Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION
If I may jump in, both Utpal and you have made some interesting observations and forecast some practical scenarios. The chances of India being disintegrated by the likes of ULFA are remote, in fact they do not exist. What ULFA can and should do is to work out a deal to redress some of the complaints to get a fair share for Assam in the republic. They can do it with clever manipulation of Delhi, in stead of riding the "Akorar Moi". Dilip Deka - Original Message From: "Roy, Santanu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 10:18:50 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION Utpal: I agree with your vision. The way I see it - in the short run, there is almost nothing substantive that one can get the GOI to accede to in terms of effective decentralization of power or plebscite or any other adjustment to the political relationship between Delhi and Assam. The babus and polticians that run Delhi are under almost no pressure at all. Chandan-da suggested that the pressure might come from the fact that New Delhi wants to look like a big world power and carry international prestige & it can't do that with an armed rebellion and suppression of liberty in one part of its country. I actually don't think that India has any such ambition. India want to be China in terms of international leverage. China routinely suppresses even peaceful peasant movements by brute force. International power follows from aggregate economic and military might. It does not require internal democracy or liberty. Countries like today's India, China, current Russia, Iran, Turkey are not very civil (I know I am going to be lynched for saying this)- they do not aim to project their power through moral superiority of their internal social order. The only way a rebellion in Assam would threaten India's ascendency would be if it made India look unstable. But like Chechnya or even the Kurdish border in Turkey, Assam is almost a detached fringe of Indian society. It cannot destabilize India as of now. As I see it, the GOI thinks of negotiations with ULFA as basically a process of waiting till the latter is ready to surrender - the only talk it wants is to check out if they are ready for that - and if that ever happens, they have a stdandard face saving formula that they will offer - bits of special powers for the state, maybe inner line permit, lots of central funds (to fatten the leaders) and a political process to return them to power in the state elections. As I see it, the ULFA has no reason to accept such an offer at this point. Therefore, I see no closure in sight. I also agree with you that hope lies in history. None of us concievably imagine what the geopolitical map of the world will look like 20 or 30 years from now. To take advantage of historical opportunities (like your third world war), one needs to have a strong civil movement at the grassroot level - a cohesive nationality formation process. That is much harder than armed insurrection. Santanu. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Malabika Brahma Sent: Sat 1/14/2006 10:57 AM To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION Ram da asked some very practical questions. We all know that the GOI is controlled by politicians who gives a damn if Assam or NE bleeds to death. Here is the fact (as stressed by Santanu ) Those who control GOI are politicians who care less for the people of Assam and NE and care less for the lives of soldiers that die in NE. So achieving independence through an armed struggle is next to impossible. The only way independence can be achieved are: 1. By making constitutional amendment to include "instrument of secession" in Indian constitution and influencing upon the GOI to hold a plesbicite in Assam/NE and hope that majority of the people vote for secession. But this can not be achieved unless there is move to build a consensus in the National level. 2. By hoping that a 3rd world war breaks out and GOI finds it impossible to manage the present political India. Actually in my opinion 2nd world war is what helped India win its independence from the British. It became too expensive for Britain to maintain its colonies because of its involvement in the war. This again is highly unlikely. May be Chandan da or Mike da knows some other Practical Means of achieving independence that we are missing. That's why I think "Independence of Assam/NE is excellent to have but not possible to achieve". So why build castles in the air ? But yes, if we can force GOI to hold a plesbicite, that will be the greatest victory. What will be the outcome of the plesbicite , is left to speculation of course. But one thing we have to understand, for Government of India , ULFA and NDFB may not count, but for Assam and NE, they are our
Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION
Utpal: I agree with your vision. The way I see it - in the short run, there is almost nothing substantive that one can get the GOI to accede to in terms of effective decentralization of power or plebscite or any other adjustment to the political relationship between Delhi and Assam. The babus and polticians that run Delhi are under almost no pressure at all. Chandan-da suggested that the pressure might come from the fact that New Delhi wants to look like a big world power and carry international prestige & it can't do that with an armed rebellion and suppression of liberty in one part of its country. I actually don't think that India has any such ambition. India want to be China in terms of international leverage. China routinely suppresses even peaceful peasant movements by brute force. International power follows from aggregate economic and military might. It does not require internal democracy or liberty. Countries like today's India, China, current Russia, Iran, Turkey are not very civil (I know I am going to be lynched for saying this)- they do not aim to project their power through moral superiority of their internal social order. The only way a rebellion in Assam would threaten India's ascendency would be if it made India look unstable. But like Chechnya or even the Kurdish border in Turkey, Assam is almost a detached fringe of Indian society. It cannot destabilize India as of now. As I see it, the GOI thinks of negotiations with ULFA as basically a process of waiting till the latter is ready to surrender - the only talk it wants is to check out if they are ready for that - and if that ever happens, they have a stdandard face saving formula that they will offer - bits of special powers for the state, maybe inner line permit, lots of central funds (to fatten the leaders) and a political process to return them to power in the state elections. As I see it, the ULFA has no reason to accept such an offer at this point. Therefore, I see no closure in sight. I also agree with you that hope lies in history. None of us concievably imagine what the geopolitical map of the world will look like 20 or 30 years from now. To take advantage of historical opportunities (like your third world war), one needs to have a strong civil movement at the grassroot level - a cohesive nationality formation process. That is much harder than armed insurrection. Santanu. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Malabika Brahma Sent: Sat 1/14/2006 10:57 AM To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION Ram da asked some very practical questions. We all know that the GOI is controlled by politicians who gives a damn if Assam or NE bleeds to death. Here is the fact (as stressed by Santanu ) Those who control GOI are politicians who care less for the people of Assam and NE and care less for the lives of soldiers that die in NE. So achieving independence through an armed struggle is next to impossible. The only way independence can be achieved are: 1. By making constitutional amendment to include "instrument of secession" in Indian constitution and influencing upon the GOI to hold a plesbicite in Assam/NE and hope that majority of the people vote for secession. But this can not be achieved unless there is move to build a consensus in the National level. 2. By hoping that a 3rd world war breaks out and GOI finds it impossible to manage the present political India. Actually in my opinion 2nd world war is what helped India win its independence from the British. It became too expensive for Britain to maintain its colonies because of its involvement in the war. This again is highly unlikely. May be Chandan da or Mike da knows some other Practical Means of achieving independence that we are missing. That's why I think "Independence of Assam/NE is excellent to have but not possible to achieve". So why build castles in the air ? But yes, if we can force GOI to hold a plesbicite, that will be the greatest victory. What will be the outcome of the plesbicite , is left to speculation of course. But one thing we have to understand, for Government of India , ULFA and NDFB may not count, but for Assam and NE, they are our boys after all. When one ULFA/NDFB member gets eliminated, one of my brother or sister is getting eliminated. Utpal Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: C'da, Just to keep things in prespective, this is what Priyankoo asked Himen da (to Himen da's statement) ** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be controlled or eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous generations been doing in the last 50 years to eliminate/ control those people? The sins of fathers ought not to be visited upon the sons :) What Priyankoo asked is legitimate, but in the present scenario seems like he is simply passing the buck from this
Re: [Assam] NE: The strategy of postponing peace - Wasbir Hussain
And every child perhaps knows which group is Bangladesh's B team, which one is the Church's C team and so on. Who are we kidding --- mc mahant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: - Even child knows that BLT is created by Congress, funded by RAW -and is their "B" team. They sign wherever-. mm - From: Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: ASSAMNET Subject: [Assam] NE: The strategy of postponing peace - Wasbir Hussain Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:52:21 -0600 "Postponing peace as a possible strategy is seen to be mostly used by the Government in dealing with separatist rebel outfits rather than with groups seeking a solution within the ambit of the Constitution. Separatist groups too doesn't seem to dislike this strategy. That perhaps explains as to why both New Delhi and the Assam Government could clinch a deal with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) relatively quickly because the Bodo rebel group was clear right from its inception that it was seeking a solution within the Indian Constitutional framework." Wasbir Hussain seems to tell us a couple of things here: 1) GOI will NOT settle the matter unless the demands are within the ambit of the Indian Constitution 2) The insurgent groups also love the 'postponing' peace (just like the GOI) So, if the parties involved are not interested in coming to a solution, will there ever be a resolution. What a charade! NE: The strategy of postponing peace Postponing peace as a strategy by different players in a conflict appears to have become a norm. This, perhaps, is because by keeping on postponing the advent of peace-players engaged in a particular conflict, be it the concerned non-state actor or the Government seeks to gain time and utilise it to analyse the intent of the other side or simply adopt a wait-and-watch approach in the absence of any clue on how to move forward. Take the case of the North-east: There are many instances of insurgent groups and the Government engaged in peace talks of stretching the dialogue to an indefinite period of time, often meeting to discuss one single issue again and again and not making any progress whatsoever. The point to take careful note of is that these players could actually be keen on delaying the progress in the peace process because of an unsure end result. Peace talks with the NSCN(IM) began in 1997 after a ceasefire agreement was clinched between the rebel group and the Government of India. The teething trouble was over the interlocutor from New Delhi's side. Finally, that was settled as former Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhiah came to be acceptable, and has more or less succeeded in striking a rapport with the NSCN(IM) leaders. Today, after 40 rounds of talks, the two sides are still talking about the ceasefire extension issue and worried over whether the truce would be extended any further or not. Obviously, without a truce in place, the talks cannot proceed. Then, without any clarification from either side as to whether the NSCN(IM) has given up its demand for an independent Naga homeland, the two sides, or at least the NSCN(IM), have given more than clear indications that the rebels were bargaining for an integration of the Naga inhabited areas in the North-east into the State of Nagaland in lieu of an independent homeland. Yes, the advent of peace must be postponed, the players seem to conclude! The rival NSCN(K) is already accusing the NSCN(IM) of compromising on the Nagas' dream of having an independent homeland. Concerned players must, therefore, wait-and-watch! So, we see the introduction of a new player by New Delhi in the form of Union Minister Oscar Fernandez, who is meant to be the 'political face' in the peace process. He regaled the Naga rebel leaders in Bangkok last month by playing the mouth organ. But, that had not helped to generate an assurance from the NSCN(IM) leadership that the truce would be automatically extended after it expires (yet again) on January 31. Therefore, Fernandez is going to Bangkok again within the next few days to talk just that: extension of the truce. Other things can follow only after that! Postponing peace as a possible strategy is seen to be mostly used by the Government in dealing with separatist rebel outfits rather than with groups seeking a solution within the ambit of the Constitution. Separatist groups too doesn't seem to dislike this strategy. That perhaps explains as to why both New Delhi and the Assam Government could clinch a deal with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) relatively quickly because the Bodo rebel group was clear right from its inception that it was seeking a solution within the Indian Constitutional framework. That brings the focus on the current status of the peace process between the outlawed ULFA and New Delhi. It was in November 2004 that writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami assumed the role of a peace 'facilitator', a mo
Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION
Or perhaps one can begin with consensus building at the local level. That seems to be highly elusive :-) > The only way independence can be achieved are: > > 1. By making constitutional amendment to include > "instrument of secession" in Indian constitution and > influencing upon the GOI to hold a plesbicite in > Assam/NE and hope that majority of the people vote > for secession. But this can not be achieved unless > there is move to build a consensus in the National > level. > __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION - What is the real final?
> >And make sure politicians cannot order them around-- by making the EXECUTIVE branch >INDEPENDENT of the legislative - the elected cadres.>>> Last week some people called me to speak at a seminar organized at Guahati by a neutral group. Presiding was Sri. D.N.Chakravarty -some people brand him a Hindutva Lackey-I found him pleasently -a "I am for total Change" type. I told this meet on ' WHAT SHOULD BE MEDIA'S ROLE NOW TO ENSURE A HEALTHY Electoral Process' I advised them to do following: Explain to the clueless voters that Nehru Co had this bogus document printed to ensure his eternal supremacy through a process of -Fools to Elect Bums-to preside over fat clerks. This is simply futile in 2006 . Suggest an alternative-Let the elected LEADERS(just1 vote more makes him that) should do just that = LEGISLATE. And in these days when India is going all out for E- EVERYTHING including surely E-Governance, these LEADERS should be allowed to draft more and more laws sitting at their constituency via E-mail.At least that will be a good collection of thoughtsof LEADERS. These LEADERS Should do a good job of LEGISLATING-and MUST BE kept away from polluted Guahati altogether. mm mm Subject From: Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED], ASSAMNET Subject: Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSIONDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:24:59 -0600 C'da, Just to keep things in prespective, this is what Priyankoo asked Himen da (to Himen da's statement) ** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be controlled or eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous generations been doing in the last 50 years to eliminate/ control those people? The sins of fathers ought not to be visited upon the sons :) What Priyankoo asked is legitimate, but in the present scenario seems like he is simply passing the buck from this generation to the previous one. And of course, the previous gen is also doing the same. So, question is how do you expect the problem/s to be solved of we keep passing the buck around, with no solution in sight?Now, lets get to what you are asking:> everyone cries hoarse over, but are unable to figure out how to begin dealing >with. I asked you to offer your thoughts, those of you who ASSERT vehemently >that the prevailing Indian system is adequate to deal with it, on HOW you will >begin to that. Again, since we haven't much agreement on any of these issues (dealing with them), let us assume we the desi-bhoktos don't have any answer.I would like to ask again of you (those who see Assam's liberation as an end to all problems): a) How do you propose to FREE Assam from the clutches of on evil India?We would like practical, feasible proposals. Of course, you will have to assume all the realities, like GOI doesn't care or is inept in resolving the issueThat the GOI is willing and very capable of thwarting any move for independence simply because of its sheer might and inept/adamant ministers and bureaucrats. and b) How do you convince the rest of the Assamese (who want to stay with India) to join hands with you?Now, I will definitely understand if you do not want to answer these or give vague answers. But if you seriously think these are impossibilites, then what is the next step for Assam?Continue with insurgencyor work within the ambit of the Indian constitution (however broken it is?). I am eagerly awaiting a positive and practical response from you, C'da :) :) --RamOn 1/13/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> > At 1:12 PM -0600 1/13/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:> C'da > > >*** That is a fine idea. And I challenged the devotees of desi-demokrasy to do just that, very pointedly, a number of times: To show how >they would proceed with effecting the reforms they see as necessary under the prevailing system. > > Assume if you will for a moment that we 'devotees of desi-demokrasy' have no answers. But you anti-desi everything are the ones dishing out left and right about how Assam cannot prosper under 'Indian rule' > > > > > > Ram:> > > I took one littler area: Of corruption in public life, one that everyone seems to agree on, and one that> everyone cries hoarse over, but are unable to figure out how to begin dealing with. I asked you to offer your thoughts, those of you who ASSERT vehemently that the prevailing Indian system is adequate to deal with it, on HOW you will begin to that. I asked for no minutiae, no details--that would be unfair to ask, because we are all amateurs -- just offer a conceptual solution approach. > > > What did you come up with? What did Rajen? What did Himendra Thakur have to offer in response to> Priyankoo's question?> > > > > Fact is, if you had even anything, you would have laid it down on me like sand bags. > > > But we do know why, because you too know the real truths, but are unable to acknowledge them. Is that NOT the truth Ram?> > > c-da> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > What we would all
Re: [Assam] NE: The strategy of postponing peace - Wasbir Hussain
Even child knows that BLT is created by Congress, funded by RAW -and is their "B" team. They sign wherever-. mm From: Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: ASSAMNET Subject: [Assam] NE: The strategy of postponing peace - Wasbir HussainDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:52:21 -0600 "Postponing peace as a possible strategy is seen to be mostly used by the Government in dealing with separatist rebel outfits rather than with groups seeking a solution within the ambit of the Constitution. Separatist groups too doesn't seem to dislike this strategy. That perhaps explains as to why both New Delhi and the Assam Government could clinch a deal with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) relatively quickly because the Bodo rebel group was clear right from its inception that it was seeking a solution within the Indian Constitutional framework." Wasbir Hussain seems to tell us a couple of things here: 1) GOI will NOT settle the matter unless the demands are within the ambit of the Indian Constitution 2) The insurgent groups also love the 'postponing' peace (just like the GOI) So, if the parties involved are not interested in coming to a solution, will there ever be a resolution. What a charade! NE: The strategy of postponing peace Postponing peace as a strategy by different players in a conflict appears to have become a norm. This, perhaps, is because by keeping on postponing the advent of peace-players engaged in a particular conflict, be it the concerned non-state actor or the Government seeks to gain time and utilise it to analyse the intent of the other side or simply adopt a wait-and-watch approach in the absence of any clue on how to move forward. Take the case of the North-east: There are many instances of insurgent groups and the Government engaged in peace talks of stretching the dialogue to an indefinite period of time, often meeting to discuss one single issue again and again and not making any progress whatsoever. The point to take careful note of is that these players could actually be keen on delaying the progress in the peace process because of an unsure end result. Peace talks with the NSCN(IM) began in 1997 after a ceasefire agreement was clinched between the rebel group and the Government of India. The teething trouble was over the interlocutor from New Delhi's side. Finally, that was settled as former Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhiah came to be acceptable, and has more or less succeeded in striking a rapport with the NSCN(IM) leaders. Today, after 40 rounds of talks, the two sides are still talking about the ceasefire extension issue and worried over whether the truce would be extended any further or not. Obviously, without a truce in place, the talks cannot proceed. Then, without any clarification from either side as to whether the NSCN(IM) has given up its demand for an independent Naga homeland, the two sides, or at least the NSCN(IM), have given more than clear indications that the rebels were bargaining for an integration of the Naga inhabited areas in the North-east into the State of Nagaland in lieu of an independent homeland. Yes, the advent of peace must be postponed, the players seem to conclude! The rival NSCN(K) is already accusing the NSCN(IM) of compromising on the Nagas' dream of having an independent homeland. Concerned players must, therefore, wait-and-watch! So, we see the introduction of a new player by New Delhi in the form of Union Minister Oscar Fernandez, who is meant to be the 'political face' in the peace process. He regaled the Naga rebel leaders in Bangkok last month by playing the mouth organ. But, that had not helped to generate an assurance from the NSCN(IM) leadership that the truce would be automatically extended after it expires (yet again) on January 31. Therefore, Fernandez is going to Bangkok again within the next few days to talk just that: extension of the truce. Other things can follow only after that! Postponing peace as a possible strategy is seen to be mostly used by the Government in dealing with separatist rebel outfits rather than with groups seeking a solution within the ambit of the Constitution. Separatist groups too doesn't seem to dislike this strategy. That perhaps explains as to why both New Delhi and the Assam Government could clinch a deal with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) relatively quickly because the Bodo rebel group was clear right from its inception that it was seeking a solution within the Indian Constitutional framework. That brings the focus on the current status of the peace process between the outlawed ULFA and New Delhi. It was in November 2004 that writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami assumed the role of a peace 'facilitator', a move endorsed by the ULFA. That itself was a breakthrough of sorts because she became the first person to have been accepted by the ULFA in a peace facilitator's role. It took a year for this to translate into something more concrete, like the formation of the Peopl
[Assam] Magh Bihu Morom
To Everybody in the Assam.org, their families and friends !!! Please accept our most sincere greetings and "morom" on the occassion of Magh Bihu! Most sincerely yours, Himendra and family ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] NE: The strategy of postponing peace - Wasbir Hussain
"Postponing peace as a possible strategy is seen to be mostly used by the Government in dealing with separatist rebel outfits rather than with groups seeking a solution within the ambit of the Constitution. Separatist groups too doesn't seem to dislike this strategy. That perhaps explains as to why both New Delhi and the Assam Government could clinch a deal with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) relatively quickly because the Bodo rebel group was clear right from its inception that it was seeking a solution within the Indian Constitutional framework." Wasbir Hussain seems to tell us a couple of things here: 1) GOI will NOT settle the matter unless the demands are within the ambit of the Indian Constitution 2) The insurgent groups also love the 'postponing' peace (just like the GOI) So, if the parties involved are not interested in coming to a solution, will there ever be a resolution. What a charade! NE: The strategy of postponing peace Postponing peace as a strategy by different players in a conflict appears to have become a norm. This, perhaps, is because by keeping on postponing the advent of peace-players engaged in a particular conflict, be it the concerned non-state actor or the Government — seeks to gain time and utilise it to analyse the intent of the other side or simply adopt a wait-and-watch approach in the absence of any clue on how to move forward. Take the case of the North-east: There are many instances of insurgent groups and the Government engaged in peace talks of stretching the dialogue to an indefinite period of time, often meeting to discuss one single issue again and again and not making any progress whatsoever. The point to take careful note of is that these players could actually be keen on delaying the progress in the peace process because of an unsure end result. Peace talks with the NSCN(IM) began in 1997 after a ceasefire agreement was clinched between the rebel group and the Government of India. The teething trouble was over the interlocutor from New Delhi's side. Finally, that was settled as former Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhiah came to be acceptable, and has more or less succeeded in striking a rapport with the NSCN(IM) leaders. Today, after 40 rounds of talks, the two sides are still talking about the ceasefire extension issue and worried over whether the truce would be extended any further or not. Obviously, without a truce in place, the talks cannot proceed. Then, without any clarification from either side as to whether the NSCN(IM) has given up its demand for an independent Naga homeland, the two sides, or at least the NSCN(IM), have given more than clear indications that the rebels were bargaining for an integration of the Naga inhabited areas in the North-east into the State of Nagaland in lieu of an independent homeland. Yes, the advent of peace must be postponed, the players seem to conclude! The rival NSCN(K) is already accusing the NSCN(IM) of compromising on the Nagas' dream of having an independent homeland. Concerned players must, therefore, wait-and-watch! So, we see the introduction of a new player by New Delhi in the form of Union Minister Oscar Fernandez, who is meant to be the 'political face' in the peace process. He regaled the Naga rebel leaders in Bangkok last month by playing the mouth organ. But, that had not helped to generate an assurance from the NSCN(IM) leadership that the truce would be automatically extended after it expires (yet again) on January 31. Therefore, Fernandez is going to Bangkok again within the next few days to talk just that: extension of the truce. Other things can follow only after that! Postponing peace as a possible strategy is seen to be mostly used by the Government in dealing with separatist rebel outfits rather than with groups seeking a solution within the ambit of the Constitution. Separatist groups too doesn't seem to dislike this strategy. That perhaps explains as to why both New Delhi and the Assam Government could clinch a deal with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) relatively quickly because the Bodo rebel group was clear right from its inception that it was seeking a solution within the Indian Constitutional framework. That brings the focus on the current status of the peace process between the outlawed ULFA and New Delhi. It was in November 2004 that writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami assumed the role of a peace 'facilitator', a move endorsed by the ULFA. That itself was a breakthrough of sorts because she became the first person to have been accepted by the ULFA in a peace facilitator's role. It took a year for this to translate into something more concrete, like the formation of the People's Consultative Group (PCG) by the ULFA. Goswami, during the year until the PCG came into being, was engaged in exchanging letters with the Prime Minister's Office. The content of the PMO's letters took months to be politically correct from the ULFA's point of view. Now, more than two and a half months after t
[Assam] NYTimes.com: Houston Ties Teachers' Pay to Test Scores
Title: E-Mail This This page was sent to you by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message from sender: good concept but my experience in a govt run school in US shows that I am motivated not only by the high pay $25 per hour for 10 hours per week- but also that I can use this experience to good use -for future jobs which might pay higher. Also that fact that govt staff does not like to employ outsiders to help improve their kids - so there is subtle competition with them - i feel. Further, my seniors have been quite effusive in my getting the highly energetic engaged and learning. It is true that low achieving kids will show largest percentage gains compared to those who are already doing well. Perfection is difficult but bringing up laggards is easy if you get them interested. Umesh PS: This job pays only my rent and student loan about $750 per month- and am looking for something to pay for food, phone and for a stable job after June 2006 when my student visa expires. NATIONAL | January 13, 2006 Houston Ties Teachers' Pay to Test Scores By RALPH BLUMENTHAL The nation's largest merit pay program calls for rewarding teachers based on how well their students perform on standardized tests. 1. Bad Blood: East Meets West, Adding Pounds and Peril 2. Nikon Plans to Stop Making Most Cameras That Use Film 3. Are They Here to Save the World? 4. Maryland Sets a Health Cost for Wal-Mart 5. TV Weekend | '24': Back From the Dead, a Secret Agent Is Ready to Save the World Again » Go to Complete List Advertisement The Ringer starring Johnny Knoxville "Laugh-out-loud hilarious!" -Christy Lemire, Associated PressNow Playing in Theaters!http://www.foxsearchlight.com/theringer/ index_nyt.html Do you love NY? Get the insiders guide to where to stay, what to do and where to eat. Go to www.nytimes.com/travel for your NYC Guide now. Click here. Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODY
BTW: Happy Bihu, you all. Didn't mean to be sarcastic on this holy day, just couldn't help it. :-) From: "Roy, Santanu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Subject: Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODYDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:06:11 -0600 One should not forget that Bihu is about having fun without denying its significance on the almanac. For example, in Assam, the winter is relatively mild by the second week of January one can stay up the night of urukka and even take a dip in the water early morning (or a shower, if you will) just as the meji is lit. It would be less comfortable during the winter solistice. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of mc mahantSent: Friday, January 13, 2006 11:49 AMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Cc: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODY <>> Can I dare critcize.? Bihu dates must CHANGE: Magh Bihu should be on the same date as X-mas =25 Dec Bohag Bihu should be same as Good Friday. Kati Bihu-abandoned-irrelevant in days of processed food and warehousing. Why cling to the meaningless? Happy URUKA feeds with Bangla Sitol MAAS! mm From: "Rajen Barua" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Subject: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODYDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:42:23 -0600 Today is Assamese Magh Bihu: On this occasion, I am attaching an article written by me on the significane of the Bihus in Assam. We have been told from our childhood that we Assamese have 3 Bihus: Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu. But we also had a fourth Bihu which was called the Xaun Bihu (Summer Bihu) which the Assamese have lost and have forgotten about it. In fact the only reference to this Bihu I found was in a footnote of a book written by the great Assamese scholar Dimbeswar Neog. Since the Bihus have astronomical significane, I was always curious why we don't have a fourth Bihu. Finding the much needed reference of the fourth Bihu, I was able to connect the dots in the astronomical map and prepare this article, "Four Assamese Bihus and their Astromonomical Significane'. The article was published in Assam Tribune under a different name and without the Astronomical chart I have included here. In the article, I have also made the notation that the Assamese (as well as the Hindu) Calender is off by 24 days from the Tropical Calender followed in the West, for instance, this Bihu was supposed to have been occured on the Winter Solstice (Makar Sankranti) which was actually 21st December, but we celebrate it on 14th January. This gap (or lag) occuers due to the precession of the earth (the earth wobbles) which the Hindu Calender need to adjust to. Critical comments are welcome. XOKOLW RAIJOLOI MAGH BIHUR WLOG ARU XUBHESSA JONALW Rajen Barua Houston ><< FourAssameseBihusandTheirAstronomicalSignificance.Jan06.doc >> >___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODY
And let *Independent Assam* be dependent on the dates for their 'baapoti-xaahon' festivals even? and that too on the firingi calendar? tsk! tsk! :) From: "mc mahant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]CC: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODYDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 23:18:43 +0530 <>> Can I dare critcize.? Bihu dates must CHANGE: Magh Bihu should be on the same date as X-mas =25 Dec Bohag Bihu should be same as Good Friday. Kati Bihu-abandoned-irrelevant in days of processed food and warehousing. Why cling to the meaningless? Happy URUKA feeds with Bangla Sitol MAAS! mm From: "Rajen Barua" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Subject: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODYDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:42:23 -0600 Today is Assamese Magh Bihu: On this occasion, I am attaching an article written by me on the significane of the Bihus in Assam. We have been told from our childhood that we Assamese have 3 Bihus: Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu. But we also had a fourth Bihu which was called the Xaun Bihu (Summer Bihu) which the Assamese have lost and have forgotten about it. In fact the only reference to this Bihu I found was in a footnote of a book written by the great Assamese scholar Dimbeswar Neog. Since the Bihus have astronomical significane, I was always curious why we don't have a fourth Bihu. Finding the much needed reference of the fourth Bihu, I was able to connect the dots in the astronomical map and prepare this article, "Four Assamese Bihus and their Astromonomical Significane'. The article was published in Assam Tribune under a different name and without the Astronomical chart I have included here. In the article, I have also made the notation that the Assamese (as well as the Hindu) Calender is off by 24 days from the Tropical Calender followed in the West, for instance, this Bihu was supposed to have been occured on the Winter Solstice (Makar Sankranti) which was actually 21st December, but we celebrate it on 14th January. This gap (or lag) occuers due to the precession of the earth (the earth wobbles) which the Hindu Calender need to adjust to. Critical comments are welcome. XOKOLW RAIJOLOI MAGH BIHUR WLOG ARU XUBHESSA JONALW Rajen Barua Houston ><< FourAssameseBihusandTheirAstronomicalSignificance.Jan06.doc >> >___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODY
One should not forget that Bihu is about having fun – without denying its significance on the almanac. For example, in Assam, the winter is relatively mild by the second week of January – one can stay up the night of urukka and even take a dip in the water early morning (or a shower, if you will) just as the meji is lit. It would be less comfortable during the winter solistice. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of mc mahant Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 11:49 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODY <>> Can I dare critcize.? Bihu dates must CHANGE: Magh Bihu should be on the same date as X-mas =25 Dec Bohag Bihu should be same as Good Friday. Kati Bihu-abandoned-irrelevant in days of processed food and warehousing. Why cling to the meaningless? Happy URUKA feeds with Bangla Sitol MAAS! mm From: "Rajen Barua" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Subject: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODY Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:42:23 -0600 Today is Assamese Magh Bihu: On this occasion, I am attaching an article written by me on the significane of the Bihus in Assam. We have been told from our childhood that we Assamese have 3 Bihus: Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu. But we also had a fourth Bihu which was called the Xaun Bihu (Summer Bihu) which the Assamese have lost and have forgotten about it. In fact the only reference to this Bihu I found was in a footnote of a book written by the great Assamese scholar Dimbeswar Neog. Since the Bihus have astronomical significane, I was always curious why we don't have a fourth Bihu. Finding the much needed reference of the fourth Bihu, I was able to connect the dots in the astronomical map and prepare this article, "Four Assamese Bihus and their Astromonomical Significane'. The article was published in Assam Tribune under a different name and without the Astronomical chart I have included here. In the article, I have also made the notation that the Assamese (as well as the Hindu) Calender is off by 24 days from the Tropical Calender followed in the West, for instance, this Bihu was supposed to have been occured on the Winter Solstice (Makar Sankranti) which was actually 21st December, but we celebrate it on 14th January. This gap (or lag) occuers due to the precession of the earth (the earth wobbles) which the Hindu Calender need to adjust to. Critical comments are welcome. XOKOLW RAIJOLOI MAGH BIHUR WLOG ARU XUBHESSA JONALW Rajen Barua Houston ><< FourAssameseBihusandTheirAstronomicalSignificance.Jan06.doc >> >___ >assam mailing list >assam@assamnet.org >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODY
<>> Can I dare critcize.? Bihu dates must CHANGE: Magh Bihu should be on the same date as X-mas =25 Dec Bohag Bihu should be same as Good Friday. Kati Bihu-abandoned-irrelevant in days of processed food and warehousing. Why cling to the meaningless? Happy URUKA feeds with Bangla Sitol MAAS! mm From: "Rajen Barua" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Subject: [Assam] WITH MAGH BIHUR WLOG AND XUBHESSA TO EVERYBODYDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:42:23 -0600 Today is Assamese Magh Bihu: On this occasion, I am attaching an article written by me on the significane of the Bihus in Assam. We have been told from our childhood that we Assamese have 3 Bihus: Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu. But we also had a fourth Bihu which was called the Xaun Bihu (Summer Bihu) which the Assamese have lost and have forgotten about it. In fact the only reference to this Bihu I found was in a footnote of a book written by the great Assamese scholar Dimbeswar Neog. Since the Bihus have astronomical significane, I was always curious why we don't have a fourth Bihu. Finding the much needed reference of the fourth Bihu, I was able to connect the dots in the astronomical map and prepare this article, "Four Assamese Bihus and their Astromonomical Significane'. The article was published in Assam Tribune under a different name and without the Astronomical chart I have included here. In the article, I have also made the notation that the Assamese (as well as the Hindu) Calender is off by 24 days from the Tropical Calender followed in the West, for instance, this Bihu was supposed to have been occured on the Winter Solstice (Makar Sankranti) which was actually 21st December, but we celebrate it on 14th January. This gap (or lag) occuers due to the precession of the earth (the earth wobbles) which the Hindu Calender need to adjust to. Critical comments are welcome. XOKOLW RAIJOLOI MAGH BIHUR WLOG ARU XUBHESSA JONALW Rajen Barua Houston ><< FourAssameseBihusandTheirAstronomicalSignificance.Jan06.doc >> >___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Social entrepreneurs
alignment was not proper so here again -after left alignment. Umeshumesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: This concept seems quite important- started by this institute. Umesh"Bill Drayton, ASHOKA: Innovators for the Public" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Bill DraytonDate: Thursday, December 29, 2005To: Umesh SharmaDear Umesh, Earlier this month, friends sent you a note with our year end report asking for your support. You may not have received it due to potentidelays. I therefore thought I should send you a copy of their overview letter again, so you can nonetheless contribute before year end. From: Marjorie Benton, Former U.S. Representative to UNICEF; Former Chair, Save the Children Richard Cavanaugh, President and CEO, The Conference Board, Inc. Richard Danzig, Former Secretary of the Navy Jessica Einhorn, Dean, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins UniversityDate: December 5, 2005To: Umesh Sharma Dear Umesh, Harvards Center for Public Leadership and US News & World Report just designated Ashokas CEO, Bill Drayton, one of Americas Best Leaders. (Along with Colin Powell, Bill and Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and the co-founders of Google.) That they chose Bill, and heavily for his work building Ashoka, comes as no surprise to us. Many in our community have worked with Ashoka for years and admire its values, practical creativity, and unrivaled impact. Ashoka is extraordinary. It invented the phrase social entrepreneur. It built the field. As Harvard and US News recognized, Ashokas impact is astonishingly enormous. (Astonishing chiefly because Ashokas style is so quiet and because public awareness lags way behind the huge social changes Ashoka has helped trigger.) Ashokas first insight was that there is nothing more powerful than a big social idea but only if it is in the hands of a first-class entrepreneur. Ashoka is probably best known for its brilliant ability systematically to find this rare combination of powerful idea and top entrepreneur well before they have succeeded. It helps them take off, and it sticks with them over their lifetimes until they have in fact changed the world. Year after year and on every continent, its results are extraordinary. Five years after it finds and elects an Ashoka Fellow: · Between 50 and 60 percent have changed national policy; · Roughly 90 percent see their innovations copied by independent groups. Wherever society is stuck, Ashoka social entrepreneurs are at work. The roads in South Asia are a rule-ignoring bedlam and killing zone; Fellows are changing the culture, taking on police corruption, putting in place 24 hour hotlines and well deployed emergency response, and creating the first blood banks in wide rural areas. Each year, 150,000 college capable American high school students do not even apply; one of the early U.S. Fellows now has 80 percent of his participants attending and graduating. Ashoka allows us to be stakeholders in 2,000 such stories. The impact is extraordinary, the costs very modest (chiefly a stipend for the Fellow if and to the degree he or she needs it, which averages as little as $3,000 a year in South Asia, for an average start-up period of three years). The Fellows direct impact is only the beginning. They are role models that inspire many, many others to care and to organize,. Moreover, their ideas disrupt existing local patterns; and, because the entrepreneur makes them as user friendly as possible, they entice local people to step up and become active changemakers, who in turn become role models for their friends and neighbors. This dynamic is at the heart of the democratic revolution. Ashoka does far more than help individual ideas and entrepreneurs fly and succeed. It weaves them together into a global community whose collaborations are far more powerful than the sum of its solo practitioner parts. And it is hard at work building the institutions that will best serve its rapidly maturing -- and now globalizing -- field. For example, now that for the first time social entrepreneurship has a significant number of practitioners who have made major scratches on history and who are operating globally, Ashoka is quietly helping them find one another, collaborate at their quite different levels, and provide leadership to the field. The resulting Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship is now publishing a DVD series of in-depth discussions with some of these remarkable people. Ashoka was founded this month 25 years ago. It has accomplished a very great deal. It now is uniquely positioned to make even bigger contributions to the history of our era. To do so, however, it needs our -- and, very much, your -- help. Please do
Re: [Assam] New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory
Maybe Kamna-ji can elaborate since she is at Columbia Univ's genetics center. UmeshRajen Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: My question was how they determine the age 1 yrs or 6 yrs old from genetaic research? RB- Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 10:19 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theoryperhaps this could be a reason: "An independent genetic study by Partha Mazumder at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta with colleagues at Stanford University and elsewhere has found that the majority of genetic signatures among men in India are older than 10,000 years"Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > A study by scientists at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Calcutta has revealed that most present-day Indians are >the descendants of early humans who began to arrive in India about 60,000 years ago I wonder how they arrive at their result. RB --- HPI will next appear January 16 New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory Law Firm Retained to Represent Hindus in California Textbook Efforts State University of New York Seeks Hinduism Professor1. New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory www.newkerala.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 12, 2006: Two new genetic studies have disputed long-held beliefs that pastoral central Asian people brought agriculture to India and contributed heavily to the genetic make-up of modern Indian populations. The central Asian people who migrated to India included the Aryans who began arriving around 3,500 years ago. The studies by scientists in Calcutta with colleagues in other countries might force historians to revise current ideas about the impacts of migrations from central Asia beginning about 8,000 years ago on India. A study by scientists at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Calcutta has revealed that most present-day Indians are the descendants of early humans who began to arrive in India about 60,000 years ago. It suggests that modern Indians do not owe much genetic makeup to central Asians who arrived much later. The findings do lend support to the migration of people from central Asia into India. "Although we did find genetic signatures from central Asian populations in Indian communities, there are not enough (signatures) to prove large-scale mixture with local populations," research team leader Vijendra Kashyap told The Telegraph. An independent genetic study by Partha Mazumder at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta with colleagues at Stanford University and elsewhere has found that the majority of genetic signatures among men in India are older than 10,000 years. The study of 1,100 men from 36 ethnic groups in India, 8 in Pakistan and 18 from the southeast Asian region has indicated that many of the genetic signatures have arisen in India and predate the arrival of the Indo-Europeans and their expansion in India. "The genetic contribution from central Asia has not been as large as generally believed," Mazumder said. His study has also indicated that the genetic input of people who might have brought agriculture into India from West Asia has been limited.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Is AnnCooper aware of the fiasco of Parag Das's murder investigation & outcome?
Now journalists should carry guns and body armor as well -even in Iraq. Umesh INDIA: Journalist killed in Assam after writing about corruption http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/asia/india10jan06na.html New York, January 10, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in India's northeastern state of Assam to fully investigate the death of Prahlad Goala, who was apparently murdered on January 6. Goala had recently written a series of articles on corruption in the Assamese-language daily Asomiya Khabar that linked local forestry service officials to timber smuggling.Local journalists told CPJ police arrested forest warden Zamman Jinnah in connection with the death. He was released on bail. Two other suspects, who are not forestry service employees, are still being held by police, the local journalists added.Jinnah had made death threats against Goala soon after his articles on corruption in the forestry service appeared, The Assam Tribune reported."We condemn the killing of our colleague Prahlad Goala," said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. "We call on the authorities in Assam to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice."Goala, 32, was riding a motorcycle near his home in eastern Assam's Golaghat district when he was apparently rammed by a truck. When police arrived at the scene, they found that Goala had been stabbed several times.Local journalists' organizations and civic groups staged a protest in Golaghat on January 10 and called for a full investigation into his death.CPJ is continuing to investigate the circumstances of Goala's death to determine whether he was killed in retaliation for his work. © 2006 Committee to Protect Journalists. http://www.cpj.org E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 Yahoo! Photos NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION
1) Many Assamese itself DO NOT support independence or be outside of India. They think they are Indians. 2) ULFA or others have been trying for this for 25 + years 3) India will never give up an inch of its territory (inspite of various arguments and philosophies why "Indian domination" is bad/unwarranted/illegal). George Bernard Shaw said "Lies,Damn lies ..and Statistics" <> ..We shall see! mm From: Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]CC: ASSAMNET Subject: Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSIONDate: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:47:51 -0600 Umesh, Thats the wrong question for C'da. Look what he wrote: "Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able. But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference." So, basically what he is saying is, yes we have all the capable people who are willing and able, BUT CANNOT do so because of the "Indian Rule" Obviously, what he means is that Assam will be in this state, until and unless Assam is free of India. But, practical people anywhere will tell you that for Assam to get out of "Indian rule" is next to impossible. Why? 1) Many Assamese itself DO NOT support independence or be outside of India. They think they are Indians. 2) ULFA or others have been trying for this for 25 + years 3) India will never give up an inch of its territory (inspite of various arguments and philosophies why "Indian domination" is bad/unwarranted/illegal). If those are the stark realities, what would reasonable people do to make the best of a bad situation? I think, they would work within this present system and try and do what they can for Assam, for its people, its development,and other problems. Sometimes I think this continuing insurgency is a big money-churner for many - politicians, GOI, GOA, ULFA, businesses and bureaucrats. Many people have the potential to make it big if there is a continuing instability - and of course damn the common folks of Assam. They do not fall into any equation. And, all we can say is "just you wait" :) --Ram da On 1/13/06, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: C-da, You make a valid point about urgency of reform needed in Assam and also that there are people who can and are willing to take up. Who stops them? Is someone at Delhi bent on killing them or maiming them? Umesh C-da wrote: "If Rajen or your assertions are accurate that Assam is the most corrupt of the various colonies of India, then it behooves it needs those reforms, NOW! The sickest needs the treatments most urgently. Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able. But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference." Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram: One last time on these issues: >But you must agree that ANY reform in India or Assam MUST come from an informed >public. *** Yes I do. And that is exactly why I asked for YOUR recommendations, Rajen's recommendations. But what did you show? Therefore it follows that Assam cannot depend on its intelligentsia establishment, the supposedly informed lot, the one that controls the media, the economy and the political machinery -- and even its purported cream of the crop of NRA's in the west. Certainly not on its uninformed, uneducated masses, struggling merely to survive against the incredible odds, while their assets, resources are being plundered and looted by India and partially being redistributed to a tiny minority of Assam's privileged. But that does not mean Assam ought to wait for India to effect the reforms that it had decades to start with and demonstrate a trend. It did did not, because it cannot. Assam will have to do it for itself. Take charge of its own future! You make the argument of other states prospering in spite of the dysfunctional Indian governance. And thus you demand the same from Assam. It is a preposterous argument. Imagine demanding an ill-fed, poor child of illiterate parents from the slums same performance as children of IAS Babus or Engineers or Doctors because they go ,to the same school. That is exactly what you are doing. Assam's circumstances are not the same as Karnataka's, or Tamil Nadu's or Bihar's. Assam must do what it needs to under its own circumstances, and not what Karnataka does or West Bengal does. Assam must REFORM and RE-order its governance for its own sake, because it is essential for its survival and progress, regardless of what India does or does not. And even if I were to accept your argument -- which I don't--that some Indian states are prospering in-spite of their broken gov
Re: [Assam] New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory
My question was how they determine the age 1 yrs or 6 yrs old from genetaic research? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 10:19 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory perhaps this could be a reason: "An independent genetic study by Partha Mazumder at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta with colleagues at Stanford University and elsewhere has found that the majority of genetic signatures among men in India are older than 10,000 years"Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > A study by scientists at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Calcutta has revealed that most present-day Indians are >the descendants of early humans who began to arrive in India about 60,000 years ago I wonder how they arrive at their result. RB --- HPI will next appear January 16 New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory Law Firm Retained to Represent Hindus in California Textbook Efforts State University of New York Seeks Hinduism Professor 1. New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory www.newkerala.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 12, 2006: Two new genetic studies have disputed long-held beliefs that pastoral central Asian people brought agriculture to India and contributed heavily to the genetic make-up of modern Indian populations. The central Asian people who migrated to India included the Aryans who began arriving around 3,500 years ago. The studies by scientists in Calcutta with colleagues in other countries might force historians to revise current ideas about the impacts of migrations from central Asia beginning about 8,000 years ago on India. A study by scientists at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Calcutta has revealed that most present-day Indians are the descendants of early humans who began to arrive in India about 60,000 years ago. It suggests that modern Indians do not owe much genetic makeup to central Asians who arrived much later. The findings do lend support to the migration of people from central Asia into India. "Although we did find genetic signatures from central Asian populations in Indian communities, there are not enough (signatures) to prove large-scale mixture with local populations," research team leader Vijendra Kashyap told The Telegraph. An independent genetic study by Partha Mazumder at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta with colleagues at Stanford University and elsewhere has found that the majority of genetic signatures among men in India are older than 10,000 years. The study of 1,100 men from 36 ethnic groups in India, 8 in Pakistan and 18 from the southeast Asian region has indicated that many of the genetic signatures have arisen in India and predate the arrival of the Indo-Europeans and their expansion in India. "The genetic contribution from central Asia has not been as large as generally believed," Mazumder said. His study has also indicated that the genetic input of people who might have brought agriculture into India from West Asia has been limited.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION
Ram-da, You answered a part of the answer. GOI , GOA also figure in it. They cannot be absolved of the blam --but are they also involved in killing local entrepreneurs and social workers. Umesh Ram-da wrote: "Sometimes I think this continuing insurgency is a big money-churner for many - politicians, GOI, GOA, ULFA, businesses and bureaucrats. Many people have the potential to make it big if there is a continuing instability - and of course damn the common folks of Assam. They do not fall into any equation. " Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Umesh, Thats the wrong question for C'da. Look what he wrote: "Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able.But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference." So, basically what he is saying is, yes we have all the capable people who are willing and able, BUT CANNOT do so because of the "Indian Rule" Obviously, what he means is that Assam will be in this state, until and unless Assam is free of India. But, practical people anywhere will tell you that for Assam to get out of "Indian rule" is next to impossible. Why? 1) Many Assamese itself DO NOT support independence or be outside of India. They think they are Indians. 2) ULFA or others have been trying for this for 25 + years 3) India will never give up an inch of its territory (inspite of various arguments and philosophies why "Indian domination" is bad/unwarranted/illegal). If those are the stark realities, what would reasonable people do to make the best of a bad situation? I think, they would work within this present system and try and do what they can for Assam, for its people, its development,and other problems. Sometimes I think this continuing insurgency is a big money-churner for many - politicians, GOI, GOA, ULFA, businesses and bureaucrats. Many people have the potential to make it big if there is a continuing instability - and of course damn the common folks of Assam. They do not fall into any equation. And, all we can say is "just you wait" :) --Ram da On 1/13/06, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: C-da, You make a valid point about urgency of reform needed in Assam and also that there are people who can and are willing to take up. Who stops them? Is someone at Delhi bent on killing them or maiming them? Umesh C-da wrote: "If Rajen or your assertions are accurate that Assam is the most corrupt of the various colonies of India, then it behooves it needs those reforms, NOW! The sickest needs the treatments most urgently. Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able. But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference." Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram: One last time on these issues: >But you must agree that ANY reform in India or Assam MUST come from an informed >public. *** Yes I do. And that is exactly why I asked for YOUR recommendations, Rajen's recommendations. But what did you show? Therefore it follows that Assam cannot depend on its intelligentsia establishment, the supposedly informed lot, the one that controls the media, the economy and the political machinery -- and even its purported cream of the crop of NRA's in the west. Certainly not on its uninformed, uneducated masses, struggling merely to survive against the incredible odds, while their assets, resources are being plundered and looted by India and partially being redistributed to a tiny minority of Assam's privileged. But that does not mean Assam ought to wait for India to effect the reforms that it had decades to start with and demonstrate a trend. It did did not, because it cannot. Assam will have to do it for itself. Take charge of its own future! You make the argument of other states prospering in spite of the dysfunctional Indian governance. And thus you demand the same from Assam. It is a preposterous argument. Imagine demanding an ill-fed, poor child of illiterate parents from the slums same performance as children of IAS Babus or Engineers or Doctors because they go ,to the same school. That is exactly what you are doing. Assam's circumstances are not the same as Karnataka's, or Tamil Nadu's or Bihar's. Assam must do what it needs to under its own circumstances, and not what Karnataka does or West Bengal does. Assam must REFORM and RE-order its governance for its own sake, because it is essential for its survival and progress, regardless of what India does or does not. And even if I were to accept your argument -- which I don't--that some Indian states are prospering in-spite of their broke
Re: [Assam] Fwd: The Bharatiya Constitution is fraud on Hindus
I fail to understand why Aligarh Mulsim Univ is NOT given minority status and allowed to admit 50% muslim students -whereas Supreme Court in 1992 judgement allowed St. Stephens College (funded by UK's Anglican Church ) to do the same -ie admit 50% Christians only.. Is it becos our West-is-best intelligentia only recongnizes Christians as worthy of minority rights -and not Muslims. However, I do not approve of this clause in Indian constitution - at behest of British when they left -incl 2 permanent seats in Indian Parliament for Anglo-Indians (progeny of British in India) Umesh PS: This intro by Mr Mohan Gupta seems completely devoid of logic though and also highly baised against spiritual traditions of other faiths. Fwd: The Bharatiya Constitution is fraud on Hindus Rini Kakati sent this email: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 05:23:21 -0800 From: "Mohan Gupta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: The Bharatiya Constitution is fraud on HindusDate: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:38:33 -0500 The Bharatiya Constitution is fraud on Hindus The Indian Constitution is fraud intended to eradicate Vedic culture. This is because of the fact that this is the last partially survived culture that grants right to property & freedom of faith to every body. In contrast, booty belongs to Christians & Allah. In Vedic culture freedom of thoughts, democracy and property belongs to individuals, the society. Again, worship of any God except ALLAH is crime and non-Islamic persons are persecuted as per the dogmas of Islam. For communists religion is opium as per the dogmas of Socialism of Carl Marx. Not accepting Jesus one's king is crime as per Bible, Luke 19:27. All the religious dogmas and the Governments of the World need slaves and spoils. According to Islam any culture, which opposes servility and cultural right of usurpation, must be eradicated. Islam can do it. That is because the dogmas of Islam stipulate the murder of every non-muslim by Muslims. Nay! Murder, plunder, and rape of women are the surest way to secure title of Ghazi and berth in heaven. The tailor made Indian Constitution grants unfettered fundamental right to Muslims and Christians to convert to their fold and even slay the persons of the alien faiths. Even the constitution of Bharat gives money and many other kinds’ kind of facilities to Muslims and Christians for the destruction of Vedic culture, culture, Sanskrit and other Bharatiya languages and Hindu people. With the present form of Bharatiya constitution, you Hindus your culture, religion, language cannot survive. Appeasement of Muslims in Bharat Indian constitution favors Muslims and other minorities which, promotes separatism on the name of secularism Bharatiya constitution is used by so called secular parties to appease Muslims and other minorities. Below are three facts which shows, the brute appeasement of Muslims at the cost of Hindus by the constitutions and secular Bharatiya governments. No Minority status, quota for AMU; b) $ 10,000 as basic travel quota for Haj; c) SC OKs quota quashing for Muslims Here are three interesting news items. a) No Minority status, quota for AMU b) $ 10,000 as basic travel quota for Haj c) SC OKs quota quashing for Muslims in AP a) No Minority status, quota for AMU, reassert judges Pioneer News Service/ Allahabad In a major setback to the UPA Government's efforts to push its minority agenda, a division bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday upheld its last year's judgment terming as "unconstitutional" the granting of minority status to Aligarh Muslim University and 50 per cent reservation for Muslims. The division bench refused to grant permission to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against its judgment.The order was passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice AN Ray and Justice Ashok Bhushan on petitions filed by the Union Government and AMU challenging the October 4, 2005 verdict of Justice Arun Tandon.The court further ruled that to provide 50 per cent reservation in admissions to post-graduate medical courses in AMU is also unconstitutional. The bench, therefore, has also struck down the amendment to this effect made by AMU for reservation for Muslim students.The bench struck down Section l and Section 5 (2) (c) of the Aligarh Muslim University Amendment Act, 1981, by which the status of a minority institution was accorded to AMU. The court said it "is ultra virus to the Constitution".It observed that the Supreme Court in the Ajeez Basha case in 1968 had already taken the view that AMU was not a minority institution and enactment of a law by Parliament could not overrule the judgment.The division bench refused to grant permission to AMU to file a special leave petition against the judgment before the Supreme Court, saying they "do not find any reason for the same".It ruled that admissions for the session of 2006-2007 "will be free to all." The judges maintained, "Admission in
Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION
Umesh, Thats the wrong question for C'da. Look what he wrote: "Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able. But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference." So, basically what he is saying is, yes we have all the capable people who are willing and able, BUT CANNOT do so because of the "Indian Rule" Obviously, what he means is that Assam will be in this state, until and unless Assam is free of India. But, practical people anywhere will tell you that for Assam to get out of "Indian rule" is next to impossible. Why? 1) Many Assamese itself DO NOT support independence or be outside of India. They think they are Indians. 2) ULFA or others have been trying for this for 25 + years 3) India will never give up an inch of its territory (inspite of various arguments and philosophies why "Indian domination" is bad/unwarranted/illegal). If those are the stark realities, what would reasonable people do to make the best of a bad situation? I think, they would work within this present system and try and do what they can for Assam, for its people, its development,and other problems. Sometimes I think this continuing insurgency is a big money-churner for many - politicians, GOI, GOA, ULFA, businesses and bureaucrats. Many people have the potential to make it big if there is a continuing instability - and of course damn the common folks of Assam. They do not fall into any equation. And, all we can say is "just you wait" :) --Ram da On 1/13/06, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: C-da, You make a valid point about urgency of reform needed in Assam and also that there are people who can and are willing to take up. Who stops them? Is someone at Delhi bent on killing them or maiming them? Umesh C-da wrote: "If Rajen or your assertions are accurate that Assam is the most corrupt of the various colonies of India, then it behooves it needs those reforms, NOW! The sickest needs the treatments most urgently. Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able. But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference." Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram: One last time on these issues: >But you must agree that ANY reform in India or Assam MUST come from an informed >public. *** Yes I do. And that is exactly why I asked for YOUR recommendations, Rajen's recommendations. But what did you show? Therefore it follows that Assam cannot depend on its intelligentsia establishment, the supposedly informed lot, the one that controls the media, the economy and the political machinery -- and even its purported cream of the crop of NRA's in the west. Certainly not on its uninformed, uneducated masses, struggling merely to survive against the incredible odds, while their assets, resources are being plundered and looted by India and partially being redistributed to a tiny minority of Assam's privileged. But that does not mean Assam ought to wait for India to effect the reforms that it had decades to start with and demonstrate a trend. It did did not, because it cannot. Assam will have to do it for itself. Take charge of its own future! You make the argument of other states prospering in spite of the dysfunctional Indian governance. And thus you demand the same from Assam. It is a preposterous argument. Imagine demanding an ill-fed, poor child of illiterate parents from the slums same performance as children of IAS Babus or Engineers or Doctors because they go ,to the same school. That is exactly what you are doing. Assam's circumstances are not the same as Karnataka's, or Tamil Nadu's or Bihar's. Assam must do what it needs to under its own circumstances, and not what Karnataka does or West Bengal does. Assam must REFORM and RE-order its governance for its own sake, because it is essential for its survival and progress, regardless of what India does or does not. And even if I were to accept your argument -- which I don't--that some Indian states are prospering in-spite of their broken governance, it still makes no sense for Assam to labor under it--because its circumstances does not give it that luxury. If Rajen or your assertions are accurate that Assam is the most corrupt of the various colonies of India, then it behooves it needs those reforms, NOW! The sickest needs the treatments most urgently. Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able. But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference. c-da At 1:54 PM -0600 1/2/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da >That Ram is
[Assam] Tea
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4516582.stm ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Social entrepreneurs
This concept seems quite important- started by this institute. Umesh"Bill Drayton, ASHOKA: Innovators for the Public" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Bill DraytonDate: Thursday, December 29, 2005To: Umesh SharmaDear Umesh, Earlier this month, friends sent you a note with our year end report asking for your support. You may not have received it due to potentidelays. I therefore thought I should send you a copy of their overview letter again, so you can nonetheless contribute before year end. From: Marjorie Benton, Former U.S. Representative to UNICEF; Former Chair, Save the Children Richard Cavanaugh, President and CEO, The Conference Board, Inc. Richard Danzig, Former Secretary of the Navy Jessica Einhorn, Dean, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins UniversityDate: December 5, 2005To: Umesh Sharma Dear Umesh, Harvards Center for Public Leadership and US News & World Report just designated Ashokas CEO, Bill Drayton, one of Americas Best Leaders. (Along with Colin Powell, Bill and Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and the co-founders of Google.) That they chose Bill, and heavily for his work building Ashoka, comes as no surprise to us. Many in our community have worked with Ashoka for years and admire its values, practical creativity, and unrivaled impact. Ashoka is extraordinary. It invented the phrase social entrepreneur. It built the field. As Harvard and US News recognized, Ashokas impact is astonishingly enormous. (Astonishing chiefly because Ashokas style is so quiet and because public awareness lags way behind the huge social changes Ashoka has helped trigger.) Ashokas first insight was that there is nothing more powerful than a big social idea but only if it is in the hands of a first-class entrepreneur. Ashoka is probably best known for its brilliant ability systematically to find this rare combination of powerful idea and top entrepreneur well before they have succeeded. It helps them take off, and it sticks with them over their lifetimes until they have in fact changed the world. Year after year and on every continent, its results are extraordinary. Five years after it finds and elects an Ashoka Fellow: · Between 50 and 60 percent have changed national policy; · Roughly 90 percent see their innovations copied by independent groups. Wherever society is stuck, Ashoka social entrepreneurs are at work. The roads in South Asia are a rule-ignoring bedlam and killing zone; Fellows are changing the culture, taking on police corruption, putting in place 24 hour hotlines and well deployed emergency response, and creating the first blood banks in wide rural areas. Each year, 150,000 college capable American high school students do not even apply; one of the early U.S. Fellows now has 80 percent of his participants attending and graduating. Ashoka allows us to be stakeholders in 2,000 such stories. The impact is extraordinary, the costs very modest (chiefly a stipend for the Fellow if and to the degree he or she needs it, which averages as little as $3,000 a year in South Asia, for an average start-up period of three years). The Fellows direct impact is only the beginning. They are role models that inspire many, many others to care and to organize,. Moreover, their ideas disrupt existing local patterns; and, because the entrepreneur makes them as user friendly as possible, they entice local people to step up and become active changemakers, who in turn become role models for their friends and neighbors. This dynamic is at the heart of the democratic revolution. Ashoka does far more than help individual ideas and entrepreneurs fly and succeed. It weaves them together into a global community whose collaborations are far more powerful than the sum of its solo practitioner parts. And it is hard at work building the institutions that will best serve its rapidly maturing -- and now globalizing -- field. For example, now that for the first time social entrepreneurship has a significant number of practitioners who have made major scratches on history and who are operating globally, Ashoka is quietly helping them find one another, collaborate at their quite different levels, and provide leadership to the field. The resulting Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship is now publishing a DVD series of in-depth discussions with some of these remarkable people. Ashoka was founded this month 25 years ago. It has accomplished a very great deal. It now is uniquely positioned to make even bigger contributions to the history of our era. To do so, however, it needs our -- and, very much, your -- help. Please do what you can. There is no higher yielding, more important investment. With every good wish for a
Re: [Assam] New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory
perhaps this could be a reason: "An independent genetic study by Partha Mazumder at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta with colleagues at Stanford University and elsewhere has found that the majority of genetic signatures among men in India are older than 10,000 years"Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > A study by scientists at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Calcutta has revealed that most present-day Indians are >the descendants of early humans who began to arrive in India about 60,000 years ago I wonder how they arrive at their result. RB --- HPI will next appear January 16 New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory Law Firm Retained to Represent Hindus in California Textbook Efforts State University of New York Seeks Hinduism Professor1. New Genetic Studies Caste Doubt On Aryan Invasion Theory www.newkerala.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 12, 2006: Two new genetic studies have disputed long-held beliefs that pastoral central Asian people brought agriculture to India and contributed heavily to the genetic make-up of modern Indian populations. The central Asian people who migrated to India included the Aryans who began arriving around 3,500 years ago. The studies by scientists in Calcutta with colleagues in other countries might force historians to revise current ideas about the impacts of migrations from central Asia beginning about 8,000 years ago on India. A study by scientists at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Calcutta has revealed that most present-day Indians are the descendants of early humans who began to arrive in India about 60,000 years ago. It suggests that modern Indians do not owe much genetic makeup to central Asians who arrived much later. The findings do lend support to the migration of people from central Asia into India. "Although we did find genetic signatures from central Asian populations in Indian communities, there are not enough (signatures) to prove large-scale mixture with local populations," research team leader Vijendra Kashyap told The Telegraph. An independent genetic study by Partha Mazumder at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta with colleagues at Stanford University and elsewhere has found that the majority of genetic signatures among men in India are older than 10,000 years. The study of 1,100 men from 36 ethnic groups in India, 8 in Pakistan and 18 from the southeast Asian region has indicated that many of the genetic signatures have arisen in India and predate the arrival of the Indo-Europeans and their expansion in India. "The genetic contribution from central Asia has not been as large as generally believed," Mazumder said. His study has also indicated that the genetic input of people who might have brought agriculture into India from West Asia has been limited.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Reforms - The CONCLUSION
C-da, You make a valid point about urgency of reform needed in Assam and also that there are people who can and are willing to take up. Who stops them? Is someone at Delhi bent on killing them or maiming them? Umesh C-da wrote: "If Rajen or your assertions are accurate that Assam is the most corrupt of the various colonies of India, then it behooves it needs those reforms, NOW! The sickest needs the treatments most urgently.Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able.But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference." Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram:One last time on these issues:>But you must agree that ANY reform in India or Assam MUST come from an informed >public. *** Yes I do. And that is exactly why I asked for YOUR recommendations, Rajen's recommendations. But what did you show?Therefore it follows that Assam cannot depend on its intelligentsia establishment, the supposedly informed lot, the one that controls the media, the economy and the political machinery -- and even its purported cream of the crop of NRA's in the west. Certainly not on its uninformed, uneducated masses, struggling merely to survive against the incredible odds, while their assets, resources are being plundered and looted by India and partially being redistributed to a tiny minority of Assam's privileged.But that does not mean Assam ought to wait for India to effect the reforms that it had decades to start with and demonstrate a trend. It did did not, because it cannot. Assam will have to do it for itself. Take charge of its own future!You make the argument of other states prospering in spite of the dysfunctional Indian governance. And thus you demand the same from Assam.It is a preposterous argument. Imagine demanding an ill-fed, poor child of illiterate parents from the slums same performance as children of IAS Babus or Engineers or Doctors because they go ,to the same school. That is exactly what you are doing. Assam's circumstances are not the same as Karnataka's, or Tamil Nadu's or Bihar's. Assam must do what it needs to under its own circumstances, and not what Karnataka does or West Bengal does.Assam must REFORM and RE-order its governance for its own sake, because it is essential for its survival and progress, regardless of what India does or does not.And even if I were to accept your argument -- which I don't--that some Indian states are prospering in-spite of their broken governance, it still makes no sense for Assam to labor under it--because its circumstances does not give it that luxury. If Rajen or your assertions are accurate that Assam is the most corrupt of the various colonies of India, then it behooves it needs those reforms, NOW! The sickest needs the treatments most urgently.Question is who will take charge of such reforms, NOW? The answer is that there are plenty of people, right in Assam--and outside too, to take it on. Ready, willing and able.But they cannot do that under prevailing Indian rule. That is the difference.c-da At 1:54 PM -0600 1/2/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da >That Ram is called accountability. It is DETERRENCE I fully agree its a major component. The laws do exist for such punishment, and they would be implemented at a much faster speed if the 'public', the media and others are on top it it and expose corrupt individuals and till punishments are rendered. Jail time for those stealing public funds always existed. Politicians & the powerful have been able to thwart legal proceedings by employing corrupt practices and circumventing and undermining the system. With the resent cash for questions, the media having exposed these powerful politicians, they have been expelled. The CBI and the Auditor General's office are now contemplating civil actions against the culprits. At least the national media is keeping on top of it. And things are NOT that easy for the errant Delhi politician. > Remember when ULFA executed a few of those officials how Assam was all agog?. And I was >told -- it is second hand info, I was not there -- that there was a visible reduction of demands for >bribes and such Probably so, and goo too - but it didn't last long, did it? As soon as people found out that all the ULFA was trying to do was corner the market on thieving. All that did was replace the regular thieves with the 'patroitic' thieves for a while, till people found out the extent of their patriotism. But more importantly - even murdering a few corrupt did nothing to DETER corruption on a permanent basis, did it? >Undertake a major reform of the laws of the land. Throw most of them out. Good suggestion. Agreed. But do you also think such demands must come from a population who is uder the
[Assam] (desi_umd) Back on popular demand : Sanskrit Workshop !
anyone in the area might find it useful. I took lots of classes in Sanskrit at school - 3 years grade 6 to 8 --like all students and at insistence of my father even took it as one of my three subjects at college - I read under a private tutor for 3 months. Was useful in helping me decipher now - some texts in sanskrit. but I later dropped out from the program after an year - to do one in Economics honors at Delhi to help solve India's poverty problem. I have no regrets for my decisions. The basic Sanskrit knowledge is useful and economics is quite useful too. Umesh DESI UMD <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: To: Develop Empower & Synergize India <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>From: DESI UMD <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 07:01:29 -0800 (PST)Subject: (desi_umd) Back on popular demand : Sanskrit Workshop ! Hello The free spoken sanskrit classes are back. But this time instead of biweekly classes, we have an intense two-day workshop for beginners, still free !! The dates: Feb 25, Saturday and Feb 26 Sunday, 2006 (Mark your Calendar NOW) Time: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm Venue: Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, basement Please register TODAY at http://www.studentorg.umd.edu/desi/sanskrit . Registration is FREE. No prior knowledge of sanskrit or other pre-requisites required. Food will be available at a nominal price on both days in the temple canteen This is a joint event by DESI and SSVT education group, and the interactive workshop sessions will be conducted by Mr Rajesh Rachabattuni, a volunteer from Samskrita-Bharati, together with games and other activites . At the end of two days, you will be able to converse in sanskrit, and these will be followed by regular practice sessions and study groups thereafter Hope to see you register TODAY, and come for the workshop Best Wishes DESI team Yahoo! PhotosRing in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. SPONSORED LINKS India calling card India phone card Desi dating Desi arnez Lucy desi Umd YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "desi_umd" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 Yahoo! Photos NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Sky is Love
Himendra-da, Thats an interesting observation. But where I get the drama NIRVANA you mention? UmeshHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Umesh, It is perfectly alright to miss "da" after my name !!! Let me share with you an episode of a mother's anxiety when she found out that her son's look-alike was not her son: SUSHMA (to Biju, in fear): If you are not my son, who are you ? BIJU: All my life I have been asking the same question, who am I. I never found the answer. Since we do not know the answers to the questions "Who am I ? " ... "Where did I come from ?" ... etc, it definitely does not matter what the name is, and/or what are the prefixes & suffixes !! Our personal existence is in significant, but our consciousness opens the door to the tremendous positive vision "Sky is Love" from Chandogya Upanishad. I'll be ver happy if you read the above drama NIRVANA, which ends in its clmax "yadeva kam tadeva kham iti" (Whatever is sky so is Love) from the verse 4-10-5 of Chandogya Upanishad. I have a weakness to discuss these points. With love to everybody, Himendra - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Himendra Thakur Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 9:13 AM Subject: Re: Eighth International Conference Against Dowry, Female Feticide & Son-Preference in IndiaHimendra-da, I forgot to write "da" last time as I was in a hurry with the computers closing down. UmeshHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: To Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 Dear Umesh, Thank you, Umesh ! I need help from everybody to do this work. Please tell everyone to help "Antarjyoti" ... your friends in India may mail their donations in Rupee cheques (made out to "Antarjyoti" ) by mailing it to Shri Manoj Kumar Das, Treasurer of "Antarjyoti" or to Sushri Shikha Sharma, General Secretary "Antarjyoti", at the addresses appended below. Thanks for your support. With love to everybody, Himendra APPENDIX: Please make out your Rupee cheques to "Antarjyoti" and mail to anyone of the following addresses: (1) Shri Manoj Kumar Das Treasurer "Antarjyoti" B 109 Gr Floor Rear Sarvodaya EnclaveNew Delhi -110017, India (2) Sushri Shikha Sharma General Secretary "Antarjyoti" 115 Bhanot Trade Centre, Paschim Vihar New Delhi-110063, India - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Himendra Thakur ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 4:56 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Eighth International Conference Against Dowry, Female Feticide & Son-Preference in IndiaHimendra, You really seem on top of things. Doing it - rather than just talking about it. UmeshHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Ram, Thanks for posting Patricia's article. I am very hopeful that the women of the Northeast, with support from their menfolk, will lead women of the rest of India to find freedom from oppressive customs. With the best wishes, Himendra - Original Message - From: Himendra Thakur To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: subbu suren ; narayan raja ; Antarjyoti ; Werner Menski ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 3:25 PM Subject: Eighth International Conference Against Dowry, Female Feticide & Son-Preference in IndiaTo Ms Patricia Mukhim Shillong, Meghalaya Dear Patricia, I am happy to read your article in "The Statesman" about women in the Northeastern part of India where there is no dowry system. Since this is something unique in India where 25,000 brides are "killed or maimed" every year over dowry disputes, will you be interested to participate at the "Eighth International Conference Against Dowry, Female Feticide & Son-Preference in India" to be held on December 27, 28 & 29, 2006 in Kanyakumari ? Please contact Professor Werner Menski of the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and Dr. Gopalakrishnan Karunanithi of Manonmaniam University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu about the content of your paper. I am sending a copy of this letter to them, and also to the organizer of the Conference. I'll be very thankful if you contact me as soon as possible. With the best wishes, Himendra ThakurPresident "Antarjyoti" and Chair, Board of Directors, International Society Against Dowry & Bride-Burning in India, Inc. Boston, USA Telephone: USA-617-922-3651 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 Yahoo! Photos NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo. Umesh Sharma5121 Lackwanna STCo
Re: [Assam] Inauguration of " Promod Swarna Sadan" in Guwahati
Dear Mahesh-da: Thank you for sending the information. It is a great way to show care and affection to one's loved ones and doing something for the people back home. As usual, they have set a good example for others to follow. We would like to follow it by doing something similar in the near future. Trust you all are doing okay. As for us, we are still trying to put all the pieces together to solve the puzzle that put our lives upside down. But we've been strong, and finding more and more, that becoming spiritual (not necessarily religious, but spiritual - or is that what religion is?) is the only way to be able to deal with it. Everyday is a different day but we're going to be okay. Again, thank you. Regards, - Alpana From: "Mahesh Baishya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Subject: [Assam] Inauguration of " Promod Swarna Sadan" in GuwahatiDate: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:51:34 -0800 ><< PromdSwarna.doc >> ><< CIMG2012.jpg >> ><< IMG_0280.JPG >> >___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Indian Identity in American Schools - Dr.C.Alex Alexander, ULFA irrelevant
Mukul-da, You missed the whole point. It is NOT what India IS but what India is perceived to be. I don't see any connection at all with your ULFA rebellion etc. Cows and caste and curry will continue to be the 3 Cs of India in Western psyche -- whatever the outcome of ULFa talks may be. Further, these perceptions of India were NOT created after India's independence -- but have been for centuries ever since the Westerners (read British) developed their imperialist designs on India. your comments are welcome. Umesh mc mahant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:<>>International diplomatic nicety needs might have quietened that school, but I suspect that they are convinced that have no reason to give up their firm belief that these groups best serve the role of worker bees - not total thinkers. India has to change totally. Best chace is to BEGIN by letting Assam go its own way. mm From: umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] Indian Identity in American Schools - Dr.C.Alex AlexanderDate: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:02:22 + (GMT)quite a detailed appraisal. Might interest some. Umeshviji <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]From: viji <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 18:55:36 -0800 (PST)Subject: Indian Identity in American Schools - Dr.C.Alex Alexander This article showcases the pathetic sitution of Hindu portrayal in US textbooks and why edits have to be made for fair portrayal. In a nutshell, the textbooks are full of negative and disparaging portrayal of Hinduism and paints a very positive picture of other religions. The basic reason for the changes in having some balance and fairness in showing Hinduism. Venkitesh (Viji) http://www.sulekha.com/blogs/blogdisplay.aspx?cid=40752 Indian Identity in American Schools C. Alex Alexander Though I have been in the US since 1962, I seem to have remainedunaware of how American schools are imprinting concepts of Indianidentity and Hinduism on the minds of American youth includingchildren born to Indian parents. It was probably because I never hadchildren of my own. My recent inquiries of Indian parents about thisissue revealed that not many Indian parents are fully cognizant ofthe extent of misinformation that is being parlayed to youngAmericans, not just about India but about most non-Europeancivilizations. After availing of an early retirement from our professional lives,my wife and I spent a year studying Art History after which webecame volunteer docents at a local art museum. In our roles asDocents we came in contact with elementary and high school studentswho visited the museum to augment their knowledge of world historyand ancient civilizations. After a year's experience of interactingwith school kids I have become convinced that something needs to bedone, especially with regard to the way non-Judeo Christiancommunities are being portrayed in the text books that our studentsuse and the manner in which their teachers are trained to deal withAsian, African, Latino and Native American traditions. India, in my opinion receives the worst treatment of all at thehands of our teachers of world history. China and Japan fare a lotbetter. My African-American colleagues with whom I often talk aboutIndia's image in the US greet me with their "welcome to the club"slogan. They remind me that Indians "have to fight the battles likethey themselves had to struggle with in order to make the whiteAmericans concede at least partly that Africa is more than a merecontinent that sent them their slaves". Those of you who haveresided in the US since the early 1960s may recall the debates wehad here when the US Nobel Laureate William Shockley and his friend,Professor Arthur Jensen began to popularize their (now-discredited)theories of racial inferiority of African-Americans. It took nearlyfour decades of systematic challenges by the black community tocorrect the distorted stereotyping of blacks, some of which continueeven today in a subtle fashion. Likewise, during the last three or four decades, the negative imagesof India and Hinduism in particular have been promoted by our moviesand talk show pundits (Indiana Jones, Oprah Winfrey, 60 Minutes etal). These have contributed to the inability of many of ourschoolteachers to present a balanced portrayal of the Hindu, Jain,Buddhist and Sikh tradi
[Assam] East of Bangladesh territory Brit ?Bakshis? to India anyway. Now India giveth.
Fencing puts fate of 40 villages in balance http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85812 SHILLONG, JANUARY 12: Forty Meghalaya villages along the India-Bangladesh border would fall under Bangladesh territory once the fencing of the international border with Bangladesh is undertaken, according to a survey. Now the villagers have been demanding re-survey before the actual fencing work begins. According to Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) spokesman G H Kharshanlor, the 40 villages fall under Nongjri to Dawki and Dawki to Jaliakhola sectors. He told The Indian Express today the 40 villages under the two sectors would be in Bangladesh if fencing is done in accordance to the survey. The CCIB, which was formed by these villagers, has submitted a memorandum to Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang, demanding re-survey of the areas. The CM, during his recent visit to Jaintia Hills district, had also asked Deputy Commissioner Frederick Roy Kharkongor to write to the National Building Construction Company to keep in abeyance the fencing work. Kharkongor told The Indian Express that he is waiting for a written order from Lapang. Accusing the Centre of being lackadaisical, Khasi Students Union president Samuel Jyrwa demanded a fresh demarcation be undertaken before fencing work. He said: The Centre spent crores of rupees during the Kargil war for not giving away an inch of land in Kashmir, whereas here we are gifting away lands to Bangladesh. Don't just search. Find. MSN Search Check out the new MSN Search! ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Tea festival's missing ingredient
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4516582.stm --- Neep Hazarika ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
