> "you guys are too pessimistic, glass half full; everything is looking up > with India, look what a great democracy, and changing so fast, with high > economic growth - well, surely, all of this will trickle down to north east > India and the vestiges of centralization of power will gradually dissolve in > a Hindi film like song and dance sequence, democracy will percolate to the > grassroots; just wait and participate rationally in what the existing > structure offers you - and everything will be fine in the long run".
Or how about this: "You guys are too optimestic, glass half full, everthing is going downhill with India. look what a lousy democracy it is, and changing so slowly, with low (or zero) economic growth - well, surely, any benefit there is will never trickle down to the NE, and the vestiges of centralizations will gradually dissolve the essense of democracy -------, and there is only gloom & doom for India, specially the NE, in the long run and most importantly the NE needs to become independent, and we will all live happily ever after" > Am I calling for the latter? Am I praying for a revolution? You bet. > This time its not day dreaming. Its the only hope. Just because hope is > unlikely, one does not embrace falsehood. Maybe you could articulate how you propose to bring about this ' Revolution'. Or maybe the conditions in India are so damn deplorable, that we may not even be able to bring about a decent desi-styled-revolution! --Ram On 6/8/05, Roy, Santanu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > No. I am simply characterizing the nature of power structure in India in > reality. > > The reason is I do it is because I often find this particular strand of > thought on this net: > > "you guys are too pessimistic, glass half full; everything is looking up > with India, look what a great democracy, and changing so fast, with high > economic growth - well, surely, all of this will trickle down to north east > India and the vestiges of centralization of power will gradually dissolve in > a Hindi film like song and dance sequence, democracy will percolate to the > grassroots; just wait and participate rationally in what the existing > structure offers you - and everything will be fine in the long run". > > Well, it won't. Just as the Chinese totalitarian state won't change its > essential nature without a radical earth shattering jolt ( a point well > recognized in the western media now), the Indian state will not budge an > inch on its essential centralized nature unless there is a big jolt. > Am I calling for the latter? Am I praying for a revolution? You bet. > This time its not day dreaming. Its the only hope. Just because hope is > unlikely, one does not embrace falsehood. > > Santanu. > -----Original Message----- > From: Rajen Barua [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 12:24 PM > To: Roy, Santanu; mridul bhuyan; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; > Chan Mahanta > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Assam] Oil India Strikes it rich in Dibrugarh Dist. > > > >.I have been trying to impress for a long time - that forget about > independence or autonomy, even getting the GOI to genuinely transfer a > minimal set of economic >assets and powers to the state through a > constitutional amendment will be resisted with as great ferocity by the > corridors of power in Delhi as they would resist a >demand for secession. > > I could not quite understand what you are trying to imply here. Are you > trying to say that there is no point in trying for constitutional amendment > because that is also going to resisted by Delhi with same ferocity as the > demand for secession; and therefore it is better to try for secession which > is being resisted by Delhi anyway. > > Well that definitely closes the door for constitutional amendment, or the > demand for a change of the desi-demokretik system as suggested by Chandan, > till the demand for secession lasts. > > Rajen Barua > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Chan Mahanta > To: Roy, Santanu ; mridul bhuyan ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 11:32 AM > Subject: RE: [Assam] Oil India Strikes it rich in Dibrugarh Dist. > > > Something however tells me that Santanu and Mridul had polar opposite > outlook to things. Santanu's holds on to hope for change, while Mridul's > surrenders to Indian 'constitutional sanctity', thus acquiesces to the > unfairness to Assam. > > Am I right :-)? > > > > > > > > > > > At 10:49 AM -0500 6/8/05, Roy, Santanu wrote: > Mridul: > I actually fully agree with you. I am glad you said that: "Besides, if we > can get that we can get independance too." > You see, this is a point I have been trying to impress for a long time - > that forget about independence or autonomy, even getting the GOI to > genuinely transfer a minimal set of economic assets and powers to the state > through a constitutional amendment will be resisted with as great ferocity > by the corridors of power in Delhi as they would resist a demand for > secession. > As for day dreaming, there are benefits that emanate from dreams - for > example, all of the ideas behind human progress. > Santanu. > > -----Original Message----- > From: mridul bhuyan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 11:41 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Roy, Santanu; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [Assam] Oil India Strikes it rich in Dibrugarh Dist. > IMHO, all rights of ownership over all natural resources including > >>oil should be returned to the people of Assam - OIL and all other > >>companies can then buy it back from us at market price- > >>competitively with foreign bidders - and then float as much share > >>as they wish everywhere. > >> > It is easier said than done within the framework of the existing > constitution. Besides, if we can get that we can get independance too. > Instead of day dreaming, we should explore ways to derive the best. > Mridul Bhuyan > > > > >From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: "Roy, Santanu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Dilip/Dil > Deka"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Ram Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >CC: Assam <[email protected]> > >Subject: RE: [Assam] Oil India Strikes it rich in Dibrugarh Dist. > >Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 22:00:30 -0500 > > > >You said it like it ought to be Santanu. > > > >Somehow an ordinary sense of reasoning has been missing from these > >convoluted arguments from some of Assam's best. > > > >_______________________________________________________________________________ > > > > > >At 9:52 PM -0500 6/7/05, Roy, Santanu wrote: > >>Does it strike anybody as being odd that we are suggesting that the > >>taxpayers of Assam essentially buy ownership of a natural resource > >>of Assam ? > >> > >>After all, oil is no different from land or water. Suppose the GOI > >>floated a company that established ownership over all groundwater > >>or forest land in Assam, would we then suggest buying ownership > >>shares of that company using the Assamese taxpayers money? > >> > >>IMHO, all rights of ownership over all natural resources including > >>oil should be returned to the people of Assam - OIL and all other > >>companies can then buy it back from us at market price- > >>competitively with foreign bidders - and then float as much share > >>as they wish everywhere. > >> > >>Santanu. > >> > >>-----Original Message----- > >>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Dilip/Dil Deka > >>Sent: Wed 6/8/2005 10:59 AM > >>To: Ram Sarangapani > >>Cc: Assam > >>Subject: Re: [Assam] Oil India Strikes it rich in Dibrugarh Dist. > >> > >>Also, I think its good thing that the company is issuing IPOs. > >>Whats > >>stopping the GOA (as Barua suggested) or others in Assam from > >>buying > >>into the company. One needs money to buy shares. Does GOA have > >>money to spare? > >> > >>If the GOA is not getting what it ought to be getting from OIL, it > >>either does not negotiate well, or is not listening to the > >>electorate, > >>or the electorate is blissfully not aware that they could demand > >>the > >>GOA work for them. You are correct. > >> > >>I would not blame OIL, its just looking after its own interests, > >>just > >>like any other pvt. company. Its for the people to hold the GOAs > >>feet > >>to the fire. I agree. > >> > >>Dilip Deka > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>C'da, > >> > >>>*** I don't believe any of these statistics. There is no history > >>>of > >>reliable numbers >coming out either in govt. handouts, or in > >>private > >>company notifications, or news->paper reporters' dispatchers or > >>Assam > >>netters' speculations. > >> > >>Maybe you will atleast believe what OIL itself is reporting to the > >>media. The figures quoted were from OIL (NOT GOI or media > >>speculation). > >> > >>Here is some more financial data from OIL > >>http://oilindia.nic.in/perf_financial.htm > >> > >>Also, I think its good thing that the company is issuing IPOs. > >>Whats > >>stopping the GOA (as Barua suggested) or others in Assam from > >>buying > >>into the company. > >> > >>>There is something grossly unfair about it as far as the owners of > >>these natural >resources, the people of Assam, that OIL or ONGC > >>get, > >>almost for free. > >> > >>That kind of statement can be made by any state or country - its > >>just > >>over the top. Should the people of Texas feel cheated because Shell > >>or > >>Exxon operate here at high profits? > >> > >>The residuals from a company like OIL is that they provide great > >>employment opportunities in Assam. They bring technology, explore > >>new > >>reserves etc. > >> > >>>That is why a more reliable system of selecting able and > >>>accountable > >>Assam >govt. is one of the most pressing needs for the people of > >>Assam, something the >current Indian model has failed to deliver > >>on, > >>and cannot in the future, without >fundamental reforms. > >> > >>Isn't OIl a private entity? And it is governed by all the rules & > >>regs > >>of such industries. If the GOA wanted a bigger share, they should > >>renegotiate with OIL on the contract. > >> > >>If the GOA is not getting what it ought to be getting from OIL, it > >>either does not negotiate well, or is not listening to the > >>electorate, > >>or the electorate is blissfully not aware that they could demand > >>the > >>GOA work for them. > >> > >>I would not blame OIL, its just looking after its own interests, > >>just > >>like any other pvt. company. Its for the people to hold the GOAs > >>feet > >>to the fire. > >> > >>I think, the intellectuals in Assam would best serve the state by > >>seriously analyzing issues such as royalties from OIL (or ONGC) > >>etc, > >>and the GOA should listen and implement on their recommendations. > >> > >>--Ram > >> > >> > >> > >>On 6/7/05, Chan Mahanta wrote: > >>> At 9:51 AM -0500 6/7/05, Rajen Barua wrote: > >>> Take it easy. You don't need to interprtet that way. If you > >>>don't believe > >>> the Rs 1061 crores figure, why don't you come up witth your > >>>economics and > >>> enlighten the kharhwas? If f you believe, then you should agree > >>>with me. > >>> Which one it is? Please don't talk on air. > >>> Rajen > >>> > >>> *** I don't believe any of these statistics. There is no history > >>>of reliable > >>> numbers coming out either in govt. handouts, or in private > >>>company > >>> notifications, or news-paper reporters' dispatchers or Assam > >>>netters' > >>> speculations. > >>> > >>> But one has to believe in something, to be able to deliberate on > >>>issues, > >>> right? > >>> I would agree, but it has to be something that is beyond > >>>reproach. > >>> > >>> In this case, that has to be the fact that OIL is pumping oil. > >>>That it is in > >>> business making a profit ( a private company cannot stay in > >>>business if it > >>> is not making a profit, unless it is a desi one, surreptitiously > >>>subsidized > >>> by the citizenry), that it has discovered new sources of oil and > >>>that it > >>> pays Assam little, while it makes its profit selling its > >>>processed goods at > >>> international rates. > >>> > >>> There is something grossly unfair about it as far as the owners > >>>of these > >>> natural resources, the people of Assam, that OIL or ONGC get, > >>>almost for > >>> free. > >>> > >>> That is one of the many grievances many people of Assam have > >>>been fighting > >>> against the Center for decades now, without any satisfaction. > >>> > >>> Now, just because the establishment of Assam does not make waves > >>>about it , > >>> does not mean ALL people of Assam acquiesce to it. The proof is > >>>the > >>> insurgency, which arose due to the short shrift given to the > >>>people of > >>> Assam by its colonial master, the Center, after its own reps. > >>>let it down. > >>> > >>> That is why a more reliable system of selecting able and > >>>accountable Assam > >>> govt. is one of the most pressing needs for the people of Assam, > >>>something > >>> the current Indian model has failed to deliver on, and cannot in > >>>the future, > >>> without fundamental reforms. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> ----- Original Message ----- > >>> From: Chan Mahanta > >>> To: Rajen Barua ; Ram Sarangapani ; Assam > >>> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 9:25 AM > >>> Subject: Re: [Assam] Oil India Strikes it rich in Dibrugarh > >>>Dist. > >>> > >>> > This also shows that owning OIL by Assam may not be that fun > >>>after all, > >>> and should be a lesson >to the freedom fighters of Assam. There > >>>may not be > >>> much gold in the golden pot. > >>> > >>> *** That is serious. Maybe OIL is there for charity to Assam, > >>>employing all > >>> those lazy people at exorbitant salaries. The Assamese ought to > >>>be warned > >>> not to rock the boat, asking for more royalty et. OIL may leave > >>>and Assam > >>> will be left holding the empty wells, and paying them outsiders > >>>to close the > >>> wells down. > >>> > >>> Yep, those freedom fighters need to screw their heads on right. > >>> > >>> :-) :-) :-) > >>> > >>> But seriously something seems to be missing in the reasoning > >>>here, isn't it? > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> At 8:37 AM -0500 6/7/05, Rajen Barua wrote: > >>> >their profit has zoomed up to Rs 1061 crores in the last > >>> > financial year. > >>> > >>> > >>> This is where we need to know the reality of the economics of > >>>situation. > >>> Frankly speaking this Rs. 1061 crores profit will be only around > >>>5% of total > >>> annual oil production revenue of OIL (according to my one > >>>estimate and based > >>> on present world oil price). This also means that OIL will be > >>>incurring a > >> > loss if it were to pay the royalty to Assam. This also shows > >>that owning OIL > >>> by Assam may not be that fun after all, and should be a lesson > >>>to the > >>> freedom fighters of Assam. There may not be much gold in the > >>>golden pot. > >>> But there again one need to know how OIL is calculating their > >>>profit which > >>> may be tricky. Anyhow, I think Assam will be better off just > >>>playing dumb > >>> and claiming 12.5% royalty which will be around Rs 4000 crores > >>>according to > >>> one estimate I made earlier. At least that will start the debate > >>>and > >> > discussion for decentralization. The point is to do something. > >>At present > >>> Assam is just sitting Hobo Diok.. > >>> > >>> RajenBarua > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> ----- Original Message ----- > >>> From: "Ram Sarangapani" > >>> To: "Assam" > >>> Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 6:17 PM > >>> Subject: [Assam] Oil India Strikes it rich in Dibrugarh Dist. > >>> > >>> > This is good news indeed, and the fact that OIL is going for > >>>its first > >>> IPO. > >>> > > >>> > ----------------- > >>> > > >>> > OIL strikes it rich in three structures in Assam > >>> > Guwahati, Jun 06 (UNI) Oil India Limited (OIL) has struck > >>>crude > >>> > petroleum in the three new structures in Dibrugarh district of > >>>Upper > >>> > Assam even as their profit has zoomed up to Rs 1061 crores in > >>>the last > >>> > financial year. > >>> > > >>> > According to the director's report, the OIL has struck oil in > >>>the > >>> > three new structures on North Tini Ali, West Zaloni and > >>>Samdang-3. > >>> > > >>> > The company is upbeat with the new discoveries as they are > >>>preparing > >>> > for the first Initial Public Offering (IPO). > >>> > > >>> > The OIL India sources, however, confirmed that they were > >>>keeping their > >>> > finger crossed about the result of the latest round of the New > >>> > Exploratory Licensing Policy (NELP) bidding for getting > >>>license for > >>> > exploration of the new block. > >>> > > >>> > The ONGC, Reliance and Videocon are pupshing ahead for license > >>>in new > >>> > prospective blocks of Upper Assam. > >>> > > >>> > The source informed that new discoveries would go a long way > >>>to double > >>> > the gas and crude production in the next five years through > >>>initiative > >>> > like breakthrough performance under taken by the company for > >>> > organisational transformation. > >>> > > >>> > In fact the director's report said the profit after tax was Rs > >>>1061 > >>> > crores as the oil and gas products had registered a seven per > >>>cent > >>> > growth in the last financial year ending March 2005. > >>> > > >>> > Increased production of crude oil and natural gas coupled with > >>>increse > >>> > in price resulted in company recording the highest ever total > >>>income > >>> > of Rs 4097 crores. > >>> > --From Deepikaglobal.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-faqhtml > >>> To unsubscribe or change options: > >>> http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > >>> > >>> > >> > >>_______________________________________________ > >>Assam mailing list > >>[email protected] > >>http://pikespeak.uccsedu/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.uccsedu/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 > > ________________________________ > > Get the NEW version of MSN Messenger with Video Conversation - 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
