[Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
Chan Mahanta
cmahanta at charter.net
Sat Mar 7 08:06:18 PST 2009
A very hearty welcome Ms. Mukhim , second time, to our
'juhalor-mel' ( fireside chat-room) . We hope you will become a
regular participant. With your background, experiences and expertise,
we hope to learn much.
> I am personally very delighted by the kind of debate generated by
>one article.
*** Since I cause much displeasure amongst our friends here with my
views, it surely is a pleasure to see that, for a change, I could
contribute something to generate some pleasure, however vicariously.
That is the good news.
But the bad news is that the article was not something that was
either designed to generate a constructive dialogue or an exercise in
thoughtful and sincere analysis of issues. It was a cheap
exploitation of TK Singh's killing to advance an establishment agenda
by taking on an EASY target: Insurgents' violence. It requires no
special insight, it requires no extraordinary moral courage and it
does not risk the writers' standing amongst his/her peers.
That is why I call the pleasure generation a vicarious one. And I
characterized the article 'cheap-thrills', which I continued to stand
by.
>What is implicit in that article and why has the author succeeded in
>tickling our minds to this extent?
*** Very simply by generating a positive response from otherwise able
people by repeating a tired and
prosaic theme that had to be challenged and dissected.
>Some us us have perhaps missed the point and would like to be in the loop.
*** Most of us here, if not all, have , since the beginning of
assamnet, have been hoping for greater participation from our fellow
men( and of course women :-)) from the region. You are absolutely
right--this is a forum NOT just for Oxomiyas, but for everyone from
the region and even others who have an interest in the well-being of
our many people. We know many listen in, but we are frustrated by the
fact that they never offer their views or otherwise participate in
the discourses. Perhaps it is a result of a cultural disinclination
of societies' pillars to be challenged or questioned, because we
certainly are a skeptical lot, never hesitating to ask hard
questions, when necessary.
But I am not sure what 'missing the point' means. If you can
elaborate on it, I certainly would try to explain my point of view.
>Those who are better informed about the existential problems we face
>today should also let us know >so we can move together.
*** Can't agree more on this.
>All of the states of North East are too intrinsically linked to be
>thought of as separate entities.
*** Precisely. That is why I was very surprised by Mr. Mishra's
lauding of this idea, while I vaguely remember another article that
was posted in assamnet from a few years back, in which the writer
trashed the idea of the Seven Sisters as a myth and urged the people
of Assam to discard it. I thought that article was by a Mishra too,
the same Mishra I thought, even though I can't be hundred percent
sure of it. I remember debating the premise of that article with our
long-time fellow netter, Alpana Sarangapani.
>What affects one affects the other.
*** No doubt.
>But those of us who live and face trhe ordeal of militancy also know
>that it is well past the era of >ideology and has degenerated into
>hard core extremism with money as the only goal.
** * This is the disingenuous part of the premise of the debate. The
statement conveniently denies the origins and the history of their
evolutions to grab at the present state of affairs to deny the
insurgencies a legitimacy and devalues them, while never taking a
stand on giving them even a word of support for their valiant yet
almost impossible undertaking.
That is an insincere tack. But IF that held the promise of a
solution, one might have to accept it, however grudgingly. Can we, as
informed, thinking people, imagine how it might contribute anything
constructive in finding a solution?
It is a typically puerile reaction of a large section of our
intelligentsia, who, seem to be stuck with the notion that a good
round of 'gaali' ( disparagement) is all it takes to resolve
insurgencies ( or for that matter corruption or state dysfunction or
what-have-you) that have lasted a half century and more, in which
tens of thousands of our fellow men have given their lives.
*** I explained to Uttam in detail why it is so. But obviously it was
not persuasive. Perhaps you could enlighten us why ? That would help
contribute something useful.
>So we can no longer romanticise these so-caleld ideological
>struggles because they have lost their >ideologies.
***The romanticism of insurgents facing ( and embracing) certain
death from a vastly superior adversary is a straw-dog construct of
the idle establishment. It seems to hold the notion of independence
or a socialist state as a trophy rather than a tool for
re-orienting governance from the dysfunctional one in force, for the
benefit of all. Uttam cited the wisdom of 20-20 hindsight denouncing
socialism. But things do change. People do learn. We are now in the
midst of a massive collapse of the last great bastion of unfettered
capitalism. There will be lessons to be learnt from this too.
So where are the learned, the wise, even those whose wisdom is
derived from hindsight, participating in helping set a better course
of governance for our people, that continues to rot under the current
dysfunctional and unchangeable , colonial disposition?
> >So lets find a way forward and not get stuck in a discourse that
>has no answer to the problems we >grapple with.
*** That is a false premise: That that there are no answers.
There indeed are answers. But those who hold the answers to the
solutions--how to move them, is the big question?
Certainly the answers will not be found by a subservient , apathetic
and unquestioning intelligentsia who is either perfectly at ease with
the status-quo and when not, content with hand-wringing or delivering
'gaali' to easy targets over the state of affairs.
Best.
cm
At 9:15 AM +0000 3/7/09, patricia mary mukhim wrote:
> I am personally very delighted by the kind of debate generated by
>one article. Why has this article triggered such a heated debate and
>why not others? What is implicit in that article and why has the
>author succeeded in tickling our minds to this extent? Some us us
>have perhaps missed the point and would like to be in the loop.
>Those who are better informed about the existential problems we face
>today should also let us know so we can move together. Although this
>is essentially an assamnet loop it is no longer about oxomiyas. All
>of the states of North East are too intrinsically linked to be
>thought of as separate entities. What affects one affects the other.
>We only have to look at the militancy here. But those of us who live
>and face trhe ordeal of militancy also know that it is well past the
>era of ideology and has degenerated into hard core extremism with
>money as the only goal. So we can no longer romanticise these
>so-caleld ideological struggles because they have lost their
>ideologies.
>So lets find a way forward and not get stuck in a discourse that has
>no answer to the problems we grapple with.
>
>
>On Sat, 07 Mar 2009 Chan Mahanta wrote :
>>Hi Uttam:
>>
>>
>>At 11:05 AM +0530 3/6/09, uttam borthakur wrote:
>>>Chandan Da,
>>>
>>>>>>>>>>That would be disingenuous. That would be a discourse
>>>>>>>>>>lacking in sincerity ,merely designed to score points in
>>>>>>>>>>an idle debate. We have an obligation and a duty to be more
>>>>>>>>>>than that.
>>>
>>>You are saying about an obligation and duty. Would not it depend
>>>on a person's understanding of the happening around him and his
>>>views derived from such understanding?
>>
>>
>>**** You have separated 'obligation and duty' and 'history' from
>>the context to a generalized form. I was writing very specifically
>>about the issues involved with the topic/s in the article you
>>posted.
>>
>>
>>The obligation and duty here is to discuss and debate the issue of
>>insurgencies in Assam and the surrounding region, with sincerity,
>>keeping in mind how they originated,how they evolved and their
>>status now; with the aim of finding solutions.
> >
>>The history of these conflicts are very recent , well documented
>>and easily available. Thus the question of pitfalls of
>>interpretation of historical accounts does not arise.
>>
>>
>>
>>> A person can only have one yard-stick to go on about life, not
>>>knowingly harming another person on >account of vested interests,
>>>or at least minimise harm to another person for achieving what
>>>he >perceives as the greatest common good.
> >
>>
>>*** No doubt. But so are other truisms, like we ought not to tell
>>lies, cheat, steal , speak evil of others and so forth, as a govt.
>>ought to respond to society's problems and provide justice. Let us
>>not forget how the Oxomiya DC ordered the police-firing at Kohima
>>on a peaceful assembly that triggered the violence that has lasted
>>half a century with no end in sight. Similarly, let us not forget
>>how the ULFA insurgency came about.
> >
>>>There can also be a view that notwithstanding what one does, the
>>>course of the history is pre-ordained >and set by the conditions
>>>precedent.
>>
>>*** But that does not make it irrelevant.
>>
>>
>>
>>Best.
>>
>>c-da
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>A person can be spurred into action, even say a debate, idle or
>>>not, if he is convinced about a certain objective worth pursuing.
>>>Simply because one is not egged on by another's appreciation of
>>>history and events, that would not mean he is wrong and the other
>>>is right. Here I'm assuming honesty in thought and action, not any
>>>vested interests. You, more than any one else would know that the
>>>study of history itself is not homogeneous. So, there shall always
>>>be counter-point to every point. People will take part in unending
>>>debate or discourse about a given event. There is no scope for
>>>condemnation or of being self-righteous. But, of all the possible
>>>courses of history, only one will materialise, its interpretation
>>>notwithstanding. A person can only have one yard-stick to go on
>>>about
>>> life, not knowingly harming another person on account of vested
>>>interests, or at least minimise harm to another person for
>>>achieving what he perceives as the greatest common good. There can
>>>also be a view that notwithstanding what one does, the course of
>>>the history is pre-ordained and set by the conditions precedent.
>>>
>>>My best wishes shall always be with you.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>________________________________
>>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>world <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>Sent: Thursday, 5 March, 2009 8:28:04 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
>>>
>>>Uttam:
>>>
>>>> Basically, you look at the acts of the insurgents as response
>>>>terrorism to the state terrorism.
>>>
>>>*** That would be a highly simplified conclusion. What I am
>>>arguing is that as informed, thoughtful people, we cannot and
>>>ought not to ignore the origins and evolution--the history -- of
>>>events that have landed us where we are today. When we argue today
>>>that insurgents have abandoned their ideals and
>>>are not doing what they promised to do when they are in power and
>>>thus forfeiting our support or involvement in finding an end to
>>>the conflict, that is what we do--ignore the origins and history,
>>>which we helped shape, by acts of commission or omission.
>>>
>>>That would be disingenuous. That would be a discourse lacking in
>>>sincerity ,merely designed to score
>>>points in an idle debate. We have an obligation and a duty to be
>>>more than that.
>>>
>>>Take care.
>>>
>>>c-da
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>At 11:00 AM +0530 3/5/09, uttam borthakur wrote:
>>>> Chandan Da,
>>>>
>>>> I read your mail. Basically, you look at the acts of the
>>>>insurgents as response terrorism to the state terrorism. My
>>>>outlook is different in the sense that state terrorism cannot be
>>>>countered by individual or group terrorism; though there is no
>>>>denying the fact that some people will prefer to go that way, as
>>>>is the fact. Accepting this difference in our outlooks and
>>>>notwithstanding that, we agree on many other things. Let us keep
>>>>it at that.
>>>>
>>>> Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ________________________________
> >>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around
>>>>the world <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, 4 March, 2009 9:56:42 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
>>>>
>>>> Uttam:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> At 8:13 AM +0530 3/4/09, uttam borthakur wrote:
>>>>> Chandan Da,
>>>>>
>>>>> Let us not discuss Udayan Mishra's leanings abd Assam
>>>>>Tribune's allegiance.
> >>>
>>>>
>>>> *** I have no bone to pick with Mishra. Nor do I care about
>>>>AT's spine or lack thereof. I responded because you posted it as
>>>>an article of some special merit and seconded by our eminent
>>>>journalist friend, Ms Mukhim.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The question is: whether Sri T. Kishan Singh was killed, the
>>>>>manner of killing notwithstanding? If yes, why?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** That is hardly a question Uttam. Why is determining the
>>>>REASON for TK Singh's killing so special, while all the hundreds
>>>>and thousands of others that has been killed in the past is so
>>>>immaterial?
> >>>
>>>>
>>>> I don't condone this senseless killing. But it has been going
>>>>on for over half a century now. I think it is far more
>>>>important to ask WHY and to find ways to bring an end to it.
>>>>That would have contributed something useful.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The usual apology shall be in the form of he was a 'spy', or
>>>>>he carried out anti-"................" (that militant faction's)
>>>>>activities.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** Does not have to be. The insurgents could just say they
>>>>killed him because he refused the payments
>>>> due to them. Other govt. officials do , as the article tells
>>>>us. They need the money to carry on their fight. Money does not
>>>>grow on trees. They need to survive too. They are not 'fakirs'
>>>>to live a life of denial - like Mr. Bhuyan argued on behalf of
>>>>'the honest' in the letter posted by Ram this morning. THeirs is
>>>>a parallel,government and it needs money to run.
>>>>
>>>> While on the matter of payments, let us also not forget to
>>>>examine who has perfected the system of payments as ploy to keep
>>>>the insurgency under control by dividing and perpetuating it. It
>>>>is a double-edged sword, isn't it? But do you question it? Does
>>>>Mishra question it? Does our journalists and watchdogs of
>>>>democracy question it?
>>>>
>>>> Nagaland, I read somewhere in recent years, has the highest
>>>>per-capita car ownership in India and that its per capita income
>>>>is higher than everybody else in the region. Is it true? If it
>>>>is, have you ever wondered what brings such prosperity to
>>>>Nagaland, what it produces to bring in such bounties?
>>>>
>>>> Have your intellectuals looked into that? Will they? And if
>>>>someone attempted to, would it find the light of day in the pages
>>>>of your media?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Or is it because, he acted honestly as a government official
>>>>>for the good of the people of his state and prevented leakages.
>>>>>My only point is: only after these militant outfits denounce
>>>>>those killed by them as spies, lackeys, espionage-agents, rapist
>>>>>etc.and unilaterally decide their fate ( may be few 'boys' in
>>>>>their late teens) that people come to hear of the alleged
>>>>>mis-deeds of the likes of T. Kishan Singh.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** Is that the only thing the press or the media ignore or
>>>>are unwilling to delve into keeping your citizenry in the dark?
>>>>Is it a conspiracy you are alluding to? And since Mishra dared to
>>>>write and the AT
>>>> dutifully aired it , it struck a chord with the righteous
>>>>citizenry, is that what you point to?
>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The militant outfits do not give any option to the people to
>>>>>decide for themselves what is good or bad. Rather they impose on
>>>>>the people their 'diktat'/ verdict.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** You are a very intelligent person and you have above
>>>>average analytical abilities, something I am proud of for a
>>>>fellow Oxomiya. Have you wondered why it is so? I will tell you
>>>>this: It is simpler than ABC to figure out. All it takes is the
>>>>will . Try it, and if you don't get it let me know. I will be
>>>>pleased to spell it out in simple text.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Is it any different from when the Indian army rides roughshod
>>>>>over hapless citizens and concoctes stories of 'encounters'?
> >>>
>>>>
>>>> *** You don't need to play the fair-and-balanced act here
>>>>Uttam. No need to perform that 'xaliki-snan' of
>>>> taking cognizance of the state's terrorism. Those who are
>>>>willing to learn of it, know it all too well. And those who are
>>>>averse, no amount of telling will register. You can awake only
>>>>those who are truly asleep.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Do the people have any alternative to choose from?
> >>>
>>>>
>>>> *** It depends on WHICH people you refer to. You ought to know
>>>>it is NOT a HOMOGENEOUS entity any more. Not after half a century
>>>>of hugely asymmetrical warfare in Nagaland or after a quarter
>>>>century of the same in Assam.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> The militants are not the final outcome of a long-drawn
>>>>>struggle based on internal democracy or the guardian angels of
>>>>>such a fight. They do not do what they profess, essentially
>>>>>because they are divorced from people.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** That Uttam is a rather simpleminded conclusion that I am
>>>>surprised to see come from you. It degenerates to such a
>>>>condition from the asymmetrical warfare against a vastly superior
>>>>state apparatus over a very long period of time. It has been the
>>>>Indian state's strategy to fracture the militancy by separating
>>>>its leadership from the rank and file, with massive bribery
>>>>,brute military force and co-opting of its intelligentsia for
>>>>propaganda with what is openly called 'force-multiplication'.
> >>>
>>>> The same co-opted and in many instances also severely
>>>>corrupted, intelligentsia then point to the loss of ideals and
>>>>violence - now as the cause, to deny the insurgents legitimacy of
>>>>their goals.
>>>>
>>>> All that would be fine, if it were not for the cost of this
>>>>tactic. The cost has been the lives of the likes of TK Singh and
>>>>many many others who were not important enough to be known by
>>>>names.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Does it look familiar now Uttam?
>>>>
>>>> I did not wish to go there. I thought you are able to see it
>>>>all by your own self. I just hope that we won't need to go there
>>>>again, particularly those who orthers look up to.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> So, Chandan Da, please tell me why do you expect a
>>>>>'ideologically' corrupt 'intelligentsia' to support the
>>>>>militants, when the militants do not find/ try to find support
>>>>>from the people they are 'supposed' to work for?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** I hope it is now clear Uttam.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> But, I should expect the militants to work better and in a
>>>>>humane/democratic way than the obsolete machinery, because, they
>>>>>show us dreams of a better tomorrow.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** This too is a variant of the same circular logic you are
>>>>trapped in. It is patently disingenuous for those of you who
>>>>not only do not provide any support but taunt , deride and
>>>>dehumanize a now battered rag-tag band of daring individuals who
>>>>took to arms out of desperation but driven by an ideal to expect
>>>>to provide the vision and the leadership for a better tomorrow.
>>>>
>>>> It is unbecoming to make that argument.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Is not this lack of absence of democracy the reason behind
>>>>>the fall of even some mighty 'empires' in the recent times
>>>>>despite their better performance in some ways? I specifically
>>>>>anwer your question: despite subjective efforts and favourable
>>>>>conditions, the Russian or Chinese social experiments have not
>>>>>yielded the desired result of expediting the course of history
>>>>>in a given way. It may be like in quantum physics, as soon as
>>>>>you shed light on the sub-atomic particle to observe it, it
>>>>>changes its position:-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *** Such after the fact 20-20 vision has nothing to do with
>>>>the subject under discussion. You all had and continue to have
>>>>every opportunity to formulate and give shape to the ideals the
>>>>insurgents sparked. But that does not happen when the
>>>>intelligentsia remains on the sidelines, sitting on the fence
>>>>testing which way the wind blows.
>>> >
>>>> That simple.
>>>>
>>>> c-da
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around
>>>>>the world <assam at assamnet.org>
> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, 3 March, 2009 7:43:14 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Uttam:
>>>>>
>>>>> Last things first:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Now please do not assign any bad influence my thinking process:-)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *** Far be it for me than to assign bad influences, whatever
>>>>>you may have in mind, to you. But the first paragraph below
>>>>>displays a naivette that is unbecoming of someone of your
>>>>>caliber. While I am tempted to explain, I think it is better
>>>>>for me to avoid it, unless you insist. I will let you make the
>>>>>call, so that I won't have to suffer the consequences of hurting
>>>>>the sentiments of a fellow Oxomiya :-).
> >>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> In so far as 'Bhukute Kol Nopoke' aside, I like to say that
>>>>>>the social dynamics is so >innumerably multi-factor that
>>>>>>whether the effort would end in desired result is always a
>>>>>> big question unless the whole universe conspires for you....
>>>>>>kol pokibo ne nai tare thik nai....
>>>>>> but true to human spirit everyone by volition should/ would
>>>>>>labour towards a better tomorrow.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *** I am philosophically challenged and thus is unable to
>>>>>grasp whatever it was that you were trying to convey above. I
>>>>>was merely responding to your plea for patience from the
>>>>>grown-ups as to why Mishra
>>>>> was content with lauding the Manipuri women's repeated
>>>>>protests and demonstrations while ignoring what it brought about
>>>>>as results.
> >>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> The killers of Dr. T. Kishan Singh were also perhaps
>>>>>>thinking that they were doing great for the people >of Manipur.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *** You are so generous :-).
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Prof Mishra's article points at possible connivance of the
>>>>>>state bureaucracy / politicians too. >NSCN-Manipur
>>>>>>bureaucrat/politician nexus, does this sound radical Chandan Da?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> **** Radical? Heck no! It is actually the most tired of
>>>>>tactics of the fair-and-balanced ( heh-heh) segment of our
>>>>>intelligentsia. They never fail to pay perfunctory cognizance of
>>>>>their govt's failures. It is the quintessential 'xaaliki snan' (
>>>>>ritual bath) in the pond of their citizenship duties, but devoid
>>>>>of any credibility. It would be credible if they had held their
>>>>>'democratic' govt's feet to the fire, demanded accountability
>>>>>for THEIR responsibilities.
>>>>>
>>>>> But I would have to give Mishra a pass on this, knowing that
>>>>>the loyal AT , fiercely independent in its citizenship
>>>>>responsibilities as a premier member of the watchdogs of
>>>>>democracy as it is, would never publish the venting of any such
>>>>>radical notions against their lawfully constituted and
>>>>>democratically elected govt.
>>>>>
>>>>> Question is what holds back those from the ranks of our
>>>>>intelligentsia that does not have to grovel for AT's permission
>>>>>to call a spade a spade?
>>>> >
>>>>>
>>>>> c-da
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> At 8:43 AM +0530 3/3/09, uttam borthakur wrote:
>>>>>> Chanda Da:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You got me wrong there.
>>>>>> The insurgents promise a better way of life, alternative to
>>>>>>the extant tyranny. But always end up being brutal murderers
>>>>>>without any agenda other than money (or playing into the hands
>>>>>>of the system they say they are trying to uproot) and kill
>>>>>>persons liked by the people at large to sub-serve the vested
>>>>>>interests of the system itself.They become terrorists bereft of
>>>>>>any mass support. In fact they act in cross purposes with that
>>>>>>of people and make hasty insincere retreats when they face
>>>>>>people's ire: NSCN denouncing this killing, ULFA denouncing
>>>>>>Lakhimpur blasts, ULFA denying killing of Kamala
>>>>>>Saikia............In all they do not give people an alternative
>>>>>>to choose from apart from flowery speeches like any other
>>>>>>politician.
>>>> >>
>>>>>> In so far as 'Bhukute Kol Nopoke' aside, I like to say that
>>>>>>the social dynamics is so innumerably multi-factor that whether
>>>>>>the effort would end in desired result is always a big question
>>>>>>unless the whole universe conspires for you.... kol pokibo ne
>>>>>>nai tare thik nai.... but true to human spirit everyone by
>>>>>>volition should/ would labour towards a better tomorrow. The
>>>>>>killers of Dr. T. Kishan Singh were also perhaps thinking that
>>>>>>they were doing great for the people of Manipur. Prof Mishra's
>>>>>>article points at possible connivance of the state bureaucracy
>>>>>>/ politicians too. NSCN-Manipur bureaucrat/politician nexus,
>>>>>>does this sound radical Chandan Da?
> >> >>>
>>>>>> Now please do not assign any bad influence my thinking process:-)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>>>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from
>>>>>>around the world <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, 3 March, 2009 3:19:55 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
> >>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Uttam:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why of the 'heedlessness' was not in the pale and ambit of
>>>>>>>Mr. Udayan Mishra's write-up, or was it? Also, it should be
>>>>>>>understood that The Assam Tribune restricts the length of an
>>>>>>>article to a given number of lines, words and columns. Just as
>>>>>>>we are discussing Mr. Mishra's article, views may crystalise
>>>>>>>and this may impel someone to act in a given direction.
>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *** It is , more than anything else, the culture of symbolic
>>>>>>gestures , of homage paying, serving as a substitute for real
>>>>>>thing that our intelligentsia is unable to dig out from under.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Nothing wrong with paying homage to the brave going down fighting.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But to hope for change from the sacrifice,in this case the
>>>>>>supreme sacrifice, of the lonely crusader, is absurd. It is,
>>>>>>at best, an immature and uninformed reaction. The obvious
>>>>>>place to seek it is the power establishment, the 'legitimate'
>>>>>>government. It is a no-brainer.
> >>>>>
>>>>>> Then why is that it was ignored?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Simple: It is easy to go brow-beating the insurgents. It
>>>>>>asserts one righteousness, avoids annoying the power structure
>>>>>>and helps bury the highly uncomfortable (but obvious to anyone
>>>>>>willing and able to see) nature of the dysfunctional desi
>>>>>>governance. For if one goes after it, it ends up giving
>>>>>>legitimacy to those whom the article is primarily designed to
>>>>>>attack and discredit, isn't it?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And not because the AT's limit on word count.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Finally, I think it will be more than a tad bit frivolous
>>>>>>to try to plea : Bhukute' koltw nopoke' . Time for invoking
>>>>>>that has been past decades ago.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> c-da
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> At 7:48 AM +0530 3/2/09, uttam borthakur wrote:
>>>>>>> As Ms Patricia Mukhim had pointed out, 'insouciance' may be
>>>>>>>the problem. Such desensitisation pervades every sphere. But
>>>>>>>it never stopped anyone from discussing "slumdog' and the
>>>>>>>squalor. Also, there are certain things that are really
>>>>>>>puzzling in human behaviour ( remember Yudhisthir approaching
>>>>>>>the water hole in Mahabharata), such as, the 'impatience' that
>>>>>>>all expected changes would come about in one's own life-time.
>>>>>>>There may be a lull before the storm, who knows?
>>>> >>>
>>>>>>> Why of the 'heedlessness' was not in the pale and ambit of
>>>>>>>Mr. Udayan Mishra's write-up, or was it? Also, it should be
>>>>>>>understood that The Assam Tribune restricts the length of an
>>>>>>>article to a given number of lines, words and columns. Just as
>>>>>>>we are discussing Mr. Mishra's article, views may crystalise
>>>>>>>and this may impel someone to act in a given direction.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So, i should think that patience and perseverence would
>>>>>>>augur well for everyone of us, especially the adults.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>>>>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from
>>>>>>>around the world <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, 1 March, 2009 9:59:52 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> >It is about the death of a young civil servant in
>>>>>>>>Manipur. I thought assam netters would be interested. How
>>>>>>>>efforts at good deeds are silenced by guns: state as well as
>>>>>>>>militants. So, you may try the link below......
>>>> >>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> **** I was hoping to see some solutions to the problem, at
>>>>>>>least a discussion of.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A lot of ink has been used to displaying one's own
>>>>>>>righteousness. But who challenged it?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cheap thrills is how I see the essay.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Was anyone debating, doubting, gloating over, or otherwise
>>>>>>>condoning a most senseless crime? Even NSCN( IM) has condemned
>>>>>>>the act, as the article says.
> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The author leaves no doubt about his own balanced sense of
>>>>>>>justice by painstakingly pointing out the perpetrators -- the
>>>>>>>insurgents and the state. How more balanced can one get? He
>>>>>>>pays flowing tributes to the Manipuri women , their outrage
>>>>>>>and their fearless, ceaseless protests.
> >> >>>>
>>>>>>> Somewhere here must be lurking what their efforts have brought them.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> But why can't I find it? Could it just be, therefore, that
>>>>>>>these are just as meaningless rites too? And why should it be
>>>>>>>meaningless, fruitless? Who should they be looking at for
>>>>>>>results? The good folks or the folks? Misra, incisively
>>>>>>>points out who the bad guys are. But where are the good guys?
>>>>>>>How does he see their role in these tragedies? Do they have
>>>>>>>any responsibility too? Could it be that he would not get into
>>>>>>>that, lest it dilutes his message?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Standing out, by its absence, is any effort by the author
>>>>>>>to look at, if not suggest solutions, into what leads to
>>>>>>>these acts of violence and death and how to put an end to it.
>>>>>>>In that it is, at best, yet another lot of idle blather.
>>>>> >>
>>>>>>> cm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> PS: If I am not mistaken, this writer authored an article a
>>>>>>>few years ago, in which he exhorted the people of Assam to
>>>>>>>forsake the fantasy of the Seven Sisters, that the Assamese
>>>>>>>had nothing in common with the Nagas, the Mizos, the Khasis
>>>>>>>and so forth and argued the point that the notion of the Seven
>>>>>>>Sisters is a myth. Has he found religion, or am I the one who
>>>>>>>is confused?
> >>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The tragedy of Manipur
>>>>>>> - Udayon Misra
>>>>>>> Dr Thingnam Kishan Singh, the young SDO of Kashom Khullen
>>>>>>>subdivision of Ukhrul district of Manipur, demonstrated a rare
>>>>>>>sense of integrity and courage as a civil service official. He
>>>>>>>decided to swim against the tide. Unlike most other government
>>>>>>>officials who have been unquestioningly obeying the diktats of
>>>>>>>the different militant groups, Kishan Singh stubbornly opposed
>>>>>>>the siphoning off of government funds into the coffers of the
>>>>>>>militants. Kishan believed passionately that development funds
>>>>>>>must go to the people. And, he paid with his life for his
>>>>>>>uprightness and idealism. On February 13, Dr Kishan Singh
>>>>>>>along with his driver, Aribam Rajen and a mandal, Yumnam Token
>>>>>>>Singh were abducted from front of the Deputy Commissioner's
>>>>>>>office at Ukhrul as they came out of a meeting. Four days
>>>>>>>later their bodies were discovered at Taphou Kuki village in
>>>>>>>Senapati district. They had been bludgeoned to death in a most
>>>>>>>brutal manner. The NSCN (I-M) was suspected
>>>>> of
>>>>>> > carrying out the abduction and murders and after initial
>>>>>>denials the NSCN (I-M) admitted that three of its cadres were
>>>>>>involved in the incident. Obviously, the militant outfit was
>>>>>>unhappy at Kishan Singh's resolve not to allow development
>>>>>>funds from being squandered by the militants and hence it
>>>>>>decided to teach the young idealist officer a lesson. One was
>>>>>>immediately reminded of the manner in which Sanjoy Ghose was
>>>>>>abducted and killed by the ULFA because he demanded
>>>>>>transparency in the release of funds meant for rural
>>>>>>development programmes at Majuli.
>>>> >>>
>>>>>>> Had it not been the immediate public outcry following the
>>>>>>>discovery of the dead bodies of Kishan Singh and his
>>>>>>>colleagues, the incident would have perhaps been written off
>>>>>>>as yet another instance of militant killing in the state of
>>>>>>>Manipur. Manipur has been in the throes of violence for
>>>>>>>several decades now. But unlike many other states of the
>>>>>>>country where violence, both by the State and by insurgent
>>>>>>>outfits have come to be accepted with a stoic sense of
>>>>>>>resignation, in Manipur the people, especially its womenfolk,
>>>>>>>know how to protest every such killing. Women's organisations
>>>>>>>like the Meira Paibi have been in the forefront of such
>>>>>>>protests and women dressed in white and silently protesting
>>>>>>>violence and the deaths of innocents is a common sight in
>>>>>>>Imphal and other towns of Manipur. Not that these protests
>>>>>>>have resulted in immediate results. Entire Manipur was
>>>>>>>galvanized over the rape and murder of Thanjam Manorama by
>>>>>>>security personnel some years
> >> > ago.
>>>>>>> Manipur's protest against that heinous deed was flashed
>>>>>>>throughout the country and abroad. But the culprits are yet to
>>>>>>>be punished. But the people of Manipur have not allowed the
>>>>>>>callousness and collaboration of the authorities in these
>>>>>>>inhuman acts of violence to dampen their spirits. They know in
>>>>>>>their heart of hearts that they must keep on protesting
>>>>>>>against all such acts, whether committed by the State or by
>>>>>>>the militant groups. So, the Joint Action Committee set up to
>>>>>>>protest the deaths of Kishan Singh and his colleagues has
>>>>>>>worked out an elaborate plan of action which is bound to keep
>>>>>>>people's opinion focused on the need to secure justice and get
>>>>>>>the perpetrators of this terrible crime duly punished. Who was
>>>>>>>Kishan Singh over whose murder entire Manipur has been
>>>>>>>galvanized into protest? So much so, that all organisations
>>>>>>>irrespective of clan and tribe loyalties have come out in one
>>>>>>>voice in demanding that the criminals masquerading as
> >> > militants
>>>>>> be
>>>>>>> punished. The NSCN(I-M) which initially tried to disclaim
>>>>>>>responsibility, has now said that it has identified the
>>>>>>>killers who happen to be its cadres and that they are in its
>>>>>>>custody. With thousands of people demonstrating against the
>>>>>>>murder in the Tangkhul Naga dominated Ulkhrul district, the
>>>>>>>NSCN(I-M) leadership has now been forced to distance itself
>>>>>>>from this heinous deed by at least publicly disapproving the
>>>>>>>crime.
>>>>> >>
> >>>>>> Dr Thingnam Kishan Singh was no ordinary government
>official. In many senses, he was a symbol of the young and resurgent
>Manipur that is trying to come out of the clutches of almost endless
>violence. He had founded the "Centre for Alternative Discourse" and
>was the editor Alternative Perspectives, a scholarly journal which
>has created for itself a place among the intellectual world of the
>country. Each issue of this highly perceptive journal would carry an
>incisive essay by Kishen Singh and the topics ranged from critiquing
>India's Look East policy to the economics of underdevelopment. Sad
>to say, in Assam today we have few social science journals which
>would be able to compete with the one edited by Kishen Singh, either
>in the range of its topics or in the depth of its analysis. A topper
>in English Literature both at the undergraduate and the
>post-graduate level from the Jamia Milli Islamia University, Kishan
>started his teaching career at Delhi's
>>>>>>> Shyamlal College. But his urge to serve his own state of
>>>>>>>Manipur made him give up that job and come and join the
>>>>>>>prestigious DM College at Imphal. From there he moved to the
>>>>>>>Manipur University as a Lecturer. Then he took the Manipur
>>>>>>>Civil Service examination and joined the administration. As
>>>>>>>the SDO of a backward district, Kishen was bent on making
>>>>>>>development funds reach the people instead of the militants.
>>>>>>>His devotion to duty and unswerving loyalty to his ideals
>>>>>>>created problems for those who worked with him. The Joint
>>>>>>>Action Committee has accused the Deputy Commissioner and the
>>>>>>>Superintendent of Police of Ukhrul of having complicity in the
>>>>>>>crime. The Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has already suspended
>>>>>>>both of them for their failure to ensure protection to Kishen
>>>>>>>and his colleagues. Only a thorough and impartial enquiry will
>>>>>>>reveal the truth of the matter.
>>>> >> >
>>>>>>> It is rather strange that initially the murder of this
>>>>>>>leading intellectual and Manipur Civil Service official went
>>>>>>>virtually unreported in the regional press and media of our
>>>>>>>state. That much for our sentiments on the seven sisters being
>>>>>>>bonded with a common thread! It was only after life in Imphal
>>>>>>>and other towns came to a virtual halt because of massive
>>>>>>>people's protests against the murders and curfew had to be
>>>>>>>imposed, that the regional media gave some space to the
>>>>>>>incident. Quite often the regional media in Assam rightly
>>>>>>>accuses the national media of blacking out this region during
>>>>>>>moments of crisis. But, unfortunately, when it came to
>>>>>>>reporting this particular incident involving the abduction and
>>>>>>>murder of a leading intellectual of neighbouring Manipur, the
>>>>>>>regional press in Assam failed to give the incident due
>>>>>>>weightage. Those who knew Dr Kishen Singh would vouchsafe for
>>>>>>>not only his unflinching loyalty to the common people but also
>>>>>>>his
> >> urge
>>>> > to
>>>>>>> build a new Northeast where there would be more meaningful
>>>>>>>interaction and exchange between the different states and
>>>>>>>their people. The research foundation which he had started,
>>>>>>>the journal he edited and the discussions he initiated bear
>>>>>>>testimony to all this. He was one of those few who could
>>>>>>>successfully get out of the groove of localised thinking and
>>>>>>>relate his vision to happenings not only in this region or
>>>>>>>country but also in the wider world. This is exactly what he
>>>>>>>stated in his editorial in one of the volumes of his journal.
>>>>>>>His death in the hands of some criminals who try to pass off
>>>>>>>as "freedom fighters" but who are the real enemies of the
>>>>>>>people, has created a void which will be difficult to fill. I
>>>>>>>take this opportunity to pay my tribute to a young man who,
>>>>>>>unlike most of us, dared to do what he considered to be right.
> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> At 9:11 AM +0530 3/1/09, uttam borthakur wrote:
>>>>>>> > It is about the death of a young civil servant in
>>>>>>>Manipur. I thought assam netters would be interested. How
>>>>>>>efforts at good deeds are silenced by guns: state as well as
>>>>>>>militants. So, you may try the link below......
> >>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar0109/edit2
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>> Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on
>>>>>>>>http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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