During the course of time, they made Assam their home as they tied knots with girls from various local ethnic communities. They settled down and generations followed, but life took a tragic U-turn for these Chinese-orgin-Assamese during the Chinese Aggression of 1962. Around 1,500 Chinese-origin-Assamese were picked up from Makum, a small town in upper Assam and some other parts of the state, and sent to a detention camp in Deoli, Rajasthan by the Indian government.
From the camp, several were deported to China in batches, while a handful were allowed to return to Assam after about three years, only to find their belongings confiscated as 'enemy property' and auctioned off.
Now, a campaign is brewing in Assam for allowing these deported Chinese-origin-Assamese and their descendants to visit their relatives in the state, thanks to an initiative of Sahitya Akademi Award winner and Assamese novelist Dr Rita Chowdhury, who has brought to the fore the story of agony of these Chinese-origin-Assamese in her latest bestseller Makam, which means the golden horse in Chinese.
She has given a heart-rending description of how these Chinese-origin-Assamese people were 'forcibly deported' by Indian government during the Chinese Aggression.
The novelist claims that Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has given consent to allow those deported Chinese-origin Assamese to visit their relatives in the state subject to approval of the Indian government. "The CM has agreed to roll out the red carpet to any Chinese-origin Assamese person living elsewhere in the world if they want to visit their birthplace in Assam and meet their relatives," Dr Chouwdhury said.
She met Gogoi last week to discuss the issue with him. "I also appeal to the government, all political and non-political groups and individuals to be humane and support the cause of these Chinese-origin Assamese people, who were subjected to untold miseries while they were being deported to China," the writer added.
"These people do not want to return permanently, but want to visit their birthplace once," said Dr Chouwdhury, who had interacted extensively with the community while doing research for writing her novel.
According to her, there are just nine families in Makum now and they lead a secluded life, fearing more trouble. "News reports about tension along Chinese border still worry them," she said.
Progenies of Chinese-origin Assamese are now spread across the globe, from Hong Kong to Canada to Australia.
