Thanks RB. Hope my "Soft Power" for Assam works :)
Here is Tharoor's website and contact details http://www.shashitharoor.com/contact.html It will be interesting to find out when Tharoor plans to visit Assam. He could be contacted either for speaking or other matters. --Ram On 8/26/07, Ritutapan Borah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > It was really interesting. I believe, Ram's approach of 'getting > message about Assam across' definitely will bear fruits. > > Regarding Mr. Tharror's Glossary on India published weekly (in > alphabetic order, now it reached 'I') in the Times of India; I sent a > short e-mail to ToI to request Mr. Tharoor to consider 'Assam Tea' for > the same. As the glossary is about different topics (read it 'brand > name'), India is known for. > > Don't know, whether the mail reached Mr. Tharoor. > > On 8/27/07, Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Thank you Barua. > > > > --Ram > > > > > > On 8/26/07, barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > Good! > > > That itself makes another good speech. > > > Barua > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > *From:* Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > *To:* ASSAMNET <[email protected]> > > > *Sent:* Sunday, August 26, 2007 4:56 PM > > > *Subject:* [Assam] A chance interaction with Shashi Tharoor > > > > > > > > > Yesterday, we had the good fortune to listen to Shashi Tharoor speak. > Most > > > of us know that Tharoor was formerly a UN undersecrectary, and also > ran an > > > unsuccessful campaign to win th UN Secy Gen post. He is also the > author of > > a > > > number of books The event drew (I would guess) a couple of 1000 > people) - > > > packed. It was also attended by Congressman Lampson, the Indian > > Ambassador, > > > Sen, the mayor etc etec. > > > > > > Anyway, Tharoor talked about (excellent speaker) "India's Soft Power > in > > > the 21st Century World" > > > > > > He spoke at length of both India's successes and also of its failures, > He > > > talked about space, of IT, of growth rates, literature, and of the > Indian > > > spirit, And he also talked about poverty (something like 30-40% below > > > poverty level), of the wide disparities within the country. He spoke > about > > > the "Indian Democracy" and of how there is still the "you cast your > vote, > > > and vote your cast" - but he mentions how at times the democractic > system > > > struggles & totters, and yet manages to survive and come out > triumphant. > > > > > > He advocates "Soft Power" (SP)India which India practices very well - > > > bothe within & outside the country. He advocates this power of > persuassion > > > as opposed to arms etc. SP can of course be in many forms - from > Bollywood > > > to literature, from our engineers to software developers. He mentioned > > that > > > India was like a"Thali dinner". All different, items, some > complementary, > > > while others not - but they all belonged to the same thali. > > > > > > I sort of took advantage of the Q & A session, hesitated, but asked > him a > > > question about Assam & NE. > > > > > > My question (based on some of the queries we often get in the net > here) > > > was what kind of Soft Power would Tharoor advocate the central Govt. > take > > > toward Assam in particular and the NE in general. I referred to the > > > insurgency, the lack of development and wanted to know what steps > Delhi > > > ought to take to make Assam and NE inclusive and share and share > equally > > in > > > the overall Indian experiment. > > > > > > Tharoor, basically responded and told the audience that India's > overall > > > success also depended on how well the all states were treated and how > > Delhi > > > should take proactive steps to ensure that Assam(NE) is not left out > etc. > > > etc and that it was important development and growth efforts in Assam > be > > > given a priority. > > > > > > He also mentioned that he would be visiting Assam, and that he has had > a > > > long discussion with the CM, Assam. He seemed genuinely interested and > > even > > > referred to the situation in Assam a couple of times in other > discussions. > > > Afterwards, I even got a chance of chatting with him for a few > minutes. > > > > > > My reasons were very simplistic in asking the question. I did not > expect > > > that there would be any overnight change in attitude or perceptions > toward > > > Assam/NE or that Tharror could do on a personal basis. - but I thought > I > > > would atleast plant the idea, or notion that Delhi cannot just keep > > thinking > > > that India is just made up of a few states and cities. I wanted to > bring > > > this up in front of many American invitees, Ambassador Sen, Consul > Gen. > > of > > > India, and others like the mayor etc. Good or bad, I wanted to show > that > > > Assam/NE is/was being neglected in many ways - and I got to get that > > message > > > about Assam across in the forum. > > > > > > I have experimented this in a number of other forums too. I often > raise > > > concerns about Assam and let often let NGOs and others to also pay > > interest > > > to states like Assam. Don't know if this works, but intend to keep > trying. > > > > > > I also DO NOT think those of us interested in Assam ought to just lay > back > > > and expect others to take interest. Today, there are many people both > here > > > and in Assam, who are trying to make things happen. > > > > > > Today, because of the leadership of Hiren da & Usha (Hiren Sarma of > > > Houston), the Houston Assamese community was fortunate to be invited > to a > > > presentation of Pratham USA by Mr. Yogi Patel. Pratham, as some of you > > know > > > is a non-profit organization and focusses on basic education for poor > > > children. The organization has done wonderfull things and made huge > > strides > > > in many parts of the country. > > > They now have a presence in Assam as well. > > > > > > I think, it is important for each of us to contribute what we can. > > > Pratham, from what I understand, will be able to match funds thru > various > > > sources. Further, contributions can be earmarked specifically to > Assam. I > > am > > > sure Hiren da can provide more information on Pratham if anyone wants > > > further information. > > > > > > --Ram > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > assam mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Mr. Ritutapan Borah > Business Analyst, Healthcare > Bangalore >
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