[Assam] Re Your Letter

[Ram Sarangapani]

C'da,

I totally agree with you on the substance of your letter.
One of the feelings that Mr. Phukan alluded to

*"Also, its disgusting to read the irrevalent dictats of expatriates nestled
and settled in distant cities around the globe regarding what needs to be
done out here"*

is what NRAs often come across. People like Mr. Phukan ought to understand
that even though NRAs are living in far off lands, they are very much atuned
to the needs of Assam. Being far away, IMHO often makes us more
concerned. Many NRAs and organizations have contributed in ideas, kind and
money what they could, over the years and whenever Assam was in need.

Further, many NRAs do have strong ties back home. Its callous for one to
just discard or belittle NRAs as a whole. The name issue has been
controversial, and its difficult to understand why one would take issue only
with NRAs giving their inputs.

So, whether it ultimately becomes Oxom, Asom, or remains as Assam, NRAs do
have a stake in this this. And as you rightly said, we are the 'ambassadors'
for Assam. When we do well, we make Assam proud, when we don't, we make her
sad.

--Ram


On 3/18/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  *
> *
> Dear Mr. Phukan:
> *
> *
> I was appalled not only by the tone of your letter but also with the lack
> of substance in it.
>
>
> Those of us 'Probaxi Oxomiyas' living outside of Assam, do care about
> Assam's welfare. We also are ambassadors for Assam, albeit self-appointed
> ones, in far off lands. Our ethnic identity remains firmly embedded with
> Assam.
>
>
> Please note here that I am NOT referring to Assam as Asom, or Axom or
> other such absurd ways. Assam is known to the world outside as Assam. It IS
> indeed a brand name. And I support all those who speak in favor of
> maintaining it.
>
>
> Many of us who do not live in Assam any more, continue to communicate with
> our fellow 'Probaxi Oxomiyas' and Oxomiyas in Assam, in Assamese. The
> internet is a widely used medium. In this medium we use Roman script for
> transliterating Oxomiya words,letters and numbers. Since our Oxomiya 'xo'
> sound is unique, many of us maintain its uniqueness by representing it with
> the internationally recognized SYMBOL for 'velar fricatives', the English
> letter 'x'. It is NOT represented adequately by 's' or 'sh' or 'kh' or 'hk'
> and other such symbols.
> When we attempt to portray the Assamese term for Assam in the Roman
> script, the only INTUITIVE one is as 'Oxom'.
>
>
> I hope you will consider weighing this subject a bit more thoughtfully,
> paying attention to the logic behind many Probaxi Oxomiyas' opposition to
> changing Assam to Asom or other such absurd ways. Because the most
> widespread users of transliterating Assamese words and letters are those of
> us who live away from Assam, and we do have a vested interest in doing it in
> an intuitive and widely recognized way.
>
>
> Best,
>
>
> Chandan Mahanta
> USA
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *
> *To,*
> * the Editor*
>
> *                      The Brand Name called "Ass"*
>
> *Dear Sir,*
>
> *             It was on the 17th March, Friday, 2006. I read a news item
> in the vernacular daily called "Aamaar  Asom" published in the front page.
> *
> *                        It so happened that the so called C-in-C of the
> ULFA, Paresh Barua has said that the name of Assam ought to be changed to
> "Kamrup" or "Pragjyotishpur". But does this fellow know that erstwhile
> Pragjyotishpur or present Kamrup consisted only of Guwahati and its nearby
> areas and villages ? I just don't understand why does a responsible citizen
> like Nagen Saikia (the editor of the above mentioned daily) publish such
> rubbish utterings by the ULFA or any such sources.*
> *                      Also, its disgusting to read the irrevalent dictats
> of expatriates nestled and settled in distant cities around the globe
> regarding what needs to be done out here. Its strange to hear them talk
> about the brand name called "Assam". First, let us know how many people in
> the world or be in India know about the existence of a place called
> "Assam".  Of late, "Assam" has also become the "brand name" for the "asses"
> called "Assamese".*
>
> *                                                           *
> *
> Yours truly---------*
> *
> Simanta Phukan,*
> *
>              Guwahati - 9.*
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> assam mailing list
> assam at assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>
>
>
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