>"He also clarified that the Asam
Sahitya Sabha had not indulged in the recent controversy concerning the
definition of the Assamese people"
>One would have thought that a body like the
Sahitya Sabha would be the right body to define who is an Assamese if need
be.
>an how about this one below?
I agree. By refusing to
indulge in the controversy of the definition of Assamese, Assam Sahitya Sabha
has indeed declared to the world that it is a controversy for which it
cannot offer any resolution. Now this is a big issue I would say. ASS
admitting that it is a issue like 'betonit poril ow, baxudebaye
nomoh'.
This is winning point for Delhi who
wants to take advantage of the controversy.
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 9:08
AM
Subject: [Assam] Do Assamese have an
inferiority complex?
Highlights are mine.
Some questions/comments though:
"Inferiority complex has made the
State's people opt for English instead of their own language in all spheres of
their life."
I think people learn English because its
useful. Does knowing English, give one a 'superiority' edge? I don't think
so.
"He also clarified that the Asam
Sahitya Sabha had not indulged in the recent controversy concerning the
definition of the Assamese people"
One would have thought that a body like the
Sahitya Sabha would be the right body to define who is an Assamese if need
be.
an how about this one below?
"He also asserted that any arrangement
for autonomy
without a provision for percolation of power down to the grass root
level was meaningless. Such arrangements for autonomy creates
a new type of oligarchy and the common people continue to languish as
usual"
Await readers' comments.
Expand base of Assamese society -
AT
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb
16 — Asam Sahitya Sabha president Kanaksen Deka today made an appeal
to the people to wage an all out battle against inferiority complex that is
afflicting the life of the State's people . He also urged upon the
people to expand the base of the Assamese society by making the society
assimilate all the new elements and also to become self-reliant engaging
themselves in trade and commerce. He was addressing the fourth special annual
session of the Asam Sahitya Sabha at the Belsor Sarat Chandra Goswami Kshetra
in Nalbari district.
Inferiority complex has made the State's
people opt for English instead of their own language in all spheres of their
life. This complex is luring the guardians to send their wards to the
English medium schools. This is against the basic doctrines of education,
which speak of imparting education at the primary level through mother
tongues. This inclination towards English is a product of the hangover of our
colonial past, Deka said.
However, he clarified that he was not
campaigning against learning English. The Sabha wants the people of the State
to earn expertise in English too. But there is no justification to treat the
English medium schools as superior to the Assamese medium schools. Most of the
owners of the English medium schools are interested only in making money, they
are less bothered to improve the standard of education, he said.
The
inferiority complex of the State's people is affecting their life in other
areas also. They readily give up their time-tested clothes, cookery and snacks
etc for the others'. They are also demanding reservation for themselves in
many spheres. But the weak people, who are shy of competing with others, only
raise the demand for reservation. This demand will spell doom for the peoples
of the State in the coming days, he warned.
He also clarified
that the Asam Sahitya Sabha had not indulged in the recent controversy
concerning the definition of the Assamese people. The issue came to
the Sabha platform when there arose a need to define the Assamese people in
the process of implementation of the Assam Accord. The definition was sought
to be evolved at the platform of the Sanmilita Sahitya Sabha. But some of the
partners of the Sanmilita Sahitya Sabha did not like the idea of bringing
their respective ethnic groups to the frame of Assamese and rather opted to
identify their groups as sons of soil or indigenous groups. This resulted in
the controversy. As, a well-accepted definition of the indigenous groups or
sons of the soil is still illusive, he said.
He also made an appeal to
all the peoples living in the State to consider their newly found aspiration
for recognition as nations against the background of globalisation. The
concept of nation is taking a back seat even in Europe and the concept of a
European Union is gaining ground instead amongst the European nations
nowadays. It was in Europe that the concept of nation had sprung up following
the Industrial Revolution, he said.
Grant of autonomy to many ethnic
groups has also led to social conflicts in many areas of the State. This is
due to the contradiction among the dominant ethnic groups the general
population living in these autonomous areas. All such conflicts should be
resolved through steps to promote amity among the people living in these
areas, he said.
He also asserted that any arrangement for autonomy
without a provision for percolation of power down to the grass root level was
meaningless. Such arrangements for autonomy creates a new type of oligarchy
and the common people continue to languish as usual.
But for the
maladies of terrorism, group conflict and the like confronting the State's
society, he said, economic backwardness was the main factor. The apathy of the
Congress has resulted in alienation of the people and also in the isolation of
the party from majority of the State's people. The people of the State once
treated the party as their very own one. It is now discarded by majority of
the people here and is now banking on the votes of the 'Alis and Kulis' to be
in power, he said. He also called upon the people to raise their voice against
all cases of atrocities on women.
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