[Assam] Telegraph 20 Aug 07 - Assam's other victims

[Jyotirmoy Sharma]

Patricia Mukhim's article in the Telegraph and my response.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070820/asp/northeast/story_8208508.asp


Hi Patricia
Thanks for your anti-Assamese articles that routinely comes out in  
the NE section of the Telegraph.
How often do you have to keep blaming the Assamese population for all  
the ills of Assam, be it killings of the ULFA, neglect of the tribals  
and so on and so forth.

"Assamese hegemony and patronising attitude towards those who do not  
speak their language is alive and kicking. A true blue Assamese  
cannot think beyond what he conceives is the nucleus of his origin,  
which is also Ulfa’s hub."

*** Please remember that majority of the Assamese speaking people  
have already disowned the ULFA and their concept of revolutionary  
struggle and independence. They have openly come out denouncing their  
acts, publicly thrashed them and also defied their dictats in several  
occasions( the Independence day celebration being one example). Where  
did the Khasi organisations go when the KSU went on a xenophobic  
campaign against the Bengalis and Nepalis during the late 80s and  
90s? I was a student in Shillong then. Curfews and bandhs were the  
norms alongwith killings of non-tribals. I did not see anyone speak  
out against the KSU. Few years back, did any of the Khasi leaders  
shed crocodile tears when some innocent Garos were shot down during a  
peaceful protest in Garohills? Why? Does Khasis matter more to  
Meghalaya. Isn't it the feeling of neglect that  the Garos are  
demanding to bifurcate Meghalaya.

" Karbi Anglong has only four MLAs in a House of 126 elected  
representatives. Of the four, only one is a minister and the other a  
parliamentary secretary. Important portfolios in the cabinet,  
irrespective of the pecking order are firmly entrenched among the  
“Assamese” gentry. Assam has never had a tribal chief minister and  
perhaps never will."

*** Maybe true, that the Karbis haven't been strongly represented in  
Assam. But you must also remember that Karbi population in Assam is  
small in comparison to other tribes and non-tribes. I am not even  
sure how you made the assessment about Assam not having a tribal as  
CM. I am sure that if there is an eligible candidate for the post,  
people would elect him. However belonging to a minority population  
has it's disadvantage like anywhere in the world. Your statement is  
akin to saying "America will never have a black President" or  
"Australia will never have an Aboriginal as the PM". However I can  
state that Assam having a tribal CM is more likely that a black  
President in US or an Aboriginal PM of Australia. Assamese do not in  
general have xenophobic feelings towards the other tribals of Assam.
Let's talk about your home state - Meghalaya. What chances does a non- 
tribal have in standing for election, let alone become the CM? After  
all, non-tribals make a significant percent of the population and  
have made significant contribution to Meghalaya, haven't they?

"Karbi Anglong is not the only district, which experiences an apology  
of governance. Let us have the grace to admit that the bulk of  
resources are cornered by the traditional “Assamese” strongholds,  
namely, Guwahati, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Tezpur."
*** Please also visit other Assamese areas like Nalbari, Rangia,  
Barpeta and see for yourself how much development have taken place.  
Nothing much to write about.

If you do reply, atleast let other Assam netters also know what you  
were talking about? [ CC to assam at assamnet.org ]

Cheers
JS