At 12:11 PM -0600 2/17/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
C'da,
>But perhaps I ought to write a letter to some Editor. Who knows
>people may see the light? What do YOU think?
I think you should. You might have some luck in getting it published -:)
>*** I don't know. Sometimes people are unable to see the obvious.
>Sometimes it is a problem of attempting to awake who is NOT >asleep.
I think I know why the Sahitya Sabha is trying to avoid the issue. They don't want to touch it with a ten-foot pole because the issue IS controversial.
*** May be. But I don't see the controversy here.
First pin down WHAT KIND of Assamese ( Oxomiya) they are
trying to define:
The Assamese National ( Oxomiya naagorik), the Assamese Language
( Oxomiya bhaxa) or the Assamese Ethnic ( Oxomiya jaati).
It is as simple as that, don't you think?
>That definition for them would mean
weeding out illegal B'deshis.
*** Question is WHO or HOW? Besides, there is a HUMAN issue too.
It is a POLITICAL problem in addition to one of legalities, just like
the millions of undocumented aliens in the USA. Why do you think
California won't deport all the undocumented Mexicans or Central
Americans? Or why did Giuliani resisted his Republican party patriots
who were attempting to oust the undocumented aliens that virtually RUN
New York city today? Just like Califiornia, NY City will collapse
overnight if all the undocumented are gone. US Agriculture will
collapse across the continent if the undocumented Latino are thrown
out, as would huge segments of the construction industry.
Ultimately reality sinks in. The pursuit of preserving
ethnic/language/religious/culture purity unfortunately has
consequences. But those who cry hoarse over it are a small minority
who are not effected by those consequences.
>I assume your definition of Assamese
would encompass all ethinic people >including Bodos, Miris,
Biharis, Marwaris etc also, who have been living in >Assam for
ever? -:)
*** It is a legal issue, of citizenship. Why are the Assamese
RESPONSIBLE for defining it ? Doesn't India have a DEFINITION of who a
citizen is?
But past the citizenship issue, there indeed is a distinction
between those ( of different ethnic identities) who are indigenous
peoples, and those who are in Assam as carpetbaggers--to exploit it,
but have never accepted it as a home, regardless of how many
generations they might have lived in its geographical
boundaries.
That IS a nuance that could not and should not be either glossed
over, or buried under the legal definition ( current one) of
citizenship.
There are those like you, who see no need for a defintion, and then there are those who think its important to have a definition.
That definition for them would mean weeding out illegal B'deshis. It may be a first step (1947, 1971, 1991 or whatever) but at least they would know who the ethinic people are and who are not.
I assume your definition of Assamese would encompass all ethinic people including Bodos, Miris, Biharis, Marwaris etc also, who have been living in Assam for ever? -:)
--Ram
On 2/17/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >I think, at the very least they were hesitant to even broach the
>subject. Why couldn't they, like you say:
>
>"All citizens of Assam are Assamese, like all citizens of India are Indians."
*** I don't know. Sometimes people are unable to see the obvious.
Sometimes it is a problem of attempting to awake who is NOT asleep.
But perhaps I ought to write a letter to some Editor. Who knows
people may see the light? What do YOU think?
At 11:39 AM -0600 2/17/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da,
>
>I don't know all the intricacies of the issue. But if, as you say
>its an issue manufactured by Dilli and is willingly accepted by some
>Assamese 'agents', why doesn't the Sahithya Sabha say its a fake>issue and let the people in general know where they stand on the
>issue.
>
>I think, at the very least they were hesitant to even broach the
>subject. Why couldn't they, like you say:
>
>"All citizens of Assam are Assamese, like all citizens of India are Indians."
>
>I will hold back my take on this for a while -:)
>
>--Ram
>
>
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