>Why, you didn't like Freedman's article? *** Come now A. Would I NOT love a piece as sweet as that ? From someone like a columnist at NYT? Heck, almost made my day :-).We got it in St. Louis Post Dispatch too this morning.
*** I was wondering about the REIGN of FREEDOMS though, you know? It is such a complicated word, freedom. Much more so in the Indian context.Unfortunately, due to some quark of Indian DEMOCRACY, the same freedoms that allow ToI to hound Newton Modi allows Assam lawmakers to fleece the public coffers, or Gujaratis to incinerate their fellow men, or the now deputy PM to have led a mob to tear down an ancient mosque,or high military officials to enrich themselves by putting the footsoldiers on the frontlines at risk, or to allow the Indian army to take over 200,000 Naga lives. Confounding, isn't it? >I thought he was giving the real >picture, especially the part about India having 180 million muslims and >still not having any (if you don't count the "imports" from Pakistan etc.) >Al Queda member! *** Did you ? Good for you A. I too am with you here.But I won't go say that to too many Hinduttwawallas :-). However I do wonder whether it is a result of Indian Democracy and FREEDOMS as Friedman sees it so simply and so elegantly,warming our collective hearts; or if it just might be a tad bit more complicated than that. *** The other thing that I have always had qualms about of course is the standard of measurement,the scale, the benchmark, to weigh the Indian achievements against: Pakistan. Of course we understand Friedman's current pre-occupations. If only he understood that of vast segments of Indians , including those in the NE. c-da At 9:11 AM -0500 8/15/02, Alpana Sarangapani wrote: >> *** What's the matter A? Don't like it? Isn't it what Indian freedom is >all > >Good Morning to you too, C'da. :) > >> about? If you don't believe me just ask Tom Freedman of NY Times. > >Why, you didn't like Freedman's article? I thought he was giving the real >picture, especially the part about India having 180 million muslims and >still not having any (if you don't count the "imports" from Pakistan etc.) >Al Queda member! > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Alpana Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 7:39 AM >Subject: Re: GoI's Largesse > > >> At 9:38 PM -0500 8/14/02, Alpana Sarangapani wrote: >> >Forgive me for asking this and being so irritating, C'da! I will stop if >you >> >ask me to, but need to ask just one little question again. >> >> >> >> >So, those children could become incompetent, even dumb - one can buy >that, >> >but I dont' think they are that dumb to think that "flood control" money >> >means it is their "take-home salary"! >> >> >> >> *** What's the matter A? Don't like it? Isn't it what Indian freedom is >all >> about? If you don't believe me just ask Tom Freedman of NY Times. >> >> >> c-da :-) >> >> >> >> >----- Original Message ----- >> >From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >To: "Alpana Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; >> ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 7:59 AM >> >Subject: Re: GoI's Largesse >> > >> > >> >> At 12:21 AM -0500 8/14/02, Alpana Sarangapani wrote: >> >> >No, it did not shed much light, C'da. >> >> >> >> >> >> Let me try once more A. >> >> >> >> >> >> If YOU as parents,always CONTROL the activities of your child/ren, >> >serving >> >> their every need, and never let them learn how to become responsible >> >> adults, take care of their own needs, manage their conflicts and become >> >> self-reliant individuals, what are the chances they WILL grow up to? >> >> >> >> And later, when ma and deuta expect their grown up progeny to use their >> >> gifts effectively,to raise the grand children, could they? >> >> >> >> >> >> Now let us not take the example too literally, because the forces >involved >> >> in states vs the center are much more complicated and involved.But in >the >> >> context of your original confusion on this matter, the example I cite >is >> >> essentially parallel. >> >> >> >> c`da >> >> >> >> >`--``-`-`-`-`-`-`-`--``--------`-`-`-`-`-`------`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`-`- >> >> >> >> >So, the problem was that the GOI did not allocate the money and the >> >innocent >> >> >local engineers or whoever did not know how to spend it, so they just >> >took >> >> >it home? >> >> > >> >> >I thought you were of the opinion like, THEY don't need to tell us >What >> >to >> >> >do, or Where to spend our money - we know how to handle things to >enhance >> >> >our state's welfare! >> >> > >> >> >Or are you giving Tilok another chance to sing a parody (with better >> >words >> >> >and rhymes :)) like: >> >> > >> >> >Bhoot-giri hoi, aamaak dila aamaarei (tel-saah besi puwa) poisa >> >> >Akou etia kot khoros koribo laage taaku (aamaak) xikabo aahisa! >> >> >:) >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> >----- Original Message ----- >> >> >From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >To: "Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; >> >> ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 10:09 PM >> >> >Subject: GoI's Largesse >> >> > >> >> > >> >> >> Hi A: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >But isn't that contradictory to what has been said? If the Center >has >> >> >> >"pumped money", why the angst? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *** Pumping millions to Assam or Nagaland or Arunachal or whatever >does >> >> >NOT >> >> >> make it the end of story. IF GoI takes the money out and disburses >it >> >back >> >> >> irresponsibly, without transperency, without accountability, it does >> >NOT >> >> >do >> >> >> anything for the people of those states, even though it DOES make a >> >> >> selective, privileged segment of those societies a lot of good. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> If one looks at today's Guahati for example, it does not take a >rocket >> >> >> scientist to figure out that there IS a lot of wealth floating >around >> >> >> there. WHAT is the source of such wealth? What produces it? And are >> >those >> >> >> who are enjoying such wealth producing anything ? If they are, what >is >> >it? >> >> >> Ever thought of that? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> You might argue then that it is the FAULT of Assam's society.That >once >> >GoI >> >> >> pumps the funds back to the states its responsibility is over. But >is >> >it? >> >> >> Let us examine that for a moment: >> >> >> >> >> >> *** The Center has cornered ALL of the important powers of >governance >> >for >> >> >> itself, never mind under what pretext.The argument that it is >> >> >> constitutional is NOT a good enough argument, since we all know how >the >> >> >> constitution has been prostituted in India by every administration >> >since >> >> >> independence; a FACT that has been pointed out time and again by >> >> >mainstream >> >> >> INDIAN media, never mind about Assam dissidents. >> >> >> >> >> >> ***The institutions of democracy that can ensure transperency and >exact >> >> >> accountability , namely law enforcement and justice system, a >> >> >> responsibility of the authorities that HOLD the supreme powers, is >at >> >best >> >> >> dysfunctional.Therefore >> >> >> wrongdoers have NO deterrence. Corrupt behavior is REWARDED, not >> >> >punished. >> >> >> >> >> >> Take a wild guess on what that produces.Corrupt behavior,insinuated >by >> >> >some >> >> >> to be a genetic trait exclusively of the Assamese, is really a >DIRECT >> >> >> result of Delhi's policies.Trust me on this,the Assamese are NOT >born >> >> >> corrupt. Nor are OTHER Indians, even though INDIANS are widely >> >perceived >> >> >to >> >> >> be some of the most corrupt people in the world today. >> >> >> >> >> >> *** Let us visit the issue of ELECTIONS in Assam, the be- >all,end-all >> >of >> >> >> Indian democracy. Candidates need funds to run a campaign. Where do >> >these >> >> >> funds come from you think? Would I be off base if I suggest it comes >> >from >> >> >> BUSINESSES? Now WHAT are the controls on such funding? Do checks and >> >> >> balances exist? And WHO controls the vast majority of businesses in >> >Assam >> >> >> you think? And while you are at it, take another wild guess on WHO >> >wields >> >> >> the ultimate influences on these democratically elected Assam >> >> >> representatives entrusted to look after the interests of Assam >> >residents? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Hope the above sheds some light on your query. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> c''da >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> At 4:18 PM -0500 8/13/02, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: >> >> >> >Hi C'da: >> >> >> > >> >> >> >But isn't that contradictory to what has been said? If the Center >has >> >> >> >"pumped money", why the angst? >> >> >> > >> >> >> >You mean, the government of India (GOI) has pumped "millions of >> >dollars" >> >> >to >> >> >> >"pacify" those who are "broadly incorporated to the system" guys, >but >> >DO >> >> >NOT >> >> >> >give for the development of the state? >> >> >> > >> >> >> >I wonder what is that hidden benefit that GOI is getting by giving >> >> >millions >> >> >> >of dollars for one cause and not for the other.. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >> >>To: "Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, >> >> >> >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> >> >>Subject: Re: Fwd: THE VANCOUVER SUN (report on Shankar Borua's >newest >> >> >> >>movie) >> >> >> >>Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 14:17:40 -0500 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >I hope some day, some one don't say this to the "world" about >us - >> >> >those >> >> >> >> >Assamese that DO NOT care for Assam's independence, that because >of >> >> >those >> >> >> >> >"pumped dollars" we too are not looking for independence. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>You might be a bit late for that Alpana. While YOU may not fit the >> >> >> >>description, unfortunately there are plenty others who already do, >> >have >> >> >> >>done for years. I mean who would NOT want to change the status >quo, >> >> >because >> >> >> >>it is so profitable to them personally. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>Santanu's poignant article of this morning illustrates that well. >But >> >> >there >> >> >> >>is plenty more. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>The millions that come to Assam as largesse from Delhi, is little >> >more >> >> >than >> >> >> >>bribes that Shankar Borua alludes to, Delhi's packaging with >Gandhi's >> >> >> >>picture on it not-withstanding. And why would anyone who benefit >from >> >> >such >> >> >> >>largesse, directly or even indirectly, would want to have the >golden >> >> >goose >> >> >> >>killed? And guess what--WE, you, I and countless others like us >> >ARE/WERE >> >> >> >>the recipients of such dubious CHARITY. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>And for exactly the same reason, Dilip's complaint re: Flood >Control >> >in >> >> >> >>Assam--that the money still must come from Delhi-- is why it must >> >end. >> >> >That >> >> >> >>Delhi MUST not have CONTROL over Assam's finances, so it can use >> >those >> >> >> >>monies taken from the region in various forms to RE-DISTRIBUTE it, >as >> >if >> >> >it >> >> >> >>is THEIR ancestral wealth, being given out of its immense sense of >> >> >charity, >> >> >> >>as it does in Nagaland and other areas of the NE, to further its >own >> >> >agenda >> >> >> >>and interests, OVER the real needs of these peoples. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>Tilok Daktor's observation of the other day in parody of --"Twmar >> >> >baarire >> >> >> >>baanh gaanj, taare khundilu khorisaa** Twmake xolai dhaan-dwn >lolu, >> >> >kothatu >> >> >> >>mon korisaa" was apt indeed :-). >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>c-da >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>At 1:06 PM -0500 8/13/02, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: >> >> >> >> >>Even though many Naga want independence , the people are split >, >> >some >> >> >> >> >> >along tribal differences , and some for economic reasons. " >The >> >> >> >> >> >government of India has pumped millions of dollars into the >> >region >> >> >in >> >> >> >> >> >the last 50 years in order to buy off people or broadly >> >incorporate >> >> >> >> >them >> >> >> >> >>into the system," says Borua . " So people who gain from the >> >>system >> >> >> >>would >> >> >> >> >>like to have the status quo maintained." >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> >I hope some day, some one don't say this to the "world" about >us - >> >> >those >> >> >> >> >Assamese that DO NOT care for Assam's independence, that because >of >> >> >those >> >> >> >> >"pumped dollars" we too are not looking for independence. >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> >>From: J Kalita <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >> >> >>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> >> >> >>Subject: Fwd: THE VANCOUVER SUN (report on Shankar Borua's >newest >> >> >movie) >> >> >> >> >>Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 09:27:29 -0700 (PDT) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>Note: forwarded message attached. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>__________________________________________________ >> >> >> >> >>Do You Yahoo!? >> >> >> >> >>HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs >> >> >> >> >>http://www.hotjobs.com >> >> >> >> >><< message3.txt >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> >>_________________________________________________________________ >> >> >> >> >Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: >> >http://messenger.msn.com >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> >_________________________________________________________________ >> >> >> >Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: >http://messenger.msn.com >> >> >> >> >> >>
