<<<Unfortunately, most of the news that comes out of Assam is bandhs,
insurgency, violence. Until that feed to the media changes, these
perceptions cannot be changed.
In the mean time, all we can do is educate one person at a time about Assam.
--Ram>>>
Don't!
Clever people FIND OUT the TRUTH . Best that way. mm
From: Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: sumita sarma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] assam Digest, Vol 5, Issue 47
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 10:45:37 -0600
>C'da,
>
>This problem of "perception" amongst people from other states has been
>an age-old thing. We have all encountered it some form or the other.
>
>While we all get upset about such ideas about Assam/Assamese from
>other people, it is not difficult to trace 'causes' for these.
>
>The flip side is, do Assamese also have similar perceptions about
>other states? What does the common Assamese think about a place like
>say Bihar, or Jammu & Kasmir. For example, I think Jammu & Kasmir is
>a dangerous place, violence being commonplace and where Hindus are
>kidnapped and shot at random.
>As for Bihar, I think its a cesspool of violence, corruption,
>kidnapping, no law/order etc.
>My perceptions may well upset a Bihari or Kashmiri, and I may be
>absolutely incorrect in my thinking. But the question comes up, as to
>why I have these perceptions in the first place?
>As far as I can tell, the reasons are simply the daily news accounts
>of violence or scandals in such places.
>
> > *** One reason could be seen right here in assamnet -- that certain assamese
> > denigrate their own as the CAUSE of their problems, that they are
> > incompetent, corrupt, lazy and what have you, and thus deserve to be
> > exploited.
>
>While this does happen, I seriously doubt a Marathi or UP-wallah is
>honing into Assamnet to form ideas. Further, no Assamese worth his/her
>salt will go on a self-critical/denigrating spree to sully ourselves
>in front of others.
>
>Also, what is the common perception of people in Assam of Nagas or
>Khasias or others from neighboring states? Most times, they are NOT
>that good. How do you account for such pre-conceived notions?
>Heck we even have pre-conceived notions of Upper/Lower Assamese, about
>bamuns, or xudhirs or even Mahantas :). How do we account for that?
>
> > We are just as competent, as good, as industrious as anybody else in the
> > world. Just look at all those who left
>
>True, and that is the way most people think of their own people. But
>do we think the same of the Khasis or the Nagas, or Biharis?
>
> > Unfortunately Indian governmental system, further degraded by the complicity
> > of the ruling class in Assam, has created the environment of low
> > expectations, of state policy-manufactured winners and losers in life's many
> > lotteries
>
>Ah! yes, the 'system'! Then why is that in the USA itself, one finds
>instances of people thinking that Americans need a passport to go to
>New Mexico? Or that Texas is still the Wild West?
>
>I just don't think its the system. It is just that most people are
>self-absorbed and have little interest in finding out about the
>cultures or way of life of others. What interest will a Mumbai taxi
>driver, business man or a bureaucrat have of Assam or Bengal -
>specially if their 'business' interests never needs that information?
>Whatever 'education' they get about other people is thru newspapers/TV.
>
>Unfortunately, most of the news that comes out of Assam is bandhs,
>insurgency, violence. Until that feed to the media changes, these
>perceptions cannot be changed.
>In the mean time, all we can do is educate one person at a time about Assam.
>
>--Ram
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On 12/30/05, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > Sometimes I feel angry with the way people refer to Assam - they say we
> > are >not very competent that's why trying to agitate and raise voices
> > against the >hindi speaking people !
> >
> >
> > *** One reason could be seen right here in assamnet -- that certain assamese
> > denigrate their own as the CAUSE of their problems, that they are
> > incompetent, corrupt, lazy and what have you, and thus deserve to be
> > exploited. They spread the myth that people of Assam are that way due to a
> > genetic disposition or cultural ethos. Of course the accusers themselves are
> > ABOVE that. They must have escaped the genetic curse by some divine
> > selection process.
> >
> > Points to the Indian system of education and its failure to promote critical
> > thinking further stymied by a pre-conceived notion of a problem or solutions
> > there-for.
> >
> > We are just as competent, as good, as industrious as anybody else in the
> > world. Just look at all those who left. It is not the air or the water of
> > their adopted lands or that they are somehow waded out of a better gene-pool
> > that assured their successes.
> >
> > Unfortunately Indian governmental system, further degraded by the complicity
> > of the ruling class in Assam, has created the environment of low
> > expectations, of state policy-manufactured winners and losers in life's many
> > lotteries -- in every sphere of human endeavor; helped not only the robbing
> > of our natural assets but continues to try and make it appear to be the
> > natural law, and have systematically destroyed the incentives to be
> > productive while being accountable to society and the common good.
> >
> > I hope folks like yourselves will not take this bull-**** lying down ever
> > again, and tell those self-loathing,spineless and clueless blabber-mouth
> > patriot wannabes off at every opportunity you get.
> >
> > Defiantly as always and proudly as an Assamese,
> >
> > cm
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > assam@assamnet.org
> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
>
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