Re: [Assam] An evening in Hyde Park-Singap[ore's Brain drain
I learnt from a visa contractor that his first and last case of visa refusal was of a Singaporean whose govt did not give him the required No Objection Certificate to be able to work in USA as software consultant ---and that is after USA has a Free Trade Agreement with SIngapore and Chile (and 7,000 out of 65,000 H-1B visas are kept for these two nations -and routinely few apply from these nations). Seems Singapore is afraid that if they all take H-1B visas then who will work in the city-state. I think SIngapore is run by some Chinese guy whose father was the chief before him. UmeshRajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I could not describe Singapore better Even ifsomeone spends a few days and tires of the shoppingmalls, one realizes how close the boundaries are. Mybiggest fear is throwing cigarette butts inadvertentlyon the street and getting caught. I hear the Speaker's Corner in Singapore is now reallycalled Sneakers Corner because more often soccer isplayed than someone giving a speech. --- Rajiv Baruah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:-Rajib,There is this corner of the world - disneyland withdeath penalty I call it, which was my abode for about2 years. If there was one place where the might of the"danda" successfully turned a tropical vice pit intofirst world orderliness - it is Singapore. And sosuccessful was the power of the "danda" that well nighthe entire populace turned into duty bound salarymen,always keeping to the straight and narrow. Butglobalisation came, China became the factory of theworld and the old certainities of Singapore, thatelbow grease and a 60 hour week will continue to putdinner on Singapore's table vanished. The guv-mentwanted "knowledge industries". But how do you get thecreative spark to kick start these knowledgeindustries. Aha - some bright spark in the Guv-mentsaid, we must now permit table top dancing andencourage free debate (S'pore style). And so the Speakers Corner was born. It is behind apolice station where you have to take a permit inadvance before you talk. In my two years there, I didnot see a soul talk here. And I cross this place everyday, sometimes twice a day, on my way home or to acoffee from office. Let me give credit where credit is due - Singapore isa wonderful place to raise kids, play golf and, andlet me think a bit more. But it is so mind numbinlyboring.bestRajiv-- Original Message --Received: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:51:53 AM SGTFrom: Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] An evening in Hyde ParkIn the middle of a tiring business trip around the world I found myself in London - trying to be a tourist on a very hot Sunday a couple of weeks back. The very unimaginative stories around some really great monuments added to the ennui. I landed up around the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park and was planning to take the train from around there to my hotel. Which is when I saw the crowds milling around folks doing their speeches. It was a most enthralling experience. I found myself in the middle of a debate between a full bearded mullah (perhaps of Arab descent) with a cockney accentand a white punk with spiked hair about creationism and evolution. Into that mix came a wide variety of people across the length of 2 hours I was there. Therewere many African Muslims and Pakistanis (perhaps a few Bangladeshis too) looking on with admiration at the mullah who was speaking perfect English and holding his ground. There was a black Brit - perhaps an African - that shouted profanities at the mullah. There was this very quiet white liberal woman who was politically very correct and tried reasoning with the Mullah that perhaps evolution can be a part of God's design. And while the mullah (as also the punk) quoted philosophers and scientists about intricacies of the debate, I figured the Mullah's logic was simple - thatbefore there was any living thing, there must have been something that must independently and absolutely exist. Ipso facto there has to be a God and but one absolute God and therefore there has to be just one word (or book) from this one God. Pretty simplistic argument. The guy was aggressive, didn't listen to any other point of view and used a condescending tone when replying to someoneelse. My observation - no wonder the human bombers on the West are coming from the West itself. Taking courage from this Mullah, a Pakistani middle aged man started talking about many Hindus having converted to Islam till I reminded him how Spain converted back from Islam to Christianity. When I broke away from this group, I found quite a fewpeople accosting a Jewish American and telling him howbad George Bush is and why he is an Israeli and not anAmerican. All along this somewhat crazy Indian (not me:-)) was trying to tell him how he knew more about America than the American - never mind the fact that he had never lived in America for a long period. Therewere other speeches about crazy topics and using lang
Re: [Assam] An evening in Hyde Park
I could not describe Singapore better Even if someone spends a few days and tires of the shopping malls, one realizes how close the boundaries are. My biggest fear is throwing cigarette butts inadvertently on the street and getting caught. I hear the Speaker's Corner in Singapore is now really called Sneakers Corner because more often soccer is played than someone giving a speech. --- Rajiv Baruah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: - Rajib, There is this corner of the world - disneyland with death penalty I call it, which was my abode for about 2 years. If there was one place where the might of the "danda" successfully turned a tropical vice pit into first world orderliness - it is Singapore. And so successful was the power of the "danda" that well nigh the entire populace turned into duty bound salarymen, always keeping to the straight and narrow. But globalisation came, China became the factory of the world and the old certainities of Singapore, that elbow grease and a 60 hour week will continue to put dinner on Singapore's table vanished. The guv-ment wanted "knowledge industries". But how do you get the creative spark to kick start these knowledge industries. Aha - some bright spark in the Guv-ment said, we must now permit table top dancing and encourage free debate (S'pore style). And so the Speakers Corner was born. It is behind a police station where you have to take a permit in advance before you talk. In my two years there, I did not see a soul talk here. And I cross this place every day, sometimes twice a day, on my way home or to a coffee from office. Let me give credit where credit is due - Singapore is a wonderful place to raise kids, play golf and, and let me think a bit more. But it is so mind numbinly boring. best Rajiv -- Original Message -- Received: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:51:53 AM SGT From: Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: assam@assamnet.org Subject: [Assam] An evening in Hyde Park In the middle of a tiring business trip around the world I found myself in London - trying to be a tourist on a very hot Sunday a couple of weeks back. The very unimaginative stories around some really great monuments added to the ennui. I landed up around the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park and was planning to take the train from around there to my hotel. Which is when I saw the crowds milling around folks doing their speeches. It was a most enthralling experience. I found myself in the middle of a debate between a full bearded mullah (perhaps of Arab descent) with a cockney accent and a white punk with spiked hair about creationism and evolution. Into that mix came a wide variety of people across the length of 2 hours I was there. There were many African Muslims and Pakistanis (perhaps a few Bangladeshis too) looking on with admiration at the mullah who was speaking perfect English and holding his ground. There was a black Brit - perhaps an African - that shouted profanities at the mullah. There was this very quiet white liberal woman who was politically very correct and tried reasoning with the Mullah that perhaps evolution can be a part of God's design. And while the mullah (as also the punk) quoted philosophers and scientists about intricacies of the debate, I figured the Mullah's logic was simple - that before there was any living thing, there must have been something that must independently and absolutely exist. Ipso facto there has to be a God and but one absolute God and therefore there has to be just one word (or book) from this one God. Pretty simplistic argument. The guy was aggressive, didn't listen to any other point of view and used a condescending tone when replying to someone else. My observation - no wonder the human bombers on the West are coming from the West itself. Taking courage from this Mullah, a Pakistani middle aged man started talking about many Hindus having converted to Islam till I reminded him how Spain converted back from Islam to Christianity. When I broke away from this group, I found quite a few people accosting a Jewish American and telling him how bad George Bush is and why he is an Israeli and not an American. All along this somewhat crazy Indian (not me :-)) was trying to tell him how he knew more about America than the American - never mind the fact that he had never lived in America for a long period. There were other speeches about crazy topics and using language that cannot be mentioned here. As I wound my way back around 10 when the sun was setting, I was exihilarated and energized by the experience. Is there any other physical place in the world that this kind of thing happens? __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___
Re: [Assam] An evening in Hyde Park
There is one big difference too: In Kolkata it is just Bengalis. What amazed me about Hyde Park was the sheer variety of people from all walks of life from around the world - if anything is the epitome of multi-cultural, this is. I hear, once the very beautiful daughter of Muammar Gadfhafi (who is now lawyer to Saddam Hussain) reached London, escaped her security detail and landed up to speak at the Speaker's Corner against "American Imperialism". As for the police, I did not see much uniforms, but I am sure there were plainclothes ones hanging around. With so many European Muslims of the fundamentalist variety putting in their rhetoric here, I would doubt it would be otherwise. --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Ram says that the Speakersâ Corner in Hyde Park, > London, has a parallel in > Kolkata. It is a fact that the Bengalis do love a > debate as can be seen > whenever a number of Bengalis gather together at > some place, maybe even inside a bus > or a tram.âAddaâ is a very popular form of > unscheduled group discussions > amongst Bengalis and it is perhaps just this > institution which Ram visualised > when he responded to Rajivâs lively description > of an afternoon spent at the > Speakersâ Corner, Hyde Park. I am afraid the > cramped inside of a bus or tram > would not accommodate the spectacle which the > Speakersâ Corner is. > The Hyde Park Speakersâ Corner is an unique > symbol of democracy in Great > Britain. It symbolises free speech as well as > Britainâs major role in the modern > world. In Speakersâ Corner the Speaker is usually > a single person > challenging anybody and everybody with a verbal > duel with him (or her, though female > orators are rarely seen). He anticipates antagonism > and he is ready for it. > He might be hustled up or shouted down. At the end > nothing untoward happens > because of the presence of the police. After all it > is well-organised although > the public may not be much aware of it. > Bhuba > > ___ > assam mailing list > assam@assamnet.org > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > __ 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] An evening in Hyde Park
Ram says that the Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, London, has a parallel in Kolkata. It is a fact that the Bengalis do love a debate as can be seen whenever a number of Bengalis gather together at some place, maybe even inside a bus or a tram.’Adda’ is a very popular form of unscheduled group discussions amongst Bengalis and it is perhaps just this institution which Ram visualised when he responded to Rajiv’s lively description of an afternoon spent at the Speakers’ Corner, Hyde Park. I am afraid the cramped inside of a bus or tram would not accommodate the spectacle which the Speakers’ Corner is. The Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner is an unique symbol of democracy in Great Britain. It symbolises free speech as well as Britain’s major role in the modern world. In Speakers’ Corner the Speaker is usually a single person challenging anybody and everybody with a verbal duel with him (or her, though female orators are rarely seen). He anticipates antagonism and he is ready for it. He might be hustled up or shouted down. At the end nothing untoward happens because of the presence of the police. After all it is well-organised although the public may not be much aware of it. Bhuba ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] An evening in Hyde Park
Rajib, There is this corner of the world - disneyland with death penalty I call it, which was my abode for about 2 years. If there was one place where the might of the "danda" successfully turned a tropical vice pit into first world orderliness - it is Singapore. And so successful was the power of the "danda" that well nigh the entire populace turned into duty bound salarymen, always keeping to the straight and narrow. But globalisation came, China became the factory of the world and the old certainities of Singapore, that elbow grease and a 60 hour week will continue to put dinner on Singapore's table vanished. The guv-ment wanted "knowledge industries". But how do you get the creative spark to kick start these knowledge industries. Aha - some bright spark in the Guv-ment said, we must now permit table top dancing and encourage free debate (S'pore style). And so the Speakers Corner was born. It is behind a police station where you have to take a permit in advance before you talk. In my two years there, I did not see a soul talk here. And I cross this place every day, sometimes twice a day, on my way home or to a coffee from office. Let me give credit where credit is due - Singapore is a wonderful place to raise kids, play golf and, and let me think a bit more. But it is so mind numbinly boring. best Rajiv -- Original Message --Received: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:51:53 AM SGTFrom: Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] An evening in Hyde Park In the middle of a tiring business trip around the world I found myself in London - trying to be a tourist on a very hot Sunday a couple of weeks back. The very unimaginative stories around some really great monuments added to the ennui. I landed up around the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park and was planning to take the train from around there to my hotel. Which is when I saw the crowds milling around folks doing their speeches. It was a most enthralling experience. I found myself in the middle of a debate between a full bearded mullah (perhaps of Arab descent) with a cockney accent and a white punk with spiked hair about creationism and evolution. Into that mix came a wide variety of people across the length of 2 hours I was there. There were many African Muslims and Pakistanis (perhaps a few Bangladeshis too) looking on with admiration at the mullah who was speaking perfect English and holding his ground. There was a black Brit - perhaps an African - that shouted profanities at the mullah. There was this very quiet white liberal woman who was politically very correct and tried reasoning with the Mullah that perhaps evolution can be a part of God's design. And while the mullah (as also the punk) quoted philosophers and scientists about intricacies of the debate, I figured the Mullah's logic was simple - that before there was any living thing, there must have been something that must independently and absolutely exist. Ipso facto there has to be a God and but one absolute God and therefore there has to be just one word (or book) from this one God. Pretty simplistic argument. The guy was aggressive, didn't listen to any other point of view and used a condescending tone when replying to someone else. My observation - no wonder the human bombers on the West are coming from the West itself. Taking courage from this Mullah, a Pakistani middle aged man started talking about many Hindus having converted to Islam till I reminded him how Spain converted back from Islam to Christianity. When I broke away from this group, I found quite a few people accosting a Jewish American and telling him how bad George Bush is and why he is an Israeli and not an American. All along this somewhat crazy Indian (not me :-)) was trying to tell him how he knew more about America than the American - never mind the fact that he had never lived in America for a long period. There were other speeches about crazy topics and using language that cannot be mentioned here. As I wound my way back around 10 when the sun was setting, I was exihilarated and energized by the experience. Is there any other physical place in the world that this kind of thing happens? __ 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 ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] An evening in Hyde Park
But "Coffee House'r Adda or Rocke Boshe Adda" are 2 (or more) Bongs talking about communism and football :-) --- Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > That was very interesting. > > But things like this also happens in Calcutta city > buses and trams. I have > had the experience of listening in to heated > political discussions and > football (Mohun Bagan & Mohmmedan Sporting, I > think). They are really fun to > watch and listen, but I hear dangerous to take part. > > Don't know if they still do this > > > On 6/20/06, Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > In the middle of a tiring business trip around the > > world I found myself in London - trying to be a > > tourist on a very hot Sunday a couple of weeks > back. > > The very unimaginative stories around some really > > great monuments added to the ennui. > > > > I landed up around the Speaker's Corner in Hyde > Park > > and was planning to take the train from around > there > > to my hotel. Which is when I saw the crowds > milling > > around folks doing their speeches. > > > > It was a most enthralling experience. I found > myself > > in the middle of a debate between a full bearded > > mullah (perhaps of Arab descent) with a cockney > accent > > and a white punk with spiked hair about > creationism > > and evolution. Into that mix came a wide variety > of > > people across the length of 2 hours I was there. > There > > were many African Muslims and Pakistanis (perhaps > a > > few Bangladeshis too) looking on with admiration > at > > the mullah who was speaking perfect English and > > holding his ground. There was a black Brit - > perhaps > > an African - that shouted profanities at the > mullah. > > There was this very quiet white liberal woman who > was > > politically very correct and tried reasoning with > the > > Mullah that perhaps evolution can be a part of > God's > > design. > > > > And while the mullah (as also the punk) quoted > > philosophers and scientists about intricacies of > the > > debate, I figured the Mullah's logic was simple - > that > > before there was any living thing, there must have > > been something that must independently and > absolutely > > exist. Ipso facto there has to be a God and but > one > > absolute God and therefore there has to be just > one > > word (or book) from > > this one God. Pretty simplistic argument. The guy > was > > aggressive, didn't listen to any other point of > view > > and used a condescending tone when replying to > someone > > else. My observation - no wonder the human bombers > on > > the West are coming from the West itself. > > > > Taking courage from this Mullah, a Pakistani > middle > > aged man started talking about many Hindus having > > converted to Islam till I reminded him how Spain > > converted back from Islam to Christianity. > > > > When I broke away from this group, I found quite a > few > > people accosting a Jewish American and telling him > how > > bad George Bush is and why he is an Israeli and > not an > > American. All along this somewhat crazy Indian > (not me > > :-)) was trying to tell him how he knew more about > > America than the American - never mind the fact > that > > he had never lived in America for a long period. > There > > were other speeches about crazy topics and using > > language that cannot be mentioned here. > > > > As I wound my way back around 10 when the sun was > > setting, I was exihilarated and energized by the > > experience. > > > > Is there any other physical place in the world > that > > this kind of thing happens? > > > > > > __ > > 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 > > > __ 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] An evening in Hyde Park
That was very interesting. But things like this also happens in Calcutta city buses and trams. I have had the experience of listening in to heated political discussions and football (Mohun Bagan & Mohmmedan Sporting, I think). They are really fun to watch and listen, but I hear dangerous to take part. Don't know if they still do this On 6/20/06, Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: In the middle of a tiring business trip around theworld I found myself in London - trying to be atourist on a very hot Sunday a couple of weeks back. The very unimaginative stories around some reallygreat monuments added to the ennui.I landed up around the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Parkand was planning to take the train from around thereto my hotel. Which is when I saw the crowds milling around folks doing their speeches.It was a most enthralling experience. I found myselfin the middle of a debate between a full beardedmullah (perhaps of Arab descent) with a cockney accentand a white punk with spiked hair about creationism and evolution. Into that mix came a wide variety ofpeople across the length of 2 hours I was there. Therewere many African Muslims and Pakistanis (perhaps afew Bangladeshis too) looking on with admiration at the mullah who was speaking perfect English andholding his ground. There was a black Brit - perhapsan African - that shouted profanities at the mullah.There was this very quiet white liberal woman who was politically very correct and tried reasoning with theMullah that perhaps evolution can be a part of God'sdesign.And while the mullah (as also the punk) quotedphilosophers and scientists about intricacies of the debate, I figured the Mullah's logic was simple - thatbefore there was any living thing, there must havebeen something that must independently and absolutelyexist. Ipso facto there has to be a God and but one absolute God and therefore there has to be just oneword (or book) fromthis one God. Pretty simplistic argument. The guy wasaggressive, didn't listen to any other point of viewand used a condescending tone when replying to someone else. My observation - no wonder the human bombers onthe West are coming from the West itself.Taking courage from this Mullah, a Pakistani middleaged man started talking about many Hindus havingconverted to Islam till I reminded him how Spain converted back from Islam to Christianity.When I broke away from this group, I found quite a fewpeople accosting a Jewish American and telling him howbad George Bush is and why he is an Israeli and not an American. All along this somewhat crazy Indian (not me:-)) was trying to tell him how he knew more aboutAmerica than the American - never mind the fact thathe had never lived in America for a long period. There were other speeches about crazy topics and usinglanguage that cannot be mentioned here.As I wound my way back around 10 when the sun wassetting, I was exihilarated and energized by theexperience. Is there any other physical place in the world thatthis kind of thing happens?__Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] An evening in Hyde Park
In the middle of a tiring business trip around the world I found myself in London - trying to be a tourist on a very hot Sunday a couple of weeks back. The very unimaginative stories around some really great monuments added to the ennui. I landed up around the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park and was planning to take the train from around there to my hotel. Which is when I saw the crowds milling around folks doing their speeches. It was a most enthralling experience. I found myself in the middle of a debate between a full bearded mullah (perhaps of Arab descent) with a cockney accent and a white punk with spiked hair about creationism and evolution. Into that mix came a wide variety of people across the length of 2 hours I was there. There were many African Muslims and Pakistanis (perhaps a few Bangladeshis too) looking on with admiration at the mullah who was speaking perfect English and holding his ground. There was a black Brit - perhaps an African - that shouted profanities at the mullah. There was this very quiet white liberal woman who was politically very correct and tried reasoning with the Mullah that perhaps evolution can be a part of God's design. And while the mullah (as also the punk) quoted philosophers and scientists about intricacies of the debate, I figured the Mullah's logic was simple - that before there was any living thing, there must have been something that must independently and absolutely exist. Ipso facto there has to be a God and but one absolute God and therefore there has to be just one word (or book) from this one God. Pretty simplistic argument. The guy was aggressive, didn't listen to any other point of view and used a condescending tone when replying to someone else. My observation - no wonder the human bombers on the West are coming from the West itself. Taking courage from this Mullah, a Pakistani middle aged man started talking about many Hindus having converted to Islam till I reminded him how Spain converted back from Islam to Christianity. When I broke away from this group, I found quite a few people accosting a Jewish American and telling him how bad George Bush is and why he is an Israeli and not an American. All along this somewhat crazy Indian (not me :-)) was trying to tell him how he knew more about America than the American - never mind the fact that he had never lived in America for a long period. There were other speeches about crazy topics and using language that cannot be mentioned here. As I wound my way back around 10 when the sun was setting, I was exihilarated and energized by the experience. Is there any other physical place in the world that this kind of thing happens? __ 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
