Ram:
>Bhendi plants are my thing. I probably would not go
anywhere.
*** That was a wild guess on my part, but nice to see I got
lucky. Considering how frequently I am off the mark, that was a good
one, wasn't it :-)?
>But, that is NOT the point here. The concept of freedom means
"I" can do what I >want within reason: join the
celebrations or not.
*** I know, I know. But this concept of 'celebration',listening
to hour-long harangues of the likes I described earlier, in
'tika-fota-rod' ( under a searing sun) is certainly a bizarre one at
best. Only school children, whose freedom to choose whether to attend
is always denied, forcing them to attend, building ( I mean
destroying) character; while freedom loving adults can tend to their
'bhendi' plants or engage in 'adda'.
If I were you Ram, I would THANK ULFA for providing the excuse,
even to those whose freedoms not to ENJOY these celebrations are
OFFICIALLY robbed by the custodians of servitude, the 'sorkar'.
Imagine all the policemen on the beats, the ranks of the mid-level
'babus' who would be ordinarily required to attend, all the school
children sweating in their school or NCC/girl scout uniforms, so on
and so forth, actually got to ENJOY the day off, doing the things they
REALLY like to do.
You may call me cynical, but that is the REAL truth. On the other
hand, your explanation is an exercise in spinning, that no-one other
than the most naive and the deluded, will buy :-).
>That in essence is the problem with ULFA's tactics. As their
ground support >seems to be waning,
**** I would almost have fallen for this, had it not been for the
fact that I have been hearing this at least for a decade now. Same
words, same spin. But then we saw how ULFA can strike, at will, where
it chooses to.
Would anyone believe that ULFA can operate like this if their
support base did not exist?
>--they are willing to kill children if required for their
'cause'.
**** I cannot not agree that this was a terrible thing for them
to have perpetrated. However, at least as a wanna-be Jokaisukiya, you
could appreciate that even a bholuka-baanhor-barhoni -w- buti-hoy (
even a broom made from the sturdiest of bamboo, wears short) making it
useless after a while.
>Actions speak louder than words. Just mouthing off 'peace'
doesn't make it so.
**** Isn't that the truth? I cannot remember--how many decades
now--that the Center has been promising to make peace? If the GOOD
FOLKS, your Center and its proxy, the stooges at Dispur, keep
resorting to the 'baagi' ( excuse, alibi) that "if the ULFA
chooses not to talk, what can we do" where is their credibility?
They can call ULFA's bluff instantly, by asking them to come sit
at the table. But can they? Do they, your good guys, have the moral
wherewithal to show they ARE the sincere ones?
Luckily someone of MRG's stature appeared on the scene to call
the Center's bluff. And we are witnessing their discomfiture,
squirming. And no amount of spin will obscure that Ram.
>Who knows why Reghupati would make that statement - to
appease B'deshi govt. on >some quid-quo-pro deal?
**** That is very persuasive :-).
>Take the River-Linking issue. I am sure there are people in
GOI who actually >know the pros and cons of RL on a purely
scientific and practical basis.
**** That stands to reason. And exactly for that reason, they
will not release the PFR data. Why? Because they will become the
laughing stock of their peers. That is why. And not because:
>the GOI has to also appease the B'deshi govt, because
the B'deshi govt.
>does not think RL is good for them,
Ram you got to watch---you might spin yourself into orbit, if you
keep going like this. I may not agree with you, but I enjoy the
communications and the camaraderie here. We will miss you too much if
get spaced out :-).
>--while China would be all for RL (as they want to build dams
too).
**** So if China blesses riverlinking it must be good for Assam?
That must have been a slip, even for you, I am sure.
>The souther states think RL is good, while others are
not.
**** That depends. If you think bean counters like Kalyanraman
and rocket engineers like Pres. Kalam are also experts in hydrology,
civil engineering or ecology, and they represent the south you may be
right.
But the fact is the first above could not be further from the
truth. And the latter, that they represent ALL of the south also could
not be further from the truth. The southern states have long disagreed
and continue to as of this moment, on damming and river water sharing
in THEIR rivers.
Riverlinking is an entirely politically contrived boondoggle that
has no merit whatsoever, in any shape or form, as presently
floated.
The other day I spoke to a very successful Assamese businessman
who seems to have a good pulse of India. Three things he said rang in
my ears:
Of the above, the first one came out of what he heard from a
visiting US Consul, first hand, who told him that 'the picture we got
from the officials is so very different from what we see on the
ground'.
The second one came in the context of discussing flood abatement
and erosion alleviation of the Brahmaputra.
The third he offered in general. And he concurred with my own
assessment, as an extension of his observation, that India is the
freest society in the world, for some. So free that certain people can
literally get-away with murder.
c-da
At 10:27 AM -0500 8/19/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
C'da,
>r stay home tending to you our 'bhendi' plants or engage in 'adda' with your favorite neighbor over >ndless cups of tea served in 'mekuri-kania' ( cat-ear sized) kops ( cups--to Jokaisukiyas, like >yself)?
>ell us the truth Ram.They have truth detectors implanted in this net now. We can detect fake->atriotism and SPIN in a split second here.
Bhendi plants are my thing. I probably would not go anywhere.
But, that is NOT the point here. The concept of freedom means "I" can do what I want within reason: join the celebrations or not. I would detest the fact that "I" am forced to tend my bhendi plants (even if that is what I had wanted to do all along) or my decision making is influenced by bomb threats or CRPFs.
That in essence is the problem with ULFA's tactics. As their ground support seems to be waning, they want to 'FORCE' others to behave and think as they do. To that extent, they are willing to kill children if required for their 'cause'.
**** You maybe be right, and ULFA might NOT be interested. But what IF they are?
Actions speak louder than words. Just mouthing off 'peace' doesn't make it so. If the ULFA is serious about negotiations, then they will have to drop all pretenses and eschew violence. Then the GOI would HAVE to negotiate. The ball would be in GOI's court.
>** I have to agree with that Ram. So what is Manmohan Singh's excuse for acting Rambo Singh >nd dragging his feet ? The same old BS of saying sweet things but not meaning it?
I should have known better. Should have made an explicit reference. Kept that wide open didn't I? :)
>On another but related matter, did you see Sri( not Sir) Reghupaty's
I did see that - was shocked (not really). Political expediency seems to be the word of the day.
Who knows why Reghupati would make that statement - to appease B'deshi govt. on some quid-quo-pro deal?
Take the River-Linking issue. I am sure there are people in GOI who actually know the pros and cons of RL on a purely scientific and practical basis. Whatever the ultimate stand the GOI wants to take, based on facts, the GOI has to also appease the B'deshi govt, because the B'deshi govt. does not think RL is good for them, while China would be all for RL (as they want to build dams too). The souther states think RL is good, while others are not. So the GOI plays out the appeasement game - tell whomsoever what they want to hear. I think thats what happened with Regupati here. Just pure and simple appeasement.
--Ram
On 8/19/05, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ram:
>Till such a time, Assamese people (who want to celebrate) will have to do it mutely and without drawing much fanfare.
**** You are right. We have noticed :-).
But seriously, if YOU were in Assam this past August 15, and there were no threats or show of force from no 'thugs', in uniform or otherwise, would you have preferred to rush to a freshly ploughed or the usually trodden-bare grounds of 'Joj-fild' to listen to heroic and inspiring 'boktrita' ( harangues) from some light-headed general and or other equally light-headed 'sorkari' luminariesor stay home tending to you our 'bhendi' plants or engage in 'adda' with your favorite neighbor over endless cups of tea served in 'mekuri-kania' ( cat-ear sized) kops ( cups--to Jokaisukiyas, like myself)?
Tell us the truth Ram.They have truth detectors implanted in this net now. We can detect fake-patriotism and SPIN in a split second here.
>And you think the ULFA is least bit interested in 'peace talks'. ?Their actions >of bomb blasts and mayhem before the I-Day doesn't seem to tell us that they >are making overtures for such a solution.
**** You maybe be right, and ULFA might NOT be interested. But what IF they are? Should we not encourage and support ANY overtures that might emerge, like it has thru MRGoswami's efforts? Should we instead assume, with our prescience or fake-intelligence,that they are not interested, and thus remain either pessimistic or apathetic or actively attempt to undermine such efforts like one of those light-headed, ghee-bellied generals who has this obviously self-appointed role of Assam's strong-man, has been doing?
>A negotiated settlement or peace talks needs at least 2 parties. It will never be possible, when one of the parties is out playing Rambo.
**** I have to agree with that Ram. So what is Manmohan Singh's excuse for acting Rambo Singh and dragging his feet ? The same old BS of saying sweet things but not meaning it?
On another but related matter, did you see Sri( not Sir) Reghupaty's
( MHA-mukhopatro's) denial of any knowledge of ULFA being innkeepers, or more precisely the Hiltons of Dacca or Patels of Pabna ? What happened? What are you guys? GWBs, being taken for a ride by your own CIA's? Boy that must have been a RAW deal, wasn't it? Tsk, tsk! I would like to see the squirming in the Editorial offices of the Sentinel and the Statesman and the AT now. But then again, if they had any such compunction, they would not have willingly participated in the propaganda to begin with, don't you think?
c-da :-)
At 5:12 PM -0500 8/17/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
C'da,
>For some strange reason however, I doubt there will be profound
>analyses and proclamations about the victory of democracy over the
'.thugs', and an impending demise of the insurgencies.?
For people to go out and "really" celebrate two things must happen:
(a) No threat whatsoever, perceived or otherwise : ie they should feel safe
(b) No CRP or others with heavy bondobast - since that gives the impression that it really is NOT safe.
Till such a time, Assamese people (who want to celebrate) will have to do it mutely and without drawing much fanfare.
>And if so, should the people, including us, not raise their voices to
>bring an end to the insurgencies thru a negotiated political solution
And you think the ULFA is least bit interested in 'peace talks'. ?Their actions of bomb blasts and mayhem before the I-Day doesn't seem to tell us that they are making overtures for such a solution.
A negotiated settlement or peace talks needs at least 2 parties. It will never be possible, when one of the parties is out playing Rambo.
--Ram
On 8/17/05, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I was waiting to exhale after holding my breath for so long--about
the impending violence and mayhem on Dependence Day--I mean,
Independence Day :-) celebrationsand also to read about all the throngs that would have defied the
insurgents' call to go listen to the 'netas' on I-Day. But there is a
curious silence in the news media. The ONLY reference I found was at
http://www.janasadharan.com/.
Apparently , except for a few ministers,hardly anyone went to
re-plant their faith in 'independence' and desi-demokrasy or sow
seeds of discontent on the freshly ploughed grounds of the Judges'
Field. Well, what the heck, maybe the grass will grow better next
time.
Question is however, what is the story? I mean is it, like the Dainik
J. announced that the presence and alertness of the 'security' forces
prevented the violence ( and also the turnout of the loyal celebrants
dying--not literally now--to take part in the festivities)? Or is it
the fear caused by them insurgents' threats? Or was it empathy with
the insurgents' calls? Or was it due to a deep apathy and cynicism
towards these so called independence celebrations?
For some strange reason however, I doubt there will be profound
analyses and proclamations about the victory of democracy over the
'thugs', and an
impending demise of the insurgencies.
And if so, should the people, including us, not raise their voices to
bring an end to the insurgencies thru a negotiated political solution?
cm
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