindling of an Insurrection
First published 2013 in India
by Routledge
912 Tolstoy House, 15–17 Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110 001
Simultaneously published in the UK
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2013 Chandan Sinha
Paperback edition published 2015
Typeset by
Star Compugraphics Private Limited
5, CSC, Near City Apartments
Vasundhara Enclave
Delhi 110 096
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage
and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-138-84744-6
But play no tricks upon thy soul, O man;
Let fact be fact, and life the thing it can.
ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH
(Dipsychus, 1850)
Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to
keep going back and beginning all over again.
ANDRÉ GIDE
(Le traite du Narcisse, 1891)
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
ATTRIBUTED TO LEON TROTSKY
(Quoted in Michael Walzer,
Just and Unjust Wars, 2006)

To
The people of Junglemahals
for their infinite fortitude and resilience
&
B.N. Yugandhar
for his infectious, undying enthusiasm
for public service

Contents
a
List of Plates xv
List of Abbreviations xvii
Glossary xxi
Acknowledgements xxvii
Prologue xxix
Introduction 1
PART I: CHARTING PERILOUS SEAS
The First Weeks 15
1. Where Extremes Meet 19
Binpur-II, 10 March 2004
General Elections 2004 24
2. In Pursuit of Kendu patta 28
Gopiballavpur-I, 3 April 2004
3. Public Meeting in Bansberh: Small Expectations 33
Binpur-I, 14 April 2004
4. Amlasole 38
Binpur-II, 10 June 2004
5. Hungry in an Ashram 44
Nayagram, 30 June 2004
6. Nuts and Bolts 50
Visit to Binpur-II, 29 July 2004