THanks for the additional info on Shand and his dog. The reference to the Brahmaputra is also helpful :-).
>Nevertheless, I was still wondering if there was any reference to this >>aberration(?) in any of our religious texts. Rumors don't count. Or is >this >something like 'don't ask, don't tell' ? *** I have no clue on scriptures, as you would well know by now :-). But folks who choose to live a life dedicated to God, forsaking connubial bliss, follow alternative lifestyles to begin with. If those alternatives translate into their sexual orientations as well, and we value their service to 'nam-ghar' and 'gwxain', then who are we to pass judgement on their choices? I won't be the one to look a gift horse in the mouth as I always say. Therefore, live and let-live, the prevailing ethos, seems to me to be a fair one at the very least, not so kind jokes to the contrary not withstanding. c-da :-) At 10:12 AM -0500 10/4/03, Ram Sarangapani wrote: > > >Chandan Da: > > > > >>Does anyone know if foreigners like us can go to Arunachal, or do we need >>special >visas/permits, I mean in addition to the usual visas required of >>foreigners like US citizens? > > > >Many years ago, I believe, even people from other states needed to have an >"inner line" permit to visit Arunachal, I am sure some form of this exists >for both foreigners and even Indians(outside of Arunachal) even today. > > > >> >- including a bizarre group of identical-looking gay monks in Majuli > > > >>*** Tilok Hatimuria ( the doctor that is) told me once that SOME "kewolia >>bhokots" of >Majuli Xatras (and also of Borpeta I believe) who live >>celibate lives as monks, are >RUMORED to be, ahem, gay. > > > >Nevertheless, I was still wondering if there was any reference to this >aberration(?) in any of our religious texts. Rumors don't count. Or is >this something like 'don't ask, don't tell' ? > > > >But for all we know, Shand may have meant 'happy' monks. Got to get hold >of that book! > > > >Until then, here is a take from the Calcutta Statesman: > > > > The better brother >A report in a Kolkata-based daily with an edition in Guwahati claims that >one of the inspirations for the new cruise boat on the Brahmaputra is a >British national named Mark Shand. Apparently, the Indo-British venture >which has leased the MV Charaideo (so named after the great burial places >of the Ahom rulers in Upper Assam) even refers to Shand, an adventurer, in >its promotional blurb. Shand is a freebooter, who is extremely skilled at >media management. His book, River Dog, is a paean of praise to Bhaiti >(meaning younger brother), a dog he picked up from a socialite friend in >Delhi. The book was supposed to be about the river, but publicist that he >is, Shand knew that that would never sell by itself, so he invented the >canine connection to package it for a TV company. His book is an insult to >the Brahmaputra; he gets to the river in some detail, after nearly 100 >pages. Bhaiti is a fine dog and lives at Wild Grass, a resort in >Kaziranga. He�s certainly the better brother. For the reporter to claim >that this Brit, the brother of Camilla Parker Bowles (mistress of Prince >Charles) had made the Brahmaputra famous, is not just facetious, it�s >stupid. The Brahmaputra has been around for millennia. It will survive us >all. We need to get out of our colonial hang-ups and stop getting >certificates from the likes of Shand, whose braggadio is obnoxious, even >in his books, as are his media and marketing skills. Many have worked >seriously and passionately on the Brahmaputra for decades. It is their >work which should be recognised and not that of a pompous British >know-all. > > > >Ram > > > > > > > > > <http://g.msn.com/8HMBENUS/2728??PS=>High-speed Internet access as low as >$29.95/month*. Click here. > *Depending on the local service providers in your area. _______________________________________________ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam
