Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
> Due to huge influx of Hindi-speaking people, due to tens of 24/7 Hindi > TV channels, radio stations, slowly Assam is being Hindi-ized. Is that > not also slow disappearance of Assamese?If Hindi's expansion is not controlled, > it will spell the deathknell for Assamese.> Bangladeshis came in huge numbers to Assam till the late 70s, possibly > the 80s. Most of the so-called Bangladeshis came in Sadulla's time, > about a hundred years ago. > However, the trend in the 90s, 00s is that Hindi is slowly taking over. > It's not that Bengali taking over Assamese electronic media, it's Hindi > taking over the electronic space of Assam completely. By electronic > space I mean cable TV and other emerging media. Those who have > foresight will see that such electronic media will inundate Assam in Looks like we Assamese have a serious problem. The problem is we Assamese are confused as to who is our real enemy. We are confused what is our real problem. One of the main reasons why Oxom Gono Adwlon (OGA) failed was because the student leaders failed to assure the minority non Assamese groups living in Assam that the agitation was not against them. The non Assamese speaking Minority groups saw inside the confused Assamese mind and did not feel secure. For Assamese fears such as above, they realized that in the name of illegal immigrants, the agitation was actually against all non Assamese speaking people. The non Assamese sensed exactly the above confusion inside the Assamese mind. This has devastating affect on the overall movement, because very soon this fear went inside the Assamese sub ethnic groups. The AASU-AGP group split into sub ethnic groups. The split went so far as that finally the Bodo student groups openly declared that they were in fact not Assamese. They asked the same question to the Assamese brothers that the Assamese were asking others. You are talking of wearing Assamese Mekhekla Saddor, singing Assamese Bihu, but how many of you Assamese wear the Bodo dress, sing a Bodo Bihu song or even try to learn Bodo language ? Your Oxom Xahityo Xobha is nothing but an Assamese Xahityo Xobha. So we will have our own Bodo Xahityo Xobha, our own Bodo Student groups, bye bye. Eventually the OGA failed. The rest is history. Yes we Assamese have manifold problems. But only way we can overcome these problems is for us to think clearly, coolly, logically and rationally and not emotionally. Yes the illegal immigration from Bangladesh is our # 1 serious problem. That we donot see any solution does not dissolve the problem away. Nor should we try to undermine the problem like in above emotional and immature thinking. The overwhelming Hindi culture is also a problem. We all need cultural protection. But need to be analyzed and addressed completely differently. Corruption is a problem. Under development is a problem All are our problems, and all need to be addressed separately, logically and rationally. It is an escapist mentality if someone, overwhelmed with these problems, donot want to discuss these problems and suddenly try to declare that GOI is our problem and offer a magic solution that once Assamese become independent, all our problems will be resolved. Because that declaration is not based on any logic or rational. It is based on pure emotion and slogan. Rajen Barua - Original Message - From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <assam@assamnet.org> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 10:29 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese > Due to huge influx of Hindi-speaking people, due to tens of 24/7 Hindi > TV channels, radio stations, slowly Assam is being Hindi-ized. Is that > not also slow disappearance of Assamese? Why is there not a 24/7 TV > channel in Assamese yet? Why NE-TV, which is the only cable channel > from Assam goes around the streets of Guwahati with Assamese hosts > interviewing Assamese people on the streets of Guwahati in Hindi? It > shows where things are going. If Hindi's expansion is not controlled, > it will spell the deathknell for Assamese. Why are new FM channels in > Guwahati mostly exclusively in Hindi? These are signs of how things are > going, how thing are going to happen in the future.> > Himen da is concerned only about religion! Assamese is not a religion, > it's a language!> > Bangladeshis came in huge numbers to Assam till the late 70s, possibly > the 80s. Most of the so-called Bangladeshis came in Sadulla's time, > about a hundred years ago. The kids of these immigrants are going to > Assamese medium schools, learning Assamese, calling Assamese their > mother tongue. The problem with such people is that
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Title: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for
the Ass
Welcome back Alpana. Hope you had a good visit to Assam.
>he does not mislead the youngsters to think that secession
from India would bring that difference. :)
*** Only one problem here: If the generation with its fingers on
the powers of state and the influences could not or would not do
anything about it, why should the next generation depend on assurances
from the failed one that somehow things will change under the status
quo of Indian misrule?
And if there is a way to change things under the current system,
why can't its supporters and defenders even articulate how it
could be accomplished,theoretically, let alone SHOW how to get it
done?
More a week later. Be on the road for the nest one week.
Take care.
c-da
At 9:52 PM -0600 1/10/06, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
>*** Attaboy Priyankoo! Way to go my
young friend!! Ask the PERTINENT questions, that go >right over the
heads of our otherwise highly trained and god's-gift-to-Assam NRA
types. You >are the kind that will make a difference for
Assam in the long run.
C'da is absolutely right as long as he
does not mislead the youngsters to think that secession from India
would bring that difference. :)
Hi Netters: It is good to be back here.
Have a great new year, all of you.
From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: priyankoo sarma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
assam@assamnet.org
Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the
Assamese
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:14:56 -0600
blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li
{padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;}
>** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can
be controlled or >eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous
generations been doing in the >last 50 years to eliminate/ control
those people?
*** Attaboy Priyankoo! Way to go my young friend!! Ask the
PERTINENT questions, that go right over the heads of our otherwise
highly trained and god's-gift-to-Assam NRA types. You are the
kind that will make a difference for Assam in the long
run.
But in the meantime, don't hold your breath for an
answer.
c-da
At 7:19 AM + 1/10/06, priyankoo sarma wrote:
Hi all,
I like to keep my take on Assam and its sovereignity, freedom,
autonomy etc. to myself. Just a reaction to one of Himenda's
comment:
He said:
>>I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has
gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed
by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders.
They can be controlled and eliminated.
** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be
controlled or eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous
generations been doing in the last 50 years to eliminate/ control
those people?
Dex matho eta dharona, thikonar
xex xari...
The most important thing in life is never to
forget who you are...
http://plaza.ufl.edu/priyanku
___
assam mailing list
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>___
>assam mailing list
>assam@assamnet.org
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
>*** Attaboy Priyankoo! Way to go my young friend!! Ask the PERTINENT questions, that go >right over the heads of our otherwise highly trained and god's-gift-to-Assam NRA types. You >are the kind that will make a difference for Assam in the long run. C'da is absolutely right as long as he does not mislead the youngsters to think that secession from India would bring that difference. :) Hi Netters: It is good to be back here. Have a great new year, all of you. From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: priyankoo sarma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, assam@assamnet.orgSubject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the AssameseDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:14:56 -0600 >** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be controlled or >eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous generations been doing in the >last 50 years to eliminate/ control those people? *** Attaboy Priyankoo! Way to go my young friend!! Ask the PERTINENT questions, that go right over the heads of our otherwise highly trained and god's-gift-to-Assam NRA types. You are the kind that will make a difference for Assam in the long run. But in the meantime, don't hold your breath for an answer. c-da At 7:19 AM + 1/10/06, priyankoo sarma wrote: Hi all,I like to keep my take on Assam and its sovereignity, freedom, autonomy etc. to myself. Just a reaction to one of Himenda's comment:He said:>>I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. ** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be controlled or eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous generations been doing in the last 50 years to eliminate/ control those people? Dex matho eta dharona, thikonar xex xari...The most important thing in life is never to forget who you are...http://plaza.ufl.edu/priyanku ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://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] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Title: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Ass >** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be controlled or >eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous generations been doing in the >last 50 years to eliminate/ control those people? *** Attaboy Priyankoo! Way to go my young friend!! Ask the PERTINENT questions, that go right over the heads of our otherwise highly trained and god's-gift-to-Assam NRA types. You are the kind that will make a difference for Assam in the long run. But in the meantime, don't hold your breath for an answer. c-da At 7:19 AM + 1/10/06, priyankoo sarma wrote: Hi all, I like to keep my take on Assam and its sovereignity, freedom, autonomy etc. to myself. Just a reaction to one of Himenda's comment: He said: >>I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. ** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be controlled or eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous generations been doing in the last 50 years to eliminate/ control those people? Dex matho eta dharona, thikonar xex xari... The most important thing in life is never to forget who you are... http://plaza.ufl.edu/priyanku ___ 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] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
In case of India, I think Nagaland did a blunder by not signing the treaty at the beginning which practically was giving them complete autonomy except defence. They rejected the treaty thinking that they would get complete independence with the help of the British. If they would have signed that, they would have been in a much better position today. Anyway they are the ones who are fighting against the GOI from the beginning long before Assam Insurgency comes into picture. Anyway it is sad for the Nagas. RB - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: Himendra Thakur Cc: J Kalita ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 1:55 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese Himen da, The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. I don't know about the other states, but Texas has the right to separate itself from the Union if it so wishes. When Texas joined the Union, this portion was of Texas law was included. But practically, this probably will never happen as the threshhold (thru the legislature) is pretty high. --Ram On 1/9/06, Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Malabika and Utpal, Did you read the history of American Civil War? The American Civil War is one of the most momentous and controversial periods in American history. This bitter war was fought to stop secession of the southern states. The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. After fighting two world wars, European countries have decided to unite ... step by step ... They are now on the path of economic recovery. Instead of internecine (mutually destructive) wars, they have developed Unity. Instead of secession, they have embraced affiliation. Some people do not want to read history. They say "History is Bunk" ... I emphasize that we must learn from history. I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. You do not have to secede from India to achieve that. You do not burn the house to kill rats ... you use a rat-trap. Intelligence and skill are required to make a good rat-trap. Due to the huge population of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam, secession from India will be death for the Assamese ... the international border between Bangladesh and Assam will melt into thin air and the plight of the Assamese will be the same as the plight of the Chakma tribe. Please consider if you will like to take that risk. With the best wishes, Himendra - Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Malabika Brahma ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbicite What I typed >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. What I meant was The nation can also be only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Malabika Brahma < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram da, >>That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold >>one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. But peace itself has been elusive and almost impossible to achive in Kashmir and Assam for last 27 years, isn't it? I think more than "impossible", it is the question of gathering the required courage. >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi there Utpal, No, I don't think I am right all the time -and am sure others think likewise. >There is easy way to find out. Hold a plesbicite under a free neutr
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Himen da, The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. I don't know about the other states, but Texas has the right to separate itself from the Union if it so wishes. When Texas joined the Union, this portion was of Texas law was included. But practically, this probably will never happen as the threshhold (thru the legislature) is pretty high. --Ram On 1/9/06, Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Malabika and Utpal, Did you read the history of American Civil War? The American Civil War is one of the most momentous and controversial periods in American history. This bitter war was fought to stop secession of the southern states. The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. After fighting two world wars, European countries have decided to unite ... step by step ... They are now on the path of economic recovery. Instead of internecine (mutually destructive) wars, they have developed Unity. Instead of secession, they have embraced affiliation. Some people do not want to read history. They say "History is Bunk" ... I emphasize that we must learn from history. I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. You do not have to secede from India to achieve that. You do not burn the house to kill rats ... you use a rat-trap. Intelligence and skill are required to make a good rat-trap. Due to the huge population of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam, secession from India will be death for the Assamese ... the international border between Bangladesh and Assam will melt into thin air and the plight of the Assamese will be the same as the plight of the Chakma tribe. Please consider if you will like to take that risk. With the best wishes, Himendra - Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Malabika Brahma ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbicite What I typed >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. What I meant was The nation can also be only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Malabika Brahma < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram da, >>That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold >>one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. But peace itself has been elusive and almost impossible to achive in Kashmir and Assam for last 27 years, isn't it? I think more than "impossible", it is the question of gathering the required courage. >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi there Utpal, No, I don't think I am right all the time -and am sure others think likewise. >There is easy way to find out. Hold a plesbicite under a free neutral environment and avoid all >bloodshed. That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. Why do I say this: Whichever side looses, they are going to claim there was widespread intimidation etc, etc. Yes, one could say - get those international observers (Jimmy Carter) to observe. But that is very unlikely. India will never submit to that (claiming sovereignty issues). Add to the equation, that many feel that Assam is filled up with illegal Bangladeshis (and maybe even ISI agents). The question that comes to mind is, if thats the situation (like Pakistanis in Kashmir), why would we ever want to go for a plebicite of a population that would want to merge with B'desh or Pakistan? About a plebicite being bloodless - I seriously doubt if that will be be the turn of events. >I hope someday the nation called India will be matured enough to incorporate the "instrument of >seccession" in the constitution. A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? --Ram da On 1/9/06, Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Chandan da thinks he is right. So does Rajen da or Ram da or Mike da or my self. May be we all are right or may be not. It does not matter what I or you feel (the elites of Assam) , what really matters is what the people of Assam feel. May be most of the people in Assam want seperation from India or may be they don't. There is easy way to find out
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Dear Jugal, I think both the B'deshi influx and the Hindi onslaught are problems for Assamese. The B'deshi influx, just by sheer numbers can tip the scales and make Assamese a small minority. It really doesn't matter if the illegals are Hindus or Muslims. The facts are they are illegal, speak a different tongue, and have a totally different cultural/ethinic background. That would make these illegals a big problem for Assam's future. Now, the Hindi onslaught. This onslaught is not so much a problems in numbers (like B'deshis). It is more of a problem in our own attitudes in prefering Hindi to Assamese in Assam. You cited several examples of the youth who are trying to speak Hindi, sing Hindi etc. IMHO, all this is because our youth realize that they may actually have to go to some other state for employment, treatment, or education. That is precisely the reason what drives people to give more importance to Hindi. Suppose we ban Hindi channels from TV in Assam - the protests are NOT going to come from the Hindi-wallas, but from the Assamese themselves. BTW: - it is strange - if one happens to go to places in the Hindi belt (UP, Madhya Pradesh etc) you will immediately notice the craze for learning and speaking English. If you can speak good English, you can immediately make a good living in these parts. Why, because they too realize, that Hindi alone won't do, and to get a good job in other states, knowing English will make the difference. But, I agree in essence, that Assamese people should pay more attention to Assamese language and culture. Unless there is support from Assamese themselves, there is good chance of your predictions coming true. --Ram da On 1/10/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Due to huge influx of Hindi-speaking people, due to tens of 24/7 HindiTV channels, radio stations, slowly Assam is being Hindi-ized. Is that not also slow disappearance of Assamese? Why is there not a 24/7 TVchannel in Assamese yet? Why NE-TV, which is the only cable channelfrom Assam goes around the streets of Guwahati with Assamese hostsinterviewing Assamese people on the streets of Guwahati in Hindi? It shows where things are going. If Hindi's expansion is not controlled,it will spell the deathknell for Assamese. Why are new FM channels inGuwahati mostly exclusively in Hindi? These are signs of how things are going, how thing are going to happen in the future.Himen da is concerned only about religion! Assamese is not a religion,it's a language!Bangladeshis came in huge numbers to Assam till the late 70s, possibly the 80s. Most of the so-called Bangladeshis came in Sadulla's time,about a hundred years ago. The kids of these immigrants are going toAssamese medium schools, learning Assamese, calling Assamese theirmother tongue. The problem with such people is that they have too many children; the way to stop is to spread education among the women inthese communities.However, the trend in the 90s, 00s is that Hindi is slowly taking over.It's not that Bengali taking over Assamese electronic media, it's Hindi taking over the electronic space of Assam completely. By electronicspace I mean cable TV and other emerging media. Those who haveforesight will see that such electronic media will inundate Assam inthe next 10-15-20-50 years. Instead of singing Hindi songs in Bihu gatherings, Assamese children are/wil be dancing to Hindi movie tunes!It will become fashionable for Assamese childeren, growing up in Assamnow, to be able to read and write Hindi and English, and not Assamese. They will read Hindi and English newspapers and not Assamese. They willget their news reports from Hindi and English newscasts and notAssamese. They will start talking to each other in Hindi and Englishand not Assamese. (I don't mind the English part that much, but I mind the Hindi part. English will never replace Assamese or a localvernacular, but Hindi has the potential to do tha!)So, as I said I hope Himen da realizes Assamese is a language and not areligion. My understanding of the situation is that the so-called Bangladeshi immigrants and their progeny pose a threat to the dominanceof Hindu religion in Assam, but they don't pose a threat to Assameselanguage as much as India and Assam's rapid Hindi-ization do. Because people like Himenda are Hindu-religion sentimentalists, they see thethreat to Hindu relgion's dominance and say it's threat to the Assameselanguage. I see it only partially that way. I see bigger threat to the dominance of the Assamese language which makes us call ourselvesAssamese, is from India, not from Bangladesh.Strictly from a languge point of view, due to our geographic locationAssamese speakers have to be wary of two languages: Bengali and Hindi, both with huge populations. From the 1800s to about the 1950s,Assamese, I believe was threatened by Bengali dominance in Assam.Independence from the British threw out the dominance of the British aswell as the Bengali (who came with the Britis
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Utpal, >This is because you , me an Chandan da are all making assumptions. A plesbicite can >determine whether people really want or not. Agreed. But how will this plebicite be accomplished? Practical matters will rule the day. The GOI will never agree to one. In fact, I don't think any country will conduct a plebicite that in the off-chance might result in secession of some of the country's part. Why will the GOI (from its point of view) allow one, whereby it, by inference, acknowledges that 'there are parts of the country that want independence' ? Further, the ULFA (and those who want secession) will shout 'foul' if the results don't favor them. It is interesting to note (from the Sentinel's editorial) - why the ULFA was against a plebicite some years ago, but now suddenly want one. But, if you or others can outline a practical, free & fair process for a plebicite, it will be a big step and of course without assumptions and emotions. But, like you, I too think a plebicite, if held, people will overwhelmingly not support a secession. The reason is, by and large, people prefer a status quo. Questions like, what kind of governance, who will reign, ULFA's track record, the violence they have seen so far will all weigh in on their decisions, and they will prefer to remain within India. --Ram da On 1/10/06, Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> This means plebiscite will just be a side game for Assam. >> Then why waste time and energy? Rajen da, This is because you , me an Chandan da are all making assumptions. A plesbicite can determine whether people really want or not. Rajen Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and >thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. This means plebiscite will just be a side game for Assam. Then why waste time and energy? What Assam will gain? The fact is, slogans aside, Assam has joined the Indian Union voluntarily. Is there any ifs and buts on the issue?. Nagaland may have case. But I don't think Assam has any? Knowing this, where we stand? Is Nagaland doing anything? What is our relation to Nagaland? RB - Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Himendra Thakur Cc: J Kalita ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:24 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese Dear Hitendra uncle, Yes. We are the same neighbors of Upasana. Although I support the idea of plesbicite in Assam to decide its fate, I am against secession from India and if ever there is a plesbicite, I will vote against secession. Infact I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. A nation is just a notion until and unless all the constituents are united voluntarily. Best wishes UtpalHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Malabika and Utpal, Did you read the history of American Civil War? The American Civil War is one of the most momentous and controversial periods in American history. This bitter war was fought to stop secession of the southern states. The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. After fighting two world wars, European countries have decided to unite ... step by step ... They are now on the path of economic recovery. Instead of internecine (mutually destructive) wars, they have developed Unity. Instead of secession, they have embraced affiliation. Some people do not want to read history. They say "History is Bunk" ... I emphasize that we must learn from history. I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. You do not have to secede from India to achieve that. You do not burn the house to kill rats ... you use a rat-trap. Intelligence and skill are required to make a good rat-trap. Due to the huge population of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam, secession from India will be death for the Assamese ... the international border between Bangladesh and Assam will melt into thin air and the plight of the Assamese will be the same as the plight of the Chakma tribe. Please consider if you will like to take that risk. With the best wishes, Himendra - Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Malabika Brahma ;
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Due to huge influx of Hindi-speaking people, due to tens of 24/7 Hindi TV channels, radio stations, slowly Assam is being Hindi-ized. Is that not also slow disappearance of Assamese? Why is there not a 24/7 TV channel in Assamese yet? Why NE-TV, which is the only cable channel from Assam goes around the streets of Guwahati with Assamese hosts interviewing Assamese people on the streets of Guwahati in Hindi? It shows where things are going. If Hindi's expansion is not controlled, it will spell the deathknell for Assamese. Why are new FM channels in Guwahati mostly exclusively in Hindi? These are signs of how things are going, how thing are going to happen in the future. Himen da is concerned only about religion! Assamese is not a religion, it's a language! Bangladeshis came in huge numbers to Assam till the late 70s, possibly the 80s. Most of the so-called Bangladeshis came in Sadulla's time, about a hundred years ago. The kids of these immigrants are going to Assamese medium schools, learning Assamese, calling Assamese their mother tongue. The problem with such people is that they have too many children; the way to stop is to spread education among the women in these communities. However, the trend in the 90s, 00s is that Hindi is slowly taking over. It's not that Bengali taking over Assamese electronic media, it's Hindi taking over the electronic space of Assam completely. By electronic space I mean cable TV and other emerging media. Those who have foresight will see that such electronic media will inundate Assam in the next 10-15-20-50 years. Instead of singing Hindi songs in Bihu gatherings, Assamese children are/wil be dancing to Hindi movie tunes! It will become fashionable for Assamese childeren, growing up in Assam now, to be able to read and write Hindi and English, and not Assamese. They will read Hindi and English newspapers and not Assamese. They will get their news reports from Hindi and English newscasts and not Assamese. They will start talking to each other in Hindi and English and not Assamese. (I don't mind the English part that much, but I mind the Hindi part. English will never replace Assamese or a local vernacular, but Hindi has the potential to do tha!) So, as I said I hope Himen da realizes Assamese is a language and not a religion. My understanding of the situation is that the so-called Bangladeshi immigrants and their progeny pose a threat to the dominance of Hindu religion in Assam, but they don't pose a threat to Assamese language as much as India and Assam's rapid Hindi-ization do. Because people like Himenda are Hindu-religion sentimentalists, they see the threat to Hindu relgion's dominance and say it's threat to the Assamese language. I see it only partially that way. I see bigger threat to the dominance of the Assamese language which makes us call ourselves Assamese, is from India, not from Bangladesh. Strictly from a languge point of view, due to our geographic location Assamese speakers have to be wary of two languages: Bengali and Hindi, both with huge populations. From the 1800s to about the 1950s, Assamese, I believe was threatened by Bengali dominance in Assam. Independence from the British threw out the dominance of the British as well as the Bengali (who came with the British) from Assam. From the 1960s to the 1990s, I believe, Assamese was gaining its dominance in Assam. But, starting the 1990s and 2000s, due to the proliferation of electronic media, Hindi is starting to gain an upper hand. Right now, Assamese speakers should be more wary of Hindi speakers than Bengali speakers, but should be watching out both groups. Since Assam is part of India now, Hindi has become the royal vernacular like Bengali was when the British ruled India from Calcutta till the early 1900s. Hindi is the royal language now, and Assamese is becoming the step-language in Assam, being slowly replaced from public and electronic spheres by Hindi. We must watch out for this Hindi-ization and thwart it and prosper. Jugal -Original Message- From: Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Himendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: J Kalita <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:24:44 +0000 (GMT) Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese Dear Hitendra uncle, Yes. We are the same neighbors of Upasana. Although I support the idea of plesbicite in Assam to decide its fate, I am against secession from India and if ever there is a plesbicite, I will vote against secession. Infact I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. A nation is just a notion until and unless all the consti
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
>> This means plebiscite will just be a side game for Assam. >> Then why waste time and energy? Rajen da, This is because you , me an Chandan da are all making assumptions. A plesbicite can determine whether people really want or not. Rajen Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and >thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. This means plebiscite will just be a side game for Assam. Then why waste time and energy? What Assam will gain? The fact is, slogans aside, Assam has joined the Indian Union voluntarily. Is there any ifs and buts on the issue?. Nagaland may have case. But I don't think Assam has any? Knowing this, where we stand? Is Nagaland doing anything? What is our relation to Nagaland? RB- Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Himendra Thakur Cc: J Kalita ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:24 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the AssameseDear Hitendra uncle, Yes. We are the same neighbors of Upasana. Although I support the idea of plesbicite in Assam to decide its fate, I am against secession from India and if ever there is a plesbicite, I will vote against secession. Infact I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. A nation is just a notion until and unless all the constituents are united voluntarily. Best wishes UtpalHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Dear Malabika and Utpal, Did you read the history of American Civil War? The American Civil War is one of the most momentous and controversial periods in American history. This bitter war was fought to stop secession of the southern states. The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. After fighting two world wars, European countries have decided to unite ... step by step ... They are now on the path of economic recovery. Instead of internecine (mutually destructive) wars, they have developed Unity. Instead of secession, they have embraced affiliation. Some people do not want to read history. They say "History is Bunk" ... I emphasize that we must learn from history. I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. You do not have to secede from India to achieve that. You do not burn the house to kill rats ... you use a rat-trap. Intelligence and skill are required to make a good rat-trap. Due to the huge population of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam, secession from India will be death for the Assamese ... the international border between Bangladesh and Assam will melt into thin air and the plight of the Assamese will be the same as the plight of the Chakma tribe. Please consider if you will like to take that risk. With the best wishes, Himendra- Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Malabika Brahma ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbiciteWhat I typed >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. What I meant was The nation can also be only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram da, >>That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold >>one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. But peace itself has been elusive and almost impossible to achive in Kashmir and Assam for last 27 years, isn't it? I think more than "impossible", it is the question of gathering the required courage. >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi there Utpal, No, I don't think I am right all the time -and am sure others think likewise. >There is easy way to find out. Hold a plesbicite under a free neutral environment and avoid all &g
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
>> What Assam will gain? With the out come of a free and fair plesbicite, we can bury the debate and the blood shed for all. It will silence both the Pro and Anti Secession parties for ever. That will mean stability and full focus on development. Rajen Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and >thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. This means plebiscite will just be a side game for Assam. Then why waste time and energy? What Assam will gain? The fact is, slogans aside, Assam has joined the Indian Union voluntarily. Is there any ifs and buts on the issue?. Nagaland may have case. But I don't think Assam has any? Knowing this, where we stand? Is Nagaland doing anything? What is our relation to Nagaland? RB- Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Himendra Thakur Cc: J Kalita ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:24 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the AssameseDear Hitendra uncle, Yes. We are the same neighbors of Upasana. Although I support the idea of plesbicite in Assam to decide its fate, I am against secession from India and if ever there is a plesbicite, I will vote against secession. Infact I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. A nation is just a notion until and unless all the constituents are united voluntarily. Best wishes UtpalHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:Dear Malabika and Utpal, Did you read the history of American Civil War? The American Civil War is one of the most momentous and controversial periods in American history. This bitter war was fought to stop secession of the southern states. The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. After fighting two world wars, European countries have decided to unite ... step by step ... They are now on the path of economic recovery. Instead of internecine (mutually destructive) wars, they have developed Unity. Instead of secession, they have embraced affiliation. Some people do not want to read history. They say "History is Bunk" ... I emphasize that we must learn from history. I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. You do not have to secede from India to achieve that. You do not burn the house to kill rats ... you use a rat-trap. Intelligence and skill are required to make a good rat-trap. Due to the huge population of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam, secession from India will be death for the Assamese ... the international border between Bangladesh and Assam will melt into thin air and the plight of the Assamese will be the same as the plight of the Chakma tribe. Please consider if you will like to take that risk. With the best wishes, Himendra- Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Malabika Brahma ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbiciteWhat I typed >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. What I meant was The nation can also be only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram da, >>That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold >>one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. But peace itself has been elusive and almost impossible to achive in Kashmir and Assam for last 27 years, isn't it? I think more than "impossible", it is the question of gathering the required courage. >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi there Utpal, No, I don't think I am right all the time -and am sure others think likewise. >There is easy way to find out. Hold a plesbicite under a free neutral environment and avoid all >bloo
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
>I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and >thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. This means plebiscite will just be a side game for Assam. Then why waste time and energy? What Assam will gain? The fact is, slogans aside, Assam has joined the Indian Union voluntarily. Is there any ifs and buts on the issue?. Nagaland may have case. But I don't think Assam has any? Knowing this, where we stand? Is Nagaland doing anything? What is our relation to Nagaland? RB - Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Himendra Thakur Cc: J Kalita ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:24 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese Dear Hitendra uncle, Yes. We are the same neighbors of Upasana. Although I support the idea of plesbicite in Assam to decide its fate, I am against secession from India and if ever there is a plesbicite, I will vote against secession. Infact I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. A nation is just a notion until and unless all the constituents are united voluntarily. Best wishes UtpalHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Malabika and Utpal, Did you read the history of American Civil War? The American Civil War is one of the most momentous and controversial periods in American history. This bitter war was fought to stop secession of the southern states. The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. After fighting two world wars, European countries have decided to unite ... step by step ... They are now on the path of economic recovery. Instead of internecine (mutually destructive) wars, they have developed Unity. Instead of secession, they have embraced affiliation. Some people do not want to read history. They say "History is Bunk" ... I emphasize that we must learn from history. I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. You do not have to secede from India to achieve that. You do not burn the house to kill rats ... you use a rat-trap. Intelligence and skill are required to make a good rat-trap. Due to the huge population of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam, secession from India will be death for the Assamese ... the international border between Bangladesh and Assam will melt into thin air and the plight of the Assamese will be the same as the plight of the Chakma tribe. Please consider if you will like to take that risk. With the best wishes, Himendra - Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Malabika Brahma ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbicite What I typed >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. What I meant was The nation can also be only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram da, >>That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold >>one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. But peace itself has been elusive and almost impossible to achive in Kashmir and Assam for last 27 years, isn't it? I think more than "impossible", it is the question of gathering the required courage. >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Ram Sarangapani
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Dear Hitendra uncle, Yes. We are the same neighbors of Upasana. Although I support the idea of plesbicite in Assam to decide its fate, I am against secession from India and if ever there is a plesbicite, I will vote against secession. Infact I believe majority of people in Assam will vote against secession. But I believe the maturity of a nation lies in "voluntary union" as opposed "forced union" and thats why I support the concept of instrument of secession in the constitution. A nation is just a notion until and unless all the constituents are united voluntarily. Best wishes UtpalHimendra Thakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Malabika and Utpal, Did you read the history of American Civil War? The American Civil War is one of the most momentous and controversial periods in American history. This bitter war was fought to stop secession of the southern states. The Southern states were just not allowed to secede. Secession was just out-of-question. No wonder today America is the strongest country in the world. After fighting two world wars, European countries have decided to unite ... step by step ... They are now on the path of economic recovery. Instead of internecine (mutually destructive) wars, they have developed Unity. Instead of secession, they have embraced affiliation. Some people do not want to read history. They say "History is Bunk" ... I emphasize that we must learn from history. I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. You do not have to secede from India to achieve that. You do not burn the house to kill rats ... you use a rat-trap. Intelligence and skill are required to make a good rat-trap. Due to the huge population of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam, secession from India will be death for the Assamese ... the international border between Bangladesh and Assam will melt into thin air and the plight of the Assamese will be the same as the plight of the Chakma tribe. Please consider if you will like to take that risk. With the best wishes, Himendra- Original Message - From: Malabika Brahma To: Malabika Brahma ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbiciteWhat I typed >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. What I meant was The nation can also be only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ram da, >>That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold >>one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. But peace itself has been elusive and almost impossible to achive in Kashmir and Assam for last 27 years, isn't it? I think more than "impossible", it is the question of gathering the required courage. >> A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? The nation can also me only as much mature as the framework will allow it. Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi there Utpal, No, I don't think I am right all the time -and am sure others think likewise. >There is easy way to find out. Hold a plesbicite under a free neutral environment and avoid all >bloodshed. That would be the easy part (thinking about it) - but the tougher part would to hold one at all. Whether its Kashmir or Assam, it is next to impossible to hold one. Why do I say this: Whichever side looses, they are going to claim there was widespread intimidation etc, etc. Yes, one could say - get those international observers (Jimmy Carter) to observe. But that is very unlikely. India will never submit to that (claiming sovereignty issues). Add to the equation, that many feel that Assam is filled up with illegal Bangladeshis (and maybe even ISI agents). The question that comes to mind is, if thats the situation (like Pakistanis in Kashmir), why would we ever want to go for a plebicite of a population that would want to merge with B'desh or Pakistan? About a plebicite being bloodless - I seriously doubt if that will be be the turn of events. >I hope someday the nation called India will be matured enough to incorporate the "instrument of >seccession" in the constitution. A nation can be mature only as much as its population will allow it. Don't you think? --Ram da On 1/9/06, Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Chandan da thinks he is right. So does Rajen da or Ram da or Mike da or my self. May be we all are right or may be not. It does not matter what I or
Re: [Assam] Secession from India will be death for the Assamese
Hi all, I like to keep my take on Assam and its sovereignity, freedom, autonomy etc. to myself. Just a reaction to one of Himenda's comment: He said: >>I completely agree with you that the Injustice that Assam has gone through must be corrected. The injustice to Assam was committed by a group of sightless people ... including some Assamese leaders. They can be controlled and eliminated. ** Do you have any plans or ideas how these people can be controlled or eliminated? If yes, then what have our previous generations been doing in the last 50 years to eliminate/ control those people? Dex matho eta dharona, thikonar xex xari... The most important thing in life is never to forget who you are... http://plaza.ufl.edu/priyanku ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
