Women and the Heat of the Barbed Wire

Abstract

The article deals with physical borders, which go on to create mental borders between people living in the area of the West Garo Hills. The border is between the tribal Garos and the non-tribal Muslims. Each community looks upon the other with extreme suspicion, thereby always making violence a possibility. This article discusses women's lives in the borderlines of the West Garo Hills and reflects on their sheer resilience, silent tears and a burning desire to put a step outside the line called border. It also reflects their sheer energy and will to overcome all inequity and injustice.

Notes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalon (accessed January 16, 2010).

http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=105884 &section_id = 3 (accessed December 25, 2010).

http://news.rediff.com.

http://www.satp.org.in (accessed March 15, 2010).

Many residents of Mahendraganj referred to “Allah hu akbar” of the 1950s. It is unclear what happened in that year. It seems there was a sort of communal riot and during this riot Muslims shouted “allah hu akbar” to seek help from other Muslims. In all probability, it could be the time of the language movement of 1952 in East Pakistan.

Interview with Abu Hussain, November 23, 2000.

Interview with Zubeida Khatun, November 22, 2009.

http://www.theshillongtimes.com (accessed October 23, 2009).

Interview with Anowara Bewa, August 23, 2009.

Interview with a female ex-smuggler, October 25, 2009.

Boroibari became a part of Bangladesh in 2011.

http://www.india-server.com/news/479-infiltrator-captured-along-the-18401.html (accessed June 2, 2010).

Interview with Gumeljan Bewa, October 25, 2009.

Interview with Arfina, October 25, 2009.

http://aboutmeghalaya.blogspot.com/2009/02/cattle-smuggling-to-bangladesh-poses.html (accessed December 15, 2009).

http://www.westgarohills.nic.in (accessed January 2010).

Interview with Nur Jahan T. Sangma and her family, January 6, 2010.

http://news.rediff.com (accessed January 1, 2010).

Interview with Sarashi Prabha Das on May 7, 2010.

Interview with Saraswati Das, May 8, 2010.

Interview with Anowara Bewa, October 21, 2009.