Re: [Assam] [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours

mc mahant Sat, 02 Dec 2006 09:28:50 -0800

Can we quantify any of the 3 reds?

My assessment is these are CONTRARY & VOID.

From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Ram Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Assam] [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:07:27 -0600

Ram,

You did not address most of the questions I raised. Should we conclude that you did not address them because you could not :-)?

Anyway, let us examine what you responded to:

>First off, all I said was your solutions were "quasi" NOT Govt. Reforms.

*** From my rudimentary knowledge of Latin, 'quasi' means 'as-if', or implied. What am I missing here?

What did I propose to earn the doubtful qualification of 'as-if' ?

> What they may be against is what is meant by "reforms" in some quarters:) To some, "reforms" could mean flushing the Indian >Constitution (System) totally

*** A constitution is a document that enumerates the fundamental political principles of a state or an organization and which is constructed with the advice and consent of the state's or the organization's constituents. It is a tool, and not an icon, to be set on a pedestal and worshipped as inviolate, regardless of its usefulness to the people. And its sanctity is a function of how its provisions are upheld by the institutions of that state or the organization.

*** WHAT has the Indian constitution contributed, to earn the sanctity that you bestow to it? Why should Assam be bound to the dysfunctional state of Indian governance sanctioned by its constitution? There may be elements to the Indian constitution which are useful or beneficial, but what is not, Assam , or anybody else, should not have to be beholden to.

>Essentially, if the intent to institute reforms is to make India stronger & better, then there would be a lot of support for such >moves.

*** Assam needs to look after Assam's interests first, NOT India's. Sure as heck India has not looked after Assam's interests for sixty years since independence. Has it? Can you show us how it has?

        *** What has it done about border protection--stem the tide of the lungi menace, your

        biggest concern as well as Hindu Siletis' and Oxomiya Bamuns' and Mahantas' ?

        *** What has the Indian constitution done to protect human rights in Assam and the entire

        NE? Look at the Outlook Opinion I posted today.

        *** What has the Indian constitution done tom protect the rights of indigenous peoples

        of the NE ?

        *** What has tyhe Indiuan constitution done top protect or promote REAL democratic values

        in Assam or the NE ?

        *** What has the Induian constitution done to protect minority rights , as of the NE's?

        *** What has the Indian constitution done towards maintaining the rule of law in the NE?

        Can you show me ONE instance of the constitution's provisions being respected by

        India in giving a fair trial to all the Assamese that it has incarcerated or killed on

                   suspicion of being insurgents?

I can go on and on Ram. The fact is the Indian constitution is not worth the ink it is printed with, as far as the people of Assam and the NE are concerned.

>Can you tell us which of these states have had their resources under their "control"?

*** It is not my role to look after others' interests. But I do of Assam's. At independence Assam was one of the most economically prosperous regions of India, contributing the highest amount to the country's

forex reserves. But look where Assam is today. Assam's resources wert stolen by India, at little compensation. What it re-distributed, without exercising its supervision went to enrich a few corrupt ones.

>Why were the educational estds. rudimentary in Assam?

*** For the simple reasons of Indian planners' ignoring of the region and for not being able to put in place the institutions of democracy that are essential to keep the government RESPONSIVE to the people's needs. Just because the puppets of Indian governments that were in charge of Assam governance derelict in its duties, does not make ALL of Assam forever destined to be victims of such dereliction, stripped of their rights to set things right.

Furthermore, effective PRIMARY education is even more fundamental a need for a developing

society's health than higher education. Something that Indian government planning and execution has been an abysmal failure in.

>Assam can institute its own set of reforms at the state level - no one is going to complain.

***The Assam governments, past and present, selected, elected and constructed in the dysfunctional desi-model and beholden to its derelict institutions failed to effect what they are free to do. However, more fundamentally, the institutions of a functioning state with which the people hold them accountable

have failed miserably, leaving the people hostage to the unanswerable, corrupt and inept administrations, time and again.

But again, that does not condemn the people of Assam to forever submit to its ramifications.

>Why wait for the Center?

*** Because it controls all the real powers and the resources.

> And yes, the states do have a sizeable control.

*** Really? Educate us on how, would you?

        Can Assam change the Police Code

        Can Assam repeal useless and corrosive laws given by the center?

        Can Assam re-tool its administration apparatus?

        Can Assam change the courts, rules of evidence, appoint judges to the higher courts?

        Can Assam reform its electoral system, change it candidate selection process, election

        funding methods?

>And you think independence will bring in reforms?

*** No Ram. Independence is a condition, not a force that can act on its own to effect change. But independence will free Assam to effect the changes essential for it to survive and prosper, something that the dysfunctional Indian system is an obstruction to.

>Who, pray, is going to be incharge of this noble effort?.

*** The heretofore disenfranchised people of Assam.

>Autonomy for states - that is good for all states, not just Assam.

*** Then why has it not yet happened?

> BUT A high degree of autonomy is great when a state is doing great, but what happens to say an >under-performing state, like say Bihar?

*** Like independence, autonomy too is a condition, NOT a force that can effect change on its own.

It has NOTHING to do with HOW a state is doing, its health; UNLESS you imply that the Center has a divine right to CONTROL the well being of its many constituents. If it is true, then HOW is it doing in its duties in Assam's welfare? But it is a patently unacceptable proposition for a true federal constituents of a democratic republic.

>A high degree of autonomy also brings with it a high degree of responsibility.

*** That is a highly desirable and constructive outcome. If Assam is responsible for its own welfare, then India too is freed of the beating it takes for dereliction of its responsibilities. It is the ONLY way to ensure that the states look after their interests.

You don't want Assam to forever remain award of the Indian state, a beggar, do you?

>You are not talking about economic reforms are you? Sure is surprizing that Ulfa is for reforms?

*** Why NOT? No reform is off the slate.

Your surprise is a result of your own misinformation, disinformation and faulty imaginations.p

>The last thing we hear is that the National Games won't held in Guwahati because ulfa has issued threats. And that could have injected vital resources for the local economy.

*** There is a HUGE difference between the many tactics and strategies a people have to wage to achieve the freedoms to be in control of their own destiny. More often than not, they are contradictory to their ultimate goals. It is , unfortunately the nature of the beast as history amply illustrates.

c-da

At 5:33 PM -0600 11/30/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

C'da,

You bring up a number of issues. Let me try to address a few choice ones here:)

>The solution in this area is REFORMS. Meaningful, comprehensive governmental reforms. Just like >economic reforms are beginning to payoff for SOME segments of India.

>*** What is 'quasi' about reforms, Ram? You don't speak of MMS' economic reforms as 'quasi' or 'unworkable' or >impossible to achieve. Why? What is different?

>Do you dispute, that those of you who are mortally afraid of calling out for governmental reforms is for any >other reason than the fear of giving the causes of the ULFA insurgency any legitimacy ?

First off, all I said was your solutions were "quasi" NOT Govt. Reforms.

And no one is against reforms. Why should anyone be against reforms? What they may be against is what is meant by "reforms" in some quarters:) To some, "reforms" could mean flushing the Indian Constitution (System) totally for something else, instead of suggesting ways Indian Governance could be improved upon.

>>What then is YOUR solution for Assam to at least be at par with some of the better states >(at least in the areas >>in which they are functional)?

>*** That is a false proposition, because to compare apples and apples we will have to assume that they started >at the same place. Assam's resources were never under Assam's control. Assam's educational establishment was >rudimentary. Assam's exposure to, the world outside was severely limited. And there are far too many other >factors.

Can you tell us which of these states have had their resources under their "control"?

Why were the educational estds. rudimentary in Assam? Most states (including Assam)started with similar humble beginings. The Gauhati Univ. was estd. in 1948 with some of the best faculty and under a great stewardship (Late KK Handique). Many institutions came after GU and and since surpassed it. What went wrong - State Control? The IIT-Guwahati estd. only the other day, on the other hand is doing great? Why? Central control? Why is Tezpur Univ. doing better than GU?.

>Reforms in ALL those areas, at the very least.

>Since India holds all of the cards on the matter, and it is neither willing nor able to muster the political will, the >only way Assam could effect those reforms would be thru independence or a very high degree of autonomy .

Assam can institute its own set of reforms at the state level - no one is going to complain. Why wait for the Center? And yes, the states do have a sizeable control. You mentioned Education. Education is both on the Central list and the State List. If one were to look carefully, the Center has actually very little control of a state's education. It only comes into play with central institutions being established and maybe when trying to push Hindi down non-Hindi speaking people's throats. Much everthing else is under the state's control.

And you think independence will bring in reforms? Who, pray, is going to be incharge of this noble effort?.

Autonomy for states - that is good for all states, not just Assam. BUT A high degree of autonomy is great when a state is doing great, but what happens to say an under-performing state, like say Bihar? Will you let Bihar fend for itself? A high degree of autonomy also brings with it a high degree of responsibility.

> Assam's disaffections would have been far less than what it is today. Substantially nothing has changed since >when ULFA took to arms and now. And the blame is squarely on Indian governance as carried out by Dilli's >puppets in Assam .

You are not talking about economic reforms are you? Sure is surprizing that Ulfa is for reforms? The last thing we hear is that the National Games won't held in Guwahati because ulfa has issued threats. And that could have injected vital resources for the local economy.

But, C'da, hope springs eternal - thats what we have left. :)

--Ram

On 11/30/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Ram:

>Hope you don't mind my butting in.

*** Not at all. More the merrier :-).

>Since you make most of the accusations about mal-governance etc, and since you >never seem to accept any solutions to the myraid of problems many of us >propose, let us see some of your solutions.

*** I have given mine--many times. But I will again. However it was NOT I who made the following charge:

>That is the hallmark of an ignorant society. While the ones capable of making a >difference only want to reap undue benefits from high office, an equally >ignorant populace either goes about just accepting things or just >blaming the "centre" - for the centre is a convenient scapegoa

--- while NOT being able to articulate, even after repeated requests, HOW the

ignorant populace will fight what is depriving them of what is rightfully theirs.

>and since you never seem to accept any solutions to the myraid of problems many >of us propose,

*** WHAT were those solutions that YOU ALL proposed Ram? Obviously I missed them. You are not referring to AT, Sentinel and AASU to the rescue , are you?

If you are, can you tell us HOW the newspapers' weekly outpourings of outrage against governmental corruption is faring so far?

And how exactly do you foresee AASU to the rescue? Take to the streets? Enforce 'bondhos'? What?

>Now, if you believe that the populace in NOT ignorant, can you tell us why they have been >silent all this while,

*** Have they been silent Ram? You don't have to take my word for it, but why don't you ask others here, if the populace has been silent? I would venture to suggest, that CORRUPTION and governmental dysfunction have been the most widely railed-about subject in ALL of middle-class India, not merely in Assam, for decades on end now.

*** The populace Ram, is made up of a variety of people. Some are ignorant, some are geniuses, many are fairly well-informed. Some of them are corrupt. But many others are of great integrity.

Those with integrity have long given up their struggles, because the SYSTEM does not come to their aid. The corrupt get-away, every-time. That is because the

TOOLS to fight corruption with that are available: Investigation, prosecution,and adjudication are DEFUNCT. They cannot produce anything.

A society that cannot punish bad behavior in its government and reward good, are destined to suffer from what they do all over India today.

> The Center has its faults,--

*** Really? What are they, as RELATES to the SUBJECT under discussion? You tell us what they might be and we can talk.

>but as we have stated over and over again, why have people in OTHER states fared better >under the same dysfunctional system?

*** The answer to that does not tell us ANYTHING about the subject: Of 'few high govt. officials' pocketing what is meant for development for the many.

Who says Assam has not fared better under the prevailing system? Guwahati is booming with high-rises all over, roads are clogged with cars, people are buying durable consumer-goods in great quantities!

But WHO are the beneficiaries of this boom? Is it the general populace, or a privileged few?

If it is the latter, what do they produce, with which they are participating in the consumption fest, wouldn't you want to know? I asked the question of Shantikam Hazarika too, but he would not reply :-). Maybe you will enlighten us?

Is it the same sector that are DISFFECTED, or is the sector who would not want the golden goose killed, or the apple cart upset by REFORMS?

>What then is YOUR solution for Assam to at least be at par with some of the better states >(at least in the areas in which they are functional)?

*** That is a false proposition, because to compare apples and apples we will have to assume that they started at the same place. Assam's resources were never under Assam's control. Assam's educational establishment was rudimentary. Assam's exposure to, the world outside was severely limited. And there are far too many other factors.

It is quite a ridiculous proposition to try to prove anything by comparing Assam's condition with some other state or region. It will be like

about as thoughtful a question as Henry Higgins', about why Women can't be like men.

*** Governmental dysfunction is culpable in areas that the govt. controls:

Infrastructure, education, health care, other govt. controlled 'development' work. When those monies are squandered , thru mismanagement and corruption, the people are left holding the bag.

The solution in this area is REFORMS. Meaningful, comprehensive governmental reforms. Just like economic reforms are beginning to payoff for SOME segments of India.

Had India undertaken effective reforms, in these last twenty years, Assam's disaffections would have been far less than what it is today. Substantially nothing has changed since when ULFA took to arms and now. And the blame is squarely on Indian governance as carried out by Dilli's puppets in Assam.

>Your oft repeated quasi-solutions amounts to "change the system", "fix the dysfunctional >democracy". Easier said than done, and one long-term solution that will come about.

*** What is 'quasi' about reforms, Ram? You don't speak of MMS' economic reforms as 'quasi' or 'unworkable' or impossible to achieve. Why? What is different?

Do you dispute, that those of you who are mortally afraid of calling out for governmental reforms is for any other reason than the fear of giving the causes of the ULFA insurgency any legitimacy ?

>Also, about the "colonist center" (Delhi) - would it help if Delhi were replaced by a >"colonist Dispur" or a "colonist Dakha" vis-a-vis Assam?

*** I would rather not go there Ram. It could lead to unpleasantness that we have no need for :-).

>Fair enough. So, what is your grand plan for Assam?

>How does Assam get out from under this inescapable tyranny from Delhi?

>And we wait with bated breath:):)

*** See the note I sent out in response to Dilip's on Nov. 18 and requested

Mr. JP Rajkhowa to comment on. Reforms in ALL those areas, at the very least.

Since India holds all of the cards on the matter, and it is neither willing nor able to muster the political will, the only way Assam could effect those reforms would be thru independence or a very high degree of autonomy.

That is the bottom line.

c-da

At 12:27 PM -0600 11/30/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

C'da,

Hope you don't mind my butting in.

For a change, lets us turn the tables around. Since you make most of the accusations about mal-governance etc, and since you never seem to accept any solutions to the myraid of problems many of us propose, let us see some of your solutions.

>If so, how do you propose to empower the IGNORANT POPULACE to fight back, >demand accountability and get it?

Ok - so how do you propose demanding accountability from the system. Now, if you believe that the populace in NOT ignorant, can you tell us why they have been silent all this while, what, and how do you propose that they get out from under this mess?

>You give a free pass to a colonialist Center, who steals from the many of Assam and >enriches a few by re-distributing it without exercising its controls over how it gets >disbursed or giving the ignorant populace the tools of a functioning democratic >state to exercise their controls.

I don't think anyone is giving the Center a free pass. What most of us are saying is that there is a "responsibility" factor for Assam. The Center has its faults, but as we have stated over and over again, why have people in OTHER states fared better under the same dysfunctional system? What are they doing (or not doing) "different" than Assam?

What then is YOUR solution for Assam to at least be at par with some of the better states (at least in the areas in which they are functional)?

Your oft repeated quasi-solutions amounts to "change the system", "fix the dysfunctional democracy". Easier said than done, and one long-term solution that will come about.

Also, about the "colonist center" (Delhi) - would it help if Delhi were replaced by a "colonist Dispur" or a "colonist Dakha" vis-a-vis Assam? :)

>But the people of Assam has no business accepting such half-a**ed propositions

Fair enough. So, what is your grand plan for Assam?

How does Assam get out from under this inescapable tyranny from Delhi?

And we wait with bated breath:):)

--Ram

On 11/30/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Dear Sandip Dutta:

>That is the hallmark of an ignorant society. While the ones capable of making a >difference only want to reap undue benefits from high office, an equally >ignorant populace either goes about just accepting things or just >blaming the "centre" - for the centre is a convenient scapegoat.

** Was this not where we started?

If so, how do you propose to empower the IGNORANT POPULACE to fight back, demand accountability and get it?

** And would people blame the Center, if it did NOT CONTROL the resources, held the controls over the purse strings, set down the laws and devised the law-enforcement and adjudication mechanisms that do not work?

Who would YOU hold responsible under the circumstances and why?

Obviously you hold the ignorant Assam populace responsible, except you could not be bothered by the fact that the Indian system of laws and its enforcement

apparatus , that people in a democratic system use to control and fight CORRUPTION are dysfunctional, and would not raise your voice for REFORMS, while
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