That could be your objective - the master of spin as you are :-)
Whether Kohima is foreign to Dilli or not is not the objective of our
discussions. Just as you expect Biharis and Marwaris to assimilate more into
Oxomiya culture, the same holds true for us who migrate to other states.
"Be aware of local sensibilities" is a phrase that should apply to anybody, not
just Bihari labourers working 11 hrs a day in some brick kiln or pulling
rickshaws somewhere near Phency Bozar. As far as Dilli is concerned, even local
women are unsafe there - just read the newspapers. Therefore the need to
exercise caution is even more paramount.
Again since you are not affected by any of this, you fail to see the specific
issue at hand now.
Rgds,
Sandip
----- Original Message ----
From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: SANDIP DUTTA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; uttam
borthakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Priyankoo
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 6:08:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] mainland vs northeast in delhi
At 6:44 AM -0700 7/14/07, SANDIP DUTTA wrote:
These kind of discussions are not going to help one single NE person who may or
may not face the kind of discrimination we talk about.
*** We are missing the point. Prevention of tyranny of the majority is not the
aim here. That is the responsibility of the 'great Indian democracy' . But ours
is to point out its dysfunction and to educate our people about what NOT to
expect from it.
>Assam.org cannot change the way Haryanvis think about NE, atleast for the time
>being.
This is a practical situation on the ground. As we cannot change the fact that
Haryanvis dominate the Delhi police and have little or no knowledge about NE,
we have to be a bit more judicious for the time being instead of thinking like
we were in the middle of Kohima.
*** Why should Kohima be foreign to Dilli, if Dilli claims Kohima to be its
integral part? Is this not an utterly untenable proposition?
BTW, Isnt the Ulfa targetting Hindi speakers for similar racist reasons - and
blowing them with bombs?
*** ULFA and its actions are RESULTs of Indian policies and attitudes that
remain unchangeable as you point out yourself. They are NOT its causes.
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 police’s 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 police’s 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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