[Assam] ALAXOT SANG POTA

[barua25]

I thnk Chandan is right.
ALAX also means AIR, VOID, SKY. 
Thus 'alaxot sang pota'  will be a correct Assamese expression.
"alaxor laru" means one who is raised in such affection and care as not to let 
him/her touch even the earth (mati).
ALAX in both the expression means the same: AIR
Rajen



- Original Message - 
From: "kamal deka" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world" 

Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.


> Akakhot sang pota,the English equivalent of which will be : To build castle
> in the air.
> 
> Alaxor laru means: something very dear.
> 
> I could be in error.
> 
> KJD ( INGRAJIR BIXAROD )
> 
> On 6/13/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I think Mukul-da is right.
>>
>> It is 'aakaaxot saang pota' (meaning 'xunyot'), not 'aalaaxot'.
>>
>> And you are right, Aalaax is used for 'Alaaxor Laaru', meaning
>> 'oti-moromor' - very precious, apple of the eye, need I go on? :)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and
>> humble like a blade of grass."
>>
>>
>>
>> > Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:34:53 -0500> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED];
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> CC: assam@assamnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.> > At 7:28 PM -0700 6/13/08,
>> Dilip and Dil Deka wrote:> >O'Mahanta,> >Same meaning - Imaginary Right? As
>> in Imaginary Laaru.> > >  I am guessing here now, but I think 'alaaxor
>> laaru' does not > mean an imaginary dessert. I believe it means 'something
>> absurdly > held to be 'aapurugiya', of great value.> > Can our Oxomiya-major
>> friends tell us exactly what an 'alaaxor laaru is'?> > > >Hey, we didn't do
>> too badly. Despite all conjectures :-), we do > >remember class X Assamese.>
>> > *** We may be geezers, but we do remember a thing or two still :-).> > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > >Hey, we didn't do too badly. Despite all conjectures
>> :-), we do > >remember class X Assamese.> >O'Deka> >> >> >> >- Original
>> Message > >From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >To: Dilip and
>> Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Chandan Mahanta > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
>> >Cc: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the > >world
>> > >Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 9:22:43 PM> >Subject:
>> Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.> >> >O'Deka:> >> >The other common
>> usage of 'alaax' is in 'alaaxor laaru'> >> >O'm> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
>> >At 7:00 PM -0700 6/13/08, Dilip and Dil Deka wrote:> >> >>O'Mahanta,> >>>
>> >>You are correct.> >>> >>'Alaaxot Sang Pota' is what I remember from usage.
>> In fact it was a > >>standard question in Assamese literature class
>> (interpretation of > >>'Phokora-zozona') and I remember answering that Alaax
>> must have > >>meant something intangible and imaginary, when a sang (bridge
>> or > >>shelf) needs some tangible support.> >>> >>O'Deka> >>>
>> >>===>
>> >>> >>> >>> >>- Original Message > >>From: Chan Mahanta <
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >>To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
>> from around the > >>world > >>Sent: Friday, June 13,
>> 2008 7:50:29 PM> >>Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the Editor.> >>>
>> >>>.You meant akaaxot> >>> >>> >>No, not really. I meant 'alaaxot'. 'alaaxot
>> ssang-pota' is an> >>authentic Oxomiya phrase :-).> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> >>At 6:01 AM +0530 6/14/08, mc mahant wrote:> >>><'Expectation is
>> the mother of all disappointments'.( maybe also > >>>Unhappiness)> >>>And
>> <'alaaxot saang-pota kotha'> ( daydreaming).You meant akaaxot> >>>mm> Date:
>> Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:01:32 -0500> To: > >>>
>> assam@assamnet.org>> >>>From: 
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: > >>>Re: [Assam] Fw: Letter to the>
>> >>>Editor.> > > I am also curious about the PREMISE of KJD's> >>>letter:> >
>> > The Asomiya language in the USA has already been put to> >>>sleep by >
>> >the Asomiyas themselves> > > *** First off, how can a> >>>language die in a
>> particular locale, when it > did not even LIVE> >>>there?> > When did the
>> Oxomiya language take root in US shores? It> >>>is a > preposterous
>> proposition. Surely a minuscule number of> >>>immigrants > spread out over a
>> continent three times the land mass> >>>of India, > speaking the language at
>> home or friends with infrequent> >>>contact > could not possibly establish a
>> language that could be even> >>>remotely > considered a living one.> > > ***
>> KJD make some good> >>>points, like the amusing spectacle of > conducting a
>> debate about> >>>the health of Oxomiya language in the USA > in English, or>
>> >>>conducting an entire Oxomiya bor-xobaah in English. > But then again>
>> >>>it only reaffirms the logistical challenges of > communicating in a>
>> >>>language that has NOT even

[Assam] Fw: Shankar Borua's new film CENTER MASS

[barua25]

CENTER MASS (107 mins., 2008)

  

Producer……..Rita Watkins



Executive Producer.David Webb



Line Producer………..David Epps



CameraShankar  Borua



Music.Chandra Cogburn



Editing.Shelley Rash, David Epps, Michael Wolfskill



Sound Mix.David Epps



Graphics.David Hoffpauir and Shelley Rash



Director………..Shankar  Borua

 





Director Bio: 

Shankar Borua is a filmmaker from Assam in North-East India. His first film 
ANGST AT LARGE (60 mins.) centered round the twin issues of nationality and 
identity in strife-torn Assam. IF GOD BE WITH US (120 mins.), his second 
feature documentary documents the struggle by the Nagas, an indigenous people 
at the tri-junction of India, China and Burma, resisting the occupation of 
their land and the appropriation of their heritage. Set against the backdrop of 
the turbulent civil war that has ravaged Assam for close to three decades now, 
HEPAAH (All those longings…), his first dramatic feature (130 mins.), is about 
a rag-tag band from a small town in Eastern Assam that makes it big. CENTER 
MASS is his first film in North America.





Synopsis: CENTER MASS (107 mins.)



The grand theme is about an adversarial relationship between two sets of people 
in America (pro-police and anti-police or more interestingly liberal versus 
conservative), and how a filmmaker from another land plays negotiator for once. 
 The template is the politically charged and touchy issue of police use of 
deadly force and the predicament of a free society in fairly investigating its 
own frontline representatives of the government, the police. Not to forget 
policing as a dangerous occupation set against the matrix of guns and violence 
in America. 



The film attempts to highlight the contradictions in the American social 
landscape, a landscape of extreme contrasts and an uneasy history of police 
brutality and highhandedness. It is a complex issue and the truth probably lies 
somewhere in between, not at either end of the spectrum.





Contact: 

Shankar Borua

1238 20th Street Apt # 3

Huntsville, Texas 77340 USA

Tel: 936 291 0078/ 936 294 4784

email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

 
http://www.spinglobe.com/friends/shankar
 
 






SHANKAR BORUA
THE ASSAMESE STORYTELLER
EMAIL : [EMAIL PROTECTED]

WHEN THE CAMEL DECIDES TO SIT
THE NIGHT KNOWS IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW STORY



Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows Live Messenger. Get 
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Re: [Assam] So what if he were?

[barua25]

>" I am a practising Christian. And so  what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain 
>or I were a Muslim?". If he/she says it, will he/she gain  voters or lose 
>them?""

Are you kidding? None of the candidates has the courage to say that.  It 
will hurt their votes if they say that. Don't you know America is a very 
religiously sensitive country so far as politics for the Presidency is 
concerned, especially to Islam. America is not India, where religion may not 
matter to most national positions in politics.
Rajen



- Original Message - 
From: "Dilip/Dil Deka" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world" 

Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 10:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] So what if he were?


" Question is IF Hillary or McCain or
Obama are Muslims ? Should they say they are,
even if they are not? Are you suggesting Obama
should say he is a Muslim, even though he said he
is not and wondering how his vote getting ability
will fare then?"

  DKD: No, that is not the question. What I was asking was why doesn't a 
candidate (Obama for example)  in modern day America have the courage to 
say, "" " I am a practising Christian. And so  what if Hillary Clinton, John 
McCain or I were a Muslim?". If he/she says it, will he/she gain  voters or 
lose them?""
  You and I don't care whether the president is a christian, Muslim, Hindu 
or an atheist. But why does religion still play a part in US politics? Isn't 
there a large religious vote bank that the candidates don't want to rankle?
  Dilip


Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  > > But why did you leave out the second half of my comment, " And so
> what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I were
>a Muslim?". If he says it, will he gain voters
>or lose them?" I'd like to hear your or others'
>comments on it.
Dilip


*** I am not sure I get it. Actually it should be
NOTHING. Question is IF Hillary or McCain or
Obama are Muslims ? Should they say they are,
even if they are not? Are you suggesting Obama
should say he is a Muslim, even though he said he
is not and wondering how his vote getting ability
will fare then?

My guess will be that it would depend on a few things:

A: IF Obama says now he is actually a
Muslim or merely a closet one, then his
credibility will
tank and rightfully so; because he has
declared a number of times that he is a Christian
and
not a Muslim. Under the circumstances,
his vote getting ability will tank as well. And
that
would not be an unreasonable or unexpected eventuality.

B: IF McCain or Hillary were to say they
are Muslims, they will be lying, because it is
widely known they are Christians, as far
as we know that is. Again same credibility
crisis and thus loss of votes, and rightfully too.


So, the question is not clear enough for anyone
to give a clear answer to. Perhaps we are
attempting to get answers to a hypothetical
situation, in which Obama or Hillary or McCain
could be Muslims in real life masquerading as
Christians in public. But what does that have to
do with the situation in hand?












At 7:13 PM -0700 3/9/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
>" Obama may have to too. But I hope he would NOT.
>And if he gets the nomination and gets elected as
>the next president, without having to answer to
>such questions or charges, just like without
>having to wear an US Flag on his lapel or place
>his hand over his heart while saying the Pledge
>of Allegiance,
>it will mark a historic turn of the American
>nation to a truly sophisticated one."
>
> DKD: I hope your hope comes true. Religion has
>no place in governace in a secular nation.
> But why did you leave out the second half of my comment, " And so
> what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I were
>a Muslim?". If he says it, will he gain voters
>or lose them?" I'd like to hear your or others'
>comments on it.
> Dilip
>
>
>
>
>Chan Mahanta wrote:
> At 10:52 AM -0700 3/9/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
>>Do you think Obama will have the courage to
>>say, "I am a practising Christian.
>
>
>*** It is NOT about COURAGE.
>
>Imagine you or I having to dignify an outrageous
>charge or scurrilous innuendo, every time a bigot
>or a fool or a charlatan makes it?
>
>Why should an US president's religion be an
>election issue? I know it becomes one, every
>time. But that is because candidates succumb to
>pressures from religious bigots .
>
>Obama may have to too. But I hope he would NOT.
>And if he gets the nomination and gets elected as
>the next president, without having to answer to
>such questions or charges, just like without
>having to wear an US Flag on his lapel or place
>his hand over his heart while saying the Pledge
>of Allegiance,
>it will mark a historic turn of the American
>nation to a truly sophisticated one.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>And so what if Hillary Clinton, John McCain or I
>>were a Muslim?". If he says it, will he gain
>>voters or lose them?
>> Dilip
>> 
>> From the NYT
>

Re: [Assam] Param Vishist Seva Medal for Air Marshal Pranab KumarBarbora

[barua25]

>Barbora is the first from the North-east to receive this award. 

After 60 years.
That is a news.
Rajen


- Original Message - 
From: "Pradip Kumar Datta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 6:23 AM
Subject: [Assam] Param Vishist Seva Medal for Air Marshal Pranab KumarBarbora


PVSM for Barbora
   
  IAF's Western Air Command's AOC-in-C Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora is 
among the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) winners - PVSM is the highest 
peacetime military Presidential award. Barbora is the first from the North-east 
to receive this award. The award is being conferred to him by President 
Pratibha Patil on Friday. 

   
-
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.
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Re: [Assam] Mob strips woman protester in Guwahati - Times of India

[barua25]

I am sure you have everybody's voice here.
We should follow it up to the end and not forget the issue after some time.
Rajen Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 4:44 PM
Subject: [Assam] Mob strips woman protester in Guwahati - Times of India


> Animals are probably much better then these so called
> human beings.
> People will surely come up with theory of mob
> mentatlity but no amount of explanation can cover this
> barbaric act.
>
> the footage clearly shows the culprits (or at least
> some of them).   should there be any delay in nabbing
> and punishing them?
>
> Let there be one unanimous voice  from assamnet to
> punish the culprits.
>
>
>>>I can't believe this. These are not human beings --
> they are animals.
>
>
> At 4:43 PM -0500 11/26/07, Ram Dhar wrote:
>>infact it did happen ..
>>Please note - you may find this video content very
> very disturbing.
>>Really shocked to see this happening in our Gauhati.
>>
>>  CNN-IBN video-
>>
>>http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/53043/guwahati-residents-strip-beat-up-women-protestors.html
>>
>>
>>Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:10:55 -0600
>>From: assamrs at gmail.com
>>To: assam at assamnet.org
>>Subject: [Assam] Mob strips woman protester in
> Guwahati - Times of India
>>
>>This news, IF TRUE, is a darn shame, and if it is
> NOT, then we
>>should all join hand in vehemently protesting to the
> TOI, and demand
>>that the publish clarifications prominently and
> apologize to Assam &
>>her people.
>>
>>
>>
>>--Ram
>>
>>
>>
>>Mob strips woman protester in Guwahati
>>27 Nov 2007, 0001 hrs IST  , TNN
>>
>>SMS NEWS to 5 for latest updates
>>
>>GUWAHATI: Like in most bandhs and protests, poor
> adivasi workers
>>from the once lush tea gardens of Assam did dent
> business and damage
>>some property as they marched through Guwahati to
> demand inclusion
>>in the Scheduled Tribes list which will help them get
> easier access
>>to education and jobs.
>>
>>But it was one adivasi woman who bore the brunt of
> the anger of
>>local residents. She was attacked, her clothes were
> ripped off and a
>>mob chased the naked woman along the streets. Ducking
> from prying
>>eyes and TV cameras and terrified by screams of a mob
> chasing her,
>>the woman ran until some other residents rescued her
> on Saturday and
>>gave her clothes and cover both from the
> lathi-wielding police and
>>the assailants.
>>
>>Two days later, after the protests spiralled as news
> of the attack
>>on the woman got out, Assam's CM Tarun Gogoi said he
> was enraged by
>>the crowd behaviour and police said three of the
> assailants had been
>>arrested. He announced a Rs 1 lakh compensation for
> the woman, whose
>>identity was not disclosed. "I am horrified by the
> incident. I
>>cannot believe how people can be so inhuman and
> barbaric. Everybody
>>seems to have lost their sense," said Gogoi on
> Monday. The CM also
>>announced a judicial inquiry into Saturday's
> violence.
>>
>>Police said three men were picked up from their
> houses early Monday.
>>They were identified as Prasenjit Chakravorty (28),
> owner of a fast
>>food joint, Ratul Barman (18), a hotel waiter, and
> Sudip Chakdar
>>(20), a pan shop owner.
>>
>>Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Sibu Soren, who has
> pitched in for
>>Assam's adivasi migrants, said the incident
> demonstrated the racial
>>hatred for tribals. "I have also led many agitations,
> but never had
>>we targeted women. Adivasis across the country are
> always looked
>>down upon and do not get the respect they deserve
> from people and
>>the government as a whole," Soren said on Monday
> after visiting
>>injured protesters.
>>
>>Former Jharkhand CM Babulal Marandi also waded in as
> the bandh took
>>a tribal vs non-tribal hue. He flew into Guwahati
> Monday afternoon
>>and went straight for a press conference with the
> main opposition
>>party Assam Gana Parishad (AGP). "This is a
> conspiracy hatched by
>>Congress government," he charged. Although Guwahati
> remained largely
>>peaceful in the last phase of the 36-hour protest
> that began on
>>Saturday, the stripping incident gave it a new
> impetus in many areas
>>where the sponsors, the All Adivasi Students'
> Association of Assam,
>>had clout.
>>
>>Sporadic violence was reported and bandh supporters
> attacked one
>>vehicle at Karigaon in Kokrajhar district, killing
> one person and
>>injuring two others. So far, at least six people have
> been killed in
>>clashes between adivasi activists and local people.
> About 250 people
>>have been injured in police action or clashes.
>>
>>
>
>
>
> 
> 
> Be a better pen pal.
> Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. 
> http://overv

Re: [Assam] From Outlook India: AnIndictment ofIndianHigher Education

[barua25]

>You should wait for all participants to gather  their thoughts- an they will 
>come out with gems.
>Do not rush anybody.Let out  a long Rope!
 
GOD-NE wants to move!!!
Rajen

  - Original Message - 
  From: mc mahant 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 9:42 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] From Outlook India: AnIndictment ofIndianHigher Education


  Baruasaab,
   
  Ok for a quicky. By foreign means no Assamese,no English-only IN the Foreign 
Language, force-fed.
   
   I only went to 16+. 
And you list 15 Types of colleges?campuses+Universities? Maybe we can lump all 
these in one GOD-NE. But  these- later.
   :  GOD -NE should 
be everywhere!

   
  You should wait for all participants to gather  their thoughts- an they will 
come out with gems.
  Do not rush anybody.Let out  a long Rope!
   
  mm




From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: assam@assamnet.org
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 09:16:51 -0600
Subject: Re: [Assam] From Outlook India: An Indictment ofIndianHigher 
Education


Dear Mukulda:
Very well!!!
I support point # 2,3,4 fully except for 'foreign language' term.  Could 
not understand the 'Only one foreign language per area cocept' in item # 1. 
We also need higher education and technical education. Engineering Degree 
College, Diploma College, Technical Training college, Agricultural College, 
Petroleum Engineering college, Tea Training college, Rice Research center, 
Medical college, Nursing college, Homeopathic college, Vetenary college, 
Chyropractic college, Acupunture college, Ayurvedic college, Community college 
for adult education, etc. 
Let us try to find out what will be these and where in North East will be 
these.
Thanks
Rajen


  - Original Message - 
  From: mc mahant 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 7:23 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] From Outlook India: An Indictment ofIndianHigher 
Education


  Really love this concept: GOD
   
  You be the collector/moderator of mission GOD-NE(of course).
 Let us begin with a  serial flow of random thoughts from all . None 
will be accepted/rejected.
  They will be edited/moderated/presented finally in Assamnet to Powers 
Coming up:
  Can I offer a few to start with?

1.. Only One foreign Language per area-Say Digboi -Thai; 
Pasighat-Tibetan,Rangia- Bhutia,Dibrugarh-Cantonese, 
Sibsagar-Russian,Jorhat-Mandarin ;Nagaon- Korean ;Guahati-French;Dhuburi - 
Farsi; Silchar-Arabic, Kokrajhar-Magyar--- in 
School/college/Signboards/Newspaper Language-Brides from those lands  
preferred---. 
2.. Universal free primary School-cum-creche -walking distance  - 
from3yrs till age7 - mostly in THE Foreign Language. Extensive use of 
Video,Calligraphy,Phonetics,customs,Music,dance.Universal Internet 
3.. Co-Ed MiddleSchool 7>11 yrs. Prime Language=FOREIGN + Some formal 
mother Tongue-Assamese/Bodo/Bengali/Khasi in the Foreign Land' s best 
Curriculum. Self-Assessment as often as you wish.Course material will be 
E-format -constantly updated into the IntraNet by a Teacher/Compiler Group. 
4.. Girls'&Boys'High School 11+>16+ will stress on 
Agro/Soil/Green/LifeScience/sexEducation +  Problem Solving 
mentally/Physically.Each will finish as expert hands on-- 
Cad/CNC/ChipTechnician/Crane-Earthmoving operator Welder---.One Sport 
predominates in the area (see 1 above)  same as sport preferred in the Foreign 
Land. Main Practice
   
  I am Done for now.
  mm
   
   






From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: assam@assamnet.org
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:16:32 -0600
Subject: Re: [Assam] From Outlook India: An Indictment of In dianHigher 
Education


>So at Thanksgiving 2007 after Turkey and Cranberry pudding they should 
pledge to work out a very well thought out plan to enable Direction to  
Purposeful Education  for  all in Oxom now  and  for the Future. 
>Time and tide waits for no man.

Mukulda:
Nice! . And if we have been asked to work out a plan for Purposeful 
Education for Oxom, then what do you think in your mind it will be. I have a 
plan what I call, Get On Demand Plan. You get whatever you demand. I call it 
the GOD plan imagining that money is not the problem (which probably is a fact 
for Oxom), that is what we would ask GOD to give for Oxom. 

Let us discuss what such a Purposeful Education System would be for 
Oxom or rather the North East?

Rajen



  - Original Message - 
  From: mc mahant 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the 
world 
  Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 7:59 PM
   

Re: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!

[barua25]

Chandan
It makes sense. Don't you see, He is basically asking the children of India 
to revolt against the present Indian culture.
Rajen

- Original Message - 
From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:04 AM
Subject: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!


> Only in India!!
>
> Shall we laugh or shall we cry?
>
> cm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Kalam asks children to fight corruption at home
> 16 Nov 2007, 2127 hrs IST,PTI
>
>
>
> KANPUR: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday asked children
> to begin their fight against corruption at home by inspiring their
> guardians to put an end to the menace so that a developed, prosperous
> and corruption-free India emerges by the year 2020.
>
> "If children inspire their parents to weed out corruption, it will be
> automatically eliminated from the country paving the way for a
> developed and corruption-free India by the year 2020", Kalam said
> addressing children at a function.
>
> He also asked children to take the pledge to eliminate corruption and
> build a country where everything was perfectly transparent.
>
> He said he had visited many parts of the country where children asked
> him how corruption could be wiped out. "I gave all of them just one
> answer that they would have to take the initiative for this", he said.
>
> Observing that the youth was on the right path in the country today,
> Kalam said all they needed to do was channelise their energy towards
> nation-building.
>
> The former President was in Kanpur to attend the silver jubilee
> function of Sir Padmapat Singhania Education Centre.
>
> When he asked the children present at the function how many of them
> wanted to become 'netas' (politicians) no hands were raised. However,
> when he asked them how many of them wanted to visit the Mars all of
> them raised their hands instantaneously.
>
> Children also jostled with each other breaking the security cordon
> several times to have Kalam's autograph. The former President later
> visited an exhibition where models made by children were put on
> display.
>
> ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> 


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Re: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!

[barua25]

Chandan
It makes sense. Don't you see, He is basically asking the children of India 
to revolt against the present Indian culture.
Rajen

- Original Message - 
From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:04 AM
Subject: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!


> Only in India!!
>
> Shall we laugh or shall we cry?
>
> cm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Kalam asks children to fight corruption at home
> 16 Nov 2007, 2127 hrs IST,PTI
>
>
>
> KANPUR: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday asked children
> to begin their fight against corruption at home by inspiring their
> guardians to put an end to the menace so that a developed, prosperous
> and corruption-free India emerges by the year 2020.
>
> "If children inspire their parents to weed out corruption, it will be
> automatically eliminated from the country paving the way for a
> developed and corruption-free India by the year 2020", Kalam said
> addressing children at a function.
>
> He also asked children to take the pledge to eliminate corruption and
> build a country where everything was perfectly transparent.
>
> He said he had visited many parts of the country where children asked
> him how corruption could be wiped out. "I gave all of them just one
> answer that they would have to take the initiative for this", he said.
>
> Observing that the youth was on the right path in the country today,
> Kalam said all they needed to do was channelise their energy towards
> nation-building.
>
> The former President was in Kanpur to attend the silver jubilee
> function of Sir Padmapat Singhania Education Centre.
>
> When he asked the children present at the function how many of them
> wanted to become 'netas' (politicians) no hands were raised. However,
> when he asked them how many of them wanted to visit the Mars all of
> them raised their hands instantaneously.
>
> Children also jostled with each other breaking the security cordon
> several times to have Kalam's autograph. The former President later
> visited an exhibition where models made by children were put on
> display.
>
> ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> 


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[Assam] Noam Chomsky in India

[barua25]

Old news but still very much relevant. I did not see this befrore.
It is interesting to note that , one of the remarks he made on India during a 
visit in 1996 was 
" The lifestyle of the Indian elite is amazing. I have never seen such opulence 
even in America."
Rajen


Frontline Exclusive 
Noam Chomsky in India 

   Noam Chomsky in India
  His incisive reasoning, searing sarcasm, passionate advocacy of political 
and social activism and keen sense of humour endeared Professor Noam Chomsky to 
audiences across the country. 
  A session with the polymath

  Noam Chomsky's Lecture at Chennai
  The transcripts: 

  Introduction by N. Ram
  Welcome Address by Sashi Kumar
  Lecture by Noam Chomsky
  Q & A Session
  Vote of Thanks by Mythily Sivaraman


  



Frontline: Table of Contents <<18240231.jpg>>___
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Re: [Assam] The Leak - AT Letter

[barua25]

Ram:
This is what happened when people work without accountability.
Now if you like to hear the story from their side, read the following imaginary 
report:
REPORT NO GMC 09878 Dated Octover 26th 2007.
"On 26th october 2007, I received a report of a leaky pipe in such and such 
place. I immediately reported the matter to my supervisor Mr Das who advised me 
to proceed to the site along with the maintenence crew. Since it was a very 
important public spot, I also taook along with me four other assistants. We 
were very much hampered due to our old equipment. It waws also a very hot day. 
However we worked very dilligently and and were able to spot the exact location 
of the leak in the pipe. We then called the Materials Department and 
requisitioned the new plug. We had to get a signature from our highher 
authority Mr Chakravarty for the plug. However since Mr Chakravarty was on 
vacation, we had to wait and get the signature from Mr Dasgupta. By that time, 
it was alomsot 3 O clock. The Materail Department reported that they have no 
stock of 3" Size pipe plug which was on order. In order to save the situiation 
we tried to put a temporary plug of the pipe by putting some boulders. We left 
the site at about 4 pm since we are not allowed to work any overtime without 
prior approval. We will check the situation of the availibility of the pipe 
plug tomorrow and if necessar we will approach the authority to purchase one 
from the local market."
Signed : D. Kahtoniar, GMC Supervisor
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 10:07 AM
  Subject: [Assam] The Leak - AT Letter


  This is an interesting letter. Interesting, not so much because of a leaky 
water pipe, wasting millions of gallons (I guess), but more so about the utter, 
general callousness of public officials at Guwahati. 

  Accountability is, in all probabilities, not even a remote concern.

  But, what is precious is this:

  "Being unable to tolerate the extreme heat of the mid-day sun for long, the 
supervisors left in their two wheelers possibly to report to the higher 
authorities that work was progressing smoothly. The workmen found the shade of 
some trees nearby and sat it out for the entire day eating tamul-paan and 
smoking biris. Towards evening, they covered the gap with a few boulders lying 
nearby and left, highly satisfied that they had done a good day's job." 

  As Barua (Rajan Barua) would have quipped, I say

  Hobo diyok and Upai nai :)

  --Ram





   Sir, – A water pipe passing along the road by my house burst six months ago 
spurting water like the mouth of a fire fighter's hose. It continued for the 
whole night and stopped only by mid-morning the next day possibly because the 
reservoir situated on the hills at Satpukhuri had emptied itself out! 

  The local unnayan samity had contacted the GMC who had sent a few of their 
workmen along with some higher officers to plug the leak in the pipe. The two 
workmen worked, aided by some worn-out equipment, while the six officers 
observed and supervised. 

  Being unable to tolerate the extreme heat of the mid-day sun for long, the 
supervisors left in their two wheelers possibly to report to the higher 
authorities that work was progressing smoothly. The workmen found the shade of 
some trees nearby and sat it out for the entire day eating tamul-paan and 
smoking biris. Towards evening, they covered the gap with a few boulders lying 
nearby and left, highly satisfied that they had done a good day's job. 

  The water from the leak in the pipe continued to flow, not in a cascade this 
time, but like a stream and continues to this day. The bigwigs pass by the road 
twice every day, the sirens of the escort car blaring away to glory. He sees 
this stream but does not notice! The rich pass by and do nothing! The 
politician passes by and turns a blind eye. Telephone calls to the GMC office 
bears no result. 

  The question that naturally arises is, "Are we so useless and incompetent 
that we cannot even plug a minor leak in a water pipe?" One hundred litres per 
minute, every day, twenty-four hours a day, month in month out! I wonder how 
much of this good potable water is going down the drain? – Yours etc., AJIT 
SAIKIA, Kharghuli, Guwahati. 



--


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Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>I said:   South was Under Maurya kings (Ashoka et al)
>which was BEFORE Moghols

Let us not reinvent the wheel of Indian history here.
The south (the Cholas, Pandyas, Satyaputras, Kerelaputras, Tambapani (Sri 
Lanka) etc) was never under Ashoka. 
We know because these are his neighboring countries where Ashoka sent goodwill 
ambassadors.
Rajenda


- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 11:28 AM
Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy



Rajen-da

Seems like you are having difficulty reading .  Let me
try to explain one last time -

You Said:  the South was never under any Indian kings
except to some extent under the Moghols." 
I said:   South was Under Maurya kings (Ashoka et al)
which was BEFORE Moghols

You Said:   The pre British aggresions took place only
in the  North West India , in  Punjab upto Delhi.

I Said:  Mughal aggression (pre British) included East
and South India.  This is History as well as supported
by you (your quote:  South was UNDER Moghols)


>>When was India a sovereign country?
Under Maurya.  (It is Sovereign now too).

>>What was the name of the country?

Immaterial ... there was a landmass approx equal to
current political boundary which was ruled by Mauryas.

>>If the Indians fought back, then what seems to be
problem?
It gives heartburn to some people who would not have
existed had Indians been annihilated like the Native
Indians


>>Read it again.
>>What is the difference between what I say (red) and
what you say (blue).
>>I think you are confused about the meaning of the
English words  'before' and 'under'. These are two
>>different words with two different meanings. 
Rajenda
 
- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 10:22 AM
Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
Bengal democracy

> The pre British aggresions took place only in the
> North West India , in 
> Punjab upto Delhi.

Read your post again Rajenda.  "the South was never
under any Indian kings except to some extent under the
Moghols." 
 
(It is in fact incorrect that South never came under
Indian king before Mughal).  History says that a large
part of South 
as well as East India was under Mughals during their
peak.

> Why the Indian could not fight back?

India is a Sovereign country because they fought back
.. unlike Native Americans who could not.
 
When was India a soverign country?
What was the name of the country?
If the Indians fought back, then what seems to be
problem?


> And the British never actually attacked India.
> The British were just happened to be there when
> India was falling apart-at 
> least that is one way of looking at things.

Please re-read History.  Battle of Plassey, batle with
Tipu . 




> 
> >BTW,  had there not been numerous aggresions (by
> >Mughal, Brits etc)  India would probably have been
> in
> >a much larger country
> 
> The pre British aggresions took place only in the
> North West India , in 
> Punjab upto Delhi.
> What prevented the rest of India to stand on its
> own?
> I can't understand why Indians always blame its own
> downfall on foreign 
> aggtressions in the north.
> Why the Indian could not fight back?
> And the British never actually attacked India.
> The British were just happened to be there when
> India was falling apart-at 
> least that is one way of looking at things.
> Read history.
> You must find your own answer what happened in
> Indian history.
> Rajenda
> 




  

Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Yahoo! Autos.
http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html

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Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>BTW,  had there not been numerous aggresions (by
>Mughal, Brits etc)  India would probably have been in
>a much larger country

The pre British aggresions took place only in the North West India , in 
Punjab upto Delhi.
What prevented the rest of India to stand on its own?
I can't understand why Indians always blame its own downfall on foreign 
aggtressions in the north.
Why the Indian could not fight back?
And the British never actually attacked India.
The British were just happened to be there when India was falling apart-at 
least that is one way of looking at things.
Read history.
You must find your own answer what happened in Indian history.
Rajenda


- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 10:07 PM
Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


>Had it not been for the British  colonial
> enterprise, there would NOT
> be any India.
>
> *  Replace the word India with America or Canada
> or Australia and see how true it is !!!
>
> BTW,  had there not been numerous aggresions (by
> Mughal, Brits etc)  India would probably have been in
> a much larger country
>
>India is united
>
>
Heh-heh
>
>  Except for a couple of hundred terrorists and one
> or two NRAs,  others agree ... "India is United" ..
> as I asked you earlier ... show me 10 prominent
> Assamese who are willing to separate from India...
> unfortunately you could not :(
>
>
>India is united just because of English  is an
> absurd logic.
>
>
*** It would be absurd only to those who are unable
> to deal with reality.
>
> Had it not been for the British  colonial enterprise,
> there would NOT
> be any India. And Indians today would not be able to
> communicate with
> each other without English, and thus pretend it is a
> nation.
>
>
>>India is united
>
>
> Heh-heh
>
>
>
>
>
> 
> Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell.
> http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/
>
> ___
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> 


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Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>What you mean is had Indians been anihilated by
>British then English could have been considered as a
>Native Language for India !

Don't try to twist meaning for nothing. It does not work that way.
The British necver came to India to settle down like Europeans went to 
America to settle.
They came to India to trade.

to say that
> India is united just because of English  is an absurd
> logic.

Sorry I can't help it. That is the fact,
India is a country united by the British with the English language.

Rajenda

- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 8:30 PM
Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


> Rajenda,
> What you mean is had Indians been anihilated by
> British then English could have been considered as a
> Native Language for India !
>
> I have no qualms if you consider English as a
> foreign/Indian language whatsover but to say that
> India is united just because of English  is an absurd
> logic.
> As far as absorption goes,  in current world it is a
> universal phenomenon ... even Chinese are now learning
> English bigtime.
>
>
>> America was founded by the Europeans. When they came
>> they brought not only
>> the European languages but also the European
>> religions and cultures. Thus
>> Christianity as well as Englsih and all other
>> European languages are brought
>> from Europe which make the big Western culture now.
>> Red Indian culture has
>> been wiped out for all practical purposes. Thus it
>> is irrelevant to say that
>> English language and Christianity are foreign to
>> America. Because these were
>> there from day one of American modern history. In
>> America it is the mother
>> tongue of the huge majority population. It is true
>> that in America both
>> Christianity as well as the English language had
>> undergone much change. It
>> is often said that America and England are two
>> countries separated by one
>> language.
>>
>> In case of India, it is a different ball game. The
>> English people did not
>> establish the Indian culture. A foreign language,
>> English, was given to the
>> Indians only about a hundred years ago. No Indians
>> had any roots in English
>> language. The British left but the Indians stuck to
>> their language and many
>> other English items (like Cricket, Democracy, our
>> dress, educational
>> institutions, civic laws etc). It is true that we
>> are trying our best to
>> Indianise the language so much so that it is often
>> called Hindlish and not
>> English. Even now there is a strong section of
>> Indians who are opposed to
>> Hindlish. (as well as the others). Even now English
>> is considered a foreign
>> language by a strong section of the Indian
>> population. I would say in
>> another hundred years probably Hindlish will
>> penetrate more to the Indian
>> culture. But I donot think it will ever go the
>> Indian lower class; it will
>> remain a middle class language of communication. It
>> is probably now 20/30%
>> Indians who speak Hindlish. May be in another
>> hundred years, it will be
>> 30/40% may be. But it will never be the mother
>> tongue of any sizable section
>> of Indians.
>>
>> The very fact that you, Ram and others feel offended
>> when I point out, like
>> a sizable section of Indians,  that English is a
>> foreign language goes to
>> prove how much we Indians depend on Hindlish, how we
>> Indians love Hindlish.
>> Probably Ram and you are right. Probably, we can say
>> of Hindlish, like the
>> game of Cricket, is an Indian item. But we should be
>> ready to admit that
>> these are imported items given to us by the British.
>> We should feel bad
>> about it.
>>
>> In fact one great quality of us the Indians, unlike
>> the Chinese, is the
>> quality to absorb foreign things like sponge absorbs
>> water.
>> In the ancient times also, we absorbed many foreign
>> elements, like idol
>> worship, astrology etc.
>> Rajen Barua
>>
>> - Original Message - 
>> From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> To: 
>> Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:09 AM
>> Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
>> Bengal democracy
>>
>>
>> Rajenda,  going by your logic, English is a foreign
>> language in US too which was brought in by
>> Europeans.
>>
>> That unlike India Native languages have been killed
>> in
>> US is a different topic.
>>
>>
>>
>> >>>Opinions are never debatable!
>> >>>Facts are.
>> Thanks
>> Barua
>>   - Original Message - 
>>   From: Ram Sarangapani
>>   To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
>> from around the world
>>   Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 11:54 PM
>>   Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
>> Gandhi- Bengal democracy
>>
>>
>>   >BTW I am not looking for an response on this from
>> you. I think this is a waste of >time even to debate
>> on this issue.
>>
>>   It truely is a colossal waste. Just to let you
>> know,
>> I didn't say what I said just because I f

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>We should feel bad about it.

Correction: We should NOT feel bad about it.
The Chinese donot feel bad when they say that Buddhism is a foreign religion 
imported to China from India.
So the Japanese.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world" 

Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


> America was founded by the Europeans. When they came they brought not only 
> the European languages but also the European religions and cultures. Thus 
> Christianity as well as Englsih and all other European languages are 
> brought from Europe which make the big Western culture now. Red Indian 
> culture has been wiped out for all practical purposes. Thus it is 
> irrelevant to say that English language and Christianity are foreign to 
> America. Because these were there from day one of American modern history. 
> In America it is the mother tongue of the huge majority population. It is 
> true that in America both Christianity as well as the English language had 
> undergone much change. It is often said that America and England are two 
> countries separated by one language.
>
> In case of India, it is a different ball game. The English people did not 
> establish the Indian culture. A foreign language, English, was given to 
> the Indians only about a hundred years ago. No Indians had any roots in 
> English language. The British left but the Indians stuck to their language 
> and many other English items (like Cricket, Democracy, our dress, 
> educational institutions, civic laws etc). It is true that we are trying 
> our best to Indianise the language so much so that it is often called 
> Hindlish and not English. Even now there is a strong section of Indians 
> who are opposed to Hindlish. (as well as the others). Even now English is 
> considered a foreign language by a strong section of the Indian 
> population. I would say in another hundred years probably Hindlish will 
> penetrate more to the Indian culture. But I donot think it will ever go 
> the Indian lower class; it will remain a middle class language of 
> communication. It is probably now 20/30% Indians who speak Hindlish. May 
> be in another hundred years, it will be 30/40% may be. But it will never 
> be the mother tongue of any sizable section of Indians.
>
> The very fact that you, Ram and others feel offended when I point out, 
> like a sizable section of Indians,  that English is a foreign language 
> goes to prove how much we Indians depend on Hindlish, how we Indians love 
> Hindlish. Probably Ram and you are right. Probably, we can say of 
> Hindlish, like the game of Cricket, is an Indian item. But we should be 
> ready to admit that these are imported items given to us by the British. 
> We should feel bad about it.
>
> In fact one great quality of us the Indians, unlike the Chinese, is the 
> quality to absorb foreign things like sponge absorbs water.
> In the ancient times also, we absorbed many foreign elements, like idol 
> worship, astrology etc.
> Rajen Barua
>
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: 
> Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:09 AM
> Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy
>
>
> Rajenda,  going by your logic, English is a foreign
> language in US too which was brought in by Europeans.
>
> That unlike India Native languages have been killed in
> US is a different topic.
>
>
>
>>>>Opinions are never debatable!
>>>>Facts are.
> Thanks
> Barua
>  - Original Message - 
>  From: Ram Sarangapani
>  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
> from around the world
>  Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 11:54 PM
>  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
> Gandhi- Bengal democracy
>
>
>  >BTW I am not looking for an response on this from
> you. I think this is a waste of >time even to debate
> on this issue.
>
>  It truely is a colossal waste. Just to let you know,
> I didn't say what I said just because I felt like it,
> there were very valid reasons, and your "foreign"
> comment only triggered it. and nothing more.
>  This is a hot topic in India today. If you are
> interested, you might want to look into the New York
> Times articles from yesterday (Sept. 28th) and also
> about Mulayam Singh Yadav and his comments.
>
>  Anyway --- I have totally lost interest in the topic
> by now.
>
>  Thanks
>
>  --Ram
>
>
>
>
>
>  On 9/28/07, Rajen & Ajanta Barua  hotmail.com> wrote:

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

  Dear Mr. Muktikam Phukan,

  Thanks for the valuable comments.

  You are saying you have been in Delhi for 6 years
and you learnt Hindi by compulsion only because of
"GOI policies"?

  On one hand we talk of the continuous complaints on
integration of other communities in Assam.

  Isnt the reverse true as well? So on the other hand
we have people like you brazenly admitting that you
have never wanted to learn Hindi even though you were
in Delhi for 6 long years and will probably continue
to reside there.

  Thanks for the admission though :-)

  Rgds,
  Sandip

  - Original Message 
From: muktikam phukan 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from
around the world 
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 12:03:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
Bengal democracy

  Dear Mr Sandip Dutta

  Congratulations for your proficiency in Hindi, u
being , I hope , an Assamese by birth. This is more
significant as presently, being September, the Hindi
Fortnight is going on countrywide.
  But please do not speak on behalf of all the
assamese on their proficiency in Hindi. I m in Delhi
for the last 6 years. Due to the location of Delhi &
GoI policies, I'd to improve my Hindi by compulsion.
Otherwise, I'd never had tried to improve my Hindi. As
goes Assam & the small towns, Hindi is still not
understood or spoken profieciently. Yes, it has
improved a lot. But improvement is not voluntary. Its
because of the media being mostly in Hindi.

  Regards
  Muktikam
SANDIP DUTTA  wrote:
  Hindi has about 350-400 M native speakers.

  People like me are not native speakers but our Hindi
is as good as any native. Not just me - but tons of
people all across India.

  Official statistics difficult to locate - but there
could be upto 800 M people now who speak and
understand Hindi (as per wiki)

  Rgds,
  Sandip


  - Original Message 
From: barua25 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from
around the world 
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 10:07:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
Bengal democracy

  DIV {MARGIN:0px;}>In India, more than 30%
are native speakers of Hindi and a total of between 65
and 75% read, write and understand/speak the language.
That >includes many southern speakers as well
65 and 75% Indians read, write Hindi? Where did
you get this statistics?
  In our time hardly any Assamese knew Hindi. The GOI
big brother must be doing a good job in Assam.
  >Compare that to English - less than 1.5% of the
population actually have proficiency in it.
  The power of English.
  Barua


- Original Message - 
  From: SANDIP DUTTA
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
from around the world
  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:50 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
Gandhi- Bengal democracy


First you said - "to get into the elite, one must
learn english". I gave you the example of Laloo. There
are many others like him.

  Next you said - "indian unity is because of
english".

  In India, more than 30% are native speakers of Hindi
and a total of between 65 and 75% read, write and
understand/speak the language. That includes many
southern speakers as well.

  Compare that to English - less than 1.5% of the
population actually have proficiency in it.

  English is there not because it is necessary to
enforce unity but because it helps us get business and
do business with most of the outside world. How you
apply it is upto you. Remember I mentioned "business"
and "admin". "Admin" doesnt necessarily mean
government administration only.

  So how can I aggree with your conclusions??

  Rgds,
  SD













  - Original Message 
From: barua25 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from
around the world 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:31:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
Bengal democracy

  DIV {MARGIN:0px;}>now it is a situational
demand. With 14+ official languages, English is
naturally the language of choice for business and
admin.
  Thanks for supporting my point. I was not referring
to any demand to learn English but it is a situation
demand in India to learn English today.
  In the ancient India, it was also a  situational
demand to learn Sanskrit to get into the elite. Now it
is English. That was my point.
  So you should start by saying, 'I agree' instead.
  Thanks
  Barua


- Original Message - 
  From: SANDIP DUTTA
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
from around the world
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:53 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
Gandhi- Bengal democracy


I disaggee - Earlier it could have been a problem
of compulsion but now it is a situational demand. With
14+ official languages, English is naturally the
language of choice for business and admin.

  Al

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

h as an
Indian language.

and many more.

Indians always need something 'foreign' to rule
themselves:
the Aryans, the Rajputs, the Afghans, the Moghuls,
the British, and now the English language.
BTW I am not looking for an response on this from
you. I think this is a waste of time even to debate on
this issue.
Thanks
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in
Assam from around the world
  Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 10:09 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  >We can start with a definition of the word
'foreign' looking at a dictionary

  Why look into a dictionary? I think most of us
know what "foreign" and what "native" means? The
dictionary is not going to tell me anything different.


  >and see if we can call 'English' a foreign
language or a native language.

  You were the one who claimed it is a "foreign
language". So, before we put this into a plebicite of
sorts, I wanted to know why you call it "foreign".
  I said it is not a foreign language in India,
and I gave netters a few reasons. There are many more.
I hope you will provide us some reasons why you claim
it is foreign.

  Once you are able to do that, we can go from
there.:)

  --Ram








  On 9/28/07, Rajen & Ajanta Barua  wrote:
We can start with a definition of the word
'foreign' looking at a dictionary and see if we can
call 'English' a foreign language or a native
language.
Next we can take the opinions of the general
Indian public in India whether general Indians think
English language is foreign or not..
Those will be my two starting points.
What do you say?
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in
Assam from around the world
  Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 7:55 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India
After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  Barua,

  I will let Alpana put forth her own defenses
:), and just to make it clear this is not a
husband-wife tag team ::)

  >Ram's weak defense as English not being a
foregn language also falls >pathetically into the same
catagory.

  Why do you think my defense is weak and can
you cite a few reasons why English is foreign, and we
will go from there.

  --Ram

  On 9/28/07, Rajen & Ajanta Barua  wrote:
A/
What you are trying to say is this:
"Although what you are saying seems to be
true, but I am not going to acknowledge it as truth,
because if I remember you said somthing in the past in
some other context which I did not like. As such
without checking your past words, I cannot acknowledge
it as truth although it may be a truth."

In Indian culture we have been taught to
stand up for the truth irrespective of the speaker.
You aeem to be doing just the opposite.
It does not matter what I said in the past
in some other context.
A truth must acknolwedged as a truth.
Otherwise we will be always walking on
quick sands.
Ram's weak defense as English not being a
foregn language also falls pathetically into the same
catagory.
Barua


  - Original Message - 
  From: Alpana B. Sarangapani
  To: A Mailing list for people interested
in Assam from around the world
  Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 2:54 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India
After Gandhi- Bengal democracy




  >Can people just stand for the truth
without any qualm?

  Yes, they can. Absolutely! :)

  It is just that I remember your
suggesting that something was a justified cause for
Assam's asking for sovereignty, No?

  If you did, to remind you, it will take
me some time to dig into the emails again to find the
exact words though.

  In the mean time, please don't let that
bot.her you.

  Thank you.
  - A.






  "In order to make spiritual progress you
must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of
grass"

  - Lakshmana










From: barua25 at hotmail.com
To: assam at assamnet.org
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:22:58 -0500
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review :
India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


A/-
Why do you think I have any qualm at
all?
I am just statiung the facts for
people to acknowledge.
In the ancient India, it was 

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

A/-
Why do you think I have any qualm at all?
I am just statiung the facts for people to acknowledge.
In the ancient India, it was also a  situational demand to learn Sanskrit to 
get into the elite. Now it is English.
Is this a fact or not?
Can people just stand for the truth without any qualm?
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Alpana B. Sarangapani 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 1:16 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  Hi Barua: 
   
  I didn't quite understand. Your qualm is against which - Hindi, English, or 
India's being a united country. 
   
  What do you suggest as a solution? All states should balkanize and use their 
regional language as the official language? Fine.
   
  What will be the official language for Assam then? Assamese or Bodo or any 
other language that are spoken in different parts of the state? Even for 
Assamese, would it be the upper-Assamese or the lower-Assamese version of it? 
   
  Trust all is well with you all.
   
  Regards,
  -Alpana
   
   
   
   


   

  “In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and 
humble like a blade of grass”

  - Lakshmana










Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:50:21 -0700
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


First you said - "to get into the elite, one must learn english". I gave 
you the example of Laloo. There are many others like him.
 
Next you said - "indian unity is because of english". 
 
In India, more than 30% are native speakers of Hindi and a total of between 
65 and 75% read, write and understand/speak the language. That includes many 
southern speakers as well.
 
Compare that to English - less than 1.5% of the population actually have 
proficiency in it. 
 
English is there not because it is necessary to enforce unity but because 
it helps us get business and do business with most of the outside world. How 
you apply it is upto you. Remember I mentioned "business" and "admin". "Admin" 
doesnt necessarily mean government administration only. 
 
So how can I aggree with your conclusions??
 
Rgds,
SD
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




- Original Message 
From: barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:31:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


>now it is a situational demand. With 14+ official languages, English is 
naturally the language of choice for business and admin. 

Thanks for supporting my point. I was not referring to any demand to learn 
English but it is a situation demand in India to learn English today.
In the ancient India, it was also a  situational demand to learn Sanskrit 
to get into the elite. Now it is English. That was my point.
So you should start by saying, 'I agree' instead.
Thanks
Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: SANDIP DUTTA 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:53 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  I disaggee - Earlier it could have been a problem of compulsion but now 
it is a situational demand. With 14+ official languages, English is naturally 
the language of choice for business and admin. 

  Also it depends if you really are insistent on defining "elite" in the 
manner you do. 

  Taking the earlier example of Laloo - he is not exceptionally good with 
English but he is still in the elite class by virtue of being minister. His 
recent successes in reforming IR have now made him unofficial management 
consultant as well. 

  Hope that makes sense.

  Rgds,
  Sandip



  - Original Message 
  From: barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 9:37:37 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  >I myself know an IRS officer now posted in Coorg district of Karnataka. 
He is from UP and from a very lower middle class background. However >after 15 
years in the services, his english is as good as anyone else's and he has good 
working knowledge of Kannada.
  If the guy knows good English, it actually proves my original point that 
in India in ancient when one had to learn Sanskrit to be in the elite class, 
now one has to be good in English to be i

Re: [Assam] Indian Political Boundary

[barua25]

It is all one mother tongue, one language here.
Not like India as a whole administered by a foreign language: English.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 9:12 AM
Subject: [Assam] Indian Political Boundary


Rajen-da
>>First India was never such a big united country as
it is now.

 Applying this logic, even US should be termed as
a country that was never expected to ever be a
country.  Apart from European colonization  the wars,
grabbing of land from Native Americans and Speniards
continued till late 19th century (source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA#Native_Americans_and_European_settlers).
  Same goes true for Canada (even may be Australia).


>  First India was never such a big united country
as it is now.
Even during the British Raj, there were many many
independepdent states ruled by Maharajas, where prsent
India is.
Second, the South was never under any Indian kings
except to some extent under the Moghols.

* The map I see in wiki
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurya_dynasty) shows
that almost entire south barring present TN and Kerala
was under Mauryas.

Coming to point of Assam, Kamrup historically had a
very close tie  with rest of India ...  reference
Mahabharat.  Culturally too,  think about Krishna --
Kalika Purana mentions that the last of the
Naraka-bhauma rulers, Narak, was slained by Krishna.

As for never being ruled by any Indian King, the
argument is same as I mentioned for US or Canada or
many other countries.


>> The Indian situation is same.  It is one
country because of one foreign language: English. Thus
the historians have a point. Today, take away the
English language fron India, the Indian democracy will
collapese overnight.

*  This is a very new argument ... never heard
this argument earlier!  How many people in villages of
India do you think can speak English ... I am not
talking about proficient but at least Pigin English?
A guess will be less then half of Indian Population
speaks English.  People adapt languages because of
convenience.  Imagine, had you been a villager of
Assam, would you care to learn English? Or say if you
spend most of your life in Delhi or UP, can you avoid
learnig Hindi even though you might be a Hindi hater?





>The issue under discussion is  :  "India is the
country that was never expected to ever be a country".

The above point which some historians are trying to
make is this.
First India was never such a big united country as it
is now.
Even during the British Raj, there were many many
independepdent states ruled by Maharajas, where prsent
India is.
Second, the South was never under any Indian kings
except to some extent under the Moghols.
Then the Marathas were also out.
Old Kamrup, that is present Assam and NE were never
under any Indian kings, nor under Ashok, nor under the
Guptas, nor under the Moghols. This came under India
only under the British.

Today India is one country not because of any unity
but because of its diversity which cannot be defined
under any political science.

Imagnice Europe under one country because of one
foreign language (say) Hindi. Can one imagine? The
Indian situation is same.  It is one country because
of one foreign language: English. Thus the historians
have a point. Today, take away the English language
fron India, the Indian democracy will collapese
overnight.
That is the point.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:45 AM
Subject: [Assam] Indian Political Boundary


Rajenda

What can be the point here.

I see from Wiki that the Maurya India is close to
today's India

This was followed by Invasions by Greeks, Sakas etc
when it again got disintegrated.


>>>That is because they historians and thought
leaders.
This is a good topic one can debate long.
I think they have their points.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Rajib Das" 
To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
from around the world"
; 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
Bengal democracy


I fail to understand why SOME historians (and thought
leaders) continue to insist that India is a country
that was never meant to be.

The exact political boundaries are new (as in 60 years
old) - but there is enough political thought through
the course of history - before the Brits came in or
even before the Islamic invasion of India - to warrant
the idea of India.



--- Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
wrote:

> Umesh:
> India is best described as 'an elected
> dictatorship'.
> Rajenda
>   - Original Message - 
>   From: umesh sharma
>   To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
> from around the world
>   Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
> Gandhi- Bengal democracy
>
>
>   Rajen-da
>
>   Good example of India-Shining rhetoric.
>   Bu

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>In India, more than 30% are native speakers of Hindi and a total of between 65 
>and 75% read, write and understand/speak the language. That >includes many 
>southern speakers as well
65 and 75% Indians read, write Hindi? Where did you get this statistics?

In our time hardly any Assamese knew Hindi. The GOI big brother must be doing a 
good job in Assam.

>Compare that to English - less than 1.5% of the population actually have 
>proficiency in it. 

The power of English.

Barua


  - Original Message - 
  From: SANDIP DUTTA 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:50 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  First you said - "to get into the elite, one must learn english". I gave you 
the example of Laloo. There are many others like him.



  Next you said - "indian unity is because of english". 



  In India, more than 30% are native speakers of Hindi and a total of between 
65 and 75% read, write and understand/speak the language. That includes many 
southern speakers as well.



  Compare that to English - less than 1.5% of the population actually have 
proficiency in it. 



  English is there not because it is necessary to enforce unity but because it 
helps us get business and do business with most of the outside world. How you 
apply it is upto you. Remember I mentioned "business" and "admin". "Admin" 
doesnt necessarily mean government administration only. 



  So how can I aggree with your conclusions??



  Rgds,

  SD


























  - Original Message 
  From: barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:31:36 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  >now it is a situational demand. With 14+ official languages, English is 
naturally the language of choice for business and admin. 

  Thanks for supporting my point. I was not referring to any demand to learn 
English but it is a situation demand in India to learn English today.
  In the ancient India, it was also a  situational demand to learn Sanskrit to 
get into the elite. Now it is English. That was my point.
  So you should start by saying, 'I agree' instead.
  Thanks
  Barua

- Original Message - 
From: SANDIP DUTTA 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


I disaggee - Earlier it could have been a problem of compulsion but now it 
is a situational demand. With 14+ official languages, English is naturally the 
language of choice for business and admin. 

Also it depends if you really are insistent on defining "elite" in the 
manner you do. 

Taking the earlier example of Laloo - he is not exceptionally good with 
English but he is still in the elite class by virtue of being minister. His 
recent successes in reforming IR have now made him unofficial management 
consultant as well. 

Hope that makes sense.

Rgds,
Sandip



- Original Message 
From: barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 9:37:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


>I myself know an IRS officer now posted in Coorg district of Karnataka. He 
is from UP and from a very lower middle class background. However >after 15 
years in the services, his english is as good as anyone else's and he has good 
working knowledge of Kannada.

If the guy knows good English, it actually proves my original point that in 
India in ancient when one had to learn Sanskrit to be in the elite class, now 
one has to be good in English to be in the elite class.

Barua





  - Original Message - 
  From: SANDIP DUTTA 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:45 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  Rather than coming to conclusions about whether this attributes to 
dictatorship - why not involve someone from that state in this discussion to 
see if he concurs with this view.



  Ditto for IAS/IPS officers coming from vernacular mediums. Contrary to 
belief, such officers actually have very good (if not excellent) knowledge of 
English and at times local languages wherever they are posted.



  I myself know an IRS officer now posted in Coorg district of Karnataka. 
He is from UP and from a very lower middle class background. However after 15 
years in the services, his englis

Re: [Assam] Indian Political Boundary

[barua25]

The issue under discussion is  :  "India is the country that was never expected 
to ever be a country".

The above point which some historians are trying to make is this.
First India was never such a big united country as it is now.
Even during the British Raj, there were many many independepdent states ruled 
by Maharajas, where prsent India is.
Second, the South was never under any Indian kings except to some extent under 
the Moghols.
Then the Marathas were also out.
Old Kamrup, that is present Assam and NE were never under any Indian kings, nor 
under Ashok, nor under the Guptas, nor under the Moghols. This came under India 
only under the British.

Today India is one country not because of any unity but because of its 
diversity which cannot be defined under any political science.

Imagnice Europe under one country because of one foreign language (say) Hindi. 
Can one imagine? The Indian situation is same.  It is one country because of 
one foreign language: English. Thus the historians have a point. Today, take 
away the English language fron India, the Indian democracy will collapese 
overnight.
That is the point.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:45 AM
Subject: [Assam] Indian Political Boundary


Rajenda

What can be the point here.

I see from Wiki that the Maurya India is close to
today's India

This was followed by Invasions by Greeks, Sakas etc
when it again got disintegrated.


>>>That is because they historians and thought
leaders.
This is a good topic one can debate long.
I think they have their points.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Rajib Das" 
To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
from around the world" 
; 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
Bengal democracy


I fail to understand why SOME historians (and thought
leaders) continue to insist that India is a country
that was never meant to be.

The exact political boundaries are new (as in 60 years
old) - but there is enough political thought through
the course of history - before the Brits came in or
even before the Islamic invasion of India - to warrant
the idea of India.



--- Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
wrote:

> Umesh:
> India is best described as 'an elected
> dictatorship'.
> Rajenda
>   - Original Message - 
>   From: umesh sharma
>   To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
> from around the world
>   Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
> Gandhi- Bengal democracy
>
>
>   Rajen-da
>
>   Good example of India-Shining rhetoric.
>   But just becos there is peace (despite armed
> militancy in 25% of India's districts- NE, Kashmir,
> Bihar, Central India, LTTE South India etc etc) and
> not many are dying of starvation and voting not by
> reading election manifestos but by recognizing
> cartoons (election symbols) of political parties .
>
>   Even democratically elected communist govt (an
> anamoly) of West Bengal is allegedly  in power for
> past 25 years non-stop since  a  nexus  prevents
> anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else
> face ex-communication a-la erstwhile Pope's rule in
> Europe in medieval times -as per a Bengali
> researcher .
>
>   But ofcourse noone can deny that despite is
> shortcomings the India that is Bharat is growing  -
> despite spoofs like Hollywood's "Borat" movie
> (Bharat ??) from Kazakhstan (Rajasthan???)
>
>   Umesh
>
>
>   Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
wrote:
> Following may be added from another review about
> the book:
>
> India is the country that was never expected to
> ever be a country. In the late 19th century, Sir
> John Strachey, a senior British official, grandly
> opined that the territory's diverse states simply
> could not possess any sort of unity, physical,
> political, social or religious. Strachey, clearly,
> was wrong: India today is a unified entity and a
> rising global power. Even so, it continues to defy
> explanation. India's existence, says Guha, an
> internationally known scholar (Environmentalism: A
> Global History), has also been an anomaly for
> academic political science, according to whose
> axioms cultural heterogeneity and poverty do not
> make a nation, still less a democratic one. Yet
> India continues to exist. Guha's aim in this
> startlingly ambitious political, cultural and social
> survey is to explain why and how. He cheerfully
> concludes that India's continuing existence results
> from its unique diversity and its refusal to be
> pigeonholed into such conventional political models
> as Anglo-American liberalism, French republicanism,
> atheistic communism or Islamist theocracy. India is
> proudly sui generis, and with August 15, 2007, being
> the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, Guha's
> magisterial history of India since that day comes
> not a moment too soon. 32 pages of b&w illus., 8
> maps.

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>now it is a situational demand. With 14+ official languages, English is 
>naturally the language of choice for business and admin. 

Thanks for supporting my point. I was not referring to any demand to learn 
English but it is a situation demand in India to learn English today.
In the ancient India, it was also a  situational demand to learn Sanskrit to 
get into the elite. Now it is English. That was my point.
So you should start by saying, 'I agree' instead.
Thanks
Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: SANDIP DUTTA 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:53 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  I disaggee - Earlier it could have been a problem of compulsion but now it is 
a situational demand. With 14+ official languages, English is naturally the 
language of choice for business and admin. 

  Also it depends if you really are insistent on defining "elite" in the manner 
you do. 

  Taking the earlier example of Laloo - he is not exceptionally good with 
English but he is still in the elite class by virtue of being minister. His 
recent successes in reforming IR have now made him unofficial management 
consultant as well. 

  Hope that makes sense.

  Rgds,
  Sandip



  - Original Message 
  From: barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 9:37:37 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  >I myself know an IRS officer now posted in Coorg district of Karnataka. He 
is from UP and from a very lower middle class background. However >after 15 
years in the services, his english is as good as anyone else's and he has good 
working knowledge of Kannada.

  If the guy knows good English, it actually proves my original point that in 
India in ancient when one had to learn Sanskrit to be in the elite class, now 
one has to be good in English to be in the elite class.

  Barua





- Original Message - 
From: SANDIP DUTTA 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


Rather than coming to conclusions about whether this attributes to 
dictatorship - why not involve someone from that state in this discussion to 
see if he concurs with this view.



Ditto for IAS/IPS officers coming from vernacular mediums. Contrary to 
belief, such officers actually have very good (if not excellent) knowledge of 
English and at times local languages wherever they are posted.



I myself know an IRS officer now posted in Coorg district of Karnataka. He 
is from UP and from a very lower middle class background. However after 15 
years in the services, his english is as good as anyone else's and he has good 
working knowledge of Kannada.



No wonder we see most of the demands for sovereignity and seperation from 
foreign settled people who have got disconnected with the way this country 
works (and still works).



Rgds,

Sandip





 

    - Original Message 
From: barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from 
around the world 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:00:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


>a  nexus  prevents  anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face 
ex-communication a-la erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times ->as 
per a Bengali researcher 

This is in fact what is called 'elected dictatorship' going on in West 
bengal in name of democracy.
Rajenda

 
  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  Rajen-da

  Good example of India-Shining rhetoric. 
  But just becos there is peace (despite armed militancy in 25% of India's 
districts- NE, Kashmir, Bihar, Central India, LTTE South India etc etc) and not 
many are dying of starvation and voting not by reading election manifestos but 
by recognizing cartoons (election symbols) of political parties . 

  Even democratically elected communist govt (an anamoly) of West Bengal is 
allegedly  in power for past 25 years non-stop since  a  nexus  prevents  
anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face ex-communication a-la 
erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times -as per a Bengali researcher .

  But ofcourse noone can deny that despite is shortcomings the India that 
is B

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust

[barua25]

> Since you are trying to highlight it as a reason for
> disuniting India

Am I ?
Can you show me where ?
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:32 AM
Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust


>I do not know of any Assamese or Naga but a Bengali
> guy from WB cleared IAS in vernacular last year.
>
> The point here is,  unlike what you mentioned,
> knowledge of English is NOT Mandatory to be
> MP/MLA/IAS/Minister.
>
> It is sure convenient to know English to communicate
> with people from other regions (in and out of India).
>
> Since you are trying to highlight it as a reason for
> disuniting India by your logic the illusive Sovereign
> Assam will have to exclude Bodo dominiated areas,
> South Assam (Cachar and neighbouring dist);  parts of
> Dhubri, Gouripur etc.
>
>
>
>
>>>That is good and bad.
>Good for the local guy to get IAS thorough just
> Tamil or Marathy or Assamese
> and not English.
> Bad news is that he becomes inefficient to run the
> country in places other
> than his own state. A Marathy who does nor know
> English or Assamese is
> useless in Assam.
> Worse is that such useless guys are running the
> country.
> This actually makes a strong case why India should dis
> unite. (I am speaking
> here just for arguments sake).
> And the point remains that such local guys (dadas) may
> be even very fewer in
> percentage.
> Do we know any Naga or Assamese (say) who got IAS just
> by knowing Nagamese
> or Assamese?
> Prabably not.
> Barua
>
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty"  yahoo.com>
> To: 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:48 AM
> Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi-
> Sikh Holocaust
>
>
>> Today it is the 5% IAS officers and 1% MLAs and
>> MPs whom you elect to govern. You have to learn to
>> speak and write English to get into that circle.
>>
>> ***  You can  get through (and people DO get
> through)
>> IAS using any Major Indian Language.
>>
>> As for MP/MLA, forget about English,  (good or bad)
>> you do not  even need a basic education to become a
>> MP/MLA/Minister.  Good example is Laloo.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> 
> Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated 
> for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.
> http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow
>
> ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> 


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Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>I myself know an IRS officer now posted in Coorg district of Karnataka. He is 
>from UP and from a very lower middle class background. However >after 15 years 
>in the services, his english is as good as anyone else's and he has good 
>working knowledge of Kannada.

If the guy knows good English, it actually proves my original point that in 
India in ancient when one had to learn Sanskrit to be in the elite class, now 
one has to be good in English to be in the elite class.

Barua





  - Original Message - 
  From: SANDIP DUTTA 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:45 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  Rather than coming to conclusions about whether this attributes to 
dictatorship - why not involve someone from that state in this discussion to 
see if he concurs with this view.



  Ditto for IAS/IPS officers coming from vernacular mediums. Contrary to 
belief, such officers actually have very good (if not excellent) knowledge of 
English and at times local languages wherever they are posted.



  I myself know an IRS officer now posted in Coorg district of Karnataka. He is 
from UP and from a very lower middle class background. However after 15 years 
in the services, his english is as good as anyone else's and he has good 
working knowledge of Kannada.



  No wonder we see most of the demands for sovereignity and seperation from 
foreign settled people who have got disconnected with the way this country 
works (and still works).



  Rgds,

  Sandip





   

  - Original Message 
  From: barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from 
around the world 
  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:00:10 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  >a  nexus  prevents  anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face 
ex-communication a-la erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times ->as 
per a Bengali researcher .

  This is in fact what is called 'elected dictatorship' going on in West bengal 
in name of democracy.
  Rajenda

   
- Original Message - 
From: umesh sharma 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


Rajen-da

Good example of India-Shining rhetoric. 
But just becos there is peace (despite armed militancy in 25% of India's 
districts- NE, Kashmir, Bihar, Central India, LTTE South India etc etc) and not 
many are dying of starvation and voting not by reading election manifestos but 
by recognizing cartoons (election symbols) of political parties . 

Even democratically elected communist govt (an anamoly) of West Bengal is 
allegedly  in power for past 25 years non-stop since  a  nexus  prevents  
anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face ex-communication a-la 
erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times -as per a Bengali researcher .

But ofcourse noone can deny that despite is shortcomings the India that is 
Bharat is growing  - despite spoofs like Hollywood's "Borat" movie (Bharat ??) 
from Kazakhstan (Rajasthan???)

Umesh


Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
  Following may be added from another review about the book:

  India is the country that was never expected to ever be a country. In the 
late 19th century, Sir John Strachey, a senior British official, grandly opined 
that the territory's diverse states simply could not possess any sort of unity, 
physical, political, social or religious. Strachey, clearly, was wrong: India 
today is a unified entity and a rising global power. Even so, it continues to 
defy explanation. India's existence, says Guha, an internationally known 
scholar (Environmentalism: A Global History), has also been an anomaly for 
academic political science, according to whose axioms cultural heterogeneity 
and poverty do not make a nation, still less a democratic one. Yet India 
continues to exist. Guha's aim in this startlingly ambitious political, 
cultural and social survey is to explain why and how. He cheerfully concludes 
that India's continuing existence results from its unique diversity and its 
refusal to be pigeonholed into such conventional political models as 
Anglo-American liberalism, French republicanism, atheistic communism or 
Islamist theocracy. India is proudly sui generis, and with August 15, 2007, 
being the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, Guha's magisterial history 
of India since that day comes not a moment too soon. 32 pages of b&w illus., 8 
maps.  
- Original Message - 
From: Rajen & A

Re: [Assam] Oil Industry Institute in Rae Bareilly, UP?

[barua25]

>Those in this net who lick Nehru/Gandhi boots - time for you to think.

What about the others who lick India? What is their point?
Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: Dilip/Dil Deka 
  To: assam online ; ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 8:30 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Oil Industry Institute in Rae Bareilly, UP?


  I don't know how many of you saw this article in the "Hydroprocessing" 
magazine or whether you subscribe to the magazine. Rae Bareilly? - What does it 
have to do with oil industry? Those in this net who lick Nehru/Gandhi boots - 
time for you to think.

  Why didn't Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan or Orissa get the honors of hosting this 
institute? Did Tarun Gogoi pay obeissance, "as you say, Ma'am".
  Dilip Deka
  ==


  Engineers will be trained in specialized petroleum courses such as energy 
exploration and refining activities
  Jeetha D'Silva and Gayatri Ramanathan



  Mumbai: Facing a stubborn labour shortage, the energy sector plans to groom 
its own talent: by launching educational institutes. 
  The industry has taken the first steps to start a handful of institutes for 
petroleum engineers and to train them in both upstream (oil and gas 
exploration) and downstream (refining) activities. 
  These initiatives, also supported by the government, could sharply increase 
the number of students graduating with skills specific to the oil and gas 
sector, starting in 2009. So far, most Indian petroleum engineers have trained 
either at the Indian Institute of Petroleum at Dehradun in Uttarakhand , or at 
the Indian School of Mines at Dhanbad in Jharkhand. 
  Over the next five years, the need for trained geoscientists for exploration 
operations alone is pegged at 6,181, said a study conducted by consultant firm 
PricewaterhouseCoopers for Petrofed, an association of public sector oil 
companies. The shortfall will be about 2,844 geoscientists. The current 
surpluses in some categories of geoscientists are also poised to change into an 
acute shortage as early as next year. According to the same study, the overall 
gap between availability and requirement of trained energy industry manpower in 
India is projected to be about 36,000 by 2019 with existing institutes unable 
to meet this increasing demand for technical manpower in the petroleum sector.
  While the number seems small, compared to much larger shortages that other 
industries such as the outsourcing industry dish out, many of these jobs in the 
petroleum sector are highly specialized with shortages having a major impact in 
a sector that is a national priority. 
  The education initiatives mark the first of their kind for energy studies, 
with the largest being the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, 
structured along the lines of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). The 
institute is being set up in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, with an investment of 
some Rs500 crore, funded by the government and public sector oil companies. 
  Oil marketer Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) is spearheading the initiative 
on behalf of all the PSUs, said D.M. Reddy, executive director for BPCL human 
resources. He said once the institute is fully operational, it will have seven 
programmes offering bachelor's in technology, six integrated master's degrees, 
eight master's in technology, along with MBA and 12 post-graduate diplomas and 
PhD programmes-all related to oil and gas. 
  Reddy, who is also the president of the board of trustees appointed by the 
ministry of petroleum to anchor the institute, predicts the institute-to 
commence in Rae Bareli and New Delhi in 2008-will emerge as the only one to 
comprehensively address the talent needs of the oil and gas ­industries. 
  "There is already a big gap (between) demand and supply for trained engineers 
in exploration and production (E&P) which will only widen with a growth in 
demand," he said. "The institute will mitigate this talent crunch." He said the 
institute expects to enroll 2,400 students, with 900 graduating every year. 
Located on a 125-acre campus, it hopes to collaborate with foreign institutes 
for both student and faculty exchange.
  A new course has also been launched at IIT Bombay, focusing on specialized 
skills for the petroleum industry. "Earlier, we had a post-graduate programme 
in geo-exploration and some of these graduates would join the oil and gas 
industry," said P.K. Saraswati, head, department of earth sciences. "But, 
because of the growing demand for specialized skills, we decided to launch an 
M.Tech programme in petroleum geosciences from this year onwards." 
  The IIT course is supported by energy company BG India Ltd, a part of BG 
Group Plc. The company will provide funds for visiting faculty from global 
institutes in the field as well as fund two students. It will also support the 
institute's laboratory to develop facilities in petroleum geoscience. 
  IIT Bombay may look at expanding its sco

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

>a  nexus  prevents  anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face 
>ex-communication a-la erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times ->as 
>per a Bengali researcher .

This is in fact what is called 'elected dictatorship' going on in West bengal 
in name of democracy.
Rajenda


  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


  Rajen-da

  Good example of India-Shining rhetoric. 
  But just becos there is peace (despite armed militancy in 25% of India's 
districts- NE, Kashmir, Bihar, Central India, LTTE South India etc etc) and not 
many are dying of starvation and voting not by reading election manifestos but 
by recognizing cartoons (election symbols) of political parties . 

  Even democratically elected communist govt (an anamoly) of West Bengal is 
allegedly  in power for past 25 years non-stop since  a  nexus  prevents  
anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face ex-communication a-la 
erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times -as per a Bengali researcher .

  But ofcourse noone can deny that despite is shortcomings the India that is 
Bharat is growing  - despite spoofs like Hollywood's "Borat" movie (Bharat ??) 
from Kazakhstan (Rajasthan???)

  Umesh


  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Following may be added from another review about the book:

India is the country that was never expected to ever be a country. In the 
late 19th century, Sir John Strachey, a senior British official, grandly opined 
that the territory's diverse states simply could not possess any sort of unity, 
physical, political, social or religious. Strachey, clearly, was wrong: India 
today is a unified entity and a rising global power. Even so, it continues to 
defy explanation. India's existence, says Guha, an internationally known 
scholar (Environmentalism: A Global History), has also been an anomaly for 
academic political science, according to whose axioms cultural heterogeneity 
and poverty do not make a nation, still less a democratic one. Yet India 
continues to exist. Guha's aim in this startlingly ambitious political, 
cultural and social survey is to explain why and how. He cheerfully concludes 
that India's continuing existence results from its unique diversity and its 
refusal to be pigeonholed into such conventional political models as 
Anglo-American liberalism, French republicanism, atheistic communism or 
Islamist theocracy. India is proudly sui generis, and with August 15, 2007, 
being the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, Guha's magisterial history 
of India since that day comes not a moment too soon. 32 pages of b&w illus., 8 
maps.  
  - Original Message - 
  From: Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:42 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi


  Good review of a grand 900 page book on India recently published:

  India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy by 
Ramachandra Guha  
   
  From The Washington Post's Book World/washingtonpost.com
  Reviewed by George Perkovich
  A toast to India on its 60th birthday: No country has more heroically 
pursued the promise of democracy. Against the odds of staggering poverty, 
conflicting religious passions, linguistic pluralism, regional separatism, 
caste injustice and natural resource scarcity, Indians have lifted themselves 
largely by their own sandal straps to become a stalwart democracy and emerging 
global power. India has risen with epic drama -- a nonviolent struggle for 
independence followed by mass mayhem and bloodletting, dynastic succession and 
assassination, military victory and defeat, starvation succeeded by green 
revolution, political leaders as saints, sinners and sexual ascetics. And yet, 
the Indian story rarely has been told and is practically unknown to Americans.
  India After Gandhi masterfully fills the void. India needs a wise and 
judicious narrator to convey its scale, diversity and chaos -- to describe the 
whirlwind without getting lost in it. It needs a biographer neither besotted by 
love nor enraged by disappointment. Ramachandra Guha, a historian who has 
taught at Stanford and Yale and now lives in Bangalore, has given democratic 
India the rich, well-paced history it deserves.
  Much will be new to American readers. Large-scale conflicts in India's 
northeast between tribal groups and the center have been as enduring, and in 
some ways as important, as the more familiar violence in Kashmir. The framing 
of India's constitution from 1946 through 1949 should induce awe, especially in 
light of Iraq's post-Saddam experience.
  In the midst of Hindu-Muslim bloodshed, a flood of 8 million refugees, 
starvation, and othe

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy

[barua25]

That is because they historians and thought leaders.
This is a good topic one can debate long.
I think they have their points.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Rajib Das" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world" 
; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal democracy


I fail to understand why SOME historians (and thought
leaders) continue to insist that India is a country
that was never meant to be.

The exact political boundaries are new (as in 60 years
old) - but there is enough political thought through
the course of history - before the Brits came in or
even before the Islamic invasion of India - to warrant
the idea of India.



--- Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Umesh:
> India is best described as 'an elected
> dictatorship'.
> Rajenda
>   - Original Message - 
>   From: umesh sharma
>   To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam
> from around the world
>   Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After
> Gandhi- Bengal democracy
>
>
>   Rajen-da
>
>   Good example of India-Shining rhetoric.
>   But just becos there is peace (despite armed
> militancy in 25% of India's districts- NE, Kashmir,
> Bihar, Central India, LTTE South India etc etc) and
> not many are dying of starvation and voting not by
> reading election manifestos but by recognizing
> cartoons (election symbols) of political parties .
>
>   Even democratically elected communist govt (an
> anamoly) of West Bengal is allegedly  in power for
> past 25 years non-stop since  a  nexus  prevents
> anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else
> face ex-communication a-la erstwhile Pope's rule in
> Europe in medieval times -as per a Bengali
> researcher .
>
>   But ofcourse noone can deny that despite is
> shortcomings the India that is Bharat is growing  -
> despite spoofs like Hollywood's "Borat" movie
> (Bharat ??) from Kazakhstan (Rajasthan???)
>
>   Umesh
>
>
>   Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Following may be added from another review about
> the book:
>
> India is the country that was never expected to
> ever be a country. In the late 19th century, Sir
> John Strachey, a senior British official, grandly
> opined that the territory's diverse states simply
> could not possess any sort of unity, physical,
> political, social or religious. Strachey, clearly,
> was wrong: India today is a unified entity and a
> rising global power. Even so, it continues to defy
> explanation. India's existence, says Guha, an
> internationally known scholar (Environmentalism: A
> Global History), has also been an anomaly for
> academic political science, according to whose
> axioms cultural heterogeneity and poverty do not
> make a nation, still less a democratic one. Yet
> India continues to exist. Guha's aim in this
> startlingly ambitious political, cultural and social
> survey is to explain why and how. He cheerfully
> concludes that India's continuing existence results
> from its unique diversity and its refusal to be
> pigeonholed into such conventional political models
> as Anglo-American liberalism, French republicanism,
> atheistic communism or Islamist theocracy. India is
> proudly sui generis, and with August 15, 2007, being
> the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, Guha's
> magisterial history of India since that day comes
> not a moment too soon. 32 pages of b&w illus., 8
> maps.
>   - Original Message - 
>   From: Rajen & Ajanta Barua
>   To: assam@assamnet.org
>   Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:42 PM
>   Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After
> Gandhi
>
>
>   Good review of a grand 900 page book on India
> recently published:
>
>   India After Gandhi: The History of the World's
> Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha
>
>   From The Washington Post's Book
> World/washingtonpost.com
>   Reviewed by George Perkovich
>   A toast to India on its 60th birthday: No
> country has more heroically pursued the promise of
> democracy. Against the odds of staggering poverty,
> conflicting religious passions, linguistic
> pluralism, regional separatism, caste injustice and
> natural resource scarcity, Indians have lifted
> themselves largely by their own sandal straps to
> become a stalwart democracy and emerging global
> power. India has risen with epic drama -- a
> nonviolent struggle for independence followed by
> mass mayhem and bloodletting, dynastic succession
> and assassination, military victory and defeat,
> starvation succeeded by green revolution, political
> leaders as saints, sinners and sexual ascetics. And
> yet, the Indian story rarely has been told and is
> practically unknown to Americans.
>   India After Gandhi masterfully fills the void.
> India needs a wise and judicious narrator to convey
> its scale, diversity and ch

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust

[barua25]

That is good and bad.
Good for the local guy to get IAS thorough just Tamil or Marathy or Assamese 
and not English.
Bad news is that he becomes inefficient to run the country in places other 
than his own state. A Marathy who does nor know English or Assamese is 
useless in Assam.
Worse is that such useless guys are running the country.
This actually makes a strong case why India should dis unite. (I am speaking 
here just for arguments sake).
And the point remains that such local guys (dadas) may be even very fewer in 
percentage.
Do we know any Naga or Assamese (say) who got IAS just by knowing Nagamese 
or Assamese?
Prabably not.
Barua

- Original Message - 
From: "Krishnendu Chakraborty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:48 AM
Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust


> Today it is the 5% IAS officers and 1% MLAs and
> MPs whom you elect to govern. You have to learn to
> speak and write English to get into that circle.
>
> ***  You can  get through (and people DO get through)
> IAS using any Major Indian Language.
>
> As for MP/MLA, forget about English,  (good or bad)
> you do not  even need a basic education to become a
> MP/MLA/Minister.  Good example is Laloo.
>
>
>
>
>
> 
> Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! 
> FareChase.
> http://farechase.yahoo.com/
>
> ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> 


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Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust

[barua25]

The difference is, in democratic countries, it should be the rules not the 
persons who should rule. In India the general perception is that it is the 
person, whether the MLA, orr MP or the IAS officer, who runs the country 
basically on personal whims in the name of the rules which are merely on paper. 
That is the difference. Otherwise your point is correct. But the difference 
remains. Rest we can argue our points to death.
Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
  Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:11 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust


  Barua,

  >India has always been ruled by the 5% elite

  This is true of almost every country - including the US and is also true of 
states within countries. In fact, I would want to know of any country that is 
NOT governed by the 5-10% elite. It will be interesting. 

  >The rest 95% were always the ignorant people being >ruled, in ancient time, 
during the British Raj and now.
  >I donot see any difference.

  What about those countless engineers, doctors, scientists (other than 
politicians and IAS babus) can we consider them all ignorant?  Just because 
large sections avoid the IAS and politics like the plague, doesn't 
automatically make them ignorant. 


  --Ram


   
  On 9/26/07, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Umesh:
India has always been ruled by the 5% elite. In the old days it was the 
Aryan high cast Brahmins and Khsatriyas. To get into that circle one had to 
study a lot, learn how to speak and write Sanskrit. 
Today it is the 5% IAS officers and 1% MLAs and MPs whom you elect to 
govern. You have to learn to speak and write English to get into that circle.
The rest 95% were always the ignorant people being ruled, in ancient time, 
during the British Raj and now.
I donot see any difference.
Rajenda

  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world ; 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 12:41 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust

   
  Rajen-da,

  The dictatorship is too much of a term - it depends where you are in 
India - those in metros definitely are having full democracy and as you go into 
interiors where law and literacy are remote it becomes dictatorhip by the 
elected. 

  See the video of Indira's India of 1984 - Sikh Holocaust 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MasMHq7oUs&NR=1 


  Umesh

  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Umesh:
India is best described as 'an elected dictatorship'.
Rajenda
  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the 
world 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal 
democracy

   
  Rajen-da

  Good example of India-Shining rhetoric. 
  But just becos there is peace (despite armed militancy in 25% of 
India's districts- NE, Kashmir, Bihar, Central India, LTTE South India etc etc) 
and not many are dying of starvation and voting not by reading election 
manifestos but by recognizing cartoons (election symbols) of political parties 
. 

  Even democratically elected communist govt (an anamoly) of West 
Bengal is allegedly  in power for past 25 years non-stop since  a  nexus  
prevents  anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face 
ex-communication a-la erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times -as per 
a Bengali researcher . 

  But ofcourse noone can deny that despite is shortcomings the India 
that is Bharat is growing  - despite spoofs like Hollywood's "Borat" movie 
(Bharat ??) from Kazakhstan (Rajasthan???)

  Umesh


  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Following may be added from another review about the book:

India is the country that was never expected to ever be a country. 
In the late 19th century, Sir John Strachey, a senior British official, grandly 
opined that the territory's diverse states simply could not possess any sort of 
unity, physical, political, social or religious. Strachey, clearly, was wrong: 
India today is a unified entity and a rising global power. Even so, it 
continues to defy explanation. India's existence, says Guha, an internationally 
known scholar ( Environmentalism: A Global History), has also been an anomaly 
for academic political science, according to whose axioms cultural 
heterogeneity and poverty do not make a nation, still less a democratic one. 
Yet India continues to exist. Guha's aim in this startlingly ambitious 
political, cultural and social survey is

Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust

[barua25]

If your statement is correct, it may mean that there is actually no democracy, 
no govt rule of law, in the cities which actually proves my point. Some 
dictators are runjning the cities.
Rajenda

  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world ; 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:44 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust


  Rajen-da,

  Your view shows that you have never stayed in Indian metros -where govt 
officials do not rule.

  Umesh

  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Umesh:
India has always been ruled by the 5% elite. In the old days it was the 
Aryan high cast Brahmins and Khsatriyas. To get into that circle one had to 
study a lot, learn how to speak and write Sanskrit. 
Today it is the 5% IAS officers and 1% MLAs and MPs whom you elect to 
govern. You have to learn to speak and write English to get into that circle.
The rest 95% were always the ignorant people being ruled, in ancient time, 
during the British Raj and now.
I donot see any difference.
Rajenda

  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world ; 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 12:41 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Sikh Holocaust


  Rajen-da,

  The dictatorship is too much of a term - it depends where you are in 
India - those in metros definitely are having full democracy and as you go into 
interiors where law and literacy are remote it becomes dictatorhip by the 
elected.

  See the video of Indira's India of 1984 - Sikh Holocaust 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MasMHq7oUs&NR=1


  Umesh

  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Umesh:
India is best described as 'an elected dictatorship'.
Rajenda
  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the 
world 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi- Bengal 
democracy


  Rajen-da

  Good example of India-Shining rhetoric. 
  But just becos there is peace (despite armed militancy in 25% of 
India's districts- NE, Kashmir, Bihar, Central India, LTTE South India etc etc) 
and not many are dying of starvation and voting not by reading election 
manifestos but by recognizing cartoons (election symbols) of political parties 
. 

  Even democratically elected communist govt (an anamoly) of West 
Bengal is allegedly  in power for past 25 years non-stop since  a  nexus  
prevents  anyone  from voting against the "party"  or  else face 
ex-communication a-la erstwhile Pope's rule in Europe in medieval times -as per 
a Bengali researcher .

  But ofcourse noone can deny that despite is shortcomings the India 
that is Bharat is growing  - despite spoofs like Hollywood's "Borat" movie 
(Bharat ??) from Kazakhstan (Rajasthan???)

  Umesh


  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Following may be added from another review about the book:

India is the country that was never expected to ever be a country. 
In the late 19th century, Sir John Strachey, a senior British official, grandly 
opined that the territory's diverse states simply could not possess any sort of 
unity, physical, political, social or religious. Strachey, clearly, was wrong: 
India today is a unified entity and a rising global power. Even so, it 
continues to defy explanation. India's existence, says Guha, an internationally 
known scholar (Environmentalism: A Global History), has also been an anomaly 
for academic political science, according to whose axioms cultural 
heterogeneity and poverty do not make a nation, still less a democratic one. 
Yet India continues to exist. Guha's aim in this startlingly ambitious 
political, cultural and social survey is to explain why and how. He cheerfully 
concludes that India's continuing existence results from its unique diversity 
and its refusal to be pigeonholed into such conventional political models as 
Anglo-American liberalism, French republicanism, atheistic communism or 
Islamist theocracy. India is proudly sui generis, and with August 15, 2007, 
being the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, Guha's magisterial history 
of India since that day comes not a moment too soon. 32 pages of b&w illus., 8 
maps.  
  - Original Message - 
  From: Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:42 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Book review : India After Gandhi


  Good review of a grand 900 page book on India recently published:

 

[Assam] Fw: World's Ignorance About Assam:

[barua25]

World's Ignorance About Assam:

Looks like there is no limit to the world's ignorance about Assam and the North 
East India. I think we discussed the book last year in the net. This book is 
another example where the entire North East India has been skipped from India 
(may be to the delight of the insurgents).

India Unveiled (Hardcover) 
by Robert Arnett (Author

A highly acclaimed mostly colorful book with high editorial reviews:

As promised, I put the following review (See full reviews in Amazon.com) for 
readers to know the weakness of the book:

Not Real India, Not Whole India:
"I was very disappointed in the otherwise colorful book because it did not 
address the real India nor it shows the whole India. In fact without discussing 
substance, the book has left out the entrire North East India comprising the 
seven states, namely the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, 
Meghalaya, Mizoram & Tripura, the so called the Seven Sisters which is 
physically the most beautiful and culturally most colorful part of India. So I 
would suggest that when Mr. Robert Arnett visits India next time, he would 
kindly take the time to visit the Seven Sisters and unveil the beautiful North 
East India and complete the book showing more real stuff in India."

Rajen Barua
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[Assam] Fw: Please help for making classroom- tin roof and bamboo wall

[barua25]

Raiz:
Here is a urgent request Parijat Academy for help in building additional class 
rooms. Please note that one may donate class rooms in name of their parents 
etc. You may contact Uttam Teron directly on this.
Rajen Barua

- Original Message - 
From: Parijat Academy 
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 8:54 AM
Subject: Please help for making classroom- tin roof and bamboo wall 


Respected Sir/Madam,

Please help for Making classroom  100x20=2000 sq ft in area for four class that 
is for class V, VI, VII, VIII.

Urgent Need  four (4) classroom   for January to December 2008
New session will start from January 2008
We have to complete the  making tin roof and bamboo wall with mudy floor within 
October 2007. More children will increase next year.
 
Classroom size  500 sq ft  per room for four classroom, total 2000 sq ft in 
area for four classroom that is class V, VI, VII, VIII.
  Sl.No Particulars Amount (  Rs) 
  1. 150 piece  Tin for roof  ( 100x20=2000 sq  ft in area  school room )
  ( tin  size 8  x  2.5 ) @ Rs 300/- per piece per tin. 45000/- 
  2 50 piece Tin  for Veranda roof
  ( tin size 6x2.5 @ 250/- 12500/- 
  3 100 piece Bamboo for post and roof support
  @ Rs 45/- per bamboo 4500/- 
  4 Labour charge  3000/- 
  5 Bamboo wall all side  12000/- 
  6 Wire for fitting the roof and  bamboo wall 3000/- 
  7 Mud filling on the floor 7000/- 

Total  Rs 87000/- 

 
It will takes 20  days to make classroom  with tin roof and bamboo wall.
The life span of the  bamboo wall  classroom will be 3 years. After that we 
have to change  some damage bamboo wall. This will continue.
 
 
Need your support  for Desk and benches for school:
Next year year 40 pairs of desks and benches will required @ Rs 1200/- per pair.
 
Sponsor:
If  you know of an individual or organization who may be willing to contribute 
to this project, please inform them.
 
Bank details
Account  Name: Parijat Academy
Account No.   8532
Bank:  Central Bank of India
Lokhra Chariali Branch
Lokhra, Guwahati-781035
 
Contact address:
 Parijat Acdemy, Pamohi, P.O. Garchuk, Guwahati-78035, India
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Mobile :91-9864041711

If you know of an individual or organisation who may be willing to contribute 
to this project, please inform them. Your helping hand will help to get more 
children education.
More children will increase  next year.

Thanks and regards

Uttam Teron
Parijat Academy




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Re: [Assam] Nat Geo: Pakistan's surging fundamentalism vs education

[barua25]

Thanks Wahid:
Is Berelvism similar to Sufism?
What about Sunnis. Are they a minotity elite class in Pakistan like that in 
Iraq?
What do you think are the relative percentages of Islam in India?
Overall, what do you think is the role of Pakistan in the 
Arab/Middleeast/Oslamic equation? Is it somewhat the role model intelectutal 
center with the Atom Bomb etc? Where does Iran (Sia HQ?) stand? 
I know I need to study a lot and hope your links will give lot of information.
Rajen 

  - Original Message - 
  From: W.Saleh 
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: 'Rajen & Ajanta Barua' 
  Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 2:33 PM
  Subject: RE: [Assam] Nat Geo: Pakistan's surging fundamentalism vs education


  Dear Umesh,

   

  Thanks for the link. It is an interesting article. I have my doubts about the 
percentage o Sufi's. 

   

  Rajen, if your interested in the Sufi's of Pakistan you can check the 
following links:


  
http://web.archive.org/web/20030728213311/http://www.ncsu.edu/tsac/Rozehnal.doc 

  http://www.geocities.com/pak_history/sufi.html

  http://www.sachalsarmast.org/index.htm

   

  In the Pakistan army if I am not mistaken it is mainly Sunnis. Pls check the 
following:

  http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-barelvi.htm 

   

  The non-Pakhtun population of Pakistan is predominantly Barelvi. The 
stronghold of Barelvism remains Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan. By 
one estimate, in Pakistan, the Shias are 18%, ismailis 2%, Ahmediyas 2%, 
Barelvis 50%, Deobandis 20%, Ahle Hadith 4%, and other minorities 4%. The 
Ahle-e-Hadith is a small group of Sunni Muslims in India who do not consider 
themselves bound by any particular school of law and rely directly on the 
Prophet's Sunnah. By another estimate some 15 per cent of Pakistan's Sunni 
Muslims would consider themselves Deobandi, and some 60 per cent, are in the 
Barelvi tradition based mostly in the province of Punjab. But some 64 per cent 
of the total seminaries are run by Deobandis, 25 per cent by the Barelvis, six 
percent by the Ahle Hadith and three percent by various Shiite organisations.

   

  According to CIA fact books of Pakistan Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), 
other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3%

  
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html#People 

   

  Greetings,

  Wahid


--

  Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Namens umesh sharma
  Verzonden: donderdag 6 september 2007 18:48
  Aan: Rajen & Ajanta Barua; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@assamnet.org
  Onderwerp: Re: [Assam] Nat Geo: Pakistan's surging fundamentalism vs education

   

  Rajen-da,

  About 80% follow - as per the first page of the article .

  Umesh

  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

  >It is surprising that most Pakistanis follow Sufism 

   

  Umesh:

  Is this a fact? What percentage are Sufis? Can you furnish some resource for 
this? I am just wondering. If it is it is good since Pakistan is our neighbour.

  Rajenda

   

- Original Message - 

From: umesh sharma 

To: assam@assamnet.org 

Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 11:11 PM

Subject: [Assam] Nat Geo: Pakistan's surging fundamentalism vs education

 

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0709/pakistan/pakistan.html
see this cover story I read for a job application this weekend

I had just applied for a 15 day position in Pakistan's Baluchistan province 
though I had reservations about whether I would make it alive - having a 
penchant to send emails to AssamNet about the living conditions of that area 
and exposing myself as an open target to Jehadis/Talibanis in the area. I have 
a feeling my application suffered some setback becos I wrote as if I was local 
guy from that area and not an outsider going for a cursory visit from US. Sindh 
also on the trip is just across the border from Gujarat and Rajasthan. A local 
guy perhaps is more likely to have local links which could sometimes turn out 
to be dangeorus to others in the visiting party from US etc

It is surprising that most Pakistanis follow Sufism and that Jinnah wanted 
a secular nation where muslims could grow in peace - it is true that despite 
having ruled India for centuries muslims are still less educated than an 
average Indian - but what about muslims in Pakistan -- is it because of 
tradition ( I won't call it religion - even Catholic South America bans 
abortion and divorce). Whatever Jinnah might have said ( I don't believe it 
though it comes from Nat Geo - he never  seemed committed to it - otherwise why 
Hindus would have had to migrate at the time of British withdrawl).

any comments?

Umesh


Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C. 

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

http://ww

Re: [Assam] A chance interaction with Shashi Tharoor

[barua25]

Good!
That itself makes another good speech.
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 4:56 PM
  Subject: [Assam] A chance interaction with Shashi Tharoor


  Yesterday, we had the good fortune to listen to Shashi Tharoor speak. Most of 
us know that Tharoor was formerly a UN undersecrectary, and also ran an 
unsuccessful campaign to win th UN Secy Gen post. He is also the author of a 
number of books The event drew (I would guess) a couple of 1000 people) - 
packed. It was also attended by Congressman Lampson, the Indian Ambassador, 
Sen, the mayor etc etec. 

  Anyway, Tharoor talked about (excellent speaker) "India's Soft Power in the 
21st Century World"

  He spoke at length of both India's successes and also of its failures, He 
talked about space, of IT, of growth rates, literature, and of the Indian 
spirit, And he also talked about poverty (something like 30-40% below poverty 
level), of the wide disparities within the country. He spoke about the "Indian 
Democracy" and of how there is still the "you cast your vote, and vote your 
cast" - but he mentions how at times the democractic system struggles & 
totters, and yet manages to survive and come out triumphant. 

  He advocates "Soft Power" (SP)India which India practices very well - bothe 
within & outside the country. He advocates this power of persuassion as opposed 
to arms etc. SP can of course be in many forms - from Bollywood to literature, 
from our engineers to software developers. He mentioned that India was like 
a"Thali dinner". All different, items, some complementary, while others not - 
but they all belonged to the same thali. 

  I sort of took advantage of the Q & A session, hesitated, but asked him a 
question about Assam & NE.

  My question (based on some of the queries we often get in the net here) was 
what kind of Soft Power would Tharoor advocate the central Govt. take toward 
Assam in particular and the NE in general. I referred to the insurgency, the 
lack of development and wanted to know what steps Delhi ought to take to make 
Assam and NE inclusive and share and share equally in the overall Indian 
experiment. 

  Tharoor, basically responded and told the audience that India's overall 
success also depended on how well the all states were treated and how Delhi 
should take proactive steps to ensure that Assam(NE) is not left out etc. etc 
and that it was important development and growth efforts in Assam be given a 
priority. 

  He also mentioned that he would be visiting Assam, and that he has had a long 
discussion with the CM, Assam. He seemed genuinely interested and even referred 
to the situation in Assam a couple of times in other discussions. Afterwards, I 
even got a chance of chatting with him for a few minutes. 

  My reasons were very simplistic in asking the question. I did not expect that 
there would be any overnight change in attitude or perceptions toward Assam/NE 
or that Tharror could do on a personal basis. - but I thought I would atleast 
plant the idea, or notion that Delhi cannot just keep thinking that India is 
just made up of a few states and cities. I wanted to bring this up in front of 
many  American invitees, Ambassador Sen, Consul Gen. of India, and others like 
the mayor etc. Good or bad, I wanted to show that Assam/NE is/was being 
neglected in many ways - and I got to get that message about Assam across in 
the forum. 

  I have experimented this in a number of other forums too. I often raise 
concerns about Assam and let often let NGOs and others to also pay interest to 
states like Assam. Don't know if this works, but intend to keep trying. 

  I also DO NOT think those of us interested in Assam ought to just lay back 
and expect others to take interest. Today, there are many people both here and 
in Assam, who are trying to make things happen.

  Today, because of the leadership of Hiren da & Usha (Hiren Sarma of Houston), 
the Houston Assamese community was fortunate to be invited to a presentation of 
Pratham USA by Mr. Yogi Patel. Pratham, as some of you know is a non-profit 
organization and focusses on basic education for poor children. The 
organization has done wonderfull things and made huge strides in many parts of 
the country. 
  They now have a presence in Assam as well. 

  I think, it is important for each of us to contribute what we can. Pratham, 
from what I understand, will be able to match funds thru various sources. 
Further, contributions can be earmarked specifically to Assam. I am sure Hiren 
da can provide more information on Pratham if anyone wants further information. 

  --Ram







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Re: [Assam] Indian reality versus Western mythology

[barua25]

When I say FACTS AND FIGURES, I was talking not about our religious heroes, but 
about Science and Mathametics.
Say for instance, what India did in case of Mathematics and when?
Can you produce any written evidence that India invented the Zero and when? It 
is difficult. 

I donot like to deal with mythical figures like Shiva, Krishna etc. I consider 
these Indian gods to be purely mythical figures transformed from some original 
tribal religious cults. In my opinion, Shiva was orginally a local god in the 
Harappa civilization and Krishna was a Dravidian local tribal god. This much 
history tells. Do you have any other evidence to counter that , not who 
believes what?
Rajen da

  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 1:33 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Indian reality versus Western mythology


  Rajen-da,

  Good to get your response. Now about facts - would you not agree that most 
Hindus hail Krishna as one of the Hindu heroes and believe that he lived in 
India thousands of years back --- I wanted to put that on Wikipedia page of 
Krishna - and they asked for facts --  what do you expect me to do? I believe 
wiki is a good example of people over the globe trying to have "sameness" - 
even here there is bias.

  Second, on Jesus's wiki page I added a comment that many Indians believe that 
Jesus came to learn his skills in India (and I added a BBC report on that with 
weblink) and that was deleted - saying this is no research evidence -- for 
Indian news on Indian  culture even an obscure reference (with no weblink) in 
any newspaer article in remote India is considered okay by its editors -- 
incidently for Jesus they have stopped anyone from editing the page. Anyone is 
free to write anything about Krshna , Ram etc -- thats free for all.

  whats that to do with facts? Thats plain bias.

  Umesh

  Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Umesh:
What you are saying is right.
The West has a Eurocentric view of the world. They claim that the basic 
foundation of the Western Civilization, especially on science, is mainly based 
on Greek civilization. They even donot like to give proper credit to the Indian 
and Chinese contribution in mathetics and other science. I would say, the West 
is still in the Dark Age. However, they have a point. Indians basically donot 
have any record of what they did. If you want to counter the present 
Eurocentric view, the best (and only way) is to debate will SOLID facts and 
figures and not with rhetoric.
If you have any specific issue, I would be glad to discus.
Rajenda   
  - Original Message - 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 7:04 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Indian reality versus Western mythology


  Some days back a student of Indian origin born and raised in US was 
surprised to learn that India had a glorious history - he hardly believed me 
though.

And it did not surprise me since I have come to realize that every 
civilization wants to promote itself as the best - Greek and Roman civilization 
are promoted as ideals (closely followed by Egyptian one) -- Indian and Chinese 
ones are lesser ones. 

  Greek Toga costume parties are common features of Western univs just like 
Indian kurta, dhoti are picking up in Indian college fashion shows.


  However, the problem is that Western historians/scholars of non Western 
spheres call themselves (and each other) as the world's foremost/only reliable 
experts on their chosen area of expertise - namely hows and whys of other 
civilization. Most believe (I believe) that those in non-western 
world/developing world are too naive/unscientific/non-modern/non-rational to 
understand and appreciate the distinction between good and bad; and right and 
wrong.

  I believe a lay westerner is more tolerant of others' views than these 
experts (whose reputation and even careers depend on promoting what they have 
always held as true).

  I just created a wikipedia page called Hindu Reality -speaking against 
this tendency (I'm sure someone will come along and remove my arguments).

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_reality  - I just checked --someone 
has deleted the page itself.

  Wiki seems to be about might is right - 

  Any comments?

  Umesh






  Umesh Sharma

  Washington D.C. 

  1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

  Ed.M. - International Education Policy
  Harvard Graduate School of Education,
  Harvard University,
  Class of 2005

  http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)

  http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)




  www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )




  http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ 

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Re: [Assam] 20 jehadi groups out in Asom with an Islamic state blueprint

[barua25]

Thank God, it is not in Assam!!!

  - Original Message - 
  From: Pradip Kumar Datta 
  To: assam@assamnet.org ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] ; Assam Foundation 
  Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 11:52 AM
  Subject: [Assam] 20 jehadi groups out in Asom with an Islamic state blueprint


  20 jehadi groups out in Asom with an Islamic state blueprint
  By a Staff Reporter
  GUWAHATI, June 8: Over the last 28 years, the ULFA has been waging a war 
against the Government. In its armed struggle, the rebel group killed many 
innocent people and damaged property worth crores of rupees. This is indeed a 
huge loss for Asom and its people, but the heavier loss than this is that over 
20 jehadi groups have been allowed to spread their tentacles in the State 
during this period. The jehadi groups have been carrying out subversive 
activities in the State, including its capital, besides provoking the youths 
against India. According to intelligence sources, these jehadi organizations, 
with active support from the ULFA, have been acting in the State and the region 
in accordance with an ISI blueprint for an Islamic state comprising a vast area 
of Asom.
  According to intelligence reports, over 20 jehadi groups, including Adam 
Sena, Muslim Tigers' Force, Revolutionary Muslim Commandos, United Muslim Front 
of Assam, Islamic United Reformation Movement of India, Islamic Sevak Sangha, 
Muslim Security Force, Muslim Liberation Army of Assam, United Liberation 
Militia of Assam, Muslim Security Council of Assam, Muslim United Liberation 
Front of Assam, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jehad and People's United 
Liberation Front, have been active in Asom. Activists of these organizations, 
intelligence sources claimed, have been taking shelter in border areas, 
madrassas, masjids, sar areas and other religious minority-dominated areas in 
the State, and provoking youths against India. "These organizations recruit 
local youths and send them for arms training to foreign countries," the sources 
said, and added: "With the change of guard in Bangladesh, ULFA leaders who have 
taken shelter in that country, including 'c-in-c' Paresh Baruah, were forced to 
back the Islamic state blueprint prepared by Pakistan's ISI and Bangladesh's 
DGFI. The mysterious silence of ULFA leaders on burning issues like unchecked 
infiltration from Bangladesh and expulsion of Bangladeshis from Asom is a 
glaring example of ULFA going soft on jehadi groups sponsored by forces based 
in Bangladesh". 
  Reiterating their revelations that ULFA 'c-in-c' Paresh Baruah converted to 
Islam under the name Karuj Zaman Khan, got married to one Sufia Begum and had 
two children - Tahshim Khan and Akash Khan - the sources said that the 
grassroots-level workers of the ULFA were ignorant of their top brass having 
supported the Islamic nation formula.
  Sources further said that with the local Asomiya youths distancing themselves 
from the activities and ideology of the ULFA, the rebel group is now required 
to rely more on jehadis, both for manpower and arms.
  The sources further said that jehadi elements had supplied the bombs that 
were triggered in the city recently. The ULFA militants who triggered the 
blasts, according to sources, have been identified as Pal, Rathim, Mukesh, 
Hemanta Rajbongshi and Akash Thapa.


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[Assam] Fw: China Progress

[barua25]

Courtsey Satyajit Dutta:




  Subject: China Progress 
  Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 03:15:09 + 


   Shillong Times : June 7, 2007 
  China revisited
  Way behind, Wake up India!

  By Poonam I Kaushish

  It was a fantastic ten-day revisit to China. A great eye-opener in every 
sense of the term. Starting with the wholly unexpected feel good send-off one 
could have got. A lavish dinner out-of-the-blue by the Press section of the 
Chinese Embassy in an appropriately named restaurant called The Chinese. The 
surprise was all the more pleasant because one cannot expect the External 
Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs to do likewise. Namely, 
go out of their way to invite not just the journalist but also the family, 
going on a private holiday to the Dragon country. Load them with travelogues 
and CDs of places to visit, hotels to stay, shopping, food et al. Indeed, the 
inscrutable Chinamen knew how to hard sell their wares.

  Airports are always a precursor of what the country is all about and, 
importantly, how progressive it is. To say the least, China's airports don't 
disappoint. Be it Beijing, Xian or Shanghai. All are huge structures of 
aluminium and glass with shining granite floors. Immigration is business like 
and fast. All with a smile. Your luggage already awaits you at all 
destinations. The toilets spanking clean with attendants.

  In sharp contrast to India's serpentine queues and grumpy officials in 
cramped spaces. What to say of stinking toilets. Their duty shops stock 
anything and everything under the sun. International designer brands, liquor, 
chocolates, watches, you name it they have it. Are we really in a communist 
country!!! Notwithstanding the fact, that China initiated economic reforms in 
1978, under then-leader Deng Xiaoping and has now blossomed into a full-fledged 
market economy.

  Unlike their desi counterparts, all airports are over 50 kms away from the 
cities connected by ring roads, expressways and trains. Shanghai has two 
international airports. Pudong International airport boasts of the famous 
Maglev train - the only train in the world that runs on magnetic 
levitation. Running at a speed of 430 miles per hour. It takes only seven 
minutes to reach the city centre. While our polity and policy makers continue 
to quibble about the kis leeaye and kyun of expanding the pathetic present 
facilities with a recalcitrant Red Brigade playing spoilsport. Talk of true 
blue Communist, come to India and not go to China.

  The latest buzzwords in China are infrastructure and tourism. All in 
preparation for the Olympics next year. Step out of any of their airports and 
the first thing that hits you in the face is the amazing infrastructure. We in 
India have still to learn how to spell that word leave alone understand its 
meaning. Beijing boasts of six 8-lane ring roads with mind-boggling clover 
leafs, four subway lines connecting city center stops and the railway station 
with outlying areas. By 2008, there will be nine routes in Beijing, besides 
buses and metered taxis. Xian, the eternal city, which in its 3100 years of 
development was capital of 13 dynasties has two 8-lane ring roads. Each with 
multiple clover leafs (and we brag about one such in Delhi) which are 
illuminated like showcasing a piece of art. Another is under construction to be 
inaugurated next year.

  Shanghai, originally a seaside-fishing village is today a multi-cultural 
international metropolis with the largest population in China, (18.7 million 
with 2 million floating population) has the world's largest public 
transportation system handling the largest daily volume of passengers. There is 
a high-density road network, over five elevated roads one-on-top-of-the-other 
like a layered sandwich, five subways lines criss-crossing the city, buses and 
several big taxi companies ready to take you to everywhere. Bridges and various 
tunnels provide direct links across the Huangpu River and ferries offer 
convenient shuttle services. Don't the elevated roads spoil Shanghai's beauty? 
I ask the cab driver, "Spoil, how? Roads are meant to ferry people," he 
sagaciously replied. Arm-chair environmentalist who rave and rant about the 
aesthetics of Delhi, please take note.

  City roads in all three metropolises too are 8-lane and sans any potholes, 
car destroying speed-breakers and roadblocks. Metered taxis are freely 
available anywhere and anytime with a wave of a hand. Talk of discipline and 
one gets a taste of it when caught in Beijing' peak hour traffic. It took 1 
hour to traverse a distance of 200 metres. What was most frustrating was that 
the taxi driver refused to shift over to the bus and cycle lanes which were 
empty. Shocked at the suggestion, he emphatically stated, "It is not allowed". 
If it were Delhi, Mumbai or Jhoomretalaiya even the pavement would have been 
choked with cars.

  Not only infrastructure. If a Best Tourism Award were to be given, China 
wo

Re: [Assam] Tridib Dutta's Paintings

[barua25]

Chandan:
I am glad that you met him and bought some paintings from him. If you 
remember we discussed about his paintings in the net last year. I wrote to 
him at that time. He needs the right encouragement. It is good to see that 
he could already sell some of his painting hopefully at his asking price. 
This should encourage others to go for that ine.
Rajen

- Original Message - 
From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 10:19 AM
Subject: [Assam] Tridib Dutta's Paintings


> Dear Netters:
>
>
> I have up-loaded a couple of paintings of the budding Oxomiya artist
> from Tinsukia, Tridib Dutta, to Flickr;
>
> Please look up http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmahanta-stl/
>
>
> In one of my recent visits to Assam I was going to look Tridib up.
> But I fell sick at Dibrugarh  and was stuck there due to a Bondho
> :-).  However Tridib came by and looked me up and I purchased the two
> paintings from him.
>
> Tridib interprets the lovely, peaceful  Assamese rural homestead
> settings that are fast disappearing, in a realistic  style. He works
> mostly with both oil on canvas and water-color. He also does charcoal
> and pencil pieces. Tridib told me he is a self-taught artist and is
> continuing to work on his techniques, doing art full-time.
>
> Since art is not something with which one can make a living easily,
> unless people support them by patronizing their creations, many never
> get to realize their creative potentials.
>
> I was struck by the simplicity of Trdib's technique with which he
> interprets a lifestyle that so many of us hold dear but which is
> about to vanish,  like so much of our past , without a record,
> without any reminders. Thus, I found Tridib's efforts  extremely
> worthwhile.
>
> May I request my fellow men to purchase his work and give him the
> support he deserves, so that he can become a truly Oxomiya artist of
> stature and contribute to our culture in an area that has so little
> to show for?
>
> Tridib can be contacted at:   Tridib Dutta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
>
> His website is:
> http://in.artmajeur.com/?go=user_pages/display_all&login=tridibsart
>
> Best.
>
> cm
>
> ___
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> assam@assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> 


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Re: [Assam] Dhani Ram cures to heart diseases

[barua25]

Mukulda:
What you wrote may be called 'wishful idealism'. Never happens in real life.
This is not to undermine the 'Alternative Medicine World' which normally the 
99% of the population are ignorant about. More so in India the country which 
developed Yoga and Ayurveda.

How many Indians know that in America, there are tablets available made from 
Mithi Guti and Bitter Melon (Tita Kerela) ingredients for Diabetic patients.
How many Indians know that in America, there are tablets available made from 
Turmeric (Assamese - Halodhi; Greek - Curcumin) for Cancer patients.

May be in 22nd century, there will be less allopathic treatment and more 
natural treatment.

Hoowever, till then, for the ignorant millions, we need Dr Baruah. In America 
as well in India.
Assamese should recognize him for what he is worth in the modern world.
Thanks Rajen
  - Original Message - 
  From: mc mahant 
  To: Barua, Rajen ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 11:13 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Dhani Ram cures to heart diseases


  
  There were no Allopathic Doctors since Homo Sapiens=100,000years.
  There are virtues described for AyurVeda(2000yrs?) , Chinese/Tibetan/Yunnan 
Folk Medicine-even today.
  And the British Queen has only a hOmeopath in her household.
  In Azerbaidjan,SheraliBaaba Muslimov died at 143 years-without a single jab 
or a tablet/Capsule.
  Avoid Strong Medicine - they are tested for a few doses on rats/monkeys/3rd 
world guinea pigs - rest is bottom line.
  My Doctor Brother had a stroke which took his first love--Urinary Surgery- 
out of his hands. Since then his advice to young Doctors-"Do not prescribe any 
Medicine if you can avoid." 
  We almost took him to Beijing where a Doc has been Practicing Stem Cell 
Therapy with gene material from early aborted foetuses(plenty in 
China-official). This Doc is Candid  ":Don't ask me what happens-but my 
patients get cured".
   There is a never ending line-from all over the world.
  Dr.Dhani is Serious "I have done nothing more than find out our rich 
Bio-Resources" .
   Prafulla Mahanta under pressure of "Successful Doctors" Locked him up : "I 
pity the Bum (pkm)" was all his reaction.
   
  Assamese Investigative reporter!You can say THATagain!   He Q&A's  his 
Later-day Success Stories -whoever calls him to.
  Our Oxomiya Successful Doctors cannot tolerate him. He Reciprocates.
   
  waiting for the outsiders to recognize this genius for the Assamese to know 
what we have- Maybe that his best  PR TOOL. His staff is strong on 
Videos/Websites/Hightech Telecoms more than standard healthcare Electronics.
  What is the Bottom Line-?
  Toil,Sleep well-light on stomach, Avoid Anger,Talk less, avoid junk foods
   
  mm
   
   


   



Subject: RE: [Assam] Dhani Ram cures to heart diseases
Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 09:32:24 -0400
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@assamnet.org


We have been hearing tit bits report on the works of Dr Baruah from time to 
time. His website seems to be very impressive. What we miss is an investigative 
report on his pioneering works. Will some Assamese reporter  come up and do the 
needful?. Or are we waiting for the outsiders to recognize this genius for the 
Assamese to know what we have?

Barua






From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of mc mahant
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 3:46 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Dhani Ram cures to heart diseases


 Dr. Baruah's Contributions To Cardio Vascular Sciences
   

  Baruah Heart Valves :- A. Baruah Bileaflet Mechanical Heart valve 
Prosthesis 

 B. Baruah Biological Heart valve Prosthesis

  Baruah Artificial Heart 

   Xenotransplantation  

  New Invention in Cardio-Vascular Sciences
  Complete Solution For Dreaded heart Diseases:  Baruah Syndrome
  Good Bye To Heart Attacks,Diabetes & Hypertension & Bypass Surgery at 
the end By  Changing Diseased genes.


Baruah's CV

Research Centers 

Photo Gallery 


   
   

Home..

e-mail  [EMAIL PROTECTED]

PH:-  099540-35687, 099540-35627, 099540-99549, 094353-42098, 099543-26692, 
099543-26752, 099543-56802, 099543-56848, 099540-93699, 099547-03979, 
091361-2786363, 091361-2789417, 091361-278The above is from his Website 

The 2nd mobile # is in his pocket.
'Anytime' he says. "I will tell caller if I am too busy at the time
and I shall call him/her back"

BR
mm



--

  Can i have the contact details of Dr. Barua, pls??

  Regards 

  C.Shankar
  098412

Re: [Assam] My First Web Page

[barua25]

Sondon:
Super, without any comments as usual.
Put some time everyday and try to build your website with more Sondon stuff.
That will be a service to Assam.
Thanks
Rajen

- Original Message - 
From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 3:55 PM
Subject: [Assam] My First Web Page


> Here are pages from my website:
> http://web.mac.com/chanmahanta/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html
>
>
> The opening page is titled Welcome. You will see that on the top of
> the page. Next to it is Photos. If you click on that heading three
> pages of photos from Assam will appear. You can view them either as a
> slideshow or as individual images by clicking on the thumbnails.
>
> One of these days I hope to learn how to add text to the photos, with
> some description.  Some of the flowers and fruit names are Assamese
> names, transliterated. I haven't had time to verify English and /or
> botanical names yet. But they are coming :-).
>
>
>
>
> ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> 


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Re: [Assam] Anger Suppressant

[barua25]

Ramgopal:
I will give the exclusive right to market the guy in USA.
BTW, have you noticed that by extending or contracting the box of the cartoon 
(ie by your mouse), you can actually regulate the speed of the guy's knocking 
his head on the wall, and thus the actual anger of the guy. The smaller the 
guy, greater is its anger. I think there is an appropriate Assamese proverb 
which will go well as caption of the cartoon. Let me think.  I may come up with 
something if nobody can suggest a good Assamese caption.
Barua


  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: barua25 
  Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 11:35 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Anger Suppressant


  Barua,

  That photo strangely looks like me.

  If anyone has not tried this - I would suggest they do. It is like a miracle 
drug, has a 100% cure rate and best of all, it is FREE.

  And if the company is listed in the stock exchange, please let me know, I 
would like to buy some stocks.

  --Ram

   
  On 5/12/07, barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 




Anger Suppressant !!!






Note: For best result, please adjust the speed of the cartoon to match your 
anger lavel, by enlarging or reducing the size of the box with your mouse.
___


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[Assam] Anger Suppressant

[barua25]

Anger Suppressant !!!








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[Assam] Fw: India's booming economy has bypassed the rural poor

[barua25]

INDIA ABROAD, APRIL 13, 2007

PRINT EDITION, PAGE A-40

'THE HIGHER THE GROWTH, THE GREATER THE ANTAGONISM'

Economist Prabhat Patnaik discusses the dark side of India's economic growth 
with Senior Editor Suman Guha Mozumder

India's economy may be booming, its industries thriving, its middle class heady 
with the promise of a great future. But Prabhat Patnaik, a professor of 
economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, worries what the changes augur for 
the rest of the nation. Patnaik was in New York last month to take part in a 
public conversation on 'An Emergent India: Problems and Prospects' along with 
Nobel Laureate and Columbia's economics Professor Joseph Stiglitz. In an 
interview with INDIA ABROAD after the discussion, Patnaik, who is also 
vice-chairman of the Kerala State Planning Board, talked about his concerns 
about modern India.

Q. There were concerns, especially during the rule of the government led by the 
Bharatiya Janata Party earlier that while India was shining -- a slogan coined 
by the BJP -- it was not shining on all its population. Have things changed 
under the Manmohan Singh government?

A.I think they are continuing pretty much the same way. But one of two things 
that have happened is of some importance. One is the passing of the Employment 
Guarantee Act, which promises every rural household 100 days of guaranteed 
employment. It was initially launched only in 200 districts but it's understood 
that it will be extended to the whole country.

A lot of campaigning was done to get this through. This act differs from every 
other previous employment program as it actually makes it a right [to be 
employed]. But the only problem with it is the state machinery is so enmeshed 
in neo-liberalism that I do not think that even though it is rights based -- 
even though it is the case that anybody who demands employment and does not get 
it can take the government to court -- much might happen. The problems of 
non-implementation are to be found almost everywhere. Poor and unemployed 
people do not take the government to court. They just cannot. But, at the same 
time, I think this is something that gives us a handle, at least when public 
and political organizations take the cause of the poor and fight on their 
behalf. So it is a very enabling thing to do. The basic directions of 
neo-liberal policies have not changed, but because of intensive campaigning, 
this act has been passed, which is of potential significance.

Q. If the basic policies have not changed and, as you mentioned, poverty is 
actually increasing in India despite the growth ...

A. I would not even say that poverty is increasing despite the growth. I would 
say that the kind of growth we are experiencing in India is actually based on 
an exacerbation of antagonism. As a result it is growth where to expect a 
trickle-down effect would be absurd. In fact, the higher the growth, the 
greater the antagonism. Suppose you have higher growth. Then there will be even 
more demand for, let us say, a Wal-Mart to be opened. Therfore, there will be 
an even greater dispossession as far as petty and retail traders are concerned.

So, it is a kind of growth where it is not that higher growth would pull 
everybody up, but on the contrary higher growth would actually make things 
worse for a whole lot of people at the bottom.

Q. Could you elaborate?

A. When you have higher growth, there is more income at the upper level. 
Because of the kind of growth, which inequalizes growth any way, there will be 
more demands, let's say, for a golf course, or luxury apartments and therefore 
agricultural land will be taken away and there will be more dispossession of 
the peasants. So, it is not just that higher growth is associated with greater 
poverty, but actually this is a kind of growth where it is part of the 
intrinsic nature of the growth itself.

Q. So you mean this kind of higher growth would spell out displacemement from 
traditional occupations like agriculture and, in turn, lead to poverty?

A. Yes. That is the kind of situation I am talking about.[The result can be]  
unemployment, dispossession and displacement of petty producers and peasants, 
and a greater agrarian crisis etc. Suppose you have an even higher growth rate, 
there will be more people demanding that an airport be constructed. If there 
are more people demanding such things, investments will go there and not to 
social sectors or to the rural infrastructure development. So, in that sense, 
the increasing growth on one side and the increasing poverty on the other side 
are in fact interlinked.

Q. So, as they say, the rising tide will not lift all the boats.

A. Exactly. It's futile to expect that higher growth will actually have a 
trickle-down effect. Even now, higher growth has not touched the poor; if we 
still have even higher growth, it is not going to touch the poor. That is not 
going to happen.

Q. Tell me then, how does one go about industrializing a c

Re: [Assam] Generating Unit Named in Honor of Former Utility VP: AbaniSharma

[barua25]

Dear Sharma:
Congratualtion. This is indeed a news for great pride for Assam and a great 
inpirtaion for all Assamese engineers.
Rajen & Ajanta Barua, Houston, Texas

  - Original Message - 
  From: Ganesh C Bora 
  To: Assamnet ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 8:44 AM
  Subject: [Assam] Generating Unit Named in Honor of Former Utility VP: 
AbaniSharma


  This is a great honor bestowed upon an Assamese Engineer. Many of you know 
Abani da was working as Vice President of Utility at the Kissimmee Utility 
Authority in Florida. He recently retired from work.
  Ganesh Bora

   
  News Release 

  For Immediate Release



  April 5, 2007

  Chris M. Gent  |  Manager of Corporate Communications





  Generating Unit Named in Honor of Former Utility VP

  KISSIMMEE , Fla. , April 5, 2007 – The Kissimmee Utility Authority board of 
directors on Wednesday paid tribute to its former vice president of power 
supply, Abani K. “Ben” Sharma, by naming the first generating unit at its Cane 
Island Power Park in his honor.

  Sharma retired from KUA on March 31 after 17 years of service.

  "Ben Sharma’s contributions to KUA have been numerous, important and 
enduring," said KUA president and general manager Jim Welsh. "This is a lasting 
way for us to recognize his leadership and a fitting tribute to his many years 
of service to our utility."

  Sharma, 67, spent much of his career in Florida and Georgia , serving as an 
electrical engineer for Southern Engineering Company of Georgia and planning 
superintendent for the city of Tallahassee ’s electric department before 
joining KUA in 1989.

  Sharma directed the design and construction of the $263 million Cane Island 
Power Park and held responsibility for its operation and maintenance.

  The Ben Sharma Unit 1 is a 40-megawatt simple cycle turbine generator 
manufactured by General Electric. The unit began commercial operation on 
January 1, 1995.

  Founded in 1901, KUA (www.kua.com) is Florida 's sixth largest 
community-owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to 
170,000 residents in five Central Florida counties.





--
  8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time
  with theYahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut.


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Re: [Assam] Fw: More on UP Elections

[barua25]

RE: [Assam] Fw: More on UP Elections>*** Unfortunately, as things are, it 
really does NOT matter WHO is elected to rule in a given year. The problem is 
more fundamental, more deep rooted. It is systemic.

  That may be so. But the bottomline remains same:

  Let us not think that Indians will be smart enough to think unitedly and 
react and take actions based on these indicators quickly.
  Indian middle class is now too busy enjoying the material benefits of 
Capitalism to worry about such long term indicators

  Rajen

  - Original Message - 
  From: Chan Mahanta 
  To: Barua, Rajen ; barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 2:28 PM
  Subject: RE: [Assam] Fw: More on UP Elections


  R:


  >Let us also not think that such indicators will make any difference to the 
average Hobo Diok Litikai Assamese who will go on >electing the Congress again 
and again.




  *** Unfortunately, as things are, it really does NOT matter WHO is elected to 
rule in a given year. The problem is more fundamental, more deep rooted. It is 
systemic.


  Look at this:


  
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070409&fname=HCol+Rafiq+Dossani+%28F%29&sid=1




  Finally, I am sure you will agree that it is quite immaterial WHO goes past 
India. That competition is only for that tiny segment of the population that 
has arrived and are now seeking parity with the rest of the world's significant 
powers. It is a trophy issue. For those millions ( see  
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070409&fname=BStates&sid=1 ) 
that are left out of that 'growing service sector' and struggling merely to 
stay alive.


  c




















  At 3:00 PM -0400 4/2/07, Barua, Rajen wrote:
  Summary of the report:

  >Now the real kicker is that all this is happening when China is 
institutionalizing a system of succession and inner party democracy to enable 
it to continue on its current growth trajectory of around 10%. Thus a 
totalitarian system better suited for thugs is getting gentrified, while a 
system of democratic governance is being taken over by thugs. It is said that 
Rugby is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen, while soccer is a game for 
gentlemen played by hooligans. The same thing can be said for the systems in 
China and India.
  (Very intelligent assessment of things)

  Chandan says:
  >Question however is, NOW what?

  The answer is NOW NOTHING!

  I think it simply means that the above is another big indicator that 
China will get ahead and India will fall behind in a very short time in a big 
way which may (or may not) eventually break up India politically.

  The other similar indicator was in the report which I recently posted on 
India's progress and lack of infrastructure vis-a-vis Bangalore.

  Another indicator may be the recently posted article on India's water 
resources.

  These indicators predict dooms for India no doubt. 
  However, let us not think that Indians will be smart united enough to 
think and react and take actions based on these indicators quickly.
  Indian middle class is now too busy enjoying the material benefits of 
Capitalism to worry about such long term indicators. Probably we need such 
critical analysis for many many moons to come so that people will see the 
light, absorb the reality  and act.

  Let us also not think that such indicators will make any difference to 
the average Hobo Diok Litikai Assamese who will go on electing the Congress 
again and again.

  Hobo Diok

  Rajen








From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chan Mahanta
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 9:02 AM
To: barua25; assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: More on UP Elections

Insightful article. Thanks for sharing, Rajen. Not that we did not know of 
it all along, but good to see there are others who see it too.


Question however is, NOW what?


c


















At 6:30 AM -0500 4/2/07, barua25 wrote: 

  - Original Message -
  From: Centre for Policy Alternatives
  Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 2:29 AM
  Subject: More on UP Elections


  Difficult Days Ahead.

  Predicting the defeat of the Congress Party in the recent Punjab and 
Uttaranchal elections was easy enough if one analyzed the performance of these 
governments during their term in office. (See Hardnews of September 2006 to 
read about the dismal performance of the Amarinder Singh government) It is only 
the so-called professional psephologists and glib television pundits who 
invariably get these wrong. Let us also not forget that the India Today, which 
has now become India's most popular reading in barber saloons and dentist 
waiting rooms, had only last year deemed the Amarinder Singh government as 
India'

[Assam] Fw: More on UP Elections

[barua25]

- Original Message - 
From: Centre for Policy Alternatives 
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 2:29 AM
Subject: More on UP Elections


Difficult Days Ahead.
 
Predicting the defeat of the Congress Party in the recent Punjab and 
Uttaranchal elections was easy enough if one analyzed the performance of these 
governments during their term in office. (See Hardnews of September 2006 to 
read about the dismal performance of the Amarinder Singh government) It is only 
the so-called professional psephologists and glib television pundits who 
invariably get these wrong. Let us also not forget that the India Today, which 
has now become India's most popular reading in barber saloons and dentist 
waiting rooms, had only last year deemed the Amarinder Singh government as 
India's best performing one and had got the President of India to award him a 
prize. At that time this columnist had decried the practice of the President 
and high constitutional authorities being the chief guests at such superficial 
beauty parades. Ordinary people are better judges of performance and have 
always exhibited a great ability to discern good government from hyped up 
governance, as they did in the case of Chandrababu Naidu and SM Krishna in the 
recent past.
 
But the Prime Minister seems to be busy being a chief guest at political beauty 
parades and like functions organized by the faithful, not realizing that the 
faithful are faithful to the office and not to the person. One should take the 
adulation of the CII and FICCI with more than a pinch of salt, for the 
adulation comes with a price tag. Witness how the State is acquiring land from 
the peasants using the most unrealistic valuations to give them away to 
so-called developers of SEZ's, but actually in most instances these are just 
gigantic real estate plays. Many decades ago a leading industrialist, Lala 
Charatram, candidly confessed: "We support the Prime Minister. We support 
whoever is the Prime Minister." But Dr. Manmohan Singh would have got a truer 
measure of his popularity with India's multitudes by the attendances to his 
meetings in his home state of Punjab. At more than one meeting policemen vastly 
outnumbered the public. I have enough Congressmen testifying to this. 
 
Then consider this, if he accepted the offer of Amarinder Singh to contest the 
Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar, we would have had a true world record of his 
being the first Prime Minister to be defeated by a professional humorist. But 
then he was defeated in South Delhi by one just a little better than that. 
Right now Dr. Manmohan Singh is better off being the paying guest of the late 
Hiteshwar Saikia's widow in Gauhati and returned to the Rajya Sabha by the long 
suffering people of Assam. The point here is that we have a Prime Minister 
without a political constituency and hence out of touch with the reality of 
India. Unfortunately for him and for us, ours is a system of government by 
elected politicians, and India is paying the price of having a non-political 
person as its leader. More on this later.
 
Now the challenge of Uttar Pradesh is on hand. The only question for the 
Congress Party is whether it will get more than two dozen seats or less. We 
seem to be getting some early indications of how the cookie is going to crumble 
with the SPG advising that Rahul Gandhi curtail his public meetings and the MoS 
in the Home Ministry, Sriprakash Jaiswal, advising Rahul Gandhi to follow the 
advice of the SPG. I suspect that it is not security but attendance that is the 
problem. It's not always true that people in UP vote entirely according to 
their caste. Caste is important, but promise and hope are just as important. In 
the recent past when political parties held out the promise of a major change 
in terms of performance to meet the aspirations of people for better 
government, the people of UP have responded overwhelmingly in support. Rajiv 
Gandhi, VP Singh and the BJP held out credible promise of change and the people 
rewarded them. It is another matter that they failed to meet the aspirations of 
the people even partially. The result is that people are being left with no 
option but to turn to the parties of thugs led by Mulayam Singh and Mayawati. 
The Congress is yet to realize that Rahul Gandhi and retinue of his page three 
princelings do not still hold out any hope of rescuing India's biggest state 
from prolonged mal-governance. For that you need to have a program based upon a 
true appreciation of the problems besetting India and a promise of solutions. 
Wearing a prayer cap in Deoband is not a program. It is a stunt. 
 
The problems that beset UP are well known. Not the least among these is that 
with Rs.10, 817 (per capita GDP in 2003-4), it has the second lowest per capita 
income in India. This is about a third of the national average. If one were to 
separate the incomes of western UP from this, you would be left with a vast 
hinterland that is no better off th

Re: [Assam] Discussions on a hypothetical scenario

[barua25]

Dear Hmenda:
Frankly speaking it looks like you are trying to split the hair on a non issue.

Chandan wrote:
> I have heard that the Congress MPm from Guahati has recommended that
Mamoni R. Goswami be sent to oprison for serving as an intermediary between
ULFA and GoI or something to that effect.
>
> Does anyone have any info. on that? I have not seen any mention of that in
the web version of the English language newspapers.
>
> Would appreciate any help from netters who know.
>

Mr Choudhury also stated that :
Yes, this is true. The comment on Mamoni Raisom Goswami was made by Kirip 
Chaliha, MP Guwahati a few days back. In fact, this is a hot topic which is now 
being fought between Kirip Chaliha and Arabinda Rajkhowa . Arabinda Rajkhowa 
advised to throw Kirip Chaliha into Dustbin as a reaction and the fighting is 
going on.

As Ram pointed out, the news is also published in AT now.

>From the above, I for one netter will say that I don't see anything wrong in 
>Chandan's question to the netters.

I donot think Chandan owes anything to the netters. He was simply asking 
questions. 
I simply fail to see where do you see Chandan trying ti hurt MRG.
We may say, MRG has already elevated herself to the level of 'Odaryo' one which 
cannot be burnt by fire.
My bigger question is  where do you have such leisure time trying to split hair 
in the net on a non issue.
My suggestion will be, if you have leisure  time, please try to do some 
constructive and creative work like MRG instead of trying to indulge in such 
personal attacks which does not help anybody.
I hope you will not take these comments personally.
Thanks
Rajen

 


  - Original Message - 
  From: Himendra Thakur 
  To: Gautam Choudhury 
  Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 9:08 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Discussions on a hypothetical scenario


  Dear Choudhury,

  This is strange. You wrote "The comment on Mamoni Raisom Goswami was made by 
Kirip Chaliha, MP Guwahati a few days back." What did Mr. Kirip Chaliha say? 
Mr. Chandan Mahanta wrote at 9:56 AM on Thursday March 29, 2007 that "I have 
heard that the Congress MPm from Guahati has recommended that Mamoni R. Goswami 
be sent to oprison "  Did Mr. Kirip Chaliha say what Mr. Chandan Mahanta is 
saying, or did Mr. Chandan Mahanta made up a part of it?

  We demand that Mr. Chandan Mahanta come forward to tell us where he got the 
news, who told him, at what time. He owes that to assamnet.

  Your comment "In fact, this is a hot topic which is now being fought between 
Kirip Chaliha and Arabinda Rajkhowa " is confusing because the persons with 
whom I talked by telephone have not heard about the so called "hot topic". 

  The "hot topic" has not been reported in the printed media who has a 
responsibility to verify facts/sources before publication. 

  I am still concerned that these rumours will hurt Mamoni. 

  With the best wishes,
  Himendra 

   Original Message - 
From: Gautam Choudhury 
To: Himendra Thakur 
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 12:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Discussions on a hypothetical scenario


Regards

Gautam Choudhury


- Original Message 
From: Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: assam@assamnet.org
Sent: Saturday, 31 March, 2007 3:56:06 AM
Subject: [Assam] Discussions on a hypothetical scenario


Dear Ram,

Mr. Chandan Mahanta posted the news at 9:56 AM on Thursday March 29, 2007. 

I made frantic telephone calls to India and found that people were 
surprised when I asked them about the news.

Mr. Chandan Mahanta wrote at 9:56 AM on Thursday March 29, 2007 that "I 
have heard that the Congress MPm from Guahati has recommended that Mamoni R. 
Goswami be sent to oprison "  

We demand that Mr. Chandan Mahanta come forward to tell us where he got the 
news, who told him, at what time. These names and sources are very important. 

All discussions on a hypothetical scenario must be stopped because these 
are going to hurt Mamoni. 

I hope you will appreciate the concern. 

With the best wishes,
Himendra

- Original Message ---



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[Assam] Fw: **India's severe water crisis

[barua25]

Received notes:
 

According to an agency report appearing in the TRIBUNE dated March 29, 2007, 
quoting an international expert, John R. Wood, Professor Emeritus at University 
of British Columbia, Vancouver, in another 40 years, India's population will 
outstrip the availability of water, leading to a major crisis. 

"Even if every available river and stream is harnessed to the full potential, 
by 2045 India's population will exceed the availability of water needed to 
support it," Wood said in an interview in New Delhi. 

Bhamy Shenoy, Chief Editor for a magazine CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, 
writes: 

"Just 4 years ago, some residents of Chennai were leaving town due to water 
shortage. In a HINDU newspaper article 4 months ago, it said that Chennai has 
too much water now. If you open the Corporation water tap, water actually comes 
out of it as against plain hot air 4 years ago. If you are from Chennai or 
Tamil Nadu, you already know that one of the contributing factors that explains 
Chennai's transformation is Rain Water Harvesting. We still (in Chennai) have a 
long way to go in order to 'mainstream' rainwater harvesting in our daily life. 
There are 4 Indian states - all in South India - that have followed the lead 
taken by Tamil Nadu.". 

CATALYST FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT'S latest Water issue was released on March 22, 
2007 -- World Water Day. It has articles ranging from sustainable rural water 
management to rainwater harvesting --focusing on the practical work that is 
being done to manage the colossal Indian predicament that is water. 

Many of the articles turn the spotlight on successful projects and how they can 
and are being replicated. 

Raj Rajaram, an engineer whose passion is to improve environmental practices in 
India and who himself has contributed a piece on ''India's Water Scarcity", 
provides the following gist of the CATALYST magazine article series : 

Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) projects are being implemented throughout the State 
of Tamilnadu and in parts of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, 
Maharashtra, among other states. Ram Krishnan (Minneapolis) of 
www.nri-home-coming.com has implemented several RWH projects in Tamilnadu, and 
the Catalyst describes several case studies completed in Tamilnadu, Haryana, 
and Kerala which are being replicated in other parts of India. The one that was 
completed in 2004 is an oorani or surface water reservoir which was constructed 
in Vilathikulam district (near Tuticorin) using the labor of the villagers; 20% 
of the capital was also invested by the villagers. This oorani, which serves a 
village of about 5000 residents was completed at a cost of Rs. 200,000. 

Another article describes the extensive work being done by the Sehgal 
Foundation (www.smsfoundation.org) in Haryana villages. It shows how water can 
be harvested and conserved in villages. The RWH structure built by the 
villagers with Sehgal Foundation's help cost of Rs.100,000. 

A third article describes the Rain Center in Chennai (a model building 
incorporating RWH) and how easy it is for citizens to install a similar 
facility in their building. Articles describing community efforts in RWH in 
Kerala, at the IIT Management College in Kozhikode using mostly captured rain 
water for all their needs, and urban RWH projects demonstrate that people of 
Indian origin (PIOs) living outside India can support such projects at very 
little cost and help relieve water scarcity in India. 

Two not-for-profit outfits in the US, Water Partners International 
(www.water.org) of Kansas City, and Water Health International 
(www.waterhealth.com) of California are providing clean drinking water and 
sanitation in villages in India. The articles covering their activities are 
inspiring PIOs who wish to help their own villages in India to benefit. 

Three articles talk about what can be done by citizens, the universities and 
the government to ensure availability of water to all. Finally, the concept of 
Water Bond is introduced where private sector capital along with government 
funds allocated for drinking water can be mobilized to provide clean drinking 
water to every citizen in India. 

To read these inspiring articles and for ideas on how you can help alleviate 
water scarcity in your hometown or village in India, please click: 
http://www.afhd.org/issues/catalyst-issue5.pdf. 

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Re: [Assam] My Take on Why Independence - V, How to Achieve It

[barua25]

My Take on Why Independence - V, How to Achieve ItChandan:
Thanks!! and I fully understand your views. I was feeling a bit guilty if I was 
pushing you too much to an dead end.
Couple of comments for mutual understanding.

In any Independence movement, in my theoretical opinion, all the following 
counts if one wants to write a 'mein kampf' like that of Hitler other such 
manuscript. 
It should address at least 

1) What is the problem
2) Why is the problem? Who is responsible and why
3) What need to be done
4) Why that will solve the problem
5) How to do it
etc 

Without such an manuscript people have to rely on rumors and action of the 
field to give any credible support to such independence movement. I think in 
case of ULFA, that is exactly what happened. I have not yet seen any report, 
analysis even from ULFA, AASU, AGP and others. 

Without having any such manual, other tool people will have to go for is the 
general impression of ill treating of Assam by the GOA. But even to take 
advantage of that general sentiment, none of these parties could even unite the 
public. In stead all the parties literally split. AGP even failed to unite with 
other local parties Assamese parties in Assam like Bodos. As seen now, out of 
all these, only AASU is the only group who is trying to have some sense and has 
any credidablibility now. Without such an manuscript, general public has a 
zillion questions unanswered which further diluted the movement to its lowest.

ULFA was given enough slack and support, but even with the help of MMRG and 
others, they could not earn enough credit even in the amongst general public. 
Beyond that I donot want to say anything.

In such a situation in the field, anyone has simply a great uphill battle to 
convince anyone that Assam's Independence will solve Assam's problem. All one 
can do is to simply talk and talk, argue and argue, blame and blame and can 
create lot of chaos in the already chaotic situation. Yours or nobody's voice 
will be heard. At most if one could do is to jump to point # 5) HOW TO DO IT? 
If ULFA or anybody would have come up with a plan which they can sell, lot of 
people would have fill in the blanks for items 1), 2), 3). & 4).  But that is 
also missing now.
 
In case of India, INC was formed in broad daylight as an open forum by the 
Indians with the purpose of seeking self government for India. India was ruled 
by a foreign government, and believe it or not most of the public were happy, 
under the British rule. till the British introduced English language in India. 
Anyhow it finally succeeded only because of leaders like Gandhi and Nehru, who 
could unite the whole of India, mainland, South India and Assam under one voice.

So far as I see, Assam's Independence movement is dead. One can say somebody 
put water in the bah khori which has already burnt. You may not agree it but 
there is nothing I can see which can rekindle the minds and imagination of the 
people of Assam for independence eventhough people can see lot of political. 
cultural and economic corruption by the GOI. Please also note. A new element 
has come into the picture. GOI has now lot of monwy which are being channelled 
through GOA to spend lavishly in the name of community develeopment.  Against 
that during the last 50 years, Assam could not produce a single credible 
regional party with good leadership which can even make any voice. AGP today is 
a pathetic example.

The question all Friends of Assam, what we need to do at this time and 
situation?

I think new questions need to be asked under new perspective to create new 
public opinion starting  from zero.

That is my comment.

Thanks for your input.

Rajen
  - Original Message - 
  From: Chan Mahanta 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 10:22 AM
  Subject: [Assam] My Take on Why Independence - V, How to Achieve It


  I had no intention of getting into this originally, since my experience with 
the matter is on the light side :-). Not only because I had not served in any 
such movement, but also because I am not much of a history-of-conflicts buff. 
Rajen's question , a lawyer like Nayanjyoti would surely know, is called a 
'leading question' in 'legalese'. They are usually not allowed in enlightened 
legal procedures, because they are designed to coach and elicit a particular 
answer, obviously to serve the interest of the questioner. But since it is not 
a court of justice, and since I do that all the time myself, the least I could 
do is to address it as best as I can.Furthermore, since I see occasional 
recommendations , usually to ULFA, here in Assam Net and in the Assam 
newspapers,from people who no doubt mean well, I thought it may not be a bad 
idea to examine the options and go where they may lead.


  *** >From the little I know of independence movements from the
  last two or three centuries, it is obvious that it always required
  violent confrontations, spill

Re: [Assam] AXX: Asom inseparable from India

[barua25]

(1) Are these words for words sake without any meaning,  or (2) are these 
words really meant that AXX will protect the Hindi speaking people living in 
Assam against ULFA?
(1) is just Assamese 'Hob Diok' type (bravery) speaking.
I want to know on what grounds AXX said that "We will strive our best to 
protect them." Are they really doing anything to protect the Hindi speaking 
people?
Rajen Barua



- Original Message - 
From: "umesh sharma" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Pradip Kumar Datta" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; 
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 3:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] AXX: Asom inseparable from India


> brave words by AXX head -esp in the scenario ULFA
> threatening all who speak against them.
>
> Umesh
>
> --- barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>> >He said, "We will strive our best to protect them.
>> The Xabha also calls on the government to ensure
>> safety and security of all >people."
>>
>> I think the President of AXX should be held
>> responsible for his words to provide ptrotection to
>> the Hindi speaking people in Assam. Right now
>> neither the GOA nor the GOI seem to provide
>> protection to these people. The PM visited the site
>> only after 10 days of violence. Does AXX has army to
>> protect?
>> Rajen Barua
>>
>>
>>   - Original Message - 
>>   From: Pradip Kumar Datta
>>   To: assam@assamnet.org ;
>> assamonline@yahoogroups.com ;
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Assam Foundation ;
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] ;
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ;
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>   Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 12:07 PM
>>   Subject: [Assam] AXX: Asom inseparable from India
>>
>>
>>   AXX: Asom inseparable from India
>>   By a Staff Reporter
>>   GUWAHATI, Jan 19: The Asom Xahitya Xabha (AXX)
>> today asserted that Asom was an inseparable part of
>> India and that the demand for "sovereignty" by the
>> ULFA was "misplaced".
>>   Addressing a press conference here, AXX president
>> Kanaksen Deka said, "The ULFA wants to talk on
>> sovereignty, but no one, not even the Prime
>> Minister, his Cabinet or even the Parliament, can
>> grant them sovereignty."
>>   The peace parleys between the government and the
>> ULFA had been "vague discussions."
>>   He pointed out that the Constitution had no
>> provisions for secession and it would have to be
>> scrapped if the government would even agree to talk
>> on sovereignty.
>>   He also cited the historical ties of the
>> North-east with mainland India and the active
>> participation of the people of the region in the
>> country's freedom struggle, with the people opting
>> for being a part of India voluntarily.
>>   Deka dismissed the possibility of a mass vote to
>> gauge popular sentiments in the State for continuing
>> as a member State of the Union of India as there
>> were no such provisions in the Constitution.
>>   He asserted that all issues should be addressed in
>> a democratic manner and the Centre be approached for
>> incentives for the region for accelerated
>> development, instead of resorting to violent means.
>>   He urged the Hindi-speaking and other linguistic
>> minority people of the State not to flee in the wake
>> of the ULFA's threat against them.
>>   He said, "We will strive our best to protect them.
>> The Xabha also calls on the government to ensure
>> safety and security of all people."
>>   The veteran litterateur pointed towards the
>> vulnerability of Asomiya people living in other
>> parts of the country facing similar threats.
>>   "There has been no backlash this time yet, but it
>> could happen," he added.
>>   The president of the apex literary body of the
>> State announced massive programmes to mobilize
>> people's support against the escalating violence.
>>   He said, "People are getting fed up with violence.
>> There is no security of life."
>>   He also urged the Government to ensure the smooth
>> conduct of the forthcoming National Games in
>> February as it was a matter of pride for the State.
>>
>>
>>
> --
>>   Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the
>> forecast
>>   with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.
>>
>>
>>
> 

Re: [Assam] AXX: Asom inseparable from India

[barua25]

>He said, "We will strive our best to protect them. The Xabha also calls on the 
>government to ensure safety and security of all >people." 

I think the President of AXX should be held responsible for his words to 
provide ptrotection to the Hindi speaking people in Assam. Right now neither 
the GOA nor the GOI seem to provide protection to these people. The PM visited 
the site only after 10 days of violence. Does AXX has army to protect?
Rajen Barua


  - Original Message - 
  From: Pradip Kumar Datta 
  To: assam@assamnet.org ; assamonline@yahoogroups.com ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; 
Assam Foundation ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 12:07 PM
  Subject: [Assam] AXX: Asom inseparable from India


  AXX: Asom inseparable from India 
  By a Staff Reporter
  GUWAHATI, Jan 19: The Asom Xahitya Xabha (AXX) today asserted that Asom was 
an inseparable part of India and that the demand for "sovereignty" by the ULFA 
was "misplaced".
  Addressing a press conference here, AXX president Kanaksen Deka said, "The 
ULFA wants to talk on sovereignty, but no one, not even the Prime Minister, his 
Cabinet or even the Parliament, can grant them sovereignty." 
  The peace parleys between the government and the ULFA had been "vague 
discussions." 
  He pointed out that the Constitution had no provisions for secession and it 
would have to be scrapped if the government would even agree to talk on 
sovereignty. 
  He also cited the historical ties of the North-east with mainland India and 
the active participation of the people of the region in the country's freedom 
struggle, with the people opting for being a part of India voluntarily. 
  Deka dismissed the possibility of a mass vote to gauge popular sentiments in 
the State for continuing as a member State of the Union of India as there were 
no such provisions in the Constitution. 
  He asserted that all issues should be addressed in a democratic manner and 
the Centre be approached for incentives for the region for accelerated 
development, instead of resorting to violent means. 
  He urged the Hindi-speaking and other linguistic minority people of the State 
not to flee in the wake of the ULFA's threat against them. 
  He said, "We will strive our best to protect them. The Xabha also calls on 
the government to ensure safety and security of all people." 
  The veteran litterateur pointed towards the vulnerability of Asomiya people 
living in other parts of the country facing similar threats. 
  "There has been no backlash this time yet, but it could happen," he added. 
  The president of the apex literary body of the State announced massive 
programmes to mobilize people's support against the escalating violence. 
  He said, "People are getting fed up with violence. There is no security of 
life." 
  He also urged the Government to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming 
National Games in February as it was a matter of pride for the State.


--
  Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast 
  with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.


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[Assam] The Petition

[Barua25]

>The "Petition" is not about the name change, but against the action of the 
>Assam Assembly who did not have the right to change the name >of the State. 
>This was pointed out by Rajen Barua as "Again the purpose of the petition is 
>simply to stop the GOA to change the >name so that we have a discussion in a 
>democratic process if we want to change the name at all." 
 

>However, in the current draft of the "Petition," the kernel purpose stated 
>above got shrouded by tributes to Dutch sailors and promotion of >the X-sound 
>based on incomplete research. I signed the "Petition" on the condition that 
>these extraneous materials will be deleted, and the >"Petition" will be short 
>& strong. 


Dear Himenda and Dilip Deka:

We just saw your response to Rajib Das. I thought we have clarified before that 
we are not changing the wording of the petition substantially to 100% liking of 
yours as stated above. We the prime movers of the petition discussed your 
comments on the specific wording and came to a democratic resolution and have 
changed some wording. As a result, we need to clarify again that we have not 
revised our petition substantially, except that we removed the reference about 
'congratulations' to Mirjumla.  The statement about X-sound has been revised 
somewhat to reflect that facts.

For the final draft and the whole process of submission to the CM, we the prime 
movers take full responsibility to achieve our goal which is to stop the GOA to 
proceed with the resolution to change the name to Asom.

Now reading your above comments, we are not sure if your signature is still 
conditional. Frankly speaking we will be hesitant to put your name as a 
signatory unless we receive your unconditional agreement.

As such we are requesting you to kindly confirm that you can still be a 
signatory .  We need to know ASAP, because the petition is going out later 
today. 

We are addressing the same question to Dilip Deka also since he supported your 
views.

Please confirm urgently so that we can put your name as a signatory.

If we donot receive your unconditional acceptance by tonight, we will have to 
release the petition without your names since we donot want to get into any 
controversy on the issue.

I hope you will say YES 

Thanks
Rajen



  - Original Message - 
  From: Himendra Thakur 
  To: Rajib Das 
  Cc: Indrajit Barua ; Mohan R. Palleti ; Manoj Das ; Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; 
assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 10:28 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Rhino Charge stories !


  Happy New Year, Rajib, and thank you for liking the "Rhino Charge" story! My 
9-year old grand-daughter has spoiled me by turning me into a story-teller ! In 
fact, I have more stories to tell, provided you guys like it and address me as 
"Himendra Uncle" or "Granduncle Himendra" --- depending upon the age-group.

   

  I completely agree with you that "I personally don't see the name change (or 
leaving the name alone) as a major theme." The "Petition" is not about the name 
change, but against the action of the Assam Assembly who did not have the right 
to change the name of the State. This was pointed out by Rajen Barua as "Again 
the purpose of the petition is simply to stop the GOA to change the name so 
that we have a discussion in a democratic process if we want to change the name 
at all." 

   

  However, in the current draft of the "Petition," the kernel purpose stated 
above got shrouded by tributes to Dutch sailors and promotion of the X-sound 
based on incomplete research. I signed the "Petition" on the condition that 
these extraneous materials will be deleted, and the "Petition" will be short & 
strong. 

   

  I am sorry if you are offended because I used the word despondent --- which 
means "feeling or expressing depression of spirit from loss of hope, confidence 
or courage." 

   

  We are all suffering from "despondency" at this time --- myself, my friend 
Indrajit Baruah, and many others. 

   

  Despondency is just human. In fact, there is a historical record that, 
standing at the exterior foot of the huge Mughal Fort in Guwahati in 1669, 
Lachit became despondent when he and a small group of his friends came to take 
it by guerrilla attack at night, a technique that he perfected at Dikhowmukh 
six years back during the Mirjumla's occupation of Gargaon in 1663. 

   

  However, Lachit got over the temporary spell of despondency, took the Mughal 
Fort very skillfully, imprisoned and sent the Mughal Governor Sayed Channa to 
Gargaon as a Prisoner of War. Later, King Chakradhwaj Singha appointed Lachit 
as the Borphukan  you know the rest of the story --- he routed the Mughals 
at the Battle of Saraighat in 1672.

   

  Being despondent is nothing wrong, as long as it triggers our inner strength 
to stand up and claim our rights. But, whatever we do must be done skillfully 
--- yogah karmasu kaushalam --- apply the highest skill in your work. This is 
from the emblem of II

Re: [Assam] Chalo Delhi

[Barua25]

This brings us back to the million dollar question, if the Assamese people are 
not interested in what is happening to Rs 15000 croes or what is happening to 
Assam-Asom, what then the people of Assam want?  So far no intellectuals have 
come forward neither against Assam-Asom issue nor against Rs15000. Are they 
interested in anything at all? Does it matter to them whether Assam is in India 
or in China for that matter? Are they alive? I take it back, they must be 
alive, because they know how to cry, although they don't know what for they cry.
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: Barua25 
  Cc: Dilip/Dil Deka ; ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 11:33 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Chalo Delhi


  Dear Barua,

  >In case of Assam, they had to keep the people busy so that they donot have 
time to >discuss what happened to Rs 15000 croes,
  >Assamese intellectuals, the media and all are falling for it.

  Actually, in the case  of Assam, the people are either totally unaware or 
just don't care of what happened to the Rs. 15000 crores, AND nor are they (it 
seems so) upset or seem to care about the the name. (the Hobo Diok kicking in) 

  The reason I am saying this is, I don't see any mass-scale opposition (or for 
that matter support) for the name change. Where is the passion?

  As far as the intellectuals, they are not falling for it, but it seems they 
want to have a "say" whether its right or wrong. To be in the limelight is 
nice. And as for the media, they just want to sensationalize something where 
there is absolutely none. They too don't know which horse to back these days. 

  --Ram

   
  On 12/17/06, Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
>My feeling is that politicians and some "literary stalwarts" who have 
little else to do, bring up non-issues like this from time to time. It seems 
>like they just want to whip up some regional or linguistic frevor. Its all 
hubris and rah-rah than anything else. 

I will agree with that.
It is like re-arranging the furnitures in Titanic.
In case of Assam, they had to keep the people busy so that they donot have 
time to discuss what happened to Rs 15000 croes,
Assamese intellectuals, the media and all are falling for it.
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
  Cc: Dilip/Dil Deka ; ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 10:44 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Chalo Delhi

   
  Dear Barua,

  My basic argument is that, even though it may make "sense" , why is that 
when the names were originally accepted - ie: Bangalore or Madras or Baroda or 
Assam, the people in those days accepted the names without any problem? 

  Why is this becoming a trend now? Were those early people just plain 
stupid that they accepted whatever names were given? What has changed?

  My feeling is that politicians and some "literary stalwarts" who have 
little else to do, bring up non-issues like this from time to time. It seems 
like they just want to whip up some regional or linguistic frevor. Its all 
hubris and rah-rah than anything else. 

  As far as Assam is concerned, the ONUS should be on the people who are 
hell-bent on changing the name to Asom. They should provide the logic and 
reasoning why such a name change is not just necessay but also imperative for 
Assam's survival. Why should there be a need by those who are satisfied with 
continuance of the name "Assam"  bring in historical or other relevance so as 
to convince the Assam Govt. not to change. 

  --Ram


   
  On 12/17/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: 
Ramgopal:
If one looks at these name changes, all may make sense. In fact another 
due change may be Baroda to Badodara.
But Assam to Asom does not make any sense at all. This is a classic 
example of what we say in Assamese:
Dekhak dekhi kukurew pale ekadoxi.
or 
Adak dekhi keturai bwle mwkw kha.
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: Dilip/Dil Deka 
  Cc: ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 3:20 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Chalo Delhi

   
  Whats the world coming to. Here is a news item from the TOI along 
some more name changes. Looks like these politicians and others have little 
else to do.

  From the TOI:

  BHOPAL: After Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram and 
Bengaluru, the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation has passed a resolution to rename 
the city to Jabalipuram. 

  The BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh government is also mulling renaming 
Bhopal to Bhojpal and Indore to Indur.  
  The resolution was passed in the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation 
meeting on Saturday, both

Re: [Assam] Chalo Delhi

[Barua25]

>My feeling is that politicians and some "literary stalwarts" who have little 
>else to do, bring up non-issues like this from time to time. It seems >like 
>they just want to whip up some regional or linguistic frevor. Its all hubris 
>and rah-rah than anything else. 

I will agree with that.
It is like re-arranging the furnitures in Titanic.
In case of Assam, they had to keep the people busy so that they donot have time 
to discuss what happened to Rs 15000 croes,
Assamese intellectuals, the media and all are falling for it.
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
  Cc: Dilip/Dil Deka ; ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 10:44 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Chalo Delhi


  Dear Barua,

  My basic argument is that, even though it may make "sense" , why is that when 
the names were originally accepted - ie: Bangalore or Madras or Baroda or 
Assam, the people in those days accepted the names without any problem? 

  Why is this becoming a trend now? Were those early people just plain stupid 
that they accepted whatever names were given? What has changed?

  My feeling is that politicians and some "literary stalwarts" who have little 
else to do, bring up non-issues like this from time to time. It seems like they 
just want to whip up some regional or linguistic frevor. Its all hubris and 
rah-rah than anything else. 

  As far as Assam is concerned, the ONUS should be on the people who are 
hell-bent on changing the name to Asom. They should provide the logic and 
reasoning why such a name change is not just necessay but also imperative for 
Assam's survival. Why should there be a need by those who are satisfied with 
continuance of the name "Assam"  bring in historical or other relevance so as 
to convince the Assam Govt. not to change. 

  --Ram


   
  On 12/17/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Ramgopal:
If one looks at these name changes, all may make sense. In fact another due 
change may be Baroda to Badodara.
But Assam to Asom does not make any sense at all. This is a classic example 
of what we say in Assamese:
Dekhak dekhi kukurew pale ekadoxi.
or 
Adak dekhi keturai bwle mwkw kha.
Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: Dilip/Dil Deka 
  Cc: ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 3:20 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Chalo Delhi

   
  Whats the world coming to. Here is a news item from the TOI along some 
more name changes. Looks like these politicians and others have little else to 
do.

  From the TOI:

  BHOPAL: After Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru, 
the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation has passed a resolution to rename the city 
to Jabalipuram. 

  The BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh government is also mulling renaming Bhopal 
to Bhojpal and Indore to Indur.  
  The resolution was passed in the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation meeting 
on Saturday, both by BJP and Congress members. Corporators said the city was 
being renamed after a sage in the 'Ramayana'. The resolution has been sent to 
the state government. 

  According to some BJP members, every part of the country should be 
renamed after carrying out historical analysis and research. 

  BJP leader Anil Dave told TOI, "Post Independence, we removed British 
statues from the country. So why can't we remove the British names of our 
cities?" 

  "It was a demand by the people of Jabalpur to name it after 'rishi' 
Jabali who had his meditation camp here," Jabalpur mayor Sushila Singh said. 
"Let us connect our city with the history and culture of our country. Jabalpur 
on the banks of river Narmada is a sacred place of Hindu sages." 
  Congress corporator Jagat Bahadur Singh said, "Sadhus gathered in my ward 
in Narsingh and proposed that the city be renamed after sage Jabali. This was 
Congress agenda, not the BJP's." 
  Renaming Bhopal to Bhojpal (the city of king Bhoj) after Bhoj Deva — the 
Paramara king who ruled the region from 1010 AD to 1055 AD and was a soldier, 
builder, scholar and patron of learning — was BJP's agenda. 
  Bhoj Deva's position in history matched Vikramaditya Chandragupta II who 
ruled from Ujjaini (now Ujjain). 
  The first attempt to connect Bhopal to Raja Bhoj was made in 2002 when 
the name of the city's airport was changed to Raja Bhoj International Airport. 

  --Ram
  On 12/17/06, Dilip/Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: 
Here we go again. Not being able to solve it locally, Assam has to 
appeal to Delhi to intervene. 
It is intriguing that we do not know who is instigating this change. 
The chief minister doesn't have the passion for the change. A large number of 
community organizations don't want it. Then who does?

I am not commenting on the name itself but on the process. The lack of 
will to handle local problems locally is a symptom of a deeper c

Re: [Assam] Unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam

[Barua25]

Dear Himenda:
I take your response to mean that you support the reaction to stop this change 
and to keep the name Assam.
I thank you for that, because we will need lot of support.
Because, as you know, we should know Assam better.
Assam act by taking a 'Hobo Diok' attitude, ie Assam act by not acting.
Now the GOA will sit on the issue without taking any action.
And the English Newspapers like Assam Tribune and Sentinel will adopt the 
spelling ASOM (as they are doing although nothing is official) and continue the 
process kowtowing the GOA.
Newspapers of Assam, taking the leading role to destroy the Assamese phonetics.
In Assam, things just happen, nobody takes decision.
Rajen




  - Original Message - 
  From: Himendra Thakur 
  To: Barua25 
  Cc: Ram Sarangapani ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 5:09 PM
  Subject: Unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam


  Dear Rajen,

  Thank you for this wonderfully positive piece "Keep the name Assam. What is 
probelm with the name Assam? We should not go by the whims of personal likes or 
dislikes. " 

  Thank you also for pointing out that they will have to amend the Constitution 
of India to change the name of Assam. With so many outstanding problems 
threatening to extirpate the Assamese people, one need "not waste valuable time 
and money" in these non-essential matters.

  I also thank Ram Sarangapani for elucidating a few points that were not clear 
to me.

  With the best wishes,
  Himendra 
- Original Message - 
From: Barua25 
To: Ram Sarangapani ; Himendra Thakur 
Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 7:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam


You are absolutely correct.
The name Assam has not yet been officially changed. For this the State will 
need to change the Constitution. What we are saying, stop this nonsense change 
right now, we should not waste valuable time and money to change it. Keep the 
name Assam. What is probelm with the name Assam? We should not go by the whims 
of personal likes or dislikes.  
Rajen Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: Himendra Thakur 
  Cc: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 7:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam


  Dear Himan da,

  >"Why should we waste our time and energy with completely unproductive 
issue like english spelling of Assam. "

  On the surface, this might seem to be a valid question, but shouldn't 
this same question have also been raised when the name Assam was arbitrarily 
changed to Asom? Why was that in the first place? Most of us were blissfully 
unaware that there was a problem with the original spelling "Assam". It only 
became an issue when some thought it was time to make it one by changing the 
name in some arbitrary fashion.
  For the life of me, I still can't figure out why such a move was ever 
contemplated.

  On whether something like this is "unproductive" or not, is really 
relative. Who deems such issues as productive or not? There are far too many 
issues, many of us discuss, that may seem very "unproductive" to the rest of 
us, but to some of they are productive. 

  Regards,

  --Ram___
assam mailing list
assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Re: [Assam] unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam

[Barua25]

You are absolutely correct.
The name Assam has not yet been officially changed. For this the State will 
need to change the Constitution. What we are saying, stop this nonsense change 
right now, we should not waste valuable time and money to change it. Keep the 
name Assam. What is probelm with the name Assam? We should not go by the whims 
of personal likes or dislikes.  
Rajen Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: Himendra Thakur 
  Cc: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 7:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam


  Dear Himan da,

  >"Why should we waste our time and energy with completely unproductive issue 
like english spelling of Assam. "

  On the surface, this might seem to be a valid question, but shouldn't this 
same question have also been raised when the name Assam was arbitrarily changed 
to Asom? Why was that in the first place? Most of us were blissfully unaware 
that there was a problem with the original spelling "Assam". It only became an 
issue when some thought it was time to make it one by changing the name in some 
arbitrary fashion.
  For the life of me, I still can't figure out why such a move was ever 
contemplated.

  On whether something like this is "unproductive" or not, is really relative. 
Who deems such issues as productive or not? There are far too many issues, many 
of us discuss, that may seem very "unproductive" to the rest of us, but to some 
of they are productive. 

  Regards,

  --Ram






   
  On 12/5/06, Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
Mr. Barada Sarma raised an important question "Why should we waste our time 
and energy with completely unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam. " 

That question should be answered.

Himendra Barthakur

  - Original Message - 
  From: Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
  To: assamonline@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 10:41 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours

   
  That is exactly one main point. 
  However in this case the suggestion to change the name ASSAM to ASOM was 
initiated not by politicians but by late Chandra Prasad Saikia ex President of 
AXX and the Editor of an Assamese literary magazine 'Gariyashi'.  Politicians 
simply are following the so called Assamese intellectuals. 
  In my opinion, the Assamese civilization is at such a low point in 
history today, that there was hardly any strong protests against this move 
neither by any News Paper Editorials (Assamese or English) nor by any Assamese 
intellectuals (if there is any of this species left in Assam). Even the 
educated Assamese and the so called intellectuals are taking a typical Assamese 
'Hobo Diok' attitude, ( since it was proposed by CPS the ex President of ASS, 
let it be, Hobo Diok) and everybody are trying to burry their heads in sand and 
hoping that by writing ASOM instead of ASSAM, outsiders will pronounce the word 
as we pronounce it in Assamese word OXOM. (Assamese logic!!) 

  Historically also there is objection to change the name ASSAM to ASOM. 
The Assam pronunciation had been in vogue since the advent of the Tai Ahoms to 
Assam who were called at time by the local people (The Sutias, Kasaris etc) by 
the name Ashyam. (This is again is derived from the Sanskrit word Shyam as we 
call Thailand, Shyam dex. There were several Hindu colonies in many of the 
South  East Asian countries in the past when Thailand derived the Sanskrit name 
Shyam-dex.)  Anyhow, later the Moghols used that name Ashyam for our land, and 
eventually the Kamrup was replaced by Ashyam. The British simply changed the 
spelling to Assam keeping the same pronunciation. These are recorded history.  
Thus the Assam pronunciation had an eight hundred old years history. 

  With due respect, I must say that late CPS is an Assamese literary 
figure, but he is neither an historian nor a linguist, and he should not have 
poked his nose on such sensitive subject 

  Sensible Assamese should protest this move to change the name of Assam 
strongly as otherwise our democracy itself is at stake with our 'Hobo Diok' 
attitude.

  Regards
  Rajen Barua

- Original Message - 
From: Barada Sarma 
To: assamonline@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 10:35 PM
Subject: Re: [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours

 

I have not been able to rationalize what difference would be made by 
spelling the name of the state with different English letters which cannot 
reproduce the Assamese sound anyway. 

What is important as far as the future is concerned is the historical 
name recognition of unique product like Assam tea. Why should we waste our time 
and energy with completely unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam. 
Useless politicians love such useless endevors. 

Re: [Assam] Fw: [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours

[Barua25]

Dear Mukulda:
Thanks. However, Assamese cannot simply set the issue aside 'as work pending' 
till the Assam Tribune and the Sentinel and other newspapers stop writing ASOM 
and forcing all non Assamese to mis pronounce the Assamese name of our land. 
'Gariyashi' can propose to change the name Assam to Asom, and burry its head in 
sand and make a 'kharkhowa' wish that the outsiders will pronounce the Assamese 
name correctly. Have we lost all our rational thinking?   I simply donot 
understand why these two English newspapers have to kowtow whatever GOA is 
saying? Are these English papers have been completely bought by the GOA?  

On the other hand, these papers hardly are making any noise in legitimate 
issues like Special Economic Zone or Special Tourist Zones, from both of which 
Assam is not a part.

No wonder the fate of Assam is controlled by the outsiders.

Rajen Barua


  - Original Message - 
  From: mc mahant 
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2006 6:27 PM
  Subject: RE: [Assam] Fw: [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours


  ,< I must say that late CPS is an Assamese literary figure, but he is neither 
an historian nor a linguist, and he should not have poked his nose on such 
sensitive subject >

  And the Assamese shouold keep this issue aside as WORK PENDING-" Just you 
wait"!

  mm







From: "Rajen & Ajanta Barua" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: ,<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Assam] Fw: [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2006 10:05:11 -0600


Message replied to assamonline but not published for reasons not known.
Rajen Barua

- Original Message - 
From: Rajen & Ajanta Barua 
To: assamonline@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 12:41 AM
Subject: Re: [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours


That is exactly one main point. 
However in this case the suggestion to change the name ASSAM to ASOM was 
initiated not by politicians but by late Chandra Prasad Saikia ex President of 
AXX and the Editor of an Assamese literary magazine 'Gariyashi'.  Politicians 
simply are following the so called Assamese intellectuals.
In my opinion, the Assamese civilization is at such a low point in history 
today, that there was hardly any strong protests against this move neither by 
any News Paper Editorials (Assamese or English) nor by any Assamese 
intellectuals (if there is any of this species left in Assam). Even the 
educated Assamese and the so called intellectuals are taking a typical Assamese 
'Hobo Diok' attitude, ( since it was proposed by CPS the ex President of ASS, 
let it be, Hobo Diok) and everybody are trying to burry their heads in sand and 
hoping that by writing ASOM instead of ASSAM, outsiders will pronounce the word 
as we pronounce it in Assamese word OXOM. (Assamese logic!!)

Historically also there is objection to change the name ASSAM to ASOM. The 
Assam pronunciation had been in vogue since the advent of the Tai Ahoms to 
Assam who were called at time by the local people (The Sutias, Kasaris etc) by 
the name Ashyam. (This is again is derived from the Sanskrit word Shyam as we 
call Thailand, Shyam dex. There were several Hindu colonies in many of the 
South  East Asian countries in the past when Thailand derived the Sanskrit name 
Shyam-dex.)  Anyhow, later the Moghols used that name Ashyam for our land, and 
eventually the Kamrup was replaced by Ashyam. The British simply changed the 
spelling to Assam keeping the same pronunciation. These are recorded history.  
Thus the Assam pronunciation had an eight hundred old years history.

With due respect, I must say that late CPS is an Assamese literary figure, 
but he is neither an historian nor a linguist, and he should not have poked his 
nose on such sensitive subject 

Sensible Assamese should protest this move to change the name of Assam 
strongly as otherwise our democracy itself is at stake with our 'Hobo Diok' 
attitude.

Regards
Rajen Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: Barada Sarma 
  To: assamonline@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 10:35 PM
  Subject: Re: [asom] Assamese Fears and Saviours



  I have not been able to rationalize what difference would be made by 
spelling the name of the state with different English letters which cannot 
reproduce the Assamese sound anyway. 

  What is important as far as the future is concerned is the historical 
name recognition of unique product like Assam tea. Why should we waste our time 
and energy with completely unproductive issue like english spelling of Assam. 
Useless politicians love such useless endevors. 

  Barada sarma

  Matiur Rahman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 

I did not quite understand why we need to change the name of our birth 
state Assam to Asom. It is already there since i

Re: [Assam] New Dutch Ban

[Barua25]

A general objection to women wearing Burqa and covering her face may be 
security reason. A man can easily disguise and hide wearing a Burqa. I have 
heard that Koran actually does not prescribe covering the face by a Burqa.
Rajen Barua 
  - Original Message - 
  From: Dilip/Dil Deka 
  To: ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 9:06 PM
  Subject: [Assam] New Dutch Ban


  Is this an infringement on free practice of religion? Is it also curbing 
cultural freedom? Are they going to put the 50 women wearing Burqa in jail for 
refusing to obey the law?
  Are the Sikhs next in line because they also can hide a weapon under the 
headgear? 

  The standard winter outer garments with protection for the head do not look 
any different if security is the concern.

  What does Mr. Saleh in the Netherlands say about this? 
  Dilip
  =

  Dutch to ban wearing of Muslim burqa in public 
  By Alexandra Hudson Fri Nov 17, 1:58 PM ET 
  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch government agreed on Friday a total ban on 
the wearing of burqas and other Muslim face veils in public, justifying the 
move on security grounds. 
  Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk will now draw up legislation which will 
result in the Netherlands, once one of Europe's most easy-going nations, 
imposing some of the continent's toughest laws against concealing the face.
  "The cabinet finds it undesirable that garments covering the face -- 
including the burqa -- should be worn in public in view of public order, (and) 
the security and protection of fellow citizens," the Dutch Justice Ministry 
said in a statement.
  The debate on face veils and whether they stymie Muslim integration has 
gathered momentum across Europe.
  The Netherlands would be the first European state to impose a countrywide ban 
on Islamic face coverings, though other countries have already outlawed them in 
specific places.
  The move by the center-right government comes just five days before a general 
election. The campaign has focused so far on issues like the economy rather 
than immigration because most mainstream parties have hardened their stances in 
recent years.
  Last December Dutch lawmakers voted in favor of a proposal by far-right 
politician Geert Wilders to outlaw face-coverings and asked Verdonk to examine 
the feasibility of such a ban.
  Because veils were worn for religious reasons, she had feared new legislation 
could come into conflict with religious freedom laws. But she said on Friday 
this was not the case.
  MUSLIM HEADSCARF
  Existing legislation already limits the wearing of burqas and other total 
coverings on public transport or in schools.
  France has banned the Muslim headscarf and other religious garb from state 
schools while discussion in Britain centers on limiting the full facial veil, 
or niqab.
  Italy has a decades-old law against covering the face in public as an 
anti-terrorism measure. Some politicians have called for this rule to be 
enforced against veiled Muslim women.
  The Muslim community estimates that only about 50 women in the Netherlands 
wear the head-to-toe burqa or the niqab, a face veil that conceals everything 
but the eyes.
  Dutch Muslim groups have complained a burqa ban would make the country's 1 
million Muslims feel more victimized and alienated, regardless of whether they 
approve of burqas or not.
  "This will just lead to more girls saying 'hey I'm also going to wear a burqa 
as a protest'," Naima Azough, a member of parliament from the opposition Green 
Left, told an election campaign meeting for fellow members of the Moroccan 
community.
  Job Cohen, the Labour mayor of Amsterdam, said he opposed burqas in schools 
and public buildings, and said women wearing one who failed to get a job should 
not expect welfare benefits.
  "From the perspective of integration and communication, it is obviously very 
bad because you can't see each other so the fewer the better," he told foreign 
journalists.
  "But actually hardly anybody wears one ... The fuss is much bigger than the 
number of people concerned." 
  Since the murder of anti-immigration maverick Pim Fortuyn in 2002, the Dutch 
have lost a reputation for tolerance, pushing through some of Europe's toughest 
entry and integration laws. 
  Social and religious tensions have escalated in the last few years, 
exacerbated by the murder of film director and Islam critic Theo van Gogh by a 
Dutch-Moroccan militant in 2004. 
  (Additional reporting by Emma Thomasson) 


--


  ___
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  assam@assamnet.org
  http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
___
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assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Re: [Assam] US-India Trade - Sentinel

[Barua25]

>India ranks as America's 22nd largest export market

Any knowledge who are these these 21 countries ahead of India.?
Rajen Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Ram Sarangapani 
  To: ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 12:33 PM
  Subject: [Assam] US-India Trade - Sentinel


  This editorial from the Sentinel makes some interesting reading. Welcome 
netters comments.

  Will such rapid economic growth (expected) also remove the barriers that keep 
a section of the population under poverty? Will this also help curbing 
corruption and make India a "more democratic" nation? 

  Or is this all lip service and there ain't a thing thats going to change the 
common man's lot?
  (Highlights mine)

  --Ram



  US Trade Interest in India
  Arun Kumar
  A host of nuclear power companies have been included in the largest trade 
mission ever assembled by the US government visiting India this week to boost 
commerce with one of the world's fastest-growing economies. 
  The General Electric Co and Westinghouse Electric Corp are among the first US 
nuclear power companies visiting India in an official capacity as part of the 
mission with a total of 239 participants from 189 companies, even though the 
India-US civil nuclear deal is not quite done yet. 
  The India mission includes a business summit in Mumbai on November 29 and 30, 
followed by meetings in Kolkata, New Delhi and other Indian cities.
  Among other companies represented on the mission are such well-known firms as 
Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc, Lockheed Martin Corp and UPS, as well as smaller 
companies from sectors including health care, industrial machinery and 
telecommunications. 
  US exports to India last year rose by 30.6 per cent to about $8 billion, 
while imports totalled about $19 billion, up by 20.9 percent over 2004, 
according to US Commerce Department figures. India ranks as America's 22nd 
largest export market, behind the United Arab Emirates and ahead of Thailand. 
  ''We have historically been underperforming in that market, and the market 
itself has been underperforming,'' Franklin L Lavin, US Under Secretary of 
Commerce for International Trade, was quoted as saying by The Washington Times 
on Monday. 
  ''So you can look through the entire array of what we have to offer, from 
soybeans to laptops to insurance companies to jet engines, and you can say, 
does India want this or need this, and the answer iss going to be 'yes','' 
Lavin said. 
  India is a mature economy, Lavin said, larger in population and less affluent 
in terms of per capita gross domestic product, but with the same range of 
tastes and needs as the US economy. ''So simply getting people to show up, 
finding the customer base, finding the distribution network, finding the 
wholesaler who will carry their goods, is a big part of the puzzle for American 
companies in India,'' he said. 
  India's economy, which weighs in at under $1 trillion today, is expected to 
grow to $27 trillion by 2050, according to investment bank Goldman Sachs. By 
comparison, the $13 trillion US economy is expected to expand to $37 trillion .
  Lavin last week hailed Indian steps to reduce barriers to trade, including 
lowering tariffs on industrial goods from an average of 15 per cent to 12.5 per 
cent, and extending patent protection last year to pharmaceuticals, farm 
chemicals and food products. 
  At the same time, he called for more steps to increase trade, including 
further opening of the retail sector, eliminating limits on foreign equity 
investment in the financial services, and protection of intellectual property 
rights. 
  ''Right now, an estimated 74 per cent of software in use in India is pirated, 
and India is one of the world's leading manufacturers of counterfeit 
pharmaceuticals,'' he said.
  The trade mission is expected to boost US-Indian commerce but not necessarily 
produce a major announcement . As US-India Business Council President Ron 
Somers put it, ''We are looking for incremental positive steps, we are not 
looking for big-bang breakthroughs.'' (IANS)


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Re: [Assam] quick help

[Barua25]

Someone can be MOUNO (will not talk, MOUNO-BROT)  but he can be playing a drum 
and make lot of noise.
QUIET or SILENT is actually freedom from noise or sound.
Rajen Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: Prakash Deka 
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Alpana B. Sarangapani ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 10:11 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] quick help


  This one was probably buried in the flurry of emails, but if I have to give 
my two cents, this has been the closest to what Alpana Baidew was looking for - 
"Mounata Banchaniya" that is.
   
  Cheers,
  Prakash

  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Baidew,

I think "MOUNOTA BANCHANIYA" may serve the purpose in Assamese. In hindi it 
may be "MOUN RAHIYE". It is my opinion.

Dipangkar


- Original Message 
From: Alpana B. Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: assam@assamnet.org
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:30:04 AM
Subject: [Assam] quick help


What is the exact translation of "Quiet Please" in Assamese or Hindi - in a 
nice/professional way, and it should not be as rude as 'mone` mone` 
thaka/thakok' or "chup roho/rehiye!'. :)  
I would appreciate any help. 
- ABS.





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Re: [Assam] Arrival of my daughter

[Barua25]

Congratulations to you and your wife.
Rajen Barua
  - Original Message - 
  From: Dipankar Malla Baruah (Well Logging) 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 10:33 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Arrival of my daughter


  Hi Everyone,

  I am happy to announce the arrival of our second child, a daughter on 5th 
November, 2006.

  Dipankar

  D M Baruah
  Dy Supdtng Engineer
  Well Logging Department
  Oil India Ltd.
  Duliajan 786602
  Assam, INDIA
  Phone: 919435039820


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Re: [Assam] Fw:They donot need truck in Vietnam

[Barua25]

Alpana:
I am glad you liked it. 
I think we should all thank the unknown artist who had the wisdom and the 
labor and skill and the time to take these beautiful photographs. He might 
have a theme or title for these, but I received these without any, and so 
decided to give my own. In this case, we can literally 
say that pictures speak volumes.
Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Alpana B. Sarangapani 
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 3:57 
  PM
  Subject: RE: [Assam] Fw:They donot need 
  truck in Vietnam
  
  
  Barua: Thanks for sending theese amazing pictures. and such a thoughtful 
  subject title! :)
   
  

From: "Barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: 
<assam@assamnet.org>Subject: 
[Assam] Fw:They donot need truck in VietnamDate: Thu, 26 Oct 
2006 21:43:38 -0500





They donot need truck in Vietnam. Do 
you know why? See for yourself.
 
  
  Use your PC to 
  make calls at very low rates 
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Re: [Assam] Guru Granth.....casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development - Beyond discussions

[Barua25]

Umesh:
Yet the most remarkable feature of the 
Bibl is its unity. The different books of the Bible were written over a period 
of at least 1200 years from ancient oral collections by a large number of 
diverse authors in several languages, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek etc. Yet all bear 
witness fundamentally to the same understanding of the nature of God:  a 
God who acts, God who redeems and God who gives hope. 
 
Compared to that, Hindu scriptures, all 
mostly written in the same language, are known for their diversity of gods 
and subjects and philosophies often times which are 180 degree apart from 
each other. Thus the central theme of God itself is rather very much weakened in 
Hinduism and one has to search with arguments the real God. If Christianity 
can be said to be a river, Hinduism may be said to be an ocean which absorbs 
all. If Christianity may be compared to a single mango tree, Hinduism may be 
compared to a huge banyan tree where one cannot differentiate which is themain 
root and which are the branches touching the ground and shooting new 
roots.
 
The above perspective may help you in your 
endeavor.
Rajen-da
 
  

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 8:53 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development 
  - Beyond discussions
  
  Bible is also a collection of hundreds of scriptures.
   
  UmeshBarua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
  wrote:
  


>Why I had gone to the museum was to see why Bible is considered 
real and Hindu scriptures are considered myths. After the trip they both 
seem to have evolved the >same way ---collections of (real) stories from 
many story-tellers.
 
Umesh:
First, you are trying to compare the 
historicity of the Bible, the Book,  against the historicity of the 
Hindu scriptures. But before you do that, I think you need to narrow your 
focus on a particular Hindu scripture as there are literally hundreds of 
Hindu scriptures and all of them are not supposed to be historical, some are 
purely philosophical.  In my opinion what makes Bible the unique is 
that there are some records of writing which one can put a date 
scientifically. Question is does any Hindu scripture have any such records 
of writing that one can put a date?  Historicity is determined by how 
many people actually recorded the event after it happened.  Say in case 
of Rama, do we have any other record of writing other than that of Valmiki? 
Or do we find the same story in any other recording other than the Ramayana? 
You must be very objective in your research. Overall I think it will be a 
good excercise.  Please keep us in the loop.
 
>PS: There is more to religion than book reading --anyone can become 
a scholar---was Jesus a scholar -or was Krishan one or was Guru Nanak one or 
same for Prophet >Muhammad.
According to Bertrand Russell, 
religion has not served any purpose in the world. According to me, it has at 
least served one purpose; it has contributed to the invention of writing and 
to the spread of language. So be careful, if you try to take away the 
reading books from reliogion, you will be left with nothing as Russel 
says.
 
Rajen-da.
 
 
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 3:49 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; 
  development - Beyond discussions
  
  Rajen-da,
   
  I was trying to bring out some good things about Christian faith 
  --not denounce some negatives about Hindu faith. However, since you raise 
  the issue I may point out that NO religion allows women priests --even 
  now. No Pope or Shankaracharya or Imam or Chief Rabbi is a woman . 
  No non-white guy has ever become a Pope just as no non-Brahmin has 
  ever beome a Shankaracharya.
   
  Why I had gone to the museum was to see why Bible is considered real 
  and Hindu scriptures are considered myths. After the trip they both seem 
  to have evolved the same way ---collections of (real) stories from many 
  story-tellers.
   
  Umesh
  PS: There is more to religion than book reading --anyone can become a 
  scholar---was Jesus a scholar -or was Krishan one or was Guru Nanak one or 
  same for Prophet Muhammad.Barua25 
  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  




>HINDUS: Indians --Hindus esp were content in letting reading of 
scrptures be the game of a small coterie -- the so-called brahmin 
priests hence there was no thrust in >promoting faith by 

[Assam] Fw: Child Labor Ban in India

[Barua25]

Go to this link and click on each photo to read the 
comments.
 
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/photogalleries/child-labor/index.html
 
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[Assam] Fw: ecohydrology - River Brahmaputra - fish assemblage - habitat distribution - flood regime

[Barua25]

There are many 
articles written on Brahmaputra; Here is an abstract of a recent 
article by Sanchita Boruah of Dibrugarh Universty.
 
Rajen Barua
 


Sanchita Boruah1  and S.P. Biswas1 

  
  
(1) 
Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh 
  University, Assam, 786 004, India

Abstract  The Brahmaputra changes its 
course and pattern along with its current flow very frequently especially in its 
upper stretches and this has a strong bearing on its hydrobiology. The 
hydro-geological pattern of the Brahmaputra has resulted in a possible zonation 
of the river into five major types of fish habitat. Altogether 167 fish species 
have been recorded from the upper Brahmaputra of which about 30 percent may be 
considered as ornamental varieties. Again, according to their seasonal 
availability, the fish fauna has been grouped into four principal categories. 
Among all the hydrological factors, flood impulse is probably the strongest 
factor that regulates other limnological conditions and faunal distribution. 
Usually, there are three or four high floods between May and October and fish 
migration is intimately related to this flood regime. During the dry season 
fishing is mostly restricted to near the confluents of tributaries or channels 
and also at river meanders. However, large-scale felling of trees in the 
catchment areas and construction of embankments along the river banks have 
altered the riverine ecosystem drastically, as a result of which, the river has 
become heavily silted and the connecting channels of the floodplain lakes are 
also dammed. Consequently, fishes and other megafauna are deprived of adequate 
water cover, food supply and breeding grounds. An ecohydrological approach has 
been advocated for habitat restoration.
ecohydrology - River 
Brahmaputra - fish assemblage - habitat 
distribution - flood 
regime
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Re: [Assam] Guru Granth.....casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development - Beyond discussions

[Barua25]

Umesh:
I congratulate in your 
endeavor.  This may give you an opportunity to acquaint yourself with the 
Hindu scriptures.  But remember the saying, 'the devil is in the 
details'.One way to simplify your job is by process of elimination. I would 
suggest you find one single Hindu scriptures out of the myriads and try to 
establish the historicity.   That will serve a solid purpose 
instead of speaking in generality. Or if you find any book which has established 
such historicity please let me know.
Rajen da

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 2:05 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development 
  - Beyond discussions
  
  Rajen-da,
   
  I just sawthe museum's exhibit this weekend and so takingme time to make 
  comparisons. One thing which struck me was that even in Christianity most 
  priests and missionaries relied on oral tradition to transmit the tales and 
  teachings over centuries since books or even paper was nearly non-existent at 
  the time of Christ. some used wooden boards and leafs to write on (like 
  Indians).
   
  Thus, the Hindu scriptures tell tales of much earlier period -so there 
  were hardly any written material of that period .
   
  Books developed much later -and hence Bible (which is a collection of 
  books) and Hindu scriptures etc were gathered fromdifferent sources and much 
  recently declared and true and officially accepted copies.
   
  Hindu scriptures are much bigger - in more detail so cannot be compiled 
  in a single book - unlike Christian and muslim or Jewish scriptures which are 
  concise enough to put placed in a single book form.
   
  UmeshBarua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
  wrote:
  

Do you then have a comarable 
collection of scripture book in Hinduism?
Rajen da

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 8:53 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; 
  development - Beyond discussions
  
  Bible is also a collection of hundreds of scriptures.
   
  UmeshBarua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
  wrote:
  


>Why I had gone to the museum was to see why Bible is considered 
real and Hindu scriptures are considered myths. After the trip they both 
seem to have evolved the >same way ---collections of (real) stories 
from many story-tellers.
 
Umesh:
First, you are trying to compare 
the historicity of the Bible, the Book,  against the historicity of 
the Hindu scriptures. But before you do that, I think you need to narrow 
your focus on a particular Hindu scripture as there are literally 
hundreds of Hindu scriptures and all of them are not supposed to be 
historical, some are purely philosophical.  In my opinion what 
makes Bible the unique is that there are some records of writing which 
one can put a date scientifically. Question is does any Hindu scripture 
have any such records of writing that one can put a date?  
Historicity is determined by how many people actually recorded the event 
after it happened.  Say in case of Rama, do we have any other 
record of writing other than that of Valmiki? Or do we find the same 
story in any other recording other than the Ramayana? You must be very 
objective in your research. Overall I think it will be a good 
excercise.  Please keep us in the loop.
 
>PS: There is more to religion than book reading --anyone can 
become a scholar---was Jesus a scholar -or was Krishan one or was Guru 
Nanak one or same for Prophet >Muhammad.
According to Bertrand Russell, 
religion has not served any purpose in the world. According to me, it 
has at least served one purpose; it has contributed to the invention of 
writing and to the spread of language. So be careful, if you try to take 
away the reading books from reliogion, you will be left with nothing as 
Russel says.
 
Rajen-da.
 
 
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 
  3:49 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; 
  development - Beyond discussions
  
  Rajen-da,
   
  I was trying to bring out some good things about Christian faith 
  --not denounce s

Re: [Assam] Guru Granth.....casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development - Beyond discussions

[Barua25]

Do you then have a comarable collection of 
scripture book in Hinduism?
Rajen da

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 8:53 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development 
  - Beyond discussions
  
  Bible is also a collection of hundreds of scriptures.
   
  UmeshBarua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
  wrote:
  


>Why I had gone to the museum was to see why Bible is considered 
real and Hindu scriptures are considered myths. After the trip they both 
seem to have evolved the >same way ---collections of (real) stories from 
many story-tellers.
 
Umesh:
First, you are trying to compare the 
historicity of the Bible, the Book,  against the historicity of the 
Hindu scriptures. But before you do that, I think you need to narrow your 
focus on a particular Hindu scripture as there are literally hundreds of 
Hindu scriptures and all of them are not supposed to be historical, some are 
purely philosophical.  In my opinion what makes Bible the unique is 
that there are some records of writing which one can put a date 
scientifically. Question is does any Hindu scripture have any such records 
of writing that one can put a date?  Historicity is determined by how 
many people actually recorded the event after it happened.  Say in case 
of Rama, do we have any other record of writing other than that of Valmiki? 
Or do we find the same story in any other recording other than the Ramayana? 
You must be very objective in your research. Overall I think it will be a 
good excercise.  Please keep us in the loop.
 
>PS: There is more to religion than book reading --anyone can become 
a scholar---was Jesus a scholar -or was Krishan one or was Guru Nanak one or 
same for Prophet >Muhammad.
According to Bertrand Russell, 
religion has not served any purpose in the world. According to me, it has at 
least served one purpose; it has contributed to the invention of writing and 
to the spread of language. So be careful, if you try to take away the 
reading books from reliogion, you will be left with nothing as Russel 
says.
 
Rajen-da.
 
 
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 3:49 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; 
  development - Beyond discussions
  
  Rajen-da,
   
  I was trying to bring out some good things about Christian faith 
  --not denounce some negatives about Hindu faith. However, since you raise 
  the issue I may point out that NO religion allows women priests --even 
  now. No Pope or Shankaracharya or Imam or Chief Rabbi is a woman . 
  No non-white guy has ever become a Pope just as no non-Brahmin has 
  ever beome a Shankaracharya.
   
  Why I had gone to the museum was to see why Bible is considered real 
  and Hindu scriptures are considered myths. After the trip they both seem 
  to have evolved the same way ---collections of (real) stories from many 
  story-tellers.
   
  Umesh
  PS: There is more to religion than book reading --anyone can become a 
  scholar---was Jesus a scholar -or was Krishan one or was Guru Nanak one or 
  same for Prophet Muhammad.Barua25 
  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  




>HINDUS: Indians --Hindus esp were content in letting reading of 
scrptures be the game of a small coterie -- the so-called brahmin 
priests hence there was no thrust in >promoting faith by 
educating followers to become literate so that they can read 
scriptures.
 
This is correct, In fact the 
Hindus were trying to keep the religion of the Vedas very much secret 
from the public. Thus there was no incentive to evolve a writing method 
to record the Vedas which was handed over orally for many centuries. 
Even when writing was evolved, at the inspiration of the Buddhist, this 
written knowledge of the Vedas was kept as much secret as possible. 
First the Sudras and women were barred from raeding of the Vedas. 

 
Against this Hindu 
conservativenessm the Christians as well as the Buddhists attitude was 
to propogate the Dharma to as many people as possible. Buddha's decree, 
like that of Jesus, was:"Go and tell the people about the Dharma". Along 
with Buddhism, and the Indian epic story Ramayana, the local languages 
were developed in many countries besides India.  The Vedas on the 
 

Re: [Assam] Tarun Gogoi go and fool around in Delhi. What else are yougood for? Your ancestors of the Pong Kingdom cannot haveanything but curse for you, BOY.

[Barua25]

I wonder and hope he knows 
why he is concerned.
First point:
How much is Luit fed by Champu and how 
much by the rivers in Assam?
Does Gogoi know?
Rajen Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Bartta Bistar 
  To: AssamNet 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 10:28 
  AM
  Subject: [Assam] Tarun Gogoi go and fool 
  around in Delhi. What else are yougood for? Your ancestors of the Pong Kingdom 
  cannot haveanything but curse for you, BOY.
  
  Gogoi concerned over China 
  plan
  http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action="">
  Guwahati, Oct 24: Expressing concern over China's 
  reported plan to construct a dam on river Brahmaputra in that country to 
  divert 200 billion cubic metre of water, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi 
  today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the issue with Beijing. 
  Damming and diversion of such huge quantity of water would hit the 
  state's economy, he said in a statement adding the government would soon 
  constitute an experts committee to study the matter.The 
  Brahmaputra-Barak-Meghna river system contributes almost one-third of the 
  total surface water resource of the country and any large-scale diversion of 
  this water will have serious repercussions on the interests of the N E region 
  and the country as a whole, he said. He sought the Prime Minister's 
  intervention to safeguard the interests of the people of the state as well as 
  the entire country.China is reportedly planning to diver the water to 
  feed its Yellow River. 
   
   
   
  
  

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Re: [Assam] Brahmaputra may not be mighty anymore

[Barua25]

I think unless there is some kind of 
International Law against such action, I don't think India or any other country 
can do anything. Might is the right. China will prevail. This is not even 
democracy we are talking about. China can justify that it has every right to 
divert water in its own land for its economic survival. Luit will be no more the 
Luit which may be good and bad.
I hope somebody will do an investigative 
write up leaving aside the emotion.
Rajen Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Pradip Kumar 
  Datta 
  To: NorthEastIndia ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assamonline@yahoogroups.com ; Assam Foundation ; assam@assamnet.org ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:31 
  PM
  Subject: [Assam] Brahmaputra may not be 
  mighty anymore
  
  Our government will do very 
  little against the chinese as it lacks ability and ofcourse India needs an 
  able leader like Netaji.
   
  thanks
  pradip
   
  Brahmaputra may not be mighty anymore 
  By a Staff 
  Reporter  (sentinel assam)GUWAHATI, Oct 23: Worried over China’s 
  reported plan to dam the Brahmaputra river and divert 200 billion cubic metres 
  of water annually to feed its ageing Yellow river, Dispur is expected to take 
  up the matter with the Union Water Resources as well as the Foreign 
  Ministries.A media report on Monday said though it is still at the 
  discussion stage and presents an enormous engineering challenge, the plan, 
  backed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, aims to take the diverted water to feed 
  north-eastern China watering Shaanxi, Hebei, Beijing and Tianjin areas that 
  could face a parched future.The proposed project, called the ‘Greater 
  Western Water Diversion Project’, is part of the gigantic South-North water 
  project that has already been started by China, the report said.Clearly, 
  if the project goes through, it could strangle one of the country’s biggest 
  sources of water.Highly-placed sources said that the Asom Government has 
  taken note of the media report, and is likely to verify the authenticity of 
  the report with the Union Water Resource as well as Foreign Ministries. “If 
  China really has such plans, it is a major concern to the State and Central 
  Governments,” the sources said.Asom Water Resource Minister Bharat Narah, 
  who is currently in New Delhi, is expected to take up the matter with the 
  Chief Minister when he arrives in the State.It is learnt that Indian 
  officials are preparing for detailed discussions with their Chinese 
  counterparts over the next few months.It is pertinent to note that 
  responding to Indian media reports that China had built a dam on the Sutlej 
  river, the Chinese foreign ministry acknowledged the dam in Zhada county in 
  Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) but said they did it for electricity for the 
  local population. In doing so, they “considered fully the impact on lower 
  reaches.”
  
  
  Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make 
  PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
  
  

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Re: [Assam] NY Times Editorial

[Barua25]

Thank God! 
Finally the pot seems to be 
cracking. Hope the conservatives will finally wake up and smell the roses 
and learn what a make believe world they had been living through.  So 
far Iraq is concerned, I can see the country splitting into three 
parts. (US-UK, not Saddam,  will go down in history as the splitter of 
Iraq) I think the party that will be most benefited will be the Kurds; they will 
get their land and much more without fighting. Ironically they will be the 
lone ally of the West in coming years in the desert of anti American 
Islamic fascists.
It will be exciting to watch 
the phase of post Iraq war.
Rajen 
Barua  
 
- Original Message - 
From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 10:23 
AM
Subject: [Assam] NY Times 
Editorial
> This is a watershed  editorial from the country's most 
prestigious > paper. Along with Bush's abandonment of  the "stay the 
course" slogan > during the last couple of days, the rabidly right-wing 
columnist Noah > Goldberg's admission on print  yesterday that he 
was wrong about the > war and numerous other right-wingers heading for 
the tall-grass > looking for cover; the pigeons have come home to 
roost.> > As we can see there is nothing to be happy about the 
sordid mess we are in.> > Just like there is nothing for Indians 
to be happy about the mess it > is in, be it Kashmir, be it Assam; except 
that its intelligentsia > continues to remain smug in its ignorance and 
its appalling  apathy.> > The lesson, that even overwhelming 
force cannot extinguish hatred of > the intruder fits Indian military 
operations like a glove . Time > alone will tell if they have the wisdom 
to pay heed.> > cm> > > > > 
> > http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/opinion/24tues1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all > Editorial>   Trying to Contain the Iraq 
Disaster> > > Published: October 24, 2006> > 
> No matter what President Bush says, the question is not whether 
> America can win in Iraq. The only question is whether the United 
> States can extricate itself without leaving behind an unending civil 
> war that will spread more chaos and suffering throughout the Middle 
> East, while spawning terrorism across the globe.> > The 
prospect of what happens after an American pullout haunts the > debate on 
Iraq. The administration, for all its hints about new > strategies and 
timetables, is obviously hoping to slog along for two > more years and 
dump the problem on Mr. Bush's successor. This fall's > election debates 
have educated very few voters because neither side > is prepared to be 
honest about the terrible consequences of military > withdrawal and the 
very long odds against success if American troops > remain.> 
> This page opposed a needlessly hurried and unilateral invasion, even 
> before it became apparent that the Bush administration was unprepared 
> to do the job properly. But after it happened, we believed that 
> America should stay and try to clean up the mess it had made - as 
> long as there was any conceivable road to success.> > 
That road is vanishing. Today we want to describe a strategy for > 
containing the disaster as much as humanly possible. It is hardly a > 
recipe for triumph. Americans can only look back in wonder on the > days 
when the Bush administration believed that success would turn > Iraq into 
a stable, wealthy democracy - a model to strike fear into > the region's 
autocrats while inspiring a new generation of democrats. > Even last 
fall, the White House was dividing its strategy into a > series of 
victorious outcomes, with the short-term goal of an Iraq > "making steady 
progress in fighting terrorists." The medium term had > Iraq taking the 
lead in "providing its own security" and "on its way > to achieving its 
economic potential," with the ultimate outcome being > a "peaceful, 
united, stable and secure" nation.> >   If an American 
military occupation could ever have achieved those > goals, that 
opportunity is gone. It is very clear that even with the > best American 
effort, Iraq will remain at war with itself for years > to come, its 
government weak and deeply divided, and its economy > battered and still 
dependent on outside aid. The most the United > States can do now is to 
try to build up Iraq's security forces so > they can contain the fighting 
- so it neither devours Iraqi society > nor spills over to Iraq's 
neighbors - and give Iraq's leaders a start > toward the political 
framework they would need if they chose to try > to keep their country 
whole.> > The tragedy is that even this marginal sort of outcome 
seems nearly > unachievable now. But if America is to make one last push, 
there are > steps that might lessen the chance of all-out chaos after the 
troops > withdraw:> > Start at Home> > For 
all the talk of timetables for Iraq, there has been little > discussion 
of the timetable that must be handed to George W. Bush. > The president 
cannot 

Re: [Assam] Guru Granth.....casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development - Beyond discussions

[Barua25]

>Why I had gone to the museum was to see why Bible is considered real 
and Hindu scriptures are considered myths. After the trip they both seem to have 
evolved the >same way ---collections of (real) stories from many 
story-tellers.
 
Umesh:
First, you are trying to compare the 
historicity of the Bible, the Book,  against the historicity of the Hindu 
scriptures. But before you do that, I think you need to narrow your focus on a 
particular Hindu scripture as there are literally hundreds of Hindu scriptures 
and all of them are not supposed to be historical, some are purely 
philosophical.  In my opinion what makes Bible the unique is that there are 
some records of writing which one can put a date scientifically. Question is 
does any Hindu scripture have any such records of writing that one can put a 
date?  Historicity is determined by how many people actually recorded the 
event after it happened.  Say in case of Rama, do we have any other record 
of writing other than that of Valmiki? Or do we find the same story in any other 
recording other than the Ramayana? You must be very objective in your research. 
Overall I think it will be a good excercise.  Please keep us in the 
loop.
 
>PS: There is more to religion than book reading --anyone can become a 
scholar---was Jesus a scholar -or was Krishan one or was Guru Nanak one or same 
for Prophet >Muhammad.
According to Bertrand Russell, religion 
has not served any purpose in the world. According to me, it has at least served 
one purpose; it has contributed to the invention of writing and to the spread of 
language. So be careful, if you try to take away the reading books from 
reliogion, you will be left with nothing as Russel says.
 
Rajen-da.
 
 
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 3:49 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development 
  - Beyond discussions
  
  Rajen-da,
   
  I was trying to bring out some good things about Christian faith --not 
  denounce some negatives about Hindu faith. However, since you raise the issue 
  I may point out that NO religion allows women priests --even now. No Pope or 
  Shankaracharya or Imam or Chief Rabbi is a woman . No non-white guy 
  has ever become a Pope just as no non-Brahmin has ever beome a 
  Shankaracharya.
   
  Why I had gone to the museum was to see why Bible is considered real and 
  Hindu scriptures are considered myths. After the trip they both seem to have 
  evolved the same way ---collections of (real) stories from many 
  story-tellers.
   
  Umesh
  PS: There is more to religion than book reading --anyone can become a 
  scholar---was Jesus a scholar -or was Krishan one or was Guru Nanak one or 
  same for Prophet Muhammad.Barua25 
  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  




>HINDUS: Indians --Hindus esp were content in letting reading of 
scrptures be the game of a small coterie -- the so-called brahmin 
priests hence there was no thrust in >promoting faith by educating 
followers to become literate so that they can read scriptures.
 
This is correct, In fact the Hindus 
were trying to keep the religion of the Vedas very much secret from the 
public. Thus there was no incentive to evolve a writing method to record the 
Vedas which was handed over orally for many centuries. Even when writing was 
evolved, at the inspiration of the Buddhist, this written knowledge of the 
Vedas was kept as much secret as possible. First the Sudras and women were 
barred from raeding of the Vedas. 
 
Against this Hindu conservativenessm 
the Christians as well as the Buddhists attitude was to propogate the Dharma 
to as many people as possible. Buddha's decree, like that of Jesus, was:"Go 
and tell the people about the Dharma". Along with Buddhism, and the Indian 
epic story Ramayana, the local languages were developed in many countries 
besides India.  The Vedas on the other hand are still being recited in 
Sanskrit. 
 
Rajen Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 9:16 
  PM
  Subject: [Assam] Guru 
  Granth.casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; 
  development - Beyond discussions
  
  Hi,
   
  Today went to see the exhibit - first of its kind --very long queue 
  to enter--how the Bible (Christian religious book) evolved over the first 
  1000 years of the religion's origin. 
  http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/IntheBeginning.htm
   
  How from the time of Dead Sea Scrolls (rolled paper) the book evolved 
  into a modern style book form (evolving book technology) 
   and how in 

[Assam] Fw: [NorthEastIndia] We have RIGHT to KNOW !! We need to USE RTI ACT to know WHERE CIC FUNDS and Developmental FUNDS of NORTHEAST are spent ? or Who is SWINDLIING the FUNDS.

[Barua25]

 
- Original Message - 
From: Rajen Barua 

To: Friends 
Cc: Barua25 
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 12:16 AM
Subject: Fwd: [NorthEastIndia] We have RIGHT to KNOW !! We need to 
USE RTI ACT to know WHERE CIC FUNDS and Developmental FUNDS of NORTHEAST are 
spent ? or Who is SWINDLIING the FUNDS.
-- Forwarded message --From: Venkat Kumaraswamy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: 
Oct 22, 2006 1:46 PM Subject: [NorthEastIndia] We have RIGHT to KNOW !! We 
need to USE RTI ACT to know WHERE CIC FUNDS and Developmental FUNDS of NORTHEAST 
are spent ? or Who is SWINDLIING the FUNDS.To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] , [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], Partha Gogoi 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Cc: eGov 
Northeast <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
egov Assam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
northeast India <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
eGovINDIA Group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, India 
RTI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, India 
Wba <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear Members of eGovNORTHEAST, eGovASSAM, NortheastINDIA, eGovINDIA and 
INDIA RTI and all 487 CIC's of NORTHEAST,We need to work on this and 
find out all information. Please read what PM and MINISTER Jairam Ramesh has 
spoken. DONER and all Politicians in NORTHEAST can't be TRUSTED with 
FUNDS of NORTHEAST. LET US FIGHT to get the ANSWERS from all.
RTI Act 2005: IT'S OUR RIGHT. An inalienable right 
has been conferred on citizens.
http://right2information.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/rti-act-2005-its-our-right-an-inalienable-right-has-been-conferred-on-citizens/

The legislative intent is clear; we are 
entitled to know how our money is spent. The onus is on us to make the 
Act work.
In effect, therefore, the right 
conferred on the citizen is an exhaustive one. It allows him to 
assess and examine every government decision, to study the reasons recorded by 
the government for taking a particular step, and to utilise information so 
gathered to ensure that government acts in a transparent and just 
manner.
Indeed, the preamble to the Act puts it well when it says, 
"democracy requires an informed citizenry and 
transparency of information" and adds these "are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption and 
to hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the 
governed".READ THESE URL's

PM office moots monitor for DoNER
http://egovernance.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/pm-office-moots-monitor-for-doner/
 

Jairam Ramesh quizzes NE states on 
funds
http://egovernance.wordpress.com/2006/10/21/jairam-ramesh-quizzes-ne-states-on-funds/
 

Northeast politicians embezzling funds: Jairam 
Ramesh:: Ramesh urged the people in the northeast to seek documents and 
accounts, taking advantage of the Right to Information Act.
http://egovernance.wordpress.com/2006/10/20/northeast-politicians-embezzling-funds-jairam-ramesh-ramesh-urged-the-people-in-the-northeast-to-seek-documents-and-accounts-taking-advantage-of-the-right-to-information-act/ 

 PLEASE CONTACT RTI 
groups in all NORTHEAST STATES to start making applications at all DEPARTMENTS 
asking for information.


Why keep checking for Mail? The all-new Yahoo! Mail shows you when there are new messages. 
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[Assam] Assam/Asom

[Barua25]

>So, the tension continues between, on the one hand, nationalistic 
assertions seeking to distance the land and its people from India, perhaps even 
strive and attain >sovereignty; and on the other hand, the reluctance by the 
intellectual establishment (which also feeds separatist ideologies) to accept 
any modification of an unwieldy >and unnecessarily complicated alphabet where 
some of the letters are identified by numbers, not sounds, because these sounds 
are exactly alike." 
 
BTW Prabhakars this simplistic statement 
is wrong. 
To add to the confusion, the fact is that 
the word ASOM is not being proposed by the Nationalist or the separatist group. 
It was rather  proposed by Mr Chandra Prasad Saikia whom we cannot call a 
Nationalist or separatist.  In fact AGP, if we can call them Nationalists, 
actually are opposing this usage ASOM.  Recently Atul Bora, among others, 
 wrote letters to GOA opposing the usage of ASOM.  ULFA does not seem 
to have the time to care. So who actually are supporting the use of the 
word ASOM? That is the great Assamese confusion to add to the problems of Assam. 

 
Assam is running wild without any 
leaders. 
 
Would the supporters of ASOM kindly come 
out of the closet?
Thanks
Rajen Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: Assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 6:57 
  AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in 
  Asom politics !
  
  Ram
   
  After recceiving your e-mail I sent a short reply, then myself searched 
  the website for the latest official notification in this behalf. It 
  appears what M S Prabhakara has summed up in an  article 
  in the Hindu following Government's proposal (on Feb 27, 2006)to change Assam 
  into Asom reflects the actual state of affairs.May be you've already read his 
  long 
  article(http:www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2311/stories/20060616001408200.htm):
   
  
  "So, the tension continues between, on the one hand, 
  nationalistic assertions seeking to distance the land and its people from 
  India, perhaps even strive and attain sovereignty; and on the other hand, the 
  reluctance by the intellectual establishment (which also feeds separatist 
  ideologies) to accept any modification of an unwieldy and unnecessarily 
  complicated alphabet where some of the letters are identified by numbers, not 
  sounds, because these sounds are exactly alike." 
  bhuban  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  

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[Assam] Assam /Asom

[Barua25]

Title: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !



Chandan:
The article by Prabhakar (thanks to BB 
Kaokaidew for bringing it out to public) actually supports many of my views in 
Assamese phonetics. I would like the netters to focus on the following excerpt 
from the article:
 
"The modification proposed in respect of the 
name, Assam, seeks only to remove the `Anglicisation' that has crept into the 
way the word is transcribed in English, by removing the extra `s'; and 
substituting the medio vowel `a' with `o'. Thus, Assam (which continues to be 
transcribed in Assamese dictionaries as Asam) is henceforth to be transcribed in 
English as Asom. The proposal has, however, provoked a variety of views 
where inasmuch as the transcription into English of the medial consonant and 
vowel, `s' and `a', the transcription of the initial vowel sound too has become 
a matter of contention. The highly respected freedom fighter of Assam of the 
last century wrote his name in English as Omeo Kumar 
Das (the same form adopted by a social science research institute in 
Guwahati) while in other parts of the country, the first name would be 
transcribed as Amiya. 

Hence the argument that the sound of 
the first letter of the Assamese alphabet is best transcribed as `o' wherever it 
appears, initially or in a medial position. If the government has agreed that 
the word Asam is to be transcribed as Asom, where is the need to make an 
exception with the initial vowel? Should not the name be transcribed as Osom, not Asom? "
In fact this is one of the points I was 
trying to emphasize. In Assamese the letter 'Hosro-O' represents the sound O 
while the 'Hosro-O' in Hindi, SAanskrit etc represent the sound U as in 'But' 
etc. (Incidentally this letter is called Hosro-A in Hindi as opposed to 
Dirgho-A). One prime example is the Hindi word DOLDA pronounced DALDA. Thus in 
Assamese, in my opinion,  we should write Omeo, Onil. Ojoy, Omor, 
Ojonta etc. When we write Anil, Ameo, Ajoy, Amor, Ajanta etc, the non 
Assamese pronounce these with the first A sounding as U as in 'But.' Thus 
Omeo Kumar Das was very correct to use the spelling Omeo instead of Amiyo in his 
name. Alas he did not have any followers. However it is never too late. We 
should start that practice so that outsiders would pronounce our names 
correctly.  The reason Assamese were not using O instead of A in the first 
letter is because people are confused unlike Omeo Kumar Das who had a clear idea 
about Assamese phonetics.
The word ASOM is the result of the same 
Assamese confusion about their own language.  Basic logic suggest that it 
should be OSOM at least even if we ignore the S sound.
Rajen Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Chan 
  Mahanta 
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: Assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 9:47 
  AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in 
  Asom politics !
  
  Seems to me like classic case of the cart before the horse.
  
  Rudimentary understanding and adherence to democratic principles would 
  have dictated a public discussion of the proposal and the people's advice and 
  consent, BEFORE any adoption by GoA of even the INTENT to change Assam's name, 
  much less file (with all the formalities) for PERMISSION from the gods 
  in Dilli to approve the petition.
  
  
  >the reluctance by the 
  intellectual establishment (which also feeds separatist ideologies) to accept 
  any modification of an >unwieldy and unnecessarily complicated alphabet 
  where some of the letters are identified by numbers, not sounds, >because 
  these sounds are exactly alike.
  
  
  *** This is another point that Rajen has been attempting to drive home, 
  without any success, even among the intellectuals who could be expected to 
  heed ordinary logic, like Assam Netters. Forget about that Kharkhowa 
  brain-trust in Assam who are  eternally  beholden to Sanskritic 
  servitude, and thus are unable to purge the dontyo-murdhonyo-talobyo 
  differences, among other such irrelevant nuances, that long disappeared among 
  the SPEAKERS of the Assamese language.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  At 7:57 AM -0400 10/22/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  Ram
   
  After 
recceiving your e-mail I sent a short reply, then myself searched the 
website for the latest official notification in this behalf. It 
appears what M S Prabhakara has summed up in an  article 
in the Hindu following Government's proposal (on Feb 27, 2006)to change 
Assam into Asom reflects the actual state of affairs.May be you've already 
read his long 
article(http:www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2311/stories/20060616001408200.htm):
   
  "So, 
the tension continues between, on the one hand, nationalistic assertions 
seeking to distance the land and its people from India, perhaps even strive 
and attain sovereignty; and on the other hand, the reluctance by the 
intellectual establishment (which also feeds sepa

Re: [Assam] Guru Granth.....casteism vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development - Beyond discussions

[Barua25]

>HINDUS: Indians --Hindus esp were content in letting reading of 
scrptures be the game of a small coterie -- the so-called brahmin priests 
hence there was no thrust in >promoting faith by educating followers to 
become literate so that they can read scriptures.
 
This is correct, In fact the Hindus were 
trying to keep the religion of the Vedas very much secret from the public. Thus 
there was no incentive to evolve a writing method to record the Vedas which was 
handed over orally for many centuries. Even when writing was evolved, at the 
inspiration of the Buddhist, this written knowledge of the Vedas was kept as 
much secret as possible. First the Sudras and women were barred from raeding of 
the Vedas. 
 
Against this Hindu conservativenessm the 
Christians as well as the Buddhists attitude was to propogate the Dharma to as 
many people as possible. Buddha's decree, like that of Jesus, was:"Go and tell 
the people about the Dharma". Along with Buddhism, and the Indian epic story 
Ramayana, the local languages were developed in many countries besides 
India.  The Vedas on the other hand are still being recited in Sanskrit. 

 
Rajen Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 9:16 
  PM
  Subject: [Assam] Guru Granth.casteism 
  vs Bible, literacy & IndustrialRevolution; development - Beyond 
  discussions
  
  Hi,
   
  Today went to see the exhibit - first of its kind --very long queue to 
  enter--how the Bible (Christian religious book) evolved over the first 1000 
  years of the religion's origin. 
  http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/IntheBeginning.htm
   
  How from the time of Dead Sea Scrolls (rolled paper) the book evolved 
  into a modern style book form (evolving book technology)  and 
  how in the process of its propagation the missionaries even created alphabets 
  (like for Armenian and Georgian) and helped define what books are today. 
  Ofcourse, over time many new additions were there and some like one refering 
  to Jesus as a teacher (Edgerton's book ?) were declared 
  heresies.  
   
  INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION:
   
  Their preoccupation with the written word in book form as the most potent 
  means of religious expansion (from onwards 5th century into Britain 
  ..etc)  perhaps helped build the western preoccupation with books and 
  learning ---since all were expected to familiarize themselves with the text. 
  Ofcourse it was mostly the priests who did the reading and preaching but since 
  they could be from any class or tribe --ALL th society was energized towards 
  book reading, literacy and education-resulting in knowledge gathering and 
  knowledge production later onIndustrial revolution since 1600s.
   
   
  HINDUS: Indians --Hindus esp were content in letting reading of scrptures 
  be the game of a small coterie -- the so-called brahmin priests hence 
  there was no thrust in promoting faith by educating followers to become 
  literate so that they can read scriptures.
   
  Muslims had in later days become content with reading Arabic only 
  --instead of translating the Quoran in other languages --so limited 
  literacy.
   
  LITERACY:
   
  Literacy provides religious communication and cohesion as well -and 
  perhaps thats whay Hindus are largely disconnected. They cannot communicate 
  with each other --most are functionally illiterate. (So are most muslims in 
  South Asia atleast.)
   
  GURU & the teacher:
   
  Yesterday I was invited by a student to go to th Sikh Gurudwara to 
  celebrate Diwali. My Malayalee landlord went along -his first . He asked whom 
  do Sikhs worship? Do they worship Krishna, Ram etc? I said they worship the 
  book --the Guru Granth (book) --which is their Guru . The God they worship is 
  the formless God (of the Yogis, Gnostics, Buddhists etc).  Surprisingly, 
  I later realized it was the first time I was in presence of the Guru - while 
  my student was in the room. A teacher in front of the Guru!!
   
  Sikhs have a different reason for Diwali celebration -- you know 
  why?
   
  UmeshUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, 
  (Washington D.C. Metro Region)MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell 
  Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate 
  School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: 
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Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !

[Barua25]

Dear BB Kokaidew:
 
I am disappointed by your responses 
in the net on the subject, not by its content which is wrong at many 
places, but by the tone of your message which portray the 
following:
 
1) The messages carry the typical 
 'Hobo-Diok-Hojur-Mai-Bap' type attitude of the by gone Assamese 
days which I think is at the root of many of the causes of the present poor 
state of affairs in Assam. Continuing that attitude, far from questioning 
the wrong doing of the authority, you are  showing your 
over eagerness to accept the authority be it GOA, some editor of some 
news paper, or head of some large establishments.  
 
2) The attitude also shows the 
typical poor state of affairs of the Indian albeit Oxomiya 'dexi demokresi' 
where authority prevails be it Chief Minister, some Editor or President even 
though it may be against any rational, logic, justice and common sense.  In 
case of the Assamese, this attitude can be actually extended further where 
the people would like to create an authority where there is none just to 
follow and worship.
 
3) Assamese allergy and apathy to know the 
facts and the realty to study any problem.
 
Having said this, with due apology, let me 
try to separate the FACTS from the FICTION from the ongoing debate and 
discussion and my standing request to the people who use the spelling ASOM, 
where I asked two questions:
 
1) Are they using ASOM to replace the 
official English name of the state as recorded in Indian Constitution as 
ASSAM?
2) Or are they trying to replace the Roman 
script spelling of the Assamese word OXOM?
 
In spite of your attempt to shut me 
off and over simplify the problem and show as if I am the problem to 
question the authority Mai Bap, my open questions stand.
 
FACTS:
1)  
The English word ASSAM was never used to pronounce the Assamese word with the 
guttural kh sound X, because the words ASSAM was taken directly from the 
original name of the state as used by the Tai Ahom and the Moghols at that time 
(ASHYAM etc). On the other hand the Assamese words as OXOM was derived much 
later from this same original word (ASHYAM). 
 
2)The official English name of the state 
is still ASSAM, and Assam Govt has not changed the name yet. Assam Government 
proposed, very immaturely I would say, to change the name to ASOM, but they did 
not proceed and in fact has stopped short.  In fact in all GOA official 
publications, they still use the spelling ASSAM. So your assumption that GOA has 
changed the name is premature and simply shows your over eagerness to 
accept the authority of GOA without questioning whatever it may 
be.
 
3) Any establishment has a right to 
register its name under any spelling of the word ASSAM, ASAM, ASOM, AXOM or 
OXOM etc.  By doing that they donot affect the official name of the sate, 
ASSAM. Thus ASSAM SAHITYA SABHA changed its official name to ASAM SAHITYA 
SABHA in 1944 (following an example shown by Sir William Robinson of 
Gauhati Christian Mission who used the spelling ASAM in 1839). Thus the UK 
Branch of ASAM SAHITYA SABHA is 100% correct in using the name ASAM, and 
they should not change the name to anything else.   BTW the USA Branch 
of Asam Sahitya Sabha is  using the spelling ASOM SAHITYA SABHA which 
is wrong since that is not the registered official name of the Sabha. I 
would suggest that  ASS USA should correct their error and if necessary 
should write to ASS Head Quarter in Assam to clarify the 
matter.   (Incidently I confirmed the above 
correct name of the Sabha through Dr Nagen Saikia one of the past and 
enlightened Presidents of Asam Sahitya Sabha. The official name of 
the Sabha is ASAM SAHITYA SABHA. Nobody should mispell 
this.)
 
4) In the same token, the official name of 
ULFA I think is UNITED LIBERATION FRONT OF ASSAM and not UNITED LIBERATION FRONT 
OF ASOM  (Will someone confirm this, I may be wrong) as is being written by 
Assam Tribune now a days.  The newspaper should know that like nobody can 
change the spelling of ASSAM TRIBUNE, it also has no right to mispell the 
official names of any organization.  In fact if this (ASSAM and not ASOM) 
true, I am surprised why ULFA is not protesting unless they are aslo taking an 
Assamese Hobo Diok attitude.
 
5) The Roman letter S does not represent 
the Assamese guttural sound kh. Thus none of these words ASSAM, ASAM or ASOM 
represent the proper pronunciation of the Assamese word OXOM, since the letter S 
in all Indo European languages is used to represent the sound of S as in SUN 
(with some variation).  If someone wants to spell the Assamese guttural 
sound, they will have to use some other Roman letter than S. Incidently this 
does not need a rocket scientist to figure out and come wityh a solution with 
logical and rational analysis.
 
6) Assam has two names . ASSAM in English 
(or in Roman script correctly speaking) and OXOM ie O+XO+MO (with Assamese 
guttural sound kh) in the Assamese language. It is similar to the two words 
INDIA and

Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !

[Barua25]

Title: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !




>*** Because it never can be a sound and lasting solution.  A 
lasting solution could come only from an understanding of the logic and 
acceptance of it.
 
You are talking big brother. Give 
them a break. Neither India, nor Pakistan, nor China, nor Iraq, nor 
America, nor Europe, nor Rusia, wants or try for lasting lasting 
solution.
 
One step is enough for 
me,
I donot want to see the distant 
scene
 
This is how the world civilization 
runs
Today one thing
Tomorrow another..
 
Gods are the toys of the 
adults..
If Santa Claus has a purpose for 
the children, then I would say that gods also have purpose..
That is my view.
 
Thanks
 
Rajen  



  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Chan 
  Mahanta 
  To: Barua25 ; Assam.org Webmaster ; assam@assamnet.org ; Chan Mahanta 
  
  Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2006 8:39 
  AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in 
  Asom politics !
  
  At 12:04 AM -0500 10/21/06, Barua25 wrote:
  You 
got that right. The Shiva or Ganesha image, and for that matter images of 
any other Hibdu gods, have the same sacred quality as the Indian 
Constitution.   
  
  *** Glad you too got it :-).
  
  For those who don't, yet, allow me to expand on it:
  
  *** The gods, just like the Indian constitution is used for duping the 
  gullible and  the ignorant
  by people in power and with influence to further their own personal 
  interests, while the constitution, just like the gods, remain useless, 
  impotent  and paralyzed, thoroughly inconsequential to the ordinary 
  people.
  
   If these can prevent someone taking a leak against these, that 
is the greatest influence such images can 
  have.   
  
  *** While it may, it could be merely a temporary fix, like a band-aid, 
  that may seem to stop the bleeding, but will never cure the disease that is 
  causing the haemorrhage.
  
  
  Small images are sufficient for small people where logic fails. Why 
do you say it is a mistake? 
  
  *** Because it never can be a sound and lasting solution.  A lasting 
  solution could come only from an understanding of the logic and acceptance of 
  it.
  
  :-)
  
  
  
  
  
  Rajen 
  
- Original Message -
From: Chan 
  Mahanta
To: Rajen & 
  Ajanta Barua ; Assam.org 
  Webmaster ; assam@assamnet.org
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics 
  !

 Rajen:

While I understand and support your position, I think you made 
  a really big mistake in presenting it  in terms of the sanctity of 
  the Indian Constitution, which is about as sacred as the picture of some 
  Hindu god, pasted on a wall in Guahati to discourage them from taking a 
  leak against it.


c






At 7:52 PM -0500 10/20/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua wrote:
  I have a pending request to people who use the spelling ASOM, 
the request was posted in the net before. I propose to post the request 
till I get a response.

   
  The request is 
this:
  Would the people 
who use the spelling ASOM would kindly clarify whether they are 
using the word ASOM in place of the word ASSAM which is the official 
name of our state in English as dictated by the Constitution 
of India. The Assam State Govt has not changed this name yet. If 
they are using ASOM in place of ASSAM, then I would say that this 
is not legal, and would be a violation of the Constitution of 
India.
   
  On the other hand 
if they are using the word ASOM for the Assamese word OXOM, (with 
the guttural Assamese X sound) then I would say, that will be a wrong 
usage since nobody in the world would pronounce the SO in ASOM as 
Assamese Guttural 'kh' sound.  That will be a mis representation of 
the Assamese language, and in fact that will eventually kill the 
guttural 'kh' sound from the Assamese word like it already killed this 
'kh' sound in words like 'Saikia', 'Sarma', 'Sibasagar' etc.  And 
if no Indian would pronounce the word OXOM correctly with the ASOM 
spelling, why then we are trying to force everybody to pronounce OXOM by 
writing ASOM without clarifying exactly what we are trying to do.and 
thus trying to kill the Assamese sound in the Assamese 
  word?
   
  Would the ASOM 
-walas come forward from their closet respond to my standing 
request please.
   
  Or is it a Assamese 
Hobo Diok type demand?
   
  Sorry if I have 
spoiled somebody's mood, but I think we as Assamese must know exactly 
what we are tryin

Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !

[Barua25]

Dear BB Kaokaidew:
 
If you would agree with me, so far as the 
words ASSAM or INDIA are concerned, this is not a question of language, it is a 
question of legality. Our state is officially and constitutionally known as 
Assam; Government of Assam has not changed it, they still use use ASSAM. So I 
cannot ask GOA.
 
You asked me to put the question to 'large 
establishmentment".. I don't understand what do you mean by that. They are not 
using Asom in place of Assam. Are they? I put the question to Assam Tribune, and 
you know the story. So I am now putting the question to the people who are using 
it and asking the simple question: Why they are using Asom? Thay must have some reason? I must have an 
answer.
Do you know why? I am totally confused.
If one newspaper control the fate of the 
people of Assam, I would say Joi Ai Oxom bwl! But is this the reason, everybody 
is following Assam tribune like a litiksais.  Please help me if you 
know.
Rajen Barua
 
- Original Message - 

  From: 
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 11:51 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in 
  Asom politics !
  
  Barua Saheb
   
  This question ought to be put to the Government of Assam, or to the heads 
  of large establishments having responsibility for the use of the word in the 
  legal or business context.
   
  Language is not a matter of grammar when it evolves. Bernard Shaw, and in 
  fact many others, wanted to reform the spelling of English words. Shaw's 
  reasonable campaign failed miserably.
   
  I remember one occasion when an organisation changed its name 
  legally. All of a sudden the company's letters-heads, rubber stamps etc had to 
  be changed. The company had a big stock of printed forms and other stuff. 
  The new forms and stamps would not be available for a few 
  months. The Director of the Company ordered that the old forms should be 
  used till the new forms and other stuff are available.
   
  The second point is that when the Government of Assam issues an order, 
  its employees are supposed to carry out that order. The Constitutional 
  amendment is a formal matter. In the instant case, it is a routine matter, not 
  a diffiult or controversial one where other states might oppose. 
   
  In the case of a newspaper, it would depend on the editor or 
  proprietor's guidelines  to the staff. Whatever the consequences, the 
  next day's issue has to go out. 
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Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !

[Barua25]

Ram: 
This is a case of 'litikai' 
Assamese intellengtia acting 'Hobo Diok' for the whole world to see. These 
are the same people who would like to swim along the current like a  bunch 
of 'litikais' and who would not mind telling later, 'I knew it from the 
beginning, I told them so, they cannot use ASOM, and what not".
 
BTW recently I sent a news item to 
Assam Tribune on the New York Book event with a specific note not to change 
the spelling of the word Assam to Asom, and not to publish the news at all if 
they have to change the spelling to Asom.
 
Do you know what they did. 
'Litikai' Assam Tribune (I have heard it is running without an editor now) 
published the news changing the spelling to Asom.  They even donot seem to 
have the basic courtesy.
 
I say Hobo Diok Oxomia Deka Burhar 
dol
 
Assam is doomed because of the Assamese.
 
Rajen Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Ram Sarangapani 
  
  To: Chan Mahanta 
  Cc: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; Assam.org 
  Webmaster ; assam@assamnet.org ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 9:43 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in 
  Asom politics !
  
  C'da,
   
  While I too support Barua's position, I also support his logic in terms 
  of the Indian constitution.
   
  As far as the rest of the world knows, the word "Assam" is still 
  enshrined in the constitution, and legally Assam is still within the ambit of 
  the Indian Constitution, also Assam still uses the Indian currency, its laws, 
  is political setup etc etc. So, when someone "legally" wants to use Asom 
  instead of Assam, they would have no locus standi. 
   
  Preserving the scantity of any constitution depends upon the people who 
  follow it. 
   
  --Ram
   
  On 10/20/06, Chan 
  Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
  

 Rajen:
 
While I understand and support your position, I think you made a really 
big mistake in presenting it  in terms of the sanctity of the Indian 
Constitution, which is about as sacred as the picture of some Hindu god, 
pasted on a wall in Guahati to discourage them from taking a leak against 
it. 
 
 
c

 
 
 
 
 
 
At 7:52 PM -0500 10/20/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua wrote:
I have a 
  pending request to people who use the spelling ASOM, the request was 
  posted in the net before. I propose to post the request till I get a 
  response. 
 
The 
  request is this:
Would the 
  people who use the spelling ASOM would kindly clarify whether they 
  are using the word ASOM in place of the word ASSAM which is the official 
  name of our state in English as dictated by the Constitution of 
  India. The Assam State Govt has not changed this name yet. If 
  they are using ASOM in place of ASSAM, then I would say that this is 
  not legal, and would be a violation of the Constitution of India. 

 
On the 
  other hand if they are using the word ASOM for the Assamese word 
  OXOM, (with the guttural Assamese X sound) then I would say, that will be 
  a wrong usage since nobody in the world would pronounce the SO in 
  ASOM as Assamese Guttural 'kh' sound.  That will be a mis 
  representation of the Assamese language, and in fact that will eventually 
  kill the guttural 'kh' sound from the Assamese word like it already killed 
  this 'kh' sound in words like 'Saikia', 'Sarma', 'Sibasagar' etc.  
  And if no Indian would pronounce the word OXOM correctly with the 
  ASOM spelling, why then we are trying to force everybody to pronounce OXOM 
  by writing ASOM without clarifying exactly what we are trying to do.and 
  thus trying to kill the Assamese sound in the Assamese 
word?
 
Would the 
  ASOM -walas come forward from their closet respond to my standing 
  request please.
 
Or is it 
  a Assamese Hobo Diok type demand?
 
Sorry if 
  I have spoiled somebody's mood, but I think we as Assamese must know 
  exactly what we are trying to do.
 
Rajen 
  Barua

  - Original Message -
  From: Assam.org 
  Webmaster
  To: assam@assamnet.org
  Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 6:41 AM
  Subject: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics 
  !
  
  -- Forwarded message --From: 
Siddharth Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Oct 20, 2006 
1:20 AMSubject: Fashion Show  in  Asom politics 
!To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

   
  'Dichotomy' 
in Dressing among 'Showpieces' in Asom Politics
   
   
     It is disheartening 
to see the sample of women entering the political scene in Asom. They 
happen to climb the ladder of politics with the help of 'crutches' like 
their influential husbands or even fathers-in-law. Unlike neighbouri

Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !

[Barua25]

Title: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !



You got that right. The Shiva or 
Ganesha image, and for that matter images of any other Hibdu gods, have the same 
sacred quality as the Indian Constitution. If these can prevent someone taking a 
leak against these, that is the greatest influence such images can have. 
Small images are sufficient for small people where logic fails. Why do you say 
it is a mistake?  
Rajen
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Chan 
  Mahanta 
  To: Rajen & Ajanta Barua ; Assam.org 
  Webmaster ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 8:34 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in 
  Asom politics !
  
   Rajen:
  
  While I understand and support your position, I think you made a really 
  big mistake in presenting it  in terms of the sanctity of the Indian 
  Constitution, which is about as sacred as the picture of some Hindu god, 
  pasted on a wall in Guahati to discourage them from taking a leak against 
  it.
  
  
  c
  
  
  
  
  
  
  At 7:52 PM -0500 10/20/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua wrote:
  I 
have a pending request to people who use the spelling ASOM, the request was 
posted in the net before. I propose to post the request till I get a 
response.
   
  The 
request is this:
  Would the people who use the spelling ASOM would kindly clarify 
whether they are using the word ASOM in place of the word ASSAM which is the 
official name of our state in English as dictated by 
the Constitution of India. The Assam State Govt has not changed this 
name yet. If they are using ASOM in place of ASSAM, then I would say 
that this is not legal, and would be a violation of the Constitution of 
India.
   
  On 
the other hand if they are using the word ASOM for the Assamese word 
OXOM, (with the guttural Assamese X sound) then I would say, that will be a 
wrong usage since nobody in the world would pronounce the SO in ASOM as 
Assamese Guttural 'kh' sound.  That will be a mis representation of the 
Assamese language, and in fact that will eventually kill the guttural 'kh' 
sound from the Assamese word like it already killed this 'kh' sound in words 
like 'Saikia', 'Sarma', 'Sibasagar' etc.  And if no Indian 
would pronounce the word OXOM correctly with the ASOM spelling, why 
then we are trying to force everybody to pronounce OXOM by writing ASOM 
without clarifying exactly what we are trying to do.and thus trying to kill 
the Assamese sound in the Assamese word?
   
  Would the ASOM -walas come forward from their closet respond 
to my standing request please.
   
  Or 
is it a Assamese Hobo Diok type demand?
   
  Sorry if I have spoiled somebody's mood, but I think we as Assamese 
must know exactly what we are trying to do.
   
  Rajen Barua
  
- Original Message -
From: Assam.org 
  Webmaster
To: assam@assamnet.org
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 6:41 AM
Subject: [Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics 
!

-- Forwarded message --From: 
  Siddharth Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: 
  Oct 20, 2006 1:20 AMSubject: Fashion 
  Show  in  Asom politics !To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 
'Dichotomy' 
  in Dressing among 'Showpieces' in Asom Politics
 
 
   It is disheartening to 
  see the sample of women entering the political scene in Asom. They happen 
  to climb the ladder of politics with the help of 'crutches' like their 
  influential husbands or even fathers-in-law. Unlike neighbouring Bengal or 
  distant Maharashtra, Asom doesn't have a Mamata Banerjee or Medha Patkar. 
  The state has only some 'butterflies' who love to roam about in 'designer' 
  costumes. The Dichotomy in their personality can be judged in the manner 
  of their dressing. When abroad, they lap up trousers made of jeans. Back 
  home, they attend political rallies in cotton or khadi 
  mekhela-sadors. Whereas be in the US or India, True Representatives of 
  People like Mamata Banerjees, Medha Patkars et al rock the world in their 
  cotton or khadi saris. This letter is not aimed at Eastern and Western 
  dresses. It is just meant to show the instability in 'psychological' 
  integrity and dressing dichotomy prevalent among the 
  oppurtunistic, affluent women making inroads into the political arena of 
  Asom.
 
 
   Yours 
  sincerely,
    
  Siddharth Barua,
    
  MRD Road,
    
  Guwahati - 781 003

  

Fi

[Assam] Indian Gold Rush in Full Swing

[Barua25]

Title: Hindu Press International October 15, 2006




4. Indian Gold Rush in Full Swing
www.ibnlive.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 13, 2006: The famed Indian appetite 
for gold is being manifest with renewed vigor this season as a surge in festival 
demand and a recent fall in prices has fueled a virtual gold rush in the market. 
The current upward trend has particularly been underlined by the country's top 
bullion trader MMTC Ltd's business outlook for its annual Festival of Gold 
exhibition, which is expecting a jump of 40 per cent over last year's sales. 
"The response this year has been good so far and the coming weekend is expected 
to bring even more business," MMTC Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Batra 
said. The festival period, particularly highlighted by the forthcoming Divali - 
traditionally considered to be an auspicious time to purchase gold, and the 
upcoming marriage season is further adding to the already high demand for gold 
and jewelry products. India, which accounts for 20 per cent of the world's total 
gold jewelry demand, is the largest consumer of the precious metal followed by 
China and Japan.

   
   
  
  October 15, 2006 
  
  
High Court Orders Mumbai Temple To Pull Down Temple 
Security Wall 
Ladies' Sabarimala Enters The Guinness Book 
Children Initiated Into Learning at Annual Vijayadasami 
Ceremonies 
Indian Gold Rush in Full Swing 
Six-Day Wait for US Visas Coming Soon in India 
  
  
  1. High Court Orders Mumbai Temple To Pull Down Temple 
  Security Wall
  www.ndtv.com
  MUMBAI, INDIA, October 12, 2006: The Bombay High Court has 
  ordered that the wall around Siddhivinayak temple to prevent terrorist attacks 
  must go. The court order came in response to a lawsuit filed by local 
  residents who said the wall was encroaching on a public road. Hundreds of 
  thousands of dollars were spent by temple authorities on constructing a wall 
  which was meant to be temporary in nature. The Siddhivinayak temple is 
  Mumbai's richest and most powerful temple. The wall was sanctioned by the 
  Maharashtra government last November for a one-year period. But local 
  residents protested saying the structure built was a permanent one. Another 
  objection was that instead of eight feet, the wall was built 60 feet away from 
  the temple, thus encroaching upon the main road, causing not just traffic jams 
  but diversions. "We plan to celebrate this order. This had become a nuisance 
  for us. It had become difficult for us to move around here," said a local 
  resident. Temple authorities have already said they will appeal in the Supreme 
  Court.
  
  
  2. Ladies' Sabarimala Enters The Guinness Book
  www.rediff.com
  THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, October 12, 2006: The annual 
  Ponkala festival of the Attukal Bhagavathi temple in Thiruvananthapuram, one 
  of the world's biggest devotional congregations of women, is set to make it to 
  the Guinness book of World Records. The festival, which draws over a million 
  women in a single day in March, will go into the record books as an event 
  attended by more than a million people, an official of the Attukal Bhagavath 
  Temple Trust said. "We have already received a letter from the authorities. 
  There would be a function soon where the formal announcement would be made," 
  the Temple Secretary K.P. Ramachandran Nair told PTI. About 1,200,000 women 
  attended the last festival, but the Guinness authorities have taken the 
  figures from 1997, when about 1,500,000 women turned up, he said. The local 
  tradition has it that Attukal Bhagavathi is the divine form of Kannagi, the 
  heroine of Tamil classic Silappadikaram. The temple is also known as Women's 
  Sabarimala as only women are allowed to perform the ritual on the Pooram day 
  of Malayalam month Kumbham, which mainly falls in March on the Western 
  Calendar.
  
  
  3. Children Initiated Into Learning at Annual Vijayadasami 
  Ceremonies
  wwwhindu.com
  KERALA, INDIA, October 3, 2006: Vijayadasami, a festival 
  highlighting a child's initiation into some kind of academic or artistic 
  endeavor, was celebrated throughout the state of Kerala at the beginning of 
  October. The Minister for Education participated in a special ceremony 
  organized by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare where five needy 
  children who were either abandoned or living on the streets were initiated 
  into the world of letters. At the Attukal Devi Temple, 1,000 children 
  participated in the ceremony. Other locations including the Malankara Syrian 
  Orthodox Church, the Thunchan Smarakam in Iranimuttom, the Asan Smarakam in 
  Thonnakkal and the Aadyakshara Vedi organized by the Desiya Balatharangam at 
  the Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan also marked the special occasion with 
  traditional pomp. At some of the events children from Christian and Muslim 
  families also joined in the festivities. "Among the acharyas who initiated 
  children into 

[Assam] Tea - Legend, Life and Livelihood of India

[Barua25]

 
If you are a Tea Lover or 
an Indian, you should definitely like to have this book in your 
home.
Amazon.com raised the price 
and now sells it for $60.00 plus shipping and handling. If you see this ad, 
you will get it from  the Distributor: (Cool Grove Publishing, 
Inc.  New York) for $50.00 whhich includes shipping and handling anywhere 
in the United States and Canada. Copies at this rate are limited, so 
please hurry.  Distributor's full contact details below. Every dollar goes 
to the cause of the Assamese publisher and distributor.
 
I read this book. Three things 
make this book unique and stand out from the lot; the content which is 'fluid 
and yet well researched' and written in poetic language by the Assamese poet 
Gautam Prasad Baroowah; non-fiction mixed with fiction and poetry; 
and stunning photography (by Dushyant Parasher) of tea gardens in Assam. If 
you want to have a feeling of yourself  standing on the Assam Trunk road 
and looking at a tea garden on a January foggy morning when the near distant 
scene is half covered with fog, you should  this book; if you want to feel 
what various poets said about tea in general, starting from Confucius to T.S 
Elliot to Rabindra Nath Tegor, you should have this this book; if you want 
to know how a 75 years old British Tea garden director pays tribute to Bruce 
brothers and to Maniram Dewan on one hand for the indebtness of 
generations of tea planters to come, and at the same time how he remembers his 
old boyhood Assamese village friend, Bhogai, remembers the days when he spent 
with him eating Assamese village delicacy like 'Goroi Pwra', then you 
should have this book. 
As an Assamese, I feel proud 
to buy this book and keep it in my library. Thanks to Tez Hazarika.
Rajen Barua
 
 


PRESS RELEASE
Tea - Legend, Life and Livelihood of 
India
A new ‘tea-table’ book about India’s preeminent 
industry written by
Gautom Prasad Baroowah and photographed by 
Dushyant Parashar
 
"This well-designed, entertaining, and informative book 
deserves a place on every tea lover's book shelf. The photos are spectacular; 
the next best thing 
to 
actually standing in an Indian tea garden. The charming story of Mr. Bowles' 
return to Assam, and his visit to Charles Alexander Bruce's grave, to tell the 

pioneer about the continuing story of tea, around the 
world, is worth the price alone.” 
— 
Elizabeth Knight (Author of Tea in the City/www.teawithfriends.com)
 
    
The ‘tea-table’ book’s US book launch was held at the Rubin Museum of 
Art, New York City,  on September 
6th 2006.  The author Gautom Prasad 
Baruah’s address was accompanied by a special event celebrating the culture of 
tea with performances of a Japanese tea ceremony and Assamese tea garden dances. 
Speakers included Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Association of USA, who gave 
an upbeat assesment on the state of tea in the USA before introducing the 
author. A wide variety of teas were served by two local tea houses during the 
signing.  About 275 people , from 
tea lovers to book and culture watchers, attended. 
 
    
Tea - Legend, Life and Livelihood of India is a story of dedication and 
evolving culture. This is a multi-dimensional look at one of India’s most 
successful industries. Carrying a message of good-will with a bold perspective, 
the book is conceived and  written 
by a leading steward and insider to the trade. The seven narrative 
chapters—Discovering Tea, Tea is Forever, Flavour and Taste, Indian Tea - 
Partners in Progress, A Colourful Life and Culture, A Health Drink and The 
Future—cover the triumphs and tribulations of the trade since its inception as a 
commercial enterprise in Assam in the mid 1800’s. 
    
Topics covered are the tea plant (Camellia Assamica and Camellia 
Sinensis)—history of cultivation and use; a survey of the industry and its 
growth in India and globally; the manufacturing process—tea tasters and quality 
control; tea as a health drink; the culture and lifestyles of the 
owners/planters and workers; the evolution of labor relations (standard of 
living, educational and medical care facilities—a prototype for fast newcomers), 
and reflections on adapting to change.
 
    
The July 8th 2006 launching in Kolkata, India received prominent 
mainstream editorial coverage over the next three days in The Kolkata Statesman, 
Kolkata Telegraph, The Hindustan Times and Asian Week. 
 
“The 
well-designed book with captivating photographs to supplement it is a well 
researched story of the bud and two leaves…this book is sure to attract the 
attention of producers, buyers, sellers, brokering houses and last but not the 
least, the government, as his (Baroowah’s) recommendations are subtle and 
authoritative:  a very powerful 
combination.” — The Hindustan Times  
March 2006
 
<  
Distributor: Cool Grove Publishing, Inc. 512 Argyle Road, Brooklyn, NY 
11218>  
< Contact: Tej Hazarika>  < Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >  < Phone or 

Re: [Assam] Microbanking and Grameen

[Barua25]




I heard about him before and couple of 
weeks ago when Bill Clinton was mentioning about GRamn Bank and his name as a 
personal friends of him.
I was very much impressed then. But 
things do not move in countries like India unless somebody bell the cat to hear 
its movement loud and clear. This time Nobel Committee did that. (Hopefully he 
can survive the bell. Rabindranath was complaining that after winning the Nobel 
Prize it became like a loud bell in his body and that he could not go 
anywhere without attracting a lot of people following him 
constantly)
I think the success of the Gramin Bank is 
on the group psychology of doing good to society and taking a share of that 
goodness for yourself. The bottomline is 'if you behave, you will be 
rewarded. Now think about that, that is a great faith for the millions of 
villagers to have on a banking system in country like Bangladesh.  Now the 
Bug Brother must forsake its ego and try to learn.  From our side, 
without beating around the bushes, we 
should start his Gramin Banking system in Assam as an NGO system outside the GOI 
Banking system. I can see that Gramin 
Banking system is going to play a bigger role in the coming years in countries 
like India.
 
Congratulations Muhhammed. You have raised 
the status  of Bangladesh couple of notches high.
Rajen Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: Assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 12:01 
  AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Microbanking and 
  Grameen
  
  
  When another Bengali won the Nobel prize, I had to know who this Prof. 
  Muhammad Yunus is. And this morning I read all the articles available to me 
  about this global enterprise:the Grameen Bank. As I see it, its collateral is 
  based on group pressure coupled with high interest rate 35% (it is ably 
  defended).  I see Bangladeshis 
  doing very well abroad and, in any case, as a nation, statistically even 
  competing with their big neighbour India, which at one time I found very hard 
  to believe,  with my unreasonable 
  prejudice against Bangladeshis.
   
  Without beating about the bush, let us then follow the professor when 
  he says “Follow me and beat poverty.” Why not, dear netters?
   
  Bhuban
   
  
  

  ___assam mailing 
  listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
___
assam mailing list
assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Re: [Assam] Assam- Asom and Oxom

[Barua25]

>I did contact a number of 
people in Assam (people who I think, can create an awareness), and they all held 
that >this was a non-issue, and that there were more 
important things on the minds of the Assamese. They even went as >far as to 
say, that this is just an NRA pre-occupation, and they don't view it that way. 

 
Ram Ram!!!
Let us try to analyze the meaning 
of the statement (in the words of Lakhsminath Bezbaruah: kothatw ami pitiki 
saw) without putting any blame or guilt on you and see 'what exactly is a 
non-issue for these so called Assamese Barphukons :people who you think can 
crate an awareness.
 
The people of Assam, I am sure 
which include many such Borphukons, have had the luxury to take the 
time to discuss the issue of changing the name of Assam to Asom, to write 
Editorials and letters in 'Goriyoshi' (most intellectual Assamese literary 
magazine of the day), supported by many such Borphukons; Congress Borphukons had 
the time to discuss the issue in Assam Assembly, to adopt an Assembly Resolution 
to change the name of Assam to Asom; the only two English newspapers in Assam 
had the time adopt resolution to change all Assam spelling to Asom without 
a single letters of pprotest from any of these Borphukons.
 
Now these Borphukons are saying 
that for them this is a non issue(?) What exactly is a non issue? If the name 
asom is changed to a Chinese name tommorow, would these Borphukons also say that 
it is a non issue for them?
 
And what the NRAs are doing? NRAs 
are simply telling that Assam has more important things than to change the name 
of Assam to Asom. And these Borphukons are saying that Assam-Asom is a NRA 
pre-occupation?
 
Either something is missing from 
the equartion or there are two possible explanations:
1) Either these so-called Assamese 
Borphukons are actually not Borphukons but simply Nopota Phukons. They simply 
don't know what is happening in Assam and what is Assam;'s problem.
 
I wish the above is the correct, 
because the other alternative is even more dangerous:
 
2) If these are the actual Assamese 
Borphukons, then really Assam is doomed?
 
They will probably say that 

a) to discuss Illegal Immigration 
from Bangladesh is a non issue for Assamese and is simply a NRA 
pre-occupation.
b) to discuss Brahmaputra flood is 
a non issue for the Assamese and simply a NRA pre-occupation.
c) to discuss Assam's economic 
problem is a non issue for the Assamese and simply is a NRA 
pre-occupation.
d) to discuss Assam's corruption is 
a non issue for the Assamese and simply is a NRA pre-occupation.
 
Because, if you 
notice, Assamese are not discussing any of these today, do 
they?
 
I wish to say, God save Assam, but 
simply say, 
Hobo Diok Kokaidew!!!
Rajen Barua
 
 
 
 

  - Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Ram Sarangapani 
  
  To: Barua25 
  Cc: Mohan R. Palleti ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 10:59 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Assam- Asom and 
  Oxom
  
  Barua,
   
  
  >According to Ram, it is a non 
  issue and Assamese are not >interested, and there are too many important 
  problems for >the Assamese to solve (what are these?) 
   
  Just to clarify this a bit. That 
  is not the opinion I hold. 
   
  But, as Barua says, I did contact 
  a number of people in Assam (people who I think, can create an awareness), and 
  they all held that this was a non-issue, and that there were more important 
  things on the minds of the Assamese. They even went as far as to say, that 
  this is just an NRA pre-occupation, and they don't view it that way. 
  
   
  --Ram 
  On 10/11/06, Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
  


>I do not still understand why anyone would want to call such a 
beautiful>name "Assam" as  Asom or Oxom 
 
That is my point. The name 
Assam should be left alone.
But GOA has taken a resolution 
and Assam Tribune and Sentinel are adopting the name Asom. According to BB 
Kokaidew, the News paper editors are the kings who prevails. So unless we do 
something Assam will be Asom. 
 
I have not seen any protest 
from many Kharkhowa Assamese on this.
In this net also I have not 
seen much protest. 
According to Ram, it is a non 
issue and Assamese are not interested, and there are too many important 
problems for the Assamese to solve (what are these?)
 
I personally donot agree with 
any of these 'hobo diok' attitude.
We must save 'Assam' from 
'Asom'.
 
Any suggestion what to 
do.
 
Rajen Barua

 
- Original Message - 
From: "Mohan R. Palleti" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >
To: <assam@assamnet.org 
>
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 10:58 
AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Assam- Asom and 
Oxom
I do not still understand why anyone wou

Re: [Assam] Another Booker for a South Asian.

[Barua25]

 The book "Inheritance of 
Loss"must be good reading, it has a bit life in the North East 
insurgency, may be a model for some upcoming Assamese novelist to work on. Here 
are some comments from Amazon.Com readers and Editors:
Rajen Barua

 

From Publishers 
WeeklyStarred Review. This stunning second novel 
from Desai is set in mid-1980s India, on the cusp of the Nepalese movement 
for an independent state. Jemubhai Popatlal, a retired Cambridge-educated judge, 
lives in Kalimpong, at the foot of the Himalayas, with his orphaned 
granddaughter, Sai, and his cook. The makeshift family's neighbors include a 
coterie of Anglophiles who might be savvy readers of V.S. Naipaul but who are, 
perhaps, less aware of how fragile their own social standing is—at least until a 
surge of unrest disturbs the region. Jemubhai, with his hunting rifles and 
English biscuits, becomes an obvious target. Besides threatening their very 
lives, the revolution also stymies the fledgling romance between 16-year-old Sai 
and her Nepalese tutor, Gyan. The cook's son, Biju, meanwhile, lives miserably 
as an illegal alien in New York. All of these characters struggle with their 
cultural identity and the forces of modernization while trying to maintain their 
emotional connection to one another. In this alternately comical and 
contemplative novel, Desai deftly shuttles between first and third worlds, 
illuminating the pain of exile, the ambiguities of post-colonialism and the 
blinding desire for a "better life," when one person's wealth means another's 
poverty. From 
The New YorkerDesai's second novel is set in the nineteen-eighties in the northeast 
corner of India, where the borders of several Himalayan states—Bhutan and 
Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet—meet. At the head of the novel's teeming cast is 
Jemubhai Patel, a Cambridge-educated judge who has retired from serving a 
country he finds "too messy for justice." He lives in an isolated house with his 
cook, his orphaned seventeen-year-old granddaughter, and a red setter, whose 
company Jemubhai prefers to that of human beings. The tranquillity of his 
existence is contrasted with the life of the cook's son, working in grimy 
Manhattan restaurants, and with his granddaughter's affair with a Nepali tutor 
involved in an insurgency that irrevocably alters Jemubhai's life. Briskly paced 
and sumptuously written, the novel ponders questions of nationhood, modernity, 
and class, in ways both moving and revelatory. 




  
  
 

    "Caught up in the mythic battles of past and present, 
  justice and injustice.", February 10, 2006
  


  Reviewer:
  Mary 
Whipple (New 
England) - 
    
   Writing with wit and perception, Kiran Desai creates an elegant and 
  thoughtful study of families, the losses each member must confront alone, 
  and the lies each tells to make memories of the past more palatable. Sai 
  Mistry is a young girl whose education at an Indian convent school comes 
  to an end in the mid-1980s, when she is orphaned and sent to live with her 
  grandfather, a judge who does not want her and who offers no solace. 
  Living in a large, decaying house, her grandfather considers himself more 
  British than Indian, far superior to hard-working but poverty-stricken 
  people like his cook, Nandu, whose hopes for a better life for his son are 
  the driving force in his life. The story of Sai, living in 
  Kalimpong, near India's northeast border with Nepal, alternates with that 
  of Biju, Nandu's son, an illegal immigrant trying to find work and a 
  better life in New York. Biju, working in a series of deadend jobs, 
  epitomizes the plight of the illegal immigrant who has no future in his 
  own country and who endures deplorable conditions and semi-servitude 
  working illegally in the US. As Desai explores the aspirations of Sai and 
  Biju, the hopes and expectations of their families, and their 
  disconnections with their roots, she also creates vivid pictures of the 
  friends and relatives who surround them, evoking vibrant images of a broad 
  cross-section of society and revealing the social and political history of 
  India. Though Sai's romance, at sixteen, with Gyan, her tutor, 
  provides her with an emotional escape from Kalimpong, it soon becomes 
  complicated by Gyan's involvement with the Gorkha National Liberation 
  Federation, a Nepalese independence movement which quickly becomes 
  violent. Gyan's commitment to the insurgency offers an ironic contrast 
  with the commitment of his family to the colonial British army in earlier 
  times, just as the judge's hatreds, learned in England, are ironically 
  contrasted with his British affectations in later life. A careful 
  observer of behavior, wit

Re: [Assam] Assam- Asom and Oxom

[Barua25]

>I do not still understand why anyone would want to call such a 
beautiful>name "Assam" as  Asom or Oxom
 
That is my point. The name Assam 
should be left alone.
But GOA has taken a resolution and 
Assam Tribune and Sentinel are adopting the name Asom. According to BB Kokaidew, 
the News paper editors are the kings who prevails. So unless we do something 
Assam will be Asom.
 
I have not seen any protest from 
many Kharkhowa Assamese on this.
In this net also I have not seen 
much protest. 
According to Ram, it is a non issue 
and Assamese are not interested, and there are too many important problems for 
the Assamese to solve (what are these?)
 
I personally donot agree with any 
of these 'hobo diok' attitude.
We must save 'Assam' from 
'Asom'.
 
Any suggestion what to 
do.
 
Rajen Barua
 
- Original Message - 
From: "Mohan R. Palleti" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 10:58 
AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Assam- Asom and 
Oxom
I do not still understand why anyone would want to call such a 
beautifulname "Assam" as  Asom or OxomWhy not call it Ahom 
instead, which is what some people are trying to pushfor. This is my 
personal opinion. This is because every most assamesewords that have a "s" 
is actually prounced as "h"Assam, Okhom, baas (bamboo), baah, saag, 
haag, swaad, huad,   Sukha, huka...so my opinion is if Assam is 
written as Asom it actually meants to beprounced as 
AhomMohan R. Palleti> I think the Asomiyas are 
the most confused lot; by Asomiyas, I mean the> Asom-walas (the Assamese 
who prefer to write the spelling Asom.)>> First confusion is they 
donot seem to know, unless some Asom-wala would> explain, exactly which 
word they are trying to replace by the word Asom -:>  Assam, the 
English word or Oxom (Axom), the Assamese word.>> If they are 
trying to replace the English word Assam , then Asom would be> an English 
word and I think they should write Asom and Asomese. (Like the> India - 
Indian, Bengal - Bengalies, Bihar-Biharis, Kerela-Kerelian,> 
Punjab-Punjabese etc), and should leave the words Oxom and Oxomiya 
alone.>> But the problem is I have never seen any Asom-wala 
writing Asomese. I have> always seen the writing Asomiyas. So one would 
think that by the word Asom> they are actually trying to replace the 
Assamese word Axom or Oxom,>> Now the confusion is if they are 
trying to replace the Assamese word, Axom> (Oxom) then they are not 
trying to replace the English word Assam and the> word Assam and Assamese 
should be left as it is.>> When we write Asom Sahitya Sabha (Assam 
Literary Society) or Bharatiya> Jatiya Congress (Indian National 
Congress), we donot mean to replace the> English words Assam or 
India.>> But from the writings, I am not sure what the confused 
lot Asom-walas are> thinking or fighting for.>> We always 
have two words; Assam and Axom, like India and Bharat.> Are they fighting 
for Assam and Asom or Asom and Axom?>> Would some Asom-wala come 
forward and explain what is going on in their> mind.>> Or 
is it another Hobo Diok type of demand of the Asomese?>> Rajen 
Barua>>   - Original Message 
->   From: Ram Sarangapani>   To: 
ASSAMNET>   Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 3:48 
PM>   Subject: [Assam] Asom and 
Axom>>>   This piece from the Sentinel seems to 
flit between Asom and Axom. They> ought to make up their 
minds.>>>   Seminar on full autonomy status to 
Asom>   Stress on keeping moral values alive in 
society>   From our Correspondent>   TANGLA, 
Oct 6: The Kalaigaon regional unit of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba> Chatra 
Parishad (AJYCP) conducted a seminar on the topic - "Full> Autonomy is 
the Only Way for Asom's All-round Development"- recently at> Swahid 
Bhavan, Kalaigaon. Nagen Kakati, president, Darrang district unit> of the 
AJYCP, conducted the seminar and Tarun Azad Deka, noted social> worker of 
Kalaigaon locality and former secretary, Darrang district unit> of the 
Axom Xahitya Xabha (AXX), inaugurated the same.>   In his 
speech, Deka laid stress on keeping the moral values alive in the> 
society. According to him, a State with full autonomy would certainly> 
need people with high moral strength.>   Speaking on the 
occasion as the chief speaker, general secretary of the> AJYCP's central 
committee Pulak Choudhury spoke about the reasons for> which his 
organization had been raising its voice against the 'present> unequal 
Constitutional provisions' for the State of Asom. He also> explained the 
significance and benefits of awarding full autonomy to a> State like 
Asom.>   Dwipen Konwar, advisor, Darrang district AJYCP, also 
spoke in the> seminar. Dr Keshab Chandra Dutta, retired Principal of 
Tangla College,> formally released a souvenir brought out on the 
occasion.>___assam 
mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
___
assam mailing list
assam@

Re: [Assam] From St. Louis Post Dispatch

[Barua25]

One can come up with couple of 
wisdoms from this North Korean episode;
 
1) George Bush was correct all 
along, North Korea is an axis of evil(?).  But the point is even after 
knowing this what the Bush administration did to stop N Korea.  I failed 
miserably.
 
2) No one came 
close to defending it?
Is this something for Bush 
administration to rejoice about?. UN took a resolution and nobody came to defend 
N Korea. Is that all Bush administration wanted? Poor Bush 
administration!!! Has to take shelter under the UN, an org it actually 
undermine.
 
3) No one came 
close to defending it?
The funny thing is 
that on 9/12 also the whole world was with USA. But look what the Bush 
administration did during the last so many years. It created almost all its 
supporters its enemies and all the supports vanished.
 
I hope the bush 
administration will not do the same mistake with N Korea.
 
Rajen 
Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Chan Mahanta ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 6:54 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] From St. Louis Post 
  Dispatch
  
  Why do they say on US TV channels -- "Why does the world dislike 
  Americans?"
   
  I wonder when there would be justice given to Pakistan's AQ Khan and he 
  be convicted in International Court.
   
  UmeshChan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
  wrote:
  Bill 
McClennan, one of my most favorite newspaper columnists, wrote this 
:http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/billmcclellan/story/856BCD6A056949F6862572040032465F?OpenDocument 
North Korea has an excuse: Defense against schoolyard bullyBy Bill 
McClellanST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH10/11/2006Bill 
McClellan[More columns][Bill's Biography]I picked up the 
newspaper Tuesday morning, and saw the headline on the front page: "A 
Roar of Condemnation." Just above the screaming headline was a quote: 
"No one came even close to defending it."Naturally, I figured it had 
something to do with baseball. After all, the Cardinals are about to 
play the Mets in the League Championship Series, and baseball is going 
to dominate the news as long as the Cardinals keep playing. Why not? 
This is a business, and we aim to give the customers what they want. If 
that's bread and circuses, fine with us.But when I took a second 
look, I saw that the headlines referred to the North Korean claim that 
it had tested a nuclear bomb.No one came close to defending it? Let 
me try.AdvertisementFirst of all, I'm no fan of 
North Korea. From the little I know of their Supreme Leader, I think 
he's nuts. Then again, I believe in meritocracy, and I think it's a 
terrible idea to have any country run by political dynasties. Just 
because your dad was Supreme Leader doesn't mean you should be Supreme 
Leader. Then again, my congressman is Russ Carnahan. My governor is Matt 
Blunt. My president is George W. Bush.But when I think of North 
Korea and the bomb, I think about my childhood.We sometimes had bomb 
drills in grade school. We'd sit under our desks. These drills were 
necessary because the Soviet Union had thousands of nuclear weapons 
aimed at us.I remember having doubts about the efficacy of the 
drills. Would we really be safe under our desks? Mostly, though, I 
wondered about the Soviets. Why did they hate us?Grown-ups tried 
to explain the complicated truth. It wasn't so much that the Soviets 
hated us as much they feared us. You see, we had nuclear weapons, too, 
and our missiles were aimed at the Soviets. So they figured that if they 
aimed their missiles at us, we wouldn't dare attack them.That 
was the craziest thing I had ever heard. Didn't they know anything at 
all about us? We were the good guys. We'd fight if somebody attacked us, 
and we'd fight if somebody attacked one of our friends, but that was it. 
We weren't about to start a fight. We were the toughest kid in the 
schoolyard, but we were no bully.I knew, of course, that we were the 
only country that had ever used a nuclear weapon. But we were justified 
in so doing. I thought so then, and I think so now.So I was 
absolutely convinced that the leaders of the Soviet Union had pulled a 
fast one on their people in order to justify their missiles. The United 
States would never be the first to attack. I believed that with all my 
heart.I became more cynical as the years went by, but still, I clung 
to that belief until George W. Bush introduced the policy of 
"pre-emption." He declared that we had the right to attack first - 
even if the country we attacked was not posing an imminent threat to 
us. We used that policy to justify our invasion of Iraq.In March 
this year, we reaffirmed our right to strike first."The president's 
strategy affirms that the doctrine of pre-emption remains sound and must 
remai

[Assam] Assam- Asom and Oxom

[Barua25]

I think 
the Asomiyas are the most confused lot; by Asomiyas, I mean the Asom-walas (the Assamese who prefer to write the 
spelling Asom.)
 
First confusion is they donot seem to know, unless 
some Asom-wala would explain, exactly which word 
they are trying to replace by the word Asom -: 
 Assam, the English word or Oxom (Axom), the Assamese 
word. 
 
If they are trying to replace the English word 
Assam , then Asom 
would be an English word and I think they should write Asom and Asomese. (Like the 
India - Indian, Bengal - Bengalies, Bihar-Biharis, Kerela-Kerelian, 
Punjab-Punjabese etc), and should leave the words Oxom and Oxomiya 
alone.
 
But the problem is I have never seen any Asom-wala writing Asomese. 
I have always seen the writing Asomiyas. So one 
would think that by the word Asom they are actually 
trying to replace the Assamese word Axom or Oxom, 
 
Now the confusion 
is if they are trying to replace the Assamese word, 
Axom (Oxom) then they are not trying to replace 
the English word Assam and the word Assam and Assamese should be 
left as it is. 
 
When we write Asom Sahitya 
Sabha (Assam Literary Society) or Bharatiya Jatiya 
Congress (Indian National Congress), we donot mean to replace the English 
words Assam or India.
 
But from the writings, I am not sure what the 
confused lot Asom-walas are thinking or fighting 
for.
 
We always have two words; Assam and Axom, like India and Bharat.
Are they fighting for Assam and Asom or Asom and Axom?
 
Would some Asom-wala come forward and explain what is going on in 
their mind.
 
Or is it another Hobo Diok type of demand 
of the Asomese?
 
Rajen Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Ram Sarangapani 
  
  To: ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 3:48 
  PM
  Subject: [Assam] Asom and Axom
  
  This piece from the Sentinel seems to flit between Asom and Axom. They 
  ought to make up their minds.
   
   
  Seminar on full autonomy status to 
  AsomStress on keeping moral values alive in society 
  From our CorrespondentTANGLA, Oct 6: The Kalaigaon regional unit of 
  the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) conducted 
  a seminar on the topic — "Full Autonomy is the Only Way for Asom's 
  All-round Development"— recently at Swahid Bhavan, Kalaigaon. Nagen 
  Kakati, president, Darrang district unit of the AJYCP, conducted the seminar 
  and Tarun Azad Deka, noted social worker of Kalaigaon locality and former 
  secretary, Darrang district unit of the Axom Xahitya Xabha 
  (AXX), inaugurated the same.In his speech, Deka laid stress on 
  keeping the moral values alive in the society. According to him, a State with 
  full autonomy would certainly need people with high moral strength. 
  Speaking on the occasion as the chief speaker, general secretary of the 
  AJYCP's central committee Pulak Choudhury spoke about the reasons for which 
  his organization had been raising its voice against the 'present unequal 
  Constitutional provisions' for the State of Asom. He also explained the 
  significance and benefits of awarding full autonomy to a State like Asom. 
  Dwipen Konwar, advisor, Darrang district AJYCP, also spoke in the seminar. 
  Dr Keshab Chandra Dutta, retired Principal of Tangla College, formally 
  released a souvenir brought out on the occasion.
  
  

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Re: [Assam] Nehru favoured flow of migrants to NE

[Barua25]

Frankly speaking I don't think this 
type of news, whether yes or no,  has ant relevance at all to Assam at 
present. Let us say, Nehru did (which I donot agree that he did, or may be he 
did).
 
The question is : So 
what?
He said in 1962: My heart goes to 
the people of Assam.
The question is : So 
what?
 
The bottomline is: Think skinned 
Assamese cannot be moved.
Their position is: Hozur mai-bap, 
please treat me like your other brothers, Don't treat me like a step 
child.
 
What Nehru did sixty years ago for 
Assam, does nort have any relevance except for academic interest for the 
intellectuals.
 
As a person, I like Nehru. He was a 
secular guy and has given us a secular India for which I thank him. I cannot 
think what India would have been if Patel were the PM instead. Thank 
God!!
Rajen Barua
 
- Original Message - 
From: "xourov pathok" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 9:08 AM
Subject: [Assam] Nehru favoured flow of migrants to 
NE
http://www.assamtribune.com/oct0806/at02.htmlNehru favoured flow of migrants to NEBy Prabal Kr 
DasGUWAHATI, Oct 7 â?" â?oThe refugee problem is one ofthe two or three 
problems to which we give firstpriority in India at present. This applies to 
theutilisation of our financial resources also. Ourdevelopment schemes 
are thought of in terms, to someextent, of refugees. If Assam adopts an 
attitude ofincapacity to help in solving the refugee problem,then the 
claims of Assam for financial help obviouslysuffer.�The peculiar 
pro quid pro finds mention in a letterwritten to former State Chief 
Minister, the lateGopinath Bardoloi by the then Prime MinisterJawaharlal 
Nehru. The communication to Bordoloi datedNew Delhi, May 18, 1949 and 
bearing number 413 â?"P.M.was in response to a letter the Assam Chief 
Ministerhad written on May 7 that year.The letter was found among 
the dossiers belonging tothe eminent politician late Gauri 
ShankarBhattacharya, who shared close ties with Bardoloi.Handing it over 
to The Assam Tribune today, his sonSiddhartha Bhattacharya, senior lawyer at 
the GuwahatiHigh Court, attested its authenticity.Apart from linking 
financial flow to the issue ofrefugees, Nehru in his two-page 
correspondenceexpresses his surprise that Bardoloi was finding 
itdifficult to deal â?owith influx of Muslims intoAssam.â? He then 
becomes somewhat tentative and says,â?oI do not think there is a permit 
system in regardto Eastern Bengal and Western Bengal and possibly nosuch 
system exists in regard to Assam either.�Later, Nehru hints at devising 
ways and means to dealwith it.In his letter Nehru takes note of 
Bardoloiâ?Ts beliefthat dearth of land in his state was an issue, 
andcontends that if availability of land was a problem inAssam, â?oit is 
still less available in the rest ofIndia which is very heavily populated, 
barring thedeserts and mountains.â?Nehruâ?Ts posture is in stark 
contrast to Bardoloiâ?Tsconcern in protecting the interest of his State 
whenthe Chief Minister is asked, â?oWhere are these[refugees] to go if 
each Province adopts the attitudethat Assam apparently has 
done?�Subsequently, the Prime Minister makes his positionclearer 
on the issue and states what appears likewords of finality â?" â?oTherefore, 
we have to absorbthem and make provision for them so that they might 
begood citizens. In doing this all provinces have tohelp and cooperate 
and it will do no good to aprovince to refuse cooperation in the 
nationalwork.�Nehru took exception to the stance of one minister 
ofBardoloiâ?Ts Cabinet, â?oI understand that Medhi, yourFinance 
minister, is a strong opponent of any furtherrefugees coming to Assam. I 
think he is wrong inthis.�>From the letter it becomes patently 
obvious that Nehrufavoured Assam to act as host to refugees flowing 
infrom erstwhile East Pakistan. Some other parts of theletter highlight 
corresponding views approving an easyacceptance of migrants flowing into the 
region.On the other hand, Gopinath Bardoloiâ?Ts concernsrevealed a 
deeper understanding of contemporaryreality. In retrospect, no less manifest 
is the factthat what once was perceived as â?onational workâ? bya 
statesmanlike figure has now become the root causeof a grave problem 
afflicting the 
State.__Do You 
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Re: [Assam] [asom] State of the STATES: India Today Issue Sept 2006

[Barua25]

I would say GOI has some smart 
intelligent diplomats.
Good for India.
All Assamese can say 
is
Hobo Diok Kokaidew, 
mwloi olop rakhibo 
kintu.
Who cares?
Have you ever seen such type of 
economic analysis by any Assamese?
Six months ago exactly similar 
staudy was made by an NGO from Delhi.
Thick skinned kharkhowas cannot be 
moved.
It does not matter to them either 
way.
Have you seen any meaningful study 
done on the Bangladesh illegal immigration to Assam?

Everytime it is some outside Assam 
org telling us where we the 'kharkhowas' are.
 
Assam is doomed because of us 
Assamese.
Rajen Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  mc 
  mahant 
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2006 1:21 
  AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] [asom] State of the 
  STATES: India Today Issue Sept 2006
  
  
  
  Vast useless land Mizoram-no ties with any Ethnic groups. Some 2 Lakhs 
  population. Pampered with huge funds by Delhi to keep smiling as "Happy 
  People". Somebody cooked up Israel Link and immigrating. 
  Disappearing!
  Sikkim was created out of Nepalis overwhelming indigenous peoples. Caused a 
  crisis. Overwhelmed the king and annexed to India -because they can then get 
  everything from India Free -showing the Security from Tibet 
  card. Got themselves hooked to North-East to enable skimming off huge funds as 
  1 out of the 8  from NEC-DONER-NEDFi   and all 
  the special cream.
  Totally unsustainable Alone- these 2.
  So loot from Assam and distribute(buy up loyalty).Publish Total 
  Satisfaction Statistics  for simple gullible believers.
  mm
  
  


From:  indrani baruah 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject:  [asom] 
State of the STATES: India Today Issue Sept 
2006Date:  Fri, 6 Oct 2006 20:37:45 -0700 
(PDT)>Hi all,>>If you get a chance, do check out 
the Exclusive Report : State of the STATES: India Today Issue Sept 
2006.  This report analyses and ranks all the States in India for 
Law and Order, Agriculture, Primary Health, Primary Education, Investment 
Environment, Consumer Market etc. etc.>>Assam ranks the last 
in Law and Order and very low in all other categories, even among the 
Eastern States with Sikkim and Mizoram at the first two ranks respectively 
(overall). Any lessons we can learn from Sikkim?>>HIMACHAL 
PRADESH is either 1st or 2nd in all the categories, followed by Haryana, 
Kerala and Punjab.  Punjab ofcourse tops in Agriculture as well as 
Infrastructure, Budget and Prosperity, Consumer Market and Overall States 
Ranking. Gujarat tops in Investment Environment. Kerala tops in Law and 
Order. Himachal Pradesh ranks first in Primary Health and Primary 
Education.>>What lessons can we learn from these states ? Most 
of these high ranking States do not have any Natural Resources to speak of, 
but what they have achieved is I think through Strategic and Shrewed 
Planning combined with sheer hardwork and good governance/management of 
whatever they 
have.>>Indrani>>Yahoo! 
Groups Links>><*> To visit your group on the web, go 
to:> 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/assamonline/>><*> Your 
email settings:> Individual Email | 
Traditional>><*> To change settings online go 
to:> 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/assamonline/join> 
(Yahoo! ID required)>><*> To change settings via 
email:> 
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>><*> To 
unsubscribe from this group, send an email 
to:> 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]>><*> Your use of 
Yahoo! Groups is subject to:> 
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>>>
  
  

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Re: [Assam] Story for Grant/ A Granduncle's story

[Barua25]

Chandan:
Thanks. You may not realize 
but both the stories (yours and your brother's) will make good entries in 
some future 'Namti Century Book' to be published in the 900th year of its 
establishment of Namti (whenever that is: 2130?).
 
BTW is there a river called Namti 
in Namti? I wonder how the name was evolved. You may know that both the two 
phrases in the word Nam-ti means water in Bodo language.
The word Nam as found in Namsai, 
Namrup, Namsang, etc means water in Bodo language.
So also the word Ti as found in 
Namti, Tiok, Tipam, Tirap etc means water in Tai language.
 
Namti must be founded after the 
coming of the Ahoms sometime in the 13th century.
 
Just some stray 
thoughts.
 
Rajen
 
 
- Original Message - 
From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 9:28 
AM
Subject: [Assam] Story for Grant/ A Granduncle's 
story
> > Hi Grant:> > Here is a story from my 
childhood for you. It is kind of long, but I > hope you would like 
it:> > I was about eight years old at the time. Our school was 
about half a > mile from home. It was a small, one roomed hut, with dirt 
floor, > mud-plastered bamboo walls and thatched roof framed with bamboo. 
> Thatch is a kind of long and sturdy grass, which people used to make 
> roofs with, after drying them. We had two teachers and two > 
blackboards, where about fifty pupils from Grades A, B, 1st, 2nd and > 
3rd. sat, in different groups, on the dirt floor,on mats that we > 
brought with us from home. There were no bathrooms and no drinking > 
water ,other than a pond in the front yard, where we drank from on > hot 
days, with our hands cupped together.> > When we were in second 
grade ( I think), there was a vaccination > drive by the  State 
Public Health Department, funded by the World > Health Organization, for 
immunizing children against the dreaded > disease tuberculosis ( TB). The 
vaccine was called BCG, short for > Bacillus Calmett-Guerin. The 
vaccination was done at another little > school about two miles away from 
ours. All of us kids and the > teachers walked about a mile and a half 
along the little but historic > dirt road, that linked a large number of 
little villages separated by > rice paddies, which ran from the capital 
of the Kingdom to the > mountains in the south, and was called Khorikotia 
Ali ( Woodcutter's > Trail). From the road we took a detour of another 
half a mile or so > to the vaccination site along a railroad 
track.> > We got our shots. OUCH--it stung too,but I did not 
cry.Then we were > heading back home in groups of twos and threes and 
even more. After > we got off from the railroad tracks and got back on 
Woodcutter's > Trail, I got separated from the other kids who went to 
their homes in > a different direction and I was trudging along the road 
all by > myself. All of a sudden I heard a strange, beep-beep-beep sound 
> coming from the rear, which was getting louder by the moment. It 
> appeared> that the sound was from something over the road. I 
looked back and > saw nothing but the sound was getting very loud and 
scary. Suddenly I > saw this huge dragonfly looking thing with a large 
bulb like head > appear over the groves of bamboo tree-tops that line the 
> roadway,flying, it seemed, straight towards me. And that noise, now 
> ear-splitting, going braap-braap-braap-braap ---!> > 
Panic struck me!> > I ran, as fast as my little legs would let me, 
towards the only house > on my right about a hundred yards away, 
surrounded by waterlogged > rice paddies. Thinking back, I probably ran 
that distance faster than > anyone I would have ever known. I reached the 
gate, which was made > of horizontal bamboo poles spaced about a foot or 
so apart on bamboo > posts with holes in them, and are called 'nongola' 
in Assamese, my > native language. To open the gate you slide the poles 
through the > holes. But there was no time for that. I slipped right 
through the > gaps and crossed the little front yard and almost flew into 
the > house, struggling for breath. In those days and even today, people 
in > the villages of Assam leave their front doors open. There is no fear 
> of strangers . And there is always someone in the house. Since there 
> were no door-bells, and knocking on mud-plastered walls or the woven 
> bamboo-mat door panel don't make much of a sound, if a stranger comes 
> visiting, he or she would make a coughing sound or clear the throat 
> to indicate there is someone at the door. Later I learnt that  
city > folks made fun of that coughing sound as the "Assamese 
calling-bell".> > Anyway, to make a long story short, the man of 
the house found me, > this breathless kid barging into the house with 
panic in his eyes, > just about when this dragon-fly-from-hell flew past 
the house. He > knew what was coming after me.> He told me it 
was  kind of a 'ura-jahaaz'( flying ship). He also knew > who I was, 
since took his bullock cart along the trai

[Assam] THE HINDU : Tea: Legend, Life and Livelihood of India

[Barua25]

 THE 
HINDU
Date:01/10/2006 URL: 
http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/lr/2006/10/01/stories/2006100100030600.htm 




Literary Review 
HISTORY 
Tea anytime 
RANJITA BISWAS 


  
  
A coffee table book on the story of tea in India. 





 

Tea: Legend, Life and Livelihood of India; Gautam Prasad 
Baroowah; Red River Publications, Rs. 2,000 
INDIA and tea are so intertwined together that life without the 
brew is unimaginable, even taking into account coffee's popularity in the 
southern peninsula. 
And to think that tea entered our life only in the mid-19th 
century when the British colonists started plantations in Assam and Darjeeling! 
In the beginning though, Indians shunned the drink as they thought it was a 
poison that led to umpteen diseases. 
Ironically, tea colonised Britain whose afternoon tea ritual 
became a part of their social diary and also led to establishment of numerous 
teahouses in England and elsewhere. Some well-known hotels in London even 
launched tea dances; some of them have now revived the custom, which petered off 
during the war years. 
Today, scientific research across the world has attempted to 
establish the beneficial qualities of tea — a fact the Japanese and the Chinese 
knew anyway from ancient times, attributing to it numerous medicinal properties. 

Fascinating subject 


The history of tea in our country is fascinating and the tea 
industry's important role in the socio-economic life of the people is 
undeniable. A number of books on the subject have already made their presence 
felt. 
Gautam Prasad Baroowah's lavishly mounted coffee table (or is 
that `tea-table'?) book, Tea: Legend, Life and Livelihood of India, is 
the latest entrée to this club. What makes the book interesting and different is 
the adoption of a somewhat fictional style, weaving in a character into the 
narration to tell the story of tea in our country. 
The book mainly concentrates on the tea scene in Assam. It is 
divided into seven chapters starting with "Discovering Tea" to its evolution to 
"Flavour and Taste" and "A Health Drink" and the concluding "Chronology" tracing 
the brew from ancient China to today's tea auction centres and marketing in the 
country which should prove useful as reference. 
As one takes this long journey it is fascinating to discover 
how other facets of the life and culture of the Brahmaputra Valley have become 
interwoven with `garden-life' culture making tea something more than just a 
commodity for the people there. 
Dushyant Parashar's excellent photography brings out the beauty 
and essence of the land and tea garden life. Additionally, archival pictures and 
prints of gorgeous artifacts associated with the tea drinking ceremony enhance 
the book's appeal. 
However, it's not been all a win-win situation. The ups and 
downs the tea industry has been facing for a couple of years with competition 
from newer markets and fall in demand by some traditional markets abroad is too 
well-known. The Tea Board and industry captains have been trying to tackle these 
problems so that the country holds onto the premier position the country enjoyed 
for centuries. 
Hence the chapter "Tea-the Future" with some pragmatic 
observations from the author, himself long associated with the industry, is 
worth taking note of. The book is well researched and full of anecdotes and 
useful information. However, these sometimes overlap verging on repetition. 
Editing too needs a bit of more sprucing up. 








© Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu
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[Assam] The Statesman (Tea Book Event in New York)

[Barua25]

Tea Book Event in New York.
 http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=14&theme=&usrsess=1&id=131711
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[Assam] Assamese Organized Unique Tea Book Event in New York City

[Barua25]

 
 
Assamese Organized Unique  
Tea Book Event in New York City
- Rajen Barua 

 
A 
group of a few enthusiastic Assamese made silent history on 6th 
September 2006 when they successfully organized a unique Tea Book Event in 
Manhattan, the heart of New York City. The event included a Japanese Tea 
Ceremony, release of a new book on tea and exposition of glimpse of the Assamese 
culture through presentations of Assamese dances to an mostly American and 
international audience.  The event 
was initiated and organized by Mr. Tej Hazarika, President of Cool Grove Press, 
NY. The Tea Association of America as well as the prestigious Rubin Museum of 
Art in Manhattan, where the event was arranged, also sponsored the event. 
Tavalon, an upcoming Tea Bar of New York City, offered free tea to the guests. 
The highlight of the event was the release of the new book on tea “Tea: 
Legend, Life and Livelihood of India”, written by the Assamese 
poet-writer-economist Mr. Gautom Prasad Baroowah. The book is published in India 
by Red River Publication, Guwahati, and is already in the best sellers list in 
India Times. Cool Grove Press distributes an imprint of LBS publication of the 
book in North America and Canada.
 
Since 
1823 when Robert Bruce discovered the tea plant in Assam..(Please see 
attached)
 
 






Assamese Organized Unique Tea Book Event in New	York.assamnet.doc
Description: MS-Word document
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[Assam] Fw: View of Assam from space around Bihu 2006

[Barua25]

 

 
I did not know that Bhuban-da is for an 
Asom-wala.
Rajen Barua
 
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 11:09 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] View of Assam from 
  space around Bihu 2006
  
  Mohan
   
  I missed the earlier views of Asom from air; 
  this one i could. It looks not so bad.
   
  Thanks for circulating it.
   
  Bhuban
  
  

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Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs ULFA????????Seeking answers???

[Barua25]

The point here for the Assamese is 
not necessarily to crack any gas. Most of the people care less what a Gas 
Cracker does and where the gas will come from. The point here is to get some 
people employed, get some contractors do business. So it does not matter any 
whichever way: to have a Gas Cracker cracking gas and making a loss or not to 
crack any gas and spend some Indian s white money in the project which will not 
happen.
 
For the last 10 years, GOI is 
trying to set up an Oil Museum in Assam named after KD Malavya Oil Museum in 
Guwahati. I hardly see any news at all. It is also held up for a long 
time because GOA could not give the required land.  One senior guy in 
oil industry from South India wrote to me, "Rajen, I have done 
many projects for many states. But when it comes to Assam, I gave up 
on this project. Nobody can move the Assam minstry. I failed." 
 
Does anybody in Assam care? How 
many in Assam know of these?
 
I say Hobo Diok 
Kokaidew!!!
Jabo Diok!!!
 
Rajen Barua
 
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  mc 
  mahant 
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Cc: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 12:51 
  AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs 
  ULFASeeking answers???
  
  
  <Gas Cracker 
  but a Gas Cracker does not necessarily >
  Sounds good! But that's about 
  it. I say This Gas Cracker cannot happen technically in the 
  end. Will go the same way as Brahmaputra Embankments or Bogibeel 
  Bridge.
  
Which Gas will you crack?Methane 
(NO!), Ethane(what  % in associated Gas , and how will you 
seperate-cryogenically?) Propane,Butane(everybody now wants LPG-would they 
live on 10th floor and cook with Gobar Ghuti?), Naphtha(but IOC 
will get more profits if they sell as jetfuel/diesel - with just a few 
small changes) 
Say you beg-borrow-steal 
and get to Ethylene-what then?
  India has no mechanism to go by 
  plain logic. No mechanism to listen to my advice. 
  Even now I 
  am available. 
  Don't like it? Well, best of luck 
  to who doesn't.
  mm
  
  

From: "Barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: "umesh sharma" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,Subject: 
Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs ULFASeeking answers???Date: 
Mon, 25 Sep 2006 23:43:51 -0500



Umesh:
I have just thrown a number of 
adults who might have immigrated during last 30 years. It does not matter 
whether we are 300 or even 3000. It is still a drop in the bucket of 20 
million. I was just trying to awake our people who seem to be 
biased with a wrong mind set that brain drain is bad. Actually brain drain 
helps a country like India where we have abundant of engineers and 
technocrats. What we lack is managerial people. People who are coming here 
are not the managers. Immigrants always help themselves and help the country 
back monetarily.  Like Momy said, we need to change our attitude. 
Corruption is an attitude. An engineer going back from here cannot 
help. The greatest advantage the Punjabis and the Hyderabdis have 
against the Kharkhowas is that Assamese lack confidence. We even donot 
have the courage to ask an MLA a question "Why we don't have 
electricity why the roads are bad. This confidence will come only when 
enough people will get out our Kharkhowa state and work outside like a guy 
of Kerela, UP, Rajasthan, Gujrat or Punjab.  We the 
Kharkhowas even donot know how much export we can made of Bamboo products to 
Delhi and Mumbai and USA which will help the villagers. Not that we donot 
need a Gas Cracker but a Gas Cracker does not necessarily help our 
villagers.  
Rajen 
Barua  

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 
  10:11 PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs 
  ULFASeeking answers???
  
  
  
  Rajen-da,
   
  good point. I thought there were more Assamese abroad (incl 
  their progeny) 300 is too small a number . I think there were over 
  3,000 Sikhs from Punjab in only Canada's Vancouver area 100 years ago. Do 
  you think migration in large numbers has helped Punjabis? On the other 
  hand, Hyderabadis have really made a connection between Silicon 
  Valley and Hyderabad -by setting up tech projects which are run out of 
  theri home town. Infosys Chief Narayan Murthy had suggested something 
  similar for Assam - in his recent visit at AEC -about setting up cal 
  centers initially. Maybe NRAs can help in that. Umesh 
  Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 USACurrent 
  temp. address: 5649 Yalta Place , Vancouver, Canada1-202-215-4328 
  [Cell Phone]Canada # (607) 221-9433Ed.M. - International 
  Education PolicyHarvard Gr

Re: [Assam] Wasbir Hussein in Tehelka

[Barua25]

>United Liberation Front of 
Asom (ULFA) 
 
I wonder who has 
given rights to these people to change the names of other organizations at 
will?
And why not AT change its own to 
Asom Tribune?
For sake of Jesus Christ, let us 
have some sense.
 
Rajen Barua
 
 
- Original Message - 
From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; 
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 10:45 
PM
Subject: [Assam] Wasbir Hussein in 
Tehelka
> I don't agree with everything here, but it is a whole lot more 
> sensibly written piece than the Sentinel garbage.> > 
> > EDIT-OPINION> > So Near, Yet So Far in 
Assam> > More than Delhi, ULFA stands to lose if it were to back 
out of the > peace initiative now> > Wasbir Hussain> 
> Wasbir Hussain> During the past year, the government and the 
United Liberation Front > of Asom (ULFA) - by far the most potent 
separatist group in > northeastern India - were simultaneously engaged in 
the complex game > of war and peace. ULFA was against a formal ceasefire 
although it > expressed its desire to talk peace. Sounds weird, but that 
had been > the case and, not surprisingly, such a stand where the sound 
of the > peace bugle was getting drowned by the roar of ULFA bombs was 
not > getting the two sides anywhere near a breakthrough for peace in 
> Assam. New Delhi seemed to have realised this and surprised > 
insurgency watchers on August 13 by unilaterally announcing a 10-day > 
suspension of military operations against ULFA as a 'goodwill > gesture'. 
ULFA reciprocated five days later by saying it would also > put its 
offensive on hold. New Delhi has since followed up its > Independence Day 
gambit by extending the temporary truce twice to > give a further push to 
the pursuit for peace in the state of 26 > million people.> 
>   Today, if one is talking about the chances of direct talks 
between > the government and ULFA in the days to come and the possibility 
or > the shape of a solution to the 27-year-old insurrection in Assam, it 
> is because of the rebel group's September 2005 move to set up a peace 
> panel called the People's Consultative Group (PCG).> > 
The PCG, none of whose 11 members belong to ULFA, was mandated to > clear 
the roadblocks and prepare the grounds for direct talks between > the 
rebel leadership and New Delhi. What the PCG, headed by > celebrated 
Assamese writer Indira Goswami, has achieved during the > three rounds of 
formal talks it held with government leaders between > October 2005 and 
June 2006, and the subsequent informal meetings, is > to impress upon New 
Delhi that this opportunity for peace talks with > ULFA must not be lost. 
After all, for the first time since its > formation in 1979 to fight for 
a 'sovereign, socialist, Assam', ULFA > has formally set up a peace panel 
and has announced a halt in its > offensive, albeit temporarily.> 
>  > The inability of the government agencies to speak in one 
voice is > complicating matters. As if the current impasse is not enough, 
an > Army statement recently said ULFA was heavily under the influence of 
> the ISI and was actually engaged in extortion and regrouping during 
> the ongoing truce period> The ground situation has certainly 
changed since New Delhi's August > 13 truce announcement. Take a look at 
the following statistics before > the cessation of hostilities: according 
to Assam Police figures, > between September 8, 2005 (the PCG was formed 
on September 7, 2005) > and June 2006, ULFA militants had triggered off 
as many as 52 blasts. > During the same period, at least 41 civilians 
were killed and 135 > injured in ULFA violence. And in the 10 days 
preceding New Delhi's > truce announcement, ULFA had launched several 
grenade or bomb > attacks, killing a dozen people, including six security 
personnel, > and injuring up to 40 others.> >   Yes, 
ULFA has not carried out any violence since August 14, but are > the two 
sides anywhere near talking peace in the changed > circumstances? 
Unfortunately, the breakthrough, if at all, out of all > the rounds of 
talks so far between the ULFA-appointed PCG and the > government seems to 
have ended with the truce, that is uneasy to say > the least. The 
stalemate has actually begun only now. While ULFA is > sticking to its 
demand for the release of five of its jailed senior > leaders - all 
members of the group's highest policy-making central > committee - for 
them to meet and take a decision on entering into > direct peace 
negotiations, the government is pressing for a written > commitment from 
ULFA saying it was indeed interested in a peace > dialogue. New Delhi is 
also worried on another count, and precisely > to allay that fear, the 
PCG members have been sending out signals > that the freed militants 
would not leave the country after their > release.> > There 
is a precedent of top ULFA leaders jumping bail and going > underground 
after a meeting with Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in 1992.> > 
  T

Re: [Assam] Of Deceit and Betrayal - Sentinel Editorial

[Barua25]

>the Asomiyas 
hoping for winds of change ...
>illegal Bangladeshis in 
Asom 
 
Sentinel Zindabad!
Rajen Barua
 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  Ram Sarangapani 
  
  To: ASSAMNET 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 12:25 
  PM
  Subject: [Assam] Of Deceit and Betrayal - 
  Sentinel Editorial
  
  Here is another one from the Sentinel. I 
  understand, it doesn't provide 'comfortable reading' for some of our netters, 
  but they do point out a few things. Highlights mine. 
  
   
  There are also some interesting thoughts on 
  raising capital for 'bidiness' (of course without any 
collateral).
   
  --Ram
   
   
  Of Deceit and 
  BetrayalThat the peace process 
  between the Government of India and the ULFA should meander after having had 
  the Asomiyas hoping for winds of change following the constitution of the 
  People's Consultative Group (PCG) by the banned outfit, is not so surprising. 
  Given that the PCG was hand-picked by the ULFA to further its own interest, 
  and given that the PCG did actually present a very partisan view of 
  the whole 'insurgency' riddle as if it was to voice not the Asomiya concern 
  but only the ULFA's, one would readily conclude that the very process of peace 
  was on a shaky ground. It is not only the wise and enlightened 
  Asomiyas who negate the idea of Asom's sovereignty, but, as of now, it is also 
  the ordinary Asomiya masses who have had enough of senseless violence — the 
  reason why the State remains so backward — that went in the name of a romantic 
  revolution, continuing as ever. The writing on the wall is that 
  sovereignty is too utopian, especially at a time when the very notion of 
  sovereignty has changed in the wake of transnationalism and globalization. Not 
  only this, by this time the ULFA must have also had the wisdom — out of its 
  own experience with the Indian state — to understand that there is absolutely 
  no reason to dwell on the sovereignty theme , that too for a State 
  whose populace has so much to share with the rest of the country. And one 
  expected the PCG to make the ULFA understand this simple fact. 
  Having said this, what now transpires is that the ULFA might have 
  never wanted to sit for direct talks with the Government of India. After all, 
  the ULFA's desire for peace in Asom also means the desire of the 
  Bangladesh-ISI duo for the same peace — which cannot be. How can 
  Bangladesh, where the ULFA top brass finds a safe haven and whose nationals 
  crowd Asom to annex the State, and the notorious ISI ever think of normalcy in 
  this part of the country? And so the voice of ULFA C-in-C Paresh Baruah sounds 
  not like an Asomiya's that would rescue Asom from an imminent doom — 
  annexation by Bangladesh and the making of an Islamic state (since Bangladesh 
  is not secular but Islamic). The voice is ISI's, in collaboration with the 
  fundamentalist and terrorist groups having their field day in a Talibanized 
  Bangladesh. Else, a simple letter was all that the Centre wanted from the ULFA 
  — a letter stating the outfit's desire for direct talks, for peace, for the 
  sake of the people of Asom, for a better tomorrow here, but surely not for the 
  sake of illegal Bangladeshis on whom the outfit remains so blissfully silent 
  as though these illegal hordes were the one that the outfit would protect, 
  come what may. That is why perhaps we hear Paresh Baruah passing a 
  decree: that 'Indians' living in Asom should pay tax to the ULFA, and that the 
  Asomiyas are to make generous contributions for the making of a sovereign Asom 
  — an Asom, as we have written several times here, in the grip of aliens; an 
  Asom that cannot belong to the Asomiyas, already a minority by now in their 
  own land. What a refreshing equation, then, that illegal Bangladeshis in Asom have been exempted 
  from the ULFA's tax configuration! And why should not they be? 
  Is it not the ISI and its partners in Bangladesh that would have the minority 
  in Asom — the Asomiyas — as extortion targets? In a land that is to be the 
  most suitable part of a greater Bangladesh, why should the Bangladeshis be 
  taxed or asked to make generous contribution? As for direct talks with the 
  Government of India then, first Mr Baruah & Co should free themselves of 
  the Bangladesh-ISI grip to undo their deceit and betrayal. 
  
  

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Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs ULFA????????Seeking answers???

[Barua25]

Umesh:
I have just thrown a number of 
adults who might have immigrated during last 30 years. It does not matter 
whether we are 300 or even 3000. It is still a drop in the bucket of 20 million. 
I was just trying to awake our people who seem to be biased with a 
wrong mind set that brain drain is bad. Actually brain drain helps a country 
like India where we have abundant of engineers and technocrats. What we lack is 
managerial people. People who are coming here are not the managers. Immigrants 
always help themselves and help the country back monetarily.  Like Momy 
said, we need to change our attitude. Corruption is an attitude. An engineer 
going back from here cannot help. The greatest advantage the Punjabis and 
the Hyderabdis have against the Kharkhowas is that Assamese lack 
confidence. We even donot have the courage to ask an MLA a question "Why we 
don't have electricity why the roads are bad. This confidence will come 
only when enough people will get out our Kharkhowa state and work outside like a 
guy of Kerela, UP, Rajasthan, Gujrat or Punjab.  We the 
Kharkhowas even donot know how much export we can made of Bamboo products to 
Delhi and Mumbai and USA which will help the villagers. Not that we donot need a 
Gas Cracker but a Gas Cracker does not necessarily help our villagers. 
 
Rajen 
Barua  

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  umesh 
  sharma 
  To: Barua25 ; assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 10:11 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs 
  ULFASeeking answers???
  
  
  
  Rajen-da,
   
  good point. I thought there were more Assamese abroad (incl their 
  progeny) 300 is too small a number . I think there were over 3,000 Sikhs 
  from Punjab in only Canada's Vancouver area 100 years ago. Do you think 
  migration in large numbers has helped Punjabis? On the other hand, 
  Hyderabadis have really made a connection between Silicon Valley and 
  Hyderabad -by setting up tech projects which are run out of theri home town. 
  Infosys Chief Narayan Murthy had suggested something similar for Assam - in 
  his recent visit at AEC -about setting up cal centers initially. Maybe 
  NRAs can help in that. Umesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna 
  STCollege Park, MD 20740 USACurrent temp. address: 5649 Yalta 
  Place , Vancouver, Canada1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Canada # (607) 
  221-9433Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate 
  School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: 
  http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ 
  
  - 
  Original Message ----From: Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: 
  muktikam phukan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; assam@assamnet.orgSent: 
  Monday, 25 September, 2006 8:01:06 PMSubject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs 
  ULFASeeking answers???
  

  
  >Problem lies in our educated people migrating to USA and other 
  greener pastures after getting full advantage of the >govt provided 
  educational infrastructure (whatever little is available).
   
  Damn these educated Assamese people that 
  migrated to USA seeking greener pastures. We could have saved Assam had not 
  these selfish 300 or so educated people (out of 20 million population of 
  Assam) migrated to USA. Damn! 
  What we 20 million minus 300 peopel can 
  do in Assam? Nothing. 
  Otherwise, we had everything 
  planned.
  Damn!
  Iake koy manuhe pate, isore 
  bhange.
  I say : hobo diok 
  kokaidew!
   
  Rajen Barua, 
  Houston
  
- Original Message - 
From: muktikam phukan 
To: assam@assamnet.org 
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 6:41 
AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs 
ULFASeeking answers???


  Problem lies in our educated people migrating to USA and other 
  greener pastures after getting full advantage of the govt provided 
  educational infrastructure (whatever little is available).
  Why can't these individuals stay back and try to 
  change the situation? 
  Left behind are those people who actually has to shout slogans once 
  in a while to get a refinery, a tea auction centre, an IIT et al.
  And ASOMIYA's in Higher echeleons of Natun Dilli --- for them it 
  seems they are actually from North India or Bengal. Only concern seems to 
  be to jerk off that asomiya climbing below me in the 
  ladder. Muktikam PhukanMomy Saikia 
  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  Dipankar,Do 
you really think that someone could be deprived of what they deserve due 
to prevailing discrimination. However, I can appreciate your point 
of view.With all due respect to everyone who support the cause 
of ULFA or are in the notion that central govt is biased against the 
north east, do you really think establishing your own rights by 
"snatching" it from either friends or enemies is the right 
action.It’s down to every individual at the end of the 
day;

Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs ULFA????????Seeking answers???

[Barua25]

>blaming the govt. for the >complete 
situation of the state is not justified. If people of Assam are so 
>bothered with the face of Assam's roads, the least they could contribute 
is >to construct the road and drains in the periphery of their new homes. 
If >each household would care to spend the extra price of laying the road 
>outside their "dream house", everyone would have better lanes to walk 
>through...
 
I am with you 100%. 
I was told that as soon as one 
enters Meghalaya from Assam on the Guwahati-Shillong road, the road become 
better.
There must be a some 
conspiracy.
I think the Center is to be blamed. 

They are treating Assam like a 
step-child and giving more money to Meghalaya.
Damn the Center.
 
Rajen Barua
- Original Message - 
From: "Momy Saikia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; 

Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 6:01 
AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs 
ULFASeeking answers???
> Dipankar,> > Do you really think that someone could be 
deprived of what they deserve due > to prevailing discrimination. 
However, I can appreciate your point of view.> > With all due 
respect to everyone who support the cause of ULFA or are in the > notion 
that central govt is biased against the north east, do you really > think 
establishing your own rights by "snatching" it from either friends or > 
enemies is the right action.> > It's down to every 
individual at the end of the day; govt can only support. > Playing the 
blame game is temporary and can never last long and yet the > 
repercussions are severe and permanent.> > I wasn't brought up in 
Assam and have rarely set foot on my land, so my > opinion might not be 
significant. However, blaming the govt. for the > complete situation of 
the state is not justified. If people of Assam are so > bothered with the 
face of Assam's roads, the least they could contribute is > to construct 
the road and drains in the periphery of their new homes. If > each 
household would care to spend the extra price of laying the road > 
outside their "dream house", everyone would have better lanes to walk > 
through...> > With regards to your concern with no major 
industries being set up in Assam > since independence, why wait for the 
govt to take the initiative. Be it a > personal or govt's initiative to 
establish an industry, the results will > always be favourable for the 
people of the place in terms of more employment > opportunities and 
globalization of the state.> > I hope that my personal opinion 
will not be misconstrued as my support for > the Indian govt (I am an 
engineer by profession and not a politician so I am > not radicalized).I 
believe in "everyman for himself". Besides evidences from > history prove 
that revolutions and changes happens due to the initiative of > one/more 
people together, not due to any govt's standalone decision.> > So 
we need to plan some course of action instead of passing the buckIf > 
our generation was to be trusted with the politics of the nation, we would 
> have nothing to complain about> > Momy> 
> > > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dipankar Malla 
Baruah (Well Logging))> >Reply-To: "D M Baruah" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> 
>To: "Momy Saikia" > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,>> >Subject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs 
ULFASeeking answers???> >Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:51:47 
+0530> >> >ULFA problem is the result of large scale 
un-employment and common > >sentiment amongst the people of Assam that 
the central government is not > >doing enough for the development of 
Assam. The two major industries of > >Assam, Tea and Oil industry was 
started by Britishers. People of Assam had > >to do agitations for 
setting up refineries for oil produced in Assam. After > 
>independance, there is not a single major industry set up in Assam. Assam 
> >is a major producer of tea, oil and gas in India. But Assam is 
still one of > >the poorest state. If you look at the conditions of 
roads, primary health > >and educational infrastructure in Assam, it 
is amonngst the worst in India. > >Most of the people of Assam had the 
access to moblile phones only recently. > >  Most of the time 
people dont have electricity here. Big things come to > >assam only 
when people agitate.> >> >These are a few things that one 
can realise while staying in Assam. It is > >easy to talk of peace and 
prosperity staying in a foreign land. Taking the > >gun or going ULFA 
way is certainly not the right way to solve the problems > >of the 
state. But we should realise that every problem has got certain > 
>reason. I dont support the ULFA millitants when they kill people or collect 
> >ransoms. But I still feel that Central Government should stop doing 
step > >motherly treatment to Assam. Let more industries set up here, 
let more > >youth have jobs, let people be happy with the basic 
ammenities of life, > >ULFA will not have enough people joining them 
and the prob

Re: [Assam] OIL INDIA LIMITED: A silent, consistent & determined performer

[Barua25]

ASOMIYA
ASO-MIYA
O Miya come!
 
I did not know that we 
Assamese all become Miyas now a days.
Hobo Diok!
Rajen Barua

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  muktikam 
  phukan 
  To: assam@assamnet.org 
  Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 6:11 
  AM
  Subject: [Assam] OIL INDIA LIMITED: A 
  silent,consistent & determined performer
  
  OIL INDIA LIMITED: A silent, consistent & determined 
  performer and most of the officers & workers are 
  ASOMIYA
  
   
  MONDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2006
  Net Worth of the company increased to Rs 5,848 crore, up by 24 
  %OIL records highest ever profit From our 
  ReporterTINSUKIA, Sept 24: Oil India Limited held its 47th annual general 
  meeting at Duliajan on Saturday.The total income for the year 2005-06 
  reached a new high at Rs 6,037 crores (up by 46 per cent as compared to Rs 
  4,125 crore for the previous year). The profit before tax of Rs 2,674 crore 
  (up by 65 per cent as compared to Rs 1,623 crore for the previous year) and 
  similarly the profit after tax at Rs 1,690 crore ( a 59% increase as compared 
  to Rs 1,062 crore for the previous year).Net Worth of the company 
  increased to Rs 5,848 crore ( a 24 per cent increase over the previous year of 
  Rs 4,711 crore) even after providing for discount of Rs 977.49 crore on crude 
  oil and LPG towards the sharing of under recoveries suffered by oil marketing 
  companies. Based on these excellent financial results, the OIL recommended a 
  final divided of 80 per cent on the paid up capital over and above the two 
  interim dividend of 110 per cent and 75 per cent paid earlier. The total 
  dividend of 265 per cent for the year works out to Rs 567.11 crore which is 
  the highest so far.The company also made the highest ever contribution 
  both to the State exchequer and the Central exchequer in terms of cess, 
  royalty, sales tax, etc. The contribution to the State exchequer during the 
  year was Rs 1081.68 crore and that to the Central exchequer was Rs 2209.00 
  crore.Addressing the shareholders, OIL CMD MR Pasija gave a detailed 
  account of the company’s overall performance, highlighting the initiatives 
  undertaken for overall growth of the Company in exploration, production as 
  well as in the related field like E&P services, selective diversification 
  in the oil and gas value chain.Pasrija mentioned that OIL recorded the 
  highest growth in the production of oil plus oil equivalent gas amongst the 
  upstream companies in India for the second year in succession. Increase in 
  production of oil and gas coupled with high crude oil price resulted in the 
  company crossing the tumover of USS 1.25 Billion for the first time. OIL also 
  successfully completed drilling of the deepest onshore horizontal well in 
  India, which resulted in increasing the productivity to almost three 
  times.Elaborating on some of the achievements in the bygone financial 
  year, Pasrija said the company continued with the increasing trend in crude 
  oil production and recorded the highest ever crude oil sale (3.16 MMT) since 
  inception.The gas production (2.27 BCM) and sales (1.74 BCM) showed a 
  remarkable increase of 13 per cent to 18 per cent respectively from the level 
  of last year. OIL also recorded oil and equivalent gas production growth of 6 
  per cent, which is the highest amongst all the upstream companies in 
  India.The increases in crude oil and gas sales together with recent trend 
  in crude oil prices resulted in growth in total income of about 46 per cent. 
  Special focus on 3D seismic survey enabled OIL to acquire 889.00 km of 3D 
  seismic data during the year in addition to acquiring 1143.75 GLKM of 2D 
  data. 
  
  
  Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! 
  Answers India Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! 
  Messenger Version 8. Get 
  it NOW
  
  

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