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It's almost Christmas (or Good Governance day 
) and in the spirit of good tidings and all, threading some of my most cherished stories from the year 
) and in the spirit of good tidings and all, threading some of my most cherished stories from the year
This time last year, my home base was rocked by protests that turned the entire city upside down after India changed its citizenship law. Assamese folks were legit upset but no one was addressing the citizenship trials that had been going on for > 30 years https://thebaffler.com/logical-revolts/ultranationalist-prelude-sithlou
Meanwhile, in the NE Indian state of Tripura that borders Bangladesh, the CAA sparked off old rivalries between the Bengali settlers and native tribal communities. One man's death went unreported https://scroll.in/article/948199/in-tripura-a-tribal-man-on-his-way-to-caa-protests-was-allegedly-beaten-to-death-by-a-mob
While elsewhere in India, people were opposing the targeting of Muslims and violation of India's constitution, the CAA became armour for the Bengali Hindu settlers in the NE- long seen as illegal Bangladeshis https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/1/16/in-tripura-indian-citizenship-law-reignites-old-hostilities
With the CAA and electoral wins in the NE, the BJP has shifted the focus from insurgency to native nationalism that is no less bloodied. Assam is a prime eg of it. The state will go into election in April. But will it be like the '85 election? https://www.jgnt.co/india-caa-northeast
After a year and a half of reporting and investigation, under the guidance of @Ankur_pali of @LandConflicts, brought out a 2 part series on the upcoming railway line in Manipur https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-railway-project-land-acquisition-displacement
This work wouldn't have been possible without @JeijeiNewme and a local RTI activist who kept filing for requests despite repeated denials https://thewire.in/environment/manipur-ejei-river-railway-line
Another piece that took a year to find a suitable home was finally carried by @cnni thanks to @brettmck1 and the great edit by @jenniCNN https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/21/india/teer-gambling-india-intl-hnk/index.html
After Covid19 hit the Northeast in April, our borders shut down, lockdown was in full effect and quarantine rules were strictly implemented. Testing and our infrastructural preparedness, however, was abysmally low https://www.indiaspend.com/with-low-covid-19-numbers-northeastern-states-not-doing-enough-to-test-prepare/
I completed my year long series of looking at the impact of the coal mining ban in Meghalaya, supported by @NFI_India. It took immense courage for this coal mine worker to come out with his story. His gangrene infected leg had to be amputated http://www.raiot.in/what-happens-to-workers-in-the-illegal-coal-mines-of-meghalaya/
In the initial phase of the lockdown, even illegal coal pit operations came to a grinding halt. Many of them started walking back home to interior villages in Assam https://www.firstpost.com/india/covid-19-lockdown-coal-mine-labourers-stranded-as-owners-protest-in-meghalaya-some-walk-back-home-to-assam-8387951.html
Of all the sneaky stuff that the Indian govt pulled during the covid19 lockdown, banning consumption and sale of dog meat in Nagaland was the most surprising move. The Kohima bench has overturned this https://www.vice.com/en_in/article/g5p8d4/nagaland-dog-meat-cultural-bias-india
I most enjoyed writing for @Article14live where @samar11 @namitabhandare and Priya Ramani edited my work with much care and craft. First was the story of an Assamese Muslim woman in upper Assam, who spent 9 months in detention as a declared foreigner https://www.article-14.com/post/it-took-a-village-to-rescue-this-woman-from-detention
Second was the ridix number of cases slapped on anyone criticising the Manipur govt of their administration during the lockdown. At least 13 cases were filed in April alone https://www.article-14.com/post/lockdown-spurs-govt-war-against-free-speech-in-manipur
The pandemic brought some relief to declared foreigners in Assam's detention centres. I wrote about what freedom during a strict lockdown meant for them https://www.article-14.com/post/liberty-s-lights-dim-for-foreigners-freed-from-assam-s-detention-camps
Amit Shah has announced that CAA rules would be framed soon after covid vaccination begins. But despite the lockdown and the worst floods this year, Bengali Hindus continued to be declared foreigners https://www.article-14.com/post/the-caa-has-not-stopped-hindus-being-declared-foreigners-in-assam
Frontline workers, particularly those working in the heath sector, suffered severe burn out as they risked contracting an unknown virus on the job. By the second week of August, there was a 59% rise of health workers testing positive in Assam. https://www.indiaspend.com/why-covid-19-surged-by-59-in-two-weeks-among-assams-health-workers/
As if a pandemic wasn't bad enough, a gas well exploded in Baghjan village impacting 1610 families who had no clue about how the gas and sound pollution from the well was affecting their health. It took almost 6 months for the fire in the well to be doused https://www.thethirdpole.net/2020/10/01/victims-of-assam-gas-explosion-fear-mounting-health-costs/
As China and India once again tussled over the Mac Mohan line and a brutal clash left 20 Indian troops dead, the horrors of '62 war came back to haunt us. Wrote about the overnight detention of almost 3000 ethnic Chinese in Deoli, Rajasthan. http://www.magzter.com/share/mag/12397/535179/38?mg_pf=android_magzter&utm_ID=15638144
My alma mater, @AIIndia, to which I owe much of my rigour and research ethics, shut down in October after being hounded for years for calling out human rights abuses. I penned down my thoughts on its closure https://www.himalmag.com/the-state-of-suspension-amnesty-india-2020/
This story wasn't exactly on my bucket list but I'm so glad @razadanish talked me into doing it because of what remained to be reported on witch hunting in Assam. Also, discovered he's an ace editor 
https://www.vice.com/en/article/93wwbp/what-its-like-to-be-declared-a-witch-in-modern-india
https://www.vice.com/en/article/93wwbp/what-its-like-to-be-declared-a-witch-in-modern-india
Also what a year to discover that so many migrant workers from India's Northeast are working in the middle East. Sadly, many of them were in dire straits during the lockdown https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/coronavirus-uae-india-migrant-workers-repatriation
I had never covered an autonomous district council election until this year where I got the chance to profile an unlikely candidate standing for peace and brotherhood in Assam's Bodoland https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/12/7/a-mia-poet-joins-electoral-race-hoping-to-end-hostility-in-assam
Lastly, my ultimate labour of love went into this essay I had been longing to write for years on the Naga issue. Couldn't have asked for cooler eds than @supriyan and @vikramshah1991 https://fiftytwo.in/story/accord/
Other stories I chased and reported could not be materialised. Hope 2021 is the year for them 
But what a year and I couldn't be more blessed to have had work, most of all good health and spirits to keep going at it.
Off for the much needed hibernation now
But what a year and I couldn't be more blessed to have had work, most of all good health and spirits to keep going at it.
Off for the much needed hibernation now
