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

Chan Mahanta cmahanta at charter.net
Wed Mar 18 16:47:52 PDT 2009




At 5:36 PM -0500 3/18/09, kamal deka wrote:
>You have FINALLY agreed that there is no unified opinion.Therefore you have
>answered your own question.



*** I did?

Well, I learn something everyday :-)!







>
>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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