Guwahati, Feb. 24 -- Chandan Borgohain, Mahesh Deka

Hatiutha Hill, Morigaon: Beneath the canopy of trees, where the whisper of the wind carries the weight of centuries-old stories, the people of Monoha gather in solemn defiance.

To them, Hatiutha Pahar is not just a hill-it is a sacred relic of their heritage, a refuge during nature's wrath, and a symbol of their identity. Now, the looming specter of granite mining threatens to strip away not just the rocks, but the very essence of their existence.

"This is a sacred mountain for us. Each rock here carries a story that goes deep into time. Now, if, in the name of mining, the government destroys these rocks, it would be like erasing a part of our culture and our identity," Bikhyat Ingti,...