REPLY TO KAVEREE BAMZAI'S ARTICLE ON ME IN theprint.in CALLING ME "INDIA'S FIRST TOXIC TWITTER GOVERNOR"

Some of you might have read the above article in the webzine theprint.in I had sent a set of comments on the article back to Ms Bamzai. I thought the comments ought to be in public domain. Hence this blog

Read the article carefully. Frankly, I am disappointed. Not because you have violently differed with me, which you have a right to do, but because of your diffuse, noncommittal manner of presentation, avoiding any conclusions, and taking random pot-shots. Take the following:

 

'Toxic': One of your definitive expressions of disapproval. But 'toxic' is not always undesirable! Ever hear of the drug Adriamycin? It's so toxic it can pierce your skin and dissolve your flesh if it comes in contact with bare skin. But it is invaluable in the treatment of cancer. It's the same way with a polity infected to the core, its value system warped by the Left-Nehruvian version of 'secularism'.

'Conspiracy theories about the deaths of Right-wing ideologues Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee' and Deen Dayal Upadhyay': Dr Mookerjee died in Sheikh Abdullah's prison. The medical reasons given for his death were challenged by more than a dozen very eminent doctors. Yet there was no inquiry, Nehru and his Home Minister Katju stonewalled any inquiry without giving any reason. As for Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, his dead body was found in Mughalsarai rail yard. Would anybody in his senses say that these very prominent people (your personal prejudices against Right-wing ideologues notwithstanding) died a natural death and there is no need for an inquiry into their deaths? In fact you have also not said so, just left the question hanging!

'seemingly urbane': Ah, you think I am a country bumpkin inside, with only a veneer of urbanity? Well...

'who is able to eloquently articulate the RSS' deepest, darkest, blah blah blah' : I take that as a compliment. Thanks.

'Hidden history': It is here that your I object most to your diffuse style. Did or did not Gandhiji, upon the advice of C.Rajagopalachari go to see Jinnah and practically conceded Pakistan? Yes or no? On 12th February 1950 was or was not there a massacre of all Hindu passengers over the Meghna Bridge in East Pakistan? Yes or no? Were or were not all Hindus in Muladi, Madhabpasha, Lakutia and Rajapur in Barisal district of erstwhile East Pakistan slaughtered? Yes or no? If you differ with me why don't you say I'm lying? The Ram Guha-Bipan Chandra type of historians would try to avoid all these subjects, BECAUSE TO ANSWER TO EACH ONE OF THESE IS 'YES'. And in their Nehruvian logic a Muslim can do no wrong, so these ought to remain hidden -- until a toxic Governor comes along.  Actually Meghna Bridge, Muladi, Madhabpasha, Lakutia and Rajapur ought to be as well-known as Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Sobibor, Maidanek or Katyn Forest. They are not, because the victims themselves, infected by the Left-Nehruvian version of 'secularism', have chosen to conceal them.

I appreciate what Tufail Ahmed has said, because he is specific with his allegations. I don't agree with him - in parts. I do think there has been overmuch of pluralism, an undue emphasis on 'diversity' rather than 'unity'. I am not anti-Muslim and I differ with your description of my views as 'relentless spewing of hatred towards Muslims'. It is just that I do not believe in the Left-Nehruvian dictum "A Muslim can do no wrong", and I am as forthcoming with wrongs done by Hindus (such as the mass murder of 3,000 Sikhs in 1984) as I am with those done by Muslims (such as driving out 3,50,000 Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in 1989-90). I am not an Islamophobe either, although I had a right to be one, having seen the driving out of a crore of Hindus from East Pakistan and Bangladesh, among which members of my extended family were also there. I am just, if I can coin a term, virulently anti-anti-Hindu.

But you are right that I have a visceral abhorrence of the late lamented Jawaharlal Nehru, who among other things, was guilty of the very creation of the Kashmir problem, acquiescing in the Chinese annexation of Tibet, batting for Communist China's entry to the UN security council and condemning the refugees from East Pakistan to the most unimaginable misery. I have named just a few. After all, one must be kind to the dead.

I did not block Saswati Sarkar because she 'called me out'. I never do that. I block people only when they are abusive. Incidentally, you have given the impression that Saswati is a scholar of history at U Penn. No, she teaches Electrical Engineering there.

The article, incidentally, has not created much reader interest. I posted it on Twitter, calling for responses. No response. This is apart from the Coup man giving publicity to it.

Thanks for posting a very favourite photograph of me, at one of the most beautiful places on earth I have visited. This is at Yosemite National Park, California.        

 

বাংলা ভাষার বিকৃতি

বাংলা লেখা, বানান ও উচ্চারণে বিকৃতি আমাকে মাঝে মাঝে ভাবিয়েছে | আমি ভাষার ব্যাপারে একটু purist  আছি, অতএব এই বিকৃতি আমার পছন্দ হবার কথা নয়, হয়ওনি  | সম্প্রতি টুইটারে এ সম্বন্ধে দুই-একজনের একটু উৎসাহ দেখে মনে হল, এসম্বন্ধে একটু আলোচনা করা যেতে পারে | তাই এই ব্লগ |

কেউ কেউ সন্দেহ প্রকাশ করেছেন যে বাংলাদেশী বাংলায় ব্যবহৃত ফার্সী ও আরবী শব্দের অনুপ্রবেশের ফলে এই ঘটনা ঘটেছে | কেউ বলেন হিন্দি শব্দের অনুপ্রবেশের ফলে |

আমি একমত নই | বস্তুত বাংলাদেশী বাংলা এবং পশ্চিমবঙ্গের বাংলার সম্পর্ক ইংরাজের ইংরেজি ও মার্কিন ইংরেজির মধ্যে যা অনেকটা তাই | ইংরাজের ইংরেজিতে অনেক কথা আছে যা মার্কিনরা বোঝেই না, যেমন 'fortnight' অথবা 'queue' | তেমনি বাংলাদেশী বাংলার শব্দ 'আহাজারি' (=শোকপ্রকাশ), 'এন্তেকাল' (=মৃত্যু), 'ফযর' (=সকাল)  পশ্চিমবঙ্গের বাঙালির বোধগম্য নয় | বস্তুত ইংরাজের ইংরেজি ও মার্কিন ইংরেজি যেমন একই ভাষার দুটো আলাদা ধারা, বাংলাদেশী বাংলা এবং পশ্চিমবঙ্গের বাংলাও তাই |

ভাষায় বিকৃতির মূল কারণ আমার মনে হয় হিন্দি বা ইংরেজি থেকে আক্ষরিক অনুবাদ, অথবা একই হিন্দি ও বাংলা শব্দের অর্থের পার্থক্য অনুধাবন না করা |  প্রথমটির উদাহরণ হিন্দি "दो खरीदिये, तीन पाइये" বাংলা অনুবাদ "দুটি কিনুন, তিনটি পান" | 'পান'-এর জায়গায় 'পাবেন' বললে সেটা অনেক ভালো বাংলা হত | দ্বিতীয়টির উদাহরণ হিন্দি 'अंतिम' এবং 'आलोचना' |  দুটি শব্দই বাংলায়ও আছে | এর মধ্যে প্রথমটির মানে দুই ভাষাতেই 'শেষ' | কিন্তু হিন্দি শব্দটি খুব সাধারণ অর্থে ব্যবহৃত হয়, যেমন "अगला और अंतिम स्टेशन टालीगंज" | অপরপক্ষে বাংলা শব্দটি মৃত্যুর সঙ্গে সম্পর্কিত | তেমনি হিন্দি  'आलोचना' মানে বাংলায় 'নিন্দা' | এগুলো না বুঝলে বিকৃতি অবশ্যম্ভাবী |

আর একটা বিকৃতি হল সোজা ভুল | একটি যাত্রার বিজ্ঞাপনে একবার দেখেছিলাম "ডাক্তার অমুক, মেডিসিন ট্রলারের উপর প্রেসক্রিপশন লিখছেন | বিজ্ঞাপনদাতা বলতে চেয়েছেন 'মেডিসিন ট্রলি', কিন্তু ইংরাজিজ্ঞানের অভাবে ভুল শব্দ ঢুকে গেছে | 'ট্রলার'  মানে মাছ ধরার জাহাজ | এগুলি বিজ্ঞাপনের কপিরাইটারের ভুল | আজকাল ভাষা শিক্ষা এবং ব্যবহার কোথায় নেমে গেছে এটি তার একটি উদাহরণ |

পশ্চিমবঙ্গের আর্থিক পরিস্থিতির সঙ্গেও বাংলা ভাষার বিকৃতির সম্পর্ক আছে | ৩৪ বছরের বামফ্রন্ট শাসনে রাজ্যের একটাও ক্ষেত্রে নেই যেখানে অধোগতি হয় নি | বর্তমানেও সেই tradition সমানে চলেছে | এই অবস্থায় রাজ্যের বিদ্বান বুদ্ধিমান লোক যে রাজ্যে থাকবেন না সেটাই স্বাভাবিক | এর প্রতিফলন ভাষায়ও পড়তে বাধ্য | 

বিকৃতির নিশ্চয়ই আরো গূঢ় কারণ আছে | এ বিষয়ে কেউ আলোকপাত করলে আমি উপকৃত হব |  

REFLECTIONS ON 31ST DECEMBER 2018 (ALSO DOUBLES AS A NEWSLETTER)

REFLECTIONS ON 31^ST DECEMBER 2018

(ALSO DOUBLES AS A NEWSLETTER)

So 2018 has also ended. How am I and how has been the year?

For somebody ensconced in the Governor’s exalted but totally powerless chair, there are hardly any ripples, let alone waves. No responsibility either, unless one happens to be in Jammu and Kashmir or unless something really untoward happens, as had happened during the very short time I was Governor of Arunachal in 2016.

During the last year for the first eight months I was Governor of Tripura. The year, however, did have some ripples. For one, there was a change of government in Tripura – a sea-change, I must say. Not that I had anything to do with it, but people either congratulated me for it, or accused me, depending on where they stand politically. But I can say this in good conscience that I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. I had reasons to be sore, not very seriously but sore nevertheless, with the outgoing Chief Minister Shri Manik Sarkar, but I don’t think he can accuse me of any unconstitutional behaviour. Towards the end of his reign I wanted the Home Secretary and the Director-General of Police to see me in connection with a murder charge against a police officer and a few other issues, but he would not let them see me. It embarrassed the poor Chief Secretary, who was in the middle, no end. I remember earlier he had crossed my path once in regard to the appointment of an Officer on Special Duty for me. It was quite unjustified, in my opinion. I had to put my political skills to work to get my way. However, relations between the two of us on the surface were good, and the usual courtesies were not lacking either on his part or mine.

Following the change of government the new Chief Minister Shri Biplab Deb took office in March 2018. He, of course, treated me like an elder brother. It’s a pity I got so little time to work with him.

A Governor normally has no chance to make any personal contributions to the state he is governing, but I can honestly name two achievements in Tripura. The first was the completion of the new Raj Bhavan and moving in there in April 2018. My civil engineering expertise and experience came in very handy in this task, as also in the second. The second was the improvement of National Highway 44 – not in Tripura but in Assam, from Churaibari border to Badarpur Ghat in Assam. This was and still is literally the lifeline of Tripura, but the Tripura government, for reasons that I know but cannot state just now, was not taking up the issue with either the Assam government or the Union Surface Transport ministry. I did what I could and the road is now quite good. I am grateful to Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Surface Transport minister, and Shri Parimal Suklabaidya, Assam’s minister for PWD for their help.

Towards the beginning of August I got an indication that I was likely to be moved. No reasons were forthcoming. Then the Union Home Minister called me up to say that I was being posted in Meghalaya. To tell the truth, I was VERY happy. I had wanted to go to Odisha and had told him so – no major reason, except that my wife spent her childhood in Rourkela, and she would have been very happy to go there again as first lady. Also I am a nature lover, and Odisha offers more than enough to any nature lover. But Meghalaya is almost equally inviting, and had other attractions. I was sworn in here on 25^th August 2018, and became the temporary resident of the incredible Raj Bhavan here – British-built, of varnished  Burma teak. Coming to Shillong as Governor is like a homecoming. I had spent a very significant part of my childhood here, at Muktakeshi Lodge, Jail Road, till 1952, and I am familiar with the town of Shillong like the back of my hand. My next younger brother Saugata (Trinamool Congress MP from Dum Dum, West Bengal) was born here.

There was a time – till the nineteen eighties – when we had nearly a dozen relatives in this town, one of whom was my father’s elder brother Dr. Naresh Chandra Roy who had built a huge house at Laitumkhrah, and was our closest blood relative. He had died in 1977, but his family was still there and I used to visit them every other year when I was in college, and even afterwards, quite frequently. His second son Hiralal, known in Shillong as Harold Roy, was a minor celebrity in his time.  He was a colourful character and a Guru to us, who taught us many lessons in life, some good, some not so good. My family, both on my father’s and mother’s side, had been settled in this town since the early twentieth century. Even my wife’s maternal grandfather, Paresh Lal Shome, was the Advocate General of Assam in the 1940s and a resident of the town. As such, this town was a second home for us after Kolkata. But those relatives had gradually left, either for Kolkata or for the ultimate destination of everyone, and right now I have only a distant relative here, in Laban. But I still feel very at home here, and have struck up a very nice and affable relationship with the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

Things are all right on the family front. My wife Anuradha is a little overcome with the cold here (around 6^o C in the mornings and evenings, likely to get worse). I am enjoying the cold, and also the fact that all my heavy woollens and stuff like a North Face windcheater are finding good use here. My daughters and grandchildren in the US are also fine. The grandchildren, Surya Kiran Rao (12), Uma Rao (8) and Leon Khedekar-Roy (1) are coming along very nicely, God bless them. This year in July we made a trip stateside and spent a lovely time with them. I have planned to tour the state, but so far have made it only to four district headquarters besides Shillong – namely Nongstoin, Nongpoh, Khliehriat and Jowai, besides Sohra (Cherrapunji), Shella and Dawki. Garo Hills are still untouched. Hope to cover it in the near future.

And, oh, I’ve been busy tweeting. In my conscience I have never crossed the line that the Constitution sets for Governors, but a lot of people don’t think so, and throw brickbats. Aw, what the hell, this is a democratic country, and I have never been a stranger to controversies, nor reputed for political correctness.

Goodbye for now. See you on 31st December 2019.