[Assam] DU Stand-Off
All the student organizations are lending their support to DU students protesting fee hike. But the VC of DU KC Deka seems to be man of courage and principle. Students may view it as arrogance. But university authority needs money as government does not give much. If the VC is forced to go because of student agitation, it will be unfortunate.At the same time can anything be done to alleviate the burden on students, if fee hike is really too much? Unfortunatly , parents of the same students will be willing/compelled to pay through their nose had their wards been studing in private some south indian engineering colleges after not getting admission in any of the state colleges/universities. Varsity fee hike stand-off on - DU students demand VC ouster; organisations back agitation, call bandh OUR CORRESPONDENT Dibrugarh, Aug. 26: The unrest in Dibrugarh University (DU) since Tuesday took a turn for the worse today with both the students and authorities sticking to their respective grounds on the fee hike issue and the “vice-chancellor ouster cry” getting shriller. Students hoisted black flags in all the departments of the campus, the vice-chancellor’s office and the main administrative block since early morning in protest against the “arrogant” attitude of the authorities on the issue. The students also wore black badges and organised a demonstration in front of the locked vice-chancellor’s office in clear defiance of prohibitory orders issued by the Dibrugarh district administration under Section 144 CrPc. Carrying placards, banners and festoons, the students also shouted slogans demanding the ouster of university vice-chancellor Kandarpa Kumar Deka. “Initially, our demand was an immediate rollback of the hiked fee structure. But now the ouster of the arrogant VC is our main demand. We will not stop our agitation and are prepared to face bullets,” said Arindam Buragohain, the general secretary of the Dibrugarh University Post- Graduate Students Union (DUPGSU). The students are agitating on the fee hike issue under the leadership of the union and All Assam Students’ Union. As the VC entered the main administrative building today, the students laid siege to it, besides blocking the main entrance to the building. The students, after an hour of demonstration, took out a mock funeral procession on the campus. “The vice-chancellor had shown total disrespect towards the genuine demands of the students. The VC had even asked the administration and police to forcefully thwart our agitation. Therefore, we had no other option. We demand that a new VC be appointed at DU,” Buragohain said. The protesters also launched a signature campaign among the students. “We will submit the signatures along with a memorandum to the Governor and chancellor J.B. Patnaik demanding immediate removal of the vice-chancellor and appointment of a new VC who will be sympathetic to our demands, Kasturi Nath, president-in-charge of the DUPGSU, said. The district administration, which had issued prohibitory orders on Wednesday, apparently did not impose them in the first half of the day. However, in the afternoon, a huge police contingent, led by additional SP (headquarters), Debashish Sarma, entered the campus and urged students to disperse. The students, till the filing of this report, were locked in talks with Dibrugarh additional DC Bandana Dutta Tamuli and magistrate Sarangapani Sarma. When contacted over phone, the vice-chancellor said the university administration was open to holding discussions on the fee hike. “All issues can be settled through discussions only. However, if the students remain arrogant, we, too, will be compelled to initiate harsher action,” he said. The All Assam Muttock Yuba Chatra Sanmelan, Tai-Ahom Yuba Parishad, All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association, All Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union, Sonowal-Kachari Students’ Union, All Deori Students’ Union and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Parishad have extended support to the agitation. They have even called a 12-hour Dibrugarh district bandh on August 31 on the issue. The North East Students Organisation, too, has extended support to the agitation. NESO secretary general Gumjum Haider told reporters that the university would have to withdraw the hiked fee structure. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Lord Macaulay's Address to Brit. Parliament
Ram da This address looks like a hoax email to me-written by some guy having lot of free time with the benefit of hindsight. Regards Chittaranjan The following is excerpt from a debate in another forum Please read the text carefully. This is the language people may use inclosed door schemings and not one used by Politicians publicly.Secondly, Was Macaulay a member of British Parliament in 1935 or just amember of the Governing Council of East India Company? I think he became MPmuch later.Oh! God! It is wonderful to hear that there was no beggers or thieves inIndia in the early 1800s. Good fairy tale.Apart from various internet sites, is there any source from which theauthenticity of this quote can be verified? British Parliament records arenot secret records. And if the British Parliament did not keep records ofspeeches those days, where from did this speech surface? _ Get your free suite of Windows Live services today! http://www.get.live.com/wl/all ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Need of Uniform in Assam Assembly
But it takes an ability to IMAGINE things. An absence of imagination is what gives rise to questions like the above. Try it a sometimes. You mighrt actually get hooked. m-da :-) You mean hooked to day dreaming? May be in a couple of years time. regards Chitta - Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Need of Uniform in Assam Assembly
Mahanta da Thanks for your detailed reply. Chitta - Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Need of Uniform in Assam Assembly
You mean hooked to day dreaming? May be in a couple of years time. *** That is hardly a smart-alec answer as it was meant to be. In reality it is an abject surrender to the status-quo. Cry about things to no end, but unable and unwilling to exercise one's imagination to find a better way. BY IMAGINATION AGAIN did you mean dreaming about taking control of assam's resources your euphemism for the sovereignity and what not? Any way, be that as it may, it still leaves the question of intent on the wailing about the lungi-menace wide open. I was hoping to get a response to my question : Knowing this reality, those who ceaselessly keep pointing at the lungi-menace specter, but doing or seeking nothing to help MANAGE the problem by taking steps that are realistic , achievable and humane, do it because of WHAT Chitta? MAHANTA DA by realistic, humane etc did you mean work permit and all those things? Like most of the Assamese -yes I will keep poiting to the influx problem knowing fully well we are helpless (both within and outside India) to do anything about it. Can we get a glimpse of realistic steps to manage the problem from you? We are willing to believe for the time being that the Bangladeshis will be identifying themselves as genuine BDesh citizen and will clamor for the much coveted work permit (green card) to work 5 months in Assam and then go back willingly to BDesh regards chitta - Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] About IMAGINATIONS
Assam's despondency is rooted in an appalling lack of imaginative ideas and creative drives, forever under the shackles of even more unimaginative Indian rule. DOES IT MEAN Assamese people are unimaginative ? Or do we so easily cower down that we allow our imaginations to be stifled by Indian rule? On either accounts will it not be a disester or chaos if by some magic Assam becomes what you want it to be? The moment you accept this condition as given and an unchangeable fact of life, you are doomed. Your thought processes cannot get out of the self imposed prisons. THAT IS YOUR VIEW POINT-but many may feel that moment you accept that you can not prosper taking leverage of India's support (however dysfunctional its Desi Demokrasy is), you are even more DOOMED. - Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Need of Uniform in Assam Assembly
will not be affected by money, one who will not go Prafulla-Bharat Narah way, one who will not resort to all too familiar plunder to make for the time lost in jungle? Give it a try if you can. If you had the answers , may be you could have said in few lines. But to hide that lack of answer, you will have to write a tretise to distract, confuse us. So if it takes please feel free to skip the questions. We understand Mahanta da!! Regards Chittaranjan m-da At 6:21 AM -0700 8/14/07, chittaranjan pathak wrote: Well, yes Mahanta da, I am still at loss. Please explain to me and to others like Ramda, more explicitly why you try to make the Assamese Hindus suffer from collective guilt complex by dubbing their anti BDesh stance as an anti Muslim one. Decrying others of being unnecessarily sensitive to lungi menace and yourself garbing a selectively broadminded image-this is quite beguiling!! Or is there a hidden motive and may be you also have the same level of jingoism you accuse your fellow Assamese Hindus of harbouring, which for the time being may be you have kept in suspended animation for some technical reasons. By the way, a clarification on why I used the term Assamese Hindus (at which you jumped to emphasize that the usage of that term itself exposed every thing-I dont know what you meant) 1) I believe amongst the Assamese speakers-they (Hindus) are still in majority in Assam. Or do you think otherwise? 2) They are the more vocal on this issue infiltration by BDeshis 3) This feeling of paranoia is present amongst Assamese speaking Muslim also. But their protestations are not that loud as their Hindu counterparts as they are less in number, many come from more disadvantaged back ground. Many of those who are economically well off, educated, learned and city bred (say from Lakhtokiya of Guwahati), same religious affiliations and post 9/11 more cohesive feeling make it some what difficult for them to be as vocal as their Hindu counterparts. Most of the educated Assamese Hindus understand this dilemma and should not have qualms about it. So I hope it is now clear why I used the term Assamese Hindus? CM said *Are only 'Assamese Hindus' burdened by illegal immigrants? Is Assam the home of B'deshi despising Hindus only? And if they are the only ones outraged or aggrieved, then is it ALL of Assam's Hindus or most or just a handful of them? And is it because of: The offenders' name? The color of their skin? Their cuisine? The language they speak? The lungis they wear and the skull-caps they flaunt? The unkind cuts the male of their species live with? The high wage jobs they deprive the natives of? The economy they depress by their dependence on public charity? The criminal activities they spread in society? The corruption they promote by bribery of public officials? The economic progress they thwart by their habitual sloth? Inundate the free public health-care system? Flood the public school system with children of the non-producing, lowering the quality of education? Usurp and rob the Oxomiya bhaxa of its purity and ownership? Other ills I have not mentioned, deliberately or otherwise? Or is it because of their religious persuasion?* Your numerous clues did not help me much. If the last line was your punch line it is again the same hackneyed manifestation of your covert agenda. As I told you many times before-it is not the religion alone. It is the religion combined with language combined with an alien culture that has been causing the discomfort. If there are millions of khukri wielding Saulor phut luwa Daajus and Kaanchas also, the reaction of the local populace would have been similar. So I am still at dark about your attempts. Please explain more explicitly and clearly unlike those numerous inconclusive mails where you end by saying something like I will explain later if you want or by adopting those avoiding techniques saying that I will explain if you first answer this question. Come on Mahanta da enlighten us on the eve of 60th Independence Day of India. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.*** That is your explanation. OK, fair enough. Let me ask you this: What is your reaction to garish alien culture temples pock-marking the once beautiful Assamese landscape, including smack-dab in the middle of Kaziranga ? When was the last time you can point to anyone complaing about that? - Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Need of Uniform in Assam Assembly
Well, yes Mahanta da, I am still at loss. Please explain to me and to others like Ramda, more explicitly why you try to make the Assamese Hindus suffer from collective guilt complex by dubbing their anti BDesh stance as an anti Muslim one. Decrying others of being unnecessarily sensitive to lungi menace and yourself garbing a selectively broadminded image-this is quite beguiling!! Or is there a hidden motive and may be you also have the same level of jingoism you accuse your fellow Assamese Hindus of harbouring, which for the time being may be you have kept in suspended animation for some technical reasons. By the way, a clarification on why I used the term Assamese Hindus (at which you jumped to emphasize that the usage of that term itself exposed every thing-I dont know what you meant) 1) I believe amongst the Assamese speakers-they (Hindus) are still in majority in Assam. Or do you think otherwise? 2) They are the more vocal on this issue infiltration by BDeshis 3) This feeling of paranoia is present amongst Assamese speaking Muslim also. But their protestations are not that loud as their Hindu counterparts as they are less in number, many come from more disadvantaged back ground. Many of those who are economically well off, educated, learned and city bred (say from Lakhtokiya of Guwahati), same religious affiliations and post 9/11 more cohesive feeling make it some what difficult for them to be as vocal as their Hindu counterparts. Most of the educated Assamese Hindus understand this dilemma and should not have qualms about it. So I hope it is now clear why I used the term Assamese Hindus? CM said *Are only 'Assamese Hindus' burdened by illegal immigrants? Is Assam the home of B'deshi despising Hindus only? And if they are the only ones outraged or aggrieved, then is it ALL of Assam's Hindus or most or just a handful of them? And is it because of: The offenders' name? The color of their skin? Their cuisine? The language they speak? The lungis they wear and the skull-caps they flaunt? The unkind cuts the male of their species live with? The high wage jobs they deprive the natives of? The economy they depress by their dependence on public charity? The criminal activities they spread in society? The corruption they promote by bribery of public officials? The economic progress they thwart by their habitual sloth? Inundate the free public health-care system? Flood the public school system with children of the non-producing, lowering the quality of education? Usurp and rob the Oxomiya bhaxa of its purity and ownership? Other ills I have not mentioned, deliberately or otherwise? Or is it because of their religious persuasion?* Your numerous clues did not help me much. If the last line was your punch line it is again the same hackneyed manifestation of your covert agenda. As I told you many times before-it is not the religion alone. It is the religion combined with language combined with an alien culture that has been causing the discomfort. If there are millions of khukri wielding Saulor phut luwa Daajus and Kaanchas also, the reaction of the local populace would have been similar. So I am still at dark about your attempts. Please explain more explicitly and clearly unlike those numerous inconclusive mails where you end by saying something like I will explain later if you want or by adopting those avoiding techniques saying that I will explain if you first answer this question. Come on Mahanta da enlighten us on the eve of 60th Independence Day of India. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Assam North East Trivia : From Assam 2007 (Malabika Brahma)
The quize (trivia) was a good effort. The slides were quite interesting. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Need of Uniform in Assam Assembly
Ram da Of course you wont be able to resist when there is this repeated attempt by Mahanta da to dub the whole issue as aversion to lungi meanace to say the least. I will any way send a mail to M da tomorrow requesting him that extra bit of assistance. Regards Chitta Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: C'da Couldn't resist... And if they are the only ones outraged or aggrieved, then is it ALL of Assam's Hindus or most or just a handful of them? And is it because of : The offenders' name? The color of their skin? . Or is it because of their religious persuasion? It is the legal status they bear: Are they Indian citizens or Bangladeshis enroaching into Assam? All Indians ought to oppose the influx of ILLEGAL hordes of B'deshis. The word Illegal means that they are NOT Indians. Their religion, the 'lungi-menace' etc are just your way of diluting a very serious problem in Assam. BTW: You will find many Assamese Muslims who are equally disturbed by the illegal B'deshi influx. It is politically advantageous for certan groups in Assam to drive a wedge along religious lines on this issue, but the main issue still remains: The truth is that Assam is under siege, and a not so silent invasion from Bangladesh. --Assam On 8/12/07, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi Chitta: Why do you always want to equate the BDeshi issue with the Muslim one? *** I did not even touch the M word. Give me a break, will ya :-) ? I wonder whether you have a hidden agenda here in trying to make all Assamese Hindus suffer from collective guilt complex by dubbing their anti BDesh stance as an anti muslim one. *** Seriously though, you have explained it right here in the above statement you made. Assamese Hindus Are only 'Assamese Hindus' burdened by illegal immigrants ? Is Assam the home of B'deshi despising Hindus only? And if they are the only ones outraged or aggrieved, then is it ALL of Assam's Hindus or most or just a handful of them? And is it because of : The offenders' name? The color of their skin? Their cuisine? The language they speak? The lungis they wear and the skull-caps they flaunt? The unkind cuts the male of their species live with? The high wage jobs they deprive the natives of? The economy they depress by their dependence on public charity? The criminal activities they spread in society? The corruption they promote by bribery of public officials? The economic progress they thwart by their habitual sloth? Inundate the free public health-care system? Flood the public school system with children of the non-producing, lowering the quality of education? Usurp and rob the Oxomiya bhaxa of its purity and ownership? Other ills I have not mentioned, deliberately or otherwise? Or is it because of their religious persuasion? I gave a few clues to finding your way to the answer to you query, all by yourself. So, what is it? And what do you think my motives are; my agenda, hidden or overt? If you are still in the dark, let me know. I will be pleased to explain more explicitly. But there are risks associated with seeking that extra bit of assistance. I am sure you know what those might be :-). m-da At 8:16 PM -0700 8/11/07, chittaranjan pathak wrote: Anyone ( of the male species) looking like B'deshis must have to prove their non-B'deshi status by displaying accepted physical evidence to law-enforcement officials Mahanta da Why do you always want to equate the BDeshi issue with the Muslim one? I wonder whether you have a hidden agenda here in trying to make all Assamese Hindus suffer from collective guilt complex by dubbing their anti BDesh stance as an anti muslim one. As far as I know-those who like the Assamese language will not like Dhonyo Noro Tonu Bhaal less than Pita putra just because former is penned by Abdul Mallick and later by Homen Borgohain. For Assamese-lingustic and ethnic identities are more binding than religion. BJP has some 10 seats in 126 Assam assembly. And bulk of the winners are from Barak valley. So what does it prove? Your attempt to paint BDeshi hating Assamese Hindus as Assamese religious bigot surely is not working. Regards Chitta - Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org - Be a better Heartthrob
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Need of Uniform in Assam Assembly
Anyone ( of the male species) looking like B'deshis must have to prove their non-B'deshi status by displaying accepted physical evidence to law-enforcement officials Mahanta da Why do you always want to equate the BDeshi issue with the Muslim one? I wonder whether you have a hidden agenda here in trying to make all Assamese Hindus suffer from collective guilt complex by dubbing their anti BDesh stance as an anti muslim one. As far as I know-those who like the Assamese language will not like Dhonyo Noro Tonu Bhaal less than Pita putra just because former is penned by Abdul Mallick and later by Homen Borgohain. For Assamese-lingustic and ethnic identities are more binding than religion. BJP has some 10 seats in 126 Assam assembly. And bulk of the winners are from Barak valley. So what does it prove? Your attempt to paint BDeshi hating Assamese Hindus as Assamese religious bigot surely is not working. Regards Chitta - Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] wiki : Harvard College history
Umesh To get more active response to such specific posts on topics of your interest but not of much relevance to most of the Assam netters, who may have joined this group with some what parochial mind set to be concerned with issues, news, views related directly or indirectly to Assam or northeast- dont you think for these kind of non-Assam related posts you should find target audiences in other appropriate groups aligned to your wide ranging interests and varied pursuits? I am not the moderator of this group but as a member I though I will let you know what I think of your numerous posts vis-à-vis the main objective of this platform. Dont you think the purpose Assamnet will be some what diluted if all of us send topics of our own personal or professional interests having little to do with Assam or Northeast. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Two rhinos killed
One small way NRAs can contribute to the conservation of rhinos in Assam is by boycotting Kaziranga altogether. In spite of all the poaching incidences Kaziranga is relatively well protected area with all sorts of epitaphs like National Park, World Heritage Site, Elephant Reserve (part of Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong elephant reserve) and now it is being christened as the third tiger reserve of Assam. Compared to other Assam rhino habitats it is far ahead in tourism infrastructure. Plight of other rhino habitat is worse. Entire population of Laokhowa was decimated during Assam agitation, entire population of Manas National Park during Bodo agitation, Orang and Pobitara are also regularly targeted by poachers. In fact in Pobitara poachers innovatively used the high tension lines running through the sanctuary to electrocute the animals. In all these areas-Manas, Orang, Pobitara, Laokhowa forest department people are waging lonely battles. There are some nascent eco-tourism ventures and/or minimal tourism/forest department amenities at these four places. They may not provide the same level of comfort as Wild Grass of Kaziranga. But still patronizing these other rhino habitats by tourists and NRAs will boost the moral of the people working for rhino conservation in these areas and also help those who are dependent on eco-tourism. Kaziranga any way gets its load of tourist. Normalcy has returned to Manas and this pace is definitely worth visiting as the scenic beauty of this park is awesome. An excellent website to get a glimpse of Assams forest, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks is www.assamforest.co.in Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Chef from Assam
Bharat is a friend from school days and his restaurant is one of the best in Kolkata. The website is www.redhotchillipepper.in Regards Chittaranjan Chef and friends try red-hot recipe to cook up success Starting out with Rs1.5 lakh each, the three friends now run a company which has an annual turnover of Rs5 crore and employs 170 people Anik Basu Circa 1998. Three employees huddled in the cafeteria of the Taj Bengal Hotel poring over a dog-eared diary scribbled with calculations, from the price of chicken to the cumulative worth of their young lives, chewing over the unthinkable: Give up secure, respected jobs at a five-star hotel and start their own eatery. The trio could barely scrape up Rs3 lakh from savings and that included the Provident Fund they would receive if they quit. An entrepreneur needed more than that to open a cigarette shop on a Kolkata pavement. A day at the office: Bharat Dhamala says his ultimate aim is to own a hotel Still, the three quit. Only one of them, Bharat Dhamala, could cook; that was his job at Chinoiserie, the Cantonese and Szechwan restaurant at Taj Bengal. His rationale: If people queued up to eat what I prepared, why shouldnt I have my own establishment? While the other two came from business families, Dhamala was the son of an oil-tanker driver at the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd in Assam. His sister had died when he was a teenager and the family had pinned the little hope left on him for a brighter future. His father scraped together the Rs70,000 needed in the early 1990s to put Dhamala through a hotel management course. It had paid off. There he was, a rising chef at one of Kolkatas best hotels. Could he risk his fathers investment to chase a dream?#8195; My wife was expecting our first child, and everyone said we were crazy, reminisces Dhamala, now director chef at ABNM Restaurant Pvt. Ltd, the company he founded with his two friends in August 1999 at the age of 27. Today, we have an annual turnover of more than Rs5 crore. ABNM runs two upscale restaurants in KolkataRed Hot Chilli Pepper at Ballygunge and the Red Kitchen Lounge at Aliporeand a coffee shop, Red Xpress, at the citys throbbing intelligence park at Salt Lake. It offers hospitality consultancy services in India and the US, and plans to enter food production of packaged heat and eat Chinese meals. Moreover, the company has also landed a 24-hour catering contract at the Tata Consultancy Services cafeteria at Salt Lake. About 170 people are directly or indirectly employed by the companythats 170 families dependent on usand it took them less than a decade to achieve what they have. It wasnt easy, says Dhamala, now a 35-year-old father of two kids enrolled in one of Kolkatas most prestigious institutions, La Martiniere School for Girls. But he and his friends, along with their wives, cobbled together a recipe that has spelled success. Dhamala, who trained under the Taj Groups revered master chef known to everyone as Brando before studying Cantonese and Szechwan cuisine in Bangkok, was the youngest in-charge chef of Chinoiserie; he was the natural choice to head ABNMs production division. His friends, Ashim Mewar and Manash Borthakur, both of whom specialized in the service area at Taj, took over administration. Mewar and Borthakurs wives, also ex-Taj employees in the service sector, were inducted as paid employees to run the coffee shop at Salt Lakes IT neighbourhood. (Dhamalas wife Mom, who he met at the Taj, runs an IFB Launderette franchise, as she had a housekeeping background and found no place in her husbands new venture. Despite being friends and family, the entrepreneurs said they wanted to run everything very professionally). When they started out, each raised Rs1.5 lakh, and borrowed about Rs 2.5 lakh from a private finance company at high interest as banks wouldnt back them. They found a ground floor apartment on Ballygunge Circular Road, and struck by the lack of any good restaurant in the neighbourhood, decided this would be the spot that they would set up the first shop. They converted the master bedroom into the kitchen, put in affordable furniture, and thus was born a small 45-seat restaurant, Red Hot Chilli Pepper, on 20 September 1999. There was no money to advertise, says Dhamala. Marketing was mainly by word of mouth. The first day, they made around Rs4,000; the next day brought slightly better pickings: Rs4,500, and the third day, it hovered around Rs6,000. Today, Dhamala claims, they easily cross Rs1 lakh a day. During one of those early days, RPG Enterprises vice-chairman Sanjeev Goenka came in with his family to test the new establishment. Recalls Dhamalas friend and partner Mewar: They had starters and were waiting for the main meal, which wasnt ready even after
[Assam] New Indian President: My mother's Namesake
In my opinion, Rastropoti is the office-it may not be gender specific. Just like Kororepoti-Godrej owner Mrs/Ms Parmeswar Godrej is still a Kororepoti. But to address her -may be it could be something like Rastropoti Mohodoya. Any way we will come to know soon. Regards Chittaranjan - Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] 'ULFA had traced me to Philadelphia?': Assamese Tea Baron's
Umesh HP Barooah is a big name in Assam and India. One of the greatest Assamese entrepreneurs we can be proud of.In Indian context he is fit for Padmabhsushans, Vibhushans etc like Chabarias, Mittals, Tatas, Godrej etc. But then he is from Assam-so no such recognition till now. regards Chittaranjan - Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] The New President
A website know about the new would be Indian President. Regards Chittaranjan http://www.knowpratibhapatil.com/ - Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Re: assam Digest, Vol 24, Issue 18 (Chan Mahanta)
O' Deka: Buise', bhaxa ( language) is merely a medium of communication ? Command over one or the other is NOT a measure of one's intellectual abilities, even though 'desis' don't always realize that: A result of centuries of colonial subjugation. Mahnata da Thats surprising-coming from you. All these months what I have observed is that you are the only one who jumps into criticizing a person's english and then his/her intellect with all those exclamations like this damned english language etc . Or is it that such criticism is valid for only desis and nor for pardesis and BDeshis? Regards Chitta - Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Kanaklata and Assam.org
Mahanta da All I wanted to know was whether you are one of the custodians of the Assam.org list. And if you do not want to get into this biography business because of some past bad experiences, your abhorance for hero worshipping, you could have said it in one line. By the way I am not sure how knowing about our own people is hero worshipping. I was amazed reading about Kashinath Saikia in the list as I did not hear the name before. Similarly, may be I would have liked to read about Pilik Chaudhury or Parvati Prasad Baruva or Ganesh Gogoi. For people like you and me-busy in our own materialistic pursuits-it ends at that. Where is the hero worshipping part ? Regards Chitta that Its not clear to me whether you are one of the custodian but not into biography writing or you have nothing to do with assam.org and dont want to add the biographies Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Chitta: While I admire and respect achievers and do-gooders, I am not into hero-worshipping. More so because our people have degenerated the hero-worshipping to a substitute for emulating what their heroes exemplified. In an extreme example of it, one illustrious NRA ( I am being extremely generous here) , who fancies himself to be the defender of Xonkordev's legacy, even threatened to shut down an exhibit honoring Xonkordev, if the organizers used the X letter in transliterating the departed hero's name in English. With such examples of hero-worshippers, who needs hero-trashers :-)? So, I will pass on writing biographies. But I hope to set examples thru MY actions, shaped by learning from and emulating those who came before me, whom I admire. I also am not the kind of person who go about waving my pride in this or that, person or action or achievement. Pride waving is something that becomes necessary only when there really is scant amounts for it to be found. Again, not to suggest I don't admire others' contributions or achievements. But that is not something I build my self-worth upon. And if ALL or many individuals take that approach, we will become much better people. Finally, there are many individuals who did many fine and admirable things, and many are doing it now, unrecognized and unsung; as many will do in times to come. In this era of information overload, I do not even think of attempting to know all that is worthy of knowing, people, actions or things. We will, of necessity, have to focus on issues, people, things--that are of interest to us, individually or collectively. So, biographies should be written by those who have an interest in it. Finally, the piece below, is definitely NOT one to emulate to document someone's life, with such banalities like: The doctor told her he could cure her in a day. And cure he did. A clinical diagnosis by the gifted doctor established that a purgative would heal her. She had the pill and as if by magic, she was cured instantly. OR with such poor understanding of a language, like: He miraculously survived inspite of drowning in the Brahmaputra at one pont of his career. c-da PS: Alright-what you are saying may be true for some Indians, but is equally true for most of the Assamese. *** Yes, and that is precisely because Assam's establishment is little more than a bad copy of India's. And I recognized the 'some' aspect of it, when I qualified my statement with 'by-and-large'. Question would be what you imply with 'some'? Hope it is not an attempt to portray it as a minuscule, aberrant segment and thus a rebuttal , on the sly, of what obviously is an uncomfortable truth to you and others . If that is what you are trying to do, that would be dissembling :-). How many Nolboriya Assamese know about Samson Sing Ingty or Kalicharan Brahma *** Let us not equate trivia collection with learning about people or cultures, even though that is exactly what the whole desi-education system has degenerated into, where information collection and regurgitation passes for learning and measuring its worth. At 8:42 PM -0700 7/4/07, chittaranjan pathak wrote: Mahanta da Thanks for your interest and contribution so far. Hope you will take some initiative to fill the gap on biographies front too. Others will surely follow. I am not sure who the owner of the list is as my earlier post elicited no response. Are you one of the custodians? If so ,please let us know how we can all go about filling this gap. May be we can have a time frame and all of us can volunteer few biographies of personalities we feel we are familiar with. Regards Chittaranjan By the way Mahanta da-these biographies are not about educating Indians. These will be useful for every one and most useful for the Assamese (including us
[Assam] Article on engineering college by J. Kalita
Dear Shrri Jugal Kalita Congratulations to you and the co-authors- excellent article as suggestions are very pragmatic and doable. From your article, if I understood correctly, the basic thrust is to produce significant number of engineering graduates to be at par with other states. Number of engineering colleges is a corollary based on some assumed intake. Upgrade of existing ITI and diploma institutes spread all over Assam is an excellent idea and should be pursued immediately. Also at the same time while dwelling on this approach of establishing new colleges, immediate step should be to over-saturate the intake capacity of the existing two state engineering colleges. With an incremental expenditure this can be easily achieved. Also more B.Tech courses should be introduced in Tezpur university. And at the same time during this conversion spree of existing polytechnics, new ones should be created at more remote sites. Just a small thought on the staggering number of new engineering colleges-I think it is better not to scare the wits out of Assam government representative by saying a huge number of engineering colleges will be required. Instead of say 10 engineering colleges at X millions per college for an intake of 300 per college requiring 10X millions, another option could be having one or two single mega engineering college for say 2000-3000 student intake. Cost will surely not be 10X but may be 2 or 3 X. Just a question of balancing cost versus local aspiration to have a college at neighborhood. Your suggestion of conversion of existing diploma institutes will any way lead to an equitable distribution of engineering colleges through out the state. We have seen how lackadaisical the state government has been in running its two existing engineering colleges. On the other hand central government colleges like NIT, NERIST may not fulfill the number demand as only a small % of seats will be reserved for the state. An example is NERIST which must have produced more Bengali graduates than Arunachalis. Similarly private engineering colleges will appeal to only a certain section of the society due to higher fee structure. For the general people of Assam, new state engineering colleges with transparent admission policies offer the best hope. Establishing one mega engineering college like Jadavpur university (which has an undergraduate engineering intake of around 1000 students) at central location like Guwahati or Nowgaon and additional normal size engineering colleges at other places in Assam should be the way to go. Only request is that this good article should reach those who are in a position to take things forward. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak PS- Thanks to Umesh for letting us know that authors have made a forceful presentation to CM. Secondly a copy be forwarded to Education minister Ripun Bora and DTE and VCs of Tezpur/Guwahati/Dibrugarh universities. - Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos more. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Halliburton's entry to Assam
Mahanta da What is your comment on the statement by this Assamese politician on Halliburton. Being a technocrat, American citizen you may be in a better position to comment whether the politicians statement has any basis. Please give us your comment on this. Regards Halliburton likely to explore oil Entry may spell doom for NE: AGP By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, July 1: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has alleged that the entry of US company Halliburton, known for its involvement in building and maintenance of military support bases for US Army in Iraq, into the North East India for oil drilling would spell doom for the region. AGP chief Brindabon Goswami said, A controversial company is being brought into the region. It should be stopped immediately. He urged the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter, halt the ONGCs move to give access to the US oil company into Asom and the North-east and to conduct an inquiry if there was any kind of secret deal (kick back) between any politician of India and the US company. Talking to newsmen in the city today, Goswami linked the proposed entry of Halliburton into NE to the East India Companys entry that had cost the country its freedom. Talking to newsmen in the city today, Goswami said that non-resident Asomiyas also expressed concern over the entry of Halliburton, and the AGP would hold talks with other political parties and organizations to make a united effort to stop the move. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had proposed to bring in Halliburton for oil drilling into the North-east as part of its proposed Rs 90 billion investment in oil and gas projects in the region. Basically an infrastructure building company, Halliburton is engaged in engineering and construction industries in the energy sector and managing logistics for military operations, among its forays into various fields. It had come under heavy criticism for its part in the Iraq war, where it was entrusted with oil fields and providing logistic support to the US Army. The company is alleged to have failed in fixing the oil fields, the primary responsibility assigned to it in Iraq. The AGP claimed that oil drilling was never a speciality of the company, and its proposed involvement for the purpose in the North-east smacked of ulterior motives of those who awarded the contracts in ONGC and Government. There is also an allegation that Hallibuton was engaged in secret business dealings with Saddams regime by selling Iraq oil production equipment and spare parts to get the Iraqi oil fields up and running, Goswami said quoting confidential UN records. - Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Kanaklata and Assam.org
Mahanta da Thanks for your interest and contribution so far. Hope you will take some initiative to fill the gap on biographies front too. Others will surely follow. I am not sure who the owner of the list is as my earlier post elicited no response. Are you one of the custodians? If so ,please let us know how we can all go about filling this gap. May be we can have a time frame and all of us can volunteer few biographies of personalities we feel we are familiar with. Regards Chittaranjan By the way Mahanta da-these biographies are not about educating Indians. These will be useful for every one and most useful for the Assamese (including us and hopefully/wishfully our children). You also know it Mahanta da-is not it? The educating Indians bit was just out of old habit. You said that Indians are not interested about others, their culture, their history, their language and by and large, Indians are perfectly happy to suck-up to those who they deem are superior and are ever ready to push down on whom they deem inferior. Alright-what you are saying may be true for some Indians, but is equally true for most of the Assamese. How many Nolboriya Assamese know about Samson Sing Ingty or Kalicharan Brahma. Bokul Bonor Kavi does not ring a bell in Bijni nowadays nor does Kamala Kanta in Karbi Anglong. And now the situation is such that a Roy boy of Goalpara will idolize as Jatiya Bir Chilarai only leaving Lachit Borphukan to his Upper Assam friends. I feel such a list with life sketches with luminaries of Assam will be a learning, relearning exercise for all of us and to some extent make us all broadminded enough again to feel proud of all these luminaries from Assam forgetting the ethnic divides. Now tell me, should we not all feel proud this octogenarian Assamese doctor who is still on his mission at the ripe old age of 97. I have been fortunate enough to drink the pink concoction administered by this Good Samaritan during those childhood fever bouts. Here is the life sketch of Dr. Nalini Sarma published in this Saturdays Sentinel magazine. Atifa Deshamukhya in an interview with the venerated doctor. He is 97 years old and still practising as a doctor, bringing succour to patients from far and wide. It is interesting to note that is these days of advanced medical tests and treatment people still flock to him for clinical diagnoses based on the senses, and in some cases samples of body fluids tested by himself over a microscope. A stethescope and a BP machine are the only adjuncts that distinguish him as a doctor. Therein lies his uniqueness. He puts his hand at the pulse point and diagnoses the disease, said a loyal patient who has been consulting him for over 50 years now. She also recounted a mysterious case about a lady of Uzanbazar who had been diagnosed with cancer by a leading hospital in the city. Just before leaving for Apollo Hospital, Chennai, she visited Dr Nalini Sarma at the behest of some relative. The doctor told her he could cure her in a day. And cure he did. A clinical diagnosis by the gifted doctor established that a purgative would heal her. She had the pill and as if by magic, she was cured instantly. When asked to comment on scores of such incidents reported to me, Dr Sarma put it down to originality of approach. In fact the late Dr Bani Kanta Kakati had once defended his system of diagnosis by saying that Nalini has originality during the early part of Sarma's career. It acted as a spur egging him on to develop this god-gifted trait. Now, at ripe old age he justifies his approach saying that stalwarts in every field are divinely gifted. If I have been able to do something significant it is also a gift of god, says he. Not only education and professional experience, but a host of co-curricular activities and a childhood spent in the close proximity of nature have helped to shape the man as he is today. He learnt French and Korean, took lessons on the piano, learnt martial arts and was actively involved in games and sports. Perhaps thats why he is healthy in body and mind till date. No specks, no artificial teeth, and still very much on his feet. Dr Sarma is effusive in his insistence that the very medicines that heal can also kill. It is necessary to exercise utmost caution that medicine itself does not become posion. Douse the flame, dont hit against the smoke is a precept followed by Dr Sarma. He is saddened that most doctors treat the symptoms of the disease, rather than address the root problem. He cited many examples to corroborate this. In most cases, it appeared that some primary cause as gas or malfunctioning of the liver was giving rise to complications in people which the front-ranking doctors and hospitals could not handle satisfactorily. But when Dr Sarma targetted the source of the disease, people recovered all too soon. And this is how his fame spread. He is happy to
[Assam] Kanaklata and Assam.org
Dear Dr. Das Thanks for highlighting the erroneous biography to coast guard. I think they will amend based on your feedback. Also you have tried to bring it the notice of the press in Assam. Hopefully , the description will be corrected. But I think error may not be willful. It is really hard to find biographies or information about Assamese personalities. Many outsiders dont know about our famous luminaries as there are so few Assamese outside Assam to give them the information. When late film director Satyajit Ray was chosen by Assam government for Sankardev award, the maestro admitted that he did not know who Sankardev was. May be all of us in Assamnetters can do our bits to fill this gap. When somebody googols Assam, the portal of Assam.org appears amongst the first few hits. Those interested in Assam or Assamese may try to get into the Great Assamese personalities list. It is a great list but it seems the list is not getting much attention lately. It will be great to have the biographies or at least short account of all the personalities. For those interested in Assamese personalities, this site should provide good insight. May I suggest that the webmasters take special interest to make this section more informative? And it will be great if the knowledgeable Assam netters take some time off to populate the biographies or life sketches of few luminaries each. It will be great if prolific e-writer like Mahanta da diverts some of his attention to fill this gap. I am sure there are many more members who can contribute. Shri JP Rajkhowa (who I believe is a member) has chronicled Chilarais life and times. Can we look to people like you Dr. Das, Mahanta da and Rajkhowa deu and numerous others to help the custodian of the website fill this gap? A feedback of the custodians on this incomplete list would be appreciated. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] ULFA to begin drive against Bangladeshi migrants from Kaziranga
I remember seeing a cartoon in Prantik, may be some twenty five years back (during Assam agitation) on Kaziranga. It was something like this. There was a barricaded area and a sign board saying Kaziranga National Park for protecting last of the Assamese people. In side the barricade there were no rhinos but there was an Assamese family-the gamusa wearing kaami haar uluwa male member was doing some baah bettor kaam. And the whole barricaded area was surrounded by numerous people wearing lungi and sporting beard looking curiously at the exhibits. Mahanta da something on what you said India not entertaining the idea of plebiscite-I think it is not the result of plebiscite, Mahanta da, but the PREMISE. Even a child can understand it. Tell me if there a historical basis for asking for a plebiscite when Assamese whole heartedly supported becoming part of India in 1947. Another option was Pakistan or an independent country like Bhutan. But did any of the Assamese leaders mention an independent Assam at that time? Was there a murmur of protest like that in Hyderabad or Junagarh or Kashmir due to merger with India? Historically I think states like Goa, Sikkim or princely states of Manipur or Tripura or Cooch Behar district can lay claim to a plebiscite. But not Assam, as it was part of British India for more than 100 years and chose to become part of independent India just like Bengal, Bihar, Orissa. If you would still like to find a historical perspective (harping on this fallacy that Assam was never part of India), should it be ULFA asking for a plebiscite on this 78000 sq of land mass or should it be the descendants of Ahum roja for those few upper Assam districts, Jamidars of Bijni, Gauripur for undivided Goalpara, descendents of Kachari king for NC hills, descendents of Chutiya kings ousted by Ahums, present and still living Tiwa roja for western Naogaon and parts of Karbi Anglong? Believe me the mode Assam is in today-that of reinventing its diverse ethnicity and past-all these descendents will appear from nowhere. I am not a student of history. Correct me if anywhere I have gone wrong. But Mahanta da if you think plebiscite is needed because there is a DISPUTE and the party asking for plebiscite has promised that it will abide by the rules, then tell me Mahanta da, should GOI hold plebiscite in Maharashtra also in 2008 just because ONE single person is asking for it and he happens to have Indian President Pratibha Patils grandson as hostage. To make things simple for you- First-please educate us if there is any historical basis to this demand for plebiscite? Second-if a plebiscite is needed because ULFA is asking for it, should India not give this luxury of options to all the downtrodden and more so to states like Mizoram, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, and all the 540+erstwhile princely states? Third-For Assam should it be single choice (India vs. Independent Assam) or multiple choice questions (India vs Independent Assam/Dimaraji/Bodoland/and numerous other lands which will spring up during the plebiscite like those numerous political parties which surface during elections). I hope you can give a answer to this third question to prove that you have done your homework on this plebiscite issue. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Changing Assam's demography (Ram Sarangapani)
Mahanta da Just a Small query based on the following Xonglap Ram da-I agree that infiltration is a State and National level problem. Mahanta da-(Taasilyar xurot taar pisot khongot)- Yeah? Ok, that is so very thoughtful! Then what? End of story? Or should there be more to it, IF someone is REALLY worried, concerned about the issue? 'State and national level problem'', one might think it is a big one. And WHO exactly is responsible to look after it? Who have the AUTHORITY, the RESPONSIBILITY and the RESOURCES to deal with it? ULFA? Assam state govt.? Indian govt.? My binamra query-No body expects ULFA to check infilitration or expel foreigners. You also feel thats not at all ULFA's call. But then why did the group give a Quit Assam Notice to Hindi speaking people in 2003? Why ? Regards Chittaranjan Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] A specific question for Mahanta da and some feedback from all
This is what Mahanta da once said of the pollstar Abhijit Sarma *** It appears as though your concept of a scientific poll is either very simplistic or is entirely absent, or you are profoundly gullible for you to swallow something such as this so called 'survey'. The only explanation would be that your mind is made up. But again I will give you a benefit of the doubt. Why don't you tell us what the pollster's credentials are , what other scientific polls he conducted and for whom, what were the questions he asked, how he picked the subjects of his poll and who commissioned him and paid for his efforts. I presume, as an engineer accustomed to critical inquiry, you have investigated the above before you arrived at your conclusions to be able to defend the findings of this pollster.*** But unlike Mahanta da I think others have taken him seriously and hence all these statements. I think toddler Mayawati at kindergarten could have produced better anti-brahmin rhetoric. By the way Mahanta da does it do better than the Sentinel report? (Mahanta da-for a change please try to give a short yes or no answer. I will not remind you to solve Mr. Challenge Brahmas dilemma) By the way a question for the old assamnetters! Apart from sending such denials, statements etc, does the sender bother to engage in constructive debate with the members? So many questions have been raised on the issue. Only one supporter was taking the entire burden trying to churn out some sympathetic response relying on telepathic mind reading. A public or private response would be much appreciated. Regards. Chittaranjan - Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Zubeen Garg interview
An interview of Zybeen Garg as it appeared on Gulf News. Not a one-song wonder By Jyoti Kalsi, Gulf News Report Bollywood took notice of him only after his recent hit song Ya Ali from the film Gangster. But Zubeen Garg is already a well-known name in north eastern India . The singer from Assam (a state in north-eastern India ), released his first album in 1992. He has since made over 40 hit albums, sung over 7000 songs in various Indian languages and composed music for several Assamese and Bengali movies. He has also tried his hand at acting, directing and script writing with much success. The versatile performer was in Dubai recently on a private visit. In between dune bashing, skiing, paragliding and making plans to open a recording studio in Dubai , Zubeen took some time off to talk to tabloid! about the many projects he is currently working on and his ambitious plans for the future. Excerpts: You have sung for Bollywood films before but always went back to Assam . How is it different now? Yes, I came to Mumbai in 1996 and have sung for films like Fizaa, Kaante, Mudda and Pyar Ke Side Effects. But I did not focus much on my career here because I did not like Mumbai's fast-paced life and missed the natural beauty of Assam . But Ya Ali has changed that. Now, I have a home and recording studio in Mumbai and spend 20 days every month there and 10 days in Assam because I am getting a lot of work in Bollywood. How did Ya Ali happen? Pritam had tried many other singers for this song but was not happy with the result. He called me because we have worked together before on jingles, serials and film songs. As soon as I heard the tune I knew it was perfect for me and I am happy it has been appreciated and people now know my potential. I have waited many years for this hit because I preferred to work in Assam than beg for work in Bollywood. What kind of songs do you like to sing? People have the wrong impression that I sing only Sufi music. I started my musical career by playing drums, keyboard and tabla and was quite Westernised before moving to folk music and Sufism. I love to blend western, folk and classical music. Currently, I am doing songs for Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Kaise Kahein, Mauj, Jimmy and the remakes of Victoria 203 and Bombay to Goa and every song is different. And what about the music in your albums? I am currently working on four Hindi albums and each one is different. Rasiya Sajan to be released soon has a heavily classical title track. My next album is a lounge album featuring my version of songs sung by S.D. Burman. What are your other Bollywood projects? I am composing music for Strings directed by Sanjay Jha and also working on three scripts. The first one is called Chakra. It is a serious film with an unusual subject and perspective. And what projects keep you going back to Assam ? I own two studios in Assam and record about 600 songs every year there. I have recently taken a 100-year lease on two old ships and plan to convert them into a five star hotel. I run a chain of beauty salons called Zubin's Veda and I also plan to open a resort in Kaziranga National Park . Did you know? Zubeen Garg has sung over 7,000 songs in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Oriya, Marathi, Kannada and other Indian languages, apart from his mother tongue Assamese. Also in Nepali. He acted, co-produced and scored music in the Assamese film Dinabandhu, which got the national award in 2005. His recent Bollywood songs include Jag Lal Lal from Big Brother, Zindagi Hosh Mein from Bas Ek Pal and Dilruba from Namastey London. On what inspires him, Sting is my idol and I have been deeply influenced by S.D. Burman, Madanmohan, Kishore Kumar and A.R. Rehman. But my strongest inspiration is Assamese folk music. Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail QA for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=listsid=396546091 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] An article from Frontline
The Boom on GS road-multiplex,mall,bowling alley. Thanks to our neighbours. Chittaranjan COVER STORY Invisible immigrant SUSHANTA TALUKDAR in Guwahati People who entered India from Bangladesh after 1971 are liable to be deported, but there are no reliable data on them. ON May 29, the police in lower Assam's Dhubri district arrested Mohammad Katan Biswas, 22, from a roadside dhaba on the charge of being an illegal immigrant. He had entered India sometime in April through the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura and reached Bilasipara town in Dhubri district. He made the passage from Kashiani in Gopalganj district of Bangladesh for 1,500 taka, along with Riajuddin of the same place, chasing his dream of a better life. Riajuddin apparently enticed Katan Biswas into making the journey and smuggled him across the border. The Dhubri police said that during his interrogation Katan Biswas told them that Riajuddin and Zafar, another Bangladeshi national, abandoned him at Bilasipara after an altercation. According to the police, Katan told them that though he wanted to return to Bangladesh he did not know the route. They recovered from him two birth certificates, one in the name of Kalinur and another in the name of Kohinur, both bearing the seal of the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Bilasipara, Dhubri. He apparently told the police that Riajuddin had arranged for the birth certificates to help establish his Indian citizenship in case he was caught. The police produced Katan before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dhubri, the next day and in all likelihood he will be sent back to Bangladesh after he serves a jail term. Meanwhile, the police are hoping that the genuineness or otherwise of the birth certificates can throw more light on the method used to smuggle people from Bangladesh into India. There are no reliable data on the number of people who have crossed over from Bangladesh into India after 1971. Under the law, these illegal immigrants are liable to be detected and deported back to Bangladesh. However, the deportation process is not so easy. An official of the Dhubri police said the illegal immigrant had to be taken to the passport checkpost at Mancachar on the Indo-Bangladesh border, about 80 kilometres from Dhubri police station as the crow flies. Said the official: Ideally, the migrant has to be taken in a police vehicle. However, since no money is allotted for this, we take the person in a passenger bus under escort. At the checkpost, we inform the Border Security Force (BSF) authorities, who in turn inform the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). The BDR receives the person only after it confirms, after an inquiry, that the person indeed hails from the address the BSF provided them. The process takes a couple of days and until then the escorts have to meet their expenses for stay and food, as also those of the illegal immigrant, from their own pockets. As a result, the police are reluctant to be pro-active in detecting and deporting illegal immigrants. During 2006-07 the BSF intercepted 950 illegal immigrants in the Assam-Meghalaya sector. As many as 923 of them were handed over to the police of the two States and 27 were handed back to Bangladesh after it was established that they had crossed the border inadvertently. The two States handed over the 923 persons to the BSF again for push back and most of them were sent back after flag meetings between the troops of the two countries. Push and pull factors Of the total length of the border that the northeastern region shares with Bangladesh, Assam accounts for 262 km, Tripura 856 km, Meghalaya 443 km and Mizoram 318 km. The continuing influx of migrants from Bangladesh can be attributed to a combination of factors on both sides of the border. The push factors on the Bangladesh side include the increase in the population, the decline in the land-human ratio and the low rate of economic growth. The pull factors on the Indian side include better opportunities, a porous border and ethnic proximity and kinship. A boom in the construction industry in Guwahati and other State capitals of the region has increased the demand for construction workers. Contractors looking for cheap labour entice the immigrant Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers of the chars (sand islands on the Brahmaputra river) with the promise of a better livelihood. Identification problems These settlers are ready to migrate, unlike ethnic indigenous people, who do not find construction work attractive. Taking advantage of the ethnic proximity of Bengali-speaking Muslims of Bangladesh and India, traffickers like Riajuddin lure scores of poverty-stricken Bangladeshi nationals illegally to the northeastern States. The closeness of the people, in terms of physical features and the fact that they speak the same language make it difficult for the administration and organisations spearheading the anti-foreigners' agitation to distinguish between a pre-1971 immigrant settler, who is to be
[Assam] 12 engg colleges to be opened
Ram da It seems Assam has become giant of a state and our vision has become very local centric. If an institute comes up at say western Assam district of Kokrajhar, it does not exist for the people of Dibrugarh. Either they would not like to go there or they may not be welcomed there for not being local. Assamese people would prefer sending children to Bangalore, Pune or to some obscure engineering college of Karnataka or MP, but institutes coming up closer at home hardly creates any ripples if it not in your neighborhood. And it seems thats what has happened for Assams brand new technical institute-Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar. The institute is centrally funded and modeled after NERIST. Though right now it does not plan to produce gradates, eventually there is a plan to convert the institute to a full fledged engineering degree institute. But it seems people of Assam have failed to take notice of the institute and its very parochial reservation policy. If you are outside the four districts of BTC, the prospect for getting into the institute is dim. 60% of the seats are for BTC, 20% for rest of India and a mere 20% is for the rest of Assam along with all other northeast states. Basically even if you are in Assam, just because you are not in those four districts of Bodoland, you are clubbed technically in the same category as a student from Sikkim or Tripura. As it is centrally funded and modeled after NERIST, there is a potential that it will do better than the two state engineering colleges in long run. So it is imperative that the skewed reservation policy is changed now itself for the benefit of students from all the corners of the state. Its a fact that institute was part of Bodo accord and was meant for bringing technical education to the backward districts of Bodoland. But setting aside 60% of seats for Bodoland (as if it is a separate state from Assam) and 36% for Bodo students looks highly unbalanced. It is surprising that the student organizations of the state are silent on this. It seems no body wants to antagonize the groups representing some segments of Bodo people. regards Chittaranjan Pathak CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Centrally Funded Institute under MHRD, Govt. of India) Kokrajhar :: Assam -783370 INFORMATION BROCHURE THE INSTITUTE The Central Institute of Technology (CIT) is set up in Kokrajhar District (BTC) of Assam by the Government of India, initially as a project and in principle approved by Planning Commission. This Institute is set up to fulfill the aspirations of the Bodo People relating to their cultural identity, language, education and overall economic development of the region and to impart Bodo youths with requisite technological and vocational training to produce the required manpower for the area and to give impetus to economic growth of this area and to integrate the Bodo People into the mainstream of Technical and Vocational Education. The institute shall offer several vocational and/or Diploma courses each of 3 years duration and with an annual intake of 30 students. Thus every year a good number of students will be benefited. The institute shall be an autonomous body registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 and function under a Board of Governors with the approval of the Government of India. The Central Institute of Technology will acquire a unique place in the field of technical education in the country through its modular and innovative academic programmes. The thrust of the programmes has been to encourage a policy for vocationalisation after class X/matric and to allow motivated students to go for higher degrees and/or to enrich their profession with industrial experience. The foundation stone of the institute was laid by Shri Tarun Gogoi, the Honble Chief Minister of Assam, on 19 th Dec,2006. At present, the goal of the institute is to launch technical education offering Diploma courses in Computer Engineering, Electronics Communication Engineering, Instrumentation Control and Food Processing Technology. This is a fully residential Institution and all the programmes are duly recognized by the DTE (Assam) as well as MHRD, Govt of India. LOCATION The Institute is situated at district headquarters of Kokrajhar, under BTC and State of Assam, on National Highway 31 between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri. It is about 250 km away from Guwahati and 370 km from NJP. The district of Kokrajhar is a land of lush green hills and has a beautiful natural lake and provides an ideal setting for a seat of technical education with a backdrop of quiet and pristine surroundings. Located in a district at about 255 km from Guwahati, the Institute can be accessed by rail and road. Deluxe buses to and fro from Guwahati are available. All trains like Rajdhani Express, North East, etc. have their stoppage at Kokrajhar railway station. Page 2 OBJECTIVES CIT aims to achieve the following objectives:- i) Developing Human Resources
[Assam] My first web page-Thank you Tasir
Dear Sri Tasirrudin First of all please accept my apologies for this late acknowledgement of your mail with the flower pictures. I receive the mails in digest form and hence failed to notice your mail. Today I stumbled upon it while browsing through Assamnet archive. May be I was more on look out for some caustic response and counter responses on some of the topics and I failed to notice the nicer things people send. Thanks and best regards. Chittaranjan Pathak We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: My first web page
Mahanta da I have looked at both the pictures-the madhobi lota/Beena/Kunjolota (as you said now) resembles none of the two pictures. But the write up below vividly describes the flower. The long stems are greenish-not like those photos where the stem seems to be covered by the petals. Whoever wrote the description below-has grown up with Madhobi-lota.Made me quite nostalgic. But I think I will never be able to have a plant here in Australia-strick quarantine regulations of Australia makes any import of plant/seeds impossible. Will have to wait till my next visit Regards Chitta --- Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Chitta: Sounds likle 'madhobi lota' is what we used to call 'kunjo-lota' ( Ipomea sloteri). See if it is: http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/21628/ or http://www.localharvest.org/images/cat/prod_7507_4274.jpg I grew it in St. Louis for a couple of years, long ago. Got seeds from Namti. But gave up doing so--- takes too much space to have it show well, and too much trouble :-). Seeds are widely available in the USA from mail order nurseries. I have seen madhabilata. It's a creeper. They bloom profusely. The flowers have thin, long ( about 3/4 inches) stems and the pink petals are oval shaped. The size of the flower is kind of like vinca.The flowers bloom in a bunch together. Madhabilata flowers have tiny holes inside and you can make a garland out of several flowers by pushing in the stems into the center of a flower one after another. You don't need a needle. My mom showed me how.When I was about five years old, I used to make garlands every morning for my grandfather. He was not keeping well. I remember him lying in bed , resting but he would always raise his head to accept the flower garland from me. I loved making flower garland for him.The flowers have sweet fragrance and the humming birds love them. You can snip off the end of the stem and suck the nectar.The nectar taste so good. Last time I visited Guahati the madhabilata was still there.I touched it and smelled it. Different people live in that house now. Who knows ? They must have cut it.The forty year old creeper was a nuisance to them because they needed to add a room in the front. We do have a small plant here in our back yard in Houston . Saw it in a nursery in Houston. It is not a giant creeper but a very tiney one Had to have it:). This morning I saw tiny flower buds pushing thru the branches. Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Assamese flowers
Mahanta da Frankly speaking I am not very much sure about the flowers. Actually I just noted down those which I remember reading in xadhukothas and seeing at our guwahati home garden. Akaxigonga as far as I remember is a ground plant very much like top of pinaple but around 1 to 2 m high from ground. And the reddish purpllish sweet smelling flower comes out from the centre on a long support (?). I think Beena and madhobilota are same-creeper with small light reddish flower. Kothal-sompa and I remember one more konok-sompa-these are big trees with yellow very sweet smelling flower. Gulonsi I think is frangipani-whitish yellowish flower. I am not sure about others. There is one more I remember-Hasna hana which blooms and spreads its fragnance late at night. May be somebody from assam can throw some light. Thanks and best wishes with the website venture. Regards chittaranjan --- Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks Chitta. I am not sure of my Rushdie looks. He is not all that handsome :-). I tell people I am a Karzai . Our native strangers here in St. Louis do a double-take thinking I am a shortened resurrection of CBS-60 Minutes' Ed Bradley ( who passed away recently). But really I look more like myself . Yeah, the website is a cat's meow. It is like a child learning ko-ko-mo-mo and dying to show off . So don't invoke 'ko bulibo-nware, rotnawoli porhe', yet, OK ? I am trying. But you know how that proboson goes: burha xalikai maat loboli xikise' ? It isn't easy. I already have pictures of many of the flowers you suggest below. Will post when time and purchased cyber-space allows. Some I have not tried to record, because they are common to large parts of the world. I try to stay to those that are unique to our native region. A few names I don't recognize. Can you refer me to alternative names, so I know what to look for when I go on my next shooting foray? These are: Akaxigonga, Beena, Madhoimaloti, Madhobilota, Maloti and Thupitora. Also, aren't Kothal sompa and Gulonchi ( gulos) the same? Thanks for the detailed response to the Mohamari curing problems. I will get back to you, hopefully some time soon. But the questions of intellect, intent, sincerity etc. are not irrelevant, when they stand out as they do. The trick to avoid bringing them out that create the displeasures they do is to act accordingly :-). m-da X-YMail-OSG: e5hpQ60VM1lgTcmZb._1G3D9oxXs_xYoWJtd0beeQobYYY9q990tghfaK0Ny7kYOEQ-- Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 20:29:29 -0700 (PDT) From: chittaranjan pathak [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: My first web page To: assam@assamnet.org Cc: Chandan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Chzlrs: 0 Mahanta da Nice clean refreshing website. You look good-a bit like Salman Rushdie. Just a request. Some body was mentioning service to Assam. Next time you go to Assam, if time permits please try to take photographs of all the Assamese flowers like Akaxigonga, Beena, Bhet, Bokul, Gulap, Gulonsi, Indramaloti, Jaba, Jai, Juti, Keteki, Khorikajai, Kopow, Kothalsompa, Krishnasura, Madhoimaloti, Madhobilota, Maloti, Modar, Naarzi, Nahor, Newali, Radhasura, Rokto joba, Sompa, Xunaru, Xurujmukhi, Tholpodmo, Thupitora, Togor, Xewali and many more which I might have missed. It will be a good repository for Assamese flowers and will be good for honing your photographic skills in Assam. Time permits-I will come back with the responses to some of the valid points you have raised. But you have to give REPLY-for a change. No analysis of the questioneer's intellect, intent, sincerity etc. Have a good weekend. Regards Chittaranjan Regards Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV. http://tv.yahoo.com/ Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] End this disease-Mahanta da's valid points
Salute Mahanta da I had to come back to you. You said something like this. But I don't think such answers will be forthcoming. Our friends here are more interested in having me submit to their inquisitions than answering questions to their proposals and ideas. I have gotten used to the idea however. I realize, I wouldn't be the lightning rod, if my arguments did NOT score any points. If they did not, they would not elicit the kind of reactions they usually do .That is reward enough for me to continue to serve as the designated punching bag of Assamnet As Shri Mridul Bhuya pointed out, we should give response to the valid points you have raised. I will give it a try-bhool hole raize xudhorai dibo. Going back to your valid points! That is the point I was trying to drive home; the ineffectiveness or more precisely the absence of realism in the various posts by netters who could expected to be far more result oriented than their proposals indicate. I don't devalue your good-will. That is all very good. But good-will or good-wishes sans realism will do little to cure that 'mohamari' that you all have been railing against. I am not sure whether it is a mohamari. But disease it is-and surely requires medication or therapy or operation or amputation. Rather than a killer disease it could be one of those embarrassing irritating conditions like Orxo or Kesumuri. Piles Fistula! And if it falls in this category of disease, the treatment could be appropriate like a localized operation. And if that does not work and the symptoms keep on reappearing, another option could be to best leave it untreated so that people start living with the condition with sheer nonchalance, save some moments of irritating etchings. And after sometime it does not matter!! In my opinion the onus lies with all these groups. If they stick to their position and continue with the nuisance warfare then this three pronged approach of 1) armed operation by police/army etc, 2) wooing and intended/unintended swaying away of segments of people by developmental schemes and things like autonomous council etc and 3) total rejection by masses will eventually lead to their disappearance from the state. This entire 30 year old struggle will amount to much ado nothing. If there is a slightest sense of sincerity on the part of these groups then they should surrender without asking for any fat rehabilitation package. And all the money they have amassed (if they are at all in a position get back from Bangla bank) should be converted into a charity to be used for the cause of development of Assam and for boosting Assamese pride. Like sponsoring Assamese mountaineer for Mount Everest expedition etc. And as Mr. Mohan said they will be remembered as the greatest heroes of Assam forever. Thats much better than life in exile/oblivion or the SULFA tag. In the process they may with a set of intelligent second rung of demands get for Assam and Assamese something much concrete than the abstract independence. And once they come to mainstream and settle down, they can look forward to rekindling the hope for Purna Swaraj if they can sway people in their way. Remember Mr. Hagrama saying that BTC is a step towards separate state to be realised in 20 years. Politics or rhetoric-it came from a party chief sharing power in Dispur. To say that you need to have lots of guts, political muscle and may be populist support. Point I am driving home is that if you are serious about your goal, you would not be afraid of taking small steps. Yes, I do write a lot of critical things about India. But that is different from HATE. And if you find those criticisms untrue, unfair or otherwise unwarranted, then all you need to demolish them, putting me in my place, is to point them out. Rebut. Refute. It is good for you to try that. Because you will need to do your homework to do so, and in the process will become more informed It is very difficult to be unbiased as well as critical without unconsciously hating the object of your criticism. How come same critical analysis, we have not seen when comes to ULFA? What we see instead is pitiable attempt to cover up their misdeeds which even their illustrious publicity secretary of yesteryears Siddhartha Phukan would not have attempted. Or is your stand-critical analysis of India but blind defence of ULFA. But generally one sided critical analysis can be construed as biasness and in extreme cases as hatred towards the object of critical analysis. I would not badger you on this, only because I know you mean well. But I also know very well where the ISI-paranoia amongst desis spring from. It has everything do with deeply-rooted Hindu /Muslim bigotries and animus so pervasive in north, central, west and south India, translated to ownership pretenses of Kashmir, never mind what the Kashmiris who call it home want, leading to the Pakistan/India conflicts that gave rise to ISI and Jihad and has escalated
[Assam] End this disease called ULFA
Bengali or English? I will wait for your response on this. CONFLICT Your explanation of violent CONFLICT was amusing. 18 year old boy strapping bomb on motorbike to kill himself (accidentally-no official ULFA human bomb till now) and a sixty year old is your idea of conflict. And who are the victims of this VIOLENT CONFLICT? The children of Dhemaji and Tinsukiya Bihari!!. We dare not go near Indian army, so lets kill the poor laborers is that the logic of this violent CONFLICT ULFA is waging? Lastly I will just touch two of your points ***But, I have often said that if the ulfa or some other group was really, really fighting for a cause, and with all sincerity, I would be the first one to at least give them the respect they deserve (even if I do not agree with their cause). Mahanta da-respect , agreement, disagreement pisor kotha. What is the cause-independent Assam? Have they shown sincerity to the cause by removing the abstractness around the geographical limit of the entity they are fighting for? Have they shown the sincerity to the cause by spelling out how their independent Asom fits in with Bodoland and Kamatapur of their teen patti mates of Bhutan camps (KLO and NDFB)? Have they shown their guts by saying any thing on issues like Bangladeshi infiltration, balkanization of Assam in the name of territorial councils, or humiliation of Assamese national institution like AXX in Brahmaputa valley itself? Or we should believe that ULFA will spell out its policies on all these after the independence is gained. And till then we should give the respect they deserve for the cause they are fighting?? But given their martyrdom to surrender ratio, what is the guarantee that those who are waging this so called struggle will not make a perfect Volta face tomorrow? *** Surely YOUR support or for that matter of others in your camp is NOT what ULFA has been surviving all these decades. Obviously it is from the support of those who you do not see or prefer not to recognize when you see them. Thus your definition of ULFA's 'sincerity' is quite irrelevant to the resolution of the conflict. IF you and others are SEEKING a resolution to the conflict, then the question would be WHAT are you contributing to its resolution? Why Mahanta Da can I ask? Just because Ram da and his camp members are net savvy you feel they would be far removed from ground realities of Assam. If you half Ram das age-may be you will have thousands who have access to net who are based outside Assam but whose parents , brothers, cousins are based in Assam. The guy may be in Delhi but his brother may be a sympathizer or victim of ULFA. JB college/JEC trained, OIL mentored guy may be in Doha earning in dollars (and reading assamnet post during lunch breaks), but his parents in Sivsagar may be paying the extortion amount (luxury tax as you may like to say). Things have really changed. Cyber connectivity does not mean loss of connectivity from Assam. And for recent immigrants like us-ami jihetu puliye pukhai utha di aha nai-what we think is not necessarily what we see or surf but what our friends and relatives and cousins are undergoing in Assam. But things are different for people like you who seem to be living in a time wrap. I dont blame you. You left Assam when Bihu ,Durga Puja and Tithis were the only occasions celebrated in Assam. By the time we left in late nineties-Baisagu, Chilaria Divx, Me-dam-me-phi, Ali-ai ligang were the in things. And now the latest-have you heard what they call -Besama? Reply dibo dei Regards Chittaranjan Pathak - Get the free Yahoo! toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Engineering college at Dhemaji
Thanks for the continuous feedback on the move to establish an engineering college at Dhemaji. Just a small suggestion-when it comes to naming the institute, people should push for a broad sounding name like NACE (North Assam College of Engineering) or AIT (Assam Institute of Technology) or AVIST (Assam Valley Institute of Science and Technology) instead of site specific name like Dhemaji Engineering College. Many graduates of the college might end up working outside the region. A broad sounding name will help in better branding and imaging of the institute. Have I gone overboard with the naming suggestion for the yet to be established college? Hopefully not! Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Queries about Majuliof Oxom---
Shri Mahanta da Thanks for your informative feedback.You have clarified a lot. Learned quite a few new things! You are absolutely correct about the vast Real River Island East of Dibrugarh. I think Dibru-Saikhowa National park is a part of that river island system bounded by Brahmaputra on north and Dibru river on south. Another query/observation-if Majuli is not a river island, should we help in propagating the myth by remaining silent.Thats what we see-our press, people, politician doing. Regards. Chittaranjan Pathak Manoj da Thanks for your reply. You have presented the real picture regarding Majuli-specially the on/off status with bunding/blocking/channeling changes. You are right-a trip to Majuli is long over due. Insah Allah. Regards Chitta __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] From Hindustantimes :: How Racist we can be (Chan Mahanta)
There may be such Hindus in Assam. But they are NOT being charged , or for that matter those OTHER religions either, with the magnitude of absurdity as is being demonstrated by the recognized keepers of the Hindu faith at this Unholy See. All transgressions therefore are NOT equal. That is the difference. Mahanta da Sorry to raise the issue again. Are we so damn confident that there is a DIFFERENCE between them and us. Madhavdev established Barpeta Satra does not allow any women inside the sanctum sanctorum (Kirtan Ghar).Few decades back Vinova Bhave was refused entry to the Kirtan ghar as he insisted that writer Amrita Pritam who was with him also accompanny inside. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Sharmila Tagore-half Assamese?
No it does not matter. It was just a personal query-it starts and ends at that. Hazarika Sir Thanks for clarifying . Chittaranjan Pathak --- umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: does it matter? Has she shown any interest in Assam? Umesh chittaranjan pathak [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Raiz I have got this small doubt. Urohi gosor ur bisorar nisina. Used to hear that Sharmila Tagore's mother is daughter of Jnyanabhi Ram Barua married to some one from extended Tagore family. Can some body throw some light? I know Sharmila Tagore has never uttered anything on this Assam connection. But may be some one like Shri Utpal Borpujari can throw some light. I am sure taik directly sudhile misa kotha nokobo.-) Regards Chittaranjan Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food Drink QA. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=listsid=396545367 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma 5121 Lackawanna ST College Park, (Washington D.C. Metro Region) MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone] Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005 weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ website: www.gse.harvard.edu/iep - How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos. Get Yahoo! Photos Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Sharmila Tagore-half Assamese?
Raiz I have got this small doubt. Urohi gosor ur bisorar nisina. Used to hear that Sharmila Tagore's mother is daughter of Jnyanabhi Ram Barua married to some one from extended Tagore family. Can some body throw some light? I know Sharmila Tagore has never uttered anything on this Assam connection. But may be some one like Shri Utpal Borpujari can throw some light. I am sure taik directly sudhile misa kotha nokobo.-) Regards Chittaranjan Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food Drink QA. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=listsid=396545367 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Sovereignty Restoration (Dilip/Dil Deka)
bargaining power. If we let this opportunity pass, only thing that will come out of ULFAs 30 years independence struggle is fat rehabilitation package for the remaining cadres. So here lies my thoughts on the second tier demands-what it contains-may be we will discuss some other time. But at least now you know what it does not contain. Chittaranjan Pathak It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Sovereignty Restoration (Dilip/Dil Deka)
*OK, assume the high aim is sovereignty. If you fall short of that, what is the next lower aim? A pragmatist looks at all possibilities. Have you? What does ULFA have in mind when it sits at the bargaining table with GOI? Stick to the sovereignty mantra and leave the table when GOI wants to talk about possibilities other than sovereignty? Dear Shri Dilip Deka You have raised a very good point. A second rung of demands other than unacheivalble one which can be used for benefit of the people.And that too now when the outfit still has got some bargaining position. Once it aquires a 100% nuiscense value, no body will BOTHER. And I believe harping on independence is the easier way out-it is not a higher ambition. You dont have to do anything-the stalemate continues . Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Asom Govt wants changes in All India Service rules
*It may be mentioned here that a number of States requested the Centre a few month years ago to do away with the Raj hangover of the ICS officer (now IAS officer) system, and instead elevate the State Civil Service (ACS in Asom) officers to do all sorts of jobs that were being done by the IAS officers, bringing necessary modifications. I find the last part interesting and encouraging. During my years in Delhi , I met quite a few IAS aspirants from Bihar and North India who were very much conversant with current affairs like economic liberalization, Iraq-Kuwait war, Babri masjid imbroglio, role of IPKF in Sri lanka (these were the affairs current back then). They could go on for hours on these. But when it came to naming capitals of northeaster states, they invariably used to draw blank. They were not bothered or ashamed as they knew this type of awareness was not needed to see them through the mains and interview. Those amongst us who might have interacted with hoards from states like Bihar , MP, Orissa camping in DU area for years must have noticed this. And when some one amongst them gets the Assam cadre, the first reaction will be Kaha fas gaye yaar By the way Karbi Anglong district website shows some 52 deputy commissioners in 55 years. regards Chittaranjan Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Prabal Talukdar
Dear Assamnetters, Thought of sharing this exciting news with you all! Generally many from India fly to west with one way ticket. Here is an exception. My batchmate from AEC Dr. Prabal Talukdar has very recently joined the Premier Institute of International repute IIT, Delhi as Assistant Professor (Department of Mechanical Engineering) . Not sure whether we have any AECan working/worked as Faculty in IITs (except IITG) or not. Its really very encouraging news for us and making us feel proud on his achievement. Prabal passed out from AEC in 1991, Prabal did his M.Tech from IITG. He started his PhD in IITG and later on went to Institute of Fluid Mechanics, University of Erlangen-Nurimberg (Germany) for its completion. After his PhD in Germany he worked in the same institute as Guest Researcher for two years. In 2005 he moved to Canada and served as Post Doctoral Fellow in the University of Safktchewan, Saskatoon. Prabals wanted to go back and serve in India. He left quite a few lucrative offers abroad. He will prove to be a role model for many . Those who wish to get in touch with him they may reach him at prabal.talukdar@ gmail.com. Prabal is marrried with two children. Regards, Chittaranjan Pathak Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Response to Mahanta da-Ref-answers to Chitta-II
Indian government says to ULFA that except sovereignty, take anything you want and the dumb struck outfit does not have to come back empty handed just because they did not work out any thing beyond demand for release of jailed cadres and rehabilitation of active members. Working out a set of issues for negotiations, which will be agreeable to all sections of people will be the Herculean task. And people of Assam will loose the ULFA leverage if these second rung of intelligent demands for negotiations are not worked out. And this will prove the mettle of intelligentsia and lovers of Assam. And this is something which will be interesting to discuss on Assamnet than bombarding you Mahanta da with facts and figures to prove to that that you belong to the minority believers. Bottom-line is Assam is in much more advantageous position than Karnataka and Gujarat, question is whether we can take mileage out of this. 95% of people in the recent poll rejected ULFA rejected Swadhin Asom concept. If this is the kind of thing you believe in, you must also believe in the tooth fairy. I am sure you present this not as a serious argument, but running short on facts throwing in whatever is available. Not b very thoughtful. Does not do anything to your credibility. Actually it damages it. Now you are just being superficially dismissive. You missed the essence. There can be only two sides to it the survey is true or false. I will weigh only the side you want us to believe-findings are flawed. What could be have more attractive or worrying for the organization who did this-acclaim from government for coming out with such convenient findings or wrath from those who are fighting for the cause (and I am sure Abhijit Sarma (??) the person who did this poll does not move around with Z+ security). And more than that fear of public dhulai for contorting such an overwhelming aspiration of masses! Hope you will ponder a while over the points and give your honest unbiased opinion. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Rhino/Teddy
Hi Umesh By now you maust have come to know about Rongmon. The Rhino mascot for Nationals gamese in Assam. Cheers Chittaranjan da --- umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Chitranjan-da, Thanks for the update about rhinos . 1800 rhinos at Kaziranga is a big number given that all over India only 2,000 tigers are left. Umesh PS: Who is Rongmon the rhino? chittaranjan pathak [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Umesh This refers to your mail on Rhino doll. You seem interested to know about the Asian Rhinos-may be we can share something on Rhinos. From tomorrow it will be Rongmon the rhino everywhere in Assam. All of us have a sort of sentimental association with Rhinos and Kaziranga-but sometimes dont you think we get so Kazirangacentric that we start assuming too many things? As Rhino is sort of Assams favorite animal, I think we should get some of our facts right. One thing is for sure-Kaziranga is not the only refuge of Asian rhinos. Asian rhinos (represented by three different species) are found in host of countries like India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar etc. Great Indian One Horned species, the one found in Kaziranga is found in Nepal (google Chitwan the Nepalese Kaziranga and Bardia) and India. In India again the species is found in is West Bengal (Jaldapara and Gorumara), UP (Dudhwa and Katerniaghat) and of course in Assam (Pobitara, Manas (reintroduced), Orang and Kaziranga). Kazirangas distinction is that that it has got largest population of Indian Rhino in the same way as West Bengals Sundarbans has got the largest population of Bengal tiger inside one reserve. Kaziranga no doubt has been a Rhino success story, but Assam also has other nasty failures as far as rhino conservation is concerned-100% annihilation of Rhino population of Laokhowa in eighties (Assam agitation) and of Manas in nineties (Bodo unrest). I think latest census says some 1800 rhinos in Kaziranga. But this big number alone may not be a USP for Kaziranga from tourism perspective. Tourists generally are happy seeing couple of animals from elephant back-be it in Kaziranga or in Jaldapara in WB-size of the reserve or the total rhino population hardly matter as the elephants riding tourists make the rounds at the small touristy area with its ever present population of some resident rhinos. And interestingly, all these other places put together invite more tourists for the Indian Rhino show than our Kaziranga. Wildlife enthusiast amongst us may like to add something or correct me. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org Umesh Sharma 5121 Lackawanna ST College Park, (Washington D.C. Metro Region) MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone] Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005 weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ website: www.gse.harvard.edu/iep - Copy addresses and emails from any email account to Yahoo! Mail - quick, easy and free. Do it now... TV dinner still cooling? Check out Tonight's Picks on Yahoo! TV. http://tv.yahoo.com/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] The Minority Assamese ( Answers for Chitta-I)
, after I hear from you on that. There is a whole lot more to it than meets the eye. I wished you and others were aware of them. But I also know how you never were conditioned to ask the questions and look deeper to get at the bottom of these things. I hope your participation in Assamnet will change that :-). you refuted Ram das anguished declaration that you are always the fair and balanced by saying that your partisanship lies with my peoples aspiration of running their lives as they say fit. *** Not exactly. I don't buy the pithy arguments that we have to be 'balanced' - to distribute guilt all across the board since no-one is blameless and thus 'upai-nai aaru'. There is such a thing as a degree of guilt, of responsibility. That is why I get so sarcastic with those who wear the mantle of 'fair-and-balanced' to paint a picture of insipid greys that obliterate the whites and blacks of the picture. And I do not hesitate to point out why it could be a politically motivated attempt to shield the guilty, the responsible. That is why I make no apologies for my partisanship about Assam's rights. I don't go about waving that flag of the 'fair-and-balanced', instead I make the arguments I do to explain my stance. Respecting your siding and at the same time letting you know that my heart also lies with the aspiration of those same people for a better life, may I ask you the following small question? *** I know you do. I also know that even those who you might not agree with your stance about how to achieve them hold the same aspirations -- of having a roof over their heads, three square meals a day, an opportunity to send their children to a school where they can get an education, a minimum amount of health care so that they don't have to die premature deaths from diseases that ought not kill any more. In that we are on common ground. Background By my people you must be referring to Assamese people and by running their lives as they say fit you must be meaning an independent Assam. Are the Assamese people really aspiring to be free or independent from India? Yes-some are. But not all of them-not the ones I know of. As far as my relatives, friends, parents, brothers, numerous cousins spread all over Assam are concerned (and if you consider them my own people), freedom from India is not much of an issue for them. *** Now we are in complicated territory, getting ahead of ourselves. To understand these issues we will have to take a few steps back and take a look at a larger context : WHY is it that SOME in Assam want independence or sovereignty or the right to determine the way to achieve what you and the others -- all- do? Is independence some kind of a divine decree, a 'bor' which will magically transform Assam from its misery to that shining land? Obviously not, I am sure you will agree. So WHY independence then? What is wrong with Indian rule -- that you, your kin and your friends are comfortable with, and I will have to guess, prospered from? Now we are in even more complicated territory. And here it will be helpful to know a little more about you, your kins' and friends' circumstances. I am not seeking personal info. Just give us a general introduction, about you, your parents, your grand-parents. We will have to look at this data in relation to the overall condition of the people of Assam and see if you are typical or the exception. And if you are the exception, WHAT was it that has led to you and your kins' escape from where the rest find themselves in. If it is hereditary traits or sheer hard work and individual enterprise or that zeal to pull yourselves up by the boot-straps that Indian governance afforded you and which you would not want to swap or lose -- for yourselves or for other aspirants for that good life. We will need to determine HOW you got ahead in-spite of what those others so decry and want to change--namely Indian governance and Indian control of Assam's future. We will follow up on these and other points after we hear from you. Until then. m-da At 2:29 AM -0800 2/7/07, chittaranjan pathak wrote: Dear Shri Mahanta da Warm up Thanks for the insight on the unfortunate Galeki incidence. Yes you are right-CISF is meant to be checking security passes and stuff like oil tanker permits at the industrial installation gates, loading bays etc. It was clearly a case of overstepping their boundaries. Somebody was asking-why they are given guns? Till recently many of them were having only sticks. But now they are guarding all the vital oil/gas/nuclear installations other places like Akshardham, parliament, airports etc and role includes warding off terrorist attacks also. So guns are justified and so would have been the killing had the shots been
Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II
Mahanta da Thanks-Tangentialy you answered my ACE question. But I stand vindicated because you were not able to point me towards any place , community, district, region in particular from where you hear the muffled cry for independence. Instead you pointed towards ULFA-is that a revealation to us? All I wanted was to know from who else? I never for once judged whether this wish, call, desire for freedom is just or unjust. All I wanted to know from you was whether in 2007 you believe majority still wants independence. I know you realise that most do not-all have become infidels with their minds fogged by pan-Indianess-except ULFA. But still there is a wish/dormant belief in you that a referendum in Assam will prove all of us wrong. By bringing this referendum talk, Mahanta da -here you are cornering yourself even more. Tell me Mahanta da, whether following are any tell tell signs of an Yes to independence in Assam? 1) 95% of people in the recent poll rejected ULFA rejected Swadhin Asom concept 2) 30,000 people in Guwahati swayed to Bhupen Hazarika's We are not sessionist or something like that song at the National Games opening ceremony yesterday. Tell me Mahanta da-they are not people of Assam. Even if there was a semblance of conviction about our wish for independence-10%, 5% or 1% of people could have walked out. These were the same people who boycotted the 83 election and turnout was 10% and there was not any gun trotting AASU guys on street. But passion was there-because the majority felt the cause to be just. You know Mahanta da-I can really go on-do you want me to? What do you have to say on this? *** So let me take a stab at your re-phrased ACE question, even though to address it in isolation, without attempting to understand what 'independence' means is at best a silly endeavor. But I know why it bothers you to delve into the issues associated with 'independence'. It will merely help perpetuate the conflict that besets Assam. The choice is yours. You can run from the issues all you want, but you cannot hide. So I hope you as a well wisher of Assam, who has seen better, would want to apply the lessons learnt, to contribute towards betterment of Assam's lot instead of helping perpetuate what is killing it. NOT AT ALL Mahanta da-I was trying to know apart from ULFA who all were there to throw some light on this issue associated with independence. I will have my field day with the questions I have. Wish I could get reply from those in ssamnet and beyond. Cause otherwise you will have bear the mantle-which I know you would. Regards Chitta Ram da It is not me and Mahanta da. Me and many others like would know what this is all about? How come we are so ignorant about the ground realities in Assam? And if we are convinced that there is some voice/desire for freedom from a significant portion of people. What plan the believers have with them to go further on. Because freedom is not the end, it is the beginning. Discussing those would be even more interesting. But we will get to the end of it-some day Regards Chittaranjan --- Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: C'da Chitta, This is getting more interesting by the second. But I will let Chitta fend for himself (and has ably done so this far). Just wanted to touch on a small part, and then I will butt out. So why don't YOU raise your voice to put an end to that debate, by calling for a free and fair referendum after a period of unfettered and informed public debate and discussion? With the highly revered Election Commission with its stellar record at hand to guarantee the fairness of an outcome, what seems to be the problem :-)? Calls for a referundum are a common ploy by insurgents and those who think they are fighting for some noble cause. What they really want to do is to put the onus on the country. Its like saying - 'prove that I'am wrong'. Such a ref. would be great for insurgents - it shows that at last someone is paying attention to them, and also if such a thing is ever held, all they have to do is brandish their weapons, kill some who dare to stand up, and the rest of the people will fall in line and vote for the cause (or so they hope). The last thing anyone will see is a 'free fair' ref. You see it in Kashmir, and you see it in Assam. Now, why should a country try to prove anything to a group of insurgents, who possess only stolen money and guns (but no principles). And further, why should the country want to do that when (a) its against its constitution to give independence to some portion just because a group of wannabes want it ((b) No govt. in the state or Center has the right to give in to such a ref. as Assam is NOT their's to give away to insurgents. All Assamese want is that the Govt. fulfill its obligations to the state (which it hasn't done effectively for the past so many years). And this does not tantamount to seeking independence. (c) And lastly, and
[Assam] Rhino/Teddy
Hi Umesh This refers to your mail on Rhino doll. You seem interested to know about the Asian Rhinos-may be we can share something on Rhinos. From tomorrow it will be Rongmon the rhino everywhere in Assam. All of us have a sort of sentimental association with Rhinos and Kaziranga-but sometimes dont you think we get so Kazirangacentric that we start assuming too many things? As Rhino is sort of Assams favorite animal, I think we should get some of our facts right. One thing is for sure-Kaziranga is not the only refuge of Asian rhinos. Asian rhinos (represented by three different species) are found in host of countries like India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar etc. Great Indian One Horned species, the one found in Kaziranga is found in Nepal (google Chitwan the Nepalese Kaziranga and Bardia) and India. In India again the species is found in is West Bengal (Jaldapara and Gorumara), UP (Dudhwa and Katerniaghat) and of course in Assam (Pobitara, Manas (reintroduced), Orang and Kaziranga). Kazirangas distinction is that that it has got largest population of Indian Rhino in the same way as West Bengals Sundarbans has got the largest population of Bengal tiger inside one reserve. Kaziranga no doubt has been a Rhino success story, but Assam also has other nasty failures as far as rhino conservation is concerned-100% annihilation of Rhino population of Laokhowa in eighties (Assam agitation) and of Manas in nineties (Bodo unrest). I think latest census says some 1800 rhinos in Kaziranga. But this big number alone may not be a USP for Kaziranga from tourism perspective. Tourists generally are happy seeing couple of animals from elephant back-be it in Kaziranga or in Jaldapara in WB-size of the reserve or the total rhino population hardly matter as the elephants riding tourists make the rounds at the small touristy area with its ever present population of some resident rhinos. And interestingly, all these other places put together invite more tourists for the Indian Rhino show than our Kaziranga. Wildlife enthusiast amongst us may like to add something or correct me. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Killing at Galeki and a question for Mahanta da
Dear Shri Mahanta da Warm up Thanks for the insight on the unfortunate Galeki incidence. Yes you are right-CISF is meant to be checking security passes and stuff like oil tanker permits at the industrial installation gates, loading bays etc. It was clearly a case of overstepping their boundaries. Somebody was asking-why they are given guns? Till recently many of them were having only sticks. But now they are guarding all the vital oil/gas/nuclear installations other places like Akshardham, parliament, airports etc and role includes warding off terrorist attacks also. So guns are justified and so would have been the killing had the shots been aimed at some saboteur climbing a high security wall of an oil installation with a khukri and a naked torch. But here it was a case of sheer ego boosting exercise. CRPk dekhi uthil gaa, CISFe bule muku khaa. The officer must be punished. But no body is going to follow it up in Assam-so may be he will end up getting secretly transferred to some oil installation in Ankleswar basin. Are we in a position to do something to force authorities punish such high handed arrogant officials? Now my baptism of fire in Assamnet! Coming to your last post where you refuted Ram das anguished declaration that you are always the fair and balanced by saying that your partisanship lies with my peoples aspiration of running their lives as they say fit. Respecting your siding and at the same time letting you know that my heart also lies with the aspiration of those same people for a better life, may I ask you the following small question? Background By my people you must be referring to Assamese people and by running their lives as they say fit you must be meaning an independent Assam. Are the Assamese people really aspiring to be free or independent from India? Yes-some are. But not all of them-not the ones I know of. As far as my relatives, friends, parents, brothers, numerous cousins spread all over Assam are concerned (and if you consider them my own people), freedom from India is not much of an issue for them. In fact for the younger ones-freedom from Assam is the in thing now. Longevity of most of the Assamese youths is now 18 years in Assam. After that all of them want to come out of Assam-be it for job or for studies. And those who stay back-many a times many of them are frustrated with the Delhi government but at the same time they are frustrated with the local government run by their own people. But by and large they never in realistic term contemplate a life away from India. They just want to a better life and seem to be quite weary of another neo-nation building exercise. But if my ongohi bongohi are not representative enough, do not the following point out that aspiration for freedom is hardly an issue with the majority people of Assam-Assamese as well as others? 1) AASU saying that it does not support independent Assam. So does Asom Sahitya Sabha. Also now powerful and vocal ethnic student bodies like AATASU, AKRSU etc have never endorsed this sovereignty demand. 2) Poll conducted in Assam districts excluding Barak valley (3 districts), hill councils (2 districts) and BTC (4 districts), said 95% people One can not discard the findings to be an orchestrated exercise as the guys doing the polls were not fools to come up with the findings knowing very well they can get killed for what they are saying. 3) The Karbis and the Dimasas of the hill districts always are always clamoring for certain degree of autonomy from Assam government but are never aligned with ULFAs Swadhin Asom demand. Same is the case with Mishing, Tiwa and Rabha student bodies 4) Three major communities of Assam-Ahoms, Koch-Rajbongshis and Tea garden tribes are demanding scheduling under Indian constitution. Ultimate goal is perceived economic prosperity and more representation through reservation and independent Assam is the last thing majority of these people have in mind. Question You may have reasons and a vision to side with the cause of independent Assam. What I am asking you now is whether do you agree or not that you are siding with a microscopic minority of the population of Assam who share the same vision whereas majority have discarded this idea for more practical reasons? Idea was romantic but in 2007 hardly there are any takers in Assam. A very specific question-dont you agree? Best regards Chittaranjan Pathak It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Engineering College at Dhemaji
Dear Bulajit In this case idea was never to argue with you-specially on an issue like spread of technical education in Assam. Pragmatically and more immediately- I would have seen more sense if there was an effort to have a special allocation of seats for students from these two backward districts of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur to already existing centrally funded NERIST which is just across the boarder. After all NERIST was meant to fulfill these types of needs for all the northeast states. And these two districts in the immediate hinterland deserve special privileges. Or a Dhemaji chapter of Tezpur University with many more useful disciplines! Or multiple increases in seats of existing AEC and JEC to accommodate more students from all the districts in many more useful contemporary disciplines. Growth taking leverage of existing infrastructure is always easier and quicker. But yes-there are no technical institutes in north bank. If funding is not a problem, an engineering college or technical institute at Dhemaji would be more than welcome. And let that be harbinger for setting up of many more technical colleges in Assam. After all Andhra Pradesh has 238 engineering colleges including some 35 AICTE recognized ones and some 53 medical colleges. Proportionately Assam should have at least 80 engineering colleges and 18 medical colleges. Any one who is aware of such skewed statistics can not be averse to idea of having more engineering colleges in Assam. So the NKC recommendation or the news item in the Assamese daily hardly makes me any wiser. Seeing the state of affairs of the two state run engineering colleges, I was just pointing out towards some more immediate necessities. And now some clarification about my last letter! You asked based on my sentence (Then may be you will hear opinion from other netters also.)-why I was thinking that other netters would also be thinking like me? It is amusing that you thought I was hoping for a barrage of criticism for thinking about an engineering college at Dhemaji. My only intent was to get useful feedback- from every one. I never wanted alignment with my thoughts, which any way I believe were far from negative. In my first letter I was merely suggesting that if state government resources are to be used for an engineering college in Dhemaji, then we should take a hard look at the two engineering colleges run by the state government. Now coming back to the original issue, it is great to know that you are taking initiative for establishing an engineering college in a backward region. Hope people will come up with more information, feedback, useful ideas on the issue so the effort gets further impetus. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Manoj da Basically thats what actually I wanted- some sort of back ground information on the issue. Sometimes sending attachments with some note or additional information is very helpful. I was getting lost on the first page of the news crammed e-news paper till I received the relevant page separately from Bulajit. Thanks for vouching for my intent. Regards Chitta Buljit Buragohain [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Dear Chittaranjan Pathak, I donot know why you are arguing with me regarding engineering college at Dhemaji. I think you have not read the New on Engineering College at Dhemaji published in the Adinor Sombad (18.01.2007), which I have sent as attach file in my prvious mail. In the news all the points are clearly described why only Engineering College and only at Dhemaji. Please see the table of the datas given in the news also. I think you know to read assamese. I have again sent the news as attach file. You may delete the previous mail. One question for you regarding your sentance(Then may be you will hear opinion from other netters also.).Why you are thinking that other nettes also thinking like you? I am waiting for your reply. Thanking You. Buljit Buragohain Research Scholar, Centre for Energy, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati Guwahati-781039, India Phone: +91 3612583150 (O) - TV dinner still cooling? Check out Tonight's Picks on Yahoo! TV.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Engineering College at Dhemaji
Dear Buljit I did go through the recommendations by Sam Pitroda. I did see going it to a level to recommend an engineering college at Dhemaji. Did I miss it? It will be helpful if you could give the gist of basis of Dhenajis selection. Or may be where exactly (there were two pdf files), this recommendation is given. Then may be you will hear opinion from other netters also. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak --- Buljit Buragohain [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello everybody of the group, Please give your opinion about Engineering College at Dhemaji.Before giving the opinion please go to the recommendation submitted by National Knowledge Commission(http://knowledgecommission.gov.in/recommendations/higher.asp). Thanking You. Buljit Buragohain Research Scholar, Centre for Energy, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati Guwahati-781039, India Phone: +91 3612583150 (O) +91 9435188630 (M) Fax:+91 3612690762 Buljit Buragohain [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Mr. Pathak, I think you have not gone to the recommendation submitted by National Knowledge Commission(http://knowledgecommission.gov.in/recommendations/higher.asp). If possible please go through the recommendation. According to the recommendation by NKC Dhemaji is the suitable place for a new Engineering College. Thanking you Buljit Buragohain Research Scholar, Centre for Energy, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati Guwahati-781039, India Phone: +91 3612583150 (O) +91 9435188630 (M) Fax: +91 3612690762 Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 05:20:20 -0800 (PST) From: chittaranjan pathak [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] Engineering College at Dhemaji To: assam@assamnet.org Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Interesting news I assume it will be set up by state government. Even if I would not have passed out from Assam Engineering College, I would have thought government would first make the existing engineering colleges AEC and JEC more vibrant.Even after 50 years,AEC is far behind technical institutes like Jadavpur or Sibpur or Punjab Engineering College. I am not making the comparison with IITs and NITs which are in different category. But Jadavpur, BE college sibpur or PEC are just state government administered-just like AEC. AEC faces sheer negligance. As long as it is churning out few hundred engineers, what is the need to make it a centre for excellance? That is the government attitude. And in present state of Assam's affair,as Jalukbari does not fall in any of the special autonomous territory of Assam, ap package or fund for AEC's revival will be hard to come by. I salut the teachers who are still running the show in neglected institutes like AEC and JEC. It would have been good if instead of investing on a new Dhemaji engineering college, fund would have been used to increase seats and facilities and image of AEC first. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Chittaranjan Pathak - Heres a new way to find what you're looking for - Yahoo! Answers - Heres a new way to find what you're looking for - Yahoo! Answers Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food Drink QA. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=listsid=396545367 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Engineering College at Dhemaji
Interesting news I assume it will be set up by state government. Even if I would not have passed out from Assam Engineering College, I would have thought government would first make the existing engineering colleges AEC and JEC more vibrant.Even after 50 years,AEC is far behind technical institutes like Jadavpur or Sibpur or Punjab Engineering College. I am not making the comparison with IITs and NITs which are in different category. But Jadavpur, BE college sibpur or PEC are just state government administered-just like AEC. AEC faces sheer negligance. As long as it is churning out few hundred engineers, what is the need to make it a centre for excellance? That is the government attitude. And in present state of Assam's affair,as Jalukbari does not fall in any of the special autonomous territory of Assam, ap package or fund for AEC's revival will be hard to come by. I salut the teachers who are still running the show in neglected institutes like AEC and JEC. It would have been good if instead of investing on a new Dhemaji engineering college, fund would have been used to increase seats and facilities and image of AEC first. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak Chittaranjan Pathak Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Padmashri PadmaBhushan etc and Assam Government
Yes Mamoni Indira Goswami declined Padmashri which was conferred to her after she already won Jnyanpith in 2000. Generally people winning the Jnyanpith (the highest literary honor in India)awards like Amrita Pritam, Mahadevi Varma, Mahesweta Devi etc have been bestowed higher awards like Padma vibhushan. So most probabaly it was refused on principle. Regards Chittaranjan Pathak --- Alpana B. Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: - Thanks for the information. Very well put. Also, it is great to see the names of these Assamese writers. Is GOA too busy to find any of the reknowned writes that are mentioned here. They have been writing and making the Assamese literature and culture for decades - even people living outside of Assam for decades know about their contribution. How could they've been missed? I have been out of Assam for many many years, but heard of Hare Krishna Deka, Bhaben Barua, et el also being talented literary writers. winner Mamoni Roysam Goswami is also not a Padma award winner. If Assam government could nominate Shillong If I remember correctly, Mamoni R. Goswami was awarded 'Padmashri' after she won the 'Gnan-Pith' award, but she declined it for whatever reason. - A. Sarangapani Spring, Texas. USA. - From: chittaranjan pathak [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: [Assam] Padmashri PadmaBhushan etc and Assam Government Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:17:20 -0800 (PST) Dear All I am Chittaranjan Pathak, originally from Guwahati and presently based in Perth, Australia. This is my first posting to the group. Though-this is a pertinent topic and requers debate and eventual action. Yes-terrorism dominates the discussions pertaining to Assam. But then life must go on other fronts too. This years only Padmashri winner from Assam is Ms. Temsula Ao. I never heard the name before. A quick internet search revealed that she authored a book called These hills called home-stories from a war zone. She is a professor in English at NEHU in Shillong. She is a poet and writes in English. As I have never gone through Ms. Aos work I am not capable of commenting whether she deserves a Padmashri for literature or not. But this years Padmashri places her with likes of Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth who also have been awarded Padmashri for literature this year. In Assams context a Padmashri officially places her in the same category as Dr. Surjya Kumar Bhuya, Nalini Bala Devi, Ananda Chandra Barua, Atul Chandra Hazarika, Dr. Maheswar Neog, Rong Bong Terong, Bhabendra Nath Saikia etc. And this sets me thinking that all is not well on nomination front. It is a known fact that many a time government presents these awards to those luminaries who are cozy with those in power. And sometimes these are given in a placatory manner to people belonging to some communities. Ms Aos nomination from Assam raises the following questions: As far as I am aware these awards are nominated by the government of the nominees state of domicile. Assams Parveen Sultana was nominated for Padmashri by Maharashtra government, or Bhupen Hazarika for Padma Bhushan by Delhi or Mrinal Miri for Padma Bhushan by Meghalaya or Dr. Robin Banerjee by Assam. Nomination of Ms. Ao who is working and living in Meghalaya by Assam government is surprising. This frustratingly points towards Assam governments lackadaisical attitude in nominating deserving candidates from the state for these awards. Otherwise far more known and popular litterateurs living in Assam like Homen Borgohain, Hiren Bhattacharya, Nalinidhar Bhattacharjya, Hiren Gohain would not have remained officially unrecognized. Had they been from neighboring West Bengal, they would have got the Jnyanpeeth and Padma bhushan/bibhushan by now. And interestingly only Assamese living Jnyanpeeth award winner Mamoni Roysam Goswami is also not a Padma award winner. If Assam government could nominate Shillong based Ms. Ao for Padmashri then they could have also nominated Delhi based Mamoni Roysom Goswami for Padma award under literary category. But her recent hobnobbing with ULFA as a peace intermediary made her very unlikely government choice and Assam government can be excused for not doing any thing to officially confer an award on the authoress as it would have looked like appeasement at the moment. But what about people like Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi, Jogesh Das, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Hem Barua, Mitradev Mahanta, Binanda Chandra Barua, Ambika Giri Rai Choudhury, Bishnuprasad Rabha, Tarunchandra Pamegam, Phani Sarma, Parbati Prasad Barua, Lila Gogoi, Raghu Nath Choudhary and numerous others? All these people were alive and at their creative best when these awards were being annually conferred starting from early fifties.In case of Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, he received the highest literary award Jnyanpeeth from non governmental sector but Assam government did not even nominate him for Padmashri
[Assam] Padmashri PadmaBhushan etc and Assam Government
Dear All I am Chittaranjan Pathak, originally from Guwahati and presently based in Perth, Australia. This is my first posting to the group. Though-this is a pertinent topic and requers debate and eventual action. Yes-terrorism dominates the discussions pertaining to Assam. But then life must go on other fronts too. This years only Padmashri winner from Assam is Ms. Temsula Ao. I never heard the name before. A quick internet search revealed that she authored a book called These hills called home-stories from a war zone. She is a professor in English at NEHU in Shillong. She is a poet and writes in English. As I have never gone through Ms. Aos work I am not capable of commenting whether she deserves a Padmashri for literature or not. But this years Padmashri places her with likes of Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth who also have been awarded Padmashri for literature this year. In Assams context a Padmashri officially places her in the same category as Dr. Surjya Kumar Bhuya, Nalini Bala Devi, Ananda Chandra Barua, Atul Chandra Hazarika, Dr. Maheswar Neog, Rong Bong Terong, Bhabendra Nath Saikia etc. And this sets me thinking that all is not well on nomination front. It is a known fact that many a time government presents these awards to those luminaries who are cozy with those in power. And sometimes these are given in a placatory manner to people belonging to some communities. Ms Aos nomination from Assam raises the following questions: As far as I am aware these awards are nominated by the government of the nominees state of domicile. Assams Parveen Sultana was nominated for Padmashri by Maharashtra government, or Bhupen Hazarika for Padma Bhushan by Delhi or Mrinal Miri for Padma Bhushan by Meghalaya or Dr. Robin Banerjee by Assam. Nomination of Ms. Ao who is working and living in Meghalaya by Assam government is surprising. This frustratingly points towards Assam governments lackadaisical attitude in nominating deserving candidates from the state for these awards. Otherwise far more known and popular litterateurs living in Assam like Homen Borgohain, Hiren Bhattacharya, Nalinidhar Bhattacharjya, Hiren Gohain would not have remained officially unrecognized. Had they been from neighboring West Bengal, they would have got the Jnyanpeeth and Padma bhushan/bibhushan by now. And interestingly only Assamese living Jnyanpeeth award winner Mamoni Roysam Goswami is also not a Padma award winner. If Assam government could nominate Shillong based Ms. Ao for Padmashri then they could have also nominated Delhi based Mamoni Roysom Goswami for Padma award under literary category. But her recent hobnobbing with ULFA as a peace intermediary made her very unlikely government choice and Assam government can be excused for not doing any thing to officially confer an award on the authoress as it would have looked like appeasement at the moment. But what about people like Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi, Jogesh Das, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Hem Barua, Mitradev Mahanta, Binanda Chandra Barua, Ambika Giri Rai Choudhury, Bishnuprasad Rabha, Tarunchandra Pamegam, Phani Sarma, Parbati Prasad Barua, Lila Gogoi, Raghu Nath Choudhary and numerous others? All these people were alive and at their creative best when these awards were being annually conferred starting from early fifties.In case of Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, he received the highest literary award Jnyanpeeth from non governmental sector but Assam government did not even nominate him for Padmashri leave aside Padma Bhushan or Padma Vibhushan. Neighboring Manipur always conscientiously nominates deserving candidates for these state awards. A small state like Manipur has got 28 Padmashri awardees so far where as Assam with 10 times more population has produced only 35 Padmashri award winners. Compare this with some 120 from WB or some 350 from Delhi!! And when it comes to higher awards like Padma Bhushan or Padma Vibhushan, situation is more pathetic. Only Padma Vibhushan awardees from NE is Bimala Prasad Chaliha where as WB has got some 25 awardees in this category. A three times population ratio and more vibrant art and culture scenario of the neighboring state also does justify such a dismally low ratio of 1:25. Intent is not to lament Ms Aos winning of Padmashri but to point towards Assam Governments total lack of sincerity in nominating many other deserving candidates. Yes many of these people will never clamor for such official awards and many of us do not attach much significance to such recognition by Delhi government, but still collectively for the region it is a matter of pride and honor when some one is chosen for Padma awards. Frankly speaking non-Assamese IAS bureaucrats will not take much trouble in nominating deserving candidates for these awards. They will succumb to easier and less time consuming procedure of quick political nomination. Can the members of Assamnet who belong to various resident and non resident Assamese organizations act
