[Assam] From the Sentinel -Letters to the Editor 17/05/2010

[UTTAM BORTHAKUR]

>>>>>> Their mannerisms, dress and language would obviously be different from
a genuine Assamese Muslim.


**** The first proposition is that whoever is not "Assamese Muslim" is
a Bangladeshi, non- Indian. Even Mr. Togadia would blush to make such
a public statement, though the religious bigots harbor such views and
propagate such ideas through whisper campaigns in the safety of their
houses.

Second proposition is that a Bangladeshi can be identified from
mannerisms and dress. Some zealots at Titabor rounded up some youths
on such presumptions based on assumptions. Finally, they were found to
be Kamrupi Muslims from Mukalmua and even AASU had to denounce such
action. If mannerism/ dress could help identify the Bangladeshis, the
law has not prescribed such identification mark. Moreover, even AASU
is pressing for DNA testing. Why one needs DNA testing if the 'Lungi'
is enough identification? Such a proposition is infantile; such
zealotry on the part of the Assamese caste Hindu psyche from
emanating from ivory towers has contributed in a great extent towards
impeding the growth of Assamese as a nation. It is the 'char' dwelling
Muslims of Assam, who go to Assamese schools, write in Assamese, speak
the language better than many of us and contribute in great way
towards its culture. It is the likes of Ismail Hussain who are doing
great works in the field of Assamese Vaishnavite culture. Yes, one has
to be blind not to see these things and come up with puerile
suggestions bred by bigotry and ignorance about Assam. I dare many"
Assamese" schooled in English Medium Schools who cannot even complete
a sentence without soiling it with English or Hindi, and many of these
children are ashamed to speak Assamese at home. Recently, I have met a
young girl, who migrated to Canada with parents at the age of 3 or 4.
She studies in a Canadian University: speaks fluent Assamese sans
English words and writes it too. She was surprised that her Guwahati
cousins were conversing in English with her and between them when she
talked with them in Assamese.


>>>>>>> Most would not even speak a few words of
Assamese.

**** In fact, many Assamese in Assam would not complete a correct
Assamese sentence without throwing in a word or two of English and
Hindi. So, we cannot tell a Bangladeshi from Assamese on the basis of
one's pouting.


>>>>>> One would have to be blind to not accept the reality.

Blind persons are capable of accepting their reality; the one who puts
on blinkers for own vested interests and inherent sense of guilt, may
not.



*Jyotirmoy Sharma* jyotirmoy.sharma at gmail.com
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*Wed May 19 05:35:54 IST 2010*


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------------------------------

Their mannerisms, dress and language would obviously be different from
a genuine Assamese Muslim. Most would not even speak a few words of
Assamese.
One would have to be blind to not accept the reality.  No wonder Assam
is a breeding ground. Most people are blind, others chose to be blind.
JS