[Assam] Book on life, ideals of Sankaradeva released(The Assam Tribune, 1...

Wed Sep 13 11:56:38 EDT 2006

Hello Ramda

Being from Upper Assam with a "daath jeeva"- it's really difficult for me
and likes of me to pronounce the xangskritised Axomiya language, as done by
say, Hironda (Hiron Dutta) of All India Radio. I personally would have been
more comfortable with something "bechi gaonlia' like "Okkhom".

Nonetheless we needn't have changed "Assam" to "Asom"- which is a very old
brand. The equity of that brand is as strong as "India". Some words get
evolved over time and are best left as it is. A change will simply create
confusion or erode the equity.

MKD

On 9/13/06, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  C'da,
>
> Bhuban da and Manoj do make some good points. Yes, you and Barua are
> probably right about the 'subject mentality' and also how 'Assam' got
> mis-transliterated.
>
> Like it or not, OXX has been bestowed the 'literary authority' as it
> consists of most of the famous literary figures in Assam.
> Now, you can say -why should we listen to the dictates of OXX or the GOA
> etc? Well, the question can be turned around and the common man on the
> street can well ask why they should follow your or my path to spellings and
> transliteration.
>
> Now, (even if they are all wrong, and say you, Barua, and some others are
> right), how would non-literary types like myself (or Monoj - sorry Monoj)
> propose a drastically different spelling or go against the best literary
> minds in Assam?
>
> >the ignorant public takes it lying down,
>
>  Never thought, I would hear that from you? What then, do you recommend
> that this public do?
>
>  >It is those who have no self esteem, continue to kow-tow to >superior
> language gods, be it Xongskrit, be it English.
>
>  So, this is really NOT about transliteration at all, is it? It is more
> about the Assamese identity. Why not sell that idea straight out of the box,
> instead of mixing it up with transliteration - after all the common man is
> ignorant :).
>
> You know, some of us actually took out an online petition against this
> name issue. Want to know the results?
>
> Well, 5 voted for it, and no one else cared one way or the other. There
> was *absolutely NO interest*  - even from those who were touting
> opposition to the GOA's changing the name to Asom, ga-ga -ing all the way,
> and egging us to start the petition.
>
> Well, I just reminded, once again, some of us were taken for another ride.
> I am still sore from that rough ride :)
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
>  On 9/13/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
> >
> >  Dear BK:
> >
> >
> > I can't see HOW the Oxom Xahityo Xobha could become the sole custodian
> > of the Assamese language or the Assamese identity.
> >
> >
> > It is typical of desi-demokrasy, where elections seem to bestow
> > dictatorial/monarchical powers to bureaucrats and elected reps., and the
> > ignorant public takes it lying down, while the intelligentsia, similarly
> > clueless remain invisible and silent.
> >
> >
> > >Rajen ought to get a full hearing as anybody else.
> >
> >
> > *** It is NOT just Rajen's pet peeve. It is an issue for all Assamese
> > who care about its 'ostitwo', its claim to an identity all its own, without
> > apologies, without having to bow to ANYONE.
> >
> >
> > It is those who have no self esteem, continue to kow-tow to superior
> > language gods, be it Xongskrit, be it English.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *** About the 'Sankaradeva' spelling for example, could it have been
> > that when the first British colonial masters transliterated the name, were
> > also people who
> > were Xongskrit learners, and could not separate the Assamese  from its
> > Sanskrit
> > connections? Thus they chose to Sanskritize an Assamese name, when they
> > transliterated them in English.
> >
> >
> > Once that happened, the subject people, and even their intellectuals
> > albeit similarly burdened by a subject mentality, could not imagine
> > transliterating Xongkordev. Instead they followed the steps of their
> > colonial masters.
> >
> >
> > And to this day, some, including for example the AT, cannot imagine
> > breaking from that tradition of colonial servitude, just like many of
> > Assam's intelligentsia.
> >
> >
> > But why should WE?
> >
> >
> > Best.
> >
> >
> > c
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 9:56 AM -0400 9/13/06, BBaruah at aol.com wrote:
> >
> > Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8"
> > Content-Language: en
> >
> >  Dear MKD/Mike et al
> >
> >
> >
> > It appears the State Government sought Asam Sahitya Sabha's views on the
> > matter of renaming Assam. It is possible without the benefit of wide
> > discussion and debate the Sahitya Sabha recommended the change to Asom and
> > the State Government accepted it.
> >
> >
> >
> > Perhaps even now Asam Sahitya Sabha can take up the matter again. It is
> > not too late as the necessary Constitutional amendments are yet to take
> > place. Rajen ought to get a full hearing as anybody else.
> >
> >
> >
> > Regards
> >
> >
> >
> > Bhuban
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
>

-- 
Manoj Kumar Das
C 172 Gr Floor
Sarvodaya Enclave
New Delhi 110017
Tel: 91 11 26533824
Telefax: 91 11 26533829
Hand Phone: 91 9312650558

Be so unselfish that when God writes your destiny; he can be free to ask:
What do you want?
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