[Assam] AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF ASSAM

Tue Aug 14 11:06:28 PDT 2007

Ram:

At 11:35 AM -0600 8/14/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da
>
>  >I did not say anything is WRONG with flag waving, did I Ram?
>
>No, you did not, but the implications are strong.

*** Can you explain HOW you read that  in my post? You attended St. 
Xaviers' College and thus don't qualify to invoke the 'that damned 
English language' defense :-).

How do you infer that I was telling Thakuria that his flag waving 
pursuit is wrong? I am pretty straightforward about what I want to 
say. I don't beat around the bush like a lot of other netters do. If 
I had deemed it WRONG I would have said  so, without hesitation, 
because over the decades I have found that subtlety of language is 
not a desi-strength. One needs to be blunt for it to register. And 
that is why I take the trouble to explain  everything in so many 
words, like now :-).

But I must say this:  YOU are belaboring the point, because you know 
that you don't have a leg to stand on to challenge what I wrote.

>
>This from your other post:
>
>  >What I have NO respect for is when flagwaving or absence 
>thereof >is used as a yardstick to judge somebody's patriotism.
>
>Now, what could be wrong with that? Count on my support here. But 
>how did you deduce that Thakuria & others are NOT patriotic, and 
>that they just wave flags - and hence, by inference, not really 
>'intellectuals' (HG Wells et al!)?

**** You are mixing up different contexts. Stay to the subject if you 
have any respect for objectivity. I posted the Flagwaving Blues to 
explain my views about others' falg-waving, because you  charged me 
with telling Thakuria  that it is wrong.

>What is that role, C'da? Why can't the media cover a broad 
>spectrum - some supportive of your cause, >while others not?

*** Again let us remain in context. Did I somehow imply that the 
Press need not  perform other
functions ?  While it is your prerogative to jump to conclusions of 
your liking, to air the figments of your imaginations  in this 
fashion has its consequences. And I hope you know what they are :-).

>For all the critisism of Desi Democracy, the media in India is pretty free.

*** And look how they are using that freedom. What they are 
CONTRIBUTING . Or for that matter take a look at your own judgement 
in what  makes for useful or constructive contributions from the 
press when you posted that infantile Op-Ed piece from the sentinel. 
Good thing Kamal wrote in judgement of the piece instead of me.

>Maybe there should be a Chinese style Democracy - then everything 
>would straighten out, and people >will soon be singing praises of 
>India.

*** Come on Ram. You can do whole lot better than that. Try it!

>I think, C'da you might want to take off those rose-colored glasses

*** Sorry Ram. They are my original eyes  that can see right thru the 
obfuscations and spin. And they shall remain where they are :-).

Finally, why don't you tell us WHAT exactly is it that troubled you 
so about what I suggested to Thakuria  for being useful and 
constructive for Assam in this context?

c-da

>
>I think they are. I have often enjoyed DN B's columns. I think of 
>him as one of Assam's intellectuals. I would not doubt his 
>patriotism for Assam or India.
>
>The fact that these intellectuals are sending out a mass appeal to 
>all the people in Assam, and urging them NOT to be afraid and 
>cowed-down and celebrate with the rest of the Nation, is very 
>laudable.
>
>  >Because that is the role of the press in a democracy.
>
>What is that role, C'da? Why can't the media cover a broad 
>spectrum - some supportive of your cause, while others not?
>Are those that support your views the ONLY ones on the right track? 
>Are they the only ones that are patriotic, true upholders of genuine 
>jouranlism etc etc?
>
>For all the critisism of Desi Democracy, the media in India is 
>pretty free. That is why even near anti-national views are 
>tolerated, and are free to publish almost anything. Maybe there 
>should be a Chinese style Democracy - then everything would 
>straighten out, and people will soon be singing praises of India.:)
>
>I think, C'da you might want to take off those rose-colored glasses :):)
>
>--Ram
>
>
>Further,
>
>
>On 8/14/07, Chan Mahanta 
><<mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>I did not say anything is WRONG with flag waving, did I Ram? However 
>most intellectually able people do not hold it in high esteem. 
>Anyone can do it. Just like wearing ones patriotism on one's 
>shirtsleeves. That is why thoughtful people also do not give any 
>importance to such demonstration, in fact some very well thought of 
>people have called the pursuit the 'first resort of a scoundrel' or 
>'the last refuge of a scoundrel'.
>
>
>I merely explained that it is meaningless , without anything 
>constructive in it, as far as I am concerned. Like HG Wells said.
>
>
>Why my opinion ? That is because Thakuria was kind enough to inform 
>me of their effort with the appeal, no doubt something they believe 
>is useful or constructive or beneficial for Assam.
>
>
>See my post from 2002 on the topic I am forwarding next.
>
>
>
>
>  >Why? Is there a sudden dearth of supporters, that you would urge 
>Thakuria & Co. to carry water for such causes?
>
>
>
>
>*** Why don't YOU take a wild guess? But considering the question I 
>guess that would not be all that useful, so allow me to help out:
>
>
>         Because that is the role of the press in a democracy.
>
>
>But I realize, desi-demokrasy and the Assam press' role in it does 
>not necessarily reflect that.
>
>
>c-da
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>At 9:34 AM -0600 8/14/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
>>C'da,
>>
>
>
>As this is a public forum, thought I would weigh in too.
>
>
>
>I really do not see anything wrong with some people  wanting to and 
>encouraging others to celebrate the Independence Day by hoisting the 
>National Flag.
>
>
>
>It may irk some that there are many Assamese who actually want to 
>celebrate in such a fashion. That is understandible.
>
>
>
>What is so wrong that some people are willing to celebrate as they 
>wish, instead of staying home for fear of violence? All they want to 
>do is peacefully celebrate the Independence that they cherish - but 
>of course, only if others will let them!
>
>
>
>  >It seems to me that a far more useful activity for those of you 
>who are able, would >be to analyze, inform and educate the people 
>about how such things as an >armed insurgency came about from 
>popular discontent brewing over decades  in >Assam
>
>
>
>Why? Is there a sudden dearth of supporters, that you would urge 
>Thakuria & Co. to carry water for such causes? And who decides what 
>activities are useful and which ones are not?
>
>
>
>--Ram
>
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>I
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>On 8/14/07, Chan Mahanta 
><<mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>Greetings Thakuria.
>
>
>
>
>I hope you are carrying the torch of Oxomiya journalism high and 
>bright in the international  field as Assam's representative.
>
>
>
>
>Thanks for sharing the appeal.  Even though I don't, as a rule, 
>indulge in 'flag-waving'  of any kind and think of the pursuit in 
>the same vein as how HG Wells viewed 'patriotism': " A mere national 
>self-assertion, a sentimentality of flag cheering, with no 
>constructive duties", I felt I owed a response since you were kind 
>enough to send me a personal copy.
>
>
>
>
>It seems to me that a far more useful activity for those of you who 
>are able, would be to analyze, inform and educate the people  about 
>how such things as an armed insurgency came about from popular 
>discontent brewing over decades  in Assam and has not subsided in 
>spite of tens of thousands of Assamese lives taken and given by and 
>to Indian military operations spanning a quarter century; what the 
>much touted 'democratic' governments, past and present have done  ( 
>or not done) to eradicate the causes of such discontent and how to 
>hold what you all present to the world, by default, as the 
>'legitimate'  government accountable; offer achievable and 
>sustainable solutions  instead of merely crying hoarse without 
>anything to contribute.
>
>
>
>
>And if you are unable to that yourself, go seek out those who can 
>and make use of  collective wisdom of the people who call Assam 
>home, and help giving it the exposure from which the people can 
>learn and act to change things for the better.
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>That would be something meaningful.
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>Best.
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>At 6:22 AM +0000 8/12/07, Nava Thakuria wrote:
>
>>AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE
>>
>>
>>
>>We, the undersigned urge the people of Assam to
>>celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Independence Day
>>on August 15 in a befitting manner ignoring the
>>threats that have come from certain quarters.
>>
>>We believe that we, the people of the State have every
>>right to celebrate the Day, as we have inherited the
>>spirit of the freedom fighters who had made immense
>>sacrifices and a good number of whom, like Kushal
>>Konwar and Kanaklata, had even laid down their lives
>>to free the country from the clutches of colonial
>>rulers. The Independence Day this time has added
>>significance as it coincides with the birth centenary
>>celebrations of martyr Bhagat Singh.
>>
>>We therefore, call upon the people of the State to
>>hoist the National Tricolour on the Day atop their
>>houses and also to organize community celebrations in
>>their respective localities.
>>
>>On the Day, we will also hoist the National Flag on
>>the Guwahati Press Club campus at 11a.m. So, it's our
>>appeal to the people to join the programme and make it
>>a success.
>>
>>Nirupama Borgohain,
>>
>>Dhirendra Nath Bezboruah
>>
>>Dhirendra Nath Chakravarty,
>>
>>Sushanta Talukdar,
>>
>>Bhupen Bargohain
>>
>>Ajit Patowary
>>
>>Rupam Baruah,
>>
>>Nava Thakuria,
>>
>>Ranen Kumar Goswami,
>>
>>Hiten Mahanta
>>
>>Ratna Bharali Talukdar
>>
>>Sabita Lahkar
>>
>>Girindra Kumar Karjee
>>
>>Mukul Kalita
>>
>>Dhanjit Kakoti
>>
>>Pramod Kalita
>>
>
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