From: mece1e3@Jane.UH.EDU
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Alt.culture.bengal
Date: 24 Dec 1992 15:00:23 GMT
Organization: University of Houston
Reply-To: mece1e3@Jane.UH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: jane.uh.edu

In article <Dec.23.22.22.07.1992.26572@paul.rutgers.edu>, varma@paul.rutgers.edu (not yet) writes:
>In article <199212240126.AA05216@mp.cs.niu.edu>, t60bss9@mp.cs.niu.edu (Bijoy Sagar) writes:
>> 
>> Hi Netters,
>> 
>> when do we have our own alt.culture.bangla newsgroup? I think
>> it is overdue.  While many of these newsgroups such as a.c.tamil
>> are used for people-bashing, we could use a.c.b to talk about
>> the poetry and culture of Bengali society, especially of the
>> last century. Any takers?
>> 
>> Bijoy
>
>
>
>Bijoy and other 'takers',
First, I must make clear that I have not made up my mind one way or the
other and open to discussion; but some of the points that Harsh made
needs refutation.

>
>Bangla is the national language of Bangladesh.
>Therefore if you wish to discuss 'poetry and culture of Bengali
>society' then soc.culture.bangladesh is an appropriate newsgroup. 
>
So.culture.bangladesh is a news group created for discussing social and
cultural issues of BANGLADESH. Though Bangla is the common language
the culture in Bangladesh and West Bengal developed quite differently.
Admittedly there is a lot of overlap. But nobody will mistake the British
culture to be identical with the American culture. Just consider how ludicrous
your statement will look if I rephrase it like this:
English is the national language of Great Britain. Thus all articles related
to the American literature can be discussed in soc.culture.british


>However, I am sure that this proposal will not be adequate because
>creation of a newsgroup for your state probably is a ego issue. After
>all, Tamils and Telugu speakers have it. Why should the Bengali's be
>left behind?

I detected no trace of egoism in Vijay's post. He only proposed a solution
for a need which SCI is not suitable. I remember how I stopped posting my
Bengali poems here. I have to agree that posting a Bengali poem every day
without translation in SCI is not justified. But it is ridiculous to ask
me to translate everything before I post.



>
>And then the Bengali's are of course superior: they will use their
>newsgroup not for people-bashing but 'poetry and culture of Bengali
>society'.
>

Well, I have to agree that I think alt.culture.bangla will be used for
people bashing all the same: that's human nature. But there's no harm
in trying


>Tell you what, you and the other 'takers' create a country for
>yourselves. Then the demand will look legitimate. (And let me assure
>you that you will have ample support because there will be many like
>me who would prefer not to share a newsgroup with myopic creatures
>like you).

And let me assure you that if you analyze this statement of yours you will
find why the demands for creating these countries start. Anybody who follows
my posts in SCI know that I look on Earth as one country and I am completely
against political boundaries.  However, people are forced to create these
boundaries when in the name of "patriotism" the valid diversity of people
is not recognized. Bengali culture is different; so there is nothing wrong
in having a Bengali newsgroup. This has got nothing to with Bengal as a
geo-political entity. However, the moment you try to suppress this valid
difference; the need to create a new geo political entity occurs. Ponder
this for a while: may be you will be able to find the root causes of the
problem in Kashmir and Punjab.
Love
Arindam

> 
>Harsh Varma
>Department of Computer Science
>Rutgers University
>
>Disclaimer: None. Please, everyone adopt my opinion, I am right!
>
>Postscript: Please dont flame me, and I get very scared by death
>            threats.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.bangladesh,alt.config