The formation of a nation state always qualifies with the adjustment of smaller nations (state) at the local level. The history of the nation building process shows that such adjustment is mostly, if not always, signified by the sacrifice of a smaller nation's political autonomy, traditional social control system and several cultural components including language etc. There appears a power center within a nation state that usually represents the numerically dominant population group which very often tries to impose its ideology and notion and vision on other smaller nations as a mainstream ideology of the nation state in building. The nation building process in India has witnessed several incidents of protest or assertions from smaller nations for various causes. Sometimes these assertions were successfully adhered to and many times they were also turned down. Secessionism and violent political movements have been a part of the political scenario in North-East India for quite a long time. Assam, one of the seven states of the North-East region of India, has been experiencing the same situation too.

The State's policy and perception and outlook of people within it may not always be convergent. The State, while taking a wider perspective of any issue, may at times enter into conflict with people's interest at different levels of interaction. This situation quite often appears in countries where decentralization of political decision-making process is not perfectly balanced. The imposition of arbitrary laws (as perceived by people) framed by the center on the subordinate units (states) many a time creates political crisis.

The history of social and ethnic movements tells us about the mild to violent political assertion of different ethnic or community groups across the globe which have a genesis in accumulated dissatisfaction of concerned people over a period of time. This has been very much evident in a pro-democratic situation where a nation state is in the making. A prolonged dissatisfaction and restlessness shrouded with state apathy and coercive suppression may lead to the emergence of unhealthy and undesired phenomena which may have some crucial impact on state policy and administration and people at large. This paper tries to establish and explain such happenings in the state of Assam, a state in the North-East corner of India, with reference to some prolonged tussles between the people and the state.

For the purpose of the paper, the instance of historic Assam agitation on foreigners issue has been discussed in detail to show how politically myopic strategies to tackle popular demands of people can give rise to some socio-political elements that have a long standing and far-reaching impact in national politics as well as in the socio-economic arena. The paper also tries to delineate the direct and indirect consequences of the agitation in the socio-political domain of the state that has become a cause of concern to all. This paper tries to draw attention to how and why the undesired outcome has surfaced in the state after the Assam movement on foreigner's issue. It is possible that the paper might be labeled as biased at certain points as it depicts the insider's view on the event, but it bears factual points for consideration.

International Relations Journal, National Integrity, Social Control System, Decision-making Process, United Liberation Front of Assam, Political Fraternity, All India Muslim League, Border Security Force, BSF, Illegal Migrations, Muslim Immigrants, Prevention of Infiltration from Pakistan Scheme, Central Reserve Police Force, CRPF, Foreign Migrants, Illegal Migrant Determination by Tribunal Act, IMDT.