Dear Concerned Friends, It is indeed a pleasure to be connected to home through this listserv and have a reality check on the development of the region. It is also good to hear the perspectives of various individuals on a variety of topics. Like any other forum there are constructive and not so constructive discussions and comments, there are times when the issue is handled in a way that it loses its prior relevance. Nevertheless, it is the first time we have connected this way to discuss about our region and that is a great step ahead.
Finding the solutions to the mammoth problems of the state is not an easy task, mere rhetoric of grassroots empowerment and capacity building or skill building is not enough. I have spent formidable and important years of my life contributing to that cause. I was trained in the field of social development from one of the top class institutes in the world and yet I know the solutions are not easy. We have to keep trying and keep working one person at a time, one community, a village and region at a time. This will take longer than all of us like to assume. But eventually things will change, as they have been. All of us bear collective responsibility in the affairs of the state, and not one individual or agency can be singled out. Rampant political corruption, non-functioning government and civic agencies, power hungry politicians and individuals have all contributed to the despair. In this, off course historical marginalization of the region has played a big part. But its about time we moved on, to me the fact that most of us are openly talking about it is a big promise. Growing up, I have experienced the utter frustration in the decay of the system, my father who was a high ranking government official paid dearly for his honesty. While my father's colleagues owned everything money could buy, we had to struggle to meet our ends. My dad was an exemplary who did not use forums or words to pursue his convictions, he proved it through deeds. He helped build a school in his village, contributed to the establishment of a college, helped needy students and also encouraged people with entrepreneurial tendencies. In his lifetime he has deeply touched the lives of many people. To me the seeds of hope were sown at home, by an extraordinary father who led an ordinary life to convey his message. Some of us have immigrated to the United States not because we are escapists. In spite of outstanding academic results it was difficult to find a job, and a fellowship from a foreign university seemed like a blessing. But, we have not given up as some would like to believe. It is hard to understand why people would hold such antipathy toward the people living outside, because contrary to beliefs the Diaspora thinks and works for the region in their own ways. In our own way my husband Dr. Bijan Borah and I have started out by contributing to knowledge development in the region through our research. Every piece is important, just as much as we would like to give money, some of us have to design other ways to intervene. That does not indicate any less concern on our part toward the state. We have to first send money to our struggling homes, charity indeed begins at home. Sure, there are people who would care less, snuggled in their cozy cocoons of comfort in the dreamland. But there are such people back home too, who have created degeneration in the system. They are mercilessly corrupt and oppressive and all they care is about hoarding their money for posterity. The point is let's not pass the buck, if we have noble ideas lets pursue them with constructive debates. Despair and resentment are not methods in achieving any change. Best regards, Ankita Deka Ph.D Student, Indiana University, USA. Re: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/assamonline/message/2804 ----------------------------------------- moderator created new thread, assamonline
