Good idea. But I think a better idea is for the NRAs to write letters supporting Dr Mamoni Goswami's role to PM, the Press in India and to Dr Goswami herself. This is a good casue for the Assamese organizations ASA, AANA, UAONA and others to write letters specially to PM supporting Dr Goswami's role and requesting the PM to support her so that the ULFA issue can be finally settled through political means instead of the military means which has devastated the entire North East for the last more than 25 years. We may recite Dr Goswami's own words in this case: "....it was unfortunate that no one had come forward since the inception of the ULFA about 25 years back to initiate the process to bring the insurgent group to the negotiating table." Now she is taking a bold step which will be beneficial for the entire country. India Govt should do its utmost to bring the ULFA to the negotiating. We have full trust of Dr Manmohan Singh in doing what is needed to be done for the sake of Assam and India.
etc etc Rajen Barua ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Prasenjit Chetia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 12:16 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Indian press belittles Dr. Indira Goswami's mission onAssam. > That is an EXCELLENT idea Prasenjit. I join you in support. > > > > > c-da > > > > > > > > > > At 1:13 PM -0500 12/18/04, Prasenjit Chetia wrote: > >It is not surprising that journalism can be bought and sold like > >grocery. Short sighted, hypocrites are taking over and what more can > >you expect from them. Instead of lauding the noble effort of Dr. > >Goswami the editor showed his own naked ignorance. Lets denounce it > >with unison. Why don't all of us write a feedback to the paper on that > >editorial. (Indian Express dated 16th dec 2004: editorial title > >assam's curse) > > > >Prasenjit > > > > > >On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 11:28:49 -0600, Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 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.in dianexpress.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! > >> > > > > >> > > >_______________________________________________ > >> > > >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 > >> > > > >> >=== message truncated ===> > >> >_______________________________________________ > >> > > 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 > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> >__________________________________ > >> >Do you Yahoo!? > >> >Dress up your holiday email, Hollywood style. Learn more. > >> >http://celebrity.mail.yahoo.com > >> >_______________________________________________ > >> >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 > >> > >> > >> > > > > > >-- > >Prasenjit Chetia > >Atlanta, GA > > > >_______________________________________________ > >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
