[Assam] Sankaradeva vs Xongkordew

[Chan Mahanta]

O'Ram:

WHY would not a Sanskritized ( or Hindified or whatever 
non-indigenous form) name of the singular icon of 
Assameseness,flaunted by one of Assam's flagship newspapers NOT 
constitute an insult to the Assamese language and to the Assamese 
identity? WHAT is the logic? What is the rationale?

How would you react to an Assam newspaper writing  Vimla Chaliha, or 
Chanderkant Handique or Anandram Baruah ?

If you can explain that, credibly, I am willing to re-consider my views on
Sankaradeva, a name that no Assamese speaker speaks that way.

Yours truly,


One who brought identity to the discussion--and stands by it :-).










At 6:47 AM -0500 9/17/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>Barua,
>
>  >Tt is as simple as that.
>  >Question of identity comes later.
>
>Now it seems you are getting the point. I was NOT the one who 
>brought "identity" into this discussion.
>Some netters did, so I wanted to know their reasoning behind that.
>
>Thanks
>
>Ram
>
>
>
>
>On 9/16/06, Barua25 <<mailto:barua25 at hotmail.com>barua25 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>Ram:
>If your name is Ram, you want people to call you Ram, and not Rama or Rhama.
>Tt is as simple as that.
>Question of identity comes later.
>Thanks
>Rajen Barua
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:assamrs at gmail.com>Ram Sarangapani
>To: <mailto:barua25 at hotmail.com>Barua25
>Cc: <mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>Chan Mahanta ; 
><mailto:BBaruah at aol.com> BBaruah at aol.com ; 
><mailto:dilipdeka at yahoo.com>Dilip/Dil Deka ; 
><mailto:Assam at assamnet.org> Assam at assamnet.org
>Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 3:26 PM
>Subject: Re: Sankaradeva vs Xongkordew
>
>
>Barua,
>  >The way you are advocating for the Sanskrit spelling 
>'>Sankaradeva' against Assamese spelling 'Xongkordew', is >same as 
>advocating for (say) the spelling 'Pankaradeba' in >place of 
>'Xongordew' 
>
>   I advocated NO SUCH THING. You are once again putting words in my 
>mouth. Show me where I said that? And I am surprised you didn't 
>catch th drift or essence of my posts on the subject.
>
>I do not have a problem with the advocacy of  "Xongordew" or 
>"Xongordeu".  In fact, I think that is how it should be.
>
>But, if you going to tell me it is because Assamese are losing their 
>identity, that is why it needs changing (in fact that was ONE reason 
>advocated in the discussions), or because it is being Sankritized - 
>I have a problem.
>
>Why? I will even answer that.
>1) If Assamese ARE NOT losing their identity
>2) If it was not Sankritized
>Then will you accept "Sankaradeva" instead?
>
>I hope, you and others would NOT on those grounds.
>It is extremely simple:
>
>IT should be "Xongordew" because THAT IS HOW ASSAMESE WANT it.  And 
>that is how we would like others to pronounce it as well.
>
>You tell me, isn't that a good reason? Why do you need other reasons?
>
>Nothing else matters - the other reasons some netters are trying to 
>dish out are simply  frivolous.
>
>And when such reasons are forwarded, it brings out other issues: ie 
>maybe, this is more of an identity problem and not so much from 
>maintaining the sanctity of the language itself.
>
>And if you want to talk about Assamese losing their identity, by all 
>means - let us discuss that, but as separate issue, as it a very 
>important issue, IMHO.
>
>  >With this type of advocacy, you will qualify yourself to go >back 
>to the basics of alphabet in Assamese and English
>
>Hehehe! Guilty as charged. But aren't you glad though, that I am the only one?
>
>And I hope this is all clear as mud :)
>
>--Ram
>
>
>
>On 9/15/06, Barua25 <<mailto:barua25 at hotmail.com>barua25 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>  >I had prefaced my argument with "devil's advocate' and my feelings 
>on this are:
>
>  >Is writing out "Sankaradeva" not appropriate because
>  >(a) We know better now - it should be Xonkordeva
>  >(b) Because it is Sankritized (and we want nothing to do with that)
>  >(c) Its an identity crises
>
>Ram:
>I don't know whether you had relaised your position while adocating 
>this way.  Sincerely, with this type of devil's advocacy, you are 
>simply trying to prove that either you are clueless about the 
>Assamese langauge as well as the English language. The way you are 
>advocating for the Sanskrit spelling 'Sankaradeva' against Assamese 
>spelling 'Xongkordew', is same as advocating for (say) the spelling 
>'Pankaradeba' in place of 'Xongordew'  I don't see any difference, 
>and I too can put forward my devil's advocacy for the spelling 
>'Pankaradeba'  or any other 'bhusung pohu' spelling thus:
>
>Is 'Pankaradeba' writing not appropriate because
>(a) We know better - it should be Xongkordew?.
>(b) Because it sounds foreign, and you donot want anything foreign 
>(Osin kathor thwrakw nologaba)?.
>(c) Its an identity crisis?
>
>With this type of advocacy, you will qualify yourself to go back to 
>the basics of alphabet in Assamese and English.
>Rajen Barua
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:assamrs at gmail.com>Ram Sarangapani
>To: <mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>Chan Mahanta
>Cc: <mailto:BBaruah at aol.com>BBaruah at aol.com ; 
><mailto:dilipdeka at yahoo.com> Dilip/Dil Deka ; 
><mailto:Assam at assamnet.org>Assam at assamnet.org
>Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 11:58 AM
>Subject: Re: [Assam] Book on life,ideals of Sankaradeva released(The 
>Assam Tribune, 1...
>
>
>C'da,
>
>I thought I would go to some other topic butthought I too should get 
>a chance to beat this dead horse - one last time.
>
>  >*** You have been unable to explain WHY Xonkordev should be >Sankaradeva.
>
>I am surprised, C'da - you are assuming that "I" think it should be 
>Sankardeva?
>I had prefaced my argument with "devil's advocate' and my feelings 
>on this are:
>
>Is writing out "Sankaradeva" not appropriate because
>(a) We know better now - it should be Xonkordeva
>(b) Because it is Sankritized (and we want nothing to do with that)
>(c) Its an identity crises
>
>Just wanted to make sure we want it to be Xonkordev because that is 
>how the Assamese prononce it - thats it - the best reason. Nothing 
>else matters.
>Why bring in stuff like identity, Sankritized, Hindi influence, or 
>even the logical abilities of past literary people?
>
>  >*** Like Rajen explained very well, Oxomiya language does 
>not >need Xongskrit or Hindi or Bengali approval to stand on its own
>
>And did "I" claim it did? Not even hinted at that. Words in my mouth again.
>
>  >*** Oxomiyas need to know who they are what they call >THEMSELVES, first
>
>True, and this you want to accomplish by transliterating in English? 
>How big is that Oxomiya audience that seeks the English language to 
>find out how to pronounce words in THEIR own language.
>
>Whats wrong with the picture here? Am I missing something, or are 
>you guys just catering to a select few?
>I say, go for it.
>
>  >Bengalis, Hindiwallas etc. are free to pronounce it or write it 
>the >way they see fit among themselves. But when they come to >Assam 
>and call their hosts strange  names, they would do so at >their own 
>risk.
>
>And when they do come over to Assam, you are going to help these 
>folks to properly pronounce Assamese words with the help of the 
>English language. I would love to see the Bihari rickshawalla 
>browsing for this transliteration in Ingrezi? Good luck again.
>
>:)
>
>--Ram
>
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