I normally do not dignify abusive handles with engagement. This is 1 such as evidenced thru his multiple abuses directed against me for challenging his concoction. Such abuses disqualify any one from civil engagement. But will make one exception, just 1 to counter. Thread:
Notice what I asked - evidence of usage in common parlance of a term he pedaled. This is best shown through literature, newspaper reports. Thus far he has shown none. But, of course, he has showered vile abuses at me for asking him to show.
What has he shown instead - a collection of papers written in the last ten years that mentions this term, and an English book written in 1943. The first paper in this collection cites this term from an English book on castes written in 1981. So, a secondary reference.
The first paper in the collection says nothing about how commonly this term was used, no primary reference, that is, no classical or old literature, song, newspaper report that is using it. It doesn’t even say that the cited book is producing those.
And, that is the quality of the collection he is showing to hoodwink us into believing that a term was or is commonplace, a term that no one who grew up in the culture it is supposed to be commonplace in knows of. Classic reinvention strategy.
Let’s be clear. I read academic papers all the time, but have never been taught to believe everything that every academic paper says, nor do I teach any one to do so. But, we learn to verify those, by examining the evidences used to make such claims.
So, if an academic paper claims something without producing primary evidence, I for one am not going to accept it at face value. And that’s all we have now.
I will populate this thread as and when I find time. But I am not going to engage the abuser in question even if he tags me. Distorters.
Second paper - mentions the term once, and cites an English book. Therefore, it is again secondary source, a secondary source that does not even say if the primary source has substantiated the usage reproducing primary sources (literature, newspaper reports).
I checked the bibliography reference to the secondary source, not even mention of the year in which the cited English book was published. And, we must treat such references as gospel and learn about a culture we were born into from those. Amazing !
Let’s also understand what academic papers are meant 2 do. To convince reader of their central claims with evidences that reader can verify.If an academic paper does not do that about any of its claims,then that claim isnt central to that paper and such a claim has no credibility
The object of an academic paper is not to compel acceptance, but to convince one. And only way to convince is to produce supporting primary source based evidence that can be verified. High time those citing papers in support know this central objective.
The last ref is a 2012 English novel by one Mr. Roger Patridge. His CV roger-partridge.eu/cv.en.htm He doesnt even mention visiting or living in Bengal ever or knowing Bengali. We must believe the term is or was common parlance because of a mention by him. Astounding!
3rd ref - 1 line on the said term with a reference to a book by a Professor of Anthropology, Martin Davis, written in 1980s. A paper by this Professor starts with “Hindus view all humans as fundamentally unequal”. This is his knowledge of Hinduism & therefore of Bengali Hindus.
Yet again the term is being sourced from the book of an academic who is not Hindu nor Bengali, and whose understanding of Hinduism is skewed, reflective of pejorative bias. So, we still do not see any supportive primary source.

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More from @sarkar_swati

13 Mar
Open Letter to Rutgers University Administrators. Not sure what the principal critique here is, is it the said Professor is mocking BJP-RSS, or mocking Hindus? The first aspect seems to dominate the piece. Nothing wrong with Profs using SM 4 their politics indiafacts.org.in/commentary/ope…
Completely confused by comments on how many Indians and of which religion support Biden vis a vis Trump. Both were Presidential candidates only a few months ago. Indian Americans can support whoever they wish, what’s the morality factor associated with their choices?
If the author wishes to argue that the Professor in question is biased against Hindus, he needs to stick just to that point. Bringing in BJP-RSS, Modi, Biden, Trump are pure distractions, and even harmful. This is conflating BJP—RSS & Modi with Hinduism which is plain wrong.
Read 4 tweets
13 Mar
As a point of principle, I oppose mass petitions of students demanding punishment for a Professor for her views. This is a recipe for mob justice and contrary to conducive environment for academic research. Views have to be countered through documentations & scholarly arguments.
The issue becomes more complicated when however the Professor in qsn have cautioned students of specific groups to be “safe” only because a speaker was giving a speech in her University campus, rather than educating them 2 debate him.This is a tacit call to cancel that speaker.
Those who have perpetrated the cancel culture themselves should be ready to be canceled themselves. One can’t encourage cancelation of speakers in her own campus and simultaneously claim academic freedom when a different mob campaigns to cancel her. Playing field has to be level
Read 7 tweets
12 Mar
This story reminded me of a personal memory, which I share below:
I had once fostered a dog from a shelter. The shelter sent him to a foster home, mine, because he was showing shelter-stress. The dog grew very attached to me in a day or even instantaneously. But he didn’t get along with my own dog and would start fights with him.
The foster dog was of a smaller size than my dog, but was more resourceful. So in the fights my dog would win hands down. I was thinking of adopting the foster dog for good, but another family really wanted him.Given the chemistry between the 2 dogs,I decided to let them have him
Read 7 tweets
11 Mar
Substantive questioning was lacking in @rahulkanwal ‘s & others’interviews of @PrashantKishor . Missing qsn: @MamataOfficial led the opposition 2 CAA which large sections of WB Hindus supported,how would it affect votes,particularly the vote of Matuas&other refugee descendants?
Next - Exit polls of 2019 LS show huge religious polarization in votes, check the data put out by Rajdeep Sardesai. About 60% of Hindus voted for BJP-RSS, 70% of Muslims voted for TMC. Such polarization was absent in 2014 LS polls. Why this rapid change happened?
Third- 2014 & 2019 LS Exit poll data shows that across castes Mamata has lost confidence of Hindus during this period. What has she done since 2019 LS to check and reverse this erosion?
Read 4 tweets
10 Mar
Watched a Bangla debate by Arnob Goswami.1) His Bangla is like Bengalis’, even the colloquial phrases. The usages tells me he has read Bangla as well. Many Bengalis in Assam had identified themselves as Assamese to avoid discrimination. Were his ancestors one of those?
2) The TMC & CPIM representative attending Goswami’s debate were out shouting and out arguing him. Bengalis have a long legacy of excellence in debate.
3) Bangla&Assamese are very close languages. W/o any prior training in Assamese I can read Assamese, understand 95% of what I read and follow Assamese conversations. Always wondered why Bengalis have been discriminated against in Assam on linguistic basis despite the proximity?
Read 4 tweets
1 Mar
Learned some history of mining in Eastern US over the weekend. Mine owners reigned supreme in the 19th century. They owned politicians and bankers and media. Media routinely vilified miners agitating for improvement in work conditions. What does this remind us of ?
This reminded me of today’s owners of big businesses, particularly big tech. Control over politicians, media and financial institutions, poor treatment of workers. History repeating itself.
I learned this history in a small but wealthy eating place. The owner shares local history he knows. My fellow diners were all wealthy. When I said this is also happening today, they all nodded. But moment I completed the sentence-happening under big business owners today-silence
Read 8 tweets

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