In short, why not India just give in to everybody's 'khwab'?
“In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass.” > Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:06:17 -0500> To: [email protected]> From: [EMAIL > PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Re: Los Angeles Times on Northeast > India> > > >I don't know why govt. of India could not win over B'desh to get > the transit> >rights. Every time a new government takes charge, we > enthusiastically talk> >of a favorable climate; every time the same story > repeats. We are also> >reluctant to take any mediator who could show reasons > and objectivity to> B'desh.> > > > > **** Nor do many others Manoj. It is > India's inability to change from > the rut it has created for itself, a mind > set that it cannot change. > The same mind-set that does not bend to respond > to the needs of their > fellow men, while holding on to dogmas and > self-imposed 'rules' that > they hold sacrosanct and infallible producing > results like:> > *** Bhopal tragedy victims --who got little , while the > > rulers held onto hopes for imprisoning> Union Carbide CEO.> > *** Holding on > to the real estate of Kashmir while gladly > sacrificing hundreds of > thousands> of their own people's lives.> > *** Annihilating hundreds of > thousands Nagas, Mizos, Oxomiyas > and other kins of ours> but holding on to > the real-estate without a flexible or > sincere approach towards a political> > settlement.> > *** Letting the people of the NE suffer the consequences of > > depriving the Brahmaputra> waterway for navigation to satisfy its needs to be > 'tough' > with them Miyas of B'desh.> > *** Unable to reform its > dysfunctional institutions of state > like the 'bureaucratic system', its > law> enforcement , its laws and its courts and system of justice, > its > electoral system, its> educational systems, its public health system, ad > nauseum.> > One can go on and on.> > And our intelligentsia, remains ignorant > and apathetic.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At 9:56 PM +0530 6/3/08, > Manoj Das wrote:> >Hi C-da> >> >I really don't understand this diplomacy > much! But what I understand is> >that, at large, a nation has to behave like > a good conscientious citizen in> >the comity. It has to be strong yet > compassionate, shrewd yet considerate,> >should know how to use "*xam dam > dondo bhed*" to achieve its goals of> >national interest.> >> >I don't know > why govt. of India could not win over B'desh to get the transit> >rights. > Every time a new government takes charge, we enthusiastically talk> >of a > favorable climate; every time the same story repeats. We are also> >reluctant > to take any mediator who could show reasons and objectivity to> >B'desh.> >> > >-mkd> >> >> >On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 6:54 PM, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL > PROTECTED]> wrote:> >> >>> >> > >International diplomacy requires more than > just dialog. India is not a> >> good> >> >brother in its neighborhood; > disliked by everyone..we may blame> >> conveniently> >> on foreign hand..:)> > >>> >>> >> *** Exactly! And thus B'desh "FRUSTRATING" India's attempts at> >> > opening up navigation is not an accurate portrayal of the situation,> >> is > it? It is an attempt to portray B'desh as the bad-guys here. That> >> is why > I asked the question I did.> >>> >> That however is NOT to be construed as my > holding up B'desh as the> >> GOOD guys, as some will surely do. The point is, > as you say,> >> "---International diplomacy requires more than just dialog". > There> >> have to be gives and takes.> >>> >> Question is what has India DONE > in that front? Has "democratic" India> >> EVER shared with its people, what > it has offered B'desh, for what ;> >> or what B'desh demanded for what, so > that a public dialog can ensue,> >> or so the public can gauge its rulers' > SINCERITY in these> >> 'negotiations'?> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> At 9:47 AM > +0530 6/3/08, Manoj Das wrote:> >> >C-da> >> >> >> >Well, Govt. of India has > been holding talks with Bangladeshi counterparts> >> >through direct > channel.. Bangladesh could never forgive India for the> >> >Farakka barrage.> > >> >> >> >International diplomacy requires more than just dialog. India is > not a> >> good> >> >brother in its neighborhood; disliked by everyone..we may > blame> >> conveniently> >> >on foreign hand..:)> >> >> >> >mkd> >> >> >> >On > Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 6:40 PM, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >> wrote:> >> > >> >> >> M:> >> >>> >> >>> > > >>> >> >> > > Number one is Bangladesh, which > is> >> >> >constantly frustrating India's efforts to get transit through the > male> >> >> river> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> *** What do we know > about what INDIA has been doing to get B'deshi> >> >> co-operation to get > river access to Assam and the region ?> >> >>> >> >> Has Indian govt. told us > what it has been doing all these decades,> >> >> and how B' or why B'desh has > been FRUSTRATING it?> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> As you can imagine, these efforts > always involve give and take. Just> >> >> demands and/or intimidation does > not bring results. Have Indian> >> >> officialdom ever brought the people > into confidence and shared their> >> >> negotiating stances and the B'deshi > responses ?> >> >>> >> >> I am sure the people of Assam would want to know > that. Wouldn't you?> >> >>> >> >> c-da> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> > >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> At 9:41 AM +0530 > 6/2/08, Manoj Das wrote:> > > >> >I was thinking this all along!> >> >> >> >> > >> >When I shared this news with a Japanese thinker from ADB, he was> >> > stunned..> >> >> >There are many players in this. Number one is Bangladesh, > which is> >> >> >constantly frustrating India's efforts to get transit > through the male> >> >> >river. Secondly a grand politics of undermining > Assam's destined> >> position> >> >> as> >> >> >the land bridge between giant > Asian land and economic masses.> >> >> >> >> >> >mkd> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 9:33 AM, Dilip&Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >> >> > wrote:> >> >> >> >> >> >> Forwarding.> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Dilip&Dil Deka > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008> >> >> >> 20:58:13 -0700 > (PDT)> >> >> >> From: Dilip&Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >> >> >> Subject: > Re: [Assam] Los Angeles Times on Northeast India> >> >> >> To: [EMAIL > PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Dear Sanjib,> >> >> >> You > said, "But are they producing or is it only assembling> >> products.> >> >> > I> >> >> >> don't know the answer. "> >> >> >> Even Assembling products is > better than not doing anything. Mexico> >> is> >> >> >> making a lot of money > assembling products for USA. Assembling> >> products> >> >> >> eventually > leads to local production if the local entrepreneurs> >> mean to> >> >> take> > >> >> >> part in the process.> >> >> >> Car battery industry is a good > example. As I understand, back in> >> >> seventies> >> >> >> batteries were > assembled in Assam. I heard that most of the parts> >> are> >> >> now> >> >> > >> made in Assam. Is it true?> >> >> >> Dilipda> >> >> >>> >> >> >> [EMAIL > PROTECTED] wrote:> >> >> >> Dear Dilipda and Mahanta,> >> >> >>> >> >> >> > Good hearing from you. I am skeptical, as Mahanta has noted. But> >> not> >> > >> >> because a lot new is not taking place -- but because things that> >> > are> >> >> >> crucial for a breakthrough are not happenning. There is a much > more> >> > > >> affluent India, and many in Delhi are genuinely committed to > doing> >> >> >> more. So if earlier we talked about 100 crores, now the > language is> >> of> >> >> >> 1000 crores. But is money enough? Domestic > policy and foreign> >> policy> >> > > >> cannot be separated when it comes to > Northeast India. Our> >> relations> >> >> >> with China may be improving in > many ways, but not when it comes to> >> >> >> Arunchal Pradesh. Only last > summer China has begun referring to AP> >> as> >> >> >> China's Southern > Tibet. So long as the Burmese military regime is> >> >> >> there, huge amount > of foreign funds are not going to move in to> >> build> >> >> >> > infrastructure in Burma. Indian money or Chinese money can do a> >> little> > >> >> >> bit of this and that, but not the funds that could be mobilized for> > >> >> >> Northeast india to benefit from India's Look East policy. No matter> > >> >> >> how much we shout about Bangladesh's animosity, the burden of> >> > normal> >> >> >> relations is on the bigger neighbour as in all such cases of > a> >> country> >> >> >> that is far more resourceful than the aggreived > smaller neighbor.> >> We> >> >> >> may be landocked by India, said a > Bangladeshi foreign minister, but> >> >> >> Northeast india is landlocked by > us. So the military man's vision> > > of> >> >> >> the Look East policy -- > linking up with the Burmese or the> >> Bangaldeshi> >> >> >> army to get > support for their anti-insurgency operations--is a very> >> >> >> poor > substitute to the huge leap of resources -- material as well> >> as> >> >> >> > intellectual -- that is needed for the task. At the same time I am> >> >> >> > willing to say that we do not know the implications of some of the> >> >> >> > huge amount of money that is being spent. There are about 15 daily> >> >> >> > flights from Delhi to Guwahati -- more than any other comparable> >> city.> > >> >> > > There is much more energetic road-building (and the massive> >> >> > >> disappearance of trees and of the familiar surroundings around the> >> >> > >> trunk road) etc etc. I know the planes carry many businessmen> >> taking> > >> >> >> advantage of the tax benefits of investing in the region. But are> > >> they> >> >> >> producing or is it only assembling products. I don't know > the> > > answer.> >> >> >> But we surely need a new language to talk about > the region --> >> >> >> certainty "neglect" is not what is happenning any > more.> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Hope all is well.> >> >> >>> >> >> >> With warm > regards,> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Sanjib> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Quoting > Chan Mahanta :> >> >> >>> >> >> >> > Thanks for sharing the article Baruah.> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > But I share your skepticism. We have heard these for > decades on> >> end> >> >> >> > now. The politicians attempt to take credit > for imaginary> >> >> >> > achievements and establishment spokespersons paint > rosy> >> scenarios, in> >> >> >> > the air. But what has the reality been?> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > m> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > At 8:33 > PM -0400 5/30/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:> >> >> >> >>> >> >>> >> > http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-india29-2008may29,0,6712115.story> >> > >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> From the Los Angeles Times> >> >> >> >> Northeast India > is poised to tap economic potential> >> >> >> >> The eight-state area plans > multiple projects to increase its> >> trade> >> >> >> >> with Southeast > Asia.> >> >> >> >> By Shankhadeep Choudhury> >> >> >> >> Los Angeles Times > Staff Writer> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> May 29, 2008> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> > NEW DELHI - India's remote northeast region has been both> >> blessed> >> >> > and> >> >> >> >> cursed by its geography. The region is rich in natural > resources> >> but> >> >> >> >> is landlocked and surrounded by China, > Myanmar, Bangladesh and> >> >> Bhutan,> >> >> >> >> leaving it impoverished.> > >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The eight-state region may finally get a chance to > start living> >> up> >> >> to> >> >> >> >> its economic potential with > several projects to enhance> >> connections> >> >> >> >> with Southeast Asia > and to increase outlets for such commodities> >> as> >> >> >> >> organic > foods, orchids, tea, coal and oil.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Now, the only > way to move major quantities of goods between> >> >> northeast> >> >> >> >> > India and Southeast Asia is through Bangladesh.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> But > authorities in Myanmar and India are nearing final approval> >> of a> >> >> > >> >> $100-million river project giving northeast India direct access> >> to> > >> > > the> >> >> >> >> Indian Ocean through Myanmar, said Abhijit Barooah, > chairman of> >> the> >> >> >> >> northeastern chapter of the Confederation of > Indian Industry,> >> >> India's> >> >> >> >> premier business association.> > >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The project envisages facilitating movement of cargo > from> >> India's> >> > > >> >> Mizoram state to Myanmar's port at Sittwe, via > the Kaladan> >> River.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> In addition, talks have > begun between companies in northeast> >> India> >> >> and> >> >> >> >> > Thailand after a trade-promotion conference in Bangkok in> >> October,> >> >> > >> >> said Lemli Loyi, assistant general manager at the state-run> >> North> > >> >> >> >> Eastern Development Finance Corp. Loyi expressed hope that the> > >> talks> >> >> >> >> would result in increased business and possible joint > ventures.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> India first enunciated a "look east" > policy, an economic and> > > >> strategic> >> >> >> >> orientation toward > Southeast Asia, in 1992. It had its genesis> >> at> >> >> the> >> >> >> >> > end of the Cold War, after the collapse of the Soviet Union.> >> Having> >> > >> >> >> lost the Soviet economic and political support on which it had> >> > >> relied,> >> >> >> >> the Indian government embarked on a program of > free-market> >> >> >> >> restructuring at home and sought new markets and > economic> >> partners> >> >> >> >> abroad.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> > Officials envisaged that the eight northeast states -- Assam,> >> >> >> >> > Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura> >> and> >> > >> >> >> Mizoram -- would emerge as a trading hub for two dynamic regions> >> > >> >> >> connected by a network of highways, railways, pipelines and> >> >> > >> >> transmission lines. The region is home to about 40 million> >> people.> > >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> But progress has been slow. The region's isolation > dates to the> > > >> 1800s.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> "Nineteenth-century > British colonial decisions to draw lines> >> between> >> >> >> >> the hills > and the plains, to put barriers on trade between> >> Bhutan> >> >> and> >> >> > >> >> Assam, and to treat Burma as a buffer against French Indochina> >> and> > >> >> >> >> China severed the region from its traditional trade routes --> >> > the> >> >> >> >> southern trails of the Silk Road," said Sanjib Baruah, a> >> > professor> >> >> of> >> >> >> >> political science at Bard College in New > York and an expert on> >> >> > > >> northeast India.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> > >> The British built railways and roads mostly to take tea, coal,> >> oil> >> > >> and> >> >> >> >> other resources out of Assam and into the rest of India > and also> >> to> >> >> >> >> Europe.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The problems > increased with the partitioning of India and> >> Pakistan> >> >> in> >> >> >> > >> 1947. Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan in the 1970s.> >> >> >> >>> >> > >> >> >> Barooah said trade would be boosted by an expected move by the> >> > >> Indian> >> >> >> >> and Myanmar governments to expand the list of mostly> > >> agricultural> >> >> >> >> commodities allowed to be traded by land between > northeast India> >> and> >> >> >> >> Myanmar, from 27 to 42 items.> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> >> "The northeast is the closest land mass connecting the > dynamic> >> >> >> >> economies of south and Southeast Asia," said Pradyut > Bordoloi,> >> >> Assam's> >> >> >> >> minister for power and industries. > "Besides deep-rooted cultural> >> >> >> >> linkages, we can reap > multidimensional benefits in this era of> >> >> >> >> regional economic > cooperation."> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Bordoloi is closely associated with a > campaign to reopen the> >> World> >> >> War> >> >> >> >> II-era Stillwell > Road, connecting Assam's town of Ledo to> >> southwest> >> >> >> >> China.> > >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> "If reopened, this would be the shortest surface > route to Yunnan> >> >> >> >> province of China and other Southeast Asian > countries hooking> >> onto> >> >> the> >> >> >> >> trans-Asian highways," he > said.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The road served as the supply line into China > during Japan's> >> wartime> >> >> >> >> occupation, but it was shut after > India's independence from> >> Britain> >> >> in> >> >> >> >> 1947.> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> >> Bordoloi said his campaign to reopen the road, initiated > after> >> he> >> >> >> >> became a state legislator in 1998, scored a victory > when India> >> >> >> >> upgraded the road to a full-fledged national highway, > developing> >> it> >> >> up> >> >> >> >> to the Indo-Myanmar border.> >> >> > >> >>> >> >> >> >> Officials say infrastructure development, power, > bamboo-based> >> > > >> >> industries, orchids and organic foods are > prospective areas of> >> >> >> >> cooperation with Southeast Asian countries > such as Thailand.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> But significant hurdles remain, > including concerns that booming> >> >> trade> >> >> >> >> relations may fuel > rises in insurgency, narco-terrorism and> >> AIDS,> >> > > all> >> >> >> >> > of which plague the northeast. Security in the region is tight,> >> with> >> > >> >> >> the army out in force to combat armed groups battling for> > > > greater> >> >> >> >> autonomy or independence from India.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> > >> >> "The official restrictions that prevail in northeast India -- in> >> >> > terms> >> >> >> >> of travel, land and labor markets -- are hardly conducive > to> >> >> intensive> >> >> >> >> cross-border economic relations," said > Baruah, the political> >> science> >> >> >> >> professor.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> > >> >> "Both the reality of insurgencies in the region and the security> >> >> > >> >> anxiety of the government of India . . . are major obstacles to> >> >> > >> >> dynamic cross-border economic ties," he added, calling current> >> >> > efforts> >> >> >> >> hardly more than "a bare beginning."> >> >> >> >>> >> >> > >> >> Also, Baruah said, it was difficult to imagine a big increase in> >> >> > trade> >> >> >> >> given the political situation in military-led Myanmar.> >> > >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> India's relations with China, a country it has long > regarded> >> with> > > >> >> >> distrust since a 1962 border war, would also > have to become much> >> >> more> >> >> >> >> relaxed, Baruah said.> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________> >> >> >> >> assam mailing > list> >> >> >> >> [email protected]> >> >> >> >> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________> >> >> >> > > assam mailing list> >> >> >> > [email protected]> >> >> >> > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________> >> >> >> assam mailing list> > >> >> >> [email protected]> >> >> >> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >> >>> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >--> >> >> >Manoj Kumar Das> >> >> >C 172 GF, > Sarvodaya Enclave> >> >> >New Delhi 17 India> >> >> >0091 9312650558 (HP) > 9910972654> >> >> >_______________________________________________> >> >> > >assam mailing list> >> >> >[email protected]> >> >> > >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> > _______________________________________________> >> >> assam mailing list> >> > >> [email protected]> >> >> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >>> >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >--> >> >Manoj Kumar Das> >> >C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave> >> >New > Delhi 17 India> >> >0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654> >> > >_______________________________________________> >> >assam mailing list> >> > >[email protected]> >> > >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >>> >>> >> > _______________________________________________> >> assam mailing list> >> > [email protected]> >> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >>> >> >> >> >--> > >Manoj Kumar Das> >C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave> >New Delhi 17 India> >0091 > 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654> >_______________________________________________> > >assam mailing list> >[email protected]> > >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> > > > _______________________________________________> assam mailing list> > [email protected]> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _________________________________________________________________ Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social networks to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_InviteFriends _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
