Diyun, May 4: His community waited 40 years for the stamp of legitimacy, but Mukut Kumar Hajong can’t seem to wait even half that many hours to make his voting debut. One of the few Chakmas and Hajongs to be included in the electoral rolls of Arunachal Pradesh, Mukut said on the eve of polling that he would “try to be the first one to vote” when the clock strikes seven tomorrow morning.
Only 1,497 Chakmas and Hajongs can vote this time, but the enthusiasm of the communities about being given the opportunity to play a part in an Indian election for the first time more than makes up for the lack of numbers. “We have been living for this moment for so long,” Mukut, a farmer, said.
Most of the first-time voters are based in Arunachal East constituency, including this sleepy town under Changlang district.
Of the 1,497 voters cleared by the Election Commission, as many as 1,164 stay in the constituency, while 323 reside in Chowkham and 10 in Miao.
The Chakmas and Hajongs fled their homes in erstwhile East Pakistan and migrated to India in 1964, following the construction of the Kaptai dam and communal violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
According to official records, 4,012 Chakma and Hajong families comprising 14,888 people were rehabilitated in Arunachal Pradesh with the consent of tribal chieftains and the North East Frontier Agency administration. However, the indigenous population has always been opposed to the idea of granting citizenship to the two communities.
There are 17 Chakma and Hajong villages in and around Diyun, the most populated one being Jyotsnapur. Everywhere, people of the two tribes said they were looking forward to polling day. “Kiyo nidim vote? (Why shouldn’t I vote?),” 19-year-old Kalinga Chakma, a student of Class XII at Innao Higher Secondary School, asked.
Residents of all 17 villages gathered at the Buddhist shrine here on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, but the main topic of discussion was the Lok Sabha election. “After a life of hardship and neglect, we are looking forward to living with pride and prestige,” Subimal Bikash Chakma, president of the Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh, said.
The women who were included in the electoral rolls appeared to be as enthusiastic about voting as the men. “I will go to the booth as early as I can. I want to be the first.” Umatara Chakma, a resident of Jyotsnapur, said.
Another woman, Pranati Chakma, challenged Umatara in jest. “I will not allow you to beat me. I will be the first,” she said.
Village headman Purno Chakma, 53, said he was happy in spite of his name not figuring in the electoral rolls. “Hopefully my name will be included next time.” About 15,000 Chakmas and Hajongs had submitted applications for inclusion in the voters’ list.