The  Enclave People                                    ছিটমহল 

(1947  -  2015)

 

The Enclaves (Chitmahals).

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Geographically discontinuation enclaves of Indian in Bangladeshi territory and of Bangladesh in Indian territory. There were 111 Indian and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves. Their populations (50000 persons) were technically nationals of a country from which they geographically separated, but foreigners in the country on whose territory they actually live. They conducted their livelihoods in zones of illegality, as even going to the market can entail as much as four borders crossing them. They didn't have access to schools and hospitals. 

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After 1947, the governments of India and Pakistan thrust a new citizenship identity upon them, alienating them from family and friends outside the enclave. 

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Some of them encouraged to privilege their proxy citizenship (Hindus in Pakistan as proxy citizens of India and Muslims as proxy citizens of Pakistan) over their formal citizenship, further distancing from their neighbours, these identities had abandoned and superseded - by a new trans-territorial community identity that they have forged and drifted for themselves as "enclave people" with shared experiences of insecurity, vulnerability and exclusion.

 

Ultimately, in 2015 finally, these enclaves merged with India and Bangladesh by granting citizenships to the people of the country in which they were actually located. 

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(Text sourced from Citizenship and its Discontents by Niraja Gopal Jaya and few words of William Van Schandel & by the photographer himself )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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