[Assam] assam Digest, Vol 33, Issue 12
umesh sharma
jaipurschool at yahoo.com
Thu Apr 10 01:55:49 PDT 2008
Basmati Rice seems costlier in India than in the US . India Assam it is Rs5600 per quintal (100 kilogram) or about $1.30 per kilo or $3 per pound. In the US I think it is $2 per pound. The low grade rice is however much cheaper - eight times cheaper at Rs750 per quintal or 20 cents a kilo.
How is rice cultivation in Assam. Lots of Basmati exports from UP and Chhatisgarh by Punajbi farmers.
Umesh
bg <bgogoi at gmail.com> wrote: try this site: http://agmarknet.nic.in/
On Thu, Apr 10, 2008 at 12:25 PM, patricia mary mukhim
wrote:
> Speaking of plummeting potato prices, can someone please inform me what is the current price so I can do a comparative study between prices in Assam and Meghalaya. Who knows? Our farmers too might be suffering the same fate. A quick response would be appreciated.
> Patricia
>
>
> On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 assam-request at assamnet.org wrote :
> >Send assam mailing list submissions to
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> >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> >than "Re: Contents of assam digest..."
> >Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Re: Two Orchids from Assam (Ram Sarangapani)
> > 2. Re: Two Orchids from Assam (Rajen & Ajanta Barua)
> > 3. Re: Two Orchids from Assam (uttam borthakur)
> > 4. Re: Two Orchids from Assam (Chan Mahanta)
> > 5. New FM channel in Guwahati; courtesy Sun TV (Buljit Buragohain)
> > 6. Re: Two Orchids from Assam (Chan Mahanta)
> > 7. Re: Two Orchids from Assam (Chan Mahanta)
> > 8. Re: vegetableconomics (umesh sharma)
> > 9. Re: no bias please - school textbooks selections (umesh sharma)
> > 10. better textbooks - learning from USA - a viewpoint (umesh sharma)
> > 11. Re: Two Orchids from Assam (umesh sharma)
> > 12. Re: Religion & Faith (umesh sharma)
> > 13. Singer Zubeen Garg lends voice to Tibet cause (Pradip Kumar Datta)
> > 14. Evolution: Harvard's Case Study Method - use it for Assam's
> > development (umesh sharma)
> > 15. Two Orchids from Assam (shantikam hazarika)
> > 16. IE: Odd News - Assam Hathi project wins UK award (umesh sharma)
> >Really beautiful. Are you by chance also growing them here?
> >
> >--Ram
> >
> >
> >On 4/9/08, Chan Mahanta wrote:
> > >
> > > Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> > >
> > > The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one with
> > > the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found in the Khasi
> > > Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> > >
> > > cm
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > assam mailing list
> > > assam at assamnet.org
> > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >Great!!
> >When did you bring the plant?
> >Rajen
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- From: "Chan Mahanta"
> >To:
> >Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 3:34 PM
> >Subject: [Assam] Two Orchids from Assam
> >
> >
> >>Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> >>
> >>The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one
> >>with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found
> >>in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> >>
> >>cm
> >
> >
> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>assam mailing list
> >>assam at assamnet.org
> >>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >The magic of the green fingers. It is simply glorious.
> >
> > Chandan Da, is there any easy procedure for taking seeds, saplings etc. from here to US on demand from friends/ relatives or it has to be a covert work?
> >
> >Chan Mahanta wrote:
> > Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> >
> >The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one
> >with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found
> >in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> >
> >cm_______________________________________________
> >assam mailing list
> >assam at assamnet.org
> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >Uttam Kumar Borthakur
> >
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Best Jokes, Best Friends, Best Food. Get all this and more on Best of Yahoo! Groups.
> >Thanks Ram. Glad you liked them.
> >
> >No not yet. But one of these years I hope to :-).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >At 2:54 PM -0600 4/9/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
> >>Really beautiful. Are you by chance also growing them here?
> >>
> >>--Ram
> >>
> >>
> >>On 4/9/08, Chan Mahanta wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> >>>
> >>> The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one with
> >>> the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found in the Khasi
> >>> Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> >>>
> >>> cm
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> assam mailing list
> >>> assam at assamnet.org
> >>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>assam mailing list
> >>assam at assamnet.org
> >>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >New FM channel in Guwahati; courtesy Sun TV:
> >
> > Sun TV Network Ltd has launched launched an FM Radio Station in Guwahati under the brand 'S FM' through its subsidiary South Asia FM Ltd.
> >The FM station is starting its operations on Tuesday at 93.5 MHz frequency in the city which aims at catering to all audience.
> >
> >According to the country's second largest television network, it hold licences for 45 FM Radio Stations across the country. With the launch of this FM Station, the total operational FM Stations of Sun TV has reached 29.
> >
> >Notably, it has FM Stations at Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Indore, Vijayawada, Varanasi, Tiruchy, Rajahmundry, Kanpur, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Mangalore, Kannur, Allahabad, Jabalpur and Mysore. Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, Tirupati, Madurai, Tuticorin, Lucknow, Bhopal, Pondicherry, Kozhikode (Calicut).
> >
> > http://www.assamtimes.org/Business/1319.html
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Check out the all-new face of Yahoo! India. Click here.
> >*** I can't answer that question Rajen. It must remain another one of life's many mysteries :-).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >At 8:19 PM -0500 4/9/08, Rajen & Ajanta Barua wrote:
> >>Great!!
> >>When did you bring the plant?
> >>Rajen
> >>
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Chan Mahanta"
> >>To:
> >>Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 3:34 PM
> >>Subject: [Assam] Two Orchids from Assam
> >>
> >>
> >>> Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> >>>
> >>> The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one
> >>> with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found
> >>> in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> >>>
> >>> cm
> >>
> >>
> >>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> assam mailing list
> >>> assam at assamnet.org
> >>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>assam mailing list
> >>assam at assamnet.org
> >>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >It is a very complicated issue Uttam.
> >
> >Orchids are very special plants. Their cultural requirements are very demanding. You can keep them alive and even make them grow well out of their natural habitats, but you may not be able to make them bloom. Kopou-ful ( Rhynchostylis retusa) is almost impossible to bring to bloom, even in a simple green house like ours. It needs precise temperature , humidity and brightness of light conditions that can be replicated only in a very sophisticated greenhouse.
> >
> >International laws prohibit collecting, owning, selling or exporting of orchids from their natural habitats. Only commercially grown orchids can be exported or imported. And to import to the USA the exporter must be able to furnish proof that:
> >
> >A: It is commercially grown and can be certified in accordance with CITES regulations.
> >
> >B: That the plants are not contaminated with organisms such as fungi, bacteria or viruses. This is done by producing what is called "phytosanitary certification" from an accredited laboratory.
> >
> >Among the many orchid producing countries of the world India and Bangladesh are the only ones that I know of that do not have lab. facilities that would be recognized by the USA. So no orchid export takes place, legally, from India to the USA.
> >
> >
> >Incidentally, almost all but the rarest of rare or endangered orchids that grow in south Asia can be purchased from many orchid growers across the USA, Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan etc. They are not even as expensive as some of the hybrids. The reasons are several:
> >
> >A: Orchids from Assam and the surrounding region are what is called "species" orchids--not hybrids. They are pure. But they are not easy to care for, have stringent cultural needs.
> >
> >B: As showy as our orchids are, the flowers are short lived, compared to many orchids from other regions.
> >
> >The two orchids whose pictures I posted here will last, at most, two weeks. That is nothing compared to some or hybrid Dendrobiums or Phalaenopses or Cymbidiums or Oncidiums that routinely last two to three months. BTW some varieties of the latter two grow in the wilds of Arunachal as well as the Khasi Hills. The only cymbidiums we see in the Brahmaputra valley are those that grow on the trunks and branches of huge trees that produce little and not-so-attractive flowers on long pendulous growths. These are called Cymbidium pendulata. Even though these are not showy, they are sought after by breeders for cross breeding to produce more attractive hybrids. But they are extremely difficult to bring to bloom in temperate climates. I have had a large plant for years, but no flowers!
> >
> >Commercial orchid growing, both as cut flowers as well as plants have a great potential in Assam,. But transportation and cold storage for flowers and CITES and Phytosanitary certification for export are the
> >road-blocks, as they always have been.
> >
> >Few things change in India as you well know.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >At 2:34 AM +0100 4/10/08, uttam borthakur wrote:
> >>The magic of the green fingers. It is simply glorious.
> >> Chandan Da, is there any easy procedure for taking seeds, saplings etc. from here to US on demand from friends/ relatives or it has to be a covert work?
> >>
> >>Chan Mahanta wrote:
> >> Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> >>
> >>The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one
> >>with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found
> >>in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> >>
> >>cm_______________________________________________
> >>assam mailing list
> >>assam at assamnet.org
> >>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Uttam Kumar Borthakur
> >>
> >> ---------------------------------
> >> Best Jokes, Best Friends, Best Food. Get all this and more on Best of Yahoo! Groups.
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>assam mailing list
> >>assam at assamnet.org
> >>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >Shantikam-da,
> >
> >every success story has happened becos of the reasons you mentioned - no pun intended.
> >
> >umesh
> >
> >Shantikam Hazarika wrote: The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was created to replicate the
> >AMUL model all over India. The success was very limited. AMUL succeeded
> >because it had the right people at the right time at the right place.
> >Shantikam Hazarika
> >
> >On Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 11:42 AM, umesh sharma
> >wrote:
> >
> > > can something like Gujarat's AMUL cooperative system start in Assam ?
> > >
> > > Umesh
> > >
> > > shantikam hazarika wrote: I think this has been
> > > happening all along in Assam. A few years back I came across farmers in
> > > Kharupetia allowing their tomato crop to rot because the price they were
> > > fetching in the nearby market would not even meet their transportation cost
> > > to the market.
> > > As far as I remember, Assam Unnati Sabha need not worry since they have
> > > already contracted their production to a buyer at a predetermined rate. For
> > > any one starting a new business, that is the most sensible thing to do.State
> > > intervention is the only answer, but how it is to be done is again a matter
> > > that can be decided by in depth going into the problem. Unless the power
> > > situation improves, cold storage may not be the solution. Also, simply
> > > having the cold storage may not be adequate, unless we have the total
> > > linkages in place.
> > > Your jibe at the freedom seekers at the end of your note was not
> > > necessary. I am sure they are still looking into our antecedants before they
> > > can reply to the queries raised by us. So please do not disturb them with
> > > such issues which may be beyond their comprehension.
> > >
> > > Shantikam Hazarika
> > > Director,
> > > Assam Institute of Management
> > > PO Box 30, GUWAHATI 781001, India
> > > HOME PAGE: www.aimguwahati.edu.in
> > >
> > > > Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:44:27 +0100> From: uttamborthakur at yahoo.co.in>
> > > To: assam at assamnet.org> Subject: [Assam] Potatoeconomics of Assam> > > > >
> > > A news item in Pratidin makes a difficult reading. Less of facts, more of
> > > opinions. > But an item published on 31st March2008 is of concern. The
> > > prices of potato have suddenly plummetted in Assam. Apparently it should
> > > indicate the positive impact of withdrawal of Value Added Tax on food items.
> > > But it is not, because of the simple reason that the prices of rice-cereals
> > > etc. have remained sky-high.> > Then why this sudden drop in potato prices?
> > > Its answer can be found in the huge production of potato in Barpeta district
> > > under the aegis of the Oxom Unnati Sabha. In order to ensure that the
> > > Oxomiya farmers producing potato incur loss and do not dare to cultivate it
> > > again successfully, the mainland India trading lobby or the oligopoly or the
> > > cartel, by whatever name called, has suddenly reduced the market prices of
> > > potato so that
> > > the reigning market prices would not allow the local cultivators recover
> > > the input prices, let alone make a profit. Moreover, storing in Assam is a
> > > bit difficult, because of dearth of cold storage facility and lack of
> > > electricity to run the cold storages effectively.> > Such things have been
> > > taking place in Assam for a number of years in respect of tea, vegetables
> > > and now Potato. Some people may argue that let the market forces rule, as in
> > > any free market system. But history of economics shows that it is the trade
> > > barriers, subsidies and in short the protective policies of the state that
> > > have allowed the economies of rich nations grow. So such advocates actually
> > > are the spokespersons of the mighty, and in this case that of the mainland
> > > India that uses Assam like a hinterland. Moreover, had it been a fairplay,
> > > it would have been acceptable. But here is a design working to stifle
> > > capital formation in Assam and the Indian State and its local lackeys are
> > > helping such a design
> > > to succeed by its inaction or covert helping hand.> > I believe that we
> > > should do whatever we can to foil and expose such nefarious designs. Yes,
> > > desecration of archeological relics is important issue to tackle. But brazen
> > > economic loot is no less a question.> > I am also surprised that the outfits
> > > that want secession or sovereignty of Assam, do not point out these
> > > injustices in everyday life and restrict themselves to denouncing state
> > > atrocities, to which campaign people have become desensitized to an extent,
> > > as it smacks of partisanship. The major problem with these outfits are that
> > > they have failed to give anyone an alternative picture or system, if they
> > > have one, to fire the imaginations of the people, who they apparently want
> > > to win over.> > > Uttam Kumar Borthakur> > >
> > > ---------------------------------> Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get
> > > it now> _______________________________________________> assam mailing list>
> > > assam at assamnet.org>
> > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > Video: Get a glimpse of the latest in Cricket, Bollywood, News and
> > > Fashion. Only on MSN videos.
> > > http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-in
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > assam mailing list
> > > assam at assamnet.org
> > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Umesh Sharma
> > >
> > > Washington D.C.
> > >
> > > 1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> > >
> > > Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> > > Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> > > Harvard University,
> > > Class of 2005
> > >
> > > http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> > >
> > > http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> > > http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------
> > > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > assam mailing list
> > > assam at assamnet.org
> > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > >
> >_______________________________________________
> >assam mailing list
> >assam at assamnet.org
> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> >here are the details:
> >
> > sample for World History textbooks When judging textbooks, well thought-out objections put you on the attack and foes on the defensive. Our standard review criteria give you this edge. They also help rank textbooks fairly.
> > Below are a few of our standard review criteria for high school World History textbooks. This is not a comprehensive course outline, but a list of what textbooks often censor on major topics.
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Prevent stereotypes of whites-as-oppressors and people-of-color-as-victims from slanting discussions of Western imperialism by noting that:
> >
> > Some sub-Saharan African peoples practiced human sacrifice (e.g., Ashanti, Dahomey). The Aztecs and some other New World Indians engaged in cannibalism as well as human sacrifice.
> >
> >
> > In the Columbian exchange, infection was a two-way street. A very lethal strain of syphilis, probably from America, killed many Europeans in the early 1500s.
> >
> >
> > Only the Christian West realized slavery was wrong and took the lead in abolishing it.
> >
> >
> > Manchu China was as culturally arrogant as the West. Chinese emperors viewed all foreign traders as barbarian bearers of tribute to whom they wished only to sell, not to buy, demanding payment in silver.
> >
> >
> > The West demanded "extraterritoriality" because Chinese justice assumed guilt until proven innocent, used torture to extract confessions, and held whole groups responsible for acts of single members.
> >
> >
> > British rule brought peace and a common language (English) to deeply divided India, ended or opposed suttee, infanticide, and child marriage there, improved Indian health, education, and transportation systems, and merely added another caste to the existing system.
> >
> >
> > â Add to Bookmarks â
> >http://www.textbookreviews.org/index.html?content=tb_rvws.htm
> >Educational Research Analysts ⢠PO Box 7518 ⢠Longview, Texas 75607
> >
> >On September 21, 2007, Texas' State Board of Education passed a resolution honoring Mel & Norma Gabler, founders of Educational Research Analysts, for their many years of work to improve public school textÂbooks. At the same meeting, Board chairman Don McLeroy read a letter from Texas governor Rick Perry commending the Gablers' long service.
> >
> >
> >umesh sharma wrote: http://www.textbookreviews.org/index.html?content=tb_rvws.htm
> >
> >Any comments about Indian history bias prevention?
> >As there any similar prescription for NE Indian history's portrayal in Indian textbooks?
> >
> >Umesh
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> >_______________________________________________
> >assam mailing list
> >assam at assamnet.org
> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> >http://www.edutopia.org/muddle-machine#
> >
> >In India I think Delhi's CBSE is what Texas is to the USA. However, CBSE doesn't have any forum to redress public greivances.
> >
> >Umesh
> >
> >http://www.edutopia.org/muddle-machine#
> >Don't Mess with Texas The big three adoption states are not equal, however. In that elite trio, Texas rules. California has more students (more than 6 million versus just over 4 million in Texas), but Texas spends just as much money (approximately $42 billion) on its public schools. More important, Texas allocates a dedicated chunk of funds specifically for textbooks. That money can't be used for anything else, and all of it must be spent in the adoption year. Furthermore, Texas has particular power when it comes to high school textbooks, since California adopts statewide only for textbooks from kindergarten though eighth grade, while the Lone Star State's adoption process applies to textbooks from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
> > If you're creating a new textbook, therefore, you start by scrutinizing Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). This document is drawn up by a group of curriculum experts, teachers, and political insiders appointed by the fifteen members of the Texas Board of Education, currently five Democrats and ten Republicans, about half of whom have a background in education. TEKS describes what Texas wants and what the entire nation will therefore get.
> > Texas is truly the tail that wags the dog. There is, however, a tail that wags this mighty tail. Every adoption state allows private citizens to review textbooks and raise objections. Publishers must respond to these objections at open hearings.
> > In the late '60s a Texas couple, Mel and Norma Gabler, figured out how to use their state's adoption hearings to put pressure on textbook publishers. The Gablers had no academic credentials or teaching background, but they knew what they wanted taught--phonics, sexual abstinence, free enterprise, creationism, and the primacy of Judeo-Christian values--and considered themselves in a battle against a "politically correct degradation of academics." Expert organizers, the Gablers possessed a flair for constructing arguments out of the language of official curriculum guidelines. The Longview, Texas-based nonprofit corporation they founded forty-three years ago, Educational Research Analysts, continues to review textbooks and lobby against liberal content in textbooks.
> > The Gablers no longer appear in person at adoption hearings, but through workshops, books, and how-to manuals, they trained a whole generation of conservative Christian activists to carry on their work.
> > Citizens also pressure textbook companies at California adoption hearings. These objections come mostly from such liberal organizations as Norman Lear's People for the American Way, or from individual citizens who look at proposed textbooks when they are on display before adoption in thirty centers around the state. Concern in California is normally of the politically correct sort -- objections, for example, to such perceived gaffes as using the word Indian instead of Native American. To make the list in California, books must be scrupulously stereotype free: No textbook can show African Americans playing sports, Asians using computers, or women taking care of children. Anyone who stays in textbook publishing long enough develops radar for what will and won't get past the blanding process of both the conservative and liberal watchdogs.
> > Responding to citizens' objections in adoption hearings is a delicate art. Publishers learn never to confront the assumptions behind an objection. That just causes deeper criticism. For example, a health textbook I worked on had a picture of a girl on a windy beach. One concerned citizen believed he could detect the outlines of the girl's underwear through her dress. Our response: She's at the beach, so that's her bathing suit. It worked.
> > A social studies textbook was attacked because a full-page photograph showed a large family gathered around a dinner table. The objection? They looked like Arabs. Did we rise up indignantly at this un-American display of bias? We did not. Instead, we said that the family was Armenian. It worked.
> > Of course, publishers prefer to face no objections at all. That's why going through a major adoption, especially a Texas adoption, is like earning a professional certificate in textbook editing. Survivors just know things.
> > What do they know?
> > Mainly, they know how to censor themselves. Once, I remember, an editorial group was discussing literary selections to include in a reading anthology. We were about to agree on one selection when someone mentioned that the author of this piece had drawn a protest at a Texas adoption because he had allegedly belonged to an organization called One World Council, rumored to be a "Communist front."
> > At that moment, someone pointed out another story that fit our criteria. Without further conversation, we chose that one and moved on. Only in retrospect did I realize we had censored the first story based on rumors of allegations. Our unspoken thinking seemed to be, If even the most unlikely taint existed, the Gablers would find it, so why take a chance?
> > Self-censorship like this goes unreported because we the censors hardly notice ourselves doing it. In that room, none of us said no to any story. We just converged around a different story. The dangerous author, incidentally, was celebrated best-selling science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> >why not set up orchid export business from Assam!! An Indian has become the owner of the largest rose supplying firm in the world - in Holland if I am not wrong. That guy is based in Bangalore.
> >
> >http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1569224.cms
> >
> >Orchid export is highly restricted/banned
> >http://www.orchidsasia.com/orcintro.htm
> >
> >"The list of plants banned or restricted for export from India formerly included a few orchids but now include all orchids growing wild. The convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), ratified by India, places all species of Orchidaceae under Appendix II, meaning thereby that their trade will be only through export permits. Steps have also been taken to conserve Indian native species by establishing orchidaria, sanctuaries and germplasm conservation centres. Botanical survey of India has established two orchidaria one at Shillong and other at Yercaud to conserve rare and endangered species. The ICAR research complex at Shillong, the Indian Institute Of Horticultural Research at Hessaraghatta and the Indian Botanic Gardens at Calcutta maintain collections of orchids in their orchidaria. Some states have also established orchid sanctuaries in Sikkim at Singtom and Deorali and in Arunachal Pradesh at Tapi."
> >
> >Umesh
> >
> >Rajen & Ajanta Barua wrote: Great!!
> >When did you bring the plant?
> >Rajen
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Chan Mahanta"
> >To:
> >Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 3:34 PM
> >Subject: [Assam] Two Orchids from Assam
> >
> >
> > > Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> > >
> > > The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one
> > > with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found
> > > in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> > >
> > > cm
> >
> >
> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > assam mailing list
> > > assam at assamnet.org
> > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> > >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >assam mailing list
> >assam at assamnet.org
> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> >He He You are right Ram-da,
> >
> >***
> >On the flip side, its probably good for the poor farmer, he might make
> > make
> >some money out of this, and the child will not at least be cast aside
> > like a leper by the family and community because of the abnormality.
> > it is surprising that even in the US technology experts believe/or try hard to disbelieve - in astrology calculations to get married etc
> >
> >Umesh
> >
> >Ram Sarangapani wrote: Here is this story of a child born with two faces. In India she is now being
> >worshipped as a reincarnation.
> >
> >http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/baby.heads.ap/index.html
> >
> >As soon as the story broke out the other day, I knew this is where it would
> >lead to. This is extending faith to an extreme, an illogical extreme, and
> >then there are opportunists all around. The poor child is, of course,
> >suffering from a birth defect, the child's face is grotesque, but there are
> >zealots and opportunists who apparently see yet another way to make a fast
> >buck. I seriously doubt if the country and community will come together and
> >get the child some medical treatment.
> >
> >I have nothing against people professing or having faith, but this sort of
> >thing, IMHO, is going to the extremes.
> >
> >On the flip side, its probably good for the poor farmer, he might make make
> >some money out of this, and the child will not at least be cast aside like a
> >leper by the family and community because of the abnormality.
> >
> >This kind of thing is a tiny window through which one can see yet another
> >facet of India. The country is a dichotomy of sorts. While there are vast
> >advancements in many areas in urban India, the same is not true in rural and
> >also in states that are obviously not in the Center's radar screen.
> >
> >"Thinking" in India is what needs changing. The 'present-day thinking' is it
> >seems burdened with centuries of unecessary baggage, mingled & confused with
> >an unhealthy mixture of some of the worst 'thinking from the West'.
> >
> >Just my 2 cents.
> >
> >--Ram
> >_______________________________________________
> >assam mailing list
> >assam at assamnet.org
> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> > Zubeen lends voice to Tibet cause
> > A STAFF REPORTER TELEGRAPH INDIA Zubeen Garg prays at a mock funeral as part of a three-day solidarity meet of Tibetans in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, April 9: After Icelandic singer Bjork, it is the turn of Bollywood star Zubeen Garg to lend his voice to the Tibetan cause.
> >
> > The popular Bollywood singer revealed his plans to organise a concert in Mumbai to mobilise support for the Tibetans.
> >
> >
> > Garg attended a symbolic "funeral" organised by the Northeast unit of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee at Digalipukhuri here under the aegis of Tibetan government-in-exile to mourn the "Chinese massacre" in Tibet. The proposed funeral procession, however, was put off as the district administration denied them permission.
> >
> > The maverick singer was in the midst of a storm in China for chanting "Tibet! Tibet!" at the end of a passionate performance of his song Declare Independence, at a concert in Shanghai recently.
> >
> > Garg said he would seek the support of other Bollywood stars to organise the rock concert at Mumbai.
> >
> > "Soon after my return to Mumbai, I will make an appeal to my Bollywood colleagues to join hands for the Tibetan cause," he said.
> > The Bollywood's latest singing sensation is the second popular Indian star after Bhaichung Bhutia to voluntarily come out in support of the Tibetan cause.
> > Garg said he has always been a strong supporter of the Tibetan demand for "genuine autonomy" to preserve and promote their religion, culture and tradition.
> >
> > The Tibetan community believes that such gesture from "an iconic personality" like Garg would give a boost to their "peaceful solidarity movement" launched to protest as well as to draw the attention of the world towards the "brutal repression" of Tibetans in Tibet by the Chinese government.
> >
> > Karma Yeshi, a member of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, hailed Garg for his support and said it was a welcome development that more and more Indian icons were coming out in support of their cause.
> >
> > Tibetans community-in-exile in Northeast has launched a three-day agitation since yesterday to express their solidarity with their brethren back home who have been victimised by a "repressive" Chinese government.
> > As part of the programme, around 500 representatives of the community organised the symbolic rite today in a sombre atmosphere.
> >
> > As the effigies, symbolising bodies of those killed in Tibet since the March 10 Chinese crackdown, were brought to the venue of the demonstration at Digalipukhori, the women demonstrators wept.
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> >Do You Yahoo!?
> >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> >http://mail.yahoo.com
> >http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2008/04.03/13-casemethod.html
> >shows how court cases discussion at Harvard Law School was adapted by its former grad to teach at Harvard Business School.
> >
> >We do discuss cases on AssamNet albeit informally. It would be good to develop such case studies on Assam. Maybe Assam Institute of Management could take the lead.
> >
> >Umesh
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> >It must have been a delightful experience. They look so exotic and bright.
> >
> >Shantikam Hazarika
> >Director,
> >Assam Institute of Management
> >PO Box 30, GUWAHATI 781001, India
> >HOME PAGE: www.aimguwahati.edu.in
> >
> > > Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 15:34:10 -0500
> > > To: assam at assamnet.org
> > > From: cmahanta at charter.net
> > > Subject: [Assam] Two Orchids from Assam
> > >
> > > Sorry I sent the message without the picture. Here it is:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Here are two glorious orchids from Assam in bloom in our living room.
> > >
> > > The yellow one on the left is Dendrobium fibriatum and the white one
> > > with the yellow center is Dendrobium farmeri. Both are widely found
> > > in the Khasi Hills and cooler areas of Assam as in Upper Assam.
> > >
> > > cm
> >
> >_________________________________________________________________
> >Education: Are exams worrying you all the day long? Write to MSN education experts for help.
> >http://education.in.msn.com/
> >http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/UK-zoos-unique-Assam-Haathi-Project-wins-award/295042/
> >
> >London, April 10: An innovative project to ward off marauding elephants from human habitation and crops in Assam using chilli smoke by Chester Zoo has been awarded the field conservation award by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Chester Zoo's work on elephant conservation in Assam, called 'Assam Haathi' Project, helps to mitigate human-animal conflict. And supports the conservation of one of the last remaining large elephant populations in the area.
> >The Zoo teamed up with the Assam-based conservation organisation, EcoSystems-India, and developed the Project. It works closely with local people, monitoring elephant movements and gaining a better understanding of their habits and needs in order to design practical solutions for the crop-raiding problem.
> >The project aims to facilitate the sustainable co-existence of elephants and people in Assam, and hopes to achieve this through an integrated approach using community- based work and geographical and behavioural research.
> >"Keeping an elephant out of one's backyard involves a combination of barriers, deterrents and early-warning systems.
> >The type of mitigation method used depends on the circumstances at each site," the project's paper stated.
> >The project is using the low-cost non-lethal control techniques such as tripwire alarms as an early warning device and chilli smoke as a deterrent to control elephants.
> >The zoo is also working on the practicalities of erecting temporary electric fencing for selective protection of homesteads during high-risk periods.
> >The project uses Geographical Information System (GIS) computer software to track the movement of elephant herds and develop a sound knowledge of their behavioural patterns.
> >By helping communities tackle their elephant crop raiding problems and safeguard their livelihoods, the project aims to increase tolerance and reduce the persecution of elephants.
> >The data gathered may also help other conservation organisations and authorities implement long-term strategies and policies for elephants and other wildlife in Assam.
> >Over 600 people have been reportedly killed by the wild elephants in the past 16 years in the state.
> >In 2001, villagers reportedly poisoned 19 wild elephants to death after they feasted on crops and trampled houses in the state's Sonitpur district
> >
> >
> >
> >Umesh Sharma
> >
> >Washington D.C.
> >
> >1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
> >
> >Ed.M. - International Education Policy
> >Harvard Graduate School of Education,
> >Harvard University,
> >Class of 2005
> >
> >http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
> >
> >http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
> >http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
> >
> >
> >
> >http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
> >
> >---------------------------------
> > Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference
> >_______________________________________________
> >assam mailing list
> >assam at assamnet.org
> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> _______________________________________________
> assam mailing list
> assam at assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>
--
Babul Gogoi
011-29817150 / 9868182079
_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Umesh Sharma
Washington D.C.
1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
---------------------------------
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