[Assam] [asom] tourism in NEI

Thu Jun 26 08:26:24 PDT 2008

At 11:39 PM -0500 6/25/08, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
>
>
>Hi C'da:
>
>I think generally people do like to hear first-hand information from 
>people of a particular state, inspite of all the information from 
>the media and other sources.

**** Sure. That is not a problem. I don't know many who would not want to help.

>
>Reading the doctor's post, there does seem to be a dash of 
>condescension (spelling?), when he mentioned "offering education and 
>jobs" (as if the people in these states are running around with 
>jobless and uneducated).
>
>Of course, that may be because that is how the outside media 
>portrays the northeast and how people percieve it - without ever 
>seeing Assam and the NE.

**** Does not matter WHO feeds the BS . But  one would think that any 
person, ever so willing to 'educate' the ignoramus of our region has 
the wherewithal , is himself 'educated' enough, to  not be as uncouth 
as  the note clearly betrays.

So that 'dash of condescension' that you spy Alpana, is a rather 
sorry bit of spinning as I see it. But I understand why :-).

>Regarding the issue of violence the doctor brought, that is a 
>genuine concern. Even from Guwahati, >people seem concerned about 
>visiting some interior places within Assam iteself. Why is that?

**** You answered the question yourself Alpana. It is a slur spread 
by those of the likes of 'people from Guwahati' or those who live in 
the USA , coddled in their luxuries and buried in their ignorance of 
the world of Assam  outside of their lives in that proverbial well.

I have traveled extensively in Assam  in recent years. Never did I 
sense a fear of violence, anywhere.
The fear if existed, was of harassment  from 'security forces' or 
from corrupt 'officials'. When I was in Arunachal last November, I 
was cautioned , time and again, to NOT speak in my Amerikanized 
English, lest some govt. spook, which I was told the places we 
visited were crawling with,  notices . It sounded absurd to me, that 
somehow  an American visitor to Assam or  Arunachal, would be a 
threat to the Indian state. So, if there is a sense of 'fear' it is 
from the Indian state machinery.  That is the irony of it all.

>I know many Kharkhowas do not advertize their visits to Assam. They 
>go quietly and come back. Why >is that?

**** I don't know why Alpana. Perhaps YOU do. If so why don't you 
tell us about these hapless 'kharkhowas'  sordid experiences that 
have led to their surreptitious  forays to the land of their birth.

My take: See above!

>  >
So, I think the doctor was a tad more condescending but you were also 
over-sensitive.

**** Again, see my explanation above.

>There was no "welcome mat" thrown.

**** Someone sporting such airs  as the good doctor does, likely will 
get a mat thrown at him, instead of being laid out in welcome.

But I will leave myself open to the possibility that it might be this 
damned English language and the legendary Indian humility ( pardon my 
sarcasm) which led to this episode of 'foot-in-the-mouth' from the 
potential missionary.

Be forewarned Alpana: this malady has a tendency to be highly 
contagious. Learnt that from our own Dr. Tilok .

>
>But some of the questions and suggestions were genuine from a 
>potential visitor's standpoint.
>
>We are visiting KodaiKanal in a day or so, doing research on the 
>net, but still asking people who have visited the place. We know the 
>language, we have information from the net, yet it's comfortable to 
>hear first-hand.
>
>Regarding the issue of violence the doctor brought, that is a 
>genuine concern. Even from Guwahati, people seem concerned about 
>visiting some interior places within Assam iteself. Why is that?
>
>I know many Kharkhowas do not advertize their visits to Assam. They 
>go quietly and come back. Why is that?
>
>So, I think the doctor was a tad more condescending but you were 
>also over-sensitive. There was no "welcome mat" thrown. This 
>perception of tourism and safety is a major issue, whether we like 
>it or not. So, first-hand information is always the best. When 
>people like the doctor asks, we should be able to provide reasonable 
>assurances and as much info as we can.
>
>- Alpana
>(Camp Bangalore)
>
>
>"In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree 
>and humble like a blade of grass."
>
>
>
>  > Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:06:51 -0500> To: assam at assamnet.org; 
>subramanien_kalyanaraman at yahoo.com> From: cmahanta at charter.net> 
>Subject: Re: [Assam] [asom] tourism in NEI> > >My concern is - we 
>guys always keep hearing about adverse happenings > >and violence in 
>these >areas; hardly anyone talks about scenic > >beauty.> > > > 
>**** Well, so? What seems to be the problem? What about you 
>Doctor? > What turns YOU on?> > >How would a guy who wants to visit 
>come there and make his itinery.> > **** How would *I*, an Assamese, 
>make an itinerary to go visit your > homeland? How about trying the 
>same tactic?> > > > > Only since a month now, some channels in 
>Chennai are featuring NEI > >in Incredible India 
>tourism >advertisement.> > **** The truth is that it is far better 
>than any Indian ad campaign > can ever package it as. If Indians 
>were that sensitive, they would > not be in the situation they are 
>in.> > >Safety issues and such?We could compile all these and try to 
>entice > >people to visit.> > **** Why the effort at enticement? Are 
>you feeling guilty about > something to LURE unsuspecting Indians to 
>the land where safety is an > issue? You know what? The biggest 
>problem folks like you have is your > own ignorance. You don't even 
>know how to seek the information that > is all over . As they say, 
>'Seek and thou shalt find'. It is about > time you brushed up on 
>your high-school geography and history. On > second thought, discard 
>the history part. Indian history is so full > of bull-crap, it would 
>be far better to remain smug with your > ignorance.> > > It would be 
>easy then for entrepreneurs to come and offer education > >and 
>jobs--> > **** How very generous of you! The people of Assam will 
>forever > remain indebted to your charity. But again, on second 
>thought, > perhaps they don't need either your 'education' or your 
>jobs. How > about just letting them the heck alone? It will kill two 
>birds at one > shot: It will save you from getting head-aches over 
>trying to > educate Assam or giving them jobs, and save Assam from 
>Indian > education-- just look what it is doing fort Indians!!> > > 
>cm> > > > > > > At 8:17 AM +0530 6/26/08, mc mahant wrote:> >What to 
>see?Where to stay?What is the climate?Modes of > >transport?Safety 
>issues and such?We could compile all these and try > >to entice 
>people to visit. It would be easy then for entrepreneurs > >to come 
>and offer education and jobs.> >> >> >To: 
>assamonline at yahoogroups.comFrom: > >subramanien_kalyanaraman at yahoo.comDate: 
>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:44:36 > >+0000Subject: [asom] tourism in 
>NEI> >> >> >> >Hi all,Recently I had read in the papers the minister 
>for NEI had > >announced LTC for govt sector to fly into NEI and 
>enjoy scenic > >beauties. He wants to develop many regions as 
>tourist spot as well > >as to introduce the many scenic spots there 
>to rest of India. My > >concern is - we guys always keep hearing 
>about adverse happenings > >and violence in these areas; hardly 
>anyone talks about scenic > >beauty.How would a guy who wants to 
>visit come there and make his > >itinery. Only since a month now, 
>some channels in Chennai are > >featuring NEI in Incredible India 
>tourism advertisement.Could > >members in the list contribute 
>details from their own states -What > >to see?Where to stay?What is 
>the climate?Modes of transport?Safety > >issues and such?We could 
>compile all these and try to entice people > >to visit. It would be 
>easy then for entrepreneurs to come and offer > >education and 
>jobs.regardsDr. 
>Subramanian > >KalyanaramanNeurosurgeon__._,_.___> >Messages in this 
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>IM.> >.> >What to see? Nature, 
>People,Animals,Devastations,total > >mismanagementWhere to stay? 
>Please seemy previous Truncated reply - > >but begin with a 
>booked-on-line room at Assam Tourism Guest House > >200m from 
>Guwahati Rail Stn.What is the climate? Mostly eternal > >Springtime. 
>Chilly UphillsModes of transport? 
>Airplanes,Helicopters > >Trains,Buses,Taxis-shared /full, cruise 
>Ships---Safety issues and > >such? Nobody bothers you if you do 
>NOT.We could compile all these > >and try to entice people to visit. 
>Favouring NE?> >It would be easy then for entrepreneurs( LIKE 
>Yourself?) to come.Really?> > And offer education :You have some 
>Special Knowledge?1000's > >Keralites already doing a brisk business 
>in this line.> > And jobs. How many?> > Study my websites before you 
>start on your Humanitarian 
>mission:> >www.assambambooworld.com> >www.innovation2survive.com__,_._,___> >> >> >> >> >> >> >_________________________________________________________________> >2000 
>Placements last year. Are You next ? Find 
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