Chandan:
I hope I did not disturb your line of thoughts with my inputs, and
that you will come up with not only your
>Next: My Take on Why Independence - II
Why does one need independence for change?
But also : My Take on How Independence - III
Howdoweachieveindependenceforchange?
Itisimportantthatyoudothat.
Thanks
Rajen
From:[EMAIL PROTECTED]:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent:Monday,February19,20079:49AM
To:[email protected]
Subject:[Assam]MyTakeonWhyIndependence-I
ULFA'semergenceandthecallforindependence,asespousedbythem,hadanumberofwidelyrecognizedreasons.Idoubtiftherewouldbeasinglepersonhereinthisforum,includingthemostvehementofULFAcritics,whocoulddenyordisavowtheconditionsthatgaverisetoanarmeduprisingfromoneofthesub-continent'smostdocileandhistoricallyun-assertiveethnicgroup-theAssamese.
ThecausesthattriggeredULFA'semergenceandthecallforanindependentAssamincludehistorical,cultural,linguistic,economicandpolitical.Mostofthesecauseshavebeenwidelydiscussedandanalyzedbyumpteennumberofintellectuals,politicalcommentators,academicians,journalists,politicalscientists,politiciansandgenerationsofthepeopleofAssam.
Icouldbeill-informedaboutthis,butwhathasbeenconspicuousbyitsabsence,hasbeendiscussionsoranalysesof,whatIconsidertobethemostimportantcause:Theoneinvolvinggovernmentalunresponsiveness,bothstateandcentral,tothepeople'sneeds,concernsanddemandsanditsutterinabilitytodeliveronitsmostfundamentalofduties,leadingtothewidelyheldbelief,evenamongstthosewhodecryULFAtheloudest,thatAssamgetsstep-motherlytreatment,thatitistreatedlikesecond-classcitizensandsoforth.
Theindependenceseekersrealized,rightly,thatsuccessiveAssamGovts.sinceindependenceandtheircontrollersatNewDelhididnotcareorcouldnotdeliveriftheydid.Andwhenthepeopletooktothestreetsinprotest,theygotshotat,brutalizedandimprisoned,almostalwayswithouttrial.THeIndianintelligentsia,soproudoftheir'democratic'government,wasnowheretobeseenrisinginprotestagainsttheirgovernmentshighlyundemocraticactions.SuchwasthestateofIndianDemocracy.ThedisaffecteddecidedthatIndiangovernmentanditsagents,theAssamGovts.,wouldneverrespondtotheirneeds.Outofdesperationstheytooktoarms,tobreakfreefromIndianrule,andthus,amongotherthings,re-shapetheirgovernmenttofittheirneeds:Political,economic,culturalandwhathaveyou.
Idon'tknowanyone,inAssam,elsewhereinIndiaorabroad,whowouldnotwanttoseeanendtotheinsurgencyandthenever-endingarmedconflict.Butforthatwishtoberealistic,thethoughtfulpersonmustask:Whathaschangedtotheconditionsthatcreatedtheconflicttobeginwith?
Andiftheyhavenot,whynot?
Nowthequestionwehavetoaskishowtoremovethosecausesthatgaverisetothiscallforindependence?IsitpossibleundertheprevailingsystemofIndianrule?
Manyinthisforum,pastandpresent,implied--butneverclearlytookastandthatIcanrecall,toconfidentlysuggestthatYES,changeispossibleunderprevailingIndianrule,backedupbycredibleevidence.Thediscussion,asfarasIcantell,isentirelyabsentinAssamorelsewhereinIndia.Onlywhenfreshviolenceeruptsthereisatemporaryawarenessbutthediscourseisentirelydominatedbythe'desi-sekurity-wallas',compliantlyandmindlesslyparrotedbyalargesegmentoftheAssamestablishment.
Next: My Take on Why Independence - II
Why does one need independence for change?
cm
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