[Assam] ‘I Am An Assamese, A Bengali And A S ylheti. What Exactly Am I?’ Anurag Rudra'a write up appeared Tehelka

[kamal deka]

Could it be a perfect case of identity crisis,a term used in
socio-psychological theory in which an individual loses a sense of
personal sameness and historical continuity? The term was coined by
the psychologist Erickson.It is a condition that occurs when a person
experiences great difficulties in acquiring a clear perception of
self.

If you feel like you don't know the 'real you ', you may be
experiencing an identity crisis. According to Erikson, an identity
crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different
ways of looking at oneself. Erikson's interest in identity began in
childhood. Raised Jewish, Erikson appeared very Scandinavian, and felt
that he was an outsider of both groups. His later studies of cultural
life among the Yurok of northern California and the Sioux of South
Dakota helped formalize Erikson's ideas about identity development and
identity crisis.

I am taken aback by the fact that Mr.Rudra has not been able to thrust
a concrete shape to his identity even at this stage!!!
KJD


On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 4:41 PM, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
> Great assessment,  Mohan. You are absolutely correct in saying, you are what
> you choose to be - ie. defining yourself. The write-up by Anurag is
> well-written & from the heart, and most netters will be able to relate to
> something or the other in what he wrote.
>
> But to more important questions: How did you grow bhaat kerela & ou tenga?
> I don't think we have seen either of these in this area :-)
>
> Best of luck to Anurag, and hope to see more of his writings in future.
>
> --Ram
>
> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 4:28 PM, Mohan Palleti <mpalleti at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Anurag:
>> This is beautifully written article. I liked the honest expression about
>> your feelings.
>> I being a half telugu and a half assamese by birth, I could relate very
>> well with you. I lived in Assam as a young child and moved to Hyderabad
>> therafter. I had asked the same question to myself. What am I?
>>
>> The answer is very simple. You are what you choose to be. And in the
>> process you do not have to forget where you came from. You set the trend for
>> the coming generations and you blend into a culture you choose to.
>>
>> We lived in Hyderabad since 1973, And yet our house was a waterhole for a
>> lot of Assamese folks who visited Hyderabad. My mother passed away a few
>> months ago. She was like a moher to a lot of young assamese folks who live
>> and work in Hyderabad.
>>
>> Although I have been living in the US for over a decade and speak 4
>> different languages at home. I grow dhekia xaak, bhat kerela, ou tenga in my
>> garden and have loads of Khorisa  in my referigerator. It wont be hard for
>> you to guess what I consider myself to be.
>>
>> I hope you get to read this email.
>>
>> Cheers!
>> Mohan Palleti
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at gmail.com <lt%3Bcmahanta at gmail.com>>
>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world &
>> lt;assam at assamnet.org <lt%3Bassam at assamnet.org>>
>> Sent: Tue, Jun 15, 2010 9:53 am
>> Subject: Re: [Assam] ‘I Am An Assamese, A Bengali And A S ylheti. What
>> Exactly Am I?’ Anurag Rudra'a write up appeared Tehelka
>>
>> That is a believable, poignant story, Sushanta. Thanks for sharing.
>>
>> The indignities that young Anurag had to endure, hopefully, were not in
>> vain and his account,
>> hopefully would help turn things for the better.
>>
>> Many of us in this forum have worn different shoes. And we too wore the
>> ones that
>> Anurag had worn,at times of being a minority, foreign, alien etc. and at
>> times of a dominant
>> group wearing the halo of being an indigenous. It has helped us become
>> fuller, better people.
>> That said, I do realize that those of us in the US or other counties with a
>> rule of law have not, would not
>> ( except as rare exceptions) have to undergo some of the more blatant and
>> overt acts
>> of discrimination, bullying or even physical assaults that someone in
>> Anurag's shoes might have.
>> That is where the rule-of-law plays a critical role, one that is absent in
>> Indian governance, not
>> just Assam's, part of the dysfunctional state of desi-demokrasy as I call
>> it.
>>
>> I agree with MM's advice: To be positive and ASSERTIVE. He has no reason to
>> be
>> confused about his many identities, much less be apologetic. Long ago, I
>> learned
>> to choose my first and foremost identity to be the human one. My many other
>> identities
>> fall into place, without conflict and without apologies!
>>
>> Pass this on to Anurag, if you can. I wish him all the best.
>>
>> c-da
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 14, 2010, at 12:05 PM, Sushanta Kar wrote:
>>
>> > Dear
>> > Friends,
>> > You will find this write up something interesting. Anurag is a B.A
>> > student
>> > of Cotton College. By this time he has earned a well reputation as a
>> > poet in
>> > English. Here he has raised a few question on the identity crisis of
>> > the
>> > sylhetis of the state:
>> >
>> http://www.tehelka.com/story_main45.asp?filename=hub190610personalhistories.asp
>>
>> >
>> > Sushanta Kar
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > assam mailing list
>> > assam at assamnet.org
>> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>
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