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>Here in the USA we never cease to bow at the altar
of democratic institutions, and do not hesitate go declare war against >some
people who have done us no harm to warrant such, in the name of instituting
democracy.
Chandan:
I completely fail to see your point in the
above statement. Where did you see any controversy in the above? Demoracy is the
rule of the majority (whether you like it or not). The war in Iraq was approved
by 75% in both the houses (I may be wrong in the number, but it was not a
narrow majority). (You may say Bush cheated the Amercican people. But that is
another subject.) If think Democracy means no unjust war, you are wrong. It
is not a question of you and me putting too much emphasis on democracy which we
all know is not the best form of government and is rather a weak govt. But a
demcractis government does not mean that it will not do unfair and unjust war.
The whole nation can do unfair and unjust war on another nation. But the
question is "Do you have abetter alternative?"
Rajen
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 12:45
PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Indian press
belittles Dr. Indira Goswami's mission onAssam.
Rajen,
I am troubled by your general conclusion. While I am unable to articulate
the reasons -- obviously due to the limits of my own knowledge -- my gut
feeling is that there are many variables and forces that must be examined to
try and have some reasoned conclusions.
We tend to make simplistic conclusions on many many issues. It is human
nature.
I am sure our ancestors had some pretty good reasons to believe why the
earth was flat. Just like so many of our friends, peers and compatriots never
cease to parrot Nehru's characterization of the Assamese people as
"lahe'-lahe'", without ever attempting to analyze the reasons for holding such
patently wrong and false perceptions.
I also believe, that we tend to put way too much emphasis on democracy or
'democratic' labeled institutions, never realizing that they really are not
so. They are merely labeled so, as a sales tool. Just look at the simple case
of corporate management. Here in the USA we never cease to bow at the altar of
democratic institutions, and do not hesitate go declare war against some
people who have done us no harm to warrant such, in the name of instituting
democracy.
And the mainstay of the US economy -- which sustains American democracy,
is highly autocratic at best. Only difference is that, compared to some other
states and peoples, these autocratic institutions have SOME controls. They are
not as FREE as, say their Indian counterparts, and do not ALWAYS get away with
murder, figuratively and literally.
To revert back to the issue in question: The Indian Express Editorial (
and its many clones, even in Assam), urging a military solution, I think is a
product of an uniquely Indian mind-set. A mind-set that does not promote
creative thinking and problem-solving. I could be wrong, but there seems to be
a cultural component here which holds 'staying the course' in high esteem,
come hell or high-water, never-mind the cost. Not just in one administration,
but decade after decade. The end result rarely features as an important
issue in Indian society. As long as the ritualistic moves are made, the
prescribed homages are paid, the apple-cart is not upset, things are fine. May
not be great, but always acceptable.
c
At 11:28 AM -0600 12/18/04, Barua25 wrote:
>The Indian Express, like so many
other desis, resident and non-resident alike, cannot
fathom the futility of 25 >years' bloodshed that successive Indian
Govts perpetuated seeking a military victory to quash a political
>movement, albeit an armed one.
If we take the above to be a correct
assessment, it tells a lot about the Indians in general. This actually
proves my theory that Indians are not for Ohinxa (like they would like to
claim citing Gandhi and Buddha) but actually a violent millatant
people. Indians care less for the lives of fellow Indians (or fellow
human beings). Indians are a selffish, self centered lot. Such ruthless,
inhuman supression of regional movements, such has been going on
against the Nagas, Kashmiris, Khalstans, ULFAs and others may not have been
possible under the British (as claimed by Juagal and others). Now when I say
Indians, please note that it include the Assamese, the Nagas, the Punjabis
also. One would simply have to go back to the days of Man (the Burmese) in
the 18th century to see the inhuman torture and ruthless punishment wrought
to the fellow Assamese by Assamese themselves. (Read some of Jyoti Prasad
Agarwalas dramas to find out). Chandan also pointed out somewhere that such
inhuman torture was not possible by the West including the
Americans.
The whole things boils down to a basic
difference between the East and the West. Why the East in general is so
inhuman and violent (see some of the inhuman atrocities by the Japanese in
WWII and against the Chinese and the Korenas, or the Chinese against
themselves or the Burmese against the Assamese or the Combodians against
themselves, or the Viet Kong against the Americans).
A provocative theory would be "The
Orient by nature is inhuman and undemocratic while the West is
human and democratic". I think it is a very bitter theory for the
Indians and the East to swallow but this is my theory.
Rajen Barua.
----- Original Message -----
From: Chan
Mahanta
To: Alpana
B. Sarangapani ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Indian press belittles Dr. Indira
Goswami's mission onAssam.
Hi A:
That was a valiant effort on your part to have attempted to
inform the Indian Express of Dr. Goswami's reputation and achievements.
But it was redundant.
That was NOT really the problem here like I pointed out
earlier, but registered on my peers as my SPIN :-).
The Indian press has been falling all over themselves in
noting Dr. Goswami's literary achievements and her academic standing, like
they have the propensity for all things that require little intellectual
exercise.They are very perceptive of the obvious. So we can be quite
certain that the Indian Express knows all about Dr. Goswami's
credentials.
The problem lies in the paper's inability to see the substance
of Dr. Goswami's effort. They see it as a "novel-writer" messing with
serious subjects like a military victory that they see as the solution to
the Assam rebellion.
The Indian Express, like so many other desis, resident
and non-resident alike, cannot fathom the futility of 25 years' bloodshed
that successive Indian Govts perpetuated seeking a military victory to
quash a political movement, albeit an armed one.
Naturally, all the rag could see was a meddling by Dr.
Goswami, the "novel-writer". I was surprised the adjective they must have
had a hard time suppressing preceding "novel-writer".
I can't wait to see some 'security analyst' proposing raising
the rewards now for Assamese heads to the bounty hunters in the Indian
Army officers' ranks. Would you ask N how that reflects on the honour of
the much touted "professionalism" of the Indian armed forces?
Professional they are alright : Professional bounty hunters that
is.
Oh our 'ten thousand year old' civilization!
c-da.
At 10:14 PM -0600 12/17/04, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
What I too, did not like was the
sarcastic and subtle but condescending comment about Dr. Goswami by the
writer (editor?) from the Indian Express.
"....what she does best: writing novels"
What are they saying: just "writing novels"? Do they even
know that she is a professor at University of Delhi, a Jnanpith award
winner and a great research scholar? They just don't know it or
advertently neglected to mention that.
I sent my comments. And of course, it was not
published. As 'true journalism', 'writer not doing his/her homework
to know enough about Dr. Goswami', etc. was there.
>From: Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To:
Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Bartta Bistar
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: [Assam] Indian press
belittles Dr. Indira Goswami's mission onAssam.
>Date: Fri, 17 Dec
2004 15:04:51 -0800 (PST)
>
>I am in complete agreement with
Chandanda's comments.
>We have a dumb government that goes with
policies that
>have not yielded results.
>
>Ditto goes
for the polity's tolerance of ULFA and such
>like
groupings.
>
>Years of them wrecking irreparable havoc on
the
>populace at large and the economic infrastructure
of
>the state, looting and extortion of common
masses,
>capital fleeing or not coming to the states,
killing
>of civilians - and yet some amongst us would
rather
>hand over power to them in a
platter.
>
>Liberation armies need to be accountable too -
and the
>ULFA's book of accounts is so messed up, the board
of
>directors should summarily close down the
company.
>
>Liberation armies (and governments in waiting)
need to
>be transparent as well. Are they? And I am not
just
>talking of the monies.
>
>In net essence, the Indian Express is saying
just
>that!
>
>What we have is a piquant situation - a
dumb
>government and a dumb liberator! What we do not
have
>is a choice.
>
>
>
>--- Chan Mahanta
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > Dear
BB:
> >
> > >Indian press belittles Dr. Indira
Goswami's mission
> > on Assam.
> >
>
>
> >
> > *** I am not sure that is what it
means.
> >
> > What it really means is that a large segment
of
> > the Indian intelligentsia, including us NRAs and
>
> NRIs, are unable to learn from their mistakes and
> >
experiences. The Indian govt. is a glaring
> > example, having
demonstrated time and again since
> > independence, that
sticking to ways that produce
> > proven bad results, over and
over again, would
> > somehow ultimately bring the results of
their
> > desire.
> >
> > *** Part of this
inability and unwillingness to
> > dig out of the rut they mire
themselves into, is
> > the absence is feedback of the
polity.
> >
> > Another reason is the complete absence
of
> > transparency in governance. It is true even in
>
> the private sector business that a number of our
> >
neo-conservative friends like to tout as the
> > poster boys of
a reformed India.
> >
> >
> > Some
examples:
> >
> > If the Indian polity had any
awareness of what it
> > has cost India
> > to wage
war in Kashmir and in Assam and the
> > NE for as long as
it
> > has, without any solution in sight, and
> >
what that cost the
> > nation in terms of development
and
> > progress; in a more mature nations
> > there
would have been revolutions.
> >
> > If the lives that
were lost in these wars came from
> > the families of
the
> > decision -makers in government and from the
>
> intellectual class that
> > pass judgement on these
issues, can you
> > imagine it would have
> >
continued for as long?
> >
> > Everyone complains
about the scourge of the huge
> > "black sector" of the
>
> economy that is the hall-mark of the Indian private
> >
sector. If the
> > polity had an idea how it is running society
down
> > an ever descending
> > spiral, do you think
it could continue? And
> > if the polity really did
>
> care, could the ruling class remain as
> > apathetic of
it, claiming,
> > "--what can we do?"
> >
> >
If accountability and responsibility of those in
> > authority
meant
> > anything, do you think this could happen?
>
> Can the Indian Express
> > spout such garbage while the
intelligentsia
> > remains a mute spectator,
> >
clueless? But what do you expect, when even
> > our best and
brightest
> > cannot see what are black and white
issues
> > and paint them all in
> > shades of murky
grey---terming it everybody's
> > fault, and thus there
>
> is no escape, not now, not ever?
> >
> >
>
> Sanjib Baruah once asked here in Assam Net, that
> > would
be appropriate to ask again:
> >
> >
> > If
you are a top business executive--a CEO of a
> > publicly held
top flight corporation, who is held
> > accountable for
performance by its shareholders,
> > would you continue to
pursue failed policies
> > decade after decade?
>
>
> > Obviously you would not. You would change
course.
> > Seek answers that could bring desired
results.
> >
> > But look at Indian governance. And
India's gift
> > to journalistic excellence--the Indian
Express,
> > preaching what it is preaching.
>
>
> >
> > cm
> >
> >
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> > At 7:02 AM +0000 12/16/04, Bartta Bistar
wrote:
> > >Assam’s curse
> > >
> >
>
> > >
> >
>
><http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=60896>http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=60896
>
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >[Assam
has once again witnessed a spate of bomb
> > >attacks
designed to remind the authorities that
> > >a year after
the Bhutan operations to bust ULFA
> > >bases on its
territory, the terrorist outfit is
> > >alive and thriving.
The blasts should, indeed,
> > >come as a reminder to New
Delhi — a reminder of
> > >the nature of the beast it
confronts in Assam’s
> > >hinterland.
> >
>
> > >The UPA government has proved far too soft
in
> > >its approach to the ULFA. Its attempts to
be
> > >sensitive to militant groups wishing to make
>
> >peace has been read as a sign of weakness and
> >
>the sooner New Delhi disabuses the ULFA of this
> >
>perception, the better. Prime Minister Manmohan
> >
>Singh’s recent offer of unconditional talks
> >
>elicited the demand for a plebiscite on the
> > >issue
of Assam’s “sovereignty” from the outfit.
> > >Then there was the extraordinary spectacle
of
> > >noted Assamese writer, Indira Goswami,
urging
> > >New Delhi to engage with the ULFA. Within
hours,
> > >the group made it clear that they wanted
the
> > >prime minister, no less, to invite them for
>
> >talks that should include the sovereignty
> >
>question. The ULFA’s self-styled
> >
>commander-in-chief, Paresh Barua, even asserted
> >
>that when he raised the demand for sovereignty,
> > >he
was speaking for the entire people of Assam.
> > >
>
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
> >The fact is that the ULFA is nothing by a bunch
> >
>of thugs who think nothing of killing and
> > >maiming
the innocent. Even children are not
> > >exempt from their
terror project as the
> > >Independence Day attack on a
school proved to
> > >the world. These militants need to
realise now,
> > >more than ever, that time has run out on
them.
> > >Not only did Bhutan conduct a courageous
and
> > >decisive military operation against them,
other
> > >countries in the region, like Myanmar,
could
> > >follow suit. Even Bangladesh is under
immense
> > >international pressure to withdraw the
>
> >hospitality that it had once extended to them.
> >
>The tactic of calibrated bomb blasts has only
> >
>roused fear and revulsion in the mind of the
> >
>ordinary Assamese. New Delhi should not be taken
> > >in
by the occasional offer of talks from the
> > >outfit.
Instead, its security forces need to
> > >adopt a more
pro-active strategy. As for
> > >
> > >Indira
Goswami, we would urge her to stick to
> > >what she does
best: writing novels.]
> > >
> > >
> >
>
> > >
> > >
> > >Don't just
search. Find.
> >
><http://g.msn.com/8HMAEN/2746??PS=47575>MSN
> >
>Search Check out the new MSN Search!
> > >
> >
>_______________________________________________
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