My first job, as a correspondent for The Telegraph, was, in many ways, a trial by fire. This was way back in 1982, when the anti-foreigners agitation in Assam was at its height. Spearheading the movement against illegal migrants from Bangladesh were the All Assam Students Union (AASU). The student movement got massive support from the Assamese middle class and women were out in the streets protesting and heeding every call given by the students.