subject:"\[Assam\] From TOI"

So, if we return to, the case of Vedanta Mines , the people who lost their land 
and livelihoods should have taken it in their stride, emulating your example, 
of not purchasing a gun even after being robbed in Paris, never mind that at 
last , THIS robbery was held to be illegal, primarily because of ARMED REVOLT 
by Naxals, right? What was so hard about following your example here, is that 
the morale of the story?






On Aug 16, 2010, at 10:35 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:

> THERE IS NO NEED OF VIOLENCE TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS, WHETHER IT IS PERSONAL OR 
> BROADER IN NATURE.
> VIOLENCE ONLY ESCALATES.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Chan Mahanta 
> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
> 
> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 10:27:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
> panel
> 
>> I was robbed in Paris but still haven't bought a gun.
> 
> *** That must be because you are a special person, one that others should 
> emulate.  You have upheld  the highest of human values.
> 
> Not to devalue your highly evolved status, but it does not quite compare 
> with, 
> say the people who did not receive compensation for property stolen from them 
> by 
> corporate interests, sanctioned and approved by desi-demokrasy, to come to 
> light 
> for 23 years, much less YET compensated. Or the news I posted minutes 
> earlier. 
> Or Assam's existence being noticed.
> 
> I know, everyone ought to emulate your aversion to violence. But somehow, 
> somehow, the examples don't seem equivalent. What do you think? Is it just MY 
> 
> propensity for violence  that I am making up these unbecoming arguments, or 
> could there just might be a lesson to learn, a reality to acknowledge?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Aug 16, 2010, at 10:12 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:
> 
>> More intelligent question would be why do civilians need guns even  in a 
>> democracy like USA to do the same? I am all in favor of banning guns for 
>> civilians  in USA.
>> Are you an NRA member?
>> I was robbed in Paris but still haven't bought a gun.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ____
>> From: Chan Mahanta 
>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
>> 
>> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:59:49 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: 
>> Green 
>> panel
>> 
>> 
>> Depends on how badly one is affected, robbed ? 
>> 
>> But the intelligent question should have been: WHY do Indians , in their 
>> DEMOCRATIC country, have to take to guns, before their grievances see the 
>> light 
>> 
>> of day, much less a fair and timely resolution? 
>> 
>> 
>> Or is that too complicated?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Aug 16, 2010, at 9:55 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:
>> 
>>> Guns make a difference anywhere in the world. Doe it mean every civilian 
>>> must 
> 
>>> have a gun to make a point?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> From: Chan Mahanta 
>>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
>>> 
>>> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:50:19 PM
>>> Subject: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
>> panel
>>> 
>>> So it proves one thing LOUD and CLEAR:  That unless you take up arms to 
>>> defend 
>> 
>> 
>>> your rights in India, nothing happens. Desi demokrasy is all but impotent 
>>> to 
>>> guarantee  the rights of people. But when they take up arms,  Dilli does 
>>> notice, 
>>> 
>>> don't they? Except that some of our kharkhowa ex-pats still can't  fathom 
>>> it. I 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> wonder WHY these were NOT illegal so far? Naxalism does make the difference 
>>> for 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> the people after all. 
>>> 
>>> cm
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel
>>> 
>>> Read more: Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel - India 
>>> Business - Business - The Times of India 
>>> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vedanta-mines-illegal-must-be-shut-down-Green-panel/articleshow/6321872.cms#ixzz0wpMAIbWX
>>> X
>>> X
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> NEW DELHI: 
>>> Mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining 
>&

Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

2010-08-16 Thread Dilip Deka

THERE IS NO NEED OF VIOLENCE TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS, WHETHER IT IS PERSONAL OR 
BROADER IN NATURE.
VIOLENCE ONLY ESCALATES.





From: Chan Mahanta 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 10:27:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
panel

>I was robbed in Paris but still haven't bought a gun.

*** That must be because you are a special person, one that others should 
emulate.  You have upheld  the highest of human values.

Not to devalue your highly evolved status, but it does not quite compare with, 
say the people who did not receive compensation for property stolen from them 
by 
corporate interests, sanctioned and approved by desi-demokrasy, to come to 
light 
for 23 years, much less YET compensated. Or the news I posted minutes earlier. 
Or Assam's existence being noticed.

I know, everyone ought to emulate your aversion to violence. But somehow, 
somehow, the examples don't seem equivalent. What do you think? Is it just MY 

propensity for violence  that I am making up these unbecoming arguments, or 
could there just might be a lesson to learn, a reality to acknowledge?




On Aug 16, 2010, at 10:12 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:

> More intelligent question would be why do civilians need guns even  in a 
> democracy like USA to do the same? I am all in favor of banning guns for 
> civilians  in USA.
> Are you an NRA member?
> I was robbed in Paris but still haven't bought a gun.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Chan Mahanta 
> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
> 
> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:59:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
> panel
> 
> 
> Depends on how badly one is affected, robbed ? 
> 
> But the intelligent question should have been: WHY do Indians , in their 
> DEMOCRATIC country, have to take to guns, before their grievances see the 
> light 
>
> of day, much less a fair and timely resolution? 
> 
> 
> Or is that too complicated?
> 
> 
> 
> On Aug 16, 2010, at 9:55 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:
> 
>> Guns make a difference anywhere in the world. Doe it mean every civilian 
>> must 

>> have a gun to make a point?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ____
>> From: Chan Mahanta 
>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
>> 
>> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:50:19 PM
>> Subject: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
> panel
>> 
>> So it proves one thing LOUD and CLEAR:  That unless you take up arms to 
>> defend 
>
> 
>> your rights in India, nothing happens. Desi demokrasy is all but impotent to 
>> guarantee  the rights of people. But when they take up arms,  Dilli does 
>> notice, 
>> 
>> don't they? Except that some of our kharkhowa ex-pats still can't  fathom 
>> it. I 
>>
>> 
>> wonder WHY these were NOT illegal so far? Naxalism does make the difference 
>> for 
>>
>> 
>> the people after all. 
>> 
>> cm
>> 
>> 
>> Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel
>> 
>> Read more: Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel - India 
>> Business - Business - The Times of India 
>>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vedanta-mines-illegal-must-be-shut-down-Green-panel/articleshow/6321872.cms#ixzz0wpMAIbWX
>>X
>> X
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> NEW DELHI: 
>> Mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining at 
>> Niyamgiri,  encroached upon government land,  got clearances on the basis of 
>> false information and illegally built its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh,  
>> Orissa. As the company engaged in these violations,  the Orissa government 
>> colluded with it and the Centre turned a blind eye. , These are some of the 
>> findings of the four-member N C Saxena committee,  which on Monday 
>> recommended 
>
> 
>> that the company not be allowed to mine in the hills that are the abode of 
>> the 
>
> 
>> Dongaria Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribes in Orissa. , The no-holds-barred 
>> indictment of the state and private sector in the $1.7billion project brings 
>> out 
>> 
>> the short shrift given to concerns about tribal rights and environmental 
>> protection. It is significant also because it underlines the changed 
>> sensibilities of the government towards the issues against the backdrop of 
>> Left-wing extremism and why Naxalit

Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

>I was robbed in Paris but still haven't bought a gun.

*** That must be because you are a special person, one that others should 
emulate.  You have upheld  the highest of human values.

Not to devalue your highly evolved status, but it does not quite compare with, 
say the people who did not receive compensation for property stolen from them 
by corporate interests, sanctioned and approved by desi-demokrasy, to come to 
light for 23 years, much less YET compensated. Or the news I posted minutes 
earlier. Or Assam's existence being noticed.

I know, everyone ought to emulate your aversion to violence. But somehow, 
somehow, the examples don't seem equivalent. What do you think? Is it just MY 
propensity for violence  that I am making up these unbecoming arguments, or 
could there just might be a lesson to learn, a reality to acknowledge?




On Aug 16, 2010, at 10:12 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:

> More intelligent question would be why do civilians need guns even  in a 
> democracy like USA to do the same? I am all in favor of banning guns for 
> civilians  in USA.
> Are you an NRA member?
> I was robbed in Paris but still haven't bought a gun.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Chan Mahanta 
> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
> 
> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:59:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
> panel
> 
> 
> Depends on how badly one is affected, robbed ? 
> 
> But the intelligent question should have been: WHY do Indians , in their 
> DEMOCRATIC country, have to take to guns, before their grievances see the 
> light 
> of day, much less a fair and timely resolution? 
> 
> 
> Or is that too complicated?
> 
> 
> 
> On Aug 16, 2010, at 9:55 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:
> 
>> Guns make a difference anywhere in the world. Doe it mean every civilian 
>> must 
>> have a gun to make a point?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ________
>> From: Chan Mahanta 
>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
>> 
>> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:50:19 PM
>> Subject: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
> panel
>> 
>> So it proves one thing LOUD and CLEAR:  That unless you take up arms to 
>> defend 
> 
>> your rights in India, nothing happens. Desi demokrasy is all but impotent to 
>> guarantee  the rights of people. But when they take up arms,  Dilli does 
>> notice, 
>> 
>> don't they? Except that some of our kharkhowa ex-pats still can't  fathom 
>> it. I 
>> 
>> wonder WHY these were NOT illegal so far? Naxalism does make the difference 
>> for 
>> 
>> the people after all. 
>> 
>> cm
>> 
>> 
>> Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel
>> 
>> Read more: Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel - India 
>> Business - Business - The Times of India 
>> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vedanta-mines-illegal-must-be-shut-down-Green-panel/articleshow/6321872.cms#ixzz0wpMAIbWX
>> X
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> NEW DELHI: 
>> Mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining at 
>> Niyamgiri,  encroached upon government land,  got clearances on the basis of 
>> false information and illegally built its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh,  
>> Orissa. As the company engaged in these violations,  the Orissa government 
>> colluded with it and the Centre turned a blind eye. , These are some of the 
>> findings of the four-member N C Saxena committee,  which on Monday 
>> recommended 
> 
>> that the company not be allowed to mine in the hills that are the abode of 
>> the 
> 
>> Dongaria Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribes in Orissa. , The no-holds-barred 
>> indictment of the state and private sector in the $1.7billion project brings 
>> out 
>> 
>> the short shrift given to concerns about tribal rights and environmental 
>> protection. It is significant also because it underlines the changed 
>> sensibilities of the government towards the issues against the backdrop of 
>> Left-wing extremism and why Naxalites are finding it easy to influence 
>> alienated 
>> 
>> tribal belts. , The stern report of the environment and forests ministry 
>> panel 
> 
>> signalled that tribal rights and environmental isssues have finally muscled 
>> their way onto the governance agenda,  forcing the authorities to take 
>> action 
>> against corporates who may have shown disregard for rules. The

Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

2010-08-16 Thread Dilip Deka

More intelligent question would be why do civilians need guns even  in a 
democracy like USA to do the same? I am all in favor of banning guns for 
civilians  in USA.
Are you an NRA member?
I was robbed in Paris but still haven't bought a gun.





From: Chan Mahanta 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:59:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
panel


Depends on how badly one is affected, robbed ? 

But the intelligent question should have been: WHY do Indians , in their 
DEMOCRATIC country, have to take to guns, before their grievances see the light 
of day, much less a fair and timely resolution? 


Or is that too complicated?



On Aug 16, 2010, at 9:55 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:

> Guns make a difference anywhere in the world. Doe it mean every civilian must 
> have a gun to make a point?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Chan Mahanta 
> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
> 
> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:50:19 PM
> Subject: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
panel
> 
> So it proves one thing LOUD and CLEAR:  That unless you take up arms to 
> defend 

> your rights in India, nothing happens. Desi demokrasy is all but impotent to 
> guarantee  the rights of people. But when they take up arms,  Dilli does 
>notice, 
>
> don't they? Except that some of our kharkhowa ex-pats still can't  fathom it. 
> I 
>
> wonder WHY these were NOT illegal so far? Naxalism does make the difference 
> for 
>
> the people after all. 
> 
> cm
> 
> 
> Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel
> 
> Read more: Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel - India 
> Business - Business - The Times of India 
>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vedanta-mines-illegal-must-be-shut-down-Green-panel/articleshow/6321872.cms#ixzz0wpMAIbWX
>X
> 
> 
> 
> NEW DELHI: 
> Mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining at 
> Niyamgiri,  encroached upon government land,  got clearances on the basis of 
> false information and illegally built its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh,  
> Orissa. As the company engaged in these violations,  the Orissa government 
> colluded with it and the Centre turned a blind eye. , These are some of the 
> findings of the four-member N C Saxena committee,  which on Monday 
> recommended 

> that the company not be allowed to mine in the hills that are the abode of 
> the 

> Dongaria Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribes in Orissa. , The no-holds-barred 
> indictment of the state and private sector in the $1.7billion project brings 
>out 
>
> the short shrift given to concerns about tribal rights and environmental 
> protection. It is significant also because it underlines the changed 
> sensibilities of the government towards the issues against the backdrop of 
> Left-wing extremism and why Naxalites are finding it easy to influence 
>alienated 
>
> tribal belts. , The stern report of the environment and forests ministry 
> panel 

> signalled that tribal rights and environmental isssues have finally muscled 
> their way onto the governance agenda,  forcing the authorities to take action 
> against corporates who may have shown disregard for rules. The Saxena 
> committee 
>
> report,  which could lead to shutting down of the Vedanta smelters in 
> Orissa,  

> comes after the MoEF moved to stop or stall several high-profile,  
> heavy-investment projects,  including the Posco Integrated Steel project in 
> Orissa,  which,  at Rs 56, 000 crore is the single-largest foreign direct 
> investment in India,  the Jindal thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh (Rs 
> 10,000 
>
> crore),  hydroelectric projects on Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand and the Navi 
>Mumbai 
>
> airport in Maharashtra (Rs 7,972 crore). , The panel was set up by the 
> ministry 
>
> of environment and forests to investigate if the state government and the 
> aluminium giant had complied with the Forest Rights Act and Forest 
> Conservation 
>
> Act while mining for bauxite. , The report reveals exhaustive evidence to 
> nail 

> the complicity of the state government in permitting Vedanta to flagrantly 
> violate the laws. , But the committee,  even as it recommended that the 
> mining 

> project be disallowed,  stopped short of asking for prosecution of the 
>officials 
>
> involved in what seems to be a blatant fraud that went unchecked for years. , 
> "The question of whom to prosecute is secondary. First, we have to consider 
> the 
>
> clearance,"

Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel


Depends on how badly one is affected, robbed ? 

But the intelligent question should have been: WHY do Indians , in their 
DEMOCRATIC country, have to take to guns, before their grievances see the light 
of day, much less a fair and timely resolution? 

Or is that too complicated?



On Aug 16, 2010, at 9:55 PM, Dilip Deka wrote:

> Guns make a difference anywhere in the world. Doe it mean every civilian must 
> have a gun to make a point?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Chan Mahanta 
> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 
> 
> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:50:19 PM
> Subject: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green 
> panel
> 
> So it proves one thing LOUD and CLEAR:  That unless you take up arms to 
> defend 
> your rights in India, nothing happens. Desi demokrasy is all but impotent to 
> guarantee  the rights of people. But when they take up arms,  Dilli does 
> notice, 
> don't they? Except that some of our kharkhowa ex-pats still can't  fathom it. 
> I 
> wonder WHY these were NOT illegal so far? Naxalism does make the difference 
> for 
> the people after all. 
> 
> cm
> 
> 
> Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel
> 
> Read more: Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel - India 
> Business - Business - The Times of India 
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vedanta-mines-illegal-must-be-shut-down-Green-panel/articleshow/6321872.cms#ixzz0wpMAIbWX
> 
> 
> 
> NEW DELHI: 
> Mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining at 
> Niyamgiri,  encroached upon government land,  got clearances on the basis of 
> false information and illegally built its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh,  
> Orissa. As the company engaged in these violations,  the Orissa government 
> colluded with it and the Centre turned a blind eye. , These are some of the 
> findings of the four-member N C Saxena committee,  which on Monday 
> recommended 
> that the company not be allowed to mine in the hills that are the abode of 
> the 
> Dongaria Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribes in Orissa. , The no-holds-barred 
> indictment of the state and private sector in the $1.7billion project brings 
> out 
> the short shrift given to concerns about tribal rights and environmental 
> protection. It is significant also because it underlines the changed 
> sensibilities of the government towards the issues against the backdrop of 
> Left-wing extremism and why Naxalites are finding it easy to influence 
> alienated 
> tribal belts. , The stern report of the environment and forests ministry 
> panel 
> signalled that tribal rights and environmental isssues have finally muscled 
> their way onto the governance agenda,  forcing the authorities to take action 
> against corporates who may have shown disregard for rules. The Saxena 
> committee 
> report,  which could lead to shutting down of the Vedanta smelters in Orissa, 
>  
> comes after the MoEF moved to stop or stall several high-profile,  
> heavy-investment projects,  including the Posco Integrated Steel project in 
> Orissa,  which,  at Rs 56, 000 crore is the single-largest foreign direct 
> investment in India,  the Jindal thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh (Rs 
> 10,000 
> crore),  hydroelectric projects on Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand and the Navi 
> Mumbai 
> airport in Maharashtra (Rs 7,972 crore). , The panel was set up by the 
> ministry 
> of environment and forests to investigate if the state government and the 
> aluminium giant had complied with the Forest Rights Act and Forest 
> Conservation 
> Act while mining for bauxite. , The report reveals exhaustive evidence to 
> nail 
> the complicity of the state government in permitting Vedanta to flagrantly 
> violate the laws. , But the committee,  even as it recommended that the 
> mining 
> project be disallowed,  stopped short of asking for prosecution of the 
> officials 
> involved in what seems to be a blatant fraud that went unchecked for years. , 
> "The question of whom to prosecute is secondary. First, we have to consider 
> the 
> clearance," said Union minister for enviroment and forests Jairam Ramesh. 
> Asked 
> if the violations could be set right now,  the minister said,  "Without 
> prejudice to the existing case, it would be a tragedy that one violates laws 
> and 
> still has a window of opportunity to just pay a penalty and get away with it 
> later." , The report will now be reviewed by the statutory Forest Advisory 
> Committee,  which will then give its recommendations to the ministry to take 
> a 
> final call on the forest clearance. , The repor

Re: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

2010-08-16 Thread Dilip Deka

Guns make a difference anywhere in the world. Doe it mean every civilian must 
have a gun to make a point?

From: Chan Mahanta 
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world 

Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 9:50:19 PM
Subject: [Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

So it proves one thing LOUD and CLEAR:  That unless you take up arms to defend 
your rights in India, nothing happens. Desi demokrasy is all but impotent to 
guarantee  the rights of people. But when they take up arms,  Dilli does 
notice, 
don't they? Except that some of our kharkhowa ex-pats still can't  fathom it. I 
wonder WHY these were NOT illegal so far? Naxalism does make the difference for 
the people after all. 

cm

Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

Read more: Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel - India 
Business - Business - The Times of India 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vedanta-mines-illegal-must-be-shut-down-Green-panel/articleshow/6321872.cms#ixzz0wpMAIbWX

NEW DELHI: 
Mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining at 
Niyamgiri,  encroached upon government land,  got clearances on the basis of 
false information and illegally built its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh,  
Orissa. As the company engaged in these violations,  the Orissa government 
colluded with it and the Centre turned a blind eye. , These are some of the 
findings of the four-member N C Saxena committee,  which on Monday recommended 
that the company not be allowed to mine in the hills that are the abode of the 
Dongaria Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribes in Orissa. , The no-holds-barred 
indictment of the state and private sector in the $1.7billion project brings 
out 
the short shrift given to concerns about tribal rights and environmental 
protection. It is significant also because it underlines the changed 
sensibilities of the government towards the issues against the backdrop of 
Left-wing extremism and why Naxalites are finding it easy to influence 
alienated 
tribal belts. , The stern report of the environment and forests ministry panel 
signalled that tribal rights and environmental isssues have finally muscled 
their way onto the governance agenda,  forcing the authorities to take action 
against corporates who may have shown disregard for rules. The Saxena committee 
report,  which could lead to shutting down of the Vedanta smelters in Orissa,  
comes after the MoEF moved to stop or stall several high-profile,  
heavy-investment projects,  including the Posco Integrated Steel project in 
Orissa,  which,  at Rs 56, 000 crore is the single-largest foreign direct 
investment in India,  the Jindal thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh (Rs 10,000 
crore),  hydroelectric projects on Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand and the Navi 
Mumbai 
airport in Maharashtra (Rs 7,972 crore). , The panel was set up by the ministry 
of environment and forests to investigate if the state government and the 
aluminium giant had complied with the Forest Rights Act and Forest Conservation 
Act while mining for bauxite. , The report reveals exhaustive evidence to nail 
the complicity of the state government in permitting Vedanta to flagrantly 
violate the laws. , But the committee,  even as it recommended that the mining 
project be disallowed,  stopped short of asking for prosecution of the 
officials 
involved in what seems to be a blatant fraud that went unchecked for years. , 
"The question of whom to prosecute is secondary. First, we have to consider the 
clearance," said Union minister for enviroment and forests Jairam Ramesh. Asked 
if the violations could be set right now,  the minister said,  "Without 
prejudice to the existing case, it would be a tragedy that one violates laws 
and 
still has a window of opportunity to just pay a penalty and get away with it 
later." , The report will now be reviewed by the statutory Forest Advisory 
Committee,  which will then give its recommendations to the ministry to take a 
final call on the forest clearance. , The report says,  "This committee is of 
the firm view that allowing mining in the proposed mining lease area by 
depriving two primitive tribal groups of their rights over the proposed mining 
area in order to benefit a private company would shake the faith of tribal 
people in the laws of the land which may have serious consequences for the 
security and well-being of the entire country." , The report records how the 
state government falsified documents and concealed information from the central 
government to facilitate the aluminium refinery in mining bauxite while the 
company encroached upon government and tribal lands with impunity. , The 
aluminium czar Anil Aggarwal's company has illegally -- despite legal notices 
from the Orissa State Pollution Control Board -- begun building a refinery to 
pr

[Assam] From ToI/Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

So it proves one thing LOUD and CLEAR:  That unless you take up arms to defend 
your rights in India, nothing happens. Desi demokrasy is all but impotent to 
guarantee  the rights of people. But when they take up arms,  Dilli does 
notice, don't they? Except that some of our kharkhowa ex-pats still can't  
fathom it. I wonder WHY these were NOT illegal so far? Naxalism does make the 
difference for the people after all. 
cm


Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel

Read more: Vedanta mines illegal, must be shut down: Green panel - India 
Business - Business - The Times of India 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Vedanta-mines-illegal-must-be-shut-down-Green-panel/articleshow/6321872.cms#ixzz0wpMAIbWX


NEW DELHI: 
Mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining at 
Niyamgiri,  encroached upon government land,  got clearances on the basis of 
false information and illegally built its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh,  
Orissa. As the company engaged in these violations,  the Orissa government 
colluded with it and the Centre turned a blind eye. , These are some of the 
findings of the four-member N C Saxena committee,  which on Monday recommended 
that the company not be allowed to mine in the hills that are the abode of the 
Dongaria Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribes in Orissa. , The no-holds-barred 
indictment of the state and private sector in the $1.7billion project brings 
out the short shrift given to concerns about tribal rights and environmental 
protection. It is significant also because it underlines the changed 
sensibilities of the government towards the issues against the backdrop of 
Left-wing extremism and why Naxalites are finding it easy to influence 
alienated tribal belts. , The stern report of the environment and forests 
ministry panel signalled that tribal rights and environmental isssues have 
finally muscled their way onto the governance agenda,  forcing the authorities 
to take action against corporates who may have shown disregard for rules. The 
Saxena committee report,  which could lead to shutting down of the Vedanta 
smelters in Orissa,  comes after the MoEF moved to stop or stall several 
high-profile,  heavy-investment projects,  including the Posco Integrated Steel 
project in Orissa,  which,  at Rs 56, 000 crore is the single-largest foreign 
direct investment in India,  the Jindal thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh (Rs 
10,000 crore),  hydroelectric projects on Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand and the 
Navi Mumbai airport in Maharashtra (Rs 7,972 crore). , The panel was set up by 
the ministry of environment and forests to investigate if the state government 
and the aluminium giant had complied with the Forest Rights Act and Forest 
Conservation Act while mining for bauxite. , The report reveals exhaustive 
evidence to nail the complicity of the state government in permitting Vedanta 
to flagrantly violate the laws. , But the committee,  even as it recommended 
that the mining project be disallowed,  stopped short of asking for prosecution 
of the officials involved in what seems to be a blatant fraud that went 
unchecked for years. , "The question of whom to prosecute is secondary. First, 
we have to consider the clearance," said Union minister for enviroment and 
forests Jairam Ramesh. Asked if the violations could be set right now,  the 
minister said,  "Without prejudice to the existing case, it would be a tragedy 
that one violates laws and still has a window of opportunity to just pay a 
penalty and get away with it later." , The report will now be reviewed by the 
statutory Forest Advisory Committee,  which will then give its recommendations 
to the ministry to take a final call on the forest clearance. , The report 
says,  "This committee is of the firm view that allowing mining in the proposed 
mining lease area by depriving two primitive tribal groups of their rights over 
the proposed mining area in order to benefit a private company would shake the 
faith of tribal people in the laws of the land which may have serious 
consequences for the security and well-being of the entire country." , The 
report records how the state government falsified documents and concealed 
information from the central government to facilitate the aluminium refinery in 
mining bauxite while the company encroached upon government and tribal lands 
with impunity. , The aluminium czar Anil Aggarwal's company has illegally -- 
despite legal notices from the Orissa State Pollution Control Board -- begun 
building a refinery to produce 6 million tonnes of aluminium per annum instead 
of the 1 million tonnes per annum plant that it had got the green clearance 
for. , The committee -- that included S Parasuraman,  director of Tata 
Institute of Social Sciences; Promode Kant,  retired forest official; and Amita 
Baviskar,  professor at the Institute of Economic Growth -- pointed out how 
right from the beginning,  the firm had furnished fa

[Assam] From ToI: Is This any Better Than Corruption?

2010-08-09 Thread Chan Mahanta

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/333-projects-put-extra-burden-of-Rs-5-crore/articleshow/6284736.cms

333 projects put extra burden of Rs 50,000 crore

Read more: 333 projects put extra burden of Rs 50,000 crore - India - The Times 
of India 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/333-projects-put-extra-burden-of-Rs-5-crore/articleshow/6284736.cms#ixzz0wAVIyNVw

NEW DELHI: Inordinate delays in implementation of projects have put an extra 
burden worth Rs 50,000 crore on the public exchequer. 

According to a report of the ministry of statistic and programme 
implementation, the cost overruns to the tune of Rs 51,617.92 crore in 333 
ongoing projects. The report has factored in 631 ongoing projects. 

Though the UPA government admitted in Parliament of the escalating cost, it 
failed to give any detail about the timeline for the implementation of these 
projects. The original cost of 333 projects was Rs 323146.8 crore, which 
ballooned toRs 374764.72 crore, as on March 2010 due to delay in execution. 

The escalated cost is pegged at 13.89% higher than the original approved cost. 
In the sector-wise analysis, the report found out that of the 333 delayed 
projects, road transport and highway sector accounts for the maximum number at 
130, followed by petroleum (41), railways (40), power (33), coal (27) and 
telecom (26). 

Minister of state for statistics and programme implementation Sriprakash 
Jaiswal, in a written reply to Parliament, said, “the main reason for cost and 
time overrun include delay in procurement of equipment, law and order problems, 
inadequate infrastructure and rise in input cost.” 

When projects worth Rs 150 crore and above was considered, the number of 
delayed projects was 268, and the cost overruns in these projects touched Rs 
50,295 crore. It was stated that the cost overrun of these projects was 15.8 
per cent of their original approved costs.


Read more: 333 projects put extra burden of Rs 50,000 crore - India - The Times 
of India 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/333-projects-put-extra-burden-of-Rs-5-crore/articleshow/6284736.cms#ixzz0wAVEiejw
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Re: [Assam] From ToI

2008-06-13 Thread Jyotirmoy Sharma

I think you have summed this up very well. I would have to agree that when
it comes to cleanliness, Indians are way behind. A visit to the airport
toilet will be the first pointer to how clean we can get.
We do have bad habits of not caring for something not belonging to us.
Although I have to admit that I do not belong to this group.
Also, it is the western people or the whites(not all but still in majority)
who has taught us clean and healthy living.
About the flights to India, it is not without reason that flights to the
subcontinent are considered a downgrade for the flight crew members.
JS


On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 10:51 PM, Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> C'da,
>
> >*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is it a
> case of racism?
>
> I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of prejudice
> or perceived notion.
>
> If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least bothered
> about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the streets.  Public
> sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
>
> Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually very
> clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere, and
> the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the end.
>
> I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and lack of
> 'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to the
> plight of Guwahati.
>
> The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when they probably relate to
> what they see on TV about India, Africa, the Sudan, and then see some
> Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.
>
> BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing' talk radio, and they were
> talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat to customers (in the US).
>
> Many callers were convinced that was the case (even though they had never
> visited or actually knew about Korea, and were sure that dog meat was was
> there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem of perception
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
>
>
> On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > "blaming Indian immigrants for littering."
> >
> >
> > *** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or is
> > it a case of racism?
> >
> > cm
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ***
> >
> >
> >
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms
> >
> >
> > LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to
> > apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering.
> >
> > Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west
> > London was slammed after claiming in an email that Indians in an
> > apartment block were throwing rubbish out of the window.
> >
> > While such practice was "normal behaviour" in India, to do so in
> > Britain was "not acceptable behaviour", she said in the email.
> >
> > Residents said there was no evidence Indians were tossing rubbish out
> > of the window -- or indeed that there were any Indians at the
> > Woodford Court apartment block.
> >
> > In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ivimy said: "I am aware that some
> > ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been interpreted
> > as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I
> > unreservedly apologise.
> >
> > "I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits,
> > or even if they are estate residents."
> >
> > "I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour belongs
> > specifically to any one particular group."
> >
> > Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group in the Tory-run council,
> > said: "This shows her inherent prejudice."
> >
> > He said Ivimy, as a member of the council's cabinet looking after
> > housing, was responsible for 14,000 tenants' homes and over 4,000
> > leaseholders' homes and all the housing association homes in the
> > borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
> >
> > "Many of those people, like the whole of London, come from all sorts
> > of backgrounds."
> >
> > Dang Sakares, who has lived on the apartment block for eight years,
> > said: "I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this block."
> > ___
> > assam mailing list
> > assam@assamnet.org
> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>
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[Assam] From TOI

2008-06-12 Thread Krishnendu Chakraborty

As for Chinese,  the per capita income is NOT far
behind Indians.  Per 1990 census,  Chinese were at 14K
while Indians at 17K.  I could not get hold of latest
figures but it would be safe to assume that it is
catching up since the recent migrations from China are
mostly in the high tech jobs.

Further,  if you attribute it to Economic conditions 
then you get your answer --- the whites are
economically better then recently migrated Indians ,
in general.



**
Yes I have.  And I know of those conditions, which are
also effected 
by the economic conditions of the people involved.

We were, however, talking of  Indians , whose economic
conditions, at 
least in the USA, are of a far higher caliber, per
capita; than these 
other communities'. Therefore the comparison does not
apply.











At 10:00 AM -0700 6/12/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty
wrote:
>C'da,  have you been to Chinese dominated areas in US
>(like Chinatown in Boston)  or the hispanic dominated
>areas  (Chelsea or Revere near Boston) ?  I have been
>to Devon and frequented to Oak Tree Road (Edison,
NJ).
>  Those are clean compared to some pockets of Boston.
>
>Not to defend desi community but it is same
everywhere
>when you have a lot of people recently migrated from
a
>third world country.
>
>
>
>
>I  do believe that people have a capacity to learn
and
>they usually
>do.  But my own observations are that Indians take a
>lng time to
>learn civic lessons, particularly when they are in
any
>concentration.
>
>I am sure you know all too well about the environment
>inside
>transcontinental  flights in their last legs into
>India, Ram. Don't
>you?
>
>I remember a desi-shopping center parking lot and
>surroundings in
>Houston from about three or four years back that
>looked quite filthy.
>There was trash all around. And I have witnesses,
from
>Houston , who
>will testify to that to you. They drove us there.
>
>Similarly  on and around Devon Street of Chicago.
>
>And last but not the least, right here at the Mahatma
>Gandhi Center
>of St. Louis after a gathering of certain
communities.
>Being in the
>Board of this facility I also know, first hand,  how
>they trash the
>place, remove property, stuff the toilets  --- you
>name it. What was
>even more disconcerting was when a Board Member of
the
>Temple next
>-door told me a few weeks back, in whispers, of the
>horror stories
>they experience, in their TEMPLE!
>
>Is there something genetic here :-)?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>At 10:54 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>   >Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure
what
>it is called), or
>>>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in
>NY.  Are they
>>>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for
>example?
>>
>>In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The
>area (at one time) had a
>>drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and
>mini malls have been
>>built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from
many
>parts of Texas (not
>>just desis though).
>>
>>I remember, some years ago, there were several paan
>dukanis (paan shops)
>>there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai)
>the paan crud around
>>the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out
>all the 'blood' around
>>the place... when they did, they gave a stiff
warning
>to the paan dukani. It
>>doesn't happen now.
>>
>>The Houston desi population is still small compared
>to Southhall (London)
>>and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas
>where there are higher
>>concentrations..
>>
>>--Ram
>>
>>
>>
>>On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta 
>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>   I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant
>populated neighborhoods
>>>   in the USA or Britain or such other western
>countries.
>>>
>>>   Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure
what
>it is called), or
>>>   Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights
>in NY.  Are they
>>>   particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around
for
>example?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>   At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>>   >C'da,
>  >>  >
>>>   >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception
>among westerners or >is it
>>>   a
>>>   >case of racism?
>>>   >
>>>   >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but
rather
>some sort of prejudice
>>>   >or perceived notion.
>>>   >
>>>   >If one were to visit certain parts of India,
>citizens are least bothered
>>>   >about throwing garbage out of the windows and
on
>to the streets.  Public
>>>   >sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
>  >>  >
>>>   >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that
>while homes are usually very
>>>   >clean, the streets outside are strewn with
>garbage & filth everywhere, and
>>>   >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where
>everything winds up in the end.
>>>   >
>>>   >I understand there are many reasons for this,
but
>public apathy and lack
>>>   of
>>>   >'ownership' of the surroundings mus

Re: [Assam] From ToI

Yes I have.  And I know of those conditions, which are also effected 
by the economic conditions of the people involved.

We were, however, talking of  Indians , whose economic conditions, at 
least in the USA, are of a far higher caliber, per capita; than these 
other communities'. Therefore the comparison does not apply.











At 10:00 AM -0700 6/12/08, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote:
>C'da,  have you been to Chinese dominated areas in US
>(like Chinatown in Boston)  or the hispanic dominated
>areas  (Chelsea or Revere near Boston) ?  I have been
>to Devon and frequented to Oak Tree Road (Edison, NJ).
>  Those are clean compared to some pockets of Boston.
>
>Not to defend desi community but it is same everywhere
>when you have a lot of people recently migrated from a
>third world country.
>
>
>
>
>I  do believe that people have a capacity to learn and
>they usually
>do.  But my own observations are that Indians take a
>lng time to
>learn civic lessons, particularly when they are in any
>concentration.
>
>I am sure you know all too well about the environment
>inside
>transcontinental  flights in their last legs into
>India, Ram. Don't
>you?
>
>I remember a desi-shopping center parking lot and
>surroundings in
>Houston from about three or four years back that
>looked quite filthy.
>There was trash all around. And I have witnesses, from
>Houston , who
>will testify to that to you. They drove us there.
>
>Similarly  on and around Devon Street of Chicago.
>
>And last but not the least, right here at the Mahatma
>Gandhi Center
>of St. Louis after a gathering of certain communities.
>Being in the
>Board of this facility I also know, first hand,  how
>they trash the
>place, remove property, stuff the toilets  --- you
>name it. What was
>even more disconcerting was when a Board Member of the
>Temple next
>-door told me a few weeks back, in whispers, of the
>horror stories
>they experience, in their TEMPLE!
>
>Is there something genetic here :-)?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>At 10:54 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>   >Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what
>it is called), or
>>>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in
>NY.  Are they
>>>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for
>example?
>>
>>In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The
>area (at one time) had a
>>drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and
>mini malls have been
>>built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many
>parts of Texas (not
>>just desis though).
>>
>>I remember, some years ago, there were several paan
>dukanis (paan shops)
>>there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai)
>the paan crud around
>>the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out
>all the 'blood' around
>>the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning
>to the paan dukani. It
>>doesn't happen now.
>>
>>The Houston desi population is still small compared
>to Southhall (London)
>>and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas
>where there are higher
>>concentrations..
>>
>>--Ram
>>
>>
>>
>>On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta 
>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>   I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant
>populated neighborhoods
>>>   in the USA or Britain or such other western
>countries.
>>>
>>>   Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what
>it is called), or
>>>   Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights
>in NY.  Are they
>>>   particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for
>example?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>   At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>>   >C'da,
>  >>  >
>>>   >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception
>among westerners or >is it
>>>   a
>>>   >case of racism?
>>>   >
>>>   >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather
>some sort of prejudice
>>>   >or perceived notion.
>>>   >
>>>   >If one were to visit certain parts of India,
>citizens are least bothered
>>>   >about throwing garbage out of the windows and on
>to the streets.  Public
>>>   >sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
>  >>  >
>>>   >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that
>while homes are usually very
>>>   >clean, the streets outside are strewn with
>garbage & filth everywhere, and
>>>   >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where
>everything winds up in the end.
>>>   >
>>>   >I understand there are many reasons for this, but
>public apathy and lack
>>>   of
>>>   >'ownership' of the surroundings must have
>contributed something to the
>>>   >plight of Guwahati.
>>>   >
>>>   >The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when
>they probably relate to
>>>   >what they see on TV about India, Africa, the
>Sudan, and then see some
>>>   >Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.
>>>   >
>>>   >BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing'
>talk radio, and they
>>>   were
>>>   >talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat
>to customers (in the
>>>   US).
>>>   >
>>>   >Many callers were convinced that

Re: [Assam] From ToI

>  >But, this much I can vouchsafe, at our Bihu celebrations, after the show,
>the young men (and some not so young men :)) and ladies had the place
>looking spotless in no time. The same with the afternoon session.



 That is why I qualified my comment with " CERTAIN" ( after a 
gathering of certain communities.).

Some communities are far better than others :-).
But there are far too few Kharkhowas  to make a 'community' , much 
less a ghetto to be reviled.



>C'mon C'da... we don't want to indict ourselves, do we?

*** Speak for yourself Ram :-).










At 12:02 PM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da,
>
>You have touched on one of may favorite topics:)
>
>I have to say, I mostly agree with you. Regarding the long haul flights to
>Dilli/Kolkatta, I have a theory:
>
>Use the facilities within the 1st 5 minutes or so. After that you are on
>your own. Those flight facilities can make the best of us hardy, and after a
>few such flights, one can declare just like George Bush - 'Bring 'it on'.
>
>This past month, on our way back from Europe, we caught KLM from Amsterdam.
>That choice flight was also picking up passengers from India. Needless to
>say (and as I expected), the toilets were rendered useless in no time. They
>ran out of water (it was all on the floor), with toilet paper strewn all
>over.
>
>>  And I have witnesses, from Houston , who will testify to that to you.
>>They drove us there
>
>You could be correct - there are some areas concentrated by Pakistanis and
>B'deshis too, and one can easily mistake them for desi desis :):)
>
>But, this much I can vouchsafe, at our Bihu celebrations, after the show,
>the young men (and some not so young men :)) and ladies had the place
>looking spotless in no time. The same with the afternoon session.
>
>>Is there something genetic here :-)?
>
>C'mon C'da... we don't want to indict ourselves, do we?
>
>--Ram
>
>
>On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>  I  do believe that people have a capacity to learn and they usually
>>  do.  But my own observations are that Indians take a lng time to
>>  learn civic lessons, particularly when they are in any concentration.
>>
>>  I am sure you know all too well about the environment inside
>>  transcontinental  flights in their last legs into India, Ram. Don't
>>  you?
>>
>>  I remember a desi-shopping center parking lot and surroundings in
>>  Houston from about three or four years back that looked quite filthy.
>>  There was trash all around. And I have witnesses, from Houston , who
>>  will testify to that to you. They drove us there.
>>
>>  Similarly  on and around Devon Street of Chicago.
>>
>>  And last but not the least, right here at the Mahatma Gandhi Center
>  > of St. Louis after a gathering of certain communities. Being in the
>>  Board of this facility I also know, first hand,  how they trash the
>>  place, remove property, stuff the toilets  --- you name it. What was
>>  even more disconcerting was when a Board Member of the Temple next
>>  -door told me a few weeks back, in whispers, of the horror stories
>>  they experience, in their TEMPLE!
>>
>>  Is there something genetic here :-)?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  At 10:54 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>  >  >Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
>>  >>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
>>  >>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
>>  >
>>  >In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The area (at one time) had a
>>  >drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and mini malls have been
>>  >built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many parts of Texas (not
>>  >just desis though).
>>  >
>>  >I remember, some years ago, there were several paan dukanis (paan shops)
>>  >there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai) the paan crud around
>  > >the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out all the 'blood' around
>>  >the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning to the paan dukani.
>  > It
>>  >doesn't happen now.
>>  >
>>  >The Houston desi population is still small compared to Southhall (London)
>>  >and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas where there are higher
>>  >concentrations..
>>  >
>>  >--Ram
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant populated neighborhoods
>>  >>  in the USA or Britain or such other western countries.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
>>  >>  Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
>>  >>  particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>  >>  >C'da,
>>  >>  >
>>  >>  >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2008-06-12 Thread Ram Sarangapani

C'da,

You have touched on one of may favorite topics:)

I have to say, I mostly agree with you. Regarding the long haul flights to
Dilli/Kolkatta, I have a theory:

Use the facilities within the 1st 5 minutes or so. After that you are on
your own. Those flight facilities can make the best of us hardy, and after a
few such flights, one can declare just like George Bush - 'Bring 'it on'.

This past month, on our way back from Europe, we caught KLM from Amsterdam.
That choice flight was also picking up passengers from India. Needless to
say (and as I expected), the toilets were rendered useless in no time. They
ran out of water (it was all on the floor), with toilet paper strewn all
over.

> And I have witnesses, from Houston , who will testify to that to you.
>They drove us there

You could be correct - there are some areas concentrated by Pakistanis and
B'deshis too, and one can easily mistake them for desi desis :):)

But, this much I can vouchsafe, at our Bihu celebrations, after the show,
the young men (and some not so young men :)) and ladies had the place
looking spotless in no time. The same with the afternoon session.

>Is there something genetic here :-)?

C'mon C'da... we don't want to indict ourselves, do we?

--Ram


On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
>
> I  do believe that people have a capacity to learn and they usually
> do.  But my own observations are that Indians take a lng time to
> learn civic lessons, particularly when they are in any concentration.
>
> I am sure you know all too well about the environment inside
> transcontinental  flights in their last legs into India, Ram. Don't
> you?
>
> I remember a desi-shopping center parking lot and surroundings in
> Houston from about three or four years back that looked quite filthy.
> There was trash all around. And I have witnesses, from Houston , who
> will testify to that to you. They drove us there.
>
> Similarly  on and around Devon Street of Chicago.
>
> And last but not the least, right here at the Mahatma Gandhi Center
> of St. Louis after a gathering of certain communities. Being in the
> Board of this facility I also know, first hand,  how they trash the
> place, remove property, stuff the toilets  --- you name it. What was
> even more disconcerting was when a Board Member of the Temple next
> -door told me a few weeks back, in whispers, of the horror stories
> they experience, in their TEMPLE!
>
> Is there something genetic here :-)?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 10:54 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
> >  >Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
> >>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
> >>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
> >
> >In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The area (at one time) had a
> >drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and mini malls have been
> >built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many parts of Texas (not
> >just desis though).
> >
> >I remember, some years ago, there were several paan dukanis (paan shops)
> >there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai) the paan crud around
> >the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out all the 'blood' around
> >the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning to the paan dukani.
> It
> >doesn't happen now.
> >
> >The Houston desi population is still small compared to Southhall (London)
> >and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas where there are higher
> >concentrations..
> >
> >--Ram
> >
> >
> >
> >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>  I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant populated neighborhoods
> >>  in the USA or Britain or such other western countries.
> >>
> >>  Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
> >>  Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
> >>  particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>  At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
> >>  >C'da,
> >>  >
> >>  >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is
> it
> >>  a
> >>  >case of racism?
> >>  >
> >>  >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of
> prejudice
> >>  >or perceived notion.
> >>  >
> >>  >If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least
> bothered
> >>  >about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the
> streets.  Public
> >>  >sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
> >>  >
> >>  >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually
> very
> >>  >clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere,
> and
> >>  >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the
> end.
> >>  >
> >>  >I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and
> lack
> >>  of
> >>  >'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to

[Assam] From ToI

2008-06-12 Thread Krishnendu Chakraborty

C'da,  have you been to Chinese dominated areas in US
(like Chinatown in Boston)  or the hispanic dominated
areas  (Chelsea or Revere near Boston) ?  I have been
to Devon and frequented to Oak Tree Road (Edison, NJ).
 Those are clean compared to some pockets of Boston.

Not to defend desi community but it is same everywhere
when you have a lot of people recently migrated from a
third world country.




I  do believe that people have a capacity to learn and
they usually 
do.  But my own observations are that Indians take a
lng time to 
learn civic lessons, particularly when they are in any
concentration.

I am sure you know all too well about the environment
inside 
transcontinental  flights in their last legs into
India, Ram. Don't 
you?

I remember a desi-shopping center parking lot and
surroundings in 
Houston from about three or four years back that
looked quite filthy. 
There was trash all around. And I have witnesses, from
Houston , who 
will testify to that to you. They drove us there.

Similarly  on and around Devon Street of Chicago.

And last but not the least, right here at the Mahatma
Gandhi Center 
of St. Louis after a gathering of certain communities.
Being in the 
Board of this facility I also know, first hand,  how
they trash the 
place, remove property, stuff the toilets  --- you
name it. What was 
even more disconcerting was when a Board Member of the
Temple next 
-door told me a few weeks back, in whispers, of the
horror stories 
they experience, in their TEMPLE!

Is there something genetic here :-)?













At 10:54 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>  >Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what
it is called), or
>>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in
NY.  Are they
>>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for
example?
>
>In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The
area (at one time) had a
>drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and
mini malls have been
>built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many
parts of Texas (not
>just desis though).
>
>I remember, some years ago, there were several paan
dukanis (paan shops)
>there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai)
the paan crud around
>the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out
all the 'blood' around
>the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning
to the paan dukani. It
>doesn't happen now.
>
>The Houston desi population is still small compared
to Southhall (London)
>and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas
where there are higher
>concentrations..
>
>--Ram
>
>
>
>On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta 
wrote:
>>
>>
>>  I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant
populated neighborhoods
>>  in the USA or Britain or such other western
countries.
>>
>>  Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what
it is called), or
>>  Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights
in NY.  Are they
>>  particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for
example?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>  >C'da,
>>  >
>>  >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception
among westerners or >is it
>>  a
>>  >case of racism?
>>  >
>>  >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather
some sort of prejudice
>>  >or perceived notion.
>>  >
>>  >If one were to visit certain parts of India,
citizens are least bothered
>>  >about throwing garbage out of the windows and on
to the streets.  Public
>>  >sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
>>  >
>>  >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that
while homes are usually very
>>  >clean, the streets outside are strewn with
garbage & filth everywhere, and
>>  >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where
everything winds up in the end.
>>  >
>>  >I understand there are many reasons for this, but
public apathy and lack
>>  of
>>  >'ownership' of the surroundings must have
contributed something to the
>>  >plight of Guwahati.
>>  >
>>  >The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when
they probably relate to
>>  >what they see on TV about India, Africa, the
Sudan, and then see some
>>  >Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.
>>  >
>>  >BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing'
talk radio, and they
>>  were
>>  >talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat
to customers (in the
>>  US).
>>  >
>>  >Many callers were convinced that was the case
(even though they had never
>>  >visited or actually knew about Korea, and were
sure that dog meat was was
>  > >there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem
of perception
>>  >
>>  >--Ram
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta  wrote:
>>  >>
>>  >>  "blaming Indian immigrants for littering."
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  *** Is there any reason for such a perception
among westerners or is
>>  >>  it a case of racism?
>>  >>
>>  >>  cm
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>
>> 
>>**

Re: [Assam] From ToI



I  do believe that people have a capacity to learn and they usually 
do.  But my own observations are that Indians take a lng time to 
learn civic lessons, particularly when they are in any concentration.

I am sure you know all too well about the environment inside 
transcontinental  flights in their last legs into India, Ram. Don't 
you?

I remember a desi-shopping center parking lot and surroundings in 
Houston from about three or four years back that looked quite filthy. 
There was trash all around. And I have witnesses, from Houston , who 
will testify to that to you. They drove us there.

Similarly  on and around Devon Street of Chicago.

And last but not the least, right here at the Mahatma Gandhi Center 
of St. Louis after a gathering of certain communities. Being in the 
Board of this facility I also know, first hand,  how they trash the 
place, remove property, stuff the toilets  --- you name it. What was 
even more disconcerting was when a Board Member of the Temple next 
-door told me a few weeks back, in whispers, of the horror stories 
they experience, in their TEMPLE!

Is there something genetic here :-)?













At 10:54 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>  >Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
>>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
>>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
>
>In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The area (at one time) had a
>drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and mini malls have been
>built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many parts of Texas (not
>just desis though).
>
>I remember, some years ago, there were several paan dukanis (paan shops)
>there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai) the paan crud around
>the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out all the 'blood' around
>the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning to the paan dukani. It
>doesn't happen now.
>
>The Houston desi population is still small compared to Southhall (London)
>and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas where there are higher
>concentrations..
>
>--Ram
>
>
>
>On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>  I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant populated neighborhoods
>>  in the USA or Britain or such other western countries.
>>
>>  Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
>>  Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
>>  particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>  >C'da,
>>  >
>>  >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is it
>>  a
>>  >case of racism?
>>  >
>>  >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of prejudice
>>  >or perceived notion.
>>  >
>>  >If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least bothered
>>  >about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the streets.  Public
>>  >sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
>>  >
>>  >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually very
>>  >clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere, and
>>  >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the end.
>>  >
>>  >I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and lack
>>  of
>>  >'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to the
>>  >plight of Guwahati.
>>  >
>>  >The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when they probably relate to
>>  >what they see on TV about India, Africa, the Sudan, and then see some
>>  >Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.
>>  >
>>  >BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing' talk radio, and they
>>  were
>>  >talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat to customers (in the
>>  US).
>>  >
>>  >Many callers were convinced that was the case (even though they had never
>>  >visited or actually knew about Korea, and were sure that dog meat was was
>  > >there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem of perception
>>  >
>>  >--Ram
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>  >>
>>  >>  "blaming Indian immigrants for littering."
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  *** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or is
>>  >>  it a case of racism?
>>  >>
>>  >>  cm
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>
>>  
>> >>***
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>> 
>>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to
>>  >>  apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west
>>  >>  London

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2008-06-12 Thread Ram Sarangapani

>Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?

In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The area (at one time) had a
drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and mini malls have been
built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many parts of Texas (not
just desis though).

I remember, some years ago, there were several paan dukanis (paan shops)
there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai) the paan crud around
the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out all the 'blood' around
the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning to the paan dukani. It
doesn't happen now.

The Houston desi population is still small compared to Southhall (London)
and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas where there are higher
concentrations..

--Ram



On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
> I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant populated neighborhoods
> in the USA or Britain or such other western countries.
>
> Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
> Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they
> particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
> >C'da,
> >
> >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is it
> a
> >case of racism?
> >
> >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of prejudice
> >or perceived notion.
> >
> >If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least bothered
> >about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the streets.  Public
> >sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
> >
> >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually very
> >clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere, and
> >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the end.
> >
> >I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and lack
> of
> >'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to the
> >plight of Guwahati.
> >
> >The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when they probably relate to
> >what they see on TV about India, Africa, the Sudan, and then see some
> >Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.
> >
> >BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing' talk radio, and they
> were
> >talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat to customers (in the
> US).
> >
> >Many callers were convinced that was the case (even though they had never
> >visited or actually knew about Korea, and were sure that dog meat was was
> >there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem of perception
> >
> >--Ram
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >>
> >>  "blaming Indian immigrants for littering."
> >>
> >>
> >>  *** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or is
> >>  it a case of racism?
> >>
> >>  cm
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
> >>***
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms
> >>
> >>
> >>  LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to
> >>  apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering.
> >>
> >>  Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west
> >>  London was slammed after claiming in an email that Indians in an
> >>  apartment block were throwing rubbish out of the window.
> >>
> >>  While such practice was "normal behaviour" in India, to do so in
> >>  Britain was "not acceptable behaviour", she said in the email.
> >>
> >>  Residents said there was no evidence Indians were tossing rubbish out
> >>  of the window -- or indeed that there were any Indians at the
> >>  Woodford Court apartment block.
> >>
> >>  In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ivimy said: "I am aware that some
> >>  ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been interpreted
> >>  as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I
> >>  unreservedly apologise.
> >>
> >>  "I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits,
> >>  or even if they are estate residents."
> >>
> >>  "I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour belongs
> >>  specifically to any one particular group."
> >>
> >>  Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group in the Tory-run council,
> >>  said: "This shows her inherent prejudice."
> >>
> >>  He said Ivimy, as a member of the council's cabinet looking after
> >>  housing, was responsible for 14,000 tenants' homes and over 4,000
> >>  leaseholders' homes and all the housing association homes in the
> >>  borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
> >>
> >>  "Many of those people, like the w

Re: [Assam] From ToI


I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant populated neighborhoods 
in the USA or Britain or such other western countries.

Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or 
Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY.  Are they 
particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?










At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da,
>
>>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is it a
>case of racism?
>
>I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of prejudice
>or perceived notion.
>
>If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least bothered
>about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the streets.  Public
>sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
>
>Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually very
>clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere, and
>the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the end.
>
>I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and lack of
>'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to the
>plight of Guwahati.
>
>The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when they probably relate to
>what they see on TV about India, Africa, the Sudan, and then see some
>Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.
>
>BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing' talk radio, and they were
>talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat to customers (in the US).
>
>Many callers were convinced that was the case (even though they had never
>visited or actually knew about Korea, and were sure that dog meat was was
>there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem of perception
>
>--Ram
>
>
>
>
>
>On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>  "blaming Indian immigrants for littering."
>>
>>
>>  *** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or is
>>  it a case of racism?
>>
>>  cm
>>
>>
>>
>> 
>>***
>>
>>
>> 
>>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms
>>
>>
>>  LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to
>>  apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering.
>>
>>  Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west
>>  London was slammed after claiming in an email that Indians in an
>>  apartment block were throwing rubbish out of the window.
>>
>>  While such practice was "normal behaviour" in India, to do so in
>>  Britain was "not acceptable behaviour", she said in the email.
>>
>>  Residents said there was no evidence Indians were tossing rubbish out
>>  of the window -- or indeed that there were any Indians at the
>>  Woodford Court apartment block.
>>
>>  In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ivimy said: "I am aware that some
>>  ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been interpreted
>>  as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I
>>  unreservedly apologise.
>>
>>  "I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits,
>>  or even if they are estate residents."
>>
>>  "I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour belongs
>>  specifically to any one particular group."
>>
>>  Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group in the Tory-run council,
>>  said: "This shows her inherent prejudice."
>>
>>  He said Ivimy, as a member of the council's cabinet looking after
>>  housing, was responsible for 14,000 tenants' homes and over 4,000
>>  leaseholders' homes and all the housing association homes in the
>>  borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
>>
>>  "Many of those people, like the whole of London, come from all sorts
>>  of backgrounds."
>>
>>  Dang Sakares, who has lived on the apartment block for eight years,
>>  said: "I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this block."
>>  ___
>  > assam mailing list
>>  assam@assamnet.org
>>  http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>
>___
>assam mailing list
>assam@assamnet.org
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org


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

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2008-06-12 Thread Ram Sarangapani

C'da,

>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is it a
case of racism?

I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of prejudice
or perceived notion.

If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least bothered
about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the streets.  Public
sanitation and health is huge problem in India.

Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually very
clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere, and
the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the end.

I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and lack of
'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to the
plight of Guwahati.

The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when they probably relate to
what they see on TV about India, Africa, the Sudan, and then see some
Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.

BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing' talk radio, and they were
talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat to customers (in the US).

Many callers were convinced that was the case (even though they had never
visited or actually knew about Korea, and were sure that dog meat was was
there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem of perception

--Ram

On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> "blaming Indian immigrants for littering."
>
>
> *** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or is
> it a case of racism?
>
> cm
>
>
>
> ***
>
>
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms
>
>
> LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to
> apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering.
>
> Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west
> London was slammed after claiming in an email that Indians in an
> apartment block were throwing rubbish out of the window.
>
> While such practice was "normal behaviour" in India, to do so in
> Britain was "not acceptable behaviour", she said in the email.
>
> Residents said there was no evidence Indians were tossing rubbish out
> of the window -- or indeed that there were any Indians at the
> Woodford Court apartment block.
>
> In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ivimy said: "I am aware that some
> ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been interpreted
> as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I
> unreservedly apologise.
>
> "I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits,
> or even if they are estate residents."
>
> "I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour belongs
> specifically to any one particular group."
>
> Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group in the Tory-run council,
> said: "This shows her inherent prejudice."
>
> He said Ivimy, as a member of the council's cabinet looking after
> housing, was responsible for 14,000 tenants' homes and over 4,000
> leaseholders' homes and all the housing association homes in the
> borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
>
> "Many of those people, like the whole of London, come from all sorts
> of backgrounds."
>
> Dang Sakares, who has lived on the apartment block for eight years,
> said: "I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this block."
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[Assam] From ToI

"blaming Indian immigrants for littering."


*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or is 
it a case of racism?

cm


***

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms


  LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to 
apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering.

Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west 
London was slammed after claiming in an email that Indians in an 
apartment block were throwing rubbish out of the window.

While such practice was "normal behaviour" in India, to do so in 
Britain was "not acceptable behaviour", she said in the email.

Residents said there was no evidence Indians were tossing rubbish out 
of the window -- or indeed that there were any Indians at the 
Woodford Court apartment block.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ivimy said: "I am aware that some 
ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been interpreted 
as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I 
unreservedly apologise.

"I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits, 
or even if they are estate residents."

"I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour belongs 
specifically to any one particular group."

Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group in the Tory-run council, 
said: "This shows her inherent prejudice."

He said Ivimy, as a member of the council's cabinet looking after 
housing, was responsible for 14,000 tenants' homes and over 4,000 
leaseholders' homes and all the housing association homes in the 
borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

"Many of those people, like the whole of London, come from all sorts 
of backgrounds."

Dang Sakares, who has lived on the apartment block for eight years, 
said: "I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this block."
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[Assam] From ToI? India's Stand on Tibet/Tibet strategic water resources

2008-04-08 Thread Krishnendu Chakraborty

It may be noted that the comments are coming from
citizen of a Superpower which turned a blind eye
during Tienman square or Tibet because China continues
to be its manufacturing hub .



>*** Shows what India values more: Real estate or
Human Rights!

>cm






India takes rigid anti-Tibet stand

  BEIJING, APR 3 (PTI)

According to China, New Delhi has assured that it will
not tolerate 
any political anti-Beijing activities by Tibetans on
the Indian 
territory.

For the second time in less than a week, China has
briefed India on 
the Tibet issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spoke over phone
to his Indian 
counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and exchanged views on
bilateral 
relations, explaining Beijing's 'principled stand' on
the Dalai Lama 
issue, the state media said on Thursday.

''Mukherjee said the Tibet Autonomous Region is part
of China's 
territory and India will never tolerate any political
anti-China 
activities by Tibetans on the Indian Territory,''
official Xinhua 
news agency reported.

In the conversation on Wednesday, Yang also told
Mukherjee that it 
had been proved ''and will continue to be proven''
that any scheme by 
the ''Dalai Clique'', referring to the supporters of
the Tibetan 
spiritual leader, to split and break China was
''doomed to failure.''

The conversation comes after China's State Councilor
Dai Bingguo's 
telephonic talk with National Security Adviser M K
Naranayan on March 
30 when he briefed him on the ''violent crimes'' in
Lhasa and 
''expounded'' China's stance on and concerns over the
Tibet issue.



  

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total 
Access, No Cost.  
http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

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[Assam] From ToI? India's Stand on Tibet/Tibet strategic water resources

2008-04-08 Thread Chan Mahanta

*** Shows what India values more: Real estate or Human Rights!

cm






India takes rigid anti-Tibet stand

  BEIJING, APR 3 (PTI)

According to China, New Delhi has assured that it will not tolerate 
any political anti-Beijing activities by Tibetans on the Indian 
territory.

For the second time in less than a week, China has briefed India on 
the Tibet issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spoke over phone to his Indian 
counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and exchanged views on bilateral 
relations, explaining Beijing's 'principled stand' on the Dalai Lama 
issue, the state media said on Thursday.

''Mukherjee said the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of China's 
territory and India will never tolerate any political anti-China 
activities by Tibetans on the Indian Territory,'' official Xinhua 
news agency reported.

In the conversation on Wednesday, Yang also told Mukherjee that it 
had been proved ''and will continue to be proven'' that any scheme by 
the ''Dalai Clique'', referring to the supporters of the Tibetan 
spiritual leader, to split and break China was ''doomed to failure.''

The conversation comes after China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo's 
telephonic talk with National Security Adviser M K Naranayan on March 
30 when he briefed him on the ''violent crimes'' in Lhasa and 
''expounded'' China's stance on and concerns over the Tibet issue.

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Re: [Assam] From TOI --Indian Special Court's Speed

2008-03-27 Thread Chan Mahanta

>   The fact that the Maharashtra govt. came up with the idea to 
>handle the riot related petty cases is >commendable.


*** When you set the standard so low, even excreta could be said to 
smell wonderful.

The IDEA is not NEW by any standard. It has been going around for decades.

So it took fifteen years to set this up? Where has desi-demokrasy  been so far?

If you can wait long enough , everything will be fine some day. 
Unfortunately  THOSE who only live ONCE, that could be a bit late, 
don't you think?


Did you see the following?

>  "My date  would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign my name, and
>then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return home by evening,
>a day's earnings lost," said Ghaffar.

>  >"I was in custody for two and a half months. They beat me up
>and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you,"


*** That was summary punishment meted out, which continues to remain 
the centerpiece of Indian justice! Imagine that. That is 
desi-demokrasy for you.






















At 5:43 AM -0700 3/27/08, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
>O"Mahanta,
>   Did you read the whole story? The case was pending for 15 years 
>since 1993. The special court disposed off the case in one hour of 
>hearing, in stead of sending Mr. Ghaffar home again. In my estimate 
>that is a lot of progress.
>   The court itself was set up last year - when last year the report 
>does not say. Did it take one year for the court to start its 
>business? Probably. The magistrate/s had to be appointed, court 
>house had to be established, priority list of the cases had to be 
>prepared.
>   The fact that the Maharashtra govt. came up with the idea to 
>handle the riot related petty cases is commendable. Real success 
>will be evident only if the court disposes off all assigned cases in 
>a record time. It will be interesting to know if the special court 
>has been given a deadline. If there is a potential that the 
>magistrate/s get recognition for meeting the deadline, there is a 
>likelihood that it will be met.
>   O'Deka
>   ==
>
>
>Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   *** If I am not mistaken these 'special' courts were designed to
>provide fast justice, weren't they?
>
>cm
>
>
>
>14 yrs in courts, 1 hour to walk free
>27 Mar 2008, 0155 hrs IST,Rukmini Shrinivasan,TNN
>Print Save EMail Write to Editor
>
>MUMBAI: The much hyped but much delayed special courts, which the
>Maharashtra government set up last year to try 1992-93 riots cases,
>disposed of the first case on Tuesday: a man accused of stealing two
>cans of groundnut oil 14 years ago was acquitted.
>
>Metropolitan magistrate R C Bapat Sarkar took a little over an hour
>to acquit Abdul Ghaffar, whose case was one of the "priority" cases
>specially selected by the government to be tried in the new courts.
>
>Ghaffar (45), a sherbet seller on Mohammed Ali Road, was arrested in
>May 1993 for "breaking into" and "stealing" two cans of oil from a
>godown near his house in December 1992.
>
>"Dozens of us were rounded up during those days and charged with
>offences ranging from theft to murder depending on our 'look',"
>Ghaffar said during a break from work at his house near Suleman Usman
>Bakery. "I was in custody for two and a half months. They beat me up
>and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you," he added.
>
>Ghaffar was charged under Sections 380 (robbery) and 454 (trespass)
>of IPC. His trial began at the Mazgaon magistrate's court. "My date
>would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign my name, and
>then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return home by evening,
>a day's earnings lost," said Ghaffar.
>
>For the past two years, there was no hearing and Ghaffar was told by
>police that his case had been put in the dormant file.
>
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Re: [Assam] From TOI --Indian Special Court's Speed

2008-03-27 Thread Dilip/Dil Deka

O"Mahanta,
  Did you read the whole story? The case was pending for 15 years since 1993. 
The special court disposed off the case in one hour of hearing, in stead of 
sending Mr. Ghaffar home again. In my estimate that is a lot of progress.
  The court itself was set up last year - when last year the report does not 
say. Did it take one year for the court to start its business? Probably. The 
magistrate/s had to be appointed, court house had to be established, priority 
list of the cases had to be prepared. 
  The fact that the Maharashtra govt. came up with the idea to handle the riot 
related petty cases is commendable. Real success will be evident only if the 
court disposes off all assigned cases in a record time. It will be interesting 
to know if the special court has been given a deadline. If there is a potential 
that the magistrate/s get recognition for meeting the deadline, there is a 
likelihood that it will be met.
  O'Deka
  ==
  

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  *** If I am not mistaken these 'special' courts were designed to 
provide fast justice, weren't they?

cm



14 yrs in courts, 1 hour to walk free
27 Mar 2008, 0155 hrs IST,Rukmini Shrinivasan,TNN
Print Save EMail Write to Editor

MUMBAI: The much hyped but much delayed special courts, which the 
Maharashtra government set up last year to try 1992-93 riots cases, 
disposed of the first case on Tuesday: a man accused of stealing two 
cans of groundnut oil 14 years ago was acquitted.

Metropolitan magistrate R C Bapat Sarkar took a little over an hour 
to acquit Abdul Ghaffar, whose case was one of the "priority" cases 
specially selected by the government to be tried in the new courts.

Ghaffar (45), a sherbet seller on Mohammed Ali Road, was arrested in 
May 1993 for "breaking into" and "stealing" two cans of oil from a 
godown near his house in December 1992.

"Dozens of us were rounded up during those days and charged with 
offences ranging from theft to murder depending on our 'look'," 
Ghaffar said during a break from work at his house near Suleman Usman 
Bakery. "I was in custody for two and a half months. They beat me up 
and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you," he added.

Ghaffar was charged under Sections 380 (robbery) and 454 (trespass) 
of IPC. His trial began at the Mazgaon magistrate's court. "My date 
would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign my name, and 
then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return home by evening, 
a day's earnings lost," said Ghaffar.

For the past two years, there was no hearing and Ghaffar was told by 
police that his case had been put in the dormant file.

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[Assam] From TOI --Indian Special Court's Speed

2008-03-26 Thread Krishnendu Chakraborty

While the entire episode need to be criticized,  the
special court disposed the case in "a little over an
hour" without any adjournement etc.  Are we expecting
anything faster then that from the special courts (or
for that matter, from ANY court in the world) !!



>*** If I am not mistaken these 'special'  courts were
designed to 
provide fast justice, weren't they?

cm



14 yrs in courts, 1 hour to walk free
27 Mar 2008, 0155 hrs IST,Rukmini Shrinivasan,TNN
   Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor

MUMBAI: The much hyped but much delayed special
courts, which the 
Maharashtra government set up last year to try 1992-93
riots cases, 
disposed of the first case on Tuesday: a man accused
of stealing two 
cans of groundnut oil 14 years ago was acquitted.

Metropolitan magistrate R C Bapat Sarkar took a little
over an hour 
to acquit Abdul Ghaffar, whose case was one of the
"priority" cases 
specially selected by the government to be tried in
the new courts.

Ghaffar (45), a sherbet seller on Mohammed Ali Road,
was arrested in 
May 1993 for "breaking into" and "stealing" two cans
of oil from a 
godown near his house in December 1992.

"Dozens of us were rounded up during those days and
charged with 
offences ranging from theft to murder depending on our
'look'," 
Ghaffar said during a break from work at his house
near Suleman Usman 
Bakery. "I was in custody for two and a half months.
They beat me up 
and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you," he
added.

Ghaffar was charged under Sections 380 (robbery) and
454 (trespass) 
of IPC. His trial began at the Mazgaon magistrate's
court. "My date 
would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign
my name, and 
then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return
home by evening, 
a day's earnings lost," said Ghaffar.

For the past two years, there was no hearing and
Ghaffar was told by 
police that his case had been put in the dormant file.





  

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[Assam] From TOI --Indian Special Court's Speed

2008-03-26 Thread Chan Mahanta

*** If I am not mistaken these 'special'  courts were designed to 
provide fast justice, weren't they?

cm



14 yrs in courts, 1 hour to walk free
27 Mar 2008, 0155 hrs IST,Rukmini Shrinivasan,TNN
   Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor

MUMBAI: The much hyped but much delayed special courts, which the 
Maharashtra government set up last year to try 1992-93 riots cases, 
disposed of the first case on Tuesday: a man accused of stealing two 
cans of groundnut oil 14 years ago was acquitted.

Metropolitan magistrate R C Bapat Sarkar took a little over an hour 
to acquit Abdul Ghaffar, whose case was one of the "priority" cases 
specially selected by the government to be tried in the new courts.

Ghaffar (45), a sherbet seller on Mohammed Ali Road, was arrested in 
May 1993 for "breaking into" and "stealing" two cans of oil from a 
godown near his house in December 1992.

"Dozens of us were rounded up during those days and charged with 
offences ranging from theft to murder depending on our 'look'," 
Ghaffar said during a break from work at his house near Suleman Usman 
Bakery. "I was in custody for two and a half months. They beat me up 
and tortured me in ways that I cannot tell you," he added.

Ghaffar was charged under Sections 380 (robbery) and 454 (trespass) 
of IPC. His trial began at the Mazgaon magistrate's court. "My date 
would come up every two weeks. I'd go to court, sign my name, and 
then be told that the case was adjourned. I'd return home by evening, 
a day's earnings lost," said Ghaffar.

For the past two years, there was no hearing and Ghaffar was told by 
police that his case had been put in the dormant file.

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[Assam] From ToI

2008-03-04 Thread Chan Mahanta

*** Was it hard to foresee?

cm







Gurgaon in gloom, battling a power crisis
4 Mar 2008, 1802 hrs IST,Dipak Kumar Dash,TNN
   Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor
Gurgaon, the fading dream of a Millennium City, is battling a power 
crisis that has seen power cuts up to 12 hours in winter. And now 
with summer on us, there is a mad scramble for inverters and 
generators, an expensive proposition besides being unfriendly to the 
environment.

Sixty-two-year-old Vijay Malhotra, a resident of DLF Phase-IV, says 
living in Gurgaon is a big drain on resources. "We had to buy a 
generator just a week back - I invested Rs 3 lakh," he says. "That's 
a huge investment besides the cost of operating it daily. Besides, I 
still pay a huge electricity bill. The crisis became so acute last 
year that my daughter-in-law had to shift to Delhi. I hold the 
government responsible."

Most residents of Gurgaon had moved for a better quality of life. 
They now feel cheated. And what rankles most is the fact the crisis 
is entirely man-made. That's the grime below the glitter. Developers 
have been issued licences at random and even the severe power crunch 
has not deterred the government from mocking the people by clearing a 
master plan to enlarge Gurgaon to three times its present size. Most 
plans for setting up plants have a 2009-2010 deadline and hold little 
hope for those who are now cursing the day they moved to Gurgaon.

There is going to be more growth without infrastructure till the city 
bloats to a point of collapse, people say. And officials are aware of 
this. They have thrown up their hands after pointing out that the 
demand for power in Gurgaon is increasing by 28% and availability is 
much less than requirement.

"The combined electricity requirement of Gurgaon and Faridabad is 
equivalent to the total power demand of Himachal Pradesh and meeting 
that demand is a huge task," says Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam 
(DHBVN) managing director Vijayendra Kumar. "We are hopeful of 
getting at least 500 MW for entire Haryana in the next three months 
from the Yamuna Nagar plant. That additional supply will bring some 
relief to urban areas."

"The major cause of the crisis is non-availability of power. The 
present demand of Gurgaon is 1.2 crore units a day and we get only 75 
lakh units," explains superintending engineer A K Jain of the Nigam. 
"Additional supply from Yamuna Nagar should bring some relief."

Haryana has about 4,068 MW of power available daily of which it 
generates only 1,587 MW. The state wants to generate an additional 
5,000 MW daily by 2010 but that's three years away. In the first 
phase, a 300-MW capacity unit has become operational in Yamuna Nagar 
and a second unit of same capacity will be synchronised this month. 
How this power is distributed remains to be seen with many political 
and farm lobbies at work.

About 1,200 MW will be made available from the Hissar thermal power 
plant. The first unit of 600 MW will be operational in December 2009 
and the second in March 2010. The state will also get 750 MW from the 
upcoming 1500 MW Aravali plant in Jhajjar. The three units - each of 
500 MW - are scheduled to be completed in April, June and August of 
2010.

So, there is no immediate relief in sight and all hopes for now are 
pinned on the supply from the Yamuna Nagar plant. Official estimates 
show that during non-peak hours Gurgaon's power demand is 450 MW 
while during peak hours it's about 550 MW. At any given time, the 
power supply falls short by at least 100 MW.

In the neighbouring capital of Delhi, there are only two categories 
of power consumers - domestic and non-domestic (commercial and 
industrial). But in Gurgaon, there are three - agricultural, domestic 
and non-domestic. The agriculture sector consumes 20-25% of the power 
available, domestic consumers get a 40% share and non-domestic 
consumers another 40%.

Consumers have learnt the hard way not to trust officials. "We had a 
tough time even during the winter and then they had said that only 
winter rain could bring some relief. They will come up with some 
other excuse to pass the buck. Actually, they are clueless and don't 
know how to deal with the situation," says B S Tripathy, a resident 
of Sector-23. ==

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[Assam] From ToI/ Corruption

2008-01-13 Thread Chan Mahanta

>The Indian government has promised to take "exemplary" action 
>against those found guilty, it added.


 That is reassuring!

cm







  NEW DELHI: World Bank has discovered serious cases of fraud and 
corruption in the five health sector projects dealing with 
eradication of tuberculosis and malaria and HIV/AIDS control schemes.

The probe into the five health projects has revealed unacceptable 
indicators of fraud and corruption, World Bank President Robert B 
Zoellick said in the statement.

These projects include USD 114 million Malaria Control Project, USD 
82.1 million Orissa Health Systems Development Project, USD 54 
million Food and Drug Capacity Building Project, USD 193.7 million 
Second National HIV/AIDS Control Project USD and 124.8 million 
Tuberculosis Control Project, it added.

The Indian government has promised to take "exemplary" action against 
those found guilty, it added.

The cases of frauds and corruption were discovered during the 
Detailed Implementation Review (DIR), which was launched by the bank 
in 2006, with support from Indian government.

The five projects were implemented between 1997 and 2003 with 
assistance from the Bank and other donors. Four of these projects 
have already been completed, while the fifth USD 54-million Food and 
Drug Capacity Building Project is ongoing, but the funds have not 
been disbursed for it yet.

This project will now be reviewed to incorporate the findings of the 
DIR, the World Bank statement said.

In an investigation in 2005, the World Bank had found cases of 
corruption in Reproductive and Child Health project, prompting the 
multi-lateral agency to withhold aid for the project for sometime. 
Subsequent to the probe, two pharma companies were also debarred by 
the Bank.

The current DIR was prompted by that investigation, the World Bank said.

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[Assam] From ToI--State of Indian Justice

2007-11-29 Thread Chan Mahanta

What a coincidence! Right after posting my comments about the state 
of Indian Justice regarding the criminal actions of rioters at 
Guahati, I came across the following in the ToI . But it is an 
incomplete and superficial report, symptomatic of most we see in 
Indian media. It does not consider the fact that the judiciary cannot 
deliver justice if the prosecutors are  unable to provide the 
evidence or the investigators to gather them or the laws are faulty 
or unenforceable or irrelevant; or for that matter how the 
prosecutors, the investigators and even the judges are held hostage 
by elected members of the legislative branches, obviously in the 
absence of constitutional separation of powers. So the problem is not 
ALONE with too few judges or too few courtrooms ( or too many 
lawyers) or too many laws that are either unenforceable or 
un-necessary. It is far more deep rooted.

Finally the ToI  report fails to note another important element: That 
it is the government  which files the most cases and plugs up the 
system that already is broken to begin with. In other words  the 
Govt. is a part of the PROBLEM and not of a solution.

cm






Timely justice at Re 1 per head per month
30 Nov 2007, 0129 hrs IST,Dhananjay Mahapatra,TNN
   Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor
As many as 37.1 lakh cases were pending in India's 21 high courts as 
of June 30, 2007.

On the same day, 2.5 crore cases were pending in lower courts.

Of the 792 posts of judges sanctioned for high courts, 206 are 
vacant. Of the sanctioned strength of 15,399 judges in lower courts, 
3,031 are vacant.

NEW DELHI: People spend a lifetime in courts. Cases often take more 
than a decade to be decided. The judges are overworked, the 
infrastructure is shabby and the judicial system is creaking at 
several levels, especially in subordinate courts. Judiciary - the one 
institution that still commands the people's respect - is straining 
to deliver justice.

Who is responsible for this? Is it the judiciary or the government? 
TOI took a close look at different aspects of the judicial system and 
found that while there might be a modicum of truth in the popular 
refrain of courts not working to their potential, the bulk of the 
blame for unfilled lower court posts and the creaky infrastructure 
lies with the government.

Not just that, the government is also responsible for fixing 
pathetically low salaries for judges. It starts at Rs 9,000 per month 
for judicial magistrates and goes up to all of Rs 35,000 for the 
Chief Justice of India. If the best legal talent doesn't want to join 
the judiciary, it's hardly surprising. And if there's corruption in 
the courts, it is not surprising either.

TOI would like the salaries to be much higher to ensure an efficient 
and corruption-free judiciary. It worked out a model in which judges 
would get a respectable salary and it hiked the number of judges to 
the level required to clear the backlog within two years, and found 
the additional cost would be Rs 1,426 crore (see Times View). This 
works out to Re 1 per Indian per month - a small price to ensure 
quality and timely justice.

The government, however, has simply not focused on how to pull the 
judiciary out of the mess. Each passing year, Parliament and state 
assemblies pass more and more laws, yet no one in government appears 
to give thought to the obvious - that the number of judges should be 
increased to cope with increased number of litigants and that 
retraining of judges in new laws should be mandatory.



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[Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport

2007-11-20 Thread Krishnendu Chakraborty

Unlike what some informed people think,  India has
strong regulatory bodies for many services .  for
Telephone (including cellphone, broadband etc)  there
is TRAI,  for Insurance, there is IRDA and so on.

People who have dealt with these regulatory bodies
(uninformed and simple minded people :) ) know that
these are very effective.   I have used TRAI to
resolve  issues with Cell Phone  and Banking Ombudsman
to resolve my issues with Credit Card billing  and it
is smoother then dealing with Department of Insurance
in US. 

Also,  private ownership does NOT necessarily mean
monopoly or license to steal... good example is cell
phone providers or Air Lines
And where are the checks and balances  when Walmart
forces closure of mon and pop shops

On a different note,  the Mumbai Domestic airport
(Santacruz), after its recent renovation have been
excellent. This is being done as a private-public
joint venture.
  The congested Sahar international still resembles
the old JFK though. 

>
>It is time to turn to private sector for airport
management in 
>India. I read an article about an airport in Kerala
that is being 
>managed under private sector and how clean the
airport is.

>> MANAGEMENT or OWNERSHIP?

If it is management, how does the competitive forces
of the free 
market system operate? If the managers  fail to
deliver  can it be 
replaced ? Imagine IGI management handed over to Tata
Consultancy 
overnight
or over a year and its woes disappear like a bad
dream!

Private sector management of airports MAY have merit.
But in the 
absence of institutional checks and balances
maintained by the 
PUBLIC, the government, it is merely a license to
steal from the many 
toi enrich a few.

If it is OWNERSHIP, then why should a private profit
making entity 
get the monopoly to run a public service like an
airport ( or a 
sanitation system or water supply), without public
oversight?

And talking of effective PUBLIC  oversight , if it
were available in 
Indian governance, why would  IGI or Mumbai Int'l
airports be in the 
sorry states they have been?

*** Point therefore is that to avoid tackling India's
failed 
governance with 'free-market' slogans is merely
another attempt at  evading what informed Indians
ought to know they 
are condemned with but are unable or unwilling or both
to determine 
out why and doing something about it.

>
>How about assigning the airport management to Lalu
Yadav? Apparently 
>he made a lot of improvements in the railways.
>Dilip
>=
>
>Chan Mahanta  wrote:
>
>  >Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare  ?
>
>Has???
>
>It has always been so. Just getting worse. I was
there a month ago. 
>The parking lot is a nightmare.  We could not push
our luggage 
>loaded carts to the car in the parking lot, because
of the 
>unbelievable pot-holes, all the way.  Had to lift the
cart up, with 
>the help of  all the young men waiting around for the
opportunity to 
>help out. Not that I grudge them. But IGI being the
front door to 
>the capital of a super-power wanna-be, the state of
affairs IN and 
>AROUND the airport  and its amenities ( if one could
call it that) 
>boggled the mind. Someone explained a new parking lot
is being 
>built. I will believe it when I see it. All the
renovation work 
>going on in the passenger areas tell a tale of
appalling 
>infrastructure behind the ripped out finishes. No
wonder the 
>ceilings keep falling.
>
>And that tunnel out of the international arrivals 
area! It has no parallel.
>
>What seems to be India's problem anyway?
>
>But on a the brighter side, I was pleasantly
surprised by a CLEANER 
>Delhi, at least at the upscale neighborhoods like
Defense Colony . 
>The sidewalks were swept, no plastic bags and paper
on the plants 
>flanking them.  The plants looked maintained. The
taxi driver 
>explained it is the upcoming Asian Games ( or is it
the Commonwealth 
>Games). It was a different story however, on the way
to IIT Delhi.
>
>
>cm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Click!
>IGI official escapes roof collapse
>15 Nov 2007, 0508 hrs IST,TNN
>   Print   SaveEMail   Write to Editor
>NEW DELHI: Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare
not only for 
>passengers but also for those who are working there.
>
>On Wednesday morning, a lady officer had a miraculous
escape when 
>the roof of her newly renovated room collapsed on
her. Aman Saini, 
>assistant general manager of terminal-II, was working
on her 
>computer about 10.30 am when the false ceiling came
crashing down, 
>along with the airconditioning ducts. A senior
official of the 
>airport had to pull her out from under the debris.
>
>Even as preparations are on to make travelling more
convenient 
>during the foggy months, frequent complaints by
people on the 
>degraded condition of the airport at present has
forced the ministry 
>of civil aviation to sit up and take notice.
>
>Sources said that based on the complaints on
dysfunctional toilets 
>and oth

[Assam] From TOI/--Whew--Finally a Solution!!!

2007-11-20 Thread Chan Mahanta

Another laugh or cry question issue.
cm






Protracted litigations erode public faith in legal system: SC
20 Nov 2007, 1848 hrs IST,PTI
   Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor

NEW DELHI: Observing that people were losing confidence in the legal 
system due to protracted litigations, the Supreme Court on Tuesday 
said that it was time lawyers, particularly the seniors restricted 
themselves to brief arguments in the court.

Any attempt by lawyers, particularly the seniors, to engage in 
lengthy and time-consuming arguments would only further erode the 
people's confidence in the legal system, a bench of Justices C K 
Thakker and Markandeya Katju observed.

"We are all servants of the public let us not waste the precious time 
of this court. Already people are screaming that their cases are 
dragging on endlessly for years," the bench observed while asking a 
senior counsel to cut down his argument in a case related to an 
industrial dispute.

The apex court said that it has already passed instructions that 
seniors should be very brief in their arguments as that would save 
considerable time of the courts and the litigant public.

The bench also deplored the tendency of some advocates seeking 
permission to withdraw their petitions during the pendency of a case, 
which the apex court felt was an apparent attempt to abuse the 
process of law.

"We are coming across instances when some advocates after noting that 
there are some adverse observations plead for withdrawing the 
petition. They then file another petition after the roster (judges) 
is changed so that the matter is posted before a convenient bench," 
the apex court observed.

Such tactics should not be followed by advocates, the Bench said.

The apex court passed the observations while hearing a petition filed 
by the Sarva Shramik Sanghatana, Mumbai relating to an industrial 
dispute.

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Re: [Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport

2007-11-20 Thread Chan Mahanta


At 7:48 AM -0800 11/19/07, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:


It is time to turn to private sector for airport management in 
India. I read an article about an airport in Kerala that is being 
managed under private sector and how clean the airport is.



 MANAGEMENT or OWNERSHIP?

If it is management, how does the competitive forces of the free 
market system operate? If the managers  fail to deliver  can it be 
replaced ? Imagine IGI management handed over to Tata Consultancy 
overnight

or over a year and its woes disappear like a bad dream!

Private sector management of airports MAY have merit. But in the 
absence of institutional checks and balances maintained by the 
PUBLIC, the government, it is merely a license to steal from the many 
toi enrich a few.



If it is OWNERSHIP, then why should a private profit making entity 
get the monopoly to run a public service like an airport ( or a 
sanitation system or water supply), without public oversight?


And talking of effective PUBLIC  oversight , if it were available in 
Indian governance, why would  IGI or Mumbai Int'l airports be in the 
sorry states they have been?


*** Point therefore is that to avoid tackling India's failed 
governance with 'free-market' slogans is merely
another attempt at  evading what informed Indians ought to know they 
are condemned with but are unable or unwilling or both to determine 
out why and doing something about it.














How about assigning the airport management to Lalu Yadav? Apparently 
he made a lot of improvements in the railways.

Dilip
=

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

 >Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare  ?

Has???

It has always been so. Just getting worse. I was there a month ago. 
The parking lot is a nightmare.  We could not push our luggage 
loaded carts to the car in the parking lot, because of the 
unbelievable pot-holes, all the way.  Had to lift the cart up, with 
the help of  all the young men waiting around for the opportunity to 
help out. Not that I grudge them. But IGI being the front door to 
the capital of a super-power wanna-be, the state of affairs IN and 
AROUND the airport  and its amenities ( if one could call it that) 
boggled the mind. Someone explained a new parking lot is being 
built. I will believe it when I see it. All the renovation work 
going on in the passenger areas tell a tale of appalling 
infrastructure behind the ripped out finishes. No wonder the 
ceilings keep falling.


And that tunnel out of the international arrivals  area! It has no parallel.

What seems to be India's problem anyway?

But on a the brighter side, I was pleasantly surprised by a CLEANER 
Delhi, at least at the upscale neighborhoods like Defense Colony . 
The sidewalks were swept, no plastic bags and paper on the plants 
flanking them.  The plants looked maintained. The taxi driver 
explained it is the upcoming Asian Games ( or is it the Commonwealth 
Games). It was a different story however, on the way to IIT Delhi.



cm







Click!
IGI official escapes roof collapse
15 Nov 2007, 0508 hrs IST,TNN
  Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor
NEW DELHI: Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare not only for 
passengers but also for those who are working there.


On Wednesday morning, a lady officer had a miraculous escape when 
the roof of her newly renovated room collapsed on her. Aman Saini, 
assistant general manager of terminal-II, was working on her 
computer about 10.30 am when the false ceiling came crashing down, 
along with the airconditioning ducts. A senior official of the 
airport had to pull her out from under the debris.


Even as preparations are on to make travelling more convenient 
during the foggy months, frequent complaints by people on the 
degraded condition of the airport at present has forced the ministry 
of civil aviation to sit up and take notice.


Sources said that based on the complaints on dysfunctional toilets 
and other issues sent to the ministry, it was planning to conduct a 
surprise check at the airport in the near future.


While Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) officials tried 
to downplay the incident and said that "only a single panel had 
fallen and the official wasn't hurt", sources revealed that 
officials were appalled at the condition of the airport.


"The airport manager's room is newly constructed and if this is what 
happens to renovated rooms, one can imagine how it is elsewhere," 
said an official.


"We are lucky that the Amin escaped with scratches but to have the 
entire roof collapse on one's head can be a major shock and could 
have turned very ugly," he added.


The old airport manager's room was recently demolished and the new 
one set up outside terminal-II. Strangely, with renovation on, there 
is no access to the room from inside and can only be reached from 
the city side.


The room where the roof collapsed was a little way behind the main 
structure

Re: [Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport

2007-11-19 Thread SANDIP DUTTA

This I will agree with. IGI airport is just crap.

Regards,
Sandip

- Original Message 
From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: assam@assamnet.org
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 7:42:36 PM
Subject: [Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport

>Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare  ?

Has???

It has always been so. Just getting worse. I was there a month ago. The parking 
lot is a nightmare.  We could not push our luggage loaded carts to the car in 
the parking lot, because of the unbelievable pot-holes, all the way.  Had to 
lift the cart up, with the help of  all the young men waiting around for the 
opportunity to help out. Not that I grudge them. But IGI being the front door 
to the capital of a super-power wanna-be, the state of affairs IN and AROUND 
the airport  and its amenities ( if one could call it that) boggled the mind. 
Someone explained a new parking lot is being built. I will believe it when I 
see it. All the renovation work going on in the passenger areas tell a tale of 
appalling infrastructure behind the ripped out finishes. No wonder the ceilings 
keep falling.

And that tunnel out of the international arrivals  area! It has no parallel.

What seems to be India's problem anyway?

But on a the brighter side, I was pleasantly surprised by a CLEANER Delhi, at 
least at the upscale neighborhoods like Defense Colony . The sidewalks were 
swept, no plastic bags and paper on the plants flanking them.  The plants 
looked maintained. The taxi driver explained it is the upcoming Asian Games ( 
or is it the Commonwealth Games). It was a different story however, on the way 
to IIT Delhi.

cm

Click!
IGI official escapes roof collapse
15 Nov 2007, 0508 hrs IST,TNN
  Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor
NEW DELHI: Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare not only for passengers 
but also for those who are working there.

On Wednesday morning, a lady officer had a miraculous escape when the roof of 
her newly renovated room collapsed on her. Aman Saini, assistant general 
manager of terminal-II, was working on her computer about 10.30 am when the 
false ceiling came crashing down, along with the airconditioning ducts. A 
senior official of the airport had to pull her out from under the debris.

Even as preparations are on to make travelling more convenient during the foggy 
months, frequent complaints by people on the degraded condition of the airport 
at present has forced the ministry of civil aviation to sit up and take notice.

Sources said that based on the complaints on dysfunctional toilets and other 
issues sent to the ministry, it was planning to conduct a surprise check at the 
airport in the near future.

While Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) officials tried to 
downplay the incident and said that "only a single panel had fallen and the 
official wasn't hurt", sources revealed that officials were appalled at the 
condition of the airport.

"The airport manager's room is newly constructed and if this is what happens to 
renovated rooms, one can imagine how it is elsewhere," said an official.

"We are lucky that the Amin escaped with scratches but to have the entire roof 
collapse on one's head can be a major shock and could have turned very ugly," 
he added.

The old airport manager's room was recently demolished and the new one set up 
outside terminal-II. Strangely, with renovation on, there is no access to the 
room from inside and can only be reached from the city side.

The room where the roof collapsed was a little way behind the main structure 
which is not frequented by people often.

According to sources, the condition of the airport, specially during 
renovation, has made travelling a complete hassle. Recently, a passenger at the 
international departure terminal had a part of the false ceiling collapse on 
her head. She too, luckily escaped with minor injuries. Cases of people 
tripping over loose tiles and slippery floors is also becoming common.

Sources also revealed that only one ladies' toilet was functional at the 
international departure terminal, and that too on the lower level.

"The maintenance of toilets at the international airport is with AAI and there 
are some issues between the GMR Group and AAI employees that is aggravating the 
problem," said sources. News on the airside is no better. Recently, civil 
aviation director general Kanu Gohain took a tour of the operations area at the 
airport to see the conditions after the recent spate of accidents. He is learnt 
to have reprimanded eight drivers who were found to be driving "worse than 
Blueline drivers".

Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
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Re: [Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport

2007-11-19 Thread mc mahant



 
Lalu is a lovable mascot.His theatrical actions were backed up by a dramatic
"I'm the Boss"- folksyCM air.At the end he is a good ,peoles' man. And he shows 
up like a  village Dada at a Bahaona if anything was happening in any 
slum/Mandir/under a tree!.
1000's Rail Exec,s do the profit-making clearings-up.
 
 
AS SOON he becameRail Min, he Dared to personally break up Corruption Rackets 
Rampant at Rail Goods booking offices where the 2000/-initial deposit was 
almost never returned  when finally Wagon was  being loaded.  The customer took 
the pound of flesh by demanding showing less weight to carry-hence less booking 
cost. Rail Co. lost-railmen  gained!!Booking staff had a valid alibi--none   of 
rail weighbridges  were working. He touched  and rectified 50% at terminals. 
Filth is gone . He is at home anywhere-and loves to show off in folksy Dehati 
style. English--not an issue.
 
He is everywhere. He keeps his head intact. His net aim-return to Patna as 
King.Although he stated in Parliament once" I shall be PM even for a day"
 
He is not wasting money.  He rakes in and loves to boost the bottom line.
 
He may be able to  clean up Airports.But  the never-happy Aircrew demanding 
European wages will bog him down. These may not toe his line.He may not be a 
success in Air/airports/Aviation mess.
mm


Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:48:56 -0800From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL 
PROTECTED]: Re: [Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport
 
It is time to turn to private sector for airport management in India. I read an 
article about an airport in Kerala that is being managed under private sector 
and how clean the airport is.
 
How about assigning the airport management to Lalu Yadav? Apparently he made a 
lot of improvements in the railways.
Dilip
=Chan Mahanta 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:



>Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare  ?

Has???

It has always been so. Just getting worse. I was there a month ago. The parking 
lot is a nightmare.  We could not push our luggage loaded carts to the car in 
the parking lot, because of the unbelievable pot-holes, all the way.  Had to 
lift the cart up, with the help of  all the young men waiting around for the 
opportunity to help out. Not that I grudge them. But IGI being the front door 
to the capital of a super-power wanna-be, the state of affairs IN and AROUND 
the airport  and its amenities ( if one could call it that) boggled the mind. 
Someone explained a new parking lot is being built. I will believe it when I 
see it. All the renovation work going on in the passenger areas tell a tale of 
appalling infrastructure behind the ripped out finishes. No wonder the ceilings 
keep falling.

And that tunnel out of the international arrivals  area! It has no parallel.

What seems to be India's problem anyway?

But on a the brighter side, I was pleasantly surprised by a CLEANER Delhi, at 
least at the upscale neighborhoods like Defense Colony . The sidewalks were 
swept, no plastic bags and paper on the plants flanking them.  The plants 
looked maintained. The taxi driver explained it is the upcoming Asian Games ( 
or is it the Commonwealth Games). It was a different story however, on the way 
to IIT Delhi.

 
cm







Click!IGI official escapes roof collapse15 Nov 2007, 0508 hrs IST,TNN  Print
Save   EMail  Write to Editor
NEW DELHI: Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare not only for passengers 
but also for those who are working there.On Wednesday morning, a lady officer 
had a miraculous escape when the roof of her newly renovated room collapsed on 
her. Aman Saini, assistant general manager of terminal-II, was working on her 
computer about 10.30 am when the false ceiling came crashing down, along with 
the airconditioning ducts. A senior official of the airport had to pull her out 
from under the debris.Even as preparations are on to make travelling more 
convenient during the foggy months, frequent complaints by people on the 
degraded condition of the airport at present has forced the ministry of civil 
aviation to sit up and take notice.Sources said that based on the complaints on 
dysfunctional toilets and other issues sent to the ministry, it was planning to 
conduct a surprise check at the airport in the near future.While Delhi 
International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) officials tried to downplay the 
incident and said that "only a single panel had fallen and the official wasn't 
hurt", sources revealed that officials were appalled at the condition of the 
airport."The airport manager's room is newly constructed and if this is what 
happens to renovated rooms, one can imagine how it is elsewhere," said an 
official."We are lucky that the Amin escaped with scratches but to have the 
entire roof collapse on one's head can be a major shock and could have turned 
very ugly," he added.The old air

Re: [Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport

2007-11-19 Thread Dilip/Dil Deka

 
  It is time to turn to private sector for airport management in India. I read 
an article about an airport in Kerala that is being managed under private 
sector and how clean the airport is.
   
  How about assigning the airport management to Lalu Yadav? Apparently he made 
a lot of improvements in the railways.
  Dilip
  =

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare  ?
  

  Has???
  

  It has always been so. Just getting worse. I was there a month ago. The 
parking lot is a nightmare.  We could not push our luggage loaded carts to the 
car in the parking lot, because of the unbelievable pot-holes, all the way.  
Had to lift the cart up, with the help of  all the young men waiting around for 
the opportunity to help out. Not that I grudge them. But IGI being the front 
door to the capital of a super-power wanna-be, the state of affairs IN and 
AROUND the airport  and its amenities ( if one could call it that) boggled the 
mind. Someone explained a new parking lot is being built. I will believe it 
when I see it. All the renovation work going on in the passenger areas tell a 
tale of appalling infrastructure behind the ripped out finishes. No wonder the 
ceilings keep falling.
  

  And that tunnel out of the international arrivals  area! It has no parallel.
  

  What seems to be India's problem anyway?
  

  But on a the brighter side, I was pleasantly surprised by a CLEANER Delhi, at 
least at the upscale neighborhoods like Defense Colony . The sidewalks were 
swept, no plastic bags and paper on the plants flanking them.  The plants 
looked maintained. The taxi driver explained it is the upcoming Asian Games ( 
or is it the Commonwealth Games). It was a different story however, on the way 
to IIT Delhi.
  

   
  cm
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Click!
IGI official escapes roof collapse
15 Nov 2007, 0508 hrs IST,TNN
  PrintSave   EMail  Write to Editor
  NEW DELHI: Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare not only for passengers 
but also for those who are working there.

On Wednesday morning, a lady officer had a miraculous escape when the roof of 
her newly renovated room collapsed on her. Aman Saini, assistant general 
manager of terminal-II, was working on her computer about 10.30 am when the 
false ceiling came crashing down, along with the airconditioning ducts. A 
senior official of the airport had to pull her out from under the debris.

Even as preparations are on to make travelling more convenient during the foggy 
months, frequent complaints by people on the degraded condition of the airport 
at present has forced the ministry of civil aviation to sit up and take notice.

Sources said that based on the complaints on dysfunctional toilets and other 
issues sent to the ministry, it was planning to conduct a surprise check at the 
airport in the near future.

While Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) officials tried to 
downplay the incident and said that "only a single panel had fallen and the 
official wasn't hurt", sources revealed that officials were appalled at the 
condition of the airport.

"The airport manager's room is newly constructed and if this is what happens to 
renovated rooms, one can imagine how it is elsewhere," said an official.

"We are lucky that the Amin escaped with scratches but to have the entire roof 
collapse on one's head can be a major shock and could have turned very ugly," 
he added.

The old airport manager's room was recently demolished and the new one set up 
outside terminal-II. Strangely, with renovation on, there is no access to the 
room from inside and can only be reached from the city side.

The room where the roof collapsed was a little way behind the main structure 
which is not frequented by people often.

According to sources, the condition of the airport, specially during 
renovation, has made travelling a complete hassle. Recently, a passenger at the 
international departure terminal had a part of the false ceiling collapse on 
her head. She too, luckily escaped with minor injuries. Cases of people 
tripping over loose tiles and slippery floors is also becoming common.

Sources also revealed that only one ladies' toilet was functional at the 
international departure terminal, and that too on the lower level.

"The maintenance of toilets at the international airport is with AAI and there 
are some issues between the GMR Group and AAI employees that is aggravating the 
problem," said sources. News on the airside is no better. Recently, civil 
aviation director general Kanu Gohain took a tour of the operations area at the 
airport to see the conditions after the recent spate of accidents. He is learnt 
to have reprimanded eight drivers who were found to be driving "worse than 
Blueline drivers".
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Re: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!

2007-11-17 Thread umesh sharma

some people say teaching school kids isn't rocket science -- to which Harvard 
education  professor Richard Elmore says - it is tougher than rocket science.

Umesh

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: You are right Rajen.

And that is what leaves me so befuddled.

Imagine the power of the children of India to revolt against  the 
culture in which they grow up.

Who said corruption fighting  ain't rocket science ?  It is far worse.

c





At 1:21 PM -0600 11/16/07, barua25 wrote:
>Chandan
>It makes sense. Don't you see, He is basically asking the children of India
>to revolt against the present Indian culture.
>Rajen
>
>- Original Message -
>From: "Chan Mahanta" 
>To: 
>Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:04 AM
>Subject: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!
>
>
>>  Only in India!!
>>
>>  Shall we laugh or shall we cry?
>>
>>  cm
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Kalam asks children to fight corruption at home
>>  16 Nov 2007, 2127 hrs IST,PTI
>>
>>
>>
>>  KANPUR: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday asked children
>>  to begin their fight against corruption at home by inspiring their
>>  guardians to put an end to the menace so that a developed, prosperous
>>  and corruption-free India emerges by the year 2020.
>>
>>  "If children inspire their parents to weed out corruption, it will be
>>  automatically eliminated from the country paving the way for a
>>  developed and corruption-free India by the year 2020", Kalam said
>>  addressing children at a function.
>>
>>  He also asked children to take the pledge to eliminate corruption and
>>  build a country where everything was perfectly transparent.
>>
>>  He said he had visited many parts of the country where children asked
>>  him how corruption could be wiped out. "I gave all of them just one
>>  answer that they would have to take the initiative for this", he said.
>>
>>  Observing that the youth was on the right path in the country today,
>>  Kalam said all they needed to do was channelise their energy towards
>>  nation-building.
>>
>>  The former President was in Kanpur to attend the silver jubilee
>>  function of Sir Padmapat Singhania Education Centre.
>>
>>  When he asked the children present at the function how many of them
>>  wanted to become 'netas' (politicians) no hands were raised. However,
>>  when he asked them how many of them wanted to visit the Mars all of
>>  them raised their hands instantaneously.
>>
>>  Children also jostled with each other breaking the security cordon
>>  several times to have Kalam's autograph. The former President later
>>  visited an exhibition where models made by children were put on
>>  display.
>>
>>  ___
>>  assam mailing list
>>  assam@assamnet.org
>>  http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>
>
>
>___
>assam mailing list
>assam@assamnet.org
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org


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



Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C. 

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

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

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

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




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



http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
   
-
 Yahoo! Answers - Get better answers from someone who knows. Tryit now.___
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Re: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!

2007-11-17 Thread Chan Mahanta

You are right Rajen.

And that is what leaves me so befuddled.

Imagine the power of the children of India to revolt against  the 
culture in which they grow up.

Who said corruption fighting  ain't rocket science ?  It is far worse.

c





At 1:21 PM -0600 11/16/07, barua25 wrote:
>Chandan
>It makes sense. Don't you see, He is basically asking the children of India
>to revolt against the present Indian culture.
>Rajen
>
>- Original Message -
>From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: 
>Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:04 AM
>Subject: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!
>
>
>>  Only in India!!
>>
>>  Shall we laugh or shall we cry?
>>
>>  cm
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Kalam asks children to fight corruption at home
>>  16 Nov 2007, 2127 hrs IST,PTI
>>
>>
>>
>>  KANPUR: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday asked children
>>  to begin their fight against corruption at home by inspiring their
>>  guardians to put an end to the menace so that a developed, prosperous
>>  and corruption-free India emerges by the year 2020.
>>
>>  "If children inspire their parents to weed out corruption, it will be
>>  automatically eliminated from the country paving the way for a
>>  developed and corruption-free India by the year 2020", Kalam said
>>  addressing children at a function.
>>
>>  He also asked children to take the pledge to eliminate corruption and
>>  build a country where everything was perfectly transparent.
>>
>>  He said he had visited many parts of the country where children asked
>>  him how corruption could be wiped out. "I gave all of them just one
>>  answer that they would have to take the initiative for this", he said.
>>
>>  Observing that the youth was on the right path in the country today,
>>  Kalam said all they needed to do was channelise their energy towards
>>  nation-building.
>>
>>  The former President was in Kanpur to attend the silver jubilee
>>  function of Sir Padmapat Singhania Education Centre.
>>
>>  When he asked the children present at the function how many of them
>>  wanted to become 'netas' (politicians) no hands were raised. However,
>>  when he asked them how many of them wanted to visit the Mars all of
>>  them raised their hands instantaneously.
>>
>>  Children also jostled with each other breaking the security cordon
>>  several times to have Kalam's autograph. The former President later
>>  visited an exhibition where models made by children were put on
>>  display.
>>
>>  ___
>>  assam mailing list
>>  assam@assamnet.org
>>  http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>
>
>
>___
>assam mailing list
>assam@assamnet.org
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org


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

2007-11-16 Thread Chan Mahanta

You are right Rajen.

And that is what leaves me so befuddled.

Imagine the power of the children of India to revolt against  the 
culture in which they grow up.

Who said corruption fighting  ain't rocket science ?  It is far worse.

c





At 1:21 PM -0600 11/16/07, barua25 wrote:
>Chandan
>It makes sense. Don't you see, He is basically asking the children of India
>to revolt against the present Indian culture.
>Rajen
>
>- Original Message -
>From: "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: 
>Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 6:04 AM
>Subject: [Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!
>
>
>>  Only in India!!
>>
>>  Shall we laugh or shall we cry?
>>
>>  cm
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Kalam asks children to fight corruption at home
>>  16 Nov 2007, 2127 hrs IST,PTI
>>
>>
>>
>>  KANPUR: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday asked children
>>  to begin their fight against corruption at home by inspiring their
>>  guardians to put an end to the menace so that a developed, prosperous
>>  and corruption-free India emerges by the year 2020.
>>
>>  "If children inspire their parents to weed out corruption, it will be
>>  automatically eliminated from the country paving the way for a
>>  developed and corruption-free India by the year 2020", Kalam said
>>  addressing children at a function.
>>
>>  He also asked children to take the pledge to eliminate corruption and
>>  build a country where everything was perfectly transparent.
>>
>>  He said he had visited many parts of the country where children asked
>>  him how corruption could be wiped out. "I gave all of them just one
>>  answer that they would have to take the initiative for this", he said.
>>
>>  Observing that the youth was on the right path in the country today,
>>  Kalam said all they needed to do was channelise their energy towards
>>  nation-building.
>>
>>  The former President was in Kanpur to attend the silver jubilee
>>  function of Sir Padmapat Singhania Education Centre.
>>
>>  When he asked the children present at the function how many of them
>>  wanted to become 'netas' (politicians) no hands were raised. However,
>>  when he asked them how many of them wanted to visit the Mars all of
>>  them raised their hands instantaneously.
>>
>>  Children also jostled with each other breaking the security cordon
>>  several times to have Kalam's autograph. The former President later
>>  visited an exhibition where models made by children were put on
>>  display.
>>
>>  ___
>>  assam mailing list
>>  assam@assamnet.org
>>  http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>
>
>
>___
>assam mailing list
>assam@assamnet.org
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org


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

2007-11-16 Thread barua25

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

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


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


___
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[Assam] From ToI/ How to Eradicate Corruption!

2007-11-16 Thread Chan Mahanta

Only in India!!

Shall we laugh or shall we cry?

cm







Kalam asks children to fight corruption at home
16 Nov 2007, 2127 hrs IST,PTI



KANPUR: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Saturday asked children 
to begin their fight against corruption at home by inspiring their 
guardians to put an end to the menace so that a developed, prosperous 
and corruption-free India emerges by the year 2020.

"If children inspire their parents to weed out corruption, it will be 
automatically eliminated from the country paving the way for a 
developed and corruption-free India by the year 2020", Kalam said 
addressing children at a function.

He also asked children to take the pledge to eliminate corruption and 
build a country where everything was perfectly transparent.

He said he had visited many parts of the country where children asked 
him how corruption could be wiped out. "I gave all of them just one 
answer that they would have to take the initiative for this", he said.

Observing that the youth was on the right path in the country today, 
Kalam said all they needed to do was channelise their energy towards 
nation-building.

The former President was in Kanpur to attend the silver jubilee 
function of Sir Padmapat Singhania Education Centre.

When he asked the children present at the function how many of them 
wanted to become 'netas' (politicians) no hands were raised. However, 
when he asked them how many of them wanted to visit the Mars all of 
them raised their hands instantaneously.

Children also jostled with each other breaking the security cordon 
several times to have Kalam's autograph. The former President later 
visited an exhibition where models made by children were put on 
display.

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

2007-11-16 Thread barua25

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

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


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


___
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[Assam] From ToI/IGI Airport

2007-11-15 Thread Chan Mahanta


Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare  ?


Has???

It has always been so. Just getting worse. I was there a month ago. 
The parking lot is a nightmare.  We could not push our luggage loaded 
carts to the car in the parking lot, because of the unbelievable 
pot-holes, all the way.  Had to lift the cart up, with the help of 
all the young men waiting around for the opportunity to help out. Not 
that I grudge them. But IGI being the front door to the capital of a 
super-power wanna-be, the state of affairs IN and AROUND the airport 
and its amenities ( if one could call it that) boggled the mind. 
Someone explained a new parking lot is being built. I will believe it 
when I see it. All the renovation work going on in the passenger 
areas tell a tale of appalling infrastructure behind the ripped out 
finishes. No wonder the ceilings keep falling.


And that tunnel out of the international arrivals  area! It has no parallel.

What seems to be India's problem anyway?

But on a the brighter side, I was pleasantly surprised by a CLEANER 
Delhi, at least at the upscale neighborhoods like Defense Colony . 
The sidewalks were swept, no plastic bags and paper on the plants 
flanking them.  The plants looked maintained. The taxi driver 
explained it is the upcoming Asian Games ( or is it the Commonwealth 
Games). It was a different story however, on the way to IIT Delhi.



cm







Click!
IGI official escapes roof collapse
15 Nov 2007, 0508 hrs IST,TNN
  Print  SaveEMail   Write to Editor
NEW DELHI: Delhi's IGI Airport has become a nightmare not only for 
passengers but also for those who are working there.


On Wednesday morning, a lady officer had a miraculous escape when the 
roof of her newly renovated room collapsed on her. Aman Saini, 
assistant general manager of terminal-II, was working on her computer 
about 10.30 am when the false ceiling came crashing down, along with 
the airconditioning ducts. A senior official of the airport had to 
pull her out from under the debris.


Even as preparations are on to make travelling more convenient during 
the foggy months, frequent complaints by people on the degraded 
condition of the airport at present has forced the ministry of civil 
aviation to sit up and take notice.


Sources said that based on the complaints on dysfunctional toilets 
and other issues sent to the ministry, it was planning to conduct a 
surprise check at the airport in the near future.


While Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) officials tried 
to downplay the incident and said that "only a single panel had 
fallen and the official wasn't hurt", sources revealed that officials 
were appalled at the condition of the airport.


"The airport manager's room is newly constructed and if this is what 
happens to renovated rooms, one can imagine how it is elsewhere," 
said an official.


"We are lucky that the Amin escaped with scratches but to have the 
entire roof collapse on one's head can be a major shock and could 
have turned very ugly," he added.


The old airport manager's room was recently demolished and the new 
one set up outside terminal-II. Strangely, with renovation on, there 
is no access to the room from inside and can only be reached from the 
city side.


The room where the roof collapsed was a little way behind the main 
structure which is not frequented by people often.


According to sources, the condition of the airport, specially during 
renovation, has made travelling a complete hassle. Recently, a 
passenger at the international departure terminal had a part of the 
false ceiling collapse on her head. She too, luckily escaped with 
minor injuries. Cases of people tripping over loose tiles and 
slippery floors is also becoming common.


Sources also revealed that only one ladies' toilet was functional at 
the international departure terminal, and that too on the lower level.


"The maintenance of toilets at the international airport is with AAI 
and there are some issues between the GMR Group and AAI employees 
that is aggravating the problem," said sources. News on the airside 
is no better. Recently, civil aviation director general Kanu Gohain 
took a tour of the operations area at the airport to see the 
conditions after the recent spate of accidents. He is learnt to have 
reprimanded eight drivers who were found to be driving "worse than 
Blueline drivers".___
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Re: [Assam] From ToI/ India's Nobel connections

2007-10-15 Thread umesh sharma

All glory is fleeting!! 
as the victorius Roman generals had their slaves whispering in their ears while 
entering the city with pom -as per US General Patton - in the movie.

Umesh

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: India's Nobel connections
14 Oct 2007, 0037 hrs IST,Chidanand Rajghatta
   Print   Save   EMail   Write to Editor
Yet another Nobel season has gone by and no Indian has won the Prize 
outright, not that it will deny us some more hysteria and 
over-the-top headlines. So eager are we to grab any Indian connection 
to success, howsoever remote, that we will celebrate this year's 
peace prize shared between Al Gore and the Inter-governmental panel 
on Climate Change, because the IPCC is currently headed by Dr R K 
Pachauri, a fine scientist in his own right.

But it's not the same thing as a home-grown Indian individual winning 
it, the hypernationalist joke about Gore (Goray) being from Pune 
aside. Still, if you are part of the national mood of hype and 
hoopla, we'll count IPCC-Dr Pachauri's win as the 11th Nobel for 
India.

How 11? You would start with Rabindranath Tagore, the first Indian to 
be awarded the Nobel (for literature in 1913). Sir C V Raman was the 
second native-born resident Indian winner and the first Indian to win 
a science Nobel, for physics in 1930.

But even before those landmarks, India can claim two other Nobel 
'connections.' Ronald Ross, who won the Nobel for medicine in 1902, 
was born in Almora and was listed as an ''Indian physician of 
Scottish origin.'' He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1881 and 
worked in Calcutta, Bangalore and Ooty. Rudyard Kipling, the 
arch-imperialist who won the Nobel for literature in 1907, was born 
in Bombay.

Independent India almost had its first Nobel laureate in 1948 when 
the committee is said to have pencilled in Mahatma Gandhi for the 
Peace Prize. But he was assassinated just before the nominations 
closed. The Nobel is not awarded posthumously so we 'lost' that.

It would be another two decades before another Indian, this one 
slightly more desi than Ross and Kipling, won the award. In 1968, 
Punjab-born Dr Har Gobind Khorana, then a US citizen, won the Nobel 
for medicine. Sadly, he had left India just after Independence when a 
job he was promised was denied by a last minute intervention by a 
minister who plumped for his nephew.

A sixth Nobel came India's way in 1979 when Albanian-origin 
Calcutta-resident Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) won the peace 
prize. Four years later, Subramanyan Chandrasekhar, like Khorana a US 
citizen and less known as C V Raman's nephew, won the Nobel for 
physics. In 1989, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama and resident of 
Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, was awarded the Nobel for peace.

Amartya Sen, arguably the most Indian of all post-Independent 
connections despite living and teaching in the west, won the Nobel 
for Economics in 1998. Finally, in 2001, V S Naipaul, as much Indian 
as Trinidadian but a West Indian all the same, won for literature. So 
Dr Pachauri is the 11th.

Keen readers can probably dredge up a few more Indian Nobel 
connections. For instance, Winston Churchill, who won the Nobel in 
1953 (for literature, would you believe it) served as a young 
lieutenant in Bangalore during World War I. So do we count that to 
make a dozen for India?

On the flip side though, Khorana was born in Multan, Chandra in 
Lahore, Mother Teresa in Skopje and the Dalai Lama in Takster 
(Tibet). So Pakistan, China, Albania and Macedonia may be puffing up 
their count too, although they don't seem to be as hyperbolic as we 
currently are.

The sad truth is our Nobel 'connections' are made up of India-born 
westerners, pre-Independence British subjects, and non-resident 
Indians who held other citizenships. While we celebrate sundry rich 
lists and other spurious records with gusto, no home-grown resident 
Indian has won a Nobel since Independence. So, much for rising, 
shining India.

___
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Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C. 

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

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

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

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




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




http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
   
-
 For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this month.___
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[Assam] From ToI/ India's Nobel connections

2007-10-15 Thread Chan Mahanta

India's Nobel connections
14 Oct 2007, 0037 hrs IST,Chidanand Rajghatta
   Print SaveEMail   Write to Editor
Yet another Nobel season has gone by and no Indian has won the Prize 
outright, not that it will deny us some more hysteria and 
over-the-top headlines. So eager are we to grab any Indian connection 
to success, howsoever remote, that we will celebrate this year's 
peace prize shared between Al Gore and the Inter-governmental panel 
on Climate Change, because the IPCC is currently headed by Dr R K 
Pachauri, a fine scientist in his own right.

But it's not the same thing as a home-grown Indian individual winning 
it, the hypernationalist joke about Gore (Goray) being from Pune 
aside. Still, if you are part of the national mood of hype and 
hoopla, we'll count IPCC-Dr Pachauri's win as the 11th Nobel for 
India.

How 11? You would start with Rabindranath Tagore, the first Indian to 
be awarded the Nobel (for literature in 1913). Sir C V Raman was the 
second native-born resident Indian winner and the first Indian to win 
a science Nobel, for physics in 1930.

But even before those landmarks, India can claim two other Nobel 
'connections.' Ronald Ross, who won the Nobel for medicine in 1902, 
was born in Almora and was listed as an ''Indian physician of 
Scottish origin.'' He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1881 and 
worked in Calcutta, Bangalore and Ooty. Rudyard Kipling, the 
arch-imperialist who won the Nobel for literature in 1907, was born 
in Bombay.

Independent India almost had its first Nobel laureate in 1948 when 
the committee is said to have pencilled in Mahatma Gandhi for the 
Peace Prize. But he was assassinated just before the nominations 
closed. The Nobel is not awarded posthumously so we 'lost' that.

It would be another two decades before another Indian, this one 
slightly more desi than Ross and Kipling, won the award. In 1968, 
Punjab-born Dr Har Gobind Khorana, then a US citizen, won the Nobel 
for medicine. Sadly, he had left India just after Independence when a 
job he was promised was denied by a last minute intervention by a 
minister who plumped for his nephew.

A sixth Nobel came India's way in 1979 when Albanian-origin 
Calcutta-resident Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) won the peace 
prize. Four years later, Subramanyan Chandrasekhar, like Khorana a US 
citizen and less known as C V Raman's nephew, won the Nobel for 
physics. In 1989, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama and resident of 
Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, was awarded the Nobel for peace.

Amartya Sen, arguably the most Indian of all post-Independent 
connections despite living and teaching in the west, won the Nobel 
for Economics in 1998. Finally, in 2001, V S Naipaul, as much Indian 
as Trinidadian but a West Indian all the same, won for literature. So 
Dr Pachauri is the 11th.

Keen readers can probably dredge up a few more Indian Nobel 
connections. For instance, Winston Churchill, who won the Nobel in 
1953 (for literature, would you believe it) served as a young 
lieutenant in Bangalore during World War I. So do we count that to 
make a dozen for India?

On the flip side though, Khorana was born in Multan, Chandra in 
Lahore, Mother Teresa in Skopje and the Dalai Lama in Takster 
(Tibet). So Pakistan, China, Albania and Macedonia may be puffing up 
their count too, although they don't seem to be as hyperbolic as we 
currently are.

The sad truth is our Nobel 'connections' are made up of India-born 
westerners, pre-Independence British subjects, and non-resident 
Indians who held other citizenships. While we celebrate sundry rich 
lists and other spurious records with gusto, no home-grown resident 
Indian has won a Nobel since Independence. So, much for rising, 
shining India.

___
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[Assam] From TOI

2007-08-26 Thread Chan Mahanta

Pesticide menace cripples Punjab village
26 Aug 2007, 0136 hrs IST,Priya Yadav,TNN



GIANA (TALAWANDI SABO): Young children with tufts 
of gray hair, water that burns the insides as it 
goes down the throat, entire villages suffering 
from a variety of cancerous ailments. That's what 
unfettered and unmonitored use of pesticides has 
done in a Punjab struggling with unsustainable 
agriculture.

Giana, for instance, is a prime and rather 
poignant example of what has and can go wrong, 
crying as it is for urgent state intervention. 
One just has to see Manjit to understand the 
crisis. At first glance, the 11-year-old boy 
looks like an old man, his grey hair and failing 
eyesight adding to that disturbing trend. It's 
only when he comes nearer that his real age 
shows, startling strangers and visitors. In his 
village, though, people have got used to his 
freak looks. After all, there are many children 
in Giana who have grown â¤old' much before their 
time. "Our children begin greying after three," 
said Banta Singh, 30 â¤" again, with lots of 
white in his mane. "Youth has passed us by."

Villagers in this ghost town are still a bit 
befuddled, but experts blame the indiscriminate 
use of pesticides that eventually seep into food 
and contaminate underground water as the root 
cause triggering this abnormality.
"Water across the state, either due to pollution 
or excessive use of pesticides, has become so 
harmful that we have launched a scientific 
investigation to study if it is leading to 
changes in the DNA," said J S Thakur, an 
assistant professor at Chandigarh PGI's community 
medicine department.

Rajesh Kumar, who heads the department, added, 
"Indiscriminate use of pesticides, absolute 
ignorance about the damage caused with faulty 
pesticide storage and use, and disposal of empty 
pesticide containers are major factors 
contributing to incidence of cancer here. Very 
high levels of heavy metals were found in water 
and vegetables in that region." There isn't yet 
an exact figure, but doctors at the premier 
institute do agree that an alarmingly high number 
of cancer cases, queuing up at OPDs, come from 
the Talwandi Sabo-Mansa belt. An extensive 
research is now on in PGI to understand the 
problem and find out if any gene mutation is 
occurring.

This has also intrigued experts abroad. "A team 
of doctors from England has already taken samples 
and pictures of at least seven of our students," 
said Ranbir Singh, a teacher in the only 
government high school in the village. "There is 
a huge problem somewhere."

There is. When the school bell rings end of 
classes for the day, a horde of students with 
grey heads rush out. "My hair started turning 
white when I was eight years old," said 
Ramandeep, patting her head as if for an answer. 
"Now 80% is white," the girl, just 12, added. 
"The only person who really gets bothered is my 
mother who fears that getting a match outside the 
village would be a problem."

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[Assam] From TOI : Now what?

2007-08-22 Thread Chan Mahanta

Now what

cm






Delhi HC acquits Soren in Jha murder case
22 Aug 2007, 1519 hrs IST,PTI

 
Delhi HC acquitted Shibu Soren in the murder case of his private 
secretary Shashinath Jha. ( AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday acquitted former Union 
Minister Shibu Soren in connection with the murder of his private 
secretary Shashinath Jha in 1994 after slamming the CBI for failing 
"miserably" in getting evidence against the tribal leader.

Setting aside the trial court order, which had sentenced Soren and 
four others to life term, a bench of Justice R S Sodhi and H R 
Malhotra said the CBI had "miserably failed" to prove the case.

"We set aside the order of the trial court," the bench said observing 
that that CBI was not able to prove that the body exhumed was that of 
Jha.

The bench also held that "the trial court order is far from convincing".

The 62-year-old tribal leader from Jharkhand, who had to quit as 
Union Coal Minister following his conviction on November 28 last, is 
at present lodged at Jamtara prison in Jharkhand in connection with 
Chirudih massacre case.

The court also acquitted four others-- Nand Kishore Mehta, Shailendra 
Bhattacharya, Pashupati Nath Mehta and Ajay Kumar Mehta-- of all the 
charges on the same grounds.

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Re: [Assam] From ToI/ and from the fearless NGO Rajendra Singh

2007-07-30 Thread mc mahant

Hats off to the Ever Optimist Ram:
*
 This is Kamal Nath kind of 
Spin/bait. Old Hat . Investors come only to exit with heavy 
killings.Result-That much loss for India.{*50% OLD?)

Look at what just came in from Rajendra Singh--- the  whistle-blowing Water-man 
:
If I read him right  NarendraModi is at least doing some Work. He is a HOPE!

For Rs.200 Crores Electricity; Rs. 20,000 Crores WERE LOST  when  Surat  was 
Flooded out   
 Here is evidence of how incompetent politicians could only bring miseries for 
people of India. 

None can deny political abilities of Gujarat Chief Minister to execute 
projects, fast demolish all opposition .But “Like A Misdirected Missile Could 
Cause Massive Self Destruction” .Check dams and river linking   -- these are 2 
such Missiles.  Gujarat government  claims to have carried out “Flood Flow 
Experiments” .Were these before check dams were built on rivers? 

[20.  By regulating the flow of flood water of Kadana & Panam projects in 
coordination with the Field Engineers, Collector, DDO, revenue department, more 
than 15 lakh cusecs of flood water is released without any damage and loss of 
life.]

Since losses in canal networks were huge Gujarat decided to fill up its dams 
for both additional power and water. 

[18.  State Govt. has also revised the rule level of gated dams particularly in 
scarcity area for storing maximum rainwater and stop the same flowing into sea. 
By storing and using such flood water planning fully particularly for Ukai & 
kadana project hydro electricity of worth of Rs. 200 to 300 crores is generated 
approximately.]

In the above: Instructions were clear---“Stop Water Going waste To Sea” .And 
all water went in to Surat city instead.  Following that Imperious Diktat most 
of the check dams on all  rivers were completed in 2005 before Surat  was 
resultantly flooded out in 2006. 

[7.  With public participation, nearly 5 no. of check dams are constructed 
at a cost of Rs. 1000 cores,--- Within a short period of one year in state 
nearly 1,50,000 ‘Khet Talavadis’(Storage Reservoirs inside the farm limits) 
were constructed with public participation.]

[12.  In addition to these, Tenders for constructing more than 300 check dams 
on 21 rivers were also invited. From which at present works for 64 check dams 
are all ready started and construction of all check dams will be completed by 
June.05.]

Everything was designed for completion by 2005. 

--
Ravinder Singh July28, 2007
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:00:37 -0600From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL 
PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: [Assam] From ToI
C'da

>You can assert it was a pack of lies or spinning by Campbell and attribute it 
>to  "still >drunk with the Raj.".

All you have to do is to read the UK media (even here - the Huffington Post and 
others). They all seem to paint a very different picture of Cambell. 
Basically, they don't place too much credibility on him. He is supposedly 
fiercely loyal to TB and his party, has a short fuse, and is known as the "spin 
doctor" for a all the spinning and taking liberties with the facts. 

>> And countries like India are really not that enamoured with the UK anymore
>*** I realize that is what you would like to believe. But does that explain 

No, C'da, I am not saying this because its a feel-good thing. It has a lot to 
do with the economic clout that India and China  have acquired in recent years. 
India has a huge market,  a good workforce, and a huge expanding middle class,  
something like 50% of the pop. is young. 

So, there is a lot of competition among many countries to get into the Indian 
market. 
You might know, that when private airlines in India were placing orders for 
planes this past year, all the major producers from the US and Europe were all 
over the place trying to get to India's good side. Britain is just one player. 
And this is just one segment - now consider autos, appliances, heavy machiney, 
highway building contracts etc.  

And that is why India is really not that enamoured with the UK because there 
are many other more successful and developed countries who curry India's favor.

Recently, Kamal Nath (Indian minister) was in Houston. People were extremely 
impressed with this sauve, well-educated, and well-balanced montry from India 
(and I am not talking about the desi crowd).  Many of the montries are not the 
'run of the mill' type like Laloo, 

There's a change afoot in India, C'da..

--Ram

n 7/30/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Ram:

> And countries like India are really not that enamoured with the UK anymore.

*** I realize that is what you would like to believe. But does that explain :

 "Vajpayee was on the  phone, totally adamant

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-30 Thread Ram Sarangapani

C'da

 >You can assert it was a pack of lies or spinning by Campbell and attribute
it to  "still >drunk with the Raj.".

All you have to do is to read the UK media (even here - the Huffington Post
and others). They all seem to paint a very different picture of Cambell.
Basically, they don't place too much credibility on him. He is supposedly
fiercely loyal to TB and his party, has a short fuse, and is known as the
"spin doctor" for a all the spinning and taking liberties with the facts.

>> And countries like India are really not that enamoured with the UK
anymore
>*** I realize that is what you would like to believe. But does that explain

No, C'da, I am not saying this because its a feel-good thing. It has a lot
to do with the economic clout that India and China  have acquired in recent
years.
India has a huge market,  a good workforce, and a huge expanding middle
class,  something like 50% of the pop. is young.

So, there is a lot of competition among many countries to get into the
Indian market.
You might know, that when private airlines in India were placing orders for
planes this past year, all the major producers from the US and Europe were
all over the place trying to get to India's good side. Britain is just one
player. And this is just one segment - now consider autos, appliances, heavy
machiney, highway building contracts etc.

And that is why India is really not that enamoured with the UK because there
are many other more successful and developed countries who curry India's
favor.

Recently, Kamal Nath (Indian minister) was in Houston. People were extremely
impressed with this sauve, well-educated, and well-balanced montry from
India (and I am not talking about the desi crowd).  Many of the montries are
not the 'run of the mill' type like Laloo,

There's a change afoot in India, C'da..

--Ram

n 7/30/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>  Ram:
>
>
> > And countries like India are really not that enamoured with the UK
> anymore.
>
>
>
>
> *** I realize that is what you would like to believe. But does that
> explain :
>
>
> * "Vajpayee was on the  phone, totally adamant that if TB (Blair) went to
> Pakistan without*
> *also visiting India, it would be a real disaster for him. He  (Vajpayee)
> was normally so quiet and soft-spoken but there was both  panic and a bit of
> anger in his voice".*
>
>
>
>
>
>
> You can assert it was a pack of lies or spinning by Campbell and attribute
> it to  "still drunk with the Raj.".
>
>
> But would that be a credible explanation?
>
>
>
>
> c-da
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 9:36 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> C'da,
>
>
>
> >Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was >ABV's
> supplication ( I had to look that up -means  * prayer to a higher >power*,
> * a humble request for help from someone in authority* )
>
>
>
> That is basically Cambell's take on what ABV's thought process was.  I am
> really surprised - people like Cambell are still drunk with the Raj. The
> British are not in control anymore. And countries like India are really not
> that enamoured with the UK anymore.
>
>
>
> Whether we like it or not, companies from all over the world are making a
> beeline for India's market. You name a large company, and it has a presence
> in India.
>
> As far as today's India is concerned, Britain does not matter. Its only
> thought of as a backdrop to its history.
>
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 7/29/07,* Chan Mahanta* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Ram:
>
>
>
>
> I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a spook vs
> spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now that you bring that
> up, why do you think that the hotel room could NOT have been bugged, even
> though it was chosen by the Brits themselves? Its not like that they had the
> place cordoned off by the British security apparatus before Blair came a
> calling? And it wasn't like some third party who supposedly found  the bugs
> -- it said the Brits found them during their sweep.
>
>
>
>
> At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, while the
> entire book merited about ten references to an India with super-power
> pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the benign-neglect doctrine :-)?
> Racism? Die-hard colonial condescension? Fear of an emerging India? What?
>
>
>
>
> Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's
> supplication ( I had to look that up -means  * prayer to a higher power*,*a 
> humble request for help from someone in authority
> * ) for Blair not to pass India by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling
> for equal notice, that much despised 'parity' problem that continues to
> haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado declaring it as past.
>
>
>
>
> Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain or
> even the USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the Indian press
> head-lines or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in Europe to

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-30 Thread Chan Mahanta

I suspect the western world can't handle that India's new generation 
does not pay them obeisance.


*** That must be it!

But the question that would follow would be, where were they-- the 
new generation of 30/40 years old --- when the leader of Shining 
India went into a fit at not being considered for that 'parity'? Do 
they count? Or were there numbers so tiny that their voices do not 
register in the din ?











At 8:19 PM -0700 7/29/07, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
"All one needs to do is look at the Indian press head-lines or NRI 
proclamations here in the USA or in Europe to know how much Indians 
need that notice of whom they suck-up to." --
The fact that some netter brought this article from someone called 
Campbell to our attention is a testimony to the older NRI 
generation's (at least some)suck-up to the western world. Talk to a 
30 or 40 year old Indian and you will hear how they perceive India's 
relation with USA and UK. I suspect the western world can't handle 
that India's new generation does not pay them obeisance.
The respect aspect is changing every year. There was a time when the 
work of an engineering company from India would be checked and 
doublechecked. Now they are treated as equal partners. There was a 
time when US procurement managers would not put Indian suppliers on 
the approved vendors' list, and now Larsen and Toubro is a favorite 
supplier for high pressure vessels to the large oil companies.
Again, I am not saying the Indians are the best in the world but I 
must say their performance is improving and it is being noticed.

Dilip

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Ram:

I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a 
spook vs spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now 
that you bring that up, why do you think that the hotel room could 
NOT have been bugged, even though it was chosen by the Brits 
themselves? Its not like that they had the place cordoned off by the 
British security apparatus before Blair came a calling? And it 
wasn't like some third party who supposedly found  the bugs -- it 
said the Brits found them during their sweep.


At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, 
while the entire book merited about ten references to an India with 
super-power  pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the 
benign-neglect doctrine :-)? Racism? Die-hard colonial 
condescension? Fear of an emerging India? What?


Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's 
supplication ( I had to look that up -means   prayer to a higher 
power, a humble request for help from someone in authority ) for 
Blair not to pass India by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling for 
equal notice, that much despised 'parity' problem that continues to 
haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado declaring it as past.


Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain 
or even the USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the 
Indin press head-lines or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in 
Europe to know how much Indians need that notice of whom they 
suck-up to. What I was surprised by was  ToI's ability to print the 
piece, warts and all, obviously written by an 'anti-Indian' , 
probably an ex-pat , if not a 'pseudo-secularist' who hates ABV or 
the BJP :-).


c-da















At 6:40 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:


Hi C'da




This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and 
Indian press).


The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have 
planted bugs, as the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the 
M16 or was it M15 had gone thru the suites with a tooth comb.




Now, how did all that get past British Intel.



The story seems too convenient as a story for Cambell.



--Ram





On 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


** Tsk, tsk!

cm

___



Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN

Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are
coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his
high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.

It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party

leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the

profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to
change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the
political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite
advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the
geography of the change he must embrace.

Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a
different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street
after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.
Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-30 Thread Chan Mahanta


Ram:


 And countries like India are really not that enamoured with the UK anymore.



*** I realize that is what you would like to believe. But does that explain :

 "Vajpayee was on the  phone, totally adamant that if TB (Blair) went 
to Pakistan without
also visiting India, it would be a real disaster for him. He 
(Vajpayee) was normally so quiet and soft-spoken but there was both 
panic and a bit of anger in his voice".




You can assert it was a pack of lies or spinning by Campbell and 
attribute it to  "still drunk with the Raj.".


But would that be a credible explanation?


c-da









At 9:36 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

C'da,

 >Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at 
was >ABV's supplication ( I had to look that up -means   prayer to a 
higher >power, a humble request for help from someone in authority )


That is basically Cambell's take on what ABV's thought process was. 
I am really surprised - people like Cambell are still drunk with the 
Raj. The British are not in control anymore. And countries like 
India are really not that enamoured with the UK anymore.


Whether we like it or not, companies from all over the world are 
making a beeline for India's market. You name a large company, and 
it has a presence in India.
As far as today's India is concerned, Britain does not matter. Its 
only thought of as a backdrop to its history.


--Ram






On 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Ram:


I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a 
spook vs spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now 
that you bring that up, why do you think that the hotel room could 
NOT have been bugged, even though it was chosen by the Brits 
themselves? Its not like that they had the place cordoned off by the 
British security apparatus before Blair came a calling? And it 
wasn't like some third party who supposedly found  the bugs -- it 
said the Brits found them during their sweep.



At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, 
while the entire book merited about ten references to an India with 
super-power  pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the 
benign-neglect doctrine :-)? Racism? Die-hard colonial 
condescension? Fear of an emerging India? What?



Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's 
supplication ( I had to look that up -means   prayer to a higher 
power, a humble request for help from someone in authority ) for 
Blair not to pass India by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling for 
equal notice, that much despised 'parity' problem that continues to 
haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado declaring it as past.



Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain 
or even the USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the 
Indian press head-lines or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in 
Europe to know how much Indians need that notice of whom they 
suck-up to. What I was surprised by was  ToI's ability to print the 
piece, warts and all, obviously written by an 'anti-Indian' , 
probably an ex-pat , if not a 'pseudo-secularist' who hates ABV or 
the BJP :-).



c-da






























At 6:40 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:


Hi C'da




This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and 
Indian press).


The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have 
planted bugs, as the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the 
M16 or was it M15 had gone thru the suites with a tooth comb.




Now, how did all that get past British Intel.



The story seems too convenient as a story for Cambell.



--Ram





On 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


** Tsk, tsk!

cm

___



Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN

Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are
coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his
high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.

It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party

leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the

profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to
change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the
political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite
advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the
geography of the change he must embrace.

Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a
different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street
after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.
Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of
the most prominent of these, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell,
has published extracts from his diaries. The v

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-29 Thread Ram Sarangapani

Oh! Mukul da, I think Tony Blair had a law background, plus am not sure if
the UK has  institutions similar to IITs.:)

But, I agree, the UK ought to run by technocrats. They tried attorneys, but
that didn't work out too well. :)

--Ram

On 7/29/07, mc mahant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> That's what I meant when I said :
> Only IIT graduates should be allowed to run the place!!
> mm
>
>
>
> --
> Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:36:25 -0500
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> CC: assam@assamnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Assam] From ToI
>
> Ram:
>
>
> I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a spook vs
> spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now that you bring that
> up, why do you think that the hotel room could NOT have been bugged, even
> though it was chosen by the Brits themselves? Its not like that they had the
> place cordoned off by the British security apparatus before Blair came a
> calling? And it wasn't like some third party who supposedly found  the bugs
> -- it said the Brits found them during their sweep.
>
>
> At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, while the
> entire book merited about ten references to an India with super-power
> pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the benign-neglect doctrine :-)?
> Racism? Die-hard colonial condescension? Fear of an emerging India? What?
>
>
> Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's
> supplication ( I had to look that up -means  * prayer to a higher power*,*a 
> humble request for help from someone in authority
> * ) for Blair not to pass India by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling
> for equal notice, that much despised 'parity' problem that continues to
> haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado declaring it as past.
>
>
> Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain or
> even the USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the Indian press
> head-lines or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in Europe to know how
> much Indians need that notice of whom they suck-up to. What I was surprised
> by was  ToI's ability to print the piece, warts and all, obviously written
> by an 'anti-Indian' , probably an ex-pat , if not a 'pseudo-secularist' who
> hates ABV or the BJP :-).
>
>
> c-da
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 6:40 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> Hi C'da
>
>
>
> This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and Indian
> press).
>
> The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have planted
> bugs, as the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the M16 or was it M15
> had gone thru the suites with a tooth comb.
>
>
>
> Now, how did all that get past British Intel.
>
>
>
> The story seems too convenient as a story for Cambell.
>
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
>
>
> On 7/29/07,* Chan Mahanta* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> ** Tsk, tsk!
>
> cm
>
> _
> __
>
>
>
> Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
> 30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN
>
> Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are
> coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his
> high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.
>
> It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party
>
> leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the
>
> profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to
> change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the
> political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite
> advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the
> geography of the change he must embrace.
>
> Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a
> different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street
> after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.
> Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of
> the most prominent of these, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell,
> has published extracts from his diaries. The volume, titled The Blair
> Years, finally hit stands in India.
>
> And so we finally learn what PM Blair and his golden guys and girls
> really, really thought about India in the 10 years they colonised the

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-29 Thread Ram Sarangapani

C'da,

>Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was >ABV's
supplication ( I had to look that up -means  * prayer to a higher
>power*,*a humble request for help from someone in authority
* )

That is basically Cambell's take on what ABV's thought process was.  I am
really surprised - people like Cambell are still drunk with the Raj. The
British are not in control anymore. And countries like India are really not
that enamoured with the UK anymore.

Whether we like it or not, companies from all over the world are making a
beeline for India's market. You name a large company, and it has a presence
in India.
As far as today's India is concerned, Britain does not matter. Its only
thought of as a backdrop to its history.

--Ram





On 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>  Ram:
>
>
> I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a spook vs
> spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now that you bring that
> up, why do you think that the hotel room could NOT have been bugged, even
> though it was chosen by the Brits themselves? Its not like that they had the
> place cordoned off by the British security apparatus before Blair came a
> calling? And it wasn't like some third party who supposedly found  the bugs
> -- it said the Brits found them during their sweep.
>
>
> At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, while the
> entire book merited about ten references to an India with super-power
> pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the benign-neglect doctrine :-)?
> Racism? Die-hard colonial condescension? Fear of an emerging India? What?
>
>
> Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's
> supplication ( I had to look that up -means  * prayer to a higher power*,*a 
> humble request for help from someone in authority
> * ) for Blair not to pass India by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling
> for equal notice, that much despised 'parity' problem that continues to
> haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado declaring it as past.
>
>
> Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain or
> even the USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the Indian press
> head-lines or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in Europe to know how
> much Indians need that notice of whom they suck-up to. What I was surprised
> by was  ToI's ability to print the piece, warts and all, obviously written
> by an 'anti-Indian' , probably an ex-pat , if not a 'pseudo-secularist' who
> hates ABV or the BJP :-).
>
>
> c-da
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 6:40 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> Hi C'da
>
>
>
> This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and Indian
> press).
>
> The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have planted
> bugs, as the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the M16 or was it M15
> had gone thru the suites with a tooth comb.
>
>
>
> Now, how did all that get past British Intel.
>
>
>
> The story seems too convenient as a story for Cambell.
>
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
>
>
> On 7/29/07,* Chan Mahanta* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> ** Tsk, tsk!
>
> cm
>
> _
> __
>
>
>
> Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
> 30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN
>
> Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are
> coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his
> high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.
>
> It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party
>
> leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the
>
> profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to
> change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the
> political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite
> advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the
> geography of the change he must embrace.
>
> Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a
> different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street
> after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.
> Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of
> the most prominent of these, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell,
> has published extracts from his diaries. The volume, titled The Blair
> Years, finally hit stands in India.
>
> And so we finally learn what PM Blair and his golden guys and girls
> really, really thought about India in the 10 years they colonised the
> PM's office and the British political landscape. Going by Campbell's
> diaries, the answer is very little, if at all. Despite all the recent
> rhetoric about a new special relationship between India and its
> former imperial master, Campbell's diaries make clear that Blair's
>
> office, if not all of Blair's Britain, hardly thought about India,
>

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-29 Thread Dilip/Dil Deka

"All one needs to do is look at the Indian press head-lines or NRI 
proclamations here in the USA or in Europe to know how much Indians need that 
notice of whom they suck-up to." --
  The fact that some netter brought this article from someone called Campbell 
to our attention is a testimony to the older NRI generation's (at least 
some)suck-up to the western world. Talk to a 30 or 40 year old Indian and you 
will hear how they perceive India's relation with USA and UK. I suspect the 
western world can't handle that India's new generation does not pay them 
obeisance.
  The respect aspect is changing every year. There was a time when the work of 
an engineering company from India would be checked and doublechecked. Now they 
are treated as equal partners. There was a time when US procurement managers 
would not put Indian suppliers on the approved vendors' list, and now Larsen 
and Toubro is a favorite supplier for high pressure vessels to the large oil 
companies.
  Again, I am not saying the Indians are the best in the world but I must say 
their performance is improving and it is being noticed.
  Dilip

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

  I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a spook vs 
spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now that you bring that up, 
why do you think that the hotel room could NOT have been bugged, even though it 
was chosen by the Brits themselves? Its not like that they had the place 
cordoned off by the British security apparatus before Blair came a calling? And 
it wasn't like some third party who supposedly found  the bugs -- it said the 
Brits found them during their sweep.
  

  At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, while the 
entire book merited about ten references to an India with super-power  
pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the benign-neglect doctrine :-)? 
Racism? Die-hard colonial condescension? Fear of an emerging India? What?
  

  Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's 
supplication ( I had to look that up -means   prayer to a higher power, a 
humble request for help from someone in authority ) for Blair not to pass India 
by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling for equal notice, that much despised 
'parity' problem that continues to haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado 
declaring it as past.
  

  Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain or even 
the USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the Indian press 
head-lines or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in Europe to know how much 
Indians need that notice of whom they suck-up to. What I was surprised by was  
ToI's ability to print the piece, warts and all, obviously written by an 
'anti-Indian' , probably an ex-pat , if not a 'pseudo-secularist' who hates ABV 
or the BJP :-).
  

  c-da
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  At 6:40 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
  Hi C'da This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and 
Indian press).  The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have 
planted bugs, as the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the M16 or was 
it M15 had gone thru the suites with a tooth comb. Now, how did all that 
get past British Intel. The story seems too convenient as a story for 
Cambell. --RamOn 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
  ** Tsk, tsk!

cm

___



Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN

Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are
coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his
high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.

It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party  leader 
since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the  profound changes 
in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to
change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the
political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite
advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the
geography of the change he must embrace.

Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a
different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street
after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.
Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of
the most prominent of these, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell,
has published extracts from his diaries. The volume, titled The Blair
Years, finally hit stands in India.

And so we finally learn what PM Blair and his golden guys and girls
really, really thought about India in the 10 years they colonised the
PM's office and the British political landscape. Going by Campbell's
diaries, the answer is very littl

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-29 Thread mc mahant


That's what I meant when I said :
Only IIT graduates should be allowed to run the place!!
mm
 


Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:36:25 -0500To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]: 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: [Assam] From ToI



Ram:

I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a spook vs 
spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now that you bring that up, 
why do you think that the hotel room could NOT have been bugged, even though it 
was chosen by the Brits themselves? Its not like that they had the place 
cordoned off by the British security apparatus before Blair came a calling? And 
it wasn't like some third party who supposedly found  the bugs -- it said the 
Brits found them during their sweep.

At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, while the 
entire book merited about ten references to an India with super-power  
pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the benign-neglect doctrine :-)? 
Racism? Die-hard colonial condescension? Fear of an emerging India? What?

Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's 
supplication ( I had to look that up -means   prayer to a higher power, a 
humble request for help from someone in authority ) for Blair not to pass India 
by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling for equal notice, that much despised 
'parity' problem that continues to haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado 
declaring it as past.

Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain or even the 
USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the Indian press head-lines 
or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in Europe to know how much Indians need 
that notice of whom they suck-up to. What I was surprised by was  ToI's ability 
to print the piece, warts and all, obviously written by an 'anti-Indian' , 
probably an ex-pat , if not a 'pseudo-secularist' who hates ABV or the BJP :-).

c-da















At 6:40 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
Hi C'da
 
This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and Indian press).
The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have planted bugs, as 
the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the M16 or was it M15 had gone 
thru the suites with a tooth comb.
 
Now, how did all that get past British Intel.
 
The story seems too convenient as a story for Cambell.
 
--Ram
 
 
On 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
** Tsk, 
tsk!cm___Blair's
 spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs 
IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNNDid you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain 
than there arecoal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of 
hishigh-flying researchers Peter Hyman.It was two months since Blair had become 
the youngest Labour Party
leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the
profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate tochange his 
moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in thepolitical wilderness. Hyman, 
who became one of Blair's favouriteadvisors, presumably asked his question to 
point to Blair thegeography of the change he must embrace.Thirteen years from 
the day Hyman asked the question, the past is adifferent country. As is 
Britain. Blair has departed Downing Streetafter a decade as Labour's 
longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.Blair's former aides have scattered 
like leaves in the wind. One ofthe most prominent of these, former spin doctor 
Alastair Campbell,has published extracts from his diaries. The volume, titled 
The BlairYears, finally hit stands in India.And so we finally learn what PM 
Blair and his golden guys and girlsreally, really thought about India in the 10 
years they colonised thePM's office and the British political landscape. Going 
by Campbell'sdiaries, the answer is very little, if at all. Despite all the 
recentrhetoric about a new special relationship between India and itsformer 
imperial master, Campbell's diaries make clear that Blair's
office, if not all of Blair's Britain, hardly thought about India,except by 
default.According to Campbell's account, Blair and Britain were 
forced,post-9/11 to acknowledge India's needs vis-a-vis Pakistan forface-saving 
Western tokens and gestures signalling New Delhi'simportance and influence.In 
October 2001, says Campbell, Blair was on his way to Islamabad tofirm up plans 
with the West's new best friend, Pervez Musharraf, forinvading Afghanistan. New 
Delhi was not on the prime ministerialitinerary. "We had a real problem with 
the Indians over the plannedvisit to Pakistan," writes Blair's spin doctor, 
"Vajpayee was on thephone, totally adamant that if TB (Blair) went to Pakistan 
wi

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-29 Thread Chan Mahanta


Ram:

I wasn't even paying attention to that part of the story. It is a 
spook vs spook  intrigue that I don't pay much heed to.  But now that 
you bring that up, why do you think that the hotel room could NOT 
have been bugged, even though it was chosen by the Brits themselves? 
Its not like that they had the place cordoned off by the British 
security apparatus before Blair came a calling? And it wasn't like 
some third party who supposedly found  the bugs -- it said the Brits 
found them during their sweep.


At any event, what would be Campbell's motive to throw that in, while 
the entire book merited about ten references to an India with 
super-power  pretensions? A calculated resurrection of the 
benign-neglect doctrine :-)? Racism? Die-hard colonial condescension? 
Fear of an emerging India? What?


Be that as it may, what I found ironic and held my nose at was ABV's 
supplication ( I had to look that up -means   prayer to a higher 
power, a humble request for help from someone in authority ) for 
Blair not to pass India by on his Pakistan visit, the grovelling for 
equal notice, that much despised 'parity' problem that continues to 
haunt India :-), never mind all the bravado declaring it as past.


Not that I was surprised. I had a pretty good idea how much Britain 
or even the USA respects India. All one needs to do is look at the 
Indian press head-lines or NRI proclamations here in the USA or in 
Europe to know how much Indians need that notice of whom they suck-up 
to. What I was surprised by was  ToI's ability to print the piece, 
warts and all, obviously written by an 'anti-Indian' , probably an 
ex-pat , if not a 'pseudo-secularist' who hates ABV or the BJP :-).


c-da















At 6:40 PM -0600 7/29/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:

Hi C'da

This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and 
Indian press).
The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have 
planted bugs, as the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the 
M16 or was it M15 had gone thru the suites with a tooth comb.


Now, how did all that get past British Intel.

The story seems too convenient as a story for Cambell.

--Ram


On 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


** Tsk, tsk!

cm

___



Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN

Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are
coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his
high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.

It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party
leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the
profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to
change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the
political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite
advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the
geography of the change he must embrace.

Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a
different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street
after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.
Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of
the most prominent of these, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell,
has published extracts from his diaries. The volume, titled The Blair
Years, finally hit stands in India.

And so we finally learn what PM Blair and his golden guys and girls
really, really thought about India in the 10 years they colonised the
PM's office and the British political landscape. Going by Campbell's
diaries, the answer is very little, if at all. Despite all the recent
rhetoric about a new special relationship between India and its
former imperial master, Campbell's diaries make clear that Blair's
office, if not all of Blair's Britain, hardly thought about India,
except by default.

According to Campbell's account, Blair and Britain were forced,
post-9/11 to acknowledge India's needs vis-a-vis Pakistan for
face-saving Western tokens and gestures signalling New Delhi's
importance and influence.

In October 2001, says Campbell, Blair was on his way to Islamabad to
firm up plans with the West's new best friend, Pervez Musharraf, for
invading Afghanistan. New Delhi was not on the prime ministerial
itinerary. "We had a real problem with the Indians over the planned
visit to Pakistan," writes Blair's spin doctor, "Vajpayee was on the
phone, totally adamant that if TB (Blair) went to Pakistan without
also visiting India, it would be a real disaster for him. He
(Vajpayee) was normally so quiet and soft-spoken but there was both
panic and a bit of anger in his voice".

Later, Campbell describes the "two bugs" found in the British PM's
Delhi hotel room and notes, "we decided against making a fuss".
Campbell fulminates at some length about the "valet, Sun

Re: [Assam] From ToI

2007-07-29 Thread Ram Sarangapani

Hi C'da

This news was reported also sometime ago (both in the British and Indian
press).
The Indian Govt. asserts that there was no way they could have planted bugs,
as the hotel was chosen by the British Govt. And the M16 or was it M15 had
gone thru the suites with a tooth comb.

Now, how did all that get past British Intel.

The story seems too convenient as a story for Cambell.

--Ram


On 7/29/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> ** Tsk, tsk!
>
> cm
>
>
> ___
>
>
>
> Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
> 30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN
>
> Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are
> coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his
> high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.
>
> It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party
> leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the
> profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to
> change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the
> political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite
> advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the
> geography of the change he must embrace.
>
> Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a
> different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street
> after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office.
> Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of
> the most prominent of these, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell,
> has published extracts from his diaries. The volume, titled The Blair
> Years, finally hit stands in India.
>
> And so we finally learn what PM Blair and his golden guys and girls
> really, really thought about India in the 10 years they colonised the
> PM's office and the British political landscape. Going by Campbell's
> diaries, the answer is very little, if at all. Despite all the recent
> rhetoric about a new special relationship between India and its
> former imperial master, Campbell's diaries make clear that Blair's
> office, if not all of Blair's Britain, hardly thought about India,
> except by default.
>
> According to Campbell's account, Blair and Britain were forced,
> post-9/11 to acknowledge India's needs vis-a-vis Pakistan for
> face-saving Western tokens and gestures signalling New Delhi's
> importance and influence.
>
> In October 2001, says Campbell, Blair was on his way to Islamabad to
> firm up plans with the West's new best friend, Pervez Musharraf, for
> invading Afghanistan. New Delhi was not on the prime ministerial
> itinerary. "We had a real problem with the Indians over the planned
> visit to Pakistan," writes Blair's spin doctor, "Vajpayee was on the
> phone, totally adamant that if TB (Blair) went to Pakistan without
> also visiting India, it would be a real disaster for him. He
> (Vajpayee) was normally so quiet and soft-spoken but there was both
> panic and a bit of anger in his voice".
>
> Later, Campbell describes the "two bugs" found in the British PM's
> Delhi hotel room and notes, "we decided against making a fuss".
> Campbell fulminates at some length about the "valet, Sunil" he is
> assigned for the Delhi stopover, complaining that "he just would not
> leave me alone...I was beginning to wonder whether he had been put
> there either by the (Indian) spooks or a paper".
>
> Soon in January 2002, and Campbell is once again recounting the
> low-key theatricality of the UK-Indian relationship. Campbell's
> memories of this passage to India appear to be dominated by Blair's
> decision to wear a Nehru jacket.
>
> "Hopefully it would be seen as showing respect (to the Indians)", he
> writes. And then he damns PM Vajpayee with faint praise, describing
> how Blair "pushed hard but got very little change out of Vajpayee. He
> was holding out for a lot more from the Pakistanis. He was pretty
> shrewd and his total lack of embarrassment at long silences was a
> real strength".
>
> As a miniature portrait of Indo-British relations six years ago,
> Campbell's sketchy recollections of the stop-start bilateral rhythm
> offer an unedifying picture. There is British suspicion and Indian
> supplication; "mystical" Indian silences and wordy British lectures;
> there are unmemorable banquets in the Hyderabad palace, prying
> natives and clumsy Indian intelligence moves. All of this larded with
> streaky bits of Indian tub-thumping and British mantras on South
> Asia's need for stability.
>
> In the end, of course, it is significant that Campbell mentions India
> barely half-a-dozen times in this account of the 10-year period in
> which India's relations with its former master visibly and
> conclusively changed. The significance may lie more in what he does
> not say than what he does.
>
> ___
> assam mailing list
> assam@

[Assam] From ToI

2007-07-29 Thread Chan Mahanta

** Tsk, tsk!

cm

___



Blair's spin doctor spills beans on Indian waiters, PMs
30 Jul 2007, 0038 hrs IST,Rashmee Roshan Lal,TNN

Did you know there are more Indian waiters in Britain than there are 
coal miners?" Tony Blair was asked in September 1994 by one of his 
high-flying researchers Peter Hyman.

It was two months since Blair had become the youngest Labour Party 
leader since World War II. Hyman's question presumably reflected the 
profound changes in late 20th-century Britain. Blair was desperate to 
change his moribund party and drag it out of 18 years in the 
political wilderness. Hyman, who became one of Blair's favourite 
advisors, presumably asked his question to point to Blair the 
geography of the change he must embrace.

Thirteen years from the day Hyman asked the question, the past is a 
different country. As is Britain. Blair has departed Downing Street 
after a decade as Labour's longest-serving PM. A new PM is in office. 
Blair's former aides have scattered like leaves in the wind. One of 
the most prominent of these, former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, 
has published extracts from his diaries. The volume, titled The Blair 
Years, finally hit stands in India.

And so we finally learn what PM Blair and his golden guys and girls 
really, really thought about India in the 10 years they colonised the 
PM's office and the British political landscape. Going by Campbell's 
diaries, the answer is very little, if at all. Despite all the recent 
rhetoric about a new special relationship between India and its 
former imperial master, Campbell's diaries make clear that Blair's 
office, if not all of Blair's Britain, hardly thought about India, 
except by default.

According to Campbell's account, Blair and Britain were forced, 
post-9/11 to acknowledge India's needs vis-a-vis Pakistan for 
face-saving Western tokens and gestures signalling New Delhi's 
importance and influence.

In October 2001, says Campbell, Blair was on his way to Islamabad to 
firm up plans with the West's new best friend, Pervez Musharraf, for 
invading Afghanistan. New Delhi was not on the prime ministerial 
itinerary. "We had a real problem with the Indians over the planned 
visit to Pakistan," writes Blair's spin doctor, "Vajpayee was on the 
phone, totally adamant that if TB (Blair) went to Pakistan without 
also visiting India, it would be a real disaster for him. He 
(Vajpayee) was normally so quiet and soft-spoken but there was both 
panic and a bit of anger in his voice".

Later, Campbell describes the "two bugs" found in the British PM's 
Delhi hotel room and notes, "we decided against making a fuss". 
Campbell fulminates at some length about the "valet, Sunil" he is 
assigned for the Delhi stopover, complaining that "he just would not 
leave me alone...I was beginning to wonder whether he had been put 
there either by the (Indian) spooks or a paper".

Soon in January 2002, and Campbell is once again recounting the 
low-key theatricality of the UK-Indian relationship. Campbell's 
memories of this passage to India appear to be dominated by Blair's 
decision to wear a Nehru jacket.

"Hopefully it would be seen as showing respect (to the Indians)", he 
writes. And then he damns PM Vajpayee with faint praise, describing 
how Blair "pushed hard but got very little change out of Vajpayee. He 
was holding out for a lot more from the Pakistanis. He was pretty 
shrewd and his total lack of embarrassment at long silences was a 
real strength".

As a miniature portrait of Indo-British relations six years ago, 
Campbell's sketchy recollections of the stop-start bilateral rhythm 
offer an unedifying picture. There is British suspicion and Indian 
supplication; "mystical" Indian silences and wordy British lectures; 
there are unmemorable banquets in the Hyderabad palace, prying 
natives and clumsy Indian intelligence moves. All of this larded with 
streaky bits of Indian tub-thumping and British mantras on South 
Asia's need for stability.

In the end, of course, it is significant that Campbell mentions India 
barely half-a-dozen times in this account of the 10-year period in 
which India's relations with its former master visibly and 
conclusively changed. The significance may lie more in what he does 
not say than what he does.

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[Assam] From ToI

2007-07-24 Thread Chan Mahanta

Recently there was a lot of hand-wringing about the state of the 
desi-policiary.

Our despondent friends might take heart from the picture at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/2230846.cms


Or the story at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/SC_slams_police_machinery_in_the_country_for_its_inaction/articleshow/2230555.cms


Or then again, might NOT :-).


cm


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[Assam] From ToI/ Afzal Guru, the Guilty, or is He?

2007-06-28 Thread Chan Mahanta

We discussed this in assamnet, to the chagrin of some of our more 
desi friends :-).

cm





Afzal mercy campaign gathers steam abroad
29 Jun, 2007 l 0241 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK


LONDON: The overseas campaign to secure mercy for Afzal Guru, turned 
the heat up a notch with 40 British parliamentarians, human rights 
lawyers and civil liberty activists attending a House of Commons 
meeting to decry the alleged "miscarriage of justice".
The meeting on Wednesday night, which comes 10 weeks after Guru's 
cause was first championed here, urged Britain's new prime minister 
Gordon Brown, "who has spoken out against the death penalty - to 
intervene in the Afzal Guru case and write to A P J Abdul Kalam 
asking him to grant Afzal a reprieve".


John McDonnell, a left-wing MP of the governing Labour Party, chaired 
the meeting and spoke of his experience of cases of miscarriage of 
justice. He said, cases of miscarriage of justice follow a typical 
pattern "where an outrageous violent incident is followed by a moral 
panic, where those arrested have poor legal representation or none at 
all, where torture is involved and where the court case edges from an 
abuse of the system to farce and pantomime and is followed by the 
death penalty or a very long jail sentence.


But gradually information seeps out, a campaign builds up and that is 
what is happening in Afzal's case".
South Asian activists and campaigners discussed a previous Early Day 
Motion (EDM) moved by McDonnell, which was signed by 30 British MPs 
and urged President Kalam to grant Guru a reprieve and call an 
inquiry into his conviction.


In a significant step-change of pace for the newly-formed 'Campaign 
to Save Afzal Guru', McDonnell declared "(we) must now raise the 
profile of the case internationally we have started this and now have 
the support of a large number of MPs - we will take a delegation from 
among those who have signed the EDM to meet the foreign secretary and 
ask him to take it up and we will seek an adjournment debate in the 
House of Commons".


But in an intervention, considered politically delicate, Mirpuri peer 
Lord Nazir Ahmed, who has long campaigned for "Kashmiri 
independence", drew attention to alleged widely-documented human 
rights abuses in Kashmir.
In yet another intervention described by some observers as 
"India-bashing", Adnan Siddiqui of the 'Cage Prisoners, Guantanamo 
campaign, spoke about India's role in the US "war on terror".


Speaking about conditions in Tihar jail, where Guru is incarcerated, 
Amrit Wilson of the South Asia Solidarity Group said six prisoners 
had died there since June 6 and the Red Cross had refused access to 
Guru.___
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[Assam] From ToI--Pragmatists Would Looove This

2007-03-02 Thread Chan Mahanta

Heh, heh! This is a riot. I am sure the 'pragmatists' would love this.

cm




NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday invoked the risk 
of political uncertainty and destabilisation of 
governments surviving on razor-thin majorities to 
oppose a petition seeking changes in law to 
ensure immediate disqualification if a legislator 
is sentenced to more than two years in jail for a 
criminal offence.

  Arguing on a petition which seeks to alter the 
Representation of the People Act (RPA) so as to 
strip MLAs and MPs of the right to remain members 
of legislatures as long as their appeals are 
admitted by a higher court, the Centre told the 
Supreme Court the proposal was fraught with the 
risk of destabilising governments in an era of 
coalitions.

  As of now, RPA provides for disqualification of 
legislators who are sentenced to more than two 
years, but they can escape the punishment if 
their appeal is admitted in a higher court. No 
such escape route is provided for election 
candidates who have been convicted. Their 
nomination is rejected irrespective of whether an 
appeal is pending.

  A PIL filed by Basant Kumar Chaudhary seeks to erase this distinction.

  The Centre, however, opposed his plea through an 
affidavit expressing the apprehension that doing 
away with the relief provided under RPA could 
rock the boats of governments surviving on 
slender majorities.

  In the present UPA government, Jharkhand Mukti 
Morcha chief Shibu Soren retains his Lok Sabha 
membership even though he is currently in jail.

  The politically "pragmaticâ¤? stand taken by the 
Centre, backed by unabashed plea to allow 
convicted legislators to retain their membership 
for the sake of fragile governments surviving on 
their support, is sure to raise eyebrows.

  Discussing possible repercussions, the Centre 
said: "The government in power may be surviving 
on a razor-thin majority where each member counts 
significantly and disqualification of even one 
member may have a deleterious effect on 
functioning of the government."

  The petitioner had said that RPA disqualifies a 
person from contesting elections if he is 
sentenced to more than two years and had 
requested the court to quash Section 8(4) of the 
Act providing this relaxation to sitting 
legislators.

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[Assam] From ToI

2007-02-13 Thread Chan Mahanta

Some of us already knew all about it!

cm



India's license raj is alive and well
CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA
[ 14 Feb, 2007 0404hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]



  WASHINGTON: So you think India's infamous license-permit Raj has 
ended? Not according to the World Bank. A new report released on 
Tuesday by the Bank and its private sector arm IFC ranks India near 
the bottom of the world in several business metrics.

  Although the report puts some gloss on marginal improvements arising 
from reforms and offers comfort saying India and Pakistan are South 
Asia's top reformers, the harsh truth is India fares dismally in the 
world business practices, notwithstanding all the international 
attention it is getting.

  Overall, India ranks 134th in ease of doing business, 88th in 
starting a business, 112th in (ease of) employing workers, 110th in 
registering property, 65th in getting credit, 33rd in protecting 
investors, 139th in trading across borders, 133rd in closing 
businesses.

  India's most miserable numbers are in dealing with licenses (155th), 
paying taxes (158th), and most crucially, enforcing contracts (173rd).

  Even in South Asia, India ranks near the bottom in ease of doing 
business (6th) and starting a business (8th), dealing with licenses 
(7th), paying taxes (8th), enforcing contracts (6th).


  Yet a World Bank release on the subject kicked off by saying ''doing 
business became easier in India and Pakistan in 2005-2006'' thanks to 
reforms which reduced the time, cost, and hassle for businesses to 
comply with legal and administrative requirements.

  Worldwide, the South Asia region ranked last in the pace of global 
reforms. The South Asian rankings: the Maldives (53) and Pakistan 
(74), followed by Bangladesh (88), Sri Lanka (89), Nepal (100), India 
(134), Bhutan (138), and Afghanistan (162).

  Singapore, New Zealand, United States, Canada and Hong Kong occupied 
the top five positions.

  Within India, the report finds that Hyderabad has the most 
business-friendly regulations. Mumbai (11th) and Kolkata (12th) are 
at the bottom.

But some good practices exist, the study reveals. If the country 
could adopt, for example, Jaipur's regulations on starting a 
business, Bhubaneswar's rules on contract enforcement and taxes, and 
Chennai's trade practices; it could move its current global ranking 
from 134th to 79th.

  The report finds that entrepreneurs in South Asia face large 
regulatory obstacles to doing business. For example, it takes 18 
months of salary, on average in the region, to dismiss a redundant 
worker. Taxes are still high: a standard company in India pays 81% of 
commercial profits in taxes. Resolving commercial disputes through 
the courts is more time-consuming in South Asia than in any other 
region. On average it takes almost three years (969 days).

  Despite some improvements in 2005-2006, the report says the pace of 
reform was slower in South Asia than in any other region, with only 
India and Pakistan starting to improve their business environment.

  "Countries are competing for investment, enterprises, and the jobs 
that come with them. Some improvements are underway in the region, 
but the pace of reform must increase if South Asia wants to keep up 
with the rest of the world," said Simon Bell, World Bank Manager for 
Financial and Private Sector Development in South Asia.

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Re: [Assam] From ToI

2006-11-08 Thread mc mahant

This never appeared in Assam Papers.
Good  Indian Entrepreneurship!
What happened to Kanwar Natwar Singh ,his lies, his lies eaten back and the money-trail to the Congress(Clan heirloom)President .
mm


From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: [Assam] From ToIDate: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 14:36:04 -0600



Indian UN official arrested in graft caseChidanand Rajghatta[ 3 Nov, 2006 0024hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]RSS Feeds|  SMS NEWS to  for latest updates
 WASHINGTON: A former Indian government official on deputation to the United Nations was arrested in New York on Wednesday in a multi-million dollar bribery case that embarrassingly for New Delhi involves a Government of India entity.  Sanjay Bahel, who is originally from the Indian Defence Auditing Service (IDAS) cadre, has been charged with steering UN contracts worth more than $ 60 million to Indian entities, including the state-owned Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) represented by Nishan Kohli, and a private firm run by his son Nitin Kohli, in return for a swank Manhattan apartment that was undervalued in a quid pro quo.  Bahel was held at New York's JFK Airport where he had gone to receive a relative, while Nitin Kohli was arrested in Miami. The Government of India has been informed of their arrests and the UN 
has provided its own final report on the matter to competent authorities of the United States and India, officials said.  Bahel has been in the eye of a storm at the UN for some months now in investigations arising from the oil-for-food scandal.  A mid-level government official who joined the UN system in the 1990s and rose to head its commodity procurement section in Turtle Bay, Bahel is charged by US authorities of consistently favouring the Kohlis, described as family friends, at the expense of other legitimate bidders.  In return, according to the US indictment, Nitin Kohli bought an apartment in midtown Manhattan's Dag Hammarsjold Building in 2003 on East 47th street and provided it to Bahel and Bahel's family rent-free for some months, and a reduced rent of $ 5000 per month (against a market price of $ 86000) for two years
In May 2005, Bahel bought the apartment from Kohli for $ 1.2 million, a price so substantially below market value (estimated at $ 2 million) that the condominium board considered exercising its right of first refusal to block the sale, the indictment said. 
 The indictment by the U.S Attorney General's office follows an internal investigation by the U.N that lasted months, and which concluded that Bahel had used his position in the procurement division to steer contracts to Nanak Kohli, who is described as the designated U.S.-based representative of TCIL for dealing with the United Nations, and his son Nitin Kohli, of Thunderbird Industries.  The contracts involved purchase of equipment such as radio communications material, computers and technology support for UN operations worldwide.  The procurement division spends a large chunk of the U.N budget, which is bankrolled by the international community, with the United States providing the largest share. The procurement division's annual budget is said to be more than $ 1 billion.  "For Americans and people throughout the 
world, the United Nations has stood for the dual missions of international diplomacy and humanitarian works. Bahel and Kohli conspired instead to peddle and purchase influence, to pervert the U.N. procurement process for personal profit," federal prosecutor Mark Mershon said.  Following an internal probe, the UN had suspended Bahel without pay since August, while the U.S Attorney General's office took up its own investigation in the context of the larger oil-for-food scandal.  On Wednesday, UN officials said Secretary-General Kofi Annan had lifted Bahel's immunity from prosecution at the request of the Manhattan federal prosecutor.  One Indian official said on background that Bahel had left Indian government service and joined the UN system and as such did not enjoy any immunity provided to diplomats posted abroad on Indian diplomatic 
passports.  Bahel could not be contacted nor could his attorney be traced. But in earlier interviews, Bahel he had vigorously denied the charges, saying he has â¤good reasons and valid reasonsâ¤ for countering them. 
 If convicted of the charges, both Bahel and Kohli face up to ten years in prison
>___>assam mailing list>assam@assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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[Assam] From ToI

2006-11-02 Thread Chan Mahanta

Title: From ToI


Indian UN official arrested in graft case
Chidanand Rajghatta
[ 3 Nov, 2006 0024hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

RSS Feeds|  SMS NEWS to  for latest updates

 WASHINGTON: A former Indian government official on
deputation to the United Nations was arrested in New York on Wednesday
in a multi-million dollar bribery case that embarrassingly for
New Delhi involves a Government of India entity. 

 Sanjay Bahel, who is originally from the Indian Defence Auditing
Service (IDAS) cadre, has been charged with steering UN contracts
worth more than $ 60 million to Indian entities, including the
state-owned Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL)
represented by Nishan Kohli, and a private firm run by his son Nitin
Kohli, in return for a swank Manhattan apartment that was undervalued
in a quid pro quo. 

 Bahel was held at New York's JFK Airport where he had gone to
receive a relative, while Nitin Kohli was arrested in Miami. The
Government of India has been informed of their arrests and the UN has
provided its own final report on the matter to competent authorities
of the United States and India, officials said. 

 Bahel has been in the eye of a storm at the UN for some months
now in investigations arising from the oil-for-food scandal. 

 A mid-level government official who joined the UN system in the
1990s and rose to head its commodity procurement section in Turtle
Bay, Bahel is charged by US authorities of consistently favouring the
Kohlis, described as family friends, at the expense of other
legitimate bidders. 

 In return, according to the US indictment, Nitin Kohli bought an
apartment in midtown Manhattan's Dag Hammarsjold Building in 2003 on
East 47th street and provided it to Bahel and Bahel's family rent-free
for some months, and a reduced rent of $ 5000 per month (against a
market price of $ 86000) for two years
In May 2005, Bahel bought the apartment from Kohli for $ 1.2
million, a price so substantially below market value (estimated at $ 2
million) that the condominium board considered exercising its right of
first refusal to block the sale, the indictment said. 

 The indictment by the U.S Attorney General's office follows an
internal investigation by the U.N that lasted months, and which
concluded that Bahel had used his position in the procurement division
to steer contracts to Nanak Kohli, who is described as the designated
U.S.-based representative of TCIL for dealing with the United Nations,
and his son Nitin Kohli, of Thunderbird Industries. 

 The contracts involved purchase of equipment such as radio
communications material, computers and technology support for UN
operations worldwide. 

 The procurement division spends a large chunk of the U.N budget,
which is bankrolled by the international community, with the United
States providing the largest share. The procurement division's annual
budget is said to be more than $ 1 billion. 

 "For Americans and people throughout the world, the United
Nations has stood for the dual missions of international diplomacy and
humanitarian works. Bahel and Kohli conspired instead to peddle and
purchase influence, to pervert the U.N. procurement process for
personal profit," federal prosecutor Mark Mershon said. 

 Following an internal probe, the UN had suspended Bahel without
pay since August, while the U.S Attorney General's office took up its
own investigation in the context of the larger oil-for-food
scandal. 

 On Wednesday, UN officials said Secretary-General Kofi Annan had
lifted Bahel's immunity from prosecution at the request of the
Manhattan federal prosecutor. 

 One Indian official said on background that Bahel had left
Indian government service and joined the UN system and as such did not
enjoy any immunity provided to diplomats posted abroad on Indian
diplomatic passports. 

 Bahel could not be contacted nor could his attorney be traced.
But in earlier interviews, Bahel he had vigorously denied the charges,
saying he has â¤good reasons and valid reasonsâ¤ for
countering them. 

 If convicted of the charges, both Bahel and Kohli face up to ten
years in prison

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[Assam] From ToI

2006-10-18 Thread Chan Mahanta

Title: From ToI


> Economists say uneven growth often leads to social unrest
which, in >turn, can cause problems for
politicians. 


 Says it all about desi-demokrasy! --- can cause problems
for politicians!!
cm

 

NEW DELHI: Economic growth may have been spectacular since 1993
â¤" that is, post-economic reforms â¤" but it seems to be
trickling down rather slowly. 

 A soon-to-be-released official report has estimated that poverty
declined by a mere 0.74% during the 11-year period ended 2004-05.
Although there are signs of things moving a little faster, at 0.79%,
between 1999-2000 and 2004-05, going by another measure, the number of
people below poverty line may have remained unchanged. 

 National Sample Survey Organisationâ¤s (NSSO) findings
show the number of people living below poverty line (BPL) at 22.15% in
2004-05, compared with 26.09% in 1999-2000. In the same period, the
countryâ¤s GDP grew at around 6%. 

 This mismatch between growth and its distribution is
politically worrying as it indicates a rise in economic
disparities. Economists say uneven growth often leads to social
unrest which, in turn, can cause problems for
politicians. 

 Anyone consuming less than 2,100 calories in urban areas, and
2,400 calories in rural areas, is classifed in the BPL
category. 

 The NSSO study also shows that poverty declined the sharpest in
the poorer states.

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Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing palms

2006-10-05 Thread Rajib Das


Maybe you don't need to. 

We are in august company - just next to China. And if
you need to explain how the Americans do it worldwide
- when exporting arms, changing governments, laying
oil pipelines etc., doing assasinations (or attempting
to). I guess we are small fry in the business.

It is a good thing!



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

> O'Ram:
> 
> >And how on earth am I going to explain this away to
> the folks at work?
> 
> Kelei baaru baator kosu singi tikat kele ghonhi
> lo'la-he'?
> 
> 
> The shoes are for those whom they fit. But in the 
> unlikely event you find yourself  in such a jam, 
> you can always invoke Dilip's explanation, which, 
> in Oxomiya would translate to:
> 
> "Swre' nere' swr porkiti, kukure' nere' saai, 
> jaar ji porkiti morilew logote' jaai". A truly 
> 'hwza aru dhowan-khowa' explanation, that would 
> be.
> 
> Ne' ki kwa ?
> 
> c-da :-)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 10:27 PM -0500 10/4/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
> >Hehehe!
> >
> >Thats really bad. Wonder what that tells of us 
> >(who came from India). Is it possible to 
> >dealienate ourselves from the desh?
> >Maybe this is one reason that some in Assam want 
> >to be a separate desh (of sorts).
> >
> >And how on earth am I going to explain this away to
> the folks at work?:)
> >
> >--Ram
> >
> >
> >
> >On 10/4/06, Chan Mahanta 
> ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> 
> >wrote:
> >
> >What did I tell you :-)?
> >
> >cm
> >
> >
> >India world leader in greasing palms
> >[ 5 Oct, 2006 0031hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
> >
> >RSS Feeds|  SMS NEWS to  for latest updates
> >
> >LONDON/NEW DELHI: India doesn't just have loads
> >of corruption at home, it is also the world
> >leader in exporting graft.
> >
> >Months after Transparency International ranked
> >India as among the more corrupt societies in the
> >world, the NGO·¢?s Bribe Payer's Index 2006 shows
> >that Indian exporters are more willing than their
> >counterparts from other countries to pay overseas
> >bribes to secure business, clinch contracts, do
> >deals and generally get on in the world.
> >
> >Of the 30 countries surveyed by the index, India
> >was the worst ·¢" or most willing to give ·¢"
> >followed by China and Russia.
> >
> >With Brazil also ranking pretty low as the
> >eighth biggest bribe giver, the BRIC nations ·¢"
> >the foursome of Brazil, Russia, India and China
> >·¢" predicted to become among the biggest
> >economies in the world by 2050 ·¢" emerge as
> >being prepared to do whatever it takes to enhance
> >their share of the global trade pie.
> >
> >While this is the third BPI released by
> >Transparency, after the ones in 1999 and 2002, it
> >is the first time India has featured in the index.
> >
> >It was considered too economically insignificant
> >and lacking global spread and reach in the
> >earlier rounds. Liaoran Liao, Transparency
> >International programme coordinator for South
> >Asia, told  TOI  on Wednesday that it was
> >definitely bad news for India to make its first
> >outing on the BPI with a most-corrupt ranking for
> >its newly jet-setting companies.
> >
> >"In 1999 and 2002, India was not listed on the
> >BPI," said Liaoran, "but now India is considered
> >an emerging economy and an emerging export power,
> >so the CEOs and MDs ranked its companies."
> >
> >The newest league table was compiled after
> >asking 11,000 top business executives in 125
> >countries to rank foreign companies in order of
> >their propensity to bribe in the World Economic
> >Forum's Executive Opinion Survey.
> >
> >Transparency said the executives ranked India
> >bottom of the list of 30 countries. The
> >executives suggested Indians seemed ready to do
> >business by paying bribes or making extra
> >payments.
> >
> >The BPI ranked Swiss companies as least likely
> >to use brown envelopes and backhanders to get the
> >job done. No Asian country figures in the list of
> >the ten cleanest countries. Japan figures
> >eleventh followed by Singapore.
> >
> >___
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> >assam@assamnet.org
>
>
> 
>
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > ___
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>
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Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing palms

Title: Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing
palms

With a last name like goon, we can only imagine :-).

At 8:57 AM -0700 10/5/06, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
Who is Vijay Goon? He didn't post his
letter in Assamnet. Did he?

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

At 1:49 PM +0100 10/5/06, vijay goon wrote:
USELESS!

*** I am quite sure it is another profound observation.
But WHAT? What is USELESS ?

Hope to get a little clarification.

:-)

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
O'Deka:

Ekebaare' gaat laagi gol neki heri?

>Haven't you noticed the marked change in Georgia,
Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan >after they broke free of soviet
control?

*** Yes, yes, good examples. One more reason for Assam's
continued servitude of  a corrupt to the core Indian rule.

>And the reason?  It is hard to change old
practices and systems even in fifty >years.

*** Hmmm! Is that why all our desi compatriots in these
shores get so defensive about themselves ? Too soon to expect change 
in us as well ?

Incredulously yours,

O'm :-)

At 8:53 PM -0700 10/4/06, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
Don't lose any sleep over it. Your
colleagues don't read the TOI. :-) And they don't know what BPI means.
:-) :-)

Yes, things will be different in sovereign Assam. Haven't
you noticed the marked change in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan
after they broke free of soviet control?

How about greasing in Pakistan and Bangladesh? They got
separated from India but old practices remain. And the reason? 
It is hard to change old practices and systems even in fifty
years.

Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hehehe!

Thats really bad. Wonder what that tells of us (who came
from India). Is it possible to dealienate ourselves from the desh?

Maybe this is one reason that some in Assam want to be a
separate desh (of sorts).

And how on earth am I going to explain this away to the
folks at work?:)

--Ram

On 10/4/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
What did I tell you :-)?

cm

India world leader in greasing palms
[ 5 Oct, 2006 0031hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

RSS Feeds|  SMS NEWS to  for latest updates

LONDON/NEW DELHI: India doesn't just have loads
of corruption at home, it is also the world
leader in exporting graft.

Months after Transparency International ranked
India as among the more corrupt societies in the
world, the NGOç¼ï¿½s Bribe Payer's Index 2006 shows
that Indian exporters are more willing than their
counterparts from other countries to pay overseas
bribes to secure business, clinch contracts, do
deals and generally get on in the world.

Of the 30 countries surveyed by the index, India
was the worst ç¼" or most willing to give
ç¼"
followed by China and Russia.

With Brazil also ranking pretty low as the
eighth biggest bribe giver, the BRIC nations ç¼"
the foursome of Brazil, Russia, India and China
ç¼" predicted to become among the biggest
economies in the world by 2050 ç¼" emerge as
being prepared to do whatever it takes to enhance
their share of the global trade pie.

While this is the third BPI released by
Transparency, after the ones in 1999 and 2002, it
is the first time India has featured in the index.

It was considered too economically insignificant
and lacking global spread and reach in the
earlier rounds. Liaoran Liao, Transparency
International programme coordinator for South
Asia, told  TOI  on Wednesday that it was
definitely bad news for India to make its first
outing on the BPI with a most-corrupt ranking for
its newly jet-setting companies.

"In 1999 and 2002, India was not listed on the
BPI," said Liaoran, "but now India is considered
an emerging economy and an emerging export power,
so the CEOs and MDs ranked its companies."

The newest league table was compiled after
asking 11,000 top business executives in 125
countries to rank foreign companies in order of
their propensity to bribe in the World Economic
Forum's Executive Opinion Survey.

Transparency said the executives ranked India
bottom of the list of 30 countries. The
executives suggested Indians seemed ready to do
business by paying bribes or making extra

payments.

The BPI ranked Swiss companies as least likely
to use brown envelopes and backhanders to get the
job done. No Asian country figures in the list of
the ten cleanest countries. Japan figures
eleventh followed by Singapore.

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Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing palms

2006-10-05 Thread Dilip/Dil Deka

Who is Vijay Goon? He didn't post his letter in Assamnet. Did he?Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: At 1:49 PM +0100 10/5/06, vijay goon wrote: USELESS! *** I am quite sure it is another profound observation. But WHAT? What is USELESS ?Hope to get a little clarification.:-)Chan
Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: O'Deka:Ekebaare' gaat laagi gol neki heri?>Haven't you noticed the marked change in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan >after they broke free of soviet control?*** Yes, yes, good examples. One more reason for Assam's continued servitude of a corrupt to the core Indian rule. >And the reason? It is hard to change old practices and systems even in fifty >years.*** Hmmm! Is that why all our desi compatriots in these shores get so defensive about themselves ? Too soon to expect change in us as well ?
Incredulously yours,O'm :-)At 8:53 PM -0700 10/4/06, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote: Don't lose any sleep over it. Your colleagues don't read the TOI. :-) And they don't know what BPI means. :-) :-) Yes, things will be different in sovereign Assam. Haven't you noticed the marked change in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan after they broke free of soviet control? How about greasing in Pakistan and Bangladesh? They got separated from India but old practices remain. And the reason? It is hard to change old
practices and systems even in fifty years. Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hehehe! Thats really bad. Wonder what that tells of us (who came from India). Is it possible to dealienate ourselves from the desh? Maybe this is one reason that some in Assam want to be a separate desh (of sorts). And how on earth am I going to explain this away to the folks at work?:) --Ram On 10/4/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: What did I tell you :-)?cmIndia world leader in greasing palms[ 5 Oct, 2006
0031hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to for latest updatesLONDON/NEW DELHI: India doesn't just have loadsof corruption at home, it is also the worldleader in exporting graft.Months after Transparency International rankedIndia as among the more corrupt societies in theworld, the NGOç¼ï¿½s Bribe Payer's Index 2006 showsthat Indian exporters are more willing than theircounterparts from other countries to pay overseasbribes to secure business, clinch contracts, dodeals and generally get on in the world.Of the 30 countries surveyed by the index, Indiawas the worst ç¼" or most willing to give ç¼"followed by China and Russia.With Brazil also ranking pretty low as theeighth biggest bribe giver, the BRIC nations ç¼"the foursome of Brazil, Russia, India and Chinaç¼" predicted to become among the biggesteconomies in the world by 2050 ç¼" emerge
asbeing prepared to do whatever it takes to enhancetheir share of the global trade pie.While this is the third BPI released byTransparency, after the ones in 1999 and 2002, itis the first time India has featured in the index.It was considered too economically insignificantand lacking global spread and reach in theearlier rounds. Liaoran Liao, TransparencyInternational programme coordinator for SouthAsia, told TOI on Wednesday that it wasdefinitely bad news for India to make its firstouting on the BPI with a most-corrupt ranking forits newly jet-setting companies."In 1999 and 2002, India was not listed on theBPI," said Liaoran, "but now India is consideredan emerging economy and an emerging export power,so the CEOs and MDs ranked its companies."The newest league table was compiled afterasking 11,000 top business executives in 125countries to rank foreign
companies in order oftheir propensity to bribe in the World EconomicForum's Executive Opinion Survey.Transparency said the executives ranked Indiabottom of the list of 30 countries. Theexecutives suggested Indians seemed ready to dobusiness by paying bribes or making extra payments.The BPI ranked Swiss companies as least likelyto use brown envelopes and backhanders to get thejob done. No Asian country figures in the list ofthe ten cleanest countries. Japan figureseleventh followed by Singapore. ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___assam mailing
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Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing palms

Title: Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing
palms


O'Ram:

>And how on earth am I going to explain this away to the folks
at work?

Kelei baaru baator kosu singi tikat kele ghonhi lo'la-he'?


The shoes are for those whom they fit. But in the unlikely event
you find yourself  in such a jam, you can always invoke Dilip's
explanation, which, in Oxomiya would translate to:

"Swre' nere' swr porkiti, kukure' nere' saai, jaar ji
porkiti morilew logote' jaai". A truly 'hwza aru dhowan-khowa'
explanation, that would be.

Ne' ki kwa ?

c-da :-)










At 10:27 PM -0500 10/4/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
Hehehe!
 
Thats really bad. Wonder what that tells
of us (who came from India). Is it possible to dealienate ourselves
from the desh?
Maybe this is one reason that some in
Assam want to be a separate desh (of sorts).
 
And how on earth am I going to explain
this away to the folks at work?:)
 
--Ram


 
On 10/4/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
What did I tell you :-)?

cm


India world leader in greasing palms
[ 5 Oct, 2006 0031hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

RSS Feeds|  SMS NEWS to  for latest updates

LONDON/NEW DELHI: India doesn't just have loads
of corruption at home, it is also the world
leader in exporting graft.

Months after Transparency International ranked
India as among the more corrupt societies in the
world, the NGO·¢?s Bribe Payer's Index 2006 shows
that Indian exporters are more willing than their
counterparts from other countries to pay overseas
bribes to secure business, clinch contracts, do
deals and generally get on in the world.

Of the 30 countries surveyed by the index, India
was the worst ·¢" or most willing to give ·¢"
followed by China and Russia.

With Brazil also ranking pretty low as the
eighth biggest bribe giver, the BRIC nations ·¢"
the foursome of Brazil, Russia, India and China
·¢" predicted to become among the biggest
economies in the world by 2050 ·¢" emerge as
being prepared to do whatever it takes to enhance
their share of the global trade pie.

While this is the third BPI released by
Transparency, after the ones in 1999 and 2002, it
is the first time India has featured in the index.

It was considered too economically insignificant
and lacking global spread and reach in the
earlier rounds. Liaoran Liao, Transparency
International programme coordinator for South
Asia, told  TOI  on Wednesday that it was
definitely bad news for India to make its first
outing on the BPI with a most-corrupt ranking for
its newly jet-setting companies.

"In 1999 and 2002, India was not listed on the
BPI," said Liaoran, "but now India is considered
an emerging economy and an emerging export power,
so the CEOs and MDs ranked its companies."

The newest league table was compiled after
asking 11,000 top business executives in 125
countries to rank foreign companies in order of
their propensity to bribe in the World Economic
Forum's Executive Opinion Survey.

Transparency said the executives ranked India
bottom of the list of 30 countries. The
executives suggested Indians seemed ready to do
business by paying bribes or making extra
payments.

The BPI ranked Swiss companies as least likely
to use brown envelopes and backhanders to get the
job done. No Asian country figures in the list of
the ten cleanest countries. Japan figures
eleventh followed by Singapore.

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Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing palms

Title: Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing
palms

At 1:49 PM +0100 10/5/06, vijay goon wrote:
USELESS!

*** I am quite sure it is another profound observation. But WHAT?
What is USELESS ?

Hope to get a little clarification.

:-)

Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
O'Deka:

Ekebaare' gaat laagi gol neki heri?

>Haven't you noticed the marked change in Georgia,
Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan >after they broke free of soviet
control?

*** Yes, yes, good examples. One more reason for Assam's
continued servitude of  a corrupt to the core Indian
rule.

>And the reason?  It is hard to change old
practices and systems even in fifty >years.

*** Hmmm! Is that why all our desi compatriots in these
shores get so defensive about themselves ? Too soon to expect change 
in us as well ?

Incredulously yours,

O'm :-)

At 8:53 PM -0700 10/4/06, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
Don't lose any sleep over it. Your
colleagues don't read the TOI. :-) And they don't know what BPI means.
:-) :-)

Yes, things will be different in sovereign Assam. Haven't
you noticed the marked change in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan
after they broke free of soviet control?

How about greasing in Pakistan and Bangladesh? They got
separated from India but old practices remain. And the reason? 
It is hard to change old practices and systems even in fifty
years.

Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hehehe!

Thats really bad. Wonder what that tells of us (who came
from India). Is it possible to dealienate ourselves from the desh?

Maybe this is one reason that some in Assam want to be a
separate desh (of sorts).

And how on earth am I going to explain this away to the
folks at work?:)

--Ram

On 10/4/06, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
What did I tell you :-)?

cm

India world leader in greasing palms
[ 5 Oct, 2006 0031hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

RSS Feeds|  SMS NEWS to  for latest updates

LONDON/NEW DELHI: India doesn't just have loads
of corruption at home, it is also the world
leader in exporting graft.

Months after Transparency International ranked
India as among the more corrupt societies in the
world, the NGOç¼ï¿½s Bribe Payer's Index 2006 shows
that Indian exporters are more willing than their
counterparts from other countries to pay overseas
bribes to secure business, clinch contracts, do
deals and generally get on in the world.

Of the 30 countries surveyed by the index, India
was the worst ç¼" or most willing to give
ç¼"
followed by China and Russia.

With Brazil also ranking pretty low as the
eighth biggest bribe giver, the BRIC nations ç¼"
the foursome of Brazil, Russia, India and China
ç¼" predicted to become among the biggest
economies in the world by 2050 ç¼" emerge as
being prepared to do whatever it takes to enhance
their share of the global trade pie.

While this is the third BPI released by
Transparency, after the ones in 1999 and 2002, it
is the first time India has featured in the index.

It was considered too economically insignificant
and lacking global spread and reach in the
earlier rounds. Liaoran Liao, Transparency
International programme coordinator for South
Asia, told  TOI  on Wednesday that it was
definitely bad news for India to make its first
outing on the BPI with a most-corrupt ranking for
its newly jet-setting companies.

"In 1999 and 2002, India was not listed on the
BPI," said Liaoran, "but now India is considered
an emerging economy and an emerging export power,
so the CEOs and MDs ranked its companies."

The newest league table was compiled after
asking 11,000 top business executives in 125
countries to rank foreign companies in order of
their propensity to bribe in the World Economic
Forum's Executive Opinion Survey.

Transparency said the executives ranked India
bottom of the list of 30 countries. The
executives suggested Indians seemed ready to do
business by paying bribes or making extra
payments.

The BPI ranked Swiss companies as least likely
to use brown envelopes and backhanders to get the
job done. No Asian country figures in the list of
the ten cleanest countries. Japan figures
eleventh followed by Singapore.

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Find out what India is talking about on -
Yahoo! Answers India
Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger Version 8.
Get it NOW

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Re: [Assam] From ToI/India world leader in greasing palms