Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) Goes Public

Recently, some of us, members of the Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS), made a pilgrimage to Assam, and frankly speaking, we achieved more than what we expected during the trip. Some of our achievements are already reported partly in the press. As a name, FASS is still unknown to most; as an organization, FASS is still a child. However, from what we achieved in our first inaugural international meet in Guwahati on January 10, 2008 and after, we may rightly say that the child has manifested great potential along with promises for the future for all of us. One of the reasons of our success may be the fact that we have presented the NRIs not as someone there to lecture the people what is wrong with Assam and what they need to do but rather how we the NRIs can help to work for a brighter North East India together. I think it is for this reason that everybody, starting from AASU to NEDFi and beyond, came forward seeking to work with us. We have presented our case to the public, to the Assam Chief Minister, to the other sister state officials, to the CII and the DoNER Ministry, and explained how we the NRIs can help in the development of a modern North East India; and everybody welcomed us. This is a preliminary summary report of that epic journey of what we achieved and how interested NRIs can follow up and work on the common platform that we have built.
The idea of an international think-tank welfare organization for the development of the North East India was originally conceived only about two years ago among a few like minded friends here in the USA and other countries. We settled on the name ‘Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters’, being a global non-profit, non-political NGO, a public platform of the people of the eight states of the North East India. A website was created www.friendsofassam.org with noble mission and vision statements, our motto being ‘Inspiration, Encouragement, Motivation, Enlightenment and Empowerment’ of North East India. The idea was to go beyond just fund-raising for general welfare but to think and find ways to bring some basic changes in our thinking and act for the development of the North East India in all spheres.

If sustaining the members united in this noble mission was found difficult, arranging the first inaugural international meet was even harder to deal with. The Guwahati FASS office, the India HQ was just registered hardly a year ago. However, timing was the essence. We tried to coincide with the NRI Investment Meet in Guwahati in January, which was organized by the DoNER Ministry, the CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) and the Assam Government. The CII has in the meantime requested me to chair one of the sessions of the NRI Investment Meet. Even then we were not sure. Many of our key members could not attend the FASS meet due to previous personal commitments. Personally, I was going through the worst phase in my life; I was just recovering from the worst life threatening disease. Normally a person in my status would think everything else other than of welfare for Assam at this time. However the call from Assam was difficult to ignore. Moreover, my favorite poet Emily Dickinson constantly buzzing in my mind, “Because I could not Stop for Death, He kindly Stopped for Me”, actually gave me the required spiritual courage. We had ample indications from initial responses to know that the people of the North East were looking for such a common platform badly. Finally, Bidyananda (Rintu) our FASS India Secretary General put it boldly in right perspective, “Rajenda, there are certain things that happens only once in a lifetime; for the FASS Meet now is such an event.” I had great faith in Rintu’s organizing skills and sense of timing. It was not too long ago that we fought successfully together against the huge intellectual resistance for the case of retaining the name of ‘Assam’, and it was mainly due to his untiring efforts in Assam that we were able to awaken and mobilize the media and the public and eventually won the case. Rintu now took the responsibility of organizing the meet. We decided to take the plunge against all odds. Dumon came forward with all her unqualified supports. At the last moment, my doctor gave me the required clean certificate to travel to India. We settled on 10th January, 2008 as our D-Day.

The D-Day, the FASS International Meet happened to be more than success. People came from far off places like Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Tamulpur, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Shillong and other places. Ankur, one of our strongest lieutenants, came loaded with electrons in his boss’s laptop. Ignoring her own father’s serious ill health, Momi gave him all the supports. We split the sessions into morning and afternoon, and both the sessions were packed. The morning session was in Assamese addressing to the Assamese psyche. My critical speech, ‘Ek Notun Dristit Uttor-Pub Bharot’ (A New Vision of the North East) was taken in the right spirit, my speech on the basics of the Assamese language, Oxomiya Bhaxar Moulik Bisar, presented in front of such Assamese scholars like Dr Golok Ch Goswami, Dr Nagen Saikia and others was hailed by many. We discussed many things, from the importance of using the X letter for Assamese letters s, S, L to retain the originality of the Assamese phonetics to the need of the people of Assam to take a new path to the future along with the other sister states together for a brighter future. Mr Rupesh Saikia presented his new innovation of teaching Assamese through ‘Flash Cards’ in schools based on this new phonetics. Two versions of online Assamese dictionaries were presented. Ankur’s presentation of the first Assamese audio-video Assamese short story was praised by the audience. Our afternoon international session was even more success. The FASS perspective of the critical situation of the North East was presented through power point presentations. Rini Kakati not only came in time from the UK, but also was able to bring Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn to the FASS meet; it inspired us all. Yassuvant Mahanta came from Austria with full of life and with his own success story of an ordinary village boy from Halem in Shonitpur; he is an inspiration for all. Anurupa Medhi, our million dollar lady from Australia, frankly declared that it must be her lifetime ‘karma’ that she found FASS to work for the development of the North East. Jayanta Madhab Barua, from Singapore inspired the audience with how we can transform the North East into hundred success stories as those of Vietnam and Thailand. Bandita Deka from Thailand spoke eloquently on the lessons that we can learn from that Tai country. Anjana Bora spoke on the roots and strengths of the basic American civilization. Ajanta Barua explained how people can participate on various FASS projects and how one can come up with their own projects to our platform. Ankur made a presentation of the Toast Masters public speaking model and how FASS is planning to implement the idea all over the North East in order to build leaders. The colorful FASS international synergy was in full display.

Various dignitaries spoke in the FASS meet. Dr Jayanta Madhab, the chief Guest who himself was an NRI, spoke of his own experience. Dr. Golok Chandra Goswami, who was conferred the title ‘Bhaxa-Guru’ by FASS, praised the presentation of the Assamese phonetics (with x & w) and assured the audience that the Assamese language is not going to die unless the Assamese people commit suicide of the language. Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika spoke on Vision 2020 for the North East India and more. Mr.Samujjal Bhattacharjee, adviser to AASU welcomed FASS and explained how AASU’s network with ground level realities and the FASS international network can empower each other to work together. Patricia Mary Mukhim from Meghalaya welcomed us all with open arms and promised that we will have more participation from our other sister states in future. Words of encouragement from friends and well wishers who could not attend, gave us spiritual courage; Garvin Brown from Australia wrote, citing Gandhiji, “If your motive is pure then there can never be any question as to the eventual success of your Mission”. Dr. Audrey Cantlie from London wrote, “I consider myself a daughter of Assam…. It gives me great pleasure to express my warm support for this splendid enterprise.” Dr. Nagen Sakia, our Chief Guest put our efforts in right perspective when he compared our efforts with those of the Assamese living in Calcutta during the early nineteenth century contributing towards the Assamese language and culture in the time of need, and declared that the day 10th January, 2008 will be remembered in future history as the start of a new epoch for the future of the North East. We were humbled by the candid summary that Patricia Mary Mukhim put two days later in the Telegraph, “Although the CII and the ICC meets were pretty much hyped up, what was interesting was the meeting of the Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters. Those of us who attended this meet were elated at the keen interest shown by the NRIs to put their money where their mouths are. What they want and need is perhaps a roadmap as to what and how they can do things here.”

It is exactly this road map that we tried to explore in our pilgrimage this time. This we tried to do by discussing with many individuals and organizations. Our meeting with AASU turned out to be more than a meeting of minds. They have given us a hearty Assamese Bihu welcome with ‘phulam gamwsa and kahor xorai’ for all our members that we cannot forget in life. They also presented us a perspective of the real problems in the North East which ran from lack of school syllabus to the porous Bangladesh border. Our exchange of ideas were so effective that we ended up signing an MoU with about 14 points of areas where we can help each other for the development of the North East.

The NRI Investment meeting organized by CII was attended by many NRIs. It however seemed more of mechanical talks from governmental officials without much real substance, and it is not known if there was any real sign up of any contracts. We from FASS had a chance to present our perspective for requirement for development of the North East. We presented a 20 point investment strategy for the region. Our perspective was simple; during the last 60 years since independence Assam has been lagging behind the rest of India in progress by as much as 45% now, and unless special status and provisions are given to the North East with proper tax incentive, one should not expect any real change in development of the region. Insurgency has rather been a scapegoat for underdevelopment. We told that among other things, all flights to and from the North East should be made tax free for the next 50 years and that the flights like Delhi-Ghy-Bangkok or Delhi-Ghy-Kunming etc must be cheaper than Delhi-Cal-Bangkok and Delhi-Cal-Kunming for effective tourism and development of the region. We intend to continue our dialog with the DoNER ministry.

We also met with several premier educational institutes like Handique Girls College, Cotton College, Gauhati University, Assam Jatiya Bidyalaya and many others and had heart to heart talks how we can help. We also met with NEDFi (North East Development & Finance Corp), NECCI (North East Chamber of Commerce & Industries), FINER (Federation of Industries of NE Region) and many other key organizations who offered their unqualified help to work with us.

Details of many of these meetings and the outcomes will be published and discussed later. In the meantime, we would like to put the following words to each and everyone of the NRI community. During our various discussions, we found out that it is not money that the North East needs from the NRIs. What they need is our expertise and ideas and our attitude to help. We have specifically identified the following areas where we can help: career guidance to school and college students, building information centers, information about study and training abroad, information about new skills and trades, development of technical training, identifying student exchange programs, information about job opportunities abroad, providing entreprenership skills, information about small scale industries, arranging seminars and workshops etc. There are many more areas. In order to participate in any of these programs, one does not have to join FASS. If you are visiting Assam next time, simply let us know, and we will connect you with the right institution anywhere in the North East where you will be able to give your presentation to the right group in a workshop or seminar. For this and other purpose, we have developed the following FASS information hotlines. USA (Tel: 281-701-3267-Rajen; 512-258-2922-Ankur; 703-867-0062-Partha) and India (Tel: 91-94350-46211-Rintu; 91-94351-46880-Jayanta). Or you may simply write to either fassusa@gmail.com or fassghy@yahoo.com with your program to help. You may also donate to our various programs through any non profit organizations like AFNA, ASAF, UAONA or through FASS in Indian Rupees or any other currencies.

I would like to conclude with the words that we concluded the FASS meet on 10th January 2008. “Religions may differ, but we believe that the highest goal of human life is the pursuit of happiness”; this was taught by the greatest Indian leader the Gautama Buddha thousands of years ago; which has been also one of the main pillars of the American Declaration of Independence. Long years ago, we the people of the North East India made a tryst with destiny. About 200 years ago, in 1826 to be exact, when David Scott marched, with guns mounted on elephants, to take Assam, we were the most unhappy people on earth. At that time, we made a secret pledge to meet one day together and to contemplate our own path for the pursuit of happiness. Friends, today is that defining day in history when we all from the North East India meet to redeem our pledge, to reclaim our happiness. Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) is a platform of Happiness with three pillars; it is a ship of Happiness with three propellers. These are Health, Habitat and Humanity. Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) will seek these three basic H elements of human life for the people of the North East India in their pursuit for Happiness. We appeal to you all to come and join us in this platform, to guide us, help us, teach us and participate with us to achieve our common goal. Let us hope that one day we will be able make the North East shine in its own glory and make it a pride of Asia and the world. Thanking you all;

by Rajen Barua, CMD, FASS.
Houston, Texas
Email: rajen.barua@gmail.com
Tel: 281-693-3133