For humanity’s sake, this Bihu can wait

This will probably be the first time in the past 200 years that the people of Assam will not be celebrating Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu – the New Year festival so dear to the various indigenous communities of the state. Not much is known about what happened to Bihu between 1817 – when the Burmese had invaded Assam for the first time – and 1826, when the British drove the invaders out, but themselves became invaders by annexing Assam. But the Assamese had definitely not celebrated Rongali Bihu during this exactly one decades, because, while the first Burmese invasion had started in March 1817, the people took time to return to their respective villages and settle down even after the British had restored peace in February 1826. In the subsequent two centuries however, there was little possibility of calling off the Rongali Bihu celebrations. A look at some of the major events will probably prove this point. The great earthquake of 1897 took place in June. The next devastating earthquake occurred in August 1950. The language disturbances of 1960 broke out in June. The Nellie massacre of 1983 happened in February. The Assam movement of 1979-85 did not dampen the spirit of Rongali Bihu in any manner. Given this backdrop, it is in 2020 that Rongali Bihu will not be celebrated. The global COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the whole world, and has pushed the entire human race to the brink. While a drug to cure the deadly disease is yet to be found, coronavirus has already taken 1.09 lakh lives across the globe, apart from bringing all economic activity to a near-halt. The community has to resolve that there can be no question of celebration, be it Rongali Bihu or anything else. It is a matter of life and death, and no one can say for sure that the deadly virus will stop or disappear in the next few weeks. Moreover, thousands of families – especially the daily-wagers, irrespective of whether they are unskilled or skilled – across the state are facing unprecedented hardship and struggling for their next meal, while thousands of others are faced with a bleak future of losing their jobs. Anyone trying to ‘celebrate’ Bihu in such a situation deserves to be condemned. The government and various socio-cultural bodies have already appealed to the people not to come out in the name of celebrating Rongali Bihu. For once, for the greater interest of the entire human race, Rongali Bihu can wait. A prayer at home is enough.