[Assam] My Take on Why Independence - V, How to Achieve It

Mon Feb 26 10:28:08 EST 2007

Chandan: 
I think I already answered your question in the following. There is no
point discussing if your proposed governmental system (which is not very
clear at all) will work better or not, there will be zillions of
questions, before people will understand what you are trying to say: The
question should be rather how to change it in stead of trying to
convince the public why to change it, because, as I said:

In such a situation in the field, anyone has simply a great uphill
battle to convince anyone that Assam's Independence will solve Assam's
problem. All one can do is to simply talk and talk, argue and argue,
blame and blame and can create lot of chaos in the already chaotic
situation. Yours or nobody's voice will be heard. At most one could do
is to jump to point # 5) HOW TO DO IT? If ULFA or anybody would have
come up with a plan which they can sell, lot of people would have fill
in the blanks for items 1), 2), 3). & 4).  But that is also missing now.

Do you have a plan how to get to implement your plan for a new
governmental policy? If not then there is no point talking.

R

  _____  

From: assam-bounces at assamnet.org [mailto:assam-bounces at assamnet.org] On
Behalf Of Chan Mahanta
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 7:59 AM
To: barua25; assam at assamnet.org; Chan Mahanta
Subject: Re: [Assam] My Take on Why Independence - V, How to Achieve It

Rajen:

Thanks for your reply.

>1) What is the problem

2) Why is the problem? Who is responsible and why

3) What need to be done

4) Why that will solve the problem

>5) How to do it

*** Mine was no attempt at a Meinkampf. It was merely an attempt at
filling in
the huge gap -- the absence of an informed debate/discussion regarding
the
rationale of an independence movement for Assam.

I addresses all of the issues. Not because YOU pushed me--don't feel
guilty about that :-). I did so because it was elementary.

I am sorry you missed it. But I take responsibility for the fact that it
was long, somewhat rambling and thus hard to hold the attention of
readers. Unfortunately I had to develop things as I wrote -- and did not
have the luxury of revising, re-writing, editing and so forth, to make
the material more concise and easier to read and comprehend.

I won't go into all you wrote here. But let me ask you a simple
question:

        *** In your estimation, would a governmental system in line of
what
        I proposed, be better or worse than the operative one, or will
it
        be of no difference?

        You can be as short and succinct or descriptive as you wish
        with your answer, but please also explain why.

Take care.

c

At 12:41 PM -0600 2/25/07, barua25 wrote:

Chandan:

Thanks!! and I fully understand your views. I was feeling a bit guilty
if I was pushing you too much to an dead end.

Couple of comments for mutual understanding.

In any Independence movement, in my theoretical opinion, all the
following counts if one wants to write a 'mein kampf' like that of
Hitler other such manuscript.

It should address at least

1) What is the problem

2) Why is the problem? Who is responsible and why

3) What need to be done

4) Why that will solve the problem

5) How to do it

etc

Without such an manuscript people have to rely on rumors and action of
the field to give any credible support to such independence movement. I
think in case of ULFA, that is exactly what happened. I have not yet
seen any report, analysis even from ULFA, AASU, AGP and others.

Without having any such manual, other tool people will have to go for is
the general impression of ill treating of Assam by the GOA. But even to
take advantage of that general sentiment, none of these parties could
even unite the public. In stead all the parties literally split. AGP
even failed to unite with other local parties Assamese parties in Assam
like Bodos. As seen now, out of all these, only AASU is the only group
who is trying to have some sense and has any credidablibility now.
Without such an manuscript, general public has a zillion questions
unanswered which further diluted the movement to its lowest.

ULFA was given enough slack and support, but even with the help of MMRG
and others, they could not earn enough credit even in the amongst
general public. Beyond that I donot want to say anything.

In such a situation in the field, anyone has simply a great uphill
battle to convince anyone that Assam's Independence will solve Assam's
problem. All one can do is to simply talk and talk, argue and argue,
blame and blame and can create lot of chaos in the already chaotic
situation. Yours or nobody's voice will be heard. At most if one could
do is to jump to point # 5) HOW TO DO IT? If ULFA or anybody would have
come up with a plan which they can sell, lot of people would have fill
in the blanks for items 1), 2), 3). & 4).  But that is also missing now.

In case of India, INC was formed in broad daylight as an open forum by
the Indians with the purpose of seeking self government for India. India
was ruled by a foreign government, and believe it or not most of the
public were happy, under the British rule. till the British introduced
English language in India. Anyhow it finally succeeded only because of
leaders like Gandhi and Nehru, who could unite the whole of India,
mainland, South India and Assam under one voice.

So far as I see, Assam's Independence movement is dead. One can say
somebody put water in the bah khori which has already burnt. You may not
agree it but there is nothing I can see which can rekindle the minds and
imagination of the people of Assam for independence eventhough people
can see lot of political. cultural and economic corruption by the GOI.
Please also note. A new element has come into the picture. GOI has now
lot of monwy which are being channelled through GOA to spend lavishly in
the name of community develeopment.  Against that during the last 50
years, Assam could not produce a single credible regional party with
good leadership which can even make any voice. AGP today is a pathetic
example.

The question all Friends of Assam, what we need to do at this time and
situation?

I think new questions need to be asked under new perspective to create
new public opinion starting  from zero.

That is my comment.

Thanks for your input.

Rajen

----- Original Message -----

From: Chan  <mailto:cmahanta at charter.net> Mahanta

To: assam at assamnet.org

Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 10:22 AM

Subject: [Assam] My Take on Why Independence - V, How to Achieve It

I had no intention of getting into this originally, since my experience
with the matter is on the light side :-). Not only because I had not
served in any such movement, but also because I am not much of a
history-of-conflicts buff. Rajen's question , a lawyer like Nayanjyoti
would surely know, is called a 'leading question' in 'legalese'. They
are usually not allowed in enlightened legal procedures, because they
are designed to coach and elicit a particular answer, obviously to serve
the interest of the questioner. But since it is not a court of justice,
and since I do that all the time myself, the least I could do is to
address it as best as I can.Furthermore, since I see occasional
recommendations , usually to ULFA, here in Assam Net and in the Assam
newspapers,from people who no doubt mean well, I thought it may not be a
bad idea to examine the options and go where they may lead.

        *** >From the little I know of independence movements from the

        last two or three centuries, it is obvious that it always
required

        violent confrontations, spilling of much blood, usually of the

        independence seekers.

        *** It is said that India's struggle for independence was a

        non-violent one. Unless I am terribly mistaken about the meaning

        of the word non-violent, this statement must be the most daring
con-jobs

        of deceptive marketing at best and the most bald faced of

        historical lies at worst.

        I know, I am taking a highly unpopular position here, probably

        at par with my last such position about Lasit's Whack several

        years back, if not even more outrage evoking.

        But like Rajen reminded me, I do have the arguments ready to
defend my

        view, should anyone be interested in pursuing it :-).

        *** Rajen obviously hoped to lead me to take a stand here
against those

        who took up arms in pursuit of this goal for Assam, citing the

        example of Mahatma Gandhi's tactics. But regardless of my
penchant

        for violence, or respect for non-violence, I shall not attempt
to

        second-guess those fellow men of mine who had the courage and

        dedication to take up arms against an overwhelmingly larger and

        powerful adversary , knowing full well it could mean certain
death

        and have pursued it tenaciously for a quarter century.

        I shall not be the one to insult these brave men and women's
sacrifices

        and courage, while never lifting  a finger or voicing a word

        in their support or quest. That is not MY style.

        *** Having said that, I will again acknowledge, like I always
have,

        that without the support of a broad section of society's

        intelligentsia, and without a well formed political base, no

        independence movement against as overwhelming an adversary as
India

        is to Assam, is ever likely to succeed. To that end, I agree
with Rajen

        and others who advocate a discourse in Assam society. It was
expected

        from ULFA, since they are the ones who held up the torch and led

        the struggle. ULFA has its reasons not to speak out publicly
over

        the matter, and I understand them.

        But I submit, WE, Assam's well wishers and an elite segment of

        Assam's intelligentsia, has as much a responsibility to take

        it up,if not even more.

With that I conclude my say.

I would like to sit back now and take the brick-bats, or the kind of
highly unexpected accolades that came from Nayan.

I hope I did not use the rope my friends here offered me to hang myself
and appreciate their patience in letting me say my piece without
interruptions and pot-shots.  But regardless, I hope my time and effort
here would serve as a spring-board to discuss and debate the subject,
examine it for its worthiness for Assam's future.

And to all those who challenged me to embark on it, my only request:
Please make your statements FOR or AGAINST independence, give your
reasons, and take a stand. What will be most disappointing will be a
disappearing act or a long bout of laryngitis.

I believe it was H.L. Mencken, the acerbic journalist and commentator
who once said  something to the effect that " I don't know of anyone
going broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people". I
hope no one will be tempted to echo Mencken with something like " I
don't know of anyone going broke underestimating the courage or activism
of the Assamnetters." :-).

Best regards.

cm

  _____  

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