[Assam] assam Digest, Vol 44, Issue 23 - About the name Assam

kamal deka kjit.deka at gmail.com
Wed Mar 18 15:36:20 PDT 2009


You have FINALLY agreed that there is no unified opinion.Therefore you have
answered your own question.

On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 1:28 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:

> At 10:55 PM -0500 3/17/09, kamal deka wrote:
>
>> If there is no unified opinion on an issue,one can argue both ways.
>>
>
>
>
> *** How?  Just because there is no 'unified opinion"  ( never mind among
> whom)  on what Assam used to be known  before Oxom became the commonly
> accepted name, HOW  can someone argue that it was a name created by the
>  Brits ( that is what OXX claims) , particularly in the face of  written
> proofMughal, British and Dutch  that the name Assam/Acham/Acam/Assamer, Asam
> etc.  was used long before the British arrived in Assam?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> So
>> elementary---there is no need to drag Watson's name to print.
>> There are couple of reasons as to why that travelogue may not be accepted
>> as
>> the final proof.I will deal with that later.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 6:59 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  THERE IS NO CONSENSUS AMONG ASSAMESE SCHOLARS IN SO FAR AS THE ETYMOLOGY
>>>
>>>>  OF >ASSAM IS CONCERNED.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>  *** That does not make Assam an anglicized form as claimed by OXX and as
>>>  Kamal and Dilip seem to agree.  One however hardly needs to argue the
>>> point.
>>>  As Sherlock Holmes might have said, it is elementary Dr. Watson.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  >I HAPPENED TO SPEAK TO A FEW INTELLECTUALS,WHO ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH
>>> THE
>>>
>>>>  DUTCH DOCUMENT REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT AS AN AUTHENTIC PROOF.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>  *** Did they give any reason as to WHY it is NOT an authentic proof,
>>>  acceptable to their scholarships? And if they don't , should we, as
>>> thinking
>>>  and rational people accept the verdict of  somebody who just doesn't
>>> like it
>>>  - never mind why?
>>>  Why should we even consider them SCHOLARS if they cannot make a
>>> persuasive
>>>  argument why the Dutch document is not authentic?
>>>
>>>  To accept it as the last word because some ' certified scholar ' says so
>>>  will make us seem like sheep, unable to exercise our own reasoning
>>>  abilities. I would want to see the certification of those scholars
>>>  first :-).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  At 5:43 PM -0500 3/17/09, kamal deka wrote:
>>>
>>>  I would like to conclude by saying the following;
>>>>  THERE IS NO CONSENSUS AMONG ASSAMESE SCHOLARS IN SO FAR AS THE
>>>> ETYMOLOGY
>>>>  OF
>>>>  ASSAM IS CONCERNED.THEY ARE DIVIDED ON RACIAL LINES.THE TRIBAL SCHOLARS
>>>>  VEHEMENTLY OPPOSES THE NAME CHANGE,WHILE THE PLAIN GROUPS FAVORS IT.
>>>>  I HAPPENED TO SPEAK TO A FEW INTELLECTUALS,WHO ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH
>>>> THE
>>>>  DUTCH DOCUMENT REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT AS AN AUTHENTIC PROOF.
>>>>  AGAIN, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT ANY NEW DISCOVERY,BE IT THE BOGORI(
>>>>  OLIVE),BENGANA ( EGG-PLANT) OR BURONJI ( HISTORY) MUST PASS THE
>>>>  CREDIBILITY
>>>>  TEST.THAT YARDSTICK OUGHT TO BE APPLIED EQUALLY TO ALL.
>>>>
>>>>  On Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 4:45 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka <
>>>> dilipdeka at yahoo.com
>>>>  >wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  '' In the meantime, verifiable proof exists
>>>>
>>>>>  to claim with certainty that Assam is NOT an anglicized form of what
>>>>>  the historical name of what we call Oxom today, because it predates
>>>>>  the British arrival in Assam. Pretty simple."
>>>>>  ------ As I said, the proof provided shows outsiders (foreigners)
>>>>> called
>>>>>  the land "Assam" or "Asem" or whatever else. That includes the Dutch,
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  Mughals, and the British. There is also proof that the Dutch used the
>>>>>  name
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  before the British did. It still does not prove that the residents
>> of
>>
>>>   Assam
>>>>>  called their land by that name. That is the point of my bringing in
>>>>> Bodo
>>>>>  language side of the equation.
>>>>>
>>>>>  " >I personally feel deeper research has to be done into Bodo language
>>>>>  >and folk-literature to see if the >root of the word Oxom can be
>>>>>  >found.
>>>>>  That is one's prerogative. Like it is for creationists to find proof
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  debunk evolution."
>>>>>  ------- Your words have no relevance here. You are reading me wrong. I
>>>>>  am
>>>>>  not debunking the statement that the land in question was called Assam
>>>>>  (or
>>>>>  whatever else) by outsiders before the British. My curiosity is about
>>>>>
>>>>  >>> "Oxom"
>>
>>>   and "Ahom". When did these words come into use? The Tais did not call
>>>>>  themselves Ahom. So who started that word? Do the words Ahom and Oxom
>>>>>  have
>>>>>  some connection? I am suggesting that Bodo language may give some
>>>>> clue.
>>>>>
>>>>>  Is it fair to say that this whole Assamnet debate wouldn't have
>>>>> started
>>>>>  if
>>>>>  OXX had used the word "Westernized" in stead of "Anglicized" to
>>>>> describe
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  word "Assam"?
>>>>>  I agree that "Asom" is not a suitable replacement for "Assam" as
>>>>>  proposed
>>>>>  by the Assam govt.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ================================================================================
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>>>  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>> world
>>>>>  <
>>>>>  assam at assamnet.org>; wahid.saleh at gmail.com
>>>>>  Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 3:51:58 PM
>>>>>  Subject: Re: [Assam] assam Digest, Vol 44, Issue 23 - About the name
>>>>>  Assam
>>>>>
>>>>>  >I personally feel deeper research has to be done into Bodo language
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >and folk-literature to see if the >root of the word Oxom can be
>>>>  > >found.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  *** That is one's prerogative. Like it is for creationists to find
>>>>>  proof  to debunk evolution. In the meantime, verifiable proof exists
>>>>>  to claim with certainty that Assam is NOT an anglicized form of what
>>>>>  the historical name of what we call Oxom today, because it predates
>>>>>  the British arrival in Assam. Pretty simple.
>>>>>
>>>>>  THAT was the  point of contention: What OXX's website claimed.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  At 10:02 AM -0700 3/17/09, Dilip and Dil Deka wrote:
>>>>>  >Mr. Saleh,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >You said, " All I did was to search for available information in
>>>>>  >publications (in English and other languages) and
>>>>>  >compile the information and publish an article to show that the name
>>>>>  Assam
>>>>>  >was not given by the British. The name existed before the British
>>>>>  >came to Assam."
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Your interest in the subject and the time you spent in the
>>>>>  >research should be appreciated by all who are somewhat interested in
>>>>>  >Assam's history. In the above paragraph, you have also made it very
>>>>>  >clear that your goal was to show that other outsiders (other than
>>>>>  >the British) also called today's Oxom as Assam or something similar.
>>>>>  >I do not believe you wanted to get into the debate over whether the
>>>>>  >name Assam (or something similar) came first, or Oxom. As we have
>>>>>  >seen in this debate and elsewhere, it will be very hard to pinpoint
>>>>>  >when the name Oxom came into being. Dr. Yasmin Saikia in her
>>>>>  >research concluded that a name for the Ahom kingdom does not appear
>>>>>  >in the  Buranjis remaining today. As we know a large number of
>>>>>  >Buranjis were burnt under the care of Kirti Charan Barbarua. There
>>>>>  >may be some hiding in some village in Assam. Who knows?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I personally feel deeper research has to be done into Bodo language
>>>>>  >and folk-literature to see if the root of the word Oxom can be found.
>>>>>  >I asked a question a few days ago - who gave the name Ahom to the
>>>>>  >Tai group and why did the Tai people so willingly accepted it?
>>>>>  >No one has answered it.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Again, thanks for your dedication to things Assamese.
>>>>>  >Dilip Deka
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >________________________________
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >From: Wahid Saleh(GM) <wahid.saleh at gmail.com>
>>
>>>   >To: assam at assamnet..org
>>>>>  >Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 10:01:54 AM
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] assam Digest, Vol 44, Issue 23 - About the name
>>>>>  Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>>I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people like
>>>>>  >>>Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>> with
>>>>>  >>>his newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  >>>laughter-evoking buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's
>>>>> history
>>>>>  ?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >It was not my intention to confront others. All I did was to search
>>>>> for
>>>>>  >available information in publications (in English and other
>>>>> languages)
>>>>>  and
>>>>>  >compile the information and publish an article to show that the name
>>>>>
>>>>  >>> Assam
>>
>>>   >was not given by the British. The name existed before the British
>>>>> came
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  >Assam.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >In my search for information on this subject I contacted persons who
>>>>>  knew
>>>>>  >about Indian, Dutch, English and Portuguese histories, did research
>>>>> and
>>>>>  >published papers and books in their respective fields. They were
>>>>> based
>>>>>  in
>>>>>  >Australia, Bangladesh, Iran, India, the Netherlands, Portugal,
>>>>> Vietnam,
>>>>>  >Thailand, UK and USA. Most of them are considered to be authorities
>>>>> in
>>>>>  their
>>>>>  >respective fields. I also did some research on Marco Polo and Huen
>>>>>  Tsang
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  >find out if they mentioned the name Assam in their travel journals.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >During this process I stumbled upon the fact that the person named
>>>>>  Glanius
>>>>>  >who is mentioned by several well-known historians did not accompany
>>>>> Mir
>>>>>  >Jumla and also never visited Assam. I also published an article on
>>>>> the
>>>>>  same
>>>>>  >subject.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >We all have the freedom to accept the mentioned books/publications as
>>>>>  >historical documents or reject them totally.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I quoted Prof. Priyam Goswami from a news item published by Times of
>>>>>  India
>>>>>  >(26-02-06) with the title "Assam to fall off the map, turn Asom" as
>>>>> Mr.
>>>>>  Deka
>>>>>  >wanted explanations from someone competent authority.
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >
>>>>
>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>I remain unconvinced.
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >>In the fitness of thing,the entire matter ought to be left for
>>>>  those,who
>>>>
>>>>  >are in the business of reading,analyzing and interpreting the
>>>>>  nitty-gritty
>>>>>  >>historical facts and data.
>>>>>  >>I refuse to accept the interpretation put forward by Saleh/Barua as
>>>>> an
>>>>>  >>unshakable truth.
>>>>>  >>As far as I am concerned,their explanation is of no
>>>>>  consequence,pending
>>>>>  >full verification by the competent ones.
>>>>>  >>Meanwhile,those self-proclaimed neo-historians should stop the
>>>>> tamasha
>>>>>  of
>>>>>  >>re-writing and re-interpreting facts in regard to Assam's
>>>>>  >>history,who,perhaps,haven't studied the subject seriously save
>>>>>  high-school
>>>>>  >>history :-)
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Mr. Amalendu Guha and Kalika Purna were quoted by Mr. Deka and my
>>>>> reply
>>>>>  was
>>>>>  >only in reference to the said quotes.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Both Prof Goswami and Mr. Guha wrote within the framework of
>>>>>  information
>>>>>  >available to them. This does not mean that they are "buffons". They
>>>>> are
>>>>>  >contributing their own way to the knowledge of the society. In and
>>>>>  outside
>>>>>  >their academic circle they are respected academicians. We may agree
>>>>>  with
>>>>>  >them or reject their arguments without using some adjectives which
>>>>> they
>>>>>  >don't deserve.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Wahid Saleh
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
>>>>>  >Van: assam-bounces at assamnet.org [mailto:assam-bounces at assamnet.org]
>>>>>  Namens
>>>>>  >assam-request at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >Verzonden: dinsdag 17 maart 2009 7:30
>>>>>  >Aan: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >Onderwerp: assam Digest, Vol 44, Issue 23
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Send assam mailing list submissions to
>>>>>  >    assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>>>  >    http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>  >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>>>  >    assam-request at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >    assam-owner at assamnet.org
>>
>>>   >
>>>>>  >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>>>>  >than "Re: Contents of assam digest..."
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Today's Topics:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >  1. Re: About the name Assam (Choudhary, H. N. - AMW - MUM)
>>>>>  >  2. Of Wearing Suits and their Side-effects - Kalyan
>>>>>  >      Dutta-Choudhury, The    Sentinel (Ram Sarangapani)
>>>>>  >  3. Re: About the name Assam (kamal deka)
>>>>>  >  4. Re: About the name Assam (kamal deka)
>>>>>  >  5. Re: About the name Assam (kamal deka)
>>>>>  >  6. Re: About the name Assam (Chan Mahanta)
>>>>>  >  7. Re: About the name Assam (Rajen & Ajanta Barua)
>>>>>  >  8. Re: About the name Assam (Rajen & Ajanta Barua)
>>>>>  >  9. Re: About the name Assam (Rajen & Ajanta Barua)
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >  10. Re: About the name Assam (kamal deka)
>>
>>>   >  11. Re: About the name Assam (kamal deka)
>>>>>  >  12. Fragmented Memories: Struggling to be Tai-Ahom in India -    by
>>>>>  >      Yasmin Saikia (Dilip and Dil Deka)
>>>>>  >  13. Re: Fragmented Memories: Struggling to be Tai-Ahom in India
>>>>>  -
>>>>>  >      by Yasmin Saikia (Babul Gogoi)
>>>>>  >  14. Sanskrit and Assamese (Alpana B. Sarangapani)
>>>>>  >  15. Re: About the name Assam (kamal deka)
>>>>>  >  16.. Web site of the "Adinor Sambad" (Buljit Buragohain)
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>
>>>>>  >----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 1
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:59:07 +0530
>>>>>  >From: "Choudhary, H. N. - AMW - MUM" <HNChoudhary at amwasia.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  >    world"    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Cc: rc2559 at columbia.edu
>>>>>  >Message-ID:
>>>>>  >    <C277F575BBB7F54B9DB20593FACB611003A415 at amwbkcexch.amwasia.com>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Dear All,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Having read the mails and communications on the subject  "about the
>>>>>  name
>>>>>  >of Assam",
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I feel that the debate on the subject has become acrimonious and
>>>>>  >somewhat personal.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >No one can clam fame to become a historian overnight by writing an
>>>>>  >article on a historical topic. It is also not appropriate to call
>>>>> them
>>>>>  >"neophyte historians" as they may not deserve the accolade.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >If I have to give my comments on the following remarks:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >"There are many ignorant educated people in Assam. There are again
>>>>> some
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >educated intellectuals with different agendas."
>>>>
>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >-- I will like to reserve my comments.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Please exercise restraint and caution on commenting poorly on the
>>>>> whole
>>>>>  >of Assam or Assamese people.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Your geographical location outside Assam (in USA or elsewhere) does
>>>>> not
>>>>>  >confer the right to make un-parliamentary
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >comments on the people in Assam.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >These are sensitive issues.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I am a recent addition to the group.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I have served for many years in the Army and now in an Indian
>>>>>  corporate.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Having he advantage to experienced the best traditions of our culture
>>>>>  >and a mix of British culture,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I could suggest that views and opinions need not "hurt" anyone.
>>>>> Please
>>>>>  >show tolerance.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >If we follow that in the Friends of Assam, we will remain friends.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I request both parties  to cool off.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >There is too much heat at the moment.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Regards,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Col Hemen N Choudhary
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >W Sea Face
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Mumbai
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >-----Original Message-----
>>>>>  >From: assam-bounces at assamnet.org [mailto:assam-bounces at assamnet.org]
>>>>>  On
>>>>>  >Behalf Of Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 6:51 PM
>>>>>  >To: assamnet
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Why would Mr Wahid confront anybody?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >
>>
>>>   >What Prof Amalendu Gauha wrote about 'Ha-Sam' was not based on his
>>>>> own
>>>>>  >research work. He simply borrowed the writing from Mr Baden Powell
>>>>> even
>>>>>  >without quoting Mr Powell. I also wrote about the word 'Ha-Sam' in my
>>>>>  >article  but I quoted Mr Baden Powell. Also Prof Guha was writing
>>>>> based
>>>>>  >on his communistic outlook, not much as history of the word Assam.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >There are
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Let people read Mr. Wahid's writings and confront him if they have
>>>>> any
>>>>>  >problem.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >>  Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:37 -0500
>>
>>>   >
>>>>>  >>  From: kjit.deka at gmail.com
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  To: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  Subject: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people like
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>> with
>>>>>  >his
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  >laughter-evoking
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  KJD
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  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
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >DISCLAIMER:
>>>>>  >Sample Disclaimer added in a VBScript.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 2
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:24:16 -0500
>>>>>  >From: Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: [Assam] Of Wearing Suits and their Side-effects - Kalyan
>>>>>  >    Dutta-Choudhury, The    Sentinel
>>>>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  >    world    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID:
>>>>>  >    <6e564ddf0903161424p5482b16es190baf547c7cd65d at mail.gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Netters,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Kalyan da writes well, and I kind of like this piece. Reminds me of
>>>>>  Gandhi,
>>>>>  >"Imitating the English Gentleman" which we had at high school, where
>>>>>  Gandhi
>>>>>  >declares
>>>>>  >"And Mr. Bell rang the bell of Alarm in my ears, and I awoke" after
>>>>> he
>>>>>  felt
>>>>>  >guilty asking money from back home for his elocution and music
>>>>> lessons
>>>>>  in
>>>>>  >London.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >"The head tailor there was called masterji. When he was called, he
>>>>>  showed
>>>>>  up
>>>>>  >at the front desk with a measuring tape coolly around his neck and
>>>>> the
>>>>>  two
>>>>>  >ends of it dangling. He talked sparingly because he knew his
>>>>> business.
>>>>>  Any
>>>>>  >professional person who talks to his or her clients doesn?t know his
>>>>> or
>>>>>
>>>>>  > her
>>>>
>>>>  >profession." - K DC
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >This is just precious. I remember going for my first job interview at
>>>>>  >Guwahati.. Didn't have a suit, so I borrowed a jacket from a friend -
>>>>>  similar
>>>>>  >shade. But the jacket was a size smaller. So, I used the next best
>>>>>  option
>>>>>  -
>>>>>  >slung the jacket over my shoulders - to look hip, and make it look
>>>>> like
>>>>>  it
>>>>>  >was my suit.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >--Ram
>>>>>  >_______________
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >*Kalyan Dutta-Choudhury
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >*A television programme showed men?s suits selling for upwards of,
>>>>> get
>>>>>  this
>>>>>  >incredible story, forty three thousand dollars. No, the suits weren?t
>>>>>  made
>>>>>  >of gold or titanium or any other precious metal. They were regular
>>>>>  woollen
>>>>>  >suits but the wool came from some animals grazing in some kind of
>>>>> grass
>>>>>  >which grew in cool highlands of South America. The interviewer
>>>>> sported
>>>>>  a
>>>>>  >high-priced suit of that kind of lineage but he didn?t look any
>>>>>  different
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >than when he was wearing his regular suit of approximately of
>> same
>>
>>>   colour
>>>>>  >and texture. But that?s purely my judgement.
>>>>>  >Then, what is the hype about paying forty three thousand dollars for
>>>>> a
>>>>>  suit?
>>>>>  >That lies in the psychology of buying at one end, and selling at the
>>>>>  other
>>>>>  >end, of the business enterprise. The buyer may be a craven soul like
>>>>>  Barney
>>>>>  >Madeoff who made his money by bilking others, but how the seller, in
>>>>>  right
>>>>>  >conscientiousness, could sell the high-priced suits? They are made of
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >same mould. They feed off each other?s depravity.
>>>>>  >A relative of ours went to France, of many other places, for a visit
>>>>> to
>>>>>  see
>>>>>  >how things were different up there.. It seemed he made lots of money.
>>>>>
>>>>  >>> Who
>>
>>>   >doesn?t make money in Assam? Only fools don?t. Looking around in
>>>>> Paris,
>>>>>  he
>>>>>  >found a tailoring shop which made suits. Asking for the price of a
>>>>>  suit,
>>>>>  he
>>>>>  >was shocked to learn the price of suits ? way too high. With that
>>>>> kind
>>>>>  of
>>>>>  >money, he quickly calculated using his handy pocket calculator: ??I
>>>>>  could
>>>>>  >make two pairs of suits with heavier clothing at Mohini?s in
>>>>>  Guwahati.??
>>>>>  >That?s what he did. The suits were a bit ill-fitting and out of
>>>>> style.
>>>>>  But
>>>>>  >who cares about good fit and style in the non-suit domain like
>>>>>  Guwahati!
>>>>>  >It?s the quality of clothing that matters.
>>>>>  >In the late 50s and early 60s, there was a veritable mania of wearing
>>>>>  suits
>>>>>  >to look cool. All kinds of grants and scholarships made that
>>>>> possible.
>>>>>  If
>>>>>  >you were a student at Assam Engineering College in those heady
>>>>>  ?engineering?
>>>>>  >days, and you the poor soul didn?t have a nice pair to wear to go to
>>>>>  Gauhati
>>>>>  >in the evenings, you were so out of style and time.
>>>>>  >So where did the students go to get their suits made? Where else but
>>>>>  >Mohini?s in Fancy Bazar? The head tailor there was called masterji.
>>>>>  When
>>>>>  he
>>>>>  >was called, he showed up at the front desk with a measuring tape
>>>>> coolly
>>>>>  >around his neck and the two ends of it dangling. He talked sparingly
>>>>>  because
>>>>>  >he knew his business. Any professional person who talks to his or her
>>>>>  >clients doesn?t know his or her profession. Did you ever talk with
>>>>> your
>>>>>  >doctor? He will shut you up any time you open your mouth to say
>>>>>  something
>>>>>  >important to him  ? something vitally important.
>>>>>  >Anyway, the culture of wearing a good pair of suits migrated down to
>>>>>  those
>>>>>  >aspiring to be future engineers too. Such an aspiring soul came to
>>>>>  board
>>>>>  in
>>>>>  >our DS hostel. In a short time, he discarded his white pajamas, blue
>>>>>  shirts
>>>>>  >and sandals and began wearing alternating between a light-blue suit
>>>>> and
>>>>>  a
>>>>>  >dark-brown suit with appropriately matching shoes whenever he went
>>>>> out,
>>>>>  >which was often. When you wear a suit, you don?t sit in your room and
>>>>>  study
>>>>>  >like so many fools! You go out with other suit-wearers. When you?re
>>>>> out
>>>>>  with
>>>>>  >suit-wearers, you go for a long walk up and down through busy
>>>>>  thoroughfares
>>>>>  >stopping at stores and buying odd little things showing off what a
>>>>> cool
>>>>>  guy
>>>>>  >you were. If there were womenfolk in the stores, it was moksha! There
>>>>>  were
>>>>>  >women. But they had more sense. They won?t tango with them.
>>>>>  >One evening, the student?s father showed up at the hostel enquiring
>>>>>  about
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >his son. But the son wasn?t there for hours, perhaps gallivanting
>>>> in
>>>>  the
>>>>
>>>>  >city street. After hours passed, I came out of my room and asked the
>>>>>  man
>>>>>  if
>>>>>  >I could take a message for his son. ??No, that won?t be necessary...
>>>>>  I?m
>>>>>  >financially ruined. I can?t keep up with his demands. Every so often
>>>>> he
>>>>>  >would come home and tell his mother he needed money. Lots of them. He
>>>>>  needs
>>>>>  >to buy suits, shirts and shoes to prepare himself to be an good
>>>>>  engineer.
>>>>>  >I?m just a railway clerk at Maligaon... How would I know how
>>>>> engineers
>>>>>  are
>>>>>  >made??? said the haggard man wisping in Bengali.
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >It was the most pathetic and most depraved story I had the
>> misfortune
>>
>>>   ever
>>>>>  >came to hear. If I had a hidden desire to buy a pair of nice suits,
>>>>> it
>>>>>  >instantly vanished for a few years at least. I came to the US wearing
>>>>> a
>>>>>  suit
>>>>>  >but I discarded that in favour of blue jeans and T-shirts. If I care
>>>>> to
>>>>>  >look, the suit might be still there somewhere in the house. But for
>>>>>  what
>>>>>  >should I do that? I?m a non-suit man heart and soul.
>>>>>  >(The writer is settled at Berkeley, California)
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 3
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:32:18 -0500
>>>>>  >From: kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >    world    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>
>>>   >Message-ID:
>>>>>  >    <7b43066c0903161532y7515bd76n4b059052c9805229 at mail.gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Why?He was the one who is complining about their ignorance.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 8:21 AM, Rajen Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Why would Mr Wahid confront anybody?
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  What Prof Amalendu Gauha wrote about 'Ha-Sam' was not based on his
>>>>>  own
>>>>>  >>  research work. He simply borrowed the writing from Mr Baden Powell
>>>>>  even
>>>>>  >>  without quoting Mr Powell. I also wrote about the word 'Ha-Sam' in
>>>>>  my
>>>>>  >>  article  but I quoted Mr Baden Powell. Also Prof Guha was writing
>>>>>  based
>>>>>  on
>>>>>  >>  his communistic outlook, not much as history of the word Assam.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  There are many ignorant educated people in Assam. There are again
>>>>>  some
>>>>>  >>  educated intellectuals with different agendas.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Let people read Mr. Wahid's writings and confront him if they have
>>>>>  any
>>>>>  >>  problem.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  > Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:37 -0500
>>>>>  >>  > From: kjit.deka at gmail.com
>>>>>  >>  > To: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >>  > Subject: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>  >
>>>>>  >>  > I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people
>>>>> like
>>>>>  >>  > Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>>  with
>>>>>  his
>>>>>  >>  > newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  >>  laughter-evoking
>>>>>  >>  > buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>>>>  >>  > KJD
>>>>>  >>  > _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>  > 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
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 4
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:40:53 -0500
>>>>>  >From: kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  >    world    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID:
>>>>>  >    <7b43066c0903161540w77182f79ic7ddde0451584e6b at mail.gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Did you read his mail? Very self-explanatory.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 9:31 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  *** Wahid kokaideu does not have to go looking for Priyom Goswami
>>>>> or
>>>>>  >>  Omolendu Guho for a confrontation. He has presented his findings.
>>>>> If
>>>>>  >someone
>>>>>  >>  has a problem with it, they can very well
>>>>>  >>  confront him, seek proof  or rebut it or whatever.
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >>
>>>>
>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  At 3:03 PM -0500 3/15/09, kamal deka wrote:
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>>  I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people
>>>>> like
>>>>>  >>>  Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>>
>>>>  >>> with
>>
>>>   his
>>>>>  >>>  newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  >laughter-evoking
>>>>>  >>>  buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>>>>  >>>  KJD
>>>>>  >>>  _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>>  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
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 5
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:46:33 -0500
>>>>>  >From: kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>
>>>   >    world    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID:
>>>>>  >    <7b43066c0903161546pa713174q41f2bc298fc85ccc at mail.gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-13
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >According to historian Satyendra Nath Sarma, [*Sarma, Satyendra Nath
>>>>>  (1976)
>>>>>  >"Assamese Literature", Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.*]
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >While the Shan invaders called themselves Tai, they came to be
>>>>> referred
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  >as "?s?m", "?sam" and sometimes as "Acam" by the indigenous people of
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >country. The modern Assamese word "?hom" by which the Tai people are
>>>>>  known
>>>>>  >is derived from "?s?m" or "?sam". The epithet applied to the Shan
>>>>>  conquerors
>>>>>  >was subsequently transferred to the country over which they ruled and
>>>>>  thus
>>>>>  >the name K?mar?pa was replaced by ?s?m, which ultimately took the
>>>>>  >Sanskritized form "Asama", meaning "unequalled, peerless or uneven"
>>>>>  >[*Banikanta
>>>>>  >Kakati: "Assamese: Its Formation and Development", p2*]
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 10:57 AM, Dilip and Dil Deka
>>>>>  ><dilipdeka at yahoo.com>wrote:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  The debaters on this subject are looking at only two facets - the
>>>>>  Tai-Ahom
>>>>>  >>  connection and the possible Sanskritization. There is a third one
>>>>> to
>>>>>  look
>>>>>  >>  at. The Bodo-Kacharis have been in Assam longer than anyone else
>>>>> and
>>>>>  their
>>>>>  >>  people are spread all over Assam.
>>>>>  >>  What did they call the land? Many rivers in Assam still have their
>>>>>  Bodo
>>>>>  >>  names.
>>>>>  >>  What did they call the Tais who came to Assam in the 13th century?
>>>>>  >>  Is there "xo" sound in Bodo language?
>>>>>  >>  It is very possible that some words in Bodo were at the root of
>>>>>  "Oxom",
>>>>>  >>  "Assam", "Asom" or whatever else. Please do not throw away Dr. A.
>>>>>  Guha
>>>>>  or
>>>>>  >>  Baden Powell(is that the name?) yet.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  I don't know a word of Bodo language. Could someone who knows Bodo
>>>>>  comment
>>>>>  >>  on the above?
>>>>>  >>  I did go to the website http://www.bodoland.org/language1.htm and
>>>>>  found
>>>>>  >>  some interesting words but not much that would help the debate.
>>>>>  >>  Dilip Deka
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  ________________________________
>>>>>  >>  From: Rajen Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  >>  To: assamnet <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >>  Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 8:21:13 AM
>>>>>  >>  Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Why would Mr Wahid confront anybody?
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  What Prof Amalendu Gauha wrote about 'Ha-Sam' was not based on his
>>>>>  own
>>>>>  >>  research work. He simply borrowed the writing from Mr Baden Powell
>>>>>  even
>>>>>  >>  without quoting Mr Powell. I also wrote about the word 'Ha-Sam' in
>>>>>  my
>>>>>  >>  article  but I quoted Mr Baden Powell. Also Prof Guha was writing
>>>>>  based
>>>>>  on
>>>>>  >>  his communistic outlook, not much as history of the word Assam.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  There are many ignorant educated people in Assam. There are again
>>>>>  some
>>>>>  >>  educated intellectuals with different agendas.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Let people read Mr. Wahid's writings and confront him if they have
>>>>>  any
>>>>>  >>  problem.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >>
>>
>>>   >>
>>>>>  >>  Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  > Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:37 -0500
>>>>>  >>  > From: kjit.deka at gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >>  > To: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>
>>>>  >>  > Subject: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>  >
>>>>>  >>  > I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people
>>>>> like
>>>>>  >>  > Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof..Amalendu Guha
>>>>>  with
>>>>>  his
>>>>>  >>  > newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  >>  laughter-evoking
>>>>>  >>  > buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>>>>  >>  > KJD
>>>>>  >>  > _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>  > 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
>>>>>  >>  _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>  assam mailing list
>>>>>  >>  assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >>  http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 6
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:22:57 -0500
>>>>>  >From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  >    world    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID: <a06240801c5e48f2413b2@[192.168.0.197]>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ; format="flowed"
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Does S N Sarma refer to any proof or is it a
>>>>>  >conjecture? And at what time frame did the name
>>>>>  >Asam came to be the defining name of the kingdom?
>>>>>  >Will it be reasonable to surmise that it was much
>>>>>  >before the British came?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >The Sanskritized form is a pure and unadulterated conjecture of
>>>>> modern
>>>>>  >times.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >At 5:46 PM -0500 3/16/09, kamal deka wrote:
>>>>>  >>According to historian Satyendra Nath Sarma, [*Sarma, Satyendra Nath
>>>>>  (1976)
>>>>>  >>"Assamese Literature", Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.*]
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>While the Shan invaders called themselves Tai, they came to be
>>>>>  referred
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  >>as "?s?m", "?sam" and sometimes as "Acam" by the indigenous people
>>>>> of
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >>country. The modern Assamese word "?hom" by which the Tai people are
>>>>>  known
>>>>>  >>is derived from "?s?m" or "?sam". The epithet applied to the Shan
>>>>>  >conquerors
>>>>>  >>was subsequently transferred to the country over which they ruled
>>>>> and
>>>>>  thus
>>>>>  >>the name K?mar?pa was replaced by ?s?m, which ultimately took the
>>>>>  >>Sanskritized form "Asama", meaning "unequalled,
>>>>>  >>peerless or uneven" [*Banikanta
>>>>>  >>Kakati: "Assamese: Its Formation and Development", p2*]
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 10:57 AM, Dilip and Dil
>>>>>  >>Deka <dilipdeka at yahoo.com>wrote:
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>>  The debaters on this subject are looking at only two facets - the
>>>>>  >Tai-Ahom
>>>>>  >>>  connection and the possible Sanskritization. There is a third one
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  >look
>>>>>  >>>  at. The Bodo-Kacharis have been in Assam longer than anyone else
>>>>>  and
>>>>>  >their
>>>>>  >>>  people are spread all over Assam.
>>>>>  >>>  What did they call the land? Many rivers in Assam still have
>>>>> their
>>>>>  Bodo
>>>>>  >>>  names.
>>>>>  >>>  What did they call the Tais who came to Assam in the 13th
>>>>> century?
>>>>>  >>>  Is there "xo" sound in Bodo language?
>>>>>  >>>  It is very possible that some words in Bodo were at the root of
>>>>>  "Oxom",
>>>>>  >>>  "Assam", "Asom" or whatever else. Please do not throw away Dr. A.
>>>>>  Guha
>>>>>  >or
>>>>>  >>>  Baden Powell(is that the name?) yet.
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  I don't know a word of Bodo language. Could someone who knows
>>>>> Bodo
>>>>>  >comment
>>>>>  >>>  on the above?
>>>>>  >>>  I did go to the website http://www.bodoland.org/language1.htmand
>>>>>  found
>>>>>  >>>  some interesting words but not much that would help the debate.
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >>>  Dilip Deka
>>
>>>   >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  ________________________________
>>>>>  >>>  From: Rajen Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  >>>  To: assamnet <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >>>  Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 8:21:13 AM
>>>>>  >>>  Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  Why would Mr Wahid confront anybody?
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  What Prof Amalendu Gauha wrote about 'Ha-Sam' was not based on
>>>>> his
>>>>>  own
>>>>>  >>>  research work. He simply borrowed the writing from Mr Baden
>>>>> Powell
>>>>>  even
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >>>  without quoting Mr Powell. I also wrote about the word 'Ha-Sam'
>>>> in
>>>>  my
>>>>
>>>>  >>>  article  but I quoted Mr Baden Powell. Also Prof Guha was writing
>>>>>  based
>>>>>  >on
>>>>>  >>>  his communistic outlook, not much as history of the word Assam.
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >>>
>>
>>>   >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  There are many ignorant educated people in Assam. There are again
>>>>>  some
>>>>>  >>>  educated intellectuals with different agendas.
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  Let people read Mr. Wahid's writings and confront him if they
>>>>> have
>>>>>  any
>>>>>  >>>  problem.
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>
>>>>>  >>>  > Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:37 -0500
>>>>>  >>>  > From: kjit.deka at gmail.com
>>>>>  >>>  > To: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >>>  > Subject: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>>  >
>>>>>  >>>  > I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people
>>>>>  like
>>>>>  >>>  > Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>>  with
>>>>>  >his
>>>>>  >>>  > newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  >>>  laughter-evoking
>>>>>  >>>  > buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>>>>  >>>  > KJD
>>>>>  >>>  > _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>>  > 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
>>>>>  >>>  _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>>  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
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 7
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:54:43 -0500
>>>>>  >From: "Rajen & Ajanta Barua" <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  >    world"    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID: <BLU104-DS7C413BFDCE6E3BC440122AD980 at phx.gbl>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Dear Choudhury:
>>>>>  >Since you are new to the Assam net, please know that in this net we
>>>>>  discuss
>>>>>  >and debate all kinds of intelligent intellectual issues.
>>>>>  >Please don't take anything personally in assam net. Here we do
>>>>> friendly
>>>>>  >intellectual hot debates all the time. Kamal, me, Ramgopal, Dilip,
>>>>>  Chandan,
>>>>>  >Wahid and many others are friends, and actually many of us live in
>>>>> same
>>>>>  city
>>>>>  >Houston as friends. But in hot issues we do heated debates and try to
>>>>>  thrash
>>>>>  >out truths for the sake of the community. We understand that sometime
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >truths hurt.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >When Kamal wrote us as 'neophyte historians' we do not take it
>>>>>  personally.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >When I wrote, "There are many ignorant educated people in Assam."
>>>>>  >Or " There are again some educated intellectuals with different
>>>>>  agendas."
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >It is same as the statement "There are many educated corrupt people
>>>>> in
>>>>>  >Assam".
>>>>>  >I am sure that statement would not mean that all the people of Assam
>>>>>  are
>>>>>  >corrupt by any stretch of imagination. On the other hand if I make
>>>>> this
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >statement, many will support me.
>>
>>>   >These do not anyway mean that we are blaming all the people of Assam.
>>>>>  Nor
>>>>>  >does it mean that people living outside Assam are superior or better.
>>>>>  Many
>>>>>  >from Assam take part here. We never write thinking the people of
>>>>> Assam
>>>>>  as
>>>>>  >different from us.
>>>>>  >I wrote I wrote in similar vein.
>>>>>  >I am sorry if I somehow hurt yours or anybody's feeling. But frankly
>>>>>  >speaking that is the flavor and beauty of Assam net.
>>>>>  >The net is doing a great service to the Assamese community for many
>>>>>  many
>>>>>  >years now..
>>>>>  >I also want to clarify that this is not Friends of Assam net which is
>>>>>  >different. You may be confused for some reason.
>>>>>  >Regards
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >From: Choudhary, H. N. - AMW - MUM
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 11:29 AM
>>
>>>   >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>> world
>>>>>  >Cc: rc2559 at columbia.edu
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>
>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Dear All,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Having read the mails and communications on the subject  "about the
>>>>>  name
>>>>>  >of Assam",
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I feel that the debate on the subject has become acrimonious and
>>>>>  >somewhat personal.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >No one can clam fame to become a historian overnight by writing an
>>>>>  >article on a historical topic. It is also not appropriate to call
>>>>> them
>>>>>  >"neophyte historians" as they may not deserve the accolade.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >If I have to give my comments on the following remarks:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >"There are many ignorant educated people in Assam. There are again
>>>>> some
>>>>>  >educated intellectuals with different agendas."
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >-- I will like to reserve my comments.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Please exercise restraint and caution on commenting poorly on the
>>>>> whole
>>>>>  >of Assam or Assamese people.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Your geographical location outside Assam (in USA or elsewhere) does
>>>>> not
>>>>>  >confer the right to make un-parliamentary
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >comments on the people in Assam.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >These are sensitive issues.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I am a recent addition to the group.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I have served for many years in the Army and now in an Indian
>>>>>  corporate.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Having he advantage to experienced the best traditions of our culture
>>>>>  >and a mix of British culture,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I could suggest that views and opinions need not "hurt" anyone.
>>>>> Please
>>>>>  >show tolerance.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >If we follow that in the Friends of Assam, we will remain friends.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I request both parties  to cool off.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >There is too much heat at the moment.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Regards,
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Col Hemen N Choudhary
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >W Sea Face
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Mumbai
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >-----Original Message-----
>>>>>  >From: assam-bounces at assamnet.org [mailto:assam-bounces at assamnet.org]
>>>>>  On
>>>>>  >Behalf Of Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 6:51 PM
>>>>>  >To: assamnet
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Why would Mr Wahid confront anybody?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >What Prof Amalendu Gauha wrote about 'Ha-Sam' was not based on his
>>>>> own
>>>>>  >research work. He simply borrowed the writing from Mr Baden Powell
>>>>> even
>>>>>  >without quoting Mr Powell. I also wrote about the word 'Ha-Sam' in my
>>>>>  >article  but I quoted Mr Baden Powell. Also Prof Guha was writing
>>>>> based
>>>>>  >on his communistic outlook, not much as history of the word Assam.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >There are
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Let people read Mr. Wahid's writings and confront him if they have
>>>>> any
>>>>>  >problem.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:37 -0500
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  From: kjit.deka at gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >
>>
>>>   >>  To: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  Subject: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people like
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>> with
>>>>>  >his
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  >laughter-evoking
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  KJD
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  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
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >DISCLAIMER:
>>>>>  >Sample Disclaimer added in a VBScript.
>>>>>  >_______________________________________________
>>>>>  >assam mailing list
>>>>>  >assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 8
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:04:05 -0500
>>>>>  >From: "Rajen & Ajanta Barua" <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  >    world"    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID: <BLU104-DS25A6D9ADC864C80E6C489AD980 at phx.gbl>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-13"
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >
>>>>
>>>>  >That is exactly what I wrote in my article with more elaboration of
>>>>> the
>>>>>  word
>>>>>  >"Acam". I however don't buy the last statement of Banikanta Kakopty',
>>>>>  >"which ultimately took the Sanskritized form "Asama", meaning
>>>>>  "unequalled,
>>>>>  >peerless or uneven" [*Banikanta Kakati: "Assamese: Its Formation and
>>>>>  >Development", p2*]"
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Where this Sanskrit came from?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Bottomline, the word ASSAM does not have any vestiges of colonial
>>>>> rule.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >The words OXOM and AHOM came from the Assamese word ACAM
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I am not writing anything new. People simply need to read history
>>>>> books
>>>>>  and
>>>>>  >find out the truth.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >It is a myth that ASSAM word is derived from OXOM.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >From: kamal deka
>>>>>  >Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 5:46 PM
>>>>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>> world
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >According to historian Satyendra Nath Sarma, [*Sarma, Satyendra Nath
>>>>>  (1976)
>>>>>  >"Assamese Literature", Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.*]
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >While the Shan invaders called themselves Tai, they came to be
>>>>> referred
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  >as "?s?m", "?sam" and sometimes as "Acam" by the indigenous people of
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >country. The modern Assamese word "?hom" by which the Tai people are
>>>>>  known
>>>>>  >is derived from "?s?m" or "?sam". The epithet applied to the Shan
>>>>>  conquerors
>>>>>  >was subsequently transferred to the country over which they ruled and
>>>>>  thus
>>>>>  >the name K?mar?pa was replaced by ?s?m, which ultimately took the
>>>>>  >Sanskritized form "Asama", meaning "unequalled, peerless or uneven"
>>>>>  >[*Banikanta
>>>>>  >Kakati: "Assamese: Its Formation and Development", p2*]
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 10:57 AM, Dilip and Dil Deka
>>>>>  ><dilipdeka at yahoo.com>wrote:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  The debaters on this subject are looking at only two facets - the
>>>>>  Tai-Ahom
>>>>>  >>  connection and the possible Sanskritization. There is a third one
>>>>> to
>>>>>  look
>>>>>  >>  at. The Bodo-Kacharis have been in Assam longer than anyone else
>>>>> and
>>>>>  their
>>>>>  >>  people are spread all over Assam.
>>>>>  >>  What did they call the land? Many rivers in Assam still have their
>>>>>  Bodo
>>>>>  >>  names.
>>>>>  >>  What did they call the Tais who came to Assam in the 13th century?
>>>>>  >>  Is there "xo" sound in Bodo language?
>>>>>  >>  It is very possible that some words in Bodo were at the root of
>>>>>
>>>>  >>> "Oxom",
>>
>>>   >  > "Assam", "Asom" or whatever else. Please do not throw away Dr. A.
>>>>>  Guha
>>>>>  or
>>>>>  >>  Baden Powell(is that the name?) yet.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  I don't know a word of Bodo language. Could someone who knows Bodo
>>>>>  comment
>>>>>  >>  on the above?
>>>>>  >>  I did go to the website http://www.bodoland.org/language1.htm and
>>>>>  found
>>>>>  >>  some interesting words but not much that would help the debate.
>>>>>  >>  Dilip Deka
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  ________________________________
>>>>>  >>  From: Rajen Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  >>  To: assamnet <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >>  Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 8:21:13 AM
>>>>>  >>  Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Why would Mr Wahid confront anybody?
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >>  What Prof Amalendu Gauha wrote about 'Ha-Sam' was not based on
>> his
>>
>>>   own
>>>>>  >>  research work. He simply borrowed the writing from Mr Baden Powell
>>>>>  even
>>>>>  >>  without quoting Mr Powell. I also wrote about the word 'Ha-Sam' in
>>>>>  my
>>>>>  >>  article  but I quoted Mr Baden Powell. Also Prof Guha was writing
>>>>>  based
>>>>>  on
>>>>>  >>  his communistic outlook, not much as history of the word Assam.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  There are many ignorant educated people in Assam. There are again
>>>>>  some
>>>>>  >>  educated intellectuals with different agendas.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Let people read Mr. Wahid's writings and confront him if they have
>>>>>  any
>>>>>  >>  problem.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  > Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:37 -0500
>>>>>  >  > > From: kjit.deka at gmail.com
>>>>>  >>  > To: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >>  > Subject: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>  >
>>>>>  >>  > I am wondering what prevents Mr..Saleh from confronting people
>>>>>  like
>>>>>  >>  > Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>>  with
>>>>>  his
>>>>>  >>  > newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >>  laughter-evoking
>>>>
>>>>  >>  > buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>>>>  >>  > KJD
>>>>>  >>  > _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>  > 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
>>>>>  >>  _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>  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
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 9
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:37:36 -0500
>>>>>  >From: "Rajen & Ajanta Barua" <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  >    world"    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID: <BLU104-DS2A75BE0FC0A139348BB75AD980 at phx.gbl>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Bodo is a Tibeto-Burman language. So far I know no Tibeto Burman
>>>>>  language
>>>>>  >has the XO sound which is an Indo-European sound.
>>>>>  >The Bodo might have taken some Assamese words and might now pronounce
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  XO
>>>>>  >sound. This I donot know for sure. The Bodos were in Assam for about
>>>>>  3000
>>>>>  >years.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I have a small book, written in Assamese titled "Boro Bhaxa Xikhya"
>>>>> by
>>>>>  Mr
>>>>>  >Sanokyo Brohmo.
>>>>>  >The book does tell how to pronounce the Assamese letters, that is XO
>>>>> as
>>>>>  SO
>>>>>  >or XO?.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Mr Baden Powel claims that the Bodo has the word "Ha-com" which mean
>>>>>  low
>>>>>  or
>>>>>  >level land. He states, " The name Assam is most probably traceable to
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >Boro 'Ha-Com' which mean low or level country. The Boro word for
>>>>> water
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  (di)
>>
>>>   >has remained in the names of the rivers e.g. Dihong etc". "The Indian
>>>>>  >Village Community" by Baden Powel (page 135).
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I could not find the any Boro word 'Ha-Com' in the above book.
>>>>> However
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >book has the word Ha which mean land. There is also a word 'Com'
>>>>> (that
>>>>>  is
>>>>>  >Som) which mean time. So we donot get anywhere. Even if we take Baden
>>>>>  >Powel's word, it again simply mean that Acam or Asam word is a local
>>>>>  >Assamese word and that it is earlier than Oxom. It also mean that
>>>>>  Acam/Asam
>>>>>  >or Assam is  not an anglicised word.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Note, we will have to take the outside historians of Assam with a
>>>>> grain
>>>>>  of
>>>>>  >salt because the same Baden Powel wrote in the same book the
>>>>> following
>>>>>  >statement>
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >"The local dialect, Assamese, is a comparatively recent
>> modification of
>>
>>>   >Bengali"
>>>>>  >This how much this famous historian knows about Assam and the
>>>>> Assamese.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >After reading Gait and many other history books on Assam, I find one
>>>>>  >Assamese historian who wrote a really good autentic history of Assam.
>>>>>  He
>>>>>  is
>>>>>  >P.C. Choudhury (The Histroy of the Civilisation of the People of
>>>>>  Assam).
>>>>>  >Anybody who wants to know about the past history of Assam should read
>>>>>  it.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >For our cultural past, one should read Dimbeswar Neog.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >From: Dilip and Dil Deka
>>>>>  >Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 10:57 AM
>>>>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>> world
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >The debaters on this subject are looking at only two facets - the
>>>>>  Tai-Ahom
>>>>>  >connection and the possible Sanskritization. There is a third one to
>>>>>  look
>>>>>  >at. The Bodo-Kacharis have been in Assam longer than anyone else and
>>>>>  their
>>>>>  >people are spread all over Assam.
>>>>>  >What did they call the land? Many rivers in Assam still have their
>>>>> Bodo
>>>>>  >names.
>>>>>  >What did they call the Tais who came to Assam in the 13th century?
>>>>>  >Is there "xo" sound in Bodo language?
>>>>>  >It is very possible that some words in Bodo were at the root of
>>>>> "Oxom",
>>>>>  >"Assam", "Asom" or whatever else. Please do not throw away Dr. A.
>>>>> Guha
>>>>>  or
>>>>>  >Baden Powell(is that the name?) yet.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I don't know a word of Bodo language. Could someone who knows Bodo
>>>>>  comment
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >on the above?
>>>>
>>>>  >I did go to the website http://www.bodoland.org/language1.htm and
>>>>>  found
>>>>>  some
>>>>>  >interesting words but not much that would help the debate.
>>>>>  >Dilip Deka
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >________________________________
>>>>>  >From: Rajen Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>>>>>  >To: assamnet <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 8:21:13 AM
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Why would Mr Wahid confront anybody?
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >What Prof Amalendu Gauha wrote about 'Ha-Sam' was not based on his
>>>>> own
>>>>>  >research work. He simply borrowed the writing from Mr Baden Powell
>>>>> even
>>>>>  >without quoting Mr Powell. I also wrote about the word 'Ha-Sam' in my
>>>>>  >article but I quoted Mr Baden Powell. Also Prof Guha was writing
>>>>> based
>>>>>  on
>>>>>  >his communistic outlook, not much as history of the word Assam.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >There are many ignorant educated people in Assam. There are again
>>>>> some
>>>>>  >educated intellectuals with different agendas.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Let people read Mr. Wahid's writings and confront him if they have
>>>>> any
>>>>>  >problem.
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:37 -0500
>>>>>  >>  From: kjit..deka at gmail.com
>>>>>  >>  To: assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >>  Subject: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  I am wondering what prevents Mr.Saleh from confronting people like
>>>>>  >>  Prof.Priyam Goswami of Gauhati University or Prof.Amalendu Guha
>>>>> with
>>>>>  his
>>>>>  >>  newly-found Dutch document which will certainly make them
>>>>>  laughter-evoking
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >>  buffoons for being so ignorant about Assam's history ?
>>
>>>   >>  KJD
>>>>>  >>  _______________________________________________
>>>>>  >>  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
>>>>>  >_______________________________________________
>>>>>  >assam mailing list
>>>>>  >assam at assamnet.org
>>>>>  >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >------------------------------
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >Message: 10
>>>>>  >Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:31:03 -0500
>>>>>  >From: kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>
>>>>  >>>  >To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>
>>>   >    world    <assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>>  >Message-ID:
>>>>>  >    <7b43066c0903162031i3398f79chb4aff0de6b0a7870 at mail.gmail.com>
>>>>>  >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >I do agree
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 7:54 PM, Rajen & Ajanta Barua
>>>>>  ><barua25 at hotmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>  >
>>>>>  >>  Dear Choudhury:
>>>>>  >>  Since you are new to the Assam net, please know that in this net
>>>>> we
>>>>>  >discuss
>>>>>  >>  and debate all kinds of intelligent intellectual issues.
>>>>>  >>  Please don't take anything personally in assam net. Here we do
>>>>>  friendly
>>>>>  >>  intellectual hot debates all the time. Kamal, me, Ramgopal, Dilip,
>>>>>  >Chandan,
>>>>>  >>  Wahid and many others are friends, and actually many of us live in
>>>>>  same
>>>>>  >city
>>>>>  >>  Houston as friends. But in hot issues we do heated debates and try
>>>>>  to
>>>>>  >thrash
>>>>>  >  > out truths for the sake of the community. We understand that
>>>>>  sometime
>>>>>  the
>>>>>  >>  truths hurt.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  When Kamal wrote us as 'neophyte historians' we do not take it
>>>>>  personally.
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  When I wrote, "There are many ignorant educated people in Assam."
>>>>>  >>  Or " There are again some educated intellectuals with different
>>>>>  agendas."
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  It is same as the statement "There are many educated corrupt
>>>>> people
>>>>>  in
>>>>>  >>  Assam".
>>>>>  >>  I am sure that statement would not mean that all the people of
>>>>> Assam
>>>>>  are
>>>>>  >>  corrupt by any stretch of imagination. On the other hand if I make
>>>>>  this
>>>>>  >>  statement, many will support me.
>>>>>  >>  These do not anyway mean that we are blaming all the people of
>>>>>  Assam.
>>>>>  Nor
>>>>>  >>  does it mean that people living outside Assam are superior or
>>>>>  better.
>>>>>  Many
>>>>>  >>  from Assam take part here. We never write thinking the people of
>>>>>  Assam
>>>>>  as
>>>>>  >>  different from us.
>>>>>  >>  I wrote I wrote in similar vein.
>>>>>  >>  I am sorry if I somehow hurt yours or anybody's feeling. But
>>>>> frankly
>>>>>
>>>>>  > >>  speaking that is the flavor and beauty of Assam net.
>>>>
>>>>  >>  The net is doing a great service to the Assamese community for many
>>>>>  many
>>>>>  >>  years now.
>>>>>  >>  I also want to clarify that this is not Friends of Assam net which
>>>>>  is
>>>>>  >>  different. You may be confused for some reason.
>>>>>  >>  Regards
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Rajen Barua
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  From: Choudhary, H. N. - AMW - MUM
>>>>>  >>  Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 11:29 AM
>>>>>  >>  To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>>  world
>>>>>  >  > Cc: rc2559 at columbia.edu
>>>>>  >>  Subject: Re: [Assam] About the name Assam
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Dear All,
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  Having read the mails and communications on the subject  "about
>>>>> the
>>>>>  name
>>>>>  >>  of Assam",
>>>>>  >>
>>>>>  >>  I feel that the debate on the subject has become acrimonious and
>>>>>  >
>>>>
>>>> ...
>
> [Message clipped]



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