Dear Barua,

My signature was conditional right from the beginning. The purpose was to 
generate a short & strong "Petition" so that we do not become a laughing stock 
in future.

Since the prime movers have not agreed, I must withdraw my signature, and I am 
very sad about this.

I wish you all success. I congratulate the prime movers for taking full 
responsibility to achieve our goal which is to stop the GOA to proceed with the 
resolution to change the name to Asom. 

I am very happy that the idea of "taking full responsibility" has emerged out 
of this debate as a very welcome promise. I am hoping that this will change the 
trend of future discussions at the assam-net where writers will take 
responsibility for the consequences of their opinions and signatures. 

With the best wishes,
Himendra Barthakur
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Barua25 
  To: Himendra Thakur ; Rajib Das 
  Cc: Indrajit Barua ; Mohan R. Palleti ; [email protected] ; Chan Mahanta ; 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 9:59 AM
  Subject: The Petition


  >The "Petition" is not about the name change, but against the action of the 
Assam Assembly who did not have the right to change the name >of the State. 
This was pointed out by Rajen Barua as "Again the purpose of the petition is 
simply to stop the GOA to change the >name so that we have a discussion in a 
democratic process if we want to change the name at all." 
   

  >However, in the current draft of the "Petition," the kernel purpose stated 
above got shrouded by tributes to Dutch sailors and promotion of >the X-sound 
based on incomplete research. I signed the "Petition" on the condition that 
these extraneous materials will be deleted, and the >"Petition" will be short & 
strong. 


  Dear Himenda and Dilip Deka:

  We just saw your response to Rajib Das. I thought we have clarified before 
that we are not changing the wording of the petition substantially to 100% 
liking of yours as stated above. We the prime movers of the petition discussed 
your comments on the specific wording and came to a democratic resolution and 
have changed some wording. As a result, we need to clarify again that we have 
not revised our petition substantially, except that we removed the reference 
about 'congratulations' to Mirjumla.  The statement about X-sound has been 
revised somewhat to reflect that facts.

  For the final draft and the whole process of submission to the CM, we the 
prime movers take full responsibility to achieve our goal which is to stop the 
GOA to proceed with the resolution to change the name to Asom.

  Now reading your above comments, we are not sure if your signature is still 
conditional. Frankly speaking we will be hesitant to put your name as a 
signatory unless we receive your unconditional agreement.

  As such we are requesting you to kindly confirm that you can still be a 
signatory .  We need to know ASAP, because the petition is going out later 
today. 

  We are addressing the same question to Dilip Deka also since he supported 
your views.

  Please confirm urgently so that we can put your name as a signatory.

  If we donot receive your unconditional acceptance by tonight, we will have to 
release the petition without your names since we donot want to get into any 
controversy on the issue.

  I hope you will say YES 

  Thanks
  Rajen



    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Himendra Thakur 
    To: Rajib Das 
    Cc: Indrajit Barua ; Mohan R. Palleti ; Manoj Das ; Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; 
[email protected] 
    Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 10:28 AM
    Subject: Re: [Assam] Rhino Charge stories !


    Happy New Year, Rajib, and thank you for liking the "Rhino Charge" story! 
My 9-year old grand-daughter has spoiled me by turning me into a story-teller ! 
In fact, I have more stories to tell, provided you guys like it and address me 
as "Himendra Uncle" or "Granduncle Himendra" --- depending upon the age-group.

     

    I completely agree with you that "I personally don't see the name change 
(or leaving the name alone) as a major theme." The "Petition" is not about the 
name change, but against the action of the Assam Assembly who did not have the 
right to change the name of the State. This was pointed out by Rajen Barua as 
"Again the purpose of the petition is simply to stop the GOA to change the name 
so that we have a discussion in a democratic process if we want to change the 
name at all." 

     

    However, in the current draft of the "Petition," the kernel purpose stated 
above got shrouded by tributes to Dutch sailors and promotion of the X-sound 
based on incomplete research. I signed the "Petition" on the condition that 
these extraneous materials will be deleted, and the "Petition" will be short & 
strong. 

     

    I am sorry if you are offended because I used the word despondent --- which 
means "feeling or expressing depression of spirit from loss of hope, confidence 
or courage." 

     

    We are all suffering from "despondency" at this time --- myself, my friend 
Indrajit Baruah, and many others. 

     

    Despondency is just human. In fact, there is a historical record that, 
standing at the exterior foot of the huge Mughal Fort in Guwahati in 1669, 
Lachit became despondent when he and a small group of his friends came to take 
it by guerrilla attack at night, a technique that he perfected at Dikhowmukh 
six years back during the Mirjumla's occupation of Gargaon in 1663. 

     

    However, Lachit got over the temporary spell of despondency, took the 
Mughal Fort very skillfully, imprisoned and sent the Mughal Governor Sayed 
Channa to Gargaon as a Prisoner of War. Later, King Chakradhwaj Singha 
appointed Lachit as the Borphukan ---- you know the rest of the story --- he 
routed the Mughals at the Battle of Saraighat in 1672.

     

    Being despondent is nothing wrong, as long as it triggers our inner 
strength to stand up and claim our rights. But, whatever we do must be done 
skillfully --- yogah karmasu kaushalam --- apply the highest skill in your 
work. This is from the emblem of IIT Kharagpur. 

     

    One of the first skill is to identify the problem. You are right to 
identify the problem as "need for the people on the ground" which you 
elucidated by comparing the economic condition & work condition between Assam & 
Karnataka. 

     

    However, if you scrutinize further, it may become clear that the disparity 
of the economic/work condition is only an external symptom --- you have already 
seen the bomb-blast by the insurgent groups: they got started as a protest to 
the exploitations by politicians clinging to power with dirty vote-bank 
politics, encouraging illegal infiltration of foreigners who are endangering 
the very existence of the Assamese people today. That is the real problem. Our 
Land --- with our rivers and hills --- is our fundamental right. "We don't want 
money. We want our land back" is the battle-cry of the Assamese today. Once we 
can secure our land, economic growth will follow. We must not lose our land for 
the sake of economic growth, which is as temporary as a rainbow or a mirage.

     

    The short & strong "Petition" will be a reminder to the vote-bank 
politicians about the  "rhino charge" of the Assamese.

     

    With love to everybody,

    Himendra



    PS to Mohan Pelleti:

    Dear Mohan, For the success and effectiveness of the "Petition", it should 
not have multiple goals. Research of the subject is a topic in the universities 
& colleges, not in the "Petition." We must be prepared that the "Petition" will 
be referred to the Parliament and Parliamentary Committees in future. The 
"Petition" must be rewritten by deleting the extraneous materials like tributes 
to Dutch sailors and the promotion of the X-sound based on incomplete research, 
which will turn the "Petition" into a laughing stock. I signed the "Petition" 
on that condition, so that the "Petition" will be short & strong. 



    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: "Rajib Das" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
    To: "Himendra Thakur" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "shantikam hazarika" <[EMAIL 
PROTECTED]>
    Cc: <[email protected]>
    Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 6:35 PM
    Subject: Re: [Assam] Rhino Charge stories !


    > Himenda,
    > 
    > Thanks for the stories - I always like them.
    > 
    > No - my mail wasn't about being despondent. Far from
    > it. 
    > 
    > There were 2 themes I watched unfold in this visit to
    > Assam in December - The cottage industry around bomb
    > blasts - Rs. 500 fetches one - (I saw the Ghy railway
    > station one at close quarters) and the rise of malls
    > (not one actively managed beyond the Marwari
    > community). It contrasted against what I saw elsewhere
    > - in the small towns of South Karnataka and Pune
    > (though Kerala maintains its Communist ennui). 
    > 
    > I personally don't see the name change (or leaving the
    > name alone) as a major theme - a felt need for the
    > people on the ground. Hence I posed the question to
    > those that know better about how relevant it is either
    > which way. 
    > 
    > Wish you a very happy new year! 
    > 
    > Thanks
    > 
    > Rajib
    > 
    > 
    > --- Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
    > 
    > > Dear Shantikam,
    > > 
    > > Happy New Year to you, your family and your friends
    > > !
    > > 
    > > I am glad you liked the true-story of the
    > > rhino-charge imagery in Calcutta
    > > Press in 1946. The rhino dominated some other areas
    > > of literature for some
    > > time. I remember just two more episodes which I'll
    > > write if everybody wants
    > > it. Until such time, Happy New Year to everybody !
    > > 
    > > With the best,
    > > Himendra
    > > 
    > > ----- Original Message -----
    > > From: "shantikam hazarika" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
    > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
    > > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
    > > <[email protected]>
    > > Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 3:19 AM
    > > Subject: Rhino Charge stories !
    > > 
    > > 
    > > >
    > > > That was exciting. Can we have some enterprising
    > > Assamese who can retrieve
    > > > the cartoons? That may bolster Assamese morale and
    > > the journey back from
    > > the
    > > > prevalent despondency?
    > > > Bordoloi was really a lion, why could not the
    > > others be like him?
    > > > Shantikam
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > >From: "Himendra Thakur" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
    > > > >To: "Rajib Das" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
    > > > >CC: "shantikam hazarika"
    > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"Manoj Das"
    > > > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"Ankur Bora"
    > > > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,<[email protected]>
    > > > >Subject: Rhino Charge stories !
    > > > >Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 10:38:49 -0800
    > > > >
    > > > >Dear Rajib,
    > > > >Thank you for mentioning the "rhino charge" ! Let
    > > us break away from
    > > > >serious discussion for a while and get into
    > > experience sharing !!
    > > > >   The first "rhino charge" cartoon that I saw as
    > > a schoolboy in Tezpur
    > > was
    > > > >in 1946 (long before you were born, maybe before
    > > your parents were born!)
    > > > >when Assam blasted the "Grouping Proposal"
    > > brought from London by a
    > > > >high-powered Cabinet Mission from the British
    > > Parliament. "Grouping" was
    > > > >supported by Nehru as a quick alternative to his
    > > power, who rebuked Assam
    > > > >with his infamous statement: "Assam must
    > > sacrifice for the greater cause
    > > of
    > > > >India."
    > > > >   The Calcutta Press wholeheartedly supported
    > > Assam during our struggle
    > > > >for survival from the "Grouping" trap in May
    > > 1946. That was where I saw
    > > the
    > > > >cartoon of "rhino charge" for the first time --- 
    > > a rhino (marked Assam)
    > > > >charging with its head down towards a  bunch of
    > > British Parliamentarians
    > > > >who were running helter-skelter with "Grouping
    > > Proposal" papers flying
    > > all
    > > > >over --- will one of our young artists redraw
    > > that cartoon just for fun
    > > > >today? That will be very exciting !
    > > > >   Gaining international and national admiration
    > > for stubbornness, Assam
    > > > >was very soon promoted to the image of a lion: In
    > > the terrible "Direct
    > > > >Action" in Calcutta by Pakistan-supporters on
    > > August 16, 17 & 18, 1946,
    > > an
    > > > >Assamese student, Poet Amulya Barua was killed by
    > > the Muslim rioters.  In
    > > a
    > > > >prompt telegraph to Surhawardy, the
    > > Pakistan-supporter Prime Minister of
    > > > >Bengal (a Chief Minister was called "Prime
    > > Minister" in those days),
    > > > >Gopinath Bardoloi, the Prime Minister of Assam
    > > asked whether he should
    > > > >dispatch a few battalions of Assam Rifles to
    > > Calcutta if Surhawardy did
    > > not
    > > > >have enough policemen to control the rioters.
    > > > >   This was headlined in the Calcutta newspapers
    > > as "Assam Lion Roars ."
    > > > >We must revive our self-confidence that we
    > > inherited from the historical
    > > > >days of Chakradhwaj Singha, Atan Buragohain,
    > > Lachit Barphukan, to mention
    > > > >just a few. Your opinion  "Does anyone on the
    > > ground really care ? "
    > > > >carries an undercurrent note of despondency. We
    > > must wake up from
    > > despair,
    > > > >stand on our own feet and claim our rights: Assam
    > > Assembly does not have
    > > > >the rights to change the name of the State
    > > without public
    > > endorsement ----
    > > > >that is the crux of the "Petition" which should
    > > be rewritten in a  brief
    > > > >format without the Dutch connection and without
    > > the controversial issues
    > > > >like X sound, etc.
    > > > >With love to everybody,
    > > > >Himendra
    > > >
    > > >
    > >
    > _________________________________________________________________
    > > > Spice up your IM conversations. New, colorful and
    > > animated emoticons. Get
    > > > chatting! http://server1.msn.co.in/SP05/emoticons/
    > > >
    > > 
    > > 
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    > >
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    > > 
    > 
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