Rgds,
Sandip
Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I don't see anything wrong in discussing the
issue. In fact it should be discussed.
But I agree with most of the points made here. Very well said!
>. If it is true, then a Gujarati considers a
Bihari mainstream and a Bihari considers a Tamil
mainstream; >but they all consider us as not of
the mainstream.
*** And what that means is that we are
different. It is a fact. We ought to be secure
about it, and not seek to be like them :-).
>If this basis is correct, why should we beg
to be included in that mainstream? In that
case, we are distinct from them as a class,
because, we have a different/ vibrant/ rich
identity, if not politically, then definitely
culturally. And we are, and should be, proud of
that.
*** Exactly!
>The only thing that remains is
'discrimnation' by Delhi authorities towards
our boys and girls studying there. When the
entire country pride itself in baring itself to
the western influence, why our guys should be
singled out for special treatment on the plea
that certain rape or other untoward things
happened to a few of them. Such things happen
to lots of Delhi students, western or domestic
tourists.
*** There is a major MYTH here, however. The
so-called 'westernization' of Indians cannot be
further from the truth. Even a very large
percentage of the so-called NRIs living in the
west are NOT really westernized and live
sheltered lives, divorced from the life of the
communities where they do, hopelessly attempting
to hold on to what they consider
"Indian"--which, incidentally, varies widely
from one group to the other, while each ethnic
group remain largely divorced from others from
the same 'India' they came from . The
parochialism is brutal. Perhaps worse than what
it might be in some more pluralistic of Indian
metropolitan environments.
Westernization in India is, at best, a mindless
copy of the most superficial of traits of what
is considered 'western', usually as created by
Bollywood or as registered from fleeting images
on the internet today.
>The only thing that remains is 'discrimnation'
by Delhi authorities towards our boys and girls
studying >there.
*** It really is a manifestation of the attitude
that pervades the general Indian outlook: That
numbers rule. My way or the highway. While it
argued that it is an universal human trait, the
difference lies in to recognize the rights of
the numerical minorities, protecting them with
FUNCTIONING institutions of state:
Constitutional safeguards backed up with law
enforcement, and effective conflict resolution
mechanisms, like courts of law.
>The entire question thus boils down to one
point: whether Delhi authorities should
presecribe dress >code or should gear
themselves up to provide safeguard
to the people---dressed, undressed or >scantily
dressed, without discrimination?
*** Exactly!
>I believe, we should tell them to mind their
business and not waste our own time and
energy on this >issue.
*** Here I differ. Unless it is discussed,
people will remain uneducated about its, and so
will its ramifications. Indian
intelligentsia's absence from dealing with these
issues is the reason they remain operative.
At 1:21 PM +0100 7/14/07, uttam borthakur wrote:
Is there any point in pursuing this discussion?
There is an assumption here that INDIANS, other
than NORTH EASTERNERS, consider other Indians
mainstream, but do not have the same attitude
towards the North Easterners. If it is true,
then a Gujarati considers a Bihari mainstream
and a Bihari considers a Tamil mainstream; but
they all consider us as not of the mainstream.
Why is that so?
If this basis is correct, why should we beg to
be included in that mainstream? In that case, we
are distinct from them as a class, because, we
have a different/ vibrant/ rich identity, if not
politically, then definitely culturally. And we
are, and should be, proud of that.
In so far as 'assimilation' is concerned, it
cannot be done conciously or forcefully. A
Marwari in Assam now a days can earn his living
without having to learn Assamese like their
forefathers did. Now a days, even many Assamese
do without their language and some of them feel
proud about that!
The only thing that remains is 'discrimnation'
by Delhi authorities towards our boys and girls
studying there. When the entire country pride
itself in baring itself to the western
influence, why our guys should be singled out
for special treatment on the plea that certain
rape or other untoward things happened to a few
of them. Such things happen to lots of Delhi
students, western or domestic tourists.
The entire question thus boils down to one
point: whether Delhi authorities should
presecribe dress code or should gear
themselves up to provide safeguard
to the people---dressed, undressed or scantily
dressed, without discrimination?
I believe, we should tell them to mind their
business and not waste our own time and
energy on this issue.
Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
What do you think is a better choice :
1. Ask the NE people to be more "mainstream
like" in their food or dress habits. May be even
suggest they undergo plastic surgery to look
more "mainstream" like .
2. Educate the "mainstream" Indians that India
is a diverse country and not all look like
Harayanvi and "honorable practises" like dowry
and female infanticide.
Looks like Delhi police will choose option 1.
Priyankoo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
and why people from the NE region MUST
assimilate to the mainstream culture? In case of
Assam haven't we seen more than 90% of the
non-Assamese population never trying to
"assimilate" with the local culture?
If there is a failure on part of the NE
population in "assimilating" to the mainstream
culture, may be the reason is the same as why
the non- Assamese population in Assam never
"assimilated" to the local culture/s.
best
Priyankoo
Priyankoo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
"Assimilation" is not the aim of the booklet. It
just forces some dos and don'ts to people from a
particular region.
In any case, a booklet is never helpful for any kind of "assimilation".
best
Priyankoo
SANDIP DUTTA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
There is no problem with "assimilation" for
students or citizens from Assam. This advisory
should be better worded and directed at our bros
from Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur who stay
apart not just in Delhi but in other parts of
India too.
Rgds,
Sandip
----- Original Message ----
From: Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: xourov pathok <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [email protected]
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 7:33:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] mainland vs northeast in delhi
I wonder if similar "circular" was issued to
Indians in the US ( regarding the spices we
use), how would the Indians react ?
xourov pathok <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
having been in delhi for sometime as a student, i see
it is getting worse.
x
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070712/asp/frontpage/story_8048182.asp
Right intentions, wrong message
- Delhi police accused of dividing India into
mainland & Northeast
NISHIT DHOLABHAI
New Delhi, July 11: Delhi polices advisory to youths
from the Northeast studying in the capital is being
seen by most as segregating the region from the
so-called mainland.
The minister for development of the northeastern
region (DoNER), Mani Shankar Aiyar, had only recently
discouraged the use of this syntax. There is no
mainland, you are the mainland, he had told a
reporter in Shillong.
Aiyar was unavailable for comment on the booklet
released by Delhi police, but those who responded
seemed to cringe at the thought of someone advising
students from the region to change their food habits,
customs and manner of dressing to assimilate into the
mainstream.
Dipankar Gupta, professor of sociology at Jawaharlal
Nehru University, said the polices advice not to
create a ruckus in the neighbourhood by cooking
smelly dishes and dress decently was gratuitous, to
say the least.
The police come up with these advisories, but there
is no implementation. There should be a departmental
memo of some sort that if a person from the Northeast
is harmed, punishment will be stringent, Gupta said.
Moses Kharbithi, who is doing his MPhil at JNU, said
the advisory was tantamount to undermining the ability
of Northeast students in New Delhi to assimilate. I
wonder if they have given such booklets to students
from the South, he said.
Kharbithi said the fact that the booklet was
well-intentioned could not mask the sense of
discrimination.
Asom Gana Parishad MP Arun Kumar Sarma and his
Congress colleague Kirip Chaliha said there was no
denying the need to spruce up security for students
from the region in view of some incidents in the
recent past. But commenting on food habits and
clothing was unfair, the duo said.
How can one tell somebody what to eat and how to
dress? Sarma asked.
Chaliha said he would take up the issue with the authorities.
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