Re: [Assam] Bandh culture

[Ram Sarangapani]

C'da

 

My question was 'just' about why the media should NOT be absolved. You wanted to absole a media that does not want to confirm sources on a regular basis.

 

I did NOT say that the media was responsible for the bandhs. But they DO have a role to play. They can hype it up based on unconfirmed sources or make sure the information they get is CONFIRMED before they give wide publicity. That is where they err.

 

>'Bondhos' are a result of the absurdity that is Indian governance.

 

And what about the absurdity of the people in following the calls for bundhs without question?

 

There are some 'issues' which may require a bandh. The issues should be something that affects the whole state or atleast a large section. The problem most people have is sometimes large areas observe bandhs even for localized issues in some small area. Those local issues often have solutions at the local level itself.

 

If it is the absurdity of Indian governance, then the question asked is: Does the Indian govt. have a different set or rules of governance when dealing with Assam as opposed to Karnataka or another state?

 

Is that the reason that Assam has way too many bandhs while a state like Karnataka has virtually none?

 

--Ram
 

 

 

 

 

On 8/21/05, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Ram:


Not that I am a defender of desi-media, assam-media or any media; but
you and Rajen are making the most convoluted of arguments here.


The 'bondhos' are not the result of 'media-support' or coverage,
before or after the fact. 'Bondhos' are a result of the absurdity
that is Indian governance.


Those in the public services can get away with 'bondhos' for exactly
the same reasons for which they can get away with coming late for
work and leaving early, or for not doing any work, or for being
absent without cause, or for demanding and accepting bribes.


Your and Rajen's arguments are exactly like the demand of some
clueless Indians  for a RIGHT not to VOTE ( as if someone can come
and pack you off to prison for NOT voting), so that they will not be
forced to vote for tweedle-dum or tweedle-dee, or for one scoundrel
vs. the other. The problem is the candidate selection /fielding
system; the electoral system. That is what requires radical  reforms
-- not a constitutional amendment to give the clueless the right not
to vote.

Similarly the spouting of the 'bondho' culture is a result of a
degenerated and utterly broken  Indian system of governance. Labor
laws don't exist, if exist are unenforceable or not enforced.
Employers can exploit workers, corporations steal the public blind,
and street rowdies can hold the public hostage. There is no orderly
system of conflict resolution that is either reliable, or timely or
just.

Those are the areas where the problems are. They are what requires
dramatic and radical reforms. But you know that reforms in India are
NOT possible. So instead you guys are seeking redress by squelching
the media.

How more convoluted can you get Ram?

c-da













At 10:53 AM -0500 8/21/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da,
>
>  >But seriously, the role of the media is NOT to censor news. It is
>to disseminate it.
>
>Which is true. The BIG if is that the media has to 'confirm' sources
>that it quotes. Normally what we hear is ' a spkesperson called in'
>about the bandh, and THAT is enough for the media to give wide
>publicity?
>
>In fact, sitting here in the US, you can probably call for an Assam
>Bandh (because, say St. Louis doesn't have the same weather as the
>South West). All you have to do is call up our unsuspecting media
>and tell them that you have declared an Assam Bandh and that you are
>from the TKHEC (Tita-Kerela Hybrid Experimentation Center) - and you
>would have a near 100 % success.
>
>Why? Because the media will not recheck the facts. This news from
>St. Louis is as good as any to fill the newsprint.
>
>And the good people of Assam will thank you profusely because you
>gave them another holiday :)
>
>--Ram
>

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