MSDP Durga Puja 2011

[Debashis Haldar]

I think I found the issue...typo in email adds....here is the one I wrote yesterday late night (ignore my last email):

 

Our approach should be - Sangam announcement of 2011 Durga Puja is an evidence that Sangam doesn't want to cooperate with the MSDP committee, because they announced 2011 Durga Puja even before the current Durga Puja without any discussion with MSDP committee regarding our letter. If they claim that they have talked to MSDP before the announcement, we can charge MSDP for this.
I think we should wait until tomorrow midnight (4th was the deadline for their reply, if they cannot come) and then send a letter to those three organizations with CC to all the seniors and important Bengalis of KC (may be even to the whole Bengali society) asking an explanation from MSDP for this unfriendly act.
Meanwhile, we can tell everybody in Swati Di's house about this to get general support.
Comments...thought?
 
BTW, our discussion with Ananda Da went well. While he is still inclined toward combining these two associations, he agrees that it's hard to work with present Sangam committee. He & Dipti Di just asked us to resolve the issue amicably. Dipti Di is coming to our Oct 23rd program. Not sure about Ananda Da since he has the temple dinner that night.
 
Thanks,
-Debashis

[DEBASHIS BOSE]

In general, idea is ok. I agree that we should try and drum up some support @ Swati dis house tonight. But at the sametime we need to be sensitive to the fact that this party was meant for a different purpose and we should not offend Swati di by shifting the focus of the party.

 

 Personally, I am still smarting from this attitude/insult from Sangam (I take this as an insult after you & Tapashda/Joyeeta/Ishita tried your best yesterday to convince Ananda da that we want to peacefully negotiate with Sangam)  ... did not expect this sort of a reaction from them, which is perhaps naive of me...  so while I agree to what you are saying, I am still undecided on how strong/bold or soft/mild our approach should be.

 

At this moment, my thoughts are emotionally impaired (with anger and frustration) and it may be the same for everyone in KCBA who has been following the events over the last week. I think we should refrain from taking any hasty decisions under these circumstances. I therefore think it is very important that we meet over  the weekend (preferably Sunday-evening since Monday is a holiday for all) to talk between ourselves and decide our next course of action. I firmly believe that this is too critical a topic to discuss over emails. I can offer my house as the meeting point  for Sunday.

 

Comments/Thoughts/Ideas............

 

Bappa

 

Dont Worry Be Happy!

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From: Debashis Haldar <deban...@gmail.com>
To: close...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 9:29:32 AM
Subject: MSDP Durga Puja 2011

[Bhaswati Ray]

I agree with you Bappa.  Stay strong!! Our approach should be bold and strong but politically correct.  They did not pay any attention or showed any respect towards the other three Bengali groups and are not ready to cooperate with others.   They just cannot impose their decisions on the community without even discussing.   If they continue doing this, other three groups have to take their own standpoints.  Anger is potentially a useful force.   Just separate your feelings (anger) from your action.  We should let angry feelings to percolate until we figure out our mode of action.   Sabai bhalo thako.. Bhaswatidi/Bhaswati --- On Fri, 9/3/10, DEBASHIS BOSE <debashis...@yahoo.com> wrote:

[ishita banerjee]

I agree with Bappa...>I am extremely irritated(almost feeling defeated).

I feel like they are playing really dirty...I feel all of them are together against us.

I don't have any reason to be polite(my personal feelings)

Ishita

 

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From: DEBASHIS BOSE <debashis...@yahoo.com>
To: close...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 11:10:28 AM

Subject: Re: MSDP Durga Puja 2011

[ishita banerjee]

Bhaswatidi,

I feel all the other three clubs are a part of this decision.

My feelings though.....I am irritated at all three of them.

 

Ishita

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From: Bhaswati Ray <bhaswa...@yahoo.com>
To: close...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 12:14:04 PM

[bijon sharmacharya]

Did you all not expect such an abrupt action from Sangam? I did expect that some sort of dirty trick, they will be playing. This is the first time that Sangam came out with their next year's to do list and that also unexpectedly much in advance, I see some positive things springing up due to KCBA's presence.

But as it is said this matter needs to be politically sold to the other two organization and also the elders of the Bengali community need to intervene. We need KCBA to host the 2011 Durga Puja in order to enter the cycle amicably ( Which I doubt that Sangam will allow so easily, as this will be the only Durga Puja under Mrs.Ranjana's presidency)

What say ya?
Bijon

Bijon K. Sharmacharya 
email: bij...@yahoo.com

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From: ishita banerjee <ibane...@yahoo.com>
To: close...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 12:16:45 PM

[Debashis Haldar]

We should stay cool and take advantage of their wrong acts. I'm proposing an official letter to the MSDP committee to ask for a "Show Cause" from Sangam for their arrogant act. If agreed, I'll send it out after midnight Sept 4th.

 

Please review the following letter and make sure enough respect is given to the MSDP committee, because we have to get their blessing & support here. I found that there are lot of members (Ananda Da, Tapan Da, Debabrata Da, Swati Di, Subrata Da, Swapan Da, Arun Da and may be more) in that committee who already supports us directly or indirectly. If we can make the case, they may decide to take an action against Sangam and disqualify for 2011 Puja (height of optimism :). But I don't know how appropriate it would be to request MSDP to ask for a "Show Cause". I don't know either how it can be phrased in legal terms. Please comment. This is important.

 

To,

The MSDP Committee,

Kansas

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is in continuation to our previous letter dated September 1, 2010, sent to all the three participating associations of MSDP, viz., Sangam Midwest, Pratichi and Bengali Community of Lawrence, regarding a meeting request to discuss about 2011 MSDP Durga Puja. We are assuming that Sangam Midwest will be present in that meeting since there is no reply letter from them by Sept 4th, the deadline given for any schedule change or other issues.

 

While KCBA, being an organization with strong motivation and diverse experiences, is very energetic and enthusiastic in hosting 2011 MSDP event, it is clearly stated in the meeting request that intention of KCBA is to find an amicable solution through this meeting to support the tradition of having a single Durga Puja in the Greater KC area. We expected that kind of intention from all the other participating associations. But the public announcement from Sangam on Sept 2nd 2010, for 2011 Durga Puja, clearly shows an opposition to any discussion and/or settlement. It's an insult to us and the MSDP committee. Needless to say, that our expectation of having productive suggestions and recommendation from a well established and senior organization like Sangam is far from reality. This 2011 puja announcement is done even before the 2010 puja. Instead of benefiting, it might confuse our community.

 

We are in a situation where there is no option left for cooperative decision making, which we still believe in. Therefore we earnestly request the MSDP committee to ask for a "Show Cause" from Sangam for their arrogant act. It is really important for the best interest of this community. We really appreciate any help from the MSDP committee.

 

Thanks,

-Debashis Haldar

President, KCBA

[Debashis Haldar]

I just spoke to Swati Di and she agrees that we should ask MSDP committee to ask for an explanation from Sangam and mitigate the issue. We may have to call others who were present in the MSDP Committee meeting in 1996 (??). The list so far is as follows:

Ananda Da, Dipti Di, Swati Di, Subrata da, Gouri Di, Sushanta Da, Debrata Da, Tripti Di (not sure), Swapan Chakraborty, Soma Chakraborty (??), Swapan Saha, Usha Saha, Jhulan Mukherjee, Subrata Mazumdar, Archita Di, Ashim Da, Ranjana Di, DJ Da, Ranu Di, Arun Da, Jayasree Di, Tapan Da, Sudha Di (??). Let me know if you think of anybody else. We should personally call some of them, explain the situation and get their support. We'll ask them to reply to this email asking Sangam President to ans why they have done it.

 

I'll not be in town tomorrow through Tuesday night. As suggested by Bappa, we should meet during this long weekend. I'll be calling in to any place (Bappa-Rituparna's house probably) you meet.

Thanks,

-Debashis

[Debsankar Mukhopadhyay]

Hi,   The responses from other three clubs are not favorable for us. Good thing is that we discovered this quite ahead in time. I think we need to talk among ourselves and explore options that fit KCBA's purposes.   Thanks, Debsankar

[ishita banerjee]

I totally agree...but we should not wait too long to send something as a comment.

Thanks

Ishita

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From: Debsankar Mukhopadhyay <debsanka...@yahoo.com>
To: close...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sat, September 4, 2010 10:39:41 PM
Subject: responses

[DEBASHIS BOSE]

Debshankar, I am with you on this.
 

Dont Worry Be Happy!

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From: Debsankar Mukhopadhyay <debsanka...@yahoo.com>
To: close...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sat, September 4, 2010 10:39:41 PM
Subject: responses