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

[Ram Sarangapani]

Hi Manoj,

>Nonetheless we needn't have changed "Assam" to "Asom"- which >is a very old
brand.

I totally agree with you. However, you or I will find little or no interest
here or even in Assam. I even talked to quite a few people, and NGOs in
Guwahati, some quite influential,  about this. The usual response was
lukewarm. They reminded me that Assam has far too many, more important
problems to be worried about Assam or Asom, and this issue was way down the
list.
Moreover, they were least worried about the impending doom to their identity
as Assamese or even Sanskritization of Assamese.

Someone like C'da or Barua could spearhead such an awareness at least, I
have had no luck even garnering tacit support.

--Ram da

On 9/13/06, Manoj Das <dasmk2k at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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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