[Assam] Fwd: Fashion Show in Asom politics !

[BBaruah at aol.com]

The "denigration" that you refer to is not a denigration at all, but a  
characterization employed to explain the uncritical acceptance of the diktats of  
authority and authority figures and acquiescence to trampling of democratic  
principles.

I was so incensed by Rajen's rejoinder that expletives dropped off my  lips 
involuntarily. I said to myself: Cool down, Bhuban, there is no  use pumping 
your adrenalin just to stop dead for crap.
 
I do not object to the substance of what he has so painstakingly tried to  
prove. 
 
Chandan,I am afraid you've little conception of even the best democracy at  
work. Democracy is not the best form of government. Democracy is supposed  to 
be  a government of the people. In practice decisions are always taken  by one 
person, perhaps two. There are indeed charismatic leaders who  can organise 
and lead. And the rest have to follow like sheep. That is  normal. There are of 
course exceptions.
 
And sorry to say this,in spite of your strong advocacy of principles, you  
too are one the sheep like the rest of us. It is easy to criticise without  
self-analysis. An ex-Chancellor of West Germany in his memoirs has described  
George Bush as a Christian fundamentalist who attacked Iraq. Did you protest ?  
Did your Democratic Senators protest? Did the MPs of UK Parliament protest? Yes, 
 there were protesters, even the Prime Minister's deputy who of course  
resigned in protest. Most European allies of the UK did not support UK in  this war.
I can elaborate these points further. I thiink this should do because in  
theory what you say is right; the ideal I mean.
 
Now the characterization part. To save space, I am not quoting this portion  
from Rajen's letter. Characterization of what? Not surely for a filmscript or  
the outline for a Booker Prize winner. I concede the 'kharkhowas' are what he 
 says. We are not proud of it. But so are the Italians and many other 
nations.  Let me quote from Bill Bryson's 1991 edition of Neither Here Nor There 
which I  am reading at the moment:
 
"They don't queue, they don't pay their taxes, they don't turn up for their  
appointments on time, they don't underake any sort of labour without a small  
bribe, they don't believe in rules at all. ...........At the time of my  
visit, the Italians were working their way through their forty-eight government  in 
forty-five years. The country has the social structure of a banana  
republic,yet the amazing thing is that it thrives. It is now the fifth biggest  economy 
in the world, which is simply a staggering achievement in the face of  such 
chronic disorder. If they had the work ethics of the Japanese they could be  
the masters of the planet. Thank goodness they haven't."
 
He mentioned Chandra Prasad Saikia and Dr Nagen Saikia. I did not know the  
former but the latter I know very well. Chandra Prasad Saikia was a past  
President of Asam Sahitya Sabha and had outstanding literary contribution as I  
understand.I don't think Chandra Prasad Saikia
deserves such an irreverent treatment. 
 
Rajen ought not to worry. He had done a little research and circumstances  
permitting he would also be consulted in the matter, only that his staure has  
not grown as yet to the level of either Dr Nagen Saikia or late Chandra Prasad  
Saikia. 
 
Another point. It is very easy to comment on the apathy of the masses or  the 
intelligentsia to any specific issue. The tragedy is that the very  
proponents of ther principles do not live up to their ideals.According to the  social 
scientists this apathy is most conspicuous in the case of people like us  who 
like to see others do the job for them which they like to read in their  
morning newspapers. Physician! Heal thyself!
 
Best regards
 
Bhuban 


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