అసత్యాల సత్య.....

From: Satya Karnati
Subject: Re: Amendment to TAMA Constitution
To: "Devanand Kondur"
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 12:24 PM

Stop this nuisance man. Who said you are a common member of TAMA? Aren't you
part of the team who tried to exploit the right of vote to annual members?
Aren't you part of dirty stories every community still talks about? Did you
think the truth gets burried by sending this kind of emails? You are one of
the reasons for trying to amend the constitution. Don't waste your time, you
will still be talked for generations for misusing the right of vote and you
still be shown by everybody that you are part of that team.



On Nov 9, 2009, at 7:50 PM, Devanand Kondur wrote:
Dear Telugu Community members,

I am deeply distressed at the lack of simple sense that pervades our Telugu
Community. We waged a titanic struggle to make our point clear during the
last TAMA elections that Democratic processes are the best way to run a
community organization; and that bullying and dealing does not serve any
community well. While we did not win the elections, we hoped that we had
made our point quite clear by our behavior during and after the elections.

I am surprised that this very point is not properly understood, and has been
completely lost. Sometime around July of 2009, I had written to the
Executive Committee of TAMA, first politely congratulating them on their
achievements and then indicating that the amendment to the constitution made
in January 2009, was invalid if they had not given enough notice before the
GBM during which they were made. I am attaching a copy of the same below. I
have not heard from anyone in the EC regarding this matter. Neither was this
matter rectified, until someone of some "clout" tried to address the issue.
It is very sad that a "common" member is completely ignored when a valid
point is raised. So the bottom line that I can gather from this is that
unless one is willing to shake the organization, no one is willing to
listen. If the EC had addressed this issue when it was first raised this
point would have been moot.

Coming to the present, it is astonishing to see that people are still
interested in wheeling and dealing rather than adhere to the constitutional
processes. The issue is simple. As with any legal matter the following needs
to be addressed.

1) What is the "Violation of the law" - Amending the constitution
without proper procedures.

2) What is the "Damage" - Some people were thinking that they were
ineligible to vote. Some people were thinking that they were ineligible to
contest. Some people did not join TAMA only because they thought they would
be disenfranchised.

3) What is the "Remedy" - Roll back ALL the amendments. Rectify the
"Damage" by extending the deadlines and properly educating the people of
their rights and calling for new nominations and fair elections.

I wonder, if it is just me, or, if you are all surprised that these simple
facts slipped our collective conscience. Or maybe we are all so used to the
rigmarole that we dare not question the existing order of things.
Furthermore it seems that the specter of cajoling, coaxing, threatening
nominees, people who have nominated and voters has reared its ugly head
again. Yes I have my own reservations against some of the contestants in
this year's elections as I did with the last year's elections. That does not
mean that they do not have a right to contest. They have the right to
contest and the people have the right to reject them too. Nevertheless the
process has to be followed. Is this too much to ask for? Is the need to be
in power so desperate that people would stoop to any level to achieve that
goal?

I would like to blow some steam off on a lot of other issues but I will
refrain from doing so, at this time, as I believe that it will only fall on
deaf ears. Or will they? I wonder what legacy we will bequeath our children
if we take an active part in such an organization. Neither can we deny them
their opportunity to show off their talent before an appreciating audience.
It appears we are caught between a rock and hard place. Maybe it is time for
us to look for other options outside of TAMA, to chart a new course, to
leave the stench behind.
thanks
Devanand
(Only Devanand, I wish for a few days we leave our last names and other
identifying names behind in the small hope that we will forget our
affiliations to Caste, Region etc. and see other human beings for what they
are rather than what group they belong to.)


--- On Wed, 7/1/09, Devanand Kondur wrote:
From: Devanand Kondur
Subject: Amendment to TAMA Constitution
To: EC
Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 6:33 PM

Dear 2009 Executive Committee,
First let me congratulate you on your various undertakings under the
TAMA banner over the past 6 months. Good job and keep it up. I am sure you
will do better.

I would like to take this opportunity to address another issue which I
happened to notice on the web site. I noticed that there was a line
regarding voting.

"Life members are only eligible to contest and vote in TAMA elections"

I was not aware that this amendment was made to the constitution.
I would have fully supported the amendment had it been done through proper
channels. It seems that a prior notice was not given regarding the amendment
before a vote was taken regarding this amendment (apparently sometime in
January from what I heard). Were we not supposed to have publicized the
amendment on the web site as well as sent out emails using the TAMA mailing
list before the amendment was passed. If you did I apologize for the
misunderstanding. If not why the slyness? I believe there are genuine
reasons as to why only life members should be eligible to vote(at least as
to how reserve TAMA fund are spent). Why not elaborate these reasons? Also
what is the point of having annual membership? Apparently anyone can
participate in TAMA programs (including people who are not members or have
anything to do with TAMA) So how do we convince people to become annual
members.?

Also please change the way the sentence is phrased.

"Life members are only eligible to contest and vote in TAMA elections."

could mean "Life Members" are "only eligible to contest and vote in TAMA
elections." Meaning they should not do anything else. The correct formation
of the sentence should be.

"Only life members are eligible to contest and vote in TAMA elections."

Of course you realize that the above sentence means that quite a few
people who contested in the last election would have been ineligible.


Devanand Kondur