subject:"\[Assam\] Assam Srength"


I expected that question. Rajib Das is investing his
money in a house in India as also a business in Assam
if that helps. Amongst my circle, many are going back
at a moment that suits them and some probably are not.
Universally however, everyone's money is going there
even if for some it is through Fidelity's India Fund.
So yes, we all are putting our money where our mouth
is. I have belief my money will do well there. Would I
leave Northern California for good, never to return?
Never. The weather is way too good here.  

Actually the counter question does answer your
question - if there is enough money from all around
the world flowing into a place, it means something
good is happening there. I guess folks have figured
that Azim Premji, the Sona Steering folks, the textile
guys of Coimbatore, the IIT coaching classes of Kota
have done pretty well staying in India so they want to
put their money behind them. Not to mention millions
of 21 year olds that are gainfully employed in the BPO
sector and buying all those American brands. Also did
I mention the gardner (or was it the chai boy) of
Narayan Murthy is also doing pretty well - he is a
dollar millionaire. Incidentally some international
statistics mention close to 300 million people have
entered the middle class. So many people in India are
doing good, I think.





--- Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> That doesn't answer my question though.
> 
> And raises yet another question: What is Rajib Das
> doing in the USA, 
> he who knows and sees how India is the place to be
> in?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 3:14 PM -0700 9/22/05, Rajib Das wrote:
> >I mull over it and wonder if only the folks who
> leave
> >India are doing well, why in the world would people
> >and companies around the world pump in more than a
> 100
> >billion dollars into India? Are they idiots or
> what?
> >
> >Ask a Louisiana investor (non-Indian) where he
> would
> >put in his dollar of investment - India or
> Louisiana?
> >Guess what his answers would be?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>  Question is if you and others have taken a
> moment to
> >>  mull why these
> >>  desis have to leave India to do well, if Indian
> rule
> >>  has been so good
> >>  for the country, that so many of you cannot seem
> to
> >>  imagine living
> >>  under anything else?
> >>
> >>  Think about it. We will deliberate on it some
> more
> >>  later.
> >>
> >>  cm
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>  At 9:06 AM -0700 9/22/05, mayur bora wrote:
> >>  >Hi Mrinal
> >>  >
> >>  >Thanks for your interesting observation. It may
> be
> >>  >more applicable to those people who are outside
> >>  India
> >>  >than to someone like me who was in Assam till
> the
> >>  >other day. But your view that they start
> feeling
> >>  about
> >>  >the state only after leaving Assam is not
> entirely
> >>  >true. Because you don't know what they probably
> did
> >>  >while they were in Assam. Moreover should there
> be
> >>  any
> >>  >distinction between someone living in Assam ot
> >>  outside
> >>  >it in respect of their willingness to do
> something
> >>  for
> >>  >the state in a meaningful but humble way ? I
> leave
> >>  >this point for a wider debate among the
> netters.
> >>  >
> >>  >I believe where there is a will, there is a
> way.
> >>  You
> >>  >know the contribution of many NRIs (mainly
> >>  Punjabis)
> >>  >to their state. I know Mahanata Da will get a
> point
> >>  to
> >>  >pull my leg on this issue. But I enjoy his
> opinion.
> >>  >You may not agree with some of his
> observations;
> >>  but
> >>  >once you separate the chaff from the wheat, it
> >>  gives
> >>  >you delicious food for thought. I think
> everyone
> >>  >irrespective of their place of present location
> can
> >>  >contribute to the welfare of a particular group
> of
> >>  >people if they wish.
> >>  >
> >>  >Supporting plebiscite as a provision in a
> democracy
> >>  to
> >>  >be exercised in times of genuine need is not
> same
> >>  as
> >>  >supporting self rule. I am clear in my opinion
> that
> >>  >our state will not be better off with self
> rule.
> >>  But I
> >>  >don't want this view to be inviolable in a true
> >>  >democracy. What is the harm in taking people's
> >>  opinion
> >>  >? Call me arrogant or anything you like; but I
> am
> >>  sure
> >>  >about the verdict also. It will be a resounding
> NO.
> >>  >But let the provision be present in the system.
> Of
> >>  >course, there will be many arguments against it
> due
> >>  to
> >>  >its inherent potential to create trouble for
> the
> >>  >central govt by encouraging forces of
> >>  disintegration
> >>  >in different parts of the country. The need for
> >>  >judicious use of this provision would also
> entail a
> >>  >great deal of controversy among people.
> >>  >
> >>  >I am also in favour of raising other relevant
> >>  issues
> >>  >along with the main issue in case of Assam. We
> have
> >>  to
> >>  >address the entire gamut of issues associated
> with
> >>  the
> >>  >main demand of

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength


Are you an IIM A alumnus?

--- Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

> Chandan da,
>  
> The answers to these questions are too obvious and
> have been debated over and over in the net since the
> Jurassic Age. Lets say the roots to all these
> problems lie with India. Do you really think we NRA
> could only contribute to Assam's development when
> David has finally won over the big bad Goliath ? 
> And even in the most optimistic case , how many
> years do you think it will take and till then how
> many years of finger pointing and cyber arguments do
> you think Assamese diaspora would be involved in?
> And where do you think the rest of the world would
> be in comparison to our Assam?
>  
> I am no particular fan of India or of the Cow Belt. 
> I do not think India Bashing is a crime. I do not
> think it is a PAAP to consider Assam does not belong
> to India. But I do not think we are in a position to
> wrestle control from the Union of India without
> inflicting so much wound on ourselves that we may
> never be able to recover.
>  
> Tell me Chandan  da, which one we would find more 
> gratifying :
>  
> Choice 1 :   We spend rest of our life pointing out
> why things are not going to work in Assam and what
> ails Assam.
> Choice 2 :   We realised we can not make a heaven
> out of Assam in one day but we won over the
> problems/challanges presented in Assam in ourown way
> to contribute to the Assamese society by
> contributing to its economy (does not matter 
> whether Assam remained a part of India or
> independent).
>  
>  I can understand the sentiments of residents from
> Assam when they say Assamese diaspora has not
> contributed enough. Sure, the numbers prove it. As
> they say in America, it's only the bottom line that
> matters. And that's where we are ZILCH !!
>  
> I went to a alumni get together over the week-end
> and met our old alumni Jerry Rao (who was a Country
> Manager in Citi Group , India and was amongst the
> top 15  Citi executives in the world). And I would
> definitely value his words because he is a doer. He 
> left the US in 2000 to start Mphasis and he has
> created employment for 9000  people in India in a
> matter of 5 years. He comes from a middle class
> background. He pointed out India is  definitely
> changing . It took him 1 year to get the license to
> open up 1 ATM machine in 1988 !!! Things move much
> faster now.   So when he says it is much easier to
> contribute  to India now, I would buy it rather than
> from one of us who have not even tried.
>  
> We diaspora are perhaps the most privileged children
> of Assam in terms of education, family background or
> whatever.  The choice is ours, whether we want to
> remain finger pointer for rest of our lives or we
> really want to make those numbers look better.
>  
> And these numbers are :
>  
> How many  employments have we generated in Assam.
>  
> I am ZILCH !!!
> 
> Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi Utpal:
> 
> 
> As a graduate of IIM and thus being very savvy about
> business can you help us understand the following:
> 
> 
> * WHY is it that NRAs are not returning to
> Assam by the droves to
> set up businesses, factories or other
> employment generating ventures?
>   
> * Are the NRI business ventures in India for
> charity, or for
> making money primarily but thus generating
> employment too? And how
> many are doing so, I mean setting up
> businesses in India? Let us however
> not equate buying  expensive flats in
> Gurgaon to setting up
> businesses, even though flat buying too
> does, marginally, create
> some jobs.
> 
> 
> * Are ex-pat Indians investing in India in
> the same degree as
> Indians investing in the UK for example? If
> not why? Does what Santanu 
> touched on the other day, on transparency,
> on property rights, on
> dispute resolution mechanisms etc. have any
> impact? Or are those
> excuses of India bashers only :-)?
> 
> 
> c-da
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 10:00 PM +0100 9/22/05, Malabika Brahma wrote:
> >>Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people
> that do not write in these forums are >>spending
> their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right!
> That is the ONLY alternative >>that they find to
> writing here.
> >>And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich
> family background so that you don't need to >>bother
> about anything but spend your entire savings helping
> everybody - all you need is a '>>big heart', isn't
> it??
> 
>  Alpana ba,
> 
>  That was not what I meant. I was just lamenting the
> fact that we as Assamese diaspora living abroad,
> have not been able to contribute to Assam what many
> others have done. This includes me as well.
> 
>  However much I may argue or engage in debates, when
> it comes to doing things that matter, our
> contribution have not been that significant

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

That doesn't answer my question though.

And raises yet another question: What is Rajib Das doing in the USA, 
he who knows and sees how India is the place to be in?








At 3:14 PM -0700 9/22/05, Rajib Das wrote:
>I mull over it and wonder if only the folks who leave
>India are doing well, why in the world would people
>and companies around the world pump in more than a 100
>billion dollars into India? Are they idiots or what?
>
>Ask a Louisiana investor (non-Indian) where he would
>put in his dollar of investment - India or Louisiana?
>Guess what his answers would be?
>
>
>
>
>>  Question is if you and others have taken a moment to
>>  mull why these
>>  desis have to leave India to do well, if Indian rule
>>  has been so good
>>  for the country, that so many of you cannot seem to
>>  imagine living
>>  under anything else?
>>
>>  Think about it. We will deliberate on it some more
>>  later.
>>
>>  cm
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  At 9:06 AM -0700 9/22/05, mayur bora wrote:
>>  >Hi Mrinal
>>  >
>>  >Thanks for your interesting observation. It may be
>>  >more applicable to those people who are outside
>>  India
>>  >than to someone like me who was in Assam till the
>>  >other day. But your view that they start feeling
>>  about
>>  >the state only after leaving Assam is not entirely
>>  >true. Because you don't know what they probably did
>>  >while they were in Assam. Moreover should there be
>>  any
>>  >distinction between someone living in Assam ot
>>  outside
>>  >it in respect of their willingness to do something
>>  for
>>  >the state in a meaningful but humble way ? I leave
>>  >this point for a wider debate among the netters.
>>  >
>>  >I believe where there is a will, there is a way.
>>  You
>>  >know the contribution of many NRIs (mainly
>>  Punjabis)
>>  >to their state. I know Mahanata Da will get a point
>>  to
>>  >pull my leg on this issue. But I enjoy his opinion.
>>  >You may not agree with some of his observations;
>>  but
>>  >once you separate the chaff from the wheat, it
>>  gives
>>  >you delicious food for thought. I think everyone
>>  >irrespective of their place of present location can
>>  >contribute to the welfare of a particular group of
>>  >people if they wish.
>>  >
>>  >Supporting plebiscite as a provision in a democracy
>>  to
>>  >be exercised in times of genuine need is not same
>>  as
>>  >supporting self rule. I am clear in my opinion that
>>  >our state will not be better off with self rule.
>>  But I
>>  >don't want this view to be inviolable in a true
>>  >democracy. What is the harm in taking people's
>>  opinion
>>  >? Call me arrogant or anything you like; but I am
>>  sure
>>  >about the verdict also. It will be a resounding NO.
>>  >But let the provision be present in the system. Of
>>  >course, there will be many arguments against it due
>>  to
>>  >its inherent potential to create trouble for the
>>  >central govt by encouraging forces of
>>  disintegration
>>  >in different parts of the country. The need for
>>  >judicious use of this provision would also entail a
>>  >great deal of controversy among people.
>>  >
>>  >I am also in favour of raising other relevant
>>  issues
>>  >along with the main issue in case of Assam. We have
>>  to
>>  >address the entire gamut of issues associated with
>>  the
>>  >main demand of the ultras to come to a realistic
>>  and
>>  >workable solution. Precisely due to this, I told
>>  >Mahanta da not to become very excited and ecstatic
>>  >over the very mention of the word plebiscite. But
>>  as
>>  >ill luck would have it, he got carried away by my
>>  poor
>>  >command over the language and inability to
>>  comprehend
>>  >the nuances of a foreign language leaving the main
>>  >issue unattended. Of course, he has promised to get
>>  >back to us in next week. We are eagerly waiting for
>>  >it.
>>  >
>>  >Bye for now.
>>  >
>>  >Mayur
>>  >Chandigarh
>>  >
>>  >--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>>  >
>>  >>  cannot speak on behalf of my colleagues living
>>  >>  either in the States  or in
>>  >>  UK.
>>  >>  Individuals naturally  differ in their views. I
>  > can
>>  >>  only reply to your
>>  >>  missile in an individual  capacity.
>>  >>  First of all, people  in general do not live in
>>  >>  air-conditioned houses either
>>  >>  in USA or UK. They do  have some kind of
>>  electrical
>>  >>  or gas heating when
>>  >>  needed. They do occasionally  eat a hamburger or
>>  KFC
>>  >  > which, as a matter of fact, I
>>  >>  believe many  people in India are too beginning
>>  to
>>  >>  indulge in, especially in
>>  >>  the big cities..
>>  >>  Not everybody living  in USA or UK is trying to
>>  >>  improve Assam through the
>>  >>  internet.
>>  >>  The number of regular  participants blogging, as
>>  you
>>  >>  put it,  is negligible.
>>  >>  In private life, they  are doing what they can.
>>  It
>>  >>  is not an one-sided
>>  >>  business. There are not many  Assamese  NRI/NRAs
>>  >>  living abroad who  are potential
>>  >>  in

As Assamese I have every right to be concerned about her, no matter where I am in this planet. Secondly what is the topic of debate ? To be or not to be in the assam to raise a concern ? If so, why not think the other way, what can you do for her by being anywhere in this world ? I agree not all in this forum are serious about the issues, and that is normal and expected. The decision of self rule lay in the hands of assamese citizens not on the so-called netizens.

I get spams all the time, but one has to learn to filter the spams and read the constructive ones, that is wisdom.
Lastly the thoughts behind your mail doesn't seem too healthy, except your last point of the members of the diaspora behaving like aliens, maybe partly true. But that is again expected. You should know to live within spams as I said and learn to find the wise.

Prasenjit
London,UK

- Hide quoted text -
Message: 7Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530From: mrinal talukdar <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Subject: [Assam] Assam SrengthTo: assam@assamnet.orgMessage-ID: <
[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Dear Assamese DiasporaThe strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, expressconcern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day
trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditionedroom, eating Hamburger or KFC.The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust
and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stopthinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energyblogging. When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of you
beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nationcalled Assam from New Jersy or New york.People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking
and behaving in the manner of aliens.I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.Mrinal TalukdarPub Sarania, Guwahati
___
assam mailing list
assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Alpanaba,

Please take care of  yourself from Rita. You did spell Deisha's name right. If you want to visit NJ while running away from Rita, please be our guest.

We will engage over these debates once you return safely from your escape from  Rita. BTW Deisha liked  your gift. Say hi to Ram da and Nitin.

Utpal
"Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
>Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam :   0
>Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam :   0
That is our ineptness. We haven't been able to do it. 
But that is not the ONLY way to help Assam. In my book, even if I helped one person (or one family or one neighborhood) to live a better life, I would feel that at least I tried and did what I could. 

And I would like to do that with my own hard earned money, not from my spouse's or somebody else in my family - not unless I hit the jackpot playing Texas lotto which will be my own money too and will help me to generate employment in Assam and even satisfy one of the criteria of helping Assam that you put. Don't get me wrong, I am a team player, but not at somebody else's cost, thats all. 

And I don't think merely living within the geographical boundary of Assam would give me that feel or a clear conscience to tell off others, even if I really did something for my society. That's all.

BTW, while doing this, I forgot I may have to run for my life - depending on Rita's mood who seems to have changed her path a bit and turn into a 'category 4' now. 

Take care, and say hello to Deisha (did I spell it right?) for me. 

From: Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: "Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, assam@assamnet.org, [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Re: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:00:39 +0100 (BST)

>>Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are >>spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative >>that they find to writing here.
>>And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to >>bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a '>>big heart', isn't it??

Alpana ba,

That was not what I meant. I was just lamenting the fact that we as Assamese diaspora living abroad, have not been able to contribute to Assam what many others have done. This includes me as well. 

However much I may argue or engage in debates, when it comes to doing things that matter, our contribution have not been that significant.  I would not like to comment on others, but when it comes to finger pointing I would like to finger point on me.

Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam :   0
Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam :   0

What Assam needs is contribution from children like us in employment  generation and investment. And where do you think we (the diaspora's) figure ?

You and I can make a lot of arguments and counter arguments, but we won't really count for the down trodden denizens of Assam unless we do things that they need. That is to create jobs and market the potential of Assam internationally. 

And its the number of $$s that created a difference in Assam that matters not how many kilo-bytes of emails we generated.

The idea was not to get bogged down in blame game. Just a little introspection.  

"Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally, saying:- 
How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with them?
How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season - let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?
And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the possible things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that hurts Assam. 
Thus the blame game goes on. What is new? 
Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.
And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you d

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

2005-09-22 Thread Alpana B. Sarangapani

>Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
>Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam :   0
>Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam :   0
That is our ineptness. We haven't been able to do it. 
But that is not the ONLY way to help Assam. In my book, even if I helped one person (or one family or one neighborhood) to live a better life, I would feel that at least I tried and did what I could. 

And I would like to do that with my own hard earned money, not from my spouse's or somebody else in my family - not unless I hit the jackpot playing Texas lotto which will be my own money too and will help me to generate employment in Assam and even satisfy one of the criteria of helping Assam that you put. Don't get me wrong, I am a team player, but not at somebody else's cost, thats all. 

And I don't think merely living within the geographical boundary of Assam would give me that feel or a clear conscience to tell off others, even if I really did something for my society. That's all.

BTW, while doing this, I forgot I may have to run for my life - depending on Rita's mood who seems to have changed her path a bit and turn into a 'category 4' now. 

Take care, and say hello to Deisha (did I spell it right?) for me. 

From: Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: "Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, assam@assamnet.org, [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Re: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:00:39 +0100 (BST)

>>Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are >>spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative >>that they find to writing here.
>>And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to >>bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a '>>big heart', isn't it??

Alpana ba,

That was not what I meant. I was just lamenting the fact that we as Assamese diaspora living abroad, have not been able to contribute to Assam what many others have done. This includes me as well. 

However much I may argue or engage in debates, when it comes to doing things that matter, our contribution have not been that significant.  I would not like to comment on others, but when it comes to finger pointing I would like to finger point on me.

Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam :   0
Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam :   0

What Assam needs is contribution from children like us in employment  generation and investment. And where do you think we (the diaspora's) figure ?

You and I can make a lot of arguments and counter arguments, but we won't really count for the down trodden denizens of Assam unless we do things that they need. That is to create jobs and market the potential of Assam internationally. 

And its the number of $$s that created a difference in Assam that matters not how many kilo-bytes of emails we generated.

The idea was not to get bogged down in blame game. Just a little introspection.  

"Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally, saying:- 
How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with them?
How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season - let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?
And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the possible things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that hurts Assam. 
Thus the blame game goes on. What is new? 
Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.
And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart', isn't it??

From: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530>Dear Assamese Diaspora>>The strength of the Assamese is that t

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Chandan da,
The answers to these questions are too obvious and have been debated over and over in the net since the Jurassic Age. Lets say the roots to all these problems lie with India. Do you really think we NRA could only contribute to Assam's development when David has finally won over the big bad Goliath ? And even in the most optimistic case , how many years do you think it will take and till then how many years of finger pointing and cyber arguments do you think Assamese diaspora would be involved in? And where do you think the rest of the world would be in comparison to our Assam?
I am no particular fan of India or of the Cow Belt. I do not think India Bashing is a crime. I do not think it is a PAAP to consider Assam does not belong to India. But I do not think we are in a position to wrestle control from the Union of India without inflicting so much wound on ourselves that we may never be able to recover.
Tell me Chandan da, which one we would find more gratifying :
Choice 1 : We spend rest of our life pointing out why things are not going to work in Assam and what ails Assam.
Choice 2 : We realised we can not make a heaven out of Assam in one day but we won over the problems/challanges presented in Assam in ourown way to contribute to the Assamese society by contributing to its economy (does not matter whether Assam remained a part of India or independent).
I can understand the sentiments of residents from Assam when they say Assamese diaspora has not contributed enough. Sure, the numbers prove it. As they say in America, it's only the bottom line that matters. And that's where we are ZILCH !!
I went to a alumni get together over the week-end and met our old alumni Jerry Rao (who was a Country Manager in Citi Group , India and was amongst the top 15 Citi executives in the world). And I would definitely value his words because he is a doer. He left the US in 2000 to start Mphasis and he has created employment for 9000 people in India in a matter of 5 years. He comes from a middle class background. He pointed out India is definitely changing . It took him 1 year to get the license to open up 1 ATM machine in 1988 !!! Things move much faster now. So when he says it is much easier to contribute to India now, I would buy it rather than from one of us who have not even tried.
We diaspora are perhaps the most privileged children of Assam in terms of education, family background or whatever. The choice is ours, whether we want to remain finger pointer for rest of our lives or we really want to make those numbers look better.
And these numbers are :
How many employments have we generated in Assam.
I am ZILCH !!!Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Hi Utpal:

As a graduate of IIM and thus being very savvy about business can you help us understand the following:

* WHY is it that NRAs are not returning to Assam by the droves to
set up businesses, factories or other employment generating ventures?
* Are the NRI business ventures in India for charity, or for
making money primarily but thus generating employment too? And how
many are doing so, I mean setting up businesses in India? Let us however
not equate buying expensive flats in Gurgaon to setting up
businesses, even though flat buying too does, marginally, create
some jobs.

* Are ex-pat Indians investing in India in the same degree as
Indians investing in the UK for example? If not why? Does what Santanu
touched on the other day, on transparency, on property rights, on
dispute resolution mechanisms etc. have any impact? Or are those
excuses of India bashers only :-)?

c-da

At 10:00 PM +0100 9/22/05, Malabika Brahma wrote:
>>Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are >>spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative >>that they find to writing here.
>>And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to >>bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a '>>big heart', isn't it??
Alpana ba,
That was not what I meant. I was just lamenting the fact that we as Assamese diaspora living abroad, have not been able to contribute to Assam what many others have done. This includes me as well.
However much I may argue or engage in debates, when it comes to doing things that matter, our contribution have not been that significant. I would not like to comment on others, but when it comes to finger pointing I would like to finger point on me.
Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam : 0
Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam : 0
What Assam needs is contribution from children like us in employment generation and investment. And where do you th

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength


I mull over it and wonder if only the folks who leave
India are doing well, why in the world would people
and companies around the world pump in more than a 100
billion dollars into India? Are they idiots or what?

Ask a Louisiana investor (non-Indian) where he would
put in his dollar of investment - India or Louisiana?
Guess what his answers would be?




> Question is if you and others have taken a moment to
> mull why these 
> desis have to leave India to do well, if Indian rule
> has been so good 
> for the country, that so many of you cannot seem to
> imagine living 
> under anything else?
> 
> Think about it. We will deliberate on it some more
> later.
> 
> cm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 9:06 AM -0700 9/22/05, mayur bora wrote:
> >Hi Mrinal
> >
> >Thanks for your interesting observation. It may be
> >more applicable to those people who are outside
> India
> >than to someone like me who was in Assam till the
> >other day. But your view that they start feeling
> about
> >the state only after leaving Assam is not entirely
> >true. Because you don't know what they probably did
> >while they were in Assam. Moreover should there be
> any
> >distinction between someone living in Assam ot
> outside
> >it in respect of their willingness to do something
> for
> >the state in a meaningful but humble way ? I leave
> >this point for a wider debate among the netters.
> >
> >I believe where there is a will, there is a way.
> You
> >know the contribution of many NRIs (mainly
> Punjabis)
> >to their state. I know Mahanata Da will get a point
> to
> >pull my leg on this issue. But I enjoy his opinion.
> >You may not agree with some of his observations;
> but
> >once you separate the chaff from the wheat, it
> gives
> >you delicious food for thought. I think everyone
> >irrespective of their place of present location can
> >contribute to the welfare of a particular group of
> >people if they wish.
> >
> >Supporting plebiscite as a provision in a democracy
> to
> >be exercised in times of genuine need is not same
> as
> >supporting self rule. I am clear in my opinion that
> >our state will not be better off with self rule.
> But I
> >don't want this view to be inviolable in a true
> >democracy. What is the harm in taking people's
> opinion
> >? Call me arrogant or anything you like; but I am
> sure
> >about the verdict also. It will be a resounding NO.
> >But let the provision be present in the system. Of
> >course, there will be many arguments against it due
> to
> >its inherent potential to create trouble for the
> >central govt by encouraging forces of
> disintegration
> >in different parts of the country. The need for
> >judicious use of this provision would also entail a
> >great deal of controversy among people.
> >
> >I am also in favour of raising other relevant
> issues
> >along with the main issue in case of Assam. We have
> to
> >address the entire gamut of issues associated with
> the
> >main demand of the ultras to come to a realistic
> and
> >workable solution. Precisely due to this, I told
> >Mahanta da not to become very excited and ecstatic
> >over the very mention of the word plebiscite. But
> as
> >ill luck would have it, he got carried away by my
> poor
> >command over the language and inability to
> comprehend
> >the nuances of a foreign language leaving the main
> >issue unattended. Of course, he has promised to get
> >back to us in next week. We are eagerly waiting for
> >it.
> >
> >Bye for now.
> >
> >Mayur
> >Chandigarh
> >
> >--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >
> >>  cannot speak on behalf of my colleagues living
> >>  either in the States  or in
> >>  UK. 
> >>  Individuals naturally  differ in their views. I
> can
> >>  only reply to your
> >>  missile in an individual  capacity.
> >>  First of all, people  in general do not live in
> >>  air-conditioned houses either
> >>  in USA or UK. They do  have some kind of
> electrical
> >>  or gas heating when
> >>  needed. They do occasionally  eat a hamburger or
> KFC
> >  > which, as a matter of fact, I
> >>  believe many  people in India are too beginning
> to
> >>  indulge in, especially in
> >>  the big cities..
> >>  Not everybody living  in USA or UK is trying to
> >>  improve Assam through the 
> >>  internet.
> >>  The number of regular  participants blogging, as
> you
> >>  put it,  is negligible. 
> >>  In private life, they  are doing what they can.
> It
> >>  is not an one-sided
> >>  business. There are not many  Assamese  NRI/NRAs
> >>  living abroad who  are potential
> >>  investors, say like the Gujaratis or Punjabis.
> You
> >>  must admit the  attractions
> >>  to invest in Assam are also lacking. There are
> other
> >>  factors which I  am even
> >>  ashamed to discuss on this page.
> >>  Bhuban  Baruah
> >>  Lakeside,Essex,UK
> >>
> >>  >
> ___
> >>  assam mailing list
> >>  assam@assamnet.org
> >>
>
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>_

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength


or blinkers, eh??? Or may be the spin was happening so
fast it cannot be stopped??? :-)

--- Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> >Dilli was not even in the picture here. Are we
> getting a little 
> >paranoid or defensive here? :)
> 
> 
> 
> *** Neither. Merely drawing upon recent experiences.
> :-)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 4:29 PM -0500 9/22/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani
> wrote:
> >  >> IF that hurts Assam
> >
> >  >*** That is where the controversy lies.
> Obviously it is a 
> >debatable and debated subject. Some >wouldn't take
> a stand, yet 
> >would make vague charges against others who do. Why
> should 
> >the >people of Assam not be able to decide what
> hurts or what helps? 
> >Why should anyone buy the >notion that Dilli or its
> apologists alone 
> >knows what is  best for Assam?
> >
> >I meant (with my simplistic mind or explanation, as
> you would put) 
> >'hurt' in the literal sense - like our discussion -
> does it stop 
> >employment, or does it kill innocent citizens -
> does it stop the 
> >ones living in Assam from starting a school for the
> poor - does it 
> >stop the fortunate ones living in Assam to set up a
> common tube-well 
> >in a village that he once belonged to? we can go
> on...
> >
> >Dilli was not even in the picture here. Are we
> getting a little 
> >paranoid or defensive here? :)
> >
> >
> >
> >From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: "Alpana B. Sarangapani"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, assam@assamnet.org
> >Subject: Re: [Assam] Assam Srength
> >Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 13:23:07 -0500
> >
> >blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li
> {padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;}
> >I too agree with Jayanta, Alpana. Very well said
> indeed.
> >
> >
> >Except in:
> >
> >
> >  > IF that hurts Assam
> >
> >*** That is where the controversy lies. Obviously
> it is a debatable 
> >and debated subject. Some wouldn't take a stand,
> yet would make 
> >vague charges against others who do. Why should the
> people of Assam 
> >not be able to decide what hurts or what helps? 
> Why should anyone 
> >buy the notion that Dilli or its apologists alone
> knows what is 
> >best for Assam?
> >
> >Mayur's stand here is commendable. What better way
> to put to rest 
> >the speculations and the propaganda than thru a
> free and fair 
> >referendum, after a period of free public debate on
> the matter? 
> >More so when the supporters of the status-quo spare
> no words in 
> >singing the praises of democracy? How much more
> >un-democratic can one get in opposing such a
> democratic-to-the-core process?
> >
> >More later.
> >
> >c-da
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >At 11:39 AM -0500 9/22/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani
> wrote:
> >
> >An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a
> village could 
> >blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type)
> building in 
> >a city in Assam, equally, saying:-
> >
> >How could you afford to communicate with THEM
> diaspora, using a 
> >computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/
> (or however much!) 
> >an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate
> with them?
> >
> >How could you even go to school, to be an expert in
> all these 
> >things, when I had to plough the land, give half of
> the harvest to 
> >someone who owns the land - though thats not the
> law anymore, carry 
> >water from a pond two blocks away, make my children
> sleep under the 
> >bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from
> the rain water, 
> >waste months going to the river banks looking for
> 'Ikora' or the 
> >bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here
> in my backyard) to 
> >mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to
> protect my children 
> >from the cold air in the winter season - let alone
> the harm that 
> >any intruder may cause?
> >
> >And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about
> the possible 
> >things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that
> hurts Assam.
> >
> >Thus the blame game goes on. What is new?
> >
> >Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people
> that do not write in 
> >these forums are spending their spare time doing
> good for 
> >Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alte

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Title: Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Dilli was not even in the picture here.
Are we getting a little paranoid or defensive here? :)

*** Neither. Merely drawing upon recent experiences. :-)

At 4:29 PM -0500 9/22/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
>> IF that hurts
Assam

>*** That is where the controversy
lies. Obviously it is a debatable and debated subject. Some
>wouldn't take a stand, yet would make vague charges against others
who do. Why should the >people of Assam not be able to decide what
hurts or what helps?  Why should anyone buy the >notion that
Dilli or its apologists alone knows what is  best for
Assam?

I meant (with my simplistic mind or
explanation, as you would put) 'hurt' in the literal sense - like
our discussion - does it stop employment, or does it kill innocent
citizens - does it stop the ones living in Assam from starting a
school for the poor - does it stop the fortunate ones living in Assam
to set up a common tube-well in a village that he once belonged
to? we can go on...

Dilli was not even in the picture here.
Are we getting a little paranoid or defensive here? :)

From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Alpana B. Sarangapani"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Assam Srength
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 13:23:07 -0500

blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li
{padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;}
I too agree with Jayanta, Alpana. Very well said
indeed.

Except in:

> IF that hurts Assam

*** That is where the controversy lies. Obviously it is a
debatable and debated subject. Some wouldn't take a stand, yet would
make vague charges against others who do. Why should the people of
Assam not be able to decide what hurts or what helps?  Why should
anyone buy the notion that Dilli or its apologists alone knows what
is  best for Assam?

Mayur's stand here is commendable. What better way to put
to rest the speculations and the propaganda than thru a free and fair
referendum, after a period of free public debate on the matter? 
More so when the supporters of the status-quo spare no words in
singing the praises of democracy? How much more
un-democratic can one get in opposing such a
democratic-to-the-core process?

More later.

c-da

At 11:39 AM -0500 9/22/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani
wrote:
An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a
village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or
Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally,
saying:-

How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora,
using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however
much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with
them?

How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all
these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest
to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry
water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the
bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste
months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo
pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my
backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera'
to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season
- let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?

And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the
possible things that they may/want to do for
Assam IF that hurts Assam.

Thus the blame game goes on. What is new?

Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do
not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing
good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that
they find to writing here.

And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family
background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend
your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart',
isn't it??

From: mrinal talukdar
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: mrinal talukdar
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: assam@assamnet.org
Subject: [Assam] Assam Srength
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530
>Dear Assamese Diaspora
>
>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam,
express
>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving
their
>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each
day
>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air
conditioned
>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.
>
>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I
am
>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and
dust
>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not
stop
>thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your
energy
>blogging.
>
>When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of
you
>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new
nation
>called Assam from New

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Title: Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Hi Utpal:

As a graduate of IIM and thus being very savvy about business can
you help us understand the following:

    * WHY
is it that NRAs are not returning to Assam by the droves to
    set up
businesses, factories or other employment generating ventures?

    * Are
the NRI business ventures in India for charity, or for
    making
money primarily but thus generating employment too? And how
    many
are doing so, I mean setting up businesses in India? Let us
however
    not equate buying 
expensive flats in Gurgaon to setting up

businesses, even though flat buying too does, marginally,
create
    some jobs.

    * Are
ex-pat Indians investing in India in the same degree as
    Indians
investing in the UK for example? If not why? Does what Santanu 
    touched on the other
day, on transparency, on property rights, on
    dispute
resolution mechanisms etc. have any impact? Or are those
    excuses
of India bashers only :-)?

c-da

At 10:00 PM +0100 9/22/05, Malabika Brahma wrote:
>>Also, Utpal, it is good to know
that the people that do not write in these forums are >>spending
their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is
the ONLY alternative >>that they find to writing here.

>>And yes, it is also an advantage
to have a rich family background so that you don't need to
>>bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping
everybody - all you need is a '>>big heart', isn't it??

Alpana ba,

That was not what I meant. I was just
lamenting the fact that we as Assamese diaspora living abroad, have
not been able to contribute to Assam what many others have done. This
includes me as well.

However much I may argue or engage in
debates, when it comes to doing things that matter, our
contribution have not been that significant.  I would not like to
comment on others, but when it comes to finger pointing I would like
to finger point on me.

Education : Masters from one of the best
schools in India.

Helped In creating/generating employment
in Assam :   0

Influenced Global Corporations in
investing in Assam :   0

What Assam needs is contribution from
children like us in employment  generation and investment. And
where do you think we (the diaspora's) figure ?

You and I can make a lot of arguments and
counter arguments, but we won't really count for the down trodden
denizens of Assam unless we do things that they need. That is to
create jobs and market the potential of Assam internationally.

And its the number of $$s that created a
difference in Assam that matters not how many kilo-bytes of emails we
generated.

The idea was not to get bogged down in
blame game. Just a little introspection.

"Alpana B. Sarangapani"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a
village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or
Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally,
saying:-

How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora,
using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however
much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with
them?

How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all
these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest
to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry
water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the
bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste
months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo
pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my
backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera'
to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season
- let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?

And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the
possible things that they may/want to do for
Assam IF that hurts Assam.

Thus the blame game goes on. What is new?

Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do
not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing
good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that
they find to writing here.

And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family
background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend
your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart',
isn't it??

From: mrinal talukdar
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: assam@assamnet.org
Subject: [Assam] Assam Srength
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530
>Dear Assamese Diaspora
>
>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam,
express
>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving
their
>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each
day
&

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

2005-09-22 Thread Alpana B. Sarangapani

>> IF that hurts Assam

>*** That is where the controversy lies. Obviously it is a debatable and debated subject. Some >wouldn't take a stand, yet would make vague charges against others who do. Why should the >people of Assam not be able to decide what hurts or what helps?  Why should anyone buy the >notion that Dilli or its apologists alone knows what is  best for Assam?

I meant (with my simplistic mind or explanation, as you would put) 'hurt' in the literal sense - like our discussion - does it stop employment, or does it kill innocent citizens - does it stop the ones living in Assam from starting a school for the poor - does it stop the fortunate ones living in Assam to set up a common tube-well in a village that he once belonged to? we can go on...

Dilli was not even in the picture here. Are we getting a little paranoid or defensive here? :)

From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: "Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, assam@assamnet.orgSubject: Re: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 13:23:07 -0500

I too agree with Jayanta, Alpana. Very well said indeed.

Except in:

> IF that hurts Assam

*** That is where the controversy lies. Obviously it is a debatable and debated subject. Some wouldn't take a stand, yet would make vague charges against others who do. Why should the people of Assam not be able to decide what hurts or what helps?  Why should anyone buy the notion that Dilli or its apologists alone knows what is  best for Assam?

Mayur's stand here is commendable. What better way to put to rest the speculations and the propaganda than thru a free and fair referendum, after a period of free public debate on the matter?  More so when the supporters of the status-quo spare no words in singing the praises of democracy? How much more
un-democratic can one get in opposing such a democratic-to-the-core process?

More later.

c-da

At 11:39 AM -0500 9/22/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally, saying:-
How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with them?
How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season - let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?
And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the possible things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that hurts Assam.
Thus the blame game goes on. What is new?
Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.
And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart', isn't it??

From: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530>Dear Assamese Diaspora>>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.>>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop>thinking about 
Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energy>blogging.>>When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of you>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.>>People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than>wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking>and behaving in the manner of aliens.>>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.>>Mrinal Talukdar>Pub Sarania, Guwahati>>___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

2005-09-22 Thread umesh sharma

Utpal-da,

Thats a good way of putting things.

Umesh

Utpal-da wrote:

"Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam :   0
Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam :   0

What Assam needs is contribution from children like us in employment  generation and investment. And where do you think we (the diaspora's) figure ?"Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>>Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are >>spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative >>that they find to writing here.
>>And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to >>bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a '>>big heart', isn't it??

Alpana ba,

That was not what I meant. I was just lamenting the fact that we as Assamese diaspora living abroad, have not been able to contribute to Assam what many others have done. This includes me as well. 

However much I may argue or engage in debates, when it comes to doing things that matter, our contribution have not been that significant.  I would not like to comment on others, but when it comes to finger pointing I would like to finger point on me.

Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam :   0
Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam :   0

What Assam needs is contribution from children like us in employment  generation and investment. And where do you think we (the diaspora's) figure ?

You and I can make a lot of arguments and counter arguments, but we won't really count for the down trodden denizens of Assam unless we do things that they need. That is to create jobs and market the potential of Assam internationally. 

And its the number of $$s that created a difference in Assam that matters not how many kilo-bytes of emails we generated.

The idea was not to get bogged down in blame game. Just a little introspection.  

"Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally, saying:- 
How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with them?
How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season - let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?
And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the possible things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that hurts Assam. 
Thus the blame game goes on. What is new? 
Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.
And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart', isn't it??

From: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530>Dear Assamese Diaspora>>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.>>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop>thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energy>blogging.>>When you talk of pebicite or
 self rule, I feel pity for all of you>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.>>People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than>wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking>and behaving in the manner of aliens.>>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.>>Mrinal Talukdar>Pub Sarania, Guwahati>>_

Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

>>Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are >>spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative >>that they find to writing here.
>>And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to >>bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a '>>big heart', isn't it??

Alpana ba,

That was not what I meant. I was just lamenting the fact that we as Assamese diaspora living abroad, have not been able to contribute to Assam what many others have done. This includes me as well. 

However much I may argue or engage in debates, when it comes to doing things that matter, our contribution have not been that significant.  I would not like to comment on others, but when it comes to finger pointing I would like to finger point on me.

Education : Masters from one of the best schools in India.
Helped In creating/generating employment in Assam :   0
Influenced Global Corporations in investing in Assam :   0

What Assam needs is contribution from children like us in employment  generation and investment. And where do you think we (the diaspora's) figure ?

You and I can make a lot of arguments and counter arguments, but we won't really count for the down trodden denizens of Assam unless we do things that they need. That is to create jobs and market the potential of Assam internationally. 

And its the number of $$s that created a difference in Assam that matters not how many kilo-bytes of emails we generated.

The idea was not to get bogged down in blame game. Just a little introspection.  

"Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally, saying:- 
How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with them?
How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season - let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?
And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the possible things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that hurts Assam. 
Thus the blame game goes on. What is new? 
Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.
And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart', isn't it??

From: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530>Dear Assamese Diaspora>>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.>>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop>thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energy>blogging.>>When you talk of pebicite or
 self rule, I feel pity for all of you>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.>>People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than>wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking>and behaving in the manner of aliens.>>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.>>Mrinal Talukdar>Pub Sarania, Guwahati>>___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Title: Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

HI Mayur:

Very well said.

But I would like to engage you, later that is, on why it is
better for Assam to be ruled by others by proxy, instead of being able
to be the masters of its own destiny.

>You
know the contribution of many NRIs (mainly Punjabis)
to their state. I know Mahanata Da will get a point to
>pull my leg on this issue.

Rest easy, I won't, when you speak the truth or are not indulging
in
spinning :-).

Indeed the ex-pats have done whoppingly well, once they left
India that is, and are now sharing some of their good fortunes
with their ex-compatriots, in different ways.

Question is if you and others have taken a moment to mull why
these desis have to leave India to do well, if Indian rule has
been so good for the country, that so many of you cannot seem to
imagine living under anything else?

Think about it. We will deliberate on it some more later.

cm

At 9:06 AM -0700 9/22/05, mayur bora wrote:
Hi Mrinal

Thanks for your interesting observation. It may be
more applicable to those people who are outside India
than to someone like me who was in Assam till the
other day. But your view that they start feeling about
the state only after leaving Assam is not entirely
true. Because you don't know what they probably did
while they were in Assam. Moreover should there be any
distinction between someone living in Assam ot outside
it in respect of their willingness to do something for
the state in a meaningful but humble way ? I leave
this point for a wider debate among the netters.

I believe where there is a will, there is
a way. You
know the contribution of many NRIs (mainly Punjabis)
to their state. I know Mahanata Da will get a point to
pull my leg on this issue. But I enjoy
his opinion.
You may not agree with some of his observations; but
once you separate the chaff from the wheat, it gives
you delicious food for thought. I think everyone
irrespective of their place of present location can
contribute to the welfare of a particular group of
people if they wish.

Supporting plebiscite as a provision in a democracy to
be exercised in times of genuine need is not same as
supporting self rule. I am clear in my opinion that
our state will not be better off with self rule. But I
don't want this view to be inviolable in a true
democracy. What is the harm in taking people's opinion
? Call me arrogant or anything you like; but I am sure
about the verdict also. It will be a resounding NO.
But let the provision be present in the system. Of
course, there will be many arguments against it due to
its inherent potential to create trouble for the
central govt by encouraging forces of disintegration
in different parts of the country. The need for
judicious use of this provision would also entail a
great deal of controversy among people.

I am also in favour of raising other relevant issues
along with the main issue in case of Assam. We have to
address the entire gamut of issues associated with the
main demand of the ultras to come to a realistic and
workable solution. Precisely due to this, I told
Mahanta da not to become very excited and ecstatic
over the very mention of the word plebiscite. But as
ill luck would have it, he got carried away by my poor
command over the language and inability to comprehend
the nuances of a foreign language leaving the main
issue unattended. Of course, he has promised to get
back to us in next week. We are eagerly waiting for
it.

Bye for now.

Mayur
Chandigarh

--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> cannot speak on behalf of my colleagues living
> either in the States  or in
> UK. 
> Individuals naturally  differ in their views. I can
> only reply to your
> missile in an individual  capacity.
> First of all, people  in general do not live in
> air-conditioned houses either
> in USA or UK. They do  have some kind of electrical
> or gas heating when
> needed. They do occasionally  eat a hamburger or
KFC
> which, as a matter of fact, I
> believe many  people in India are too beginning to
> indulge in, especially in
> the big cities..
> Not everybody living  in USA or UK is trying to
> improve Assam through the 
> internet.
> The number of regular  participants blogging, as you
> put it,  is negligible. 
> In private life, they  are doing what they can. It
> is not an one-sided
> business. There are not many  Assamese  NRI/NRAs
> living abroad who  are potential
> investors, say like the Gujaratis or Punjabis. You
> must admit the  attractions
> to invest in Assam are also lacking. There are other
> factors which I  am even
> ashamed to discuss on this page.
> Bhuban  Baruah
> Lakeside,Essex,UK
>
> > ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
>
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>

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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

Title: Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

I too agree with Jayanta, Alpana. Very well said indeed.

Except in:

> IF that hurts Assam

*** That is where the controversy lies. Obviously it is a
debatable and debated subject. Some wouldn't take a stand, yet would
make vague charges against others who do. Why should the people of
Assam not be able to decide what hurts or what helps?  Why should
anyone buy the notion that Dilli or its apologists alone knows what
is  best for Assam?

Mayur's stand here is commendable. What better way to put to rest
the speculations and the propaganda than thru a free and fair
referendum, after a period of free public debate on the matter? 
More so when the supporters of the status-quo spare no words in
singing the praises of democracy? How much more
un-democratic can one get in opposing such a
democratic-to-the-core process?

More later.

c-da

At 11:39 AM -0500 9/22/05, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
An honest, hardworking YET poor
farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a
concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in
Assam, equally, saying:-

How could you afford to communicate with
THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs.
25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to
communicate with them?

How could you even go to school, to be an
expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half
of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law
anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children
sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the
rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking
for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them
grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four
walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold
air in the winter season - let alone the harm that
any intruder may cause?

And yes, the diasopora need to stop
talking about the possible things that they may/want to do
for Assam IF that hurts Assam.

Thus the blame game goes on. What is
new?

Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the
people that do not write in these forums are spending their
spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the
ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.

And yes, it is also an advantage to have
a rich family background so that you don't need to bother about
anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you
need is a 'big heart', isn't it??

From: mrinal talukdar
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: assam@assamnet.org
Subject: [Assam] Assam Srength
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530
>Dear Assamese Diaspora
>
>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam,
express
>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving
their
>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each
day
>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air
conditioned
>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.
>
>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I
am
>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and
dust
>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not
stop
>thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your
energy
>blogging.
>
>When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of
you
>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new
nation
>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.
>
>People will admire you if you collectively do something rather
than
>wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been
thinking
>and behaving in the manner of aliens.
>
>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong
debate.
>
>Mrinal Talukdar
>Pub Sarania, Guwahati
>
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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

2005-09-22 Thread jayanta payeng

Very Well Said A'Ba
 
Regards
 
Jayanta
"Alpana B. Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally, saying:- 
How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with them?
How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season - let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?
And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the possible things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that hurts Assam. 
Thus the blame game goes on. What is new? 
Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.
And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart', isn't it??
 


From: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530>Dear Assamese Diaspora>>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.>>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop>thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energy>blogging.>>When you talk of pebicite or
 self rule, I feel pity for all of you>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.>>People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than>wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking>and behaving in the manner of aliens.>>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.>>Mrinal Talukdar>Pub Sarania, Guwahati>>___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

2005-09-22 Thread Alpana B. Sarangapani

An honest, hardworking YET poor farmer from a village could blame the ones living in a concrete (or Assam-type) building in a city in Assam, equally, saying:- 
How could you afford to communicate with THEM diaspora, using a computer that costs about Rs. 20,000/? Or Rs. 25/ (or however much!) an hour to sit in an internet cafe to communicate with them?
How could you even go to school, to be an expert in all these things, when I had to plough the land, give half of the harvest to someone who owns the land - though thats not the law anymore, carry water from a pond two blocks away, make my children sleep under the bed when it rains, so they won't catch cold from the rain water, waste months going to the river banks looking for 'Ikora' or the bamboo pieces (I don't have them grown right here in my backyard) to mend the "four walls" - the 'baahor-bera' to protect my children from the cold air in the winter season - let alone the harm that any intruder may cause?
And yes, the diasopora need to stop talking about the possible things that they may/want to do for Assam IF that hurts Assam. 
Thus the blame game goes on. What is new? 
Also, Utpal, it is good to know that the people that do not write in these forums are spending their spare time doing good for Assam. Yeah, right! That is the ONLY alternative that they find to writing here.
And yes, it is also an advantage to have a rich family background so that you don't need to bother about anything but spend your entire savings helping everybody - all you need is a 'big heart', isn't it??
 


From: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Reply-To: mrinal talukdar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] Assam SrengthDate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 06:13:42 +0530>Dear Assamese Diaspora>>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.>>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop>thinking about Assam. Do 
something rater than wasting your energy>blogging.>>When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of you>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.>>People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than>wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking>and behaving in the manner of aliens.>>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.>>Mrinal Talukdar>Pub Sarania, Guwahati>>___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org


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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

2005-09-22 Thread mayur bora

Hi Mrinal

Thanks for your interesting observation. It may be
more applicable to those people who are outside India
than to someone like me who was in Assam till the
other day. But your view that they start feeling about
the state only after leaving Assam is not entirely
true. Because you don't know what they probably did
while they were in Assam. Moreover should there be any
distinction between someone living in Assam ot outside
it in respect of their willingness to do something for
the state in a meaningful but humble way ? I leave
this point for a wider debate among the netters.

I believe where there is a will, there is a way. You
know the contribution of many NRIs (mainly Punjabis)
to their state. I know Mahanata Da will get a point to
pull my leg on this issue. But I enjoy his opinion.
You may not agree with some of his observations; but
once you separate the chaff from the wheat, it gives
you delicious food for thought. I think everyone
irrespective of their place of present location can
contribute to the welfare of a particular group of
people if they wish.

Supporting plebiscite as a provision in a democracy to
be exercised in times of genuine need is not same as
supporting self rule. I am clear in my opinion that
our state will not be better off with self rule. But I
don't want this view to be inviolable in a true
democracy. What is the harm in taking people's opinion
? Call me arrogant or anything you like; but I am sure
about the verdict also. It will be a resounding NO.
But let the provision be present in the system. Of
course, there will be many arguments against it due to
its inherent potential to create trouble for the
central govt by encouraging forces of disintegration
in different parts of the country. The need for
judicious use of this provision would also entail a
great deal of controversy among people. 

I am also in favour of raising other relevant issues
along with the main issue in case of Assam. We have to
address the entire gamut of issues associated with the
main demand of the ultras to come to a realistic and
workable solution. Precisely due to this, I told
Mahanta da not to become very excited and ecstatic
over the very mention of the word plebiscite. But as
ill luck would have it, he got carried away by my poor
command over the language and inability to comprehend
the nuances of a foreign language leaving the main
issue unattended. Of course, he has promised to get
back to us in next week. We are eagerly waiting for
it.

Bye for now.

Mayur
Chandigarh

--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> cannot speak on behalf of my colleagues living
> either in the States  or in 
> UK.  
> Individuals naturally  differ in their views. I can
> only reply to your 
> missile in an individual  capacity. 
> First of all, people  in general do not live in
> air-conditioned houses either 
> in USA or UK. They do  have some kind of electrical
> or gas heating when 
> needed. They do occasionally  eat a hamburger or KFC
> which, as a matter of fact, I 
> believe many  people in India are too beginning to 
> indulge in, especially in 
> the big cities.. 
> Not everybody living  in USA or UK is trying to
> improve Assam through the  
> internet. 
> The number of regular  participants blogging, as you
> put it,  is negligible.  
> In private life, they  are doing what they can. It
> is not an one-sided 
> business. There are not many  Assamese  NRI/NRAs
> living abroad who  are potential 
> investors, say like the Gujaratis or Punjabis. You
> must admit the  attractions 
> to invest in Assam are also lacking. There are other
> factors which I  am even 
> ashamed to discuss on this page. 
> Bhuban  Baruah 
> Lakeside,Essex,UK 
> 
> > ___
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>
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> 

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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength

At 6:13 AM +0530 9/22/05, mrinal talukdar wrote:
>Dear Assamese Diaspora
>
>The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express
>concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their
>beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day
>trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned
>room, eating Hamburger or KFC.

*** Eating habits of the Diaspora, its cultural alignments, its 
relative comforts have nothing to do with analyses of the issues that 
confront Assam.

In fact it is of great benefit for the people of Assam to be exposed 
to different,often better, ways of looking at things, because all 
most of them have ever been exposed to are the mostly dysfunctional 
desi-ways, leading them to believe that what exists is either the 
only way or the best and even if it is not that they are doomed to 
live with it. To defend that would be taking the classic 'kup-monduk' 
stance, and to attempt to enforce it would be the 'kekwra' ( crab) 
stance.

>The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good.

*** That is a not a very bright deduction or assumption. But I would 
keep my eyes peeled to see what leads one to give that verdict.

Anyone can give an opinion, does not take even a minimally informed 
outlook or ability. But unless one can explain it, it is little more 
than mouthing off and airing of heart-burns pains caused by what they 
don't like to hear or see.  It is a purely politically induced 
problem and often devoid of any substance.

>  >When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of you
>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation
>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.

*** Why so? Is it because it would be bad for Assam? Or is it because 
o it is an un-attainable goal? Or both? Would it be too much to 
expect a little explanation?

>  >People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than
>wasting energy.

*** It is nice to have someone looking out for our energy wasting. 
But what if it is merely a poorly-disguised attempt to stifle views 
give heart-burns? At any event, does it not seem like a little 
presumptuous to tell people, who, by all counts, have managed to take 
care of their own lives  better than those who are lecturing about 
time management?

>Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking and behaving in 
>the manner >of aliens.

*** Alien is a relative term. Depends upon who is doing the talking. 
And it is not a pejorative term either. Of course their views would 
be alien to those whose views are confined by the walls of the 
proverbial well. So what else is new?

>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.

*** For a meaningful debate  to take place, it requires a meaningful 
subject, which is sorely lacking in this invitation, and is little 
more than someone griping, unable to articulate a response to what 
gives them a slow-burn. Nothing unusual. We see that all the time. It 
also is a fairly universal phenomenon, even though far more prevalent 
amongst South Asians.

But the best antidote to that slow-burn is to participate with 
alternative views, by  offering rebuttals to what is disagreeable, or 
presenting a better  option.

Finally Assam would progress when many individuals do better for 
themselves. To expect someone to come rescue Assam, like those who 
left, is neither a realistic expectation nor a thoughtful one. And 
those who have left, are smart enough to know whether they are 
wasting their time in participating in Assam Net or contributing 
something useful.

So let us get real. If we don't like something, let us speak up with 
an alternative or better view. Getting smart with Assam-netters 
usually doesn't work too well.

>  I am
>inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust
>and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop
>thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energy
>blogging.
>
>When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of you
>beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation
>called Assam from New Jersy or New york.
>
>People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than
>wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking
>and behaving in the manner of aliens.
>
>I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate.
>
>Mrinal Talukdar
>Pub Sarania, Guwahati
>
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Re: [Assam] Assam Srength