Hi Mrinal Thanks for your interesting observation. It may be more applicable to those people who are outside India than to someone like me who was in Assam till the other day. But your view that they start feeling about the state only after leaving Assam is not entirely true. Because you don't know what they probably did while they were in Assam. Moreover should there be any distinction between someone living in Assam ot outside it in respect of their willingness to do something for the state in a meaningful but humble way ? I leave this point for a wider debate among the netters.
I believe where there is a will, there is a way. You know the contribution of many NRIs (mainly Punjabis) to their state. I know Mahanata Da will get a point to pull my leg on this issue. But I enjoy his opinion. You may not agree with some of his observations; but once you separate the chaff from the wheat, it gives you delicious food for thought. I think everyone irrespective of their place of present location can contribute to the welfare of a particular group of people if they wish. Supporting plebiscite as a provision in a democracy to be exercised in times of genuine need is not same as supporting self rule. I am clear in my opinion that our state will not be better off with self rule. But I don't want this view to be inviolable in a true democracy. What is the harm in taking people's opinion ? Call me arrogant or anything you like; but I am sure about the verdict also. It will be a resounding NO. But let the provision be present in the system. Of course, there will be many arguments against it due to its inherent potential to create trouble for the central govt by encouraging forces of disintegration in different parts of the country. The need for judicious use of this provision would also entail a great deal of controversy among people. I am also in favour of raising other relevant issues along with the main issue in case of Assam. We have to address the entire gamut of issues associated with the main demand of the ultras to come to a realistic and workable solution. Precisely due to this, I told Mahanta da not to become very excited and ecstatic over the very mention of the word plebiscite. But as ill luck would have it, he got carried away by my poor command over the language and inability to comprehend the nuances of a foreign language leaving the main issue unattended. Of course, he has promised to get back to us in next week. We are eagerly waiting for it. Bye for now. Mayur Chandigarh --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > cannot speak on behalf of my colleagues living > either in the States or in > UK. > Individuals naturally differ in their views. I can > only reply to your > missile in an individual capacity. > First of all, people in general do not live in > air-conditioned houses either > in USA or UK. They do have some kind of electrical > or gas heating when > needed. They do occasionally eat a hamburger or KFC > which, as a matter of fact, I > believe many people in India are too beginning to > indulge in, especially in > the big cities.. > Not everybody living in USA or UK is trying to > improve Assam through the > internet. > The number of regular participants blogging, as you > put it, is negligible. > In private life, they are doing what they can. It > is not an one-sided > business. There are not many Assamese NRI/NRAs > living abroad who are potential > investors, say like the Gujaratis or Punjabis. You > must admit the attractions > to invest in Assam are also lacking. There are other > factors which I am even > ashamed to discuss on this page. > Bhuban Baruah > Lakeside,Essex,UK > > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > ______________________________________________________ Yahoo! for Good Donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/ _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
