Freedom at midnight

Freedom dawned at enclaves after nearly 7 decades on Friday midnight as candles were lighted at the lands adversely possessed by India and Bangladesh for 68 years. The long-expected flag was hoistedon in the little islands on Saturday morning. On Friday midnight, the people of 111 Chhit Mahals (enclaves) awake to new life as the 'pockets' became part of Bangladesh when the clock struck 12 o’clock. The swap of control of 162 enclaves with India well and truly buried the legacy of one of the most complex and puzzling border disputes. Bangladesh flags fluttered over every house that was illuminated with 68 earthen lamps to symbolise the end of that many years of neglect and deprivation. There were scenes of joy in the enclaves that went to India - somewhat muted, as the nation was mourning former president APJ Abul Kalam. With the exchange of enclaves between two countries, around 50,000 people have finally been able to purge the ignominy of being subjugated in one’s own country. According to the Land Boundary Agreement between the Bangladesh and India, from August 1, 2015, some 17,160 acres of land within Bangladesh territory became part of it. Similarly, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves spread over nearly 7,110 acres within India became part of that country. A joint India-Bangladesh headcount in mid-2011 found Bangladeshi enclaves had around 14,000 residents while the Indian ones were home to 37,000. The land swap has finally rectified the territorial anomaly and settled the boundary between the two countries. All the residents were allowed to choose nationality. The genesis of the problem goes back to 1947 when British rulers had left behind the oddity of the enclaves while dividing the Indian subcontinent into two countries – India and Pakistan. The partitioning of the subcontinent left the people of these pockets effectively cut off from the country they belonged to and forced to live in another in a bizarre arrangement, according to news agency.

- mbz