ABSTRACT
The most horrific impact of the Second World War in India was seen in the Bengal famine of 1943. We have enough literature on the causes and consequences of the famine but very few studies on its consequences in the neighbouring provinces, particularly Assam. We need to look deeper into the whole phenomenon of human displacement and movement and Chapter 8 therefore commences by highlighting the miserable plight of the Bengal famine victims as they staggered towards Assam. How a profoundly devastating humanitarian crisis soon began to polarize communities in Assam leaving deep scars that would rage for decades past the war is one of the important themes in this chapter. At the root of this communal saga was the politicization of the famine itself. The loud claims for East Pakistan by leaders of the All-India Muslim League and the inclusion of Assam in it triggered fear and panic amongst the people. The immediate fall out was the land development scheme which the Assam premier was uncomfortably compelled to look into and implement. Ironically all these developments occurred at a time when the Japanese-INA army had already crossed over the borders of North East India. The propaganda battle of all camps and an introduction to the Indian National Army and the enigmatic leader, Subhas Chandra Bose, cover the remaining pages of this chapter.
