Dr Hiren Gohain, poet, critic and social scientist, is an astute observer of Assam and a prolific writer. He had played a major role in the mediation between the Government of India and ULFA insurgents. Rakhee Kalita caught up with him in Guwahati for his comments on what he acknowledges is a crucial election. But the civil society and the media, he says, have failed to prevent people from digging their own graves. Excerpts from their conversation: