From: shubu@cs.wisc.edu (Shubhendu S. Mukherjee)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: alt.culture.bengal (YES)
Date: 25 Dec 92 16:39:14 GMT
Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin @ Madison, CS Dept.


I am not sure what has happened to the netters suddenly.  But in October, 1991
I had posted ONE line on SCI in Bengali ("Shubho Bijoya") and was thoroughly 
flamed for using Benagli.  In fact, I received mails from a couple of nerds
who didn't wish me well.  I am surprised to see the magnanimity of SCI 
allowing Bengali postings now.  Is this hypocrisy? Or what?

I see no harm in creating an alt.culture.bengal newsgroup.  

1. Forget the bull about network traffic.   If people post in Bengali on SCI
   it's going to generate as much traffic.  

2. Modern West Bengal culture (more appropriately with its root in 
   Calcutta), is distinct from the Bangladesh culture.  I am familiar w/ 
   Bangladesh's culture (thanks to my numerous friends from Bangladesh) 
   and can vouch for it.  (We can take the discussion off-line, if you want).
   And soc.culture.bangladesh is also a ground for discussion of national 
   issues of Bangladesh, which is distinct from the intention of
   alt.culture.bengal. 

3. Alt newsgroups are trial newsgroups and will die anyway if there isn't 
   sufficient traffic.  

4. If people start posting on the net in bengali, I can bet they will sooner
   or later be flamed (in pretty dirty words).  This has happened quite a few
   times, given the number of ignorant Bong haters that exist.  People like
   Harsh Varma also exist who change their colors as soon as people (worse 
   - his own roomate) flame him.  

5. In some other context, I had received numerous requests for creation of 
   an alt.culture.bengal newsgroup.  I guess there is sufficient interest 
   in people for the newsgroup.

6. I am tired of this statement that whichever group wants a newsgroup
   wants it for their own ego satisfaction.  Give me a break.  We want 
   a separate newsgroup because within the framework of Indian culture, 
   Bengali culture is indeed distinct.  What is of common nature
   could be cross-posted.  And as for you Harsh Varma - since you are 
   suddenly SO interested in Bengali culture, you can read alt.culture.bengal
   to quench your thirst.  

The problem is the multitude of so-called ignorant Bong-bashers make life
difficult for Bengalees and make them defensive and closed.  Personally,
I have faced many situations where non-bengalees (not all, by the way 
- so don't generalize) engage in unnecessary mud-slinging at our culture.
Aare bhai, did *I* demean your culture?  Then isn't this uncalled for?  
(And how I faced this? - I spent 4 years in Kanpur).  

However, I have also had friends like Ganapati from South India, who learnt 
Bengali of their own desire.

The bottomline: if you can't respect/appreciate something, at least don't 
		insult it.


Luck!
-Shubu

PS: Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.



--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shubhendu Sekhar Mukherjee 	 University of Wisconsin @ Madison, C.Sc.
Net:shubu@cs.{wisc,utexas}.edu   [W]:(608) 262-1012    [H]:(608) 255-6322