- Dr. Manoranjan Bezbaruah (outgoing AANA president)

One of the greatest acknowledged strengths of this country is the voluntary community associations. Anyone who has had the privilege of actively associating with or leading a community, school, or even a home-owners association knows what I mean. These organizations act as the élan vital of the country! Ideas are advanced, discussions are held, votes are taken when needed, and once the decisions are taken, they become the rules, and the rule- based machinery springs into attention to enforce them! Thus, once a rule is adopted, people tend to obey it – be it in the area of airport security, payment of an assessment, or on the roads while driving a car!
Rule-based organizations alone can exist in this age. Ours have existed for these three decades plus because it is rule-based, we follow procedures, a delineated process. AFNA -- our non-profit fund-raising wing, and ASSNA –our literary wing are leaders in their respective fields. Together, we look forward to more fruitful achievements.
In this Thanksgiving season, we have plenty to be thankful for. Mr. Rupert Murdoch is credited with making news an entertainment medium! Even with the 24/7 coverage, in commercial Media, the bad, the ugly and the gruesome alone is entertainment, thus the news! I am reminded of the Assamese saying – vultures, no matter how high they soar in the sky, are only on the look-out for corpses! Many positive developments are taking place enriching us. The positive developments in India in particular affect us positively. President Obama had a fruitful visit to India; that helps us. The Commonwealth Games in New Delhi was a great success, even if the Media did not report it. The erstwhile pre-game “troubles” were of course daily headlines!
In an Open Society with a vibrant democratic cacophony, it was indeed a success to be proud of. The Games Opening was stupendous; it is a pity that our media here deprived us of a great event! The angelic 7 year old playing tabla with that heavenly smile will always be in our mental picture; so many of our small ones would have been Page 1 of 16 AANA AFNA ASSNA Newsletter, 2010 Winter Issue, Volume 31, No 4, Issue 112
inspired seeing his effervescence! All of us would have been positively impacted witnessing the fact that India delivered a world class performance, and even more!
Yet another Asian-Indian Governor, in South Carolina; many more into representative offices in different states, counties, and other local governments, they all speak about our diligence, enterprise, and faith in the system. We are thankful for the great open society which allows each and every person the opportunity to excel.
It is aptly said that you need a village to raise a child! Like a child, AANA needed the support and blessings of many to survive. Our organization has benefitted from the hard work and far-sightedness of many – We thank them on this Thanksgiving!
Another round of thanks is due to the financial contributors to our last Assam Convention. The success of the Convention reflects the hard work of each member of the Host Committee, that is of course a given. However, as money alone makes the mare go, the monetary contributions of the following made the Convention overcome the specter of deficit and its dreadful aftermath. We thank Samantha Deka, Jhula Baruah, Barada and Nandita Sarma, Gaurav and Sneha Hazarika, Nandia and Ratan Das, Rathin and Meenakshi Dev choudhury, Babul and Saswati Borah, Monoranjan and Jharna Bezboruah, Deepali Borthakur, Ganesh and Parulma Deka, Nakibul Ahsan, Amiya and Reeta Das, Shonit and Kamna Das, Bula Baruah, Jeuti and Steve Wylde, Prunendu and Ranjana Datta, Nabajyoti and Manjula Kakati, Gautam and Ajanta Phookan, Atul and Eva Sarma, and Ranjan and Anee Deka. Again, thank you for your kind financial support.
The host-committee for the 32nd Assam Convention is already at work. Kindly mark your 2011 Calendar – July 4th weekend in the Assam Convention in Chicago! Get your children enthused about their respective items – there is a vast arena where they can show their talent – be it a poem or an article for our annual publication – Luitor Para Mississippi (LPM), a dance, a recitation, or a song on the stage! Let them get onto the stage -- that in itself is an investment for their future! We look forward eagerly for their participation. More information from the Host Committee follows.
It is a pleasure to note that our General Secretary, Dr. Deva Borah, along with Dr. Aravinda Phukan from Alaska, is being flown in by the Government of Assam for an international conference in Water Resources Planning, Design, Development and Management of the Brahmaputra River. The Conference takes place in Guwahati on December 18-19, 2010. We take great pride in his scholarship, admire his sincerity, and we wish him well! Dr. Atul Sarma’s third book is printer-ready for publication. It will be published in Assam, India. A hearty congratulation!
Death and dying are of course part of life! Mrs. Abha Nath from Florida passed away. We mourn her death.
I wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a great Magh Bihu!