[Assam] Taking full responsibility--- a welcome promise

Fri Jan 5 00:49:46 EST 2007

C'da & others,

Please add my name to the list (if its not too late). I had setup and signed
the original online petition, and thought my name would be there.

In any case, please add my name if possible.

Thanks
Ram

On 1/2/07, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  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.*
>
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> 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:* Barua25 <barua25 at hotmail.com>
>
> *To:* Himendra Thakur <hthakur at comcast.net> ; Rajib Das<rajibdas at yahoo.com>
>
> *Cc:* Indrajit Barua <ibarua at yahoo.com> ; Mohan R. Palleti<mrpallet at ncsu.edu>;
> assam at assamnet.org ; Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> ;
> 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:* Himendra Thakur <hthakur at comcast.net>
>
> *To:* Rajib Das <rajibdas at yahoo.com>
>
> *Cc:* Indrajit Barua <ibarua at yahoo.com> ; Mohan R. Palleti<mrpallet at ncsu.edu>; Manoj
> Das <dasmk2k at gmail.com> ; Rajen & Ajanta Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com> ;
> 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" <rajibdas at yahoo.com>
>
> To: "Himendra Thakur" <hthakur at comcast.net>; "shantikam hazarika" <
> shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>
>
> Cc: <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 <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" <shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>
> > > To: <hthakur at comcast.net>; <rajibdas at yahoo.com>
> > > Cc: <dasmk2k at gmail.com>; <ankur_bora2000 at yahoo.com>;
> > > <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" <hthakur at comcast.net>
> > > > >To: "Rajib Das" <rajibdas at yahoo.com>
> > > > >CC: "shantikam hazarika"
> > > <shntikamhaz at hotmail.com>,"Manoj <shntikamhaz at hotmail.com%3E,%22Manoj>Das"
> > > > ><dasmk2k at gmail.com>,"Ankur <dasmk2k at gmail.com%3E,%22Ankur> Bora"
> > > > ><ankur_bora2000 at yahoo.com>,<assam at assamnet.org<ankur_bora2000 at yahoo.com%3E,%3Cassam 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/
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > assam at assamnet.org
> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
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