Re: [Assam] Looking for right information

[kamal deka]

True, Isla de Marajo, in the mouth of the Amazon in Brazil, is the
real holder of that title. But if Marajo is bigger than Majuli, Majuli
is certainly home to far more people: more than 150,000 of them, on
something like 500 sq km. And they face a unique and grave problem:
the island is being steadily eroded by the Brahmaputra. Just since
1991, half of Majuli has been washed away. This is the problem where
everyone should try to put the spotlight on.

On Mon, Dec 28, 2015 at 5:49 AM, Sanjib Baruah  wrote:
>
> A recent news report in the Telegraph said Majuli was 1,244 square km in 
> 1950, and is now 650 square km.
>
> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151223/jsp/northeast/story_59886.jsp#.VoEftVLBTPM
>
> I suspect what complicates measurements a bit is that Majuli is not a single 
> land mass. It has a mainland – where the most of the places we associate with 
> Majuli, the Xatras, government departments etc are -- and a large number of 
> chars and chaporis. Officially the island has 34 chaporis. Some these 
> chaporis are connected to the mainland during the dry months , but others are 
> permanently separated.
>
> Sanjib Baruah
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Wahid Saleh - Indiawijzer" 
> To: supportachild-as...@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: "Assamnet" 
> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 5:33:48 AM
> Subject: [Assam] Looking for right information
>
> As an Assamese we proudly say that Majuli is the biggest river-island in the 
> world. It might have been once upon a time. But due to different reason every 
> year we are offering a part of Majuli to Brahmaputra. I have come across 
> information on the internet announcing that Majuli is no longer the largest 
> river-island in the world.
>
>
>
> 1.   According to World Island Information Majuli is the 7th largest 
> river-island in the world
>
>  http://www.worldislandinfo.com/MISINFORMATION.htm
>
>
>
> 2.  Wikipedia mentions that Marajó island of Brasil is the largest 
> river-island of the world.
>   
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maraj%C3%B3
>
> Marajó is an island located at the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. It is 
> part of the state of Pará. Marajó is the largest fluvial island in the world, 
> and the second largest island in South America. With a land area of 40,100 
> square kilometres (15,500 sq mi) Marajó is comparable in size to Switzerland. 
> It is approximately 295 kilometres (183 mi) long and 200 kilometres (120 mi) 
> wide
>
> This is also mentioned by Britannica.
>   
> http://www.britannica.com/place/Marajo-Island
>
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> Wahid
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
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>
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[Assam] An Assamese in Guatemala

[kamal deka]

A couple of nights ago, perhaps by a strange quirk of fate,I happened to
strike up a conversation with a lady,in her late 50's,who hails from a
remote corner of Guatemala.Her name literally made me sit up and take
notice.Her name is Rita Changmai.On further enquiry,it was discovered  that
her paternal grandfather,Jibon Changmai, is an Assamese from Chabua,a
sleepy outlying area of Dibrugarh,Assam.Mr.Changmai,I was told, was in the
US Army and he met his Guatemalan wife,Mary Celia Shoz,while stationed in
Nicaragua.Later,they moved to Guatemala for permanent settlement,never to
return to his native country.Could he be the first Non-Resident Assamese
(NRA )? I wonder!
I just wanted to share this information with you all.
KJ Deka
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Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

[kamal deka]

TO HELL WITH ASSAMNET.I AM AN IDIOT.DO YOU EVER TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE WRITER WANTS TO SAY?

On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 8:13 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:

 Voltaire's remark was in defense of free thinking and expression.


 That is an entirely different animal from expressing one's hatred for another 
 group of
 of people, in a forum where the aim has  been to discus and deliberate on 
 issues
 of mutual interest and to build better understanding of each others' issues .


 There have been some remarkably good illustrations of that in the USA in 
 recent days. Just ask Mel Gibson.
 He would love your interpretation of Voltaire's defense of free-sppech.




 On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:31 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 A decision not to say or write something because it might cause
 problems or offend someone is one thing and hate-speech is quite
 another.What is wrong with Voltaire's remark?
 KJD

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 11:09 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 We simply cannot force him to

 self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea.


  What did this mean then? Did you not imply that one is free to indulge 
 in hate speech,
 based on YOUR  skewed and bizarre interpretation of Voltaire's defense of 
 free-speech
 holds?






 On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:04 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 At no point did I say that hate-mongering is anacceptable
 behaviour.That is your opinion.Tried to share my life experience with
 you all;if that amounts to hate-speech,so be it.

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:46 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 I appreciate the fact you did not lose your voice, when there is a need 
 to be heard from.

 I don't agree with your position, which seems to suggest it is OK to 
 indulge in hate-speech
 based upon your own experiences at Tinsukiya, the Assam town where the 
 indigenous Assamese
 are hard to find.

 That is where your admonition, or rhetorical question, IF two wrongs make 
 a right, comes to mind.

 Does it?






 On Aug 19, 2010, at 10:28 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 To all Netters save moderator,
 Lest I be misunderstood,let me be explicit here by saying that I am
 not ,by any reckoning,trying to defend Dhrubojyoti Deka for allegedly
 using unpolished and unrefined words ( I don't know if he did) in this
 Net.

 However,it reminds me of Voltaire, who once suggested that he would
 disagree with his opponent, but would defend to the death the
 opponent's right to have an opinion. We simply cannot force him to
 self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea.

 I was born in Tinsukia and spent quiet a few years of my life there.I
 know how it feels like to be an Assamese in that milieu--a town where
 we were the only Assamese ( in the main town).I also spent a few years
 in Silchar and I had a providential escape one night during the peak
 of Assam Movement.Those pontificating goody two shoes will never be
 able to convince me about certain things which will remain indelibly
 branded in my memory .I had sensed ' hate' in others really well.There
 are certain truths in this world that cannot be erased.

 FINALLY,PACIFISM WORKS ONLY IF BOTH SIDES AGREE TO PLAY BY THE SAME
 SET OF RULES.

 Kamaljit Deka

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:46 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka
 dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Are you threatening me? By showing CC, Moderator at top?



 Nothing to response your meaningless sentances.

 Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:23 -0700
 From: ankur_bora2...@yahoo.com
 To: assam@assamnet.org
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

 Cc : Moderator , Assam Net

 Dhruba Jyoti ,

 You mentioned in your earlier posting that you were kidding about the 
 topic. Your subsequent postings are quite contrary to that.
 Are you kidding or are ‘you serious ?
 If you are serious, have you noticed  the list of websites below the 
 signature of  Sushanta. Have you gone through the online link of 
 “Pragyan”?  Pragyan is a fruition  of painstaking work of  Sushanta 
 and teachers of Tinsukia college. Pragyan has guided thousands of 
 studenst of Tinsukia and that region in career planning , higher study 
 , creativity and leadership. There are valuable articles published in 
 the Assamese section of  Pragyan related to Assamese language , 
 culture and history.
 In the story of blind men and the elephant , each man described the 
 animal based on the part that they could feel i.e. the  foreleg , the 
 tail and the trunk. Each one insisted that he alone was correct. Of 
 course, there was no conclusion for not one had thoroughly examined 
 the whole elephant. Their observation was limited to parts of the 
 body, they could not realize the magnificence and the splendor of the 
 majestic creature.
 Would you continue to focus only on the “signature dots”  or will you 
 open yourself  to the total of the parts ?
 I am not kidding here , seriously.
 Ankur Bora



 --- On Thu, 8/19/10, Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com 
 wrote:


 From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

To stick to one's known and stay away from unknown is a human
instinctive trait which can be termed as  compartmentalisation.
There is no gainsaying the fact that ethnologically tribal people are
distinct from the people of the plains.At the same time one should not
think that hill people have much homogeneity and cohesion.A tribal
tends to think primarily in terms of his village or clan.Nor do the
tribes have common language.Sometimes the sub-tribes of the same tribe
also speak different languages.For inter-tribal contacts they have to
depend largely on Hindi or Assamese.As a result each tribe has
preserved its own pattern of social organisations and culture and each
tribe has its own laws and customs.The hill tribes,in fact,were
described in the past as  block of self-governing community

If you think that the representatives( MPs OR MLAs) of the tribal
people can be dismissed off as  COMMISSION AGENTS, THEN WHY, ON
EARTH,MUST ANY ONE PUT THE BLAME ROUNDLY ON THE ASSAMESE FOR THOSE
WHEELERS AND DEALERS?
KJD

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 2:15 AM, uttam borthakur
uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
 There is a vacuous assumption of commonality among the people of the 
 Northeastern states of India.What exactly does the average Assamese have 
 in common with a Mizo,Naga or Arunachali?Very little.There is nothing 
 that makes one feel kinship with other apart from the small matter of 
 their sitting adjacent to each other.There are few cultural bonds 
 between the various Northeastern states and the region does not share a 
 common language or religious heritage,which can sometimes form
 the basis of cross national identity.
  That explains one of the factors for the fissiparous tendencies broached 
 earlier. Imposition of one's language, culture, hegemony over people  having 
 no commonality. It creates grounds for disaffection and hinders assimilation. 
 Today, there is a protest rally in Garo hills seeking a different state to be 
 carved out of Meghalaya. Probably the Khasis are imposing themselves on the 
 Garos there, though Garos surely have representation in the assembly. 
 Representation in the assembly/ parliament does not mean a thing in India, 
 which should be quite apparent by now, because they do not represent people, 
 but are mostly commission agents (there are exceptions no doubt).
 By now, the news must have reached everyone (I posted a link a few days ago 
 'Revenge of Memories' in respect of Union Carbide/ Dow Chemicals culpability 
 in Bhopal) that American Masters have directed their agents MMS/ Montek/ PC  
 Co. to go slow on Dow Chemicals; and in compliance the knaves, being 
 pro-active than the masters, have already (before even being ordered ) 
 desisted from prosecuting the case in the US soils to make the 'Polluter 
 Pay. The Ministerial Committee has recommended cleaning up through tax 
 payers money ( with mumbles about prosecuting the case vigorously which is 
 lip-service as evident from action). Just contrast it with Obama throwing the 
 book at BP!
 Ideas often are vested interest. Ram Da, do we need maturity in the democracy 
 or doing away with a system that is tailor-made for commission agency ?





 Uttam Kumar Borthakur

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Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the question 
to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge the MAIN cause 
while shedding tears over it to no end

I was about to hit the ceiling laughing:-).PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE
HORSE? THE CAUSE OR SOLUTION CAN ONLY BE FOUND FOR ANY PROBLEM IF THE
EXISTENCE OF THE SAME IS ACCEPTED FIRST.IF THE PEOPLE REFUSE TO
RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM,WHITHER SOLUTION?A GRAND CHARADE
INDEED.

FOR SOME KHARKHOWAS,IT HAS BECOME A FASHION TO SAY THAT ILLEGAL
BANGLADEHIS ARE THE MUSCLE AND SINEW OF OUR COMMUNITY!!!

WHY SQUARELY BLAME DELHI? WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN BUTTERBALL KHARKHOWA
REPS.? THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR LONG TIME TOTALLY DETACHED

SET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST.THAT WOULD BE WISER.

KJD





On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:53 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
First,two wrongs don't make a right.

  It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the 
 question to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge the 
 MAIN cause while shedding tears over it to no end, is no different than 'the 
 apathetic people'  of Assam that a few of you try to hold RESPONSIBLE for the 
 problem, as Ram has so eloquently demonstrated :-).

 Question would be  why? Why are you so afraid to give a straight answer 
 instead of resorting to subterfuges?



 Secondly,your explanation is like this: since the cop can't catch
 criminals,do away with the police department and criminal codes so
 that the thugs could have field day.

  It couldn't be farther from the truth.  Ram's premise was that the 
 'population' is 'accepting  of it'
  and that it 'cherry picks' --- opportunities to demonize his India.

 If that cherry-picking hurts his or your sentiments so, why can't you show us 
 WHAT your keepers and
 mai-baap at Dilli, who is RESPONSIBLE for it and has the RESOURCES , been 
 doing all these years
 with the help and collusion of its puppets at Dispur?

 And IF the population is accepting who is Ram or you, expatriates, to 
 take issue with it?

  So which part of these amounts to arguing that two wrongs make a right 
 or any such thing, even remotely?







 On Aug 18, 2010, at 10:33 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 : Where were/are the border security forces? Whose responsibility is it 
 to secure the borders?
 Two things again:
 First,two wrongs don't make a right.
 Secondly,your explanation is like this: since the cop can't catch
 criminals,do away with the police department and criminal codes so
 that the thugs could have field day.
 KJD

 B: If the population is accepting of such 'intruders', ass you
 premise, who are you or I to take issue with it as you do here?
 What is your standing, if we had to employ legal terminology, to take
 issue with it, other than your personal

 On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 9:35 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 The central theme is such cases is
 Assam is so different from the rest of India, shares little with it, that 
 it
 needs to be separate from India.


  That is what IMAGINING a national identity is all about.  What is 
 India?  How is it different from Pakistan, or B'desh, or Nepal or SriLanka.
 All national identities are born out of a imaginations trhat they are. 
 There are NO rules that govern it.

  Or are there?



 n many a case I suspect, the aim is

 cherry picking at will, and at the opportune times, and what suits them
 best.



 Let us accept the premise here. If so, is there a law against that? Or 
 is it unethical according to some standard of ethical practices?
 Who are these conspirators who choose to cherry pick? And WHAT IS their 
 interest, their motives?




 Then the same groups have absolutely no qualms of B'deshis illegally
 entering Assam, or Pakistanis encroaching into Kashmir - whereby changing
 the entire political landscape of these regions.



  TWO points to note here:

 A: Where were/are the border security forces? Whose responsibility is it to 
 secure the borders?

 B: If the population is accepting of such 'intruders', ass you premise, who 
 are you or I to take issue with it as you do here?
 What is your standing, if we had to employ legal terminology, to take issue 
 with it, other than your personal
 preferences or, more precisely, prejudices?


  finally, I think Sanjiv  Goswami is exactly right with his analyses 
 and conclusions.





 On Aug 18, 2010, at 7:45 PM, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

 Very well put KJD.

 Many of the discussions like this involve a number of dichothomies.

 Quite often, we find some groups of people demanding a unique identity for
 Assam (or Kashmir as the case may be). The central theme is such cases is
 Assam is so different from the rest of India, shares little with it, that 
 it
 needs to be separate from India.

 Then the same groups have absolutely no qualms of B'deshis illegally
 entering Assam, or Pakistanis encroaching into Kashmir - whereby changing
 the entire

Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

[kamal deka]

To all Netters save moderator,
Lest I be misunderstood,let me be explicit here by saying that I am
not ,by any reckoning,trying to defend Dhrubojyoti Deka for allegedly
using unpolished and unrefined words ( I don't know if he did) in this
Net.

However,it reminds me of Voltaire, who once suggested that he would
disagree with his opponent, but would defend to the death the
opponent's right to have an opinion. We simply cannot force him to
self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea.

I was born in Tinsukia and spent quiet a few years of my life there.I
know how it feels like to be an Assamese in that milieu--a town where
we were the only Assamese ( in the main town).I also spent a few years
in Silchar and I had a providential escape one night during the peak
of Assam Movement.Those pontificating goody two shoes will never be
able to convince me about certain things which will remain indelibly
branded in my memory .I had sensed ' hate' in others really well.There
are certain truths in this world that cannot be erased.

FINALLY,PACIFISM WORKS ONLY IF BOTH SIDES AGREE TO PLAY BY THE SAME
SET OF RULES.

Kamaljit Deka

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:46 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka
dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Are you threatening me? By showing CC, Moderator at top?



 Nothing to response your meaningless sentances.

 Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:23 -0700
 From: ankur_bora2...@yahoo.com
 To: assam@assamnet.org
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

 Cc : Moderator , Assam Net

 Dhruba Jyoti ,

 You mentioned in your earlier posting that you were kidding about the topic. 
 Your subsequent postings are quite contrary to that.
 Are you kidding or are ‘you serious ?
 If you are serious, have you noticed  the list of websites below the 
 signature of  Sushanta. Have you gone through the online link of “Pragyan”?  
 Pragyan is a fruition  of painstaking work of  Sushanta and teachers of 
 Tinsukia college. Pragyan has guided thousands of studenst of Tinsukia and 
 that region in career planning , higher study , creativity and leadership. 
 There are valuable articles published in the Assamese section of  Pragyan 
 related to Assamese language , culture and history.
 In the story of blind men and the elephant , each man described the animal 
 based on the part that they could feel i.e. the  foreleg , the tail and the 
 trunk. Each one insisted that he alone was correct. Of course, there was no 
 conclusion for not one had thoroughly examined the whole elephant. Their 
 observation was limited to parts of the body, they could not realize the 
 magnificence and the splendor of the majestic creature.
 Would you continue to focus only on the “signature dots”  or will you open 
 yourself  to the total of the parts ?
 I am not kidding here , seriously.
 Ankur Bora



 --- On Thu, 8/19/10, Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:


 From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
 assam@assamnet.org
 Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 1:55 PM


 Sorry for that. But i have seen usage of such slang recently by 2 senior 
 fellow here.

  From: absarangap...@hotmail.com
  To: cmaha...@gmail.com; assam@assamnet.org
  Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:39:15 +
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form
 
  That's what I was going to say. Can we or should we bear with this type of 
  behavior here in Assam Net? I can't believe in today's world this type of 
  mentality is still there. I thought it was a passe`.
 
  -ABS
 
  Sent via BlackBerry by ATT
 
  -Original Message-
  From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com
  Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:22:48
  To: assam@assamnet.org
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form
 
  Dhruba:
 
   Those are extremely intemperate words and have no place in a forum like 
  assamnet. I don't know how much you know about this forum, but  I have 
  been in this net for a very long time, over 12 t years.  There have been 
  instances like this before, but most of us nipped those in the bud.
 
   Please do NOT ever again use such vitriol against anybody, I don't care 
  who.
 
   I can assure you, most of us ion this forum will share my view. And I 
  invite everyone , who wish to, stand up and be counted on WHAT is right! 
  Remember, when we lose our voices when it is important to set things 
  straight, silence is not a virtue.
 
   cm
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   On Aug 19, 2010, at 2:54 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka wrote:
 
    I am mailing from mobile, due to power failure. That is why I will not 
  be able to go point to point or detailed because of character limitation.
   
    Now, Mr Sushanta, you a* deserve only hatred. And what the hell is 
  PRANTIK? Do not say what it was. Say what it is.
    This time I would like to express that I hate Bengali people. Because 
  nuisance always want that other should read and learn bangla, but never u 
  nuisance read and 

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

I was referring to you and not the population.The people of Assam are
well-cognizant about that.I disagree because they are illegals.As
simple as that.There we have a CM who openly says that there are no
aliens in Assam.That says a lot.
KJD

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:39 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 You are such a fun and funny guy K! Takes little to get you rolling :-).


 HE CAUSE OR SOLUTION CAN ONLY BE FOUND FOR ANY PROBLEM IF THE
 EXISTENCE OF THE SAME IS ACCEPTED FIRST.IF THE PEOPLE REFUSE TO
 RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM,WHITHER SOLUTION?A GRAND CHARADE
 INDEED.


  You need to get this vetted with your cheering section :-). I understood 
 earlier that only
 certain SEGMENTS of Assam does not consider it a problem. Are you suggesting 
 the population at large
 does not consider it a problem, and that is why, those who are responsible 
 and who have the resources
 have not taken it seriously or done anything about it?

 Yes, a CHARADE it certainly is, except not played by those who you seem to 
 hold responsible. It is a charade
 being played by those who are unable to acknowledge where the problem lies.


 FOR SOME KHARKHOWAS,IT HAS BECOME A FASHION TO SAY THAT ILLEGAL
 BANGLADEHIS ARE THE MUSCLE AND SINEW OF OUR COMMUNITY!!!


  In some ways some of them have become that.  Do you disagree? And if you 
 do, why?

 WHY SQUARELY BLAME DELHI?

  Far be it for me than to blame Delhi.  What do I know about who the 
 responsibility lies with.
 I was merely asking who YOU think is responsible, who is bound by that SACRED 
 constitution to
 provide border security, immigration control, apprehension, adjudication and 
 deportation of illegals
 and so forth?

 You seem to suggest it is NOT Dilli's responsibility, on the pretext that the 
 population of Assam does not care.

 On that front may I ask you if you heard about that andwlon  from way back 
 in the 80's and what it was all
 about?


SET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST.THAT WOULD BE WISER.



 *** That sure sounds like words of the wise. Question is WHOSE house you are 
 referring to?







 On Aug 19, 2010, at 7:56 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the 
 question to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge 
 the MAIN cause while shedding tears over it to no end

 I was about to hit the ceiling laughing:-).PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE
 HORSE? THE CAUSE OR SOLUTION CAN ONLY BE FOUND FOR ANY PROBLEM IF THE
 EXISTENCE OF THE SAME IS ACCEPTED FIRST.IF THE PEOPLE REFUSE TO
 RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM,WHITHER SOLUTION?A GRAND CHARADE
 INDEED.

 FOR SOME KHARKHOWAS,IT HAS BECOME A FASHION TO SAY THAT ILLEGAL
 BANGLADEHIS ARE THE MUSCLE AND SINEW OF OUR COMMUNITY!!!

 WHY SQUARELY BLAME DELHI? WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN BUTTERBALL KHARKHOWA
 REPS.? THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR LONG TIME TOTALLY DETACHED

 SET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST.THAT WOULD BE WISER.

 KJD





 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:53 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 First,two wrongs don't make a right.

  It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the 
 question to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge the 
 MAIN cause while shedding tears over it to no end, is no different than 
 'the apathetic people'  of Assam that a few of you try to hold RESPONSIBLE 
 for the problem, as Ram has so eloquently demonstrated :-).

 Question would be  why? Why are you so afraid to give a straight answer 
 instead of resorting to subterfuges?



 Secondly,your explanation is like this: since the cop can't catch
 criminals,do away with the police department and criminal codes so
 that the thugs could have field day.

  It couldn't be farther from the truth.  Ram's premise was that the 
 'population' is 'accepting  of it'
  and that it 'cherry picks' --- opportunities to demonize his India.

 If that cherry-picking hurts his or your sentiments so, why can't you show 
 us WHAT your keepers and
 mai-baap at Dilli, who is RESPONSIBLE for it and has the RESOURCES , been 
 doing all these years
 with the help and collusion of its puppets at Dispur?

 And IF the population is accepting who is Ram or you, expatriates, to 
 take issue with it?

  So which part of these amounts to arguing that two wrongs make a right 
 or any such thing, even remotely?







 On Aug 18, 2010, at 10:33 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 : Where were/are the border security forces? Whose responsibility is it 
 to secure the borders?
 Two things again:
 First,two wrongs don't make a right.
 Secondly,your explanation is like this: since the cop can't catch
 criminals,do away with the police department and criminal codes so
 that the thugs could have field day.
 KJD

 B: If the population is accepting of such 'intruders', ass you
 premise, who are you or I to take issue with it as you do here?
 What is your standing, if we had to employ legal terminology, to take
 issue with it, other

Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

[kamal deka]

At no point did I say that hate-mongering is anacceptable
behaviour.That is your opinion.Tried to share my life experience with
you all;if that amounts to hate-speech,so be it.

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:46 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 I appreciate the fact you did not lose your voice, when there is a need to be 
 heard from.

 I don't agree with your position, which seems to suggest it is OK to indulge 
 in hate-speech
 based upon your own experiences at Tinsukiya, the Assam town where the 
 indigenous Assamese
 are hard to find.

 That is where your admonition, or rhetorical question, IF two wrongs make a 
 right, comes to mind.

 Does it?






 On Aug 19, 2010, at 10:28 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 To all Netters save moderator,
 Lest I be misunderstood,let me be explicit here by saying that I am
 not ,by any reckoning,trying to defend Dhrubojyoti Deka for allegedly
 using unpolished and unrefined words ( I don't know if he did) in this
 Net.

 However,it reminds me of Voltaire, who once suggested that he would
 disagree with his opponent, but would defend to the death the
 opponent's right to have an opinion. We simply cannot force him to
 self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea.

 I was born in Tinsukia and spent quiet a few years of my life there.I
 know how it feels like to be an Assamese in that milieu--a town where
 we were the only Assamese ( in the main town).I also spent a few years
 in Silchar and I had a providential escape one night during the peak
 of Assam Movement.Those pontificating goody two shoes will never be
 able to convince me about certain things which will remain indelibly
 branded in my memory .I had sensed ' hate' in others really well.There
 are certain truths in this world that cannot be erased.

 FINALLY,PACIFISM WORKS ONLY IF BOTH SIDES AGREE TO PLAY BY THE SAME
 SET OF RULES.

 Kamaljit Deka

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:46 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka
 dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Are you threatening me? By showing CC, Moderator at top?



 Nothing to response your meaningless sentances.

 Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:23 -0700
 From: ankur_bora2...@yahoo.com
 To: assam@assamnet.org
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

 Cc : Moderator , Assam Net

 Dhruba Jyoti ,

 You mentioned in your earlier posting that you were kidding about the 
 topic. Your subsequent postings are quite contrary to that.
 Are you kidding or are ‘you serious ?
 If you are serious, have you noticed  the list of websites below the 
 signature of  Sushanta. Have you gone through the online link of 
 “Pragyan”?  Pragyan is a fruition  of painstaking work of  Sushanta and 
 teachers of Tinsukia college. Pragyan has guided thousands of studenst of 
 Tinsukia and that region in career planning , higher study , creativity 
 and leadership. There are valuable articles published in the Assamese 
 section of  Pragyan related to Assamese language , culture and history.
 In the story of blind men and the elephant , each man described the animal 
 based on the part that they could feel i.e. the  foreleg , the tail and 
 the trunk. Each one insisted that he alone was correct. Of course, there 
 was no conclusion for not one had thoroughly examined the whole elephant. 
 Their observation was limited to parts of the body, they could not realize 
 the magnificence and the splendor of the majestic creature.
 Would you continue to focus only on the “signature dots”  or will you open 
 yourself  to the total of the parts ?
 I am not kidding here , seriously.
 Ankur Bora



 --- On Thu, 8/19/10, Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:


 From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
 assam@assamnet.org
 Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 1:55 PM


 Sorry for that. But i have seen usage of such slang recently by 2 senior 
 fellow here.

 From: absarangap...@hotmail.com
 To: cmaha...@gmail.com; assam@assamnet.org
 Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:39:15 +
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

 That's what I was going to say. Can we or should we bear with this type 
 of behavior here in Assam Net? I can't believe in today's world this type 
 of mentality is still there. I thought it was a passe`.

 -ABS

 Sent via BlackBerry by ATT

 -Original Message-
 From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com
 Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:22:48
 To: assam@assamnet.org
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

 Dhruba:

  Those are extremely intemperate words and have no place in a forum like 
 assamnet. I don't know how much you know about this forum, but  I have 
 been in this net for a very long time, over 12 t years.  There have been 
 instances like this before, but most of us nipped those in the bud.

  Please do NOT ever again use such vitriol against anybody, I don't care 
 who.

  I can assure you, most of us ion this forum will share my view. And I 
 invite

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

You are one who blabbered about root cause,not me.The CM was elected
by the people but his opinion is certainly not in conformity withe
voice of the people.That was his own opinion.One has to be a
handicapped not to understand that.
KJD

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 11:03 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
There we have a CM who openly says that there are no

 aliens in Assam.That says a lot.


  That CM is a duly ELECTED one according to the  standards of 
 desi-demokrasy. Are you suggesting he does NOT represent the voice of Assam?

 And are you also suggesting that the Kongress Party is an independent entity, 
 that answers to its constituents, the people of Assam alone?


I was referring to you and not the population.

  I am a THIRD party, observing and analyzing. I don't have a stake in 
 Assam. I left long, long ago. It is quite immaterial to Assam what MY views , 
 OPINIONS, might be.  But what cannot  be discounted, diluted or otherwise 
 made less important by MY personal views or opinions is the FACT ofd WHO is 
 responsible for border protection, immigration control and such.

 So, to use my persona to evade my question, to obfuscate, IS a classic 
 example of argumentum ad hominem. And I rest my case :-).








 On Aug 19, 2010, at 10:51 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 I was referring to you and not the population.The people of Assam are
 well-cognizant about that.I disagree because they are illegals.As
 simple as that.There we have a CM who openly says that there are no
 aliens in Assam.That says a lot.
 KJD

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:39 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 You are such a fun and funny guy K! Takes little to get you rolling :-).


 HE CAUSE OR SOLUTION CAN ONLY BE FOUND FOR ANY PROBLEM IF THE
 EXISTENCE OF THE SAME IS ACCEPTED FIRST.IF THE PEOPLE REFUSE TO
 RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM,WHITHER SOLUTION?A GRAND CHARADE
 INDEED.


  You need to get this vetted with your cheering section :-). I 
 understood earlier that only
 certain SEGMENTS of Assam does not consider it a problem. Are you 
 suggesting the population at large
 does not consider it a problem, and that is why, those who are responsible 
 and who have the resources
 have not taken it seriously or done anything about it?

 Yes, a CHARADE it certainly is, except not played by those who you seem to 
 hold responsible. It is a charade
 being played by those who are unable to acknowledge where the problem lies.


 FOR SOME KHARKHOWAS,IT HAS BECOME A FASHION TO SAY THAT ILLEGAL
 BANGLADEHIS ARE THE MUSCLE AND SINEW OF OUR COMMUNITY!!!


  In some ways some of them have become that.  Do you disagree? And if 
 you do, why?

 WHY SQUARELY BLAME DELHI?

  Far be it for me than to blame Delhi.  What do I know about who the 
 responsibility lies with.
 I was merely asking who YOU think is responsible, who is bound by that 
 SACRED constitution to
 provide border security, immigration control, apprehension, adjudication 
 and deportation of illegals
 and so forth?

 You seem to suggest it is NOT Dilli's responsibility, on the pretext that 
 the population of Assam does not care.

 On that front may I ask you if you heard about that andwlon  from way 
 back in the 80's and what it was all
 about?


 SET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST.THAT WOULD BE WISER.



 *** That sure sounds like words of the wise. Question is WHOSE house you 
 are referring to?







 On Aug 19, 2010, at 7:56 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the 
 question to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge 
 the MAIN cause while shedding tears over it to no end

 I was about to hit the ceiling laughing:-).PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE
 HORSE? THE CAUSE OR SOLUTION CAN ONLY BE FOUND FOR ANY PROBLEM IF THE
 EXISTENCE OF THE SAME IS ACCEPTED FIRST.IF THE PEOPLE REFUSE TO
 RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM,WHITHER SOLUTION?A GRAND CHARADE
 INDEED.

 FOR SOME KHARKHOWAS,IT HAS BECOME A FASHION TO SAY THAT ILLEGAL
 BANGLADEHIS ARE THE MUSCLE AND SINEW OF OUR COMMUNITY!!!

 WHY SQUARELY BLAME DELHI? WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN BUTTERBALL KHARKHOWA
 REPS.? THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR LONG TIME TOTALLY DETACHED

 SET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST.THAT WOULD BE WISER.

 KJD





 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:53 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 First,two wrongs don't make a right.

  It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the 
 question to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge 
 the MAIN cause while shedding tears over it to no end, is no different 
 than 'the apathetic people'  of Assam that a few of you try to hold 
 RESPONSIBLE for the problem, as Ram has so eloquently demonstrated :-).

 Question would be  why? Why are you so afraid to give a straight answer 
 instead of resorting to subterfuges?



 Secondly,your explanation is like this: since the cop can't catch
 criminals,do away with the police department

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

Again,my response was undertaken based on your observation.Good night.

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 11:03 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
There we have a CM who openly says that there are no

 aliens in Assam.That says a lot.


  That CM is a duly ELECTED one according to the  standards of 
 desi-demokrasy. Are you suggesting he does NOT represent the voice of Assam?

 And are you also suggesting that the Kongress Party is an independent entity, 
 that answers to its constituents, the people of Assam alone?


I was referring to you and not the population.

  I am a THIRD party, observing and analyzing. I don't have a stake in 
 Assam. I left long, long ago. It is quite immaterial to Assam what MY views , 
 OPINIONS, might be.  But what cannot  be discounted, diluted or otherwise 
 made less important by MY personal views or opinions is the FACT ofd WHO is 
 responsible for border protection, immigration control and such.

 So, to use my persona to evade my question, to obfuscate, IS a classic 
 example of argumentum ad hominem. And I rest my case :-).








 On Aug 19, 2010, at 10:51 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 I was referring to you and not the population.The people of Assam are
 well-cognizant about that.I disagree because they are illegals.As
 simple as that.There we have a CM who openly says that there are no
 aliens in Assam.That says a lot.
 KJD

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:39 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 You are such a fun and funny guy K! Takes little to get you rolling :-).


 HE CAUSE OR SOLUTION CAN ONLY BE FOUND FOR ANY PROBLEM IF THE
 EXISTENCE OF THE SAME IS ACCEPTED FIRST.IF THE PEOPLE REFUSE TO
 RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM,WHITHER SOLUTION?A GRAND CHARADE
 INDEED.


  You need to get this vetted with your cheering section :-). I 
 understood earlier that only
 certain SEGMENTS of Assam does not consider it a problem. Are you 
 suggesting the population at large
 does not consider it a problem, and that is why, those who are responsible 
 and who have the resources
 have not taken it seriously or done anything about it?

 Yes, a CHARADE it certainly is, except not played by those who you seem to 
 hold responsible. It is a charade
 being played by those who are unable to acknowledge where the problem lies.


 FOR SOME KHARKHOWAS,IT HAS BECOME A FASHION TO SAY THAT ILLEGAL
 BANGLADEHIS ARE THE MUSCLE AND SINEW OF OUR COMMUNITY!!!


  In some ways some of them have become that.  Do you disagree? And if 
 you do, why?

 WHY SQUARELY BLAME DELHI?

  Far be it for me than to blame Delhi.  What do I know about who the 
 responsibility lies with.
 I was merely asking who YOU think is responsible, who is bound by that 
 SACRED constitution to
 provide border security, immigration control, apprehension, adjudication 
 and deportation of illegals
 and so forth?

 You seem to suggest it is NOT Dilli's responsibility, on the pretext that 
 the population of Assam does not care.

 On that front may I ask you if you heard about that andwlon  from way 
 back in the 80's and what it was all
 about?


 SET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST.THAT WOULD BE WISER.



 *** That sure sounds like words of the wise. Question is WHOSE house you 
 are referring to?







 On Aug 19, 2010, at 7:56 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the 
 question to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge 
 the MAIN cause while shedding tears over it to no end

 I was about to hit the ceiling laughing:-).PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE
 HORSE? THE CAUSE OR SOLUTION CAN ONLY BE FOUND FOR ANY PROBLEM IF THE
 EXISTENCE OF THE SAME IS ACCEPTED FIRST.IF THE PEOPLE REFUSE TO
 RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM,WHITHER SOLUTION?A GRAND CHARADE
 INDEED.

 FOR SOME KHARKHOWAS,IT HAS BECOME A FASHION TO SAY THAT ILLEGAL
 BANGLADEHIS ARE THE MUSCLE AND SINEW OF OUR COMMUNITY!!!

 WHY SQUARELY BLAME DELHI? WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN BUTTERBALL KHARKHOWA
 REPS.? THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR LONG TIME TOTALLY DETACHED

 SET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST.THAT WOULD BE WISER.

 KJD





 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:53 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 First,two wrongs don't make a right.

  It is an evasive answer, attempt to change the subject. I ask the 
 question to point to the ROOT of the problem. To refuse to acknowledge 
 the MAIN cause while shedding tears over it to no end, is no different 
 than 'the apathetic people'  of Assam that a few of you try to hold 
 RESPONSIBLE for the problem, as Ram has so eloquently demonstrated :-).

 Question would be  why? Why are you so afraid to give a straight answer 
 instead of resorting to subterfuges?



 Secondly,your explanation is like this: since the cop can't catch
 criminals,do away with the police department and criminal codes so
 that the thugs could have field day.

  It couldn't be farther from the truth.  Ram's premise was that the 
 'population' is 'accepting

Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

[kamal deka]

 PACIFISM WORKS ONLY IF BOTH PARTIES AGREE TO PLAY BY THE SAME SET OF
RULES.That's exactly what I said.
Kamal.

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 11:19 PM, Sushanta Kar pragyan.ts...@gmail.com wrote:
 *I had sensed ' hate' in others really well.There
 are certain truths in this world that cannot be erased.
 *
 Correct  words Kamal! That's why I don't prescribe those ideas that
 Chauvinism here is only Assamese Specific. That's why I wrote , it's a
 British and post British Indian disease. It's Bengali, whom parochialism is
 nonparallel to any other Indian. It's Bengali, who started imitating the
 very British concept of Nation State Building in India. And the result is
 Division of Bengal.

 Rest are on you. You are intelligent enough to get the points. No truth can
 be erased. You need not to. Dhruba Jyoti, and possibly you too, can't
 imagine that even I'm concerned about the future of Assam  and Assamese,
 where Bengali may turned into majority. Dhruba Jyoti  is right, a good
 section of  Bengali elite are waiting for the day silently.  And If all the
 immigrant muslim write their mother tongue as Bengali in next census the day
 is not far .
 But, my point is can hatred solve the problem?
 One hate you, so you hate him in return. Where is the end?
 We had our own mechanism of unity and assimilation in Pre-British India and
 Assam.
 No one was concerned about who is Bengali and Assamese then. Most of the
 people doesn't knew the meaning of such words.
 What we can do is, We can invent those age old mechanism,  edit the present
 truth and re-write the history.
 It doesn't matter , if  any Assamese like Dhruba Jyoti hate me or not, Assam
 was/ is My Land. I'm one of those minority Democrat ( Be they Assamese or
 Bengali or whatever else) do believe from my heart that it's Assam and NE
 India will teach India how to re-invent and practice true spirit of India
 Unity in Diversity', Teach India how to respect and accept the 'OTHERS' and
 live in with peace and tranquility.


  Sushanta Kar



 On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 8:58 AM, kamal deka kjit.d...@gmail.com wrote:

 To all Netters save moderator,
 Lest I be misunderstood,let me be explicit here by saying that I am
 not ,by any reckoning,trying to defend Dhrubojyoti Deka for allegedly
 using unpolished and unrefined words ( I don't know if he did) in this
 Net.

 However,it reminds me of Voltaire, who once suggested that he would
 disagree with his opponent, but would defend to the death the
 opponent's right to have an opinion. We simply cannot force him to
 self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea.

 I was born in Tinsukia and spent quiet a few years of my life there.I
 know how it feels like to be an Assamese in that milieu--a town where
 we were the only Assamese ( in the main town).I also spent a few years
 in Silchar and I had a providential escape one night during the peak
 of Assam Movement.Those pontificating goody two shoes will never be
 able to convince me about certain things which will remain indelibly
 branded in my memory .I had sensed ' hate' in others really well.There
 are certain truths in this world that cannot be erased.

 FINALLY,PACIFISM WORKS ONLY IF BOTH SIDES AGREE TO PLAY BY THE SAME
 SET OF RULES.

 Kamaljit Deka

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:46 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka
 dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:
 
  Are you threatening me? By showing CC, Moderator at top?
 
 
 
  Nothing to response your meaningless sentances.
 
  Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:23 -0700
  From: ankur_bora2...@yahoo.com
  To: assam@assamnet.org
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form
 
  Cc : Moderator , Assam Net
 
  Dhruba Jyoti ,
 
  You mentioned in your earlier posting that you were kidding about the
 topic. Your subsequent postings are quite contrary to that.
  Are you kidding or are ‘you serious ?
  If you are serious, have you noticed  the list of websites below the
 signature of  Sushanta. Have you gone through the online link of “Pragyan”?
  Pragyan is a fruition  of painstaking work of  Sushanta and teachers of
 Tinsukia college. Pragyan has guided thousands of studenst of Tinsukia and
 that region in career planning , higher study , creativity and leadership.
 There are valuable articles published in the Assamese section of  Pragyan
 related to Assamese language , culture and history.
  In the story of blind men and the elephant , each man described the
 animal based on the part that they could feel i.e. the  foreleg , the tail
 and the trunk. Each one insisted that he alone was correct. Of course, there
 was no conclusion for not one had thoroughly examined the whole elephant.
 Their observation was limited to parts of the body, they could not realize
 the magnificence and the splendor of the majestic creature.
  Would you continue to focus only on the “signature dots”  or will you
 open yourself  to the total of the parts ?
  I am not kidding here , seriously.
  Ankur Bora
 
 
 
  --- On Thu, 8/19/10, Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid

Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

[kamal deka]

A decision not to say or write something because it might cause
problems or offend someone is one thing and hate-speech is quite
another.What is wrong with Voltaire's remark?
KJD

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 11:09 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
We simply cannot force him to

 self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea.


  What did this mean then? Did you not imply that one is free to indulge 
 in hate speech,
 based on YOUR  skewed and bizarre interpretation of Voltaire's defense of 
 free-speech
 holds?






 On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:04 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 At no point did I say that hate-mongering is anacceptable
 behaviour.That is your opinion.Tried to share my life experience with
 you all;if that amounts to hate-speech,so be it.

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:46 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 I appreciate the fact you did not lose your voice, when there is a need to 
 be heard from.

 I don't agree with your position, which seems to suggest it is OK to 
 indulge in hate-speech
 based upon your own experiences at Tinsukiya, the Assam town where the 
 indigenous Assamese
 are hard to find.

 That is where your admonition, or rhetorical question, IF two wrongs make a 
 right, comes to mind.

 Does it?






 On Aug 19, 2010, at 10:28 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 To all Netters save moderator,
 Lest I be misunderstood,let me be explicit here by saying that I am
 not ,by any reckoning,trying to defend Dhrubojyoti Deka for allegedly
 using unpolished and unrefined words ( I don't know if he did) in this
 Net.

 However,it reminds me of Voltaire, who once suggested that he would
 disagree with his opponent, but would defend to the death the
 opponent's right to have an opinion. We simply cannot force him to
 self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea.

 I was born in Tinsukia and spent quiet a few years of my life there.I
 know how it feels like to be an Assamese in that milieu--a town where
 we were the only Assamese ( in the main town).I also spent a few years
 in Silchar and I had a providential escape one night during the peak
 of Assam Movement.Those pontificating goody two shoes will never be
 able to convince me about certain things which will remain indelibly
 branded in my memory .I had sensed ' hate' in others really well.There
 are certain truths in this world that cannot be erased.

 FINALLY,PACIFISM WORKS ONLY IF BOTH SIDES AGREE TO PLAY BY THE SAME
 SET OF RULES.

 Kamaljit Deka

 On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:46 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka
 dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Are you threatening me? By showing CC, Moderator at top?



 Nothing to response your meaningless sentances.

 Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:23 -0700
 From: ankur_bora2...@yahoo.com
 To: assam@assamnet.org
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

 Cc : Moderator , Assam Net

 Dhruba Jyoti ,

 You mentioned in your earlier posting that you were kidding about the 
 topic. Your subsequent postings are quite contrary to that.
 Are you kidding or are ‘you serious ?
 If you are serious, have you noticed  the list of websites below the 
 signature of  Sushanta. Have you gone through the online link of 
 “Pragyan”?  Pragyan is a fruition  of painstaking work of  Sushanta and 
 teachers of Tinsukia college. Pragyan has guided thousands of studenst 
 of Tinsukia and that region in career planning , higher study , 
 creativity and leadership. There are valuable articles published in the 
 Assamese section of  Pragyan related to Assamese language , culture and 
 history.
 In the story of blind men and the elephant , each man described the 
 animal based on the part that they could feel i.e. the  foreleg , the 
 tail and the trunk. Each one insisted that he alone was correct. Of 
 course, there was no conclusion for not one had thoroughly examined the 
 whole elephant. Their observation was limited to parts of the body, they 
 could not realize the magnificence and the splendor of the majestic 
 creature.
 Would you continue to focus only on the “signature dots”  or will you 
 open yourself  to the total of the parts ?
 I am not kidding here , seriously.
 Ankur Bora



 --- On Thu, 8/19/10, Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com 
 wrote:


 From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the 
 world assam@assamnet.org
 Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 1:55 PM


 Sorry for that. But i have seen usage of such slang recently by 2 senior 
 fellow here.

 From: absarangap...@hotmail.com
 To: cmaha...@gmail.com; assam@assamnet.org
 Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:39:15 +
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form

 That's what I was going to say. Can we or should we bear with this type 
 of behavior here in Assam Net? I can't believe in today's world this 
 type of mentality is still there. I thought it was a passe`.

 -ABS

 Sent via BlackBerry by ATT

 -Original Message-
 From: Chan

Re: [Assam] Assamnet MODERATOR

[kamal deka]

I see,Assam Net is just like a ship without radar---a sort of
no-holds-barred situation:-)
KJD

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:24 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 We have no MODERATOR who censors posts in this forum. We are expected to 
 behave like responsible, civil, adults. And if we don't, it is reflection on 
 US, not on assamnet or its webmaster.
 ___
 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] About Argumentum Ad Hominem

[kamal deka]

Yes.I would like to see.
K


On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 8:31 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 O-K

 No, that is not  an ad-hominem argument. It is a gratuitous insult, 
 unbecoming of a civil discussion.

 But if you make an argument or ask a question as a part of an argument that 
 runs counter to my beliefs or I just don't like
 , instead of offering a counter-argument or a rebuttal and answering your 
 question I resort to calling you a, say, terrorist
 sympathizer or a Muslim hater or an anti-Indian or some such epithet or 
 innuendo in an attempt to weasel out of my
 predicament, that would be an 'argumentum ad-hominem'.

 If I were confronted with something I could not explain or rebut, resorting 
 to obfuscation, changing of the subject or
 questioning your character or some such devious tactics, would be  resorting 
 to argumentum ad-hominem

 But if I replied defending myself but added the insult like a**-hole as a 
 parting shot, that would not constitute a-a-h.

 Would you REALLY like to see an assamnet example :-)? I must caution you 
 against pushing it :-) :-).

 So-K



 On Aug 17, 2010, at 10:15 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 SO KO,

 Since you have started this grandiloquent philosophical stuff,could
 you please trot out a few examples in order to put things in clear
 perspective.Please feel free to cite some samples of discussion that
 had occurred in this Net.
 Let me help you out by giving an example:

 A: All rodents are mammals, but a weasel isn't a rodent, so it can't
 be a mammal.
 B: This does not logically follow. And you're an asshole.

 Now,is B's reply an ad hominem?

 KJD

 On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 9:53 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 O'-K,


 Argumentum ad hominem is the logical fallacy of attempting to undermine a
 speaker's argument by attacking the speaker instead of addressing the
 argument.



 *** Look up --ad-hominem in Google. In Wiki you will find the explanation
 as shown above.

 Is it a trick, verbal or otherwise? You decide.

 It does not matter what it is called. Often we refer to it as attacking the 
 messenger, a more benign form of the same thing.
 But the important point is that in the world of logical thinking, it is 
 does not hold a respectable place.

 So-K









 On Aug 17, 2010, at 8:02 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 RS,
 What the hell is AAH ( ad hominiem )? Something to eat or to wear? Or
 is it just a nonce word ( words invented for particular occassion) or
 a stunt word ( word that display a neat verbal trick but are not
 useful for everyday conversation) :-) Merely pulling someone's legs.
 But again,we should keep in mind that what goes around,comes around or
 simply stated SOW THE WIND REAP THE WHIRLWIND!!!
 KJD

 On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 11:11 PM, Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com 
 wrote:
 Hehehe!

 Argumentum ad hominem? Some examples might be nice.

  I don't think I ever come across that disease around Texas. Have you KJD?

 Perhaps, it is raging in other parts (not to be named :-)). I think, it is
 time for the good Daktor Haatimuria to descent from his perch in the 
 Ozarks
 (I think), and find a cure all for the incorrigible kharkhowas.

 I have heard that is is closely related to the FIM disease 
 (Foot-in-mouth) 
 the other famous one 'argumentum ad infinitum' disease, which seems to
 affect a number of us - I think have a rare case of that affliction :-) 
 :-)

 --Ram



 On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 10:18 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:


 Often, actually way to often, we see the phenomenon of  Argumentum ad
 hominem  in our discussions and debates. Since it is so frequent, one 
 has
 to conclude  that our friends, who, rightfully, take pride in their
 knowledge of things, perhaps have nort come across this particular
 phenomenon. So I thought it is as good a time as any, to bt ring it to 
 their
 attention:


 Argumentum ad hominem is the logical fallacy of attempting to undermine a
 speaker's argument by attacking the speaker instead of addressing the
 argument.


 cm
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Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

Not buying it.. Khasi,Garos, Nagas, Mizos never called them Assamese to
begin with. They had their own unique culture, religion and norms.

I do agree with you.Identity cannot be IMPOSED.It is not some
ARTIFICIAL CONSTRUCT that
can be willed.It has to be felt and shared.Its rhythms are found in
the music we strum to,in the jokes that we erupt at,in the fashion
trends that we emulate,in the food we lap up.It is constructed in the
mundane business of life.The encounter that has taken place within the
people of this region may have transformed many in some ways,but
expanding it to a single identity is not one of them.

Fact is,the single category is an ILLUSIVE
construct,drawn up by the British as an artifact of convenience to
lump the disparate groups.The Northeast,by all means, is a
geographic concept and nothing more.

There is a vacuous assumption of commonality among the people of the
Northeastern states of India.What exactly does the average Assamese
have in common with a Mizo,Naga or Arunachali?Very little.There is
nothing that makes one feel kinship with other apart from the small
matter of their sitting adjacent to each other.There are few cultural
bonds between the various Northeastern states and the region does not
share a common language or religious heritage,which can sometimes form
the basis of cross national identity.

KJD

On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:55 AM, Jyotirmoy Sharma
jyotirmoy.sha...@gmail.com wrote:
 Not buying it.. Khasi,Garos, Nagas, Mizos never called them Assamese to
 begin with. They had their own unique culture, religion and norms.

 If that is so, what happened to the original people of those Mahabharat
 times ?
 Well, we relegated them to the backgroud, so much so that they are now
 classed as ST and are fighting for survival  - I am not suffering from a
 guilty conscience for something I haven't done. On a similar note, the
 current generation of Australians cannot be held accountable for what their
 great grandfathers did to the Aboriginals. I haven't heard of any mass
 murder, crimes by Assamese towards the tribal people. The writer  seems to
 harbour a guilty feeling. Can't comment on his or his forefathers' deeds.
 BTW, an ST is by choice, not forced as claimed by the author. You would be a
 fool to want be be classed in the general category while you can enjoy the
 benefits of a ST. Aren't the Bodos of in Karbi Anglong  demanding an ST
 status too ... Who forced them?
 The writer should ask a Khasi in Shillong if he wants to be classed in a
 general catergory, being so advanced in education, lifestyle compared to the
 tribals of Jharkhand, Andhra etc. I would like to know if they would ever
 want to come out of the ST tag FORCED on them as claimed.

 ... a few people from Bangladesh  ... that's something new. Not only
 Assam, but our neighbours are also complaining. Bloody liars they must be.
 A nation is bound by timelines. Once a state, country is formed there are
 rules to abide by as far as migration, settlement is concerned. Uncontrolled
 migration cannot be accepted.

 The people of Mahabharat times - if the author is referring to the tribal
 population of Assam( and NE ), they would also be tracing their roots
 somewhere else if the timeline is moved back.
 JS
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Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

 I haven't heard of any mass
murder, crimes by Assamese towards the tribal people. The writer  seems to
harbour a guilty feeling. Can't comment on his or his forefathers' deeds

There were at least16 or 17 MLAs elected to the Assam Legislative
Assembly FROM THE UNRESERVED CONSTITUENCIES AND ALL OF THEM BELONGED
TO THE SCHEDULED TRIBES ( PLAINS).To name a few,Khana Kanta
Boro,Padmalochan Boro,Purna Boro,Dambarudhar Brahma,Ganash
Boro,Thaneswar Boro,Durga Das Boro,Tejendra Narzary,Kalendra
Basumatary,Mohini Basumatary,Kalendra Basumatary,Derhgra Mushahary et
al.
Therefore,it shows that the members of the Schedules Tribes took
active part in the process of decision making on the floor of the
house.

The legislature is a forum where the elected members ventilate the
grievances of the people of the constituencies and they have
opportunities to expose the inadequacies/shortcomings of the
administration.The members have an opportunity to shape and finalise
the policies of the Government.

NOW THE QUESTION IS TO WHAT EXTENT THEY HAD PLAYED THE ROLE TOWARDS
SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HONESTY,SINCERITY AND EFFECTIVELY.

KJD

On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:55 AM, Jyotirmoy Sharma
jyotirmoy.sha...@gmail.com wrote:
 Not buying it.. Khasi,Garos, Nagas, Mizos never called them Assamese to
 begin with. They had their own unique culture, religion and norms.

 If that is so, what happened to the original people of those Mahabharat
 times ?
 Well, we relegated them to the backgroud, so much so that they are now
 classed as ST and are fighting for survival  - I am not suffering from a
 guilty conscience for something I haven't done. On a similar note, the
 current generation of Australians cannot be held accountable for what their
 great grandfathers did to the Aboriginals. I haven't heard of any mass
 murder, crimes by Assamese towards the tribal people. The writer  seems to
 harbour a guilty feeling. Can't comment on his or his forefathers' deeds.
 BTW, an ST is by choice, not forced as claimed by the author. You would be a
 fool to want be be classed in the general category while you can enjoy the
 benefits of a ST. Aren't the Bodos of in Karbi Anglong  demanding an ST
 status too ... Who forced them?
 The writer should ask a Khasi in Shillong if he wants to be classed in a
 general catergory, being so advanced in education, lifestyle compared to the
 tribals of Jharkhand, Andhra etc. I would like to know if they would ever
 want to come out of the ST tag FORCED on them as claimed.

 ... a few people from Bangladesh  ... that's something new. Not only
 Assam, but our neighbours are also complaining. Bloody liars they must be.
 A nation is bound by timelines. Once a state, country is formed there are
 rules to abide by as far as migration, settlement is concerned. Uncontrolled
 migration cannot be accepted.

 The people of Mahabharat times - if the author is referring to the tribal
 population of Assam( and NE ), they would also be tracing their roots
 somewhere else if the timeline is moved back.
 JS
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Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

When did this
word come about and when did the Assamese language originate is confusing, but
it is well established that his word and this language is not from the days of
Mahabharat.If that is so, what happened to the original people of
those Mahabharat times 

If we take the legitimacy of current nation-states on the basis of
centuries of common continuous political rule over the same
geographical boundary and inhabited by the same people, then
practically no country on the planet meets this criteria. Simply put,
shifting nature of political kingdoms and their boundaries over the
centuries legitimize virtually no country in its present form.
KJD

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:30 PM, uttam borthakur
uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
 The following is surely not my view, as it comes from a tormentor, but as 
 this issue appears in this forum as well, I am quoting this person 
 ad-verbatim, as he has been busy doing some research on this subject and 
 engaged in Immigration Law related activities in Australia, as I am made to 
 understand. Please read on:-
 Hi All,

 Reading .. after a long time and lo .. my name seems to have cropped up 
 here
 and there. Good .. it keeps me in circulation lest people forget me. I would
 like to clarify for . sake that my question of who is an Assamese is
 something which each of us need to ask. We are all bloody immigrants ourselves
 (a term used now in the Australian election campaign) or atleast most of us 
 are
 and we came as poor people or as religious preachers or as conquerors. But we
 have taken over the land and now call ourselves Assamese, because someone, not
 too long ago, decided to call this part of the world as Assam. When did this
 word come about and when did the Assamese language originate is confusing, but
 it is well established that his word and this language is not from the days of
 Mahabharat.

 If that is so, what happened to the original people of those Mahabharat times 
 ?
 Well, we relegated them to the backgroud, so much so that they are now classed
 as ST and are fighting for survival, not from onslaught of bangladeshis, as
 .. suggests, but from us !!!. We never ever referred to them as 
 Assamese,
 but would call them as Naga or Khasi or Bodo or Lalung etc. So much so that 
 even
 the people who were here before us, like the original Assamese Hindu people of
 upper Assam and Golaghat (referring to Jabeen and her folks) who later
 converted to Islam after coming into contact wth Azan Peer, are now no longer
 referred to Assamese by us, the bloody immigrants, but only as Asomiya 
 Musalman.
 Did anyone ever refer to any of us as Assamese Hindu ? But we, the bloody
 immigrants, always prefix or suffix such terms with others.. Bongali Hindu is
 another example.

 No wonder, many of these people have now left us, others are trying to get 
 away
 from us and while still others are in the process. It is therefore no wonder,
 that the only community that wants to get close to us as Assamese(others want 
 to
 leave us anyway) i.e. the immigrants from present Bangladesh, are shunned. And
 this in spite of the fact that there is no data on when they came as 
 immigrants,
 many had in fact come well before independence (as reported by the Governor
 hujur in his report to the President.. see www.satp.org for the full report).

 The question of immigration is an age old one and there are thousands of books
 and theories all around. The problem is not of immigrant, Chiranjit, but of
 perception towards immigrants. It is also a question related to electoral
 politics worldwide. You may like to refer to Samuel Huntington's theory of 
 Clash
 of Civilization. Why for example is Assam, the only state in India to be
 subdivided so many times ? Why is Assam the only state in India where our own
 boys are killing our own people ? And why is Assam, in spite of being a 
 small
 state, the only one which still wants more division, not only of the tribal
 areas or the much feared greater Bangladesh, but of the such demands as Upor
 Axom and Namoni Axom ?

 Most importantly, ., you seems to be confused of what constitutes as 
 an
 Assamese, as you said it is what one feels deep down...that is a subjective
 decision. Are you an Assamese, I ask ?Trace your family history and you may 
 find
 startling truths. Just because the British drew a line across Goalpara in 
 1947,
 cutting the Koch areas in half, does not necessarily make the residents on the
 other side as Bengalis, I think. ../.. 
 and others
 from that belt, may even have some close relatives in West Bengal today.. so
 were they Assamese till 15th August 1947 and became Bengalis after that !!! 
 huh
 !!!

 The issue is too large and complex. But we, the people of Assam, need to ask
 ourselves some basic question, and not go about opening lungis of other people
 and getting a  pleasure of seeing the 
 . 

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

that the only community that wants to get close to us as Assamese(others 
want to
leave us anyway) i.e. the immigrants from present Bangladesh, are shunned

I have no problem with the fact that some foreigners might consider
themselves Assamese. But imagining that they are Assamese does not
make them so. If that were possible, half the world would claim
American citizenship and the right to immigrate to the US!!! THAT'S
WHY THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF IMMIGRATION DO TAKE AN ORDERLY PATH
EVERYWHERE.
KJD




On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:30 PM, uttam borthakur
uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
 The following is surely not my view, as it comes from a tormentor, but as 
 this issue appears in this forum as well, I am quoting this person 
 ad-verbatim, as he has been busy doing some research on this subject and 
 engaged in Immigration Law related activities in Australia, as I am made to 
 understand. Please read on:-
 Hi All,

 Reading .. after a long time and lo .. my name seems to have cropped up 
 here
 and there. Good .. it keeps me in circulation lest people forget me. I would
 like to clarify for . sake that my question of who is an Assamese is
 something which each of us need to ask. We are all bloody immigrants ourselves
 (a term used now in the Australian election campaign) or atleast most of us 
 are
 and we came as poor people or as religious preachers or as conquerors. But we
 have taken over the land and now call ourselves Assamese, because someone, not
 too long ago, decided to call this part of the world as Assam. When did this
 word come about and when did the Assamese language originate is confusing, but
 it is well established that his word and this language is not from the days of
 Mahabharat.

 If that is so, what happened to the original people of those Mahabharat times 
 ?
 Well, we relegated them to the backgroud, so much so that they are now classed
 as ST and are fighting for survival, not from onslaught of bangladeshis, as
 .. suggests, but from us !!!. We never ever referred to them as 
 Assamese,
 but would call them as Naga or Khasi or Bodo or Lalung etc. So much so that 
 even
 the people who were here before us, like the original Assamese Hindu people of
 upper Assam and Golaghat (referring to Jabeen and her folks) who later
 converted to Islam after coming into contact wth Azan Peer, are now no longer
 referred to Assamese by us, the bloody immigrants, but only as Asomiya 
 Musalman.
 Did anyone ever refer to any of us as Assamese Hindu ? But we, the bloody
 immigrants, always prefix or suffix such terms with others.. Bongali Hindu is
 another example.

 No wonder, many of these people have now left us, others are trying to get 
 away
 from us and while still others are in the process. It is therefore no wonder,
 that the only community that wants to get close to us as Assamese(others want 
 to
 leave us anyway) i.e. the immigrants from present Bangladesh, are shunned. And
 this in spite of the fact that there is no data on when they came as 
 immigrants,
 many had in fact come well before independence (as reported by the Governor
 hujur in his report to the President.. see www.satp.org for the full report).

 The question of immigration is an age old one and there are thousands of books
 and theories all around. The problem is not of immigrant, Chiranjit, but of
 perception towards immigrants. It is also a question related to electoral
 politics worldwide. You may like to refer to Samuel Huntington's theory of 
 Clash
 of Civilization. Why for example is Assam, the only state in India to be
 subdivided so many times ? Why is Assam the only state in India where our own
 boys are killing our own people ? And why is Assam, in spite of being a 
 small
 state, the only one which still wants more division, not only of the tribal
 areas or the much feared greater Bangladesh, but of the such demands as Upor
 Axom and Namoni Axom ?

 Most importantly, ., you seems to be confused of what constitutes as 
 an
 Assamese, as you said it is what one feels deep down...that is a subjective
 decision. Are you an Assamese, I ask ?Trace your family history and you may 
 find
 startling truths. Just because the British drew a line across Goalpara in 
 1947,
 cutting the Koch areas in half, does not necessarily make the residents on the
 other side as Bengalis, I think. ../.. 
 and others
 from that belt, may even have some close relatives in West Bengal today.. so
 were they Assamese till 15th August 1947 and became Bengalis after that !!! 
 huh
 !!!

 The issue is too large and complex. But we, the people of Assam, need to ask
 ourselves some basic question, and not go about opening lungis of other people
 and getting a  pleasure of seeing the 
 . of a so called
 immigrant. After all, we referred to some at one time as lengta Noga without
 realising that we have always been quite naked ourselves 

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

converted to Islam after coming into contact wth Azan Peer, are now no 
longer
referred to Assamese by us, the bloody immigrants, but only as Asomiya
Musalman

Just a snipet from The Assam Tribune:
KJD
INDIGENOUS MUSLIMS CONCERNED OVER UNABATED INFLUX
Correspondent
 SIVASAGAR, Nov 23 – That the unabated influx from neighbouring
Bangladesh has significantly altered the demographic pattern of Assam
and the indigenous Muslim population is fast outnumbered by their
Bangladeshi counterparts illegally settling mainly in the districts of
lower Assam, has become a serious cause of concern for the conscious
indigenous Muslim community of the State. The indigenous Muslim
population, particularly of the Upper Assam districts have long been
perceiving that a silent cultural invasion from across the border is
about to rob them of all cultural and political rights guaranteed
under the Constitution besides posing threat to the fabric of great
assimilated Assamese nationalism.

This is what was precisely discussed about in a meeting organised by
Sivasagar unit of Asomiya Muslim Unnayan Parishad at Sivasagar Press
Club on Friday which was addressed among others by Nekibur Zaman,
senior advocate, Guwahati High Court, Md Tabiul Hussain, retd DC,
Morigaon, Imtiaz Hussain Hazarika, president, Sodou Asom Khilonjia
Muslim Suraksha Samity, Samsul Haque, Asomiya Muslim Unnayan Samity
and a number of speakers from different places.

Addressing the meeting, advocate Nekibur Zaman said that the lower
Assam districts have been enjoying all the socio-economic and
political privileges accorded to the minorities. Citing examples, he
said that under a special Central Government grant of about Rs 703
crores for minority development in the State, Barpeta district alone
got Rs 85 crores while Dhubri district got about Rs 84 crores which is
a clear discrimination against the upper Assam districts. Indigenous
Muslims, the descendents of Bokhtiar Khiliji’s soldiers and the
descendants of the followers of Mir Jumla who

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:30 PM, uttam borthakur
uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
 The following is surely not my view, as it comes from a tormentor, but as 
 this issue appears in this forum as well, I am quoting this person 
 ad-verbatim, as he has been busy doing some research on this subject and 
 engaged in Immigration Law related activities in Australia, as I am made to 
 understand. Please read on:-
 Hi All,

 Reading .. after a long time and lo .. my name seems to have cropped up 
 here
 and there. Good .. it keeps me in circulation lest people forget me. I would
 like to clarify for . sake that my question of who is an Assamese is
 something which each of us need to ask. We are all bloody immigrants ourselves
 (a term used now in the Australian election campaign) or atleast most of us 
 are
 and we came as poor people or as religious preachers or as conquerors. But we
 have taken over the land and now call ourselves Assamese, because someone, not
 too long ago, decided to call this part of the world as Assam. When did this
 word come about and when did the Assamese language originate is confusing, but
 it is well established that his word and this language is not from the days of
 Mahabharat.

 If that is so, what happened to the original people of those Mahabharat times 
 ?
 Well, we relegated them to the backgroud, so much so that they are now classed
 as ST and are fighting for survival, not from onslaught of bangladeshis, as
 .. suggests, but from us !!!. We never ever referred to them as 
 Assamese,
 but would call them as Naga or Khasi or Bodo or Lalung etc. So much so that 
 even
 the people who were here before us, like the original Assamese Hindu people of
 upper Assam and Golaghat (referring to Jabeen and her folks) who later
 converted to Islam after coming into contact wth Azan Peer, are now no longer
 referred to Assamese by us, the bloody immigrants, but only as Asomiya 
 Musalman.
 Did anyone ever refer to any of us as Assamese Hindu ? But we, the bloody
 immigrants, always prefix or suffix such terms with others.. Bongali Hindu is
 another example.

 No wonder, many of these people have now left us, others are trying to get 
 away
 from us and while still others are in the process. It is therefore no wonder,
 that the only community that wants to get close to us as Assamese(others want 
 to
 leave us anyway) i.e. the immigrants from present Bangladesh, are shunned. And
 this in spite of the fact that there is no data on when they came as 
 immigrants,
 many had in fact come well before independence (as reported by the Governor
 hujur in his report to the President.. see www.satp.org for the full report).

 The question of immigration is an age old one and there are thousands of books
 and theories all around. The problem is not of immigrant, Chiranjit, but of
 perception towards immigrants. It is also a question related to electoral
 politics worldwide. You may like to refer to 

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

Not quite yet.Unless one does not stop giving harangue,the war will
continue in full swing.After all,why should we take things lying
down:-)
Kamal.

On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 9:12 PM, Dilip Deka dilipd...@yahoo.com wrote:


 Dear Kamal,
 So, do we have a level playing field or do we need to level it some more?
 I get lost when it comes to levelling the fields.
 Dilipda




 
 From: kamal deka kjit.d...@gmail.com
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world
 assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 7:06:45 PM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

 I haven't heard of any mass
 murder, crimes by Assamese towards the tribal people. The writer  seems to
 harbour a guilty feeling. Can't comment on his or his forefathers' deeds

 There were at least16 or 17 MLAs elected to the Assam Legislative
 Assembly FROM THE UNRESERVED CONSTITUENCIES AND ALL OF THEM BELONGED
 TO THE SCHEDULED TRIBES ( PLAINS).To name a few,Khana Kanta
 Boro,Padmalochan Boro,Purna Boro,Dambarudhar Brahma,Ganash
 Boro,Thaneswar Boro,Durga Das Boro,Tejendra Narzary,Kalendra
 Basumatary,Mohini Basumatary,Kalendra Basumatary,Derhgra Mushahary et
 al.
 Therefore,it shows that the members of the Schedules Tribes took
 active part in the process of decision making on the floor of the
 house.

 The legislature is a forum where the elected members ventilate the
 grievances of the people of the constituencies and they have
 opportunities to expose the inadequacies/shortcomings of the
 administration.The members have an opportunity to shape and finalise
 the policies of the Government.

 NOW THE QUESTION IS TO WHAT EXTENT THEY HAD PLAYED THE ROLE TOWARDS
 SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HONESTY,SINCERITY AND EFFECTIVELY.

 KJD

 On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:55 AM, Jyotirmoy Sharma
 jyotirmoy.sha...@gmail.com wrote:
 Not buying it.. Khasi,Garos, Nagas, Mizos never called them Assamese to
 begin with. They had their own unique culture, religion and norms.

 If that is so, what happened to the original people of those Mahabharat
 times ?
 Well, we relegated them to the backgroud, so much so that they are now
 classed as ST and are fighting for survival  - I am not suffering from a
 guilty conscience for something I haven't done. On a similar note, the
 current generation of Australians cannot be held accountable for what their
 great grandfathers did to the Aboriginals. I haven't heard of any mass
 murder, crimes by Assamese towards the tribal people. The writer  seems to
 harbour a guilty feeling. Can't comment on his or his forefathers' deeds.
 BTW, an ST is by choice, not forced as claimed by the author. You would be a
 fool to want be be classed in the general category while you can enjoy the
 benefits of a ST. Aren't the Bodos of in Karbi Anglong  demanding an ST
 status too ... Who forced them?
 The writer should ask a Khasi in Shillong if he wants to be classed in a
 general catergory, being so advanced in education, lifestyle compared to the
 tribals of Jharkhand, Andhra etc. I would like to know if they would ever
 want to come out of the ST tag FORCED on them as claimed.

 ... a few people from Bangladesh  ... that's something new. Not only
 Assam, but our neighbours are also complaining. Bloody liars they must be.
 A nation is bound by timelines. Once a state, country is formed there are
 rules to abide by as far as migration, settlement is concerned. Uncontrolled
 migration cannot be accepted.

 The people of Mahabharat times - if the author is referring to the tribal
 population of Assam( and NE ), they would also be tracing their roots
 somewhere else if the timeline is moved back.
 JS
 ___
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 assam@assamnet.org
 http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org


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Re: [Assam] Fw: Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

Is there a single person in Assam whose opinion needs to be built as
to your remark? 1947 or 1971 is vastly different from  many
centuries.Could you single out an individual in Assam,who questions
about this?What has made you to leap to the conclusion that 1971
equates  many centuries ago?
KJD

On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 9:28 PM, Dilip Deka dilipd...@yahoo.com wrote:
 Also remember, the people who migrated to Assam many centuries ago and their
 descendants have as much right to remain in Assam, as any of the tribes,
 hills or plain. That includes Kamal Deka, Chandan Mahanta, me and many others.
 Ram Sarangapani gets his rights by assimilation later. :-)



 - Forwarded Message 
 From: Dilip Deka dilipd...@yahoo.com
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world
 assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 9:20:22 PM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

 I have just one comment - we cannot live in the past, we need to live n the
 present and prepare for the future.




 
 From: Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world
 assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 7:45:26 PM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

 Very well put KJD.

 Many of the discussions like this involve a number of dichothomies.

 Quite often, we find some groups of people demanding a unique identity for
 Assam (or Kashmir as the case may be). The central theme is such cases is
 Assam is so different from the rest of India, shares little with it, that it
 needs to be separate from India.

 Then the same groups have absolutely no qualms of B'deshis illegally
 entering Assam, or Pakistanis encroaching into Kashmir - whereby changing
 the entire political landscape of these regions.  Now, suddenly these same
 folks are willing to embrace the B'deshis with open arms. And everyone is
 required to show empathy to the illegal immigrants. There are suggestions to
 erase borders and think of the world with no borders.

 The political aims of these groups are probably hidden somewhere between
 these two juxtaposing sets of ideas. In many a case I suspect, the aim is
 cherry picking at will, and at the opportune times, and what suits them
 best.

 btw: Uttam - thanks for forwarding this. It is an important topic to be
 discussing, and hopefully discussions are taken in that spirit. -- Ram da

 Just my 2 cents.

 --Ram








 On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:17 PM, kamal deka kjit.d...@gmail.com wrote:

 When did this
 word come about and when did the Assamese language originate is confusing,
 but
 it is well established that his word and this language is not from the days
 of
 Mahabharat.If that is so, what happened to the original people of
 those Mahabharat times 

 If we take the legitimacy of current nation-states on the basis of
 centuries of common continuous political rule over the same
 geographical boundary and inhabited by the same people, then
 practically no country on the planet meets this criteria. Simply put,
 shifting nature of political kingdoms and their boundaries over the
 centuries legitimize virtually no country in its present form.
 KJD

 On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:30 PM, uttam borthakur
 uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
  The following is surely not my view, as it comes from a tormentor, but as
 this issue appears in this forum as well, I am quoting this person
 ad-verbatim, as he has been busy doing some research on this subject and
 engaged in Immigration Law related activities in Australia, as I am made to
 understand. Please read on:-
  Hi All,
 
  Reading .. after a long time and lo .. my name seems to have cropped
 up here
  and there. Good .. it keeps me in circulation lest people forget me. I
 would
  like to clarify for . sake that my question of who is an Assamese
 is
  something which each of us need to ask. We are all bloody immigrants
 ourselves
  (a term used now in the Australian election campaign) or atleast most of
 us are
  and we came as poor people or as religious preachers or as conquerors.
 But we
  have taken over the land and now call ourselves Assamese, because
 someone, not
  too long ago, decided to call this part of the world as Assam. When did
 this
  word come about and when did the Assamese language originate is
 confusing, but
  it is well established that his word and this language is not from the
 days of
  Mahabharat.
 
  If that is so, what happened to the original people of those Mahabharat
 times ?
  Well, we relegated them to the backgroud, so much so that they are now
 classed
  as ST and are fighting for survival, not from onslaught of bangladeshis,
 as
  .. suggests, but from us !!!. We never ever referred to them
 as Assamese,
  but would call them as Naga or Khasi or Bodo or Lalung etc. So much so
 that even
  the people who were here before us, like the original Assamese

Re: [Assam] Bangladeshis -the flip side of the story

[kamal deka]

: Where were/are the border security forces? Whose responsibility is it to 
secure the borders?
Two things again:
First,two wrongs don't make a right.
Secondly,your explanation is like this: since the cop can't catch
criminals,do away with the police department and criminal codes so
that the thugs could have field day.
KJD

B: If the population is accepting of such 'intruders', ass you
premise, who are you or I to take issue with it as you do here?
What is your standing, if we had to employ legal terminology, to take
issue with it, other than your personal

On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 9:35 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 The central theme is such cases is
 Assam is so different from the rest of India, shares little with it, that it
 needs to be separate from India.


  That is what IMAGINING a national identity is all about.  What is India? 
  How is it different from Pakistan, or B'desh, or Nepal or SriLanka.
 All national identities are born out of a imaginations trhat they are. There 
 are NO rules that govern it.

  Or are there?



n many a case I suspect, the aim is

 cherry picking at will, and at the opportune times, and what suits them
 best.



 Let us accept the premise here. If so, is there a law against that? Or is 
 it unethical according to some standard of ethical practices?
 Who are these conspirators who choose to cherry pick? And WHAT IS their 
 interest, their motives?




 Then the same groups have absolutely no qualms of B'deshis illegally
 entering Assam, or Pakistanis encroaching into Kashmir - whereby changing
 the entire political landscape of these regions.



  TWO points to note here:

 A: Where were/are the border security forces? Whose responsibility is it to 
 secure the borders?

 B: If the population is accepting of such 'intruders', ass you premise, who 
 are you or I to take issue with it as you do here?
 What is your standing, if we had to employ legal terminology, to take issue 
 with it, other than your personal
 preferences or, more precisely, prejudices?


  finally, I think Sanjiv  Goswami is exactly right with his analyses and 
 conclusions.





 On Aug 18, 2010, at 7:45 PM, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

 Very well put KJD.

 Many of the discussions like this involve a number of dichothomies.

 Quite often, we find some groups of people demanding a unique identity for
 Assam (or Kashmir as the case may be). The central theme is such cases is
 Assam is so different from the rest of India, shares little with it, that it
 needs to be separate from India.

 Then the same groups have absolutely no qualms of B'deshis illegally
 entering Assam, or Pakistanis encroaching into Kashmir - whereby changing
 the entire political landscape of these regions.  Now, suddenly these same
 folks are willing to embrace the B'deshis with open arms. And everyone is
 required to show empathy to the illegal immigrants. There are suggestions to
 erase borders and think of the world with no borders.

 The political aims of these groups are probably hidden somewhere between
 these two juxtaposing sets of ideas. In many a case I suspect, the aim is
 cherry picking at will, and at the opportune times, and what suits them
 best.

 btw: Uttam - thanks for forwarding this. It is an important topic to be
 discussing, and hopefully discussions are taken in that spirit. -- Ram da

 Just my 2 cents.

 --Ram








 On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:17 PM, kamal deka kjit.d...@gmail.com wrote:

 When did this
 word come about and when did the Assamese language originate is confusing,
 but
 it is well established that his word and this language is not from the days
 of
 Mahabharat.If that is so, what happened to the original people of
 those Mahabharat times 

 If we take the legitimacy of current nation-states on the basis of
 centuries of common continuous political rule over the same
 geographical boundary and inhabited by the same people, then
 practically no country on the planet meets this criteria. Simply put,
 shifting nature of political kingdoms and their boundaries over the
 centuries legitimize virtually no country in its present form.
 KJD

 On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:30 PM, uttam borthakur
 uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
 The following is surely not my view, as it comes from a tormentor, but as
 this issue appears in this forum as well, I am quoting this person
 ad-verbatim, as he has been busy doing some research on this subject and
 engaged in Immigration Law related activities in Australia, as I am made to
 understand. Please read on:-
 Hi All,

 Reading .. after a long time and lo .. my name seems to have cropped
 up here
 and there. Good .. it keeps me in circulation lest people forget me. I
 would
 like to clarify for . sake that my question of who is an Assamese
 is
 something which each of us need to ask. We are all bloody immigrants
 ourselves
 (a term used now in the Australian election campaign) or atleast most of
 us are
 and we came as poor people

Re: [Assam] About Argumentum Ad Hominem

[kamal deka]

RS,
What the hell is AAH ( ad hominiem )? Something to eat or to wear? Or
is it just a nonce word ( words invented for particular occassion) or
a stunt word ( word that display a neat verbal trick but are not
useful for everyday conversation) :-) Merely pulling someone's legs.
But again,we should keep in mind that what goes around,comes around or
simply stated SOW THE WIND REAP THE WHIRLWIND!!!
KJD

On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 11:11 PM, Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com wrote:
 Hehehe!

 Argumentum ad hominem? Some examples might be nice.

  I don't think I ever come across that disease around Texas. Have you KJD?

 Perhaps, it is raging in other parts (not to be named :-)). I think, it is
 time for the good Daktor Haatimuria to descent from his perch in the Ozarks
 (I think), and find a cure all for the incorrigible kharkhowas.

 I have heard that is is closely related to the FIM disease (Foot-in-mouth) 
 the other famous one 'argumentum ad infinitum' disease, which seems to
 affect a number of us - I think have a rare case of that affliction :-) :-)

 --Ram



 On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 10:18 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:


 Often, actually way to often, we see the phenomenon of  Argumentum ad
 hominem  in our discussions and debates. Since it is so frequent, one has
 to conclude  that our friends, who, rightfully, take pride in their
 knowledge of things, perhaps have nort come across this particular
 phenomenon. So I thought it is as good a time as any, to bt ring it to their
 attention:


 Argumentum ad hominem is the logical fallacy of attempting to undermine a
 speaker's argument by attacking the speaker instead of addressing the
 argument.


 cm
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Re: [Assam] About Argumentum Ad Hominem

[kamal deka]

SO KO,

Since you have started this grandiloquent philosophical stuff,could
you please trot out a few examples in order to put things in clear
perspective.Please feel free to cite some samples of discussion that
had occurred in this Net.
Let me help you out by giving an example:

A: All rodents are mammals, but a weasel isn't a rodent, so it can't
be a mammal.
B: This does not logically follow. And you're an asshole.

Now,is B's reply an ad hominem?

KJD

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 9:53 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 O'-K,


Argumentum ad hominem is the logical fallacy of attempting to undermine a
 speaker's argument by attacking the speaker instead of addressing the
 argument.



 *** Look up --ad-hominem in Google. In Wiki you will find the explanation
 as shown above.

 Is it a trick, verbal or otherwise? You decide.

 It does not matter what it is called. Often we refer to it as attacking the 
 messenger, a more benign form of the same thing.
 But the important point is that in the world of logical thinking, it is does 
 not hold a respectable place.

 So-K









 On Aug 17, 2010, at 8:02 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 RS,
 What the hell is AAH ( ad hominiem )? Something to eat or to wear? Or
 is it just a nonce word ( words invented for particular occassion) or
 a stunt word ( word that display a neat verbal trick but are not
 useful for everyday conversation) :-) Merely pulling someone's legs.
 But again,we should keep in mind that what goes around,comes around or
 simply stated SOW THE WIND REAP THE WHIRLWIND!!!
 KJD

 On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 11:11 PM, Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com wrote:
 Hehehe!

 Argumentum ad hominem? Some examples might be nice.

  I don't think I ever come across that disease around Texas. Have you KJD?

 Perhaps, it is raging in other parts (not to be named :-)). I think, it is
 time for the good Daktor Haatimuria to descent from his perch in the Ozarks
 (I think), and find a cure all for the incorrigible kharkhowas.

 I have heard that is is closely related to the FIM disease (Foot-in-mouth) 
 the other famous one 'argumentum ad infinitum' disease, which seems to
 affect a number of us - I think have a rare case of that affliction :-) :-)

 --Ram



 On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 10:18 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:


 Often, actually way to often, we see the phenomenon of  Argumentum ad
 hominem  in our discussions and debates. Since it is so frequent, one has
 to conclude  that our friends, who, rightfully, take pride in their
 knowledge of things, perhaps have nort come across this particular
 phenomenon. So I thought it is as good a time as any, to bt ring it to 
 their
 attention:


 Argumentum ad hominem is the logical fallacy of attempting to undermine a
 speaker's argument by attacking the speaker instead of addressing the
 argument.


 cm
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Re: [Assam] Indian Forces Face Broader Revolt in Kashmir - NYT

[kamal deka]

Terrorism  Revolution, difference: Assume,
RS,
I don't know the difference either.However,I know how an Islamic
terrorist differs from kharkhowa one.An army officer told me this
story way back in 2002.
An Islamic terrorist is gutsy and hard nut to crack, whereas a
kharkhowa terrorist is faint-hearted or chiken-hearted.Just a mild
scold make him do two things--FIRST HE WETS HIS PANTS BY EASING
HIMSELF,OF COURSE OUT OF FEAR,AND THEN DIVULGE EVERYTHING
INSTANTLY.And these are the namby-pamby specimens of kharkhowa
so-called  revolutionaries.

LET ME ASSURE YOU ONE MORE THING.I HAVE NEVER SEEN A KHARKHOWA
SAMPLE,WHO CHASTISED ANOTHER KHARKHOWA FOR NOT VIEWING THINGS FROM
PAKISTANI OR BANGLADESHI PERSPECTIVE.

IF THE LAND OF ASSAM IS FILLED WITH SUCH SPECIES,IN WHICH DIRECTION DO
I THINK OUR DEAR STATE WILL BE RACING BUT DOWN.
THICK-HEADED YES--BLIND TOO.
IS THERE A POINT IN CONTINUING CONVERSATION WITH SUCH SPECIMENS? FOR
MY MONEY--CERTAINLY NO.

KJD

On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 6:06 PM, Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com wrote:
** What about the RAW fellows  specially Madhuri Gupta?

 What about RAW? Is it like the CIA, ISI, Bangladesh Intel, KGB, MI 9? Whats
 the difference?

 I don't know who Gupta is?

I am just an simple fellow, but the toppers  high classes?

 Me too. I am also just a simple fellow, with no standing!

*** Then ULFA, NDFB  other fellows were doing and still there?

 This is what I wrote: Assamese do not go to B'desh in such  numbers, and
 illegally.

 If you read it carefully, I did make allowances for some Assamese like the
 ulfa who are holed up in B'desh.

*** Terror doesn't belong to a single country. It is increasing everywhere.
 You must find the difference between Terrorism  Revolution in Kashmir. I
 hope you can't say Yasin Malik yet a terrorist.

 True, terrorism does spread to other countries. But countries like Pakistan
 export them - to India, to Afganistan and other places.

 Terrorism  Revolution, difference: Assume, I don't know, please educate
 us.  I don't know Yasin Malik? Will knowing him/her make a difference in my
 thinking?

 __


 On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 5:03 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka 
 dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:


  I am sure the Pakistanis would love to know this. For a long time, they
 have
  been looking for scapegoats, and Indians, being the very
 self-introspective,
  finding flimsy reasons to quibble, will easily and willingly placate the
  Pakistanis, and give them yet another reason to hate Indians.



 *** What about the RAW fellows  specially Madhuri Gupta? I am just an
 simple fellow, but the toppers  high classes?





  The reverse is not necessarily true. For instance, illegal Bangladeshis
  come into Assam by the millions. Assamese do not go to B'desh in such
  numbers, and illegally.



 *** Then ULFA, NDFB  other fellows were doing and still there?





  Pakistan actively supports terror activities in Kashmir, arms other
 terror
  groups throught India. And Pakistan is known world wide as a failed
 snation
  that harbors, and facilitates terror. They have no defense.



 *** Terror doesn't belong to a single country. It is increasing everywhere.
 You must find the difference between Terrorism  Revolution in Kashmir. I
 hope you can't say Yasin Malik yet a terrorist.







  Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:59:13 -0500
  From: assa...@gmail.com
  To: assam@assamnet.org
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Indian Forces Face Broader Revolt in Kashmir - NYT
 
  If Terrorism in India is due to Pakistan, Bangladesh  China, then the
 same
  in Pakistan, Bangladesh should be due to India.
 
  I am sure the Pakistanis would love to know this. For a long time, they
 have
  been looking for scapegoats, and Indians, being the very
 self-introspective,
  finding flimsy reasons to quibble, will easily and willingly placate the
  Pakistanis, and give them yet another reason to hate Indians.
 
  The reverse is not necessarily true. For instance, illegal Bangladeshis
  come into Assam by the millions. Assamese do not go to B'desh in such
  numbers, and illegally.
 
  Pakistan actively supports terror activities in Kashmir, arms other
 terror
  groups throught India. And Pakistan is known world wide as a failed
 snation
  that harbors, and facilitates terror. They have no defense.
 
 
 
  On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 2:46 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka 
  dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:
 
  
   If Terrorism in India is due to Pakistan, Bangladesh  China, then the
 same
   in Pakistan, Bangladesh should be due to India.
  
From: cmaha...@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:42:36 -0500
To: assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Indian Forces Face Broader Revolt in Kashmir -
 NYT
   
 India is faced by a 3rd enemy - a far more insidious one, an enemy
 from
 within. This enemy will feed on precious Indian resources, get arms
 from China and Pakistan, use Bangladesh and other places as camps,
 and
   then
 have teary-eyed HR groups crying foul 

Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI

[kamal deka]

I totally support if some parliamentarians make the demand for 
incorporation of
Autonomy into the Indian constitution. Is there someone who will risk that?
Someone from Assam or JK to make some noise in Loksabha? If it fails first
time, try another time, then another .? As far as I know no one has
tried it yet.

In 2000, Farooq Abdullah's autonomy roar that caused echoes elsewhere
in the country is well known. Punjab, Assam and Tamil Nadu warmed up
to the growl of Kashmir's Lion II; why, some politicians in
Maharashtra and West Bengal too were aroused by it.

ALL THAT IS KNOWN. What is unknown is what exactly these disgruntled
chaps want when they bark for autonomy, more autonomy, regional
autonomy.

Some indicators are, of course, available. Assam's chief minister (
Prafulla Mahanta ) cried out that the states have been weakened by the
accumulation of virtually all powers at the Centre. This last belief
has been reinforced by the Punjab chief minister's keenness to soon
HOLD A CONVENTION OF  FEDERAL MINDED  leaders urging for more power
for the states and for a true federal structure.

All this is confusing to the uninitiated. Indeed, even some otherwise
intelligent people have stretched the concept of autonomy to believe
that it is tied up with individual liberty and social justice. The
time has probably come then to bare some basic facts of federalism and
how it has operated in India.

The first fact is that the word Federation has not been used even
once in the Constitution of India even after 79 amendments. Yet, the
very nature of our Constitution is not unitary but a federal one.

The second fact to be noted is the Indian Constitution seeks to create
three functional areas: An exclusive area for the Centre, an exclusive
area for the states and a common or concurrent area in which both the
Centre and the states may operate simultaneously, subject to the
overall supremacy of the Centre.

Article 246 (1) of our Constitution confers on Parliament an exclusive
power to make laws in respect of 99 matters. Included in this Union
List are defence of India, ports, railways, airways, post, telephone,
telegraph, and regulation of such oil fields, river valleys and
industries as are declared by Parliament to be expedient in the public
interest.

Similarly, Article 246 (3) confers an exclusive power on the states to
make laws on 61 matters. Included in this State List are 21 items for
raising financial resources; notable among those are taxes on
agricultural income, land revenue including assessment and collection,
taxes on lands and buildings, estate and succession duties on
agricultural land, excise duties on liquors and taxes on entry, sale
and purchase of goods as well as on consumption or sale of
electricity.

A unique feature of the Indian scheme of division of powers is the
existence of a large concurrent field of 52 matters on which Article
246 (2) currently confers power of legislation on both the Centre and
the states.

The general idea underlying the Concurrent List is that there may be
subjects on which Parliament may not feel it necessary or expedient to
initiate legislation in the first instance. A state may therefore make
a law on a matter in that Concurrent List. However, if and when that
matter assumes national importance, the Centre should have the room to
step in and enact necessary legislation in order either to i. secure
uniformity in the law throughout the country or ii. guide and
encourage state effort or iii. provide remedies for mischief arising
in the state sphere extending beyond its boundaries.

Examples of i. above the Indian Codes of Civil and Criminal Laws;
labour legislation is evidence of ii. above and legislation for
prevention/control of epidemic diseases is an illustration of iii.
above. Conspicuously enough, the subject of education was on the
exclusive State List since the adoption of our Constitution in 1950
before a Constitutional amendment shifted it to the Concurrent List
with effect from January 3, 1977.

However, even when the Centre makes a law for the whole country on a
matter in the Concurrent List, a state may also make supplementary
laws on that matter to provide for special circumstances within the
state. The Concurrent List thus makes the scheme of distribution of
powers somewhat flexible. It permits of diversity along with a unity
of approach.

KJD




On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 7:25 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka dilipd...@yahoo.com wrote:
 AUTONOMY, is the way for such redemption for some. And a true and meaningful
 FEDERAL arrangement
 could be for others.
 That is the bottom line.

  I agree with your bottom line and I have been saying the same thing in 
 the
 net for a long time. Now we can breathe easier, SOVEREIGNTY is not your slogan
 anymore. :-)
 I totally support if some parliamentarians make the demand for incorporation 
 of
 Autonomy into the Indian constitution. Is there someone who will risk that?
 Someone from Assam or JK to make some 

Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI

[kamal deka]

I am in total agreement with you.However,change can be brought about
only by rousing public opinion for which active and responsible
citizenry is of paramount importance.It is not the Constitution that
has failed us;it is the people,who have failed the Constitution.
Chandanda,in case of Assam,I can say with deep conviction that
administrative set-up leaves hardly any scope for any complaint
levelled by some ethnic groups against exploitation by the larger
sections of the society.But I believe that the development programs
have to be implemented mostly at the district and lower levels.This
can be done very effectively through grass root level administrative
organisations with due monitoring from the top of the administrative
hierarchy.This will enable the rural people to take active part in the
administration.Thus participation will provide scope for people's
involvement in the administration.
Well,I am in a hurry to run to the airport to see someone offmore so later.
Kamal

On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 10:53 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 What is in the Constitution, how good it might be, who has tried what are all 
 immaterial.
 What is material is WHAT it has PRODUCED, how it has helped or hindered or 
 remained
 mute witness to the state of affairs.

 With that as the focus, things MUST be changed to make it serve the people. 
 That simple.


 Give you a single simple example:

        Why is it that no powerful politician, bureaucrat, businessman, those 
 who have
        their fingers on the control of power and authority, cannot be 
 prosecuted successfully
        and brought to book, no matter how overtly corrupt they are?

        Obviously some things need changing.

        What are they?

        What has to be done to change them? What are the impediments in the 
 operating
        system that makes this happen?

        And WHY has the operating system been unable to respond to it over the 
 decades?

 This is just a solitary example. The same for every facet of public life.  
 Re-examine, change!








 On Aug 15, 2010, at 9:30 AM, kamal deka wrote:

 I totally support if some parliamentarians make the demand for 
 incorporation of
 Autonomy into the Indian constitution. Is there someone who will risk that?
 Someone from Assam or JK to make some noise in Loksabha? If it fails first
 time, try another time, then another .? As far as I know no one 
 has
 tried it yet.

 In 2000, Farooq Abdullah's autonomy roar that caused echoes elsewhere
 in the country is well known. Punjab, Assam and Tamil Nadu warmed up
 to the growl of Kashmir's Lion II; why, some politicians in
 Maharashtra and West Bengal too were aroused by it.

 ALL THAT IS KNOWN. What is unknown is what exactly these disgruntled
 chaps want when they bark for autonomy, more autonomy, regional
 autonomy.

 Some indicators are, of course, available. Assam's chief minister (
 Prafulla Mahanta ) cried out that the states have been weakened by the
 accumulation of virtually all powers at the Centre. This last belief
 has been reinforced by the Punjab chief minister's keenness to soon
 HOLD A CONVENTION OF  FEDERAL MINDED  leaders urging for more power
 for the states and for a true federal structure.

 All this is confusing to the uninitiated. Indeed, even some otherwise
 intelligent people have stretched the concept of autonomy to believe
 that it is tied up with individual liberty and social justice. The
 time has probably come then to bare some basic facts of federalism and
 how it has operated in India.

 The first fact is that the word Federation has not been used even
 once in the Constitution of India even after 79 amendments. Yet, the
 very nature of our Constitution is not unitary but a federal one.

 The second fact to be noted is the Indian Constitution seeks to create
 three functional areas: An exclusive area for the Centre, an exclusive
 area for the states and a common or concurrent area in which both the
 Centre and the states may operate simultaneously, subject to the
 overall supremacy of the Centre.

 Article 246 (1) of our Constitution confers on Parliament an exclusive
 power to make laws in respect of 99 matters. Included in this Union
 List are defence of India, ports, railways, airways, post, telephone,
 telegraph, and regulation of such oil fields, river valleys and
 industries as are declared by Parliament to be expedient in the public
 interest.

 Similarly, Article 246 (3) confers an exclusive power on the states to
 make laws on 61 matters. Included in this State List are 21 items for
 raising financial resources; notable among those are taxes on
 agricultural income, land revenue including assessment and collection,
 taxes on lands and buildings, estate and succession duties on
 agricultural land, excise duties on liquors and taxes on entry, sale
 and purchase of goods as well as on consumption or sale of
 electricity.

 A unique feature of the Indian scheme of division of powers

Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI

[kamal deka]

O Dilipda,
Village boy,in this Net, appears to be a stock phrase that has
become meaningless through endless repetition:-)

IN MY VIEW,THINGS CAN BE CHANGED BY APPLYING AN AGE-OLD ' OXOMIYA
PROBOSON ' THAT GOES  RAIZE NOKH JUKARILE NOI BOI ( PEOPLE,
COLLECTIVELY, CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS.)

Indian electoral system or democracy is indeed flawed, but
what showcases the flaw is this -there is no real representation in
Parliament or the state houses by our elected representatives.
Practically,they don not participate in debates very much and most
importantly, voting is always on party-lines. I cannot remember a
single instance in the last 2 decades when any of our MP voted against
the majority opinion of his party, and managed not to be expelled for
doing so. What is the point of having constituency-wise elected
representatives, if they always have to vote according to the party
leadership’s expectations? Thanks to the anti-defection law, only
party leaders matter. The local MP of a particular constituency may
give the appearance of representing the people of the region but, in
fact, there is no evidence from his record of voting in Parliament to
support that.On the other hand, in countries, like the USA, one
routinely reads that when a Bill is proposed, there are senators or
House representatives who oppose it even within the ruling party, and
unless they are convinced on merit,they are free to vote against the
Bill as they see fit. In India, this is not so.The people do not elect
the judgment of an MP or MLA, only his body. Voting in legislatures is
simply a formality.

India's financial federalism is an elaborate mosaic as explained earlier.
Yes, the framers of India's Constitution had indeed done their
homework on federalism in practice.
Today, over 60 years later, it is our State politicians who refuse to do theirs.
The  autonomy virus is based on the presumption that if full power is given
to the states,the politicians will use
them wisely and well.The sad part of all is that this trust is sadly
misplaced.Has any of these governments
done anything radical to improve the lot of the people?Very little.I
really do not see any ground at this time in issuing the call for a
 complete autonomy in the view of the fact that
none of the northeastern states have good track record in day-to-day
administration or in law-and-order or civic affairs -- subjects in
which the Centre just cannot and does not poke its nose. It is
essentially a matter of being able to walk before wanting to run

The truth is that the people cannot be excused for their
apathy,who simply stand by and watch things happening.As I always
say,only if the
citizen realise the need for them to participate more fully in their
role as citizens of the state will things really begin to improve.The
people ,as an example, should start demanding a comprehensive progress report
from each CM on what he has achieved in a particular field.This will
serve as one of the litmus tests of their competence to serve the
people.To put it politely,the people must force the government to act.

KJD




On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 3:33 PM, Dilip Deka dilipd...@yahoo.com wrote:
 Boy, oh boy! You are burning some midnight oil in a village in Assam to stay 
 up
 with these crazies in Assamnet.
 Isn't there anything better to do at night in Assam?
 How was Pataka Uttolan on the 15th? Did you visit the function organized
 by Nava Thakuria?



 
 From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com
 To: assamnet org assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Sun, August 15, 2010 2:56:09 PM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI


 Alter Ego


 Sorry Sir, I am a village boy. Kindly simplify me to understand.

 Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:49:53 -0700
 From: dilipd...@yahoo.com
 To: assam@assamnet.org
 Subject: Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI

 Alter Ego




 
 From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com
 To: assamnet org assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Sun, August 15, 2010 1:56:15 PM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI


 Dear A.E.,
 Who?



  Why only Assam MPs? I heard that several other states would like to have
  autonomy as well. Why wouldn't they join the Assam MPs?


 Are we voting such MPs from our states? We did not vote Deben Dutta. We till
 shout about Bhupen Hazarika, I tried to expose him thrice, but people are
 against of it. We select dumbos like Kirip Chaliha, Golam Osmani(who till
enjoys

 young girls even in train journey), Ramen Barua(most dumb) etc Mps.



 What can we aspect from these kind of MPs?




  Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:50:47 -0700
  From: dilipd...@yahoo.com
  To: assam@assamnet.org
  Subject: Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI
 
  Dear A.E.,
  Why only Assam MPs? I heard that several other states would like to have
  autonomy as well. Why wouldn't they join the Assam MPs?
 
 
 
 
  
  From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com
  To: 

Re: [Assam] Could it be true?

[kamal deka]

I quoted that from a book titled  Ethnic Autonomy Question in
N.E.India: Search For An Answer,authored by Dr Niru
Hazarika,Professor of Political Science,Gauhati University and
published by Spectrum Publication ( first published in 2005).Please
See page 199 under the heading  Ethnic Based Youth Organisations.
I am a bit surprised by the fact that the netters in this forum,who
are otherwise very vocal in every piddling issue,have turned
themselves into mute mode,failing to share their experiences in this
regard.Poor kharkhowas!!
KJD



On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 2:19 AM, Jyotirmoy Sharma
jyotirmoy.sha...@gmail.com wrote:
 Could you please send the link to the source of information.
 I would think, if it has been said, the ABSU should be held
 accountable for sowing seeds of division.
 I do not hear AASU or any Assamese uttering such venomous statement.
 JS

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Re: [Assam] The autonomy issue

[kamal deka]

 In a land of diversity, when a person of a majority community -- not
necessarily in terms of religion -- is told that another's culture is
very different from his and thus must be protected at all costs, the
minorities are automatically regarded as them. And when that
protection impinges on the rights of the majority, the minorities
come to be seen as the enemy. This is simply human nature, not in
any government's control. However, resentments simmer and, at a time
of crisis, quickly turn into acts of violence. Which acts, of course,
are controllable by the law of the land. But my question is: Why
create a divisive ethos in the first place??

 That individual basis is what true secularism is all about.
Secularism exists when the State does not espouse a religion; lets its
citizens follow their different faiths even while preventing any one
from intruding on the others; and treats all religions equally --
regardless of the number of people following each religion. Meaning,
whether the majority or the minority community, one rule applies to
all. Special-interest groups does not make for national unity and
never will -- only assimilation can.Unless we achieve this goal,it
will be a wild goose chase to think of those lofty ideals like  One
Global village or  World without boundaries



KJD


On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 10:39 AM, uttam borthakur
uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
 Nationalism is a thing of the past. (Also because in the hands of 
 irresponsible people it quickly turns to fascism which cannot find support 
 from a follower of democratic behaviour) I support Dilip Da on this. He 
 believes in no national boundaries, that's what he declared, if I read him 
 right.
 But, when the world economy is getting integrated, the issues and concerns 
 affecting mankind are becoming more and more global, the politics of war is 
 more or less evenly distributed across the globe, interracial marriages are 
 leading to evolution of more and more people who cannot be thrown into an 
 anachronistic type-cast-nation-type, English is establishing its hegemony all 
 over, the writing is surely on the wall that time for exit of dormouse NATION 
 concept and associated sentimentality have come, paving way for the global 
 man with flavors from his point of origin and passage.
 Then, why these clamors for a separate country, separate state, separate 
 district, separate council are in fact not going down proportional to present 
 and clear movement towards integration?
 Or, is the new promise of integration is innately an eye wash which is 
 antithesis to KJD's rightful  dream of  even as single members of the unit 
 sustain cultural differences-- on an individual basis   Else how these two 
 opposites are manifesting with equal vigor, if we do not put on blinkers to 
 our day to day predicament world-wide. There's an all pervasive 'fear' and 
 'distrust'; which should not have been discernible if the trend is 
 predominantly towards integration.
 I shall be obliged if someone give some pointers on this. kamal 
 deka kjit.deka at gmail.com
 Sat Aug 14 04:27:34 IST 2010Previous message: [Assam] The autonomy issueNext 
 message: [Assam] The autonomy issueMessages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ 
 subject ] [ author ]Hello Dhrubajyoti,
 I  do agree with you on this.I want to see an united Assam where
 diversity should sparkle in unity.

 In my opinion,multiculturalism is the antithesis of nationalism; it
 highlights the differences between peoples while ignoring the
 similarities whereas nationalism, on the other hand, highlights the
 similarities between peoples while obscuring the differences. It seeks
 to melt everybody into one unit, which, as a whole, reveres the
 state, even as single members of the unit sustain cultural differences
 -- on an individual basis.

 K J Deka

 Uttam Kumar Borthakur

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Re: [Assam] (no subject)

[kamal deka]

Of course,the law is on their side.Without an iota of doubt,they
should be allowed to erect an Islamic Center by the Court of
Justice.No one is calling that into question.The issue at hand here
is--- will it be appropriate to build a mosque in a place where
sentiments of thousands of people are entailed? If they graciously
agree to relocate the construction site,they will be the one,who will
get the maximum benefit by earning respect from the majority
community.Of what measure is a mosque,which is likely to remain a
source of communal discord in future?This is what my  common sense
law tells me.CNN poll,meanwhile, shows that 67% of American
population disapprove of a construction of mosque at that site while
17% say yes.From legal standpoint,it does not have relevance but
looking through the prism of common sense it certainly does.

An aside is in order here.It reminds me of the commentary made by Cal
Thomas in Washington Post. His grouse is that Muslim advocacy groups,
including CAIR( Council of American-Islamic Relations) and the
American Muslim Council, are pushing for the elimination of references
to Judeo-Christian when describing American heritage. CAIR and the
American Muslim Alliance want Judeo-Christian-Islamic to replace
that phrase in all venues where we normally talk about
Judeo-Christian values, starting with the media, academia, statements
by politicians and comments made in churches, synagogues and other
places. (But not 'mosque,' Mr Thomas notes.)

Here are my questions:  Which American values can, even remotely, be
called Islamic? Democracy? Freedom? Equality? Secularism? Gender
equity? Freedom of thought? The right to free expression? Does even
one of these values exist in a single Islamic state...? Is even one of
these values extended to all Muslim citizens of an Islamic state?
Then, how can the constitution, the culture and the heritage of
America be said to be influenced by Islam??? What is this need to
introduce Islam in the heritage of a country which is no longer --
and hasn't been since a long, long time -- a nation of migrants?
KJD


On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 2:29 PM, Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com wrote:
 KJD,

 Whether one likes the idea of the mosque, or the place or the timing is
 irrelevant to the legal aspects.
 The facts are, that this is a private property, the mosque people applied
 and got all the permits from the local authorities.

 The mosque idea is definitely insensitive (kind of in your face thing), I
 agree, given the time, place, and time.

 But the Constitution is more important. That is why the KKK gets its right
 to march and spew venom, and that is why
 we are allowed to build places of worship of choice.

 The 'shouting fire in a theater' is a great example. That is probably what
 opponents will have to try out in court - claiming sentiments were hurt etc.
 But like the KKK example, in spite of hurting sentiments, the KKK has always
 won the right to carry out a procession, and and yell hatred.

 In a court of law, I think, the mosque people will prevail.

 --Ram






 On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 11:59 PM, kamal deka kjit.d...@gmail.com wrote:

 And the opening date is slated for Sept. 11, 2011, the 10th
 anniversary of the day a hole was punched in that city.  Mosque is a
 fine idea -- someplace else. Why there?
 If the Japanese decided to open a cultural center across from Pearl
 Harbor, that would be insensitive.
 True,'rights' are guaranteed by the Constitution but they are not
 unrestrained.For example,in the matter of freedom of speech,a person
 simply cannot step into a packed movie hall and scream  Fire,which
 will be violation of the same freedom,he is entitled to.
 My objection is --why near ground zero only.
 KJD



 Read more:
 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/mosque_madness_at_ground_zero_OQ34EB0MWS0lXuAnQau5uL#ixzz0wYJK3BPE


 On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 11:14 PM, Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com
 wrote:
  The President did the right thing. The Constitution guarantees the rights
 to
  build a place of worship on private land - whatever the religion.
 
  On a practical/political level, may be the President could have kept to
 the
  sidelines. I would have been disappointed if he had not sided with the
  mosque building.
 
  --Ram
 
  On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 10:35 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka 
 dilipd...@yahoo.comwrote:
 
  This and other actions of president Obama will cost him the 2012
 reelection
  but
  he spoke from his heart and from his training as a constitutional
 lawyer.
  Now
  that the backers of the mosque have got recognition, the proper thing
 for
  them
  would be to give up the fight for the spot near ground zero if they want
 to
  see
  Obama reelected in 2012.
  The average American is not ready for the kind of vision that Obama has
 and
  I
  can predict you will not hear the end of political discussions on this
 for
  the
  next few weeks.
  My support to Obama on this does not mean I endorse him for 2012 - this
 is
  senator Deka

Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI

[kamal deka]

RS
Just one single fact provided by the attorney general of India enraged
the Supreme Court last IN 2002 : the utter indifference of our states
to good grass-root governance.

Reacting to a public interest litigation(PIL) on the reported
starvation deaths despite overfull stocks of rice and wheat in the
godowns of the Food Corporation of India, the apex court issued a
notice to the Union government, probably hoping to rap its knuckles.
However, the reply to the notice compelled the judicial bench to
divert its anguish and anger. It expressed shock when told by the
attorney general
that 15 states and Union territories had not prepared a list of
families which fall below the poverty line; the court thereupon issued
them notices telling them to prepare that list within two weeks so as
to ensure that those families could be quickly distributed food from
the public distribution system under a highly subsidised scheme
initiated by the government in New Delhi.

Take a close look at the callous 15:

Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, ASSAM, Bihar, Goa, MANIPUR, NAGALAND, Tamil
Nadu, West Bengal, TRIPURA, Uttaranchal, ARUNACHAL PRADESH,
Pondicherry, Chandigarh, and Lakshadweep.
This is the anatomy of state's autonomy.
KJD


On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 7:25 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka dilipd...@yahoo.com wrote:
 AUTONOMY, is the way for such redemption for some. And a true and meaningful
 FEDERAL arrangement
 could be for others.
 That is the bottom line.

  I agree with your bottom line and I have been saying the same thing in 
 the
 net for a long time. Now we can breathe easier, SOVEREIGNTY is not your slogan
 anymore. :-)
 I totally support if some parliamentarians make the demand for incorporation 
 of
 Autonomy into the Indian constitution. Is there someone who will risk that?
 Someone from Assam or JK to make some noise in Loksabha? If it fails first
 time, try another time, then another .? As far as I know no one 
 has
 tried it yet.




 
 From: Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world
 assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Sat, August 14, 2010 11:38:21 AM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] I Loved This One---from ToI

I completely agree. But you aren't trying to paint with a broad brush are
you ? :-).

  It is not a broad-brushing based on small or isolated examples. It is the
 NORM, the
 prevailing condition. Do you disagree?

In fact, when people demand a correction
(as in CWG, or Hemanta Sarma) - things often fall in line. Such
participation is paramount for a healthy democracy.

 *** So, is it something NEW? That has not been tried or done before?
 But what has changed?


 Participation YES, but that is an all encompassing truism. Like the truth 
 shall
 prevail.
 Or honesty is the best policy.  Question is HOW, WHEn, WHO? The Devil here is 
 in
 the details.


 What is OBVIOUS is that India does not have, it cannot muster the POLITICAL 
 will
 to CHANGE things.  It cannot if it tried.  It is TOO fRACTURED, it is TOO
 disparate.
 It tries the one size fits all approach, and gets nowhere. It will get 
 nowhere.

 That is why it is paramount  that the disparate peoples organize into smaller
 entities and

 devise ways to manage their destinies , to be RESPONSIVE to their unique 
 needs,
 WITHOUT
 being held to ransom by far-flung forces that have NO DESIRE or ABILITY to 
 deal
 with THEIR
 specific needs.

 AUTONOMY, is the way for such redemption for some. And a true and meaningful
 FEDERAL arrangement
 could be for others.

 That is the bottom line.












 On Aug 14, 2010, at 10:38 AM, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

 C'da,

 What you always seem to miss, is this problem of ENFORCEMENT, of
 investigating, adjudicating
 and punishing the corrupt, of punishing bad behavior and rewarding the
 good.

 Actually, I didn't miss it, just thought it is a given.

 Just enforcement too is not enough - the court systems are over burdened,
 and so are the good cops.

 Generations of Indian now have not seen anything different. Many think that
 is how it IS, others think
 they are like that only, yet others who know that it ought not be so, but
 have no faith at all that things
 could ever be changed. Also, generations of Indians have grown up thinking
 and believing that
 they have democracy, the best, and things will take care of itself after
 they performed the
 rituals of elekshuns.

 I completely agree. But you aren't trying to paint with a broad brush are
 you ? :-). In fact, when people demand a correction
 (as in CWG, or Hemanta Sarma) - things often fall in line. Such
 participation is paramount for a healthy democracy.

 --Ram

 On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 9:59 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:

 What you always seem to miss, is this problem of ENFORCEMENT, of
 investigating, adjudicating
 and punishing the corrupt, of punishing bad behavior and rewarding the
 good.

 Generations of Indian now have not seen anything different. Many 

[Assam] Please don't be a couch potato.

[kamal deka]

The news of the recent heart surgery performed  on Chief Minister
Tarun Gogoi and sudden death of one my dear friends at the age of 47
due to heart attack( I received the news a few hours ago) prompted me
to write this piece to highlight the fact that heart disease
rates among Indians are very high which tends to be severe,making it
hard to treat with bypass surgery.Even when successfully carried
out,such procedures often serve only as temporary fixes.This means
that,despite surgeries,the blockages often return with a
vengeance,leading to premature death.Many cases are simply
inoperable.However,heart disease is highly preventable.

Space constraints prevent touching in detail on all aspects of
preventive strategies.Therefore,the role of physical activity,the most
important component of prevention, will be addressed briefly.Regular
exercises combined with healthy diet can  reduce one's risk of
coronary heart disease by 70%.

A  physical fitness program mainly consists of
cardiovascular exercises,also called aerobic exercises.This can
include walking,running,swimming,biking,tennis and other sports.There
are three aspects of aerobic exercise,often
abbreviated by the acronym FIT,which stands for frequency ( how
often),intensity ( how vigorously) and time ( how long).The first
priority to focus on is frequency.Compared with either the intensity
of exercise or the amount of time,the consistency with which one
stays physically active daily or almost daily,week in and week out,is
the most important factor in reducing one's risk of heart disease.One
should be physically active at least five and preferably seven days a
week.

The second part of the equation is intensity.How vigorous should one's
cardiovascular activities be?In order to prevent heart disease,all one
needs to do is to engage in moderately vigorous
activity.Overall,moderately vigorous activity
should make one feel the way one does when one walks briskly for
thirty minutes.One should be breathing hard through one's nose,but one
should not feel a great urge to have to breath through one's mouth.

The third important dimension of an effective cardiovascular activity
program is deciding how long one should exercise.The 2006 US
Government Dietary Guidelines recommend 30 to 90 minutes of exercise
per day,depending upon one's weight and age.Note that this time does
not include the warm-up and cool-down period.One should start out any
exercise by warming up for at least 5 minutes.

Do follow your physician's advice on physical activity.This is
particularly important for men over 40 and women over 50,especially if
they have been sedentary.
KJD

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Re: [Assam] The autonomy issue

[kamal deka]

Let's take the ' bottom line to the logical conclusion.
We will have 
Dekaland,Kalitaland,Bodoland,Rabhaland,Tiwaland,Dimasaland,Misingland,Islamistan---ad
infinitum.
Now,we have created another 'bottom line'---WHERE WILL 'ULFALAND' FIT
IN THEIR MIDST.
CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED!!!
KJD

On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:25 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 The  bottom line is:


DO WE REALLY NEED ANY OTHER DEFINITION OF AUTONOMY? A  PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF A COUNTRY WITHIN A COUNTRY


 *** The 'country' does not exist. It is a figment of idle imaginations.  If 
 it did, it wouldn't be in the shambles it is.
 So the question of a country within a country does not arise.


 *** The second thing is that who are we to dictate what the Nagas want or 
 what the Kashmiris want or what Bodos want.
 Only the incurably pretentious would want to tell them what they should be 
 happy with.






 On Aug 12, 2010, at 7:24 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 Take a look at the' Naga- Indian' imbroglio.Article 371A ( the
 Constitution was amended to accommodate that) provides various
 safeguards for Nagaland.These include a provision whereby no Act of
 Parliament in respect of the religious or social practices of
 Nagas,Naga customary law and procedure,administration of civil and
 criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law
 and ownership and transfer of land shall apply to the state.IS THERE
 ANY REASON,AFTER  PROCURING ALL OF THE ABOVE( READ AUTONOMY),WHY NAGA
 IDENTITY OR CULTURE OR OTHER NAGA INTERESTS SHOULD BE INJURED OR
 ERODED ?
 And yet,NSCN proclaimed its motto to be NAGALAND FOR CHRIST.The NSCN
 manifesto exclaims that Nagas are  DIFFERENT FROM OTHER INDIANS
 BECAUSE THEY ARE CHRISTIANS and they could lose their identity  in an
 ocean of Hindus and other non-christians in India,completely
 sidestepping the fact that India is a  secular state in which freedom
 of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution.An valid arguement can be
 made by citing the fact that for every Christian in Nagaland,there are
 almost 20 elsewhere in the country.The MAR THOMAS CHURCH OF KERALA IS
 ONE OF THE VERY OLDEST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND IT HAS FLOURISHED FOR
 1940 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE TOLERANCE AND RESPECT SHOWN BY THE PEOPLE
 BELONGING TO OTHER FAITHS.AND IF ASSURANCE WERE NEEDED,THIS IS TO BE
 FOUND IN THE INCREASE IN NAGALAND'S OWN CHRISTIAN POPULATION SINCE
 1947.

 Now take a look at the custom-made Article 370 which mandates that
 the applicability of every law of the Indian Parliament to JK
 requires i. consultation with the JK government if the subject matter
 of the law pertains to defence or external affairs or communications,
 and ii. concurrence of the JK government if the law pertains to
 subjects other than defence or external affairs or communications. No
 other state in India has such privilege. That is why the Indian Penal
 Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act and rules framed for the
 Central Bureau of Investigation are among the several Parliamentary
 enactments which are simply not in vogue in JK.

 As bad as that, if not worse, is the fact that many provisions of the
 Constitution of India are either i. simply not applicable to JK state
 or ii. are applicable to JK only in a modified form or iii. subsumed
 by the provisions of the JK constitution.

 Further, as in the case a Parliamentary law, application to JK of a
 provision of the Indian Constitution requires consultation/consent of
 the JK government depending upon the subject of the constitutional
 provision. Again, no other state in India has such a privilege of
 saying 'Yes' or 'No' to a constitutional measure.

 JK is the only state in India --
 Where a distinction has been permitted to be made between state
 citizens (designated as 'permanent residents') and other Indian
 citizens (who are not 'permanent residents') and where -- contrary to
 the principles of equality before the law (Article 14), prohibition of
 discrimination on the ground of place of birth (Article 15) and
 equality of opportunity in public employment (Article 16), -- laws are
 permissible to confer special rights and privileges on 'permanent
 residents' with respect to employment under the state government,
 acquisition of immovable property in the state, settlement in the
 state and right to scholarships as well as other state government aid

 Ø      whose area, boundaries and name cannot be altered without the
 consent of the state government

 Ø      whose legislative assembly has a tenure of six years

 Ø      where no amendment of the Indian constitution shall have effect
 without consulting/securing concurrence of the state government even
 in regard to disposition of the state through a treaty with another
 country

 Ø      whose government's request or concurrence is needed for Delhi
 to declare emergency for reasons only of internal disturbance in the
 state (Article 352)

 Ø      where emergency declared under Article 356 can become
 applicable without

Re: [Assam] The autonomy issue

[kamal deka]

Hello Dhrubajyoti,
I  do agree with you on this.I want to see an united Assam where
diversity should sparkle in unity.

In my opinion,multiculturalism is the antithesis of nationalism; it
highlights the differences between peoples while ignoring the
similarities whereas nationalism, on the other hand, highlights the
similarities between peoples while obscuring the differences. It seeks
to melt everybody into one unit, which, as a whole, reveres the
state, even as single members of the unit sustain cultural differences
-- on an individual basis.

K J Deka

On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 1:57 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka
dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com wrote:

 I dont need any land. I only need Assam. For it, I will support every kind of 
 facism.

 Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:35:40 -0500
 From: kjit.d...@gmail.com
 To: assam@assamnet.org
 Subject: Re: [Assam] The autonomy issue

 Let's take the ' bottom line to the logical conclusion.
 We will have 
 Dekaland,Kalitaland,Bodoland,Rabhaland,Tiwaland,Dimasaland,Misingland,Islamistan---ad
 infinitum.
 Now,we have created another 'bottom line'---WHERE WILL 'ULFALAND' FIT
 IN THEIR MIDST.
 CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED!!!
 KJD

 On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:25 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
  The  bottom line is:
 
 
 DO WE REALLY NEED ANY OTHER DEFINITION OF AUTONOMY? A  PERFECT EXAMPLE
 OF A COUNTRY WITHIN A COUNTRY
 
 
  *** The 'country' does not exist. It is a figment of idle imaginations.  
  If it did, it wouldn't be in the shambles it is.
  So the question of a country within a country does not arise.
 
 
  *** The second thing is that who are we to dictate what the Nagas want or 
  what the Kashmiris want or what Bodos want.
  Only the incurably pretentious would want to tell them what they should be 
  happy with.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  On Aug 12, 2010, at 7:24 PM, kamal deka wrote:
 
  Take a look at the' Naga- Indian' imbroglio.Article 371A ( the
  Constitution was amended to accommodate that) provides various
  safeguards for Nagaland.These include a provision whereby no Act of
  Parliament in respect of the religious or social practices of
  Nagas,Naga customary law and procedure,administration of civil and
  criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law
  and ownership and transfer of land shall apply to the state.IS THERE
  ANY REASON,AFTER  PROCURING ALL OF THE ABOVE( READ AUTONOMY),WHY NAGA
  IDENTITY OR CULTURE OR OTHER NAGA INTERESTS SHOULD BE INJURED OR
  ERODED ?
  And yet,NSCN proclaimed its motto to be NAGALAND FOR CHRIST.The NSCN
  manifesto exclaims that Nagas are  DIFFERENT FROM OTHER INDIANS
  BECAUSE THEY ARE CHRISTIANS and they could lose their identity  in an
  ocean of Hindus and other non-christians in India,completely
  sidestepping the fact that India is a  secular state in which freedom
  of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution.An valid arguement can be
  made by citing the fact that for every Christian in Nagaland,there are
  almost 20 elsewhere in the country.The MAR THOMAS CHURCH OF KERALA IS
  ONE OF THE VERY OLDEST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND IT HAS FLOURISHED FOR
  1940 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE TOLERANCE AND RESPECT SHOWN BY THE PEOPLE
  BELONGING TO OTHER FAITHS.AND IF ASSURANCE WERE NEEDED,THIS IS TO BE
  FOUND IN THE INCREASE IN NAGALAND'S OWN CHRISTIAN POPULATION SINCE
  1947.
 
  Now take a look at the custom-made Article 370 which mandates that
  the applicability of every law of the Indian Parliament to JK
  requires i. consultation with the JK government if the subject matter
  of the law pertains to defence or external affairs or communications,
  and ii. concurrence of the JK government if the law pertains to
  subjects other than defence or external affairs or communications. No
  other state in India has such privilege. That is why the Indian Penal
  Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act and rules framed for the
  Central Bureau of Investigation are among the several Parliamentary
  enactments which are simply not in vogue in JK.
 
  As bad as that, if not worse, is the fact that many provisions of the
  Constitution of India are either i. simply not applicable to JK state
  or ii. are applicable to JK only in a modified form or iii. subsumed
  by the provisions of the JK constitution.
 
  Further, as in the case a Parliamentary law, application to JK of a
  provision of the Indian Constitution requires consultation/consent of
  the JK government depending upon the subject of the constitutional
  provision. Again, no other state in India has such a privilege of
  saying 'Yes' or 'No' to a constitutional measure.
 
  JK is the only state in India --
  Where a distinction has been permitted to be made between state
  citizens (designated as 'permanent residents') and other Indian
  citizens (who are not 'permanent residents') and where -- contrary to
  the principles of equality before the law (Article 14), prohibition of
  discrimination on the ground of place of birth (Article 15) and
  equality

[Assam] Could it be true?

[kamal deka]

I was literally shell-shocked to come across a statement made by ABSU
in their 92-point demands in which they assert that the Assamese are
anti-tribal.A direct quote will carry the right flavor. THE MAJORITY
OF ASSAMESE PEOPLE HAVE DEADLY AND POISONOUS ANTI-TRIBAL
ATTITUDE.THEY CANNOT TOLERATE THE EXISTENCE OF TRIBALS SUCH AS
BODOS,MISINGS,KARBIS ETC.

In my measured opinion,their assertion is way over-the-top.As a matter
of fact,I find it to be outrageous,obtuse and insensate.I AM YET TO
ENCOUNTER A SINGLE ASSAMESE,WHO HARBOURS ILL-FEELING OR HATRED TOWARDS
OUR TRIBAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

If you happen to have a different experience,would you please share with me?

KJ Deka
Sugarland,Texas.

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http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Re: [Assam] The autonomy issue

[kamal deka]

 I would hate to have to call Tilok Daktor for emergency duty :-) 

I really enjoy your remarkable sense of humour.I really do.

Here you go--I have given Tilak Daktor carte blanche to manage my
emergency medical needs:-)

KJD

On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 5:31 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 O'-K,


 On Aug 13, 2010, at 1:35 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 Let's take the ' bottom line to the logical conclusion.
 We will have 
 Dekaland,Kalitaland,Bodoland,Rabhaland,Tiwaland,Dimasaland,Misingland,Islamistan---ad
 infinitum.
 Now,we have created another 'bottom line'---WHERE WILL 'ULFALAND' FIT
 IN THEIR MIDST.
 CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED!!!


  You know, you are really pushing  pedal to the metal on your 
 imaginations. If you keep that up
 you might get airborne if not fall off the deep end. I would hate to have to 
 call Tilok Daktor for emergency
 duty :-).

 So-K












 KJD

 On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:25 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 The  bottom line is:


 DO WE REALLY NEED ANY OTHER DEFINITION OF AUTONOMY? A  PERFECT EXAMPLE
 OF A COUNTRY WITHIN A COUNTRY


 *** The 'country' does not exist. It is a figment of idle imaginations.  If 
 it did, it wouldn't be in the shambles it is.
 So the question of a country within a country does not arise.


 *** The second thing is that who are we to dictate what the Nagas want or 
 what the Kashmiris want or what Bodos want.
 Only the incurably pretentious would want to tell them what they should be 
 happy with.






 On Aug 12, 2010, at 7:24 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 Take a look at the' Naga- Indian' imbroglio.Article 371A ( the
 Constitution was amended to accommodate that) provides various
 safeguards for Nagaland.These include a provision whereby no Act of
 Parliament in respect of the religious or social practices of
 Nagas,Naga customary law and procedure,administration of civil and
 criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law
 and ownership and transfer of land shall apply to the state.IS THERE
 ANY REASON,AFTER  PROCURING ALL OF THE ABOVE( READ AUTONOMY),WHY NAGA
 IDENTITY OR CULTURE OR OTHER NAGA INTERESTS SHOULD BE INJURED OR
 ERODED ?
 And yet,NSCN proclaimed its motto to be NAGALAND FOR CHRIST.The NSCN
 manifesto exclaims that Nagas are  DIFFERENT FROM OTHER INDIANS
 BECAUSE THEY ARE CHRISTIANS and they could lose their identity  in an
 ocean of Hindus and other non-christians in India,completely
 sidestepping the fact that India is a  secular state in which freedom
 of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution.An valid arguement can be
 made by citing the fact that for every Christian in Nagaland,there are
 almost 20 elsewhere in the country.The MAR THOMAS CHURCH OF KERALA IS
 ONE OF THE VERY OLDEST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND IT HAS FLOURISHED FOR
 1940 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE TOLERANCE AND RESPECT SHOWN BY THE PEOPLE
 BELONGING TO OTHER FAITHS.AND IF ASSURANCE WERE NEEDED,THIS IS TO BE
 FOUND IN THE INCREASE IN NAGALAND'S OWN CHRISTIAN POPULATION SINCE
 1947.

 Now take a look at the custom-made Article 370 which mandates that
 the applicability of every law of the Indian Parliament to JK
 requires i. consultation with the JK government if the subject matter
 of the law pertains to defence or external affairs or communications,
 and ii. concurrence of the JK government if the law pertains to
 subjects other than defence or external affairs or communications. No
 other state in India has such privilege. That is why the Indian Penal
 Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act and rules framed for the
 Central Bureau of Investigation are among the several Parliamentary
 enactments which are simply not in vogue in JK.

 As bad as that, if not worse, is the fact that many provisions of the
 Constitution of India are either i. simply not applicable to JK state
 or ii. are applicable to JK only in a modified form or iii. subsumed
 by the provisions of the JK constitution.

 Further, as in the case a Parliamentary law, application to JK of a
 provision of the Indian Constitution requires consultation/consent of
 the JK government depending upon the subject of the constitutional
 provision. Again, no other state in India has such a privilege of
 saying 'Yes' or 'No' to a constitutional measure.

 JK is the only state in India --
 Where a distinction has been permitted to be made between state
 citizens (designated as 'permanent residents') and other Indian
 citizens (who are not 'permanent residents') and where -- contrary to
 the principles of equality before the law (Article 14), prohibition of
 discrimination on the ground of place of birth (Article 15) and
 equality of opportunity in public employment (Article 16), -- laws are
 permissible to confer special rights and privileges on 'permanent
 residents' with respect to employment under the state government,
 acquisition of immovable property in the state, settlement in the
 state and right to scholarships as well as other state government aid

 Ø      whose

Re: [Assam] (no subject)

[kamal deka]

And the opening date is slated for Sept. 11, 2011, the 10th
anniversary of the day a hole was punched in that city.  Mosque is a
fine idea -- someplace else. Why there?
If the Japanese decided to open a cultural center across from Pearl
Harbor, that would be insensitive.
True,'rights' are guaranteed by the Constitution but they are not
unrestrained.For example,in the matter of freedom of speech,a person
simply cannot step into a packed movie hall and scream  Fire,which
will be violation of the same freedom,he is entitled to.
My objection is --why near ground zero only.
KJD



Read more: 
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/mosque_madness_at_ground_zero_OQ34EB0MWS0lXuAnQau5uL#ixzz0wYJK3BPE


On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 11:14 PM, Ram Sarangapani assa...@gmail.com wrote:
 The President did the right thing. The Constitution guarantees the rights to
 build a place of worship on private land - whatever the religion.

 On a practical/political level, may be the President could have kept to the
 sidelines. I would have been disappointed if he had not sided with the
 mosque building.

 --Ram

 On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 10:35 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka 
 dilipd...@yahoo.comwrote:

 This and other actions of president Obama will cost him the 2012 reelection
 but
 he spoke from his heart and from his training as a constitutional lawyer.
 Now
 that the backers of the mosque have got recognition, the proper thing for
 them
 would be to give up the fight for the spot near ground zero if they want to
 see
 Obama reelected in 2012.
 The average American is not ready for the kind of vision that Obama has and
 I
 can predict you will not hear the end of political discussions on this for
 the
 next few weeks.
 My support to Obama on this does not mean I endorse him for 2012 - this is
 senator Deka speaking from Texas. :-)
 Obama backs mosque near ground zero
        *       *  AP – ** RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT DATE OF ATTACK **
 President Barack
 Obama hosts an iftar dinner, the meal …


 By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press
 Writer –
 50 mins ago
 WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday forcefully endorsed allowing
 a
 mosque near ground zero, saying the country's founding principles demanded
 no
 less.
 As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right
 to
 practice their religion as everyone else in this country, Obama said,
 weighing
 in for the first time on a controversy that has riven New York City and the
 nation.
 That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center
 on
 private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and
 ordinances, he said. This is America, and our commitment to religious
 freedom
 must be unshakable.
 Obama made the comments at an annual dinner in the White House State Dining
 Room
 celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
 The White House had not previously taken a stand on the mosque, which would
 be
 part of a $100 million Islamic center two blocks from where nearly 3,000
 people
 perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers
 on
 Sept. 11, 2001. Press secretary Robert Gibbs had insisted it was a local
 matter.
 It was already much more than that, sparking debate around the country as
 top
 Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich announced their
 opposition.
 So did the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group.
 Obama elevated it to a presidential issue Friday without equivocation.
 While insisting that the place where the twin towers once stood was indeed
 hallowed ground, Obama said that the proper way to honor it was to apply
 American values.
 Our capacity to sho not merely tolerance, but respect towards those who
 are
 different from us — and that way of life, that quintessentially American
 creed,
 stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that
 September morning, and who continue to plot against us today, he said.
 Obama harkened back to earlier times when the building of synagogues or
 Catholic
 churches also met with opposition. But time and again, the American people
 have
 demonstrated that we can work through these issues, and stay true to our
 core
 values and emerge stronger for it, he said. So it must be and will be
 today.
 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has been a strong
 supporter of the mosque, welcomed Obama's words as a clarion defense of
 the
 freedom of religion.
 But some Republicans were quick to pounce.
 President Obama is wrong, said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. It is insensitive
 and
 uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground
 zero. While the Muslim community has the right to build the mosque they are
 abusing that right by needlessly offending so many people who have suffered
 so
 much.
 Entering the highly charged election-year debate, Obama surely knew that
 his
 words would not only make headlines but be heard by Muslims 

Re: [Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

[kamal deka]

Would you care to tell us the tales of maturity then?
KJD

On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:48 AM, henry narzary hnarz...@yahoo.co.in wrote:
 its a very cheap joke. this forum requires more matured handling




 
 From: kamal deka kjit.d...@gmail.com
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world
 assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Wed, 11 August, 2010 5:37:44 AM
 Subject: [Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

 In response to ABSU's recent demand for a separate Bodoland,An
 Assamese kharkhowa,inhabitant of Baksa district,wrote a letter
 addressed to the PM demanding a separate state for himself.Read and
 enjoy.
 KJD



 Dear Mr Prime Minister,

 I am 30 years old, fat, educated and I want my own state. To achieve
 this objective I have decided to proceed on a fast immediately...
 after my next  masor tenga meal, that is. (Considering my body mass index 
 and
 fondness for trans fats, I have deemed this the most apt way to
 protest.)


 I now intend to break bread only after my 2-bedroom flat in Baksa
 district,the heartland of Bodos, is
 declared a state. The state will be known as Kalita Pradesh and its
 capital will be Kalita nagar -- which is what I will name my living
 room. The official language will be heavily accented English spoken
 with a lisp.


 I have decided to go in for this drastic move after discrimination
 against me based on my language, appearance, superior intellect and
 personal hygiene. I request you to consider my case vis-a-vis ABSU's
 demand for a state exclusively for the Bodos.


 My state abounds in man-made and (cow-made) resources, including
 manure from my potted plants and state-of-the-art sanitary fittings.  I
 intend to stand for CM and am confident that the residents -- my wife,
 my dog and the affectionate house mosquitoes  -- will cast their vote
 in my favour.


 Mr Prime Minster, I appeal to you to consider my case at the earliest.
 After Bodoland,Kalita Pradesh would become India's 30th state (if
 Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh etc don't beat me to it).
 Thirty is such a nice, round number, don't you think? Since you are
 handing states around, why not add one more?


 While we are at it, let me bring to your notice that my pan-wala, my
 dhobi and a rather irritable bull who sleeps on the middle of a
 neighbouring road, all want their own states. They all allege
 discrimination and are all threatening to go on fast.


 I appeal to you sir, let's break up this beautiful state,known as
 Assam since time immemorial, at the earliest.
 Words like unity has  slipped into obsolescence. Why learn from the West.
 We don't care about Germany uniting or half of Europe becoming
 European Union. After all, we are the smartest race in the world. Let's
 have a new slogan: Be a Bodo,Kalita or Ahom first and break Assam into pieces.
 Sincerely,
 Biplob Kalita.

 ___
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 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


___
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http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Re: [Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

[kamal deka]

Your note threw me into a tailspin. For a few moments, I was afraid I might 
have died and was
reading an eulogy, replete with exaggerated and undeserving praises
usually reserved for

Now,now,since you have emerged robust and hardy out of  hyperbole
maze,would you work on to solve the conundrum that you failed to do so
far?
KJD

On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 9:13 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 My, oh my, Kamal.

 Your note threw me into a tailspin. For a few moments, I was afraid I might 
 have died and was
 reading an eulogy, replete with exaggerated and undeserving praises usually 
 reserved for
 the dear departed.

 Then I pinched myself, and feeling the hurt, I realized I am alive and 
 kicking. So what's the deal, I wondered.
 That led me to discount the praises for your usual hyperbole :-) and check 
 where that left it. It still was
 humbling, to say the least. But I accept it, again very humbly. You have been 
 overly kind.

 Now I have to strive to live up to the accolades. I knew there had to be a 
 catch :-).



 Well,in case of Assam,local politicians are involved to a great extent
 in the act of politicisation of the ethnic issue in the state in order
 to fulfill their hidden selfish interest.These indigenous politics try
 to ginger up people's sentiment by giving the idea that as a
 culture-bearing group,the indigenous people should have their own
 state which can only ensure preservation of their cultural identity.In
 most cases,these Movements are power-oriented.

 The rural people in Assam,regardless of their ethnic identities,are
 simple and straight in thought and deed.Therefore,in most cases,they
 fail to understand the real motive of the political leaders.In this
 situation,it becomes very easy for a deceitful and control freak
 leader to be active in the folds of ' Political Man' or as an '
 Economic Man' to satisfy his selfish interest without the fear of
 being detected.Simply stated,these self-seeking politicians are using
 'ethnicity'as smoke and screen to better themselves.



  You ( and Dilip, with his concurrence) have touched on one layer of the 
 causes. But it is
 an upper layer. We need to dig even deeper to get to the bottom of the 
 issues. So, before *I*
 attempt to 'splain things, allow me to ask you ALL, once again, to give it 
 another try, and
 see if you would not mind getting dirty with the real dirt on the matter. I 
 realize there is a
 degree of reluctance to dig deeper for certain reasons :-), but if we don't 
 uncover and acknowledge
 these simple realities, how shall we ever place our fingers on the problems 
 and hopefully kick
 around solution possibilities ?

 I am sure we can agree that shedding e-tears alone over the state of affairs 
 is not enough.

 If not us, WHO?

 So, go get 'em tigers! Kharkhowas we might be, but we can also be baaghor 
 -aag-tel-khowa,
 if we wish to be :-).

 c-da




 On Aug 11, 2010, at 7:44 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 Well,in case of Assam,local politicians are involved to a great extent
 in the act of politicisation of the ethnic issue in the state in order
 to fulfill their hidden selfish interest.These indigenous politics try
 to ginger up people's sentiment by giving the idea that as a
 culture-bearing group,the indigenous people should have their own
 state which can only ensure preservation of their cultural identity.In
 most cases,these Movements are power-oriented.

 The rural people in Assam,regardless of their ethnic identities,are
 simple and straight in thought and deed.Therefore,in most cases,they
 fail to understand the real motive of the political leaders.In this
 situation,it becomes very easy for a deceitful and control freak
 leader to be active in the folds of ' Political Man' or as an '
 Economic Man' to satisfy his selfish interest without the fear of
 being detected.Simply stated,these self-seeking politicians are using
 'ethnicity'as smoke and screen to better themselves.

 HAVING SAID SO,I SEE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHOSE VISION,WIT AND INSIGHT ARE
 AS EXTRAORDINARILY REFRESHING AS YOURS'-- THAT CERTAINLY HAS THE
 ABILITY TO EGG ON PEOPLE LIKE US TO THINK INTELLECTUALLY.YOU
 ILLUMINATE THINGS WITH GRACE,ASPERITY AND REMARKABLE PRECISION,REALLY.
 PLEASE SULK NO MORE TO TELL US BY GETTING DOWN TO BRASS TRACK THE
 CAUSES OF FISSIPEROUS TENDENCIES AMONG DIFFERENT ETHNIC COMMUNITIES OF
 ASSAM FOR WHICH,IN THIS NET,YOU WILL RULE THE ROOST.

 KJD.

 On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:53 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 O'-K,

 Eh, kaarw gaat loga nai diya. I just wanted to point out the absence of 
 thought behind the piece.

 Having said that, why don't YOU tell us reasons behind the demand for the 
 ever increasing
 number of states, what the causes at the root of the phenomenon is?

 That would be useful. I know there are many amongst us who are quite 
 oblivious of them.  I like
 to think you are not one of them :-).

 It twmar,

 So-K







 On Aug 11, 2010, at 3:30 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 I offer

Re: [Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

[kamal deka]

 I never promised anyone a rose garden along with the sunshine :-).

Oh i gotcha!!!
You simply meandered through the topic,looking for those rare and
elusive answers.
Or,are you merely prodding at the body and structure of the same
subject without knowing what it is all about like children at a new
toy in the market showroom:-)

KJD.


On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 11:51 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:

would you work on to solve the conundrum that you failed to do so
 far?

  I never promised anyone a rose garden along with the sunshine :-).

 But I am trying to prod you all whipper-snappers to put your thinking caps on
 and see if you can help find the roots of it all. And if we do, then we can 
 look at what could be
 done to fix 'em.But I would need everybody's help here, since I was not sent 
 here with  all the
 answers to every vexed question. I try, but have my limits. However, if we 
 apply our collective
 wisdoms, who knows, we may achieve the unachievable.

 So help us all. Participate in the conversation. Ask questions and answer 
 them too.  But stay relevant.

 Would that be fair ?









 On Aug 12, 2010, at 11:39 AM, kamal deka wrote:

 Your note threw me into a tailspin. For a few moments, I was afraid I 
 might have died and was
 reading an eulogy, replete with exaggerated and undeserving praises
 usually reserved for

 Now,now,since you have emerged robust and hardy out of  hyperbole
 maze,would you work on to solve the conundrum that you failed to do so
 far?
 KJD

 On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 9:13 AM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 My, oh my, Kamal.

 Your note threw me into a tailspin. For a few moments, I was afraid I might 
 have died and was
 reading an eulogy, replete with exaggerated and undeserving praises usually 
 reserved for
 the dear departed.

 Then I pinched myself, and feeling the hurt, I realized I am alive and 
 kicking. So what's the deal, I wondered.
 That led me to discount the praises for your usual hyperbole :-) and check 
 where that left it. It still was
 humbling, to say the least. But I accept it, again very humbly. You have 
 been overly kind.

 Now I have to strive to live up to the accolades. I knew there had to be a 
 catch :-).



 Well,in case of Assam,local politicians are involved to a great extent
 in the act of politicisation of the ethnic issue in the state in order
 to fulfill their hidden selfish interest.These indigenous politics try
 to ginger up people's sentiment by giving the idea that as a
 culture-bearing group,the indigenous people should have their own
 state which can only ensure preservation of their cultural identity.In
 most cases,these Movements are power-oriented.

 The rural people in Assam,regardless of their ethnic identities,are
 simple and straight in thought and deed.Therefore,in most cases,they
 fail to understand the real motive of the political leaders.In this
 situation,it becomes very easy for a deceitful and control freak
 leader to be active in the folds of ' Political Man' or as an '
 Economic Man' to satisfy his selfish interest without the fear of
 being detected.Simply stated,these self-seeking politicians are using
 'ethnicity'as smoke and screen to better themselves.



  You ( and Dilip, with his concurrence) have touched on one layer of 
 the causes. But it is
 an upper layer. We need to dig even deeper to get to the bottom of the 
 issues. So, before *I*
 attempt to 'splain things, allow me to ask you ALL, once again, to give it 
 another try, and
 see if you would not mind getting dirty with the real dirt on the matter. I 
 realize there is a
 degree of reluctance to dig deeper for certain reasons :-), but if we don't 
 uncover and acknowledge
 these simple realities, how shall we ever place our fingers on the problems 
 and hopefully kick
 around solution possibilities ?

 I am sure we can agree that shedding e-tears alone over the state of 
 affairs is not enough.

 If not us, WHO?

 So, go get 'em tigers! Kharkhowas we might be, but we can also be baaghor 
 -aag-tel-khowa,
 if we wish to be :-).

 c-da




 On Aug 11, 2010, at 7:44 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 Well,in case of Assam,local politicians are involved to a great extent
 in the act of politicisation of the ethnic issue in the state in order
 to fulfill their hidden selfish interest.These indigenous politics try
 to ginger up people's sentiment by giving the idea that as a
 culture-bearing group,the indigenous people should have their own
 state which can only ensure preservation of their cultural identity.In
 most cases,these Movements are power-oriented.

 The rural people in Assam,regardless of their ethnic identities,are
 simple and straight in thought and deed.Therefore,in most cases,they
 fail to understand the real motive of the political leaders.In this
 situation,it becomes very easy for a deceitful and control freak
 leader to be active in the folds of ' Political Man' or as an '
 Economic Man' to satisfy his

[Assam] FATE OF GREAT BRITAIN IN FUTURE

[kamal deka]

The Future with Obama and Brown

President Obama and Gordon Brown are shown a time machine which can
see 100 years into the future.They both decide to test it by asking a
question each.

President Obama goes first: What will the USA be like in 100 years time?
The machine whirls and beeps and goes into action and gives him a
print out, he reads it out:

The country is in good hands under the new president, crime is
non-existent,there is no conflict, the economy is healthy. There are
no worries.

Gordon Brown thinks, It's not bad, this time machine, I'll have a bit
of that so he asks: What will Britain be like in 100 years time?

The machine whirls and beeps and goes into action, and he gets a printout.
But he just stares at it.

Come on, Gordon, says Obama, Tell us what it says.
I CAN'T,IT'S ALL IN URDU

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Re: [Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

[kamal deka]

I offer my unconditional apology for whipping up a controversy that
was uncalled for.I put out the piece in the Net just to give a funny
touch.I can assure  all of you---the letter writer did not aim to
cause deep hurt to any one, even though the letter seems to contain a
semblance of unspoken truth.After all,many a truth  are said in
jest--sometimes of course.
KJD

On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 9:29 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 There is nothing amusing about this mindless piece of tripe.  Should our 
 letter writer
 have had the desire or the wherewithal to inquire about the REASONS why 
 everyone
 wants a state of his own, then he would not have had the reason to write this 
 piece.
 Furthermore, HAD the editorial ranks of the rag had any clue about it 
 themselves,
 they would not have found it worthy to publish it.

 Last but not the least, I am terribly surprised that you Kamal, being one of 
 the rare few
 amongst us who has the ability to analyze things enough and the integrity ( 
 even if only
 every now and then), to acknowledge the real reasons for the state of affairs 
 in India,
 found this piece worthy enough to circulate as something meaningful or 
 noteworthy.

 cm





 On Aug 10, 2010, at 7:07 PM, kamal deka wrote:
 e
 In response to ABSU's recent demand for a separate Bodoland,An
 Assamese kharkhowa,inhabitant of Baksa district,wrote a letter
 addressed to the PM demanding a separate state for himself.Read and
 enjoy.
 KJD



 Dear Mr Prime Minister,

 I am 30 years old, fat, educated and I want my own state. To achieve
 this objective I have decided to proceed on a fast immediately...
 after my next  masor tenga meal, that is. (Considering my body mass index 
 and
 fondness for trans fats, I have deemed this the most apt way to
 protest.)


 I now intend to break bread only after my 2-bedroom flat in Baksa
 district,the heartland of Bodos, is
 declared a state. The state will be known as Kalita Pradesh and its
 capital will be Kalita nagar -- which is what I will name my living
 room. The official language will be heavily accented English spoken
 with a lisp.


 I have decided to go in for this drastic move after discrimination
 against me based on my language, appearance, superior intellect and
 personal hygiene. I request you to consider my case vis-a-vis ABSU's
 demand for a state exclusively for the Bodos.


 My state abounds in man-made and (cow-made) resources, including
 manure from my potted plants and state-of-the-art sanitary fittings.  I
 intend to stand for CM and am confident that the residents -- my wife,
 my dog and the affectionate house mosquitoes  -- will cast their vote
 in my favour.


 Mr Prime Minster, I appeal to you to consider my case at the earliest.
 After Bodoland,Kalita Pradesh would become India's 30th state (if
 Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh etc don't beat me to it).
 Thirty is such a nice, round number, don't you think? Since you are
 handing states around, why not add one more?


 While we are at it, let me bring to your notice that my pan-wala, my
 dhobi and a rather irritable bull who sleeps on the middle of a
 neighbouring road, all want their own states. They all allege
 discrimination and are all threatening to go on fast.


 I appeal to you sir, let's break up this beautiful state,known as
 Assam since time immemorial, at the earliest.
 Words like unity has  slipped into obsolescence. Why learn from the West.
 We don't care about Germany uniting or half of Europe becoming
 European Union. After all, we are the smartest race in the world. Let's
 have a new slogan: Be a Bodo,Kalita or Ahom first and break Assam into 
 pieces.
 Sincerely,
 Biplob Kalita.

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Re: [Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

[kamal deka]

Well,in case of Assam,local politicians are involved to a great extent
in the act of politicisation of the ethnic issue in the state in order
to fulfill their hidden selfish interest.These indigenous politics try
to ginger up people's sentiment by giving the idea that as a
culture-bearing group,the indigenous people should have their own
state which can only ensure preservation of their cultural identity.In
most cases,these Movements are power-oriented.

The rural people in Assam,regardless of their ethnic identities,are
simple and straight in thought and deed.Therefore,in most cases,they
fail to understand the real motive of the political leaders.In this
situation,it becomes very easy for a deceitful and control freak
leader to be active in the folds of ' Political Man' or as an '
Economic Man' to satisfy his selfish interest without the fear of
being detected.Simply stated,these self-seeking politicians are using
'ethnicity'as smoke and screen to better themselves.

HAVING SAID SO,I SEE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHOSE VISION,WIT AND INSIGHT ARE
AS EXTRAORDINARILY REFRESHING AS YOURS'-- THAT CERTAINLY HAS THE
ABILITY TO EGG ON PEOPLE LIKE US TO THINK INTELLECTUALLY.YOU
ILLUMINATE THINGS WITH GRACE,ASPERITY AND REMARKABLE PRECISION,REALLY.
PLEASE SULK NO MORE TO TELL US BY GETTING DOWN TO BRASS TRACK THE
CAUSES OF FISSIPEROUS TENDENCIES AMONG DIFFERENT ETHNIC COMMUNITIES OF
ASSAM FOR WHICH,IN THIS NET,YOU WILL RULE THE ROOST.

KJD.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:53 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 O'-K,

 Eh, kaarw gaat loga nai diya. I just wanted to point out the absence of 
 thought behind the piece.

 Having said that, why don't YOU tell us reasons behind the demand for the 
 ever increasing
 number of states, what the causes at the root of the phenomenon is?

 That would be useful. I know there are many amongst us who are quite 
 oblivious of them.  I like
 to think you are not one of them :-).

 It twmar,

 So-K







 On Aug 11, 2010, at 3:30 PM, kamal deka wrote:

 I offer my unconditional apology for whipping up a controversy that
 was uncalled for.I put out the piece in the Net just to give a funny
 touch.I can assure  all of you---the letter writer did not aim to
 cause deep hurt to any one, even though the letter seems to contain a
 semblance of unspoken truth.After all,many a truth  are said in
 jest--sometimes of course.
 KJD

 On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 9:29 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 There is nothing amusing about this mindless piece of tripe.  Should our 
 letter writer
 have had the desire or the wherewithal to inquire about the REASONS why 
 everyone
 wants a state of his own, then he would not have had the reason to write 
 this piece.
 Furthermore, HAD the editorial ranks of the rag had any clue about it 
 themselves,
 they would not have found it worthy to publish it.

 Last but not the least, I am terribly surprised that you Kamal, being one 
 of the rare few
 amongst us who has the ability to analyze things enough and the integrity ( 
 even if only
 every now and then), to acknowledge the real reasons for the state of 
 affairs in India,
 found this piece worthy enough to circulate as something meaningful or 
 noteworthy.

 cm





 On Aug 10, 2010, at 7:07 PM, kamal deka wrote:
 e
 In response to ABSU's recent demand for a separate Bodoland,An
 Assamese kharkhowa,inhabitant of Baksa district,wrote a letter
 addressed to the PM demanding a separate state for himself.Read and
 enjoy.
 KJD



 Dear Mr Prime Minister,

 I am 30 years old, fat, educated and I want my own state. To achieve
 this objective I have decided to proceed on a fast immediately...
 after my next  masor tenga meal, that is. (Considering my body mass 
 index and
 fondness for trans fats, I have deemed this the most apt way to
 protest.)


 I now intend to break bread only after my 2-bedroom flat in Baksa
 district,the heartland of Bodos, is
 declared a state. The state will be known as Kalita Pradesh and its
 capital will be Kalita nagar -- which is what I will name my living
 room. The official language will be heavily accented English spoken
 with a lisp.


 I have decided to go in for this drastic move after discrimination
 against me based on my language, appearance, superior intellect and
 personal hygiene. I request you to consider my case vis-a-vis ABSU's
 demand for a state exclusively for the Bodos.


 My state abounds in man-made and (cow-made) resources, including
 manure from my potted plants and state-of-the-art sanitary fittings.  I
 intend to stand for CM and am confident that the residents -- my wife,
 my dog and the affectionate house mosquitoes  -- will cast their vote
 in my favour.


 Mr Prime Minster, I appeal to you to consider my case at the earliest.
 After Bodoland,Kalita Pradesh would become India's 30th state (if
 Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh etc don't beat me to it).
 Thirty is such a nice, round number, don't you think? Since you are
 handing states around, why

Re: [Assam] since when has sattriya become a 'tribal' dance?

[kamal deka]

The very job description of a scribe is to investigate,do home work
and bring the truth out into the open for public consumption.It sure
makes my hackles rise to think of those numbskulls/half-baked/uncouth
Indian journos,who do not give even half a hoot when it comes to
Assam-related news being reported.
Perhaps,half of Indians view Northeastern states as a land of
mendicants,mystique and miseries.I t is really a painful experience to
watch.
KJ Deka

On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 11:20 PM, Uddipana Goswami uddip...@gmail.com wrote:
 The ignorance of these 'mainstream' reporters regarding Assam and the
 Northeast is nothing new. But surely they should verify their facts before
 publishing such nonsense as Sattriya, a tribal dance form from Assam that
 has now been elevated to the status of a classical dance!

 http://www.hindustantimes.com/Dance-like-a-Sattriya-woman/Article1-583325.aspx

 --
 Uddipana Goswami
 www.jajabori-mon.blogspot.com
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[Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

[kamal deka]

In response to ABSU's recent demand for a separate Bodoland,An
Assamese kharkhowa,inhabitant of Baksa district,wrote a letter
addressed to the PM demanding a separate state for himself.Read and
enjoy.
KJD



Dear Mr Prime Minister,

I am 30 years old, fat, educated and I want my own state. To achieve
this objective I have decided to proceed on a fast immediately...
after my next  masor tenga meal, that is. (Considering my body mass index and
fondness for trans fats, I have deemed this the most apt way to
protest.)


I now intend to break bread only after my 2-bedroom flat in Baksa
district,the heartland of Bodos, is
declared a state. The state will be known as Kalita Pradesh and its
capital will be Kalita nagar -- which is what I will name my living
room. The official language will be heavily accented English spoken
with a lisp.


I have decided to go in for this drastic move after discrimination
against me based on my language, appearance, superior intellect and
personal hygiene. I request you to consider my case vis-a-vis ABSU's
demand for a state exclusively for the Bodos.


My state abounds in man-made and (cow-made) resources, including
manure from my potted plants and state-of-the-art sanitary fittings.  I
intend to stand for CM and am confident that the residents -- my wife,
my dog and the affectionate house mosquitoes  -- will cast their vote
in my favour.


Mr Prime Minster, I appeal to you to consider my case at the earliest.
After Bodoland,Kalita Pradesh would become India's 30th state (if
Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh etc don't beat me to it).
Thirty is such a nice, round number, don't you think? Since you are
handing states around, why not add one more?


While we are at it, let me bring to your notice that my pan-wala, my
dhobi and a rather irritable bull who sleeps on the middle of a
neighbouring road, all want their own states. They all allege
discrimination and are all threatening to go on fast.


I appeal to you sir, let's break up this beautiful state,known as
Assam since time immemorial, at the earliest.
 Words like unity has  slipped into obsolescence. Why learn from the West.
We don't care about Germany uniting or half of Europe becoming
European Union. After all, we are the smartest race in the world. Let's
have a new slogan: Be a Bodo,Kalita or Ahom first and break Assam into pieces.
Sincerely,
Biplob Kalita.

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[Assam] MOSQUE--SPRING BOARD OF TERRORISM !!!

[kamal deka]

IS IT ANY WONDER WHY MUSLIMS WHO WANTED TO LIVE UNDER ISLAMIC SHARIA
LAW IN AUSTRALIA WERE TOLD TO GET OUT? Now,read the following.

KJD.

MOSQUE USED BY 9/11 ATTACKERS SHUT DOWN.


BERLIN -- A small Hamburg mosque once frequented by Sept. 11 attackers
was shut down and searched Monday because German authorities believed
the prayer house was again being used as a meeting point for Islamic
radicals.

The Taiba mosque was closed and the cultural association that runs it
was banned, officials in the northern German city of Hamburg said.

We have closed the mosque because it was a recruiting and meeting
point for Islamic radicals who wanted to participate in so-called
jihad or holy war, said Frank Reschreiter, a spokesman for the
Hamburg state interior ministry.

He said 20 police officers were searching the building and had
confiscated material, including several computers. He said he had no
information about any arrests.

The homes of leading members of the cultural association were also
searched and the group's assets were confiscated, Hamburg's state
government said in a statement.
Reschreiter said the mosque had been under observation by local
intelligence officers for quite a long time and this was the first
time it had been closed. The local interior ministry said about 45
supporters of jihad live in the Hamburg area and around 200 people
regularly attend Friday prayers at the Taiba mosque.

The group's home page on the Web had been taken down by Monday and it
was not possible to reach any members directly.

A 2009 report by the Hamburg branch of Germany's domestic intelligence
agency said the mosque had again become the center of attraction for
the jihad scene in the northern port city.

The current imam is Mamoun Darkazanli, who was questioned following
the 2001 attacks after it emerged that he moved in some of the same
circles as the hijackers. Darkazanli, a dual citizen of Germany and
Syria, denied any links to Osama bin Laden or the attacks.

In October 2004, he was arrested in Hamburg on a Spanish warrant
accusing him of involvement with al-Qaida and alleging that he was a
bin Laden financier.

His extradition was blocked by Germany's high court and he was
eventually released. In 2006, German prosecutors closed their own
investigation of him, saying there was insufficient evidence to show
that Darkazanli supported al-Qaida.

He is a hate preacher, the head of the Hamburg anti-terror
department, Lothar Bergmann, said at a news conference, the German
news agency DAPD reported. Manfred Murck, the deputy head of the
domestic intelligence agency's local branch, called him an elder
statesman of jihad.

The Hamburg interior ministry said a group of 11 militants who had
traveled to military training camps in Uzbekistan in March 2009 was
formed at Taiba mosque.

It said Monday that the training courses, sermons and seminars by the
association as well texts published on the group's home page not only
violate the constitution but also radicalize listeners and readers.

Most of the group's members were either German converts, of Middle
Eastern origin or from the Caucasus region.

A very important factor for the radicalization of the group members
was certainly their joint visits to the mosque, the intelligence
report stated.

It appears that one man from the group joined the Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan, a terrorist organization in Central Asia, the report said.

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[Assam] UNIFORM CIVIL CODE---DOWN THE DRAIN?

[kamal deka]

Young Muslims in Britain Demand Sharia Law

Muslim youth in Britain are demanding that they be allowed to
establish Islamic Law . . .
This story is really fascinating and speaks to a few issues. First,
these radical enclaves are not uncommon in Europe - notably the
Netherlands, Spain, France, and Norway, and they are increasingly
common in the U.S.
The second element is that there are studies underway in many of these
countries that show that the young generation - who are often not
native to the Middle East where their parents came from, but rather to
theWestern host country, are in fact more fundamentalist, more
violence-oriented, more radical in their religious fervor, than are
their own parents and grandparents. (One well-documented example is
the Muslim neighborhoods of Paris.)
The question becomes. . . what allowed their parents and grandparents
to be far more willing to successfully integrate into the countries to
which they immigrated? What is feeding this worldwide religious
radicalism in their youth?
Many in the West don't realize for example that most muslim women were
in fact not veiled before 1960's, with the rise of the earliest
radical extremist groups. This is a new phenomenon, even in the Middle
East. The article cites a study specific to Britain, where young
Muslims were polled as were their peers over 55 years of age. The
differences - as they have been shown to be in other countries - are
startling.
Turning to issues of faith, 36 per cent of the young people questioned
said they believed that a Muslim who converts to another religion
should be punished by death. Among the over 55s, the figure is only
19 per cent.
Three out of four young Muslims would prefer Muslim women to choose
to wear the veil or hijab, compared to only a quarter of over-55s.
It's an important part to the puzzle of Islamofascism, and one the
West is being forced to confront.

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Re: [Assam] From NY Times: Super Power Update?

[kamal deka]

Nothing is going to change unless system of governance is overhauled in India.
Just look at Guwahati.Come the first monsoon showers, the entire city routinely
grind to a halt as roads begin to resemble rivers in spate.AND YET,WE
HAVE A MINISTRY DEDICATED SOLELY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
CITY---HEADED BY A SUPER DUPER CORRUPT MINISTER!!
KJD

On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 9:16 PM, Chan Mahanta cmaha...@gmail.com wrote:
 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/09/world/asia/09food.html?_r=1hp



 Meera Damore sat with her severely malnourished 1-½-year-old son, Pappu, in a 
 hospital in Jhabua. More Photos »
 By JIM YARDLEY
 Published: August 8, 2010
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 JHABUA, India — Inside the drab district hospital, where dogs patter down the 
 corridors, sniffing for food, Ratan Bhuria’s children are curled together in 
 the malnutrition ward, hovering at the edge of starvation. His daughter, 
 Nani, is 4 and weighs 20 pounds. His son, Jogdiya, is 2 and weighs only eight.
 Multimedia


 Photographs
 A Failure to Feed
 Related

 Times Topic: India
 Enlarge This Image

 Lynsey Addario for The New York Times
 Jogdiya, 2, lay with an intravenous drip in the Jhabua District Government 
 Hospital as his father, Ratan Bhuria, looked after him and his 4-year-old 
 sister. More Photos »
 Enlarge This Image

 Lynsey Addario for The New York Times
 A line outside the Fair Price Shop, a government store where subsidized food 
 is sold, in the village of Ban outside Jhabua. More Photos »
 Landless and illiterate, drowned by debt, Mr. Bhuria and his ailing children 
 have staggered into the hospital ward after falling throughIndia’s social 
 safety net. They should receive subsidized government food and cooking fuel. 
 They do not. The older children should be enrolled in school and receiving a 
 free daily lunch. They are not. And they are hardly alone: India’s eight 
 poorest states have more people in poverty — an estimated 421 million — than 
 Africa’s 26 poorest nations, one study recently reported.

 For the governing Indian National Congress Party, which has staked its 
 political fortunes on appealing to the poor, this persistent inability to 
 make government work for people like Mr. Bhuria has set off an ideological 
 debate over a question that once would have been unthinkable in India: Should 
 the country begin to unshackle the poor from the inefficient, decades-old 
 government food distribution system and try something radical, like simply 
 giving out food coupons, or cash?

 The rethinking is being prodded by a potentially sweeping proposal that has 
 divided the Congress Party. Its president,Sonia Gandhi, is pushing to create 
 a constitutional right to food and expand the existing entitlement so that 
 every Indian family would qualify for a monthly 77-pound bag of grain, sugar 
 and kerosene. Such entitlements have helped the Congress Party win votes, 
 especially in rural areas.

 To Ms. Gandhi and many left-leaning social allies, making food a universal 
 right would ensure that people like Mr. Bhuria are not deprived. But many 
 economists and market advocates within the Congress Party believe the 
 delivery system needs to be dismantled, not expanded; they argue that handing 
 out vouchers would liberate the poor from an unwieldy government apparatus 
 and let them buy what they please, where they please.

 “The question is whether there is a role for the market in the delivery of 
 social programs,” said Bharat Ramaswami, a rural economist at the Indian 
 Statistical Institute. “This is a big issue: Can you harness the market?”

 India’s ability, or inability, in coming decades to improve the lives of the 
 poor will very likely determine if it becomes a global economic power, and a 
 regional rival to China, or if it continues to be compared with Africa in 
 poverty surveys.

 India vanquished food shortages during the 1960s with the Green Revolution, 
 which introduced high-yield grains and fertilizers and expanded irrigation, 
 and the country has had one of the world’s fastest-growing economies during 
 the past decade. But its poverty and hunger indexes remain dismal, with 
 roughly 42 percent of all Indian children under the age of 5 being 
 underweight.

 The food system has existed for more than half a century and has become 
 riddled with corruption and inefficiency. Studies show that 70 percent of a 
 roughly $12 billion budget is wasted, stolen or absorbed by bureaucratic and 
 transportation costs. Ms. Gandhi’s proposal, still far from becoming law, has 
 been scaled back, for now, so that universal eligibility would initially be 
 introduced only in the country’s 200 poorest districts, including here in 
 Jhabua, at the western edge of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

 With some of the highest levels of poverty and child malnutrition in the 
 world, Madhya Pradesh underscores the need for change in the food system. 
 Earlier this year, the 

Re: [Assam] Official/ Court Language of Assam 1826-1836 (Persian or Assamese)?

[kamal deka]

Srijut Barthakur,
I think,Government of Bengal ( Bengal Presidency) made Bengali in
place of Persian the language of the court in April 1831( not in 1835)
( source:Bengal Political Consultations,1830,April 30,Nos.65-6).
In Assam ( which was made a part of Bengal Presidency by the Brtitish
initially),Assamese was displaced by Bengali as court language between
1837 and 1873.
In regard to your question as to what was the official language in
Assam between the year 1826 through 1837,I believe, Assamese was the
lingua franca in Brahmaputra valley which is based on following
assumptions.

 Firstly,In spite of the repeated invasions of Assam by the
Turko-Afghans and  Mughals ( Persians) beginning with the 13th century
till the close of 17th century,the Muslims had a insignificant impact
on the population of the state.There are a very few epigraphs written
in the Persian language and those are confined to the modern district
of Kamrup.

Secondly,till British came,written documents were not much in use and
writing was not essential to most of the public functionaries.

Thirdly,,according to historian S.L.Baruah  AFTER ALLOWING THE
INDIGENOUS SYSTEM OF EDUCATION TO CONTINUE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS,THE
BRITISH WITH A VIEW TO IMPARTING ENGLISH EDUCATION TO THE ASSAMESE
YOUTHS,SET UP THE FIRST ENGLISH SCHOOL AT GAUHATI IN 1835.

Finally,D Neog quoted the following remark made by British officer
Bronson  Assamese is the language spoken by the entire population of
the Brahmaputra valley and in most cases,it is only the medium of
intercourse with the bordering hill tribes.There is nothing to show
that Assamese race and their language have not existed from time
immemorial.It is surprising that during the change of rulers,there are
no trace of any material change in their language.

WHAT DOES RAJEN BARUA KOKAIDEW THINK? I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HIS OPINION.

JKD

On Sat, Aug 7, 2010 at 7:20 AM, uttam borthakur
uttambortha...@yahoo.co.in wrote:

 Srijut KJ Deka,

 I have been trying to find a categorical answer to the question as to whether 
 Assamese was the official/ court language in Assam during the particular 
 period 1826 to 1836 that was replaced by Bengali. This replacement must 
 obviously relate to court, offices and educational institution under the 
 British, and not to those under Swargadeo Purandar Singha's (till 1833).  Not 
 being an institutional scholar, I have not been able to lay my hands on some 
 suggestive materials available on the net, and I have not found the time to 
 collect it from other sources.

 I have found a suggestion in this behalf in the following: -

 5.16 Under orders of Lord William Bentinck, the then Governor- General, 
 reform In the language was introduced by the Bengali and Persian Language Act 
 (Act No . XXIX of 1837). The Act stated: It shall be lawful for the 
 Governor-General-in-Council by an order In the Council, to dispense either 
 generally or within such local limits, as may seem to him meet, with any 
 provision of the Bengal Code which enjoins the use of the Persian language in 
 any judicial proceedings or any proceedings relating to the Revenue, and to 
 prescribe the language and character to be used in such proceedings. 
 (Source:http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/u/47/3Y/473Y0601.htm)

 It also summarized as follows: -

  5.22 At the turn of the century, the position of the court language in 
 general, as provided by the laws prevailing in Indict, can be summed up as 
 under :
 (i) Persian was abolished as the court language in 1835.
 (ii) Its place was given to English, which was accepted as the official 
 language for use in the high court, the chief court, the subordinate 
 courts,while evidence could be recorded in varnaculars. The language to be 
 used by the presiding officers was to be English.
 (iii) Both in respect of proceedings governed by the Civil Procedure Code and 
 the Criminal Procedure Code, the State Governments had the authority to 
 declare what would be the language of surbordintate courts.

 Similarly, I had found some indications on this issue in

 Ahom palace intrigue and political turmoil due to the Moamoria 
 rebellion aided the expansionist Burmese ruler of Ava to invade Assam and 
 install a puppet king in 1821. With the Burmese having reached the East India 
 Company’s borders, the First Anglo-Burmese War ensued. The war ended under 
 the Treaty of Yandaboo[16] in 1826, with the Company taking control of Lower 
 Assam and installing Purander Singh as king of Upper Assam in 1833. The 
 arrangement lasted till 1838 and thereafter the British gradually annexed the 
 entire region. Initially Assam was made a part of theBengal Presidency, …….. 
 ( Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam) [ What was the official/ court 
 language in Bengal Presidency if we have to believe that Act XXIX of 1837 
 abolished Persian and replaced it with English ?]

     Since English was increasingly being employed as the 
 language of 

[Assam] Einstein in heaven

[kamal deka]

Subject: Einstein in Heaven

Einstein dies and goes to heaven

At the Pearly Gates, Saint Peter tells him You look like Einstein, but you
have NO idea the lengths that some people will go to sneak into Heaven. Can
you prove who you really are?

Einstein ponders for a few seconds and asks, Could I have a blackboard and
some chalk?

Saint Peter snaps his fingers and a blackboard and chalk instantly appear.

Einstein proceeds to describe with arcane mathematics and symbols his theory
of relativity.

Saint Peter is suitably impressed.

You really ARE Einstein! he says. Welcome to heaven!

The next to arrive is Picasso.

Once again, Saint Peter asks for credentials.

Picasso asks, Mind if I use that blackboard and chalk?

Saint Peter says, Go ahead.

Picasso erases Einstein's equations and sketches a truly stunning mural with
just a few strokes of chalk.

Saint Peter claps. Surely you are the great artist you claim to be! he
says. Come on in!

Then Saint Peter looks up and sees George W. Bush.

Saint Peter scratches his head and says, Einstein and Picasso both managed
to prove their identity. How can you prove yours?

George W. looks bewildered and says, Who are Einstein and Picasso?

Saint Peter sighs and says, That's good enough! Come on in, George!
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Re: [Assam] Indian International airports

[kamal deka]

Thanks for sharing the correct information.The earlier message was forwarded
to me by my cousin from Pennsylvania.
KJD


On 7/21/08, W.Saleh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 This information is circulating on the net for more than two years.

 Check http://www.patnadaily.com/readerswrite/2006/apr/t_dubey3.html

 And also check the following link informing why it is a hoax:


 http://cemendtaur.blogspot.com/2007/10/fraud-about-alleged-fraud-following.h
 tml

 Wahid Saleh

 -Oorspronkelijk bericht-
 Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Namens
 kamal deka
 Verzonden: maandag 21 juli 2008 5:05
 Aan: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world
 Onderwerp: [Assam] Indian International airports

 -- Forwarded message --
 *
 **Read this carefully  *
 Be Careful at the Indian Airports, This is a well organized conspiracy by
 Indian Immigration, Police, Customs and Air India staff with networking at
 all the Indian International Airports. Be careful when ever you give your
 passport to Immigration/ Customs/Air India staff. The pass port can be
 easily tampered and can create trouble to you. They have found easy way of
 making money from NRIs. This is the way it works:

 At the time of the passenger's departure, if the passenger is not looking
 at
 the officer while he is stamping the exit, the officer very cleverly tears
 away one of the page from the passport. When the passenger leaves the
 immigration counter, the case is reported on his computer terminal with
 full
 details. Now all over India they have got full details of the passenger
 with
 Red Flag flashing on the Passport number entered by the departure
 immigration officer. They have made their money by doing above. On arrival
 next time, he is interrogated. Subject to the passenger's period of stay
 abroad, his income and standing etc., the price to get rid of the problem
 is
 settled by the Police and Immigration people. If someone argues, his future
 is spoiled because there are always some innocent fellows who think the
 honesty is the basis of getting justice in India ...

 Please advises every passenger to be careful at the airport. Whenever they
 hand over the passport to the counters of Air India, or immigration or the
 customs, they must be vigilant, should not remove eyes from the passport
 even if the officer in front tries to divert their attention. Also, please
 pass this information to all friends, media men and important politicians.
 Every month 20-30 cases are happening all over India to rob the NRIs the
 minute he lands. Similar case has happened with Aramco's Arifuddin. He was
 traveling with his family. They had six passports. They got the visa of
 America and decided to go via Hyderabad from Jeddah. They reached
 Hyderabad.
 Stayed about a month and left for the States. When they reached the States,
 the page of the American visa on his wife's passport was missing. At the
 time of departure from Hyderabad it was there, the whole family had to
 return to Hyderabad helplessly. On arrival at Bombay back, they were caught
 by the police and now it is over 2 months, they are running after the
 Police, Immigration officers and the Courts. On going in to details with
 him, he found out the following: One cannot imagine, neither can believe,
 that the Indian Immigration dept can play such a nasty game to harass the
 innocent passengers.

 All the passengers traveling to  fro India via Bombay and Hyderabad must
 be
 aware of this conspiracy. Every month 15 to 20 cases are taking place, at
 each mentioned airport, of holding the passengers in the crime of tearing
 away the passport pages. On interviewing some of them, none of them was
 aware of what had happened. They don't know why, when and who tore away the
 page from the middle of the passport. One can imagine the sufferings of
 such
 people at the hands of the immigration, police and the court procedures in
 India after that. The number of cases is increasing in the last 2-3 years.
 People who are arriving at the immigration, they are questioned and their
 passports are being held and they have to go in interrogation. Obviously,
 the conspiracy started about 2 to 3 years ago, now the results are coming.
 Some of the Air India counter staff too is involved in this conspiracy.

 KINDLY SEND THIS TO AS MANY AS YOUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE WORLD AND ALSO
 REQUEST THEM TO CHECK THE PASSPORT AT THE CHECKING COUNTERS AND BEFORE
 LEAVING THE AIRPORT
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Re: [Assam] Murder Most Foul- ambika shukla pls stand up and send a clarification

[kamal deka]

Hi Ram,
Thanks.
I respectfully beg to differ with Alpana Sarangapani.Since all of the
responses were written individually,I don't see anything wrong in hammering
upon the same focal points time and again.Instead of writing  thesis by a
few netters,their punch line should have been on the same moot points
keeping their text abridged.
*By the way,the attempt to establish a connection between the appointment of
a Naga governor in Maharashtra and the article written by Shukla is,in my
view, way way way out of the context.But then, mysterious are the ways of
the Almighty !!!*
KJD


On 7/20/08, Ram Dhar [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 Kamalda,
 Great observation there ..i agree with yr comments and as a pet owner i am
 horrified to read  about that incident .

 Ambika  bhen :-)

 If  yr husband used his troops to search  that dog, shame on  him and his
 troops. Indian tax payers are not  paying army for such mission .
 If he went to village elder and just requested him to find out from his
 village folks if they have seen that dog and holding it...that  i guess is
 FINE as village elders in many NE communities are well respected and folks
 listen to them .we dont know the details and I am giving yr husband a
 benefit of doubt here.

 Pls send a letter to that newspaper with some sort of clarification  on
 this article which has angered us here. We will welcome that.

 take care

 another  not required Indian








  Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:21:06 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To:
 assam@assamnet.org; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] Murder Most
 Foul  Hello Ambikaji,  Namaste.I am writing this in reference to the
 piece written by you entitled  Murder Most Foul  ( The Deccan Herald,July
 15 2008 ). First point first.Please allow me to join hands in running
 crusade against those who mistreat animals.We all, with our right
 conscience,ought to take anyone to task with harshest language possible for
 abusing animals.An exemplary punishment must be meted out to the Naga
 student, who subjected an animal to such a cruel treatment.The court of law
 must decide first as to whether or not he is guilty of the crime,he is
 accused to have committed.At this time,I would not rush to judgement
 pending full disclosure of facts.I,therefore, would prefer to remain
 skeptical until full findings by the court are out in the open. I
 am,however,shell-shocked by one of your statement in which you have bunched
 the people of the North-Eastern states together and stratified them as
 one.A direct quote would,perhaps,carry the right flavor :
 Apparently,North-Eastern students at JNU regularly lynch and barbecue dogs
 .A well-informed person like you must be aware of the fact that the
 North-East region consists of seven states ( gone up to eight with the
 inclusion of Sikkim ).Each of these states differs from the other in terms
 of diet,dialect and dress.Without a modicum of the doubt,the people hailing
 from most of these states don't consume dog meat.It is but natural that an
 Assamese and a Manipuri or a Tripuri for that matter would take umbrage at
 this sweeping generalisation. May I request you to retract the particular
 statement in order to clear things as day light? If you find me in error in
 saying so,please feel free to explain as to where I have erred. Regards,
 Kamaljit Deka Sugarland,Texas.
 ___ assam mailing list
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 http://www.windowslive.com/family_safety/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_family_safety_072008
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[Assam] Indian International airports

[kamal deka]

  -- Forwarded message --
*
**Read this carefully  *
Be Careful at the Indian Airports, This is a well organized conspiracy by
Indian Immigration, Police, Customs and Air India staff with networking at
all the Indian International Airports. Be careful when ever you give your
passport to Immigration/ Customs/Air India staff. The pass port can be
easily tampered and can create trouble to you. They have found easy way of
making money from NRIs. This is the way it works:

At the time of the passenger's departure, if the passenger is not looking at
the officer while he is stamping the exit, the officer very cleverly tears
away one of the page from the passport. When the passenger leaves the
immigration counter, the case is reported on his computer terminal with full
details. Now all over India they have got full details of the passenger with
Red Flag flashing on the Passport number entered by the departure
immigration officer. They have made their money by doing above. On arrival
next time, he is interrogated. Subject to the passenger's period of stay
abroad, his income and standing etc., the price to get rid of the problem is
settled by the Police and Immigration people. If someone argues, his future
is spoiled because there are always some innocent fellows who think the
honesty is the basis of getting justice in India ...

Please advises every passenger to be careful at the airport. Whenever they
hand over the passport to the counters of Air India, or immigration or the
customs, they must be vigilant, should not remove eyes from the passport
even if the officer in front tries to divert their attention. Also, please
pass this information to all friends, media men and important politicians.
Every month 20-30 cases are happening all over India to rob the NRIs the
minute he lands. Similar case has happened with Aramco's Arifuddin. He was
traveling with his family. They had six passports. They got the visa of
America and decided to go via Hyderabad from Jeddah. They reached Hyderabad.
Stayed about a month and left for the States. When they reached the States,
the page of the American visa on his wife's passport was missing. At the
time of departure from Hyderabad it was there, the whole family had to
return to Hyderabad helplessly. On arrival at Bombay back, they were caught
by the police and now it is over 2 months, they are running after the
Police, Immigration officers and the Courts. On going in to details with
him, he found out the following: One cannot imagine, neither can believe,
that the Indian Immigration dept can play such a nasty game to harass the
innocent passengers.

All the passengers traveling to  fro India via Bombay and Hyderabad must be
aware of this conspiracy. Every month 15 to 20 cases are taking place, at
each mentioned airport, of holding the passengers in the crime of tearing
away the passport pages. On interviewing some of them, none of them was
aware of what had happened. They don't know why, when and who tore away the
page from the middle of the passport. One can imagine the sufferings of such
people at the hands of the immigration, police and the court procedures in
India after that. The number of cases is increasing in the last 2-3 years.
People who are arriving at the immigration, they are questioned and their
passports are being held and they have to go in interrogation. Obviously,
the conspiracy started about 2 to 3 years ago, now the results are coming.
Some of the Air India counter staff too is involved in this conspiracy.

KINDLY SEND THIS TO AS MANY AS YOUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE WORLD AND ALSO
REQUEST THEM TO CHECK THE PASSPORT AT THE CHECKING COUNTERS AND BEFORE
LEAVING THE AIRPORT
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[Assam] Murder Most Foul

[kamal deka]

Hello Ambikaji,

Namaste.I am writing this in reference to the piece written by you entitled
 Murder Most Foul  ( The Deccan Herald,July 15 2008 ).
First point first.Please allow me to join hands in running crusade against
those who mistreat animals.We all, with our right conscience,ought to take
anyone to task with harshest language possible for abusing animals.An
exemplary punishment must be meted out to the Naga student, who subjected an
animal to such a cruel treatment.The court of law must decide first as to
whether or not he is guilty of the crime,he is accused to have committed.At
this time,I would not rush to judgement pending full disclosure of
facts.I,therefore, would prefer to remain skeptical until full findings by
the court are out in the open.
I am,however,shell-shocked by one of your statement in which you have
bunched the people of the North-Eastern states together and stratified them
as one.A direct quote would,perhaps,carry the right flavor :
Apparently,North-Eastern students at JNU regularly lynch and barbecue dogs
.A well-informed person like you must be aware of the fact that the
North-East region consists of seven states ( gone up to eight with the
inclusion of Sikkim ).Each of these states differs from the other in terms
of diet,dialect and dress.Without a modicum of the doubt,the people hailing
from most of these states don't consume dog meat.It is but natural that an
Assamese and a Manipuri or a Tripuri for that matter would take umbrage at
this sweeping generalisation.
May I request you to retract the particular statement in order to clear
things  as day light? If you find me in error in saying so,please feel free
to explain as to where I have erred.
Regards,
Kamaljit Deka
Sugarland,Texas.
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Re: [Assam] Murder Most Foul

[kamal deka]

Now,the Oxomiyas should stop bunching southerners ( AP,TAMIL NADU,KERALA AND
KARNATAKA ) together and classify them as  MADRASI!!!
KJD


On 7/15/08, Phanindra Goyari [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Following article appeared in Deccan Chronicle paper today.
 I also love dogs and other animals. But author's one sentence
 is not palatable for many north-eastern people:It says:

 Apparently North-Eastern students at JNU regularly lynch
 and barbecue dogs.

 I heard that many people in Nagaland state eat dog meat. Now
 North-Eastern (NE)India consists of eight states: Assam, Arunachal,
 Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim. Except
 some people in Nagaland, people from other NE states do not eat
 dog meat. FYI, many people in NE India are vegetarians. Thus,
 it may be right to say that many students from Nagaland eat dog meat,
 but it is not right to say that whole north-eastern students kill dogs
 for meat.

 Ambika's above statement is hurting the sentiment of many people of
 north-easter region of India.


 Regards,
 Phanindra
 Hyderabad
 **


 Murder Most Foul
 article by Ambika Shukla
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]


 Murder Most Foul
 Pets
 One of the most anxious days of our army posting in Nagaland had nothing
 to do with the insurgency. It was the day, our Irish Setter, Bindu went
 missing. Given a free rein of the area, she would romp happily over hill
 and dales yet magically appear at one whistle or call. But one evening
 there was no familiar figure loping homeward in response to our frantic
 whistles and calls. After combing the area, my husband visited the Gaon
 Burha (village Pradhan) of the closest Naga settlement and spelt out all
 sorts of dire consequences if the dog did not return. Twenty minutes
 later, Bindu was safely home.

 An incident that occurred this week brings home the awful fate that Bindu
 so narrowly escaped.

 On the night of July 7, Yoronso, a 30-year-old Naga student at Delhi's
 prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) invited two pals over to his
 hostel room. Kali, a friendly eight-year-old campus dog (born and brought
 up there) happened to be sitting near the stairs. Using biscuits they
 lured her upstairs into Yoronso' s room (No 248 Kaveri Hostel) and bolted
 the door. Yoronso fed Kali some rice from the hostel mess and then tied up
 her mouth.

 The three then began to bludgeon the little creature with a cricket bat
 and curtain rods. After battering her for more than half-an-hour, Yoronso
 stuck a knife into the still conscious dog and began to cut her, even as
 she moaned and writhed in pain. Finally, they took a brick and smashed
 Kali's swollen, bleeding skull. The noise and blood seeping under the door
 attracted attention and a crowd of students and the warden began to bang
 on the door, forcing it open. Yoronso and his accomplices were caught
 red-handed — literally.

 Everyone was nauseated to find the battered remains of Kali and the
 cruelty that had been inflicted on the dog. Some students immediately
 summoned the police. But the warden, anxious to avoid any controversy,
 immediately planned a cover up by removing the body and the murder
 weapons. Students were warned not to make any statement to the police or
 press. When the police arrived, they conducted a cursory check; but
 neither made any arrests nor recorded the prima facie evidence. In fact,
 they would have done nothing had not one of the students called up
 activist Maneka Gandhi who immediately intervened and lodged an FIR.

 On learning that Gandhi had been informed; the warden issued a letter to
 Yoronso asking him to vacate his hostel accommodation. Yoronso is due to
 submit his Ph.D on July 21 and was already in the process of vacating his
 room prior to this event, so the Warden's action is surely an eyewash.
 Here is what the institution should do to punish such a crime and its
 perpetrators; firstly, Yoronso should be expelled and blacklisted from the
 school.

 The University should also refuse to accept Yoronso's Ph.D thesis, which
 his guide should also refuse to sign. The varsity must also revoke his
 Bachelor and Master's Degrees, and co-operate with the police to
 chargesheet and arrest all the three men.

 Instead, let's look at how JNU, this haloed learning ground, is actually
 conducting itself in the issue. Yoronso has been coached by the University
 to say that he reacted in self-defence after the dog attacked him. This is
 clearly untrue for a lot of reasons.

 First, the students unanimously vouch for Kali's gentle, friendly nature.
 Second, you shoo away or escape from a ferocious dog, you certainly don't
 lock it inside with you. When this theory failed, Yoronso was provided a
 second story.

 Now Kali was supposed to have entered his room and eaten his food. Why
 would his food be lying on the floor, and again, why did he not chase the
 dog away rather than locking her inside? Apart from the shame of a top
 University colluding 

Re: [Assam] Assam Corruption

[kamal deka]

The three letters have at least piqued one of the dollar-oxomiya's
curiosity,causing him to write this mail,albeit incoherently:-)
Never mind.The second position has already been guaranteed .Who else could
that be other than those Omniscient MTKAs ( MTKA = masor tenga khuwa
americans )?
KJD

On 7/9/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Now that Assam has the dubious distinction of being the most corrupt state
 in one of the most corrupt countries in the world, maybe people might want
 to concentrate their efforts in aiming for 2nd place.

 At the very least they could write high-flying articles in the AT and The
 Sentinel and spearhead an 'anti-corruption' movement of sorts - you know,
 instead of finding fault with clueless NRAs on lecture circuits and what
 not
 :) :)



 Below - 3 letters from some concerened citizens (RAs) in the Assam Tribune,
 and one of them writes,

 May be just 5 to 10 per cent people are there who are honest. They know
 what's going on, but are silent observers



 --Ram

 __



 Assam at top
 Sir, — Being an Assamese, I am so happy, glad and proud that at least in
 one category, may be in the corruption category, Assam could secure top
 place among all Indian States. Credit must go to some of our corrupt
 politicians, some of our corrupt government officials, some of our corrupt
 police personnel, some of our corrupt businessmen, some of our corrupt
 public and mostly not-concerned attitude of the whole Assamese community.
 Hope with efforts from all these and ourselves,we shall be able to
 permanently cement the top position. —Yours etc., DR PRAFULLA C DEKA,
 Noonmati, Guwahati.



 Assam – the most corrupt State
 Sir,– This has reference to the letter 'Assam at top' by Dr Prafulla
 Chandra Deka (AT, July 2). First of all, I would like to compliment him for
 his style of presenting his concern over Assam, being the most corrupt
 State
 among all the States and Union territories in India.

 It's a matter of shame for the people of Assam. Almost in all the
 government
 offices, we can feel the presence of corruption. From the highest authority
 to peons, everybody thinks of earning some extra money. May be just 5 to 10
 per cent people are there who are honest. They know what's going on, but
 are
 silent observers. If you don't pay, your file doesn't even move, but if you
 pay some handsome amount, you will see your job being done.

 The problem with us is our attitude which has helped us to earn the dubious
 distinction of the most corrupt State in the country. Our Chief Minister
 says that there is corruption in all parts of India, and as Assam is also a
 part of India, corruption is quite natural. But the question arises – why
 can't we be different from others? Is it necessary that as other States are
 corrupt so Assam should also be corrupt? The second important point is –
 why
 Assam is at the top?

 The only solution, as I feel, is public alertness. We have to do away with
 our dirty habit of giving money to get our jobs done. Until and unless we
 stop bribery, this problem will never end. A strong vigil on the corrupt
 officials is very important. With evidences, matters should be reported to
 the highest authority. If the highest authority is also of the same
 character, immediately,it should be brougt to the notice of the
 investigating agency.

 The need of the hour is to take some stringent measures to uproot this
 evil,
 or else, the day is not far when Assam will top the list of the most
 corrupt
 State in Asia, and gradually in the world. —Yours etc., PABITRA BHUYAN,
 Parvati Nagar, Tezpur.

 (ii)
 Sir,– Epimenides said, all creatures are liars. Can we not say now that all
 Assamese are corrupt as Assam has topped the list of most corrupt States of
 the country? In fact, the city of Guwahati is built on corruption. The
 University of Gauhati can introduce a subject for research on this topic.
 We
 want to hear what our 'shining bright' Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi has to
 say on this now. —Yours etc., GAUTAM BARUAH, Uzan Bazar, Guwahati.
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Re: [Assam] Grumbling GAME

[kamal deka]

 I have trouble with Asom . What in the heck  is it,
khai-ne-kaanot-pindhe'? How is it pronounced? Like perhaps as in Atom
? You didn't mean Oxom here did you :-)?

Also, the example really has nothing to do with what a kharkhowa
emigre can contribute or not to Assam's welfare.

Buise Chandanda bulu bidexot thaki bapeke nijor dexor namtuo xudhokoi
likhibo nuwara holu.I guess, I am influenced by The Editorial Board of The
Sentinel :-)
I tried ' oxom' first followed by' Axam' but those did't click.Nothing could
convince them save ASOM.

The Oxomiya emegres should set their house in order first by teaching thier
mother-tongue to their children before embarking upon ambitious project of
 preserving Oxomiya culter,heritage and language.I JUST DON'T GET IT.And
that is the pertinence here.

By the way,at no point did I say that the NRA's are not allowed to speak
about thier American experince.They can spend decade talking about that but
the impact will be short-lived ( FLASH IN THE PAN ).One must remind them
that there are vast differences between the two systems of governance.Allow
me to give you an example.In American system,the entire state is geared to
assist a person who wants to be an enterpreuner,whereas in Indian system the
person will be made to run from pillar to post to get even a small thing
done.He must carrot every single official to advance his file.Unless the
entire system of governance is overhauled in Assam,nothing will work and for
which a new brigade of leaders should be in order.
Kamal






On 7/8/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 You do speak some truth here Kamal. I agree there have been such
 'experts', not only lecturing Assam, but also giving Assam's
 know-nothing and do-nothing governments 'expert advice', heaven only
 knows for what.


 ( looking at their occupational profile and expertise level ),

  That is an accurate observation. Not necessarily an universal
 truth--there ARE exceptions, but as a rule it stands.


   Our coffee-table
 discussion may go on and on but nothing significant/ good will come out of
 it.


  But I disagree on the above and also  about:

   particularly keeping American
 scenario at the backdrop)


 If NRAs from America speak about their experiences in America or
 about what they learnt in America, that is NOT irrelevant. Not all
 talk also is 'lecturing' --we have to be careful with the words and
 phrases we use to characterize them, just as RAs like Swapnil do too.
 The point is that we must be careful about making broad-brush
 judgements culled from tiny samples. I realize that is a part of the
 desi-culture that most of us still suffer from, not just RAs, NRAs
 too.


   The Asomiya emigres don't teach their descendants how to
 speak their native language and the same Asomiyas talk of soaking Asomiya
 '
 nisukoni geet' in salt and vinegar for preservation-just in case
 !!! A strange lot indeed.


  I have trouble with Asom . What in the heck  is it,
 khai-ne-kaanot-pindhe'? How is it pronounced? Like perhaps as in Atom
 ? You didn't mean Oxom here did you :-)?

 Also, the example really has nothing to do with what a kharkhowa
 emigre can contribute or not to Assam's welfare.






 At 10:58 PM -0500 7/7/08, kamal deka wrote:
 The piece written by Swapnil Bharali,although not a scholarly one,can't be
 dismissed as an infantile outburst nor can we brush aside some of his
 points
 as tripe.
 The annually-held jamboree of the NRA's in Guwahati and frequent descent
 of
 some NRA's on Asom's soil,flaunting themselves to be '  experts' ( or
 projecting themselves to be   Napoleon of economics ) must have set many
 natives thinking that their so-called 'rich' and 'expert cousins' are, in
 fact,capable of casting a magic spell in the economic and intellectual
 development of Asom.I have felt a compulsive urge to demolish this
 myth.And
 I would do that in a separate piece.
 
 The fact remains that the members of the Asomiya diaspora,living thousands
 of miles away ( looking at their occupational profile and expertise level
 ),
 will not be able to make any significant dent in the area of Asom's
 economic/intellectual firmament.At the end of the day,it is the native
 Asomiyas who have to look after their own interest.Our coffee-table
 discussion may go on and on but nothing significant/ good will come out of
 it.
 
 In my humble opinion,delivering lectures ( particularly keeping American
 scenario at the backdrop) by some NRA's in Asom or putting out occasional
 statements by the same tribe in regard to Asom,s plight,can be seen as a
 flash in the pan.The Asomiya emigres don't teach their descendants how to
 speak their native language and the same Asomiyas talk of soaking Asomiya
 '
 nisukoni geet' in salt and vinegar for preservation-just in case !!! A
 strange lot indeed.
 
 KJ Deka,Sugarland,Texas
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[Assam] Grumbling GAME

[kamal deka]

The piece written by Swapnil Bharali,although not a scholarly one,can't be
dismissed as an infantile outburst nor can we brush aside some of his points
as tripe.
The annually-held jamboree of the NRA's in Guwahati and frequent descent of
some NRA's on Asom's soil,flaunting themselves to be '  experts' ( or
projecting themselves to be   Napoleon of economics ) must have set many
natives thinking that their so-called 'rich' and 'expert cousins' are, in
fact,capable of casting a magic spell in the economic and intellectual
development of Asom.I have felt a compulsive urge to demolish this myth.And
I would do that in a separate piece.

The fact remains that the members of the Asomiya diaspora,living thousands
of miles away ( looking at their occupational profile and expertise level ),
will not be able to make any significant dent in the area of Asom's
economic/intellectual firmament.At the end of the day,it is the native
Asomiyas who have to look after their own interest.Our coffee-table
discussion may go on and on but nothing significant/ good will come out of
it.

In my humble opinion,delivering lectures ( particularly keeping American
scenario at the backdrop) by some NRA's in Asom or putting out occasional
statements by the same tribe in regard to Asom,s plight,can be seen as a
flash in the pan.The Asomiya emigres don't teach their descendants how to
speak their native language and the same Asomiyas talk of soaking Asomiya '
nisukoni geet' in salt and vinegar for preservation-just in case !!! A
strange lot indeed.

KJ Deka,Sugarland,Texas
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[Assam] Assamese literature

[kamal deka]

Please check the link below ---something about Assamese literature.
KJD


http://www.museindia.com/focus9.asp
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Re: [Assam] ALAXOT SANG POTA

[kamal deka]

Hi Manoj
I enjoyed the humour,you read in ' Bishmoi '.
Hemkox obhidhan cites this Assamese idiom as ' Alaxot sang pota ' and
Rotnokox,written by Chanradhar Barua,as ' Akaxot sang pota '. In my
view,both can be used interchangeably,although the former would be more
appropriate.
According to Hemkox,the meaning of ' Alax ' is--sky/air/void as Rajen Barua
pointed out earlier.
Funny thing is--- the English translation of this Assamese maxim would be 1)
to build castles in the air 2) to build castles in Spain.
Kamal



On 6/15/08, Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I think Its Akhaxot sang pota only..Alaxor laru is a different idiom..

 There was a humour in 'Bishmoi' which I read long back..

 Teacher: Bakya rochona kora- Akhaxot sang pota, nopota phukon. alaxor laru,
 bina meghe bojropat, dante uthe loga

 Pupil: Nopota phukon dangoriyai akhaxot sang pati alaxor laru kahi thakute
 bina meghre bojropat hoi dante uthe lagi morile...:)

 On Sun, Jun 15, 2008 at 4:15 AM, kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  I fully agree.Alaxot sang pota and Akhaxot sang pota :both could perhaps
 be
  used interchangeably.
  KJD
 
 
  On 6/14/08, barua25 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
   I thnk Chandan is right.
   ALAX also means AIR, VOID, SKY.
   Thus 'alaxot sang pota'  will be a correct Assamese expression.
   alaxor laru means one who is raised in such affection and care as not
  to
   let him/her touch even the earth (mati).
   ALAX in both the expression means the same: AIR
   Rajen
  
  
  
   - Original Message -
   From: kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED]
   To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
 world
  
   assam@assamnet.org
   Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:34 PM
   Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.
  
  
Akakhot sang pota,the English equivalent of which will be : To build
   castle
in the air.
   
Alaxor laru means: something very dear.
   
I could be in error.
   
KJD ( INGRAJIR BIXAROD )
   
On 6/13/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   
   
I think Mukul-da is right.
   
It is 'aakaaxot saang pota' (meaning 'xunyot'), not 'aalaaxot'.
   
And you are right, Aalaax is used for 'Alaaxor Laaru', meaning
'oti-moromor' - very precious, apple of the eye, need I go on? :)
   
   
   
   
   
In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree
  and
humble like a blade of grass.
   
   
   
 Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:34:53 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED];
[EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC:
   assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.  At 7:28 PM -0700
   6/13/08,
Dilip and Dil Deka wrote: O'Mahanta, Same meaning - Imaginary
  Right?
   As
in Imaginary Laaru.    I am guessing here now, but I think
   'alaaxor
laaru' does not  mean an imaginary dessert. I believe it means
   'something
absurdly  held to be 'aapurugiya', of great value.  Can our
   Oxomiya-major
friends tell us exactly what an 'alaaxor laaru is'?   Hey, we
  didn't
   do
too badly. Despite all conjectures :-), we do  remember class X
   Assamese.
 *** We may be geezers, but we do remember a thing or two still
 :-).
  

   Hey, we didn't do too badly. Despite all
   conjectures
:-), we do  remember class X Assamese. O'Deka-
   Original
Message  From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To:
 Dilip
   and
Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Chandan Mahanta  
   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the 
   world
assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 9:22:43 PM
   Subject:
Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.  O'Deka:  The other
  common
usage of 'alaax' is in 'alaaxor laaru'  O'm  
 
  
   
At 7:00 PM -0700 6/13/08, Dilip and Dil Deka wrote: 
 O'Mahanta,
   
You are correct.  'Alaaxot Sang Pota' is what I remember
 from
   usage.
In fact it was a  standard question in Assamese literature class
(interpretation of  'Phokora-zozona') and I remember answering
 that
   Alaax
must have  meant something intangible and imaginary, when a sang
   (bridge
or  shelf) needs some tangible support.  O'Deka 
   
  
 
 ===
   - Original Message  From: Chan Mahanta 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: A Mailing list for people interested
 in
   Assam
from around the  world assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday,
 June
   13,
2008 7:50:29 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.
 
.You meant akaaxot   No, not really. I meant 'alaaxot'.
   'alaaxot
ssang-pota' is an authentic Oxomiya phrase :-).
  
   
  At 6:01 AM +0530 6/14/08, mc mahant wrote:
 'Expectation
   is
the mother of all disappointments'.( maybe also  Unhappiness)
   And
'alaaxot saang-pota kotha' ( daydreaming).You meant akaaxot
 mm
   Date:
Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:01:32

Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.

[kamal deka]

You seem to have missed my point.Please focus on the words  in-between
generation by which I meant  first generation American Assamese ( read
children born to Assamese immigrants ).Could you all tell me what percentage
of this group speak assamese ? The whole issue of survival/continuity of the
Assamese language in America depends entirely upon this generation.
Immigrants from Assam will speak the language anyway, so if the language is
to flourish among our microscopic Assamese community, the first generation
will have to actively participate in developing it. Otherwise, we need not
bring up the issue of the language and it's survival at all.

As for Dilip Deka's grouse with my writing to an English daily, the reason
is not political as he would like to believe, sorry Dilipda. It is for a
very simple reason,  I do not have any means of writing to a vernacular
daily; that would have given me a wider readership :-)

Turning to the facile argument', I had heard it from quite a few parents
over a period of time, I would rather not name names and make it a personal
issue. It is and should be an issue of interest to the entire Assamese
community in this country.
KJD

On 6/13/08, Rajen  Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 Thanks Ram for clarifying the point. I will write to Santinel first as a
 response to KJD's letter published there so that Sentinel readers donot get
 a distorted view.
 In time, I will also probably write in Assamese may be in Prantik.

 However to clarify the point further, I do not see anything wrong in
 discussing issues related to Assam or Assamese language in English.  The
 problem comes only when we do the deliberations under the name of Oxom
 Xahityo Xobha. I actually meant that. I think all deliberations, spoken and
 written, done under Oxom Xahityo Xobha should be done in Assamese language.
 If we are concerned about the future of Assamese language, we should be able
 to show that we at least do our Oxom xahityo Xobha meetings in Assamese.
 Otherwise, what is the point of having a branch of Oxom Xahityo Xobha in
 America?   If we want to discuss literary issues in Englsih, let us form a
 separate  Assamese American Literary Society.

 Rajen Barua
 .

 - Original Message -
 From: Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
 assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:22 AM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.


  IMHO, while I agree that something like this could have been debated in
 the
  Assamese media.
 
  But to be fair to Barua, the letter did come out in the Sentinel first,
 and
  Barua only responded. Barua did not choose the venue for the discussion
 nor
  the readership, and he probably needed to set the record straight to at
  least the Sentinel readers.
 
  I am sure he will at some point, also write somthing for the Assamese
  language papers.
 
  --Ram
 
 
 
  On 6/13/08, Dilip and Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  I saw this in Rajen Barua's email,  BTW I will send a verson of this
  writing to Sentinel so that people in
   Assam will not hold to the wrong impression that we donot speak in
  Assamese
   at all. etc
  Discussing this subject in the Sentinel, an English newspaper, is the
 same
  as discussing the topic of death of Oxomiya bhaxa in English that Kamal
 Deka
  complained about. What happened to the Assamese newspapers? Are they not
 at
  the same intellectual level?
  There is one good reason for using the Sentinel and the Assam Tribune.
 The
  readers of these newspapers are in the same boat as we ex-pats are -
  skeptical if their future generations will retain anything Assamese. :-)
  Dilip Deka
 
 
 ==
 
 
  - Original Message 
  From: Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world
 
  assam@assamnet.org
  Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 7:55:49 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.
 
  Dear Barua,
 
  Excellent response, I couldn't have said it better. While Assamese NRIs
 may
  have their faults, I cannot imagine that any single one would ever claim
  the
  following: (Color/bold mine).
 
  * It is too facile of an argument,* *often made by the expatriate
  Asomiyas,
  that teaching children their native language interferes with the English
  language development. It would, therefore, be better to focus on English
  than teach a language that is going to be of limited use in this
 country.
  This line of reasoning, in my opinion, does not seem to have two legs to
  stand for a few simple reasons.*
 
  IMHO, even if some kharkhowa believes the above, I hope they are not
  that naive to declare that to someone else.
 
  I hope the Sentinel publishes your letter so that everyone can get a
  balanced view.
 
  --Ram
 
 
 
 
 
 
  On 6/13/08, Rajen  Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
  
   Dear

Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.

[kamal deka]

 
 are learning.   Incidentally some of us are trying to come up with
 a scheme to  teach basic Assamese to the children. Please watch out
 for some good  news.   BTW I will send a verson of this writing to
 Sentinel so that  people in Assam will not hold to the wrong
 impression that we donot  speak in Assamese at all. etc   Thanks
  Rajen Kokaideu- Original Message - 
 From: kamal deka  To: Rajen  Ajanta Barua  Sent: Sunday, June 08,
 2008 9:04 AM  Subject: Letter to the Editor.   
  
  The Demise of Asomiya Language in America  Half of the world's
 6,000 languages,  as estimated by the United Nations, will go the
 way of the dinosaurs  in less than a century. In fact one falls out
 of use about every two  weeks. Usually, the life of a language comes
 to an end when the  speakers of the language stop speaking it for any
 reason. The  Asomiya language in the USA has already been put to sleep
 by the  Asomiyas themselves, which is the product of parental failure
 to  inculcate a sense of pride in our ancient culture and language. 
 After all, diet and dialect are perhaps the emblems of any society. 
 The abdication of the Asomiya parents makes it easy for the Asomiya 
 children here in America to follow the path of least resistance by 
 imitating their American peers. The result : most of the Asomiyas, 
 belonging to the in-between generation, if not all, do not speak 
 their mother tongue at all.  It is too facile of an argument, 
 often made by the expatriate Asomiyas, that teaching children their 
 native language interferes with the English language development.
 It  would, therefore, be better to focus on English than teach a 
 language that is going to be of limited use in this country. This 
 line of reasoning, in my opinion, does not seem to have two legs to 
 stand for a few simple reasons.  First, research consistently points
  to the cognitive and academic advantages of being bilingual, no 
 matter what the second language is. But the Asomiya parents are not 
 dissuaded by multilingual pre-schoolers reading earlier and faster 
 than their monolingual counterparts. The young child's alloplastic 
 mind is fertile ground for a multitude of ideas. Far from stunting 
 mastery in English, learning another language enhances a child's 
 ability to learn English by expanding linguistic structure and 
 syntax. Furthermore, most children passively acquire English
 through  ubiquitous interactions with teachers and fellow 
 schoolmates at  school, television and on the street. Conversely,
 they imbibe their  native language only at home.  Secondly, when
 Americans themselves  have begun to realize that this land is not a
 melting pot but rather  a rich mosaic, it is ironic that many of us
 still cling to the  archaic philosophy of Romans in Rome. Thankfully,
 the Asomiyas here  in America do not live in such a rigid world where
 they have to  choose between extremes.  Thirdly, there is another
 powerful  benefit that is relevant to our children growing up here and
 that is  in helping them a strong sense of identity which can help
 lead to  better self-esteem and self-confidence.  The Asomiya
 diaspora of the USA  insists and claims that the foremost reason of
 celebrating Bihu is  to transmit - and preserve - our culture to the
 next generation. One  would fall off the chair to learn that the
 entire affair is  conducted in English! I am at a loss to understand
 as to how   on  earth one can pass one's culture and heritage on to
 their progeny by  merely holding Bihu function once in a year without
 impressing upon  their children the importance of learning their
 own language which  is the essence of any culture.  Kamaljit
 Deka,  Sugarland, Texas.   
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[Assam] Letter to the Editor

[kamal deka]

Hello Saranapani,
I am getting mails from this net at a pace which matches that of a snail's.
Any way,You wrote that RB has made excellent response.Are you all ganging up
in order to form a  wired community  against me just because all of you
are on the same boat.Just kidding.
Do you really believe that the Assamese parents of America are a gaggle of
idlers ( as suggested by RB ) for which the first generation Assamese
children ( most) fail to speak their native language ? It tops my hilarity
chart.
If the Assamese immigrants are so soaked in pride for their culture ( again
indicated by RB ),why couldn't they teach  Assamese language to their
descendants ? Truth always hurts.It really does.
I will respond with vehemence any rebuttal,be it in The
Sentinel,Prantik,Agrodut or what have you.
With warm regards
KJD
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Re: [Assam] Self-help groups in Assam transform rural economy - IANS

[kamal deka]

Apuni sale bere kubuwa torkobur kori ase ( beating about bush ).I am a lay
person and absorb news what is printed in the media.Yes,he was arrested
because he did something wrong.He was not arrested because he was trying to
feed sugar and cheese to a CBI agent.
KJD



On 6/6/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 You are taking shelter under the fallacy that two wrongs  make a right.The
 fact that most politicians are corrupt does not mean that Bora has one
 right
 to fill his pocket with ill-gotten money

 Am I? You are trying to put words in my mouth. When did I ever claim the
 above or argue that Bora or anyone for that matter ha a CBIs that right and
 I
 hope, I don't look stupid as I look!

 Let us look at this exchange between you and me below:

 *You:The bottom line is---  Bora was apprehended because of the
 fact
   that he did something wrong.
 *
 *Me:* Really, the others don't do anything wrong? Or is it they
 simply did not get caught, and  Bora did? IMHO Bora's crime was being
 stupid to get caught or getting placed in a situation where he could be
 ID
 ed.

 You assumed he did Wrong and that is why he was arrested. IF that is the
 standard in India, the jails would be full. My question is this, why aren't
 others who do wrong also arrested?.


 --Ram


 On Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 6:05 PM, kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  You are taking shelter under the fallacy that two wrongs  make a
 right.The
  fact that most politicians are corrupt does not mean that Bora has one
  right
  to fill his pocket with ill-gotten money.The issue of corruption,a vital
  one,is a different kettle of fish .After scanning media reports,I don't
  find
  an iota of indication that the sting operation was carried out on account
  of
  personal vendetta.What I do best is collate information and draw my own
  inference.
   KJD
 
 
  On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
   We all know that.We also know that India is a democratic country and
 one
   should be skeptical pending full disclosure of facts.But we are not
   focusing on that point nor are we trying to figure out who is the
   flash-bearer of corruption in Assam.
  
   And why not?
  
   The bottom line is---  Bora was apprehended because of the fact
   that he did something wrong.
  
   Really, the others don't do anything wrong? Or is it they simply did
 not
   get
   caught, and Bora did? IMHO Bora's crime was being stupid to get caught
 or
   getting placed in a situation where he could be ID ed.
  
   Bribery, corruption and whatever else are really what is expected from
   ministers, babus.. all the way to keranis, and are not really crimes :)
  
   We must measure the entire episode in a scale of probability at this
  stage
   and our opinion ought to be based on that.
  
   And what are we measuring here? That Bora is corrupt? Or that he got
  caught
   redhanded?
  
   Deka, bottom line is really this:
  
   If Bora is convicted, he deserves whatever punishment is meted out.
  
   And I would be really elated that with Bora now arrested (and later
   convicted), that corruption and bribery will forever be banished from
  Assam
   - specially among our montris and MLAs.
  
  
   On 6/4/08, kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
Given even half a chance,every politician will rob the country
 blind.We
   all
know that.We also know that India is a democratic country and one
  should
   be
skeptical pending full disclosure of facts.But we are not focusing on
   that
point nor are we trying to figure out who is the flash-bearer of
   corruption
in Assam.The bottom line is---  Bora was apprehended because of the
  fact
that he did something wrong.We must measure the entire episode in a
  scale
of
probability at this stage and our opinion ought to be based on that.
   
Every major organization,editorial notes of both vernacular and
 English
dailies and public at large did voice their views in protest.One
 should
   not
expect citizens to rock the state with agitation over such issue.
   
KJD
   
   
On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Kamal Deka,

 You may be absolutlely correct in saying the Ripun Bora is corrupt
  and
evil
 etc etc.
 The bigger picture ought to be that India is a democracy, and a
  country
of
 laws and that is what needs to be held up - not that some minister
 is
 corrupt or whatever, and got convicted because people dislike him.
  BTW
the
 CBI is also supposed to be very corrupt.

 So, we wait till the montri is convicted, we don't set traps
  (commonly
 known
 as entrapment - which I think is also illegal in India). If after
 all
that,
 he is found guilty, then by all means throw away the key.

 BTW: Do you know which montri is less corrupt and you are willing
 to
slide
 by, or whom we can all put up on a pedestal

Re: [Assam] Self-help groups in Assam transform rural economy - IANS

[kamal deka]

You are taking shelter under the fallacy that two wrongs  make a right.The
fact that most politicians are corrupt does not mean that Bora has one right
to fill his pocket with ill-gotten money.The issue of corruption,a vital
one,is a different kettle of fish .After scanning media reports,I don't find
an iota of indication that the sting operation was carried out on account of
personal vendetta.What I do best is collate information and draw my own
inference.
KJD


On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 We all know that.We also know that India is a democratic country and one
 should be skeptical pending full disclosure of facts.But we are not
 focusing on that point nor are we trying to figure out who is the
 flash-bearer of corruption in Assam.

 And why not?

 The bottom line is---  Bora was apprehended because of the fact
 that he did something wrong.

 Really, the others don't do anything wrong? Or is it they simply did not
 get
 caught, and Bora did? IMHO Bora's crime was being stupid to get caught or
 getting placed in a situation where he could be ID ed.

 Bribery, corruption and whatever else are really what is expected from
 ministers, babus.. all the way to keranis, and are not really crimes :)

 We must measure the entire episode in a scale of probability at this stage
 and our opinion ought to be based on that.

 And what are we measuring here? That Bora is corrupt? Or that he got caught
 redhanded?

 Deka, bottom line is really this:

 If Bora is convicted, he deserves whatever punishment is meted out.

 And I would be really elated that with Bora now arrested (and later
 convicted), that corruption and bribery will forever be banished from Assam
 - specially among our montris and MLAs.


 On 6/4/08, kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  Given even half a chance,every politician will rob the country blind.We
 all
  know that.We also know that India is a democratic country and one should
 be
  skeptical pending full disclosure of facts.But we are not focusing on
 that
  point nor are we trying to figure out who is the flash-bearer of
 corruption
  in Assam.The bottom line is---  Bora was apprehended because of the fact
  that he did something wrong.We must measure the entire episode in a scale
  of
  probability at this stage and our opinion ought to be based on that.
 
  Every major organization,editorial notes of both vernacular and English
  dailies and public at large did voice their views in protest.One should
 not
  expect citizens to rock the state with agitation over such issue.
 
  KJD
 
 
  On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
   Kamal Deka,
  
   You may be absolutlely correct in saying the Ripun Bora is corrupt and
  evil
   etc etc.
   The bigger picture ought to be that India is a democracy, and a country
  of
   laws and that is what needs to be held up - not that some minister is
   corrupt or whatever, and got convicted because people dislike him. BTW
  the
   CBI is also supposed to be very corrupt.
  
   So, we wait till the montri is convicted, we don't set traps (commonly
   known
   as entrapment - which I think is also illegal in India). If after all
  that,
   he is found guilty, then by all means throw away the key.
  
   BTW: Do you know which montri is less corrupt and you are willing to
  slide
   by, or whom we can all put up on a pedestal?
  
   Frankly, there is a huge cabal of corrupt ministers, of corrupt CBI
   officers, of departments etc, and yet, we find it easy to point only
 one
   corrupt person - the guy who gets caught.
  
   I have a totally different view of the VC. But suffice it to say, that
  the
   first time he threatened to resign, everyone, including the AASU and
 the
   Governor begged him to stay on. He got the money from the Govt., and
 then
   threatened to resign again - only this time no one protested.
  
   Just to let you know where I stand, when Dr. C was first chosen, I was
  very
   elated, and thought  at least now GU would be under a good stewardship.
  
   Even a child in Assam knows that the ministry of education is the
   epicenter of corruption.
  
   OK - did Ripun Bora start this? It is probably the best for us to put
   everything corrupt in Assam on Bora - after all, he is the one that
  caught,
   right?
  
   --Ram
  
   On 6/4/08, kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   
Ram Sarangapani,
Assuming that the trap was set up by the CBI,why did Ripun dangariya
  walk
into it?
In regard to the opinion inflicted by Bora in connection with Dr
Choudhury's
resignation,he was trying to build a temple of virtue by laying all
  evils
at
him.Even a child in Assam knows that the ministry of education is the
epicenter of corruption.
KJD
   
   
On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Hi Uttam,

 You make some very valid points and its a well-thought out
 response,
   and
I
 understand where you are coming from.

 I

Re: [Assam] Self-help groups in Assam transform rural economy - IANS

[kamal deka]

Ram Sarangapani,
Assuming that the trap was set up by the CBI,why did Ripun dangariya walk
into it?
In regard to the opinion inflicted by Bora in connection with Dr Choudhury's
resignation,he was trying to build a temple of virtue by laying all evils at
him.Even a child in Assam knows that the ministry of education is the
epicenter of corruption.
KJD


On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Hi Uttam,

 You make some very valid points and its a well-thought out response, and I
 understand where you are coming from.

 I am not aware of what exactly took place between Ripun Bora  and  Dr.
 Choudhury - all I know is that he resigned. So, I really cannot comment
 much
 on that.

 Ram Da, you eulogised the wisdom and the action of the INDIAN STATE based
 on a single unverified report on SHG.

 I hope it wasn't anything to that extreme, but I sure did want to point out
 that Dilli does do some good here  there. I perfectly understand Dilli's
 failings. From here, I have no way to verify reports - all we have is media
 reports online.
 And notwithstanding what C'da says, it is ultimately 'us' that make the
 decision whether such reports have some validity or not.
 And you are right, many of us in far off lands do get euphoric with any
 morsel of good news from the home front

 I wanted to bring up Ripun Bora's case because I did see a different
 treatment to his case. Many were quick to condemn him, and I thought that
 *even
 you* may not have given him the benefit of doubt. I am glad, that I was
 wrong, and you really were not thinking along those lines, and I apologize.

 Today the papers carry 'irrefutable proof' and have for all practical
 purposes convicted him.
 The CM has thrown him under the bus (which is as expected), and I expect
 Bora will more than likely be convicted - all I was expecting a court of
 law
 saying so.

 In this respect, I agree with C'da. In India (as C'da has pointed out with
 examples), the idea of due process is often lost, specially when we utterly
 dislike an individual.

 --Ram da



 On 6/3/08, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  Ram Da
 
  I was not indicting Ripun Bora at all.. If you re-read, you shall see
 that
  my sole emphasis was about his comments on Dr. Amarjyoti Choudhury. Some
  people kowtowed his line in holding Dr. Choudhury responsible for
 chickening
  out. In fact, I did not like this kind of diatribe, because it is Dr.
  Choudhury's liberty of taking a decision that was under fire. And my
  aversion towards Ripun Bora kind of politicians is not borne out of this
  news item, but personal experiences over so many years. Ram Da, you
  eulogised the wisdom and the action of the INDIAN STATE based on a single
  unverified report on SHG. We have seen that there are some SHGs that are
  good and sincere and have taken up where the INDIAN STATE has abdicated
 its
  earlier responsibilities; but most are  rotten and are after a fast buck.
  One thing in that news item struck me: mention of Rs.10, 00, 000/- as the
  profit for the year. It is pretty difficult in Assam unless the extent of
  the land is substantial. Now getting
  possession of substantial land by a group of persons having a history of
  retail trade of terror and then changing sides is something that is
 smelly.
  Many people have returned rich from the ranks and some  have used their
  history to intimidate unarmed people to grab land and other resources.
 That
  was my concern and that was what I told you. The only known history of
 the
  person concerned is that he has deserted the ranks of a fighting outfit
 and
  is capable of intimidation. Ripun Bora, in contrast, has a wellknown
 history
  and we can come to some highly probabilistic conclusion ( none can judge
  himself for sure till death) about Sri Bora, cannot we? Ram Da, it is my
  request that a question or a comment should take colour from the context
 and
  should not be dealt with torn from such context.
 
  Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  Hi C'da,
 
  *** 'Any more'? Come now Ram, WHEN was it reliable ?
 
  Well, let me put it this way, we often consider it reliable when we chose
  to
  do so. We have all seen (on this net) many of us have over the years sent
  links from the news media from Assam as well as the rest of India
 whenever
  it seems to echo their own views.
 
  *** I think the bigger urge is the need to feel good about India
  doing good by Assam and thus the attempt at groping at every straw
  that floats by :-).
 
  Could be, could be. But I suspect it is a far milder one than that
  vitriolic
  urge to bash India at every opportunity :)
 
  Look at this Ripun Bora case. Many of us, are more than willing to bury
 the
  montri because of the arrest. Are we jumping to conclusions?
 
  Even Uttam, who so wisely cautioned me 'not to get euphoric or depressed'
  at
  the drop of a hat, has, I suspect, already convicted Ripun (before the
  trial). :).
 
  After reading some of the news 

Re: [Assam] Self-help groups in Assam transform rural economy - IANS

[kamal deka]

Given even half a chance,every politician will rob the country blind.We all
know that.We also know that India is a democratic country and one should be
skeptical pending full disclosure of facts.But we are not focusing on that
point nor are we trying to figure out who is the flash-bearer of corruption
in Assam.The bottom line is---  Bora was apprehended because of the fact
that he did something wrong.We must measure the entire episode in a scale of
probability at this stage and our opinion ought to be based on that.

Every major organization,editorial notes of both vernacular and English
dailies and public at large did voice their views in protest.One should not
expect citizens to rock the state with agitation over such issue.

KJD


On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Kamal Deka,

 You may be absolutlely correct in saying the Ripun Bora is corrupt and evil
 etc etc.
 The bigger picture ought to be that India is a democracy, and a country of
 laws and that is what needs to be held up - not that some minister is
 corrupt or whatever, and got convicted because people dislike him. BTW the
 CBI is also supposed to be very corrupt.

 So, we wait till the montri is convicted, we don't set traps (commonly
 known
 as entrapment - which I think is also illegal in India). If after all that,
 he is found guilty, then by all means throw away the key.

 BTW: Do you know which montri is less corrupt and you are willing to slide
 by, or whom we can all put up on a pedestal?

 Frankly, there is a huge cabal of corrupt ministers, of corrupt CBI
 officers, of departments etc, and yet, we find it easy to point only one
 corrupt person - the guy who gets caught.

 I have a totally different view of the VC. But suffice it to say, that the
 first time he threatened to resign, everyone, including the AASU and the
 Governor begged him to stay on. He got the money from the Govt., and then
 threatened to resign again - only this time no one protested.

 Just to let you know where I stand, when Dr. C was first chosen, I was very
 elated, and thought  at least now GU would be under a good stewardship.

 Even a child in Assam knows that the ministry of education is the
 epicenter of corruption.

 OK - did Ripun Bora start this? It is probably the best for us to put
 everything corrupt in Assam on Bora - after all, he is the one that caught,
 right?

 --Ram

 On 6/4/08, kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  Ram Sarangapani,
  Assuming that the trap was set up by the CBI,why did Ripun dangariya walk
  into it?
  In regard to the opinion inflicted by Bora in connection with Dr
  Choudhury's
  resignation,he was trying to build a temple of virtue by laying all evils
  at
  him.Even a child in Assam knows that the ministry of education is the
  epicenter of corruption.
  KJD
 
 
  On 6/4/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
   Hi Uttam,
  
   You make some very valid points and its a well-thought out response,
 and
  I
   understand where you are coming from.
  
   I am not aware of what exactly took place between Ripun Bora  and  Dr.
   Choudhury - all I know is that he resigned. So, I really cannot comment
   much
   on that.
  
   Ram Da, you eulogised the wisdom and the action of the INDIAN STATE
  based
   on a single unverified report on SHG.
  
   I hope it wasn't anything to that extreme, but I sure did want to point
  out
   that Dilli does do some good here  there. I perfectly understand
 Dilli's
   failings. From here, I have no way to verify reports - all we have is
  media
   reports online.
   And notwithstanding what C'da says, it is ultimately 'us' that make the
   decision whether such reports have some validity or not.
   And you are right, many of us in far off lands do get euphoric with any
   morsel of good news from the home front
  
   I wanted to bring up Ripun Bora's case because I did see a different
   treatment to his case. Many were quick to condemn him, and I thought
 that
   *even
   you* may not have given him the benefit of doubt. I am glad, that I was
   wrong, and you really were not thinking along those lines, and I
  apologize.
  
   Today the papers carry 'irrefutable proof' and have for all practical
   purposes convicted him.
   The CM has thrown him under the bus (which is as expected), and I
 expect
   Bora will more than likely be convicted - all I was expecting a court
 of
   law
   saying so.
  
   In this respect, I agree with C'da. In India (as C'da has pointed out
  with
   examples), the idea of due process is often lost, specially when we
  utterly
   dislike an individual.
  
   --Ram da
  
  
  
   On 6/3/08, uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
   
Ram Da
   
I was not indicting Ripun Bora at all.. If you re-read, you shall see
   that
my sole emphasis was about his comments on Dr. Amarjyoti Choudhury.
  Some
people kowtowed his line in holding Dr. Choudhury responsible for
   chickening
out. In fact, I did not like this kind

[Assam] Never make a woman angry

[kamal deka]

*A woman arrived at the Gates of Heaven.. While she was waiting for Saint
Peter to greet her, she peeked through the gates. She saw a beautiful
banquet table. Sitting all around were her parents and all the other people
she had loved and who had died before her.
They saw her and began calling greetings to her, Hello - How are you! We've
been waiting for you! Good to see you.

When Saint Peter came by, the woman said to him, This is such a wonderful
place! How do I get in?
You have to spell a word, Saint Peter told her.

Which word? the woman asked.

Love.

The woman correctly spelled Love and Saint Peter welcomed her into Heaven.


About a year later, Saint Peter came to the woman and asked her to watch the
Gates of Heaven for him that day. While the woman was guarding the Gates of
Heaven, her husband arrived.

I'm surprised to see you, the woman said. How have you been?

Oh, I've been doing pretty well since you died, her husband told her. I
married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill.
And then I won the multi-state lottery. I sold the little house you and I
lived in and bought a huge mansion. And my wife and I traveled all around
the world. We were on vacation in Cancun and I went water skiing today. I
fell and hit my head, and here I am. What a bummer! How do I get in?

You have to spell a word, the woman told him.

Which word? her husband asked.

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis , she replied.

Moral of the story: Never make a woman angry . . . there will be Hell to
pay!

NB: The longest word currently listed in the Oxford dictionary is the
supposed lung-disease pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45
letters).
*
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[Assam] Medical marvals

[kamal deka]

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.'
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[Assam] Bush Administration

[kamal deka]

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.
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Re: [Assam] Lachit Bordoloi booked under NSA

[kamal deka]

Lachit Bordoloi was arrested because of the fact that he abetted the banned
outfit in carrying out mayhem in the state.He was not picked up by the
police,as suggested by the report, on account of his link with the ULFA .
KJD


On 3/30/08, bg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Lachit Bordoloi booked under NSA

 [image: 17_02_08_lachit_bordoloi_488819184.jpg]

 Peace broker and MASS leader Lachit Bordoloi has been arrested under the
 National Security Act on Sunday accusing him of link with ULFA. Mr
 Bordoloi
 was detained in Moran in February following a set of confessional
 statements
 by ULFA cadre Manoj Tamuly. Later he was taken away by Nagaon, Rangia and
 Nalbari police in connection with a number of cases registered against
 him.
 According to what police have claimed a number of e-mails to ULFA sent
 from
 Bordoloi's laptop suggest his link with the terrorist outfit.

 http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/1279.html
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[Assam] Assamese equivalent

[kamal deka]

What are the Assamese words for the following ?
1) PASSPORT
2) VISA
KJD
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Re: [Assam] So what if he were?

[kamal deka]

On a lighter note---Obama would make the following comment before stepping
into the White House-the name of that house ( read WHITE ) got to go.
Jest aside,Obama's popularity,at this time,is rising because of one
thing---CURIOSITY FACTOR.
KJD


On 3/9/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 *** 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?

 Ah! C'da, I should have been a bit nore detailed :)

 Yes, it is difficult to choose between two people like Clinton  Obama,
 and
 yes, there are some differences between the Republicans  the Dems. Issues
 like appointment of Supreme Court judges, 2nd Amendment and abortion and
 gay
 marriages don't usually affect the lives of common folks.  In this
 discussion, I mistakenly thought we were discussing only the Dems.

 The candidates (the Dems in this case) will now concentrate on economic,
 health, environment issues, and lastly the war.
 But if  keenly observed, the voters are more interested in voting their
 race
 and gender.

 In this aspect, at least the issues are like desi demokrasy - there it
 is
 language, caste, and religion, and of course with far fewer sophisticated
 trappings, and here it is largely race and gender and then it filters down
 to issues that hit home like jobs, mortgages and cost of living.

 If it wern't so, how else would one explain away the near-cult voting
 trends
 of 85%-95%? Its almost like voting for actors such as a Amitabh Bachan or
 a Sharuh Khan. Simply saying that voters find these candidates so similar,
 that they tend to bring in race or gender issues is merely wishing it that
 way.

 It is quite simple, Cda, some people think this is the best chance for a
 African American to become the President while others think it is so for a
 woman.  The 'issues' etc are then piled on to justify why one would vote
 for
 Obama or Clinton and sort of make it look like 'we voters actually do
 think,
 and vote for the best candidate'.


 --Ram


 On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 2:30 PM, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

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.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Re: [Assam] Losing the Language - Irish to English

[kamal deka]

 Sarangapani,
I do agree with you.A bunch of languages are fading away in bilingual
cultures as indigenous tongues are overwhelmed by the dominant language at
school,in the market place and on TV.United Nations estimates half of the
world's 7000 languages will disappear in less than a century.In fact,one
falls out of use every two weeks.
Aging populations,economic pressure,youth apathy and lack of written form
are only some of the conditions leading to the endangerment of a
language.You see,half of the world's people now use one of just 8 languages:
Chinese,English,Hindi,Spanish,Russian,Arabic,Portuguese and French.
The Assamese language has already been put to sleep in American context.
By the way,the Irish have succeeded in preserving their native Gaelic to the
point where it is now spoken by 13% of the population of the Republic of
Ireland.
KJD





On 3/2/08, Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Barua,

 Interesting. Compared to that Assamese are fortunate that I don't think
 there is any concern for losing the Assamese language although many
 people
 are worried for nothing.

 That itself is an interesting statement.
 The problem is comparing Gaelic (in this case) and the Irish being
 non-challant of their language to the concerns of the Assamese.
 Why do you think some Assamese are worried for nothing?

 The Irish have had problems with their religious denomiations
 (Catholoc-Protestant, Northern Ireland/IRA etc, etc) - compared to that
 the
 Assamese have had very *few problems* with regards to religions.
 Both Assamese Hindus and Muslims have gotten along very well for a very
 long
 time.

 The Assamese are and should be rightly concerned with the changing
 landscape
 whereby illegal Bangladeshis are coming in hordes, and more *importantly
 speak a different language*.

 From all practical indications it does seem that the Assamese language
 will
 face huge challenges, to say the least. It is very simple, if only a small
 minority speak a language, it will cease to exist

 I think it is a major problem facing Assam and I am not sure if any
 Assamese
 can or should be magnanimous as to not be worried about losing the
 language.

 --Ram






 On 3/2/08, Rajen  Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  Umesh:
  Interesting. Compared to that Assamese are fortunate that I don't think
  there is any concern for losing the Assamese language although many
 people
  are worried for nothing.
  BTW is there some predictions which are the languages that will be lost
  during next 50 or 100 years.?
  Rajenda
 
  - Original Message -
  From: umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  To: assam@assamnet.org
  Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 11:23 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Losing the Language - Irish to English
 
 
   Hi,
  
   I just met an Irish singer from Dublin and was surprised to learn that
  he
   couldn't speak Irish (Gaelic) since as he said  In Ireland it is
 easier
   to find Chinese speaking persons than Irish/Gaelic speaking people.
  This
   is despite that fact that Irish is compulsory is schools - for 16
 years
  of
   schooling.
  
   He told me that Scotland has its own version called Scot-Gaelic but it
  too
   is losing ground to English  - only 50,000 speakers though 5 million
   Scots. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language
  
   Surprisingly he said there is no revolt or bad feeling that Irish has
  been
   taken over by English - depsite IRA violence in Northen Ireland (and
  rest
   of UK) till recent times
  
   Umesh
  
   PS:: We are delighted that Luke Slott will be back at Tiny Planet to
  warm
   the room with his radiant spirit and music.  This time Luke will be
   singing some of his original songs with piano and guitar.
  
  
   Umesh Sharma
  
   Washington D.C.
  
   1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
  
   Ed.M. - International Education Policy
   Harvard Graduate School of Education,
   Harvard University,
   Class of 2005
  
   http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
  
   http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
  
  
  
  
   www.gse.harvard.edu/iep  (where the above 2 are used )
   http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
  
  
  
   http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
  
   -
   Yahoo! Answers - Get better answers from someone who knows. Tryit now.
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[Assam] Letter to the Editor

[kamal deka]

   - The foolowing letter appeared in today's on-line edition of The
   Sentinel.Please feel free to post your thoughtful comment.KJD







   *LETTERS **» »*
 Last updated : SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2008

*English Tongue vs Asomiya Tongue*
Apropos your editorial entitled Raw Deal for Assamese'' (The Sentinel,
February 3, 2008), you have rightly pointed out the importance of learning
one's own language.
During the last couple of visits to Asom, I came across a few families who
were chastised by other parents for allowing their children to speak to me
in Asomiya language. They were warned that this practice would condemn their
children to a life of academic retardation. So much for that bit of
clairvoyance! The huge reservoir of research in developmental psychology
pointing to superior performance of multilingual children on a variety of
linguistic and creative skills has not deterred those self-proclaimed
linguists of our community from decrying the evils of mother tongue. Among
some Asomiyas, it has become fashionable to say that one's child can speak
English whereas illiteracy in one's own language is tolerated.
In this zeitgeist, it is hardly surprising that many Asomiya children cannot
read or write their own language. Language is a window for the youth to
appreciate their own culture; closing it diminishes their growth. The
question of language inevitably leads to the broader issue of transmitting
our culture to our children. Many parents readily relinquish the
responsibility of impressing upon their children the value associated with
our unique culture. Unchecked, this burgeoning apathy surely is a death
knell to any hope of preserving, if not perpetuating, our unique standing.
It is also time to demolish one of the many myths that English-medium
education is the main reason for India's success in software. If it were
true, then English-speaking countries must display this advantage
consistently. Therefore, countries like Kenya with comparable history to
India of colonization, an English-based class system and a large English
work force, must also be disproportionately successful in software. That is
not the case to be. Moreover, this theory fails to explain why Israel, which
follows largely Hebrew and Arabic-medium schooling, is also a notable
success.
There is no gainsaying that learning English as a language can still be
considered a positive factor in the development of India's software
industry. But English as a primary medium of education can also be
considered an impediment to this success. It often blinds the
English-educated elite, carving out a realm of privilege, to the untapped
potential talents in our villages and the need for the development of
primary software interfaces in our languages to reach out to this segment.
Kamaljit Deka,
Sugarland, Texas.
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Re: [Assam] Nuisance or Nonsense

[kamal deka]

I agree.
The question as to why the rest of the tribe belonging to IAS cadre of
Oxom ( who are,hitherto,known as  glorified babus  ) should follow in late
Saikia's footsteps,is a pertinent one.
I don't see any compelling reason to create a mighty din over such a
piddling issue.
In what sense would one be in error if one flings in question as the one,
Mr.Ranju Hussein has raised ?
You see Chandanda,I have once again established a mutual admiration camp by
way of agreeing with you.Insallah,it would flourish:-)
KJD


On 2/1/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I am writing ONLY because Hussein is being unfairly attacked, being
 ganged-up on by people. He has not in any  way, shape or form created
 ANY nuisance . Nor has he in any way, shape or form, shown any
 disrespect to the late Saikia.

 He  has merely questioned  WHY his examples, whatever that may be,
 should be emulated by other Oxomiya IAS types.

 He would not have had any occasion to ask that question, had a
 recommendation to that effect not been made by somebody and probably
 seconded by others. I say probably, because I am not  fully
 conversant with the origins of the issue, or what followed.

 Now CAN those who made the recommendation explain it or not? If not
 he/she/it can just say so, UNLESS he/she/it  is mired in an
 infallibility complex and can't acknowledge his/her/its own
 intellectual shortcoming as exemplified by this controversy.

 But if there are good answers, he/she/it can lay it down and it would
 be the end of story and we will be better informed for it.

 None of the above has anything to do with the late Saikia, his
 abilities, his contributions to society or humanity or IASdom .
 Nobody here has QUESTIONED any of that. But as far as SERVICE to
 ASSAM is concerned, it IS a legitimate question, BECAUSE of the
 recommendation that was made by someone in this forum.

 And citing of Nam-Ghoxa wisdoms by Manoj , lovely as it is, has NO
 bearing on the matter. Claims of hurt feelings are attempts to
 obfuscate , pure and simple.

 Hussein's question was not a nuisance. And his opponents are
 indulging in nonsense.













 At 9:49 AM +0530 2/1/08, muktikam phukan wrote:
 Dear Hussain
 
 I'd reacted earlier also  reacting again becos u r definitely
 creating nuisance. Pl let Mr Saikia's soul rest in peace. U r
 hurting a lot of people. Even enemies do not bad words after one is
 dead. God knows what u r upto.
 
 
 Muktikam Phukan
 Deputy Director (NR)
 Petroleum Conservation Research Association
 Sanrakshan Bhawan,10, Bhikaiji Cama Place,New Delhi 110066
 Ph: +91 11 26198856 Ext 385, Mob: +91 9818598565
 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] , [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 
 
 
 
 - Original Message 
 From: ranjuhussein [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Sent: Wednesday, 30 January, 2008 8:39:50 AM
 Subject: [asom] Ashok Saikia no more
 
 Madam,
 
 With due respect, I have asked questions to Sirs with names Himendra,
 Santikam, Rimzim, Vavani. I think these Sirs either do not like to
 reply or away from emails.
 
 I have some Idea what Non-Assamese IAS do in Assam. I thought it is
 good idea to know what Assamese IAS do/did in Assam.
 
 Ranju Hussein
 
 --- parulma deka parulma_deka@ ... wrote:
 
 I wish you will go after people like late Mr. Ashok Saikia when they
 are living and working outside Assam ! If you want to know about them
 and what they are doing or not doing, ask question about them. Maybe
 they will listen to you.
 
 --- ranjuhussein ranjuhussein@ ... wrote:
 
 Vavani Sir and Himendra Sir,
 
 Sorry for being ignorant, but I do not see any cause of Assamese in
 this news that Assamese IAS should come forward to take up (I an
 trying to see what was done for Assam).
 
 So Himendra Sir, did you mean to say that Assamese IAS should come
 forward to work outside Assam but not inside Assam?
 
 Did he fly to Assam during any of the devastating flood just like he
 did to Orissa?
 
 Of course I pray for his soul like any of you!
 
 Ranju Hussein
 
 --- Vavani Sarmah [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/assamonlin e/message/ 4085
 
 -- moderator edited, assamonline --
 
 
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 Messages in this topic (23) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic
 Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls
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Re: [Assam] (no subject)

[kamal deka]

HOUSE = BHOBON / AWAKH /GRIHO
HOME = GRIHO BAKH /GHOR
KJD


On 1/26/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 Does anybody know if there are separate words for home and house in
 Assamese? I know we use 'ghor' .

 But if you need to assert the real meanings of a real home and just a
 house with 4 walls, what are they?

 I believe it is 'ghar`' for home and 'makaan' for house in Hindi.

 Thanks for your help.







 In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and
 humble like a blade of grass
 - Lakshmana



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Re: [Assam] zoo

[kamal deka]

The loose correspondence in Assamese for the words,you have mentioned.
CUP --- PIOLA / BATI
STATION -- ASHTHAN
SCHOOL -- VIDYALAY / PATHSHALA
MASTER--- ODHISNATOR
GLASS  KACH /CHICHA
There is no harm in incorporating a foreign word as long as there is no
equivalent of the same available in our language.In my view,the word in
question ( read zoo) can be transliterated using oxomiya words.
KJD


On 1/20/08, Dilip/Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 A true Nalboriya would say Hahwr Baaha.
 Regarding the word for zoo - there is no real Assamese word for it since
 zoos didn't exist in Assam. Siriyakhana (sic?) was borrowed from Hindi. Is
 there any harm in calling zoo, a zoo, in Assamese. We have assimilated words
 like station, school, master, cup and glass into our language.
 Dilip

 mc mahant [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 In true Nalboriya:
 HAHOR BAXA(Not Hanhor Baanh)
 mm



  Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:12:57 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To:
 assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] zoo  That is correct.
 Siriyakhana has been used for a long time. Is there a new one now? Dilip
 Deka  bg wrote: CHIRIYAKHANAOn Jan 20, 2008 9:14 AM, kamal deka
 wrote:   What is the correct Assamese word ( porivakha ) for  zoo  ? 
 KJD  ___  assam mailing
 list  assam@assamnet.org 
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[Assam] zoo

[kamal deka]

What is the correct Assamese word ( porivakha ) for  zoo  ?
KJD
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Re: [Assam] zoo

[kamal deka]

Should  CHIRIYAKHANA be the right Assamese word ? I am just wondering.
KJD




On 1/19/08, bg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 CHIRIYAKHANA



 On Jan 20, 2008 9:14 AM, kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  What is the correct Assamese word ( porivakha ) for  zoo  ?
  KJD
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Re: [Assam] zoo

[kamal deka]

Dilipda,
Although,CHIRIAKHANA is an acceptable porivakha in Assamese language,the
word appears to be a borrowed one.I think,the word can easily be translated
using pure Assamese word.
Kamal


On 1/19/08, Dilip/Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 That is correct.
 Siriyakhana has been used for a long time. Is there a new one now?
 Dilip Deka

 bg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 CHIRIYAKHANA



 On Jan 20, 2008 9:14 AM, kamal deka wrote:

  What is the correct Assamese word ( porivakha ) for  zoo  ?
  KJD
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Re: [Assam] A Question

[kamal deka]

Chandanda,

your query in regard to the Oxomiya book  Mati aru Manuh  reminds me of a
Oxomiya kobita , I read during my early school years.I don't know the name
of the poet nor do I remember all the stanzas of the same.I vaguely remember
a few lines , which are as follows:
 MATIR MANUH MATIT MILIBO
DHUN PES KEO KORISE LAGIBO
MISA GORBO MISA OBHIMAN
MORILEY XOKOLU XOMAN
SMOXANEI JOLONTO PROMAN

KJD


On 12/9/07, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:

 You are right Rajen-- the author WAS Jogesh Das. Now I remember.

 But I never read The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck. I guess that is why
 could not make the connection. I  will have to look up The Good Earth
 synopsis now, if not reads it some day.









 At 10:26 AM -0600 12/9/07, Rajen  Ajanta Barua wrote:
 Chandan
 If I remeber, the novel Mati aru Manuh by Jogesh Das (?) may be based on
 the
 novel Good Earth by Pers Buck, because I rembered the similarity when
 reading the novel.
 Rajen
 - Original Message -
 From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]; A Mailing list for people interested in
 Assam
 from around theworld  assam@assamnet.org
 Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 8:35 AM
 Subject: Re: [Assam] A Question
 
 
   WK:
 
   No, it is not How Much Land Does a Man Need -- we knew that story
   well from our matriculation syllabus as well.
 
   I remember the title Maati Aaru Manuh well. But I could be mixed up
   about the names of the main characters. My very vague recollection is
   that the story dealt with pioneering characters in a new or frontier
   land.
 
   s
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   At 10:02 AM +0100 12/9/07, W.Saleh wrote:
 How Much Land Does a Man Need?
 
 It is a short story by Leo Tolstoy about a man called Pahom who in his
 lust
 for land, sacrifices everything, including his own life. Years ago this
 short story was included in the English syllabus of our Matriculation
 examination.
 
 I don't know if an Assamese translation Maati aaru Manuh refers to
 the
 same story. The name of the main character is different.
 
 Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 2, page 1434 mentions about the

 work
 of Lila Gogoi including the publication of 1963 - Srimantar Mati aru
 Manuh
 (a study of the life and culture of the tribes of the Arunachal
 Pradesh).
 This is not the book which Chandan means.
 
 Wahid da
 
 
 -Oorspronkelijk bericht-
 Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Namens
 uttam borthakur
 Verzonden: zondag 9 december 2007 8:57
 Aan: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
 world
 CC: shantanunandan sharma; shantanu sharma; shantanu sharma
 Onderwerp: Re: [Assam] A Question
 
 Dear Manoj
 
 I seem to remember the book and its get up. It had a hard bound,
 turbid
   in
 its colour and had some sort of figure in the cover. I too suspect as
 you
 do
 to be that of Tolstoy. My mother seconds me. May be the original title
 by
 Tolstoy was different. Some people told me that they will look up. Has
 Chandan Da wagered some where:-)?
 
 Manoj Das [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:
 ok...i am forwarding this mail to shantanu nandan sharma..his
   grandfather
 may know..
 
 tc
 
 On Dec 8, 2007 8:57 PM, Chan Mahanta wrote:
 
I am not sure it was Tolstoy Manoj. I looked up Tolstoy's works and

did not ring a bell. Must be some other great author.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At 10:03 AM +0530 12/8/07, Manoj Das wrote:
is it by leo tolstoy?

On Dec 8, 2007 8:54 AM, Chan Mahanta wrote:

 Way back when I was in Class VI or VII, I read an Assamese
 translation of a novel entitled Maati aaru Manuh. If I am not
 mistaken, the two principal characters in the novel were Isaac
 and
 Einaar ( or Inaar) or something like that. Has anyone read it?
 If so
 who wrote the original and who was the translator? I am curious
 to
 all heck, now that I can't remember the details. BTW, it was a
 thick
 book.

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Re: [Assam] : Group clash in the city: 12 killed, curfew in city

[kamal deka]

The term Adivasi,Bonovasi or Gramvasi are used interchangeably in India.
KJD


On 11/25/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Dear Mahanta,

 Young activists of what is sometimes called the ?tea community? -- the
 descendants of tea workers in Assam ? prefer the term Adivasi to
 describe their community. The term seeks to emphasize their roots in
 Jharkhand and other parts of India from where their forefathers had
 migrated more than a century ago. Adivasi activists point out that
 since their ethnic kin in their original habitats are recognized as
 scheduled tribes they should have the same status in Assam. There are
 now organizations like Adivasi Cobra Force, Birsa Commando Force ?
 named after an Adivasi hero ? and Adivasi Suraksha Samiti (Adivasi
 Protection Committee).

 Good wishes,

 Sanjib



 Quoting Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]:

  Hello Hazarika:
 
  While I appreciate your clarifying what actually took place and how a
  SECTION of the media presented it, I must come to Umesh's defense here.
  He merely forwarded what  others already posted, namely Assamtimes
  .org. Umesh and other Assam lovers merely attempt to spread word of
  trouble, not so much to malign Assam, but to make sure good people get
  involved to stem the tide of bad happenings. Verifying the facts before
  spreading the word is not Umesh's responsibility, just like it is not
  of other netters who love to forward all kinds of stuff that fit their
  personal political needs. In that Umesh is just another innocent
  bystander doing what he does best.  I know I give him a hard time over
  many things, but on this count I won't gang up on him.
 
  I have a request here.  What can you tell us about what the term
  includes? Is this an euphemism used by the Indian press ( from outside
  Assam) for Santhals , Tea Garden Laborers and other groups from
  Central/ north India etc. who have lived long in Assam  and are called
  that historically? Or does it mean indigenous people of Assam like
  Karbis, Bodos, Misings and the like?
 
  At any event why did the Adivasi's have to take to the streets ?
  Obviously the government has not responded to their demands, would be
  my conclusion. Are their demands for getting special treatment devised
  by democratic India for other groups  unreasonable and/or unfair? Do
  the caste-Hindu immigrants who rule the state, people like yourself or
  myself, oppose it? And if so, why? Is it fair or reasonable, in view of
  the prevailing Indian system of sharing the spoils?
 
  Also, why do you think the police not take appropriate and timely
  action to allow an orderly protest march, and by their delay and
  inaction allowed it to degenerate into a riot resulting in loss of
  lives ? Is it a typical ineptitude of the police  in general or a
  failure of its leadership ? Or was the inaction and/or inappropriate
  response a result of political interference, typical or otherwise?
 
  Finally, to your knowledge, what exactly happened that turned the march
  into a riot? Did the protesters get unruly by themselves and started to
  damage public property angering the victims as the assamtimes report
  indicated?  Or were their acts of incitement from the public or the
  storekeepers that caused it?  I am sure there will be demands for a
  judicial enquiry, the results of which will be either inconclusive or
  secret and nothing will come out of the effort as countless other such
  efforts historically have. But we, people like yourselves, myself and
  others interested would benefit from learning what the truths might
  have been, even though not officially sanctioned.
 
  Thanks in advance for sharing what you may know to be the truths.
 
  Best.
 
  m
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  At 1:03 PM +0530 11/25/07, Shantikam Hazarika wrote:
  Umesh:
  do you not have any other work?
  The term Adivasi is a north Indian term, not prevalent in Assam and
  the fact that the Association is called Adivasi Association indicates
  who are the people fomenting trouble in Assam. And, sitting out there
  you ought to have waited for the facts to filter before taking the
  easy way out of posting a dubious news item on the net to misled
  others.
 
  One of the problem was that the police took a long time to get into
  action and the statement in the news that city police sprung into
  action and dispersed the Adivasi people from the
  protest rally site is not true. In fact the frequent use of the term
  Adivasi in the news item itself is mischievous, with the intent of
  creating a divide.
  Sitting in the comforts of the US, please at least try to do something
  constructive, instead of spreading canards. I never expected you to
  indulge in such things.
  Shantikam Hazarika
 
  On Nov 25, 2007 5:02 AM, umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 
   Newsletter Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  http://www.assamtimes.org/index.php?news=680
 
  Group clash in the city: 12 killed, curfew in city
 
  A 

[Assam] Group clash in the city: 12 killed,curfew in city

[kamal deka]

   Chandanda, Here is an article,written by HK Deka,which you may find
relevent. The North-East: fragments and invention of a metaphor

---
*In 1972, the map of Assam changed and a whole became fragments. The country
had to invent a new metaphor to give the new map a new image in the process
of cutting it into parts and then re-joining it into a whole. That
metaphorical image was of seven sisters. But to understand the compulsion
behind this act of dismemberment and re-suturing, we need to peep into its
development in the political history of Assam following independence. * *In
1947 too, there was a change in its map. It lost Sylhet to Pakistan, the
largest and most populous district of the British province of Assam. But in
the rest of the province (which became a state under the Constitution of
independent India), no change was affected except transfer of some land
(which was in the plains) from the frontier tract which consisted of hills.
Interestingly, the exclusionary policy of the British in respect of the
hills was not abandoned by the new nation-state but the emphasis was
different. The sixth schedule of the Constitution served the purpose of the
excluded and partially excluded areas. What Nehru said in his address to the
opening session of the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Area's Conference at
New Delhi in June 1952 throws some light on the purpose of giving the
north-eastern hill tribes a separate status under the Constitution. It was
not to 'allow them to be engulfed by the masses of Indian humanity' and not
to make them 'anthropological specimens'. The North-East Frontier Tract
remained under direct charge of the Central Government through the governor
though it was considered a part of Assam. Provisions were made for the Assam
hill district to have autonomous councils to enable the tribes to
participate in democratic process and local self governance. These were
constituted except in Naga Hills where a demand for independence grew and
where resistance against a council set up was strong. However, there were
problems regarding fund and this caused discontent amongst the emerging
tribal leadership. On the other hand, many Assam leaders like Rohini Kumar
Choudhury and Kuladhar Chaliha were opposed to the move and asked for
immediate integration of these areas with the rest of the country. Nehru's
fear was not unjustified. There was a possibility that sudden opening of the
living space of these communities to those with whom they had very little
social contact and who had different cultural life could have caused fear
and anxiety. It would have been like confronting an alien culture as the
British officials, by a deliberate design, kept these cultures apart. On the
other hand, this protective arrangement appears to have been taken too far
by the Government of Independent India at a time it sought to build a united
nation from the varieties of its cultural life. As a result, the leadership
in both areas could never gain the precious experience of working together
in governance. Another unexplainable arrangement was made in respect of the
North-East Frontier Tract, later called North East Frontier Agency
(presently called Arunachal Pradesh). The area was placed under the External
Affairs Ministry as if it was not a 'home' territory of the emerging Indian
nation. The only explanation was that Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to pay
personal attention to the area and the external ministry was under his
charge. This tract being a frontier with China and China's territorial
intention becoming clearer day by day, its placing under the home ministry
was necessary even as a political posture against china's emerging claim.
Nehru's desire to give personal attention to the region was hardly fulfilled
if we look at the state of development there during his time. It was
because, Nehru, despite his immense sympathy for the area as borne out by
copious notes and letters he wrote that are on record, was much preoccupied
with events elsewhere in the country. His growing involvement in
international affairs also must have taken his attention away. Moreover, in
those days Nehru appeared to have been more concerned about the integration
of the remote north-east region than its economic development as borne out
by his remark, thus they (the people of the frontier areas) lack the
feeling of oneness with the rest of India or the Indian people and are
distinctly afraid that their small numbers will be swamped by others…,apart
from suffering economically. On this aspect, his feeling was that removal
of the 'fear and apprehension from their mind' was of the first priority.
'How to make them feel at one with India' was so important that ' everything
else is subordinate to this, even economic betterment, although that is
highly important.'( Documents On North-East India vol 4 edited by
S.K.Sharmaand Usha Sharma,,2006, page288, from JN collection, note,
Shillong, 19
October,1952, 

Re: [Assam] ULFA reply to Kamal Deka

[kamal deka]

It would have been complete tomfoolery on my part if I had expected a
meaningful reply from the ' mouth organ ' of an outlawed organisation who
even doesn't know  how to differentiate between figurative language and
literal meaning ( living in cave ).Anyone even with a modicum of brain would
understand that.

Yes,I live in Texas.That does not mean that I should not be allowed to care
for Assam---a state,I hold so dear. What constructive works have you all
done save carrying out gory pogrom in order to mow down innocent unarmed
civilians including children and women ? But then,I should not expect
anything good coming out of an outfit, whose credo has been to rule with
guns and rods,shutting out dissents by death.

KJD


On 10/15/07, ulfa_ 1979April7 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Hounorable Netters,structive

 By suggesting that the ULFA members are cave dwellers, Dr. Kamal Deka
 seems to have taken the opportunity to highlight  that he lives in Texas.
 His wording in the relevant mail is speaking that loud enough.
 There is no doubt that he has the required qualification to work abroad
 and earning a lot of money.
 As ULFA members home is Asom rather than Texas or New York, their lives
 are akin to cave dwellers as perceived by Kamal Deka. Therefore, he thinks
 that these cave dwellers are unable to understand and appreciate what is
 Sovereign independence. Consequently there is no point of having a
 plebiscite to end the Asom-India conflict peacefully. Asking for a
 plebiscite in his eyes is likened to a child demanding the moon! Hence, he
 has not offered any definitive idea for a solution. We do not think that he
 has an answer how to bring in the resolution to the conflict. But we would
 like to say that by bringing in the idea of autonomy he is skillfully
 diverting the focus from a true solution to a non-solution. During the
 freedom struggle against the imperialist British colonialists such educated
 class of people tried to derail the rise ups. He is an incarnation with the
 same mentality.
 Members and visitors to the AssamNet must have noticed his disdain by
 commenting the ULFA as 'Cave dwellers' and in contrast raising his profile
 as an educated successful person. But he has not indicated of his
 contribution, if any, in resolving the national problem of Asom. Apart from
 making his life in America, if he has done anything for Asom and her
 people we do not know. It is not clear if he understands his servitude to
 America by offering his brain and skill for riches.

 In our opinion he is a so-called educated person without social and
 political insight, wanting to be an arm-chair revolutionary. Dr. Deka
 perhaps has never read the poem 'Soha aru pondit, r Sohoror odurot asil ejon
 soha nam tar jurmon Bara'.

 Despite his expressed unhelpful views, we would urge him to get involve
 within his limitations for the emancipation of the oppressed and exploited
 majority of Asom
 Rubi Bhuyan

 Central publicity member,ULFA

 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:00:41 -0500
 kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 assam@assamnet.org

 Rubi Bhuyan and the people of his/her ilk must be living in a
 cave,totally detached from the ground realities of Assam.They are merely
 prodding at the body of ' *sovereignty'* without knowing what it is all
 about---like children at a new toy in the market showroom.Rubi Bhuyan's
 point of view expressed in the Assam Net is of no consequence as far as I am
 concerned.



 I respectfully disagree with Mr.Nayanjyoti Medhi's opinion,voiced in this
 forum in regard to holding a plebiscite in Assam focusing solely on the
 sovereignty issue as demanded by the ULFA,who are itching to break-up a
 60-year-old kaleidoscopic federation.Why do we have to hold a
 referendum,buckling under the pressure of an outfit that has been outlawed
 by the Government ? Is Assam an exclusive preserve of the ULFA ? The right
 to self-determination,if allowed in Assam,would then be reduced to a series
 of voting exorcises,conducted every 10 years or so in order to meet the
 demand of the new generation,at whose whim the border of a country could be
 defined and redefined.It will not be very difficult to imagine the
 chaos,it would create in a polyglot,multi-ethnic and multi-religious state
 as Assam's,if such recipe were to be applied state-wide as a solution.

 Kamal J Deka
 sugarland,Texas.

  --
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 Mailhttp://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/gmail/war_spam/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48525/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/addressguard2.htmlcan
  help you win the war against spam.


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[Assam] ULFA REPLY

[kamal deka]

Chandanda,

In my humble opinion,it is the system of governance in Assam that
needs overhauling in toto.Moreover,to all intents and purposes,sovereignty
is an unattainable goal.Why chase wild goose ? Sovereignty will not be able
to cast any magic spell in the over-all development of Assam unless there is
a sea-change in the system of governance,currently in place out there.Hope,I
have made some sense.

Kamal
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Re: [Assam] on plebisite

[kamal deka]

Umesh,you have raised the most poignant and relevant question.

Despite a miserable track records of successive Govt.of Assam in day-to-day
administration or in law-and-order or civic affairssubjects in which the
Center just can't and does not poke its nose---ULFA is issuing the call for
sovereignty.Sovereignty for what ? For running personal fiefdoms ?

The call to hold a plebiscite is unwarranted.We have a Government out there
in Assam,elected by the universal adult franchise inspite of the fact that
the ULFA gave a clarion call to boycott the election.

KJD

On 10/14/07, umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Mr Ruby,

 What is your plan for Assam's development - since you say you want Assam's
 development?

 Umesh

 *ulfa_ 1979April7 [EMAIL PROTECTED] * wrote:

 Hon'able netter,

 We felt it necessary to add our comment to the above discussion thread 
 between Ram Sarangapani and Chandan Mahanta. Yes indeed, the ULFA is still 
 totally committed, as before, to honour the verdict of a plebiscite on the 
 restoration of the Sovereignty of Asom held under the auspices of the United 
 Nations.  The ULFA certainly
  made this declaration before anybody else.  Bringing this up in this 
 discussion forum by yourselves is very commendable. But we would like to make 
 it clear here that we do not want any migrant from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, 
 Myanmar etcetera  since 1947 to take part in this
  plebiscite  in defining the future direction of Asom.
 Ram Sarangapani, you are a regular contributor in the AssamNet forum.  Your 
 explicit expression of support to stand by Assam (Asom)and her people 
 reflects your wisdom.
 There are many who may not support  the ULFA, but, the most important thing 
 is for all is to standby
  the people of Asom.  We would like to ask you not to support the views and 
 actions of the selfish ones who are just taking advantage of the situation. 
 Instead, be with the majority and work for real peace to return to Asom.


 Rubi Bhuyan


 Central Publicity member, ULFA


1. Re: Please take part in the opinion poll (Chan Mahanta)

2. Re: Please take part in the opinion poll (Ram
  Sarangapani)

   On 10/10/07,* Chan Mahanta* [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 http://uk.f269.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  wrote:
 On 10/11/07,* Ram Sarangapani* [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 http://uk.f269.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:
 maybe a plebiscite is not a bad idea at all. atleast

 Now, what I am not sure of is being on ULFa's side is synonymous with
 seeking Assam's interests? :)



  That is a pathetic spin Ram.

 IF you are for an end to the conflict, and ULFA agrees to abide by the
 verdict of the people, why do you invent excuses like that to avoid the
 plebiscite, unless you really do not believe what you profess, that the
 people don't want sovereignty?


 At 2:26 PM -0600 10/10/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
 C'da,

 You know me well enough to know that I don't carry water for anybody - GOI
 included.
 And does it really matter where I stand?


 Well, if you must, I don't like a plebicite. I seriously think its a
 red-herring for anyone interested in the well-being of Assam (both the
 pro/against sovereignty people).

 I think the results of a plebicite will not be helpful to anyone. It will
 lead to a much bigger, and unmanageable mess from which Assam will never get
 out of.Each side will bicker and moan about fraud, etc and a toothless UN
 can't do a lick.

 Dilli has a billion people behind it.  The people of Assam need yOU far
 more than Dilli does.

 Thanks, C'da. But, you misunderstand,* I am on **Assam**'s side* as
 opposed to being on Dilli's side.
 Now, what I am not sure of is being on ULFa's side is synonymous with
 seeking Assam's interests? :)
 And, C'da, Assam needs you more than they will ever need me.

 --Ram


 --Ram

 On 10/10/07,* Chan Mahanta*  [EMAIL 
 PROTECTED]http://uk.f269.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 That should pretty much place those who are for Assam's continued
 servitude in a huge majority and thus pave the way for a plebiscite to put
 an end to the speculations, wouldn't it?


 Why even bother about Assam Public Works' house to house interrogation
 poll?

 At 11:55 AM -0600 10/10/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

 Jeeez.. only 5% support sovereignty and this movement? Thats bad even
 from a poll that one doesn't trust.

 It is encouraging to note that that some 43% sent in their votes thru
 surface mail.

 Any reasons why the PCG did not publish the results?  Also, does this
 result in any way match up with those conducted by the Assam Public Works
 (or Service) group?

  --
 For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For 
 Goodhttp://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.htmlthis month. 
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 assam mailing list
 assam@assamnet.org
 http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org




 Umesh Sharma

 Washington D.C.

 1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

Re: [Assam] on plebisite

[kamal deka]

Rubi Bhuyan and her/his acolytes may be excused for having the intellect of
bellicose bumpkin,but what about those kharkhowas,both native and overseas
with king-size brain,who have failed to understand as to why sovereignty is
not the panacea of all ills of Assam.Will Assam be led to an Utopian state
only if Delhi stop being the barrier ? I have already explained that there
are plenty of areas in which the Center simply can't and does not interfere
with the state.The developmental pace in those areas can be matched with
that of the snail's.That's why we have to set our  house in order first
before screaming for sovereignty.It simply does not make sense. If you
cannot walk straight on a tarred road,why do you ask for a pair of special
Nike shoes to walk up the hill ?

KJD


On 10/14/07, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  Birds of a feather no doubt :-).


 The call to hold a plebiscite is unwarranted.


  Why?




 We have a Government out there in Assam,elected by the universal adult
 franchise inspite of the fact that the ULFA gave a clarion call to boycott
 the election.




  And that means what?


 What is that adult franchise sired  govt .  doing for Assam's development?
 Shouldn't we ask that first, instead of asking that of Ruby who does not
 have power, does not have resources, and doers not control the population
 with military force?


 Are we unable to muster even  that bit of common sense?












 At 7:34 PM -0500 10/14/07, kamal deka wrote:

 Umesh,you have raised the most poignant and relevant question.



 Despite a miserable track records of successive Govt.of Assam in
 day-to-day administration or in law-and-order or civic affairssubjects
 in which the Center just can't and does not poke its nose---ULFA is issuing
 the call for sovereignty.Sovereignty for what ? For running personal
 fiefdoms ?


 The call to hold a plebiscite is unwarranted.We have a Government out
 there in Assam,elected by the universal adult franchise inspite of the fact
 that the ULFA gave a clarion call to boycott the election.



 KJD


 On 10/14/07,* umesh sharma* [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:

 Mr Ruby,

 What is your plan for Assam's development - since you say you want Assam's
 development?

 Umesh



 *ulfa_ 1979April7 [EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED]
 * * wrote:

 Hon'able netter,



 We felt it necessary to add our comment to the above discussion thread
 between Ram Sarangapani and Chandan Mahanta. Yes indeed, the ULFA is still
 totally committed, as before, to honour the verdict of a plebiscite on the
 restoration of the Sovereignty of Asom held under the auspices of the United
 Nations.  The ULFA certainly
  made this declaration before anybody else.  Bringing this up in this
 discussion forum by yourselves is very commendable. But we would like to
 make it clear here that we do not want any migrant from India, Bangladesh,
 Nepal, Myanmar etcetera  since 1947 to take part in this

  plebiscite  in defining the future direction of Asom.

 Ram Sarangapani, you are a regular contributor in the AssamNet forum.
 Your explicit expression of support to stand by
 Assam (Asom)and her people reflects your wisdom.



 There are many who may not support  the ULFA, but, the most important
 thing is for all is to standby
  the people of Asom.  We would like to ask you not to support the views
 and actions of the selfish ones who are just taking advantage of the
 situation. Instead, be with the majority and work for real peace to return
 to Asom.





 Rubi Bhuyan







 Central Publicity member, ULFA









1. Re: Please take part in the opinion poll (Chan Mahanta)

2. Re: Please take part in the opinion poll (Ram

  Sarangapani)



 On 10/10/07,* Chan Mahanta* 

 [EMAIL PROTECTED]http://uk.f269.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[EMAIL PROTECTED]

  wrote:

 On 10/11/07,* Ram Sarangapani* 

 http://uk.f269.mail.yahoo.com/ym/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:

 maybe a plebiscite is not a bad idea at all. atleast



 Now, what I am not sure of is being on ULFa's side is synonymous with
 seeking Assam's interests? :)







  That is a pathetic spin Ram.



 IF you are for an end to the conflict, and ULFA agrees to abide by the
 verdict of the people, why do you invent excuses like that to avoid the
 plebiscite, unless you really do not believe what you profess, that the
 people don't want sovereignty?





 At 2:26 PM -0600 10/10/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

 C'da,



 You know me well enough to know that I don't carry water for anybody - GOI
 included.

 And does it really matter where I stand?





 Well, if you must, I don't like a plebicite. I seriously think its a
 red-herring for anyone interested in the well-being of Assam (both the
 pro/against sovereignty people).



 I think the results of a plebicite will not be helpful to anyone. It will
 lead to a much bigger, and unmanageable mess from which Assam will never get
 out of.Each side will bicker and moan about fraud, etc

Re: [Assam] ULFA reply

[kamal deka]

Rubi Bhuyan and the people of his/her ilk must be living in a cave,totally
detached from the ground realities of Assam.They are merely prodding at the
body of ' *sovereignty'* without knowing what it is all about---like
children at a new toy in the market showroom.Rubi Bhuyan's point of view
expressed in the Assam Net is of no consequence as far as I am concerned.

I respectfully disagree with Mr.Nayanjyoti Medhi's opinion,voiced in this
forum in regard to holding a plebiscite in Assam focusing solely on the
sovereignty issue as demanded by the ULFA,who are itching to break-up a
60-year-old kaleidoscopic federation.Why do we have to hold a
referendum,buckling under the pressure of an outfit that has been outlawed
by the Government ? Is Assam an exclusive preserve of the ULFA ? The right
to self-determination,if allowed in Assam,would then be reduced to a series
of voting exorcises,conducted every 10 years or so in order to meet the
demand of the new generation,at whose whim the border of a country could be
defined and redefined.It will not be very difficult to imagine the chaos,it
would create in a polyglot,multi-ethnic and multi-religious state as
Assam's,if such recipe were to be applied state-wide as a solution.

Kamal J Deka
sugarland,Texas.


On 10/13/07, Nayanjyoti Medhi [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Dear Rubi,

 I thought since you have been following my postings in Assam online and
 Assamnet, You would be enlightened as to what, I as an Assamese would want
 for me and my fellowmen. But it saddens me because, maybe the one
 interacting with me and the one following my posts are probably not the same
 person. If both were the same person, then you would not have written this
 to me. Even if you ask Chandan Mahanta, he will tell you that I have been
 one of the few in Assamnet who has been advocating against the kiling of our
 own brothers and sisters. Whether it is in Bhutan, Burma, Arunachal or in
 their own backyards. I have even gone on record saying that there should be
 a plebiscite. Preferably a independent one where the Government agencies has
 no part/role to play. I had requested only one condition that there should
 be a guarantee that the people's wishes should be respected. I am on record
 that i have been advocating against killing. of innocents and others
 equally. But then how would you know. You are not the one following the
 posts. However I would suggest that you see the postings in Assamnet put
 there by me few days back. You will find that it is me who wrote that there
 should be a plebiscite because a very miniscule portion of the masses have
 access to internet and their views here do not reflect the view of the
 masses. And that is the very reason why I requested you (ULFA) to go to the
 masses in the last post as well as in my reply to the letter written by you
 to Shantikam Hazarika, a copy of which was also sent to me.

  Instead of discussing how such an environment be created, saying that
 the United Nations won't agree to a plebiscite, is not like plucking a
 solution from the thin air?
 You have put emphasis on the changes the administration has brought
 in.
 Pray tell me when and where did I make the statement that United Nations
 won't agree to a plebiscite. And one thing more. I have never emphasised on
 the changes the administration has bought in. Again, I ask you, When and
 where did I say that? Infact I have gone on record saying that I am
 disgusted with both the Government and you (see my reply to C Da's
 post) because neither has done anything for peace and progress of Assam (I
 have not seen any results in 28 years, I have become a man from 4 months old
 baby).


 Nayan

 P.S: Please ask Chandan Da not to barge in and write a hilarious reply to
 what i have written coz i won't reply then.


 On 10/13/07, ulfa_ 1979April7 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 
  Dear Nayanjyoti Medhi,
 
  We have read your comments in AssamOnline. You wrote,  Times have
  changed. The boys are disillusioned after living in jungle camps with
  mosquitoes and malaria, killing, avoiding the bullets of the Indian security
  forces, and no real destination in sight. To the mainstream Assamese the
  ULFA is no longer a struggle for national salvation but one that keeps
  normal life disturbed. Is it not the time to rethink and ask the people what
  they want? The ULFA should ask the people if the Assamese people see the
  ULFA movement as a beneficial and healthy activity for the betterment of the
  Assamese people? Do the Assamese people really feel they are not part of
  India and are being exploited by New Delhi?
 
  Now the final question is that whether The ULFA movement is something
  that is wanted by the people of Assam and supported by them or is it
  something which is being imposed on them.  We find that your statement
  is a mere repetition of what the unified command structure has been saying
  for the last twenty eight years.  We do not accept such views. The colonial
  

Re: [Assam] ULFA reply

[kamal deka]

The GOI has similarly been willing to hold parleys with ULFA in order to
hammer out a solution within the ambit of the Constitution.What is wrong
with that ?
KJD


On 10/13/07, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  The big vacuum of reason here I see is  this:


 IF, Assam's OWNERS, I mean other those who sit in Dilli , so wish
 for an end to hostilities
 and can't  figure out HOW, and if ULFA, the villains, declare that
 they will abide by the
 verdict of the people for whose sovereignty they gave nearly
 15,000 Oxomiya lives over
 29 years, then would it NOT make eminent sense to hold one?


 What am I missing here?  Would it be sincerity of purpose ( of a hope for
 peace), or is that yet another
 display , albeit unintended, attempt to to have it both ways?




























 At 3:57 AM +0100 10/14/07, uttam borthakur wrote:

 Living in a cave does not exclude the yearning or formation of wisdom as
 Plato would ask us to believe.



 The right to self-determination should not be denied to any people. But
 the question is: how the stage is to be assessed where a plebiscite becomes
 imperative. Simply because ULFA says that, should it be held? That NSCN or
 other outfits have claimed parts of the present Assam, should a plebiscite
 be held for that purpose in the disputed areas? In that case there would be
 no end to plebiscite and that is a very impractical thing. Then we will have
 to divide Assam to the size of the city states and have to decide every
 issue through citizens' vote! Now we have to assess whether the stage has
 come. I request everyone here or otherwise to find an objective measure of
 assessment. Moreover, could not the protagonists of secession
 consider building up of the opinion without training their guns on the
 people of Assam on the pretext of they being spies of the 'state' etc? The
 covert organisations always fall prey to the guiles of the 'state' they
 fight by killing their own due to suspicion and sometimes
 intra-organisational feud. Better they do things under the sun taking people
 as their forte rather than ineffectual guns.



 If the majority of the people feel that they should protect themselves
 with guns, I would not oppose that. But the people do not need a few to
 'protect' and/or'kill' some of them on whimsy on the pleas of mistaken
 identity, cross-fire etc.

 *kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED]* wrote:

 Rubi Bhuyan and the people of his/her ilk must be living in a cave,totally
 detached from the ground realities of Assam.They are merely prodding at
 the body of ' *sovereignty'* without knowing what it is all about---like
 children at a new toy in the market showroom.Rubi Bhuyan's point of view
 expressed in the Assam Net is of no consequence as far as I am concerned.



 I respectfully disagree with Mr.Nayanjyoti Medhi's opinion,voiced in this
 forum in regard to holding a plebiscite in Assam focusing solely on the
 sovereignty issue as demanded by the ULFA,who are itching to break-up a
 60-year-old kaleidoscopic federation.Why do we have to hold a
 referendum,buckling under the pressure of an outfit that has been outlawed
 by the Government ? Is Assam an exclusive preserve of the ULFA ? The right
 to self-determination,if allowed in Assam,would then be reduced to a series
 of voting exorcises,conducted every 10 years or so in order to meet the
 demand of the new generation,at whose whim the border of a country could be
 defined and redefined.It will not be very difficult to imagine the
 chaos,it would create in a polyglot,multi-ethnic and multi-religious state
 as Assam's,if such recipe were to be applied state-wide as a solution.



 Kamal J Deka

 sugarland,Texas.



 On 10/13/07,* Nayanjyoti Medhi* [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Dear Rubi,



 I thought since you have been following my postings in Assam online and
 Assamnet, You would be enlightened as to what, I as an Assamese would want
 for me and my fellowmen. But it saddens me because, maybe the one
 interacting with me and the one following my posts are probably not the same
 person. If both were the same person, then you would not have written this
 to me. Even if you ask Chandan Mahanta, he will tell you that I have been
 one of the few in Assamnet who has been advocating against the kiling of our
 own brothers and sisters. Whether it is in Bhutan, Burma, Arunachal or in
 their own backyards. I have even gone on record saying that there should be
 a plebiscite. Preferably a independent one where the Government agencies has
 no part/role to play. I had requested only one condition that there should
 be a guarantee that the people's wishes should be respected. I am on record
 that i have been advocating against killing. of innocents and others
 equally. But then how would you know. You are not the one following the
 posts. However I would suggest that you see the postings in Assamnet put
 there by me few days back. You will find that it is me who wrote

Re: [Assam] A New Documentary on Kashmir

[kamal deka]

Does India have a state called Kashmir ? If I am not seriously mistaken,the
name of the state is Jammu and Kashmir that comprises of three distinct
zones---Ladakh ( Buddhist-majority), Jammu ( Hindu-majority) and Kashmir
valley ( Muslim-majority).I  don't see similar uprising in Ladakh and
Jammu.Ain't  those two regions part of the state,known as JK ? Shouldn't
the point of view of those people,living in that two regions be heard ? Why
must anyone force the choice of one segment of the state's population upon
others ? Should we assume that the people of Ladakh and Jammu are not
KASHMIRIS ?

KJD


On 10/5/07, Sanjib Baruah [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 There is a provocative new documentary film on Kashmir. The following
 review in Outlook magazine may be of interest to Assamnet.


 http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20071004fname=ananyasid=1pn=1

 October 12 2007..

 Azadi: Theirs And Ours

 By the logic of the Indian state, India is free and Kashmir is a part of
 India, ergo, Kashmir too, must be free. But Sanjay Kaks documentary
 provides visual attestation for something diametrically opposed to this
 logic: the reality of occupation.

 Sanjay Kaks new documentary Jashn-e-Azadi (How we celebrate freedom) is
 aimed primarily at an Indian audience. This two-part film, 138 min long,
 explores what Kak calls the sentiment, namely azadi (literally
 freedom) driving the conflict in the India controlled part of Kashmir
 for the past 18 years. This sentiment is inchoate: it does not have a
 unified movement, a symbol, a flag, a map, a slogan, a leader or any one
 party associated with it. Sometimes it means full territorial
 independence, and sometimes it means other things. Yet it is real, with a
 reality that neither outright repression nor fitful persuasion from India
 has managed to dissipate for almost two decades. Howsoever unclear its
 political shape, Kashmiris know the emotional charge of azadi, its ability
 to keep alive in every Kashmiri heart a sense of struggle, of dissent, of
 hope. It is for Indians who do not know about this sentiment, or do not
 know how to react to it, that Kak has made his difficult, powerful film.
 And it is with Indian audiences that Kak has already had, and is likely to
 continue having, the most heated debate.

 Between 1989 and 2007, nearly 100,000 people--soldiers and civilians,
 armed militants and unarmed citizens, Kashmiris and non-Kashmiris--lost
 their lives to the violence in Kashmir. 700,000 Indian military and
 paramilitary troops are stationed there, the largest such armed presence
 in what is supposedly peace time, anywhere in the world. Both residents of
 and visitors to Kashmir in recent years already know what Kaks film brings
 home to the viewer: how thoroughly militarized the Valley is,
 criss-crossed by barbed wire, littered with bunkers and sand-bags, dotted
 with men in uniform carrying guns, its roads bearing an unending stream of
 armoured vehicles up and down a landscape that used to be called, echoing
 the words of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir, Paradise on earth. Other places
 so mangled by a security apparatus as to make it impossible for life to
 proceed normally immediately come to mind: occupied Palestine, occupied
 Iraq.

 Locals, especially young men, must produce identification at all the
 check-posts that punctuate the land, or during sudden and frequent
 operations described by the dreaded words crackdown and cordon and
 search. Kaks camera shows us that even the most ordinary attempt to cross
 the city of Srinagar, or travel from one village to another is fraught
 with these security checks, as though the entire Valley were a gigantic
 airport terminal and every man were a threat to every other. As soldiers
 insultingly frisk folks for walking about in their own places, the
 expressions in their eyes--anger, fear, resignation, frustration,
 irritation, or just plain embarrassment--say it all. In one scene men are
 lined up, and some of them get their clothes pulled and their faces
 slapped while they are being searched. Somewhere beneath all these daily
 humiliations burns the unnamed sentiment: azadi.

 One reason that there is no Indian tolerance for this word in the context
 of Kashmir is that the desire for freedom immediately implies that its
 opposite is the case: Kashmir is not free. By the logic of the Indian
 state, India is free and Kashmir is a part of India, ergo, Kashmir too,
 must be free. But Kaks images provide visual attestation for something
 diametrically opposed to this logic: the reality of occupation. Kashmir is
 occupied by Indian troops, somewhat like Palestine is by Israeli troops,
 and Iraq is by American and coalition troops. But wait, objects the Indian
 viewer.
 Palestinians are Muslims and Israelis are Jews; Iraqis are Iraqis and
 Americans are Americans--how are their dynamics comparable to the
 situation in Kashmir? Indians and Kashmiris are all Indian; Muslims and
 non-Muslims in Kashmir (or 

[Assam] OUR SARDAR

[kamal deka]

*PAKISTANI,BANGLADESHI AND OUR SARDAR ARE IN A BAR ONE NIGHT HAVING A BEER.*
**
*THE PAKISTANI DRINKS HIS BEER AND SUDDENLY THROWS HIS GLASS IN THE
AIR,PULLS OUT A GUN AND SHOOTS THE GLASS TO PIECES.HE SAYS  IN
ISLAMABAD,OUR GLASSES ARE SO CHEAP THAT WE DON'T DRINK FROM THE SAME ONE
TWICE *
**
*THE BANGLADESHI,OBVIOUSLY IMPRESSED BY THIS,DRINKS HIS BEER,THROWS THE
GLASS IN THE AIR AND SHOOTS THE GLASS TO PIECES.HE SAYS  IN DHAKA,WE HAVE
SO MUCH SAND TO MAKE GLASSES THAT WE DON'T NEED TO DRINK OUT OF THE SAME
GLASS TWICE EITHER *
**
*OUR SARDAR,COOL AS CUCUMBER,PICKS UP HIS BEER,DRINKS IT AND THROWS THE
GLASS IN THE AIR AND SHOOTS THE PAKISTANI AND THE BANGLADESHI.HE SAYS  IN
INDIA WE HAVE SO MANY BANGLADESHIS AND PAKISTANIS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO
DRINK WITH THE SAME ONES TWICE *
**
___
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Re: [Assam] Lack of Work Culture - Sentinel Op ed

[kamal deka]

I really stand aghast on account of the fact that how a tripe as JB's piece
was allowed for publication by the Editorial Board of The Sentinel !!!

KJD


On 8/12/07, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:



 Ram:


 Had it not been for your drawing attention to it, I never would have read
 it.




 BTW, you missed highlighting the main idea :


 *These retarding syndromes of unpunctuality, absenteeism and a
 general tendency of*
 *lethargy are solely responsible for the backwardness of our
 State.*






 So, what do you think of the article?


 c-da


















 At 12:49 PM -0600 8/12/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

 Even though, this topic has made the usual rounds (including Assamnet),
 Dr. JB's Op Ed makes interesting reading.



 Highlights mine. Maybe, we ought not read such op eds - that may solve the
 problem :) :)



 --Ram



 *
 **Dr Jyotsna Bhattacharjee**
 *Absenteeism and unpunctuality are perhaps not peculiar to Assam, and for
 that matter in other States as well. The only difference is perhaps in
 magnitude, as is clearly evident here. In other States, these two retarding
 syndromes are not so striking, but sadly here they have become an
 inalienable part of our work ethos.* Consequently, our state has been
 stigmatized as the land of lahe-lahe.* Nothing seems to move fast 
 here.*Outsiders ridicule the Assamese people as a bunch of lazybones and 
 nothing
 seems to shake them.* By nature, the Assamese people are easy going and
 gregarious, and apparently do not inculcate any ambitions to outshine
 others.
 Assam, no wonder, is called a backward State.* A nation cannot progress if
 its citizens are indolent.* While other States have raced ahead with
 remarkable speed, Assam has remained miles behind them.* A State's welfare
 depends on the people, and if the people are slow, unambitious and drowsy,
 naturally there can be no hope for such a state.* The people here want
 jobs but do not want to work. They do not want to take risks or struggle.
 Till some years back, there was no Assamese businessman worth the name; the
 whole business was in the hands of outsiders. Only in recent years, we have
 seen Assamese boys and girls joining the business line and they are doing
 very well.
 But sadly we have not been able to shrug off our characteristic aversion
 to exertion. Because of that we have become the butt of ridicule and
 humiliation. We feel ashamed whenever we notice the progress made by other
 States. Ironically, even in our own country, people were not aware of our
 State or its people. It is only since a decade back that Assam has caught
 the attention of the people due to all the wrong reasons of insurgency and
 violence. Unless we can shrug off our lethargy, the future of our State is
 certainly doomed.
 *People clamour for jobs and are ready to pay a large amount of 'demand
 money' for it*. After securing the job, the applicant sits back to enjoy
 his life of leisure - looking for ways and means to earn some easy money
 from hapless people, besides earning the salary at the end of the month.*The 
 office becomes the place for relaxation and gossip.
 * These people do not care as to how much their indolence is affecting the
 public. You may take a round of these offices for some urgent piece of
 information, but you do not get it. Letters do not bring any response - and
 then you try to meet a person dealing with your file but he may not be
 there, and nobody knows whether he is present or absent. In such a messy
 situation, you may wonder if these people have added invisibility to their
 other accomplishments. Even if you manage to meet the persons concerned, do
 not think that your work will be done. Either he will ask you to come
 another day, or your file may not be found at all. But bring out your purse
 and the missing file instantly reappears, as if by magic.
 *These employees are concerned about nothing else but money*. They start
 agitation at the drop of a hat. They demand better wages, better facilities
 and better prospects. But they forget that rights and duties go together.
 One is meaningless without the other. If it is their right to get better
 wages and better facilities, then it is their duty to work with sincerity
 and dedication. But we people, though extremely conscious of our rights, are
 often forgetful of our duties.

 Even if they are present in their respective offices, work proceeds at a
 snail's pace.* Nobody seems to be interested in the job. Cobwebs can be
 seen everywhere and it appears that the floors do not see a broom for months
 together. Dusty files clutter the tables and the floor. They almost appear
 to reach the roof. It is not known if they are ever opened*. What a
 depressing sight!
 *Absenteeism is not peculiar only to government departments; it has spread
 to private establishments as well.* An owner of a firm, dealing with
 refrigerators, air-conditioners and other electrical gadgets, ruefully says
 that he cannot give 

[Assam] Fwd: 28th Assam Convention held in Boston (The Assam Tribune, 19.07.2007)

[kamal deka]

-- Forwarded message --
From: kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Jul 20, 2007 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] 28th Assam Convention held in Boston (The Assam
Tribune, 19.07.2007)
To: Rajen  Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED]

As to the ' trophy ,the less said, the better.In my humble view,the text of
the report could have been abridged in order to highlight the key points.

Is ' murighonto ' an Assamese dish ? Just curious !! Have you all noticed
one thing that everything * first time  seems** to take place in Boston (
*eg.masor tenga for the first time,murighonto for the first time,the
presence of a chief minister for the first time etc.) ?

KJ


On 7/20/07, Rajen  Ajanta Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:


 Did the Washington Assam 2007 also sent the CM with a trophy?
What they discussed with him?
Why there is no news about Assam 2007 in Assam  media?
Rajen

- Original Message -
*From:* Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 *To:* kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@assamnet.org
*Sent:* Friday, July 20, 2007 7:38 AM
*Subject:* Re: [Assam] 28th Assam Convention held in Boston (The Assam
Tribune, 19.07.2007)


Trophy? Wow!


I thought trophies are awarded for winning something.Therefore it could be
construed that the CM
won it by winning the hearts ( if not minds) of the convention goers,
ostensibly for his dedicated service to the people of Assam.


The other explanation could be that damned English language acting up
again, haunting second generation markhowas too, who, I heard, ran the show.


You take your pick.






















At 12:05 PM -0500 7/19/07, kamal deka wrote:

I almost fell off the chair when I came to know that the host committee
added one more golden feather to the  glorious cap  of Swargodew Tarun
Gogoi by awarding a  trophy  for his  dedicated service  to the people
of Assam.Dedicated service ? What kind of dedication has he made so far on
behalf of the people of Assam ? Could anyone explain to me ? This is really
something that lies outside my ken.



Rajen kokaidew and you are absolutely right in pointing out the fact that
 masor tenga  was served in the ' kharkhowa mohaxobhas',held
earlier.Disinformation or misinformation ? I am at a loss !!!



KJD



On 7/19/07,* Chan Mahanta* [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

There was more:




His presence made some conveners, who must not have been quite sure of
it,  feel LEGITIMATE   :-).


































At 8:19 PM +0530 7/19/07, mc mahant wrote:


I thought Tarun went with HI-Power  team to discuss and enable Billions
$$ incoming investments into OXOM   and  for finalization of* that*Romantic 
Hydro-Electric Project in the Brahmaputra --without the need of
a/many Dam/s!!
-All ended up in Masor Tenga
-And Ram killing??
mm

--

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@assamnet.org; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:34:00 -0500
Subject: Re: [Assam] 28th Assam Convention held in Boston (The Assam
Tribune, 19.07.2007)

.ExternalClass BLOCKQUOTE {padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;}
.ExternalClass DL {padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;} .ExternalClass UL
{padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;} .ExternalClass OL
{padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;} .ExternalClass LI
{padding-bottom:0px;padding-top:0px;}

Chandan:

You are absolutely right. We still remember the Masor Tenga served in St
Louis convention.

BTW, and for the record, Masor Tenga was also served in the 1980 and 1987
Assam Conventions held in Houston. I remember because both the times, Ajanta
was one of the ladies who prepared the Masor Tenga delicacy with
Bilahi, Jati Law and Dhonia Xak.

Thanks

Rajen


- Original Message -

*From:* Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]

*To:* Buljit Buragohain [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@assamnet.org

*Sent:* Thursday, July 19, 2007 8:40 AM

*Subject:* Re: [Assam] 28th Assam Convention held in Boston (The Assam
Tribune, 19.07.2007)



Congrats to the revellers of the markhowa xonmilon at Boston.  Sounds like
everyone had a grand time, in grand style and in grand surroundings.


Also congratulations on IMAGINATIONS of being the FIRST  to partake of
tenga-anza and other kaharkhowa delicacies in an American hotel.   Yes, you
read it right -- imaginations -- is what I wrote.


Why, you ask?


Well, that is because those who experience something for the first time,
and imagine that they are the center of the universe, it IS indeed the first
time EVER


It just so happens, that St. Louis hosted two such xonmilons of kharkhowas
and markhowas, in first class hotels, where maasor-tenga ( once with
jaati-lao, and once with home-grown jika), tita-kerela and alu pitika with
mitha-tel, etc. were served at dinner, in the hotels, by hotel staff .



A St. Louisan :-), outside the center of the universe.












At 1:50 PM +0100 7/19/07, Buljit Buragohain wrote:


*28th Assam Convention held in Boston
* GUWAHATI, July 18 - The 28th Assam Convention was held at the Hyatt
Regency hotel

Re: [Assam] mainland vs northeast in delhi

[kamal deka]

The gory pogrom carried out by the outlawed outfit called ULFA on the
Hindi-speaking people is different from the cases of sexual assault
inflicted upon the girls of NE India by the criminal minds of Delhi in one
aspectthe former's mayhem is tied to a political agenda.However,in both
cases,the victims happen to be the soft targets.
KJD


On 7/14/07, SANDIP DUTTA [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


These kind of discussions are not going to help one single NE person who
may or may not face the kind of discrimination we talk about. This is a
practical situation on the ground. As we cannot change the fact that
Haryanvis dominate the Delhi police and have little or no knowledge about
NE, we have to be a bit more judicious for the time being instead of
thinking like we were in the middle of Kohima.

Assam.org http://assam.org/ cannot change the way Haryanvis think about
NE, atleast for the time being.

BTW, Isnt the Ulfa targetting Hindi speakers for similar racist reasons -
and blowing them with bombs?

Rgds,
Sandip


*Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]* wrote:



I don't see anything wrong in discussing the issue. In fact it should be
discussed.


But I agree with most of the points made here. Very well said!




. If it is true, then a Gujarati considers a Bihari mainstream and a
Bihari considers a Tamil mainstream; but they all consider us as not of the
mainstream.




*** And what that means is that we are different. It is a fact. We ought
to be secure about it, and not seek to be like them :-).





If this basis is correct, why should we beg to be included in that
mainstream? In that case, we are distinct from them as a class, because, we
have a different/ vibrant/ rich identity, if not politically, then
definitely culturally. And we are, and should be, proud of that.




*** Exactly!





The only thing that remains is 'discrimnation' by Delhi authorities
towards our boys and girls studying there. When the entire country pride
itself in baring itself to the western influence, why our guys should be
singled out for special treatment on the plea that certain rape or other
untoward things happened to a few of them. Such things happen to lots of
Delhi students, western or domestic tourists.




*** There is a major MYTH here, however. The so-called 'westernization' of
Indians cannot be further from the truth. Even a very large percentage of
the so-called NRIs living in the west  are NOT  really westernized and live
sheltered lives, divorced from the life of the communities where they do,
hopelessly attempting to hold on to what they consider Indian--which,
incidentally, varies widely from one group to the other, while each ethnic
group remain largely divorced from others from the same 'India' they came
from .   The parochialism is brutal.  Perhaps worse than what it might be in
some more pluralistic of Indian metropolitan environments.


Westernization in India is, at best, a mindless copy of the most
superficial of traits of what is considered 'western', usually as created by
Bollywood or as registered from fleeting images on the internet today.




The only thing that remains is 'discrimnation' by Delhi authorities
towards our boys and girls studying there.




*** It really is a manifestation of the attitude that pervades the general
Indian outlook: That numbers rule. My way or the highway.  While it argued
that it is an universal human trait, the difference lies in  to recognize
the rights of the numerical minorities, protecting them with FUNCTIONING
institutions of state: Constitutional safeguards backed up with law
enforcement, and effective conflict resolution mechanisms, like courts of
law.



The entire question thus boils down to one point: whether Delhi
authorities should presecribe dress code or should gear themselves up to
provide safeguard to the people---dressed, undressed or scantily dressed,
without discrimination?


*** Exactly!


I believe, we should tell them to mind their business and not waste our
own time and energy on this issue.


*** Here I differ. Unless it is discussed, people will remain uneducated
about its, and so will  its ramifications.  Indian intelligentsia's absence
from dealing with these issues is the reason they remain operative.










At 1:21 PM +0100 7/14/07, uttam borthakur wrote:

Is there any point in pursuing this discussion?



There is an assumption here that INDIANS, other than NORTH EASTERNERS,
consider other Indians mainstream, but do not have the same attitude towards
the North Easterners. If it is true, then a Gujarati considers a Bihari
mainstream and a Bihari considers a Tamil mainstream; but they all consider
us as not of the mainstream.



Why is that so?



If this basis is correct, why should we beg to be included in that
mainstream? In that case, we are distinct from them as a class, because, we
have a different/ vibrant/ rich identity, if not politically, then
definitely culturally. And we are, and should be, proud of that.



In so far as 

Re: [Assam] mainland vs northeast in delhi

[kamal deka]

The conception that the America is the melting pot of different cultures is
no longer valid.Its immigrant communities are more or less characterized by
a new trait called 'salad bowl' in which each and every community retains
their own characteristics while trying to integrate with the American
mainstream.It is the diversity in unity.That's why we have entities
like Assam Association/Assam Net,Gujrati samaj so on and so forth.

The student community of North East India may choose to lead a cloistered
life in Delhi and that's their choice.No one has the inherent right to
admonish them for doing so.Compartmentalization is a normal human
instinctive behaviour  meaning that the human beings tend to stick to their
own people and stay away from the unknown.The so- called '' provocative
dress' of the tribal girls may draw significant attraction of  unholy
thought by the male species of Delhi,but that does not mean that they are
entitled to rape them.

I can't be at one with Mr.Mani Shankar Ayer's assertion that Shillong is the
mainland.Had that been the case,the Scheduled tribe would not have been
defined as a particular group that is geographically isolated from the
mainstream and had strong sense of ethnic solidarity and exhibit ethnic
distinctiveness from the national society.

KJD


On 7/13/07, SANDIP DUTTA [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 There is no such thing called MUST. It is upto the individual. Whether
you assimilate or not, the consequences will be for you to bear. If I insist
on putting tilak every day on my entire forehead while walking through Times
square while going to work and be stared at, I can only blame myself.

Rgds,
Sandip


 - Original Message 
From: Priyankoo [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: SANDIP DUTTA [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@assamnet.org
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 10:25:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] mainland vs northeast in delhi

and why  people from the NE region MUST assimilate to the mainstream
culture? In case of Assam haven't we seen more than 90% of the non-Assamese
population never trying to assimilate with the local culture?

If there is a failure on part of the NE population in assimilating to
the mainstream culture, may be the reason is the same as why the non-
Assamese population in Assam never assimilated to the local culture/s.

best
Priyankoo

*Priyankoo [EMAIL PROTECTED]* wrote:

Assimilation is not the aim of the booklet. It just forces some dos and
don'ts to people from a particular region.

In any case, a booklet is never helpful for any kind of assimilation.

best
Priyankoo

*SANDIP DUTTA [EMAIL PROTECTED]* wrote:

 There is no problem with assimilation for students or citizens from
Assam. This advisory should be better worded and directed at our bros from
Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur who stay apart not just in Delhi but in other
parts of India too.

Rgds,
Sandip


- Original Message 
From: Malabika Brahma [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: xourov pathok [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@assamnet.org
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 7:33:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] mainland vs northeast in delhi

I wonder if similar circular was issued to Indians in the US ( regarding
the spices we use), how would the Indians react ?


*xourov pathok [EMAIL PROTECTED]* wrote:

having been in delhi for sometime as a student, i see
it is getting worse.

x

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070712/asp/frontpage/story_8048182.asp

Right intentions, wrong message
- Delhi police accused of dividing India into
'mainland'  'Northeast'
NISHIT DHOLABHAI

New Delhi, July 11: Delhi police's advisory to youths
from the Northeast studying in the capital is being
seen by most as segregating the region from the
so-called mainland.

The minister for development of the northeastern
region (DoNER), Mani Shankar Aiyar, had only recently
discouraged the use of this syntax. There is no
mainland, you are the mainland, he had told a
reporter in Shillong.

Aiyar was unavailable for comment on the booklet
released by Delhi police, but those who responded
seemed to cringe at the thought of someone advising
students from the region to change their food habits,
customs and manner of dressing to assimilate into the
mainstream.

Dipankar Gupta, professor of sociology at Jawaharlal
Nehru University, said the police's advice not to
create a ruckus in the neighbourhood by cooking
smelly dishes and dress decently was gratuitous, to
say the least.

The police come up with these advisories, but there
is no implementation. There should be a departmental
memo of some sort that if a person from the Northeast
is harmed, punishment will be stringent, Gupta said.

Moses Kharbithi, who is doing his MPhil at JNU, said
the advisory was tantamount to undermining the ability
of Northeast students in New Delhi to assimilate. I
wonder if they have given such booklets to students
from the South, he said.

Kharbithi said the fact that the booklet was
well-intentioned could not mask the sense of
discrimination.

Asom Gana Parishad MP Arun Kumar Sarma and his

[Assam] Dhemaji remains cut-off

[kamal deka]

The following piece of news appeared in today's on-line edition of The Assam
Tribune.
KJD
--
Dhemaji remains cut-off
GUWAHATI, July 13 – Assam's flood prone Dhemaji district today remained cut
off from the rest of the country for the third day with flood waters
inundating vast tracts of land, official sources said here, reports PTI.
Access to the district by rail and road was cut off as flash floods marooned
over 40,000 people of 120 villages following a breach in the embarkment of
River Kumotia, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra.

A section of National Highway 52 near Samarajan has been washed away by
flood waters, affecting road transport while rail tracks have been flooded
disrupting rail traffic.

The flood affected families have been sheltered in four relief camps set up
by the district administration while helicopters of the Indian Airforce
dropped food for the marooned people.

The sources said that the state government was in close touch with the
district administration and all possible relief would be provided to the
affected people.

Dhemaji is a flood-prone district but last year it had some relief due to
scarcity of rainfall.

There were also reports of Brahmaputra's water level was rising in most of
the districts following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas during the
last 48 hours, sources added.
___
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assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Re: [Assam] Immigration policy

[kamal deka]

It is impossible for me to write  responses according to the individual
level of comprehension.If I do that, I will land up writing---ba ba black
ship.

First, you tried to advance an argument saying that family reunification
program was not there 500 years ago and therefore it should not be there
fore ever.That is too facile of an argument to make.Every era or every age
has its own dynamics.What was held right 500 years ago may be perceived
wrong in today's world.100 years ago,the slavery and segregation was a part
of life here in America,does that mean those vices should have been allowed
to continue till today ? Two wrongs don't make a right. The term immigration
does not mean 'travel  only as you have implied.You may consult a
dictionary for proper definition. Tourists and immigrants are two different
things.

When did I say ' sharp guys  should not be allowed to come ? I cited the
example of Dr.David Ho just to stress the point that there are thousands of
cases like Dr.Ho,who created novel things after arriving in the US under
family reunification program.That should have been easily understood.

You wrote that 50% of American marriages end in divorce and divorce breaks
up a family.You seem to contradict yourself by saying so.That's exactly why
I wrote in my previous mail pointing out to the fact that young Americans
identified broken family as their greatest fear !!! Didn't I ?

You also wrote that in order to meet one's family,one should take time off
to meet them.If the meaning of ' family reunification' is just to meet the
family once in a while by taking time off,then we might as well forget about
the reunification of spouses too.They can meet each other once in a while
and that's all .Is not it ?

KJD



On 7/8/07, umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:


So you mean that just becos one person did well and created HIV medicie so
millions should be allowed in - whereas those adventurous and sharp guys who
take the risk on their own should not be??

50% of American marriages end in divorces so I do not see their fear of
broken families -- divorce breaks up a family does it not?

Third,  if a person is a citizen of USA  after coming here - I think s/he
is entitld to bring along his/her spouse and underage children. It is easier
to go from USA to India (22 hours) than it was for me to go from Delhi to
Chennai (38 hours - by train). Most people in India never travel by plane -
so have greater difficulty in meeting family -say an Assamese  working in
Bangalore - (40 hours atleast by train)  than visiting India from USA.

Even within the country people have to move elsewhere (in India ) to look
for work --so there is no cure for that. Is there?  If one wants to meet
family -- take some time off from work and visit them!!

Umesh



*kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] * wrote:

First thing first.As a sovereign country, the USA has every right to be
bristling with prejudices as far as immigration policy is concerned.They should
not be criticized for being harsh with the potential immigrants.However,family 
reunification programme has been the cornerstone for the past few
decades.I can think of three reasons as to why legal immigrants should be
allowed to reunite with their families.

First,a permanent class of legal immigrants who are constantly told ,their
labor is welcome,but their families are not, will never be full participants
in the American dream.The Oath of Allegiance had been all about ensuring
that new Americans don't have divided loyalties.Now that will be enshrined
in law.

Families are the bedrock of American life.Recent poll shows that young
Americans identified broken families,not Iraq or global warming as their
greatest fear.What message does the White House send out about family
value when its action undercuts its sermon ?

Dr.David Ho,the Time magazine's man of the year in 1996, pioneered the use
of protease inhibitors to treat HIV-infected patients.Thousands and
thousands of Americans now have new lease on life,thanks to him.He came to
the USA at the age of 12 from Taiwan to reunite with his father.

My point is that the legal and the illegal immigrants should not be thrown
into the same pot to swim or sink.

KJD


On 7/7/07, umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:

 Kamal-da,

 When Immigration began 500 years back in USA then there was no family
 reunification programs -- those who had guts and desire for adventure sailed
 across the oceans and never saw their families again. Some prisoners had to
 be sent to Australia since no one in thier right minds wanted to go to
 Australia -- some bribed and escaped and came back to Britain  -- read
 Chalres Dicken's Great Expectations.

 So why this pillar of immigration. Immigration means travel to a new
 place -- not bringing all your hometown and family and friends with you.
 Does it?

 Umesh

 *kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED]* wrote:

  Do you know that the White House is floating a new immigration
 proposal,which is designed to tear down another

Re: [Assam] Immigration policy

[kamal deka]

So well said,Santanu.

KJ


On 7/8/07, Roy, Santanu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


I don't see why Mr. Deka's personal situation is relevant to this debate.
It is unfair to pose that question and the strength of the arguments do not
rest on that. It is a debate worth having and I certainly am learning from
both the enunciation of both points of view.

Santanu.

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of umesh sharma
Sent: Sun 7/8/2007 11:21 AM
To: kamal deka; assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Immigration policy

Kamal-da,

At thde risk of sounding like singing Ba Ba Black Sheep let me remind you
that as per current US immigration policy - both family members (siblings,
parents etc) and 'sharp , skilled professionals have to apply thru the same
quota/channel.

And given that there are many more in US who would like to bring along
their relative than those who are in a position to get an employer to
sponsor them - I believe that the overwhelming majority of Green Card
applicatans to US (out of half a million Indians etc - and perhaps even more
so for Mexicans)  are NOT the 'sharp skilled ones  but those coming becos
they have family connecions here.

This is detrimental not only to US skilled
labor/competitiveness  interests but also to those millions in other
countires who have no family connections here but only their skills and
determination to succeed. Since they are both in the same boat -- the
skilled, smarts, non-family based Green Card applicants suffer
disproportionately

-- I wonder which category you are now in.  Are you trying to get a Green
Card yourself (thru employment - like me ) or you are trying to get family
members t come over from India.

Umesh

kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It is impossible for me to
write  responses according to the individual level of comprehension.If I
do that, I will land up writing---ba ba black ship.

First, you tried to advance an argument saying that family reunification
program was not there 500 years ago and therefore it should not be there
fore ever.That is too facile of an argument to make.Every era or every age
has its own  dynamics.What was held right 500 years ago may be perceived
wrong in today's world.100 years ago,the slavery and segregation was a
part of life here in America,does that mean those vices should have been
allowed to continue till today ? Two wrongs don't make a right. The term
immigration does not mean 'travel  only as you have  implied.You may
consult a dictionary for proper definition. Tourists and immigrants are two
different things.

When did I say ' sharp guys  should not be allowed to come ? I cited the
example of Dr.David Ho just to stress the point that there are thousands
of cases like Dr.Ho,who created novel things after arriving in the US
under family reunification  program.That should have been easily
understood.

You wrote that 50% of American marriages end in divorce and divorce breaks
up a family.You seem to contradict yourself by saying so.That's exactly
why I wrote in my previous mail pointing out to the fact that young
Americans identified broken family as their greatest fear !!! Didn't I ?

You also wrote that in order to meet one's family,one should take time off
to meet them.If the meaning of ' family reunification' is just to meet the
family once in a while by taking time off,then we might as well forget about
the reunification of spouses  too.They can meet each other once in a while
and that's all .Is not it ?

KJD



On 7/8/07, umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED]   wrote:  So you mean
that just becos one person did well and created HIV medicie so millions
should be allowed in - whereas those adventurous and sharp guys who take the
risk on their own should not be??

50% of American marriages end in divorces so I do not see their fear of
broken families -- divorce breaks up a family does it not?

Third,  if a person is a citizen of USA  after coming here - I think s/he
is entitld to bring along his/her spouse and underage children. It is easier
to go from USA to India (22 hours) than it was for me to go from Delhi to
Chennai (38 hours - by train). Most people in India never travel by plane -
so have greater difficulty in meeting family -say an Assamese  working in
Bangalore - (40 hours atleast by train)  than visiting India from USA.

Even within the country people have to move elsewhere (in India ) to look
for work --so there is no cure for that. Is there?  If one wants to meet
family -- take some time off from work and visit them!!

Umesh



kamal deka [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   First thing first.As a
sovereign country, the USA has every right to be bristling with prejudices
as far as immigration policy is concerned.They should not be criticized
for being harsh with the potential immigrants.However  ,family
reunification programme has been the cornerstone for the past few
decades.I can think of three reasons as to why legal immigrants should be
allowed to reunite with their families