Assam

Assam, a state in northeastern India, is currently newsworthy due to a confluence of factors. Firstly, it is experiencing religious tensions, as evidenced by a rise in Hindu extremism and violence, with Christian communities increasingly targeted. Secondly, Assam's agricultural landscape is undergoing a transformation with the growing popularity of the butterfly pea flower, locally known as aparajita. This flower is improving the livelihoods of farmers like Nilam Brahma. Thirdly, the state is grappling with human-wildlife conflict, specifically involving elephants. A recent incident saw a passenger train collide with an elephant herd in the Hojai district, resulting in the deaths of seven elephants and injury to one. This incident highlights the shrinking elephant habitat and the increasing frequency of such deadly encounters. These events underscore Assam's complex social, economic, and environmental challenges.