>*** This is where the problem arises. There IS a schism, a rift, in the
>Oxomia community: There is the AANA/ASNA/AFNA group. There is the
>ASA/IFAA alliance. There is the small UAONA aligned group--of at most ten
>families, who also, by and large,out of its commitments to heal the rifts in the
>community maintain membership with both the AANA and ASA factions and
>try to keep the channels of communication open, even though with only spotty
>success :-). And finally there is a very large number of people who are
>SICK and TIRED of all these factions and cliques, and thus have washed
>their hands and would not go near any of them.
Chandan:
Please let me add my two cents:
The so called rift or schim in the community may be just a ghost, being controlled by a tiny few in the community. The majority who hide under the shadow of being 'sick and tired' actually are the ones who, like in Assam, do not have the courage to stand up and call a spade a spade, and decide to toe along anyway. Frankly speaking, I am 'sick & tired' of this so called 'sick & tired' majority.
But to be positive, there are different ways one can try skin the cat. Instead of being negative and compalining about or against the AANA/ASAN/AFNA alliance, and try to make the ghost 'real', the other active group can propose some positive changes if we want to kill the ghost rift in the community.
Let me be specific.
AFNA: Satyen has rightly pointed out that in spite of what the AFNA President says, AFNA publishes its news in AANA Newsletter with its logo. Now is it a real or imaginary ghost?
Well it depends how one react to it. One way of recating to it is the negative way of complaining that it is creating a rift in the community, and ask AFNA not to do it just to show its independence. etc etc. The other way, which I think is a positive way is, instead of seeing anything wrong in it, simply to ask AFNA to publish its news with its logo parrallely in the ASA newsletter also. Now if ASA really asks AFNA this, what do you think will happen? I think AFNA will eventually comply. Or that will be the great test for AFNA if it is really independent or it is sombody's personal opinion. Someone may ask why AFNA has not done this so long. My answer: So far ASA has not asked the question, and nobody in AFNA felt the necessaity (ignoring the majority who are simply sick and tired of everything anyway). Please also note that there some prominent ASA members who are also AF!
NA members. So my humble request to ASA board of Directors to consider my suggestion of sending the test questions to AFNA officially. They should be ready and willing to follow through. I bet very soon the community will have an independent AFNA devoid of all ghosts.
ASNA: In fact we should do the same thing with ASNA (Oxom Xahityo Xobha) which is supposed to be free, independent and open to all in the community. In case of ASNA however there may be some real ghosts. If I remember correctly, to be a ASNA member you need to be a AANA member, or if you are an AANA member you are automatically an ASNA member (or something like that: who in the 'sick & tired' majority cares anyway?). (I may be wrong here, but I have not seen any apeal from ASNA's side to become a member ever. Do they have members other than AANA members?). Moreover, ASNA now edits the 'Luitor Pora Misisipi' megazine and calls it its own 'organ'. If you remmeber this is the megazine which as AANA member some of us at one time took pains to edit and publsih it freely to all in the Convention. Now since when and how ASNA took it as its own, I have no idea. (That is why I think there may be real gh!
ost here). But ghost or not, definelty it has put some political color to ASNA (which is supposed to be a non-political literary organization open to all in the community) which will be difficult to remove.
Now even with ASNA, instead of recating negatively, the community (the active minority that is) can skin the cat in a positive manner. Again it will have to be done by ASA. (Why? because it is ASA who is on the other side of the ghost rift in the community). Suppose ASA officially asks ASNA (and this will be a test question to ASNA).
(1) That ASA members, like AANA members, want to automatically become ASNA mebers. Please tell us how to it.
(2) That ASNA news should be published parallely in ASA newsletters, etc.
(3) That 'Luitor Pora Misispi' (ASNA's organ) should be open to all and should be published by ASNA members independently.
All the above three are legitimate questions. If ASA wants to do something positive, I as members of ASA, request its board of directors to do so.
Many a times, the guts lies in having the courage to ask the right questions. If ASA can asks these legitimate questions, I think that will be a step in the right direction. That way we can fight the ghost in the community.
I think those of us who are members of both ASA and AANA can and should do something about these issues. I know there are more issues. Let me know what you others think.
Rajen Barua
>From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: [Assam] Re: Assamese Associations
>Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2003 14:14:37 -0500
>
>I know that Satyen's account and impressions about AFNA's association with
>AANA etc. are accurate.
>
>
>But let us examine that for a moment:
>
>
>*** One might ask: So what? What is so terrible about that?
>
>To be fair, I see absolutely NOTHING bad or sinister about the
>relationship. It was NOT a hidden and/or surreptitious relationship for
>anyone who is familiar with the US -Oxomiya community affairs.
>
>
>Probably 99%, if not 100% of AFNA members are also AANA members.
>
>
>*** This is where the problem arises. There IS a schism, a rift, in the
>Oxomia community: There is the AANA/ASNA/AFNA group. There is the ASA/IFAA
>alliance. There is the small UAONA aligned group--of at most ten families,
>who also, by and large,out of its commitments to heal the rifts in the
>community maintain membership with both the AANA and ASA factions and try
>to keep the channels of communication open, even though with only spotty
>success :-). And finally there is a very large number of people who are
>SICK and TIRED of all these factions and cliques, and thus have washed
>their hands and would not go near any of them.
>
>Oh, I DO realize, that a number of people do hide under the cover of the
>very last faction above, flaunting an air of superiority, but really have
>nothing to offer, would NOT offer anything constructive if they HAD
>something, and are, by nature incapable of rendering anything beyond lip
>service.
>
>But that is how we humans are. We kharkhowas are not unique. All
>communities are like that.
>
>
>*** So where IS the problem, one might ask?
>
>As long as AFNA is tied in or even appears to be tied in with the AANA
>social club, and its inherent poitics, then AFNA cannot become a bigger,
>common platform for the community. It just won't happen.
>
>It is a no brainer to see that we as a community, will be far better off if
>we could POOL our talents ( it IS a very significant one, really), our
>resources, however meager, to do good for ourselves, and even for Assam--as
>we never forget to claim.
>
>This can be accomplished far better with a STRONGER organization. An
>organization that a large number of people can be a part of--without the
>pissing-contests they indulge in now along the social club alignments.
>
>
>*** UAONA, a non-profit, charitable entity, started out with PRETENSIONS to
>that end. But it became clear very promptly, that it won't happen. THere
>are several reasons for it, but it is not important to get into that now.
>
>However, a POTENTIAL exists for AFNA to provide that platform, the common
>ground that so many of us,cutting across the factions, have strived for.
>
>Why I say that is that it is a charitable entity, and it has the support of
>the second largest faction - the AANA led one ( the largest one being the
>non-aligned one), and IF it can free itself of the baggages of the AANA
>social club, it CAN be so.
>
>
>
>
>*** THe current President of AFNA, Krishanu Kaushik, and at least one Board
>member, Debojit Bora, have publicly pronounced their commitments to free
>AFNA of its AANA social-club ties, with the aim of making it a charitable
>entity for ALL those who long for a stronger community insitution.
>
>*I* support that effort. And I am willing to give them my assistance to
>that end. I realize that others, steeped in the AANA social-club mentality,
>have in the past and even today continue to proclaim that AFNA is an
>independent entity and is not beholden to AANA. But that claim does not
>hold any water. Only last week one of AFNA's founding Board Members
>declared that: "THE ASSAM
>CONVETION IS IN THE IRS RECORDS, AND AFNA CONSTITUTION."
>
>(For those who are unfamiliar with the implication of the statement, The
>Assam Convention is the proprietary name of the AANA annual convention,
>and it becomes significant because SOME in AANA in the past invoked that as
>a reason not to hold JOINT conventions, and even as I write, some are
>attempting to revert back to Assam Conventions again.)
>
>I also invite others to join me in giving this attempt on Krishanu's and
>Debojit's a chance.
>
>
>
>*** The bottom line:
>
>It is imperative for us to go further than holding on to our
>confrontational stances for ever, if we hope to effect any positive change.
>
>WE MUST GIVE THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE A FEW RISKS TO CHANGE THINGS FOR
>THE BETTER.
>
>I don't know that Krishanu or Debojit can be any different from others in
>the past. But I am going to give them a chance to PROVE themselves, even
>though I make no secret of the fact that I am going to hold their feet to
>the fire. My support is CONDITIONAL. Only yesterday I informed Krishanu
>that I HAVE TO KNOW what the meaning of "THE ASSAM CONVETION IS IN THE IRS
>RECORDS, AND AFNA CONSTITUTION." is, for example.
>
>He is attempting to get that clarified by his Board, and has promised to
>make it public.
>
>
>cm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>At 11:09 PM -0400 8/23/03, Satyen Das wrote:
> >As far as I remember, Ram's impression of AANA-AFNA relationship is correct.
> >
> >During 1980, when we all went to Washington DC to demonstrate, everybody in
> >AANA felt that since
> >AANA and ASA were involved in the demonstration, it was necessary to form a
> >separate wing of AANA
> >which would be tax exempt and as such could send money to Assam without any
> >problem and
> >being tax exempt, it would be an incentive to donors to contribute. And as
> >such AFNA was
> >born in 1982.
> >
> >Even today we always see AANA, AFNA and ASSNA logo on their common
> >newsletter
> >and AFNA has always held their general body meetings in AANA conventions
> >(till 1998) and
> >with AANA and ASA conferences (since 1999). Even the recent news item sent
> >by AANA to
> >Sentinel was in the official letterhead of AANA with AFNA's logo in it.
> >Only this year, AFNA President declared that AFNA was never a part of AANA!
> >I am not sure that was a declaration from AFNA board of directors or AFNA
> >executive body
> >or just AFNA President!
> >
> >Even AFNA's financial Report of 2001-2002 with lots of transactions
> >(thousands of dollars) between
> >AFNA, ASSNA and Y2K convention (of AANA and ASA) was published in AANA
> >newsletter, Issue 87.
> >
> >I even heard that in one of the AANA conventions it was decided that all the
> >financial obligations
> >of AANA (membership money) etc. would be handled by AFNA!
> >
> >As long as I see AFNA's logo in AANA newsletter and AFNA's financial
> >statement etc. with AANA's
> >newsletter, it would be very hard for me to believe that AFNA was never
> >associated with AANA.
> >************
> >
> >P.S.: By the way ASA's upcoming 31st anniversary of Assam Day is correct.
> >Again, as far as I know ASA existed since early 1970s in New York/New Jersey
> >area - only they
> >were known as "Assam Sangha".
> >Mere changing of name does not make one lose one's identity and age.
> >
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "R. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 4:37 PM
> >Subject: [Assam] Re: Assamese Associations
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Dear Krishanu:
> >>
> >> Let me first applaud you on the yeoman service you are providing the
> >> Assamese community thru AFNA. Further, its rather commendable that you
> >are:
> >>
> >> >>Since I got the leadership role I am trying to make it clear to
> >everybody
> >> >>that AFNA is a non-aligned / non-affiliated >assamese organisation in
> >the
> >> US
> >> >>focussed on doing charity work in Assam.
> >>
> >> However, I have always had the impression that AFNA was the cultural wing
> >of
> >> AANA. Further, if I am not mistaken, I have often heard AANA members
> >> indicate it as such. If what I have heard is TRUE, you as President of
> >AFNA,
> >> must take all necessary steps to remove any doubts from the doubting
> >> Thomases like me.
> >>
> >> Wasn't AFNA created by AANA? If so, when did it cut the umblical cord? Of
> >> course, I am just asking questions, and I may be totally wrong in my
> >> assumptions.
> >>
> >> Nevertheless, it is indeed gratifying to see young men like you to take it
> >> upon yourself great work you are doing. And whether AFNA has any
> >> affiliations to AANA or not is not important here. What is important is
> >that
> >> AFNA is doing a lot of charity work.
> >>
> >> BTW: It is saddening to note that stalwarts like Chandan da would give up
> >so
> >> easily on some kind unification of the Kharkhowas.
> >>
> >> With Regards,
> >>
> >> Ram Sarangapani
> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > From: "Kaushik, Krishanu (.)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >> > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
> >> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
> >> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
> >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >> > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 1:38 PM
> >> > Subject: Assamese Associations
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > > Dear Vavani,
> >> > >
> >> > > Recently I saw your posting on the topic - "From Sentinel - AANA
> >silver
> >> > jubilee / UNITY IN DIVERSITY" - in assam net (www.assam.org). I am not a
> >> > subscriber although I check the archives once in a while. I faced the
> >same
> >> > dilemna like you when I came to this country in 1995. I started working
> >> with
> >> > IFAA and AFNA because they were the only two Charity organizations. Till
> >> > date I'm not a member of ASA, AANA or UOANA. I lost contact with IFAA
> >> after
> >> > Joken Kalita and Khanin Pathak went back to India.
> >> > >
> >> > > There is no leadership issues with AFNA because nobody wants to take
> >its
> >> > leadership. I was made the president last year although I was not very
> >> keen
> >> > to work from the limelight. Since I got the leadership role I am trying
> >to
> >> > make it clear to everybody that AFNA is a non-aligned / non-affiliated
> >> > assamese organisation in the US focussed on doing charity work in Assam.
> >> > Everyone, from all sections of the society (ASA/AANA/UOANA/JONAKI etc.)
> >> are
> >> > welcome to join and /or work with AFNA. It is truly a non-partisan
> >> > charitable entity for the entire community to close ranks on. One thing
> >> I've
> >> > learnt is that any efforts to unite the organisations are deemed to be
> >> > futile. You can take my word for it! Don't ask me why? Because I don't
> >> know
> >> > the answer. Instead of wasting our time and energy chasing our own tails
> >> > let's concentrate on doing something for Assam.
> >> > >
> >> > > We have plenty of good opportunities, to provide financial assistance,
> >> in
> >> > Assam. These are projects and relief efforts handled by reliable and
> >> > trustworthy people. Some examples are:
> >> > >
> >> > > 1. Rural Volunteers Center - RVC (an NGO working for relief of Flood
> >> > affected people and for long term flood preparedness in Dhemaji)
> >> > > 2. North-East Affected Area Development Society - NEADS (same as # 1
> >in
> >> > Jorhat and Golaghat, including Majuli)
> >> > > 3. The "Aarohan" project by Dr. BN Saikia Children's Welfare Trust -
> >we
> >> > can have a long term relationship with that project and make it a
> >success.
> >> > > 4. Journalist Fellowship Program administered ny C-NES - Centre for
> >> North
> >> > East Studies and Policy Research (Instituted by journalists like Sanjoy
> >> > Hazarika)
> >> > > 5. The "Save Kaziranga" project
> >> > >
> >> > > In addition to the above we also have some projects listed in our
> >> website
> >> > www.geocities.com/assamfoundation and some which are not.
> >> > >
> >> > > All we need from the community is an willingness to help these
> >projects
> >> > and considerable financial contributions - by way of memberships, by way
> >> of
> >> > donations to a particular project or the general fund. Money from the
> >> > general fund is used for day-to-day operations (Minimum. The only big
> >> amount
> >> > is the $500 registration fees for annual meeting) and to contribute
> >> towards
> >> > deserving fundraising efforts. e;g we'll be adding $ 500 from the
> >general
> >> > fund to the $2000 plus that we have already collected for the Aarohan
> >> > project. (The computer you'll donate will be in addition to that.) There
> >> is
> >> > a $ 25 annual membership fees, which goes to the general fund. You may
> >> > send the membership fees to AFNA @ 44963 Lemont Road, Canton, MI 48187.
> >> > >
> >> > > We need volunteers to raise funds for these projects and increase the
> >> > awareness among the assamese community.
> >> > >
> >> > > My humble request to all the recepients of this email - please become
> >a
> >> > member and take an active part in helping those who need our help back
> >> home.
> >> > Please pass on the word to all your friends and aquaintances.
> >> > >
> >> > > Regards,
> >> > > Krishanu Kaushik
> >> > >
> >> >
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Assam mailing list
> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >> http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Assam mailing list
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>
>
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