[Assam] Death under Mukul Mahanta Buildings

Sun Aug 27 11:12:26 PDT 2006

Re: [Assam] Death under Mukul Mahanta Buildings 

Dear friends in Assam-net, 

Mr. Chandan Mahanta has accused that I have made PERSONAL ATTACKS on his brother Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta. Had I made personal attacks, I would have used words & terms like 

  (1) 'seraa-paagol' 

  (2) 'bhondo toposyi' 

  (3) adha-khunda bidya

  (4) 'kando-gyan'

  (5) 'adha-khunda' ( half-baked), nit-wit wannabe-engineers, etc.

I have not used any such terms. Those are reserved for Mr. Chandan Mahanta. His brother uses much worse terms --- expletive that cannot be mentioned here.

Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta has himself confessed that "1 person succumbed to injuries 3 days later after debris fell on his body. He was sleeping below at ground level-when a tie beam snapped at 2nd floor" in his CONFESSION appended below.

Death of an innocent victim is a very serious matter. This happened because Mr. Mukul Mahanta uses a faulty logic system. 

Unfortunately, in the Assam-net, most of the participants appear to be very timidly supportive of Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta and Mr. Chandan Mahanta. 

Here is one example: 

Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta  wrote on August 21, 2006:  

"A little arithmetic is called for. Say you have a roof area= 100 sq mtr. and annual normal rainfall =2m.You catch every drop and store. So to store 200 cu.mtr water in a 2.5 mtr deep underground tank  below your house,  you need Rs 5 Lakhs etra over just the house cost. You have a 10 member family -need 2 cu mtr water daily. So your annual Harvest of Stale rainwater goes for 100 days! And for 265 days you buy-because you did not dig your ring-well for Rs 10,000/-. At Gau today,Bhar water costs @Rs 20/-. Bhar= 30 litres. Hence you buy water--costing dailyRs 1200/-"

Devoid of any declaration of assumptions and conditions, this kind of statements from an engineer may misguide people. That was proved immediately when Mr. Rajen Barua, elated by the money-making possibility, eulogized Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta  as "learned MM" and rushed with the following statement:

"Interesting. If this is delivered drinking water to your flat, it is rather cheap, I would say. Less than a rupee per litre. 

Here is a business tip to the local youth in Guwahati.

If you have a plot of land in Guwahati, all you need to do is dig a deep well and produce free drinking water.  You may need little or no filtration at all.  Sell the produced water to the buildings in the city by a water tanker by pumping the water to the roof top tanks.  (You will be called whenever the city water supply will fail or there is extra demand of water in parties). You have unlimited supply of free water. You may not even need a license. You do the math how much profit you will make.

I would like to hear comments from learned MM if I am doing it wrong."

Proving that a number of participants in the assam-net consider any posting by Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta as a gospel, Mr. Rajen Baruah declared Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta as "learned MM" and proceeded to advise "local youth in Guwahati"  to "dig a deep well"  "if you have a plot of land in Guwahati" ----  Guwahati is a city reportedly populated by 2,515,030 people on an area 4,345 km²   (density 579/ km²) without any sewer system, using Septic Tanks & Soak Pits for their latrine waste. Due to high population density, Soak Pits of neighbours overlap, defeating the system.  Many houses discharge raw sewage into open city drains. Neither Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta nor Mr. Barua discussed how to keep the "deep well" rainwater reservoir free from sewage contamination. Mr. Rajen Barua stimulates the "local youth in Guwahati" with the idea that "You may need little or no filtration at all."  

While promoting Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta's idea of storing rainwater in a "deep well", Mr. Rajen Barua also incites "local youth in Guwahati" with the ideas such as "You have unlimited supply of free water. You may not even need a license." 

A license infuses responsibility and accountability. By inciting "local youth in Guwahati" with the idea "You may not even need a license", Mr. Rajen Barua has actually promoted the style of irresponsibility of Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta.

These are NOT personal attacks. Disasters always begin with one death. 

In his 1973 movie "Ashani Sanket" about the Great Bengal Famine of 1943 where more that 3,000,000 died, Satyajit Ray showed only one death in his movie. "It is enough to show one death", I remember Satyajit say in an interview, "the pain is the same."   When I dramatized Tagore story "Dena Paona" on the tragedy of dowry, I could not even show the death of the bride --- it was too painful to depict. I replaced it with Ratri Sukta of Rik Veda --- which is so dark that you can "touch the darkness."  

One death under the irresponsible Mukul Mahanta Building will be the precursor of millions of deaths if an uncontrollable epidemic starts in Guwahati due to sewage pollution into drinking water caused by more and more irresponsible engineering advice.

Let me repeat: It is NOT any personal attack. Our love to our people is much above the loyalty to a brother or to a friend.  Our loyalty to a brother or to a friend must not blind us from doing our duty: Extirpate irresponsibility. Everybody must be accountable.

With the best wishes,

Himendra

APPENDIX: CONFESSION OF MR. MUKUL CHANDRA MAHANTA dated August 21, 2006:

Under Oath-so be it!:  "I shall speak the truth, all the truth and nothing but the truth" .

 Let God give wisdom to all halfwits ,nitwits,perjurers and below-average hypocrites!

  a.. 3 buildings  collapsed out of the  32 total built -all proudly standing . I never Reinforce Concrete with Bamboo.It cannot work.No Govt. or anybody  helped me to invent my epoch-breaking housing solution. Only as they say "Hum to Chaley Bazaaro mey, Kuttey Bhukey Hazaaron sey". My IPR can be purchased at reasonable rates-depending on IQ level of purchaser. 
  b.. 1 person succumbed to injuries 3 days later after debris fell on his body. He was sleeping below at ground level-when a tie beam snapped at 2nd floor. I was not at that site since 4 month earlier.High court absolved me and the owner after 3 years. 
  c.. Happy Now?
My system is cool pucca Ghar in summer, Warm in Winter, theoretically 9 times more shock resistant in Earthquakes, needs 25% labour,25% material ,almost no foundation costs, fully recyclable--THE future Green housing Technology for the 3rd world!

Don't like it?

Then lump it.

mm

[End of Appendix]

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Chan Mahanta 
  To: assam at assamnet.org 
  Cc: umesh.sh05 at post.harvard.edu ; Indrajit Barua 
  Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 9:23 AM
  Subject: Re: [Assam] Death under Mukul Mahanta Buildings

  Hello Mr. Himendra Thakur:

    > However, in the Assam-net, it is a puzzle why most of the participants, as if for some mysterious fear, appear to be very timidly supportive of Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta and Mr. Chandan Mahanta.

  *** Do you think, perhaps they are fearful of what we might do to them? You know, post-Bamian 'terrorism' and stuff?

  But really, it is not a 'puzzle' at all: You know why? It is because MOST, if not all, Assam Netters are very bright people.They may not say much, but they are about as good as any in the world if not better. They are also, by and large, SOPHISTICATED people. They do not  indulge in PERSONAL ATTACKS , particularly of the kind that you specialize in. They realize, unlike you for example,  that anyone can claim anything against anyone they have a bone to pick with. But none of us are in a position to judge the merits of such accusations and counter-accusations. This is a forum, by and large, for discussing issues involving Assam. It is not a court of law. And certainly it is not a fish-market. Too bad you do not realize that you are attempting to turn this forum into exactly that. You cannot see what stares you in the face. Your uncouth and crass personal crusades against individuals could be matched only one  other here--the one I call the 'seraa-boliya'. But the 'seraa-boliya' could be given a little leeway because he is obviously mentally challenged.

  What is YOUR excuse?

  You don't get much response, because people can see how dumb some of your arguments are. For example :

  >Demolishing of Bamiyan Buddha in Afghanistan on March 11, 2001, a precursor  of 911, is a well-known tradition of >Islamic supporters. Mr. Chandan Mahanta demolished the ATAN BURAGOHAIN SAKO even "before" it was built !

  Do you think anyone with half a working brain will buy this kind of garbage?
  Even the most simple-minded can tell that the sole purpose of these kind of mud-slinging are revenge for criticisms of the proposals you floated here. They could see your carefully cultivated vedic-piety, your love for all humanity, your decades old and ever-so-dear-friendship with Mukul Mahanta flying right out the window in the face of criticisms of your views and exposure of your not-so-well camouflaged agenda.

  Fortunately this is not a forum for personal aggrandizement. It is not a beauty contest here. We debate things passionately, but remain friends and mutually respectful -- most of us that is. You, sir, along with that other malcontent, are the exceptions.

  We learn from better examples set by others. Often the examples are subtle. Unfortunately subtleties don't register on certain people, particularly on those who are so intent on preaching that they can't hear ( or see) what is going on. They need a hit on the head with a two by four ( for those who are unfamiliar with the term: It is a piece of lumber of 2"X4" cross section) to be woken up. That is why I decided to deliver this, unpleasant as it is to have to do so. Hope you will notice. It is never too late to learn, never-mind those old Oxomiya fokoras " burha xaalikai maat noloy" or " swre nere swr porkiti, kukure nere sai, jar ji porkiti, morilew logote jai".

  We will be looking forward to engaging with a reformed and freshly sensitized Himendra Thakur. Is that a deal?

  cm

  At 11:58 PM -0400 8/26/06, Himendra Thakur wrote:
    Dear Umesh,

    The condolence is for the person who succumbed to injuries after debris fell on his body when a Mukul Mahanta Building collapsed.

    He was sleeping below at ground level when a tie beam snapped at 2nd floor. This information is directly from the CONFESSION (see the Appendix below) of Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta.

    In his CONFESSION, Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta also said that "No Govt. or anybody  helped me to invent my epoch-breaking housing solution."  In performing engineering work, engineers of different expertise always consult with each other. For Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta, others are dogs. He says  "Hum to Chaley Bazaaro mey, Kuttey Bhukey Hazaaron sey."

    He has taken sole responsibility in designing and constructing his so called "epoch-breaking" houses. He has confessed that "3 buildings  collapsed out of the  32 total built . 1 person succumbed to injuries 3 days later after debris fell on his body. He was sleeping below at ground level-when a tie beam snapped at 2nd floor."

    How did the tie beam fail? Did it snap in tension, or did it break off at connections? Was it a design failure, or was it a material failure? While absolving Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta, the High Court must have scrutinized these questions and examined the test results of the strength of concrete  and steel used in the tie beam. I'll like to have a copy of the High Court Judgment. It may be necessary to take the case to the Supreme Court of India.

    In his vociferous support of his brother, Mr. Chandan Mahanta mentioned these  (August 21) as "experimental structures" --- but Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta sold these houses "at reasonable rates-depending on IQ level of purchaser."  It is not known how the prices of the houses are proportioned to the IQ level of the hapless purchasers, directly or indirectly.

    By selling these experimental structures to unsuspecting purchasers, Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta took full responsibility. Yet you say "I do not see how Mukul-da has anything to do with it."

    The information is very transparent. However, in the Assam-net, it is a puzzle why most of the participants, as if for some mysterious fear, appear to be very timidly supportive of Mr. Mukul Chandra Mahanta and Mr. Chandan Mahanta.

    With the best wishes,

    Himendra

    APPENDIX: CONFESSION OF MR. MUKUL CHANDRA MAHANTA dated August 21, 2006:

      < complete report under oath in the net about how many of his prefabricated buildings collapsed and how many people died or got injured.>

      Gladly : Pakor Liyaa!!

      Under Oath-so be it!:  "I shall speak the truth, all the truth and nothing but the truth" .

       Let God give wisdom to all halfwits ,nitwits,perjurers and below-average hypocrites!

        a.. 3 buildings  collapsed out of the  32 total built -all proudly standing . I never Reinforce Concrete with Bamboo.It cannot work.No Govt. or anybody  helped me to invent my epoch-breaking housing solution. Only as they say "Hum to Chaley Bazaaro mey, Kuttey Bhukey Hazaaron sey". My IPR can be purchased at reasonable rates-depending on IQ level of purchaser. 
        b.. 1 person succumbed to injuries 3 days later after debris fell on his body. He was sleeping below at ground level-when a tie beam snapped at 2nd floor.I was not at that site since 4 month earlier.High court absolved me and the owner after 3 years. 
        c.. Happy Now?
      My system is cool pucca Ghar in summer, Warm in Winter, theoretically 9 times more shock resistant in Earthquakes, needs 25% labour,25% material ,almost no foundation costs, fully recyclable--THE future Green housing Technology for the 3rd world!

      Don't like it?

      Then lump it.

      mm

    [  End of Appendix ]

      ----- Original Message -----
      From: umesh sharma
      To: Himendra Thakur
      Cc: assam at assamnet.org
      Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 10:33 PM
      Subject: Re: [Assam] Death under Mukul Mahanta Buildings

      Himendra-da,

      Though I offer condolence for the departed soul I do not see how Mukul-d has anything to do with it.

      Regards.

      Umesh

      Himendra Thakur <hthakur at comcast.net> wrote:

        Dear Umesh,
        Thank you very much. I hope other participants of Assam-net also will come up with their noble hearts to say a word of condolence for the soul of the innocent person who died under the Mukul Mahanta Building.
        With love to everybody,
        Himendra

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