Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II

[SANDIP DUTTA]

 the all-India political 
parties, even the regional political formations like the Asom Gana Parishad 
(AGP) or the AGP (P) are against the idea of a sovereign Asom. The AGP 
reiterated its stand against secessionism at its general body meeting in 
Guwahati on January 20, 2007. The party’s well-known stand is that it wants a 
federal restructure of the Indian Union with maximum powers to the State. The 
All Assam Students Union (AASU), which has a strong command over the Asomiya 
opinion, has publicly stated its stance against a sovereign Asom. An angered 
ULFA has recently branded the AASU leadership as agents of the Indian State. 
AASU, on the other hand, criticises the Bangladesh-sheltered ULFA leadership 
for its silence over the influx of Bangla nationals in Asom. Another
 influential organisation, the Asam Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) 
also advocates more powers to the State, not sovereignty.

The Asam Sahitya Sabha, which has been playing a pivotal role in shaping 
Asomiya national consciousness since its birth in the 19th century, is also 
against an Asom outside India. Sabha president Kanaksen Deka asserted at a 
Press meet in Guwahati on January 19, 2007 that Asom was, is and will remain an 
inseparable part of India. Except for a few die-hard pro-ULFA organisasions, no 
other mass organisation, student or youth organisation, trade union, peasant 
organisation or any other organisation worth the name has supported the 
sovereignty demand. Then who wants a separate sovereign existence outside 
India? It is only ULFA who does.

It has every right to nurse a sovereign dream. Maybe, in its view, only a 
sovereign existence can ensure happiness and prosperity for the people of Asom. 
That is why it has jumped into a struggle for independence. But what is the 
nature of this struggle? Has it formed any mass organisation to go to the 
people to favourably influence their opinion and win their support? No, it 
hasn’t. There’s no alternative to mass organisations to win mass support and 
persuade the people to join the fight for freedom. It uses bullets and bombs 
even to turn mass support in its favour. And this is exactly why it is 
terrorist. It uses terrorist methods to impose its will on the people. The call 
for boycott of National Games was one such instance. Lesser the public support, 
more are its terrorist activities. Some milestones of its freedom struggle are 
the mass grave at Lakhipathar, massacre of children at Dhemaji and killings of 
Hindi speaking labourers. It feels no qualms before planting
 bombs in public places. Then, what has happened to its war of independence? 
Mass support is a must for such a war. The State is not scared of guns not 
backed by mass support. Even these guns, it uses more often than not, against 
the unarmed civilians and not against the armed forces. Needless to say, there 
will be no freedom without mass support, no freedom can be achieved by avoiding 
war with the Army and killing the unarmed innocents. So, no astrology is 
required to safely predict that there is no future at all to ULFA’s sovereignty 
demand. (Assam Tribune Editorial)





- Original Message 
From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: chittaranjan pathak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: assam@assamnet.org
Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 1:55:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II


Hello C:

>All I wanted was to know from who else?

*** Before you bank on what you perceive as your check-mate move, 
you, or anyone who is halfway sincere or informed , ought to examine 
where and how those voices could be aired.

Tell me, C, if you wrote a letter to any newspaper in Assam , making 
a set of intellectual arguments (not a call for armed rebellion 
now--that would be a different issue) about why independence is 
essential for Assam to carve out its place in the community of 
nations, WHO would publish it?

Or can you or anybody else, get the air time to express those views 
to the general public?

Or for that matter, if you write a book and try to publish it, if anyone will?
And if you had one printed, clandestinely, if anyone will sell it on 
the streets or book-stores of Guahati or anywhere else in Assam?

*** I hope you know the answer. And in that context, can you or Ram 
or anybody else explain to us, if such refusal would be because none 
in Assam would want hear or read of it because of their devotion to 
Indian dependence and NOT out of a fear of retribution of the Indian 
state?

*** So, the whole assertion that there is NO reasoned voice about an 
aspiration for independence is a myth, concocted by those who want NO 
change to the status-quo, which has served their lots well. It merely 
underscores the point, that a section of the populace has done very 
well--thanks to Indian government's policy of looting the people of 
the region and then redistributing portions of it to enrich a few.

And why would that segment of the beneficiaries of this revers

Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II

[Chan Mahanta]

Hello C:

>All I wanted was to know from who else?

*** Before you bank on what you perceive as your check-mate move, 
you, or anyone who is halfway sincere or informed , ought to examine 
where and how those voices could be aired.

Tell me, C, if you wrote a letter to any newspaper in Assam , making 
a set of intellectual arguments (not a call for armed rebellion 
now--that would be a different issue) about why independence is 
essential for Assam to carve out its place in the community of 
nations, WHO would publish it?

Or can you or anybody else, get the air time to express those views 
to the general public?

Or for that matter, if you write a book and try to publish it, if anyone will?
And if you had one printed, clandestinely, if anyone will sell it on 
the streets or book-stores of Guahati or anywhere else in Assam?

*** I hope you know the answer. And in that context, can you or Ram 
or anybody else explain to us, if such refusal would be because none 
in Assam would want hear or read of it because of their devotion to 
Indian dependence and NOT out of a fear of retribution of the Indian 
state?

*** So, the whole assertion that there is NO reasoned voice about an 
aspiration for independence is a myth, concocted by those who want NO 
change to the status-quo, which has served their lots well. It merely 
underscores the point, that a section of the populace has done very 
well--thanks to Indian government's policy of looting the people of 
the region and then redistributing portions of it to enrich a few.

And why would that segment of the beneficiaries of this reverse 
Robinhood-ism  of Indian governance, faithfully implemented by its 
local stooges, want the golden goose killed?


*** When you or Ram and others declare that they and their kin do not 
want independence, what they really mean is that they do not want to 
upset the status quo from which they befitted. That they do not want 
changes to the system that has kept the people of Assam from seeking 
their place in the sun. Oh they go froth in the mouth complaining 
about it, and their hearts bleed about how vast segments of the 
people are left behind, except that they cannot or would not want any 
change to what has brought them where they are.

*** I have heard all the protestations about how they all want change 
and reforms. They want corruption ended. They want better management 
of the state's resources. They want justice for all. They also have 
seen, for decades on end, how the Indian state and its proxies in the 
State Houses or the institutions of state are stuck in the 
mud,totally unable to demonstrate even a rudimentary amount of 
change, of reforms, of progress.

Only problem here is thay are unable to reconcile the dichotomy. They 
are clueless.

*** I hope you are not that clueless Chitta. If you or others can 
demonstrate that YES , reforms are possible, change is possible, able 
management of the state's resources for the benefit of all its people 
-- not just its privileged -- is possible, that Assam's ethnic, 
cultural, language and historical identity would not be obliterated 
under the prevailing Indian rule, you might be able to persuade me, 
and others like me, that perhaps Assam could do without independence.

*** Now it is YOUR turn, and Ram's turn to put your money where your 
mouths are and show us!

Mind you mere assertions are not good enough. Asking rhetorical 
questions about how Gujarat or Karnataka are  doing better would be 
meaningless.  You will have to show where and how change is taking 
place that Assam can bank on.

Shall we?


>  >1) 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.

>  >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.

*** I'll be danged! That does prove it all then Huh?
Sorry C, I tried  to control my acerbic side, but this is too much :-).

m-da




At 7:54 PM -0800 2/9/07, chittaranjan pathak wrote:
>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

Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II

[Ram Sarangapani]

Dear Chitta,

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.


This is an appropriate question and has been asked numerous times in this
net. However, we have never did get any straight answers. No, I don't
believe there are concrete plans (at least long term). Most of whats
happening seem to be knee-jerk reactions.

Of course, we all know that there is a genuine voice (and desire) in Assam
for independence, and there are are true revolutionaries. Today, I am not
sure if they even exist.
As for ground realities, one doesn't have to travel far from Guwahati to see
the abject poverty and lack of development. I don't think we are ignorant of
these realities. However, as these happen in such frequencies and is so
commonplace, its a crying shame that we have just become so darn immune.

--Ram da



On 2/9/07, chittaranjan pathak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


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

Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II

[chittaranjan pathak]

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

Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II

[Chan Mahanta]

Ram:

You must not have thought about it, but do you 
not see the arrogance embedded in arguing  on the 
one hand that ULFA does not represent Assamese 
people's aspirations, while refusing to take the 
only possible step to verify if it holds any 
water, citing the kind of alibis you do?


Could ULFA exist for all these years if they did not have the active support of
the people? Can they call for an Upper Assam 
'bondho' and there would be nobody on the 
streets? I was at Dibrugarh on this past Jan. 26 
	. The place was dead. Everything was 
closed.


Yours is a highly uninformed argument at best Ram.

c-da







At 10:05 AM -0600 2/9/07, Ram Sarangapani 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 more importantly, most 
people in the state want to remain a part of 
India.


--Ram








On 2/9/07, Chan Mahanta 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:


Hi C:


I changed the subject right back. "The Minority 
Assamese" smacks of a persecution complex based 
on ethnic,linguistic or cultural identity.  For 
people like you or I, world-citizens, that would 
be a rather unbecoming complaint. We ought to 
pursue more relevant and concrete issues.



No I don't think 'Answers for Chitta ' is at all 
personal. We have had many such
discourses in assamnet in the past. But if it 
still bothers you, you are welcome to change it 
to something different. But let us not get into 
such things as Assamese ethnic persecution 
complex. We, the caste- Assamese, have little 
room to complain about that, if you know what I 
mean.



Allow me to clarify a few of your 
misconceptions, before we get back to  your 
questions. And I will continue to resort to 
cutting and pasting the questions
to post my response, so that the reader, if 
there is any, can follow the context; in spite 
of your fears about it appearing too 
argumentative. I have no problems with that, if 
YOU don't.







 >Bottom line is Mahanta da just because of I am based


 >in Perth or you know my family or my immediate background ,




*** I don't know anything about you or yours. I 
don't need to. And I never would have asked the 
question, had you NOT prefaced your questions 
with:



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.


I don't take issue with your bringing your kin 
into the equation. They are the people we know 
and understand most. However, when you or I 
extend the lessons learnt from that to apply all 
over Assam, or to the vast majority of Assam as 
you do, then we must examine the validity of the 
premise. Whether what you and your kin represent 
is the NORM for the rest of Assam?



Do you still see my inquiry therefore  an 
illogical or irrelevant one, designed to 
obfuscate as you insinuate?



Now, should you not feel trapped by this 
request, you can do it , without divulging 
specific personal details, like:





Grandparents from Lower Assam, rural, subsistence farmers
with adequate a

Re: [Assam] Answers for Chitta-II

[Ram Sarangapani]

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 more importantly, most people in the state want to
remain a part of India.

--Ram








On 2/9/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


 Hi C:


I changed the subject right back. "The Minority Assamese" smacks of a
persecution complex based on ethnic,linguistic or cultural identity.  For
people like you or I, world-citizens, that would be a rather unbecoming
complaint. We ought to pursue more relevant and concrete issues.


No I don't think 'Answers for Chitta ' is at all personal. We have had
many such
discourses in assamnet in the past. But if it still bothers you, you are
welcome to change it to something different. But let us not get into such
things as Assamese ethnic persecution complex. We, the caste- Assamese, have
little room to complain about that, if you know what I mean.


Allow me to clarify a few of your misconceptions, before we get back to
your questions. And I will continue to resort to cutting and pasting the
questions
to post my response, so that the reader, if there is any, can follow the
context; in spite of your fears about it appearing too argumentative. I have
no problems with that, if YOU don't.





>Bottom line is Mahanta da just because of I am based

>in Perth or you know my family or my immediate background ,




*** I don't know anything about you or yours. I don't need to. And I never
would have asked the question, had you NOT prefaced your questions with:


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.*


I don't take issue with your bringing your kin into the equation. They are
the people we know and understand most. However, when you or I extend the
lessons learnt from that to apply all over Assam, or to the vast majority of
Assam as you do, then we must examine the validity of the premise. Whether
what you and your kin represent is the NORM for the rest of Assam?


Do you still see my inquiry therefore  an illogical or irrelevant one,
designed to obfuscate as you insinuate?


Now, should you not feel trapped by this request, you can do it , without
divulging specific personal details, like:




Grandparents from Lower Assam, rural, subsistence farmers
with adequate arable land ( or landless sharecroppers, or scions
of Zamindars, or school teacher in British Assam -- so on and so
forth)


Father, one of six siblings, local high school topper, MSc GU,
IAS. Mother, daughter of High Ct clerk. Or Father BSc, Xorobhwg
College,
Local High School teacher, mother daughter of local Mahajan.
Grew up in thatched hut, but now have poka-ghor, owns a motor
scooter.
So on and so forth.


I worked hard, studies at distant High School with a Christian
Saint's
name, three stars at HS, IIT-Mumbai in Comp. Science, now at
Perth.
Three Siblings--a doctor, a college teacher and a businessman.
Twenty two cousins ( by last count), spanning from aspiring IAS to

[Assam] Answers for Chitta-II

[Chan Mahanta]

Hi C:

I changed the subject right back. "The Minority 
Assamese" smacks of a persecution complex based 
on ethnic,linguistic or cultural identity.  For 
people like you or I, world-citizens, that would 
be a rather unbecoming complaint. We ought to 
pursue more relevant and concrete issues.


No I don't think 'Answers for Chitta ' is at all 
personal. We have had many such
discourses in assamnet in the past. But if it 
still bothers you, you are welcome to change it 
to something different. But let us not get into 
such things as Assamese ethnic persecution 
complex. We, the caste- Assamese, have little 
room to complain about that, if you know what I 
mean.


Allow me to clarify a few of your misconceptions, 
before we get back to  your questions. And I will 
continue to resort to cutting and pasting the 
questions
to post my response, so that the reader, if there 
is any, can follow the context; in spite of your 
fears about it appearing too argumentative. I 
have no problems with that, if YOU don't.




 >Bottom line is Mahanta da just because of I am based
in Perth or you know my family or my immediate background ,



*** I don't know anything about you or yours. I 
don't need to. And I never would have asked the 
question, had you NOT prefaced your questions 
with:


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.

I don't take issue with your bringing your kin 
into the equation. They are the people we know 
and understand most. However, when you or I 
extend the lessons learnt from that to apply all 
over Assam, or to the vast majority of Assam as 
you do, then we must examine the validity of the 
premise. Whether what you and your kin represent 
is the NORM for the rest of Assam?


Do you still see my inquiry therefore  an 
illogical or irrelevant one, designed to 
obfuscate as you insinuate?


Now, should you not feel trapped by this request, 
you can do it , without divulging specific 
personal details, like:



Grandparents from Lower Assam, rural, subsistence farmers
with adequate arable land ( or landless sharecroppers, or scions
of Zamindars, or school teacher in British Assam -- so on and so
forth)

Father, one of six siblings, local high school topper, MSc GU,
	IAS. Mother, daughter of High Ct clerk. 
Or Father BSc, Xorobhwg College,

Local High School teacher, mother daughter of local Mahajan.
Grew up in thatched hut, but now have poka-ghor, owns a motor scooter.
So on and so forth.

I worked hard, studies at distant High School with a Christian Saint's
name, three stars at HS, IIT-Mumbai in Comp. Science, now at Perth.
Three Siblings--a doctor, a college teacher and a businessman.
Twenty two cousins ( by last count), spanning from aspiring IAS to
AEC Engineer to Wineshop Owner to rice-farmers to a black-sheep in the
ULFA.  So on and so forth.

Not very hard, is it? But it will give US some 
clues to why you are COMFORTABLE with the status 
quo of Assam governance under Indian controls. It 
will also tell us whether the lessons learned 
from YOUR kins' circumstances could be applied to 
the rest of Assam that you so effortlessly did, 
as a premise to your questions.



*** You brought up a whole lot of other issues 
too that I could have a field day answering :-). 
But time is short. 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'. 
Unfortunately such attempts by Assam's 
intelligentsia or its well wishers to avoid 
looking at the real issues underlying the demand 
or wish for independence would not lead to a 
solution. 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.




 Because this was the crux of my
question! WHERE is the cry for independence in Assam?


For one, it appears to me that ULFA raises it. Did I misread it?

I know, I know  --- but THEY don't represent 
Assam's aspirations right? Unlike your kin do :-)?


You may be right. Who am I to question that?

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 guaran

[Assam] Answers for Chitta-I

[Chan Mahanta]

Hi Chitta:

Here I will attempt to address your queries, one at a time.

You seem to be quite conversant about the role of 
CISF. Perhaps you are an OIL or ONGC employee?




 >But here it was a case of sheer ego boosting exercise.
CRPk dekhi uthil gaa, CISFe bule muku khaa. The
officer must be punished.


*** What you are speaking of here is an 
environment of anarchy. When the ranks of the 
keepers of the peace and the upholder of the rule 
of law indulge in such behavior, it means only 
one thing: There is NO deterrence. They can do 
whatever they wish to--obviously with impunity, 
as thousands of episodes of fake-encounter 
killings, killings in detention, disappearance 
after arrests amply illustrate.



 >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?


*** Yours is a typically lament here. Let us 
examine it and its underlying assumptions and 
implications:


Is it an uniquely  Assamese condition? That your 
people and mine, are so uniquely apathetic that 
they will soon forget thus perhaps are deserving 
of what they get?


I make the question purposely provocative, 
because I have seen it any number of times 
presented here, exactly with such  implications. 
And I will follow up, 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 da’s
anguished declaration that you are always the “fair
and balanced” by saying that your partisanship lies
with “my people’s” 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 r

Re: [Assam] Answers

[Priyankoo]

oops I thought it is "Do you think men should teach in school?"
Ans: Yes

The answer for "Do you think men should not teach in school?"is 
NO

>>Thank you so much for your analytical remarks.
== You're most welcome!!

>>The answers are mostly as I had expected from an intelligent and 
>>educated young man
== Thanks!!

Priyankoo

-
Priyankoo
4118 Turlington
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fl
USA
www.geocities.com/priyankoos


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Re: [Assam] Answers

[umesh sharma]

Priyankoo-da,     Thank you so much for your analytical remarks. The answers are mostly as I had expected from an intelligent and educated young man - excpt for baffling ones about :     * Do you think men should not teach in school?ans: YesWould you like to teach in a school -using your skills in linguistics?ans: No     --  Could you please elaborate. Though,  I would agree that :  1. There are atleast two sides to every argument .  2. One man's meat is another man's poison.     Thanks & Regards.     Umesh           Priyankoo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:  Did
 Jaymala sin?ans: NoShould women be allowed in Sabrimala?ans:YesDo you think men should not teach in school?ans: YesWould you like to teach in a school -using your skills in linguistics?ans: NoDo you think UPE is an important goal?ans: YesAs you insist Umesh!!-Priyankoo4118 TurlingtonUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FlUSAwww.geocities.com/priyankoos___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ 
		 
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[Assam] Answers

[Priyankoo]

Did Jaymala sin?
ans: No

Should women be allowed in Sabrimala?
ans:Yes

Do you think men should not teach in school?
ans: Yes

Would you like to teach in a school -using your skills in 
linguistics?
ans: No

Do you think UPE is an important goal?
ans: Yes


As you insist Umesh!!



-
Priyankoo
4118 Turlington
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fl
USA
www.geocities.com/priyankoos


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[Assam] Answers

[Priyankoo]

Did Jaymala sin?
ans: No

Should women be allowed in Sabrimala?
ans:Yes

Do you think men should not teach in school?
ans: Yes

Would you like to teach in a school -using your skills in 
linguistics?
ans: No

Do you think UPE is an important goal?
ans: Yes


As you insist Umesh!!



-
Priyankoo
4118 Turlington
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fl
USA
www.geocities.com/priyankoos


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