From: as@cs.brown.edu (Apratim Sarkar)
Subject: Re: Politics of Infiltration: Stop Lebanonisation of Eastern India
Organization: Brown Computer Science Dept.
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 20:28:51 GMT

In article <4509@verdix.verdix.com>, dharma@verdix.com (Manjeri Dharmarajan) writes:

|> In article <1992Apr9.054321.14428@cs.brown.edu> as@cs.brown.edu (Apratim Sarkar) writes:

|> >I remember people taking trains to Calcutta and talking quite
|> >freely about crossing the border illegally and how they do it *everyday* - they
|> >cross the border from Bangladesh and come to work at Calcutta. Firstly, this
|> 
|> Funny how all the people complaining about this have left India and are studying
|> or working in the US! What's the difference between them and the Bangladeshis,
|> except for a piece of paper?

There is one difference, I never complained about the Bangladeshi students who
came to study in India (I met a lot at IITKGP). I am a student now, and plan to
go back after I complete my studies.
So long as we do not have the Single State World, I think the piece of paper has
its importance. I did not enter this country illegally, nor do I intend to stay
illegally here.
We all hold some passport and some visa, don't we? 

|> >in other fields of work. This is another example of the local people losing jobs
|> >to foreigners staying illelaglly in the country. Considering the economic
|> >situation in West Bengal, we can hardly afford to neglect this!!
|> >
|> 
|> society to subsidise you for your inefficiencies. Why would an employer go 
|> through the hassle of hiring an illegal immigrant, if they could get a legal
|> resident who's willing and able to do the job?

For in West Bengal, you do not ask for nationality of the owner in the
street-side shops of Calcutta. These immigrants have no right to start competing
*illegally*, repeat *illegally* in the local small time job pool.

|> >There is another subtle point to note - the Hindus form a minority of the
|> >migrating population. To me, at least, this seems to be a covert attempt at
|> 
|> Oh no! Not another Muslim conspiracy! Muslims make up around 80% of Bangladesh.
|> Of course, a majority of the immigrants will be Muslim.

However, these immigrants do cherish the thoughts of the union of Bangladesh
(East) and West Bengals. This is from personal experience as I mentioned in my
original post. Even a thought of that makes me frightened!!
I never faced the partition myself, but have definitely seen its effect on the
economy of the state.
BTW, even if the majority of the immigrants were Hindus - I would have never
supported that.

|> In my opinion, political boundaries are an anachronism in the global economy.
|> Now that there are fewer and fewer restrictions on capital, the next step is
|> to allow the free movement of labour. This will lead to a more effcient
|> economy, and uniform standard of living everywhere.

Ok, this is theoritically quite acceptable. However, it makes no sense that
Bangladesh will never try to control its monumental growth rate of population, or
try to create new job opportunities, but just pass on its surplus labour to India
which is in no way a rich country and there are enough unemployments already. 


|> 
|> 	Dharmarajan

Apra.

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apratim Sarkar 	    	      	   	     	       fone  (401)-863-7667 (off)    
Brown University, Box 1910     	   	     	       	     (401)-272-4446 (home)
Department of Computer Science	   	     	       fax   (401)-863-7657 	      
Providence, RI 02912-1910     	   	     	       email as@cs.brown.edu
USA.

     	       	  "Swadharme Nidhano Shreya, Parodharma Bhayabaha" 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------