Re: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballot onAssam Sovereignty restoration
Title: Re: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ball I have said this to the Hurriyat in Kashmir, ULFA in Assam and Naxalites in Andhra Pradeshthere is no grievance that cannot be redressed through democratic means and sustained dialogue, What a self contradicting statement! It would have been whole lot more convincing if MMS could have given an example or two of Indian democracy's problem solving approaches ( I won't even ask for complete resolutions) in Kashmir, re: Naxals, re: ULFA, re: Nagas. But I am sure the PM wouldn't have missed an opportunity to cite them, if he had any. At 7:14 AM + 8/22/05, Bartta Bistar wrote: If you say people are with you, prove it at the hustings: PM to Naxals http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=76764 HYDERABAD, AUGUST 21: Days after the YSR Reddy government ended a year-long truce with Left wing extremist groups and revived the ban in Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today challenged the Naxalites to test their popularity at the hustings. If their movement, Singh said in Hyderabad today, truly had peoples support, they should try and change the system through democratic means. Every political group that claims to represent the interests of people or of a section must test its popularity at the hustings. Go and ask people to vote for you. Come to legislatures and enact the laws that you wish to see in place. The power of people in a democracy flows through the ballot box and not from the barrel of gun. I have said this to the Hurriyat in Kashmir, ULFA in Assam and Naxalites in Andhra Pradeshthere is no grievance that cannot be redressed through democratic means and sustained dialogue, Singh said at a seminar on Press and the Nation organised by the CPI(M) organ Prajasakti. The Prime Minister made it clear that terror tactics would not be tolerated. Faced with terror tactics, the government will have no other option than to fight such groups and their ideology of hatred. Extremism of any form, based on any divisive ideology, cannot be tolerated in any civilised democratic society, he said. His warning comes on the heels of an upsurge in Naxal violence after a years respite and two rounds of peace talks. Congress MLA C Narsi Reddy and nine others were killed in Narayanpet on Independence Day. Singh pointed out that even Gadar, Naxal emissary and balladeer, had admitted to a TV channel that the killing of innocent people did not help win a cause. This is an important liberal principle. Our democracy allows us freedom to champion our cause and win people over to our point of view, he said Can read http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1theme=usrsess=1id=87190 also. FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar MSN Toolbar Get it now! ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: Fwd: [Assam] Boga Baduli and BPO Boom--Part 1
Title: Re: Fwd: [Assam] Boga Baduli and BPO Boom--Part 1 You are right BK. People, professionals, most of us 'probaxi Oxomiyas in the west, won't risk their life's savings to go invest in an environment where there is no accountability, no trust in governance and its institutions, even if they had a little to spare. I raised a question here in Assam Net sometime back after seeing the report that the UK's second or third largest FDI is from India, on why it is so, while India is seeking FDI from around the world? My ol' buddy Dilip Deka tried to explain with some spinning :-),and avoiding the obvious but it did not explain anything. Recently I asked the question of the Indian Embassy First Secy., Mr. Jaswal, an articulate and refined gentleman, whom I had the opportunity to sit with for a few minutes in a reception here in St. Louis. He seemed unaware of it and was momentarily taken aback. Then he said that it is probably because of an easier business environment. I was going to quiz him a bit more on it, but he was rescued by an interruption and I could not follow up :-). c At 6:32 AM -0400 8/22/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Return-path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Full-name: BBaruah Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 06:31:02 EDT Subject: Re: [Assam] Boga Baduli and BPO Boom--Part 1 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=-1124706662 X-Mailer: 9.0 SE for Windows sub 631 There are many members in this list , settled in the USA, UK etc., who are millionnaires. I wish some of them would get together and make an effort to open one in Guwahati / Assam. The Govt will only be too willing to help them. I don't think there are many millionaires in UK or USA as suggested. I agree they could be small investors. However, people have lost confidence on Assam Government offcials' efficiency in such matters. I expect people to disagree with me on my submission. At least that is my personal experience. Bhuban ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: Fwd: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballot onAssam Soverei...
Title: Re: Fwd: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer What Dr Manmohan Singh is suggesting is a constitutional process. ULFA's demand, and for that matter that of any insurgency group, isnotbased on India'sConstitution. The constitution is skewed against Assam's legitimate RIGHTS and interests. Therefore the whole premise is a meaningless one, as far as Assam's grievances are concerned. How for example, can a handful of legislators from Assam, who get there thru a profoundly faulty, undemocratic and outside special interest controlled electoral process, safeguard Assam's interest playing the numbers game in a house of 400 (?); in a system where the checks and balances of a lower and upper house is merely a rubber-stamping mechanism lacking any teeth, and where the checks and balances of constitutional division of powers are non-functional, leading for example a state to refuse to obey the directive of the SC on a matter such as riverlinking, and that too with impunity? Kharkhowas living in the west, in their developed and functional democracies, spouting praise of democratic system do so, without being aware of or deliberately ignoring the realities of desi-demokrasy. I don't make the charge lightly. One needs only to look at the arguments that we make in Assam net, or in the many India related websites, that display the degree of ignorance of democratic principles, even among the desi elites. At 6:33 AM -0400 8/22/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Return-path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Full-name: BBaruah Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 06:30:33 EDT Subject: Re: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballot onAssam Sovereig... To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=-1124706633 X-Mailer: 9.0 SE for Windows sub 631 What Dr Manmohan Singh is suggesting is a constitutional process. ULFA's demand, and for that matter that of any insurgency group, isnotbased on India'sConstitution. It is not democratic either; in fact it need not be democratic. Dr Singh has sworn in to promote, protect and preserve all that is there in the Constitution of India.The architects of the Indian Constitution were aware of the fact that India is a weak union made up of diverse elements -differences in religion, ethnicity, language, culture and so on - and it stressed that all efforts must be directed towards keeping India united. In this I accuse the Government of India of its haphazard efforts or no efforts at all in keeping India united. I also believe that a great disservice was done by the Sixth schedule with which Dr Ambedkar's name is associated. The sixth schedule was meant for a trial period of ten years but the Indian politicians do not have the guts to scrap it.In fact more and more people want to benefit from it. Even Dr Ambedkar was not happy at last. The caste system is so deeply rooted in Indian culture that he advised the dalits to convert to Buddhism. But I personally know that even after becoming converts they continued to benefit from the Sixth Schedule like all other backward people of India, i e the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. bhuban ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballot onAssam Sovereignty restoration
Title: Re: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballo Maybe, I am missing something here. That is not a 'maybe', Ram. You are missing what is staring on your face :-). Extremism and violence do not fall from the sky on some dark and stormy night, on an 'ounxir endhaar raati'. They brew over decades, slowly building steam. Only after seeing no ability to effect change, get redress for grievances, do people finally, in desperation, take up arms, knowing full well that their likely rewards might just be death and imprisonment. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people don't go about courting death like this if there are any redress in sight or seemed achievable thru the process they mistakenly call 'Indian democracy', ALMOST an oxymoron by itself, like 'military intelligence'. Those who cannot fathom that, are the same people who go about making the MMS like pithy pronouncements, after the fact. Was India unaware of what was brewing in Kashmir Ram? Only the profoundly ignorant or deluded will claim that. Was India unaware of Assam's discontent, before LFA happened? You tell me. And what did Indian democracy do to prevent them? To forestall them? Dilute the discontent? Where was the great Indian democratic machine? Why could it not not show that it could be counted on to do what MMS claims it can do now? How is it an iota different from what it was then? You show us Ram. c-da At 8:47 AM -0500 8/22/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, I have said this to the Hurriyat in Kashmir, ULFA in Assam and Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh-there is no grievance that cannot be redressed through democratic means and sustained dialogue,'' What a self contradicting statement! Maybe, I am missing something here. But I don't see any self-contradictory statement here. Whatis wrong with what the PM is saying. I have even removed my tinted glasses, still don't see a darn thing wrong with the statement. :) The Prime Minister made it clear that terror tactics would not be tolerated. ''Faced with terror tactics, the government will have no other option than to fight such groups and their ideology of hatred. Extremism of any form, based on any divisive ideology, cannot be tolerated in any civilised democratic society,'' Nor, do I see a problem with the above. --Ram On 8/22/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have said this to the Hurriyat in Kashmir, ULFA in Assam and Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh-there is no grievance that cannot be redressed through democratic means and sustained dialogue,'' What a self contradicting statement! It would have been whole lot more convincing if MMS could have given an example or two of Indian democracy's problem solving approaches ( I won't even ask for complete resolutions) in Kashmir, re: Naxals, re: ULFA, re: Nagas. But I am sure the PM wouldn't have missed an opportunity to cite them, if he had any. At 7:14 AM + 8/22/05, Bartta Bistar wrote: If you say people are with you, prove it at the hustings: PM to Naxals http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=76764 HYDERABAD, AUGUST 21: Days after the YSR Reddy government ended a year-long truce with Left wing extremist groups and revived the ban in Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today challenged the Naxalites to test their ''popularity'' at the hustings. If their movement, Singh said in Hyderabad today, truly had people's support, they should try and change the system through democratic means. ''Every political group that claims to represent the interests of people or of a section must test its popularity at the hustings. Go and ask people to vote for you. Come to legislatures and enact the laws that you wish to see in place.'' ''The power of people in a democracy flows through the ballot box and not from the barrel of gun. I have said this to the Hurriyat in Kashmir, ULFA in Assam and Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh-there is no grievance that cannot be redressed through democratic means and sustained dialogue,'' Singh said at a seminar on ''Press and the Nation' organised by the CPI(M) organ Prajasakti. The Prime Minister made it clear that terror tactics would not be tolerated. ''Faced with terror tactics, the government will have no other option than to fight such groups and their ideology of hatred. Extremism of any form, based on any divisive ideology, cannot be tolerated in any civilised democratic society,'' he said. His warning comes on the heels of an upsurge in Naxal violence after a year's respite and two rounds of peace talks. Congress MLA C Narsi Reddy and nine others were killed in Narayanpet on Independence Day. Singh pointed out that even Gadar, Naxal emissary and balladeer, had admitted to a TV channel that the killing of innocent people did not help win a cause. ''This is an important liberal principle. Our democracy allows us freedom to champion our cause and win people over to our point of view
Re: Fwd: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballot onAssam Soverei...
Title: Re: Fwd: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer You did not explain anything at all here Rajen. I wished you had. c At 9:33 AM -0500 8/22/05, Rajen Barua wrote: How for example, can a handful of legislators from Assam, who get there thru a profoundly faulty, undemocratic and outside special interest controlled electoral process, safeguard Assam's interest playing the numbers game in a house of 400 (?); in a system where the checks and balances of a lower and upper house is merely a rubber-stamping mechanism lacking any teeth, and where the checks and balances of constitutional division of powers are non-functional, leading for example a state to refuse to obey the directive of the SC on a matter such as riverlinking, and that too with impunity? How Assam was represented by a handfull of Ahom Buragohains and a Xorgodewin a most undemocratic manner for 600 years.? How Assam was ruled in a most undemocratic manner for 150 years by the British Raj who destroyed the Assamese entreprenership starting with Maniram Dewan and opened and exploited Assam for the outsiders? That is what we had then, and this is what we have now. The question is whether we look at the glass as half full and try to improve, or we look at it half empty and try to destory. That is my brother is the difference. Try to be a Friend of Assam. Don't try to be a power hungry patriot. Rajen - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 9:00 AM Subject: Re: Fwd: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballot onAssam Soverei... What Dr Manmohan Singh is suggesting is a constitutional process. ULFA's demand, and for that matter that of any insurgency group, isnotbased on India'sConstitution. The constitution is skewed against Assam's legitimate RIGHTS and interests. Therefore the whole premise is a meaningless one, as far as Assam's grievances are concerned. How for example, can a handful of legislators from Assam, who get there thru a profoundly faulty, undemocratic and outside special interest controlled electoral process, safeguard Assam's interest playing the numbers game in a house of 400 (?); in a system where the checks and balances of a lower and upper house is merely a rubber-stamping mechanism lacking any teeth, and where the checks and balances of constitutional division of powers are non-functional, leading for example a state to refuse to obey the directive of the SC on a matter such as riverlinking, and that too with impunity? Kharkhowas living in the west, in their developed and functional democracies, spouting praise of democratic system do so, without being aware of or deliberately ignoring the realities of desi-demokrasy. I don't make the charge lightly. One needs only to look at the arguments that we make in Assam net, or in the many India related websites, that display the degree of ignorance of democratic principles, even among the desi elites. At 6:33 AM -0400 8/22/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Return-path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Full-name: BBaruah Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 06:30:33 EDT Subject: Re: [Assam] Word to ULFA into action now, PM. Confer ballot onAssam Sovereig... To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=-1124706633 X-Mailer: 9.0 SE for Windows sub 631 What Dr Manmohan Singh is suggesting is a constitutional process. ULFA's demand, and for that matter that of any insurgency group, isnotbased on India'sConstitution. It is not democratic either; in fact it need not be democratic. Dr Singh has sworn in to promote, protect and preserve all that is there in the Constitution of India.The architects of the Indian Constitution were aware of the fact that India is a weak union made up of diverse elements -differences in religion, ethnicity, language, culture and so on - and it stressed that all efforts must be directed towards keeping India united. In this I accuse the Government of India of its haphazard efforts or no efforts at all in keeping India united. I also believe that a great disservice was done by the Sixth schedule with which Dr Ambedkar's name is associated. The sixth schedule was meant for a trial period of ten years but the Indian politicians do not have the guts to scrap it.In fact more and more people want to benefit from it. Even Dr Ambedkar was not happy at last. The caste system is so deeply rooted in Indian culture that he advised the dalits to convert to Buddhism. But I personally know that even after becoming converts they continued to benefit from the Sixth Schedule like all other backward people of India, i e the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. bhuban ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http
Re: [Assam] To better serve, assamnet will move to [EMAIL PROTECTED] soon
Title: Re: [Assam] To better serve, assamnet will move to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ram: My feelings likewise. You and I and so many of us here, often get into passionate debates. There are times we even lose it and get angry. But still there is a common bond of caring and mutual respect as fellow Oxomiyas, who feel deeply about Assam's welfare. But would you know that one of us, from right here in the USA, has attempted to sabotage and destroy this forum of ours? This person has written under a pseudonym, to the University, against Jugal and against Assam Net, characterizing it as harboring a 'terrorist cell' or some garbage akin to that. What do Netters think of that? What should we say to this despicable character, who used to post venom filled and extremist views right here ? He might still be lurking among us, like the coward he is, under his own name; even though we have not seen the pseudonym he used to post under in recent months. c-da At 4:21 PM -0500 8/22/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Hi Jugal, Congratulations to all of you including Saurav, Dipu, Babul and others who have made Assam net a lively place for spirited discussions. We can consider this a milestone, where we have a free and cordial exchange of ideas. Keep up the great work. --Ram da On 8/22/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello everyone, Assamnet will move some time soon to a new home. The new home will be [EMAIL PROTECTED]. Assamnet was founded in 1985 at the University of Pennsylvania. It has been hosted at the University of Colorado from 1991. Luitporia-net was started at the University of Missouri in 1990 by Dr. Dipankar Medhi. Assamnet and Luitporianet became one in 1998. Since then it has been hosted at the University of Colorado. We thank the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Missouri and the University of Colorado for having given us this opportunity to bring together the Assamese diaspora from around the world. The objective of Assamnet is to bring together people with interest in all aspects of Assam, be it social, cultural, religious, educational, political or anything at all, so that written discussions and debates can take place withoutfear and censorship of any kind. In Assam itself, it is very difficult openly to discuss many issues of vital concern to Assam. However, we have had issues in Assamnet in the past. Although this is normal when a few hundred people constantly participate in spirited discussions, we must exercise caution so that discussions and debates can take place in a manner wherein widest participation is possible. For example, a few years ago several people were removed from the list for using unacceptable sexual language during discussions and debates. In addition, Assamnet will not allow anyone to recruit people for violent activities of any kind. However, peaceful and respectful discussion of any topic is welcome. We will send out an email when we make this transition to [EMAIL PROTECTED]. We are finishing up the details of the move and it will take place soon. Once that happens, instead of sending email to assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu, you will send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]. It will be a new and befitting place to Assamnet after almost 15 years at the University of Colorado. Thank you! Jugal Kalita (Colorado), Saurav Pathak (Pennsylvania) and Babul Gogoi (Delhi) Assamnet administrators Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Sentinel News
Title: Re: [Assam] Sentinel News Ram: At 8:01 PM -0500 8/19/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, While Dr. Goswami probably has the best intentions in her heart, How would we know ? How will the GOI be able to release those held in a different country? B'desh in this case. That is a hard one Ram. I can make some suggestions, but on second thought, I better not open my mouth on this. Let us see if YOU can figure this one out on your own. What happens to those who are released? Will they go back to their old ways or will they join the mainstream? I am not prescient enough to foretell that. But even if they join that 'mainstream', would that be a good thing, considering that 'mainstream's' track record on integrity, honesty, industry and its dedication to the common good of Assam ? At any event it could not be any worse than the established pillars of society or the Govt. 'mainstreamed' ones that go by the acronym of SULFA. Could it? If those who are in prison for murder or other high crimes are realeased (because it is politically expedient), then what does that say about crime punishment? How will the GOI justify releasing such people?. You really put me in a spot here Ram. How do you keep coming up with these check-mates, just when I think I had your arguments on the ropes? Let me see now. How about: A: Setting up a *'ha-pi-pw-bi' commission for example in the likeness of say the Nanavati Commission? But with a deadline of one week? Because otherwise not only the prisoners but we will likely be all dead before they can exonerate all officially. B: If setting up a kangaroo-commission is not selling well these days, then how about a tribunal headed by a retd.( no, no--not retarded) (in)justice with a name like Nopota ( or even Pota) Phukan, or Xoitnarayon Xorma? C: Perhaps a Udok-Beta-Rokhiya Commission , headed by people of impeccable human rights record from a non-violent state, like Narendra Nerobhai Modi from the land of Gandhi? Or maybe a rising political star currently between jobs, like Sri Jagadish Tytler? Any one of these could keep the record of the high standards of Indian justice intact for posterity, while the interest of peace in Assam is served by releasing the ULFA leaders to facilitate a negotiate a political solution to this quarter century old conflict. This is specially important as some netters frequently(and probably justifiably) point to the absence/inaction of justice in India and how wheels of justice are slow and inefficient. These netters obviously would NOT want the GOI to any such thing, would they? I know how you feel. But if I were you I will ignore 'em ne'r-do-good India bashers. What do they know? All they can talk about is how bad everything in India is! Tell you, these are the true 'khai-paat-folaas'. Dr Goswami also reminded the PMthat no untoward incident had happened in Assam on theIndependence Day, which was a positive sign from the rebelgroup. What about all those bombs going off pre-IDay? Maybe she meant that Assam was lucky that nothing happened, and NOT because the insurgents didn't try. Hmm, that is kind of a conundrum, ain't it? Tell you what, it is entirely possible that hey had something up their sleeves. But take the case of 'Joj-fild': Had it not been ploughed up to frisk for 'fotkas', who knows they just might have scared a matobbor-montri or a retarded general or a big-bellied babu witless on Aug. 15? But really I think something else happened. ULFA must have seen clearly that they got their message across and people took the day off to REALLY enjoy the holiday, without anyone having to be panicked, in addition to be harangued and scorched in the bhado-mohiya-ro'd. I look at it as public service. I know you would call me a subversive, but that is what I am here for. She has really put a good spin on this. Didn't she though? Tell you, these writers are something else! Give them an inch and they will take over the tent. Maybe they should keep these Assamese ingrates off from ever receiving sorkari-awards, making them visible, only to create trouble later. You should not have let your guard down so badly to allow me to pile on your spinalysis like this on a Sunday morning Ram :-) Take care. c-da Just thoughts. --Ram On 8/19/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As a wellwisher of Assam, I support Dr. Goswami in her efforts. If anyone from Delhi is listening, I will appreciate if he/she would forward the word of my humble solidarity, for whatever it is worth, to her. Mamoni:Free Anup, 9 other ULFA leaders From ourCorrespondent NEW DELHI, Aug 19:Noted writer Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami requested Prime MinisterDr Manmohan Singh to release the top ten ULFA leaders who arelanguishing in different jails in Assam and Bangladesh. In a letter tothe PM, Dr Goswami
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
Title: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Right on Brother ( pardon my 70s slogan)! Surely the 'media', should not go bite the hand that feeds. Isn't that desi-demokrasy all about? But seriously, the role of the media is NOT to censor news. It is to disseminate it. Like Sushil Mishra explains, ONLY those with a guaranteed salary, work or no work gain from 'bondhos' -- get free holidays. And who are those? Take a wild guess! And where do they come from? From the unaccountable ranks of Indian style govt., with no law enforcement, no justice. Kind of FREEDOM desi-demokrasy provides and so many of our righteous brethren froth in the mouth promoting and preserving for Mother India. At 8:52 AM -0500 8/21/05, Barua25 wrote: I wrote about this before. One of the reasons for success of these Bundh Culture in Assam is that the News Papers publish the announcements of each and every proposed Bundhs by allorgs all over Assam. It does not need a Rocket Scientist to figure out that any announced Bundh by any party will not be very successful if the media do not publicize about it. No org has the capability or the manpower to affect a Bundh unless people and the police cooperate in the Bundh. So it is a two way street. The question is why the media donot help Assam and help themselves and decide not to publish any announcement of proposed Bundh? Why media does not have the courage to do it? This is what I call Assam like to cry with both ends; Complain for Bundhs on one hand and announce, cooperateand help the Bundh on the other. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: sushil mishra [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 1:08 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Dear All Let us talk in today's context. Most of us are self employed who earn their wages on daily basis. Very few people in society have permanent job who can absorbe the shock of One day's Bandha. Even professionals are paid on hourly daily basis these days. They are not employed rather hired. Think about the people on street e. g. Auto Rikshaw Driver, Rikshaw Puller, Tea Vendor, Cigarette vendor etc, the list is endless. They have to go literally without any earning on the day of Bandha. They too have family members dependents to feed. In fact in today's date we are struggling to survive. The age has come that we have to buy even water to drink. Can we justify Bandha considering these things? Yes we can! Let us go hungry on the day of Bandha. Let us not feed milk to our children let us not carry any patient in the family to hospital because we would be observing Bandha. Let us make the Bandha successful by stopping all those daily chores. Believe me the Bandha will become successful. What I see that Bandha brings cheers to those who are privileged (those who have permanent employment) it brings dispair to those who are on street. The choice is ours. After all it is our society we only have to face the consequence; good or bad. With warm regards SUSHIL KUMAR MISHRA MUSCAT SULTANATE OF OMAN --- umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: someone said that to Mahatma Gandhi that this non-violent Bandh /strikes would ultimately be harming the country and ruining the work ethic of Indians. Elsewhere I think the communists had started this thing -- if I remember correctly in Paris Labor Marches had taken place like this much eaelier. Umesh Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dipankar, Many netters have written often about this 'bandh culture'. Reading the Assam Tribune and the Sentinel I have read many people voice their opinions against such a culture. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be heard. The organizers of these bands care very little about the economic effects. The public too seems to care less. On the one hand its a holiday, so why worry. The fact that traders and manufacturers will ultimately shift the cost of bandhs to consumers in way of higher prices is not given any thought either. Can anybody suggest a remedy for this sickening culture. The solution obviously lies with the people. They are ones that the organizers seek support from. If people do not give them that support, then calls for bandhs will fail. I think recently a bandh call by some minority student group failed in major cities like Guwahati because people just ignored it. That is the solution. --Ram On Sat, Aug 20 2005 8:22:49 GMT+0530, Dipankar Malla Baruah (Well Logging) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi all, Today there is another Assam Bandh in Assam called by small tea garden owner's union. This has been a policy of every organization to call for a bandh to show their existence. The bandh is declared in such a way so that people get continuous holidays like on Saturdays and Mondays or when there is a normal day in
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
Whoever is saying independence, midwifed by ULFA, is going to be any different is pulling wool over our eyes. Let us hear WHY and HOW it would be the SAME. And if it WOULD be the same, HOW could it be CHANGED for the better? Or is Assam forever condemned to the state of affairs as a 'prbojonmor paapor-porasit'? At 7:47 AM -0700 8/21/05, Rajib Das wrote: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7454_1468200,000800050001.htm We are ALL in the same boat, brother! The ULFA or Congress or AGP or whoever else, it is the same political machinery at work - churning money for the same overall set of power brokers. Whoever is saying independence, midwifed by ULFA, is going to be any different is pulling wool over our eyes. ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
Title: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture At 9:57 AM -0500 8/21/05, Barua25 wrote: ONLY those with a guaranteed salary, work or no work gain from 'bondhos' -- get free holidays. Are you suggesting ULFA and other orgs make a pact with Govt employees and others who have guaranteed salariesto announce and time these Bundhs so that they get free holidays? Are you suggesting ULFA and the Govt are making a conspiracy against the self employed and the contractors ion Assam? I don't think you need to take a wild guess on this. Rajen Excuse me! How has ULFA appeared in this scene? Is it ULFA that gives the weekly calls to 'bondhos' in Assam? I tried but failed to understand the question. Give us a little help here. Also, let us hear about the 'media' selectively disseminating or holding back news. It is a novel role for media for someone dedicated to democracy, desi or otherwise. Obviously my comment did not sit well. The conjecture would be that mine was a subversive or 'un-democratic' one. So let us clear the air. But we all make mistakes, so if it is to be withdrawn as a knee-jerk, un-deliberated response, that would be fine. No one would hold it to demonize any one, if I could be allowed such an assessment. But at least it would not pile onto an already high list of other similarly poorly deliberated, seat-of-the-pants recommendations. - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta To: Barua25 ; sushil mishra ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Ram Sarangapani ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 9:12 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Right on Brother ( pardon my 70s slogan)! Surely the 'media', should not go bite the hand that feeds. Isn't that desi-demokrasy all about? But seriously, the role of the media is NOT to censor news. It is to disseminate it. Like Sushil Mishra explains, ONLY those with a guaranteed salary, work or no work gain from 'bondhos' -- get free holidays. And who are those? Take a wild guess! And where do they come from? From the unaccountable ranks of Indian style govt., with no law enforcement, no justice. Kind of FREEDOM desi-demokrasy provides and so many of our righteous brethren froth in the mouth promoting and preserving for Mother India. At 8:52 AM -0500 8/21/05, Barua25 wrote: I wrote about this before. One of the reasons for success of these Bundh Culture in Assam is that the News Papers publish the announcements of each and every proposed Bundhs by allorgs all over Assam. It does not need a Rocket Scientist to figure out that any announced Bundh by any party will not be very successful if the media do not publicize about it. No org has the capability or the manpower to affect a Bundh unless people and the police cooperate in the Bundh. So it is a two way street. The question is why the media donot help Assam and help themselves and decide not to publish any announcement of proposed Bundh? Why media does not have the courage to do it? This is what I call Assam like to cry with both ends; Complain for Bundhs on one hand and announce, cooperateand help the Bundh on the other. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: sushil mishra [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 1:08 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Dear All Let us talk in today's context. Most of us are self employed who earn their wages on daily basis. Very few people in society have permanent job who can absorbe the shock of One day's Bandha. Even professionals are paid on hourly daily basis these days. They are not employed rather hired. Think about the people on street e. g. Auto Rikshaw Driver, Rikshaw Puller, Tea Vendor, Cigarette vendor etc, the list is endless. They have to go literally without any earning on the day of Bandha. They too have family members dependents to feed. In fact in today's date we are struggling to survive. The age has come that we have to buy even water to drink. Can we justify Bandha considering these things? Yes we can! Let us go hungry on the day of Bandha. Let us not feed milk to our children let us not carry any patient in the family to hospital because we would be observing Bandha. Let us make the Bandha successful by stopping all those daily chores. Believe me the Bandha will become successful. What I see that Bandha brings cheers to those who are privileged (those who have permanent employment) it brings dispair to those who are on street. The choice is ours. After all it is our society we only have to face the consequence; good or bad. With warm regards SUSHIL KUMAR MISHRA MUSCAT SULTANATE OF OMAN --- umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: someone said that to Mahatma Gandhi that this non-violent Bandh /strikes would ultimately be harming the country and ruining the work ethic of Indians. Elsewhere I think the communists had started this thing
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
Title: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture The responsibility of the news media is to publish news after it happens, not to publish future would be probable news and createnews. Excuse me again! Really? Gee, I learn something everyday. I am sure journalists worldwide would re-orient their ethics guidelines now. I don't think I need to massage this any more. A little self-deliberation would hopefully, reveal the , um, problems in the verdict. I still am confounded with the involvement of ULFA. Looking forward to an explanation of that still. At 10:31 AM -0500 8/21/05, Barua25 wrote: Brother! The responsibility of the news media is to publish news after it happens, not to publish future would be probable news and createnews. But in case of Assam Bundhs that is what happens. Thus the kharkhwa news media is not doing its duty and doing a great disservice to the public in my opinion. Let the news mediasimply publish the Bundh after it happens. They don't need to publicize the proposed Time Table of a Bundh all over Assam to help ULFA or any other org or the guaranteed salaried govt employeesto enjoy free holidays. People of Assam in fact shouldtake a democratic resolution to ban publication of such would be Bundh unless written request is received from any party. Today any Nodai-Bhodai can call the News office and announce a Bundh and litikai khar-khwa hobo-diok news media publish the same, and then complain. Let ULFA publish the news of their Bundhs. Why the media is trying to help ULFA and the govt employees and then cry about these Bundh Culture? One solution is to demolish all government run business orgs and make these private so that there is no free cake. No work no pay for everybody like the Ricksawallas. Brother, Assam Bundh will stop and we don't have to blame the desi-demokresi, and people of Assam will not have to cry and wipeboth ends. That my brother I would call a well wisher proposal for the common hard working poor people of Assam. Any support, brother? Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta To: Barua25 ; sushil mishra ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Ram Sarangapani ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 9:12 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Right on Brother ( pardon my 70s slogan)! Surely the 'media', should not go bite the hand that feeds. Isn't that desi-demokrasy all about? But seriously, the role of the media is NOT to censor news. It is to disseminate it. Like Sushil Mishra explains, ONLY those with a guaranteed salary, work or no work gain from 'bondhos' -- get free holidays. And who are those? Take a wild guess! And where do they come from? From the unaccountable ranks of Indian style govt., with no law enforcement, no justice. Kind of FREEDOM desi-demokrasy provides and so many of our righteous brethren froth in the mouth promoting and preserving for Mother India. At 8:52 AM -0500 8/21/05, Barua25 wrote: I wrote about this before. One of the reasons for success of these Bundh Culture in Assam is that the News Papers publish the announcements of each and every proposed Bundhs by allorgs all over Assam. It does not need a Rocket Scientist to figure out that any announced Bundh by any party will not be very successful if the media do not publicize about it. No org has the capability or the manpower to affect a Bundh unless people and the police cooperate in the Bundh. So it is a two way street. The question is why the media donot help Assam and help themselves and decide not to publish any announcement of proposed Bundh? Why media does not have the courage to do it? This is what I call Assam like to cry with both ends; Complain for Bundhs on one hand and announce, cooperateand help the Bundh on the other. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: sushil mishra [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 1:08 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Dear All Let us talk in today's context. Most of us are self employed who earn their wages on daily basis. Very few people in society have permanent job who can absorbe the shock of One day's Bandha. Even professionals are paid on hourly daily basis these days. They are not employed rather hired. Think about the people on street e. g. Auto Rikshaw Driver, Rikshaw Puller, Tea Vendor, Cigarette vendor etc, the list is endless. They have to go literally without any earning on the day of Bandha. They too have family members dependents to feed. In fact in today's date we are struggling to survive. The age has come that we have to buy even water to drink. Can we justify Bandha considering these things? Yes we can! Let us go hungry on the day of Bandha. Let us not feed milk to our children let us not carry any patient in the family to hospital because we would be observing Bandha. Let us make the Bandha successful by stopping
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
Ram: Not that I am a defender of desi-media, assam-media or any media; but you and Rajen are making the most convoluted of arguments here. The 'bondhos' are not the result of 'media-support' or coverage, before or after the fact. 'Bondhos' are a result of the absurdity that is Indian governance. Those in the public services can get away with 'bondhos' for exactly the same reasons for which they can get away with coming late for work and leaving early, or for not doing any work, or for being absent without cause, or for demanding and accepting bribes. Your and Rajen's arguments are exactly like the demand of some clueless Indians for a RIGHT not to VOTE ( as if someone can come and pack you off to prison for NOT voting), so that they will not be forced to vote for tweedle-dum or tweedle-dee, or for one scoundrel vs. the other. The problem is the candidate selection /fielding system; the electoral system. That is what requires radical reforms -- not a constitutional amendment to give the clueless the right not to vote. Similarly the spouting of the 'bondho' culture is a result of a degenerated and utterly broken Indian system of governance. Labor laws don't exist, if exist are unenforceable or not enforced. Employers can exploit workers, corporations steal the public blind, and street rowdies can hold the public hostage. There is no orderly system of conflict resolution that is either reliable, or timely or just. Those are the areas where the problems are. They are what requires dramatic and radical reforms. But you know that reforms in India are NOT possible. So instead you guys are seeking redress by squelching the media. How more convoluted can you get Ram? c-da At 10:53 AM -0500 8/21/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, But seriously, the role of the media is NOT to censor news. It is to disseminate it. Which is true. The BIG if is that the media has to 'confirm' sources that it quotes. Normally what we hear is ' a spkesperson called in' about the bandh, and THAT is enough for the media to give wide publicity? In fact, sitting here in the US, you can probably call for an Assam Bandh (because, say St. Louis doesn't have the same weather as the South West). All you have to do is call up our unsuspecting media and tell them that you have declared an Assam Bandh and that you are from the TKHEC (Tita-Kerela Hybrid Experimentation Center) - and you would have a near 100 % success. Why? Because the media will not recheck the facts. This news from St. Louis is as good as any to fill the newsprint. And the good people of Assam will thank you profusely because you gave them another holiday :) --Ram ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
Title: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Ram: At 12:18 PM -0500 8/21/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da My question was 'just' about why the media should NOT be absolved. You wanted to absole a media that does not want to confirm sources on a regular basis. How do you know that? What are the grounds for making that assertiuon or even assumption? Why should the media be held responsible to judge what 'bondho' is legitimate and deserving of publicity, and what is not? Where do they get their authority or wisdom to judge that? I did NOT say that the media was responsible for the bandhs. But they DO have a role to play. Yes, to disseminate the call for it as news or its results and even to to express editorial opinions--but NOT to be the self appointed or Rajen/Ram appointed censors. They can hype it up based on unconfirmed sources or make sure the information they get is CONFIRMED before they give wide publicity. That is where they err. Freedom of information and speech INCLUDES the right to HYPE, spin ,set forth convoluted arguments as in Assam net, tell half-truths and even lies under certain circumstances. It is the responsibility of the consumers of such information to be discriminating. I cannot tell the Sentinel or the AT or the Statesman to stop publicizing the propaganda or halftruths and MHA les against Assam's interests, but I can and do exercise my judgements to believe or not to believe them. 'Bondhos' are a result of the absurdity that is Indian governance. And what about the absurdity of the people in following the calls for bundhs without question? Believing is not the issue. Whether to comply with it IS. And the reasons for complying with them ARE. For example, if I manage to catch a bus to work but am stranded halfway for the rest of the day, I may not want to take the risk. Or if you fear being manhandled by ruffians, and knowing you cannot expect any assistance from law-enforcement authorities, would you be wise to venture out? There are some 'issues' which may require a bandh. Why? Are there no avenue for orderly conflict resolution in a civilized society? Or is it a unique Indian problem? The issues should be something that affects the whole state or atleast a large section. Your recommendations would be useful if the 'bondho' givers made you the arv biter of what deserves to be one Ram :-). But something tells me your argument is as arbitrary as one can imagine. The problem most people have is sometimes large areas observe bandhs even for localized issues in some small area. Those local issues often have solutions at the local level itself. Go tell it to the judge. If it is the absurdity of Indian governance, then the question asked is: Does the Indian govt. have a different set or rules of governance when dealing with Assam as opposed to Karnataka or another state? That is a real good joke Ram :-), that Karnataka does not have 'bandhs', that it is merely a unique Assamese disability. Look up: http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/28/stories/2004082808190300.htm and tell us if the Judge made his comments because of ONE 'bandh' that somehow crept into Karnataka. Also, I did not say that India made up bad rules for Assam. That is your predisposition to make such charges. The fact is that the institutions of governance in India are UNABLE to respond to the need for orderly, timely and just conflict resolution --- thruout the land where those rule. c-da Is that the reason that Assam has way too many bandhs while a state like Karnataka has virtually none? --Ram On 8/21/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ram: Not that I am a defender of desi-media, assam-media or any media; but you and Rajen are making the most convoluted of arguments here. The 'bondhos' are not the result of 'media-support' or coverage, before or after the fact. 'Bondhos' are a result of the absurdity that is Indian governance. Those in the public services can get away with 'bondhos' for exactly the same reasons for which they can get away with coming late for work and leaving early, or for not doing any work, or for being absent without cause, or for demanding and accepting bribes. Your and Rajen's arguments are exactly like the demand of some clueless Indiansfor a RIGHT not to VOTE ( as if someone can come and pack you off to prison for NOT voting), so that they will not be forced to vote for tweedle-dum or tweedle-dee, or for one scoundrel vs. the other. The problem is the candidate selection /fielding system; the electoral system. That is what requires radicalreforms -- not a constitutional amendment to give the clueless the right not to vote. Similarly the spouting of the 'bondho' culture is a result of a degenerated and utterly brokenIndian system of governance. Labor laws don't exist, if exist are unenforceable or not enforced. Employers can exploit workers, corporations steal the public blind
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
Title: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture At 1:24 PM -0500 8/21/05, Barua25 wrote: The 'bondhos' are not the result of 'media-support' or coverage, before or after the fact. 'Bondhos' are a result of the absurdity that is Indian governance Ah-ha!! Axiom # 1: The essenceof the Bundh Culture in Assam: is the Absurdity of Indian governance in Assam. Hei GOI you cannot rule here. Your rule simply brings theBundh Culture in Assam. We all, ULFA, Govt Employees and Media, all Assamese, we are all together united here in supporting the Bundh culture. You don't have a chance. This is not Gujarat, this is Assam, Oxom (unequal). Remember, the Moghols could not win Assam even after attacking 17 times. You better call it quit. If you don't quit the Bundh Culture will continue. We are Assamese here. Ah-ha!! Rajen Hmmm! That is an astute set of obsewrvations :-). - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Barua25 [EMAIL PROTECTED]; sushil mishra [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 11:24 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Bandh culture Ram: Not that I am a defender of desi-media, assam-media or any media; but you and Rajen are making the most convoluted of arguments here. The 'bondhos' are not the result of 'media-support' or coverage, before or after the fact. 'Bondhos' are a result of the absurdity that is Indian governance. Those in the public services can get away with 'bondhos' for exactly the same reasons for which they can get away with coming late for work and leaving early, or for not doing any work, or for being absent without cause, or for demanding and accepting bribes. Your and Rajen's arguments are exactly like the demand of some clueless Indians for a RIGHT not to VOTE ( as if someone can come and pack you off to prison for NOT voting), so that they will not be forced to vote for tweedle-dum or tweedle-dee, or for one scoundrel vs. the other. The problem is the candidate selection /fielding system; the electoral system. That is what requires radical reforms -- not a constitutional amendment to give the clueless the right not to vote. Similarly the spouting of the 'bondho' culture is a result of a degenerated and utterly broken Indian system of governance. Labor laws don't exist, if exist are unenforceable or not enforced. Employers can exploit workers, corporations steal the public blind, and street rowdies can hold the public hostage. There is no orderly system of conflict resolution that is either reliable, or timely or just. Those are the areas where the problems are. They are what requires dramatic and radical reforms. But you know that reforms in India are NOT possible. So instead you guys are seeking redress by squelching the media. How more convoluted can you get Ram? c-da At 10:53 AM -0500 8/21/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, But seriously, the role of the media is NOT to censor news. It is to disseminate it. Which is true. The BIG if is that the media has to 'confirm' sources that it quotes. Normally what we hear is ' a spkesperson called in' about the bandh, and THAT is enough for the media to give wide publicity? In fact, sitting here in the US, you can probably call for an Assam Bandh (because, say St. Louis doesn't have the same weather as the South West). All you have to do is call up our unsuspecting media and tell them that you have declared an Assam Bandh and that you are from the TKHEC (Tita-Kerela Hybrid Experimentation Center) - and you would have a near 100 % success. Why? Because the media will not recheck the facts. This news from St. Louis is as good as any to fill the newsprint. And the good people of Assam will thank you profusely because you gave them another holiday :) --Ram ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] The Bandh-ers
Title: The Bandh-ers Ram: When was the last time you or anyone else heard of a total Maharastra bandh or a Karnataka bandh? Take a look below. And I hope you won't suggest to us that these are rare isolated phenomena. c-da http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040113/edit.htm THE Bombay High Court's direction to the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit by February 4 in response to a bunch of petitions asking the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party to pay Rs 50 crore for losses suffered by citizens due to the bandh organised by them in Mumbai in July last year is significant. The petitioners are men of high stature and public standing. They include former Union Cabinet Secretary B.G. Deshmukh and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Ribeiro. In their petitions, they not only called for the arrest of the political leaders responsible for calling the bandh but also urged the court to direct the two political parties to create a fund named "Bandh Damage Fund" with a corpus of Rs 50 crore to be disbursed to the claimants who suffered losses. It is debatable whether the idea of creating a "Bandh Damage Fund" is ideal, but there is no denying the fact that almost all political parties have been organising bandhs at the drop of a hat with little concern for public safety and the hardship these would cause to the people. Worse, mischievous elements enter the scene, indulge in arson and looting, and give a bad name to the parties. Far more disturbing are state-sponsored bandhs directly or indirectly. In Kerala and West Bengal, political parties and trade unions organise bandhs now and then and take people for a ride. The competition between the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments in organising bandhs on the Cauvery issue is well known. It remains to be seen how the Bombay High Court will deal with the petitions. But keeping in view the propensity of political parties to organise bandhs for gaining political mileage, there is a need to check their conduct and make them accountable for the losses caused in the process. The responsibility is even greater if the state government itself sponsors a bandh. How can the protector become the offender? In November 1997, the Supreme Court had upheld a Full Bench judgement of the Kerala High Court that declared the calling of a bandh by any association, organisation or political party as illegal and unconstitutional. The apex court's ruling is crystal-clear on the issue. Also see: http://in.rediff.com/news/2002/oct/17nad.htm At 2:20 PM -0500 8/21/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da How do you know that? What are the grounds for making that assertiuon or even assumption? Because the newspapers themselves say that 'someone from xyz org. telephoned'. Then one obviously assume that either they don't reallybother confirming such info or just cannot for some reason. Why should the media be held responsible to judge what 'bondho' is legitimate and deserving of publicity, and what is not? Where do they get their authority or wisdom to judge that? I did NOT say the media would have to make that judgement. But at the very least they should verify the info and then decide if the 'bandh notice' is newsworthy? The way the media prints each and every bandh notice, it must mean that the mediaconsiders them all newsworthy and also giving a lot of importance to such calls. opinions--but NOT to be the self appointed or Rajen/Ram appointed censors. Don't they have their own standards to judge if publicity ought to be given to mundane calls for bandhs? Who says anything about censorship? Your recommendations would be useful if the 'bondho' givers made you the arv biter of what deserves to be one Ram :-). As is obvious, no bondho giver is asking my opinion, (and nor should they), but unfortunately, they are not asking the opinion of the intelligensia in Assam or the people either. That is a real good joke Ram :-), that Karnataka does not have 'bandhs', that it is merely a unique Assamese disability. Thanks, I did look up the item. The Judge was right. But reading from the item, it does seem that it was a particular, local case of strikes by film producers. The financial loss of Rs. 20 crores was a huge one, but the WHOLE state wasn't paralyzed in that one instance. Yes, there are bandhs all over the country. Bad as they are, most are like strikes (banks, or mills). Most such strikes in Mumbai, would close down an area or locality not the entire city. But it is extremely rare where the whole of Maharastra or Karnataka is completely shut down today. Unfortunately, closure of the whole state is the norm during bandhs in Assam. In addition to that, banks in Assam will also join All-India calls for bank closures, or some strike by say Indian airlines. When was the last time you or anyone else heard of a total Maharastra bandh or a Karnataka bandh? And when was the last you heard that from Assam? Without going into the legitimacy of
Re: [Assam] Bandh culture
At 2:20 PM -0500 8/21/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da How do you know that? What are the grounds for making that assertiuon or even assumption? Because the newspapers themselves say that 'someone from xyz org. telephoned'. Then one obviously assume that either they don't really bother confirming such info or just cannot for some reason. That is your conclusion without any substantiation. How do you know they don't ? And what if they call and it is confirmed by the 'bondho-bebosthapoks' say, hoy-diyok, aan mi bonfho disw'. Then what? And if they print unconfirmed news of a 'bondho', does that mean, one will happen based on one paper's account in a field of hundred's? Is that where the problem lies? Bondhos happening on false or exaggerated claims of 'bondhos'? This whole thing is completely beside the point Ram. Why should the media be held responsible to judge what 'bondho' is legitimate and deserving of publicity, and what is not? Where do they get their authority or wisdom to judge that? I did NOT say the media would have to make that judgement. But at the very least they should verify the info and then decide if the 'bandh notice' is newsworthy? The way the media prints each and every bandh notice, it must mean that the media considers them all newsworthy and also giving a lot of importance to such calls. opinions--but NOT to be the self appointed or Rajen/Ram appointed censors. Don't they have their own standards to judge if publicity ought to be given to mundane calls for bandhs? Who says anything about censorship? Your recommendations would be useful if the 'bondho' givers made you the arv biter of what deserves to be one Ram :-). As is obvious, no bondho giver is asking my opinion, (and nor should they), but unfortunately, they are not asking the opinion of the intelligensia in Assam or the people either. * Yes they are, by asking them to stay away from work. If the intelligentsia and/or the hordes of the ignoramus do not respect the call then it won't work, would it? But you did not go into WHY people MIGHT pay heed to the call for a 'bondho' as I explained below. What about that? That is the KEY isn't it? ( Believing is not the issue. Whether to comply with it IS. And the reasons for complying with them ARE. For example, if I manage to catch a bus to work but am stranded halfway for the rest of the day, I may not want to take the risk. Or if you fear being manhandled by ruffians, and knowing you cannot expect any assistance from law-enforcement authorities, would you be wise to venture out?) Without going into the legitimacy of bandhs and strikes, you (and others) will find that Assam has captured that market by a long shot. Fair enough. I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But if that is true what do you surmise from it? What lesson do you glean? What seems to the matter with the Assamese? Tell us, and we will examine that. c-da That is a real good joke Ram :-), that Karnataka does not have 'bandhs', that it is merely a unique Assamese disability. Thanks, I did look up the item. The Judge was right. But reading from the item, it does seem that it was a particular, local case of strikes by film producers. The financial loss of Rs. 20 crores was a huge one, but the WHOLE state wasn't paralyzed in that one instance. Yes, there are bandhs all over the country. Bad as they are, most are like strikes (banks, or mills). Most such strikes in Mumbai, would close down an area or locality not the entire city. But it is extremely rare where the whole of Maharastra or Karnataka is completely shut down today. Unfortunately, closure of the whole state is the norm during bandhs in Assam. In addition to that, banks in Assam will also join All-India calls for bank closures, or some strike by say Indian airlines. When was the last time you or anyone else heard of a total Maharastra bandh or a Karnataka bandh? And when was the last you heard that from Assam? Without going into the legitimacy of bandhs and strikes, you (and others) will find that Assam has captured that market by a long shot. Once we have that nailed down, we could discuss whether or not such calls are justifiable or necessary. --Ram ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
RE: [Assam] What?? Indian/Muslim Churidar compulsory! Ban on Dokhna ! othersacquiescing!!
Title: RE: [Assam] What?? Indian/Muslim Churidar compulsory! Ban Hi A: I don't have an answer for you. But I saw the news, and I am sure there will be more on this :-). c-da At 3:59 PM -0500 8/21/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: Yes, this is ridiculous - prohibiting the bodostudents from preserving their own culture and tradition. It is strange that the student union bodies also went against these students. It is strange that Churidar is compulsory and dokhna is prohibited. We would have been in trouble in our own home-town, if this was the rule in our school.In many families,we, theyoung girlswere not allowed to wear 'suridar' or 'salowar-kamij' when we were young - we went intowearing 'mekhela-saador' or 'sari' straight from wearing frocks. This one is for you, C'da: When will they start honoring the basic rights of peoplein India? From: Bartta Bistar [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] What?? Indian/Muslim Churidar compulsory! Ban on Dokhna ! othersacquiescing!! Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 17:44:19 + Tension prevails over ban on Bodo dress http://www.northeasttribune.com/4736.htm NET News Network Kokrajhar, Aug 21: Tension run high in the Surupeta BHB College in Barpeta district following the college authority banning the entry of Bodo students wearing the traditional Bodo Dokhna dress in the college premises. The Bodo students wearing the permitted colour Dokhna on Saturday were not allowed to enter in the college premises. Tension started when the college authority introduced churidar or salwar kamij as the uniform for the girls students beginning this academic year which the Bodo students refused. The college union bodies started boycotting the classes when the Bodo students refused to obey the dress code and continue attending the class wearing dokhna. The Bodo students alleged that they were warned by the principal of expel from the college and of giving forceful transfer certificate if they do not come wearing churidar. The college authority when contacted refutes the allegation saying the students were just requested to obey the order for peaceful atmosphere. There was no warning as such. It was just a request, the authority said. Different Bodo organization including the influential All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) and All Bodo Women Welfare Federation (ABWWF) has expressed serious concern and anguish over the issue saying its humiliating that the Bodo girls students are not allowed to wear the traditional dress Dokhna even though they put the same colour the college authority has adopted. In a press release the ABSU said in a state like Assam with diverse ethnic group colour should be the basis of uniform but not the dress. The ABSU has nothing to say about the colour uniform but lawfully it would strongly oppose the senseless decision of the college authority for adopting the churidar as the only option for uniform dress, the release stated. Churidar is not the dress of the Bodos and it cannot be the dress of Assamese people either, added ABSU secretary Goutam Mushahary. We have got full right to preserve our own culture, custom, language and tradition as being the indigenous community. If we cannot have the right to protect and preserve our own culture in our own state then where lies the meaning of freedom and respect of indigenous tribal culture, the release stated. The Bodo organizations has appealed the college authority to think consciously, carefully and farsightedly if they are really concern about Assam in particular and tribal culture in general. The organization has also urged the Assamese intellectuals including the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Assam Sahitya Sabha to come up with helping hands and give a meaningful thought for peaceful solution of the problem and for peaceful future of Assam. Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today it's FREE! ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Boga Baduli and BPO Boom--Part 1
Title: Re: [Assam] Boga Baduli and BPO Boom--Part 1 Very well said Swapnali. Good luck to you. cm At 4:38 AM +0530 8/22/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: content-class: urn:content-classes:message Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=_=_NextPart_001_01C5A6A5.4D753E50 Hi Everybody, My association with this group isn't very old. It started 2 and half years back when my previous company sent a group of 30 people to Texas for training. And the plethora of information given by this group helped the entire group tremendously. After that I have been a sporadic visitor of this group. The other day I was reading the Prime Minister's speech in Oxford where he mentioned about the most important British legacy, the English language and about their modern school systems. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/nic/0046/pmspeech.htm. A Times of India columnist once wrote that it's only for the Tamil crusaders that English stayed in India despite the onslaught of Hindi Imperialism that started right after Independence. Hence all the kudos for the Indian BPO success should go to the Tamilians ! Another article that re-shaped my thinking process was the one I read (rather my mother read it aloud to me and my sister) in Prantik (an Assmese magazine) almost 16/17 years back, where a well settled NRA called the Assamese families who sent their kids to English medium schools as "boga baduli" (white bat) which is a bizarre epiphany. (Though I am not very certain about the writer's name, the "Prantik" edition with that article still could be found in my book shelf back home provided my mother hasn't sold those old copies) This was said having found by the NRA writer that certain English medium educated Guwahati kids spoke worse Assamese than his own USA born and brought up kids. The article highly influenced my mother who is a teacher in a school named after the great martyr of "baxa andulon" Anil Bora. Once mother also told us how the Assamese had to fight to have Assamese as the official language of the state. The memory of that cataclysmic event was still fresh among the elders then. It was our father who put all our three kids in that English medium school in our town which was another legacy left by the colonial Brits and he expected us to imbibe some of their qualities like discipline, time management etc and definitely to learn English better. The following year my mother re-enrolled all her three kids in local vernacular school. While my siblings continued, I was not able to cope up with the difference, not for a single day and went back to my alma mater the very next day. However through out my student life I made sure I am equally proficient in "Oxomiya" like my siblings and many a times outdid them Years later when I was in Delhi pursuing my post- graduation, the BPO boom started first in Delhi. Though I was over qualified for those jobs, I thought of joining the bandwagon rather going back home and being jobless like my batch mates. Another reason for choosing the BPO was to avoid jostling with the rowdy and vulgar north Indian crowd. All BPOs have their private cabs for employees.Last month I completed my 4th year in BPO. This Group would be surprised to know that BPO is the one of the best thing that has happened to India. No Industry can offer anything better to thousands of mediocre like us and I am sure the industry will stay here for ever. And parents who opt for English medium schools are not necessarily "boga baduli". All that matters is the attitude the parents groom in their kids towards one's culture and language Never for a moment can I convince myself that with my family background I could have managed with vernacular education whatever I have achieved so far. My personal experience says the number of English speaking people/youth is quite less in Assam when compared to some other Indian states. A few BPOs in our state would have tackled the abysmal employment problem to certain extent. In other indian cities the BPO success has ushered in the birth of dozens of english training center along with special voice and accent courses, american accent being the first in demand. I would also like to share my advantages/disadvangtages as a native Assamese speaker in BPO industry in another mail. Swapnali Saikia Bangalore India ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] From NYT--Chief was in the Dark/ London Shooting
Tsk, tsk! But , more than that, our own second lynching of Mr. Menenzes is what I like to bring out to Netters' attn. here. cm Chief Tells of Delay in Learning Facts of London Shooting By ALAN COWELL Published: August 22, 2005 LONDON, Aug. 21 - Sir Ian Blair, commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, said Sunday that he had not known until 24 hours after the killing of a Brazilian man by police officers that the man had been an innocent bystander and not, as first suggested, a potential suicide bomber. The man, Jean Charles de Menezes, was shot in the head by plainclothes officers under a contentious shoot-to-kill policy one day after bombers tried to attack London's transportation system on July 21. On the day Mr. Menezes died, Sir Ian told reporters that the fatal shooting was directly linked to the ongoing and expanding antiterrorist operation. At the time, the police did nothing to contradict suggestions that the officers had believed Mr. Menezes had been acting suspiciously. Those initial accounts have been directly contradicted by leaked documents from an independent inquiry suggesting that Mr. Menezes behaved casually and was shot to death even after the police had restrained him. At that time - and for the next 24 hours - I and everybody who advised me believed the person who was shot was a suicide bomber, Sir Ian said Sunday in an interview with the mass-circulation News of the World. Sir Ian said that one day later: Somebody came in at 10:30 and said the equivalent of 'Houston, we have a problem.' He didn't use those words, but he said, 'We have some difficulty here; there is a lack of connection.' I thought: 'That's dreadful. What are we going to do about that?' Sir Ian has said he will not resign, as Mr. Menezes' family has demanded, and has denied suggestions of a police cover-up. Two senior government officials, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Home Secretary Charles Clarke, said Sunday that they still supported the police chief. Sir Ian said Sunday that he wanted to ensure that the public debate did not distract counterterrorism investigators from forestalling further attacks. We have to concentrate on how we find the people who are helping or thinking about planning further atrocities, he said. I am not going to be distracted from the main job, which is finding the terrorists, he said. Separately, Britain was reported to have reduced its threat assessment level to severe general, the third-highest level, from critical, the highest. But the government declined to confirm that. Mr. Prescott, the deputy prime minister, told the BBC that there was a serious threat all the time. We are in a state of high alert, which we need to be, he said. The British authorities also lowered their threat assessment level shortly before the July 7 bombings, which killed 56 people, including four bombers. ___ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Much Ado about What?
torn region. 2: That riverlinking is so ridiculous, it does not have a snowball's chance in hell ( that charaterization is mine)--that it will never fly. 3: That India is a great place to live if you are rich. Of the above, the first one came out of what he heard from a visiting US Consul, first hand, who told him that 'the picture we got from the officials is so very different from what we see on the ground'. The second one came in the context of discussing flood abatement and erosion alleviation of the Brahmaputra. The third he offered in general. And he concurred with my own assessment, as an extension of his observation, that India is the freest society in the world, for some. So free that certain people can literally get-away with murder. c-da At 10:27 AM -0500 8/19/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, r stay home tending to you our 'bhendi' plants or engage in 'adda' with your favorite neighbor over ndless cups of tea served in 'mekuri-kania' ( cat-ear sized) kops ( cups--to Jokaisukiyas, like yself)? ell us the truth Ram.They have truth detectors implanted in this net now. We can detect fake-atriotism and SPIN in a split second here. Bhendi plants are my thing. I probably would not go anywhere. But, that is NOT the point here. The concept of freedom means I can do what I want within reason: join the celebrations or not. I would detest the fact that I am forced to tend my bhendi plants (even if that is what I had wanted to do all along) or my decision making is influenced by bomb threats or CRPFs. That in essence is the problem with ULFA's tactics. As their ground support seems to be waning, they want to 'FORCE' others to behave and think as they do. To that extent, they are willing to kill children if required for their 'cause'. You maybe be right, and ULFA might NOT be interested. But what IF they are? Actions speak louder than words. Just mouthing off 'peace' doesn't make it so. If the ULFA is serious about negotiations, then they will have to drop all pretenses and eschew violence. Then the GOI would HAVE to negotiate. The ball would be in GOI's court. ** I have to agree with that Ram. So what is Manmohan Singh's excuse for acting Rambo Singh nd dragging his feet ? The same old BS of saying sweet things but not meaning it? I should have known better. Should have made an explicit reference.Kept that wide open didn't I? :) On another but related matter, did you see Sri( not Sir) Reghupaty's I did see that - was shocked (not really). Political expediency seems to be the word of the day. Who knows why Reghupati would make that statement - to appease B'deshi govt. on some quid-quo-pro deal? Take the River-Linking issue. I am sure there are people in GOI who actually know the pros and cons of RL on a purely scientific and practical basis. Whatever the ultimate stand the GOI wants to take, based on facts,the GOI has to also appease the B'deshi govt, because the B'deshi govt. does not think RL is good for them, while China would be all for RL (as they want to build dams too). The souther states think RL is good, while others are not.So the GOI plays out the appeasement game - tell whomsoever what they want to hear. I think thats what happened with Regupati here. Just pure and simple appeasement. --Ram On 8/19/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ram: Till such a time, Assamese people (who want to celebrate) will have to do it mutely and without drawing much fanfare. You are right. We have noticed :-). But seriously, if YOU were in Assam this past August 15, and there were no threats or show of force from no 'thugs', in uniform or otherwise, would you have preferred to rush to a freshly ploughed or the usually trodden-bare grounds of 'Joj-fild' to listen to heroic and inspiring 'boktrita' ( harangues) from some light-headed general and or other equally light-headed 'sorkari' luminaries or stay home tending to you our 'bhendi' plants or engage in 'adda' with your favorite neighbor over endless cups of tea served in 'mekuri-kania' ( cat-ear sized) kops ( cups--to Jokaisukiyas, like myself)? Tell us the truth Ram.They have truth detectors implanted in this net now. We can detect fake-patriotism and SPIN in a split second here. And you think the ULFA is least bit interested in 'peace talks'. ?Their actions of bomb blasts and mayhem before the I-Day doesn't seem to tell us that they are making overtures for such a solution. You maybe be right, and ULFA might NOT be interested. But what IF they are? Should we not encourage and support ANY overtures that might emerge, like it has thru MRGoswami's efforts? Should we instead assume, with our prescience or fake-intelligence,that they are not interested, and thus remain either pessimistic or apathetic or actively attempt to undermine such efforts like one of those light-headed, ghee-bellied generals who has this obviously self-appointed role of Assam's strong-man, has been doing
Re: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction
Title: Re: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction If I am not mistaken, 'suk' is synonymous with 'suburi' At 12:57 AM -0500 8/19/05, Barua25 wrote: Jokai is also called jakoi, is not it? I think it is good Assamese word. I wonder if the word is in other Indian languages. That brings usto the question of the other word; SUK. Jokai-suk, Doha-Bora Suk, Hazarika Suk etc. The word suk, I could not find in Hindi or Bengali but only in Assamese. The Arabic has a similar word suk meaning bazar. I am not sure if the Assamese suk came from the Arabic direct. InJorhat we have a market called Sok Bazar.This Sok I think is same as Arabic Suk meaning Bazar. Although in Assamese the meaning of the word suk written as 'corner', I find it hard to believe that Jokai Suk, Doha Bora Suk really mean 'corner'. At one time these words might have meant 'bazar' or 'hat'. It is possible that the Arabic Suk has connection to the Assamese suk. Another such interesting Assamese word is the word pul (bridge). (Xi pulot bohi ase). The word pul is not there in Hindi but in Bengali. Also it is in Persian. In Assamese there many such words of Arabic origin which are not found in other Indian languages. Incidently all the following Assamese words are of Arabic origin, These are probably in many other Indian languages: nogod, joma, khoros, khobor, kagoj, kolom, kitab, mosgul, hajir, ohmok, hakim, rokom, dewai, masul, khotom, julum, khali, khalas, malik, sotur, tarikh, son (year), nojor, harami etc Interesting!! Rajen Barua. . - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 11:45 PM Subject: RE: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction I want to add something in this regard ... 'Jokai' is afamiliar namein Assam.If you go through theassamese newspapers regularly youwill come acrossmany places called 'Jokai' situated indifferent parts of Assam. Ipersonally know a placecalled 'Jokai' ( including a village and a big reserve forest called 'Jokai reserve forest' ), which is around 10Km away from Dibrugarh towards Burhidihing river. Every one must be knowing the company called 'Jokai India Limited'. C.R.Baruah -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Chan Mahanta Sent: 19 August 2005 08:05 To: utpal borpujari; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction Welcome Utpal. Our paths crossed before. I am sure you remember. Congrats. again on your fine efforts. Thanks for correcting me. I had a vague idea that there indeed is a place called Jokaisuk, but was never clear on where it stood. Turns out it is less than ten miles from my birth-'muluk' :-). But like Ram suggests, it can become a generic but quintessentially kharkhowa, obscure and humble locale, that many of us can claim our roots to. In that it is a band of honor that we proudly wear. Best, c-da At 5:36 PM +0100 8/18/05, utpal borpujari wrote: Hi all. Just a few things: 1. Actually Jokaisuk is a mythical 'muluk', from which both Tilok Daktor and myself, as well as a host of other kharkhowas can and do hail. - Chandan-da, Jokaisuk, as far as I know (correct me if I am wrong) is not a 'mythical muluk'. In fact, quite contrary to the image the name gives, it is located right on the national highway between Amguri and Sivasagar, before one reaches Gaurisagar. 2. I thinik our journaluist new comer friend is 'bhoyote touba touba khaise'.- RAJEN Bhoi khowa nai. I am actually quite excited that what I thought was just a mere introductory mail from me, and thereby obviously my first mail to the group, has led to such an interesting discussion. 3. Manoj-da (of Assam Association, Delhi) and ShantikamHazarika : Thanks for mentioning about my winning the national Best film critic Swarna Kamal award in 2003 and being a jury member at the national film awards this year. This kind of constant encouragement helps in thinking of doing something better. 4. A request to everyone in the group: unless there is some kind of rule about this, please delete all the previous mails (except may be the mail to which one is replying to) while hitting the reply button. Otherwise, this makes the mailers very voluminous, with the same mails being appended at the bottom of each mail repetatively. - Utpal Too much spam in your inbox? Yahoo! Mail gives you the best spam protection for FREE! Get Yahoo! Mail ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list
Re: [Assam] NE TV's Ekap Half Chah programme
Title: Re: [Assam] NE TV's Ekap Half Chah programme I have no problem with that Prasenjit. However, I DO have a problem with the nauseating degree of these 'fake' and sometimes completely un-deserved courtesies that our people are either mired in, or are compelled to perpetuate. Just look the overuse and misuse of the 'honorable' or 'hon'ble' appellation, that abounds in the media, requiring the people to call address their servants, MLA's, MPs,Ministers--minor or major, tin-pot dictators of magistrates/hakims ad nauseum. It is yet another of those left-over colonial / imperial traits that help perpetuate that these folks are the 'bosses' of the people, instead of their real role in a democratic society--that of the 'servant of the people'. It is time to change that. If the British prefer to remain a monarchica society replete witheir sirs and lords and ladies, that is their choice. Why should the people of Assam follow those outdated and alien ways? At 8:16 AM +0100 8/19/05, Prasenjit Chetia wrote: Cda; These small formalities make up your bigger identity. Cheers!! prasenjit On 8/18/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I agree. The emphasis should be on asking pertinent questions and getting forthright answers. I realize, we 'probaxis' have shed a lot of our traditional formalities, which many of our peers back in Assam might find uncouth and impolite. But be that as it may, the focus should be on the substance and not on the appearances and formalities. At 7:52 AM -0700 8/18/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: I really do not see any problem in the use of tumi as long as neither Mr. Bhuyan and Mr. Sarma had any objection. After all there are three accepted forms of you in Assamese - Apuni, Tumi and Toi, and they are used as appropriate between two people. If Bhuyan used Apuni just for the show, it would have been artificial and probably would have put a barrier in the flow of words. Dilip Deka muktikam phukan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello everybody I've a small observation to make. Recently I've been to Sivasagar for some official job. It was nice to see the TV channel called NE TV catering to all the major languages of NE including Sikkim. One of the programme I saw was a Talk Show titled Ekap Half Chah. The anchor Sri Atanu Bhuyan was interviewing a young Assam Minister, Sri Himanta Biswa Sarma. But, I was really astonished to hear Sri Bhuyan calling Sri Sarma TUMI all through the programme. Is it not really very unprofessional? Even if Sri Sarma is very junior to Sri Bhuyan or even if they r very good friends, some decorum should have been maintained in such public programmes by calling him APUNI. After all he is a H'ble Minister of the Govt of Assam, duly elected by the people of Jalukbari. These r small things but if taken care of will go a long way in improving the programmes of this budding channel. My observation has nothing personal against anybody and I may kindly be corrected if I m wrong. Muktikam Phukan Check out Yahoo! India Rakhi Special for Rakhi shopping, contests and lots more. http://in.promos.yahoo.com/rakhi/index.html ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam -- Prasenjit Chetia Atlanta, GA ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction
Title: Re: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction Is suburi also sometimes referred to as 'suba'? I am not sure it is very common, however. 'Suba' might be a Persian origin word. Of course I would have no clue about that. At 9:07 AM -0500 8/19/05, Rajen Barua wrote: Chandan: I think that is what it is and we should revise the Assamese Dictionaries to include the meaning 'suburi'. At present some dictionaries carry the meaning, 'gawor ek khondo' etc. But I think 'suburi' is a more meaningful word for 'suk'. Now wher does the word 'suburi' comes from. More when we continue after this comercial break. Rajen - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta To: Barua25 ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 8:29 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction If I am not mistaken, 'suk' is synonymous with 'suburi' At 12:57 AM -0500 8/19/05, Barua25 wrote: Jokai is also called jakoi, is not it? I think it is good Assamese word. I wonder if the word is in other Indian languages. That brings usto the question of the other word; SUK. Jokai-suk, Doha-Bora Suk, Hazarika Suk etc. The word suk, I could not find in Hindi or Bengali but only in Assamese. The Arabic has a similar word suk meaning bazar. I am not sure if the Assamese suk came from the Arabic direct. InJorhat we have a market called Sok Bazar.This Sok I think is same as Arabic Suk meaning Bazar. Although in Assamese the meaning of the word suk written as 'corner', I find it hard to believe that Jokai Suk, Doha Bora Suk really mean 'corner'. At one time these words might have meant 'bazar' or 'hat'. It is possible that the Arabic Suk has connection to the Assamese suk. Another such interesting Assamese word is the word pul (bridge). (Xi pulot bohi ase). The word pul is not there in Hindi but in Bengali. Also it is in Persian. In Assamese there many such words of Arabic origin which are not found in other Indian languages. Incidently all the following Assamese words are of Arabic origin, These are probably in many other Indian languages: nogod, joma, khoros, khobor, kagoj, kolom, kitab, mosgul, hajir, ohmok, hakim, rokom, dewai, masul, khotom, julum, khali, khalas, malik, sotur, tarikh, son (year), nojor, harami etc Interesting!! Rajen Barua. . - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 11:45 PM Subject: RE: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction I want to add something in this regard ... 'Jokai' is afamiliar namein Assam.If you go through theassamese newspapers regularly youwill come acrossmany places called 'Jokai' situated indifferent parts of Assam. Ipersonally know a placecalled 'Jokai' ( including a village and a big reserve forest called 'Jokai reserve forest' ), which is around 10Km away from Dibrugarh towards Burhidihing river. Every one must be knowing the company called 'Jokai India Limited'. C.R.Baruah -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Chan Mahanta Sent: 19 August 2005 08:05 To: utpal borpujari; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] Re: ref: my introduction Welcome Utpal. Our paths crossed before. I am sure you remember. Congrats. again on your fine efforts. Thanks for correcting me. I had a vague idea that there indeed is a place called Jokaisuk, but was never clear on where it stood. Turns out it is less than ten miles from my birth-'muluk' :-). But like Ram suggests, it can become a generic but quintessentially kharkhowa, obscure and humble locale, that many of us can claim our roots to. In that it is a band of honor that we proudly wear. Best, c-da At 5:36 PM +0100 8/18/05, utpal borpujari wrote: Hi all. Just a few things: 1. Actually Jokaisuk is a mythical 'muluk', from which both Tilok Daktor and myself, as well as a host of other kharkhowas can and do hail. - Chandan-da, Jokaisuk, as far as I know (correct me if I am wrong) is not a 'mythical muluk'. In fact, quite contrary to the image the name gives, it is located right on the national highway between Amguri and Sivasagar, before one reaches Gaurisagar. 2. I thinik our journaluist new comer friend is 'bhoyote touba touba khaise'.- RAJEN Bhoi khowa nai. I am actually quite excited that what I thought was just a mere introductory mail from me, and thereby obviously my first mail to the group, has led to such an interesting discussion. 3. Manoj-da (of Assam Association, Delhi) and ShantikamHazarika : Thanks for mentioning about my winning the national Best film critic Swarna Kamal award in 2003 and being a jury member at the national film awards this year. This kind of constant encouragement helps in thinking of doing something better. 4. A request to everyone in the group: unless there is some kind of rule about this, please delete all the previous mails
Re: [Assam] Much Ado about What?
Title: Re: [Assam] Much Ado about What? Ram: Till such a time, Assamese people (who want to celebrate) will have to do it mutely and without drawing much fanfare. You are right. We have noticed :-). But seriously, if YOU were in Assam this past August 15, and there were no threats or show of force from no 'thugs', in uniform or otherwise, would you have preferred to rush to a freshly ploughed or the usually trodden-bare grounds of 'Joj-fild' to listen to heroic and inspiring 'boktrita' ( harangues) from some light-headed general and or other equally light-headed 'sorkari' luminaries or stay home tending to you our 'bhendi' plants or engage in 'adda' with your favorite neighbor over endless cups of tea served in 'mekuri-kania' ( cat-ear sized) kops ( cups--to Jokaisukiyas, like myself)? Tell us the truth Ram.They have truth detectors implanted in this net now. We can detect fake-patriotism and SPIN in a split second here. And you think the ULFA is least bit interested in 'peace talks'. ?Their actions of bomb blasts and mayhem before the I-Day doesn't seem to tell us that they are making overtures for such a solution. You maybe be right, and ULFA might NOT be interested. But what IF they are? Should we not encourage and support ANY overtures that might emerge, like it has thru MRGoswami's efforts? Should we instead assume, with our prescience or fake-intelligence,that they are not interested, and thus remain either pessimistic or apathetic or actively attempt to undermine such efforts like one of those light-headed, ghee-bellied generals who has this obviously self-appointed role of Assam's strong-man, has been doing? A negotiated settlement or peace talks needs at least 2 parties. It will never be possible, when one of the parties is out playing Rambo. I have to agree with that Ram. So what is Manmohan Singh's excuse for acting Rambo Singh and dragging his feet ? The same old BS of saying sweet things but not meaning it? On another but related matter, did you see Sri( not Sir) Reghupaty's ( MHA-mukhopatro's) denial of any knowledge of ULFA being innkeepers, or more precisely the Hiltons of Dacca or Patels of Pabna ? What happened? What are you guys? GWBs, being taken for a ride by your own CIA's? Boy that must have been a RAW deal, wasn't it? Tsk, tsk! I would like to see the squirming in the Editorial offices of the Sentinel and the Statesman and the AT now. But then again, if they had any such compunction, they would not have willingly participated in the propaganda to begin with, don't you think? c-da :-) At 5:12 PM -0500 8/17/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, For some strange reason however, I doubt there will be profound analyses and proclamations about the victory of democracy over the '.thugs', and an impending demise of the insurgencies.? For people to go out and really celebrate two things must happen: (a) No threat whatsoever, perceived or otherwise : ie they should feel safe (b) No CRP or otherswith heavy bondobast- since that gives the impression that it really is NOT safe. Till such a time, Assamese people (who want to celebrate) will have to do it mutely and without drawing much fanfare. And if so, should the people, including us, not raise their voices to bring an end to the insurgencies thru a negotiated political solution And you think the ULFA is least bit interested in 'peace talks'. ?Their actions of bomb blasts and mayhem before the I-Day doesn't seem to tell us that they are making overtures for such a solution. A negotiated settlement or peace talks needs at least 2 parties. It will never be possible, when one of the parties is out playing Rambo. --Ram On 8/17/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I was waiting to exhale after holding my breath for so long--about the impending violence and mayhem on Dependence Day--I mean, Independence Day :-) celebrations and also to read about all the throngs that would have defied the insurgents' call to go listen to the 'netas' on I-Day. But there is a curious silence in the news media. The ONLY reference I found was at http://www.janasadharan.com/. Apparently , except for a few ministers,hardly anyone went to re-plant their faith in 'independence' and desi-demokrasy or sow seeds of discontent on the freshly ploughed grounds of the Judges' Field. Well, what the heck, maybe the grass will grow better next time. Question is however, what is the story? I mean is it, like the Dainik J. announced that the presence and alertness of the 'security' forces prevented the violence ( and also the turnout of the loyal celebrants dying--not literally now--to take part in the festivities)? Or is it the fear caused by them insurgents' threats? Or was it empathy with the insurgents' calls? Or was it due to a deep apathy and cynicism towards these so called independence celebrations? For some strange reason however, I doubt there will be profound analyses and proclamations about the victory
[Assam] More on Indian Justice--from Tehelka
Title: More on Indian Justice--from Tehelka Sorry to post such a long one. But since it is not available in the public domain, I thought it would be useful to the interested. cm Scot-free: The killers in uniform Senior police officers, who were held responsible for inciting anti-Sikh violence in 1984, were not merely exonerated; they were rewarded with promotions and gallantry awards. And now, the Nanavati Commission has given them a clean chit. Ajmer Singh reports The Carnage: Sikhs venting their anger at the police inaction Ved Marwah, the first police officer to inquire into police lapses, was asked to stop his investigations midway. Marwah told the Nanavati Commission that he was asked to discontinue his probe even before he could examine senior police officers They were held responsible for the bloody carnage of 1984 - for directly or indirectly inciting the killings of Sikhs. Yet, these men in uniform, protectors who turned perpetrators of crime, were rewarded with promotions and police medals. Some others, who played with evidence and were to be dismissed from service for being 'a slur on the police force', were exonerated and have since retired gracefully. Tehelka dug up details on police officers who were to be dismissed from service, but were instead granted promotions. The Government of India (GOI) appointed the Kusum Lata Mittal Committee in 1987, comprising Justice Dilip Kapoor and Kusum Lata Mittal, to inquire into the conduct of the Delhi Police during the 1984 riots. The report, submitted separately by Mittal in 1990, indicted 72 officers. Yet, no action was taken against these officers. The Justice Jain-Agarwal Committee, also appointed to inquire into the riots, scrutinised over 400 firs and found improper investigations were carried out by the police. However, most cases ended in acquittals. Ved Marwah, the first police officer to inquire into police lapses, was asked to stop his investigations midway. In his affidavit to the Nanavati Commission, Marwah disclosed that he was asked to discontinue his probe even before he could examine senior police officers. Ranjit Singh Narula, retired Chief Justice of Punjab Haryana High Court, and a witness before the commission, in his affidavit disclosed that handwritten notes prepared by Marwah were destroyed following instructions from higher authorities. But Justice GT Nanavati, in his report, ignored all these observations and let-off the guilty. No action was recommended against the guilty officers even though there was credible evidence. The only exception was the then Police Commissioner, SC Tandon, and a Sub-Inspector (SI), Hoshiar Singh, who were held responsible for failing to maintain the law and order and for dereliction of duty respectively. However, no action can be initiated against them, as both of them have now retired. The Mittal Committee exposed the police brutality and their connivance with criminals. Over 1,200 Sikhs were killed in the east district of Delhi. According to the committee, a DCP concealed a number of bodies and directed his subordinates to register only a few cases. Yet, no action was taken against the officers. In all, 147 officers were indicted. The Justice Jain-Agarwal Committee also indicted many police officers. However, no action was taken against most of them (42 had either retired or were dead). As for the remaining 105 officers, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) processed eight cases, and 97 were processed by the Delhi government. Five officers were exonerated by the MHA. In one case a cut in pension was recommended for five years, and in another case a restraint order was passed by the Delhi hc against a DCP. In another DCP's case the report was delayed, which has now been forwarded to the MHA. No action was taken in the 97 cases that the Delhi government processed. A few examples: Sewa Das Das, who was the DCP (East) during the anti-Sikh riots, is now special commissioner, Delhi Police. According to the Kusum Lata Mittal Committee report, Das was prima facie responsible for failing to supervise and providing leadership to his subordinates. The report said: "The conduct of Sewa Das is a slur on the name of any police force and he should not be trusted with or assigned any job of responsibility, in fact, he is not considered fit for being retained in service." The report further said, "Sewa Das removed Sikh officers from duty who were inclined to take proper measures to deal with the rioters. The shos under his jurisdiction systematically disarmed the Sikhs, as a result they couldn't protect themselves. At the same time no steps were taken to provide police protection to them to protect their lives and property. Sewa Das did not keep his superior officers informed of the killings which continued under his jurisdiction, which amounted to concealment of information and failure to discharge duties there is no evidence to show that he took action to control the situation. The conclusion
[Assam] For Gardeners
Raiz: I am a part-time khetiyok ( gardener), among other things :-). I am pleased to announce that I created a hybrid tita kerela, by cross breeding a variety of semi-wild kerela that I collected seeds of from a vine from the highlands of Jamaica in 2003 with the long Assamese variety. This Jamaican variety kerela ( momordica--bitter gourd) fruit is really tiny, about 1 in diameter and about 2 to 2.5 long, with dainty ( about 3 diameter) leaves. The fruits are so small that they are not useful for eating. The seeds are black, about 1/4 long X 1/8 wide. I was told by someone that it is seen in Florida also, growing wild. Just out of curiosity, I pollinated an Assamese kerela female flower with a male Jamaican pollen, and vice versa. One did not work, but the other did; except I was not careful about recording which hybrid fruited, and don't know the exact mix. Anyway, I grew a new hybrid plant this spring from the harvested seeds. At first, the resulting plant did not indicate any conspicuous characteristic. But soon I began to notice that it is an amazingly prolific plant, growing like crazy. You can almost see it growing :-). Soon a very robust and wildly growing vine took over the trellis and spread all over nearby ground, tomato plants and and overhead trellis that I built for 'laos' ( gourds) producing lots and lots of mid-sized ( 1.5 dia X 3 to 4 long), pale green ( more white than green) hybrid fruits. In fact we have so many fruits, I stopped picking them, and they are ripening and cracking up like blood red flowers with yellow petals. The taste is not extremely bitter, like some of our Assamese little kerela varieties. You can say it is of medium bitterness. My guess is that it MIGHT become a good garden vegetable for amateur urban gardeners as well as rural khetiyoks in Assam, because the plant is so robust and prolific. It can also become a beautiful screening/landscaping plant at verandas as well as against ugly , blank compound walls, because it grows so fast. The flowers are mildly fragrant,like all kerela plants. But since there are so many flowers, the pleasant aroma could be smelled from a slight distance. That makes me think, it could be a fine urban landscape plant in warm humid areas. If anyone wants seeds to try let me know. I will be pleased to share some. Iti bineet, sondon kerela-seed mohonto :-) ( With apologies to Johnny Appleseed) ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] Sentinel News
As a wellwisher of Assam, I support Dr. Goswami in her efforts. If anyone from Delhi is listening, I will appreciate if he/she would forward the word of my humble solidarity, for whatever it is worth, to her. Mamoni: Free Anup, 9 other ULFA leaders From our Correspondent NEW DELHI, Aug 19: Noted writer Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami requested Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to release the top ten ULFA leaders who are languishing in different jails in Assam and Bangladesh. In a letter to the PM, Dr Goswami said that it would be a good gesture on the part of the PM, who is a nominee from Assam, if he released the 10 top leaders of the banned outfit. It will break the deadlock between the Centre and the ULFA if the PM responds positively to my prayer. The people of Assam are tired of bloodshed. They want peace. I personally feel that the Government should forgive the leaders of the banned outfit who are languishing in different jails in extreme conditions, and release them keeping in mind the sentiment of the Assamese people, said Dr. Goswami. Assam Government said that it was ready to release the six leaders who were in different jails in the State. Now the Centre has to take a positive step in bringing Anup Chetia, who is languishing in a Dhaka Jail. She also said that she had got feedback from the people of Assam favouring her peace bid. Dr Goswami also reminded the PM that no untoward incident had happened in Assam on the Independence Day, which was a positive sign from the rebel group. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] For Gardeners
Title: Re: [Assam] For Gardeners Rajen: Thanks for the kind words, but it is not an achievement to croak about :). It is an EXTREMELY easy thing to do, if you know some fundamentals of Botany and Horticulture. I have successfully cross-bred the large pale-green Oxomiya 'lao' ( gourd) with Italian Marrow ( a long thin variety of 'lao') years back, and raise the hybrid in our garden every year. The hybrid is a long but club ( goda) like variety. I don't know that the hybrid 'kerela' will be 'kerwn' resistant. It could be, but it could also be extremely vulnerable. I don't know enough about genetics to be able to predict what could be expected to result from the cross pollination. Yes, certain disease resistant varieties CAN BE produced by selective breeding/pollination. But it takes years of methodical work, of trial and error. There are laws of heredity which can predict certain characteristics of a cross bred plant or animal. My effort could be compared to shooting in the dark to see if anything will be hit. Good thing though is that it is highly unlikely to produce a 'kerela from hell'. Thanks much for sharing your 'bogori aasar'. We too used it sparingly. But it is all gone now. I envy you Houstonians and Floridians and Americans from the South and West who have the climate to be able to grow Assam plants outdoors and can be sure they would survive the winter. Bogori would be hard to hybridize, because it really does not belong to the plum family at all. There are different strains of it in Assam, Bengal, north India etc. I am sure cross breeding with these variants are eminently possible. Dil Deka has some Bhat Kerela plants. I am going to get me an 'aalu' ( tuber) from her next time, and see if I can cross breed 'tita kerela' with 'bhaat kerela'.They are both 'momordicas' and just might work. I tried last year to create a cross between a 'jika' and a 'bhwl', But I failed. I will try again this year when they start blooming in about a couple of weeks. I am trying some other experiments too. But it is too early to talk about it. If something useful comes out of it, you will surely hear from me :-). c At 7:31 PM -0500 8/19/05, Barua25 wrote: Chandan: That is a great achievement, I would say. Please do publish it in some magazine here and specaially in Assam with some sketches and pictures so that people would know and may practise the sameMay be your hybrid variety will not suffer from kerwn. The processof creating hybrid fruitsseems to be exciting although I am absolutely novice in this field.I definitely would like to have seeds of this new variety of Kerela.Deep fried kerela with white rice and chilliis one of my favorite Assamese dish for Sunday lunch. I am sure you can do it with other Assamese fruits. As I told you before, I have successfully planted an Assamese Bogori Gos (straight from Jorhat) in our house in Katy, Texas. The good news is that it survived the frost second year in a row. This year the treeproduced enough khar-khwa Bogoris for Ajanta to make couple of bottles of Bogori Asar which we are enjoying sparingly like bapoti xahwn. May be you can teach me how to make a hybrid Bogori out of this with some American plum variety. Thanks Rajen - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 12:33 PM Subject: [Assam] For Gardeners Raiz: I am a part-time khetiyok ( gardener), among other things :-). I am pleased to announce that I created a hybrid tita kerela, by cross breeding a variety of semi-wild kerela that I collected seeds of from a vine from the highlands of Jamaica in 2003 with the long Assamese variety. This Jamaican variety kerela ( momordica--bitter gourd) fruit is really tiny, about 1 in diameter and about 2 to 2.5 long, with dainty ( about 3 diameter) leaves. The fruits are so small that they are not useful for eating. The seeds are black, about 1/4 long X 1/8 wide. I was told by someone that it is seen in Florida also, growing wild. Just out of curiosity, I pollinated an Assamese kerela female flower with a male Jamaican pollen, and vice versa. One did not work, but the other did; except I was not careful about recording which hybrid fruited, and don't know the exact mix. Anyway, I grew a new hybrid plant this spring from the harvested seeds. At first, the resulting plant did not indicate any conspicuous characteristic. But soon I began to notice that it is an amazingly prolific plant, growing like crazy. You can almost see it growing :-). Soon a very robust and wildly growing vine took over the trellis and spread all over nearby ground, tomato plants and and overhead trellis that I built for 'laos' ( gourds) producing lots and lots of mid-sized ( 1.5 dia X 3 to 4 long), pale green ( more white than green) hybrid fruits. In fact we have so many fruits, I stopped picking them, and they are ripening and cracking up like blood red flowers
[Assam] From The Sentinel
My question is this: Is this something new? A surprise? If it is NOT a surprise, then has anything happened over the decades to hold the responsible accountable? If not why? Is it because of a moral collapse of the people of Assam, the intelligentsia? Or is it because there is no functioning system, apparatus, tools --- that could be used by the people to demand and exact accountability? If there is no such institution of democratic governance that the people can use to hold the responsible accountable, then should the people not rise to CHANGE things, to reform the system dramatically? And if such an effort is NOT led by the intelligentsia, like the people in this forum, then WHO would? Of course we know the answer, don't we? The insurgency is not something that fell from the sky, it was a RESULT of the dereliction of citizenship duties by its most privileged, those who have/had the powers, the resources, and supposedly are the leaders of society. And they are the ones who continue to cry, and call their fellow Assamese morally bankrupt, coward,lazy and corrupt! What nerve, what gall! cm Undue financial aid to the contractor, excess payment CAG report: Irregularities galore in PWD By a Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, AUG 17: The CAG's report for the year ending March 31, 2004 has found several gross irregularities in the PWD department. The report exposes how the department's irresponsible action caused huge loss to the government to the tune of many crores of rupees. Delayed action, failure to comply with government instruction, favour shown to contractors, fixation of different rates for identical items which smacks of favouritism, non-invocation of penal clause etc. have resulted in such huge loss. We bring to the readers' notice a few cases of such irregularities committed by the department pointing to serious mismanagement in the department. We are quoting verbatim from the CAG's report. Undue financial aid to the contractor and extra expenditure [Injudicious decision of the department to include forest royalty in the analysed rate of earthwork led to undue financial benefit of Rs 22.50 lakh to the contractor besides failure of the department to comply with the instructions while awarding the work to the contractor resulted in an extra expenditure of Rs 20.10 lakh.] The work of Improvement of Singimari-Bongsar-Sualkuchi Road under Central Road Fund of Ministry of Surface Transport (MOST) for 2001-02 was administratively approved (June 2002) for Rs 6.96 crore and was awarded (June 2002) to a contractor at the tender value of Rs 6.73 crore (4 per cent above the APWD Schedule of Rates 2000-01) with the stipulated date of completion as June 2003. The physical progress of the work up to March 2004 was 95 per cent and a total amount of Rs 5.08 crore was paid to the contractor against the measured work valued at Rs 6.05 crore. Test-check (November 2003) of records of the Executive Engineer (EE), Guwahati Roads Division revealed that: The Chief Engineer (CE) PWD (Roads) allowed rate of Rs 97.35 per cubic metre for earthwork with imported soil from private land within a distance of 3 kilometre including land compensation as per Assam PWD Schedule of Rates, 2000-01 and in addition paid Rs 22.50 lakh to the contractor towards Forest Royalty (FR) @ Rs 8.00 per cubic meter on 256006 cum of earth work executed. The payment of Forest Royalty on soil collected from private land was in contravention of Government (Forest Department) order of June 1992 and thus resulted in excess payment of Rs 22.50 lakh as detailed in Appendix-XXX. Against the analysed rate of the item Construction of Water Bound Macadam (WBM) the rates of collection of 63-45 mm size metal and 53-22.4 mm size metal from quarry were taken as Rs 383.75 per cum and Rs 390.25 per cum (rate for machine broken metal) instead of Rs 335.65 and Rs 353.60 (rate for hand broken metal) though as per approved estimate WBM was to be executed with hand broken metals. Moreover, as per corrigendum issued by the CE in October 2001 on the Schedule of Rates (SOR) 2000-01, the labour rate for WBM and the carriage rates for stone metals were reduced with effect from October 2001. However, this aspect was not taken into account while awarding the work in June 2002. This had resulted in an extra expenditure of Rs 20.10 lakh as detailed in Appendix-XXXI. Thus, irregular payment of forest royalty on collection of soil from private land for use on earthwork and non-adherence to the instructions contained in the corrigendum on SOR 2000-01 issued by the Chief Engineer (CE) resulted in an excess payment of Rs 22.50 lakh and an extra expenditure of Rs 20.10 lakh. The matter was reported to Government in May 2004; their replies had not been received (October 2004). Extra financial burden and excess payment [Delay of over two years in
Re: [Assam] New Member
Title: Re: [Assam] New Member You are the true ambassadors of Assam to tell the rest of India that the Assamese are just as capable as any other Indian, if not better. This image of the Assamese is a CREATION of a certain genre' of people, scions of the establishment, raised in privileges, whose are witless and unable to see what sits on their faces, and then attempt to explain away Assam's conditions on a genetic disposition of its people that makes them slow, 'lahe-lahe', inept and corrupt. It does not require any PROVING otherwise, because the perception, the charge itself is at best, a mindless one. At 6:17 AM -0700 8/18/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: A warm welcome to all of you who started membership recently. It is so heartwarming to see so many up and coming Assamese youngsters spreading all over India and holding responsible positions. You are the true ambassadors of Assam to tell the rest of India that the Assamese are just as capable as any other Indian, if not better. We in the 50/60 age group would like to hear from you guys regularly on topics that interest today's Assamese young people. We start new discussions in this net and mostly they degenerate into the same debate that has become too familiar. I am hoping you guys can change that with a fresh viewpoint. Dilip Deka Houston TX jadav kakoti [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi all I am Jadav Kakoti, working in North East Sun magazine, a political fortnightly published from Delhi. I have just joined the e-group. I'm from North Lakhimpur and have been here in Delhi for the last one decade. Hope I'll have a nice interaction with you all on diverse issues concerning the Land of Red Rivers and Blue Mountains. Bye Jadav ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] NE TV's Ekap Half Chah programme
Title: Re: [Assam] NE TV's Ekap Half Chah programme I agree. The emphasis should be on asking pertinent questions and getting forthright answers. I realize, we 'probaxis' have shed a lot of our traditional formalities, which many of our peers back in Assam might find uncouth and impolite. But be that as it may, the focus should be on the substance and not on the appearances and formalities. At 7:52 AM -0700 8/18/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: I really do not see any problem in the use of tumi as long as neither Mr. Bhuyan and Mr. Sarma had any objection. After all there are three accepted forms of you in Assamese - Apuni, Tumi and Toi, and they areused as appropriate between two people. If Bhuyanused Apuni just for the show, it would have beenartificial and probably would have put a barrier in the flow of words. Dilip Deka muktikam phukan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello everybody I've a small observation to make. Recently I've been to Sivasagar for some official job. It was nice to see the TV channel called NE TV catering to all the major languages of NE including Sikkim. One of the programme I saw was a Talk Show titled Ekap Half Chah. The anchor Sri Atanu Bhuyan was interviewing a young Assam Minister, Sri Himanta Biswa Sarma. But, I was really astonished to hear Sri Bhuyan calling Sri Sarma TUMI all through the programme. Is it not really very unprofessional? Even if Sri Sarma is very junior to Sri Bhuyan or even if they r very good friends, some decorum should have been maintained in such public programmes by calling him APUNI. After all he is a H'ble Minister of the Govt of Assam, duly elected by the people of Jalukbari. These r small things but if taken care of will go a long way in improving the programmes of this budding channel. My observation has nothing personal against anybody and I may kindly be corrected if I m wrong. Muktikam Phukan Check out Yahoo! India Rakhi Special for Rakhi shopping, contests and lots more. http://in.promos.yahoo.com/rakhi/index.html ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] Fwd: [riverlink] Digest Number 550
Mailing-List: list [EMAIL PROTECTED]; contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] List-Id: riverlink.yahoogroups.com List-Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 18 Aug 2005 15:20:06 - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [riverlink] Digest Number 550 Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] There are 4 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1. Re: Kalam's speech, a travesty of scientific temper and ethics From: Sankar Ray [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2. Re: The President again From: S.G. Vombatkere [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3. 58 Years of Independence- 'A Wonder that is India' From: pulak barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] 4. Re: The President again From: S.G. Vombatkere [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message: 1 Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 05:37:05 +0100 (BST) From: Sankar Ray [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Kalam's speech, a travesty of scientific temper and ethics I think we should tell the President that he has been doggedly defending the river-linking concept although this is far from his area of experience. Let's tell him pointblanc that this is a travesty of scientific temper and ethics. Sankar Ray [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There are 8 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1. The President again From: devashischatterjee 2. Re: Public hearing From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3. [PraxisNews] Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam calls for implement river-linking project with a 'sense of urgency' From: BanglaPraxis 4. 15 August Protest: Press Release From: crbijoy 5. 15 August Protest: Press Release From: crbijoy 6. Re: Discussion meeting on Teesta river, August 12, 2005 From: Debasish De 7. Re: The President again From: Himanshu Thakkar 8. President Kalam parrots ILR , PM ignores it From: riverswatch2003 Message: 1 Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 17:43:51 - From: devashischatterjee Subject: The President again Well, friends, the President is back centre stage, even as Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) debates go on, he again sees it as the solution to all problems, by correcting the mistakes of nature or of God. Devashis Chatterjee Message: 2 Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 09:45:05 +0530 From: S.G. Vombatkere [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: The President again Friends, # Not only is it ILR to the fore once again, but also about permitting more testing of drugs on animals (which will promote pharmaceutical research that benefits MNCs but not poor people, thanks to WTO). # For floods in Bihar and Assam (and equally in Mumbai or Gujarat), Dr.Kalam has advocated ILR! How can a scientist/engineer overlook the simple argument that flood in Ganga and B'putra that rages at 50,000 and 60,000 cumecs cannot be relieved by a canal that conducts away a mere 1,500 or 2,000 cumecs? Or not understand that the expressways and rail embankments (and also canals) are obstacles to the natural drainage of the land and cause disaster due to flood water NOT flowing away? The answer to those questions is the blind, unscientific faith that our science education in schools gives to children, that ST can solve all problems, without understanding that ST causes its own set of problems that are often worse that the problem that they are meant to solve. The thermodynamic law of entropy needs practical interpretation into other fields, ... # In his Independence Day speech that entirely focussed on science and technology aspects, Dr.Kalam said, ... rainfall and floods are annual features in many parts of the country. We need to thank God that they are annual features. We NEED rainfall and we NEED flood, and that too annually! But what we do NOT need and do NOT want is the DISASTER due to floods. Disaster due to flood is caused or accentuated by interference of man-made structures like river embankments (or road embankments and rail embankments without thought to adequate cross-drainage) with the natural drainage of the land. Proponents of our so-called modern methods of blind application of technology argue that if x quantity of something is good, then 1000x of that same thing is 1,000 times as good. They fail to see that if the ill effect of x is y, the ill effect of 1000x mostly cannot be accurately assessed (especially when human and other intangible factors come into play) and is often more than 1000y or sometimes less. This
[Assam] Re: ref: my introduction
Title: Re: ref: my introduction Welcome Utpal. Our paths crossed before. I am sure you remember. Congrats. again on your fine efforts. Thanks for correcting me. I had a vague idea that there indeed is a place called Jokaisuk, but was never clear on where it stood. Turns out it is less than ten miles from my birth-'muluk' :-). But like Ram suggests, it can become a generic but quintessentially kharkhowa, obscure and humble locale, that many of us can claim our roots to. In that it is a band of honor that we proudly wear. Best, c-da At 5:36 PM +0100 8/18/05, utpal borpujari wrote: Hi all. Just a few things: 1. Actually Jokaisuk is a mythical 'muluk', from which both Tilok Daktor and myself, as well as a host of other kharkhowas can and do hail. - Chandan-da, Jokaisuk, as far as I know (correct me if I am wrong) is not a 'mythical muluk'. In fact, quite contrary to the image the name gives, it is located right on the national highway between Amguri and Sivasagar, before one reaches Gaurisagar. 2. I thinik our journaluist new comer friend is 'bhoyote touba touba khaise'.- RAJEN Bhoi khowa nai. I am actually quite excited that what I thought was just a mere introductory mail from me, and thereby obviously my first mail to the group, has led to such an interesting discussion. 3. Manoj-da (of Assam Association, Delhi) and ShantikamHazarika : Thanks for mentioning about my winning the national Best film critic Swarna Kamal award in 2003 and being a jury member at the national film awards this year. This kind of constant encouragement helps in thinking of doing something better. 4. A request to everyone in the group: unless there is some kind of rule about this, please delete all the previous mails (except may be the mail to which one is replying to) while hitting the reply button. Otherwise, this makes the mailers very voluminous, with the same mails being appended at the bottom of each mail repetatively. - Utpal Too much spam in your inbox? Yahoo! Mail gives you the best spam protection for FREE! Get Yahoo! Mail ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] From Outlook India--A Rare but Clear View
INVISIBLE INDIA Stuck At The Midnight Hour Independence-as an idea, a state of being, lived reality-means nothing to the majority in India. The majority that does not ask for or get anything in return. S. ANAND | e-mail | one page format | feedback: send - read | Special Issue: Independence Day Special In India Unseen, a railway line serves as a road; society refuses to let a safai karamchari change his profession; a trans-generational blind family gets no help from the state; everyone wants the urban homeless out, but no one tells them how to get a shelter. Did we become independent for this? Fifty-eight years after Independence, Invisible India's tryst with Inequality is played out right before our eyes-they unfold on these pages. Yet, we have trained our eyes to look the other away. Independence-as an idea, a state of being, lived reality-means nothing to the majority in India. The majority that votes, the majority that sustains the structure of political democracy, yet the majority that does not ask for or get anything in return. In a Tamil Nadu village, a Dalit woman walks with her footwear in hand and casts her vote in the panchayat election, imposing faith in a system that will not even guarantee her the right to let the chappals remain on her feet. In rural North India, women who mildly resist inhuman treatment are routinely paraded naked and branded witches. Pedki Devi of Dhanbad in Bihar was accused of using black magic, branded a witch, stripped and tortured. Her crime: as a widow she would not let her husband's relatives gobble up the little piece of land she had tilled. It is one thing for a humongous, unwieldy entity like a nation to be 'independent' and quite another for an individual to experience independence. In much of India, society in various manifestations-the family, community, caste, the village, biradiri-lays siege to the individual self. Life-defining decisions are mostly beyond the scope of the individual. These larger entities overpower the individual even in everyday acts-whether you walk on a certain street, and if you do, what is the appropriate dress to wear; if it is okay for a woman to cut her hair; if it is okay to bathe in a certain village pond; if it is okay to address somebody in first person; if it is okay to eat certain foods. Larger decisions are even more difficult to make-choosing one's partner, giving up a profession ordained by tradition, marriage, not marrying at all, being gay. Sometimes, society even tries to alter the choices nature makes, nipping them in the bud-for instance, the efforts to not allow the girl child from being born. While the world debates the pros and cons of stem cell research, in India 11.2 million illegal abortions are performed each year. In 1981, the ratio among children up to the age of 6 was 962 girls per 1,000 boys; 20 years later it is 927 girls per 1,000 boys. Technological modernity in India subserves society's ruthless, 'traditional' demands. While the abortion debate in the West is about individual choice and freedom, in India amniocentesis leads to socially sanctioned genocide. In most of India, for most citizens, real choices hardly exist. The independence struggle against the British was about fashioning a nation and seeking the right for some Indians to control the destiny of that nation. That struggle was about political independence, which was achieved relatively with less difficulty. However, the other, more important project-the liberation of society from antiquated values, on which hinges the emergence and the subsequent emancipation of the individual-has not even taken off yet. We have been indoctrinated into blaming the state for all the ills of society. However, our state has been one of the most politically correct: banning untouchability, banning sex selection, banning dry latrines that engender manual scavenging, enacting several laws that protect an individual's various rights, we will soon have even elementary education as a fundamental right. If we today have more than 200 million chronically hungry Indians and yet surplus foodgrains rotting in godowns, 53 per cent children dropping out of school and yet a Rs 1,000-crore Edusat in space, it is because of our society's inherent inability to allow change. The beast of society stands in the way of the implementation of any of the state's initiatives. And society is most cruel in its rural form where 72.2 percent of our population lives. Ambedkar had told the Constituent Assembly: I hold that these village republics have been the ruination of India. What is the village but a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism? India has the largest number of police stations in any nation in the world. (For instance, Tamil Nadu has 1,413 police stations whereas only 276 hospitals). Yet society's crimes are condoned since the police protects society's interests
Re: [Assam] Jobs Abroad
Title: Re: [Assam] Jobs Abroad Dear BK: We need to train our boys and girls in these very trades, not with a view to finding jobs abroad but to make theirskills available in the country itself. Could you, NRAs, do something about it? There are of course a number oftraining schools in Assam; are they performing well? Do we need more such institutions? These are the people together with masons, carpenters, plumbers, mechanics, electricians, medical technicians, primary school teachers etc. who are real nation-builders; not engineers, doctors, lawyers and bean counters. Unfortunately Indian society looks down upon the nation-builders, do not value their work, and pay them lesser still. The results are everywhere to be seen. c At 8:33 AM -0400 8/17/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Oh ! No, I'm not part of any recruitment drive for jobs overseas.As I read the morning papers, i get ideas and occasionally I put pen to paper (not really: I've been dependant on a keyboard all my life). The first newsitem is a report of the awards body of City Guilds stating that shortages of nurses, teachers and doctors will worsen in the next decade. I quote:Care workers and nurses will be hard to recruit because of a growing elderly population. Doctors will be in short supply because of better job prospects overseas. Specialist call centre staff will head the list of hard-to-fill positions. However, plumbers and electricians will be easier to find (Metro,dated 17 August '05). All this refers to the United Kingdom. There is a full article: 'Australia sets out to tempt British cooks and chippies' in The Times by Angela Jameson, Industrial Correspondent. It is to be found in http:www.timesonline,co.uk/article/0,,3-1738462,00.html. The news says that an official team would be visiting Berlin, Madras and Amsterdam as part of a global tour to explain Australian culture, attractions and the job opportunities. What caught my attention in particular is the mention of the cityof Madras which ought to have been Chennai, I suppose.In any case, as far as I know, Australia pursues a tough white only policy and a white UK citizen has no difficulty at all about emigrating to Australia whileAsians have been recruitedin thehighly technical areas only. This, to me, appears to be a liberalisation of official policy. The otherpoint of interest isTamil Nadu's palpable readiness to fill up the vacuum of skills in an advancaed country like Australia. It is a tribute toTamil Nadu's achievement in general and technical education. Workers in demand are accountant, civil engineer, dentist, health workers including midwives, surgeons, nurses and radiologists, pharmacists; psychiatrist, chefs, automotive, electrician, bricjklayer, cabinetmaker, carpenter and joiner, cook, electrician, plumber, hairdresser, motor mechanic, panel beater, pastry cook, sheetmetal worker, toolmaker and welder. We need to train our boys and girls in these very trades, not with a view to finding jobs abroad but to make theirskills available in the country itself. Could you, NRAs, do something about it? There are of course a number oftraining schools in Assam; are they performing well? Do we need more such institutions? Bhuban ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] More on Desi Independence/ from ToI
Dalit woman not allowed to hoist national flag SUCHANDANA GUPTA http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1202862.cms TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2005 09:46:59 AM ] Citibank NRI Offer BHOPAL: In the 58th year of our Independence, a sarpanch's claim that she was not allowed to hoist the tricolour for coming from a backward caste makes one wonder if we are truly free. In a letter to the Bundelkhand police superintendent, Anita Bai Ahirwar has alleged that government officials did not permit her to hoist the national flag on August 15 because she belongs to the Dalit community. I was told by the officials that chamar-chamariya (Dalits) cannot hoist the national flag at the centre of a market place, Anita Bai wrote, giving an account of how she was prevented from raising the flag in a chowk that fell under the jurisdiction of her panchayat. Anita Bai, the sarpanch of Patehra village in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district, said every Independence Day, the person occupying her post is given the honour of hoisting the flag in the main market-Gandhi Chowk. On August 14, local police station in-charge Vikram Singh called a meeting of select respectable citizens. Around 6.30 pm, Vikram Singh, along with the chief executive officer and tehsildar, told me the head of the janpad panchayat would hoist the flag. As the news filtered out, Dalits in Patehra began protesting. The officials knew I am a Dalit woman and exposed their anti-Dalit sentiments. When they stuck to their decision, I asked them to give their joint decision in writing. At 9 pm on August 14, I received a letter which did not specify whether the janpad head or I would hoist the flag,'' Anita Bai said. Next morning, I took that letter and travelled 50 km to the district headquarters in Damoh to meet the collector and the police superintendent. Neither were available,'' she added. Inspector-general of police, Sagar range, Rajendra Kumar has a different... ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] News From NE Tribune/ On Desi Civilization
Title: Re: [Assam] News From NE Tribune/ On Desi Civilization Hi Ram: Two gross wrongs don't make a right, or does it? As Rajib says, this is distorted logic. Two wrongs don't make it right - absolutely. You leave me confused here. If it is 'distorted logic' ( sounds like an oxymoron to me to begin with), and you are agreeing that two wrongs don't make a right, then what are we arguing about :-)? But here you have one case of the Ulfa children being deprived basic diet for growth and developement. This can be termed as gross negligence/apathy or even a crime. *** I knew I could count on your humanity here, Ram. In fact I will go a step further and ask if it is not a crime against humanity to imprison children of even the most heinous of criminals, let alone POLITICAL prisoners, like the ULFA cadres? What civilized society do we know of, where children of political prisoners are jailed and to add insult to injury, are mistreated? Tell me Ram what you think of this? Should these children NOT be handed over to relatives? What kind of government, what kind of society, would hold them behind bars? What is their crime? On the other hand, what Ulfa did to the Dhemaji children cannot be brushed as a wrong. It was just pure wonton killing of innocent children. I would mince no words and agree with you and anybody else, that it was a criminal act. BTW, 'a wrong' is not a spin word, it is not an attempt to brush it aside, like attempting to justify imprisonment of children of political prisoners, on account of crimes of somebody else belonging to the same political party. Is this the kind of democratic governance thinking people ought to look up to, identify with, pay homage and pledge allegiance to? C'da, whatever their garb, thugs will always remain thugs. Just because the 'diet case' involve children belonging to the ULFA, they have suddenly become conscious of human rights. I have heard all kinds of spin, but this really is an extreme case, where imprisoning of children of political prisoners could be held as justifiable, because they are children of 'thugs'. It speaks volumes about the civilization of the good folks. At 11:43 AM -0500 8/16/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, Two gross wrongs don't make a right, or does it? As Rajib says, this is distorted logic. Two wrongs don't make it right - absolutely. But here you have one case of the Ulfa children being deprived basic diet for growth and developement. This can be termed as gross negligence/apathy or even a crime. On the other hand, what Ulfa did to the Dhemaji children cannot be brushed as a wrong. It was just pure wonton killing of innocent children. Finally the outfit appealed to all the masses of Asom, conscious citizens, Human rights organizations, particularly to international organizations to take firm steps against such crimes against these children. (from their Newsletter) Right!. What a bunch of crock. We didn't hear the ULFA appealing to Intl. Orgs. about the Dhemaji blasts nor did they appeal to the conscious citizens. C'da, whatever their garb, thugs will always remain thugs. Just because the 'diet case' involve children belonging to the ULFA, they have suddenly become conscious of human rights. What happened to the HR of so many inncoents killed and the children of Dhemaji. Who appeals for their rights? Its definitely not the ULFA. On 8/16/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: But what about the Children of Demaji? Those that survived and those that were lost. The Ulfa children may be deprived of min. diet for all-round development. Those children of Dhemaji never even had that chance. Two gross wrongs don't make a right, or does it? Besides, if the 'peace-loving', 'civilized', 'democratic' and 'intelligent' people and their elected government act like the 'uncivilized', 'brainless'and 'undemocratic' insurgents that blew up the Dhemaji School children, where does it place the former? --- a lot of this amounts to one-sided indignations on the part of ULFA. *** I am sure there are many who think like that and respond accordingly. And in that, the bemoaning or the 'righteous' against the insurgents' strong-arm tactics ring rather hollow. At 10:12 AM -0500 8/16/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: These children who were captured during the Indo-Bhutan joint military operation against ULFA in December 2003 have been deprived of minimum diet required for all around development of a child. Children devour anything when they are hungry. This is indeed sad that children be caught in this strugle. But what about the Children of Demaji? Those that survived and those that were lost. The Ulfa children may be deprived of min. diet for all-round development. Those children of Dhemaji never even had that chance. Here a item from the Telegraph today. What kind of answer does the Ulfa have for the Saikias, who lost 2 of their young
[Assam] Welcome
Welcome all the many newcomers to assamnet. This is a big jump in new membership all of a sudden. Very good to see. Has there been some kind of a new awareness of assamnet for some reason? Anyway, please do participate. This is the ONLY forum where you can express yourselves frankly, freely and without the traditional burdens that we carry as kharkhowas. cm ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] my introduction
Title: Re: [Assam] my introduction Since the question was left open, and I have a few moments to spare, allow me to throw in my observations: Where exactly is Upper Assam? For those who are unfamiliar with geography, it starts east of Nagaon. Being from Upper Assam - does it connote an ethnical difference from the people in Guwahati? *** It depends upon the ethnic security/insecurity of the questioner. Or is it a cultural difference? *** Yes, there indeed ARE subtle cultural differences, akin to say those from Houston vs. Austin. What was the compelling reason that forced your family to settle in crowded Guwahati? This is a hard one! How about making a living, being the economic and political capital of the region? Would it be an unacceptable excuse? I have always wondered why everyone in Assam wants to buy a plot of land in Guwahati after retirement and become a Guwahatian. *** One of life's many enduring mysteries, isn't it?. Tsk, tsk! But let us not jump to conclusions about becoming a Guwahatian, without DEFINING what that is supposed to mean. Anyway, what is the object of this questionnaire? Are some people insecure about their non-upper-Assamese identity :-)? At 7:22 AM -0700 8/17/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Welcome to the group, Utpal. I have a few questions for you - well actually for many others in this net. Where exactly is Upper Assam? Being from Upper Assam - does it connote an ethnical difference from the people in Guwahati? Or is it a cultural difference? Was it a cultural shock for you when your family moved to Guwahati (in Lower Assam?) from Upper Assam? What was the compelling reason that forced your family to settle in crowded Guwahati? I have always wondered why everyone in Assam wants to buy a plot of land in Guwahati after retirement and become a Guwahatian. Dilip Deka Houston, TX utpal borpujari [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everybody. Am a new entrant to the group. Thought would introduce myself, and hope to interact with all on issues concerning Assam (Asam/Axam/Axom?) I am a journalist based in Delhi. Have been in the profession for about 12 years. Started out with The Sentinel in Guwahati in 1993, moved to PTI in Delhi in 1995 and since last four years been working with the Delhi News Bureau of Bangalore-based English daily Deccan Herald. If you ask about my origins: I am from Guwahati (settled there since 1978 though we are from Upper Assam originally). - Utpal Borpujari To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] ULFA's perspective - An Aspect of Independent Asom
Title: Re: [Assam] ULFA's perspective - An Aspect of Independent A Pol Pot regime in the making? *** What an eloquent label!! But sure would like to hear how the analogy is derived at, hopefully without resorting to simple-minded labels. At 7:07 AM -0700 8/17/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: This seems like a good topic to chew on. Though details are lacking, this is the first time I have seen an ULFA along these lines. A Pol Pot regime in the making? An Aspect of Independent Asom. 1) The law of revolutionary administration and justice will remain enforced after the establishment of an Independent Asom until all the required arms for democracy have been established. 2) Peoples Council will be formed by all the ethnic groups of having definite identity and are outside the assimilation process for the formation of Asomese nation. 3) Independent Asom will confirm the right of self determination of each nationality through the Peoples Council according to their wishes to ensure the Council according to their according to their wishes to ensure the share of power for all and by all. 4) The representatives of government of independent Asom and the Peoples Council will form the Peoples Political Committee to solve all common problems and independent issues among the different ethnic groups. 5) The politics of Independent Asom will be the means to ensure all the rights and freedom to one all, protection of life and property and total welfare of the individual and social life. 6) Independent Asom shall endeavor its best to present a clean and efficient modern administration for the betterment of the peoples service. Beaurocratic red-tapism will be checked. 7) The legislature (law making body) and executive (the government) shall work in close co-operation with each other. The judiciary shall be independent of the executive so as to ensure justice and dignity for all. 8) To protect the people from becoming minority in their own homeland, Independent Asom shall enforce strict immigration laws. 9) The economy of Asom is based upon Agriculture. Therefore priority shall be given to develop the agricultural sector as industry. The steps shall be taken to achieve this objective- a) Feudal system shall be abolished. b) Land shall be distributed to the actual farmers, by the principle of land and tillers. c) Co-operative system shall be established to ensure smooth production and marketing. d) Argo-based industries shall be established with top priority. e) Every possible step shall be taken to control the perennial flood and natural calamities. 10) The large tea gardens, all natural resources including wild life, basic financial sectors and enemy properties shall be bought under the direct control of the state. 11) Private sector entrepreneurs shall be encouraged with an aim to develop national capital. 12) As Asom is rich in human and natural resources, an export-oriented economy shall be established with the help of available raw materials. 13) The export of raw materials shall be discouraged. 14) Foreign investment shall be welcomed without compromising natural interest. 15) Any economic policy that may undermine the hard-earned sovereignty of Independent Asom shall not be implemented. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] RE: ULFA Children
Title: [Assam] RE: ULFA Children but I feel an appeal by ULFA donot posses that strength. * That is understandable. But where were the righteous raising their voices about these children? At 3:22 PM +0100 8/17/05, sangeet chakraborty wrote: Ya, I can call the mass support for theULFA children in jail. Butthe banned outfit has, in my view, lost their right for the same, when they blasteda bomb infront of the school premise before last Independence Day. The children definately need support from NGOs and othe masses, but I feel an appeal by ULFA donot posses that strength. Check out Yahoo! India Rakhi Special for Rakhi shopping, contests and lots more. http://in.promos.yahoo.com/rakhi/index.html ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] my introduction
Title: Re: [Assam] my introduction Pise' aarubeli ki kal hobo he Ajoy? s At 9:21 AM -0700 8/17/05, Ajoy Hazarika wrote: You are right. kahanibai is a past tense. adh Alpana B. Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Though my roots are from Dibrugarh/Sibsagar and I grew up in Guwahati with the upper-Assamese words like, Randhoni-ghor,(instead of Paak-ghor),Pitek (instead of Putek/son), etc.,I have been fondly called a 'dhekeri' by my cousins from Nowgong. I find more lower-Assamese words in literature (oh come on, I read some literary books in Assamese too!) than the upper-Assamese words. Also, as Barua mentioned'Kahanikoi', it reminds me this -Iwas always under the impression that 'Kahanibai' is a word used in past tense - like, 'Xi kahanibai golgoi'. Well, we learn something everyday, don't we? From: Rajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Dilip/Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED], utpal borpujari [EMAIL PROTECTED], assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:35:05 -0500 If you want to know the Geographical boundaryof Upper Assam and Lower Assam, generally a vertical line drawn fromBiswanath Chariali in North Bank may be said to the demarkation. This line will probably go through somewhere in Xilghat on south bank. The British used to have Soki (post) at this location when they divided Assam into Upper Assam and Lower Assam and gave (temporarily) Upper Assam to Purandar Singha at an annual revenue of Rs 5 whci eventually the king dafaulted and the British took back Upper Assam into their own hands. However, one can use the linguistic test also to diffrentiate an Upper Assamese. I have found that normally an Upper Assamese use certain words and phrases which a Lower Assamese doesnot and vice versa. You can try the folloiwngwords which probably a lower Assamese doesnot use: TAKETW = Normally an Upper Assamese use when responding to one in a positive manner. KAHANIKOI = meaning which day. TUMI KAHANIKOI JABA? In fact I remember, Mr Abani Hazarika (the cricket player) used to tease and laugh at me wheneverI use the word 'kahanikoi'. That is how I remember that probably in lower Assam, they donot use the word. Similarly there are many such terms which a Lower Assamese use which an Upper Assamese does not use. May be someone will come up with some such words. Rajen Barua . - Original Message - From: Dilip/Dil Deka To: utpal borpujari ; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 9:22 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Welcome to the group, Utpal. I have a few questions for you - well actually for many others in this net. Where exactly is Upper Assam? Being from Upper Assam - does it connote an ethnical difference from the people in Guwahati? Or is it a cultural difference? Was it a cultural shock for you when your family moved to Guwahati (in Lower Assam?) from Upper Assam? What was the compelling reason that forced your family to settle in crowded Guwahati? I have always wondered why everyone in Assam wants to buy a plot of land in Guwahati after retirement and become a Guwahatian. Dilip Deka Houston, TX utpal borpujari [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everybody. Am a new entrant to the group. Thought would introduce myself, and hope to interact with all on issues concerning Assam (Asam/Axam/Axom?) I am a journalist based in Delhi. Have been in the profession for about 12 years. Started out with The Sentinel in Guwahati in 1993, moved to PTI in Delhi in 1995 and since last four years been working with the Delhi News Bureau of Bangalore-based English daily Deccan Herald. If you ask about my origins: I am from Guwahati (settled there since 1978 though we are from Upper Assam originally). - Utpal Borpujari To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or
Re: [Assam] Jobs Abroad
Title: Re: [Assam] Jobs Abroad In any case, my interest is having skills for our boys and girls, degree or not, so that they can become our nation builders. I agree. Unfortunately it won't happen, until skill levels are improved, wages are increased and there is respect for their labor. Now the question is what comes first :-)? c At 12:50 PM -0400 8/17/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Chandan Unfortunately Indian society looks down upon the nation builders, do not value their work, and pay them less still The results are everywhere to be seen. What you say is true. It is not that here in the West, these vital workers are not looked down upon but there is dignity of labour in the West andtrade unionism has flourished ensuring the workers a living wage and future security so much so that superior jobs are not at times the better ones. Let me explain.Soldiers, workers in Post office, transport departments, and in fact everywhere you can think of, at the lower level are assured jobs for life whilesuperior jobs are contractual jobs (perhaps three years initially; may vary), and may not last till superannuation.This is, however, a new trend. High-earners could be vulnerable to a sort of midlife crisis. Not to worry, no risk no gain. There are safeguards, sometimes offered by professinoal bodies. About ten years ago UK Government upgradedalmost all polytechnics to universities. Avowedly the objective was to raise the moraleof the vast majority of theworking population. There was criticism that it devalued the university degrees by lowering entrance requirements to these new universities.Thecaste barriers now are being gradually eroded in a number of professions.Nursing carries degrees. Pharmacists too have degrees. Experienced nurses may study for a post-graduate degree in hospital administration without having a first degree. Besides universities, the professional bodies also awardhighly prized fellowships to members. Even degree holdersvie with non-degree holders for these plumes to their headgears. Then there are the ancientguilds, unique feature of British culture whose membership is the crown ofboth professional and civic life.I bet you too are a member ofone of the professional bodies of USA. If India also follows suit by declaring the Indian polytechnics as universities and then awarding degrees to their students, the situation can be improved to some extent. In any case, my interest is having skills for our boys and girls, degree or not, so that they can become our nation builders. Regards Bhuban ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Dialects of Assam: Classification in two ways
Title: Re: [Assam] Dialects of Assam: Classification in two ways Why do you have to get so inquisitive A :-)? Actually Jokaisuk is a mythical 'muluk', from which both Tilok Daktor and myself, as well as a host of other kharkhowas can and do hail. Since Tilok and I think a lot alike on many issues, except that he is the 'expart' shrinkologist, while I am the wannabe, instead of attempting to promote our own 'muluk' or bhelez or xotro, we both use the generic equivalent that is Jokaisuk. Does that clear it up A :-)? c-da At 12:43 PM -0500 8/17/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: *** This is very common in Jokaisuk as well. We grew up speaking like that . That is why I think there are more words fromlower Assam, Guwahati - to be precise, in 'likhito Oxomiya'than from upper Assam. BTW, I thought Tilok was from Jokaisuk and you were from Namti. Is Namti called Jokaisuk in kothito bhaxa? :) From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] Dialects of Assam: Classification in two ways Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:33:03 -0500 J: So, you would hear someone say loa-sOwali instead of lora-sOwali (boys and girls), Ghooloi jao~ instead of Ghoroloi jao~ (I am going home), etc. *** This is very common in Jokaisuk as well. We grew up speaking like that . c-da At 1:21 PM -0400 8/17/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Below, I first present the distinguished linguist Banikanta Kakati's classification and then modify a little bit to fit my perception of dialectical variation in Assam. Banikanta Kakati's classification - According to Banikanta Kakati (BK), in his Assamese, Its Formation and Development (LBS Publications, GNB Road, Guwahati, Fifth edition, 1995), there are two main dialects of Assamese, Eastern and Western. According to BK, 33. Assamese may be divided dialectically into Eastern Assamese and Western Assamese. The language from Sadiya, the easternmost frontier down to Gauhati exhibits a certain homogeneity and hardly presents any notable point of difference from the spoken dialect of Sibsagar, the capital of the late Ahom kings. And for purposes of literature this dialect is generally regarded as the standard language. I would say, there are some minor differences between the language spoken in Sonitpur and Nagaon (old district) and Golaghat district and the eastern regions. Some of the most pronounced are uses of kahanikoi, etc., in the eastern regions and not in the Nagaon/Sonitpur region, possibly even in Lakhimpur region further to the east (I know several people from Uttar Lakhimpur, but hardly hear them say words like kahanikoi or pase), but on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra. So, I think BK is right in the geographical demarcation and not Rajen Barua. I have repeatedly heard, primarily, in All-Assam sports meets in Colleges and High Schools when youngsters make fun of Guwahati and western regions as Dhekeri. This has happened in Nagaon town. So, it seems Nagaon doesn't include itself in the Western or Dhekeri region. BK continues: 34. The two Western dialects of Kamrup and Goalpara possess several local dialects which betray sharp points of difference from one another and the standard colloquial of eastern Assam. The spoken dialects of Goalpara district seems to have been greatly contaminated with admixtures of the Rajabamsi dialect--the dialect that was evolved under the domination of the Koch kings of Koch-Bihar, whose descendants ruled over Goalpara and contiguous portions of Kamrup. In between the standard colloquial of Sibsagar in the east and the mixed dialects of Goalpara in the West stand the dialect of Kamrup district. Thus, BK sets the Kamrup dialect, which I suppose is called Dhekeri by some, as the one between the eastern boundary of Guwahati city and Goalpara district (old). I doubt if people in the Eastern areas call the Goalpara dialect Dhekeri. I think it's simply called Goalporia or by some even Bengali. BK continues to the description of the Kamrupi dialect 35. The Kamrup district is not a homogeneous dialectical area. There are different dialects in different localities. BK adds a little later, It will be noticed, however, that the points of difference amongst the dialects of Kamrup are mostly confined to the details of phonetics and hardly spread over to morphology and vocabulary. The differences, however, between the Eastern and Western Assamese are wide and range over the whole fields of phonology, morphology and not infrequently vocabulary. My classification: --- I will venture to add the following based on my observations and knowledge. I am sure linguists have done this already, but I don't have any references sitting in my office. So, I am not going to claim any credit. This may be a way to classify the dialects: 1. Eastern (non-Dhekeri) dialect: Ranges from Sadiya to almost Guwahati: There are at least two sub-dvisions
Re: [Assam] my introduction
Title: Re: [Assam] my introduction R: I have never come across this word : TEUHBELI What is its meaning? Is an antonym of aarubeli? c At 12:55 PM -0500 8/17/05, Rajen Barua wrote: And what about TEUHBELI? R/ - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta To: Ajoy Hazarika ; Alpana B. Sarangapani ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 12:21 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Pise' aarubeli ki kal hobo he Ajoy? s At 9:21 AM -0700 8/17/05, Ajoy Hazarika wrote: You are right. kahanibai is a past tense. adh Alpana B. Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Though my roots are from Dibrugarh/Sibsagar and I grew up in Guwahati with the upper-Assamese words like, Randhoni-ghor,(instead of Paak-ghor),Pitek (instead of Putek/son), etc.,I have been fondly called a 'dhekeri' by my cousins from Nowgong. I find more lower-Assamese words in literature (oh come on, I read some literary books in Assamese too!) than the upper-Assamese words. Also, as Barua mentioned'Kahanikoi', it reminds me this -Iwas always under the impression that 'Kahanibai' is a word used in past tense - like, 'Xi kahanibai golgoi'. Well, we learn something everyday, don't we? From: Rajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Dilip/Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED], utpal borpujari [EMAIL PROTECTED], assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:35:05 -0500 If you want to know the Geographical boundaryof Upper Assam and Lower Assam, generally a vertical line drawn fromBiswanath Chariali in North Bank may be said to the demarkation. This line will probably go through somewhere in Xilghat on south bank. The British used to have Soki (post) at this location when they divided Assam into Upper Assam and Lower Assam and gave (temporarily) Upper Assam to Purandar Singha at an annual revenue of Rs 5 whci eventually the king dafaulted and the British took back Upper Assam into their own hands. However, one can use the linguistic test also to diffrentiate an Upper Assamese. I have found that normally an Upper Assamese use certain words and phrases which a Lower Assamese doesnot and vice versa. You can try the folloiwngwords which probably a lower Assamese doesnot use: TAKETW = Normally an Upper Assamese use when responding to one in a positive manner. KAHANIKOI = meaning which day. TUMI KAHANIKOI JABA? In fact I remember, Mr Abani Hazarika (the cricket player) used to tease and laugh at me wheneverI use the word 'kahanikoi'. That is how I remember that probably in lower Assam, they donot use the word. Similarly there are many such terms which a Lower Assamese use which an Upper Assamese does not use. May be someone will come up with some such words. Rajen Barua . - Original Message - From: Dilip/Dil Deka To: utpal borpujari ; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 9:22 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Welcome to the group, Utpal. I have a few questions for you - well actually for many others in this net. Where exactly is Upper Assam? Being from Upper Assam - does it connote an ethnical difference from the people in Guwahati? Or is it a cultural difference? Was it a cultural shock for you when your family moved to Guwahati (in Lower Assam?) from Upper Assam? What was the compelling reason that forced your family to settle in crowded Guwahati? I have always wondered why everyone in Assam wants to buy a plot of land in Guwahati after retirement and become a Guwahatian. Dilip Deka Houston, TX utpal borpujari [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everybody. Am a new entrant to the group. Thought would introduce myself, and hope to interact with all on issues concerning Assam (Asam/Axam/Axom?) I am a journalist based in Delhi. Have been in the profession for about 12 years. Started out with The Sentinel in Guwahati in 1993, moved to PTI in Delhi in 1995 and since last four years been working with the Delhi News Bureau of Bangalore-based English daily Deccan Herald. If you ask about my origins: I am from Guwahati (settled there since 1978 though we are from Upper Assam originally). - Utpal Borpujari To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam
Re: [Assam] my introduction WORD
Title: Re: [Assam] my introduction WORD TEUJBELI is a word I have not come across. But aarubeli we used very frequently, except now I forget if it was last year or if it is next year. HORDOM sounds like a Hindi word to me, never came across before. c At 1:45 PM -0500 8/17/05, Rajen Barua wrote: SORRY FOR THE WRONG SPELLING TEUJBELI MEANS THE YEAR BEFORE LAST YEAR. I THINK ARUBELI MEANS LASY YEAR, ISN'T IT? OR IS IT THE COMING YEAR? WHAT ABOUT THE WORD HORDOM ? I thinik our journaluist new comer friend is 'bhoyote touba touba khaise'. RAJEN - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta To: Rajen Barua ; Ajoy Hazarika ; Alpana B. Sarangapani ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu ; Chan Mahanta Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 1:15 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction R: I have never come across this word : TEUHBELI What is its meaning? Is an antonym of aarubeli? c At 12:55 PM -0500 8/17/05, Rajen Barua wrote: And what about TEUHBELI? R/ - Original Message - From: Chan Mahanta To: Ajoy Hazarika ; Alpana B. Sarangapani ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 12:21 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Pise' aarubeli ki kal hobo he Ajoy? s At 9:21 AM -0700 8/17/05, Ajoy Hazarika wrote: You are right. kahanibai is a past tense. adh Alpana B. Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Though my roots are from Dibrugarh/Sibsagar and I grew up in Guwahati with the upper-Assamese words like, Randhoni-ghor,(instead of Paak-ghor),Pitek (instead of Putek/son), etc.,I have been fondly called a 'dhekeri' by my cousins from Nowgong. I find more lower-Assamese words in literature (oh come on, I read some literary books in Assamese too!) than the upper-Assamese words. Also, as Barua mentioned'Kahanikoi', it reminds me this -Iwas always under the impression that 'Kahanibai' is a word used in past tense - like, 'Xi kahanibai golgoi'. Well, we learn something everyday, don't we? From: Rajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Dilip/Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED], utpal borpujari [EMAIL PROTECTED], assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:35:05 -0500 If you want to know the Geographical boundaryof Upper Assam and Lower Assam, generally a vertical line drawn fromBiswanath Chariali in North Bank may be said to the demarkation. This line will probably go through somewhere in Xilghat on south bank. The British used to have Soki (post) at this location when they divided Assam into Upper Assam and Lower Assam and gave (temporarily) Upper Assam to Purandar Singha at an annual revenue of Rs 5 whci eventually the king dafaulted and the British took back Upper Assam into their own hands. However, one can use the linguistic test also to diffrentiate an Upper Assamese. I have found that normally an Upper Assamese use certain words and phrases which a Lower Assamese doesnot and vice versa. You can try the folloiwngwords which probably a lower Assamese doesnot use: TAKETW = Normally an Upper Assamese use when responding to one in a positive manner. KAHANIKOI = meaning which day. TUMI KAHANIKOI JABA? In fact I remember, Mr Abani Hazarika (the cricket player) used to tease and laugh at me wheneverI use the word 'kahanikoi'. That is how I remember that probably in lower Assam, they donot use the word. Similarly there are many such terms which a Lower Assamese use which an Upper Assamese does not use. May be someone will come up with some such words. Rajen Barua . - Original Message - From: Dilip/Dil Deka To: utpal borpujari ; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 9:22 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] my introduction Welcome to the group, Utpal. I have a few questions for you - well actually for many others in this net. Where exactly is Upper Assam? Being from Upper Assam - does it connote an ethnical difference from the people in Guwahati? Or is it a cultural difference? Was it a cultural shock for you when your family moved to Guwahati (in Lower Assam?) from Upper Assam? What was the compelling reason that forced your family to settle in crowded Guwahati? I have always wondered why everyone in Assam wants to buy a plot of land in Guwahati after retirement and become a Guwahatian. Dilip Deka Houston, TX utpal borpujari [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everybody. Am a new entrant to the group. Thought would introduce myself, and hope to interact with all on issues concerning Assam (Asam/Axam/Axom?) I am a journalist based in Delhi. Have been in the profession for about 12 years. Started out with The Sentinel in Guwahati in 1993, moved to PTI in Delhi in 1995 and since last four years been working with the Delhi News Bureau of Bangalore-based English daily Deccan Herald. If you ask about my origins: I am from Guwahati (settled there since 1978
Re: [Assam] Hi Group.............
Title: Re: [Assam] Hi Group. Welcome Bhriti. Tell us something more about yourself,your studies and your future plans. That will be a good way to get a conversation going. I am a fifty-nine year old geezer :-), from St. Louis, an architect by profession, originally from Namti. Best, cm At 12:43 PM -0700 8/17/05, bhriti choudhury wrote: Hi Everybody, I am new to this group. Let me first introduce myself, I am Bhriti Bhushan Choudhury ... I am doing MCA in Delhi. I from Kokrajhar. I guess some of you have heard of that place... Its a very remote place near about 240 KMs West from Guwahati. Now it has become the capital of BTC (Bodo Teritorial Council). Neways hope to get some response from you people. Bye Bhriti Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] Much Ado about What?
I was waiting to exhale after holding my breath for so long--about the impending violence and mayhem on Dependence Day--I mean, Independence Day :-) celebrations and also to read about all the throngs that would have defied the insurgents' call to go listen to the 'netas' on I-Day. But there is a curious silence in the news media. The ONLY reference I found was at http://www.janasadharan.com/. Apparently , except for a few ministers,hardly anyone went to re-plant their faith in 'independence' and desi-demokrasy or sow seeds of discontent on the freshly ploughed grounds of the Judges' Field. Well, what the heck, maybe the grass will grow better next time. Question is however, what is the story? I mean is it, like the Dainik J. announced that the presence and alertness of the 'security' forces prevented the violence ( and also the turnout of the loyal celebrants dying--not literally now--to take part in the festivities)? Or is it the fear caused by them insurgents' threats? Or was it empathy with the insurgents' calls? Or was it due to a deep apathy and cynicism towards these so called independence celebrations? For some strange reason however, I doubt there will be profound analyses and proclamations about the victory of democracy over the 'thugs', and an impending demise of the insurgencies. And if so, should the people, including us, not raise their voices to bring an end to the insurgencies thru a negotiated political solution? cm ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial
Title: Re: [Assam] I - Day, AT
editorial
- that youwill
beindependentas long as you will do whatI tell
youto do, or else!
You may be right Alpana. I cannot read the minds of
insurgents, and what they hold dear in their deep dark souls.
But to conclude what you do, obviously from actions of the
insurgency/armed struggle mode, as what would logically follow if they
achieve ine dependence, seems rather simple minded and grossly
uninformed --- something highly unexpected of someone of your
caliber.
But I do realize, the act of spinning often presents a skewed
perspective of our own real abilities or ideals. And Tilok Daktor once
told me that too much spinning could exert excessive centrifugal force
on the brain, causing it to get compressed against the cranium, and
permanently impair one's inferential abilities. If I were you, I would
watch out for that A. Tilok may be a goru-daktor and a Jokaisukiya at
that, but he has seen a lot of weird things, that we will never see,
and thus never learn from :-).
c-da
At 12:50 AM -0500 8/16/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
day. That is the sad reality.
Independence? From Whom? From
What?
From being told what to do -year
after year -from being threatenedthat if they feel and
thus celebrate their being independent, they would die.
So who is keeping the peoplefrom
being independent? And what kind of independence are they being
promised? - that youwill beindependentas long as you
will do whatI tell youto do, or else!
From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Namita Das [EMAIL PROTECTED], Ram
Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED], Assam
assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu
Subject: Re: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 22:09:45 -0500
blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li
{padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;}
Good to hear from you after a very long time
Namita.
But I think you are looking at the issue thru a rather
constricted aperture.
There is a whole lot more to it. Some of it you can see
at:
http://www.dainikagradoot.com/mainnews1.htm
and also for Democracy perhaps, but freedom
waits.
at:
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20050822fname=JJohn+Pilgersid=1pn=3
You do not need ULFA to reject the festivities of
Independence
day. That is the sad reality. Independence? From Whom? From
What?
c-da
At 9:02 PM -0400 8/15/05, Namita Das wrote:
Feel terrible how the people of Assam are
deprived of celebrating their own I-day by a terrible group.
- Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Assam assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 5:13 PM
Subject: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial
Some of the sentiments a number of us
have been expressing.
__
I -Day violence
Calls by the insurgent outfits to boycott the Independence Day and
Republic Day has become the order of the day and this year is no
exception as four militant outfits of the north eastern region
including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have given a
call
to boycott the Independence Day celebrations. The ULFA, in an
apparent
move to deter the people of Assam from celebrating the day, even
went
to the extent of claiming that it would attack the venues of the
Independence Day celebrations. But on the positive side, the
number
of
militant outfits giving calls for Independence Day celebrations is
coming down with every passing year with more and more militant
outfits coming forward for talks with the Government of India for
political solution of their problems and the possibility of the
ULFA
being totally isolated in the days to come cannot be ruled out.
Major
militant outfits of the North East region including both the
factions
of the NSCN have been holding talks with the Government of India,
while, the ULFA lost another of its partner- National
Democratic
Front
of Boroland (NDFB) as the Bodo outfit has also signed a cease-fire
pact with the Government of India, which prevented the outfit from
giving any call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations.
The threat by the ULFA to attack the venues of the Independence
Day
celebrations also exposed the fact that the frustration level of
the
outfit is growing with every passing year. The ULFA can give
boycott
calls, but the people of Assam have the right to decide whether to
attend the celebrations or not and no one has the right to use
force
to compel anyone from attending any function. The gruesome killing
of
13 women and children in Dhemaji during the Independence Day
celebrations last year is still fresh in the memory of the people
of
Assam and the ULFA should remember the State-wide public outcry
against such kind of mindless killing before issuing any threat to
the
people who decide to attend the Independence Day celebrations. The
ULFA should also realise the fact that any killing of innocent
people
will further alienate the outfit from the masses and so they
should
Re: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial
ULFA may not agree with their views, you or others may not agree with those views, but the fact that ULFA uses bombs and guns to control public opinion is utterly shameless. *** I cannot refute your argument Ram. It demonstrates your own development as a highly evolved human being who holds freedom and independence -- albeit under the Indian banner-- in high esteem, and thus looks down upon such violent behavior as armed struggle with guns and bombs, willingly accepting death and maiming or imprisoned indefinitely; by those who seek to achieve their own freedoms, under a different banner. But I am not sure that sense of 'shame' is an absolute value. From all I have seen all my life, even right this moment as an American, where I came seeking the kind of freedoms I have found; it is a RELATIVE one, under the best of circumstances. On a different plane, but no less relevant, is the Indian intelligentsia's sense of shame in their own affairs, as demonstrated the corruption of the nation, something, even characters like KPS Gill waxes eloquent about on the pages of Outlook India.com, is nothing to write home about, to put it mildly. And that is merely in one facet of public life. In that I tend to give more credence to those who put their lives where their mouths are. And knowing your integrity, I like to believe you too would, if not today, some-day :-). c-da At 8:45 AM -0500 8/16/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, It is totally fine for ULFA or anyone else to have a different view of democracy, independence or whether or not to celebrate I-Day. What is galling is the threat the ULFA imposes on a people, who at least in their minds think they are free and DO want to celebrate I-Day. ULFA may not agree with their views, you or others may not agree with those views, but the fact that ULFA uses bombs and guns to control public opinion is utterly shameless. And the ULFA that supposedly yearns for freedom is the very same one that wants to scuttle it for Assamese people who don't agree with its views. Who are they kidding? --Ram On 8/15/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Good to hear from you after a very long time Namita. But I think you are looking at the issue thru a rather constricted aperture. There is a whole lot more to it. Some of it you can see at: http://www.dainikagradoot.com/mainnews1.htm and also for Democracy perhaps, but freedom waits. at: http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20050822fname=JJohn+Pilgersid=1pn=3 You do not need ULFA to reject the festivities of Independence day. That is the sad reality. Independence? From Whom? From What? c-da At 9:02 PM -0400 8/15/05, Namita Das wrote: Feel terrible how the people of Assam are deprived of celebrating their own I-day by a terrible group. - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Assam assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 5:13 PM Subject: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial Some of the sentiments a number of us have been expressing. __ I -Day violence Calls by the insurgent outfits to boycott the Independence Day and Republic Day has become the order of the day and this year is no exception as four militant outfits of the north eastern region including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have given a call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations. The ULFA, in an apparent move to deter the people of Assam from celebrating the day, even went to the extent of claiming that it would attack the venues of the Independence Day celebrations. But on the positive side, the number of militant outfits giving calls for Independence Day celebrations is coming down with every passing year with more and more militant outfits coming forward for talks with the Government of India for political solution of their problems and the possibility of the ULFA being totally isolated in the days to come cannot be ruled out. Major militant outfits of the North East region including both the factions of the NSCN have been holding talks with the Government of India, while, the ULFA lost another of its partner- National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) as the Bodo outfit has also signed a cease-fire pact with the Government of India, which prevented the outfit from giving any call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations. The threat by the ULFA to attack the venues of the Independence Day celebrations also exposed the fact that the frustration level of the outfit is growing with every passing year. The ULFA can give boycott calls, but the people of Assam have the right to decide whether to attend the celebrations or not and no one has the right to use force to compel anyone from attending any function. The gruesome killing of 13 women and children in Dhemaji during the Independence Day celebrations last year is still fresh in the memory of the people
[Assam] News From NE Tribune/ On Desi Civilization
Jailed children living in most inhospitable condition: ULFA NET News Network Guwahati, Aug 15: The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today alleged that minimum diet required for all around development of a child has not been supplied by the Indian government to the jailed ULFA's children. In the latest edition of its mouthpiece Freedom the outfit informed that During the last 2 years 28 children of ULFA aged between 2- 10 have been kept behind bars in different jails of Asom and have been compelled to cope with the most inhospitable condition within the high walls the jail which is totally unsuitable for all round development of their mental and physical health. These children who were captured during the Indo-Bhutan joint military operation against ULFA in December 2003 have been deprived of minimum diet required for all around development of a child. Children devour anything when they are hungry. So like other prisoners, despite knowing the deficiency in nutrition of the diet, they have to eat what they are given, outfit alleged. Finally the outfit appealed to all the masses of Asom, conscious citizens, Human rights organizations, particularly to international organizations to take firm steps against such crimes against these children. Meanwhile, the outfit also condemned the tragic circumstances under which 12 years old girl Rukmini Kalindi belonging to the tea tribe community from Safrai Ganjupara village under Saraideo sub-division of Sivasagar district in Assam committed suicide after being raped. The victim committed suicide unable to bear the psychological and mental pressure during serial interrogation for long three days in Asom Police custody, alleged the mouthpiece. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] News From NE Tribune/ On Desi Civilization
. On 8/16/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Jailed children living in most inhospitable condition: ULFA NET News Network Guwahati, Aug 15: The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today alleged that minimum diet required for all around development of a child has not been supplied by the Indian government to the jailed ULFA's children. In the latest edition of its mouthpiece Freedom the outfit informed that During the last 2 years 28 children of ULFA aged between 2- 10 have been kept behind bars in different jails of Asom and have been compelled to cope with the most inhospitable condition within the high walls the jail which is totally unsuitable for all round development of their mental and physical health. These children who were captured during the Indo-Bhutan joint military operation against ULFA in December 2003 have been deprived of minimum diet required for all around development of a child. Children devour anything when they are hungry. So like other prisoners, despite knowing the deficiency in nutrition of the diet, they have to eat what they are given, outfit alleged. Finally the outfit appealed to all the masses of Asom, conscious citizens, Human rights organizations, particularly to international organizations to take firm steps against such crimes against these children. Meanwhile, the outfit also condemned the tragic circumstances under which 12 years old girl Rukmini Kalindi belonging to the tea tribe community from Safrai Ganjupara village under Saraideo sub-division of Sivasagar district in Assam committed suicide after being raped. The victim committed suicide unable to bear the psychological and mental pressure during serial interrogation for long three days in Asom Police custody, alleged the mouthpiece. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] Snehalaya Day/From the Sentinel
Snehalaya Day: kids live up to occasion By a Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Aug 16: They came in their new uniforms, performed to the best of their ability and made the spectators feel a moistness in their hearts and eyes. The children of Snehalaya kept a full house at the Don Bosco School auditorium spellbound for more than two hours with their spontaneous and graceful presentations on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Snehalaya institution today. This function, which coincided with the birthday of John Bosco, the great educator saint of the 19th century who founded the Don Bosco Society, was graced by several dignitaries, including Rev. Thomas Menamparapil, Archbishop of Ghy, Dr Nagen Saikia, former Xahitya Xabha president and editor of Amar Asom and Harekrishna Deka, editor of The Sentinel. Phulore Melate- this much loved song came alive on the stage as the children of Jyoti Snehalaya, one of the shelter homes for the destitute children, performed graceful movements making all the images of the song come to life. The audience felt the energizing power of rhythm and colours when children of Ila Snehalaya and Betkuchi, draped in traditional Bodo attire performed a dance number. Several performances followed suit on the same line of spontaneity and perfection, but the show stealer was a half-hour duration documentary film on Snehalaya by Dheeraj Akolkar. This film titled Jyotirgamaya, which highlighted the dark and seamy side of life encountered by vagrant children and their deliverance from the sordidness of life, could move the audience and make them feel a lump in their throat. With soul touching music rendered by Tarali Sarma, this documentary was successful in fulfilling its objective i.e to arouse concern among all the viewers about the children who are deprived of life and security. Speaking on the occasion, Father Lukose, director, Snehalaya, said that the search for God ultimately leads to children, as they are His most precious gift to humanity. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Assamese Get-Together 2006
Congratulations to Kharkhowa Californians ( KCs) for venturing to hold a non-denominational, yet inclusive 'bor-xobaah' in 2006. As ex-Californians who have a lot of goodwill towards and attachments to the progressive attitudes of the folks in the Golden State, we sure hope to attend. And I hope the KCs will make every effort to bring everyone together, by doing its homework, to allay the fears of those who shy away from these non-denominational get-togethers for fear of losing their identities. But ultimately we like to think, that in spite of organizational IDs and prides that separate us, we are after all, kharkhowas and markhowas, sharing a common culture and old connections. Let us shed the lingering fears and mistrusts and join the KCs to celebrate our collective heritage. Best wishes and good luck. cm At 10:59 AM -0700 8/13/05, Azreena Ahmed wrote: Dear Raiz, The Assamese community of San Francisco (Bay area), California, is hosting a fun-filled celebration---Assamese Get-Together 2006 on the 4th of July'06 weekend. With that goal in mind, we would like to eagerly invite all the Assamese people in North America and Canada to join us for this event. With immense enthusiasm, the community is leaving it in your hands, to make it a successful event by your participation and support. As you all know California is known as the Golden State, you will be enthralled by the beauty that the land has in store for you. The site selection committee is currently looking at the best venue for your accommodation and hospitability. Will keep you posted as we march our search, in our follow up letter. We would like to mention here, that we are not affiliated to any organization. To host this event is to renew our friendship and also share the cultural heritage of--- Land of the Blue Hills. We are in the process of contacting all Assamese organizations to join us for this get-together. We will be publishing a souvenir during the event to commemorate Assamese Get-Together 2006. We would welcome and cherish any articles, stories, poems, paintings, and sketches. Please contact Monima Baruah at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and Saswatee Kashyap at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for your contribution. We sincerely hope that you will join us for this event. Your participation would give us an opportunity to reinforce in our younger generation, the value of community places on friendship and cultural heritage. In celebration of the unique beauty and wisdom we each possess of Assam, we eagerly invite you again to come and celebrate the Assamese Get-Together 2006 in California. Thank you, Azreena Ahmed (On behalf of the PR Committee, Assamese Get-Together 2006) __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] The Assamese get-together,2006
O'Kamal: grouped them as 'Californiar Kharkhuwa Nibaxi/ Baxinda( CKN) CKN or CKB would be fine too. But KC is short and easier on the tongue I thought. You know how some of us are--we don't like to lift heavy weights, be it by hands or by our tongues? Moreover,'Akhyabihin' would be the better way to describe without denomination Yes, that would have been more appropriate. Too bad though that I could never have thought up that word. Don't even vaguely recall ever coming across it. You know, back at Jokaisuk, we never ran into such literary words. So had to make do with simpler ones, and in this case, a 'firingi one' :-). c-da At 5:55 PM -0700 8/15/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Content-type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-language: en Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-disposition: inline Chandanda, Instead of styling 'Kharkhuwa Californians'(KC),you could have grouped them as 'Californiar Kharkhuwa Nibaxi/ Baxinda( CKN).Moreover,'Akhyabihin' would be the better way to describe without denomination.What do you think? Kamal ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial
Title: Re: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial Good to hear from you after a very long time Namita. But I think you are looking at the issue thru a rather constricted aperture. There is a whole lot more to it. Some of it you can see at: http://www.dainikagradoot.com/mainnews1.htm and also for Democracy perhaps, but freedom waits. at: http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20050822fname=JJohn+Pilgersid=1pn=3 You do not need ULFA to reject the festivities of Independence day. That is the sad reality. Independence? From Whom? From What? c-da At 9:02 PM -0400 8/15/05, Namita Das wrote: Feel terrible how the people of Assam are deprived of celebrating their own I-day by a terrible group. - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Assam assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 5:13 PM Subject: [Assam] I - Day, AT editorial Some of the sentiments a number of us have been expressing. __ I -Day violence Calls by the insurgent outfits to boycott the Independence Day and Republic Day has become the order of the day and this year is no exception as four militant outfits of the north eastern region including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have given a call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations. The ULFA, in an apparent move to deter the people of Assam from celebrating the day, even went to the extent of claiming that it would attack the venues of the Independence Day celebrations. But on the positive side, the number of militant outfits giving calls for Independence Day celebrations is coming down with every passing year with more and more militant outfits coming forward for talks with the Government of India for political solution of their problems and the possibility of the ULFA being totally isolated in the days to come cannot be ruled out. Major militant outfits of the North East region including both the factions of the NSCN have been holding talks with the Government of India, while, the ULFA lost another of its partner- National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) as the Bodo outfit has also signed a cease-fire pact with the Government of India, which prevented the outfit from giving any call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations. The threat by the ULFA to attack the venues of the Independence Day celebrations also exposed the fact that the frustration level of the outfit is growing with every passing year. The ULFA can give boycott calls, but the people of Assam have the right to decide whether to attend the celebrations or not and no one has the right to use force to compel anyone from attending any function. The gruesome killing of 13 women and children in Dhemaji during the Independence Day celebrations last year is still fresh in the memory of the people of Assam and the ULFA should remember the State-wide public outcry against such kind of mindless killing before issuing any threat to the people who decide to attend the Independence Day celebrations. The ULFA should also realise the fact that any killing of innocent people will further alienate the outfit from the masses and so they should desist from targeting innocent people to achieve their goals. The outfit should also realise that it would never be able to justify the killing of any innocent person to achieve its goal. The Police and other security agencies have made tight security arrangements to foil any attempt by the militant outfit from causing any disturbance, but no amount of security is adequate as the forces cannot be expected to guard every inch of the land. The militants have let loose a reign of terror in different parts of Assam with a series of bomb explosions during the run up to the Independence Day and instead of engaging the forces in encounters, the militants have started to resort to explosions to make their presence felt. With the availability of highly sophisticated explosive devices including the programmable time devices with the militants, it is impossible to detect bombs planted in vulnerable places with the equipment available with the State Police and efforts should be made to procaure sophisticated equipment to detect bombs planted by the militants under the scheme to modernise the State police force. At the same time, efforts should be made by the Government of India to bring the militants to the negotiation table for a political solution to the problem of insurgency, which haunted the State for more than two decades and at the time, the militants should also respect the sentiments of the people of Assam and come forward for talks with the Government for an amicable solution of their problems. The people of Assam are now fed up with violence and they want a peaceful solution to the problem and both the Government and the ULFA should come forward for talks without any pre-condition to bring an end to an era of violence and loss of life of innocent people.
Re: [Assam] Bollywood Tantrums : Kapoor's broken marriage
Title: Re: [Assam] Bollywood Tantrums : Kapoor's broken marriag Hi Umesh: Ordinarily I would not have responded to your note, just like so many Assam Netters don't. Over the years I have found it quite useless to communicate with you. But since I wrote about your posts I felt I owe you a response here. Ram, Amlan, Tridip, Hemav--all explained a lot. My only addendum here is that I find your propensity to judge people, religions and cultures, based on, sometimes no more than one measly sample, pathetically ignorant. You must have heard the adage that 'little knowledge is a dangerous thing'. I feel you are a good example of that. Also your posting of private notes from your love-interests, rejection notes etc. to Assam Net, and I am sure other lists that you have gate-crashed into, demonstrates how uncultured you are yourself, while attempting to judge others. Your preoccupation with others' sexual habits being repulsive to a large majority of Assam Netters, is a thinly veiled _expression_ of your own deprivation and is pathetic. Would you post that sort of garbage if it were a mailing list of your fellow Rajasthanis? I don't think you would. But since you assume, these Assamese are alien creatures, that lack such sensitivities, you indulge in it here. But all that could be excused. We all learn from better examples. However in your case, it is different. You do not learn. Perhaps because you are so intent on teaching others, that you do not notice what you sorely lack yourself. But you are not unique in that quality. I have seen quite a few desis like yourself. Good luck. c-da At 4:30 AM +0100 8/12/05, umesh sharma wrote: C-da, I have been late in responding to your mail becos today I was wondering why all of a sudden so many NRAs have started feeling offended by my mails. I realized that perhaps my observations on the behavior of some US based NRI kids has been responsible for this sudden spurt. I must say noone told me about such things possible in USA so I was at a loss - and sought advice from those already based here for long. I do not see any link to religion here. I guess I should limit my discussion to education and economic development in Assam or India as a whole and not express opinions on the hallowed lifestyles of US based NRIs. This reminds me of the furore created by the films Water, Fire etc when focus was on treatment of widows and life of housewives on some Indian homes. It hurt sensibilities of most Indians. I guess my mails on some NRI kids lifestyles hurt sensibilities of many on this forum. I think I will keep quiet about NRI kids behavior - atleast on this forum. But you never commented on my article on IMDT either. Any views?? Umesh Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Umesh: The Assam Netters have been very accommodating to you, considering you are a gate-crasher with an agenda. Remember how I got on your case about your anti-Muslim posts to Assam Net and those who echo your sentiments, although very un-Assamese like, came to your defense, on grounds of free speech? Free speech, incidentally is a privilege, not a right, in a private e-mail list such as Assam Net. It is obvious you don't pick things up too well. Your preoccupation with sexual habits of 'white' Americans or NRI children, Bollywood personalities, wealth and social mores of NRI children and your half-baked assessments and broad-brush judgements of people on skimpy evidence, speaks more of your maturity than subjects of your judgment; Harvard Grad School of Ed not withstanding. I have no problems understanding your affected interests in Assam and the Assamese. But it will do you well to listen and adjust your modus operandi in Assam Net. Your attitudes and mind-set are fairly alien to the Assamese one, if you have not yet noticed. Take care. cm PS: Hi Saswati: Good to hear from you. Hope things are going well for you.. Assam net is a self subscribing/un-subscribing list these days. I hope you won't leave, but participate. Say Hi to Babul. Best.--c'da At 11:49 PM +0100 8/10/05, umesh sharma wrote: Dear Tridip, You have already started the good work!!! -- by contributing to its discussions. It would be interesting to hear from your experience in Lucknow. Umesh tridip [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: hi saswati, well, guess u got signed in by default ( being a member of ratne..though i am not sure if that happened or if that's possible at all..just a guess )..as for unsubscribing from the group..i think u should give it a second thought...now that u are already a member of the group...i believe u can put that to good effecteveryone can play a role hereone can start some healthy discussion... issuespertaining to assam and see what the assamese diaspora think about it just an opinion though! having said that lemme clarify that i am neither the moderator nor the owner of the group...and to be honest i am not sure whether i actually did signed up for this group
Re: [Assam] something which does not happen in India--- perhaps
Title: Re: [Assam] something which does not happen in India--- pe There is an alarming incidence of wife beating and other forms of abuse by H1B visa holders from South Asia in the USA. In an upcoming article, Rupaleem Bhuyan, a second generation American of Assamese parents and a doctoral student at Washington U. in Seattle, studies this problem, particularly in the context of the helplessness of the H1B spouse women, having no access to the social or legal services. Her paper was prepared in co-operation with Chaya, a support organization for South Asian victims of domestic violence in Seattle. Rupaleem shared a pre-publication version of the paper with us. I was horrified to find its prevalence among H1B visa holders--obviously some of the best educated from the subcontinent. Even in St. Louis, where the highest number of Indian immigrants are engineers and physicians who came here decades back, there are enough incidences of wife abuse, that a support organization, Savera, has sprung up. Again I was horrified to hear that it is quite prevalent among this group--our peers, which have per household incomes that rank among the highest in the USA. Speaks volumes of women's place in Indian society, and that too its higher echelons. cm At 8:03 AM -0700 8/12/05, Saswati Bora wrote: Umesh: I am very surprised, almost alarmed, that you think wife beating and other forms of domestic violence does not happen in India.Are you really ignorant about it or are you pretending not to see? In fact, a recent study has found that not only are Indian wives abused but domestic violence rises with education. According to the 2002 study, 45 percent of Indian women are slapped, kicked or beaten by their husbands. India also had the highest rate of violence during pregnancy. Of the women reporting violence, 50 percent were kicked, beaten or hit when pregnant. About 74.8 percent of the women who reported violence have attempted to commit suicide. (Please see report below) In a patriarchial society like India, domestic violence stems not only from cultural norms about masculinity but also insecurity. With more and more women getting educated, and asserting their rights, perhaps the only way men can assert their superiority is through violence. So, you see, India is no different from any sub-saharan country, probably the same if not worse. Lets not romanticize India or be mindlessly nationalistic, instead lets accept that we have a serious social problem that needs to be addressed. Thats my two cents. Please see the very interesting report below. Saswati In India, Domestic Violence Rises with Education By Swapna Majumdar WeNews correspondent Debate about the cultural underpinnings of domestic violence in India is being stirred by a study that found a woman's risk of being beaten, kicked or hit rises with her level of education. NEW DELHI, India (WOMENSENEWS)--In New Delhi, India, a brilliant doctor tries to commit suicide after her husband slaps her for contradicting him in front of his friends. In Manila, Philippines, a former beauty queen tells police she was coerced into entertaining other men after being locked in a room without food for days by her husband. In Santiago, Chile, neighbors respond to distress calls from a woman battered by her husband for refusing to let him watch a particular TV program in front of the children. In Cairo, Egypt, the wife of a highly placed bureaucrat finally speaks up after enduring years of physical and mental abuse for being unable to bear a child. The incidents were documented in a series of studies carried out by the Washington-based International Center for Research on Women in collaboration with independent Indian researchers. The cross-cultural study looked at the problem of domestic abuse in India, Egypt, Chile and the Philippines and found that violence against women was prevalent across regions, communities and classes. New Round of Debate While the findings are not new, the study has incubated a new round of debate about the cultural underpinnings to domestic violence, especially in India, where the study found a woman's risk of being beaten, kicked or hit rose along with her level of education. In the aftermath of the report, advocates are anxious that the data not be used to retard the push for women's education. That effort was given new urgency this week with the release of a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, finding that girls in many countries continue to face sharp discrimination in access to schooling. The report also finds that girls in India had just a little better than three-quarters the chance of boys to receive a primary-school education. Interpretation of this data needs to be done very sensitively, warned Preet Rustagi, a junior fellow at the New Delhi-based Center for Women's Development Studies. Education is an empowering tool for women and should not be seen as impacting
Re: [Assam] 2nd Gen. NRAs invited
Title: Re: [Assam] 2nd Gen. NRAs invited U: Hemav is on a temporary assignment to the USA. He is not an NRA ( yet), much less a second gen. c-da At 6:54 PM +0100 8/12/05, umesh sharma wrote: Hi, I guess someone should formally invite second generation NRAs to post their views on AssamNet. The only post in about 5 years from a second Generation NRA I have seen is the one yesterday by Hemav Mahanta who seems to be reading my posts but has never written his views on any topic on interest on Assam. To those who are in India or have come recently from India - like me - this lack of interest in Assam related affairs causes some alarm. Are they forgetting their land or origin? I have indeed met scores of NRI kids who are busy with development work in SOuth Asia -- but I wonder none is finding it useful to post on AssamNet. If they feel that it would go against the tradition - by debating issues on development with their parents or elders - on AssamNet -- they should note that change all takes place when you challenge authority with what you believe in. What was true for the first gen. may not be true for second gen. -- who have many more resources to draw from. For more lets discuss on Net.. Shall we? Umesh Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Yeh Delli hai - Hindu
In India a) there are hardly any women (in comparison with China) in the service industry - Could it be because of the fact that those rare few who ARE in it, have terrible things to say about their lot--that they become targets of unwanted advances from men customers? *** Could it also be that because of the above, it becomes a stigma for them? Heads I win, tails you lose proposition? At 8:32 PM +0200 8/12/05, Amlan Saha wrote: I am not surprised. Delhi never had any ethical or cultural credit anyway. Although most of India is largely woman unfriendly, the North and especially Delhi is the crudest of them all. All my women friends who go backpacking to India always have the worst to say about Delhi. Not that the rest of India is any better (according to most of them the only countries that are worse than India for single woman backpackers are the Islamic countries except Malaysia and Indonesia) but Delhi just takes the cake. While on that, and slightly off-topic but related, from all my travels in China, I personally feel that although India is a democracy, China has other factors going for it. For example, not only is China way ahead of India in terms of economic development(which we all know), it is also way ahead in terms of utilising the other 50% of its population called women. In India a) there are hardly any women (in comparison with China) in the service industry - restaurants, bars, cafes, banks, airports, train stations, etc. b) I have been to a fair number of countries but have not come across many Indian woman executives who relocated to another city or country on their own. It is most often because of their husbands that they move. The one off example does not count because I have encountered scores of Chinese women who are handling matters for companies based out of cities that are not their own. Even at the UN (I have been in Geneva for the last 4 months doing an internship) and other international organisations, there are hardly any Indian women in any of the lobby/working groups. Admittedly, there are more Indian women who occupy extremely senior positions than do Chinese women, but they are a handful and are the elites. So long as the general class is not roped in, I do not think India can ever dream of real progress. I might be wrong, but I do not think the Indian mentality is ready to accept women in every walk of life. For example, try checking into a hotel as a single woman without anyone accompanying you (yes 5 star hotels included). They are not even ready to accept the basic rights of women - recently when the topic of tight tops came up at Bombay University, I was aghast to hear that one of the professors (or was he the dean?) instead of defending the women students in that it is their right to wear what they want, said that they ought not to attract unnecessary attention. He is a professor (a supposed educator and a thinker) for goodness sake not some deranged theocrat! Such is the state of affairs... Amlan. On 12 Aug 2005, at 19:26, Ram Sarangapani wrote: This is again another shocking gang rape in Delhi. Sometime ago (and even today), we discussed how unsafe Delhi is, specially for women in the NE. The place seems to becoming culturally and morally bankrupt. The Hindu link also provides some stats. This year already, there have been 2706 rapes, in 04, there were 5568, in 03 - 4338 Are these stats in line with other cities? With the stigma attached to rapes, one would think a vast majority goes unreported. ___ http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005081213400100.htmdate=2005/08/12/prd=th; Another night, another nightmare of a gang-rape Devesh K. Pandey NEW DELHI: The Capital was shaken by yet another case of gang-rape in the wee hours of Thursday. The victim was a 16-year-old girl who was criminally assaulted by six men in a stationary bus parked at a depot near Najafgarh in South-West Delhi. The accused have been remanded by a court to two-day police custody for further interrogation as the police suspect involvement of some more people in the ghastly crime. It was around 1-30 a.m. that the Police Control Room received a phone call informing that some people were assaulting a minor girl in a stationary bus of route 578 at the Dichaon Kalan village bus depot in Najafgarh. Two PCR vans on night patrol rushed to the spot and the local police were alerted. As the police reached the spot, they saw the bus stationed there and heard a girl crying out for help. Assistant Sub-Inspector Jagbir Singh entered the bus and saw the accused assaulting the victim. According to the police, one of the accused tried to flee but was overpowered. The other accused were rounded up with the help of the local police and the girl was taken to hospital for medical examination. During interrogation by the police, the accused identified themselves as
RE: [Assam] Bollywood Tantrums : Kapoor's broken marriage
Title: RE: [Assam] Bollywood Tantrums : Kapoor's broken marriag Wow Rizi, you really dived into Assam net with an astute set of observations :-). Yes indeed, Umesh needs a blog site of his own, and assamnet is definitely not the right place. Netters, allow me to introduce my nephew Hemav. cm At 9:33 AM +0530 8/11/05, Hemav Mahanta wrote: Content-class: urn:content-classes:message Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=_=_NextPart_001_01C59E29.A65FF4E5 Umesh: I feel rather uneasy at the glib manner in which you, especially being within the hallowed portals of the 'erudite', throw views that are hollow, whenyou should know better, with the greater benefits and resources ofa Harvardeducation atyour disposal, that there are not too many human beings on this planet, with the possible exception of a handful of hermits trapped inside a Himalayan cave, who do not have any strongly-held convictions.Everyone has these convictions ofvarying and variable intensity and strength, to certain basic beliefs, values, or commitments... most human beings are thus 'fundamentalists' in a way. But 'fundamentalism' is not a question of forcing your own views upon people. Indeed, if this were to accepted as a definition of 'fundamentalism', the greatest 'fundamentalists' in history will turn out to be teacherswho earn their social status and salaries by telling little impressionable creatures entrusted to their care what the 'right' thing to do is, and punishing them without compunction when they beg to disagree... You also have an obsessive habit of talking about yourself, primarily because, in most cases, you are well-aware ofyour own conscious assumptions or points of departure, and wish to lay them on the table without keeping them too close toyour chest. (That is probably what you are doing in this very post, right?)At timesI think probably the reason why you are always filled with questions for usis becauseyouare 'testing'us or 'checking' how muchwe know. If that is indeed whatyou believe,you would be rather mistaken, for the reason whyyou ask questions is becauseyou want to know whatwe believe, and whatwe believe is as much an important factor foryou as whatyouyourself believe in developing, forming, or distillingyour views on any issue... I suppose you havespent so much time trying to 'get under the skin' of other people trying (and, most probably, failing disastrously) to see the world through their eyes that you have only recently begun to realise thatyou has no distinctive views to callyour own; at the most, whatyou have is a collage, a patchwork, or a mosaic built from the various fragments left over from the collapse of the monuments of the past. Perhaps that is whyyour mind is a seething ocean of anarchy :youare never quite satisfied with quoting that 'A is X'; no sooner have you finished mailing that, thatyou begin to experience a burst ofyour obsessive compulsive disorder which tellsyou thatyou must now runand ferret out anothersource which will telleveryone that 'B is Y'. I now think that the long-awaited truth is finally out; that, at the end of the day, you are just one more demagogue or sophist, thatyouare a 'mere' collection of discarded piles of dusty books; thatyou can differentiateX with respect to Y but cannot integrate your 'life' with respect toyour 'opinions'. There would be much truth in this accusation in my opinion and Iwould readilyhold youguiltyfor it. Having done that,you shall also seek, inyour usualopinionated fashion, to respond to it in the following manner. If you are looking for a Yes-Man forum, or fora forum thathas a ready-made blueprint for every problem that is going to crop up around the corner, or for a group that shall unearth all the secrets of human existence and lay them bare for you on your dinner table, you would be well-advised to stay at more than an arm's length from this list. But if you believe that in some cases the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and that in others, the shortest distance is actually a curve, but you are not quite sure which case is which, you shall find yourself a person who has been struggling with this very problem almost allyour life. A better forum for your ramblings is the blog site www.bihu.in/jaipurschool/profile/ because this mailing list, incidentally, is not a BLOG!!! Regards, Hemav From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Chan Mahanta Sent: Wed 8/10/2005 6:26 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; tridip; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] Bollywood Tantrums : Kapoor's broken marriage Hi Umesh: The Assam Netters have been very accommodating to you, considering you are a gate-crasher with an agenda. Remember how I got on your case about your anti-Muslim posts to Assam Net and those who echo your sentiments, although very un-Assamese like, came to your defense, on grounds of free speech? Free speech, incidentally is a privilege, not a right, in a private e-mail list such as Assam Net
[Assam] From Tehelka
CARNAGE 84 We, the bloody people By Sankarshan Thakur IN AN UNREQUITED LAND: A child from one of Trilokpuri's ravaged families Photographed by Gauri Gill We are the apparatchik of serial and periodic political madness, we are the midwives of the abortion of the senses For a talkative society, we tell very little of the essence of ourselves. We babble in the subconscious hope it will drown our truths. We've erected opaque mental monuments to Buddha and Gandhi to blind our eager resort to bloodletting. When the glare catches us red-handed, we wipe our sins on others and melt into our vast convenience of numbers. Narendra Modi. Pravin Togadia. Lal Krishna Advani. Jagdish Tytler. Sajjan Kumar. HKL Bhagat. Bal Thackeray. Hiteswar Saikia. Bhagwat Jha Azad. Remember him? Bhagwat Jha Azad of Bihar? Remember Bhagalpur of 1989? Remember a village called Chanderi and another called Logain? It was eventually left to the vultures to rip the cover. The bodies, 116 of them, had lain there decomposing for six weeks. In that period the village had grown wiser to the fineries of tilling - dead men made good compost. A lush winter crop of mustard had sprung on the bed of corpses they had laid. But the village was also to grow wiser to a thing or two about old idioms: Dead men do tell tales, it is seldom they don't. The stench had risen high off the field and the vultures had begun to swoop low. The killing had been consummated weeks ago, an entire settlement of Muslims on the edge of Logain. Their common guilt the villagers had consigned to a common grave. The carnage was an open secret in the village but to the world beyond it was just a secret. Until the vultures arrived, followed by that rare thing called a policeman with a conscience. He had the crop shaved and the field dug up. The skulls flew into the sky as the spades got to work. Some among us were there and told the story. Logain became, like many of our stories, the child of memory's whore - an unwanted, forgotten consequence of collective shame. We are a nation eddying with bastard deeds. Nellie. Moradabad. Bhiwandi. Hashimpura. Maliana. Meerut. Kanpur. Bhagalpur. Sopore. Baroda. Aligarh. Mumbai. Chittisingpora. Ahmedabad. Delhi. We lay blood-litter on the streets and retreat into our homes. Nobody owns up. We decamp from facts and populate our horrors with clichéd characters of fiction - a violent mob, a murderous horde, a crowd screaming, slashing, burning, a mass that suddenly descended and vanished. Who? Wherefrom? Us. Herefrom. Every single time. It is we who pillage, rape and murder. Under wrongful excitement and exhortation. Under criminal instruction and protection. Under the Modis and Togadias and Tytlers, yes. They are the leaders but we are there to be led. We are the apparatchik of serial and periodic political madness, we are the midwives of the abortion of the senses. Then we wash our hands and line up for secular prabhat pheris, our opaque monuments to Buddha and Gandhi urgently recalled to veil memory and guilt. The Babel Tower of inquiries and commissions, reports and recommendations that we have piled for ourselves is a route of escape. The tabling of Nanavati conclusions has become the hour of more deflective clamour, a booster dose of obfuscation. A talkative society talking endlessly. Or an argumentative society, as we are told on formidable authority, arguing on. About who and how. About cause and consequence. About crime and the absence of punishment. Never once do we dare look ourselves in the mirror. Never do we stop pointing fingers at others. Outraged, shrieking justice, baying retribution, if legal. Hush. Where were you at the time? And what were you doing? You were electing Narendra Modi astride a bloodied rath. You were voting Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler back to respectable titles and hallowed portals. You were turning up in thousands to pirouette to the twisted bigotry of Pravin Togadia. You were letting Thackeray hone your hatreds. We need to ask few questions of each other. We need to ask questions of the households that were spared the mayhem of Trilokpuri. Ask the shopkeepers of Mandvi Ni Pole. Ask around in the bylanes of Hashimpura. Ask those who live across the charred remains of Gulberg. Ask the villagers of Logain, it's been 16 winters since that resplendent mustard crop that contained a gene of murdered blood. We cannot pretend being a civil society when we claim, every now and again, rights over uncivil liberties. We cannot invoke laws that we ourselves violate. We cannot look up to a Constitution that we trample underfoot. There are a myriad contemporary Indian stories we have forgotten. They are all true stories. They have dates and datelines. They have pegs and dead people hanging by them. And there are, among us, the many hands that hung them there that have since been washed in
Re: [Assam] Cultural geography?
Title: Re: [Assam] Cultural geography? What if one is a middle age adult , with an equally huge brain, but selectively deactivated to filter out information about his/her own culture's predation on those who seem to RESIST technology and economic growth? Is there a wide open field for them too? That would be my question. At 10:37 AM -0700 8/11/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Cultural geography? What does it really mean? Anyone here to pursue the field? Was the article provoked by the happenings in London? Dilip All Cultures Are Not Equal By DAVID BROOKS Published: August 10, 2005 Let's say you are an 18-year-old kid with a really big brain. You're trying to figure out which field of study you should devote your life to, so you can understand the forces that will be shaping history for decades to come. Go into the field that barely exists: cultural geography. Study why and how people cluster, why certain national traits endure over centuries, why certain cultures embrace technology and economic growth and others resist them. This is the line of inquiry that is now impolite to pursue. The gospel of multiculturalism preaches that all groups and cultures are equally wonderful. There are a certain number of close-minded thugs, especially on university campuses, who accuse anybody who asks intelligent questions about groups and enduring traits of being racist or sexist. The economists and scientists tend to assume that material factors drive history - resources and brain chemistry - because that's what they can measure and count. But none of this helps explain a crucial feature of our time: while global economies are converging, cultures are diverging, and the widening cultural differences are leading us into a period of conflict, inequality and segmentation. Not long ago, people said that globalization and the revolution in communications technology would bring us all together. But the opposite is true. People are taking advantage of freedom and technology to create new groups and cultural zones. Old national identities and behavior patterns are proving surprisingly durable. People are moving into self-segregating communities with people like themselves, and building invisible and sometimes visible barriers to keep strangers out. If you look just around the United States you find amazing cultural segmentation. We in America have been globalized (meaning economically integrated) for centuries, and yet far from converging into some homogeneous culture, we are actually diverging into lifestyle segments. The music, news, magazine and television markets have all segmented, so there are fewer cultural unifiers like Life magazine or Walter Cronkite. Forty-million Americans move every year, and they generally move in with people like themselves, so as the late James Chapin used to say, every place becomes more like itself. Crunchy places like Boulder attract crunchy types and become crunchier. Conservative places like suburban Georgia attract conservatives and become more so. Not long ago, many people worked on farms or in factories, so they had similar lifestyles. But now the economy rewards specialization, so workplaces and lifestyles diverge. The military and civilian cultures diverge. In the political world, Democrats and Republicans seem to live on different planets. Meanwhile, if you look around the world you see how often events are driven by groups that reject the globalized culture. Islamic extremists reject the modern cultures of Europe, and have created a hyperaggressive fantasy version of traditional Islamic purity. In a much different and less violent way, some American Jews have moved to Hebron and become hyper-Zionists. From Africa to Seattle, religiously orthodox students reject what they see as the amoral mainstream culture, and carve out defiant revival movements. From Rome to Oregon, antiglobalization types create their own subcultures. The members of these and many other groups didn't inherit their identities. They took advantage of modernity, affluence and freedom to become practitioners of a do-it-yourself tribalism. They are part of a great reshuffling of identities, and the creation of new, often more rigid groupings. They have the zeal of converts. Meanwhile, transnational dreams like European unification and Arab unity falter, and behavior patterns across nations diverge. For example, fertility rates between countries like the U.S. and Canada are diverging. Work habits between the U.S. and Europe are diverging. Global inequality widens as some nations with certain cultural traits prosper and others with other traits don't. People like Max Weber, Edward Banfield, Samuel Huntington, Lawrence Harrison and Thomas Sowell have given us an inkling of how to think about this stuff, but for the most part, this is open ground. If you are 18 and you've got that big brain, the whole field of cultural geography is waiting for you. E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [Assam] From Tehelka
I tried to drive home that very point. I brought up the Sikh bodyguards, because events perpetuated by ONE group (in this case the Sikhs) had a devastating effect on the whole nation. You are missing the whole point- entirely, Ram. Because two Sikhs killed Indira Gandhi, does it mean ALL Sikhs are guilty of that? Or should ALL Sikhs be held responsible for that? NOT all Sikhs conspired to have IG assassinated, did they? Did even ALL the Khalistani movement partisans conspire to have IG's bodyguards kill her? Your arguments are NO different from the mobs here Ram. Not a a tad bit different. Mobs, as we have seen time and again DO NOT know how to differentiate between the culprits and the inocent bystander who just 'looks like' the killers. Mobs are not made of inanimate objects that behave in accordance with Newton's laws. They are human beings. Or so one would expect them to be, anyway,and thus slightly different from inanimate objects. Are the Modis, the Togadias, the Bhagats and Tytlers expected to act like inanimate objects? Would you subscribe to that notion Ram? My point is this: The sad ground realities are that Sikhs or other groups planning such crimes ought to be aware that their actions may affect the very communities they are trying to protect. This is a really unbelievable argument here, certainly not one of your better ones Ram. Be it in India or even in organized countries like the US where Indians are looked at in suspicion (after 9/11) even though they had nothing to do with the Saudis. *** And this is more of the same. When have American mobs butcher brown skinned people , while being instigated by leaders of its communities and the law looking the other way? Is there even a modicum of truth? The criminal who shot up the Sikh gas station attendant at Phoenix, got the death penalty. How many desis were even prosecuted for the Sikh pogroms and Muslim pogroms in India? How long did it take the Nanavati Commission to prepare a watered down, white-wash job of a 'fact-finding' investigation--not a prosecution ? Twenty one years Ram. Twenty one long years! That in the world's largest democracy, the seat of a five thousand years old 'civilization'(?)! But, I do concur with you that people should be able to differentiate the perpetuators from the innocent. That is fundamental to a civilized society with a rule of law Ram. Where are the MORAL leaders of these people, your people and mine? c-da At 2:39 PM -0500 8/11/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, Nothing could be further from the truth. I agree with Khuswant Singh, that the Nanavati Report is an insult, that I wasn't talking about the report itself, but the fact that the PM even at this late stage could apologize to the nation. That in it self would bring some closure. I am very disappointed here Ram, that even YOU do not differentiate between an individuals' or a group of individuals' crime and the whole group or clan or religion these individuals I tried to drive home that very point. I brought up the Sikh bodyguards, because events perpetuated by ONE group (in this case the Sikhs) had a devastating effect on the whole nation. Mobs, as we have seen time and again DO NOT know how to differentiate between the culprits and the inocent bystander who just 'looks like' the killers. Be it in India or even in organized countries like the US where Indians are looked at in suspicion (after 9/11) even though they had nothing to do with the Saudis. My point is this: The sad ground realities are that Sikhs or other groups planning such crimes ought to be aware that their actions may affect the very communities they are trying to protect. This is specially true when one belongs to a minority community and mob violence is just a match-stick away. We can present all the logic we want about such differentiation, but the stark realities are just the opposite. But, I do concur with you that people should be able to differentiate the perpetuators from the innocent. --Ram On 8/11/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ram: At least it gives some closure to people who lost their loved ones. Nothing could be further from the truth. I agree with Khuswant Singh, that the Nanavati Report is an insult, that it is too little, too late. I will forward his article and others' when I get a chance. Why would Sikh bodyguards assasinate the PM? I am not sure about Godhra, but whats bandied about is that muslim groups cast the first stone by killing the 'Hindu' political workers, and things started spreading to other areas. I am very disappointed here Ram, that even YOU do not differentiate between an individuals' or a group of individuals' crime and the whole group or clan or religion these individuals belong to or identify with, from being held guilty and mob justice meted out on ALL of them. I
Re: [Assam] From Tehelka,
.
At 4:47 PM -0500 8/11/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
*** And this is more of the same. When have American mobs butcher brown
skinned people , while being instigated by
leaders of its communities and the law looking
the other way? Is there even a modicum of truth?
To continue, c'da,
Maybe not brown-skinned, but definitely blacks.
Missisippi - It took nearly forty + years to convict one old man, only
the other day, and that too in a country that boasts itself as the
cradle of modern democratic values?
How many were prosecuted for the LA riots, where the White trucker was killed?
How many were prosecuted for the great NY blackout riots?
So, it does happen here too, inspite it being the most organized and
developed country, where everything is in place.
No, there is no mob going after brown-skinned people in the US, but
people do get incited into a frenzy and form into mobs that often go
violent, and no one is prosecuted. The riots of LA and NY are
testimonials.
--Ram
On 8/11/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I tried to drive home that very point. I brought up the Sikh
bodyguards, because events perpetuated by ONE group (in this case the
Sikhs) had a devastating effect on the whole nation.
You are missing the whole point- entirely, Ram.
Because two Sikhs killed Indira Gandhi, does it
mean ALL Sikhs are guilty of that? Or should ALL
Sikhs be held responsible for that?
NOT all Sikhs conspired to have IG assassinated,
did they? Did even ALL the Khalistani movement
partisans conspire to have IG's bodyguards kill
her?
Your arguments are NO different from the mobs
here Ram. Not a a tad bit different.
Mobs, as we have seen time and again DO NOT know how to differentiate
between the culprits and the inocent bystander who just 'looks like'
the killers.
Mobs are not made of inanimate objects that
behave in accordance with Newton's laws. They are
human beings. Or so one would expect them to be,
anyway,and thus slightly different from inanimate
objects.
Are the Modis, the Togadias, the Bhagats and
Tytlers expected to act like inanimate objects?
Would you subscribe to that notion Ram?
My point is this: The sad ground realities are that Sikhs or other
groups planning such crimes ought to be aware that their actions may
affect the very communities they are trying to protect.
This is a really unbelievable argument here,
certainly not one of your better ones Ram.
Be it in India or even in organized countries like the US
where Indians are looked at in suspicion (after 9/11) even though they
had nothing to do with the Saudis.
*** And this is more of the same. When have American mobs butcher brown
skinned people , while being instigated by
leaders of its communities and the law looking
the other way? Is there even a modicum of truth?
The criminal who shot up the Sikh gas station
attendant at Phoenix, got the death penalty.
How many desis were even prosecuted for the Sikh
pogroms and Muslim pogroms in India? How long did
it take the Nanavati Commission to prepare a
watered down, white-wash job of a 'fact-finding'
investigation--not a prosecution ? Twenty one
years Ram. Twenty one long years! That in the
world's largest democracy, the seat of a five
thousand years old 'civilization'(?)!
But, I do concur with you that people should be able to differentiate
the perpetuators from the innocent.
That is fundamental to a civilized society
with a rule of law Ram. Where are the MORAL
leaders of these people, your people and mine?
c-da
At 2:39 PM -0500 8/11/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
C'da,
Nothing could be further from the truth. I
agree with Khuswant Singh, that the Nanavati
Report is an insult, that
I wasn't talking about the report itself, but the fact that the PM
even at this late stage could apologize to the nation. That in it self
would bring some closure.
I am very disappointed here Ram, that even
YOU do not differentiate between an individuals'
or a group of individuals' crime and the whole
group or clan or religion these individuals
I tried to drive home that very point. I brought up the Sikh
bodyguards, because events perpetuated by ONE group (in this case the
Sikhs) had a devastating effect on the whole nation.
Mobs, as we have seen time and again DO NOT know how to differentiate
between the culprits and the inocent bystander who just 'looks like'
the killers. Be it in India or even in organized countries like the US
where Indians are looked at in suspicion (after 9/11) even though they
had nothing to do with the Saudis.
My point is this: The sad ground realities are that Sikhs or other
groups planning such crimes ought to be aware that their actions may
affect the very communities they are trying to protect. This is
specially true when one belongs to a minority community and mob
violence is just a match-stick away. We can present
Re: [Assam] Trying to celebrate ID in Guwahati - Telegraph
Speaking at the meeting, Dhiren Baruah, president of Save Guwahati Build Guwahati, said it was sad that citizens were forced to hold meetings on how to make Independence Day a success. That is an astute observation. Too bad however, that the doyens - the dinosaurs of society, who were/are instrumental to selling out Assam's interests , still are unable to see the handwriting on the wall. Perhaps they should make it a punishable offense to abstain from Independence Day ( more like From Phoren Slavery to Desi Slavery Day) festivities. Violators to be held incommunicado or shot in a fake encounter :-(. Only in India. We have actually succumbed if not to bullets then to the boycott calls of the Ulfa by not celebrating Independence Day and Republic Day, Phukan said. Tsk, tsk! The entire field was dug up a few days ago to search for explosives. Heh-heh! Brilliant, ain't it? He said adequate security arrangements have been made at Judges Field and policemen in civvies would be present on the streets to arrest anyone who tried to enforce the boycott. What a riot :-)! Some citizens even suggested that the police should ensure that national flags are hoisted in at least 100 houses in every locality. Sinha rejected the proposal saying it might generate adverse public reaction. Brilliant! Make it another national offense, perpetration of which will invite indefinite prison time if not death in custody. The participants, however, agreed to visit every household in each locality even after Independence Day to talk to the people about the need to celebrate the important occasions on the national calendar. I don't believe this! George Orwell wouldn't ! cm At 5:21 PM -0500 8/11/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Issue Date: Friday, August 12, 2005 Police rope in seniors to foil rebel call - Plea to celebrate I-Day A STAFF REPORTER Aug. 11: The Kamrup metropolitan administration and senior citizens today joined hands to thwart the boycott called by militant outfits on Independence Day. Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Samir Kumar Sinha met prominent senior citizens to decide on the steps, which would ensure maximum participation of people during Independence Day celebrations. He said all senior citizens would appeal through television channels and newspapers urging the people to celebrate this red-letter day for the sake of future. They would also inspire people in their respective localities to hoist the national flag. The senior citizens have plans to light 59 earthen lamps at the foot of each and every statue of freedom fighters in the city. Sinha said school authorities have been requested to send the maximum number of students to Judges Field, many of whom would be given a chance to speak about their views on Independence Day. The senior citizens will also participate in the sports activities to be held at Latasil playground after the celebrations for the 59th Independence Day at Judges Field are over. They will play a friendly cricket or football match. Speaking at the meeting, Dhiren Baruah, president of Save Guwahati Build Guwahati, said it was sad that citizens were forced to hold meetings on how to make Independence Day a success. But we have to fight against the call for boycott. It is good that the administration is holding a meeting to do something. Let us make this move successful. Litterateur Arun Sarma and veteran sportsperson Suren Ram Phukan said there has to be a consistent effort to inculcate the values of Independence Day and other red-letter days of the country. We have actually succumbed if not to bullets then to the boycott calls of the Ulfa by not celebrating Independence Day and Republic Day, Phukan said. Sinha said there was no reason why citizens should be afraid to celebrate Independence Day. He said adequate security arrangements have been made at Judges Field and policemen in civvies would be present on the streets to arrest anyone who tried to enforce the boycott. The twin blasts that were triggered by militants on Republic Day have forced the administration and the police to throw a massive security blanket at Judges Field for August 15. The entire field was dug up a few days ago to search for explosives. Floodlights were installed and permanent camps manned by security personnel were set up to thwart any sabotage attempt by militants. Some citizens even suggested that the police should ensure that national flags are hoisted in at least 100 houses in every locality. Sinha rejected the proposal saying it might generate adverse public reaction. The participants, however, agreed to visit every household in each locality even after Independence Day to talk to the people about the need to celebrate the important occasions on the national calendar. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ:
Re: [Assam] Assam red-faced over CAG report - Telegraph
Auditors do hold BOTH the Center and the State responsible for the proper use of allocated funds. That was their report. Now, whether the CM or others or even Central ministers get punished or even caught in this scam is a different matter and the auditors have no say in that. Suppose we assume that the Center slept these past 25 years, what happened to the GOA (all with Assamese interests), what did they do? They took the allocated funds, and spent and misused it - cash strapped or not. All the auditors did was follow the money trail, and unfortunately it led straight to the GOA. This is a normal procedure for all state allocations - the Centeral funds are allocated to the states for various projects, and the states (normally) try and get this done within the framework of solid accounting practices and are accountable for what and where they spend. And the auditors do their job. This type of scenario is often repeated. The voter ID cards - Assam logged in less than 1% completion, while every other state had atleast more than 50%. And who need voter IDs more than any other state? The same happened with the Asian Dev. Bank funds(loans) for the reorg of ASEB. From last reports, that money is nowhere to be found. Why did the Center give the funds to Assam to do the Center's job? Was it not aware of the corruption that goes on ? So, alongwith the Center, why not also blame the ADB for being so foolish to fund money to Assam? Oh!, I am sorry, the ADB probably had no clue about the rampant corruption in the state - its their fault anyway, for not researching well enough. --Ram On 8/9/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Center ought to send its own border construction team and get the job done. *** I think that would be jumping the gun. After all twenty five years is not that long. I mean for the Center to realize there is a problem, and that it has a duty to protect the borders, and not cry about its funds being 'mis-utilized' by a state that is already broke from having to pay for the Indian military who have found a permanent home in Assam? BTW, isn't the Assam govt. run by the same folks who hold the reins of the powers at Delhi? Is there a problem with this National Party? And if there is how can Assam get rid of its incompetent governance? Are there built-in safeguards in desi-demokrasy, or is it the people of Assam's own damn fault? What happened to the vaunted framework of 'steal', I mean steel--the Civil Services, the Center's CAN-DO cadres, that are supposed to manage the affairs of state with its cutting edge management skills? Or should we hold the people of Assam responsible for dereliction of its duty of not protecting the 'national' borders too? *** I see a propensity to blame Assam instead of holding those whose duty it is to protect the borders. Why did the Center give the funds to Assam to do the Center's job? Was it not aware of the corruption that goes on ? Or was it to help the right parties get the right contracts thru the leaky system in Assam? Not entirely out of the realm of possibilities, is it? At 10:03 AM -0500 8/9/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: The Gogoi admin has been diverting and misusing Central funds meant for border construction, and thus unable to implement the Assam Accord. Comptroller and Auditor General of India revealed that funds to the tune of Rs 7.53 crore provided between 1999 and 2004 for the project by the Centre had been diverted, misutilised and locked up to benefit the state PWD, irrigation, Assam State Electricity Board and bank, which has adversely affected the implementation of the project. Huh! And we still have die-hards who would like to put the blame squarely on Delhi as to why the border hasn't been completed. I would fault the Center for entrusting an incompetent State machinery to undertake such a major project. The Center ought to send its own border construction team and get the job done. ___ Issue Date: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 Assam red-faced over CAG report A STAFF REPORTER Guwahati, Aug. 8: The Assam government has diverted central funds meant for the construction of a strategic Indo-Bangladesh border road and fence project, thereby leaving the scheme incomplete and exposing the border to infiltrators. This startling revelation, made in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, 2004, tabled on the first day of the monsoon session of the Assembly here today, has come as an embarrassment for the Tarun Gogoi government, which has been claiming its sincerity
Re: [Assam] Assam red-faced over CAG report - Telegraph
Title: Re: [Assam] Assam red-faced over CAG report - Telegraph Ram: It is disingenuous to suggest that I am attempting to criticize the CAG or its report. Suppose we assume that the Center slept these past 25 years, what happened to the GOA (all with Assamese interests), what did they do? What do you mean ASSUME? Is the Center's inaction an unfair assessment, a slanderous charge? And Assqam did about the same as Mai-Baap did. Do you have evidence to show otherwise? This is a normal procedure for all state allocations - the Centeral funds are allocated This is one of the BIGGEST problems right here. This notion that Mai Baap has the authority over resources to redistribute it as it sees fit. This is wrong, unfair, undemocratic, inefficient and riddled with corruption to begin with. This type of scenario is often repeated. The voter ID cards - Assam logged in less than 1% completion, while every other state had atleast more than 50%. And who need voter IDs more than any other state? And this too is no different from the Indian model of governance. Fits like a glove. So, alongwith the Center, why not also blame the ADB for being so foolish to fund money to Assam? Has corruption, misuse, misappropriation and squandering of public funds by the Center as well as the states been a surprise, a deep dark secret unbeknownst to the population and the world outside? No it is not ME who is jumping to blame anyone unfairly and washing his hands off responsibilities, without assessing blame where it REALLY belongs--where the authority, responsibility and the ability to effect the reforms to put deterrence to corruption in place. It is HE who is doing that to blame the people of Assam, as it is their own damn fault. Now I am sure you would brush my argument aside as that of a desi-basher. But you can find a study on Indian corruption at www.ti-bangladesh.org/ti-india/news/bullJan03.htm. Take a look and see how much of it is caused by the corrupted people of Assam. c-da At 12:23 PM -0500 8/9/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, BTW, isn't the Assam govt. run by the same folks who hold the reins of the powers at Delhi? Is there a problem with this National Party? I really don't think the 'party' in power makes a difference. The Centeral Govt. set this up during the Vajpayee Admin. (there was probably a different admin in Assam too). Just because there is a change at the helm, it doesn't mean treaties and allocations change overnight. There may be policy changes but things that need to be funded continue.The Central Auditors do hold BOTH the Center and the State responsible for the proper use of allocated funds. That was their report. Now, whether the CM or others or even Central ministers get punished or even caught in this scam is a different matter and the auditors have no say in that. Suppose we assume that the Center slept these past 25 years, what happened to the GOA (all with Assamese interests), what did they do? They took the allocated funds, and spent and misused it - cash strapped or not. All the auditors did was follow the money trail, and unfortunately it led straight to the GOA. This is a normal procedure for all state allocations - the Centeral funds are allocated to the states for various projects, and the states (normally) try and get this done within the framework of solid accounting practices and are accountable for what and where they spend. And the auditors do their job. This type of scenario is often repeated. The voter ID cards - Assam logged in less than 1% completion, while every other state had atleast more than 50%. And who need voter IDs more than any other state? The same happened with the Asian Dev. Bank funds(loans) for the reorg of ASEB. From last reports, that money is nowhere to be found. Why did the Center give the funds to Assam to do the Center's job? Was it not aware of the corruption that goes on ? So, alongwith the Center, why not also blame the ADB for being so foolish to fund money to Assam? Oh!, I am sorry, the ADB probably had no clue about the rampant corruption in the state - its their fault anyway, for not researching well enough. --Ram On 8/9/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Center ought to send its own border construction team and get the job done. *** I think that would be jumping the gun. After all twenty five years is not that long. I mean for the Center to realize there is a problem, and that it has a duty to protect the borders, and not cry about its funds being 'mis-utilized' by a state that is already broke from having to pay for the Indian military who have found a permanent home in Assam? BTW, isn't the Assam govt. run by the same folks who hold the reins of the powers at Delhi? Is there a problem with this National Party? And if there is how can Assam get rid of its incompetent governance? Are there built-in safeguards in desi-demokrasy, or is it the people of Assam's own damn
Re: [Assam] Bollywood Tantrums : Kapoor's broken marriage
Title: Re: [Assam] Bollywood Tantrums : Kapoor's broken marriag Hi Umesh: The Assam Netters have been very accommodating to you, considering you are a gate-crasher with an agenda. Remember how I got on your case about your anti-Muslim posts to Assam Net and those who echo your sentiments, although very un-Assamese like, came to your defense, on grounds of free speech? Free speech, incidentally is a privilege, not a right, in a private e-mail list such as Assam Net. It is obvious you don't pick things up too well. Your preoccupation with sexual habits of 'white' Americans or NRI children, Bollywood personalities, wealth and social mores of NRI children and your half-baked assessments and broad-brush judgements of people on skimpy evidence, speaks more of your maturity than subjects of your judgment; Harvard Grad School of Ed not withstanding. I have no problems understanding your affected interests in Assam and the Assamese. But it will do you well to listen and adjust your modus operandi in Assam Net. Your attitudes and mind-set are fairly alien to the Assamese one, if you have not yet noticed. Take care. cm PS: Hi Saswati: Good to hear from you. Hope things are going well for you.. Assam net is a self subscribing/un-subscribing list these days. I hope you won't leave, but participate. Say Hi to Babul. Best.--c'da At 11:49 PM +0100 8/10/05, umesh sharma wrote: Dear Tridip, You have already started the good work!!! -- by contributing to its discussions. It would be interesting to hear from your experience in Lucknow. Umesh tridip [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: hi saswati, well, guess u got signed in by default ( being a member of ratne..though i am not sure if that happened or if that's possible at all..just a guess )..as for unsubscribing from the group..i think u should give it a second thought...now that u are already a member of the group...i believe u can put that to good effecteveryone can play a role hereone can start some healthy discussion... issuespertaining to assam and see what the assamese diaspora think about it just an opinion though! having said that lemme clarify that i am neither the moderator nor the owner of the group...and to be honest i am not sure whether i actually did signed up for this group or not.since i was receiving all these mails..i thought i might have signed regards, tridip. lucknow umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I find it amusing that u are on it without subscribing to it. Maybe some well wisher gifted you a membership. Umesh Saswati Bora [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Tridip, I echo your sentiments. However, unlike you, I dont remember signing into this group at all. So whoever is the moderator, please unsubscribe me. Thank you. tridip [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: hi umesh, i am simply not interested in knowing why ur landlord dont want to marry even though he has many girl friends...or how many houses he is the proud owner ofor whether he's frank enough not to sign pre-nups oe not..and if karishma kapoor has demanded alimony or not... i didnt sign upin this group to get news about what the celebrities are doin' and with whom they are moving around withnor am i interested in knowing whether husbands in US hold their wives hands during delivery or not ..sorry for being harsh with the words but u are spaming my mailbox. please think about us mere mortals who have other things to do instead of reading and gossiping about ppl who dont affect us at all...( by the way, is their any remedy for spaming in the US besides unsubscribing from the group???) regards, tridip lucknow umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Money may be a reason for her tantrums - she is demanding 1.2 million dollars (Rs 7 crores as alimony it seems http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1196431,curpg-1.cms) My lanlord and proud owner of 4 houses is extremely concerned about this alimony business in US. From himonly I learnt tha in US many couple do not marry beocs in the event of a divorce they have to split their assets in half. Though my landlord has many girlfriends and even had live in relations with some he did not want to lose 2 of his houses by marrying . And he is not frank enough to sign a pre-nupital contract -as many hi-fi people do. Umesh umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, Although it would be callous on my part to speak out against a women who recently became a mother and just then having trouble with her marriage -- but seeing the plight of Karishma Kapoor - the erstwhile Bollywood super heroine - I am wondering whether she too is blindly aping the West. (as mentioned below) It is true that a pregnant woman needs to have her husband by her side and her husband was roaming around with some other females to visit night clubs during that period. In US I'm told the wannabe father has to hold to hand of the soon-to-be mother during labor - to soothe her. However, given the fact that filmy life demands that heroines
Re: [Assam] Assam red-faced over CAG report - Telegraph
At 9:47 AM -0700 8/10/05, Rajib Das wrote: I checked the balance sheet numbers on Assam Government website and did not find any indicators. I think one would accept if you used numbers and sources for those numbers instead of just referring to Sanjib Baruah. Well, then that is the final word! Assam doesn't have to pay for Center's services in hunting down Assam insurgents. India does that as a favor. Because Rajib Das did not find any reference to it in the Assam Govt. web-site. But only the inferentially challenged would buy the argument. What exactly is huge amounts? Without numbers in hand, all this talk is weightless opinion. Once again, since I can't offer any numbers, it must not be a fact. Now that is worth a laugh. Because different states have gone forward with different models - many have kept relatively leaner governments. The center does not exactly hold a gun to the state governments to recruit people into the government. Incidentally, the center is the leanest of the governments. I am relieved to hear that the Center maintains lean and mean govt. And also that some states are leaner than Assam. That must tell us that the Assam folks, being good for nothing and lazy. Of course that has to be based on the assumptions that all the states have the same circumstances. Again only a fool and the profoundly ignorant will believe that. And sure enough, the insurgencies of 25 years adding up to nothing, Isn't that a big surprise? But it would be a surprise only to those whose reasoning abilities are grossly impaired, considering a rag-tag band of insurgents against the world's third largest army not being able to make Assam a prosperous state, as opposed to those cut in the mold of Delhi emulating mis-governance reigning in Assam. Did Sanjib Baruah also mention how much we have lost in terms of jobs in the private sector because of insurgencies? No he did not. Primarily because he can think a whole lot better than those who would ask such questions. Assam has been and continuing to pay huge assessments for deployment of the armed forces, not just the CRPF. I don't have the exact numbers or the percentage of the total costs to the forces, but enough to hold Assam tottering at the edge of bankruptcy for decades. Had it been a What exactly is huge amounts? Without numbers in hand, all this talk is weightless opinion. the poor-house. Combined that with Indian governmental/economic system that requires to maintain huge numbers of people in its payroll, work or no work; that the Assam Govt. faithfully emulates, Now that is worth a laugh. Because different states have gone forward with different models - many have kept relatively leaner governments. The center does not exactly hold a gun to the state governments to recruit people into the government. Incidentally, the center is the leanest of the governments. And sure enough, the insurgencies of 25 years adding up to nothing, has also made sure there is nothing much else in terms of private sector jobs to look forward to. Did Sanjib Baruah also mention how much we have lost in terms of jobs in the private sector because of insurgencies? __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Assam red-faced over CAG report - Telegraph
The Center ought to send its own border construction team and get the job done. *** I think that would be jumping the gun. After all twenty five years is not that long. I mean for the Center to realize there is a problem, and that it has a duty to protect the borders, and not cry about its funds being 'mis-utilized' by a state that is already broke from having to pay for the Indian military who have found a permanent home in Assam? BTW, isn't the Assam govt. run by the same folks who hold the reins of the powers at Delhi? Is there a problem with this National Party? And if there is how can Assam get rid of its incompetent governance? Are there built-in safeguards in desi-demokrasy, or is it the people of Assam's own damn fault? What happened to the vaunted framework of 'steal', I mean steel--the Civil Services, the Center's CAN-DO cadres, that are supposed to manage the affairs of state with its cutting edge management skills? Or should we hold the people of Assam responsible for dereliction of its duty of not protecting the 'national' borders too? *** I see a propensity to blame Assam instead of holding those whose duty it is to protect the borders. Why did the Center give the funds to Assam to do the Center's job? Was it not aware of the corruption that goes on ? Or was it to help the right parties get the right contracts thru the leaky system in Assam? Not entirely out of the realm of possibilities, is it? At 10:03 AM -0500 8/9/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: The Gogoi admin has been diverting and misusing Central funds meant for border construction, and thus unable to implement the Assam Accord. Comptroller and Auditor General of India revealed that funds to the tune of Rs 7.53 crore provided between 1999 and 2004 for the project by the Centre had been diverted, misutilised and locked up to benefit the state PWD, irrigation, Assam State Electricity Board and bank, which has adversely affected the implementation of the project. Huh! And we still have die-hards who would like to put the blame squarely on Delhi as to why the border hasn't been completed. I would fault the Center for entrusting an incompetent State machinery to undertake such a major project. The Center ought to send its own border construction team and get the job done. ___ Issue Date: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 Assam red-faced over CAG report A STAFF REPORTER Guwahati, Aug. 8: The Assam government has diverted central funds meant for the construction of a strategic Indo-Bangladesh border road and fence project, thereby leaving the scheme incomplete and exposing the border to infiltrators. This startling revelation, made in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, 2004, tabled on the first day of the monsoon session of the Assembly here today, has come as an embarrassment for the Tarun Gogoi government, which has been claiming its sincerity in implementing the 1985 Assam Accord. The CAG said a review of the 100 per cent centrally-assisted project being executed by the Assam PWD since 1986-87 revealed that funds to the tune of Rs 7.53 crore provided between 1999 and 2004 for the project by the Centre had been diverted, misutilised and locked up to benefit the state PWD, irrigation, Assam State Electricity Board and bank, which has adversely affected the implementation of the project. Moreover, the department incurred unfruitful/infructuous/wasteful/unproductive and unauthorised expenditure to the tune of Rs 9.13 crore. The revelation has come at a time when the infiltration issue has been in the headlines after the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act was struck down by the Supreme Court and the All Assam Students Union renewing its demand to get the 1985 Assam Accord implemented in toto. The 536.3-km-long border project was undertaken under Clauses 9.1 and 9.2 of the said pact to prevent infiltration through physical barr- iers like construction of all-weather roads and providing barbed wire fencing along the entire stretch of the border to facilitate effective patrolling by security personnel on land as well as riverine routes. The CAG report states that the state PWD has failed to plan properly, manage or execute the project smoothly. As a result, not only was the project incomplete, the 41.505 km of completed roads and 6.393 km of the fence could not be handed over either to the central PWD or to the BSF. It also said 107 km of riverine border, constituting as much as 40 per cent of the total project length, remains unsealed. The overall shortfall in the construction of road was four per cent and 49 per cent under phases I and II respectively and that of the fence was four per cent and 85 per cent respectively, the report said. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ:
Re: [Assam]
O' Alpana: Moi 'expart' nohoy, tothapi mukh melilw: Sri, by definition, is an appellation for a live person. Therefore Srijuta would be too I think. BTW, what is the meaning of 'Proyato'? Is it same as Sworgiya/ Sworgiyo? If it is, then the combo may be an unusual one :-). c-da At 5:31 PM -0500 8/6/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: Hi Everybody: I just learnt something that I never had to think about before - that you can't add Shri-juta to a deceased person's name! Is it true? Or can you put Proyato Shri-juta at least? Thanks in advance for your help. - A. Sarangapani Houston, Texas. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam]
Title: Re: [Assam] O'Deka: Is a variation same as distortion? Why I ask is, if the original form is sacrosanct? O'm At 7:58 PM -0700 8/6/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Srijuta (distortion of Shriyukta in Sanskrit) means Let prosperity accompany him, :-) something similar to PBUH that some Muslims use when referring to Hazrat Muhammed. When a person has passed away, the common practice used to be to putSwargiya or its distortion Xorgiyo before the name. For example, Xorgiyo Gopinath Bordoloi. Is that usage still in practice in Assam? Proyato means gone or passed away. Proyato Srijuta is too farfetched, in my opinion. Dilip = Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: O' Alpana: Moi 'expart' nohoy, tothapi mukh melilw: Sri, by definition, is an appellation for a live person. Therefore Srijuta would be too I think. BTW, what is the meaning of 'Proyato'? Is it same as Sworgiya/ Sworgiyo? If it is, then the combo may be an unusual one :-). c-da At 5:31 PM -0500 8/6/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: Hi Everybody: I just learnt something that I never had to think about before - that you can't add Shri-juta to a deceased person's name! Is it true? Or can you put Proyato Shri-juta at least? Thanks in advance for your help. - A. Sarangapani Houston, Texas. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] What is the Matter with These People? ? From ToI
I cannot believe these people. Aren't they some of the best educated in the country, with the best educational institutions and 'corruption free' and more India than Indians ?? cm The untounchables Part - II what upper castes do to dalits, the dalits do to vannars Wretched of the Earth For Puthirai Vannars, the diktat is clear. They are destined to live as their ancestors did. And die everyday. Without self-dignity or aspirations. As slaves in modern India. That is why they ask: Who says India is free? By PC Vinoj Kumar Chennai Darkness Within: They carry the torch during wedding processions There have been cases where dalit men have raped our women. They bear the cost of abortion and put an end to the matter. The victimised women don't go to the police. There have been cases where dalit men have exploited our women when they go to get food from their houses - Irusan Ragupathi, president, Tamil Nadu Harijan Washermen Federation If given a choice, most Puthirai Vannar families would like to put an end to the practice of begging for food. They long for the day when they can cook at home, for it would give them a sense of self-dignity. But dalits don't allow them to cook. The reason is not far to seek. When the Vannars beg for food, it destroys their self-worth. The tradition perpetuates the slave mentality, pre-empts and crushes a rebellious spirit. It's worse than the slavery that existed in the West, says Professor A. Sivasubramanian, currently doing research on the community. People bought the slaves there. To a certain extent, they were looked after well because the owners had to suffer losses if they fell sick or died. But the Vannars have no such advantages. Dalits treat them just as slaves but refuse to take their responsibility in terms of welfare. In most ways, this social oppression is the mirror image of how dalits are treated by the upper castes all over India. Till date, in many villages, the Vannars cannot sit in front of a dalit. They are not allowed to take water from their street taps. When there is a death in a dalit house, we have to perform special duties. We prepare the dead body and make the padai (burial cast). As people walk to the crematorium, we are required to spread sarees on the ground before them to walk on it. After the rituals are completed, we sit down wearing a white dhoti and the mourners drop coins on it, says Santhappan of Velankani Nagar in Tiruvannamalai district. According to another tradition, the Vannars are required to carry the 'theepantham' (a flaming torch) during wedding processions. There is fire in their hand, and darkness within. Those defying this ancient heirarchy are repressed ruthlessly. There have been instances when Vannars in some villages have refused to beg for food. But they have either been forced to fall in line or driven out of the village. Rosamma of Elanthapet village in Cuddalore district decided to stop this daily house-to-house begging for food, and instead started cooking food at home. But she was forced to go back after direct threats from dalits. They forced me to eat the leftover food, she says. About two years ago, in Athanur in Villupuram district, a man was forced to eat leftover food by a dalit family. When he refused to eat, they chased him out of the village. The diktat is clear. If you are born a Vannar, you are destined for a predetermined way of life. Live as your ancestors did. Have no dreams or aspirations. Die everyday. All over the country, dalits suffer at the hands of upper caste people. As far as the Vannars are concerned, the same dalits are the perpetrators of atrocities against them. Irusan Ragupathi, state president of the Tamil Nadu Harijan Washermen Federation, a Puthirai Vannar outfit, talks of dalit atrocities. In many villages in Senji taluk in Villupuram district, dalit men have raped our women, then they bear the cost of abortion and tell us to keep shut. The victimised women don't go to the police. There have been cases where dalit men have exploited our women when they go to get food from their houses. The Vannars face other forms of harassment as well. In Fathimapalayam in Villupuram district, instigated by the upper castes, dalits have been creating problems for about 35 families living there. They want to take over our land. They are using the dalits to drive us out of our homes, say the villagers. A case of manhandling was registered against some dalits but no action has been taken so far. The younger generation, however, is getting restless. They want an end to this injustice. Everyone says that the country has attained independence and we are now free. What independence are they talking of? asks Esumuthu of Vandipalayam in Villupuram district. This is a question which no one wants to answer, especially the political establishment. ___ Assam mailing list
[Assam] Rightly or Wrongly
Title: Rightly or Wrongly In the English language, when someone uses the phrase 'rightly or wrongly' referring to an issue , it means the issue is debatable, that it is a contested matter. It does not NECESSARILY mean the user of the phrase has no opinion on the matter, but chooses not to get into a debate on that particular point in the context. It is apparent that unfamiliarity with this nuance of the language is causing a lot of consternation here. But it need not. We are not familiar with many other such nuances. It takes a long time to learn the spoken language, more so when we remain as insular as us desi immigrants obviously do; even though one might be quite knowledgeable with the basics. Yesterday's NY Times report about the Patel shopkeepers in Georgia being confounded by references to 'cooking meth' and facing prison for that is an extreme example of it. Therefore the attempts at taunting below, instead of coming off acerbic as intended, is only sadly funny. At 11:56 PM -0500 8/4/05, Barua25 wrote: In my view, any discussion on the separation of Assam from the rest of India, is as queer as a three dollar bill. Nevertheless, the ULFA is allowed to subsidize it's own demise by sticking to the three dollar bill demand. Now RIGHT or WRONG, that is a very strong view, and it raises some interesting questions: If ULFA is everywhere in Assam, as claimedby some netters here, RIGHTLY or WRONGLY, then you may be in the very tiny minority, and the 3 dollar bill theory may not be true. In that case, at its worst, it may be a 2 dollar bill theory. If on the other hand,like ULFA itself, you claim, RIGHTLY or WRONGLY,that you represent the majority view in Assam, thenULFA and those who claim, RIGHTLY or WRONGLY, that ULFA is everywhere, may be in fact WRONG, and your 3 Dollar Bill theory may be correct. Question is which view is correct.? May be somebody should, RIGHTLY or WRONGLY, take a survey in Assam. Rajen Barua . - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 8:21 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA Canada allows that That is interesting. I did not know that Canada has a provisio in its Constitution allowing sedition. --Ram da In a landmark Judgement, delivered by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1998 states, it is not legal under Canadian Constitution. In fact, no word or a single line exists in the Canadian Constitution on this subject. Hence, no secession is allowed. A short note on the current whereabouts of the ULFA leaders. They must be enjoying expensive junkets offered by Dawood miya. In my view, any discussion on the separation of Assam from the rest of India, is as queer as a three dollar bill. Nevertheless, the ULFA is allowed to subsidize it's own demise by sticking to the three dollar bill demand. KJD. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Indian SC and Parliament attack - Indian Express
If we can point to EVEN ONE case of Assam death-in-custody and fake encounter deaths investigated, prosecuted and the guilty punished, we may say, in keeping with our traditional overuse of hyperbole--finally justice,! Geelani's trial and acquittal, observed by the international media, undertaken in a timely manner, is a freak, an exception. Also, the widespread ( not something 'India-bashers' made up) lack of faith in Indian justice system is NOT about FAIRNESS or INTELLECTUAL abilities of individual jurists. It is about the entire system. To make it appear otherwise and holding up isolated examples of fair and timely justice proves nothing. the SC probably went against public sentiment. *** That is hardly a virtue to hold up as exemplary. It ought to be the norm, the lowest acceptable standard. If that deserves a medal, then it only tells us how bad the whole system is. At 11:31 PM -0500 8/4/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: For those of us who have not faith in the Indian Courts and of justice, here is some news that they may want to think twice. The SC, while affirming the death sentence on one of the Jaish terrorist, sets free another. The GOI lost the case against Prof. Geelani, even though there was some strong evidence that he was involved. So, here is at least one case where everything didn't go the way GOI wanted and more importantly the SC probably went against public sentiment. So, it isn't all doom gloom on the Indian justice system:) ___ URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=75708 Friday, August 05, 2005 Front Page SC OKs death for Dec 13 Parliament attack: Shaukat gets 10 yrs, Geelani free but under cloud ANANTHAKRISHNAN G NEW DELHI, AUGUST 4 The Supreme Court today put its stamp of approval on the death sentence awarded to alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed militant Mohammad Afzal by a designated POTA court for his role in the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament. The court, however, relieved his co-convict, Shaukat Hussain Guru, of the capital punishment and instead sentenced him to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for not alerting the authorities about the conspiracy behind the attack despite having prior knowledge. The apex court also upheld the Delhi High Court order acquitting University lecturer S A R Geelani and Shaukat's wife, Navjot Sandhu alias Afsan Guru, of all charges in connection with the attack, which had left nine policemen dead and 16 others injured. The sheen over Geelani's acquittal was, however, lost in the court's rather caustic observations on his conduct before and after the incident, which it said gave rise to suspicions about his role in the attack. While the order is a setback to the Delhi Police Special Cell, which had been steadfast on its charges against all the accused, the comments about Geelani puts a question mark over the public perception of his innocence. On Afzal, a surrendered militant who could not resist the call of terror, the bench of Justice P P Naolekar and Justice P V Reddi said though there was no direct evidence of conspiracy, the circumstances cumulatively pointed to his collusion. His actions, said the Court, were definitely not innocuous but consistent with his involvement in the conspiracy. Afzal must have had a nexus with the terrorists, who were killed by the brave policemen during the attack, theCourt said, adding that the attack on the citadel of democracy did not have any parallel in the history of the Indian republic. His actions made him a menace to society and the death sentence was the most appropriate for him. The case against Shaukat, also an alleged JeM militant and Afzal's cousin, however failed to stand the Court's test and it absolved him of all the charges levelled by the Special Cell. Though the HC upheld the death sentence imposed on him by the trial court, the SC found that there were ''several gaps'' in the evidence. One of these, it said, was the lack of evidence to show that he was in touch with the slain terrorists. On his conversation with Afzal, the Court said these could best be termed as some talk between cousins. However, his actions show that he was aware of the conspiracy to attack Parliament. The ''illegal omission'' of not informing the police should fetch him 10 years RI and a fine of Rs 25,000. Most interesting were the observations against Geelani in today's judgment. The soft-spoken lecturer, it said, had not hidden his joy over the attack. The Court doubted Geelani's version about his links with Afzal and Shaukat and said his ''conduct was not above board''. Though all these raised suspicion , suspicion alone was not enough to convict a person unless it was backed by legal evidence, the bench added. When asked about the observations, Geelani chose the easy way out, saying he could comment only after seeing the order. If there was anything like that, Geelani said, he would seek legal remedy. Geelani also
[Assam] This in Mumbai--from the ToI
'Dig up dead baby for Rs 50,000 compensation' SOMIT SEN TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, AUGUST 05, 2005 12:05:53 PM ] Surf 'N' Earn -Sign innow MUMBAI: The rains may have broken lives, limbs and and homes but they've made not the slightest dent in the great bureaucratic machine. The Thane tehsildar's office is demanding that the Sheikhs, a poor couple from Mumbra who lost their two-moth-old baby to the deluge, should exhume the body and conduct a post-mortem in order to claim the Rs 50,000 compensation. This despite a receipt from the kabrastaan affirming the burial and any number of witnesses who watched the shivering, drenched baby die. After losing their child and home (a pucca hut that was washed away), and being stranded for a day with their dead baby on Parsik hill with 24 other families, the last thing that the Sheikhs want to be put through is an exhumation. Rs 50,000 would go a long way towards rebuilding their home, but Mohammed Sheikh says he doesn't want the state's money. We will find a way,'' he says. We cannot exhume our child whose last rites have been performed.'' When Mahek blinked her eyes shut for the last time, her mother Negar's sobs were lost in the drumming rain, and the neighbours huddled around were too deep in their own wretchedness to comfort her. A whole day passed, and finally, local social worker Yogesh Davne advised the couple to bury the child as the body... ... had begun to decompose. Mohammed braved the flooded roads carrying the baby aloft to reach the kabrastaan in Amrut Nagar where she was buried with the last rites. Moved by the parents' plight, social workers took the case to the tehsildar's office in Thane. What they didn't expect was the rule book. Resident Naib Tehsildar A B Bhoir told TOI, Rules are rules. We want the Sheikhs to follow procedure. We cannot give them a single paisa if the rules are not followed. We don't care if it is a two-month-old baby or an elderly person. Give us the post-mortem report.'' The Sheikhs are living in the open with their five-year-old son who survived. What is the government doing for the poor?'' says Negar's mother who has asked her daughter and family to move to her home. CM saab came to Mumbra, but he quickly toured the main road. Twenty-four families on Parsik hill are homeless and pennile ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
RE: [Assam] This in Mumbai--from the ToI
Title: RE: [Assam] This in Mumbai--from the ToI A: We couldn't say if the officials were corrupt. In fact they might be most upstanding, genuinely doing their part to uphold the law. These are the 'clerks-from-hell' bureaucrats, sometimes referred to as upstanding civil service officials, selected with some of the world's toughest testing, repository of knowledge on a maddening array of subjects. Can't blame them for abiding by the RULES, can you? Rules are rules! You either abide by them or don't. Can't have it both ways! But there is something terribly wrong here isn't it? I know some of my esteemed fellow netters would jump on my saying it, but it is THE SYSTEM Alpana. c-da At 3:57 PM -0500 8/5/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: It is a heartbreaking story. And I can relate to the story,we know usually themostcorrupted peoplewould do the 'bhekoo-bhaona' offollowingthe rules, Only if it concerns someone else of course, especially the poor. May Mahek rest in peace and may her parents andher brother get the strength to go on with life. From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: [Assam] This in Mumbai--from the ToI Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 14:36:56 -0500 'Dig up dead baby for Rs 50,000 compensation' SOMIT SEN TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, AUGUST 05, 2005 12:05:53 PM ] Surf 'N' Earn -Sign innow MUMBAI: The rains may have broken lives, limbs and and homes but they've made not the slightest dent in the great bureaucratic machine. The Thane tehsildar's office is demanding that the Sheikhs, a poor couple from Mumbra who lost their two-moth-old baby to the deluge, should exhume the body and conduct a post-mortem in order to claim the Rs 50,000 compensation. This despite a receipt from the kabrastaan affirming the burial and any number of witnesses who watched the shivering, drenched baby die. After losing their child and home (a pucca hut that was washed away), and being stranded for a day with their dead baby on Parsik hill with 24 other families, the last thing that the Sheikhs want to be put through is an exhumation. Rs 50,000 would go a long way towards rebuilding their home, but Mohammed Sheikh says he doesn't want the state's money. We will find a way,'' he says. We cannot exhume our child whose last rites have been performed.'' When Mahek blinked her eyes shut for the last time, her mother Negar's sobs were lost in the drumming rain, and the neighbours huddled around were too deep in their own wretchedness to comfort her. A whole day passed, and finally, local social worker Yogesh Davne advised the couple to bury the child as the body... ... had begun to decompose. Mohammed braved the flooded roads carrying the baby aloft to reach the kabrastaan in Amrut Nagar where she was buried with the last rites. Moved by the parents' plight, social workers took the case to the tehsildar's office in Thane. What they didn't expect was the rule book. Resident Naib Tehsildar A B Bhoir told TOI, Rules are rules. We want the Sheikhs to follow procedure. We cannot give them a single paisa if the rules are not followed. We don't care if it is a two-month-old baby or an elderly person. Give us the post-mortem report.'' The Sheikhs are living in the open with their five-year-old son who survived. What is the government doing for the poor?'' says Negar's mother who has asked her daughter and family to move to her home. CM saab came to Mumbra, but he quickly toured the main road. Twenty-four families on Parsik hill are homeless and pennile ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] Re: Floods and Droughts
Title: Re: Floods and Droughts Most people in the nation feel that Bihar is Water Surplus state, thanks to official propaganda but can we do something to bring Gujarat or Maharashtra water to Bihar in case of such emergency and such availability. A similar situation had occurred, in 1987, when almost entire country was reeling under an unprecedented drought, and Bihar was facing the worst ever flood of the 20th century. Gujarat is slowly becoming a state to face floods on a regular basis. When it comes to linking Bihar rivers to the Sabarmati, in Gujarat, to combat the shortages there, it should also be possible to bring water from Gujarat to Bihar. All that we may have to do is to have canals with adjustable and / or reversible bed slopes and this should be possible with the excellent technical expertise available in our country that can turn improbability into reality. Else, we can have parallel sets of canals flowing in opposite directions in our interlinking scheme and, thus, let it work both ways. That will take care of all conceivable problems regarding irrigational water and floods within the country, I presume. Great observations Dinesh. The only fair thing to do. No doubt our engineers are more than up to the task. Best, Chandan At 10:05 AM + 8/4/05, Dinesh Kumar Mishra wrote: We feel sorry for the people of Mumbai and most part of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and now Karnataka, who have suffered the onslaughts of floods and drainage congestion recently. Who else would understand the plight of the Mumbaikars and Mahrashtrians and those from Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh better than us, the people of North Bihar, who so very well understand what flooding or drainage congestion means. What happened in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra this year, happens every year in our part of the country. Mumbai is a narrow strip of land protruding into the ocean implying it has drainage outlets all along its coast into the Arabian Sea and there is no reason why the rainwater should not reach the sea, without causing any havoc, unless it is physically prevented from doing so. A rough sea, however, would retard the process of drainage but will not prevent it altogether. This seems to have happened. Clogged drains, undersized drains, no drains, encroachments, official apathy etc may be some of the reasons for the catastrophe. It is about the time that the people force the authorities to ensure that such incidents are never repeated in future keeping in mind that nature keeps on improving its records of flooding, rainfall and droughts. We, in Bihar, are particularly concerned by the collapse of official machinery in dealing with floods and drainage congestion in Mumbai because this single 100 years occurring will give a tool in the hands of officials and politicians to defend themselves and they would cite the Mumbai example for a long time to come. When such things can happen in one of the best governed states and financial capital of the country, why blame Bihar? A word about situation in Bihar would be relevant here. The state is reeling under a spell of drought this year. There was some flooding in the Bagmati and the Mahananda basin in early July and then on there are only clouds and little rains. Newspaper reports suggest that only 36 per cent of transplantation of paddy has taken place till 3rd August whereas it should have been 100 per cent by now. I had traveled recently to chronically flooded districts of north Bihar like Muzaffarpur, Saran, Vaishali, Saharsa, Supaul, Khagaria and Begusarai on the dusty roads in the last week of July. Jute crop is still standing in the fields and unless the ponds or depressions are filled with water, it will not be possible for the farmers to harvest Paat (Jute) and put it in ponds for retting. And unless the fields are cleared of Paat , paddy transplantation cannot be done. Those farmers who own or can afford Diesel Pumps (@ Rs 75 per hour ) are transplanting paddy and those who cannot, are still looking towards the sky. This despite the Gandak and the Kosi canals and various State Tube-Wells and other minor irrigation works. Most people in the nation feel that Bihar is Water Surplus state, thanks to official propaganda but can we do something to bring Gujarat or Maharashtra water to Bihar in case of such emergency and such availability. A similar situation had occurred, in 1987, when almost entire country was reeling under an unprecedented drought, and Bihar was facing the worst ever flood of the 20th century. Gujarat is slowly becoming a state to face floods on a regular basis. When it comes to linking Bihar rivers to the Sabarmati, in Gujarat, to combat the shortages there, it should also be possible to bring water from Gujarat to Bihar. All that we may have to do is to have canals with adjustable and / or reversible bed slopes and this should be possible with the excellent technical expertise available in our country that can turn
Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA
At 1:42 PM -0500 8/4/05, Rajen Barua wrote: And ULFA is not in Assam. Really? That is news to me. So what is the difference? Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: J. Kalita [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Roy, Santanu [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Rajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 1:23 PM Subject: RE: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA You are not in Assam. I am not in Assam. The Sarangapanis are not in Assam. Chandan Mahanta is not in Assam. I am almost scared to interject here - but I think I should say that the claim that We all, rightly or wrongly, claim to represent the popular opinion of the Assam. is not correct. I certainly don't. I just claim to represent my own opinion and that too with great difficulty :-). Therefore, I am not like the ULFA. Actually, it would be interesting to know how many of the netters (other than RB) claim to represent the popular opinion of Assam? Santanu. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Rajen Barua Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 3:22 PM To: Chan Mahanta Cc: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA *** Unlike me or you, ULFA is made up of people, who, rightly or wrongly, claim to represent the wishes of the people of Assam. The above sentence is grammatically and logically incorrect, and does not mean anything if you analyze. We all, rightly or wrongly, claim to represent the popular opinion of the Assam. So the word unlike does not go there. And when you remove the word unlike, ULFA becomes like anybody else, me or you, us. Rajen *** Unlike me or you, ULFA is made up of people, who, rightly or wrongly, claim to represent the wishes of the people of Assam. Their constituency, their supporters, also believe that Indian political machinations have hurt Assam's interests. You may not accept that. But that is different. Who is the ULFA to tell the Assamese whom they should or shouldn't invite from Delhi? Same explanation here. Why do you assume that just because some minister comes down from Delhi to lecture, it is necessarily bad or polarizing for Assam. Come on Ram, you keep missing the obvious: ULFA does not recognize Indian controls over Assam. That is why they are telling Indians to keep out. It is not about whether it might be good or bad for Assam. But let me ask you this: Is it good for Assam, for its elections to be INFLUENCED by remote interests from elsewhere in India? Assuming ONLY regional parties participate in the elections, how will that benefit ULFA? I cannot speak for ULFA. But I am of the belief that Assam's interests are best served by political parties who are rooted in Assam, and whose elections are not interfered with by outside interests. That is what local self-government is all about. All of this just pure humbug. What the ULFA is probably trying to do is to draw some attention to themselves. They have been left out to dry for a while, so passing a Dikat here and a Dikat there might actually bring the spotlight on them. You may be right, or you may be wrong. Neither has anything to do with the premise of the original argument and conclusions, that started this debate. As for polarization problems, sitting cozily in Bangladesh, passing dikats, and encouraging illegal immigration does more to polarize than anything else. You can spin it anyway you wish. But can you show how ULFA is either encouraging illegal migration, or causing polarizations in Assam? At 11:03 AM -0500 8/3/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da If you were to be an independent observer and well-wisher of Assam, would that seem unreasonable or bad for Assam ? Of course, we are all well-wishers of Assam. But what has that go to do with ULFA's 'interest' in an election conducted by Indian authorities. They are the ones passing out dikats left and right, and basically infringing upon the free will of the Assamese people (not you and I). Who is the ULFA to tell the Assamese whom they should or shouldn't invite from Delhi? Don't the Assamese in Assam know what is or what is not polarizing, instead of having the ULFA intelligensia forcing them to think otherwise and dictating behavior? Why do you assume that just because some minister comes down from Delhi to lecture, it is necessarily bad or polarizing for Assam. When Assam had no regional parties, was Assam more (or less) polarized than it is now? Assuming ONLY regional parties participate in the elections, how will that benefit ULFA? All of this just pure humbug. What the ULFA is probably trying to do is to draw some
Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA
Even India does. So, violence and breaking laws is not the ONLY way out. Show me an instance of Indian democracy's effectiveness or efficacy in preventing all the violent uprisings the country has since 1947 peacefully? Only the last week or so, the police brutalized Honda employees savagely. Is that how the justice system work in this great civilization? India is one of the most violent nations on earth.In spite of the ceaseless propaganda touting the virtues of a peace loving country, its depredations over its weakest segments is unprecedented for a country that professes non-violence traditions and democratic behavior. But IF they see that IT IS the only way out, then, of course, those The laws are tools of the privileged,the powerful and the predatory to protect their interests. They are rarely to be found to protect the powerless and the disenfranchised. who defy such laws oughtn't to cry foul when they are hunted down. *** This is just a demonstration of the real India's rule of laws-- the propensity hunt down its own like game in an open season. C'da, its a two-way traffic. How is it a two way traffic Ram, when 13 reps, beholden to their bosses in Delhi, represent and protect the predatory policies enacted by a Lok Sabha of 400? Where are the checks and balances of democracy? The GOI for all its faults can keep this festering for another 50 years without flinching, *** We have noticed Ram. Shows India's commitments to the sanctity of human life--even its own. can the ULFA? In the end the people lose. *** That is exactly like the advise to rape victims to enjoy the act if it could not be prevented. BTW, ULFA's telling Indian politicians to stay out of exploiting Assam elections is one of those things it can do, feeble as it might be, to keep the predators at bay. Too bad many of its intelligentsia cannot found to stand by it when it is being raped, overtly and insidiously. At 2:39 PM -0500 8/4/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Catch 22 here, isn't it? It sure is. No wonder then the only alternative is to defy the laws and even resort to violent means. Many countries will allow you to at least challenge the validity of the Constitution in such cases. Even India does. So, violence and breaking laws is not the ONLY way out. But IF they see that IT IS the only way out, then, of course, those who defy such laws oughtn't to cry foul when they are hunted down. They know the rules of the game. The freedom they thus seek, if it does come, comes at a high price, and they should be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. But all this could have bee prevented, or at least diluted, when India saw what was brewing Wonder what the US would do in such a situation? The US for all its might and glory and democratic institution, puts down such insurgent tendencies with swift and summary justice. They have no patience or do not as a policy go soft on such groups. But India is unable and unwilling 25 years ago and is no different today. C'da, its a two-way traffic. IMHO, the ULFA has to put down arms and stop violence before the GOI will give it any serious hearing. The GOI for all its faults can keep this festering for another 50 years without flinching, can the ULFA? In the end the people lose. --Ram On 8/4/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Jugal, I really cannot think of one single democratic country that will allow that in their constitution, a sedition clause. Does the US allow that, the UK? Catch 22 here, isn't it? No wonder then the only alternative is to defy the laws and even resort to violent means. But all this could have bee prevented, or at least diluted, when India saw what was brewing . Even at this late date things could be done, reforms undertaken to address the causes of the insurgencies. But India is unable and unwilling 25 years ago and is no different today. That is the difference. At 1:46 PM -0500 8/4/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Hi Jugal, I grant you this - during the British times, yes, because of the strong British ideals for magnanimity and that they were also sure of themselves (they couldn't fathom that anyone would want to actually break away from the Empire), they did allow certain oppossing points of view. But they too did NOT allow those to be expressed in violence. They applied the laws against sedition very severely (Bhagat Singh an example). Subash Bose was always in hiding. Even Gandhi was accused of sedition, even though the British themselves knew he the apostle of peace. You may recall the number of times freedom fighters were imprisoned. So, even in the British times it was not easy for freedom fighters. And Sardar Patel died because of the beatings he sustained from the British. Now, in present day India, I think there is freedom of expression. Just read the newspapers. They are not all singing
Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA
Considering that ULFA does not recognize India's rule over Assam, it makes all the sense in the world to them to not allow an occupying power to interfere in the elections of its state. Would India allow Pakistanis or BDeshis or Americans to come canvass for elections in it's territory? The question,at best, demonstrates an absence of ordinary inferential skills, no doubt resulting in absurd questions like: Or else, guess what will happen? I wonder what kind of a democracy will be there in independent Assam. --- one having little or no connection with the other. At 10:14 PM -0700 8/1/05, Rajib Das wrote: http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpagefile_name=story3%2Etxtcounter_img=3?headline=ULFA~diktat:~No~entry~for~'outside'~vote-seekers Another tactic this time. Not allowing central leaders of national parties to campaign in Assam. Or else, guess what will happen? I wonder what kind of a democracy will be there in independent Assam. __ Yahoo! Mail for Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/learn/mail ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA
Huh! So, it now seems that inspite of ULFA NOT recognizing Indian rule, they are still interested in an election conducted and participated by the Indians. I can't answer that. I was merely examining the logic of the original post, and the conclusions drawn. But one thing can be surmised: That the ULFA is attempting to prevent interference of Indian political parties and injection of regressive Indian attitudes and polarizing influences into Assam society. So, the more important question would be, how does it matter who wins the elections in Assam to ULFA? ULFA could very well be interested in that. Even I could be :-). I certainly would not want to see communal polarizations grow in Assam, fanned on by Indian Hindu supremacist bigots.Would you ? It could also bee to discourage political corruption spurred on by Indian black-money and vote-banking and other nefarious activities. If you were to be an independent observer and well-wisher of Assam, would that seem unreasonable or bad for Assam ? At 9:00 AM -0500 8/3/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Considering that ULFA does not recognize India's rule over Assam, it makes all the sense in the world to them to not allow an occupying power to interfere in the elections of its state. Huh! So, it now seems that inspite of ULFA NOT recognizing Indian rule, they are still interested in an election conducted and participated by the Indians. So, the more important question would be, how does it matter who wins the elections in Assam to ULFA? Is the ULFA fielding some candidates too, and that too an election managed and mandated by the Chief Election Commissioner of India. In the end, the ULFA seems to want to behave like another 'political party' in India (albeit an extreme one). On 8/3/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Considering that ULFA does not recognize India's rule over Assam, it makes all the sense in the world to them to not allow an occupying power to interfere in the elections of its state. Would India allow Pakistanis or BDeshis or Americans to come canvass for elections in it's territory? The question,at best, demonstrates an absence of ordinary inferential skills, no doubt resulting in absurd questions like: Or else, guess what will happen? I wonder what kind of a democracy will be there in independent Assam. --- one having little or no connection with the other. At 10:14 PM -0700 8/1/05, Rajib Das wrote: http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpagefile_name=story3%2Etxtcounter_img=3?headline=ULFA~diktat:~No~entry~for~'outside'~vote-seekers Another tactic this time. Not allowing central leaders of national parties to campaign in Assam. Or else, guess what will happen? I wonder what kind of a democracy will be there in independent Assam. __ Yahoo! Mail for Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/learn/mail ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA
Good to hear from you again A. Glad to be able to provide the fuel again :-). Did ULFA win an election in Assam already to allow things? *** You miss the point again Alpana. ULFA does not require Assam establishment's prior clearance to do what it deems it has to do. They are rebels, insurgents, remember? Also, just because a group of people are insurgents, does not necessarily mean that IF and WHEN they come to power, they would continue to act like an insurgent group. Remember the American revolutionaries? Or Nelson Mandela and ANC? - a free election where no threats of any kinds was used, that is. That is a very simplistic observation A. Who do you think REALLY controls Assam elections? Threats could be overt--as by ULFA, or could be covert, as by Indian big-business or political bosses. But they are no different. The elections are hardly FREE of deeply entrenched interests. At 8:44 AM -0500 8/3/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: power to interfere in the elections of its state. Would India allow Pakistanis or BDeshis or Americans to come canvass for elections in it's territory? Did ULFA win an election in Assam already to allow things? - a free election where no threats of any kinds was used, that is. From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Rajib Das [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 08:08:55 -0500 Considering that ULFA does not recognize India's rule over Assam, it makes all the sense in the world to them to not allow an occupying power to interfere in the elections of its state. Would India allow Pakistanis or BDeshis or Americans to come canvass for elections in it's territory? The question,at best, demonstrates an absence of ordinary inferential skills, no doubt resulting in absurd questions like: Or else, guess what will happen? I wonder what kind of a democracy will be there in independent Assam. --- one having little or no connection with the other. At 10:14 PM -0700 8/1/05, Rajib Das wrote: http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpagefile_name=story3%2Etxtcounter_img=3?headline=ULFA~diktat:~No~entry~for~'outside'~vote-seekers Another tactic this time. Not allowing central leaders of national parties to campaign in Assam. Or else, guess what will happen? I wonder what kind of a democracy will be there in independent Assam. __ Yahoo! Mail for Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/learn/mail ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] A new diktat from ULFA
Of course, we are all well-wishers of Assam. But what has that go to do with ULFA's 'interest' in an election conducted by Indian authorities. *** Unlike me or you, ULFA is made up of people, who, rightly or wrongly, claim to represent the wishes of the people of Assam. Their constituency, their supporters, also believe that Indian political machinations have hurt Assam's interests. You may not accept that. But that is different. Who is the ULFA to tell the Assamese whom they should or shouldn't invite from Delhi? Same explanation here. Why do you assume that just because some minister comes down from Delhi to lecture, it is necessarily bad or polarizing for Assam. Come on Ram, you keep missing the obvious: ULFA does not recognize Indian controls over Assam. That is why they are telling Indians to keep out. It is not about whether it might be good or bad for Assam. But let me ask you this: Is it good for Assam, for its elections to be INFLUENCED by remote interests from elsewhere in India? Assuming ONLY regional parties participate in the elections, how will that benefit ULFA? I cannot speak for ULFA. But I am of the belief that Assam's interests are best served by political parties who are rooted in Assam, and whose elections are not interfered with by outside interests. That is what local self-government is all about. All of this just pure humbug. What the ULFA is probably trying to do is to draw some attention to themselves. They have been left out to dry for a while, so passing a Dikat here and a Dikat there might actually bring the spotlight on them. You may be right, or you may be wrong. Neither has anything to do with the premise of the original argument and conclusions, that started this debate. As for polarization problems, sitting cozily in Bangladesh, passing dikats, and encouraging illegal immigration does more to polarize than anything else. You can spin it anyway you wish. But can you show how ULFA is either encouraging illegal migration, or causing polarizations in Assam? At 11:03 AM -0500 8/3/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da If you were to be an independent observer and well-wisher of Assam, would that seem unreasonable or bad for Assam ? Of course, we are all well-wishers of Assam. But what has that go to do with ULFA's 'interest' in an election conducted by Indian authorities. They are the ones passing out dikats left and right, and basically infringing upon the free will of the Assamese people (not you and I). Who is the ULFA to tell the Assamese whom they should or shouldn't invite from Delhi? Don't the Assamese in Assam know what is or what is not polarizing, instead of having the ULFA intelligensia forcing them to think otherwise and dictating behavior? Why do you assume that just because some minister comes down from Delhi to lecture, it is necessarily bad or polarizing for Assam. When Assam had no regional parties, was Assam more (or less) polarized than it is now? Assuming ONLY regional parties participate in the elections, how will that benefit ULFA? All of this just pure humbug. What the ULFA is probably trying to do is to draw some attention to themselves. They have been left out to dry for a while, so passing a Dikat here and a Dikat there might actually bring the spotlight on them. As for polarization problems, sitting cozily in Bangladesh, passing dikats, and encouraging illegal immigration does more to polarize than anything else. --Ram On 8/3/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Huh! So, it now seems that inspite of ULFA NOT recognizing Indian rule, they are still interested in an election conducted and participated by the Indians. I can't answer that. I was merely examining the logic of the original post, and the conclusions drawn. But one thing can be surmised: That the ULFA is attempting to prevent interference of Indian political parties and injection of regressive Indian attitudes and polarizing influences into Assam society. So, the more important question would be, how does it matter who wins the elections in Assam to ULFA? ULFA could very well be interested in that. Even I could be :-). I certainly would not want to see communal polarizations grow in Assam, fanned on by Indian Hindu supremacist bigots.Would you ? It could also bee to discourage political corruption spurred on by Indian black-money and vote-banking and other nefarious activities. If you were to be an independent observer and well-wisher of Assam, would that seem unreasonable or bad for Assam ? At 9:00 AM -0500 8/3/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Considering that ULFA does not recognize India's rule over Assam, it makes all the sense in the world to them to not allow an occupying power to interfere in the elections of its state. Huh! So, it now seems that inspite of ULFA NOT recognizing Indian rule, they are still interested in an election conducted
Re: [Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to GuruVayoor
Title: Re: [Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to G What would be outrageous would be to present this or any such religion as THE religion for all Indians. And any political entity that exists with the support and approval of such religions, ought not to be accepted/endorsed or otherwise promoted by those who deem themselves to be 'thinking' people. At 3:52 PM -0500 8/1/05, Rajen Barua wrote: ? I fully agree with the views.This goes to say, religion is what it is and not what it should be. Any Sect of Hinduism is what it is. Nobody has asay from outside to tell what it ought to be. If some temple does not allow others to enter, that is what it is. And I don't see any problem. As the saying goes, every dog has its tail. The problem arises when someone wants to equate Hinduism with something else and try to dictate what the different sects should be in order to conform to certain common assumed norms of Hindusim. Some sects of Hindusim believe in animal sacrifice. some in human sacrifice, some in vegetable sacrifice, some in snake worshiping, some in tree worshiping, some in Ma-Kali worshiping, mostreligions even believe in the existence of a God who is in charge of everything. I donot believe in any of these, and I donot have any problem when anybody believes and practice any of these. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 4:05 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to GuruVayoor The prohibition of foreigners, non-Hindus and even low caste Hindus to certain temples of India is not a new thing. First Hindu religion is not a universal religion. It is only in modern times that the concept of universality has arisen. Vaisnavism as preached by Shankaradeva and Chaitanya is a universal religion. It was Swami Vivekananda who preached that exclusiveness in Hinduism must be eschewed and thus the Ram Krishna mission was founded. The ascetics in ancient India held that religion is an intensely personal matter and the devotee has to find out his God or salvation by his own efforts, if need be, with the help of a Guru of his choice. That is why many went to the deep forests of the Himalayas to pray alone and ultimately achieve salvation. The great Shankaracharrya did that at a very young age. Modernists like Shankaradeva didn't choose that way. Orthodox or Sanatan Hindu dharma was not aimed either at conversion or publicity. Restricted temples are run by groups of Brahmins and anyone visiting those temples must follow their guidelines. If the temple authority wants to close the doors to foreigners, they can. However, if these temples propagate an universal religion, they should not prohibit entries. I know there is a Hindu temple in London where women are not allowed. Men just do not go there. If foreigners or scholars want to visit certain Hindu temples for either research or devotional purposes it is up to the temple authority to make the facilities available. In a temple at Guwahati I saw one foreign Hindu monk being welcomed in to the sanctuary. Hindus usually enter their places of worship with veneration. An atheist or a non-Hindu lacks this sense of humility and may be critical of the management in a lot of things even though he may be justified.. Should a temple run by a group of orthodox Brahmins for their exclusive clientele be opened to the harijans because untouchability in public places is prohibited under the Constitution of India. Well, non-believers have no need to be offended but believers should certainly not be discriminated The matter has been dealt with within the existing law of India. I've not refreshed my memory on the point. So I want others to tell me what it is at the moment. In this particular instance, I do not see any problem in allowing the donor to enter the temple.The temple authority should not beunduly censorious. Bhuban ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] From the ToI
The good minister R P Singh has his heart in the right place. But, unless most of Indian rural or suburban folks are or planning to run for elections, it won't make a dent in the problem. Unfortunately ministers such as PRPS, and who knows who else, have not heard of such tools as Building and Planning Codes and their enforcement . It is quite unbelievable, that someone can build a two storey, or even one storey 'pucca' house, without a toilet, in twenty first-century India. Even in my neck of the woods, where the woods are thick and plenty, those who have built a 'pucca' house, have had the wisdom of building a sanitary latrine. In fact those who have not had the ability build a 'pucca' house and sanitary latrines, but have enough of a piece of ground to accommodate a pit-toilet, have the wisdom to build one. Only the real down and out and remote, continue to go to the woods. But the real problem is not the affordability - it is the concept of the toilet being dirty, requiring 'dalits' to clean them, that prevents so many from building a toilet inside the house. But why can't there be an out-house, instead of going to the open roadside? Apparently the sense of privacy and hygiene, private or public, are not issues in these environs. cm * No toilet at home? Can't contest elections IANS[ TUESDAY, AUGUST 02, 2005 04:20:50 PM ] Sign into earnIndiatimes points NEW DELHI: If you do not have a toilet at home despite having the wherewithal to do so, you could be barred from contesting elections - that is, if Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh makes good his threat. Singh, on a mission to see that every home in every Indian village has a toilet, has proposed that those who fail to incorporate this basic amenity in their house should not be allowed to contest local body elections. If you cannot build a toilet in your own home, what use can you be to your voters? I have said that such punitive measures are required to ensure rural sanitation, said Singh, who had written to all state chief ministers on the issue last month. People should at least be aware of this problem. There are people who can afford a two-storey house but do not build a simple toilet, forcing members to defecate in the open. Singh has suggested that at least the 292, panchayats, or village councils across India, should have toilets to begin with. But if the ban is imposed, many in the Bihar politician's own home state could be ruled out, since the state is notorious for poor sanitation and people defecating in the open. Singh admitted: Many parts of India still suffer from the outdated mentality of not having toilets at him. That is why I have proposed such a stricture, to make people aware. Around 700 million Indian homes - mostly rural areas and urban slums -- do not have toilets, according to official data. In countless villages only a few privileged homes have a toilet. Singh is concerned that a large number of elected local body representatives and many government functionaries do not have toilet facilities in their own houses and defecate in the open. According to the minister, more than 65 percent of the rural population defecate in the open, generating a whopping 200,000 MT of human excreta that pollute environment and water resources besides causing diseases. In a letter to chief ministers, MPs and legislators, Singh said elected representatives at all levels, including Panchayati Raj members and government functionaries, were in a position to address this problem in a better manner and create awareness on these issues in their areas of influence more effectively. They need to lead by example, the minister said. They have to change this behaviour and adopt better sanitation and hygiene practices. Some states have already amended Panchayati Raj acts to ensure that elected members compulsorily have toilet facilities in their households. Singh has suggested to chief ministers that similar provisions be made in all states, and all government functionaries be asked to construct toilets in their own houses. Only then can we eradicate the practice of open defecation by 2010, the minister asserted. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to GuruVayoor
No wonder they consider India a secular country! *** That depends on the definition of 'secular'. The English word means not-having anything to do with religion. But those who deride 'secularism' of Indian governance, must mean they want the Indian state to be a religious one. If so, should the thinking people support such political or religious entities who promote the idea of abandoning 'secularism' of Indian governance in favor of a RELIGIOUS one? That is the big question. At 8:48 AM -0500 8/2/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote: promoted by those who deem themselves to be 'thinking' people. and there must be a billion of those 'thinking' people, and thankfully, that is why there exist, all these churches, mosques and other worshipping places for everybody in every other corner in India, and not JUST temples for them hindus. No wonder they consider India a secular country! From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Rajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to GuruVayoor Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 07:52:02 -0500 What would be outrageous would be to present this or any such religion as THE religion for all Indians. And any political entity that exists with the support and approval of such religions, ought not to be accepted/endorsed or otherwise promoted by those who deem themselves to be 'thinking' people. At 3:52 PM -0500 8/1/05, Rajen Barua wrote: ? I fully agree with the views. This goes to say, religion is what it is and not what it should be. Any Sect of Hinduism is what it is. Nobody has a say from outside to tell what it ought to be. If some temple does not allow others to enter, that is what it is. And I don't see any problem. As the saying goes, every dog has its tail. The problem arises when someone wants to equate Hinduism with something else and try to dictate what the different sects should be in order to conform to certain common assumed norms of Hindusim. Some sects of Hindusim believe in animal sacrifice. some in human sacrifice, some in vegetable sacrifice, some in snake worshiping, some in tree worshiping, some in Ma-Kali worshiping, most religions even believe in the existence of a God who is in charge of everything. I donot believe in any of these, and I donot have any problem when anybody believes and practice any of these. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: mailto:Assam@pikespeak.uccs.eduAssam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 4:05 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to GuruVayoor The prohibition of foreigners, non-Hindus and even low caste Hindus to certain temples of India is not a new thing. First Hindu religion is not a universal religion. It is only in modern times that the concept of universality has arisen. Vaisnavism as preached by Shankaradeva and Chaitanya is a universal religion. It was Swami Vivekananda who preached that exclusiveness in Hinduism must be eschewed and thus the Ram Krishna mission was founded. The ascetics in ancient India held that religion is an intensely personal matter and the devotee has to find out his God or salvation by his own efforts, if need be, with the help of a Guru of his choice. That is why many went to the deep forests of the Himalayas to pray alone and ultimately achieve salvation. The great Shankaracharrya did that at a very young age. Modernists like Shankaradeva didn't choose that way. Orthodox or Sanatan Hindu dharma was not aimed either at conversion or publicity. Restricted temples are run by groups of Brahmins and anyone visiting those temples must follow their guidelines. If the temple authority wants to close the doors to foreigners, they can. However, if these temples propagate an universal religion, they should not prohibit entries. I know there is a Hindu temple in London where women are not allowed. Men just do not go there. If foreigners or scholars want to visit certain Hindu temples for either research or devotional purposes it is up to the temple authority to make the facilities available. In a temple at Guwahati I saw one foreign Hindu monk being welcomed in to the sanctuary. Hindus usually enter their places of worship with veneration. An atheist or a non-Hindu lacks this sense of humility and may be critical of the management in a lot of things even though he may be justified.. Should a temple run by a group of orthodox Brahmins for their exclusive clientele be opened to the harijans because untouchability in public places is prohibited under the Constitution of India. Well, non-believers have no need to be offended but believers should certainly not be discriminated The matter has been dealt with within the existing law of India. I've not refreshed my memory on the point. So I want others
Re: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue No 10) published..
Title: Re: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue N Not that it matters, but I think porhuoixokol would be the correct way to transliterate the Oxomiya word in Roman letters. I also think it was a typographical error on the part of the ASA Newsletter editors, instead of an intentional spelling. cm At 6:28 AM -0500 8/1/05, barua25 wrote: Porhuixokol seem to be thecorrect Roman spelling, not Porhuwoixokol. . Barua - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 9:53 PM Subject: RE: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue No 10) published.. Hello Esteemed Porhuixokol I think it should be Porhuoixokol / Porhuwoixokol.. regards, CRB -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of ASA Newsletter Sent: 31 July 2005 23:19 To: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; jonaki@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue No 10) published.. Hello Esteemed Porhuixokol, Volume 33, Issue No 10, June 2005 of the Newsletter has been published. This our 22nd consecutive monthly publication. Thank you for your patronage during this time. The newsletter can be downloaded from http://assam.org/newsletter/july2005.pdf The table of contents is given below: - Assam 2005: My Impressions . . . . . .. . . . .. . .1 -Assam 2005, Disneyland, Orlando, USA . . . . . 2 - Book Review . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. .3 - The Passage by Sancjayota Sharma . . . . . . . .4 - London Torn into Pieces: My Heart Bleeds . . .5 - Some Key Concepts of Assam Vaishnavism ... . .5 - Golden Jubilee of AEC and Sustainability Issues . 6 We appreciate your valuable feedback, comments suggestions. Thanking you, With regards, Satyam Bhuyan (Ames, Iowa) Ganesh Bora (Lake Alfred, Florida) Prasenjit Chetia (Atlanta, Georgia) Babul Gogoi (New Delhi, India) Jugal Kalita (Colorado Springs, Colorado, Editor-In-Chief) Symanta Saikia (Wichita, Kansas), Vavani Sarma (Secane, Pennsylvania) Rini Kakati (London, UK) Umesh Sharma (Cambridge, Massachusetts) Ram Sarangapani (Houston, Texas) --- bg Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue No 10) published..
Title: Re: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue N Phonetically the solution appears to be Porhuoixokol I agree. At 5:29 AM -0700 8/1/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Are you sure? Porhuwoixokol has w and I realize w has been usedin instancesphonetically as a special form of o. To follow that rule, Porhuwoixokol is not the proper way to write. Nor is Porhuixokol. Phonetically the solution appears to be Porhuoixokol Dilip barua25 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Porhuixokol seem to be thecorrect Roman spelling, not Porhuwoixokol. . Barua - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 9:53 PM Subject: RE: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue No 10) published.. Hello Esteemed Porhuixokol I think it should be Porhuoixokol / Porhuwoixokol.. regards, CRB -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of ASA Newsletter Sent: 31 July 2005 23:19 To: assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; jonaki@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Assam] ASA Newsletter, July 2005 (Volume 33, Issue No 10) published.. Hello Esteemed Porhuixokol, Volume 33, Issue No 10, June 2005 of the Newsletter has been published. This our 22nd consecutive monthly publication. Thank you for your patronage during this time. The newsletter can be downloaded from http://assam.org/newsletter/july2005.pdf The table of contents is given below: - Assam 2005: My Impressions . . . . . .. . . . .. . .1 -Assam 2005, Disneyland, Orlando, USA . . . . . 2 - Book Review . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. .3 - The Passage by Sancjayota Sharma . . . . . . . .4 - London Torn into Pieces: My Heart Bleeds . . .5 - Some Key Concepts of Assam Vaishnavism ... . .5 - Golden Jubilee of AEC and Sustainability Issues . 6 We appreciate your valuable feedback, comments suggestions. Thanking you, With regards, Satyam Bhuyan (Ames, Iowa) Ganesh Bora (Lake Alfred, Florida) Prasenjit Chetia (Atlanta, Georgia) Babul Gogoi (New Delhi, India) Jugal Kalita (Colorado Springs, Colorado, Editor-In-Chief) Symanta Saikia (Wichita, Kansas), Vavani Sarma (Secane, Pennsylvania) Rini Kakati (London, UK) Umesh Sharma (Cambridge, Massachusetts) Ram Sarangapani (Houston, Texas) --- bg Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] ASA newsletter
What does porhuoixokol mean Pathok brindo ( same for pathikas too) Moi oxomiyat okonman kesa. Gotike xyoma kore jen. Buisa Kamal, pise' xyoma is not synonymous to khyoma. 'xyoma' xobdo-tw oxomiya bhaxat nai :-). At 6:50 PM -0700 8/1/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Content-type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-language: en Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-disposition: inline What does porhuoixokol mean? Are ' porhuoixokol' and ' pathok/pathika' synonymous? Moi oxomiyat okonman kesa.Gotike xyoma kore jen. KJD ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
RE: [Assam] raging in AEC (1 sem)
The way out is to follow up credible public evidence on ragging with firing of administrators - the principals and hostel wardens. *** You are right Santanu. What you are wishing for is accountability of people in positions of authority and responsibility. Question is how that could be exacted? Summary firing by the next higher authority, PAC-man like ? I am sure there is an administrative disciplinary process like that. Question is if that would stand? Like in every other sphere, nobody is responsible for anything. That is the freest society in the greatest democracy of the world ---NOT!. At 12:33 PM -0500 7/30/05, Roy, Santanu wrote: It is my feeling that asking for disciplinary action on students is not enough. The administrators of the college simply have no incentives to implement these measures beyond some issue of circulars and threats - perhaps under extreme pressure, some expulsions of scapegoats (sometimes rather unfairly - the student least likely to have muscle power for example). It is the administrators that have allowed this level of violence to be reached. It certainly wasn't as bad in the pasr. Their standard defense - we are scared of the students. The way out is to follow up credible public evidence on ragging with firing of administrators - the principals and hostel wardens. You cannot imagine how much good these people are capable of doing, how bold they can get, when their own job is truly on the line. Santanu. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Chan Mahanta Sent: Sun 7/31/2005 12:59 AM To: Babul Gogoi; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu Subject: Re: [Assam] raging in AEC (1 sem) wht can we do?? How about the AEC alumni raising their voice? They can write to the Principal, write to newspapers, police and the Minister of Tech. Education, demanding an immediate investigation and intervention; and after that staying in touch with the issue until satisfactory action on the part of authorities are visible. At 9:11 PM +0530 7/30/05, Babul Gogoi wrote: raging is creating havoc in our lives. drunk students of 43 year beats us like dogs. they also sexually harasses us.they beat us with hockey sticks. please save us from this wrath . please do it urgently. wht can we do?? ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to GuruVayoor
Title: [Assam] re: why conscetious Hindus should not go to GuruV At 11:34 PM + 7/31/05, priyankoo sarma wrote: One of the devotees of the Guruvayyur Temple is the famous singer Yesudas. The fun thing is that, every now and then he donates large sum of money and paintings to the GV temple, but he is still not allowed inside. *** Why is Yesudas not allowed into the temple? Is he a Christian? anecdote courtesy: my Mallu friends, Jobin etc.! Dex mathoeta dharona,thikonar xexxari... The mostimportant thingin lifeis neverto forgetwho youare... http://plaza.ufl.edu/priyanku ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Durga and Mahishasur
Title: Re: [Assam] Durga and Mahishasur That was a riot. Sooo cool. Enjoyed it thoroughly. At 5:50 PM -0700 7/31/05, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: It's a fairly long animation. Watch it till the end. My sister in law in Bangalore sent it to me. It is hilarious. www.anandautsav.com/abp2004/images/kids_games/movie/animation.html ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] Re: Truth?? police encounter shooting in UK metro
There is another thing. If the cops in India had been in a similar situation, I have little doubt that the whole Western Hemisphere would be tellling the Indians how to apprehend and capture terrorists and avoid killing innocent bystanders. Not only that, they would be do so in a holier-than-thou attitude. Tsk, tsk! My heart goes out to all these cops-but- not-army folks who are lectured by the whole world if they mistakenly take someone's life. Have you heard of deaths in custody? Must be under dire circumstances, attempting to save the public from clear and imminent danger. Give us a break Ram. The victim complex displayed here is very unpersuasive, to put it mildly. And I won't even touch the 'professionalism' of the armed forces, what with officers getting decorated for trophies of 'insurgents' taken in fake-encounters, or gunned down routinely because they look so foreign. c-da At 8:50 AM -0500 7/30/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: I am sorry if my comments have caused you any offence. That was certainly not my intention Of course, I do understand that you had intention was not to offend. I also understand that being close to 'ground-zero' would change anyone's prespective on such matters. And no offence taken. Some points though: The case of Borpujari,if I remember correct, involved the CRPF (Andhra), and again not the Indian Army. Having been a boarder of 3rd Mess for a number of years, we too would get chills as we passes by 2nd Mess everyday. the S.P. gave an order to shoot That in it self should clue us in that it wasn't the army. The Army and the CRPF are totally different forces. In India, only in dire circumstances is the army deployed. The reason is to keep them at a distance from the public and use them primarily in the country's defence and national security. The same with Khargeswar Talukdar. We were students at that time and if did affect all of us deeply. Again it wasn't the army. Now, have army personnel ever been on the wrong side? Absolutely, and one can cite many examples. But the example I was looking for was if there was a 'standing policy' that the Indian Army had to shoot-to-kill? I seriously doubt that. As for the rapes etc, when individual soldiers go berserk, the Indian Military Courts of Justice, just does not give them a pat on their backs and send them on their way. These MCJ is extremely strict, and punishments are severe, and not publized at all. To sum it up, what I was trying to get to is this: The 3 cops chasing the Brazillian were basically following POLICY when they shot the young man when he was down on the ground, (obviously surrendered), and that too 7 times to the head at point blank range (because the policy states that shooting on the chest may trigger an explosion etc etc). My problem is more to do with a policy terribily gone wrong and not so much with the cops on the beat. There is another thing. If the cops in India had been in a similar situation, I have little doubt that the whole Western Hemisphere would be tellling the Indians how to apprehend and capture terrorists and avoid killing innocent bystanders. Not only that, they would be do so in a holier-than-thou attitude. with warm regards --Ram On 7/30/05, Rini Kakati [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am sorry if my comments have caused you any offence. That was certainly not my intention. Perhaps it would have been more accurate if I had stated that the incidents with the Indian army occur with worrying regularity rather than all the time. By my comments, I am not seeking to make a direct comparison between the situation in the UK and India. However I would suggest that a balanced picture needs to be drawn. Whilst I now live in the UK, I am an Indian by birth. I am not, by my comments seeking to criticise my homeland, far from it -- I love the country where I was born and raised. However and perhaps because of this, I simply can not ignore the obvious and worrying situation which I see and hear about each time I return. You have requested examples. I would suggest that you simply consider the numerous incidents that are frequently reported in the local newspaper covering the area. It was the Indian army in Assam (CRPF Jawans) who rapes tribal women in villages while they raid their houses looking for militants every now and again. The killing of Ranjit Borpujari at one of the hostel at Cotton College in that July morning 1960 is still fresh in my memory. I was only a school girl. On that occasion there was a protest demanding Assamese language to be officially recognised. As the procession passed the Second Mess in Panbazar, number of young boys were playing table-tennis at the forecourt of the hostel. As another young boy (still in his pyjamas) coming out of a room, the S.P. gave an order to shoot. Shots were fired at the group and the boy who was coming out of the room was shot in the back of the head and subsequently
Re: [Assam] raging in AEC (1 sem)
Title: Re: [Assam] raging in AEC (1 sem) wht can we do?? How about the AEC alumni raising their voice? They can write to the Principal, write to newspapers, police and the Minister of Tech. Education, demanding an immediate investigation and intervention; and after that staying in touch with the issue until satisfactory action on the part of authorities are visible. At 9:11 PM +0530 7/30/05, Babul Gogoi wrote: raging is creating havoc in our lives. drunk students of 43 year beats us like dogs. they also sexually harasses us.they beat us with hockey sticks. please save us from this wrath . please do it urgently. wht can we do?? ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Dual Citizenship - TOI
He is right. The only fair thing to do. At 7:24 AM -0500 7/29/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: Prof. Jagadish Bhagawati thinks that dula citizenship comes with tax obligations. Wonder how this pans out? ___ 'Dual citizenship? NRIs should pay tax too' PERCY FERNANDEZ NEW DELHI: If India gives us citizenship, it should also give NRIs voting rights. And NRIs should accept the tax obligations too, says noted economist Jagdish Bhagwati. In an exclusive interview to Timesofindia.com , Prof Bhgawati, a member of the Democratic Party and University Professor at Columbia University, says, Citizenship rights come along with tax obligations. Prof Bhagwati is keen to take up his Indian 'nationality'. He says, As soon as the dual citizenship comes up, I will regain my old one which I had to renounce in 1992. I feel loyal to both the countries. One is the country of my origin and the other my destination. That is true of most people today. I think people are quite happy to be hyphenated Americans. Dual citizenship has become the buzzword in this era of globalization and porous borders. Prof. Bhagwati says, If you feel dual loyalty is the in thing now, no body minds it but NRIs will have to accept their citizenship rights with all other obligations. I have been arguing that if dual citizenship rights are granted you should also get voting rights. Also with it accept the tax obligations. NRIs at one level think they are doing wonderful things for you guys here and they should be given all the rights. There has always been a debate about the sense of commitment by the NRIs and Prof Bhagwati seems to have put an end to that debate when he says, You guys have not gone abroad, struggled here tried to build the country from here. It is much more difficult here given the flies, mosquitoes and heat, the dust and the politicians etc. Keeping all that in mind, I admire people who really work here instead of working in Silicon Valley. He adds, Then they want equal rights along with people who have been struggling here and they don't want to accept any tax obligations and so on. NRIs and diaspora are all fine. Citizenship is a matter of right but then along with citizenship rights NRIs will have to accept other obligations as well. I can't go and tell my Finance Minister here, if I am living here, that you did nothing for me, you are simply taking money from me and giving it to people in rural areas. This is part of my societal obligation as a wealthier person. That fact that I am wealthy and sitting in Silicon Valley or New York or London, that doesn't mean I shouldn't have any obligation to my country. I will be happy to pay a tax that goes with my citizenship right. If I don't want to do that I don't have to enjoy the citizenship right either. I can have all the other rights. They want to be citizens, they want to part of communities in the strongly bonded citizenships and through nationalities and yet they don't want to undertake any obligations. So what is the big song and dance all about? Always controversial, unpopular and compelling, Prof Jagdish Bhagwati in fact came up with a socialist suggestion when he said, Once you are a citizen it is your obligation to file your tax return and pay something. The NRIs want all the rights, in fact more right than the natives and want no obligations. I really feel that that the diaspora and the identity will be intensified and cemented when I think it has to be not based just on differential rights for people who happen to be abroad but some sharing of obligations. If you are citizen and belong to the community in the deeply bonded sense, you will have to share some obligations. When (American) people are working abroad they still have to pay the US Income Tax on April 15th or go to jail. They get some exemptions like double taxation and so on. . I think I am more egalitarian. That's what the Americans are also. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
[Assam] Re: [riverlink] Digest Number 537
The report on GUJARAT WATER LOGGING and its effects is appalling. Tragic! That brings to the fore-front the planning abilities ( or, more precisely, the lack thereof) of the 'world-class' engineers, who planned these highways, railroads and canals. Goes to prove, once again, that the ability to do great math does not necessarily mean an availability of common-sense or an ability to apply it to solve problems. Or were the engineering/planning decisions made by the politicians and bureaucrats, over-ruling the professional engineers? Or did the engineers willingly gave into the demands of their political bosses, throwing professional ethics into the wind in furtherance of their careers? Is there any accountability here? Who were/are responsible? How will they be brought to account for their promises, and actions, leading to what has happened, and will continue to happen? Is there any reliable mechanism for it, that has been proven to be effective in the past? Or is it merely another case of, 'too bad'! One would hope the people would not forget: The PROMISES and ASSURANCES of these word class engineers, walking-encyclopedia bureaucrats and politicians and lawmakers of the world's 'greatest democracy', and learn to rely on their common-sense. Many thanks to Mr. Rath for sharing the information, which is not widely available in the 'free-press', keeping watch over democratic processes. Chandan Mahanta There are 3 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1. GUJARAT WATER LOGGING A CASE OF DEVELOPMENT MINUS HUMAN FACE From: DN Rath [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2. Fw: MOST URGENT - all non- iodised salt to be made illegal in India From: pervin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3. Re: MOST URGENT - all non- iodised salt to be made illegal in India From: devashischatterjee [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message: 1 Date: 23 Jul 2005 07:22:40 - From: DN Rath [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: GUJARAT WATER LOGGING A CASE OF DEVELOPMENT MINUS HUMAN FACE GUJARAT WATER LOGGING A CASE OF DEVELOPMENT MINUS HUMAN FACE The water has started receding in the water logged flooded areas of the State. Now the horrible picture of the villages is nakedly visible. There are dead bodies of the cattle, collapsed and damaged houses and the washed away roads, which were not visible due to water. The real threat of epidemic is on card.There are areas, which are yet not accessible. This natural catastrophe has brought the people together. There is a unique camaraderie. The Govt. and its administration are in total doldrums. They are clueless. There is a proverb 'empty vessel sounds more'. This is the state of affair of the Government. and its administration. As usual it is busy in Govt. GRs, paper works, media briefings, VIP's visit, holding videoconferences with Multi-Media savvy Chief minister etc. People have totally, lost faith in the administration. Under these circumstances the small efforts by the people, their self-initiative and the humanitarian attitude is helping the people in distress. This was the case during the killer Earthquake. The Government of Gujarat is exploiting this very humanitarian spirit of the people to cover-up its non-functionality. Water Logging - Cause of the Flood The recent flood is the outcome of the unprecedented water logging. The water logging has been due to the serious unplanned, erratic developments with least concern for environment, ecology and people. A close nexus of Builder lobby- industrialists-NRI-share holders-MNCs-kulaks- Government and the bureaucracy has prompted so called development minus the HUMAN FACE. Moreover the market economy has further sidelined the people. There was no rain in the upper basin. The water logging through out the State without the threat of flood or overflowing of water in the rivers and is a revelation for the planners of our country and the State. The People have realized that the flood has been caused due to water loggings. This water logging has been due to wrong town planning, wrong construction of EXPRESS HIGH WAY No. 1 between Ahmedabad- Baroda. This Express High Way divides the green pastureland without any out let for the flow of water. This caused the water logging both the side of the Express High Way and marooned the villages between Express Highway and the National High Way. The Narmada Canals construction is also so constructed that the rainwater cannot be released into the canals. Rather the network Narmada Canals have created water logging too. The breaches on the road, big holes expose the level of corruptions. The meter gauge railway line has been converted to Broad gauze from Surendranagar to Bhavnagar of Saurashtra region. The old meter gauge has the scope of outlet for water drainage. However, the
Re: [Assam] Ulfa drops pre-conditions - Sentinel
The Government has received appeals for peace talks from ULFA and these reflect willingness of the outfit to hold talks with the Government without any pre-conditions and also specifically referred to their 'core demand' of sovereignty, Reghupathy said. Huh? What does this mean? In the Government's reply, it was emphasised that the Centre had consistently expressed its willingness to talk to all groups who were prepared to abjure the path of violence. More Huh? At 8:20 AM -0500 7/27/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: If this news item is true, that would be a complete turn-around for ULFA. ULFA for talks sans condition: Centre NEW DELHI, July 26 (PTI): The Centre today announced in Lok Sabha that it had received appeals for peace talks from United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) which indicate willingness of the insurgent outfit to hold a dialogue without pre-conditions. This was announced by Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy in reply to question raised by some MPs, including Vijay Kumar Malhotra of BJP. The Government has received appeals for peace talks from ULFA and these reflect willingness of the outfit to hold talks with the Government without any pre-conditions and also specifically referred to their 'core demand' of sovereignty, Reghupathy said. In the Government's reply, it was emphasised that the Centre had consistently expressed its willingness to talk to all groups who were prepared to abjure the path of violence. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
Re: [Assam] Ulfa drops pre-conditions - Sentinel
At 9:08 AM -0500 7/27/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: I agree, its not crystal clear from the Sentinel report. *** No need to put such pressures as expecting 'crystal-clear' communications. How about the garden variety clarity, like Geleki-Ganga water perhaps :-)? I tell you Ram, this phoren-language thingie is killing us. I heard the Sentinel is very picky about its language. So it must be the MHA handouts that the paper is doling out, with nary a concern as to what it means or does not. Mr. Reghupaty's communications does disservice to his anglicized surname. Anyway, what do you make of the lead report in: http://www.janasadharan.com/ ? Do these all jive? Is there a method to the madness that seems to reign? c-da But the first paragraph quoted from what Reghupathy said seems to be clear enough. It looks like the ULFA has made some overtures to the GOI, and probably has withdrawn pre-conditions, including sovereignty. Now, I guess we will have to wait till what the ULFA has to say about this. Obviously, this is only the GOI statement. --Ram On 7/27/05, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Government has received appeals for peace talks from ULFA and these reflect willingness of the outfit to hold talks with the Government without any pre-conditions and also specifically referred to their 'core demand' of sovereignty, Reghupathy said. Huh? What does this mean? In the Government's reply, it was emphasised that the Centre had consistently expressed its willingness to talk to all groups who were prepared to abjure the path of violence. More Huh? At 8:20 AM -0500 7/27/05, Ram Sarangapani wrote: If this news item is true, that would be a complete turn-around for ULFA. ULFA for talks sans condition: Centre NEW DELHI, July 26 (PTI): The Centre today announced in Lok Sabha that it had received appeals for peace talks from United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) which indicate willingness of the insurgent outfit to hold a dialogue without pre-conditions. This was announced by Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy in reply to question raised by some MPs, including Vijay Kumar Malhotra of BJP. The Government has received appeals for peace talks from ULFA and these reflect willingness of the outfit to hold talks with the Government without any pre-conditions and also specifically referred to their 'core demand' of sovereignty, Reghupathy said. In the Government's reply, it was emphasised that the Centre had consistently expressed its willingness to talk to all groups who were prepared to abjure the path of violence. ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam ___ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
