[Assam] Assam back in Bollywood frame
Assam back in Bollywood frame - Film producer with roots in Guwahati to capture Northeasts nuances A STAFF REPORTER Shahnaab Alam in Guwahati. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, June 15: Southern movie mogul Mani Ratnam made the first real attempt to capture a slice of the Northeast on mainstream celluloid through the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dil Se. Ratnams portrayal was viewed as a half-hearted attempt by someone who had little knowledge about the region. Now, another Bollywood producer Shahnaab Alam who has his roots in Assam has attempted this ambitious task. He is currently working on a film to chronicle Assams people, culture and society in his next Hindi film.Alam, who is the producer of the hit Dhoom, was born in Guwahati, but left the state at the age of five with his parents.The yet-to-be-titled film will be shot in the lush green locales of Assam. Every time I come to the state, I discover new nuances in the people, the places and its culture, said Alam, who was here on a location recce last week. The unit will start shooting early next year. I have a heartfelt desire to bring into focus every element of the state in mainstream Hindi cinema. I am confident the film will be a trendsetter for attracting others to make films about this part of the country. Alam revealed that National Award-winning cinematographer Aveek Mukhopadhyay would turn director with the film. Mukhopadhyay, who catapulted to fame with his stunning camera work in Pataalghar, has also handled the camera in films like Bunty Aur Babli, Chokher Bali and Socha Na Tha. The film is a story about three geographical parts of the country the desert, the tropical forest and the mountains. Assam will showcase the mountainous terrain in this film. It is an aspect that is yet to be presented in a proper manner in mainstream Bollywood, said 35-year-old Alam. The best part is that the production of the film is being looked after by a talented Assamese producer, who is eager to change the image of the state through cinema, said S.M. Farid, head of management group Kreative People and a movie buff. Alam was the executive producer of Dhoom, the highest gross earner of 2004. He has also produced films like the critically acclaimed Dubai Return, directed by Aditya Bhattacharya, and Socha Na Tha, the launching pad of bubbly Bollywood diva Ayesha Takia. He is currently working on his next production, Shoonya, a film based on the life of a cricket star and his tryst with fame and adulation. The film, directed by Arindam Mitra, has a dream cast of K.K. Menon, Naseeruddin Shah and Tulip Joshi. Mainstream India still considers the Northeast inaccessible and ravaged by terrorism. Again, people here believe it is practically impossible to reach the hallowed portals of Bollywood, said Alam. I hope to shatter both these myths through cinema. Alam started his career as a journalist and went on to produce several ad films and corporate films for clients like Amul, Sansui and Reliance. He has also designed and directed several high-profile events, including Lux Zee Cine Awards, 1998, with theatre personality Feroz Khan and Aye Watan Tere Liye, a multi-starrer film industry event for the Indian army with actor Anupam Kher. He was also the brain behind the first rock concert comprising southeast Asian musicians at the United Nations headquarters in New York in October 2001. Do you Yahoo!? Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Zubeen spellbinds music lovers at Octave 2006
http://o3.indiatimes.com/barnali/archive/2006/03/25/564436.aspx#Comments Zubeen spellbinds music lovers at Octave 2006 In the backdrop of the Ministry of Tourism going full steam ahead to promote the Northeast, Octave 2006, an eight-day festival at the Pragati Maidan showcasing the regions diverse and rich heritage, couldnt have taken place at a more opportune time. Needless to say, the cultural extravaganza, flagged off by our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself, was a big draw from day one Whether it was screening of award-winning films, literary symposiums, poetry reading or book and art exhibitions, the fiesta strived to touch every aspect of the beautiful regions vibrant culture and heritage. But the icing on the cake was the live performance of Zubeen Garg, popular singer from Assam, who took to the stage along with other well-known singers from the Northeast on this lovely full moon day Manali was covering the event for Northeast Sun and this made it easier for me to recognise the other Northeast singers who are well-known names in their respective states. Reuben Mashangga from Manipur had everyone in splits with his humour-filled performance. Lou Majaw from Shillong rocked and his performance would have given Bon Jovi a run for his money. Even Te Tei Ralte from Mizoram, towards the fag end of the show charmed the audience But the most awaited performance of the evening was undoubtedly that of Zubeens as 95 per cent of the gathering at the open air stadium seemed Axomiyas. Indranis a big big fan of Zubeen. My last minute call to her to let her know about the programme met with the reply, Moi eyate bohi asu (Im sitting here itself) and I wasnt surprised at all! The crowd was an amalgam of the youth and old alike, though students seemed to outnumber everyone else Zubeen took to the mike accompanied by his musicians and one will have to add here that his new hairdo (he has chopped off his long girl-like tresses) made it difficult to recognise the singer. Im not too ardent a fan of the singer, but Im sure everyone else whos heard him sing will agree that his songs do touch ones heart. He started off with a prayer song followed by songs from his latest album Jantra. With requests pouring in from all quarters, he picked songs randomly from his old kitty like Maya, Anamika and of course his Hindi number from Kaante . While the songster sang, most of the people in the crowd swayed to his tunes and what could have been a more fitting finale to his performance than Bihu Geets. A troupe of Bihu dancers performed on stage and what a lovely sight to behold, moreso for someone like me who has missed out on the Bihu functions back home continuously for the past four years In the true Axomiya spirit, half the crowd got up from their seats and danced to the tune of Zubeens Bihu songs right below the stage. Amidst all the hubbub, what caught my attention was a spot-the-odd-one-out Sardar replicating the other dancers, and in the process giving us more reasons to laugh and cheer about . Truly the show was well worth the visit. In retrospect, everything went well, the festival was a success story but I think it could have been a bigger success had the organisers taken care of certain aspects like more publicity, rescheduling of events (for instance the screening of Jahnu Baruas film Konikar Ramdhenu coincided with Zubeen & the other NE singers programme. Im sure it would have put any Axomiya in two minds whether to listen to Zubeen or watch the movie), etc. Still one cant negate anything from the festival and Im certainly looking forward to more of such events in the days to come. http://o3.indiatimes.com/barnali/archive/2006/03/25/564436.aspx#Comments Blog : Barnali Gogoi Do you Yahoo!? Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Fwd: NPMHR appeals for an organized and persistent resistance against AFSPA
-Original Message-From: npfnk nagalim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 03:51:28 -0700 (PDT)Subject: Fwd: NPMHR appeals for an organized and persistent resistance against AFSPA Note: forwarded message attached. Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Attached Message From: naga peoples movement for human rights <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Rh Raising <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; neville lazarus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: NPMHR appeals for an organized and persistent resistance against AFSPA Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:20:38 +0550 Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights PB# 718, II Floor K.N.Sekhose Complex, Near Hotel Fira, Jail Colony Kohima, 797001 Nagaland Telephone: 91-(0) 370-2229356/2229357 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website – http// www.npmhr.org NPMHR appeals for an organized and persistent resistance against AFSPA Dimapur, 14 June 2006 The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) condemns the position of the Government of India for extension of ‘Disturbed Areas Act’ and rejection of the just demand for repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA); one of the most inhumane law ever legislated across the world reflecting India’s enduring democratic deficit. NPMHR consider this imposition of martial law provision on the Nagas and other struggling communities, denying them of their basic human dignity under the pretense of ‘protecting territorial integrity and promoting national security’ by democratic India, as a serious threat to world peace and security. The ancestry of the imposition of this AFSPA by the then newly Independent India (supplanting the former British colonial policy under which it suffered immensely), has been that of the campaign to suppress the Naga national movement in the 1950’s by brute military force through its manipulative propaganda of quelling ‘a few misguided Naga tribesmen’ on its frontiers. Despite the Government of India entering a formal ceasefire with the Naga resistance since 1997 and ‘the recognition of the unique history and situation of the Nagas’, the political process has not made significant progress so far. In this prolonged process of ‘talking about talks’, the Government of India has launched its massive ‘psychological warfare’ programme to further confuse and divide the people, leading to increasing bloodshed amongst the Nagas. NPMHR cautioned the Naga public to be careful about the questionable developmental packages dole out by the Indian military through its various civic contact programs under ‘Operation Good Samaritan’. Under any Government the role of the military is to protect national interest/borders through search, identify and destruction of the enemy but not development which is the realm of the executive. Naga Public should remember the many decades of bloodbath in Naga homeland and be farsighted about its role in peace building process where many vested interests forces are out to ‘win the hearts and mind’ of the common people to limit our potential as a struggling nation. NPMHR holds Government of India wholly responsible for the continuing cases of killings of civilians and clashes amongst the armed cadres. Even with the existence of a loose ceasefire monitoring mechanism and rising demands for amendment in the ground rules for effective enforcement, Government of India deliberately continues to ignore the efficient implementation of the ceasefire ground rules exacerbating the tension and multiplying the casualties among the Nagas. India will have no moral standing in the international community to speak and claim itself as the largest democratic country while these genocidal policies continues to be perpetrated in its so called backyard occupied north east and the Naga homeland. NPMHR considers India’s quest for positions in international forum such as UN Council of Human rights and the UN Security Council as serious deception due to its dismal human rights record in Naga homeland and possesses grave threat to minority and indigenous peoples struggling for basic human security and the recognition of their right to self determination. NPMHR demands that India ratify the Rome statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC) with universal jurisdiction over cases of genocide, crime against humanity, war crimes, torture, extrajudicial executions and disappearance; which will strengthen her assertion as a functional democracy to maintain accountability and transparency towards its commitment to the various international Human rights treaties it had ratified so far. The AFSPA promotes impunity by allowing torture, extrajudicial executions and disappearance, besides many other forms of human rights violations leaving behind a huge ‘Accountability gap’ leading to destructi
Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India
I wonder what proof we have (besides mention in Vedas [Rig Veda]) about Indians eating beef? As you know most Western historians would not believe Hindu scriptures are historiucally true -then why quote from them for beef eating? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:1. India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India epaper.timesofindia.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 12, 2006: (HPI note: The irony of this NCERT action is that the previous BJP government met with vigorous opposition from the now ruling Congress party and allies when it attempted to make the same change, considered an affront to Hinduism, in the text books.)References to ancient India's beef-eaters have been done away with in NCERT's newly-introduced history textbooks. NCERT, National Council of Educational Research and Training, is the national commission responsible for the textbooks in India's schools. NCERT changed the syllabus for Classes I, III, VI, IX and XI from this year in accordance with the national curriculum framework (NCF) 2005, to prescribe broad guidelines for an ideal course curriculum. Till last year, Class VI and XI textbooks had references to beef-eating habits. "These references were there in ancient Indian history books for Classes VI and IX till last year. Those textbooks have been replaced and the new ones have no mention of beef-eating," NCERT spokesman Ashish Bahad said. The reference had raised objections from several quarters last year and a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court. NCERT had also formed a three-member expert committee to look into the matter. "Following the NCF 2005, NCERT developed new history textbooks that attempt to arouse the curiosity of schoolchildren. The books encourage students to find out historical facts on their own," Bahad added.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Securitys tight. Get leading Spam and virus protection with the new Yahoo! Mail.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] NE to become part of Bdesh soon: NESO
I wonder how anyone can compare this Bangladeshi illegal influx into NE India with Latino illegal influx into US? Umesh Pradip Kumar Datta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: NE to become part of Bdesh soon: NESONEW DELHI, June 15: Concerned over continuous illegal immigration from across the border, an influential student body of the North-east today said the region would soon become a part of Bangladesh if immediate steps are not taken to stop the influx. Continuous illegal immigration from Bangladesh has become a great threat to India and demography of the whole North-east has been changing due to this large-scale influx, North East Students Organization (NESO) president Samujjal Bhattacharyya and general secretary NSN Lotha told reporters here. If immediate and time-bound steps are not taken to prevent the illegal immigration, the region will soon become part of Bangladesh, they said. A NESO delegation, comprising the All Assam Students Union, Naga Students Federation, Khasi Students Union, Garo Students Union, All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union, the All Manipur Students Union besides others, is in the national capital to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and other central leaders to place their demands. Bhattacharyya and Lotha demanded the Centre to provide constitutional safeguard to indigenous people of the North-east to protect their rights and interests. The NESO leaders hailed the ongoing peace process initiated by the Centre to solve the insurgency problems of several north-eastern States. We also demand special initiative from the Government for economic development of the region and remedies to the burgeoning employment problem, Bhattacharyya and Lotha said. PTI How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messengers low PC-to-Phone call rates.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From NewHistory Books on Ancient India
One may wonder if mad-cow disease was the cause behind stopping this practice of beef-eating in India during the ancient era -- IF they indeed were beef eaters. Or was it due to shortage of cattles? To some, mutton eating is as gross (even worse) as beef eating. A friend of mine told me he couldn't eat goat-meat (or lamb) because they are so innocent.. ..I asked him if only cunning or "violent" cows (if there were any) were slaughtered for beef. He started laughing hysterically. I guess it is same as saying: I can't eat pigeon but can eat duck meat, as pigeons are so innocent. I guess meat-eaters have an easy life - they don't have to go check everything when to go out to eat - to make sure that even the vegetable soup is not made with chicken broth. Also, if you are a vegetarian (in an Indian/Assamese way), be aware! even the vegetable fried rice in the Chinese restaurants mostly has eggs in it. I just had a bad experience yesterday. And make sure that the sauce in your 'tofu- dish' is not cooked with chicken/beef broth but water. Also, many variety of pasta are made with eggs - unless you conveniently don't want to think an find out about that at all. :) Portobello/porcini mushroom (steak) would be your best bet in an Italian/American setting, if you are not allergic to mushroom, that is! :) From: "Rajen & Ajanta Barua" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Subject: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From NewHistory Books on Ancient IndiaDate: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:19:34 -0500 1. India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India epaper.timesofindia.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 12, 2006: (HPI note: The irony of this NCERT action is that the previous BJP government met with vigorous opposition from the now ruling Congress party and allies when it attempted to make the same change, considered an affront to Hinduism, in the text books.)References to ancient India's beef-eaters have been done away with in NCERT's newly-introduced history textbooks. NCERT, National Council of Educational Research and Training, is the national commission responsible for the textbooks in India's schools. NCERT changed the syllabus for Classes I, III, VI, IX and XI from this year in accordance with the national curriculum framework (NCF) 2005, to prescribe broad guidelines for an ideal course curriculum. Till last year, Class VI and XI textbooks had references to beef-eating habits. "These references were there in ancient Indian history books for Classes VI and IX till last year. Those textbooks have been replaced and the new ones have no mention of beef-eating," NCERT spokesman Ashish Bahad said. The reference had raised objections from several quarters last year and a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court. NCERT had also formed a three-member expert committee to look into the matter. "Following the NCF 2005, NCERT developed new history textbooks that attempt to arouse the curiosity of schoolchildren. The books encourage students to find out historical facts on their own," Bahad added. >___>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] NE to become part of B’desh soon: NE SO
Well, there are some similarities, and a whole lot of differences. The similarities, in both cases they come in illegally and then demand rights. In both cases its difficult to identify who exactly is an illegal, also politicians in both cases do not have the will to do anything about it - simply they get a vote block or cheap labor. The differences are stark though. In the case of B'desh, it is actually an 'enemy' as far as India in concerned - an ungrateful one at that (to a country that was instrumental in giving them their freedom). Their hatred for India knows no bounds - they are willing to harbor, aid, comfort, train, and arm the various rag-tag insurgents running lose. The sole intention of B'desh is to export their population, and destabilize India in some way by supporting some low-intensity, bomb-kill-and-run type insurgents. Essentially, B'desh is a country with no backbone, which is definitely not the case with our southern neighbors. On 6/16/06, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I wonder how anyone can compare this Bangladeshi illegal influx into NE India with Latino illegal influx into US? Umesh Pradip Kumar Datta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: NE to become part of B'desh soon: NESO NEW DELHI, June 15: Concerned over 'continuous illegal immigration' from across the border, an influential student body of the North-east today said the region would soon become a part of Bangladesh if immediate steps are not taken to stop the influx. "Continuous illegal immigration from Bangladesh has become a great threat to India and demography of the whole North-east has been changing due to this large-scale influx," North East Students Organization (NESO) president Samujjal Bhattacharyya and general secretary NSN Lotha told reporters here. "If immediate and time-bound steps are not taken to prevent the illegal immigration, the region will soon become part of Bangladesh," they said. A NESO delegation, comprising the All Assam Students' Union, Naga Students' Federation, Khasi Students' Union, Garo Students' Union, All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union, the All Manipur Students' Union besides others, is in the national capital to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and other central leaders to place their demands. Bhattacharyya and Lotha demanded the Centre to provide constitutional safeguard to indigenous people of the North-east to protect their rights and interests. The NESO leaders hailed the ongoing peace process initiated by the Centre to solve the insurgency problems of several north-eastern States. "We also demand special initiative from the Government for economic development of the region and remedies to the burgeoning employment problem," Bhattacharyya and Lotha said. PTI How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail ___assam mailing listassam@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] Iraqi Edu. Minister is student at Harvard
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/impact/stories/other/al-bakaa.php what did he learn (and teach)? UmeshUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ All new Yahoo! Mail "The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Fwd: course info: Teaching Maths/Science
It seems my dreams are getting realized --though one at a time. If it works out I might become the sole expert in the field -as far as Indians are concerned. Umesh PS: This is what I wanted to do when I had applied to Harvard -learn how to teach math and science better (besides how US govt run schools are running so well -compared to Indian ones)umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 14:59:22 +0100 (BST)From: umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Subject: course info: Teaching Maths/ScienceTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED], IEP Program <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Dr Perlo, Madam, I am an admitted student of the IEP program for Fall 2004 , from India. Faced for the first time with a wide array of courses to choose from - I'm somewhat bewildered. Having gone through most the course websites of IEP program - I gathered that I'm really interested in the Methods of Educational measurement (a weak point in Indian system)-so I'm brushing up my statistical skills. Being a BA -Economics (hons) I'm hoping to go for the higher course than the "Mirco Economics of Educators" , so I'm brushing up my eco skills as well. Having been involved with teaching and demonstrating Maths and Science for the past 5 years (besides administrative work) at a K 12 school, I have always felt something amiss in Indian approach . The focus has always been on bookish learning - there was precious little else. We do have practical science classes -right from grade 3 onwards -where they prepare models/experiments for the science exhibition -but in general, Indian science is primarily bookish. During my schooling, I never was given an opportunity to go inside a science lab before 9th grade -and from then on too only for mechanically performing the fixed set of experiments. Perhaps it is because of this apathy towards practical science -right from school level - that Indian scientific research is non existent . Since sitting at computers does not require as high a level of involvement - between a student and teacher -as in practical science or maths - Indians are better at computers/software designing.T he student can practise by himself/herself on the computer without the school authorities fearing any breakages of lab apparatus (as of science test tubes, burettes, china dishes etc) Though getting a chance to participate in supervised science/math teaching praticum would have been even better, which I realise is reserved for those focused only on teaching science -the TEP program( I'm glad IEP porgram equips me with a whole range of strategies useful for school education), I wish to get an opportunity to learn the skills of designing teaching strategies which make the students' learning of science/math stimulating. Since it is in the formative years of grades 3 to 8 the children develop (dis)liking for science/math, I am especially interested in teaching strategies aimed at them. If I take the Massachusetts Teaching licensure subject tests for science/math teacher ,just after reaching Boston, in Aug 2004 hopefully, would I be allowed to enroll for the courses " Teaching Math" or "Teaching Science"? Science/Math skills are crucial to growth of any economy -esp a developing one such as India. I was hoping that I might be given a chance to get indepth knowlededge for improving this crucial area as well. Thank you for devoting so much time to go through this long mail. Yours sincerely, Umesh Jaipur, Rajasthan, India phone: 91 141 3107188 (cell) ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - so many all-new ways to express yourself Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ All New Yahoo! Mail Tired of [EMAIL PROTECTED]@! come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Threat to media - AT Editorial
Is this the desi demokracy we keep hearing about so much? - well, of course, its from the other side not the GOI/GOA. Its really ironic, that these champions of independence, democracy, freedom, rule of law (??) and what not, would have to stoop this low and be the first ones to discard those very canons they wear as badges to suit their own agenda. Threat to mediaThe United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has done it again. Once again the militant outfit issued threat to four journalists of the State as the ULFA was apparently not happy with their views. The journalists should strongly resist such moves by the banned outfit to gag the media. In a democratic society, every person has the right to express his or her views and everyone may not support such views. But issuing threats to oppose views of any individual cannot be supported and it is a good sign that the journalists of the State have joined hands to oppose the action of the outfit. A meeting of the city-based journalists, held at the Guwahati Press Club strongly condemned the ULFA's action and resolved to fight together against the attack on the fourth estate. The meeting called upon the ULFA to desist from issuing such threats and decided to launch a signature campaign against the attempt of the militants to terrorise the media. The journalists should stick together in this hour of crisis when a militant outfit issued threats to a few journalists only because the leaders of the outfit were opposed to the views expressed by the journalists and if the outfit is opposed to the views expressed by the media, they have every right to express their feelings through the media instead of trying to gag the Press. In the past also, the State witnessed threats and even attacks on newsmen by the members belonging to the ULFA and it is apparent that the leaders of the outfit do not have the tolerance to pay heed to the views of others and they expect that every person of the State would blindly support whatever they do. In the past, not only newsmen, but other people became the targets of militants' bullets only because they dared to raise their voice against the actions of the ULFA and the leaders of the outfit must realise the fact that just because they have the guns, everyone will not support whatever they do. Instead of trying to gag the media and all those who are opposed to the views of the ULFA with threats of guns , the leaders of the outfit should try to engage itself in a public debate through the media. The ULFA leaders should also remember the fact that they should not expect all sections of people to blindly follow their actions and the fact remains that no one including the Government failed in the attempts to gag the media. The State unit of the BJP has openly come in support of the media on this issue and it remains to be seen whether the other political parties manage to take a bold stand on the issue. The ULFA leaders should also respect the sentiments of the majority of the people of the State, who want restoration of peace and desist from indulging in any kind of violence at a time when the peace process is on as such actions by the outfit may jeopardise the entire process. During the period from June 8 to 12, members belonging to the ULFA triggered off more than 25 blasts all over the State, which resulted in the death of at least seven persons and more than a hundred persons were injured. The Government of India is of course responsible for the delay in carrying forward the peace process, but that did not mean that the outfit would target innocent people to show its strength. What is perplexing is that the attacks by the outfit started after the Central Government announced the date for the third round of talks with the ULFA appointed People's Consultative Group (PCG) and such actions will raise doubts in the minds of the people of the State on the sincerity of the outfit on the issue of talks. If the ULFA continues its acts of violence, the Government will not be able to sit idle and will be forced to launch offensive against the members of the outfit, which , in turn, will seriously affect the peace process. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] a recent grad India's RIMC, NDA, IMA - edu and deve.
http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/15sld4.htm this guy did 9 years of training -from RIMC to NDA to IMA -like my father. My father resigned from army after 15 years of service -even before due for retirement -to start a non profit in education and development. another compares IMA favorably with French Military Academy -esp of teaching STress & Time Management http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/15sld2.htm umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: As a counterpart of USA's elite West Point -India's IMA is unique because there is no univ. counterpart (such as Harvard or Yale etc for the US one) to match its glamour and appeal. It is perhaps the only Indian training inst. which really looks and works like a top global one http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/12sld6.htm I do not know much about US military adacemies for school age students but India's RIMC ( ww.rimc.org ) has produced Militray Chiefs for both India and Pakistan. National Defense Academy http://nda.nic.in/ s perhaps the real Indian counterpart for West Point -since cadets join it right after high school (my father joined it right after clearing Senior Cambridge exam of grade 10 [papers checked in Cambridge UK?] while at RIMC ). In my father's time IMA grads did not get any certificates recongnized by Univ. Grants Commission so he is still a Matriculate only - now the IMA grads get a bachelors degree. That causes trouble when Edu Board comes to visit for inspection and wants to meet the founder director (who is just grade 10 pass - though teaches students upto grade 10 level and even beyond sometimes -like in Phy -learning new topics by himself with help from fellow teachers) . The female principal who is a masters grad in Math (M.Sc, B.Ed.) and teaches high school math is thus obliged to act as the school boss -in front of authorities. She is married to a Punjabi Sikh though hailing from a local Jaipur "so-called" Brahmin family. She is working on her English since she studied in a local Hindi medium school --unlike my father who is fluent since childhood - it was compulsory for every student to speak only in Englsih at RIMC --even grade 6 ones. So it is compulsory to speak English for school students even at jaipur School - after grade 3 -however broken. Accent is ofcourse different from the US or UK one. It seems in US the army authorities come to Univs to enlist officers etc - on ROTC -right then and there (something NCC - National Cadet Core in India) -only open to US citizens though. http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/06.08/24-rotc.html In India they have to clear the entrance exam and then granted some extra advantage becos of their NCC experience at interview for joining the armed forces - it is not easy to get in 13,000 posts stil vacant. Maybe in US also they have to pass the tests beforehand and enlisted at their univ only after they qualify. Any comments ? Umesh Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Try the all-new Yahoo! Mail . "The New Version is radically easier to use" The Wall Street Journal___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] A report on the controversy surrounding the slaying of P. Nath
‘It was just a drama by the metropolitan police force. Police was in police custody after surrendering’ – accuses his parents. Pratidin (Protidiin) News , Guwahati (Goowaahaatii) 14 June; The mystery behind the murder of a youth couple of nights ago at Nilachol (Niilaasol) hill is deepening. Pulen Nath ( Poolen Naath) alis Komol alias Pintu Nath ( Piintoo Naath) has been identified as a hard core ULFA cadre and accusing him of being involved in the blasts at Guwahati. However, citizens are looking at the incident as an attempt by the Police department to shore up their lost standing as a result of their failings. As the serial blasts exposed the empty assurances of the city being a secure one, Superintendent of Police [SP] Nitul Gogoi to prove his efficiency has killed a youth who has left the organisation for good. Instead of him being involved in the Machkhowa (MaasKhowaa), Ganeshguri( Gonexgoorii), Bamunimaidam( BaamooniiMoidaam) or being one of the abductors of the Public Works Chief Engineer Suren Das (Xooren Daax) , the slain youth was a surrendered cadre of the ULFA. Mrs. Bimala Nath (Biimolaa Naath) , the mother of the slain Pulen Nath. of Namati (Nomaatii) Gao (Gaao) of Nalbari (Nolbaarii) revealed that her son surrendered to the police a week ago. When the bullet-ridden body was returned to the family this evening his mother stated in front of the news reporters present, “ A week ago he surrendered to the police. He told me himself on the phone. . He told me that he will have to stay with the police for a while and cannot return home immediately. Following his phone call, two youths identifying themselves as from the ULFA confirmed his surrender. But, after surrendering feeling secure with the police, he became a victim at the hands of the police at the end. My question is while in custody how could he be accused of causing so many explosions? Why was Pulen killed after returning to the civil society?” It should be noted that Pulen comes from a very poor family. His father earns his living as a petty masonry worker. His brother has been put behind bars of being the brother of Pulen Nath , alleges the family, to put pressure on Pulen to surrender. He has also been suffering from Malaria and Jaundice for a while. Because of increasing pressure on him and the dire straits his poverty-stricken family was at, he decided to return to the civil society, but, was sacrificed to prove the efficiency of a top city police officer. His father stated, “ He had to die because he was a ULFA cadre once. He has been slain in cold blood with prior planning.” It is learnt that the senior Police Officer Nitul Gogoi and SP [Operations] Zeetmol Dolei lead the raid at Narkasur (NorkaaXoor) Hills after heavy criticisms for the serial blasts in the city. The police involved in the operation although tried to establish that there was an encounter with a group of ULFA during the raid; observation has been made that it was a cold blooded murder. Bceause, countering the police version, Bhaben Rava ( Bhoben Raavaa) a Postal worker who has been accused of sheltering the ULFA guerrillas made a public statement that there was no confrontation at his residence. They heard the shots from a distance. Very significantly the body of Pulen Nath was lying in a nearby school field instead of any where close to his residence. The city police suddenly slaying Pulen during the night and next day abruptly claiming that he was instrumental in Machkhowa, Ganshguri, Bamunimaidam bombings and in the kidnapping of the late Chief Engineer Surn Das and his elimination is a big success for the police department appears to be wrapped in deep mystery. As result the honesty of the police has been called into question, how a surrendered ULFA cadre in their custody could be involved in exploding bombs in the city? Translated from Asomiya Pratidin (Oxomiiyaa Protiidiin) e-paper of 15 June 2006. http://www.asomiyapratidin.co.in/epaper/default.aspx (Bracketed) words are phonetical representation of Assamese sounds. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] ET: Bill Gates to become Non Profit leader?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1652344.cms Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ All new Yahoo! Mail "The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] A report on the controversy surrounding the slaying of P. Nath
why believe some ULFa guys over phone saying that this fellow had surrendered a week back. Is there no documentary proof or their claim of otherwise? It is true that even in Rajasthan - a corrupt police officer (who later got the President's Gold Medal) was rumored to be killing innocents -while labelling them responsible for then recent murders and dacoities --but here this dead guy is claimed to be an ULFA militant -by ULFA guys (over phone) itself. Isn't surrender done in front of large media presence? Umesh[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:âIt was just a drama by the metropolitan police force. Police was in police custody after surrenderingâ â accuses his parents. Pratidin (Protidiin) News , Guwahati (Goowaahaatii) 14 June; The mystery behind the murder of a youth couple of nights ago at Nilachol (Niilaasol) hill is deepening. Pulen Nath ( Poolen Naath) alis Komol alias Pintu Nath ( Piintoo Naath) has been identified as a hard core ULFA cadre and accusing him of being involved in the blasts at Guwahati. However, citizens are looking at the incident as an attempt by the Police department to shore up their lost standing as a result of their failings. As the serial blasts exposed the empty assurances of the city being a secure one, Superintendent of Police [SP] Nitul Gogoi to prove his efficiency has killed a youth who has left the organisation for good. Instead of him being involved in the Machkhowa (MaasKhowaa), Ganeshguri( Gonexgoorii), Bamunimaidam( BaamooniiMoidaam) or being one of the abductors of the Public Works Chief Engineer Suren Das (Xooren Daax) , the slain youth was a surrendered cadre of the ULFA. Mrs. Bimala Nath (Biimolaa Naath) , the mother of the slain Pulen Nath. of Namati (Nomaatii) Gao (Gaao) of Nalbari (Nolbaarii) revealed that her son surrendered to the police a week ago. When the bullet-ridden body was returned to the family this evening his mother stated in front of the news reporters present, â A week ago he surrendered to the police. He told me himself on the phone. . He told me that he will have to stay with the police for a while and cannot return home immediately. Following his phone call, two youths identifying themselves as from the ULFA confirmed his surrender. But, after surrendering feeling secure with the police, he became a victim at the hands of the police at the end. My question is while in custody how could he be accused of causing so many explosions? Why was Pulen killed after returning to the civil society?â It should be noted that Pulen comes from a very poor family. His father earns his living as a petty masonry worker. His brother has been put behind bars of being the brother of Pulen Nath , alleges the family, to put pressure on Pulen to surrender. He has also been suffering from Malaria and Jaundice for a while. Because of increasing pressure on him and the dire straits his poverty-stricken family was at, he decided to return to the civil society, but, was sacrificed to prove the efficiency of a top city police officer. His father stated, â He had to die because he was a ULFA cadre once. He has been slain in cold blood with prior planning.â It is learnt that the senior Police Officer Nitul Gogoi and SP [Operations] Zeetmol Dolei lead the raid at Narkasur (NorkaaXoor) Hills after heavy criticisms for the serial blasts in the city. The police involved in the operation although tried to establish that there was an encounter with a group of ULFA during the raid; observation has been made that it was a cold blooded murder. Bceause, countering the police version, Bhaben Rava ( Bhoben Raavaa) a Postal worker who has been accused of sheltering the ULFA guerrillas made a public statement that there was no confrontation at his residence. They heard the shots from a distance. Very significantly the body of Pulen Nath was lying in a nearby school field instead of any where close to his residence. The city police suddenly slaying Pulen during the night and next day abruptly claiming that he was instrumental in Machkhowa, Ganshguri, Bamunimaidam bombings and in the kidnapping of the late Chief Engineer Surn Das and his elimination is a big success for the police department appears to be wrapped in deep mystery. As result the honesty of the police has been called into question, how a surrendered ULFA cadre in their custody could be involved in exploding bombs in the city? Translated from Asomiya Pratidin (Oxomiiyaa Protiidiin) e-paper of 15 June 2006. http://www.asomiyapratidin.co.in/epaper/default.aspx (Bracketed) words are phonetical representation of Assamese sounds. ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.
[Assam] A report on the controversy surrounding the slaying of P. Nath
Dear Mr. U. Sarmah, Thanks for your comment. May we respectfully direct you to the news report translation in which the main informant of their son surrendering to the police as per the news report was his mother. The following excerpts in the translation appear to make it very clear Mrs. Bimala Nath (Biimolaa Naath) , the mother of the slain Pulen Nath. of Namati (Nomaatii) Gao (Gaao) of Nalbari (Nolbaarii) revealed that her son surrendered to the police a week ago. When the bullet-ridden body was returned to the family this evening his mother stated in front of the news reporters present, “ A week ago he surrendered to the police. He told me himself on the phone. We trust that the above information would be of help to you. Press section Assam Watch(UK) 16 June 2006 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] A report on the controversy surrounding the slaying of P. Nath
It is not good enough. Which mother would say that her son was in bad company? Why is there no other witness at all? After all a week is a long time. After surrendering (allegedly) this youth would have gone and met all sorts of friends including SULFA members (Surrendered ULFA group members). What is SULFA saying? Where are the surrender documents and witnesses? On the other hand, many reports have been there that ULFA itself has killed SULFA members (assuming that the youth ever surrendered). Umesh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Dear Mr. U. Sarmah, Thanks for your comment. May we respectfully direct you to the news report translation in which the main informant of their son surrendering to the police as per the news report was his mother. The following excerpts in the translation appear to make it very clear Mrs. Bimala Nath (Biimolaa Naath) , the mother of the slain Pulen Nath. of Namati (Nomaatii) Gao (Gaao) of Nalbari (Nolbaarii) revealed that her son surrendered to the police a week ago. When the bullet-ridden body was returned to the family this evening his mother stated in front of the news reporters present, ââ¬Å A week ago he surrendered to the police. He told me himself on the phone. We trust that the above information would be of help to you. Press section Assam Watch(UK) 16 June 2006 ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Save time, find those important emails with search capabilities for scanning your inbox and folders. Get Yahoo! Mail___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] A report on the controversy surrounding the slaying of P. Nath
Dear Mr. U. Sarmah, Thanks for your comment. We appreciate that you still have unresolved questions. Kindly take it up with the news paper for further clarification. Assam Watch(UK) has nothing further to add on the translated piece in question. Press section Assam Watch(UK) 16 June 2006 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Mr. Patgiri and Mr Bordoloi stated utterances have cleared the air of suspicion many seems to hold about them.
ULFA explodes confusions?By Nava Thakuria Fri, 16 Jun 2006, 10:02:00 http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_28542.shtml Email this article Printer friendly page Access News Photos Series of blasts that killed at least nine persons and wounded nearly hundred others, putting liability, denying allegation and counter allegation for the same occupied the important space of Asom media in the second week of June and these contributed more confusion to the civil society. The northeastern state was rocked by a series of explosions since June 8 in different locations (primarily in Brahmaputra valley) with casualties and also damaging crude oil and natural gas pipelines, railway tracks and government offices. Two major blasts in Guwahati itself resulted in killing of six persons and inury of many others. The Asom police Director General Deepak Narayan Dutt was quick to put the responsibility for explosion on the banned armed outfit, United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Speaking to the scribes in Guwahati Mr Dutt claimed that the state police had specific information regarding the involvement of ULFA in the violence. His claim was fully supported by the Inspector General (Special Branch) of Asom police, Khagen Sharma. According to the police, the insurgent outfit used Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), time bombs and grenades for the explosions. Even the government in New Delhi warned the insurgent outfit that the violence could only spoil the atmosphere for intended talks. The Home Secretary V K Duggal argued that the ULFA was adopting tactics to pressurize the Central Government. However, the militant outfit, which is fighting for a homeland for indigenous people of Asom since 1979, denied its involvement in most of the blasts. The armed section chief of ULFA, Paresh Barua denied their involvement in any of the blasts except on oil instantiations. Surprisingly, Mr Barua, while talking to a section of Guwahati based journalists through telephone from an undisclosed location claimed that the other explosions that killed innocent people was carried out by some Asom police officials led by its intelligence chief Khagen Sarma. However, the state police confirmed that it was only ULFA that masterminded all the blasts that took place during the period. Mr Sarma in a press briefing in Guwahati later asserted that the police had specific evidence to confirm that all the blasts were engineered by the assigned cadres of ULFA. Earlier the ULFA leader argued that a third force was relentlessly trying to derail the peace process, presently going on between the ULFA and the Government of India. It may be mentioned that ULFA lately showed interest in peace talks with the government and formed a group of civilians to pursue the course. The first round of talks between the outfit's representative team, People's Consultative Group (PCG) and the government took place on October 26 last year, where the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh (who represents Asom in Rajya Sabha) also took part. The second meeting was held on February 7 last and the third one is scheduled on June 22 next in New Delhi.The state chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who was abroad leading a team of state finance ministers of the country strongly condemned the incidence terming that violence and terrorism had no place in a democratic country like India. The newly elected state political chief for the second consecutive term, Mr Gogoi also instructed the police and civil administration to deal with the situation. The main opposition party of the state, Asom Gana Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Party also condemned the explosion. Condemnation came for the members of PCG also. Mamoni Raisom Goswami, who leads the PCG, condemned the killing with strong words. "Whoever had done it, the act of violence is always condemnable," said Ms Goswami, who teaches in Delhi University . The eminent Asomiya writer, Ms Goswami observed that no sensible person could accept the killing of innocent people. She appealed to the ULFA leaders and also the security personnel to maintain restraint for the sake of peace process. The PCG spokesman Arup Borbora also condemned the acts of brutality. However, two other members of the group added confusion to the scene claiming that the central government was responsible for the blasts for its delaying tactics applied to peace process. In separate statements to the local media soon after the explosion in Guwahati, PCG members Dilip Patgiri and Lachit Bordoloi asserted that the outfit was tempted to carry out the acts because of insincerity on the part of the government. The third round of meeting with the PCG was scheduled for March, but it was delayed to June, they argued. Of course, many in Guwahati targeted both Mr Patgiri and Mr Bordoloi for their undue outbursts. Sunil Nath, a former ULFA leader termed the comments made by both the PCG members as more dangerous than even a blast itself. In a regular column in an Asomiya da
Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India
The question is do the Hindus believe the Vedas? Why you have to rely on what others believe? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India I wonder what proof we have (besides mention in Vedas [Rig Veda]) about Indians eating beef? As you know most Western historians would not believe Hindu scriptures are historiucally true -then why quote from them for beef eating? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 1. India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India epaper.timesofindia.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 12, 2006: (HPI note: The irony of this NCERT action is that the previous BJP government met with vigorous opposition from the now ruling Congress party and allies when it attempted to make the same change, considered an affront to Hinduism, in the text books.)References to ancient India's beef-eaters have been done away with in NCERT's newly-introduced history textbooks. NCERT, National Council of Educational Research and Training, is the national commission responsible for the textbooks in India's schools. NCERT changed the syllabus for Classes I, III, VI, IX and XI from this year in accordance with the national curriculum framework (NCF) 2005, to prescribe broad guidelines for an ideal course curriculum. Till last year, Class VI and XI textbooks had references to beef-eating habits. "These references were there in ancient Indian history books for Classes VI and IX till last year. Those textbooks have been replaced and the new ones have no mention of beef-eating," NCERT spokesman Ashish Bahad said. The reference had raised objections from several quarters last year and a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court. NCERT had also formed a three-member expert committee to look into the matter. "Following the NCF 2005, NCERT developed new history textbooks that attempt to arouse the curiosity of schoolchildren. The books encourage students to find out historical facts on their own," Bahad added.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Securitys tight. Get leading Spam and virus protection with the new Yahoo! Mail. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Fw: Rigzone News: High Crude Prices Force ONGC to Cut Expl...
> > HIGH CRUDE PRICES FORCE ONGC TO CUT EXPLORATION EFFORTS >Tuesday, June 13, 2006 > Oil and Natural Gas Corp's (ONGC) exploration investments will take a hit > of up to $2bn due to skyrocketing crude prices. This is expected to impair > the exploration efforts, said petroleum secretary MS Srinivasan at a press > conference in Mumbai. >http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=33075 > > -- > For More Upstream Oil & Gas News, Visit: >http://www.rigzone.com/news/ > For Timely Updates, Subscribe to Email Newsletters: >http://www.rigzone.com/subscribe.asp > -- > provided by: > RIGZONE [ http://www.rigzone.com ] > 5870 Highway 6 North Suite 107 - Houston, TX 77084 > > ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India
If Hindus do not believe the Vedas then who does --but lets not mix religious beliefs with historical facts and reasoning --as many of the Net say:)) Od do you want the history txtbooks to write as follows: "Hindus believe that the ancient Hindus used to eat Holy cow - who is their mother -as per their belief," --that makes no sense. What do you propose? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The question is do the Hindus believe the Vedas? Why you have to rely on what others believe? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient IndiaI wonder what proof we have (besides mention in Vedas [Rig Veda]) about Indians eating beef? As you know most Western historians would not believe Hindu scriptures are historiucally true -then why quote from them for beef eating? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:1. India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India epaper.timesofindia.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 12, 2006: (HPI note: The irony of this NCERT action is that the previous BJP government met with vigorous opposition from the now ruling Congress party and allies when it attempted to make the same change, considered an affront to Hinduism, in the text books.)References to ancient India's beef-eaters have been done away with in NCERT's newly-introduced history textbooks. NCERT, National Council of Educational Research and Training, is the national commission responsible for the textbooks in India's schools. NCERT changed the syllabus for Classes I, III, VI, IX and XI from this year in accordance with the national curriculum framework (NCF) 2005, to prescribe broad guidelines for an ideal course curriculum. Till last year, Class VI and XI textbooks had references to beef-eating habits. "These references were there in ancient Indian history books for Classes VI and IX till last year. Those textbooks have been replaced and the new ones have no mention of beef-eating," NCERT spokesman Ashish Bahad said. The reference had raised objections from several quarters last year and a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court. NCERT had also formed a three-member expert committee to look into the matter. "Following the NCF 2005, NCERT developed new history textbooks that attempt to arouse the curiosity of schoolchildren. The books encourage students to find out historical facts on their own," Bahad added.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Securitys tight. Get leading Spam and virus protection with the new Yahoo! Mail.Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Now you can scan emails quickly with a reading pane. Get the new Yahoo! Mail.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Ode to the PCG - Sentinel letter
And now they sing odes. Mr. Neog, that will happen when pigs have wings, just don't hold your breath too long. Ode to the PCGIt is my humble opinion as a layman — thanks to The Sentinel editorial ''A Layman's Appeal'' (June 14) — that the People's Consultative Group (PCG), constituted by the banned ULFA to prepare the modalities for the Centre-ULFA talks, could have acted responsibly after the outfit's latest strikes against innocent civilians. Let the PCG answer this: what stops it from condemning the dastardly attacks? And what makes the PCG members a silent species when it comes to the ULFA's open threat to four daring Asom journalists? The answers would define peace here. Khagen Neog, Khanapara, Guwahati-22. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] An author's liaison with terrorist? Tim Sullivan, Hindustan Times
For those interested, Sullivan seems to have given a good prespective, and without bias. By Tim Sullivan Every week or so the phone rings in the professor's home, a tidy ground-floor apartment set behind a wooden gate and a flower-filled garden, and a voice echoes from a guerrilla hideout far to the east. The professor, Indira Goswami, is a prominent scholar of the Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic. She is also the best-known novelist in India's north-eastern state of Assam, a woman born to a wealthy land-owning clan whose books reverberate with the struggles of India's vast underclass. Her caller, Paresh Baruah, has spent 20 years on the run, leading a militant group fighting to take control of the forests and towns of Assam. Working from secret bases, many apparently in neighbouring Bangladesh, he controls the military wing of the United Liberation Front of Asom, the most powerful militant movement in an isolated region riven by poverty and ethnic turmoil. The writer and the gunman have never met. But their relationship, forged over bad phone lines and under the watch of Indian intelligence agents, has become the cornerstone of renewed efforts to bring peace to an area that has known little but violence for three decades. Amid a recent surge in militant attacks in Assam that have killed at least eight people and left more than 80 injured, the government is holding its third round of talks June 22 with the "consultative group" which Goswami heads, and which meets with officials on behalf of the militants. So the pressure is on to avoid a stalemate. "This is a rare chance for us after so many years," said Goswami, 63, a widow with an avalanche of pitch black hair and a teenager's nervous giggle who for nearly two years has been the main conduit between the government and the ULFA militants, thrusting her into the largest of a cluster of bloody but largely forgotten conflicts that have killed more than 10,000 people in the last 10 years. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed." Even she isn't sure what to make of her shift in priorities. "I'm a writer. I'm not a politician," said Goswami. "I had no idea that this would take so long." Indira Goswami Her critics dismiss her as a dilettante misled by extremists whose popularity has plunged. She shrugs at such talk. All she knows is the talks have eaten up immense amounts of time, her phones are tapped (a security official let that slip, she says) and she has neglected her writing. "But I'm happy I could help move this peace thing, that I could open the door for the boys," she said, sitting beneath a broken cuckoo clock, its hands frozen at 1:55, in her tchotchke-filled living room on the Delhi University campus. India is, in many ways, a patchwork of humanity. Though dominated by Hindus from a handful of ethnic groups, its 1.02 billion people include all the world's major religions, hundreds of ethnicities and more than two dozen languages that each have more than a million speakers. If the patchwork holds together in most places, the north-east is India's stepchild: seven states about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from New Delhi and connected to the rest of the country by a narrow land corridor. The ethnic groups comprising their population of 38 million have physical features that tie them closer to Tibet or Myanmar than to the rest of India. The area, which is about the size of the United Kingdom, is rich in natural resources, but hobbled by geography, ethnicity, poverty and unemployment. The situation has nurtured dozens of militant movements whose fights with the central government, and one another, regularly scatter the region with corpses. But there is no Al-Qaida here, and the region holds little importance to Western policy-makers. So the little wars get almost no attention outside India. In the northeast, though, the alphabet soup of militant groups - ULFA and PLAM, NLFT and ATTF - overlays nearly everything. "'Last year, this road was smeared with blood. There was always cross-fire of machine guns, exploding grenades. Now it's all quiet,'" a character says in Goswami's short story The Journey, driving through the north-east after a security clampdown. It was, the narrator reflects "As if a soft carpet covered it all - the blood stains, the dumps of arms and ammunition, the smell of gunpowder." The struggle of the ULFA guerrillas fighting for an independent Assamese state - "the boys" as Goswami invariably calls them - has left some 3,000 people dead since they took up arms in the late 1980s. If north-easterners have grown increasingly weary of the relentless cycles of attack-and-reprisal, along with the extortion the guerrillas use to raise funds, Goswami remains a firm believer. She sees them as they see themselves: as fighters for social equality battling the erosion of Assamese traditions and the bigotry of the rest of India. Violence, she said, "is the only power they have." Her open sympathy gave her credence with the milita
Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India
Umesh: It seems that the facts are very clear. The Vedas recorded that the ancient Hindus used to eat Beef. Now why the Hindus should have any problem in believing this to be true, and why the Hindus try to hide this fact by distorting the record. Is that what Hindusim teach: To compromise with the truth if found not to one'e liking? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 7:50 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India If Hindus do not believe the Vedas then who does --but lets not mix religious beliefs with historical facts and reasoning --as many of the Net say:)) Od do you want the history txtbooks to write as follows: "Hindus believe that the ancient Hindus used to eat Holy cow - who is their mother -as per their belief," --that makes no sense. What do you propose? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The question is do the Hindus believe the Vedas? Why you have to rely on what others believe? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India I wonder what proof we have (besides mention in Vedas [Rig Veda]) about Indians eating beef? As you know most Western historians would not believe Hindu scriptures are historiucally true -then why quote from them for beef eating? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 1. India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India epaper.timesofindia.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 12, 2006: (HPI note: The irony of this NCERT action is that the previous BJP government met with vigorous opposition from the now ruling Congress party and allies when it attempted to make the same change, considered an affront to Hinduism, in the text books.)References to ancient India's beef-eaters have been done away with in NCERT's newly-introduced history textbooks. NCERT, National Council of Educational Research and Training, is the national commission responsible for the textbooks in India's schools. NCERT changed the syllabus for Classes I, III, VI, IX and XI from this year in accordance with the national curriculum framework (NCF) 2005, to prescribe broad guidelines for an ideal course curriculum. Till last year, Class VI and XI textbooks had references to beef-eating habits. "These references were there in ancient Indian history books for Classes VI and IX till last year. Those textbooks have been replaced and the new ones have no mention of beef-eating," NCERT spokesman Ashish Bahad said. The reference had raised objections from several quarters last year and a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court. NCERT had also formed a three-member expert committee to look into the matter. "Following the NCF 2005, NCERT developed new history textbooks that attempt to arouse the curiosity of schoolchildren. The books encourage students to find out historical facts on their own," Bahad added.___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Securitys tight. Get leading Spam and virus protection with the new Yahoo! Mail.Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Now you can scan emails quickly with a reading pane. Get the new Yahoo! Mail. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India
Dear Barua, >Now why the Hindus should have any problem in believing >this to be true, and why the Hindus try to hide this fact by >distorting the record. I really don't think mainstream Hindus have any problem in this. Many Hindus recognize that ancient Hindus supposedly did eat beef. Who is trying to hide this fact? Most Hindus don't care one way or the other about this. The fact that some in the education department now or in previous BJP govt. tried to rewrite some textbooks has little relevance to mainstream Hindus. And just because some BJP or Congress minister wants to do this, certainly does not mean "all Hindus". That is too broad a brush. >Is that what Hindusim teach: To compromise with the truth if >found not to one'e liking? I am not sure if you ever had the chance to read the Old Testament and then compare it to the New Testament? If you have, you would know that 'compromising the truth' is not just a Hindu monopoly. And then extend this to the politically correct interpretations of Islam. Simply put, if you want to find problems with religions and the faithful, you won't have to look far in any religion. --Ram On 6/17/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Umesh: It seems that the facts are very clear. The Vedas recorded that the ancient Hindus used to eat Beef. Now why the Hindus should have any problem in believing this to be true, and why the Hindus try to hide this fact by distorting the record. Is that what Hindusim teach: To compromise with the truth if found not to one'e liking? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 7:50 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India If Hindus do not believe the Vedas then who does --but lets not mix religious beliefs with historical facts and reasoning --as many of the Net say:)) Od do you want the history txtbooks to write as follows: "Hindus believe that the ancient Hindus used to eat Holy cow - who is their mother -as per their belief," --that makes no sense. What do you propose? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The question is do the Hindus believe the Vedas? Why you have to rely on what others believe? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India I wonder what proof we have (besides mention in Vedas [Rig Veda]) about Indians eating beef? As you know most Western historians would not believe Hindu scriptures are historiucally true -then why quote from them for beef eating? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 1. India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India epaper.timesofindia.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 12, 2006: (HPI note: The irony of this NCERT action is that the previous BJP government met with vigorous opposition from the now ruling Congress party and allies when it attempted to make the same change, considered an affront to Hinduism, in the text books.) References to ancient India's beef-eaters have been done away with in NCERT's newly-introduced history textbooks. NCERT, National Council of Educational Research and Training, is the national commission responsible for the textbooks in India's schools. NCERT changed the syllabus for Classes I, III, VI, IX and XI from this year in accordance with the national curriculum framework (NCF) 2005, to prescribe broad guidelines for an ideal course curriculum. Till last year, Class VI and XI textbooks had references to beef-eating habits. "These references were there in ancient Indian history books for Classes VI and IX till last year. Those textbooks have been replaced and the new ones have no mention of beef-eating," NCERT spokesman Ashish Bahad said. The reference had raised objections from several quarters last year and a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court. NCERT had also formed a three-member expert committee to look into the matter. "Following the NCF 2005, NCERT developed new history textbooks that attempt to arouse the curiosity of schoolchildren. The books encourage students to find out historical facts on their own," Bahad added. ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University, Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ Security's tight. Get leading Spam and virus protection with the new Yahoo! Mail.Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 207401-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - Internatio
Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India
"The cow is a four footed domestic animal. It is the most useful to all animals. Cow gives us milk, it ploughs our land, it pulls cart, it's dung is used for making fire cakes, dung and urine are disinfectants and is used by the rural folk to apply a layer on their mud houses, cowdung is used to produce gobar gas. The dead carcass is used for fertilizer, bones are used for making buttons, hide is used for leather etc. etc. etc.". As a school kid we used to remember the essay on cow by heart. It was only essay that used to appear in the question paper with religious regularity. It is a gross mis-utilisation if such an animal is used for eating the flesh part only. I think down the ages at some point in the vedic time, the cattle population dwindled to alrming level due to over eating may be, threatening nutrition, farming etc. This was when religion was brought in and the cow was saved by making it 'holy'. mkd On 6/17/06, Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Barua, >Now why the Hindus should have any problem in believing >this to be true, and why the Hindus try to hide this fact by >distorting the record. I really don't think mainstream Hindus have any problem in this. Many Hindus recognize that ancient Hindus supposedly did eat beef. Who is trying to hide this fact? Most Hindus don't care one way or the other about this. The fact that some in the education department now or in previous BJP govt. tried to rewrite some textbooks has little relevance to mainstream Hindus. And just because some BJP or Congress minister wants to do this, certainly does not mean "all Hindus". That is too broad a brush. >Is that what Hindusim teach: To compromise with the truth if >found not to one'e liking? I am not sure if you ever had the chance to read the Old Testament and then compare it to the New Testament? If you have, you would know that 'compromising the truth' is not just a Hindu monopoly. And then extend this to the politically correct interpretations of Islam. Simply put, if you want to find problems with religions and the faithful, you won't have to look far in any religion. --Ram On 6/17/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Umesh: It seems that the facts are very clear. The Vedas recorded that the ancient Hindus used to eat Beef. Now why the Hindus should have any problem in believing this to be true, and why the Hindus try to hide this fact by distorting the record. Is that what Hindusim teach: To compromise with the truth if found not to one'e liking? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 7:50 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India If Hindus do not believe the Vedas then who does --but lets not mix religious beliefs with historical facts and reasoning --as many of the Net say:)) Od do you want the history txtbooks to write as follows: "Hindus believe that the ancient Hindus used to eat Holy cow - who is their mother -as per their belief," --that makes no sense. What do you propose? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The question is do the Hindus believe the Vedas? Why you have to rely on what others believe? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India I wonder what proof we have (besides mention in Vedas [Rig Veda]) about Indians eating beef? As you know most Western historians would not believe Hindu scriptures are historiucally true -then why quote from them for beef eating? UmeshRajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 1. India's Government Strikes Mention of Beef Eaters From New History Books on Ancient India epaper.timesofindia.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 12, 2006: (HPI note: The irony of this NCERT action is that the previous BJP government met with vigorous opposition from the now ruling Congress party and allies when it attempted to make the same change, considered an affront to Hinduism, in the text books.) References to ancient India's beef-eaters have been done away with in NCERT's newly-introduced history textbooks. NCERT, National Council of Educational Research and Training, is the national commission responsible for the textbooks in India's schools. NCERT changed the syllabus for Classes I, III, VI, IX and XI from this year in accordance with the national curriculum framework (NCF) 2005, to prescribe broad guidelines for an ideal course curriculum. Till last year, Class VI and XI textbooks had references to beef-eating habits. "These references were there in ancient Indian history books for Classes VI and IX till last year. Those textbooks have been replaced and the new ones have no mention of beef-ea
