Letters to the Editor: Change the Name

So once again, an ODI (World Cup warm-up match) at Barsapara Stadium was completely washed out because of rain. As per the meteorological report, rain was expected at 2 PM, the time when the match was supposed to start. For the sheer bad luck of thousands of cricket fans who assembled in Barsapara, they were simply disappointed. Right at 2 PM, it started raining cats and dogs, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

I vividly remember on an earlier occasion too that in 2020, the T20 match between India and Sri Lanka was also washed out because of rain, which started at the time when the match was about to start at exactly 7.30 PM. We understand that the word ‘barsa’ means rain. So, may I request that ACA change the name of the cricket stadium? My request might look funny.

Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati

ST status for Royal families!

One common agenda of many communities in India is to demand ST, SC, or OBC status. Assam is also not an exception to this. But people or communities that demand a reserved quota in Assam are not similar to most other Indian states. Mediaeval Assam, until the arrival of the British, was ruled by a few prominent dynasties like Kachari, Chutiya, Ahom, Koch, etc. Some of our former monarchical races are enjoying scheduled tribe status, and the rest are recognized as communities of other backward classes. It’s very bizarre to think, and I even feel ashamed to see our former royal members as people of backward classes. What will be the dignity of a country or state whose former monarchs or royal families are socially or economically uplifted by bestowing special privileges? On the other hand, the general subjects of the above-mentioned monarchies are not getting any specific government privileges. They are considered upper castes in the general category, and whatever their economic status, it doesn’t matter at all. They have to face the toughest competition in all fields and achieve everything with genuine talent.

There is a general notion outside of the state that Assam or Assamese are backward people. Why couldn’t these monarchs uplift their own communities after ruling for three hundred to six hundred years? With due respect to all former ruling dynasties, we are compelled to nurture the impression that they are not as advanced as other contemporary non-Assamese Indian dynasties.

Arup Saikia

(arupsaikia07@gmail.com)