Re: [Assam] FW: CIVIL ENGINEER FROM PUNJAB UNIVERSITY........
O'Deka: Aapuni baaru kelei eibilaak kothat xwmaaise hoyne'? ( Why are you getting into things like these?) There is a very simple explanation. The staircase is not to nowhere at all. It is connected to a mid-level entry. Perhaps a mezzanine level above the garage, something done quite commonly in India. Or it could be a 'servants' staircase, narrow, outside the building, leading to a hole above the garage to their quarters, out of sight to the genteel Owners or their guests. O'm At 9:21 PM -0700 5/31/08, DilipDil Deka wrote: The stairway to nowhere. Open the attached file to get a view. Was it built per the design drawing? Who knows? Enjoy the newly built house in Punjab!! -- Forwarded Message: -- Subject: FW: CIVIL ENGINEER FROM PUNJAB UNIVERSITY Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 08:34:01 + Content-Type: image/jpeg; name=pic04827.jpg Content-Description: pat1052140474 Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=pic04827.jpg Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:pic04827.jpg (JPEG/«IC») (00B10E90) ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] FW: CIVIL ENGINEER FROM PUNJAB UNIVERSITY........
O'd, OOOPs! My bad, my bad!!! Now I do see where the problem is. Maane tolor-pa wporole uthute' murot olop ghun laagibo paare, nohoy? Pise' bhaal-sai dangor paaguri eta pindhi-lole' soli jaab, ne' ki koy? Probably they were using slip forms, but forgot to slip them out from the wall for the upper flight. Are you going to make a federal case out of that :-) ? O'm. At 10:20 AM -0700 6/1/08, DilipDil Deka wrote: O'Mahanta, Sobikhon dangorkoi khuli loi sabo, bit soku pindhile aru bhal hobo. Xei khotkhoti dukhonor zoint-tw saboswn. Tolor khotkhotir pora wporor khonoloi zabotw nwariyei, tolor khotkhoti khonor pora baon phale swn xomaboloi duwar ekhonw nai. :-) O'Deka Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: O'Deka: Aapuni baaru kelei eibilaak kothat xwmaaise hoyne'? ( Why are you getting into things like these?) There is a very simple explanation. The staircase is not to nowhere at all. It is connected to a mid-level entry. Perhaps a mezzanine level above the garage, something done quite commonly in India. Or it could be a 'servants' staircase, narrow, outside the building, leading to a hole above the garage to their quarters, out of sight to the genteel Owners or their guests. O'm At 9:21 PM -0700 5/31/08, DilipDil Deka wrote: The stairway to nowhere. Open the attached file to get a view. Was it built per the design drawing? Who knows? Enjoy the newly built house in Punjab!! -- Forwarded Message: -- Subject: FW: CIVIL ENGINEER FROM PUNJAB UNIVERSITY Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 08:34:01 + Content-Type: image/jpeg; name=pic04827.jpg Content-Description: pat1052140474 Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=pic04827.jpg Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:pic04827.jpg (JPEG/«IC») (00B10E90) ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Los Angeles Times on Northeast India
Absolutely! The whole thing about attempting to bypass B'desh, as if the Brahmaputra does not exist and going thru Mizoram over the Lushai hills to Burma and the Bay-of-Bengal smacks of the same absence of ordinary logic as the pronouncement from returning to the fold of the active ones. And all that money pouring in has to mean something. Question is what and for whom? At 2:50 PM -0400 6/1/08, [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 [EMAIL PROTECTED]: 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
Re: [Assam] Los Angeles Times on Northeast India
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
Re: [Assam] Conversions will distort the Mishing tribe
At 1:21 PM +0530 5/30/08, Manoj Das wrote: I ditto! Who are we condemning? An abstract act, of conversion? The person who converted? Or those who did the conversion? And why? On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 1:04 PM, Bijoy Kumar Pait [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Except individual willingness, I strongly condemn conversions of Mishings to Christians. Well Donyi(means the Sun) and Pollo(means the Moon) which is part of our Hinduism!?? BKPait Manager: ISOM 7886 Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5/30/2008 9:28 AM Dear Rajenda and Ajantaba A few years back I met a Jaintia lady. She was educated, rich, modern but agitated at the loss of heritage due to conversion into Christianity. I said, Christianity gave you education, status, enlightenment and civilization. She tersely commented that in exchange they lost their millennium old culture, way of life and heritage; same as Mr. Rongmon Pegu is lamenting. Mishings are not strict Hindus, they maintain their way of life. They normally bury their dead unlike the typical Hindus. They also continue to pray Dony Pollo, their traditional Gods. You are right in saying that Naga, Mizo and Khasis have better identities now because of their Christianity. But those who go by the book, preach that the tribes should shun their rituals. Identity and civilization will come anyway; the cost of a quick entry through conversion may be more in the long run. In any case its a matter of study or research! Off hand- difficult to comment. -manoj On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Rajen Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I think the writer is confused about religion and heritage If the Mishings are Hindus now, they must have been converted to Hinduism at one time. Somebody must have converted them to Hinduism taking advantage of their ignorance. They have every right to converted to some other religion such Islam, Christianity etc. If they get econmic upliftment because of that the better. And what does the writer try to mean by I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity. I don't understand how the Khasis, Nagas, Mizos have lost their identities. I think they have better identities now because of their Christianity. Rajen Barua. From: bg Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 12:36 AM To: assamnet Subject: [Assam] Conversions will distort the Mishing tribe Conversions will distort the Mishing tribehttp://www.assamtimes.org/Social/1484.html Sir, It is sad to note that taking the advantage of the poverty of the Mishing community in Majuli, Dhemaji and Jonai, numerous Mishing families are been converted to Christianity by opportunistic Christian missionaries. I am an ordinary citizen and can do nothing. As such I thought of writing this letter to your newspaper so that I might create an awareness among the Mishing tribe of Assam. I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity. Our own traditions are no way inferior to the rich Vatican City or Pope. The poverty in Mishing councils is because of the corrupt politicians among us like Bharat Narah, Bhuban Pegu etc., not our customs, beliefs and rituals. Missionaries can give us money and English education, but cannot return our identity when it will be lost by following Christian rituals and alien traditions in our day-to-day lives. If religion is lost, heritage is lost. When heritage is lost, identity is lost. It is time influential socio-cultural organizations of the Mishings, our students' union and Mahila samitis launch rigorous awareness drive among the gullible Mishings or the Mishings will go 'missing' from the cultural map of Assam. Yours sincerely, Rongmon Pegu Dikhoumukh Sivasagar Assam http://www.assamtimes.org/Social/1484.html ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org -- Manoj Kumar Das C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave New Delhi 17 India 0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654 This e-mail message is only to be used by intended recipients and all others may kindly delete it and notify the sender. Unless expressly authorized by HPCL, the views expressed and the message itself is that of the individual sender and recipients are cautioned to check
Re: [Assam] Conversions will distort the Mishing tribe
I agree. It's about time that 'Individual Willingness' and individual freedom are taken into consideration in all societies. How does condemning conversion fit with respect for individual freedom and Individual Willingness'? Are we suggesting they are converted AGAINST their will ? And if so, what is the mechanism by which such forced or coerced conversion sticks? They cannot be thrown to the lions or into dungeons any more. Or can they be? In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass. Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 13:04:59 +0530 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] Conversions will distort the Mishing tribeExcept individual willingness, I strongly condemn conversions of Mishings to Christians. Well Donyi(means the Sun) and Pollo(means the Moon) which is part of our Hinduism!?? BKPait Manager: ISOM 7886 Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5/30/2008 9:28 AM Dear Rajenda and Ajantaba A few years back I met a Jaintia lady. She was educated, rich, modern but agitated at the loss of heritage due to conversion into Christianity. I said, Christianity gave you education, status, enlightenment and civilization. She tersely commented that in exchange they lost their millennium old culture, way of life and heritage; same as Mr. Rongmon Pegu is lamenting. Mishings are not strict Hindus, they maintain their way of life. They normally bury their dead unlike the typical Hindus. They also continue to pray Dony Pollo, their traditional Gods. You are right in saying that Naga, Mizo and Khasis have better identities now because of their Christianity. But those who go by the book, preach that the tribes should shun their rituals. Identity and civilization will come anyway; the cost of a quick entry through conversion may be more in the long run. In any case its a matter of study or research! Off hand- difficult to comment. -manoj On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Rajen Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I think the writer is confused about religion and heritage If the Mishings are Hindus now, they must have been converted to Hinduism at one time. Somebody must have converted them to Hinduism taking advantage of their ignorance. They have every right to converted to some other religion such Islam, Christianity etc. If they get econmic upliftment because of that the better. And what does the writer try to mean by I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity. I don't understand how the Khasis, Nagas, Mizos have lost their identities. I think they have better identities now because of their Christianity. Rajen Barua. From: bg Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 12:36 AM To: assamnet Subject: [Assam] Conversions will distort the Mishing tribeConversions will distort the Mishing tribehttp://www.assamtimes.org/Social/1484.html Sir, It is sad to note that taking the advantage of the poverty of the Mishing community in Majuli, Dhemaji and Jonai, numerous Mishing families are been converted to Christianity by opportunistic Christian missionaries. I am an ordinary citizen and can do nothing. As such I thought of writing this letter to your newspaper so that I might create an awareness among the Mishing tribe of Assam. I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity. Our own traditions are no way inferior to the rich Vatican City or Pope. The poverty in Mishing councils is because of the corrupt politicians among us like Bharat Narah, Bhuban Pegu etc., not our customs, beliefs and rituals. Missionaries can give us money and English education, but cannot return our identity when it will be lost by following Christian rituals and alien traditions in our day-to-day lives. If religion is lost, heritage is lost. When heritage is lost, identity is lost. It is time influential socio-cultural organizations of the Mishings, our students' union and Mahila samitis launch rigorous awareness drive among the gullible Mishings or the Mishings will go 'missing' from the cultural map of Assam.Yours sincerely, Rongmon Pegu Dikhoumukh Sivasagar Assam http://www.assamtimes.org/Social/1484.html ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org -- Manoj Kumar Das C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave New Delhi 17 India 0091 9312650558 (HP)
[Assam] More on Never Cease to be Entertained
The following in Today's Sentinel: ** Giving up arms a must for peace talks: Gogoi By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, May 29: In what could best be termed as setting a precondition for peace talks, Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the door of the Government is always open for militant groups that are interested in peace talks but the militant groups have to deposit their arms and shun violence first, and talks can be held only within the purview of the Constitution. A meeting of the Unified Command Structure (UCS) was held today at Dispur with the Chief Minister as president. The meeting was attended, among others, by 4 Corps GOC Lt Gen BS Jaswal, Asom DGP RN Mathur, Principal Home Secretary Subash Das, IGP (law and order) Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta and other top police and Home Department officials. The meeting took a decision to continue Army operation in the State. The two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting reviewed the current law-and-order situation in NC Hills. Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Gogoi said: We are always ready for talks with any militant outfits of the State, but the talks should be held only within the purview of the Constitution. The peace process with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) derailed when the outfit remained adamant on its sovereignty demand. So we want to make it clear for all rebel groups of the State that peace talks can be held only within the framework of the Constitution. When asked on the ceasefire offer of the DHD(J), Gogoi said: We will reciprocate the offer if the rebel group gives up arms, shuns violence and comes forward for peace talks. The question of cessation of Army operation doesn't arise. Army operation was always there, and will continue. ** On the statement aired by 4 Corps GOC Lt Gen BS Jaswal that there should be a stringent law to bar militants from joining their respective outfits after their release from jails, Gogoi said: The Government is concerned over the fact. We need to consider the matter. *** I can't believe this! Is this an unmitigated assembly of FOOLS or what? cm ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] being Entertained in yemerika
At 8:44 PM +0530 5/30/08, shantikam hazarika wrote: What a pitiable life you must be leading out there, that you have to seek entertainment by reading about what is going on in Assam. Fortunately, whether you can believe or not is of no consequence to anyone here. So you can go down beyond calling someone a Fool, and continue to seek your quota of entertainment from here. You will have all our sympathies. *** I understand the disgust with my comments, coming as it does, from that disgusting land of Yemerica. And I am 'cool with that', as my compatriots here may say. No offense taken. No hurt feelings. But WHAT is YOUR response to the general's diagnosis and the chief minister's treatment plan, Hazarika? I and I am sure a good many others, would like to hear that . I realize and have sympathy for the fact that it might be too hot a potato for YOU to handle, in more ways than one. And I am not being glib about that. We all have our burdens to bear. But if it were to be too hot a potato for me to handle, I would have kept my silence and not attempted to deflect attention away from the hurtful subject by attacking the messenger. Of course I presume that YOU do know WHERE the GOC, who, if I am not mistaken, was the Indian armed forces chief not too long back; was completely CLUELESS. And HOW the CM sounded equally clueless if not SPINELESS ( in failing to point out the stupidity embedded in the GOC's comment to his people who are hoping to build a DEMOCRATIC society and by doing that educate them); PROVIDED he does KNOW the correct answer. Shall we? You will do the netters a huge favor, a fair segment of which STILL might not quite know what the issues here are, considering that I too come from the same system of non-education that they reel under. You being in the educating business and being the avid supporter of democratic values as you are, I expect no less from you. Best. m Shantikam Hazarika Director, Assam Institute of Management PO Box 30, GUWAHATI 781001, India HOME PAGE: www.aimguwahati.edu.in Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:01:39 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] More on Never Cease to be Entertained The following in Today's Sentinel: Giving up arms a must for peace talks: Gogoi By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, May 29: In what could best be termed as setting a precondition for peace talks, Aso *** I can't believe this! Is this an unmitigated assembly of FOOLS or what? cm _ No Harvard, No Oxford. We are here. Find out !! http://ss1.richmedia.in/recurl.asp?pid=500 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] A Correction Re: being Entertained in yemerika
A Correction here: who, if I am not mistaken, was the Indian armed forces chief not too long back; *** I WAS mistaken on that. Can't always remember what general is what :-). I am relieved that retired general and our BS in this context are separate individuals. Whew! That was a close one!! At 8:44 PM +0530 5/30/08, shantikam hazarika wrote: What a pitiable life you must be leading out there, that you have to seek entertainment by reading about what is going on in Assam. Fortunately, whether you can believe or not is of no consequence to anyone here. So you can go down beyond calling someone a Fool, and continue to seek your quota of entertainment from here. You will have all our sympathies. *** I understand the disgust with my comments, coming as it does, from that disgusting land of Yemerica. And I am 'cool with that', as my compatriots here may say. No offense taken. No hurt feelings. But WHAT is YOUR response to the general's diagnosis and the chief minister's treatment plan, Hazarika? I and I am sure a good many others, would like to hear that . I realize and have sympathy for the fact that it might be too hot a potato for YOU to handle, in more ways than one. And I am not being glib about that. We all have our burdens to bear. But if it were to be too hot a potato for me to handle, I would have kept my silence and not attempted to deflect attention away from the hurtful subject by attacking the messenger. Of course I presume that YOU do know WHERE the GOC, who, if I am not mistaken, was the Indian armed forces chief not too long back; was completely CLUELESS. And HOW the CM sounded equally clueless if not SPINELESS ( in failing to point out the stupidity embedded in the GOC's comment to his people who are hoping to build a DEMOCRATIC society and by doing that educate them); PROVIDED he does KNOW the correct answer. Shall we? You will do the netters a huge favor, a fair segment of which STILL might not quite know what the issues here are, considering that I too come from the same system of non-education that they reel under. You being in the educating business and being the avid supporter of democratic values as you are, I expect no less from you. Best. m Shantikam Hazarika Director, Assam Institute of Management PO Box 30, GUWAHATI 781001, India HOME PAGE: www.aimguwahati.edu.in Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:01:39 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] More on Never Cease to be Entertained The following in Today's Sentinel: Giving up arms a must for peace talks: Gogoi By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, May 29: In what could best be termed as setting a precondition for peace talks, Aso *** I can't believe this! Is this an unmitigated assembly of FOOLS or what? cm _ No Harvard, No Oxford. We are here. Find out !! http://ss1.richmedia.in/recurl.asp?pid=500 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] On Fools
I am careful with my words and don't indulge in calling others, particularly those in public service, however flawed, FOOLs or other names. I save those words only for EXTREME examples! This WAS one. And the entertainment was not in reading about Assam's woes. It was with the clueless-ness of those entrusted by Indian colonial masters for Assam's 'uddhar' and the spectacle of its political leaders who have no hesitation with making fools of themselves, whatever the compulsion. That could not possibly have been difficult to understand for anyone who reads and comprehends this damned English language in its most ordinary usage. But the need to spin what hurts, I am sure, is a powerful force. At 8:44 PM +0530 5/30/08, shantikam hazarika wrote: What a pitiable life you must be leading out there, that you have to seek entertainment by reading about what is going on in Assam. Fortunately, whether you can believe or not is of no consequence to anyone here. So you can go down beyond calling someone a Fool, and continue to seek your quota of entertainment from here. You will have all our sympathies. Shantikam Hazarika Director, Assam Institute of Management PO Box 30, GUWAHATI 781001, India HOME PAGE: www.aimguwahati.edu.in Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:01:39 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] More on Never Cease to be Entertained The following in Today's Sentinel: Giving up arms a must for peace talks: Gogoi By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, May 29: In what could best be termed as setting a precondition for peace talks, Aso *** I can't believe this! Is this an unmitigated assembly of FOOLS or what? cm _ No Harvard, No Oxford. We are here. Find out !! http://ss1.richmedia.in/recurl.asp?pid=500 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Never Cease to be Entertained
After a long time, I was browsing Assam papers in the web, and ran into the following in the Sentinel web site: Law needed to bar rebels from joining outfits after their release, says GOC From our Staff Reporter TEZPUR, May 28: GOC of Gajraj Corps Lt Gen BS Jaiswal feels the need of a law that can stop militants from joining their respective outfits after their release from jail. Talking to newsmen at 4 Corps Headquarters here, Lt Gen Jaiswal said: Arrested militants join their respective outfits again after their release from jails. This is a matter of serious concern as it negates the achievements of the security personnel. There should be a law to prevent arrested militants from joining their outfits after their release. The GOC said Asom is limping back to normalcy. Highlighting the success of the security personnel on tackling insurgency in the State, he said: After January 2007, as many as 2,887 terrorists of various outfits have been neutralized, 857 in 2008 alone. Self-styled ULFA lieutenant Prabal Neog has been apprehended, while self-styled ULFA captains Pradip Bora and Keshab Hazarika have surrendered. ULFA cadres are a disillusioned lot now, and more surrender ceremonies are in the pipeline. The GOC said: In its changed strategy, the ULFA is targeting more and more innocent people. The ULFA is now a conglomerate of some self-serving individuals who have no ideals and for whom terror is just a business. The morale of the ULFA is at its nadir. The outfit has been affected by leadership crisis as about 80 of its leaders have been neutralized in the recent past. According to him, the annual budget of the 28th battalion of the ULFA is Rs 5.5 crore, and bulk of the amount is spent on training, recruitment and procurement of arms. On the mushroom growth of militant outfits in Asom, the GOC said groups like KLNLF, ANLA, DHD(J), MULTA and others have no long-term impact as such groups are formed by dissidents. We have been keeping a close watch on the BRTF that has come out in the BTAD. It's a good sign that 770 of the 1,000 NDFB cadres have been staying in their designated camps while 250 others have been staying with their families. When asked on the situation in NC Hills, Lt Gen Jaiswal said: It's under the jurisdiction of Dimapur-based 3 Corps. Of course, there is a proposal to the 4 Corps to take NC Hills under its fold, but I think overlapping of jurisdiction with 3 Corps will only complicate the problem. On BJP MP Khiren Rijiju's recent statement in Parliament that Chinese Army had intruded 20 km inside Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh, the GOC said: There isn't any fresh intrusion by Chinese Army. On arms smuggling, he said it is a global phenomenon, and the ISI of Pakistan and the DGFI of Bangladesh have been involved in it. No major cache of China-made arms has so far been seized, he added. On illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, the GOC said: There may be fundamentalist elements in the guise of immigrants who may have links with the ULFA, the cadres of which are still in their hideouts in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Arrested militants join their respective outfits again after their release from jails. This is a matter of serious concern as it negates the achievements of the security personnel. There should be a law to prevent arrested militants from joining their outfits after their release. So sayeth the GOC of the Gajraj corp! Serious problem, huh? Must be happening because there is no law against it . And it is the verdict of the GOC. Must be a well deliberated and wisdom filled conclusion that could come only from somebody like a General Officer Commanding. Or is it? My own hunch is that it could come only from a General Officer that commands a Haati-marka ( elephant brand, as in Gajraj Corp) desi-meltory. Good thing it is not called a Bolodh-Corp ( Bull-corp), even though the comment is more apt for something like a goru-marka corp. Do netters think that the phenomenon is a result of of not having a law prohibiting it? What about insurgencies? Is it also a result of not having laws prohibiting it? What is the deliberative ability of this so-called GOC you think? Mind you he is not a self-styled one either! He is legit! Even with a name like BS Whatsmacallit. Such is the state of desi governance! And its security-wallas' intellect. I know desi-sekurity-wallas and spooks monitor our comments. Wonder if one of them would care to take the cue and explain. Perhaps in the columns of Outlook India? cm ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Appeasement
Swimming with the current is always easy Chandan Da; swimming against is understandably not. *** That is why those who know better, the able, must not remain mute witnesses. Some of our prejudices are due to propaganda dinned into our ears all the time. *** True. That is why critical thinking and analyses are of paramount importance. That is how politicians like Bush and his kindred elsewhere in the world survive. *** And so, those who see thru the scams or the reality behind the semantics must challenge them. And who, if not the intelligentsia, to do that? You must have seen the continual use of 'appeasement' argument in Indian media and among its intelligentsia for decades on end. Question is WHAT has India GIVEN CONCESSIONS on and to WHAT ENEMIES? WHO are these enemies? He was trying to attribute food price hike to indian/chinese middle class consumption. He asked everyone to put blinkers about the waste in the US itself; farm subsidy in the western world; competition between men and cars for corn; structural shifts in the economy brought about by the US led brand of globalisation. Here I disagree. Bush is not a fool to try to BLAME India or China. It was an attempt to deflect attention AWAY from American over-consumption and waste or the funneling of corn to produce patrol. There is a huge difference between blaming someone else and attempting to deflect or downplay one's own responsibilities. Indian reactions to this mater is, once again, a result of this 'damned English language', if not a fabricated cause of resentment to score points against America on a very easy subject: a 'holaa gosot baagi-kuthar' eruption. At 5:30 PM +0100 5/17/08, uttam borthakur wrote: Swimming with the current is always easy Chandan Da; swimming against is understandably not. Some of our prejudices are due to propaganda dinned into our ears all the time. That is how politicians like Bush and his kindred elsewhere in the world survive. He was trying to attribute food price hike to indian/chinese middle class consumption. He asked everyone to put blinkers about the waste in the US itself; farm subsidy in the western world; competition between men and cars for corn; structural shifts in the economy brought about by the US led brand of globalisation. Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I hear the word 'appeasing minorities' in India all the time--in Assamnet, in desi papers and internet forums. A raging controversy is going on in the US right this moment on GW Bush's likening diplomatic contacts and efforts to 'appeasing terrorists' which he implied Barrack Obama would do, in a speech in Israel. Aside from it being a blatantly shameless form of pandering to the Jewish vote in the USA, the tactic employs the misuse of words to score political points with poorly informed voters, something this administration has employed masterfully to take the country into war under false pretenses, among other misdeeds. And the Indians, who tend to copy whatever the west does and parrot whatever their politicians might, particularly those who have shamelessly tried to ride the coat-tails of US reaction against 9/11, hoping to exploit it to deliver themselves from the Kashmir fallout also have been using the word 'appeasement' without ever knowing what it MEANS, just like GW Bush has done. Appeasement means , in this context: The policy of granting concessions to potential enemies to maintain peace. ( from Wikipedia) So, when our THINKING friends here in assamnet use the word to vent their anger against Muslims or their Hinduttwa frustrations, they might consider its meaning first, to see if it is applicable. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Uttam Kumar Borthakur - From Chandigarh to Chennai - find friends all over India. Click here. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Bangladeshi Herket-Ul Jehadi bomb 75 in western India
Calling a spade a spade does not make me a Muslim hater or a Hindu fanatic. * We are changing the subject. Far be it for me than to prevent anyone from calling a spade a spade , or a 'kwr' or a 'khonti' or even a shovel. My responses were entirely on the recommendations made for 'solving' the problem of terrorist activities by supposed illegal Muslim immigrants from neighboring countries, about how western nations prevent them, about why they don't happen in the western countries and other such disjointed commentary. If the aim of the discourse was to air one's own views of Muslims -- then why all the extraneous material? Just go ahead and say whatever you wish. It is an uncensored forum. But if you HAVE solutions or are looking for them thru a discourse among thoughtful people, then you should be prepared to be examined on your concept of the 'spade' and how that might deliver you from the 'evil' you are concerned about. But if they continue with their acts of terrorism in the name of their religion, then there is something wrong. Indeed, there is. Have you examined WHY they might be resorting to the tactics they do? If I ask you about your concept of why they do that, will you share that with us? It is creating a problem for those of their faith who like us just want to lead a normal live. Why do you think they want your normal lives disrupted? What might their motives be? That is what is happening in Aus too. Because of the actions of a few Lebanese crooks and an attention seeking imam, people are questioning whether followers of their religion can assimilate with any other culture.- Developed and mature societies have means for dealing with crooks and lawbreakers. That is what they used against Dr, Haneef and ALL THOSE others who are LANGUISHING in prison. Except that the former turned out to be wrong, and we don't know if the latter are rightly languishing or wrongly--YET! One Sat, they gather in the beach in thousands and beat up any middle eastern looking people --- When it comes to that, does that help Australian security or hinders it? What is YOUR assessment of that? If you were to be in charge what would YOU have done? Or as a thoughtful, educated and involved citizen, what would you recommend should be done? Why does this happen everywhere? Is it wrong to question? Obviously you have thought about it. So why don't you tell us, so that we can connect your diagnoses with your prescriptions to weigh if they are sound ? Is it ok to wage a war against kafirs and non-believers of their faith? Once again, why don't you tell us? And how that relates to Kashmir or Godhra or the Jaipur bombings ? At 7:49 PM +0800 5/18/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: Calling a spade a spade does not make me a Muslim hater or a Hindu fanatic. I am neither. But if they continue with their acts of terrorism in the name of their religion, then there is something wrong. It is better to question that, rather than deny the problem. And that has to be addressed by the educated in their faith. It is creating a problem for those of their faith who like us just want to lead a normal live. If they chose to ignore, then all of their community members get tagged. That is what is happening in Aus too. Because of the actions of a few Lebanese crooks and an attention seeking imam, people are questioning whether followers of their religion can assimilate with any other culture. It's best to say that relations between the Christian Aussies and muslims are not very friendly. There was a big racial riot in Sydney not too long too ago ( The sequence of events being: Lebanese youths taunt and pass remarks against white Aus women going to the beach in their beachwear, they gang up and beat up an Aussie life saver; Aussies have enough of the nonsense. One Sat, they gather in the beach in thousands and beat up any middle eastern looking people ) Why does this happen everywhere? Is it wrong to question? Is it ok to wage a war against kafirs and non-believers of their faith? If their religion is supreme why isn't the muslim world the shining beacon of JS On Sat, May 17, 2008 at 9:28 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi J: At 8:14 PM +0800 5/17/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: Hi C'da I was thinking that since you have rubbished my ideas, you might have better ones. So I gave you options to make your task easier. One does NOT have to have better ideas to be able to scrutinize those that are being offered. Should society's able people sit idly by just because they don't have a better solution to NOT oppose what is patently bad ? Yeah better living conditions and equality did not stop the 911 attacks, Madrid bombings, the London underground bombings. You fail to understand that these fundamentalist never adopt the country that have given them refuge from their warn torn homeland
Re: [Assam] Bangladeshi Herket-Ul Jehadi bomb 75 in western India
retaining their seats. For seeking power they would even settle the illegals in the homeland and seek votes from them. Assam being a prime example. As for Dr Hanneef case it wasn't an entirely failed operation. As a fallout of the efforts, it was found that some jihadi elements were planning to strike Melbourne during a AFL final game. All have been arrested and are now languishing behind bars. This is what I meant by proactive actions. They did not wait for a stadium to be bombed and then look for clues. Mr Mahanta ..if your house is attacked by pests, you would probably clean up the house and then put a pest barrier(insecticides, etc ) around your house. That would not rid your house of pests but it will stop them from entering your house, won't it? India is surrounded by two hostile neighbours who obviously can't match India. If you are sure that these rogue elements are coming from across the border, and the other country is not doing anything to prevent these groups from attacking India, do you have too many other options? Why India hasn't done so? The word is minority appeasement. I think you can pretty much guess whom the term minority means in India. I leave that for you to guess. So, will it change? Yes, it can, if people put pressure on the Govt. People can topple governments if they don't act. JS On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 10:06 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 9:36 PM +0800 5/16/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: Ok... my ideas and suggestions are bad, do you have better ones: I was not the one who made those recommendations . Are you suggesting that a) India do nothing Is that something I said or implied? b) Continue allowing more illegals into the country so that they can cause more trouble. Did I suggest any such thing? I merely asked questions about the recommendations made. The answers speak for themselves. Do you know why western nations( US, UK, Canada, Australia and likewise ) are relatively safe... That's because they take terrorism seriously. Really? Well, I learn something everyday! Until now, I thought it was because these societies do not have the conditions and the social conflicts that have given rise to the kind of violence India is reaping, and because their conflict resolution apparatus of governance are functional, by and large. Do you think any of these country will sit back if a city was hit with 7 bombs? So why DOES India sit back and do NOTHING ? What seems to be the problem? They do not go for minority appeasement and deal with terrorists and terrorism with a strong hand. Should I read here that 'minorities' and 'terrorists' are synonymous, or is it just this 'damned English language' problem again ? Remember the Dr Haneef case in Aus. The Aus agencies did not wait for a terrorist activity to happen in it's soil first and then react. They took preemptive actions, although in this regard it turned out to be wrong. Tsk! What a bummer!! One powerful example, except it turned out to be grossly faulty. Didn't the Australian Supreme Court order the govt. to allow Dr. Haneef to return or some such thing? That brings up the question again: Should India emulate what does not work? As for not doing anything, the results are there to see: bomb blasts one after the other. Once again I ask: WHY does India do NOTHING? What seems to be the problem? Is it because of a fear that Big Brother might not approve of ? What? Demographic change across villages and towns . These illegals then become prime candidates for jehadis. Assam becoming the worst sufferer. I didn't realize that Assam is the worst victim of 'Jehadi bombing'. What did I miss? Where did that happen in recent times? And were the 'illegals' the perpetrators? And if they were, who proved it so, and what happened to the perpetrators? I am dying to learn. Seriously! Mahatma Gandhi's principle of offering the other cheek also when slapped on the other are long gone. Thanks for educating me. I am not very well informed on these nuances of recent history. If you get hit, you have to hit back with twice the force. JS Thanks again for sharing the wise notion. Not so sincerely yours, cm On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 10:50 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 7:50 PM +0800 5/15/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: Yes...catch the culprits!! If found to be handiwork of Indians, I don't see a point of wasting space in jails. *** Words of the wise! Question is WHO will do the CATCHING and dispensing of the implied SUMMARY justice? Time to bring the Indian Army, experienced in delivering such justice, back from Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Kashmir and unleashing
[Assam] Appeasement
I hear the word 'appeasing minorities' in India all the time--in Assamnet, in desi papers and internet forums. A raging controversy is going on in the US right this moment on GW Bush's likening diplomatic contacts and efforts to 'appeasing terrorists' which he implied Barrack Obama would do, in a speech in Israel. Aside from it being a blatantly shameless form of pandering to the Jewish vote in the USA, the tactic employs the misuse of words to score political points with poorly informed voters, something this administration has employed masterfully to take the country into war under false pretenses, among other misdeeds. And the Indians, who tend to copy whatever the west does and parrot whatever their politicians might, particularly those who have shamelessly tried to ride the coat-tails of US reaction against 9/11, hoping to exploit it to deliver themselves from the Kashmir fallout also have been using the word 'appeasement' without ever knowing what it MEANS, just like GW Bush has done. Appeasement means , in this context: The policy of granting concessions to potential enemies to maintain peace. ( from Wikipedia) So, when our THINKING friends here in assamnet use the word to vent their anger against Muslims or their Hinduttwa frustrations, they might consider its meaning first, to see if it is applicable. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Bangladeshi Herket-Ul Jehadi bomb 75 in western India
At 9:36 PM +0800 5/16/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: Ok... my ideas and suggestions are bad, do you have better ones: I was not the one who made those recommendations . Are you suggesting that a) India do nothing Is that something I said or implied? b) Continue allowing more illegals into the country so that they can cause more trouble. Did I suggest any such thing? I merely asked questions about the recommendations made. The answers speak for themselves. Do you know why western nations( US, UK, Canada, Australia and likewise ) are relatively safe... That's because they take terrorism seriously. Really? Well, I learn something everyday! Until now, I thought it was because these societies do not have the conditions and the social conflicts that have given rise to the kind of violence India is reaping, and because their conflict resolution apparatus of governance are functional, by and large. Do you think any of these country will sit back if a city was hit with 7 bombs? So why DOES India sit back and do NOTHING ? What seems to be the problem? They do not go for minority appeasement and deal with terrorists and terrorism with a strong hand. Should I read here that 'minorities' and 'terrorists' are synonymous, or is it just this 'damned English language' problem again ? Remember the Dr Haneef case in Aus. The Aus agencies did not wait for a terrorist activity to happen in it's soil first and then react. They took preemptive actions, although in this regard it turned out to be wrong. Tsk! What a bummer!! One powerful example, except it turned out to be grossly faulty. Didn't the Australian Supreme Court order the govt. to allow Dr. Haneef to return or some such thing? That brings up the question again: Should India emulate what does not work? As for not doing anything, the results are there to see: bomb blasts one after the other. Once again I ask: WHY does India do NOTHING? What seems to be the problem? Is it because of a fear that Big Brother might not approve of ? What? Demographic change across villages and towns . These illegals then become prime candidates for jehadis. Assam becoming the worst sufferer. I didn't realize that Assam is the worst victim of 'Jehadi bombing'. What did I miss? Where did that happen in recent times? And were the 'illegals' the perpetrators? And if they were, who proved it so, and what happened to the perpetrators? I am dying to learn. Seriously! Mahatma Gandhi's principle of offering the other cheek also when slapped on the other are long gone. Thanks for educating me. I am not very well informed on these nuances of recent history. If you get hit, you have to hit back with twice the force. JS Thanks again for sharing the wise notion. Not so sincerely yours, cm On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 10:50 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 7:50 PM +0800 5/15/08, Jyotirmoy Sharma wrote: Yes...catch the culprits!! If found to be handiwork of Indians, I don't see a point of wasting space in jails. *** Words of the wise! Question is WHO will do the CATCHING and dispensing of the implied SUMMARY justice? Time to bring the Indian Army, experienced in delivering such justice, back from Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Kashmir and unleashing in Rajasthan, Mumbai, Dilli and UP perhaps ? If found to be handiwork of foreign power, warn the countries involved to hand over terrorists or groups involved within a timeframe. That would be NEW? And they would be TERRIFIED by desi-warnings? I can almost hear Pakistani knees rattling!! If not met, launch military strikes inside their terrorist camps( be it POK or Bangladesh or elsewhere ). Assuming THAT is the answer, what has been holding India back? And if India could not do it all these years, HOW will that change tomorrow? Or WHY? If world condemns, issue statements like it's a fight against terrorism and either you are with us or with the terrorists. That is an astute advice no doubt. Only question is if it has brought any results for those who used the argument? When we copy something, should we not be competent enough to be able to copy something that BRINGS results, as opposed to copying dumb ideas? After all US, Israel, Russia, China do the same. ***Hmmm! Again the question is IF they are good examples of having rid themselves of the scourge ? India have to stop adopting a soft approach to terrorist attacks. plus send all illegal immigrants back to where they came from. JS Somehow the words ring utterly hollow and devoid of ordinary reason. On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 10:06 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Any suggestions on how to solve the problem
Re: [Assam] Journalists to study garbage management
U: The other relevant point has been indicated by Chandan Da ( i.e. space constraint) and as frequents Guwahati I think he is of the opinion that it is do-able despite that. In waterlogging areas, it won't be a good idea to place a compost bin on the ground. In such instances a raised, rotating barrel would be the most ideal. This will be the most applicable solution to those whose yard is small or has only a flat-roof available. But even for waterlogging areas, in most cases the water does not remain there for days on end. Just a couple of days or so. In such instances a ground based compost bin will still work. But if the pile gets thoroughly saturated it must be turned over by hand with a pitch-fork. Otherwise it will rot and result in non-decomposition, emitting foul odors and the like. This is a task, unlikely to be performed by the average urban-Kharkhowa , 'babu' or otherwise. Rural folks or rural transplants who believe in their mission are the ones who probably will take the trouble. So, the raised barrel seems to be the most effective solution, in more ways than one. Even an IAS or a minister can load it and turn it once a couple-of-days or so, without having to wait for the security-detail or the 'servant' to do it. Here is a sophisticated one: https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher I will however caution the consumer on the claim of compost in two weeks: It is, at best, a hype, if not entirely an untruthful claim. Three months would be a more reasonable expectation in most instances. We produce about two batches of compost, 3' X 3' X 3' in a year. But we are hampered by the cold winters when the digestion process slows down drastically, almost to a standstill. I am also an experienced compost-maker, aside from being an able carpenter, who can build effective compost bins. I can write a book on it . Unlike the claims of certain fellow-NRAs in these shores, I am not ALL talk. If nothing else, I CAN at least make compost - and can prove it to boot. I hear that in New York and such big cities in the US garbage/ sewage disposal is a big business for the Mafia (Chinese?)? Is it true? *** Waste disposal and treatment is indeed a BIG Business in the USA! So is compost making. It is also a very IMPORTANT one. With good reason. And the results are all over to be seen. You will rarely find the kind of garbage strewn filthy environments in US cities that are so commonplace in most developing societies. I have never been to China, but I think Chinese cities are a whole lot cleaner than the best of Indian cities. Singapore is like the best of the developed countries. I was highly impressed by the cleanliness of the little towns and settlements inhabited by Monpas in Arunachal last November. They are so much more cleaner than our urban settlements of the plains. Mafia? Surely, there might be Mafia and/or other such nefarious dealers in any organized industry that does not attract society's best. But it still works and fairly well. The alternative would be far less desirable. We are however not here to compare India or Oxom with other societies. The point is that we ought to be able to do a whole lot better than we do. Question is how? WHO will lead the charge for positive change ? c-da At 3:20 AM +0100 5/15/08, uttam borthakur wrote: Mahanta Da Can it be done in the low lying (due to raising of road levels and the beds of natural drains) flood prone parts of Guwahati? A good percentage of the city comes under this description. The other relevant point has been indicated by Chandan Da ( i.e. space constraint) and as frequents Guwahati I think he is of the opinion that it is do-able despite that. Though I do not want to sound like a skeptic, the journalists should make sure that whatever is indicated by them as imperative in their report (that has received so much attention even before it has been hatched) is translated into action. Because, the State has more or less abdicated its responsibilities and most of the NGOs are no saints. Chandan Da's proposal ( and Mahanta Da's indications) have highlighted the 'profit orientation' of the conversion to compost and this angle may be taken into account so that its organic garb attracts private investors with a profit motive. I hear that in New York and such big cities in the US garbage/ sewage disposal is a big business for the Mafia (Chinese?)? Is it true? mc mahant [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Journalists will do immense good to mass- publicize this simple do-it-at -home promo from Chandan Mahanta as a preliminary to High-Tech/Big-money Action plan for SWM for Guahati. Nava Thakuria can request Chandan for a simple pictorial do thisthen do thatand finally get compost for double benefit annexure -which can be given many-weeks' repeat coverage in papers/TV. Only then can the point be driven fully home .They vaguely know it already.This
Re: [Assam] Journalists to study garbage management
Allow me to throw in one little suggestion: Rotting vegetable/plant and other organic waste is a major problem in South Asian cities and towns. More so during the rainy season. It can be immensely mitigated and very easily too, IF every household that lives on the ground floor or have access to a small yard or a flat roof, COMPOSTS their vegetable/plant/organic waste. The compost can be recycled to enrich the soil and the foul smelling, scavenging animal attracting street dumps would be vastly reduced. In a densely populated urban environment the composting must be done in a contained environment, as opposed to piling up in a corner of the yard, which does not allow effective digestion of the material by aerobic bacteria, becomes an eyesore and provides shelter for rats and other vermin. How to do it? Simplest way is to build three containers, contiguous to each other, with bamboo 'jewra' lined with 'dhari', each about 30 wide X 30long X 30 high. During the rainy season, they should be covered by a sheet of poly-film supported by a bamboo framework. Why three? Because once the first one gets full and the contents are partially decomposed, it can be moved into the second one with a pitch-fork. The turning of the contents will further accelerate decomposition in the second chamber. When it gets full the ripe compost can then be forked over into the third for storage and use in the garden. Two chambers will suffice if the household does not generate too much waste. Those who do not have a yard or only a small one or have a flat roof, can use a metal or plastic drum, about 2' in diameter X 3' long, with a closable window ( by cutting out a 12 X 12 section on the side, then attaching it back with hinges and lips and a latch. These can be mass produced by a water-tank manufacturer, or by an individual equipped to perform simple welding/soldering tasks. The drum can be placed on a pair of X-type supports, and rotated once a week or so to accelerate decomposition. There should be a few holes opposite the window and on the ends to allow air to enter and fluids to drain out. Good air movement is essential to prevent ROTTING. Waterlogging also will cause rotting and create bad odors. Sophisticated drum compost bins have a handle with a simple gear mechanism to facilitate easy hand cranking for rotating. BTW, the composting process is NOT the same as ROTTING. Composting is done by aerobic bacteria by digesting the organic material. Rotting is the opposite of that--prevention of bacterial digestion due to absence of air in tightly packed dumps and steeped in too much moisture or water. When the material is lying around too loosely in a corner dump, the heat generated by bacterial decomposition cannot be utilized effectively to accelerate the process. And too dry an environment in the loosely packed dump will not even start the bacterial digestion process. I can provide designs for both if someone wants to take up the project. We have been composting all our kitchen and yard waste for over thirty years. CAUTION: Do NOT place meat waste or pet excreta in your compost bins. Fish waste is fine. Cow dung is GREAT additive. At 6:48 AM + 5/14/08, Nava Thakuria wrote: Journalists to study garbage management GUWAHATI, May 11: Guwahati Press Club has decided to study the problem of garbage management in Northeast with special reference to biomedical wastes. This was stated in a press release. This is a known fact that Guwahati is the crowded city with a population of nearly 20,00,000 and produces heaps of garbages everyday. More over, the city has emerged as a health care hub for the state as well as for the seven neighbouring states serving more than three crore people. One can easily imagine the quantity of hazardous biomedical wastes that the hospitals and pathological labs produce in a single day. But unfortunately enough, the city does not have an adequate modern system to deal with the situation. Though the Ministry of Environment and Forests (GoI) issued Municipal Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules in 2000, the present state of garbage management system in Guwahati is not able to cope-up with the need of the time. The study will cover all aspects of garbage management in the city. A group of journalists will take the initiative and finally compile a comprehensive report in English on the issue. Interested journalists (must be Guwahati based), are requested to contact the secretary, Guwahati Press Club (e-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) latest by May 31. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] cbi probe
It is ALL about SEEMING to be doing something. As long as it SEEMS that way, they are all content, aren't they? At 5:58 PM +0530 5/3/08, mc mahant wrote: What did CBI find : Re Killers/killing orders -- Parag Das Re Killers/killing orders -- Secret killings in Pro Fool MOHONTO regime Re Open Killings in Towrooon's ever-grinning days? Copying USA : FBI to CBI RAW to RAW --is all right. India excels in that-- but only in that. Of course the Bofors scam , Saddam's OIL-For Food $5000 Million scam were pumped direct to Congress- and lost in records forever? How'bout Mahajan's 6000 Crores? mm Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 11:59:13 + From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: assam@assamnet.org Subject: [Assam] cbi probe Assam to have CBI probe against rhino poaching Guwahati, Sat, 3 May 2008 NI WireFinally with intense public pressure and demands from various quarters including appeal from several NGOs and the All Assam Students Union (AASU), the state administration has finally asked the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to probe into the rhino poaching.The influential organisations like All Assam Students Union, Nature's Beckon, Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters, Journalists Forum, Assam with many others had been raising voices for a CBI probe into the slaughtering of endangered rhinos in various national parks of Assam for quite a long time. E-mail Article Printer Friendly Text-Size In the wake of continuous poaching of rhinos in Assam's Kaziranga National Park and the Rajiv Gandhi wildlife sanctuary in Orang, the government has decided to carry out a CBI probe on the illegal killings of at least 27 rhinos since January 2007. Reportedly the government had earlier transferred the Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer and formed a committee to find out the reasons behind the spurt in rhino poaching in three of the rhino habitat regions: Kaziranga, Orang and Pabitora game sanctuary. The committee is due to submit a report for effective measures to combat poaching. The continued poaching of most endangered one-horned rhino has been a major public concern drawing a nexus between illegal poachers and Forest Department authorities in those sanctuaries. Blaming the administration for not doing enough to combat illegal rhino killings, AASU, the state's largest student organisation, has launched a campaign to create awareness against rhino poaching. Earlier on April 28, two rhinos including a calf were killed by organised poacher gangs; unremitting poaching has so far jeopardised conservation effort of this endangered wildlife. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Timely update on all current affairs, sports, events and all thats in News here on MSN videos. http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-in ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] cbi probe
The can't win, can they? :) Oh the poor CBI, the poor GOI , they never can win, can they? My heart does go out to them. The only problem is that IF they did NOT hold the ULTIMATE powers, they could not be fingered, could they? If I were to be hurt by the unkind observations of India-haters and other scum-of-the-earth :-), I would put them in their place by ANSWERING the uncomfortable questions about what CBI found, prosecuted and brought to justice: *** Parag Das' killers/ and those who ordered it. *** Assam Secret Killing order executors and order givers. *** All the myriad of scams across the length and breadth of India. *** Bofors *** OIL for Food *** The Fertilizer scam Need I go on? At 9:13 AM -0500 5/3/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: and IF the CBI ignored it, all this would have been Dilli's fault. The can't win, can they? :) Seriously, I am glad that the the CBI is looking into this. This spate of rhino killings must be some organized effort which includes powerful people, maybe even Bangladeshis, 'illegal aliens', insurgents, and who knows who else. Something like this will probably not go anywhere, but at the very least might stem the poaching. Do they have accurate records of how many rhinos are still left? I recently heard someone say that there are fewer than a 1000 in the wild in Assam. --Ram On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:30 AM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It is ALL about SEEMING to be doing something. As long as it SEEMS that way, they are all content, aren't they? At 5:58 PM +0530 5/3/08, mc mahant wrote: What did CBI find : Re Killers/killing orders -- Parag Das Re Killers/killing orders -- Secret killings in Pro Fool MOHONTO regime Re Open Killings in Towrooon's ever-grinning days? Copying USA : FBI to CBI RAW to RAW --is all right. India excels in that-- but only in that. Of course the Bofors scam , Saddam's OIL-For Food $5000 Million scam were pumped direct to Congress- and lost in records forever? How'bout Mahajan's 6000 Crores? mm Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 11:59:13 + From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: assam@assamnet.org Subject: [Assam] cbi probe Assam to have CBI probe against rhino poaching Guwahati, Sat, 3 May 2008 NI WireFinally with intense public pressure and demands from various quarters including appeal from several NGOs and the All Assam Students Union (AASU), the state administration has finally asked the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to probe into the rhino poaching.The influential organisations like All Assam Students Union, Nature's Beckon, Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters, Journalists Forum, Assam with many others had been raising voices for a CBI probe into the slaughtering of endangered rhinos in various national parks of Assam for quite a long time. E-mail Article Printer Friendly Text-Size In the wake of continuous poaching of rhinos in Assam's Kaziranga National Park and the Rajiv Gandhi wildlife sanctuary in Orang, the government has decided to carry out a CBI probe on the illegal killings of at least 27 rhinos since January 2007. Reportedly the government had earlier transferred the Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer and formed a committee to find out the reasons behind the spurt in rhino poaching in three of the rhino habitat regions: Kaziranga, Orang and Pabitora game sanctuary. The committee is due to submit a report for effective measures to combat poaching. The continued poaching of most endangered one-horned rhino has been a major public concern drawing a nexus between illegal poachers and Forest Department authorities in those sanctuaries. Blaming the administration for not doing enough to combat illegal rhino killings, AASU, the state's largest student organisation, has launched a campaign to create awareness against rhino poaching. Earlier on April 28, two rhinos including a calf were killed by organised poacher gangs; unremitting poaching has so far jeopardised conservation effort of this endangered wildlife. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Timely update on all current affairs, sports, events and all thats in News here on MSN videos. http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-in ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman
Re: [Assam] Want to know detailed Assam's richness in medicinal plant?
Thanks for posting this Bikash. I don't know how to get in touch with Ananda Dutta. When a GU Prof. relative told me about the release of his book Oxomor Gos-gosoni Part 1 I a few years back, I requested her to get me a copy. I hope a second or even a third part are out by now. cm At 7:48 AM +0100 4/30/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS wrote: Friends, Finally I got one man to give you the right information on precious assamese meedicinal plants/ local plants in detailed information.He is- Dr.Kartik Baruah Associate Prof. Assam Agri University Jorhat, Dept of Horticulture and aromatic research. Mob 09954134885. He is a far relative to me= as now only got this information.Hope this wil give more valued information to all. As I too live away for 27 yrs... gradually I am out of lot many informations. I would love that people must interact with their knowledges and share here. I am yet to get Ananda Ch.Dutas contact. Regards. Dr.Bikash Kumar Das Bangalore( India) 0091-9480618880 - Explore your hobbies and interests. Click here to begin. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Bhedelilot --- Hindi name ! ! !
Yes indeed Alpana. Ajanta and Rajen had been kind enough to share some of their 'bogori' crop goodies with us. Tasted just like the old days back at Namti. And that is not all. They have a coconut tree and an Oxomiya nemu tree as well ( guess where they got that from :-)?) BTW, if YOU want to tend to them, I have spare kaji-nemu plants and a gwl-nemu plant as well. But you will have to pick them up from here in a mini-van. If anyone wants I will be pleased to make more gwl-nemu cuttings by the 'daal-dhoraa' process of propagation ( air-layering), which will ensure fruiting in a couple of years. And if anyone is brave enough, I am even willing to part with one of my two MOTHER 'gwl-nemu' trees , about 12' feet tall and 6' in diameter, whose progeny several Oxomiyas across the USA now possess. It will require either a green-house or a temperate climate as in Houston or other southern states in the USA. Ca, Fla, Az etc. need not apply--illegal to export citrus plants to such states. I am hoping to try your modhuri-aam in our next trip to Houston :-). At 9:47 PM -0500 4/27/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: Hi C'da: Good to know so much about Bhedai-lotanot sure how much I will remember :). BTW, do you know that the Baruas (Rajen Ajanta) have a big 'Bogori-gos' in their backyard - it was big enough to feed all Houstonians 'bogori-aasaar' last year. We got a 'bogori-puli' from them, it has not grown very well yet, and hopefully it will. We have a 'modhuri-aam gos' (well, not a 'gos' yet) also. Had to brag about Houston again. :) In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:33:01 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Assam] Bhedelilot --- Hindi name ! ! ! At 11:11 AM +0530 4/26/08, Uddipana Goswami wrote: i wouldn't trust mr chaliha's dictionary with botanical names - it has proved to be incorrect on many instances - the botanical name for 'kohua' for example.*** It is entirely possible that a non-scientific dictionary may contain errors on scientific terminology. So I always cross check with other sources, if it is anything unusual or not a commonly known name. But I have always found Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx to be extremely helpful in finding English or botanical/biological names for flora and fauna of Assam. In this instance--of 'bhedai-lotaa', I could not find anything in any of the other reference sources that I have, including the fairly comprehensive Oxomor Gos-gosoni, Part 1 by Ananda Dutta, that would have led me to its botanical name, much less to names in other languages, had it not been for Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx. I looked up konhua in Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx . It says the botanical name is: Saccharum spontaneum, which when I looked up in Google showed : http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/Images/saccharum.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/po_gall.htmh=108w=68sz=6tbnid=-9Dm_8PULS0J:tbnh=108tbnw=68prev=/images%3Fq%3DSaccharum%2Bspontaneum%2Bphotoshl=ensa=Xoi=image_resultresnum=1ct=imagecd=2 Which is exactly what 'konhua' is, as could be seen in my photo attached here. What I did I miss? cmOn Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:04 PM, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear DR. Deepak Shah, Welcome to this site. More welcome is your introduction in detail. WE all are assamese/North East Indian from this heavenly GLOBE. The plant is BHEDEI LATA grown anywhere in the NE.Yes its a medicinal plant.There are thousands of medicinal plant. Will give you details soon as soon as you intorduce to know more about you please. Sincere regards. Bikash Kumar DasDr. Deepak Shah [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Friends, I had got your email address from AsamNet.com and I understand that you reside in Assam. Well, I actually am writing this email because I need some help from you. I wish to know a Hindi name of the plant known as Bhedelilot in local NE lingo. This plant is widely available in NE region and is also known to have medicinal importance. I am doing my research on medicinal plants and is listing it and will publish it consolidated over WWW with its application and use which can help people worldwide. In hope of your help, awaiting your response. Regards, Deepak Shah - Download prohibited? No problem. CHAT from any browser, without download. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org -- Uddipana Goswami www.jajabori-mon.blogspot.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___
[Assam] Konhua-ful---Saccharum spontaneum
Saccharum spontaneum is a misnomer-- *** There may be an element of truth to that too. Often one can find that there is more than one botanical/biological name ( or even English/Hindi/other vernacular language names) to a plant/ biological specimen; particularly if it is a rare or unusual or not so widely occurring one. Botanical names of most plants in the Indian sub-continent were assigned by various European botanists. Many early names were revised by other botanists later, or disputed or assigned synonymous names. Therefore we have to remain open to the idea that any particular name we come across as THE botanical name may NOT be the final word on it. Echites frutescens is a good example. Botanical and even English names of a number of orchids from our region similarly are disputed, doubted, re-named and so forth; besides having more than one such name. Even Oxomiya names vary from region to region within Assam. A good example, again is 'bhedai lotaa', 'bhedeli-lotaa' and so forth. Finally I am curious about what was suggested as the correct botanical name of 'konhua' (BTW it is not 'kohua'---which in Assamese means 'one who suffers from chronic coughing'). We can look that up and see if that too is a 'correct' name. Had I not looked 'konhua' up, I would have thought it is Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), see: http://www.thegardenhelper.com/pixpg/pampaspix.html At 12:25 PM +0530 4/28/08, Uddipana Goswami wrote: that is indeed kohua. in which case, my botanist-poet friend who said Saccharum spontaneum is a misnomer needs to be informed. thanks for pointing this out to me. i had used it as a footnote in a poem i had translated from axamiya. my apologies also to mr. chaliha. On Sun, Apr 27, 2008 at 11:03 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 11:11 AM +0530 4/26/08, Uddipana Goswami wrote: i wouldn't trust mr chaliha's dictionary with botanical names - it has proved to be incorrect on many instances - the botanical name for 'kohua' for example. *** It is entirely possible that a non-scientific dictionary may contain errors on scientific terminology. So I always cross check with other sources, if it is anything unusual or not a commonly known name. But I have always found Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx to be extremely helpful in finding English or botanical/biological names for flora and fauna of Assam. In this instance--of 'bhedai-lotaa', I could not find anything in any of the other reference sources that I have, including the fairly comprehensive Oxomor Gos-gosoni, Part 1 by Ananda Dutta, that would have led me to its botanical name, much less to names in other languages, had it not been for Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx. I looked up konhua in Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx . It says the botanical name is: Saccharum spontaneum, which when I looked up in Google showed : http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/Images/saccharum.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/po_gall.htmh=108w=68sz=6tbnid=-9Dm_8PULS0J:tbnh=108tbnw=68prev=/images%3Fq%3DSaccharum%2Bspontaneum%2Bphotoshl=ensa=Xoi=image_resultresnum=1ct=imagecd=2 Which is exactly what 'konhua' is, as could be seen in my photo attached here. What I did I miss? cm On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:04 PM, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear DR. Deepak Shah, Welcome to this site. More welcome is your introduction in detail. WE all are assamese/North East Indian from this heavenly GLOBE. The plant is BHEDEI LATA grown anywhere in the NE.Yes its a medicinal plant.There are thousands of medicinal plant. Will give you details soon as soon as you intorduce to know more about you please. Sincere regards. Bikash Kumar Das Dr. Deepak Shah [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Friends, I had got your email address from AsamNet.com and I understand that you reside in Assam. Well, I actually am writing this email because I need some help from you. I wish to know a Hindi name of the plant known as Bhedelilot in local NE lingo. This plant is widely available in NE region and is also known to have medicinal importance. I am doing my research on medicinal plants and is listing it and will publish it consolidated over WWW with its application and use which can help people worldwide. In hope of your help, awaiting your response. Regards, Deepak Shah - Download prohibited? No problem. CHAT from any browser, without download. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org -- Uddipana Goswami www.jajabori-mon.blogspot.com ___ assam mailing list
Re: [Assam] The other side of USPS
I am aware of this Amerikaan Mannerism but in my experience I always heard something like - I would have done this instead of I will ... . Learning never ends. *** I wrote on 4/25/08: I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. And in reply to the private note the same day I wrote : Would you suggest sending a complaint to PMG ? *** I will start with the Post Master of the particular post office, or of the metro area. They usually respond. I would have taken the name of the clerk who hung up on you. *** I could have written I would have had the action been something that is already past, not being contemplated, as was the case in this instance. *** Yes of course, Fedex could be expected to be a better service provider than the USPS, and that's why they also cost a whole lot more. I saw a big poster in our neighborhood, by no means a high-rent district, that showed the various services USPS provides , including the FedEx collaborated Guaranteed three( ?) business days service, which cost the same ( $ 75.00 ??) as FedEx. Under the circumstances, why would one want to go the USPS route, if the cost is same as FedEx's? I used the USPS International Express service that guarantees seven business days delivery, which cost $ 27.00-- a big saving from the $ 75.00 Fedex collaborated three bus. days guaranteed svc. . stick to UPS for time sensitive international mail. *** Did you mean Fedex? or UPS ( as opposed to USPS) ? At 8:14 AM -0700 4/28/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: My bad. I forgot that you are an Amerikaan and not an Assamese :) Or may be , I thought you have taken up the arduous task of fixing flaws of USPS :-) I am aware of this Amerikaan Mannerism but in my experience I always heard something like - I would have done this instead of I will ... . Learning never ends. Going to the top indeed help as have been my experience with MTNL, Mumbai (new phone activated in less then 30 minutes once I met the DGM). The good news is, Fedex turned to be much better then USPS in customer Service. They have rectified the duplicate billing issue. Yet to work out the Service Guarantee refund but I am hopeful that Fedex will work it out. I have found a simpler solution than writing to Post Master or Congressman . stick to UPS for time sensitive international mail. *** When I wrote I will write to my Congressman or --- to my Post Master --- , it is a polite way of saying you should be doing that. It is an American mannerism, 'kothaar maat'. I wish I could help. But I am too bust with too many different things. I am sure you are quite able to pursue it on your on. Good luck. If the Post Master gives you the run-around, which I don't expect him to, a call to the elected rep. does wonders. A few years back, we could not get cable in our house. After two years of getting the run around from the cable company ( because the house sets back more than the 200 feet or so that they are required to string cables to) I called our County Councilman's office. The clerk made one call and we got cable within the next two weeks. Did not even have to pay the extra fees for 200 yards of cable laying that I anticipated paying. I told the story to my fellow Board Members of our large neighborhood association about a a year or so back. Our leader remembered it. He too had been having the same problem. So he inquired again how exactly I got results. Told him again. He called the same Councilman's office, and voila--a month later he had cable. At 12:35 PM -0700 4/25/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: Thanks C'da. I have sent all details (dates, locations etc) to you separately. Please keep us posted on the progress/response. USPS domestic service is great but for International Service I found UPS to be more reliable. An occassional miss (by USPS, Fedex, UPS , any body) is perfectly understandable but the attitude of passing the buck is definitely not acceptable ... particularly when you are paying such a high service charge. Did you use the same service (GXG) or the regular Postal Service? How was the delivery ? Did they stick to commitment? I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] The other side of USPS
English you learnt is absolutely correct. There is no need to start a new learning process on this one. *** Isn't that the truth! Who needs to learn how the natives speak, since we already knew what is 'correct'? :-) At 8:53 AM -0700 4/28/08, DilipDil Deka wrote: I am aware of this Amerikaan Mannerism but in my experience I always heard something like - I would have done this instead of I will ... . Learning never ends. -- English you learnt is absolutely correct. There is no need to start a new learning process on this one. Krishnendu Chakraborty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: My bad. I forgot that you are an Amerikaan and not an Assamese :) Or may be , I thought you have taken up the arduous task of fixing flaws of USPS :-) I am aware of this Amerikaan Mannerism but in my experience I always heard something like - I would have done this instead of I will ... . Learning never ends. Going to the top indeed help as have been my experience with MTNL, Mumbai (new phone activated in less then 30 minutes once I met the DGM). The good news is, Fedex turned to be much better then USPS in customer Service. They have rectified the duplicate billing issue. Yet to work out the Service Guarantee refund but I am hopeful that Fedex will work it out. I have found a simpler solution than writing to Post Master or Congressman . stick to UPS for time sensitive international mail. *** When I wrote I will write to my Congressman or --- to my Post Master --- , it is a polite way of saying you should be doing that. It is an American mannerism, 'kothaar maat'. I wish I could help. But I am too bust with too many different things. I am sure you are quite able to pursue it on your on. Good luck. If the Post Master gives you the run-around, which I don't expect him to, a call to the elected rep. does wonders. A few years back, we could not get cable in our house. After two years of getting the run around from the cable company ( because the house sets back more than the 200 feet or so that they are required to string cables to) I called our County Councilman's office. The clerk made one call and we got cable within the next two weeks. Did not even have to pay the extra fees for 200 yards of cable laying that I anticipated paying. I told the story to my fellow Board Members of our large neighborhood association about a a year or so back. Our leader remembered it. He too had been having the same problem. So he inquired again how exactly I got results. Told him again. He called the same Councilman's office, and voila--a month later he had cable. At 12:35 PM -0700 4/25/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: Thanks C'da. I have sent all details (dates, locations etc) to you separately. Please keep us posted on the progress/response. USPS domestic service is great but for International Service I found UPS to be more reliable. An occassional miss (by USPS, Fedex, UPS , any body) is perfectly understandable but the attitude of passing the buck is definitely not acceptable ... particularly when you are paying such a high service charge. Did you use the same service (GXG) or the regular Postal Service? How was the delivery ? Did they stick to commitment? I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] The other side of USPS
Look up: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060902205639AAgKCHr Scroll down to OTHER Answers. At 10:44 AM -0700 4/28/08, DilipDil Deka wrote: To continue the nit-picking on grammar, the proper usage should have been: *** I would start with the Post Master of the particular post office, or of the metro area. in stead of : *** I will start with the Post Master of the particular post office, or of the metro area Remember heten in Oxomiya? At 8:14 AM -0700 4/28/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: My bad. I forgot that you are an Amerikaan and not an Assamese :) Or may be , I thought you have taken up the arduous task of fixing flaws of USPS :-) I am aware of this Amerikaan Mannerism but in my experience I always heard something like - I would have done this instead of I will ... . Learning never ends. Going to the top indeed help as have been my experience with MTNL, Mumbai (new phone activated in less then 30 minutes once I met the DGM). The good news is, Fedex turned to be much better then USPS in customer Service. They have rectified the duplicate billing issue. Yet to work out the Service Guarantee refund but I am hopeful that Fedex will work it out. I have found a simpler solution than writing to Post Master or Congressman . stick to UPS for time sensitive international mail. *** When I wrote I will write to my Congressman or --- to my Post Master --- , it is a polite way of saying you should be doing that. It is an American mannerism, 'kothaar maat'. I wish I could help. But I am too bust with too many different things. I am sure you are quite able to pursue it on your on. Good luck. If the Post Master gives you the run-around, which I don't expect him to, a call to the elected rep. does wonders. A few years back, we could not get cable in our house. After two years of getting the run around from the cable company ( because the house sets back more than the 200 feet or so that they are required to string cables to) I called our County Councilman's office. The clerk made one call and we got cable within the next two weeks. Did not even have to pay the extra fees for 200 yards of cable laying that I anticipated paying. I told the story to my fellow Board Members of our large neighborhood association about a a year or so back. Our leader remembered it. He too had been having the same problem. So he inquired again how exactly I got results. Told him again. He called the same Councilman's office, and voila--a month later he had cable. At 12:35 PM -0700 4/25/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: Thanks C'da. I have sent all details (dates, locations etc) to you separately. Please keep us posted on the progress/response. USPS domestic service is great but for International Service I found UPS to be more reliable. An occassional miss (by USPS, Fedex, UPS , any body) is perfectly understandable but the attitude of passing the buck is definitely not acceptable ... particularly when you are paying such a high service charge. Did you use the same service (GXG) or the regular Postal Service? How was the delivery ? Did they stick to commitment? I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] The other side of USPS
I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. *** That was what I wrote. But I also wrote, in response to the question: Would you suggest sending a complaint to PMG ? I will start with the Post Master of the particular post office, or of the metro area. They usually respond. I would have taken the name of the clerk who hung up on you. *** Here the tone is an affirmative, definite one with the 'will' , on my answer to the direct question. But the second guessing expressed in the next sentence with the 'would' is not that definitive, as it ought to have been. *** But the above two issues were NOT where the misunderstanding began. It was on missing the polite American way of presenting one's choice of action ---( if it were for me --which is understood) I would do it like thisas opposed to as an unsolicited advice or as a directive as in You should do it like that--. *** K acknowledged the missed nuance. But attempted to pin the lapse on the 'will' from a different note. DD preferred to miss both . There lies the the difference, or the 'nit-picking' :-). At 2:47 PM -0500 4/28/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: I won't take any sides (seriously), but will speak nothing but the truth about the email that I read on this Net. Also, am not trying to be more Amerikan or more Assamese than what I really am, or am not trying to be Judge or a Court-Reporter or a defense lawyer or anything. :) But you did say I would and not I will, which is equivalent to our: Moi huwa-hole kintu gutei ghotona-tur eti-britti khini xaamori loi aamaar xomostir MLA/MP loi pothialu-heten. Aaru du-xoptah maan pisot kothatu kimaan aag-barhise, xeitu khobor lolu hoi. And with us being so busy with work and everything, it can easily be an overlook and a misunderstanding. Here is the quote : -- I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. cm-- In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass. Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:05:35 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Assam] The other side of USPS Look up: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060902205639AAgKCHr Scroll down to OTHER Answers. At 10:44 AM -0700 4/28/08, DilipDil Deka wrote:To continue the nit-picking on grammar, the proper usage should have been: *** I would start with the Post Master of the particular post office, or of the metro area. in stead of : *** I will start with the Post Master of the particular post office, or of the metro area Remember heten in Oxomiya?At 8:14 AM -0700 4/28/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: My bad. I forgot that you are an Amerikaan and not an Assamese :) Or may be , I thought you have taken up the arduous task of fixing flaws of USPS :-) I am aware of this Amerikaan Mannerism but in my experience I always heard something like - I would have done this instead of I will ... . Learning never ends. Going to the top indeed help as have been my experience with MTNL, Mumbai (new phone activated in less then 30 minutes once I met the DGM). The good news is, Fedex turned to be much better then USPS in customer Service. They have rectified the duplicate billing issue. Yet to work out the Service Guarantee refund but I am hopeful that Fedex will work it out. I have found a simpler solution than writing to Post Master or Congressman . stick to UPS for time sensitive international mail. *** When I wrote I will write to my Congressman or --- to my Post Master --- , it is a polite way of saying you should be doing that. It is an American mannerism, 'kothaar maat'. I wish I could help. But I am too bust with too many different things. I am sure you are quite able to pursue it on your on. Good luck. If the Post Master gives you the run-around, which I don't expect him to, a call to the elected rep. does wonders. A few years back, we could not get cable in our house. After two years of getting the run around from the cable company ( because the house sets back more than the 200 feet or so that they are required to string cables to) I called our County Councilman's office. The clerk made one call and we got cable within the next two weeks. Did not even have to pay the extra fees for 200 yards of cable laying that I anticipated paying. I told the story to my fellow Board Members of our large neighborhood association about a a year or so back. Our leader remembered it. He too had been having the same problem. So he inquired again how exactly I got results. Told him again. He called the same Councilman's office, and voila--a month later he had cable. At 12:35 PM
Re: [Assam] Bhedelilot --- Hindi name ! ! !
At 11:11 AM +0530 4/26/08, Uddipana Goswami wrote: i wouldn't trust mr chaliha's dictionary with botanical names - it has proved to be incorrect on many instances - the botanical name for 'kohua' for example. *** It is entirely possible that a non-scientific dictionary may contain errors on scientific terminology. So I always cross check with other sources, if it is anything unusual or not a commonly known name. But I have always found Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx to be extremely helpful in finding English or botanical/biological names for flora and fauna of Assam. In this instance--of 'bhedai-lotaa', I could not find anything in any of the other reference sources that I have, including the fairly comprehensive Oxomor Gos-gosoni, Part 1 by Ananda Dutta, that would have led me to its botanical name, much less to names in other languages, had it not been for Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx. I looked up konhua in Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx . It says the botanical name is: Saccharum spontaneum, which when I looked up in Google showed : http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/Images/saccharum.jpgimgrefurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/po_gall.htmh=108w=68sz=6tbnid=-9Dm_8PULS0J:tbnh=108tbnw=68prev=/images%3Fq%3DSaccharum%2Bspontaneum%2Bphotoshl=ensa=Xoi=image_resultresnum=1ct=imagecd=2 Which is exactly what 'konhua' is, as could be seen in my photo attached here. What I did I miss? cm On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:04 PM, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear DR. Deepak Shah, Welcome to this site. More welcome is your introduction in detail. WE all are assamese/North East Indian from this heavenly GLOBE. The plant is BHEDEI LATA grown anywhere in the NE.Yes its a medicinal plant.There are thousands of medicinal plant. Will give you details soon as soon as you intorduce to know more about you please. Sincere regards. Bikash Kumar Das Dr. Deepak Shah [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Friends, I had got your email address from AsamNet.com and I understand that you reside in Assam. Well, I actually am writing this email because I need some help from you. I wish to know a Hindi name of the plant known as Bhedelilot in local NE lingo. This plant is widely available in NE region and is also known to have medicinal importance. I am doing my research on medicinal plants and is listing it and will publish it consolidated over WWW with its application and use which can help people worldwide. In hope of your help, awaiting your response. Regards, Deepak Shah - Download prohibited? No problem. CHAT from any browser, without download. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org -- Uddipana Goswami www.jajabori-mon.blogspot.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] More on Bhedai-lotaa
There is another botanical name for the plant: Ichnocarpus frutescens. Echites frutescens and Apocymene frutescens also have been cited as synonymous. This link (Indian MedicinalPlants Growers'Consortium ) will tell you all about it: http://www.impgc.com/plantinfo_A.php?id=661bc= Kalisar, Dudhilata etc. might be Hindi names. I verified the Ichnocarpus frutescens name from a detailed account from Flora of Assam, Vol. 3, by Kanjilal and Bor. Unfortunately this otherwise comprehensive set of books are without a single drawing or photograph, leaving it quite difficult to use. You can relate the written accounts in the web-link to the photos I sent. The reddish brown coloration in the photos do not show well due to decreased light availability in the greenhouse, but they become quite evident when I set the vine out in the open after May. English name is: Black Creeper. Also Sarsaparilla has been cited. But Sarsaparilla is a different plant, even though it might be related in some way. If you look up Sarsaparilla photos in the web, you will see it is quite different from 'bhedai-lotaa'. Assamese name in Kanjilal and Bor's books is lacking. In Manipuri it is: Lamkandol and Paharukibandan in Mech--(but the book does not tell us what the abbreviation 'Mech.' means). cm PS: The photos I posted to assamnet did not go thru due to byte size limitations. * Dr. Shah, Here are a few pictures for your use. The name'P.Hydens' could not be of the plant. It might be a reference to a botanist or some other reference. I have yet to cross check the botanical name I sent you earlier with other sources to make sure it is accurate. Once we do that we can find out its other names , English, Hindi etc. I will keep you posted. cm At 7:18 AM -0700 4/25/08, Dr. Deepak Shah wrote: Dear Sir, Thanks again for your prompt reply and extending your help in my research. The dissertation of the plant quite matches to my study also, but the English name was mention as P. Hydens and I am little confused with this names. Please do pass me what ever info gathered about this plant. If possible some photo (since you mentioned that you have this plant in your greenhouse). Sorry for trouble or inconveniency caused. Regards, Deepak Shah. --- On Fri, 4/25/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Bhedelilot --- Hindi name ! ! ! To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, April 25, 2008, 6:24 AM Greetings again Dr. Shah. The 'bhedai-lotaa' vine is Echites frutescens ( Ref: Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx, an Anglo-Assamese Dictionary, by Sumanta Chaliha). I will try to get you some more material on it as as soon as I get to do a bit more research on it. Hope this will give you a start. Best. cm At 6:01 AM -0700 4/25/08, Dr. Deepak Shah wrote: Dear Mr. Mahanta, Thanks you for your prompt response over my email. Well, about me, I reside in Mumbai, India, just completed my MBBS, had started having interest in medicinal plant and want to start a website with info of most (if not all) of the medicinal plant where people can have free access and even upgrade info like Wiki. I have this interest with purpose. This purpose is to mix Allopathic and Ayurveda and help people better treatment and faster recovery. Let me know if you wish to know even more about me. In hope of you help. Regards, Deepak Shah --- On Fri, 4/25/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Bhedelilot --- Hindi name ! ! ! To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, April 25, 2008, 5:36 AM Hello: The Assamese name of the plant, a vine, is : Bhedai-lotaa ( the term 'lotaa' in Assamese means a creeper or a vine). I have one growing in our green-house here in St. Louis, USA. Please tell me a little about yourself, and I will be pleased to share what I know about the plant. Chandan Mahanta St. Louis At 10:17 PM -0700 4/24/08, Dr. Deepak Shah wrote: Dear Friends, I had got your email address from AsamNet.com and I understand that you reside in Assam. Well, I actually am writing this email because I need some help from you. I wish to know a Hindi name of the plant known as Bhedelilot in local NE lingo. This plant is widely available in NE region and is also known to have medicinal importance. I am doing my research on medicinal plants and is listing it and will publish it consolidated over WWW with its application and use which can help people worldwide. In hope of your help, awaiting your response. Regards, Deepak Shah Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Try it now. Be a better friend
Re: [Assam] Bhedelilot --- Hindi name ! ! !
Greetings again Dr. Shah. The 'bhedai-lotaa' vine is Echites frutescens ( Ref: Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx, an Anglo-Assamese Dictionary, by Sumanta Chaliha). I will try to get you some more material on it as as soon as I get to do a bit more research on it. Hope this will give you a start. Best. cm At 6:01 AM -0700 4/25/08, Dr. Deepak Shah wrote: Dear Mr. Mahanta, Thanks you for your prompt response over my email. Well, about me, I reside in Mumbai, India, just completed my MBBS, had started having interest in medicinal plant and want to start a website with info of most (if not all) of the medicinal plant where people can have free access and even upgrade info like Wiki. I have this interest with purpose. This purpose is to mix Allopathic and Ayurveda and help people better treatment and faster recovery. Let me know if you wish to know even more about me. In hope of you help. Regards, Deepak Shah --- On Fri, 4/25/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Bhedelilot --- Hindi name ! ! ! To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, April 25, 2008, 5:36 AM Hello: The Assamese name of the plant, a vine, is : Bhedai-lotaa ( the term 'lotaa' in Assamese means a creeper or a vine). I have one growing in our green-house here in St. Louis, USA. Please tell me a little about yourself, and I will be pleased to share what I know about the plant. Chandan Mahanta St. Louis At 10:17 PM -0700 4/24/08, Dr. Deepak Shah wrote: Dear Friends, I had got your email address from AsamNet.com and I understand that you reside in Assam. Well, I actually am writing this email because I need some help from you. I wish to know a Hindi name of the plant known as Bhedelilot in local NE lingo. This plant is widely available in NE region and is also known to have medicinal importance. I am doing my research on medicinal plants and is listing it and will publish it consolidated over WWW with its application and use which can help people worldwide. In hope of your help, awaiting your response. Regards, Deepak Shah Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Try it now. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Try it now. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] The other side of USPS
I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. cm At 8:47 AM -0700 4/25/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: Inspired by the positive experience of C'da, I decided to try USPS for a time sensitive document which I was sending to Guwahati. USPS has a new service named GXG (Global Express Guaranteed) which is a tie up with Fedex for guaranteed delivery. Accessed USPS website, paid online and then took the package to nearest USPS. The clerk did not seem to have heard of GXG and I had to explain him. The package was delivered one day later then commited date and when I called up USPS for claim, they transferred me (apparently to Fedex) and the refund for service failure was approved. After two weeks, I received an invoice from Fedex stating that USPS did not pay them and so it is my responsibility ! The invoice showed significantly higher weight (then what was assessed by USPS) and thereby huge additional charges. The invoice also mentioned that the delivery delay was weather related and so no refund . This was nonsense. The package was sitting in Delhi for 3 days before it was sent to Guwahati (as available from Fedex online tracker) and there was not a drop of rain in Delhi or Guwahati during those 3 days. Apparently Fedex is trying to take advantage of a thunderstorm in their hub Memphis after the package left Memphis. So now, they are not only refusing to honor the guarantee but also double billing me ... once through USPS and again through Fedex that too a much higher charge (more then double) then what was commited So where is USPS to be blamed ??? Called up USPS regarding the issue and they flatly denied any help. According to them I should resolve it with Fedex. When I tried to explain that I have never contracted with Fedex, I am a customer of USPS and they should own the responsibility, they hung up. Called up Fedex (number on Invoice) and they gave another number to call. The second number ends in a voice mail ! As of now, I have sent emails to Fedex and USPS and waiting for reply . Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] The other side of USPS
*** When I wrote I will write to my Congressman or --- to my Post Master --- , it is a polite way of saying you should be doing that. It is an American mannerism, 'kothaar maat'. I wish I could help. But I am too bust with too many different things. I am sure you are quite able to pursue it on your on. Good luck. If the Post Master gives you the run-around, which I don't expect him to, a call to the elected rep. does wonders. A few years back, we could not get cable in our house. After two years of getting the run around from the cable company ( because the house sets back more than the 200 feet or so that they are required to string cables to) I called our County Councilman's office. The clerk made one call and we got cable within the next two weeks. Did not even have to pay the extra fees for 200 yards of cable laying that I anticipated paying. I told the story to my fellow Board Members of our large neighborhood association about a a year or so back. Our leader remembered it. He too had been having the same problem. So he inquired again how exactly I got results. Told him again. He called the same Councilman's office, and voila--a month later he had cable. At 12:35 PM -0700 4/25/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: Thanks C'da. I have sent all details (dates, locations etc) to you separately. Please keep us posted on the progress/response. USPS domestic service is great but for International Service I found UPS to be more reliable. An occassional miss (by USPS, Fedex, UPS , any body) is perfectly understandable but the attitude of passing the buck is definitely not acceptable ... particularly when you are paying such a high service charge. Did you use the same service (GXG) or the regular Postal Service? How was the delivery ? Did they stick to commitment? I would compile the facts, and send it to my Congressman. And follow up with him/her in two weeks or so. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Birds photographs
Where are the pictures? Looks like some of the assamnet messages are not reaching me for some reason. Any idea why, anybody? At 10:00 PM -0500 4/20/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: Thanks for sending us the photographs. I heard of 'Kuruwa' birds but had no idea that there are such beautiful birds in Assam. Good to know they are being protected. Hunting of any kind should be banned. In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:52:03 + Subject: [Assam] Birds photographs I have attached two photographs of birds taken in Assam this winter.One is Indian Roller or Blue Jay (Neelokontho) and other is fishing eagle (kurua). Also attached is photograph of unsung protector of these once common now rare wildlife of assam-a forest guard from Kaziranga.RegardsChittaranjan _ Get your free suite of Windows Live services today! http://www.get.live.com/wl/all _ Pack up or back up-use SkyDrive to transfer files or keep extra copies. Learn how. http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_skydrive_packup_042008 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Birds photographs
Did find them by going to the web. Nice pics Chitta. Too bad you did not get a better shot of the Bluejay that took off. We have Bluejays here in St. Louis too, it is our state bird. But somehow the Assam ones seem to have a brighter coloration. The Fish-eagle looks very much like the American bald-eagle, the US National bird. I doubt however that it is the 'kurua', which does not have a mantle of white feathers as this bird does. This bird is the Ring-tailed fishing eagle ( Haliaeetus leucoryphus). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Eagle_In_Flight_2004-09-01.jpeg What we commonly call the kurua is brown all over. Where did you shoot the Fish-eagle Chitta? I never saw it myself. It is apparently a highly endangered bird. At 10:00 PM -0500 4/20/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: Thanks for sending us the photographs. I heard of 'Kuruwa' birds but had no idea that there are such beautiful birds in Assam. Good to know they are being protected. Hunting of any kind should be banned. In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:52:03 + Subject: [Assam] Birds photographs I have attached two photographs of birds taken in Assam this winter.One is Indian Roller or Blue Jay (Neelokontho) and other is fishing eagle (kurua). Also attached is photograph of unsung protector of these once common now rare wildlife of assam-a forest guard from Kaziranga.RegardsChittaranjan _ Get your free suite of Windows Live services today! http://www.get.live.com/wl/all _ Pack up or back up-use SkyDrive to transfer files or keep extra copies. Learn how. http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_skydrive_packup_042008 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Medical marvals
That was good Kamal :-). At 8:16 AM -0500 4/20/08, kamal deka wrote: A French doctor says 'Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him looking for work in six weeks.' A German doctor says 'That is nothing, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him looking for work in four weeks. A Russian doctor says 'In my country, medicine is so advanced that we can take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have them both looking for work in two weeks.' The Texas doctor, not to be outdone, says 'You guys are way behind, we recently took a man with no brains out of Texas, put him in the White House for eight years, and now half the country is looking for work.' ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Bush Administration
That was mean :-). At 8:21 AM -0500 4/20/08, kamal deka wrote: As you may have heard, the Bush Administration announced recently that almost every US taxpayer will get a nice rebate check soon from the U.S. Government: $300 to $600 for individuals, and another $200 for each dependent child. The declared purpose of this rebate is to stimulate the American economy when we all go out and spend it. However, if we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China. If we spend it on gasoline, it will all go to the Arabs. If we purchase a computer it will all go to India, and if we purchase HD TV's, stereos, or other electronic crap, the money will all go to Taiwan. If we purchase a good car, it will all go to Japan or Korea or Germany. Shoe and clothing purchases will go to China, Indonesia , or Viet Nam. Even if we buy food, the fruit and vegetables proceeds will all go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, and beef proceeds will go to Argentina -- and of course, none of it will help the American economy! We need to keep that money here in America! So the only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it on prostitutes and liquor, since these are, apparently, the only businesses still left in the US. Go USA. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] so you wanna be a journo?
Dear Sir/Madam: I am a graduate. And I am fresh too. A journo I do wannabe. So here is my spiel: The ad copy should have read: so you wanna be a journo? ç if you are a bright, fresh graduate and can spot the errors in this advertsment; its imortant that you male us on: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the corrected version of this ad and your CV. strictly no phone calls. oh yeah, but do put Application in the subject header of your mail. So you wannabe a journo? Dream on loser! If you are a graduate but fresh you need not apply. What might seem imortant is hardly so, just like it is not imortant that you be male. Actually we prefer you femail to us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the corectted version ( as in Krazzy 4 U) along with your civvies, which are not returnable. Phone calls will disqualify you summarily, so don't even think of it. And finally, don't forget to include the subject matter in the femail header, which should be Applicator. Here I am. Do I qualify? Yours truly, A Wannabe Journo NOT. At 4:26 PM -0700 4/18/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: The following appeared in the Outlook magazine. It is a novel way to do the first cut of the applicants. To the Outlook hiring people, knowledge of the magazine's chosen language medium is numero uno. Journalism skills probably are in the second cut. The magazine does show significant care in editing its articles. Dilip Deka so you wanna be a journo? ç if you are a bright, fresh graduate and can spot the errors in this advertsment; its imortant that you male us on: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the corrected version of this ad and your CV. strictly no phone calls. oh yeah, but do put Application in the subject header of your mail. so you wanna be a journo? outlookindia.com is looking for trainee sub-editors for it's copy-desk in new Delhi. if you are a bright, fresh graduate and can spot the errors in this advertsment; its imortant that you male us on: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the corrected version of this ad and your CV. strictly no phone calls. oh yeah, but do put Application in the subject header of your mail. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Modaar Tree Does have Value!
Modaar lumber is considered 'elaagi kaath' or aawkathi (of little use), because it is very soft. When it dies the center of the tree or the branches become almost hollow. Even as a firewood it is not considered desirable, because it produces much smoke when burning, possibly due to trapped moisture in the highly porous wood. When dry it is also fairly light in weight. Since nobody built 'dhwl's , Bihu or otherwise, in the surroundings we grew up, we never heard of its usefulness for 'dhwl' making. Good to know it has some use. I hope it is not being mistaken for 'ximolu kaath', which too is soft and light in weight. But it is highly sought after for match-stick making and also for packing-box plywood making. The large diameter and tall, branchless trunk produces good veneer for plywood. Similarly for another large diameter and very tall 'elaagi kaath' sotiyona , which too is soft, light weight and sought after for plywood making and for packing-crate making. At 11:10 AM -0700 4/15/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: There is an interesting piece of information in the following report. I always thought Modaar tree was of little value. The report says Modaar wood is used to make Bihu Dhol and there is a shortage of Modaar wood. The good news is they are planting new Modaar trees to get the wood for Dhols in the future. Is there an expert here who can tell us why Modaar wood is so suited for Bihu Dhol? What wood is used for bigger Dhols? Dilip ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] [WaterWatch] Tibet issue
If a people's morality is driven is entirely by an ethic of you scratch my back, I scratch yours , then why all the pretenses about human rights, democratic values, aspirations of freedom and so forth? Raghavan's ethics too is driven entirely by a lust for real-estate--of Kashmir for example, never mind what the people who call that ground home, want. Henry Kissinger could not have offered more lofty ideals for Indian intelligentsia to reach for. cm At 11:52 PM +0530 4/11/08, Sankar Ray wrote: think Dr Srinath Raghavan's piece in EPW well-argued. He is one of the best scholars on defence/border issues in the Himalayas. Rather Nevile Maxwell's India's China War today seems one-sided and inadequately researched. Pasted below is the EPW piece. Sankar Ray The Case for Restraint on Tibet By Srinath Raghavan 5 Apr 08 (http://epw.org.in/epw//uploads/articles/12103.pdf) For more than five decades, India has seen Tibet as part of China. If it were to now believe otherwise, this would be idle posturing. Worse, such a position by the government of India could jeopardise the chances of a settlement of the long-standing India-China dispute. The recent events in Tibet have occasioned much speculation and controversy in India. The Indian government responded by curbing a proposed march to Tibet by émigrés. New Delhi also issued a measured statement, reaffirming that Tibet was a region of China and expressing hope that all concerned would resolve the crisis by dialogue. The government's restraint, however, has ignited a fusillade of denunciation. Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have described the violence in Tibet as genocide, and have asked the government to raise the matter at the United Nations. Some commentators in the media, too, have disparaged the government for failing to take a robust stand. India, it is suggested, should shed its timidity, and at the very least back the Dalai Lama's call for Tibetan autonomy. Leaving aside the merits and the drawbacks of the Dalai Lama's political agenda, there are good pragmatic reasons for India to stick to its present policy. For a start, treating Tibet as an open question is likely to boomerang on India. New Delhi has its own share of thorny issues, not least Kashmir. Interestingly, even as critics were demanding a robust policy towards Tibet, the Organisation for Islamic Countries described Kashmir as a burning problem and called for its resolution in accordance with UN resolutions. The Indian government has responded that Kashmir is an internal issue; but it is acutely aware of the need to sidestep such calls. In this regard, we should note that since the early 1990s China has opposed the internationalization of the Kashmir dispute - a position that accords with India's interests. If India were to intrude on Tibet in any manner, Beijing could easily shift its position on Kashmir. It is unwise to fire a blunderbuss from an exposed picquet. Furthermore, does the political issue of Tibet (as opposed to the moral one) have any real traction on Indian public opinion or indeed the political parties? Evidently not. Despite the vicissitudes of Sino-Indian relations, no Indian government has ever sought to extend political support to the Dalai Lama. Back in 1954, India concluded a treaty with China, recognising Tibet as a region of China. As the then foreign secretary explained, this was a concession only to realism. Successive governments have adhered to this stand. The BJP might now strike an activist pose, but as foreign minister in the Janata Party government, Vajpayee stated in Parliament that We regard Tibet as a region of China. In 2003, the BJP-led government inked an agreement, affirming Tibet as part of China. This long-standing policy stems from a realistic recognition that India has no leverage on Tibet. It is idle to pretend otherwise. The most important argument for circumspection relates to the ongoing negotiations on the boundary dispute with China, a problem that has marred Sino-Indian relations for 50 years. From a historical perspective, it is clear that China's sensitivities on Tibet have cast a baleful shadow on the boundary issue. When Jawaharlal Nehru signed the agreement in 1954, he knew that the Tibetans would be disappointed. Nevertheless, he declined to support separatist movements within Tibet. When the Dalai Lama visited India in late 1956, he sought Nehru's permission to stay on. Nehru, however, convinced him to return to Tibet and to arrive at an understanding with the Chinese authorities. Nevertheless, China believed that India was conniving at the activities of Tibetan rebels, mainly because of their conspicuous presence in border towns like Kalimpong. In March 1959, following an uprising in Tibet, the Indian government decided to give refuge to the Dalai Lama. Then, as now, some opposition parties - notably
[Assam] Two Orchids from Assam
Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room. The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam. cm ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Two Orchids from Assam
It is a very complicated issue Uttam. Orchids are very special plants. Their cultural requirements are very demanding. You can keep them alive and even make them grow well out of their natural habitats, but you may not be able to make them bloom. Kopou-ful ( Rhynchostylis retusa) is almost impossible to bring to bloom, even in a simple green house like ours. It needs precise temperature , humidity and brightness of light conditions that can be replicated only in a very sophisticated greenhouse. International laws prohibit collecting, owning, selling or exporting of orchids from their natural habitats. Only commercially grown orchids can be exported or imported. And to import to the USA the exporter must be able to furnish proof that: A: It is commercially grown and can be certified in accordance with CITES regulations. B: That the plants are not contaminated with organisms such as fungi, bacteria or viruses. This is done by producing what is called phytosanitary certification from an accredited laboratory. Among the many orchid producing countries of the world India and Bangladesh are the only ones that I know of that do not have lab. facilities that would be recognized by the USA. So no orchid export takes place, legally, from India to the USA. Incidentally, almost all but the rarest of rare or endangered orchids that grow in south Asia can be purchased from many orchid growers across the USA, Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan etc. They are not even as expensive as some of the hybrids. The reasons are several: A: Orchids from Assam and the surrounding region are what is called species orchids--not hybrids. They are pure. But they are not easy to care for, have stringent cultural needs. B: As showy as our orchids are, the flowers are short lived, compared to many orchids from other regions. The two orchids whose pictures I posted here will last, at most, two weeks. That is nothing compared to some or hybrid Dendrobiums or Phalaenopses or Cymbidiums or Oncidiums that routinely last two to three months. BTW some varieties of the latter two grow in the wilds of Arunachal as well as the Khasi Hills. The only cymbidiums we see in the Brahmaputra valley are those that grow on the trunks and branches of huge trees that produce little and not-so-attractive flowers on long pendulous growths. These are called Cymbidium pendulata. Even though these are not showy, they are sought after by breeders for cross breeding to produce more attractive hybrids. But they are extremely difficult to bring to bloom in temperate climates. I have had a large plant for years, but no flowers! Commercial orchid growing, both as cut flowers as well as plants have a great potential in Assam,. But transportation and cold storage for flowers and CITES and Phytosanitary certification for export are the road-blocks, as they always have been. Few things change in India as you well know. At 2:34 AM +0100 4/10/08, uttam borthakur wrote: The magic of the green fingers. It is simply glorious. Chandan Da, is there any easy procedure for taking seeds, saplings etc. from here to US on demand from friends/ relatives or it has to be a covert work? Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is: Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room. The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam. cm___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Uttam Kumar Borthakur - Best Jokes, Best Friends, Best Food. Get all this and more on Best of Yahoo! Groups. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] From ToI? India's Stand on Tibet/Tibet strategic water resources
*** Shows what India values more: Real estate or Human Rights! cm India takes rigid anti-Tibet stand BEIJING, APR 3 (PTI) According to China, New Delhi has assured that it will not tolerate any political anti-Beijing activities by Tibetans on the Indian territory. For the second time in less than a week, China has briefed India on the Tibet issue. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spoke over phone to his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and exchanged views on bilateral relations, explaining Beijing's 'principled stand' on the Dalai Lama issue, the state media said on Thursday. ''Mukherjee said the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of China's territory and India will never tolerate any political anti-China activities by Tibetans on the Indian Territory,'' official Xinhua news agency reported. In the conversation on Wednesday, Yang also told Mukherjee that it had been proved ''and will continue to be proven'' that any scheme by the ''Dalai Clique'', referring to the supporters of the Tibetan spiritual leader, to split and break China was ''doomed to failure.'' The conversation comes after China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo's telephonic talk with National Security Adviser M K Naranayan on March 30 when he briefed him on the ''violent crimes'' in Lhasa and ''expounded'' China's stance on and concerns over the Tibet issue. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] [Assam Society] Re: Bolin Medhi
You are right Ram. I saw the clip too. At 12:09 PM -0600 4/4/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Hi Ganesh, Thanks for forwarding the video. I'm glad that Mr. Medhi has got some exposure because of this coverage in MSNBC. Now, the mainstream Indian media will of course also cover it, and hopefully Mr. Medhi benefits from it. But Keith Obermann usualy has stories like this in his odd-ball section. It is usually to make fun of odd news in different countries. He has several from India - one with a truck going over a person (some competition), another of actor Rajnikant giving a cigarette to a 5 year old, another of a guy with long nails and so forth. Basically, what I'm saying is that Keith O does NOT bring out these stories and talents in the right spirit, but rather as a subject of ridicule. I could be wrong, but thats the way I see it - with a grain of salt! --Ram On 4/4/08, J Kalita mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I watched the video. Mr. Medhi must have been singing a Bihu tune! That was interesting. Jugal --- Ganesh C Bora mailto:gcbora%40rocketmail.com[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Raiz, Does anybody know Bolin Medhi who was mentioned in Countdown with Keith Oberman in MSNBC yesterday, Thursday the 3rd APril, 08. Following is the link to the vedio. He is about make world record in Humming (singing)!! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23945317#23945317http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23945317#23945317 Enjoy the vedio __ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.comhttp://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com __._,_.___ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/message/1626;_ylc=X3oDMTM1NTFhbGo1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRtc2dJZAMxNjI4BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTIwNzMzMzAwNwR0cGNJZAMxNjI2Messages in this topic (3) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxdmgybzNqBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRtc2dJZAMxNjI4BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTIwNzMzMzAwNw--?act=replymessageNum=1628Reply (via web post) | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNDlmOGNyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyMDczMzMwMDc-Start a new topic http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcnEyb3NyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNtc2dzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDczMzMwMDY-Messages | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJnOGFjZ2U4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNmaWxlcwRzdGltZQMxMjA3MzMzMDA2Files | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdnRiOGU2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNwaG90BHN0aW1lAzEyMDczMzMwMDY-Photos | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJnNzU3YTBtBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNsaW5rcwRzdGltZQMxMjA3MzMzMDA2Links | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJkZjRhbWVsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNkYgRzdGltZQMxMjA3MzMzMDA2Database | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJnbDZxZHFkBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNwb2xscwRzdGltZQMxMjA3MzMzMDA2Polls | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmN2VtZXRnBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNtYnJzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDczMzMwMDY-Members | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ3R0amlyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNjYWwEc3RpbWUDMTIwNzMzMzAwNg--Calendar We appreciate your contribution to Assam Society of America! http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlYmw2dHRmBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTIwNzMzMzAwNw-- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJnazc0aGZ0BF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNzdG5ncwRzdGltZQMxMjA3MzMzMDA3Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivery: DigestSwitch delivery to Daily Digest | mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivery Format: TraditionalSwitch format to Traditional http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AssamSociety;_ylc=X3oDMTJlYTRjNGd0BF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzEyNjA5NDk4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA5ODEwNwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNocGYEc3RpbWUDMTIwNzMzMzAwNw--Visit Your Group | http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe
[Assam] A Web Site
Hi Netters: Here is a terrific little site for photos of Assam and its natural wealth from our own Tasiruddin Ahmed. http://tasir.piranho.de Enjoy! cm ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Potatoeconomics of Assam
Then why this sudden drop in potato prices? Its answer can be found in the huge production of potato in Barpeta district under the aegis of the Oxom Unnati Sabha. I am no economist, nor am I conversed in the intricacies of market manipulation, be it in India or be it in the USA. But one question does come to mind: What is Assam's total potato crop? My guess would be it is minuscule. Assam has been a victim of many forms of exploitation perpetrated by India and Indians, but if Assam's potato production volume being what it must be, I don't think the Indian potato mafia is the one to have manipulated the pricing to destroy the Borpetia-aluguti industry. Crying wolf one too many times destroys the credibility of REAL reasons for Assam's discontent and outrage that is so skillfully kept under the rug by Assam's establishment. Moreover, storing in Assam is a bit difficult, because of dearth of cold storage facility and lack of electricity to run the cold storages effectively. I have heard of this complaint for, at the very least, a quarter century, if not more. Question is what have we seen as progress in this front? Those who are ready to advise patience have a responsibility to explain WHY and HOW MUCH more patience Assam must endure. And those pillars of Assam's society who would acknowledge the problem but would continue to aid and abet the systemic dysfunction of Indian governance over Assam which is /are responsible, are at best sly operators trying to have it both ways. I believe that we should do whatever we can to foil and expose such nefarious designs. *** When those are REAL, I agree we should. What holds us back? I am also surprised that the outfits that want secession or sovereignty of Assam, do not point out these injustices in everyday life and restrict themselves to denouncing state atrocities, to which campaign people have become desensitized to an extent, as it smacks of partisanship. *** Two points to note: A: It is the same kind of logic that Indian apologists of Assam make about holding ULFA responsible for border protection, or taunting them for taking shelter in B'desh or challenging them to undertake development projects in Assam. It is a patently immature tactic and/or complaint. Could be described in much harsher terms. I will be pleased to explain if absolutely necessary. But I prefer not to get all that harsh :-). B: One cannot dismiss these villains on the one hand as inconsequential or stupid or both and on the other hand expect them to air their views in the media, while knowing full well that they won't be able to get a letter to the editor that mince no words, published; let alone be given publicity by the media controlled by the entrenched media. That is living in a make-believe world. I believe that we should do whatever we can to foil and expose such nefarious designs. Yes, desecration of archeological relics is important issue to tackle. But brazen economic loot is no less a question. These are NOT zero sum games in where they are exclusive of each other; where if one is pursued the other must be abandoned, just like everything else in life. The complaint is not at all valid. At 6:44 AM +0100 3/31/08, uttam borthakur wrote: A news item in Pratidin makes a difficult reading. Less of facts, more of opinions. But an item published on 31st March2008 is of concern. The prices of potato have suddenly plummetted in Assam. Apparently it should indicate the positive impact of withdrawal of Value Added Tax on food items. But it is not, because of the simple reason that the prices of rice-cereals etc. have remained sky-high. Then why this sudden drop in potato prices? Its answer can be found in the huge production of potato in Barpeta district under the aegis of the Oxom Unnati Sabha. In order to ensure that the Oxomiya farmers producing potato incur loss and do not dare to cultivate it again successfully, the mainland India trading lobby or the oligopoly or the cartel, by whatever name called, has suddenly reduced the market prices of potato so that the reigning market prices would not allow the local cultivators recover the input prices, let alone make a profit. Moreover, storing in Assam is a bit difficult, because of dearth of cold storage facility and lack of electricity to run the cold storages effectively. Such things have been taking place in Assam for a number of years in respect of tea, vegetables and now Potato. Some people may argue that let the market forces rule, as in any free market system. But history of economics shows that it is the trade barriers, subsidies and in short the protective policies of the state that have allowed the economies of rich nations grow. So such advocates actually are the spokespersons of the mighty, and in this case that of the mainland India that uses Assam like a hinterland. Moreover,
Re: [Assam] Bottle Brush?
Where has Bottle brush come from? The flowers in the AT picture are NOT Bottle-brush flowers. They are not even close :-). At 7:22 PM +0530 4/1/08, mc mahant wrote: Bottle Brush is close to the Weeping Willows which interfered with my Punting(kind of push barging) along Cambridge University's Cam (river) which was/is about 20' wide and 5' deep-- but to some- a Romantic name and Tourist attraction in England. mm From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 19:13:06 +0530 Subject: Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz: Chutiya Xalika Flowers of Bottle Brush- a decorative bush introduced into Assam Around 1950-- not from Indian Subcontinent.We have a big Bottle Brush bush at the entrance to our ancestral home at Namti. I remember bringing that sapling+Mahogany ones from a Banamahotsav at Sivsagar in 1980 mm Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 05:41:26 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz: Chutiya Xalika Looks like the bird's genus and name are now known. I am not too sure if the flower has been identified quite definitely yet. I do remember seeing flowers like in the photo that we used to call Modar. Aren't there different varieties of Modar? Dilip == Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks Bikash for reminding us of the Sutiya Xaalika name. Back at Namti we called it that as well--completely forgot about it. At 3:15 AM +0100 3/30/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS wrote: Haaa... Dada This is known in Darrang and Kamrup as CHUTIYA SHALIKA /XALIKA ( Chutiya Shalka).They are the direct version of original Indian Mynah all because they call talk like you and me. I had one before leaving for Military.She used to talk and if I run will fly behind me and sit on my shoulders... now when I saw this- I only tear for her..She was with us for long and will sit in front of us always like a part of family and look at us.Here also I tried to keep one, but died due to some food poison.Its too painful to miss them.So no more birds to sit on my shoulders.. This bird is very humanly and available in Bangalore also.But here people are not like we Axomiya !! Forget about bird, they dnt know the next home. Hope al doubt is clear now- Bikash Chan Mahanta wrote:excellent Chitta! And thanks for sharing the autherntic Oxomiya name, Kath Xaalika.Incidentally the widespread , lowly Xaalika Sorai is a Mynah too. It is called Common Indian Mynah. - Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Education: Are exams worrying you all the day long? Write to MSN education experts for help. http://education.in.msn.com/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Technology : Catch up on updates on the latest Gadgets, Reviews, Gaming and Tips to use technology etc. http://computing.in.msn.com/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] vegetableconomics
At 10:17 PM +0530 3/31/08, shantikam hazarika wrote: I think this has been happening all along in Assam. A few years back I came across farmers in Kharupetia allowing their tomato crop to rot because the price they were fetching in the nearby market would not even meet their transportation cost to the market. And the answer to it is??? Unless the power situation improves, cold storage may not be the solution. The SOLUTION therefore is??? Also, simply having the cold storage may not be adequate, unless we have the total linkages in place. Therefore we ought to ---??? Your jibe at the freedom seekers at the end of your note was not necessary. How mature an observation! I am sure they are still looking into our antecedants before they can reply to the queries raised by us. Yes indeed! The blind looking at the blind to lead the way. So please do not disturb them with such issues which may be beyond their comprehension. Now that shows true maturity and deliberative skills so needed to engage in a productive discourse. I am not sure if I should laugh or cry. As far as I remember, Assam Unnati Sabha need not worry since they have already contracted their production to a buyer at a predetermined rate. For any one starting a new business, that is the most sensible thing to do.State intervention is the only answer, but how it is to be done is again a matter that can be decided by in depth going into the problem. Unless the power situation improves, cold storage may not be the solution. Also, simply having the cold storage may not be adequate, unless we have the total linkages in place. Your jibe at the freedom seekers at the end of your note was not necessary. I am sure they are still looking into our antecedants before they can reply to the queries raised by us. So please do not disturb them with such issues which may be beyond their comprehension. Shantikam Hazarika Director, Assam Institute of Management PO Box 30, GUWAHATI 781001, India HOME PAGE: www.aimguwahati.edu.in Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:44:27 +0100 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: [Assam] Potatoeconomics of Assam A news item in Pratidin makes a difficult reading. Less of facts, more of opinions. But an item published on 31st March2008 is of concern. The prices of potato have suddenly plummetted in Assam. Apparently it should indicate the positive impact of withdrawal of Value Added Tax on food items. But it is not, because of the simple reason that the prices of rice-cereals etc. have remained sky-high. Then why this sudden drop in potato prices? Its answer can be found in the huge production of potato in Barpeta district under the aegis of the Oxom Unnati Sabha. In order to ensure that the Oxomiya farmers producing potato incur loss and do not dare to cultivate it again successfully, the mainland India trading lobby or the oligopoly or the cartel, by whatever name called, has suddenly reduced the market prices of potato so that the reigning market prices would not allow the local cultivators recover the input prices, let alone make a profit. Moreover, storing in Assam is a bit difficult, because of dearth of cold storage facility and lack of electricity to run the cold storages effectively. Such things have been taking place in Assam for a number of years in respect of tea, vegetables and now Potato. Some people may argue that let the market forces rule, as in any free market system. But history of economics shows that it is the trade barriers, subsidies and in short the protective policies of the state that have allowed the economies of rich nations grow. So such advocates actually are the spokespersons of the mighty, and in this case that of the mainland India that uses Assam like a hinterland. Moreover, had it been a fairplay, it would have been acceptable. But here is a design working to stifle capital formation in Assam and the Indian State and its local lackeys are helping such a design to succeed by its inaction or covert helping hand. I believe that we should do whatever we can to foil and expose such nefarious designs. Yes, desecration of archeological relics is important issue to tackle. But brazen economic loot is no less a question. I am also surprised that the outfits that want secession or sovereignty of Assam, do not point out these injustices in everyday life and restrict themselves to denouncing state atrocities, to which campaign people have become desensitized to an extent, as it smacks of partisanship. The major problem with these outfits are that they have failed to give anyone an alternative picture or system, if they have one, to fire the imaginations of the people, who they apparently want to win over. Uttam Kumar Borthakur - Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now
Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz: Chutiya Xalika
O' Deka: Apuni etiyahe xui-uthil neki? Din-dupor holhi, gomei nepale. Xui-thoka xiale haanh dhorar kthatw xunise nissoy :-). They have been identified and rested. The flower is of the Ximolu gos--Silk Cotton tree, Bombax indica. Nothing even akin to 'modaar' , a wholly different genus. Yes there are different kinds of coral trees ( modaar). In Assam there are two varieties, the red and the white flowering ones. They are easily identified by the SHAPE of the petals and the tree trunks. which are dramatically different. Polaax flowers are closer in looks to the 'modaar', but not all to the 'ximolu' flowers. In other parts of the world there are quite a few variants. One grows widely in Southern California coastal areas that is very similar to the red ones from Assam. The tropical islands like in the Caribbean and in Hawii have two or three different vrieties that are similar. The bird is Sutiya Xaalika, Jungle Mynah -- Acridotheres fuscus, whose habitat is widespread in south Asia. The picture I sent the link to the other day was from Fiji. The bird probably got there with Indian laborers taken by the British. BTW, the familiar Xaalika sorai ( Common Indian Mynah) has become a much despised pest in Australia. Hope this helps. O'm At 5:41 AM -0700 4/1/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Looks like the bird's genus and name are now known. I am not too sure if the flower has been identified quite definitely yet. I do remember seeing flowers like in the photo that we used to call Modar. Aren't there different varieties of Modar? Dilip == Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks Bikash for reminding us of the Sutiya Xaalika name. Back at Namti we called it that as well--completely forgot about it. At 3:15 AM +0100 3/30/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS wrote: Haaa... Dada This is known in Darrang and Kamrup as CHUTIYA SHALIKA /XALIKA ( Chutiya Shalka).They are the direct version of original Indian Mynah all because they call talk like you and me. I had one before leaving for Military.She used to talk and if I run will fly behind me and sit on my shoulders... now when I saw this- I only tear for her..She was with us for long and will sit in front of us always like a part of family and look at us.Here also I tried to keep one, but died due to some food poison.Its too painful to miss them.So no more birds to sit on my shoulders.. This bird is very humanly and available in Bangalore also.But here people are not like we Axomiya !! Forget about bird, they dnt know the next home. Hope al doubt is clear now- Bikash Chan Mahanta wrote:excellent Chitta! And thanks for sharing the autherntic Oxomiya name, Kath Xaalika.Incidentally the widespread , lowly Xaalika Sorai is a Mynah too. It is called Common Indian Mynah. - Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Modaar and Bottle-brush Flowers
At 11:27 AM -0500 4/1/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: Great pictures, C'da. Thanks for sending them to us. While growing up, I never paid much attention to Modaar phul, especially after listening specifically to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika's song with the starting line - Modaar-ore` phul henu pujaatu nelaage`. :) I have learnt to appreciate everything colorful now though, no matter what people have interpreted it to be. But I wouldn't use it in a puja again (if I know that it is a Modaar-phul!), but that's just me. :) Thanks A. You will be, I am sure, forgiven by the gods :-). After all they must be the ones who ordered man not to use 'modaar ful' in their 'puja'. That is quite a break for 'modaar-ful' really. Because so few other flowers survive in urban areas, because they are plucked for worship, before man can enjoy them. Anyway, does any one know what 'modaar-ful' did to fall from grace of the gods? It is, I hope, not something like 'boraali-maas' troubles. Finally, there is much to derive pleasure from the plant world besides brightly colored flowers. Don't forget the lovely yellow green leaves of early spring, or the delicate lace-like tapestry of Krisnosura leaves against a clear blue sky, or the lance like bamboo leaves holding glittery dew drops on their tips in wintry mornings, or the silhouettes of arum leaves ( kosu paat) in the dusk on a ditch standing like the heads of a herd of alarmed animals, or the graceful arching leaves of tall grasses mirroring on the still waters of a pond --- one can go on and on. Colors, textures, shapes, the constantly changing quality of light -from dawn thru dusk and the accompanying shadows; fragrances, patterns --- all contribute to creating the magic of the natural world. And they are all free. All we need is the desire and a conditioning to enjoy them. And once we begin to enjoy them and value them, we can begin to be good custodians of it. In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 09:14:32 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] Modaar and Bottle-brush Flowers For a picture of Modaar flowers, look up: http://web.mac.com/chanmahanta/iWeb/Site/Photos.html Attached herewith is an image of Bottle -brush flowers from our ancestral home at Namti. _ More immediate than e-mail? Get instant access with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_instantaccess_042008 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz: Chutiya Xalika
In that case it was in Assam long before 1950. I think so too. At 11:03 PM +0200 4/1/08, W.Saleh wrote: The Bottle Brush flowers (Genus Callistemon) - for more information see Australian National Botanic Gardens. http://www.anbg.gov.au/callistemon/index.html Bottle Brush is a native of Australia. As such I assume that the British has introduce them to India and most probably the tea planters planted it in their gardens in Assam. In that case it was in Assam long before 1950. Wahid Saleh -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Namens mc mahant Verzonden: dinsdag 1 april 2008 15:43 Aan: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world Onderwerp: Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz: Chutiya Xalika Flowers of Bottle Brush- a decorative bush introduced into Assam Around 1950-- not from Indian Subcontinent.We have a big Bottle Brush bush at the entrance to our ancestral home at Namti. I remember bringing that sapling+Mahogany ones from a Banamahotsav at Sivsagar in 1980 mm Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 05:41:26 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz: Chutiya Xalika Looks like the bird's genus and name are now known. I am not too sure if the flower has been identified quite definitely yet. I do remember seeing flowers like in the photo that we used to call Modar. Aren't there different varieties of Modar? Dilip == Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks Bikash for reminding us of the Sutiya Xaalika name. Back at Namti we called it that as well--completely forgot about it. At 3:15 AM +0100 3/30/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS wrote: Haaa... Dada This is known in Darrang and Kamrup as CHUTIYA SHALIKA /XALIKA ( Chutiya Shalka).They are the direct version of original Indian Mynah all because they call talk like you and me. I had one before leaving for Military.She used to talk and if I run will fly behind me and sit on my shoulders... now when I saw this- I only tear for her..She was with us for long and will sit in front of us always like a part of family and look at us.Here also I tried to keep one, but died due to some food poison.Its too painful to miss them.So no more birds to sit on my shoulders.. This bird is very humanly and available in Bangalore also.But here people are not like we Axomiya !! Forget about bird, they dnt know the next home. Hope al doubt is clear now- Bikash Chan Mahanta wrote:excellent Chitta! And thanks for sharing the autherntic Oxomiya name, Kath Xaalika.Incidentally the widespread , lowly Xaalika Sorai is a Mynah too. It is called Common Indian Mynah. - Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Education: Are exams worrying you all the day long? Write to MSN education experts for help. http://education.in.msn.com/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] [WaterWatch] Tibet strategic water resources
At 11:23 AM + 3/30/08, mediavigil wrote: Yes, indeed charity begins at home but isn't Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) different. Tibet shares borders with India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. *** Different issues here. Petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao: As citizens around the world, we call on you to show restraint and respect for human rights in your response to the protests in Tibet, and to address the concerns of all Tibetans by opening meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Only dialogue and reform will bring lasting stability. China's brightest future, and its most positive relationship with the world, lies in harmonious development, dialogue and respect. *** Avaaz.org has been seeking respect for Tibetan's human-rights . It is not the first time Avaaz.org has been seeking justice and human rights protection for oppressed peoples. The last time it was against the suppression of the Mynmar uprising, just a few months back. I signed that petition and dutifully passed it on to others. That put me in on their mailing list, and shortly, from other appeals it became quite apparent that respect for universal human rights is not what drives Avaaz's piety. It is a rather thinly disguised attempt--to hoodwink well meaning people worldwide --to beat up on the Chinese, in a ploy to promote Indian interests. Not that I am a fan of China's. Far from it. But I take issue with Indian ex-pats and their progenies' PHONY human-rights concerns thru Avaaz.orgs' petitions which would NOT recognize India's own involvement in , as with the Mynamar regime --in brutally suppressing freedom aspirations of and denying Eastern South Asians' human rights for over a half century. I pointed it out to them after I began to suspect what Avaaz.org was driven by in the Myanmar context, asking the world to put pressure on China. I did not get a reply. Similarly on the Tibetan front. IF it is worries about China's control over Tibetan water resources and thus potential denying India of its share, that SHOULD have been mentioned in Avaaz.orgs appeal worldwide. It did not. And I am certain that they never will. They are working it with a wink and a nod, counting on the ignorance and disinterest of the world about the goings on inside its own territories. Therefore, for Indian intelligentsia to connect China's control over Tibet and thus its water-resources, in the GUISE of speaking out in defense of Tibetan independence aspirations, while unable to utter a word in defense of their own in India's own real-estate holdings-- for over fifty years now, is DISHONEST at the very least. And for Indian intelligentsia to promote it is what I see as brazenly hypocritical. I will admit, that Indian intelligentsia's INABILITY to stand up for human rights in its far-flung holdings may have HAD something to do its deep rooted CULTURE--of scant caring for their own, as long as they themselves are not affected and its pronounced absence from its widely touted democracy. But what is its excuse today? cm Tibet is about abundant water reserves that are the focus of the Chinese authorities' interest for this region. Sources of the largest Asian rivers are located in Tibet. By holding Tibet under control, China secures access to great mineral and water resources. China pans to turn the water issue into a powerful political weapon. Major Asian rivers originate from the Tibetan plateau, including the Indus, the Mekong, the Yangtze, the Brahmaputra, the Sutlej, etc. Among Asia's mighty rivers, only the Ganges starts from the Indian side of the Himalayas. China has set a goal to provide 15 percent of the overall energy needs from Tibet's resources by 2020. In March 2007, China announced a program for Tibet, worth 10 billion euros that is likley to be employed for utilization of the water resources. The totalitarian Chinese state power killed and maimed and brutalised the local people, the Indian government lost the Tibetan case out of farsightedness. Foreign policy of a totalitarian government cannot but be expansionist. Now the inhuman Hanisation of the Tibet land continues. There is democracy deficit. Corporations and most of our intelligentsia or for that matter the intelligentsia of any country favours status quo and are collaborators, else the voices in support of Tibetans would have been louder. --- In mailto:WaterWatch%40yahoogroups.com[EMAIL PROTECTED], Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: If there is merit to the ancient adage that ' Charity begins at home', then may I suggest we start a similar, but even more vigorous campaign to force Indian Govt. to start a SINCERE negotiating process in Assam with the ULFA for example? If we can be so caring about Tibetan freedom aspirations, why can't we for those who are even closer to us,in Nagaland, in Assam , in Kashmir? Somehow Avaaz's zeal seems to be driven less
Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz
At 3:00 AM + 3/29/08, uttam borthakur wrote: To earn a living, I always have to look down and for many years the occeasion has not arisen to look up to quite tall trees. I never had the brush with life science either. Moreover, I cannot boast of Chandan Da's penchant. Still I hazard a guess... may be Ximolu. *** You did good Uttam It IS indeed Ximolu., Silk Cotton or Bombax . I am proud of you :-). Nobody has to neglect efforts to earn a living or acquire an USEFUL education, to also be aware and concerned about the environment we live in. Trees and plants are some of our closest and ever present neighbors . I don't hold it against people who are ignorant of them, but do hold our system of education and learning/societal values that have not only neglected these aspects of learning or of giving them due importance in their value systems--that have created generations of our fellow men who are oblivious of them. Can they be depended on to be good custodians of their living environment, much less of the planet? When we studied Botany at Cotton College, for most it was an easy 4th subject ( not an IMPORTANT one) to get good grades with. Few really cared because it was something worth learning. At IIT KGP, I took Botany/Horticulture, again as an optional subject--the only one from my architectural class. The teacher from the Dept of Agricultural Engg. was almost stunned. He said it was amazing--never seen architectural or engineering students ever taking that course before. He is an younger brother of the noted Bengali singer Dwijen Mukherjee and himself a noted singer too. He remembered me when I approached him at the stage in Southern California where he gave a concert in the early seventies. *** The Assam Tribune, like other Indian papers, or its editorial staff don't give any importance to such issues. It is like--modaror ful that Bhupen Hazarika wrote so eloquently about - who needs it? They didn't care to give credit to the photographer, even for such a terrific image. Had there been a name as to who took the picture, there might have been an attempt to identify correctly what the image is of. Somebody just guessed and called the red flowers modaar. The bird must have been way too hard a subject, so ignored it altogether. Such is the standard of excellence, of accuracy, of curiosity at the halls of this hallowed journal. But they are not special. They merely reflect the society they are a part of , of low standards and even lower expectations. Can you imagine how things will get better? *** BTW the bird is a rare one in Upper Assam. At least it was so where I grew up. We called it Moina sorai ( Indian Mynah) , which would occasionally show up in our village. There are a number of different kinds of Mynahs. This particular one, according to Salim Ali's The Book of Indian Birds, is the Jungle Mynah ( Jungli Myna in Hindi) --Acridotheres fuscus. See: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/_1nwYsU6OEMM/RnZbl0YjiiI/BvM/8iF-IGpxbCA/s800/juma_0209.jpgimgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KyoCHUOIqFMerVy2gBGdlQh=90w=135sz=83tbnid=lDhnD8gSA3EJ:tbnh=90tbnw=135prev=/images%3Fq%3Dacridotheres%2Bfuscus%2Bphotossa=Xoi=image_resultresnum=1ct=imagecd=2 Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar2808/main There is a gorgeous picture of a black bird sitting on a bunch of flowers. It is one of those symbolic images of spring in Assam. But unfortunately, in yet another pathetic display of ignorance of our natural treasures, the AT labeled the flowers wrong as modaar ( Indian coral flower). I guess ALL red flowers are 'modaar' to our one dimensional knowldege-brigades . Can anyone identify them correctly? And can anyone identify the black bird? cm ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Uttam Kumar Borthakur - Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz
Excellent Chitta! And thanks for sharing the autherntic Oxomiya name, Kath Xaalika. Incidentally the widespread , lowly Xaalika Sorai is a Mynah too. It is called Common Indian Mynah. At 7:41 AM + 3/29/08, chittaranjan paTHAK wrote: Mahanta daThe bird looks like a Jungle Mynah. In Assamese is it called Kath Halika?regardsChitta _ Create photo panoramas easily with Photo Gallery! http://www.get.live.com/wl/all ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] What an Abomination!
Thanks so much for caring Utpal. I will do that. At 10:59 AM + 3/29/08, utpal borpujari wrote: Chandan-da and others: please draft the appeal and ask everyone who support it to send their names to you to be appended to it (with their profession location). I will take the responsibility of disseminating it in media in Assam to the best of my abilities. - Utpal - Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Inbox. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] What an Abomination!
Thanks Ram I am trying to make contact with someone that Uttam sent me the phone no. of. Will keep you all posted on progress. At 8:14 AM -0600 3/29/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da others You can count me in too. I totally agree that such preservations are paramount. --Ram On 3/29/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks so much for caring Utpal. I will do that. At 10:59 AM + 3/29/08, utpal borpujari wrote: Chandan-da and others: please draft the appeal and ask everyone who support it to send their names to you to be appended to it (with their profession location). I will take the responsibility of disseminating it in media in Assam to the best of my abilities. - Utpal - Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Inbox. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz: Chutiya Xalika
Thanks Bikash for reminding us of the Sutiya Xaalika name. Back at Namti we called it that as well--completely forgot about it. At 3:15 AM +0100 3/30/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS wrote: Haaa... Dada This is known in Darrang and Kamrup as CHUTIYA SHALIKA /XALIKA ( Chutiya Shalka).They are the direct version of original Indian Mynah all because they call talk like you and me. I had one before leaving for Military.She used to talk and if I run will fly behind me and sit on my shoulders... now when I saw this- I only tear for her..She was with us for long and will sit in front of us always like a part of family and look at us.Here also I tried to keep one, but died due to some food poison.Its too painful to miss them.So no more birds to sit on my shoulders.. This bird is very humanly and available in Bangalore also.But here people are not like we Axomiya !! Forget about bird, they dnt know the next home. Hope al doubt is clear now- Bikash Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:excellent Chitta! And thanks for sharing the autherntic Oxomiya name, Kath Xaalika.Incidentally the widespread , lowly Xaalika Sorai is a Mynah too. It is called Common Indian Mynah. - Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] What an Abomination!
You are very right Uttam. The sensitivities and taste of our pillars of society leaves a lot to be desired. They attempt to copy the west to look sophisticated, but has no intellectual foundation and self esteem to speak of. Such a culture is is destined for doom in a very short period of time as is becoming quite evident all over India. I wished Assam's intelligentsia and the pillars of Assam's cultural heritage would have risen to oppose this brazen undertaking. If someone can get the e-mail address of this group of people who are taking on the opposition to the Sai-Baba structure, I will be pleased to offer my moral support. I welcome others to join in this effort by writing an open letter to Assam media and help give the effort publicity with the hope of raising public awareness, like we did on behalf of retaining the 'Assam' name and not desecrating it as 'Asom'. cm PS: We should not mix up Sai-Baba 's religion or cult with the architectural desecration of arguably Assam's most significant archaeological edifice. It is not about Sai Baba,not about Ali Baba or not about any Baba. At 1:57 PM + 3/28/08, uttam borthakur wrote: There has been a trend in mainland India ( especially the northern part) to rob the ancient places of worship or other heritage sites of their solemnity by replacing or supplementing those with grotesque ostentations.The face-lift they try to give to degenerating relics are ususally poorly done with abject lack of imagination and the result is usually pathetic. This philistine mind-set has taken roots in Assam also. We are also to be blamed becasue we have become desentized and have allowed money to have its way. Mridul Bhuyan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What I remember during my childhood, when I was probably in Class-X, In the Siva Doul Complex, prayer meetings of Sai Baba followers were held regularly on Sundays. However, I am of the opinion that allowing prayer in a temple complex does not entitle one to build a temple in the near vicinity of such an old temple complex against the law. Regards Mridul Chan Mahanta wrote: Ram: To give you a nasty reply: Do you think the questions you ask about permits, neighborhood's apporval etc. have any merit in the context? What--have you become American or something ? How did the municipality land got to Sai Baban's? Good question Ram. But not a smart one if you forgot what I mean. Why did the interested public not protest before the construction of the Sai Baba temple started? I have been trying to educate you folks about that., But obviously you don't learn do you? Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want to build a temple right next to a historical site? Take a wild guess! Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want to build a temple right next to a historical site? Take another wild guess! Bottom line Ram is this: These are structures of Assam's historical /archaeological heritage . The deserve not to be desecrated by new construction within its visual bounds -- no matter dedicated to what god/s , no matter how beautiful. It is a matter of cultural aesthetics, something our people need a ahuge amount of educating on. Incidentally, when I become the Emperor of Xiboxagor, one of the first things I will do will be to tear down that horrible water tank that was built rifght near the Xibo-doul, nearly a quarter century back. *** The Texan Mosque v/s the Church is an issue of religious bigotries on the part of the Church-wallas. The Moswquewallas got the permit obviously because it is an area zoned for Places of Worship. So the Zoning authorities were not at fault. When the dispute goes to litigation, I would bet you a dollar the Mosque-wallas will win. Exactly similar thing happened right here in St. Louis, TWICE. Both the times the Mosques got built. c-da :-) At 8:48 AM -0600 3/27/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, The preservation of historical and ancient idols are, of course, paramount, and all of us should support such efforts. Some questions do arise though: How is it possible for any private organization to build on land owned by the Sivasagar Municipality Board? It seems the Sai Baba temple is being built as we speak, so how did the District authorities give it permissions? Aren't these authorities also interested in the preservation of these ancient idols? Why did the interested public not protest before the construction of the Sai Baba temple started? (when the permits were issued or the when the foundations were just being laid). How does it benefit anyone at mid-waters? Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want to build a temple right next to a historical site? In Texas there was something vaguely similar. A mosque was being built (on land purchased by some Muslim business people). There was a Church nearby. The issuing authorities of course issued permits without batting an eyelid. But, no one protested when the permits were issued
Re: [Assam] From AT--- What an Abomination!
I am as sentimental as you are on the preservation of historical /archaeological heritage. You got it wrong again Ram. It is not about sentimentality. People who do not know how to preserve their cultural heritage will lose their cultural identity very rapidly. Last November I was horrified to witness the last remaining pieces of the over 400 years old Tawang monastery's original timber craftsmanship and frescoes of a very sophisticated Tibetan architectural heritage torn down and being replicated by North-Indian laborers, in cement and concrete. I asked if the ornate, carved and painted timber would be re-used. The workers shook their heads --- naaah! More than likely they will be burnt by the next cold spell to warm some cold and culturally dead bodies. Nobody was there to give a hoot about what a priceless heritage the Monpas have so easily given away to Indian rupees that bought their culture over, while some Rajasthani Military Engg. Service bigwig in full regalia, surrounded by soldiers of many ranks in battle fatigue, were taking pictures of his family standing in front of this and that. Hehehe! Still hasn't filtered thru yet, C'da. You will have to be much clearer. *** I was afraid so Ram :-). Let me ask you this: HOW exactly do you figure those folks you expect to have risen to their duties of helping avoid such an intrusive and invasive action ? What do they know about civic involvement and citizens' responsibilities? What DID you know when you grew up in Assam? These things don't come imprinted on your genes . People have to learn. It is not something pour people have seen to learn from. These collective knowledge and wisdom come from generations of evolution , of learning from their mistakes and seeing better examples. Whatever such social knowledge existed were first destroyed by the British, and then thoroughly wiped by a horribly depraved Indian non-system. The Monpas developed a highly sophisticated architectural idiom and craftsmanship over millenia, that has its root in Tibetan civilization. Their close-knit villages and interdependencies are quite amazing. But in Tawang you can see it rapidly being displaced by North-Indian garbage architecture , with nary a sign of any craftsmanship anywhere. The only saving grace was that I found these Monpa towns nearly as not filthy as our own plains settlements. *** To put it very simply: The values that you cite so effortlessly have to be INCULCATED by those who know. Just like HOW a western style DEMOCRACY that you so ardently hold up , works, has to be inculcated, TAUGHT! It does not fall from the skies, nor does it get imbued just because they read about them, or see it on TV. That simple! Here in, those who know better have a responsibility to stand up and be counted. At 11:09 AM -0600 3/27/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da I am as sentimental as you are on the preservation of historical /archaeological heritage. We can never emulate or replicate these original artifacts. The essence of what I'm trying to say is that a lot these problems could be at least be warded off. Here, I blame the Municipality for being lax, the Sai Baba people to trying to somehow take advantage of a possibly corruupt district authority. I'm also quite sure that the ASI is totally unaware of what is happening. They might get into it after the temple is finisfed and you have devotees running around. But this: Why did the interested public not protest before the construction of the Sai Baba temple started? I have been trying to educate you folks about that., But obviously you don't learn do you? Hehehe! Still hasn't filtered thru yet, C'da. You will have to be much clearer. I'm wondering, why these interested people did not protest right at the begining. Why really wait till the temple is half-done? Now, of course, it is entirely possible that they had no earthly idea that the Baba temple people was going up. Incidentally, when I become the Emperor of Xiboxagor Now, there you have my full support, because I know, you will atleast be ever vigilant and pre-empt any attempts that may affect ancient architecture and historical monuments.:):) --Ram On 3/27/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ram: To give you a nasty reply: Do you think the questions you ask about permits, neighborhood's apporval etc. have any merit in the context? What--have you become American or something ? How did the municipality land got to Sai Baban's? Good question Ram. But not a smart one if you forgot what I mean. Why did the interested public not protest before the construction of the Sai Baba temple started? I have been trying to educate you folks about that., But obviously you don't learn do you? Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want to build a temple right next to a historical site? Take a wild guess! Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want
[Assam] AT Photo- A Quiz
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar2808/main There is a gorgeous picture of a black bird sitting on a bunch of flowers. It is one of those symbolic images of spring in Assam. But unfortunately, in yet another pathetic display of ignorance of our natural treasures, the AT labeled the flowers wrong as modaar ( Indian coral flower). I guess ALL red flowers are 'modaar' to our one dimensional knowldege-brigades . Can anyone identify them correctly? And can anyone identify the black bird? cm ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] From TOI --Indian Special Court's Speed
The fact that the Maharashtra govt. came up with the idea to handle the riot related petty cases is commendable. *** When you set the standard so low, even excreta could be said to smell wonderful. The IDEA is not NEW by any standard. It has been going around for decades. So it took fifteen years to set this up? Where has desi-demokrasy been so far? If you can wait long enough , everything will be fine some day. Unfortunately THOSE who only live ONCE, that could be a bit late, don't you think? Did you see the following? My date would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign my name, and then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return home by evening, a day's earnings lost, said Ghaffar. I was in custody for two and a half months. They beat me up and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you, *** That was summary punishment meted out, which continues to remain the centerpiece of Indian justice! Imagine that. That is desi-demokrasy for you. At 5:43 AM -0700 3/27/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: OMahanta, Did you read the whole story? The case was pending for 15 years since 1993. The special court disposed off the case in one hour of hearing, in stead of sending Mr. Ghaffar home again. In my estimate that is a lot of progress. The court itself was set up last year - when last year the report does not say. Did it take one year for the court to start its business? Probably. The magistrate/s had to be appointed, court house had to be established, priority list of the cases had to be prepared. The fact that the Maharashtra govt. came up with the idea to handle the riot related petty cases is commendable. Real success will be evident only if the court disposes off all assigned cases in a record time. It will be interesting to know if the special court has been given a deadline. If there is a potential that the magistrate/s get recognition for meeting the deadline, there is a likelihood that it will be met. O'Deka == Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: *** If I am not mistaken these 'special' courts were designed to provide fast justice, weren't they? cm 14 yrs in courts, 1 hour to walk free 27 Mar 2008, 0155 hrs IST,Rukmini Shrinivasan,TNN Print Save EMail Write to Editor MUMBAI: The much hyped but much delayed special courts, which the Maharashtra government set up last year to try 1992-93 riots cases, disposed of the first case on Tuesday: a man accused of stealing two cans of groundnut oil 14 years ago was acquitted. Metropolitan magistrate R C Bapat Sarkar took a little over an hour to acquit Abdul Ghaffar, whose case was one of the priority cases specially selected by the government to be tried in the new courts. Ghaffar (45), a sherbet seller on Mohammed Ali Road, was arrested in May 1993 for breaking into and stealing two cans of oil from a godown near his house in December 1992. Dozens of us were rounded up during those days and charged with offences ranging from theft to murder depending on our 'look', Ghaffar said during a break from work at his house near Suleman Usman Bakery. I was in custody for two and a half months. They beat me up and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you, he added. Ghaffar was charged under Sections 380 (robbery) and 454 (trespass) of IPC. His trial began at the Mazgaon magistrate's court. My date would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign my name, and then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return home by evening, a day's earnings lost, said Ghaffar. For the past two years, there was no hearing and Ghaffar was told by police that his case had been put in the dormant file. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] From AT--- What an Abomination!
Can we raise OUR voices in support of these 'scribes'? It will be a worthy effort. cm http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar2708\State2 Scribes oppose Sai Baba temple near Bishnu Dol From Our Correspondent SIVASAGAR, March 26 - Scribes in Sivasagar, accredited to various newspapers and channels met DC Sivasagar NM Hussain and submitted a memorandum requesting him to intervene personally on behalf of District Administration in the construction of a three storey mandir of Sri Satya Sai Baba on a plot allegedly belonging to Sivasagar Municipality Board barely a few meters away from historic Bishnu-dol. It may be mentioned here that the three historic dols, Vishnu, Shiva and Devidol built by Borraja Draupadi Modambika, 2nd queen of King Shivasingha in 1731 AD are under preservation and protection of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1988. According to ancient monuments and Archeological Sites Remains Act 1959, no permanent construction on excavation work can be undertaken within a distance of 200 metres of the monuments protected by ASI. Therefore, the scribes feel that the construction of the Sai Temple should be halted and also other constructions in the entire area without ASI approved. The scribes included Prof Sonaram Boruah, Prof Guna Baruah, Manoj Borthakur, Maniram Dutta, MI Bora, Mujhaheed Ali, Purusuttam Kalita, Ratu Das, Ratul Konwar, Konkan Bora and Jyotirmoy Rajkhowa. The scribes have also sent copies of the memorandum to regional director ASI, NE Circle, Sivasagar Development Authority and Sivasagar Municipality Board. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] From AT--- What an Abomination!
Ram: To give you a nasty reply: Do you think the questions you ask about permits, neighborhood's apporval etc. have any merit in the context? What--have you become American or something ? How did the municipality land got to Sai Baban's? Good question Ram. But not a smart one if you forgot what I mean. Why did the interested public not protest before the construction of the Sai Baba temple started? I have been trying to educate you folks about that., But obviously you don't learn do you? Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want to build a temple right next to a historical site? Take a wild guess! Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want to build a temple right next to a historical site? Take another wild guess! Bottom line Ram is this: These are structures of Assam's historical /archaeological heritage . The deserve not to be desecrated by new construction within its visual bounds -- no matter dedicated to what god/s , no matter how beautiful. It is a matter of cultural aesthetics, something our people need a ahuge amount of educating on. Incidentally, when I become the Emperor of Xiboxagor, one of the first things I will do will be to tear down that horrible water tank that was built rifght near the Xibo-doul, nearly a quarter century back. *** The Texan Mosque v/s the Church is an issue of religious bigotries on the part of the Church-wallas. The Moswquewallas got the permit obviously because it is an area zoned for Places of Worship. So the Zoning authorities were not at fault. When the dispute goes to litigation, I would bet you a dollar the Mosque-wallas will win. Exactly similar thing happened right here in St. Louis, TWICE. Both the times the Mosques got built. c-da :-) At 8:48 AM -0600 3/27/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, The preservation of historical and ancient idols are, of course, paramount, and all of us should support such efforts. Some questions do arise though: How is it possible for any private organization to build on land owned by the Sivasagar Municipality Board? It seems the Sai Baba temple is being built as we speak, so how did the District authorities give it permissions? Aren't these authorities also interested in the preservation of these ancient idols? Why did the interested public not protest before the construction of the Sai Baba temple started? (when the permits were issued or the when the foundations were just being laid). How does it benefit anyone at mid-waters? Lastly, why did the Sai Baba people want to build a temple right next to a historical site? In Texas there was something vaguely similar. A mosque was being built (on land purchased by some Muslim business people). There was a Church nearby. The issuing authorities of course issued permits without batting an eyelid. But, no one protested when the permits were issued. Then there was a huge public outcry against building of the mosque. Now, I think it is in in litigation, and there is lot of ill feelings in both communities. Sometimes such confrontations can be deftly avoided with some prudence by both the issuing authorities and the protesting public. Religious groups often want to force their presence in some place or the other, just because they have a 'right' to do so. And their reasoning seems to be to propogate their brand of religion - make it more palatable among the natives, so to speak :) Also would a Naam Garh have made a difference? Don't know. Skeptical as always:) --Ram On 3/27/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Can we raise OUR voices in support of these 'scribes'? It will be a worthy effort. cm http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar2708\State2 Scribes oppose Sai Baba temple near Bishnu Dol From Our Correspondent SIVASAGAR, March 26 - Scribes in Sivasagar, accredited to various newspapers and channels met DC Sivasagar NM Hussain and submitted a memorandum requesting him to intervene personally on behalf of District Administration in the construction of a three storey mandir of Sri Satya Sai Baba on a plot allegedly belonging to Sivasagar Municipality Board barely a few meters away from historic Bishnu-dol. It may be mentioned here that the three historic dols, Vishnu, Shiva and Devidol built by Borraja Draupadi Modambika, 2nd queen of King Shivasingha in 1731 AD are under preservation and protection of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1988. According to ancient monuments and Archeological Sites Remains Act 1959, no permanent construction on excavation work can be undertaken within a distance of 200 metres of the monuments protected by ASI. Therefore, the scribes feel that the construction of the Sai Temple should be halted and also other constructions in the entire area without ASI approved. The scribes included Prof Sonaram Boruah, Prof Guna Baruah, Manoj Borthakur, Maniram Dutta, MI Bora, Mujhaheed Ali, Purusuttam Kalita, Ratu Das
[Assam] RealPlayer Video Link: United Nations Webcast - Human Rights Council Seventh Session
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:34:16 -0700 (PDT) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RealPlayer Video Link: United Nations Webcast - Human Rights Council Seventh Session X-Chzlrs: 0 http://realplayer.com/ Dr. M. Hazarika has sent you a RealPlayer video link: rtsp://webcast.un.org/ondemand/conferences/unhrc/seventh/hrc080326am-eng.rm?start=01:05:57end=01:09:20 rtsp://webcast.un.org/ondemand/conferences/unhrc/seventh/hrc080326am-eng.rm?start=01:05:57end=01:09:20United Nations Webcast - Human Rights Council Seventh Session Dear All. I hope the information on this link will be informative.Sorry that my delivery was hapmpered by a sore throat I was nursing in the last few days. Mukul Hazarika This message was sent from RealPlayer. http://realplayer.com for free and download web video directly to your computer. http://www.realnetworks.com/company/privacy/index.htmlPrivacy Policy ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Support Tibet, (Water sanity justice is inseparable from 'ethno-cultural'/human sanity justice)
The following was reply to a post in Waterwatch. cm If there is merit to the ancient adage that ' Charity begins at home', then may I suggest we start a similar, but even more vigorous campaign to force Indian Govt. to start a SINCERE negotiating process in Assam with the ULFA for example? If we can be so caring about Tibetan freedom aspirations, why can't we for those who are even closer to us,in Nagaland, in Assam , in Kashmir? Somehow Avaaz's zeal seems to be driven less by concerns about human rights of Tibetans than a thinly veiled need to beat up on the Chinese on grounds of Indian nationalism, as could be easily surmised from its similar campaign during the Burmese crackdown on its protesters while remaining mute witnesses to India's own suppression , often brutal, in Kashmir and in its NE holdings, unable to utter a word defending the human rights of those who are far closer to home. Had to say it like it is! If only our intelligentsia could have risen to it, India's own problems could have been resolved long ago. Now it holds the world's record on the longest running low-intensity warfares within its own holdings, while singing praises of non-violent resolution of such conflicts thru dialogs. cm ( I am an ethnic Assamese) PS: I am ALL for Tibetan freedom as well as for Taiwan. Always have been, always will be. But I can't stand the hypocrisy that goes around in broad daylight. At 5:44 AM -0700 3/26/08, bharat mansata wrote: Subject: Tibet - support the Dalai Lama Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:21:22 +0530 Hi, I just signed an urgent petition calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and dialogue with the Dalai Lama. This is really important, and I thought you might want to take action: http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACKhttp://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK After nearly 50 years of Chinese rule, the Tibetans are sending out a global cry for change. Violence is spreading across Tibet and neighbouring regions, and the Chinese regime is right now making a crucial choice between tougher crackdown or dialogue. President Hu Jintao needs to hear that quot;Made in Chinaquot; exports and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing will have the support of the world#039;s people only if he chooses dialogue. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention. Click below to sign the petition - in just 3 days, the campaign is almost half way to the goal of 1 million signatures! http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACKhttp://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK Thank you so much for your help - forward this email to friends! Looking for last minute shopping deals? http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51734/*http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shoppingFind them fast with Yahoo! Search. __._,_.___ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/message/7011;_ylc=X3oDMTM0YzFldjdnBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBG1zZ0lkAzcwMTEEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMjA2NTQxMTEyBHRwY0lkAzcwMTE-Messages in this topic (1) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwZjdqZXVtBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBG1zZ0lkAzcwMTEEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMjA2NTQxMTEy?act=replymessageNum=7011Reply (via web post) | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ2lsZnE3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTIwNjU0MTExMg--Start a new topic http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlOTFnbWcwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTIwNjU0MTExMg--Messages | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMmFkM2gzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2ZpbGVzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Files | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMWhtMWllBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Bob3QEc3RpbWUDMTIwNjU0MTExMg--Photos | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZzgxbXFiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2xpbmtzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Links | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjZHM4bXRoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2RiBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Database | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdHF0anU2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3BvbGxzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Polls | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkODU3azc3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2NhbARzdGltZQMxMjA2NTQxMTEyCalendar
Re: [Assam] [WaterWatch] Support Tibet, (Water sanity justice is inseparable from 'ethno-cultural'/human sanity justice)
If there is merit to the ancient adage that ' Charity begins at home', then may I suggest we start a similar, but even more vigorous campaign to force Indian Govt. to start a SINCERE negotiating process in Assam with the ULFA for example? If we can be so caring about Tibetan freedom aspirations, why can't we for those who are even closer to us,in Nagaland, in Assam , in Kashmir? Somehow Avaaz's zeal seems to be driven less by concerns about human rights of Tibetans than a thinly veiled need to beat up on the Chinese on grounds of Indian nationalism, as could be easily surmised from its similar campaign during the Burmese crackdown on its protesters while remaining mute witnesses to India's own suppression , often brutal, in Kashmir and in its NE holdings, unable to utter a word defending the human rights of those who are far closer to home. Had to say it like it is! If only our intelligentsia could have risen to it, India's own problems could have been resolved long ago. Now it holds the world's record on the longest running low-intensity warfares within its own holdings, while singing praises of non-violent resolution of such conflicts thru dialogs. cm ( I am an ethnic Assamese) PS: I am ALL for Tibetan freedom as well as for Taiwan. Always have been, always will be. But I can't stand the hypocrisy that goes around in broad daylight. At 5:44 AM -0700 3/26/08, bharat mansata wrote: Subject: Tibet - support the Dalai Lama Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:21:22 +0530 Hi, I just signed an urgent petition calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and dialogue with the Dalai Lama. This is really important, and I thought you might want to take action: http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACKhttp://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK After nearly 50 years of Chinese rule, the Tibetans are sending out a global cry for change. Violence is spreading across Tibet and neighbouring regions, and the Chinese regime is right now making a crucial choice between tougher crackdown or dialogue. President Hu Jintao needs to hear that quot;Made in Chinaquot; exports and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing will have the support of the world#039;s people only if he chooses dialogue. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention. Click below to sign the petition - in just 3 days, the campaign is almost half way to the goal of 1 million signatures! http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACKhttp://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK Thank you so much for your help - forward this email to friends! Looking for last minute shopping deals? http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51734/*http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shoppingFind them fast with Yahoo! Search. __._,_.___ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/message/7011;_ylc=X3oDMTM0YzFldjdnBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBG1zZ0lkAzcwMTEEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMjA2NTQxMTEyBHRwY0lkAzcwMTE-Messages in this topic (1) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwZjdqZXVtBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBG1zZ0lkAzcwMTEEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMjA2NTQxMTEy?act=replymessageNum=7011Reply (via web post) | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ2lsZnE3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTIwNjU0MTExMg--Start a new topic http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlOTFnbWcwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTIwNjU0MTExMg--Messages | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMmFkM2gzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2ZpbGVzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Files | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMWhtMWllBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Bob3QEc3RpbWUDMTIwNjU0MTExMg--Photos | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZzgxbXFiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2xpbmtzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Links | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjZHM4bXRoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2RiBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Database | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdHF0anU2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3BvbGxzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDY1NDExMTI-Polls | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaterWatch/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkODU3azc3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzk1NDI2MDkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MjkxNzcxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2NhbARzdGltZQMxMjA2NTQxMTEyCalendar
Re: [Assam] [WaterWatch] Support Tibet, (Water sanity justice is inseparable from 'ethno-cultural'/human sanity justice)
It is understandable in the US of A ( please do not take it as a dig... i have no intention of doing that) of George W Bush, *** Not at all Uttam. There is truth to it. Bush-Cheney have taken us into a war under false pretenses. But the difference here is that once the American people have figured that out, they are not taking it lying down or turning a blind eye to it, like Indian intelligentsia has been. How Bush/Cheney would love to rule over a population like India's with desi-demokrasy as a foil! At 4:37 PM + 3/26/08, uttam borthakur wrote: Is not it strange Chandan Da that in the lands of Buddha, Ashoka ( who took up Buddhism to consolidate his empire), Confucius, Lao Tze et al, there is dearth of dialogues? It is understandable in the US of A ( please do not take it as a dig... i have no intention of doing that) of George W Bush, but it is really strange in India and China. They are supposed to have some traditions to build upon. I believe they have abandoned their traditions and is now totally globalised (read americanised). Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: If there is merit to the ancient adage that ' Charity begins at home', then may I suggest we start a similar, but even more vigorous campaign to force Indian Govt. to start a SINCERE negotiating process in Assam with the ULFA for example? If we can be so caring about Tibetan freedom aspirations, why can't we for those who are even closer to us,in Nagaland, in Assam , in Kashmir? Somehow Avaaz's zeal seems to be driven less by concerns about human rights of Tibetans than a thinly veiled need to beat up on the Chinese on grounds of Indian nationalism, as could be easily surmised from its similar campaign during the Burmese crackdown on its protesters while remaining mute witnesses to India's own suppression , often brutal, in Kashmir and in its NE holdings, unable to utter a word defending the human rights of those who are far closer to home. Had to say it like it is! If only our intelligentsia could have risen to it, India's own problems could have been resolved long ago. Now it holds the world's record on the longest running low-intensity warfares within its own holdings, while singing praises of non-violent resolution of such conflicts thru dialogs. cm ( I am an ethnic Assamese) PS: I am ALL for Tibetan freedom as well as for Taiwan. Always have been, always will be. But I can't stand the hypocrisy that goes around in broad daylight. At 5:44 AM -0700 3/26/08, bharat mansata wrote: Subject: Tibet - support the Dalai Lama Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:21:22 +0530 Hi, I just signed an urgent petition calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and dialogue with the Dalai Lama. This is really important, and I thought you might want to take action: http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK After nearly 50 years of Chinese rule, the Tibetans are sending out a global cry for change. Violence is spreading across Tibet and neighbouring regions, and the Chinese regime is right now making a crucial choice between tougher crackdown or dialogue. President Hu Jintao needs to hear that Made in China exports and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing will have the support of the world's people only if he chooses dialogue. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention. Click below to sign the petition - in just 3 days, the campaign is almost half way to the goal of 1 million signatures! http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK Thank you so much for your help - forward this email to friends! Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Calendar Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: DigestSwitch delivery to Daily Digest | Delivery Format: TraditionalSwitch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity 6 New Members 1 New Files Visit Your Group Yahoo! Finance 'http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13o6g9s8a/M=493064.12016257.12445664.8674578/D=groups/S=1705291771:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1206548313/L=/B=4fu2FELaX9g-/J=1206541113262551/A=4507179/R=0/SIG=12de4rskk/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=50284/*http://finance.yahoo.com/personIt's Now Personal Guides, news, advice more. Y! Messenger Files to share? Send up to 1GB of files in an IM. Y! Groups blog the best source for the latest scoop on Groups. . __,_._,___ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Uttam Kumar Borthakur - Get your domain and website for less than Rs.100/month*. Click here. ___ assam
[Assam] From TOI --Indian Special Court's Speed
*** If I am not mistaken these 'special' courts were designed to provide fast justice, weren't they? cm 14 yrs in courts, 1 hour to walk free 27 Mar 2008, 0155 hrs IST,Rukmini Shrinivasan,TNN Print SaveEMail Write to Editor MUMBAI: The much hyped but much delayed special courts, which the Maharashtra government set up last year to try 1992-93 riots cases, disposed of the first case on Tuesday: a man accused of stealing two cans of groundnut oil 14 years ago was acquitted. Metropolitan magistrate R C Bapat Sarkar took a little over an hour to acquit Abdul Ghaffar, whose case was one of the priority cases specially selected by the government to be tried in the new courts. Ghaffar (45), a sherbet seller on Mohammed Ali Road, was arrested in May 1993 for breaking into and stealing two cans of oil from a godown near his house in December 1992. Dozens of us were rounded up during those days and charged with offences ranging from theft to murder depending on our 'look', Ghaffar said during a break from work at his house near Suleman Usman Bakery. I was in custody for two and a half months. They beat me up and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you, he added. Ghaffar was charged under Sections 380 (robbery) and 454 (trespass) of IPC. His trial began at the Mazgaon magistrate's court. My date would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign my name, and then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return home by evening, a day's earnings lost, said Ghaffar. For the past two years, there was no hearing and Ghaffar was told by police that his case had been put in the dormant file. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Little Davie
You are BAAAD! :-) At 12:39 PM -0700 3/23/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Enjoy!! A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, Everyone who thinks they're stupid, stand up! After a few seconds, Little Davie stood up. The teacher said, Do you think you're stupid, Little Davie? No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself! ** Little Davie watched, fascinated, as his mother smoothed cold cream on her face. Why do you do that, mommy? he asked. To make myself beautiful, said his mother, who then began removing the cream with a tissue. What's the matter? asked Little Davie. Giving up? *** A Sunday School teacher of preschoolers was concerned that his students might be a little confused about Jesus Christ because of the Christmas season emphasis on His birth. He wanted to make sure they understood that the birth of Jesus occurred a long time ago, that He grew up, etc. So he asked his cl ass, Where is Jesus today? Steven raised his hand and said, He's in heaven. Mary was called on and answered, He's in my heart. Little Davie, waving his hand furiously, blurted out, I know! I know! He's in our bathroom! The teacher was completely at a loss for a few very long seconds. Finally, he gathered his wits and asked Little Davie how he knew this Little Davie said, Well.. every morning, my father gets up, bangs on the bathroom door, and yells, Jesus Christ, are you still in there?! The math teacher saw that little Davie wasn't paying attention in class. She called on him and said, Davie! What are 2 and 4 and 28 and 44? Little Davie quickly replied, NBC, CBS, HBO and the Cartoon Network! *** Little Davie's kindergarten class was on a field trip to their local police station where they saw pictures tacked to a bulletin board of the 10 most wanted criminals. One of the youngsters pointed to a picture and asked if it really was the photo of a wanted person. Yes, said the policeman. The detectives want very badly to capture him. Little Davie asked, Why didn't you keep him when you took his picture? *** Little Davie attended a horse auction with his father. He watched as his father moved from horse to horse, running his hands up and down the horse's legs, rump, and chest. After a few minutes, Davie asked, Dad, why are you doing that? His father replied, Because when I'm buying horses, I have to make sure that they are healthy and in good shape before I buy. Davie, looking worried, said, Dad, I think the UPS guy wants to buy Mom. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] [WaterWatch] Need for a paradigm shift in groundwater governance
-- you have to dam all rivers simply at 1m elevation differences with Shannon Dams- *** Is this an engineered solution to ALL water problems? A panacea? What happens to these rivers silted up by damming like this? What happens to all the low lying farm areas and homesteads , when the vast areas of almost flat lands thru which these flow with water a meter high inundating them better part of the year? What happens to the plants and animals whose lives are regulated and impacted by the natural cycles of water flow and dry period that these numerous reservoirs will forever change? What happens to the environment when these water reservoirs turn into vile, stagnant fens breeding mosquitoes and turning into reservoirs of rotting vegetation and cesspools? What happens to navigation of the rivers ? I realize little happens now, but should we block it forever? Good engineering is not one dimensional. Damming up rivers --never mind high or low; rampant embankment building, rampant city building without planning -- are all examples of BAD engineering undertaken to solve one problem, but creating many more in their wakes and destructive of the balance that is so sorely lacking all around us, all over the world. While it is good to examine alternative ideas, it erodes our credibility when we offer solutions that are as poorly considered as recommending 1 meter high dams on ALL rivers all over their trajectories. At 8:09 AM +0530 3/19/08, mc mahant wrote: Groundwater in India is the life line for Indian agriculture and formeeting the rural drinking water needs. Over the years surface waterbased sources have become unreliable due to preferential transfer ofsurface water to urban cities Dear Nitya Jacob, May I add a few thoughts to your well -arrived -at observations: life line for Indian agriculture: --- this lifeline can not eternally feed you without recharging.As RAIN cannot recharge enough -- you have to dam all rivers simply at 1m elevation differences with Shannon Dams-locally built with 100%local initiative-- not Delhi sending Central Ground Water Board. This will ensure 365x24 availability of water in the rivers-small and big--fish.ducksbirdsboatingangling--. And effectively recharge the riverside Ground with water!! rural drinking water needs: if majority India is Rural -- do not use the 'rural' paternalistically. Bring Technology to everybody. Please visit my site--www.innovation2survive.com-- all there. become unreliable due to preferential transfer ofsurface water to urban cities -You mean gone the way Ganga Yamuna has? REVERSAL is the way out .All possible. Where there is a will, there is a way. Your urban cities do not need fond protection any more. They Go Green or perish . mm To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:40:45 +Subject: [WaterWatch] Need for a paradigm shift in groundwater governance Dear Members,I work as Director, Operations, in the Andhra Pradesh Farmer ManagedGroundwater Systems (APFAMGS) Project's, that operates on the keypremise that behavioral change is necessary for voluntary selfregulation. APFAMGS is a partnership with farmers for implementingDemand Side Groundwater Management. In seven drought prone districtsof Andhra Pradesh, India, thousands of farmers in 638 habitations havetaken the lead to reduce exploitation of groundwater. During the Visioning Workshop of the Water Community last year, we haddiscussed the need for a paradigm shift in groundwater governancebased on community participation. This will ensure sustainability ofgroundwater as well food and livelihood security of rural communities.It was suggested that we collate information on examples of where thishas happened to evolve a working model that could be taken up byinterested parties in other areas of the country.Groundwater in India is the life line for Indian agriculture and formeeting the rural drinking water needs. Over the years surface waterbased sources have become unreliable due to preferential transfer ofsurface water to urban cities. Likewise surface irrigation sources arefast declining and currently more than 65% of farmers have come todepend on the unseen subsurface water for all their drinking water,irrigation and cottage industry water needs. Thus Groundwater emerged as the principle drinking water andirrigation source which has reached to untouched and environmentallydifficult terrains. Expansion of groundwater development will continueto play a lead role in meeting drinking water supply, healthsanitation and food security needs. Evidence indicates that access toprotected drinking water and irrigation needs generate many positiveexternalities in the overall household micro-economy. Thus thereliability and sustainability of groundwater sources is emerging as acritical parameter in socio economic and irrigation development.Overdependence on groundwater is a grave
[Assam] Question
What is a good courier service to employ to send a package of papers to Guwahati from USA? Is DHL better than Fedex for example? Does Fedex go there? ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Question
Just came back from the post office, where I went after an hour or so of struggles to complete the customs declaration form via Fedex for 12 ozs. of documents, but failed and which was going to cost me $ 76 . But US Overseas Express mail ( delivery in seven business days) did NOT require any customs declaration for documents and cost just $ 27. I even had the customs declaration form filled out before I approached the postal clerk's window. He just tore that apart, as he did the Certified Mail receipt. That WAS a positively good experience at a govt. office :-). At 11:26 AM -0700 3/18/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote: If you are sending only Docs, you do not need Custom Documentation with courier (at least for UPS, which I used). For USPS, all docs and non-docs require Custom Doc. USPS uses a standard customs declaration form If you agree to a 7 day delivery window, USPS is around 50% cheaper then commercial couriers Thanks. I will go to the PO instead of Fedex etc. They are very expensive. Besides, I have spent nearly an hour now trying to prepare the customs declaration documentation --and still no success. India!!! USPost EMS does wonderfully - max 5 days. DHL ,FEDEX,UPS,TNT All Have links. mm Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:34:37 -0500 To: assam at assamnet.org From: cmahanta at charter.net Subject: [Assam] Question What is a good courier service to employ to send a package of papers to Guwahati from USA? Is DHL better than Fedex for example? Does Fedex go there? ___ assam mailing list assam at assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Post ads for free - to sell, rent or even buy.www.yello.in http://ss1.richmedia.in/recurl.asp?pid=186 ___ assam mailing list assam at assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Lalu Yadavs youtube moments !!! enjoy
At 8:32 PM -0700 3/13/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: That was funny. The reality is Laloo knows what he is doing and you have to give him credit for his knowledge of the basics. He knows business better than the MBAs. He may not speak English. But then how many of the world leaders do? Indians need to cut the cord. *** I agree. But it is not so much as about cutting the cord. Nothing wrong with maintaining the cord. It is about equating English language proficiency to intelligence, wisdom,expertise, ability, sophistication , good upbringing or what have you that one looks up to. That is the baggage of colonial servitude that many of our fellow men have not been able to shed, even after so many generations since the British left. Dilip == mc mahant [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How will Lalu's AAM AADMI concepts conflict with PWC 's BRIC - or INDIA+CHINA we-are -co-super-powers vision? In China I saw great Posters at Bus centre facades We will carry you where you want to -- but must you travel? And Lalu is no fool. A great actor. The Speaker bared his ' I am a superior Babu' fangs. mm From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:59:45 -0400 Subject: [Assam] Lalu Yadavs youtube moments !!! enjoy enjoy ! Lalu in parliament- translates his hindi speech into (H) inglish .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhequbKB-bc Laluji speaks to an English TV channel.. ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVe966Rrr5c Lalu the ROCKSTAR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAeOkSCnNfcNR=1 _ Need to know the score, the latest news, or you need your Hotmail®-get your fix. http://www.msnmobilefix.com/Default.aspx ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Tried the new MSN Messenger? Its cool! Download now. http://messenger.msn.com/Download/Default.aspx?mkt=en-in ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Lalu Yadavs youtube moments !!! enjoy
Loss of independent thinking while trying to copy the west is another. *** Absolutely! What do you think of the fact that India has maintained the ICS model for today's IAS? *** This has many components. One being the inability to analyze, pinpoint and resolve problems. Another being afraid of change. Yet another being the inability to forge national unity among a grossly fractured polity to muster the political will to spearhead change. Add to that the defective electoral system that prevents people who are able and have integrity to enter the political process; garbage-in-garbage out process. And we can't downplay the fact of the people's lack of information, dis-information and ignorance of what constitutes democracy and how it is supposed to function as a government. There may be more. At 12:51 PM -0700 3/14/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Thanks for defining one component of the cord. There are many others. Loss of independent thinking while trying to copy the west is another. What do you think of the fact that India has maintained the ICS model for today's IAS? Dilip Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 8:32 PM -0700 3/13/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: That was funny. The reality is Laloo knows what he is doing and you have to give him credit for his knowledge of the basics. He knows business better than the MBAs. He may not speak English. But then how many of the world leaders do? Indians need to cut the cord. *** I agree. But it is not so much as about cutting the cord. Nothing wrong with maintaining the cord. It is about equating English language proficiency to intelligence, wisdom,expertise, ability, sophistication , good upbringing or what have you that one looks up to. That is the baggage of colonial servitude that many of our fellow men have not been able to shed, even after so many generations since the British left. Dilip == mc mahant wrote: How will Lalu's AAM AADMI concepts conflict with PWC 's BRIC - or INDIA+CHINA we-are -co-super-powers vision? In China I saw great Posters at Bus centre facades We will carry you where you want to -- but must you travel? And Lalu is no fool. A great actor. The Speaker bared his ' I am a superior Babu' fangs. mm From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:59:45 -0400 Subject: [Assam] Lalu Yadavs youtube moments !!! enjoy enjoy ! Lalu in parliament- translates his hindi speech into (H) inglish .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhequbKB-bc Laluji speaks to an English TV channel.. ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVe966Rrr5c Lalu the ROCKSTAR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAeOkSCnNfcNR=1 _ Need to know the score, the latest news, or you need your Hotmail®-get your fix. http://www.msnmobilefix.com/Default.aspx ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Tried the new MSN Messenger? Its cool! Download now. http://messenger.msn.com/Download/Default.aspx?mkt=en-in ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis !
Well said Ram. At 11:39 PM -0400 3/11/08, Ram Dhar wrote: agree with Chandanda, baidow and Mukulda.. absolutely ...just wondering who is the audience here for this minister in India a. Is it our fellow countrymen ? If yes what is the message here for our fellow country men, leave India in hordes to better yr life. Lets be blunt here ...folks like us have left home for better economic opportunities period . Minister saheb needs to know that 20 years back standing infront of US consulate was not a very happy experience in Calcutta without knowing if u will get yr visa . remember those days !! b. Is it the NRIs ? if yes i will say ..thank you very much Minister sahab i dont need yr applause . I will help my country if at all i want to in my own small way and you are not getting any credit for it. Send money to my parents, any charitable contribution, open business , invest etc. c. I GOI is making a point - hey look these NRIs are our school /Univ products and are doing so well. I will humbly say yes very grateful for the schooling opportunities. But then why we left India after class 12 ( eg my case) or after univ or found a job abroad . 70s and 80s were lost decade in India economically ..people struggled to get jobs , there were only two options for us ...either become a doc or an engineer ...and god forbid if if your marksheet had poor scores all yr dreams were shattered... We are lucky to have few good individuals like Manmohan Singh in early 90s who helped our nation to change economic course and bcoz of that we are seeing economic surge in certain industries like IT etc ..world is coming to us and many business opportunities are opening up in many other sectors...its all good for our youth...they dont have to leave India like we did ...that should be the message from our NETAS and not throw these feel good stats in parliament. India is at cross roads economically one section of our society is steaming ahead ..but then what will happen to 70% of rural folks ? where will the jobs/investment come in Indias heartland ? why Indian farmers are not able to make agriculture a profitable entity ? will leave this topic for some other time. by From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:48:09 -0500 Subject: Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis ! The minister/s are just doing what these gods-gift-to-humanity phoren-nibaaxi-desis do, day in and day out. Just look at assamnet. I didn't understand. Could you give an example, C'da? How are these assamnetters doing what the ministers/s are doing? Ram is right (if I understood him right, that is!), that however successful (many are!) the Indians are here in the US or any other country overseas, has nothing to do with India's economic prosperity. In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:18:35 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis ! a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never Good point! And we will never see them, at least not in our life-times. Because people like us who others look up to, are the ones who wave those false and misleading stats. to shore up the sagging national identity inferiority complex. So what do you expect? The minister/s are just doing what these gods-gift-to-humanity phoren-nibaaxi-desis do, day in and day out. Just look at assamnet. a host of unsubstantiated and inflated figures about Indian professionals in US, the government also made a laughing stock of itself. *** Serves them right.At 9:45 PM -0400 3/11/08, Ram Dhar wrote: this is shameful .that too a cabinet minister told parliament about these distorted fugures on US NRIs ( not required Indians ..phew) read - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_rising_in_US_Govt_falls_victim_to_net_hoax/articleshow/2856295.cms does it really matter whether 50% of dunkin donuts or 30 % of seven elevens in New Jersey are owned by NRIs or 10% of docs in USA are Indians ...WHO CARES what was he trying to prove here ..that 1000s like us ( Phoren paglas!!) left India years back coz there were lack of opportunities/ came here for a better life :-) , :-) time will be better spent if these ministers talk about .just one example - a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never _ Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging.
Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis !
I didn't understand. Could you give an example, C'da? How are these assamnetters doing what the ministers/s are doing? *** Buisa Alpana, only he who is asleep can be awakened :-). At 9:48 PM -0500 3/11/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: The minister/s are just doing what these gods-gift-to-humanity phoren-nibaaxi-desis do, day in and day out. Just look at assamnet. I didn't understand. Could you give an example, C'da? How are these assamnetters doing what the ministers/s are doing? Ram is right (if I understood him right, that is!), that however successful (many are!) the Indians are here in the US or any other country overseas, has nothing to do with India's economic prosperity. In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:18:35 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis ! a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never Good point! And we will never see them, at least not in our life-times. Because people like us who others look up to, are the ones who wave those false and misleading stats. to shore up the sagging national identity inferiority complex. So what do you expect? The minister/s are just doing what these gods-gift-to-humanity phoren-nibaaxi-desis do, day in and day out. Just look at assamnet. a host of unsubstantiated and inflated figures about Indian professionals in US, the government also made a laughing stock of itself. *** Serves them right.At 9:45 PM -0400 3/11/08, Ram Dhar wrote: this is shameful .that too a cabinet minister told parliament about these distorted fugures on US NRIs ( not required Indians ..phew) read - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_rising_in_US_Govt_falls_victim_to_net_hoax/articleshow/2856295.cms does it really matter whether 50% of dunkin donuts or 30 % of seven elevens in New Jersey are owned by NRIs or 10% of docs in USA are Indians ...WHO CARES what was he trying to prove here ..that 1000s like us ( Phoren paglas!!) left India years back coz there were lack of opportunities/ came here for a better life :-) , :-) time will be better spent if these ministers talk about .just one example - a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never _ Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Assams French daughter-in-law restores 18th century tome
Very nice to know. The last time I stopped by at LBS, perhaps three years back, it was a sad looking place. Sadder still were the sullen and totally disinterested demeanor of the sales-folks. I hope Bhaskar and Caroline will breathe new life into the dying institution of that ancient book store. At 6:00 AM -0700 3/12/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Caroline and Bhaskar Dutta Baruah chose to go back to Guwahati from London after Bhaskar's father passed away, just to keep the family business Lawyer's Book Stall going. Bhaskar now has another line of business called LBS Publications. I commend Caroline for her dedication and effort. Dilip The Norman connection - Assams French daughter-in-law restores 18th century tome OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Caroline Dutta-Baruah with her book in Guwahati on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, March 11: In 1752, a snobbish Frenchman who had travelled to this part of the world as a representative of the French East India Company went back home and wrote about his travels in Assam. Two hundred and fifty-six years later, a Normandy-born researcher stumbled upon the worn-out pages of the 18th century travelogue and as chance would have it, she happened to be married to the scion of one of the oldest publishing houses in Assam. Three years of back-breaking research and Caroline Dutta-Baruah is ready with what she describes as her labour of love Adventures of Jean-Baptiste Chavelier in Eastern India, a loyal translation of Chaveliers Journel de mon voyage a Assem. So was it just academic interest that drew her to this 250-year-old manuscript? Not really. Carolines interest in Assam peaked when she became a daughter-in-law of the state in 2000. Being married to Bhaskar Dutta-Baruah, whose family owns the Lawyers Book Stall, one of Assams oldest publishing houses, provided the necessary encouragement. I found out about the historical memoirs from the French researcher Jean Delouche with whom I had worked for a brief period. It was such a fascinating piece of work that I had to bring it to the people of Assam, said the 31-year-old. There have been many references to Chaveliers travels to Assam in several documents and research works but his manuscript remained hidden under thousands of other papers at the Bibliotheque de lInstitut in Paris till Delouche discovered it in 1985 in a very bad shape. Delouche restored the manuscript, filled in some missing pages and gave it a proper shape, Caroline said. The Adventures of Jean-Baptiste Chavelier includes the part that is most relevant to the state, Journel de mon voyage a Assem (Journal of my travels in Assam). Caroline, of course, took Delouches help for translation, which was a very tedious job since Chaveliers language was Old French and many words have been either lost or changed over the years. The 214-page was launched at the World Book Fair in Delhi recently but will be available in Assam only next week. Delouche, who has written the introduction for the book, describes Chavelier as kind of Asterix in Assam, brave, bold, but impatient, besides being full of his Gallic superiority and incapable of appreciating any other type of culture. He simply missed the magic potion of the cartoon hero to make a feat of this journey. However, the simple flaws apart, Chaveliers observations could become major source material for researchers and even pleasurable reading for the common people, Caroline said. Having met her husband at Leeds in England, when both were studying there, Caroline is also working on popularising Assam silk in the West. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis !
It was an honest question, C'da. I never read an Assamnetter's writing about the link between NRI's success and India's (domestic) progress. ***It does NOT have to be in WRITING , in so many words. But if you missed the IMPLIED intent all these years, then I don't know how you will ever know, A :-). At 10:13 AM -0500 3/12/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: You mean 'bhao juri xui thoka xiyalok jogabo nuwaari'? Would 'saan tuke` baagh dekha' be same as becoming overly defensive? :) It was an honest question, C'da. I never read an Assamnetter's writing about the link between NRI's success and India's (domestic) progress. Now, if you are not angry, would you give an example so that my slow moving brain can understand what you meant by it? :) In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:23:15 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis ! I didn't understand. Could you give an example, C'da? How are these assamnetters doing what the ministers/s are doing? *** Buisa Alpana, only he who is asleep can be awakened :-).At 9:48 PM -0500 3/11/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: The minister/s are just doing what these gods-gift-to-humanity phoren-nibaaxi-desis do, day in and day out. Just look at assamnet. I didn't understand. Could you give an example, C'da? How are these assamnetters doing what the ministers/s are doing? Ram is right (if I understood him right, that is!), that however successful (many are!) the Indians are here in the US or any other country overseas, has nothing to do with India's economic prosperity.In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:18:35 -0500 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis ! a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never Good point! And we will never see them, at least not in our life-times. Because people like us who others look up to, are the ones who wave those false and misleading stats. to shore up the sagging national identity inferiority complex. So what do you expect? The minister/s are just doing what these gods-gift-to-humanity phoren-nibaaxi-desis do, day in and day out. Just look at assamnet. a host of unsubstantiated and inflated figures about Indian professionals in US, the government also made a laughing stock of itself.*** Serves them right.At 9:45 PM -0400 3/11/08, Ram Dhar wrote: this is shameful .that too a cabinet minister told parliament about these distorted fugures on US NRIs ( not required Indians ..phew) read - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_rising_in_US_Govt_falls_victim_to_net_hoax/articleshow/2856295.cms does it really matter whether 50% of dunkin donuts or 30 % of seven elevens in New Jersey are owned by NRIs or 10% of docs in USA are Indians ...WHO CARES what was he trying to prove here ..that 1000s like us ( Phoren paglas!!) left India years back coz there were lack of opportunities/ came here for a better life :-) , :-) time will be better spent if these ministers talk about .just one example - a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never _ Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
Re: [Assam] False information presented in Parliament about Amerikaaan Desis !
a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never Good point! And we will never see them, at least not in our life-times. Because people like us who others look up to, are the ones who wave those false and misleading stats. to shore up the sagging national identity inferiority complex. So what do you expect? The minister/s are just doing what these gods-gift-to-humanity phoren-nibaaxi-desis do, day in and day out. Just look at assamnet. a host of unsubstantiated and inflated figures about Indian professionals in US, the government also made a laughing stock of itself. *** Serves them right. At 9:45 PM -0400 3/11/08, Ram Dhar wrote: this is shameful .that too a cabinet minister told parliament about these distorted fugures on US NRIs ( not required Indians ..phew) read - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_rising_in_US_Govt_falls_victim_to_net_hoax/articleshow/2856295.cms does it really matter whether 50% of dunkin donuts or 30 % of seven elevens in New Jersey are owned by NRIs or 10% of docs in USA are Indians ...WHO CARES what was he trying to prove here ..that 1000s like us ( Phoren paglas!!) left India years back coz there were lack of opportunities/ came here for a better life :-) , :-) time will be better spent if these ministers talk about .just one example - a. How many hours in a day citizens in major cities and or villages in India get running water ? we dont get to see scorecards on such basic stuff ...never _ Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology at Guwahati
Are we suggesting it is not out of love and devotion to the departed ruler/s of a beloved dynasty as proven by repeated free and fair elections where 80% to 90% people participate? And if not so, how come our friends here and over there keep waving those voter statistics as a PROOF of the people's loyalty to their rulers? Who is spinning? At 11:43 AM +0530 3/10/08, Manoj Das wrote: just spoke to someone in guwahati, who is a mediaperson.. he says at least three newspapers and a Tv channel is owned by ministers there..so they will not speak about it... so we have live with all these overdose of a particular family name.. -mkd On Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 8:39 AM, Alpana B. Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: That was a very good one, Mukul-da. In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 22:49:28 +0530 Subject: Re: [Assam] Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology at Guwahati Probably Late Rajiv Gandhi discovered new Refining Technologies-- but being a shy gentlemen -he kept the secret findings under Sonia's mattress -- an now she found these!!! mm Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 22:12:58 +0530 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology at Guwahati Why all the institutesin NER in the name of only nehru-gandhis.. are they funding it from their own pocket? we have great saints, patriots, leaders to name our institutes, stadias, chowks.. one or two off is ok..but the wholesale branding is disturbing.. can't we name it after kushal konwar, kanaklata, atan buragohain, lachit borphukon, chakradhwaj singha, rudrasingha, joymoti, mula gabharu, bhagadatta, narakasura to gave a local flavour.. i think there should be a barter. if we name some in our place in the name of non local..equal number of branding should be given to our heroes.. in delhi only place that is named after an assamese is the 50 yd long loka priya gopinath bordoloi marg..during our diamond jubilee we at assam association, delhi requested govt of delhi/india to name something worthwhile in the name of srimanta sankaradeva. replies still awaited.. -mkd On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 9:50 PM, Buljit Buragohain [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 18.02.2008,OIL's Golden Jubilee meeting MR.DINSHA PATEL ( Minister of State) Ministry of Petroleum Natural Gas announced that 2nd Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology will be set-up at Guwahati. - Bring your gang together - do your thing. Start your group. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org -- Manoj Kumar Das C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave New Delhi 17 India 0091 9312650558 (HP) ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Tried the new MSN Messenger? It's cool! Download now. http://messenger.msn.com/Download/Default.aspx?mkt=en-in ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] So what if he were?
At 10:52 AM -0700 3/9/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Do you think Obama will have the courage to say, I am a practising Christian. *** It is NOT about COURAGE. Imagine you or I having to dignify an outrageous charge or scurrilous innuendo, every time a bigot or a fool or a charlatan makes it? Why should an US president's religion be an election issue? I know it becomes one, every time. But that is because candidates succumb to pressures from religious bigots . Obama may have to too. But I hope he would NOT. And if he gets the nomination and gets elected as the next president, without having to answer to such questions or charges, just like without having to wear an US Flag on his lapel or place his hand over his heart while saying the Pledge of Allegiance, it will mark a historic turn of the American nation to a truly sophisticated one. And so what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I were a Muslim?. If he says it, will he gain voters or lose them? Dilip From the NYT Op-Ed Columnist Obama and the Bigots By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Published: March 9, 2008 The ugliest prejudices in this campaign season are not directly about race. Barack Obamas skin color may cost him some working-class white voters, but its also winning some votes among blacks and among whites eager to signal their open-mindedness. Sexism seems more of a factor. Americans have typically said in polls that they are less willing to vote for a woman than a black, and Shirley Chisholm (a black woman who ran for president in 1972) always said that she encountered more prejudice because of her sex than her race. Yet the most monstrous bigotry in this election isnt about either race or sex. Its about religion. The whispering campaigns allege that Mr. Obama is a secret Muslim planning to impose Islamic law on the country. Incredibly, he is even accused in earnest! of being the Antichrist. Proponents of this theory offer detailed theological explanations for why he is the Antichrist, and the proof is that he claims to be Christian after all, the Antichrist would say that, wouldnt he? The rumors circulate enough that Glenn Beck of CNN asked the Rev. John Hagee, a conservative evangelical, what the odds are that Mr. Obama is the Antichrist. These charges are fanatical, Americas own equivalent of the vicious accusations about Jews that circulate in some Muslim countries. They are less a swipe at one candidate than a calumny against an entire religion. They underscore that for many bigoted Americans in the 21st century, calling someone a Muslim is still a slur. There is a parallel with presidential campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when one of the most common ways to attack a candidate was to suggest that he was partly black, or at least favored racial intermarriage. For example, the Federalists charged that Thomas Jefferson was the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father. And the word miscegenation was coined in 1863 and 1864 in charges that Abraham Lincoln secretly plotted for blacks to marry whites, especially Irish-Americans. As late as the 1920 presidential campaign, a quarter-million letters were sent to voters accusing Warren Harding of being descended from a West Indian Negro. ... May God save America from international shame and domestic ruin. In looking back at that history, you wish that a candidate had responded not only with, No, I dont have any black ancestor, but also with, So what if I did? Likewise, with countless people today spreading scurrilous rumors that Mr. Obama is a Muslim, the most appropriate response is a denial followed by: And so what if he were? Granted, thats not politically realistic as a comeback. A 2007 Gallup poll found that 94 percent of Americans said they would vote for a black candidate for president and 88 percent for a woman. In contrast, a Los Angeles Times poll in 2006 found that only 34 percent of respondents said they could vote for a Muslim for president. Even if a prejudice is directed to a matter of choice, like religion or long hair, its still prejudice. Its possible to believe that Catholics have every right to be president while opposing a particular Catholic candidate who would ban contraception; likewise, its possible to believe that Muslims have every right to hold office without necessarily embracing the candidacy of particular Muslims who advocate enveloping all women in burkas. To his credit, Mr. Obama has spoken respectfully of Islam (he told me last year, on the record, that the Muslim call to prayer is one of the prettiest sounds on earth at sunset). If he were to go further and so what if I were Muslim? many Americans would see that as confirmation that he is a Sunni terrorist
Re: [Assam] So what if he were?
Quality and 'issues' are hardly the things voters look for when casting their votes for someone running for office - but of course, everything else matters. *** So It must be just like desi-demokrasy then, huh :-)? But not s fast! If issues were not to be involved, then why is there such a divide between the Democrats and Republicans? Point is that both Barack and Hillary are almost identical in their views on the issues the Democrats hold dear. Therefore to pick THE Democratic candidate, the Democratic voters in the PRIMARies do not have clear-cut , well defined issues that separate the two candidates to weigh one over the other. As a result the OTHER issues come into play, more than they deserve to. That IS the difference. At 1:04 PM -0600 3/9/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: While, I too agree that religion (like race) ought not to play any part in a US Presidential election, it certainly does every time. But Obama's religion, IMHO has had very negligible effect this far. Some have tried to infuse it into the fray, but with little effect. However, race seems to be big plus for Obama. With 85% to 95% African Americans voting for him in every state, he certainly has had a big advantage over Clinton. Women, on the other hand have voted for Clinton not more than 60% - 65% in any state. African American women have been more true to their race than their gender. Obama seems to now attract younger people (all races), educated, while Clinton the less educated and older women. Quality and 'issues' are hardly the things voters look for when casting their votes for someone running for office - but of course, everything else matters. --Ram On 3/9/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 10:52 AM -0700 3/9/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Do you think Obama will have the courage to say, I am a practising Christian. *** It is NOT about COURAGE. Imagine you or I having to dignify an outrageous charge or scurrilous innuendo, every time a bigot or a fool or a charlatan makes it? Why should an US president's religion be an election issue? I know it becomes one, every time. But that is because candidates succumb to pressures from religious bigots . Obama may have to too. But I hope he would NOT. And if he gets the nomination and gets elected as the next president, without having to answer to such questions or charges, just like without having to wear an US Flag on his lapel or place his hand over his heart while saying the Pledge of Allegiance, it will mark a historic turn of the American nation to a truly sophisticated one. And so what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I were a Muslim?. If he says it, will he gain voters or lose them? Dilip From the NYT Op-Ed Columnist Obama and the Bigots By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Published: March 9, 2008 The ugliest prejudices in this campaign season are not directly about race. Barack Obama's skin color may cost him some working-class white voters, but it's also winning some votes among blacks and among whites eager to signal their open-mindedness. Sexism seems more of a factor. Americans have typically said in polls that they are less willing to vote for a woman than a black, and Shirley Chisholm (a black woman who ran for president in 1972) always said that she encountered more prejudice because of her sex than her race. Yet the most monstrous bigotry in this election isn't about either race or sex. It's about religion. The whispering campaigns allege that Mr. Obama is a secret Muslim planning to impose Islamic law on the country. Incredibly, he is even accused - in earnest! - of being the Antichrist. Proponents of this theory offer detailed theological explanations for why he is the Antichrist, and the proof is that he claims to be Christian - after all, the Antichrist would say that, wouldn't he? The rumors circulate enough that Glenn Beck of CNN asked the Rev. John Hagee, a conservative evangelical, what the odds are that Mr. Obama is the Antichrist. These charges are fanatical, America's own equivalent of the vicious accusations about Jews that circulate in some Muslim countries. They are less a swipe at one candidate than a calumny against an entire religion. They underscore that for many bigoted Americans in the 21st century, calling someone a Muslim is still a slur. There is a parallel with presidential campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when one of the most common ways to attack a candidate was to suggest that he was partly black, or at least favored racial intermarriage. For example, the Federalists charged that Thomas Jefferson was the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father. And the word
Re: [Assam] So what if he were?
But why did you leave out the second half of my comment, And so what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I were a Muslim?. If he says it, will he gain voters or lose them? I'd like to hear your or others' comments on it. Dilip *** I am not sure I get it. Actually it should be NOTHING. Question is IF Hillary or McCain or Obama are Muslims ? Should they say they are, even if they are not? Are you suggesting Obama should say he is a Muslim, even though he said he is not and wondering how his vote getting ability will fare then? My guess will be that it would depend on a few things: A: IF Obama says now he is actually a Muslim or merely a closet one, then his credibility will tank and rightfully so; because he has declared a number of times that he is a Christian and not a Muslim. Under the circumstances, his vote getting ability will tank as well. And that would not be an unreasonable or unexpected eventuality. B: IF McCain or Hillary were to say they are Muslims, they will be lying, because it is widely known they are Christians, as far as we know that is. Again same credibility crisis and thus loss of votes, and rightfully too. So, the question is not clear enough for anyone to give a clear answer to. Perhaps we are attempting to get answers to a hypothetical situation, in which Obama or Hillary or McCain could be Muslims in real life masquerading as Christians in public. But what does that have to do with the situation in hand? At 7:13 PM -0700 3/9/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Obama may have to too. But I hope he would NOT. And if he gets the nomination and gets elected as the next president, without having to answer to such questions or charges, just like without having to wear an US Flag on his lapel or place his hand over his heart while saying the Pledge of Allegiance, it will mark a historic turn of the American nation to a truly sophisticated one. DKD: I hope your hope comes true. Religion has no place in governace in a secular nation. But why did you leave out the second half of my comment, And so what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I were a Muslim?. If he says it, will he gain voters or lose them? I'd like to hear your or others' comments on it. Dilip Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 10:52 AM -0700 3/9/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Do you think Obama will have the courage to say, I am a practising Christian. *** It is NOT about COURAGE. Imagine you or I having to dignify an outrageous charge or scurrilous innuendo, every time a bigot or a fool or a charlatan makes it? Why should an US president's religion be an election issue? I know it becomes one, every time. But that is because candidates succumb to pressures from religious bigots . Obama may have to too. But I hope he would NOT. And if he gets the nomination and gets elected as the next president, without having to answer to such questions or charges, just like without having to wear an US Flag on his lapel or place his hand over his heart while saying the Pledge of Allegiance, it will mark a historic turn of the American nation to a truly sophisticated one. And so what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I were a Muslim?. If he says it, will he gain voters or lose them? Dilip From the NYT Op-Ed Columnist Obama and the Bigots By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Published: March 9, 2008 The ugliest prejudices in this campaign season are not directly about race. Barack Obamas skin color may cost him some working-class white voters, but its also winning some votes among blacks and among whites eager to signal their open-mindedness. Sexism seems more of a factor. Americans have typically said in polls that they are less willing to vote for a woman than a black, and Shirley Chisholm (a black woman who ran for president in 1972) always said that she encountered more prejudice because of her sex than her race. Yet the most monstrous bigotry in this election isnt about either race or sex. Its about religion. The whispering campaigns allege that Mr. Obama is a secret Muslim planning to impose Islamic law on the country. Incredibly, he is even accused in earnest! of being the Antichrist. Proponents of this theory offer detailed theological explanations for why he is the Antichrist, and the proof is that he claims to be Christian after all, the Antichrist would say that, wouldnt he? The rumors circulate enough that Glenn Beck of CNN asked the Rev. John Hagee, a conservative evangelical, what the odds are that Mr. Obama is the Antichrist. These charges are fanatical, Americas own equivalent of the vicious accusations about Jews that circulate in some Muslim countries. They are less a swipe at one candidate than a calumny against an entire religion. They underscore that for many bigoted Americans
Re: [Assam] CIA 'ENHANCED INTERROGATION' TECHNIQUES:
Very well put. While we are ashamed of our President's action, let us not forget to look at things in perspective. All that Indian armed forces have done and continue to do , to its OWN people, is beyond the pale. At 3:05 AM + 3/9/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS wrote: Dear Manoj, It is nothing.Please ask again those alive Assamese young boys/Girls or the NDFB cadres who was termed as ULFA( BLT never had any trouble as they belong to Govt). What Army/BSF did. A large number of youth from Darrang district died due to tortures without Human Right Commission knowledge!!! Place a metal and connect directly to the 220 Volts AC and ask the man to pass urine. See the fun! Before that they were forced to drink more water. before death- while they cry for water- urine was given to drink in the remote camps ( these was done openly in the camps in and around Mangaldai-Tangla to scare people). Beating with bricks-A boy was picked up at midnight and taken to a nearby LP school and asked to push the pushcart from his home with some bricks on the terms of doing some work.He was beaten to death by hitting with bricks and then the dead body pushed to home stating he is dead suddenly.If anyone dare- we will shoot you all.Thats all.( 12 Bihar Regt in Darrang). When they died being Hindu and Indian- they are burnt brutally with old tyres etc and 2-4 bodies together without allowing family to perform the last rites! All that had happened .Hope the CIA or M15 is yet to learn from Indian BSF/Army posted in Assam. Sorrowfully when Pakistanee's killed or dies, they are buried with full honour of a VIP!!! Jai Hind. Bikash Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: CIA 'ENHANCED INTERROGATION' TECHNIQUES: - Save all your chat conversations. Find them online. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Caucusing In Texas
Thanks for enlightening us yet another amazing Texan trait , Ram. I know weird is everywhere. But this certainly stands out :-) At 11:33 AM -0600 3/5/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Very few people in Texas have voted in the primaries and much less in the Democratic primaries. And boy, was it an experience. For those who are not familiar with the process, Texas has, what they call, a two-step' process for the Democrats. The Republican, don't go thru that process in the Primaries - its the regular 'vote your candidate' process. The first part is to vote for the particular Democratic Party candidate , and a certain number of 'committed delegates' are given proportionally to the the candidates. The second part is what is called the Caucus. Now, this is easier said than explained. But basically, from what I understand: After the last person in line (at 7 PM) has voted, the Caucus begin. In the Caucus, people are supposed to 'influence and cajole' voters who don't support your candidate, form a goup and elect delegates to the State/Central convention who will, in turn represent your candidate and cast their ballots in his/favor. Confused? Well, so am I, and everyone I know is too. What really happened: from start to finish - it took about 5 hours. There were just 6 machines, 3 people to register, and a bunch of other volunteers giving you wrong information from time to time. But we did get to vote, and then stood in line for caucusing (if thats a word). After an eternity, they basically told us to separate into lines (one for Hillary and the other for Obama). The Hillary line had only a few people, the Obama line was long in the precinct we voted. In the Caucusing part, we had to write our names/address etc on a form. Thats it. There was no 'caucusing' in the cacus. They could have just cut to the chase, and kept a form next to the ballot machines and people could have done the same thing. On the whole, it was fun, and exciting to have taken part in a process that certainly seems important.. Hope y'all enjoyed this. Well, that much for politics - at least as its done in Texas. --Ram ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Caucusing In Texas
Its a mess! *** That is the understatement of the day Ram :-). You are welcome C'da. Amlan is correct - supposedly there was a mad rush in some precincts to be the first one to grap the 'register' becomes the captain. It seems that even with all this trouble, the Dems have bigger problems ahead. The person that can be nominated must (repeat must) have 2025 (revised to 2024) delegates, including the 'Super Delegates'. The problem is neither Clinton nor Obama can garner this magic number - even if one or the other can win all the remaining states. They will still be shy of the the magic number. So, what can they do? The party leaders could weigh in on one or the other candidate to give up. They could impress upon the Super Delegates to switch sides (at the Dem Convention). Not that easy from what I understand. Or they could have a primary in Florida Michigan and count their delegates. If they don't give either Florida/Michigan this chance and dis-enfranchise the voters in these two states, there will be further problems in November. Many Dems in these states have said they would vote for McCain in November. Both Michigan/Florida favor Clinton. Obama is ahead (right now) in the delegate count, and Clinton has won the big states (that matter) that the Dems must win in November. Maybe Pureto Rico (I think in June) will be the deciding factor. Its a mess! -- Ram On 3/5/08, amlan saha [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Here is another - as per the dem state election manual, in answer to the question who conducts the caucuses?, it says that - well, the precinct captains do but if the precinct captain fails to turn up at the predesignated caucus center on time, whoever (voters) reaches there first becomes the precinct captain and takes charge. This on top of being able to vote effectively twice in the same election. I love honky tonk land :-) On Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 12:48 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks for enlightening us yet another amazing Texan trait , Ram. I know weird is everywhere. But this certainly stands out :-) At 11:33 AM -0600 3/5/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Very few people in Texas have voted in the primaries and much less in the Democratic primaries. And boy, was it an experience. For those who are not familiar with the process, Texas has, what they call, a two-step' process for the Democrats. The Republican, don't go thru that process in the Primaries - its the regular 'vote your candidate' process. The first part is to vote for the particular Democratic Party candidate , and a certain number of 'committed delegates' are given proportionally to the the candidates. The second part is what is called the Caucus. Now, this is easier said than explained. But basically, from what I understand: After the last person in line (at 7 PM) has voted, the Caucus begin. In the Caucus, people are supposed to 'influence and cajole' voters who don't support your candidate, form a goup and elect delegates to the State/Central convention who will, in turn represent your candidate and cast their ballots in his/favor. Confused? Well, so am I, and everyone I know is too. What really happened: from start to finish - it took about 5 hours. There were just 6 machines, 3 people to register, and a bunch of other volunteers giving you wrong information from time to time. But we did get to vote, and then stood in line for caucusing (if thats a word). After an eternity, they basically told us to separate into lines (one for Hillary and the other for Obama). The Hillary line had only a few people, the Obama line was long in the precinct we voted. In the Caucusing part, we had to write our names/address etc on a form. Thats it. There was no 'caucusing' in the cacus. They could have just cut to the chase, and kept a form next to the ballot machines and people could have done the same thing. On the whole, it was fun, and exciting to have taken part in a process that certainly seems important.. Hope y'all enjoyed this. Well, that much for politics - at least as its done in Texas. --Ram ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing
Re: [Assam] Caucusing In Texas
Those of us who support Obama just have to work harder now :-) At 5:23 PM -0600 3/5/08, Rajen Ajanta Barua wrote: Message From a Obama Supporter: Our projections show the most likely outcome of yesterday's elections will be that Hillary Clinton gained 187 delegates, and we gained 183. That's a net gain of 4 delegates out of more than 370 delegates available from all the states that voted. For comparison, that's less than half our net gain of 9 delegates from the District of Columbia alone. It's also less than our net gain of 8 from Nebraska, or 12 from Washington State. And it's considerably less than our net gain of 33 delegates from Georgia. The task for the Clinton campaign yesterday was clear. In order to have a plausible path to the nomination, they needed to score huge delegate victories and cut into our lead. They failed. - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:51 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Caucusing In Texas Its a mess! *** That is the understatement of the day Ram :-). You are welcome C'da. Amlan is correct - supposedly there was a mad rush in some precincts to be the first one to grap the 'register' becomes the captain. It seems that even with all this trouble, the Dems have bigger problems ahead. The person that can be nominated must (repeat must) have 2025 (revised to 2024) delegates, including the 'Super Delegates'. The problem is neither Clinton nor Obama can garner this magic number - even if one or the other can win all the remaining states. They will still be shy of the the magic number. So, what can they do? The party leaders could weigh in on one or the other candidate to give up. They could impress upon the Super Delegates to switch sides (at the Dem Convention). Not that easy from what I understand. Or they could have a primary in Florida Michigan and count their delegates. If they don't give either Florida/Michigan this chance and dis-enfranchise the voters in these two states, there will be further problems in November. Many Dems in these states have said they would vote for McCain in November. Both Michigan/Florida favor Clinton. Obama is ahead (right now) in the delegate count, and Clinton has won the big states (that matter) that the Dems must win in November. Maybe Pureto Rico (I think in June) will be the deciding factor. Its a mess! -- Ram On 3/5/08, amlan saha [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Here is another - as per the dem state election manual, in answer to the question who conducts the caucuses?, it says that - well, the precinct captains do but if the precinct captain fails to turn up at the predesignated caucus center on time, whoever (voters) reaches there first becomes the precinct captain and takes charge. This on top of being able to vote effectively twice in the same election. I love honky tonk land :-) On Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 12:48 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks for enlightening us yet another amazing Texan trait , Ram. I know weird is everywhere. But this certainly stands out :-) At 11:33 AM -0600 3/5/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Very few people in Texas have voted in the primaries and much less in the Democratic primaries. And boy, was it an experience. For those who are not familiar with the process, Texas has, what they call, a two-step' process for the Democrats. The Republican, don't go thru that process in the Primaries - its the regular 'vote your candidate' process. The first part is to vote for the particular Democratic Party candidate , and a certain number of 'committed delegates' are given proportionally to the the candidates. The second part is what is called the Caucus. Now, this is easier said than explained. But basically, from what I understand: After the last person in line (at 7 PM) has voted, the Caucus begin. In the Caucus, people are supposed to 'influence and cajole' voters who don't support your candidate, form a goup and elect delegates to the State/Central convention who will, in turn represent your candidate and cast their ballots in his/favor. Confused? Well, so am I, and everyone I know is too. What really happened: from start to finish - it took about 5 hours. There were just 6 machines, 3 people to register, and a bunch of other volunteers giving you wrong information from time to time. But we did get to vote, and then stood in line for caucusing (if thats a word). After an eternity, they basically told us to separate into lines (one for Hillary and the other for Obama). The Hillary line had only a few people, the Obama line was long
[Assam] From ToI
*** Was it hard to foresee? cm Gurgaon in gloom, battling a power crisis 4 Mar 2008, 1802 hrs IST,Dipak Kumar Dash,TNN Print SaveEMail Write to Editor Gurgaon, the fading dream of a Millennium City, is battling a power crisis that has seen power cuts up to 12 hours in winter. And now with summer on us, there is a mad scramble for inverters and generators, an expensive proposition besides being unfriendly to the environment. Sixty-two-year-old Vijay Malhotra, a resident of DLF Phase-IV, says living in Gurgaon is a big drain on resources. We had to buy a generator just a week back - I invested Rs 3 lakh, he says. That's a huge investment besides the cost of operating it daily. Besides, I still pay a huge electricity bill. The crisis became so acute last year that my daughter-in-law had to shift to Delhi. I hold the government responsible. Most residents of Gurgaon had moved for a better quality of life. They now feel cheated. And what rankles most is the fact the crisis is entirely man-made. That's the grime below the glitter. Developers have been issued licences at random and even the severe power crunch has not deterred the government from mocking the people by clearing a master plan to enlarge Gurgaon to three times its present size. Most plans for setting up plants have a 2009-2010 deadline and hold little hope for those who are now cursing the day they moved to Gurgaon. There is going to be more growth without infrastructure till the city bloats to a point of collapse, people say. And officials are aware of this. They have thrown up their hands after pointing out that the demand for power in Gurgaon is increasing by 28% and availability is much less than requirement. The combined electricity requirement of Gurgaon and Faridabad is equivalent to the total power demand of Himachal Pradesh and meeting that demand is a huge task, says Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (DHBVN) managing director Vijayendra Kumar. We are hopeful of getting at least 500 MW for entire Haryana in the next three months from the Yamuna Nagar plant. That additional supply will bring some relief to urban areas. The major cause of the crisis is non-availability of power. The present demand of Gurgaon is 1.2 crore units a day and we get only 75 lakh units, explains superintending engineer A K Jain of the Nigam. Additional supply from Yamuna Nagar should bring some relief. Haryana has about 4,068 MW of power available daily of which it generates only 1,587 MW. The state wants to generate an additional 5,000 MW daily by 2010 but that's three years away. In the first phase, a 300-MW capacity unit has become operational in Yamuna Nagar and a second unit of same capacity will be synchronised this month. How this power is distributed remains to be seen with many political and farm lobbies at work. About 1,200 MW will be made available from the Hissar thermal power plant. The first unit of 600 MW will be operational in December 2009 and the second in March 2010. The state will also get 750 MW from the upcoming 1500 MW Aravali plant in Jhajjar. The three units - each of 500 MW - are scheduled to be completed in April, June and August of 2010. So, there is no immediate relief in sight and all hopes for now are pinned on the supply from the Yamuna Nagar plant. Official estimates show that during non-peak hours Gurgaon's power demand is 450 MW while during peak hours it's about 550 MW. At any given time, the power supply falls short by at least 100 MW. In the neighbouring capital of Delhi, there are only two categories of power consumers - domestic and non-domestic (commercial and industrial). But in Gurgaon, there are three - agricultural, domestic and non-domestic. The agriculture sector consumes 20-25% of the power available, domestic consumers get a 40% share and non-domestic consumers another 40%. Consumers have learnt the hard way not to trust officials. We had a tough time even during the winter and then they had said that only winter rain could bring some relief. They will come up with some other excuse to pass the buck. Actually, they are clueless and don't know how to deal with the situation, says B S Tripathy, a resident of Sector-23. == ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] assam@assamnet.org moderators ..pls read
assam@assamnet.org my be held accountable for facilitating it as well *** Yeah? Why? *** Any number of Assam newspapers publish those and 'facilitate' their dissemination among the public as well, don't they? How is it then assamnet should be held responsible and for WHAT? Because a Kolkata rag says so? Or because one of its devotees does? *** Those who don't like to see or read an ULFA news release can either not open it or delete it. What right do they have to deprive others form seeing them? Or are we attempting to promote the idea of freedom of only those pieces of info we like to see and not what gives us heart-burn? At 9:59 AM -0500 3/3/08, Ram Dhar wrote: pls read http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080303/jsp/northeast/story_8972344.jsp forum moderators may read this , 100s of us receive the same e-mail content coz we are subscribed to this forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] my be held accountable for facilitating it as well ... ..I could be wrong... I am all for free speech et al but just wondering how this scenario stands ..just a thought _ Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser! http://biggestloser.msn.com/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] assam@assamnet.org moderators ..pls read
At 10:21 PM +0530 3/3/08, ad admn wrote: i agree with u mr. dhar. this should be given a serious thought by everybody. *** Really? I will certainly consider it when I know WHO makes the recommendation. On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 8:29 PM, Ram Dhar [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: pls read http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080303/jsp/northeast/story_8972344.jsp forum moderators may read this , 100s of us receive the same e-mail content coz we are subscribed to this forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] my be held accountable for facilitating it as well ... ..I could be wrong... I am all for free speech et al but just wondering how this scenario stands ..just a thought _ Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser! http://biggestloser.msn.com/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] assam@assamnet.org moderators ..pls read
I read and I was quite amused by desi-justice represented by whoever made the following statements: Investigators claimed to have detected documents in the sent folder - *** That must therefore be unimpeachable proof , right? Question is of WHAT? Does it prove that Lachit Bordoloi has been involved in forgery? If so, WHO is making the complaint? Arabinda Rajkhowa, or the Kolkata rag, or Kharkhowa police? was arrested last month on charges of helping Ulfa under the cover of being a mediator for peace.-- *** Wow! That must be an awful crime, since he would be unique. Or would he? Anyone who has half a workinbg brain should be able to figure that out. Or so I hope. The officer said there was also evidence of Bordoloi distributing Freedom, the Ulfa mouthpiece. *** Heh-heh-heh! This is hilarious. A senior police officer said investigators were almost sure that Bordoloi generated the incriminating documents. These were found in the sent folder and not in the inbox, implying that Bordoloi had been generating these documents. They did not come from Ulfa. No wonder these guys can never get a conviction on anything. Imagine 'almost sure ' as a proof presented in a court of law that is slightly higher in the scale than a kangaroo variety and get a conviction. Further more, WHAT crime would it be to 'forge' an Arabinda Rajkhowa document--since according to the 'almost sure' crowd they did not come from ULFA ? It will be interesting to find out, won't it? Burt I won't hold my breath. The officer said the police had built a strong case against Bordoloi, based on evidence and confessions by people he was associated with. *** Right! Those confessions must be very reliable. Like what earned a death sentence for that Kashmiri-- (what's his name?) allegedly for shooting up the Parliament building. Except that that world bore down on India, seeing what a travesty that was. I don' t see anyone clamoring for that speedy execution any more. Sources in the home department said more cases would be registered against Bordoloi to ensure that he remained in custody. *** Thats how desi-justice has always worked, hasn't it? Imprison those -- mete out out punishment--on the sly, since they can't get anyone convicted thru a system of ordinary justice. We have more explosive charges against Bordoloi and are looking for evidence, *** Of course! And assmnetters going ga-ga over it? Shame on you .! - Police slap more charges on Bordoloi A STAFF REPORTER Lachit Bordoloi Guwahati, March 2: Arrested rights activist and Ulfa-appointed mediator Lachit Bordoloi had been emailing statements on the outfit's behalf to the media with chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa's scanned signature on them, police said today. Investigators claimed to have detected documents in the sent folder of Bordoloi's email account - they accessed it on his laptop - with the Ulfa chairman's signature on them. The People's Consultative Group member, also an adviser to the Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, was arrested last month on charges of helping Ulfa under the cover of being a mediator for peace. He is in judicial custody. A senior police officer said investigators were almost sure that Bordoloi generated the incriminating documents. These were found in the sent folder and not in the inbox, implying that Bordoloi had been generating these documents. They did not come from Ulfa. What is not known is whether Rajkhowa authorised Bordoloi to use his signature on documents meant to be circulated on Ulfa's behalf. The police have registered a second case against him for abetting, aiding and endorsing the views of a proscribed organisation. The officer said there was also evidence of Bordoloi distributing Freedom, the Ulfa mouthpiece. All the evidence is there on his laptop. A police search of Bordoloi's Guwahati residence on February 9 yielded the laptop and some other materials. He was arrested two days later in Moran, based on the confessions of two arrested Ulfa militants. Bordoloi was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act with having a role in collecting funds for Ulfa and under sections 120B and 121 of the IPC for waging war against the state. The officer said the police had built a strong case against Bordoloi, based on evidence and confessions by people he was associated with. The MASS finance secretary, Judhajit Das, said in a Rangia court that Bordoloi had asked him to help some Ulfa militants ferry arms and explosives. When Das declined, the arrested leader allegedly asked him to get in touch with a MASS leader from Darrang who had agreed to do the job. Sources in the home department said more cases would be registered against Bordoloi to ensure that he remained in custody. We have more explosive charges against Bordoloi and are looking for evidence, one of them said. At 9:59 AM -0500 3/3/08, Ram Dhar wrote: pls read
Re: [Assam] assam@assamnet.org moderators ..pls read
I am re-sending the following without the March 02 issue of the Swdhinota attachment, since it might have gotten trapped in assam.org's junk folder for carrying too large an attachment. cm I may not be sure of the crime but it does appear that the ULFA newsletter is written and published by Mr Bordoloi *** Let us assume for a moment that it indeed is so. But so what? Is Assam police heartbroken by the absence of authenticity--that it is not written by ULFA? Or is it the Telegraph, or those who read it and take it seriously, not just for their own pleasure, but to intimidate asssam.org? *** Now that we have gotten that out of the way. Here is another ULFA newsletter. I know you won't be able to read it. So get someone who can, to help you out. I must say this: This Lachit Bordoloi must be something else. He can produce ULFA newsletters from right under the noses of the sleuths of Kharkhowa Foolis, while being imprisoned. The other explanations might be: A: It is actually yours truly who does it, from St. Louis B: That the police propaganda artists need to get a bit smarter than the Keystone cops, if they must resort to propaganda. C: The Telegraph reporter's intelligence leaves a lot to be desired. D: Knowing what it takes to be a desi journalists, one may have to pass on picking on way too easy targets and look at their editors' intelligence, for printing the kind of garbage the Telegraph did and does. E: Shudder at the thought of the standard of analytical prowess of assamnetters, arguably some of eastern South Asia's best and brightest. Ugh!! cm At 6:12 PM -0800 3/3/08, umesh sharma wrote: C-da, I may not be sure of the crime but it does appear that the ULFA newsletter is written and published by Mr Bordoloi - who perhaps is the Ruby Bhuyan who is supposed to send it to AssamNet etc. Umesh Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I read and I was quite amused by desi-justice represented by whoever made the following statements: Investigators claimed to have detected documents in the sent folder - *** That must therefore be unimpeachable proof , right? Question is of WHAT? Does it prove that Lachit Bordoloi has been involved in forgery? If so, WHO is making the complaint? Arabinda Rajkhowa, or the Kolkata rag, or Kharkhowa police? was arrested last month on charges of helping Ulfa under the cover of being a mediator for peace.-- *** Wow! That must be an awful crime, since he would be unique. Or would he? Anyone who has half a workinbg brain should be able to figure that out. Or so I hope. The officer said there was also evidence of Bordoloi distributing Freedom, the Ulfa mouthpiece. *** Heh-heh-heh! This is hilarious. A senior police officer said investigators were almost sure that Bordoloi generated the incriminating documents. These were found in the sent folder and not in the inbox, implying that Bordoloi had been generating these documents. They did not come from Ulfa. No wonder these guys can never get a conviction on anything. Imagine 'almost sure ' as a proof presented in a court of law that is slightly higher in the scale than a kangaroo variety and get a conviction. Further more, WHAT crime would it be to 'forge' an Arabinda Rajkhowa document--since according to the 'almost sure' crowd they did not come from ULFA ? It will be interesting to find out, won't it? Burt I won't hold my breath. The officer said the police had built a strong case against Bordoloi, based on evidence and confessions by people he was associated with. *** Right! Those confessions must be very reliable. Like what earned a death sentence for that Kashmiri-- (what's his name?) allegedly for shooting up the Parliament building. Except that that world bore down on India, seeing what a travesty that was. I don' t see anyone clamoring for that speedy execution any more. Sources in the home department said more cases would be registered against Bordoloi to ensure that he remained in custody. *** Thats how desi-justice has always worked, hasn't it? Imprison those -- mete out out punishment--on the sly, since they can't get anyone convicted thru a system of ordinary justice. We have more explosive charges against Bordoloi and are looking for evidence, *** Of course! And assmnetters going ga-ga over it? Shame on you .! - Police slap more charges on Bordoloi A STAFF REPORTER Lachit Bordoloi Guwahati, March 2: Arrested rights activist and Ulfa-appointed mediator Lachit Bordoloi had been emailing statements on the outfit's behalf to the media with chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa's scanned signature on them, police said today. Investigators claimed to have detected documents in the sent folder of Bordoloi's email account - they accessed it on his laptop - with the Ulfa chairman's signature on them. The People's Consultative Group member, also
Re: [Assam] Info about film
Hi Ram: Not to take anything away from anyone . I was merely forwarding what came to me :-). c-da At 11:09 PM -0500 2/22/08, Ram Dhar wrote: Chandanda, This is not the first one :-) last summer( 2007) we went to one here in NewYork City. Details : An assamese producer - Simi Deka from Gauhati was here with her family . Film name - we also want to live (on witchcraft in Garo hills) . It was also screened there - NY International Independent Film Festival. It's held @ theatre in downtown area in city.: Venue of screening: Village East Cinemas181 2nd Ave12th street , NY -RD Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:29:32 -0600 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] Info about film Dear Netters: A close friend has sent me the following info. Enjoy. cm Here are the details of the film I talked about. I believe it is a first---An assamese film has been selected for screening at the NY International Independent Film Festival. The film is 'Aahir Bhairav', shot entirely in UK, produced by Dr. Ranen Sarma and directed by Late Shiva Prasad Thakur. The screening is on Feb 29. Dr. Sarma will be in New York for the screening. He is willing to provide some tickets to interested individuals. He can be contacted at mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] Information about the film can be obtained at http://www.rondeep-productions.comwww.rondeep-productions.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _ Need to know the score, the latest news, or you need your Hotmail®-get your fix. http://www.msnmobilefix.com/Default.aspx ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Kosovo Independence/ India's Stance?
In retrospect, all the humming hawing by India has paid off in case of *** How Ram? At 9:01 AM -0600 2/23/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: I agree, JS. India usually waits for most of the world to first make a decision. In some cases (like Iraq), I don't think there is yet any official announcement whether or not India supports the US. But, I do remember, that India did offer help to the US, but the US chose (forced) Pakistan for the role - to help the US, and Musharaf capitulated. In retrospect, all the humming hawing by India has paid off in case of Iraq! --Ram On Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 7:34 AM, Jyotirmoy Sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Has India ever taken a stance -War in Iraq, Burma, Iran ? JS On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 4:21 AM, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: C'da, There was a news item in the Hindu (19th). Here it is http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021959721000.htm She is weighing her options - I think its the old 'finger in the air' strategy. --Ram On 2/21/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Surprisingly, nowhere is there any news of India's position. cm http://www.indianexpress.com/story/274422.html US, MAJOR EU POWERS SAY YES TO newborn KOSOVO Reuters Grant formal recognition to world's 193rd country; Serbia dead opposed; Spain leads 'No' chorus with Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania PRISTINA, FEBRUARY 18: Europe's biggest states and the United States said on Monday they were recognising Kosovo, a day after it seceded from Serbia, accepting its new status as the world's 193rd country - the sixth to be created from the collapse of Yugoslavia. The New Indian Express Times of India Newspaper Loksatta Paris was first to announce its move after a European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, and Britain, Germany and Italy followed immediately. The United States later formally recognised Kosovo, in a statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It was a great relief for Pristina which had nervously awaited the expected Western blessing of its secession. The recognition of Kosovo is as important as the declaration of independence, Kosovo's deputy prime minister Hajredin Kuci said. We are grateful to France for recognition. This is a crucial issue for new state of Kosovo and its functioning. Finland also said it would be among those recognising too - despite the anger of Serbia and its main backer, Russia. Ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo poured onto the streets of the capital Pristina waving French, German, British, Italian and US flags, to thank the West. The EU said each of its 27 member states could decide for itself on recognition and Spain - facing its own separatist struggles - led a minority that will say no, complaining that the move had no international legal basis. Around seventeen states have decided to react quickly so as to avoid creating a vacuum with indecisive behaviour, said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Italy recognises Kosovo as an independent state under international supervision, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said, a reminder that Kosovo will remain under outside supervision, just as it had been for the last nine years since NATO drove out Serb forces to protect ethnic Albanians. US President George W. Bush had earlier appeared to jump the gun ahead of his own State Department. In Africa, he said the people of Kosovo are now independent. The remark was flashed in Kosovo as meaning US recognition but a White House spokeswoman said: He didn't announce that. What he meant by that is that the Kosovars have declared their independence. But a few hours later Rice gave the official word Kosovo's two million Albanians have long dreamed of. This was in line with the original script which called for the EU to go first in announcing its policy on what the West insists is a European issue that Russia should not interfere in. Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have indicated they too are not keen to recognise Kosovo, which confidently expects recognition from up to 100 states. Serbia has vowed peaceful retaliatory steps and could make life even more difficult for the territory than it already is, with its 50 per cent unemployment and a weak economy. Other Naysayers MOSCOW: A senior Russian diplomat urged the UN Secretary-General on Monday to oppose Kosovo's independence as the Kremlin sought to rally support for its stance. However, Chechen rebels fighting to secede from Russia hailed Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, comparing Pristina's fight against Serbia
[Assam] Kosovo Independence/ India's Stance?
Surprisingly, nowhere is there any news of India's position. cm http://www.indianexpress.com/story/274422.html US, MAJOR EU POWERS SAY YES TO newborn KOSOVO Reuters Grant formal recognition to world's 193rd country; Serbia dead opposed; Spain leads 'No' chorus with Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania PRISTINA, FEBRUARY 18: Europe's biggest states and the United States said on Monday they were recognising Kosovo, a day after it seceded from Serbia, accepting its new status as the world's 193rd country - the sixth to be created from the collapse of Yugoslavia. The New Indian Express Times of India Newspaper Loksatta Paris was first to announce its move after a European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, and Britain, Germany and Italy followed immediately. The United States later formally recognised Kosovo, in a statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It was a great relief for Pristina which had nervously awaited the expected Western blessing of its secession. The recognition of Kosovo is as important as the declaration of independence, Kosovo's deputy prime minister Hajredin Kuci said. We are grateful to France for recognition. This is a crucial issue for new state of Kosovo and its functioning. Finland also said it would be among those recognising too - despite the anger of Serbia and its main backer, Russia. Ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo poured onto the streets of the capital Pristina waving French, German, British, Italian and US flags, to thank the West. The EU said each of its 27 member states could decide for itself on recognition and Spain - facing its own separatist struggles - led a minority that will say no, complaining that the move had no international legal basis. Around seventeen states have decided to react quickly so as to avoid creating a vacuum with indecisive behaviour, said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Italy recognises Kosovo as an independent state under international supervision, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said, a reminder that Kosovo will remain under outside supervision, just as it had been for the last nine years since NATO drove out Serb forces to protect ethnic Albanians. US President George W. Bush had earlier appeared to jump the gun ahead of his own State Department. In Africa, he said the people of Kosovo are now independent. The remark was flashed in Kosovo as meaning US recognition but a White House spokeswoman said: He didn't announce that. What he meant by that is that the Kosovars have declared their independence. But a few hours later Rice gave the official word Kosovo's two million Albanians have long dreamed of. This was in line with the original script which called for the EU to go first in announcing its policy on what the West insists is a European issue that Russia should not interfere in. Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have indicated they too are not keen to recognise Kosovo, which confidently expects recognition from up to 100 states. Serbia has vowed peaceful retaliatory steps and could make life even more difficult for the territory than it already is, with its 50 per cent unemployment and a weak economy. Other Naysayers MOSCOW: A senior Russian diplomat urged the UN Secretary-General on Monday to oppose Kosovo's independence as the Kremlin sought to rally support for its stance. However, Chechen rebels fighting to secede from Russia hailed Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, comparing Pristina's fight against Serbia to their own struggle against Moscow COLOMBO: Sri Lanka, which is facing 25 years of ethnic strike, has said it did not endorse the unilateral secession of Kosovo from Serbia BEIJING: China said it was deeply concerned over unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, saying it could lead to a negative influence on peace and stability in the region. Serbia and Kosovo should negotiate, it said ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Yet Another one From Tehelka
'All I wanted was a good hot water bath and a cosy bed' http://www.tehelka.com/story_main37.asp?filename=hub230208AllWanted.asp Raghu Guria Is 34 years old. Has been a filmmaker for the last 13 years. Currently based in Delhi and working as an independent filmmaker I WAS RESTLESS and weary as the warm October morning breeze hit me on the face. We had just landed at the Mumbai international airport all the way from Kenya. I had not had any sleep for 26 hours. All I wanted was a good hot water bath and a cosy bed. Little did I know, Dilli abhi door hai. I made my way towards custom clearance. The official looked at my passport and then looked at me. Where is your yellow fever certificate? he thundered. What's that? I was puzzled. You have travelled to Kenya and you don't have a yellow fever certificate? Nobody told me anything about it. Nobody tells you about it. It's the law. You should know. Fine! I don't have it. Do as you like. The custom officer broke into a smile. I was bewildered. He ushered me into a cabin and handed my passport to the Airport Health Officer. I figured the health officer would do a quick check-up, ascertain that I don't have yellow fever disease, apologise and let me go. But that was not to be. I was informed that I would be spending the next six days at a government health centre. Six days? Are you crazy? Do you know I'm a mediaperson? I ranted and raged. My host, however, was benevolence personified after pronouncing the verdict. Three constables escorted me to the government health centre. I was already beginning to feel sick. Not with yellow fever, but by seeing the amount of filth around me. The property was surrounded by slums from all sides; it had the stinkiest drain flowing just two metres away from the entrance of the building. Did I say building? It was more like a ruin. There was a thick jungle of wild bushes and plenty of mosquitoes. I didn't know about yellow fever from Kenya but I was sure that, at the end of six days, I'd definitely leave this place with dengue. It turned out that the 'Government Health Centre' was actually a euphemism for 'Quarantine Centre for Government of India', its real name. It was built in 1942. It finally dawned upon me that I had been officially quarantined. I was furious. When the warden arrived, I demanded to see in writing that it was mandatory to carry a yellow fever certificate to visit Kenya. He showed me a handwritten note, which listed practically all of Africa as a Yellow Fever zone. I was flabbergasted. How can you claim a tattered handwritten piece of paper as official? I asked. The warden had been in that post for fifteen years and was quite inured to such questions. He informed me that had I made a stopover even for a day in a country not in the yellow fever zone, the Indian government would have had no problems in letting me in. This was funny. How would stopping over in a country cure me of yellow fever if I had contracted it? The warden helpfully added that I could still escape my predicament by choosing to fly out of India and come back in a few days time. But in the interim, since he liked media-persons, as a special favour, I was being given a choice of beds - Sania Mirza or Dino Morea. I chose the bed, which I was told, had been used by our young tennis star when she had been quarantined. I was still trying to take stock when an elderly gentleman came up to me with a cup of tea. I shook my head. Have it, have it. You still have five more days to go, he said. Turned out he had also been quarantined and was on his fourth day. Another captive was a priest from the local church. Do they allow home food? he enquired. The third inmate rarely stepped out of his room. When he did, it was to borrow a mobile-phone charger. He had arrived a day earlier and contrived to get his wife from Baroda to come and be quarantined with him! So I spent six days there. We had to arrange for our own food, which meant ordering out from a list of restaurants whose numbers had been provided. There wasn't much to do. As a caretaker explained, the property wore a haunted look in part because it sat on prime real state and the government had already decided to sell it. There was no point in doing any repairs. I was struck by the fact that in my six days there not once did a doctor come to see us. The whole reason we were there was because we could have contracted yellow fever. So what exactly was the point of this whole exercise? I don't mind being quarantined if I deserved it, but these inane, archaic rules were being kept alive just so that callous and unscrupulous government officials could make some extra money on the side. The only good thing that came out of the whole ordeal is that I no longer take my freedom for granted. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Yet Another one From Tehelka
At 8:12 PM -0600 2/20/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Hehehe! And when I related my story of the 'state of the art' restrooms at Kolkata airport, there were folks who would hardly believe me. I am vindicated - I think! :) :) Different issues Ram :-). It is one thing to run into dirty toilets. Quite another to force someone into serving time in one, merely to keep up 'national' appearances. --Ram On 2/20/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 'All I wanted was a good hot water bath and a cosy bed' http://www.tehelka.com/story_main37.asp?filename=hub230208AllWanted.asp Raghu Guria Is 34 years old. Has been a filmmaker for the last 13 years. Currently based in Delhi and working as an independent filmmaker I WAS RESTLESS and weary as the warm October morning breeze hit me on the face. We had just landed at the Mumbai international airport all the way from Kenya. I had not had any sleep for 26 hours. All I wanted was a good hot water bath and a cosy bed. Little did I know, Dilli abhi door hai. I made my way towards custom clearance. The official looked at my passport and then looked at me. Where is your yellow fever certificate? he thundered. What's that? I was puzzled. You have travelled to Kenya and you don't have a yellow fever certificate? Nobody told me anything about it. Nobody tells you about it. It's the law. You should know. Fine! I don't have it. Do as you like. The custom officer broke into a smile. I was bewildered. He ushered me into a cabin and handed my passport to the Airport Health Officer. I figured the health officer would do a quick check-up, ascertain that I don't have yellow fever disease, apologise and let me go. But that was not to be. I was informed that I would be spending the next six days at a government health centre. Six days? Are you crazy? Do you know I'm a mediaperson? I ranted and raged. My host, however, was benevolence personified after pronouncing the verdict. Three constables escorted me to the government health centre. I was already beginning to feel sick. Not with yellow fever, but by seeing the amount of filth around me. The property was surrounded by slums from all sides; it had the stinkiest drain flowing just two metres away from the entrance of the building. Did I say building? It was more like a ruin. There was a thick jungle of wild bushes and plenty of mosquitoes. I didn't know about yellow fever from Kenya but I was sure that, at the end of six days, I'd definitely leave this place with dengue. It turned out that the 'Government Health Centre' was actually a euphemism for 'Quarantine Centre for Government of India', its real name. It was built in 1942. It finally dawned upon me that I had been officially quarantined. I was furious. When the warden arrived, I demanded to see in writing that it was mandatory to carry a yellow fever certificate to visit Kenya. He showed me a handwritten note, which listed practically all of Africa as a Yellow Fever zone. I was flabbergasted. How can you claim a tattered handwritten piece of paper as official? I asked. The warden had been in that post for fifteen years and was quite inured to such questions. He informed me that had I made a stopover even for a day in a country not in the yellow fever zone, the Indian government would have had no problems in letting me in. This was funny. How would stopping over in a country cure me of yellow fever if I had contracted it? The warden helpfully added that I could still escape my predicament by choosing to fly out of India and come back in a few days time. But in the interim, since he liked media-persons, as a special favour, I was being given a choice of beds - Sania Mirza or Dino Morea. I chose the bed, which I was told, had been used by our young tennis star when she had been quarantined. I was still trying to take stock when an elderly gentleman came up to me with a cup of tea. I shook my head. Have it, have it. You still have five more days to go, he said. Turned out he had also been quarantined and was on his fourth day. Another captive was a priest from the local church. Do they allow home food? he enquired. The third inmate rarely stepped out of his room. When he did, it was to borrow a mobile-phone charger. He had arrived a day earlier and contrived to get his wife from Baroda to come and be quarantined with him! So I spent six days there. We had to arrange for our own food, which meant ordering out from a list of restaurants whose numbers had been provided. There wasn't much to do. As a caretaker explained, the property wore a haunted look in part because it sat on prime real state and the government had already decided to sell it. There was no point in doing any repairs. I was struck by the fact that in my six days there not once did a doctor come to see us. The whole reason we were
Re: [Assam] What is Going in Maharashtra?
At 5:42 AM + 2/15/08, uttam borthakur wrote:
If those who control ARE to eradicate, then they
will not have the chance to exploit the
resentments for their own gains at the expense
of the people. So, they are out. Those who are
presently being controlled and are also the
victims SHOULD try to root out the causes of
resentments. But that is normative. Some may be
trying, but it has not borne fruit. Whether it
is possible within the present framework has
also been a moot point. 'Nana Munir Nana Mot'.
Till success is achieved, this will remain
debatable. What do you say Chandan Da?
*** Until such time as India learns to recognize
the differences and respect them, and let the
people find their own solutions to their own
issues and problems, instead of dictating from
Dilli, little will change. India will continue to
totter along, fractured, unable to come together
for the greater good of ALL. In the process many
will lose their lives in violence, many will be
uprooted, many will die untimely deaths, and a
few will laugh all the way to the bank on the
backs of the dispossessed waving the flags of an
aspiring world power.
Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
So, resentments must be addressed. There is no
point in trying to shoo those away.
*** I agree. And unless there ARE simmering
resentments, they could NOT be exploited for
narrow political or personal gains to the
detriment of society.
Now the big question is IF these resentments CAN
be eradicated under the circumstances? And if
yes, by WHO? Those who control things? Or the
controlled? What is the incentive for those who
are in control to change?
At 6:18 PM + 2/14/08, uttam borthakur wrote:
Resentments do have bases: real or illusory or both.
So, resentments must be addressed. There is no
point in trying to shoo those away.
But right now in Maharashtra, those who try to
cash in on such resentments for their personal
political agenda, are fomenting trouble. In
Assam too such forces have been successfully
hoodwinking people time and again, playing on
people's resentments for their personal
political agenda.
Ultimately the persons like Raj or Bal or
Prafulla or Tarun or Bhorot or their cronies
gain: victims being always the same.
Chan Mahanta wrote:
Agreed. But two wrongs don't make a right. Isn't it?
No, it does not.
But to deny its existence is a delusion at best.
It is alive and well across the length and
breadth of the sub-continent. And there are good
reasons for it.
Those who raise shrill voices singling out
Oxomiya resentments as unique, while waving a
mythical
flag of equality and unity, do so either out of
abject ignorance or malice or both.
That is what I wanted to point out :-).
At 10:11 PM -0600 2/13/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
But that would not explain this, would
it? They are of the same race.
There may not be a proper word for them yet, but
all these go to the same group of being hateful
to the ones that are not from the same klan or
class or race or region or what have you, isn't
it?
Add casteism to it and you will get a perfect
picture of how an Indian mind work.
And is this reminiscent of Oxomiya
resentments? If so, are the Oxomiyas unique
in their resentments, as some would have us
believe here?
Agreed. But two wrongs don't make a right. Isn't it?
In order to make spiritual progress you must be
patient like a tree and humble like a blade of
grass
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:15:09 -0600 To:
assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Assam] What is Going in
Maharashtra? At 2:52 PM -0600 2/13/08, Alpana
B. Sarangapani wrote: Hi C'da: What am
I missing? Or forgot that Indians, in
general, are the most close and
narrow-minded, prejudiced and racist people
alive on the face of the earth? But
that would not explain this, would it? They are
of the same race. Is it cultural hegemony?
Is it economic controls? And is this
reminiscent of Oxomiya resentments? If so, are
the Oxomiyas unique in their resentments, as
some would have us believe here?
Finally, where did the much touted great
Indian Unity in Diversity disappeared , from
its most cosmpolitan metropolis, unless it
was another Indian myth?
:-) In
order to make spiritual progress you must
be patient like a tree and humble like a
blade of grass Date: Wed,
13 Feb 2008 14:36:00 -0600
To: assam@assamnet.org From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] What
is Going in Maharashtra? I hadn't
followed what has led to what I saw in the
ToI article below. But I am very curious
about claims of Indians in this forum that
Mumbai is the MOST cosmpolitan of Indian
metropolitan regions, where such conflicts
as this does not exist. From recent
outpouring of certain
assamnetters' revulsion towards and
condemnation of their fellow Oxomiyas, whom
they perceive to be uniquely xenophobic
Re: [Assam] American politics and election are based solely on issues?
At 8:06 PM -0800 2/14/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Did I hear somewhere in this net that American politics and election are based solely on issues? *** That depends on what one is looking at: A PRIMARY to select a candidate, or an election between two or more competing and differing philosophical and policy goals for the elective office. To attempt to point at the US Democratic primary, where the two primary competitors hold identical philosophical and policy goals differing merely on details, as the same as desi-elections where candidates are selected remotely by a colonial coterie of power-brokers and elections are fought over symbols and caste; merely demonstrates a propensity to paint Idesi-demokrasy and US democracy with same brush. Question is why? Hope it is not a deep seated national identity based inferiority complex :-). This article has another story. Viewpoint from Assam is welcome. Human nature is the same everywhere. It is more pronounced in some parts than the others. Dilip Black lawmakers rethink Clinton support By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent 48 minutes ago WASHINGTON - In a fresh sign of trouble for Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of the former first lady's congressional black supporters intends to vote for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, and a second, more prominent lawmaker is openly discussing a possible switch. if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['UXlWJ9G_fy8-']='U=13bi4i73s%2fN%3dUXlWJ9G_fy8-%2fC%3d632904.11909405.12484041.1414694%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d5140062'; Rep. David Scott's defection and Rep. John Lewis' remarks highlight one of the challenges confronting Clinton in a campaign that pits a black man against a woman for a nomination that historically has been the exclusive property of white men. You've got to represent the wishes of your constituency, Scott said in an interview Wednesday in the Capitol. My proper position would be to vote the wishes of my constituents. The third-term lawmaker represents a district that gave more than 80 percent of its vote to Obama in the Feb. 5 Georgia primary. Lewis, whose Atlanta-area district voted 3-to-1 for Obama, said he is not ready to abandon his backing for the former first lady. But several associates said the nationally known civil rights figure has become increasingly torn about his early endorsement of Clinton. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing private conversations. In an interview, Lewis likened Obama to Robert F. Kennedy in his ability to generate campaign excitement, and left open the possibility he might swing behind the Illinois senator. It could (happen). There's no question about it. It could happen with a lot of people ... we can count and we see the clock, he said. Clinton's recent string of eight primary and caucus defeats coincides with an evident shift in momentum in the contest for support from party officials who will attend the convention. The former first lady still holds a sizable lead among the roughly 800 so-called superdelegates, who are chosen outside the primary and caucus system. But Christine Samuels, until this week a Clinton superdelegate from New Jersey, said during the day she is now supporting Obama. Two other superdelegates, Sophie Masloff of Pennsylvania and Nancy Larson of Minnesota, are uncommitted, having dropped their earlier endorsements of Clinton. On Wednesday, David Wilhelm, a longtime ally of the Clintons who had been neutral in the presidential race, endorsed Obama. The comments by Scott and Lewis reflect pressure on Clinton's black supporters, particularly elected officials, not to stand in the way of what is plainly the best chance in history to have an African-American president. Nobody could see this in advance, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the highest-ranking black in Congress, said of Obama's emergence. He is officially neutral in the race, but expressed his irritation earlier in the year with remarks that Clinton and her husband the former president had made about civil rights history. One black supporter of Clinton, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, said he remains committed to her. There's nothing going on right now that would cause me to change, he said. He said any suggestion that elected leaders should follow their voters raises the age old political question. Are we elected to monitor where our constituents are ... or are we to use our best judgment to do what's in the best interests of our constituents. In an interview, Cleaver offered a glimpse of private conversations. He said Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois had recently asked him if it comes down to the last day and you're the only superdelegate? ... Do you want to go down in history as the one to prevent a black from winning the White House? I told him I'd think about it, Cleaver concluded. Jackson, an Obama
Re: [Assam] What is Going in Maharashtra?
Ram: I can answer the question but I would let you figure that out yourself. Here is a clue: How did Dispur get to be what it is? If you try to work backwards from here, and if you prefer NOT to AVOID unpleasant questions, you will find ALL the answers you will ever need. And ALL the SOLUTIONS to them too. So, go get 'em Tiger :-). c-da At 9:42 AM -0600 2/15/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da *** Until such time as India learns to recognize the differences and respect them, and let the people find their own solutions to their own issues and problems, instead of dictating from Dilli, little will change. OK - how far are you willing to decentralize? Should it be left to Dispur to dictate to all of Assam? Or there be further decentralizations? Frankly, its hardly the system - its the people in the system who make up the governance. A similar system (like in India) exists in England, and it seems to be doing fine. Does Dispur understand the salient differences and problems that you harp upon, existing within Assam itself ( or the NE for that matter)? --Ram On 2/15/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 5:42 AM + 2/15/08, uttam borthakur wrote: If those who control ARE to eradicate, then they will not have the chance to exploit the resentments for their own gains at the expense of the people. So, they are out. Those who are presently being controlled and are also the victims SHOULD try to root out the causes of resentments. But that is normative. Some may be trying, but it has not borne fruit. Whether it is possible within the present framework has also been a moot point. 'Nana Munir Nana Mot'. Till success is achieved, this will remain debatable. What do you say Chandan Da? *** Until such time as India learns to recognize the differences and respect them, and let the people find their own solutions to their own issues and problems, instead of dictating from Dilli, little will change. India will continue to totter along, fractured, unable to come together for the greater good of ALL. In the process many will lose their lives in violence, many will be uprooted, many will die untimely deaths, and a few will laugh all the way to the bank on the backs of the dispossessed waving the flags of an aspiring world power. Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So, resentments must be addressed. There is no point in trying to shoo those away. *** I agree. And unless there ARE simmering resentments, they could NOT be exploited for narrow political or personal gains to the detriment of society. Now the big question is IF these resentments CAN be eradicated under the circumstances? And if yes, by WHO? Those who control things? Or the controlled? What is the incentive for those who are in control to change? At 6:18 PM + 2/14/08, uttam borthakur wrote: Resentments do have bases: real or illusory or both. So, resentments must be addressed. There is no point in trying to shoo those away. But right now in Maharashtra, those who try to cash in on such resentments for their personal political agenda, are fomenting trouble. In Assam too such forces have been successfully hoodwinking people time and again, playing on people's resentments for their personal political agenda. Ultimately the persons like Raj or Bal or Prafulla or Tarun or Bhorot or their cronies gain: victims being always the same. Chan Mahanta wrote: Agreed. But two wrongs don't make a right. Isn't it? No, it does not. But to deny its existence is a delusion at best. It is alive and well across the length and breadth of the sub-continent. And there are good reasons for it. Those who raise shrill voices singling out Oxomiya resentments as unique, while waving a mythical flag of equality and unity, do so either out of abject ignorance or malice or both. That is what I wanted to point out :-). At 10:11 PM -0600 2/13/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: But that would not explain this, would it? They are of the same race. There may not be a proper word for them yet, but all these go to the same group of being hateful to the ones that are not from the same klan or class or race or region or what have you, isn't it? Add casteism to it and you will get a perfect picture of how an Indian mind work. And is this reminiscent of Oxomiya resentments? If so, are the Oxomiyas unique in their resentments, as some would have us believe here? Agreed. But two wrongs don't make a right. Isn't it? In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:15:09 -0600 To: assam@assamnet.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re
Re: [Assam] What is Going in Maharashtra?
Here is a whole slew of arguments here that present the symptoms as the causes. But lacking time to deal with all of them, let me ask Ram just one question: If Assam can get a good grip on this, she can show the rest of India how it is done. Let Assam become a model, but till then, blaming Dilli at will doesn't get Assam anywhere (well, it actually gets worse). *** How does one propose to get the house cleaning accomplished ? What will be the steps taken and who will take them? At 12:38 PM -0600 2/15/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Uttam, The question was why the sudden spurt of violence in Maharashtra and eruption of resentments supposedly against north indians. The problem is not unique to Maharastra. There are two main factors playing into this. One is politics of divisivness - its helps the Sena to no end. The second is these politicians play with the needs and sometimes even religious/caste dogmas. Given these ingredients, it is easy to bring the 'sons of soil' argument. If one were to go back into history - Hitler and Goebbles successfully made the German people believe that the Jews were the cause of all their woes. That kind of strategy works very well when the target is a minority group. That is an extreme example, but water it down, change the ingredients a bit, and you can have a Maharastra or a Gujarat any day. But what are the bases of such resentments; what are the reasons of the outbursts The reasons for the outbursts are as above. As for resentments, we have to dig down deeper. Some are the results of bad policies, bureacracy in Govt. or runaway corruption. While others are far more deep-rooted. People in many parts of India have held deep mistrust for other groups and for generations. There is mistrust between religious groups, language groups, castes, etc. Basically, anything that makes people different, can and is used against them so that others climb the economic/social ladder a few more steps.. But excessive centralisation indicates inner weaknesses and the periphery tends to move Excess of anything is lousy. But who decides where the lines ought to be drawn or erased? Obviously it won't be C'da or myself :) IMHO - its very easy to say how and where these lines ought to be drawn and who ought to be in control? As long as there are acute economic problems, corruption, and people steeped in religious/caste dogmas etc there will always be this unhealthy competition. Again IMHO, the solution, at least for Assam might be (even under a Delhi mandate) to clean house. Eradicate corruption, protect our all our resources - well at least wildlife, mining and agri., make local officials from PWD flood control engineers to ministers and babus accountable. If Assam can get a good grip on this, she can show the rest of India how it is done. Let Assam become a model, but till then, blaming Dilli at will doesn't get Assam anywhere (well, it actually gets worse). --Ram da On 2/15/08, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ram Da, The question was why the sudden spurt of violence in Maharashtra and eruption of resentments supposedly against north indians. You are absolutely correct in saying that parochialism may not have any limits. ( A boy from Guwahati is not a local at Sivasagar when it comes to a tender or a job in the ONGCL). But what are the bases of such resentments; what are the reasons of the outbursts- whether those are sponataneous, or those engineered for personal gains of a few, and at whose expense? That is whether it is an infighting among the ruling polity where the aspirants advertise their own interests as the interest of the people/group they lead, or it is a mere fatricidal war among different groups of the people at large? Chandan Da perhaps is of the view that the aspirants here clamour for the share of the loot thrown their way by a centralised power structure that claim not to be so. But excessive centralisation indicates inner weaknesses and the periphery tends to move away as in a centrifuge. Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ram: I can answer the question but I would let you figure that out yourself. Here is a clue: How did Dispur get to be what it is? If you try to work backwards from here, and if you prefer NOT to AVOID unpleasant questions, you will find ALL the answers you will ever need. And ALL the SOLUTIONS to them too. So, go get 'em Tiger :-). c-da At 9:42 AM -0600 2/15/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da *** Until such time as India learns to recognize the differences and respect them, and let the people find their own solutions to their own issues and problems, instead of dictating from Dilli, little will change. OK - how far are you willing to decentralize? Should it be left to Dispur to dictate to all of Assam? Or there be further decentralizations? Frankly, its hardly the system - its the people
