[Assam] Majority Opinion

Fri Dec 5 12:32:25 PST 2008

Wow!  It is great to know that you are a champion of "freedom of speech".  But then,  freedom of speech does not entitle you to put words on others mouth --  like "Sushanta-da made a comment that he had to fight against public opinion to get Bengali included in the college newspaper"  (We did not see anywhere that Susanta went for a fight)   OR "you alone who insists that > what you say is the truth - evey other version is a mere
> fabrication - a lie."  (you could not show which of your version I ascribed as fabricated).

So,  you think you should have freedom of speech but Susanta should not have the freedom to pick up a vocation of his choice OR start a online magazine and write in a language of his choice ?

In my  first response to your illogical arguments (on Nov 25), I have tried to explain the fallacy in your argument. The same was attempted by other netters.  But then you started attacking me in your post (on Tinsukia, Bengali writings in New York Times) ....  so where was your Freedom of Speech OR "baying for his/her blood".

You have suggested that everybody in WB learn Bengali ... does that advice goes true for the Nepalis in Darjeeling ... go and preach there .. you will be lucky if you come out alive.

Or,  go and ask people in Tamil Nadu to learn Hindi .. the language spoken by "majority" in India and the official language of India and see the reaction.

As much as you are trying to be a champion on Assam, you probably will never know that there are many Bengalis from Assam (like me) who are fluent in Assamese as well as Bengali OR even many Assamese who can speak Bengali .  

True there were friction, but most want to bury it now except for a handful and I sincerely hope you do not join those handful.

In your long lecture on harmony etc,  you missed an important word-- tolerance (which Alpana-ba pointed out long back).  Learn that word and you will understand the flaw in your argument.

>>Krishnendu-da,

>>you wrote: "You were wrong to raise a voice on why Susanta should teach Bengali"

>>So you say I should raise any question. Why? Do you believe in freedom of speech? 
>>A similar question is asked many times in the US - is it more important >>for the students here to learn English or any other langauge. As a >>teacher I would suggest anyone (I teach English in the US - despite >>being from India) to teach English in the US - not Hindi or Urdu or >>Bengali - for their own benefit - more jobs and also to promote English >>language skills and also to help immigrant or even second generation to >>mix and benefit from the skills they acquire.

>>I don't see any need for anger at this suggestion or query. On the other hand, if/when someone suggests that I start teaching Hindi or why I don't do it - I do get a bit hurt but still I respect the other person's question/ignorance/curiosity. I don't start baying for his/her blood.  

>>Further, I did some google search and it seems that since 1960s there has been some level of repressal against Bengali speakers in Assam. Perhaps thats why you were offended.  If today there was any repressal against Hindi speakers in Punjab or West Bengal I would suggest they learn the local language - "In Rome do as Romans do!!"

>>I'm sure you would agree that the Bengali culture is one of the foremost cultures of India - the language, the longstanding political power since British times (seat of British power for over a 100 years), etc etc. So you are perhaps justified in protecting your great culture. But I would draw a parallel with Western culture's dominance - and how it is drawing ire . Perhaps you are aware of  Hindi movies being banned in many NE states .  People seem to be overwhelmed by Hindi and Bengali culture.. 

>>So to maintain harmony - gel with everyone. 

>>Intermarry - Assamese and Bengali. 

>>I come from a family where my father spoke one language and my mother spoke another. Perhaps thats why I do not feel the language is so important for culture. If Bengalis and Assamese intermarry - I know one Assamese here in the US who married a Bengali girl from Kolkata. Problems dissolve when love arises.

To create harmony we need symphony. In an orchestra there are so many types of organs but they have to play in harmony in create symphony -- otherwise it just become cacophony/noise causing pain.

Umesh

Since you have started accusing me of somethings - I must
> compliment you. You are a master in twisting my arguments to
> suit your version. It is you - you alone who insists that
> what you say is the truth - evey other version is a mere
> fabrication - a lie. I wonder where you get so much
> confidence and authority. 

1) It was you who ACCUSED Susanta. Your initial argument was why he should teach Bengali you then twisted it to why he is "agitated" over College Magazine not publishing Bengali articles (which is incorrect ... he was NOT agitated , he merely stated a fact).

2) It is you who is preaching that "majority opinion" should be respected AND it was you who cited the example of Dalit's killing cow and how majority did not like it. Simple logic says , since you are all for respecting majority opinion (right ot wrong), you are with your "educated" relatives. If you now say that you condemn the mind set of your educated relatives that is good. But that means you agree that "majority opinion" should NOT always be respected.

3) I do not say what I am saying is truth -- but then, you should be able to prove which of my statement is untrue. Further to that, I do not remember saying ANY of your versions as fabricated. I agreed when you said that Dalits were killed and your educated relatives were elated over the "due punishment". 
However, I did raise a question -- whether their opinion was right And if not, should it be respected ?

Oh! I remember -- I said that you know nothing that US has bilingual news papers .... however that is all over net. You can just google and find that I am right.

And yes, I DID say that it is incorrect that Susanta is "agitated" over Bengali not being included in College Magazine. But that is based on his and your statements ... if you have insider information which we do not (something like .. Susanta fought with his colleagues over this issue etc) , please share.

> I do not want to go into nitty gritty of each and eveything
> you accuse me of - it is all on the webpages for all to see.

You are wise not to go into nitty gritty because if you try to prove that I have accused you of something, you will prove that your argument on majority opinion is wrong .

> All I see is that I agree to disagree.

Again, you are wise ... knowing when to quit. You are within your rights to disagree but it does not change the facts that -

1) You were wrong to raise a voice on why Susanta should teach Bengali

2) The majority opinion is not necessarily always the "right opinion" (and hence not neccessarily need to be respected).

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/