[Assam] An open letter to the Prime Minister

Ram Sarangapani assamrs at gmail.com
Thu Aug 12 20:55:19 IST 2010 

>Having said that, why don't YOU tell us reasons behind the demand for the
ever increasing
>number of states, what the causes at the root of the phenomenon is?

I thought I too might as well join the fray. I know my explanations will
also be summarily shot down - but what the heck!

IMHO, the main reason why there are constant/frequent demands for new states
and territories is one of greed & power.

A new state brings with greater bounties (usually tax free) & power for the
leaders who goad their people to seeing a new state for themselves. They
tell them how a new state will provide them 'Xonor' (golden) streets, get
recognition for their culture/language etc, develop the state etc, and make
everyone happy.

All wonderful things, anyone would aspire for.

There have probably been only a few instances where a new state really
needed to be carved out of an existing one. But in most other cases
(specially in recent years), is more of  ('others have it, why shouldn't
we') mentality.

But it doesn't matter really - it is all a matter of whipping up emotions,
and lo and behold there is a new state.
In the end, the new state has done nothing much, and the lot of the people
pretty much the same.

A case in point is Chattisgarh: It's lot hasn't improved one iota. Oh, the
inhabitants are probably called Chattisgohrias or some damn thing, they  now
have a CM, probably as crooked as they had before in the original state.
It's contribution to India - Naxals running loose.

--Ram


On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 9:24 AM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> On Aug 12, 2010, at 9:16 AM, Satyakam Dutta wrote:
>
> > So.. What is stopping you?
>
>
>
> **** I am not sure the name is familiar. But if you have been in assamnet
> for some time,
> you must have seen who does most of the lifting here. So give me a break,
> and put in
> your fair share , would ya ? Trust me, it won't hurt. And if you go off on
> a tangent,
> nobody will make fun of or jeer at you. On second though--make that 'most
> won't :-)' . But
> if somebody does, it will be mere sticks and stones---! I am sure you could
> handle that.
>
> Shall we ?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 7:43 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> My, oh my, Kamal.
> >>
> >> Your note threw me into a tailspin. For a few moments, I was afraid I
> might
> >> have died and was
> >> reading an eulogy, replete with exaggerated and undeserving praises
> usually
> >> reserved for
> >> the dear departed.
> >>
> >> Then I pinched myself, and feeling the hurt, I realized I am alive and
> >> kicking. So what's the deal, I wondered.
> >> That led me to discount the praises for your usual hyperbole :-) and
> check
> >> where that left it. It still was
> >> humbling, to say the least. But I accept it, again very humbly. You have
> >> been overly kind.
> >>
> >> Now I have to strive to live up to the accolades. I knew there had to be
> a
> >> catch :-).
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> Well,in case of Assam,local politicians are involved to a great extent
> >>> in the act of politicisation of the ethnic issue in the state in order
> >>> to fulfill their hidden selfish interest.These indigenous politics try
> >>> to ginger up people's sentiment by giving the idea that as a
> >>> culture-bearing group,the indigenous people should have their own
> >>> state which can only ensure preservation of their cultural identity.In
> >>> most cases,these Movements are power-oriented.
> >>>
> >>> The rural people in Assam,regardless of their ethnic identities,are
> >>> simple and straight in thought and deed.Therefore,in most cases,they
> >>> fail to understand the real motive of the political leaders.In this
> >>> situation,it becomes very easy for a deceitful and control freak
> >>> leader to be active in the folds of ' Political Man' or as an '
> >>> Economic Man' to satisfy his selfish interest without the fear of
> >>> being detected.Simply stated,these self-seeking politicians are using
> >>> 'ethnicity'as smoke and screen to better themselves.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> **** You ( and Dilip, with his concurrence) have touched on one layer of
> >> the causes. But it is
> >> an upper layer. We need to dig even deeper to get to the bottom of the
> >> issues. So, before *I*
> >> attempt to 'splain things, allow me to ask you ALL, once again, to give
> it
> >> another try, and
> >> see if you would not mind getting dirty with the real dirt on the
> matter. I
> >> realize there is a
> >> degree of reluctance to dig deeper for certain reasons :-), but if we
> don't
> >> uncover and acknowledge
> >> these simple realities, how shall we ever place our fingers on the
> problems
> >> and hopefully kick
> >> around solution possibilities ?
> >>
> >> I am sure we can agree that shedding e-tears alone over the state of
> >> affairs is not enough.
> >>
> >> If not us, WHO?
> >>
> >> So, go get 'em tigers! Kharkhowas we might be, but we can also be
> baaghor
> >> -aag-tel-khowa,
> >> if we wish to be :-).
> >>
> >> c-da
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Aug 11, 2010, at 7:44 PM, kamal deka wrote:
> >>
> >>> Well,in case of Assam,local politicians are involved to a great extent
> >>> in the act of politicisation of the ethnic issue in the state in order
> >>> to fulfill their hidden selfish interest.These indigenous politics try
> >>> to ginger up people's sentiment by giving the idea that as a
> >>> culture-bearing group,the indigenous people should have their own
> >>> state which can only ensure preservation of their cultural identity.In
> >>> most cases,these Movements are power-oriented.
> >>>
> >>> The rural people in Assam,regardless of their ethnic identities,are
> >>> simple and straight in thought and deed.Therefore,in most cases,they
> >>> fail to understand the real motive of the political leaders.In this
> >>> situation,it becomes very easy for a deceitful and control freak
> >>> leader to be active in the folds of ' Political Man' or as an '
> >>> Economic Man' to satisfy his selfish interest without the fear of
> >>> being detected.Simply stated,these self-seeking politicians are using
> >>> 'ethnicity'as smoke and screen to better themselves.
> >>>
> >>> HAVING SAID SO,I SEE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHOSE VISION,WIT AND INSIGHT ARE
> >>> AS EXTRAORDINARILY REFRESHING AS YOURS'-- THAT CERTAINLY HAS THE
> >>> ABILITY TO EGG ON PEOPLE LIKE US TO THINK INTELLECTUALLY.YOU
> >>> ILLUMINATE THINGS WITH GRACE,ASPERITY AND REMARKABLE PRECISION,REALLY.
> >>> PLEASE SULK NO MORE TO TELL US BY GETTING DOWN TO BRASS TRACK THE
> >>> CAUSES OF FISSIPEROUS TENDENCIES AMONG DIFFERENT ETHNIC COMMUNITIES OF
> >>> ASSAM FOR WHICH,IN THIS NET,YOU WILL RULE THE ROOST.
> >>>
> >>> KJD.
> >>>
> >>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:53 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>>> O'-K,
> >>>>
> >>>> Eh, kaarw gaat loga nai diya. I just wanted to point out the absence
> of
> >> thought behind the piece.
> >>>>
> >>>> Having said that, why don't YOU tell us reasons behind the demand for
> >> the ever increasing
> >>>> number of states, what the causes at the root of the phenomenon is?
> >>>>
> >>>> That would be useful. I know there are many amongst us who are quite
> >> oblivious of them.  I like
> >>>> to think you are not one of them :-).
> >>>>
> >>>> It twmar,
> >>>>
> >>>> So-K
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> On Aug 11, 2010, at 3:30 PM, kamal deka wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> I offer my unconditional apology for whipping up a controversy that
> >>>>> was uncalled for.I put out the piece in the Net just to give a funny
> >>>>> touch.I can assure  all of you---the letter writer did not aim to
> >>>>> cause deep hurt to any one, even though the letter seems to contain a
> >>>>> semblance of unspoken truth.After all,many a truth  are said in
> >>>>> jest--sometimes of course.
> >>>>> KJD
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 9:29 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>>>>> There is nothing amusing about this mindless piece of tripe.  Should
> >> our letter writer
> >>>>>> have had the desire or the wherewithal to inquire about the REASONS
> >> why everyone
> >>>>>> wants a state of his own, then he would not have had the reason to
> >> write this piece.
> >>>>>> Furthermore, HAD the editorial ranks of the rag had any clue about
> it
> >> themselves,
> >>>>>> they would not have found it worthy to publish it.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Last but not the least, I am terribly surprised that you Kamal,
> being
> >> one of the rare few
> >>>>>> amongst us who has the ability to analyze things enough and the
> >> integrity ( even if only
> >>>>>> every now and then), to acknowledge the real reasons for the state
> of
> >> affairs in India,
> >>>>>> found this piece worthy enough to circulate as something meaningful
> or
> >> noteworthy.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> cm
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On Aug 10, 2010, at 7:07 PM, kamal deka wrote:
> >>>>>> e
> >>>>>>> In response to ABSU's recent demand for a separate Bodoland,An
> >>>>>>> Assamese kharkhowa,inhabitant of Baksa district,wrote a letter
> >>>>>>> addressed to the PM demanding a separate state for himself.Read and
> >>>>>>> enjoy.
> >>>>>>> KJD
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Dear Mr Prime Minister,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I am 30 years old, fat, educated and I want my own state. To
> achieve
> >>>>>>> this objective I have decided to proceed on a fast immediately...
> >>>>>>> after my next " masor tenga meal", that is. (Considering my body
> mass
> >> index and
> >>>>>>> fondness for trans fats, I have deemed this the most apt way to
> >>>>>>> protest.)
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I now intend to break bread only after my 2-bedroom flat in Baksa
> >>>>>>> district,the heartland of Bodos, is
> >>>>>>> declared a state. The state will be known as Kalita Pradesh and its
> >>>>>>> capital will be Kalita nagar -- which is what I will name my living
> >>>>>>> room. The official language will be heavily accented English spoken
> >>>>>>> with a lisp.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I have decided to go in for this drastic move after discrimination
> >>>>>>> against me based on my language, appearance, superior intellect and
> >>>>>>> personal hygiene. I request you to consider my case vis-a-vis
> ABSU's
> >>>>>>> demand for a state exclusively for the Bodos.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> My state abounds in man-made and (cow-made) resources, including
> >>>>>>> manure from my potted plants and state-of-the-art sanitary
> fittings.
> >> I
> >>>>>>> intend to stand for CM and am confident that the residents -- my
> >> wife,
> >>>>>>> my dog and the affectionate house mosquitoes  -- will cast their
> vote
> >>>>>>> in my favour.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Mr Prime Minster, I appeal to you to consider my case at the
> >> earliest.
> >>>>>>> After Bodoland,Kalita Pradesh would become India's 30th state (if
> >>>>>>> Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh etc don't beat me to it).
> >>>>>>> Thirty is such a nice, round number, don't you think? Since you are
> >>>>>>> handing states around, why not add one more?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> While we are at it, let me bring to your notice that my pan-wala,
> my
> >>>>>>> dhobi and a rather irritable bull who sleeps on the middle of a
> >>>>>>> neighbouring road, all want their own states. They all allege
> >>>>>>> discrimination and are all threatening to go on fast.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I appeal to you sir, let's break up this beautiful state,known as
> >>>>>>> Assam since time immemorial, at the earliest.
> >>>>>>> Words like unity has  slipped into obsolescence. Why learn from the
> >> West.
> >>>>>>> We don't care about Germany uniting or half of Europe becoming
> >>>>>>> European Union. After all, we are the smartest race in the world.
> >> Let's
> >>>>>>> have a new slogan: Be a Bodo,Kalita or Ahom first and break Assam
> >> into pieces.
> >>>>>>> Sincerely,
> >>>>>>> Biplob Kalita.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>>> assam at assamnet.org
> >>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
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> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
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> >>>>
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