Re: [Assam] Mount Radhanath, NOT Mount Everest

Mon, 15 May 2006 20:39:20 -0700

Dear Barua,
 
Your argument that "I failed to understand what right we Indians have first to rename a peak which is even not in India, but in Nepal and Tibbet" is illogical. The Peak is not in England either.
 
 It is not the question of the rights. It is a question of the Truth. Who found out first that this peak (#15) was the highest point in the world?
 
The link you supplied from the Internet is obviously a British point of view. It does not mention the name of Radhanath Sikdar, or the names of any other Indian who collaborated.
 
You yourself asserted that  "Yes there were many Indians brains worked under the guidance and instruction of the British" --- but their names were carefully avoided in the link you supplied, and Mr. MC Mahanta applauded.
 
I testify that I did read the name of Radhanath Sikdar in a "Book of Knowledge" many years ago. The truth must be researched.
 
After the successful climb to the peak on May 29, 1953 by Hillary and Tenzing, the British Media ran a story that Tenzing did not know how to use the oxygen mask ---  the British had to teach him, etc. The British Media write-up was very similar to what you are writing today "--- But till the British came, Indians even did not know what to do with the mountain peak except worshiping. Indians have no idea that these need to be measured, explored. "
 
Since this is similar to what the non-Assamese oil experts said about the Assamese during the 1959-Refinery agitation, quoting you was NOT an "outright wrong extrapolation' --- it was a very valid comparison. 
 
Your other contention "I would really understand if you would urge the netters to instead rename Hinduism as Sindhuism. Hindu as Sindhu or India and Bharat. That will makes more sense" is irrelevant. We are not discussing renaming Hinduism, etc. The question here is : Who found out first that this peak (#15) was the highest point in the world?Please don't change the subject.
 
With the best wishes,
Himendra
 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Barua25
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 2:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Mount Radhanath, NOT Mount Everest

>During the oil-refinery movement of 1959, the non-Assamese “experts” of oil-industry used to say about the Assamese “Assamese can work only under the guidance >and instruction of the non-Assamese Experts. Till they came, Assamese did not know what to do with the oil fields except holding Bihu --- Assamese have no >idea that these need to be measured, explored” ---etc. Now we hear it from you.

 

The above is outright wrong extrapolation. You l know that.

RB

----- Original Message -----
To: Barua25
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 12:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Mount Radhanath, NOT Mount Everest

Dear Barua,

 

I first read the name Radhanath Sikdar in 1943 in a “Book of Knowledge.” I was quite young at that time. That was the time when older boys were fighting for independence from the British. As a younger volunteer, I was with the older boys who raised questions why the Victoria Memorial Hall was not ground to dust, or why the Peak was named after a British instead of Radhanath. That was the mood during the struggle for independence. Your charge "To suggest that the name of Mt Everest be changed simply because "so many re-naming going on" is baseless.

 

However, when I wrote to Umesh on May 14, 2006, I wrote about Radhanath Sikdar from memory, and I used the phrase “I think” which you highlighted with red colour. I agree with you that “When something is not based on the whole truth, it will not give you Sat Sid Anand” .  but I did “urge the netters to dig out the history and discuss the matter in the net” which you deliberately missed and conveniently forgot to highlight with your red colour.

 

It is a fact that that I did mention about “so many re-naming going on” which gave you a golden opportunity to fling your jibe  'dekhak dekhi uthil ga, keturie bwle mwkw kha"   This reminds me Mr. Chandan Mahanta’s jibe “khai pat phala” when he came to know that I had not taken US citizenship. After all, a golden opportunity is a golden opportunity, you must not miss any opportunity to hurl a jibe. However, your quotation is wrong: the correct Assamese phrase is 'adak dekhi uthil ga, keturie bwle mwkw kha"--- keturi looks like ginger (ada) --- the phrase is used to describe a situation when an unqualified person fakes as an expert, similar to Mr. Mukul Mahanta manufacturing reinforced concrete houses with bamboo reinforcement. 

 

In the pre-independence days, we heard the British saying about Indians “---- Indian brains worked under the guidance and instruction of the British. But till the British came, Indians even did not know what to do with the mountain peak except worshiping. Indians have no idea that these need to be measured, explored” etc. Now we hear it from you.

 

During the oil-refinery movement of 1959, the non-Assamese “experts” of oil-industry used to say about the Assamese “Assamese can work only under the guidance and instruction of the non-Assamese Experts. Till they came, Assamese did not know what to do with the oil fields except holding Bihu --- Assamese have no idea that these need to be measured, explored” ---etc. Now we hear it from you.

 

Survey technique was not invented by the British alone --- many Europeans contributed to that science. Following your logic, we will end up with Galileo who "invented" telescope that was ultimately used as a theodolite. Or, we should name the Peak after Pythagoras, the Father of Trigonometry.

 

The person who found that the Peak #15 was the tallest mountain in the world was Radhanath Sikdar. I urge the netters to find out the details of the truth. 

 

With the best wishes,

Himendra
----- Original Message -----
From: Barua25
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 11:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Mount Radhanath, NOT Mount Everest

>I think it was 1852 when one Indian mathematician, Radhanath Sikdar, calculating manually with his hand-made >13-figure trigonometric tables [no calculator/computer in those days!!! ], using a theodolite from a distance of 150 >miles from the peak #15, calculated its altitude as 29,002 feet, the tallest in the world, and reported the matter to his >boss, Mr. Everest. The British Administration of India named the peak as Mount Everest.
 
To suggest that the name of Mt Everest be changed simply because "so many re-naming going on", or 'dekhak dekhi uthil ga, keturie bwle mwkw kha" syndrome.  I think this is pure political slogan devoid of of the whole story. When something is not based on the whole truth, it will not give you Sat Sid Anand. I donot think that qualifies to rename the Mount Everest. 
 
Yes there were many Indians brains worked under the guidance and instruction of the British. But till the British came, Indians even did not know what to do with the mountain peak except worshiping. Indians have no idea that these need to be measured, explored. They never think these need to be climbed (why?). I donot think till a now any single India (I may be wrong) has even climbed the Mount Everest.
 
RB.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Mount Radhanath, NOT Mount Everest

Himendra-da,
 
I think that inferiority complex you mention has come from the ages since Hindus decided to pray (instead of fight) while Gazni came and looted Somnath temple 17 times. The Hindus then decided that it is upto God to protect them -- they need only pray. 
 
Ths, excuse my negative attitude when someone thinks of raising confidence by merely changing names. Who stopped Indians to change the name of the land known as Americas. Noone. Who stops them from helping save the enviornment around India and the world. Noone. I would feel much more positive if my neighborhood would be cleaner. Why Hindus look down on cleanliness. Does it have to do with the idea that cleaning jobs are reserved for untouchables? 
 
Mt Everest has become a GARBAGE DUMP -- like gold covered in muck -- would someone want to remove the muck and pocket the gold? 
 
Umesh 

Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dear Umesh,
 
Your comment is surely the "the highest Negative Attitude the World."
 
I am sorry to observe that this is a general trend now-a-days. Similarly, when I proposed the "ATAN BURAGOHAIN SAKO" to cross three centuries of inferiority complex, Mr. Chandan Mahanta came forward with his "... Garbage Dump" attitude to say that the bridge will be used to "dump garbage."
 
It seems there are too much of grabage everywhere, particularly in people's mind.
 
Human Consciousness is the Crown of Life. Loss of a Positive MInd is the greatest loss that one may suffer. It is important to develop a positive mind with fearlessness, purity, charity, self-control, sacrifice, austerity, uprightness, non-viloence, truth, renunciation, compassion, gentleness, modesty, steadiness, vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, aversion to fault-finding, freedom from anger, freedom from covetousness, freedom from malice ...   all positive qualities.
 
"Mount Radhanath, NOT Mount Everest" was an effort to rebuild the lost self-confidence and save the country from the inferiority complex that has opened the floodgate of garbage.  
 
With the best wishes,
Himendra
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Mount Radhanath, NOT Mount Everest

Himendra-da,
 
I would say that rather than focusing on "name-calling" of Moutnt Everest we should focus on removing its title as "the highest Garbage Dump of the World."
 
Umesh

Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dear Umesh,
 
Thanks for the magnificient pictures of the Mount Everest. This peak has different names in Nepal & Tibet, but in our childhood, we heard an alternative name Gourishankar Shringa. Now I understand that is the name of another peak.
 
I think it was 1852 when one Indian mathematician, Radhanath Sikdar, calculating manually with his hand-made 13-figure trigonometric tables [no calculator/computer in those days!!! ], using a theodolite from a distance of 150 miles from the peak #15, calculated its altitude as 29,002 feet, the tallest in the world, and reported the matter to his boss, Mr. Everest. The British Administration of India named the peak as Mount Everest.
 
With so many re-naming going on, I think we should rename this peak as "Mount Radhanath"
 
I urge the netters to dig out the history and discuss the matter in the net.
 
With love to everybody,
Himendra
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 4:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] c this 1 Mt Everest Map;Gaumukh glacier-Geo teacher computerized- Bihari-Chinki


http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Mount+Everest,+Nepal&t=h&om=1 Here is the map for Mt Everest, Nepal. Seems not much different from the one for Gaumukh Glacier area though.. Same types of glaciers though emanating on all sides of the giant white mass in the center.
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Umesh Sharma
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Ed.M. - International Education Policy
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Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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