ABSTRACT
The victims of these so-called Assamese–Bihari clashes are almost entirely the so-called Biharis, more correctly Hindi-speaking people from many parts of India, including perhaps predominantly Bihar, residents of the state and the region for generations. Clearly, the scale and organization of the violence suggests that the grievances run deeper. A near-racist and deeply entrenched perception going back to decades that has informed and even rationalized this violence is that the so-called Biharis are rough and uncouth in their deportment and manners and almost deserve what they are getting. On 17 November called by All-Assam Student’s Union (AASU) marked the beginning of the escalation of violence. AASU leaders, as always, have maintained that they called for a peaceful bandh to register a peaceful demand and protest — jobs for the boys and protest against the violence done to people of the state in Bihar.
