[Assam] AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF ASSAM
Chan Mahanta
cmahanta at charter.net
Thu Aug 16 08:08:30 PDT 2007
I am perfectly willing to hear about Indian reforms that are real,
achievable , sustainable and addresses the issues involving Assam ,
its disaffections and its progress. But let us get one thing straight
first: It is NOT about ME. Wouldn't YOU want to hear about it?
Wouldn't ALL want to hear of it?
To charge, as an argument, that I don't want to hear of it 'in the
Indian framework' ( heh-heh, that must be some framework alright) is
the most preposterous proposition one can imagine. But these
inquisitions have been mostly that, over and over again.
If I did not, I would not ask Indian flag-wavers to propose them.
Jairam Ramesh could propose them, or Laloo Yadav or even Narendra
Modi. I have been waiting for twenty five years to see it happen,
even in little increments, but perceptibly and making a difference.
However it does not take a genius to see where Ramesh
stood--throwing in the towel , with his comment.
Critical essays are not enough. Nor is chest-thumping demonizing
Tarun Gogoi or Prafulla Mahanta. Printing articles of Tavleen Singh
criticizing Delhi does not do a damn thing for Assam. One needs to
look at Assam's unique problems and help find solutions for them.
Obviously Indian governance has not been able to do that for sixty
years. That is easily understandable. Indian governance has remained
as dysfunctional as it always have been. They are unable seek out
people who have better ideas, achievable ideas, from outside the
establishment if they have to, Import them if they must.
Show me one thing from the Indian press that has attempted to deal
substantially with Assam issues, pinpoint problems and offer
solutions.
>Yes, open your eyes and see how India is improving
*** How does is that helping Assam? I don' t care what India is
doing or when Indians are going to the moon or to hell in a
hand-basket. Show me how it is helping Assam.
Can you or anybody else here explain why there is nothing useful or
meaningful to show for Rs. 300,000,000 a year for 32,000,000 people
of the region? Don't forget your 65% voter participated election
generated democratic government running the show.
But I won't hold my breath on anyone touching that subject, unless
wrapped with a thick tarpaulin of 'no-comprendo' or some other
insulating device :-).
At 11:22 AM -0700 8/15/07, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote:
>--- Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>> Ram,
>>
>> Your response here , unfortunately, smacks of the
>> immensely
>> uncreative and unimaginative but argumentative one.
>> It fits right in
>> the mold of the Indian govt. policies spanning
>> decades, uncreative,
>> unproductive, stuck in the muck of their own
>> creations.
>>
>> You have no goal here, nothing to aim for,
>> quarreling for the sake of
>> quarreling; very similar to what some of these
>> journalists have been
>> doing. So I can understand your empathy for the
>> targets of my
>> criticism.
>>
>>
>> Could you tell us what is wrong or bad in my
>> suggestions? NO.
>>
>
>Yes, your suggestions revolve around Sovereign Assam
> and you do not want to hear anything which suggest
>improvement within Indian framework (similar to the
>saying which you mentioned). The Assam Press have
>been a lot critical of GOI/GOA policies and steps then
>you but the difference is they do constructive
>criticism and they do see some of the improvements of
>India/Assam too. Whether GOI/GOA take any lesson
>from their criticizm is a different story (just the
>way your GOUSA not always learn lessons from US
>Press).
>You have in fact discounted the whole of Indian Press
>under Desi-Demokrasy but you are the one who uses
>articles by Tavleen Singh and others as well as news
>reports from Indian news papers to kill GOI/GOA.
>
>
>> Could you present a better alternative? None!
>
>Yes, open your eyes and see how India is improving
>.... shed the arms and be a part of this development.
> there are a number of private investors who are eager
>to invest in smaller towns and cities only if there is
>no threat to their life/business
>
>>
>> And could you explain the contradiction in the
>> claim about
>>
>> > "------During last couple of elections Assam has
>> witnessed at
>> > >least 65% or more vote casting. This essentially
>> >means that at least 65% of Assam's people
>> believe in
>> >Indian Constitution.
>>
>>
>> that Krishnendu posted, echoing your and others'
> > claims of elections
>> as a proof of Assam voters' issue awareness or
>> informed expression
>> of preferences as it relates to the B'deshi
>> immigration issue and
>> the GoI/GoA's non-acknowledgement and inaction over
>> it, while that
>> segment of the Assam press that cries hoarse over
>> it and whom you
>> are attempting to shield from criticisms here ?
>
>Thanks for rejecting the voting by Indian/Assamese
>population. This really shows how much willing you
>are to accept the verdict of people. You will surely
>reject the referendum on similar flimsy ground that
>these people do not know what they are doing. And
>before you jump on debate and discussion , if there
>is a really free platform to debate (without threats
>from some sections), there will be many more voice
>rejecting the Sovereignty issue.
>
>As you have noticed, the Assamese intellegsia has
>already rejected Sovereign Assam theory (if you think
>otherwise, tell me 10 prominent people of Assam who
>support it); you have already rejected the voting by
>common people of Assam ..... so who remains to support
>you on your referendum.
>
>>
>> I will let netters decide that.
>>
>>
>> c-da
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> At 10:27 PM -0600 8/14/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>> >C'da,
>> >
>> >I think I will respond to this post. It kinda
>> explains what exactly
>> >you meant. Moreover, I am having a difficulty in
>> keeping track of
>> >who said what, and all the cut & paste:)
>> >
>> >So here goes,
>> >>I will stop at this post.
>> >I agree, we seem to be rehashing everything:)
>> >
>> > >Assam journalists have been crying endlessly
>> about a number of
>> >>issues, like ULFA, B'deshis, corruption and the
>> like.
>> >
>> >Well, that is obviously what they seem to be
>> interested in.
>> >
>> > >However they have utterly failed in their
>> journalistic duties in
>> >investigating, >analyzing and educating the public
>> about the causes
>> >of these problems
>> >
>> >Who sets these standards of journalism? If they
>> followed your advice
>> >and found the GOI/GOA the main reason for all the
>> violence, would
>> >that make it better?
>> > >Nor have they offered any achievable and
>> sustainable
>> >>solutions to what they cry about, that I am aware
>> of.
>> >
>> >Actually, I have read numerous times the
>> Sentinel/AT calling for
>> >peace talks etc. Now, whether they are deemed
>> achievable or
>> >sustainable is really in the eye of the beholder.
>> >I really don't see anybody being able to convince
>> anyone. Basically,
>> >no one sees eye to eye.
>> >
>> > >Nor does symbolic flag-waving, appeals to the
>> people and so forth.
>> >All that does is >promote or publicize their own
>> piety, something
>> >that does not in any way help
>> >>Assam in its woes.
>> >
>> >True, but who has been doing this? I can guess,
>> but then, I would
>> >have to come up with proof - which I can't pin down
>> at the moment:)
>> >--Ram
>> >
>> >__________________
>> >
>> >
>> >On 8/14/07, Chan Mahanta
>> ><<mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>cmahanta at charter.net>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >Just so this discussion does not relapse into the
>> same old repetition
>> >of your or my positions, I will stop at this post.
>> >
>> >The point is not about MY views or Thakuria's or DN
>> Bezbaruah's.
>> >Assam journalists have been crying endlessly about
>> a number of
>> >issues, like ULFA, B'deshis, corruption and the
>> like. However they
>> >have utterly failed in their journalistic duties in
>> investigating,
>> >analyzing and educating the public about the causes
>> of these problems
>> >or how they can be resolved and how the people can
>> become a part of
>> >the solution . Nor have they offered any achievable
> > and sustainable
>> >solutions to what they cry about, that I am aware
>> of. Wishful
>> >thinking, or calling names, or sermonizing and
>> lecturing those they
>> >disagree with do not qualify as such. Nor does
>> symbolic flag-waving,
>> >appeals to the people and so forth. All that does
>> is promote or
>> >publicize their own piety, something that does not
>> in any way help
>> >Assam in its woes. As responsible and effective
>> journalists, a key
>> >element of a functioning democracy ( unlike
>> desi-demokrasy that is),
> > >they owe it to their readers, to seek out those
>> who have the ability
>> >to offer such achievable solutions and air them, if
>> they cannot offer
>> >them themselves. The least they can do.
>> >
>> >That in essence was what I wrote to Thakuria. If
>> you believe that was
>> >a bad or destructive set of suggestions, you ought
>> to point out that
>> >, explaining why. Or if you have better ideas you
>> ought to present
>> >those. That will be meaningful. But to go on as you
>> have, with absurd
>> >demands and assertions
>> >
>> > >like "---During last couple of elections Assam
>> has witnessed at
>> >>least 65% or more vote casting. This essentially
>> >>means that at least 65% of Assam's people believe
>> in
>> >Indian Constitution. What other verdict you want
>> ??
>> >
>> >merely underscores your clueless disposition. And
>> if you are
>> >wondering why it is clueless, try reconciling that
>> with yours and
>> >Assam journalists' laments about the B'deshi
>> immigration issue and
>> >why the voters don't care about it as proven by
>> their election and
>> >re-election of those who would not even
>> acknowledge it as a problem,
>> >much less do anything about it. And when you do,
>> enlighten us about
>> >it.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>=== message truncated ===
>
>
>
>
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