Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Amit's Updates from Assam, Shillong, Chirapunjee, Bangladesh and Tripura (2nd - 9th March 09)




Hi Guys,

I just reached Agartala (Tripura) today 9th March.

In Guwahati (Assam), I met the Assam Students Union (ASU) President who are very active and powerful in Assam.They have come forward and extended their support to my MISSION. They were very kind and presented me with the traditional Assam Scarf & a cup.They have a union called NESU (North East Students Union) which comprise of all 7 states (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh). I will be meeting the President in each state. They have asked for my support to fight for the equal rights of the North East. NE has been neglected and has not got the same treatment as the rest of India. I am now talking to the press & media about the North East.

In Shillong (Meghalaya) Mr.Rajoo Sharma, the Editor of the the Magazine The Northeast Today (TNT) , will be carrying my stroy. This magazine is owned by the king of Tripura. I will try and meet him later in my journey. Shillong has the main Headquarters of all forces. The Eastern Air Command is also here. I met the Commanding Officer Wing Commander Mr.Balram Singh of the Air Force (Eastern Air Command). Air Marshal Bhan was out of town. They presented me a small token as I presented them with the Indian Flag.

I met the ITBP. (India Tibet Border Police), The Army 101, The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) - Chief, The Border Security Force (BSF) officers & commanders & finally the Assam Rifles. The Assam Rifles are like the army who are all over the north east in every state. I met Brigader Amarjit who presented me with a special cup of Assam Rifles & the Assam Rifle Cap.. I have a collection of caps from most of the armed forces now. I stayed at the DGAR (Directorate General Assam Rilfes) Guest house. It is beautiful.

I drove down to Chirapunjee from Shillong which is approximatley 60 kms from Shillong. I then drove down further from Chirapunjee to the Bangladesh border which is another 40 kms below Chirapunjee. I reached the Bangladesh border and saw the fencing all around. I saw an open fence and drove through thinking that there would be a fence with closed gates which would be the border. Apparently the gate I drove through was the Bangladesh border. I was then called back by 2 BSF officers who were behind the tent where I could not see them, and upon seeing my car called me back and told me that I had entered Bangladesh and I should come back. This was the time there was chaos in Bangladesh by the BDR (Bangladesh Rilfes) where you all must have read in the papers or seen in the news about a mutiny by the Bangladesh soldiers. It did not effect the border I was at and so I proceeded a few kms further to the BSF camp where I met the commanding officer & other officers. They were very nice and had heard about me from the Assam newspapers.

I then proceeded on to Silchar. It is a central point in Assam at the border of Meghalaya, Tripura & Mizoram. It is the safest point to reach to enter each state. I stayed with the Assam Rilfes in their guest house here also and proceeded to Agartala (Tripura). I was to stay at Vairangte which is closer to Mizoram. They have a school and HQ of CIJW (Counter Insurgeny Jungle Warfare). I decided to go to Agartala first. It was a beautiful drive. All dense Jungle. There are army convoys here. You cannot travel alone without a convoy to Agartala. The convoy is with you for approximatley 100 ms out of the 300 kms drive. You lose a lot of time as they go real slow. At some point a truck broke down so the convoy has to stop. I told them I had to reach fast, so they told me I could go at my own risk. I told them I do and carried on without the convoy to Agartala. Though I drove alone on the mountains there were army troops with heavy weapons every kilometre on the lookout. It was like driving through a war zone. Not a very comfortable feeling..

I reached Agartala Safely and stayed with The BRO (Border Roads Orgnisation) at their guest house. I have my press meet tomorrow 10th March.

I have attached the newspaper clippings of write up I got in Assam & Shillong. Assam - Times of India The Assam Tribune & The Sentinel. Shillong - Local paper, Mehgalaya Guardian & Shillong Times. These were the only papers I could collect before I left the state. They informed me that more papers had covered the story and many people have called in showing support. News channels showed it in the news on the days I was there. There are a few mis prints and wrong statements in the papers. For eg. my mother is absolutely fine, they have written otherwise.

I am sending the Assam newspaper clippings in this mail & the Shillong paper clippings in the next mail as the size is large.

I will write to you all next week. Take care and keep spreading the word.

Thanks & Regards

Amit Rajan Lall
at

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My Message to every Indian...

Read this carefully. your Freedom depends on it!

Unity is Strength. Divide & Rule policy earlier lost us and cost us our Freedom. Today history is repeating itself. The people running our Country today are separating each state. They are trying to gain power and control of each individual state, thereby setting it apart from the others. Don't they know that merging more states makes India powerful, dividing each state and having internal conflicts makes India weaker? For e.g. the people today say "Jai Maharashtra", "Jai Karnataka", "Jai Haryana". WHY?

This is ONE COUNTRY - ONE NATION. our INDIA. all we have to say is. JAI HIND ! If we don't start participating in the events of our Country today, it will be too late and we would be slaves once again fighting for our Freedom! We as Indian Citizens have rights. We are a Democracy. We have freedom of speech, but people here are afraid to speak up. We are independant and have a right to live life on our terms.

Here women are being beaten in our Country and forced to wear clothes as per the likes and dislikes of our so called "leaders". Women don't have a right to wear what they want? Women don't have a right to drink alcohol after the age of 18 which is legal in our Country? Women are not allowed to talk to men and date men? Are these signs of a free Democratic India?

"Bapu" - Mahatma Gandhi is The Father of Our Nation. He preached Ahimsa (Non-Violence), all there is in our Country is violence & terror! If we follow Violence, why is Bapu the father of the Nation? If we follow Bapu, why are the Indians leading our Country resorting to Violence?India is a Secular Country. We are known to be tolerant of all religions. Why do we have these comunal riots? Why are the Hindu & Muslim constantly fighting and killing each other when they all are from the same motherland - INDIA, they have the same red blood, they eat the same food, they drink the same water, they breathe the same air, where is the secularism and tolerance?

Is this the INDIA we have become? Our people fought for our Freedom and gave their lives for us to enjoy this Independance. They shed their blood and sweat to give us a better future. Is this the future they had in mind for us? Today India is not a Democracy, Its a Dictatorship, dictated by Goondas (Goons & Criminals) who resort to violence to show their power. They are making the common man fearful and cowardly and supressing them & the common man is allowing this and is being supressed. Hitler ruled and now Taliban is coming! Is this what you want for INDIA? Do you want to bring children into this world who live under fear & terror? I think not.

So either Start Speaking up and fight for the bright future of the youth of tomorrow...or stop giving birth to more children bringing them here to live in fear and die.

We can loose our lives. But we cannot loose our freedom!

-Jai Hind


My Mission
The Drive for Peace and Unity
One Man – Covering One Country – With One Message

The Objective:

To prove that we Indians are a resilient lot who refuse to be shaken by a bunch of fanatics who choose the most cowardly method of trying to make a point, to slaughter innocents! To also spread the message that this drive around the sea and land boundaries of our country is the symbolism for the legendary “Lakshman Rekha” which would and should remain impenetrable by sheer unity. This unison aims at galvanizing the people against external threat and frustrating the enemy.

The Sentiment:

I, Amit Lall, am proud to be an Indian and will be attempting “The Drive For Peace and Unity”. Bombay was attacked by terrorists from the sea on 26th November 2008. I live at Churchgate and was lying unwell and helpless in my house when disaster struck our beloved city. I was angered and frustrated that I was physically unable to rush to help the victims of this carnage. In order to awaken the dormant unity amongst the people inhabiting within our “Lakshman Rekha” and to instill security consciousness, resulting in constant vigil against the enemy, I would like to drive along our sea coast starting from Bombay in the West, heading southward to Kanyakumari, then eastward to West Bengal and Nagaland, and then up north to Kargil, along the India – Pakistan border, and then return to Bombay via Delhi, halting at India Gate to salute the martyrs of our country. This mission will also convey a strong sentiment to our enemies, especially in the west and the east, that if they can’t scare one Indian such as me, with their cowardly act, how do they expect to scare the entire country – with this they should fathom the combined strength of the entire nation!

We are proud to be Indians, and we don’t fear anything if we stand united and stand by and protect our Country from any negative elements.

The Contribution:
I believe in the power of the mind and positive thinking. “What the mind can conceive, Man can achieve.” This would be my humble contribution to our people and I request for your support to accomplish this cause that I strongly believe in and stand for. Whichever State of the Union that I pass through, I would also meet the police of that State and the Armed Forces based there, and express my gratitude for what they are doing for our country and for the safety of every Indian. I will appreciate a cavalcade of drivers and bikers, to follow me to show support for the cause, even if they can do so only for a short distance. I will also like to share the trauma that we Bombayites suffered, with people I meet and interact with on my journey through all the Indian States.

The Logistics:

This Mission will be adequately covered by the Media and splashed on Television, Radio and the Newspapers for the benefit of the inland inhabitants. One Man – Covering One Country – With One Message.

The number “26” has proved disastrous for India and is now associated with tragedy and bad luck as the following events on this date are embedded in people’s psyche:

The Tsunami – 26th December
The Kutch Earthquake – 26th January
The Gujarat Floods – 26th June
The Bombay Train Blasts – 26th July
The Ahmedabad Blasts – 26th September
The Latest Terrorists’ Attacks in Bombay (Taj, Oberoi, CST & Nariman House) – 26th November

I Flagged off and launched this mission from the Gateway of India, on 26th January, 2009, our Republic Day. This mission and pilgrimage strives at removing the evil effects of the number 26 associated with disaster and death. After lighting a flame at Gateway of India and the CST, I will also light a flame at every place I stop and request the brave men of the State Police and Armed Forces to join me in doing so. When I reach New Delhi, I will light a candle at India Gate as a tribute to all the courageous Indians who have sacrificed their lives for our country. I will then continue on my Drive for Peace and finally return home by once again touching the Gateway of India on 26th February, 2009, thereby completing my Mission.

I will attempt to complete my journey in 100 days. The periphery of India is approximately 15,000 kms. I will drive approximately 10 – 12 hours a day and cover 500 - 600 kms. a day. I will be driving through 26 states. The only states I will not be entering would be Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh as they are in the interiors of India.

SPONSORS
I will be staying at TAJ Hotels across the country as Mr.Ratan Tata - Chairman Indian Hotels has been kind enough to make the TAJ group of Hotels my Hospitality partner across India for my drive.
I am driving my own Hyundai Accent which I have had for the past 8 years and it has proven its endurance and power, a car which can actually complete the entire drive of India without any hindrance. I shall use only one car and not change cars for the entire drive. I have the Hyundai Motor India Limited team to check and do the necessary touch ups to the car as and when required at any state across the Country.

COME JOIN THE 2nd FREEDOM MOVEMENT...

Jai Hind!