[Assam] Taking full responsibility--- a welcome promise
Chan Mahanta
cmahanta at charter.net
Mon Jan 1 14:33:45 EST 2007
WE are sorry to lose a supporter. Each
individual's voice is a building block of this
effort. One less leaves us weaker. But we shall
persevere.
Our mission was clear from day one. We opposed
the State Govt's move for a number of different
reasons, which we enumerated and continue to do
so, in order to generate a public awareness and
promote a discussion and/or debate of the
underlying issues.
It is unfortunate that we did not merit the
support of some of our esteemed friends, because
of their disagreement with the length of the text
or the quality of the language of the petition,
as if it is a grade-school exercise on English
language composition, association with a poorly
drafted one of which might tarnish one's own
reputation as an English language scholar
leading to public ridicule from similar other
English language scholars; in spite of their
agreement with the MAIN objective.
Or for that matter because of their disagreement
with one or more of the various reasons we cited,
in spite of their agreement with the MAIN
objective.
cm
At 10:34 AM -0800 1/1/07, Himendra Thakur wrote:
>Dear Barua,
>
>My signature was conditional right from the
>beginning. The purpose was to generate a short &
>strong "Petition" so that we do not become a
>laughing stock in future.
>
>Since the prime movers have not agreed, I must
>withdraw my signature, and I am very sad about
>this.
>
>I wish you all success. I congratulate the prime
>movers for taking full responsibility to achieve
>our goal which is to stop the GOA to proceed
>with the resolution to change the name to Asom.
>
>I am very happy that the idea of "taking full
>responsibility" has emerged out of this debate
>as a very welcome promise. I am hoping that this
>will change the trend of future discussions at
>the assam-net where writers will
>take responsibility for the consequences of
>their opinions and signatures.
>
>With the best wishes,
>Himendra Barthakur
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:barua25 at hotmail.com>Barua25
>To: <mailto:hthakur at comcast.net>Himendra Thakur
>; <mailto:rajibdas at yahoo.com>Rajib Das
>Cc: <mailto:ibarua at yahoo.com>Indrajit Barua ;
><mailto:mrpallet at ncsu.edu>Mohan R. Palleti ;
><mailto:assam at assamnet.org>assam at assamnet.org ;
><mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>Chan Mahanta ;
><mailto:wahid.saleh at gmail.com>wahid.saleh at gmail.com
>Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 9:59 AM
>Subject: The Petition
>
> >The “Petition” is not about the name change,
>but against the action of the Assam Assembly who
>did not have the right to change the name >of
>the State. This was pointed out by Rajen Barua
>as “Again the purpose of the petition is simply
>to stop the GOA to change the >name so that we
>have a discussion in a democratic process if we
>want to change the name at all.”
>
>
>
> >However, in the current draft of the
>“Petition,” the kernel purpose stated above got
>shrouded by tributes to Dutch sailors and
>promotion of >the X-sound based on incomplete
>research. I signed the “Petition” on the
>condition that these extraneous materials will
>be deleted, and the >“Petition” will be short &
>strong.
>
>
>Dear Himenda and Dilip Deka:
>
>We just saw your response to Rajib Das. I
>thought we have clarified before that we are not
>changing the wording of the petition
>substantially to 100% liking of yours as stated
>above. We the prime movers of the petition
>discussed your comments on the specific wording
>and came to a democratic resolution and have
>changed some wording. As a result, we need to
>clarify again that we have not revised our
>petition substantially, except that we removed
>the reference about 'congratulations' to
>Mirjumla. The statement about X-sound has been
>revised somewhat to reflect that facts.
>
>For the final draft and the whole process of
>submission to the CM, we the prime movers take
>full responsibility to achieve our goal which is
>to stop the GOA to proceed with the resolution
>to change the name to Asom.
>
>Now reading your above comments, we are not sure
>if your signature is still conditional. Frankly
>speaking we will be hesitant to put your name as
>a signatory unless we receive your unconditional
>agreement.
>
>As such we are requesting you to kindly confirm
>that you can still be a signatory . We need to
>know ASAP, because the petition is going out
>later today.
>
>We are addressing the same question to Dilip
>Deka also since he supported your views.
>
>Please confirm urgently so that we can put your name as a signatory.
>
>If we donot receive your unconditional
>acceptance by tonight, we will have to release
>the petition without your names since we donot
>want to get into any controversy on the issue.
>
>I hope you will say YES
>
>Thanks
>Rajen
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:hthakur at comcast.net>Himendra Thakur
>To: <mailto:rajibdas at yahoo.com>Rajib Das
>Cc: <mailto:ibarua at yahoo.com>Indrajit Barua ;
><mailto:mrpallet at ncsu.edu>Mohan R. Palleti ;
><mailto:dasmk2k at gmail.com>Manoj Das ;
><mailto:barua25 at hotmail.com>Rajen & Ajanta Barua
>; <mailto:assam at assamnet.org>assam at assamnet.org
>Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 10:28 AM
>Subject: Re: [Assam] Rhino Charge stories !
>
>Happy New Year, Rajib, and thank you for liking
>the “Rhino Charge” story! My 9-year old
>grand-daughter has spoiled me by turning me into
>a story-teller ! In fact, I have more stories to
>tell, provided you guys like it and address me
>as “Himendra Uncle” or “Granduncle Himendra” ---
>depending upon the age-group.
>
>
>
>I completely agree with you that “I personally
>don't see the name change (or leaving the name
>alone) as a major theme.” The “Petition” is not
>about the name change, but against the action of
>the Assam Assembly who did not have the right to
>change the name of the State. This was pointed
>out by Rajen Barua as “Again the purpose of the
>petition is simply to stop the GOA to change the
>name so that we have a discussion in a
>democratic process if we want to change the name
>at all.”
>
>
>
>However, in the current draft of the “Petition,”
>the kernel purpose stated above got shrouded by
>tributes to Dutch sailors and promotion of the
>X-sound based on incomplete research. I signed
>the “Petition” on the condition that these
>extraneous materials will be deleted, and the
>“Petition” will be short & strong.
>
>
>
>I am sorry if you are offended because I used
>the word despondent --- which means “feeling or
>expressing depression of spirit from loss of
>hope, confidence or courage.”
>
>
>
>We are all suffering from “despondency” at this
>time --- myself, my friend Indrajit Baruah, and
>many others.
>
>
>
>Despondency is just human. In fact, there is a
>historical record that, standing at the exterior
>foot of the huge Mughal Fort in Guwahati in
>1669, Lachit became despondent when he and a
>small group of his friends came to take it by
>guerrilla attack at night, a technique that he
>perfected at Dikhowmukh six years back during
>the Mirjumla’s occupation of Gargaon in 1663.
>
>
>
>However, Lachit got over the temporary spell of
>despondency, took the Mughal Fort very
>skillfully, imprisoned and sent the Mughal
>Governor Sayed Channa to Gargaon as a Prisoner
>of War. Later, King Chakradhwaj Singha appointed
>Lachit as the Borphukan ---- you know the rest
>of the story --- he routed the Mughals at the
>Battle of Saraighat in 1672.
>
>
>
>Being despondent is nothing wrong, as long as it
>triggers our inner strength to stand up and
>claim our rights. But, whatever we do must be
>done skillfully --- yogah karmasu kaushalam ---
>apply the highest skill in your work. This is
>from the emblem of IIT Kharagpur.
>
>
>
>One of the first skill is to identify the
>problem. You are right to identify the problem
>as “need for the people on the ground” which you
>elucidated by comparing the economic condition &
>work condition between Assam & Karnataka.
>
>
>
>However, if you scrutinize further, it may
>become clear that the disparity of the
>economic/work condition is only an external
>symptom --- you have already seen the bomb-blast
>by the insurgent groups: they got started as a
>protest to the exploitations by politicians
>clinging to power with dirty vote-bank politics,
>encouraging illegal infiltration of foreigners
>who are endangering the very existence of the
>Assamese people today. That is the real problem.
>Our Land --- with our rivers and hills --- is
>our fundamental right. “We don’t want money. We
>want our land back” is the battle-cry of the
>Assamese today. Once we can secure our land,
>economic growth will follow. We must not lose
>our land for the sake of economic growth, which
>is as temporary as a rainbow or a mirage.
>
>
>
>The short & strong “Petition” will be a reminder
>to the vote-bank politicians about the “rhino
>charge” of the Assamese.
>
>
>
>With love to everybody,
>
>Himendra
>
>
>
>PS to Mohan Pelleti:
>
>Dear Mohan, For the success and effectiveness of
>the "Petition", it should not have multiple
>goals. Research of the subject is a topic in the
>universities & colleges, not in the
>"Petition." We must be prepared that the
>"Petition" will be referred to the Parliament
>and Parliamentary Committees in future. The
>"Petition" must be rewritten by deleting the
>extraneous materials like tributes to Dutch
>sailors and the promotion of the X-sound based
>on incomplete research, which will turn the
>"Petition" into a laughing stock. I signed the
>“Petition” on that condition, so that the
>“Petition” will be short & strong.
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Rajib Das" <<mailto:rajibdas at yahoo.com>rajibdas at yahoo.com>
>To: "Himendra Thakur"
><<mailto:hthakur at comcast.net>hthakur at comcast.net>;
>"shantikam hazarika"
><<mailto:shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>
>Cc: <<mailto:assam at assamnet.org>assam at assamnet.org>
>Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 6:35 PM
>Subject: Re: [Assam] Rhino Charge stories !
>
> > Himenda,
>>
>> Thanks for the stories - I always like them.
>>
>> No - my mail wasn't about being despondent. Far from
>> it.
>>
>> There were 2 themes I watched unfold in this visit to
>> Assam in December - The cottage industry around bomb
>> blasts - Rs. 500 fetches one - (I saw the Ghy railway
>> station one at close quarters) and the rise of malls
>> (not one actively managed beyond the Marwari
>> community). It contrasted against what I saw elsewhere
>> - in the small towns of South Karnataka and Pune
>> (though Kerala maintains its Communist ennui).
>>
>> I personally don't see the name change (or leaving the
>> name alone) as a major theme - a felt need for the
>> people on the ground. Hence I posed the question to
>> those that know better about how relevant it is either
>> which way.
>>
>> Wish you a very happy new year!
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Rajib
>>
>>
>> --- Himendra Thakur <<mailto:hthakur at comcast.net>hthakur at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> > Dear Shantikam,
>> >
>> > Happy New Year to you, your family and your friends
>> > !
>> >
>> > I am glad you liked the true-story of the
>> > rhino-charge imagery in Calcutta
>> > Press in 1946. The rhino dominated some other areas
>> > of literature for some
>> > time. I remember just two more episodes which I'll
>> > write if everybody wants
>> > it. Until such time, Happy New Year to everybody !
>> >
>> > With the best,
>> > Himendra
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "shantikam hazarika"
>><<mailto:shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>
>> > To:
>><<mailto:hthakur at comcast.net>hthakur at comcast.net>;
>><<mailto:rajibdas at yahoo.com>rajibdas at yahoo.com>
>> > Cc:
>><<mailto:dasmk2k at gmail.com>dasmk2k at gmail.com>;
>><<mailto:ankur_bora2000 at yahoo.com>ankur_bora2000 at yahoo.com>;
>> > <<mailto:assam at assamnet.org>assam at assamnet.org>
>> > Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 3:19 AM
>> > Subject: Rhino Charge stories !
>> >
>> >
>> > >
>> > > That was exciting. Can we have some enterprising
>> > Assamese who can retrieve
>> > > the cartoons? That may bolster Assamese morale and
>> > the journey back from
>> > the
>> > > prevalent despondency?
>> > > Bordoloi was really a lion, why could not the
>> > others be like him?
>> > > Shantikam
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > >From: "Himendra Thakur"
>><<mailto:hthakur at comcast.net>hthakur at comcast.net>
>> > > >To: "Rajib Das" <<mailto:rajibdas at yahoo.com>rajibdas at yahoo.com>
>> > > >CC: "shantikam hazarika"
>> >
>><<mailto:shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>,"Manoj>shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>,"Manoj
>>Das"
>> > > ><<mailto:dasmk2k at gmail.com>,"Ankur>dasmk2k at gmail.com>,"Ankur Bora"
>> > > ><<mailto:ankur_bora2000 at yahoo.com>,<assam at assamnet.org>ankur_bora2000 at yahoo.com>,<assam at assamnet.org>
>> > > >Subject: Rhino Charge stories !
>> > > >Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 10:38:49 -0800
>> > > >
>> > > >Dear Rajib,
>> > > >Thank you for mentioning the "rhino charge" ! Let
>> > us break away from
>> > > >serious discussion for a while and get into
>> > experience sharing !!
>> > > > The first "rhino charge" cartoon that I saw as
> > > a schoolboy in Tezpur
>> > was
>> > > >in 1946 (long before you were born, maybe before
>> > your parents were born!)
>> > > >when Assam blasted the "Grouping Proposal"
>> > brought from London by a
>> > > >high-powered Cabinet Mission from the British
>> > Parliament. "Grouping" was
>> > > >supported by Nehru as a quick alternative to his
>> > power, who rebuked Assam
>> > > >with his infamous statement: "Assam must
>> > sacrifice for the greater cause
>> > of
>> > > >India."
>> > > > The Calcutta Press wholeheartedly supported
>> > Assam during our struggle
>> > > >for survival from the "Grouping" trap in May
>> > 1946. That was where I saw
>> > the
>> > > >cartoon of "rhino charge" for the first time ---
>> > a rhino (marked Assam)
>> > > >charging with its head down towards a bunch of
>> > British Parliamentarians
>> > > >who were running helter-skelter with "Grouping
>> > Proposal" papers flying
>> > all
>> > > >over --- will one of our young artists redraw
>> > that cartoon just for fun
>> > > >today? That will be very exciting !
>> > > > Gaining international and national admiration
>> > for stubbornness, Assam
>> > > >was very soon promoted to the image of a lion: In
>> > the terrible "Direct
>> > > >Action" in Calcutta by Pakistan-supporters on
>> > August 16, 17 & 18, 1946,
>> > an
>> > > >Assamese student, Poet Amulya Barua was killed by
>> > the Muslim rioters. In
>> > a
>> > > >prompt telegraph to Surhawardy, the
>> > Pakistan-supporter Prime Minister of
>> > > >Bengal (a Chief Minister was called "Prime
>> > Minister" in those days),
>> > > >Gopinath Bardoloi, the Prime Minister of Assam
>> > asked whether he should
>> > > >dispatch a few battalions of Assam Rifles to
>> > Calcutta if Surhawardy did
>> > not
>> > > >have enough policemen to control the rioters.
>> > > > This was headlined in the Calcutta newspapers
>> > as "Assam Lion Roars ."
>> > > >We must revive our self-confidence that we
>> > inherited from the historical
>> > > >days of Chakradhwaj Singha, Atan Buragohain,
>> > Lachit Barphukan, to mention
>> > > >just a few. Your opinion "Does anyone on the
>> > ground really care ? "
>> > > >carries an undercurrent note of despondency. We
>> > must wake up from
>> > despair,
>> > > >stand on our own feet and claim our rights: Assam
>> > Assembly does not have
>> > > >the rights to change the name of the State
>> > without public
>> > endorsement ----
>> > > >that is the crux of the "Petition" which should
>> > be rewritten in a brief
>> > > >format without the Dutch connection and without
>> > the controversial issues
>> > > >like X sound, etc.
>> > > >With love to everybody,
>> > > >Himendra
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> > > Spice up your IM conversations. New, colorful and
>> > animated emoticons. Get
>> > > chatting!
>><http://server1.msn.co.in/SP05/emoticons/>http://server1.msn.co.in/SP05/emoticons/
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > assam mailing list
>> > <mailto:assam at assamnet.org>assam at assamnet.org
>> >
>>
>><http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>> >
>>
>>
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