From ramganeshk at gmail.com Thu May 1 03:37:39 2008 From: ramganeshk at gmail.com (Ram Ganesh Kamatham) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 03:37:39 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Creeper - 3rd and 4th May at the Nani Arena, Bangalore Message-ID: Hi all, for those of you in B'lore do come and see the show! Warm regards Ram Creeper Starring Abhishek Majumdar and Mallika Prasad Written and directed by Ram Ganesh Kamatham Saturday 3rd (7:30pm) and Sunday 4th May (3:30 & 7:30pm) at Nani Arena, Centre for Film and Drama 5th Floor, Sona Towers, 71, Millers Road, Bangalore Tickets Rs 150/- Call 98456 02265 for tele-booking About the play: This is a story about two people in this city. She is the expert narrator, he is a mischievous sutradhar. These two story-tellers have amazing stories to share. Problem is, they don't agree on how to tell the story! Creeper is a modern re-imagination of the tale of Vikram and Betal. The play slams this ancient cycle of folk-tales into a contemporary urban setting – creating a shadowy world that is immediately recognizable, yet bizarre and entertaining. Darkly funny yet poignant, the play freewheels between the old and the new – creating a landscape that happily contains – pornography, literary theory, orkut, Chandamaama comics, exorcism, blogging, Silk Smitha, foul language, Kurt Cobain, a big tree with a Barbie doll nailed onto it and a magical(?) box with something inside. Creeper was developed under a Sarai-CSDS Independent Research Fellowship and has previously been performed in Bangalore, Delhi and Heggodu. The script development process has been blogged at www.addledbraindump.blogspot .com ____________________________________ From tasveerghar at gmail.com Thu May 1 10:18:55 2008 From: tasveerghar at gmail.com (Tasveer Ghar) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 10:18:55 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] fellowship proposal deadline Message-ID: <484c1050804302148q768c11bt97c74c2a051c6ecc@mail.gmail.com> Friends This is just a reminder that the deadline for accepting the proposals for the 2008 Tasveer Ghar Fellowship is fast approaching. We shall accept the email proposal until 10th May 2008 (till mid-night India time). The details of this year's theme for Tasveer Ghar fellowships are given at the website www.tasveerghar.net or can be downloaded at the following links: http://www.tasveerghar.net/call.html http://www.tasveerghar.net/desktop/TGCFP08.doc http://www.tasveerghar.net/faqs.html -- http://www.tasveerghar.net From shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com Thu May 1 12:14:30 2008 From: shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com (Shambhu Rahmat) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 12:44:30 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Army Blocks Fact-Finding Team in Sajek Message-ID: This is what Army regime-backed Bengali racism looks like. http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2008/04/27/sajek BREAKING NEWS: Fact-Finding Team Blocked By Army chtnews.com/News No. 71/2008, April 30, 2008 A 13-member investigative team of progressive Bengalis, which visited the place of occurrence in Sajek, came back to Dhaka yesterday. Jointly led by Ms Moshrefa Mishu, a veteran leftist leader and convenor of Biplobi Okyo Front, and Mr. Manos Chowdhury, teacher of Anthropology Department, Jahangirnagar University, the team reached Sajek on 28 April. One of the team members told chtnews.com that they were halted by Major Kabir at Dighinala and were not allowed to speak freely with the victims. "We were boarded their army vehicle and driven to the place of occurrence. During the visit we were not allowed to talk to the Pahari (Jumma) victims and to visit their burned houses." he said. "It was a guarded and restricted visit, and wherever we went we were flanked by military personnel." said Ricoh Chakma who accompanied the team members. The team members are expected to hold a press conference on their Sajek visit. Memo to Debashish Roy: Victims of Sajek arson attack, who held a press conference in Dhaka on 27 April, submitted a memorandum to Barrister Debashish Roy, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser and in charge of CHT Ministry, on 28 April demanding adequate compensation to the victims and punishment to those responsible for the attack. Moeen U Ahmed's visit: an eye wash. Army chief Moeen U Ahmed visited Sajek yesterday and blamed "a section of the population there" who is "always involved in terrorist activities in an effort to sabotage the area's development". Asked to comment on his visit, Mithun Chakma, General Secretary of the Democratic Youth Forum, said, "the visit of Moeen U Ahmed is nothing but an eyewash, a damage control exercise." He said the objective of his visit was quite clear and it was to save the culprits like Lt. Col. Sajid Md. Imtiaz and businessman Golam Mowla, the masterminds behind the brutal attack. "It is a big question as to why the government had decided to send Gen. Moeen instead of Barrister Debashish Roy, who is in charge of Chittagong Hill Tracts Ministry." he said. From mail at shivamvij.com Thu May 1 12:59:17 2008 From: mail at shivamvij.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Shivam_Vij?= =?UTF-8?Q?_=E0=A4=B6=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=AE?= =?UTF-8?Q?=E0=A5=8D_=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=9C=E0=A5=8D?=) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 12:59:17 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fw: memories of a naxalite friend In-Reply-To: References: <73300.52438.qm@web25406.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <556b1d6b0804281111s4a99e52ete1ba8660e82ba9c1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <9c06aab30805010029n625666fbna761de3ce06b6d0d@mail.gmail.com> On 4/29/08, pankhuree dube wrote: > I have noticed that "Naxalite" and "Maoist" seem to be the catch-all phrases for > the media to describe any kind of rural resistance movement of Adivasis. That is not true. shivam From aadityadar at gmail.com Thu May 1 14:01:00 2008 From: aadityadar at gmail.com (Aaditya Dar) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 14:01:00 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 3 Day Theatre Festival: May 11- 13, Shri Ram Centre, 6:30pm Message-ID: Pl. circulate the following widely: The Three Arts Club is being revived. Three Arts was a theatre group founded in the pre-independent India and one of the first to introduce theatre in its present form. It performed at the PM House and it's plays were graced by luminaries such as Pandit J. L. Nehru, Shri Charan Singh, Dr. Zakhir Hussain, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, amongst others. The first event is a three day Drama Festival on May 11, 12 and 13, 2008 at Shri Ram Centre, Safdar Hashmi Marg, New Delhi [walking distance from Mandi House metro station] from 6:30pm onwards as per the schedule given below: May 11: Paisa Bolta Hai: Manchkriti, Lucknow; Director: Mr. D.C.Pandey / Mr. Gopal Sinha May 12: Under Secretary: Akansha Theatre Arts, Lucknow; Director: Mr. Puneet Asthana May 13: Bade Admi: Three Arts Club, Delhi; Director: Dr. Sadhna Bhatnagar Entry is free, but by invitation only. For invites, write to us with your address at: threeartsclub at gmail.com and we will post the same. Alternatively, for further information/ clarifications, you may call either: Aaditya Dar- 9968059805 or Manasi Pareek- 9891456104. Spread the word and hope to see you there, Aaditya Dar Three Arts Club threeartsclub at gmail.com For more: http://threeartsclub.blogspot.com From mail at shivamvij.com Thu May 1 14:26:40 2008 From: mail at shivamvij.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Shivam_Vij?= =?UTF-8?Q?_=E0=A4=B6=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=AE?= =?UTF-8?Q?=E0=A5=8D_=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=9C=E0=A5=8D?=) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 14:26:40 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Mountain of Cases in Valley of Misery In-Reply-To: <13df7c120804292252m104eb98btf027cdd838ce3ad4@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120804292252m104eb98btf027cdd838ce3ad4@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <9c06aab30805010156l3f20832em2b3494a2cfaf830f@mail.gmail.com> The same article also mentions that cases where Kashmiri Muslims are victims and often the army the perpetrator are similarly stuck. Wonder why you chose not to highlight that. The government is indeed complicit in crimes, as you say, and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is a tool. On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM, rashneek kher wrote: > A Hindustan Times Special delves into how the government is complict in > crimes.It lays bare how Yasin Malik with 23 criminal cases(many of them high > profile)still manages to get passport.How he escapes trial because of > government inaction.Read it all here..... > > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/2008/04/hindustan-times-special-with-special.html > > Best Regards > -- > Rashneek Kher > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From mail at shivamvij.com Thu May 1 14:37:14 2008 From: mail at shivamvij.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Shivam_Vij?= =?UTF-8?Q?_=E0=A4=B6=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=AE?= =?UTF-8?Q?=E0=A5=8D_=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=9C=E0=A5=8D?=) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 14:37:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] For the Lower Castes Bollywood No Longer A Dream Too Far Message-ID: <9c06aab30805010207g3f2e2010l1ac6214eb5ab426a@mail.gmail.com> http://www.talkbwc.com/?p=35 For the Lower Castes Bollywood No Longer A Dream Too Far April 27, 2008 By Emily Wax Washington Post Foreign Service Sunday, April 27, 2008; Page A01 MUMBAI — With a résumé listing his acting gigs in rural folk theater and a handful of slightly out-of-focus head shots, Birendra Paswan arrived in this crowded city from his rural village in Bihar, one of India's poorest states, and asked, "Where's Bollywood?" Paswan, 33, is a Dalit, a member of India's most ostracized caste. Dalits are often cobblers, street sweepers and toilet cleaners, but they are rarely actors in the world's largest film industry. Still, as he stood that day beneath towering billboards showing Hindi film stars hawking expensive watches and cars, Paswan decided Bollywood was for him. "Part of me felt: 'How can I stand in this glamorous world? I don't have the right manners or surname,' " said Paswan, a talkative man with large almond-shaped eyes. "But I wanted to make it so badly in the Hindi movies." It is not easy for Indians to shake loose the cages of caste, a 3,000-year-old pecking order in which professions and social status are inherited like eye color or height. But Bollywood, like Mumbai itself, is a place where young Indians are increasingly finding opportunities to reinvent themselves. Today, a trickle of actors, dancers and screenwriters from India's lower and middle castes are trying to break into a formerly impenetrable star system, full of actors from Bollywood royalty and other insiders hailing from high-caste families. New drama schools are training Indians from all castes. And Bollywood is starting to tackle more serious plots that could potentially star low-caste actors. "Will you get more attention if you have the right surname and are part of an entrenched star family? Of course," said Anupama Chopra, a film critic and author of several best-selling books on Bollywood. "But there is increasing space now for a booming Bollywood film industry, and there's a feeling that if you are talented enough, well, maybe you will get noticed, no matter what your family ties are." Across India, Dalits and members of other low castes are struggling to gain access to quality education and better-paying jobs. The economy is booming, and Indians of low caste — often identifiable by their surnames, birthplaces or parents' status — want to share in the wealth, or at least the opportunity. Some aspiring actors from low castes say their confidence is growing. There is more social mobility than ever before, they say, and Bollywood is experiencing its share of change. "It's something new in the air for young people in some parts of India," said Trisha Karmakar, 24, a member of a lower caste who moved to Mumbai from the poor, densely populated state of Uttar Pradesh. "It's a feeling that at least there's a small chance for lower castes and not just for the star kids who have their godfathers and always get the callbacks." Karmakar, speaking one recent day in a neighborhood of acting and dance schools, beauty parlors and pawnshops, said she has yet to land a role. But she said she is close to breaking into TV soap operas. "Even if the chance is tiny, we are here, and we are dreaming big Bollywood dreams," she said. "We are no longer just desperate beggars, ragpickers and rickshaw pullers. Now we are desperate to be dancers, singers and melodramatic lead actresses." Aspirations and Challenges Going to the air-conditioned cinema is a popular national pastime without parallel in this country, especially for low-caste laborers who work under India's unforgiving sun — in construction, in farming, as cow herders and as fruit vendors. For Indians, most of whom subsist on less than $2 a day, the masala mixes of drama and dance are the ultimate escape. So beloved are Hindi film stars that there are Hindu temples named after matinee idols. Political rallies always include a Bollywood starlet. Some political leaders are former actors. And in small-town theaters, audiences are so personally involved in the melodramas — often four hours long — that they whistle, clap, imitate dance moves and sing along with the songs. "India is really a special place for film. It's second only to religion in the way it occupies people's minds and dreams," said Barry John, a longtime drama teacher who recently opened an acting school in Mumbai. "It's going to be very hard for people from poorer backgrounds to break in, almost impossible. But the point is that there is now hope." Because film is such an important part of Indian life, it has the power to change ideas and, often, provide a space for the nation to digest those changes, Dalit activists say. "Dalits don't find a place in the film industry, except as viewers," said M. Swathy Margaret, a Dalit from Hyderabad who is working toward her PhD in Indian film studies. "In films, lower castes are not the protagonists. They're only on screen to witness the ups and downs in the lives of the upper castes." Stereotypes of lower castes still haunt the industry, especially in the portrayal of Dalits, formerly known as untouchables. Lower castes are loyal and long-suffering servants. They are unsavory rickshaw pullers. They are forbidden lovers, deserving only of pity, if they are mentioned at all. In Bollywood's Film City, a huge compound of warehouses full of movie sets, some directors insist that caste doesn't matter. They say it's simply a vestige of ancient India and that actors are never asked about it. One of Bollywood's most beloved stars, Shahrukh Khan, is a middle-class Muslim with no film industry connections. He is often cited as an example of how charisma and sex appeal can trump connections and religious background in a country where Muslims are a minority. But others say that pretending caste is no longer a factor fails to acknowledge the social filters that prevent many members of lower castes from even coming to the door of a film studio or an expensive acting school. "There's a feeling among the urban upper castes that the majority of India — meaning the rural, lower-caste India — is no longer important and can be totally ignored," said Shyam Benegal, the father of Indian art-house cinema, known for his award-winning caste-based films. "To me, it's an exaggerated sense of self-esteem to claim that there is no poverty in India. It's a serious denial problem when these plots aren't making it into films. Cinema is so powerful and is very important in teaching empathy." After Mohandas K. Gandhi's efforts to end caste discrimination in the 1930s and later during the 1970s, there was a trend toward serious caste-based films. But those movies became an old chapter in Indian cinema as soon as the country opened its markets to the world in the 1990s. Consumerism exploded, and plots about nonresident Indians living abroad became the vogue. "It's the American dream turned into the Indian dream that's really seen in our aspirational cinema," Benegal said. "People in huts want to see films about people living in mansions. The stories end up in never-never land, with some rich Indian family living in Scotland or who knows where. But if anything, that just cements caste. It's not forwarding social change." A Tinge of Optimism At Barry John's acting school, lower- and middle-caste students are among those aspiring to become Bollywood's next stars. Already, they have had to make sacrifices. Before coming to Mumbai, many said, they changed their names, because surnames in India are like business cards for caste. Others have used skin-lightening creams, because fair skin can denote high caste in parts of India. During breaks from class, when high-caste students head to Cafe Coffee Day, the Indian version of Starbucks, the low-caste students go to the cheaper chai stand, they said. They save money by taking the bus, while their classmates arrive in auto-rickshaws or taxis. Despite the challenges, there is a tinge of optimism among the lower castes. On a recent day, a group of them gathered in a bright rehearsal studio. They were a mix of castes and classes from across South Asia, including the tropics of Goa, the deserts of Rajasthan and the streets of Hyderabad. There was also one student from Pakistan. The Goan student said he was so inspired by the diversity and so put off by the constraints of caste that he had changed his name to incorporate the region's three faiths. He now calls himself Vishal John Khan. "For the first time in Indian history, our generation has a lot more hope to break down things like caste," he said, sitting beneath Indian movie posters. "We have to keep trying. And if anything can unite India, it will be our cinema." It wasn't so easy for Paswan, the Dalit from Bihar state. After arriving in Mumbai, he spent months being turned away from offices in Bollywood. "I would wait and wait and wait, for days even," he said. "But not a soul would take my ideas or hear my talents." Determined to press on, he started working as a writer and actor in Bhojpuri films, a regional movie industry run out of Mumbai, but popular in his home state. In recent years, Bhojpuri films have become so popular that even Bollywood actors have started to appear in the profitable, big-budget Bihar industry. Paswan recently got a telephone call. "The Hindi movie director wanted me to come work and write for Bollywood," he said recently, his voice cracking with emotion. "I was very proud." He has started writing scripts and dialogue for several Bollywood movies, including an upcoming comedy. Last month, he decided to start the first-ever support group for young Dalit actors arriving in Mumbai. The group will also track their careers and serve as a networking association. "I want the future to be better than the past for the Dalits," Paswan said. Helping other Dalits break into Bollywood would be like "realizing a lifelong dream." he said. "They just need to meet the right directors. I feel that if Bollywood and Indian cinema recognizes us, then India itself will grow to respect us, too." From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Thu May 1 14:39:26 2008 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 14:39:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Mountain of Cases in Valley of Misery In-Reply-To: <9c06aab30805010156l3f20832em2b3494a2cfaf830f@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120804292252m104eb98btf027cdd838ce3ad4@mail.gmail.com> <9c06aab30805010156l3f20832em2b3494a2cfaf830f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6353c690805010209g2a5d2300idb0deac871b63084@mail.gmail.com> And, I wonder why you always remain silent on Terrorist Yasin Malik ? Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits both are victims of this mass-murderer. On 5/1/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > The same article also mentions that cases where Kashmiri Muslims are > victims and often the army the perpetrator are similarly stuck. Wonder > why you chose not to highlight that. The government is indeed > complicit in crimes, as you say, and the Armed Forces Special Powers > Act is a tool. > > On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM, rashneek kher > wrote: > > A Hindustan Times Special delves into how the government is complict in > > crimes.It lays bare how Yasin Malik with 23 criminal cases(many of them > high > > profile)still manages to get passport.How he escapes trial because of > > government inaction.Read it all here..... > > > > > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/2008/04/hindustan-times-special-with-special.html > > > > Best Regards > > -- > > Rashneek Kher > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From mail at shivamvij.com Thu May 1 14:41:35 2008 From: mail at shivamvij.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Shivam_Vij?= =?UTF-8?Q?_=E0=A4=B6=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=AE?= =?UTF-8?Q?=E0=A5=8D_=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=9C=E0=A5=8D?=) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 14:41:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Mountain of Cases in Valley of Misery In-Reply-To: <6353c690805010209g2a5d2300idb0deac871b63084@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120804292252m104eb98btf027cdd838ce3ad4@mail.gmail.com> <9c06aab30805010156l3f20832em2b3494a2cfaf830f@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805010209g2a5d2300idb0deac871b63084@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <9c06aab30805010211n5e9e73b9kb83676af84890630@mail.gmail.com> I am not silent or vocal on anyone On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 2:39 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: > And, I wonder why you always remain silent on Terrorist Yasin Malik ? > Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits both are victims of this > mass-murderer. > > > > On 5/1/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > > > The same article also mentions that cases where Kashmiri Muslims are > > victims and often the army the perpetrator are similarly stuck. Wonder > > why you chose not to highlight that. The government is indeed > > complicit in crimes, as you say, and the Armed Forces Special Powers > > Act is a tool. > > > > On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM, rashneek kher > > wrote: > > > A Hindustan Times Special delves into how the government is complict in > > > crimes.It lays bare how Yasin Malik with 23 criminal cases(many of them > > high > > > profile)still manages to get passport.How he escapes trial because of > > > government inaction.Read it all here..... > > > > > > > > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/2008/04/hindustan-times-special-with-special.html > > > > > > Best Regards > > > -- > > > Rashneek Kher > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From nitbhag at gmail.com Thu May 1 14:51:31 2008 From: nitbhag at gmail.com (Nitesh Bhatnagar) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 14:51:31 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Pandits want 1,600 crores in Delhi even after rehabilitation; what's left in the Valley? Message-ID: Government can't force Pandits to return: KSD ROCKEY PANDITA, 28 April 2008, Monday http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=133162 In an emergency meeting of the Kashmir Samiti Delhi, the samiti has announced that it's quite apprehensive of the scheme of the Prime Minister to spend Rs 1,600 crores for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. AN EMERGENCY meeting was held by the Kashmir Samiti Delhi (KSD), the nodal agency of Kashmiri Pandits on April 26 at Delhi, which was attended by almost all the executives members under the president ship of Dr LN Dhar. "In the meeting, Kashmiri Samiti Delhi has accorded a conditional welcome to the announcement made by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh that Rs 1,600 crores would be spent for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the valley, but the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi expressed apprehension that the scheme, in its present form, will not bring in the desired results," stated in a press release. The press release further stated that the executive council has said that the economic package has been a long-standing demand of the Kashmir Samiti as lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits have suffered because of the exodus from the Valley, but it is unfortunate that the package announced is based on the condition of the return of the Pandits to the valley. Dhar said that "the stand of the samiti, in this regard, has been clear throughout and that the return can be possible only when the Kashmir issue is permanently resolved. Till then the community members need to be rehabilitated at their present places of stay and the benefit of the package announced by the Prime Minister be given to the displaced persons, irrespective of their places of living." He further added that the government has no authority to force the community to go back to the valley, in the present circumstances, and it cannot stop the benefits on this ground. "We don't feel the situation is such that the KPs can return to the valley and can live a free life there. It is ironic, in such circumstances, to ask the Kashmiri Pandits to return by providing them the present package," said one of the executive of the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi. From shuddha at sarai.net Thu May 1 15:05:32 2008 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 15:05:32 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day Message-ID: <334D73C0-BD9D-4DAA-A6A7-E96E6D9DC79D@sarai.net> Dear All, Greetings ! It's the first of May. The day for working people all over the world to celebrate. I just saw a brass band pass by my window, and red is still a lovely colour to have on a flag. Here's hoping this year's May Day brings less hours of work, more liberty and dignity in our lives, more time to think, relax, argue, spend time with friends and people we love, enjoying every moment that we can wrest from Capital. Later this afternoon I will go and listen to church bells ring out the Internationale - a song I love whistling when the chips are down, or on their way up again. And then I will raise a tall glass of beer with comrades, friends and family in salutations to May Day. I hope you can all do the same. (raising a tall glass of whatever you enjoy drinking), wherever you are. We have only a world to win. Cheers, Shuddha Shuddhabrata Sengupta The Sarai Programme at CSDS Raqs Media Collective shuddha at sarai.net www.sarai.net www.raqsmediacollective.net From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Thu May 1 16:36:56 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 16:06:56 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <334D73C0-BD9D-4DAA-A6A7-E96E6D9DC79D@sarai.net> References: <334D73C0-BD9D-4DAA-A6A7-E96E6D9DC79D@sarai.net> Message-ID: Hi, here is good wishes for the celebrations of work, dignity and honest earnings.Though my belief in working class unity has evaporated in the divided society, as humans to raise voice for freedom is intact. True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many made for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but with the modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what blurred. Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008 3:05 pm Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: Sarai Reader List > Dear All, > > Greetings ! > It's the first of May. The day for working people all over the > world > to celebrate. I just saw a brass band pass by my window, and red > is > still a lovely colour to have on a flag. > Here's hoping this year's May Day brings less hours of work, more > liberty and dignity in our lives, more time to think, relax, > argue, > spend time with friends and people we love, enjoying every moment > that we can wrest from Capital. > Later this afternoon I will go and listen to church bells ring out > > the Internationale - a song I love whistling when the chips are > down, or on their way up again. > And then I will raise a tall glass of beer with comrades, friends > and > family in salutations to May Day. > > I hope you can all do the same. (raising a tall glass of whatever > you > enjoy drinking), wherever you are. We have only a world to win. > > Cheers, > > Shuddha > > > > > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta > The Sarai Programme at CSDS > Raqs Media Collective > shuddha at sarai.net > www.sarai.net > www.raqsmediacollective.net > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From rashneek at gmail.com Thu May 1 17:47:52 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 17:47:52 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Mountain of Cases in Valley of Misery In-Reply-To: <9c06aab30805010156l3f20832em2b3494a2cfaf830f@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120804292252m104eb98btf027cdd838ce3ad4@mail.gmail.com> <9c06aab30805010156l3f20832em2b3494a2cfaf830f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805010517oac6b7afp68c74e7044591ec9@mail.gmail.com> Dear Shivam, When I wrote that "government is complicit in crimes" does that not cover the entire state apparatus including the Army. Since you wanted to say something,I thank you for making a point even if it had been made before. Look before you leap and think before you speak is an old saying relevant to all of us. Regards Rashneek On 5/1/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > The same article also mentions that cases where Kashmiri Muslims are > victims and often the army the perpetrator are similarly stuck. Wonder > why you chose not to highlight that. The government is indeed > complicit in crimes, as you say, and the Armed Forces Special Powers > Act is a tool. > > On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM, rashneek kher > wrote: > > A Hindustan Times Special delves into how the government is complict in > > crimes.It lays bare how Yasin Malik with 23 criminal cases(many of them > high > > profile)still manages to get passport.How he escapes trial because of > > government inaction.Read it all here..... > > > > > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/2008/04/hindustan-times-special-with-special.html > > > > Best Regards > > -- > > Rashneek Kher > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From tapasrayx at gmail.com Thu May 1 18:08:12 2008 From: tapasrayx at gmail.com (Tapas Ray) Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 08:38:12 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: References: <334D73C0-BD9D-4DAA-A6A7-E96E6D9DC79D@sarai.net> Message-ID: <4819B9B4.2010107@gmail.com> Is it not time to extricate ourselves from the divisiveness of flags - red, green, saffron, and everything else - and appropriate not only Marx but also others who dreamed of liberation, in creative ways? Tapas radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > Hi, here is good wishes for the celebrations of work, dignity and honest earnings.Though my belief in working class unity has evaporated in the divided society, as humans to raise voice for freedom is intact. > True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many made for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but with the modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what blurred. > Regards. > > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta >> Dear All, >> >> Greetings ! >> It's the first of May. The day for working people all over From amitabh at sarai.net Thu May 1 18:22:11 2008 From: amitabh at sarai.net (Amitabh Kumar) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 18:22:11 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Volunteers for Ben Patterson performance Message-ID: <5DC07C78-5F4D-4388-8432-1104A6C26D0F@sarai.net> Volunteers for Performance Goethe- Max Mueller Bhavan is looking for 12 Volunteers who will participate in a performance by Ben Patterson on May 16, 2008 Rehearsals on May 14, 2008 from 3 pm to 5 pm Specialised knowledge of music or musical instruments is not required. Please Contact: Sarah Aini 011- 23329506, Extn: 292/ 112 Email: aini at delhi.goethe.org On the occasion of the Fluxus exhibition coming to the National Gallery of Modern Art, the renowned Fluxus artist Ben Patterson will perform some Fluxus masterpieces with 12 volunteers from Delhi. The pieces include amongst others ‘’Piano piece, 1962’’ (George Brecht), ‘’4’33’’ (John Cage), ‘’Sculpture musicale’’ (Marcel Duchamp), ‘’One for Violin’’ (Nam June Paik), ‘’Wall Music for Orchestra’’ (Yoko Ono), ‘’In Memorian to Adriano Olivetti’’ (George Maciunas) and ‘’Paper Piece’’ & ‘’Carmen’’ (Ben Patterson). Ben Patterson is a Fluxus artist from the early days: back in 1962 he organized the first Fluxus Festival in Wiesbaden with George Maciunas and many more Fluxus Events until the seventies. In 1982 he participated in the 20th Fluxus Festival in Wiesbaden, 1983 he participated in the Sao Paolo Biennale. His compositions “Paper Piece” and “Variatons for Double bass” still belong to the classic Fluxus pieces. Ben Patterson lives and works in Wiesbaden and is pursuing the idea of Fluxus from there. Fluxus means a long story with many knots. The roots of the fluxus movement lie in the experimental directions of art in the early 20th century. In order to tell, describe or present this story, the ifa exhibition, which will take place in the NGMA from May 15 to June 4, documents original works by fluxus artists as well as the most important photographic, film and tape documents, and complementary objects such as books, catalogues, magazines, posters, invitation cards, folded sheets, and music scores. From amitabh at sarai.net Thu May 1 18:42:37 2008 From: amitabh at sarai.net (Amitabh Kumar) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 18:42:37 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Facebook .. anyone ?? Message-ID: Identity 'at risk' on Facebook http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/7375772.stm From ghosh.ranu at gmail.com Thu May 1 18:49:58 2008 From: ghosh.ranu at gmail.com (ranu ghosh) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 18:49:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Condemn the suspension of Panorama Screening at Nandan, West Bengal In-Reply-To: <520610.89144.qm@web8702.mail.in.yahoo.com> References: <520610.89144.qm@web8702.mail.in.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <80ea5720805010619q7e05988dj5d0cbcaa4dc15a0a@mail.gmail.com> pl spread this news ranu ghosh ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nilanjan Bhattacharya Date: Thu, May 1, 2008 at 6:40 PM Subject: Condemn the suspension of Panorama Screening at Nandan, West Bengal To: Ranu Ghosh , Ranu Ghosh , Raju Raman , Subramanian Raman , dasguptardg at gmail.com, chakanjan at hotmail.com, Sarabajit Sen , olik_das at yahoo.co.in, souravsarangi at gmail.com Subject: Press statement condemning the unprecedented cancellation of Indian Panorama screenings in Nandan. Press Conference on 2nd May, 2008 at 5pm at the Press Club, Kolkata by Media Solidarity, an open platform of cineaste and filmmaking community Supported by Shilpi, Sanskritikkarmi, buddhijibi Mancha Dear Friends, 29.04.2008 The CPI (M) led West Bengal Government has now taken it upon itself to play the role of the Film Censor Board of India. Its autocratic act of stopping Indian Panorama screenings (programmed by The Directorate of Film Festivals) at Nandan in response to the screening of Ladly Mukhopadhaya's film, "Who's Land Is It Anyway" (the film is a critique of the role of government as well as the CPI(M) in the Singur- Tata Motors issue) is a reminder of the undemocratic environment that prevails in the state. This issue has been reported by Ms. Anjali Puri in The Outlook (22-28th April) … "A West Bengal government famously intolerant of 'discordant' voices—from protesters in Nandigram to Taslima Nasreen and Tibetan freedom fighters—has subjected a central government department to an extraordinary tantrum over the inclusion of a documentary film on the Singur agitation in a festival of Indian Panorama films. "It was only after the screening on March 26 that hell broke loose. Nandan took the extraordinary step of "suspending" the rest of the festival. And its CEO Nilanjan Chatterjee followed up that very afternoon with an officious fax demanding explanations from a startled DFF. In his fax, Nilanjan took the DFF to task for "the content of a film (that) directly violates the ethical principles of centre-state relationship". "I am directed to state that it is highly objectionable to include such a controversial film in the Indian Panorama package,"….. And then came the clincher: "I am further directed to inform you that all the screenings earmarked on 27 March, 2008, will remain suspended till a satisfactory reply is received from your office." Stopping a screening or arbitrarily withdrawing a film from Nandan is nothing new. In the recent past Nandan authorities have stopped the screening of Josy Josef's film on the hangman Nata Mullick (A Day In The Life Of a Hangman) and Suman Mukhopadhyay's Herbert, without any prior notice or showing any valid reason. The State Govt has not just restricted itself in stopping 'discordant' films from being screened in Nandan. Theatre groups and theatre workers, whosoever has criticized and condemned the government's and the ruling party's recent atrocities in Singur and Nandigram are facing the outrage too, encountering direct as well as indirect hindrances in staging their plays in different parts of the state. Since one year, Media Solidarity, an open platform of cineastes and the filmmaking community, has been actively involved in criticizing and condemning the draconian measures of the Govt. of West Bengal. In the past one year we have organized several film screenings and discussions under the theme, "Development and Discontent". We have also organized protest rallies and debates. We boycotted The Kolkata Film Festival 2007 and ran parallel film screenings in protest. We feel that the Nandan authority's decision to cancel the Panorama screenings is a direct attack on our freedom of expression, and a blatant transgression of basic democratic norms. It is thoroughly autocratic and dictatorial in nature. We strongly condemn this action and appeal to all of you to join us in protest. On Behalf of Media Solidarity, Sumita Samanta Supriyo Sen Sunetra Ghatak Ashim Chowdhury Pramod Gupta Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborty Nilanjan Bhattacharya Indranil Roy Chowdhury Nilotpal Majumdar Ranu Ghosh Rajesh Das Rajasri Mukhopadhyay Goutam Chakraborty Chitralekha Ghosh Sreyasi Indrajit Das Contact: Sumita Samanta: 9830651623 Nilanjan Bhattacharya: 98305 87715 Email: media.solidarity at gmail.com ________________________________ Messenger blocked? Want to chat? Here is the solution. From pawan.durani at gmail.com Thu May 1 19:32:33 2008 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 19:32:33 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Mountain of Cases in Valley of Misery In-Reply-To: <9c06aab30805010211n5e9e73b9kb83676af84890630@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120804292252m104eb98btf027cdd838ce3ad4@mail.gmail.com> <9c06aab30805010156l3f20832em2b3494a2cfaf830f@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805010209g2a5d2300idb0deac871b63084@mail.gmail.com> <9c06aab30805010211n5e9e73b9kb83676af84890630@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6b79f1a70805010702o757ed99bxb62944127f5ac4f9@mail.gmail.com> Hi Shivam , You really are a fashionable guy . Speaking for terrorists is a fashion these days . Thogh i have probably missed all you mails or articles where you have spoken for the Kashmiri Hindus. And it jitters you when someone else speaks for Justice and brings the crime of Yasin Maliks to light. Like you I may also end up with saying " I am not silent or vocal on anyonw" ......even if that hardly makes a sense. Regards Pawan Durani On 5/1/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > I am not silent or vocal on anyone > > On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 2:39 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > wrote: > > And, I wonder why you always remain silent on Terrorist Yasin Malik ? > > Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits both are victims of this > > mass-murderer. > > > > > > > > On 5/1/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > > > > > The same article also mentions that cases where Kashmiri Muslims are > > > victims and often the army the perpetrator are similarly stuck. > Wonder > > > why you chose not to highlight that. The government is indeed > > > complicit in crimes, as you say, and the Armed Forces Special Powers > > > Act is a tool. > > > > > > On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM, rashneek kher > > > wrote: > > > > A Hindustan Times Special delves into how the government is > complict in > > > > crimes.It lays bare how Yasin Malik with 23 criminal cases(many of > them > > > high > > > > profile)still manages to get passport.How he escapes trial because > of > > > > government inaction.Read it all here..... > > > > > > > > > > > > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/2008/04/hindustan-times-special-with-special.html > > > > > > > > Best Regards > > > > -- > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Fri May 2 00:58:53 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 01:28:53 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Amitav Bacchan to Play Bangladesh Founder Message-ID: "To project a person of the magnitude of Bangabandhu (Sheikh Mujib), I could not imagine no one other than him (Amtav Bacchan)" Beyond ridiculous..... Indian megastar Bachchan to play Bangladesh founder Thu May 1, 2008 12:58pm IST http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-33341020080501 DHAKA (Reuters) - Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his celebrity family members have all tentatively agreed to take part in a film based on the life of Bangladesh's founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, local media said on Thursday. Amitabh will take the role of Mujib in the film, named "The Poet of Politics," while his son Abhishek Bachchan will act in the role of a young Mujib, Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, the producer of the film, told ANA, a U.S.-based Bangladeshi news agency. The ANA report, published in several Dhaka dailies on Thursday, said Chowdhury, an expatriate Bangladeshi journalist and newspaper columnist, also told the news agency that Amitabh's daughter-in-law and former Miss Universe, Aishwarya Rai, and renowned actress Shabana Azmi will also act in two key roles. Shyam Benegal, the only director to won India's National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi five times, will direct the movie. "After getting the consent of Amitabh, I am now a relieved man. To project a person of the magnitude of Bangabandhu (Sheikh Mujib), I could not imagine no one other than him," Chowdhury was quoted as saying in New York. "Now not only Amitabh, his other family members have also agreed to take up the challenge," added Chowdhury. It was not clear when Chowdhury will start shooting the film, which will be made in English and dubbed into Bengali, Hindi and other languages. Mujib led Bangalis to an independence struggle in 1971, which resulted in the independence of former East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Mujib was killed, along with most of his family, in a 1975 coup. (c) Thomson Reuters 2008. From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Fri May 2 07:49:51 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 08:19:51 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Separated @ Birth Message-ID: Mujib: Dead http://www.kalamtek.com/images/logo4.jpg Big B: Alive http://blogs.cyberciti.biz/hm/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/amitabh-bachchan-photo.jpg Satire: Alive & Well http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-33341020080501 From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Fri May 2 10:57:01 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 22:27:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Mountain of Cases in Valley of Misery In-Reply-To: <6b79f1a70805010702o757ed99bxb62944127f5ac4f9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <743686.64337.qm@web45512.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> There is huge noise coming about Yasin Malik and his actions, then why media,government and in particular TOI is ignorant about that? Every body should respond on this. Its a pity to the humanity. Pawan Durani wrote: Hi Shivam , You really are a fashionable guy . Speaking for terrorists is a fashion these days . Thogh i have probably missed all you mails or articles where you have spoken for the Kashmiri Hindus. And it jitters you when someone else speaks for Justice and brings the crime of Yasin Maliks to light. Like you I may also end up with saying " I am not silent or vocal on anyonw" .......even if that hardly makes a sense. Regards Pawan Durani On 5/1/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > I am not silent or vocal on anyone > > On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 2:39 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > wrote: > > And, I wonder why you always remain silent on Terrorist Yasin Malik ? > > Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits both are victims of this > > mass-murderer. > > > > > > > > On 5/1/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > > > > > The same article also mentions that cases where Kashmiri Muslims are > > > victims and often the army the perpetrator are similarly stuck. > Wonder > > > why you chose not to highlight that. The government is indeed > > > complicit in crimes, as you say, and the Armed Forces Special Powers > > > Act is a tool. > > > > > > On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM, rashneek kher > > > wrote: > > > > A Hindustan Times Special delves into how the government is > complict in > > > > crimes.It lays bare how Yasin Malik with 23 criminal cases(many of > them > > > high > > > > profile)still manages to get passport.How he escapes trial because > of > > > > government inaction.Read it all here..... > > > > > > > > > > > > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/2008/04/hindustan-times-special-with-special.html > > > > > > > > Best Regards > > > > -- > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Fri May 2 11:11:53 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 22:41:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/rep_ser.pdf In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <45496.7697.qm@web45505.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Dear All, Though there are many experienced big heads are participated in preparing this .pdf, I think the Planning commission is still looking for advices and suggestions. I request every body to please go through the PDF and respond to this mail with their suggestions. Help them to provide a better planning and service. Though this link and address exist in Aditya mail, I put forth for your convenience. The link is http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/rep_ser.pdf the address that you should respond is Shri Paul Joseph, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, Yojana Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110 001. e-mail: p.joseph at nic.in Regards, Dhatri. Aaditya Dar wrote: Powered by * Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified. The Planning Commission had constituted a High Level Group on Services Sector. We request the Public to send us comments/views on the recommendations contained in the Report with a view to enable the Government to take further necessary action in the matter. The comments/views may please be sent preferably through e-mail to the following address: Shri Paul Joseph, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, Yojana Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110 001. e-mail: p.joseph at nic.in Click the following to access the sent link: rep_ser.pdf (application/pdf Object) * [image: SAVE THIS link] [image: FORWARD THIS link] Get your EMAIL THIS Browser Button and use it to email content from any Web site. Click herefor more information. *This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser. http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/rep_ser.pdf --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Development Studies 2007" group. To post to this group, send email to developmentstudies07 at googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to developmentstudies07-unsubscribe at googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/developmentstudies07?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- -- Aaditya : ) "We spend our whole lives in unconscious exercise of the art of expressing our thoughts with the help of words." - van Gogh _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From vishal.rawlley at gmail.com Fri May 2 11:45:30 2008 From: vishal.rawlley at gmail.com (Vishal Rawlley) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 11:45:30 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Screening of my film - Asian Vibes Bombay Message-ID: <31d5ea920805012315l4e020134r24e49944dfd10dcc@mail.gmail.com> Friends, Luck by chance, a film I made 4 years ago, is having its first "screening" in this country. This is part of Khoj's screenings. They got hold of a version of the film from some pirate archive. Then the programme coordinator at Khoj discovers that he recognises my name, he tracks me down and very kindly informs me (thank you Hemant!). So now I have the privilege to invite you all. Kindly see the details below. Zarooor Aanaa! see a short clip: http://bombay-arts.com/asian_vibes/asian_vibes.html Asian Vibes: Bombay (52 mins) A video documentary on electronic music in Bombay: from early Disco to the new DJ culture. Tracking the burst of electronica in contemporary Bombay from club DJs and remix gurus, to the fringe artists and cutting edge groups, the film also travels back and forth in time seeking out early pioneers and new freaks. This "action packed" documentary exposes the frenetic city's craze for racy grooves and screaming frequencies that cut across class divides and space segregations, spilling out on to the streets in a riot of joint celebration. Tuesday 06/05/2008 - 19:00 * KHOJ International Artists' Association* S-17, Khirkee Extension, New Delhi - 110017 Phone: +91-11-65655874, +91-11-65655873 E-mail: interact at khojworkshop.org http://khojworkshop.org/event/asian_vibes_bombay_summer_screening_3 see you there, Vishal From pkray11 at gmail.com Fri May 2 13:21:33 2008 From: pkray11 at gmail.com (prakash ray) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 13:21:33 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day Message-ID: <98f331e00805020051rfcac489o6885a27969cd6b02@mail.gmail.com> Dear Radikarajen, Please get your eyes checked... in good spirit... Prakash From asitredsalute at gmail.com Fri May 2 15:20:09 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 15:20:09 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <98f331e00805020051rfcac489o6885a27969cd6b02@mail.gmail.com> References: <98f331e00805020051rfcac489o6885a27969cd6b02@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: dear freinds and comrades when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful if not respectful the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of chicago waving their shirts which had became red dripping with blood after being shot by the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the rights we enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles it is for the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall world of consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and entertainmentparks, those jombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue advertising whizkids history is what hurts. I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant political theorist all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of centuries of unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries asit On 5/2/08, prakash ray wrote: > > Dear Radikarajen, > Please get your eyes checked... > > in good spirit... > > Prakash > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From shuddha at sarai.net Fri May 2 16:24:43 2008 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 16:24:43 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] On Silicosis in India References: <465f12d50805020343s1a60ab70k95001eccb3e178e4@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <2DCBD65D-146E-44B4-B841-A14CFA69C8A9@sarai.net> Dear all, In the wake of our May Day discussions, I thought it might be interesting for you all to read something that was forwarded to me this morning. It is about a disease called Silicosis. And it occurs as a result of work and labour. best Shuddha > Subject: National Human Rights Commission Issued directions to > Central and State Governments to submit their reports on Silicosis > > Dated: 1 May 2008 > > Respected Colleague > > National Human Rights Commission Issued directions to Central and > State Governments to submit their reports on Silicosis > > > In a significant development on this important day, the five bench > members of the National Human Rights Commission issued directions > to all the state governments and some central government > departments like Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Mining > Ministry to prepare and present full fledge reports on silicosis > victims. > > > The Hon'ble commission took this decision, while hearing to the > petition filed by Delhi based NGO PRASAR in NHRC on 13 June 2003, > seeking a comprehensive policy for the silicosis victims of the > country. Earlier the Hon'ble Commission also issued notice on 13 > August 2003, to some state governments and concerned central > government ministries and even recommended the states to issue > notices under Section 85 of the Factories Act, so that enterprises > employing less than 10 labors also come under the purview of the act. > > > The Hon'ble commission also fixed the time period of three weeks > for the state governments and concerned departments of central > governments those were present today to submit their reports. > Similarly directions were also being issued to the other state > governments those were not present today to submit their reports > within six weeks. > > > Representatives of Khedut Majdur Sang of Madhya Pradesh, PTRC of > Gujarat and OSHAJ of Jharkhand and few other NGOs from different > parts of the country, who are working for the plights of the > silicosis victims, were also present during the hearing. Most > importantly some silicosis victims and the family members of the > silicosis deceased families were also presented their grievances to > the commission. > > > "Silicosis, one of the oldest occupational diseases, is an > incurable lung disease caused by inhalation of dust containing free > crystalline silica. Silica is the second most common mineral in the > earth's crust and is a major component of sand, rock, and mineral > ores. Overexposure to dust that contains microscopic particles of > crystalline silica can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs, > which reduces the lungs' ability to extract oxygen from the air we > breathe. It is a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung > disease. It progresses even when exposure stops. In addition to > Silicosis, inhalation of crystalline silica particles has been > associated with other diseases, such as Bronchitis and Tuberculosis". > > > Lakhs of workers in India, majority of who are in unorganized > sector, encounter high-risk silica exposures. Some examples of the > industries and activities that pose the greatest potential risk for > worker exposure include: construction, stone cutting, glass > manufacturing, mining, agriculture, shipbuilding, ceramics, clay, > and pottery, railroad, manufacturing of soaps and detergents etc. > However unfortunately silicosis was completely sidetracked and > hardly any steps were taken to cure the menace arise out from this > diseases. > > We have also raised the plights and concerns of the silicosis > victims in various forums. As a result of which even the Supreme > Court of India has also intervened in this issues and notice being > served to some state governments. Further Delhi Government has > initiated some important steps to rehabilitate the Silicosis > victims of Lal Kuan, Delhi area. Even a national workshop was > convened in Mumbai to develop strategies in this regard in December > 2007. > > > It is requested that those organizations – NGOs, CBOs, Trade Unions > and individuals working in the following sectors, viz. mining, > stone crushing, glass, gems & jewellery and others shall also come > forward for providing information, filing complaints regarding > occupational health (silicosis). The organizations can directly > send their complaints to NHRC or to PRASAR to follow up with the > commission and further facilitation in this matter. This is an > opportune time when the central and state governments have heard > the matter of occupational health (silicosis) in a positive way and > has given directions to concerned ministries and departments to > file their replies in a stipulated time frame. > > > You are requested to quickly respond and take action as the date of > next hearing is proposed to be held in the first week of June. > Kindly circulate this mail to other organizations /individuals in > your network so that a collective effort is taken ahead. > > > For sending your complaints/response to the NHRC, kindly send > letter to the Chairperson, NHRC. > > Address of NHRC > > NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION > Faridkot House,Copernicus Marg, > New Delhi-110001, India > > Or, > > PRASAR > > G – 12, 462A > > Sangam Vihar > > New Delhi – 110 062 > > > For Further Information please contact: > > > S.A. Azad (09811914329) > > E Mail: prasar21@ gmail.com > > -- > S A Azad > "PRASAR" > 09811914329 Shuddhabrata Sengupta The Sarai Programme at CSDS Raqs Media Collective shuddha at sarai.net www.sarai.net www.raqsmediacollective.net From shuddha at sarai.net Fri May 2 16:27:27 2008 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 16:27:27 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?=28no_subject=29?= Message-ID: Dear Radhikarajen, You said, - "True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many made for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but with the modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what blurred." I was a bit intrigued by this statement. The Chicago Haymarket Protestors, in whose memory we celebrate May Day, (as Asit reminded us) inspired the international working class movement of the late nineteenth century to observe, annually, on each May Day the celebration of a demand for an eight hour working day. This was done with a withdrawal of labour, with festivities, music, dancing and non- militaristic parades (the military parade that used to be held in front of the Kremlin, and the one that continues to be held in Beijing are both obscene perversions of the miltiant anti-militarist traditions of May Day). As a result of this, May Day is the only non secterian festival that can be celebrated by any working person, anywhere in the world. It signals an instant, but deep and enduring solidarity. From what I can see around me, people have to work much longer than eight hours these days, in order to get a decent wage. Real wages are falling, and all over the world, the hard won benefits of peace, health care, education, holidays, equal rights for women, freedom of speech & conscience and the liberty to live one's personal life as one chooses (especially, but not only, for gay and lesbian people) are under attack. All of these were won by working people, after miltiant battles, all over the world. Not a single one of these was a sop offered by ruling powers. If all the precious liberties we have today are under attack, then I do not see how the 'very values which inspired them' become 'somewhat blurred'. On the contrary, I think they get sharper and more acute. The world we are living in today is more riven by class conflict than any other time in history. We still have nothing to lose but our chains. And as I said yesterday, only a world to win. best Shuddha Shuddhabrata Sengupta The Sarai Programme at CSDS From mail at shivamvij.com Fri May 2 16:54:41 2008 From: mail at shivamvij.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Shivam_Vij?= =?UTF-8?Q?_=E0=A4=B6=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=AE?= =?UTF-8?Q?=E0=A5=8D_=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=9C=E0=A5=8D?=) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 16:54:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Naxalite be not proud Message-ID: <9c06aab30805020424s2abae94q749d072d49f2e257@mail.gmail.com> Dear all, In the context of recent discussions on Naxalism on this list, here is a long ground report by Prashant Jha that appeared in December last year in Himal South Asian magazine that you may find interesting: http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_india_naxatile.html That cover story had an introduction which provides the context the story should be read in: * Conflict of narratives http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/conflict_of_narratives.html A people's movement. India's greatest internal security challenge. Struggle for the rights of the poor, Adivasis, Dalits, landless. Compact Revolutionary Zone with influence in 180 districts. A socio-economic problem rooted in exploitation and idealism. A law-and-order threat. The revolution that will smash the Indian state. The Maoists are ants and can be crushed at anytime. Neat black-and-white portrayals have come to characterise one of the most complex stories of our times: the Maoist as the saviour, the state as the oppressor; the state as protector, the Maoist as villain. Numbers and scale of action are considered sole markers of Maoist spread and activity: 1608 incidents of Maoist violence and 677 people killed in 2005; 1509 incidents and 678 killed in 2006; 249 people killed till June 2007. But this narrative hides more than it tells. Such as the fact that, in reality, there is no one Maoist movement in India. Likewise, there is no unified state response. The Communist Party of India (Maoist), born in 2004 after the unity of the People's War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre, is at the forefront of the Maoist movement in India, also commonly referred to as the Naxalite movement. Spread across several states in varying degrees, with a common political and military outlook, the Maoist movement is clearly national in character, with the party organised into a command structure with the stated aim of taking over state power. Yet the Maoist movement nowadays looks significantly different from Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Ranchi in Jharkhand and Patna in Bihar. Go further, deeper in each state, and Warangal, Dantewada, Hazaribagh and Jehanabad – datelines that punctuate India's decades-long Maoist war – have more than their share of differences. Like any other political formation, the Maoists may adapt themselves to a specific set of dynamics, but the stark variations remain significant. Indeed, they pose difficult questions for those who portray the Maoist cause as a single movement, bent on destroying the Indian state, and advocate a homogenous approach to deal with the issue. Likewise, the Maoists themselves might not be able to substantiate the claim that they represent the unified upsurge of India's deprived and marginalised. From tapasrayx at gmail.com Fri May 2 17:23:05 2008 From: tapasrayx at gmail.com (Tapas Ray) Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 07:53:05 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: References: <98f331e00805020051rfcac489o6885a27969cd6b02@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <481B00A1.9000407@gmail.com> True, we should be grateful to struggles waged by the working people for many of the rights and liberties we enjoy today. However, "we" here on this list are members of the petit bourgeoisie, and probably enjoy certain securities and privileges not available to the "working people", not because these have been won through struggles - our own or the workers' and peasants' - but because those who run the show need our help, as a class, in running the show. So we probably should be grateful to them as well, however distasteful this may be. Also, I think it would not be good strategy to conflate "postmodern" with "neoliberal". Both are labels, and all labels should be read with care. Postmodern, in my understanding, is a catch-all for a broad spectrum of tendencies. Some of these tendencies are emancipatory in orientation, and can reinforce the typically modernist project of Marxism. This, in fact, seems to be happening on the ground. Since fragmentation is said to be a major characteristic of the postmodern condition, minority ethnic and lower-caste struggles that have challenged the modernistic Indian state in recent years can be seen as expressions of postmodern tendencies. One hears of occasions in which there has been cooperation or overlap between these, on the one hand, and Maoist/Naxalite movements, on the other. Tapas Shuddhabrata Sengupta wrote: > Dear Radhikarajen, > > snip < > > All of these were won by working people, after > miltiant battles, all over the world. Not a single one of these was > a sop offered by ruling powers. If all the precious liberties we have > today are under attack, then I do not see how the 'very values which > inspired them' become 'somewhat blurred'. > > On the contrary, I think they get sharper and more acute. The world > we are living in today is more riven by class conflict than any other > time in history. We still have nothing to lose but our chains. > > And as I said yesterday, only a world to win. > > best > > Shuddha > > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta > The Sarai Programme at CSDS > Asit asitreds wrote: > dear freinds and comrades > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful if not > respectful > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of chicago waving > their shirts which had became red dripping with blood after being shot by > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the rights we > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles it is for > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall world of > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and entertainmentparks, those > jombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue advertising whizkids > history is what hurts. > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant political > theorist > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of centuries of > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > asit > From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Fri May 2 18:37:58 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 18:07:58 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?=28no_subject=29?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, Shuddha, when I say the red color is truely inspiring I mean the entire humanity which struggled for the right to work, right to earn decent livelihood, education for the progeny all over the world across the continents, the red colour was not color but blood of the savage oppression then and now who rule by proxy, to be "our" representatives as we stand divided with colour of our skins, religions and castes and regions.The blurring of this idealogy is seen every where even in CPM ruled states like Tripura and west bengal, in China and now defunct Russia. As new class of comrades took over the working class relegated to be slaves with KGB and chinese secret police controlling the rights of the working class, in India politburo is the new class above the cadres and working class, and Tapas want my etes to be tested in good spirit, ofcourse he should be in "high spirits to suggest that. ! I have seen the working class unity in its true form till the different colours of the political spectrum started the divided the working class. One unity of working class got divided as INTUC, AITUC, CITU NOBW ets and thus lost all its steam.! Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 4:27 pm Subject: To: Sarai Reader List Cc: radhikarajen at vsnl.net > Dear Radhikarajen, > > You said, - "True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many > made > for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but with the > > modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what > blurred." > I was a bit intrigued by this statement. The Chicago Haymarket > Protestors, in whose memory we celebrate May Day, (as Asit > reminded > us) inspired the international working class movement of the late > nineteenth century to observe, annually, on each May Day the > celebration of a demand for an eight hour working day. This was > done > with a withdrawal of labour, with festivities, music, dancing and > non- > militaristic parades (the military parade that used to be held in > front of the Kremlin, and the one that continues to be held in > Beijing are both obscene perversions of the miltiant anti- > militarist > traditions of May Day). As a result of this, May Day is the only > non > secterian festival that can be celebrated by any working person, > anywhere in the world. It signals an instant, but deep and > enduring > solidarity. > > From what I can see around me, people have to work much longer > than > eight hours these days, in order to get a decent wage. Real wages > are > falling, and all over the world, the hard won benefits of peace, > health care, education, holidays, equal rights for women, freedom > of > speech & conscience and the liberty to live one's personal life as > > one chooses (especially, but not only, for gay and lesbian people) > > are under attack. All of these were won by working people, after > miltiant battles, all over the world. Not a single one of these > was > a sop offered by ruling powers. If all the precious liberties we > have > today are under attack, then I do not see how the 'very values > which > inspired them' become 'somewhat blurred'. > > On the contrary, I think they get sharper and more acute. The > world > we are living in today is more riven by class conflict than any > other > time in history. We still have nothing to lose but our chains. > > And as I said yesterday, only a world to win. > > best > > Shuddha > > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta > The Sarai Programme at CSDS > > > From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Fri May 2 18:41:54 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 18:11:54 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: References: <98f331e00805020051rfcac489o6885a27969cd6b02@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Prakash, at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. :- ) Best regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Asit asitreds Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: prakash ray Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > dear freinds and comrades > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful if not > respectful > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of chicago > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood after > being shot by > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > rights we > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles it > is for > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall world of > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and entertainmentparks, > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue advertising > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > politicaltheorist > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of centuries of > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > asit > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray wrote: > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > in good spirit... > > > > Prakash > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From tapasrayx at gmail.com Fri May 2 19:47:03 2008 From: tapasrayx at gmail.com (Tapas Ray) Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 10:17:03 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] (no subject) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <481B225F.6050808@gmail.com> Radhika, I didn't ask you to get your eyes tested! That was another list member, with whom I am honoured to share my last name. While on the subject, I think getting one's eyes checked once in a while is not such a bad thing. I do it, too. But you have to be careful. Think of those ads that urge you to get this or that tested, so that they can sell you some new drug or surgical procedure. If I were you, I would read between the lines of the advice you have received. Isn't there a suggestion for you to go to one particular clinic, which has the last word in ophthalmological expertise and equipment? Tapas radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > Hi, > > Shuddha, > when I say the red color is truely inspiring I mean the entire humanity which struggled for the right to work, right to earn decent livelihood, education for the progeny all over the world across the continents, the red colour was not color but blood of the savage oppression then and now who rule by proxy, to be "our" representatives as we stand divided with colour of our skins, religions and castes and regions.The blurring of this idealogy is seen every where even in CPM ruled states like Tripura and west bengal, in China and now defunct Russia. As new class of comrades took over the working class relegated to be slaves with KGB and chinese secret police controlling the rights of the working class, in India politburo is the new class above the cadres and working class, and Tapas want my etes to be tested in good spirit, ofcourse he should be in "high spirits to suggest that. ! > > I have seen the working class unity in its true form till the different colours of the political spectrum started the divided the working class. One unity of working class got divided as INTUC, AITUC, CITU NOBW ets and thus lost all its steam.! > > Regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 4:27 pm > Subject: > To: Sarai Reader List > Cc: radhikarajen at vsnl.net > >> Dear Radhikarajen, >> >> You said, - "True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many >> made >> for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but with the >> >> modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what >> blurred." >> I was a bit intrigued by this statement. The Chicago Haymarket >> Protestors, in whose memory we celebrate May Day, (as Asit >> reminded >> us) inspired the international working class movement of the late >> nineteenth century to observe, annually, on each May Day the >> celebration of a demand for an eight hour working day. This was >> done >> with a withdrawal of labour, with festivities, music, dancing and >> non- >> militaristic parades (the military parade that used to be held in >> front of the Kremlin, and the one that continues to be held in >> Beijing are both obscene perversions of the miltiant anti- >> militarist >> traditions of May Day). As a result of this, May Day is the only >> non >> secterian festival that can be celebrated by any working person, >> anywhere in the world. It signals an instant, but deep and >> enduring >> solidarity. >> >> From what I can see around me, people have to work much longer >> than >> eight hours these days, in order to get a decent wage. Real wages >> are >> falling, and all over the world, the hard won benefits of peace, >> health care, education, holidays, equal rights for women, freedom >> of >> speech & conscience and the liberty to live one's personal life as >> >> one chooses (especially, but not only, for gay and lesbian people) >> >> are under attack. All of these were won by working people, after >> miltiant battles, all over the world. Not a single one of these >> was >> a sop offered by ruling powers. If all the precious liberties we >> have >> today are under attack, then I do not see how the 'very values >> which >> inspired them' become 'somewhat blurred'. >> >> On the contrary, I think they get sharper and more acute. The >> world >> we are living in today is more riven by class conflict than any >> other >> time in history. We still have nothing to lose but our chains. >> >> And as I said yesterday, only a world to win. >> >> best >> >> Shuddha >> >> >> Shuddhabrata Sengupta >> The Sarai Programme at CSDS >> >> >> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Fri May 2 20:06:27 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 07:36:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hmm, No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" are power full and naughty. Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would have questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or CONTACT LENSES. The problem is they could not express very straight/direct. Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of that and their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior or superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that they are advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not wrong. Regards, Dhatri. radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: Prakash, at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. :- ) Best regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Asit asitreds Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: prakash ray Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > dear freinds and comrades > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful if not > respectful > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of chicago > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood after > being shot by > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > rights we > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles it > is for > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall world of > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and entertainmentparks, > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue advertising > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > politicaltheorist > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of centuries of > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > asit > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray wrote: > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > in good spirit... > > > > Prakash > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 2 21:26:22 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 21:26:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805020856k49560f87se64efe6a8f7a4f12@mail.gmail.com> Hi, The unfortunate part is that the 'leaders' of the revolution by the very nature of their function become the new 'bourgeoisie'. It's like the pigs in Orwell's Animal Farm (and I would like to clarify that I am NOT calling anyone names or making any subtle digs by this reference - that just happens to be the animal that Orwell chose). They became the new leaders and slowly started adopting the actions of the humans. That's the crazy part of leadership. There's only so much time you have in a day. If you prefer someone you know (even if s/he is capable of getting the work done) for a job then it's favouritism. So you depend on the word of an aide, who may not be as well qualified to take the decision. On top of that, the 'system' of politics has it's own corruptions and 'adjustments' that take precedence over everything. Rgds, Partha ........................................... On 5/2/08, we wi wrote: > > Hmm, > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" are power > full and naughty. > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would have > questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or CONTACT LENSES. The > problem is they could not express very straight/direct. > > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of that and > their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior or > superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that they are > advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not wrong. > > Regards, > Dhatri. > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > Prakash, > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the gift of > workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > :- ) Best regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Asit asitreds > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > To: prakash ray > > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > dear freinds and comrades > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful if not > > respectful > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of chicago > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood after > > being shot by > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > rights we > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles it > > is for > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall world of > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and entertainmentparks, > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue advertising > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > politicaltheorist > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of centuries of > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > > asit > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > > wrote: > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > Prakash > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it > now. > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From asitredsalute at gmail.com Sat May 3 11:10:34 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 11:10:34 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] (no subject) In-Reply-To: <481B225F.6050808@gmail.com> References: <481B225F.6050808@gmail.com> Message-ID: i think what prakash meant by testing the eyes should not be taken literally imean the biological eys is world view.s i think he meant vision that.aS WE GROW UP OUR IDEOLOGY IS SHAPED BY THE PEDAGOGICAL INSTI TITIONS AND MONOPOLY MEDIA.So we view the world accordingly,what prakash meant by to get the eyes tested as i understand is to debrief one self from liberal bourgois world view and american propoganda asit On 5/2/08, Tapas Ray wrote: > > Radhika, > > I didn't ask you to get your eyes tested! That was another list member, > with whom I am honoured to share my last name. > > While on the subject, I think getting one's eyes checked once in a while > is not such a bad thing. I do it, too. But you have to be careful. Think > of those ads that urge you to get this or that tested, so that they can > sell you some new drug or surgical procedure. If I were you, I would > read between the lines of the advice you have received. Isn't there a > suggestion for you to go to one particular clinic, which has the last > word in ophthalmological expertise and equipment? > > Tapas > > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Shuddha, > > when I say the red color is truely inspiring I mean the > entire humanity which struggled for the right to work, right to earn decent > livelihood, education for the progeny all over the world across the > continents, the red colour was not color but blood of the savage oppression > then and now who rule by proxy, to be "our" representatives as we stand > divided with colour of our skins, religions and castes and regions.The > blurring of this idealogy is seen every where even in CPM ruled states like > Tripura and west bengal, in China and now defunct Russia. As new class of > comrades took over the working class relegated to be slaves with KGB and > chinese secret police controlling the rights of the working class, in India > politburo is the new class above the cadres and working class, and Tapas > want my etes to be tested in good spirit, ofcourse he should be in "high > spirits to suggest that. ! > > > > I have seen the working class unity in its true form till the > different colours of the political spectrum started the divided the working > class. One unity of working class got divided as INTUC, AITUC, CITU NOBW ets > and thus lost all its steam.! > > > > Regards. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 4:27 pm > > Subject: > > To: Sarai Reader List > > Cc: radhikarajen at vsnl.net > > > >> Dear Radhikarajen, > >> > >> You said, - "True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many > >> made > >> for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but with the > >> > >> modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what > >> blurred." > >> I was a bit intrigued by this statement. The Chicago Haymarket > >> Protestors, in whose memory we celebrate May Day, (as Asit > >> reminded > >> us) inspired the international working class movement of the late > >> nineteenth century to observe, annually, on each May Day the > >> celebration of a demand for an eight hour working day. This was > >> done > >> with a withdrawal of labour, with festivities, music, dancing and > >> non- > >> militaristic parades (the military parade that used to be held in > >> front of the Kremlin, and the one that continues to be held in > >> Beijing are both obscene perversions of the miltiant anti- > >> militarist > >> traditions of May Day). As a result of this, May Day is the only > >> non > >> secterian festival that can be celebrated by any working person, > >> anywhere in the world. It signals an instant, but deep and > >> enduring > >> solidarity. > >> > >> From what I can see around me, people have to work much longer > >> than > >> eight hours these days, in order to get a decent wage. Real wages > >> are > >> falling, and all over the world, the hard won benefits of peace, > >> health care, education, holidays, equal rights for women, freedom > >> of > >> speech & conscience and the liberty to live one's personal life as > >> > >> one chooses (especially, but not only, for gay and lesbian people) > >> > >> are under attack. All of these were won by working people, after > >> miltiant battles, all over the world. Not a single one of these > >> was > >> a sop offered by ruling powers. If all the precious liberties we > >> have > >> today are under attack, then I do not see how the 'very values > >> which > >> inspired them' become 'somewhat blurred'. > >> > >> On the contrary, I think they get sharper and more acute. The > >> world > >> we are living in today is more riven by class conflict than any > >> other > >> time in history. We still have nothing to lose but our chains. > >> > >> And as I said yesterday, only a world to win. > >> > >> best > >> > >> Shuddha > >> > >> > >> Shuddhabrata Sengupta > >> The Sarai Programme at CSDS > >> > >> > >> > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From bainulsatoor at googlemail.com Sat May 3 11:42:40 2008 From: bainulsatoor at googlemail.com (Bain Al Satoor) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 11:42:40 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Call for Submissions In-Reply-To: <485a09250805022309m4a4f8436w899bef5a039d0351@mail.gmail.com> References: <9685c0f30805021410l3687b626o9df9feb719556355@mail.gmail.com> <485a09250805022309m4a4f8436w899bef5a039d0351@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: saeed urrehman Date: Sat, May 3, 2008 at 2:40 AM Subject: Call for Submissions To: bainulsatoor at gmail.com Dear Colleagues, Friends, Not-so-Friendly Friends, and Enemies (the living ones) This acquaintance of yours now functions/earns his living/kills his time outside academia (and beyond the world of footnotes and bibliographies) as an Editor/In Charge of a weekend literary magazine (presently titled Literati but soon to have a more dignified name and also more pages) associated with The News (the second largest English daily in Pakistan). Therefore, you are being asked to submit your book reviews, short stories, profiles of your favorite writers, literary essays, poems (here I have to say "only your best poems, please"). The normal length of a submitted work of prose (fiction or book reviews or literary profiles/essays) should be between 1000 to 1200 words. About poems, you are supposed to be your own judge. For every accepted/published piece of prose, you will get an honorarium of at least 1500 Pakistani Rupees. So if you are outside of Pakistan, consider this only a labor of love because you will lose most of this income to different bank fees if the cheque reaches you through the postal system at all. Our reading cycle is weekly therefore you will get a quick response. So if you want a sudden break into print and also have an online presence not to speak of your own (eventual) literary stardom, start punching those keys. Submit your work as an attached word document to new.literati at gmail.com and/or to urrehman at gmail.com. Looking forward to your creative best, Saeed Ur Rehman Editor-In-Charge Literati The News Davis Road Lahore Pakistan Please circulate among your writer friends. From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Sat May 3 12:18:28 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 11:48:28 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] (no subject) In-Reply-To: References: <481B225F.6050808@gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi, Tapas, You are absolutely right in your expressions, it is our good friend in thoughts, in high spirits who suggested eye testing, apologies for the missile towards you.! :- ). Regards. Asit, Lalsallam, truely it is time for all thinking citizens to revaluate the position of communist movement as such in free India, as the working class for whom this movement was a blessing to earn safety of work, security of job is no more the real action oriented institution as it is now controlled by not so friendly, I mean workers friendly leadership, as the likes of Yechury, Karat have ceased to understand the working class needs and the politburo is more keen to get its beans baked rather than any good work for the workers. ! The types of Pinarayi are blots on workers unity with crorepathis holding the cards.? Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Asit asitreds Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008 11:11 am Subject: Re: [Reader-list] (no subject) To: Tapas Ray Cc: Sarai Reader List > i think what prakash meant by testing the eyes should not be taken > literally imean the biological eys is world view.s i think he > meant vision > that.aS WE GROW UP OUR IDEOLOGY IS SHAPED BY THE PEDAGOGICAL INSTI > TITIONSAND MONOPOLY MEDIA.So we view the world accordingly,what > prakash meant by to > get the eyes tested as i understand is to debrief one self from > liberalbourgois world view and american propoganda > asit > > > On 5/2/08, Tapas Ray wrote: > > > > Radhika, > > > > I didn't ask you to get your eyes tested! That was another list > member,> with whom I am honoured to share my last name. > > > > While on the subject, I think getting one's eyes checked once in > a while > > is not such a bad thing. I do it, too. But you have to be > careful. Think > > of those ads that urge you to get this or that tested, so that > they can > > sell you some new drug or surgical procedure. If I were you, I would > > read between the lines of the advice you have received. Isn't > there a > > suggestion for you to go to one particular clinic, which has the > last> word in ophthalmological expertise and equipment? > > > > Tapas > > > > > > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > > > Shuddha, > > > when I say the red color is truely inspiring I mean the > > entire humanity which struggled for the right to work, right to > earn decent > > livelihood, education for the progeny all over the world across the > > continents, the red colour was not color but blood of the savage > oppression> then and now who rule by proxy, to be "our" > representatives as we stand > > divided with colour of our skins, religions and castes and > regions.The> blurring of this idealogy is seen every where even in > CPM ruled states like > > Tripura and west bengal, in China and now defunct Russia. As new > class of > > comrades took over the working class relegated to be slaves with > KGB and > > chinese secret police controlling the rights of the working > class, in India > > politburo is the new class above the cadres and working class, > and Tapas > > want my etes to be tested in good spirit, ofcourse he should be > in "high > > spirits to suggest that. ! > > > > > > I have seen the working class unity in its true form till the > > different colours of the political spectrum started the divided > the working > > class. One unity of working class got divided as INTUC, AITUC, > CITU NOBW ets > > and thus lost all its steam.! > > > > > > Regards. > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta > > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 4:27 pm > > > Subject: > > > To: Sarai Reader List > > > Cc: radhikarajen at vsnl.net > > > > > >> Dear Radhikarajen, > > >> > > >> You said, - "True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many > > >> made > > >> for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but > with the > > >> > > >> modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what > > >> blurred." > > >> I was a bit intrigued by this statement. The Chicago Haymarket > > >> Protestors, in whose memory we celebrate May Day, (as Asit > > >> reminded > > >> us) inspired the international working class movement of the late > > >> nineteenth century to observe, annually, on each May Day the > > >> celebration of a demand for an eight hour working day. This was > > >> done > > >> with a withdrawal of labour, with festivities, music, dancing and > > >> non- > > >> militaristic parades (the military parade that used to be > held in > > >> front of the Kremlin, and the one that continues to be held in > > >> Beijing are both obscene perversions of the miltiant anti- > > >> militarist > > >> traditions of May Day). As a result of this, May Day is the only > > >> non > > >> secterian festival that can be celebrated by any working person, > > >> anywhere in the world. It signals an instant, but deep and > > >> enduring > > >> solidarity. > > >> > > >> From what I can see around me, people have to work much longer > > >> than > > >> eight hours these days, in order to get a decent wage. Real wages > > >> are > > >> falling, and all over the world, the hard won benefits of peace, > > >> health care, education, holidays, equal rights for women, freedom > > >> of > > >> speech & conscience and the liberty to live one's personal > life as > > >> > > >> one chooses (especially, but not only, for gay and lesbian > people)> >> > > >> are under attack. All of these were won by working people, after > > >> miltiant battles, all over the world. Not a single one of these > > >> was > > >> a sop offered by ruling powers. If all the precious liberties we > > >> have > > >> today are under attack, then I do not see how the 'very values > > >> which > > >> inspired them' become 'somewhat blurred'. > > >> > > >> On the contrary, I think they get sharper and more acute. The > > >> world > > >> we are living in today is more riven by class conflict than any > > >> other > > >> time in history. We still have nothing to lose but our chains. > > >> > > >> And as I said yesterday, only a world to win. > > >> > > >> best > > >> > > >> Shuddha > > >> > > >> > > >> Shuddhabrata Sengupta > > >> The Sarai Programme at CSDS > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list> > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From aarti.sethi at gmail.com Sat May 3 12:31:50 2008 From: aarti.sethi at gmail.com (Aarti Sethi) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 12:31:50 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] (no subject) In-Reply-To: References: <481B225F.6050808@gmail.com> Message-ID: <48c2916d0805030001k2a30e36axf26bd7848bbe2eb3@mail.gmail.com> Dear All, Here is a wonderful essay by Peter Linebaugh on May Day, where he charts the strange byways of history through which a day dedicated to the pagan rejection of labour and labouring, a day which challenged "work" itself, became enshrined eventually as the celebration of the rights of working people. Even as we express our solidarities with labouring people all over the world, lets also recognise the limits of the productivist discourse, and remember that there is a "green" history to May Day as well as the red... best A *The Incomplete, True, Authentic and Wonderful History of MAY DAY* http://www.midnightnotes.org/mayday/author.html Do read! On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:18 PM, wrote: > Hi, Tapas, > > You are absolutely right in your expressions, it is our good friend in > thoughts, in high spirits who suggested eye testing, apologies for the > missile towards you.! :- ). > > Regards. > > Asit, Lalsallam, > > > truely it is time for all thinking citizens to revaluate the position > of communist movement as such in free India, as the working class for whom > this movement was a blessing to earn safety of work, security of job is no > more the real action oriented institution as it is now controlled by not so > friendly, I mean workers friendly leadership, as the likes of Yechury, Karat > have ceased to understand the working class needs and the politburo is more > keen to get its beans baked rather than any good work for the workers. ! > The types of Pinarayi are blots on workers unity with crorepathis > holding the cards.? > > Regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Asit asitreds > Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008 11:11 am > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] (no subject) > To: Tapas Ray > Cc: Sarai Reader List > > > i think what prakash meant by testing the eyes should not be taken > > literally imean the biological eys is world view.s i think he > > meant vision > > that.aS WE GROW UP OUR IDEOLOGY IS SHAPED BY THE PEDAGOGICAL INSTI > > TITIONSAND MONOPOLY MEDIA.So we view the world accordingly,what > > prakash meant by to > > get the eyes tested as i understand is to debrief one self from > > liberalbourgois world view and american propoganda > > asit > > > > > > On 5/2/08, Tapas Ray wrote: > > > > > > Radhika, > > > > > > I didn't ask you to get your eyes tested! That was another list > > member,> with whom I am honoured to share my last name. > > > > > > While on the subject, I think getting one's eyes checked once in > > a while > > > is not such a bad thing. I do it, too. But you have to be > > careful. Think > > > of those ads that urge you to get this or that tested, so that > > they can > > > sell you some new drug or surgical procedure. If I were you, I would > > > read between the lines of the advice you have received. Isn't > > there a > > > suggestion for you to go to one particular clinic, which has the > > last> word in ophthalmological expertise and equipment? > > > > > > Tapas > > > > > > > > > > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > > > > > Shuddha, > > > > when I say the red color is truely inspiring I mean the > > > entire humanity which struggled for the right to work, right to > > earn decent > > > livelihood, education for the progeny all over the world across the > > > continents, the red colour was not color but blood of the savage > > oppression> then and now who rule by proxy, to be "our" > > representatives as we stand > > > divided with colour of our skins, religions and castes and > > regions.The> blurring of this idealogy is seen every where even in > > CPM ruled states like > > > Tripura and west bengal, in China and now defunct Russia. As new > > class of > > > comrades took over the working class relegated to be slaves with > > KGB and > > > chinese secret police controlling the rights of the working > > class, in India > > > politburo is the new class above the cadres and working class, > > and Tapas > > > want my etes to be tested in good spirit, ofcourse he should be > > in "high > > > spirits to suggest that. ! > > > > > > > > I have seen the working class unity in its true form till the > > > different colours of the political spectrum started the divided > > the working > > > class. One unity of working class got divided as INTUC, AITUC, > > CITU NOBW ets > > > and thus lost all its steam.! > > > > > > > > Regards. > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta > > > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 4:27 pm > > > > Subject: > > > > To: Sarai Reader List > > > > Cc: radhikarajen at vsnl.net > > > > > > > >> Dear Radhikarajen, > > > >> > > > >> You said, - "True colour red is inspiring of the sacrifices many > > > >> made > > > >> for the dignified life, job security and decent life, but > > with the > > > >> > > > >> modern lifestyles the very values which inspired are some what > > > >> blurred." > > > >> I was a bit intrigued by this statement. The Chicago Haymarket > > > >> Protestors, in whose memory we celebrate May Day, (as Asit > > > >> reminded > > > >> us) inspired the international working class movement of the late > > > >> nineteenth century to observe, annually, on each May Day the > > > >> celebration of a demand for an eight hour working day. This was > > > >> done > > > >> with a withdrawal of labour, with festivities, music, dancing and > > > >> non- > > > >> militaristic parades (the military parade that used to be > > held in > > > >> front of the Kremlin, and the one that continues to be held in > > > >> Beijing are both obscene perversions of the miltiant anti- > > > >> militarist > > > >> traditions of May Day). As a result of this, May Day is the only > > > >> non > > > >> secterian festival that can be celebrated by any working person, > > > >> anywhere in the world. It signals an instant, but deep and > > > >> enduring > > > >> solidarity. > > > >> > > > >> From what I can see around me, people have to work much longer > > > >> than > > > >> eight hours these days, in order to get a decent wage. Real wages > > > >> are > > > >> falling, and all over the world, the hard won benefits of peace, > > > >> health care, education, holidays, equal rights for women, freedom > > > >> of > > > >> speech & conscience and the liberty to live one's personal > > life as > > > >> > > > >> one chooses (especially, but not only, for gay and lesbian > > people)> >> > > > >> are under attack. All of these were won by working people, after > > > >> miltiant battles, all over the world. Not a single one of these > > > >> was > > > >> a sop offered by ruling powers. If all the precious liberties we > > > >> have > > > >> today are under attack, then I do not see how the 'very values > > > >> which > > > >> inspired them' become 'somewhat blurred'. > > > >> > > > >> On the contrary, I think they get sharper and more acute. The > > > >> world > > > >> we are living in today is more riven by class conflict than any > > > >> other > > > >> time in history. We still have nothing to lose but our chains. > > > >> > > > >> And as I said yesterday, only a world to win. > > > >> > > > >> best > > > >> > > > >> Shuddha > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> Shuddhabrata Sengupta > > > >> The Sarai Programme at CSDS > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list> > List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Sat May 3 12:35:13 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 12:05:13 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Kshamaya Dharithri, mother earth always forgives, may be we have to be more tolerent of the naughty ? Having brought up in with the culture of tolerence and understanding the other point of view, may be prakash wants my eyes to adjust the sights to "see" his thoughts from minds eyes, but well, having seasoned thru all sights and sounds of different thoughts, nothing is more real than to be good human, compassionate yet stern if deviant behaviour is seen in individuals, as mahatma said, to be part of untruth is bigger sin than being untruthful. ? To tolerate sin and be silent is moresinful than committing the sin itself. ? Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: we wi Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 8:06 pm Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net, Asit asitreds Cc: reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > Hmm, > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" > are power full and naughty. > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would > have questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or > CONTACT LENSES. The problem is they could not express very > straight/direct. > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of > that and their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior > or superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that > they are advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not > wrong. > > Regards, > Dhatri. > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > Prakash, > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the > gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > :- ) Best regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Asit asitreds > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > To: prakash ray > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > dear freinds and comrades > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful > if not > > respectful > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of > chicago > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood > after > > being shot by > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > rights we > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles > it > > is for > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall > world of > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and > entertainmentparks, > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue > advertising > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > politicaltheorist > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of > centuries of > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > > asit > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > wrote: > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > Prakash > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list> > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > Try it now. From aarti.sethi at gmail.com Sat May 3 12:46:56 2008 From: aarti.sethi at gmail.com (Aarti Sethi) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 12:46:56 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <48c2916d0805030016t1c798275j966bac5dae98ef2d@mail.gmail.com> Again we are fortunate to have received a signature Dhatri mail. What would we do without you Dhatri? I sometimes think you have been sent to this list as a farishta by the gods to remind us always how tenous our grip on rationality actually is, and serve as a constant warning of the feverish swirling mists that lie, oh so nearby! Thank you A On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 8:06 PM, we wi wrote: > Hmm, > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" are power > full and naughty. > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would have > questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or CONTACT LENSES. The > problem is they could not express very straight/direct. > > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of that and > their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior or > superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that they are > advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not wrong. > > Regards, > Dhatri. > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > Prakash, > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the gift of > workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > :- ) Best regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Asit asitreds > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > To: prakash ray > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > dear freinds and comrades > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful if not > > respectful > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of chicago > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood after > > being shot by > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > rights we > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles it > > is for > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall world of > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and entertainmentparks, > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue advertising > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > politicaltheorist > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of centuries of > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > > asit > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > wrote: > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > Prakash > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it > now. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Sat May 3 13:56:45 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 13:56:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Free Binayak Sen Film Festival Message-ID: <35f96d470805030126v63e76720r94b2f3127d78e7c1@mail.gmail.com> Free Binayak Sen Film Festival http://binayaksen.net/film-festival/ 14 May 2008 will mark one year of imprisonment for Dr Binayak Sen, the well-known public health and civil rights activist, arrested on false charges of 'assisting' the Maoist insurgency in Chattisgarh. In a nation where increasingly the medical profession is becoming synonymous with unbridled commercial greed Dr Sen dedicated his entire professional life to the free service of people in the remotest villages. In a country, which has health indicators worse than that of sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Sen passionately worked for setting up low cost models of healthcare accessible to the poor. And in a land where the problems of public health are deeply intertwined with the gross violations of the Indian Constitution by state agencies themselves Dr Sen fought for ensuring democratic rights of ordinary people. Dr Sen's detention as a 'threat to national security' stands therefore as a challenge to every Indian who aspires for a humane, democratic and civilized India. To mark the first anniversary of the arrest of Dr Sen, on 14 May 2008 and to call for his immediate release the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival is being organised by concerned citizens and groups around the country. The package of 10 documentaries, presented in this Festival, highlight the issues of human rights and public health and deal with themes ranging from nutrition, greed of drug companies, environmental pollution and state atrocities. They are meant to make all those who watch them wake up and more importantly resist the Silent Emergency that is creeping upon us in front of our very eyes. Given along with this letter is a list of the 10 films along with a brief synopsis. All groups interested in receiving the package of films for organizing the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival in their areas of work are requested to send the name of their organization, postal address and tentative date of screening to - Wilfred Dcosta, INSAF, New Delhi, insaf at vsnl.com, Ph:011-26517814/ 65663958 . The package is meant to be screened mostly in the month of May, particularly around 14 May, the first anniversary of Dr Sen's arrest. For further information contact: * K.P.Sasi, Bangalore kpsasi36 at gmail.com Ph: 09945282056 * Sarat Chandran, Eranakulam sarat at thirdeyefilms.com Ph: 09446426433 * Satya Sivaraman , New Delhi satyasagar at gmail.com ph: 09818514952 * Anivar Aravind, Bangalore anivar at movingrepublic.org Ph: 080-23435606 * V.Srinivasan, Chennai srini59 at gmail.com Ph: 09840081114 For Details of the package checkout http://binayaksen.net/film-festival/ From patrice at xs4all.nl Sat May 3 15:03:37 2008 From: patrice at xs4all.nl (Patrice Riemens) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 11:33:37 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] Jeremy Page: Stop war (against Naxalites) and start talks (London Times) Message-ID: <20080503093337.GA32138@xs4all.nl> Now we are talking Naxalites, here's a viewpoint from the London Time's Delhi correspondent. (sorry for the typos - (.) instead of (') - due to ascii87 + mutt...) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3857657.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093 (or: http://tinyurl.com/4fvgth) Stop war and start talks: plea for new tactics in India's Red Corridor India.s Maoist rebels, the Naxalites, are regarded as a serious threat to the courtry.s economic boom Jeremy Page in Delhi India should seek peace talks with Maoist rebels whose influence has spread to half the country and who threaten to undermine an economic boom, according to an internal report sent to the Government yesterday. The report, a copy of which was seen by The Times, urges the reversal of the 40-year policy of refusing to negotiate with the Naxalites, as the Maoists are known, until they renounce violence. It also criticises the Government for treating the insurgency as a law-and-order problem rather than addressing its underlying causes: poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, social injustice and the caste system. .The first point is to talk to them - we just have to open the lines of communication,. said Santosh Mehrotra, a member of the panel that compiled the report for the Planning Commission, the Government's internal think-tank. .Point two is that the Government's approach has been so heavily security-centric. That's not the way to go. It has to be walking on two legs - security and development.. Dr Mehrotra said that the report was sent to the offices of Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister, and several senior Government members yesterday. The recommendations mark the first time since the 1980s that the Government has explored the root causes of the Naxalite movement and highlights growing concern about India's unbalanced economic development. Mr Singh described the Naxalites last year as India's single biggest internal security threat. Officials now fear that the Naxalites have been encouraged by the success of the Maoists in neighbouring Nepal, who won a parliamentary election last month after fighting a decade-long insurgency. Inspired by Mao Zedong, the Naxalite movement began with a peasant uprising in 1967 in the village of Naxalbari - after which it is named - in the state of West Bengal. Since then it has claimed about 7,000 lives and grown into a force of 40,000 permanent armed cadres and 100,000 militia members, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a research centre based in Delhi. The Naxalites now control a .Red Corridor., consisting mainly of dense forest, stretching from West Bengal to the border of Nepal. The group is active in 16 of India's 28 states. Last year Naxalite violence caused 696 deaths, compared with 678 in 2006, and so far this year more than 220 people have died in Maoist-related violence. The latest reported deaths came over the weekend when Naxalite rebels killed three policemen in the eastern state of Jarkhand. The Maoists are also now striking at economic targets, such as an iron ore enrichment plant in the state of Chhattisgarh, where they set fire to more than 50 lorries eight days ago. Several state governments have responded by supporting local armed vigilante groups, known as Salwa Judum, which means .purification hunt.. But the report recommended disbanding them, saying that it .delegitimises politics, dehumanises people, degenerates those engaged in their security and above all represents the abdication of the State itself.. In Chhattisgarh, the violence between the two sides had displaced about 100,000 people, many of them from indigenous tribal groups, it said. The report said that the Government should focus instead on bridging the widening income gap between urban and rural populations, and between upper castes and lower castes or ethnic minorities. .To reduce the anger of the people, it is necessary that those affected should feel they are a part of mainstream Indian society and not an external element to be looked down on by others.. Some experts on the Naxalites disagreed with the report's recommendations, claiming that development would take too long and security should remain the priority. But Dr Mehrotra said that he hoped the report would prompt the Government to place greater emphasis on development in Naxalite areas, instead of simply trying to crush the rebels. .I think the tide is turning,. he said. From shahzulf at yahoo.com Sat May 3 15:08:46 2008 From: shahzulf at yahoo.com (Zulfiqar Shah) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 02:38:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Condolence Reference for Deedee Nirmel Desh Pande Message-ID: <982709.37449.qm@web38807.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear All, You are invited to participate in a condolence reference for legend peace and Human rights activist Deedee Nirmela Deshpande on Sunday, May 4, 2008, 3:00 sharp at Civic Society Club Qasimabad, Hyderabad, Sindh. Nirmela Desh Pande took in her efforts of her whole life for supplementing the peace process between Pakistan and India. This reference is jointly organized by South Asia Partnership Pakistan and Sindh Democratic Forum.   Looking forward to see you at the venue       Zulfiqar Shah                                                    Zulfiqar Haleepoto Provincial Coordinator                                       Secretary South Asia Partnership Pakistan                       Sindh Democratic Forum Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com From asitredsalute at gmail.com Sat May 3 15:19:41 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 15:19:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: References: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: well why doesnt the mother earth forgive the wretched of the earth who toil for long hrs and dont even get two sqare meals a day,now coming to growing up in culture of tolerance are you kidding this is the most intolerant society in the world have you forgotten gujrat taslima and going back to centuries eklavya and shambuk near people from kerala know how tolerant were the uppercaste if a dalit woman tried to cover her breast asit On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:35 PM, wrote: > Kshamaya Dharithri, > > mother earth always forgives, may be we have to be more tolerent of the > naughty ? Having brought up in with the culture of tolerence and > understanding the other point of view, may be prakash wants my eyes to > adjust the sights to "see" his thoughts from minds eyes, but well, having > seasoned thru all sights and sounds of different thoughts, nothing is more > real than to be good human, compassionate yet stern if deviant behaviour is > seen in individuals, as mahatma said, to be part of untruth is bigger sin > than being untruthful. ? To tolerate sin and be silent is moresinful than > committing the sin itself. ? > > Regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: we wi > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 8:06 pm > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net, Asit asitreds > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > > > Hmm, > > > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" > > are power full and naughty. > > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would > > have questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or > > CONTACT LENSES. The problem is they could not express very > > straight/direct. > > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of > > that and their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior > > or superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that > > they are advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not > > wrong. > > > > Regards, > > Dhatri. > > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > > Prakash, > > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the > > gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > > :- ) Best regards. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Asit asitreds > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > To: prakash ray > > > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > > > dear freinds and comrades > > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful > > if not > > > respectful > > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of > > chicago > > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood > > after > > > being shot by > > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > > rights we > > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles > > it > > > is for > > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall > > world of > > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and > > entertainmentparks, > > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue > > advertising > > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > > politicaltheorist > > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of > > centuries of > > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > > > asit > > > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > > wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > > > Prakash > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list> > List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > > with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > > list > > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > > Try it now. > From mahmood.farooqui at gmail.com Sat May 3 16:21:47 2008 From: mahmood.farooqui at gmail.com (mahmood farooqui) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 16:21:47 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem Message-ID: Despite Ghalib's avowed unorthodoxy he felt himself to be a part of the Muslim community. Hali writes: 'Although he paid very little regard to the outward observances of Islam, whenever he heard of any misfortune befalling the Muslims it grieved him deeply. One day in my presence when he was lamenting some such occurrence, he said, "I have none of the hallmarks of a Muslim; why is it that every humiliation that the Muslims suffer pains and grieves me so much?" (From Ghalib-Life and Letters, Ralph Russell and Khurshidul Islam.) Bugger...khud to mar gaye aur hamare liye problem chhor gaye... From saddaharry at gmail.com Sat May 3 16:57:00 2008 From: saddaharry at gmail.com (Hari Sadu) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 16:57:00 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Madhu Kishwar, the MCD, the 'mafia' and the media Message-ID: <91ceb95e0805030427j251bce1cr5101d1275320de58@mail.gmail.com> [Given below is a news report published in Tehelka and later withdrawn. Two weeks later Tehelka published an apology, which is appended below the article. Madhu Kishwar's allegations of corruption against two journalists are also quoted in the end. This might be of interest to many on this list about media and the city and will hopefully generate debate. Cheers, Hari Sadu.] A BIG, BAD STREET FIGHT Tehelka (print edition); 2 Feb 2008 "Engaged Circle" section A Delhi project to accommodate street vendors in a dignified way fails; social activist Madhu Kishwar is beaten up. SHOBHITA NAITHANI reports AS OUR METROPOLISES get mallified, and under the guise of "beautification of cities" street vendors get steamrollered, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the NGO Manushi Sangathan, had launched the Sewa Nagar pilot project in 2004. The objective was to demonstrate that world-class cleanliness could be attained in the dirtiest of markets; that aesthetics can be organised and the vendors can be accommodated in a dignified way. Last week, the head of Manushi, Madhu Kishwar, termed the Sewa Nagar project a "failed experiment". Kishwar, also senior fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, was beaten up recently by the "local mafia". TEHELKA's inquiries have revealed that while a local mafia does exist, Manushi itself is at the heart of growing resentment and controversy. The project, whose primary aim was to free street vendors and hawkers from the scourge of "needless bureaucratic controls, license quota and raid raj", was initiated when 159 vendors signed an oath and agreed to stay within the Sanyam Rekha (line of discipline). This meant neither selling nor renting out the allotted stall; paying a monthly rent of Rs 390 to the MCD through Manushi; contributing on a monthly basis towards the salary of the Safai Brigade (that maintains cleanliness in the area); paying the cost of improved stalls and the management cost of the project and accepting a fine of Rs 100 if they violate the Sanyam Rekha. Membership of habitual violators was to be cancelled whereby the MCD is free to evict them and seal the stalls. Manushi was granted Rs 25 lakh and Rs 10 lakh from Congress MP Ambika Soni and Dr Karan Singh's MPLADS funds respectively to build the required infrastructure. The model, which was lauded by locals, politicians and government officials, today faces allegations of embezzlement. Charges and counter-charges between Manushi and the local mafia fly thick and fast. The Bhagat-Baisoya gang (Bhagat Singh, Mahipal Baisoya, Babli Baisoya, and Ajay Baisoya) is supported by the Delhi Pradesh National Panthers Party (DPNPP) and a gentleman who works surreptitiously under the pseudonym "Hindustani". Kishwar claims the bribe-collecting mafia -- in connivance with local corporator Jagdish Mamgain and Member of Parliament Ajay Maken -- has unleashed a reign of terror: beating up Manushi members, destroying project property time and again, and threatening them with dire consequences. However, members of the Bhagat-Baisoya gang and a few vendors claim Manushi has "pocketed their money". "The whole thing started with Ajay Maken and his henchmen asking us for stalls," says Kishwar. Maken's office when contacted said there was no need for Maken to clarify baseless allegations. Meanwhile, the situation at Sewa Nagar is volatile. A 24-hour police picket is stationed there after a recent incident of violence. On December 31, 2007, Madhu Kishwar and Manushi member Sheeshpal were beaten up in the market. The Baisoyas, however, allege that the two were beaten up only when they tried to flee after ramming their car into their 65-year-old mother, who was admitted to AIIMS and discharged three days later. When TEHELKA contacted the SHO, Kotla Mubarakpur Police Station, and sought details, he only had two words: "Nothing happened." Subsequently, the police served externment notices to Mahipal and Bhagat Singh in addition to ordering them to furnish bonds of Rs 10,000 each. MCD Councillor Jagdish Mamgain says, "There are no two ways about the fact that she (Kishwar) was beaten up on 31 December." DPNPP president Sanjay Sachdev clarifies that while his party is not against the Sewa Nagar project, he is certain about the December 31 accident: "There is an AIIMS report that proves that the old lady suffered a minor head injury." He also backs the vendors' allegation that Kishwar is running and ruling the market with an iron hand. "She must realise that she is not an enforcing agency or the court of law. She has been picking up vendors' items as and when she desires and has been issuing challans to the tune of Rs 3,000. The temple of the Swacch Narayani Devi (the goddess Kishwar conceptualised) that Manushi has built is on public land -- it is illegal." Deputy MCD Commissioner (Central Zone), Amiya Chandra, says it is a wonderful project, and the MCD is trying its best to make it a success. "When I met Madhu, she told me the problem was not us with but the police." Asked if the temple was built on illegal land, Chandra told TEHELKA, "If the MCD wants, it can demolish the temple tomorrow. But if somebody is doing it to promote cleanliness, we must appreciate it." Kishwar says that there wasn't any agreement signed for the temple, but it was part of the architectural plan given to the MCD. "The issue is not the temple; not even the project. The issue is policy reform at an all-India level. They can demolish what they like, I couldn't care less." According to Hindustani, "As per the agreement, vendors had agreed to pay a fine of Rs 100 if they violate the Sanyam Rekha. But Manushi charged Kamruddin and Roshan Khan Rs 2,500 each for violations (copies of the receipts are with TEHELKA). Some were charged Rs 2,750 and Rs 11,000 with a promise of a installation of an electricity metre." Kishwar defends: "They started a chicken slaughter shop in addition to the mattress-making shop and occupied 100 square feet of extra space. Chicken slaughter is not allowed on the pavement and we were getting notices from the MCD, so we suspended their membership. The money of the few people who paid for the electricity metre is deposited with us." The man in the eye of the storm, Mahipal Baisoya, who now runs a CD shop in Sewa Nagar, claims Manushi took Rs 1.5 lakh from him and his three brothers with a promise to regularise their tempo stand and give them a stall each with costs ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 depending on how early they could pay. "We got a receipt for only Rs 30,000. When we heard that the tender for the project was for five years and would end in 2008, the vendors decided to question the organisation for accounts." Kishwar says the Baisoyas' tempo stand was illegal and had become a hub for "anti-social elements", but denies taking Rs 1.5 lakh as Baisoya alleges. On June 6, 2007, the Deputy Commissioner (Central Zone) declared that, "Determined action should be taken to get the unauthorised tempo parking and the illegally constructed office of the Baisoya Tempo Stand removed from the project area." While Mahipal and other vendors allege they live under the terror and fear of Manushi, active Manushi project members claim it is the Bhagat-Baisoya gang who have been terrorising them. "They want monopoly of the market and have made life miserable for us. They come at night with knives to threaten our wives and children," says Mehboob, a vendor in Sewa Nagar. Another vendor, Yogesh, says he is a victim of the money-lending mafia led by the Baisoyas. "They persuaded me into taking a loan of Rs 35,000 at an interest rate of 10 percent per month to buy goods for my stall. I have already paid over Rs 3.63 lakh as interest. They are claiming Rs 1.2 lakh more, have confiscated my scooter and forced me to sign several blank cheques." As the blame game continues, the Central Cabinet's January 2004 ruling to implement a National Policy for Street Vendors comes into force. As 3 lakh tehbazari licenses and vending sites in Delhi are to be allotted, a big scam appears to be in the making. According to Manushi estimates, at an average of Rs 10 lakh per stall, this is worth Rs 3,000 crore. Clearly, there's a lot at stake. * * * [This article had appeared in Tehelka and was available on its website for a few days but later removed: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main37.asp?filename=cr020208Big_Bad.asp That link promised an amended version which was never put up and not one but two weeks later Tehelka published an apology which it curiously did not put up online at all. Given below is the text of the apology.] * * * [Tehelka, 16 February 2008, "Letters" section, page 7; not published online] A TRAVESTY, NOT A BIG BAD STREET FIGHT Fighting public battles in India is never an easy task. Corruptions are so entrenched, interests so vested, and the ordinary citizen sucked so completely into the country's vast parallel economy and shadow administration that often it is difficult to even remember how things were really meant to be. Indians have come to accept that a bribe will allow them to go their way, allow them to run their businesses, run their lives: they are almost grateful for this refuge, grateful to be instruments in their own oppression. One of the biggest ironies of waging public battles in India is that sometimes those you bat for might actually wish that you wouldn't. The road is too difficult; everyone would rather bend and look the other way. All of this makes the reporting of public battles almost as complicated as waging them. At Tehelka, we had a taste of this in our Feb 2 issue. In reporting the trouble around veteran activist, Madhu Kishwar's street vendor project in Sewa Nagar in Delhi ("A Big Bad Street Fight"), we mistook the surface chaos for the real story. In the process, we ended up being unfair to both the intention and the complexity of the endeavour. Four years ago, Manushi, the NGO run by Kishwar, undertook a difficult but important pilot project in Delhi, sanctioned by the Supreme Court and funded by an MP's development fund. Its mandate was to prove that street vendors can be formally incorporated into the city's economy as a hygienic and beneficial presence and do not need to be booted out. The context of this project was very significant. As India moves towards large retail formats and first world urban models, there is an increasing official tendency to banish the informal sector, comprising poor but self-reliant entrepreneurs. For instance, there are over three lakh vendors and mobile hawkers in Delhi. Yet, less than 3,000 have been given vending licenses from the MCD – most of these after prolonged battles in the courts. The illegal status of more than 99% vendors makes them easy targets of extortionist mafias. Blackmail, arbitrary confiscation of goods, bribes: that has come to be the vendors' life. The loss of income suffered by them, in doling out bribes, amounts to a staggering Rs 500 crore a year. For years, a key argument offered by municipal agencies and the police for not legalising street vendors has been that they obstruct other road users and spread chaos and squalour. To combat this official prejudice, Manushi offered to take on a pilot project. Much rode on this project. If successful, it would result in far-reaching policy changes. Predictably, the project faced a lot of resistance from the local mafia and police. Vendors who were part of the project now had legal protection and stopped paying monthly bribes. This outraged the local mafia. Local political leaders also began to pressure Manushi for stalls for their men: the usual dismal Indian story. In December this year, the violence and intimidation came to a head. Manushi has been coerced out of the area; Kishwar has been accorded police protection. The pilot project, which, in demanding dignity and discipline of its vendor-members, had begun to seem a thing of hope, has now been forced back to its stereotype of chaos and squalor. As always in India, a larger story looms beyond the immediate incident. The violence against Manushi's pilot project is just a tip of the iceberg, pointing to vaster corruptions and vaster violence against the ordinary man on the street. Until Tehelka has the time and resource to help uncover that travesty, it extends an apology for getting the original story wrong. Editor-in-Chief Tehelka * * * [There were some articles in Mid-Day too which irked Manushi. In an article in the Outlokindia.com website, Kishwar has alleged vested interests on the part of these reporters and publications: An excerpt:] ============ The police did register an FIR on the basis of my complaint of Decemebr 31st and some earlier attacks on me, but they also allowed the attackers to lodge several false complains against Manushi including "attempt to murder" charge against me alleging that I had tried to kill one of their aunts by ordering my driver to ram my car into her. They also alleged that when they protested, my "henchmen beat them up." This has been their standard strategy. After every single attack on Manushi members, they lodge all manners of fraudulent counter cases against us. They are even able to buy newspaper space for spreading these lies by influencing reporters through money or political influence. Two such fabricated reports appeared in Midday and another one in Tehleka. While Tehelka offered an unconditional apology in their issue of February 11, 2008, for their reporter having been misled by mafia elements, Midday continued with the falsehoods despite repeated warnings thus forcing Manushi to sue the paper and the reporter for criminal defamation. ============ The full article by Kishwar can be read here: http://www.outlookindia.com/fullprint.asp?choice=1&fodname=20080215&fname=madhu&sid=1 From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Sat May 3 19:25:17 2008 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 19:25:17 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Madhu Kishwar, the MCD, the 'mafia' and the media In-Reply-To: <91ceb95e0805030427j251bce1cr5101d1275320de58@mail.gmail.com> References: <91ceb95e0805030427j251bce1cr5101d1275320de58@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Hari, This is very interesting and thanks a lot for posting this to the list. I am copying this to the urban study list which also might be interested in discussing this story and the wider issues concerning the role of NGOs with street vendors, slum dwellers, squatters, etc. Recently, Liza Weinstein's article in the Journal for Urban and Regional Research also indicates some similar issues, the use of mafia and organized crime groups in the provisioning of housing under the SRA scheme in Mumbai. What is interesting is how these roles are now emerging with the transformation in cities. Perhaps there are other questions and thoughts which may emerge from this posting and which will be useful to discuss in the context of urban restructiring and changes in cities. Thanks again, Zainab On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 4:57 PM, Hari Sadu wrote: > [Given below is a news report published in Tehelka and later withdrawn. > Two > weeks later Tehelka published an apology, which is appended below the > article. Madhu Kishwar's allegations of corruption against two journalists > are also quoted in the end. This might be of interest to many on this list > about media and the city and will hopefully generate debate. Cheers, Hari > Sadu.] > > > > > A BIG, BAD STREET FIGHT > > Tehelka (print edition); 2 Feb 2008 > "Engaged Circle" section > > A Delhi project to accommodate street vendors in a dignified way fails; > social activist Madhu Kishwar is beaten up. SHOBHITA NAITHANI reports > > AS OUR METROPOLISES get mallified, and under the guise of "beautification > of > cities" street vendors get steamrollered, the Municipal Corporation of > Delhi > (MCD) and the NGO Manushi Sangathan, had launched the Sewa Nagar pilot > project in 2004. The objective was to demonstrate that world-class > cleanliness could be attained in the dirtiest of markets; that aesthetics > can be organised and the vendors can be accommodated in a dignified way. > Last week, the head of Manushi, Madhu Kishwar, termed the Sewa Nagar > project > a "failed experiment". Kishwar, also senior fellow at the Centre for the > Study of Developing Societies, was beaten up recently by the "local > mafia". > TEHELKA's inquiries have revealed that while a local mafia does exist, > Manushi itself is at the heart of growing resentment and controversy. > > The project, whose primary aim was to free street vendors and hawkers from > the scourge of "needless bureaucratic controls, license quota and raid > raj", > was initiated when 159 vendors signed an oath and agreed to stay within > the > Sanyam Rekha (line of discipline). This meant neither selling nor renting > out the allotted stall; paying a monthly rent of Rs 390 to the MCD through > Manushi; contributing on a monthly basis towards the salary of the Safai > Brigade (that maintains cleanliness in the area); paying the cost of > improved stalls and the management cost of the project and accepting a > fine > of Rs 100 if they violate the Sanyam Rekha. Membership of habitual > violators > was to be cancelled whereby the MCD is free to evict them and seal the > stalls. > > Manushi was granted Rs 25 lakh and Rs 10 lakh from Congress MP Ambika Soni > and Dr Karan Singh's MPLADS funds respectively to build the required > infrastructure. The model, which was lauded by locals, politicians and > government officials, today faces allegations of embezzlement. Charges and > counter-charges between Manushi and the local mafia fly thick and fast. > The > Bhagat-Baisoya gang (Bhagat Singh, Mahipal Baisoya, Babli Baisoya, and > Ajay > Baisoya) is supported by the Delhi Pradesh National Panthers Party (DPNPP) > and a gentleman who works surreptitiously under the pseudonym > "Hindustani". > > Kishwar claims the bribe-collecting mafia -- in connivance with local > corporator Jagdish Mamgain and Member of Parliament Ajay Maken -- has > unleashed a reign of terror: beating up Manushi members, destroying > project > property time and again, and threatening them with dire consequences. > However, members of the Bhagat-Baisoya gang and a few vendors claim > Manushi > has "pocketed their money". "The whole thing started with Ajay Maken and > his > henchmen asking us for stalls," says Kishwar. Maken's office when > contacted > said there was no need for Maken to clarify baseless allegations. > Meanwhile, > the situation at Sewa Nagar is volatile. A 24-hour police picket is > stationed there after a recent incident of violence. > > On December 31, 2007, Madhu Kishwar and Manushi member Sheeshpal were > beaten > up in the market. The Baisoyas, however, allege that the two were beaten > up > only when they tried to flee after ramming their car into their > 65-year-old > mother, who was admitted to AIIMS and discharged three days later. When > TEHELKA contacted the SHO, Kotla Mubarakpur Police Station, and sought > details, he only had two words: "Nothing happened." > > Subsequently, the police served externment notices to Mahipal and Bhagat > Singh in addition to ordering them to furnish bonds of Rs 10,000 each. MCD > Councillor Jagdish Mamgain says, "There are no two ways about the fact > that > she (Kishwar) was beaten up on 31 December." > > DPNPP president Sanjay Sachdev clarifies that while his party is not > against > the Sewa Nagar project, he is certain about the December 31 accident: > "There > is an AIIMS report that proves that the old lady suffered a minor head > injury." He also backs the vendors' allegation that Kishwar is running and > ruling the market with an iron hand. "She must realise that she is not an > enforcing agency or the court of law. She has been picking up vendors' > items > as and when she desires and has been issuing challans to the tune of Rs > 3,000. The temple of the Swacch Narayani Devi (the goddess Kishwar > conceptualised) that Manushi has built is on public land -- it is > illegal." > > Deputy MCD Commissioner (Central Zone), Amiya Chandra, says it is a > wonderful project, and the MCD is trying its best to make it a success. > "When I met Madhu, she told me the problem was not us with but the > police." > Asked if the temple was built on illegal land, Chandra told TEHELKA, "If > the > MCD wants, it can demolish the temple tomorrow. But if somebody is doing > it > to promote cleanliness, we must appreciate it." > > Kishwar says that there wasn't any agreement signed for the temple, but it > was part of the architectural plan given to the MCD. "The issue is not the > temple; not even the project. The issue is policy reform at an all-India > level. They can demolish what they like, I couldn't care less." > > According to Hindustani, "As per the agreement, vendors had agreed to pay > a > fine of Rs 100 if they violate the Sanyam Rekha. But Manushi charged > Kamruddin and Roshan Khan Rs 2,500 each for violations (copies of the > receipts are with TEHELKA). Some were charged Rs 2,750 and Rs 11,000 with > a > promise of a installation of an electricity metre." Kishwar defends: "They > started a chicken slaughter shop in addition to the mattress-making shop > and > occupied 100 square feet of extra space. Chicken slaughter is not allowed > on > the pavement and we were getting notices from the MCD, so we suspended > their > membership. The money of the few people who paid for the electricity metre > is deposited with us." > > The man in the eye of the storm, Mahipal Baisoya, who now runs a CD shop > in > Sewa Nagar, claims Manushi took Rs 1.5 lakh from him and his three > brothers > with a promise to regularise their tempo stand and give them a stall each > with costs ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 depending on how early they > could pay. "We got a receipt for only Rs 30,000. When we heard that the > tender for the project was for five years and would end in 2008, the > vendors > decided to question the organisation for accounts." > > Kishwar says the Baisoyas' tempo stand was illegal and had become a hub > for > "anti-social elements", but denies taking Rs 1.5 lakh as Baisoya alleges. > On > June 6, 2007, the Deputy Commissioner (Central Zone) declared that, > "Determined action should be taken to get the unauthorised tempo parking > and > the illegally constructed office of the Baisoya Tempo Stand removed from > the > project area." > > While Mahipal and other vendors allege they live under the terror and fear > of Manushi, active Manushi project members claim it is the Bhagat-Baisoya > gang who have been terrorising them. "They want monopoly of the market and > have made life miserable for us. They come at night with knives to > threaten > our wives and children," says Mehboob, a vendor in Sewa Nagar. Another > vendor, Yogesh, says he is a victim of the money-lending mafia led by the > Baisoyas. "They persuaded me into taking a loan of Rs 35,000 at an > interest > rate of 10 percent per month to buy goods for my stall. I have already > paid > over Rs 3.63 lakh as interest. They are claiming Rs 1.2 lakh more, have > confiscated my scooter and forced me to sign several blank cheques." > > As the blame game continues, the Central Cabinet's January 2004 ruling to > implement a National Policy for Street Vendors comes into force. As 3 lakh > tehbazari licenses and vending sites in Delhi are to be allotted, a big > scam > appears to be in the making. According to Manushi estimates, at an average > of Rs 10 lakh per stall, this is worth Rs 3,000 crore. Clearly, there's a > lot at stake. > > > > * * * > > > [This article had appeared in Tehelka and was available on its website for > a > few days but later removed: > http://www.tehelka.com/story_main37.asp?filename=cr020208Big_Bad.asp That > link promised an amended version which was never put up and not one but > two > weeks later Tehelka published an apology which it curiously did not put up > online at all. Given below is the text of the apology.] > > > * * * > > [Tehelka, 16 February 2008, "Letters" section, page 7; not published > online] > > > > A TRAVESTY, NOT A BIG BAD STREET FIGHT > > Fighting public battles in India is never an easy task. Corruptions are so > entrenched, interests so vested, and the ordinary citizen sucked so > completely into the country's vast parallel economy and shadow > administration that often it is difficult to even remember how things were > really meant to be. Indians have come to accept that a bribe will allow > them > to go their way, allow them to run their businesses, run their lives: they > are almost grateful for this refuge, grateful to be instruments in their > own > oppression. One of the biggest ironies of waging public battles in India > is > that sometimes those you bat for might actually wish that you wouldn't. > The > road is too difficult; everyone would rather bend and look the other way. > > All of this makes the reporting of public battles almost as complicated as > waging them. At Tehelka, we had a taste of this in our Feb 2 issue. In > reporting the trouble around veteran activist, Madhu Kishwar's street > vendor > project in Sewa Nagar in Delhi ("A Big Bad Street Fight"), we mistook the > surface chaos for the real story. In the process, we ended up being unfair > to both the intention and the complexity of the endeavour. > > Four years ago, Manushi, the NGO run by Kishwar, undertook a difficult but > important pilot project in Delhi, sanctioned by the Supreme Court and > funded > by an MP's development fund. Its mandate was to prove that street vendors > can be formally incorporated into the city's economy as a hygienic and > beneficial presence and do not need to be booted out. The context of this > project was very significant. As India moves towards large retail formats > and first world urban models, there is an increasing official tendency to > banish the informal sector, comprising poor but self-reliant > entrepreneurs. > For instance, there are over three lakh vendors and mobile hawkers in > Delhi. > Yet, less than 3,000 have been given vending licenses from the MCD – most > of > these after prolonged battles in the courts. The illegal status of more > than > 99% vendors makes them easy targets of extortionist mafias. Blackmail, > arbitrary confiscation of goods, bribes: that has come to be the vendors' > life. The loss of income suffered by them, in doling out bribes, amounts > to > a staggering Rs 500 crore a year. > > For years, a key argument offered by municipal agencies and the police for > not legalising street vendors has been that they obstruct other road users > and spread chaos and squalour. To combat this official prejudice, Manushi > offered to take on a pilot project. Much rode on this project. If > successful, it would result in far-reaching policy changes. > > Predictably, the project faced a lot of resistance from the local mafia > and > police. Vendors who were part of the project now had legal protection and > stopped paying monthly bribes. This outraged the local mafia. Local > political leaders also began to pressure Manushi for stalls for their men: > the usual dismal Indian story. > > In December this year, the violence and intimidation came to a head. > Manushi > has been coerced out of the area; Kishwar has been accorded police > protection. The pilot project, which, in demanding dignity and discipline > of > its vendor-members, had begun to seem a thing of hope, has now been forced > back to its stereotype of chaos and squalor. > > As always in India, a larger story looms beyond the immediate incident. > The > violence against Manushi's pilot project is just a tip of the iceberg, > pointing to vaster corruptions and vaster violence against the ordinary > man > on the street. Until Tehelka has the time and resource to help uncover > that > travesty, it extends an apology for getting the original story wrong. > > Editor-in-Chief > Tehelka > > * * * > > > > [There were some articles in Mid-Day too which irked Manushi. In an > article > in the Outlokindia.com website, Kishwar has alleged vested interests on > the > part of these reporters and publications: An excerpt:] > > ============ > The police did register an FIR on the basis of my complaint of Decemebr > 31st > and some earlier attacks on me, but they also allowed the attackers to > lodge > several false complains against Manushi including "attempt to murder" > charge > against me alleging that I had tried to kill one of their aunts by > ordering > my driver to ram my car into her. They also alleged that when they > protested, my "henchmen beat them up." This has been their standard > strategy. After every single attack on Manushi members, they lodge all > manners of fraudulent counter cases against us. They are even able to buy > newspaper space for spreading these lies by influencing reporters through > money or political influence. Two such fabricated reports appeared in > Midday > and another one in Tehleka. While Tehelka offered an unconditional apology > in their issue of February 11, 2008, for their reporter having been misled > by mafia elements, Midday continued with the falsehoods despite repeated > warnings thus forcing Manushi to sue the paper and the reporter for > criminal > defamation. > ============ > > > The full article by Kishwar can be read here: > > http://www.outlookindia.com/fullprint.asp?choice=1&fodname=20080215&fname=madhu&sid=1 > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Between Places ... http://wbfs.wordpress.com From tapasrayx at gmail.com Sat May 3 20:30:06 2008 From: tapasrayx at gmail.com (Tapas Ray) Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 11:00:06 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] (no subject) In-Reply-To: <48c2916d0805030001k2a30e36axf26bd7848bbe2eb3@mail.gmail.com> References: <481B225F.6050808@gmail.com> <48c2916d0805030001k2a30e36axf26bd7848bbe2eb3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <481C7DF6.5050506@gmail.com> Aarti, Thank you for the fantastic essays. It is important to remember - or to know, because few of us have been told in the first place - that we were not always objectified as homo economicus. Here is a quote from Ricoeur that appealed to me, and I used it some years ago in a short op-ed piece on Lennon: "Humanism ... appears as the reply to the peril of the "objectification" of man in work and in consuming." I haven't saved the citation, unfortunately, but think it was in his preface to Fallible Man. Ellul is also very relevant here. Anyway, in terms of practice, I suppose the issue is how to marry red and green. Some list members have studied Marx, and it would be great to hear what they may have to say, because I believe this objectification was part of Marx's concerns (correct me if I am wrong). The marriage will involve forcing the big "Marxist" brands, which are deeply embedded in this kind of objectification, to think, and if they can't or don't want to, simply putting them behind us. Tapas Aarti Sethi wrote: > Dear All, > > Here is a wonderful essay by Peter Linebaugh on May Day, where he charts > the strange byways of history through which a day dedicated to the pagan > rejection of labour and labouring, a day which challenged "work" itself, > became enshrined eventually as the celebration of the rights of working > people. Even as we express our solidarities with labouring people all > over the world, lets also recognise the limits of the productivist > discourse, and remember that there is a "green" history to May Day as > well as the red... > > best > A > > > //The Incomplete, True, Authentic and Wonderful History of MAY DAY// > > > http://www.midnightnotes.org/mayday/author.html > > Do read! > From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Sat May 3 20:52:07 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 08:22:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to express the EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic is tolerance). Anguish or pleasure for the usage of scriptures/ancient good words from the list lets say a,b,c,d....Z ---To compete your line "Kshamaya Dharitri", let me include Karyeshu Dasi, Karuneshu Mantri, Bhojyeshu Mata, Shayaneshu Rambha, Dharmeshu dharmi, Kshamaya Dharitri, Shat Dharma yukta, kula dharma patni. A wife should, Work like a servant, have pity like a minister in a court, feed like a mother, act like a prostitute in bed, be like Yudhistira in dharma, be like earth in pardoning. In return what a wife expects from husband. A simple thing. Dharmecha, arthecha, kamecha, na athi charami. He should not cross the line in dharma, artha and kama. Sins are all about post life depending on the seriousness. They are just reflections some are immediate and some are after death. As one is struggling with so many miseries in present life ................... Moratality, values should give food and good life. I understood that you felt for that comment(check your eye tested) that's why i gave the exact meaning(how usually people mean it apart from romantic way). Why don't prakash speak up and clarify? I do not understand what Asit is talking about? Well Parthadas gupta replied by quoting "orwells animal farm". I don't know how many understand this comparison. As the book is all about an English man borned at BENGAL brought up at England and his anguish against CAPITALISM AND COMMUNALISM, by looking at the injustice in society. The content is all about PIGS,HORSES,DONKEYS and HUMANS. I would have felt much happier if PARTHA bring PANCHATANTRA where in the characters are also animals. CAPITALISM is all about money. If money is there then ultimately POWER and ofcourse the politics. I would like to bring SHASHIDHAROOR scenario where in MONEY played pivotal role to the UN SECRETARY GENERAL post. Though SHASHIDHAROOR is smart,intelligent,good looking,CAPABLE(as partha talked about capabilities and favoritism) to HEAD UN, because of lack of SUPPORT, poor SASHIDHAROOR writing columns to SUNDAY TIMES back in INDIA. It would be more use full to the INDIA if the list will respond to the PLANNING COMMISSION mail with your valuable suggestions. Regards, Dhatri. Asit asitreds wrote: well why doesnt the mother earth forgive the wretched of the earth who toil for long hrs and dont even get two sqare meals a day,now coming to growing up in culture of tolerance are you kidding this is the most intolerant society in the world have you forgotten gujrat taslima and going back to centuries eklavya and shambuk near people from kerala know how tolerant were the uppercaste if a dalit woman tried to cover her breast asit On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:35 PM, wrote: Kshamaya Dharithri, mother earth always forgives, may be we have to be more tolerent of the naughty ? Having brought up in with the culture of tolerence and understanding the other point of view, may be prakash wants my eyes to adjust the sights to "see" his thoughts from minds eyes, but well, having seasoned thru all sights and sounds of different thoughts, nothing is more real than to be good human, compassionate yet stern if deviant behaviour is seen in individuals, as mahatma said, to be part of untruth is bigger sin than being untruthful. ? To tolerate sin and be silent is moresinful than committing the sin itself. ? Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: we wi Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 8:06 pm Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net, Asit asitreds Cc: reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > Hmm, > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" > are power full and naughty. > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would > have questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or > CONTACT LENSES. The problem is they could not express very > straight/direct. > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of > that and their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior > or superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that > they are advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not > wrong. > > Regards, > Dhatri. > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > Prakash, > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the > gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > :- ) Best regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Asit asitreds > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > To: prakash ray > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > dear freinds and comrades > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful > if not > > respectful > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of > chicago > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood > after > > being shot by > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > rights we > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles > it > > is for > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall > world of > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and > entertainmentparks, > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue > advertising > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > politicaltheorist > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of > centuries of > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > > asit > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > wrote: > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > Prakash > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list> > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > Try it now. --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Sat May 3 23:45:20 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 23:45:20 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Fwd: [GreenYouth] may 3, report: Chengara: A Hidden Nation] Message-ID: <481CABB8.3030706@gmail.com> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [GreenYouth] may 3, report: Chengara: A Hidden Nation Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 23:38:02 +0530 From: Dileep Raj Reply-To: delve2 at gmail.com To: Greenyouth Addressing the national convention supporting Chengara land struggle, Arundhati Roy remembered her visit to Chengara some months back. " I saw a hidden nation there. A nation which Malayalis pretend not to see/ touch or wish to engage in a political discourse. " She said that it is a struggle dreaming a life with dignity.By asking for the impossible they are asserting their right to dream.She also asaid that she is proud to belong to a place where such a nonviolent struggle emerged without bringing in any heated ideaology." It is astruggle by the people.We do not represent it.We are here to support it" She emphasised the down-up nature of the struggle in her short but touching speach. Prashanth Bhushan inaugurated the convention. The right to a dignified life is constitutional , he said. He aplauded the spirit of struggling people in Chengara.It is notice sent to the government. When they take away all resourses including land from people and gift to the rich as part of neoliberal policies what else should they expect? Such policies will inevitably result in complete inequality.There is no other option before people other than resorting to direct action.Chengar struggle is significant among other land struggles in India as it si those who got excluded in land reforms who are claiming land here, he said.Government will try to remove the people forcibly. Peaceful- nonviolent struggles like Chengara should succeed. It will force the authorities to complete the process of land reforms. Laha Gopalan in his introductory speach criticised governement and CPIM for their baseless allegations and rumour campaigns against the struggle. They always allege that there certain forces "behind' the struggle. Why don't they see those who stand in front of their eyes? Saleena, leader of Chengara struggle urged all democratic forces to support their struggle. "We have no other option than committing suicide if the government try to evict us " A. Vasu, V.P.Suhara, K.K.Koch, M.D.Thomas, A.K.Ramakrishnan and N.Subrahmanian spoke.Sanni Kapikkad welcomed the gathering. M.B.Manoj proposed vote of thanks. Elizabeth Philip and Reshma Bharadwaj presided.A documentary by Shibi Peter,"Chengara: A Land Struggle in Kerala" was shown.Messages by Satchidanandan and BRPBhaskar were read out by Reshma R and Smitha. About 300 concerned people participated . Those who signed the minutes includes Avaneeth,Sarat Cheloor,Justin T Varghese, KTRajikumar, Preetha C, Adv.Asha KK< ravi Jose, Anil Jose, Biji,Dr.Abdul Salam,ShijuKGeorge,NRSanthosh,MVUnni,TKSatheeshan,PPSanthosh,TASijeeshKumar,K.G.Sivadas, P.K.Sreekumar, Renzon V M, M.N.Giri,Geo Jose, Gipson AC, Dr.K.Gopinathan, Reny Ajline, Jiji George,Kavitha,Savad Rahman, Jaison C Kooper,P.V.Alby,Santhosh MD, U.R.Rajamohan, Simon John,Kaladharan Paravoor,Adv.Biji Mathew,N.R.Levin, Mythri Prasad,Deepesh,Antony,T.A.supran,S.Aneesh,S.Rajeevan,R.Parthasarathy,Balan,Rajesh CR,Roopesh R,Ammini Kunjhan,Sajan CM,C.K.Janu, Adv.Shaji Joseph,Rajendra Prasad,john Joseph,Sunil.G,Sudheendran,jeeva,Jenni,P/J/Manuel,Johnson, Asha Joseph,Satheesan,Sreeraman koyyon,Abhilosh AJ,Sajan PM,Deepa Vasudevan,Sivakeerthi R,Anoop VR,Anju J,MSAugustine,KCPonnappan,NManoj,Smitha PV,Thashi Bharadwaj,Seena antony,Kani,Reshma R,Sr.Molly,K.V.Bhadrakumari,K.Venugopalan,MARajappan,KPJayan,NBalakrishnan,EPJoseph,KAAyyappan,BTGeorge,Robin Keraleeyam,Raveendran OP,Wilson Isac,C.R.Neelakantan,MMohandas,Ranjini Krishnan,K.R.Manoj,K.M.Venugopalan,Binish Thomas,Preetha KK and Prakash Ramdas. -- Dileep R I thuravoor --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth at googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth-unsubscribe at googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- From taraprakash at gmail.com Sat May 3 23:51:42 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 14:21:42 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Mob justice: Religion? References: <9685c0f30805021410l3687b626o9df9feb719556355@mail.gmail.com><485a09250805022309m4a4f8436w899bef5a039d0351@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <015e01c8ad4a$8bc30c60$6400a8c0@taraprakash> A killing that has sparked debate on blasphemy laws in Pakistan Nirupama Subramanian -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Over 4,000 blasphemy cases have been registered since the law came into existence. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blasphemy is an offence punishable by death in Pakistan, but Jagdeesh Kumar's co-workers did not allow him the luxury of a court hearing even under this infamous law. Instead, the 20-year-old Hindu youth was simply lynched by his co-workers in the factory where he was employed for allegedly making blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad. The April 8 incident has once again spurred debate in Pakistan on the levels of religious intolerance in the country and on sections 295-B and 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, together known as the blasphemy laws. A Human Rights Commission of Pakistan fact-finding team that visited the leather factory in Karachi's Korangi Industrial Area the day after the macabre incident has recorded that Jagdeesh was lynched in the presence of several policemen who did nothing to prevent the incident. According to Abdul Hai of the Sindh chapter of the HRCP who was in the fact-finding team, the altercation between Jagdish Kumar and his co-workers began at 10 a.m. , and was first settled by a factory supervisor within a few minutes. The HRCP says a personal dispute was the reason for the fight. An hour or so later, the workers attacked him again, alleging that he had made blasphemous comments. At this point, the factory's security guards rescued Jagdeesh, taking him to the guard room, where he remained under their protection. Meanwhile, the factory called the police. But despite the presence of a number of policemen in the premises, and outside, a massive mob of workers collected at the guardroom, and eventually broke down its doors and lynched Jagdeesh Kumar. "My boy went to Karachi so he could bring in some rupees to feed the family," said his father Prabhu Lal, a 65-year-old former beedi roller in Mirpur Khas, a district in the Thar desert with a sizeable Hindu population near Pakistan's border with Rajasthan. "But we got his body instead. This is the biggest injustice that could have been done to my son and to me and my family." The Karachi police have since arrested three workers from the factory where Jagdish was done to death. But the victim's family believes that in order to be let off or treated with lenience, the killers are using the blasphemy accusation to justify a murder committed for other reasons. "We don't know enough about our own religion to talk about, how can we dare to talk about another religion? It is impossible that Jagdeesh would have said anything against Islam," said Ashok Kumar, a neighbour of the family. The family fear that unless the police expose the "real" motive behind his killing, the blasphemy charge against Jagdish could "stain" and endanger the lives of the entire family. Some see a direct link between Jagdeesh's killing and Pakistan's blasphemy laws that were added on to the Pakistan Penal Code section relating to "offences against religion" between 1982 and 1986. Sub section 295-B of 1982 prescribes life imprisonment for defiling or desecrating the Koran. Sub section 295-C of 1986 lays down that "whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine". Vague complexity of the law According to one analyst writing in Dawn, "the explanation for [Jagdeesh's] co-workers' criminal conduct is to be found in the vague complexity of the law which leaves every individual free to view the 'imputation, innuendo or insinuation, directly or indirectly' in the light of his own conviction or as indoctrinated by the mullah." More than 4,000 blasphemy cases have been registered since the law came into existence. Convictions are rare, and no one has yet been hanged for it, but in dozens of instances, the accused have been killed by mobs. In 2005, a mob in the town of Spin Kakh gave chase to Ashiq Nabi for alleged blasphemy and shot him dead as he tried to escape by climbing up a tree. His wife had reportedly held up a Koran for protection during a fight with Nabi, and when he pushed her, the book fell on the floor. A local maulvi filed charges of blasphemy against Nabi, but instead of waiting for the police to arrest him, incited townspeople over the loudspeaker of the local mosque to go after him. Very often, the law is used to target members of the minority community, and several time, has also been used by Muslims against each other to settle personal scores. The 2008 annual report of the non-government Human Rights Commission of Pakistan details several cases in which people have been charged with the offence on the basis of flimsy evidence. In most cases, the accused languish in prison until their cases are decided, but even behind bars, they live in fear of violence against them by other inmates. The fears of being set upon only increase after acquittal and release. The Dawn article cited an instance in which four brothers were found by a court to have been falsely accused of blasphemy by a village rival. By the time the case was decided, they had spent six years in jail. Fearing retaliation after their release, the four soon fled Pakistan. In its 2008 annual report, the HRCP comments that a growing number of Muslims in Pakistan had begun to feel that the only true version of Islam is the one they practise, and as the State had failed in its duty to protect the interests of the religion "that it is their religious duty to enforce it on all and sundry by deploying all possible means, including the use of force against those who do not fall in line". The report said this was also one reason for the unchecked growth of extremism and militancy in Pakistan. Human rights activists believe that the failure of the government to take exemplary action against vigilantism in the name of religion encourages people to take the law into their hands, or misuse it with impunity. Unable to counter "The kind of extremism that has been displayed in [the Jagdeesh Kumar] case, there are likely to be many more such sad incidents because governments are unable to counter it firmly," said HRCP director I.A. Rehman. Mr. Rehman said it would take Pakistan "a long time" to rectify the situation because no government was prepared to antagonise conservative elements in the country. In 2000, President Pervez Musharraf tried to make changes to the implementation of the blasphemy law so that the complaint could be made only to a senior police officer, but he had to back down in the face of opposition from religious hardliners. Mr. Rehman said the HRCP did not include the repeal of the blasphemy laws in the 16-point programme that it forwarded to the new government as "Pakistan is not yet ready for this". But the rights group has demanded the abolition of the death penalty, which will indirectly bring changes to the blasphemy law. Moderate and progressive voices in the electronic and print media are urging Pakistan's new government to come down heavily on those who were responsible for Jagdeesh's killing in order to send out an unequivocal message that religious vigilantism will not be tolerated. A few days after Jagdeesh's killing, the Sindh chief minister sent a Hindu member of the Provincial Assembly to Mirpur Khas to meet the family and assure them that justice would be done. But the family is too scared to follow up on that assurance and ensure that Jagdeesh's killers were brought to book. "Some people have been saying to me that I should go to Karachi and demand justice. But I'm frightened of the consequences," Prabhu Lal said. The only course of action open to him, the bereaved father said, was to keep his head down and hope for the best. From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Sat May 3 23:54:06 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 23:54:06 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] K.Satchidanandan's message to national Convention supporting , Chengara Land Struggle Message-ID: <481CADC6.1050209@gmail.com> Forwarding KSatchidanandan's message to national Convention supporting Chengara. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *satchidanandan k* Date: Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:35 PM *MESSAGE* I believe that the land struggle at Chengara is more than a struggle for land; it is a political struggle for identity and citizenship, and marks a new phase in the history of democratic struggles in Kerala.It is different from many earlier struggles in that it is not being led by any single political party, but is a voluntary struggle entirely initiated by the landless people quite a lot of whom are adivasis who have suffered criminal neglect and marginalisation for several centuries.It may seem strange that it in fact takes up a struggle that had been left unfinished by the traditional Left in Kerala as the land reforms had not done anything for the landless adivasi people or even the landless peasants as they were given only residential land and not land for pursuing agriculture which is their only source of livelihood in the underidustrialised Kerala.The land reforms, in short ,did not resolve the problem of the landless labourers, but only intervened in the opposition between the landlords and the tenants. The Chengara people's struggle assumes special significance at a time when more and more peasants, dalits and adivasis are being robbed of their land and their traditional, life-giving habitat and driven to starvation and suicide as a result of the neo-Capitalist development policies pursued by the State and its representatives in the various states who create special economic zones for the cannibalistic capitalists at the cost of the poor and the marginalised.We found this reactionary policy raising its ugly heads in Singur and Nandigram and the consequent resistance put up by the affected local populations.Thus this strggle also represents the quest for alternative modes of development that are sustainable, free from environmental hazards and do not impoverish and kill the already half-dead people of the localities being turned into new industrial and commercial hubs.It is also a continuation of the anti-colonial struggle since it was during the colonial rule that the forests were turned into private colonial property thus alienating the adivasis from their own land and robbing them of their means of livelihood. The struggle is also important as an attempt to organise the unorganised landless people who had little bargaining power because of the very fact of their being unorganised.Here is an attempt to redefine the concept of the class struggle on more realistic and historical foundations at the time of aggressive globalisation and the anti-people neo-liberal economic policies. It is an attempt to formulate new forms of popular organisation and resistance fit for the new age ,away from its institutionalised forms.Thus it also engages with Power in its new manifestations and seeks to politicise day-to-day discourses so far held to have been non-political and inaugurates a series of micro-struggles that seek to radically alter our systems of thinking and fighting and of governance.It is precisely this newness of the struggle and its non-traditional approach to the very idea of resistance and the collapsing of categories traditionally held to be contradictory , that has created embarassment and neurosis in its opponents from the right wing as well as the traditional left. I wish the Convention all success and hope that the struggle will find its fulfilment and revolutionise our understanding of society and of resistance.I also urge the Government to intervene positively and reopen the dialogue with the people engaged in the struggle at Chengara, a dialogue that seems to have been closed even before it had begun. In solidarity, K.Satchidanandan. From indersalim at gmail.com Sun May 4 00:35:16 2008 From: indersalim at gmail.com (inder salim) Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 00:35:16 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <47e122a70805031205x1ac3dac6rf2938f398d7095d7@mail.gmail.com> I think Dr. Iqbal is the only exception whom one can say to have those so called community feelings. He too had a vision for a new Muslim world, like Karl Marx had for the labourers of the world..... representatives of both, failed them, miserably, but both of them cant be blamed for their visions... ( the comparison is just to make the point, beyond that there is hardly any possibility ) that is that.... with Ghalib one can never say that he had those community feelings....he was really a poet....from another world...Love was flowing in his veins like blood....if he had expressed his feelings for Muslim community it must be seen from that universal perespective of a poet. He was a Sufi in a real sense. Hum Mohid hain, Humara keash hai tarkay rasoom, Milatian jab mit gaieen, aijazay eeman ho gaieen. What Hali wrote... must be..that Muslim communities should realize that potential, that they gave a Ghalib to the world.... why not now even....in many other senses.... I have none of the hallmarks of a Muslim; why is it that every humiliation that the Muslims suffer pains and grieves me so much?" If one re-reads the above line... one can see how he feels distanced from the orthodoxy and mundanity of his own community... and yet he can't distance himself from the pain and suffering of society of which is an integral part... that is how great he was... and these days .... whenever i pass through the vicinity where Ghalib once lived his olden days... i feel his face in the faces of muslim living and working there.... i love them all..... with Ghalib's blessings love to all is On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 4:21 PM, mahmood farooqui wrote: > Despite Ghalib's avowed unorthodoxy he felt himself to be a part of the > Muslim community. Hali writes: > > 'Although he paid very little regard to the outward observances of Islam, > whenever he heard of any misfortune befalling the Muslims it grieved him > deeply. One day in my presence when he was lamenting some such occurrence, > he said, "I have none of the hallmarks of a Muslim; why is it that every > humiliation that the Muslims suffer pains and grieves me so much?" > > (From Ghalib-Life and Letters, Ralph Russell and Khurshidul Islam.) > > Bugger...khud to mar gaye aur hamare liye problem chhor gaye... > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From tigerfood08 at aol.com Sun May 4 07:24:01 2008 From: tigerfood08 at aol.com (Tiger Food) Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 21:54:01 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Introduction Message-ID: Hello, namaste, salaam! I have just joined your list. For some time now an Indian friend had been forwarding some your interesting conversations ... reflect the general ferment taking place in India I guess ... and I thought it would be kind of nice to jump in myself. No worries - I will try not to be a nuisance. But if I am, at any point, do not hesitate to let me know! Best wishes, TF Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. --Confucius From taraprakash at gmail.com Sun May 4 10:03:26 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 00:33:26 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] How can Democrats support someone downright Republican? Message-ID: <00b601c8ada0$01e84130$6400a8c0@taraprakash> All this sports bar chatter and talk of the gas tax are temporary gimmicks that will have their day and pass. The larger Clinton strategy is to portray Obama as suspect on the issue of national security. ” Earlier in this primary season, Hillary Clinton warned Democrats that if Barack Obama won the Democratic presidential nod, he would wilt under attacks from the GOP in the fall. Lately, as if to prove her point, she's been running a pretty good imitation of a Republican campaign herself. It's not just the video of her chatting up Bill O'Reilly on his conservative TV talk show on Fox News, or the endorsement from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and its wealthy right-wing publisher, Richard Mellon Scaife. It's more about the issues she's emphasizing and the lines of attack she's opened on her rival. Lately, her big idea has been to suspend the gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day -- a gas tax holiday. It has become her emblem of solidarity with working families. Never mind that her campaign could not name a single expert who thought this was a good idea. And never mind that it was already the centerpiece of Republican John McCain's anti-recession package. It was enough that the gas tax idea got applause at rallies and that Obama was opposed. It gave her another chance to portray herself as down-to-earth and Obama as elitist. Truth is, there are few ways to sound more Republican than by calling for a tax holiday. It plays into the essential Republican contention that taxes are the chief cause of economic discomfort and unfairness for working families and the middle class. The gas tax is a special case in point. It's been Republican doctrine for generations that taxes crank up the cost of a tank of gas. Some stations used to put out signs listing all the taxes included in the price at the pump. It's not the oil companies who are sticking you up, they seem to be saying, it's the government. In fact, the 18-cent-per-gallon federal tax does not go up as the cost of gas does, so it becomes a smaller and smaller proportion of the cost we all pay as prices (and oil company profits) hit record levels. And that's not even to mention the ecological arguments for discouraging gas consumption. None of that matters to the Clinton campaign right now, because the gas tax holiday is not about the economy, the energy crisis or the environment. It's a psychological device to establish empathy. It's this week's version of having the candidate belly up to a blue collar bar for a shot and a beer. Hillary Clinton looked a little ridiculous knocking them back in Pennsylvania, but it was better than the sight of Obama rolling gutter balls. Note to future candidates: power drinking beats bowling because it is very difficult to miss one's mouth. All this sports bar chatter and the gas tax are temporary gimmicks that will have their day and then pass into history. The larger Clinton strategy is to portray Obama as suspect on the issue of national security. Remember the red phone ringing at 3 a.m.? It started ringing nearly two months ago and has yet to be answered by any of those sleeping, innocent children, one of who resembles a juvenile version of the junior senator from Illinois. It's a Clinton ad, of course, but the first time you see it you could swear it's an ad for McCain. What could be more familiar than the Republican candidate pillorying the Democrat as a peacenik? After the April 16 debate in Philadelphia, when Obama complained about the focus of the questions and argumentative nature of the moderators, Clinton all but called him a cry baby. Her next ad on the air was a lecture on all the tough calls a president has to make in the Oval Office, capped with the Truman dictum: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Their assault has been largely successful, as it has been for candidates in both parties over the years. Few now remember, but John F. Kennedy ran against the Eisenhower-Nixon administration in 1960 from the right on national security. Among other things, he decried the supposed superiority of the Soviet nuclear arsenal and the failure to project U.S. power in defense of certain islands off the coast of "Red China." More recently, the flag-waving and fear-mongering campaigns have been run by conservative activists and ad makers such as Karl Rove, Lee Atwater and Roger Ailes. They have helped the GOP win seven of the last 10 presidential elections by painting a succession of Democratic candidates as liberal, elitist, irreligious, weak and out of touch -- a bad bet for a country striving to hold off foreign enemies. Theirs is the playbook from which many of the current Clinton tactics seem to have been borrowed. It is a game plan many of Clinton's current advisors have themselves have struggled against in the past. This is their chance to make it their own. And they are making the most of it. From afthab.e at gmail.com Sun May 4 02:01:43 2008 From: afthab.e at gmail.com (Afthab Ellath) Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 00:31:43 +0400 Subject: [Reader-list] [GreenYouth] Free Binayak Sen Film Festival In-Reply-To: <35f96d470805030126v63e76720r94b2f3127d78e7c1@mail.gmail.com> References: <35f96d470805030126v63e76720r94b2f3127d78e7c1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <12bfa3620805031331i6aadd1fft21bc09d46bbfe2f6@mail.gmail.com> There was another arrest of a doctor (Mohammed Hanif) in Australia three months later to that of Dr Binayak Sen's. After the initial witch hunt, Indian mainstream media and Intellectuals became the guards of human rights immediately after they made sure that Australian human rights activists will bring him out of prison... But Dr Sen will be always in the memory hole, if not hunted by them... On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:26 PM, Anivar Aravind wrote: > > Free Binayak Sen Film Festival > http://binayaksen.net/film-festival/ > > 14 May 2008 will mark one year of imprisonment for Dr Binayak Sen, the > well-known public health and civil rights activist, arrested on false > charges of 'assisting' the Maoist insurgency in Chattisgarh. > > In a nation where increasingly the medical profession is becoming > synonymous with unbridled commercial greed Dr Sen dedicated his entire > professional life to the free service of people in the remotest > villages. > > In a country, which has health indicators worse than that of > sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Sen passionately worked for setting up low cost > models of healthcare accessible to the poor. > > And in a land where the problems of public health are deeply > intertwined with the gross violations of the Indian Constitution by > state agencies themselves Dr Sen fought for ensuring democratic rights > of ordinary people. > > Dr Sen's detention as a 'threat to national security' stands therefore > as a challenge to every Indian who aspires for a humane, democratic > and civilized India. > > To mark the first anniversary of the arrest of Dr Sen, on 14 May 2008 > and to call for his immediate release the Free Binayak Sen Film > Festival is being organised by concerned citizens and groups around > the country. The package of 10 documentaries, presented in this > Festival, highlight the issues of human rights and public health and > deal with themes ranging from nutrition, greed of drug companies, > environmental pollution and state atrocities. > > They are meant to make all those who watch them wake up and more > importantly resist the Silent Emergency that is creeping upon us in > front of our very eyes. > > Given along with this letter is a list of the 10 films along with a > brief synopsis. All groups interested in receiving the package of > films for organizing the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival in their areas > of work are requested to send the name of their organization, postal > address and tentative date of screening to - Wilfred Dcosta, INSAF, > New Delhi, insaf at vsnl.com, Ph:011-26517814/ 65663958 . The package is > meant to be screened mostly in the month of May, particularly around > 14 May, the first anniversary of Dr Sen's arrest. > > For further information contact: > > * K.P.Sasi, Bangalore kpsasi36 at gmail.com Ph: 09945282056 > * Sarat Chandran, Eranakulam sarat at thirdeyefilms.com Ph: > 09446426433 > * Satya Sivaraman , New Delhi satyasagar at gmail.com ph: > 09818514952 > * Anivar Aravind, Bangalore anivar at movingrepublic.org Ph: > 080-23435606 > * V.Srinivasan, Chennai srini59 at gmail.com Ph: 09840081114 > > For Details of the package checkout http://binayaksen.net/film-festival/ > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Green Youth Movement" group. > To post to this group, send email to greenyouth at googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > greenyouth-unsubscribe at googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB > -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- > > -- Regards Afthab Ellath From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Sun May 4 12:47:02 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 12:17:02 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: References: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Dear Asith, Lalsallam, I empathise with your anguish and anxiety about the wretched on the mother eart, who have to struggle for a square meal a day, work for a pittance to earn the meal for their family and children. Here there is no blame game, as we are collectively in the system, which is part of us, we are part of the system, qualitative change has to come from within us, not by charity but by facilitating good basic education to all in the society, extending opportunity to each in the society to have earning skills, not by quotas and reservations in education, but by extending education and earning skills at the tender age of schooling, extending vocation skills and pass marks have nothing to do with success in life, but will to have dignified life is the motivator. By reserving the national exchequer to extend good education, vocation skills, to EACH of the child irrespective of the caste and faith each citizen will change the system. The present scenario of quota and reservation for the job market has only lead to socialism of distributing poverty equally, and capitalism which allows the rich to be more rich, thanks to our mixed economy of socialism and capitalism. ! Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Asit asitreds Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008 3:19 pm Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net Cc: we wi , reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > well why doesnt the mother earth forgive the wretched of the > earth who toil > for long hrs and dont even get two sqare meals a day,now coming to > growingup in culture of tolerance are you kidding this is the most > intolerantsociety in the world have you forgotten gujrat taslima > and going back to > centuries eklavya and shambuk near people from kerala know how > tolerant were > the uppercaste if a dalit woman tried to cover her breast > asit > > On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:35 PM, wrote: > > > Kshamaya Dharithri, > > > > mother earth always forgives, may be we have to be more > tolerent of the > > naughty ? Having brought up in with the culture of tolerence and > > understanding the other point of view, may be prakash wants my > eyes to > > adjust the sights to "see" his thoughts from minds eyes, but > well, having > > seasoned thru all sights and sounds of different thoughts, > nothing is more > > real than to be good human, compassionate yet stern if deviant > behaviour is > > seen in individuals, as mahatma said, to be part of untruth is > bigger sin > > than being untruthful. ? To tolerate sin and be silent is > moresinful than > > committing the sin itself. ? > > > > Regards. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: we wi > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 8:06 pm > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net, Asit asitreds > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > > > > > Hmm, > > > > > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" > > > are power full and naughty. > > > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would > > > have questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or > > > CONTACT LENSES. The problem is they could not express very > > > straight/direct. > > > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of > > > that and their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > > > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior > > > or superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that > > > they are advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > > > > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not > > > wrong. > > > > > > Regards, > > > Dhatri. > > > > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > > > Prakash, > > > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the > > > gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > > > :- ) Best regards. > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Asit asitreds > > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > > To: prakash ray > > > > > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > > > > > dear freinds and comrades > > > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful > > > if not > > > > respectful > > > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of > > > chicago > > > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood > > > after > > > > being shot by > > > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > > > rights we > > > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles > > > it > > > > is for > > > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall > > > world of > > > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and > > > entertainmentparks, > > > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue > > > advertising > > > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > > > politicaltheorist > > > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of > > > centuries of > > > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class > boundaries> > > asit > > > > > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > > > > > Prakash > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list- > request at sarai.net with > > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > > list> > List archive: > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > > > with > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > > > list > > > > List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > > list > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > > > Try it now. > > > From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Sun May 4 12:53:42 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 12:23:42 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <48c2916d0805030016t1c798275j966bac5dae98ef2d@mail.gmail.com> References: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <48c2916d0805030016t1c798275j966bac5dae98ef2d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: jealousy thy name is............., come on have some space for all thoughts, ! ----- Original Message ----- From: Aarti Sethi Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008 12:47 pm Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: we wi Cc: radhikarajen at vsnl.net, Asit asitreds , reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > Again we are fortunate to have received a signature Dhatri mail. > What would > we do without you Dhatri? I sometimes think you have been sent to > this list > as a farishta by the gods to remind us always how tenous our grip on > rationality actually is, and serve as a constant warning of the > feverishswirling mists that lie, oh so nearby! > > Thank you > > A > > On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 8:06 PM, we wi wrote: > > > Hmm, > > > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" > are power > > full and naughty. > > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would have > > questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or CONTACT > LENSES. The > > problem is they could not express very straight/direct. > > > > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of > that and > > their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or > inferior or > > superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that they are > > advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not > wrong.> > > Regards, > > Dhatri. > > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > > Prakash, > > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the > gift of > > workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > > :- ) Best regards. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Asit asitreds > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > To: prakash ray > > > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > > > dear freinds and comrades > > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to > grateful if not > > > respectful > > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of chicago > > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood after > > > being shot by > > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > > rights we > > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and > struggles it > > > is for > > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall > world of > > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and entertainmentparks, > > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue advertising > > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > > politicaltheorist > > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of > centuries of > > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class > boundaries> > asit > > > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > > wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > > > Prakash > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > with> > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > > list > > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! > Mobile. Try it > > now. > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > > From shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com Sun May 4 13:34:18 2008 From: shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com (Shambhu Rahmat) Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:04:18 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Sajek: Fact Finding Committee # 1 Message-ID: This is the first fact-finding team report of Bengali settler attacks on Jumma/Pahari people in CHT. A second team releases its report Monday. ######### http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2008/04/27/sajek/ 20th April 2008 Incident at Sajek Union, under Rangamati District, Chittagong Hill Tracts. Fact Finding Committee Report We learnt from the daily newspapers that seven villages in Baghaichari had been burnt to the ground, including more than a hundred homes of Paharis and Bengalis, that Paharis and Bengalis were blaming each other for the incident. It was difficult to get a clear picture of what had happened on the basis of media reports. Beside that, most daily newspapers quoted ISPR, the Army news agency as its news source. In this situation, we felt it was urgent that we go there ourselves, and try to found out what had happened. A team of fourteen consisting of political activists, a university teacher, a journalist, cultural and student activisits and leaders, left for Sajek on 26 April 2008. The team was led by Moshrefa Mishu, convenor, Biplobi Oikko Front. >From the morning of 27 April to 30 April 2008, we went to the area where the incident took place, and also to other places in Marishya in Baghaichori, Dui Tila, Kobakhali in Dighinala, Sadhana Tila, Lichu Bagan, Moner Manush, Chongrachori as well as surrounding habitations, markets, forest area, garden and hillocks. We spoke to both Paharis and Bengalis, and also to some of the victims of the Sajek incident. We strongly feel that general members of the public should be informed about what we saw, heard and observed, and the conclusions that we reached on the basis of our fact-finding exercise. This is the reason for this press conference. To ascertain what had truly happened on the night of 20th April in Sajek, our investigation team left for Sajek from Khagrachari. On the morning of 27th April, before we could reach the affected area, our investigation team was stopped at Baghaihat Zone. We were asked to get out of our cars, write our full names at the army camp gate, our bags were checked and list of items were prepared. After this we were taken inside the camp on orders of its second in command, Major Kabir. While we were waiting, Major Hafiz came and told us that in the current situation, it would be dangerous for us to visit the area, that we would not be permitted to go there because of concerns about our personal safety. Major Kabir came into the area where we were seated, and we were asked to introduce ourselves again, to re-enter our names and address in the identity record book. Both majors reminded us of the kidnapping of Danida employee Shumon a few months earlier. We were advised to return to Khagrachari. While we were talking, an army official came and began taking our photographs with a still camera. After a while, he began to use a video camera, and to take our photographs from different angles. We could not help but think: if we could not go to the area then why take our photographs? Was our personal safety the major concern? For the next two days, we went on field visits outside Sajek. Each army camp that we came across, seemed to know about us. There are two zones in Khagrachari, and both combined have more than 18 army camps. While on the road, we were stopped several times and asked where we had come from, where we were going, etc. Our vehicles were stopped and inspected, we were asked to come out of our cars. The Committee's experience convinced its members that concerns over their personal safety was not the issue. What struck them was the army's ability to exercise power. On 27th April, when we were stopped at the army camp in Baghaihat Zone, Major Kabir narrated the incidents of 20 th April. After his narration, the army officials changed their mind and decided to let us visit the affected area. But this was to be under their supervision, and in army vehicles. We were bundled into two army vehicles, and taken to only one of the four affected villages. Major Hafiz and Major Kabir accompanied us, alongwith twelve soldiers, in an army pickup. We were permitted to stay there for 20 minutes, then brought back. When we said we wanted to go to the three other villages (Purbopara, Retkaba, Baibacchora), we were told there was no need, that we would be met by similar scenes. While passing Baghaihat market area, we saw burnt houses on both sides of the road. The village we were taken to, Gangarammuk Dor, was deserted, and looked more like a burial ground. As we stood there, Buddhi Ranjan Chakma, a Pahari, suddenly appeared, rushed to Moshrefa Mishu, leader of the Fact Finding Committee, held her tight, and began recounting the events of 20th April. He wept and said that Bengali settlers were responsible for the arson attack of 20th April. This incident took place in front of the army members who had taken us there. Major Kabir quickly intervened, in a manner which prevented us from speaking further with Buddhi Ranjan Chakma. Another Pahari came up to us and whispered, we are not allowed to say anything. He was too afraid, he said, to tell us his name. We saw a Bengali settler, we learnt from him that the settlers were staying at the local market, under the supervision of the army. We learnt that the affected Paharis, who were feeling terrified, had taken refuge in the local Buddhist Bihar (five hundred feet from the Gangarammuk Dor army camp). Some Paharis had taken refuge in the forest and in the homes of relatives. We were not allowed to walk more than two hundred feet away from the place where we had gotten down from the army vehicle. We were asked to return to the army vehicles under armed guard, and were forced to leave the area. While in the affected area, we also learnt that forcible acquisition of land by Bengali settlers has increased since the state of emergency was declared on 11 January, 2007. Bengali settlers are building houses on the occupied pieces of land. This bit of information was substantiated by both Paharis and Bengalis, when we inspected adjoining areas. Subsequently, we managed to meet Pahari victims of Sajek. One of them, who did not wish to reveal his name, told us: "Last January, our houses were grabbed by the settlers, under the leadership of Shomo Andolon leader Golam Mowla. We don't get a chance to speak when council office meetings are held. When the Raja (Devasish Roy) came to visit, the army camp ordered us not to speak to him. On the night of 20th April, it was very hot, and I was sitting outside the house that I had raised after the January attacks. Suddenly I heard some Bengalis shouting "Narae Takbir Allahu Akbar". I could see fire in the distance. I could hear Paharis shouting "Ujo, Ujo" (advance). At this time, I saw an army vehicle. By then, both my house and other surrounding houses had caught fire. On the one hand, our houses were burning, while on the other, the settlers were looting." When we visited Baghaichori Marishya, Dui Tila, Kobakhali in Dighinala, Sadhana Tila, Chongrachori and other areas over the next couple of days, we saw more evidence of state-supported land-grabbing, Bengali occupation of Pahari land by force, and the setting up of new settlements. The picture was the same in all areas: since 11 January 2007, the process of Bengali settlers grabbing Pahari land has accelerated, this is happening under the supervision of the armed forces. We saw the following: 1. Bengalis have houses which are temporary shelters, with only four khuti (pillar). There are hundreds of such homes in the Dui Tila area. We spoke to Bengali inhabitants, who told us that they live there for short periods only (see attached picture 1). 2. Members of the Fact Finding Committee found that most Bengalis have two houses, the more elaborate ones are lived-in permanently. Dighinala and Lichu Bagan are 12 kilometers apart, while travelling from one place to the other, we saw only Bengali houses, clustered on either side of the road. We counted three madrasas, more than one mosque, and Bengali shops standing by the roadside. We interviewed settlers who told us that they had received 4 acres and 1/70th land in Lichubagan (for cultivation), and the remaining 1/30th land on BetChari (for living). 3. We encountered similar processes in Dui Tila and Chongrachori. When we went inside Bengali homes, we saw only a few utensils, and no bedding or other household items. When asked, they admitted that they were given 4 acres and 1/70th land here, and the rest, 1/30th portion in the more populated areas, for living. The settlers informed us that the local administration had told them that these lands belong to the government, not the Paharis. Therefore, Bengalis have just as much right to this land. This area is guarded by soldiers who patrol at night. Major Kabir, second-in-command of Baghaihat zone told us: "Some external terrorists from outside Sajek have set these fires. There is no conflict between Bengalis and Paharis in this area. Those who set the fire don't want the current communal harmony between Bengalis and Paharis to stay intact. Since they want to create a terrorist center in this area, they try to keep both sides agitated." Even though army officials claimed that there was "communal harmony," the fact remains that tension and conflict prevails in the area over land grabbing of Bengali settlers. So how can there be "communal harmony"? On the contrary, we think that words like "terrorist attack" are often used to hide the administration's role in assisting Bengali settlers to forcefuly occupy Pahari land. Many incidents of violent attacks of Pahari villages by Bengali settlers exist. For instance, the Mahalcchari incident of 26 August 2003 when ten Pahari villages were attacked by settler Bengalis, with Army support, leading to the death of a former Union Parishad chairman, and a child. Or, the Maishcchari incident of 4 April 2006, when Bengali settlers occupied the land of a Buddhist temple. In the subsequent conflict, 4 Pahari villages were burnt to the ground, a Buddhist monk was attacked, and four teenage girls were raped. These are only two among many such incidents. During the Fact Finding Committee's visit, another incident of arson took place. On 28 April 2008, a Bengali settler's house was set on fire around 10 pm, in an area where the army was on patrol. The army immediately arrested Rabindra Chakma (22, father's name, Shashimohon Chakma), Shushil Chakma (26, father's name, Lakhmichandra Chakma), Ratna Bikash Chakma (22, father's name, Gunobir Chakma), and Shangram Chakma (22, father's name, Ashok Kumar Chakma). The next day, the national dailies reported the arrest of three Paharis. We are concerned about the fourth arrestee, and generally-speaking, about the fate of all those arrested. Based on the investigation carried out by the Fact Finding Committee, we demand: 1. The immediate formation of an independent judicial committee to investigate the Sajek incident, and that the judicial report be completed and made publicly available within 6 days of this press conference. 2. The Chittagong Hill Tracts area should be opened up to the national media in the interests of the right to know, and the free dissemination of information. 3. Work should immediately begin on the preparation and publication of a White Paper on past incidents of killing, rape and oppression in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. 4. Land grabbing and oppression of the Paharis should cease immediately. Members of the Fact Finding Committee: 1. Moshrefa Mishu, convenor, Biplobi Oikko Front. 2. Dr. Manosh Chowdhury, professor, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University. 3. Udisa Islam, journalist 4. Rico Chakma, chairman, Greater Pahari Student Parishad 5. Manjurul Ahsan, convenor, Shangskritir Naya Shetu 6. Md Arifuzzaman, member, Shangskritir Naya Shetu 7. Nurur Rahman, convenor, Biplabi Chatra Jubo Andolan 8. Saifuddin Sohel, organizer, Biplabi Chatra Jubo Andolan, Chittagong branch 9. Sohan, Garments Workers Unity Forum 10. Nepali Chakma, member, Hill Womens Federation 11. Rina Chakma, organizational editor, Hill Womens Federation 12. Shahadat Hussain, Jatiyo Biplabi Front 13. Asif Akbar, poet and little magazine worker 14. Nisha Chakma, student, Khagrachari From aarti.sethi at gmail.com Sun May 4 18:34:01 2008 From: aarti.sethi at gmail.com (Aarti Sethi) Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 18:34:01 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <48c2916d0805040604l20bcc5b6k7e05a4378ae6b92d@mail.gmail.com> Dear Dhatri, The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded newspaper. Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript curiosity, and from the flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of printer's ink. I heard it said in my youth that the smell of hot bread is intolerable to sick people, but I repeat that the flowers smell of printer's ink. The trees themselves are only more or less interesting minor news items: a fire here, a derailment there. As for the animals, they have long since withdrawn from the commerce of men; with these latter, women now have only episodic relations, that are like shop windows early in the morning when the head window dresser goes out into the street to see the effect of the waves of ribbon, the slots, the wheedling winks of mannequins. The majority of this newspaper I am looking through is devoted, properly speaking, to ship movements and places to vacation in the country, a column that occupies a fine place at the top of the first page. It says there, in particular, that tomorrow I shall go to Cyprus. At the bottom of the fourth page the newspaper has an unusual fold that I can describe as follows: it looks as if it has been wrapped around a metallic object, judging by a rusty spot that might be a forest, and this metallic object might be a weapon of an unfamiliar shape, akin to the dawn and a large Empire bed. The writer signing the fashion column, near the aforementioned forest, speaks a most obscure language in which I nonetheless believe that I can make out that the negligee of the young bride will be ordered this season at the Partridge Company, a new department store that has just opened in the Glacière district. The author, who seems to be particularly interested in the trousseaus of young women, emphasizes that these latter are free to change their body linen for soul linen in the event of a divorce. I go on to read a few advertisements, well-written ones, in which contradiction plays a lively role: it really served as a hand-blotter in this advertising agency. The light–which, moreover is very poor–that falls on the fattest letters, this very same light is celebrated by great poets with an abundance of detail that does not allow it to be judged other than by analogy with white hair, for example. There is also a remarkable view of the sky, in the very same style as business letterheads showing a factory with all its chimneys smoking. Politics, finally, which it seems to me has been given scant space, tends above all to govern good relations between men of different metal, the first rank of which is occupied by calcium men. In the minutes of the seances in the chamber, as simple as a chemistry report, they have been more than partial: thus the movements of wings have not been recorded. It doesn't matter, since the steps that led me to this desolate shore will take me farther another time, even more desperately farther! I have only to close my eyes if I do not wish to bestow my attention, which is mechanical and therefore most unfavorable, on the Great Awakening of the regards A On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: > Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, > > "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to express the > EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya > Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic is > tolerance). Anguish or pleasure for the usage of scriptures/ancient good > words from the list lets say a,b,c,d....Z > > ---To compete your line "Kshamaya Dharitri", let me include > > Karyeshu Dasi, Karuneshu Mantri, > Bhojyeshu Mata, Shayaneshu Rambha, > Dharmeshu dharmi, Kshamaya Dharitri, > Shat Dharma yukta, kula dharma patni. > > A wife should, > > Work like a servant, have pity like a minister in a court, feed like a > mother, act like a prostitute in bed, be like Yudhistira in dharma, be like > earth in pardoning. In return what a wife expects from husband. A simple > thing. Dharmecha, arthecha, kamecha, na athi charami. He should not cross > the line in dharma, artha and kama. > > Sins are all about post life depending on the seriousness. They are just > reflections some are immediate and some are after death. As one is > struggling with so many miseries in present life ................... > Moratality, values should give food and good life. > > I understood that you felt for that comment(check your eye tested) that's > why i gave the exact meaning(how usually people mean it apart from romantic > way). Why don't prakash speak up and clarify? I do not understand what > Asit is talking about? > > > Well Parthadas gupta replied by quoting "orwells animal farm". I don't > know how many understand this comparison. As the book is all about an > English man borned at BENGAL brought up at England and his anguish against > CAPITALISM AND COMMUNALISM, by looking at the injustice in society. The > content is all about PIGS,HORSES,DONKEYS and HUMANS. I would have felt > much happier if PARTHA bring PANCHATANTRA where in the characters are also > animals. > > CAPITALISM is all about money. If money is there then ultimately POWER > and ofcourse the politics. I would like to bring SHASHIDHAROOR scenario > where in MONEY played pivotal role to the UN SECRETARY GENERAL post. > Though SHASHIDHAROOR is smart,intelligent,good looking,CAPABLE(as partha > talked about capabilities and favoritism) to HEAD UN, because of lack of > SUPPORT, poor SASHIDHAROOR writing columns to SUNDAY TIMES back in INDIA. > > It would be more use full to the INDIA if the list will respond to the > PLANNING COMMISSION mail with your valuable suggestions. > > Regards, > Dhatri. > > > > > Asit asitreds wrote: > well why doesnt the mother earth forgive the wretched of the earth who > toil for long hrs and dont even get two sqare meals a day,now coming to > growing up in culture of tolerance are you kidding this is the most > intolerant society in the world have you forgotten gujrat taslima and going > back to centuries eklavya and shambuk near people from kerala know how > tolerant were the uppercaste if a dalit woman tried to cover her breast > asit > > On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:35 PM, wrote: > Kshamaya Dharithri, > > mother earth always forgives, may be we have to be more tolerent of the > naughty ? Having brought up in with the culture of tolerence and > understanding the other point of view, may be prakash wants my eyes to > adjust the sights to "see" his thoughts from minds eyes, but well, having > seasoned thru all sights and sounds of different thoughts, nothing is more > real than to be good human, compassionate yet stern if deviant behaviour is > seen in individuals, as mahatma said, to be part of untruth is bigger sin > than being untruthful. ? To tolerate sin and be silent is moresinful than > committing the sin itself. ? > > Regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: we wi > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 8:06 pm > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > > To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net, Asit asitreds > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > > > Hmm, > > > > No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" > > are power full and naughty. > > Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would > > have questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or > > CONTACT LENSES. The problem is they could not express very > > straight/direct. > > Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of > > that and their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about > > CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior > > or superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that > > they are advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. > > > > Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not > > wrong. > > > > Regards, > > Dhatri. > > > > radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > > Prakash, > > at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the > > gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. > > :- ) Best regards. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Asit asitreds > > Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > To: prakash ray > > > > Cc: reader-list at sarai.net > > > > > dear freinds and comrades > > > when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful > > if not > > > respectful > > > the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of > > chicago > > > wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood > > after > > > being shot by > > > the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the > > > rights we > > > enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles > > it > > > is for > > > the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall > > world of > > > consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and > > entertainmentparks, > > > thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue > > advertising > > > whizkidshistory is what hurts. > > > I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant > > > politicaltheorist > > > all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of > > centuries of > > > unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class boundaries > > > asit > > > > > > On 5/2/08, prakash ray > > wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear Radikarajen, > > > > Please get your eyes checked... > > > > > > > > in good spirit... > > > > > > > > Prakash > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list> > List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > > with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > > list > > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > > Try it now. > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it > now. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > From tapasrayx at gmail.com Sun May 4 19:09:04 2008 From: tapasrayx at gmail.com (Tapas Ray) Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 09:39:04 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <48c2916d0805040604l20bcc5b6k7e05a4378ae6b92d@mail.gmail.com> References: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <48c2916d0805040604l20bcc5b6k7e05a4378ae6b92d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <481DBC78.8070107@gmail.com> Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's (Dhatri's) bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of consciousness is bravely challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, and my head spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. Tapas Aarti Sethi wrote: > Dear Dhatri, > > The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded newspaper. > Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript curiosity, and from the > flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of printer's ink. I > On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: > >> Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, >> >> "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to express the >> EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya >> Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic is From aarti.sethi at gmail.com Mon May 5 01:11:11 2008 From: aarti.sethi at gmail.com (Aarti Sethi) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 01:11:11 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <48c2916d0805040716q45a2839la865ef9a24df88fd@mail.gmail.com> References: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <48c2916d0805040604l20bcc5b6k7e05a4378ae6b92d@mail.gmail.com> <481DBC2B.4070104@gmail.com> <48c2916d0805040716q45a2839la865ef9a24df88fd@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <48c2916d0805041241p5406b50blb0d397ec4f29df85@mail.gmail.com> its breton's "soluble fish" actually (for those who were wondering)...when confronted with which strained at the seams of my, admittedly limited, capacities, I thought it best to call in the experts... On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Tapas Ray wrote: > Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's (Dhatri's) > bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of consciousness is bravely > challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, and my head > spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. > > Tapas > > > > Aarti Sethi wrote: > > > Dear Dhatri, > > > > The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded > > newspaper. > > Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript curiosity, and from > > the > > flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of printer's > > ink. I > > > > On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: > > > > Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, > > > > > > "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to express > > > the > > > EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya > > > Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic is > > > > > From taraprakash at gmail.com Mon May 5 02:03:46 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 16:33:46 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day References: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com><48c2916d0805040604l20bcc5b6k7e05a4378ae6b92d@mail.gmail.com><481DBC2B.4070104@gmail.com><48c2916d0805040716q45a2839la865ef9a24df88fd@mail.gmail.com> <48c2916d0805041241p5406b50blb0d397ec4f29df85@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <02c501c8ae26$2796e590$6500a8c0@taraprakash> Nicely chosen. A bit too generously perhaps, to dignify an undeserving mail with a response. I was also expecting a mail (ideally not from a male) deconstructing Dhatri's or whoever's suggestion that a wife should act like a prostitute in bed. Ask for money after the act? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aarti Sethi" To: "Sarai Reader List" Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:41 PM Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > its breton's "soluble fish" actually (for those who were wondering)...when > confronted with which strained at the seams of my, admittedly limited, > capacities, I thought it best to call in the experts... > > > On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Tapas Ray wrote: > >> Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's (Dhatri's) >> bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of consciousness is bravely >> challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, and my >> head >> spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. >> >> Tapas >> >> >> >> Aarti Sethi wrote: >> >> > Dear Dhatri, >> > >> > The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded >> > newspaper. >> > Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript curiosity, and >> > from >> > the >> > flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of printer's >> > ink. I >> > >> >> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: >> > >> > Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, >> > > >> > > "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to >> > > express >> > > the >> > > EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya >> > > Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic is >> > > >> > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From aarti.sethi at gmail.com Mon May 5 02:48:06 2008 From: aarti.sethi at gmail.com (Aarti Sethi) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 02:48:06 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <02c501c8ae26$2796e590$6500a8c0@taraprakash> References: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <48c2916d0805040604l20bcc5b6k7e05a4378ae6b92d@mail.gmail.com> <481DBC2B.4070104@gmail.com> <48c2916d0805040716q45a2839la865ef9a24df88fd@mail.gmail.com> <48c2916d0805041241p5406b50blb0d397ec4f29df85@mail.gmail.com> <02c501c8ae26$2796e590$6500a8c0@taraprakash> Message-ID: <48c2916d0805041418g2caf1503xf58ccdae5d3023b3@mail.gmail.com> > > I was also expecting a mail (ideally not from a male) deconstructing > Dhatri's or whoever's suggestion that a wife should act like a prostitute in > bed. ...Of which a certain feminist recovery/reading is possible I would suggest, though not perhaps in the ways the authors would approve ;) > Ask for money after the act? > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aarti Sethi" > To: "Sarai Reader List" > Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:41 PM > Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > > its breton's "soluble fish" actually (for those who were > > wondering)...when > > confronted with which strained at the seams of my, admittedly limited, > > capacities, I thought it best to call in the experts... > > > > > > On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Tapas Ray wrote: > > > > Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's (Dhatri's) > > > bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of consciousness is > > > bravely > > > challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, and my > > > head > > > spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. > > > > > > Tapas > > > > > > > > > > > > Aarti Sethi wrote: > > > > > > > Dear Dhatri, > > > > > > > > The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded > > > > newspaper. > > > > Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript curiosity, and > > > > from > > > > the > > > > flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of printer's > > > > ink. I > > > > > > > > > > On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, > > > > > > > > > > "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to > > > > > express > > > > > the > > > > > EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya > > > > > Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic > > > is > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > From tapasrayx at gmail.com Mon May 5 02:55:11 2008 From: tapasrayx at gmail.com (Tapas Ray) Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 17:25:11 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <48c2916d0805041418g2caf1503xf58ccdae5d3023b3@mail.gmail.com> References: <274664.42574.qm@web45504.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <48c2916d0805040604l20bcc5b6k7e05a4378ae6b92d@mail.gmail.com> <481DBC2B.4070104@gmail.com> <48c2916d0805040716q45a2839la865ef9a24df88fd@mail.gmail.com> <48c2916d0805041241p5406b50blb0d397ec4f29df85@mail.gmail.com> <02c501c8ae26$2796e590$6500a8c0@taraprakash> <48c2916d0805041418g2caf1503xf58ccdae5d3023b3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <481E29B7.303@gmail.com> spot on! the joys of feminism! but beware, you may be ambushed by some of them on a dark cybernight. Aarti Sethi wrote: >> I was also expecting a mail (ideally not from a male) deconstructing >> Dhatri's or whoever's suggestion that a wife should act like a prostitute in >> bed. > > > ...Of which a certain feminist recovery/reading is possible I would suggest, > though not perhaps in the ways the authors would approve ;) > > >> Ask for money after the act? >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aarti Sethi" >> To: "Sarai Reader List" >> Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:41 PM >> Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day >> >> >> its breton's "soluble fish" actually (for those who were >>> wondering)...when >>> confronted with which strained at the seams of my, admittedly limited, >>> capacities, I thought it best to call in the experts... >>> >>> >>> On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Tapas Ray wrote: >>> >>> Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's (Dhatri's) >>>> bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of consciousness is >>>> bravely >>>> challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, and my >>>> head >>>> spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. >>>> >>>> Tapas >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Aarti Sethi wrote: >>>> >>>>> Dear Dhatri, >>>>> >>>>> The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded >>>>> newspaper. >>>>> Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript curiosity, and >>>>> from >>>>> the >>>>> flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of printer's >>>>> ink. I >>>>> >>>> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: >>>>> Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, >>>>>> "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to > > >>>> express >>>>>> the >>>>>> EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya >>>>>> Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic >>>> is >>> _________________________________________ >>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>> Critiques & Collaborations >>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>> subscribe in the subject header. >>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> >> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From taraprakash at gmail.com Mon May 5 09:03:09 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 23:33:09 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] CPI(M) zonal committee member killed Message-ID: <01d701c8ae60$bfc98e50$6500a8c0@taraprakash> Maoists kill CPI(M) zonal committee member Purulia (WB) (PTI): A CPI(M) zonal committee member was shot dead and another injured by armed Maoists at Bhomragarh village in West Bengal's Purulia district on Sunday, police sources said. Ganapati Bhadra (45), CPI(M) zonal committee member and Rampada Majhi, a local committee member, were returning home from an election meeting when the armed Maoists fired at them at Bhomragarh village in Bandawan around noon, sources said. Majhi was shifted from Bandwan primary health centre to Purulia Sadar Hospital after his condition deteriorated. The three tier panchayat polls in Purulia district would be held next Sunday (May 11). Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Prasad has rushed to the spot, sources added. From ambarien at yahoo.co.uk Mon May 5 09:19:05 2008 From: ambarien at yahoo.co.uk (ambarien qadar) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 03:49:05 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Hi I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a century back, with the same interpretative lenses today. To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already reads as a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, ritualistic, wahabi Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it reaffirms a poetic possibility of dissent. Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not sure if we can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide possible insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been written and understood. The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through his grief at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) or through our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think about our 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. (No offences meant!) Cheers Ambarien __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html From postbodhi at yahoo.co.in Mon May 5 11:19:40 2008 From: postbodhi at yahoo.co.in (Bodhisattva Kar) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 06:49:40 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] SHORT-TERM POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS, 2008 Message-ID: <955808.79870.qm@web8511.mail.in.yahoo.com> Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta (CSSSC) SHORT-TERM POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS, 2008 Theme: Inequalities and Differences Description: Inequalities and differences in the developing world have evolved historically. Caste, class, gender, ethnicity etc are reshaped to converge with circuits of global capital within and outside the nation-state. How do social and cultural mobilizations produce collective identities? Does the state’s intervention mitigate or reinforce disparities? What effects do solidarities and conflicts among the underprivileged have on society at large? The fellowship is for post-doctoral scholars, especially college and university teachers who wish to take time off to pursue research that addresses these and similar questions from the perspective of various social science disciplines. Eligibility: (i) Applicants must have a recently completed Ph.D degree in any of the social science disciplines (e.g., economics, History, Sociology, Political Science, Cultural Studies, Development Studies, Environmental Science, Geography, Social Anthropology, Education). (ii) The age of the applicant should preferably be within 35 years. Format: (i) The fellowship is for 4 months and has to be taken up between July 1 and December 31, 2008 (ii) Selected candidates holding full-time jobs would be required to take leave for the period of the fellowship. They will be offered pay protection of Rs 25,000 per month for the period of the fellowship (iii) Recipients of the fellowship will be required to present a paper related to their research at a workshop to be organized by the CSSSC in early January 2009. Travel and hospitality for the workshop will be borne by CSSSC with partial funding from Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust (NRTT). Application: Each applicant is required to send a research proposal of approximately 1000 words addressing the fellowship’s theme along with curriculum vitae to the following address: The Registrar, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta R-1, Baishnabghata-Patuli Township, Kolkata 700 094 OR Write to Madhuban Mitra, Research Officer, CSSSC-NRTT Programme: madhuban_mitra at cssscal.org --------------------------------- Explore your hobbies and interests. Click here to begin. From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Sun May 4 18:46:42 2008 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (netEX) Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 15:16:42 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?=5BAnnouncements=5D_netEX=3A_calls_a?= =?iso-8859-1?q?nd_deadlines_May_2008?= Message-ID: <20080504151643.AD7457AB.7DDA665C@192.168.0.3> netEX: calls, deadlines -->May 2008 ------------------------------------- [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne newsletter contents calls & deadlines 02 Calls: 2008 deadlines internal 19 Calls: May deadlines external 08 Calls: ongoing external/internal ------------------------------------- Calls & deadlines ---> ------------------------------------------------ 2008 deadlines: internal ------------------------------------------------ extended deadline 1 August CologneOFF IV - 4th Cologne Online Film Festival http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=238 30 November SoundLAB VI - soundart for soundPOOL - sound compositions - a challenge for imagination http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=242 ------------------------------------------------ May 2008 deadlines: external ------------------------------------------------ 31 May Time is Love - videos for Paris http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=284 31 May Visionaria - Int. Toscana Videofestival Piombino/Italy http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=248 31 May 27th Asolo Artfilm Festival Asolo/Italy http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=226 30 May One Minute Film Festival Aarau/Switzerland http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=227 25 May International Videofestival Celje/Slovenia 2008 http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=263 24 May Art Award 2008 - Kurt Eisner Founddation Munich/Germany http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=268 15 May Open-air Filmfest Weiterstadt/Germany http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=203 10 May Sardinia Film Festival Sassari/Italy http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=255 9 May Proposals for The Climate Clock Global Initiative http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=254 7 May Projects for Madrid/ES http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=274 5 May MultiChannel 2008 (UK) http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=277 5 May Squardi Sonori 2008 - Festival of Media & Time Based Art http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=262 3 May Busho - International Shortfilm Festival Budapest/Hungary http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=199 2 May 9th Lucania Stortfilm Festival Matera/Italy http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=230 2 May Fellowship The Ohio Sate University http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=259 2 May Avanca Film Festival 2008 (Portugal) http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=269 1 May International New Image Art Festival China http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=251 1 May PIXILERATIONS [V.5]: Fragments & (W)Holes Providence Rhode Island/USA http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=252 1 May Digital Film Festival Izolenta’08 St. Petersburg/Russia http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=258 1 May Artbot - The Talent Robot Show Dublin/ireland http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=270 ----------------------------------------------- Ongoing calls: external/internal ----------------------------------------------- --->OUTCASTING - web based screenings -->Projects for FILE LABO Sao Paulo/Brazil -->Films and video screenings Sioux City (USA) -->Laisle screenings Rio de Janeiro/Brazil -->Videos for Helsinki based video gallery - 00130 Gallery -->Web based works for 00130 Gallery Helsinki/Finland -->Project: Repetition as a Model for Progression by Marianne Holm Hansen -->Raw Video New York/NY (USA) -->US webjournal Atomic Unicorn seeks netart and video art for coming editions and more deadlines on http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?page_id=4 ----------------------------------------------- NetEX - networked experience http://netex.nmartproject.net # calls in the external section--> http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?cat=3 # calls in the internal section--> http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?cat=1 ----------------------------------------------- # This newsletter is also released on http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?cat=9 # NetEx - networked experiences http://netex.nmartproject.net is a free information service powered by [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne www.nmartproject.net - the experimental platform for Art and New Media from Cologne/Germany # info & contact: info (at) nmartproject.net _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Mon May 5 15:44:36 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 15:14:36 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] CPI(M) zonal committee member killed In-Reply-To: <01d701c8ae60$bfc98e50$6500a8c0@taraprakash> References: <01d701c8ae60$bfc98e50$6500a8c0@taraprakash> Message-ID: Hi, wgatelse one can expect in return for violence. ? Violence gets only more violence, as seen in all over the planet earth. Recent examples of Singur and Nandigram are also in the same category where CPM is engaged in dominating the poor and oppressed and resisted by the locals with actions and reactions of violence.! Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: TaraPrakash Date: Monday, May 5, 2008 9:04 am Subject: [Reader-list] CPI(M) zonal committee member killed To: reader-list at sarai.net > Maoists kill CPI(M) zonal committee member > Purulia (WB) (PTI): A CPI(M) zonal committee member was shot dead > and another injured by armed Maoists at Bhomragarh village in West > Bengal's Purulia district on Sunday, police sources said. > > Ganapati Bhadra (45), CPI(M) zonal committee member and Rampada > Majhi, a local committee member, were returning home from an > election meeting when the armed Maoists fired at them at > Bhomragarh village in Bandawan around noon, sources said. > > Majhi was shifted from Bandwan primary health centre to Purulia > Sadar Hospital after his condition deteriorated. > > The three tier panchayat polls in Purulia district would be held > next Sunday (May 11). > > Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Prasad has rushed to the > spot, sources added. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From shuddha at sarai.net Mon May 5 15:53:57 2008 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 15:53:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: References: <529169.55831.qm@web45503.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <9935512D-841F-4F11-A821-CE20508353ED@sarai.net> Dear Radhikarajen, Greetings, I often find what you say thoughtful, even when I do not agree with it. I appreciate your passion for education as a panacea. Though I am not personally sure that all the problems we confront as a society will be solved if we have better quality kindergartens. But certainly, that will help. Now, this could be possible, if, for instance the money allocated by the state for primary education were to be increased at least ten fold. Maybe fifty fold, or even a hundred fold, but lets keep it modest for now, let's just say ten fold. Now remember, this money is our money, it comes from the taxes we pay (not only as income tax, but also taxes that add up to everything we buy, and even on taxes that derive from the labour that we provide to society). The wealth is not the state's wealth, the state is only the agency that manages that wealth, notionally, on our behalf. As an aside, let me say that I am not committed, personally to the idea, that people need the state-form to manage and administer socially produced resources, but let us, for the sake of the current argument, assume that this is so, and will remain as a practical scenario to work within, in terms of the realizable near future. Now, if the Indian state, instead of maintaining the second most powerful constellation of armed forces in Asia, which includes a stupendously expensive, meaningless and suicidical nuclear military, and a plethora of overt and covert military and para-military options, were to divert all this money into socially necessary purposes like education (and many others) then, we would go a long way towards the positive realization of the goals you mention. Currently, the state manages our money in a direction directly contrary to our interests. In other words, it steals our money, in order to protect a class that benefits from the prolongation of a state of constant preparation for war, and says that it is doing so for our good. I suggest, that in order to be consistent to your aims, you also consider agitating, with equal fervour, in order to ensure that our money be no longer used for maintaining the nuclear weapons programme, or in order to subsidize the military occupation of large parts of South Asia (which causes an enormous and destructive accumulation of war materials and costs on military personnel) by the Indian state. This could take the form of a call for a tax boycott of the state-led (in partnership with factions of capital) miitary-industrial complex in India. Mohandas Gandhi, (whose political vision is not concurrent with mine in large parts) when he protested against the salt tax, was basically saying that to tax basic needs is immoral. On this one matter I am in total agreement with him. Using the logic of the same argument, it could be said that using resources garnered from taxation in a manner that is contrary to the interests of the people who provide the taxes is equally immoral. Nuclear weapons and a bloated military infrastructure have nothing to do with the interests of common people, which have to do with education, health, public transport, a healthy environment and culture. So, Radhikarajen, please call for a comprehensive de-militarization programme in India as a first amongst several other necessary requirements for your interest in seeing that good education be provided to all those who live in India. That it would help move towards lasting peace in South Asia would not be such a bad thing either. I would be happy to support such a move by you, and would be delighted to see it expressed by you, first of all on this list. best Shuddha On 04-May-08, at 12:47 PM, radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: > Dear Asith, Lalsallam, > > I empathise with your anguish and anxiety about the wretched on > the mother eart, who have to struggle for a square meal a day, work > for a pittance to earn the meal for their family and children. Here > there is no blame game, as we are collectively in the system, which > is part of us, we are part of the system, qualitative change has to > come from within us, not by charity but by facilitating good basic > education to all in the society, extending opportunity to each in > the society to have earning skills, not by quotas and reservations > in education, but by extending education and earning skills at the > tender age of schooling, extending vocation skills and pass marks > have nothing to do with success in life, but will to have dignified > life is the motivator. By reserving the national exchequer to > extend good education, vocation skills, to EACH of the child > irrespective of the caste and faith each citizen will change the > system. The present scenario of quota and reservation for the > job market has only lead to socialism of distributing poverty > equally, and capitalism which allows the rich to be more rich, > thanks to our mixed economy of socialism and capitalism. ! > > Regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Asit asitreds > Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008 3:19 pm > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net > Cc: we wi , reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray > > >> well why doesnt the mother earth forgive the wretched of the >> earth who toil >> for long hrs and dont even get two sqare meals a day,now coming to >> growingup in culture of tolerance are you kidding this is the most >> intolerantsociety in the world have you forgotten gujrat taslima >> and going back to >> centuries eklavya and shambuk near people from kerala know how >> tolerant were >> the uppercaste if a dalit woman tried to cover her breast >> asit >> >> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:35 PM, wrote: >> >>> Kshamaya Dharithri, >>> >>> mother earth always forgives, may be we have to be more >> tolerent of the >>> naughty ? Having brought up in with the culture of tolerence and >>> understanding the other point of view, may be prakash wants my >> eyes to >>> adjust the sights to "see" his thoughts from minds eyes, but >> well, having >>> seasoned thru all sights and sounds of different thoughts, >> nothing is more >>> real than to be good human, compassionate yet stern if deviant >> behaviour is >>> seen in individuals, as mahatma said, to be part of untruth is >> bigger sin >>> than being untruthful. ? To tolerate sin and be silent is >> moresinful than >>> committing the sin itself. ? >>> >>> Regards. >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: we wi >>> Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 8:06 pm >>> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day >>> To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net, Asit asitreds >>> Cc: reader-list at sarai.net, prakash ray >>> >>>> Hmm, >>>> >>>> No matter whether it is prakash or tapas, but the "rays" >>>> are power full and naughty. >>>> Any way they suggested POSHLY for a check only but you would >>>> have questioned about treatment whether it is LASIK,LASER or >>>> CONTACT LENSES. The problem is they could not express very >>>> straight/direct. >>>> Radhikarajen they are intersted in your CASTE. Irrespective of >>>> that and their, they are suggesting you not talk(even use) about >>>> CASTE,RELIGION(though they have all sort of feelings, or inferior >>>> or superior whatever and talk about them often) not only that >>>> they are advicing you to feel all are human beings and same. >>>> >>>> Check your eyes do have this much deeper meaning, if I am not >>>> wrong. >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> Dhatri. >>>> >>>> radhikarajen at vsnl.net wrote: >>>> Prakash, >>>> at my age I get tested regularly, thanks to mediclaim, not the >>>> gift of workers unity, thanks for the high spirit reply. >>>> :- ) Best regards. >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: Asit asitreds >>>> Date: Friday, May 2, 2008 3:20 pm >>>> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day >>>> To: prakash ray >>>> >>>> Cc: reader-list at sarai.net >>>> >>>>> dear freinds and comrades >>>>> when we speak of mayday and redflag we atleast have to grateful >>>> if not >>>>> respectful >>>>> the story of the red flag is obvious it was the workers of >>>> chicago >>>>> wavingtheir shirts which had became red dripping with blood >>>> after >>>>> being shot by >>>>> the police, then begun the story of 8 hrs working days all the >>>>> rights we >>>>> enjoy today are the result of enourmous sacrifice and struggles >>>> it >>>>> is for >>>>> the postmoderns and neoliberal agents lost in the hyperreall >>>> world of >>>>> consumer paradise with thier malls casinos and >>>> entertainmentparks, >>>>> thosejombies whose lives are shaped by madison avenue >>>> advertising >>>>> whizkidshistory is what hurts. >>>>> I just want to qote a sentence from ralph miliband the giant >>>>> politicaltheorist >>>>> all the civic freedoms we enjoy today are the product of >>>> centuries of >>>>> unremmitng struggles our task is to transcend their class >> boundaries> > > asit >>>>> >>>>> On 5/2/08, prakash ray >>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Dear Radikarajen, >>>>>> Please get your eyes checked... >>>>>> >>>>>> in good spirit... >>>>>> >>>>>> Prakash >>>>>> _________________________________________ >>>>>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>>>> Critiques & Collaborations >>>>>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list- >> request at sarai.net with >>>>>> subscribe in the subject header. >>>>>> To unsubscribe: >> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- >>>> list> > List archive: >>>>> _________________________________________ >>>>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>>> Critiques & Collaborations >>>>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net >>>> with >>>>> subscribe in the subject header. >>>>> To unsubscribe: >> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- >>>>> list >>>>> List archive: >>>> _________________________________________ >>>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>> Critiques & Collaborations >>>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>> subscribe in the subject header. >>>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- >>>> list >>>> List archive: >>>> >>>> >>>> --------------------------------- >>>> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. >>>> Try it now. >>> >> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> Shuddhabrata Sengupta The Sarai Programme at CSDS Raqs Media Collective shuddha at sarai.net www.sarai.net www.raqsmediacollective.net From waliarifi3 at gmail.com Mon May 5 16:08:01 2008 From: waliarifi3 at gmail.com (Wali Arifi) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 16:08:01 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say J-K cops in first report Message-ID: <4fcaee300805050338k60b68c6an682d90f1ef5d647e@mail.gmail.com> http://www.indianexpress.com/story/305457.html 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say J-K cops in first report Muzamil Jaleel SRINAGAR, MAY 4: In the first such report compiled since the outbreak of militancy in the Valley, a Jammu and Kashmir Police report says that 209 Kashmiri Pandits were killed by militants since 1989. Chargesheets have been filed in 24 cases while killers in 115 cases remain unidentified or untraced. The police report — a copy of which is with The Indian Express — says that 140 cases of killing of Kashmiri Pandits by militants have been registered at police stations across the Valley. The police have booked 31 local militants for the killings in 24 cases in which the chargesheets have been filed. According to the report, three local militants involved in the killing of trade unionist and rights activist H N Wanchoo have been convicted. Wanchoo was killed on December 5, 1992 at Balgarden in Srinagar city. All other militants who have been chargesheeted are, however, out on bail. The investigation into the killing of retired judge Neel Kanth Ganju, who was killed on November 1,1989 at Hari Singh High Street in Srinagar, has been handed over to the CBI. According to this police report, the first case of murder of a Kashmiri Pandit was of a woman, Prabhavati from Nawagari, Chadoora in Budgam district. According to police records, Prabhavati was killed at Hari Singh High Street on March 14, 1989. Her killers remained untraced. Of the 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed, 109 died in 1990. The killings of Kashmiri Pandits include the massacres at Sangrampora, Wandhama and Nadimarg — seven were killed during the night of March 21-22, 1997 at Sangrampora village in Budgam, 23 were killed in Wandhama on January 25, 1998 and 24 died in Nadimarg on March 24, 2003. According to the police report, perpetrators of the Wandhama massacre are still untraced. But the police has identified Pakistani militants Abu Haris and Abu Khalid as those who carried out the Sangrampora killings. Both militants were killed in an encounter at Hewader on March 24, 1997. The police has challaned the Nadimarg massacre case, identifying Zai Mustafa alias Abdullah of Rawalakot, Pakistan as the perpetrator. The report reveals that the majority of Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Srinagar city — 82 people died since 1989. Twenty eight Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Ganderbal, 11 in Baramulla, 28 in Pulwama, four in Kupwara, 16 in Budgam, 17 in Kulgam, three in Awantipora, 16 in Anantnag and four in Handwara. From rashneek at gmail.com Mon May 5 17:12:35 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 17:12:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say J-K cops in first report In-Reply-To: <4fcaee300805050338k60b68c6an682d90f1ef5d647e@mail.gmail.com> References: <4fcaee300805050338k60b68c6an682d90f1ef5d647e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805050442w52da41b9x341d8b27d4969044@mail.gmail.com> Before one sets out to contest the number of Kashmiri Pandits killed in Kashmir since 1989,I would like to highlight the fact that except for one conviction all others responsible for killing of Pandits are roaming free.They have been freed on bail for want of credible proof that the State Police has failed or did not want to produce in the court of law.The terrorists who have been freed are notorious terrorists of yesteryears and known offenders like Yasin Malik,Javaid Mir,Bitta Karate and others.Among three of them alone they have killed more than 50 Kashmiri Pandits.When ND Wani the designated TADA judge released Bitta Karate,he said and I quote" *"The court is aware of the fact that the allegations levelled against the accused are of serious nature and carry a punishment of death sentence or life imprisonment but the fact is that the prosecution has shown total disinterest in arguing the case, which is in complete violation of Article 21 of the Constitution."* I am also amazed as to why the Police did not bring out a similar report for Kashmiri Muslims also unless they want to widen the chasm between the two communities.They should come out with a report about Muslims killed as well not only because their numbers are far higher but because they too have suffered and continue to do so much like their Pandit brethern. *On one hand the government seems to woo Pandits back to the valley by luring them with financial sops while on the other hands cases like the Wandhama Massacre( in which 24 Pandit men,women and even four children were killed by terrorists) have been closed by the government citing un-traceability of the perpetrators of the crime. What credibility does the report have one may ask?Who is going to believe the report submitted by a force which has a pathetic record on account of its involvement in Pathribal killngs(where it killed innocent civilians and claimed they had killed killers of Sikhs massacred in Chattisinghpora) and a lot of other incidents.More often that not the State Police has itself been on the wrong side of the law. It has been complicit in crimes overtly or covertly by either committing them or covering them.* Panun Kashmir Movement's "Kashmir Documentation: Pandits In Exile" has a list of 319 Kashmiri Hindu's killed in the *"period of 1989 to Oct. 1990".*Along with the name of the person in almost all cases it mentions address of the victim, his/her profession and the date of killing. In a period of less than one year a community as small as Pandits lost 0.1% of its population which forced them to flee. After October 1990(when less than ten thousand Pandits were left in the valley) there have been seven massacres of Kashmiri Pandits in which 62 Pandits were killed. 1. 21st March - Sangrampora (Budgam) - 7 People Killed 2. 15th June, 1997 - Gool (Udhampur) - 3 People Killed 3. 26th January, 1998 - Wandhama, (Srinagar) - 23 People Killed 4. 5th February, 2000 - Telwani (Anantnag) - 3 People Killed 5. 4th March, 2000 - Brariangan (Anantnag) - 1 Person Killed 6. 6th March, 2000 - Pethibug (Anantnag) - 1 Person Killed 7. 23rd March, 2003 - Nadimarg ( Pulwama) - 24 People Killed Then there are of-course scores of Pandits who were killed in bomb blasts,cross-fire,acts of violence and arson etc of whom no one has any account. Needless to say, immediatly after the forced exodus of Pandits in 1989-90; hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits got killed due to the after effects this terrorism and migration to areas with immense heat; high temprature and no resources. Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits fell victims of sudden death due to hypertension, cancer, skin diseases, snake bites, scorpion bites. etc. Even if one goes by a layman's account of Pandits killed in Kashmir since 1989 the number would be higher than 1000 but it isn't about mere numbers.What is sad is that in all but one case no one has been convicted of killing them?What is worse most of the dreaded terrorists like Yasin Malik are invited by the government to hold parleys with them for peace.It is cases like these which expose the government's will and the State apparatus's honesty towards Pandit return to the valley.It also raises a question mark on the judiciary and the human rights organizations who were extremely pro-active in the case of Gujarat Riots but played a rather passive witness to the plight of Pandits and injustice that the State perpetrated on them. It is time that the government that it sets up an impartial commission which would go into the reasons of the issue of Pandit exodus so that before one could diagnose a problem one would at-least know what the problem is. Best Regards Rashneek Kher On 5/5/08, Wali Arifi wrote: > > http://www.indianexpress.com/story/305457.html > > 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed since 1989, say J-K cops in first report > Muzamil Jaleel > > SRINAGAR, MAY 4: In the first such report compiled since the outbreak of > militancy in the Valley, a Jammu and Kashmir Police report says that 209 > Kashmiri Pandits were killed by militants since 1989. Chargesheets have > been > filed in 24 cases while killers in 115 cases remain unidentified or > untraced. > > > > The police report — a copy of which is with The Indian Express — says that > 140 cases of killing of Kashmiri Pandits by militants have been registered > at police stations across the Valley. > > > > The police have booked 31 local militants for the killings in 24 cases in > which the chargesheets have been filed. According to the report, three > local > militants involved in the killing of trade unionist and rights activist H > N > Wanchoo have been convicted. Wanchoo was killed on December 5, 1992 at > Balgarden in > > > > Srinagar city. All other militants who have been chargesheeted are, > however, > out on bail. > > > > The investigation into the killing of retired judge Neel Kanth Ganju, who > was killed on November 1,1989 at Hari Singh High Street in Srinagar, has > been handed over to the CBI. > > > > According to this police report, the first case of murder of a Kashmiri > Pandit was of a woman, Prabhavati from Nawagari, Chadoora in Budgam > district. According to police records, Prabhavati was killed at Hari Singh > High Street on March 14, 1989. Her killers remained untraced. > > > > Of the 209 Kashmiri Pandits killed, 109 died in 1990. > > > > The killings of Kashmiri Pandits include the massacres at Sangrampora, > Wandhama and Nadimarg — seven were killed during the night of March 21-22, > 1997 at Sangrampora village in Budgam, 23 were killed in Wandhama on > January > 25, 1998 and 24 died in Nadimarg on March 24, 2003. > > > > According to the police report, perpetrators of the Wandhama massacre are > still untraced. But the police has identified Pakistani militants Abu > Haris > and Abu Khalid as those who carried out the Sangrampora killings. Both > militants were killed in an encounter at Hewader on March 24, 1997. The > police has challaned the Nadimarg massacre case, identifying Zai Mustafa > alias Abdullah of Rawalakot, Pakistan as the perpetrator. > > > > The report reveals that the majority of Kashmiri Pandits were killed in > Srinagar city — 82 people died since 1989. Twenty eight Kashmiri Pandits > were killed in Ganderbal, 11 in Baramulla, 28 in Pulwama, four in Kupwara, > 16 in Budgam, 17 in Kulgam, three in Awantipora, 16 in Anantnag and four > in > Handwara. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From nitbhag at gmail.com Mon May 5 20:13:04 2008 From: nitbhag at gmail.com (Nitesh Bhatnagar) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 20:13:04 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] If these 7 can return why not the others? Message-ID: Nine Kashmiri Pandit families return to J&K after 20-yr exile 5 May 2008, 0328 hrs IST,TNN SRINAGAR: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Nine_Kashmiri_Pandit_families_return_to_JK_after_20-yr_exile/articleshow/3010488.cms In a major boost to the government's efforts to bring Kashmiri Pandits back to the Valley, nine displaced families returned — after two-decade-long exile — to their ancestral homes at Verinag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Saturday. This comes days after PM Manmohan Singh announced a package for Pandits willing to return home. The package offers Rs 7.5 lakh each to Pandits who return to the Valley. However, the families insist they have returned voluntarily. "We had made up our mind before the PM's announcement. We decided to come back because of the improvement in the security scenario," Omkar Nath said. Kanta Devi, who also returned on Saturday, said she couldn't control her tears when she reached home and met her neighbours. "I broke down when I saw my house after 18 long years. The reception we got from our neighbours was also overwhelming," she said. Another returnee Ratan Lal Koul, too, was overwhelmed. "I can't believe that I am home. I can't tell how we spent all these years away from our motherland, but now I have come forever," he said. From taraprakash at gmail.com Mon May 5 20:44:03 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 11:14:03 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] all white elephant (NY Times) Message-ID: <00f201c8aec2$a822f1d0$6500a8c0@taraprakash> The All-White Elephant in the Room. By FRANK RICH. BORED by those endless replays of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright? If so, go directly to YouTube, search for 'John Hagee Roman Church Hitler,' and be recharged by a fresh jolt of clerical jive. What you'll find is a white televangelist, the Rev. John Hagee, lecturing in front of an enormous diorama. Wielding a pointer, he pokes at the image of a woman with Pamela Anderson-sized breasts, her hand raising a golden chalice. The woman is 'the Great Whore,' Mr. Hagee explains, and she is drinking 'the blood of the Jewish people. That's because the Great Whore represents 'the Roman Church,' which, in his view, has thirsted for Jewish blood throughout history, from the Crusades to the Holocaust. Mr. Hagee is not a fringe kook but the pastor of a Texas megachurch. On Feb. 27, he stood with John McCain and endorsed him over the religious conservatives' favorite, Mike Huckabee, who was then still in the race. Are we really to believe that neither Mr. McCain nor his camp knew anything then about Mr. Hagee's views? This particular YouTube video -- far from the only one -- was posted on Jan. 1, nearly two months before the Hagee-McCain press conference. Mr. Hagee appears on multiple religious networks, including twice daily on the largest, Trinity Broadcasting, which reaches 75 million homes. Any 12-year-old with a laptop could have vetted this preacher in 30 seconds, tops. Since then, Mr. McCain has been shocked to learn that his clerical ally has made many other outrageous statements. Mr. Hagee, it's true, did not blame the American government for concocting AIDS. But he did say that God created Hurricane Katrina to punish New Orleans for its sins, particularly a scheduled 'homosexual parade there on the Monday that Katrina came. Mr. Hagee didn't make that claim in obscure circumstances, either. He broadcast it on one of America's most widely heard radio programs, 'Fresh Air' on NPR, back in September 2006. He reaffirmed it in a radio interview less than two weeks ago. Only after a reporter asked Mr. McCain about this Katrina homily on April 24 did the candidate brand it as 'nonsense' and the preacher retract it. Mr. McCain says he does not endorse any of Mr. Hagee's calumnies, any more than Barack Obama endorses Mr. Wright's. But those who try to give Mr. McCain a pass for his embrace of a problematic preacher have a thin case. It boils down to this: Mr. McCain was not a parishioner for 20 years at Mr. Hagee's church. That defense implies, incorrectly, that Mr. McCain was a passive recipient of this bigot's endorsement. In fact, by his own account, Mr. McCain sought out Mr. Hagee, who is perhaps best known for trying to drum up a pre-emptive 'holy war' with Iran. (This preacher's rantings may tell us more about Mr. McCain's policy views than Mr. Wright's tell us about Mr. Obama's.) Even after Mr. Hagee's Catholic bashing bubbled up in the mainstream media, Mr. McCain still did not reject and denounce him, as Mr. Obama did an unsolicited endorser, Louis Farrakhan, at the urging of Tim Russert and Hillary Clinton. Mr. McCain instead told George Stephanopoulos two Sundays ago that while he condemns any 'anti-anything' remarks by Mr. Hagee, he is still 'glad to have his endorsement. I wonder if Mr. McCain would have given the same answer had Mr. Stephanopoulos confronted him with the graphic video of the pastor in full 'Great Whore' glory. But Mr. McCain didn't have to fear so rude a transgression. Mr. Hagee's videos have never had the same circulation on television as Mr. Wright's. A sonorous white preacher spouting venom just doesn't have the telegenic zing of a theatrical black man. Perhaps that's why virtually no one has rebroadcast the highly relevant prototype for Mr. Wright's fiery claim that 9/11 was America's chickens 'coming home to roost. That would be the Sept. 13, 2001, televised exchange between Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, who blamed the attacks on America's abortionists, feminists, gays and A.C.L.U. lawyers. (Mr. Wright blamed the attacks on America's foreign policy.) Had that video re-emerged in the frenzied cable-news rotation, Mr. McCain might have been asked to explain why he no longer calls these preachers 'agents of intolerance' and chose to cozy up to Mr. Falwell by speaking at his Liberty University in 2006. None of this is to say that two wacky white preachers make a Wright right. It is entirely fair for any voter to weigh Mr. Obama's long relationship with his pastor in assessing his fitness for office. It is also fair to weigh Mr. Obama's judgment in handling this personal and political crisis as it has repeatedly boiled over. But whatever that verdict, it is disingenuous to pretend that there isn't a double standard operating here. If we're to judge black candidates on their most controversial associates -- and how quickly, sternly and completely they disown them -- we must judge white politicians by the same yardstick. When Rudy Giuliani, still a viable candidate, successfully courted Pat Robertson for an endorsement last year, few replayed Mr. Robertson's greatest past insanities. Among them is his best-selling 1991 tome, 'The New World Order,' which peddled some of the same old dark conspiracy theories about 'European bankers' (who just happened to be named Warburg, Schiff and Rothschild) that Mr. Farrakhan has trafficked in. Nor was Mr. Giuliani ever seriously pressed to explain why his cronies on the payroll at Giuliani Partners included a priest barred from the ministry by his Long Island diocese in 2002 following allegations of sexual abuse. Much as Mr. Wright officiated at the Obamas' wedding, so this priest officiated at (one of) Mr. Giuliani's. Did you even hear about it? There is not just a double standard for black and white politicians at play in too much of the news media and political establishment, but there is also a glaring double standard for our political parties. The Clintons and Mr. Obama are always held accountable for their racial stands, as they should be, but the elephant in the room of our politics is rarely acknowledged: In the 21st century, the so-called party of Lincoln does not have a single African-American among its collective 247 senators and representatives in Washington. Yes, there are appointees like Clarence Thomas and Condi Rice, but, as we learned during the Mark Foley scandal, even gay men may hold more G.O.P. positions of power than blacks. A near half-century after the civil rights acts of the 1960s, this is quite an achievement. Yet the holier-than-thou politicians and pundits on the right passing shrill moral judgment over every Democratic racial skirmish are almost never asked to confront or even acknowledge the racial dysfunction in their own house. In our mainstream political culture, this de facto apartheid is simply accepted as an intractable given, unworthy of notice, and just too embarrassing to mention aloud in polite Beltway company. Those who dare are instantly accused of 'political correctness' or 'reverse racism. An all-white Congressional delegation doesn't happen by accident. It's the legacy of race cards that have been dealt since the birth of the Southern strategy in the Nixon era. No one knows this better than Mr. McCain, whose own adopted daughter of color was the subject of a vicious smear in his party's South Carolina primary of 2000. This year Mr. McCain has called for a respectful (i.e., non-race-baiting) campaign and has gone so far as to criticize (ineffectually) North Carolina's Republican Party for running a Wright-demonizing ad in that state's current primary. Mr. McCain has been posing (awkwardly) with black people in his tour of 'forgotten' America. Speaking of Katrina in New Orleans, he promised that 'never again' would a federal recovery effort be botched on so grand a scale. This is all surely sincere, and a big improvement over Mitt Romney's dreams of his father marching with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Up to a point. Here, too, there's a double standard. Mr. McCain is graded on a curve because the G.O.P. bar is set so low. But at a time when the latest Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll shows that President Bush is an even greater drag on his popularity than Mr. Wright is on Mr. Obama's, Mr. McCain's New Orleans visit is more about the self-interested politics of distancing himself from Mr. Bush than the recalibration of policy. Mr. McCain took his party's stingierlineon Katrina aid and twiceopposed an independent commission to investigate the failed government response. Asked on his tour what should happen to the Ninth Ward now, he called for 'a conversation' about whether anyone should 'rebuild it, tear it down, you know, whatever it is. Whatever, whenever, never mind. For all this primary season's obsession with the single (and declining) demographic of white working-class men in Rust Belt states, America is changing rapidly across all racial, generational and ethnic lines. The Census Bureau announced last week that half the country's population growth since 2000 is due to Hispanics, another group understandably alienated from the G.O.P. Anyone who does the math knows that America is on track to become a white-minority nation in three to four decades. Yet if there's any coherent message to be gleaned from the hypocrisy whipped up by Hurricane Jeremiah, it's that this nation's perennially promised candid conversation on race has yet to begin. From swakkhyar at gmail.com Mon May 5 21:28:28 2008 From: swakkhyar at gmail.com (swakkhyar deka) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 08:58:28 -0700 Subject: [Reader-list] job opening at NE Message-ID: <99ca36500805050858v7fc477c3t11a434ab1729bdf@mail.gmail.com> hi everyone at Sarai...... Do you people have any idea if one can work for a national news channel....in North East India.....as stringer or regular correspondent.......?......by the way....I am a Mass Comm studen in Tezpur versity in Assam....about to finish my course....would like to work from my region and highlight the issues here in National media....Plz let me know... From shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com Tue May 6 00:05:27 2008 From: shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com (Shambhu Rahmat) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 00:35:27 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Sajek: 2 Fact Finding Teams & Army Chief Message-ID: In battle of Bengali settlers vs CHT Jumma, with the former backed by the might of the army, who dares win? Please urgently consider writing articles on Sajak to draw attention to what could be a watershed case. Report from Sara Hossain led fact finding team has just been uploaded @ URL below. Earlier, report from Moshrafe Mishu led team was also uploaded. T The fact that 2 separate, unaffiliated teams went within a day of each other, as well as Bangladesh Army Chief, shows the heat is bubbling. We will continue to upload items here: http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2008/05/04/sajek/ From shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com Tue May 6 00:24:13 2008 From: shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com (Shambhu Rahmat) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 00:54:13 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Sajek: Is This My Country? Message-ID: "When traveling from Khagrachari to Baghaihat in Baghaichori located at the end of Rangamati upto Gongaram Mukh, any ordinary citizen would wonder 'Is this my country'? Because of the intensity of army checking. There is very tight screening there. The names of whoever enters or exits the area is written down. Each such person has to give their identity. The car numbers are noted. And on leaving the area, that number is again checked. We thought it was important to ask how such an arson attack could take place in the midst of such close monitoring." http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2008/05/04/sajek/ Embargoed until 11am, 5 May 2008 PRESS STATEMENT SAJEK'S BURNT VILLAGES: CITIZEN'S TEAM CALLS FOR INQUIRY AND URGENT RELIEF A group of citizens conducted an on-site inquiry on 28th and 29th April 2008 in Sajek Union, Rangamati District, following press reports of about 150 houses being burnt down across seven villages in the area. On arrival in the area, we saw that in eight villages within the reserved forest area in Sajek Union -- Nursery Para, Daney Bhaibachora, Bamey Bhaibachora, Purbopara, Balughatpara, Retkaba, MSF Para and Gongaram Mukh – the mostly Pahari houses which had been burnt down to the ground remained just as they were. The charred remains of burnt houses could be seen across a four kilometer long area. Many people are still in hiding. Others told us that several persons were injured during this incident. People do not have proper shelter, and some remain under open skies. During the on-site inquiry, we spoke to victims and witnesses among both Paharis and Bangalis, other local persons, and to Army personnel, to clarify what had happened. Today we will attempt to outline for you the situation we witnessed, the main causes behind it, and the required action which we believe is necessary at this point. Those of us who visited the area at our own cost did so because we believed that the full facts of what had occurred in Baghaichori, a remote hilly area, had not been fully covered in the national media. ***** To date, no official record appears to have been made of exactly how many houses were burnt down, or how many people affected. According to news reports, about 150 to 200 families have been affected, of whom most are Chakmas. Speaking to victims and eyewitnesses of the incident, we came to learn that on 20th April from about 9pm till early morning houses in the area, mostly belonging to Paharis, and some to Bangali Settlers, with most of their contents including cooking utensils, books, clothes, were burnt to ashes. Several Chakma inhabitants of the area described how they stood aside in fear, as their houses were burnt to the ground. • A Chakma inhabitant of Balurghat Para village, aged 45/50, stated 'Our rice, clothes, pots-pans-plates have all been burnt. School books, birth registration certificates, SSC certificates, they're all totally burnt.' • Several eyewitnesses and victims mentioned that valuables were looted by those who burnt down the houses. A Chakma inhabitant of Daney Bhaibachora village, aged 35/40, ran out of his home on hearing screaming at about 9.45pm on 20th April, to see a house was burning and people shouting to be saved from the flames. His whole house had been burnt to ashes. Only the charred remains of the wooden pillars could be seen. He stated, 'The people who were setting things alight, they first took out from our homes, the TVs, beds, wardrobes, whatever they found, they looted, and at the end they torched the houses. Those who set the houses alight. They took everything. 'Another Chakma woman stated, 'I've heard that a TV was found in the Bangali Para. The Army has said that they will return the TV'. • An elderly Chakma, aged about 80 'I've never faced such misery (oshanti) before.' In this home, there are two school going students in this family, one studying for the SSC and another in class seven, whose books have all been burnt and who cannot attend classes. • Another person said that the attackers had come in three vehicles. • The families of three young men who had been arrested on the night of 27th April from Bamey Bhaibachora, claimed that they had been wrongfully taken into custody instead of apprehending those actually responsible. The three men detained at about 9pm were Ratan, aged about 18, a student of Class IX of Baghaichori High School, and about to sit for his SSC, son of Gunodhor Chakma and Sakuntala Chakma, of Bamebaispara Village, Sunil, 22, son of Subisona Chakma and Lokkhidhor Chakma, who is a signboard artist, and Nobel, about 22 years, son of Nishimoni Chakma, who is a teacher at the NGO Poddokhep, from Bamabaispara Bamebaishepara at about 9 to 10pm. Their parents asserted that they had all run to see what was happening, when they saw a house burning from a distance on Monday 28th night. Bangalis are also alleged to have put up huts after having broken down the place of worship in Gongaram Mukh. Local residents said that even after making a complaint to the local Army Camp, there has been no action. After the fire, about 30/35 families came to take shelter at the Baghaihat Moitripur Jogi Bono Bihara [Buddhist Temple]. • The priest of the Bihara said 'I am ashamed to say this. I am also a religious leader. This kind of incident has happened in my area.' Some of the Bangalis affected also described the events of 20 April. These Bangalis are known as 'settlers' to the local Paharis. • Md Rafiqul Islam came to Baghaichori about 10/11 years ago. He lives in the Musulman Para. About two months ago, he put up a hut near the Pahari houses in Gongaram Mukh. On the night of the incident, he said he had heard the sounds 'Ujao, Ujao', and fled from his home in fear. He said: 'Hearing the cries of Ujao Ujao coming closer, I fled and took shelter in the army camp.' Another eyewitness, the General Secretary of Baghaichori Bazaar Shomiti stated that 'On the night of the incident, at about 9.45 I was in Major Hafiz's vehicle [as we came out of the Camp, where there was an event going on for the founding anniversary of the 2 B Regiment, on hearing a hullabaloo from outside]. We heard the sounds 'Ujao, Ujao' and saw about 100/150 masked people wearing black clothes setting houses alight. They were not local Paharis. They were outsiders.' Victims' Accounts of the Background to the Arson Attacks: The vast Sajek Union is located at one end of Rangamati District, and mainly comprises of Reserved Forests. Any settlement in this area is considered to be illegal. But many Paharis have lived in this area for generations in accordance with their customary norms and without any official title deeds. Both Paharis and Bangalis noted as a cause of the incident that there had been rising tension in the area for about two months. The main reason for this tension was that the Bangalis had been erecting houses near or adjacent to the Pahari's houses. The same sight could be seen all along the four kilometers of the main road between Baghaihat and Gongaram. Next to the Pahari house or across it is a house of a Bangali settler, in which no-one appears to stay or to sleep at night. After talking to the Settler there, we learned that these huts have been put up over the last two months or so. From the beginning the Paharis could not accept that Bangalis would establish settlements on their traditional lands. There had already been conflict and confrontation over this issue. First the Paharis had objected to the Bangalis erecting these buildings. Although the hut construction did not end in the face of these protests, the tensions certainly increased. >From a visit to the area, it became evident that the fire could not have spread from house to house given the sparse density of their location, rather each house must have been separately set alight. For example, we saw in Bhaibachora village that between two burnt down Pahari houses a Bangali settler, Abul Malek and his mother in law Anwara Begum were in residence. Even though the two Chakma houses burnt down on 20th the hut in the middle did not. Except for in Gongram Mukh, we could see that the Pahari homes had been burnt to the ground, but next door or close by Bangali homes or huts remained standing. This pattern indicated that whoever had been responsible for the burnings had most likely planned the exercise, identified the Pahari and Bangali houses and then set them alight. Almost everyone mentioned two names, Ali and Babul, as being the ones most involved with trying to displace the Paharis from the area through fear. A Chakma inhabitant of Gongaram Mukh said that Ali and some others had come to his shop on 19th April and threatened him that if he remained there till after dusk, then they would burn him and the shop down and kill his whole family. In fear, he sent his wife and children to another house that very evening. On the next night, 20th April, his house was burnt down. With tears in his eyes, this man said, pointing to his torn short sleeved shirt and lungi, ' I've been wearing these same clothes ever since the burnings'. A Karbari from one village said 'If they see 2/3 of us talking to each other, they inform the Army Camp.Another Pahari inhabitant of Gongaram Mukh, unwilling to state his name, said 'We were told to put up our houses about 2/3 km away from the road. The Settlers' houses would be next to the road. Ali and his cronies said that they would slaughter us like sacrificial cows if we said anything about it.' It is true that the fires began because of the ongoing tensions between Paharis and Bangalis, but in our view the reasons were deeper, that is the construction of Bangali settlements here and pushing the Paharis into an even more marginal and vulnerable existence. But it is also true that most of the Bangalis who live in that area are extremely poor, dependent on government rations. These marginal people, from different districts of the country, are surviving there on government patronization. Relief and Rehabilitation: Relief has now been distributed in the area on three occasions, most recently on the occasion of the visit by the Army Chief on 29 April, when each affected person was given Taka 500 and some food (5 kg rice, 1 kg dal and 2 kg potatoes). On two earlier occasions, Taka 500 had been given from the army and civilian administration respectively. During the Army Chief's visit it was announced that each family would be given Taka 10,000 for reconstruction of their homes. Several of those we interviewed said that this amount would not be adequate. Some Paharis alleged that Bangali Settlers had been given more relief. We also saw a number of Chakmas come back empty handed from the event. Who is Responsible? When traveling from Khagrachari to Baghaihat in Baghaichori located at the end of Rangamati upto Gongaram Mukh, any ordinary citizen would wonder 'Is this my country'? Because of the intensity of army checking. There is very tight screening there. The names of whoever enters or exits the area is written down. Each such person has to give their identity. The car numbers are noted. And on leaving the area, that number is again checked. We thought it was important to ask how such an arson attack could take place in the midst of such close monitoring. We asked some of the Pahari victims, who do you think is responsible? They said without any hesitation that they saw Bangali settlers burning down the houses, and the Army were with them. On the other hand, the Bangali victims said that local Paharis were not involved with the incident, but rather outsiders. Army's Statement: We met with personnel at the Baghaihat Army Camp. When asked about whether the Army Camp had any involvement with the incidents, Commanding Officer Lt Col Imtiaz stated 'There is no question of any connection. We heard the sounds 'Ujao! Ujao!'and shouting and quickly went there. I sent forces. I also went there myself. I would definitely say that outsider Paharis carried out this terror, those who don't want to see Paharis and Bangalis living together in peace and harmony'. He further informed us that it appeared to him that prima facie the JSS or UPDF were responsible for this incident. In response to a query about whether any action had been taken re the activities of Ali and Babul, Lt Col Imtiaz further stated that 'The Karbari of Gongaram Mukh, Bilash Chakma had raised a complaint about threatening Mongol Kumar Chakma, and after that we held Ali for four days but then let him go. No-one else has brought any complaints to us.' He also said that he would take action if he found that our claim that Ali was using the CO's name to terrorize or exploit the local inhabitants is made out. Our Recommendations: We want to place a few recommendations on the basis of our on-site inquiry, interviews with related persons and an analysis of the situation is as follows: 1. Establish an independent and impartial Judicial Inquiry Commission, required to publish its report within a fixed time period; prosecute and provide exemplary punishment to those found responsible for the attacks; 2. Provide adequate compensation and undertake prompt rehabilitation of persons affected during the arson attacks in Sajek Union, including reconstruction of houses; 3. To release the three persons held in the Baghaichori Army Camp; 4. To cease all Bangali settlements in Sajek Union and the three Hill Districts; 5. In accordance with the CHT Accord 1997 a) To activate the Land Commission, to review and settle all land disputes; b) To withdraw army camps from the CHT; and c) To enable full functioning of the civil administration, including through effective functioning of the CHT Regional Council. ***** The group of citizens which conducted an on-site inquiry at Sajek Union in Baghaichori Upazila in Rangamati District comprised of: 1. Syed Abul Maqsud, Writer, Journalist 2. Ziauddin Tareque Ali, Member, Shonmilito Shamajik Andolon 3. Pankaj Bhattacharya, Member, Shomilito Shamajik Andolon 4. Shameema Binte Rahman, Journalist 5. Supriyo Chakma, Prothom Alo, Rangamati 6. Jewel Dewan, Advocate, BLAST, Rangamati 7. Rubayet Ferdaus, Associate Professor, Dhaka University 8. Sara Hossain, Advocate, Supreme Court 9. Abu AhmedFaizul Kabir, Investigator, Ain o Salish Kendra 10. KCing Marma, Student, Chittagong University 11. Rajiv Mir, Assistant Professor, Chittagong University 12. Anirban Saha, Investigator, Ain o Salish Kendra From bainulsatoor at googlemail.com Tue May 6 03:17:50 2008 From: bainulsatoor at googlemail.com (Bain Al Satoor) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 03:17:50 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> References: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Huye mar ke ham jo ruswa, huye kyun na ghark-e-dariya Na kabhi janaaza uthta, na kahin mazaar hota Ghalib. On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 9:19 AM, ambarien qadar wrote: > > > > Hi > > I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a century back, > with the same interpretative lenses today. > To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already reads as > a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, ritualistic, wahabi > Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. > This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it reaffirms a > poetic possibility of dissent. > Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not sure if we > can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide possible > insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been written and > understood. > The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through his grief > at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) or through > our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think about our > 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. > > (No offences meant!) > Cheers > Ambarien > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Tue May 6 07:59:32 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 08:29:32 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Mario Learns To Cook Bangla Message-ID: For those who understand Sylheti (no, it's not same as Bengali), check out the glossary at end for a laugh. Dasila!! :-) Curry houses test Europe's eastern promise EU workers try to leap cultural gap as restaurant bosses struggle to find staff Rachel Williams The Guardian, Monday May 5 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/05/immigration.immigrationandpublicservices/print Mario was used to plain Romanian dishes but now is learning to adjust his taste buds to the spiciness of curry. Photograph: Corbis A framed review telling of "modern magic in the city suburb" hangs alongside the abstract artwork on the walls of the Monsoon Indian restaurant. Beneath it is a photograph of owner Mahmud Miah with a beaming David Cameron. The lighting at the eatery in Hollywood, a few miles south of Birmingham and its balti triangle, is minimalist; there is not a scrap of flock wallpaper to be seen. In the kitchen there is another sign of the changing face of the British curry industry. Faced with a desperate shortage of staff after new immigration rules stopped restaurateurs bringing in workers from the subcontinent, Miah has heeded government advice and looked to eastern Europe to fill the gaps. His new kitchen porter, Valentin-Marius Corcoveanu - Mario to his colleagues - is a 21-year-old Romanian. He owes his opportunity to the closing of a short-term visa scheme under which restaurants employed Bangladeshi chefs, and the introduction of a points-based migration system for workers from outside the EU. Kitchen staff from Bangladesh would now have to speak English and have qualifications. The strategy, announced in 2005, was devised on the basis that the need for low-skilled labour could in future be met by migrants from the new EU countries. Warning of a lack of staff that threatens the £3.5bn industry, the curry trade's leaders say eastern Europeans, with no background in the intricate art of balancing Asian spices and no grasp of Bengali, are not the answer. The Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA) is lobbying for curry work to be officially deemed an occupation suffering from a special skills shortage, allowing new workers to come from Asia again. Today's young British Bangladeshis are not interested in the antisocial hours and relatively low wages of curry house work, campaigners say, and chefs can take 10 years to train. The BCA believes there are 30,000 vacancies across the 12,000 restaurants and takeaways it represents. Last month, Gordon Brown said people already in Britain would be trained up to fill staff shortages. In Hollywood, Miah has decided to try it for himself. On a hectic Thursday night, Mario is dashing back and forth to the storeroom, frying chicken pakoras, chopping vegetables and mixing a vat of yoghurt, lemon juice, mint sauce, coriander, green chilli and sugar. He decides it needs more sugar, as a colleague nods approvingly. The cultural hurdles are evident, however. Mario has very basic English, but also struggles to understand the Bengali used by his fellow employees. "Mario, jeera anno," head chef Mozomil Ali calls outs. Met with a blank look, he adds encouragingly: "Brown bag". Mario heads out to collect the cumin. "We try to teach him the names of the spices but there are so many he forgets," Ali explains. "So we tell him the colour of the bag they come in." Speaking through an interpreter, Mario confirms the language barrier is his biggest problem. What Bengali has he picked up? There's a pause before he answers "dasila". A roar goes up among his colleagues. Dasila, they explain, is a jokey term meaning "get a move on". He has also been learning to adjust his taste buds. Used to plainer Romanian dishes, his first brush with curry was not comfortable. "It was too hot. They eat too many chillies here." Being cooked a different curry every night by his colleagues helped. "I tried it again and again. Now I like it." But Bajloor Rashid, the president of the BCA, says eastern European workers are not the solution. "They don't seem to fit in. Most of them are not really keen on working here. They don't last long." He told the immigration minister Liam Byrne this at a recent meeting. In the meantime the staff shortages will cost restaurants an average of £19,000 turnover every year, Rashid claims. "A lot of restaurants could close in the next 12 months." Mario is an experiment, says Miah. If he sticks around long enough he could become a cook. "If I can teach one of them they will get the others in. If they stay it will be fantastic." Mario, however, has other ideas. He plans to leave the UK after two or three years. The second chef, Shaheb Uddin, is confident of Mario's ability to become a cook. "He will, because he wants to learn, but it will take time. The next Bangladeshi generation don't want to know about restaurants. Our next generation is them lot." Cook's glossary Mario asho - Come here, Mario Haldi Turmeric Jeera Cumin Dhaniya Coriander Annarish Pineapple Chana Chick peas Dasila Get a move on Morgi anno Fetch the chicken Sabji anno Fetch the vegetables Jaldi jaldi Hurry up Salad cotto Cut the salad From rashneek at gmail.com Tue May 6 09:43:19 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 09:43:19 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] If these 7 can return why not the others? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <13df7c120805052113v637856c5v47f5ace93f41781b@mail.gmail.com> Dear Nitesh, Although the media has gone gaga over this one sparrow making a spring yet let us clear the facts.Their land equal to some 19 kanals has been occupied by the State government to make a bus stand.So in order to avoid their land from being grabbed they went there to stay put tso that the government doesnt occupy it. And the media and state government played it up..... In case you need to know the truth please call their son in law Dr.Pandita who works with Batra Hospital.Here is his number-9811362069. Best Regards Rashneek Kher On 5/5/08, Nitesh Bhatnagar wrote: > > Nine Kashmiri Pandit families return to J&K after 20-yr exile > > 5 May 2008, 0328 hrs IST,TNN > SRINAGAR: > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Nine_Kashmiri_Pandit_families_return_to_JK_after_20-yr_exile/articleshow/3010488.cms > > In a major boost to the government's efforts to bring Kashmiri Pandits > back to the Valley, nine displaced families returned — after > two-decade-long exile — to their ancestral homes at Verinag in south > Kashmir's Anantnag district on Saturday. > > This comes days after PM Manmohan Singh announced a package for > Pandits willing to return home. The package offers Rs 7.5 lakh each to > Pandits who return to the Valley. However, the families insist they > have returned voluntarily. "We had made up our mind before the PM's > announcement. We decided to come back because of the improvement in > the security scenario," Omkar Nath said. > > Kanta Devi, who also returned on Saturday, said she couldn't control > her tears when she reached home and met her neighbours. "I broke down > when I saw my house after 18 long years. The reception we got from our > neighbours was also overwhelming," she said. > > Another returnee Ratan Lal Koul, too, was overwhelmed. "I can't > believe that I am home. I can't tell how we spent all these years away > from our motherland, but now I have come forever," he said. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From vrjogi at hotmail.com Tue May 6 13:53:13 2008 From: vrjogi at hotmail.com (Vedavati Jogi) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 08:23:13 +0000 Subject: [Reader-list] FW: Dainik Jaagran exposes how GoI shields terrorist Yasin Malik In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805052144x38c046f1h37b268c65dfb8176@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805052144x38c046f1h37b268c65dfb8176@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 10:14:21 +0530From: rashneek at gmail.comTo: kauladityaraj at gmail.comSubject: Dainik Jaagran exposes how GoI shields terrorist Yasin Malik यासीन मलिक के काले कारनामों से केंद्र अनजान!May 06, 02:23 amसंदीप देव, [नई दिल्ली]। यासीन मलिक, जम्मू कश्मीर लिबरेशन फ्रंट [जेकेएलएफ] का वह नेता, जिसके डर से कभी कश्मीर घाटी थर्राती थी..जो कभी कश्मीरी पंडितों के लिए आतंक का दूसरा नाम था.. जिस पर तत्कालीन गृह मंत्री मुफ्ती मोहम्मद सईद की बेटी रूबिया सईद के अपहरण और एयरफोर्स के चार निहत्थे जवानों को सरेआम गोलियों से भूनने का मामला आज भी लंबित है..! आपको जानकार आश्चर्य होगा कि केंद्र सरकार यासीन मलिक के इन काले कारनामों से अनजान है! हालांकि सरकार के इस झूठ का पुलिंदा सीबीआई की एक रिपोर्ट से जाहिर हो जाती है! read the complete story here http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/ Best Regards-- Rashneek Kherhttp://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com _________________________________________________________________ 2000 Placements last year. Are You next ? Find out http://ss1.richmedia.in/recurl.asp?pid=499 From vishal.rawlley at gmail.com Tue May 6 14:23:10 2008 From: vishal.rawlley at gmail.com (Vishal Rawlley) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 14:23:10 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL Message-ID: <31d5ea920805060153n70e9252er48374a65ccabdcfe@mail.gmail.com> I for one got quite intrigued by this video festival: Third ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) Can a 1 sec clip be called a video at all? What is 1 second in film time? 25 frames of its video. But one can also have animations play at different frame rates: 50 fps or say 100 fps So how much can one cram in all these frames? It became a fun exercise to explore. I made six one second films! Each a little experiment. I posted two of them - the two that worked. 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5arONhAdf1w 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdXyW11dfMM I had been analyzing the aesthetics of short internet clips for a while. They started as animated gifs: short animations between 2-3 frames at the most. Then flash animations became quite a rage. Since some of these were programmed animations, they could employ the 'random feature' in the coding, which meant that even short animations were not repetitive - the position or colour or size of the animating object (set to random, or random withing a range) could change in each cycle, hence animated loops didn't look loopy at all, they seemed organic. Then there was a fight of the online video formats: streaming format, downloadable formats, for fast connections, for dial-ups, each format requiring its own player and component softwares installed... You tube has largely settled that fight for now...or has it!? So what is the content and form of these short videos meant for online viewing? Some are 'actualities' like those early films made by the Lumière brothers. Again the porn industry was the pioneer in the video revolution on the internet. These actuality clips simply showed a scene as it unfolded with little attempt at narrative construction (fixed camera and no edits): people bonking, a stunt artist doing daring tricks, someone's pet in a funny tangle... But there are some very clever filmmakers (if they can be called that) who actually made beautiful clips: shot precisely, edited crispy, deft use of audio, all with a clear narrative purpose. These remarkable films have a proper 3-act narrative structure (a beginning, a middle and an end.) within 10-20seconds. Although this is difficult, it is hardly inconceivable, we view 30 sec ads on TV all the time. These short clips employ a vast range of cinematic vocabulary that we are all familiar with. Some images (stills or clips) can contain a vast amount of information, just like some hieroglyphs which are more than alphabets or words but entire concepts in themselves. Using these compact image units, one CAN tell a story in compressed time. As our cinematic vocabulary is becoming increasingly rich, it is becoming easier and easier to convey a lot in a short clip. What is this cinematic vocabulary? When we see a clip of lightning flashing against a dark sky, we know its not an image of a weather report, rather a scene from a horror film or an ominous moment in the narrative. Thus a universal cinematic vocabulary has been forming (over 110 years of the invention of this medium) which builds on all our past viewings. We know from experience what a scene means without needing much elaboration. None of us remember being shocked by a simple close up or a footage of a train pulling in - exactly the images that had drastic reactions from audiences when they were first projected. Now you need special effects! Cinematic vocabulary also includes our vocabulary not just of images but also of sound. We know the sound of an error message on our computer from the sound of 'download complete'; we know gunshot sounds and the cry of a dynasaur without having heard one in reality... Our mental sound bank is constantly increasing. Combining this rich and ever-growing vocabulary, dense and short films can be made! But a 1 second duration really pushes limits and is worth experimenting with. Hegemony over universal cinematic language: This 'universal cinematic vocabulary' has largely been determined by the mass media and its conventions. It is replete with ugly stereotypes and dominating ideas of representation. However with a large number of individuals and independent groups contributing videos to the web, perhaps a new vocabulary may evolve! As we can see, the medium is being reinvented on the web, starting with actualities and simple edits, to sophisticated forms of continuous organic animations. Together we are evolve a new language! Your 1 sec video contribution is therefore important. May I remind you: I am not the paid representative of the third-one-second-video-festival, but I am a participant. And you can bet on the winning entry and win! One day left!! Best, Vishal 2008/4/30 Lele Lingeñere : > //////////Español abajo/////////Italiano sotto > > Third ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) extended > its > deadline till 5/5/2008 > > ////jury: > The winner will be selected by a formula that combines the Gambling Online > and the algorithm DEEP DREDD (www.respeto-total.com/osvf/deepdredd/). > > ////rewards: > > + In this edition you can bet for the prize-winning video and gain some > good > money to cash or to spend on our favourite website virtual casino: UNIBET > > + THE VIDEO WINNER WILL INCREASE HIS/HER ECONOMY IN AT LEAST 500 EUROS. > > + watch the Bingo conference for the presentation of the festival > (spanish) > www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=65141081480C642C > > ////dates: > > 1 April - 5 May : UPLOAD videos > 5 May - 9 May : BETTING on videos > 10 May : online PRIZING > > ////requisites: > > _ fill up the application form > _ upload the 1 second video (.mov .wmv .avi .mpg) _ upload a snapshot of > the > video > > //////////English above//////////Italiano sotto > > El 3rd ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) extiende > su > fecha limite hasta el 5/5/2008 > > > ////jurado: > > El ganador será elegido por una formula que combinará las apuestas online > y > el algoritmo DEEP DREDD(www.respeto-total.com/osvf/deepdredd/). > > ////premios: > > + En esta edición podréis apostar por el video ganador y llevaros un buen > dinero a cobrar o gastar en la web de nuestro casino virtual favorito: > UNIBET (www.unibet.es). > > + EL VIDEO GANADOR AUMENTARÁ SU PATRIMONIO EN POR LO MENOS 500 EUROS. > > mira la bingo conferencia de presentación > www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=65141081480C642C > > ////fechas: > > 1 Abril - 5 Mayo : UPLOAD peliculas > 5 Mayo – 9 Mayo : APUESTAS sobre peliculas > 10 Mayo : PREMIACIÓN online > > ////requisitos > > _rellenar la ficha de inscripción > _subir el vídeo de 1 segundo (.mov .wmv .avi .mpg) _adjuntar un still de > la > película > > //////////English & Spanish above > > Il 3rd ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) estende la > scadenza per l'invio di video fino al 5/5/2008 > > ////giuria: > > Il vincitore verrá selezionato da una formula che combina le scommesse > online e l'algoritmo DEEP DREDD (www.respeto-total.com/osvf/deepdredd/). > > ////premio: > > + In questa edizione potrete scommettere sul video vincitore e > + guadambiarvi > un bel malloppo da incassare o spendere nella web del nostro casinó > virtuale > preferito: UNIBET . > > + IL VIDEO VINCENTE VEDRÀ LA SUA SITUAZIONE ECONOMICA MIGLIORARE DI 500 > EURO. > > Guarda lo speciale sulla rete spagnola Cuatro > > http://www.cuatro.com/videos/index.html?xref=20060131ctoultnot_15.Ves&view=b > aja > > ////date: > > 1 Aprile - 5 Maggio : UPLOAD video > 5 Maggio – 9 Maggio : SCOMMESSE sui video > 10 Maggio : PREMIAZIONE online > > ////requisiti > > _riempire la scheda di iscrizione > _uploadare il video i un secondo (.mov .wmv .avi .mpg) > _allegare un'immagine del video > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From zainabbawa at yahoo.com Tue May 6 18:01:03 2008 From: zainabbawa at yahoo.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 05:31:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Job: Charity Executive Message-ID: <735837.962.qm@web36101.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Note: forwarded message attached. Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Between Places http://wbfs.wordpress.com --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From zainabbawa at yahoo.com Tue May 6 18:01:57 2008 From: zainabbawa at yahoo.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 05:31:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Job: Programme Officer (Training) - Railway Children Message-ID: <729302.45220.qm@web36104.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Note: forwarded message attached. Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Between Places http://wbfs.wordpress.com --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From taraprakash at gmail.com Tue May 6 21:27:46 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 11:57:46 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem References: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <005701c8af92$014defb0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Very appropriate. And he must be repeating constantly from his grave "Hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage." Only if he had not offended some regressive Islamists with his unorthodox and perhaps unislamic deeds ... "Tujhe ham vali samajhte jo na badakhwar hota." (we would consider you a religious preacher if you were not a drinker) Apologies if the translation is not accurate. It's not my forte anyway. Regards TaraPrakash ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bain Al Satoor" To: Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:47 PM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > Huye mar ke ham jo ruswa, huye kyun na ghark-e-dariya > Na kabhi janaaza uthta, na kahin mazaar hota > > Ghalib. > > On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 9:19 AM, ambarien qadar > wrote: > >> >> >> >> Hi >> >> I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a century back, >> with the same interpretative lenses today. >> To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already reads as >> a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, ritualistic, >> wahabi >> Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. >> This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it reaffirms a >> poetic possibility of dissent. >> Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not sure if we >> can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide possible >> insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been written >> and >> understood. >> The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through his grief >> at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) or >> through >> our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think about our >> 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. >> >> (No offences meant!) >> Cheers >> Ambarien >> >> >> >> >> __________________________________________________________ >> Sent from Yahoo! Mail. >> A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> subscribe in the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From anne at freewaves.org Tue May 6 03:20:02 2008 From: anne at freewaves.org (Anne Bray) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 14:50:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Hotbed: Video Cultivation in the Getty Gardens May 9-10 (Curated by Anne Bray of Freewaves) Message-ID: <11618105.1210024202530.JavaMail.root@localhost> Freewaves is thrilled to invite you to Hotbed: Video Cultivation beside the Getty Gardens Projected on the exterior walls of the Getty Center, 20 artists' videos from 1984 to 2007 explore the theme of the body as nature or culture. You can stroll the grounds of the Getty Center to see videos spectacularly displayed between the architecture and gardens in this special two-evening installation curated by Anne Bray, director of Freewaves. Essay by Holly Willis. Friday, May 9, 2008, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Saturday, May 10, 2008, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Getty Center More info: http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=208943078&u=2147196 Free event; parking $8 I hope you can come! Annnnnnne ---------------------------------------- You are subscribed to this list as reader-list at sarai.net. To unsubscribe, send email to unsubscribe.259833.208943078.3774505697520880263-reader+2Dlist_sarai.net at en.groundspring.org. Our postal address is 2151 Lake Shore Avenue Los Angeles, California 90039 United States Visit http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=208943078&u=2147197 an online media arts magnet From logos.theword at gmail.com Mon May 5 21:33:31 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 21:33:31 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Conflict and Expression - Workshop on Theatre Of The Oppressed In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805050902u459e6f22j1812ad524554dc5c@mail.gmail.com> References: <33bc2ee60805050902u459e6f22j1812ad524554dc5c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805050903u6a3168a7nc8d936b6b2dd2d10@mail.gmail.com> Logos Theatre presents a workshop on Theatre Of The Oppressed and Forum Theatre, faciliated by Joshua Williams. Josh has studied theatre in Princeton and has specialized in TOTO techniques, which he has also had first hand experience in applying in Africa. In this workshop, he will be covering techniques of image theatre, frozen and dynamic sculpts singly and in groups, the Rainbow of Desire and Forum Theatre. The workshop will enable participants to then apply these techniques to deal with conflictive situations. TOTO provides tools to create a safe space where people may deal with conflict and oppression, and then find alternatives that they can use in real life. This workshop is aimed at people who work in the non-governmental sector such as mediators, counselors, etc., educators, and senior professionals in the corporate sector. A brief note on Joshua Williams, in his own words: Josh Williams is an American ne'er-do-well who finds himself more or less unemployed most of the time. Presently he happens to be more or less unemployed in Bangalore, India. Nevertheless, he does know quite a bit about experimental theatre, baseball and old-fashioned hats. You should take the time to get to know him. He's really pretty delightful. About Theatre of the Oppressed: 'Theatre of the Oppressed' is a body of performance theory and practice developed by the Brazilian director Augusto Boal, among others. The fundamental principle underlying all of the extremely varied work that shelters under the TOTO umbrella is that the creative arts can -- and should -- be turned to progressive, socially conscious ends. We think that's a good thing. Also TOTO -- the acronym itself -- reminds us of *The Wizard Of Oz*, which is a good movie. We hope you've seen it In the words of Augusto Boal, Founder, Theatre of the Oppressed: "The theatre of the Oppressed is a system of physical exercises, aesthetic games and special improvisations whose goal is to safeguard, develop and reshape this human vocation, by turning the practice of theatre into an effective tool for the comprehension of social and personal problems and the search for their solutions. " The workshop will be at the Kalari Academy of Performing Arts, V.N. Plaza, Bazaar Street, off Brigade Road (opposite the rear entrance of Catholic Club) Bangalore Dates: May 12th to May 16th. Time: 14:00 - 16:00, everyday. Fee: Rs. 1,500/- Participation is limited to sixteen people -- Logos Theatre In the beginning was the word No. 126, 3rd Main Road, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore 560046 -------------------------------------------------------- If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is 't to leave betimes? Let be. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From machleetank at gmail.com Wed May 7 12:27:11 2008 From: machleetank at gmail.com (Jasmeen Patheja) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 12:27:11 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 'women's only' ? In-Reply-To: <277f58b70805062354n7f15b6fbrba2b4f50d67d73c0@mail.gmail.com> References: <277f58b70805062120v791f5a3bxcbc762c00f0a1087@mail.gmail.com> <277f58b70805062354n7f15b6fbrba2b4f50d67d73c0@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hello. Am hoping that urban planners, architects can respond to this more recent post on the Blank Noise blog. best, Jasmeen How do you experience public spaces that are exclusively for women? >From Tokyo, Mumbai, Mexico City or Bangalore- each city has created 'women only' systems in public. Please share your views here: http://blog.blanknoise.org/2008/05/bangalore-metropolitan-transport.html -- BLANK NOISE http://blog.blanknoise.org mobile: 0091 98868 40612 Add a Blank Noise button to your blog ! Copy paste the code below- Blank Noise From machleetank at gmail.com Wed May 7 12:27:46 2008 From: machleetank at gmail.com (Jasmeen Patheja) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 12:27:46 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 'women only' ? Message-ID: Hello. Am hoping that urban planners, architects can respond to this more recent post on the Blank Noise blog. best, Jasmeen How do you experience public spaces that are exclusively for women? >From Tokyo, Mumbai, Mexico City or Bangalore- each city has created 'women only' systems in public. Please share your views here: http://blog.blanknoise.org/2008/05/bangalore-metropolitan-transport.html -- BLANK NOISE http://blog.blanknoise.org mobile: 0091 98868 40612 Add a Blank Noise button to your blog ! Copy paste the code below- Blank Noise -- http:blog.blanknoise.org http:blanknoiseactionheroes.blogspot.com mob: 0091 98868 40612 From theunderscoredhood at gmail.com Wed May 7 18:21:56 2008 From: theunderscoredhood at gmail.com (Raheema Begum) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 18:21:56 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: References: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <005701c8af92$014defb0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Message-ID: I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. par kya karein us kaam ka jo hai pada mere aage? Raheema. On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 6:19 PM, Raheema Begum wrote: > I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. > > > On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 9:27 PM, TaraPrakash wrote: > > > Very appropriate. > > > > And he must be repeating constantly from his grave > > > > "Hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage." > > > > Only if he had not offended some regressive Islamists with his > > unorthodox > > and perhaps unislamic deeds ... > > "Tujhe ham vali samajhte jo na badakhwar hota." > > > > (we would consider you a religious preacher if you were not a drinker) > > Apologies if the translation is not accurate. It's not my forte anyway. > > Regards > > TaraPrakash > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Bain Al Satoor" > > To: > > Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:47 PM > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > > > > > > > Huye mar ke ham jo ruswa, huye kyun na ghark-e-dariya > > > Na kabhi janaaza uthta, na kahin mazaar hota > > > > > > Ghalib. > > > > > > On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 9:19 AM, ambarien qadar > > > wrote: > > > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> Hi > > >> > > >> I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a century > > back, > > >> with the same interpretative lenses today. > > >> To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already > > reads as > > >> a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, ritualistic, > > >> wahabi > > >> Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. > > >> This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it reaffirms a > > >> poetic possibility of dissent. > > >> Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not sure > > if we > > >> can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide > > possible > > >> insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been > > written > > >> and > > >> understood. > > >> The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through his > > grief > > >> at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) or > > >> through > > >> our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think about > > our > > >> 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. > > >> > > >> (No offences meant!) > > >> Cheers > > >> Ambarien > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> __________________________________________________________ > > >> Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > > >> A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > >> _________________________________________ > > >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > >> Critiques & Collaborations > > >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > >> subscribe in the subject header. > > >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > >> List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > -- > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > --------------------------------------------------------------- > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' From taraprakash at gmail.com Wed May 7 19:04:49 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 09:34:49 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem References: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <005701c8af92$014defb0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Message-ID: <009f01c8b047$21aaafe0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Can't say which "kaam" but Ghalib would say be different be unusual while doing it. "Raghon mein daudte firne ke ham naheen kayal, jab aankh hi se na tapka to fir lahoo kya hai" If it seems beyond your usual physical powers, use will power "Jo haath mein jumbish naheen, aankhon mein to dam hai... ----- Original Message ----- From: Raheema Begum To: TaraPrakash ; reader-list at sarai.net Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:51 AM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. par kya karein us kaam ka jo hai pada mere aage? Raheema. On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 6:19 PM, Raheema Begum wrote: I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 9:27 PM, TaraPrakash wrote: Very appropriate. And he must be repeating constantly from his grave "Hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage." Only if he had not offended some regressive Islamists with his unorthodox and perhaps unislamic deeds ... "Tujhe ham vali samajhte jo na badakhwar hota." (we would consider you a religious preacher if you were not a drinker) Apologies if the translation is not accurate. It's not my forte anyway. Regards TaraPrakash ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bain Al Satoor" To: Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:47 PM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > Huye mar ke ham jo ruswa, huye kyun na ghark-e-dariya > Na kabhi janaaza uthta, na kahin mazaar hota > > Ghalib. > > On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 9:19 AM, ambarien qadar > wrote: > >> >> >> >> Hi >> >> I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a century back, >> with the same interpretative lenses today. >> To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already reads as >> a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, ritualistic, >> wahabi >> Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. >> This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it reaffirms a >> poetic possibility of dissent. >> Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not sure if we >> can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide possible >> insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been written >> and >> understood. >> The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through his grief >> at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) or >> through >> our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think about our >> 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. >> >> (No offences meant!) >> Cheers >> Ambarien >> >> >> >> >> __________________________________________________________ >> Sent from Yahoo! Mail. >> A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> subscribe in the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' From radiofreealtair at gmail.com Wed May 7 21:02:01 2008 From: radiofreealtair at gmail.com (Anand Vivek Taneja) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 11:32:01 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: <009f01c8b047$21aaafe0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> References: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <005701c8af92$014defb0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> <009f01c8b047$21aaafe0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Message-ID: <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> Ghalib-e khasta ke baghair kaunse kaam band haiN? Roiye zaar zaar kya, kijiye hai hai kyoN? Sorry I could not resist succumbing to the temptation of an endless chain of Ghalib quotations. While this one seemed apt in the tongue-firmly-in-cheek way most of Ghalib is apt; I think the central problematic raised by Mahmood remains unanswered - which is to ask what it means that while one may not be a believer (in any religious or ritual sense); one is still identified (and identifies oneself) as a Muslim (or a Hindu) in a sense of political/community identity. The gap (or lack of) between one's confessional and empathic senses of selfhood and community; and the changing nature of this gap raises interesting questions, particularly in these fraught times when race, religion and identity are being fixed/contested through the biometric logics of surveillance states. Would the anecdotal story told of Ghalib (in the TV serial, to a British officer deciding on his exile from the city post 1857) that he was only 'half a Muslim' (because he drank wine but didn't eat pork) be possible today? Anand On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 9:34 AM, TaraPrakash wrote: > Can't say which "kaam" but Ghalib would say be different be unusual while > doing it. > "Raghon mein daudte firne ke ham naheen kayal, jab aankh hi se na tapka > to fir lahoo kya hai" > > If it seems beyond your usual physical powers, use will power "Jo haath > mein jumbish naheen, aankhon mein to dam hai... > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Raheema Begum > To: TaraPrakash ; reader-list at sarai.net > Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:51 AM > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > > > I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. > par kya karein us kaam ka jo hai pada mere aage? > > Raheema. > > > On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 6:19 PM, Raheema Begum < > theunderscoredhood at gmail.com> wrote: > > I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. > > > > On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 9:27 PM, TaraPrakash > wrote: > > Very appropriate. > > And he must be repeating constantly from his grave > > "Hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage." > > Only if he had not offended some regressive Islamists with his > unorthodox > and perhaps unislamic deeds ... > "Tujhe ham vali samajhte jo na badakhwar hota." > > (we would consider you a religious preacher if you were not a > drinker) > Apologies if the translation is not accurate. It's not my forte > anyway. > Regards > TaraPrakash > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bain Al Satoor" > To: > Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:47 PM > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > > > > Huye mar ke ham jo ruswa, huye kyun na ghark-e-dariya > > Na kabhi janaaza uthta, na kahin mazaar hota > > > > Ghalib. > > > > On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 9:19 AM, ambarien qadar < > ambarien at yahoo.co.uk> > > wrote: > > > >> > >> > >> > >> Hi > >> > >> I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a century > back, > >> with the same interpretative lenses today. > >> To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already > reads as > >> a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, > ritualistic, > >> wahabi > >> Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. > >> This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it > reaffirms a > >> poetic possibility of dissent. > >> Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not > sure if we > >> can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide > possible > >> insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been > written > >> and > >> understood. > >> The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through his > grief > >> at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) > or > >> through > >> our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think about > our > >> 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. > >> > >> (No offences meant!) > >> Cheers > >> Ambarien > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> __________________________________________________________ > >> Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > >> A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > >> _________________________________________ > >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > >> Critiques & Collaborations > >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > >> subscribe in the subject header. > >> To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > >> List archive: > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > -- > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > --------------------------------------------------------------- > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' > > > > -- > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > --------------------------------------------------------------- > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > From mahmood.farooqui at gmail.com Wed May 7 21:36:43 2008 From: mahmood.farooqui at gmail.com (mahmood farooqui) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:36:43 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> References: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <005701c8af92$014defb0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> <009f01c8b047$21aaafe0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Thanks Anand, for getting the point...now we need a point to point...or point by point... On 07/05/2008, Anand Vivek Taneja wrote: > > Ghalib-e khasta ke baghair kaunse kaam band haiN? > Roiye zaar zaar kya, kijiye hai hai kyoN? > > Sorry I could not resist succumbing to the temptation of an endless chain > of > Ghalib quotations. While this one seemed apt in the tongue-firmly-in-cheek > way most of Ghalib is apt; I think the central problematic raised by > Mahmood > remains unanswered - which is to ask what it means that while one may not > be a believer (in any religious or ritual sense); one is still identified > (and identifies oneself) as a Muslim (or a Hindu) in a sense of > political/community identity. The gap (or lack of) between one's > confessional and empathic senses of selfhood and community; and the > changing > nature of this gap raises interesting questions, particularly in these > fraught times when race, religion and identity are being fixed/contested > through the biometric logics of surveillance states. > > Would the anecdotal story told of Ghalib (in the TV serial, to a British > officer deciding on his exile from the city post 1857) that he was only > 'half a Muslim' (because he drank wine but didn't eat pork) be possible > today? > > > Anand > > > > On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 9:34 AM, TaraPrakash wrote: > > > Can't say which "kaam" but Ghalib would say be different be unusual > while > > doing it. > > "Raghon mein daudte firne ke ham naheen kayal, jab aankh hi se na tapka > > to fir lahoo kya hai" > > > > If it seems beyond your usual physical powers, use will power "Jo haath > > mein jumbish naheen, aankhon mein to dam hai... > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Raheema Begum > > To: TaraPrakash ; reader-list at sarai.net > > Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:51 AM > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > > > > > > I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. > > par kya karein us kaam ka jo hai pada mere aage? > > > > Raheema. > > > > > > On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 6:19 PM, Raheema Begum < > > theunderscoredhood at gmail.com> wrote: > > > > I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. > > > > > > > > On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 9:27 PM, TaraPrakash > > wrote: > > > > Very appropriate. > > > > And he must be repeating constantly from his grave > > > > "Hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage." > > > > Only if he had not offended some regressive Islamists with his > > unorthodox > > and perhaps unislamic deeds ... > > "Tujhe ham vali samajhte jo na badakhwar hota." > > > > (we would consider you a religious preacher if you were not a > > drinker) > > Apologies if the translation is not accurate. It's not my forte > > anyway. > > Regards > > TaraPrakash > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Bain Al Satoor" > > To: > > Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:47 PM > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > > > > > > > Huye mar ke ham jo ruswa, huye kyun na ghark-e-dariya > > > Na kabhi janaaza uthta, na kahin mazaar hota > > > > > > Ghalib. > > > > > > On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 9:19 AM, ambarien qadar < > > ambarien at yahoo.co.uk> > > > wrote: > > > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> Hi > > >> > > >> I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a > century > > back, > > >> with the same interpretative lenses today. > > >> To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already > > reads as > > >> a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, > > ritualistic, > > >> wahabi > > >> Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. > > >> This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it > > reaffirms a > > >> poetic possibility of dissent. > > >> Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not > > sure if we > > >> can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide > > possible > > >> insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been > > written > > >> and > > >> understood. > > >> The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through > his > > grief > > >> at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) > > or > > >> through > > >> our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think > about > > our > > >> 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. > > >> > > >> (No offences meant!) > > >> Cheers > > >> Ambarien > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> __________________________________________________________ > > >> Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > > >> A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > >> _________________________________________ > > >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > >> Critiques & Collaborations > > >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.netwith > > >> subscribe in the subject header. > > >> To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > >> List archive: > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > > > > > -- > > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' > > > > > > > > -- > > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From taraprakash at gmail.com Wed May 7 21:59:05 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 12:29:05 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem References: <773432.14170.qm@web25504.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <005701c8af92$014defb0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> <009f01c8b047$21aaafe0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <015401c8b05f$790d8510$6400a8c0@taraprakash> You (perhaps) rightly suggest: Ghalib-e khasta ke baghair kaunse kaam band haiN? Roiye zaar zaar kya, kijiye hai hai kyoN? It is business as usual even without the great poet. But is it completely true? We definitely miss him in the field of poetry. "guzar to jaaegi us ke begair bhi lekin, Bahut udaas bahut bekaraar guzaregi" ( don't remember whom I am quoting here) All said and done, "kahte hain ke Ghalib ka hai, andaz-e bayaan aur" So it is not business as usual. It may be fruitful to consider, what if Ghalib never existed. "Hui muddat ke Ghalib mar gaya par yaad aata hai, Vo har ek baat par kahna, yun hota to kya hota hai"... Duboya mujhko hone ne, na hota mein to kya hota?" I can't say much about Ghalib's opinion and his life, but, identity in general can be shunned at your place of origin, very often not without its repercussions, it is useful when you are in the "fairy (foreign) land forlorn." ----- Original Message ----- From: Anand Vivek Taneja To: TaraPrakash Cc: Raheema Begum ; reader-list at sarai.net Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:32 AM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem Ghalib-e khasta ke baghair kaunse kaam band haiN? Roiye zaar zaar kya, kijiye hai hai kyoN? Sorry I could not resist succumbing to the temptation of an endless chain of Ghalib quotations. While this one seemed apt in the tongue-firmly-in-cheek way most of Ghalib is apt; I think the central problematic raised by Mahmood remains unanswered - which is to ask what it means that while one may not be a believer (in any religious or ritual sense); one is still identified (and identifies oneself) as a Muslim (or a Hindu) in a sense of political/community identity. The gap (or lack of) between one's confessional and empathic senses of selfhood and community; and the changing nature of this gap raises interesting questions, particularly in these fraught times when race, religion and identity are being fixed/contested through the biometric logics of surveillance states. Would the anecdotal story told of Ghalib (in the TV serial, to a British officer deciding on his exile from the city post 1857) that he was only 'half a Muslim' (because he drank wine but didn't eat pork) be possible today? Anand On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 9:34 AM, TaraPrakash wrote: Can't say which "kaam" but Ghalib would say be different be unusual while doing it. "Raghon mein daudte firne ke ham naheen kayal, jab aankh hi se na tapka to fir lahoo kya hai" If it seems beyond your usual physical powers, use will power "Jo haath mein jumbish naheen, aankhon mein to dam hai... ----- Original Message ----- From: Raheema Begum To: TaraPrakash ; reader-list at sarai.net Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:51 AM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. par kya karein us kaam ka jo hai pada mere aage? Raheema. On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 6:19 PM, Raheema Begum wrote: I agree.Hain duniya bazeecha-e atfaal mere bhi aage. On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 9:27 PM, TaraPrakash wrote: Very appropriate. And he must be repeating constantly from his grave "Hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage." Only if he had not offended some regressive Islamists with his unorthodox and perhaps unislamic deeds ... "Tujhe ham vali samajhte jo na badakhwar hota." (we would consider you a religious preacher if you were not a drinker) Apologies if the translation is not accurate. It's not my forte anyway. Regards TaraPrakash ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bain Al Satoor" To: Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 5:47 PM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem > Huye mar ke ham jo ruswa, huye kyun na ghark-e-dariya > Na kabhi janaaza uthta, na kahin mazaar hota > > Ghalib. > > On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 9:19 AM, ambarien qadar > wrote: > >> >> >> >> Hi >> >> I'm not very sure if we can read what Hali wrote nearly a century back, >> with the same interpretative lenses today. >> To me, Hali's piece on Ghalib (quoted in Mahmood's mail) already reads as >> a ceratin kind of break from the mores of traditional, ritualistic, >> wahabi >> Islamic practices that he so brilliantly represented. >> This rupture is particularly relevant in our times for it reaffirms a >> poetic possibility of dissent. >> Moreover, it is Hali's version of how he 'saw' Ghalib. I'm not sure if we >> can comment on it in essentialist ways. At best, it can provide possible >> insights into the myriad ways the Poet and his times have been written >> and >> understood. >> The choice actually lies with us- to understand Ghalib through his grief >> at the plight of the larger muslim community (according to Hali) or >> through >> our knowledge of his stunningly syncretic oeuvre...and think about our >> 'pareshani' or ways of countering it..poetic or otherwise. >> >> (No offences meant!) >> Cheers >> Ambarien >> >> >> >> >> __________________________________________________________ >> Sent from Yahoo! Mail. >> A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> subscribe in the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From ambarien at yahoo.co.uk Wed May 7 22:17:39 2008 From: ambarien at yahoo.co.uk (ambarien qadar) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 16:47:39 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <308223.31013.qm@web25506.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Ofcourse the 'Half muslim' anecdote is very much true..atleast in the world I come from! Many of my closest friends would drink wine and would not eat pork....this is more to do with cultural influences rather than anything else. Frankly, they give a damn to who is saying what to whom or had said what to whom or whether they will be less muslims by doing it or will be more if they do not, before they raise the toast Nevertheless, we are labelled so all the time...It also brings the hijab-jeans, combo to my mind amongst other things... This surely is an interesting thread. I'm thinking through some it... But Ghalib perhaps is not the right reference for this thread. I'm already thinking of someone like Iqbal. Cheers Ambarien __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html From theunderscoredhood at gmail.com Wed May 7 23:02:59 2008 From: theunderscoredhood at gmail.com (Raheema Begum) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:02:59 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: <308223.31013.qm@web25506.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> References: <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> <308223.31013.qm@web25506.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: as far as this space is concerned, my lament has always been this : yeh khaki apni kismat mein na noori hai na naari hai Raheema. On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 10:17 PM, ambarien qadar wrote: > Ofcourse the 'Half muslim' anecdote is very much true..atleast in the > world I come from! > Many of my closest friends would drink wine and would not eat pork....this > is more to do with cultural influences rather than anything else. > Frankly, they give a damn to who is saying what to whom or had said what > to whom or whether they will be less muslims by doing it or will be more if > they do not, before they raise the toast > Nevertheless, we are labelled so all the time...It also brings the > hijab-jeans, combo to my mind amongst other things... > This surely is an interesting thread. I'm thinking through some it... > But Ghalib perhaps is not the right reference for this thread. > I'm already thinking of someone like Iqbal. > Cheers > Ambarien > > > __________________________________________________________ > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' From theunderscoredhood at gmail.com Wed May 7 23:07:54 2008 From: theunderscoredhood at gmail.com (Raheema Begum) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:07:54 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: References: <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> <308223.31013.qm@web25506.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I meant 'fitrat', and yes, I need some amal too. This is from Tulu-e-Islam, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRM90iEIK_U On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 11:02 PM, Raheema Begum wrote: > as far as this space is concerned, my lament has always been this : > > yeh khaki apni kismat mein na noori hai na naari hai > > Raheema. > > > > On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 10:17 PM, ambarien qadar > wrote: > > > Ofcourse the 'Half muslim' anecdote is very much true..atleast in the > > world I come from! > > Many of my closest friends would drink wine and would not eat > > pork....this is more to do with cultural influences rather than anything > > else. > > Frankly, they give a damn to who is saying what to whom or had said what > > to whom or whether they will be less muslims by doing it or will be more if > > they do not, before they raise the toast > > Nevertheless, we are labelled so all the time...It also brings the > > hijab-jeans, combo to my mind amongst other things... > > This surely is an interesting thread. I'm thinking through some it... > > But Ghalib perhaps is not the right reference for this thread. > > I'm already thinking of someone like Iqbal. > > Cheers > > Ambarien > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > > A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > > > > > -- > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > --------------------------------------------------------------- > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' > -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Wed May 7 23:56:04 2008 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:56:04 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Some More Dirt on Yasin Malik Message-ID: <6353c690805071126i737407aex54b369835a3587fa@mail.gmail.com> Sad as it may sound,the incisive reportage by a Dainik Jaagran correspondent might just end up as another news story.In all probability Yasin Malik will continue to be what we call in Hindi"Sarkar ka Daamad".He enjoys Indian Security,Prime Minister's Attention and Petro Dollars despite him having raped,killed,maimed,kidnapped innocent people. If the Kashmir Division of MHA can be so brazen so as to say,"We have no information on cases related to Malik" what action can one expect.The Indian State has fallen to a level where it believes that Yasin Malik is their "best bet" to buy peace in valley. More more indepth information; visit: http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/ Thanks Aditya Raj Kaul http://www.activistsdiary.blogspot.com/ From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Thu May 8 10:43:52 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 22:13:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <02c501c8ae26$2796e590$6500a8c0@taraprakash> Message-ID: <363333.18925.qm@web45516.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Dear Tara, No you pointed it out in a wrong way!!! The meaning is to characterize a woman and her behavior; I just mentioned it to complete the line "kshamaya dharitri". A woman is compared with EARTH in performing the duties with tolerance and hence the respect. EARTH, WOMAN and INDIA all are feminine in nature and similarity in characteristic, so the comparison. But there are males who quote 'they go for 6 females for the foresaid 6 characteristics" criticizing on woman sarcastically pointing that no woman can have all the 6 characteristics. Though "kshamaya dharitri" is old saying and time has changed, but INDIA is same with few exceptions like divisions and territorial occupations, earth is same with new country inventions, men and women are same then and now. But Men toss around with such generalized quotes. "prakash ray" was supposed to give clarification (check your eyes) but ???????????????? It would be nice if "partha das gupta" say few more words. Regards, Dhatri. TaraPrakash wrote: Nicely chosen. A bit too generously perhaps, to dignify an undeserving mail with a response. I was also expecting a mail (ideally not from a male) deconstructing Dhatri's or whoever's suggestion that a wife should act like a prostitute in bed. Ask for money after the act? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aarti Sethi" To: "Sarai Reader List" Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:41 PM Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > its breton's "soluble fish" actually (for those who were wondering)...when > confronted with which strained at the seams of my, admittedly limited, > capacities, I thought it best to call in the experts... > > > On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Tapas Ray wrote: > >> Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's (Dhatri's) >> bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of consciousness is bravely >> challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, and my >> head >> spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. >> >> Tapas >> >> >> >> Aarti Sethi wrote: >> >> > Dear Dhatri, >> > >> > The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded >> > newspaper. >> > Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript curiosity, and >> > from >> > the >> > flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of printer's >> > ink. I >> > >> >> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: >> > >> > Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, >> > > >> > > "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is to >> > > express >> > > the >> > > EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted "Kshamaya >> > > Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary characteristic is >> > > >> > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Thu May 8 10:58:48 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 22:28:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Some More Dirt on Yasin Malik In-Reply-To: <6353c690805071126i737407aex54b369835a3587fa@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <721706.88800.qm@web45502.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> that is really sad!!! What Karan singh, farooq abdulla,gulam nabi azad are doing? Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: Sad as it may sound,the incisive reportage by a Dainik Jaagran correspondent might just end up as another news story.In all probability Yasin Malik will continue to be what we call in Hindi"Sarkar ka Daamad".He enjoys Indian Security,Prime Minister's Attention and Petro Dollars despite him having raped,killed,maimed,kidnapped innocent people. If the Kashmir Division of MHA can be so brazen so as to say,"We have no information on cases related to Malik" what action can one expect.The Indian State has fallen to a level where it believes that Yasin Malik is their "best bet" to buy peace in valley. More more indepth information; visit: http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/ Thanks Aditya Raj Kaul http://www.activistsdiary.blogspot.com/ _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Thu May 8 13:51:36 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 13:21:36 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: <363333.18925.qm@web45516.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <02c501c8ae26$2796e590$6500a8c0@taraprakash> <363333.18925.qm@web45516.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi, Dhatri and tara, basicxally it is about the mother earth and nature which is very tolerent to humans when in their greed and expertise use the technology to harvest nature for the wealth, nature and mother earth forgives with all tolerence but when the greed becomes overbearing, then we see nature in its ful fury to manking and all living beings, be it a cyclone, tsunami or an earthquake. ? A female is often compared to mother earth, in society, conditioned to be servient, but in free India, as political freedom was gained ,it was also the efforts of many women who sacrificed their wellbeing for the freedom struggle as mother, wife and sister , later even in free India it was many mothers, wives and sisters who lost their loved ones in the misadventures of the national leaders who wanted to keep peace in some country ignoring their national interest and loss of many lives. But with advent of economic freedom today the female in society is and will be less tolerent in a society where man is no more a sole bread winner. ? If tolerence is to be present in the society it has to be in both the genders male and female forms, to be harmoniuous in living life. ! The present scenario in the society is that of male and female lives are complementary to each other neither equal, not inferior or superior to each other, as each can have better life if both are complementary in life to each other as men are in cooking kitchen and women are present in what was considered as male domain. ! Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: we wi Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008 10:44 am Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day To: taraprakash at gmail.com, reader-list at sarai.net > Dear Tara, > > No you pointed it out in a wrong way!!! The meaning is to > characterize a woman and her behavior; I just mentioned it to > complete the line "kshamaya dharitri". A woman is compared with > EARTH in performing the duties with tolerance and hence the > respect. EARTH, WOMAN and INDIA all are feminine in nature and > similarity in characteristic, so the comparison. > > But there are males who quote 'they go for 6 females for the > foresaid 6 characteristics" criticizing on woman sarcastically > pointing that no woman can have all the 6 characteristics. > Though "kshamaya dharitri" is old saying and time has changed, > but INDIA is same with few exceptions like divisions and > territorial occupations, earth is same with new country > inventions, men and women are same then and now. But Men toss > around with such generalized quotes. > > "prakash ray" was supposed to give clarification (check your > eyes) but ???????????????? > It would be nice if "partha das gupta" say few more words. > > Regards, > Dhatri. > > > TaraPrakash wrote: > > Nicely chosen. A bit too generously perhaps, to dignify an > undeserving mail > with a response. > > I was also expecting a mail (ideally not from a male) > deconstructing > Dhatri's or whoever's suggestion that a wife should act like a > prostitute in > bed. > Ask for money after the act? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Aarti Sethi" > To: "Sarai Reader List" > Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:41 PM > Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > > > its breton's "soluble fish" actually (for those who were > wondering)...when> confronted with which strained at the seams of > my, admittedly limited, > > capacities, I thought it best to call in the experts... > > > > > > On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Tapas Ray wrote: > > > >> Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's > (Dhatri's)>> bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of > consciousness is bravely > >> challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, > and my > >> head > >> spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. > >> > >> Tapas > >> > >> > >> > >> Aarti Sethi wrote: > >> > >> > Dear Dhatri, > >> > > >> > The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded > >> > newspaper. > >> > Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript > curiosity, and > >> > from > >> > the > >> > flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of > printer's>> > ink. I > >> > > >> > >> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: > >> > > >> > Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, > >> > > > >> > > "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is > to > >> > > express > >> > > the > >> > > EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted > "Kshamaya>> > > Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary > characteristic is > >> > > > >> > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > Try it now. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From asitredsalute at gmail.com Thu May 8 14:53:30 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:53:30 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day In-Reply-To: References: <02c501c8ae26$2796e590$6500a8c0@taraprakash> <363333.18925.qm@web45516.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: where is the economic freedom we are slves of wall street imf white house complex On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 1:51 PM, wrote: > Hi, > > Dhatri and tara, > > basicxally it is about the mother earth and nature which is very > tolerent to humans when in their greed and expertise use the technology to > harvest nature for the wealth, nature and mother earth forgives with all > tolerence but when the greed becomes overbearing, then we see nature in its > ful fury to manking and all living beings, be it a cyclone, tsunami or an > earthquake. ? > > A female is often compared to mother earth, in society, conditioned to be > servient, but in free India, as political freedom was gained ,it was also > the efforts of many women who sacrificed their wellbeing for the freedom > struggle as mother, wife and sister , later even in free India it was many > mothers, wives and sisters who lost their loved ones in the misadventures of > the national leaders who wanted to keep peace in some country ignoring their > national interest and loss of many lives. > > But with advent of economic freedom today the female in society is and > will be less tolerent in a society where man is no more a sole bread winner. > ? If tolerence is to be present in the society it has to be in both the > genders male and female forms, to be harmoniuous in living life. ! The > present scenario in the society is that of male and female lives are > complementary to each other neither equal, not inferior or superior to each > other, as each can have better life if both are complementary in life to > each other as men are in cooking kitchen and women are present in what was > considered as male domain. ! > > Regards. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: we wi > Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008 10:44 am > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > To: taraprakash at gmail.com, reader-list at sarai.net > > > Dear Tara, > > > > No you pointed it out in a wrong way!!! The meaning is to > > characterize a woman and her behavior; I just mentioned it to > > complete the line "kshamaya dharitri". A woman is compared with > > EARTH in performing the duties with tolerance and hence the > > respect. EARTH, WOMAN and INDIA all are feminine in nature and > > similarity in characteristic, so the comparison. > > > > But there are males who quote 'they go for 6 females for the > > foresaid 6 characteristics" criticizing on woman sarcastically > > pointing that no woman can have all the 6 characteristics. > > Though "kshamaya dharitri" is old saying and time has changed, > > but INDIA is same with few exceptions like divisions and > > territorial occupations, earth is same with new country > > inventions, men and women are same then and now. But Men toss > > around with such generalized quotes. > > > > "prakash ray" was supposed to give clarification (check your > > eyes) but ???????????????? > > It would be nice if "partha das gupta" say few more words. > > > > Regards, > > Dhatri. > > > > > > TaraPrakash wrote: > > > > Nicely chosen. A bit too generously perhaps, to dignify an > > undeserving mail > > with a response. > > > > I was also expecting a mail (ideally not from a male) > > deconstructing > > Dhatri's or whoever's suggestion that a wife should act like a > > prostitute in > > bed. > > Ask for money after the act? > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Aarti Sethi" > > To: "Sarai Reader List" > > Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:41 PM > > Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings for May Day > > > > > > > its breton's "soluble fish" actually (for those who were > > wondering)...when> confronted with which strained at the seams of > > my, admittedly limited, > > > capacities, I thought it best to call in the experts... > > > > > > > > > On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Tapas Ray wrote: > > > > > >> Well done! I am looking at the spot where our earth mother's > > (Dhatri's)>> bubbling, gargling, many-splendoured stream of > > consciousness is bravely > > >> challenged by Aarti's. I see a whirlpool where the twain meet, > > and my > > >> head > > >> spins as if my brain is in an erratic washing machine. > > >> > > >> Tapas > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> Aarti Sethi wrote: > > >> > > >> > Dear Dhatri, > > >> > > > >> > The ground beneath my feet is nothing but an enormous unfolded > > >> > newspaper. > > >> > Sometimes a photograph comes by; it is a nondescript > > curiosity, and > > >> > from > > >> > the > > >> > flowers there unifomly rises the smell, the good smell, of > > printer's>> > ink. I > > >> > > > >> > > >> On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 8:52 PM, we wi wrote: > > >> > > > >> > Dear Radhikarajen and the rest, > > >> > > > > >> > > "DHATRI" by choosing this pen name, my exact intention is > > to > > >> > > express > > >> > > the > > >> > > EARTH characteristics and feelings for which you quoted > > "Kshamaya>> > > Dharithri"(dhatri means the earth and its primary > > characteristic is > > >> > > > > >> > > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > > with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > > Try it now. > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > > list > > List archive: > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From mail at shivamvij.com Thu May 8 19:05:30 2008 From: mail at shivamvij.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Shivam_Vij?= =?UTF-8?Q?_=E0=A4=B6=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=AE?= =?UTF-8?Q?=E0=A5=8D_=E0=A4=B5=E0=A4=BF=E0=A4=9C=E0=A5=8D?=) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 19:05:30 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "Even animals are provided with a shelter" Message-ID: <9c06aab30805080635i3e3cbcebk39f7d7cd9122b0fa@mail.gmail.com> There are refugees, and then there are refugees. best shivam http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080049106 Dalits live like refugees in Gujarat Rohit Bhan Wednesday, May 7, 2008 (Palanpur) Over 100 Dalits in Palanpur township of north Gujarat have been living in makeshift camp for last eight months after being driven out of their village by upper castes. Ironically, the camp is outside the collector's office. Maniben is one of them, widow of a man, who was killed after he went to court over against Rajput family attempting to bring down his house to get to their fields. He won the case but after his killing, Dalits in the area were attacked and threatened. They fled their homes and have been living in these camps since. ''Even animals are provided with a shelter, if we find him wandering but here there is none to listen that we are languishing here,'' said Maniben. The administration in September last year declared these people forced migrants. Initially, they were given Rs 15 a person per day but even that stopped in March. Officials said the money can't continue beyond six months. ''The government says they can't pay beyond six months but our question is why hasn't alternate arrangements been made for our sustenance in these last six months,'' said Maniben. Meanwhile, officials said they are working on rehabilitating these Dalits at the earliest. From parthaekka at gmail.com Thu May 8 20:54:15 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:54:15 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Some More Dirt on Yasin Malik In-Reply-To: <721706.88800.qm@web45502.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <6353c690805071126i737407aex54b369835a3587fa@mail.gmail.com> <721706.88800.qm@web45502.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805080824w41a6e794m35e83af87288b29d@mail.gmail.com> Hi, Do read the article with 'incisive reportage'. It is based upon data from Rashneek Kher of 'Roots in Kashmir'. Where can one see the RTI and the response? Rgds, Partha ...................... On 5/8/08, we wi wrote: > > that is really sad!!! What Karan singh, farooq abdulla,gulam nabi azad are > doing? > > Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: Sad as it may sound,the > incisive reportage by a Dainik Jaagran correspondent > > might just end up as another news story.In all probability Yasin Malik will > continue to be what we call in Hindi"Sarkar ka Daamad".He enjoys Indian > Security,Prime Minister's Attention and Petro Dollars despite him having > raped,killed,maimed,kidnapped innocent people. > > > If the Kashmir Division of MHA can be so brazen so as to say,"We have no > information on cases related to Malik" what action can one expect.The > Indian > State has fallen to a level where it believes that Yasin Malik is their > "best bet" to buy peace in valley. > > More more indepth information; visit: > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/ > > Thanks > > Aditya Raj Kaul > http://www.activistsdiary.blogspot.com/ > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it > now. > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Fri May 9 00:12:28 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 00:12:28 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Petition against arrest of Ajay TG Message-ID: <48234994.4040800@gmail.com> Please circulate Widely -- PETITION FOR RELEASE OF AJAY TG, INDEPENDENT FILM MAKER http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/petition-for-release-of-ajay-tg-independent-film-maker/ We the undersigned strongly condemn the arrest of Ajay TG, independent film maker, and social activist by the Chattisgarh police in Bhilai on 4 May 2008 and call for his immediate release. Though no specific charges have been made known so far, the fact that he is detained under the Chattisgarh State Public Security Act – a law meant for containing 'terrorists'- it is obvious that the allegations are likely to be drastic. We have strong grounds to believe that Ajay is being victimised for his human rights work as an active member of the PUCL, against which the Chattisgarh government is carrying out a systematic campaign of vilification and victimisation. He is the second member of the PUCL to be arrested so far, the first being Dr Binayak Sen, well known humanitarian and General Secretary of PUCL's Chattisgarh unit on 14 May 2007. Apart from being a human rights activist Ajay TG is a well-known researcher and independent filmmaker. He has done research assistance work for Professor Jonathan Parry, a world-renowned social anthropologist at London School of Economics and Political Science and also participated in numerous studies conducted by universities in the United States. As a filmmaker Ajay TG has worked on numerous projects as director, cameraman, editor and is also an accomplished graphic artist. Some of his films that have been screened at festivals abroad include 'Living Memory', screened at 'A season of South Asian Documentaries and Films', Cambridge, UK; 'Safar' screened at Sheffield International Film Festival, Sheffield, UK and 'The Last Shelter' screened at Royal Anthropological institute Film Festival, London, UK. Since September 2005 Ajay has been voluntarily running Drksakshi (www.drksakshi.org ), an organisation designed to provide a dignified educational environment for young girls in an urban slum in Bhilai. He is currently also State Convener for Campaign Against Child Labour and Treasurer of the All India Youth Federation, Chhattisgarh. NAME OCCUPATION Anand Patwardhan Film Maker K.P.Sasi Film Maker Satya Sivaraman Journalist Sarat Chandran Film Maker P.Baburaj Film Maker Anivar Aravind Software Hacker, Freelancer Sunil Shanbag Theatre Director Nandini Ramnath Journalist Amrit Gangar Film critic Meghnath Filmmaker Paromita Vohra Filmmaker Vanaja C Journalist Shankar Borua Filmmaker Balmurli Natrajan Anthropologist Simantini Dhuru Filmmaker Shohini Ghosh Filmmaker Sudeep K S Filmmaker Shriprakash Filmmaker Saba Dewan Film maker Rahul Roy Filmmaker Ajitpal Singh Filmmaker Sapna Shahani TV Producer Giulia Battaglia Researcher, MIDS, Chennai Amar Kanwar Filmmaker Sanjiv Shah Filmmaker Lynne Henry Media practitioner/dance educator Sanjay Shah Filmmaker Aditya Seth Filmmaker TN Uma Devi Filmmaker Nirmala Nair Filmmaker Utpal Borpujari Journalist, Lawrence Liang Alternative Law Forum Anjali Monteiro, Professor, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, TISS, Mumbai K.P. Jayasankar, Chair, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, TISS, Mumbai Shikha Jhingan Filmmaker Mrinnal Talukkdar Filmmaker From indersalim at gmail.com Fri May 9 02:18:35 2008 From: indersalim at gmail.com (inder salim) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 02:18:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Advani in Gallery, and Protest... Message-ID: <47e122a70805081348l4ce9880asc3cc7fdd45b35293@mail.gmail.com> Dear All 9th of May. One complete year of attack by BJP's Gujarat on Art Faculty in Baroda. Please Bring your own light to protest at 6.pm Mandi House central park please have a look at Advani in Gallery... ( Rabinder Bhawan Mandi House) . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vYCqXT_1gg - love is From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 9 09:22:36 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:22:36 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Some More Dirt on Yasin Malik In-Reply-To: <32144e990805080824w41a6e794m35e83af87288b29d@mail.gmail.com> References: <6353c690805071126i737407aex54b369835a3587fa@mail.gmail.com> <721706.88800.qm@web45502.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> <32144e990805080824w41a6e794m35e83af87288b29d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805082052u272711e5x5e9f7aa93f1fa89b@mail.gmail.com> They are here with me Partha...do you want a copy.I shall mail to you. Rgds Rashneek On 5/8/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: > > Hi, > > Do read the article with 'incisive reportage'. It is based upon data from > Rashneek Kher of 'Roots in Kashmir'. > > Where can one see the RTI and the response? > > Rgds, Partha > ...................... > > On 5/8/08, we wi wrote: > > > > that is really sad!!! What Karan singh, farooq abdulla,gulam nabi azad > are > > doing? > > > > Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: Sad as it may > sound,the > > incisive reportage by a Dainik Jaagran correspondent > > > > might just end up as another news story.In all probability Yasin Malik > will > > continue to be what we call in Hindi"Sarkar ka Daamad".He enjoys Indian > > Security,Prime Minister's Attention and Petro Dollars despite him having > > raped,killed,maimed,kidnapped innocent people. > > > > > > If the Kashmir Division of MHA can be so brazen so as to say,"We have no > > information on cases related to Malik" what action can one expect.The > > Indian > > State has fallen to a level where it believes that Yasin Malik is their > > "best bet" to buy peace in valley. > > > > More more indepth information; visit: > > http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/ > > > > Thanks > > > > Aditya Raj Kaul > > http://www.activistsdiary.blogspot.com/ > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try > it > > now. > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > > > > -- > Partha Dasgupta > +919811047132 > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 9 09:32:12 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:32:12 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "Even animals are provided with a shelter" In-Reply-To: <9c06aab30805080635i3e3cbcebk39f7d7cd9122b0fa@mail.gmail.com> References: <9c06aab30805080635i3e3cbcebk39f7d7cd9122b0fa@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805082102i25d6d406g8e4731233c871fef@mail.gmail.com> This caste war is going to finsih India one day.It is time we throw this Manu-smriti out of own system but that is easier said than done. In a state where the CM is himself from a so called lower caste one expects better treatment of dalits although that doesnt mean others should not treat them well. However who better than a refugee(Rohit Bhan) can understand how humiliating it is to be one. Regards Rashneek On 5/8/08, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् wrote: > > There are refugees, and then there are refugees. > best > shivam > > http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080049106 > > Dalits live like refugees in Gujarat > > Rohit Bhan > Wednesday, May 7, 2008 (Palanpur) > Over 100 Dalits in Palanpur township of north Gujarat have been living > in makeshift camp for last eight months after being driven out of > their village by upper castes. > > Ironically, the camp is outside the collector's office. > > Maniben is one of them, widow of a man, who was killed after he went > to court over against Rajput family attempting to bring down his house > to get to their fields. > > He won the case but after his killing, Dalits in the area were > attacked and threatened. They fled their homes and have been living in > these camps since. > > ''Even animals are provided with a shelter, if we find him wandering > but here there is none to listen that we are languishing here,'' said > Maniben. > > The administration in September last year declared these people forced > migrants. > > Initially, they were given Rs 15 a person per day but even that > stopped in March. > > Officials said the money can't continue beyond six months. > > ''The government says they can't pay beyond six months but our > question is why hasn't alternate arrangements been made for our > sustenance in these last six months,'' said Maniben. > > Meanwhile, officials said they are working on rehabilitating these > Dalits at the earliest. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From asitredsalute at gmail.com Fri May 9 11:17:41 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:17:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Petition against arrest of Ajay TG In-Reply-To: <48234994.4040800@gmail.com> References: <48234994.4040800@gmail.com> Message-ID: i endorse it plse keep me posted and inform of further action plan i want to paricipate regards asit indepentant film maker and resaercher On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 12:12 AM, Anivar Aravind wrote: > Please circulate Widely > > -- > > PETITION FOR RELEASE OF AJAY TG, INDEPENDENT FILM MAKER > > http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/petition-for-release-of-ajay-tg-independent-film-maker/ > > We the undersigned strongly condemn the arrest of Ajay TG, independent > film maker, and social activist by the Chattisgarh police in Bhilai on 4 > May 2008 and call for his immediate release. > > Though no specific charges have been made known so far, the fact that he > is detained under the Chattisgarh State Public Security Act – a law > meant for containing 'terrorists'- it is obvious that the allegations > are likely to be drastic. > > We have strong grounds to believe that Ajay is being victimised for his > human rights work as an active member of the PUCL, against which the > Chattisgarh government is carrying out a systematic campaign of > vilification and victimisation. He is the second member of the PUCL to > be arrested so far, the first being Dr Binayak Sen, well known > humanitarian and General Secretary of PUCL's Chattisgarh unit on 14 May > 2007. > > Apart from being a human rights activist Ajay TG is a well-known > researcher and independent filmmaker. He has done research assistance > work for Professor Jonathan Parry, a world-renowned social > anthropologist at London School of Economics and Political Science and > also participated in numerous studies conducted by universities in the > United States. > > As a filmmaker Ajay TG has worked on numerous projects as director, > cameraman, editor and is also an accomplished graphic artist. Some of > his films that have been screened at festivals abroad include 'Living > Memory', screened at 'A season of South Asian Documentaries and Films', > Cambridge, UK; 'Safar' screened at Sheffield International Film > Festival, Sheffield, UK and 'The Last Shelter' screened at Royal > Anthropological institute Film Festival, London, UK. > > Since September 2005 Ajay has been voluntarily running Drksakshi > (www.drksakshi.org ), an organisation designed > to provide a dignified educational environment for young girls in an > urban slum in Bhilai. He is currently also State Convener for Campaign > Against Child Labour and Treasurer of the All India Youth Federation, > Chhattisgarh. > > NAME OCCUPATION > Anand Patwardhan Film Maker > K.P.Sasi Film Maker > Satya Sivaraman Journalist > Sarat Chandran Film Maker > P.Baburaj Film Maker > Anivar Aravind Software Hacker, Freelancer > Sunil Shanbag Theatre Director > Nandini Ramnath Journalist > Amrit Gangar Film critic > Meghnath Filmmaker > Paromita Vohra Filmmaker > Vanaja C Journalist > Shankar Borua Filmmaker > Balmurli Natrajan Anthropologist > Simantini Dhuru Filmmaker > Shohini Ghosh Filmmaker > Sudeep K S Filmmaker > Shriprakash Filmmaker > Saba Dewan Film maker > Rahul Roy Filmmaker > Ajitpal Singh Filmmaker > Sapna Shahani TV Producer > Giulia Battaglia Researcher, MIDS, > Chennai > Amar Kanwar Filmmaker > Sanjiv Shah Filmmaker > Lynne Henry Media practitioner/dance educator > Sanjay Shah Filmmaker > Aditya Seth Filmmaker > TN Uma Devi Filmmaker > Nirmala Nair Filmmaker > Utpal Borpujari Journalist, > Lawrence Liang Alternative Law Forum > Anjali Monteiro, Professor, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, > TISS, Mumbai > K.P. Jayasankar, Chair, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, TISS, > Mumbai > Shikha Jhingan Filmmaker > Mrinnal Talukkdar Filmmaker > > > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From kj.impulse at gmail.com Tue May 6 17:07:21 2008 From: kj.impulse at gmail.com (Kavita Joshi) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 17:07:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] [infosouth] announcing TWO workshops in film-making Message-ID: <821019d70805060437jf099677rb47ec8e52475c014@mail.gmail.com> Dear friends This year, we're announcing TWO workshops in film-making - our annual INTENSIVE SUMMER WORKSHOP (open to all), - and a new WEEKEND BASED WORKSHOP (ideally suited to working people and the NGO sector) Some information is below. Pl share it with others who may be interested.... thanks and best wishes Kavita Joshi Filmmaker and Media Trainer *********TWO FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS IN DELHI********* *----- THE INTENSIVE SUMMER WORKSHOP----- *For 6 years now, Impulse has been organising a filmmaking workshop conducted by Kavita Joshi. STARTS LATE MAY. REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN. SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS. Prior experince in this field is not needed. We are open to anyone 17 years and up... THE WORKSHOP IS AIMED AT PEOPLE WHO: - want to make their own film, but don't quite know how - or are thinking of a career in TV/films, but are not sure if it's right for them - or are doing a media / communication course which doesn't have enough video training - or simply want a creative new activity PARTICIPANTS GET TO: - Script. Shoot. Edit. Make a film... - Watch rare films from over the world and read film books - Work on digital equipment - Go for Field Trips, and more... LOGISTICS: - Held in (south) Delhi. Starting late May - It is modular - 4 weeks + 4 weeks (fairly full time). - Each batch has 16-18 people max. CONDUCTED BY: The workshop is principally conducted by Kavita Joshi, an independent filmmaker based in Delhi. Her films include Tales from the Margins and Some Roots Grow Upwards. To know more about her films, click here Kavita has been designing and conducting training programmes in filmmaking since 2001. In addition to the summer workshops, she has held workshops for Adobe India, IIT Kanpur, IAWRT, Chetana Media Institute and Wigan and Leigh college. Visit the workshop web-group here There will be additional inputs by other trainers. *----- THE WEEKEND WORKSHOP----- * In 2008, we are launching an additional NEW weekend-based workshop, suitable for WORKING PEOPLE who hold full time jobs, and especially for NGOs that may have VIDEO SHOOTING NEEDS. Again, beginners are welcome. Experience in filmmaking is not required. We aim to launch this workshop by August. Registrations open soon. In case you are interested in this, please send us an email asap. *----- REQUEST DETAILS ABOUT EITHER WORKSHOP ----- *Send an email to [ impulsemail AT gmail DOT com ] Email enquiries should include - your full name, main email id and a back-up email id - phone number (advisable) and city - and mention which workshop you are interested in In case you are working, it helps a lot if you tell us a bit about your profession, nature of work, timings, and organisation. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE PAID WORKSHOPS *** -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From logos.theword at gmail.com Thu May 8 11:11:13 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 11:11:13 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Selves, Masks, Performance - the stage and beyond In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805072239h31586b00xba72858a5977d2b3@mail.gmail.com> References: <33bc2ee60805072239h31586b00xba72858a5977d2b3@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805072241v38a5b640x35c151d7b68cff57@mail.gmail.com> Logos Theatre is organizing '*Selves, Masks, Performance - the stage and beyond' *: a workshop on different approaches, techniques and ways of looking at acting and performing; and how these ways of looking extend beyond the stage and into everyday life. The programme looks at the concept of the self, or the many selves that we slip into in performance and in everyday life, and tries to deal with concepts of 'role' and 'character', the wearing and uncovering of ' masks', and the question, 'what is the essential me?'. It also examines the meaning of 'performance ', 'doing', 'act', and 'action'. As opposed to traditional approaches to acting such as the method, which insist on approaching a role through elaborate character study, the workshop is centred around the body and creating emotion and expression through breath and physicality, and most importantly, it looks at performance as creative play. >From a functional point of view, the workshop enriches participants with techniques that free the natural, inner voice, and enhance spatial command, thereby enhancing one's awareness of self and helping one to become a more dynamic presenter and communicator. However, the real value of the workshop is in the window it provides to the individual's inner universe, and the way it connects the individual to the universal human experience. An outline: •Breath and voice: Breath and the self, emoting and expressing through breath, unlocking the voice. •Patterns of movement: Threads in space. •Play and playing - ideas, objects and space. •Body sculpts, images, thought tracking, power and hierarchy. •Associations, images, and imagination - confronting the id. •Memory and myth •Speaking the speech - A physical approach to text. Classical Indian and Western theatre, Shakespeare, and beyond. •Theatre of the absurd, contemporary performance texts and devised work Facilitator: Arka Mukhopadhyay is a Bangalore based poet and theatremaker who also works on performance poetry and performance art as theStillDancer. His poetry has been published in various national and international journals. He has taught drama at an international school in Bangalore and has performed and conducted workshops at educational institutions throughout the country. Logos Theatre, is an exploratory outfit committed to negotiating the difficult terrain that lies at the crossways of theatrical process, spontaneity and the subconscious; as also to discovering new landscapes opened up by dialogues between performing arts, performance arts and the contemporary media arts. Dates: May 19th - May 28th. Workshop timings: 18:00 to 21:00 Fees: Rs. 3,500/- Registration deadline: May 15th. contact: 9880966313 e-mail: logos.theword at gmail.com Please do pass this along to those who you think might be interested. If you'd like your organization to sponsor you, please do send this to the appropriate people. -- Logos Theatre In the beginning was the word No. 126, 3rd Main Road, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore 560046 -------------------------------------------------------- If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes? Let be. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From prashantiyengar at gmail.com Thu May 8 14:21:28 2008 From: prashantiyengar at gmail.com (Prashant Iyengar) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:21:28 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Ashhar Farhan's latest book is out! In-Reply-To: <3e1a2e9e0805072054x72240a58ge649519324b55844@mail.gmail.com> References: <3e1a2e9e0805072054x72240a58ge649519324b55844@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <908adbd0805080151s1cd3b1c7ve4a645329704b6ef@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ashhar Farhan Date: Thu, May 8, 2008 at 9:24 AM Subject: [yocs] Ashhar Farhan's latest book is out! To: yocs at yahoogroups.com, Elahe , tobler32 at gmail.com, humeraahmed742004 at hotmail.com, usha.akella at gmail.com Ashhar Farhan's latest book is out! Ashhar Farhan's only book to come out this year, in fact the only book to come out any year is already out! Go grab a copy now. Be careful though, it is bit heavy going. All of three thousand pages (die, vikram seth!). In his own words, it is more approachable than Wittgenstein's tractotus, more gripping that the bombay telephone directory and far more informative than the RAW. the book titled "Bibliography of Social Sciences in Urdu" is written in both Urdu and English. It is the first book to be simultaneously published in both languages (apart from zinda tilismath's flyer). Film rights are reserved and it is expected (by the authors at least) to be a major motion picture as soon as their filmi friends start accepting their calls. the book heralds the death of story in post modern literature and breaks the arch of narrative by following the structure of a list. as the reader steps through the book's fast paced, racy pages, he is assaulted by thousands upon thousands mentions of various books and articles written by people long dead (thankfully). In the end, he or she is left with a sense of fear and terror at the menace that social sciences can become when left to the free will of various academic investigators and self publishing thinkers. as the publisher said while chewing on the barra kabaab at karim's - "chomp! chomp! this can only lead to more research work on the research work already done, can i have a soda please? burp!" the book's credits are given to both the authors. one is curiously related to the other by a stroke of luck. farhan happens to be the son of moazzam, the other author. while farhan's stellar role has been to take the entire database, copy it to a memory stick, upload it into an excel spreadsheet and print it all out, moazzam's lesser but nevertheless important role has been to actually send couple of boys around to libraries where they sat and read and wrote about the books on the shelves for about 10 years, talk about wasting time. the boys have decided to write a small monograph on 'the making of the bibliography of urdu social sciences - a comparative study of bed bug infestation in library chairs' as soon as they are able to walk again. the books is expected to do brisk sales, clearing up the room in farhan's living room. the spouses of both the authors were not available for comment at the time of going to press. without spoiling the ending, it must be pointed out that the urdu and english books have different endings due to alphabetic arrangement. the english book's exciting ending happens in the "Zypher in Zafar's zeitgeist and zygotic zoology", the urdu ending is not considered fit for universal audience (such as this) as it involves a poet called chilkan. the book is published in three volumes and is available for $100 in library edition. please send money to the authors directly. they also indicated that any other form of payment in like wheat, rice, vegetables, pulses and chicken (not more than 2 days old) is acceptable tender. __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar To Post a message, send it to: yocs at eGroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: yocs-unsubscribe at eGroups.com Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Visit Your Group Yahoo! Groups Find balance between nutrition, activity & well-being. Y! Groups blog The place to go to stay informed on Groups news! Special K Group on Yahoo! Groups Learn how others are losing pounds. . __,_._,___ From kj.impulse at gmail.com Thu May 8 14:26:09 2008 From: kj.impulse at gmail.com (Kavita Joshi) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:26:09 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [DFA NewsLetter] screening at KRITI: Bullets and Butterflies, by Sushmit Ghosh Message-ID: <821019d70805080156s70e24af6o3e42fdd83d7fc8a4@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: aanchal kapur dear friends Twenty-five friends from the Indo-Pak Youth Peace Forum are coming to the Kriti workplace tomorrow afternoon. On this occasion, the Kriti Film Club is organising a second screening of the beautifully made documentary, Bullets and Butterflies, by Sushmit Ghosh (41 mins/ English) on Friday, 9th May at 4 pm. You are invited to this special afternoon screening of a film which we would personally recommend as a 'feel good and happy' one to move forward in our journey of life! The young film maker will be with us to take comments and questions. Do let us know if you are coming so we can keep something to eat and drink for you! Venue: Kriti team workplace S-35 Tara Apartments, Alaknanda, New Delhi 110019 Phone: +91-11-26027845/ 26033088 about the film Two people travel a distance of 1500 kilometers over 7 days - an unprecedented ride that takes them through plains, hills and into mountains; marked by narrow escapes and introspective conversations; breathtaking sights and an uncanny contrast of people. Travellers-turned-cameramen, they shoot the ride on the go, enthusing the film with their refreshingly ingenuous approach to capturing the ride on video. Funny thing is that this strange expedition was never intended to be a film. Bullets and Butterflies traces the journey of a handicapped street child and a biking enthusiast on a motorcycle - popularly known as a Bullet - as they travel from the bustling cityscape of Delhi to the serene hills of Himachal Pradesh. It is the journey from a promise made during a fleeting conversation to its fulfillment in an unforeseen, bizarrely deep understanding between the odd pair; inadvertently providing an insight on differently-abled people and the hardships of a life lived on the streets. about the film maker Sushmit Ghosh is a film student at the Mass Communication Research Center, Jamia Millia University in New Delhi and is currently pursuing a Masters course in Mass Communication. He has a keen interest in photography and has worked on various themes with non-governmental organizations. A selection of his photographs became a traveling exhibition that was taken to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and United Kingdom. In his spare time, Sushmit enjoys traveling across the country. Bullets and Butterflies is his first independent film as a director. about the Film Club We offer an interactive space for screening documentary & mainstream films as well as slide shows, on a whole range of issues connected with development, human rights & social attitudes/ trends once a month. You can also borrow and buy several titles of documentaries made by film makers from around the country and parts of the world. Consistently screening films since 1999 in New Delhi, we are a non-funded organisation and the film club has evolved and survived due to the support of film makers and the contributions of its audience to our 'gullak' (collection box)! Note: Please let us know in case you'd like your email id removed from this mailing list and/ or if you receive this mail in duplicate. This will help us further organise our emailing process! - ON YOUR VISIT TO THE KRITI WORKPLACE.... *Visit our Docushop for a range of information & communication resources! *Shop for eco-friendly and community produced gifts at reasonable prices at our Gestures stall! Your purchases will help our work in supporting several marginalised communities and people's movements across India, and keep us non-grant taking!!! Email: space.kriti at gmail.com http://krititeam.blogspot.com - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please DO NOT REPLY to the sender. To contact the MODERATOR: delhifilmarchive [at] gmail.com To UNSUBSCRIBE: send an email to delhifilmarchive-unsubscribe at googlegroups.com More OPTIONS are on the web: http://groups.google.com/group/delhifilmarchive Our WEBSITE: www.delhifilmarchive.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- From zeenath.hasan at mah.se Thu May 8 14:34:48 2008 From: zeenath.hasan at mah.se (Zeenath Hasan) Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 11:04:48 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] Invitation: Moving a city References: <006201c8b0d5$8eb8d6a0$ac2a83e0$@se> Message-ID: Kiruna, a city centre in north Sweden, is to be moved following the expansion of an iron ore mine. The Swedish Industrial Design Foundation invites applicants to be part of a 2 week workshop on what it means to move a city. http://www.svid.se/English/About-SVID/Projects/City-Move-Interdesign/ .. Zeenath Hasan PhD candidate Media and Communications Studies School of Arts and Communication Malmö University Malmö 205 06 Sweden http://webzone.k3.mah.se/K3ZEHA Telephone: +46 (0)40 66 57 111 Fax: +46 (0)40 66 57 360 Mobile: +46 (0)76 1079601 From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 9 12:06:08 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:06:08 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary Message-ID: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> and this one isn't based on my data....... By Dr Shabir Choudhry London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a sacred name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else they valued in name of liberating the state. They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were doing this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and oppressed nation. But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF has brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly claimed to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those who helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of others I have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible to promote true ideology of the JKLF. Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; and allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent that top leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are advancing agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology to suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away their independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. Their strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and Kashmir but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of which was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and engaged. That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been engaged since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got trampled and oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay through their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and Kashmir. In this struggle which started in name of independence and spearheaded by The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies resulted in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started an era of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of Indian Army and security services, they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and worse of all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are still unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. It is regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable that instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and Kashmir, the APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to independence. My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in control of JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be in charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling shots in name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not allow free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the JKLF. Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF Zone in Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the party to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the state and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release of Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than Amanullah Khan. We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these leaders to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan is like Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both believed in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont like party to flourish or expand. Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life there, especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; and both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and came out as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was not in a prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media management. We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will help to bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant and democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and they started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly advocated formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time trying to correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF groups and when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties with the party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time to promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - it is a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort and dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then I could have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even though majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken in its favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our commitment to each other was that we would remain together and work together. We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in the party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt have control over it and they lacked courage and political will to challenge them. Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they will side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name of the JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new party. My view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan or Yasin Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the Valley. They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the struggle, especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims and non Muslims alike. If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of imposing government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; and in some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called freedom fighters then what is the difference between them? This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be dealt here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated the JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage of the JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, which abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too heavy to carry. If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution to the cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then good luck to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and make a new start then they are welcome. (ANI) http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 9 12:49:21 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:49:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Pandits return to save their land, not for PM's promises(Hindustan Times) Message-ID: <13df7c120805090019p2643f9faj2f4e4209709066df@mail.gmail.com> Much has been made of the fact that a few Kashmiri Pandit families have returned to the Valley recently. Large sections of the media have reported that Kashmiri Pandits are returning in response to the rehabilitation package announced by the prime minister on April 25. But the story, it appears, is misleading. The fact is, families came back on April 22, three days before Dr Manmohan Singh's visit. And it appears they did so because they were informed that their ancestral houses were in danger of being demolished. These houses are in an area reportedly shortlisted for a bus terminus. The Pandits demanded answers from the local administration as to why their land was being used for a project without their being notified. Verinag, a retired medical assistant who used to live in Kolapur mohalla in Verinag, is furious. "The government is talking of rehabilitation on the one hand, and appropriating our property on the other," he told Hindustan Times. "We have come to save our property from the government's illegal action," Lal said. "Our visit has no link whatsoever with the Prime Minister's package," he said. He pointed out that the PM announced the package on April 25, three days after they arrived at their ancestral village. Kanta Koul, a mother of three, brought her ailing husband Sundari Lal to the village instead of taking him to Delhi for treatment when she learnt that a bus stand was to come up on their property. "I sold my valuables instead of land to marry off one of my daughters. Now the government wants to dispossess me of my land and home," she said. Local MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir has reportedly told them they will be given land in compensation, but the residents are not pleased. Rattan Lal asked: "Why can't they construct the bus stand over that land." Several Kashmiri Pandit families fled the village when insurgency reared its head in the Valley in the '80s. They shifted to Jammu, where most live in a Kashmiri Pandit locality called Durga Nagar, on the outskirts of Jammu. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=fb1712c9-047a-4d83-b8d2-eb8a7f81f074&&Headline=Pandits+return+to+save+their+land%2c+not+for+PM%e2%80%99s+promises + -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk Fri May 9 13:14:58 2008 From: rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk (Rebellious Koshur) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:44:58 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <340080.16771.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Rashneek, It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side to the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much defending each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn’t you quote him then. You would claim that he is repentant but people in Kashmir believe he is denigrated. Qalab Hussain rashneek kher wrote: and this one isn't based on my data....... By Dr Shabir Choudhry London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a sacred name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else they valued in name of liberating the state. They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were doing this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and oppressed nation. But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF has brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly claimed to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those who helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of others I have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible to promote true ideology of the JKLF. Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; and allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent that top leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are advancing agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology to suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away their independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. Their strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and Kashmir but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of which was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and engaged. That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been engaged since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got trampled and oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay through their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and Kashmir. In this struggle which started in name of independence and spearheaded by The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies resulted in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started an era of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of Indian Army and security services, they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and worse of all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are still unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. It is regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable that instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and Kashmir, the APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to independence. My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in control of JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be in charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling shots in name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not allow free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the JKLF. Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF Zone in Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the party to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the state and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release of Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than Amanullah Khan. We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these leaders to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan is like Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both believed in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont like party to flourish or expand. Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life there, especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; and both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and came out as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was not in a prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media management. We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will help to bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant and democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and they started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly advocated formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time trying to correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF groups and when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties with the party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time to promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - it is a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort and dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then I could have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even though majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken in its favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our commitment to each other was that we would remain together and work together. We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in the party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt have control over it and they lacked courage and political will to challenge them. Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they will side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name of the JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new party. My view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan or Yasin Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the Valley. They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the struggle, especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims and non Muslims alike. If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of imposing government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; and in some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called freedom fighters then what is the difference between them? This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be dealt here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated the JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage of the JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, which abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too heavy to carry. If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution to the cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then good luck to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and make a new start then they are welcome. (ANI) http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email. From rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk Fri May 9 13:15:29 2008 From: rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk (Rebellious Koshur) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:45:29 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <96957.2059.qm@web27414.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Rashneek, It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side to the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much defending each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn’t you quote him then. You would claim that he is repentant but people in Kashmir believe he is denigrated. Qalab Hussain rashneek kher wrote: and this one isn't based on my data....... By Dr Shabir Choudhry London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a sacred name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else they valued in name of liberating the state. They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were doing this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and oppressed nation. But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF has brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly claimed to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those who helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of others I have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible to promote true ideology of the JKLF. Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; and allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent that top leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are advancing agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology to suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away their independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. Their strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and Kashmir but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of which was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and engaged. That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been engaged since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got trampled and oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay through their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and Kashmir. In this struggle which started in name of independence and spearheaded by The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies resulted in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started an era of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of Indian Army and security services, they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and worse of all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are still unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. It is regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable that instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and Kashmir, the APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to independence. My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in control of JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be in charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling shots in name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not allow free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the JKLF. Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF Zone in Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the party to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the state and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release of Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than Amanullah Khan. We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these leaders to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan is like Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both believed in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont like party to flourish or expand. Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life there, especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; and both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and came out as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was not in a prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media management. We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will help to bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant and democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and they started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly advocated formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time trying to correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF groups and when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties with the party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time to promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - it is a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort and dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then I could have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even though majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken in its favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our commitment to each other was that we would remain together and work together. We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in the party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt have control over it and they lacked courage and political will to challenge them. Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they will side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name of the JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new party. My view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan or Yasin Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the Valley. They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the struggle, especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims and non Muslims alike. If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of imposing government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; and in some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called freedom fighters then what is the difference between them? This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be dealt here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated the JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage of the JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, which abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too heavy to carry. If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution to the cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then good luck to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and make a new start then they are welcome. (ANI) http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email. From rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk Fri May 9 13:16:33 2008 From: rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk (Rebellious Koshur) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:46:33 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <79025.36412.qm@web27408.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Rashneek, It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side to the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much defending each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn’t you quote him then. You would claim that he is repentant but people in Kashmir believe he is denigrated. Qalab Hussain rashneek kher wrote: and this one isn't based on my data....... By Dr Shabir Choudhry London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a sacred name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else they valued in name of liberating the state. They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were doing this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and oppressed nation. But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF has brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly claimed to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those who helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of others I have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible to promote true ideology of the JKLF. Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; and allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent that top leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are advancing agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology to suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away their independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. Their strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and Kashmir but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of which was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and engaged. That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been engaged since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got trampled and oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay through their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and Kashmir. In this struggle which started in name of independence and spearheaded by The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies resulted in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started an era of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of Indian Army and security services, they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and worse of all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are still unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. It is regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable that instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and Kashmir, the APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to independence. My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in control of JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be in charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling shots in name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not allow free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the JKLF. Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF Zone in Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the party to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the state and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release of Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than Amanullah Khan. We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these leaders to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan is like Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both believed in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont like party to flourish or expand. Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life there, especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; and both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and came out as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was not in a prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media management. We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will help to bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant and democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and they started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly advocated formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time trying to correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF groups and when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties with the party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time to promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - it is a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort and dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then I could have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even though majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken in its favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our commitment to each other was that we would remain together and work together. We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and Amanullah Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in the party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt have control over it and they lacked courage and political will to challenge them. Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they will side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name of the JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new party. My view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan or Yasin Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the Valley. They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the struggle, especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims and non Muslims alike. If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of imposing government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; and in some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called freedom fighters then what is the difference between them? This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be dealt here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated the JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage of the JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, which abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too heavy to carry. If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution to the cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then good luck to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and make a new start then they are welcome. (ANI) http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email. From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 9 13:18:28 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 13:18:28 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <340080.16771.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> References: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> <340080.16771.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805090048h2eec90c7q9dd646e2c9edd671@mail.gmail.com> Qalab Bhai, Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself has switched to Indian side. I am not claiming anything.... Rashneek On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur wrote: > > Rashneek, > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side to > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much defending > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't you quote him > then. You would claim that he is repentant but people in Kashmir believe he > is denigrated. > > Qalab Hussain > > *rashneek kher * wrote: > > and this one isn't based on my data....... > > > By Dr Shabir Choudhry > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a sacred > name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else they > valued in name of liberating the state. > > They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were doing > this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and oppressed > nation. > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF has > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of problems > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly claimed > to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those who > helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of others I > have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible to > promote true ideology of the JKLF. > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; and > allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent that > top > leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are advancing > agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. > > These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology to > suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away their > independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. Their > strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and Kashmir > but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of which > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and engaged. > > That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been engaged > since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got trampled and > oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay through > their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and > Kashmir. > > In this struggle which started in name of independence and spearheaded by > The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies > resulted > in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started an era > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. > > All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of Indian > Army and security > services, > they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and worse of > all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. > > In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are still > unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. It is > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable that > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and Kashmir, the > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to independence. > > My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in control of > JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be in > charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling shots in > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez Musharaf > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not allow > free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the JKLF. > > Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra > constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF Zone in > Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. > > We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the party > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the state > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release of > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than Amanullah > Khan. > > We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these > leaders > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan is > like > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both believed > in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike > accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont like > party > to flourish or expand. > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life there, > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; and > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and came > out > as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was not in > a > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media > management. > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will help to > bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the > Kashmir > dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. > > We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our > endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant and > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and they > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly advocated > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time trying > to > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when Yasin > Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF groups and > when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. > > I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties with > the > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time to > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - it is > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort and > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then I > could > have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. > > In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even though > majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken in its > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our commitment > to each other was that we would remain together and work together. > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and Amanullah > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in the > party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt have > control over it and they lacked courage and political will to challenge > them. > > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they will > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name of > the > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new party. My > view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan or > Yasin > Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. > > But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the Valley. > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the struggle, > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims and non > Muslims alike. > > If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of imposing > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; and in > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called > freedom > fighters then what is the difference between them? > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be dealt > here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated the > JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of > Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage of the > JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. > > I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, which > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too heavy > to carry. > > If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution to the > cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like > Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then good luck > to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and make > a > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) > > > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html > > -- > Rashneek Kher > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > > > ------------------------------ > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > > A Smarter Email. > > -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 9 13:44:35 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 13:44:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805090048h2eec90c7q9dd646e2c9edd671@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> <340080.16771.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <13df7c120805090048h2eec90c7q9dd646e2c9edd671@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805090114l1233d23ei9289e4bdbc5f620c@mail.gmail.com> Hi, I thought that the ideology of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and independent Kashmir'. If so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it? Irrespective of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely that India or Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any circumstances. Rgds, Partha .................................... On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher wrote: > Qalab Bhai, > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself has switched to Indian > side. > I am not claiming anything.... > > Rashneek > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur wrote: > > > > Rashneek, > > > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side to > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much defending > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't you quote him > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but people in Kashmir believe > he > > is denigrated. > > > > Qalab Hussain > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote: > > > > and this one isn't based on my data....... > > > > > > By Dr Shabir Choudhry > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a > sacred > > name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else they > > valued in name of liberating the state. > > > > They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were doing > > this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and > oppressed > > nation. > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF has > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of > problems > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly > claimed > > to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those who > > helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of others I > > have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible to > > promote true ideology of the JKLF. > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; and > > allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent that > > top > > leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are advancing > > agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology to > > suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away > their > > independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. Their > > strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and Kashmir > > but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of > which > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and engaged. > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been > engaged > > since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got trampled > and > > oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay through > > their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and > > Kashmir. > > > > In this struggle which started in name of independence and spearheaded by > > The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies > > resulted > > in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started an > era > > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. > > > > All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of > Indian > > Army and security > > services, > > they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and worse > of > > all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. > > > > In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are still > > unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. It > is > > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable > that > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and Kashmir, > the > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to independence. > > > > My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in control of > > JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be in > > charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling shots > in > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez > Musharaf > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not > allow > > free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the JKLF. > > > > Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra > > constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF Zone in > > Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. > > > > We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring > > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the > party > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the > state > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release of > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than Amanullah > > Khan. > > > > We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these > > leaders > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan is > > like > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both > believed > > in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike > > accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont like > > party > > to flourish or expand. > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life there, > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; and > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and came > > out > > as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was not > in > > a > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media > > management. > > > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will help to > > bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the > > Kashmir > > dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. > > > > We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our > > endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant and > > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and they > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly > advocated > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time trying > > to > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when Yasin > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF groups > and > > when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. > > > > I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties with > > the > > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time to > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - it > is > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort and > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then I > > could > > have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. > > > > In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even though > > majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken in > its > > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our > commitment > > to each other was that we would remain together and work together. > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and > Amanullah > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in the > > party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt have > > control over it and they lacked courage and political will to challenge > > them. > > > > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they will > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name of > > the > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new party. My > > view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan or > > Yasin > > Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. > > > > But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the > Valley. > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the struggle, > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims and > non > > Muslims alike. > > > > If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of imposing > > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; and > in > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called > > freedom > > fighters then what is the difference between them? > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be > dealt > > here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated the > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of > > Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage of > the > > JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. > > > > I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, > which > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced > > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too > heavy > > to carry. > > > > If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution to > the > > cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then good > luck > > to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and > make > > a > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) > > > > > > > > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html > > > > -- > > Rashneek Kher > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail< > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > >. > > > > A Smarter Email. > > > > > > > -- > Rashneek Kher > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Fri May 9 13:56:22 2008 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 13:56:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <32144e990805090114l1233d23ei9289e4bdbc5f620c@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> <340080.16771.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <13df7c120805090048h2eec90c7q9dd646e2c9edd671@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805090114l1233d23ei9289e4bdbc5f620c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6353c690805090126n41ac497by2fec0f555d5f43b5@mail.gmail.com> Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My friend; there is a lot beyond ideologies here. Politics in its worst form; is played to make things remain in status quo. God Bless this street dirt Yasin Malik; who is being used today; who knows what will happen tomrw with him... May he have the same fate; what he did to thousands of people...!!! Regards On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: > > Hi, > > I thought that the ideology of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and > independent Kashmir'. > > If so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it? > > Irrespective of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely > that India or Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any > circumstances. > > Rgds, Partha > .................................... > > On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher wrote: > > > Qalab Bhai, > > > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself has switched to > Indian > > side. > > I am not claiming anything.... > > > > Rashneek > > > > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur wrote: > > > > > > Rashneek, > > > > > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side > to > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much > defending > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't you quote > him > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but people in Kashmir > believe > > he > > > is denigrated. > > > > > > Qalab Hussain > > > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote: > > > > > > and this one isn't based on my data....... > > > > > > > > > By Dr Shabir Choudhry > > > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a > > sacred > > > name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else they > > > valued in name of liberating the state. > > > > > > They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were > doing > > > this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and > > oppressed > > > nation. > > > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF > has > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of > > problems > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. > > > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly > > claimed > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those > who > > > helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of others > I > > > have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible to > > > promote true ideology of the JKLF. > > > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; and > > > allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent > that > > > top > > > leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are advancing > > > agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. > > > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology > to > > > suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away > > their > > > independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. Their > > > strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and > Kashmir > > > but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of > > which > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and > engaged. > > > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been > > engaged > > > since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got trampled > > and > > > oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay > through > > > their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and > > > Kashmir. > > > > > > In this struggle which started in name of independence and spearheaded > by > > > The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies > > > resulted > > > in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started an > > era > > > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. > > > > > > All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of > > Indian > > > Army and security > > > services, > > > they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and worse > > of > > > all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. > > > > > > In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are > still > > > unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. It > > is > > > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable > > that > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and Kashmir, > > the > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to independence. > > > > > > My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in control > of > > > JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be in > > > charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling shots > > in > > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. > > > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez > > Musharaf > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not > > allow > > > free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the > JKLF. > > > > > > Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra > > > constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF Zone > in > > > Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. > > > > > > We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring > > > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the > > party > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the > > state > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release > of > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than > Amanullah > > > Khan. > > > > > > We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these > > > leaders > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan is > > > like > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both > > believed > > > in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont like > > > party > > > to flourish or expand. > > > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life there, > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; > and > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. > > > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and > came > > > out > > > as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was not > > in > > > a > > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media > > > management. > > > > > > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will help > to > > > bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the > > > Kashmir > > > dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. > > > > > > We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our > > > endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant > and > > > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and > they > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. > > > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly > > advocated > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time > trying > > > to > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when > Yasin > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF groups > > and > > > when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. > > > > > > I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties > with > > > the > > > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time > to > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - > it > > is > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort > and > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then I > > > could > > > have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. > > > > > > In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even > though > > > majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken in > > its > > > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our > > commitment > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work together. > > > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and > > Amanullah > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in > the > > > party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt have > > > control over it and they lacked courage and political will to challenge > > > them. > > > > > > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they > will > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name > of > > > the > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new party. > My > > > view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan or > > > Yasin > > > Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. > > > > > > But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the > > Valley. > > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the > struggle, > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims and > > non > > > Muslims alike. > > > > > > If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of > imposing > > > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; > and > > in > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called > > > freedom > > > fighters then what is the difference between them? > > > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be > > dealt > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated the > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of > > > Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage of > > the > > > JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. > > > > > > I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, > > which > > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced > > > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too > > heavy > > > to carry. > > > > > > If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution to > > the > > > cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then good > > luck > > > to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and > > make > > > a > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html > > > > > > -- > > > Rashneek Kher > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail< > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > >. > > > > > > A Smarter Email. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Rashneek Kher > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > -- > Partha Dasgupta > +919811047132 > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From gauravdik at gmail.com Fri May 9 14:04:14 2008 From: gauravdik at gmail.com (gaurav dikshit) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 14:04:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem In-Reply-To: References: <8178da990805070832g54e00c85s66fe575f19c60e84@mail.gmail.com> <308223.31013.qm@web25506.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: gaurav dikshit Date: Fri, May 9, 2008 at 2:02 PM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Ghalib and the damn Muslim problem To: Raheema Begum Ghalib scholar Ralph Russell on himself: I was born in 1918. I became a communist at the age of 16 and am still content to call myself one despite the traumatic experiences from 1946 onwards of the corruption and eventual collapse of the communist movement and the Soviet Union, because I still hold to the humanist values which made me a communist. [From here ] Now I am not poor, then why do I feel distressed and pained whenever I hear of a tragedy befalling the wretched of the earth? I ain't no nationalist or patriot, then why cannot I imagine living anywhere except India? Really, it's about humanism, and we call it by different names depending on what culture we identify with: Comrades, Muslims, Indians, Biharis. And Ghalib's words should always be taken with a pinch of salt, except when he bemaons that he has no money left. One of Ghalib's tricks to answer charges of blasphemy was to say "kya karoon, shaitaan Ghalib hai", which could mean Satan is conquering Ghalib, or that Ghalib (conqueror) himself is Satan. Bandagi mein bhee voh aazaad-o-khudbeen hain ke ham Ultey phir aaey dar-e-Ka'abah agar va na hua On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 11:07 PM, Raheema Begum wrote: > I meant 'fitrat', and yes, I need some amal too. > This is from Tulu-e-Islam, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRM90iEIK_U > > > On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 11:02 PM, Raheema Begum < > theunderscoredhood at gmail.com> > wrote: > > > as far as this space is concerned, my lament has always been this : > > > > yeh khaki apni kismat mein na noori hai na naari hai > > > > Raheema. > > > > > > > > On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 10:17 PM, ambarien qadar > > wrote: > > > > > Ofcourse the 'Half muslim' anecdote is very much true..atleast in the > > > world I come from! > > > Many of my closest friends would drink wine and would not eat > > > pork....this is more to do with cultural influences rather than > anything > > > else. > > > Frankly, they give a damn to who is saying what to whom or had said > what > > > to whom or whether they will be less muslims by doing it or will be > more if > > > they do not, before they raise the toast > > > Nevertheless, we are labelled so all the time...It also brings the > > > hijab-jeans, combo to my mind amongst other things... > > > This surely is an interesting thread. I'm thinking through some it... > > > But Ghalib perhaps is not the right reference for this thread. > > > I'm already thinking of someone like Iqbal. > > > Cheers > > > Ambarien > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > > > A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' > > > > > > -- > labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com > Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com > One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com > --------------------------------------------------------------- > 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, > and the quality of mercy is not strained.' > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 9 14:58:58 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 14:58:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <6353c690805090126n41ac497by2fec0f555d5f43b5@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805082336n7c5fe3aaj5c6450927e404b51@mail.gmail.com> <340080.16771.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> <13df7c120805090048h2eec90c7q9dd646e2c9edd671@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805090114l1233d23ei9289e4bdbc5f620c@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805090126n41ac497by2fec0f555d5f43b5@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805090228p794f1244s2147f2d258402d36@mail.gmail.com> Hi, Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the governments on both sides of the border. http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241 Rgds, Partha ................ On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My friend; there is a lot beyond > ideologies here. Politics in its worst form; is played to make things > remain > in status quo. God Bless this street dirt Yasin Malik; who is being used > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with him... May he have the same > fate; what he did to thousands of people...!!! > > Regards > > > On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > I thought that the ideology of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and > > independent Kashmir'. > > > > If so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it? > > > > Irrespective of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely > > that India or Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any > > circumstances. > > > > Rgds, Partha > > .................................... > > > > On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > wrote: > > > > > Qalab Bhai, > > > > > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself has switched to > > Indian > > > side. > > > I am not claiming anything.... > > > > > > Rashneek > > > > > > > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur wrote: > > > > > > > > Rashneek, > > > > > > > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side > > to > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much > > defending > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't you quote > > him > > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but people in Kashmir > > believe > > > he > > > > is denigrated. > > > > > > > > Qalab Hussain > > > > > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote: > > > > > > > > and this one isn't based on my data....... > > > > > > > > > > > > By Dr Shabir Choudhry > > > > > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is a > > > sacred > > > > name for some, as they sacrificed their lives and everything else > they > > > > valued in name of liberating the state. > > > > > > > > They did that to promote the name of JKLF believing that they were > > doing > > > > this for a good cause and for the betterment of their divided and > > > oppressed > > > > nation. > > > > > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF > > has > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause of > > > problems > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. > > > > > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, proudly > > > claimed > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore claimed to be among those > > who > > > > helped to form this party in Britain in 1977. Like thousands of > others > > I > > > > have also suffered for this party and have done everything possible > to > > > > promote true ideology of the JKLF. > > > > > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and sacrifices, fact > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to different factions; > and > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed and true to large extent > > that > > > > top > > > > leaders of some groups have compromised JKLF ideology and are > advancing > > > > agenda of secret agencies of our occupiers. > > > > > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of tuning and maligning their ideology > > to > > > > suit national interest of Pakistan, and have practically signed away > > > their > > > > independence to advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. > Their > > > > strategy was not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and > > Kashmir > > > > but to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of > > > which > > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding and > > engaged. > > > > > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only bled but also has been > > > engaged > > > > since 1989, but in return we Kashmiris have also bled and got > trampled > > > and > > > > oppressed. For this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay > > through > > > > their noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and > > > > Kashmir. > > > > > > > > In this struggle which started in name of independence and > spearheaded > > by > > > > The JKLF with money and guns provided to them by Pakistani agencies > > > > resulted > > > > in fiasco. It tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started > an > > > era > > > > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. > > > > > > > > All sides targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of > > > Indian > > > > Army and security > > > > services, > > > > they were trained and victimised by Pakistani secret agencies and > worse > > > of > > > > all they were killed and intimidated by militants as well. > > > > > > > > In this struggle we have lost a generation. Thousands of people are > > still > > > > unaccounted for. Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. > It > > > is > > > > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable > > > that > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and > Kashmir, > > > the > > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought disappointment, misery and > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not any closer to > independence. > > > > > > > > My colleagues and I realised in 1991/2 that things were not in > control > > of > > > > JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be > in > > > > charge. We challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling > shots > > > in > > > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. > > > > > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez > > > Musharaf > > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and did not > > > allow > > > > free discussion or accountability and result was many splits in the > > JKLF. > > > > > > > > Like General Musharaf, in frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra > > > > constitutional act and dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF > Zone > > in > > > > Britain, which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. > > > > > > > > We continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring > > > > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the > > > party > > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people of the > > > state > > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going on we saw release > > of > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he would be better than > > Amanullah > > > > Khan. > > > > > > > > We are all entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these > > > > leaders > > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan > is > > > > like > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya Khan. Both > > > believed > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human rights, both dislike > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in fact, both dont > like > > > > party > > > > to flourish or expand. > > > > > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life > there, > > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani agencies; > > and > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly oppose dissent. > > > > > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with a gun in his hand and > > came > > > > out > > > > as a polished leader preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was > not > > > in > > > > a > > > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media > > > > management. > > > > > > > > > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from his experience and will > help > > to > > > > bring some positive changes to the JKLF and will help to resolve the > > > > Kashmir > > > > dispute according to the expressed wishes of the people. > > > > > > > > We tried and tried hard, but were not completely successful in our > > > > endeavours to unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant > > and > > > > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and > > they > > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. > > > > > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly > > > advocated > > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste of time > > trying > > > > to > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view it was impossible task when > > Yasin > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have emerged as big figures of the JKLF > groups > > > and > > > > when their sole aim is to maintain the status quo. > > > > > > > > I was not in favour of abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties > > with > > > > the > > > > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time > > to > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - > > it > > > is > > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of time, effort > > and > > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of another party then > I > > > > could > > > > have been in Parliament long time ago, but that was not my objective. > > > > > > > > In our JKLF we respected dissent and views of all colleagues. Even > > though > > > > majority agreed with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken > in > > > its > > > > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our > > > commitment > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work together. > > > > > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both Yasin Malik and > > > Amanullah > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also worried about the situation in > > the > > > > party, and what was being done in the name of JKLF, but they didnt > have > > > > control over it and they lacked courage and political will to > challenge > > > > them. > > > > > > > > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they > > will > > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the name > > of > > > > the > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against formation of a new > party. > > My > > > > view was that JKLF is not private party or estate of Amanullah Khan > or > > > > Yasin > > > > Malik, and by us abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. > > > > > > > > But all this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the > > > Valley. > > > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the > > struggle, > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to Muslims > and > > > non > > > > Muslims alike. > > > > > > > > If army commit human rights abuse they do it under the cover of > > imposing > > > > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; > > and > > > in > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the so-called > > > > freedom > > > > fighters then what is the difference between them? > > > > > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention and cannot be > > > dealt > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and especially non Muslims hated > the > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a mercenary organisation advancing agenda of > > > > Pakistani secret agencies. Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage > of > > > the > > > > JKLF is too heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. > > > > > > > > I am, at last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, > > > which > > > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced > > > > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too > > > heavy > > > > to carry. > > > > > > > > If some JKLF members still think they can make positive contribution > to > > > the > > > > cause of unification and independence of the State when leaders like > > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin Malik are heading these JKLF groups then > good > > > luck > > > > to them; however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and > > > make > > > > a > > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10046414.html > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail< > > > > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > > >. > > > > > > > > A Smarter Email. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Rashneek Kher > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Partha Dasgupta > > +919811047132 > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From shuddha at sarai.net Fri May 9 15:27:09 2008 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:27:09 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Dr. Mabuse in Old Delhi? Message-ID: <5596E18F-AF1D-42F1-B449-6B6B3AB49E68@sarai.net> Dear All, For those of you who know the Fritz Lang film - The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse, this might be of interest, below. An interesting report filed in today's Indian Express regards Shuddha --------------------------- Walled City residents up in arms over MCD cameras in locality Sahim Salim, Indian Express, Posted online: Friday , May 09, 2008 at 12:13:13 Indian Express http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Walled-City-residents-up-in- arms-over-MCD-cameras-in-locality/307260/ New Delhi, May 8 In what could turn a major headache for the ruling party in an election year, residents of the Walled City are outraged at the municipal corporation’s plan to bring the area under camera surveillance. While the Municipal Corporation of Delhi says the rotating, all- season 5-km range cameras are meant to check illegal construction and encroachment in the area, locals fear their misuse and a consequent violation of privacy. The cameras, three of them, were installed in the Old Delhi area on an experimental basis - at Jama Masjid gate number 2, Kasturba Gandhi Hospital building and the LIC building on Asaf Ali Marg. The 3D GIS project was the brainchild of Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, who is from the Chandni Chowk constituency. But when contacted, Sibal washed his hands of the project, claiming that the reins of the project have been handed over to the MCD.The monitoring room in MCD’s City Zone office has 10 screens, with officials working round the clock. The locals, however, feel that since the cameras are installed at residential areas, the monitoring officials can misuse them.One of the cameras, installed in Jama Masjid, has already been pulled down. The Shahi Imam, Ahmed Bukhari, was reportedly not happy with it and had it removed.Bukhari reportedly said that he was initially told that the cameras were going to be used to track down pickpockets. When he came to know that they were going to be used for tracking illegal constructions, Bukhari had reportedly said, it set him thinking as to what illegal construction can possibly take place near or inside the mosque. “This has been done to unveil Muslim women,” he had reportedly alleged.Residents feel that the cameras are being used to target their community. Nowhere else have such cameras been installed in residential colonies, they point out. A local journalist, Amir Salim Khan, said: “I have seen the visuals from the cameras. These cameras are so powerful, that if focused at night, activities inside a bedroom can clearly be seen.”Khurram Iqbal, a counsellor in Jama Masjid area, admitted that the residents are feeling insecure about the cameras. “The cameras have not served their purpose anyhow, so far as curbing illegal constructions is concerned. I am planning to take up the issue with the standing committee soon,” he added. The MCD, however, is planning to carry on with the programme. Vijay Singh, MCD Deputy Commissioner (City Zone) said once the remaining six are installed, “we will be able to keep a better watch on illegal constructions in the area”.As for the residents’ fears about the cameras invading their privacy, it is “really uncalled for, as MCD officials have better things to do than indulge in immoral activities,” he added. Shuddhabrata Sengupta The Sarai Programme at CSDS Raqs Media Collective shuddha at sarai.net www.sarai.net www.raqsmediacollective.net From meenamenon at gmail.com Fri May 9 17:53:30 2008 From: meenamenon at gmail.com (meena menon) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 17:53:30 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Launch of Urdu magazine In-Reply-To: <57ad49a60805090517s3e9efe11u21ecf4c3c7f8daeb@mail.gmail.com> References: <57ad49a60805090517s3e9efe11u21ecf4c3c7f8daeb@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <57ad49a60805090523g55f6cb64s75d94029e2bb1bb@mail.gmail.com> Hi all, This is an invitation for a literary event in Mira Road. In case any of you are interested and are in Mumbai. Best Meena This is regarding the launch of an Urdu Quarterly "ESBAAT", (Literary Magazine) on 26th May 2008 at Asmita Club, Mira Road (East). The programmes detail as below: Date: 26th May, 2008 (Monday) Time: 5.00 p.m. Venue: Crystal Hall, Asmita Club, Station Road, Mira Road (East), Dist. Thane Magazine will be release by: Mr. Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (Allahabad), an eminent Urdu critic, poet and theorist. Preside By: Mr. Adil Mansuri (New Jersey), a well-known poet and playwright in Urdu and Gujarati. Guest of Honor: Mohammad Alvi (Ahmadabad), a leading mordnist Urdu poet and Sahitya Akademi winner. Other Participators: Fuzail Jaffery (senior Urdu critic and ex-editor, Inquilab), Nida Fazli (wel-known Urdu poet), Salam Bin Razzaq (Sahitya Akademi winner fiction writer), Fayyaz Rafat (Ex-Director, Doordarshan and wel-known fiction writer), Anwar Qamar (senior fiction writer), Alim Naqvi (Executive Editor, Urdu Times), Dr. Qasim Imam (Genl. Secretary, Maharashtra Urdu Akademy). Editor: Ash'ar Najmi, a senior Urdu journalist and Urdu critic. Press Meeting: 25th May, 2008 at 6.00p.m. at 1C/504, Fifth floor, Narendra Park, Nayanagar, Mira Road (East), Dist. Thane Kindly attend the both programme especially press meeting with our honorable guests. Thanks and regards, Ash'ar Najmi Editor, ESBAAT Mob. 9892418948 ________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. -- Meena -- Meena From moinakb at yahoo.com Fri May 9 18:12:43 2008 From: moinakb at yahoo.com (moinak biswas) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 05:42:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Swapan Chakravorty on Calcutta Message-ID: <864193.25009.qm@web54307.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Would like to draw your attention to an essay on Calcutta by our colleague Swapan Chakravorty. The Eurozine list on which the article is available, called 'The City as Stage for Social Upheaval', also has a recent discussion on the Paris riots by the philosopher Jacques Donzelot and others. http://www.eurozine.com/articles/2007-05-25-chakravorty-en.html Moinak Biswas ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Fri May 9 18:35:16 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 18:35:16 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <32144e990805090228p794f1244s2147f2d258402d36@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Partha, Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 article is one that has been put together from secondary sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora and attributing the assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I hold no brief for them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But the picture is far more complex than the one presented by this article. Best sonia On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote: > Hi, Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the governments > on both sides of the > border. http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241 Rgds, > Partha ................ On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > wrote: > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My > friend; there is a lot beyond > ideologies here. Politics in its worst form; > is played to make things > remain > in status quo. God Bless this street dirt > Yasin Malik; who is being used > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with > him... May he have the same > fate; what he did to thousands of > people...!!! > > Regards > > > On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta > wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > I thought that the ideology > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and > > independent Kashmir'. > > > > If > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it? > > > > Irrespective > of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely > > that India or > Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any > > circumstances. > > > > > Rgds, Partha > > .................................... > > > > On Fri, > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > wrote: > > > > > > Qalab Bhai, > > > > > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself > has switched to > > Indian > > > side. > > > I am not claiming anything.... > > > > > > > Rashneek > > > > > > > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur > wrote: > > > > > > > > Rashneek, > > > > > > > > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side > > > to > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much > > > defending > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't > you quote > > him > > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but > people in Kashmir > > believe > > > he > > > > is denigrated. > > > > > > > > > Qalab Hussain > > > > > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote: > > > > > > > > > and this one isn't based on my data....... > > > > > > > > > > > > > By Dr Shabir Choudhry > > > > > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir > Liberation Front (JKLF) is a > > > sacred > > > > name for some, as they > sacrificed their lives and everything else > they > > > > valued in name of > liberating the state. > > > > > > > > They did that to promote the name of > JKLF believing that they were > > doing > > > > this for a good cause and for > the betterment of their divided and > > > oppressed > > > > nation. > > > > > > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF > > > has > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause > of > > > problems > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. > > > > > > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, > proudly > > > claimed > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore > claimed to be among those > > who > > > > helped to form this party in Britain > in 1977. Like thousands of > others > > I > > > > have also suffered for this > party and have done everything possible > to > > > > promote true ideology of > the JKLF. > > > > > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and > sacrifices, fact > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to > different factions; > and > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed > and true to large extent > > that > > > > top > > > > leaders of some groups > have compromised JKLF ideology and are > advancing > > > > agenda of secret > agencies of our occupiers. > > > > > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of > tuning and maligning their ideology > > to > > > > suit national interest of > Pakistan, and have practically signed away > > > their > > > > independence to > advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. > Their > > > > strategy was > not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and > > Kashmir > > > > but > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of > > > > which > > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding > and > > engaged. > > > > > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only > bled but also has been > > > engaged > > > > since 1989, but in return we > Kashmiris have also bled and got > trampled > > > and > > > > oppressed. For > this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay > > through > > > > their > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and > > > > > Kashmir. > > > > > > > > In this struggle which started in name of > independence and > spearheaded > > by > > > > The JKLF with money and guns > provided to them by Pakistani agencies > > > > resulted > > > > in fiasco. It > tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started > an > > > era > > > > > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. > > > > > > > > All sides > targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of > > > Indian > > > > > Army and security > > > > services, > > > > they were trained and victimised > by Pakistani secret agencies and > worse > > > of > > > > all they were killed > and intimidated by militants as well. > > > > > > > > In this struggle we have > lost a generation. Thousands of people are > > still > > > > unaccounted for. > Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. > It > > > is > > > > > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable > > > > that > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and > > Kashmir, > > > the > > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought > disappointment, misery and > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not > any closer to > independence. > > > > > > > > My colleagues and I realised in > 1991/2 that things were not in > control > > of > > > > JKLF Chairman, > Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be > in > > > > charge. We > challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling > shots > > > in > > > > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. > > > > > > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its > > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez > > > > Musharaf > > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and > did not > > > allow > > > > free discussion or accountability and result was > many splits in the > > JKLF. > > > > > > > > Like General Musharaf, in > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra > > > > constitutional act and > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF > Zone > > in > > > > Britain, > which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. > > > > > > > > We > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring > > > > > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the > > > > party > > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people > of the > > > state > > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going > on we saw release > > of > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he > would be better than > > Amanullah > > > > Khan. > > > > > > > > We are all > entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these > > > > leaders > > > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan > > is > > > > like > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya > Khan. Both > > > believed > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human > rights, both dislike > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in > fact, both dont > like > > > > party > > > > to flourish or expand. > > > > > > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life > > there, > > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani > agencies; > > and > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly > oppose dissent. > > > > > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with > a gun in his hand and > > came > > > > out > > > > as a polished leader > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was > not > > > in > > > > a > > > > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media > > > > > management. > > > > > > > > > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from > his experience and will > help > > to > > > > bring some positive changes to > the JKLF and will help to resolve the > > > > Kashmir > > > > dispute > according to the expressed wishes of the people. > > > > > > > > We tried and > tried hard, but were not completely successful in our > > > > endeavours to > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant > > and > > > > > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and > > they > > > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. > > > > > > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly > > > > advocated > > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste > of time > > trying > > > > to > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view > it was impossible task when > > Yasin > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have > emerged as big figures of the JKLF > groups > > > and > > > > when their sole > aim is to maintain the status quo. > > > > > > > > I was not in favour of > abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties > > with > > > > the > > > > > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time > > to > > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - > > > it > > > is > > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of > time, effort > > and > > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of > another party then > I > > > > could > > > > have been in Parliament long time > ago, but that was not my objective. > > > > > > > > In our JKLF we respected > dissent and views of all colleagues. Even > > though > > > > majority agreed > with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken > in > > > its > > > > > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our > > > > commitment > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work > together. > > > > > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both > Yasin Malik and > > > Amanullah > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also > worried about the situation in > > the > > > > party, and what was being done > in the name of JKLF, but they didnt > have > > > > control over it and they > lacked courage and political will to > challenge > > > > them. > > > > > > > > > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they > > > will > > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the > name > > of > > > > the > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against > formation of a new > party. > > My > > > > view was that JKLF is not private > party or estate of Amanullah Khan > or > > > > Yasin > > > > Malik, and by us > abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. > > > > > > > > But all > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the > > > Valley. > > > > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the > > > struggle, > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to > Muslims > and > > > non > > > > Muslims alike. > > > > > > > > If army commit > human rights abuse they do it under the cover of > > imposing > > > > > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; > > and > > > > in > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the > so-called > > > > freedom > > > > fighters then what is the difference between > them? > > > > > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention > and cannot be > > > dealt > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and > especially non Muslims hated > the > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a > mercenary organisation advancing agenda of > > > > Pakistani secret agencies. > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage > of > > > the > > > > JKLF is too > heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. > > > > > > > > I am, at > last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, > > > which > > > > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced > > > > > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too > > > > heavy > > > > to carry. > > > > > > > > If some JKLF members still think they > can make positive contribution > to > > > the > > > > cause of unification and > independence of the State when leaders like > > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then > good > > > luck > > > > to them; > however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and > > > make > > > > > a > > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10 > 046414.html > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open > discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail< > > > > > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > > >. > > > > > > > > A > Smarter Email. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open > discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Partha Dasgupta > > +919811047132 > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion > list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: > send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the > subject header. > > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion > list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send > an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject > header. > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > -- Partha > Dasgupta +919811047132 _________________________________________ reader-list: > an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in > the subject header. To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 9 19:23:51 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:23:51 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: References: <32144e990805090228p794f1244s2147f2d258402d36@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805090653h6743d7a4l37bbbf193b595a43@mail.gmail.com> Hi, Rather than the events used in the article, was referring to the 'renegade terrorists' in terms of the government(s) using released militants as 'hired guns' to do what can not be achieved under law. (Though, we have seen enough of armed forces and police taking steps that are supposedly illegal and acting as goons) Sure, it is supposition on my part, but I find it hard to believe that the militancy in J&K could have reached such a virulent level with out some support from the establishment, or sections of it, for what ever purpose it may be - whether to oppose or to suppress. Rgds, Partha ....................................................... On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM, S. Jabbar wrote: > Partha, > Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 article is one that has been > put together from secondary sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora > and attributing the assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz > Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I > hold no brief for them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But > the > picture is far more complex than the one presented by this article. > Best > sonia > > > On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote: > > > Hi, > > Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the governments > > on > both sides of the > > border. > > http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241 > > Rgds, > > Partha > ................ > > On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > > > wrote: > > > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My > > friend; there is a lot beyond > > ideologies here. Politics in its worst form; > > is played to make things > > remain > > in status quo. God Bless this street dirt > > Yasin Malik; who is being used > > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with > > him... May he have the same > > fate; what he did to thousands of > > people...!!! > > > > Regards > > > > > > On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta > > wrote: > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > I thought that the ideology > > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and > > > independent Kashmir'. > > > > > > If > > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it? > > > > > > Irrespective > > of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely > > > that India or > > Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any > > > circumstances. > > > > > > > > Rgds, Partha > > > .................................... > > > > > > On Fri, > > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > Qalab Bhai, > > > > > > > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself > > has switched to > > > Indian > > > > side. > > > > I am not claiming anything.... > > > > > > > > > > Rashneek > > > > > > > > > > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Rashneek, > > > > > > > > > > > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side > > > > > to > > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much > > > > > defending > > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't > > you quote > > > him > > > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but > > people in Kashmir > > > believe > > > > he > > > > > is denigrated. > > > > > > > > > > > > Qalab Hussain > > > > > > > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > and this one isn't based on my data....... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > By Dr Shabir Choudhry > > > > > > > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir > > Liberation Front (JKLF) is a > > > > sacred > > > > > name for some, as they > > sacrificed their lives and everything else > > they > > > > > valued in name of > > liberating the state. > > > > > > > > > > They did that to promote the name of > > JKLF believing that they were > > > doing > > > > > this for a good cause and for > > the betterment of their divided and > > > > oppressed > > > > > nation. > > > > > > > > > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the > JKLF > > > > > has > > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause > > of > > > > problems > > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. > > > > > > > > > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, > > proudly > > > > claimed > > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore > > claimed to be among those > > > who > > > > > helped to form this party in Britain > > in 1977. Like thousands of > > others > > > I > > > > > have also suffered for this > > party and have done everything possible > > to > > > > > promote true ideology of > > the JKLF. > > > > > > > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and > > sacrifices, fact > > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to > > different factions; > > and > > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed > > and true to large extent > > > that > > > > > top > > > > > leaders of some groups > > have compromised JKLF ideology and are > > advancing > > > > > agenda of secret > > agencies of our occupiers. > > > > > > > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of > > tuning and maligning their ideology > > > to > > > > > suit national interest of > > Pakistan, and have practically signed away > > > > their > > > > > independence to > > advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. > > Their > > > > > strategy was > > not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and > > > Kashmir > > > > > but > > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of > > > > > > which > > > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding > > and > > > engaged. > > > > > > > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only > > bled but also has been > > > > engaged > > > > > since 1989, but in return we > > Kashmiris have also bled and got > > trampled > > > > and > > > > > oppressed. For > > this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay > > > through > > > > > their > > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and > > > > > > > Kashmir. > > > > > > > > > > In this struggle which started in name of > > independence and > > spearheaded > > > by > > > > > The JKLF with money and guns > > provided to them by Pakistani agencies > > > > > resulted > > > > > in fiasco. It > > tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started > > an > > > > era > > > > > > > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. > > > > > > > > > > All sides > > targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of > > > > Indian > > > > > > > Army and security > > > > > services, > > > > > they were trained and victimised > > by Pakistani secret agencies and > > worse > > > > of > > > > > all they were killed > > and intimidated by militants as well. > > > > > > > > > > In this struggle we have > > lost a generation. Thousands of people are > > > still > > > > > unaccounted for. > > Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. > > It > > > > is > > > > > > > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable > > > > > > that > > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and > > > > Kashmir, > > > > the > > > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought > > disappointment, misery and > > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not > > any closer to > > independence. > > > > > > > > > > My colleagues and I realised in > > 1991/2 that things were not in > > control > > > of > > > > > JKLF Chairman, > > Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be > > in > > > > > charge. We > > challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling > > shots > > > > in > > > > > > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. > > > > > > > > > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but > its > > > > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez > > > > > > Musharaf > > > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and > > did not > > > > allow > > > > > free discussion or accountability and result was > > many splits in the > > > JKLF. > > > > > > > > > > Like General Musharaf, in > > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra > > > > > constitutional act and > > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF > > Zone > > > in > > > > > Britain, > > which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. > > > > > > > > > > We > > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring > > > > > > > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the > > > > > > party > > > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people > > of the > > > > state > > > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going > > on we saw release > > > of > > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he > > would be better than > > > Amanullah > > > > > Khan. > > > > > > > > > > We are all > > entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these > > > > > leaders > > > > > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan > > > > is > > > > > like > > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya > > Khan. Both > > > > believed > > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human > > rights, both dislike > > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in > > fact, both dont > > like > > > > > party > > > > > to flourish or expand. > > > > > > > > > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life > > > > there, > > > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani > > agencies; > > > and > > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly > > oppose dissent. > > > > > > > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with > > a gun in his hand and > > > came > > > > > out > > > > > as a polished leader > > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was > > not > > > > in > > > > > a > > > > > > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media > > > > > > > management. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from > > his experience and will > > help > > > to > > > > > bring some positive changes to > > the JKLF and will help to resolve the > > > > > Kashmir > > > > > dispute > > according to the expressed wishes of the people. > > > > > > > > > > We tried and > > tried hard, but were not completely successful in our > > > > > endeavours to > > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant > > > and > > > > > > > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and > > > they > > > > > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. > > > > > > > > > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly > > > > > > advocated > > > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste > > of time > > > trying > > > > > to > > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view > > it was impossible task when > > > Yasin > > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have > > emerged as big figures of the JKLF > > groups > > > > and > > > > > when their sole > > aim is to maintain the status quo. > > > > > > > > > > I was not in favour of > > abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties > > > with > > > > > the > > > > > > > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time > > > to > > > > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood > - > > > > > it > > > > is > > > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of > > time, effort > > > and > > > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of > > another party then > > I > > > > > could > > > > > have been in Parliament long time > > ago, but that was not my objective. > > > > > > > > > > In our JKLF we respected > > dissent and views of all colleagues. Even > > > though > > > > > majority agreed > > with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken > > in > > > > its > > > > > > > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our > > > > > > commitment > > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work > > together. > > > > > > > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both > > Yasin Malik and > > > > Amanullah > > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also > > worried about the situation in > > > the > > > > > party, and what was being done > > in the name of JKLF, but they didnt > > have > > > > > control over it and they > > lacked courage and political will to > > challenge > > > > > them. > > > > > > > > > > > > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they > > > > > will > > > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the > > name > > > of > > > > > the > > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against > > formation of a new > > party. > > > My > > > > > view was that JKLF is not private > > party or estate of Amanullah Khan > > or > > > > > Yasin > > > > > Malik, and by us > > abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. > > > > > > > > > > But all > > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the > > > > Valley. > > > > > > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the > > > > > struggle, > > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to > > Muslims > > and > > > > non > > > > > Muslims alike. > > > > > > > > > > If army commit > > human rights abuse they do it under the cover of > > > imposing > > > > > > > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; > > > and > > > > > > in > > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the > > so-called > > > > > freedom > > > > > fighters then what is the difference between > > them? > > > > > > > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention > > and cannot be > > > > dealt > > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and > > especially non Muslims hated > > the > > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a > > mercenary organisation advancing agenda of > > > > > Pakistani secret agencies. > > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage > > of > > > > the > > > > > JKLF is too > > heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. > > > > > > > > > > I am, at > > last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, > > > > which > > > > > > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced > > > > > > > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too > > > > > > heavy > > > > > to carry. > > > > > > > > > > If some JKLF members still think they > > can make positive contribution > > to > > > > the > > > > > cause of unification and > > independence of the State when leaders like > > > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin > > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then > > good > > > > luck > > > > > to them; > > however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and > > > > make > > > > > > > a > > > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10 > > 046414.html > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > > reader-list: an open > > discussion list on media and the city. > > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail< > > > > > > > > > > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt > > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > > > >. > > > > > > > > > > A > > Smarter Email. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open > > discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Partha Dasgupta > > > +919811047132 > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion > > list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: > > send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the > > subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion > > list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send > > an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject > > header. > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > -- > Partha > > Dasgupta > +919811047132 > _________________________________________ > reader-list: > > an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To > > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe > in > > the subject header. > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From justjunaid at rediffmail.com Fri May 9 22:21:03 2008 From: justjunaid at rediffmail.com (junaid) Date: 9 May 2008 16:51:03 -0000 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Message-ID: <1210341394.S.51914.23928.f4mail-235-211.rediffmail.com.old.1210351863.15319@webmail.rediffmail.com> Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine who the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people would naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders, throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the only ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them, then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic torches on Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure if you actually listen to common people, instead of just "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to army camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid  ******     Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the governments> onboth sides of the> border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,> Partha................On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul> wrote:> Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> friend; there is a lot beyond> ideologies here. Politics in its worst form;> is played to make things> remain> in status quo. God Bless this street dirt> Yasin Malik; who is being used> today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> him... May he have the same> fate; what he did to thousands of> people...!!!>> Regards>>> On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta> wrote:> >> > Hi,> >> > I thought that the ideology> of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and> > independent Kashmir'.> >> > If> so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it?> >> > Irrespective> of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely> > that India or> Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any> > circumstances.>> >> > Rgds, Partha> > ....................................> >> > On Fri,> May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > wrote:> >> > >> Qalab Bhai,> > >> > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> has switched to> > Indian> > > side.> > > I am not claiming anything....>> > >> > > Rashneek> > >> > >> > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur> wrote:> > > >> > > > Rashneek,> > > >> > >> > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> >> to> > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much> >> defending> > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't> you quote> > him> > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but> people in Kashmir> > believe> > > he> > > > is denigrated.> > > >> > > >> Qalab Hussain> > > >> > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> >> > >> > > > and this one isn't based on my data.......> > > >> > > >> > > >> By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > >> > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> Liberation Front (JKLF) is a> > > sacred> > > > name for some, as they> sacrificed their lives and everything else> they> > > > valued in name of> liberating the state.> > > >> > > > They did that to promote the name of> JKLF believing that they were> > doing> > > > this for a good cause and for> the betterment of their divided and> > > oppressed> > > > nation.> > > >>> > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF>> > has> > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause> of> > > problems> > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > >> >> > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying,> proudly> > > claimed> > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore> claimed to be among those> > who> > > > helped to form this party in Britain> in 1977. Like thousands of> others> > I> > > > have also suffered for this> party and have done everything possible> to> > > > promote true ideology of> the JKLF.> > > >> > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> sacrifices, fact> > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to> different factions;> and> > > > allegation is and which is widely believed> and true to large extent> > that> > > > top> > > > leaders of some groups> have compromised JKLF ideology and are> advancing> > > > agenda of secret> agencies of our occupiers.> > > >> > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of> tuning and maligning their ideology> > to> > > > suit national interest of> Pakistan, and have practically signed away> > > their> > > > independence to> advance cause of united and independent Kashmir.> Their> > > > strategy was> not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > Kashmir> > > > but> to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of> > >> which> > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> and> > engaged.> > > >> > > > That policy worked as planned India not only> bled but also has been> > > engaged> > > > since 1989, but in return we> Kashmiris have also bled and got> trampled> > > and> > > > oppressed. For> this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay> > through> > > > their> noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> > > >> Kashmir.> > > >> > > > In this struggle which started in name of> independence and> spearheaded> > by> > > > The JKLF with money and guns> provided to them by Pakistani agencies> > > > resulted> > > > in fiasco. It> tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> an> > > era> > > >> of intimidation, oppression and gun culture.> > > >> > > > All sides> targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > Indian> > > >> Army and security> > > > services,> > > > they were trained and victimised> by Pakistani secret agencies and> worse> > > of> > > > all they were killed> and intimidated by militants as well.> > > >> > > > In this struggle we have> lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > still> > > > unaccounted for.> Thousands of people are still languishing in jails.> It> > > is> > > >> regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable> > >> that> > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and>> Kashmir,> > > the> > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought> disappointment, misery and> > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> any closer to> independence.> > > >> > > > My colleagues and I realised in> 1991/2 that things were not in> control> > of> > > > JKLF Chairman,> Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be> in> > > > charge. We> challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling> shots> > > in> > >> > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle.> > > >>> > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its>> > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > >> Musharaf> > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and> did not> > > allow> > > > free discussion or accountability and result was> many splits in the> > JKLF.> > > >> > > > Like General Musharaf, in> frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > constitutional act and> dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> Zone> > in> > > > Britain,> which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards.> > > >> > > > We> continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > >> accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the> > >> party> > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people> of the> > > state> > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going> on we saw release> > of> > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> would be better than> > Amanullah> > > > Khan.> > > >> > > > We are all> entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these> > > > leaders> >> > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan>> is> > > > like> > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya> Khan. Both> > > believed> > > > in their own brand of democracy and human> rights, both dislike> > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> fact, both dont> like> > > > party> > > > to flourish or expand.> > > >>> > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life>> there,> > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani> agencies;> > and> > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> oppose dissent.> > > >> > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with> a gun in his hand and> > came> > > > out> > > > as a polished leader> preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was> not> > > in> > > > a> > >> > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media> > > >> management.> > > >> > > >> > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from> his experience and will> help> > to> > > > bring some positive changes to> the JKLF and will help to resolve the> > > > Kashmir> > > > dispute> according to the expressed wishes of the people.> > > >> > > > We tried and> tried hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > endeavours to> unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant> > and> > > >> democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and> > they>> > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman.> > >> >> > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> >> > advocated> > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste> of time> > trying> > > > to> > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view> it was impossible task when> > Yasin> > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have> emerged as big figures of the JKLF> groups> > > and> > > > when their sole> aim is to maintain the status quo.> > > >> > > > I was not in favour of> abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties> > with> > > > the> > > >> party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time> > to>> > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood ->> > it> > > is> > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> time, effort> > and> > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of> another party then> I> > > > could> > > > have been in Parliament long time> ago, but that was not my objective.> > > >> > > > In our JKLF we respected> dissent and views of all colleagues. Even> > though> > > > majority agreed> with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> in> > > its> > > >> favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our> > >> commitment> > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work> together.> > > >> > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both> Yasin Malik and> > > Amanullah> > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also> worried about the situation in> > the> > > > party, and what was being done> in the name of JKLF, but they didnt> have> > > > control over it and they> lacked courage and political will to> challenge> > > > them.> > > >> > > >> Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they> >> will> > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the> name> > of> > > > the> > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against> formation of a new> party.> > My> > > > view was that JKLF is not private> party or estate of Amanullah Khan> or> > > > Yasin> > > > Malik, and by us> abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand.> > > >> > > > But all> this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > > Valley.> > >> > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the> >> struggle,> > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to> Muslims> and> > > non> > > > Muslims alike.> > > >> > > > If army commit> human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> > imposing> > > >> government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people;> > and>> > > in> > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the> so-called> > > > freedom> > > > fighters then what is the difference between> them?> > > >> > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention> and cannot be> > > dealt> > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and> especially non Muslims hated> the> > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a> mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > > Pakistani secret agencies.> Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage> of> > > the> > > > JKLF is too> heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress.> > > >> > > > I am, at> last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF,> > > which> > >> > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced> > > >> non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too> > >> heavy> > > > to carry.> > > >> > > > If some JKLF members still think they> can make positive contribution> to> > > the> > > > cause of unification and> independence of the State when leaders like> > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin> Malik are heading these JKLF groups then> good> > > luck> > > > to them;> however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and> > > make> > >> > a> > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI)> > > >> > > >> > > >> >> > >> > >> >> > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10> 046414.html> > > >> > > > --> > > > Rashneek Kher> > > >> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > >> _________________________________________> > > > reader-list: an open> discussion list on media and the city.> > > > Critiques & Collaborations> >> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > >> subscribe in the subject header.> > > > To unsubscribe:> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > List archive:> > > > >> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------> > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail > >> >>> http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt> =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > >.> > > >> > > > A> Smarter Email.> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > Rashneek Kher> > >> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > >> _________________________________________> > > reader-list: an open> discussion list on media and the city.> > > Critiques & Collaborations> > >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > >> subscribe in the subject header.> > > To unsubscribe:> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > List archive:> > >> >> >> >> > --> >> Partha Dasgupta> > +919811047132> >> _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open discussion> list on media and the city.> > Critiques & Collaborations> > To subscribe:> send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > subscribe in the> subject header.> > To unsubscribe:> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:> >> _________________________________________> reader-list: an open discussion> list on media and the city.> Critiques & Collaborations> To subscribe: send> an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> subscribe in the subject> header.> To unsubscribe:> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:> >-- Partha> Dasgupta+919811047132_________________________________________reader-list:> an open discussion list on media and the city.Critiques & CollaborationsTo> subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in> the subject header.To unsubscribe:> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive:> ------------------------------Message: 3Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:23:51 +0530From: "Partha Dasgupta" Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-byDr.Shabir ChaudharyTo: "S. Jabbar" Cc: sarai list Message-ID:Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"Hi,Rather than the events used in the article, was referring to the 'renegadeterrorists' in terms of the government(s) using released militants as 'hiredguns' to do what can not be achieved under law. (Though, we have seen enoughof armed forces and police taking steps that are supposedly illegal andacting as goons)Sure, it is supposition on my part, but I find it hard to believe that themilitancy in J&K could have reached such a virulent level with out somesupport from the establishment, or sections of it, for what ever purpose itmay be - whether to oppose or to suppress.Rgds, Partha.......................................................On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM, S. Jabbar wrote:> Partha,> Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 article is one that has been> put together from secondary sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora> and attributing the assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz> Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I> hold no brief for them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But> the> picture is far more complex than the one presented by this article.> Best> sonia>>> On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote:>> > Hi,>> Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the governments> > on> both sides of the> > border.>> http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241>> Rgds,> > Partha> ................>> On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul> > > wrote:>> > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> > friend; there is a lot beyond> > ideologies here. Politics in its worst form;> > is played to make things> > remain> > in status quo. God Bless this street dirt> > Yasin Malik; who is being used> > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> > him... May he have the same> > fate; what he did to thousands of> > people...!!!> >> > Regards> >> >> > On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta> > wrote:> > >> > > Hi,> > >> > > I thought that the ideology> > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and> > > independent Kashmir'.> > >> > > If> > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it?> > >> > > Irrespective> > of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely> > > that India or> > Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any> > > circumstances.> >> > >> > > Rgds, Partha> > > ....................................> > >> > > On Fri,> > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > > wrote:> > >> > > >> > Qalab Bhai,> > > >> > > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> > has switched to> > > Indian> > > > side.> > > > I am not claiming anything....> >> > > >> > > > Rashneek> > > >> > > >> > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur> > wrote:> > > > >> > > > > Rashneek,> > > > >> > > >> > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> > >> > to> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much> > >> > defending> > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't> > you quote> > > him> > > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but> > people in Kashmir> > > believe> > > > he> > > > > is denigrated.> > > > >> > > > >> > Qalab Hussain> > > > >> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> > >> > > >> > > > > and this one isn't based on my data.......> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > > >> > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> > Liberation Front (JKLF) is a> > > > sacred> > > > > name for some, as they> > sacrificed their lives and everything else> > they> > > > > valued in name of> > liberating the state.> > > > >> > > > > They did that to promote the name of> > JKLF believing that they were> > > doing> > > > > this for a good cause and for> > the betterment of their divided and> > > > oppressed> > > > > nation.> > > > >> >> > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the> JKLF> >> > > has> > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause> > of> > > > problems> > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > > >> > >> > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying,> > proudly> > > > claimed> > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore> > claimed to be among those> > > who> > > > > helped to form this party in Britain> > in 1977. Like thousands of> > others> > > I> > > > > have also suffered for this> > party and have done everything possible> > to> > > > > promote true ideology of> > the JKLF.> > > > >> > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> > sacrifices, fact> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to> > different factions;> > and> > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed> > and true to large extent> > > that> > > > > top> > > > > leaders of some groups> > have compromised JKLF ideology and are> > advancing> > > > > agenda of secret> > agencies of our occupiers.> > > > >> > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of> > tuning and maligning their ideology> > > to> > > > > suit national interest of> > Pakistan, and have practically signed away> > > > their> > > > > independence to> > advance cause of united and independent Kashmir.> > Their> > > > > strategy was> > not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > > Kashmir> > > > > but> > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of> > > >> > which> > > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> > and> > > engaged.> > > > >> > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only> > bled but also has been> > > > engaged> > > > > since 1989, but in return we> > Kashmiris have also bled and got> > trampled> > > > and> > > > > oppressed. For> > this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay> > > through> > > > > their> > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> > > > >> > Kashmir.> > > > >> > > > > In this struggle which started in name of> > independence and> > spearheaded> > > by> > > > > The JKLF with money and guns> > provided to them by Pakistani agencies> > > > > resulted> > > > > in fiasco. It> > tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> > an> > > > era> > > > >> > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture.> > > > >> > > > > All sides> > targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > > Indian> > > > >> > Army and security> > > > > services,> > > > > they were trained and victimised> > by Pakistani secret agencies and> > worse> > > > of> > > > > all they were killed> > and intimidated by militants as well.> > > > >> > > > > In this struggle we have> > lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > > still> > > > > unaccounted for.> > Thousands of people are still languishing in jails.> > It> > > > is> > > > >> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable> > > >> > that> > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and> >> > Kashmir,> > > > the> > > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought> > disappointment, misery and> > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> > any closer to> > independence.> > > > >> > > > > My colleagues and I realised in> > 1991/2 that things were not in> > control> > > of> > > > > JKLF Chairman,> > Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be> > in> > > > > charge. We> > challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling> > shots> > > > in> > > >> > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle.> > > > >> >> > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but> its> >> > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > > >> > Musharaf> > > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and> > did not> > > > allow> > > > > free discussion or accountability and result was> > many splits in the> > > JKLF.> > > > >> > > > > Like General Musharaf, in> > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > > constitutional act and> > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> > Zone> > > in> > > > > Britain,> > which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards.> > > > >> > > > > We> > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > > >> > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the> > > >> > party> > > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people> > of the> > > > state> > > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going> > on we saw release> > > of> > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> > would be better than> > > Amanullah> > > > > Khan.> > > > >> > > > > We are all> > entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these> > > > > leaders> > >> > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan> >> > is> > > > > like> > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya> > Khan. Both> > > > believed> > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human> > rights, both dislike> > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> > fact, both dont> > like> > > > > party> > > > > to flourish or expand.> > > > >> >> > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life> >> > there,> > > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani> > agencies;> > > and> > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> > oppose dissent.> > > > >> > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with> > a gun in his hand and> > > came> > > > > out> > > > > as a polished leader> > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was> > not> > > > in> > > > > a> > > >> > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media> > > > >> > management.> > > > >> > > > >> > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from> > his experience and will> > help> > > to> > > > > bring some positive changes to> > the JKLF and will help to resolve the> > > > > Kashmir> > > > > dispute> > according to the expressed wishes of the people.> > > > >> > > > > We tried and> > tried hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > > endeavours to> > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant> > > and> > > > >> > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and> > > they> >> > > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman.> > > >> > >> > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> > >> > > advocated> > > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste> > of time> > > trying> > > > > to> > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view> > it was impossible task when> > > Yasin> > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have> > emerged as big figures of the JKLF> > groups> > > > and> > > > > when their sole> > aim is to maintain the status quo.> > > > >> > > > > I was not in favour of> > abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties> > > with> > > > > the> > > > >> > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time> > > to> >> > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood> -> >> > > it> > > > is> > > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> > time, effort> > > and> > > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of> > another party then> > I> > > > > could> > > > > have been in Parliament long time> > ago, but that was not my objective.> > > > >> > > > > In our JKLF we respected> > dissent and views of all colleagues. Even> > > though> > > > > majority agreed> > with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> > in> > > > its> > > > >> > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our> > > >> > commitment> > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work> > together.> > > > >> > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both> > Yasin Malik and> > > > Amanullah> > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also> > worried about the situation in> > > the> > > > > party, and what was being done> > in the name of JKLF, but they didnt> > have> > > > > control over it and they> > lacked courage and political will to> > challenge> > > > > them.> > > > >> > > > >> > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they> > >> > will> > > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the> > name> > > of> > > > > the> > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against> > formation of a new> > party.> > > My> > > > > view was that JKLF is not private> > party or estate of Amanullah Khan> > or> > > > > Yasin> > > > > Malik, and by us> > abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand.> > > > >> > > > > But all> > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > > > Valley.> > > >> > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the> > >> > struggle,> > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to> > Muslims> > and> > > > non> > > > > Muslims alike.> > > > >> > > > > If army commit> > human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> > > imposing> > > > >> > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people;> > > and> >> > > > in> > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the> > so-called> > > > > freedom> > > > > fighters then what is the difference between> > them?> > > > >> > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention> > and cannot be> > > > dealt> > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and> > especially non Muslims hated> > the> > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a> > mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > > > Pakistani secret agencies.> > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage> > of> > > > the> > > > > JKLF is too> > heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress.> > > > >> > > > > I am, at> > last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF,> > > > which> > > >> > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced> > > > >> > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too> > > >> > heavy> > > > > to carry.> > > > >> > > > > If some JKLF members still think they> > can make positive contribution> > to> > > > the> > > > > cause of unification and> > independence of the State when leaders like> > > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin> > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then> > good> > > > luck> > > > > to them;> > however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and> > > > make> > > >> > > a> > > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI)> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> >> http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10> > 046414.html> > > > >> > > > > --> > > > > Rashneek Kher> > > > >> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > > >> > _________________________________________> > > > > reader-list: an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> > > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > >> > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > > >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > > List archive:> > > > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > ------------------------------> > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail > > >> > >> >> >> http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt> > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > > >.> > > > >> > > > > A> > Smarter Email.> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > --> > > > Rashneek Kher> > > >> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > >> > _________________________________________> > > > reader-list: an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > > >> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > List archive:> > > > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > >> > Partha Dasgupta> > > +919811047132> > >> > _________________________________________> > > reader-list: an open discussion> > list on media and the city.> > > Critiques & Collaborations> > > To subscribe:> > send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > subscribe in the> > subject header.> > > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > List archive:> > > >> > _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open discussion> > list on media and the city.> > Critiques & Collaborations> > To subscribe: send> > an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > subscribe in the subject> > header.> > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:> > > >>>>> --> Partha> > Dasgupta> +919811047132> _________________________________________> reader-list:> > an open discussion list on media and the city.> Critiques & Collaborations> To> > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe> in> > the subject header.> To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:> > >>>-- Partha Dasgupta+919811047132------------------------------_______________________________________________reader-list mailing listreader-list at sarai.nethttps://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-listEnd of reader-list Digest, Vol 58, Issue 25******************************************* From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Sat May 10 09:20:52 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 09:20:52 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir In-Reply-To: <1210341394.S.51914.23928.f4mail-235-211.rediffmail.com.old.1210351863.15319@webmail.rediffmail.com> Message-ID: Dear Junaid, You ask why anyone else (besides the Indian intelligence agencies) would want to kill anti-India political figures? This is precisely the line of reasoning that a researcher in the US or UK ignorant of the ground in Kashmir would take. I'd expect a little more nuance from a researcher of conflict and that can only happen if one takes the trouble to do a little more work in the field. If you are a Kashmiri old enough to follow the careers of people like Moulvi Farooq, Qazi Nissar, Abdul Ghani Lone, Dr. Guru, Prof Wani, Ghulam Qadir Wani and many others you will realize that each was killed at the point when he tried to assert an independent line of thinking or advocated talks with India or did not quite bend to the will of his political masters in Pakistan. As I have said earlier in this forum no one in their right mind can defend what the Indian troops and intelligence agencies have done in Kashmir, but I think if one is to try and make some sense of what you have rightly described as a dirty war, one needs to first take a dispassionate view of what went down in the last two decades. This includes apportioning responsibility-- as far as it is possible-- for the political assassinations and the massacres. And why do you call the Ikhwanis 'my poor' favourite whipping boys? I had clearly said I held no brief for them. Did you not read my post carefully or do you still choose to read me selectively? The reason I pointed out their role of the fall guy was that they are the mere foot soldiers and not the generals that dictate the course of this war. If blame is to be pinned it finally must be the general who takes the rap. Of course some Ikhwani leaders have made a lot of money and it is all despicable blood money. But this is well known. Why is it that you are not as vocal about the blood money and the palatial homes of the separatists? What is their source of income, how have they grown so rich in the last twenty years, how do they fund their political activities, and how is it that the Indian state allows it? Not only that, the Indian state pays the medical bills for many separatist leaders who have been periodically hospitalized and provides security cover for them with J&K Police guarding their homes and offices. Why is that? Is this usual or unusual? Does the endless dragging on, the seeming intractableness of the situation have anything at all to do with this? Can you imagine the Sri Lankan state doing the same for Prabhakaran? For me these are far more interesting questions and if one tries to answer them honestly a far more complex picture develops than the simple one of the bad Ikhwani-- who, incidentally was good when he fought for Pakistan and became bad the moment he switched sides in 1994. And why did the Ikhwanis switch sides? Were they all congenital 'gaddars' and 'mukhbirs' or were there other compulsions? Of the many JKLF fighters who were wiped out in the early '90s how many fell to the bullets of the Indian army and how many to the Hizbul Mujahideen? I ask all these questions because it is vital that Kashmiris themselves, at least privately, begin to ask them. For all the talk of the Kashmiri's alienation from India, nobody speaks of the alienation within Kashmir. Kashmiri society is deeply divided between those who are labeled Indian agents and Pakistani agents, between those that everyone knows benefited from the war and the ordinary citizen, between the Jamaatis and the rest. This has been the most tragic fallout of the war-- this and the terrible silence that surrounds the killings and rapes by the militants. It may seem unthinkable but one day there will be peace in Kashmir. How will this society heal when there are these terrible divisions, fear, suspicion? Once South Africa won its independence it constituted the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. This was because the ANC leadership was mature enough to realize that though history belongs to the victors it would be disastrous for future generations if South Africa were to whitewash its past where terrible atrocities were committed on both sides. But truth was to come before reconciliations, and this was often a bitter and painful experience where family members had to confront the killers of their loved ones. I'm not sure whether the South African experience had a fairytale ending but it seems to me the right direction to take for societies to heal post-conflicts. Will this ever happen in Kashmir or indeed in South Asia? I have my doubts. We have a terrible knack of sweeping things under the carpet and pretending it never happened. All cataclysms have been dealt with, with tiresome familiarity, whether mass rapes by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh (for which incidentally only women's organisations in Pakistan apologized) or the Indian state's involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogrom or Gujarat or the NE or Kashmir. And where does one start the truth & reconciliation part between Kashmir and the rest of India when the government has blatantly shielded officers in the Indian Army despite being chargesheeted by institutions like the CBI? Where does truth & reconciliation begin between Muslims and Pandits when it is still widely believed that Jagmohan engineered the exodus? Or between families of the Ikhwan and the rest or families of the Jamaatis and the rest? It requires a certain honesty and moral courage to answer these questions squarely. I hope some day at least some of us will be able to rise to the occasion. And finally, please stop referring to me as Ms. Jabbar. My name is Sonia and I'd prefer it if you just used that. Best wishes, Sonia On 5/9/08 10:21 PM, "junaid" wrote: > Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine who > the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people would > naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders, > throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of > Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason > enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else > have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the only > ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them, > then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the > government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the > kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There > is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic torches on > Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M > Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that > ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's > actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any > doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to > believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in > Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is > terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under > the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont > expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure > if you actually listen to common people, instead of just > "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is > quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and > minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights > Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor > "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to army > camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid  ******  >     Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 > article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her > allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of > politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades > is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's > favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one > presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" > wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the > governments> onboth sides of the> > border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,> > Partha................On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul> > wrote:> Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> friend; there is a lot > beyond> ideologies here. Politics in its worst form;> is played to make > things> remain> in status quo. God Bless this street dirt> Yasin > Malik; who is being used> today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> > him... May he have the same> fate; what he did to thousands of> > people...!!!>> Regards>>> On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta> > wrote:> >> > Hi,> >> > I thought that the ideology> > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and> > independent Kashmir'.> > >> > If> so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into > it?> >> > Irrespective> of all this, the fact remains is that > it is highly unlikely> > that India or> Pakistan will give up their > respective portions under any> > circumstances.>> >> > > Rgds, Partha> > ....................................> >> > > On Fri,> May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > wrote:> >> > > >> Qalab Bhai,> > >> > > Why blame poor Shabir > Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> has switched to> > Indian> > > > side.> > > I am not claiming anything....>> > >> > > > Rashneek> > >> > >> > > On 5/9/08, > Rebellious Koshur> wrote:> > > >> > > > > Rashneek,> > > >> > >> > It is unfortunate that > after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> >> to> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much> > >> defending> > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for > years, why didn't> you quote> > him> > > > then. You > would claim that he is repentant but> people in Kashmir> > > believe> > > he> > > > is denigrated.> > > > >> > > >> Qalab Hussain> > > >> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> >> > >> > > > and > this one isn't based on my data.......> > > >> > > > >> > > >> By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > >> > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> Liberation Front (JKLF) > is a> > > sacred> > > > name for some, as they> > sacrificed their lives and everything else> they> > > > valued > in name of> liberating the state.> > > >> > > > > They did that to promote the name of> JKLF believing that they were> > > doing> > > > this for a good cause and for> the betterment > of their divided and> > > oppressed> > > > nation.> > > > >>> > > > But there are many who disagree with > this. They believe that the JKLF>> > has> > > > brought > them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause> of> > > > problems> > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > > >> >> > > > I am among those who, despite the > baggage JKLF is carrying,> proudly> > > claimed> > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore> claimed to be among those> > > who> > > > helped to form this party in Britain> in 1977. > Like thousands of> others> > I> > > > have also suffered > for this> party and have done everything possible> to> > > > > promote true ideology of> the JKLF.> > > >> > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> sacrifices, fact> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to> different > factions;> and> > > > allegation is and which is widely > believed> and true to large extent> > that> > > > top> > > > > leaders of some groups> have compromised JKLF ideology and > are> advancing> > > > agenda of secret> agencies of our > occupiers.> > > >> > > > These JKLF leaders are > accused of> tuning and maligning their ideology> > to> > > > > suit national interest of> Pakistan, and have practically signed > away> > > their> > > > independence to> advance cause > of united and independent Kashmir.> Their> > > > strategy > was> not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > > Kashmir> > > > but> to advance such policies, which suited > Pakistani agencies, aim of> > >> which> > > > was not > independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> and> > > engaged.> > > >> > > > That policy worked as planned > India not only> bled but also has been> > > engaged> > > > > since 1989, but in return we> Kashmiris have also bled and got> > trampled> > > and> > > > oppressed. For> this policy > people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay> > through> > > > > their> noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> > > > >> Kashmir.> > > >> > > > In this > struggle which started in name of> independence and> spearheaded> > > by> > > > The JKLF with money and guns> provided to them > by Pakistani agencies> > > > resulted> > > > in > fiasco. It> tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> > an> > > era> > > >> of intimidation, oppression and > gun culture.> > > >> > > > All sides> targeted > people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > Indian> > > > >> Army and security> > > > services,> > > > > they were trained and victimised> by Pakistani secret agencies and> > worse> > > of> > > > all they were killed> and > intimidated by militants as well.> > > >> > > > In > this struggle we have> lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > > still> > > > unaccounted for.> Thousands of people are still > languishing in jails.> It> > > is> > > >> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable> > > >> that> > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to > people of Jammu and>> Kashmir,> > > the> > > > APHC > leadership and the JKLF have brought> disappointment, misery and> > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> any closer to> > independence.> > > >> > > > My colleagues and I > realised in> 1991/2 that things were not in> control> > of> > > > > JKLF Chairman,> Amanullah Khan, and that he was only > pretending to be> in> > > > charge. We> challenged him and > asked him to reveal who was calling> shots> > > in> > > >> > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our > struggle.> > > >>> > > > The JKLF claimed to work > for a liberal and democratic society but its>> > > > chairman > believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > >> > Musharaf> > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to > the core and> did not> > > allow> > > > free > discussion or accountability and result was> many splits in the> > > JKLF.> > > >> > > > Like General Musharaf, in> > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > constitutional > act and> dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> Zone> > > in> > > > Britain,> which led to parting of from the JKLF then > onwards.> > > >> > > > We> continued our struggle > to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > >> accountability > and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the> > >> > party> > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent > all people> of the> > > state> > > > and not only > Muslims. While this struggle was going> on we saw release> > of> > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> would be better > than> > Amanullah> > > > Khan.> > > >> > > > > We are all> entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of > these> > > > leaders> >> > > to ensure that these > dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan>> is> > > > > like> > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General > Yayya> Khan. Both> > > believed> > > > in their own > brand of democracy and human> rights, both dislike> > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> fact, both dont> > like> > > > party> > > > to flourish or expand.> > > > >>> > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at > least disrupt normal life>> there,> > > > especially around > election time with the help of Pakistani> agencies;> > and> > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> oppose > dissent.> > > >> > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a > militant with> a gun in his hand and> > came> > > > > out> > > > as a polished leader> preaching peace and > non-violence, as if he was> not> > > in> > > > a> > > >> > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence > and media> > > >> management.> > > >> > > > >> > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from> his > experience and will> help> > to> > > > bring some > positive changes to> the JKLF and will help to resolve the> > > > > Kashmir> > > > dispute> according to the expressed wishes > of the people.> > > >> > > > We tried and> tried > hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > endeavours > to> unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant> > and> > > > >> democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate > people and> > they>> > > > started asking questions from > these two for being life chairman.> > >> >> > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> >> > > advocated> > > > formation of a new party, as in their > opinion it was waste> of time> > trying> > > > to> > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view> it was impossible > task when> > Yasin> > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have> > emerged as big figures of the JKLF> groups> > > and> > > > > when their sole> aim is to maintain the status quo.> > > > >> > > > I was not in favour of> abandoning the JKLF, as I > had emotional ties> > with> > > > the> > > >> > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time> > > to>> > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives > are in my blood ->> > it> > > is> > > > a > product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> time, effort> > > and> > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause > of> another party then> I> > > > could> > > > > have been in Parliament long time> ago, but that was not my objective.> > > > >> > > > In our JKLF we respected> dissent and > views of all colleagues. Even> > though> > > > majority > agreed> with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> in> > > > its> > > >> favour because I disagreed and my colleagues > respected that. Our> > >> commitment> > > > to each > other was that we would remain together and work> together.> > > > >> > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both> > Yasin Malik and> > > Amanullah> > > > Khan led JKLF. Like > us they were also> worried about the situation in> > the> > > > > party, and what was being done> in the name of JKLF, but they > didnt> have> > > > control over it and they> lacked courage > and political will to> challenge> > > > them.> > > > >> > > >> Last year some of them assured us that if we form > another party they> >> will> > > > side with us, but they > cannot support us if we continue with the> name> > of> > > > > the> > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against> > formation of a new> party.> > My> > > > view was that > JKLF is not private> party or estate of Amanullah Khan> or> > > > > Yasin> > > > Malik, and by us> abandoning the party we are > giving them a free hand.> > > >> > > > But all> > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > > > Valley.> > >> > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres > in name of the> >> struggle,> > > > especially what they > did in early years of the struggle to> Muslims> and> > > > non> > > > Muslims alike.> > > >> > > > If > army commit> human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> > > imposing> > > >> government writ. They kill, intimidate, > torture and imprison people;> > and>> > > in> > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the> > so-called> > > > freedom> > > > fighters then what is > the difference between> them?> > > >> > > > This is > a separate topic, which needs special attention> and cannot be> > > > dealt> > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and> > especially non Muslims hated> the> > > > JKLF, as it is viewed > as a> mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > > > Pakistani secret agencies.> Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage> > of> > > the> > > > JKLF is too> heavy for you to carry > and make any notable progress.> > > >> > > > I am, > at> last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF,> > > > which> > >> > abandoned its ideology, communalised > Kashmiri politics and advanced> > > >> non-Kashmiri agenda. > Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too> > >> heavy> > > > > to carry.> > > >> > > > If some JKLF > members still think they> can make positive contribution> to> > > > the> > > > cause of unification and> independence of the > State when leaders like> > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin> Malik > are heading these JKLF groups then> good> > > luck> > > > > to them;> however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it > and> > > make> > >> > a> > > > new start > then they are welcome. (ANI)> > > >> > > >> > > > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10 > > 046414.html> > > >> > > > --> > > > > Rashneek Kher> > > >> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > >> > _________________________________________> > > > reader-list: an > open> discussion list on media and the city.> > > > Critiques > & Collaborations> >> > > To subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > >> subscribe in the > subject header.> > > > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > List > archive:> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > ------------------------------> > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail > > >> >>> > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt > > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > >.> > > > >> > > > A> Smarter Email.> > > >> > > > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > > Rashneek Kher> > >> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > >> _________________________________________> > > > reader-list: an open> discussion list on media and the city.> > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > >> To subscribe: send an email > to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > >> subscribe in the > subject header.> > > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > List > archive:> > >> >> >> >> > --> >> > Partha Dasgupta> > +919811047132> >> > _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open > discussion> list on media and the city.> > Critiques & > Collaborations> > To subscribe:> send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > subscribe in the> subject > header.> > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:> > >> _________________________________________> reader-list: an open > discussion> list on media and the city.> Critiques & > Collaborations> To subscribe: send> an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> subscribe in the subject> > header.> To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:> > >-- Partha> > Dasgupta+919811047132_________________________________________reader-list:> > an open discussion list on media and the city.Critiques & > CollaborationsTo> subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > with subscribe in> the subject header.To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive:> > ------------------------------Message: 3Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:23:51 > +0530From: "Partha Dasgupta" Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too > heavy to carry-byDr.Shabir ChaudharyTo: "S. Jabbar" Cc: sarai list > Message-ID:Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"Hi,Rather than the > events used in the article, was referring to the 'renegadeterrorists' in terms > of the government(s) using released militants as 'hiredguns' to do what can > not be achieved under law. (Though, we have seen enoughof armed forces and > police taking steps that are supposedly illegal andacting as goons)Sure, it is > supposition on my part, but I find it hard to believe that themilitancy in > J&K could have reached such a virulent level with out somesupport from the > establishment, or sections of it, for what ever purpose itmay be - whether to > oppose or to suppress.Rgds, > Partha.......................................................On Fri, May 9, > 2008 at 6:35 PM, S. Jabbar wrote:> Partha,> Akhila Raman is based in the > US and this 2002 article is one that has been> put together from secondary > sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora> and attributing the > assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz> Farooq and Abdul > Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I> hold no brief for > them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But> the> picture is > far more complex than the one presented by this article.> Best> > sonia>>> On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote:>> > > Hi,>> Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the > governments> > on> both sides of the> > border.>> > http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241>> Rgds,> > Partha> > ................>> On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul> > > > wrote:>> > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> > > friend; there is a lot beyond> > ideologies here. Politics in its > worst form;> > is played to make things> > remain> > in > status quo. God Bless this street dirt> > Yasin Malik; who is being > used> > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> > him... May > he have the same> > fate; what he did to thousands of> > > people...!!!> >> > Regards> >> >> > On 5/9/08, > Partha Dasgupta> > wrote:> > >> > > Hi,> > > >> > > I thought that the ideology> > of the JKLF was (and > is) 'a united and> > > independent Kashmir'.> > >> > > > If> > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it?> > > >> > > Irrespective> > of all this, the fact remains is > that it is highly unlikely> > > that India or> > Pakistan will > give up their respective portions under any> > > circumstances.> > >> > >> > > Rgds, Partha> > > > ....................................> > >> > > On Fri,> > > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > > wrote:> > >> > > > >> > Qalab Bhai,> > > >> > > > Why > blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> > has switched to> > > > Indian> > > > side.> > > > I am not claiming > anything....> >> > > >> > > > Rashneek> > > > >> > > >> > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious > Koshur> > wrote:> > > > >> > > > > > Rashneek,> > > > >> > > >> > > It is > unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> > > >> > to> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense > to you. He was very much> > >> > defending> > > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't> > you > quote> > > him> > > > > then. You would claim that he > is repentant but> > people in Kashmir> > > believe> > > > > he> > > > > is denigrated.> > > > > >> > > > >> > Qalab Hussain> > > > > >> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> > >> > > > >> > > > > and this one isn't based on my > data.......> > > > >> > > > >> > > > > >> > By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > > >> > > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> > Liberation Front (JKLF) > is a> > > > sacred> > > > > name for some, as > they> > sacrificed their lives and everything else> > they> > > > > > valued in name of> > liberating the state.> > > > > >> > > > > They did that to promote the name > of> > JKLF believing that they were> > > doing> > > > > > this for a good cause and for> > the betterment of their > divided and> > > > oppressed> > > > > nation.> > > > > >> >> > > > > But there are many who > disagree with this. They believe that the> JKLF> >> > > > has> > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and > is root cause> > of> > > > problems> > > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > > >> > > >> > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is > carrying,> > proudly> > > > claimed> > > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore> > claimed to be among > those> > > who> > > > > helped to form this party in > Britain> > in 1977. Like thousands of> > others> > > > I> > > > > have also suffered for this> > party and have > done everything possible> > to> > > > > promote true > ideology of> > the JKLF.> > > > >> > > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> > sacrifices, > fact> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in > to> > different factions;> > and> > > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed> > and true to large > extent> > > that> > > > > top> > > > > > leaders of some groups> > have compromised JKLF ideology and are> > > advancing> > > > > agenda of secret> > agencies of > our occupiers.> > > > >> > > > > These JKLF > leaders are accused of> > tuning and maligning their ideology> > > > to> > > > > suit national interest of> > Pakistan, > and have practically signed away> > > > their> > > > > > independence to> > advance cause of united and independent > Kashmir.> > Their> > > > > strategy was> > not to > unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > > Kashmir> > > > > > but> > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani > agencies, aim of> > > >> > which> > > > > was > not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> > and> > > > engaged.> > > > >> > > > > That policy > worked as planned India not only> > bled but also has been> > > > > engaged> > > > > since 1989, but in return we> > > Kashmiris have also bled and got> > trampled> > > > and> > > > > > oppressed. For> > this policy people of Jammu and > Kashmir had to pay> > > through> > > > > their> > > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> > > > > >> > Kashmir.> > > > >> > > > > > In this struggle which started in name of> > independence and> > > spearheaded> > > by> > > > > The JKLF with money > and guns> > provided to them by Pakistani agencies> > > > > > resulted> > > > > in fiasco. It> > tore apart > fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> > an> > > > > era> > > > >> > of intimidation, oppression and gun > culture.> > > > >> > > > > All sides> > > targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > > > Indian> > > > >> > Army and security> > > > > > services,> > > > > they were trained and victimised> > > by Pakistani secret agencies and> > worse> > > > of> > > > > > all they were killed> > and intimidated by militants > as well.> > > > >> > > > > In this struggle we > have> > lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > > > still> > > > > unaccounted for.> > Thousands of people > are still languishing in jails.> > It> > > > is> > > > > >> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is > also regrettable> > > >> > that> > > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and> >> > > Kashmir,> > > > the> > > > > APHC leadership > and the JKLF have brought> > disappointment, misery and> > > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> > any closer > to> > independence.> > > > >> > > > > My > colleagues and I realised in> > 1991/2 that things were not in> > > control> > > of> > > > > JKLF Chairman,> > > Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be> > in> > > > > > charge. We> > challenged him and asked him to reveal who > was calling> > shots> > > > in> > > >> > > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle.> > > > > >> >> > > > > The JKLF claimed to work > for a liberal and democratic society but> its> >> > > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > > > >> > Musharaf> > > > > of Pakistan. Like > Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and> > did not> > > > > allow> > > > > free discussion or accountability and result > was> > many splits in the> > > JKLF.> > > > > >> > > > > Like General Musharaf, in> > frustration > Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > > constitutional act > and> > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> > Zone> > > > in> > > > > Britain,> > which led to parting of from > the JKLF then onwards.> > > > >> > > > > We> > > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > > > >> > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. > We wanted the> > > >> > party> > > > > to > reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people> > of > the> > > > state> > > > > and not only Muslims. > While this struggle was going> > on we saw release> > > of> > > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> > would > be better than> > > Amanullah> > > > > Khan.> > > > > >> > > > > We are all> > entitled to have > dreams and hopes; it is the job of these> > > > > leaders> > > >> > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become > reality. If Amanullah Khan> >> > is> > > > > > like> > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General > Yayya> > Khan. Both> > > > believed> > > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human> > rights, both dislike> > > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> > > fact, both dont> > like> > > > > party> > > > > > to flourish or expand.> > > > >> >> > > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life> > >> > there,> > > > > especially around election time > with the help of Pakistani> > agencies;> > > and> > > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> > oppose > dissent.> > > > >> > > > > Yasin Malik went in > prison as a militant with> > a gun in his hand and> > > > came> > > > > out> > > > > as a polished > leader> > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was> > > not> > > > in> > > > > a> > > >> > > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and > media> > > > >> > management.> > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > We hoped that the party will > benefit from> > his experience and will> > help> > > > to> > > > > bring some positive changes to> > the JKLF > and will help to resolve the> > > > > Kashmir> > > > > > dispute> > according to the expressed wishes of the > people.> > > > >> > > > > We tried and> > > tried hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > > > endeavours to> > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it > vibrant> > > and> > > > >> > democratic force. > However, our efforts helped to educate people and> > > they> > >> > > > > started asking questions from these two for being > life chairman.> > > >> > >> > > > > My > colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> > > >> > > advocated> > > > > formation of a new party, > as in their opinion it was waste> > of time> > > trying> > > > > > to> > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In > their view> > it was impossible task when> > > Yasin> > > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have> > emerged as big figures > of the JKLF> > groups> > > > and> > > > > > when their sole> > aim is to maintain the status quo.> > > > > >> > > > > I was not in favour of> > abandoning the > JKLF, as I had emotional ties> > > with> > > > > > the> > > > >> > party. Like many others, I have also > given my youth and enormous time> > > to> >> > > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood> > -> >> > > it> > > > is> > > > > a > product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> > time, > effort> > > and> > > > > dedication and used my talent > to promote cause of> > another party then> > I> > > > > > could> > > > > have been in Parliament long time> > > ago, but that was not my objective.> > > > >> > > > > > In our JKLF we respected> > dissent and views of all colleagues. > Even> > > though> > > > > majority agreed> > > with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> > in> > > > > its> > > > >> > favour because I disagreed and my > colleagues respected that. Our> > > >> > commitment> > > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work> > > together.> > > > >> > > > > We had close > contacts with senior leaders of both> > Yasin Malik and> > > > > Amanullah> > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were > also> > worried about the situation in> > > the> > > > > > party, and what was being done> > in the name of JKLF, but > they didnt> > have> > > > > control over it and they> > > lacked courage and political will to> > challenge> > > > > > them.> > > > >> > > > >> > Last > year some of them assured us that if we form another party they> > > >> > will> > > > > side with us, but they cannot > support us if we continue with the> > name> > > of> > > > > > the> > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my > corner against> > formation of a new> > party.> > > > My> > > > > view was that JKLF is not private> > party or > estate of Amanullah Khan> > or> > > > > Yasin> > > > > > Malik, and by us> > abandoning the party we are giving > them a free hand.> > > > >> > > > > But all> > > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > > > > Valley.> > > >> > > They spoke against practices of > the JKLF cadres in name of the> > >> > struggle,> > > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to> > > Muslims> > and> > > > non> > > > > Muslims > alike.> > > > >> > > > > If army commit> > > human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> > > imposing> > > > > >> > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture > and imprison people;> > > and> >> > > > in> > > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the> > > so-called> > > > > freedom> > > > > > fighters then what is the difference between> > them?> > > > > >> > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special > attention> > and cannot be> > > > dealt> > > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and> > especially non Muslims > hated> > the> > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a> > > mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > > > Pakistani > secret agencies.> > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage> > > of> > > > the> > > > > JKLF is too> > heavy > for you to carry and make any notable progress.> > > > >> > > > > > I am, at> > last, persuaded that it is time to say > goodbye to the JKLF,> > > > which> > > >> > > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced> > > > > >> > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is > of course too> > > >> > heavy> > > > > to > carry.> > > > >> > > > > If some JKLF members > still think they> > can make positive contribution> > to> > > > > the> > > > > cause of unification and> > > independence of the State when leaders like> > > > > Amanullah > Khan and Yasin> > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then> > > good> > > > luck> > > > > to them;> > however > if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and> > > > > make> > > >> > > a> > > > > new start then > they are welcome. (ANI)> > > > >> > > > >> > > > > >> > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> >> >> > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10 > > > 046414.html> > > > >> > > > > --> > > > > > Rashneek Kher> > > > >> > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > > >> > > _________________________________________> > > > > reader-list: > an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> > > > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > >> > > > To > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > > > >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > > To > unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > > > List archive:> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > ------------------------------> > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail > > > >> > >> >> >> > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt > > > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > > > >.> > > > >> > > > > A> > Smarter > Email.> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > > >> > > > --> > > > Rashneek Kher> > > > >> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > > >> > _________________________________________> > > > > reader-list: an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> > > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > > >> > To > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > > >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > To > unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > > List archive:> > > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > --> > >> > Partha Dasgupta> > > > +919811047132> > >> > > _________________________________________> > > reader-list: an open > discussion> > list on media and the city.> > > Critiques & > Collaborations> > > To subscribe:> > send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > subscribe in the> > > subject header.> > > To unsubscribe:> > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > List > archive:> > > >> > > _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open > discussion> > list on media and the city.> > Critiques & > Collaborations> > To subscribe: send> > an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > subscribe in the subject> > > header.> > To unsubscribe:> > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:> > > > >>>>> --> Partha> > Dasgupta> > +919811047132> _________________________________________> > reader-list:> > an open discussion list on media and the city.> > Critiques & Collaborations> To> > subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe> in> > the subject > header.> To unsubscribe:> > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:> > > >>>-- Partha > Dasgupta+919811047132------------------------------___________________________ > ____________________reader-list mailing > listreader-list at sarai.nethttps://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-listEn > d of reader-list Digest, Vol 58, Issue > 25******************************************* ________________________________ > _________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the > city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To > unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List > archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Sat May 10 10:51:00 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 10:51:00 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: <32144e990805090653h6743d7a4l37bbbf193b595a43@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Partha, You speak of what can be achieved under law in a conflict and seem at least to suggest the possibility of clean wars. For centuries philosophers have argued for the idea of ŒJust Wars,¹ in the mistaken belief that if somehow the war is just the burden of responsibility for the ravages of war would be less. When philosophers and historians judge wars the event is usually divided into jus ad bellum, the justness of the reason for fighting, and jus in bello, or the means used in fighting the war. If the conditions of jus ad bello exist, as for example the decision of Britain or the US to enter the Second World War then jus in bello...well, we can turn a blind eye for a bit. That is why the carpet bombing of German cities or Hiroshima, though universally agreed upon as terrible has escaped censure. There are countless such examples, Kashmir included. The Indian public largely believes in the moral high ground of the jus ad bellum (proxy war in our atoot ang) as does Pakistan (unfinished business of Partition where India reneged on an agreement) and this justifies the means. The only way to get around this conundrum, it seems to me, and to thwart the vast multi-trillion dollar military-industrial complex that supplies guns and bombs and lethal weapons that kill and maim and cause untold misery around the world is to start a movement to declare ALL wars illegal‹ just or unjust, forget it, can it, put it in the deepfreeze and come to the negotiating table because that is where you will end up anyway, war or no war. Best sj On 5/9/08 7:23 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote: > Hi, > > Rather than the events used in the article, was referring to the 'renegade > terrorists' in terms of the government(s) using released militants as 'hired > guns' to do what can not be achieved under law. (Though, we have seen enough > of armed forces and police taking steps that are supposedly illegal and acting > as goons) > > Sure, it is supposition on my part, but I find it hard to believe that the > militancy in J&K could have reached such a virulent level with out some > support from the establishment, or sections of it, for what ever purpose it > may be - whether to oppose or to suppress. > > Rgds, Partha > ....................................................... > > On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM, S. Jabbar wrote: >> Partha, >> Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 article is one that has been >> put together from secondary sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora >> and attributing the assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz >> Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I >> hold no brief for them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But the >> picture is far more complex than the one presented by this article. >> Best >> sonia >> >> >> On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote: >> >>> > Hi, >> >> Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the governments >>> > on >> both sides of the >>> > border. >> >> http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241 >> >> Rgds, >>> > Partha >> ................ >> >> On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul >>> > >> wrote: >> >>> > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My >>> > friend; there is a lot beyond >>> > ideologies here. Politics in its worst form; >>> > is played to make things >>> > remain >>> > in status quo. God Bless this street dirt >>> > Yasin Malik; who is being used >>> > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with >>> > him... May he have the same >>> > fate; what he did to thousands of >>> > people...!!! >>> > >>> > Regards >>> > >>> > >>> > On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta >>> > wrote: >>>> > > >>>> > > Hi, >>>> > > >>>> > > I thought that the ideology >>> > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and >>>> > > independent Kashmir'. >>>> > > >>>> > > If >>> > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it? >>>> > > >>>> > > Irrespective >>> > of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely >>>> > > that India or >>> > Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any >>>> > > circumstances. >>> > >>>> > > >>>> > > Rgds, Partha >>>> > > .................................... >>>> > > >>>> > > On Fri, >>> > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher >>> > wrote: >>>> > > >>>>> > > > >>> > Qalab Bhai, >>>>> > > > >>>>> > > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself >>> > has switched to >>>> > > Indian >>>>> > > > side. >>>>> > > > I am not claiming anything.... >>> > >>>>> > > > >>>>> > > > Rashneek >>>>> > > > >>>>> > > > >>>>> > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur >>> > wrote: >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > Rashneek, >>>>>> > > > > >>>>> > > > >>>> > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side >>>> > > >>> > to >>>>>> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much >>>> > > >>> > defending >>>>>> > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't >>> > you quote >>>> > > him >>>>>> > > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but >>> > people in Kashmir >>>> > > believe >>>>> > > > he >>>>>> > > > > is denigrated. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>> > Qalab Hussain >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote: >>>> > > >>>>> > > > >>>>>> > > > > and this one isn't based on my data....... >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>> > By Dr Shabir Choudhry >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir >>> > Liberation Front (JKLF) is a >>>>> > > > sacred >>>>>> > > > > name for some, as they >>> > sacrificed their lives and everything else >>> > they >>>>>> > > > > valued in name of >>> > liberating the state. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > They did that to promote the name of >>> > JKLF believing that they were >>>> > > doing >>>>>> > > > > this for a good cause and for >>> > the betterment of their divided and >>>>> > > > oppressed >>>>>> > > > > nation. >>>>>> > > > > >>> > >>>>>> > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the JKLF >>> > >>>> > > has >>>>>> > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause >>> > of >>>>> > > > problems >>>>>> > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. >>>>> > > > >>>> > > >>>>>> > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, >>> > proudly >>>>> > > > claimed >>>>>> > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore >>> > claimed to be among those >>>> > > who >>>>>> > > > > helped to form this party in Britain >>> > in 1977. Like thousands of >>> > others >>>> > > I >>>>>> > > > > have also suffered for this >>> > party and have done everything possible >>> > to >>>>>> > > > > promote true ideology of >>> > the JKLF. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and >>> > sacrifices, fact >>>>>> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to >>> > different factions; >>> > and >>>>>> > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed >>> > and true to large extent >>>> > > that >>>>>> > > > > top >>>>>> > > > > leaders of some groups >>> > have compromised JKLF ideology and are >>> > advancing >>>>>> > > > > agenda of secret >>> > agencies of our occupiers. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of >>> > tuning and maligning their ideology >>>> > > to >>>>>> > > > > suit national interest of >>> > Pakistan, and have practically signed away >>>>> > > > their >>>>>> > > > > independence to >>> > advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. >>> > Their >>>>>> > > > > strategy was >>> > not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and >>>> > > Kashmir >>>>>> > > > > but >>> > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of >>>>> > > > >>> > which >>>>>> > > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding >>> > and >>>> > > engaged. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only >>> > bled but also has been >>>>> > > > engaged >>>>>> > > > > since 1989, but in return we >>> > Kashmiris have also bled and got >>> > trampled >>>>> > > > and >>>>>> > > > > oppressed. For >>> > this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay >>>> > > through >>>>>> > > > > their >>> > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and >>>>>> > > > > >>> > Kashmir. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > In this struggle which started in name of >>> > independence and >>> > spearheaded >>>> > > by >>>>>> > > > > The JKLF with money and guns >>> > provided to them by Pakistani agencies >>>>>> > > > > resulted >>>>>> > > > > in fiasco. It >>> > tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started >>> > an >>>>> > > > era >>>>>> > > > > >>> > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > All sides >>> > targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of >>>>> > > > Indian >>>>>> > > > > >>> > Army and security >>>>>> > > > > services, >>>>>> > > > > they were trained and victimised >>> > by Pakistani secret agencies and >>> > worse >>>>> > > > of >>>>>> > > > > all they were killed >>> > and intimidated by militants as well. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > In this struggle we have >>> > lost a generation. Thousands of people are >>>> > > still >>>>>> > > > > unaccounted for. >>> > Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. >>> > It >>>>> > > > is >>>>>> > > > > >>> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable >>>>> > > > >>> > that >>>>>> > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and >>> > >>> > Kashmir, >>>>> > > > the >>>>>> > > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought >>> > disappointment, misery and >>>>>> > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not >>> > any closer to >>> > independence. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > My colleagues and I realised in >>> > 1991/2 that things were not in >>> > control >>>> > > of >>>>>> > > > > JKLF Chairman, >>> > Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be >>> > in >>>>>> > > > > charge. We >>> > challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling >>> > shots >>>>> > > > in >>>>> > > > >>>> > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. >>>>>> > > > > >>> > >>>>>> > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but its >>> > >>>>>> > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez >>>>> > > > >>> > Musharaf >>>>>> > > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and >>> > did not >>>>> > > > allow >>>>>> > > > > free discussion or accountability and result was >>> > many splits in the >>>> > > JKLF. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > Like General Musharaf, in >>> > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra >>>>>> > > > > constitutional act and >>> > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF >>> > Zone >>>> > > in >>>>>> > > > > Britain, >>> > which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > We >>> > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring >>>>>> > > > > >>> > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the >>>>> > > > >>> > party >>>>>> > > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people >>> > of the >>>>> > > > state >>>>>> > > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going >>> > on we saw release >>>> > > of >>>>>> > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he >>> > would be better than >>>> > > Amanullah >>>>>> > > > > Khan. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > We are all >>> > entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these >>>>>> > > > > leaders >>>> > > >>>>> > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan >>> > >>> > is >>>>>> > > > > like >>>>>> > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya >>> > Khan. Both >>>>> > > > believed >>>>>> > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human >>> > rights, both dislike >>>>>> > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in >>> > fact, both dont >>> > like >>>>>> > > > > party >>>>>> > > > > to flourish or expand. >>>>>> > > > > >>> > >>>>>> > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life >>> > >>> > there, >>>>>> > > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani >>> > agencies; >>>> > > and >>>>>> > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly >>> > oppose dissent. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with >>> > a gun in his hand and >>>> > > came >>>>>> > > > > out >>>>>> > > > > as a polished leader >>> > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was >>> > not >>>>> > > > in >>>>>> > > > > a >>>>> > > > >>>> > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media >>>>>> > > > > >>> > management. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from >>> > his experience and will >>> > help >>>> > > to >>>>>> > > > > bring some positive changes to >>> > the JKLF and will help to resolve the >>>>>> > > > > Kashmir >>>>>> > > > > dispute >>> > according to the expressed wishes of the people. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > We tried and >>> > tried hard, but were not completely successful in our >>>>>> > > > > endeavours to >>> > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant >>>> > > and >>>>>> > > > > >>> > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and >>>> > > they >>> > >>>>>> > > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. >>>>> > > > >>>> > > >>>>>> > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly >>>> > > >>>> > > advocated >>>>>> > > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste >>> > of time >>>> > > trying >>>>>> > > > > to >>>>>> > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view >>> > it was impossible task when >>>> > > Yasin >>>>>> > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have >>> > emerged as big figures of the JKLF >>> > groups >>>>> > > > and >>>>>> > > > > when their sole >>> > aim is to maintain the status quo. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > I was not in favour of >>> > abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties >>>> > > with >>>>>> > > > > the >>>>>> > > > > >>> > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time >>>> > > to >>> > >>>>>> > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood - >>> > >>>> > > it >>>>> > > > is >>>>>> > > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of >>> > time, effort >>>> > > and >>>>>> > > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of >>> > another party then >>> > I >>>>>> > > > > could >>>>>> > > > > have been in Parliament long time >>> > ago, but that was not my objective. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > In our JKLF we respected >>> > dissent and views of all colleagues. Even >>>> > > though >>>>>> > > > > majority agreed >>> > with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken >>> > in >>>>> > > > its >>>>>> > > > > >>> > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our >>>>> > > > >>> > commitment >>>>>> > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work >>> > together. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both >>> > Yasin Malik and >>>>> > > > Amanullah >>>>>> > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also >>> > worried about the situation in >>>> > > the >>>>>> > > > > party, and what was being done >>> > in the name of JKLF, but they didnt >>> > have >>>>>> > > > > control over it and they >>> > lacked courage and political will to >>> > challenge >>>>>> > > > > them. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>> > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they >>>> > > >>> > will >>>>>> > > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the >>> > name >>>> > > of >>>>>> > > > > the >>>>>> > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against >>> > formation of a new >>> > party. >>>> > > My >>>>>> > > > > view was that JKLF is not private >>> > party or estate of Amanullah Khan >>> > or >>>>>> > > > > Yasin >>>>>> > > > > Malik, and by us >>> > abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > But all >>> > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the >>>>> > > > Valley. >>>>> > > > >>>> > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the >>>> > > >>> > struggle, >>>>>> > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to >>> > Muslims >>> > and >>>>> > > > non >>>>>> > > > > Muslims alike. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > If army commit >>> > human rights abuse they do it under the cover of >>>> > > imposing >>>>>> > > > > >>> > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; >>>> > > and >>> > >>>>> > > > in >>>>>> > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the >>> > so-called >>>>>> > > > > freedom >>>>>> > > > > fighters then what is the difference between >>> > them? >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention >>> > and cannot be >>>>> > > > dealt >>>>>> > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and >>> > especially non Muslims hated >>> > the >>>>>> > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a >>> > mercenary organisation advancing agenda of >>>>>> > > > > Pakistani secret agencies. >>> > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage >>> > of >>>>> > > > the >>>>>> > > > > JKLF is too >>> > heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > I am, at >>> > last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, >>>>> > > > which >>>>> > > > >>>> > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced >>>>>> > > > > >>> > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too >>>>> > > > >>> > heavy >>>>>> > > > > to carry. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > If some JKLF members still think they >>> > can make positive contribution >>> > to >>>>> > > > the >>>>>> > > > > cause of unification and >>> > independence of the State when leaders like >>>>>> > > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin >>> > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then >>> > good >>>>> > > > luck >>>>>> > > > > to them; >>> > however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and >>>>> > > > make >>>>> > > > >>>> > > a >>>>>> > > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>>> > > >>>>> > > > >>>>> > > > >>>> > > >>> > >>> > >>> http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_>>> 10 >>> > 046414.html >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > -- >>>>>> > > > > Rashneek Kher >>>>>> > > > > >>> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com >>>>>> > > > > >>> > _________________________________________ >>>>>> > > > > reader-list: an open >>> > discussion list on media and the city. >>>>>> > > > > Critiques & Collaborations >>>> > > >>>>> > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>>>> > > > > >>> > subscribe in the subject header. >>>>>> > > > > To unsubscribe: >>> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>>>> > > > > List archive: >>> > >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>> > ------------------------------ >>>>>> > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail< >>>>> > > > >>>> > > >>> > >>> > >>> http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/e>>> vt >>> > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html >>>>>> > > > >. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > A >>> > Smarter Email. >>>>>> > > > > >>>>>> > > > > >>>>> > > > >>>>> > > > >>>>> > > > -- >>>>> > > > Rashneek Kher >>>>> > > > >>> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com >>>>> > > > >>> > _________________________________________ >>>>> > > > reader-list: an open >>> > discussion list on media and the city. >>>>> > > > Critiques & Collaborations >>>>> > > > >>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>>> > > > >>> > subscribe in the subject header. >>>>> > > > To unsubscribe: >>> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>>> > > > List archive: >>> > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > -- >>>> > > >>> > Partha Dasgupta >>>> > > +919811047132 >>>> > > >>> > _________________________________________ >>>> > > reader-list: an open discussion >>> > list on media and the city. >>>> > > Critiques & Collaborations >>>> > > To subscribe: >>> > send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>> > > subscribe in the >>> > subject header. >>>> > > To unsubscribe: >>> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>> > > List archive: >>> > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> > >>> > _________________________________________ >>> > reader-list: an open discussion >>> > list on media and the city. >>> > Critiques & Collaborations >>> > To subscribe: send >>> > an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>> > subscribe in the subject >>> > header. >>> > To unsubscribe: >>> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>> > List archive: >>> > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> > >> >> >> >> -- >> Partha >>> > Dasgupta >> +919811047132 >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: >>> > an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To >>> > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe >>> in >>> > the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: >>> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: >>> > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >> >> > > From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Sat May 10 10:57:22 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 10:57:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Announcement Message-ID: ANNOUNCEMENT To pay homage to Nirmala Deshpande there will be an all-faith prayer meeting at Raj Ghat on Tuesday, May 13th at 7.30 am. Please be seated by 7.15 at the latest as we¹d like to start on time and finish before the day gets too warm. Nirmala Deshpande supported and was a friend to many movements: the anti-communal, Pakistan-India friendship, Dalit and Adivasi rights, Kashmir, the North East and Burma. She passed away peacefully on May 1. She will be missed by many. From info at respeto-total.com Sat May 10 05:18:51 2008 From: info at respeto-total.com (Respeto-Total) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 01:48:51 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] RV: 3rd ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL :: ///////// AND THE WINNER IS... ///////// Y EL GANADOR ES ///////// Message-ID: <006601c8b22f$3ec6c480$bc544d80$@com> ///////// AND THE WINNER IS... ///////// Y EL GANADOR ES… /////////Español Abajo Deep Dredd will reveal the winner of the third edition of the One Second Video Festival and the Unibet Special Prize during the awards ceremony in Digital Media 1.0 We remember the authors who bet on the winning video will receive the € 40 multiplied by the bet ratio laid down by Deep Dredd (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/all.php) Authors can bet on your favorite video until 15:00 pm GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). / / / / Place: The Chamber Matilde Salvador in Nau University of Valencia / / / / Date: Saturday 10 May at 20:00 Respeto-Total + Deep Dredd ///////// AND THE WINNER IS... ///////// Y EL GANADOR ES… ///////// Deep Dredd hará público el ganador de la tercera edición del One Second Video Festival así como el Premio Especial Unibet durante la ceremonia de premiación en Digital Media 1.0 Os recordamos que los autores que apostarán por el vídeo ganador recibirán los 40 € multiplicados por el coeficiente de apuesta establecido por Deep Dredd (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/all.php) Se puede apostar por el video favorito hasta las 15:00 h GMT (Greenwich Time). //// lugar: Sala Matilde Salvador en La Nau Universidad de Valencia //// fecha: Sábado 10 de mayo a las 20:00h. Respeto-Total + Deep Dredd From logos.theword at gmail.com Fri May 9 21:31:51 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:31:51 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Fwd: Lucknow 76 at Rangashankara May 18th In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805090859w37be2254v3412b1bd65edc1c2@mail.gmail.com> References: <3be03e350805090627k3e52421eu855aa239d3c8b341@mail.gmail.com> <33bc2ee60805090859w37be2254v3412b1bd65edc1c2@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805090901t14fe6f7bob832dbd7c88be69c@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Logos Theatre Date: 9 May 2008 21:29 Subject: Lucknow 76 at Rangashankara May 18th To: *Lucknow ' 76* , a play set across 100 hundred years of Indian history, from 1876 to 1976 , returns to Rangashankara on 18th May ( 3:30 p.m and 7:30 p.m) . Directed by Abhishek Majumdar and devised by an ensemble of actors the play looks at the lives of common people in the historic city of Lucknow in 1876 , when Queen Victoria had taken over from the East India Company as the empress of India and in 1976 when Indira Gandhi had imposed press censorship as part of the national emergency. Lucknow '76 moves between these two time frames and looks at the effects that history has on common people. The play has been supported by the British Library in London for its research and by Kathalaya in Bangalore for its making. This production is also supported by Black Coffee Productions , who are an established theatre company in the city. .Lucknow '76 is in aid of Concern India Foundation, a non-profit public charitable trust which was started in 1991 with the objective of 'Helping People Help Themselves'. The aim of the foundation is to help make every underprivileged individual self-reliant, creating a society of independent people living with dignity. *for telebookings call 9900133287* *Play review in The Hindu * ** Please see link below http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/03/05/stories/2008030550710400.htm *Venue and Dates* *Rangashankara, J P Nagar* ** *18th May - Sunday: 3.30 PM and 7.30 PM* * http://www.rangashankara.org/home/rangatest/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=32&favm=2008-05-18 * . - -- " maza anokha hai aate jaate lamhon main...kitabein goad main pheli, hai khoe baaton main" nayara noor - -- Logos Theatre In the beginning was the word No. 126, 3rd Main Road, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore 560046 - -------------------------------------------------------- If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is 't to leave betimes? Let be. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From justjunaid at rediffmail.com Sat May 10 12:04:59 2008 From: justjunaid at rediffmail.com (junaid) Date: 10 May 2008 06:34:59 -0000 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Message-ID: <1210391646.S.75319.32693.f4mail-235-211.rediffmail.com.old.1210401299.22807@webmail.rediffmail.com> Dear Sonia,All I am pointing toward is that I am circumspect when people tell me to take an "objective", "neutral", "dispassionate" look at Kashmir. I would rather doubt the state version of stories, than call what common people, with no immediate interests, tell me as just another "conjecture". I would question the power more than its victims. It is easy for the government to erase evidence, forge wrong cases, dissemble, fudge DNA's, and foist the charge of terrorism on a people's national liberation struggle. So many other states have done it. It was done to Indians too. It suits a government well to first communalise a movement to tell the world that Kashmir's struggle is all about Muslim terrorists ethnic-cleansing Hindus, and then say its all international Islamic terrorism, which is crushing the innocent Kashmiris themselves. (I hope you still remember how Indian government reported Al-Qaeda in Kashmir to Colin Powell, only a few days after 9/11). It is basically like this: What common people say is a "conjecture" till found otherwise, and what government says is a "fact" until proved otherwise. Now it is doubly difficult for people to convince the government of its own complicity. As late Faiz once said: Bane hain ahle hawas mudayi bhi munsif bhiKise wakeel karen kis se munsafi chahen"our oppressor is the prosecutor and the judge himselfwho will plead our case, who will we go to for justice."Kashmiri seperatists have been hauled over fire in these forums a lot: their private wealths (if they have), Indian state protection (and, yet it seems, it is not enough when their "political masters" want to bump them of), their medical bills (it must run into zillions since it is mentioned here, but I have no idea how much it really is), it is like Godess Sita's agnipariksha. But I agree with you these seperatists must be questioned, since they are claiming to fight a struggle which is morally-based, and democratic. And probably they each need to spend dozen more years in jail. Geelani should go for twelve years again, Yasin must go for ten more years. Shabir Shah should spend another 21 years in jail. Azam Inquilabi should spend a few dozen more in prison. While the rest of them should continue to live their lives underground like they have been. And those who have been killed, they must be taken out of their graves, or nameless graves, and shot dead one more time. Then possibly their chastity will be proved. Meanwhile, those who are really making blood money by killing innocents, and labelling them terrorists, may not worry. The courts, CBI, Congress top leadeship, and special laws are in their favour. In fact, even those who are making a living out of Kashmir, 'experts' and 'interlocutors' and 'peace builders' and 'government pointmen' and 'NGOs' and 'media' shall have a field day, because according to what we are told they are 'resolving the conflict', 'healing wounds', 'working toward peace'.I would not question your assertion that Hizbul in its initial years of ascendancy sought to delegitimize and discredit JKLF. It was a common aim of Indian and Pakistani intel to restrict pro-independence movement. And yes Hizb did kill a number of KLF fighters. It is a fact which Kashmiris dont deny. However, it can never be used as a counter-argument to give a clean-chit to what Indian forces did. Indian govenrment turned all heat on JKLF because they wanted to kill the independentist thought. They watched as Hizb grew in power. Typically, it was like in Palestinian intifada of 1988 when the rising Hamas was watched over by Israel, as PLO was decimated. Hizb was not some alien group. They were Kashmiris too. Many JKLF men joined Hizb in those years. JKLF in its beginning was not really clear in its programme (although its leaders might have been, but they did not control individual cadres). At the same time, JKLF had not much control over the movement itself; it was under no one's control, and if at all, it was under people's control. JKLF had different kinds of people, with different kinds of ideas in it. Some were independentist, some pro-Pakistan, some real fighters, some simple robbers, some helped people, some harmed them. A number of Hizb arguments to crush JKLF was that JKLF was not serious, and was fast aleinating the people. A number of such arguments, though, were not based on fact. But one Hizb analysis was right: JKLF, with its leadership fighting among themselves, and without Pakistan support, was not capable of sustaining a long term armed movement. These were calculations made by Pakistan and Hizb leadership, and as always I have no intention to defend them. Your question, however, about who killed more JKLF fighters is factually still wrong because Indian forces killed way many more than Hizbul. Its intended assertion, that it was Hizb attrocities toward JKLF that Ikhwanis became renegades, is again wrong.Ikhwanis. Even before them it was Muslim Mujahideen (MM) which broke ranks with Hizbul. Both Ikhwanis and Muslim Mujahideen were staunchly pro-Pakistan. Muslim Mujahideen broke ranks with HM due to rival claims on leadership. MM could not break away a large part of HM with it though. HM blamed MM leaders for hobnobbing with Indian agencies, a charge that was soon proved right. HM had no desire to see rivals emerge, even among pro-Pakistan groups. It wanted to be the biggest, and if possible the only group opertaing in Kashmir.  Ikhwanis came from Students Liberation Front, and later rechristened themselves as Ikhwanul Muslimeen. For them it was a turf war with HM. The reasons may be plenty, but one cannot help but ask what Indian agencies were doing at that time. Did they engineer the split? Did they lure, arm and fund some militants to turn them against their own. It was not that they did not have a template ready. They had succesfully armed and used counter-insurgency militias in Punjab. MM and Ikhwan was a good bet for them, because by mid 1990s JKLF was out of the scene, and now it was time to deal with HM. Indian forces had not been able to achieve much success against the HM. Ikhwan and especially MM were groomed and unleashed on the Hizb upper ground. Soon, Jammat-i-Islami were targetted brutally. Families of HM cardres were either killed or harrassed, and their houses were destroyed.     It proved effective for sometime, till HM hit back. Now, MM and Ikhwan leaders were getting kiled one after the other. Government which had in the initial years declined to own up the renegades, had to claim them as the latter were coming under fire. For a number of years of raising the counter-insurgent militias government would just say it was simple infighting.      All these leaders you have mentioned, have had, in general, a pro-Pakistan or a pro-independence attitude through most of their careers. I am not saying who killed them, for I really don't know, nor has anyone claimed responsibility. Who will? You say their "political masters" had reason to kill them, I say their "politcal opponents" also had reasons to kill them.  That is not, however, the point here. These cases cannot be used to strike a neutrality in the debate about Kashmir. There cannot be equal responsibility or culpability here. The conflict in Kashmir is an insurgency against a huge Indian state machinery, its vast armies, and umpteen intelligence organisations. How does one maintain neutrality in a "war" between Goliath and David? You are asking Kashmiris who are crushed under the weight of India to offer a Truth and Reconciliation? How can truth come out from under the weight of fibs, cover-ups, evidence-erasures, floors mopped of traces of blood, propaganda, dissimulations? What should Kashmiris 'reconcile' to? Ask the Zulus about the Truth and Reconciliation. Regards,Junaid  , 10 May 2008 09:20:52 +0530From: "S. Jabbar" Subject: To: junaid , Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"Dear Junaid,You ask why anyone else (besides the Indian intelligence agencies) wouldwant to kill anti-India political figures? This is precisely the line ofreasoning that a researcher in the US or UK ignorant of the ground inKashmir would take. I'd expect a little more nuance from a researcher ofconflict and that can only happen if one takes the trouble to do a littlemore work in the field.If you are a Kashmiri old enough to follow the careers of people like MoulviFarooq, Qazi Nissar, Abdul Ghani Lone, Dr. Guru, Prof Wani, Ghulam QadirWani and many others you will realize that each was killed at the point whenhe tried to assert an independent line of thinking or advocated talks withIndia or did not quite bend to the will of his political masters inPakistan. As I have said earlier in this forum no one in their right mind can defendwhat the Indian troops and intelligence agencies have done in Kashmir, but Ithink if one is to try and make some sense of what you have rightlydescribed as a dirty war, one needs to first take a dispassionate view ofwhat went down in the last two decades. This includes apportioningresponsibility-- as far as it is possible-- for the political assassinationsand the massacres.And why do you call the Ikhwanis 'my poor' favourite whipping boys? I hadclearly said I held no brief for them. Did you not read my post carefully ordo you still choose to read me selectively? The reason I pointed out theirrole of the fall guy was that they are the mere foot soldiers and not thegenerals that dictate the course of this war. If blame is to be pinned itfinally must be the general who takes the rap.Of course some Ikhwani leaders have made a lot of money and it is alldespicable blood money. But this is well known. Why is it that you are notas vocal about the blood money and the palatial homes of the separatists?What is their source of income, how have they grown so rich in the lasttwenty years, how do they fund their political activities, and how is itthat the Indian state allows it? Not only that, the Indian state pays themedical bills for many separatist leaders who have been periodicallyhospitalized and provides security cover for them with J&K Police guardingtheir homes and offices.Why is that? Is this usual or unusual? Does the endless dragging on, theseeming intractableness of the situation have anything at all to do withthis? Can you imagine the Sri Lankan state doing the same for Prabhakaran?For me these are far more interesting questions and if one tries to answerthem honestly a far more complex picture develops than the simple one of thebad Ikhwani-- who, incidentally was good when he fought for Pakistan andbecame bad the moment he switched sides in 1994.And why did the Ikhwanis switch sides? Were they all congenital 'gaddars'and 'mukhbirs' or were there other compulsions? Of the many JKLF fighterswho were wiped out in the early '90s how many fell to the bullets of theIndian army and how many to the Hizbul Mujahideen?I ask all these questions because it is vital that Kashmiris themselves, atleast privately, begin to ask them. For all the talk of the Kashmiri'salienation from India, nobody speaks of the alienation within Kashmir.Kashmiri society is deeply divided between those who are labeled Indianagents and Pakistani agents, between those that everyone knows benefitedfrom the war and the ordinary citizen, between the Jamaatis and the rest.This has been the most tragic fallout of the war-- this and the terriblesilence that surrounds the killings and rapes by the militants. It may seemunthinkable but one day there will be peace in Kashmir. How will thissociety heal when there are these terrible divisions, fear, suspicion?Once South Africa won its independence it constituted the Truth &Reconciliation Commission. This was because the ANC leadership was matureenough to realize that though history belongs to the victors it would bedisastrous for future generations if South Africa were to whitewash its pastwhere terrible atrocities were committed on both sides. But truth was tocome before reconciliations, and this was often a bitter and painfulexperience where family members had to confront the killers of their lovedones. I'm not sure whether the South African experience had a fairytaleending but it seems to me the right direction to take for societies to healpost-conflicts. Will this ever happen in Kashmir or indeed in South Asia? I have my doubts.We have a terrible knack of sweeping things under the carpet and pretendingit never happened. All cataclysms have been dealt with, with tiresomefamiliarity, whether mass rapes by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh (forwhich incidentally only women's organisations in Pakistan apologized) or theIndian state's involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogrom or Gujarat or the NE orKashmir. And where does one start the truth & reconciliation part between Kashmir andthe rest of India when the government has blatantly shielded officers in theIndian Army despite being chargesheeted by institutions like the CBI? Wheredoes truth & reconciliation begin between Muslims and Pandits when it isstill widely believed that Jagmohan engineered the exodus? Or betweenfamilies of the Ikhwan and the rest or families of the Jamaatis and therest? It requires a certain honesty and moral courage to answer thesequestions squarely. I hope some day at least some of us will be able torise to the occasion.And finally, please stop referring to me as Ms. Jabbar. My name is Sonia andI'd prefer it if you just used that.Best wishes,SoniaOn 5/9/08 10:21 PM, "junaid" wrote:> Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine who> the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people would> naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders,> throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of> Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason> enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else> have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the only> ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them,> then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the> government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the> kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There> is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic torches on> Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M> Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that> ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's> actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any> doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to> believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in> Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is> terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under> the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont> expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure> if you actually listen to common people, instead of just> "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is> quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and> minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights> Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor> "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to army> camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid  ****** >     Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002> article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her> allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of> politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades> is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's> favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one> presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta"> wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the> governments> onboth sides of the>> border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,>> From rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk Sat May 10 12:22:31 2008 From: rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk (Rebellious Koshur) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 07:52:31 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <868347.97221.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Sonia, The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which you have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern is not the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is freedom from ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our friends as we don’t need masters, should support us in our endeavors. The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has done what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being an Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian army in Kashmir ; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies of Indian politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian policies on Kashmir . We the people of Kashmir will take account of the blunders of our politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and why. We know where from the money came, for what it was spent, and how much did the politicians use for themselves. We till now have and in future will do the needful. You please keep out of it, because this is not India . It is Kashmir . You, the Indian civil society activists, seem to be behaving in the same hegemonic attitude which the Indian statecraft has exhibited so far in Kashmir . It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is “deeply divided”. Is it not true for India ? Is it not true for Delhi ? Is it not true for the small locality where you live in Delhi ? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I see it as the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are talking about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in the modern democratic world. You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how many by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for them to share it with you. Why should we trust you? For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. According to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF men who got killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 have been killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 JKLF members while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF men. JKLF itself has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF members who have been killed by “unidentified gunmen”. People here in Kashmir understand who these unidentified gunmen are. What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has suffered more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while as the truth according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil Society is that 87 JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters with Indian army. 13 have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been subjected to enforced disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the JKLF members. Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won’t deny that India is his enemy and not Hizbul Mujahideen. Qalab Hussain --------------------------------- Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email. From rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk Sat May 10 12:22:45 2008 From: rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk (Rebellious Koshur) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 07:52:45 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <198527.63289.qm@web27404.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Sonia, The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which you have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern is not the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is freedom from ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our friends as we don’t need masters, should support us in our endeavors. The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has done what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being an Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian army in Kashmir ; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies of Indian politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian policies on Kashmir . We the people of Kashmir will take account of the blunders of our politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and why. We know where from the money came, for what it was spent, and how much did the politicians use for themselves. We till now have and in future will do the needful. You please keep out of it, because this is not India . It is Kashmir . You, the Indian civil society activists, seem to be behaving in the same hegemonic attitude which the Indian statecraft has exhibited so far in Kashmir . It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is “deeply divided”. Is it not true for India ? Is it not true for Delhi ? Is it not true for the small locality where you live in Delhi ? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I see it as the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are talking about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in the modern democratic world. You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how many by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for them to share it with you. Why should we trust you? For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. According to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF men who got killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 have been killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 JKLF members while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF men. JKLF itself has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF members who have been killed by “unidentified gunmen”. People here in Kashmir understand who these unidentified gunmen are. What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has suffered more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while as the truth according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil Society is that 87 JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters with Indian army. 13 have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been subjected to enforced disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the JKLF members. Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won’t deny that India is his enemy and not Hizbul Mujahideen. Qalab Hussain --------------------------------- Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email. From justjunaid at gmail.com Sat May 10 12:56:45 2008 From: justjunaid at gmail.com (Junaid) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 12:56:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Message-ID: I am sorry for the jumbled up earlier message. My rediff account is giving me trouble. But here is the text of my reply to Sonia. *********************** Dear Sonia, All I am pointing toward is that I am circumspect when people tell me to take an "objective", "neutral", "dispassionate" look at Kashmir. I would rather doubt the state version of stories, than call what common people, with no immediate interests, tell me as just another "conjecture". I would question the power more than its victims. It is easy for the government to erase evidence, forge wrong cases, dissemble, fudge DNA's, and foist the charge of terrorism on a people's national liberation struggle. So many other states have done it. It was done to Indians too. It suits a government well to first communalise a movement to tell the world that Kashmir's struggle is all about Muslim terrorists ethnic-cleansing Hindus, and then say its all international Islamic terrorism, which is crushing the innocent Kashmiris themselves. (I hope you still remember how Indian government reported Al-Qaeda in Kashmir to Colin Powell, only a few days after 9/11). It is basically like this: What common people say is a "conjecture" till found otherwise, and what government says is a "fact" until proved otherwise. Now it is doubly difficult for people to convince the government of its own complicity. As late Faiz once said: Bane hain ahle hawas mudayi bhi munsif bhi Kise wakeel karen kis se munsafi chahen "our oppressor is the prosecutor and the judge himself who will plead our case, who will we go to for justice." Kashmiri seperatists have been hauled over fire in these forums a lot: their private wealths (if they have), Indian state protection (and, yet it seems, it is not enough when their "political masters" want to bump them of), their medical bills (it must run into zillions since it is mentioned here, but I have no idea how much it really is), it is like Godess Sita's agnipariksha. But I agree with you these seperatists must be questioned, since they are claiming to fight a struggle which is morally-based, and democratic. And probably they each need to spend dozen more years in jail. Geelani should go for twelve years again, Yasin must go for ten more years. Shabir Shah should spend another 21 years in jail. Azam Inquilabi should spend a few dozen more in prison. While the rest of them should continue to live their lives underground like they have been. And those who have been killed, they must be taken out of their graves, or nameless graves, and shot dead one more time. Then possibly their chastity will be proved. Meanwhile, those who are really making blood money by killing innocents, and labelling them terrorists, may not worry. The courts, CBI, Congress top leadeship, and special laws are in their favour. In fact, even those who are making a living out of Kashmir, 'experts' and 'interlocutors' and 'peace builders' and 'government pointmen' and 'NGOs' and 'media' shall have a field day, because according to what we are told they are 'resolving the conflict', 'healing wounds', 'working toward peace'. I would not question your assertion that Hizbul in its initial years of ascendancy sought to delegitimize and discredit JKLF. It was a common aim of Indian and Pakistani intel to restrict pro-independence movement. And yes Hizb did kill a number of KLF fighters. It is a fact which Kashmiris dont deny. However, it can never be used as a counter-argument to give a clean-chit to what Indian forces did. Indian govenrment turned all heat on JKLF because they wanted to kill the independentist thought. They watched as Hizb grew in power. Typically, it was like in Palestinian intifada of 1988 when the rising Hamas was watched over by Israel, as PLO was decimated. Hizb was not some alien group. They were Kashmiris too. Many JKLF men joined Hizb in those years. JKLF in its beginning was not really clear in its programme (although its leaders might have been, but they did not control individual cadres). At the same time, JKLF had not much control over the movement itself; it was under no one's control, and if at all, it was under people's control. JKLF had different kinds of people, with different kinds of ideas in it. Some were independentist, some pro-Pakistan, some real fighters, some simple robbers, some helped people, some harmed them. A number of Hizb arguments to crush JKLF was that JKLF was not serious, and was fast aleinating the people. A number of such arguments, though, were not based on fact. But one Hizb analysis was right: JKLF, with its leadership fighting among themselves, and without Pakistan support, was not capable of sustaining a long term armed movement. These were calculations made by Pakistan and Hizb leadership, and as always I have no intention to defend them. Your question, however, about who killed more JKLF fighters is factually still wrong because Indian forces killed way many more than Hizbul. Its intended assertion, that it was Hizb attrocities toward JKLF that Ikhwanis became renegades, is again wrong. Ikhwanis. Even before them it was Muslim Mujahideen (MM) which broke ranks with Hizbul. Both Ikhwanis and Muslim Mujahideen were staunchly pro-Pakistan. Muslim Mujahideen broke ranks with HM due to rival claims on leadership. MM could not break away a large part of HM with it though. HM blamed MM leaders for hobnobbing with Indian agencies, a charge that was soon proved right. HM had no desire to see rivals emerge, even among pro-Pakistan groups. It wanted to be the biggest, and if possible the only group opertaing in Kashmir. Ikhwanis came from Students Liberation Front, and later rechristened themselves as Ikhwanul Muslimeen. For them it was a turf war with HM. The reasons may be plenty, but one cannot help but ask what Indian agencies were doing at that time. Did they engineer the split? Did they lure, arm and fund some militants to turn them against their own. It was not that they did not have a template ready. They had succesfully armed and used counter-insurgency militias in Punjab. MM and Ikhwan was a good bet for them, because by mid 1990s JKLF was out of the scene, and now it was time to deal with HM. Indian forces had not been able to achieve much success against the HM. Ikhwan and especially MM were groomed and unleashed on the Hizb upper ground. Soon, Jammat-i-Islami were targetted brutally. Families of HM cardres were either killed or harrassed, and their houses were destroyed. It proved effective for sometime, till HM hit back. Now, MM and Ikhwan leaders were getting kiled one after the other. Government which had in the initial years declined to own up the renegades, had to claim them as the latter were coming under fire. For a number of years of raising the counter-insurgent militias government would just say it was simple infighting. All these leaders you have mentioned, have had, in general, a pro-Pakistan or a pro-independence attitude through most of their careers. I am not saying who killed them, for I really don't know, nor has anyone claimed responsibility. Who will? You say their "political masters" had reason to kill them, I say their "politcal opponents" also had reasons to kill them. That is not, however, the point here. These cases cannot be used to strike a neutrality in the debate about Kashmir. There cannot be equal responsibility or culpability here. The conflict in Kashmir is an insurgency against a huge Indian state machinery, its vast armies, and umpteen intelligence organisations. How does one maintain neutrality in a "war" between Goliath and David? You are asking Kashmiris who are crushed under the weight of India to offer a Truth and Reconciliation? How can truth come out from under the weight of fibs, cover-ups, evidence-erasures, floors mopped of traces of blood, propaganda, dissimulations? What should Kashmiris 'reconcile' to? Ask the Zulus about the Truth and Reconciliation. Regards, Junaid , 10 May 2008 09:20:52 +0530 From: "S. Jabbar" Subject: To: junaid , Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Dear Junaid, You ask why anyone else (besides the Indian intelligence agencies) would want to kill anti-India political figures? This is precisely the line of reasoning that a researcher in the US or UK ignorant of the ground in Kashmir would take. I'd expect a little more nuance from a researcher of conflict and that can only happen if one takes the trouble to do a little more work in the field. If you are a Kashmiri old enough to follow the careers of people like Moulvi Farooq, Qazi Nissar, Abdul Ghani Lone, Dr. Guru, Prof Wani, Ghulam Qadir Wani and many others you will realize that each was killed at the point when he tried to assert an independent line of thinking or advocated talks with India or did not quite bend to the will of his political masters in Pakistan. As I have said earlier in this forum no one in their right mind can defend what the Indian troops and intelligence agencies have done in Kashmir, but I think if one is to try and make some sense of what you have rightly described as a dirty war, one needs to first take a dispassionate view of what went down in the last two decades. This includes apportioning responsibility-- as far as it is possible-- for the political assassinations and the massacres. And why do you call the Ikhwanis 'my poor' favourite whipping boys? I had clearly said I held no brief for them. Did you not read my post carefully or do you still choose to read me selectively? The reason I pointed out their role of the fall guy was that they are the mere foot soldiers and not the generals that dictate the course of this war. If blame is to be pinned it finally must be the general who takes the rap. Of course some Ikhwani leaders have made a lot of money and it is all despicable blood money. But this is well known. Why is it that you are not as vocal about the blood money and the palatial homes of the separatists? What is their source of income, how have they grown so rich in the last twenty years, how do they fund their political activities, and how is it that the Indian state allows it? Not only that, the Indian state pays the medical bills for many separatist leaders who have been periodically hospitalized and provides security cover for them with J&K Police guarding their homes and offices. Why is that? Is this usual or unusual? Does the endless dragging on, the seeming intractableness of the situation have anything at all to do with this? Can you imagine the Sri Lankan state doing the same for Prabhakaran? For me these are far more interesting questions and if one tries to answer them honestly a far more complex picture develops than the simple one of the bad Ikhwani-- who, incidentally was good when he fought for Pakistan and became bad the moment he switched sides in 1994. And why did the Ikhwanis switch sides? Were they all congenital 'gaddars' and 'mukhbirs' or were there other compulsions? Of the many JKLF fighters who were wiped out in the early '90s how many fell to the bullets of the Indian army and how many to the Hizbul Mujahideen? I ask all these questions because it is vital that Kashmiris themselves, at least privately, begin to ask them. For all the talk of the Kashmiri's alienation from India, nobody speaks of the alienation within Kashmir. Kashmiri society is deeply divided between those who are labeled Indian agents and Pakistani agents, between those that everyone knows benefited from the war and the ordinary citizen, between the Jamaatis and the rest. This has been the most tragic fallout of the war-- this and the terrible silence that surrounds the killings and rapes by the militants. It may seem unthinkable but one day there will be peace in Kashmir. How will this society heal when there are these terrible divisions, fear, suspicion? Once South Africa won its independence it constituted the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. This was because the ANC leadership was mature enough to realize that though history belongs to the victors it would be disastrous for future generations if South Africa were to whitewash its past where terrible atrocities were committed on both sides. But truth was to come before reconciliations, and this was often a bitter and painful experience where family members had to confront the killers of their loved ones. I'm not sure whether the South African experience had a fairytale ending but it seems to me the right direction to take for societies to heal post-conflicts. Will this ever happen in Kashmir or indeed in South Asia? I have my doubts. We have a terrible knack of sweeping things under the carpet and pretending it never happened. All cataclysms have been dealt with, with tiresome familiarity, whether mass rapes by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh (for which incidentally only women's organisations in Pakistan apologized) or the Indian state's involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogrom or Gujarat or the NE or Kashmir. And where does one start the truth & reconciliation part between Kashmir and the rest of India when the government has blatantly shielded officers in the Indian Army despite being chargesheeted by institutions like the CBI? Where does truth & reconciliation begin between Muslims and Pandits when it is still widely believed that Jagmohan engineered the exodus? Or between families of the Ikhwan and the rest or families of the Jamaatis and the rest? It requires a certain honesty and moral courage to answer these questions squarely. I hope some day at least some of us will be able to rise to the occasion. And finally, please stop referring to me as Ms. Jabbar. My name is Sonia and I'd prefer it if you just used that. Best wishes, Sonia On 5/9/08 10:21 PM, "junaid" wrote: > Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine who > the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people would > naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders, > throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of > Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason > enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else > have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the only > ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them, > then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the > government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the > kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There > is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic torches on > Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M > Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that > ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's > actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any > doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to > believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in > Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is > terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under > the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont > expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure > if you actually listen to common people, instead of just > "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is > quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and > minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights > Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor > "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to army > camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid ****** > Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 > article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her > allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of > politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades > is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's > favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one > presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" > wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the > governments> onboth sides of the> > border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,> From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Sat May 10 13:51:25 2008 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 13:51:25 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Announcement In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6353c690805100121xad43a03pd6caa3a6fd2fe5d6@mail.gmail.com> Thanks. Would be there. I wonder in which respect is Kashmir mentioned here. a) Kashmiri Pandits Movement for their lost homeland and for their human rights. ??? b) JKLF Communal Movement and tirade against minority. ??? Peace be upon her soul. Aditya Raj Kaul http://activistsdiary.blogspot.com/ On 5/10/08, S. Jabbar wrote: > > ANNOUNCEMENT > > To pay homage to Nirmala Deshpande there will be an all-faith prayer > meeting > at Raj Ghat on Tuesday, May 13th at 7.30 am. > > Please be seated by 7.15 at the latest as we¹d like to start on time and > finish before the day gets too warm. > > Nirmala Deshpande supported and was a friend to many movements: the > anti-communal, Pakistan-India friendship, Dalit and Adivasi rights, > Kashmir, > the North East and Burma. She passed away peacefully on May 1. She will be > missed by many. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From parthaekka at gmail.com Sat May 10 16:14:55 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:14:55 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir Chaudhary In-Reply-To: References: <32144e990805090653h6743d7a4l37bbbf193b595a43@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805100344kf1ee2cep7f339db3e4fa89aa@mail.gmail.com> Hi, 1. I was referring to the government(s) using illegal means in terms of released militants to solve 'problems' and the fact that the police and the armed forces have gone ahead and used illegal methods in any case. 2. Am cynical enough to believe that wars will never stop while human beings are around - that is the nature of the beast called man. The more 'civilised' we get, the more brutal and uncompromising we become. Sure, we may change the name to 'skirmishes' or 'strategic battles' or something else, but conflicts will remain and will continue to be solved by force instead of words. And do remember that words can also kill - students driven to suicide by parental pressure and newly weds killing themselves due to taunts over not having a son or enough dowry. Would you also try to define anger and frustration as illegal? Rgds, Partha ............................................ On Sat, May 10, 2008 at 10:51 AM, S. Jabbar wrote: > Partha, > > You speak of what can be achieved under law in a conflict and seem at least > to suggest the possibility of clean wars. For centuries philosophers have > argued for the idea of 'Just Wars,' in the mistaken belief that if somehow > the war is just the burden of responsibility for the ravages of war would be > less. > > When philosophers and historians judge wars the event is usually divided > into jus ad bellum, the justness of the reason for fighting, and jus in > bello, or the means used in fighting the war. If the conditions of jus ad > bello exist, as for example the decision of Britain or the US to enter the > Second World War then jus in bello...well, we can turn a blind eye for a > bit. That is why the carpet bombing of German cities or Hiroshima, though > universally agreed upon as terrible has escaped censure. There are countless > such examples, Kashmir included. The Indian public largely believes in the > moral high ground of the jus ad bellum (proxy war in our atoot ang) as does > Pakistan (unfinished business of Partition where India reneged on an > agreement) and this justifies the means. > > The only way to get around this conundrum, it seems to me, and to thwart > the vast multi-trillion dollar military-industrial complex that supplies > guns and bombs and lethal weapons that kill and maim and cause untold misery > around the world is to start a movement to declare ALL wars illegal— just or > unjust, forget it, can it, put it in the deepfreeze and come to the > negotiating table because that is where you will end up anyway, war or no > war. > > Best > sj > > > > On 5/9/08 7:23 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote: > > Hi, > > Rather than the events used in the article, was referring to the 'renegade > terrorists' in terms of the government(s) using released militants as 'hired > guns' to do what can not be achieved under law. (Though, we have seen enough > of armed forces and police taking steps that are supposedly illegal and > acting as goons) > > Sure, it is supposition on my part, but I find it hard to believe that the > militancy in J&K could have reached such a virulent level with out some > support from the establishment, or sections of it, for what ever purpose it > may be - whether to oppose or to suppress. > > Rgds, Partha > ....................................................... > > On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM, S. Jabbar wrote: > > Partha, > Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 article is one that has been > put together from secondary sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora > and attributing the assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz > Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I > hold no brief for them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But > the > picture is far more complex than the one presented by this article. > Best > sonia > > > On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote: > > > Hi, > > Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the governments > > on > both sides of the > > border. > > http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241 > > Rgds, > > Partha > ................ > > On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > > > wrote: > > > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My > > friend; there is a lot beyond > > ideologies here. Politics in its worst form; > > is played to make things > > remain > > in status quo. God Bless this street dirt > > Yasin Malik; who is being used > > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with > > him... May he have the same > > fate; what he did to thousands of > > people...!!! > > > > Regards > > > > > > On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta > > wrote: > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > I thought that the ideology > > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and > > > independent Kashmir'. > > > > > > If > > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it? > > > > > > Irrespective > > of all this, the fact remains is that it is highly unlikely > > > that India or > > Pakistan will give up their respective portions under any > > > circumstances. > > > > > > > > Rgds, Partha > > > .................................... > > > > > > On Fri, > > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > Qalab Bhai, > > > > > > > > Why blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself > > has switched to > > > Indian > > > > side. > > > > I am not claiming anything.... > > > > > > > > > > Rashneek > > > > > > > > > > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious Koshur > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Rashneek, > > > > > > > > > > > > It is unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side > > > > > to > > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much > > > > > defending > > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't > > you quote > > > him > > > > > then. You would claim that he is repentant but > > people in Kashmir > > > believe > > > > he > > > > > is denigrated. > > > > > > > > > > > > Qalab Hussain > > > > > > > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > and this one isn't based on my data....... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > By Dr Shabir Choudhry > > > > > > > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir > > Liberation Front (JKLF) is a > > > > sacred > > > > > name for some, as they > > sacrificed their lives and everything else > > they > > > > > valued in name of > > liberating the state. > > > > > > > > > > They did that to promote the name of > > JKLF believing that they were > > > doing > > > > > this for a good cause and for > > the betterment of their divided and > > > > oppressed > > > > > nation. > > > > > > > > > > > > But there are many who disagree with this. They believe that the > JKLF > > > > > has > > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause > > of > > > > problems > > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988. > > > > > > > > > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is carrying, > > proudly > > > > claimed > > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore > > claimed to be among those > > > who > > > > > helped to form this party in Britain > > in 1977. Like thousands of > > others > > > I > > > > > have also suffered for this > > party and have done everything possible > > to > > > > > promote true ideology of > > the JKLF. > > > > > > > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and > > sacrifices, fact > > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to > > different factions; > > and > > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed > > and true to large extent > > > that > > > > > top > > > > > leaders of some groups > > have compromised JKLF ideology and are > > advancing > > > > > agenda of secret > > agencies of our occupiers. > > > > > > > > > > These JKLF leaders are accused of > > tuning and maligning their ideology > > > to > > > > > suit national interest of > > Pakistan, and have practically signed away > > > > their > > > > > independence to > > advance cause of united and independent Kashmir. > > Their > > > > > strategy was > > not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and > > > Kashmir > > > > > but > > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani agencies, aim of > > > > > > which > > > > > was not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding > > and > > > engaged. > > > > > > > > > > That policy worked as planned India not only > > bled but also has been > > > > engaged > > > > > since 1989, but in return we > > Kashmiris have also bled and got > > trampled > > > > and > > > > > oppressed. For > > this policy people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay > > > through > > > > > their > > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and > > > > > > > Kashmir. > > > > > > > > > > In this struggle which started in name of > > independence and > > spearheaded > > > by > > > > > The JKLF with money and guns > > provided to them by Pakistani agencies > > > > > resulted > > > > > in fiasco. It > > tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started > > an > > > > era > > > > > > > of intimidation, oppression and gun culture. > > > > > > > > > > All sides > > targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of > > > > Indian > > > > > > > Army and security > > > > > services, > > > > > they were trained and victimised > > by Pakistani secret agencies and > > worse > > > > of > > > > > all they were killed > > and intimidated by militants as well. > > > > > > > > > > In this struggle we have > > lost a generation. Thousands of people are > > > still > > > > > unaccounted for. > > Thousands of people are still languishing in jails. > > It > > > > is > > > > > > > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable > > > > > > that > > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and > > > > Kashmir, > > > > the > > > > > APHC leadership and the JKLF have brought > > disappointment, misery and > > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not > > any closer to > > independence. > > > > > > > > > > My colleagues and I realised in > > 1991/2 that things were not in > > control > > > of > > > > > JKLF Chairman, > > Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be > > in > > > > > charge. We > > challenged him and asked him to reveal who was calling > > shots > > > > in > > > > > > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle. > > > > > > > > > > > > The JKLF claimed to work for a liberal and democratic society but > its > > > > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez > > > > > > Musharaf > > > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and > > did not > > > > allow > > > > > free discussion or accountability and result was > > many splits in the > > > JKLF. > > > > > > > > > > Like General Musharaf, in > > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra > > > > > constitutional act and > > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF > > Zone > > > in > > > > > Britain, > > which led to parting of from the JKLF then onwards. > > > > > > > > > > We > > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring > > > > > > > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the > > > > > > party > > > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people > > of the > > > > state > > > > > and not only Muslims. While this struggle was going > > on we saw release > > > of > > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he > > would be better than > > > Amanullah > > > > > Khan. > > > > > > > > > > We are all > > entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of these > > > > > leaders > > > > > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan > > > > is > > > > > like > > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General Yayya > > Khan. Both > > > > believed > > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human > > rights, both dislike > > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in > > fact, both dont > > like > > > > > party > > > > > to flourish or expand. > > > > > > > > > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life > > > > there, > > > > > especially around election time with the help of Pakistani > > agencies; > > > and > > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly > > oppose dissent. > > > > > > > > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a militant with > > a gun in his hand and > > > came > > > > > out > > > > > as a polished leader > > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was > > not > > > > in > > > > > a > > > > > > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and media > > > > > > > management. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from > > his experience and will > > help > > > to > > > > > bring some positive changes to > > the JKLF and will help to resolve the > > > > > Kashmir > > > > > dispute > > according to the expressed wishes of the people. > > > > > > > > > > We tried and > > tried hard, but were not completely successful in our > > > > > endeavours to > > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant > > > and > > > > > > > democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate people and > > > they > > > > > > > started asking questions from these two for being life chairman. > > > > > > > > > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly > > > > > > advocated > > > > > formation of a new party, as in their opinion it was waste > > of time > > > trying > > > > > to > > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view > > it was impossible task when > > > Yasin > > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have > > emerged as big figures of the JKLF > > groups > > > > and > > > > > when their sole > > aim is to maintain the status quo. > > > > > > > > > > I was not in favour of > > abandoning the JKLF, as I had emotional ties > > > with > > > > > the > > > > > > > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time > > > to > > > > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood > - > > > > > it > > > > is > > > > > a product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of > > time, effort > > > and > > > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause of > > another party then > > I > > > > > could > > > > > have been in Parliament long time > > ago, but that was not my objective. > > > > > > > > > > In our JKLF we respected > > dissent and views of all colleagues. Even > > > though > > > > > majority agreed > > with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken > > in > > > > its > > > > > > > favour because I disagreed and my colleagues respected that. Our > > > > > > commitment > > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work > > together. > > > > > > > > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both > > Yasin Malik and > > > > Amanullah > > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were also > > worried about the situation in > > > the > > > > > party, and what was being done > > in the name of JKLF, but they didnt > > have > > > > > control over it and they > > lacked courage and political will to > > challenge > > > > > them. > > > > > > > > > > > > Last year some of them assured us that if we form another party they > > > > > will > > > > > side with us, but they cannot support us if we continue with the > > name > > > of > > > > > the > > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against > > formation of a new > > party. > > > My > > > > > view was that JKLF is not private > > party or estate of Amanullah Khan > > or > > > > > Yasin > > > > > Malik, and by us > > abandoning the party we are giving them a free hand. > > > > > > > > > > But all > > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the > > > > Valley. > > > > > > > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres in name of the > > > > > struggle, > > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to > > Muslims > > and > > > > non > > > > > Muslims alike. > > > > > > > > > > If army commit > > human rights abuse they do it under the cover of > > > imposing > > > > > > > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture and imprison people; > > > and > > > > > > in > > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the > > so-called > > > > > freedom > > > > > fighters then what is the difference between > > them? > > > > > > > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special attention > > and cannot be > > > > dealt > > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and > > especially non Muslims hated > > the > > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a > > mercenary organisation advancing agenda of > > > > > Pakistani secret agencies. > > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage > > of > > > > the > > > > > JKLF is too > > heavy for you to carry and make any notable progress. > > > > > > > > > > I am, at > > last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF, > > > > which > > > > > > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced > > > > > > > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too > > > > > > heavy > > > > > to carry. > > > > > > > > > > If some JKLF members still think they > > can make positive contribution > > to > > > > the > > > > > cause of unification and > > independence of the State when leaders like > > > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin > > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then > > good > > > > luck > > > > > to them; > > however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and > > > > make > > > > > > > a > > > > > new start then they are welcome. (ANI) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10 > > 046414.html > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > > reader-list: an open > > discussion list on media and the city. > > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail< > > > > > > > > > > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt > > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > > > >. > > > > > > > > > > A > > Smarter Email. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Rashneek Kher > > > > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > > reader-list: an open > > discussion list on media and the city. > > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Partha Dasgupta > > > +919811047132 > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion > > list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: > > send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the > > subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion > > list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send > > an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject > > header. > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > -- > Partha > > Dasgupta > +919811047132 > _________________________________________ > reader-list: > > an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To > > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe > in > > the subject header. > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Sat May 10 17:31:07 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 18:01:07 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] A B C s of Bengalis Message-ID: This is totally oldie, but goodie... My favorite bit is "Bengalis are the most non-violent violent people around. When an accident happens they will shout and scream and curse and abuse, but the last time someone actually hit someone was in 1979." Author has obviously not been in Bangladesh in last 30 years. :-) -- Naeem ###### A is for Office. This is where the average Kolkattan goes and spends a day hard(ly) at work. If he is in the Government he will arrive at 10, wipe his forehead till 11, have a tea break at 12, throw around a few files at 12.30, break for lunch at 1, smoke an unfiltered cigarette at 2, break for tea at 3, sleep sitting down at 4 and go home at 5. It's a hard life! B is for Bhision ('Vision' for the uninitiated). For some reason most of the Bengalis don't have good bhision. In fact in Kolkata most people are wearing spectacles all the time. The effects of this show in the city. C is for Chappell. This is the Bengali word for the Devil, for the worst form of evil. In the night mothers put their kids to sleep saying 'go to bed, or Chappel will come and take you away.' D is for Debashish. By an ancient law every fourth Bengali Child has to be named Debashish. So you have a Debashish everywhere and tying to get creative they are also called Deb, Debu, Deba with variations like Debnath and Deboprotim thrown in. E is for Eeesh. This is a very common Bengali exclamation made famous by Aishwarya Rai in the movie Devdas. It is estimated that on an average a Bengali uses eeesh 10,089 times every year. (That's counting eeesh and other eeesh-ish words). F is for Feesh. These are creatures that swim in rivers and seas and are a favourite food of the Bengalis. Despite the fact that a fish market has such strong smells, with one sniff a Bengali knows if a fish is all right. If not he will say 'eeesh what feeesh is theesh!' G is for Good name. Every Bengali boy will have a good name like Debashish or Deboprotim and a pet name like Shontuda, Chonti, and Dinku. While every Bengali Girl will be Paromita or Protima as well as Shampa, Champa and Tuki. Basically your nickname is there to kiil your good name. H is for Harmonium. The Bengali equivalent of a rock guitar. Take four Bengalis and a Harmonium and you have the successors to The Bheatles! I is for lleesh. This is a feeesh with 10,000 bones which would kill any ordinary person, but which the Bengalis eat with releeesh! J is for Jhola. No self-respecting Bengali is complete without his Jhola. It is a shapeless cloth bag where he keeps all his belongings and he fits an amazing number of things in. Even as you read this there are 2 million jholas bobbling around Kolkata- and they all look exactly the same! K is for Kee Kando. It used to be the favourite Bengali exclamation till eeesh took over because of Aishwarya Rai (now Kee Kando's agent is trying to hire Bipasha Basu). L is for Lungi. People in Kolkata manage to play football and cricket wearing it. Now there is talk of a lungi expedition to Mt. Everest. M is for Minibus. These are dangerous half buses whose antics would effortlessly frighten the living daylights out of Formula 1 race drivers. N is for Nangtoe. This is the Bengali word for Naked. It is the most interesting naked word in any language! O is for Oil. The Bengalis believe that a touch of mustard oil will cure anything from cold (oil in the nose), to earache (oil in the ear), to cough (oil on the throat) to piles (oil you know where!) P is for Phootball. This is always a phavourite phassion of the Kolkattan. Every Bengali is born an expert in this game. The two biggest clubs there are Mohunbagan and East Bengal and when they play the city comes to a stop. Q is for Queen. This really has nothing to do with the Bengalis or Kolkata, but it's the only Q word I could think of at this moment. There's also Quilt but they never use them in Kolkata. R is for Rabi Thakur. Many years ago Rabindranath got the Nobel Prize. This allows everyone in Kolkata to frame their acceptance speeches and walk with their head held high and look down at Delhi and Mumbai! S is for Sardarjee whom Bengalis are very envious of because he is born with a semi-monkey cap on. T is for Trams. Hundred years later there are still trams in Kolkata. Of course if you are in a hurry it's faster to walk. U is for Ambrela. When a Bengali baby is born they are handed one. V is for Violence. Bengalis are the most non-violent violent people around. When an accident happens they will shout and scream and curse and abuse, but the last time someone actually hit someone was in 1979. W is for Water. For three months o f the year the city is underwater and every year for the last 200 years the authorities are taken by surprise by this! X is for X mas. It's very big in Kolkata, with Park Street fully lit up. Y is for Yastarday. Which is always better than today for a Bengali. Z is for Jeebra, Joo, Jip and Jylophone. From taraprakash at gmail.com Sat May 10 18:21:57 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 08:51:57 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] An end to Husain's travails (source:Hindu) Message-ID: <00aa01c8b29c$a21ad950$6600a8c0@taraprakash> An end to Husain's travails By quashing the proceedings in three cases against M.F. Husain, the Delhi High Court has sent a strong message against cultural bigotry and moral vigilantism. The order provides a measure of welcome relief for India's most celebrated painter, who has suffered terribly at the hands of rank communalists and a criminal justice system that failed to factor in the utter ludicrousness of his so-called offence. Mr. Husain has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2006, thanks to a vicious and orchestrated campaign by right-wing groups, which charged him with offending religious sentiments through paintings that insulted Bharat Mata (Mother India) and Hindu gods and goddesses. The 92-year-old artist was threatened, his Cuffe Parade residence in Mumbai was ransacked, and exhibitions of his paintings were vandalised. As if this weren't enough, the harassment spilled over into the legal sphere with lower courts taking cognisance of what were clearly frivolous complaints, resulting in a chain of events -- a proclamation declaring the painter an 'absconder' and an order to attach his Cuffe Parade residence, not to speak of the many non-bailable warrants. In observing that frivolous and vexatious complaints that affect the freedom of an individual should be scrutinised strictly at the magisterial level, the Delhi High Court was echoing the Supreme Court which, in a series of judgments, has cautioned lower courts from taking cognisance of them reflexively. In its 192nd report, the Law Commission recommended the enactment of a law to prevent the filing of such litigations (civil and criminal); the Commission framed a model Act by drawing upon laws in force in countries such as Britain, Australia, and Canada that deal very firmly with vexatious litigants. Orders such as the one passed by the Delhi High Court are a good precedent and will act as a check on lower courts, which -- instead of upholding freedom of expression -- have tended to be extremely accommodating of frivolous complaints. A recent case that made international headlines related to Richard Gere; the Supreme Court had to step in to quash the arrest warrant issued against the famous Hollywood actor for pecking Indian actress Shilpa Shetty on the cheek at a public function in New Delhi. Four more cases, which were registered in different parts of the country and transferred to a lower court in Delhi, survive against Mr. Husain. They are in different stages of the legal process but are similar inasmuch as they relate to the same tired and hollow controversy over the obscenity of his paintings. They would hopefully meet the same legal fate -- a firm and forthright quashing. From taraprakash at gmail.com Sat May 10 19:02:12 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 09:32:12 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir References: <868347.97221.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <00e301c8b2a2$41b00580$6600a8c0@taraprakash> I am sure it is a minority voice in J&K that desires freedom from "ruthless India and Indians" In fact there are certain "ruthless Indians" who want Kashmiris be given right to self determination. There may be other "ruthless Indians" who want all the Muslim Kashmiris to be exterminated. The point is that when you try to impose a homogenous identity and a singular ambition on the people, you might be committing the same crime as Indian government and many other colonial powers did. Your voice is that of a political elites who change the will of the masses sometime by brutal "ruthless" means and sometimes by sheer eloquence. What do Kashmiris want has not always remained unchanged. There was a time when United States of America was looked at expectantly in Kashmir, now it is not. We don't hear the US government calling Kashmir a disputed territory. How can you say that the relations between Indians and Kashmiris have not transformed or will not transform over the time? However, I don't see any point of going on unless you define what you mean by Kashmiris and Indians. Are the elected MLAs Kashmiris? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rebellious Koshur" To: "S. Jabbar" ; "junaid" ; Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 2:52 AM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir > Sonia, > > The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the > issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which > you have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern > is not the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is > freedom from ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our > friends as we don’t need masters, should support us in our endeavors. > > The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of > Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has > done what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being > an Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian > army in Kashmir ; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies > of Indian politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian > policies on Kashmir . We the people of Kashmir will take account of the > blunders of our politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and > why. We know where from the money came, for what it was spent, and how > much did the politicians use for themselves. We till now have and in > future will do the needful. You please keep out of it, because this is not > India . It is Kashmir . You, the Indian civil society activists, seem to > be behaving in the same hegemonic attitude which the Indian statecraft has > exhibited so far in Kashmir . > > It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is “deeply divided”. Is it > not true for India ? Is it not true for Delhi ? Is it not true for the > small locality where you live in Delhi ? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I > see it as the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are > talking about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in > the modern democratic world. > > You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how > many by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people > here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for > them to share it with you. Why should we trust you? > > For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey > done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. > According to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF > men who got killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 > have been killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 > JKLF members while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF > men. JKLF itself has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF > members who have been killed by “unidentified gunmen”. People here in > Kashmir understand who these unidentified gunmen are. > > What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has > suffered more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while > as the truth according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil > Society is that 87 JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters > with Indian army. 13 have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been > subjected to enforced disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the > JKLF members. > > Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great > friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won’t deny that India is his enemy > and not Hizbul Mujahideen. > > Qalab Hussain > > > > --------------------------------- > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > A Smarter Email. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From editor at intertheory.org Sat May 10 19:05:19 2008 From: editor at intertheory.org (Nicholas Ruiz III) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 06:35:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Kritikos V.5 March-April-2008 Message-ID: <380517.58575.qm@web904.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Kritikos V.5 March-April-2008 The Impossible Thought of Lingchi in Georges Bataille's The Tears of Eros...(d.jorgensen) http://intertheory.org/jorgensen.htm Dr. Nicholas Ruiz III Associate Professor Department of Humanities, Cultural and Studio Arts Daytona Beach College PO Box 2811 Daytona Beach, FL 32120-2811 Editor, Kritikos http://intertheory.org From indersalim at gmail.com Sat May 10 19:39:42 2008 From: indersalim at gmail.com (inder salim) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 19:39:42 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <47e122a70805100709t6e9dab00h1a6dae007cd10116@mail.gmail.com> Dear All I am expecting more hot exchanges on Junaid versus Sonia posts.... and why not... the stakes are large. ( every body is sailing his her/his own boat ) and sometimes it is a question of life and death... ( by the way, i am listening Kashmiri music, so you can imagine what state of mind i am in, and dear hot debator(s) you are free to dismiss this reflection, if u find it less political, but i cant help it, i think this too is political...) 1. Fortunately only words are used, so far..... No one denies that some 'Words' can kill, but they can deceive us too. Indeed, the killer words often give birth to a politics, but the words which grow on that political tree are sometimes fruit like to some and foliage like to some, with a strange unpridictablity of killer words hitting us at will. But how things change, so quickly, i am amazed. 2, Most of freedom struggles look like Modern Art, because they never think it necessary to admit that we are modern because there is a readymade ( past ) which we are using so carelessly. Just see the guns, tanks, landmines and hand grandes ... all the things are coming to us from modern technology. Modern Art, i must remind, here to myself even, that even Picasso was finally consumed by corporates and capitalsim. So, i am wondering if the modern ways of fighting ( for any cause ) is unwittingly absorbed by the STATE. Oh, i am saying it as if they dont know it. It is an open secret, that arms and amunition is given to peoplpe for their just causes by those who are at the helm ofthe capitalist world. It is all sad. 2(a) Opportunity for Kashmiri Pandits to celebrate becasue Justice Sanjay Kishen Kaul rescued a genunine intellectual worry, here in India by quashing some cases against MF Hussain. There are some friends around in India, Pakistan and abroad who think Hussain sahib a genius, far from that, i think at the best he is a good designer, for making a boring wall look more interesting, so an interior decorator. But dont forget his price tag, and who are investing in him: the capitalist. and dont be surprised if you discover that Bajrang Dal was financed by them to strat the trouble. That you know can push the prices endlessly. Do you think something similar can happen in Modern ways of freedom struggle in Kashmir or else where? As i said things changes so fast. 3. We JohnLenon(s) are gone, but Maccartney of JKLF is still around, and we wish him good many years of happy and spiritied life. I dont remember when Yasin sabib said that he switched sides.... his line of action is still the same, but he simply has moved from Modern art to Post modern art, and there are supporters and critics to that, so what. ( just remember Beetles song IMAGINE there is no country.. ) In that case , i beleive i am a member of Safray Azadi. (The burining issues of environment and other socially relevant ones are likely to be added ) . 4. 'We know who killed whom and why'. I quote Qalab Hussain sahib, It inspires me to write a poem , but who will sing it. It was possible if we believe that the pain of a kashmiri can be talked about without identies.. universally. But if we believe that amasing wealth and infighting is a personal matter of kashmiris then how to face the truth of, ethics and basic human rights. The problem is that even when we see somebody slaying somebody, we can say this whom and why. Kafka sahib taught us our incapacity to know. That is profound, but please dont exlude that.... 5. Kashmir has its own Nizamuddeens. We all know that Nizamuddeen sahib never bothered to visit any sultan duing this stay in Delhi. Sultans had to go his humble place for a deedar or darshan. No doubt that he is a loved by millions around the world. He inspries us to live simple loving life. He was daring because he was ahead of modernity. He was earth and politcs without a split. He was our own socretes as well. And because of him we have so many other saints, and heros like Sarmad Sahib and finally Ghalb and then Dr. Iqbal as well. So in Kashmir where from we need to being and what direction.... 6. Imagine, if there is a demand for a Free Maharashtra....Raj Thakery will be a new Bidrawale, or who knows a new Yasir Arafat after 100 yers. A new history of State opression will being which will give brith of range of killer words and numberless victims. The State, we know plays its games as it does in Kashmir or North east. People are paid to be with State, either here or there. That is bread and butter to millions... So what to do ? any alternative to gun culture? I can think even that freedom fighter throws a bomb in public space, killing women and children. There are other ways to acheving the same effect. In my last posts i talked about CREATIVITY. Trurn to North and see Tibetians first and then something else... 7. The master at worldy level is a snatcher rather than giver. The skilled master askes for a thumb, if you learn the war games secretly. You have no chance to go against the elites of this game.... and i beleive most of us from humble back grounds. I dont have master, and if i had to have one, I really cant stand one who has royal or rich back ground, unless he deconstruts himself like Buddha or Prophet.....And i So how to pay this worldy master if one achieves the goals with his help. The great master allah, ishwar is content with a inward simle even, but with this master across the boarder, here or there, or in America is not content with that, He demand a pound of flesh. I know Kashmiris are usually thin, and cant afford to pay to vorocious punjabis ( without malice) even a gram of their sacred flesh. So guard it, but how. Indians have already brutalized that humble and sacred flesh, There is no harm in prostituion, if one is conscious, but people can make a differnece between theatre and real. So stad up. My art practice are meant to blurr the line between theatre and real. I am struggling myself with that. No big claims with love is On Sat, May 10, 2008 at 12:56 PM, Junaid wrote: > > I am sorry for the jumbled up earlier message. My rediff account is giving > me trouble. But here is the text of my reply to Sonia. > *********************** > > Dear Sonia, > > All I am pointing toward is that I am circumspect when people tell me to > take an "objective", "neutral", "dispassionate" look at Kashmir. I would > rather doubt the state version of stories, than call what common people, > with no immediate interests, tell me as just another "conjecture". I would > question the power more than its victims. > > It is easy for the government to erase evidence, forge wrong cases, > dissemble, fudge DNA's, and foist the charge of terrorism on a people's > national liberation struggle. So many other states have done it. It was done > to Indians too. It suits a government well to first communalise a movement > to tell the world that Kashmir's struggle is all about Muslim > terrorists ethnic-cleansing Hindus, and then say its all international > Islamic terrorism, which is crushing the innocent Kashmiris themselves. (I > hope you still remember how Indian government reported Al-Qaeda in Kashmir > to Colin Powell, only a few days after 9/11). > > It is basically like this: What common people say is a "conjecture" till > found otherwise, and what government says is a "fact" until proved > otherwise. Now it is doubly difficult for people to convince the government > of its own complicity. As late Faiz once said: > > Bane hain ahle hawas mudayi bhi munsif bhi > Kise wakeel karen kis se munsafi chahen > > "our oppressor is the prosecutor and the judge himself > who will plead our case, who will we go to for justice." > > Kashmiri seperatists have been hauled over fire in these forums a lot: their > private wealths (if they have), Indian state protection (and, yet it seems, > it is not enough when their "political masters" want to bump them of), their > medical bills (it must run into zillions since it is mentioned here, but I > have no idea how much it really is), it is like Godess Sita's agnipariksha. > But I agree with you these seperatists must be questioned, since they are > claiming to fight a struggle which is morally-based, and democratic. And > probably they each need to spend dozen more years in jail. Geelani should go > for twelve years again, Yasin must go for ten more years. Shabir Shah should > spend another 21 years in jail. Azam Inquilabi should spend a few dozen more > in prison. While the rest of them should continue to live their > lives underground like they have been. And those who have been killed, they > must be taken out of their graves, or nameless graves, and shot dead one > more time. Then possibly their chastity will be proved. Meanwhile, those who > are really making blood money by killing innocents, and labelling them > terrorists, may not worry. The courts, CBI, Congress top leadeship, and > special laws are in their favour. In fact, even those who are making a > living out of Kashmir, 'experts' and 'interlocutors' and 'peace builders' > and 'government pointmen' and 'NGOs' and 'media' shall have a field day, > because according to what we are told they are 'resolving the conflict', > 'healing wounds', 'working toward peace'. > > I would not question your assertion that Hizbul in its initial years of > ascendancy sought to delegitimize and discredit JKLF. It was a common aim of > Indian and Pakistani intel to restrict pro-independence movement. And yes > Hizb did kill a number of KLF fighters. It is a fact which Kashmiris dont > deny. However, it can never be used as a counter-argument to give a > clean-chit to what Indian forces did. Indian govenrment turned all heat on > JKLF because they wanted to kill the independentist thought. They watched as > Hizb grew in power. Typically, it was like in Palestinian intifada of 1988 > when the rising Hamas was watched over by Israel, as PLO was decimated. > > Hizb was not some alien group. They were Kashmiris too. Many JKLF men joined > Hizb in those years. JKLF in its beginning was not really clear in its > programme (although its leaders might have been, but they did not control > individual cadres). At the same time, JKLF had not much control over the > movement itself; it was under no one's control, and if at all, it was under > people's control. JKLF had different kinds of people, with different kinds > of ideas in it. Some were independentist, some pro-Pakistan, some real > fighters, some simple robbers, some helped people, some harmed them. A > number of Hizb arguments to crush JKLF was that JKLF was not serious, and > was fast aleinating the people. A number of such arguments, though, were not > based on fact. But one Hizb analysis was right: JKLF, with > its leadership fighting among themselves, and without Pakistan support, was > not capable of sustaining a long term armed movement. These were > calculations made by Pakistan and Hizb leadership, and as always I have no > intention to defend them. Your question, however, about who killed more JKLF > fighters is factually still wrong because Indian forces killed way many more > than Hizbul. Its intended assertion, that it was Hizb attrocities toward > JKLF that Ikhwanis became renegades, is again wrong. > > Ikhwanis. Even before them it was Muslim Mujahideen (MM) which broke ranks > with Hizbul. Both Ikhwanis and Muslim Mujahideen were staunchly > pro-Pakistan. Muslim Mujahideen broke ranks with HM due to rival claims on > leadership. MM could not break away a large part of HM with it though. HM > blamed MM leaders for hobnobbing with Indian agencies, a charge that was > soon proved right. HM had no desire to see rivals emerge, even among > pro-Pakistan groups. It wanted to be the biggest, and if possible the only > group opertaing in Kashmir. > > Ikhwanis came from Students Liberation Front, and later rechristened > themselves as Ikhwanul Muslimeen. For them it was a turf war with HM. The > reasons may be plenty, but one cannot help but ask what Indian agencies > were doing at that time. Did they engineer the split? Did they lure, arm and > fund some militants to turn them against their own. It was not that they did > not have a template ready. They had succesfully armed and used > counter-insurgency militias in Punjab. MM and Ikhwan was a good bet for > them, because by mid 1990s JKLF was out of the scene, and now it was time to > deal with HM. Indian forces had not been able to achieve much success > against the HM. Ikhwan and especially MM were groomed and unleashed on the > Hizb upper ground. Soon, Jammat-i-Islami were targetted brutally. Families > of HM cardres were either killed or harrassed, and their houses were > destroyed. > > It proved effective for sometime, till HM hit back. Now, MM and Ikhwan > leaders were getting kiled one after the other. Government which had in the > initial years declined to own up the renegades, had to claim them as the > latter were coming under fire. For a number of years of raising the > counter-insurgent militias government would just say it was simple > infighting. > > All these leaders you have mentioned, have had, in general, a pro-Pakistan > or a pro-independence attitude through most of their careers. I am not > saying who killed them, for I really don't know, nor has anyone claimed > responsibility. Who will? You say their "political masters" had reason to > kill them, I say their "politcal opponents" also had reasons to kill them. > > That is not, however, the point here. These cases cannot be used to strike a > neutrality in the debate about Kashmir. There cannot be equal responsibility > or culpability here. The conflict in Kashmir is an insurgency against a huge > Indian state machinery, its vast armies, and umpteen intelligence > organisations. How does one maintain neutrality in a "war" between Goliath > and David? You are asking Kashmiris who are crushed under the weight of > India to offer a Truth and Reconciliation? How can truth come out from > under the weight of fibs, cover-ups, evidence-erasures, floors mopped of > traces of blood, propaganda, dissimulations? What should Kashmiris > 'reconcile' to? Ask the Zulus about the Truth and Reconciliation. > > Regards, > Junaid > > > > > > , 10 May 2008 09:20:52 +0530 > From: "S. Jabbar" > Subject: To: junaid , > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Dear Junaid, > > > You ask why anyone else (besides the Indian intelligence agencies) would > want to kill anti-India political figures? This is precisely the line of > reasoning that a researcher in the US or UK ignorant of the ground in > Kashmir would take. I'd expect a little more nuance from a researcher of > conflict and that can only happen if one takes the trouble to do a little > more work in the field. > > If you are a Kashmiri old enough to follow the careers of people like Moulvi > Farooq, Qazi Nissar, Abdul Ghani Lone, Dr. Guru, Prof Wani, Ghulam Qadir > Wani and many others you will realize that each was killed at the point when > he tried to assert an independent line of thinking or advocated talks with > India or did not quite bend to the will of his political masters in > Pakistan. > > As I have said earlier in this forum no one in their right mind can defend > what the Indian troops and intelligence agencies have done in Kashmir, but I > think if one is to try and make some sense of what you have rightly > described as a dirty war, one needs to first take a dispassionate view of > what went down in the last two decades. This includes apportioning > responsibility-- as far as it is possible-- for the political assassinations > and the massacres. > > And why do you call the Ikhwanis 'my poor' favourite whipping boys? I had > clearly said I held no brief for them. Did you not read my post carefully or > do you still choose to read me selectively? The reason I pointed out their > role of the fall guy was that they are the mere foot soldiers and not the > generals that dictate the course of this war. If blame is to be pinned it > finally must be the general who takes the rap. > > Of course some Ikhwani leaders have made a lot of money and it is all > despicable blood money. But this is well known. Why is it that you are not > as vocal about the blood money and the palatial homes of the separatists? > What is their source of income, how have they grown so rich in the last > twenty years, how do they fund their political activities, and how is it > that the Indian state allows it? Not only that, the Indian state pays the > medical bills for many separatist leaders who have been periodically > hospitalized and provides security cover for them with J&K Police guarding > their homes and offices. > > Why is that? Is this usual or unusual? Does the endless dragging on, the > seeming intractableness of the situation have anything at all to do with > this? Can you imagine the Sri Lankan state doing the same for Prabhakaran? > For me these are far more interesting questions and if one tries to answer > them honestly a far more complex picture develops than the simple one of the > bad Ikhwani-- who, incidentally was good when he fought for Pakistan and > became bad the moment he switched sides in 1994. > > And why did the Ikhwanis switch sides? Were they all congenital 'gaddars' > and 'mukhbirs' or were there other compulsions? Of the many JKLF fighters > who were wiped out in the early '90s how many fell to the bullets of the > Indian army and how many to the Hizbul Mujahideen? > > I ask all these questions because it is vital that Kashmiris themselves, at > least privately, begin to ask them. For all the talk of the Kashmiri's > alienation from India, nobody speaks of the alienation within Kashmir. > Kashmiri society is deeply divided between those who are labeled Indian > agents and Pakistani agents, between those that everyone knows benefited > from the war and the ordinary citizen, between the Jamaatis and the rest. > This has been the most tragic fallout of the war-- this and the terrible > silence that surrounds the killings and rapes by the militants. It may seem > unthinkable but one day there will be peace in Kashmir. How will this > society heal when there are these terrible divisions, fear, suspicion? > > Once South Africa won its independence it constituted the Truth & > Reconciliation Commission. This was because the ANC leadership was mature > enough to realize that though history belongs to the victors it would be > disastrous for future generations if South Africa were to whitewash its past > where terrible atrocities were committed on both sides. But truth was to > come before reconciliations, and this was often a bitter and painful > experience where family members had to confront the killers of their loved > ones. I'm not sure whether the South African experience had a fairytale > ending but it seems to me the right direction to take for societies to heal > post-conflicts. > > Will this ever happen in Kashmir or indeed in South Asia? I have my doubts. > We have a terrible knack of sweeping things under the carpet and pretending > it never happened. All cataclysms have been dealt with, with tiresome > familiarity, whether mass rapes by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh (for > which incidentally only women's organisations in Pakistan apologized) or the > Indian state's involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogrom or Gujarat or the NE or > Kashmir. > > And where does one start the truth & reconciliation part between Kashmir and > the rest of India when the government has blatantly shielded officers in the > Indian Army despite being chargesheeted by institutions like the CBI? Where > does truth & reconciliation begin between Muslims and Pandits when it is > still widely believed that Jagmohan engineered the exodus? Or between > families of the Ikhwan and the rest or families of the Jamaatis and the > rest? It requires a certain honesty and moral courage to answer these > questions squarely. I hope some day at least some of us will be able to > rise to the occasion. > > > > And finally, please stop referring to me as Ms. Jabbar. My name is Sonia and > I'd prefer it if you just used that. > > Best wishes, > Sonia > > On 5/9/08 10:21 PM, "junaid" wrote: > > > Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine > who > > the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people > would > > naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders, > > throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of > > Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason > > enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else > > have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the > only > > ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them, > > then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the > > government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the > > kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There > > is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic > torches on > > Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M > > Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that > > ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's > > actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any > > doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to > > believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in > > Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is > > terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under > > the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont > > expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure > > if you actually listen to common people, instead of just > > "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is > > quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and > > minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights > > Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor > > "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to > army > > camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid ****** > > Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 > > article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her > > allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of > > politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the > renegades > > is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's > > favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one > > presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" > > wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the > > governments> onboth sides of the> > > border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Sun May 11 07:17:14 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 07:47:14 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Those Gentle Bengalis Part 1 Message-ID: Re: the "ABCs of Bengalis" and the line "Bengalis are the most non-violent people in the world"... Polytechnic Clashes Go Into Day 2 http://thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=36004 http://thedailystar.net/photo/2008/05/11/2008-05-11__front01.jpg (And this is under a state of emergency) From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Sun May 11 07:20:51 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 07:50:51 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Saudis Hunt Bangladeshis Message-ID: Not quite a variation of desert polo, but close enough.... "Saudi policemen have been hunting down Bangladeshis" "when our workers show their absolutely genuine papers to the police, the latter commit the sheer outrage of tearing them up" "Bangladeshis are reportedly the only people targeted by the Saudis, with others remaining untouched" "the bogey of Bangladeshis indulging in criminal activities in the kingdom" DAILY STAR Published On: 2008-05-10 Bangladeshi workers in distress Govt must send high-powered team to Riyadh http://thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=35752 Bangladeshis employed in Saudi Arabia are in dire straits. That is the truth which comes out in the media. Over the past few months, Saudi policemen have been hunting down Bangladeshis and sending them off to deportation centres despite many of them possessing perfectly valid papers. As a number of anguished Bangladeshis now in the kingdom have made it clear, the Saudi police pay no heed to the fact that those they go after are legally permitted to work in the country. In many cases, when our workers show their absolutely genuine papers to the police, the latter commit the sheer outrage of tearing them up and hauling these hapless people off to the deportation centres as a step towards sending them back to Bangladesh. Amidst such grossly unacceptable behaviour, the workers are unable to collect their belongings or call their employers. There are at present an estimated 20,00,000 Bangladeshis employed in Saudi Arabia. It is therefore easily understandable how significant a contribution they make to Bangladesh's as well as the host country's economy. Now if these people (and Bangladeshis are reportedly the only people targeted by the Saudis, with others remaining untouched) turn, for no good reason, into objects of inexplicable wrath in the kingdom, it becomes necessary for the Bangladesh authorities to take up the matter with Riyadh on an urgent basis. A couple of months ago, the Saudi authorities raised the bogey of Bangladeshis indulging in criminal activities in the kingdom. Now they offer no reason at all to explain why they are specifically picking them out and dealing with them in such outlandish manner. We understand that Bangladesh's foreign affairs adviser has been seeking a visit to Riyadh for sometime without the Saudis coming up with any response. Clearly, it is an abnormal situation we have before us; and it must be tackled in an appropriate manner. The Foreign Office must get down to the job, through our embassy in Riyadh, of ascertaining from the Saudis the reason for the harshness they have adopted toward our workers. Additionally, a high-powered team must be sent to Riyadh to discuss the entire gamut of issues involved in the situation. At the same time, the Saudi embassy here must be asked in no uncertain terms to explain why Bangladesh's workers in the kingdom are being subjected to such degrading, appalling behaviour. It is the job of our government to come to the aid of our citizens in Saudi Arabia. It is also its responsibility to find out the causes that may have led to such sudden Saudi activity vis-à-vis Bangladeshi workers. From pawan.durani at gmail.com Sun May 11 13:22:52 2008 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 13:22:52 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir In-Reply-To: <868347.97221.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> References: <868347.97221.qm@web27411.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <6b79f1a70805110052x41e97c79y95621654ae934e98@mail.gmail.com> On 5/10/08, Rebellious Koshur rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk> wrot <<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>> Qalab , Has not Pakistan been a Master in your Azadi Movement so far ? Or Do you deny that and deceive yourself as well ? Also it is intereseting to read that at the starting you plead for Sonia's support and later somehere in the middle you write "It is useless to misinterpret things as people here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for them to share it with you. Why should we trust you?" ..... If at all you dont trust a person , then why do you seek his/her support . But anyways , that has been the way Azadi has been . Opportunistic play by worthless people. Regards Pawan Durani > Sonia, > > The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the > issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which you > have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern is not > the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is freedom from > ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our friends as we don't > need masters, should support us in our endeavors. > > The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of > Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has done > what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being an > Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian army in > Kashmir ; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies of Indian > politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian policies on > Kashmir . We the people of Kashmir will take account of the blunders of our > politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and why. We know where > from the money came, for what it was spent, and how much did the politicians > use for themselves. We till now have and in future will do the needful. You > please keep out of it, because this is not India . It is Kashmir . You, the > Indian civil society activists, seem to be behaving in the same hegemonic > attitude which the Indian statecraft has exhibited so far in Kashmir . > > It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is "deeply divided". Is it > not true for India ? Is it not true for Delhi ? Is it not true for the small > locality where you live in Delhi ? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I see it as > the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are talking > about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in the modern > democratic world. > > You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how many > by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people here > know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for them to > share it with you. Why should we trust you? > > For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey > done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. According > to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF men who got > killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 have been > killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 JKLF members > while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF men. JKLF itself > has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF members who have > been killed by "unidentified gunmen". People here in Kashmir understand who > these unidentified gunmen are. > > What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has suffered > more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while as the truth > according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil Society is that 87 > JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters with Indian army. 13 > have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been subjected to enforced > disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the JKLF members. > > Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great > friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won't deny that India is his enemy > and not Hizbul Mujahideen. > > Qalab Hussain > > > > > From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Sun May 11 14:31:43 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:01:43 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Sound Unbound (MIT Press) Message-ID: I have a text in this anthology that has just been published. Sound Unbound Sampling Digital Music and Culture Edited by Paul D. Miller aka Dj Spooky that Subliminal Kid MIT Press, 2008 I wrote the essay, "Fear of a Muslim Planet", in early 2006. But due to publisher schedules, the anthology from MIT Press in which it appears came out this spring. In the meantime, various new names emerged, including Lupe Fiasco, who was absent from my 2005-2006 research. The text remains as is, except for the inclusion of Lupe right before it went to press. As for the writing style, an earnest, culture-as-tool permeates the conclusion, legacy of the mode of thought I was in during 2002-2006 (everything was about war-on-terror framed "struggle"). Sound Unbound Sampling Digital Music and Culture Edited by Paul D. Miller aka Dj Spooky that Subliminal Kid MIT Press, 2008 Contributors include Pierre Boulez, Chuck D, Cory Doctorow, Brian Eno, Jonathan Lethem, Moby, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Steve Reich, Saul Williams, and more. Download "Fear of a Muslim Planet" chapter http://shobak.org/text/hiphop.shtml Buy the book @ Amazon http://tinyurl.com/63phj2 List of Contributors http://tinyurl.com/5vbbth From rashneek at gmail.com Mon May 12 10:18:44 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 10:18:44 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] JKLF(R) regrets "bid to sell" Kashmir cuase Message-ID: <13df7c120805112148n7b68d8d3u8cbc5e6c0855cbff@mail.gmail.com> *Etalaat News Service* Srinagar, May 07: Reacting sharply to a two day 'quiet' conference held in New Delhi on Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Rajbagh) Wednesday expressed its regret over what it said "beginning of the process to sell Kashmir issue behind the curtains.""People who sit together with the killers of one lakh martyrs are slowly getting exposed. Until yesterday they used to call pro-Indian leaders anti-struggle elements but today they have joined loyal Indians like Mehbooba Mufti and Abdul Rasheed Shaheen in paving way for strengthening the slavery of Kashmiri at the hands of New Delhi," said Secretary General of the JKLF, Muhammad Salim Nanaji. "They are the people who by holding secret meeting with Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have already damaged the ongoing freedom struggle considerably," he added. -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From rashneek at gmail.com Mon May 12 10:18:44 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 10:18:44 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] JKLF(R) regrets "bid to sell" Kashmir cuase Message-ID: <13df7c120805112148p7f84dcd1o2c0e7d6db71c1a17@mail.gmail.com> *Etalaat News Service* Srinagar, May 07: Reacting sharply to a two day 'quiet' conference held in New Delhi on Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Rajbagh) Wednesday expressed its regret over what it said "beginning of the process to sell Kashmir issue behind the curtains.""People who sit together with the killers of one lakh martyrs are slowly getting exposed. Until yesterday they used to call pro-Indian leaders anti-struggle elements but today they have joined loyal Indians like Mehbooba Mufti and Abdul Rasheed Shaheen in paving way for strengthening the slavery of Kashmiri at the hands of New Delhi," said Secretary General of the JKLF, Muhammad Salim Nanaji. "They are the people who by holding secret meeting with Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have already damaged the ongoing freedom struggle considerably," he added. -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From rashneek at gmail.com Mon May 12 10:21:59 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 10:21:59 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] JKLF dissolved - name of new party to be announced soon Message-ID: <13df7c120805112151m2d676118hb9f0202c43d61d47@mail.gmail.com> *JKLF dissolved - name of new party to be announced soon* ** Senior and founding members of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front decided to dissolve the party because some top party leaders have betrayed the ideology, and has used the party to advance their personal interests and interest of secret agencies. This crucial meeting was held in Birmingham , England , and was attended by founding members like Dr Shabir Choudhry, Abbas Butt, Zubair Ansari, Nazam Bhatti, Sarwar Hussain, Ahesan Ansari, Masoom Ansari, Nazakat Bhatti, Riasat Bhatti, Asim Mirza and Nawaz Majid. They said, 'JKLF is split in many groups because of egocentric and selfish attitude of top JKLF leaders; and people of Jammu and Kashmir are confused as to which group is genuine and which is advancing cause of our occupiers'. Frustration and anger of people is multiplied when they see these leaders talk of unity and yet advance such policies which can only widen the gulf. Furthermore these leaders are enjoying luxurious life style and travel in first class when ordinary people of Jammu and Kashmir are deprived of basic necessities. They said, 'We tried to correct things while being part of the JKLF but incorrigible and corrupt leaders ensured that we don't succeed in this noble cause'. They said, 'we have failed to forge unity among the JKLF groups, and correct mistakes of these leaders; but we can take pride in the fact that we made sincere efforts and opposed those who wanted to make the party subservient to the secret agencies.' They further said, 'situation in Jammu and Kashmir and world politics has dramatically changed since the JKLF was formed in 1977 in Birmingham ; and we need to have a party to reflect these changes. For this purpose we will form a party which can speak for all people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the LOC and not a party of Kashmiri Muslims. A committee consisting of Dr Shabir Choudhry, Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari has been set up to prepare a constitution for the new party. The new party will be launched soon in London and in this regard contacts have been made with like minded people on both sides of the divide. Issued by Dr Shabir Choudhry 05 May 2008 ** Press conference to be held Tuesday Dr Shabir Choudhry" -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Mon May 12 10:39:22 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 10:39:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Artists for Human Rights -14th May, New Delhi Message-ID: <4827D102.3010204@gmail.com> Please Forward widely http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/artists-for-human-rights-14th-may-new-delhi/ Dear Friend, You are cordially invited to ‘Artists for Human Rights’, an evening of protest by Arundhati Roy, Ashok Vajpayee, Danish & Mehmood, Gauhar Raza, K.Satchidanand, Manu Kohli, Nageen Tanveer, Rahul Ram, Vishnu Nagar and many other artists, poets, writers and cultural workers demanding the release of Dr Binayak Sen and other political prisoners. 14 May 2008 marks the first anniversary of the arrest of well known health and human rights activists Dr Sen by the Chattisgarh government. Time: 6 PM onwards Date: 14 May, 2008 Venue: Rabindra Bhawan Lawns (Opposite Mandi House), Copernicus Marg, New Delhi In Solidarity Committee for the Release of Dr Binayak Sen New Delhi -- Anivar Aravind Free Binayaksen campaign http://binayaksen.net From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Mon May 12 11:08:31 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 11:08:31 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF JAILED HUMAN RIGHTS CRUSADER IN INDIA Message-ID: <4827D7D7.1040909@gmail.com> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE contact somu at aidindia.org mail at friendsofsouthasia.org, 408-480-5805 MEDIA ADVISORY “FREE BINAYAK SEN!” INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF JAILED HUMAN RIGHTS CRUSADER IN INDIA Solidarity Actions Planned in 10 North American and 3 European Cities http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/international-coalition-demands-immediate-release-of-jailed-human-rights-crusader-in-india/ WHEN: Tuesday, May 13th/ Wednesday, May 14th WHERE: In cities across the US, Canada and Europe WHAT: A broad coalition of 37 organizations from US, UK and Canada have come together to demand immediate release of the jailed human rights activist, Dr. Binayak Sen, who was recently awarded the prestigious Jonathan Mann Award by the Global Health Council, Washington DC. The coalition consists of human rights groups such as Amnesty USA (which has declared Dr. Sen a Prisoner of Conscience), health rights groups such as the People’s Health Movement, antiwar groups such as the ANSWER Coalition and the Boston Mobilization, student groups from Harvard and Berkeley, local peace and justice groups from a number of cities, as well as a large number of diasporic groups based in US, UK and Canada. (A complete listing of groups is available below). May 13/14th , 2008, which mark one year of Dr. Sen’s undemocratic imprisonment, are being observed as Global Days of Action to highlight his situation. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, coordinated actions are planned in 13 cities outside India. These include Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston in the US; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and London, Paris and Stockholm in Europe. More details about local actions are given below. Dr Binayak Sen is a renowned pediatrician, public health specialist and the national Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). Dr. Sen is an activist with a lifelong commitment to the issues of community health and human rights, who was arrested on false charges of sedition last year, joining dozens of other human rights activists in Indian jails, charged under repressive "Black Laws." Dr. Sen earned the ire of the government for opposing Salwa Judum, a private militia movement armed by the Government to combat 'Maoist insurgency'. Salwa Judum has led to a spiraling increase in violence, which has displaced over 100,000 indigenous people over the last 3 years. The challenges faced by human rights activists working in Chhattisgarh were thrown into prominence again last week, with the arrest of another activist with PUCL, Chhattisgarh, Ajay TG, under the same draconian law that was used to detain Dr. Sen and which grants unlimited power to the government to apprehend people on the merest suspicion of guilt. In addition to the release of Dr. Sen, the coalition is also asking for the repealing of these repressive laws, as well as the disbanding of Salwa Judum. Over 4000 signatures from individuals around the world have also been collected on petitions asking for the release of Dr. Sen. Internationally acclaimed intellectuals, including Noam Chomsky, Arundhati Roy, George Galloway, Mahashweta Devi have all joined in urging the Indian government to free Binayak Sen and stop the harassment of human rights activists. ### For more information, visit www.aidboston.org/FreeBinayakSen Endorsing Organizations: · Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, MIT (www.alliancesouthasia.org) · Amnesty International, USA (www.amnestyusa.org) · A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism -San Francisco (www.answersf.org) · Association for India’s Development (www.aidindia.org) · Association of South Asian Political Activists (ASAPA), Berkeley (http://asapa.berkeley.edu) · Asian Law Alliance (www.asianlawalliance.org) · Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal (www.boston4bhopal.org) · Boston Mobilization (www.bostonmobilization.org) · Birmingham Anti-SEZ Campaign, UK · Campaign against Forced Displacement, UK (http://www.ilps-web.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79) · Campaign to Stop Funding Hate: CSFH (www.stopfundinghate.org) · CMC Vellore Alumni Association - UK Branch · DEEP - Defenders of the Environment and Ecology of Panjab, UK · Friends of South Asia: FOSA (www.friendsofsouthasia.org) · Gadar Heritage Foundation, Fremont (http://gadar.homestead.com/) · Hillingdon Asian Women's Communication Service, UK (www.hillingdonwomenscentre.org.uk) · Indian Workers Association (GB) · India Relief and Education Fund, Fremont (http://iref.homestead.com) · International Accountability Project (http://www.accountabilityproject.org) · International League of People's Struggles, UK (www.ilps-web.com) · International South Asia Forum: INSAF, NYC (www.insaf.net) · Massachusetts Global Action (www.MassGlobalAction.org) · Matahari: Eye of the Day (www.eyeoftheday.org) · Our Developing World (http://www.magiclink.net/~odw) · Peace and Human Rights Trust: UK · Peninsula Peace & Justice Center (www.peaceandjustice.org) · Peoples Health Movement, USA (www.phmovement.org/cms) · Sanhati (www.sanhati.com) · San Jose Peace & Justice Center (www.sanjosepeace.org) · SANSAD (South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy), Vancouver, Canada (http://sansad.org/Sansad) · South Asian Alliance, UK: (www.southasianalliance.org) · South Asians Stepping in Solidarity, Harvard: SASS · South Asia Solidarity Group, UK: (www.southasiasolidarity.org) · Students for Bhopal (www.studentsforbhopal.org) · The 1857 Committee (http://1857.org.uk) · Western States Legal Foundation (WSLF) (www.wslfweb.org) · Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - San Jose (http://www.wilpf.org/US_WILPF) Details for Actions: Baltimore/JHU: Talk on Dr. Binayak Sen followed by signature campaign. May 13th, 2008 (1:30 to 2:30 pm) School of Public Health [Contact Email : Manjunath - mshankar at jhsph.edu or 952-201-8679] Boston: Vigil @ Harvard Square on May 13, 2008 (7pm) [Contact Email: freebsen at gmail.com] Houston/Dallas: Stay Tuned. London: Vigil in front of Indian High Commission on May 13, 2008 from 1-3pm. [Contact Email: sasg at southasiasolidarity.org] New York: Protest in front of Indian Consulate on May 13, 2008 (12:30pm). [Contact Emails: Ashwini: akr7 at columbia.edu or Murli: mnatrajan at yahoo.com] Paris: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns and deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Sapna - sapnamg at gmail.com] Philadelphia: Candle light vigil @ 40th and Locust street field on May 13, 2008 (7:30). [Contact Email: AID.Philadelphia at gmail.com] Pittsburgh: Candlelight Vigil @ Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Avenue on May 13, 2008 (7:30pm) [Contact Email: maryganguli at yahoo.com or sparun at gmail.com] San Francisco: Protest in front of the Consulate General of India, 540, Arguello Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118 at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008. [Contact Email: mail at friendsofsouthasia.org] Stockholm: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns and deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Pradyumna - pradyumna.singh at gmail.com] Vancouver: Protest action at the Indian Consulate on May 14th, 2008. [Contact Email: Hari Sharma of SANSAD - sansad at sansad.org] Washington DC: Protest in front of Indian Embassy, 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 on May 13, 2008 (4pm). [Contact: Somu @ 703-728-8987 or Somu at aidindia.org] From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Mon May 12 12:35:47 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 12:05:47 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OFJAILED HUMAN RIGHTS CRUSADER IN INDIA In-Reply-To: <4827D7D7.1040909@gmail.com> References: <4827D7D7.1040909@gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi all, it is indeed sad that in free independent society, the elected representatives and the executive use the draconian methods to suppress and oppress the dissent as in the case of Binayak Sen, forgetting that it is the lack of good governance and ignoring the aam admi that has given rise to the dissent, and those who articulate dissent are treated in a way such as this. It also should be noted that in Nandigram, an elected representative, MP at that using the goon cadres to oppress the innocent voters in panchayath elections, brow-beating high ranking DIG to safeguard the kickbacks recieved from indonesian industrial group for the lands in nandigram, just as CM keeps on saying that the SEZ is shelved, what is the need for cadres to use violence to brow beat the villagers is ironical agonising query. ! Irrespective of the political parties it is indeed sad that CPM or any damn party in rule forgets that they are elected to give good governance and not violence promotion being in rule. ----- Original Message ----- From: Anivar Aravind Date: Monday, May 12, 2008 11:09 am Subject: [Reader-list] INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OFJAILED HUMAN RIGHTS CRUSADER IN INDIA To: Greenyouth , reader-list at sarai.net, fourth-estate-critique at googlegroups.com, grassroots-in-action-owner at googlegroups.com, activism-news-network at googlegroups.com, Young Activists > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > > contact > > somu at aidindia.org > mail at friendsofsouthasia.org, 408-480-5805 > > MEDIA ADVISORY > “FREE BINAYAK SEN!” > INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF JAILED HUMAN > RIGHTS > CRUSADER IN INDIA > Solidarity Actions Planned in 10 North American and 3 European Cities > > http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/international-coalition-demands- > immediate-release-of-jailed-human-rights-crusader-in-india/ > > WHEN: Tuesday, May 13th/ Wednesday, May 14th > WHERE: In cities across the US, Canada and Europe > > WHAT: A broad coalition of 37 organizations from US, UK and > Canada have > come together to demand immediate release of the jailed human > rights > activist, Dr. Binayak Sen, who was recently awarded the > prestigious > Jonathan Mann Award by the Global Health Council, Washington DC. > The > coalition consists of human rights groups such as Amnesty USA > (which has > declared Dr. Sen a Prisoner of Conscience), health rights groups > such as > the People’s Health Movement, antiwar groups such as the ANSWER > Coalition and the Boston Mobilization, student groups from Harvard > and > Berkeley, local peace and justice groups from a number of cities, > as > well as a large number of diasporic groups based in US, UK and > Canada. > (A complete listing of groups is available below). > > May 13/14th , 2008, which mark one year of Dr. Sen’s undemocratic > imprisonment, are being observed as Global Days of Action to > highlight > his situation. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, > coordinated > actions are planned in 13 cities outside India. These include > Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Pittsburgh, > Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston in the US; Toronto and > Vancouver in > Canada; and London, Paris and Stockholm in Europe. More details > about > local actions are given below. > > Dr Binayak Sen is a renowned pediatrician, public health > specialist and > the national Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil > Liberties > (PUCL). Dr. Sen is an activist with a lifelong commitment to the > issues > of community health and human rights, who was arrested on false > charges > of sedition last year, joining dozens of other human rights > activists in > Indian jails, charged under repressive "Black Laws." Dr. Sen > earned the > ire of the government for opposing Salwa Judum, a private militia > movement armed by the Government to combat 'Maoist insurgency'. > Salwa > Judum has led to a spiraling increase in violence, which has > displaced > over 100,000 indigenous people over the last 3 years. > > The challenges faced by human rights activists working in > Chhattisgarh > were thrown into prominence again last week, with the arrest of > another > activist with PUCL, Chhattisgarh, Ajay TG, under the same > draconian law > that was used to detain Dr. Sen and which grants unlimited power > to the > government to apprehend people on the merest suspicion of guilt. > In > addition to the release of Dr. Sen, the coalition is also asking > for the > repealing of these repressive laws, as well as the disbanding of > Salwa > Judum. > > Over 4000 signatures from individuals around the world have also > been > collected on petitions asking for the release of Dr. Sen. > Internationally acclaimed intellectuals, including Noam Chomsky, > Arundhati Roy, George Galloway, Mahashweta Devi have all joined in > urging the Indian government to free Binayak Sen and stop the > harassment > of human rights activists. > > ### > For more information, visit www.aidboston.org/FreeBinayakSen > > Endorsing Organizations: > · Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, MIT > (www.alliancesouthasia.org) > · Amnesty International, USA (www.amnestyusa.org) > · A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism -San > Francisco (www.answersf.org) > · Association for India’s Development (www.aidindia.org) > · Association of South Asian Political Activists (ASAPA), Berkeley > (http://asapa.berkeley.edu) > · Asian Law Alliance (www.asianlawalliance.org) > · Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal (www.boston4bhopal.org) > · Boston Mobilization (www.bostonmobilization.org) > · Birmingham Anti-SEZ Campaign, UK > · Campaign against Forced Displacement, UK > (http://www.ilps-web.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79) > · Campaign to Stop Funding Hate: CSFH (www.stopfundinghate.org) > · CMC Vellore Alumni Association - UK Branch > · DEEP - Defenders of the Environment and Ecology of Panjab, UK > · Friends of South Asia: FOSA (www.friendsofsouthasia.org) > · Gadar Heritage Foundation, Fremont (http://gadar.homestead.com/) > · Hillingdon Asian Women's Communication Service, UK > (www.hillingdonwomenscentre.org.uk) > · Indian Workers Association (GB) > · India Relief and Education Fund, Fremont (http://iref.homestead.com) > · International Accountability Project > (http://www.accountabilityproject.org) > · International League of People's Struggles, UK (www.ilps-web.com) > · International South Asia Forum: INSAF, NYC (www.insaf.net) > · Massachusetts Global Action (www.MassGlobalAction.org) > · Matahari: Eye of the Day (www.eyeoftheday.org) > · Our Developing World (http://www.magiclink.net/~odw) > · Peace and Human Rights Trust: UK > · Peninsula Peace & Justice Center (www.peaceandjustice.org) > · Peoples Health Movement, USA (www.phmovement.org/cms) > · Sanhati (www.sanhati.com) > · San Jose Peace & Justice Center (www.sanjosepeace.org) > · SANSAD (South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy), > Vancouver, > Canada (http://sansad.org/Sansad) > · South Asian Alliance, UK: (www.southasianalliance.org) > · South Asians Stepping in Solidarity, Harvard: SASS > · South Asia Solidarity Group, UK: (www.southasiasolidarity.org) > · Students for Bhopal (www.studentsforbhopal.org) > · The 1857 Committee (http://1857.org.uk) > · Western States Legal Foundation (WSLF) (www.wslfweb.org) > · Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - San Jose > (http://www.wilpf.org/US_WILPF) > > Details for Actions: > Baltimore/JHU: Talk on Dr. Binayak Sen followed by signature > campaign. > May 13th, 2008 (1:30 to 2:30 pm) School of Public Health [Contact > Email > : Manjunath - mshankar at jhsph.edu or 952-201-8679] > Boston: Vigil @ Harvard Square on May 13, 2008 (7pm) [Contact > Email: > freebsen at gmail.com] > Houston/Dallas: Stay Tuned. > London: Vigil in front of Indian High Commission on May 13, 2008 > from > 1-3pm. [Contact Email: sasg at southasiasolidarity.org] > New York: Protest in front of Indian Consulate on May 13, 2008 > (12:30pm). [Contact Emails: Ashwini: akr7 at columbia.edu or > Murli: > mnatrajan at yahoo.com] > Paris: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns and > deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Sapna - sapnamg > at > gmail.com] > Philadelphia: Candle light vigil @ 40th and Locust street field on > May > 13, 2008 (7:30). [Contact Email: AID.Philadelphia at gmail.com] > Pittsburgh: Candlelight Vigil @ Church of the Redeemer, 5700 > Forbes > Avenue on May 13, 2008 (7:30pm) [Contact Email: maryganguli at > yahoo.com > or sparun at gmail.com] > San Francisco: Protest in front of the Consulate General of India, > 540, > Arguello Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118 at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, > May > 13th, 2008. [Contact Email: mail at friendsofsouthasia.org] > Stockholm: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns > and > deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Pradyumna - > pradyumna.singh at gmail.com] > Vancouver: Protest action at the Indian Consulate on May 14th, > 2008. > [Contact Email: Hari Sharma of SANSAD - sansad at sansad.org] > Washington DC: Protest in front of Indian Embassy, 2107 > Massachusetts > Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 on May 13, 2008 (4pm). [Contact: > Somu @ > 703-728-8987 or Somu at aidindia.org] > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From kuhutanvir at gmail.com Mon May 12 12:45:17 2008 From: kuhutanvir at gmail.com (Kuhu Tanvir) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 12:45:17 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Theatre Reading - Neil Gaiman Message-ID: *Off the Mantle #8* The First City Theatre Readings *The Troll Bridge and Other Curiosities* Stories by Neil Gaiman *14 May 2008 | 7 pm | The Attic * Call: 011-46070317 | email: theatre at firstcitydelhi.com The First City Theatre Foundation presents selected readings from short stories by Neil Gaiman, author of *Neverwhere, American Gods *and* The Sandman *series. The stories are playful, creepy and often disturbing. Gaiman tells stories of the traffic between human beings, drawing attention to moments when the bizarre or fantastic invade the mundane, or even to when the mundane becomes bizarre. With the growing interest in sci-fi and fantasy in popular culture, this edition of Off the Mantle hopes to present a quieter side of these genres – one that is neither techno nor medieval, but present nevertheless. From peter.ksmtf at gmail.com Mon May 12 12:49:09 2008 From: peter.ksmtf at gmail.com (T Peter) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 12:49:09 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Peoples Convention against CZM Message-ID: <3457ce860805120019l675c4cf8raff49eeb86c47609@mail.gmail.com> Peoples Convention against CZM Alappuzha, 11th May 2008 A peoples convention held at Arthunkal, Alappuzha dt. Kerala had declared united uncompromising struggle against the proposed CZM notification by Govt.Of India which will drive away traditional fish workers from their livelihood. The convention was organized as part of the district conference of AITUC. The function was presisded over by Com. T.J. Anjalose, EX-MP and leader of AITUC. Com. Anjalose expressed concern over the move by the Central govt.to implement the recommendations of Swaminathan committee report unilaterally even without a discussion in the parliament. Mr. C.R. Neelakandan, social activist, had explained that this move is to help the national and international capital which is eager to invade our sea and coast for tourism, mining of mineral sand etc. Any of the previous governments could not implement the existing Coastal Regulation Zone Act properly and it was amended 19 times and all these amendments were for the investors and not for the traditional fishworkers. This is because all our governments, irrespective of parties, are competing each other to be more Investor Friendly. Goverments could not rectify the damages caused to the southern coast by the existing Cochin Port . But now they are dredging the port to increase its depth by 25 meters more for the Vallarpadom International Container Terminal without any Environmental Impact Assessment. This project is fully owned by a Multinational firm. Mr. T. Peter, president KSMTF had explained that the new notification is not at all mentioning about the traditional fish workers who are the real owners of the coast from time immemorial. Now they are driven away to facilitate the capitalist to control the coast. He criticizes the constitution of M.S Swaminathan committee which had no representatives from the fishing community. The decision to hand over the powers to draw the vulnerability line to the local bodies will be detrimental to the long term interests of the fisher people, he said. He also expressed concern in the move to define CZM area upto 12 nautical mile into the sea. This is to facilitate the project for sea sand mining proposed during the Global Investors Meet by the earlier UDF government. Com. K. S Manoj, MP had promised the convention that he will initiate immediate action to coordinate among MPs various parties to raise the issue in Parliament. He informed that he had alraedy talked to MPs from Pondichery and Karwar in this regared. Many peoples organizations like Solidarity Youth Movement., Kerala Latin Catholic Association and trade unions like CITU and AITUC are already in the forfront to fight against this move. Fr. Stephen M. Punnakkal, Aboobacker, R. Prasad, K.T.Vincent and other leaders of AITUC spoke in the convention From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Mon May 12 13:46:45 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 13:46:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 22 Nobel Winners call for release of Dr Binayak Sen Message-ID: <4827FCED.1090108@gmail.com> Nobel Winners call for release of Dr Binayak Sen Global protests on first anniversary of arrest http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/nobel-winners-call-for-release-of-dr-binayak-sen/ PRESS RELEASE 12 May 2008 In an unprecedented move twenty-two Nobel Prize winning scientists and economists have appealed to the Indian government to release the jailed paediatrician and humanitarian activist Dr Binayak Sen enabling him to go and receive the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights in Washington later this month. Dr Sen, who is the first south Asian to be selected for the prestigious award, was arrested under the Chattisgarh State Public Security Act last year on false charges of ‘supporting’ unlawful activities of an armed underground movement. There is no evidence to prove these charges however and it is widely believed that Dr Sen is being victimised for his human rights work and exposure of violations carried out by police and the state-sponsored militia called Salwa Judum in Chattisgarh. “While the judicial process involving our professional colleague moves forward, we respectfully request that Dr. Sen be freed from incarceration on humanitarian grounds to receive his award and to continue his important medical work” says the letter from the Nobel Prize winners, dated 9 May and addressed to a host of top Indian officials including Smt. Pratibha Patil, President of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister and Dr Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chattisgarh. Signatories to the letter include 9 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine, 9 in Chemistry, 2 in Physics and 2 in Economics. These luminaries are John Polanyi (Chemistry 1986), Francois Jacob (Medicine 1965), Roger Guillemin (Medicine 1977), Charles Townes (Physics 1964), John Polanyi (Chemistry 1986) Peter Agre (Chemistry 2003,) Claude Cohen-Tannoudji (Physics 1997), Robert Curl (Chemistry1996), Johann Diesenhofer (Chemistry 1988), Paul Greengard (Physiology or Medicine 2000), Eric Kandel (Physiology or Medicine 2000), Sir Harald Kroto (Chemistry 1996), Yuan T. Lee (Chemistry 1986), Craig C. Mello( Physiology or Mediicne 2006), F. Sherwood Rwoland (Chemistry 1995), Jens C. Skou (Chemistry 1997), PHILLIP A. SHARP (Physiology or Medicine 1993, HAROLD VARMUS (Physiology or Medicine 1989), SIR JOHN E. WALKER (Chemistry 1997), TORSTEN WIESEL (Physiology or Medicine 1981) and the world-renowned economists Kenneth J. Arrow (Economics 1972) Finn Kydland (Economics 2004). The Nobel Prize winners statement also raises concerns that Dr. Sen appears to be incarcerated solely for peacefully exercising his fundamental human rights, in contravention of Articles 19 (freedom of opinion and expression) and 22 (freedom of association) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—to which India is a state party. Further it says “…he is charged under two internal security laws that do not comport with international human rights standards.” This is not the first time that prominent intellectuals from around the world have appealed for the release of Dr Binayak Sen, an outstanding humanitarian physician who has spent over three decades in the service of rural and tribal communities in Chattisgarh. In a statement last month Dr. Nils Dulaire, President of the Global Health Council, which selected Dr Sen for the Jonathan Mann Award said “We believe, however, that allowing Dr. Sen to attend the award’s ceremony would send a strong signal internationally that would help to restore faith that India and its states are indeed committed to fairly addressing this and other cases related to civil conflicts and civil liberties” However the coming together of twenty-two Nobel Prize winners in support of a political prisoner in India is unprecedented and speaks volumes of the admiration evoked by Dr Sen among his global peers. “It provides clear evidence of the level of concern that Binayak’s case has engendered around the world,” said Dr Ilina Sen, wife of Dr Binayak Sen, herself a well-known scholar and rights activist. In the meanwhile on 14 May, 2008, the first anniversary of Dr Sen’s arrest, hundreds of people across the globe are planning to stage demonstrations, hold vigils and organise public meetings demanding his immediate release. Apart from cities like New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai in India protests are also planned in ten North American and three European cities including New York, Toronto, London, Paris and Stockholm. Most of these protests, organised by members of the Indian diaspora along with global activist groups, will be staged outside Indian embassies and consulates in these cities. All told, the international attention proves, as was noted in the Global Health Council’s statement of support, that the “world is watching” to see whether India will maintain its proud democratic tradition. Download Nobel Winners Statement: http://binayaksen.net/download/Nobel-Statement.pdf For further information contact: * Satya Sivaraman, New Delhi Ph: +91–9818514952 * Dr P.Zachariah, Vellore Ph: +91-9442607116 * Dr Rakhal, Chennai Ph: +91- 9940246089 * Dr Punyabrata Gun, Kolkata Ph: +91-9830922194 * Dr Abhay Shukla, Pune Ph: +91-9422317515 * Somu Kumar, US somukumar at gmail.com * Shalini Gera, US shalinigera at yahoo.com * Kalpana Wilson, London sasg at southasiasolidarity.org VISIT: WWW.BINAYAKSEN.NET AND WWW.FREEBINAYAKSEN.ORG From justjunaid at gmail.com Mon May 12 14:58:03 2008 From: justjunaid at gmail.com (Junaid) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 14:58:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1252?q?=91Singh=92s_killing_a_political_c?= =?windows-1252?q?onspiracy=92?= Message-ID: IDP leader had facilitated meetings of Geelani, Mirwaiz and Shabir Shah in Samba *News Agency of Kashmir * Jammu, May 11: The political analysts here are viewing the killing of International Democratic Party (IDP) leader Hoshiar Singh and his trade union leader wife Shashi Bala by unidentified gunmen as a "political conspiracy" saying Singh was instrumental in organizing meetings of various separatists in the predominantly Hindu area of Samba. They say it is hard to understand the motive behind these killings. "Singh facilitated the meetings of separatist leaders like Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Ahmed Shah in Samba during past few years," one Kashmir watcher said. A Jammu based news agency NAK quoted a senior IDP leader I D Khajuria as saying that Singh believed Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed State whose resolution was possible only through trilateral talks involving India, Pakistan as well as the genuine representatives of Jammu Kashmir. "I too was receiving threats from unknown people for the past one month, which I reported to police in a routine manner. But the target killing of Hoshiar Singh and his wife and an attempt to eliminate his entire family has led credence to a conspiracy to eliminate IDP leaders of the area," said Khajuria, adding, "We demand a judicial probe to bring out the truth behind the killing of Hoshiar Singh and his family members. Lok Sevak Sambyal, an eyewitness and Singh's son alleged that his father and mother were killed as a part of well planned conspiracy. Talking to NAK, he said that unidentified gunmen were sighted by many morning walkers and when asked about their identity, they claimed that they were army men and looking for the house of Hoshiar Singh. "They knocked at our door. My father opened the door. They asked if he was Hoshiar Singh. After confirming his identity they wasted no time and showered a volley of bullets at him. When my mother asked them who they were and what they wanted, they sprayed bullets at her killing her," said Lok Sevak Sambyal adding, "I bolted myself and my wife inside the room while my sister Bindu and her mother-in-law ventured outside after hearing the gunshots and were also hit by bullets." He said that the police theory that they wanted shelter in our house does not hold good as our house is in the midst of a locality and before knocking the door of our house they could have entered into any house. "My father was not violent by nature nor do we have any firearms in our house. So he could not have entered into a verbal duel or exchanged heated words. So there was no need to open fire targeting the entire family." However police remained tight lipped over the conspiracy theory. GOC 9 Corps Vinay Sharma while briefing media persons after the encounter said militants target was army area. However he refused to comment over the BSF claim that militants belonged to the group which managed to sneak into this side after an encounter in Samba sector on Friday. http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3440&Itemid=1 From rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk Sat May 10 12:18:10 2008 From: rebelliouskoshur at yahoo.co.uk (Rebellious Koshur) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 07:48:10 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir - For Sonia In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <436129.58734.qm@web27409.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Sonia, The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which you have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern is not the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is freedom from ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our friends as we don’t need masters, should support us in our endeavors. The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has done what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being an Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian army in Kashmir; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies of Indian politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian policies on Kashmir. We the people of Kashmir will take account of the blunders of our politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and why. We know where from the money came, for what it was spent, and how much did the politicians use for themselves. We till now have and in future will do the needful. You please keep out of it, because this is not India. It is Kashmir. You, the Indian civil society activists, seem to be behaving in the same hegemonic attitude which the Indian statecraft has exhibited so far in Kashmir. It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is “deeply divided”. Is it not true for India? Is it not true for Delhi? Is it not true for the small locality where you live in Delhi? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I see it as the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are talking about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in the modern democratic world. You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how many by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for them to share it with you. Why should we trust you? For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. According to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF men who got killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 have been killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 JKLF members while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF men. JKLF itself has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF members who have been killed by “unidentified gunmen”. People here in Kashmir understand who these unidentified gunmen are. What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has suffered more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while as the truth according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil Society is that 87 JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters with Indian army. 13 have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been subjected to enforced disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the JKLF members. Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won’t deny that India is his enemy and not Hizbul Mujahideen. Qalab Hussain "S. Jabbar" wrote: Dear Junaid, You ask why anyone else (besides the Indian intelligence agencies) would want to kill anti-India political figures? This is precisely the line of reasoning that a researcher in the US or UK ignorant of the ground in Kashmir would take. I'd expect a little more nuance from a researcher of conflict and that can only happen if one takes the trouble to do a little more work in the field. If you are a Kashmiri old enough to follow the careers of people like Moulvi Farooq, Qazi Nissar, Abdul Ghani Lone, Dr. Guru, Prof Wani, Ghulam Qadir Wani and many others you will realize that each was killed at the point when he tried to assert an independent line of thinking or advocated talks with India or did not quite bend to the will of his political masters in Pakistan. As I have said earlier in this forum no one in their right mind can defend what the Indian troops and intelligence agencies have done in Kashmir, but I think if one is to try and make some sense of what you have rightly described as a dirty war, one needs to first take a dispassionate view of what went down in the last two decades. This includes apportioning responsibility-- as far as it is possible-- for the political assassinations and the massacres. And why do you call the Ikhwanis 'my poor' favourite whipping boys? I had clearly said I held no brief for them. Did you not read my post carefully or do you still choose to read me selectively? The reason I pointed out their role of the fall guy was that they are the mere foot soldiers and not the generals that dictate the course of this war. If blame is to be pinned it finally must be the general who takes the rap. Of course some Ikhwani leaders have made a lot of money and it is all despicable blood money. But this is well known. Why is it that you are not as vocal about the blood money and the palatial homes of the separatists? What is their source of income, how have they grown so rich in the last twenty years, how do they fund their political activities, and how is it that the Indian state allows it? Not only that, the Indian state pays the medical bills for many separatist leaders who have been periodically hospitalized and provides security cover for them with J&K Police guarding their homes and offices. Why is that? Is this usual or unusual? Does the endless dragging on, the seeming intractableness of the situation have anything at all to do with this? Can you imagine the Sri Lankan state doing the same for Prabhakaran? For me these are far more interesting questions and if one tries to answer them honestly a far more complex picture develops than the simple one of the bad Ikhwani-- who, incidentally was good when he fought for Pakistan and became bad the moment he switched sides in 1994. And why did the Ikhwanis switch sides? Were they all congenital 'gaddars' and 'mukhbirs' or were there other compulsions? Of the many JKLF fighters who were wiped out in the early '90s how many fell to the bullets of the Indian army and how many to the Hizbul Mujahideen? I ask all these questions because it is vital that Kashmiris themselves, at least privately, begin to ask them. For all the talk of the Kashmiri's alienation from India, nobody speaks of the alienation within Kashmir. Kashmiri society is deeply divided between those who are labeled Indian agents and Pakistani agents, between those that everyone knows benefited from the war and the ordinary citizen, between the Jamaatis and the rest. This has been the most tragic fallout of the war-- this and the terrible silence that surrounds the killings and rapes by the militants. It may seem unthinkable but one day there will be peace in Kashmir. How will this society heal when there are these terrible divisions, fear, suspicion? Once South Africa won its independence it constituted the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. This was because the ANC leadership was mature enough to realize that though history belongs to the victors it would be disastrous for future generations if South Africa were to whitewash its past where terrible atrocities were committed on both sides. But truth was to come before reconciliations, and this was often a bitter and painful experience where family members had to confront the killers of their loved ones. I'm not sure whether the South African experience had a fairytale ending but it seems to me the right direction to take for societies to heal post-conflicts. Will this ever happen in Kashmir or indeed in South Asia? I have my doubts. We have a terrible knack of sweeping things under the carpet and pretending it never happened. All cataclysms have been dealt with, with tiresome familiarity, whether mass rapes by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh (for which incidentally only women's organisations in Pakistan apologized) or the Indian state's involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogrom or Gujarat or the NE or Kashmir. And where does one start the truth & reconciliation part between Kashmir and the rest of India when the government has blatantly shielded officers in the Indian Army despite being chargesheeted by institutions like the CBI? Where does truth & reconciliation begin between Muslims and Pandits when it is still widely believed that Jagmohan engineered the exodus? Or between families of the Ikhwan and the rest or families of the Jamaatis and the rest? It requires a certain honesty and moral courage to answer these questions squarely. I hope some day at least some of us will be able to rise to the occasion. And finally, please stop referring to me as Ms. Jabbar. My name is Sonia and I'd prefer it if you just used that. Best wishes, Sonia On 5/9/08 10:21 PM, "junaid" wrote: > Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine who > the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people would > naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders, > throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of > Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason > enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else > have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the only > ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them, > then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the > government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the > kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There > is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic torches on > Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M > Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that > ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's > actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any > doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to > believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in > Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is > terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under > the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont > expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure > if you actually listen to common people, instead of just > "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is > quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and > minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights > Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor > "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to army > camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid ****** > Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 > article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her > allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of > politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades > is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's > favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one > presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" > wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the > governments> onboth sides of the> > border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,> > Partha................On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul> > wrote:> Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> friend; there is a lot > beyond> ideologies here. Politics in its worst form;> is played to make > things> remain> in status quo. God Bless this street dirt> Yasin > Malik; who is being used> today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> > him... May he have the same> fate; what he did to thousands of> > people...!!!>> Regards>>> On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta> > wrote:> >> > Hi,> >> > I thought that the ideology> > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and> > independent Kashmir'.> > >> > If> so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into > it?> >> > Irrespective> of all this, the fact remains is that > it is highly unlikely> > that India or> Pakistan will give up their > respective portions under any> > circumstances.>> >> > > Rgds, Partha> > ....................................> >> > > On Fri,> May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > wrote:> >> > > >> Qalab Bhai,> > >> > > Why blame poor Shabir > Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> has switched to> > Indian> > > > side.> > > I am not claiming anything....>> > >> > > > Rashneek> > >> > >> > > On 5/9/08, > Rebellious Koshur> wrote:> > > >> > > > > Rashneek,> > > >> > >> > It is unfortunate that > after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> >> to> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much> > >> defending> > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for > years, why didn't> you quote> > him> > > > then. You > would claim that he is repentant but> people in Kashmir> > > believe> > > he> > > > is denigrated.> > > > >> > > >> Qalab Hussain> > > >> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> >> > >> > > > and > this one isn't based on my data.......> > > >> > > > >> > > >> By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > >> > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> Liberation Front (JKLF) > is a> > > sacred> > > > name for some, as they> > sacrificed their lives and everything else> they> > > > valued > in name of> liberating the state.> > > >> > > > > They did that to promote the name of> JKLF believing that they were> > > doing> > > > this for a good cause and for> the betterment > of their divided and> > > oppressed> > > > nation.> > > > >>> > > > But there are many who disagree with > this. They believe that the JKLF>> > has> > > > brought > them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause> of> > > > problems> > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > > >> >> > > > I am among those who, despite the > baggage JKLF is carrying,> proudly> > > claimed> > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore> claimed to be among those> > > who> > > > helped to form this party in Britain> in 1977. > Like thousands of> others> > I> > > > have also suffered > for this> party and have done everything possible> to> > > > > promote true ideology of> the JKLF.> > > >> > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> sacrifices, fact> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to> different > factions;> and> > > > allegation is and which is widely > believed> and true to large extent> > that> > > > top> > > > > leaders of some groups> have compromised JKLF ideology and > are> advancing> > > > agenda of secret> agencies of our > occupiers.> > > >> > > > These JKLF leaders are > accused of> tuning and maligning their ideology> > to> > > > > suit national interest of> Pakistan, and have practically signed > away> > > their> > > > independence to> advance cause > of united and independent Kashmir.> Their> > > > strategy > was> not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > > Kashmir> > > > but> to advance such policies, which suited > Pakistani agencies, aim of> > >> which> > > > was not > independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> and> > > engaged.> > > >> > > > That policy worked as planned > India not only> bled but also has been> > > engaged> > > > > since 1989, but in return we> Kashmiris have also bled and got> > trampled> > > and> > > > oppressed. For> this policy > people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay> > through> > > > > their> noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> > > > >> Kashmir.> > > >> > > > In this > struggle which started in name of> independence and> spearheaded> > > by> > > > The JKLF with money and guns> provided to them > by Pakistani agencies> > > > resulted> > > > in > fiasco. It> tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> > an> > > era> > > >> of intimidation, oppression and > gun culture.> > > >> > > > All sides> targeted > people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > Indian> > > > >> Army and security> > > > services,> > > > > they were trained and victimised> by Pakistani secret agencies and> > worse> > > of> > > > all they were killed> and > intimidated by militants as well.> > > >> > > > In > this struggle we have> lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > > still> > > > unaccounted for.> Thousands of people are still > languishing in jails.> It> > > is> > > >> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable> > > >> that> > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to > people of Jammu and>> Kashmir,> > > the> > > > APHC > leadership and the JKLF have brought> disappointment, misery and> > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> any closer to> > independence.> > > >> > > > My colleagues and I > realised in> 1991/2 that things were not in> control> > of> > > > > JKLF Chairman,> Amanullah Khan, and that he was only > pretending to be> in> > > > charge. We> challenged him and > asked him to reveal who was calling> shots> > > in> > > >> > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our > struggle.> > > >>> > > > The JKLF claimed to work > for a liberal and democratic society but its>> > > > chairman > believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > >> > Musharaf> > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to > the core and> did not> > > allow> > > > free > discussion or accountability and result was> many splits in the> > > JKLF.> > > >> > > > Like General Musharaf, in> > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > constitutional > act and> dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> Zone> > > in> > > > Britain,> which led to parting of from the JKLF then > onwards.> > > >> > > > We> continued our struggle > to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > >> accountability > and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the> > >> > party> > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent > all people> of the> > > state> > > > and not only > Muslims. While this struggle was going> on we saw release> > of> > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> would be better > than> > Amanullah> > > > Khan.> > > >> > > > > We are all> entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of > these> > > > leaders> >> > > to ensure that these > dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan>> is> > > > > like> > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General > Yayya> Khan. Both> > > believed> > > > in their own > brand of democracy and human> rights, both dislike> > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> fact, both dont> > like> > > > party> > > > to flourish or expand.> > > > >>> > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at > least disrupt normal life>> there,> > > > especially around > election time with the help of Pakistani> agencies;> > and> > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> oppose > dissent.> > > >> > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a > militant with> a gun in his hand and> > came> > > > > out> > > > as a polished leader> preaching peace and > non-violence, as if he was> not> > > in> > > > a> > > >> > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence > and media> > > >> management.> > > >> > > > >> > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from> his > experience and will> help> > to> > > > bring some > positive changes to> the JKLF and will help to resolve the> > > > > Kashmir> > > > dispute> according to the expressed wishes > of the people.> > > >> > > > We tried and> tried > hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > endeavours > to> unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant> > and> > > > >> democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate > people and> > they>> > > > started asking questions from > these two for being life chairman.> > >> >> > > > > My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> >> > > advocated> > > > formation of a new party, as in their > opinion it was waste> of time> > trying> > > > to> > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view> it was impossible > task when> > Yasin> > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have> > emerged as big figures of the JKLF> groups> > > and> > > > > when their sole> aim is to maintain the status quo.> > > > >> > > > I was not in favour of> abandoning the JKLF, as I > had emotional ties> > with> > > > the> > > >> > party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time> > > to>> > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives > are in my blood ->> > it> > > is> > > > a > product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> time, effort> > > and> > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause > of> another party then> I> > > > could> > > > > have been in Parliament long time> ago, but that was not my objective.> > > > >> > > > In our JKLF we respected> dissent and > views of all colleagues. Even> > though> > > > majority > agreed> with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> in> > > > its> > > >> favour because I disagreed and my colleagues > respected that. Our> > >> commitment> > > > to each > other was that we would remain together and work> together.> > > > >> > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both> > Yasin Malik and> > > Amanullah> > > > Khan led JKLF. Like > us they were also> worried about the situation in> > the> > > > > party, and what was being done> in the name of JKLF, but they > didnt> have> > > > control over it and they> lacked courage > and political will to> challenge> > > > them.> > > > >> > > >> Last year some of them assured us that if we form > another party they> >> will> > > > side with us, but they > cannot support us if we continue with the> name> > of> > > > > the> > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against> > formation of a new> party.> > My> > > > view was that > JKLF is not private> party or estate of Amanullah Khan> or> > > > > Yasin> > > > Malik, and by us> abandoning the party we are > giving them a free hand.> > > >> > > > But all> > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > > > Valley.> > >> > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres > in name of the> >> struggle,> > > > especially what they > did in early years of the struggle to> Muslims> and> > > > non> > > > Muslims alike.> > > >> > > > If > army commit> human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> > > imposing> > > >> government writ. They kill, intimidate, > torture and imprison people;> > and>> > > in> > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the> > so-called> > > > freedom> > > > fighters then what is > the difference between> them?> > > >> > > > This is > a separate topic, which needs special attention> and cannot be> > > > dealt> > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and> > especially non Muslims hated> the> > > > JKLF, as it is viewed > as a> mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > > > Pakistani secret agencies.> Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage> > of> > > the> > > > JKLF is too> heavy for you to carry > and make any notable progress.> > > >> > > > I am, > at> last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF,> > > > which> > >> > abandoned its ideology, communalised > Kashmiri politics and advanced> > > >> non-Kashmiri agenda. > Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too> > >> heavy> > > > > to carry.> > > >> > > > If some JKLF > members still think they> can make positive contribution> to> > > > the> > > > cause of unification and> independence of the > State when leaders like> > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin> Malik > are heading these JKLF groups then> good> > > luck> > > > > to them;> however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it > and> > > make> > >> > a> > > > new start > then they are welcome. (ANI)> > > >> > > >> > > > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10 > > 046414.html> > > >> > > > --> > > > > Rashneek Kher> > > >> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > >> > _________________________________________> > > > reader-list: an > open> discussion list on media and the city.> > > > Critiques > & Collaborations> >> > > To subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > >> subscribe in the > subject header.> > > > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > List > archive:> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > ------------------------------> > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail > > >> >>> > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt > > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > >.> > > > >> > > > A> Smarter Email.> > > >> > > > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > > Rashneek Kher> > >> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > >> _________________________________________> > > > reader-list: an open> discussion list on media and the city.> > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > >> To subscribe: send an email > to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > >> subscribe in the > subject header.> > > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > List > archive:> > >> >> >> >> > --> >> > Partha Dasgupta> > +919811047132> >> > _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open > discussion> list on media and the city.> > Critiques & > Collaborations> > To subscribe:> send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > subscribe in the> subject > header.> > To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:> > >> _________________________________________> reader-list: an open > discussion> list on media and the city.> Critiques & > Collaborations> To subscribe: send> an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> subscribe in the subject> > header.> To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:> > >-- Partha> > Dasgupta+919811047132_________________________________________reader-list:> > an open discussion list on media and the city.Critiques & > CollaborationsTo> subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > with subscribe in> the subject header.To unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive:> > ------------------------------Message: 3Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:23:51 > +0530From: "Partha Dasgupta" Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too > heavy to carry-byDr.Shabir ChaudharyTo: "S. Jabbar" Cc: sarai list > Message-ID:Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"Hi,Rather than the > events used in the article, was referring to the 'renegadeterrorists' in terms > of the government(s) using released militants as 'hiredguns' to do what can > not be achieved under law. (Though, we have seen enoughof armed forces and > police taking steps that are supposedly illegal andacting as goons)Sure, it is > supposition on my part, but I find it hard to believe that themilitancy in > J&K could have reached such a virulent level with out somesupport from the > establishment, or sections of it, for what ever purpose itmay be - whether to > oppose or to suppress.Rgds, > Partha.......................................................On Fri, May 9, > 2008 at 6:35 PM, S. Jabbar wrote:> Partha,> Akhila Raman is based in the > US and this 2002 article is one that has been> put together from secondary > sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora> and attributing the > assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz> Farooq and Abdul > Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I> hold no brief for > them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But> the> picture is > far more complex than the one presented by this article.> Best> > sonia>>> On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote:>> > > Hi,>> Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the > governments> > on> both sides of the> > border.>> > http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241>> Rgds,> > Partha> > ................>> On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul> > > > wrote:>> > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> > > friend; there is a lot beyond> > ideologies here. Politics in its > worst form;> > is played to make things> > remain> > in > status quo. God Bless this street dirt> > Yasin Malik; who is being > used> > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> > him... May > he have the same> > fate; what he did to thousands of> > > people...!!!> >> > Regards> >> >> > On 5/9/08, > Partha Dasgupta> > wrote:> > >> > > Hi,> > > >> > > I thought that the ideology> > of the JKLF was (and > is) 'a united and> > > independent Kashmir'.> > >> > > > If> > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it?> > > >> > > Irrespective> > of all this, the fact remains is > that it is highly unlikely> > > that India or> > Pakistan will > give up their respective portions under any> > > circumstances.> > >> > >> > > Rgds, Partha> > > > ....................................> > >> > > On Fri,> > > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > > wrote:> > >> > > > >> > Qalab Bhai,> > > >> > > > Why > blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> > has switched to> > > > Indian> > > > side.> > > > I am not claiming > anything....> >> > > >> > > > Rashneek> > > > >> > > >> > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious > Koshur> > wrote:> > > > >> > > > > > Rashneek,> > > > >> > > >> > > It is > unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> > > >> > to> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense > to you. He was very much> > >> > defending> > > > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't> > you > quote> > > him> > > > > then. You would claim that he > is repentant but> > people in Kashmir> > > believe> > > > > he> > > > > is denigrated.> > > > > >> > > > >> > Qalab Hussain> > > > > >> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> > >> > > > >> > > > > and this one isn't based on my > data.......> > > > >> > > > >> > > > > >> > By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > > >> > > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> > Liberation Front (JKLF) > is a> > > > sacred> > > > > name for some, as > they> > sacrificed their lives and everything else> > they> > > > > > valued in name of> > liberating the state.> > > > > >> > > > > They did that to promote the name > of> > JKLF believing that they were> > > doing> > > > > > this for a good cause and for> > the betterment of their > divided and> > > > oppressed> > > > > nation.> > > > > >> >> > > > > But there are many who > disagree with this. They believe that the> JKLF> >> > > > has> > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and > is root cause> > of> > > > problems> > > > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > > >> > > >> > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is > carrying,> > proudly> > > > claimed> > > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore> > claimed to be among > those> > > who> > > > > helped to form this party in > Britain> > in 1977. Like thousands of> > others> > > > I> > > > > have also suffered for this> > party and have > done everything possible> > to> > > > > promote true > ideology of> > the JKLF.> > > > >> > > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> > sacrifices, > fact> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in > to> > different factions;> > and> > > > > > allegation is and which is widely believed> > and true to large > extent> > > that> > > > > top> > > > > > leaders of some groups> > have compromised JKLF ideology and are> > > advancing> > > > > agenda of secret> > agencies of > our occupiers.> > > > >> > > > > These JKLF > leaders are accused of> > tuning and maligning their ideology> > > > to> > > > > suit national interest of> > Pakistan, > and have practically signed away> > > > their> > > > > > independence to> > advance cause of united and independent > Kashmir.> > Their> > > > > strategy was> > not to > unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > > Kashmir> > > > > > but> > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani > agencies, aim of> > > >> > which> > > > > was > not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> > and> > > > engaged.> > > > >> > > > > That policy > worked as planned India not only> > bled but also has been> > > > > engaged> > > > > since 1989, but in return we> > > Kashmiris have also bled and got> > trampled> > > > and> > > > > > oppressed. For> > this policy people of Jammu and > Kashmir had to pay> > > through> > > > > their> > > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> > > > > >> > Kashmir.> > > > >> > > > > > In this struggle which started in name of> > independence and> > > spearheaded> > > by> > > > > The JKLF with money > and guns> > provided to them by Pakistani agencies> > > > > > resulted> > > > > in fiasco. It> > tore apart > fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> > an> > > > > era> > > > >> > of intimidation, oppression and gun > culture.> > > > >> > > > > All sides> > > targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > > > Indian> > > > >> > Army and security> > > > > > services,> > > > > they were trained and victimised> > > by Pakistani secret agencies and> > worse> > > > of> > > > > > all they were killed> > and intimidated by militants > as well.> > > > >> > > > > In this struggle we > have> > lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > > > still> > > > > unaccounted for.> > Thousands of people > are still languishing in jails.> > It> > > > is> > > > > >> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is > also regrettable> > > >> > that> > > > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and> >> > > Kashmir,> > > > the> > > > > APHC leadership > and the JKLF have brought> > disappointment, misery and> > > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> > any closer > to> > independence.> > > > >> > > > > My > colleagues and I realised in> > 1991/2 that things were not in> > > control> > > of> > > > > JKLF Chairman,> > > Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be> > in> > > > > > charge. We> > challenged him and asked him to reveal who > was calling> > shots> > > > in> > > >> > > > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle.> > > > > >> >> > > > > The JKLF claimed to work > for a liberal and democratic society but> its> >> > > > > > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > > > >> > Musharaf> > > > > of Pakistan. Like > Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and> > did not> > > > > allow> > > > > free discussion or accountability and result > was> > many splits in the> > > JKLF.> > > > > >> > > > > Like General Musharaf, in> > frustration > Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > > constitutional act > and> > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> > Zone> > > > in> > > > > Britain,> > which led to parting of from > the JKLF then onwards.> > > > >> > > > > We> > > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > > > >> > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks. > We wanted the> > > >> > party> > > > > to > reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people> > of > the> > > > state> > > > > and not only Muslims. > While this struggle was going> > on we saw release> > > of> > > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> > would > be better than> > > Amanullah> > > > > Khan.> > > > > >> > > > > We are all> > entitled to have > dreams and hopes; it is the job of these> > > > > leaders> > > >> > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become > reality. If Amanullah Khan> >> > is> > > > > > like> > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General > Yayya> > Khan. Both> > > > believed> > > > > > in their own brand of democracy and human> > rights, both dislike> > > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> > > fact, both dont> > like> > > > > party> > > > > > to flourish or expand.> > > > >> >> > > > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life> > >> > there,> > > > > especially around election time > with the help of Pakistani> > agencies;> > > and> > > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> > oppose > dissent.> > > > >> > > > > Yasin Malik went in > prison as a militant with> > a gun in his hand and> > > > came> > > > > out> > > > > as a polished > leader> > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was> > > not> > > > in> > > > > a> > > >> > > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and > media> > > > >> > management.> > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > We hoped that the party will > benefit from> > his experience and will> > help> > > > to> > > > > bring some positive changes to> > the JKLF > and will help to resolve the> > > > > Kashmir> > > > > > dispute> > according to the expressed wishes of the > people.> > > > >> > > > > We tried and> > > tried hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > > > endeavours to> > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it > vibrant> > > and> > > > >> > democratic force. > However, our efforts helped to educate people and> > > they> > >> > > > > started asking questions from these two for being > life chairman.> > > >> > >> > > > > My > colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> > > >> > > advocated> > > > > formation of a new party, > as in their opinion it was waste> > of time> > > trying> > > > > > to> > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In > their view> > it was impossible task when> > > Yasin> > > > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have> > emerged as big figures > of the JKLF> > groups> > > > and> > > > > > when their sole> > aim is to maintain the status quo.> > > > > >> > > > > I was not in favour of> > abandoning the > JKLF, as I had emotional ties> > > with> > > > > > the> > > > >> > party. Like many others, I have also > given my youth and enormous time> > > to> >> > > > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood> > -> >> > > it> > > > is> > > > > a > product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> > time, > effort> > > and> > > > > dedication and used my talent > to promote cause of> > another party then> > I> > > > > > could> > > > > have been in Parliament long time> > > ago, but that was not my objective.> > > > >> > > > > > In our JKLF we respected> > dissent and views of all colleagues. > Even> > > though> > > > > majority agreed> > > with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> > in> > > > > its> > > > >> > favour because I disagreed and my > colleagues respected that. Our> > > >> > commitment> > > > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work> > > together.> > > > >> > > > > We had close > contacts with senior leaders of both> > Yasin Malik and> > > > > Amanullah> > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were > also> > worried about the situation in> > > the> > > > > > party, and what was being done> > in the name of JKLF, but > they didnt> > have> > > > > control over it and they> > > lacked courage and political will to> > challenge> > > > > > them.> > > > >> > > > >> > Last > year some of them assured us that if we form another party they> > > >> > will> > > > > side with us, but they cannot > support us if we continue with the> > name> > > of> > > > > > the> > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my > corner against> > formation of a new> > party.> > > > My> > > > > view was that JKLF is not private> > party or > estate of Amanullah Khan> > or> > > > > Yasin> > > > > > Malik, and by us> > abandoning the party we are giving > them a free hand.> > > > >> > > > > But all> > > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > > > > Valley.> > > >> > > They spoke against practices of > the JKLF cadres in name of the> > >> > struggle,> > > > > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to> > > Muslims> > and> > > > non> > > > > Muslims > alike.> > > > >> > > > > If army commit> > > human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> > > imposing> > > > > >> > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture > and imprison people;> > > and> >> > > > in> > > > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the> > > so-called> > > > > freedom> > > > > > fighters then what is the difference between> > them?> > > > > >> > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special > attention> > and cannot be> > > > dealt> > > > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and> > especially non Muslims > hated> > the> > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a> > > mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > > > Pakistani > secret agencies.> > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage> > > of> > > > the> > > > > JKLF is too> > heavy > for you to carry and make any notable progress.> > > > >> > > > > > I am, at> > last, persuaded that it is time to say > goodbye to the JKLF,> > > > which> > > >> > > > abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced> > > > > >> > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is > of course too> > > >> > heavy> > > > > to > carry.> > > > >> > > > > If some JKLF members > still think they> > can make positive contribution> > to> > > > > the> > > > > cause of unification and> > > independence of the State when leaders like> > > > > Amanullah > Khan and Yasin> > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then> > > good> > > > luck> > > > > to them;> > however > if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and> > > > > make> > > >> > > a> > > > > new start then > they are welcome. (ANI)> > > > >> > > > >> > > > > >> > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> >> >> > http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10 > > > 046414.html> > > > >> > > > > --> > > > > > Rashneek Kher> > > > >> > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > > >> > > _________________________________________> > > > > reader-list: > an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> > > > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > >> > > > To > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > > > >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > > To > unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > > > List archive:> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > ------------------------------> > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail > > > >> > >> >> >> > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt > > > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > > > >.> > > > >> > > > > A> > Smarter > Email.> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > > >> > > > --> > > > Rashneek Kher> > > > >> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > > >> > _________________________________________> > > > > reader-list: an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> > > > > Critiques & Collaborations> > > >> > To > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > > >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > To > unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > > > List archive:> > > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > --> > >> > Partha Dasgupta> > > > +919811047132> > >> > > _________________________________________> > > reader-list: an open > discussion> > list on media and the city.> > > Critiques & > Collaborations> > > To subscribe:> > send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > > subscribe in the> > > subject header.> > > To unsubscribe:> > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > List > archive:> > > >> > > _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open > discussion> > list on media and the city.> > Critiques & > Collaborations> > To subscribe: send> > an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with> > subscribe in the subject> > > header.> > To unsubscribe:> > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:> > > > >>>>> --> Partha> > Dasgupta> > +919811047132> _________________________________________> > reader-list:> > an open discussion list on media and the city.> > Critiques & Collaborations> To> > subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe> in> > the subject > header.> To unsubscribe:> > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:> > > >>>-- Partha > Dasgupta+919811047132------------------------------___________________________ > ____________________reader-list mailing > listreader-list at sarai.nethttps://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-listEn > d of reader-list Digest, Vol 58, Issue > 25******************************************* ________________________________ > _________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the > city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To > unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List > archive: _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: --------------------------------- Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email. From cahen.x at levels9.com Sun May 11 02:22:38 2008 From: cahen.x at levels9.com (xavier cahen) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 22:52:38 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] pourinfos Newsletter / 09-05 to 22-05-2008 Message-ID: <48260B16.9040309@levels9.com> pourinfos.org l'actualite du monde de l'art / daily Art news ----------------------------------------------------------------------- >From Friday, May 9, 2008 through Thurday, May 22, 2008 (included) ------------------------------------------------------------------- (mostly in french) @ 001 (09/05/2008) Training: HEAD GENEVA MASTER PROGRAMMES, Geneva, Switzerland. http://pourinfos.org/art-35750-tit-Formation-HEAD-GENEVA-MASTER-PROGRAMMES- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 002 (09/05/2008) Call: Disonancias, San Sebastian,Spain. http://pourinfos.org/art-35751-tit--Disonancias-San-Sebastian- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 003 (09/05/2008) Residency: Workshop post-production at CPIF, Pontault-Combault, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35752-tit-Residence-Atelier-de-post-production-au -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 004 (09/05/2008) Call: One Minute Film & Video Festival Aarau, Switzerland. http://pourinfos.org/art-35754-tit--One-Minute-Film-Video-Festival-Aarau- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 005 (09/05/2008) Call: Urban Identity, Los Angeles, Usa. http://pourinfos.org/art-35755-tit-s-Urban-Identity-Los-Angeles- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 006 (09/05/2008) Call: 2009 WCA International Video Shorts Festival, Los Angeles, Usa. http://pourinfos.org/art-35756-tit-s-2009-WCA-International-Video-Shorts -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 007 (09/05/2008) Call: International Guerrilla Video Festival, Milan, Italy. http://pourinfos.org/art-35757-tit-s-International-Guerrilla-Video-Festival- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 008 (09/05/2008) Job: general manager , MUDAM LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg. http://pourinfos.org/art-35758-tit--DIRECTEUR-GENERAL-MUDAM-LUXEMBOURG- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 009 (09/05/2008) Call: Offer time for art, Syndicat Potentiel, the General Council of Bas-Rhin, Strasbourg, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35761-tit--Offre-de-Temps-pour-l-art-Syndicat -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 010 (09/05/2008) Exhibition: LOOP 08, INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL & FAIR OF VIDEOART, Barcelona, Spain. http://pourinfos.org/art-35764-tit--LOOP-08-INTERNATIONAL-FESTIVAL-FAIR-OF -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 011 (09/05/2008) Meetings: Richard Serra and Yve-Alain Bois, Faces à faces, Auditorium du Louvre, Paris, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35766-tit--Richard-Serra-et-Yve-Alain-Bois-Faces-a -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 012 (09/05/2008) Call: Moscou International Film Festival, Media Lab, Moscow, Russia. http://pourinfos.org/art-35767-tit--Moscou-International-Film-Festival-Media -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 013 (09/05/2008) Call: 4th edition of the biennial contemporary art of Bourges, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35771-tit-s-4e-edition-de-la-biennale-d-art -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 014 (09/05/2008) Call: Oslo Screen Festival, Oslo, Norway. http://pourinfos.org/art-35772-tit-s-Oslo-Screen-Festival-Oslo- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 015 (10/05/2008) Meetings: CONFERENCE REINVENTING HARBOUR CITIES - URBAN PLANNING AND ART IN PUBLIC SPACE, NORDIC HOUSE, REYKJAVÍK, Iceland. http://pourinfos.org/art-35730-tit--CONFERENCE-REINVENTING-HARBOUR-CITIES- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 016 (10/05/2008) Call: Circulation(s), FetArt, Mois de la photo, November 2008, Paris, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35760-tit--Circulation-s-FetArt-Mois-de-la-photo- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 017 (11/05/2008) Meetings: 9° International seminare, Photography and political corps, Friday, April 11, 2008, Thessaloniki, Greece. http://pourinfos.org/art-35693-tit--9-Colloque-international-Photographie -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 018 (11/05/2008) Meetings: Internet mon amour, Second Meeting, Kit survival in a world P2P, Sunday, May 11, 2008, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35719-tit--Internet-mon-amour-Deuxieme-seance-Kit -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 019 (12/05/2008) Publication: ETC no 82, « Être/To be », Montreal, Canada. http://pourinfos.org/art-35770-tit--ETC-no-82-Etre-To-be-Montreal- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 020 (14/05/2008) Various: May 14, 2008, Reunion crisis, Draille, Montignac, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35768-tit-Divers-14-Mai-2008-Reunion-de-crise-La -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 021 (15/05/2008) Publication: INDEPENDENCE OF THE ART IN QUESTION "L'AUTONOMIE DE L'ART EN QUESTION", Patricia Esquivel, Ed.L'Harmattan, Paris, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35769-tit--L-AUTONOMIE-DE-L-ART-EN-QUESTION- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 022 (16/05/2008) Various: Open studios of Belleville, Paris, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35470-tit-Divers-Portes-Ouvertes-Ateliers-Artistes -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 023 (16/05/2008) Meetings: Open studios of Belleville, 16, 17, 18 et 19 mai 2008, Paris, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35720-tit--Portes-ouvertes-des-ateliers-d-artistes -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 024 (16/05/2008) Meetings: MULTIVERSITY, or the Art of Subversion. 16, 17 and 18 May 2008 S.a.L.E. DOCKS VENICE, Italy. http://pourinfos.org/art-35765-tit--MULTIVERSITY-or-the-Art-of-Subversion- -------------------------------------------------------------------- @ 025 (18/05/2008) Meetings: Sunday, May 18, 2008, LE GRAND CAFE, Centre d'art contemporain, Stephane Thidet : OUTSIDE "DEHORS ", Nantes, France. http://pourinfos.org/art-35736-tit--dimanche-18-mai-2008-LE-GRAND-CAFE- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- http://pourinfos.org l'actualité du monde de l'art / daily Art news Direction de la publication Xavier Cahen, webdesign Loz pourinfos.org est une page d’informations diverses et variées sur l'art contemporain, entendez ici, l’art qui se fait aujourd’hui. Cette lettre d’informations est bihebdomadaire. Contact humain xavier.cahen at pourinfos.org _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From taraprakash at gmail.com Tue May 13 09:36:31 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 00:06:31 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Chattis Garh has lost the plot (another arrest) Message-ID: <013501c8b4ae$bf5b73d0$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Siddharth Varadarajan One year after jailing the eminent doctor, Binayak Sen, State authorities have arrested another leading civil liberties activist, journalist and filmmaker, Ajay T.G. On May 5, the Chhattisgarh police announced the arrest of Ajay T.G., a Raipur-based journalist and filmmaker, under the State's draconian Special Public Security Act (PSA). He has been charged with sedition under the Indian Penal Code and with having unlawful contact with a banned organisation, the Communist Party of India (Maoist), under Sections 3, 4 and 8 of the PSA. Like Binayak Sen, who was arrested last year on May 14, Ajay is a leading member of the People's Union for Civil Liberties. He is also a prominent social worker whose contribution to the education of young girls from poor slum-dwelling families is well known. The circumstances leading to his arrest are so bizarre and reflect so poorly on Chhattisgarh's approach to dealing with the naxalite problem that they bear recounting in some detail. During the Lok Sabha elections of 2004, Ajay was part of a fact-finding team that visited a number of interior villages in the Dantewada region of the State to study the reaction of ordinary villagers to the Maoist call for a poll boycott, on the one hand, and heavy CRPF deployment, on the other. The team went through several deserted villages before arriving at a village around 4 p.m. As Ajay started taking photographs of a deserted polling booth, the team was surrounded by a group of angry, young Maoist villagers. The youth accused the group of being police agents and detained them for several hours. They were eventually allowed to leave late in the evening but Ajay's camera was confiscated. For Ajay, the loss of his camera was a real blow. His only source of income was the freelance filming he did as a mediaperson. His family was also terrified at the thought that the Maoists believed him to be a police agent and decided not to file an official complaint with the authorities. But as word spread in Raipur about the threats to which the fact-finding team had been subjected, the Maoist leadership in the State moved to control the fallout and declared that it would compensate him if the camera was not recovered. The fact that this incident occurred and that Ajay and his colleagues were the victims of Maoist high-handedness is public knowledge because the media covered it in June 2006. A year-and-a-half later, on January 21, 2008, the Chhattisgarh police intercepted an alleged arms drop by two Maoist women. When the house of one of the women was searched, they recovered a letter addressed to the Maoist spokesman by Ajay on the letterhead of the "The Campaign against Child Labour" (an organisation of which he is convenor). The letter, written in 2004, was about the return of the same camera. When the police arrived at his house to question him, Ajay, in the presence of lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, readily acknowledged authorship of the letter and also explained the unfortunate circumstances in which it had been written. Nevertheless, the police seized his computer. Since filmmakers these days rely as much on their computers as on their cameras, Ajay moved the local courts for the return of his PC. His case was posted for hearing on May 10. Five days before that, however, the police came and arrested him, invoking the Public Security Act which was not even in force in 2004 when the letter was written. Incredibly, stories are now being planted in the local press about how the police only discovered he was the author of the letter after going through his computer and conducting "handwriting analysis." Think about this for a second. Here is a journalist who was actually the victim of a crime committed by the Maoists. For weeks, the family fretted about what the Maoists would do to Ajay since they seemed to believe he was a police agent. And now, the same police steps in to victimise him again, this time with perhaps deadlier consequences since the grant of bail under the PSA -- as Dr. Sen has learned -- is well-nigh impossible. The irony is that the police are prosecuting Dr. Sen for his alleged connections with the naxalites without pausing to ask why, if he was so well connected, a fact-finding mission of which he was a member was illegally detained by the Maoists in 2004. The fact of the matter is that both Dr. Sen and Ajay T.G. are being targeted because of their association with PUCL. And PUCL is under attack because it is one of the organisations inside Chhattisgarh -- besides the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram of Gandhian worker Himanshu Kumar, and others -- that have been trying to expose the ugly reality of Salwa Judum, the State-run vigilante death squad that has led to the death of hundreds of civilians and the forced displacement of tens of thousands of adivasis. CPI leaders in the State are routinely harassed. Himanshu of the VCA, a long-time associate of the late Nirmala Deshpande, is being threatened with eviction from the land on which his ashram was legally built for documenting Salwa Judum atrocities. Courageous local journalists such as Kamlesh Paikra and Afzal Khan have also been attacked and intimidated for exposing state-sponsored violence. When CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta tried to travel to Dantewada to support the protest of local adivasis against the expropriation of their land for a big industrial project, he was denied entry by motivated mobs with the police a silent spectator. Despite the growing ranks of those critical of Salwa Judum, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Chhattisgarh continues to brand its critics as "naxalites" or as persons influenced by the "psychological war machinery of Maoists" -- a claim the Chhattisgarh DGP Vishwa Ranjan made about Ramachandra Guha and Nandini Sundar in an interview to the Pioneer on April 3. The Maoists' psywar machinery is clearly formidable because among those it has now managed to "influence" is an expert committee of the Planning Commission, which includes former IB Director Ajit Doval as member, the Veerappa Moily Committee on Administrative Reforms and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, all of which have documented the Salwa Judum's excesses or called for it to be disbanded. The Chhattisgarh government should realise that countering an armed insurgency requires tact, and intelligence. The arrest and intimidation of prominent critics such as Dr. Sen and Ajay show the utter non-application of mind on the part of its police force. The Salwa Judum is doomed; its withdrawal can be delayed a little but not prevented. The sooner it is withdrawn along with draconian laws like the PSA, the better. From kokopeli at gmail.com Tue May 13 10:32:14 2008 From: kokopeli at gmail.com (Sujata & Samantak) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:32:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Petition for Dr. Binayak Sen's release In-Reply-To: <556b1d6b0805122200u773373bcvf72bbd4550872de7@mail.gmail.com> References: <556b1d6b0805122200u773373bcvf72bbd4550872de7@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <556b1d6b0805122202h69de3c10l97e59a52a14cb3@mail.gmail.com> Dear All, On 14 May 2008, Dr. Binayak Sen will complete a year of unjust (and possibly unlawful) imprisonment. This is a request to consider signing a petition for his release. Can we also think of other ways of registering our outrage and protest at this (continuing) miscarriage of justice on 14 May? I know its difficult to think of new ways of protesting, and anything we do is likely to prove ineffective anyway, but I do think we need to register our protest in our own ways - no matter how small. Apologies, as usual, for this unsolicited mail. Samantak/Buju/Pupu Dear Friends, Dr Binayak Sen will be completing one year of detention this 14th May. His well wishers have demanded his release. If you consider that Dr Sen's detention is wrong please sign this petition. http://www.petitiononline.com/Solitary/petition.html Dr Binayak Sen is the General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh unit of the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties, probably the foremost reason why he was detained. Today this doctor who devoted himself to treating the poor in rural India is behind bars because he rightly perceived disease to be an offshoot of social injustice. Please read the petition to know more about this doctor who received a peace prize very recently while still in prison. Unfortunately today he himself is the victim of the same injustice that he fought. He is in solitary confinement for crimes he did not commit. The decision to arrest him was taken before he could do anything wrong. Please sign the petition. The good doctor should be released. We need more doctors like him if we are to seek health in this diseased society of ours. PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS IN YOUR GROUPS. 14th MAY IS ONLY ONE DAY AWAY. From sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in Tue May 13 15:37:01 2008 From: sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in (S.Fatima) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:07:01 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] Conditions of Palestinian children in Israeli jails shocking Message-ID: <495399.13295.qm@web8411.mail.in.yahoo.com> Britain-based Save the Children organization revealed facts described as "shocking" related to incarceration conditions of Palestinian children in Israeli occupation jails, pointing out that the most disturbing phenomenon observed by international organization was that Zionist regime kidnap children and issues sentences against them harsher than others. According to the organization, Zionist regime's troops kidnapped 6,000 Palestinian children since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada eight years ago, and there are currently more than 320 children behind Zionist regime's bars, adding that the occupation forces detains on average about 700 children every year. Greg Ram, the deputy director of international operations of the organization, underlined that the Israeli measures represented by the arrest of Palestinian children even for simple reasons deprive hundreds of them from enjoying their natural rights. Ram explained that the Palestinian children at the age of 12 get arrested for the most trivial reasons and are taken away from their families to jails inside Israel, adding that Israeli army deprives them from seeing their families for long periods of time and probably do not provide them with lawyers during interrogation. www.qodsna.com From Chandigarh to Chennai - find friends all over India. Go to http://in.promos.yahoo.com/groups/citygroups/ From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue May 13 19:29:23 2008 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir In-Reply-To: <00e301c8b2a2$41b00580$6600a8c0@taraprakash> Message-ID: <952728.25257.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear TaraPrakash Am specifically picking up your question "Are the elected MLAs Kashmiris?" You ask tough questions and it will be interesting to hear the answer(s) to this particular one, if any answers are forthcoming at all. Talking of the "toughness" of your comments, I was looking forward to seeing the response from M Yousuf to your range of comments addressed to him. (On 13/04/08 in Thread "Hindu on Tibet"). M Yousuf has disappeared since then. I hope he is well. Coming back to your latest question, it is mirrored in what I wrote to someone in a (predominantly Kashmiri Muslim forum). I have blocked out his name. Kshmendra Re: [kashnet] Discussion with XXXX XXXX Jee Dear XXXX XXXX Ji The nature of your postings in the past and the language therein would have dissuaded me from addressing you. In this last post of yours though there is the attitude of 'dialogue'. Without getting into the nitty gritty of your ongoing discussion with XXXX XXXX Ji, there are 2 points on which I will request you to do some thinking. 1. Are ALL KMs on the politically opposite side of the KPs? You write " On that very note there are differences between pandits and KMs and both believe that the other party is wrong.I as a KM dont see any reason why a pandit cannot join the ongoing freedom movement.But for that to happen a pandit has to put aside the differences and the pro india approach has to go.Similarly KMs need to accomodate pandits accordingly." You suggest that ALL KPs are pro-India. That would be difficult to argue against. You also suggest that ALL KMs are part of the "ongoing freedom movement". That is factually incorrect. If someone from 'jangbadi line ke uss paar' were to make such a generalisation, it could be dismissed with an amused smile as a complete lack of knowledge about Indian Controlled Kashmir (ICK). But you Abid Ji are not from Pakistan Controlled Kashmir (PCK), are you? Yes in ICK there are the "hurriyat pasand" who are a part of the "ongoing freedom struggle" but they are only ONE PORTION of the KMs in ICK. They are not ALL of the KMs. The KM support base in ICK of National Conference, Congress, Communists and to a great extent that of the PDP too are NOT a part of the "ongoing freedom struggle". You might choose to dismiss them as "enemies of the movement" or as "Indian Agents" but the fact remains that whatever be arguably the percentage they form of the KMs in ICK, they are NOT a part of the "ongoing freedom struggle". 2. What is 'KASHMIRIYAT"? "Kashmiriyat" is a word that gets thrown around a lot in such discussions. It is much used. Much abused I think. Is "Kashmiriyat" to be defined by the KM alone? The question rather should be if "Kashmiriyat" is to be defined by those KMs alone who are a part of the "ongoing freedom struggle". What about those KMs who are not a part of the "ongoing freedom struggle"? Do they have no right to lay out the profile of what constitutes "Kashmiriyat"? What about the KPs? Has anybody cared to ask them what the KPs understand by "Kashmiriyat" and what definition of "Kashmiriyat" the KPs are comfortable with? If there has to be inclusiveness in "Kashmiriyat" then certainly a particular interpretation of "Kashmiriyat" held by ONLY those KMs who support the "ongoing freedom freedom struggle" cannot be thrust down the throats of the KPs with an "accept or die" kind of threatening. Please think over these points. Your comments/reactions are welcome. Kshmendra Kaul TaraPrakash wrote: I am sure it is a minority voice in J&K that desires freedom from "ruthless India and Indians" In fact there are certain "ruthless Indians" who want Kashmiris be given right to self determination. There may be other "ruthless Indians" who want all the Muslim Kashmiris to be exterminated. The point is that when you try to impose a homogenous identity and a singular ambition on the people, you might be committing the same crime as Indian government and many other colonial powers did. Your voice is that of a political elites who change the will of the masses sometime by brutal "ruthless" means and sometimes by sheer eloquence. What do Kashmiris want has not always remained unchanged. There was a time when United States of America was looked at expectantly in Kashmir, now it is not. We don't hear the US government calling Kashmir a disputed territory. How can you say that the relations between Indians and Kashmiris have not transformed or will not transform over the time? However, I don't see any point of going on unless you define what you mean by Kashmiris and Indians. Are the elected MLAs Kashmiris? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rebellious Koshur" To: "S. Jabbar" ; "junaid" ; Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 2:52 AM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir > Sonia, > > The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the > issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which > you have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern > is not the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is > freedom from ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our > friends as we don’t need masters, should support us in our endeavors. > > The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of > Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has > done what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being > an Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian > army in Kashmir ; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies > of Indian politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian > policies on Kashmir . We the people of Kashmir will take account of the > blunders of our politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and > why. We know where from the money came, for what it was spent, and how > much did the politicians use for themselves. We till now have and in > future will do the needful. You please keep out of it, because this is not > India . It is Kashmir . You, the Indian civil society activists, seem to > be behaving in the same hegemonic attitude which the Indian statecraft has > exhibited so far in Kashmir . > > It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is “deeply divided”. Is it > not true for India ? Is it not true for Delhi ? Is it not true for the > small locality where you live in Delhi ? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I > see it as the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are > talking about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in > the modern democratic world. > > You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how > many by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people > here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for > them to share it with you. Why should we trust you? > > For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey > done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. > According to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF > men who got killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 > have been killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 > JKLF members while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF > men. JKLF itself has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF > members who have been killed by “unidentified gunmen”. People here in > Kashmir understand who these unidentified gunmen are. > > What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has > suffered more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while > as the truth according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil > Society is that 87 JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters > with Indian army. 13 have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been > subjected to enforced disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the > JKLF members. > > Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great > friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won’t deny that India is his enemy > and not Hizbul Mujahideen. > > Qalab Hussain > > > > --------------------------------- > Sent from Yahoo! Mail. > A Smarter Email. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Tue May 13 20:00:15 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:00:15 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Arbitrary Detention of Human Rights Defender in Manipur Message-ID: <4829A5F7.5070800@gmail.com> Arbitrary Detention of Human Rights Defender in Manipur http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/arbitrary-detention-of-human-rights-defender-in-manipur/ Name: Sapamcha Kangleipal Meitei (27 years) Father’s Name: Sapam Shyamsunder Meetei Address: Nongada Thongkhong, Imphal East, under the Lamlai Police Station, Manipur Occupation: Social Activist, President of Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) Date of incident: 7th May 2008 Place of incident: Manipur Press Club, Imphal Perpetrators: Manipur police of Imphal police station and Manipur police of City police, Imphal along with Manipur police commandos Facts of the case: A team of Manipur Police had arrested Mr, Sapamcha Kangleipal Meitei, a key human rights defender and prominent youth leader of Manipur for organising a public discussion on the Arming of Civilians (Similar to Salwa Judum in Chattisgarh) and Its Possible Consequences (in Manipur) and making statements regarding the above issue reportedly demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister of Manipur in response to the failure of governance. The youth leader was picked up from the Manipur Press Club on 7 May 2008 on charge of sedition against Government shortly after the public discussion. The police team reportedly forcibly switched off the live telecast of the public discussion through a local cable TV network (ISTV). Mr. Sapamcha has been working at the local grassroots level as President of the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) over the last seven years. Action requested Please write to the Indian authorities and ask them to: * Take all necessary measures to guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Sapamcha Kangleipal * Release Mr. Sapamcha Kangleipal immediately and unconditionally, as his detention is arbitrary since it only aims at sanctioning his human rights activities; * Put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Sapamcha Kangleipal as well as against all human rights defenders in India; * Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments ratified by India. For More News on Kangleipal’s arrest and Peoples Protests against arming civilians in Manipur see http://manipurfreedom.org From pkray11 at gmail.com Wed May 14 00:24:21 2008 From: pkray11 at gmail.com (prakash ray) Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 00:24:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Free Binayak Sen film festival Message-ID: <98f331e00805131154h1f2fae70g3bf5b4b7e9adb78a@mail.gmail.com> Release Dr Sen and Ajai TG without any delay Cinemela Collectives presents Free Binayak Sen Film Festival May 14, 2008/10am onwards SAA auditorium, JNU, New Delhi Prof Arun Kumar Prof Kamal M Chenoy Prof Ajay Patnaik Prof Mohan Rao Dr Rohan D'Souza and many other teachers, activists and friends of Dr Sen will speak on the man, his contributions and the situation which led to his arrest. SCREENING of 10 films (list given below) 14 May 2008 will mark one year of imprisonment for Dr Binayak Sen, the well-known public health and civil rights activist, arrested on false charges of 'assisting' the Maoist insurgency in Chattisgarh. In a nation where increasingly the medical profession is becoming synonymous with unbridled commercial greed Dr Sen dedicated his entire professional life to the free service of people in the remotest villages. In a country, which has health indicators worse than that of sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Sen passionately worked for setting up low cost models of healthcare accessible to the poor. And in a land where the problems of public health are deeply intertwined with the gross violations of the Indian Constitution by state agencies themselves Dr Sen fought for ensuring democratic rights of ordinary people. Dr Sen's detention as a 'threat to national security' stands therefore as a challenge to every Indian who aspires for a humane, democratic and civilized India. To mark the first anniversary of the arrest of Dr Sen, on 14 May 2008 and to call for his immediate release the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival is being organised by concerned citizens and groups around the country. The package of 10 documentaries, presented in this Festival, highlight the issues of human rights and public health and deal with themes ranging from nutrition, greed of drug companies, environmental pollution and state atrocities. They are meant to make all those who watch them wake up and more importantly resist the Silent Emergency that is creeping upon us in front of our very eyes. *************************************** Films 1. In the Name of Medicine K.P.Sasi On the hazardous and banned pharmaceutical drugs in India. 2. Antibiotic Resistance for Idiots Satya Sivaraman A look at antibiotics from the microbe's point of view and calling for an ecological approach to medicine. 3. It's a Boy, its going to be a boy Vani Subramaniam On sex determination tests and female foeticide 4. Sicko Michael Moore Investigates the American health care system, focusing on its for-profit health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The film compares the private-sector U.S. system with the socialized systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba. 5. Secrets and Lies Stavros Stagos This Greek documentary explores how the Bhopal chemical disaster of 1984, which claimed as many as 20,000 lives, continues to affect people today. Points an accusing finger mostly at Union Carbide, the multinational pesticide manufacturer that owned the Bhopal plant. The company is currently part of Dow Chemical (makers of Agent Orange) which now denies all legal responsibility for the disaster. 6. The Bitter Drink P. Baburaj & C. Saratchandran Chronicles the struggle of the most marginalised section of the Indian society, the tribal community, against the mighty global giant Coca Cola. It also discusses the issue of the ownership of natural resources, mainly water. 7. Development Flows fromthe Barrel of the Gun Biju Toppo & Meghnath Documenting the state violence on people affected by development projects in the country, the film explores the relationship between this violence and the new economic policy and globalisation. It puts forward the people's viewpoint on development, which is diametrically opposed to that of the state. 8. Tales from the Margins Kavita Joshi 'Tales from the Margins' travels to this remote, strife-torn corner of India to document the extraordinary protests of Manipuri women for justice. And through their lives, to focus on a vast human tragedy. 9. Death of a River R.R.Srinivasan A documentary about the Manjolai massacre, which took place when Tamil Nadu police attacked a procession of striking tea estate workers, their families and supporters on July 23, 1999. Seventeen people, including two women and a two-year-old boy, were killed and 500 injured in the police attack. 10. Resilient Rhythms Gopal Menon India's caste system places nearly 160 million people, the dalits, at the outskirts of society. It exploits their services, especially to perform "polluting" tasks, such as cutting the umbilical cord, disposing of night-soil, tending cremation grounds, but at the same time denies them acceptance as human beings. Resilient Rhythms deals with a range of dalit responses to their marginalization, from armed struggle to electoral politics. *All groups interested in receiving the package of films for organizing the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival in their areas of work are requested to send the name of their organization, postal address and tentative date of screening to - Wilfred D'Souza, INSAF, New Delhi, insaf at vsnl.com, Ph: 09825171919. The package is meant to be screened mostly in the month of May, particularly around 14 May, the first anniversary of Dr Sen's arrest.* Prakash K Ray, Convenor, Cinemela Collectives cinemela.blogspot.com From taraprakash at gmail.com Wed May 14 00:56:26 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:26:26 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Free Binayak Sen film festival References: <98f331e00805131154h1f2fae70g3bf5b4b7e9adb78a@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <02e001c8b52f$3d3939b0$8d0c220a@taraprakash> The list could have/should have included "Whose land it is anyway" but for the convener? When people are not getting food, CPI(M) feeds them cars. I wish there were movies depicting tata versus human beings struggle. ----- Original Message ----- From: "prakash ray" To: Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:54 PM Subject: [Reader-list] Free Binayak Sen film festival > Release Dr Sen and Ajai TG > without any delay > > Cinemela Collectives > presents > Free Binayak Sen Film Festival > May 14, 2008/10am onwards > SAA auditorium, JNU, New Delhi > > > Prof Arun Kumar > Prof Kamal M Chenoy > Prof Ajay Patnaik > Prof Mohan Rao > Dr Rohan D'Souza > and many other teachers, activists and friends of Dr Sen will speak on the > man, his contributions and the situation which led to his arrest. > SCREENING of 10 films (list given below) > > > 14 May 2008 will mark one year of imprisonment for Dr Binayak Sen, the > well-known public health and civil rights activist, arrested on false > charges of 'assisting' the Maoist insurgency in Chattisgarh. > > In a nation where increasingly the medical profession is becoming > synonymous > with unbridled commercial greed Dr Sen dedicated his entire professional > life to the free service of people in the remotest villages. > > In a country, which has health indicators worse than that of sub-Saharan > Africa, Dr Sen passionately worked for setting up low cost models of > healthcare accessible to the poor. > > And in a land where the problems of public health are deeply intertwined > with the gross violations of the Indian Constitution by state agencies > themselves Dr Sen fought for ensuring democratic rights of ordinary > people. > > Dr Sen's detention as a 'threat to national security' stands therefore as > a > challenge to every Indian who aspires for a humane, democratic and > civilized > India. > > To mark the first anniversary of the arrest of Dr Sen, on 14 May 2008 and > to > call for his immediate release the Free Binayak Sen Film Festival is being > organised by concerned citizens and groups around the country. The package > of 10 documentaries, presented in this Festival, highlight the issues of > human rights and public health and deal with themes ranging from > nutrition, > greed of drug companies, environmental pollution and state atrocities. > > They are meant to make all those who watch them wake up and more > importantly > resist the Silent Emergency that is creeping upon us in front of our very > eyes. > > > *************************************** > > Films > > 1. In the Name of Medicine > > K.P.Sasi > > On the hazardous and banned pharmaceutical drugs in India. > > 2. Antibiotic Resistance for Idiots > > Satya Sivaraman > > A look at antibiotics from the microbe's point of view and calling for an > ecological approach to medicine. > > 3. It's a Boy, its going to be a boy > > Vani Subramaniam > > On sex determination tests and female foeticide > > 4. Sicko > > Michael Moore > > Investigates the American health care system, focusing on its for-profit > health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The film compares the > private-sector U.S. system with the socialized systems of Canada, the > United > Kingdom, France and Cuba. > > 5. Secrets and Lies > > Stavros Stagos > > This Greek documentary explores how the Bhopal chemical disaster of 1984, > which claimed as many as 20,000 lives, continues to affect people today. > Points an accusing finger mostly at Union Carbide, the multinational > pesticide manufacturer that owned the Bhopal plant. The company is > currently > part of Dow Chemical (makers of Agent Orange) which now denies all legal > responsibility for the disaster. > > 6. The Bitter Drink > > P. Baburaj & C. Saratchandran > > Chronicles the struggle of the most marginalised section of the Indian > society, the tribal community, against the mighty global giant Coca Cola. > It > also discusses the issue of the ownership of natural resources, mainly > water. > > 7. Development Flows fromthe Barrel of the Gun > > Biju Toppo & Meghnath > > Documenting the state violence on people affected by development projects > in > the country, the film explores the relationship between this violence and > the new economic policy and globalisation. It puts forward the people's > viewpoint on development, which is diametrically opposed to that of the > state. > > 8. Tales from the Margins > > Kavita Joshi > > 'Tales from the Margins' travels to this remote, strife-torn corner of > India > to document the extraordinary protests of Manipuri women for justice. And > through their lives, to focus on a vast human tragedy. > > 9. Death of a River > > R.R.Srinivasan > > A documentary about the Manjolai massacre, which took place when Tamil > Nadu > police attacked a procession of striking tea estate workers, their > families > and supporters on July 23, 1999. Seventeen people, including two women and > a > two-year-old boy, were killed and 500 injured in the police attack. > > 10. Resilient Rhythms > > Gopal Menon > > India's caste system places nearly 160 million people, the dalits, at the > outskirts of society. It exploits their services, especially to perform > "polluting" tasks, such as cutting the umbilical cord, disposing of > night-soil, tending cremation grounds, but at the same time denies them > acceptance as human beings. Resilient Rhythms deals with a range of dalit > responses to their marginalization, from armed struggle to electoral > politics. > > *All groups interested in receiving the package of films for organizing > the > Free Binayak Sen Film Festival in their areas of work are requested to > send > the name of their organization, postal address and tentative date of > screening to - Wilfred D'Souza, INSAF, New Delhi, insaf at vsnl.com, Ph: > 09825171919. The package is meant to be screened mostly in the month of > May, > particularly around 14 May, the first anniversary of Dr Sen's arrest.* > > Prakash K Ray, Convenor, Cinemela Collectives > > cinemela.blogspot.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From vishal.rawlley at gmail.com Wed May 14 01:16:29 2008 From: vishal.rawlley at gmail.com (Vishal Rawlley) Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 01:16:29 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL In-Reply-To: <31d5ea920805060153n70e9252er48374a65ccabdcfe@mail.gmail.com> References: <31d5ea920805060153n70e9252er48374a65ccabdcfe@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <31d5ea920805131246q1a0a36fap4740d681276b3e80@mail.gmail.com> This is a follow up post on my intrigue with 'one second films'. So I took the time to watch all the entries in this annual one second film festival from the last three years that this festival has existed. And even though they are only one second long, the films did take a few minutes to load. Like the drive to the movie hall can be longer than the duration of the film... traffic jams... buffering of bytes... its the same thing... There were about 60-80 films each year made by a variety of people: 19 year old illustrators, 30 year old graphic designers, 40 year old college professors, lingerie vendors, skateboarders, performance artists, amateur video artists and one or two filmmakers. So quite a variety of people there exploring the new format. Like in the early days of cinema when magicians, inventors, vaudeville entrepreneurs,.. all had their own take on the new medium. and here i am suggesting that the one second format is radically different from the one minute and five minute films that have become a real vogue. The variety of one seconder's can be clubbed into a few consistent themes, and then there were a few that did not fit anywhere. Lots of porn clips, lots of potty humour (a shot of the commode with shit that is flushed out in a second, a fart and everyone stares with a 'who was that' look, a grunt as protagonist exerts himself on the toilet seat,...), Bush bashers with their one second ironies,... so these were the usual people having a lot of fun or being too serious... then there were the one second "actualities": lots of eye blinks, lighting of a match, the popping of a snack into the mouth, a gun shot... the clever cyclical animations, the unexpected moment (humor), found footage of a special effect moment,... were also common devices then the really annoying abstract clips from "art projects" but the real interesting themes were: city, time, memory the city: - a sped up 360 degree shot from a traffic intersection - the closing and opening of a subway train's doors - a second of life in a popular cafe in bombay time: - a bomb tied to a clock blows off - a shot of a clock on an old tower without the second's hand memory: - a perfect moment: when she smiled and pushed the hair away from her face - a flap of a butterfly's wings - a 20-25 frame burst of very popular/ common/ familiar images all of which one can register and recognize in a fraction of a second!!! (this was a revelation to me) there was one beautiful film that had collected just the "the end" credit from different black and white films when it appears on the last frame of the film and montaged a bunch of these together in one second. amazing! so much cinematic memory crammed in that one second. there was another film which was just a simple smiley emoticon uploaded as a quick time file! which makes me think that all these one second films could be called "emoticons". emoticons are tiny and can be inserted in between words. they are the new form of hieroglyphic writing. see any chat room and there is a riot of fonts and colours and smileys and emoticons... and how long does it take to read or register a word or a phrase? a second? less than that? and what if each word could be an animated clip? if these one second clips could be used to punctuate or to add emphasis to textual writing itself?? are we going to evolve a new kind of communication media?? i do think that the internet shall evolve a new way of communication that would be radically different from the parent old medias. just as the ancient hieroglyphs are so different from today's written text and the zoetrope is different from a DVD player, perhaps so shall the future media be radically different from today's communication media in its structure and form, in the way its produced (an animating wand replacing the pen!), the way it is read and received and in the way it is presented and stored... and will we still be in conversation, so to speak? -vishal On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 2:23 PM, Vishal Rawlley wrote: > I for one got quite intrigued by this video festival: Third ONE SECOND > VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) > > Can a 1 sec clip be called a video at all? > > What is 1 second in film time? 25 frames of its video. > > But one can also have animations play at different frame rates: 50 fps or > say 100 fps > > So how much can one cram in all these frames? > > It became a fun exercise to explore. I made six one second films! Each a > little experiment. I posted two of them - the two that worked. > > 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5arONhAdf1w > > 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdXyW11dfMM > > I had been analyzing the aesthetics of short internet clips for a while. > They started as animated gifs: short animations between 2-3 frames at the > most. Then flash animations became quite a rage. Since some of these were > programmed animations, they could employ the 'random feature' in the coding, > which meant that even short animations were not repetitive - the position or > colour or size of the animating object (set to random, or random withing a > range) could change in each cycle, hence animated loops didn't look loopy at > all, they seemed organic. > > Then there was a fight of the online video formats: streaming format, > downloadable formats, for fast connections, for dial-ups, each format > requiring its own player and component softwares installed... You tube has > largely settled that fight for now...or has it!? > > So what is the content and form of these short videos meant for online > viewing? > Some are 'actualities' like those early films made by the Lumière > brothers. Again the porn industry was the pioneer in the video revolution on > the internet. These actuality clips simply showed a scene as it unfolded > with little attempt at narrative construction (fixed camera and no edits): > people bonking, a stunt artist doing daring tricks, someone's pet in a funny > tangle... > > But there are some very clever filmmakers (if they can be called that) who > actually made beautiful clips: shot precisely, edited crispy, deft use of > audio, all with a clear narrative purpose. These remarkable films have a > proper 3-act narrative structure (a beginning, a middle and an end.) within > 10-20seconds. Although this is difficult, it is hardly inconceivable, we > view 30 sec ads on TV all the time. These short clips employ a vast range of > cinematic vocabulary that we are all familiar with. Some images (stills or > clips) can contain a vast amount of information, just like some hieroglyphs > which are more than alphabets or words but entire concepts in themselves. > Using these compact image units, one CAN tell a story in compressed time. As > our cinematic vocabulary is becoming increasingly rich, it is becoming > easier and easier to convey a lot in a short clip. > > What is this cinematic vocabulary? > When we see a clip of lightning flashing against a dark sky, we know its > not an image of a weather report, rather a scene from a horror film or an > ominous moment in the narrative. Thus a universal cinematic vocabulary has > been forming (over 110 years of the invention of this medium) which builds > on all our past viewings. We know from experience what a scene means without > needing much elaboration. None of us remember being shocked by a simple > close up or a footage of a train pulling in - exactly the images that had > drastic reactions from audiences when they were first projected. Now you > need special effects! > > Cinematic vocabulary also includes our vocabulary not just of images but > also of sound. We know the sound of an error message on our computer from > the sound of 'download complete'; we know gunshot sounds and the cry of a > dynasaur without having heard one in reality... Our mental sound bank is > constantly increasing. > > Combining this rich and ever-growing vocabulary, dense and short films can > be made! But a 1 second duration really pushes limits and is worth > experimenting with. > > Hegemony over universal cinematic language: > This 'universal cinematic vocabulary' has largely been determined by the > mass media and its conventions. It is replete with ugly stereotypes and > dominating ideas of representation. However with a large number of > individuals and independent groups contributing videos to the web, perhaps a > new vocabulary may evolve! As we can see, the medium is being reinvented on > the web, starting with actualities and simple edits, to sophisticated forms > of continuous organic animations. Together we are evolve a new language! > Your 1 sec video contribution is therefore important. > > May I remind you: > I am not the paid representative of the third-one-second-video-festival, > but I am a participant. And you can bet on the winning entry and win! One > day left!! > > Best, > Vishal > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2008/4/30 Lele Lingeñere : > > > //////////Español abajo/////////Italiano sotto > > > > Third ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) extended > > its > > deadline till 5/5/2008 > > > > ////jury: > > The winner will be selected by a formula that combines the Gambling > > Online > > and the algorithm DEEP DREDD (www.respeto-total.com/osvf/deepdredd/). > > > > ////rewards: > > > > + In this edition you can bet for the prize-winning video and gain some > > good > > money to cash or to spend on our favourite website virtual casino: > > UNIBET > > > > + THE VIDEO WINNER WILL INCREASE HIS/HER ECONOMY IN AT LEAST 500 EUROS. > > > > + watch the Bingo conference for the presentation of the festival > > (spanish) > > www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=65141081480C642C > > > > ////dates: > > > > 1 April - 5 May : UPLOAD videos > > 5 May - 9 May : BETTING on videos > > 10 May : online PRIZING > > > > ////requisites: > > > > _ fill up the application form > > _ upload the 1 second video (.mov .wmv .avi .mpg) _ upload a snapshot of > > the > > video > > > > //////////English above//////////Italiano sotto > > > > El 3rd ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) extiende > > su > > fecha limite hasta el 5/5/2008 > > > > > > ////jurado: > > > > El ganador será elegido por una formula que combinará las apuestas > > online y > > el algoritmo DEEP DREDD(www.respeto-total.com/osvf/deepdredd/). > > > > ////premios: > > > > + En esta edición podréis apostar por el video ganador y llevaros un > > buen > > dinero a cobrar o gastar en la web de nuestro casino virtual favorito: > > UNIBET (www.unibet.es). > > > > + EL VIDEO GANADOR AUMENTARÁ SU PATRIMONIO EN POR LO MENOS 500 EUROS. > > > > mira la bingo conferencia de presentación > > www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=65141081480C642C > > > > ////fechas: > > > > 1 Abril - 5 Mayo : UPLOAD peliculas > > 5 Mayo – 9 Mayo : APUESTAS sobre peliculas > > 10 Mayo : PREMIACIÓN online > > > > ////requisitos > > > > _rellenar la ficha de inscripción > > _subir el vídeo de 1 segundo (.mov .wmv .avi .mpg) _adjuntar un still de > > la > > película > > > > //////////English & Spanish above > > > > Il 3rd ONE SECOND VIDEO FESTIVAL (www.respeto-total.com/tosvf/) estende > > la > > scadenza per l'invio di video fino al 5/5/2008 > > > > ////giuria: > > > > Il vincitore verrá selezionato da una formula che combina le scommesse > > online e l'algoritmo DEEP DREDD (www.respeto-total.com/osvf/deepdredd/). > > > > ////premio: > > > > + In questa edizione potrete scommettere sul video vincitore e > > + guadambiarvi > > un bel malloppo da incassare o spendere nella web del nostro casinó > > virtuale > > preferito: UNIBET . > > > > + IL VIDEO VINCENTE VEDRÀ LA SUA SITUAZIONE ECONOMICA MIGLIORARE DI 500 > > EURO. > > > > Guarda lo speciale sulla rete spagnola Cuatro > > > > http://www.cuatro.com/videos/index.html?xref=20060131ctoultnot_15.Ves&view=b > > aja > > > > ////date: > > > > 1 Aprile - 5 Maggio : UPLOAD video > > 5 Maggio – 9 Maggio : SCOMMESSE sui video > > 10 Maggio : PREMIAZIONE online > > > > ////requisiti > > > > _riempire la scheda di iscrizione > > _uploadare il video i un secondo (.mov .wmv .avi .mpg) > > _allegare un'immagine del video > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > From anivar at movingrepublic.org Mon May 12 21:56:06 2008 From: anivar at movingrepublic.org (Anivar Aravind) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 21:56:06 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] NDTV Online Voting on Binayak Sen Message-ID: <48286F9E.8020608@movingrepublic.org> Please visit: and vote (Yes). http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080049595 Nobel appeal to free jailed doctor NDTV Correspondent Monday, May 12, 2008 (Raipur) There has been a massive show of international support for Dr Binayak Sen who is currently in a jail in Raipur in Chhattisgarh. At least twenty Nobel Laureates have written a letter to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Law Minister and the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh among others. The letter then goes on to say, ''We wish to express grave concern that Dr Sen appears to be incarcerated solely for peacefully exercising his fundamental human rights, in contravention of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party. We are pleased to learn that Dr Sen's trial has, after numerous delays, now begun.'' They have appealed to them to let the jailed doctor go to Washington on what they call humanitarian grounds. Dr Sen is supposed to go personally to Washington to receive the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights. Binayak Sen has been in jail since May 14 last year after he was charged by the Chhatisgarh government under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2006. Sen has been working extensively in the tribal belt of Chattisgarh. It was after he criticised the manner in which the state government was dealing with Naxalism that the state government charged him with being a member of a 'terrorist organisation'. Many have criticised the manner in which Sen was detained and international human rights groups have appealed for his release. The state's main evidence produced in court thus far includes letters from an alleged Maoist leader, Narayan Sanyal, who Sen is supposed to have helped smuggle out of prison. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment. Sukla __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html _______________________________________________ Foil-l mailing list Foil-l at insaf.net http://insaf.net/mailman/listinfo/foil-l_insaf.net From hemennarayan at gmail.com Wed May 14 01:12:07 2008 From: hemennarayan at gmail.com (hemennarayan at gmail.com) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:42:07 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Massacre of journalism in India In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <8924668.11210707727583.JavaMail.root@wombat.diezmil.com> Dear Sir , This is in reference to -Massacre of Journalism in India-By Nava Thakuria on Nellie massacre which has been quoted. It was triggered because of my book-25 years on.. Nellie still haunts. Given below are two reviews of the book which somewhat puts the record straight. -- (1) Review The main piece of the book is more of personal impression of the author, than a hard news story by a professional. Hemendra Narayan, the journalist -- who more by instinct than design – became a witness to the terrible mayhem of February 18, 1983, in central Assam. The traumatic incidents at Nellie still haunt him, and it comes out unmistakably in the chapter - Woman in the Green Sari. The woman, who had seen death all around and escaped, produced a 'surreal scream'; he says -- and adds, "The horrific images are still stuck in my mind." The magnitude of death and destruction that unfolded before them in an open clear picturesque setting - they were three media persons - would have overwhelmed anyone. It was an eerie setting because of the 'kill-burn-slay' psychology of the hundreds of armed men. The February 1983 Assembly elections were held to fulfill a Constitutional 'obligation'. The logic was that the polls could not be stopped because the President Rule could not be extended beyond one year, and that deadline was fast approaching. The supporters of movement against 'foreign' nationals were not only boycotting, but opposing the elections aggressively as well. As the election(s) process got going, "It was a strange scenario across the Brahmaputra valley -- right from Dhubri to Dibrugrah; depending on the population profile -- the killing lust had surcharged the atmosphere," the slim publication says in its preface. The toll around Nellie villages officially stood at 2,191. Mr B G Verghese, doyen of Indian journalism -- who has a special interest on the affairs of the North–East, says in his foreword remarks, "India must care and ponder over what happened, and we must all learn our several lessons as distinctive groups, wider communities, the Government..." The booklet, apart from being of interest to journalists even 25 years on -- should be of relevance to the students of contemporary history. Some of the documents used helps in understanding the overall situation in proper perspective. The documents in the publication, which includes that of the Lalung Darbar, the Election Commission and the report of the non-official Justice Mehta Commission, would be of great significance for some one, studying the Assam and India's history of period. (2) Review - 25 years on...Nellie still haunts Some events in history just refuse to fade from public memory. The partition of India and Pakistan, for instance. That bloody event in history continues to inspire several novels, academic studies and even films — even now. But there are some dark chapters in independent India's history that many people — protagonists, by-standers and even those who had nothing to do with the event per se — want buried in the sands of time. The infamous Nellie massacre in Assam in 1983 is one such gory episode. There are conflicting figures about exactly how many people — women, infants and men — were killed on that fateful day of 18 February 1983, but no one disputes the fact that at least 2,000 people lost their lives. For years, the Nellie massacre became a metaphor for everything that has gone wrong with Assam over the past three decades. Those who worry about the unabated influx of foreigners from across the international border say Nellie was a manifestation of the pent up anger among the indigenous people. Others, apologists for the migrants, portray the victims of the Nellie massacre as just that — victims. But the reality of the violence of that day and several days preceding it lies somewhere in between. And bringing that to the fore is reporter, Hemendra Narayan, now with The Statesmen but who 25 years ago was with The Indian Express. He was one of three journalists to witness the carnage first hand. For a quarter century, he carried the memories of that particular day with him but finally decided to come out with a small booklet detailing the events of that day. It was as if he was liberating himself after such a long gap. A catharsis in a way for Narayan the human being, if not Narayan the reporter! The writer, I am sure, in 25 Years on... Nellie still haunts, had no intentions of opening any old wounds or hurting anyone. But it can be said that the Nellie massacre still remains a deep wound on the collective psyche of Assam! Narayan has indeed recounted the events of that period with some objectivity and with the benefit of hindsight In the 52-page "slim publication", as BG Verghese describes it, he says in the Foreword, "Narayan has recalled various versions on offer, including his own of what happened on 18 Februrary, 1983. The narrative reads like the Japanese play, Rashmonon." Narayan has indeed included an array of material in an attempt to give all possible sides to the real story of Nellie. He has his own dispatch of that day as the starting point. It includes a memorandum by the Lalung Darbar, presented to Indira Gandhi, who in many ways should be blamed for creating the circumstances that led to the Nellie massacre. The Lalungs, who are often portrayed as aggressors of that day, have stoutly denied their hand in the violence. Then there are documents, both official and non-official, as also the Election Commission's logic in holding the elections that ultimately resulted in unleashing the violence that culminated in Nellie. Like a true reporter, Narayan has attempted to raise the real question: What is the real truth of Nellie? Like many events in independent India's history, the correct answer will never be known — not at least in our lifetime, as Tribuhwan Prasad Tewary, who conducted an official enquiry into the massacre (and whose report has never been made public), told Narayan. But in writing and publishing an account of Nellie, 25 years after it happened, Narayan has done a signal service to historians and students of contemporary history. The mystery of Nellie will never be completely solved but at least, through Narayan's efforts, each of us can make an attempt to find our own little answers. (Rekha Goel) -- radhikarajen wrote : Hey, to call commercial tv channels and the anchors as journalists is misnomer, they are celebritis, merchants of news, packaging news as they like to sell it for good trp and better ad revenues, they are blots on good journalism, and importance of news channels being partisan for favours is well known, most of them have lost credibility as the anchors and channels are far away from ground realities in India. Unlike weatern channels which covered 9/11 carnage, showing the calamity only two or three times and then covering the relief work more than theold footage, in India you can see all these channels showing the 12 year old footage even now every half an hour three times to seek favours with political party in power.Ofcourse Padma awards added incentive of sycophancy. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bikash Ballabh Singh Date: Thursday, March 6, 2008 1:39 pm Subject: [Reader-list] Massacre of journalism in India To: reader-list at sara... > *A senior TV journalist recently reported the Nellie carnage with > three-year > old facts. He did not bother to update the story. Is it ethical to > packageold wine in a new bottle? Why does the Northeast receive > such treatment: A > review.* > by Nava Thakuria(Citizen Journalist) via merinews > > NORTHEAST INDIA has turned in to a land of happenings. From > insurgency to > ethnic tension and economic activities to cultural discourses, it > starteddrawing the attention of media worldwide. The alienated > region of the > country has suddenly woken up to an anniversary of a massacre that > tookplace 25 years back in Assam. A senior Indian journalist > released a book on > the issue in the national capital recently and suddenly a group of > reportersbegan to pile up their reporting space with the memory of > the carnage. Many > of them even did not bother to check the old information, while > puttingthose in their fresh columns (as might be nobody bothers > about Northeast). > > Meet Nitin A Gokhale, the senior editor, defence and strategic > affairs of > NDTV (New Delhi), who has recently contributed a column for the > portal of > the satellite channel > (http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/showcolumns.aspx?id=COLEN20080042819). > But out of callousness, the editor-journalist copied and pasted > more than 70 > per cent of the text from one of his earlier articles, released by > an Indian > portal ( > http://www.tehelka.com/story_main13.asp?filename=Ne070205The_simple.asp) > three years back. He even used the same quotes, where one of them > was a > local Panchayat member. Assam had the Panchayat election three > months back, > but Nitin did not bother to check his present status (whether he was > re-elected this time). More over the entire situation was re- > created for > Nitin (must be by God) when he had recently visited, Nellie, the > place of > the carnage. > > It may be mentioned that Nellie, a sleepy village of middle Assam > witnesseda horrifying massacre of thousands of Muslims in 1983. > The village, nearly > 90 km away from Guwahati became a center of media attraction > during the > period, when the Assam agitation led by All Assam Students Union > (AASU)reached the peak. It was the time, when New Delhi imposed an > election in the > state against the will of the indigenous people. The memory of Nellie > massacre still haunts the Assamese psyche irrespective of caste, > creed and > religion. > > But surprisingly enough, this sensitive issue was also taken for > manufacturing stories by the journalist, who used to stay in Assam > for some > time. Now based in New Delhi, Nitin had contributed a piece for > NDTV with > his three years old information. His column (with an 'I-Know-All' air) > titled 'Nellie revisited: 25 years on' uploaded on Saturday (March > 1), tends > to analyse the situation after his recent visit to the location. > The writer > also described the consequences of the carnage and its implication on > today's changing demographic pattern in the state. But leaving > aside first > few paragraphs of the write up on NDTV portal, the entire text was > simplyadded form an earlier article (by him of course) used by > Tehelka. In fact, > besides a little introduction of the Nellie massacre in reference > to a book > release by Hemendra Narayan in New Delhi recently, Nitin picked up > his old > text with minor updating. > > The journalist picked up all the quotes (as he did three years > back), and > used for his March 1 piece on NDTV. One of his quotes (Mohammed > NuruddinMunshi, the all-powerful leader of the community in the > area) described, "We > now number about 12,000-14,000 as against barely 3,000-odd in > 1983." The old > article contained the same line with the same description. So the > man must > have taken help of his memory to reveal the precise statistics to > Nitin'during a recent visit to Nellie'. The next quote (Suruj > Konwar, a > veterinary department employee) said exactly the same thing to > Nitin, as it > was reported in 1983. > > The editor provided some space to elaborate the profile of > Nuruddin, who was > 'then a 20-year-old having just completed his schooling in Arabic' > and later > 'began taking active interest in politics'. The next lines say, > "Today he is > the member of the Anchalik Parishad and a leader of the > community." The old > article (uploaded in July 2005) also described Nuruddin as the > member of the > Anchalik Parishad (a part of Panchyati Raj system in India). So he > must have > been re-elected in the Panchyat polls of Assam that took place during > December and January 2007. But there is no mention about it. It simply > implies that Nitin does not care about the authenticity of a quote > in his > column. The NDTV editor was communicated with his personal e-mail > address as > well as official feedback format, but no response was coming from him. > > Now the pertinent question that arises, whether a journalist is > allowed to > manufacture quotes for his write-ups those might speak biased > information?Moreover, is anyone is permitted to copy and paste > almost 80 per cent of his > own write up, even though the situation had been changed in three long > years. Are these not a clear case of unpardonable offence by the NDTV > editor, which could definitely hurt the moral and ethical values of > journalism? > > *PS. The readers may check **out both pieces, where paragraphs > lifted from > the earlier piece are in italics.* > > *Nellie revisited: 25 years on* > *Nitin Gokhale* > Senior Editor, Defence and Strategic Affairs > Saturday, March 1, 2008 (New Delhi) > > On February 18, 2008, the Delhi Press Club was the venue for a small > function organised by Hemendra Narayan, a veteran reporter, who > works with *The > Statesman* in New Delhi. The Occasion: Release of a monograph on > one of > independent India's darkest chapters: the massacre of over 3,000 > people at > Nellie in Assam. Exactly 25 years to date, Hemendra Narayan and a > couple of > other journalists - one from *Assam Tribune* and the other from > ABC news - > witnessed the cold blooded murder of migrant Muslims by a rampant mob. > > Narayan was then reporting from India's northeast for *The Indian > Express.*Could the reporters have done anything to save even one life? > Could they > have played saviours at a time when police and para-military > forces failed > to act? For over quarter of a century, Narayan battled with the > ghosts of > that day and played and replayed the horrific images in his mind's > eye and > finally decided to come up with the monograph as if to rid himself > of the > burden of the guilt that he carried for so long. > > Super Cop KPS Gill, who was Assam's Inspector General Police for > Law and > order during that period was present at the function to release the > monograph. He recalled the tough times and the circumstances under > which the > Nellie massacre took place. There are no clear-cut answers to what > wentwrong that time. But this is perhaps an appropriate occasion > to look back > how Assam's political landscape has changed over these intervening > 25 years. > > Nellie was the turning point in Assam's body politic. On a more > personalnote, I started my career as a journalist in Assam just > two months after the > infamous carnage. Since then I have visited Nellie a number of > times and > have found that in the past 25 years, the ground reality has > undergone a > total transformation. > >The Assam agitation (or movement as some people prefer to term it) > was a > result of the fear that the indigenous population had against > large-scale > influx of Bangladeshis into Assam. But this migration was nothing > new. In > the early 20th century hordes of people from what was then East > Bengal in > undivided India migrated to the sparsely populated yet fertile > BrahmaputraValley. > > They came in such large numbers that CS Mullan, an ICS officer and > the then > census commissioner, observed in 1931: "Probably the most > important event in > the province (Assam) during the last 25 years - an event, > moreover, which > seems likely to alter permanently the whole future of Assam and > the whole > structure of Assamese culture and civilisation - has been the > invasion of a > vast horde of land-hungry Bengali militants, mostly Muslims, from the > districts of Eastern Bengal in general and Mymensingh in > particular. It is > sad but by no means improbable that in another 30 years Sibsagar > districtwill be the only part of Assam in which an Assamese will > find himself at > home." > > *Mullan's prophecy did not come true as early as he predicted but > at the > turn of the century, the ground reality in most parts of Assam > resembleswhat the ics officer had foreseen more than 70 years ago. * > > *Today, the Assamese indeed finds himself outnumbered in at least nine > districts; most of the state's agriculture production and its > vegetables are > in the hands of the migrants. The migrant also makes up the > largest chunk of > labour force engaged in construction activities; over 80 percent > of the > state's cycle-rickshaws are pedalled by the migrants. The truth is > today'sAssam cannot do without this hardworking section of the > population. * > > *The flip side is that even politicians cannot do without them. > The ruling > Congress goes out of its way to appease the migrants and therefore > wants to > believe in the myth, perpetuated by its own propaganda machine, > that there > is no influx from Bangladesh. Sadly, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), > midwifedby the once powerful All Assam Students Union (AASU), also > did not do much > to deport illegal migrants during its two stints in power.* So > what's the > reality a quarter century after Nellie? > > During a recent visit to Nellie, I found the tide has truly > turned. Muslims > are no longer a minority there. They are also politically savvy. > Most of > their leaders realise that their safety lies in numbers. > > *The change is apparent in Nellie. In 1983, the Muslims were > outnumbered by > the Tiwa tribals; today the situation has completely reversed. > Says Mojen > Konwar of Nellie, who was witness to the massacre, "What happened then > cannot happen again because the minority has become a majority. > There are > bound to be problems in the coming years." The wizened old man, > however,hastens to add that the killing of the Muslims in 1983 was > the handiwork of > 'outsiders'. Narayan Radu Kakati, chairman of the Tiwa Autonomous > Council,meant to offer constitutional protection to the tribals, > concurs: "Our > people had no clue to the killings. It just happened as part of a > largerconspiracy." * > > *The Muslims, however, are not interested in knowing who the > killers were. > All they know is that the best protection they can have in the > areas is to > become a majority. The large-scale relocation of Muslim peasants from > neighbouring Morigaon and Nagaon districts has fulfilled that > plan. Admits > Mohammed Nuruddin Munshi, the all-powerful leader of the community > in the > area: "We now number about 12,000-14,000 as against barely 3,000- > odd in > 1983." Mohammad Moinuddin, a 70-year-old father of 10 children, > says he > shifted from nearby Jagiroad to the Nellie area and bought several > bighas of > land to support his family. "With so many mouths to feed, I needed > to get > more land and the land was available aplenty here," he says. Most > of the > land earlier belonged to the Tiwas who, for lack of enterprise, > are simply > selling it for short-term gains. * > > *The root of the problem is in fact the alienation of tribals from > the land. > The Tiwas, hopelessly outnumbered now, say their land is being > graduallybought over by the Muslims. "When people get Rs 30,000- > 40,000 per bigha, > they simply sell their land," says Suruj Konwar, a veterinary > departmentemployee. As a result, today Nellie's demography has > completely changed. * > *But most people have not forgotten the 1983 massacre. For > Nuruddin's elder > brother Mohammed Tamiruddin, the memory of February 18 is as > painful and > vivid as if it happened yesterday. "Between 8am and 3pm that day, > a mad > frenzy had gripped the attackers. They came, armed with daos > (matchet),country guns and lathis and surrounded us. First they > started burning our > hutments. We thought our lives at least would be spared but after > a while > the attackers started killing systematically. In our village > (Basundhari) we > lost 1,819 people that day. I and my brother Nuruddin were hiding > in a pond. > When the attackers started coming closer, we ran to the nearby railway > bridge and hid there till the CRPF came to our rescue. Between us, > we lost > 26 family members," Tamiruddin says, his eyes moistening at the > painfulmemories.* > > *After the killings, Nuruddin, then a 20-year-old having just > completed his > schooling in Arabic, began taking active interest in politics. > Today he is > the member of the Anchalik Parishad and a leader of the community. * > *Despite the harrowing experience he had to go through, he holds > no grudges. > "We have very cordial relations with our Hindu brothers here. > There is no > tension. In fact, 30 percent of our children study at a school > located in a > Hindu majority area," he emphasises. * > > *There may not be any tension but the residents are always alert. > As I > ventured into the interiors, leaving the NH37 passing through > Nellie, word > reached Nuruddin, who was some 10 km inside that strangers were > coming to > meet him, courtesy the ubiquitous mobile phone. Someone had called up > Nuruddin to inform about the strangers' arrival.* > > *Afraid that something was wrong, Nuruddin waited for us near the > mosque in > the village instead of his house. Many others were around him as > we reached > the village square. The safety in numbers theory was very > apparent. As we > talked, the tension gradually faded but it was clear that no > newcomer could > now enter the Muslim villages of Nellie without being noticed.* > > *Clearly, Nuruddin and his fellow men have learnt from the 1983 > experience.None of them want to be at the receiving end. Indeed, > most people in Assam > now know that the outcome of a Nellie repeat would be much > different. That's > the ground reality today.* > > Soruce: http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=130768 > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sara... with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sara... with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- This message was sent on behalf of hemennarayan at gmail.com at openSubscriber.com http://www.opensubscriber.com/message/reader-list at sarai.net/8748815.html From mitoo at sarai.net Tue May 13 15:47:03 2008 From: mitoo at sarai.net (Mitoo Das) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:47:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Seminar by Prof. Sudipta Kaviraj Message-ID: <48296A9F.2000301@sarai.net> *Monday, 19th May 2008* You are invited to a seminar On the Second Mahabharata *Rasa, Aesthetics and Meanings of the Epic* * * by *Professor Sudipta Kaviraj* at *2:30 PM* at the Seminar Room, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), 29, Rajpur Road, Delhi 110 054. Professor Sudipta Kaviraj, Professor of Indian Politics and Intellectual History at Columbia University, is Rajni Kothari Chair Professor at CSDS. His publications include *The Unhappy Consciousness: Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay and the Formation of Nationalist Discourse in India* (OUP 1993); (Ed.) *Politics in India* (OUP 1998); (Ed. with Sunil Khilnani) *Civil Society: History and Possibilities* (Cambridge 2000); (Ed. with Martin Doornbos) *Dynamics of State Formation: Europe and India Compared* (Sage 1998); and (with Krishna Bharadwaj) *Perspectives on Capitalism: Marx, Keynes, Schumpeter and Weber** (Sage 1989).* ~ Rajesh Ramakrishnan Academic Secretary -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From rajeshr at csds.in Wed May 14 11:22:44 2008 From: rajeshr at csds.in (Rajesh Ramakrishnan) Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 11:22:44 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] `On the Second Mahabharata' - talk by Sudipta Kaviraj Message-ID: Monday, 19th May 2008 You are invited to a seminar On the Second Mahabharata: Rasa, Aesthetics and Meanings of the Epic by Professor Sudipta Kaviraj at 2:30 PM at the Seminar Room, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), 29, Rajpur Road, Delhi 110 054. Professor Sudipta Kaviraj, Professor of Indian Politics and Intellectual History at Columbia University, is Rajni Kothari Chair Professor at CSDS. His publications include The Unhappy Consciousness: Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay and the Formation of Nationalist Discourse in India (OUP 1993); (Ed.) Politics in India (OUP 1998); (Ed. with Sunil Khilnani) Civil Society: History and Possibilities (Cambridge 2000); (Ed. with Martin Doornbos) Dynamics of State Formation: Europe and India Compared (Sage 1998); and (with Krishna Bharadwaj) Perspectives on Capitalism: Marx, Keynes, Schumpeter and Weber (Sage 1989). From news at networkcultures.org Tue May 13 16:55:37 2008 From: news at networkcultures.org (institute for network cultures news) Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:25:37 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Essay preview | Eric Kluitenberg | Delusive Spaces, Essays on Culture, Media and Technology Message-ID: <1E17FB47-2FBF-4EAF-8CC4-9EB443A02C42@networkcultures.org> Essay preview from Eric Kluitenberg - the Pleasure of the Medium 'Jouissance' and the Excess of Writing. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// Eric Kluitenberg, Delusive Spaces. Essays on Culture, Media and Technology, Rotterdam/Amsterdam: Nai Publishers & Institute of Network Cultures, 2008. www.naipublishers.nl/art/delusivespaces_e.html The open terrain of new media is closing fast. Market concentration, legal consolidation and tightening governmental control have effectively ended the myth of the free and open networks. In Delusive Spaces, Eric Kluitenberg takes a critical position that retains a utopian potential for emerging media cultures. The book investigates the archeology of media and machine, mapping the different methods and metaphors that speak about technology. Returning to the present, Kluitenberg discusses the cultural use of new media in an age of post- governmental politics. Delusive Spaces concludes with the impossibility of representation. Going beyond the obvious delusions of the ‘new’ and the 'free', Kluitenberg theorizes artistic practices and European cultural policies, demonstrating a provocative engagement with the utopian dimension of technology. Eric Kluitenberg is a Dutch media theorist, writer and organizer. Since the late 1980s, he has been involved in numerous international projects in the field of electronic art, media culture, and information politics. Kluitenberg heads the media program at De Balie, Centre for Culture and Politics in Amsterdam. He is the editor of the Book of Imaginary Media (NAi Publishers, 2006) and the theme issue 'Hybrid Space' of Open, journal on art and the public domain (2007). A previous publication in this series is from Ned Rossiter about Organized Networks (2007). http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/portal/publications/studies-in-network-cultures/organized-networks/ Coming publications in the Studies of Network Cultures Series will be from Matteo Pasquinelli, Florian Schneider and Josephine Bosma. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Pleasure of the Medium 'Jouissance' and the Excess of Writing. pdf downloadable at: http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/portal/files/2008/05/pleasure-of-the-medium-delusive-spaces.pdf I am looking at a website - it bores me. I am delighted by my boredom. Why should it not bore me? Why should I be fascinated? I am looking for an escape from spectacularity. I don’t want to be spectacularized. I hear a discussion about ‘quality’. I am bored by it. I hate this boredom! Why should I be interested in ‘quality’? What quality? Whose quality? ‘What is this shit?!??’ I hear desperation, unnerving irritation. I am stimulated! Who is saying this to me? Who is writing? Does it really matter? - - - - - - - The greatest fascination of a new medium always lies within the machine. It is not the old medium being the ‘content’ of the new medium – wrong formula. It is only when the old medium is discarded, even if this delightful moment is brought about by a mistake, that the magic of the new medium can disclose itself. I had this experience when watching some of the magnificent websites created by jodi.org, specifically for the Netscape 2.0 browser on a mac system. The website would get stuck, seem to buffer indefinitely. Then suddenly, the page would start to load again, superimposed layers of graphics and ascii swirls crowding the screen. Blinking signs, links to more digital garbage, neatly organized in the defunct mosaic. - - - - - - - We were at the launch of the net.congestion archive and we experienced net congestion . . . Some people from Seattle who had visited our festival about half a year earlier had made a real local show. We had asked participants to this festival of streaming media to ‘stream-in’ for the occasion. We were watching from a comfortable space in the centre of Amsterdam. The Riga crew, as always, knew exactly what they were doing – a nice, low-bandwidth, grainy, but perfect web video mix and stunning electronic music from that magical city in the Baltics. The people in Banff had made a wonderful sound loop, perfect reception from Canada – we projected an image of ‘Sleeping Buffalo’ to it, a local mountain just outside the Banff campus. But Seattle – they topped it off. They gathered a crowd (with some 9 hours time difference) and were staging a real-life serious debate on the politics of the networked media sphere. It sounded inspiring and insightful, from what we could get at our end, but every 10 to 15 seconds the stream would break up. The face of a speaker would suddenly contort while the sound would squeak, turn into electrostatic noise (so it seemed) – on the projection screen we saw the most wondrous cubist images; constantly transforming over time, new contortions, blends of colours that were not there before, a grotesque, a caricature, emerging spontaneously. Adam, one of the organizers of the festival, was standing in awe watching this anti- spectacle – "Wow, this is so beautiful! I could look at this for hours!" - - - - - - - David Sifry, founder and CEO of Technnorati, reports on5 April 2007 that according to technorati.com’s then latest count, about 70,000,000 blogs are online, with a significant growth of fake and spam blogs (splogs), but still far outranked by genuine postings. An excess of writing. - - - - - - - Minor mathematics – to get an average readership of about 100 readers over a certain average period in which these blogs are available online, before they disappear into oblivion, requires a population of 7 billion. The conclusion would probably have to be that population growth needs to be sped up so as to match the growth of blog-production and provide them with a readership. - - - - - - - Roland Barthes identified two types of pleasures in text – the text of pleasure and the text of 'jouissance' [1]: "Text of pleasure: the text that contents, fills, grants euphoria; the text that comes from culture and does not break with it, is linked to a comfortable practice of reading. Text of jouissance: the text that imposes a state of loss, the text that discomforts (perhaps to the point of a certain boredom), unsettles the reader’s historical, cultural, psychological assumptions, the consistency of his tastes, values, memories, brings to a crisis his relation with language." [2] The subject who holds these two texts in their field and in their hands, according to Barthes, is an anachronic subject. A contradictory subject who both "enjoys the consistency of his selfhood (that is his pleasure) and seeks his loss (that is his ecstasy). He is a subject split twice over, doubly perverse." - - - - - - - From Lacan we learned that the desire of the subject is oriented on an essential lack. This lack results from the illusory quest of the subject for its own consistency and unity that does not exist. This Lacanian subject is lost between the emanations of its own body, the imaginary images it projects on itself (the images the subject mirrors itself in without ever having laid direct eyes upon itself), and the symbolic order, that of language and text paradigmatically, in which it tries desperately to articulate itself, while this act of articulation by means of language only results in a further deferral of the subject from its (supposed) self. The excess of writing is the futile quest of the subject to fulfil its own impossible desire by means of language. The ecstasy of writing is the realization of the impossibility of this quest and the willing submission to it – the subject willingly losing itself, dissolving into text. - - - - - - - The ecstasy of writing/reading is a bodily experience. It adheres neither to bourgeois morality nor to Marxist/materialist doxology. Barthes explains: "On the stage of the text, no footlights: there is not, behind the text, someone active (the writer) and out front someone passive (the reader); there is not a subject and an object. The text supersedes grammatical attitudes: it is the undifferentiated eye, which an excessive author (Angelus Silesius) describes: ‘The eye by which I see God is the same eye by which he sees me.’ Apparently Arab scholars, when speaking of the text, use this admirable expression: ‘the certain body.’ What body? We have several of them; the body of anatomists and physiologists, the one science sees or discusses: this is the text of grammarians, critics, commentators, philologists (the pheno-text). But we also have a body of bliss consisting solely of erotic relations, utterly distinct from the first body: it is another contour, another nomination; Does the text have human form, is it a figure, an anagram of the body? Yes, but of our erotic body. The pleasure of the text is irreducible to physiological need." [3] - - - - - - - The erotic can only come into being beyond utility. This is what Bataille has taught us. Only when sexuality is freed from its productive (reproductive) functions can it be transformed into an erotic principle. The sovereign experience of eroticism cannot accept any reduction to a sanctified social code – it is instead heightened in the transgression of that very code, in the moment of jouissance, the coming, the climax of ecstasy, of entering the ‘beyond’. Eroticism, as opposed to sexuality is what defines our humanity. The dialectic of desire and prohibition simultaneously conceals and reveals that which is of supreme (souverainement) importance to us – the sacred. Its consumption is a moment of absolute delight, but it also opens up an experiential void where we stare in the face of death. The erotic is never a principle of efficiency. It does not attempt to produce a maximum effect with a minimum expenditure of energy. Quite the reverse, it attempts to achieve a maximum expenditure of energy, a climax, in which life’s energy is expended excessively. "Anguish, when desire opens onto a void – and, sometimes, onto death – is perhaps a reason for desiring more strongly and for finding the desired object more attractive, but in the last instance the object of desire always has the meaning of delight, and this object, whatever one might say of it, is not inaccessible. It would be inexcusable to speak of eroticism without saying essentially that it centers on joy. A joy, moreover, that is excessive. In speaking of their raptures, mystics wish to give the impression of a pleasure so great that the pleasure of human love does not compare. It is hard to asses the degree of intensity of states that may not be incommunicable, perhaps, but that can never be compared with any exactness, for lack of familiarity with other states than those we personally experience." [4] - - - - - - - The ecstasy of the writing (blogging) subject is the embrace of its moment of its loss into text. This loss constitutes a negative pleasure far greater than the appreciation of beauty, or the positive pleasures of taste and sanctioned intimacy. The moment of loss opens up a void in experience because it signals to the subject the loss of its illusory consistency and unity of self (which never existed in the first place – but such a horror is simply too great to live with, and thus is always covered up by a phantasmatic support and imaginary self- images). In this sense, this moment of loss constitutes an absolute negativity – in that it signals the end of existence (of the unitary subject) – and confronts it with the face of death. But this text, written by the blogging subject seeking its own loss, comes back to that subject, and reconstitutes it, in another place according to Barthes. This moment of reconstitution of the subject produces a sensation of such absolute delight that it dwarfs any possible experience of positive pleasure – such is the nature of the existential sublime. [5] - - - - - - - A fundamental asymmetry between pleasure of writing and pleasure of reading remains, however: "Does writing in pleasure guarantee – guarantee me, the writer – my reader’s pleasure? Not at all. I must seek out this reader (must ‘cruise’ him) without knowing where he is. A site of bliss is then created. It is not the reader’s ‘person’ that is necessary to me, it is this site: the possibility of a dialectics of desire, of an unpredictability of bliss: the bets are not placed, there can still be a game." [6] In that sense the bliss of blogging does not end the objectives of literature. - - - - - - - To whom is this text addressed? "I am offered a text. This text bores me. It might be said to ‘prattle’. The prattle of the text is merely that foam of language which forms by the effect of a simple need of writing. Here we are not dealing with perversions but with demand. The writer of this text employs an unweaned language: imperative, automatic, unaffectionate, a minor disaster of static . . .: these are the motions of ungratified sucking, of an undifferentiated orality, intersecting the orality which produces the pleasures of gastrophy and of language. You address yourself to me so that I may read you, but I am nothing to you except this address; in your eyes, I am the substitute for nothing, for no figure (hardly that of the mother); for you I am neither a body nor even an object . . . but merely a field, a vessel for expansion." [7] This text for Barthes is quite apart from 'jouissance' – it is a frigid text. The text produced by the subject attempting to escape its own lack is the producer of this prattle, frigid text. The text produced by the subject consciously embracing its own loss into text, yes desiring to dissolve itself in the text to escape the sheer weight of its own desires and dabble in the delight of its reconstitution ‘in another place’, is the text of ‘coming’ of jouissance, of ecstasy - For, "any demand is frigid until desire, until neurosis forms in it." - - - - - - - Self-mediation is the act of constituting presence in a mediated environment. Formerly a marginal practice it has now moved to centre stage - Broadcast Yourself! Presence in the mediated environment of digital electronic networks is constituted through the continuous circulation of images, sounds, streams in the network. Prosumed, picked up, remixed, laboured on affectionately, appropriated, commodified. There is a subjectivity at work here, but a contradictory one. The images, the sounds, circulate, they are sampled more than created, mixed more than framed. The subject dissolves itself in the mediated streams of images and sounds – remix can dissolve the streams in turn to mere static. Self-mediation does not aim at communicating information, at conveying a ‘message’ – instead it tries to establish affective relationships. The networked subjectivity at work here is not an artistic subjectivity – the media space it creates is prattle. It does not push out the limits of what language and the machines are able to express (at all); to the point of crisis. Much rather, it embodies this crisis in constituting the outer limit in itself – beyond which only an absolute negativity, death itself, stares back at it. - - - - - - - The self conscious self-mediating subject adheres only to its ultimate maxim: I transmit, therefore I am . . . ////////////////////////////////////////////////// Notes: 1) Barthes borrows the term jouissance from Lacan, which is most commonly translated as ‘bliss’, though some theorists consider ‘ecstasy’ a closer approximation of its intended meaning. I decided to use the original French word where its translation is ambiguous. 2) Roland Barthes, The Pleasure of the Text (New York: Hill and Wang, 1975), 14 (French original 1973). 3) Ibid., 16-17. 4) Georges Bataille, The Accursed Share - Volume II: The History of Eroticism (New York: Zone Books, 1993, orig. 1976), 103. 4) And this we knew already from Edmund Burke, see: Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757, second edition 1759). 5) Barthes, The Pleasure of the Text, op. cit. (note 2), 4. 6) Ibid., 4-5. Source: Eric Kluitenberg, Delusive Spaces - Essays on Culture, Media and Technology, (Rotterdam: NAi Publsihers / Institute of Network Cultures, 2008), pp. 277 - 284. ISBN: 978-90-5662-617-4 -- NEW ADDRESS: Institute of Network Cultures HvA Interactive Media, room 05A20 Rhijnspoorplein 1 NL-1091 GC Amsterdam -- NEW ADDRESS: Institute of Network Cultures HvA Interactive Media, room 05A20 Rhijnspoorplein 1 NL-1091 GC Amsterdam POSTAL ADDRESS Institute of Network Cultures HvA Interactive Media, room 05A20 PO BOX 1025 NL-1000 BA Amsterdam http://www.networkcultures.org t: +31 20 5951866 f: +31 20 5951840 -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Thu May 15 02:43:19 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 02:43:19 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?Call_to_resist_Silent_Emergency!=2E=2E_Gl?= =?utf-8?q?obal_protests_for_Binayak_Sen=E2=80=99s_Release?= Message-ID: <482B55EF.4040800@gmail.com> Call to resist Silent Emergency!.. Global protests for Binayak Sen’s Release http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/call-to-resist-silent-emergency-global-protests-for-binayak-sens-release/ PRESS RELEASE 14th May 2008 Hundreds of activists in India and across the world today called for the unconditional release of jailed pediatrician Dr Binayak Sen, dubbing his incarceration a gross miscarriage of justice and a shame to Indian democracy. On the first anniversary of the arrest of the renowned health and human rights activist they also demanded the scrapping of the Chhattisgarh State Special Security Act, a draconian legislation under which Dr Sen was detained. The protestors quoted the recent statement signed by 22 Nobel Laureates that says the internal security law does not ‘comport with international human rights standards’. Candlelight vigils, fasts, public meetings and rallies in support of Dr Sen’s release were held in cities like New York, London, Paris, Stockholm, New Delhi, Raipur, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Pune. Apart from rights activists large number medical professionals all over the world took part in the protests. In New Delhi in a memo to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, the Committee for the Release of Dr Binayak Sen said that the trumped up charges of ‘treason’, and ‘abetting unlawful activities’ foisted on Dr Sen have so far not been backed up with any evidence. The judicial process initiated against him is only meant to harass him personally and intimidate all those working for human rights in Chattisgarh. The memo said that the arrest of Chhattisgarh PUCL executive member and independent filmmaker Ajay TG on 5 May 2008 on similar flimsy and vague charges exposed the desperation of the Chhattisgarh government following its inability to substantiate charges against Dr Sen. The Committee for the Release of Dr Binayak Sen has made the following demands to the Chhattisgarh government: * Drop all charges against Dr Binayak Sen, release him unconditionally and pay compensation for the harassment and loss of liberty he has suffered due to his detention; * Drop all charges against Ajay TG, who is being victimised by your government for being an active member of PUCL and supporting the release of Dr Sen; * Scrap the Chattisgarh State Public Security Act that violates the basic principles of the Indian Constitution as well as internationally accepted norms of justice and rule of law; * Stop encouraging all-out civil war in Chattisgarh in the name of ‘Salwa Judum’, which even the Supreme Court has indicated is unconstitutional and amounting to abetment of murder by the state. * Ensure a just and honest governance that improves the lives of millions of desperately poor people in Chattisgarh Activists supporting Dr Sen have vowed to continue their peaceful agitation for his release and also raise the issue of other political prisoners around India who have been detained under various undemocratic laws. They have called upon the people of India to resist the imposition of a silent Emergency on the country in the name of ‘national security’ and containing terrorism. For further information contact: * Sreerekha Ph: 9868120339 * Satya Sivararaman Ph: 9818514952 * Kavita Srivastava Ph: 09351562965 Visit: www.binayaksen.net and www.freebinayaksen.org and www.pudr.org for more details From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Thu May 15 02:48:34 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 02:48:34 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Amnesty International statement on the arrest of Ajay TG Message-ID: <482B572A.9070403@gmail.com> http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/amnesty-international-statement-on-the-arrest-of-ajay-tg/ India: Concern over the arrest of filmmaker and human rights defender T.G. Ajay in Chhattisgarh Amnesty International, ASA 20/010/2008 Amnesty International is concerned over the apparently arbitrary arrest of T. G. Ajay, a film-maker and human rights defender who has been documenting problems faced by adivasi (indigenous) communities in protecting their rights, in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Ajay is the second human rights defender to be arrested under the Chhattisgarh State Public Security Act, 2005 (CSPSA), in the state. He is a member of the state executive committee of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL). Ajay is being held in Raipur jail, where Dr. Binayak Sen, general secretary of the state PUCL and a physician working on access to health for adivasis, today completed one year of imprisonment. Dr. Sen now faces a trial on charges of aiding a banned Maoist organisation, the Communist Party of India (Maoist). 1 On 5 May, Ajay was arrested at his residence at Superla in Bhilai and charged at the Bilaspur High Court under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (sedition) and Sections 3, 4 and 8 of the CSPSA. Amnesty International has reason to believe that the charges against Ajay are politically motivated. Ajay has been actively engaged, since 2004, in documentation of human rights violations as part of the PUCL’s ongoing efforts to protect the rights of adivasi communitiesin the face of escalating violence in the Bastar-Dantewada area of Chattisgarh between banned Maoists and Salwa Judum, an armed anti-Maoist militia campaign widely regarded as supported by the state government. The PUCL has been instrumental in bringing to light unlawful killings of adivasis, sexual assault of adivasi women, abductions and forced displacement. On 22 January 2008, following the arrest of a woman Maoist in Bastar-Dantewada, the Chhattisgarh police searched Ajay’s residence and seized his computer hard disk. On 26 March, Ajay filed a petition in the High Court seeking its return. Amnesty International calls on the Union and Chattisgarh governments * to ensure Ajay’s prompt and fair trial in accordance with international standards of fairness. * to take concrete measures to ensure that human rights defenders in Chhattisgarh are not subject to harassment or intimidation and enjoy all the rights enshrined in international law. Background Since 2005, Chhattisgarh, especially the Bastar-Dantewada forest area, has experienced an escalation of violence between the Maoists and the Salwa Judum. Civilians have been routinely targeted on both sides, resulting in at least 300 deaths. Also, 30,000 adivasis displaced from their homes continue to live in special camps where they face increased risk of violence. The Chhattisgarh state government claimed that it enacted the CSPSA to take action against the Maoists. The CSPSA allows for arbitrary detention of persons suspected of belonging to an unlawful organization or participating in its activities or giving protection to any member of such an organization. Human rights organizations in India have demanded the repeal of CSPSA as it contains several provisions which violate international human rights law: * Vague and sweeping definitions of “unlawful activities” for which organizations may be rendered “unlawful”, such as “uttering words… which propounds the disobedience” of “established law and its institutions”. Such definitions enable the government to arrest and detain individuals, as well as seek their punishment, on grounds that may not be clear to them, in violation of the principle of certainty in criminal law, reflected in Article 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a state party; * Threats, as a result, to other key human rights including freedom of expression and association, provided in Articles 19 and 22 of the ICCPR, respectively; * All offences under the CSPSA are “cognizant and non-bailable”; hence all those charged under the Act are detained, often for months, before being tried. In Dr. Sen’s case, he was detained on 14 May 2007, his trial commenced on 30 April 2008 and is currently adjourned till 23 June 2008. Public Document **************************************** International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW, UK www.amnesty.org 1 Amnesty International, India: Chattisgarh government detains human rights defender, refuses to arrest police officials suspected of involvement in unlawful killings of adivasis, AI Index: ASA 20/013/2007, 24 May 2007. See http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA20/013/2007/en/dom-ASA200132007en.html From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Thu May 15 03:05:23 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 03:05:23 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Release Binayak Sen before India starts looking like a tin-pot dictatorship Message-ID: <482B5B1B.6060709@gmail.com> I. Release Binayak Sen before India starts looking like a tin-pot dictatorship http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/release-binayak-sen-before-india-starts-looking-like-a-tin-pot-dictatorship/ Editorial, Hindustan Times, May 13, 2008 Who’s afraid of Binayak Sen? It’s 365 days since public health specialist and human rights activist Dr Binayak Sen has been behind bars. A critic of the Chhattisgarh government’s Salwa Judum policy, which is now being investigated for excesses by the National Human Rights Commission after a Supreme Court order, Dr Sen was arrested on May 14, 2007, for allegedly passing letters from a Naxalite leader — who he had been treating — to another inside the Raipur jail. On April 30, almost a year after his arrest, six witnesses were examined. Considering that there are 83 witnesses and the pace at which our judicial system works, it looks doubtful that Dr Sen will be judged in a court of law in a hurry. Days before he was arrested, Dr Sen had said that “the people who have been protesting against [the Salwa Judum] and trying to bring before the world the reality of these campaigns…. human rights workers like myself…. have also been targeted through State action”. When he appeared in court on May 18, 2007 and asked for the FIR, the police ‘failed’ to produce anything. Interestingly a day after, the police searched his house without finding any incriminating evidence. And yet he is still languishing in jail. There seems little doubt that there has been a deliberate effort on the part of the authorities to crack down on dissent or, in this case, violently silence a strongly variant point of view on the Salwa Judum policy of arming villagers in Naxal strongholds. It is for speaking out against this ‘official’ policy from the ground level in Chhattisgarh — as opposed to speaking out against the Salwa Judum as many other observers have while visiting the area — that has got Dr Sen in jail for what seems like an indefinite period. That the Supreme Court had also recently made pretty much the same observation that he had makes Dr Sen’s incarceration even more unjust and bizarre. In the course of his work as a renowned public health specialist in the areas of Chhattisgarh under Naxal control, it is only but natural that Dr Sen would have come in contact with what the State would deem ‘Naxal sympathisers’. Does that make him a collaborator — especially in an area where the angelic State has been afraid to tread for decades? We definitely think not. But the State seems hell-bent on making him an example so that others don’t go against its grain. What is even more appalling is the stand of the central government that seems to be playing Pontius Pilate to the whole affair. Quietly, it has decided to put the ball in the state of Chhattisgarh’s court. Answer us this: what are the real charges against Dr Sen? If you don’t have a good answer to that — and only a court of law can vouch for that — we strongly suggest that he be released before India starts looking like a tin-pot dictatorship. ------------ II. Dr Binayak Sen: Tribal doctor :BBC Report http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7397734.stm One of India’s best-known public health specialists and human rights activists, Dr Binayak Sen, has now spent a year in an Indian prison. He is accused of links with Maoist rebels in Chhattisgarh, one of India’s poorest states where the rebels have a strong presence. The doctor denies the charge. During a court appearance earlier this year, Dr Sen said he did not support the Maoists. “If they arrest people like me, human rights workers will have no locus standi. I have never condoned Maoist violence. It is an invalid and unsustainable movement,” he told Tehelka magazine. ‘Real grievances’ At the same time, Dr Sen has maintained the Maoists have tapped into a groundswell of legitimate grievances. “The grievances [of the people] are real. There is an ongoing famine in the region. Forty per cent of the country lives with malnutrition,” he said. The Maoists say they are fighting their long-running insurgency for the rights of landless farmers and tribes. Dr Sen, a trained paediatrician, was working with poor tribal people in Chhattisgarh, when he was detained last year. He was also a senior member of the local unit of a leading Indian human rights group, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties. He ran a weekly clinic for the local tribals and was piloting a community-based health programme in the state. Rights groups, intellectuals and more than 2,000 doctors from all over the world have signed petitions demanding Dr Sen’s release. They include prominent American writer Noam Chomsky. The clamour for his release increased this week when 22 Nobel laureates joined the campaign and urged the Indian government to release the jailed activist. Last month, Dr Sen was awarded the prestigious Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights for his services to poor and tribal communities and his unwavering commitment to civil liberties and human rights. Dr Sen, 56, trained in medicine and paediatrics at India’s prestigious Christian Medical College in Vellore and picked up a gold medal for his efforts. Later specialising in social medicine and community health, he moved to Chhattisgarh in 1981, and began working with the leading mine workers’ trade union leader, Shankar Guha Niyogi. Pioneering hospital The two set up a hospital for mine workers after raising money from the community - the Shaheed Hospital in Dallirajhara is still cited as an example of a pioneering health initiative in India for the poor. The doctor received a paltry salary of 600 rupees ($15) a month, and helped the facility grow from a small clinic to a 60-bed hospital in four years. In the early 1990s, Dr Sen and his wife, Ilina, set up Rupantar, a non-governmental organisation training rural health workers, running mobile clinics and campaigns against alcohol abuse and violence against women. Dr Sen’s efforts in public health programmes, say local doctors, helped bringing down the infant mortality rate in the state and deaths caused by diarrhoea and dehydration. Dr Sen has been outspoken about the ways the government is trying to tackle the Maoists in Chhattisgarh by backing a controversial civil militia of local tribals called Salwa Judum. “The Salwa Judum,” he said recently, “has created a dangerous split in the tribal community.” He has also expressed his deep concern over rising inequality in India despite the economic boom. “We have to strive for more inclusive growth. You cannot create two categories of people,” he told a journalist. “There is a Malthusian process of exclusion going on in the country. Everybody must wake up to this, otherwise soon it will be too late.” His wife, Ilina, says the fight to release her husband goes beyond the man himself. “I realise this goes beyond Binayak and my family. We are part of a much larger fight. We are struggling for the right to dissent peacefully. Our commitment to that gives me strength.” From taraprakash at gmail.com Thu May 15 06:33:00 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 21:03:00 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Pakistani army at crossroads (from Hindu) Message-ID: <003801c8b627$70ccaa20$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Now that Pakistani army no longer rules the country, is it turning back to its other conventional core mission? Pakistan army at the crossroads Praveen Swami Just what is driving the Pakistan army's efforts to reach a new rapprochement with its historic allies among the clerical order: to rebuild the military-mullah alliance? Last month, a coalition of jihadist groups met in Muzaffarabad for its first public gathering since the India-Pakistan crisis of 2001-2002. Hizb ul-Mujahideen chief Mohammad Yusuf Shah, who also chairs the United Jihad Council, promised to "continue jihad in Kashmir until the region is liberated from Indian occupation." Shah lashed out at Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for "back-stabbing the Kashmir freedom when it was at its peak in 2001-2002." Although India had lost hope of crushing the jihad militarily, the Hizb claimed, Gen. Musharraf "under American and western pressure lost his nerve." Shah's sentiments weren't news -- and neither was the presence in Pakistan of nominally proscribed organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Harkat ul-Mujahideen or the Harkat ul-Jihad-e-Islami. It is becoming clear, though, that significant changes are afoot in Pakistan. Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, released from an Indian jail in exchange for hostages on board a hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft in 2000, was recently released from house arrest, and paraded through Bahawalpur with armed supporters. Funding for the Hizb has been stepped up, and the Lashkar, proscribed in 2002, has announced that it will seek legal redress. In its northwest, Pakistan has moved to seek accommodation with the Taliban, initiating a ceasefire with Baitullah Mehsud's Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Maulana Sufi Mohammad, founder of the Al-Qaeda-linked Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, has also been released from jail. While most of these moves have been linked to the rise of a new political government in Pakistan, there is little doubt that they are endorsed by its all-powerful military. Just what is driving the army's efforts to reach a new rapprochement with its historic allies among the clerical order: to rebuild the military-mullah alliance that, even before its institutionalisation during the regime of General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, was a pillar of the Pakistan state? Answers could lie in the factional politics of the armed forces. Often cast in terms of stark dualities -- secular officers versus Islamists, for example, or westernised elite recruits versus lower middle-class religious fanatics -- the army, instead, is the site of complex, shifting contestations that receive little attention in India. A battle for power is raging behind the closed doors of the Pakistan army's General Headquarters. Last year, signs emerged that the top command was divided within as never before: President Musharraf had to call his corps commanders for conferences a record five times in an effort to develop consensus on policy. Before handing over command to army chief General Ashfaq Kayani in November 2007, President Musharraf took care to appoint his confidants in several key positions. Lieutenant-General Salahuddin Satti, who commanded the critical Rawalpindi-based 111 Brigade during the coup which brought him to power, was made Chief of General Staff. Lieutenant-General Nadeem Taj, Gen. Musharraf's military secretary at the time of the coup, took charge as Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. Another of his former military secretaries, Lieutenant-General Shafaatullah Shah, took command of the Lahore corps. Brigadier Asim Saleem Bajwa, who had served as Gen. Musharraf's deputy military secretary and helped him write his memoirs, was given charge of the 111 Brigade -- notorious for acting as the vanguard of each coup in Pakistan's history. In the six months before he demitted office as army chief, President Musharraf also made a number of critical promotions. Three new corps commanders were appointed --Lieutenant-General Masood Aslam for Peshawar, Khalid Shamim Wayen for Quetta and Raza Mohammad Khan for Bahawalpur. Six more Major-Generals were promoted in September 2007 -- a round of appointments that, in the normal course, ought to have been Gen. Kayani's prerogative. In essence, President Musharraf was ensuring that he retained the ability to control the institutional consensus that drives decision-making in the army. Just why did he do this? On the face of it, General Kayani ought to have been a safe and trusted successor. Having served under President Musharraf as Director-General of Military Operations, commander of X Corps at Rawalpindi, Director-General of the ISI and Vice-Chief of Army Staff, General Kayani was part of the President's inner circle. Still, as President Musharraf most likely understood, it was inevitable that General Kayani would seek to distance himself from his increasingly unpopular predecessor's legacy. Signs are that this is precisely what is happening. Early into his tenure as army chief, General Kayani ordered officers to stay away from politicians -- a category that, obviously, included the un-uniformed President Musharraf. Less publicly, General Kayani began to demonstrate his authority to the chain of command. He replaced Lieutenant-General Jami Haider, who Gen. Musharraf chose to head the new C4I Directorate -- short for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence. Some observers believe that the changes at the C4I Directorate mark an effort to create counterweights to President Musharraf's control of the ISI through Lieutenant-General Nadeem Taj. Director-General of Military Intelligence Nadeem Ijaz, a relative of President Musharraf and key protagonist in the management of the Lal Masjid standoff in Islamabad and the sacking of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, was moved to a politically inconsequential command in Bahawalpur. Promotions of brigadiers to the rank of major-generals, scheduled for January, were put on hold in another effort to drive home the point that sources of patronage within the army had changed. And when President Musharraf sought to promote his military secretary Major-General Shafqat Ahmad to the rank of Lieutenant-General and designate him Chief of Staff, the GHQ rejected the request. Historical precedents exist for the Kayani-Musharraf relationship. Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan handed over charge of the army to General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan, while retaining political control of Pakistan. General Yahya had been mentored by Ayub through most of his career, but he soon found it expedient to allow his predecessor to be blamed for the multiple political crises Pakistan was beset with. Over time, Field Marshal Ayub's orders were often stonewalled by the army chief, and a team of handpicked officers from the GHQ took over the administration of his office. Field Marshal Ayub was thus marginalised by his own protégé. Gen. Kayani freeing of restraints on jihadists, it seems probable, is part of the unfolding of a similar institutional power struggle process. Often characterised as a secular, pro-United States professional, he is demonstrating that he, like President Musharraf, is also a ruthless political animal. President Musharraf's confrontation with the army's Islamist allies was, from the outset, unpopular among substantial sections of the military. Most officers believed that aid flows from the U.S. were not commensurate with the costs of the murderous conflict they were engaged in against their one-time Islamist clients in Pakistan's northwest. Moreover, many in the army believed that the war could spiral into an existential threat for Pakistan. By reopening lines of communication with jihadists, General Kayani is signalling to his rank and file that he is responsive to these concerns -- and placating Islamist officers hostile to President Musharraf. Useful political function >From the point of view of the army, General Kayani's rapprochement with the jihadists also serves a useful political function. Pakistan People's Party chief Asif Ali Zardari has made clear that he does not wish the India-Pakistan détente to remain hostage to the conflict over Jammu and Kashmir. By patronising the jihadists, the army has made clear that it -- and not elected politicians -- will continue to decide on the pace and contours of the peace process. Ironically, elements in the PPP could also find it expedient to build links with jihadist organisations like the Jaish-e-Mohammad, to forge a common front against their common Mohajir Quami Movement adversaries in Karachi. How significant will the renewed military-mullah alliance prove? While most Indian analysts expect an increase of violence in Jammu and Kashmir in the run-up to the Assembly elections this autumn, few expect Pakistan to risk precipitating a crisis along the eastern border -- particularly given that much of its northern army reserve is denuded by commitments in the North West Frontier Province. Nor do experts believe that Pakistan's efforts to reach accommodation with Islamists in the NWFP will prove durable. On April 25, days after Baitullah Mehsud circulated pamphlets asking his forces to cease fire, terrorists bombed a police station in Malakand, killing four persons and injuring 30. In a speech delivered at the Jamia Masjid al-Qudsia in Lahore on April 25, the Lashkar's spiritual and political patron Hafiz Mohammad Saeed laid out just how the jihadists see Pakistan's political situation. "Former Pakistani rulers and politicians," he said, "took pride in being servile to foreign powers. Even though there are still many such people in Islamabad, there is no dearth of those Muslims too who believe in looking the enemy in the eye. These are the ones who truly represent Islam and Muslims. The new government has two choices. One is to adopt servility. This will greatly please the enemies of Islam but it will anger Allah. The other way is to desist from disobeying Allah. In turn, Allah will open the doors of His mercy and the current crises of water, flour, and electricity will be resolved." Saeed is right: the Army is indeed at the crossroads -- and at not a little risk of once again becoming hostage to the forces it is seeking accommodation with. From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Thu May 15 10:07:45 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 10:07:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur etc. Message-ID: A couple of pieces in the Indian Express this morning well worth reading. The first, an elegant understanding of the bomb blasts in Jaipur. The second, a report of a former militant who switched sides. Putting aside the enthusiasm of the reporter, what emerges is the complexities of lives lived in the vortex of a dirty war‹ precisely what I was trying to indicate in my posts about the renegades before it degenerated into unrelated and unwarranted accusations. -sj The geometry of contrasts Pratap Bhanu Mehta The old city of Jaipur has a unique physical layout, emblematic of gentle order. But unlike many cities with neatly planned parallel streets, there is nothing monumental or contrived about this planned city. Quite the opposite: it suggested an intimacy that was never claustrophobic, as old cities can sometimes be. While traditional in its architecture, it facilitated that most vital of activities: commerce. It has reeled under the onslaught of the frenetic pace of activity that characterises so many Indian cities. The old city contained within it everything: the most bustling of religious activity, whether it be the Id namaz outside Johari Bazaar, or the astonishing array of temples; the fascination with the most worldly of possessions, gold and jewellery, alongside the most ardent symbols of renunciation, Jain temples; and it contained all that any modern city brings with change. The famous Lakshmi Mishthan Bhandar, near a blast site, had long since changed over from a font of traditional delicacies to a modern mass production outlet, leading some to wonder if Jaipur would retain its character. It had its share of social negotiations and hierarchies. But despite very occasional stresses, the city always triumphed, as if its layout would enjoin its citizens to believe that in the well-ordered city, there will be space for everyone. Its orderly pink structures were always there for an odd kind reassurance: no matter how bristling and chaotic the life of the city, order and grace were still always possible. Alas, that reassurance has been irrevocably shattered by a series of bomb blasts, by an ideology that is the opposite of what the city stood for. The blasts are against commerce, against civic order, against aesthetic achievement, against sociability, against the idea that cities can be zones where we can overcome our vulnerabilities. But it is above all an attack against the state and people. An attack against the state, because it dares to say to the state: you claim to protect people, see what mockery we make of that claim. An attack against the people because it dares to say to them: we will take away the sense of security that is the precondition for the forms of sociability that make us a people. You thought this was a space where you would exchange goods, say your prayer, read your namaz, savour the delicacies, make a living, imagine other worlds through craft, fly your kites, shop to high heaven or even have the dignity of labouring, no matter how hard the work. You thought it were these quotidian activities that create the capillaries that connect us. Think again. The very site of these activities will now be the source of your vulnerability. The lives that have been destroyed by this attack already constitute an immeasurable loss. But terrorism is not just after lives, it is after the idea of a normal life itself. In some ways an attack like this is a classic combination of nihilism and opportunism. It is nihilism, because it serves no political end but the idea of destruction itself. We can always surmise that there are accumulated grievances, forms of alienation, the desire for revenge of some real or imagined injury, that cause such mayhem. But truth be told, such surmises are more our attempt to hold on to a sense of reality. How can we make sense of this so-called political act, where no one claims responsibility, where the cause is unclear, where there is not even the attempt to claim minimal moral legitimation for the act just perpetrated? Particular acts of terrorism may be explained, but there is no doubt that it has also acquired a sui generis character: it does not exist for any reason outside itself. Yes, we can say that its objective is to weaken India. But though this may be the case, this raises more questions than it answers. What politics of cowardice and resentment drives that objective? What is worrying in the Jaipur blasts is the fact that it must have taken more than a couple of people to put this operation together, to engineer blasts in quick succession. The fact that such an operation can be mounted with impunity ought to be worrying for security forces. But it is not hard to discern an element of opportunism in the choice of targets. Rajasthan is going to elections, places like Chittor have had a simmering communal dispute. It would be otiose to deny that the delicate social equilibrium that Jaipur had crafted over decades has been fraying at the edges for a while. The terrorists are hoping, as they were elsewhere in Hyderabad and Varanasi and Ajmer, that Rajasthan might prove combustible material. Or it may have something to do with developments in the domestic politics of Pakistan, to strengthen the hands of those that do not want to give peace a chance. Or as is so much the case with terrorism, it may all be over-determined. Civilians are terrorised precisely so that, under the pressure of responding to their outrage, the state commits sins of commission and omission. There is a danger that this issue will get politicised in the wrong sense of the term. It is high time that we created institutions, cutting across party lines that can interface with the state and security agencies so that a proper and shared understanding can be evolved of this menace. Our ability to tackle terrorism is not enhanced by a politics of grandstanding by any party. It requires a supple intelligence and clarity of purpose. The point of terrorism is that it wants to take our politics in certain directions. It is up to our political class to resist that temptation. But Jaipur has, for the moment at least, become a symbol of our vulnerability, rather than an emblem of a safe civic life. The gates of Tripolia don¹t protect it, its famous squares, the chaupads, will not be the site of easy sociability for some time to come. It was Jaipur¹s unique fate that for a long time it had not really experienced any serious stress in the old city. But for now its intimate reassurance and bustle are gone. Jaipur was famous for having an MP whose sole claim to political fame was that he attended as many funerals in the city as he could. Yesterday, funerals were the only activity allowed in large parts of the city. But if Jaipur recovers the sense that its founders had, of a city as a civilising place, it will be the source of resistance to the new barbarians that sought to replace its geometry with chaos. The writer is president, Centre for Policy Research, Delhi ŒHe wanted a life and death of dignity... He got both¹ Raghvendra Rao NEW DELHI, MAY 14 ³Woh hamesha kehta tha ki mujhe izzat ki zindagi aur izzat ki maut chahiye. Humein sukoon hai ki usey dono miley. (He always wanted a life and death of dignity. We are happy that he got both).² It's difficult to miss the sense of pride in Gulshan Akhtar¹s voice as she speaks about her slain husband Rifleman Abdul Hamid Chara, the militant-turned-soldier who joined the Indian Army and laid down his life eliminating terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. On Wednesday, Gulshan received from the President of India the Shaurya Chakra, the country¹s third highest peacetime gallantry award, given posthumously to her husband. On her first visit to New Delhi, Gulshan struggled to hide her emotions. ³He used to narrate stories about Delhi. He would say one day he will take me to see the India Gate. Par woh pehle hi chala gaya (but he died early),² she said, clinging to her 9-month-old daughter Hamida. ³Anyway, I am going to see the India Gate.² Christened after Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid Khan, Adbul Hamid Chara's life took a tumultuous turn when he was kidnapped by Al-Barq terrorists in 2001 and forced to join the outfit. ³My brother was not a terrorist. He never wanted to be one. Having stayed with the terrorists who had kidnapped him for almost a week, he escaped and surrendered before the police,² recounted Dariaz Ahmad Chara, Abdul¹s brother. Having surrendered, Abdul worked with the Special Group (SOG) of J&K Police. It was in October 2004 that Abdul joined the 62 Infantry Battalion (TA) and was posted with Divar (markul) Company of 18 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion. On June 12 last year, Hamid was a part of the search-and-destroy operation in Ander Nar area of Gagal in Kupwara. Having spotted two terrorists who were trying to escape, Abdul allowed them to come within five meters as he crawled under dense undergrowth of vegetation to cut off their escape route. This caused retaliatory fire from the other side, causing Abdul Hamid multiple gunshot and splinter injuries. But the rifleman continued to fight and killed one terrorist who was later identified as Mussa, the self-styled District Commander of the LeT, Kupwara, in charge of coordinating all activities and management of the LeT. From anivar at movingrepublic.org Thu May 15 02:49:20 2008 From: anivar at movingrepublic.org (Anivar Aravind) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 02:49:20 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Tamilandu M.P. writes to the Prime Minister for Binayak sen's Release Message-ID: <482B5758.3010002@movingrepublic.org> See http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/tamilandu-mp-writes-to-the-prime-minister/ -- Anivar Aravind Free Binayak Sen Campaign http://www.binayaksen.net From indersalim at gmail.com Thu May 15 11:14:03 2008 From: indersalim at gmail.com (inder salim) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 11:14:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Art and Blast: case no. 130/08 Message-ID: <47e122a70805142244h61e1e49etac4e0a4a42f573a1@mail.gmail.com> Please click to see the image-- http://indersalim.livejournal.com with love inder salim From rashneek at gmail.com Thu May 15 11:16:02 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 11:16:02 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur etc. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <13df7c120805142246u6e59c181s8720954c30d2bd12@mail.gmail.com> Dear Sonia, Kashmir is such an entangled mesh that there are no black and whites.Huge areas of grey all over.It is this greyness that has turned us Kashmiris old and sometimes unreasonable.Because of the proverbial "curse of Lakshmi" we refuse to accept truth and as long as we do so we will never be able to proceed to find solutions. We have a public and private position on everything.But then in the situation that we all are there is this Kashmiri word"Vwkheep" which I cannot translate,that has encompassed all of us.After all we have been slaves for 800 years. Regards Rashneek On 5/15/08, S. Jabbar wrote: > > A couple of pieces in the Indian Express this morning well worth reading. > The first, an elegant understanding of the bomb blasts in Jaipur. The > second, a report of a former militant who switched sides. Putting aside > the > enthusiasm of the reporter, what emerges is the complexities of lives lived > in the vortex of a dirty war‹ precisely what I was trying to indicate in my > posts about the renegades before it degenerated into unrelated and > unwarranted accusations. > -sj > > > The geometry of contrasts > > Pratap Bhanu Mehta > > > > The old city of Jaipur has a unique physical layout, emblematic of gentle > order. But unlike many cities with neatly planned parallel streets, there > is > nothing monumental or contrived about this planned city. Quite the > opposite: > it suggested an intimacy that was never claustrophobic, as old cities can > sometimes be. While traditional in its architecture, it facilitated that > most vital of activities: commerce. It has reeled under the onslaught of > the > frenetic pace of activity that characterises so many Indian cities. The old > city contained within it everything: the most bustling of religious > activity, whether it be the Id namaz outside Johari Bazaar, or the > astonishing array of temples; the fascination with the most worldly of > possessions, gold and jewellery, alongside the most ardent symbols of > renunciation, Jain temples; and it contained all that any modern city > brings > with change. The famous Lakshmi Mishthan Bhandar, near a blast site, had > long since changed over from a font of traditional delicacies to a modern > mass production outlet, leading some to wonder if Jaipur would retain its > character. It had its share of social negotiations and hierarchies. But > despite very occasional stresses, the city always triumphed, as if its > layout would enjoin its citizens to believe that in the well-ordered city, > there will be space for everyone. Its orderly pink structures were always > there for an odd kind reassurance: no matter how bristling and chaotic the > life of the city, order and grace were still always possible. > > Alas, that reassurance has been irrevocably shattered by a series of bomb > blasts, by an ideology that is the opposite of what the city stood for. The > blasts are against commerce, against civic order, against aesthetic > achievement, against sociability, against the idea that cities can be zones > where we can overcome our vulnerabilities. But it is above all an attack > against the state and people. An attack against the state, because it dares > to say to the state: you claim to protect people, see what mockery we make > of that claim. An attack against the people because it dares to say to > them: > we will take away the sense of security that is the precondition for the > forms of sociability that make us a people. You thought this was a space > where you would exchange goods, say your prayer, read your namaz, savour > the > delicacies, make a living, imagine other worlds through craft, fly your > kites, shop to high heaven or even have the dignity of labouring, no matter > how hard the work. You thought it were these quotidian activities that > create the capillaries that connect us. Think again. The very site of these > activities will now be the source of your vulnerability. > > The lives that have been destroyed by this attack already constitute an > immeasurable loss. But terrorism is not just after lives, it is after the > idea of a normal life itself. In some ways an attack like this is a classic > combination of nihilism and opportunism. It is nihilism, because it serves > no political end but the idea of destruction itself. We can always surmise > that there are accumulated grievances, forms of alienation, the desire for > revenge of some real or imagined injury, that cause such mayhem. But truth > be told, such surmises are more our attempt to hold on to a sense of > reality. How can we make sense of this so-called political act, where no > one > claims responsibility, where the cause is unclear, where there is not even > the attempt to claim minimal moral legitimation for the act just > perpetrated? > > Particular acts of terrorism may be explained, but there is no doubt that > it > has also acquired a sui generis character: it does not exist for any reason > outside itself. Yes, we can say that its objective is to weaken India. But > though this may be the case, this raises more questions than it answers. > What politics of cowardice and resentment drives that objective? What is > worrying in the Jaipur blasts is the fact that it must have taken more than > a couple of people to put this operation together, to engineer blasts in > quick succession. The fact that such an operation can be mounted with > impunity ought to be worrying for security forces. > > But it is not hard to discern an element of opportunism in the choice of > targets. Rajasthan is going to elections, places like Chittor have had a > simmering communal dispute. It would be otiose to deny that the delicate > social equilibrium that Jaipur had crafted over decades has been fraying at > the edges for a while. The terrorists are hoping, as they were elsewhere in > Hyderabad and Varanasi and Ajmer, that Rajasthan might prove combustible > material. Or it may have something to do with developments in the domestic > politics of Pakistan, to strengthen the hands of those that do not want to > give peace a chance. Or as is so much the case with terrorism, it may all > be > over-determined. > > Civilians are terrorised precisely so that, under the pressure of > responding > to their outrage, the state commits sins of commission and omission. There > is a danger that this issue will get politicised in the wrong sense of the > term. It is high time that we created institutions, cutting across party > lines that can interface with the state and security agencies so that a > proper and shared understanding can be evolved of this menace. Our ability > to tackle terrorism is not enhanced by a politics of grandstanding by any > party. It requires a supple intelligence and clarity of purpose. The point > of terrorism is that it wants to take our politics in certain directions. > It > is up to our political class to resist that temptation. > > But Jaipur has, for the moment at least, become a symbol of our > vulnerability, rather than an emblem of a safe civic life. The gates of > Tripolia don¹t protect it, its famous squares, the chaupads, will not be > the > site of easy sociability for some time to come. It was Jaipur¹s unique fate > that for a long time it had not really experienced any serious stress in > the > old city. But for now its intimate reassurance and bustle are gone. Jaipur > was famous for having an MP whose sole claim to political fame was that he > attended as many funerals in the city as he could. Yesterday, funerals were > the only activity allowed in large parts of the city. But if Jaipur > recovers > the sense that its founders had, of a city as a civilising place, it will > be > the source of resistance to the new barbarians that sought to replace its > geometry with chaos. > > The writer is president, Centre for Policy Research, Delhi > > > > > > ŒHe wanted a life and death of dignity... He got both¹ > > Raghvendra Rao > > > NEW DELHI, MAY 14 > ³Woh hamesha kehta tha ki mujhe izzat ki zindagi aur izzat ki maut chahiye. > Humein sukoon hai ki usey dono miley. (He always wanted a life and death of > dignity. We are happy that he got both).² > > It's difficult to miss the sense of pride in Gulshan Akhtar¹s voice as she > speaks about her slain husband Rifleman Abdul Hamid Chara, the > militant-turned-soldier who joined the Indian Army and laid down his life > eliminating terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. On Wednesday, Gulshan received > from the President of India the Shaurya Chakra, the country¹s third highest > peacetime gallantry award, given posthumously to her husband. > > On her first visit to New Delhi, Gulshan struggled to hide her emotions. > ³He > used to narrate stories about Delhi. He would say one day he will take me > to > see the India Gate. Par woh pehle hi chala gaya (but he died early),² she > said, clinging to her 9-month-old daughter Hamida. ³Anyway, I am going to > see the India Gate.² > > Christened after Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid Khan, Adbul Hamid > Chara's life took a tumultuous turn when he was kidnapped by Al-Barq > terrorists in 2001 and forced to join the outfit. ³My brother was not a > terrorist. He never wanted to be one. Having stayed with the terrorists who > had kidnapped him for almost a week, he escaped and surrendered before the > police,² recounted Dariaz Ahmad Chara, Abdul¹s brother. > > Having surrendered, Abdul worked with the Special Group (SOG) of J&K > Police. > It was in October 2004 that Abdul joined the 62 Infantry Battalion (TA) and > was posted with Divar (markul) Company of 18 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion. On > June 12 last year, Hamid was a part of the search-and-destroy operation in > Ander Nar area of Gagal in Kupwara. Having spotted two terrorists who were > trying to escape, Abdul allowed them to come within five meters as he > crawled under dense undergrowth of vegetation to cut off their escape > route. > This caused retaliatory fire from the other side, causing Abdul Hamid > multiple gunshot and splinter injuries. But the rifleman continued to fight > and killed one terrorist who was later identified as Mussa, the self-styled > District Commander of the LeT, Kupwara, in charge of coordinating all > activities and management of the LeT. > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From rakshat at gmail.com Thu May 15 17:26:54 2008 From: rakshat at gmail.com (rakshat hooja) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 17:26:54 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror Message-ID: <69a2e4550805150456l49eff899vb557adb75342501b@mail.gmail.com> For me Jaipur has been synonymous with peace, harmony and brotherhood. It is a big city but with a "small-town" feel and connection among its inhabitants. People celebrate together, they help each other in times of need and there is definitely a sense of belonging and family among all Jaipurites. Today the spirit of Jaipur is symbolised by development, improvement, resilience and never ending energy. The cowardly and dastardly bombings of 13th May should not and will not be allowed to disturb the peaceful and tranquil existence of our city. The loss of life and the ensuing fear that has gripped the city has affected all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those who perished in this immoral act. At the same time it is important we do not allow the perpetrators of this heinous crime on humanity to achieve their objective. A strong message needs to be sent out that such acts by those who want to disturb the harmony in our community and city are bound to fail and will only lead to the creation of a stronger Jaipur. One suggestion I have for the people of Jaipur that will show the resilience of Jaipur & its inhabitants, is that, after 4 days from the blasts (on 17th May) at 7.10 PM (time of the first blast) we can all switch on lights, light diyas/ candles and have a minute of city-wide loud clapping , along with honking of horns etc. This may seem contrary to the traditional one/two minute silence but I feel that this is another way to honour memories of and express our solidarity with the families of those who have died or been injured as well as to make it clear to the world that Jaipur will not bow down to terror, and will make its voice heard. Other cities, villages, towns can simultaneously join us at the same time. Feedback, comments, suggestions welcome. If you agree please take a lead to make this happen. Rakshat Hooja 11 Uniara Garden Jaipur 302004 9829321444 rakshat at gmail.com From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Thu May 15 18:27:31 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 17:57:31 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror In-Reply-To: <69a2e4550805150456l49eff899vb557adb75342501b@mail.gmail.com> References: <69a2e4550805150456l49eff899vb557adb75342501b@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Good thoughts indeed, it is the policies of the UPA that has led this free India, that even in death of the blasts, reservations have caught up and citizens all communities have lost their loved ones, death and injuries have not spared none.! ----- Original Message ----- From: rakshat hooja Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:27 pm Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror To: reader-list at sarai.net > For me Jaipur has been synonymous with peace, harmony and > brotherhood. It is > a big city but with a "small-town" feel and connection among its > inhabitants. People celebrate together, they help each other in > times of > need and there is definitely a sense of belonging and family among all > Jaipurites. Today the spirit of Jaipur is symbolised by development, > improvement, resilience and never ending energy. The cowardly and > dastardlybombings of 13th May should not and will not be allowed > to disturb the > peaceful and tranquil existence of our city. > > The loss of life and the ensuing fear that has gripped the city has > affected all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved > ones of > those who perished in this immoral act. At the same time it is > important we > do not allow the perpetrators of this heinous crime on humanity to > achievetheir objective. A strong message needs to be sent out that > such acts by > those who want to disturb the harmony in our community and city > are bound to > fail and will only lead to the creation of a stronger Jaipur. > > One suggestion I have for the people of Jaipur that will show the > resilience of Jaipur & its inhabitants, is that, after 4 days from the > blasts (on 17th May) at 7.10 PM (time of the first blast) we can > all switch > on lights, light diyas/ candles and have a minute of city-wide > loud clapping > , along with honking of horns etc. This may seem contrary to the > traditional one/two minute silence but I feel that this is another > way to > honour memories of and express our solidarity with the families of > those who > have died or been injured as well as to make it clear to the world > thatJaipur will not bow down to terror, and will make its voice > heard. Other > cities, villages, towns can simultaneously join us at the same time. > > Feedback, comments, suggestions welcome. If you agree please take > a lead to > make this happen. > > > Rakshat Hooja > > > 11 Uniara Garden > > Jaipur 302004 > > > 9829321444 > > > rakshat at gmail.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From pkray11 at gmail.com Thu May 15 18:55:36 2008 From: pkray11 at gmail.com (prakash ray) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 18:55:36 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Statement of Protest at the Incarceration of Dr.Binayak Sen and Ajay TG Message-ID: <98f331e00805150625r29eeb733t77677c30498fcc33@mail.gmail.com> *Statement of Protest at the Incarceration of Dr.Binayak Sen and Ajay TG * We the undersigned demand the immediate release of Dr Binayak Sen who is detained by the Chhatisgarh government under the Chhatisgarh Special Security Act and Criminal Amendment Act. These draconian acts were used against Dr Sen who was becoming an eyesore to the Chhatisgarh government for his campaign against violation of democratic rights, especially, due to the state sponsored fascist terror campaign called Salwa Judum- a diabolic ploy of the state government to pit impoverished Adivasis against Adivasis. We also demand that all the cases against him be immediately dropped as they are instituted to harass him and his family. The inordinate delay in even framing charges against him is a part of this harassment. His solitary confinement is not only illegal but an attempt to break his will. All this has affected his health adversely and amounts to torture. It is important to note that Dr Binayak Sen is an eminent pediatrician of the country. In this ruthless neo-liberal era where health care and other basic services are increasingly being commodified, Dr Sen gave up all the comforts and the career drive of a medical specialist in a metropolis and chose to work with the downtrodden workers and peasants in Chhatisgarh, one of the poorest states of India. He dedicated himself to the emancipation of the poor people and became a member of the Chhatisgarh Mukti Morcha to fight for the rights of the workers in mining sector and other unorganized sectors. He was one of the driving forces behind Shaheed Hospital which provided low cost medical care to workers and which was managed by the workers themselves. Under the predatory policies of Structural Adjustment being implemented in India under pressure from the Bretton Wood Institutions, millions of working people are denied proper health care and nutrition. Being critical of the health policies of the government, Dr Binayak Sen initiated innovative community health care projects for the toiling people, especially women, Dalits, Adivasis, workers and peasants. Dr Sen was arrested for his activities as a PUCL activist for exposing the atrocities committed on Adivasis in the name of Salwa Judum which has displaced more then one lakh Adivasis in the Baster region. It is important to note, Salwa Judum's real agenda is to displace the Adivasis from Baster and hand over their mineral rich lands to big industrial groups and international corporate houses. The governments at the Centre and the State have been totally non-responsive to the repeated protests and pleas of national and international civil and democratic rights groups (also, Nobel Prize winners). This is an indication of the real agenda of these governments that they would not tolerate any legitimate protest against their neo-liberal pro-corporate agenda. The intolerance towards legitimate protest against the variety of undemocratic acts by the ruling elite of the country is visible across the country. Dr Binayak Sen has become a symbol of democratic rights and freedom of expression in the country. Like Nelson Mandela, he is a beacon of hope for the struggling people in the developing world who are relentlessly fighting against the shrinking democratic space in the third world under the neo-liberal regimes. We assert our demand that Dr Binayak Sen must be released without any further delay along with another activist, journalist and filmmaker, Ajay T.G. and be allowed to attend their humanitarian and professional works. Prof Imrana Qadeer (CWDS, New Delhi) Prof Arun Kumar (CESP, JNU, New Delhi) Prof Avijit Pathak (CSSS, JNU, New Delhi) Prof Mohan Rao (CSMCH, JNU, New Delhi) Prof K R Nayar (CSMCH, JNU, New Delhi) Dr Vivek Kumar (CSSS, JNU, New Delhi) Dr Rohan D'souza (CSSP, JNU,New Delhi) From ysaeed7 at yahoo.com Thu May 15 19:21:10 2008 From: ysaeed7 at yahoo.com (Yousuf) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 06:51:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror In-Reply-To: <69a2e4550805150456l49eff899vb557adb75342501b@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <820120.67311.qm@web51401.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Dear Rakshat While I strongly condemn the serial blast in Jaipur and appreciate the resilience of the people of Jaipur in the midst of the loss of life, your idea of showing the resilience by making further noise (through honking etc) sounds a bit odd. It reminds of something like a trumpet of war (against "terror"?). In my view, violence needs to be answered by peace and introspection. You've asked for people in other towns to join in the spirit. I want to join being in Delhi, but I would certainly not honk my car (nor clap, since I'm culturally conditioned not to respond to such a sad situation by a cheerful act). I would rather spend my time comtemplating on what do these so-called terrorists want, and is there any way I can help them not indulge in such acts. Yousuf --- On Thu, 5/15/08, rakshat hooja wrote: > From: rakshat hooja > Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror > To: reader-list at sarai.net > Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008, 5:26 PM > For me Jaipur has been synonymous with peace, harmony and > brotherhood. It is > a big city but with a "small-town" feel and > connection among its > inhabitants. People celebrate together, they help each > other in times of > need and there is definitely a sense of belonging and > family among all > Jaipurites. Today the spirit of Jaipur is symbolised by > development, > improvement, resilience and never ending energy. The > cowardly and dastardly > bombings of 13th May should not and will not be allowed to > disturb the > peaceful and tranquil existence of our city. > > The loss of life and the ensuing fear that has gripped the > city has > affected all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the > loved ones of > those who perished in this immoral act. At the same time it > is important we > do not allow the perpetrators of this heinous crime on > humanity to achieve > their objective. A strong message needs to be sent out that > such acts by > those who want to disturb the harmony in our community and > city are bound to > fail and will only lead to the creation of a stronger > Jaipur. > > One suggestion I have for the people of Jaipur that will > show the > resilience of Jaipur & its inhabitants, is that, after > 4 days from the > blasts (on 17th May) at 7.10 PM (time of the first blast) > we can all switch > on lights, light diyas/ candles and have a minute of > city-wide loud clapping > , along with honking of horns etc. This may seem contrary > to the > traditional one/two minute silence but I feel that this is > another way to > honour memories of and express our solidarity with the > families of those who > have died or been injured as well as to make it clear to > the world that > Jaipur will not bow down to terror, and will make its voice > heard. Other > cities, villages, towns can simultaneously join us at the > same time. > > Feedback, comments, suggestions welcome. If you agree > please take a lead to > make this happen. > > > Rakshat Hooja > > > 11 Uniara Garden > > Jaipur 302004 > > > 9829321444 > > > rakshat at gmail.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject > header. > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From nitbhag at gmail.com Thu May 15 20:48:36 2008 From: nitbhag at gmail.com (Nitesh Bhatnagar) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 20:48:36 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Omar Abdullah blames Muslims for Pandits' exodus Message-ID: Omar Abdullah blames Muslims for Pandits' exodus Press Trust of India May 15, 2008 18:07 IST http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/may/15jk1.htm National Conference President Omar Abdullah has accused Muslims of being mute spectators at the time of exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the 1990s. "It's so easy to say that we will lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri Pandits back to the Valley and I appreciate the sentiment as I am sure the Kashmiri Pandits reading it will. Pity that sentiment was missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out," Omar said in his blog on the official website of his party. "None of us was willing to stand up and be counted when it mattered. None of us grabbed the mikes (microphones) in the mosques and said 'this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to continue living in the valley'," he said. "Our educated, well-to-do relatives and neighbours were spewing venom 24-hours a day and we were mute spectators either mute in agreement or mute in abject fear but mute nonetheless. "And talking about mosques -- what a great symbol of mass uprising they proved to be. While I can't claim to have lived through it I have enough friends who did and they tell me about the early 90's where attendance was taken in mosques to force people to pray," Omar wrote. Questioning the spontaneity of processions taken out in 1990, Omar said people were forced out of their homes to participate in "mass uprisings" against "Indian occupation" and the same enforcement committees went from door to door. However, Omar said "While I don't deny that people rose in anger in the early 1990s, there are two sides to every story and we need to look at both or we risk losing our objectivity. "Shop signs were painted green and white in Islamic colours and people were forced to set their watches to Pakistan Standard Time. As if these two things would make the dream of independence any easier to achieve -- amazing how quickly people rediscovered the old colours when they could make a choice again," he said. Coming to events of the past 17 years, Omar said "The Indian security forces are guilty of some of the most horrible excesses is a given and I don't dispute that. I don't condone what was done and am a firm believer that the truth must emerge and the guilty must be punished. This must be done in a transparent manner. "I don't recall crackdowns and searches before 1990, as I don't recall arrogant convoy commanders on our roads before that either. I recall wives of Indian Army officers teaching me in school," he wrote. (c) Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent. From nitbhag at gmail.com Thu May 15 20:53:53 2008 From: nitbhag at gmail.com (Nitesh Bhatnagar) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 20:53:53 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1252?q?HWS_condemns_=91Pandit_organizatio?= =?windows-1252?q?n=92?= Message-ID: HWS condemns 'Pandit organization' GK NEWS NETWORK http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=13_5_2008&ItemID=55&cat=21 Srinagar: The Hindu Welfare Society (HWS), an organization of Kashmiri Pandits who stayed put in the valley during the 20-year turmoil, has strongly condemned the statement of a 'Pandit organization' against its president, general secretary of the Society, Kanwal Ganjoo said. He described the statement as the "handiwork of some unscrupulous elements working on behest of some communal elements." He said that "vested interests are misleading the community using letter heads of the organization fraudulently." Responding to the allegations of financial irregularities levelled against M L Bhat by the Pandit organization, which too had described itself as the Hindu Welfare Society, Ganjoo produced a communication by the deputy commissioner, Srinagar, issued vide No DCS/N/862/17 dated 22 April, 2008, certifying that "the applicant namely M L Bhat s/o Lt A N Bhat r/o 12-C Indranagar, Srinagar is not receiving any kind of cash assistance relief from this office." From peter.ksmtf at gmail.com Thu May 15 21:29:27 2008 From: peter.ksmtf at gmail.com (T Peter) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 21:29:27 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] SUPPORT FISHER PEOPLE'S ACTION Message-ID: <3457ce860805150859h32975e78n5f220e0ab311eb7a@mail.gmail.com> SUPPORT FISHER PEOPLE'S ACTION The recent challenges caused by CZM, SEZ, STZ and FDI in Retail among the fishing communities are many. The move of the Central Government to alienate the fishing communities from their coastline is being resisted nationally today. The national campaign that started on May 1, 2008 from Gujarat, under the leadership of National Fish Workers Forum will end at Calcutta on June 27, 2008. The fisher people will march to the Parliament in Delhi in Jully. The campaign in Kerala from May 25 to 31 will be welcomed and facilitated by the Kerala Independent Fish workers Federation (KSMTF). Several programmes are being planned. The programme is given below: May 25 – From Kasargod Kasbah to Kannoor Town May 26–From Kannoor Thalassery to Ninanvalappu in Kozhikkode May 27 – Malappuram Parappanangadi to Thrissur town May 28 – Ernakulam District May 29 – From Alappuzha to Kollam May 30 – Thiruvananthapuram May 31 – March in front of AG's Office We request you to express your support and solidarity Regards, T.Peter, President, KSMTF http://www.keralafishworkers.org http://www.alakal.net From rakshat at gmail.com Thu May 15 21:39:25 2008 From: rakshat at gmail.com (rakshat hooja) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 21:39:25 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror In-Reply-To: <820120.67311.qm@web51401.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <69a2e4550805150456l49eff899vb557adb75342501b@mail.gmail.com> <820120.67311.qm@web51401.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <69a2e4550805150909p6e69857akbb25158584078048@mail.gmail.com> Dear Yousuf, Thank you for your email. I understand your sentiments. For me peace and introspection is important but the claping is more to let the world know that spirit of the city is alive and not a trumpet of war against anyone. I have been introspecting and this has led me to wonder if non-violence and peace has to be synonymous with silence? My suggestion is just a way of saying that we are sad, we are also angry but our spirits are not going to be crushed. Anyway everyday peace gatherings, candle lightings and "sarv-dhram" sabhas are being held in Jaipur and you may wish to do something similar at your place. Also share with the world your thoughts after contemplating on what do these so-called terrorists want, and is there any way one can help them not indulge in such acts. That too is very important. Rakshat On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 7:21 PM, Yousuf wrote: > Dear Rakshat > While I strongly condemn the serial blast in Jaipur and appreciate the > resilience of the people of Jaipur in the midst of the loss of life, your > idea of showing the resilience by making further noise (through honking etc) > sounds a bit odd. It reminds of something like a trumpet of war (against > "terror"?). In my view, violence needs to be answered by peace and > introspection. You've asked for people in other towns to join in the spirit. > I want to join being in Delhi, but I would certainly not honk my car (nor > clap, since I'm culturally conditioned not to respond to such a sad > situation by a cheerful act). I would rather spend my time comtemplating on > what do these so-called terrorists want, and is there any way I can help > them not indulge in such acts. > > Yousuf > > > --- On Thu, 5/15/08, rakshat hooja wrote: > > > From: rakshat hooja > > Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror > > To: reader-list at sarai.net > > Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008, 5:26 PM > > For me Jaipur has been synonymous with peace, harmony and > > brotherhood. It is > > a big city but with a "small-town" feel and > > connection among its > > inhabitants. People celebrate together, they help each > > other in times of > > need and there is definitely a sense of belonging and > > family among all > > Jaipurites. Today the spirit of Jaipur is symbolised by > > development, > > improvement, resilience and never ending energy. The > > cowardly and dastardly > > bombings of 13th May should not and will not be allowed to > > disturb the > > peaceful and tranquil existence of our city. > > > > The loss of life and the ensuing fear that has gripped the > > city has > > affected all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the > > loved ones of > > those who perished in this immoral act. At the same time it > > is important we > > do not allow the perpetrators of this heinous crime on > > humanity to achieve > > their objective. A strong message needs to be sent out that > > such acts by > > those who want to disturb the harmony in our community and > > city are bound to > > fail and will only lead to the creation of a stronger > > Jaipur. > > > > One suggestion I have for the people of Jaipur that will > > show the > > resilience of Jaipur & its inhabitants, is that, after > > 4 days from the > > blasts (on 17th May) at 7.10 PM (time of the first blast) > > we can all switch > > on lights, light diyas/ candles and have a minute of > > city-wide loud clapping > > , along with honking of horns etc. This may seem contrary > > to the > > traditional one/two minute silence but I feel that this is > > another way to > > honour memories of and express our solidarity with the > > families of those who > > have died or been injured as well as to make it clear to > > the world that > > Jaipur will not bow down to terror, and will make its voice > > heard. Other > > cities, villages, towns can simultaneously join us at the > > same time. > > > > Feedback, comments, suggestions welcome. If you agree > > please take a lead to > > make this happen. > > > > > > Rakshat Hooja > > > > > > 11 Uniara Garden > > > > Jaipur 302004 > > > > > > 9829321444 > > > > > > rakshat at gmail.com > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to > > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject > > header. > > To unsubscribe: > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: > > > > > > -- -------------- Please use Firefox as your web browser. Its protects you from spyware and is also a very feature rich browser. www.firefox.com From pawan.durani at gmail.com Fri May 16 07:27:45 2008 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 07:27:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1252?q?HWS_condemns_=91Pandit_organizatio?= =?windows-1252?q?n=92?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6b79f1a70805151857p2216bbcdr780d6a8e12a028a1@mail.gmail.com> Hello Mr Nitesh , I can bet that this is not your real ID . And what was your posting all about ? Post with your real ID . Pawan On 5/15/08, Nitesh Bhatnagar wrote: > > HWS condemns 'Pandit organization' > > > GK NEWS NETWORK > > http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=13_5_2008&ItemID=55&cat=21 > > > Srinagar: The Hindu Welfare Society (HWS), an organization of Kashmiri > Pandits who stayed put in the valley during the 20-year turmoil, has > strongly condemned the statement of a 'Pandit organization' against > its president, general secretary of the Society, Kanwal Ganjoo said. > He described the statement as the "handiwork of some unscrupulous > elements working on behest of some communal elements." > He said that "vested interests are misleading the community using > letter heads of the organization fraudulently." > Responding to the allegations of financial irregularities levelled > against M L Bhat by the Pandit organization, which too had described > itself as the Hindu Welfare Society, Ganjoo produced a communication > by the deputy commissioner, Srinagar, issued vide No DCS/N/862/17 > dated 22 April, 2008, certifying that "the applicant namely M L Bhat > s/o Lt A N Bhat r/o 12-C Indranagar, Srinagar is not receiving any > kind of cash assistance relief from this office." > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 16 08:48:51 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 08:48:51 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1252?q?HWS_condemns_=91Pandit_organizatio?= =?windows-1252?q?n=92?= In-Reply-To: <6b79f1a70805151857p2216bbcdr780d6a8e12a028a1@mail.gmail.com> References: <6b79f1a70805151857p2216bbcdr780d6a8e12a028a1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805152018y476f8f64l78d1a5faefa3a1b1@mail.gmail.com> Hi Pawan, We'd discussed the issue of ID's on some other forums, and I thought we had come to some sort of an agreement. However, am covering the salient points again. 1. The email ID that a person chooses is their personal choice (as in the case of Dhatri, or even myself where Partha is my name and Ekka is my wife's surname prior to marriage - however since Partha was not available, took the next one that I tried out). 2. This forum is about ideas and debates. I you disagree with what Nitesh (or whatever his name may be) please go ahead and put forth your debate / points. Why waste time asking about a 'real ID' when that has nothing to do with anyone. 3. 'Real ID' has no meaning. I have 9 official email ID's for work with 30 more official aliases like 'sales@' and 'info@' for 3 different office sites. Other than those have about 15 personal IDs. They are all my 'real ID' even though some are as ambiguous as sales and info. Rgds, Partha ............................. On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 7:27 AM, Pawan Durani wrote: > Hello Mr Nitesh , > > I can bet that this is not your real ID . > > And what was your posting all about ? > > Post with your real ID . > > Pawan > > > On 5/15/08, Nitesh Bhatnagar wrote: > > > > HWS condemns 'Pandit organization' > > > > > > GK NEWS NETWORK > > > > > http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=13_5_2008&ItemID=55&cat=21 > > > > > > Srinagar: The Hindu Welfare Society (HWS), an organization of Kashmiri > > Pandits who stayed put in the valley during the 20-year turmoil, has > > strongly condemned the statement of a 'Pandit organization' against > > its president, general secretary of the Society, Kanwal Ganjoo said. > > He described the statement as the "handiwork of some unscrupulous > > elements working on behest of some communal elements." > > He said that "vested interests are misleading the community using > > letter heads of the organization fraudulently." > > Responding to the allegations of financial irregularities levelled > > against M L Bhat by the Pandit organization, which too had described > > itself as the Hindu Welfare Society, Ganjoo produced a communication > > by the deputy commissioner, Srinagar, issued vide No DCS/N/862/17 > > dated 22 April, 2008, certifying that "the applicant namely M L Bhat > > s/o Lt A N Bhat r/o 12-C Indranagar, Srinagar is not receiving any > > kind of cash assistance relief from this office." > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 16 14:00:32 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 14:00:32 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah Message-ID: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, National conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - the majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri Pandits left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at that time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said Omar on Thursday (May 15). While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be discounted is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick of consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not a one that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda from Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation front forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands homeless, and forcing them into exile. In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah even chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the fact that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities must stop. "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri Pandits back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that sentiment was missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. None of us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to continue living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in agreement or mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has spoken so strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments will not make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in their own country, just yet. -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Fri May 16 14:04:12 2008 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 14:04:12 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> Reality Unfolding :-) Sarai members, what say ? On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, National > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - the > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri Pandits > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at that > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said Omar on > Thursday (May 15). > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be > discounted > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician > has > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick of > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not a one > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda from > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation front > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands homeless, > and forcing them into exile. > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah even > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the fact > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities must > stop. > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri > Pandits > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that sentiment was > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. None of > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to continue > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in agreement or > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has spoken so > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments will > not > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in their own > country, just yet. > > > -- > Rashneek Kher > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 16 14:20:50 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 14:20:50 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> I think that the bare bones text of the message is far better than the Times Now report. Also, don't see the point of this post when the main text of the statement was in the list earlier by Nitesh. Rgds, Partha ......................................... On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: > Reality Unfolding :-) > > Sarai members, what say ? > > > On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: > > > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed > > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, > National > > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims > > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. > > > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - the > > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri > Pandits > > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at that > > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said Omar > on > > Thursday (May 15). > > > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be > > discounted > > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician > > has > > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. > > > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick of > > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not a > one > > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. > > > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda from > > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation front > > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands > homeless, > > and forcing them into exile. > > > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah even > > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the fact > > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities must > > stop. > > > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri > > Pandits > > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that sentiment > was > > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. None > of > > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to > continue > > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in agreement or > > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. > > > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has spoken > so > > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments will > > not > > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in their > own > > country, just yet. > > > > > > -- > > Rashneek Kher > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From dileep.p at apcaglobal.com Thu May 15 11:57:48 2008 From: dileep.p at apcaglobal.com (Dileep Padgaonkar) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 11:57:48 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] january_posting_balgandharva Message-ID: <000501c8b654$ccceeb80$6f01a8c0@Corp1> Dear Ms. Bhirdikar, I am most interested in your Balgandharva project. I am myself doing research on the declining decades of the thespian i.e. soon after he began his relationship with Goharbai Karnataki. How do I get in touch with you to discuss some finer points of my research? Regards, Dileep Padgaonkar From pawan.durani at gmail.com Fri May 16 14:48:38 2008 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 14:48:38 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6b79f1a70805160218n6f96b115sd7b7f69ddfb93ebc@mail.gmail.com> Partha , This is what AKP group had been writing about . Omar Abdullah has vindicated the satnd in the blog. Do you ? On 5/16/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: > > I think that the bare bones text of the message is far better than the > Times > Now report. > > Also, don't see the point of this post when the main text of the statement > was in the list earlier by Nitesh. > > Rgds, Partha > ......................................... > > On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > wrote: > > > Reality Unfolding :-) > > > > Sarai members, what say ? > > > > > > On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: > > > > > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed > > > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, > > National > > > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims > > > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. > > > > > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - > the > > > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri > > Pandits > > > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at > that > > > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said Omar > > on > > > Thursday (May 15). > > > > > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be > > > discounted > > > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri > politician > > > has > > > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. > > > > > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick > of > > > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not a > > one > > > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. > > > > > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda from > > > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation > front > > > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands > > homeless, > > > and forcing them into exile. > > > > > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah even > > > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the > fact > > > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities > must > > > stop. > > > > > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri > > > Pandits > > > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that sentiment > > was > > > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. > None > > of > > > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to > > continue > > > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in agreement > or > > > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. > > > > > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has > spoken > > so > > > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments > will > > > not > > > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in their > > own > > > country, just yet. > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Rashneek Kher > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > -- > Partha Dasgupta > +919... > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Thu May 15 12:15:44 2008 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (netEX) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 08:45:44 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?=5BAnnouncements=5D_VideoChannel_-_c?= =?iso-8859-1?q?all_for_entries_-_=22Mother=22?= Message-ID: <20080515084544.26DD0826.33BD44C3@192.168.0.3> Call for entries deadline 1 September 2008 VideoChannel - video project environments http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is glad to launch a new videoart project, entitled "MOTHER" and invites video and film creators for participating and contributing. "Mother" as a theme, refers in first place to everybody's mother or grandmother and their meaning to the creator. Every human being is a child of a mother, without the mother there is no family , no tribe, no people, no society, no social future. But mother can be interpreted also in different ways, the language uses "mother" in electronics for instance in "motherboard" or in a figurative sense as the roots or basics of being. --->VideoChannel always tried to bring a very personal note into the otherwise anonymous online enviroment via its videoart projects related to "memory & identity", and the subject of "Mother" is particularly intimate and personal <----- Like all VideoChannel projects also "Mother" is planned to be presented online and in physical space via screenings after its launch in October/November 2008. The regulations and the entry form can be found on http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=292 --------------------------------------------------- released by netEX - networked experience http://netex.nmartproject.net _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 16 14:58:28 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 14:58:28 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805160228t7685e918hb1741a37321caf06@mail.gmail.com> Partha, How much unsettled are you by Omar's comments is reflected in the two sentences you have written. Havent there been many posts from different newspapers/magazines on the various issues.Why did that not irk you I wonder. Best Regards Rashneek On 5/16/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: > > I think that the bare bones text of the message is far better than the > Times > Now report. > > Also, don't see the point of this post when the main text of the statement > was in the list earlier by Nitesh. > > Rgds, Partha > ......................................... > > On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > wrote: > > > Reality Unfolding :-) > > > > Sarai members, what say ? > > > > > > On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: > > > > > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed > > > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, > > National > > > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims > > > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. > > > > > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - > the > > > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri > > Pandits > > > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at > that > > > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said Omar > > on > > > Thursday (May 15). > > > > > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be > > > discounted > > > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri > politician > > > has > > > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. > > > > > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick > of > > > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not a > > one > > > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. > > > > > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda from > > > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation > front > > > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands > > homeless, > > > and forcing them into exile. > > > > > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah even > > > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the > fact > > > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities > must > > > stop. > > > > > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri > > > Pandits > > > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that sentiment > > was > > > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. > None > > of > > > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to > > continue > > > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in agreement > or > > > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. > > > > > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has > spoken > > so > > > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments > will > > > not > > > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in their > > own > > > country, just yet. > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Rashneek Kher > > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > > subscribe in the subject header. > > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > > -- > Partha Dasgupta > +919811047132 > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 16 15:02:43 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 15:02:43 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805160228t7685e918hb1741a37321caf06@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> <13df7c120805160228t7685e918hb1741a37321caf06@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805160232i3a508d16ic9adeb9f8fa91c0d@mail.gmail.com> Hi, 1. I find it extremely strange that Pawan object to a post of the text of the message by Nitesh on something as vague as asking him for a 'true ID' and then heralding a glitzy part cover by Times Now as a post. 2. I object to the post as it does not provide the full post of the message and instead a part of the message and is covered by the journo's own stance without any extra information to justify the cross post. 3. If it was in thread / response of the same topic, why another post? Unless it's necessary to be seen as an originator? Rgds, Partha ............................ On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:58 PM, rashneek kher wrote: > Partha, > > How much unsettled are you by Omar's comments is reflected in the two > sentences you have written. > Havent there been many posts from different newspapers/magazines on the > various issues.Why did that not irk you I wonder. > > Best Regards > > Rashneek > > On 5/16/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: > >> I think that the bare bones text of the message is far better than the >> Times >> Now report. >> >> Also, don't see the point of this post when the main text of the statement >> was in the list earlier by Nitesh. >> >> Rgds, Partha >> ......................................... >> >> On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul > > >> wrote: >> >> > Reality Unfolding :-) >> > >> > Sarai members, what say ? >> > >> > >> > On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: >> > > >> > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed >> > > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, >> > National >> > > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims >> > > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. >> > > >> > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - >> the >> > > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri >> > Pandits >> > > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at >> that >> > > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said >> Omar >> > on >> > > Thursday (May 15). >> > > >> > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be >> > > discounted >> > > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri >> politician >> > > has >> > > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. >> > > >> > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick >> of >> > > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not a >> > one >> > > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. >> > > >> > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda from >> > > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation >> front >> > > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands >> > homeless, >> > > and forcing them into exile. >> > > >> > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah even >> > > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the >> fact >> > > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities >> must >> > > stop. >> > > >> > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri >> > > Pandits >> > > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that sentiment >> > was >> > > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. >> None >> > of >> > > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to >> > continue >> > > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in agreement >> or >> > > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. >> > > >> > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has >> spoken >> > so >> > > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments >> will >> > > not >> > > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in >> their >> > own >> > > country, just yet. >> > > >> > > >> > > -- >> > > Rashneek Kher >> > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com >> > > _________________________________________ >> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> > > Critiques & Collaborations >> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> > > subscribe in the subject header. >> > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >> > _________________________________________ >> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> > Critiques & Collaborations >> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> > subscribe in the subject header. >> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >> > >> >> >> >> -- >> Partha Dasgupta >> +919811047132 >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> subscribe in the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > > > -- > Rashneek Kher > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 16 15:27:22 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 15:27:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <32144e990805160232i3a508d16ic9adeb9f8fa91c0d@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> <13df7c120805160228t7685e918hb1741a37321caf06@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805160232i3a508d16ic9adeb9f8fa91c0d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805160257p7090636od749c0c4e38de1e6@mail.gmail.com> Partha, Please read the Times Now post.It is complete and nothing has been deleted. Please check before you OBJECT. Here is the link... http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsId=8419 Best Rashneek On 5/16/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: > > Hi, > > 1. I find it extremely strange that Pawan object to a post of the text > of the message > by Nitesh on something as vague as asking him for a 'true ID' and > then heralding > a glitzy part cover by Times Now as a post. > > 2. I object to the post as it does not provide the full post of the > message and instead > a part of the message and is covered by the journo's own stance > without any extra > information to justify the cross post. > > 3. If it was in thread / response of the same topic, why another post? > Unless it's necessary to be seen as an originator? > > Rgds, Partha > ............................ > > On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:58 PM, rashneek kher wrote: > >> Partha, >> >> How much unsettled are you by Omar's comments is reflected in the two >> sentences you have written. >> Havent there been many posts from different newspapers/magazines on the >> various issues.Why did that not irk you I wonder. >> >> Best Regards >> >> Rashneek >> >> On 5/16/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: >> >>> I think that the bare bones text of the message is far better than the >>> Times >>> Now report. >>> >>> Also, don't see the point of this post when the main text of the >>> statement >>> was in the list earlier by Nitesh. >>> >>> Rgds, Partha >>> ......................................... >>> >>> On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul < >>> kauladityaraj at gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> > Reality Unfolding :-) >>> > >>> > Sarai members, what say ? >>> > >>> > >>> > On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: >>> > > >>> > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed >>> > > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, >>> > National >>> > > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims >>> > > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. >>> > > >>> > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - >>> the >>> > > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri >>> > Pandits >>> > > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at >>> that >>> > > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said >>> Omar >>> > on >>> > > Thursday (May 15). >>> > > >>> > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be >>> > > discounted >>> > > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri >>> politician >>> > > has >>> > > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. >>> > > >>> > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick >>> of >>> > > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not >>> a >>> > one >>> > > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. >>> > > >>> > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda >>> from >>> > > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation >>> front >>> > > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands >>> > homeless, >>> > > and forcing them into exile. >>> > > >>> > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah >>> even >>> > > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the >>> fact >>> > > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities >>> must >>> > > stop. >>> > > >>> > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri >>> > > Pandits >>> > > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that >>> sentiment >>> > was >>> > > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. >>> None >>> > of >>> > > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to >>> > continue >>> > > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in >>> agreement or >>> > > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. >>> > > >>> > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has >>> spoken >>> > so >>> > > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments >>> will >>> > > not >>> > > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in >>> their >>> > own >>> > > country, just yet. >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > -- >>> > > Rashneek Kher >>> > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com >>> > > _________________________________________ >>> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>> > > Critiques & Collaborations >>> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>> > > subscribe in the subject header. >>> > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>> > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> > _________________________________________ >>> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>> > Critiques & Collaborations >>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>> > subscribe in the subject header. >>> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> > >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Partha Dasgupta >>> +919811047132 >>> _________________________________________ >>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>> Critiques & Collaborations >>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>> subscribe in the subject header. >>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Rashneek Kher >> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com >> > > > > -- > Partha Dasgupta > +919811047132 -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From parthaekka at gmail.com Fri May 16 15:36:58 2008 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 15:36:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805160257p7090636od749c0c4e38de1e6@mail.gmail.com> References: <13df7c120805160130x254de723obed955506bcc0271@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805160150t3b41cd6di512d821a16ad9d26@mail.gmail.com> <13df7c120805160228t7685e918hb1741a37321caf06@mail.gmail.com> <32144e990805160232i3a508d16ic9adeb9f8fa91c0d@mail.gmail.com> <13df7c120805160257p7090636od749c0c4e38de1e6@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <32144e990805160306v2670412egbb23d0aa610017df@mail.gmail.com> Dear Rashneek, If you did read my mail before shooting off a reply, you would notice that I mentioned that the Journalist has not taken the full message of what Omar Abdullah mentioned, and then put his own stance on it. Like a typical TV report, it does not add any information and only contains a synopsis that does not warrant a fresh post over an above the previous one that contains the entire message. Rgds, Partha ....................... On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 3:27 PM, rashneek kher wrote: > Partha, > > Please read the Times Now post.It is complete and nothing has been deleted. > Please check before you OBJECT. > > Here is the link... > http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsId=8419 > > Best > > Rashneek > > > On 5/16/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> 1. I find it extremely strange that Pawan object to a post of the text >> of the message >> by Nitesh on something as vague as asking him for a 'true ID' and >> then heralding >> a glitzy part cover by Times Now as a post. >> >> 2. I object to the post as it does not provide the full post of the >> message and instead >> a part of the message and is covered by the journo's own stance >> without any extra >> information to justify the cross post. >> >> 3. If it was in thread / response of the same topic, why another post? >> Unless it's necessary to be seen as an originator? >> >> Rgds, Partha >> ............................ >> >> On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:58 PM, rashneek kher >> wrote: >> >>> Partha, >>> >>> How much unsettled are you by Omar's comments is reflected in the two >>> sentences you have written. >>> Havent there been many posts from different newspapers/magazines on the >>> various issues.Why did that not irk you I wonder. >>> >>> Best Regards >>> >>> Rashneek >>> >>> On 5/16/08, Partha Dasgupta wrote: >>> >>>> I think that the bare bones text of the message is far better than the >>>> Times >>>> Now report. >>>> >>>> Also, don't see the point of this post when the main text of the >>>> statement >>>> was in the list earlier by Nitesh. >>>> >>>> Rgds, Partha >>>> ......................................... >>>> >>>> On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul < >>>> kauladityaraj at gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> > Reality Unfolding :-) >>>> > >>>> > Sarai members, what say ? >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: >>>> > > >>>> > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed >>>> > > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, >>>> > National >>>> > > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that >>>> Muslims >>>> > > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. >>>> > > >>>> > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - >>>> the >>>> > > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri >>>> > Pandits >>>> > > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at >>>> that >>>> > > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said >>>> Omar >>>> > on >>>> > > Thursday (May 15). >>>> > > >>>> > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be >>>> > > discounted >>>> > > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri >>>> politician >>>> > > has >>>> > > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. >>>> > > >>>> > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden >>>> prick of >>>> > > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not >>>> a >>>> > one >>>> > > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. >>>> > > >>>> > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda >>>> from >>>> > > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation >>>> front >>>> > > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands >>>> > homeless, >>>> > > and forcing them into exile. >>>> > > >>>> > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah >>>> even >>>> > > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the >>>> fact >>>> > > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities >>>> must >>>> > > stop. >>>> > > >>>> > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri >>>> > > Pandits >>>> > > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that >>>> sentiment >>>> > was >>>> > > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. >>>> None >>>> > of >>>> > > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to >>>> > continue >>>> > > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in >>>> agreement or >>>> > > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. >>>> > > >>>> > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has >>>> spoken >>>> > so >>>> > > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments >>>> will >>>> > > not >>>> > > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in >>>> their >>>> > own >>>> > > country, just yet. >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > -- >>>> > > Rashneek Kher >>>> > > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com >>>> > > _________________________________________ >>>> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>> > > Critiques & Collaborations >>>> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>> > > subscribe in the subject header. >>>> > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>> > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>>> > _________________________________________ >>>> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>> > Critiques & Collaborations >>>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>> > subscribe in the subject header. >>>> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>>> > >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Partha Dasgupta >>>> +919811047132 >>>> _________________________________________ >>>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>> Critiques & Collaborations >>>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>> subscribe in the subject header. >>>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Rashneek Kher >>> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Partha Dasgupta >> +919811047132 > > > > > -- > Rashneek Kher > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > -- Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Fri May 16 16:13:00 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 16:13:00 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <32144e990805160306v2670412egbb23d0aa610017df@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear All, Here is the full text of Omar Abdullah's blog. I find it a breath of fresh air. Rashneek I don't think you're being fair to the man. Perhaps this is the beginning of the the process of truth & reconciliation that I think is vital for Kashmir. Best sj The one with no title This one has no title because its not a planned, thought out post. Its simply my reaction to some of the stuff that has been said. While I²²²²m not aiming any shots at any of the people who have responded or posted messages on this blog as my mum always said ³if the cap fits wear it². Lets start with Sheikh Abdullah - yes he is my grandfather and yes its difficult to be objective but even a blind man can see that he had great qualities. He never claimed to be perfect nor do we in the NC claim that he was. He was human and carried the baggage that any (or after reading this blog you²²²²d have to say almost any) human being carried. That having been said he struggled for a cause and suffered himself. He went to jail, he spent time in exile, he was interrogated but he didn²²²²t sit back and let others do the fighting for him. He didn²²²²t hand over guns to poor Kashmiri boys and keep his own kids out of harms way. He didn²²²²t shut down profitable business establishments through hartals and civil strikes while building his own big palaces. Sheikh Abdullah did what he thought was best for his people and the people responded in kind. Some will argue that his decision in 1947 was wrong - looking at the present state of Pakistan and the side of Kashmir with it, I can²²²²t see how they can justify that argument. Was independence an option? Sure let²²²¹¹s ask the tibetans about how it is to survive as an independent country with China, India and Pakistan for neighbours. Lets ask Afghanistan what it is like to be a mountainous land locked country in the region with precious little natural wealth, or Nepal for that matter. It²²²¹¹s all very well to dream and base those dreams on theoretical models of self sufficiency looking at Switzerland and places like that but Kosovo would be a better long term model to look at. We had a cold war, we had two blocks and two choices - India or Pakistan. Sheikh Abdullah signed an accord in 1975 and disbanded the Plebiscite front. Some will argue that this was a betrayal and they would not be completely wrong in as much as he settled without getting what he set out to get but look at the circumstances that prevailed at the time. We can²²t take the luxury of looking at events in isolation and pass judgement. Yes, he signed an accord but look at what was happening around him - Pakistan had not only lost a war it had been dismembered, the Simla Agreement had been signed that promised to resolve the Kashmir issue and Indira Gandhi was being compared to Goddess Durga. Under these circumstances Sheikh Abdullah felt that he had to get the best that he could for the people and the people agreed with him. Any Kashmir expert worth his or her salt will agree that the 1977 election was the freest and fairest election the state has ever seen and the people stood behind Sheikh Abdullah and continued to stand behind him till he was laid to rest. Has any leader in Kashmir had a funeral on the scale that Sheikh Abdullah had in 1982? I think not, that having been said those that are ideologically opposed to him will remain so - such is life. Much is said about my father and by the grace of God he²¹¹s still alive and kicking and doesn²²t need me to set the record straight for him he does it for himself. Junaid mentioned that he danced when a Pakistani wicket fell. I wonder why the Pakistani wicket mattered so much because he dances whenever he watches a match and India takes a wicket. He makes no bones about where his loyalties lie and is not hypocritical about it. Time will tell how what he did, what he does and what he²²ll do will be judged. Lets not be too quick to rush in and pass judgement ourselves as yet. Politicians have let Kashmiris down - sure we have. But what of the engineers and officials who were hand in glove with us? What of those trusted individuals who on a meagre salary have built palaces and sent their children to the choicest colleges paying hundreds of thousands of rupees? Those that built roads that only existed on paper, ordered pipes that continue to rust decades later, drew salaries as doctors from the state while continuing to practice in the Gulf or UK - do they bear no responsibility for the suffering of the people? Two wrongs don²²t make a right (another thing my mum always says) but then people living in glass houses should be very careful where they throw stones (yet another of mum²¹¹s gems). As a politician I have let the people of my state down but I had a lot of willing and able supporters along the way. I am a hypocrite because I draw my salary from the Parliament of India and I still criticise India for the excesses in my state - so be it. I²²ll live with being a hypocrite because it²¹¹s better than living as a mute spectator. I live with it because I am equally critical of the excesses of the militants. If I am critical of India²¹¹s actions in Kashmir, I am critical of Pakistan²¹¹s as well. I do a job as a member of Parliament but I haven²²t sold my soul. I don²²t visit the Indian Home Ministry or the Pakistani High Commission (or in some cases both together) to collect my monthly dole. But what of those who travel the world talking about the illegal nature of India²¹¹s occupation of Kashmir and do so on an INDIAN passport? These are people who feel so strongly about the disputed nature of Kashmir but will happily fill a landing card and mention citizenship of India. I have an uncle who more often than not I disagree with but I admire the conviction he has - he disagrees with what happened in 1947 and subsequent events and so refuses to carry a passport. He has never applied for one. For the longest time he never left the state and only travelled by road between Jammu and Srinagar because he refused to travel on ²²Indian²² Airlines. Coming to events of the last seventeen years I will only touch on a few things that come to mind because a lot of this blog is going to be taken up by this period so no point writing it all in one post. That the Indian security forces are guilty of some of the most horrible excesses is a given and I don²²t dispute that. I don²²t condone what was done and am a firm believer that the truth must emerge and the guilty must be punished. This must be done in a transparent manner. I have talked about the need for a truth and reconciliation commission and will write in greater detail about this in a subsequent post. While agreeing that nothing can justify the extra-judicial killings, the rapes, the torture, I have to ask the question - was there any of this happening before militancy started in the late 80²¹¹s? Before some of you rush in and go for my jugular claiming that I am using militancy to justify these things let me make clear that I am NOT. NOTHING can justify what the people have had to go through but to suggest that the people of Kashmir have been subjugated and brutalized for six decades is to stretch things way too far. I don²²t recall crack downs and searches before 1990, as I don²²t recall arrogant convoy commanders on our roads before that either. I recall wives of Indian Army officers teaching me in school. I recall going to the homes of school friends whose fathers were in the army and playing with other ²²C²² type kids all day. Incidentally while it is always unfair to use broad strokes to paint everyone and catagorise then simplistically like one of us has done with his ²²A²² ²²B²² and ²²C²² groupings it was fun to see the reaction that ensued. The glass houses sprung to mind again. Its so easy to say that we²²ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri pandits back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment as I²²m sure the Kashmiri Pandits reading it will. Pity that sentiment was missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. None of us was willing to stand up and be counted when it mattered. None of us grabbed the mikes in the mosques and said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to continue living in the valley. Our educated, well to do relatives and neighbours were spewing venom twenty four hours a day and we were mute spectators either mute in agreement or mute in abject fear, more often than not it was muteness driven by fear because the guns turned against the Pandits found their target elsewhere as my party workers found, but mute none the less. And talking about mosques - what a great symbol of mass uprising they proved to be. While I can²²t claim to have lived through it I have enough friends who did and they tell me about the early 90²¹¹s where attendance was taken in mosques at prayer time. If one missed a prayer in the mosque the neighbourhood enforcement committee knocked on the door and sought an explanation, usually with a few gun men present to ensure the message was received loud and clear. People were forced out of their homes to participate in ³mass uprisings² against Indian ³occupation² and the same enforcement committees went from door to door forcing people to march. While I don²²t deny that the overwhelming majority of people rose in anger in the early 90²¹¹s there are two sides to every story and we need to look at both or we risk losing our objectivity. Shop signs were painted green and white in Islamic colours and people were forced to set their watches to Pakistan standard time. As if these two things would make the dream of independence any easier to achieve - amazing how quickly peeople rediscovered the old colours when they could make a choice again. This post has been a little more long winded than I had expected but then Omar Khayyam once said - The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it I²²ve written as I felt and to be honest with you I²²ve enjoyed writing every word of it. From rashneek at gmail.com Fri May 16 16:19:46 2008 From: rashneek at gmail.com (rashneek kher) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 16:19:46 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: References: <32144e990805160306v2670412egbb23d0aa610017df@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <13df7c120805160349m66b1dd93m1b1454c1271444fe@mail.gmail.com> Dear Sonia, I have posted what was there on the Times Now Website.That I posted completely without any changes.So in my part I have been fair. I agree that this is the first step towards truth and reconciliation.This one coupled with Rekha Chaudhary's recent findings should atleast put an end to the Jagmohan conspiracy theory now.It has to be acknowledged that there was a mass frenzy coupled with insurgency and selected killings which led to Pandit exodus. Regards Rashneek On 5/16/08, S. Jabbar wrote: > > Dear All, > Here is the full text of Omar Abdullah's blog. I find it a breath of fresh > air. Rashneek I don't think you're being fair to the man. Perhaps this is > the beginning of the the process of truth & reconciliation that I think is > vital for Kashmir. > Best > sj > > > The one with no title > > This one has no title because its not a planned, thought out post. Its > simply my reaction to some of the stuff that has been said. While I²²²²m > not > aiming any shots at any of the people who have responded or posted messages > on this blog as my mum always said ³if the cap fits wear it². > > Lets start with Sheikh Abdullah - yes he is my grandfather and yes its > difficult to be objective but even a blind man can see that he had great > qualities. He never claimed to be perfect nor do we in the NC claim that he > was. He was human and carried the baggage that any (or after reading this > blog you²²²²d have to say almost any) human being carried. That having been > said he struggled for a cause and suffered himself. He went to jail, he > spent time in exile, he was interrogated but he didn²²²²t sit back and let > others do the fighting for him. He didn²²²²t hand over guns to poor > Kashmiri > boys and keep his own kids out of harms way. He didn²²²²t shut down > profitable business establishments through hartals and civil strikes while > building his own big palaces. Sheikh Abdullah did what he thought was best > for his people and the people responded in kind. Some will argue that his > decision in 1947 was wrong - looking at the present state of Pakistan and > the side of Kashmir with it, I can²²²²t see how they can justify that > argument. Was independence an option? Sure let²²²¹¹s ask the tibetans about > how it is to survive as an independent country with China, India and > Pakistan for neighbours. Lets ask Afghanistan what it is like to be a > mountainous land locked country in the region with precious little natural > wealth, or Nepal for that matter. It²²²¹¹s all very well to dream and base > those dreams on theoretical models of self sufficiency looking at > Switzerland and places like that but Kosovo would be a better long term > model to look at. We had a cold war, we had two blocks and two choices - > India or Pakistan. > > Sheikh Abdullah signed an accord in 1975 and disbanded the Plebiscite > front. > Some will argue that this was a betrayal and they would not be completely > wrong in as much as he settled without getting what he set out to get but > look at the circumstances that prevailed at the time. We can²²t take the > luxury of looking at events in isolation and pass judgement. Yes, he signed > an accord but look at what was happening around him - Pakistan had not only > lost a war it had been dismembered, the Simla Agreement had been signed > that > promised to resolve the Kashmir issue and Indira Gandhi was being compared > to Goddess Durga. Under these circumstances Sheikh Abdullah felt that he > had > to get the best that he could for the people and the people agreed with > him. > Any Kashmir expert worth his or her salt will agree that the 1977 election > was the freest and fairest election the state has ever seen and the people > stood behind Sheikh Abdullah and continued to stand behind him till he was > laid to rest. Has any leader in Kashmir had a funeral on the scale that > Sheikh Abdullah had in 1982? I think not, that having been said those that > are ideologically opposed to him will remain so - such is life. > > Much is said about my father and by the grace of God he²¹¹s still alive and > kicking and doesn²²t need me to set the record straight for him he does it > for himself. Junaid mentioned that he danced when a Pakistani wicket fell. > I > wonder why the Pakistani wicket mattered so much because he dances whenever > he watches a match and India takes a wicket. He makes no bones about where > his loyalties lie and is not hypocritical about it. Time will tell how what > he did, what he does and what he²²ll do will be judged. Lets not be too > quick to rush in and pass judgement ourselves as yet. > > Politicians have let Kashmiris down - sure we have. But what of the > engineers and officials who were hand in glove with us? What of those > trusted individuals who on a meagre salary have built palaces and sent > their > children to the choicest colleges paying hundreds of thousands of rupees? > Those that built roads that only existed on paper, ordered pipes that > continue to rust decades later, drew salaries as doctors from the state > while continuing to practice in the Gulf or UK - do they bear no > responsibility for the suffering of the people? Two wrongs don²²t make a > right (another thing my mum always says) but then people living in glass > houses should be very careful where they throw stones (yet another of > mum²¹¹s gems). As a politician I have let the people of my state down but I > had a lot of willing and able supporters along the way. > > I am a hypocrite because I draw my salary from the Parliament of India and > I > still criticise India for the excesses in my state - so be it. I²²ll live > with being a hypocrite because it²¹¹s better than living as a mute > spectator. I live with it because I am equally critical of the excesses of > the militants. If I am critical of India²¹¹s actions in Kashmir, I am > critical of Pakistan²¹¹s as well. I do a job as a member of Parliament but > I > haven²²t sold my soul. I don²²t visit the Indian Home Ministry or the > Pakistani High Commission (or in some cases both together) to collect my > monthly dole. But what of those who travel the world talking about the > illegal nature of India²¹¹s occupation of Kashmir and do so on an INDIAN > passport? These are people who feel so strongly about the disputed nature > of > Kashmir but will happily fill a landing card and mention citizenship of > India. I have an uncle who more often than not I disagree with but I admire > the conviction he has - he disagrees with what happened in 1947 and > subsequent events and so refuses to carry a passport. He has never applied > for one. For the longest time he never left the state and only travelled by > road between Jammu and Srinagar because he refused to travel on ²²Indian²² > Airlines. > > Coming to events of the last seventeen years I will only touch on a few > things that come to mind because a lot of this blog is going to be taken up > by this period so no point writing it all in one post. That the Indian > security forces are guilty of some of the most horrible excesses is a given > and I don²²t dispute that. I don²²t condone what was done and am a firm > believer that the truth must emerge and the guilty must be punished. This > must be done in a transparent manner. I have talked about the need for a > truth and reconciliation commission and will write in greater detail about > this in a subsequent post. > > While agreeing that nothing can justify the extra-judicial killings, the > rapes, the torture, I have to ask the question - was there any of this > happening before militancy started in the late 80²¹¹s? Before some of you > rush in and go for my jugular claiming that I am using militancy to justify > these things let me make clear that I am NOT. NOTHING can justify what the > people have had to go through but to suggest that the people of Kashmir > have > been subjugated and brutalized for six decades is to stretch things way too > far. I don²²t recall crack downs and searches before 1990, as I don²²t > recall arrogant convoy commanders on our roads before that either. I recall > wives of Indian Army officers teaching me in school. I recall going to the > homes of school friends whose fathers were in the army and playing with > other ²²C²² type kids all day. Incidentally while it is always unfair to > use > broad strokes to paint everyone and catagorise then simplistically like one > of us has done with his ²²A²² ²²B²² and ²²C²² groupings it was fun to see > the reaction that ensued. The glass houses sprung to mind again. > > Its so easy to say that we²²ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri pandits > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment as I²²m sure the Kashmiri > Pandits reading it will. Pity that sentiment was missing when our mosques > were being used to drive these people out. None of us was willing to stand > up and be counted when it mattered. None of us grabbed the mikes in the > mosques and said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to > continue living in the valley. Our educated, well to do relatives and > neighbours were spewing venom twenty four hours a day and we were mute > spectators either mute in agreement or mute in abject fear, more often than > not it was muteness driven by fear because the guns turned against the > Pandits found their target elsewhere as my party workers found, but mute > none the less. > > And talking about mosques - what a great symbol of mass uprising they > proved > to be. While I can²²t claim to have lived through it I have enough friends > who did and they tell me about the early 90²¹¹s where attendance was taken > in mosques at prayer time. If one missed a prayer in the mosque the > neighbourhood enforcement committee knocked on the door and sought an > explanation, usually with a few gun men present to ensure the message was > received loud and clear. People were forced out of their homes to > participate in ³mass uprisings² against Indian ³occupation² and the same > enforcement committees went from door to door forcing people to march. > While > I don²²t deny that the overwhelming majority of people rose in anger in the > early 90²¹¹s there are two sides to every story and we need to look at both > or we risk losing our objectivity. Shop signs were painted green and white > in Islamic colours and people were forced to set their watches to Pakistan > standard time. As if these two things would make the dream of independence > any easier to achieve - amazing how quickly peeople rediscovered the old > colours when they could make a choice again. > > This post has been a little more long winded than I had expected but then > Omar Khayyam once said - > > The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, > Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit > Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, > Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it > > I²²ve written as I felt and to be honest with you I²²ve enjoyed writing > every word of it. > > > -- Rashneek Kher http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Fri May 16 16:28:46 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 16:28:46 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805160349m66b1dd93m1b1454c1271444fe@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: No, about his motives: speculation about a rajya sabha ticket etc. Actually, from what I gather this was Omar¹s cri de couer in response to some sniping at his earlier blog. Best sj On 5/16/08 4:19 PM, "rashneek kher" wrote: > Dear Sonia, > > I have posted what was there on the Times Now Website.That I posted completely > without any changes.So in my part I have been fair. > I agree that this is the first step towards truth and reconciliation.This one > coupled with Rekha Chaudhary's recent findings should atleast put an end to > the Jagmohan conspiracy theory now.It has to be acknowledged that there was a > mass frenzy coupled with insurgency and selected killings which led to Pandit > exodus. > > Regards > > Rashneek > > > On 5/16/08, S. Jabbar wrote: >> Dear All, >> Here is the full text of Omar Abdullah's blog. I find it a breath of fresh >> air. Rashneek I don't think you're being fair to the man. Perhaps this is >> the beginning of the the process of truth & reconciliation that I think is >> vital for Kashmir. >> Best >> sj >> >> >> The one with no title >> >> This one has no title because its not a planned, thought out post. Its >> simply my reaction to some of the stuff that has been said. While I²²²²m not >> aiming any shots at any of the people who have responded or posted messages >> on this blog as my mum always said ³if the cap fits wear it². >> >> Lets start with Sheikh Abdullah - yes he is my grandfather and yes its >> difficult to be objective but even a blind man can see that he had great >> qualities. He never claimed to be perfect nor do we in the NC claim that he >> was. He was human and carried the baggage that any (or after reading this >> blog you²²²²d have to say almost any) human being carried. That having been >> said he struggled for a cause and suffered himself. He went to jail, he >> spent time in exile, he was interrogated but he didn²²²²t sit back and let >> others do the fighting for him. He didn²²²²t hand over guns to poor Kashmiri >> boys and keep his own kids out of harms way. He didn²²²²t shut down >> profitable business establishments through hartals and civil strikes while >> building his own big palaces. Sheikh Abdullah did what he thought was best >> for his people and the people responded in kind. Some will argue that his >> decision in 1947 was wrong - looking at the present state of Pakistan and >> the side of Kashmir with it, I can²²²²t see how they can justify that >> argument. Was independence an option? Sure let²²²¹¹s ask the tibetans about >> how it is to survive as an independent country with China, India and >> Pakistan for neighbours. Lets ask Afghanistan what it is like to be a >> mountainous land locked country in the region with precious little natural >> wealth, or Nepal for that matter. It²²²¹¹s all very well to dream and base >> those dreams on theoretical models of self sufficiency looking at >> Switzerland and places like that but Kosovo would be a better long term >> model to look at. We had a cold war, we had two blocks and two choices - >> India or Pakistan. >> >> Sheikh Abdullah signed an accord in 1975 and disbanded the Plebiscite front. >> Some will argue that this was a betrayal and they would not be completely >> wrong in as much as he settled without getting what he set out to get but >> look at the circumstances that prevailed at the time. We can²²t take the >> luxury of looking at events in isolation and pass judgement. Yes, he signed >> an accord but look at what was happening around him - Pakistan had not only >> lost a war it had been dismembered, the Simla Agreement had been signed that >> promised to resolve the Kashmir issue and Indira Gandhi was being compared >> to Goddess Durga. Under these circumstances Sheikh Abdullah felt that he had >> to get the best that he could for the people and the people agreed with him. >> Any Kashmir expert worth his or her salt will agree that the 1977 election >> was the freest and fairest election the state has ever seen and the people >> stood behind Sheikh Abdullah and continued to stand behind him till he was >> laid to rest. Has any leader in Kashmir had a funeral on the scale that >> Sheikh Abdullah had in 1982? I think not, that having been said those that >> are ideologically opposed to him will remain so - such is life. >> >> Much is said about my father and by the grace of God he²¹¹s still alive and >> kicking and doesn²²t need me to set the record straight for him he does it >> for himself. Junaid mentioned that he danced when a Pakistani wicket fell. I >> wonder why the Pakistani wicket mattered so much because he dances whenever >> he watches a match and India takes a wicket. He makes no bones about where >> his loyalties lie and is not hypocritical about it. Time will tell how what >> he did, what he does and what he²²ll do will be judged. Lets not be too >> quick to rush in and pass judgement ourselves as yet. >> >> Politicians have let Kashmiris down - sure we have. But what of the >> engineers and officials who were hand in glove with us? What of those >> trusted individuals who on a meagre salary have built palaces and sent their >> children to the choicest colleges paying hundreds of thousands of rupees? >> Those that built roads that only existed on paper, ordered pipes that >> continue to rust decades later, drew salaries as doctors from the state >> while continuing to practice in the Gulf or UK - do they bear no >> responsibility for the suffering of the people? Two wrongs don²²t make a >> right (another thing my mum always says) but then people living in glass >> houses should be very careful where they throw stones (yet another of >> mum²¹¹s gems). As a politician I have let the people of my state down but I >> had a lot of willing and able supporters along the way. >> >> I am a hypocrite because I draw my salary from the Parliament of India and I >> still criticise India for the excesses in my state - so be it. I²²ll live >> with being a hypocrite because it²¹¹s better than living as a mute >> spectator. I live with it because I am equally critical of the excesses of >> the militants. If I am critical of India²¹¹s actions in Kashmir, I am >> critical of Pakistan²¹¹s as well. I do a job as a member of Parliament but I >> haven²²t sold my soul. I don²²t visit the Indian Home Ministry or the >> Pakistani High Commission (or in some cases both together) to collect my >> monthly dole. But what of those who travel the world talking about the >> illegal nature of India²¹¹s occupation of Kashmir and do so on an INDIAN >> passport? These are people who feel so strongly about the disputed nature of >> Kashmir but will happily fill a landing card and mention citizenship of >> India. I have an uncle who more often than not I disagree with but I admire >> the conviction he has - he disagrees with what happened in 1947 and >> subsequent events and so refuses to carry a passport. He has never applied >> for one. For the longest time he never left the state and only travelled by >> road between Jammu and Srinagar because he refused to travel on ²²Indian²² >> Airlines. >> >> Coming to events of the last seventeen years I will only touch on a few >> things that come to mind because a lot of this blog is going to be taken up >> by this period so no point writing it all in one post. That the Indian >> security forces are guilty of some of the most horrible excesses is a given >> and I don²²t dispute that. I don²²t condone what was done and am a firm >> believer that the truth must emerge and the guilty must be punished. This >> must be done in a transparent manner. I have talked about the need for a >> truth and reconciliation commission and will write in greater detail about >> this in a subsequent post. >> >> While agreeing that nothing can justify the extra-judicial killings, the >> rapes, the torture, I have to ask the question - was there any of this >> happening before militancy started in the late 80²¹¹s? Before some of you >> rush in and go for my jugular claiming that I am using militancy to justify >> these things let me make clear that I am NOT. NOTHING can justify what the >> people have had to go through but to suggest that the people of Kashmir have >> been subjugated and brutalized for six decades is to stretch things way too >> far. I don²²t recall crack downs and searches before 1990, as I don²²t >> recall arrogant convoy commanders on our roads before that either. I recall >> wives of Indian Army officers teaching me in school. I recall going to the >> homes of school friends whose fathers were in the army and playing with >> other ²²C²² type kids all day. Incidentally while it is always unfair to use >> broad strokes to paint everyone and catagorise then simplistically like one >> of us has done with his ²²A²² ²²B²² and ²²C²² groupings it was fun to see >> the reaction that ensued. The glass houses sprung to mind again. >> >> Its so easy to say that we²²ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri pandits >> back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment as I²²m sure the Kashmiri >> Pandits reading it will. Pity that sentiment was missing when our mosques >> were being used to drive these people out. None of us was willing to stand >> up and be counted when it mattered. None of us grabbed the mikes in the >> mosques and said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to >> continue living in the valley. Our educated, well to do relatives and >> neighbours were spewing venom twenty four hours a day and we were mute >> spectators either mute in agreement or mute in abject fear, more often than >> not it was muteness driven by fear because the guns turned against the >> Pandits found their target elsewhere as my party workers found, but mute >> none the less. >> >> And talking about mosques - what a great symbol of mass uprising they proved >> to be. While I can²²t claim to have lived through it I have enough friends >> who did and they tell me about the early 90²¹¹s where attendance was taken >> in mosques at prayer time. If one missed a prayer in the mosque the >> neighbourhood enforcement committee knocked on the door and sought an >> explanation, usually with a few gun men present to ensure the message was >> received loud and clear. People were forced out of their homes to >> participate in ³mass uprisings² against Indian ³occupation² and the same >> enforcement committees went from door to door forcing people to march. While >> I don²²t deny that the overwhelming majority of people rose in anger in the >> early 90²¹¹s there are two sides to every story and we need to look at both >> or we risk losing our objectivity. Shop signs were painted green and white >> in Islamic colours and people were forced to set their watches to Pakistan >> standard time. As if these two things would make the dream of independence >> any easier to achieve - amazing how quickly peeople rediscovered the old >> colours when they could make a choice again. >> >> This post has been a little more long winded than I had expected but then >> Omar Khayyam once said - >> >> The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, >> Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit >> Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, >> Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it >> >> I²²ve written as I felt and to be honest with you I²²ve enjoyed writing >> every word of it. >> >> > > From navayana at gmail.com Fri May 16 18:00:33 2008 From: navayana at gmail.com (Navayana Publishing) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 18:00:33 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Choice Intern at Navayana In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear friends: for circulation and notice-boards! Navayana is looking for an intern to be based in New Delhi. The role of the intern, to be placed for a minimum of 6 months and up to one year, shall be that of a publishing and editorial assistant. Navayana is specifically looking for a Dalit graduate/postgraduate, with good English language skills, keen on a career in publishing. The placement of the intern shall be facilitated by a progamme called Choice run by The Seagull Foundation. See < http://www.choicemakers.org/choiceinterns.html> for more on the programme. Applicants must be aged 18 to 25. The Choice Intern at Navayana shall receive a monthly stipend of about Rs 5,000; besides, his/her food, travel and accommodation expenses shall be covered in the city in which h/she works -- in Navayana's case, Delhi. All this may work up to Rs 14,000 to Rs 15,000 per month. Those interested in applying for the internship programme are requested to send their CV to anand.navayana at gmail.com, along with a 300 word write-up on their interest in books and why they would be keen on a career in publishing. Navayana is an award-winning publishing house that focuses on issues of caste from an anticaste perspective. It will be an ideal place to learn every aspect of book-making from commissioning, editing, production to marketing. See to know more. Last Date for Applications: *30 May 2008* S.Anand Publisher www.navayana.org Address for correspondence Navayana Publishing M-100 (First Floor) Saket, New Delhi--110017 Ph: +91-9971433117 Landline: +91-11-29561731 Join Navayana Book Club and avail free books and special discounts! http://www.navayana.org/display.php?id=5 From taraprakash at gmail.com Fri May 16 21:36:58 2008 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 12:06:58 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Hindu again playing the mouthpiece of Chinese government? Message-ID: <00a101c8b76e$e3e30250$6400a8c0@taraprakash> Hi all. The following Hindu editorial seems to ignore a basic question which everyone sensible in the world (including China) is asking. How come the buildings housing the government offices remained in tact where as thousands of schools were flattened by the quake? How much prepared the government was to help its citizens in this earth quake prone area can be inferred from the fact that the government officials are asking the residents for things like hammers and shovels. It is not unusual that a government fails the expectations of the victims of a calamity (The US government did miserably at the time of hurricane Katrina which devastated the entire New Orleans) why is the Hindu trying to conceal the corruption and the poor performance of thee Chinese government? From whom? I can never find the answer. Challenge and response in China The May 12 earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, in China's south-western Sichuan province has taken a confirmed toll of over 19,500 lives. It is feared that the number of dead could be above 50,000. The toll would have been higher but for the quick and efficient response by the government and the diligence shown by the rescue machinery. Amidst the gloom of many people buried under debris, beyond all help, there are moving accounts of children, women, and t he elderly being rescued. Even rare giant pandas have survived in reserves. In cities like Chengdu, people experiencing aftershocks showed presence of mind by moving to the safety of open spaces such as parks and streets. But helpless citizens in places like Dujiangyan and Yingxiu bore the brunt of the quake. The calamity brings back memories of the much deadlier earthquake of July 1976 in Tangshan, which also had an identical Richter reading; that quake flattened most of the city buildings and it took the region a long time to recover. The rapid economic strides made by China over the past three decades have helped the official machinery come up with a praiseworthy response in Sichuan. The Chinese news agency Xinhua's extensive reportage provides many details of the authorities acting speedily to mobilise thousands of trained rescue and relief workers, paratroopers, health personnel, engineers, and communications technicians. If anything hampered the precise relief mission in some places, it was the heavy rain. Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the affected region provided reassurance to the population and galvanised the official response. Natural calamities on the scale of the Myanmar cyclone or the Asian tsunami are not frequent, with the infrequency lulling the public as well as the establishment into inaction between such events. It is here that governments must play an active role and make safety a public priority. Constructed structures, which people depend upon for safety, are often the most dangerous places during an earthquake. Enforcing building codes for the various seismic zones without compromise, and ensuring quality standards for construction materials and processes, provide reliable long-term safety. This is borne out by the experience of earthquake-prone developed countries, notably Japan and the United States. No less important is strong public infrastructure. In Sichuan, adequate numbers of satellite telephones provided vital communications, while teams worked to restore roads, power, and water. In the days ahead, there will be much to learn from China's experience in restoring normal life after an earthquake. From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Sat May 17 09:03:39 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 09:03:39 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <13df7c120805160349m66b1dd93m1b1454c1271444fe@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Rashneek, I misunderstood. Thought those were your comments and did not realize that it was a news report that speculated on Omar Abdullah¹s motives. I¹m so sorry. sj On 5/16/08 4:19 PM, "rashneek kher" wrote: > Dear Sonia, > > I have posted what was there on the Times Now Website.That I posted completely > without any changes.So in my part I have been fair. > I agree that this is the first step towards truth and reconciliation.This one > coupled with Rekha Chaudhary's recent findings should atleast put an end to > the Jagmohan conspiracy theory now.It has to be acknowledged that there was a > mass frenzy coupled with insurgency and selected killings which led to Pandit > exodus. > > Regards > > Rashneek > > > On 5/16/08, S. Jabbar wrote: >> Dear All, >> Here is the full text of Omar Abdullah's blog. I find it a breath of fresh >> air. Rashneek I don't think you're being fair to the man. Perhaps this is >> the beginning of the the process of truth & reconciliation that I think is >> vital for Kashmir. >> Best >> sj >> >> >> The one with no title >> >> This one has no title because its not a planned, thought out post. Its >> simply my reaction to some of the stuff that has been said. While I²²²²m not >> aiming any shots at any of the people who have responded or posted messages >> on this blog as my mum always said ³if the cap fits wear it². >> >> Lets start with Sheikh Abdullah - yes he is my grandfather and yes its >> difficult to be objective but even a blind man can see that he had great >> qualities. He never claimed to be perfect nor do we in the NC claim that he >> was. He was human and carried the baggage that any (or after reading this >> blog you²²²²d have to say almost any) human being carried. That having been >> said he struggled for a cause and suffered himself. He went to jail, he >> spent time in exile, he was interrogated but he didn²²²²t sit back and let >> others do the fighting for him. He didn²²²²t hand over guns to poor Kashmiri >> boys and keep his own kids out of harms way. He didn²²²²t shut down >> profitable business establishments through hartals and civil strikes while >> building his own big palaces. Sheikh Abdullah did what he thought was best >> for his people and the people responded in kind. Some will argue that his >> decision in 1947 was wrong - looking at the present state of Pakistan and >> the side of Kashmir with it, I can²²²²t see how they can justify that >> argument. Was independence an option? Sure let²²²¹¹s ask the tibetans about >> how it is to survive as an independent country with China, India and >> Pakistan for neighbours. Lets ask Afghanistan what it is like to be a >> mountainous land locked country in the region with precious little natural >> wealth, or Nepal for that matter. It²²²¹¹s all very well to dream and base >> those dreams on theoretical models of self sufficiency looking at >> Switzerland and places like that but Kosovo would be a better long term >> model to look at. We had a cold war, we had two blocks and two choices - >> India or Pakistan. >> >> Sheikh Abdullah signed an accord in 1975 and disbanded the Plebiscite front. >> Some will argue that this was a betrayal and they would not be completely >> wrong in as much as he settled without getting what he set out to get but >> look at the circumstances that prevailed at the time. We can²²t take the >> luxury of looking at events in isolation and pass judgement. Yes, he signed >> an accord but look at what was happening around him - Pakistan had not only >> lost a war it had been dismembered, the Simla Agreement had been signed that >> promised to resolve the Kashmir issue and Indira Gandhi was being compared >> to Goddess Durga. Under these circumstances Sheikh Abdullah felt that he had >> to get the best that he could for the people and the people agreed with him. >> Any Kashmir expert worth his or her salt will agree that the 1977 election >> was the freest and fairest election the state has ever seen and the people >> stood behind Sheikh Abdullah and continued to stand behind him till he was >> laid to rest. Has any leader in Kashmir had a funeral on the scale that >> Sheikh Abdullah had in 1982? I think not, that having been said those that >> are ideologically opposed to him will remain so - such is life. >> >> Much is said about my father and by the grace of God he²¹¹s still alive and >> kicking and doesn²²t need me to set the record straight for him he does it >> for himself. Junaid mentioned that he danced when a Pakistani wicket fell. I >> wonder why the Pakistani wicket mattered so much because he dances whenever >> he watches a match and India takes a wicket. He makes no bones about where >> his loyalties lie and is not hypocritical about it. Time will tell how what >> he did, what he does and what he²²ll do will be judged. Lets not be too >> quick to rush in and pass judgement ourselves as yet. >> >> Politicians have let Kashmiris down - sure we have. But what of the >> engineers and officials who were hand in glove with us? What of those >> trusted individuals who on a meagre salary have built palaces and sent their >> children to the choicest colleges paying hundreds of thousands of rupees? >> Those that built roads that only existed on paper, ordered pipes that >> continue to rust decades later, drew salaries as doctors from the state >> while continuing to practice in the Gulf or UK - do they bear no >> responsibility for the suffering of the people? Two wrongs don²²t make a >> right (another thing my mum always says) but then people living in glass >> houses should be very careful where they throw stones (yet another of >> mum²¹¹s gems). As a politician I have let the people of my state down but I >> had a lot of willing and able supporters along the way. >> >> I am a hypocrite because I draw my salary from the Parliament of India and I >> still criticise India for the excesses in my state - so be it. I²²ll live >> with being a hypocrite because it²¹¹s better than living as a mute >> spectator. I live with it because I am equally critical of the excesses of >> the militants. If I am critical of India²¹¹s actions in Kashmir, I am >> critical of Pakistan²¹¹s as well. I do a job as a member of Parliament but I >> haven²²t sold my soul. I don²²t visit the Indian Home Ministry or the >> Pakistani High Commission (or in some cases both together) to collect my >> monthly dole. But what of those who travel the world talking about the >> illegal nature of India²¹¹s occupation of Kashmir and do so on an INDIAN >> passport? These are people who feel so strongly about the disputed nature of >> Kashmir but will happily fill a landing card and mention citizenship of >> India. I have an uncle who more often than not I disagree with but I admire >> the conviction he has - he disagrees with what happened in 1947 and >> subsequent events and so refuses to carry a passport. He has never applied >> for one. For the longest time he never left the state and only travelled by >> road between Jammu and Srinagar because he refused to travel on ²²Indian²² >> Airlines. >> >> Coming to events of the last seventeen years I will only touch on a few >> things that come to mind because a lot of this blog is going to be taken up >> by this period so no point writing it all in one post. That the Indian >> security forces are guilty of some of the most horrible excesses is a given >> and I don²²t dispute that. I don²²t condone what was done and am a firm >> believer that the truth must emerge and the guilty must be punished. This >> must be done in a transparent manner. I have talked about the need for a >> truth and reconciliation commission and will write in greater detail about >> this in a subsequent post. >> >> While agreeing that nothing can justify the extra-judicial killings, the >> rapes, the torture, I have to ask the question - was there any of this >> happening before militancy started in the late 80²¹¹s? Before some of you >> rush in and go for my jugular claiming that I am using militancy to justify >> these things let me make clear that I am NOT. NOTHING can justify what the >> people have had to go through but to suggest that the people of Kashmir have >> been subjugated and brutalized for six decades is to stretch things way too >> far. I don²²t recall crack downs and searches before 1990, as I don²²t >> recall arrogant convoy commanders on our roads before that either. I recall >> wives of Indian Army officers teaching me in school. I recall going to the >> homes of school friends whose fathers were in the army and playing with >> other ²²C²² type kids all day. Incidentally while it is always unfair to use >> broad strokes to paint everyone and catagorise then simplistically like one >> of us has done with his ²²A²² ²²B²² and ²²C²² groupings it was fun to see >> the reaction that ensued. The glass houses sprung to mind again. >> >> Its so easy to say that we²²ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri pandits >> back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment as I²²m sure the Kashmiri >> Pandits reading it will. Pity that sentiment was missing when our mosques >> were being used to drive these people out. None of us was willing to stand >> up and be counted when it mattered. None of us grabbed the mikes in the >> mosques and said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to >> continue living in the valley. Our educated, well to do relatives and >> neighbours were spewing venom twenty four hours a day and we were mute >> spectators either mute in agreement or mute in abject fear, more often than >> not it was muteness driven by fear because the guns turned against the >> Pandits found their target elsewhere as my party workers found, but mute >> none the less. >> >> And talking about mosques - what a great symbol of mass uprising they proved >> to be. While I can²²t claim to have lived through it I have enough friends >> who did and they tell me about the early 90²¹¹s where attendance was taken >> in mosques at prayer time. If one missed a prayer in the mosque the >> neighbourhood enforcement committee knocked on the door and sought an >> explanation, usually with a few gun men present to ensure the message was >> received loud and clear. People were forced out of their homes to >> participate in ³mass uprisings² against Indian ³occupation² and the same >> enforcement committees went from door to door forcing people to march. While >> I don²²t deny that the overwhelming majority of people rose in anger in the >> early 90²¹¹s there are two sides to every story and we need to look at both >> or we risk losing our objectivity. Shop signs were painted green and white >> in Islamic colours and people were forced to set their watches to Pakistan >> standard time. As if these two things would make the dream of independence >> any easier to achieve - amazing how quickly peeople rediscovered the old >> colours when they could make a choice again. >> >> This post has been a little more long winded than I had expected but then >> Omar Khayyam once said - >> >> The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, >> Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit >> Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, >> Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it >> >> I²²ve written as I felt and to be honest with you I²²ve enjoyed writing >> every word of it. >> >> > > From phadkeshilpa at gmail.com Sat May 17 11:10:02 2008 From: phadkeshilpa at gmail.com (Shilpa Phadke) Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 11:10:02 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] CMCS Fellowship for Early Career Film Makers In-Reply-To: References: <23a2fd5a0805160852h6daaf442g790b5f9ed4038f75@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Apologies for cross posting. Please forward widely CMCS Fellowship for Early Career Film Makers http://cmcs.tiss.edu/fellowships.html The Centre for Media and Cultural Studies (www.cmcs.tiss.edu), Tata Institute of Social Sciences announces a fellowship for film-makers at an early stage of their career. The fellowship is designed to provide the resources and environment for films that are innovative, relevant and contribute to the growing body of documentary and short film work in India. The fellowship consists of: * A stipend of up to Rs. 15,000 per month for a maximum period of five months. * The provision of in-house HDV equipment including camera and editing facilities. * Reimbursement of actuals of production expenses on the basis of a pre-approved budget. In order to be considered for the fellowship applicants are required to provide: * A detailed curriculum vitae * Up to two non-returnable samples of work on DVD/VCD. * An essay outlining the film proposal in not more than 2000 words. This essay should include: a working title for the film, language, the central theme of the film, approach to the content and narrative style, possible visual segments. * A production schedule with a detailed time frame for:research and script, cinematography, editing to rough cut, editing to final cut, submission of all material. * A budget for other production expenses (e.g. travel, field expenses, payments to other professionals etc.). Please note that the fellowship does not support any infrastructural costs such as setting up of an office, buying of equipment, or per diem costs. * Names and contact details of two referees, preferably from the field of media, whom we will contact for a reference if needed. The fellowship is open to all Indian nationals. Up to two fellowships are available based on the quality of applications. Short-listed candidates may have to come for an interview in August 2008. Travel will be reimbursed at the rates of three tier non-AC train fare against valid tickets. All proposals must be submitted as hard copies and signed by the film maker. For any queries please contact: cmcs.fellowships at gmail.com Last date for receipt of applications is June 30, 2008 Terms of the fellowship: o Selected fellows will be paid their fellowship amount on a monthly basis and for production expenses in instalments as and when needed. o The footage and final film produced will remain with the Digital Archive of the Centre. However, the fellow might retain a copy of the same, for her/his personal use. The copyright will be held jointly by the fellow and the Centre. The film will be distributed by the Centre as a part of its catalogue of productions. The fellow may also distribute the film. The Centre will be cited in the credits as the Producer of the film and the fellow will be cited as Director of the said film. o The fellow is expected to adhere to the time schedule s/he proposes. Any changes should be notified in advance. o There will be a small advisory committee for each project. The committee will facilitate the work of the fellow. S/he is expected to keep in touch with the committee on a regular basis and discuss and share her/his work at every stage (shooting script/ rough edit and final edit). o Fellows are expected to begin work by October 2008 and complete their films by March 2009 at the latest. From sadan at sarai.net Sat May 17 15:38:50 2008 From: sadan at sarai.net (sadan at sarai.net) Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 15:38:50 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] ramblings on surat Message-ID: <44c5dff690c3370417f0320c5718dc8f@sarai.net> Dear all, please find below a link to a small piece, 'ramblings on surat'. I normally do not send link and sending link to one's own blog is bit embarrasing but,there are endnotes and in the plaintext format, we loose endnotes. Hence this link. http://mamuliram.blogspot.com/2008/05/ramblings-on-surat.html I hope some of you may like it. wishes, sadan. From theunderscoredhood at gmail.com Sun May 18 01:28:21 2008 From: theunderscoredhood at gmail.com (Raheema Begum) Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 01:28:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The Zone of Pure Choice Message-ID: Welcome to the Zone of Pure Choice. http://whosebody.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/what-would-you-do-if-i-sang-out-of-tune-would-you-stand-up-and-walk-out-on-me/ -- *ZPC* is a new level within labels, an online game and art paradigm about identity. project.labels at gmail.com From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Sun May 18 09:26:28 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 09:56:28 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] The Usual Suspects Message-ID: [Note: Shuddha had an excellent essay in the Parliament Bombing anthology (do I have the reference right?). If possible, would be great if he could post it.] Bomb blast in India. Round up the usual suspects. Calling Abdur, Rahman, Rahim, Karim, Jodu, Modhu, Chodu. All you ****er illegal Bangladeshi immigrants with your made in Jinjira genjis. As Lawrence Chua said while reviewing Peter Brimelow's "Alien Nation": "Are the wogs here to roll an honest burrito, or blow up the world trade center?" I nostalgically remember the days of hysteria about "Pakistani militants". Bullet riddled bodies (dead don't talk) and passports (in their pockets?). Now it's so much easier to just bring out the Bangla bogey. Bangladesh Government has obliged by reviving the "militant islamic cells". US has chimed in by listing Harkatul (who are they? do they live only in state dept briefings?) as "terrorist organization". That means next time you go through JFK, you too will have a second room irrigation. Huji, JMB, -- they come in the media for a minute and then disappear. Cold storage until the next time. The next TIME "Rescue Mission" cover story. "The modus operandi, the way the bombs were manufactured and concealed in bags, is very similar to the way Huji [Bangladesh] operates," said Pankaj Singh, a senior Rajasthan police officer. The bags were made out of Jute were they? Sealen with jackfruit juice. Lined with Nilkhet Bangla choti. Dhaka Asks Media Not To Speculate About Bombers http://thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=37061 And from last August.. Hyderabad Blasts: Joto Dosh, Nondo Ghosh http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2007/08/28/nondo-ghosh/ From santhosh.kanipayur at gmail.com Fri May 16 17:02:04 2008 From: santhosh.kanipayur at gmail.com (Santhosh Kumar) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 17:02:04 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Listen! Kashmiri women are speaking... Message-ID: <19d498870805160432y68491cfcg215843e414152415@mail.gmail.com> Listen! Kashmiri women are speaking… * *There was a Queen ** the Documentary film in which Kashmiri women express their views about the bloody conflict ongoing in the state for more than 18 years and its multi faceted impact on the society is ready for distribution. In this film, woman - only women - open out on terrorism, militarism, peace and their daily life. It is a record of political voices of women from many sides in Kashmir. The film was in the competition section of *MIFF-2008* and was screened in * ViBGYOR-2008*. It will be screened in First* International Video Festival of Kerala* in May 2008. The DVD copies are available at a contributory price of Rs.1000/-, and please add Rs.100/- for courier and handling charges, in India and South Asia. US $ 200 and courier charge for other countries. Please mail your order or queries to santhosh at othermediacommunications.com "Yi As Akh Padshah Bai" *(There was a Queen…) * *India / Kashmiri, Hindustani, English with English subtitles / 105 minutes / Video / 2007* "Give us guns and we'll play our role!" - These are not the words of a hardened criminal; these are the words of a teenaged girl in Kashmir less than a week after her sister was buried. Farha's sister Shahnaza, and her friend, Ulfat, victims of 'crossfire' would have been adult women today - they were barely seventeen when they died, as old as the *tehreek*, the movement, that exploded into existence in 1989, shattering forever the peace of the Valley, and turning it into one of the most critical conflict zones in the world. Over these eighteen years, flashes of intensified conflict and bouts of negotiations have followed one another with monotonous regularity in Kashmir. Newspapers and television channels manufacture predictable binary images of conflict – angry men and weeping women, peace loving Kashmiris and terrorist Kashmiris, misguided innocents and fundamentalist separatists, victims and aggressors. Over and above these is the image that erases all differences – the Kashmiri as terrorist. The film discusses how women's engagement with everyday violence has led them to think of issues of security, peace, conflict management and transformation in the unique situation of conflict in the area. It is also an exploration of the relationship between the construction of identity of the community/nation and women's identity and the need for women to be aware of how and by whom these identity constructs are forged which are usually not favorable to women's autonomy in the particular culture and nation. When the directors set out to make a film, they felt strange to speak to women, only women, ignoring the other half. So they spoke to a few men – one a former militant, another who had sent his son for training across the border with his blessings, a third who had lost his son and then realized he was a militant, a fourth whose brother was killed in crossfire – they spoke to men and realized that while every story had the power to shock and move, the women's stories were compelling in their honesty, in their rage, in their helplessness, in their grief, in their contempt, in their fierce refusal to forget, in their determination to survive, to nurture. It is through these women – proud, strong, with an undying zest for life – that the film examines what peace means and how it can come about in Kashmir. * * The documentary "*Yi As Akh Padshah Bai*" or *There was a Queen* was made by an all women crew! It was a conscious and a deliberate decision as it was our belief as producers that since the film was about women in conflict situation, it would be appropriate to have a team of women who would be more sensitive and understanding in dealing with the subject and that the Kashmiri women would find it easy to articulate their views. Our objective initially was to make one film, on women in conflict situation, which includes the North East of India too. But in the process of making the film, we decided to work on Kashmir first as it was distinct from the North East though there are commonalities of situation, issues and concerns. An All Women Crew Direction: Kavita Pai / Hansa Thapliyal Camera: Ranu Ghosh Sound: Gissy Michael Editing: Gouri Patwardhan Music: Manish J. Tipu Executive Producer: E. Deenadayalan Produced by Other Media Communications Pvt. Ltd. www.othermediacommunications.com -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From logos.theword at gmail.com Sat May 17 09:31:44 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 09:31:44 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Conflict and Expression - Workshop on Theatre Of The Oppressed In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805162101v7e55fab6y490f71cf906a4ed7@mail.gmail.com> References: <33bc2ee60805050902u459e6f22j1812ad524554dc5c@mail.gmail.com> <33bc2ee60805162101v7e55fab6y490f71cf906a4ed7@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805162101u41fc48a6k7c5aaec5faeb665c@mail.gmail.com> Logos Theatre presents a workshop on Theatre Of The Oppressed and Forum Theatre, faciliated by Joshua Williams. Josh has studied theatre in Princeton and has specialized in TOTO techniques, which he has also had first hand experience in applying in Africa. In this workshop, he will be covering techniques of image theatre, frozen and dynamic sculpts, theRainbow of Desire and Forum Theatre, Improv, as well as applications of these techniques in performance and in the community. TOTO provides tools to create a safe space where people may deal with conflict and oppression, and then find alternatives that they can use in real life. A brief note on Joshua Williams, in his own words: Josh Williams is an American ne'er-do-well who finds himself more or less unemployed most of the time. Presently he happens to be more or less unemployed in Bangalore, India. Nevertheless, he does know quite a bit about experimental theatre, baseball and old-fashioned hats. You should take the time to get to know him. He's really pretty delightful. About Theatre of the Oppressed: 'Theatre of the Oppressed' is a body of performance theory and practice developed by the Brazilian director Augusto Boal, among others. Thefundamental principle underlying all of the extremely varied work that shelters under the TOTO umbrella is that the creative arts can -- and should -- be turned to progressive, socially conscious ends. We think that's a good thing. Also TOTO -- the acronym itself -- reminds us of *The Wizard Of Oz*, which is a good movie. We hope you've seen it In the words of Augusto Boal, Founder, Theatre of the Oppressed: "The theatre of the Oppressed is a system of physical exercises, aesthetic games and special improvisations whose goal is to safeguard, develop and reshape this human vocation, by turning the practice of theatre into an effective tool for the comprehension of social and personal problems and thesearch for their solutions. " The workshop will be held at Kathalaya, BTM layout from Monday, 19th May to Thursday, 22nd May, between 7 PM to 9:30 PM. Participation is limited to sixteen people. Contact 9880966313 for details. -- Logos Theatre In the beginning was the word No. 126, 3rd Main Road, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore 560046 -------------------------------------------------------- If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is 't to leave betimes? Let be. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From logos.theword at gmail.com Sat May 17 09:42:14 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 09:42:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Selves, Masks, Performance - the stage and beyond In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805162111p7bc2563em40ca2af6ca0fd155@mail.gmail.com> References: <33bc2ee60805072239h31586b00xba72858a5977d2b3@mail.gmail.com> <33bc2ee60805162111p7bc2563em40ca2af6ca0fd155@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805162112g82679b1y2117f6a3324d89@mail.gmail.com> Logos Theatre is organizing '*Selves, Masks, Performance - the stage and beyond' *: an introductory workshop on different approaches, techniques and ways of looking at acting and performing; and how these ways of looking extend beyond the stage and into everyday life. An outline: •Breath and voice: Breath and the self, emoting and expressing through breath, unlocking the voice. •Patterns of movement: Threads in space. •Play and playing - ideas, objects and space. •Body sculpts, images, thought tracking, power and hierarchy. •Associations, images, and imagination - text and movement •Memory and myth •Speaking the speech - A physical approach to text. Classical Indian and Western theatre, Shakespeare, and beyond. •Theatre of the absurd, contemporary performance texts and devised work Facilitator: Arka Mukhopadhyay is a Bangalore based poet and theatremaker who also works on performance poetry and performance art as theStillDancer. His poetry has been published in various national and international journals. He has taught drama at an international school in Bangalore and has performed and conducted workshops at educational institutions throughout the country. Logos Theatre, is an exploratory outfit committed to negotiating the difficult terrain that lies at the crossways of theatrical process, spontaneity and the subconscious; as also to discovering new landscapes opened up by dialogues between performing arts, performance arts and the contemporary media arts. *From: June 7th* Workshop timings: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Venue: Above Chung Wah, on Church Street Registration deadline: May 31st. contact: 9880966313/ 9845530323 e-mail: logos.theword at gmail.com Please do pass this along to those who you think might be interested. If you'd like your organization to sponsor you, please do send this to the appropriate people. -- Logos Theatre In the beginning was the word No. 126, 3rd Main Road, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore 560046 -------------------------------------------------------- If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes? Let be. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From bawazainab79 at gmail.com Mon May 19 10:35:29 2008 From: bawazainab79 at gmail.com (Zainab Bawa) Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 10:35:29 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror In-Reply-To: <69a2e4550805150909p6e69857akbb25158584078048@mail.gmail.com> References: <69a2e4550805150456l49eff899vb557adb75342501b@mail.gmail.com> <820120.67311.qm@web51401.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <69a2e4550805150909p6e69857akbb25158584078048@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Rakshat, This one comes somewhat late but when the blasts happened in Mumbai both in 1993 and in 2006, people did not clap their hands to show that their spirits and the spirit of the city was alive and could not be crushed by acts of violence. Going about business as usual, helping people, friends, neighbours who have been injured/affected is symbolic enough. Best, Zainab On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 9:39 PM, rakshat hooja wrote: > Dear Yousuf, > > Thank you for your email. I understand your sentiments. For me peace and > introspection is important but the claping is more to let the world know > that spirit of the city is alive and not a trumpet of war against anyone. I > have been introspecting and this has led me to wonder if non-violence and > peace has to be synonymous with silence? My suggestion is just a way of > saying that we are sad, we are also angry but our spirits are not going to > be crushed. > > Anyway everyday peace gatherings, candle lightings and "sarv-dhram" sabhas > are being held in Jaipur and you may wish to do something similar at your > place. > > Also share with the world your thoughts after contemplating on what do > these > so-called terrorists want, and is there any way one can help them not > indulge in such acts. That too is very important. > > Rakshat > > On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 7:21 PM, Yousuf wrote: > > > Dear Rakshat > > While I strongly condemn the serial blast in Jaipur and appreciate the > > resilience of the people of Jaipur in the midst of the loss of life, your > > idea of showing the resilience by making further noise (through honking > etc) > > sounds a bit odd. It reminds of something like a trumpet of war (against > > "terror"?). In my view, violence needs to be answered by peace and > > introspection. You've asked for people in other towns to join in the > spirit. > > I want to join being in Delhi, but I would certainly not honk my car (nor > > clap, since I'm culturally conditioned not to respond to such a sad > > situation by a cheerful act). I would rather spend my time comtemplating > on > > what do these so-called terrorists want, and is there any way I can help > > them not indulge in such acts. > > > > Yousuf > > > > > > --- On Thu, 5/15/08, rakshat hooja wrote: > > > > > From: rakshat hooja > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur taking a stand against terror > > > To: reader-list at sarai.net > > > Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008, 5:26 PM > > > For me Jaipur has been synonymous with peace, harmony and > > > brotherhood. It is > > > a big city but with a "small-town" feel and > > > connection among its > > > inhabitants. People celebrate together, they help each > > > other in times of > > > need and there is definitely a sense of belonging and > > > family among all > > > Jaipurites. Today the spirit of Jaipur is symbolised by > > > development, > > > improvement, resilience and never ending energy. The > > > cowardly and dastardly > > > bombings of 13th May should not and will not be allowed to > > > disturb the > > > peaceful and tranquil existence of our city. > > > > > > The loss of life and the ensuing fear that has gripped the > > > city has > > > affected all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the > > > loved ones of > > > those who perished in this immoral act. At the same time it > > > is important we > > > do not allow the perpetrators of this heinous crime on > > > humanity to achieve > > > their objective. A strong message needs to be sent out that > > > such acts by > > > those who want to disturb the harmony in our community and > > > city are bound to > > > fail and will only lead to the creation of a stronger > > > Jaipur. > > > > > > One suggestion I have for the people of Jaipur that will > > > show the > > > resilience of Jaipur & its inhabitants, is that, after > > > 4 days from the > > > blasts (on 17th May) at 7.10 PM (time of the first blast) > > > we can all switch > > > on lights, light diyas/ candles and have a minute of > > > city-wide loud clapping > > > , along with honking of horns etc. This may seem contrary > > > to the > > > traditional one/two minute silence but I feel that this is > > > another way to > > > honour memories of and express our solidarity with the > > > families of those who > > > have died or been injured as well as to make it clear to > > > the world that > > > Jaipur will not bow down to terror, and will make its voice > > > heard. Other > > > cities, villages, towns can simultaneously join us at the > > > same time. > > > > > > Feedback, comments, suggestions welcome. If you agree > > > please take a lead to > > > make this happen. > > > > > > > > > Rakshat Hooja > > > > > > > > > 11 Uniara Garden > > > > > > Jaipur 302004 > > > > > > > > > 9829321444 > > > > > > > > > rakshat at gmail.com > > > _________________________________________ > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > > Critiques & Collaborations > > > To subscribe: send an email to > > > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject > > > header. > > > To unsubscribe: > > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > List archive: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > -------------- > Please use Firefox as your web browser. Its protects you from spyware and > is > also a very feature rich browser. > www.firefox.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Between Places ... http://wbfs.wordpress.com From alice at tank.tv Fri May 16 17:34:44 2008 From: alice at tank.tv (Alice O'Reilly) Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 13:04:44 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] www.tank.tv: 'Vertrautes Terrain' in Collaboration with ZKM Message-ID: <442eb4460805160504w4fa1dc14r4e5a3523f40d9821@mail.gmail.com> www.tank.tv Vertrautes Terrain A collaboration between www.tank.tv and ZKM 21st May 2008 – 30th June 2008 / 14th September - 30th September 2008 Artists Include: Bankleer, Com&Com, Danica Cakic, Sven Johne, Dias & Riedweg, Alexandra Gerbaulet, Laura Horelli, Korpys/Löffler, Macellvs L., Antje Majewski, Sascha Pohle, Özlem Sulak and Florian Thalhofer. tank.tv is pleased to collaborate with ZKM (Karlsruhe, Germany) to exhibit film and video work from their forthcoming exhibition 'Vetrautes Terrain'. tank.tv will open its show simultaneously with ZKM, on May 21st, to become part of the 'resonance space' of the exhibition. Bringing video work out of the gallery space and making it available to an international audience we hope to widen the scope of this timely focus on national identity. "German Art" or "Art from Germany", a label that has exhibition tradition, is a fiction – owing to the fact that, in most cases, national political determinations have little or anything to do with artistic practice. In spite of this, country-specific questions relating to the search for history, genealogies or tendencies represent a constant factor in art history and the art business: the general exhibition is its most common format. Local backgrounds and national events are beginning to be seen as essential and identity defining whilst national identities appear to be levelling out. The place of the 'national' is becoming confused and fraught with tensions in contemporary culture, not least because no formal, measured thematic-cultural analysis of the idea of 'Germany' has taken place. It is against this background that the project 'Vertrautes Terrain – Contemporary Art in/about Germany' conceives itself, namely, as a resonance space within which the differentiated examination of works by international artists, who reflect on Germany in distinctly different ways as a historical, art, and social sphere can be carried out. The focus on the German context refers to an "imaginary cartography", which seeks to trace those concerns dealing with form and content, the symptoms and the virulent features in art as set against the backdrop of their socio-political presence. The exhibition is characterized by shared and changing images of what the concept "Germany" signifies. Vetrautes Terrain is curated by Gregor Jansen and Thomas Thiel. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - Alice O'Reilly tank.tv 2nd Floor Princess House 50 - 60 Eastcastle Street London W1W 8EA alice at tank.tv T: +44 (0)207323 3475 F: +44 (0)207631 4280 http://www.tank.tv - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Now showing: 'She doesn't think so but she's dressed for the h-bomb' Curated by Negar Azimi for www.tank.tv 15th March 2008 - 21st May 2008 Fresh Moves - Out now! Order your copy on www.tank.tv "A significant archive of creative practices in the early years of twenty-first century England" Tyler Coburn, Tomorrow Unlimited --- tank.tv is an inspirational showcase for innovative work in film and video. Dedicated to exhibiting and promoting emerging and established international artists, www.tank.tv acts as a major online gallery and archive for video art. A platform for contemporary moving images. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Mon May 19 15:54:58 2008 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 15:54:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Kashmir Homecoming by Neelesh Mishra In-Reply-To: <6353c690805190322v7f3a02c6g9096414d80f87122@mail.gmail.com> References: <6353c690805190322v7f3a02c6g9096414d80f87122@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6353c690805190324q40d516e6n7b00c0967c27da84@mail.gmail.com> *Kashmir Homecoming* *by Neelesh Mishra* *Raka Khashu -- whose first name means the moon -- lives in New Delhi. She is a young lady in her late twenties, having already charted a very promising career path to become a senior executive with an international company. She is one of the most wonderful people I know. Raka is the daughter of Mr. Upendra Khashu and Mrs. Girija Khashu, two of Kashmir's celebrated cultural personalities. They are, and have been, popular radio presenters and theatre and television artistes -- though as you will read in the story **here* * that I wrote two years ago, one got death threats from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and the other marriage proposals.* *Read the entire text and comment here* :- *http://rovingwriter.blogspot.com/2008/05/kashmir-homecoming.html* Thanks *Aditya Raj Kaul* *http://www.activistsdiary.blogspot.com/* From 125548 at soas.ac.uk Tue May 20 16:50:25 2008 From: 125548 at soas.ac.uk (MATTI POHJONEN) Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 11:20:25 +0000 Subject: [Reader-list] FYI - Peace Journalism at SOAS in July Message-ID: <1211282425.a988f1c125548@soas.ac.uk> All, Thought you might find this interesting - for those who are in London. See more information below, Matti Pohjonen Teaching Fellow in Digital Culture Centre for Media and Film Studies School of Oriental and African Studies University of London ** Sorry for the group email. You’ve received it because you took part in one of our public debates, perhaps in the Reporting the World series, or one of our media-savvy workshops; published, reviewed or contributed to something we wrote, or otherwise joined in the rich and stimulating conversations we enjoyed, while in London, about the media’s role in conflict and peace. We’ve since moved to Sydney, where those ideas are being debated and developed, both among journalists and activists and in universities. We’re now completing the circle by bringing the dialogue back to London, with our course this Summer in Conflict-resolving Media (flyer attached). It’s hosted by the School of Oriental and African Studies, in Bloomsbury, from July 7-11. Jake is then leading a course in Key Issues in Peace and Conflict Studies, going further into different theories, from July 21-25. See him in recent action on YouTube (the link is to the first of three parts): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4_Oq9IrY-w These courses are part of Sydney University’s programme in Peace and Conflict Studies, which is now offered by a combination of short courses and distance learning. It means you can get a Masters degree without uprooting home and career – do contact us straight away for more information. The London courses can also be followed, at reduced cost, as one-off courses. Details on the flyer. If you’d like to enrol, you can do so from May 28 at: www.usyd.edu.au/winter Also… we could use your help. Could you pass on this email to anyone who might be interested? Could you display some, in your office or workplace, if we print some and send you them? Let us know your surface mail address and we’ll get some on their way. This will be the only opportunity to study a university course in Peace and Conflict Studies, as such, in London. If you have an in-house magazine or newspaper, might that make an interesting story for them? More material supplied on request! Hope all’s well with your own important work, keep it up… Best wishes -- Jake and Annabel Associate Professor Jake Lynch, BA, Dip Journalism Studies, PhD Annabel McGoldrick, BSc, MA Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies FACULTY OF ARTS Room 121 | Mackie Building (K01) The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006 From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Tue May 20 17:51:11 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 18:21:11 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Karima Brown on South African Pogroms Message-ID: I remember meeting Mbeki for a minute at a 1994 Joburg event. Somebody whispered to me, "this will be the next president." I thiught he was nothing like Mandela. Later I was reminded that my entire generation had an over-the-top hero worship of M. Artists Against Sun City was the first global political boycott I supported. The first time I kept a list of the "bad artists". The ones who broke the boycott. Necklacing was the first time we suppressed the excesses of liberation movements (well there were numerous other examples, I just wasn't old enough to comprehend). Live footage of Mandela walking out of the prison, watched in a college dormitory, was, well it was history, no, and I wasn't expecting to be witness to any of that (later that same live TV in Ohio gave us the LA riots and Clarence Thomas hearings). With all that burden of history, Mbeki was always going to be unfairly compared. African analysts assured us all that Mbeki would be fine, he would rise to the ocassion, wouldn't he? You didn't need a Mandela at every moment in history. And it's true you don't. But an incompetent, venal, slippery politician is a steep fall from those levels. Karima Brown's comment today, where she argues that "Mbeki's government has become so adept at obfuscation that setting up commissions, panels and conducting audits in the face of any crisis seems like a national pastime." reminds that some fears were justified. - Naeem Fiery Death in South Africa http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-rampage20-2008may20,0,4906166.story South Africa: Pogroms Expose Citizens' Ugly Insularity http://allafrica.com/stories/200805200122.html Karima Brown Johannesburg WHILE it is well and good to blame the government for not having proper policies in place to deal with SA's refugee crisis, the violence against foreign Africans is a reflection of something far uglier. Granted, the government has consistently displayed a tin ear when it comes to the sheer scale of our refugee crisis, especially since the economic and political meltdown in Zimbabwe in recent years . The lack of leadership from the government in recent weeks is also not helping. This leadership vacuum comes from the top. After a week of violence that left several people dead, all President Thabo Mbeki could mutter at the weekend was that the police must act firmly and arrest the culprits and that a panel would be set up to look at the underlying causes of the violence. When in doubt, appoint a panel. Mbeki's government has become so adept at obfuscation that setting up commissions, panels and conducting audits in the face of any crisis seems like a national pastime. The police's conduct also leaves much to be desired. Apart from promising to retaliate with live ammunition should they be fired at, the South African Police Service has done very little to get to the bottom of how marauding groups of armed men can go from place to place and attack whoever they deem to be foreigners. It is also common knowledge that the police are not free of the xenophobia that is so present in communities. Police harassment of foreign Africans in places such as Hillbrow, Yeoville and other inner- city communities is well known. But what the recent pogroms in Gauteng townships point to is not just state failure. South African society as a whole stands condemned. The violence exposes shortcomings in our society at a moral, social and political level. Considering the solidarity shown during our struggle against apartheid by our neighbours in the frontline states, the killing of foreign Africans in a so-called liberated SA is particularly appalling. Not only did many on the continent endure military attacks, they also provided shelter, food and even employment to thousands of exiles when they needed it most. Now that it is our turn to provide sanctuary and solidarity, we repay our neighbours with murder and rape. While it is true that there is a scramble for resources in poor communities that is often exploited by local strongmen for political gain, it does not provide all the answers to the senseless violence and the finger-pointing at foreigners. These communities have always been badly off, yet we have not seen the level of violence of recent weeks. Moreover, the silence from community organisations such as civic structures, local churches and other grassroots bodies in the wake of the attacks is simply deafening. This silence points either to acquiescence on the part of local leaders or a complete demobilisation on the part of community organisations that formed the backbone of resistance during the struggle years. Whatever the reasons, it points to a dangerous vacuum that has already been exploited with deadly consequences. Apart from the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, which plays a vital role in providing sanctuary to vulnerable refugees, why are our spiritual leaders not responding to the cries of the victims of the recent violence with more vigour? As vulnerable women and children flee their homes, where is the moral leadership of the country? Since the outbreak of attacks in Alexandra, the African National Congress leadership has spoken out, but it is simply not enough, especially if one considers that the violence is spreading and could soon engulf the province. Is it not ironic that most, if not all, of the victims happen to be fellow Africans? This cruel reality blows out of the water any notions of pan-Africanism, never mind the African renaissance so often spoken of by Mbeki and other politicians. Clearly our isolation during apartheid did not only trap whites in an unsustainable bubble, it also insulated the majority from the world including, importantly, our neighbours in the region. Brown is political editor. From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Wed May 21 13:17:08 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 12:47:08 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Karima Brown on South African Pogroms In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, democratic rule fortunately or unfortunately is by the people, for the people and not necessarily of the people as seen in free India or in South Africa, as some people tend to get elected by the people of their choice, not necessarily by ALL the people, with subtle methods of corruption, appeasement of castes and faiths, then the result is people get what they deserve. When as low as 45 percent of eligible voters refuse to participate in vote, another 12 percent voters are "kept out" of voters list by devious means such as voters list revision under governors rule as in Karnataka, moles in election commission who accept crores for the favours to be extended, are in seat, the whole tamasha of election becomes a gimmick of money and muscle power, one of the prime reasons for voters apathy. With the division in society on caste s such as upper caste, "other backward Castes" and lower castes with tags such as years of oppression on caste basis, it becomes the excellent play grounds for the elite with money, muscle and booze to sway the result in any which way they want with conniving item numbers going by the name of anchors/ journalists and spin doctors of media. Media is respected in democracy, but the anchors who play the role of spin doctors for political parties are subvertice forces/individuals in media who attract disgust and dismay from citizens as they are rewarded with awards, by the system like Padmashri and best journalist when in practise they are just page three celebs of the media, blacksheeps. ! Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Naeem Mohaiemen Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 5:51 pm Subject: [Reader-list] Karima Brown on South African Pogroms To: reader-list at sarai.net > I remember meeting Mbeki for a minute at a 1994 Joburg event. Somebody > whispered to me, "this will be the next president." I thiught he was > nothing like Mandela. Later I was reminded that my entire generation > had an over-the-top hero worship of M. Artists Against Sun City was > the first global political boycott I supported. The first time I kept > a list of the "bad artists". The ones who broke the boycott. > Necklacing was the first time we suppressed the excesses of liberation > movements (well there were numerous other examples, I just wasn't old > enough to comprehend). Live footage of Mandela walking out of the > prison, watched in a college dormitory, was, well it was history, no, > and I wasn't expecting to be witness to any of that (later that same > live TV in Ohio gave us the LA riots and Clarence Thomas hearings). > > With all that burden of history, Mbeki was always going to be unfairly > compared. African analysts assured us all that Mbeki would be > fine, he > would rise to the ocassion, wouldn't he? You didn't need a Mandela at > every moment in history. And it's true you don't. But an incompetent, > venal, slippery politician is a steep fall from those levels. > > Karima Brown's comment today, where she argues that "Mbeki's > government has become so adept at obfuscation that setting up > commissions, panels and conducting audits in the face of any crisis > seems like a national pastime." reminds that some fears were > justified. > > - Naeem > > Fiery Death in South Africa > http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-rampage20- > 2008may20,0,4906166.story > South Africa: Pogroms Expose Citizens' Ugly Insularity > http://allafrica.com/stories/200805200122.html > Karima Brown > Johannesburg > > WHILE it is well and good to blame the government for not having > proper policies in place to deal with SA's refugee crisis, the > violence against foreign Africans is a reflection of something far > uglier. > > Granted, the government has consistently displayed a tin ear when it > comes to the sheer scale of our refugee crisis, especially since the > economic and political meltdown in Zimbabwe in recent years . The lack > of leadership from the government in recent weeks is also not helping. > This leadership vacuum comes from the top. After a week of violence > that left several people dead, all President Thabo Mbeki could mutter > at the weekend was that the police must act firmly and arrest the > culprits and that a panel would be set up to look at the underlying > causes of the violence. > > When in doubt, appoint a panel. Mbeki's government has become so adept > at obfuscation that setting up commissions, panels and conducting > audits in the face of any crisis seems like a national pastime. The > police's conduct also leaves much to be desired. Apart from promising > to retaliate with live ammunition should they be fired at, the South > African Police Service has done very little to get to the bottom of > how marauding groups of armed men can go from place to place and > attack whoever they deem to be foreigners. > > It is also common knowledge that the police are not free of the > xenophobia that is so present in communities. Police harassment of > foreign Africans in places such as Hillbrow, Yeoville and other > inner- > city communities is well known. > > But what the recent pogroms in Gauteng townships point to is not just > state failure. South African society as a whole stands condemned. The > violence exposes shortcomings in our society at a moral, social and > political level. Considering the solidarity shown during our struggle > against apartheid by our neighbours in the frontline states, the > killing of foreign Africans in a so-called liberated SA is > particularly appalling. Not only did many on the continent endure > military attacks, they also provided shelter, food and even employment > to thousands of exiles when they needed it most. Now that it is our > turn to provide sanctuary and solidarity, we repay our neighbours with > murder and rape. > > While it is true that there is a scramble for resources in poor > communities that is often exploited by local strongmen for political > gain, it does not provide all the answers to the senseless violence > and the finger-pointing at foreigners. These communities have always > been badly off, yet we have not seen the level of violence of recent > weeks. > > Moreover, the silence from community organisations such as civic > structures, local churches and other grassroots bodies in the wake of > the attacks is simply deafening. This silence points either to > acquiescence on the part of local leaders or a complete demobilisation > on the part of community organisations that formed the backbone of > resistance during the struggle years. Whatever the reasons, it points > to a dangerous vacuum that has already been exploited with deadly > consequences. > > Apart from the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, which > plays a > vital role in providing sanctuary to vulnerable refugees, why are our > spiritual leaders not responding to the cries of the victims of the > recent violence with more vigour? As vulnerable women and children > flee their homes, where is the moral leadership of the country? > > Since the outbreak of attacks in Alexandra, the African National > Congress leadership has spoken out, but it is simply not enough, > especially if one considers that the violence is spreading and could > soon engulf the province. Is it not ironic that most, if not all, of > the victims happen to be fellow Africans? This cruel reality blows out > of the water any notions of pan-Africanism, never mind the African > renaissance so often spoken of by Mbeki and other politicians. Clearly > our isolation during apartheid did not only trap whites in an > unsustainable bubble, it also insulated the majority from the world > including, importantly, our neighbours in the region. > > Brown is political editor. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From shahzulf at yahoo.com Mon May 19 15:03:48 2008 From: shahzulf at yahoo.com (Zulfiqar Shah) Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 02:33:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?Nirmala=E2=80=99s_ashes_immersed_in_Indus?= Message-ID: <794516.88950.qm@web38808.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Nirmala’s ashes immersed in Indus By Waseem Shamsi SUKKUR, May 17: The ashes of Nirmala Deshpande, an Indian peace and human rights activist, were immersed in the Indus River at the steps of the Sadhu Bela temple on Saturday. The peace activist had said in her will that her ashes should be immersed in all rivers in South Asia. A 250-member delegation representing the India-Pakistan peace committee, whose members arrived here from different parts of Pakistan, participated in the ceremony to pay homage to Nirmala Deshpande for her efforts for making South Asia a peaceful region for all nations. Respected internationally, Nirmala Deshpande played a leading role in various peace movements in South Asia over the last six decades. It was her desire to make South Asia a region free of nuclear weapons. She also played a key role for bringing people of different religions closer to each other. The peace committee delegation was led by secretary Karamat Ali and attended by member Miss Anoosha Alam and her nine-year-old daughter Nisa Alam. Nirmala Deshpande had desired in her will a young girl should be employed for performing the immersion ceremony. In accordance with the will, the ceremony was led by little Nisa Alam. Immersing ceremonies for Nirmala’s ashes have already been performed at Ganges and Jumuna and other rivers in South Asian countries. Courtesy: Daily Dawn Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com From difusion at medialab-prado.es Mon May 19 17:07:19 2008 From: difusion at medialab-prado.es (Difusion Medialab-Prado) Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 13:37:19 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] Call for Projects: INTERACTIVOS?'08 MEXICO: TECHNOLOGIES OF LAUGHTER Message-ID: <4831666F.3030000@medialab-prado.es> CALL FOR PROJECTS INTERACTIVOS? MEXICO'08: TECHNOLOGIES OF LAUGHTER International Project Development Workshop >From August 1 through 16, 2008 Submissions Deadline: June 8 Led by: Zachary Lieberman (USA), Leslie García (Mexico) & Alejandro Tamayo (Colombia) A maximum of 10 projects will be carried out in a workshop held at the Centro Multimedia (National Arts Centre) in Mexico DF from 1 to 16 August 2008. At the end of the workshop, the projects will be exhibited at the Cultural Centre of Spain in Mexico from 16 August to 14 September 2008. The workshop aims to use open hardware and software tools to create prototypes that explore the relations between machines and humor/laughter. The workshop aims to explore questions such as: What mechanisms lead to laughter? And what about its social and political implications? What happens if we understand laughter as a possible form of communication between humans and machines? Can machines have a sense of humor or make us laugh? What kind of narratives/machines can be built to provoke various feelings related to laughter? Medialab-Prado will cover lodging at a youth hostel and flight expenses for the authors of the selected projects and papers (one person per project/paper). More information: http://medialab-prado.es/article/interactivos_mexico08_tecnologias_de_la_risa interactivos08 at mediala-prado.es With the collaboration of Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECI)C -- Nerea García Garmendia Medialab Prado Área de Las Artes, Ayuntamiento de Madrid Plaza de las Letras Alameda, 15 28014 Madrid Tfno. +34 914 202 754 difusion at medialab-prado.es www.medialab-prado.es From kathputli_puppetshow at yahoo.co.in Mon May 19 19:15:18 2008 From: kathputli_puppetshow at yahoo.co.in (Kailash Bhatt) Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 19:15:18 +0530 (IST) Subject: [Reader-list] Fw: VISIT A SLUM OF FOLK ARTISTS IN DELHI, second welcome for saturday may 24th. Message-ID: <246506.12732.qm@web94702.mail.in2.yahoo.com> Subject: VISIT A SLUM IN DELHI THIS SATURDAY 4PM   After the succes of our first show and to celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity (on 21 May next, see note 1), WE ARE PLEASE TO WELCOME YOU FOR THE SECOND (free) VISIT OF A SLUM IN DELHI.   SATURDAY 24 OF MAY 2008 AT 15.30 THE MEETING PLACE WILL BE SHADIPUR METRO STATION      http://www.bloog.org/KathputliHOP/ PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR COMING AT THIS E-MAIL ADRESS OR BY SMS TO OUR PHONE NUMBER.   If you are interested in becoming partners of the H.O.P, House of the puppet, our grant partnership file is available in pdf. Informe us by your interest and  specify your structure, and we will send it to you as soon as possible.   KAILASH BHATTDIRECTOR OF THE HOUSE OF PUPPETS (H.O.P) ------------------------------------------------------------- VISIT OUR BLOOG PAGE TO SEE OUR VIDEOS AVAILABLE :    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GyZqHetz9Y      (1) :http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=35636&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html  SLUMS ACTIONS IN DELHI Association de Solidarité Internationale 94000 CRETEIL / 06 26 87 66 79 ------------------------------------ NOS LIENS : http://www.collectif-asah.org/annuaire/infos/slums-actions-in-delhi/ http://www.wwo.fr/projet_fiche.php?id_projet=225 http://www.bloog.org/SOIREE-SOLIDARITE-ASS-SAID/ http://www.indeaparis.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=772 http://www.bloog.org/kathputliwood/ Messenger blocked? Want to chat? Go to http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php From rohitism at gmail.com Thu May 22 09:47:38 2008 From: rohitism at gmail.com (Rohit Shetti) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 09:47:38 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Solidarity Meeting for Bhopalis- 22nd May, 4PM, Jantar Mantar In-Reply-To: <20080521171517.M65435@studentsforbhopal.org> References: <20080521171517.M65435@studentsforbhopal.org> Message-ID: *37 days of gruelling walk, more than 50 days of dharna at Jantar Mantar Prime Minister still giving a blind eye to Bhopalis* ** Around 40 Bhopal survivors including women and children chained themselves at PM Residence on the 55th day of their dharna in New Delhi. They walked on foot from Bhopal to Delhi more than 800 km for the second time to ask Prime Minsiter to keep the promises made in 2006. The demands are simple and just- An empowered Commission on Bhopal and Legal Action against Dow Chemicals (current owner of Union Carbide). Despite repeated appeals Prime Minister did not agree to meet the Bhopalis, forcing them to reach his residence hoping it would be too close for him to ignore. 22 Bhopalis are arrested while 40 others have been released. *Solidarity meeting tomorrow: 22nd May, 4:00 PM, Bhopal Dharnasthal, Jantar Mantar Please join us and condemn the Prime Minister's continued apathy towards Bhopal victims.* ** Please call/ sms/ email all your friends, family and aquaintances and join in huge numbers. High time we tell Prime Minister that Delhi is watching his stance closely. Care! Shalini (9891 44 2037) and Madhumita Dutta (9717516004) International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal www.bhopal.net ***************************************************************************** Justice is conscience, not a personal conscience but the conscience of the whole of humanity. Those who clearly recognize the voice of their own conscience usually recognize also the voice of justice. -Alexander Solzhenitsyn From waliarifi3 at gmail.com Thu May 22 10:01:26 2008 From: waliarifi3 at gmail.com (Wali Arifi) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 10:01:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: References: <13df7c120805160349m66b1dd93m1b1454c1271444fe@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <4fcaee300805212131p2536db4dg76e6cb372d7bb260@mail.gmail.com> Hi all, Read this also from Omar Abdullah: Tolerance? What''s that? May 20th, 2008 We want to find a solution to the "dispute", "issue", "disagreement" of Kashmir and we want to do so via a dialogue. It is almost largely accepted among the 'mainstream' and 'separatists' that a violent resolution of the problem is simply not possible. The sentiment is admirable but the reality is so very different. Over the last few weeks since I started blogging I have been disappointed by a large number of respondents inability to accept an alternate point of view. Its almost as if the ground rule is "it's my way of the highway". There seems to be no scope for discussion on alternate formulations and propositions. How on earth are we going to agree on a settlement to the problem if we can't even agree to disagree in a civilised manner? We don't like what some one says and we want to "slap" the other person. We don't like what the other person says so we threaten to simply ignore his (or her) point of view. You disagree with me and suddenly my 10 year old son becomes fair game for your abuse and threats. May be I'm wrong but I don't remember things being like this. My elders tell me of a time when we could agree to disagree and be gentlemen about it. We could argue our point on the merit of our argument on not descend to personal digs and insults or worse still threats of violence. We could argue and argue passionately and yet still sit down over a cup of tea and enquire about the well being of each others family and friends. What is this change the result of? I don't really know. A naturally impatient younger generation unhappy with a future that holds limited promise? A community angry at what they have seen happening around them for the last two decades? A land torn between conflicting ideas and ideologies? I honestly don't know which of these, if any, is applicable but I'm sure you have an opinion and I'd like to hear. I could, of course, be completely wrong and this is nothing new. The one thing I do know is that if we are not willing to respect an alternate point of view we'll soon find that very few people will be willing to respect our point of view. There are two sides to every argument and none of us has an exclusive license to an opinion. We are not discussing religion which more often than not is carved in stone, we are discussing politics and politics gives us the space to agree or disagree. I just wish we could do disagree without taking it as a personal affront. On a different note I spent ages deciding whether to blog or not. The last few days have been very difficult for me. The personal abuse I can manage very well. I have been to Sanawar and there isn't an insult or abuse that hasn't been flung at me, in jest or seriously, in the 8 years I was there so reading them in an email is like water off a ducks back but what really bothered me was the ease with which sections of the media were able to take my words out of context and use them to satisfy their own editorial twist. Suddenly Times Now claimed that I had accepted a genocide where I had done nothing of the sort. Though how less then two hundred and fifty deaths in a total of more than sixty thousand qualifies as a genocide is a matter of a completely different discussion. The ease with which they took a few stray sentences and built a completely twisted story surprised me. Similar the rush to claim what I had said about my uncle as some sort of admission of separatist politics or sentiment on my part would have been laughable if it wasn't such a serious accusation. Knowing fully well that I had been clear in accepting what had happened in 1990 as an overwhelming expression of popular sentiment I just cautioned that the other side of the coin needed to be seen as well no matter how insignificant a percentage of the overall number of people who participated in what happened in the early 1990s a reporter from one newspaper found it so easy to frame a headline that made it look as if I had said that everything that happened in 1990 was enforced. Things like this caused me a lot of personal anguish apart for the obvious political difficulty. It's made me so much more cautious about what I write and how I write about what I think because I have realised that it is so easy to just take a sentence or two, attribute it to my blog and then build as much fiction as a person wants to around that. The damage will be done long before I can offer a word in explainiation. I haven't given up on the world of blogging quite yet but I came damn close. It's certainly a case of once bitten twice shy. I'll think long and hard before I hit the publish key. On Sat, May 17, 2008 at 9:03 AM, S. Jabbar wrote: > Rashneek, I misunderstood. Thought those were your comments and did not > realize that it was a news report that speculated on Omar Abdullah¹s > motives. I¹m so sorry. > sj > > > On 5/16/08 4:19 PM, "rashneek kher" wrote: > > > Dear Sonia, > > > > I have posted what was there on the Times Now Website.That I posted > completely > > without any changes.So in my part I have been fair. > > I agree that this is the first step towards truth and reconciliation.This > one > > coupled with Rekha Chaudhary's recent findings should atleast put an end > to > > the Jagmohan conspiracy theory now.It has to be acknowledged that there > was a > > mass frenzy coupled with insurgency and selected killings which led to > Pandit > > exodus. > > > > Regards > > > > Rashneek > > > > > > On 5/16/08, S. Jabbar wrote: > >> Dear All, > >> Here is the full text of Omar Abdullah's blog. I find it a breath of > fresh > >> air. Rashneek I don't think you're being fair to the man. Perhaps this > is > >> the beginning of the the process of truth & reconciliation that I think > is > >> vital for Kashmir. > >> Best > >> sj > >> > >> > >> The one with no title > >> > >> This one has no title because its not a planned, thought out post. Its > >> simply my reaction to some of the stuff that has been said. While I²²²²m > not > >> aiming any shots at any of the people who have responded or posted > messages > >> on this blog as my mum always said ³if the cap fits wear it². > >> > >> Lets start with Sheikh Abdullah - yes he is my grandfather and yes its > >> difficult to be objective but even a blind man can see that he had great > >> qualities. He never claimed to be perfect nor do we in the NC claim that > he > >> was. He was human and carried the baggage that any (or after reading > this > >> blog you²²²²d have to say almost any) human being carried. That having > been > >> said he struggled for a cause and suffered himself. He went to jail, he > >> spent time in exile, he was interrogated but he didn²²²²t sit back and > let > >> others do the fighting for him. He didn²²²²t hand over guns to poor > Kashmiri > >> boys and keep his own kids out of harms way. He didn²²²²t shut down > >> profitable business establishments through hartals and civil strikes > while > >> building his own big palaces. Sheikh Abdullah did what he thought was > best > >> for his people and the people responded in kind. Some will argue that > his > >> decision in 1947 was wrong - looking at the present state of Pakistan > and > >> the side of Kashmir with it, I can²²²²t see how they can justify that > >> argument. Was independence an option? Sure let²²²¹¹s ask the tibetans > about > >> how it is to survive as an independent country with China, India and > >> Pakistan for neighbours. Lets ask Afghanistan what it is like to be a > >> mountainous land locked country in the region with precious little > natural > >> wealth, or Nepal for that matter. It²²²¹¹s all very well to dream and > base > >> those dreams on theoretical models of self sufficiency looking at > >> Switzerland and places like that but Kosovo would be a better long term > >> model to look at. We had a cold war, we had two blocks and two choices - > >> India or Pakistan. > >> > >> Sheikh Abdullah signed an accord in 1975 and disbanded the Plebiscite > front. > >> Some will argue that this was a betrayal and they would not be > completely > >> wrong in as much as he settled without getting what he set out to get > but > >> look at the circumstances that prevailed at the time. We can²²t take the > >> luxury of looking at events in isolation and pass judgement. Yes, he > signed > >> an accord but look at what was happening around him - Pakistan had not > only > >> lost a war it had been dismembered, the Simla Agreement had been signed > that > >> promised to resolve the Kashmir issue and Indira Gandhi was being > compared > >> to Goddess Durga. Under these circumstances Sheikh Abdullah felt that he > had > >> to get the best that he could for the people and the people agreed with > him. > >> Any Kashmir expert worth his or her salt will agree that the 1977 > election > >> was the freest and fairest election the state has ever seen and the > people > >> stood behind Sheikh Abdullah and continued to stand behind him till he > was > >> laid to rest. Has any leader in Kashmir had a funeral on the scale that > >> Sheikh Abdullah had in 1982? I think not, that having been said those > that > >> are ideologically opposed to him will remain so - such is life. > >> > >> Much is said about my father and by the grace of God he²¹¹s still alive > and > >> kicking and doesn²²t need me to set the record straight for him he does > it > >> for himself. Junaid mentioned that he danced when a Pakistani wicket > fell. I > >> wonder why the Pakistani wicket mattered so much because he dances > whenever > >> he watches a match and India takes a wicket. He makes no bones about > where > >> his loyalties lie and is not hypocritical about it. Time will tell how > what > >> he did, what he does and what he²²ll do will be judged. Lets not be too > >> quick to rush in and pass judgement ourselves as yet. > >> > >> Politicians have let Kashmiris down - sure we have. But what of the > >> engineers and officials who were hand in glove with us? What of those > >> trusted individuals who on a meagre salary have built palaces and sent > their > >> children to the choicest colleges paying hundreds of thousands of > rupees? > >> Those that built roads that only existed on paper, ordered pipes that > >> continue to rust decades later, drew salaries as doctors from the state > >> while continuing to practice in the Gulf or UK - do they bear no > >> responsibility for the suffering of the people? Two wrongs don²²t make a > >> right (another thing my mum always says) but then people living in glass > >> houses should be very careful where they throw stones (yet another of > >> mum²¹¹s gems). As a politician I have let the people of my state down > but I > >> had a lot of willing and able supporters along the way. > >> > >> I am a hypocrite because I draw my salary from the Parliament of India > and I > >> still criticise India for the excesses in my state - so be it. I²²ll > live > >> with being a hypocrite because it²¹¹s better than living as a mute > >> spectator. I live with it because I am equally critical of the excesses > of > >> the militants. If I am critical of India²¹¹s actions in Kashmir, I am > >> critical of Pakistan²¹¹s as well. I do a job as a member of Parliament > but I > >> haven²²t sold my soul. I don²²t visit the Indian Home Ministry or the > >> Pakistani High Commission (or in some cases both together) to collect my > >> monthly dole. But what of those who travel the world talking about the > >> illegal nature of India²¹¹s occupation of Kashmir and do so on an INDIAN > >> passport? These are people who feel so strongly about the disputed > nature of > >> Kashmir but will happily fill a landing card and mention citizenship of > >> India. I have an uncle who more often than not I disagree with but I > admire > >> the conviction he has - he disagrees with what happened in 1947 and > >> subsequent events and so refuses to carry a passport. He has never > applied > >> for one. For the longest time he never left the state and only travelled > by > >> road between Jammu and Srinagar because he refused to travel on > ²²Indian²² > >> Airlines. > >> > >> Coming to events of the last seventeen years I will only touch on a few > >> things that come to mind because a lot of this blog is going to be taken > up > >> by this period so no point writing it all in one post. That the Indian > >> security forces are guilty of some of the most horrible excesses is a > given > >> and I don²²t dispute that. I don²²t condone what was done and am a firm > >> believer that the truth must emerge and the guilty must be punished. > This > >> must be done in a transparent manner. I have talked about the need for a > >> truth and reconciliation commission and will write in greater detail > about > >> this in a subsequent post. > >> > >> While agreeing that nothing can justify the extra-judicial killings, the > >> rapes, the torture, I have to ask the question - was there any of this > >> happening before militancy started in the late 80²¹¹s? Before some of > you > >> rush in and go for my jugular claiming that I am using militancy to > justify > >> these things let me make clear that I am NOT. NOTHING can justify what > the > >> people have had to go through but to suggest that the people of Kashmir > have > >> been subjugated and brutalized for six decades is to stretch things way > too > >> far. I don²²t recall crack downs and searches before 1990, as I don²²t > >> recall arrogant convoy commanders on our roads before that either. I > recall > >> wives of Indian Army officers teaching me in school. I recall going to > the > >> homes of school friends whose fathers were in the army and playing with > >> other ²²C²² type kids all day. Incidentally while it is always unfair to > use > >> broad strokes to paint everyone and catagorise then simplistically like > one > >> of us has done with his ²²A²² ²²B²² and ²²C²² groupings it was fun to > see > >> the reaction that ensued. The glass houses sprung to mind again. > >> > >> Its so easy to say that we²²ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri > pandits > >> back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment as I²²m sure the > Kashmiri > >> Pandits reading it will. Pity that sentiment was missing when our > mosques > >> were being used to drive these people out. None of us was willing to > stand > >> up and be counted when it mattered. None of us grabbed the mikes in the > >> mosques and said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right > to > >> continue living in the valley. Our educated, well to do relatives and > >> neighbours were spewing venom twenty four hours a day and we were mute > >> spectators either mute in agreement or mute in abject fear, more often > than > >> not it was muteness driven by fear because the guns turned against the > >> Pandits found their target elsewhere as my party workers found, but mute > >> none the less. > >> > >> And talking about mosques - what a great symbol of mass uprising they > proved > >> to be. While I can²²t claim to have lived through it I have enough > friends > >> who did and they tell me about the early 90²¹¹s where attendance was > taken > >> in mosques at prayer time. If one missed a prayer in the mosque the > >> neighbourhood enforcement committee knocked on the door and sought an > >> explanation, usually with a few gun men present to ensure the message > was > >> received loud and clear. People were forced out of their homes to > >> participate in ³mass uprisings² against Indian ³occupation² and the same > >> enforcement committees went from door to door forcing people to march. > While > >> I don²²t deny that the overwhelming majority of people rose in anger in > the > >> early 90²¹¹s there are two sides to every story and we need to look at > both > >> or we risk losing our objectivity. Shop signs were painted green and > white > >> in Islamic colours and people were forced to set their watches to > Pakistan > >> standard time. As if these two things would make the dream of > independence > >> any easier to achieve - amazing how quickly peeople rediscovered the old > >> colours when they could make a choice again. > >> > >> This post has been a little more long winded than I had expected but > then > >> Omar Khayyam once said - > >> > >> The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, > >> Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit > >> Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, > >> Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it > >> > >> I²²ve written as I felt and to be honest with you I²²ve enjoyed writing > >> every word of it. > >> > >> > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Thu May 22 18:40:41 2008 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 18:40:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Appeal for Doctors to serve survivors of Jaipur blasts Message-ID: <483570D1.2070401@gmail.com> While the RSS has been busy communalizing the issue of the Jaipur blasts, it's heartening to see many secular groups involved in organizing relief for the survivors. Currently, a socio-economic survey is underway to assess the long-term needs of the survivors, and activists from PUCL, Free Binayak Sen campaign and AID-delhi are preparing for long term follow-up. Below is an appeal to the medical community from AID-Delhi, in coordination with folks from the Free Binayak Sen campaign (which had organized free medical camps in the spirit of continuing the work of Binayak Sen, and has the backing of many physician groups). These groups are collecting lists of doctors who can be on call to help out, in case help is needed. ***Please forward widely*** ~solidarity Anivar Aravind Free Binayak Sen campaign http://binayaksen.net Appeal for Doctors to serve survivors of Jaipur blasts Can you be "*on call*" for our sisters and brothers in Jaipur? If so, please provide your *name, specialisation, and location*. Here is a message from our friends working in Jaipur: Currently there is no need for any doctors to come to Jaipur as many have come from all over Rajasthan. However in the coming weeks there will be a need for specialists of different kinds- particularly those dealing with bullet injuries, disabilities, trauma counselling. We need a list of doctors willing to help the victims in future if required. Please help out by sending us (* aid.delhi at gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it *) names of doctors, their areas of specialisation, location and nature of help they can render. This list will be kept purely for use on a need basis and will be given to doctors in Jaipur who may refer some of their patients to people on the lists. A charity concert is being planned sometime in June to raise funds for the treatment of victims. From nityajacob at yahoo.com Thu May 22 20:07:33 2008 From: nityajacob at yahoo.com (Nitya Jacob) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 07:37:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Jalyatra Message-ID: <331792.96188.qm@web30802.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear all, I am extremely pleased to announced that my first book Jalyatra: Exploring India's Traditional Water Management Systems, is in book stores now. It has been published by Penguin. You can find more information here: http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/Bookdetail.aspx?bookId=7235 Regards, Nitya From radhikarajen at vsnl.net Fri May 23 13:47:14 2008 From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net (radhikarajen at vsnl.net) Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 13:17:14 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Appeal for Doctors to serve survivors of Jaipur blasts In-Reply-To: <483570D1.2070401@gmail.com> References: <483570D1.2070401@gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear Anvir Aravind, your post with patent hate towards a social, cultural service organisation like Rastriya swayam Sevak sangh is to say the least is disgusting, for it was the only organisation with its volanteers that stood with army in kashmir when pak aggression took place, it was the only organisation when nation was under aggression from China, its volanteers were the firat to reach out to cyclone victims in Andhra Pradesh, to rescue, cremate the dead and spare the calamity of epidemics in the water logged areas at considerable risk to themselves, it is different that it was invited to march past in Republic day parades by Nehru himself is forgotten today, as nation in the grips of rome nominee. ! If a community is united without the caste divisions as strong hindu society just as other faiths in the parish or mohalla, it is good for the nation as strong thread of a strong rope, society. Secular does not mean dividing the communities on their castes, or as shias and sunnis or as roman catholics and protestants. ? Secular governance should mean all citizens of the society are treated equally by the system irrespective of the religion and caste, no special treatment for any followers of faith. It is unfortunate that vote bank politics has made us more aware of the caste and faith whereas the need was to live and get governance on equity and natural justice without fear or favour to any caste or faith. Regards. ----- Original Message ----- From: Anivar Aravind Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008 6:41 pm Subject: [Reader-list] Appeal for Doctors to serve survivors of Jaipur blasts To: reader-list at sarai.net, grassroots-in-action at googlegroups.com, IHRO at yahoogroups.com > While the RSS has been busy communalizing the issue of the Jaipur > blasts, it's heartening to see many secular groups involved in > organizing relief for the survivors. Currently, a socio-economic > surveyis underway to assess the long-term needs of the survivors, and > activists from PUCL, Free Binayak Sen campaign and AID-delhi are > preparing for long term follow-up. > > Below is an appeal to the medical community from AID-Delhi, in > coordination with folks from the Free Binayak Sen campaign (which had > organized free medical camps in the spirit of continuing the work of > Binayak Sen, and has the backing of many physician groups). These > groupsare collecting lists of doctors who can be on call to help > out, in case > help is needed. > > ***Please forward widely*** > > ~solidarity > Anivar Aravind > Free Binayak Sen campaign > > http://binayaksen.net > > Appeal for Doctors to serve survivors of Jaipur > blasts serve-survivors-of-jaipur-blasts/> > > Can you be "*on call*" for our sisters and brothers in Jaipur? > If so, please provide your *name, specialisation, and location*. Here > is a message from our friends working in Jaipur: > > Currently there is no need for any doctors to come to Jaipur as many > have come from all over Rajasthan. > > However in the coming weeks there will be a need for specialists of > different kinds- particularly those dealing with bullet injuries, > disabilities, trauma counselling. We need a list of doctors > willing to > help the victims in future if required. > > Please help out by sending us (* aid.delhi at gmail.com This e-mail > addressis being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript > enabled to view > it *) names of doctors, their areas of specialisation, location and > nature of help they can render. This list will be kept purely for use > on a need basis and will be given to doctors in Jaipur who may refer > some of their patients to people on the lists. A charity concert is > being planned sometime in June to raise funds for the treatment of > victims. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader- > list > List archive: From anivar at movingrepublic.org Fri May 23 12:09:48 2008 From: anivar at movingrepublic.org (Anivar Aravind) Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 12:09:48 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] One more Nobel Winner calls for the Immediate Release of Dr. Sen Message-ID: <483666B4.1080108@movingrepublic.org> Physicians for Human Rights an organization shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize calls for the immediate release of Dr. Binayak Sen. See the Press release http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/physicians-for-human-rights-calls-for-the-immediate-release-of-dr-sen/ From difusion at medialab-prado.es Fri May 23 16:10:28 2008 From: difusion at medialab-prado.es (Difusion Medialab-Prado) Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 12:40:28 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] Call for projects> AVLAB 1.0 Workshop (A/V experimentation) Message-ID: <48369F1C.8000108@medialab-prado.es> International Intensive Project Production Workshop> AVLAB 1.0 September 17 - October 1, 2008 Submission Deadline: July 1, 2008 Directed by Javier Duero. Teachers: Francisco López, Hans-Christoph Steiner and a third one to be confirmed. Coordinated by Daniel González Xavier. Venue: Medialab-Prado (Madrid, Spain). Medialab-Prado issues a call for projects on audio/video to be developed within the framework of the AVLAB 1.0 workshop. Projects can be presented individually or by groups, and should be related with the following fields: Sound art, live cinema, computer music, circuit bending, audio/video processing in real time, design of hardware-software applications specifically for audio/video, documentation and historical projects, and anthropological and sociological studies. A maximum of 10 projects to be collaboratively developed will be selected. Medialab-Prado will cover lodging at a youth hostel in Madrid and flight expenses for the authors of the selected projects. More information and call guidelines: http://medialab-prado.es/article/avlab_10 In collaboration with the Center for Contemporary Music Promotion (Centro para la Difusión de la Música Contemporánea) and Experimentaclub08. Contact: talleres at medialab-prado.es +34 914 202 754 -- Nerea García Garmendia Medialab Prado Área de Las Artes, Ayuntamiento de Madrid Plaza de las Letras Alameda, 15 28014 Madrid Tfno. +34 914 202 754 difusion at medialab-prado.es www.medialab-prado.es From turbulence at turbulence.org Mon May 19 19:20:09 2008 From: turbulence at turbulence.org (Turbulence) Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 09:50:09 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Networked Music Review Commission: "Trace Aureity" by Adam Nash Message-ID: <006801c8b9b7$448b6940$cda23bc0$@org> Networked Music Review Commission: "Trace Aureity" by Adam Nash (aka Adam Ramona) http://turbulence.org/works/adamnash Needs Second Life account and client (free) "Trace Aureity" is an interactive, immersive, audiovisual sculpture located in the 3-D synthetic world Second Life (http://secondlife.com). There are eighty-eight manipulated field recordings -- from city streets, birdsong, to talkback radio - and ninety-six nested rotating objects densely arranged in a three dimensional grid. Avatars, either solo or in groups, generate sounds by moving through the installation. Some of the innermost nested objects, colored red, also spawn glowing spheres which fly out and bounce around inside the work, triggering sounds as they pass through other objects. Because the playable space is so dense, players are rewarded by slowing down their movements as much as possible, since even miniscule movements create differences in sonic output. The contingencies of time-based interaction by people-as-avatars creates a dynamic audiovisual composition, always unique to that moment and those interactors. This may be seen to represent an evolution of the aleatoric composition techniques of John Cage and Biran Eno, as well as an enactment of the objets sonore of Pierre Schaeffer. Adam Nash will lead a tour of his work on Thursday, May 22, 2008 between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. US EDT. If you would like to take part in the tour, please contact adam at yamanakanash dot net "Trace Aureity" is a 2007 commission of New Radio and Performing Arts, Inc., for Networked_Music_Review. It was made possible with funding from the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. BIOGRAPHY Adam Nash is a new media artist, composer, programmer, performer and writer. He works primarily in networked real-time 3D spaces, exploring them as live audiovisual performance spaces. His sound/composition and performance background strongly informs his approach to creating works for virtual environments, embracing sound, time and the user as elements equal in importance to vision. Adam's work has been presented in galleries, festivals and online in Australia, Europe, Asia and the Americas, including SIGGRAPH, ISEA, and the Venice Biennale. He also works as composer and sound artist with "Company in Space" (AU) and "Igloo" (UK), exploring the integration of motion capture into real-time 3D audiovisual spaces. He is currently undertaking a Master of Arts by Research at the "Centre for Animation and Interactive Media" at RMIT University, Melbourne, researching multi-user 3D cyberspace as a live performance medium; and he's a Lecturer in "Computer Games and Digital Art" in the School of Creative Media at RMIT University. For more Networked_Music_Review Commissions please visit http://turbulence.org/networked_music_review/tags/nmr_commission Jo-Anne Green, Co-Director New Radio and Performing Arts, Inc.: http://new-radio.org New York: 917.548.7780 . Boston: 617.522.3856 Turbulence: http://turbulence.org Networked_Performance Blog: http://turbulence.org/blog Networked_Music_Review: http://turbulence.org/networked_music_review Upgrade! Boston: http://turbulence.org/upgrade New American Radio: http://somewhere.org _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From margreet at blender.org Mon May 19 20:07:11 2008 From: margreet at blender.org (Margreet Riphagen) Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 16:37:11 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Essay preview | Eric Kluitenberg | Delusive Spaces, Essays on Culture, Media and Technology References: <1E17FB47-2FBF-4EAF-8CC4-9EB443A02C42@networkcultures.org> Message-ID: Sorry for cross sending Essay preview from Eric Kluitenberg - the Pleasure of the Medium 'Jouissance' and the Excess of Writing. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// Eric Kluitenberg, Delusive Spaces. Essays on Culture, Media and Technology, Rotterdam/Amsterdam: Nai Publishers & Institute of Network Cultures, 2008. www.naipublishers.nl/art/delusivespaces_e.html The open terrain of new media is closing fast. Market concentration, legal consolidation and tightening governmental control have effectively ended the myth of the free and open networks. In Delusive Spaces, Eric Kluitenberg takes a critical position that retains a utopian potential for emerging media cultures. The book investigates the archeology of media and machine, mapping the different methods and metaphors that speak about technology. Returning to the present, Kluitenberg discusses the cultural use of new media in an age of post- governmental politics. Delusive Spaces concludes with the impossibility of representation. Going beyond the obvious delusions of the ‘new’ and the 'free', Kluitenberg theorizes artistic practices and European cultural policies, demonstrating a provocative engagement with the utopian dimension of technology. Eric Kluitenberg is a Dutch media theorist, writer and organizer. Since the late 1980s, he has been involved in numerous international projects in the field of electronic art, media culture, and information politics. Kluitenberg heads the media program at De Balie, Centre for Culture and Politics in Amsterdam. He is the editor of the Book of Imaginary Media (NAi Publishers, 2006) and the theme issue 'Hybrid Space' of Open, journal on art and the public domain (2007). A previous publication in this series is from Ned Rossiter about Organized Networks (2007). http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/portal/publications/studies-in-network-cultures/organized-networks/ Coming publications in the Studies of Network Cultures Series will be from Matteo Pasquinelli, Florian Schneider and Josephine Bosma. ////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Pleasure of the Medium 'Jouissance' and the Excess of Writing. pdf downloadable at: http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/portal/files/2008/05/pleasure-of-the-medium-delusive-spaces.pdf I am looking at a website - it bores me. I am delighted by my boredom. Why should it not bore me? Why should I be fascinated? I am looking for an escape from spectacularity. I don’t want to be spectacularized. I hear a discussion about ‘quality’. I am bored by it. I hate this boredom! Why should I be interested in ‘quality’? What quality? Whose quality? ‘What is this shit?!??’ I hear desperation, unnerving irritation. I am stimulated! Who is saying this to me? Who is writing? Does it really matter? - - - - - - - The greatest fascination of a new medium always lies within the machine. It is not the old medium being the ‘content’ of the new medium – wrong formula. It is only when the old medium is discarded, even if this delightful moment is brought about by a mistake, that the magic of the new medium can disclose itself. I had this experience when watching some of the magnificent websites created by jodi.org, specifically for the Netscape 2.0 browser on a mac system. The website would get stuck, seem to buffer indefinitely. Then suddenly, the page would start to load again, superimposed layers of graphics and ascii swirls crowding the screen. Blinking signs, links to more digital garbage, neatly organized in the defunct mosaic. - - - - - - - We were at the launch of the net.congestion archive and we experienced net congestion . . . Some people from Seattle who had visited our festival about half a year earlier had made a real local show. We had asked participants to this festival of streaming media to ‘stream-in’ for the occasion. We were watching from a comfortable space in the centre of Amsterdam. The Riga crew, as always, knew exactly what they were doing – a nice, low-bandwidth, grainy, but perfect web video mix and stunning electronic music from that magical city in the Baltics. The people in Banff had made a wonderful sound loop, perfect reception from Canada – we projected an image of ‘Sleeping Buffalo’ to it, a local mountain just outside the Banff campus. But Seattle – they topped it off. They gathered a crowd (with some 9 hours time difference) and were staging a real-life serious debate on the politics of the networked media sphere. It sounded inspiring and insightful, from what we could get at our end, but every 10 to 15 seconds the stream would break up. The face of a speaker would suddenly contort while the sound would squeak, turn into electrostatic noise (so it seemed) – on the projection screen we saw the most wondrous cubist images; constantly transforming over time, new contortions, blends of colours that were not there before, a grotesque, a caricature, emerging spontaneously. Adam, one of the organizers of the festival, was standing in awe watching this anti- spectacle – "Wow, this is so beautiful! I could look at this for hours!" - - - - - - - David Sifry, founder and CEO of Technnorati, reports on5 April 2007 that according to technorati.com’s then latest count, about 70,000,000 blogs are online, with a significant growth of fake and spam blogs (splogs), but still far outranked by genuine postings. An excess of writing. - - - - - - - Minor mathematics – to get an average readership of about 100 readers over a certain average period in which these blogs are available online, before they disappear into oblivion, requires a population of 7 billion. The conclusion would probably have to be that population growth needs to be sped up so as to match the growth of blog-production and provide them with a readership. - - - - - - - Roland Barthes identified two types of pleasures in text – the text of pleasure and the text of 'jouissance' [1]: "Text of pleasure: the text that contents, fills, grants euphoria; the text that comes from culture and does not break with it, is linked to a comfortable practice of reading. Text of jouissance: the text that imposes a state of loss, the text that discomforts (perhaps to the point of a certain boredom), unsettles the reader’s historical, cultural, psychological assumptions, the consistency of his tastes, values, memories, brings to a crisis his relation with language." [2] The subject who holds these two texts in their field and in their hands, according to Barthes, is an anachronic subject. A contradictory subject who both "enjoys the consistency of his selfhood (that is his pleasure) and seeks his loss (that is his ecstasy). He is a subject split twice over, doubly perverse." - - - - - - - From Lacan we learned that the desire of the subject is oriented on an essential lack. This lack results from the illusory quest of the subject for its own consistency and unity that does not exist. This Lacanian subject is lost between the emanations of its own body, the imaginary images it projects on itself (the images the subject mirrors itself in without ever having laid direct eyes upon itself), and the symbolic order, that of language and text paradigmatically, in which it tries desperately to articulate itself, while this act of articulation by means of language only results in a further deferral of the subject from its (supposed) self. The excess of writing is the futile quest of the subject to fulfil its own impossible desire by means of language. The ecstasy of writing is the realization of the impossibility of this quest and the willing submission to it – the subject willingly losing itself, dissolving into text. - - - - - - - The ecstasy of writing/reading is a bodily experience. It adheres neither to bourgeois morality nor to Marxist/materialist doxology. Barthes explains: "On the stage of the text, no footlights: there is not, behind the text, someone active (the writer) and out front someone passive (the reader); there is not a subject and an object. The text supersedes grammatical attitudes: it is the undifferentiated eye, which an excessive author (Angelus Silesius) describes: ‘The eye by which I see God is the same eye by which he sees me.’ Apparently Arab scholars, when speaking of the text, use this admirable expression: ‘the certain body.’ What body? We have several of them; the body of anatomists and physiologists, the one science sees or discusses: this is the text of grammarians, critics, commentators, philologists (the pheno-text). But we also have a body of bliss consisting solely of erotic relations, utterly distinct from the first body: it is another contour, another nomination; Does the text have human form, is it a figure, an anagram of the body? Yes, but of our erotic body. The pleasure of the text is irreducible to physiological need." [3] - - - - - - - The erotic can only come into being beyond utility. This is what Bataille has taught us. Only when sexuality is freed from its productive (reproductive) functions can it be transformed into an erotic principle. The sovereign experience of eroticism cannot accept any reduction to a sanctified social code – it is instead heightened in the transgression of that very code, in the moment of jouissance, the coming, the climax of ecstasy, of entering the ‘beyond’. Eroticism, as opposed to sexuality is what defines our humanity. The dialectic of desire and prohibition simultaneously conceals and reveals that which is of supreme (souverainement) importance to us – the sacred. Its consumption is a moment of absolute delight, but it also opens up an experiential void where we stare in the face of death. The erotic is never a principle of efficiency. It does not attempt to produce a maximum effect with a minimum expenditure of energy. Quite the reverse, it attempts to achieve a maximum expenditure of energy, a climax, in which life’s energy is expended excessively. "Anguish, when desire opens onto a void – and, sometimes, onto death – is perhaps a reason for desiring more strongly and for finding the desired object more attractive, but in the last instance the object of desire always has the meaning of delight, and this object, whatever one might say of it, is not inaccessible. It would be inexcusable to speak of eroticism without saying essentially that it centers on joy. A joy, moreover, that is excessive. In speaking of their raptures, mystics wish to give the impression of a pleasure so great that the pleasure of human love does not compare. It is hard to asses the degree of intensity of states that may not be incommunicable, perhaps, but that can never be compared with any exactness, for lack of familiarity with other states than those we personally experience." [4] - - - - - - - The ecstasy of the writing (blogging) subject is the embrace of its moment of its loss into text. This loss constitutes a negative pleasure far greater than the appreciation of beauty, or the positive pleasures of taste and sanctioned intimacy. The moment of loss opens up a void in experience because it signals to the subject the loss of its illusory consistency and unity of self (which never existed in the first place – but such a horror is simply too great to live with, and thus is always covered up by a phantasmatic support and imaginary self- images). In this sense, this moment of loss constitutes an absolute negativity – in that it signals the end of existence (of the unitary subject) – and confronts it with the face of death. But this text, written by the blogging subject seeking its own loss, comes back to that subject, and reconstitutes it, in another place according to Barthes. This moment of reconstitution of the subject produces a sensation of such absolute delight that it dwarfs any possible experience of positive pleasure – such is the nature of the existential sublime. [5] - - - - - - - A fundamental asymmetry between pleasure of writing and pleasure of reading remains, however: "Does writing in pleasure guarantee – guarantee me, the writer – my reader’s pleasure? Not at all. I must seek out this reader (must ‘cruise’ him) without knowing where he is. A site of bliss is then created. It is not the reader’s ‘person’ that is necessary to me, it is this site: the possibility of a dialectics of desire, of an unpredictability of bliss: the bets are not placed, there can still be a game." [6] In that sense the bliss of blogging does not end the objectives of literature. - - - - - - - To whom is this text addressed? "I am offered a text. This text bores me. It might be said to ‘prattle’. The prattle of the text is merely that foam of language which forms by the effect of a simple need of writing. Here we are not dealing with perversions but with demand. The writer of this text employs an unweaned language: imperative, automatic, unaffectionate, a minor disaster of static . . .: these are the motions of ungratified sucking, of an undifferentiated orality, intersecting the orality which produces the pleasures of gastrophy and of language. You address yourself to me so that I may read you, but I am nothing to you except this address; in your eyes, I am the substitute for nothing, for no figure (hardly that of the mother); for you I am neither a body nor even an object . . . but merely a field, a vessel for expansion." [7] This text for Barthes is quite apart from 'jouissance' – it is a frigid text. The text produced by the subject attempting to escape its own lack is the producer of this prattle, frigid text. The text produced by the subject consciously embracing its own loss into text, yes desiring to dissolve itself in the text to escape the sheer weight of its own desires and dabble in the delight of its reconstitution ‘in another place’, is the text of ‘coming’ of jouissance, of ecstasy - For, "any demand is frigid until desire, until neurosis forms in it." - - - - - - - Self-mediation is the act of constituting presence in a mediated environment. Formerly a marginal practice it has now moved to centre stage - Broadcast Yourself! Presence in the mediated environment of digital electronic networks is constituted through the continuous circulation of images, sounds, streams in the network. Prosumed, picked up, remixed, laboured on affectionately, appropriated, commodified. There is a subjectivity at work here, but a contradictory one. The images, the sounds, circulate, they are sampled more than created, mixed more than framed. The subject dissolves itself in the mediated streams of images and sounds – remix can dissolve the streams in turn to mere static. Self-mediation does not aim at communicating information, at conveying a ‘message’ – instead it tries to establish affective relationships. The networked subjectivity at work here is not an artistic subjectivity – the media space it creates is prattle. It does not push out the limits of what language and the machines are able to express (at all); to the point of crisis. Much rather, it embodies this crisis in constituting the outer limit in itself – beyond which only an absolute negativity, death itself, stares back at it. - - - - - - - The self conscious self-mediating subject adheres only to its ultimate maxim: I transmit, therefore I am . . . ////////////////////////////////////////////////// Notes: 1) Barthes borrows the term jouissance from Lacan, which is most commonly translated as ‘bliss’, though some theorists consider ‘ecstasy’ a closer approximation of its intended meaning. I decided to use the original French word where its translation is ambiguous. 2) Roland Barthes, The Pleasure of the Text (New York: Hill and Wang, 1975), 14 (French original 1973). 3) Ibid., 16-17. 4) Georges Bataille, The Accursed Share - Volume II: The History of Eroticism (New York: Zone Books, 1993, orig. 1976), 103. 4) And this we knew already from Edmund Burke, see: Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757, second edition 1759). 5) Barthes, The Pleasure of the Text, op. cit. (note 2), 4. 6) Ibid., 4-5. Source: Eric Kluitenberg, Delusive Spaces - Essays on Culture, Media and Technology, (Rotterdam: NAi Publsihers / Institute of Network Cultures, 2008), pp. 277 - 284. ISBN: 978-90-5662-617-4 -- NEW ADDRESS: Institute of Network Cultures HvA Interactive Media, room 05A20 Rhijnspoorplein 1 NL-1091 GC Amsterdam -- NEW ADDRESS: Institute of Network Cultures HvA Interactive Media, room 05A20 Rhijnspoorplein 1 NL-1091 GC Amsterdam POSTAL ADDRESS Institute of Network Cultures HvA Interactive Media, room 05A20 PO BOX 1025 NL-1000 BA Amsterdam http://www.networkcultures.org t: +31 20 5951866 f: +31 20 5951840 # distributed via : no commercial use without permission # is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: http://mail.kein.org/mailman/listinfo/nettime-l # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime at kein.org _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From logos.theword at gmail.com Thu May 22 14:23:41 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 14:23:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Shreds and Patches In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805220146i628ec853j2483cac844a98b61@mail.gmail.com> References: <33bc2ee60805220146i628ec853j2483cac844a98b61@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805220153j1f82b6fbkbc5b5d8c32bd83c0@mail.gmail.com> Logos Theatre presents "Shreds and Patches", a solo performance based on the works of William Shakespeare, devised and performed by Arka Mukhopadhyay. At Alliance Francaise, Vasanthnagar, Bangalore June 13th, 11 AM and 2 PM (for schools/colleges only), 6 PM and 8 PM (open to all) June 14th, 11 AM (for schools/colleges only), 2 PM, 6 PM and 8 PM (open to all) Tickets: Rs.125/- for the 13th and Rs. 150/- for the 14th Available from the 25th at: Alliance Francaise Cafe, Crossword, Residency Road For bookings call: 9945799224 or 9886765198 For bulk bookings: 9845530323 "...refreshing... "Shreds and Patches" was an innovative and comprehensive whole-hearted performance ... leaving the audience with the fact that even today, there is a little bit of Shakespeare in each one of us." - The Hindu "...commendable" - Mid Day "...riveting performance" - WOW, Hyderabad. -- Logos Theatre In the beginning was the word No. 126, 3rd Main Road, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore 560046 -------------------------------------------------------- If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is 't to leave betimes? Let be. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From logos.theword at gmail.com Thu May 22 15:10:33 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 15:10:33 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] The Waste Land - Bangalore, '08 In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805220238n62725734ycf69c734d2328c94@mail.gmail.com> References: <33bc2ee60805220217m33a83dfbk665ab16e9717dc86@mail.gmail.com> <33bc2ee60805220238n62725734ycf69c734d2328c94@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805220240s47acc8c7o12776fa0bcb299c4@mail.gmail.com> Mixing memory...stirring a macchiato at Barista... Chamrajpet... Bagmane Tech Park... Garuda Mall... Malleshwaram 11th Cross... hooded hordes on hosur road... shoring fragments of memory... How does one take one of the most well known literary texts of modern times, and find it in one's immediate surroundings, while retaining its universality? How does one take a canonical text, yet treat it with irreverence and playfulness? How does one tell the stories of a city - this city, any city, The City, through the music and mordant humour of Eliot's verse? the SpeechMagic initiative, a part of Logos Theatre, presents The Waste Land - Bangalore, '08 - a multimedia show mixing live performance with video, installation and soundscape, based on T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land. Living in this city, perhaps all of us, whether 'localite' or 'outsider', have felt at times a sense of unreality - be it the arbitrary actions of an administration that does not seem to follow any human system of logic, or the excesses of an incompetent police force, the ludicrousness of 'magic box' underpasses to the ever-shifting pattern of one ways that seem to be part of a bizarre treasure hunt where the map keeps transforming. The overpriced cups of tepid coffee at synthetic cafes, to the fast disappearing traces of the city that was. It is out of this sense of unreality, a sense of a vanishing beauty and the growing cacophony of chaos, that this performance/installation was born. In Eliot's text we found a reflection of the faultlines we see in the urbanscape of this city, and we attempted to tell its story, using this city's own sounds and images, a dash of dark humour, and our own dramatic response. Breaking the structure of a stage show where you sit for an hour and then return unaffected, we have attempted to create an immersive environment where, for up to three hours, you will be within and around the performance. Structured more like an exhibition where some of the paintings/sculptures are 'alive', there is no beginning, middle or end to this 'play' - you come in anytime, and stay for as long as you wish. The sequences of the performance happen around you, often more than one at the same time. You choose what you want to watch, how many times you want to watch it, and when you want to run away from the madness. Or you become a part of it, as you are a part of the madness of this city. Created and performed by: Joshua Williams, Abhijit Pakrashi, and theStillDancer. June 3rd and 4th, from 6 PM to 9 PM (last entry at 8 PM) Tickets: Rs. 200/- (only through SMS) text your name, date and number of tickets to: 9945799224 or 9886765198 -- Logos Theatre In the beginning was the word No. 126, 3rd Main Road, Jayamahal Extension, Bangalore 560046 -------------------------------------------------------- If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is 't to leave betimes? Let be. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From mitoo at sarai.net Thu May 22 16:05:56 2008 From: mitoo at sarai.net (Mitoo Das) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 16:05:56 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Tenure- track Position, Department of Anthropology- Seoul National University Message-ID: <48354C8C.5050400@sarai.net> *Tenure-track Position at the Department of Anthropology, * *Seoul National University**, * * * * * The Department of Anthropology, Seoul National University (SNU), , invites applications for a tenure-track position in anthropology at the assistant or associate level, beginning March 2009. We seek an international scholar in sociocultural anthropology with outstanding research and teaching credentials. Geographic focus on is preferred, but consideration will be given to applicants outside this area. Topical and theoretical interests should complement program strengths. Ph.D. in anthropology is required at the time of appointment. This position is reserved for a non-Korean citizen, by authorization of the Ministry of Education for the goal of internationalization of higher education in . SNU and the Department are therefore committed to recruiting qualified international scholars who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. Competence in oral and written English is essential for the position, and native-level competence will be regarded as highly desirable. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From santhosh.kanipayur at gmail.com Fri May 23 11:12:43 2008 From: santhosh.kanipayur at gmail.com (Santhosh Kumar) Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 11:12:43 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] Film screening Message-ID: <19d498870805222242k3a1d3d79l67fff2aaefa8e4cc@mail.gmail.com> 'There was a Queen' in IVFK 2008 * *There was a Queen ** the Documentary film in which Kashmiri women express their views about the bloody conflict ongoing in the state for more than 18 years and its multi faceted impact on the society is screened in *International Video Film Festival 2008, Kerala*. *The film is screened on 24th May at 9.30 am in TRANS TOWERS auditorium.* In this film, woman - only women - open out on terrorism, militarism, peace and their daily life. It is a record of political voices of women from many sides in Kashmir. *All are invited for the screening. * The film was in the competition section of *MIFF-2008* and was screened in * ViBGYOR-2008*. The DVD copies this film are available at a price of Rs.1000/-, and please add Rs.100/- for courier and handling charges, in India and South Asia. US $ 200 and courier charge for other countries. Please mail your order or queries to santhosh at othermediacommunications.com "Yi As Akh Padshah Bai" *(There was a Queen…) * *India / Kashmiri, Hindustani, English with English subtitles / 105 minutes / Video / 2007* "Give us guns and we'll play our role!" - These are not the words of a hardened criminal; these are the words of a teenaged girl in Kashmir less than a week after her sister was buried. Farha's sister Shahnaza, and her friend, Ulfat, victims of 'crossfire' would have been adult women today - they were barely seventeen when they died, as old as the *tehreek*, the movement, that exploded into existence in 1989, shattering forever the peace of the Valley, and turning it into one of the most critical conflict zones in the world. Over these eighteen years, flashes of intensified conflict and bouts of negotiations have followed one another with monotonous regularity in Kashmir. Newspapers and television channels manufacture predictable binary images of conflict – angry men and weeping women, peace loving Kashmiris and terrorist Kashmiris, misguided innocents and fundamentalist separatists, victims and aggressors. Over and above these is the image that erases all differences – the Kashmiri as terrorist. The film discusses how women's engagement with everyday violence has led them to think of issues of security, peace, conflict management and transformation in the unique situation of conflict in the area. It is also an exploration of the relationship between the construction of identity of the community/nation and women's identity and the need for women to be aware of how and by whom these identity constructs are forged which are usually not favorable to women's autonomy in the particular culture and nation. When the directors set out to make a film, they felt strange to speak to women, only women, ignoring the other half. So they spoke to a few men – one a former militant, another who had sent his son for training across the border with his blessings, a third who had lost his son and then realized he was a militant, a fourth whose brother was killed in crossfire – they spoke to men and realized that while every story had the power to shock and move, the women's stories were compelling in their honesty, in their rage, in their helplessness, in their grief, in their contempt, in their fierce refusal to forget, in their determination to survive, to nurture. It is through these women – proud, strong, with an undying zest for life – that the film examines what peace means and how it can come about in Kashmir. * * The documentary "*Yi As Akh Padshah Bai*" or *There was a Queen* was made by an all women crew! It was a conscious and a deliberate decision as it was our belief as producers that since the film was about women in conflict situation, it would be appropriate to have a team of women who would be more sensitive and understanding in dealing with the subject and that the Kashmiri women would find it easy to articulate their views. Our objective initially was to make one film, on women in conflict situation, which includes the North East of India too. But in the process of making the film, we decided to work on Kashmir first as it was distinct from the North East though there are commonalities of situation, issues and concerns. An All Women Crew Direction: Kavita Pai / Hansa Thapliyal Camera: Ranu Ghosh Sound: Gissy Michael Editing: Gouri Patwardhan Music: Manish J. Tipu Executive Producer: E. Deenadayalan Produced by Other Media Communications Pvt. Ltd. www.othermediacommunications.com -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From pkray11 at gmail.com Sat May 24 03:20:45 2008 From: pkray11 at gmail.com (prakash ray) Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 03:20:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] the suicide of a lesbian couple in Chennai Message-ID: <98f331e00805231450y4fc477fel8b34d205b5848615@mail.gmail.com> This is a press release about the suicide of a lesbian couple in Chennai on 17th May, 2008, by various queer friendly organisations and individuals. Please forward and circulate it amongst your contacts, especially in the print and visual media to ensure that it gets heard. Kindly also endorse the statement. ______________________________ On the 17th of May 2008, Christy Jayanthi Malar (38) and Rukmani (40) committed suicide. Police reports tell us that they were hugging each other when they set themselves ablaze and succumbed to the wounds. Christy and Rukmani had been lovers for the past ten years against the wishes of their natal families and their husbands'. This suicide is the latest of the eight lesbian suicides that we have news of from the beginning of 2008 in Tamilnadu alone. More than 35 couples are said to have committed suicide in kerala in the past 10 years. These numbers as we know are only of the reported cases. The many more that have gone unreported might never be known to us. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered people's struggles in this country are close to 15 years old now. The hearing on the petition for the repeal of section 377 of the Indian penal code (that criminalises "carnal intercourse against the order of nature"), in the Delhi High Court is in progress and has reached the level of final arguments. There are organisations in all the major cities and towns in India who work on sexuality rights and have been doing so for more than a decade. Some of the most important thinkers and individuals of India today, including Vikram Seth, Amartya Sen, Barkha Dutt and so on have signed an open letter demanding the repeal of section 377. Just next door, Nepal has elected its first openly gay MP. It is in this context that Rukmani and Chirsty have committed suicide. Issues of early and forced marriage and subsequent lack of independence or mobility for women are realities in most part of the country as they are in Tamilnadu. Domestic violence continues to remain a significant issue. Repression of same-sex desire is part of this same continuum of violence, and as we can clearly see, the cost of this repression is the loss of human lives. Sexual orientation and/or preference are matters of every individual's desire and right. With the complete lack of awareness about same-sex desire, coupled with gruesome repression, the tragic end of Christy and Rukmani are only one among the many more we will witness. If we have to put a stop to this, it is imperative that we make efforts to dispel the myths around same sex desire and acknowledge it in clear terms. Same-sex desire is not a disease. We need to know that there is nothing 'abnormal' about same-sex desire, but the problem rather is the fixing of 'normal' to be ONE kind of intimate relationship and deeming anything outside of it (like inter-caste romantic relationships and marriage) 'abnormal.' There is nothing 'unnatural' about same-sex love; the concept of natural itself can be questioned as not all things that are part of our everyday lives are 'natural'; plastic for instance or coca cola. Besides, species of animals are proven to be engaging in same-sex sexual activity. It is not a concept that has come from the west As Saleem Kidwai and Ruth Vanita explain in their book 'Same-sex Love in India - Readings from History and Literature,' same sex love is not a concept imported from the west. The sculptures of Khajuraho and Konark are ample evidence too. . Apart from all of this, Tamilnadu is also the land of Periyar who, as early as the 1930s, spoke vehemently about equality for women as well as against marriage as it was prevalent then. The dictum of the 'self-respect marriage' not only shuns brahminical rituals but also supports different kinds of desire within the institution of marriage. Periyar and other people in the self-respect movement have argued for intimate relationships, marriage and desire being one that is the choice of every individual and cannot be impinged upon by the forces of caste, religion and family. It is from this history of radical politics that Tamilnadu has emerged. In spite of this illustrious history, Tamilnadu has repeatedly been excessively repressive about issues relating to sexuality. It is time we broke the silence and speak out on issues around sexuality. Going further on the ground laid in all these decades in addressing various issues relating to women's rights, we must now move further to talk openly about sexuality. Christy's and Rukmani's death are newer testimonies that urge us to do so. We need to take constructive steps towards providing awareness about - and support to -same-sex desiring people in Tamilnadu and elsewhere. The repression of same-sex desire is not just a case of imposing one kind of desire and lifestyle on everyone, but is one that often paves the path to a question of life or death. We call upon progressive groups and individuals in Tamilnadu as well as the state government to acknowledge the reality of this repression and provide the space for every human being to uphold their right to live and love with freedom, dignity, and respect, irrespective of their caste, class, religion, gender and sexual orientation. In Solidarity, Voices Against 377, Delhi PRISM, New Delhi Partners for Law in Development (PLD), New Delhi Saheli, New Delhi Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA), New Delhi Nigah, New Delhi Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore V. Geetha, Chennai Oishik Sircar, Kolkata/Toronto TARSHI, New Delhi Shilpa Phadke, Mumbai Pramada Menon, New Delhi India Centre for Human Rights and Law (ICHRL), Mumbai Forum Against Oppression of Women, Bombay Lesbians and Bisexuals in Action, Bombay Awaaz-e-Niswaan, Bombay Women's Centre, Bombay Akshara Centre, Bombay The Shakti Center, Chennai Ridhima Mehra, New Delhi Anuradha Chandra, new delhi Nina Subramani, Bangalore Prakash K Ray, New Delhi From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Sat May 24 09:36:26 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 09:36:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] PUCL report Message-ID: PUCL REPORT: THE JAIPUR TERROR SCAPEGOAT: THE POOR BENGALI MUSLIM MIGRANT PART I On the evening of the 13th of May, 2008, nine bomb blasts ripped through the spine of the walled city killing more than 66 people and injuring over two hundred people. Like in other 8 cities where similar attacks took place since 2005 Jaipur too stood together and thankfully no communal riot followed. Instead people belonging to different faiths and communities came together on the third day and paid their respects to the deceased and remembered the unity of this city over several hundred years, which had been marred by three major riots in 1989, 1990 and 1992. Communal amity for always was what everybody pledged for. The medical community at the SMS Hospital and other Private Hospitals that took in patients responded with zeal and saved several lives. That night 56 patients were brought in dead and five who came in gasping died soon after. The death toll by the end of the week grew to 66. More than 277 injured were also brought in on the night of the blast out of which 134 were admitted in the various Hospitals and the rest were discharged. Some of the patients have ended up with permanent impairments, assessments are still being made and the medical Community of the SMS Hospital even today affirm their commitment to the patients. In the next few days it became clear that more than half of those who lost their lives were around the two Hanuman temples. More than 35 lives were lost at the Chandpole Hanuman Mandir. At least a third of the shoppers and passer byes who got killed were children, school going girls, college going boys and ofcourse the flower seller, the bangle seller, the key makers including two police men. Destroying dreams The city put its best foot forward and collectively tried to cope with this tragedy. When occupants of the hospital wards learnt that blast victims were being brought into their ward, on their own they gave up their beds for the victims of the bomb blast. Long Queues of youth stood outside the hospital for blood donation, a youth group decided to provide attendants and a group of senior citizens deicded to carry out Jal Sewa in Hospital. Scores of such stories expressing the good side of the Human Kind filled the news pages and were broadcasted by the channels. At our own end we initially with other groups got involved with relief work. We also collected a100,000 rupees and gave it to the Relief society in the Hospital for medicines and other consumables needed. We also provided attendants and have planned to do a detailed survey of the families of the injured and that of the deceased. This survey will be carried out now in the first week of June, 2008. However, close on the heels of the expression of the goodness of the Jaipur residents, followed the ugly face of the politicians. The BJP got maximum mileage from the blast. First Advani next Vasundhara Raje and then the rest of the Sangh Cabal got shriller and shriller that POTA ought to be legislated again, Rajasthan Organised Crimes Act, 2006 (ROCA) which was sitting with the Ministry of Home Affairs for whetting be immediately sent back so that a strong law could be used against the criminals, that the Bangladeshis were the cause of it all, as prima facie HUJI seemed to be the link and the delay in Hanging Afzal Guru ( the accused in the Parliamentary Attack Case) was the cause of these Blasts as it strengthened the might and the morale of the Terrorists. The war of words between the Centre and the State was nauseating. The discourse of the BJP was that the present PM was weak, not Macho enough to take a tough stand against Islamic Terrorism and the Congress counter consisted of how they had forewarned the State and that the lapse was that of the Raje Government. The State's Government's defense against the aspect of Intelligence Failure was that if the US Federal Intelligence failed and 9/11 could happen then how can Rajasthan State Intelligence be taken to task as the Islamist Terrorist is unbridled can take the best by surprise. IT was as if the issue of Intelligence lapses was as non issue. The only respite was that Sonia Gandhi refused to take issues with anybody although the Home Minister has been putting his foot in his mouth and even to the present has been responding casually to serious issues like evicting Bengali- Bangladeshis which is discussed later The Chief Minister and the BJP emerged as the protector of the People of the State. Amongst the Muslims a message was sent that she managed to prevent the Hindutva Hardliners from attacking the Muslim community, amongst the business community she emerged as protector of business in the city. Continuous announcements were made that the tourist traffic was unaffected, No investor was pulling out. And finally as one who would act firmly, bring in a strong anti-terror law, punish the criminals and cleanse the city of the breeding ground of terror, the Bengali migrant, the "Bangaldeshi", the poor Muslim. Why had the Ajmer Sharif Blast which took place in the holy Ramadan period in 2007 not been cracked up as yet or why were the SP's of a District in Rajasthan given less than Rs. 6000 for new creative inputs to tackle the newer crimes which are increasingly foxing the police or that if the IPL matches take away 500 police men which is one sixth of the active police force deployed in the city of Jaipur then what were the counter arrangements to track suspicious people. Police Investigation leading to nought and the Poor Bengali Migrant being made the scapegoat. 10 days have gone past and there has been no breakthrough in the investigations. We know of this from the chief investigator of the case. In conversation with different officials all have made it clear that only when they will get inputs from central agencies that the investigation will proceed as the network of "terrorists is national and international". The Rajasthan police SIT claims that no RDX was used and the chemical used for the blast was Ammonium Nitrate. The police from Day one insisted that the link was HUJI and they claimed that the bombs were similar to the Hyderabad ones. First there was a vociferous attempt by the media to put the blame on one Shamim a Maulavi and Madarsa teacher who had been taken in custody for several days after the Ajmer Blast from Khandela, Sikar. The media claimed that police had released him as even this Government wished to appease Muslims. On the 14th came an e. mail of the Indian Mujahideen from Sahibabad in Ghaziabad UP to some national channels. It showed clips of a cycle parked outside the Kotwali police station with a "blue bag" on it and the rim of the cycle had a number on it. Definitely this photo was taken by a mobile well before the blast happened. The other clips that have not been released according to the police show a group of men assembling a bomb and the time shown in the watch is 2.20. The police conjecture was that it must be 2.20 in the afternoon as sound from the clip was that of loud traffic in the background. It was at 2.30 pm that the men reached the cycle shops. If they were the same men then clearly they reached in ten minutes of the assembling of the bomb which also shows how close they were from the place of the bomb blast. Many channels went to town over the genuineness of the email maybe it was there to misguide. In the meanwhile the police also started taking into custody the SIMI group from Wazirpur in Karoli. One SP even went to Indore to examine the SIMI men who were in Jail since a month ago. Then the police claimed that they had evidence to prove that Bangladeshi migrants in Jaipur were being taken regularly to Bangladesh from where they were taken to Pakistan for ideological and arms training as well as to make bombs. They also said that these trained men were as to be sleeper modules till the time they got a message from the bosses. One Babu Khan arrested in UP for another matter was one of the key persons who used to take the poor Bangladeshi migrants to Bangladesh and from there to Pakistan. Madhu Bangali who is presently in Ajmer Jail and had been arrested earlier in another case had confessed about these happenings, which was later confirmed by Babu Khan. The police also stated that Toufiq was the main Jaipur person who selected the people and made the link with Babu Khan Babu Khan who handled these affairs in UP. The local media went to town over how illegal Bangladeshi migrants had made Jaipur unsafe and how "this scum of the earth" were there to destroy the economy of the city and the State. It was on walk the talk broadcasted by NDTV and later published in the Indian Express where Vasundhara Raje openly said that it was well known that the Bangladeshis indulge in a "lot of illegal activities". She linked them with the blast by suggesting that the e-mail was sent by HUJI. And since it works out of Bangladesh they would make contact with Bangladeshis. She also stated that the e-mail showed that definitely there was some involvement of people from outside India. This upfront position taken by the Government on the Bangladeshis question, has resulted in the crack down by the police on anybody and everybody who is Bengali Muslim. Although a few Hindu suspects have also been arrested however the violations against those arrested as being suspected illegal Bangaldeshi Migrants is so severe that the police needs to be stopped immediately. With the crackdown on the Bengalis the migrant workers, from Bihar and UP are also running away as suddenly every worker has become a suspect in the eyes of law. PART II Violations of the Human Rights of the poor (mostly Muslims) in the name of being Bangladeshi Migrants and of suspicious character The Bengalis in Jaipur The official figure of the Bangladeshis in Jaipur is a minimum 10,000 and for the State 20,000. Although every police and Government official will say that the real figure maybe 2 to three times higher. Traditionally Jaipur has been home to a large number of Bengalis who were mainly Priests, Administrators, City Planners, Teachers but the contribution of the Bengali working class groups has also been documented and they too have come in large numbers and settled here. The famous Shila Devi of Amber is from Jessore in East Bengal which gave the Hindu Bengalis an organic relationship with Jaipur. The Bengalis working class contribution is very significant to the economy of the city as is the contribution of the other migrant workers from within the city and outside. A quick look at the working class groups from Bengal The Cooch Beharis are in very large numbers in Jaipur because of the Raj Mata, the erstwhile Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur who was from Cooch Behar. The Bengalis from other parts of West Bengal is a phenomena since the eighties. Particularly from Malda, Nadiad, Hooghly, Howrah and other neighbouring districts. The Bangladeshis mostly came in the early seventies as a part of the refugee exodus fleeing the atrocities of the Pakistani Army, however, the porous border between the two countries and corruption within BSF (Rs hundred per person is the BSF rate to come across to India) has resulted in extremely poor labourers coming to Jaipur although the tout rate per person is Rs. 4000 to be brought to Jaipur. A large number of the women who are child care givers and domestic workers are even today from amongst the Cooch Behari women. They are mostly Hindus. Other than Cooch Behari's the Bengali Muslims who live in Kachhi Bastis (slums) close to middle class homes have also got into domestic work. As compared to the Rajasthani domestic worker the Bengali domestic worker is more professional as even today the Rajasthani Domestic worker conceals the public identity of her work. The Cooch Behari men are mostly skilled Construction Workers particularly in making the structure of metal rods for the RCC roofing. A very large section of the famous "Aari-Tari, Zardozi, gold bead and other filigree intricate work" is done by both Bengali and Bihari child, adolescent and adult labour. A very big section of this labour is Muslim. In the old city and the poor areas of Jaipur these factories run in the most dehumanised conditions and the situation of this labour is pitiable. The Bengali Mazdoor are famous for putting up the decorative wedding tents of Jaipur. They are also well known as flower decorators of the Wedding Pandals.. Most of the workers are from West Bengal but about 20 percent are Bangaldeshis Rag Picking like everywhere else is done by the poorest lot who are either the Bengali Muslim migrants from West Bengal and also the Bangladeshi migrants. Men and women also work at the Godowns sorting paper from plastic and then the paper is mostly loaded in Trucks and sent to Delhi for recycling. The men and women also exchange old clothes for utensils and go house to house all day with big loads of utensils and clothes slung on their shoulders and their heads. Rickshaw pullers in the city are mostly from Rajasthan. But the Muslim Bengali and the Hindu Biharis in large numbers also pull Rickshaws. This is the same for the Cycle and Hand Thela walas. The loaders at the Subzi Mandis are mostly from Bihar and from UP with more than 60 percent of them being Muslim and Forty percent being Hindus. Profiling of the Suspect Crackdown on the Bengalis started on the 19th May and till the 22nd morning several hundreds had been rounded up and more than 115 people have been sent to Judicial Custody under sec 109 of the Cr. PC. The break up of people arrested police station wise is as follows. S. No Police Station Police District Name of Basti Number of people picked up Date 1. Kanota Jaipur Rural Bagrana Bangladeshi Transit Camp 25 ( including 1 woman ) 19-20 May 2. Pragpura Jaipur Rural Pragura (Delhi ­ Jaipur High Way) 10 19-20 May 3. Chandwazi Jaipur Rural 4. Malviya Nagar Jaipur East Manoharpura Beed, Jagatpura 12 19 - 22 May 5. Sanganer Sadar Jaipur East Buxawala 6 19-20 May 6. Jawahar Nagar Jaipur East TilaNumber 7, Jawahar Nagar Kachhi Basti 7 20 -21 May 7. Moti Doongri Jaipur East Sanjay Kachhi Basti 4 20-21 May 8 Galta Gate Thana Jaipur North Baas Badan Pura, Mohalla Dakotan, Delhi Jaipur Bye Pass 33 (including one woman) 19-21 May 9. Ram Ganj Thana Jaipur North Char Darwazza, Sri Chowdi Ram Chandraji 19 19-21 May 10 Bhatta Basti Jaipur South 9 Bangladeshi's were picked up 10 days before the blast and according to the police the area now has been "cleansed" of Bangaldeshis. Total 116 More than five teams of the PUCL went to some of the Bastis in order to get a perception of what was happening. The stories of what was happening were heart rending. Wide spread Hunger in ³BAGRANA² - the Bangladeshi Transit Camp On 21st May 2008, the team from ³PUCL² went to Bagrana. More than 25 people had been arrested so we had decided to examine the situation there. This basti is situated on the Jaipur Agra highway. The first transit camp for Bangladeshis was set up in 2003 by the Ashok Gehlot Government. This is one of the resettlement colonies of the Jaipur Development Authorities. The Bangladeshi group of migrants mostly rag pickers had been living in Gopal Bari, along the railway line close to the Jaipur Junction for many years. However, after the 2002 Godhra incident they were moved to Bagrana in 2003. And the first transit camp was set up. These Bangladeshi's escaped deportation and have been living for more than five years in a sub human environment. At Bagrana the total number of families from Bangladesh are around 350 of which 315 have the transit camp slip. There are a few Rajasthani, Biharis and residents from UP too. This settlement also has other settlers like the Mirasis Muslims who are mainly construction workers. This group of people maintain their distance from the Bangaldeshi's. Being a camp no family can use brick or stone for construction purpose or put up a pucca roof or have a single brick wall. However, a few families have managed to get the brick wall constructed but the cover over the houses is a thin plastic sheet or a tarpaulin which is unbearable in the hot summer temperature of 45 degrees. There is a serious water shortage and there are constant fights amongst the women for water. At first glance huge mountains of waste awaiting sorting is what you encounter when you enter the Basti. The children and the old all seemed listless. Hunger seemed widespread in the colony. The children had eaten but very little. Some of the adults had not eaten for the last six days. The situation of hunger was very evident. Apart from the fact that the children looked extremely malnourished and women appeared anaemic. According to them living at the bottom of the heap was acceptable than compared to living in absolute hunger and poverty in Bangladesh. However, the people this time were living in deep fear too. The Basti of Bagrana is divided into 2 colonies. New basti and the old basti. ³Shri Ramlal² ji, a Rajasthani who had been staying for the last 6 years told us about the arrest of 2 Maulvis who were also Rajasthani's. Further he also told us, that many of the Bengali families had been staying in Bagrana since the last 30-35 years and some had been shifted by the JDA around 5 years ago.. They all asked the Government to issue ration cards so that they could also get subsidised food and kerosene but no had paid heed to this request.. In May 2008, there was a severe fire disaster in the basti, in which a child died and as many as 122 huts were burnt, and around 15-20 people were severely injured. The families suffered serious losses. After the incident several authorities came and announced relief. Prominent amongst them was the Education Minister Shri Kali Charan Saraf and the District Collector. Some of the affected families got food and other support. Those who lost their houses in the fire, got Rs. 4000 as relief, but the parents who lost their child in the fire incident didn¹t got anything, although the Minister had announced Rs 1 lac as compensation. According to most people living in the Basti, even the incident of the fire had the authorities treating them with dignity but the blast changed it all. They had become Pariah's. When the police randomly arrested several people and took them away on the 14th itself fear set in them. According to the women the police arrested those who were in the forefront and were in some sense leaders of the community. The women kept saying that they were taken away for no reason. They were not in any way connected to the blast. When the SHO of Kanota was asked why certain people were arrested they said that they had arrested those whose body language was not right. There seemed something suspicious about their movements so they were arrested, he said. There was widespread hunger as in more than 25 homes not only the head of the family had been arrested but also the movements of people of the Basti had been completely restricted. A police chowki had been set up in the Basti to monitor the movements of the people. The people had been instructed by the police that they could not step out for work into the city. This had resulted in a hunger like situation in several homes and both the adults and children had not eaten for the last 6 days. They kept saying that first the men had been arrested and then they had been left to starve. This situation would only turn worse in the next few days. On being asked that why they left their home country and came and settled here in India, they responded that, in their country there are frequent floods, due to which their homes and land were destroyed every time they constructed one. It was getting very difficult for them to survive there, so they came to India in search of a job and shelter. They said that they want to live in Jaipur itself like anybody else. · Dukhu Sheik's wife Champa told us that they had been staying in Jaipur for the last 15 years. They had 4 children (3 daughters and 1 son), her husband was the only person in the family who used to earn by tying huts for the poor. After his arrest there was no one in the family to earn even a rupee. She herself had not eaten anything for the last 6 days. They had moved into this basti 5 years ago. She kept stating that nobody in their entire family had even the slightest links with the Jaipur blasts and so why were they being victimised. · Abu Hayat (17 years), a tailor, his father, used to make huts and brother was a rag picker were taken into custody by the police on 19th itself. He was the only one left in the family to provide for the family of nine people. He was sad that they were being prevented from going into the city to earn. When they tried go into the city they were beaten the police and sent back. He said that till before the blast they had food thrice a day but now managing enough food for even single meal seemed difficult.. · Both the leaders Imran and Daulat Khan had also been arrested by the police. They were also wealthier than the others as they purchased the garbage from the others and sent it to Delhi for processing and recycling. · 55 years old, Mohammad Sheikh had hunger written all over him. His son had been arrested. he kept saying that the blast had snatched their food as the bread winner of his family, his son had been arrested and others were not allowed to step out. · Mohammad Noor Husain (52 years), in the past used to live at ŒGhat Gate¹, there he was a voter too. But ever since he came to Bagrana, the sarpanch of the nearby village did not let him cast his vote and said that, you can¹t vote as you are not an Indian. · Haseena Bano, had three 3 children and all were hungry for the 6 days, as her husband had been arrested and there was no one in the family to earn. · Abdul Rehman told us that his father came to India in 1971 when Bangladesh was formed and he was born in India itself. So he kept asking us as to why he was not considered to be a Indian when he was born here and through his work the the city was kept clean. Why was he being considered Bangladeshi? · Mariam (25 years), enquired from us as to why the police was not arresting the terrorists, but were instead after them and arresting their family members? She told us that those who had been arrested by the Kanota police station were not even provided food during their detention at the police station. She also told us that although 27 people had been rounded up but only 20 chapattis were given. They were treated worse than dogs she said. She also told us that she was sure that those arrested had been tortured and verbally abused. The whole attitude of the police and the administration was like as if they were animals. · The arrest of a young muslim woman called Bobby from Shahpura. According to many people when Bobby and her husband Musa had come to meet her nephew in the Bagrana Basti she and her husband were picked up by the Police. However, the neighbourhood attributed her arrest to the fact that she had married a Hindu who had converted to Islam inorder to marry her. So the act of arresting Bobby and her husband was an act of vindictiveness by the police. Bobby was picked up on the 14th of May and sent into JC only on the 20th. May, 2008 See the Annexure for list of those sent to JC by the 21st. The Tragedy at Manoharpura Beed, Jagatpura Kachi Basti PUCL teams visited Manoharpura Beed on the 20th and 22nd May as the women were very miserable with the arrests of their sons and husbands. We also visited the Malviya Nagar police station and met some of those in police custody. This is one of the oldest Bengali Basti of Jaipur. The men and women were active members of the Kachhi Basti Federation a CPI (M) affiliate. Many of the women were also active with the Janwadi Mahila Samiti and had been vocal on the various issues taken up by the women's movement on the Streets of Jaipur. Razia Begum, a Cooch Behari by birth, and one of the leaders and also the settlers of this Basti told us that in 1986 more than 190 families were shifted out from the Janta Market area near Chandi ki Taksal in the walled city and brought to Jagatpura which was at that point in complete wilderness. It was because of the initiative and hard work of the CITU Vice President, Waqar-ul-Ahad that the Jaipur Municipal Council had agreed to move them to a Basti and they got an opportunity to stay with dignity in Jaipur. Of the 190 families that were moved 70 were Bengalis and others were "Madrassis" and Rajasthanis. Soon after they had been moved, more than 200 families from Bai-ji-ki-Kothi Jhalana Doongri were also moved into that area, After 1992 people from the Bajaj Nagar Kachhi Basti also moved into this area. The entire Basti presently has more than 3000 families with over 2627 being patta (title) holders given by the JDA. It is mini India with Bengalis, Madraasis, Biharis, Rajasthanis and Muslims from Tonk living there. The people told us that they were frequently surveyed and that they always keep their documents like ration cards, voter ID cards and the JDA titles ready in hand as they are never sure when they would be declared Bangaldeshi's. Some of them told us that they got their voter identity cards because of Kali Charan Saraf, the Education Minster and they also voted for him. The Arrests: More than 12 people were arrested from this Basti between the 19 and the 22nd of May. Of the 12 eleven were Muslims and one was a Hindu. They also picked up one of the leaders of the Basti called Dina Babu who was running around and assisting all those arrested. One Hameeda Begum told us that the police had arrested her two sons and her son ­ in ­law. Two of those arrested were over 60 years. The Bengalis living in this Bastis claimed that they were mostly from West Bengal. Most of them had come to Jaipur when they were very little more than forty years ago. Many of the women we met told us that they had also got married here and also their children were born here. They had been working very hard in order to educate their children. They also told us that though they maybe rag pickers or kabbadi walas but they sent their children to school. Many of them send their children to Private Schools and also to the Jan Bodh School run by the Bodh Shiksha Samiti in collaboration with the Government, in their Basti. Most of the people of this Basti are either rag pickers, or work in godowns where garbage is sorted and get Rs. 50 to 60 a day, the men also pull Rickshaws and Trolleys, the women also go house to house for domestic work. Some also work in grocery stores and a couple had their own grocery store in the Basti. After the blast they were not worried that they would be suspected as they were so frequently surveyed. However, they were shocked to learn that the police had instructed that everyday five families will come and give their papers to the Police Station along with addresses of people in West Bengal who can be contacted for conformation of them being Indians. Some Case studies of those arrested. The Tragedy of the arrest of Janey Alam. Janey Alam is 66 years old. He originally belongs to Gaskin Bokul tala, Jogacha Police station, in district Howrah, Kolkata. He married Sophia Begum in 1984 and has a daughter. According to Sophia Begum Janey Alam was Ajit Chakravorty s/o Devendra Nath Chakravorty before his marriage and adopted Islam and picked up the a fictious name of Mahbool Alam as that of his father. He felt that it would be difficult to explain to the world as to why he converted to Islam. They lived for several years in Vasant Kunj and worked in the homes of various people. They took their daughter Hasina to AIIMS when she was giving birth to her child. It was only in 1995 that they came to Jaipur and started working here. Janey Alam is a coolie and pulls a trolley. On the evening of the 19th when he was in his Basti the police picked him from the tea shop. The police asked him to produce addresses and proof of his native place in W Bengal and if they would get the confirmation from the particular police station in West Bengal then they would released. The family were very concerned as to how would they prove their identities as bonafide Indian citizens. The tragedy of Hamida Begum's family: Two of her sons and one son-in-law were picked up on the 20th night and sent to Judicial Custody on the 21st of May, 2008. According to Hamida Begum she came as a child more than thirty five years ago from Hakimpura, Keosha in District 24 Parganas. They were landless labourers and worked on the fields of people living in Keosha in 24 Parganas. According to her mother the famous cyclone about forty years ago and hit West Bengal and her village Tal Badi close to the Bay of Bengal had sunk into it and they were all forced to leave and come away to Keosha, 24 Parganas. She kept saying that since all their relatives had also moved to Jaipur and other places how would they establish the proof of being bonafide Indians. They had come from the Janta Market area in 1986 and were the first group of settlers in Jagatpura. They had ration cards since the mid eighties and a voters identity card since 1995. they also showed electricity bills of 1993 in their name. Hamida Begum's husband Mhd. Hannan also had his Rickshaw Driving Identity Proof since 1991 issued by the Jaipur Municipal Council. Hamida and her family have been working hard and have constructed a pucca house on their plot and have planted trees around their house and keep saying that Jaipur has been their home and they must not be pushed out of here. Hamida said that the police had picked up her younger son as he was involved in petty criminal activity and was a bully so they had been targetted. She said that they should arrest him for his criminal behaviour but why profile them as Bangaldeshi's. She burst into tears when she started speaking about her Son-in-law's arrest. She said that her daughter who was proud of sending her sons to school had sent her children for rag picking today as they are all daily wage earners and if both the husband and wife donot earn together then they cannot eke out a living. Since both her son-in-law and his brother had been arrested the family had plunged into a deep financial crisis. The names of Hamida's sons are Mohammed Sahidul and Mohammed Hanifa. her Son-in-law's name is Mohammed Ansar alias Iqbal. and his brother is Mohammed Khalil. Both of them also were asked to show addresses of their native village in West Bengal which is Tarunipur, Post Govindpur, Thana Khantura, District 24 Parganas. Hamida is a Domestic Worker and goes house to house in Malviya Nagar doing domestic work. Arrest of 55 year old Sanyasi Burman son of Kartik Burman. Sanyasi Burman is very poor. When he was arrested on the 19th in the evening, he was in his lungi, strolling outside at 8 pm near the tea shop that police picked him up. When we met him at the police station in the lock up he was only in his undergarments. When he was taken to the SDM he was taken in his undergarments. The poverty of his house was so acute that both the mother and daughter next morning had gone for work as they could not afford to take a Holiday and do the running around. According to Mona the wife and Sandhya the daughter they were Patta holders of the plot they were living in and were in Jaipur for the last thirty years. They kept saying that they belonged to Kesari Pada, police station Jorasagar in Kolkata. The sister of Sanyasi Burman was still in touch with them regularly from Kolakta. They had spoken to her a couple of months ago. They had all the required papers. The voter ID card, the ration card and the title of the plot from JDA. They were in a state of shock and were not able to understand as to how they would bring him out. The total Basti must be having more than ?? Bengali families. The Story of Akbar Huessin s/o Abdul Hakim. Akbar Hussein is only 26 years. His 75 year old Grand mother Saira Begum and his wife Bilkis met us. Bilkis had three small children of below 5 years of age. Akbar collected garbage and sorted it and sold it to a bigger contractor. Akbar was born in Jaipur and had his birth certificate. His grand mother told us that they had come to this Basti thirty years ago. Akbar Huessin was the only bread winner of the family and if he would not return then they would die of hunger. Saira Begum was wondering how they would contact their relatives in Bengal when they were living here for the last forty years. Many of them had moved into Jaipur with her and others were dead and gone. She was worried about the survival of the children and their mother. The stories of those who were taken in and left the next day was also the same. They were verbally abused. One policeman also told them angrily that they all deserved to be burnt alive as they were all trespassers in the country. The tragedy of Death in Buxawala Basti A total of 40 families live in Buxawala. They were settled here three years ago from Bharat Nagar in Jhotwara by the JDA and Jaipur Nagar Nigam. Out of 26 of the 40 people staying here they had the JDA title of their house plot, ration cards, voter ID cards and electricity and water connection. The other 14 showed the JDA agreement with them, thus in due course would also get the title for the house plot. Most of these people are into construction and masonary work, auto driving and rag packing. They are very poor people and very few of the children go to school. Children are working as child labour in close by places. About 23 of the families are from Karim Nagar in Andhra Pradesh (AP), some from West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and UP. This Basti comes under Sanganer Sadar Police Station. The police on 19th evening came to the Basti about 6 pm and picked up 8 people. When the women resisted and appealed to the policeman to not the men the police used abusive language and also beat them up. After they were picked up they were also not allowed to meet their men who were in custody. Since two of the boys picked up were very young the Basti people urged the police to free them. They were finally allowed to go late that night. All the rest were booked under sec 109 Cr PC. Two of the people picked up were from Rajasthan and MP. Others picked up were from AP, WB, Tripura and one from Burma The Basti is in a state of shock as the police behaved very badly with them and later due to the death of Afsana while her husband was under arrest and because nobody got bail when they are all bonafide Indian citizens. The Basti people are living with deep fear. The Death of Afsana due to non-availabilty of medical help. Twenty three year old Mazdoor called Pappu Ahmed was picked up on the 19th night. He belongs to Burhanpur in M. P (part of undivided Khandwa districts). He had a twenty year old wife called Afsana who had a serious health problem. She died on the 21st.May morning as nobody hospitalised her and she needed medical attention. After her husband was taken away only her old mother ­in-law and 13 month old son were left behind. The police had picked up Pappu as somebody into suspicious activity. He had a ration card, his voters ID card and a JDA plot title. When our team reached the neighbourhood was in deep grief as the men had gone for her burial. The tent which had been pitched had women sitting. Arrest of a youth with a Hearing Impairment. Ram Lu a Mazdoor and originally from Karim Nagar in AP was arrested under the same sections. He was the only child of his old mother who is now fending on her own. Mohammed Dulal Ali 50 years. was also arrested, His family claimed that they were originally from Agartala in Tripura, (although everybody called him an Assamese). He came to Jaipur as a child and since then has been living here. He had four children and a wife. Arrests in the Jaipur North Police district including that of a woman When the men are taken away then the families are left to starve. This is what was the condition of the 6 families from where the men who were the bread winners taken away. One family had left the area out of fear. The others were whose men were in prison were living miserably. The families kept explaining that how would they be involved in a bomb blast when they didnot have enough time to make food available for themselves. Idgah Kachhi Basti, Baas Badanpura: Ten people were arrested from this Basti from seven households including one woman. 19 year old Taslima was arrested as she went to the Galta Gate police station to enquire about her 70 year old father Azghar Ali and 24 year old brother Jinau Islam who had been picked up on the 14th morning. They were sent into JC only on the 20th. For seven days she along with her brother and father along with the others who were arrested were kept in police custody. The entire neighbourhood were sympathetic of the lot who had been arrested as they said that the weakest person the Rag Picker was picked up and the actual criminals who pedal in Naroctics and other drugs were left behind. They also said that the police had beaten up those they had taken into custody. When this team went to meet the Addl SP regarding the arrests of the poor. They were told that out of a total of 33 arrested, 29 were clear cut Bangladeshis and out of the 4 who insisted that they had Indian Addresses one gave an Address of Assam and the other three of West Bengal. Why Arrests Under Sec 109 CrPC and Foreigners Act A GOR order of 30/03/2007 has become the guideline on how to proceed on the Bangladeshi migrant. The protocol says that they once identified, they should be given a chance of giving proof that are Indian citizens by crosschecking the address of their native place. And once that is negative those lists should be handed over to the BSF through the prescribed procedure who would get the names cross checked with the Bangladesh rifles and then the deportation through the BSF and the Bangladesh rifles. The GO goes on to say that the documents relating to Ration Cards, Voter ID cards and others must be cancelled under the set procedure and action be taken against those officials who provided them all this. It is very clear that most of the people arrested other than the majority of the Bagrana lot have residence proof of belonging to Jaipur. They have voter ID cards, Ration Cards, JDA plot papers, yet the have come under the scrutiny of not being able give proof of their place of origin in India. The people who were arrested as suspected Bangladeshi Illegal migrants could have also been booked under violation of the Foreigners Act. However, the Government preferred to book them under Sec 109 Cr. PC as they wanted to keep the entire process of scrutiny under their control. foreigners Act would have put the cases under judicial scrutiny where the Government could not have controlled the procedure so it was left to the police and Administration to give justice. The farce in court. All the applications of bond execution under 109 are brought to the SDM of the area. All the SDMs of Jaipur district who dealt with these cases said that the bail bond would only be executed if the Tehsildar would counter sign the guarantee papers provided for bail. Since these were people from the neighbourhood or wives who came and stood guarantee, they knew it that no Tehsildar would counter sign. The Tehsildar would only sign after the Patwari's report would give a favourable report and obviously the Patwari would give the report as desired by the Government. The right to be represented by a lawyer denied IT was shocking to learn that the people were not allowed lawyers. Although lawyers connected with Human rights organisation stood in court, however, those arrested were not allowed to present a lawyers vakaltnama. The SDM refused to accept the paper saying that since the counter sign had to happen at the level of Tehsildar this hearing was a mere formality and there was no need for lawyers to present any argument. The newspapers also reported that the Bar had taken a resolution that the no lawyer would represent these accused. Which ofcourse would be illegal in any case as everybody had the right to be represented. When we got in touch with the Jaipur Bar Association President he denied the passing of such a resolution. Attitude of the Police in Court The SDM was not bothered that the Police was literally pushing and shoving the accused that were brought in. Publically they humiliated the kin of the accused who were mostly women. Conclusions 1. The serious violation of the human rights of the Muslim migrants in the city especially those of Bengali origin would be an issue for the PUCL to expose and ensure justice for the poor. 1. It was decided that the first level of intervention would be to put together the report of the various PUCL teams and make it public. 1. On the basis of the facts collected by the teams an application should be sent to the NHRC which should then be asked to intervene. 1. A delegation should also meet the Collector and the Chief Secretary and the DG police and ask them to respond to the situation of hunger that was stark in Bagrana and in those homes where the men had been taken away and the women had been left behind. 1. Immediate suspension of the SHO Sanganer Sadar for arresting Pappu Ahmed of Buxawalla Basti due to which his wife Afsana could not be provided with medical support and she died on the 21st May, 2008 and for arresting the Ram Lal who had a hearing impairment. The inhuman manner in which Pappu Ahmed was also denied the right to be there at the time of her burial. 1. Even the SDM did not hear them when Pappu was produced in front of him and he Basti people tried to tell that his wife was serious. 1. Action should be taken against all SHOs for keeping people without arrest for more than 6 days. From asitredsalute at gmail.com Sat May 24 09:52:03 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 09:52:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] the suicide of a lesbian couple in Chennai In-Reply-To: <98f331e00805231450y4fc477fel8b34d205b5848615@mail.gmail.com> References: <98f331e00805231450y4fc477fel8b34d205b5848615@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: i endorse On 5/24/08, prakash ray wrote: > > This is a press release about the suicide of a lesbian couple in Chennai on > 17th May, 2008, by various queer friendly organisations and individuals. > Please forward and circulate it amongst your contacts, especially in the > print and visual media to ensure that it gets heard. Kindly also endorse > the > statement. > ______________________________ > > > > On the 17th of May 2008, Christy Jayanthi Malar (38) and Rukmani (40) > committed suicide. Police reports tell us that they were hugging each other > when they set themselves ablaze and succumbed to the wounds. Christy and > Rukmani had been lovers for the past ten years against the wishes of their > natal families and their husbands'. > > This suicide is the latest of the eight lesbian suicides that we have news > of from the beginning of 2008 in Tamilnadu alone. More than 35 couples are > said to have committed suicide in kerala in the past 10 years. These > numbers > as we know are only of the reported cases. The many more that have gone > unreported might never be known to us. > > Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered people's struggles in this country > are > close to 15 years old now. The hearing on the petition for the repeal of > section 377 of the Indian penal code (that criminalises "carnal intercourse > against the order of nature"), in the Delhi High Court is in progress and > has reached the level of final arguments. There are organisations in all > the > major cities and towns in India who work on sexuality rights and have been > doing so for more than a decade. Some of the most important thinkers and > individuals of India today, including Vikram Seth, Amartya Sen, Barkha Dutt > and so on have signed an open letter demanding the repeal of section 377. > Just next door, Nepal has elected its first openly gay MP. It is in this > context that Rukmani and Chirsty have committed suicide. > > Issues of early and forced marriage and subsequent lack of independence or > mobility for women are realities in most part of the country as they are in > Tamilnadu. Domestic violence continues to remain a significant issue. > Repression of same-sex desire is part of this same continuum of violence, > and as we can clearly see, the cost of this repression is the loss of human > lives. > > Sexual orientation and/or preference are matters of every individual's > desire and right. With the complete lack of awareness about same-sex > desire, > coupled with gruesome repression, the tragic end of Christy and Rukmani are > only one among the many more we will witness. If we have to put a stop to > this, it is imperative that we make efforts to dispel the myths around same > sex desire and acknowledge it in clear terms. Same-sex desire is not a > disease. We need to know that there is nothing 'abnormal' about same-sex > desire, but the problem rather is the fixing of 'normal' to be ONE kind of > intimate relationship and deeming anything outside of it (like inter-caste > romantic relationships and marriage) 'abnormal.' There is nothing > 'unnatural' about same-sex love; the concept of natural itself can be > questioned as not all things that are part of our everyday lives are > 'natural'; plastic for instance or coca cola. Besides, species of animals > are proven to be engaging in same-sex sexual activity. It is not a concept > that has come from the west As Saleem Kidwai and Ruth Vanita explain in > their book 'Same-sex Love in India - Readings from History and Literature,' > same sex love is not a concept imported from the west. The sculptures of > Khajuraho and Konark are ample evidence too. . > > Apart from all of this, Tamilnadu is also the land of Periyar who, as early > as the 1930s, spoke vehemently about equality for women as well as against > marriage as it was prevalent then. The dictum of the 'self-respect > marriage' > not only shuns brahminical rituals but also supports different kinds of > desire within the institution of marriage. Periyar and other people in the > self-respect movement have argued for intimate relationships, marriage and > desire being one that is the choice of every individual and cannot be > impinged upon by the forces of caste, religion and family. It is from this > history of radical politics that Tamilnadu has emerged. > > In spite of this illustrious history, Tamilnadu has repeatedly been > excessively repressive about issues relating to sexuality. It is time we > broke the silence and speak out on issues around sexuality. Going further > on > the ground laid in all these decades in addressing various issues relating > to women's rights, we must now move further to talk openly about sexuality. > Christy's and Rukmani's death are newer testimonies that urge us to do so. > We need to take constructive steps towards providing awareness about - and > support to -same-sex desiring people in Tamilnadu and elsewhere. > > The repression of same-sex desire is not just a case of imposing one kind > of > desire and lifestyle on everyone, but is one that often paves the path to a > question of life or death. We call upon progressive groups and individuals > in Tamilnadu as well as the state government to acknowledge the reality of > this repression and provide the space for every human being to uphold their > right to live and love with freedom, dignity, and respect, irrespective of > their caste, class, religion, gender and sexual orientation. > > In Solidarity, > > Voices Against 377, Delhi > PRISM, New Delhi > Partners for Law in Development (PLD), New Delhi > Saheli, New Delhi > Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA), New Delhi > Nigah, New Delhi > Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore > V. Geetha, Chennai > Oishik Sircar, Kolkata/Toronto > TARSHI, New Delhi > Shilpa Phadke, Mumbai > Pramada Menon, New Delhi > India Centre for Human Rights and Law (ICHRL), Mumbai > Forum Against Oppression of Women, Bombay > Lesbians and Bisexuals in Action, Bombay > Awaaz-e-Niswaan, Bombay > Women's Centre, Bombay > Akshara Centre, Bombay > The Shakti Center, Chennai > Ridhima Mehra, New Delhi > Anuradha Chandra, new delhi > Nina Subramani, Bangalore > > Prakash K Ray, New Delhi > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Sat May 24 10:02:04 2008 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 10:02:04 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur blasts & Afzal Guru Message-ID: After the Jaipur blasts the BJP has become even more strident on their so-called Œanti-terror¹ campaign, which is nothing more than a two-pronged strategy. They have promised that on their return to power, which they assume will be the next general election they will 1. bring back POTA and 2. Hang Afzal Guru. The media is playing along without pausing to think. They have dragged the Home Minister Shivraj Patil over the coals for his alleged equation of the Sarabjit Singh and Afzal Guru cases. I watched his interview with Barkha Dutt and all he said was that India had to have a consistent policy on the death penalty and this is something that needed debate as many countries had abolished the death penalty around the world. Then he went on to say that it would be inconsistent to ask for clemency for one of its citizens internationally while stringing up another at home, or words to that effect. Nothing he said was outrageous or controversial. And yet it has snowballed into a controversy with the BJP and larger public holding the delay in hanging Afzal Guru responsible for acts like Jaipur. I am posting an article I had written for the HT in 2006. It is as relevant today. There are many questions about the Parliament Attack case which remain unanswered to this day. If they hang Afzal they would be doing away with a key witness and also manage to close a case that deserves to be investigated by an independent and professional body. I have tried to provoke politicians, members of the bureaucracy and other journalists over the last few years to raise some of these issues to no avail. No one seems interested in what happened. I hope this will spark some discussion in the Sarai List and that others join the voices that questioned the roots of this conspiracy. It¹s important that we do not allow time and indifference to once again obscure injustice. -sj Hang the Truth By Sonia Jabbar Those arguing that Mohammad Afzal¹s death sentence should not be commuted to life imprisonment are doing so on the grounds that a) the Indian courts pronounced the sentence after a fair trial and appealing to the President for intervention would be undermining the judiciary and b) it would send out a wrong message‹ that India is a weak State, soft on terrorism. Both arguments are flawed. First, the Presidential review is hardly illegal or controversial, enshrined as it is in the Indian Constitution under Article 72, precisely to check cases where the death penalty is deemed as too harsh a sentence or in cases where there has been a miscarriage of justice. Second, the Supreme Court had a choice of sentencing Afzal under two laws for conspiracy and chose the harsher (Sec.120B read with Sec 302 IPC), not because it was the only law that would serve the purpose but because it believed that only the death sentence could satisfy the Indian public: ³Šthe collective conscience of the (sic) society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender.² So the court projecting the imagined desires of an imagined society, tosses the ball into the court of the citizens of India, and the citizens of India, citing the judgment, toss the ball right back into the courts in an absurd game of circular logic. The second argument of Œsending out a wrong message¹ is intimately tied up with assumptions of Afzal¹s guilt. Television shows are full of people indignantly proclaiming Afzal to be a terrorist and the mastermind of the Parliament attack. Both are patently false. The investigation agencies and the prosecution named three masterminds: Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish e-Mohammad, and the prisoner exchanged for the IC814 hostages; Ghazi Baba, alleged chief of Jaish operations in J&K and Tariq Ahmed, a Kashmiri. The Supreme Court acknowledged that Afzal was neither the mastermind nor the executor of the Parliament attack, and that it had no direct evidence, but only circumstantial evidence to prove Afzal¹s guilt as a conspirator. The Parliament attack was a serious and unprecedented crime and Afzal¹s sensational arrest two days after the attack, his trial, and subsequent debates on the death sentence all serve to divert attention away from the crime itself. On December 13, 2001, an Ambassador with five armed men entered the Parliament premises while it was in session. The security personnel apprehended the car and in the exchange of gunfire that lasted for 30 minutes, all five terrorists were killed. Seven policemen on duty at the time also lost their lives. Considering the enormity of the attack and the fact that we nearly went to war with Pakistan, the Home Ministry in a departure from all norms (where the CBI would normally investigate such a case) named ACP Rajbir Singh of Delhi Police as Investigating Officer. And who was this man? A self-proclaimed encounter specialist, who later conducted the dubious Ansal Plaza encounter, and was finally disgraced with charges of corruption when he attempted to blackmail a couple of west Delhi businessmen. Not surprisingly the Parliament Attack investigation was completed in a record 17 days. But with the Supreme Court setting aside Afzal¹s confessional statement as unreliable there is nothing else that confirms the sequence of events or the conspiracy theory linking the masterminds with Afzal. Who were the attackers? Who were the masterminds? What was the conspiracy? Five years after the Parliament attack the Indian public still doesn¹t know the truth, and seems to be content to hang a man, close the case and sweep the rest under the carpet. Afzal¹s own statement recorded by the courts blows holes in the police version, and yet the honourable judges have selectively ignored the startling revelations. According to Afzal he joined the JKLF in 1990, but was disillusioned and surrendered before the BSF in 1993. As the courts noted, Afzal had to regularly report to the Special Task Force (STF) as per laws governing surrendered militants. Regarding Tariq Ahmad, named by the prosecution as one of the masterminds, Afzal says that it was at an STF camp that he was introduced to Ahmad. As for Mohammad, the terrorist killed in the attack, Afzal says that Tariq took him to meet the DSP of Humhuma Chowk, Davinder Singh, who then introduced him to Mohammad. Singh allegedly instructed Afzal to take Mohammad to Delhi, find him accommodation and help him out generally. Afzal admits doing this and accompanying Mohammad to purchase the Ambassador, which was later used in the attack. According to Afzal, his role began and ended with these specific acts done at the behest of Tariq Ahmad and Davinder Singh, and yet no one‹ the investigating team, the prosecution, the learned judges or the phalanx of eager reporters‹ have bothered with investigating this further. Where is Tariq Ahmad? Is there any truth to the Davinder Singh link? Does none of this merit investigation? For those who may be tempted to dismiss this story, Afzal begs us to investigate the call records to his cell phone and to Mohammad¹s from Srinagar. He claims that there were many calls to both these numbers from DSP Davinder Singh. This is easily verifiable and yet, has not been investigated. Curiously, although the apex court alludes to the terrorist Mohammad making and receiving other phone calls from Dubai and Bombay, no one has thought it fit to scrutinize these telephone numbers. Why was the entire focus of the investigation been limited to Afzal, Shaukat, Geelani and Afsan Guru and the ambit of investigations not enlarged? The role of the police is also suspect because of their claims and counterclaims. The Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi Police both announced that Mohammad was Sunny Ahmad Qazi, the very same ŒBurger,¹ the hijacker of IC814. On investigation the CBI found this to be untrue. If this were so, why has the CBI not probed into the other claims made by the same agencies? On Dec.19, the Thane Police Commissioner, S.M. Shangari, made a startling announcement. He said the Mohammad killed in the Parliament attack was the same Mohammad Yasin Fateh Mohammad of the Lashkar e-Toiba whom he had arrested in Mumbra (a Bombay suburb) on Nov.23, 2000 and handed over to the J&K Police on Dec. 8, 2000. The Commissioner was well acquainted with the terrorist and described Mohammad in detail, giving his address in Pakistan, and even narrating how he fought the police in hand to hand combat after he was grievously injured. And yet, the following day, IGP Rajendran of Kashmir Range, rubbished the claim as ³totally false.² He was backed by DCP Ashok Chand of Delhi Police who issued a completely misleading press statement, ³the terrorist named Hamza killed in Delhi on Dec.13th was definitely different from the one Thane police claim to have arrested last year.² Thereafter we hear nothing further on this. Who was lying and why? If the Parliament attack Mohammad was different from the one captured in Thane, what happened to the Thane Mohammad, why was he not produced? Why wasn¹t anyone even remotely interested in cross checking this claim? And how hard did the investigators try to catch the alleged masterminds, Masood Azhar, Ghazi Baba and Tariq Ahmad? The Delhi Police claims that the Srinagar Police arrested Afzal and Shaukat when they were going to meet Ghazi Baba with Mohammad¹s laptop and Rs.10 Lakhs in cash. In which case why were they nabbed before, and not followed to the rendezvous with Ghazi Baba? Why did the Srinagar Police not want to catch the suspected mastermind when they had specific information, allegedly from Afsan Guru, Shaukat¹s wife, about this meeting? On April 3, 2002, Judge S.N. Dhingra asked the Delhi Police whether the Interpol had been alerted for the arrest of the three masterminds, to which a senior police officer replied that the ³matter was being look into.² Thereafter, we hear nothing more about Interpol or any further activity to apprehend the masterminds. And apart from a few members of civil society no one‹ not the judges, the many security experts, the investigating agencies, the Indian intelligence agencies, Members of Parliament, journalists‹ thought it fit to demand a probe. In 2003, nearly two years after the Parliament attack, Ghazi Baba was killed by the BSF in a routine operation in Srinagar. One can only assume that this was done without the knowledge and coordination of the team investigating the Parliament attack, or more care would have been taken, perhaps, to capture him alive, bring him to trial, and get to the truth of the conspiracy. If I were the mastermind, would hanging Afzal deter me from planning further attacks, or would it only confirm my suspicions that India is content to leave me untouched as long as they get somebody to hang? The Supreme Court observed, ³The challenge to the unity, integrity and sovereignty of India by these acts of terrorists can only be compensated by giving the maximum punishment to the person who is proved to be the conspirator in this actŠ² I beg to differ. Afzal is the reddest herring that has appeared before the Indian republic in a long time, and the challenge to this country¹s ³unity, integrity and sovereignty² would be far better met by conducting a thorough and professional probe into the Parliament attack instead of hanging a man who is so clearly the scapegoat in the whole sordid affair. From asitredsalute at gmail.com Sat May 24 10:11:26 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 10:11:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] resolution on lalit mehta Message-ID: *Resolution* We the delegates of the fourth review of the National Common Minimum Programme condemn the brutal murder of Shri Lalit Mehta of Vikas Sahyog Kendra Palaumu Jharkhand. Mr. Mehta was murdered by the contractors for exposing the corruption and mal practices of the National rural employment guarantee act. He was murdered on 14th May just a day before the public hearing on NREGA he was organising at Chhatarpur. The whole incident highlights the vested interest in the rural hinterland the formidable contractor, landlord, politician bureaucrat nexus which has been actively sabotaging any pro-people welfare initiative of the state. It is to be noted that the NREGA is the much flaunted flagship programme of the UPA which come to power on the promise of mitigating the agrarian distress epitomised by massive farmers suicide and distress migration during the NDA regime. The brutal murder of Lalit Mehta exposes the claims pro-people governance and indicates the firm grip of the rural elites and contractors to siphon off any funds meant for the welfare of the rural poor making a mockery of the tall claims of the empowerment of grassroots institutions by the panchayati raj institutions and people's participation through all decision taken by the Gram Sabhas. This house calls upon the central and Jharkhand government to institute a CBI enquiry into Lalit Mehtas death, and trial of his murderers by a fast track court. Date : 23.5.2008 India International Centre New Delhi From mitrawaghmare at gmail.com Sun May 25 17:56:53 2008 From: mitrawaghmare at gmail.com (Mitra Waghmare) Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 17:56:53 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Communal Harmony Schemes Message-ID: <2f895caa0805250526h7bcce320if9e88c026cc76cfa@mail.gmail.com> HI, Could any one help me by informing me on the number and status of communal harmony schemes available in India and abroad?More by providing me with links and review... I'll be obliged Mitra From kuhutanvir at gmail.com Mon May 26 13:48:20 2008 From: kuhutanvir at gmail.com (Kuhu Tanvir) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 13:48:20 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] reader-list Digest, Vol 58, Issue 49 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: *off the mantle #9* the first city theatre readings *MY BACK PAGES* extracts from Bob Dylan's *Chronicles* may 29 | 7 pm | the attic "*I'd come from a long way off and had started a long ways down. But now destiny was about to manifest itself. I felt like it was looking right at me and nobody else.*" To celebrate Bob Dylan's recently being awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his 'profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power', the First City Theatre Foundation presents a reading of extracts from his *Chronicles: Volume 1*. By turns revealing, poetical, passionate and witty *Chronicles *is a mesmerizing window on Dylan's thoughts and influences. Utilizing his unparalleled gifts of storytelling and the exquisite expressiveness that are hallmarks of his music, Dylan turns his *Chronicles* into a poignant reflection of his life and the people and places that helped shaped the man and his art. From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Mon May 26 14:25:06 2008 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 14:55:06 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur & The Usual Suspects Message-ID: Jaipur & The Usual Suspects "They let us cook rice-daal for them, let us raise their children, trust us with the keys to house-home-jewelry. And then they turn around and vote for people who call us terrorists and want to cut us into pieces and bury us inside the ground." – Bangladeshi taxi driver in Delhi (author interview, 2005) http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2008/05/19/the-usual-suspects/ From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Mon May 26 15:46:43 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 03:16:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too heavy to carry-by Dr.Shabir - For Sonia In-Reply-To: <436129.58734.qm@web27409.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <279978.17541.qm@web45509.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hi, Probably people living at Indian territories are alien but entire HIMALAYAN boarders(With occupied portions) and territorries belong to INDIA. Hence to protect the boarders Army was there. I understood one point that there is some noice coming out about the deployment of ARMY at J & K. WE repeat again J & K WITH OCCUPIED LANDS except alien people LIVING THERE BY OCCUPATION do belong to INDIA. Anybody or all do understand this point that INDIA should not leave boarders unarmed as it did earlier for friends or enemies to occupy freely. It is inadvent fact that if boarders are safe then people(army or civilian) live in peace. Thanx and Regards, Dhatri. Rebellious Koshur wrote: Sonia, The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which you have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern is not the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is freedom from ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our friends as we don’t need masters, should support us in our endeavors. The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has done what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being an Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian army in Kashmir; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies of Indian politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian policies on Kashmir. We the people of Kashmir will take account of the blunders of our politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and why. We know where from the money came, for what it was spent, and how much did the politicians use for themselves. We till now have and in future will do the needful. You please keep out of it, because this is not India. It is Kashmir. You, the Indian civil society activists, seem to be behaving in the same hegemonic attitude which the Indian statecraft has exhibited so far in Kashmir. It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is “deeply divided”. Is it not true for India? Is it not true for Delhi? Is it not true for the small locality where you live in Delhi? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I see it as the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are talking about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in the modern democratic world. You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how many by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for them to share it with you. Why should we trust you? For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. According to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF men who got killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 have been killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 JKLF members while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF men. JKLF itself has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF members who have been killed by “unidentified gunmen”. People here in Kashmir understand who these unidentified gunmen are. What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has suffered more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while as the truth according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil Society is that 87 JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters with Indian army. 13 have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been subjected to enforced disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the JKLF members. Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won’t deny that India is his enemy and not Hizbul Mujahideen. Qalab Hussain "S. Jabbar" wrote: Dear Junaid, You ask why anyone else (besides the Indian intelligence agencies) would want to kill anti-India political figures? This is precisely the line of reasoning that a researcher in the US or UK ignorant of the ground in Kashmir would take. I'd expect a little more nuance from a researcher of conflict and that can only happen if one takes the trouble to do a little more work in the field. If you are a Kashmiri old enough to follow the careers of people like Moulvi Farooq, Qazi Nissar, Abdul Ghani Lone, Dr. Guru, Prof Wani, Ghulam Qadir Wani and many others you will realize that each was killed at the point when he tried to assert an independent line of thinking or advocated talks with India or did not quite bend to the will of his political masters in Pakistan. As I have said earlier in this forum no one in their right mind can defend what the Indian troops and intelligence agencies have done in Kashmir, but I think if one is to try and make some sense of what you have rightly described as a dirty war, one needs to first take a dispassionate view of what went down in the last two decades. This includes apportioning responsibility-- as far as it is possible-- for the political assassinations and the massacres. And why do you call the Ikhwanis 'my poor' favourite whipping boys? I had clearly said I held no brief for them. Did you not read my post carefully or do you still choose to read me selectively? The reason I pointed out their role of the fall guy was that they are the mere foot soldiers and not the generals that dictate the course of this war. If blame is to be pinned it finally must be the general who takes the rap. Of course some Ikhwani leaders have made a lot of money and it is all despicable blood money. But this is well known. Why is it that you are not as vocal about the blood money and the palatial homes of the separatists? What is their source of income, how have they grown so rich in the last twenty years, how do they fund their political activities, and how is it that the Indian state allows it? Not only that, the Indian state pays the medical bills for many separatist leaders who have been periodically hospitalized and provides security cover for them with J&K Police guarding their homes and offices. Why is that? Is this usual or unusual? Does the endless dragging on, the seeming intractableness of the situation have anything at all to do with this? Can you imagine the Sri Lankan state doing the same for Prabhakaran? For me these are far more interesting questions and if one tries to answer them honestly a far more complex picture develops than the simple one of the bad Ikhwani-- who, incidentally was good when he fought for Pakistan and became bad the moment he switched sides in 1994. And why did the Ikhwanis switch sides? Were they all congenital 'gaddars' and 'mukhbirs' or were there other compulsions? Of the many JKLF fighters who were wiped out in the early '90s how many fell to the bullets of the Indian army and how many to the Hizbul Mujahideen? I ask all these questions because it is vital that Kashmiris themselves, at least privately, begin to ask them. For all the talk of the Kashmiri's alienation from India, nobody speaks of the alienation within Kashmir. Kashmiri society is deeply divided between those who are labeled Indian agents and Pakistani agents, between those that everyone knows benefited from the war and the ordinary citizen, between the Jamaatis and the rest. This has been the most tragic fallout of the war-- this and the terrible silence that surrounds the killings and rapes by the militants. It may seem unthinkable but one day there will be peace in Kashmir. How will this society heal when there are these terrible divisions, fear, suspicion? Once South Africa won its independence it constituted the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. This was because the ANC leadership was mature enough to realize that though history belongs to the victors it would be disastrous for future generations if South Africa were to whitewash its past where terrible atrocities were committed on both sides. But truth was to come before reconciliations, and this was often a bitter and painful experience where family members had to confront the killers of their loved ones. I'm not sure whether the South African experience had a fairytale ending but it seems to me the right direction to take for societies to heal post-conflicts. Will this ever happen in Kashmir or indeed in South Asia? I have my doubts. We have a terrible knack of sweeping things under the carpet and pretending it never happened. All cataclysms have been dealt with, with tiresome familiarity, whether mass rapes by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh (for which incidentally only women's organisations in Pakistan apologized) or the Indian state's involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogrom or Gujarat or the NE or Kashmir. And where does one start the truth & reconciliation part between Kashmir and the rest of India when the government has blatantly shielded officers in the Indian Army despite being chargesheeted by institutions like the CBI? Where does truth & reconciliation begin between Muslims and Pandits when it is still widely believed that Jagmohan engineered the exodus? Or between families of the Ikhwan and the rest or families of the Jamaatis and the rest? It requires a certain honesty and moral courage to answer these questions squarely. I hope some day at least some of us will be able to rise to the occasion. And finally, please stop referring to me as Ms. Jabbar. My name is Sonia and I'd prefer it if you just used that. Best wishes, Sonia On 5/9/08 10:21 PM, "junaid" wrote: > Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine who > the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people would > naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders, > throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of > Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason > enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else > have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the only > ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them, > then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the > government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the > kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There > is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic torches on > Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M > Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that > ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's > actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any > doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to > believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in > Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is > terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under > the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont > expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure > if you actually listen to common people, instead of just > "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is > quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and > minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights > Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor > "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to army > camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid ****** > Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002 > article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her > allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of > politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades > is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's > favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one > presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" > wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the > governments> onboth sides of the> > border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,> > Partha................On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul> > wrote:> Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> friend; there is a lot > beyond> ideologies here. Politics in its worst form;> is played to make > things> remain> in status quo. God Bless this street dirt> Yasin > Malik; who is being used> today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> > him... May he have the same> fate; what he did to thousands of> > people...!!!>> Regards>>> On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta> > wrote:> >> > Hi,> >> > I thought that the ideology> > of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and> > independent Kashmir'.> > >> > If> so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into > it?> >> > Irrespective> of all this, the fact remains is that > it is highly unlikely> > that India or> Pakistan will give up their > respective portions under any> > circumstances.>> >> > > Rgds, Partha> > ....................................> >> > > On Fri,> May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > wrote:> >> > > >> Qalab Bhai,> > >> > > Why blame poor Shabir > Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> has switched to> > Indian> > > > side.> > > I am not claiming anything....>> > >> > > > Rashneek> > >> > >> > > On 5/9/08, > Rebellious Koshur> wrote:> > > >> > > > > Rashneek,> > > >> > >> > It is unfortunate that > after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> >> to> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much> > >> defending> > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for > years, why didn't> you quote> > him> > > > then. You > would claim that he is repentant but> people in Kashmir> > > believe> > > he> > > > is denigrated.> > > > >> > > >> Qalab Hussain> > > >> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> >> > >> > > > and > this one isn't based on my data.......> > > >> > > > >> > > >> By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > >> > > > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> Liberation Front (JKLF) > is a> > > sacred> > > > name for some, as they> > sacrificed their lives and everything else> they> > > > valued > in name of> liberating the state.> > > >> > > > > They did that to promote the name of> JKLF believing that they were> > > doing> > > > this for a good cause and for> the betterment > of their divided and> > > oppressed> > > > nation.> > > > >>> > > > But there are many who disagree with > this. They believe that the JKLF>> > has> > > > brought > them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause> of> > > > problems> > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > > >> >> > > > I am among those who, despite the > baggage JKLF is carrying,> proudly> > > claimed> > > > > to be member of this party, and furthermore> claimed to be among those> > > who> > > > helped to form this party in Britain> in 1977. > Like thousands of> others> > I> > > > have also suffered > for this> party and have done everything possible> to> > > > > promote true ideology of> the JKLF.> > > >> > > > > Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> sacrifices, fact> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to> different > factions;> and> > > > allegation is and which is widely > believed> and true to large extent> > that> > > > top> > > > > leaders of some groups> have compromised JKLF ideology and > are> advancing> > > > agenda of secret> agencies of our > occupiers.> > > >> > > > These JKLF leaders are > accused of> tuning and maligning their ideology> > to> > > > > suit national interest of> Pakistan, and have practically signed > away> > > their> > > > independence to> advance cause > of united and independent Kashmir.> Their> > > > strategy > was> not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > > Kashmir> > > > but> to advance such policies, which suited > Pakistani agencies, aim of> > >> which> > > > was not > independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> and> > > engaged.> > > >> > > > That policy worked as planned > India not only> bled but also has been> > > engaged> > > > > since 1989, but in return we> Kashmiris have also bled and got> > trampled> > > and> > > > oppressed. For> this policy > people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay> > through> > > > > their> noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> > > > >> Kashmir.> > > >> > > > In this > struggle which started in name of> independence and> spearheaded> > > by> > > > The JKLF with money and guns> provided to them > by Pakistani agencies> > > > resulted> > > > in > fiasco. It> tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> > an> > > era> > > >> of intimidation, oppression and > gun culture.> > > >> > > > All sides> targeted > people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > Indian> > > > >> Army and security> > > > services,> > > > > they were trained and victimised> by Pakistani secret agencies and> > worse> > > of> > > > all they were killed> and > intimidated by militants as well.> > > >> > > > In > this struggle we have> lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > > still> > > > unaccounted for.> Thousands of people are still > languishing in jails.> It> > > is> > > >> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable> > > >> that> > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to > people of Jammu and>> Kashmir,> > > the> > > > APHC > leadership and the JKLF have brought> disappointment, misery and> > > > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> any closer to> > independence.> > > >> > > > My colleagues and I > realised in> 1991/2 that things were not in> control> > of> > > > > JKLF Chairman,> Amanullah Khan, and that he was only > pretending to be> in> > > > charge. We> challenged him and > asked him to reveal who was calling> shots> > > in> > > >> > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our > struggle.> > > >>> > > > The JKLF claimed to work > for a liberal and democratic society but its>> > > > chairman > believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > >> > Musharaf> > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to > the core and> did not> > > allow> > > > free > discussion or accountability and result was> many splits in the> > > JKLF.> > > >> > > > Like General Musharaf, in> > frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > constitutional > act and> dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> Zone> > > in> > > > Britain,> which led to parting of from the JKLF then > onwards.> > > >> > > > We> continued our struggle > to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > >> accountability > and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the> > >> > party> > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent > all people> of the> > > state> > > > and not only > Muslims. While this struggle was going> on we saw release> > of> > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> would be better > than> > Amanullah> > > > Khan.> > > >> > > > > We are all> entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of > these> > > > leaders> >> > > to ensure that these > dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan>> is> > > > > like> > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General > Yayya> Khan. Both> > > believed> > > > in their own > brand of democracy and human> rights, both dislike> > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> fact, both dont> > like> > > > party> > > > to flourish or expand.> > > > >>> > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at > least disrupt normal life>> there,> > > > especially around > election time with the help of Pakistani> agencies;> > and> > > > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> oppose > dissent.> > > >> > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a > militant with> a gun in his hand and> > came> > > > > out> > > > as a polished leader> preaching peace and > non-violence, as if he was> not> > > in> > > > a> > > >> > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence > and media> > > >> management.> > > >> > > > >> > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from> his > experience and will> help> > to> > > > bring some > positive changes to> the JKLF and will help to resolve the> > > > > Kashmir> > > > dispute> according to the expressed wishes > of the people.> > > >> > > > We tried and> tried > hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > endeavours > to> unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant> > and> > > > >> democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate === message truncated === From dhatr1i at yahoo.com Mon May 26 16:18:54 2008 From: dhatr1i at yahoo.com (we wi) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 03:48:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] "We were mute spectators"-Omar Abdullah In-Reply-To: <6353c690805160134y2546b38dn46247dbece0a6add@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <822211.65852.qm@web45508.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Hmm, It is like this. Please read the Kancharla gopanna and tanasha incident. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrachala_Ramadas Probably Some mystical power appeared in the dreams Omar Abdullah and enlightened him, so as others too MAY BE. Regards, Dhatri. Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: Reality Unfolding :-) Sarai members, what say ? On 5/16/08, rashneek kher wrote: > > *A Times Now Report by Mir Fareed > *Two decades after the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, National > conference President Omar Abdullah has spoken up, saying that Muslims > including him shouldn't have been mute spectators during the exodus. > > "It is a fact that the majority of us - and I include myself in it - the > majority of us Kashmiris remained mute spectators when the Kashmiri Pandits > left. And even though now we may want to talk about their return, at that > time perhaps we did not do as much as should have been done," said Omar on > Thursday (May 15). > > While the timing of his statement is questionable, what cannot be > discounted > is the fact that this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician > has > spoken so strongly about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. > > Whether it's Rajya Sabha ticket that Omar is eyeing or a sudden prick of > consience, the feeling of being refugees in their own country is not a one > that the Pandits are likely to forget soon. > > At the height of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990, propaganda from > Pakistan laced with the militancy of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation front > forced lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits out the valley leaving thousands homeless, > and forcing them into exile. > > In his statement, which first appeared on his blog, Omar Abdullah even > chatises himself for not speaking up on the genocide, lamenting the fact > that none of them stood up and had the courage to say the atrocities must > stop. > > "It's so easy to say that we"ll lay down our lives to bring Kashmiri > Pandits > back to the valley and I appreciate the sentiment. Pity that sentiment was > missing when our mosques were being used to drive these people out. None of > us said this is wrong and the Kashmiri Pandits had every right to continue > living in the valley. We were mute spectators either mute in agreement or > mute in abject fear, but mute none the less," he writes. > > While this is the first time a mainstream Kashmiri politician has spoken so > strongly on the plight of these Kashmiri Pandits, Omar's sentiments will > not > make the Kashmiri Pandits forget the feeling of being refugees in their own > country, just yet. > > > -- > Rashneek Kher > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: From logos.theword at gmail.com Sat May 24 00:17:22 2008 From: logos.theword at gmail.com (Logos Theatre) Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 00:17:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] The Waste Land - Bangalore, '08 In-Reply-To: <33bc2ee60805220240s47acc8c7o12776fa0bcb299c4@mail.gmail.com> References: <33bc2ee60805220217m33a83dfbk665ab16e9717dc86@mail.gmail.com> <33bc2ee60805220238n62725734ycf69c734d2328c94@mail.gmail.com> <33bc2ee60805220240s47acc8c7o12776fa0bcb299c4@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33bc2ee60805231147y1226018ap9691304586eb3516@mail.gmail.com> Please note that the venue is 1, Shanthi Road Gallery/Studio. The venue was not mentioned in the previous mail - The oversight is regretted. > Mixing memory...stirring a macchiato at Barista... Chamrajpet... Bagmane > Tech Park... Garuda Mall... Malleshwaram 11th Cross... hooded hordes on > hosur road... shoring fragments of memory... > > How does one take one of the most well known literary texts of modern > times, and find it in one's immediate surroundings, while retaining its > universality? > > How does one take a canonical text, yet treat it with irreverence and > playfulness? > > How does one tell the stories of a city - this city, any city, The City, > through the music and mordant humour of Eliot's verse? > > the SpeechMagic initiative, a part of Logos Theatre, presents The Waste > Land - Bangalore, '08 - a multimedia show mixing live performance with > video, installation and soundscape, based on T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land. > > Living in this city, perhaps all of us, whether 'localite' or 'outsider', > have felt at times a sense of unreality - be it the arbitrary actions of an > administration that does not seem to follow any human system of logic, or > the excesses of an incompetent police force, the ludicrousness of 'magic > box' underpasses to the ever-shifting pattern of one ways that seem to be > part of a bizarre treasure hunt where the map keeps transforming. The > overpriced cups of tepid coffee at synthetic cafes, to the fast disappearing > traces of the city that was. > It is out of this sense of unreality, a sense of a vanishing beauty and the > growing cacophony of chaos, that this performance/installation was born. In > Eliot's text we found a reflection of the faultlines we see in the > urbanscape of this city, and we attempted to tell its story, using this > city's own sounds and images, a dash of dark humour, and our own dramatic > response. > > Breaking the structure of a stage show where you sit for an hour and then > return unaffected, we have attempted to create an immersive environment > where, for up to three hours, you will be within and around the performance. > Structured more like an exhibition where some of the paintings/sculptures > are 'alive', there is no beginning, middle or end to this 'play' - you come > in anytime, and stay for as long as you wish. The sequences of the > performance happen around you, often more than one at the same time. You > choose what you want to watch, how many times you want to watch it, and when > you want to run away from the madness. Or you become a part of it, as you > are a part of the madness of this city. > > Created and performed by: Joshua Williams, Abhijit Pakrashi, and > theStillDancer. > > June 3rd and 4th, from 6 PM to 9 PM (last entry at 8 PM) > > Tickets: Rs. 200/- (only through SMS) > > text your name, date and number of tickets to: > > > 9945799224 or 9886765198 > > -- > Logos Theatre > In the beginning was the word > No. 126, > 3rd Main Road, > Jayamahal Extension, > Bangalore 560046 > -------------------------------------------------------- > If it be now, 'tis not to come; > if it be not to come, it will be now; > if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. > Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is 't to leave betimes? > Let be. > -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Mon May 26 14:22:28 2008 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 10:52:28 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?=5BAnnouncements=5D_netEX_-_calls_an?= =?iso-8859-1?q?d_deadlines_-_June_2008?= Message-ID: <20080526105228.1E1441B6.CDFFA493@192.168.0.3> netEX: calls & deadlines -->June 2008 ------------------------------------- [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne newsletter contents calls & deadlines 03 Calls: 2008 deadlines internal 15 Calls: June deadlines external 08 Calls: ongoing external/internal ------------------------------------- Calls & deadlines ---> ------------------------------------------------ 2008 deadlines: internal ------------------------------------------------ extended deadline 1 August CologneOFF IV - 4th Cologne Online Film Festival http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=238 30 November SoundLAB VI - soundart for soundPOOL - sound compositions - a challenge for imagination http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=242 1 September VideoChannel - video project environments call on the subject "MOTHER" http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=292 ------------------------------------------------ June 2008 deadlines: external ------------------------------------------------ 30 June Bolzano Shortfilm Festival 2008 http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=290 30 June Screen Festival Oslo/Norway http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=285 30 June Festival de Cinema Nouveau Montreal/Canada 2008 http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=282 30 June Curatorial Training - Ecole du Magasin Grenoble/France http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=272 30 June Videoholica Varna 2008 (Bulgaria) http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=257 28 June Cork Film Festival 2008 (Ireland) http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=278 27 June VAD - International Festival of Video & Digital Art Girona/Spain http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=297 27 June London Film Festival (UK) http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=294 21 June 21st Instants Video Festival Marseille/France http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=211 21 June 25th DOK & Film Fest Kassel/Germany http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=280 20 June Videominuto Festival Prato/Italy http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=301 15 June Globaization & Identity - Galerija Galzenica (Croatia) http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=276 9 June International Guerilla Video Festival Milan/Italy http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=279 2 June ARTECH 2008 - Int. Conference on Digital Art Porto/Portugal http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=205 2 June Paraflows 08 - Utopia - festival Vienna/Austria http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=299 ----------------------------------------------- Ongoing calls: external/internal ----------------------------------------------- --->OUTCASTING - web based screenings -->Projects for FILE LABO Sao Paulo/Brazil -->Films and video screenings Sioux City (USA) -->Laisle screenings Rio de Janeiro/Brazil -->Videos for Helsinki based video gallery - 00130 Gallery -->Web based works for 00130 Gallery Helsinki/Finland -->Project: Repetition as a Model for Progression by Marianne Holm Hansen -->Raw Video New York/NY (USA) -->US webjournal Atomic Unicorn seeks netart and video art for coming editions and more deadlines on http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?page_id=4 ----------------------------------------------- NetEX - networked experience http://netex.nmartproject.net # calls in the external section--> http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?cat=3 # calls in the internal section--> http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?cat=1 ----------------------------------------------- # This newsletter is also released on http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?cat=9 # NetEx - networked experiences http://netex.nmartproject.net is a free information service powered by [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne www.nmartproject.net - the experimental platform for Art and New Media from Cologne/Germany # info & contact: info (at) nmartproject.net _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From matterofart.ezine at gmail.com Mon May 26 11:45:56 2008 From: matterofart.ezine at gmail.com (Anoop Kamath) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 07:15:56 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] MOA May 20th Upload can ve viewed now! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5bdbd2590805252315v70596b19mea7c233e2d67ae2d@mail.gmail.com> Dear Friends, Greetings from www.mattersofart.com . Our May 20th upload can be viewed online now! - Eminent art writer *R. Nandakumar writes about E.H. Pushkin's recent works** * - *Infocus:* Aditya PAnde ** - *Special Interview: *Jasmeen Patheja - *Sarmistha Maiti *in conversation with *Professor Partha Pratim Deb** * - *Santhosh S.*'s essay on *Savi Savarkar*'s recent exhibition *Eyes Re-cast * - *Sarmistha Maiti*'s* *report on* Signature Art Fest' 08 *which was recently organized in Kolkata* * - *My work: Kumar Kanti Sen *talks about his latest work* Hurt Me.* ** - *Exhibition reviews*: *Abul Kalam Azad Pradeep L Mishra Sudharshan Shetty Talha Rathore Pushpamala N. Sheila Makhijani Om Soorya Vivan Sundaram Tarun Dey Barun Chowdhury Satadru Sovan Banduri….* ** And news and views… Log on to www.mattersofart.com for the latest news in Indian contemporary art *Please note that our next upload shall be on the 5th of july 2008* For listings visit http://mattersofart.blogspot.com Editor www.mattersofart.com -- :)ANOOP KAMATH 534, Sector 29. NOIDA 201301 (Uttar Pradesh) India Mob: 9811168775 Tel: 91-120-4210540, 4210539 -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From mahmood.farooqui at gmail.com Mon May 26 17:15:29 2008 From: mahmood.farooqui at gmail.com (mahmood farooqui) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 17:15:29 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 'Red' Song from Pakistan--one of the best things I heard this year Message-ID: Celebrating Jalib: Main Nay Kaha "Main Nay Kaha" is a satirical poem by the famous leftist poet Habib Jalib called "Musheer" (Advisor). Jalib wrote it in response to a conversation he had with Hafiz Jalandari during the time of Ayub Khan's dictatorship. It remains just as fresh and valid today. This poem has been put to music by Laal (Shahram Azhar & Taimur Rahman) a new Pakistani music group dedicated to resistance music and poetry. Shahram Azhar and Taimur Rahman are also political activists of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party and their poetry, music, and activism constitute an integrated whole the essence of which is always revolutionary. The CMKP has been an integral part of the lawyers movement and the movement for democracy in Pakistan. The music video contains real images of events in Karachi, London, and Lahore during the tumultuous period between December 27th and February 18th. The song and video were recorded on a shoe-string budget of one session each. This video and song are connected to a documentary on a journey through a life-changing period in the history of Pakistan. The journey begins in Pakistan on the eve of the assassination of Benazir and the ensuing grief, violence, and carnage. The film maker travels to London to discover a group of young activists organizing protests against Emergency rule. Following these activists full circle to Pakistan, the documentary captures the events around the 2008 elections. The film thus captures a moment in the life of Pakistan, from Benazir's assassination to the elections, through the lens of young activists. The documentary by Widei Films will also be released shortly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPsr1RnEfWo Credits: Habib Jalib - Mainay Uss Say Yeh Kaha Shahram Azhar - Vocals Taimur Rahman - Music Mahvash Waqar - Backing Vocals Taimur Khan - Director Producer Dita Peskova - Assistant Director Jamie Mill - Recording Director Laal & Taimur Khan - Music Producer WIDEi Films - Production Company From rahul_capri at yahoo.com Tue May 27 04:08:21 2008 From: rahul_capri at yahoo.com (Rahul Asthana) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 15:38:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] 'Red' Song from Pakistan--one of the best things I heard this year In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <491295.7244.qm@web53601.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Mahmood Bhai, A small correction. It was put to music by Habib Jalib himself.The arrangement with instruments has been done by this group. Watch him reciting this among other stuff,here. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7992173788748993874&q=jalib&ei=djg7SOGgDYvu-wGkjPHmAw Regards Rahul --- mahmood farooqui wrote: > Celebrating Jalib: Main Nay > Kaha > > "Main Nay Kaha" is a satirical poem by the famous > leftist poet Habib Jalib > called "Musheer" (Advisor). Jalib wrote it in > response to a conversation he > had with Hafiz Jalandari during the time of Ayub > Khan's dictatorship. It > remains just as fresh and valid today. > > This poem has been put to music by Laal (Shahram > Azhar & Taimur Rahman) a > new Pakistani music group dedicated to resistance > music and poetry. Shahram > Azhar and Taimur Rahman are also political activists > of the Communist > Mazdoor Kissan Party and their poetry, music, and > activism constitute an > integrated whole the essence of which is always > revolutionary. The CMKP has > been an integral part of the lawyers movement and > the movement for democracy > in Pakistan. > > The music video contains real images of events in > Karachi, London, and > Lahore during the tumultuous period between December > 27th and February 18th. > The song and video were recorded on a shoe-string > budget of one session > each. > > This video and song are connected to a documentary > on a journey through a > life-changing period in the history of Pakistan. The > journey begins in > Pakistan on the eve of the assassination of Benazir > and the ensuing grief, > violence, and carnage. The film maker travels to > London to discover a group > of young activists organizing protests against > Emergency rule. Following > these activists full circle to Pakistan, the > documentary captures the events > around the 2008 elections. The film thus captures a > moment in the life of > Pakistan, from Benazir's assassination to the > elections, through the lens of > young activists. The documentary by Widei Films will > also be released > shortly. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPsr1RnEfWo > > Credits: > Habib Jalib - Mainay Uss Say Yeh Kaha > Shahram Azhar - Vocals > Taimur Rahman - Music > Mahvash Waqar - Backing Vocals > Taimur Khan - Director Producer > Dita Peskova - Assistant Director > Jamie Mill - Recording Director > Laal & Taimur Khan - Music Producer > WIDEi Films - Production Company > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and > the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to > reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the > subject header. > To unsubscribe: > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From mitrawaghmare at gmail.com Tue May 27 10:21:24 2008 From: mitrawaghmare at gmail.com (Mitra Waghmare) Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 10:21:24 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] A must read ( part1) Message-ID: <2f895caa0805262151i3a7df648le64e9fad8eab8dcd@mail.gmail.com> Hi all, Here is a text from a friend author of mine--a text you must know all and even if you can't refute, you must read it.( here is the first part.) Mitra Dear Everybody, With Arushi Talwar and her mate--servant's murder ( her illicit affair expert father being the alleged culprit) as well as one Grover's bloodied corpse in Mumbai besides which Maria and her keen killer boyfriend ( Mathew) are reported to have copulated twice, the question of sexual morality and death thinking has again sprung up. And I think this is the time again to visit and pull in the uncomfortable question of morality vis a vis legality. I had sent this question and a bit unedited draft of the paper below to some in the wake of the event of the sad rape and murder of Scarlet Keeling,when the old debate about our moral character, ambitious and risky life style had again cropped up.I'm sending this now to all of you. The majority view, as you know, argues that these questions are irrelevant to the questions of justice.And in 2002 an amendment reckoned with this view. Long back in the year 2003 I had drafted a shorter version of this article criticizing this amendment and which was published in Bengali in 2003 and in English in 2004.I'll never forget the nightmare I had had while publishing this argument. But again while this debate reappears in 2008, I'm surprised to find many of my friends,political parties ( a few representatives to whom I've talked to), even some lawyers are willing to buy this argument and a campaign for nullifying the 2002amendment which sought to exclude all inquiries into the moral character of the persons involved, may as well begin.But not before you document your important views. Friend,Please answer two questions, 1) Do you agree with me( please go through the document below) that an inquiry into moral questions, including the moral character of the complainant and the defendant is absolutely relevant in matters of (sexual) violence including murder as a variation on the above theme? 2) If you do not, please tell me why not? 'Law stands between politics and morality' – Jurgen Habermas , Law and Morality, The Tanner Lectures on Human values , Harvard university, Oct1,2, 1986 CHARACTER (ISING) RAPE, CONTEMPLATING AMENDMENT What was noticeable in the episode in which Anil Biswas ( now deceased general secretary of the CPI(M), West Bengal ) was shouted at and condemned by nearly everybody - when he had reported ( in 2003) that there were questions in the locality about the 'lifestyle' of an alleged rape victim, was the immense confidence with which the argument of Biswas was put down. This false confidence derived from the Indian Evidence ( Amendment) Bill, 2002 becoming Indian Evidence Amendment Act, 2003. The act sought to amend the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and provided for deletion of clause 4 of section 155 by specifically providing in Section 146 that in a prosecution for rape or attempt to commit rape, it will not be permissible to 'put questions in the cross examination of the complainant as to her general immoral character'. In Section 155(4) this could have been used previously to impeach the credit of the complainant as a witness. Before that there was the 177th report of the Law Commission of India and the National Commission for Women who had unanimously recommended the deletion of Section 155(4) of the Indian Evidence Act. The recommendations were pushed forward keeping in view instances - where people have been acquitted because of the immoral character of the complainant or the latter were harassed in cross examination. But this amendment was in a sense redundant if we want to closely read two other Sections [151,152] of the Indian Evidence Act ( I.E.A). Section 151 states, 'The Court may forbid any question or inquiries which it regards as indecent or scandalous although such questions or inquiries may have some bearing on the questions before the Court unless they relate to fact in issue or to matters necessary to be known in order to determine whether or not the facts in issue …'; Section 152 states, ' The Court shall forbid any question which appears to it to be intended to insult or annoy, or which, though proper in itself, appears to the Court needlessly offensive in form'. The question is, despite this immunity and the power of the trial judge to intervene, the courts must have failed in their duties to protect a rape complainant from being scandalized while being questioned; through this amendment the Indian legislature vis a- vis the Supreme Court acknowledges this failure perhaps. No explanation has been forwarded on this count from any quarters. In the Rajya Sabha itself this question was raised by Shri S. Shumugasundaram but he ended up having had to welcome the Bill—such is the compulsion to be politically correct. This is a technical and nearly a fatal objection to the amendment - from within the I.E.A. But the amendment arguers and makers have had other serious sociological reasons too—which are abundant in the media; abundant and cheap because any critical argument against – is avoided or suppressed. The reasons forwarded by the protagonists are1) immoral character has nothing to do with the fact that one is violated or has perpetrated violence; 2) immorality should be left alone so that we are able to respect a persons' privacy; 3) morality of character is an ethico-moral issue, not a legal one; We shall address each of them. 1.READING CHARACTER IN THE I.E.A We must first try to prove that the question of one's character is vital for a case of rape or sexual assault. Now-everybody knows that a poetess—Madhumita Shukla was murdered in U.P ( around 2002-03) and a lot has been written on it, the minister had had to resign and all that. But her preeminently dangerous lifestyle—a disposition to sleep with the politicians and criminals of Gorakhpur—does it have nothing to do with her own death? To hobnob with Amarmani Tripathi—the infamous minister who has had nearly 38 cases against him for murder, land grab to rape—his moral character has nothing to do with Madhumita's death? It would be scandalous to consider the woman's death separate from the kind of lifestyle she was used to; the kind of action norms she had set for herself – the kind of 'character' that she was. Would it have been irrelevant if her or the ministers' character had featured in the trial considering she was raped- not murdered? Not at all. And provided the woman had led a sane life in accordance with acceptable moral standards but still she was raped, then the character of the alleged rapist would have featured in a vicious way. This is missing in the I.E.A. Infact what was actually wrong is the gender bias in the Section [ 155(4) ] where the immoral character of the complainant could be invoked by the defence lawyer to impeach only the complainants' witness; the witness is understandably a woman here. The moment we make it gender neutral we assume the bias is corrected. But instead of giving it a corrective, the amendment makers have done away with the whole thing. (Character here signify serial and stable dispositions of an individual over time, i.e our actions and behaviorial dispositions by which we come to be known as reliable or a cheater, romantic or someone always with sexual intent etc.) And this weighing of dispositions of individuals is what makes everyday life going; you know a guy to be 'good', you decide to go to a date and return being raped ( for this read the ever growing literature on date rape); you know somebody is of questionable 'morals'- so decide not to go on a date or go at a time, at a place where his morals will not get the go. Likewise, for every person we just cannot afford to start from zero; therefore when it is suggested that in a rape or in a case of sexual assault or simply violence which has sexual side brackets; any question of character is uncalled for—the obvious thing that comes to mind is, are we products of our past actions? Do our pasts have a lot to do with our present or all our actions are arbitrary and accidental and there is no logic to be gained? The point is- claims on the past—even our pasts -- can be contested but cannot be done without. And that we everyday invoke and use these character traits to guide us in our actions is absolutely relevant. And because crime has this life as the backdrop, 'situations' as well as 'characters', 'dispositions' as well as 'life style' have to be taken into account ( and this briefly answers the situational psychological objections regarding behavioral inconsistency and the impossibility of character or 'character building' by teaching virtues: what I'm arguing for is coherence, not consistency). What is actually wrong is the gender bias in the Section where the immoral character of the complainant could be invoked by the defence lawyer to impeach her witness; the witness is understandably a woman here. The moment we make it gender neutral we assume the bias is corrected. The immoral character clause should be applied on both the complainant and the alleged perpetrator; for men --it should be made more rigorously so—given the patriarchial nature of our society and men like Amarmani Tripathy. The way it is happening now strategically-- is well illustrated by one www.onlinedetective.com which will give you all information u regard necessary to date, marry, have sex or start a business: here it is- "And how do you really know that the guy you've started dating isn't actually a convicted wife-beater with several restraining orders on him, or that the new employee you're about to hire really has all the qualifications she says that she does? What if your new neighbor that's suddenly started playing with your kids after school is actually a convicted child molester? You need to know these things in order to protect yourself, your family, and your business" ; this is the 2003 version of their site.) If these are our inquiries in everyday life, it is a wonder that these are considered irrelevant in a criminal case. The phrase 'protection' above is signifying and deserves close thinking. Here is an other example with a legal niche: in 2003 again at West London an Indian businessman – Amarjit Chouhan along with his family was murdered. The UK police arrested two English men – examining whose past records – the police had come to the conclusion that the two were ' violent' and 'dangerous'. Now violent and dangerous are apparently morally negative characteriological traits of a person, but in the eyes of the Law - they having surveyed the behavioral history of the individuals—are historical decisions with legal consequences and not immediately moral ones ( the use of 'history' in law is already a disputed territory). Here character does not stand for popular evaluative common sense conceptions of good-bad, right- wrong etc, because no incentives are there for being a morally better person ( his crimes will still be tried) instead there is a sense that immoral behaviour is more a threat to society's security than a moral one; infact there is a legal -blame worthiness in the sense a repeated offence might ensure more stringent punishment. If our recommendation to include the character of the convict is accepted, in that case reinvoking the case of Amarmani Tripathi, any past conviction will also add a dimension to this. This is clearly explicated in I.E.A ( Section 54, Explanation 2) : 'A previous conviction is relevant as evidence of bad character'. This statement proves again that character in the I.E.A does not derive from ordinary or mere moral precepts as the Law Commission et.al understand it but has special techno-legal value. Let us extend this argument to the sphere of Indian politics : wasn't this the clause we are pressing through a bill in a different form-for the knowledge of the pasts of our political representatives to be delivered to the people?—or else why are we concerned about their past convictions?—even their moral history held in their 'clean' images—in short –their ' characters'? Because we are invoking the moralization of politics ( that politics should not violate moral norms), - aren't we? We are moved by the current demoralization of politics, but at the same time—it is peculiar we are about to argue in favour of the de-moralization of Law -that law and morality should be separate ( which is in reality a rational illusion of modernity)—not knowing that the demoralization of politics is only a step further! To be more concrete—what has been considered a relevant inquiry for a political representative is irrelevant for an ordinary citizen? This is awfully undemocratic and politically self defeating. From asitredsalute at gmail.com Tue May 27 13:05:21 2008 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 13:05:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] endorsemement campaign for enquiry into lalit mehtas murder Message-ID: Dear friends telling the truth at the moment of the truth is the biggest historical challenge we face in the present epoch when, momentous untruth is forced upon the underdogs of the world by the corporate controlled mass media and the powers that be. Iraq was devastated by the super imperial state in the name of some non existent weapons of mass destruction. Today under the neoliberal regime when the monopoly media is selling the dream of nine percent growth and the rise of the great consuming Indian middle class the Arnu Sen Gupta Committee report exposed this blatant untruth .In these cynical times when the ruling classes have sold them selves to the the imperialist masters it is the whistle blowers who try to salvage the truth in a nation lost in the glitz of the IPL matches, bollywood and sprawling malls and sezs. Few years ago, an engineer of national highway authority of India lost his life because he exposed the corruption in the highway project in Bihar. The national rural employment guarantee act was the much trumpeted flagship programme of UPA government when it dislodged the then NDA government which was mired in total sellout to us imperialism with acute agrarian crisis, the UPA in its common minimum programme promised to mitigate this by increase in rural development expenditure, when the UPA leadership was celebrating its fourth year in office in a high profile dinner party at the prime minister's house. Lalit mehta a right to food activist in Palamau Jharkhand was brutally murdered by contractors for the exposing the malpractices and corruption. There is a saying in Bihar & Jharkhand that if the elder brother is the District collector, the younger brother is the landlord and the nephew is the contractor and they rule the roost in rural India siphoning of the entire money allocated for rural development. This incestuous relationship between decadent feudalism and degenerate capitalism makes a total mockery of our grade claims of being largest democracy in the world and the great slogan of gram swaraj. Mr Lalit Mehta was murdered by the corrupt mafia composed of the contractors , landlords beurocrats and the politicians when he was trying the organize social audit of NREGA along with the renowned social scientist and activist Jean-dreze in Palaumu Jharkhand. Even after ten days of his murder the polices has not arrested any one person of Mafia. I am sending you a signature campaign demanding CBI Enquiry for the Lalit Mehta murder please endorse and also please forward it to your friends and other activists for their endorsement. If possible please forward it to different websites and list serves. Regards asit *Signature Campaign to demand CBI enquiry into Lalit Mehta's murder in Palamau, Jharkhand, India* * 'I endorse' that is what we seek in your solidarity reply * *Dear Friends and Handholders,* * Yet another member of young activists – public spirited, well educated and highly committed – has been brutally murdered. Lalit Mehta, a full time activist of Right to Food Movement and secretary of a local food rights organization 'Vikas Sahyog Kendra' in Palamau, Jharkhand, India, had his life snuffed out on 14 may,2008. He was barely 36. Lalit leaves behind his activist and teacher wife Ashrita and their two sons aged four and two. Lalit paid the ultimate price for raising his voice against corruption in the implementation of the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Palamau. At the time of this incidence, Lalit was helping a team of volunteers from Delhi led by noted economist and Right to food activist Prof. Jean Derez to conduct a social audit of NREGA works in Chainpur and Chatarpur blocks of Palamau district.* * Lalit was a committed activist, who fought relentlessly for the implementation of government programs – especially those related to food, employment and child rights. He along with local people has been demanding the implementation of the PDS, the NREGA and the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) entitlements.* *All these rights which the Supreme Court of India has declared to be entitlements for the impoverished through various judgments. Since the social audit has been going on in the area and it brought out the cases of corruption and irregularities, there has been opposition to the idea of Social Audit from the local mafia. Contractors and the government officials were not comfortable with the ways Lalit was determined to expose the corruption through social audit. He was very active in 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' which is a local platform created to carry out struggle to implement NREGA and other food security related schemes.* * Jharkhand is a typical, most backward state with incredible natural resources matched only by the utter poverty of it's people. To a people left with no hope and facing Drought, Poverty and hunger on a daily basis, NREGA came as a ray of hope , holding out the promise of livelihood for the poorest of the poor.* *It is indeed ironical that Rights- which are guaranteed by the constitution and by various statutes, programs and budgetary allocations and reinforced by the Supreme Court of India as legal entitlements-do not get implemented by the authorities responsible for it.* * In this situation, the task of implementation often falls on the shoulders of people, of rightholders and of civil society organizations. And when such democratic forces seek the implementation of these Rights under the 'RULE OF LAW' framework, then the vested interests gang up with the bureaucracy and commit such brutal murders and get away. * *Lalit's murder is not the first stance, many activists have lost their lives for raising their voices against corruption and stand by poor people. The list is long – Satyendra Dubey, Sarita and Mahesh, S. Manjunath, Mahendra Singh, Chandra Shekhar – Lalit's death is a link to that chain only. * *Now the time seems to be ripe to strike a decisive blow. Civil Society in Jharkhand is very upset by this dastardly murder and is ready to participate in a larger action programme; a state level platform has already been formed. NGO activists who have been constantly facing threats from vested -interest elements have openly started voicing their concerns. * *Communities and activists at the grassroot level are also determined to carry forward their mission to expose corruption through social audits. They have decided to hold social audits continuously in the villages of Chatarpur and Chainpur blocks of Palamau in the coming days/weeks and months.* * **What We can do * *We appeal to all human rights activists and masses to protest against this atrocity, to demand effective intervention into the murder and to come together in solidarity in the struggle for Justice.* *Friends, if this murder was an act of intimidation, it did not succeed . Friends and supporters from all over Jharkhand and other places came together and have formed a state level platform namely ' Daman Evam Bhrashtachar Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti' ( Anti repression and corruption struggle committee ). The samiti has launched it's campaign against Lalit Mehta's murder with a Dharna (Sit-In protest) in Ranchi, the state capital on 25th May, Sunday. On 26th a massive public hearing is being organized in Chatarpur, where national level leaders, Anne Raja, Jean Drez, are joining in. A massive public rally has been planned in June. And of course the social audit process will go on…………. * The immediate demands are : CBI ENQUIRY INTO LALIT MEHTA'S MURDER; 1. *STRICT ACTION ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS & IRREGULARITIES EMERGING * * FROM THE SOCIAL AUDITS ON NREGA.* * This letter is to seek your solidarity by supporting the demands. Please sign in or endorse by replying a one liner 'I endorse' and take the responsibility to collect more and more signatures. We plan to collect one lac solidarity signatures by june 5th. These signatures will be submitted to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand and the Prime Minister a spart of our next action plan.* * Yours in Solidarity,* * Activists of * * Daman – Bhrashtachar Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, Jharkhand* * 25.5.08tive intervention on caste issues* From apnawritings at yahoo.co.in Tue May 27 14:23:49 2008 From: apnawritings at yahoo.co.in (ARNAB CHATTERJEE) Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 09:53:49 +0100 (BST) Subject: [Reader-list] A certificate from Lawrence the critical legal theorist In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <102935.58302.qm@web8510.mail.in.yahoo.com> Dear Lawrence, This is a great certificate from someone who I sincerely revere for his erudition of law and jurisprudence; I hope you are aware of this appreciation ( and its not a private endorsement, ha), so am giving it for circulation too but Lawrence my postings are not going through on the Reader's list even as this one I'll CCit, but wd not go through. My friend Mitra is trying but failing. So sadly this article might just remain in private collections only...alas! love and regards arnab --- Lawrence Liang wrote: > Arnab > > > Fantastic article, circulated it to my colleagues > and I had a good time > defending it with my feminist colleagues whose > position on character witness > this shakes up a bit > > > Lawrence > > 2008/5/25 ARNAB CHATTERJEE > : > > > Dear Alternative law thinkers, > > With Arushi Talwar and her > > mate--servant's murder ( her illicit affair expert > > father being the alleged culprit) as well as one > > Grover's bloodied corpse in Mumbai besides which > Maria > > and her keen killer boyfriend ( Mathew) are > reported > > to have copulated twice, the question of sexual > > morality and death thinking has again sprung up. > And > > I think this is the time again to visit and pull > in > > the uncomfortable question of morality vis a vis > > legality. I had sent this question and a bit > unedited > > draft of the paper below to some in the wake of > the > > event of the sad rape and murder of Scarlet > > Keeling,when the old debate about our moral > character, > > ambitious and risky life style had again cropped > > up.I'm sending this now to the two of you. > > > > The majority view, as you know, argues that these > > questions are irrelevant to the questions of > > justice.And in 2002 an amendment reckoned with > this > > view. > > Long back in the year 2003 I had drafted a > shorter > > version of this article criticizing this amendment > and > > which was published in Bengali in 2003 and in > English > > in 2004.I'll never forget the nightmare I had had > > while > > publishing this argument. But again while this > debate > > reappears in 2008, I'm surprised to find many of > my > > friends,political parties ( a few representatives > to > > whom I've talked to), even some lawyers are > willing to > > buy this argument and a campaign for nullifying > the > > 2002amendment which sought to exclude all > inquiries > > into the moral character of the persons involved, > may > > as well begin.But not before you document your > > important views. > > Friend,Please answer two questions, 1) Do you > agree > > with me( please go through the document below) > that an > > inquiry into moral questions, including the moral > > character of the complainant and the defendant is > > absolutely relevant in matters of (sexual) > violence > > including murder as a variation on the above > theme? > > 2) If you do not, please tell me why not? > > > > -------------- > > > > 'Law stands between politics and morality' – > Jurgen > > Habermas , Law and Morality, The Tanner Lectures > on > > Human values , Harvard university, Oct1,2, 1986 > > > > > > CHARACTER (ISING) RAPE, CONTEMPLATING AMENDMENT > > > > What was noticeable in the episode in which Anil > > Biswas ( now deceased general secretary of the > > CPI(M), West Bengal ) was shouted at and condemned > by > > nearly > > everybody - when he had reported ( in 2003) that > > there were > > questions in the locality about the 'lifestyle' > of an > > alleged rape victim, was the immense confidence > with > > which the argument of Biswas was put down. This > > false confidence derived from the Indian Evidence > ( > > Amendment) Bill, 2002 becoming Indian Evidence > > Amendment Act, 2003. The act sought to amend the > > Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and provided for > deletion > > of clause 4 of section 155 by specifically > providing > > in Section 146 that in a prosecution for rape or > > attempt to commit rape, it will not be permissible > to > > 'put questions in the cross examination of the > > complainant as to her general immoral character'. > In > > Section 155(4) this could have been used > previously > > to impeach the credit of the complainant as a > > witness. Before that there was the 177th report of > the > > Law Commission of India and the National > Commission > > for Women who had unanimously recommended the > deletion > > of Section 155(4) of the Indian Evidence Act. The > > recommendations were pushed forward keeping in > view > > instances - where people have been acquitted > because > > of the immoral character of the complainant or the > > latter were harassed in cross examination. > > But this amendment was in a sense > > redundant if we want to closely read two other > > Sections [151,152] of the Indian Evidence Act ( > > I.E.A). Section 151 states, 'The Court may forbid > any > > question or inquiries which it regards as indecent > or > > scandalous although such questions or inquiries > may > > have some bearing on the questions before the > Court > > unless they relate to fact in issue or to matters > > necessary to be known in order to determine > whether or > > not the facts in issue '; Section 152 states, ' > The > > Court shall forbid any question which appears to > it to > > be intended to insult or annoy, or which, though > > proper in itself, appears to the Court needlessly > > offensive in form'. The question is, despite this > > immunity and the power of the trial judge to > > intervene, the courts must have failed in their > duties > > to protect a rape complainant from being > scandalized > > while being questioned; through this amendment the > > Indian legislature vis a- vis the Supreme Court > > acknowledges this failure perhaps. No explanation > has > > been forwarded on this count from any quarters. In > the > > Rajya Sabha itself this question was raised by > Shri S. > > Shumugasundaram but he ended up having had to > welcome > > the Bill—such is the compulsion to be politically > > correct. > > This is a technical and nearly a fatal objection > to > > the amendment - from within the I.E.A. But the > > amendment arguers and makers have had > > other serious sociological reasons too—which are > > abundant in the media; abundant and cheap because > any > > critical argument against – is avoided or > suppressed. > > The reasons forwarded by the protagonists are1) > > immoral > > character has nothing to do with the fact that one > is > > violated or has perpetrated violence; 2) > immorality > > should be left alone so that we are able to > respect a > > persons' privacy; 3) morality of character is an > > ethico-moral issue, not a legal one; > > We shall address each of them. > > > > 1.READING CHARACTER IN THE I.E.A > > > > We must first try to prove that the question of > one's > > character is vital for a case of rape or sexual > > assault. Now-everybody knows that a > > poetess—Madhumita Shukla was murdered in U.P ( > around > > 2002-03) and > > a lot has been written on it, the minister had had > to > > resign and all that. But her preeminently > dangerous > > lifestyle—a > > disposition to sleep with the politicians and > > criminals of Gorakhpur—does it have nothing to do > with > > her own > > death? To hobnob with Amarmani Tripathi—the > infamous > > minister who has had nearly 38 cases against him > for > > murder, land grab to rape—his moral character > has > > nothing to do with Madhumita's death? It would be > > scandalous to consider the woman's death separate > > from the kind of lifestyle she was used to; the > kind > > of action norms she had set for herself – the kind > of > > 'character' that she was. Would it have been > > irrelevant if her or the ministers' character had > > featured in the trial considering she was raped- > not > > murdered? Not at all. And provided the woman had > led a > > sane life in accordance with acceptable moral > > standards but still she was raped, then the > character > > of the alleged rapist would have featured in a > vicious > > way. This is missing in the I.E.A. Infact what was > > actually wrong is the gender bias in the Section [ > > 155(4) ] where the immoral character of the > > complainant could be invoked by the defence lawyer > to > > impeach only the complainants' witness; the > witness > > is understandably a woman here. The moment we make > it > > gender neutral we assume the bias is corrected. > But > > instead of giving it a corrective, the amendment > > makers have done away with the whole thing. > (Character > > here signify serial and stable dispositions of > an > > individual over time, i.e our actions and > behaviorial > > dispositions > > by which we come to be known as reliable or a > cheater, > > romantic or > > someone always with sexual intent etc.) And this > > weighing of dispositions of individuals is what > makes > > everyday life going; you know a guy to be 'good', > you > > decide to go to a date and return being raped ( > for > > this read the ever growing literature on date > rape); > > you know somebody is of questionable 'morals'- so > > decide not to go on a date or go at a time, at a > place > > where his morals will not get the go. Likewise, > for > > every person we just cannot afford to start from > zero; > > therefore when it is suggested that in a rape or > in a > > case of sexual assault or simply violence which > has > > sexual side brackets; > > any question of character is uncalled for—the > obvious > > thing that comes to mind is, > > are we products of our past actions? Do our pasts > > have a lot to do with our present or all our > actions > > are arbitrary and accidental and there is no > logic > > to be gained? The point is- claims on the > past—even > > our > > pasts -- can be contested but cannot be done > without. > > And that we everyday invoke and use these > character > > traits to guide us in our actions is absolutely > > relevant. And because crime has this life as the > > backdrop, 'situations' as well as 'characters', > > 'dispositions' as well as 'life style' have to be > > taken into account ( and this briefly answers > > the situational psychological objections > > regarding behavioral inconsistency and the > > impossibility of character or 'character building' > by > > teaching virtues: what I'm arguing for is > coherence, > > not consistency). > > What is actually wrong is the > > gender bias in the Section where the immoral > character > > of the complainant could be invoked by the defence > > lawyer to impeach her witness; the witness is > > understandably a woman here. The moment we make it > > gender neutral we assume the bias is corrected. > The > > immoral character clause should be applied on both > the > > complainant and the alleged perpetrator; for men > --it > > should be made more rigorously so—given the > > patriarchial nature of our society and men like > > Amarmani Tripathy. > > The way it is happening now strategically-- is > well > > illustrated by one www.onlinedetective.com which > will > > give you all information u regard necessary to > date, > > marry, have sex or start a business: here it is- > > "And how do you really know that the guy you've > > started > > dating isn't actually a convicted wife-beater with > > several restraining orders on him, or that the new > > employee you're about to hire really has all the > > qualifications she says that she does? What if > your > > new neighbor that's suddenly started playing with > your > > kids after school is actually a convicted child > > molester? You need to know these things in order > to > > protect yourself, your family, and your business" > ; > > this is the 2003 version of their site.) > > If these are our inquiries in everyday life, it > is a > > wonder that these are considered irrelevant in a > > criminal case. The phrase 'protection' above is > > signifying and deserves close thinking. > > > > Here is an other example with a legal niche: > > in 2003 again at West London an Indian > businessman – > > Amarjit Chouhan along with his family was > murdered. > > The UK police arrested two English men > > – examining whose past records – the police had > come > > to the conclusion that the two were ' violent' > and > > 'dangerous'. Now violent and dangerous are > > apparently > > morally negative characteriological traits of a > > person, but in the eyes > > of the Law - they having surveyed the behavioral > > history of the individuals—are historical > decisions > > with legal consequences and not immediately > moral > > ones ( the use of 'history' in law is already a > > disputed territory). Here > > character does not stand for popular evaluative > common > > sense conceptions of good-bad, right- wrong etc, > > because no incentives are there for being a > morally > > better person ( his crimes will still be tried) > > instead there is a sense that immoral behaviour > is > > more a threat to society's security than a moral > one; > > infact there is a legal -blame worthiness in the > > sense a repeated offence might ensure more > stringent > > punishment. If our recommendation to include the > > character of the convict is accepted, in that case > > reinvoking the case of Amarmani Tripathi, any past > > conviction will also add a dimension to this. > This > > is clearly > > explicated in I.E.A ( Section 54, Explanation 2) : > 'A > > previous conviction is relevant as evidence of bad > > character'. This statement proves again that > character > > in the I.E.A does not derive from ordinary or mere > > moral precepts as > > the Law Commission et.al understand it but has > special > > techno-legal value. > > Let us extend this argument to the sphere of > Indian > > politics : > > wasn't this the clause we are pressing through a > bill > > in a different form-for the knowledge of the pasts > of > > our political representatives to be delivered to > the > > people?—or else why are we concerned about their > past > > convictions?—even their moral history held in > their > > 'clean' images—in short –their ' characters'? > Because > > we are invoking the moralization of politics ( > that > > politics should not violate moral norms), - > aren't > > we? We are moved by the current demoralization of > > politics, but at the same time—it is peculiar we > are > > about to argue in favour of the de-moralization of > Law > > -that law and morality should be separate ( which > is > > in reality a rational illusion of modernity)—not > > knowing that the demoralization of politics is > only a > > step further! To be more concrete—what has been > > considered a relevant inquiry for a political > > representative is irrelevant for an ordinary > citizen? > > This is awfully undemocratic and politically self > > defeating. > > > > 2.IMMORAL CHARACTER, WHERE THEN? > > > > > > The model of this debate was set when a > British > > judge- Lord Devlin while responding to the report > of > > the > > Committee on homosexual Offenses and Prostitution > > argued, > > " without shared ideas on politics, morals, and > > ethics no society can > > exist ..therefore with " recognized morality" > being > > present , legislation against immorality is > > indispensable to prevent the disintegration of > > society Criminal Law exists > > for the protection of society, not as the > Wolfenden > > Report asserted, for the protection of the > > individual." > > The Wolfenden report in turn had asserted > > that " there must remain a realm of private > morality > > and immorality which is not the law's business." > > There is nothing wrong with private immorality; > > immorality unless it harms others or else is > public is > > at par with the liberty of individuals. For > example , > > I might be a homosexual - while my > community—legal > > community in which I live, sees homosexuality as > > immorality; if I 'm engaged in homosexual acts in > > private—outside the purview of the public > eye—perhaps > > in the bedroom, the state will not intervene; but > if I > > pursue it as a particular kind of lifestyle > openly > > and demand rights for the same the state needs to > > intervene and negotiate. ( It is necessary to read > the > > references to character through reputation in the > > I.E.A by not separating it from its appropriate > > contexts. It clearly states ( in Explanation-55) > that > > 'in Section 52, 53, 54 and 55, the word ' > character' > > includes both reputation and disposition; but > except > > as provided in Section 54, evidence may be given > of > > only a general reputation and general disposition > and > > not of particular acts by which reputation or > > disposition was shown.') There are two or three > > factors at stake here: while the Indian Evidence > Act > > speaks about bad reputation in general --clearly > > tells about reputation that hasn't grown out of > > private immorality; if I've been privately and > > secretly immoral how do I come to have a > > (dis)'reputation' and be known as immoral? > Further, > > reputation has nothing to do with (moral) sexual > acts > > only; one can earn ill repute just because s/he is > > cruel to the animals or a swindler or a black > money > > maker. A girl when walks with a half bare bosom ( > > agreeably -a private part) or a boy exhibits > something > > from his private 'inventory'—it is said to be an > event > > of public immorality ( indecency) which violates > group > > or civic morality; it is possible to go further > and > > argue that the girl or the boy outrages her/ his > own > > modesty when s/he does so. In this sense - that > one > > must be free to lead any sort of life one wants > to - > > stands for all and nothing: a married woman/ man > if > > does not respect marriage as a moral contract and > > justifies fornication by her/his actions cannot > be > > accepted on grounds of her freedom or she being > > privately > > immoral and therefore to be tolerated by all. It > is on > > the > > question of character at times -- that a suit of > > divorce is successfully filed and won even by > > submitting the burden of proof, and no way it can > be > > argued that if a wife files a suit of divorce > because > > her husband has been adulterous, she should be > taught > > that law has nothing to do with morality and one > can > > be privately immoral and she should have inquired > > whether her hubby had taken enough caution to be > > secretive. This is just ridiculous! > > Secondly, that one's character is a private matter > and > > the Law should not interfere in matters private > has > > been disputed most by the feminists themselves. By > > saying > > ' personal is political' ( though Ive extensively > > written on how this collapses the personal and the > > private) they took so called private > > matters for public legislation; the issue of > marital > > rape was brought to light by their incessant > efforts. > > If they were to be satisfied with the immorality > that > > can be safely practiced in private, they would not > > have called forth for legislation on the > consensual > > validity of conjugal copulation that obviously > does > > not take place in public. > > > > 3. CHARACTER—A MORAL QUESTION! REALLY? > > > > However, their substantive answer to my > > objections > > could be something like this: Law > > looses it's legal character if it is lead by the > > axioms of morality; it will see to the illegality > of > > the event in question rather than the immorality > of > > the event. An immoral 'victim' and a perpetrator > with > > a sound moral history should be considered equals > > before the eyes of the Law. Legality and morality > are > > two different things. Justice has to do only with > > legality and not morality. > > Long back it > was > > Karl Marx who had told us most emphatically—how > Law is > > not just Law; it is out and out political. Again > it is > > the works of one of the > > greatest philosophers of the 20th century—Jurgen > > Habermas—which have reminded us that it is through > the > > political legislature - which is the law making > > body—that morality and politics enter into law > through > > the back > > door perhaps,(remember the Shah Banu controversy); > and > > it is simply an illusion that law and morality, > law > > and politics, or law and society are internally > > separate and separable. Further –if Law apart from > > having to have compulsory legal validity ( i.e > it's > > equally enforceable for all and whose violation > will > > entail > > punishment) is to have normative or social > > validity—that is--if it is to be seen as 'just' - > has > > to negotiate - with the moral expectations of a > > population and seek consensus through argument. - > or > > otherwise as has been pointed out how would Nazi > > laws, even retrospectively, > > be questioned? If law is to justify itself in the > > eyes of all affected and gain social validity > apart > > from legal validity, then the 'Law is Law' slogan > is > > simply dangerous. The Nazi laws can be questioned > only > > on grounds of morality and politics. > > And morality-- if not brought within the purview > of > > law will never get tested of it's own validity in > > terms of human rights or gender sensitivity. > > Nivedita Menon reminds us, how > > the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment decided > to > > overrule a tribal custom where rape had been a > > customary practice - by saying that there cannot > be > > any customary practice which could override > certain > > basic human rights of individuals. Therefore > various > > moralities—belonging to the individual or > groups—will > > never be tested if a rigorous demarcation is > > maintained between law & morality. But these are > all > > arguments as to how law will mislead itself if it > were > > to avoid the question of character in a case of > > sexual assault or a rape trial—and through this > > amendment—apparently-- it has taken that route; > what > > remains to be known is the effect of this > amendment > > on the citizen. > > > > 5. CONCLUSION > > Let us see the consequences of this argument > for > > the citizen- individual:. > > Once upon a time someone called Mendelville had > > proposed the models of the bad citizen and the > good > > citizen. The model of the bad citizen entails – he > > recognizes only legal obligations, so is always on > the > > lookout for a chance to violate it safely: the > moment > > he makes it sure that he will not be caught in the > act > > of breaking the law, he goes along. A good citizen > > irrespective of the vigil of the law, being > inspired > > by moral obligations—does not violate > prohibitions. > > Therefore following this if you were to have only > > legal > > obligations, you would not rape only when you're > sure > > you'll > > be caught in the act of violation; the moment I > can > > make it sure otherwise, I would be up with my > talent. > > But it is sure we don't rape not because we have a > > legal obligation, but also because a moral > obligation > > not to do so. A binary distinction between > legality > > and morality will produce more people with legal > > obligations only—and reinforce the model of the > bad > > citizen-- and the consequence understandably is > > dangerous. > > Therefore, such an amendment which seeks to > delete > > all questions regarding character or the moral > history > > of an individual, indirectly by its long hand, > > discourages citizens to adopt 'justified' moral > > behaviour at all. Take the ( 2002 onwards) drive > by > > the Kolkata > > police to arrest men folk who 'annoy' and ' > harass' > > women standing by the roadside – waitng for buses, > > through 'indecent' proposals. A lot of men were > > arrested > > but lately the police were not so pleased to find > that > > a lot of women folk ( you know who they are) do > invite > > clients that way and for > > them 'wise' women are being proposed and harassed > from > > no where. The moment the police started picking > some > > of those women too—there was protest from > > 'concerned'quarters and the move was > abandoned.However > > it is the case in which the ordinary women > > themselves condemn the actions of some women for > whom > > they are being propositioned and harassed. Now, > such > > an > > amendment which seeks to delete all questions > > regarding character or the moral history of an > > individual, indirectly by its long hand, > discourages > > citizens to adopt 'justified' moral behaviour at > all. > > The conclusion that can be derived is this: - > the > > woman who wears revealing clothes, tries to sleep > her > > way to the top—(no matter if it is furthered by > > criminals > > and politicians) and gets assaulted, raped or > > murdered, and the woman who > > does not do so and goes all along with community's > > 'positive' morality-- but still is harassed, > assaulted > > or raped --- the law shall be doing grave > injustice > > to the latter woman - if it places both of them > on > > the same plane by not distinguishing between the > > differing behavioral dispositions of the two > > individuals. Then the second woman in particular > is > > prone to do this kind of a reasoning, "well, if > my > > actions, dispositions, or reputation does not > matter > > and am placed equally with that (wo)man, why > should I > > at > > all lead a moral life in a community?" Same with > the > > men who are (sexually) corrupt, cunning and yet > > successful. Virtuous men tend to loose to the > 'ways of > > the world'. > > So our point is - this amendment discredits those > who > > tend to live > > according to the 'justified' or justiciable moral > > standards of their communities and civic life, and > > discourages future moral behaviour from citizens > > because they will understand that that won't be > > recognized. "If my honesty is not credited at some > > point of time—particularly in times of crisis, why > > should I at all be honest?" > > > > While this is one aspect, millions of women who > have > > been forced for various external reasons to > become- > > for example –prostitute/sex sellers ( excluding > the > > call girl and their client syndrome who-- I argue > > elsewhere, should be summarily persecuted under a > > moral regime); > > would they be discriminated > > against? Here, the alleged rape of a prostitute > > raises difficult questions and needs extensive > > discussion and interpretation. If their character > is > > considered—which will be immoral according to > certain > > standards, then would raping them be considered a > > lesser crime? I can just attempt an answer here > but > > begin by saying that for us this is a false > question. > > In terms of a moral-ethical ideal-argument, > > prostitution is something beyond any defense and > asks > > for its outright annihilation. But if this gives > a > > semblance to some that I'm avoiding engagement > with > > the question, then let me clarify that here we are > > pulled into a blind alley : the morality test has > to > > be neutralized and it is done in this manner. > > I've proposed a matrix where the character test > > would be > > made gender neutral. And there is also a hint that > > character would be understood to stand for an > > inventory of stable dispositions of an individual > over > > time emptied of it's normative or moral judgmental > > contents ( who might not be absolutely consistent > but > > coherent). > > Following that – the question of immorality > > would have a descriptive reckoning. But if we want > to > > retain the force of morality for possibility's or > > simplicity's sake, then invoking that --consider > where > > the convict alleges that the complainant woman is > a > > prostitute > > and is therefore of established loose morals and > is > > lying; they have had usual paid sex, there > > was some brawl on the payment when the woman > charged > > extra money after sex and he had denied ( nowhere > do > > these people claim that raping the prostitutes has > had > > been their right - as some wrongly contend). Now > the > > courtly indictment for the other (male) side > could > > be- "well, that the woman is of loose morals is > okay, > > but how do you having been of strict morals > visited > > her for sex?"( With this we support the recent > > proposed ( as changes to the PITA) arrest of > customers > > visiting them.) When it becomes obvious that both > can > > be > > constructed as immoral, the morality test is > > neutralised and other considerations resume. But > to > > start to > > recognise the violation of the prostitutes, one > cannot > > but > > take into account their different life or living > > style; their identity has to be established first > : > > and this > > falls well in line with our main proposal and > Anil > > Biswas is again correct. > > > > Armed with this correctness – we > could > > recommend – for > > the time being-- the following -- > > 1) The amendment deleting section 155(4) > should be > > nullified by a newer amendment and stress should > be > > given on Section 151& 152 because they suffice to > > restore discursive justice by confronting > harassment > > in the courtroom. > > 2) Section 155(4) should be revised to entail > inquiry > > into the > > moral character/sexual history of both the > > complainant and the alleged > > perpetrator of the sexual assault and provided the > > perpetrator is male - the inquiry should be made > > more stringent and more rigorously applied. ( As > > explicated before, character, situation, past and > > present > > lifestyle should be adequately linked and > integrated > > into > > the identity of the complainant and the > defendant.) > > 3) In case of complainants with sexual > identities like > > the sex sellers—legal protection should be doubled > and > > rape in their case has to be theorized differently > > from > > the general civilian women given the complex > nature of > > the formers' sexual consent which can be bought. > There > > is no proviso in Indian rape laws as to this > double > > bind. The rape of a sex seller – to understand it > > differently—a beginning has to be made but that > again > > has to account for her different 'way of life or > > living -style': this has to be written into our > legal > > discourse. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Check out the all-new face of Yahoo! India. > Go to > > http://in.yahoo.com/ > > > > > Share files, take polls, and make new friends - all under one roof. Go to http://in.promos.yahoo.com/groups/ From shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com Tue May 27 23:49:45 2008 From: shambhu.rahmat at gmail.com (Shambhu Rahmat) Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 00:19:45 +0600 Subject: [Reader-list] Daily Star's Potato Obsession Message-ID: Who's Who In Bangladesh ----------------------------------------- Daily Star: largest circulation English newspaper, formerly famed for tagline "Journalism Without Fear or Favor", now widely derided for role in supporting the army-backed Caretaker Government (CTG) Dhakashohor: wide circulation blogger Potato: what the Army Chief Moeen U Ahmed said we should eat while rice prices are high Radisson Hotel: country's most expensive 5 star hotel, site of recent "Potato Festival". Radisson is owned by Army Welfare Trust. http://dhakashohor.blogspot.com/2008/05/daily-stars-lowest-point-error-ridden.html http://dhakashohor.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-much-potato-does-daily-star-think.html http://dhakashohor.blogspot.com/2008/04/forum-does-april-fool-piece-in-march.html http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=37697 From swadhin_sen at yahoo.com Wed May 28 13:11:18 2008 From: swadhin_sen at yahoo.com (Swadhin Sen) Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 00:41:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Threatened Archaeological records, coal mining in Phulbari, Bangladesh and ubiquotious silence of th Message-ID: <187381.56257.qm@web52207.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Note: forwarded message attached. Swadhin Sen Archaeologist & Assistant Professor Department of Archaeology Jahangirnagar University Savar, Dhaka Bangladesh Ph. 88 01720196176 (mobile) From gowharfazili at yahoo.com Wed May 28 15:48:27 2008 From: gowharfazili at yahoo.com (gowhar fazli) Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 03:18:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Kashmir : Beyond the Numbers Game Message-ID: <460358.75955.qm@web65612.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Kashmir : Beyond the Numbers Game Examining the Zardari Proposal I only ask for an abode where I can live at peace with myself, where life means dignity and honour, writes Wajahat Qazi. Circa 1989.The Berlin Wall comes crashing down. The Soviet Union implodes. Germany is reunited. Afghanistan is bloodied. And the staccato burst of Kalashnikov fire disturbs the idyll that was Kashmir. Intense, young and angry Kalashnikov wielding men are feted by women and women alike in a place where the bulbul (nightingale) sang its denizens to sleep and the mountain trout flew. Now is there an overarching theme that binds all these disparate events of historical import together? The answer is axiomatic and obvious: A redounding yes. The basic aspiration(s) of freedom and political rights- the animating principles of history and the historical process- connects all these together. While it is too soon to prognosticate on the panning out of this historical process, it is however safe to conclude that all these processes exacted a terrible price: loss of human life and other tragedies that accompany such processes. Significantly, these ’events’ unfolded under the shadow of another process of historical import: renewed (or recharged) globalization which entailed (roughly) the diminution of state sovereignty, the so called ‘retreat of the state’ and free( r) trade and commerce. Kashmir and Kashmiris remained, if one can allow sarcasm to intrude into this serious affair, unsullied by these salutary processes. What happened in this interregnum is known to almost all. The question that now arises is whether it-the price paid in loss of life and treasure-was worth it. And how it can be remedied. And should wounds be reopened and or nurtured? Or should a more cathartic and sober approach-one that is salubrious and healthy for all - be adopted? The starting point of an enquiry of this nature is to understand the nature of history or the historical process: it (unfortunately) is not linear and more or less appears to be circular. The implication being that it is prone to repeat itself unless wisdom and foresight of sage men and women pre-empt it. Now the question may be asked: how does this relate to Kashmir and its modern history? Kashmir’s implosion is intimately related to its modern history or more broadly the history of the subcontinent and its permutations and combinations. This axiomatic but hackneyed explanation is self evident and elaboration of this would merely mean restating the obvious. However one may in the interests of clarity state that it was neither police brutality or brutalization of young men by the state apparatus, the denial of state power to a clique of disparate political groupings that led to the implosion nor the accumulated set(s) of grievances that led to the implosion. The dispute over Kashmir or Kashmir in conflict (I owe this formulation to Victoria Schofeld) was and remains the classic dispute of competing sovereignties and conceptions of nationalisms and state formation of two post colonial states viz India and Pakistan. Kashmir in this schema becomes integral to the identity and self definition of these nation states and hence the dispute over it and the tremendous energy vested in either retaining the status quo or changing it. Now in this imbroglio or impasse where the employment of state power becomes integral to maintain (or disrupt) the equation, the voice of the victim or the most aggrieved victim is lost. That is to say, the idea of self determination of a people becomes party to cynical power politics and or is lost in the noise and clamor. This idea -it germinated or reached fruition in the decolonization period- is, we are told passe and dated in today’s globalized world and because states after their consolidating phase never give up their remit on consolidated territory. Examples galore can be cited: the blighted Palestinians ,the ‘Iraqi’ Kurds, or the ‘Turkish’ Kurds the Tibetans, the Maoris or the Aboriginals .The implication being that it is a sysphan endeavor that only results in or leads to tragedy , mayhem and bloodshed. State power through the forces of attrition can drain away the will to secede or self determine an entity. Kashmir, like other disputes of such a nature, in this sense ,it may be safely said ,here fits the bill. Now the question arises: how can this self determination conundrum or puzzle be resolved? That is to say, how can state power and the demands or claims or competing claims be reconciled to reach a satisfactory solution to all parties concerned. The answer, I posit ,again may lie in the sovereignty thing or more accurately redefining the ‘allegedly sacrosanct principle’ of sovereignty ,state remit and ,of course ,globalization. This or these sets of propositions lead us inevitably to examine the idea floated by Asif Zardari of Pakistan. The implication of this proposal is or appears to be an eerie echo of approaches adopted to reunite the post war European sysphus-a daunting task that was achieved by sagacity, wisdom and foresight of a few good men and a redefined and new approach to conflict and dispute resolution(Alsace Lorraine, Germany and France spring to mind here). Again, the underlying premiss was to discard the principle of sovereignty, an unwieldy and stubborn one-as the EU is still learning and the nature of politics inherent to it. That is the balance of power approach to state craft and interstate relations. Now in terms of Kashmir, the ‘centrality’ of the dispute or more accurately the centrality of Kashmir to the self conception and definition to the two nations involved has held these nations hostage to a milieu and certain disposition which, in turn, thwarts the aspirations and holds life chances of an entire subcontinent hostage. As such, the Zardari proposal, if it reflects these premises may warrant some interest or a relook. The idea may be to develop trade links or deepen trade links between Pakistan and India, over the core dispute and over a period change the nature of the dispute. It does not appear to be much wrong with it save the aspirations of Kashmiri people and the blood and treasure lost in the process. And it may seem more like a sop than anything else to the victims, the sufferers and the protagonists. However, as far as the eye can see, inherent in this proposal or its successful denouement may even lie an optimum or optimal solution that sates the natural desire and will of Kashmiri people. Substantive political, economic and social rights that approximate or come close to a sovereign entity can be accorded to genuine representatives of Kashmiri people. Perhaps not along lines of the so called autonomy or autonomy packages that are either honored in the breach or mere lip service thing or a need accruing from a new template (or paradigm)of governance and state authority , made inevitable by a gelling together of forces that the traditional state model is under assault from. Or more of the same, so to speak, in different guises and permutations and combinations with cynical political parties vying for a slice of the pie. Or the changing nature of Indian federalism. Recourse to these worn out techniques promises nothing but a gloss or covering up of a dispute that history tells us is bound to relapse. That is, recidicivus classicus. However, if imagination is allowed some leeway and if the Zrdari proposal is in effect along the lines I divine then Kashmir may become or morph into a bridge or an entity that brings plenitude to all parties involved. And offers a bold and beautiful future to an entire subcontinent. This becomes even more important and pertinent for Pakistan: a country is teetering on the edge of state failure and collapse and has belied(consistently) the vision that its founders, the poet-philosopher, Muhammad Iqbal and the legal luminary and genius Muhammad Ali Jinnah had in mind for it. Insofar India is concerned, its power of attrition and containment of disputes is well recognized and known and its trajectory of or toward great power status now almost a fait accompli. However one may add that great powers, as the wounded hegemon, the US, is learning to its peril and chagrin do not lead through force or naked power. Their greatness is known and recognized for the magnanimity and unstinginess. India in this sense, may need or want to develop a kind of benign hegemony that allows it to not to be humiliated or spited in the nose by a small irritant like Kashmir. The onus also lies on people who have bene in the thick and thin of it all-especially ones who can claim to embody the will of the Kashmiri people. I have people like Yasseen Mallik in mind, whose existential travails and life -from a romantic Maisuma teenager to a gun toting young intense man , sacrifices and a gaoled and reborn principled political leader-in mind. That is to say, the millennial Baba e Qoum or a Baba e Qoum in waiting. I , of course do not deny or demean wiser heads and scholars like Syed Ali Geelani , the eloquent, articulate and well traveled Mawlana Omar Farooq and last but not the least, the eccentric but experienced politician Farooq Abdulla. All of these wise people have before themselves an opportunity to morph into or become statesmen and alter the course of history lest it repeat itself again.Sordidly so. And inject Kashmir, in particular, and the subcontinent, at large, into the broader and wider historical forces. This is a once in a life time opportunity that may not come again. Otherwise Kashmir will always be the hostage of a numbers game (who killed How many were Killed- a sordid disrespect of all those who died), or a cynical game of proposals and counter proposals and international deadlocks. So I as a humble wandering Kashmiri-I have been wandering around the globe in search of a home-beseech you eminent and wise people to give me a home where I can live in dignity and peace. (Wajahat Qazi is a Kashmiri Free Lance writer based currently in Pennsylvania US. He is working on a couple of books,’ The Future of the International State System:An Anthology’ and ,’The US: The Dying Hegemon or a Mythical Superpower’) Unfortunately, the balance of nature decrees that a super-abundance of dreams is paid for by a growing potential for nightmares. Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit. Peter Ustinov From gowharfazili at yahoo.com Wed May 28 17:27:06 2008 From: gowharfazili at yahoo.com (gowhar fazli) Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 04:57:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Time to Excoriate the Lucky Country Myth: An Ode to a Lost Bosom Message-ID: <873036.10317.qm@web65605.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> My school friend is milling these out and i m excited! he will be joining sarai readerlist soon. Time to Excoriate the Lucky Country Myth: An Ode to a Lost Bosom The public commentary on Australia's explicit apology to its Aborigines-an interesting admixture of exuberance , mania and dollops of sobriety-perhaps warrants a revisit of the lucky country myth:one that has offered a beguilingly facile interprtetation of Australia's evolution into a self assured nationhood.These reactions - perhaps natural and inevitable for nations which reach plenitude-have brought into focus the varying perspecives that the denizens of contemporary Australia hold of their collective self.All in all a salutary and sanguine condition which nonetheless carries some cautionary overtones too.Cautionary because of the redactive nature of the commentary that plays down some very signifiant aspects of Australian history and ,of course ,in the process playing up of the miseries that visited Australias wounded civilization, its Aborigines.The media commentary in some senses is ahistorical and redective though.And the sociological and anthropological insights it offers into the nature of the Aboriginal condition do not appear to be very germane.One can excuse the reductivesness on account of being written as columns.The larger point(s), however, that this enthusing commentary and reaction raises go right to heart of contemprorary Australia: a nation that has attained plenitude and is on the cusp of a higher destiny and pedestal.One which defies the crude caricature and stereotype of it being a 'lucky country' and one which offers a testimony to the genius of its people(s).Now these sets of assertions need to be put into a perspective by setting forth a very brief overview of Australian history.This detour may enable us to gain a better handle on the true nature of Australian historys' victims ,survivors and pioneers and in the process, hopefully , chart or point to the future that awaits it. First ,a a note on the nature of the self exculpatory apology or the intense emphasis on it.A word of caution is called for here:exuberant or manic urges towards , for want of a better word, self loathing and holding the collective unconscious of a generation culpable in 'crimes' committed by either default or design by preceding generation is a tad rich.That is to say, it is unhealthy.Simply.The self acclaimed diagnosticians of the Australian condition should deem not it to be the balm that creates healthy amnesia.I have in mind here the stigma and embarassment that many Australians carry as part of their unfortunate legacy.It, counterintuitively may create self loathing individual or personalities.It may not be as crude as the Ned Kelly or the Bush Ranger iconography but nonetheless is not a healthy antidote.Now let us return to the overview of Australia's history and the apology.The rubric under which it(apology) has been offered is too broad and reductive:it implicates , I repeat generations of , for wanr of a better word settlers who , partly on account of the wretched and abominable conditions, they found themselves in and partly out of fear of the unknown and the 'strange' may have rendered the existence of a peoples difficult and untenable.Lest I be misunderstood here, this assertion is by no means intended to exonerate.Neither is it not meant to demean or discount the sufferings of a culture or peoples who continue to bear the brunt of the past or history.The larger point is to accord credit where it is due and apportion blame where needed or required in due measure Australia's history and success in forging a polity that could be righlty called the envy of the world testifies to its hard and well earned nationhood. Its existence as nation and state or state nation is , as perhaps we all know is owed to the very harsh dialectic that defined the conditions of its 'transported' peoples-the , if one may borrow an expression and invert it , the Wretched of the Earth.That is, peoples who , initially ,on account of their social and economic position in a class riven society, and, later 'political crimes' were pushed onto a territory that could best be described , crudely, as a 'hell hole'.Dante's inferno , in fact ,may be more apposite and germane here.The journey to this inferno was no by no means a first class one.One need not go into vivid detail here.Now rendering a penal colony , though a painful and involuted process, into an entity that could be called a nation at a later point in time can be nothing but a tribute to these experimented upon 'refuse' of class riven and snotty pre colonial Britain.The aim here is not to whitewash crimes or attrocities but to put, briefly ,the historical journey or trajectory of Australia into a sober perspective. These entrepreneurs -doughty and fiesty- forged a country out of nothing amid the most difficult circumstances and conditions , to repeat myself here.So much so that one is strained to find parallels(if any) in the modern epoch of such an exercize in nation building.Australia, for instance, does not appear to have had either the advantage of a sophisticated elite that could will a nation into being or 'imagine ' it.Or enjoy a geopolitical vantage point or interest ,which played such a crucial role in the forging of most other nations .Neither was it the crucible or arena where overhwhelming religious energy (and zeal)of warring Christian sects or denominations denoued or panned out and by default led to an entity that could claim nationhood.It(Australia) thus is what it is : a nation forged out of a penal colony through a dialectic and painful process of trial and error.The brief nature of this essay does not lend itself to laying out examples or instances of these processes. One may in the interests of brevity posit that the theme that emerges out of this Australian odyssey is that of forging a habitable milieu over a period of time, which in turn morphed into into a nation or state or state and nation depending on ones point of view of the penal colony.And that serendipity had no room in project Australia.An ancillary but more remaarkable theme that may be called Australianness that emerges from Australia's history is an innate ability-with spasms of periodic angst and vituperation against the'outsider and the strange and the exotic '-to constanty redefine and reinvent itself: a gift that very few nations or societies are blessed with. This process, to say the least, has been painful.Innumerable victims were exacted in or through this painful transition into a normal society and polity.The tolls were both psychological and physical-the ones who survived were a scarred people who could not escape easily the traumas that transportaion and the subsequent travails entailed.And what jarred with for the fruits of the penal colony were the strigmas and taboos associated in their Australianness-a stigmatizing terms pregnant with taboo' s.The doughty Australians nonetheless excoriated ,to an extent, these stigmas and went about forging a polity and nation that accorded them a history that, howsoever, scarred , and a destiny, they could call their own.The continuation of this remarkable and unusual journey towards self determination and self discovery continues and is the real genius of Australia and its peoples.The apology to aboriginals is but a continuation on this theme at one level and a panning out or the birth pangs of Australias new collective self. Now let us turn to the apology.Or more accurately the commentary on the apology or the recieved opinion.First, the sociological and anthropological insights that this commentary offers into the nature of the Aboriginal condition does not appear to be very germane..The aboriginals have been referred to as either custodians of the land that the 'settlers' found or inhabtitants of the land and the transported peoples as colonizers and settlers.The truth may lie somewhat in the middle.That is to say, that this rubric or umbrella of clubbing together aboriginals, 'settler's and or 'colonials' and the dichotomizing them neatly may not hold.The blighted 'scum' and their tormentors- the soldiers or and the sailors were never a monolithic group.(Eminent and distinguished historians hold that even the benighted conditions of the place where they landed did not suffice to hold them together as a group).Hence is rendered the colonial theory or calculated or pre meditated genocide theory rather spurious). Now let us examine the claims put forth on behalf of the aborigines.The claim that Aboriginals did refer to or deem themselves as custodians of the land dos not lent itlsef to sober examination.They are -with due respect to their cultural legacy and rights-inherent wanderers.A settled life is inimical to them-the unsalubrious effects of exposure to western diet, for instance, may be a good example of this.Their tribal mores and ways of life render them if they can be classified as tribes more or less a sub culture that may be happy or content within a space accorded to them by the broader society.Ths does not imply marginalization or exclusion but rather an acceptance of a different way or life.Call it cultural relativism if you.In fact, this mey be better for thier wounded pride that the alternative:tokenism and symbolism.Historically their encounter with the 'white race' has been rife with conflict and an inability to understand the premises that undergird the broader host society rendering them in the process ope to abuse and exploitation.Now this condition may be obviated, if I venture into the domain of offering suggestions and pointers by offering these people a space-cultural and political- of thier own-under the umbrella or rubric of the broader polity and society.Then , of course, the onus also or may largely fall on them to prove themselves a rightful and prideful and dignified members of the Australian firmament.The alternatives -paternalism and symbolism -may render the apology either infructous(by default) or in a trenchant counterdenouing pathos , a parody. Now this potential that I have identified may or may not come to pass.It is contingent.It however carries larger lessons or implications for Australia's polity and society.First and foremost, and more broadly,in terms of what it reflects ,the obvious:the flexibility and self confidence of contemporary Australia.Second, and perhaps more importanty the putative revision of liberal theory adn pracice , which is premised , roughly speaking on individual rights with a focus on the individual.It appears that given the nature of the world we inhabit and the inability of political systems in place on advanced democracies to protect or deal with minortites have been found wanting.Hence a review.More specifially, in terms of Australia, it appears to be chosen , so to speak, to be at the forefront of this new expermiment.This reading may or may nor imply over analysis.However there does appear to be merit to this.And barring some hiccups and teething problems , the price of which may have been hard for some individuals , Australia, to say at the risk of understatement appears to be doing well.It is a remarkable nation and state that has forged a polity, society and economy that can onky be the envy of the world.The evolving outlook of its deniizens especially the younger people and those inhabiting its metros is remarkable for its sophistication.(I am of course dicounting or ignoring here the bigots and ignorami.These people do not have a monopoly over Australia:they are everyhwere). The gelling together or convergence of all these elements is what may be called Ausrtralia's soft power.That is ,roughly speaking the power to attract on account of values , polity and society.(Nothing save or but Australia can squander its soft power).This, by implication, is its security policy both on the domestic as well as the international front.However there exists an inherent danger:Australia on account of , to use a cliched term, 'entanglements abroad' which have domestic implications in terms of ugly or recourse to a Kafkaesque state posture may render its soft power a tad rough on its edges.It is upto Australians and the projection of their collective self through the mediating tenor of their values and polity to ensure security, prosperity and happiness for all Australians.A corollary to this makes us us return to the concluding theme of contemporary Australian nationhood rendered poigant by or for which the lightning rod has been the apology: first it suggests that the work of nations is never complete.Renewal and redefintion define or are the hallmarks of nations that be.Last but not the least, it(apology) may be a prelude to a wider ad broader schism or split from the 'mother'country.This may be the real and long lasting message or the implicit , explicit as well as comprehensive break from some imprisoning paradigms.The land down under has evolved and charted its own path.Now is the time to be a real nation and state in its own right.A bold and beautiful destiny awaits. Unfortunately, the balance of nature decrees that a super-abundance of dreams is paid for by a growing potential for nightmares. Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit. Peter Ustinov From gowharfazili at yahoo.com Wed May 28 17:33:33 2008 From: gowharfazili at yahoo.com (gowhar fazli) Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 05:03:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Why Iran Should Engage the West? Message-ID: <57757.48919.qm@web65612.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> One more by the same author: Why Iran Should Engage the West? The Fertile Crescent, or West Asia or the Middle East is a paradox and a milieu resplendent in twisted ironies, the kind that makes a mockery of history and where history continues to pan out or denoue in , unfortunately,a macabre manner.This observation, which can neither be rationalized as a 'historical dialectic' nor by recourse to the or the nature of its peoples greets us , almost on a quotidien basis-news paper reportage, visual images , other forms of media and , unfortunately, gory events like September 11.So much so that we have become inured to the regions realities or its perplexities.This , we are told ,is a function of or accrues from the regions' history , its complicated and its convoluted encounter with history or modernity.That is, history(and modernity)defined narrowly, and in the interest(s) of power.The implication being that we have to be resigned to the state of affairs that the region seems to be in a vise like grip of or in the world view of a certain school of thought or more acurately ideology, neo conservatism, a condition eminently susceptible to a vigorous display and exercize of power.This theory and its application now stands discredited by events and the reversion to the same, so to speak , in the region.These dichotomous views are overlaid by the stuff of politics and powerplays peculiar to the region-all in all a predicament that renders the region as either a cauldron of complexity that defies 'clear cut' solutions' or one susceptible to cynicism, the kind inherent in traditional statecraft.Consequently , any attempt to bring a semblance of normalcy to the region is either a Sysphan or a Percivalian endeavour.Such I hasten to add is the condition in the region of extremes.I, aware of these complexities and the rather Sysphan nature of the endeavour , still may want to offer remedial pointers toward addressing the issues that bedevil the region and hold it hostage.Or in other words, the very nature of the project -given the complexity(and convolutions) that defines the region and its politics may render it fantastic and incredible.I, nonetheless, would want to venture into this domain. It becomes pertinent to add here to state and articulate my position or , let us say, the vantage point:I ,speak , as a muslim , albeit one , without roots, a self acclaimed or self described quasi spokesman of the mustafazeen , the oppressed , a concerned citizen of the world , definitely not a gharbzadeh('westoxified' or westernized clone) nor a member of a static society disillusioned by initation into a dynamic society nor a disaffected immigrant seeking plenitude by recourse to disguising injuries or wounds exacted (or suffered)by an ambivalent(and torturous) relationship with the 'west', by writing, at least not in this paper or essay.The pertinent deigression complete, let me now return to the theme of this essay. The starting point for peace , stability and prosperity in the region may perhaps lie in underststanding or putting into perspective the complex reasons that render these elusive goals or condition(s) non exigent.A brief essay such as this cannot do justice to the elaboration of or untangling of these giordian knots.This rather tautological statement is paradoxically not a tautology but a bald restatement of the complexity and mean ironies that define the region, articulated de nouveau, in the interest of putting into perspective the paradoxes and and convolutions that define the region.Or more specifically, the interplay of history and the importance of both taking recourse to it(history) and jettisoning it or , in the least, aspects of it.The past, as we all know, in the Middle East has been tense, the present even tenser but the future need not be.The reasons for this condition or admixture of conditions have been dwelt upon and explicated by scholars and analysts of integrity as well as one's lacking this virtue.Hairsplitting or dwelling on aspects that make the past present is a recipe for disaster.The real question(s) are or have now become exigent are the conditions or prospects under which a new dawn may arise in the Middle East.Bringing this to pass may perhaps be predicated upon by jettisoning or in not being in guided by historical paradigms or being their prisoner.How is this scenario or condition to be achieved is the question that should exercize minds and strategizing of interested parties.At this point in time , it is the moment that may be of supreme importance.I shall return to this theme after explicating on a feature or attribute of the region and Iran's pivotal role in it.I commence by asserting or contending that Iran is the Middle Easts' natural hegemon.A beleagured one though.Explicit recognition of this axiomatic fact - perhaps the unspoken truth known to powers that be-may lie the prospect of a semblance of peace and real prosperity in the Middle East region.This bald assertion or a counterintuitive one for some, can be validated by a corpus of evidence and 'fact's or the contrary.That is, the converse , can be argued , convincingly and perhaps reassuringly for some.The clout that this hegemonic status offers has been rendered more poignant or powerful by the cauldron or the pandora's box, that the Middle East has now morphed into.That is to say, the religious schisms and ethnic divides that have historically defined the region but kept under wraps by either 'strong men' or the nature of the states of this region have burst out in the open.A tenous or precarious peace accruing from this can perhaps only be held by the presence of military apparatus of the US or its leaning on allies that it(the US) can lean on.Pregnant in this scenario or condition is the prospect of or jockeying for influence and room for maneouvre, to eke out tactical advantages by parties that have a stake or deem themselves to have a stake in the regions past, present and future.This, however, does not bode well or may suggest a future that will continue to be marred by what is or has to or needs to be avoided:gratuitous violence and killings.It may,however, counterintuitively, here be here that, the moment needs to be grasped and a reasonable path for the region charted. This moment - brought about by an admixture of serendipity, stupidity, cupidity, arrogance ,good and bad intentions among other things- may be the one that gives short shrift to the burden of history that hangs or hovers over the blighted region and give rise to a new awakening or a redefined infitah.First, let me address the vital question of War and Peace in the region.It is becoming increasingly obvious that that this vital question of war and peace in the region hinges on ,or is related to the domestic politics of the wounded hegemon and its potential victim or and adversary, Iran.Neither, I daresay, smells of roses.That is to say, domestic politics -the looming elections and the change this would entail- of the US renders it open to the kind of posturing where Iran becomes or is the lightning rod.(This, of course is lent poignance by the potential of embarassing or discomfiting the neo conservative wing of the Republican Party.The US' military establishments' stance and position is germane here too).Similar stuff, if I am allowed to take recourse to common parlance, may hold true for Iran.That is to say, Iran's international posture may be determined by its domestic constraints-especially political(and economic) ones.Harsh rhetoric and posturing, by both parties thus become intevitable.In order to understand(or test) the validity of this assertion, it becomes pertinent to dwell briefly or of the premises that undergird the hopes(vain) of of one side of the divide , the US , its understanding or take on Iran's state society relations and banking on nationalism.Hopes that have , time and again, thwarted any real attempt at rapprochment.Vain hopes of 'reformists' or 'progressives'-both value laden terms open to misinterpretation and misuse-of overturning the political system of Iran have not materialzed neither are they likely to.Irans's history , especially its modern history, suggest or I daresay, clearly point out to the tenacity of what determines the rhythms of its society:religion or religious faith.This , naturally , is reflected in the nature of its state.The 1979 revolution was or may I daresay merely have been a metaphor-a consequential one-of this.Nationalisms' appeal in Iran ,which may animate, a section of Iran's people, is ephemeral and tenous.Hence positing a misaligment of state society relations in Iran and hoping for a disjunture to arise through an admixture of external pressure(containment) and internal discontent may be illusory or if I may use a stronger word, delusional.The status quo, however, implies and means an uneasy detente defined or accompanied by skirmishes.Now this scenario suggests a deadlock and a kind of a status quo ante bellum,a situation not worth the price that has been paid in blood and treasure.The question that naturally follows is:how do we reach an equilbruim point which restores a measure of sanity in the foriegn policy posture(s) of the countries involved:the US and Iran. First and foremost, the onus lies on the United states: an exigent recourse needs to be taken to to jettison comprehensively the rather revolutionary element premised on false and questionable assumptions that crept into US foriegn policy after September 11 and a follow up and discourse that reviews and crafts a coherent policy of engagement with the world. (The consequences of neo conservatism are writ large all over the world:dwelling on these is a non starter).Its major premiss, giving or according history a shove through or by the use of expendable might , change political systems and or align them with the US' political system, or systems approximating the republican form of governmant stands discredited now.States foreign policy postures are not driven solely by the nature of their governments or societies.This reductive stance or premiss makes a mockery of the complexity that defines the post cold or international system or I daresay , or even the period or epoch preceding it if we take the begginings of the modern state system as a reference point.The point being that much else is involved in determining a state's Foriegn policy or international posture.Second, there is no guarantee that states or a concatenation of states may or will eschew interest(s) or the desire for aggrandizement or esteem and other prosaic interests if the complexion, tone and tenor of a government changes and is in alignment with the preference of the major power or powers.Yes, this condition and scenario may or ease or smoothen friction, over certain issues and problems , but may not resolve for good, the vital question of War and Peace, as the rhetoric of one school of thought or theory, namely the Democratic Peace theory suggests.It may be pertinent to note here that the assumptions(and the conclusions) of the democratic peace theory may be a subterfuge or a clever attempt to overcome the nation state paradigm and as a convenient cover up for great power politics or great power concatenations or 'civilizations'.The corollary to this is that the coming to pass of the political make up or scenario inherent in the so called democratic peace theory may revert world politics to a concert of powers who will or may exert influence to determine wolrd affairs and politics.Now the question that may be asked here is how does this bear on or is related to Iran?Iran, as a beleagured hegemon of the region, in the crosshairs of the wounded hegemon and being eyeballed by it , on and off, can either retreat into a posture of defiance ,use its influence to make trouble - manageable and containable by the superpower-, adopt a posture of extreme defiance toward Israel, support proxies, drift into the orbit of a reactionary Russian pole or patchwork alliances with states who share some of its concerns and interests, albeit, of an inconsequential nature.Iran , on account of recourse to these strategies,may be able to salvage its soveriegnty and keep the nature of its government intact , albiet at a price:suffering accruing to its people.Now this is a price that Iran , as its history tells us, can absorb or be willing to pay.Its people, drawn by or naturally influenced by the ethos or pathos of Shi'ism are eminently capable of resistance and the government can effectively tap this reservoir or energy, howseover irrational it may seem to the outsider.So the question now naturally morphs into a presciptive one:what can or should be done?Or what can or should dominate the though processes of Irans elite.It is here that the nature of its government and the premises that animate it may be of assistance to us.The question that should or may be pertinent to the powers that be in Iran (or exercise them)should be the promise implicit in the nature of its government, the promise that the philosopher king , for want of a better word, , at a minimum, has to deliver on-the compact, he an account of his well earned and superior knowledge, wisdom,(and insight) into the affairs of men and more arcane and abstract matters- between God and people is beholden to.Or , in other words a committment to the comprehensive well being of his people.This contract may need to be be taken recourse to in both letter and spirit.The good or nice thing being that this option is eminently possible, given the historical juncture, induced by globalization , the whole world finds itself it. Now let us return to the the theme (or drift)of world politics:the contours of world politics, as I have pointed out, suggest a drift toward regionalisms or a concatenation of civilizations-real or imagined-underpinned or butressed by local or regional hegemons.In this case, resource and power pooling may as well determine the decision making framework or grid in international organizations and other foci or halls of power.Consequently, Iran may be given short shrift or may not be able to fish for powers that can offer it support or validation for its stance on a variety of issues, save perhaps in terms of lip servive or on matters (or issues) that are ,in essence, inconsequential or tangential to these concatenations.Where this would leave Iran does not leave much to the imagination.In the interests of or the schema of this essay, I may take recourse to the game of elimination to determine or suss out remaining options that Iran can(and has) take recourse to.China and India immediately strike the mind.(The EU , by virture of its very nature and complex problems especally in terms of clout or , to use a vulgar expression, throw its weight around on the world stage may be conveniently ruled out).Both India and China, it would appear, are caught up (or have chosen to immerse themselves) in frantic endeavors to reclaim lost pride and dignity, with a vengeance.Toward this end, both appear to be trying to take advantage of the contemporary phase of globalization or technology induced globalization.By enmeshhing themsleves in the processes of globalization, both appear to, at the risk of sounding tautological, want to hold a seat in the halls of power.In this sense, support for Iran , in some fora, may be premised on grounds other than the ostensible ones.That is to say, lip service , that obscures their respective agenda's, and recourse to a kind or sort of balancing behaviour that , at best, offers Iran temporary respite or solace.More importantly, neither has anything substantive to offer either the world , at large, or Iran, in particular.This assertion is buttressed by recent and very astute scholarship which posits that the definitive framework or the tone and tenor of the international system and structure is so embedded and structured, that notwithstanding or regardless of challenges or change induced complexity - systemic or otherwise- the outcome(s) will be defined by terms set by the west.The implication is obvious:any change , paradigm shift(s), even of a stupendous kind, will be negotiated through and/ or articulated in a western idiom.This, I lend my weight to this observation(or analysis)-may be the prosaic truth or the, depending on ones's perspective, the sad or good or bad reality of international politics.Insofar , its implications or consequences on Iran are concerned, the choice is stark:resignation to this reality or defiance that will or may most likely lead to isolation and marginalization in the fora of world politics.Now as I have pointed out earlier, isolation is an option for Iran but at a price..... This macro description of the drift of world politics may now needed to be buttressed or followed by issues (germane) peculiar to the Middle East and Irans relation to these issues.The most nagging and intractable is the Israeli-Palestiniian one.(I am, of course, ignoring not for the lack of its importance ,the Iraq cauldron here).Nothing can detract from the importance of this to either Iran or the muslim world or its victims.This issue needs to be and has to be resolved.Iran, here now holds both an ace and perhaps the requisite tools to moderate the conflict and then help guide or help craft a way to resolve this dispute.A stance that prolongs the dispute does not help anyone-either those implicated in the dispute , its victims or bystanders.The import of this statement holds true for both Iran and the wounded hegemon, the US.Much blood has been spilt and will continue to be spilt if dated and non starting positions are adhered to.Or even the purported solutions that are popularized or publicized, regardless of the mockery that the fait accompis accomplished on an everyay basis, make of these stances or alleged solutions.I am no expert on this particualr dispute.I, however, may venture or opine:imagination may be a powerful tool and weapon, and perhaps very relevant to a reasonable resolution of this particular dispute..Prosaic and or hackneyed 'solutions', that , hypothetically, posit linear progess in resolving this dispute -inflected and rendered rather intractable by a combination of sacrality, history, power politics and regional politics- but easily obstructed should now be jettisoned and it(imagination) taken recourse to as a central or guiding principle or conflict resolution principle in bringing this conflict or resolution to a reasonable closure-satisficing ,to all parties involved.Again, Iran has , in its arsenal, or repertoire , the means to bring this, to pass.Insofar as the sole superpower, is concerned, it too ,may have to or need to look inward, introspect and be bold and beautiful.Implicit and explicit in these putative prescriptions are or may be , in the least, the seeds of a better Middle East and the world ,at large.A world which can or may be rendered a better and an inhabitable place.At a micro level, the nature of this engagement can be salubrious for Iran and the Middle East or the Fertile Crescent.And at a macro one,it holds particular resonance for the oppressed, or the mustafazeen, or the Muslim.It is about time that we too reclaim our or aspects of our lost heritage and engage with the world in an idiom that is salubrious ,reflects our real essence, and make this world as good or at least, approximating, what we have been promised in the after life.This may or could be our jihad, our striving,and the painful struggles inherent in this.More specifically, this may mean or entails, grasping the oportunities opened up by globalization , a degree of selective(and perhaps painful) amnesia and viewing globalization as it is: a neutral phenomena whose fruits can be ejoyed by all and sundry.This, I can state, as a common member , or for want of a better word, laity, of my faith,is or should be our animating or determining principle in re engaging with the world and perhaps I daresay, can or may be eminently possible within the framework or guiding principles that inform our faith-a value system in which respect for the inherent dignity of man is implicit as well as explicit.It(Islam) is neither weak or susceptible to breakdown.It has endured and will endure.The question is the form of engagement that, we , the mustafazeen, or the oppressed or the muslims, choose for us with the world.It is about time that we jettison debilitating aspects of the past and grasp the future that God has laid open for us.Otherwise, the march of history will leave us behind, let us wallow in pity, self pity, self flagellation and at the mercy of events of historical import.Let us, if I may be allowed to use an expression, grasp the bull by its horns.This course may even constitute our duty, in the prosaic and common sense use of the term or word.Last but not the least, I close with or by a rather rhetorical but very pertinent and germane admonition , that is ,take recourse to the Holy book that is our inspiration, the Quran, which , both from the point of view of lay understanding as well as scholarly exegesis stresses the role of human agency in attempting to ameliorate the human condition:'Allah Helps those Who Help Themselves'.Lest I be challenged and asked for evidence or impugned,my humble response would be to the refer the reader to the theme that stands out in islamic and/or islamicate history:the tranforming and redemptive role played by the Muslim of yore -animated by a special vocation and view of destiny- as a human agent,transforming, traducing and contributing to the effloresence of civilization , broadly understood, thus rendering the world better.This role-in which Iran's stance and role is vital and special-is the one that needs to be reclaimed. Unfortunately, the balance of nature decrees that a super-abundance of dreams is paid for by a growing potential for nightmares. Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit. Peter Ustinov From mitrawaghmare at gmail.com Tue May 27 10:16:04 2008 From: mitrawaghmare at gmail.com (Mitra Waghmare) Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 10:16:04 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] A must read Message-ID: <2f895caa0805262146tf7f4525j9845efc3ed9832@mail.gmail.com> Hi all, Here is a text from a friend author of mine--a text you must know all and even if you can't refute, you must read it. Mitra Dear Everybody, With Arushi Talwar and her mate--servant's murder ( her illicit affair expert father being the alleged culprit) as well as one Grover's bloodied corpse in Mumbai besides which Maria and her keen killer boyfriend ( Mathew) are reported to have copulated twice, the question of sexual morality and death thinking has again sprung up. And I think this is the time again to visit and pull in the uncomfortable question of morality vis a vis legality. I had sent this question and a bit unedited draft of the paper below to some in the wake of the event of the sad rape and murder of Scarlet Keeling,when the old debate about our moral character, ambitious and risky life style had again cropped up.I'm sending this now to all of you. The majority view, as you know, argues that these questions are irrelevant to the questions of justice.And in 2002 an amendment reckoned with this view. Long back in the year 2003 I had drafted a shorter version of this article criticizing this amendment and which was published in Bengali in 2003 and in English in 2004.I'll never forget the nightmare I had had while publishing this argument. But again while this debate reappears in 2008, I'm surprised to find many of my friends,political parties ( a few representatives to whom I've talked to), even some lawyers are willing to buy this argument and a campaign for nullifying the 2002amendment which sought to exclude all inquiries into the moral character of the persons involved, may as well begin.But not before you document your important views. Friend,Please answer two questions, 1) Do you agree with me( please go through the document below) that an inquiry into moral questions, including the moral character of the complainant and the defendant is absolutely relevant in matters of (sexual) violence including murder as a variation on the above theme? 2) If you do not, please tell me why not? 'Law stands between politics and morality' – Jurgen Habermas , Law and Morality, The Tanner Lectures on Human values , Harvard university, Oct1,2, 1986 CHARACTER (ISING) RAPE, CONTEMPLATING AMENDMENT What was noticeable in the episode in which Anil Biswas ( now deceased general secretary of the CPI(M), West Bengal ) was shouted at and condemned by nearly everybody - when he had reported ( in 2003) that there were questions in the locality about the 'lifestyle' of an alleged rape victim, was the immense confidence with which the argument of Biswas was put down. This false confidence derived from the Indian Evidence ( Amendment) Bill, 2002 becoming Indian Evidence Amendment Act, 2003. The act sought to amend the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and provided for deletion of clause 4 of section 155 by specifically providing in Section 146 that in a prosecution for rape or attempt to commit rape, it will not be permissible to 'put questions in the cross examination of the complainant as to her general immoral character'. In Section 155(4) this could have been used previously to impeach the credit of the complainant as a witness. Before that there was the 177th report of the Law Commission of India and the National Commission for Women who had unanimously recommended the deletion of Section 155(4) of the Indian Evidence Act. The recommendations were pushed forward keeping in view instances - where people have been acquitted because of the immoral character of the complainant or the latter were harassed in cross examination. But this amendment was in a sense redundant if we want to closely read two other Sections [151,152] of the Indian Evidence Act ( I.E.A). Section 151 states, 'The Court may forbid any question or inquiries which it regards as indecent or scandalous although such questions or inquiries may have some bearing on the questions before the Court unless they relate to fact in issue or to matters necessary to be known in order to determine whether or not the facts in issue …'; Section 152 states, ' The Court shall forbid any question which appears to it to be intended to insult or annoy, or which, though proper in itself, appears to the Court needlessly offensive in form'. The question is, despite this immunity and the power of the trial judge to intervene, the courts must have failed in their duties to protect a rape complainant from being scandalized while being questioned; through this amendment the Indian legislature vis a- vis the Supreme Court acknowledges this failure perhaps. No explanation has been forwarded on this count from any quarters. In the Rajya Sabha itself this question was raised by Shri S. Shumugasundaram but he ended up having had to welcome the Bill—such is the compulsion to be politically correct. This is a technical and nearly a fatal objection to the amendment - from within the I.E.A. But the amendment arguers and makers have had other serious sociological reasons too—which are abundant in the media; abundant and cheap because any critical argument against – is avoided or suppressed. The reasons forwarded by the protagonists are1) immoral character has nothing to do with the fact that one is violated or has perpetrated violence; 2) immorality should be left alone so that we are able to respect a persons' privacy; 3) morality of character is an ethico-moral issue, not a legal one; We shall address each of them. 1.READING CHARACTER IN THE I.E.A We must first try to prove that the question of one's character is vital for a case of rape or sexual assault. Now-everybody knows that a poetess—Madhumita Shukla was murdered in U.P ( around 2002-03) and a lot has been written on it, the minister had had to resign and all that. But her preeminently dangerous lifestyle—a disposition to sleep with the politicians and criminals of Gorakhpur—does it have nothing to do with her own death? To hobnob with Amarmani Tripathi—the infamous minister who has had nearly 38 cases against him for murder, land grab to rape—his moral character has nothing to do with Madhumita's death? It would be scandalous to consider the woman's death separate from the kind of lifestyle she was used to; the kind of action norms she had set for herself – the kind of 'character' that she was. Would it have been irrelevant if her or the ministers' character had featured in the trial considering she was raped- not murdered? Not at all. And provided the woman had led a sane life in accordance with acceptable moral standards but still she was raped, then the character of the alleged rapist would have featured in a vicious way. This is missing in the I.E.A. Infact what was actually wrong is the gender bias in the Section [ 155(4) ] where the immoral character of the complainant could be invoked by the defence lawyer to impeach only the complainants' witness; the witness is understandably a woman here. The moment we make it gender neutral we assume the bias is corrected. But instead of giving it a corrective, the amendment makers have done away with the whole thing. (Character here signify serial and stable dispositions of an individual over time, i.e our actions and behaviorial dispositions by which we come to be known as reliable or a cheater, romantic or someone always with sexual intent etc.) And this weighing of dispositions of individuals is what makes everyday life going; you know a guy to be 'good', you decide to go to a date and return being raped ( for this read the ever growing literature on date rape); you know somebody is of questionable 'morals'- so decide not to go on a date or go at a time, at a place where his morals will not get the go. Likewise, for every person we just cannot afford to start from zero; therefore when it is suggested that in a rape or in a case of sexual assault or simply violence which has sexual side brackets; any question of character is uncalled for—the obvious thing that comes to mind is, are we products of our past actions? Do our pasts have a lot to do with our present or all our actions are arbitrary and accidental and there is no logic to be gained? The point is- claims on the past—even our pasts -- can be contested but cannot be done without. And that we everyday invoke and use these character traits to guide us in our actions is absolutely relevant. And because crime has this life as the backdrop, 'situations' as well as 'characters', 'dispositions' as well as 'life style' have to be taken into account ( and this briefly answers the situational psychological objections regarding behavioral inconsistency and the impossibility of character or 'character building' by teaching virtues: what I'm arguing for is coherence, not consistency). What is actually wrong is the gender bias in the Section where the immoral character of the complainant could be invoked by the defence lawyer to impeach her witness; the witness is understandably a woman here. The moment we make it gender neutral we assume the bias is corrected. The immoral character clause should be applied on both the complainant and the alleged perpetrator; for men --it should be made more rigorously so—given the patriarchial nature of our society and men like Amarmani Tripathy. The way it is happening now strategically-- is well illustrated by one www.onlinedetective.com which will give you all information u regard necessary to date, marry, have sex or start a business: here it is- "And how do you really know that the guy you've started dating isn't actually a convicted wife-beater with several restraining orders on him, or that the new employee you're about to hire really has all the qualifications she says that she does? What if your new neighbor that's suddenly started playing with your kids after school is actually a convicted child molester? You need to know these things in order to protect yourself, your family, and your business" ; this is the 2003 version of their site.) If these are our inquiries in everyday life, it is a wonder that these are considered irrelevant in a criminal case. The phrase 'protection' above is signifying and deserves close thinking. Here is an other example with a legal niche: in 2003 again at West London an Indian businessman – Amarjit Chouhan along with his family was murdered. The UK police arrested two English men – examining whose past records – the police had come to the conclusion that the two were ' violent' and 'dangerous'. Now violent and dangerous are apparently morally negative characteriological traits of a person, but in the eyes of the Law - they having surveyed the behavioral history of the individuals—are historical decisions with legal consequences and not immediately moral ones ( the use of 'history' in law is already a disputed territory). Here character does not stand for popular evaluative common sense conceptions of good-bad, right- wrong etc, because no incentives are there for being a morally better person ( his crimes will still be tried) instead there is a sense that immoral behaviour is more a threat to society's security than a moral one; infact there is a legal -blame worthiness in the sense a repeated offence might ensure more stringent punishment. If our recommendation to include the character of the convict is accepted, in that case reinvoking the case of Amarmani Tripathi, any past conviction will also add a dimension to this. This is clearly explicated in I.E.A ( Section 54, Explanation 2) : 'A previous conviction is relevant as evidence of bad character'. This statement proves again that character in the I.E.A does not derive from ordinary or mere moral precepts as the Law Commission et.al understand it but has special techno-legal value. Let us extend this argument to the sphere of Indian politics : wasn't this the clause we are pressing through a bill in a different form-for the knowledge of the pasts of our political representatives to be delivered to the people?—or else why are we concerned about their past convictions?—even their moral history held in their 'clean' images—in short –their ' characters'? Because we are invoking the moralization of politics ( that politics should not violate moral norms), - aren't we? We are moved by the current demoralization of politics, but at the same time—it is peculiar we are about to argue in favour of the de-moralization of Law -that law and morality should be separate ( which is in reality a rational illusion of modernity)—not knowing that the demoralization of politics is only a step further! To be more concrete—what has been considered a relevant inquiry for a political representative is irrelevant for an ordinary citizen? This is awfully undemocratic and politically self defeating. 2.IMMORAL CHARACTER, WHERE THEN? The model of this debate was set when a British judge- Lord Devlin while responding to the report of the Committee on homosexual Offenses and Prostitution argued, " without shared ideas on politics, morals, and ethics no society can exist…..therefore with " recognized morality" being present , legislation against immorality is indispensable to prevent the disintegration of society … Criminal Law exists for the protection of society, not as the …Wolfenden Report asserted, for the protection of the individual." The Wolfenden report in turn had asserted that " there must remain a realm of private morality and immorality which is …not the law's business." There is nothing wrong with private immorality; immorality unless it harms others or else is public is at par with the liberty of individuals. For example , I might be a homosexual - while my community—legal community in which I live, sees homosexuality as immorality; if I 'm engaged in homosexual acts in private—outside the purview of the public eye—perhaps in the bedroom, the state will not intervene; but if I pursue it as a particular kind of lifestyle openly and demand rights for the same the state needs to intervene and negotiate. ( It is necessary to read the references to character through reputation in the I.E.A by not separating it from its appropriate contexts. It clearly states ( in Explanation-55) that 'in Section 52, 53, 54 and 55, the word ' character' includes both reputation and disposition; but except as provided in Section 54, evidence may be given of only a general reputation and general disposition and not of particular acts by which reputation or disposition was shown.') There are two or three factors at stake here: while the Indian Evidence Act speaks about bad reputation in general --clearly tells about reputation that hasn't grown out of private immorality; if I've been privately and secretly immoral how do I come to have a (dis)'reputation' and be known as immoral? Further, reputation has nothing to do with (moral) sexual acts only; one can earn ill repute just because s/he is cruel to the animals or a swindler or a black money maker. A girl when walks with a half bare bosom ( agreeably -a private part) or a boy exhibits something from his private 'inventory'—it is said to be an event of public immorality ( indecency) which violates group or civic morality; it is possible to go further and argue that the girl or the boy outrages her/ his own modesty when s/he does so. In this sense - that one must be free to lead any sort of life one wants to - stands for all and nothing: a married woman/ man if does not respect marriage as a moral contract and justifies fornication by her/his actions cannot be accepted on grounds of her freedom or she being privately immoral and therefore to be tolerated by all. It is on the question of character at times -- that a suit of divorce is successfully filed and won even by submitting the burden of proof, and no way it can be argued that if a wife files a suit of divorce because her husband has been adulterous, she should be taught that law has nothing to do with morality and one can be privately immoral and she should have inquired whether her hubby had taken enough caution to be secretive. This is just ridiculous! Secondly, that one's character is a private matter and the Law should not interfere in matters private has been disputed most by the feminists themselves. By saying ' personal is political' ( though Ive extensively written on how this collapses the personal and the private) they took so called private matters for public legislation; the issue of maritalrape was brought to light by their incessant efforts.If they were to be satisfied with the immorality that can be safely practiced in private, they would not have called forth for legislation on the consensual validity of conjugal copulation that obviously does not take place in public. 3. CHARACTER—A MORAL QUESTION! REALLY? However, their substantive answer to my objections could be something like this: Law looses it's legal character if it is lead by the axioms of morality; it will see to the illegality of the event in question rather than the immorality of the event. An immoral 'victim' and a perpetrator with a sound moral history should be considered equals before the eyes of the Law. Legality and morality are two different things. Justice has to do only with legality and not morality. Long back it was Karl Marx who had told us most emphatically—how Law is not just Law; it is out and out political. Again it is the works of one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century—Jurgen Habermas—which have reminded us that it is through the political legislature - which is the law making body—that morality and politics enter into law through the back door perhaps,(remember the Shah Banu controversy); and it is simply an illusion that law and morality, law and politics, or law and society are internally separate and separable. Further –if Law apart from having to have compulsory legal validity ( i.e it's equally enforceable for all and whose violation will entail punishment) is to have normative or social validity—that is--if it is to be seen as 'just' - has to negotiate - with the moral expectations of a population and seek consensus through argument. - or otherwise as has been pointed out how would Nazi laws, even retrospectively, be questioned? If law is to justify itself in the eyes of all affected and gain social validity apart from legal validity, then the 'Law is Law' slogan is simply dangerous. The Nazi laws can be questioned only on grounds of morality and politics. And morality-- if not brought within the purview of law will never get tested of it's own validity in terms of human rights or gender sensitivity. Nivedita Menon reminds us, how the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment decided to overrule a tribal custom where rape had been a customary practice - by saying that there cannot be any customary practice which could override certain basic human rights of individuals. Therefore various moralities—belonging to the individual or groups—will never be tested if a rigorous demarcation is maintained between law & morality. But these are all arguments as to how law will mislead itself if it were to avoid the question of character in a case of sexual assault or a rape trial—and through this amendment—apparently-- it has taken that route; what remains to be known is the effect of this amendment on the citizen. 5. CONCLUSION Let us see the consequences of this argument for the citizen- individual:. Once upon a time someone called Mendelville had proposed the models of the bad citizen and the good citizen. The model of the bad citizen entails – he recognizes only legal obligations, so is always on the lookout for a chance to violate it safely: the moment he makes it sure that he will not be caught in the act of breaking the law, he goes along. A good citizen irrespective of the vigil of the law, being inspired by moral obligations—does not violate prohibitions. Therefore following this if you were to have only legal obligations, you would not rape only when you're sure you'll be caught in the act of violation; the moment I can make it sure otherwise, I would be up with my talent. But it is sure we don't rape not because we have a legal obligation, but also because a moral obligation not to do so. A binary distinction between legality and morality will produce more people with legal obligations only—and reinforce the model of the bad citizen-- and the consequence understandably is dangerous. Therefore, such an amendment which seeks to delete all questions regarding character or the moral history of an individual, indirectly by its long hand, discourages citizens to adopt 'justified' moral behaviour at all. Take the ( 2002 onwards) drive by the Kolkata police to arrest men folk who 'annoy' and ' harass' women standing by the roadside – waitng for buses, through 'indecent' proposals. A lot of men were arrested but lately the police were not so pleased to find that a lot of women folk ( you know who they are) do invite clients that way and for them 'wise' women are being proposed and harassed from no where. The moment the police started picking some of those women too—there was protest from 'concerned'quarters and the move was abandoned.However it is the case in which the ordinary women themselves condemn the actions of some women for whom they are being propositioned and harassed. Now, such an amendment which seeks to delete all questions regarding character or the moral history of an individual, indirectly by its long hand, discourages citizens to adopt 'justified' moral behaviour at all. The conclusion that can be derived is this: - the woman who wears revealing clothes, tries to sleep her way to the top—(no matter if it is furthered by criminals and politicians) and gets assaulted, raped or murdered, and the woman who does not do so and goes all along with community's 'positive' morality-- but still is harassed, assaulted or raped --- the law shall be doing grave injustice to the latter woman - if it places both of them on the same plane by not distinguishing between the differing behavioral dispositions of the two individuals. Then the second woman in particular is prone to do this kind of a reasoning, "well, if my actions, dispositions, or reputation does not matter and am placed equally with that (wo)man, why should I at all lead a moral life in a community?" Same with the men who are (sexually) corrupt, cunning and yet successful. Virtuous men tend to loose to the 'ways of the world'. So our point is - this amendment discredits those who tend to live according to the 'justified' or justiciable moral standards of their communities and civic life, and discourages future moral behaviour from citizens because they will understand that that won't be recognized. "If my honesty is not credited at some point of time—particularly in times of crisis, why should I at all be honest?" While this is one aspect, millions of women who have been forced for various external reasons to become- for example –prostitute/sex sellers ( excluding the call girl and their client syndrome who-- I argue elsewhere, should be summarily persecuted under a moral regime); would they be discriminated against? Here, the alleged rape of a prostitute raises difficult questions and needs extensive discussion and interpretation. If their character is considered—which will be immoral according to certain standards, then would raping them be considered a lesser crime? I can just attempt an answer here but begin by saying that for us this is a false question. In terms of a moral-ethical ideal-argument, prostitution is something beyond any defense and asks for its outright annihilation. But if this gives a semblance to some that I'm avoiding engagement with the question, then let me clarify that here we are pulled into a blind alley : the morality test has to be neutralized and, for consolation's sake, it is done in this manner. I've proposed a matrix where the character test would be made gender neutral. And there is also a hint that character would be understood to stand for an inventory of stable dispositions of an individual over time emptied of it's normative or moral judgmental contents ( who might not be absolutely consistent but coherent). Following that – the question of immorality would have a descriptive reckoning. But if we want to retain the force of morality for possibility's or simplicity's sake, then invoking that --consider where the convict alleges that the complainant woman is a prostitute and is therefore of established loose morals and is lying; they have had usual paid sex, there was some brawl on the payment when the woman charged extra money after sex and he had denied ( nowhere do these people claim that raping the prostitutes has had been their right - as some wrongly contend). Now the courtly indictment for the other (male) side could be- "well, that the woman is of loose morals is okay, but how do you having been of strict morals visited her for sex?"( With this we support the recent proposed ( as changes to the PITA) arrest of customers visiting them.) When it becomes obvious that both can be constructed as immoral, the morality test is neutralised and other considerations resume. But to start to recognise the violation of the prostitutes, one cannot but take into account their different life or living style; their identity has to be established first : and this falls well in line with our main proposal and Anil Biswas is again correct. Armed with this correctness – we could recommend – for the time being-- the following -- 1) The amendment deleting section 155(4) should be nullified by a newer amendment and stress should be given on Section 151& 152 because they suffice to restore discursive justice by confronting harassment in the courtroom. 2) Section 155(4) should be revised to entail inquiry into the moral character/sexual history of both the complainant and the alleged perpetrator of the sexual assault and provided the perpetrator is male - the inquiry should be made more stringent and more rigorously applied. ( As explicated before, character, situation, past and present lifestyle should be adequately linked and integrated into the identity of the complainant and the defendant.) 3) In case of complainants with sexual identities like the sex sellers—legal protection should be doubled and rape in their case has to be theorized differently from the general civilian women given the complex nature of the formers' sexual consent which can be bought. There is no proviso in Indian rape laws as to this double bind. The rape of a sex seller – to understand it differently—a beginning has to be made but that again has to account for her different 'way of life or living -style': this has to be written into our legal discourse. ______________________ From theunderscoredhood at gmail.com Thu May 29 11:12:48 2008 From: theunderscoredhood at gmail.com (Raheema Begum) Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 11:12:48 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Mobs are not the people. Message-ID: When in Rome, be yourself. *[Where do you want to go today?]* http://whosebody.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/another-day/ ------------------------------------------------- *Trafficking labels* is another level in the labels paradigm.If you have been following this trail of mails and want to know more, then join the e-group (http://groups.google.com/group/labelsthinktank) or write in at this address or at project.labels at gmail.com. -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' From virtuallyme at gmail.com Thu May 29 17:20:04 2008 From: virtuallyme at gmail.com (Rohan DSouza) Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 17:20:04 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Gated Communities in Bangalore Message-ID: <79e82f610805290450g154ea776n8f9950eef96a8736@mail.gmail.com> Hi, The Bangalore City Corporation recently came out with a notification (full notification below the body of the mail) where it directed 'gated communities' to provide access to the roads inside the layouts to the general public, who don't stay in it. This is an interesting development, both from the point of view of the authorities challenging the concept of gated communities ("It is hereby brought to the public notice that under the Town and Country Planning Act, there is no such concept of a "Gated Community") and critiquing how the are being established and maintained ("have established barricade preventing entry of vehicles and pedestrians and have also put up boards mentioning that entry is restricted.. They have even posted guards to prevent people from using the road.") Their edict ("establishing barricades and preventing general public from using the internal road of a layout is against the law.") drives the point home that such layouts cannot deny access to the public especially in the use of the roads in the layouts. It is interesting to see what the reactions of the residents of these communities will be. In most cases the purchase has been made to afford them the privacy and privileges of an access controlled space. Gated community in terms of access, are similar to spaces such as the Special Economic Zones, which is a concept mooted and implemented by the government. However in such colonies/communities, the concept seems to have arisen from the demand of the upwardly mobile Indian upper middle classes and catered to by the real estate industry. So far a blind eye has been turned by authorities to this phenomenon, in a way giving it tacit approval. But this notification seems to have changed that, at least for the time being. It will be interesting to try and understand what triggered this notice, especially given the fact that such gated communities have been operating for years together. Is it the recent controversy over the usage of a road in the Agricultural University campus? That being a government run institution, with its control by the institution being challenge by the residents living in a layout near it. ( http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008041255420100.htm&date=2008/04/12/&prd=th& ) This move also brings up the question of access and control of common spaces in an urban context. What exactly gives a community control over a common space. Those living in these gated communities claim that in most cases, no maintenance of roads and other infrastructure is done by the government bodies and therefore the get it done and thus access an its control should be theirs. However the ownership of such spaces in most cases, is normally either with the government bodies such as the municipal corporation, revenue department or the panchayat. Only the plots are owned by the individuals. In a place like Bangalore, where public spaces such as tanks and parks are increasingly being leased to private parties under the guise of maintenance, thus denying access to a large section of the populace, its intriguing to note this move of the city corporation, which is actually (re?) opening up public spaces. Rgds, Rohan * The notice:* Date: 20.05.2008 PUBLIC NOTICE LAYOUTS ESTABLISHING BARRICADE AND PREVENTING USE BY GENERAL PUBLIC PROHIBITION-REGARDING It is noticed that several layouts within the old BMP area and the erstwhile CMC area have established barricade preventing entry of vehicles and pedestrians and have also put up boards mentioning that entry is restricted.. They have even posted guards to prevent people from using the road. Such layouts generally call themselves as "Gated community". It is hereby brought to the public notice that under the Town and Country Planning Act, there is no such concept of a "Gated Community". Once when any layout is formed, the roads in the said layout automatically come under the jurisdiction of the respective municipal corporation the general public has free access to use the roads within the layout. Hence, establishing barricades and preventing general public from using the internal road of a layout is against the law. All such barricades and boards established shall be removed forthwith failing which the jurisdiction engineers have been instructed to remove the barricade and the boards. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike can also prosecute the person/association if such barricades and boards are erected. Citizens can lodge complaints with the jurisdictional Zonal Additional / Joint Commissioners, Bruhat Bangalore Mahnagara Palike, if layouts prevent using of the roads. Sd/- Commissioner Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike From theunderscoredhood at gmail.com Fri May 30 13:46:05 2008 From: theunderscoredhood at gmail.com (Raheema Begum) Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 13:46:05 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] One thousand and counting! Message-ID: Ladies and Gentlemen, We are now one thousand hits and counting on One State Solution Blog and to celebrate this grand occasion we are auctioning off our blog to bidders with the highest interest in being a part of our live-stock. To know more hit http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/celebrating-the-day-we-hit-1000/ One thousand and one, one thousand and two... -- labels- http://whosebody.wordpress.com Kauntext- http://raahi.wordpress.com One State Solution- http://onestatesolution.wordpress.com --------------------------------------------------------------- 'On the just and unjust alike it doth rain, and the quality of mercy is not strained.' From dissemination.jbnaudy at gmail.com Fri May 30 15:11:35 2008 From: dissemination.jbnaudy at gmail.com (Jean-Baptiste Naudy) Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 11:41:35 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] Activities: June 2008 In-Reply-To: <7E96CF1F-EE56-47C7-8FE7-5A85DF161B30@societerealiste.net> References: <7E96CF1F-EE56-47C7-8FE7-5A85DF161B30@societerealiste.net> Message-ID: <80561c450805300241k45580e4mf57c34ac88ccee66@mail.gmail.com> SOCIETE REALISTE Activities: June 2008. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TABLE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - i/ *PUBLICATIONS* *TRANSITIONERS APERIODICAL BULLETIN* The issue n°2 of Transitioners' Aperiodical Bulletin is now released and downloadable following this link . *MANIFESTA 6 DEPT III: ABSCHLUSSBALL *The *Contract of Discord* established during the collective Abschlussball project has been published as an insert to IDEA n°28 . ii/ *L'ARGENT* Collective exhibition OPENING: Sunday 15 JUN, from 15:00 to 20:00. Open through 17 AUG. Le Plateau , Place Hannah Arendt, 75019 PARIS iii/ *NA MI VAN?* Collective exhibition OPENING: Friday 20 JUN, from 18:00. Open through 31 AUG. Mucsarnok , Hősök tere, BUDAPEST iv/ *BE A HAPPY WORKER: WORK-TO-RULE!* Collective exhibition OPENING: Thursday 26 JUN Open through 20 JUL. Galerija Miroslav Kraljevic , Subiceva 29, ZAGREB v/ *COMMENTING L'ARGENT / MARKA* Public discussion: Emiliano Battista, Gal Kirn and Jorgos Papadopoulos. Saturday 28 JUN, 17:00 Le Plateau , Place Hannah Arendt, 75019 PARIS In collaboration with Academie Jan van Eyck . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CONTENT: *L'ARGENT* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Collective exhibition In an era dominated – in art, as elsewhere – by the omnipresent issue of profitability, this exhibition offers a partial survey of artistic approaches challenging the social role of money, from the early 20th century up until the present. This has been a great chance to bring together works by Manet, Yves Klein, Andy Warhol, Ernest T., Claire Fontaine, Société Réaliste and others. In the context of a rampant capitalism for which the power of the market is all, art is no longer just a sound investment or an aesthetic refuge. Now thoroughly – and symptomatically – integrated into the capitalist system, it can provide a better, faster return on investment than some top shares. In such a setting it is logical to give a hearing to artists, individually or in groups, whose work falls within the shadow of stock-market fluctuations. The exhibition L'Argent ("Money") comprises three complementary sections. It begins with a wall of photocopies of works of art addressing the money issue. In turn the public can take possession of the reproductions and touch works of art that very few institutions can afford to borrow. The exhibition then lingers over the period 1970–80, during which artists decided to infiltrate the institutional network and denounce the underhanded transactions that had become an everyday feature of the scene. In a third and final part, Le Plateau is given over to site-specific works focusing right now, in 2008, on the unique, universal touchstone that is money. *With works by*: Adel Abdessemed, Fikret Atay, Fabio Balducci & Sophie Calle, Iain Baxter, Philippe Cazal, Claude Closky, Moyra Davey, Wim Delvoye, Tracey Emin, Et n'est-ce *&/et, Malachi Farrell, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Sylvie Fleury, Claire Fontaine, Michel François, Gloria Friedmann, General Idea, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, David Hammons, Thomas Hirschhorn, IFP, Michel Journiac, Edward Kienholz & Nancy Reddin, Ben Kinmont, Olga Kisseleva, Arnaud Labelle-Rojoux, Suzanne Lafont, Matthieu Laurette, Bertrand Lavier, Louise Lawler, Zoe Leonard, Les ready-made appartiennent à tout le monde (R), Gilles Mahé, Kris Martin, Cildo Meireles, Annette Messager, Antoni Muntadas, Marylène Negro, Cady Noland, Orlan, Gabriel Orozco, Ouest-Lumière, Cesare Pietroiusti & Paul Griffith, Josephine Pryde, Claude Rutault, Seth Siegelaub, Santiago Sierra, Société Réaliste, Reena Spaulings, Ernest T, Taroop & Glabel, the Centre of Attention, Joana Vasconcelos, Dana Wyse, la Biennale de Paris. * Curated by*: Caroline Bourgeois and Elisabeth Lebovici. from Sunday 15 JUN to Sunday 17 AUG. Le Plateau , Place Hannah Arendt, 75019 PARIS On Sunday 28 JUN at 17:00, Le Plateau will host Emiliano Battista, Gal Kirn, Jorgos Papadopoulos and Société Réaliste to comment and reflect on the exhibition (*see below*). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CONTENT: *NA MI VAN?* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Collective exhibition *Na mi van?* (*What's Up?*) - *Contemporary Hungarian Art* is the conceptual umbrella under which several contemporary Hungarian art exhibitions and projects taking place in Budapest between July 21st – August 31st 2008 are gathered together in the organization of Műcsarnok / Kunsthalle Budapest. The nucleus of the structure is given by the large format exhibition with the same title, presented in Műcsarnok / Kunsthalle, which aims to set forth what is topical, novel and noteworthy in contemporary Hungarian art. The pursuit of latest developments of the local art scene as well as new framing perspectives are among its working methods. About twenty artists are asked to reflect on what concerns them nowadays and make that visible in the installation of their works. *With works by:* András Braun, László Csáki, Gábor Erdélyi, Kis Varsó, Gábor Arion Kudász, Ilona Lovas, Kamilla Szíj, Imre Bukta, Szabolcs Kiss Pál, SZAF / Miki Mécs & Judit Fischer, György Szász, Beatrix Szörényi, Péter Türk, Gyula Várnai, Róza El Hassan, Tibor Horváth, Tamás Kaszás, Antal Lakner, Pál Szacsvay, Société Réaliste. * Curated by:* Judit Angel and Zsolt Petrányi. from Friday 20 JUN to Sunday 31 AUG. Műcsarnok , Hősök tere, BUDAPEST - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CONTENT: *BE A HAPPY WORKER: WORK-TO-RULE!* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Collective exhibition The exhibition *Be a Happy Worker: Work-to-Rule!* considers different perspectives and concepts of work and labour, the 'slowing down' of work, touching upon the quality of work and life in the former and present working conditions, the global division of labour and creative reflections on industrial and postindustrial labour. On the other hand, the exhibition touches upon the nostalgia for the time of belief in industrial modernization, in the light of destinies of workers after the transformations and dissolving of the factories in East Europe. *With works by*: Mircea Cantor, Maja Cipek, Miklos Erhardt & Reinigungsgesellschaft, Igor Grubic, Sanja Ivekovic, Helmut & Johanna Kandl, Pavel Mrkus, Deimantas Narkevicius, Marion von Osten, Marija Mojca Pungercar, Societe Realiste, Mladen Stilinovic. * Curated by*: Ivana Bago and Antonia Majaca. from Thursday 26 JUN to Sunday 20 JUL. Galerija Miroslav Kraljevic , Subiceva 29, ZAGREB. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CONTENT: *COMMENTING L'ARGENT / MARKA* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Public discussion Emiliano Battista, Gal Kirn and Jorgos Papadopoulos will reflect on the exhibition* L'Argent *from their specific point of view and action. *Emiliano Battista*, (Buenos Aires, 1973) researcher in theory at *Jan van Eyck Academie* (Maastricht), he has graduated from *Université Catholique de Louvain*. Translator, his work focuses on the anti-aesthetic theories of Jean-François Lyotard and Alain Badiou, and the defence of aesthetics by Jacques Rancière. *Gal Kirn*, (Ljubljana, 1980), researcher in theory at *Jan van Eyck Academie*, member of the *Circle for Lacanian Ideology Critique*, he is currently writing a critical book on a contemporary lecture of Althusser's work. PhD candidate at *University of Nova Gorica* (Slovenia) and editor-in-chief of *Agregat* (Ljubljana). *Jorgos Papadopoulos*, (Athens, 1975), economist, researcher in theory at *Jan van Eyck Academie*, member of the *Circle for Lacanian Ideology Critique*, he is working on the psychoanalysis of money and the ideological critique of financial capitalism. Graduated from *Erasmus Universiteit* (Rotterdam) and *London School of Economics*. Saturday 28 JUN, 17:00 Le Plateau , Place Hannah Arendt, 75019 PARIS In collaboration with Academie Jan van Eyck . = SOCIETE REALISTE - intelligence at societerealiste.net - http://www.societerealiste.net -- ::: J.-B. Naudy - Cooperative SOCIÉTÉ RÉALISTE - Paris - http://www.societerealiste.net ::: From daisyhasan at yahoo.co.uk Fri May 30 20:25:16 2008 From: daisyhasan at yahoo.co.uk (Daisy Hasan) Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 14:55:16 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [Reader-list] Translations of Firaq Gorakhpuri's Poetry Message-ID: <48156.48763.qm@web25405.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Dear Friends,   This is just to let you know that my father's translations of Firaq Gorakhpuri are now out. Here are the details.   The Selected Poetry of Firaq Gorakhpuri translated by Noorul Hasan ( New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi,2008) with a Foreword by Harish Trivedi.ISBN 978-81-260-2531-2. pp.274 priced Rs.200/= Sales Office: Swati, Mandir Marg, New Delhi-110 001   Best Wishes, Daisy Hasan Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email. __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html From kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk Fri May 30 21:03:18 2008 From: kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk (Kashmir Affairs) Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 15:33:18 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [Reader-list] End of Pervez Musharraf; How soon, How Bad? In-Reply-To: <48156.48763.qm@web25405.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <17040.23183.qm@web27805.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> The end of President Musharraf: How Soon, How Bad? By Murtaza Shibli Editor, Kashmir Affairs, London www.kashmiraffairs.org     30th May 2008   In May 2006 while sitting at the house of Kashmiri resistance leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Srinagar on the Indian side of Kashmir, Geelani told me about his interesting meeting with President Musharraf at Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. After talking about the lack of international support for Kashmir, Musharraf sought Geelani’s support for his new Kashmir policy.  Irritated by his lecturing, when Geelani asked about the viability of his new policy, Musharraf retorted, “Bush and Blair are with me and they support this formula”. To Geelani’s further remark that it would not be acceptable to the people of Pakistan or Kashmiris, pat came the same reply of Bush and Blair support. With Tony Blair gone a while back and President Bush having not long to go, General Musharraf’s options are fast running out. And it seems that his end is very near.   The speculation of the end comes after the current Chief of the Army Staff, General Pervez Ashfaq Kayani held a three and a half hour long meeting with the President on Wednesday 28th May that went till midnight. According to the leading Pakistani daily The News, General Kayani looked his former boss ‘in the eye’ claiming that the ‘longest one-on-one encounter’ was significant ‘as it took place after day-long consultations of the Army chief with his important commanders’. A day earlier, General Kayani shifted Musharraf’s loyal commander Brigadier Aasim Bajwa from the elite Triple One Brigade; a group that has taken active part in all the previous military coups in the country’s turbulent history. In addition, the new Army chief removed and replaced the elite commandos that guarded the President’s security. Although the official version is that these transfers are routine, two of Pakistan’s top defence analysts and former Army Generals – General Talat Mahmood and General Mueen-ud-Din Haider have termed these replacements as extraordinary. It is important to note that these changes came only a few days after the rumours that President Musharraf was trying to replace the army chief through his Constitutional power as the President to appoint new Army Chief.       There are indications which suggest that Musharraf might be sent packing as soon as this weekend. According to the latest reports, special security has been put in place in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi ‘in view of significant impending developments’ and special contingents have also been deployed at important installations as well as the Army House. The former Army Chief General Mirza Aslam Beg is claiming that Musharraf has been put under virtual house arrest by the Army who is finalising his departure, possibly to Turkey. The News, a leading daily from Pakistan in one of its news reports claimed that a plane from a neighbouring country is waiting as the ‘packing at an important house in Rawalpindi is in full swing as the modalities have also been finalised for the exit of the significant family.’   The situation has changed dramatically over the past few days as the Persident is being further isolated politically. Last week, Asif Zardari, the main leader of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) threw caution to winds and openly attacked Musharraf calling him as part of the problem and asked for his resignation. When his attention was driven towards rising price of commodities and growing public anger, his response that people can bear the price rise but they cannot bear the presence of Pervez Musharraf in the office anymore. According to Pakistani observers, Zardari hardened his stand against President Musharraf due to growing public anger and impatience with the restoration of judiciary that PPP and its leading ally Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had promised during their election campaign. The government’s failure to restore judges has already created fissures in the coalition as PML-N ministers resigned in protest, putting PPP leadership under public scanner.   There is also growing media pressure on the PPP government for the restoration of judiciary and many news reports and commentators have directed their anger towards Asif Zardari for the failure to oust Musharraf or restore judiciary. There is anger within the PPP ranks as well. This was evident in a recent PPP meeting headed by the co-chair Asif Zardari wherein many party leaders led a virtual revolt on these issues. Many PPP members believe that going soft with President Musharraf is eroding the party image and that of the newly formed government. Responding to the public anger and political pressure, the PPP announced last week that it was cutting President’s powers through a comprehensive constitutional amendment, turning him from an all-powerful leader into a ceremonial figurehead. Asif Ali Zardari’s changed stance on President was reflected by the Prime Minister Gilani who  in his latest statement did not rule out the possibility of impeachment against the President saying that his government can manage the required support from the law makers.   Although the US is still backing Musharraf and pushing for direct talks between Asif Zardari and the President Musharraf, there is hardly any incentive for Zardari. In fact, such a route is fraught with umpteen dangers as the pressure from multiple sources to dispense with the painful Musharraf legacy is growing. The visible American support is also going against Musharraf as he is seen as a total US stooge with hardly any appeal or utility for the Pakistani masses. Following its path of strategic blunders in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush administration is obsessed with Musharraf at the cost of eroding US influence in the region. It is no surprise that despite pumping billions of dollars in aid and assistance during the last 60 years of Pakistan’s existence, majority of Pakistanis have a highly unfavourable view of the United States. Suspected ‘American hand’ is an alibi for all the failures and pathologies that haunt Pakistan today. By supporting Musharraf’s undemocratic and dictatorial rule, the US has even lost support and goodwill of the secular civil society of Pakistan that has been spearheading a movement for social change and independent judiciary. Presenting a slice of Pakistani feelings, the Pakistani newspapers, web forums and blogs are littered with anti-American feelings and how Pakistan’s civil society and intelligentsia feel betrayed by the US through its support to a President that is widely resented and hated. It is widely believed that it is due the American support that Musharraf is still holding on to his presidency and many Pakistanis have termed it as the insult for their nation that voted against dictatorship and overwhelmingly chose secular politicians to lead the country. Referring to the US influence in Pakistan, one of the Pakistan’s senior and secular politician Rasool Baksh Palejo claimed that Pakistan will become America’s Waterloo and prove more disastrous than Iraq and Afghanistan.   As the pressure on the President mounts, the US and the Western support may not be able to sustain Musharraf for long and his ‘Bush and Blair’ blurb seems to have lost relevance. Emboldened by the actions of new Army chief as well as the continuing public anger, the politicians are now calling for Musharraf’s head. While the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief has repeated his demand for impeachment, the PPP is also toeing a hard line with the party chief Asif Zardari calling him the main impediment between the public and the government. Shahbaz Sharief, senior leader of the PML-N has called upon Musharraf to step down immediately or else he will be dragged out of his throne with no honour left. Another senior leader and head of the party in largest province Punjab, Zulfiqar Khosa has gone further and demanded that Musharraf should be put on exit control list and banned from leaving the country. He has also called for full investigation into the ‘crimes’ committed by the Musharraf regime and flayed those are talking about safe passage for the President. The angry voices that call for President Musharraf’s head will be further strengthen as the lawyers movement is preparing for a country wide ‘long march’ against the government’s failure to reinstate judges widely perceived to be opposed by the US administration. The planned march would be led by the PPP leader and prominent lawyer Atizaz Ahsan, who has also called for trail of President Musharraf.   The current situation has forced Musharraf’s once close political allies into retreat. The Pakistan Muslim Qaid (PML-Q) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have been strong supporters of the President in the past, but are watching the current developments without offering him any support. The indications are that the crisis might force the new civilian government and the Army to act together and perhaps remove the sticky president by force. Such a move would prove highly popular and reinstate the public image of both the Army and Pakistan People’s Party and its government. Many leading newspapers are also calling for Musahrraf to resign. Pakistan’s leading Urdu daily Nawa-i-Waqt, in an editorial headlined "King Musharraf," said he was running out of options and should learn a lesson from Nepal's King Gyanendra, who was forced out as monarch this week after its parliament voted to make the country a republic. Another influential English daily, The Daily Times also advised the President to resign adding that by delaying his departure, Musharraf would "only add to the number of his opponents and make them increasingly determined." The odds are heavily staked against the former elite Army commando turned President whose space for any manoeuvre is shrinking by the moment.   The pressure is also building on General Musahrraf to leave the Army House, his chosen seat of power, despite his retirement as the Army Chief last year. Scores of retired Army Generals including his former colleagues and mentors recently launched a public campaign to force him out of the Army House. To humiliate him further, a petition was submitted in the court to remove him from the illegal possession of the building. According to some reports, the new Army Chief General Kayani has also asked Musharraf to leave the Army House and wait for his fate in the Presidential House. Indications are that the President Musharraf is leaving the Army House, but his move into the Presidential Palace is highly uncertain. As the whole country is gunning for his blood, the distance between the Musharraf and his new seat of power is getting wider. It seems his career may be extinguished soon and he may never reach the Presidential Palace.       The writer is Srinagar born security and political analyst based in London. He is also editor of quarterly Kashmir Affairs – www.kashmiraffairs.org __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html From rana at ranadasgupta.com Sat May 31 08:55:08 2008 From: rana at ranadasgupta.com (Rana Dasgupta) Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 08:55:08 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Surviving Globalization Message-ID: <4840C514.7060609@ranadasgupta.com> An essay I wrote recently about globalization, paranoia, apocalypse and the reconstruction of human society. :-) http://www.ranadasgupta.com/texts.asp?text_id=44 R