Rajen-da,
Good initiative!!
***On behalf of the professionals Rajen Barua of Texas, USA signed the
petition. The list of the professionals has also been enclosed with the
petition.
Umesh
Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Coverage in Assam Tribune January 4, 2007
Rescind Assembly decision on Asom
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 3 About 150 professionals living in different parts of the
state, country and abroad have made an appeal to the Chief Minister of the
state to rescind the state Assembly resolution on the change of the name of the
state to Asom. For the purpose of changing the name of the state, they also
advised the Chief Minister to set up an advisory commission with eminent
citizens, academicians, historians, linguists, literary figures and the like
and the members of the Assamese Diaspora, to have a transparent debate on the
issue with public participation.
In their petition to the Chief Minister, these persons identified themselves as
friends and well wishers of Assam living in and outside the State and country.
They have also forwarded the copies of the petition to the President and Prime
Minister of the country.
In their petition, they have stated that the December 15, 2006 resolution of
the State Assembly was not supported by any argument or reason, nor any debate
was allowed despite requests from the opposition.
They expressed their shock at the decision of the Assembly and registered their
strong opposition to this entirely unwarranted and undemocratic move on the
part of the State Legislature.
For, the States name is not something for changing in as casual a fashion as
it has been done, without a thorough and informed public discussion and debate.
It has never a mandate of the people.
Moreover, the Legislature did not give a credible set of reasons for the change
from the internationally well-recognised name Assam to Asom. In these days
of globalisation, to dilute and muddy Assams international name recognition is
entirely counterproductive, argue the professionals.
They have also argued that there is clear historical evidence that the British
did not introduce the name Assam. It was in use long before the British
signed the Treaty of Yandaboo on February 24, 1826. The Britishers also used
the word Assam in the treaty.
Even from the Ahom Buranjis, it is found that the Mughals also used the name
Ashyam for the State. The same is also evident from various historical
documents of the Mughal period and the Dutch chronicles of the pre-British era.
In the Persian publications of the Mughal period, like the Akbarnama
(1542-1605), Pashah-Namah (1627-1647), Alamgir-Namah (1657-1667) and Tarikh I
Mulk-I Asham, the name Asham is mentioned. On the other hand, the name Asom is
not found anywhere in the pre-British period, argue the professionals.
In the map of the Kingdom Bengale (Kingdom of Bengal), drawn by a Dutchman
named John van Leenen, who was in Bengale in 1661, also recorded the name
Assam. The map was published around 1662 and currently preserved in the
Maritime Museum, Rotterdam.
In a letter sent by Joan Mertsuyker, Governor General of Dutch Batavia on
August 29, 1663, he addressed Mirjumala as General veldheer van den Grooten
Mogol in Assam, Bengale etc.
There is also a diary of a Dutchman published in 1675, which mentions the name
of Assam and described its people as Assamer. The Dutchman fought alongside
the army of Mirjumala in 1662. These are some of the written historical records
of the existence of the spelling Assam for the name of the State long before
the advent of the British to it, claim the professionals.
They have also mentioned that according to many historians, the phonetic name
Assam was derived from the Sanskrit name Shyam, the name of the Shan people
who invaded and conquered the State in the 13th century AD. However, according
to historian Baden Powel, the word Assam might have been derived from even
older original Bodo word Ha-som, meaning low land.
Thus it has been found that the phonetic name Assam has been in existence for
the past 800 years and has a strong connection with the coming of the Tai-Ahoms
to the State, even if the possibility or an earlier Bodo origin of it is ruled
out, argue the professionals.
They have also pleaded for protection and promotion of the unique xo or kho
guttural sound of Assamese language as a linguistic heritage. This should not
be allowed to be diluted by the so sound being introduced through Asom.
They have also argued that the duality of identity of the State as Assam in
English and Oxom in Assamese would not rob or dilute the States unique
cultural, linguistic and ethnic heritage. Even India has two identities India
in English and Bharat in Indian languages. Similarly, the English name of
Pachim Bongo is West Bengal.
On behalf of the professionals Rajen Barua of Texas, USA signed the petition.
The list of the professionals has also been enclosed with the petition.
_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
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Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park,
(Washington D.C. Metro Region)
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/
website: www.gse.harvard.edu/iep
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