[Assam] Khasi-Christian Stereotyping

[Himendra Thakur]

Dear Shantikam,

 

I completely agree with you that this is a wastage of time. But, if I do not record my protest to Mr. Mukul Mahanta for his accusation that I incited "young Assam INTELLECTUALS to kill a million! Muslims?", or to protest to Mr. Chandan Mahanta for his accusation that I am involved in a crime "to perpetrate ethnic-cleansing, to send them to gas-chambers", the younger generation may go with a wrong impression. I must protest and record that I am not even remotely involved in these crimes. 

 

On January 29, 2006, I clearly wrote in the net that "To protect a family during the early period of invasion of Indo-Gangetic plains, if a family of had five brothers, two would take conversion to Islam to protect the remaining three. Without the protection of Indian Muslims, India would have become completely Islamized like Persia. I have recorded this many times that, in India, Hindus and Muslims are brothers lost in the hurricane of History. Once that hurricane is over, the two brothers will shake off their differences and unite."  I have been declaring the Hindus and Muslims as "brothers" since 1991 in my published book "Don't Burn My Mother!" The insinuations by Mr. Mukul Mahanta and Mr. Chandan Mahanta that I incited "young Assam INTELLECTUALS to kill a million! Muslims?" and that I am involved in a crime "to perpetrate ethnic-cleansing, to send them to gas-chambers" are preposterous, to say the least.

 

The entire thing got started when (on January 30, 2006) I asked Mr. Chandan Mahanta "Dear Chandan, Since you "do support the 'sovereignty ' aspirations or demands", when   Assam becomes independent as a result of your support, will you take responsibility if millions of people lose their lives in Assam as a chain result of the  independence and sovereignty ?"  to which,  Mr. Chandan Mahanta replied that  "You will need to explain how you see that happening, before I can give you an answer."  

 

In other words, Mr. Chandan Mahanta supported  the 'sovereignty ' aspirations/demands without even thinking all the pros and cons, and now he wants me to think for him. Later he claimed an "active imagination" and also cited that Mahatma Gandhi be held responsible [an absurd supposition of Godse brothers which I strongly oppose --- I wrote/staged a drama "The Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi" to denounce Gopal Godse]  for the massacre of million refugees after partition, but yet Mr. Chandan Mahanta failed to think all the pros and cons of the geo-political disaster of Assam's proposed 'sovereignty ' supported by the Mahanta brothers. 

 

It is now proven beyond all doubt that Mr. Chandan Mahanta did not think  before he supported  the 'sovereignty ' aspirations/demands,  and he does not take any responsibility of what he says. 

 

I appeal to the young people NOT to listen to irresponsible people.  I appeal to the young people NOT to listen to people who cannot think. 



India is one country, Assam is India --- I completely agree/understand the problems cited by Rajen & Jukti ... working together we will be able to resolve all problems if India remains strong, secure and united. 

 

We must work hard to make India strong, secure and united.  One fundamental prerequisite of national strength, national security and national unity  is to get rid of stereotyping advocated the Mahanta brothers. Mr. Mukul Mahanta stereotyped Mr. Lyngdo as "Khasi Christian." 



Indian culture of Advaita philosophy does not see any difference between people. Bhagavadgita opposes hereditary caste system. In Bhagavatam, Shrikrishna  teaches unconditional love to everybody. These points should be discussed in the net. If you want, I'll send an article about the "Baselessness of the Hereditary Caste System" for discussion in the net.

   

Let me share one episode in my life --- once again from my Nagaland days. One morning, when I was serving as the Executive Engineer in Mokukchung, I dressed up in my best available suit because I was scheduled to attend a high-power meeting with dignitaries coming from Kohima. I was already late. The road was full of mud. My driver tried to speed up as much he could, BUT suddenly --- I shouted, the driver shouted, and the jeep stopped --- because there was a baby in the muddy road right front of our jeep. 



If  I followed Mr. Mukul Mahanta, I should have shouted "Khasi/Naga Christian." But I did not follow Mr. Mukul Mahanta. What I did will be interpreted as "effort to seek self-importance" by Mr. Chandan Mahanta. I did not do anything for self-importance. What I did was just to follow my heart. 

 

I appeal to young people to ignore the teachings of Mr. Mukul Mahanta &/or Mr. Chandan Mahanta.  Let us follow our heart and eliminate anger. "Anger, greed and sensuality are the three doors to Hell" (Bhagavadgita 16-21). 

 

With love to everybody,

Himendra





----- Original Message ----- 

  From: Shantikam Hazarika 
  To: hthakur at comcast.net 
  Cc: assamrs at gmail.com ; barua25 at hotmail.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 11:19 PM
  Subject: Is it worth it?



  Dear Mr. Thakur:
  This is shantikam hazarika here. I think getting into spats in the assamnet is a mere wastage of time. frankly i have never understood what MC Mahanta says and I do not think he has any relevance in Assam. I have tried, long long ago, to reason with him and gave up. As far as Chandan mahanta is concerned, I think he enjoys raising the rabble just for the hack of it. Sitting out there it is very easy to do so and watch the fun. 
  I personally feel you should not waste your talents getting into these fruitless arguments. I in fact donot even read them.
  Instead what you have been contributing to the net in the form of your reminescences, your in depth studeis are very valuable and please continue these pursuits.

  Shantikam Hazarika
   
  On 3/9/06, Himendra Thakur <hthakur at comcast.net> wrote: 
    Mr. Mukul Mahanta,

    Your reply "I only asked" is not acceptable as an apology. 
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