[Assam] From ToI
Chan Mahanta
cmahanta at charter.net
Thu Jun 12 10:22:03 PDT 2008
> >But, this much I can vouchsafe, at our Bihu celebrations, after the show,
>the young men (and some not so young men :)) and ladies had the place
>looking spotless in no time. The same with the afternoon session.
**** That is why I qualified my comment with " CERTAIN" ( after a
gathering of certain communities.).
Some communities are far better than others :-).
But there are far too few Kharkhowas to make a 'community' , much
less a ghetto to be reviled.
>C'mon C'da... we don't want to indict ourselves, do we?
*** Speak for yourself Ram :-).
At 12:02 PM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da,
>
>You have touched on one of may favorite topics:)
>
>I have to say, I mostly agree with you. Regarding the long haul flights to
>Dilli/Kolkatta, I have a theory:
>
>Use the facilities within the 1st 5 minutes or so. After that you are on
>your own. Those flight facilities can make the best of us hardy, and after a
>few such flights, one can declare just like George Bush - 'Bring 'it on'.
>
>This past month, on our way back from Europe, we caught KLM from Amsterdam.
>That choice flight was also picking up passengers from India. Needless to
>say (and as I expected), the toilets were rendered useless in no time. They
>ran out of water (it was all on the floor), with toilet paper strewn all
>over.
>
>> And I have witnesses, from Houston , who will testify to that to you.
>>They drove us there
>
>You could be correct - there are some areas concentrated by Pakistanis and
>B'deshis too, and one can easily mistake them for desi desis :):)
>
>But, this much I can vouchsafe, at our Bihu celebrations, after the show,
>the young men (and some not so young men :)) and ladies had the place
>looking spotless in no time. The same with the afternoon session.
>
>>Is there something genetic here :-)?
>
>C'mon C'da... we don't want to indict ourselves, do we?
>
>--Ram
>
>
>On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> I do believe that people have a capacity to learn and they usually
>> do. But my own observations are that Indians take a loooong time to
>> learn civic lessons, particularly when they are in any concentration.
>>
>> I am sure you know all too well about the environment inside
>> transcontinental flights in their last legs into India, Ram. Don't
>> you?
>>
>> I remember a desi-shopping center parking lot and surroundings in
>> Houston from about three or four years back that looked quite filthy.
>> There was trash all around. And I have witnesses, from Houston , who
>> will testify to that to you. They drove us there.
>>
>> Similarly on and around Devon Street of Chicago.
>>
>> And last but not the least, right here at the Mahatma Gandhi Center
> > of St. Louis after a gathering of certain communities. Being in the
>> Board of this facility I also know, first hand, how they trash the
>> place, remove property, stuff the toilets --- you name it. What was
>> even more disconcerting was when a Board Member of the Temple next
>> -door told me a few weeks back, in whispers, of the horror stories
>> they experience, in their TEMPLE!
>>
>> Is there something genetic here :-)?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> At 10:54 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>> > >Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
>> >>Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY. Are they
>> >>particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
>> >
>> >In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The area (at one time) had a
>> >drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and mini malls have been
>> >built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many parts of Texas (not
>> >just desis though).
>> >
>> >I remember, some years ago, there were several paan dukanis (paan shops)
>> >there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai) the paan crud around
> > >the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out all the 'blood' around
>> >the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning to the paan dukani.
> > It
>> >doesn't happen now.
>> >
>> >The Houston desi population is still small compared to Southhall (London)
>> >and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas where there are higher
>> >concentrations..
>> >
>> >--Ram
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant populated neighborhoods
>> >> in the USA or Britain or such other western countries.
>> >>
>> >> Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or
>> >> Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY. Are they
>> >> particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>> >> >C'da,
>> >> >
>> >> >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is
>> it
>> >> a
>> >> >case of racism?
>> >> >
>> >> >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of
>> prejudice
>> >> >or perceived notion.
>> >> >
>> >> >If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least
>> bothered
>> >> >about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the
>> streets. Public
>> >> >sanitation and health is huge problem in India.
>> >> >
>> >> >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually
>> very
>> >> >clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere,
>> and
>> >> >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the
>> end.
>> >> >
>> >> >I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and
>> lack
>> >> of
>> >> >'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to the
>> >> >plight of Guwahati.
>> >> >
>> >> >The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when they probably relate
>> to
>> >> >what they see on TV about India, Africa, the Sudan, and then see some
>> >> >Indians reiterating whats seen on TV.
>> >> >
>> >> >BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing' talk radio, and they
>> >> were
>> >> >talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat to customers (in the
>> >> US).
>> >> >
>> >> >Many callers were convinced that was the case (even though they had
>> never
>> >> >visited or actually knew about Korea, and were sure that dog meat was
>> was
>> > > >there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem of perception
>> >> >
>> >> >--Ram
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "----blaming Indian immigrants for littering."
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> *** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or
>> is
>> >> >> it a case of racism?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> cm
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>>
>> >>
>>>>***********************************************************************************************************
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to
>> >> >> apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west
>> >> >> London was slammed after claiming in an email that Indians in an
>> >> >> apartment block were throwing rubbish out of the window.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> While such practice was "normal behaviour" in India, to do so in
>> >> >> Britain was "not acceptable behaviour", she said in the email.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Residents said there was no evidence Indians were tossing rubbish
>> out
>> >> >> of the window -- or indeed that there were any Indians at the
>> >> >> Woodford Court apartment block.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ivimy said: "I am aware that
>> some
>> >> >> ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been
>> interpreted
>> >> >> as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I
> > >> >> unreservedly apologise.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits,
> > >> >> or even if they are estate residents."
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour
>> belongs
>> >> >> specifically to any one particular group."
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group in the Tory-run council,
>> >> >> said: "This shows her inherent prejudice."
>> >> >>
>> >> >> He said Ivimy, as a member of the council's cabinet looking after
>> >> >> housing, was responsible for 14,000 tenants' homes and over 4,000
>> >> >> leaseholders' homes and all the housing association homes in the
>> >> >> borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "Many of those people, like the whole of London, come from all
>> sorts
>> >> >> of backgrounds."
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Dang Sakares, who has lived on the apartment block for eight years,
>> >> >> said: "I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this block."
>> >> >> _______________________________________________
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