From shuddha at sarai.net Tue Dec 1 00:27:26 2009 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:27:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok: The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold In-Reply-To: <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com> References: <78323d480911291011x3de51aa9rfea3276d138fcf94@mail.gmail.com> <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <8415F91B-F4FA-41DE-81A5-EDA7E9B3D98B@sarai.net> The CIA had infiltrated the refugee lines in Marichjhaanpi ? The ISI has infiltrated the RSS? The Protocol of the Elders of Zion is actually the Constitution of India? The KGB runs Kentucky Fried Chicken? The Foreign Hand is the Match Fixer? The Mossad is running Ramdev? Ramdev controls the Pope? The Reader List is actually a conspiracy hatched by little green men from Mars? The Minarets in Switzerland are missiles? Transparency, when it happens through other agencies, is Opacity? On 30-Nov-09, at 11:53 PM, A. Mani wrote: > On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 9:32 PM, saswati ghosh > wrote: >> dear all, >> it is most unfortunate that we had to wait for amitav ghosh to >> write a novel >> in english to have an all-India reaction on marichjhapi!!! >> there were responses AT THAT time as well. the far left, >> particularly the >> students, responded. some far-left students from jadavpur >> university tried >> to reach that place, even by swimming across when denied ferry >> services. I >> don't now where those friends are now, may be settled in the west as >> well-placed engineers!!! > >> yes there is a caste aspect in the marichjhapi story. the caste >> question in >> the left-socialist bengal has always been a latent issue. I think, >> the > > Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal. There are two main > aspects in the marichjhapi story: > > 1. Mismanagement of the refugee problem by the Left Government. Due to > resource constraints, the Govt realised that they could not offer much > support to the refugees in Dandakarnya. But entry into the state was > allowed - this was a mistake (they were explicitly warned of 'no Govt > support', though). Most of the village people in West Bengal resisted > their entry and many violent incidents did take place. > > The police action was intended to evict the refugees from Marichjhapi > and also to arrest particular merceneries. > > 2. The involvement of the CIA and related agencies (who apparently had > infiltrated the refugee lines) in organising armed training camps was > also a major reason for the police action. The CIA may never > declassify documents relating to their involvement (and when they > operate through other agencies, then it is not usually transparent). > > All decisions by the Left Government were taken on the basis of > feedback from the ground level. Within the CPI(M) party all these > aspects were debated in detail and > many did not want a direct police action. > > Direct casualties in action were limited. It is also true that most > of the party people regard the forced eviction as the biggest mistake > ever. > > There are no parallels with any other later-day incident. > > You can try claiming that the villagers in South Bengal were > 'casteist', but it is not true. > > Best > > A. Mani > > > -- > A. Mani > ASL, CLC, AMS, CMS > http://www.logicamani.co.cc > _________________________________________ > 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 a.mani.cms at gmail.com Tue Dec 1 06:11:59 2009 From: a.mani.cms at gmail.com (A. Mani) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 05:41:59 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] New Site for some info on US Terror Operations Message-ID: <78323d480911301641n1e2619f7t8b0c097471d9c8a7@mail.gmail.com> Full report at http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15468 Excerpts: "journalists, activists, and corporate researchers will be able to use the Internet site SpiesForHire.org to track the nation’s most important intelligence contractors." "But there's a big piece missing from the national debate about spying: the role of private intelligence contractors. After journalist Tim Shorrock’s 2008 investigation, U.S. officials confirmed that 70 percent of the U.S. intelligence budget goes directly to private companies working under contract to the CIA, the NSA, and other agencies. With the U.S. intelligence budget estimated at $60 billion a year, the outsourced business of intelligence is a $45 billion annual industry." "Halliburton’s lucrative Iraqi reconstruction contracts, CACI International’s civilian interrogators at Abu Ghraib, and Blackwater’s (now Xe) shooting of noncombatants in Baghdad—to name a few. Less well known is U.S. contractor involvement in Latin America, for example in executing the U.S. war on drugs in countries like Colombia. This site will, for the first time, expose the size and scope of the private sector’s influence on U.S. intelligence agencies—and the government’s unsettling efforts to hide the facts." .... but we have lot of information about the channels they use including 'NGOs', 'voluntary non political organizations', 'political ones', 'corporates' and of course 'mercenaries' to subvert and tame third world countries including India. Best A. Mani -- A. Mani ASL, CLC, AMS, CMS http://www.logicamani.co.cc From sudeep.ks at gmail.com Tue Dec 1 09:57:15 2009 From: sudeep.ks at gmail.com (Sudeep K S) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:57:15 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok: The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold In-Reply-To: <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com> References: <78323d480911291011x3de51aa9rfea3276d138fcf94@mail.gmail.com> <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 11:53 PM, A. Mani wrote: > > Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal. You know what, CPM has been saying the same about Kerala also. What a coincidence! > There are two main > aspects in the marichjhapi story: > > 1. Mismanagement of the refugee problem by the Left Government. Due to > resource constraints, the Govt realised that they could not offer much > support to the refugees in Dandakarnya. But entry into the state was > allowed - this was a mistake (they were explicitly warned of 'no Govt > support', though). Most of the village people in West Bengal resisted > their entry and many violent incidents did take place. > > The police action was intended to evict the refugees from Marichjhapi > and also to arrest particular merceneries. > > 2. The involvement of the CIA and related agencies (who apparently had > infiltrated the refugee lines) in organising armed training camps was > also a major reason for the police action. The CIA may never > declassify documents relating to their involvement (and when they > operate through other agencies, then it is not usually transparent). > > All decisions by the Left Government were taken on the basis of > feedback from the ground level. Within the CPI(M) party all these > aspects were debated in detail and > many did not want a direct police action. > > Direct casualties in action were limited. It is also true that most > of the party people regard the forced eviction as the biggest mistake > ever. > Could you substantiate the above two "main aspects" of your version of the Marichjhapi story? Or shall we say this story of yours is completely fictitious and biased, without any research going into it? (The Kerala CPM also says "CIA" and 'foreign hand' whenever there is anything spoken against them.). There are no parallels with any other later-day incident. > Ok -- drawing parallels is the job of those who get to hear stories. Let them do it. You can try claiming that the villagers in South Bengal were > 'casteist', but it is not true. > Again, what is the basis of this claim? Going back to your allegation of the blog post being biased, what do you say about the bias of the media and the academia who chose to remain silent about it? It was fun seeing you getting so touchy and trying to get away with huge claims like "Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal". Let me repeat my request once again: please do some rich research on this and tell us the stories that still remain untold. I will be happy to hear that. Saswati, thanks for throwing some more light into this whole episode. Regards Sudeep From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 1 12:42:23 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:12:23 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?VideoChannel=3A_Christmas_feature_20?= =?iso-8859-1?q?09_--=3E_Found_Footage!?= Message-ID: <20091201081224.EE9C35AA.3A113857@192.168.0.2> VideoChannel Cologne is happy the launch on 1 December its Christmas feature 2009 online, entitled: "Found Footage!" "Found footage is a filmmaking term which describes a method of compiling films partly or entirely of footage which has not been created by the filmmaker, and changing its meaning by placing it in a new context. The term refers to the "found object" (objet trouvé) of art history." [Wikipedia] The show includes 50 video works curated by Wilfried Agricola de Cologne featuring these artists/directors --> Agricola de Cologne (Germany), Borja Alexandre (Spain), Michael Brynntrup (Germany), Jon Keith Brunelle (USA), Maria Canas (Spain), Larry Caveney (USA) Sebastian Clej (Romania), John Criscitello (USA), Dr. Boston (USA) Bill Domonkos (USA), Angie Eng (USA), Clint Enns (Canada) Enrique Freaza (Spain), Rajorshi Ghosh (USA), Doron Golan (Israel) Juan David Gonzalez Monroy (Colombia), Grace Graupe-Pillard (USA) Constantin Hartenstein (Germany), Denise Hood (USA), Leslie Huppert (Germany) Andrea Huyoff (Germany), Katrina Inagaki (USA), Jeremiah Jones (USA) Ellen Lake (USA), Irad Lee (Israel), Fumiko Matsuyama (Japan) Alistair McClymont (UK), Alexander Mouton (USA), Owen Mundy (USA) Toban Nicols (USA), Jonas Nilsson (SWE), Jun Ho Oh (South Korea) Renata Padovan (Brazil), Lobo Pasolini (Brazil), Joao Ricardo (Portugal) Jasper Rigole (Belgium), Joshua Rosenstock (USA), Benjamin Rosenthal (USA) LoBo Pasolini (Brazil), Johanna Reich (Germany), Anthony Rousseau (France) Davor Sanvincenti (Croatia), Benjamin Schultz-Figueroa (USA), Jennifer Schwed (USA), Ran Slavin (Israel), Dennis Summers (USA), Sonja Vuk (Croatia) Philip Widmann (Germany), James Woodward (USA), Andreas Zingerle (Austria) VideoChannel Cologne and its team wish all its visitors, friends and partners happy hours while surfing through the "Found Footage! universe, a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Peaceful New Year 2010. ----------------------------------------------------------- VideoChannel Cologne http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is a corporate part of [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne - www.nmartproject.net - the experimental platform for art and new media - which will celebrate in 2010 its 10th anniversary! info[at]nmartproject.net ----------------------------------------------------------- From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 1 14:18:10 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:48:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam In-Reply-To: <54679.194.94.133.4.1259600051.webmail@portal.zedat.fu-berlin.de> Message-ID: <431048.20260.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Britta   The 'minaret ban' in Switzerland does validate itself under, what you have called, 'democratic mechanisms'. From first reports, there is little possibility of it being challenged on the basis of Constitutional Impropriety. If so, then it Legal.   The parallel you draw with Gujarat is incorrect. The alleged involvement of the Executive (the Govt. of Gujarat and it's officials) in the Anti Muslim Progrom in Gujarat, in it's legality, would be exactly the opposite of the Swiss referendum. It would be seen as ABUSE of 'democratic mechanisms' and Constitutional norms. It would be Illegal.   Your concern for "globally relevant anti-minority politics" is appreciable.   Unfortunately, very often people with such concerns demonstrate selectivity in their 'concerns'. Such hypocrisy renders their 'concerns' as hollow and without credibility.   I presume you are different.   I also presume that you have written/commented extensively on the Anti-Minority Politics in Muslim Majority Countries. Would be be kind enough to share such comments/commentaries.   Kshmendra --- On Mon, 11/30/09, ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de wrote: From: ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam To: "Aditya Raj Kaul" Cc: "sarai list" Date: Monday, November 30, 2009, 10:24 PM So far it's mainly the pogrom-atmosphere and readers' comments on newspaper websites that have the déjà vu-effect on me, but it might well be that Switzerland is also in a more substantial fashion on the way of becoming the Gujarat of Europe, and this is very scary, not least because it would prove that with Gujarat a new form of globally relevant anti-minority politics that does not seek to abolish but that essentially draws on democratic mechanisms has been established... Very concerned - Britta --------------------------------------- Dr. Britta Ohm Institute of Social Anthropology University of Bern Laenggassstr. 49a 3012 Bern Switzerland +41-(0)31-631 8995 (main office) +41-(0)31-631 8997 (direct line) britta.ohm at anthro.unibe.ch Solmsstr. 36 10961 Berlin Germany +49-(0)30-69507155 ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de >  Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam >  By Imogen Foulkes >  BBC News, Geneva > > Link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8386456.st From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 1 14:19:59 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:49:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam In-Reply-To: <54679.194.94.133.4.1259600051.webmail@portal.zedat.fu-berlin.de> Message-ID: <382281.78243.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Britta   The 'minaret ban' in Switzerland does validate itself under, what you have called, 'democratic mechanisms'. From first reports, there is little possibility of it being challenged on the basis of Constitutional Impropriety. If so, then it Legal.   The parallel you draw with Gujarat is incorrect. The alleged involvement of the Executive (the Govt. of Gujarat and it's officials) in the Anti Muslim Progrom in Gujarat, in it's legality, would be exactly the opposite of the Swiss referendum. It would be seen as ABUSE of 'democratic mechanisms' and Constitutional norms. It would be Illegal.   Your concern for "globally relevant anti-minority politics" is appreciable.   Unfortunately, very often people with such concerns demonstrate selectivity in their 'concerns'. Such hypocrisy renders their 'concerns' as hollow and without credibility.   I presume you are different.   I also presume that you have written/commented extensively on the Anti-Minority Politics in Muslim Majority Countries. Would be be kind enough to share such comments/commentaries.   Kshmendra --- On Mon, 11/30/09, ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de wrote: From: ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam To: "Aditya Raj Kaul" Cc: "sarai list" Date: Monday, November 30, 2009, 10:24 PM So far it's mainly the pogrom-atmosphere and readers' comments on newspaper websites that have the déjà vu-effect on me, but it might well be that Switzerland is also in a more substantial fashion on the way of becoming the Gujarat of Europe, and this is very scary, not least because it would prove that with Gujarat a new form of globally relevant anti-minority politics that does not seek to abolish but that essentially draws on democratic mechanisms has been established... Very concerned - Britta --------------------------------------- Dr. Britta Ohm Institute of Social Anthropology University of Bern Laenggassstr. 49a 3012 Bern Switzerland +41-(0)31-631 8995 (main office) +41-(0)31-631 8997 (direct line) britta.ohm at anthro.unibe.ch Solmsstr. 36 10961 Berlin Germany +49-(0)30-69507155 ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de >  Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam >  By Imogen Foulkes >  BBC News, Geneva > > Link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8386456.stm > From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 1 14:43:42 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 01:13:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?MESH_=E2=80=93_Maximising_Employment_to_S?= =?utf-8?q?erve_the_Handicapped?= Message-ID: <630994.18345.qm@web57203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> MESH – Maximising Employment to Serve the Handicapped     Mrs. Savitri is a weaver at the Physically Handicapped Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Sangli, Maharashtra suffers from leprosy but is learning to make scarves using wool for the first time.   Mr. Anbazhgan is a disabled wood-cutter, part of The Helen Keller wood carving group in Kalakurchi in Tamil Nadu, who is learning about the problems he could face with the use of an unfamiliar wood for an international client.   Mrs. Kankadurga works at Bethany Products, Bethany Leprosy Colony in Andhra Pradesh to create bed webbing that is used in the production of strong and beautiful bags.   Mr. Tarak Nath Roy of Susunia, West Bengal, is a gifted stone carver but disabled by polio.   The lives of these four artisans and several hundreds like them h From indersalim at gmail.com Tue Dec 1 16:39:27 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 16:39:27 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] on ART KARAVAN INTERNATIONAL Message-ID: <47e122a70912010309v550ba899w861b48fba2e6331d@mail.gmail.com> please press to read o n ART KARAVAN INTERATIOINAL in today's Indian express http://www.indianexpress.com/news/art-on-wheels/548253/ with regards love inder salim -- From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 1 17:12:29 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:42:29 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_1_December?= Message-ID: <20091201124229.C216C7FF.C991E800@192.168.0.2> 1 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->fleeting glimpse (street), by Johanna Reich (Germany)--> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for freee as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> in December in UK and Feb 2010 in India -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From 2tahamehmood at googlemail.com Tue Dec 1 17:56:50 2009 From: 2tahamehmood at googlemail.com (Taha Mehmood) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 12:26:50 +0000 Subject: [Reader-list] Sikh campaigner for BNP set to become party's first non-white member Message-ID: <65be9bf40912010426n55f96f02ie93edf3329697ef2@mail.gmail.com> 'enemy' of an 'enemy' is a friend- it seems t http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/20/sikh-man-bnp-member Sikh campaigner for BNP set to become party's first non-white member Rajinder Singh says he supports far-right party's anti-Islam stance * Haroon Siddique * guardian.co.uk, Friday 20 November 2009 14.47 GMT A Sikh man who has campaigned for the BNP in support of its anti-Islam stance has been put forward to be the party's first non-white member. Rajinder Singh, who is in his late 70s, has twice lent support to Nick Griffin during the British National party leader's court appearances and appeared in an election broadcast for the party in 2005. There have been suggestions that he could stand as a BNP candidate at next year's general election. Singh, who came to Britain in 1967, used to pen a regular column for the party's Freedom newspaper and has spoken at BNP meetings where he has been vehement in his criticism of Muslims, talking about his experiences at the partition of India in 1947. He was born in Lahore, which became part of Pakistan after partition, and blames Muslims for the death of his father during the bloody split of India. The BNP's senior members voted last weekend to hold a party-wide ballot on whether to allow non-white people to join. That followed the party's agreement to a court order last month to use all reasonable endeavours to revise its constitution so that it did not breach the equality bill in the face of a challenge to its membership policy by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Martin Wingfield, the communications officer for the party's two MEPs and the its prospective parliamentary candidate for Workington, wrote on his blog in support of admitting non-whites, and Singh in particular. "I say adapt and survive and give the brave and loyal Rajinder Singh the honour of becoming the first ethnic minority member of the BNP," wrote Wingfield. Singh, a former teacher from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, said he would be "honoured" to become a full member of the BNP. "I got in touch with the BNP on certain core policies that appeal to me," he told the Independent. "I also admire them since they are on their own patch and do not wish to let anyone else oust them from the land of their ancestors." In 2001, after the September 11 attacks on the US, he said he wanted to set up an Asian Friends of the BNP group to act as a supporting body and conduit for funds for people sympathetic to the party's anti-Islamic stance. A BNP spokesman said he would be "quite happy" to have Singh as a member, adding that the retired teacher recognised that he was a "guest of ours". "We have always maintained it's not really about skin colour, it's about ethnicity," he said. He emphasised that the party's membership list, suspended following last month's court order, remained closed for the time being. From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 1 19:03:44 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 05:33:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Sikh campaigner for BNP set to become party's first non-white member In-Reply-To: <65be9bf40912010426n55f96f02ie93edf3329697ef2@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <821680.23072.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I hope the idiot realises that 'Neo-Nazi skinheads' are often known to be unable to differentiate between different types of 'towelheads' --- On Tue, 12/1/09, Taha Mehmood <2tahamehmood at googlemail.com> wrote: From: Taha Mehmood <2tahamehmood at googlemail.com> Subject: [Reader-list] Sikh campaigner for BNP set to become party's first non-white member To: "Sarai Reader-list" Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 5:56 PM 'enemy' of an 'enemy' is a friend- it seems t http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/20/sikh-man-bnp-member Sikh campaigner for BNP set to become party's first non-white member Rajinder Singh says he supports far-right party's anti-Islam stance    * Haroon Siddique     * guardian.co.uk, Friday 20 November 2009 14.47 GMT A Sikh man who has campaigned for the BNP in support of its anti-Islam stance has been put forward to be the party's first non-white member. Rajinder Singh, who is in his late 70s, has twice lent support to Nick Griffin during the British National party leader's court appearances and appeared in an election broadcast for the party in 2005. There have been suggestions that he could stand as a BNP candidate at next year's general election. Singh, who came to Britain in 1967, used to pen a regular column for the party's Freedom newspaper and has spoken at BNP meetings where he has been vehement in his criticism of Muslims, talking about his experiences at the partition of India in 1947. He was born in Lahore, which became part of Pakistan after partition, and blames Muslims for the death of his father during the bloody split of India. The BNP's senior members voted last weekend to hold a party-wide ballot on whether to allow non-white people to join. That followed the party's agreement to a court order last month to use all reasonable endeavours to revise its constitution so that it did not breach the equality bill in the face of a challenge to its membership policy by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Martin Wingfield, the communications officer for the party's two MEPs and the its prospective parliamentary candidate for Workington, wrote on his blog in support of admitting non-whites, and Singh in particular. "I say adapt and survive and give the brave and loyal Rajinder Singh the honour of becoming the first ethnic minority member of the BNP," wrote Wingfield. Singh, a former teacher from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, said he would be "honoured" to become a full member of the BNP. "I got in touch with the BNP on certain core policies that appeal to me," he told the Independent. "I also admire them since they are on their own patch and do not wish to let anyone else oust them from the land of their ancestors." In 2001, after the September 11 attacks on the US, he said he want From vivek at sarai.net Tue Dec 1 19:37:43 2009 From: vivek at sarai.net (Vivek Narayanan) Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:37:43 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Almost Island: Issue 4 Message-ID: <4B15232F.9040609@sarai.net> Issue 4 of Almost Island: almostisland.com : feels like such an embarrassment of riches to me, I’m not exactly sure where to start. For one, we’re thrilled to present a generous selection of poems from Shrikant Verma’s Magadh, one of the most highly regarded books of Hindi poetry from the 1980s, in Rahul Soni’s sharp and invisibly dexterous translations. I have to say that this ranks among the best books of poetry I have ever read. Verma’s ambiguous invocations of half-mythical South Asian cities bring Borges and Cavafy automatically to mind, but there is also a canny and even bitter political outrage here that sets him apart. Bizarrely, Verma was a senior Congress Party functionary under Indira Gandhi in the late 70s and early 80s—it’s hard, for me at least, to resist reading Magadh as his way of speaking about some aspects of that close-up experience in the only way he could. We’re also equally thrilled to present a set of unpublished poems by Adil Jussawalla. He has long been, for many of us, a real and original hero of the Indian English poetry scene; his distinct approach to tone, sound and form has been a crucial influence. Moreover, I feel the new poems in this selection, like “An American Professor from the 1970s” or “Government Country”, could easily be included among Adil’s best poems. Then we have some younger writers. We have a goodly excerpt from Bhanu Kapil’s latest book of experimental fiction, Humanimal [ A Project for Future Children] (Kelsey Street Press, 2009). It’s an account—in more ways than one—of the “wolf girls of Midnapore”: two young girls found living with wolves in the 1920s who were brutally broken into civilized life. Searing, sinous, sometimes painful, it is itself a brave enactment of the body. We have selections from two manuscripts of poems by Mani Rao: the tough, intense and elliptical lyrics of Ghostmasters and the very different, lovely and erotic mytho-contemporary sketches of Gods 'R Us. We have two sets of poems from Zimbabwe-based Togara Muzanenhamo, one a selection from Spirit Brides, his luminous first collection (Carcanet, 2006) and, another, new, unpublished poems from a new manuscript. I’ve been struck by the subtle way in which Togara’s poems are arranged, but also—subjectively—how time and time again, through the unsaid, they create a sense of a doubled voice, a ghostly aftershadow. I’ve also been moved—in the poems that are set in Zimbabwe, for example—by how intently he draws us into inner and outer worlds beyond the simplistic trappings of “culture” or “place” on one hand, and, on the other, a country we think we know from the news. Then, we have texts from the Chinese writers who were in Delhi last March for the Almost Island Dialogues. We're excited to have new poems from Bei Dao, including some that he read at the Dialogues, in Eliot Weinberger’s characteristically distinctive translations. We also have work from two other leading (and very different) Chinese poets also associated with the journal Jintian —Ouyang Jianghe and Yongming Zhai— as well as a startling short story by Ge Fei, “Remembering Mr. Wu You”. Then, we reprint an amazing narrative essay, “1985”—required reading, I would say—by the influential critic Li Tuo, which addresses the spirit of the mid-1980s in Chinese art and literature in a remarkably direct way. Finally, we round out the issue with an essay by Ashis Nandy (a transcript of the talk he gave at the conference) and, “editorial sutras” by Sharmistha Mohanty, initiator and editor of Almost Island, which partly collage fragments of speech from the conference. I hope you find some or all of this valuable. Tell us what you think. Write to us and join our occasional newsletter at almostisland [dot ] edit [at-sign] gmail [dot] com . Vivek Narayanan [as Almost Island -- Consulting Editor ] From a.mani.cms at gmail.com Tue Dec 1 21:49:03 2009 From: a.mani.cms at gmail.com (A. Mani) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:49:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok: The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold In-Reply-To: References: <78323d480911291011x3de51aa9rfea3276d138fcf94@mail.gmail.com> <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <78323d480912010819y72fdcb45lb199dc176ff817@mail.gmail.com> (sorry for crossposting) On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:57 AM, Sudeep K S wrote: > On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 11:53 PM, A. Mani wrote: >> >> Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal. > >     You know what, CPM has been saying the same about Kerala also. What a > coincidence! Caste is the business of a minority bourgeois. Within the party it is taboo. For the few religion-based clashes in the past, vested interests had to rely on very small groups of misguided people or hired goons. Caste-based clashes are relatively unknown in West Bengal. These are well documented. >> >> There are two main >> aspects in the marichjhapi story: >> >> 1. Mismanagement of the refugee problem by the Left Government. Due to >> resource constraints, the Govt realised that they could not offer much >> support to the refugees in Dandakarnya.  But entry into the state was >> allowed  - this was a mistake (they were explicitly warned of 'no Govt >> support', though). Most of the village people in West Bengal resisted >> their entry and many violent incidents did take place. >> >> The police action was intended to evict the refugees from Marichjhapi >> and also to arrest particular merceneries. >> >> 2. The involvement of the CIA and related agencies (who apparently had >> infiltrated the refugee lines) in organising armed training camps was >> also a major reason for the police action. The CIA may never >> declassify documents relating to their involvement (and when they >> operate through other agencies, then it is not usually transparent). >> >> All decisions by the Left Government were taken on the basis of >> feedback from the ground level. Within the CPI(M) party all these >> aspects were debated in detail and >> many did not want a direct police action. >> >>  Direct casualties in action were limited. It is also true that most >> of the party people regard the forced eviction as the biggest mistake >> ever. > >     Could you substantiate the above two "main aspects" of your version of > the Marichjhapi story? Or shall we say this story of yours is completely > fictitious and biased, without any research going into it? I checked up with party old-timers and former party members. "they were explicitly warned of 'no Govt support', though" was reported in the newspapers. All these were debated extensively within the party at that time and quite a lot was reported. >     (The Kerala CPM also says "CIA" and 'foreign hand' whenever there is > anything spoken against them.). CIA and foreign hand have been a problem even before http://www.firstministry.kerala.gov.in/articles.htm 'CIA' and 'foreign hand' usually figure in accusations against others and their misdeeds (often of a violent nature). They heavily fund the Hindutva forces in Kerala in particular and there is plenty of evidence for the same. But the legal framework for dealing with this problem is not strong enough and is being persistently weakened through liberalisation. You can find quantitative evidence in lots of places. >> There are no parallels with any other later-day incident. > >     Ok -- drawing parallels is the job of those who get to hear stories. Let > them do it. > >> You can try claiming that the villagers in South Bengal were >> 'casteist', but it is not true. > >     Again, what is the basis of this claim? Politics is far ahead of castes here (... if there is any). There should be some quantitative studies on this subject. >     Going back to your allegation of the blog post being biased, what do you > say about the bias of the media and the academia who chose to remain silent > about it? So much of violence had happened through out the seventies, first it was the Naxalites, then S.S. Ray. Over 1700 CPI(M) cadres, hundreds of SUCI cadres and lot more people were killed in the period. Even I remember seeing people breaking their heads and going to hospital in the most natural of ways. I think people were just too numb to a problem of forced eviction and displacement. Most CPI(M) party members were very concerned and not just because of connections with East Bengal. The media has always been biased towards the needs of the bourgeois and why should they focus on 'potential vote bank of the CPI(M)'? ... and displacement based politics is a very new thing >     It was fun seeing you getting so touchy and trying to get away with huge > claims like "Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal". Let me repeat > my request once again: please do some rich research on this and tell us the > stories that still remain untold. I will be happy to hear that. > There is nothing untold....if there is you need to come up with specific questions. Here is some interesting info: According to data from the 2001 Census of India, the Namasudra is one of the main scheduled castes in West Bengal, with a population of 3,212,393 people, or 17.4 percent of the Scheduled Caste population of West Bengal. It is second only to the Rajbanshi Scheduled Caste which has 3,386,617 people. The Namashudra caste has the fourth-highest literacy rate of West Bengal Scheduled Castes: 71.9 percent, or 80.6 percent for males and 62.8 for females. The caste with the highest rate of literacy in West Bengal has 82.5 overall, while the national literacy average for Scheduled Castes is 54.7 percent (Office of the Registrar General, India (undated),‘West Bengal Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes’, Census of India 2001 http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_westbengal.pdf – Best A. Mani -- A. Mani ASL, CLC, AMS, CMS http://www.logicamani.co.cc From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Tue Dec 1 22:55:51 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 22:55:51 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Inside/Out - Photo Exhibition examining gender spaces - Dec. 2009, Mumbai Message-ID: Haven't attached the images that came with the exhibition invite. If you're interested, mail Sanjiv. He should be happy to share them with you. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sanjiv Valsan *Press release* * Inside/Out* The Strand Art Room presents *Inside/Out, *an exhibition curated by Georgina Maddox and featuring the work of four emerging art photographers: *Sanjiv Valsan, Aparna Jayakumar, Poulomi Basu and Meghanad Ganpule*.The project examines existing gender spaces and emerging challenges of transgressions, interventions and tensions created in the existing social fabric. Even though their approach and style is extremely diverse, the photographers share a subconscious predilection and sociological appetite that leads them to aspects of the city, wherein lurk the mysterious codes of gender and class, operating its twin dichotomies. * Inside/Out* explores a mosaic of intimate and public spaces. We move from the heavily codified suburban train compartment to Mumbai’s red-light areas, where men solicit the company of eunuchs; from the aquarium-esque barber’s shop to the secret assembly line of the beauty salon; the shop-window to the trinket kiosk. Meanwhile, in pockets of female householder identity, thick with melancholy and isolation, the balcony and flickering television screen are the only windows to elsewhere. Desires form the heady mix of dreams that run the city.* Preview:* Sunday, 20th Dec, 2009, 7pm onwards* Exhibition: Monday, 21st Dec to Thursday, 31st Dec, 2009* *Venue:* The Strand Art Room, Ground Floor, Ama House, Brahma Kumari Marg, Near Strand Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005 tel. 91-22-32991008, +91-9920021008 *For more details, invites to the preview and high resolution images, contact Georgina Maddox (+91-9711368909), Sanjiv Valsan (+91-9892212133) or Huzefa Bangdiwala (+91-9867205595)* From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Tue Dec 1 23:30:35 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 23:30:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] A book engaging children in dialogue about disability Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Tulika Books Date: Dec 1, 2009 4:42 PM Subject: Tulika Books To: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com 'Why are you afraid to hold my hand?' Posted: 01 Dec 2009 02:14 AM PST Over twenty five years ago in a school run by the Spastics Society of India in Mumbai was born a spark of an idea. As a final year NID student I developed my thesis on ‘Visual Aids and Materials for Children with Physical Disabilities’. I was told by the teachers in the school that people react in the strangest way to children who are differently abled. An idea about this book was born on that day. No one wants pity - least of all children born with a disability such as cerebral palsy. The lines in verse and visuals in the book come simply and straight from the heart. Years later, the excitement when the book was published by Tulika was matched only by my passion to spread the questions, misconceptions, doubts, fears and preconceived notions toward a child with disabilities. It inspired me to do workshops in India, Singapore and in the U.S. where I created bookmarks, postcards, banners, coffee mugs and fun T-shirts - all spreading the message of the book. In the U.S., among teachers especially, there was an air of excitement on seeing this book at various schools where there was an author-illustrator’s book reading, public libraries or at book stores. Inclusion and mainstreaming the differently abled child is the norm in the U.S, so most of the teachers and parents felt delighted to have a book such as *Why Are You Afraid to Hold My Hand?*to bring about awareness, raise questions and create a dialogue among children who bring with them a myriad of experiences; from children of different walks of life and at different levels of ability. In fact, in Singapore, there was a proposal to develop a book series addressing Cancer and AIDS. In India, the issue of stigma is not an uncommon sentiment. At Goodbooks, through Tulika’s initiative, a fun workshop was organized where children were encouraged to think out of the box. It was good to have a key representative from Tulika, Sandhya Rao, interacting with the children on that occasion.* The Hindu* newspaper carried a positive write-up about this unique event. Children loved getting bookmarks and the bright yellow T-shirts as a means of communicating this very important message. These children and others who read this special book are the true ambassadors for championing a worthy cause. Usually verse brings mixed emotions but in this case, less is more. The visual lines have a childlike simplicity and the verses speak eloquently raising an animated discussion of candid responses to the differently abled child’s needs. Commonly, this is born out of ignorance among children who re-examined their own feelings and preconceived notions about disabilities. In Chennai, India, at The School founded by the J.Krishnamurti Foundation, the participation among children was heartwarming. Children narrated their own experiences honestly and openly. In different international schools, this sensitive little book has already struck a chord in all those who read it. Overall, this an unforgettable journey of compassion and hope for the disabled child. * * *- Sheila Dhir, Author* From sg_cal at hotmail.com Wed Dec 2 00:51:48 2009 From: sg_cal at hotmail.com (saswati ghosh) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:51:48 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok: The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold In-Reply-To: <78323d480912010819y72fdcb45lb199dc176ff817@mail.gmail.com> References: , <78323d480911291011x3de51aa9rfea3276d138fcf94@mail.gmail.com>, , , <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com>, , <78323d480912010819y72fdcb45lb199dc176ff817@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: does these anywhere mean bengal politics, left-far left-centre-right, ever gave space to any caste/ethnic identity? the east pakistani, then usuallly hindu, first lot upper caste, subsequent lot lower castes, always held the popular basis of the left in the late forties-early fifties. the first meeting of refugee committee (UCRC) formed and led by the left, had no reference to any demand for population exchange like punjab, proper rehab, rather they had demands against any collaboration with imperialism etc!!! so far, the only authentic history of the post-partition refugees, forming of refugee colonies etc, can be found in 'marginal men' by prafulla chakraborty (again a brahmin refugee and historian by profession, received Rabindra Puraskar (prize by the wb govt in the name of RNTagore, one of the most revered prizes in west bengal for his history of the french revolution in bengali) had no reference other than from newspapers. thus has been the extent of silence on refugees from east pakistan/ b'desh. does it not contain any caste aspect? thats why I find marichjhapi a continuation of that lack of concern and not (possibly merely) militancy neither lack of resources or mismanagement. only now these aspects are being questioned. and namashudras have come into discussion because left-secular (incidentally brahmin) researchers like sekhar bandyopadhyay has worked on them and published them in the 'revered' journals!! again an amitav ghosh case!! not only caste, ethnicity has received similar silence. there has been so much support for singur and nandigram, but comparatively little for lalgarh. may be the violence of non-state actors in lalgarh has a role to play in this mute response, even then, little space for any identity, gender, caste, ethnicity -- any dimension other than class has ever seemed politically correct in bengal!!! best saswati > Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:49:03 +0530 > From: a.mani.cms at gmail.com > To: reader-list at sarai.net; pragoti at yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok: The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold > > (sorry for crossposting) > > On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:57 AM, Sudeep K S wrote: > > On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 11:53 PM, A. Mani wrote: > >> > >> Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal. > > > > You know what, CPM has been saying the same about Kerala also. What a > > coincidence! > > Caste is the business of a minority bourgeois. Within the party it is taboo. > For the few religion-based clashes in the past, vested interests had > to rely on very small > groups of misguided people or hired goons. Caste-based clashes are > relatively unknown in West Bengal. These are well documented. > > >> > >> There are two main > >> aspects in the marichjhapi story: > >> > >> 1. Mismanagement of the refugee problem by the Left Government. Due to > >> resource constraints, the Govt realised that they could not offer much > >> support to the refugees in Dandakarnya. But entry into the state was > >> allowed - this was a mistake (they were explicitly warned of 'no Govt > >> support', though). Most of the village people in West Bengal resisted > >> their entry and many violent incidents did take place. > >> > >> The police action was intended to evict the refugees from Marichjhapi > >> and also to arrest particular merceneries. > >> > >> 2. The involvement of the CIA and related agencies (who apparently had > >> infiltrated the refugee lines) in organising armed training camps was > >> also a major reason for the police action. The CIA may never > >> declassify documents relating to their involvement (and when they > >> operate through other agencies, then it is not usually transparent). > >> > >> All decisions by the Left Government were taken on the basis of > >> feedback from the ground level. Within the CPI(M) party all these > >> aspects were debated in detail and > >> many did not want a direct police action. > >> > >> Direct casualties in action were limited. It is also true that most > >> of the party people regard the forced eviction as the biggest mistake > >> ever. > > > > Could you substantiate the above two "main aspects" of your version of > > the Marichjhapi story? Or shall we say this story of yours is completely > > fictitious and biased, without any research going into it? > > I checked up with party old-timers and former party members. "they > were explicitly warned of 'no Govt support', though" was reported in > the newspapers. > > All these were debated extensively within the party at that time and > quite a lot was reported. > > > > (The Kerala CPM also says "CIA" and 'foreign hand' whenever there is > > anything spoken against them.). > > CIA and foreign hand have been a problem even before > http://www.firstministry.kerala.gov.in/articles.htm > > 'CIA' and 'foreign hand' usually figure in accusations against others > and their misdeeds (often of a violent nature). They heavily fund the > Hindutva forces in Kerala in particular and there is plenty of > evidence for the same. But the legal framework for dealing with this > problem is not strong enough and is being persistently weakened > through liberalisation. > > You can find quantitative evidence in lots of places. > > >> There are no parallels with any other later-day incident. > > > > Ok -- drawing parallels is the job of those who get to hear stories. Let > > them do it. > > > >> You can try claiming that the villagers in South Bengal were > >> 'casteist', but it is not true. > > > > Again, what is the basis of this claim? > > Politics is far ahead of castes here (... if there is any). There > should be some quantitative studies on this subject. > > > Going back to your allegation of the blog post being biased, what do you > > say about the bias of the media and the academia who chose to remain silent > > about it? > > So much of violence had happened through out the seventies, first it > was the Naxalites, then S.S. Ray. Over 1700 CPI(M) cadres, hundreds of > SUCI cadres and lot more people were killed in the period. Even I > remember seeing people breaking their heads and going to hospital in > the most natural of ways. > > I think people were just too numb to a problem of forced eviction and > displacement. Most CPI(M) party members were very concerned and not > just because of connections with East Bengal. > > The media has always been biased towards the needs of the bourgeois > and why should they focus on 'potential vote bank of the CPI(M)'? ... > and displacement based politics is a very new thing > > > It was fun seeing you getting so touchy and trying to get away with huge > > claims like "Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal". Let me repeat > > my request once again: please do some rich research on this and tell us the > > stories that still remain untold. I will be happy to hear that. > > > > There is nothing untold....if there is you need to come up with > specific questions. > Here is some interesting info: > > According to data from the 2001 Census of India, the Namasudra is one > of the main > scheduled castes in West Bengal, with a population of 3,212,393 > people, or 17.4 percent of the Scheduled Caste population of West > Bengal. It is second only to the Rajbanshi Scheduled Caste which has > 3,386,617 people. > > The Namashudra caste has the fourth-highest literacy rate of West > Bengal Scheduled Castes: 71.9 percent, or 80.6 percent for males and > 62.8 for females. The caste with the highest rate of literacy in West > Bengal has 82.5 overall, while the national literacy average for > Scheduled Castes is 54.7 percent (Office of the Registrar General, > India (undated),‘West Bengal Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes’, > Census of India 2001 > http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_westbengal.pdf – > > > Best > > A. Mani > > > -- > A. Mani > ASL, CLC, AMS, CMS > http://www.logicamani.co.cc > _________________________________________ > 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/> _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Simplify what you do everyday. Find the right PC for you. http://windows.microsoft.com/shop From yasir.media at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 03:14:13 2009 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?eWFzaXIgftmK2Kcg2LPYsQ==?=) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 02:44:13 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam In-Reply-To: <6353c690911300812t495a89dahd28173bd92ee55ca@mail.gmail.com> References: <6353c690911300812t495a89dahd28173bd92ee55ca@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <5af37bb0912011344m2beeb1f1vefb616114351daa4@mail.gmail.com> they didn't think of banning the Domes !!??! On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 9:12 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: > Minaret ban marks start of tough Swiss debate on Islam > By Imogen Foulkes > BBC News, Geneva > > Link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8386456.stm > > *In Switzerland the soul-searching has begun following Sunday's nationwide > referendum in which voters surprisingly backed a plan to ban the > construction of minarets. * > > No-one can quite understand how a proposal widely regarded even by its > supporters as destined for failure at the ballot box actually came to be > passed. > > That, however, according to political analysts, may have been part of the > problem. > > Opinion polls showing a majority of voters would reject a ban were only to > be expected, says Zurich political scientist Michael Hermann, when most of > the Swiss media had already categorised a ban on minarets as politically > incorrect and its supporters stupid. > > "People aren't necessarily going to tell pollsters the truth if they think > it makes them look ignorant and intolerant," explained Mr Hermann. > > *Unease underestimated* > > What many Swiss politicians are beginning to realise this morning is that > they underestimated the concern among their population about integration of > Muslims in Switzerland, and about possible Islamic extremism. > > So while the right-wing Swiss People's Party campaigned hard, warning in > meetings up and down the country of the possible introduction of Sharia law > in Switzerland, the middle ground and left-wing parties did very little. > > There were few posters, and none to compete with the People's Party's > eye-catching and controversial offering, which showed a woman shrouded in a > black burka, a map of Switzerland behind her, black minarets shooting out > of > it like missiles. > > Elham Manea, founder of the Forum for a Progressive Islam - an organisation > dedicated to Muslim integration in Switzerland - is disappointed not just > with the outcome of the vote, but with the debate around it. > > "The way the discussion was conducted was simply polemic," she said. > > "We didn't ask the right questions, when we talked about integration > problems for immigrants with an Islamic background. > > "For example what is the size of political Islam, how big is the problem of > forced marriage? Do we have that problem? Yes we do, we know we do, but > which groups are practising it, and how do we deal with it?" > > The problem for Ms Manea, and many Swiss Muslims, is that the ban on > minarets does not really address any of these problems and may even isolate > the community still further. > > "My fear is that the younger generation will feel unwelcome," she said. > > "It's a message sent to them that you are not welcome here as true citizens > of this society and that could leave the ground open for Islamic extremist > groups who are just waiting to exploit that sort of frustration for their > own ends." > > *Nervous government* > > Meanwhile Swiss cabinet ministers who had advised, and confidently > expected, > voters to reject a ban, have woken up to newspaper headlines calling the > referendum a slap in the face for the government, and a "catastrophe" for > Switzerland. > > They are now facing the delicate task of explaining the voters' decision to > Muslim countries with whom Switzerland has traditionally good trade > relations. Within government circles, there is the expectation that these > relations will be damaged and that the Swiss economy may suffer as a > result. > > > So concerned is the government by the decision that Swiss Justice Minister > Eveline Widmer Schlumpf, watching the results come in on Sunday afternoon, > apparently told her advisers there ought to be some restrictions on what > the > general public can actually vote on. > > This, for Switzerland, is political dynamite. The country's system of > direct > democracy is sacrosanct. The people are allowed to vote on any policy and > to > propose policy themselves, which is what they did on minarets. > > The fact that there is little evidence of Muslim extremism in Switzerland > and that the banning of minarets would be unlikely to prevent extremism > even > if it did exist, does not really matter. The real issue is that there was > clearly unease among the Swiss population, particularly among rural > communities, about Islam. > > The People's Party played on those fears while the Swiss government did not > address them at all. Now Switzerland's image abroad, and its relations with > its own Muslim community, may bear the consequences. > > There are already indications that, buoyed by the size of the vote in > favour > of the ban, the Swiss People's Party is planning further measures. > > Hermann Leu, a local People's Party representative from Thurgau canton, > described the size of the vote in favour as "a clear sign that the Muslim > community must get on with integrating itself right away". > > Proposals from some towns include banning the burka, setting up committees > to identify imams who preach "hate", detaining and deporting them, and > banning school dispensations in which Muslim children stay away from > swimming lessons or take time out for prayers. > > Switzerland's debate about Islam has now well and truly begun but perhaps > not in the way Swiss Muslims would have wished 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 kauladityaraj at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 08:53:22 2009 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 08:53:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] China issues visa on passport of former J&K Univ VC Message-ID: <6353c690912011923o3bdc514ah5234d4437795a447@mail.gmail.com> *China issues visa on passport of former J&K Univ VC* STAFF WRITER 17:58 HRS IST * New Delhi, Dec 1 (PTI)* After raising India's hackles by issuing visa in a separate sheet of paper to several residents of Jammu and Kashmir, China issued a visa stamped on passport to former Jammu University Vice Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo, a domicile of the state, who visited the neghbouring country. Mattoo, who had applied for a visa in the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi to attened an international conference on nuclear disarmament in China last month, had been given a regular stamped visa in his passport facilitating his easy travel, government sources said today. The noted Kashmiri Pandit academician was born in Jammu and Kashmir. On several occasions in recent past, the China Embassy had given visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir on separate sheets of paper instead of passport, inviting a sharp reaction from Indian government. From sudeep.ks at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 10:20:27 2009 From: sudeep.ks at gmail.com (Sudeep K S) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 10:20:27 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok: The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold In-Reply-To: <78323d480912010819y72fdcb45lb199dc176ff817@mail.gmail.com> References: <78323d480911291011x3de51aa9rfea3276d138fcf94@mail.gmail.com> <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com> <78323d480912010819y72fdcb45lb199dc176ff817@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:49 PM, A. Mani wrote: > (sorry for crossposting) > Dear A.Mani, I have no problems with crossposting. I just hope you are sending my mails also to your party mailing list:-) (pragoti at yahoogroups.com: This group belongs to everyone who believes in *the correct way towards socialism * in India. The group endeavours to discuss, debate, and in the way *counter all the false propaganda made by right and left deviations of* *Indian left movement*. However, that does not mean that the group is not open to constructive criticism. Substantial arguments and counter-arguments with precision are always welcome!) I am amused by your mail that looks like a party memo. One can not ask any questions, as it would be against party rules. Once you mention the word 'party', there is no need for any substantation in any way to whatever you say. This may work in your party meetings but not on a forum like this. My question stays, "Could you substantiate the above two "main aspects" of your version of the Marichjhapi story? Or shall we say this story of yours is completely fictitious and biased, without any research going into it?" (In addition to this, I have commented on a couple of your statements below) On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:57 AM, Sudeep K S wrote: > On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 11:53 PM, A. Mani wrote: >> >> Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal. > > You know what, CPM has been saying the same about Kerala also. What a > coincidence! Caste is the business of a minority bourgeois. Within the party it is > taboo. > For the few religion-based clashes in the past, vested interests had > to rely on very small > groups of misguided people or hired goons. Caste-based clashes are > relatively unknown in West Bengal. These are well documented. > > >> > >> There are two main > >> aspects in the marichjhapi story: > >> > >> 1. Mismanagement of the refugee problem by the Left Government. Due to > >> resource constraints, the Govt realised that they could not offer much > >> support to the refugees in Dandakarnya. But entry into the state was > >> allowed - this was a mistake (they were explicitly warned of 'no Govt > >> support', though). Most of the village people in West Bengal resisted > >> their entry and many violent incidents did take place. > >> > >> The police action was intended to evict the refugees from Marichjhapi > >> and also to arrest particular merceneries. > >> > >> 2. The involvement of the CIA and related agencies (who apparently had > >> infiltrated the refugee lines) in organising armed training camps was > >> also a major reason for the police action. The CIA may never > >> declassify documents relating to their involvement (and when they > >> operate through other agencies, then it is not usually transparent). > >> > >> All decisions by the Left Government were taken on the basis of > >> feedback from the ground level. Within the CPI(M) party all these > >> aspects were debated in detail and > >> many did not want a direct police action. > >> > >> Direct casualties in action were limited. It is also true that most > >> of the party people regard the forced eviction as the biggest mistake > >> ever. > > > > Could you substantiate the above two "main aspects" of your version > of > > the Marichjhapi story? Or shall we say this story of yours is completely > > fictitious and biased, without any research going into it? > > I checked up with party old-timers and former party members. "they > were explicitly warned of 'no Govt support', though" was reported in > the newspapers. > > All these were debated extensively within the party at that time and > quite a lot was reported. > > > > (The Kerala CPM also says "CIA" and 'foreign hand' whenever there is > > anything spoken against them.). > > CIA and foreign hand have been a problem even before > http://www.firstministry.kerala.gov.in/articles.htm > > 'CIA' and 'foreign hand' usually figure in accusations against others > and their misdeeds (often of a violent nature). They heavily fund the > Hindutva forces in Kerala in particular and there is plenty of > evidence for the same. But the legal framework for dealing with this > problem is not strong enough and is being persistently weakened > through liberalisation. > > You can find quantitative evidence in lots of places. > > >> There are no parallels with any other later-day incident. > > > > Ok -- drawing parallels is the job of those who get to hear stories. > Let > > them do it. > > > >> You can try claiming that the villagers in South Bengal were > >> 'casteist', but it is not true. > > > > Again, what is the basis of this claim? > > Politics is far ahead of castes here (... if there is any). There > should be some quantitative studies on this subject. > *"There should be"?* What do you mean by that? In that case I guess Ajay, Nilesh and Anoop could say the opposite, that caste oppression is far ahead than anything in West Bengal (sorry Left Bengal) and 'there should be proof'. I think they have done more than that, in a more convincing manner. Ajay Hela is from Bengal, from the scavenging Hela community, and I am sure he knows "if there is any" caste in West Bengal and how it works better than you or your party does. At least in Kerala (where CPM makes similar claims) I know caste exists in a big way. (My father was a CPM member since he was 18, and he resigned from the party a few days back after about 43 years in party. His resignation did not have anything to do with caste but this was to tell you I also know about 'party' and it is not your private property.) > Going back to your allegation of the blog post being biased, what do you > say about the bias of the media and the academia who chose to remain silent > about it? So much of violence had happened through out the seventies, first it > was the Naxalites, then S.S. Ray. Over 1700 CPI(M) cadres, hundreds of > SUCI cadres and lot more people were killed in the period. Even I > remember seeing people breaking their heads and going to hospital in > the most natural of ways. > > I think people were just too numb to a problem of forced eviction and > displacement. Most CPI(M) party members were very concerned and not > just because of connections with East Bengal. > > The media has always been biased towards the needs of the bourgeois > and why should they focus on 'potential vote bank of the CPI(M)'? ... > and displacement based politics is a very new thing > > > It was fun seeing you getting so touchy and trying to get away with > huge > > claims like "Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal". Let me > repeat > > my request once again: please do some rich research on this and tell us > the > > stories that still remain untold. I will be happy to hear that. > > > > There is nothing untold....if there is you need to come up with > specific questions. > Here is some interesting info: > > According to data from the 2001 Census of India, the Namasudra is one > of the main > scheduled castes in West Bengal, with a population of 3,212,393 > people, or 17.4 percent of the Scheduled Caste population of West > Bengal. It is second only to the Rajbanshi Scheduled Caste which has > 3,386,617 people. > > The Namashudra caste has the fourth-highest literacy rate of West > Bengal Scheduled Castes: 71.9 percent, or 80.6 percent for males and > 62.8 for females. The caste with the highest rate of literacy in West > Bengal has 82.5 overall, while the national literacy average for > Scheduled Castes is 54.7 percent (Office of the Registrar General, > India (undated),‘West Bengal Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes’, > Census of India 2001 > http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_westbengal.pdf – > Does that say anything about their life status in the society? -Sudeep From patrice at xs4all.nl Wed Dec 2 11:29:59 2009 From: patrice at xs4all.nl (Patrice Riemens) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 06:59:59 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] On the Swiss referendum & law proposal against minarets Message-ID: <16e900cefd42a7d7c741d22db182309c.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> On the Swiss referendum & law proposal against minarets Just like that of any other sovereign (*), the room for decision-making by that particular Swiss one, namely the People itself, is not unlimited. It is constrained by historical legacy, (f)actual context, and constitutional precedent. The substantial majority of both the People and the cantons (57,5% and 19 out of 23 respectively) that carried the last popular 'votation' (referendum) purporting to ban the erection of minarets will not remain without aftermath, but it will in all likelihood remain without any legal effect. With it, the Swiss people have expressed both a wish and a malaise. A malaise cannot be remedied without attacking its causes, and a desire cannot be realized without addressing and acting upon all its consequences. As it now stands, the purported law cannot be embedded as a simple amendment to the Swiss constitution, since it contradicts a fair number of its fundamental clauses. To make it into actual law would entail a wholesale rewrite of the federal constitution in a very illiberal sense, as it would selectively restrict or even abolish liberties and rights that are considered both essential and mandatory. This in its turn would contravene a large number of international conventions and treaties to which Switzerland is signatory. These would need to be rescinded, effectively turning Switzerland into an outlaw and pariah state. It is not very likely that such is the profound desire of the Swiss people, but if so, the same People will need to be invited for a fresh, much more far-reaching referendum, whose outcome, we may hope, would be very different from last Sunday's. Presently the Federal Council (government) has stated that "the wish of the People will be respected". But the Federal Court of Justice will quash the proposal, as it has done before with popular legislation that was deemed to be at variance with the constitution. It would therefore, in my opinion, be better to refrain from condemning the Swiss people at large for venting to unpalatable sentiments while pressing for obnoxious legislation, and concentrate instead on the underlying cause of which the popular vote is but a symptom. Like in many countries in the global North, a large swath of the electorate feels disenfranchised within what has been classically called 'the crisis of representation'. In a context of ever accelerating complexity and 'technologization' both of politics and of everyday life, it sees itself as being left behind by an increasingly self-conscious and self-righteous elite that has divested ('liberatied') itself from its responsibilities towards the commons. And which is enabled to do so without qualms of conscience (**) by that most marvelous of mechanisms that necessitates neither consultation nor conspiracy: default - the true motor of capitalism. We are surely heading for most interesting times - in Switzerland and elsewhere. But stop blaming the common people for them. Patrice Riemens Amsterdam, December 1, 2009 -------------------------------------------------- (*) (Modern) Constitutional sovereignty can be basically located in three places: the Monarch, Parliament, or the People (aka the Nation). Absolute monarchs have been on their way out for some time. England is an almost undiluted example of parliamentary sovereignty ('an elected dictatorship' is the usual quip), whereas France vests it in the somewhat nebulous concept of 'the Nation'. Most countries have for all practical purposes a kind of hybrid form, with one the components in a dominant role - parliament in India for instance - or sometimes none of them clearly, as I have argued for the Netherlands. (**) That does not make elites innocent as a result. Teun A. van Dijk has substantially demonstrated in the case of racism that 'the general public' talks and sometimes behaves in circumstances that have at large been shaped by elites, buffeted through self-serving discourses that both exonerates them of racism while fostering it in their actual practices of governance. See his: Elite Discourse and Institutional Racism (2005-8): http://bit.ly/8Zq9MS From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 11:45:13 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 11:45:13 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] On the Swiss referendum & law proposal against minarets In-Reply-To: <16e900cefd42a7d7c741d22db182309c.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> References: <16e900cefd42a7d7c741d22db182309c.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> Message-ID: Dear Patrice (and all) I appreciate the tone of your mail, particularly as it takes the context of the situation into consideration. Firstly, let us be clear that 43% of the people have not voted in favor of the referendum, which would still be a significant number. Secondly, condemning people is never going to help simply because when people are condemned for not changing, they will for sure not change to boost their ego, and hence this doesn't lead us anywhere. Moreover, it's not as if people have committed any kind of violence (in the loose sense of material and human destruction) that it should be condemned. What is important is to understand the malaise, and then correct it. As one of my friends always says: 'People change, they do. But don't force them to change' With love Rakesh From shuddha at sarai.net Wed Dec 2 12:33:39 2009 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 12:33:39 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] On the Swiss referendum & law proposal against minarets In-Reply-To: <16e900cefd42a7d7c741d22db182309c.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> References: <16e900cefd42a7d7c741d22db182309c.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> Message-ID: <9579330E-B420-41B9-9C92-F2C6F068DB69@sarai.net> Dear All, I deeply sympathize with the 43.5% of the Swiss Population that has lost its opportunity to improve the skyline and the architectural quality of Swiss cities in general by the addition of a few minarets. A slender majority amounting to no more than 6% greater than those who said yes to Minarets have ensured that Swiss cities stay as architecturally monotonous as ever. Maybe this was done to protect the interests of the Bombay Film Industry, who use Switzerland because it takes less time to get to Zurich and Basel from Bombay airport than it does to get to Film city. They want the Swiss to wallow in provincial Swissness just to have authenticity on the cheap. From the point of view of the nefarious Mumbai Movie Mogul, it is not difficult to imagine the consequences of the terrible confusion that would ensue if the 'public' were ever led to believe that the Swiss idylls where stars cavort were no less minaretted than Bandra or Bhendi Bazar. In keeping with those on this list who continue to insist that the Marichjhaanpi massacre occured because East Bengal refugees were infiltrated by CIA agents, I think we should investigate as to whether or not the Swiss vote on minarets was influenced by Bombay Film Production houses in collusion with RAW to ensure that Switzerland remains a bacward, anti-cosmopolitan, provincial, un- minaret worthy place. once again, my sympathies to those Swiss who wanted to wake up and see a stately, elegant minaret from their window, and have now been denied the chance of being normal citizens of the world. I suppose this is what happens when the country you live in gets known as the black hole of Saudi slush money. Because, just as in Saudi Arabia, one can see minarets, but no steeples, in Switzerland, one can see steeples, but no minarets. Are we seeing Architectural Mirror Worlds? best Shuddha On 02-Dec-09, at 11:29 AM, Patrice Riemens wrote: > On the Swiss referendum & law proposal against minarets > > > Just like that of any other sovereign (*), the room for decision- > making by > that particular Swiss one, namely the People itself, is not > unlimited. It > is constrained by historical legacy, (f)actual context, and > constitutional > precedent. The substantial majority of both the People and the cantons > (57,5% and 19 out of 23 respectively) that carried the last popular > 'votation' > (referendum) purporting to ban the erection of minarets will not > remain > without aftermath, but it will in all likelihood remain without any > legal > effect. With it, the Swiss people have expressed both a wish and a > malaise. A malaise cannot be remedied without attacking its causes, > and a > desire cannot be realized without addressing and acting upon all its > consequences. As it now stands, the purported law cannot be > embedded as a > simple amendment to the Swiss constitution, since it contradicts a > fair > number of its fundamental clauses. To make it into actual law would > entail > a wholesale rewrite of the federal constitution in a very illiberal > sense, > as it would selectively restrict or even abolish liberties and > rights that > are considered both essential and mandatory. This in its turn would > contravene a large number of international conventions and treaties to > which Switzerland is signatory. These would need to be rescinded, > effectively turning Switzerland into an outlaw and pariah state. It > is not > very likely that such is the profound desire of the Swiss people, > but if > so, the same People will need to be invited for a fresh, much more > far-reaching referendum, whose outcome, we may hope, would be very > different from last Sunday's. > > Presently the Federal Council (government) has stated that "the > wish of > the People will be respected". But the Federal Court of Justice > will quash > the proposal, as it has done before with popular legislation that was > deemed to be at variance with the constitution. It would therefore, > in my > opinion, be better to refrain from condemning the Swiss people at > large > for venting to unpalatable sentiments while pressing for obnoxious > legislation, and concentrate instead on the underlying cause of > which the > popular vote is but a symptom. Like in many countries in the global > North, > a large swath of the electorate feels disenfranchised within what > has been > classically called 'the crisis of representation'. In a context of > ever > accelerating complexity and 'technologization' both of politics and of > everyday life, it sees itself as being left behind by an increasingly > self-conscious and self-righteous elite that has divested > ('liberatied') > itself from its responsibilities towards the commons. And which is > enabled > to do so without qualms of conscience (**) by that most marvelous of > mechanisms that necessitates neither consultation nor conspiracy: > default > - the true motor of capitalism. > > We are surely heading for most interesting times - in Switzerland and > elsewhere. But stop blaming the common people for them. > > Patrice Riemens > Amsterdam, December 1, 2009 > > -------------------------------------------------- > (*) (Modern) Constitutional sovereignty can be basically located in > three > places: the Monarch, Parliament, or the People (aka the Nation). > Absolute > monarchs have been on their way out for some time. England is an > almost > undiluted example of parliamentary sovereignty ('an elected > dictatorship' > is the usual quip), whereas France vests it in the somewhat nebulous > concept of 'the Nation'. Most countries have for all practical > purposes a > kind of hybrid form, with one the components in a dominant role - > parliament in India for instance - or sometimes none of them > clearly, as I > have argued for the Netherlands. > > (**) That does not make elites innocent as a result. Teun A. van > Dijk has > substantially demonstrated in the case of racism that 'the general > public' > talks and sometimes behaves in circumstances that have at large been > shaped by elites, buffeted through self-serving discourses that both > exonerates them of racism while fostering it in their actual > practices of > governance. See his: Elite Discourse and Institutional Racism > (2005-8): > http://bit.ly/8Zq9MS > > > > > > _________________________________________ > 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 chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 12:53:41 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 12:53:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Seagull's new initiative to promote young artists in Kolkata Message-ID: From* *Bishan Samaddar ** *Calling for Entries for Seagull Open House* Hello All! The Seagull Foundation for the Arts presents a new initiative to promote young artists in all fields of art: The Seagull Open House. If you are an artist yourself—making films, writing plays, doing theatre, dabbling in visual arts, performing music or dance—and would like to showcase your talent, here is your opportunity. Two Saturdays a month, Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre is yours. Come exhibit your art. Bring your friends and admirers. And we will bring our audience. Get in touch with us immediately! Hope to hear from all of you. Best, Bishan. (Call 2455 6942/9831490725 or email me at bishan at choicemakers.org) From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Wed Dec 2 13:01:07 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:31:07 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_2_December?= Message-ID: <20091202083108.9E3300C4.918C97D9@192.168.0.2> 2 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Motorized Ordeal" by Les Riches Douaniers (France))--> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF -> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> in December in UK and Feb 2010 in India -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From tasveerghar at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 16:55:47 2009 From: tasveerghar at gmail.com (Tasveer Ghar) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 16:55:47 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fabricating New Minarets of Identity In-Reply-To: <484c1050912020311n58e04394i2fe28d469f6bc9a9@mail.gmail.com> References: <484c1050912020311n58e04394i2fe28d469f6bc9a9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <484c1050912020325v294d0exf68b3064e1962af9@mail.gmail.com> Fabricating New Minarets of Identity While the Swiss ban the minarets, South Asians fabricate new ones By Yousuf Saeed This write-up is based on a vital image - if its not attached with this mail, kindly see it on the following link: www.tasveerghar.net/cmsdesk/essay/86/ “Tamam ahle watan ko baqrid ki mubarakbad. Zamzam minar (Greetings of Id-al Azha to all citizens of India. Zamzam minaret). R.C.C. Prefabricated strong minarets. They save time and money, and are beautiful. Hyderganj Chauraha, Lucknow.” The above Hindi advertisement of prefabricated minarets appeared on 30th November 2009, in the Urdu newspaper Rashtriya Sahara, published from NOIDA/Delhi, coincidentally on the day some people of Switzerland voted to ban minarets in their country. Such advertisements have also been seen as small stickers stuck on the walls of mosques in Delhi or Uttar Pradesh. Prefabricated minarets for mosques in South Asia is a new phenomenon, probably started in Pakistan (as I noticed in 2005 during my research trip in Lahore), and has now been introduced in India (being sold at least in Ghaziabad and Lucknow) a couple of years ago. These are intricately designed minarets of various sizes (from 7 to 30 feet tall), molded with cement, steel, plaster of Paris and paint. While some samples are kept in the open shops of the supplier/manufacturer, one can order the minarets to be made according to one’s requirement. The new ones come in white or cream coloured finish, and could be painted or decorated further according to a mosque’s design. While one still needs to find out who designs them and where they are used, their smaller size, easy portability and quick availability says a lot about the popular aesthetics of small mosques in India. The prefab minarets are not necessarily meant for new mosques alone – sometimes they can add a new look to an old and dilapidated mosque. The latest and most-easily seen example is the Aulia mosque embedded within Delhi’s Connaught Place market that seems to have installed a small prefab minaret on one of its walls, probably to catch up with the major restoration work going on in the entire Connaught Place complex in preparation of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. While the original purpose of a minaret in a mosque was for a muezzin to climb to a higher level to call out for prayers to the people in the vicinity, they soon started being identified with a uniquely “Muslim” identity and are now considered an integral part of Islamic architecture all over the world, even though Islamic scriptures have no relevance for minarets or domes. The prefab minarets are unlikely to play any role beyond providing decoration and identity to a mosque due to their small size and delicate raw material (although they claim them to be strong). Moreover, while the construction of mosques in the past was a labour-intensive and often communal activity in which the local residents participated as if in an act of devotion, the prefab archetypes in religious shrines herald a new era where an easy mechanical production of a component or full building evokes awe and wonderment. This may not be very far from other examples of prefab religious buildings such as the Akshardham temple (in Delhi) or the proposed Ram temple at Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), which is planned to be entirely composed of prefab material – signs of the New Age religious pride. But while some religious South Asians learn to use new technologies to augment their faith and identity, some in the west go to the other extreme by denying the use of any symbols of religious identity, especially “external” ones, in their lands. While globalization and world trade may have brought in the concept of prefab architecture into India, the same also inevitably leads to a reverse flow, of Asian/Islamic cultures into the West. One needs to see how long it will take for us to accept and tolerate each other’s cultures while we already accept their merchandise. (Readers’ comments are welcome) -- http://www.tasveerghar.net From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 2 21:20:33 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 07:50:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?Repost_-_MESH_=E2=80=93_Maximising_Employ?= =?utf-8?q?ment_to_Serve_the_Handicapped?= Message-ID: <459464.69894.qm@web57203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> (Reposting. Was truncated earlier. Thanks Chintan)    "MESH – Maximising Employment to Serve the Handicapped"   Mrs. Savitri is a weaver at the Physically Handicapped Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Sangli, Maharashtra suffers from leprosy but is learning to make scarves using wool for the first time.   Mr. Anbazhgan is a disabled wood-cutter, part of The Helen Keller wood carving group in Kalakurchi in Tamil Nadu, who is learning about the problems he could face with the use of an unfamiliar wood for an international client.   Mrs. Kankadurga works at Bethany Products, Bethany Leprosy Colony in Andhra Pradesh to create bed webbing that is used in the production of strong and beautiful bags.   Mr. Tarak Nath Roy of Susunia, West Bengal, is a gifted stone carver but disabled by polio. The lives of these four artisans and several hundreds like them have been changed by an organization called MESH (Maximizing Employment to Serve the Handicapped). Earlier they were all being paid half of what their products were worth because of the presence of middle-men. But now, due to the efforts of a MESH, these artisans are able to market their wares directly and receive their due credit. Mission and Activities: MESH aims at providing opportunities for social and economic development to disabled and leprosy-affected people. It achieves this by acting as an intermediary between the disabled artisans and the market place. In effect they secure orders from national and international buyers, forward those orders to the skilled artisans, train and guide the artisans in fulfilling these orders, and promote fair wages among the artisans.   In addition to this, MESH helps the artisans by providing access to a host of design and product development ideas from its own Design Studio in order to keep them updated on the latest market trends. The organization helps add value to the artisans’ products by telling their stories. It also provides training in best business practices and helps the artisans secure 50% advance payment if required so that they can buy their raw materials without taking loans. Products and Contact Information: Their product catalogue includes shoulder bags, table mats, scarves, bedcovers, tablecloths, office stationery, toys, cards in a large variety of shapes, sizes, designs and materials to keep up with the latest trends and cater to various needs. All of these are available at their stores at the following locations in India:   MESH 5, Local Shopping Centre, Uday Park, New Delhi 110 049 Tel. +91 11 26965039/26568048 email: mesh at del6.vsnl.net.in   MESH Shop No. 8, NTR Gardens Necklace Road, Hyderabad Tel. +91 9703879557   Besides this, MESH also has retail outlets in Britain, Germany, Sweden, USA and some other locations.   MESH Website : http://www.mesh.org.in/index.html   From a.mani.cms at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 22:00:11 2009 From: a.mani.cms at gmail.com (A. Mani) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 22:00:11 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok: The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold In-Reply-To: References: <78323d480911291011x3de51aa9rfea3276d138fcf94@mail.gmail.com> <78323d480911301023g4e1c54aewf3e05ae958a5eb2f@mail.gmail.com> <78323d480912010819y72fdcb45lb199dc176ff817@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <78323d480912020830u2e8f4c2ejfcb245aaf0256381@mail.gmail.com> On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 10:20 AM, Sudeep K S wrote: > On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:49 PM, A. Mani wrote: >     I have no problems with crossposting. I just hope you are sending my > mails also to your party mailing list:-) (pragoti at yahoogroups.com: This That is not a party list. It is for the democratic Left. I am not a politician. >     I am amused by your mail that looks like a party memo. One can not ask > any questions, as it would be against party rules. Once you mention the word > 'party', there is no need for any substantation in any way to whatever you > say. This may work in your party meetings but not on a forum like this. My > question stays, The Left front was directly involved in the incident and diverse opinions were involved. They can only provide the best clues. I can also say that you are biased beforehand and seem to have been brainwashed by the right-wing media about what constitutes an 'impartial enquiry'. >    "Could you substantiate the above two "main aspects" of your version of > the Marichjhapi story? Or shall we say this story of yours is completely > fictitious and biased, without any research going into it?" I at least tried to check with Bangladeshis and CPI(M) party members and have informed the list about a major side of the story. >   (In addition to this, I have commented on a couple of your statements > below) > > On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:57 AM, Sudeep K S wrote: >> On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 11:53 PM, A. Mani wrote: >>> >>> Caste is of little consequence in Left-Bengal. >> >>     You know what, CPM has been saying the same about Kerala also. What a >> coincidence! > >> Caste is the business of a minority bourgeois. Within the party it is >> taboo. >> For the few religion-based clashes in the past, vested interests had >> to rely on very small >> groups of misguided people or hired goons. Caste-based clashes are >> relatively unknown in West Bengal. These are well documented. >> >> >> >> >> There are two main >> >> aspects in the marichjhapi story: >> >> >> >> 1. Mismanagement of the refugee problem by the Left Government. Due to >> >> resource constraints, the Govt realised that they could not offer much >> >> support to the refugees in Dandakarnya.  But entry into the state was >> >> allowed  - this was a mistake (they were explicitly warned of 'no Govt >> >> support', though). Most of the village people in West Bengal resisted >> >> their entry and many violent incidents did take place. >> >> >> >> The police action was intended to evict the refugees from Marichjhapi >> >> and also to arrest particular merceneries. >> >> >> >> 2. The involvement of the CIA and related agencies (who apparently had >> >> infiltrated the refugee lines) in organising armed training camps was >> >> also a major reason for the police action. The CIA may never >> >> declassify documents relating to their involvement (and when they >> >> operate through other agencies, then it is not usually transparent). >> >> >> >> All decisions by the Left Government were taken on the basis of >> >> feedback from the ground level. Within the CPI(M) party all these >> >> aspects were debated in detail and >> >> many did not want a direct police action. >> >> >> >>  Direct casualties in action were limited. It is also true that most >> >> of the party people regard the forced eviction as the biggest mistake >> >> ever. >> > >> >     Could you substantiate the above two "main aspects" of your version >> > of >> > the Marichjhapi story? Or shall we say this story of yours is completely >> > fictitious and biased, without any research going into it? >> >> I checked up with party old-timers and former party members. "they >> were explicitly warned of 'no Govt  support', though" was reported in >> the newspapers. >> >> All these were debated extensively within the party at that time and >> quite a lot was reported. >> >> >> >     (The Kerala CPM also says "CIA" and 'foreign hand' whenever there is >> > anything spoken against them.). >> >> CIA and foreign hand have been a problem even before >> http://www.firstministry.kerala.gov.in/articles.htm >> >> 'CIA' and 'foreign hand' usually figure in accusations against others >> and their misdeeds (often of a violent nature). They heavily fund the >> Hindutva forces in Kerala in particular and there is plenty of >> evidence for the same. But the legal framework for dealing with this >> problem is not strong enough and is being persistently weakened >> through liberalisation. >> >> You can find quantitative evidence in lots of places. >> >> >> There are no parallels with any other later-day incident. >> > >> >     Ok -- drawing parallels is the job of those who get to hear stories. >> > Let >> > them do it. >> > >> >> You can try claiming that the villagers in South Bengal were >> >> 'casteist', but it is not true. >> > >> >     Again, what is the basis of this claim? >> >> Politics is far ahead of castes here (... if there is any).  There >> should be some quantitative studies on this subject. > >     "There should be"? What do you mean by that? In that case I guess Ajay, > Nilesh and Anoop could say the opposite, that caste oppression is far ahead > than anything in West Bengal (sorry Left Bengal) and 'there should be > proof'. I think they have done more than that, in a more convincing manner. > Ajay Hela is from Bengal, from the scavenging Hela community, and I am sure > he knows "if there is any" caste in West Bengal and how it works better than > you or your party does. We are dealing with attitude of the dominant political party towards caste and the conditioning caused by other left movements here and are not talking about the social aspect inherited by a minority bourgeois. The original article is confused on this aspect. The bourgeois media would not have bothered more even if the refugees were 'high caste hindus' given the fact that they constitute a "vote bank for the Left". Would the refugees have received a more favourable response from the villagers had they belonged to some 'higher caste'? - This part is more debatable We have plenty of studies on the improvement of the state of SC/STs in the state and also on correlations with things like resource allocation. But these are more recent studies. >> The Namashudra caste has the fourth-highest literacy rate of West >> Bengal Scheduled Castes: 71.9 percent, or 80.6 percent for males and >> 62.8 for females. The caste with the highest rate of literacy in West >> Bengal has 82.5 overall, while the national literacy average for >> Scheduled Castes is 54.7 percent (Office of the Registrar General, >> India (undated),‘West Bengal Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes’, >> Census of India 2001 >> http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_westbengal.pdf – > >     Does that say anything about their life status in the society? Literacy is an important indicator. Best A. Mani -- A. Mani ASL, CLC, AMS, CMS http://www.logicamani.co.cc From a.mani.cms at gmail.com Wed Dec 2 22:36:46 2009 From: a.mani.cms at gmail.com (A. Mani) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 22:36:46 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Sarai FAQ Message-ID: <78323d480912020906t42326b1fy2e98e12406e17613@mail.gmail.com> http://www.sarai.net/about-us/faqs/question-1-5#faq1 "Sarai renders its research and creative work into the ‘public domain’. What does this mean?" The response should mention licenses including CCSA, GPL and variants... Otherwise looks very problematic. Best A. Mani -- A. Mani ASL, CLC, AMS, CMS http://www.logicamani.co.cc From anjakovacs at gmail.com Thu Dec 3 02:49:40 2009 From: anjakovacs at gmail.com (Anja Kovacs) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 02:49:40 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 'Maps for Making Change' kicks off and you can get involved! Message-ID: <67ee1d140912021319t103aa95fl935c0d989879cc7b@mail.gmail.com> *'Maps for Making Change' kicks off and you can get involved! * After an overwhelming response to the Call for Applications, 'Maps for Making Change: Using Geographical Mapping Techniques to Support Struggles for Social Justice in India' will officially kick off on 3 December, at the India Islamic Cultural Centre on Delhi's Lodhi Road. In this first workshop in a series of three, participants will think through the potential of mapping in the context of a project that they have suggested in their application and the preparations they need to make to make these ideas a reality. The list of participants in the workshop reflects the diversity of India's struggles. It includes grassroots activists, NGO workers, artists and researchers, and a dizzying array of issues: from fighting for clean rivers and people's rights to livelihoods in the Himalaya, over unearthing the socio-economic aspects and consequences of the construction of Bangalore's Metro, to monitoring the national implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005); from mobilising slum dwellers to critically engage with Mumbai's new Development Plan, over bringing attention to human rights violations in Kashmir, to bringing into focus land where internally displaced people can be resettled in the North East. And these are just a few examples! But participation in Maps for Making Change need not be restricted to those who are actually present in the workshops. Every one can get involved. The Maps for Making Change email list ( http://groups.google.co.in/group/maps-for-making-change) is an open space for anyone to join the debate on how maps can be used to further progressive social change in the country. When the wiki is up and running in a few days time (maps4change.cis-india.org), it will allow you to see the work of participants as it develops, but will also be a resource on mapping for social change as it evolves. And if you want to get a sense of what is going on in the workshops as they unfold, that is possible too: we will be tweeting on Twitter, using the hash tag #maps4change. So we'll be there – on Twitter as well as at Lodhi Road – from 3 December, 9.30 onwards. Hope you will join us on the journey. For more information about the first workshop, please check http://www.cis-india.org/events/maps-for-making-change-the-first-workshop. For the initial Call for Applications, please see http://www.cis-india.org/advocacy/others/maps-for-making-change. From anivar at movingrepublic.org Thu Dec 3 08:42:05 2009 From: anivar at movingrepublic.org (Anivar Aravind) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 08:42:05 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Orissa padayatra against corporate invasion picks up momentum In-Reply-To: <35f96d470912021905i2875e1d7k3f8fc3ac6b80817f@mail.gmail.com> References: <35f96d470912021905i2875e1d7k3f8fc3ac6b80817f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <35f96d470912021912w409358ebhbaedeab527e9fef1@mail.gmail.com> For Immediate Release The seven-day long padayatra against corporate invasion of coastal Orissa has gained momentum on it way with more and more local villagers joining the protest march to mark their solidarity with the movement. On 2 December, the fourth day of the padayatra, which started from Dhinkia on 29 November, the original procession of 600 protestors had swelled to over 750 with people joining all along the way. In Machchagan alone over a hundred new villagers joined, including over 40 women. “Though many of these villagers are not directly affected by any of the mega-projects in coastal Orissa they can understand what it means when possession of land or one’s livelihood is affected,” said Abhay Sahoo, leader of the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samithy. As they wind their way over rough village roads, through rice fields and along water canals the padayatris are receiving enthusiastic response everywhere. Local people presented flowers to the protest marchers in many places. Though a bulk of the padayatris are from the anti-POSCO movement representative of over 14 movements in Orissa are also participating. The distance from Dhinkia to Puri, the destination of the padayatra, is nearly 140 kms and every day the marchers are covering an average of 20 kms. Though this is tough going for many of the older people they are persevering nevertheless as the issues on hand are a matter of life and death for them. On the fourth day, the padayatris had to walk for another 3 km to stay for night since the Jagatsinghpur District collector canceled the booking of Gorai School. While food for the padayatris is being arranged mainly by local villagers along the route, a major problem facing the padayatra right now is the lack of adequate resources to pay for accompanying vehicles, generators, sound systems used for campaigning, tents for sleeping where needed and other related expenses. PPSS leader Abhay Sahoo has appealed to all those in solidarity with the struggle of the local people to urgently send financial support. Those wishing to contribute to the padayatra can contact Prashant Paikray, spokesperson, PPSS at Ph: (0) 9437571547. For further information see http://orissaconcerns.org -- Anivar Aravind -- "[It is not] possible to distinguish between 'numerical' and 'nonnumerical' algorithms, as if numbers were somehow different from other kinds of precise information." - Donald Knuth From khurramparvez at yahoo.com Thu Dec 3 09:08:38 2009 From: khurramparvez at yahoo.com (Khurram Parvez) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 19:38:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] BURIED EVIDENCE - A report on Unmarked and Mass Graves in Kashmir Message-ID: <926321.91508.qm@web31805.mail.mud.yahoo.com> INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE’S TRIBUNAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE IN INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR  (IPTK)   A Brief on BURIED EVIDENCE Unknown, Unmarked, and Mass Graves in Indian-administered Kashmir a preliminary report   Complete report, photographs, video clips available at: www.kashmirprocess.org     BURIED EVIDENCE documents 2,700 unknown, unmarked, and mass graves, containing 2,943+ bodies, across 55 villages in Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts of Kashmir, based on applied research conducted between November 2006-November 2009.   BURIED EVIDENCE is authored by Angana P. Chatterji, Parvez Imroz, Gautam Navlakha, Zahir-Ud-Din, Mihir Desai, and Khurram Parvez.   [Dr. Angana P. Chatterji is Convener IPTK and Professor, Anthropology, California Institute of Integral Studies. Advocate Parvez Imroz is Convener IPTK and Founder, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. Gautam Navlakha is Convener IPTK and Editorial Consultant, Economic and Political Weekly. Zahir-Ud-Din is Convener IPTK and Vice-President, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. Advocate Mihir Desai is Legal Counsel IPTK and Lawyer, Mumbai High Court and Supreme Court of India. Khurram Parvez is Liaison IPTK and Programme Coordinator, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.]   Findings The graveyards investigated by IPTK entomb bodies of those murdered in encounter and fake encounter killings between 1990-2009. These graves include bodies of extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions, as well as massacres committed by the Indian military and paramilitary forces.   Of these graves, 2,373 (87.9 percent) were unnamed. Of these graves, 154 contained two bodies each and 23 contained more than two cadavers. Within these 23 graves, the number of bodies ranged from 3 to 17.   A mass grave may be identified as containing more than one, and usually unidentified, human cadaver. Scholars refer to mass graves as resulting from crimes against humanity, war crimes, or genocide. If the intent of a mass grave is to execute death with impunity, with intent to kill more than one, and to forge an unremitting representation of death, then, to that extent, the graves in Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara are part of a collective burial by India’s military and paramilitary, creating a landscape of  “mass burial.”   Post-death, the bodies of the victims were routinely handled by military and paramilitary personnel, including the local police. The bodies were then brought to the “secret graveyards” primarily by personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The graves were constructed by local gravediggers and caretakers, buried individually when possible, and specifically not en mass, in keeping with Islamic religious sensibilities.   The graves, with few exceptions, hold bodies of men. Violence against civilian men has expanded spaces for enacting violence against women. Women have been forced to disproportionately assume the task of caregiving to disintegrated families and undertake the work of seeking justice following disappearances and deaths. These graveyards have been placed next to fields, schools, and homes, largely on community land, and their affect on the local community is daunting.   The Indian Armed Forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police routinely claim the dead buried in unknown and unmarked graves to be “foreign militants/terrorists.” They claim that the dead were unidentified foreign or Kashmiri militants killed while infiltrating across the border areas into Kashmir or travelling from Kashmir into Pakistan to seek arms training. Official state discourse conflates cross-border militancy with present nonviolent struggles by local Kashmiri groups for political and territorial self-determination, portraying local resistance as “terrorist” activity.   Exhumation and identification have not occurred in sizeable cases. Where they have been undertaken, in various instances, “encounter” killings across Kashmir have, in fact, been authenticated as “fake encounter” killings. In instances where, post-burial, bodies have been identified, two methods have been used prevalently. These are 1. Exhumation; and 2. Identification through the use of photographs.   The report also examines 50 alleged “encounter” killings by Indian security forces in numerous districts in Kashmir. Of these persons, 39 were of Muslim descent; 4 were of Hindu descent; 7 were not determined. Of these cases, 49 were labelled militants/foreign insurgents by security forces and one body that was drowned. Of these, following investigations, 47 were found killed in fake encounters and one was identifiable as a local militant.   IPTK has been able to study only partial areas within 3 of 10 districts in Kashmir, and our findings and very preliminary evidence point to the severity of existing conditions. If independent investigations were to be undertaken in all 10 districts, it is reasonable to assume that the 8,000+ enforced disappearances since 1989 would correlate with the number of bodies in unknown, unmarked, and mass graves.   Allegations The methodical and planned use of killing and violence in Indian-administered Kashmir constitutes crimes against humanity in the context of an ongoing conflict. The Indian state’s governance of Indian-administered Kashmir requires the use of discipline and death as techniques of social control. Discipline is affected through military presence, surveillance, punishment, and fear. Death is disbursed through “extrajudicial” means and those authorized by law. These techniques of rule are used to kill, and create fear of not just death but of murder.   Mass and intensified extrajudicial killings have been part of a sustained and widespread offensive by the military and paramilitary institutions of the Indian state against civilians of Jammu and Kashmir. IPTK asks that the evidence put forward in this report be examined, verified, and reframed as relevant by credible, independent, and international bodies, and that international institutions ask that the Government of India comply with such investigations.   We note that the international community and institutions have not examined the supposition of crimes against humanity in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. We note that the United Nations and its member states have remained ineffective in containing and halting the adverse consequences of the Indians state’s militarization in Kashmir.   We ask that evidence from unknown, unmarked, and mass graves in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir be used to seek justice, through the sentencing of criminals and other judicial and social processes. As well, the existence of these graves, and how they came to be, may be understood as indicative of the effects and issue of militarization, and the issues pertaining to militarization itself must be addressed seriously and expeditiously.   The violences of militarization in Indian-administered Kashmir, between 1989-2009, have resulted in 70,000+ deaths, including through extrajudicial or “fake encounter” executions, custodial brutality, and other means. In the enduring conflict, 6, 67,000 military and paramilitary personnel continue to act with impunity to regulate movement, law, and order across Kashmir. The Indian state itself, through its legal, political, and military actions, has demonstrated the existence of a state of continuing conflict within Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.   Queries may be directed to: Khurram Parvez E-mail: kparvez at kashmirprocess.org Phone: +91.194.2482820 Mobile: +91.9419013553 From mitoo at sarai.net Thu Dec 3 07:43:07 2009 From: mitoo at sarai.net (Mitoo Das) Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:13:07 -1200 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] The CITY as STUDIO- Call for Proposals Message-ID: <4B171EB3.6030302@sarai.net> *Call for Proposals * *"The CITY as STUDIO" The Sarai-CSDS Media Lab Associate Fellowship for Contemporary Art and Media Practices* The Sarai Programme at the Center for Study of Developing Societies, Delhi is an interdisciplinary platform for the investigation and interpretation of contemporary urban experience. Sarai produces events and processes, publishes offline and online content and generates contexts for research and creative practice concerning contemporary urban conditions. The Sarai Media Lab invites expressions of interest and intent from artists and practitioners in diverse media - textual, visual, aural, spatial and temporal - who could be - visual artists (photographers, sculptors, installation artists, graphic artists), writers and independent scholars, filmmakers, architects, experimental musicians and composers, sound recordists, performers and people whose practices straddle or transcend different areas of practice - for participation in the 'City as Studio' Project. The City as Studio initiative will create contexts for high intensity inter-disciplinary processes at different locations in Delhi and at the Sarai space at CSDS. Sometimes these process(es) may be rendered as an exhibition, at other times as a gathering, as a library, as a temporary archive or as an occasion for performances, conversations and debates. At still other times it may take the form of a workshop, a temporary atelier, a media studio, a publication or an online platform. The City as Studio is neither a one off event, nor a workshop or a residency, nor a festival or a simple cluster of public programmes - though it has elements of all of the above. It is primarily a method of generating a new public profile for creative work in the city, a scanning of the horizon of possibilities that can be opened up in urban spaces through the presence of art, experimental cultural activity and public exchanges. The studio process plans to bring together artists, filmmakers, photographers, discursive interlocutors, architects, writers, urbanists, scientists, architects, social actors and cultural workers, neighbourhood initiatives and diverse audiences to create art works, participatory performances, media works, and transmissions of different kinds of signals. *Possible areas of that will be reflected upon could include but need not be limited to - * - the city as spectacle, as a site of consumption, as an arena of power - the growing intensity of surveillance, - the question of distance and anchorage: housing and transportation - access to resources, location and privilege - the local pursuits of pleasure - life, death, and rites of passage in the city - the everydayness and banality of terror - imagined histories and urban legends, the fantastical and uncanny city - the archived and remembered city - urban ecologies, the city as a zone of bio-diversity, urban forests, rivers - ways of life, sub-cultures, bodies of informal knowledge, local practices - migrants, margins and minorities We invite applicants to imagine that the city itself is their studio, and that urban realities are their materials in order to create artistic work that acts as a body of public knowledge in and about the city. Applicants are invited to write a short (no more than two pages) note sketching an idea or ideas that they would like to develop, participate in, or create. We will consider this note to be an expression of intent (not as a fully worked out proposal, but as a sketch of what the applicant would ideally like to do if presented with the possibility of responding to the city) and will evaluate it on how best, how imaginatively and resourcefully an applicant responds to urban situations, questions and processes of their own choice. We are looking for forms of intervention into city life that cannot easily be defined, appropriated or neutralized. Projects that straddle artistic expression with a research imperative, that intervene in, enlighten, and critique the city, will be especially welcome. Based on our evaluation of these expressions of intent, we will invite 10 artists and practitioners for the fellowships, and they will work in dialogue with the Sarai Media Lab. The range of the proposed artistic projects and media interventions could span free standing art works to proposals for mini-exhibitions, installations, performances and happenings, publications, sound works, video, mapping and GPS driven projects, internet and mobile phone based works, graphic novels, public art works, graffiti and signage and speculative architectural proposals. *The fellows will receive a bursary of Rs 65,000 spread over a period of nine months. * *The Process* i) The fellowship duration will be from 1st February 2010 till 31st October, 2010. ii) From February to June (2010), the fellows are expected to develop their projects and share it on an online space that will be especially dedicated for the City as Studio process. We plan to publicize this online space in various circuits. iii) An intensive studio will take place in Delhi during the months of July and August (2010). All City as Studio fellows will have to attend in order to develop their works and ideas while being engaged in a dialogue with the location, with other fellows and the Sarai Media Lab. They will also interact with resource persons who will be invited to expose the fellows to a range of practices during this period. Costs for travel to Delhi and accomodation wil be borne (separate from the bursary) by Sarai-CSDS for candidates from outside Delhi. iv) During September and October, the fellows will be expected to develop their ideas towards completion and begin to share, circulate and exhibit works through various media. v) Sarai-CSDS will exhibit and publish some of the works coming out of the City Studios. vi) All fellows are expected to submit a final report to Sarai-CSDS by 15th November 2010. *Who Can Apply:* Anyone above the age of 21 with a bank account and a PAN number in India can apply for this fellowship. While the City as Studio initiative will be located in Delhi, there is no bar against people from outside Delhi applying to take part in this process. But, it is an imperative for the applicant to commit to participation for the 'on-location' process in Delhi during July and August. *What Should Applicants Send:* 1. A two-page sketch of an idea that the applicant would like to pursue within the framework of the City as Studio initiative 2. CV listing recent works, projects and experiences 3. 2 Samples of recent work - as tifs, jpg, .mov files and as sound files and/or publications 4. Contact details *Last Date for Sending Applications: 26th December, 2009 * *Where to Send Applications:* Send the application as an email, with attachments to OR a hard copy to City Studio, Sarai/CSDS, 29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110054. *When can you expect to hear from us:* The list of selected candidates will be posted on the Sarai webstie on 15th January, 2010. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From navayana at gmail.com Thu Dec 3 13:48:22 2009 From: navayana at gmail.com (Navayana Publishing) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:48:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?=C5=BDi=C5=BEek_double-bill_at_Sarai=2C_2?= =?utf-8?q?4_Dec_2009?= Message-ID: Sarai and Navayana invite you to a double-bill screening of “The Pervert's Guide to Cinema” and “Žižek!”, a feature documentary, both starring Slavoj Žižek, on 24 December 2009. Venue: Sarai-CSDS Seminar Room, 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi Time: 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m (“Pervert’s Guide”). 6 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. (“Žižek!”). “Cinema is the ultimate pervert art. It doesn't give you what you desire – it tells you how to desire.” — Slavoj Žižek As a curtain-raiser to Navayana’s inaugural annual lecture series by Slavoj Žižek, Sarai and Navayana present two films on/with Žižek. “The Pervert's Guide to Cinema” (2006, 150 minutes) is a hilarious, high-energy monologue by Žižek, who subjects more than 40 mostly classic films, by directors ranging from Chaplin to Hitchcock to David Lynch, to a no-holes-barred psychoanalytic scrutiny. This globe-trotting three-part documentary, directed by Sophie Fiennes, cuts its cloth from the very world of the movies it discusses; by shooting at original locations and on replica sets, it creates the uncanny illusion that Žižek is speaking from within the films themselves. The Guardian review says, “'Unruly thinker and critic Slavoj Žižek gives us a highly entertaining and often brilliant tour of modern cinema... Tremendously exhilarating stuff.” To know more about the film, visit the official website: http://www.thepervertsguide.com/index.php. This film shall prepare you for the Navayana-Sarai annual lecture at Sarai on 4 January 2010 (5 p.m.), where Žižek speaks on “Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood”. This will be followed by “Žižek!” (2005, 71 mins), a feature documentary that explores the eccentric personality and esoteric work of the “wild man of theory”. The feature, directed by Astra Taylor, trails the thinker as he crisscrosses the globe, racing from New York City lecture halls, through the streets of Buenos Aires, and even stopping at home in Ljubljana, Slovenia. All the while Žižek obsessively reveals the invisible workings of ideology through his unique blend of Lacanian psychoanalysis, Marxism, and critique of pop culture. A review in Variety says: “Subject is a bearded, sweating, antisocial, eminently quotable bear of a man who throws out ideas in a heavily accented lisp. Žižek 's work fuses Marxism and the thinking of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan (1901–1981), who put a post-structuralist spin on Freud. Further twists are his encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and extreme pronouncements: ‘My big worry,’ he frets, ‘is not to be ignored, but accepted.’” To know more about this film, visit the official website: http://www.zizekthemovie.com/ Žižek's latest book, *First as Tragedy, Then as Farce*, will be for sale at the venue. As also other new Navayana titles: http://navayana.org/?p=767 For Žižek enthusiasts, the full schedule of his India tour is as follows: 24 Dec 2009. 3 p.m to 7.15 p.m. Screenings "The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema", in 3 parts. 150 mins, to be followed by “Žižek!”, 71 mins. Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 2 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Screening "Žižek!" A feature documentary directed by Astra Taylor, 71 mins. Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 4 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture “Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood” Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 5 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Lecture “Tragedy and Farce” Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 7 Jan 2010. 11 a.m. Lecture “Capitalism and Particular Life-Worlds: In Defense of Universalism” ICSSR Auditorium, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad 9 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture and Panel Discussion “Whither Left?” Town Hall, Kochi. For updates on the Žižek India tour visit www.navayana.org -- www.navayana.org Navayana 155, Second Floor Shahpur Jat New Delhi 110049 Landline: +91-11-26494795 Mobile: +91-9971433117 From navayana at gmail.com Thu Dec 3 13:59:13 2009 From: navayana at gmail.com (Navayana Publishing) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:59:13 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?b?xb1pxb5laywgUmFuY2nDqHJlLCBGb3VjYXVsdCwg?= =?utf-8?b?Qm91cmRpZXXigKY=?= Message-ID: Navayana presents Slavoj Žižek Navayana is delighted to present “the Elvis of cultural theory”, the academic “rock star”—Slavoj Žižek. The author of over 40 books, many of them top sellers, the Slovenian Marxist philosopher and cultural critic will tour India from 2 to 9 Jan 2010 on the occasion of the launch of his latest work, First as Tragedy, Then as Farce—a bravura analysis of the current global crisis. His books deal with topics ranging from philosophy and Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis, to theology, film, opera and radical politics. He was a candidate for, and nearly won, the Presidency of Slovenia in the first democratic elections after the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1990. According to a profile in the New Yorker, Slovenia has a “reputation disproportionately large for its size due to the work of Slavoj Žižek.” In the first Navayana annual lecture series, Žižek shall deliver two talks in Delhi (4 and 5 Jan), and one each in Hyderabad (7 Jan) and Kochi (9 Jan). Besides, there shall be screenings of films on and by him, and discussions of his work as pre-event shows. In Kerala, the Malayalam translation of Žižek’s classic, The Sublime Object of Ideology, will be launched during his visit. First as Tragedy, Then as Farce Paperback B Format 156 pages Rs 200 “The title of this book is intended as an elementary IQ test for the reader: if the first association it generates is the vulgar anti-communist cliché —“You are right—today, after the tragedy of twentieth-century totalitarianism, all the talk about a return to communism can only be farcical!”—then I sincerely advise you to stop here. Indeed, the book should be forcibly confiscated from you, since it deals with an entirely different tragedy and farce, namely, the two events which mark the beginning and the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century: the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the financial meltdown of 2008. We should note the similarity of President Bush’s language in his addresses to the American people after 9/11 and after the financial collapse: they sounded very much like two versions of the same speech. Both times Bush evoked the threat to the American way of life and the need to take fast and decisive action to cope with the danger. Both times he called for the partial suspension of American values (guarantees of individual freedom, market capitalism) in order to save these very same values. From whence comes this similarity?” Slavoj Žižek declares: “You’ve had your anti-communist fun, and you are pardoned for it—time to get serious once again!” The Žižek India Tour Schedule 24 Dec 2009. 3 p.m. Screenings The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, in 3 parts. 150 mins Followed by “Žižek!”, 71 mins. Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 2 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Screening Žižek! A feature documentary directed by Astra Taylor, 71 mins. Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 4 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture “Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood” Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 5 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Lecture “Tragedy and Farce” Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 7 Jan 2010. 11 a.m. Lecture “Capitalism and Particular Life-Worlds: In Defense of Universalism” ICSSR Auditorium, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad 9 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture and Panel Discussion “Whither Left?” Town Hall, Kochi. The Žižek Media Kit Watch Žižek on BBC News Hardtalk, 24 Nov 2009: http://versouk.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/bbc-news-hardtalk-slavoj-zizek-communism-a-total-failure/ Profile in New Yorker: http://www.lacan.com/ziny.htm Terry Eagleton on Žižek in Times Literary Supplement: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article3800980.ece A key to the key ideas of Žižek: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro1.htm A comprehensive Bibliography of Žižek: http://www.lacan.com/bibliographyzi.htm Brief summaries of his key books: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro2.htm Žižek! The Movie (to be screened at India Habitat Centre on 2 Jan 2009): http://www.zizekthemovie.com/ The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema (to be screened at Sarai, CSDS, 24 Dec 2009): http://www.thepervertsguide.com/press.html To download pictures of Žižek, click here: http://zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=zizek&mode=downloads Along with Žižek’s title (First as Tragedy, Then as Farce), under the Other Headings series Navayana launches affordable South Asian editions of Jacques Rancière’s The Future of the Image (Rs 200), Michel Foucault’s Abnormal: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1974–75 (Rs 490), and Pierre Bourdieu’s Political Interventions: Social Science and Political Action (Rs 490). For details and further information on the Žižek tour contact S. Anand at anand at navayana.org -- www.navayana.org Navayana 155, Second Floor Shahpur Jat New Delhi 110049 Landline: +91-11-26494795 Mobile: +91-9971433117 From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Thu Dec 3 14:16:59 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:46:59 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Julio_Orta_=28MX=29?= Message-ID: <20091203094659.D6740DFF.777C4600@192.168.0.2> 3 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->Elena in the prison of herself (Elena en la prision de si misma).by Julio Orta (Mexico)--> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for freee as PDF--> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> in December in UK and Feb 2010 in India -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From patrice at xs4all.nl Thu Dec 3 15:47:33 2009 From: patrice at xs4all.nl (Patrice Riemens) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 11:17:33 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] Swiss referendum Message-ID: <5b0ccd6d57732f2279fa49efa1537408.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> Hee Shuddha, Funny (I mean just that, funny ;-) piece you wrote as reaction on my own. Yet I beg to disagree with you on your optimism about the 43 % who voted in against the ban on minarets. In electoral politics, 57,5 % is a very clear and stark majority (unless you live in some sort of dictatorship - or in Maguindanao (.ph) - , and in the Swiss case, 19 cantons out of 23 makes it even more so. At this juncture, like it or not, 'the Sovereign' has spoken - even if it has entangled itself in its own irresoluble contradictions. Denying this, or even worse, coming with all kinds of arguments against referenda (i.e democracy itself) as you did _not_, but many of my (Swiss) frieds did, is not very helpful. Europe will have to come rather soon to terms with its own hangups about wanting to have the immigration cake, keep it, sell it, eat it, and then take a triple mortgage on the bloody backery (and then maybe 'insure-and-burn' it for good measure...;-) Cheers, patrizio & Diiiinooos! From monica at sarai.net Thu Dec 3 14:03:46 2009 From: monica at sarai.net (Monica Narula) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 14:03:46 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] CITY as STUDIO Message-ID: <1B601797-051A-42DC-8121-4E9B9FCDCAF4@sarai.net> Call for Proposals “The CITY as STUDIO” The Sarai-CSDS Media Lab Associate Fellowship for Contemporary Art and Media Practices The Sarai Programme at the Center for Study of Developing Societies, Delhi is an interdisciplinary platform for the investigation and interpretation of contemporary urban experience. Sarai produces events and processes, publishes offline and online content and generates contexts for research and creative practice concerning contemporary urban conditions. The Sarai Media Lab invites expressions of interest and intent from artists and practitioners in diverse media - textual, visual, aural, spatial and temporal - who could be - visual artists (photographers, sculptors, installation artists, graphic artists), writers and independent scholars, filmmakers, architects, experimental musicians and composers, sound recordists, performers and people whose practices straddle or transcend different areas of practice - for participation in the 'City as Studio' Project. The City as Studio initiative will create contexts for high intensity inter-disciplinary processes at different locations in Delhi and at the Sarai space at CSDS. Sometimes these process(es) may be rendered as an exhibition, at other times as a gathering, as a library, as a temporary archive or as an occasion for performances, conversations and debates. At still other times it may take the form of a workshop, a temporary atelier, a media studio, a publication or an online platform. The City as Studio is neither a one off event, nor a workshop or a residency, nor a festival or a simple cluster of public programmes - though it has elements of all of the above. It is primarily a method of generating a new public profile for creative work in the city, a scanning of the horizon of possibilities that can be opened up in urban spaces through the presence of art, experimental cultural activity and public exchanges. The studio process plans to bring together artists, filmmakers, photographers, discursive interlocutors, architects, writers, urbanists, scientists, architects, social actors and cultural workers, neighbourhood initiatives and diverse audiences to create art works, participatory performances, media works, and transmissions of different kinds of signals. Possible areas of that will be reflected upon could include but need not be limited to - - the city as spectacle, as a site of consumption, as an arena of power - the growing intensity of surveillance, - the question of distance and anchorage: housing and transportation - access to resources, location and privilege - the local pursuits of pleasure - life, death, and rites of passage in the city - the everydayness and banality of terror - imagined histories and urban legends, the fantastical and uncanny city - the archived and remembered city - urban ecologies, the city as a zone of bio-diversity, urban forests, rivers - ways of life, sub-cultures, bodies of informal knowledge, local practices - migrants, margins and minorities We invite applicants to imagine that the city itself is their studio, and that urban realities are their materials in order to create artistic work that acts as a body of public knowledge in and about the city. Applicants are invited to write a short (no more than two pages) note sketching an idea or ideas that they would like to develop, participate in, or create. We will consider this note to be an expression of intent (not as a fully worked out proposal, but as a sketch of what the applicant would ideally like to do if presented with the possibility of responding to the city) and will evaluate it on how best, how imaginatively and resourcefully an applicant responds to urban situations, questions and processes of their own choice. We are looking for forms of intervention into city life that cannot easily be defined, appropriated or neutralized. Projects that straddle artistic expression with a research imperative, that intervene in, enlighten, and critique the city, will be especially welcome. Based on our evaluation of these expressions of intent, we will invite 10 artists and practitioners for the fellowships, and they will work in dialogue with the Sarai Media Lab. The range of the proposed artistic projects and media interventions could span free standing art works to proposals for mini-exhibitions, installations, performances and happenings, publications, sound works, video, mapping and GPS driven projects, internet and mobile phone based works, graphic novels, public art works, graffiti and signage and speculative architectural proposals. The fellows will receive a bursary of Rs 65,000 spread over a period of nine months. The Process i) The fellowship duration will be from 1st February 2010 till 31st October, 2010. ii) From February to June (2010), the fellows are expected to develop their projects and share it on an online space that will be especially dedicated for the City as Studio process. We plan to publicize this online space in various circuits. iii) An intensive studio will take place in Delhi during the months of July and August (2010). All City as Studio fellows will have to attend in order to develop their works and ideas while being engaged in a dialogue with the location, with other fellows and the Sarai Media Lab. They will also interact with resource persons who will be invited to expose the fellows to a range of practices during this period. Costs for travel to Delhi and accomodation wil be borne (separate from the bursary) by Sarai-CSDS for candidates from outside Delhi. iv) During September and October, the fellows will be expected to develop their ideas towards completion and begin to share, circulate and exhibit works through various media. v) Sarai-CSDS will exhibit and publish some of the works coming out of the City Studios. vi) All fellows are expected to submit a final report to Sarai-CSDS by 15th November 2010. Who Can Apply: Anyone above the age of 21 with a bank account and a PAN number in India can apply for this fellowship. While the City as Studio initiative will be located in Delhi, there is no bar against people from outside Delhi applying to take part in this process. But, it is an imperative for the applicant to commit to participation for the 'on- location' process in Delhi during July and August. What Should Applicants Send: 1. A two-page sketch of an idea that the applicant would like to pursue within the framework of the City as Studio initiative 2. CV listing recent works, projects and experiences 3. 2 Samples of recent work - as tifs, jpg, .mov files and as sound files and/or publications 4. Contact details Last Date for Sending Applications: 26th December, 2009 Where to Send Applications: Send the application as an email, with attachments to OR a hard copy to City Studio, Sarai/CSDS, 29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110054. When can you expect to hear from us: The list of selected candidates will be posted on the Sarai webstie on 15th January, 2010. Monica Narula Raqs Media Collective Sarai-CSDS www.raqsmediacollective.net www.sarai.net From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Fri Dec 4 11:54:21 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 11:54:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Help need by researchers on gender gap in school enrolment in Gujarat Message-ID: If you know of anyone "who might be engaged in the field of education in Gujarat," and might be able to help Surabhi and her colleague, do write to surabhi.tandon at gmail.com And please forward this mail to any of your friends who might be able to provide leads about people, organisations, documents. Thanks ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Surabhi Tandon Date: Dec 4, 2009 10:51 AM Subject: Re: Education in Gujurat - some Queries To: Chintan Hi Chintan, Here is the email you could forward to your group -- We are authoring a paper that is studying the gender gap in enrolment at a primary school level. This analysis is based on ASER (Annual Status of Education Report) data, and shows a fall in the gap over the last four years (i.e. more girls are being enrolled at a national level). Both authors worked for Pratham and ASER (respectively) in New Delhi, in 2008. We are specifically studying three states. Bihar seems to have made the most progress in closing the gender gap (starting from a relatively low level). However, the state of Gujarat shows a *slight* increase in the gender gap. At this moment, we are unable to partake in a field study, but were hoping to speak with anyone who might be engaged in the field of education in Gujarat as to why this might be the case (despite the State government claiming their commitment to girl's education). Secondly, and more significantly, there is a low rate of retention in schools vis-a-vis girls i.e. as girls get older, they seem to drop out of school in more numbers. This is another question we are seeking feedback on. We propose a probable reason : the lack of political will in the state (the government has other priorities, can seek votes even without focussing on education because it has made significant leeway in other development matters etc.). Secondly, we wanted to delve into the role of NGOs in mobilizing civil society. Is there an active role played by the non governmental sector in making people aware on the importance of education, SSA? Also, is there any movement to mobilize them to demand for better facilities, teachers and resources (alternatively, any movement to increase local accountability with regard to schools and teachers in villages). Any leads/ feedback or suggestions are most welcome. We would really appreciate it, and thank you for your time (to even read, and possibly think about this!). Chintan, once again ~ I greatly appreciate this. Warm Regards, Surabhi Tandon From patrice at xs4all.nl Fri Dec 4 12:06:34 2009 From: patrice at xs4all.nl (Patrice Riemens) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 07:36:34 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] Heather Timmons: A reverse culture shock in India Message-ID: Original to the NYT/IHT, Nov 27, 2009. Original at: http://bit.ly/6YIqFG Some Indians Find It Tough to Go Home Again By HEATHER TIMMONS NEW DELHI — When 7-year-old Shiva Ayyadurai left Mumbai with his family nearly 40 years ago, he promised himself he would return to India someday to help his country. In June, Mr. Ayyadurai, now 45, moved from Boston to New Delhi hoping to make good on that promise. An entrepreneur and lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a fistful of American degrees, he was the first recruit of an ambitious government program to lure talented scientists of the so-called desi diaspora back to their homeland. “It seemed perfect,” he said recently of the job opportunity. It wasn’t. As Mr. Ayyadurai sees it now, his Western business education met India’s notoriously inefficient, opaque government, and things went downhill from there. Within weeks, he and his boss were at loggerheads. Last month, his job offer was withdrawn. Mr. Ayyadurai has moved back to Boston. In recent years, Mother India has welcomed back tens of thousands of former emigrants and their offspring. When he visited the United States this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally extended an invitation “to all Indian-Americans and nonresident Indians who wish to return home.” But, like Mr. Ayyadurai, many Indians who spent most of their lives in North America and Europe are finding they can’t go home again. About 100,000 “returnees” will move from the United States to India in the next five years, estimates Vivek Wadhwa, a research associate at Harvard University who has studied the topic. These repats, as they are known, are drawn by India’s booming economic growth, the chance to wrestle with complex problems and the opportunity to learn more about their heritage. They are joining multinational companies, starting new businesses and even becoming part of India’s sleepy government bureaucracy. But a study by Mr. Wadhwa and other academics found that 34 percent of repats found it difficult to return to India — compared to just 13 percent of Indian immigrants who found it difficult to settle in the United States. The repats complained about traffic, lack of infrastructure, bureaucracy and pollution. For many returnees the cultural ties and chance to do good that drew them back are overshadowed by workplace cultures that feel unexpectedly foreign, and can be frustrating. Sometimes returnees discover that they share more in their attitudes and perspectives with other Americans or with the British than with other Indians. Some stay just a few months, some return to the West after a few years. Returnees run into trouble when they “look Indian but think American,” said Anjali Bansal, managing partner in India for Spencer Stuart, the global executive search firm. People expect them to know the country because of how they look, but they may not be familiar with the way things run, she said. Similarly, when things don’t operate the way they do in the United States or Britain, the repats sometimes complain. “India can seem to have a fairly ambiguous and chaotic way of working, but it works,” Ms. Bansal said. “I’ve heard people say things like ‘It is so inefficient or it is so unprofessional.’ ” She said it was more constructive to just accept customs as being different. Sometimes, the better fit for a job in India is an expatriate who has experience working in emerging markets, rather than someone born in India who has only worked in the United States, she said. While several Indian-origin authors have penned soul-searching tomes about their return to India, and dozens of business books exist for Western expatriates trying to do business here, the guidelines for the returning Indian manager or entrepreneur are still being drawn. “Some very simple practices that you often take for granted, such as being ethical in day to day situations, or believing in the rule of law in everyday behavior, are surprisingly absent in many situations,” said Raju Narisetti, who was born in Hyderabad and returned to India in 2006 to found a business newspaper called Mint, which is now the country’s second-biggest business paper by readership. He said he left earlier than he expected because of a “troubling nexus” of business, politics and publishing that he called “draining on body and soul.” He returned to the United States this year to join The Washington Post. There are no shortcuts to spending lots of time working in the country, returnees say. “There are so many things that are tricky about doing business in India that it takes years to figure it out,” said Sanjay Kamlani, the co-chief executive of Pangea3, a legal outsourcing firm with offices in New York and Mumbai. Mr. Kamlani was born in Miami, where his parents emigrated from Mumbai, but he has started two businesses with Indian operations. When Mr. Kamlani started hiring in India, he met with a completely unexpected phenomena: some new recruits would not show up for work on their first day. Then, their mothers would call and say they were sick for days in a row. They never intended to come at all, he realized, but “there’s a cultural desire to avoid confrontation,” he said. The case of Mr. Ayyadurai, the M.I.T. lecturer, illustrates just how frustrating the experience can be for someone schooled in more direct, American-style management. After a long meeting with a top bureaucrat, who gave him a handwritten job offer, Mr. Ayyadurai signed on to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, or C.S.I.R., a government-financed agency that reports to the ministry of science. The agency is responsible for creating a new company, called C.S.I.R.-Tech, to spin off profitable businesses from India’s dozens of public laboratories. Currently, the agency, which oversees 4,500 scientists, generates just $80 million in cash flow a year, even though its annual budget is the equivalent of half a billion dollars. Mr. Ayyadurai said he spent weeks trying to get answers and responses to e-mail messages, particularly from the person who hired him, the C.S.I.R. director general, Samir K. Brahmachari. After several months of trying to set up a business plan for the new company with no input from his boss, he said, he distributed a draft plan to C.S.I.R.’s scientists asking for feedback, and criticizing the agency’s management. Four days later, Mr. Ayyadurai was forbidden from communicating with other scientists. Later, he received an official letter saying his job offer was withdrawn. The complaints in Mr. Ayyadurai’s paper could be an outline for what many inside and outside India say could be improved in some workplaces here: disorganization, intimidation, a culture where top directors’ decisions are rarely challenged and a lack of respect for promptness that means meetings start hours late and sometimes go on for hours with no clear agenda. But going public with such accusations is highly unusual. Mr. Ayyadurai circulated his paper not just to the agency’s scientists but to journalists, and wrote about his situation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. India is “sitting on a huge opportunity” to create new businesses and tap into thousands of science and technology experts, Mr. Ayyadurai said, but a “feudal culture” is holding the country back. Mr. Brahmachari said in an interview that Mr. Ayyadurai had misunderstood nearly everything — from his handwritten job offer, which he said was only meant to suggest what Mr. Ayyadurai could receive were he to be hired, to the way Mr. Ayyadurai asked scientists for their feedback on what the C.S.I.R. spinoff should look like. To prove his point, Mr. Brahmachari, who was two hours late for an interview scheduled by his office, read from a government guide about decision-making in the organization. Mr. Ayyadurai didn’t follow protocol, he said. “As long as your language is positive for the organization I have no problem,” he added. As the interview was closing, Mr. Brahmachari questioned why anyone would be interested in the situation, and then said he would complain to a reporter’s bosses in New York if she continued to pursue the story. From abasole at gmail.com Fri Dec 4 14:29:13 2009 From: abasole at gmail.com (Amit Basole) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 14:29:13 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Heather Timmons: A reverse culture shock in India In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8e2bace60912040059h3b6eb40es94f3878c55ec0956@mail.gmail.com> Disclaimer: My remarks are not addressed to Patrice, but to the content of the article. The writer of the article, Heather Timmons, probably did not intend this but the piece comes across as a report of spoilt NRIs whining about India as they always do. If "helping your country" can only happen when everything works here just the way it does in America, then there would be no need to "help the country" in the first place! Even if the 100,000 repats expected to arrive in the next 5 years were all to get frustrated and leave India in the next 15 years I doubt the country would be much the worse for it. Ultimately it is the 900 millions Indians who have never been abroad nor are likely to go and who constitute an immense pool of talent and labor which sustains livelihoods despite massive exploitation by the State and by Capital, who hold the key to India's future well-being. Not a handful of repats. The later are of course welcome if they wish to contribute in due humility, but not if they expect special treatment. This is not to imply that corruption, bureaucracy et al are not real problems, of course they are and for the working poor they can mean the difference between life and death, not just a difference between living comfortably in India or living comfortably in America. So by all means lets fight these problems as best as we can. If we can't and if returning to more "civilized lands" becomes necessary, we have only ourselves to blame. Looking Indian means discrimination and second-class treatment in America, thinking American means being a misfit in India. Tough luck. For full disclosure, I have been in the US for the past ten years and though I am living in India this year for research purposes. Amit On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 12:06 PM, Patrice Riemens wrote: > Original to the NYT/IHT, Nov 27, 2009. > Original at: http://bit.ly/6YIqFG > > > > Some Indians Find It Tough to Go Home Again > By HEATHER TIMMONS > > NEW DELHI — When 7-year-old Shiva Ayyadurai left Mumbai with his family > nearly 40 years ago, he promised himself he would return to India someday > to help his country. > > In June, Mr. Ayyadurai, now 45, moved from Boston to New Delhi hoping to > make good on that promise. An entrepreneur and lecturer at the > Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a fistful of American degrees, > he was the first recruit of an ambitious government program to lure > talented scientists of the so-called desi diaspora back to their homeland. > > “It seemed perfect,” he said recently of the job opportunity. > > It wasn’t. > > As Mr. Ayyadurai sees it now, his Western business education met India’s > notoriously inefficient, opaque government, and things went downhill from > there. Within weeks, he and his boss were at loggerheads. Last month, his > job offer was withdrawn. Mr. Ayyadurai has moved back to Boston. > > In recent years, Mother India has welcomed back tens of thousands of > former emigrants and their offspring. When he visited the United States > this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally extended an invitation > “to all Indian-Americans and nonresident Indians who wish to return home.” > But, like Mr. Ayyadurai, many Indians who spent most of their lives in > North America and Europe are finding they can’t go home again. > > About 100,000 “returnees” will move from the United States to India in the > next five years, estimates Vivek Wadhwa, a research associate at Harvard > University who has studied the topic. These repats, as they are known, are > drawn by India’s booming economic growth, the chance to wrestle with > complex problems and the opportunity to learn more about their heritage. > They are joining multinational companies, starting new businesses and even > becoming part of India’s sleepy government bureaucracy. > > But a study by Mr. Wadhwa and other academics found that 34 percent of > repats found it difficult to return to India — compared to just 13 percent > of Indian immigrants who found it difficult to settle in the United > States. The repats complained about traffic, lack of infrastructure, > bureaucracy and pollution. > > For many returnees the cultural ties and chance to do good that drew them > back are overshadowed by workplace cultures that feel unexpectedly > foreign, and can be frustrating. Sometimes returnees discover that they > share more in their attitudes and perspectives with other Americans or > with the British than with other Indians. Some stay just a few months, > some return to the West after a few years. > > Returnees run into trouble when they “look Indian but think American,” > said Anjali Bansal, managing partner in India for Spencer Stuart, the > global executive search firm. People expect them to know the country > because of how they look, but they may not be familiar with the way things > run, she said. Similarly, when things don’t operate the way they do in the > United States or Britain, the repats sometimes complain. > > “India can seem to have a fairly ambiguous and chaotic way of working, but > it works,” Ms. Bansal said. “I’ve heard people say things like ‘It is so > inefficient or it is so unprofessional.’ ” She said it was more > constructive to just accept customs as being different. > > Sometimes, the better fit for a job in India is an expatriate who has > experience working in emerging markets, rather than someone born in India > who has only worked in the United States, she said. > > While several Indian-origin authors have penned soul-searching tomes about > their return to India, and dozens of business books exist for Western > expatriates trying to do business here, the guidelines for the returning > Indian manager or entrepreneur are still being drawn. > > “Some very simple practices that you often take for granted, such as being > ethical in day to day situations, or believing in the rule of law in > everyday behavior, are surprisingly absent in many situations,” said Raju > Narisetti, who was born in Hyderabad and returned to India in 2006 to > found a business newspaper called Mint, which is now the country’s > second-biggest business paper by readership. > > He said he left earlier than he expected because of a “troubling nexus” of > business, politics and publishing that he called “draining on body and > soul.” He returned to the United States this year to join The Washington > Post. > > There are no shortcuts to spending lots of time working in the country, > returnees say. “There are so many things that are tricky about doing > business in India that it takes years to figure it out,” said Sanjay > Kamlani, the co-chief executive of Pangea3, a legal outsourcing firm with > offices in New York and Mumbai. Mr. Kamlani was born in Miami, where his > parents emigrated from Mumbai, but he has started two businesses with > Indian operations. > > When Mr. Kamlani started hiring in India, he met with a completely > unexpected phenomena: some new recruits would not show up for work on > their first day. Then, their mothers would call and say they were sick for > days in a row. They never intended to come at all, he realized, but > “there’s a cultural desire to avoid confrontation,” he said. > > The case of Mr. Ayyadurai, the M.I.T. lecturer, illustrates just how > frustrating the experience can be for someone schooled in more direct, > American-style management. After a long meeting with a top bureaucrat, who > gave him a handwritten job offer, Mr. Ayyadurai signed on to the Council > of Scientific and Industrial Research, or C.S.I.R., a government-financed > agency that reports to the ministry of science. > > The agency is responsible for creating a new company, called > C.S.I.R.-Tech, to spin off profitable businesses from India’s dozens of > public laboratories. Currently, the agency, which oversees 4,500 > scientists, generates just $80 million in cash flow a year, even though > its annual budget is the equivalent of half a billion dollars. > > Mr. Ayyadurai said he spent weeks trying to get answers and responses to > e-mail messages, particularly from the person who hired him, the C.S.I.R. > director general, Samir K. Brahmachari. After several months of trying to > set up a business plan for the new company with no input from his boss, he > said, he distributed a draft plan to C.S.I.R.’s scientists asking for > feedback, and criticizing the agency’s management. > > Four days later, Mr. Ayyadurai was forbidden from communicating with other > scientists. Later, he received an official letter saying his job offer was > withdrawn. > > The complaints in Mr. Ayyadurai’s paper could be an outline for what many > inside and outside India say could be improved in some workplaces here: > disorganization, intimidation, a culture where top directors’ decisions > are rarely challenged and a lack of respect for promptness that means > meetings start hours late and sometimes go on for hours with no clear > agenda. > > But going public with such accusations is highly unusual. Mr. Ayyadurai > circulated his paper not just to the agency’s scientists but to > journalists, and wrote about his situation to Prime Minister Manmohan > Singh. India is “sitting on a huge opportunity” to create new businesses > and tap into thousands of science and technology experts, Mr. Ayyadurai > said, but a “feudal culture” is holding the country back. > > Mr. Brahmachari said in an interview that Mr. Ayyadurai had misunderstood > nearly everything — from his handwritten job offer, which he said was only > meant to suggest what Mr. Ayyadurai could receive were he to be hired, to > the way Mr. Ayyadurai asked scientists for their feedback on what the > C.S.I.R. spinoff should look like. > > To prove his point, Mr. Brahmachari, who was two hours late for an > interview scheduled by his office, read from a government guide about > decision-making in the organization. Mr. Ayyadurai didn’t follow protocol, > he said. “As long as your language is positive for the organization I have > no problem,” he added. > > As the interview was closing, Mr. Brahmachari questioned why anyone would > be interested in the situation, and then said he would complain to a > reporter’s bosses in New York if she continued to pursue the story. > > > _________________________________________ > 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/> -- Amit Basole Department of Economics Thompson Hall University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 Phone: 413-665-2463 http://www.people.umass.edu/abasole/ blog: http://thenoondaysun.blogspot.com/ From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Fri Dec 4 14:40:55 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (videoNet) Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:10:55 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Ioannis_Roumeliotis_=28Greece=29?= Message-ID: <20091204101055.58A7F033.74C28104@192.168.0.2> 4 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Picking Cherries", 2009.by Ioannis Roumeliotis (Greece) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for freee as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From elkamath at yahoo.com Fri Dec 4 15:45:59 2009 From: elkamath at yahoo.com (lalitha kamath) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 02:15:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Using RTI by Panchayat elected reps to get expenditure details Message-ID: <447607.88634.qm@web53601.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I am posting this because it might be of interest to members of the list. Posted from the Solutions Exchange Decentralisation Community: Dear Friends, We are two members of the Decentralization Community who are interested in empowering Panchayat Elected Representatives and Gram Sabhas in using the Right to Information to obtain expenditure details for their Panchayats from relevant Departments. For this purpose, we have developed some guidelines on which we would like members’ comments and inputs. (Please see http://solutionexchange-un.net.in/decn/cr/res04120901.doc ; Size: 128 KB) We have had a lot of discussion on this forum on decentralized planning, the latest instance being the discussion on the BRGF programme. One of the hindrances of achieving meaningful empowerment of Panchayats through the decentralized planning route has been the inability of higher levels of government to make available the details of their budget envelopes to each Panchayat. It is only in very few districts has this been achieved, that too with great difficulty after patient work by the Technical Support Agencies. The decentralized planning handbook brought out by the Planning Commission has devoted an entire chapter to this issue, but it is still not followed on the ground. All of you are well aware of the importance of the Right to Information Act and many might have used it already. You are also aware that citizens have been using the RTI against the Panchayats, particularly in the case of NREGA. Taking a cue from this, a while back, I had mooted on this forum, the idea of Panchayat elected representatives using the right to information on a large scale on behalf of their Panchayats to obtain details from all relevant departments about the funds that they spend in each Panchayat’s jurisdiction, so that they can inform their Grama Sabhas about the money spent. This would empower Panchayats in the following ways: (a) Its large scale is impressive (b) It can be legally enforced and it puts pressure on all departments to be accountable,(c) When Gram Panchayats obtain a large range of budgetary information, it can lead to more confidence and greater assertion (d) It fortifies the faith that Gram Sabhas have in Gram Panchayats. When informed discussion takes place in a large number of Gram Sabhas on the amount of money spent (or claimed to be spent) in the Gram Panchayat area, they will surely spur people into demanding that this money should be given to the Panchayats instead of being spent by line departments. Therefore the pressure to devolve more to the Panchayats will come as a groundswell from below. However, one does not know whether this was actually picked up, except in a few cases. Now, two of us have teamed up to renew this effort. We have attached two files, which contain some simple instructions to follow, namely, · Part 1: A set of simple action points for the Panchayats to follow to undertake this task, · Part II: A Format in which the request can be made to the department concerned by the Panchayats, along with instructions on how to use the format, · Part III: A list of commonly faced obstacles when seeking information and how to overcome them. · Part IV: An illustrative list of departments that could be approached. (For Parts 1-IV please see http://solutionexchange-un.net.in/decn/cr/res04120901.doc ; Size: 128 KB) · Part V: The latest list of centrally sponsored schemes, which gives you an idea of which schemes to prioritize, while seeking information from departments. This is contained in a separate excel sheet. (Please see http://solutionexchange-un.net.in/decn/cr/res04120902.xls ; Size: 88.5 KB ) We hope that members of the Decentralization Community will find our work useful. We invite your comments on the documents prepared by us. On our part, we hope to pilot the process with some Gram Panchayats in Karnataka. We would like to emphasize that all that we have put out is entirely ‘open source’, you can use the formats, translate them and use it on one condition; that you put out your experience in this initiative so that the collective body of knowledge of the Exchange can grow. Our work is just one small step forward. Some ways of making the movement a success are as follows: (a) Give massive publicity, (b) Undertake steps such as calling Grama Sabhas and submitting of the petitions under Right to Information Act in a campaign mode, on pre-determined days across the State (c) Pick and choose departments where the use of the right to information returns the maximum dividends. (d) Give other departments adequate warning that they will be taken up next and that they had better be ready with the information (e) Prosecute a few government officers who have resisted giving information as test cases. (f) Keep the State Information Commission informed in advance of the effort and he can promptly take action when appeals are filed We welcome your suggestions for the improvement of the formats. Sumana Baliga, T.R.RaghunandanBangalore From kmvenuannur at gmail.com Fri Dec 4 21:25:45 2009 From: kmvenuannur at gmail.com (Venugopalan K M) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 21:25:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?b?xb1pxb5laywgUmFuY2nDqHJlLCBGb3VjYXVsdCwg?= =?utf-8?b?Qm91cmRpZXXigKY=?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1f9180970912040755t28a814cdpaaeb601580b0dee1@mail.gmail.com> Dear Anand, Thanks for posting this immensely valuable information. Can you/anyone else please figure out the formalities if any, for entry/pass for these events? (Venu) 2009/12/3 Navayana Publishing : > Navayana presents > > Slavoj Žižek > > Navayana is delighted to present “the Elvis of cultural theory”, the > academic “rock star”—Slavoj Žižek. The author of over 40 books, many of them > top sellers, the Slovenian Marxist philosopher and cultural critic will tour > India from 2 to 9 Jan 2010 on the occasion of the launch of his latest work, > First as Tragedy, Then as Farce—a bravura analysis of the current global > crisis. His books deal with topics ranging from philosophy and Freudian and > Lacanian psychoanalysis, to theology, film, opera and radical politics. He > was a candidate for, and nearly won, the Presidency of Slovenia in the first > democratic elections after the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1990. According to > a profile in the New Yorker, Slovenia has a “reputation disproportionately > large for its size due to the work of Slavoj Žižek.” > > In the first Navayana annual lecture series, Žižek shall deliver two talks > in Delhi (4 and 5 Jan), and one each in Hyderabad (7 Jan) and Kochi (9 Jan). > Besides, there shall be screenings of films on and by him, and discussions > of his work as pre-event shows. In Kerala, the Malayalam translation of > Žižek’s classic, The Sublime Object of Ideology, will be launched during his > visit. > > First as Tragedy, Then as Farce > Paperback   B Format   156 pages   Rs 200 > > “The title of this book is intended as an elementary IQ test for the reader: > if the first association it generates is the vulgar anti-communist cliché > —“You are right—today, after the tragedy of twentieth-century > totalitarianism, all the talk about a return to communism can only be > farcical!”—then I sincerely advise you to stop here. Indeed, the book should > be forcibly confiscated from you, since it deals with an entirely different > tragedy and farce, namely, the two events which mark the beginning and the > end of the first decade of the twenty-first century: the attacks of > September 11, 2001 and the financial meltdown of 2008. We should note the > similarity of President Bush’s language in his addresses to the American > people after 9/11 and after the financial collapse: they sounded very much > like two versions of the same speech. Both times Bush evoked the threat to > the American way of life and the need to take fast and decisive action to > cope with the danger. Both times he called for the partial suspension of > American values (guarantees of individual freedom, market capitalism) in > order to save these very same values. From whence comes this similarity?” > > Slavoj Žižek declares: “You’ve had your anti-communist fun, and you are > pardoned for it—time to get serious once again!” > > > > The Žižek India Tour Schedule > > > 24 Dec 2009. 3 p.m. Screenings > The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, in 3 parts. 150 mins > > Followed by “Žižek!”, 71 mins. > Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi > > > > 2 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Screening > Žižek! A feature documentary directed by Astra Taylor, 71 mins. > Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi > > 4 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture > “Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood” > Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi > > 5 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Lecture > “Tragedy and Farce” > Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi > > > > 7 Jan 2010. 11 a.m. Lecture > “Capitalism and Particular Life-Worlds: In Defense of Universalism” > ICSSR Auditorium, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad > > > > 9 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture and Panel Discussion > “Whither Left?” > Town Hall, Kochi. > > > > > > The Žižek Media Kit > > Watch Žižek on BBC News Hardtalk, 24 Nov 2009: > http://versouk.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/bbc-news-hardtalk-slavoj-zizek-communism-a-total-failure/ > > Profile in New Yorker: http://www.lacan.com/ziny.htm > > Terry Eagleton on Žižek in Times Literary Supplement: > http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article3800980.ece > > A key to the key ideas of Žižek: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro1.htm > > A comprehensive Bibliography of Žižek: > http://www.lacan.com/bibliographyzi.htm > > Brief summaries of his key books: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro2.htm > >  Žižek! The Movie (to be screened at India Habitat Centre on 2 Jan 2009): > http://www.zizekthemovie.com/ > > The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema (to be screened at Sarai, CSDS, 24 Dec 2009): > http://www.thepervertsguide.com/press.html > > To download pictures of Žižek, click here: > http://zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=zizek&mode=downloads > > > Along with Žižek’s title (First as Tragedy, Then as Farce), under the Other > Headings series Navayana launches affordable South Asian editions of Jacques > Rancière’s The Future of the Image (Rs 200), Michel Foucault’s Abnormal: > Lectures at the Collège de France, 1974–75 (Rs 490), and Pierre Bourdieu’s > Political Interventions: Social Science and Political Action (Rs 490). > > For details and further information on the Žižek tour contact S. Anand at > anand at navayana.org > > -- > www.navayana.org > > Navayana > 155, Second Floor > Shahpur Jat > New Delhi 110049 > > Landline: +91-11-26494795 > Mobile: +91-9971433117 > _________________________________________ > 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/> -- You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a whole. -AMBEDKAR http://venukm.blogspot.com http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.com From taraprakash at gmail.com Sat Dec 5 00:52:34 2009 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (taraprakash) Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 14:22:34 -0500 Subject: [Reader-list] A Cloud Still Hangs over Bhopal: Suketu Mehta Message-ID: <79143ECA7750450CA4B49EA6AE17AE86@tara> I thought there would be some articles on Bhopal tragedy on the list. But couldn't find any. Probably because it is too close to December 6? Here is one from NY Times. A Cloud Still Hangs Over Bhopal. By SUKETU MEHTA. Suketu Mehta, a journalism professor at New York University, is the author of 'Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found. IN the Mumbai kindergarten my son went to, the children never had to clean up after themselves; that was the servants' job. So I really liked the school my son attended when we moved back to Brooklyn, where the teachers made the children tidy up at the end of the day. Cleanup time, cleanup time! my 6-year-old sang, joyfully gathering his scraps. It's a wonderful American tradition: you always clean up the mess you made. This is the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster, an epic mess that started one night when a pesticide plant owned by the American chemical giant Union Carbide leaked a cloud of poisonous gas. Before the sun rose, almost 4,000 human beings capable of love and anguish sank to their knees and did not get up. Half a million more fell ill, many with severely damaged lungs and eyes. An additional 15,000 people have since died from the aftereffects, and 10 to 30 people are said to die every month from exposure to the hundreds of tons of toxic waste left over in the former factory. But amazingly, the site still has not been cleaned up, because Dow Chemical, which since acquired Union Carbide, refuses to accept any responsibility. The groundwater is contaminated; children of the survivors suffer from genetic abnormalities; and the victims have long since run out of their measly compensation and are begging on the streets. I have traveled to Bhopal and seen the post-apocalyptic devastation, seen the sick, seen the factory. Methyl isocyanate is a deadly chemical used to kill insects. The night that 40 tons of it wafted out of the factory is, for the survivors, a fulcrum in time, marking the before and after in their lives. They still talk about 'the gas' as if it were an organism they know well -- how it killed buffalo and pigs, but spared chickens; how it traveled toward Jahangirabad and Hamidia Road, while ignoring other parts of the city; how it clung to the wet earth in some places but hovered at waist level in others; how it blackened all the leaves of a peepul tree; how they could watch it move down the other side of the road, like a rain cloud seen from a sunny spot. All over India, when misfortune strikes -- when a child is ill, for example -- people burn chilies to drive away the evil eye. The gas smelled like chilies burning, and people said to one another, it must be a powerfully evil eye that's being driven away, the stench is so strong. Fleeing the gas, the Bhopalis clutched their children. Some babies fell, gasping, and their parents had to choose which ones to carry on their shoulders. One image still comes up over and over in their dreams: in the stampede, a thousand people are stepping on their child's body. In 2001, the maker of napalm married the bane of Bhopal: Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide for $11.6 billion and promptly distanced itself from the disaster. If Union Carbide was at fault, that was too bad; it had just ceased to exist. In 2002, Dow set aside $2.2 billion to cover potential liabilities arising from Union Carbide's American asbestos production. By comparison, the total settlement for Bhopal was $470 million. The families of the dead got an average of $2,200; the wounded got $550; a Dow spokeswoman explained, that amount 'is plenty good for an Indian. As Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey observed in 2006, 'In Bhopal, some of the world's poorest people are being mistreated by one of the world's richest corporations. Union Carbide and Dow were allowed to get away with it because of the international legal structures that protect multinationals from liability. Union Carbide sold its Indian subsidiary and pulled out of India. Warren Anderson, the Union Carbide chief executive at the time of the gas leak, lives in luxurious exile in the Hamptons, even though there's an international arrest warrant out for him for culpable homicide. The Indian government has yet to pursue an extradition request. Imagine if an Indian chief executive had jumped bail for causing an industrial disaster that killed tens of thousands of Americans. What are the chances he'd be sunning himself in Goa? The Indian government, fearful of scaring away foreign investors, has not pushed the issue with American authorities. Dow has used a kind of blackmail with the Indians; a 2006 letter from Andrew Liveris, the chief executive, to India's ambassador to the United States asked for guarantees that Dow would not be held liable for the cleanup, and thanked him for his 'efforts to ensure that we have the appropriate investment climate. What's missing in the whole sad story is any sense of a human connection between the faceless people who run the corporation and the victims. In 1995, a Bhopali woman named Sajida Bano sent a handwritten letter to Union Carbide. The factory had killed her husband in 1981 in an accident, and then, on the night of the disaster, her 4-year-old son. You put your hand on your heart and think,' she wrote, 'if you are a human being: if this happened to you, how would your wife and children feel? She never received a response. The survivors of Bhopal want only to be treated as human beings -- not victims, not greedy money-grabbers, just human beings who've gone through hell and are entitled to a measure of dignity. That includes concrete things like cleaning up the mess and providing health care for the sick, and also something more abstract but equally important -- an acknowledgment that a wrong was done to them, and an apology, which Bhopalis have yet to receive. That was another fine thing my son learned in the Brooklyn school: when you've done something bad, you should say you're sorry. After a quarter of a century, Dow should acknowledge that it is responsible for a very big mess. And now, it's cleanup time. From anivar.aravind at gmail.com Sat Dec 5 11:06:58 2009 From: anivar.aravind at gmail.com (Anivar Aravind) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 11:06:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?Corporations_Out_of_My_Hair!_or_=E2=80=98?= =?utf-8?q?Mairay_Pochchu!=E2=80=99?= Message-ID: <35f96d470912042136n6245e903g975d1aeea64e2b4c@mail.gmail.com> Excellent piece by Satya http://thefishpond.in/satya/2009/mairay-pochchu/ ‘Scientists discover way to convert human hair into high grade fuel’ read the innocuous looking news item tucked away in a corner of the technology pages of my daily newspaper. At first I didn’t take it seriously and thought it was another self-promoting piece of propaganda from some corporate biotech lab somewhere. Little did I realize this was the beginning of a most bizarre series of events. If human hair was going to be a valuable commodity in the near or even distant future, every major corporation in the world wanted as much of it as possible. BP, Shell, Exxon-Mobil – announced they were happy that what they had been mining from under the ground all these decades could be replaced by something on top of everyone’s head. Joining them in the race for ‘strategic control’ of human hair were the mining giants De Beers, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, while Indian multinationals like Reliance, Tata and the Mittal group demanded the government declare Indian hair be reserved solely for domestic companies. If corporations sought it so much, politicians naturally wanted to become their middlemen, mortgaging their country’s annual output of hair. The Indian government rushed to declare hair as ‘state property’, banning all barbers from practising their profession and directing citizens to have their haircuts in designated ‘inlets’. Cabinet ministers were exempted, but several turned up in Parliament with logos of global corporations proudly stamped across their bald pates. After all these days one is known only by the company that keeps you and not by the company you keep. Read More: http://thefishpond.in/satya/2009/mairay-pochchu/ -- "[It is not] possible to distinguish between 'numerical' and 'nonnumerical' algorithms, as if numbers were somehow different from other kinds of precise information." - Donald Knuth From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Sat Dec 5 11:31:42 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (videoNet) Date: Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:01:42 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Amit_Epstein_=28Germany=29?= Message-ID: <20091205070142.B17A4EE4.27399E79@192.168.0.2> 5 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Stockholm syndrome part 1 - golden mission".by Amit Epstein (Germany) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for freee as PDF -> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Sat Dec 5 11:52:53 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 11:52:53 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Job Available: Editor and Publisher of India Carbon Outlook In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: From: Pawan Mehra Date: Sat, Dec 5, 2009 *Role: Entrepreneurial Editor and Publisher* cKinetics is looking for an energetic self-starter to be Editor and Publisher of India Carbon Outlook (http://India.Carbon-Outlook.com): an offline+online information marketplace meant for the diverse players working towards a low carbon economy in India. *Background:* India Carbon Outlook was launched in end Sep 2009 as part of cKinetics’ commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. The announcement was made at the heels of India’s recent decision to voluntarily move towards a low carbon future. India Carbon Outlook’s goal is to track activities as India moves towards developing as a low carbon economy. It has been designed to address the information and transparency needs at the policy and market level by identifying, tracking and highlighting market interventions thus catalyzing the mainstreaming of the low carbon emission initiatives. *Role:* This is a multi-disciplinary and entrepreneurial role encompassing the tasks of an editor as well as a publisher. You will be responsible for: 1. Building and executing on the business plan for India Carbon Outlook across mutiple platforms: online site, quarterly publication, electronic newsletters and offline fora. 2. Take on revenue and expense responsibility. 3. Content generation and comunity building for the online version of India Carbon Outlook 4. Content coordination and editing of the quarterly publication (to be launched in Q1 of 2010). 5. Providing logistical support for the round-tables and workshops that will be organized under the India Carbon Outlook brand. 6. Participating (and ideally leading) business negotiations and discussions related to India Carbon Outlook. The role will report into the executive leadership team of cKinetics. Performance metrics for this role will include: online community growth, publication readership, partnerships established and revenue traction. *About you:* • You have demonstrated a passion in wanting to build a media forum: online or offline. • You are looking to join a start-up in its early stages and share in the rewards of building an institution. • You are a proactive and independent person who has a demonstrated passion as relates to climate change and carbon abatement. • You don’t need a support staff to get started. • You have excellent English communication and have strong analytical skills. • Have a Masters degree and 4+ years of relevant work experience; or a bachelors degree and 7+ years of relevant work experience. • You are looking for a disproportionate amount of responsibility and pay is secondary. • *You have carefully read this entire description and it resonates well with you.* *Location:* New Delhi, India If you are interested, please write to us with a resume and *also include a note on why you fit the profile*. Email Pawan Mehra or Upendra Bhatt at: contact at ckinetics.com Additional background: http://India.Carbon-Outlook.com http://www.forbes.com/feeds/prnewswire/2009/09/25/prnewswire200909251923PR_NEWS_USPR_____NY82318.html From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 5 15:59:46 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 02:29:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal Message-ID: <623871.91180.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal"   (We have no protocol for handling chemical accidents, managing medical relief or fixing the liability of polluters)   Sunita Narain / New Delhi December 04, 2009   It’s been 25 years since the night when chemicals spewed out of the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal to kill and maim thousands over generations. The question is if we have learnt from the disaster — learnt how to handle a chemical accident; to dispose of industrial toxic waste; to manage crucial medical relief, to give monetary compensation speedily and to establish the liability of polluters — so that accidents like this do not happen again.   I was in Bhopal this week as the city observed the anniversary of that night. An exhibition put up by Bhopal activists made spectators relive that night of horror: How people just fell to the ground like flies, instantly dead as the gas-ridden air hit them; how the carcasses of thousands of animals lay rotting on the roads and how hospitals could not cope with the victims, and how they (particularly the company) refused to explain the ailment or offered treatment. What is worse is that even today parts of the city still live in horror. Activists say that the next generation, children born after the disaster to parents of gas victims, is unusually deformed and diseased. Worse still, a stockpile of toxic chemicals remains in the factory — leaching and contaminating groundwater of the new and old victims of this industrial disaster.   The question is why this continues to happen. The fact is we refuse to use credible public science to guide policy. After the disaster, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was asked to study the short-term and long-term medical implications of the chemicals. But in the early 1990s, the government asked the institution to discontinue the research, without assigning any reason. As a result, there is no epidemiological research on the victims, old and new. Civil society groups working with victims have published studies on the increased incidence of mental and physical deformities among the gas-affected population. But as there is no empirical research by government institutions, the government can deny the problem exists. It is poverty they say, nothing unusual, criminal and irresponsible.   We stumbled on this denial game on another connected issue — the disposal of waste in the Union Carbide factory compound. For some years now, groups working in Bhopal have raised concern that toxic contaminants remain in the factory. A case has been filed in the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court to direct the government to remove the waste and remove it quickly. For the past two years or so, the central and state government’s have been dealing rather unsuccessfully with the question of how to dispose of the waste — will it be sent to landfill sites, or will it be incinerated? But even as it grapples with these questions, the stockpile of some 340 tonnes of stored waste sits on the abandoned factory. And the government decides to change tack.   It now says the waste is not toxic and that groundwater around the factory is not contaminated. Why? Because its scientific institutions say so. My colleagues at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) decided to investigate.   They did the following: They first investigated what the factory was manufacturing and what were the processes that it used. This gave them clues into what should be checked in the laboratory. Piecing together scanty information, they learnt that Union Carbide manufactured three kinds of pesticides — carbaryl (trade name Sevin); aldicarb (Temik) and a formulation of carbaryl and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (g-HCH), sold under the trade name Sevidol. The company bought technical grade HCH and after extraction of g-HCH, threw the waste with remaining isomers and lasting toxicity into the ground. They also looked at the derivatives of the chemicals; the solvents used by the company like chlorinated benzene and heavy metals like mercury used as sealants in the company.   With this information, we asked for permission to collect samples. We got it readily from the Union Minister for Environment and Forests and officials of the pollution control board accompanied my colleagues to the factory. Chandra Bhushan, who directed this research, says that he was shocked to see traces of mercury visible in parts of the factory. He then went to different sites around the factory, collecting groundwater sample: To know if the pollution had spread.   The results were startling. We found the same chemicals in the soil and water of the factory, at unacceptably high levels; we found the same in groundwater almost 3 km from the city, though at lower levels but signifying chronic toxicity, long-term exposure to which can lead to deadly diseases, particularly in an already immuno-suppressed poor population of gas victims. Also, the task of remediation is massive — not just the stored waste but the soil and water will also need to be cleaned.   But science is malleable. Studies used by the state government to say that there was no or negligible danger, only discussed acute toxicity — the amount a human being would need to consume to die. Then, the studies, which showed no contamination of groundwater, did not even check for the pesticides being produced by the factory. They did not find any, because they did not check for what needed to be found. Confusion and denial are the names of the game. The victims will be forgotten till the next anniversary comes along.     http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sunita-narain-not-learningbhopal/378491/   From monica at sarai.net Tue Dec 1 13:19:29 2009 From: monica at sarai.net (Monica Narula) Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:19:29 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] [Announcements] CFP: Sarai's CITY AS STUDIO Message-ID: <31A371E8-3221-4D14-9E72-76CEBED43786@sarai.net> Call for Proposals “The CITY as STUDIO” The Sarai-CSDS Media Lab Associate Fellowship for Contemporary Art and Media Practices The Sarai Programme at the Center for Study of Developing Societies, Delhi is an interdisciplinary platform for the investigation and interpretation of contemporary urban experience. Sarai produces events and processes, publishes offline and online content and generates contexts for research and creative practice concerning contemporary urban conditions. The Sarai Media Lab invites expressions of interest and intent from artists and practitioners in diverse media - textual, visual, aural, spatial and temporal - who could be - visual artists (photographers, sculptors, installation artists, graphic artists), writers and independent scholars, filmmakers, architects, experimental musicians and composers, sound recordists, performers and people whose practices straddle or transcend different areas of practice - for participation in the 'City as Studio' Project. The City as Studio initiative will create contexts for high intensity inter-disciplinary processes at different locations in Delhi and at the Sarai space at CSDS. Sometimes these process(es) may be rendered as an exhibition, at other times as a gathering, as a library, as a temporary archive or as an occasion for performances, conversations and debates. At still other times it may take the form of a workshop, a temporary atelier, a media studio, a publication or an online platform. The City as Studio is neither a one off event, nor a workshop or a residency, nor a festival or a simple cluster of public programmes - though it has elements of all of the above. It is primarily a method of generating a new public profile for creative work in the city, a scanning of the horizon of possibilities that can be opened up in urban spaces through the presence of art, experimental cultural activity and public exchanges. The studio process plans to bring together artists, filmmakers, photographers, discursive interlocutors, architects, writers, urbanists, scientists, architects, social actors and cultural workers, neighbourhood initiatives and diverse audiences to create art works, participatory performances, media works, and transmissions of different kinds of signals. Possible areas of that will be reflected upon could include but need not be limited to - - the city as spectacle, as a site of consumption, as an arena of power - the growing intensity of surveillance, - the question of distance and anchorage: housing and transportation - access to resources, location and privilege - the local pursuits of pleasure - life, death, and rites of passage in the city - the everydayness and banality of terror - imagined histories and urban legends, the fantastical and uncanny city - the archived and remembered city - urban ecologies, the city as a zone of bio-diversity, urban forests, rivers - ways of life, sub-cultures, bodies of informal knowledge, local practices - migrants, margins and minorities We invite applicants to imagine that the city itself is their studio, and that urban realities are their materials in order to create artistic work that acts as a body of public knowledge in and about the city. Applicants are invited to write a short (no more than two pages) note sketching an idea or ideas that they would like to develop, participate in, or create. We will consider this note to be an expression of intent (not as a fully worked out proposal, but as a sketch of what the applicant would ideally like to do if presented with the possibility of responding to the city) and will evaluate it on how best, how imaginatively and resourcefully an applicant responds to urban situations, questions and processes of their own choice. We are looking for forms of intervention into city life that cannot easily be defined, appropriated or neutralized. Projects that straddle artistic expression with a research imperative, that intervene in, enlighten, and critique the city, will be especially welcome. Based on our evaluation of these expressions of intent, we will invite 10 artists and practitioners for the fellowships, and they will work in dialogue with the Sarai Media Lab. The range of the proposed artistic projects and media interventions could span free standing art works to proposals for mini-exhibitions, installations, performances and happenings, publications, sound works, video, mapping and GPS driven projects, internet and mobile phone based works, graphic novels, public art works, graffiti and signage and speculative architectural proposals. The fellows will receive a bursary of Rs 65,000 spread over a period of nine months. The Process i) The fellowship duration will be from 1st February 2010 till 31st October, 2010. ii) From February to June (2010), the fellows are expected to develop their projects and share it on an online space that will be especially dedicated for the City as Studio process. We plan to publicize this online space in various circuits. iii) An intensive studio will take place in Delhi during the months of July and August (2010). All City as Studio fellows will have to attend in order to develop their works and ideas while being engaged in a dialogue with the location, with other fellows and the Sarai Media Lab. They will also interact with resource persons who will be invited to expose the fellows to a range of practices during this period. Costs for travel to Delhi and accomodation wil be borne (separate from the bursary) by Sarai-CSDS for candidates from outside Delhi. iv) During September and October, the fellows will be expected to develop their ideas towards completion and begin to share, circulate and exhibit works through various media. v) Sarai-CSDS will exhibit and publish some of the works coming out of the City Studios. vi) All fellows are expected to submit a final report to Sarai-CSDS by 15th November 2010. Who Can Apply: Anyone above the age of 21 with a bank account and a PAN number in India can apply for this fellowship. While the City as Studio initiative will be located in Delhi, there is no bar against people from outside Delhi applying to take part in this process. But, it is an imperative for the applicant to commit to participation for the 'on- location' process in Delhi during July and August. What Should Applicants Send: 1. A two-page sketch of an idea that the applicant would like to pursue within the framework of the City as Studio initiative 2. CV listing recent works, projects and experiences 3. 2 Samples of recent work - as tifs, jpg, .mov files and as sound files and/or publications 4. Contact details Last Date for Sending Applications: 26th December, 2009 Where to Send Applications: Send the application as an email, with attachments to OR a hard copy to City Studio, Sarai/CSDS, 29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110054. When can you expect to hear from us: The list of selected candidates will be posted on the Sarai webstie on 15th January, 2010. Monica Narula Raqs Media Collective Sarai-CSDS www.raqsmediacollective.net www.sarai.net _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sat Dec 5 16:27:42 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 16:27:42 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal In-Reply-To: <623871.91180.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <623871.91180.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Dear Kshamendra ji Thanks for putting this mail. People would also be distressed to know that Dow Chemicals (the company which bought over Union Carbide and has refused to accept the liabilities of Bhopal plant and its victims), has been invited by the Tamil Nadu Govt. to start plants in Kancheepuram & Guindy (which is just near my college). It is an utter shame indeed that 25 years after Bhopal, we have refused to learn the lessons. (Dow has refused to even clean the plant at Bhopal, forget about providing compensation). Rakesh From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 5 17:43:08 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 04:13:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <665066.43178.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Rakesh   It would so appear that the purchase by DOW Chemical of Union Carbide was so structured that DOW has no liability arising out of the operations of what was Union Carbide India.   As far as compensation is concerned, DOW therefore, it would seem, carries no liability. I do not think venting against DOW is of any consequence.   As far as compensation liability of Union Carbide India is concerned, it seems to have been sealed with the compensation settlement overseen by the Supreme Court of India.   Plant Clean-Up at Bhopal also does not seem to have anything to do with DOW Chemical.   It would seem that the State and/or Central Govt. messed it up in leaving unaddressed as to who was responsible for the Plant Clean-Up.   It appears that with the other legalities that took place, the responsibility for Plant Clean-Up now lies with the State and/or Central Govt.   This is my understanding. I could be wrong.   There are however other aspects:   - Questions of whether the responsibility of DOW can actually cease under the ethics of 'merger'. Also applies to Eveready India who purchased Union Carbide India.    - Who is responsible for 'environmental devastation', the full impact of which it might not have been possible to assess at the time of 'settlement'   - Whether knowingly incomplete disclosures were made which substantially diminished recognition of the seriousness of the 'human and environmental devastation' resulting in the short and long term from the accident.   Kshmendra --- On Sat, 12/5/09, Rakesh Iyer wrote: From: Rakesh Iyer Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal To: "Kshmendra Kaul" Cc: "sarai list" Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 4:27 PM Dear Kshamendra ji Thanks for putting this mail. People would also be distressed to know that Dow Chemicals (the company which bought over Union Carbide and has refused to accept the liabilities of Bhopal plant and its victims), has been invited by the Tamil Nadu Govt. to start plants in Kancheepuram & Guindy (which is just near my college). It is an utter shame indeed that 25 years after Bhopal, we have refused to learn the lessons. (Dow has refused to even clean the plant at Bhopal, forget about providing compensation). Rakesh From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sat Dec 5 18:22:16 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 18:22:16 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal In-Reply-To: <665066.43178.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <665066.43178.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Dear Kshamendra jee I am directly taking the parts put up on the website of International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, to specify the legal liabilities of DOW, which have been demanded: As the current owner of Union Carbide, the *Dow Chemical Company *must: - *FACE TRIAL*: Ensure that Union Carbide and Warren Anderson present themselves in the Indian courts, and cease to abscond from the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Bhopal. - *PROVIDE LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE*: Guarantee access to medical rehabilitation for the persons exposed to toxic gases and contaminated groundwater and their children. This includes medical care, health monitoring and necessary research studies. Further, the company must provide all information on the health consequences of the leaked gases and contaminants in the ground water. - *CLEAN UP THE POISON*: Clean up toxic wastes and contaminated groundwater in and around the Union Carbide factory site. Provide safe water to the community, and just compensation for those who have been injured or made ill by this contamination and/or have had their property damaged. - *PROVIDE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT*: Provide income opportunities to victims who cannot pursue their usual trade as a result of exposure-induced illnesses and income support to families rendered destitute due to death or incapacitation of the breadwinner of the family. The view that DOW has no legal liability because it bought the plant after the incident took place has no legal sanction. When one company takes over another, just as the bought over plant's assets are now the assets of the one who bought it, its liabilities are also transferred over to the latter. One can't say that if I buy a company, and its assets are mine, but its' liabilities aren't. This is not legally tenable. Which is why DOW chemicals had to shell out $ 330 million for a UCC plant (after acquiring it) for over-exposure to asbestos to the local workers as an out-of-court settlement, that too within a year of acquiring it. Why then double standards? The only major question, which is legal rather than ethical, is whether UCC had a control over UCIL or not. That is the question (the only one) on which UCC and DOW can conveniently parrot their claims of not giving compensation, simply because although UCC had about 50% shares of UCIL, one can legally question whether UCC had any control over it. In one of the documentary sessions organized in my college, this issue was certainly raised. The answer to this, was given by a lawyer that yes, UCC (and now, DOW) have to ensure rehabilitation of those who were affected by the tragedy, in light of the US and the Indian laws. Infact, the first judgement on this issue was given in a US court, which said that since the matter pertained to victims living in another country (India), the matter should be decided in the courts of that country, and not the US. As for the clean up of the site, Indian and American Constitutions state that it's DOW (previously UCC) which has to clean up the site; it's their responsibility. As for compensation, DOW legally may not have to compensate, but morally they should. Here, I would like also to mention one more thing. Rajiv Gandhi, the then PM, had refused a compensation of $490 million from UCC, and then the settlement the Indian Govt (representing the victims) and the UCC finally reached at, was $470 million. What a shame indeed! I would also like to know hopefully, before my death, who gave the Indian govt. the right to represent the victims, when it was the Indian govt. which was guilty in the first place, having allowed a plant with faulty designs and in violation of the norms (environmental and legal) to function? Rakesh From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 5 19:06:14 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 05:36:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <25469.79983.qm@web57202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Rakesh   I am aware of ICJB positions and the 'wish list' and that is why I mentioned the 'other aspects' (in addition to 'my understanding') where ICJB and others have raised objections to hitherto reached understandings.   Unfortunately the world does not function on such well-meaningness alone. It goes by legalities.   It would have to be a very competent legal case that challenges the inadequacy of the Supreme Court of India overseen Compensation Settlement and for imposing additional liabilities and responsibilities on DOW and EIL and/or Madhya Pradesh and Central Govt.   It would be excellent if there is such a case and it is won in favour of those that suffered (humans and the environment).  So far all such efforts in Indian and USA courts have not met with success.   Kshmendra   --- On Sat, 12/5/09, Rakesh Iyer wrote: From: Rakesh Iyer Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal To: "Kshmendra Kaul" Cc: "sarai list" Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 6:22 PM Dear Kshamendra jee I am directly taking the parts put up on the website of International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, to specify the legal liabilities of DOW, which have been demanded: As the current owner of Union Carbide, the Dow Chemical Company must: FACE TRIAL: Ensure that Union Carbide and Warren Anderson present themselves in the Indian courts, and cease to abscond from the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Bhopal. PROVIDE LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE: Guarantee access to medical rehabilitation for the persons exposed to toxic gases and contaminated groundwater and their children. This includes medical care, health monitoring and necessary research studies. Further, the company must provide all information on the health consequences of the leaked gases and contaminants in the ground water.  CLEAN UP THE POISON: Clean up toxic wastes and contaminated groundwater in and around the Union Carbide factory site. Provide safe water to the community, and just compensation for those who have been injured or made ill by this contamination and/or have had their property damaged.  PROVIDE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT: Provide income opportunities to victims who cannot pursue their usual trade as a result of exposure-induced illnesses and income support to families rendered destitute due to death or incapacitation of the breadwinner of the family. The view that DOW has no legal liability because it bought the plant after the incident took place has no legal sanction. When one company takes over another, just as the bought over plant's assets are now the assets of the one who bought it, its liabilities are also transferred over to the latter. One can't say that if I buy a company, and its assets are mine, but its' liabilities aren't. This is not legally tenable. Which is why DOW chemicals had to shell out $ 330 million for a UCC plant (after acquiring it) for over-exposure to asbestos to the local workers as an out-of-court settlement, that too within a year of acquiring it. Why then double standards? The only major question, which is legal rather than ethical, is whether UCC had a control over UCIL or not. That is the question (the only one) on which UCC and DOW can conveniently parrot their claims of not giving compensation, simply because although UCC had about 50% shares of UCIL, one can legally question whether UCC had any control over it. In one of the documentary sessions organized in my college, this issue was certainly raised. The answer to this, was given by a lawyer that yes, UCC (and now, DOW) have to ensure rehabilitation of those who were affected by the tragedy, in light of the US and the Indian laws. Infact, the first judgement on this issue was given in a US court, which said that since the matter pertained to victims living in another country (India), the matter should be decided in the courts of that country, and not the US. As for the clean up of the site, Indian and American Constitutions state that it's DOW (previously UCC) which has to clean up the site; it's their responsibility. As for compensation, DOW legally may not have to compensate, but morally they should. Here, I would like also to mention one more thing. Rajiv Gandhi, the then PM, had refused a compensation of $490 million from UCC, and then the settlement the Indian Govt (representing the victims) and the UCC finally reached at, was $470 million. What a shame indeed! I would also like to know hopefully, before my death, who gave the Indian govt. the right to represent the victims, when it was the Indian govt. which was guilty in the first place, having allowed a plant with faulty designs and in violation of the norms (environmental and legal) to function? Rakesh --- On Sat, 12/5/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: From: Kshmendra Kaul Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal To: "Rakesh Iyer" Cc: "sarai list" Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 5:43 PM Dear Rakesh   It would so appear that the purchase by DOW Chemical of Union Carbide was so structured that DOW has no liability arising out of the operations of what was Union Carbide India.   As far as compensation is concerned, DOW therefore, it would seem, carries no liability. I do not think venting against DOW is of any consequence.   As far as compensation liability of Union Carbide India is concerned, it seems to have been sealed with the compensation settlement overseen by the Supreme Court of India.   Plant Clean-Up at Bhopal also does not seem to have anything to do with DOW Chemical.   It would seem that the State and/or Central Govt. messed it up in leaving unaddressed as to who was responsible for the Plant Clean-Up.   It appears that with the other legalities that took place, the responsibility for Plant Clean-Up now lies with the State and/or Central Govt.   This is my understanding. I could be wrong.   There are however other aspects:   - Questions of whether the responsibility of DOW can actually cease under the ethics of 'merger'. Also applies to Eveready India who purchased Union Carbide India.    - Who is responsible for 'environmental devastation', the full impact of which it might not have been possible to assess at the time of 'settlement'   - Whether knowingly incomplete disclosures were made which substantially diminished recognition of the seriousness of the 'human and environmental devastation' resulting in the short and long term from the accident.   Kshmendra --- On Sat, 12/5/09, Rakesh Iyer wrote: From: Rakesh Iyer Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Sunita Narain: Not learning from Bhopal To: "Kshmendra Kaul" Cc: "sarai list" Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 4:27 PM Dear Kshamendra ji Thanks for putting this mail. People would also be distressed to know that Dow Chemicals (the company which bought over Union Carbide and has refused to accept the liabilities of Bhopal plant and its victims), has been invited by the Tamil Nadu Govt. to start plants in Kancheepuram & Guindy (which is just near my college). It is an utter shame indeed that 25 years after Bhopal, we have refused to learn the lessons. (Dow has refused to even clean the plant at Bhopal, forget about providing compensation). Rakesh From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 5 19:25:44 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 05:55:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Endless nightmare" Message-ID: <183129.94443.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Endless nightmare"   Subodh Varma, TNN 3 December 2009   Twenty-five years have passed since that night of terror and death in Bhopal, which saw a cloud of deadly gases explode out of a faulty tank in a pesticide factory and silently spread into the homes of sleeping people. Although no official count of casualties has ever been done, estimates based on hospital and rehabilitation records show that about 20,000 people died and about 5.7 lakh suffered bodily damage, making it by far the world's worst industrial disaster ever. Many who breathed the highly toxic cocktail that night suffered a horrible death with multiple organ failure. Those who survived have suffered multiple diseases for 25 years. A report of the Gas Tragedy Relief Department of the state says that the morbidity rate (occurrence of ailments) is nearly 20% among gas-affected persons compared to about 5% among the unaffected population. Following the disaster, there was an international outcry for relief for the victims and punishment to those responsible for the gas leakage. The pesticide plant from where the gas leaked belonged to Union Carbide India, a subsidiary of the US-based Union Carbide Company. They were asked to pay compensation and arrange for medical treatment. The matter immediately got embroiled in legal controversies. Thus began a long and painful struggle of the victims for compensation, medical attention and rehabilitation that has spluttered along for a quarter century. In February 1989, the Supreme Court announced that it was approving a settlement for Bhopal victims under which Union Carbide agreed to pay Rs 713 crore for compensation to victims, while the government agreed to drop all criminal cases against it. However, due to intense public shock and anger at letting off the culprits, the court agreed to reopen the criminal cases in 1991. Two installments of compensation - of up to Rs 25,000 each - have been given till now to the injured, one in 1994 and the next in 2004. N D Jayaprakash of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti (BGPSSS), one of the groups fighting for the rights of gas victims, calls this a massive fraud because the number of gas-affected persons was arbitrarily fixed by the government at 105,000, including about 3,000 dead. In reality, nearly 20,000 people have died, and 5.7 lakh have suffered injuries. The compensation amount - Rs 713 crore, paid by Union Carbide - was meant for about 1 lakh persons but has been distributed among nearly 6 lakh people. Of the Rs 713 crores, Rs 113 crores was for loss of livestock and property. The balance Rs 600 crore distributed among 5.74 lakh persons works out to about Rs 12,410 per victim on average. In contrast, in the Uphaar tragedy in Delhi, families of those who died got between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 18 lakh each, while injured persons got Rs 1 lakh each. In addition, they got interest at the rate of 9% per annum for the roughly six years that the legal proceedings took. Stung by this injustice, the victims approached the apex court, which told them to approach the state government. In Bhopal, the Welfare Commissioner rejected their demand. They appealed to the MP high court. On November 30 this year, the HC too dismissed the petition. "We will go back to the Supreme Court," says Jayaprakash. Even after 25 years, gas victims are suffering serious health problems. On an average, 6,000 gas-affected patients visit hospitals in Bhopal every day, that is, about 2 million visits per year. The government adopted a one-size-fits-all policy for categorisation of injuries — a person with compromised lungs may ultimately develop other diseases, besides being unable to work fully. But such distinctions were not maintained and meagre compensation was doled out. Sadhana Pradhan, who has worked among the gas victims since the disaster in 1984 points out that no line of treatment was ever evolved. "The government has treated the victims on an ad hoc basis," she says. Medical records are yet not centralized as recommended by the monitoring committee set up by the Supreme Court in 2004. As a result, doctors have no idea about the patients' history. "This has led to development of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB in many cases," says Dr Saxena, who spent 11 years in the government's TB hospital in Bhopal. Another dimension of the ongoing tragedy of Bhopal is the poisonous chemical waste lying around in the abandoned premises of the pesticide plant. Several committees have inspected it and found 44,000 kgs of tarry residues and 25,000 kgs of alpha naphthol lying in the open since 1984. Various studies have established that the soil, ground water, vegetables and even breast milk have traces of toxic chemicals. Abdul Jabbar Khan of the Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangathan (BGPMUS) says that actually there is much more poisonous waste, which the company used to routinely bury in the premises since 1969. "There is no piped water supply. People still use contaminated groundwater daily," he says.   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bhopal-Gas-Tragedy-Endless-nightmare/articleshow/5294330.cms     From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 5 19:30:11 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 06:00:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Bhopal gas victims write to Parliament" Message-ID: <593848.96511.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Bhopal gas victims write to Parliament"   By IANS 30 Nov 2009   BHOPAL: Bhopal gas disaster victims Monday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Vice President Hamid Ansari, the Rajya Sabha chairman, saying parliament should pay homage to the hundreds of thousands affected by the tragedy 25 years ago. "We would like to remind you that on the night of 02/03 December 1984, over two-thirds of the 900,000 residents of the city of Bhopal were exposed to highly toxic gases that escaped from the premises of Union Carbide India Ltd, which was controlled by the Union Carbide Corp, a US multinational company," they said in the letter. "We, hereby, humbly urge you to take the initiative in ensuring that the members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha would, on this occasion, pay homage to the victims of the world's worst chemical disaster." Abdul Jabbar, convenor of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sanghathan (BGPMUS), and N.D. Jayprakash, co-convenor of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti (BGPSSS), sent the letter separately to Meira Kumar and Ansari. It also expressed hope that the members of the houses would prevail upon the government of India to make amends for its past mistakes related to the tragedy. The letter, which mentions the tragedy, its aftermath, the inadequate compensation and improper rehabilitation, also speaks about the adverse health impact that continues to dog the victims. The claim courts in Bhopal have determined that 574,367 victims had suffered injuries in varying degree causing the untimely death of several thousands. "The grievousness of the injuries suffered by the victims are such that even 25 years after the disaster no less than 6,000 victims continue to visit hospitals every day due to disaster-related ailments," the letter said. Progenies of gas victims appear to be suffering from genetic effects and, reportedly, there is a rise in cancer cases of various kinds, it adds. The letter further mentions that what is equally worse is that each gas victim was in fact awarded less than one-fifth of what he or she was eligible to receive as per the terms of settlement, which itself was a paltry sum compared to the magnitude and gravity of the disaster. "What is equally worse is that the settlement amount of $470 million, which was determined on the assumption that there were only about 105,000 gas victims, including 3,000 dead, was actually disbursed to 574,367 gas victims, including over 15,000 dead," it says. The next of kin of each of the dead were awarded a sum of Rs.200,000 on an average and each of the injured was awarded a sum of Rs.50,000 on an average. However, none of the gas victims was paid interest for the period of delay in the award of compensation despite the fact the process of adjudication of claims stretched from 1992 to 2006, that is eight to 22 years after the disaster. Moreover, the accused officials of Union Carbide are yet to be punished for their criminal negligence that led to the tragedy. "In fact, the government of India has made little effort to bring prime accused Warren Anderson and concerned officials of accused companies Union Carbide Corporation and Union Carbide Eastern to face trial in India," it says. "Instead, the government of India is doing all it can to please Dow Chemical Co, the present owners of Union Carbide Corp."   http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Bhopal+gas+victims+write+to+Parliament&artid=tCu7bMiiC/g=&SectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&MainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&SectionName=pWehHe7IsSU=&SEO=     From yasir.media at gmail.com Sat Dec 5 21:00:19 2009 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?eWFzaXIgftmK2Kcg2LPYsQ==?=) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 20:30:19 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Heather Timmons: A reverse culture shock in India In-Reply-To: <8e2bace60912040059h3b6eb40es94f3878c55ec0956@mail.gmail.com> References: <8e2bace60912040059h3b6eb40es94f3878c55ec0956@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <5af37bb0912050730x21e42c25g5ee904754076baad@mail.gmail.com> this article talks about government and business culture, but for people who have lived abroad, i estimate it takes at least several years to get functioning normally after returning. and i am talking about everyday affairs. best On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 1:59 PM, Amit Basole wrote: > Disclaimer: My remarks are not addressed to Patrice, but to the content of > the article. > > The writer of the article, Heather Timmons, probably did not intend this > but > the piece comes across as a report of spoilt NRIs whining about India as > they always do. If "helping your country" can only happen when everything > works here just the way it does in America, then there would be no need to > "help the country" in the first place! > > Even if the 100,000 repats expected to arrive in the next 5 years were all > to get frustrated and leave India in the next 15 years I doubt the country > would be much the worse for it. Ultimately it is the 900 millions Indians > who have never been abroad nor are likely to go and who constitute an > immense pool of talent and labor which sustains livelihoods despite massive > exploitation by the State and by Capital, who hold the key to India's > future > well-being. Not a handful of repats. The later are of course welcome if > they > wish to contribute in due humility, but not if they expect special > treatment. > > This is not to imply that corruption, bureaucracy et al are not real > problems, of course they are and for the working poor they can mean the > difference between life and death, not just a difference between living > comfortably in India or living comfortably in America. So by all means lets > fight these problems as best as we can. If we can't and if returning to > more > "civilized lands" becomes necessary, we have only ourselves to blame. > > Looking Indian means discrimination and second-class treatment in America, > thinking American means being a misfit in India. Tough luck. > > For full disclosure, I have been in the US for the past ten years and > though > I am living in India this year for research purposes. > > Amit > > On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 12:06 PM, Patrice Riemens > wrote: > > > Original to the NYT/IHT, Nov 27, 2009. > > Original at: http://bit.ly/6YIqFG > > > > > > > > Some Indians Find It Tough to Go Home Again > > By HEATHER TIMMONS > > > > NEW DELHI — When 7-year-old Shiva Ayyadurai left Mumbai with his family > > nearly 40 years ago, he promised himself he would return to India someday > > to help his country. > > > > In June, Mr. Ayyadurai, now 45, moved from Boston to New Delhi hoping to > > make good on that promise. An entrepreneur and lecturer at the > > Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a fistful of American > degrees, > > he was the first recruit of an ambitious government program to lure > > talented scientists of the so-called desi diaspora back to their > homeland. > > > > “It seemed perfect,” he said recently of the job opportunity. > > > > It wasn’t. > > > > As Mr. Ayyadurai sees it now, his Western business education met India’s > > notoriously inefficient, opaque government, and things went downhill from > > there. Within weeks, he and his boss were at loggerheads. Last month, his > > job offer was withdrawn. Mr. Ayyadurai has moved back to Boston. > > > > In recent years, Mother India has welcomed back tens of thousands of > > former emigrants and their offspring. When he visited the United States > > this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally extended an > invitation > > “to all Indian-Americans and nonresident Indians who wish to return > home.” > > But, like Mr. Ayyadurai, many Indians who spent most of their lives in > > North America and Europe are finding they can’t go home again. > > > > About 100,000 “returnees” will move from the United States to India in > the > > next five years, estimates Vivek Wadhwa, a research associate at Harvard > > University who has studied the topic. These repats, as they are known, > are > > drawn by India’s booming economic growth, the chance to wrestle with > > complex problems and the opportunity to learn more about their heritage. > > They are joining multinational companies, starting new businesses and > even > > becoming part of India’s sleepy government bureaucracy. > > > > But a study by Mr. Wadhwa and other academics found that 34 percent of > > repats found it difficult to return to India — compared to just 13 > percent > > of Indian immigrants who found it difficult to settle in the United > > States. The repats complained about traffic, lack of infrastructure, > > bureaucracy and pollution. > > > > For many returnees the cultural ties and chance to do good that drew them > > back are overshadowed by workplace cultures that feel unexpectedly > > foreign, and can be frustrating. Sometimes returnees discover that they > > share more in their attitudes and perspectives with other Americans or > > with the British than with other Indians. Some stay just a few months, > > some return to the West after a few years. > > > > Returnees run into trouble when they “look Indian but think American,” > > said Anjali Bansal, managing partner in India for Spencer Stuart, the > > global executive search firm. People expect them to know the country > > because of how they look, but they may not be familiar with the way > things > > run, she said. Similarly, when things don’t operate the way they do in > the > > United States or Britain, the repats sometimes complain. > > > > “India can seem to have a fairly ambiguous and chaotic way of working, > but > > it works,” Ms. Bansal said. “I’ve heard people say things like ‘It is so > > inefficient or it is so unprofessional.’ ” She said it was more > > constructive to just accept customs as being different. > > > > Sometimes, the better fit for a job in India is an expatriate who has > > experience working in emerging markets, rather than someone born in India > > who has only worked in the United States, she said. > > > > While several Indian-origin authors have penned soul-searching tomes > about > > their return to India, and dozens of business books exist for Western > > expatriates trying to do business here, the guidelines for the returning > > Indian manager or entrepreneur are still being drawn. > > > > “Some very simple practices that you often take for granted, such as > being > > ethical in day to day situations, or believing in the rule of law in > > everyday behavior, are surprisingly absent in many situations,” said Raju > > Narisetti, who was born in Hyderabad and returned to India in 2006 to > > found a business newspaper called Mint, which is now the country’s > > second-biggest business paper by readership. > > > > He said he left earlier than he expected because of a “troubling nexus” > of > > business, politics and publishing that he called “draining on body and > > soul.” He returned to the United States this year to join The Washington > > Post. > > > > There are no shortcuts to spending lots of time working in the country, > > returnees say. “There are so many things that are tricky about doing > > business in India that it takes years to figure it out,” said Sanjay > > Kamlani, the co-chief executive of Pangea3, a legal outsourcing firm with > > offices in New York and Mumbai. Mr. Kamlani was born in Miami, where his > > parents emigrated from Mumbai, but he has started two businesses with > > Indian operations. > > > > When Mr. Kamlani started hiring in India, he met with a completely > > unexpected phenomena: some new recruits would not show up for work on > > their first day. Then, their mothers would call and say they were sick > for > > days in a row. They never intended to come at all, he realized, but > > “there’s a cultural desire to avoid confrontation,” he said. > > > > The case of Mr. Ayyadurai, the M.I.T. lecturer, illustrates just how > > frustrating the experience can be for someone schooled in more direct, > > American-style management. After a long meeting with a top bureaucrat, > who > > gave him a handwritten job offer, Mr. Ayyadurai signed on to the Council > > of Scientific and Industrial Research, or C.S.I.R., a government-financed > > agency that reports to the ministry of science. > > > > The agency is responsible for creating a new company, called > > C.S.I.R.-Tech, to spin off profitable businesses from India’s dozens of > > public laboratories. Currently, the agency, which oversees 4,500 > > scientists, generates just $80 million in cash flow a year, even though > > its annual budget is the equivalent of half a billion dollars. > > > > Mr. Ayyadurai said he spent weeks trying to get answers and responses to > > e-mail messages, particularly from the person who hired him, the C.S.I.R. > > director general, Samir K. Brahmachari. After several months of trying to > > set up a business plan for the new company with no input from his boss, > he > > said, he distributed a draft plan to C.S.I.R.’s scientists asking for > > feedback, and criticizing the agency’s management. > > > > Four days later, Mr. Ayyadurai was forbidden from communicating with > other > > scientists. Later, he received an official letter saying his job offer > was > > withdrawn. > > > > The complaints in Mr. Ayyadurai’s paper could be an outline for what many > > inside and outside India say could be improved in some workplaces here: > > disorganization, intimidation, a culture where top directors’ decisions > > are rarely challenged and a lack of respect for promptness that means > > meetings start hours late and sometimes go on for hours with no clear > > agenda. > > > > But going public with such accusations is highly unusual. Mr. Ayyadurai > > circulated his paper not just to the agency’s scientists but to > > journalists, and wrote about his situation to Prime Minister Manmohan > > Singh. India is “sitting on a huge opportunity” to create new businesses > > and tap into thousands of science and technology experts, Mr. Ayyadurai > > said, but a “feudal culture” is holding the country back. > > > > Mr. Brahmachari said in an interview that Mr. Ayyadurai had misunderstood > > nearly everything — from his handwritten job offer, which he said was > only > > meant to suggest what Mr. Ayyadurai could receive were he to be hired, to > > the way Mr. Ayyadurai asked scientists for their feedback on what the > > C.S.I.R. spinoff should look like. > > > > To prove his point, Mr. Brahmachari, who was two hours late for an > > interview scheduled by his office, read from a government guide about > > decision-making in the organization. Mr. Ayyadurai didn’t follow > protocol, > > he said. “As long as your language is positive for the organization I > have > > no problem,” he added. > > > > As the interview was closing, Mr. Brahmachari questioned why anyone would > > be interested in the situation, and then said he would complain to a > > reporter’s bosses in New York if she continued to pursue the story. > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > 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/> > > > > > -- > Amit Basole > Department of Economics > Thompson Hall > University of Massachusetts > Amherst, MA 01003 > Phone: 413-665-2463 > http://www.people.umass.edu/abasole/ > blog: http://thenoondaysun.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 kiccovich at yahoo.com Sun Dec 6 13:19:12 2009 From: kiccovich at yahoo.com (francesca recchia) Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 23:49:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] POST CONFLICT OR EL DORADO? Message-ID: <303451.35497.qm@web113213.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Dear all This is an article I just wrote that has been recently published on Other Asias (http://otherasias.webnode.com/products/iraq-post-conflict-or-el-dorado-francesca-recchia-/) Hope it will meet your interest :) francesca Living in Northern Iraq makes the dimension of post conflict hard to escape. It is what determines the movement of people, the distribution of international economic support and recently also the debate within the art world. Political stability opens the frontiers to economic and cultural entrepreneurs. A society thirsty for innovation and “modernity” is a goldmine and an unexploited market is a promise for huge profits – for both oilmen and artists, it seems. The last months have seen two art events in Iraqi Kurdistan. The first was a two week workshop promoted by Hiwa K. and Aneta Szylak under the umbrella of their estrangement project (http://estrangementproject.blogspot.com). The other was a three day Post-War Arts & Culture Festivalorganized by Adalet R. Garmiany and ArtRole (www.artrole.org). Both Hiwa and Adalet are Kurdish artists who live in Europe (Germany and UK respectively) where they received their education and practice their art. For both, Kurdistan is a homecoming, a source of inspiration, a pool of opportunities. Yet, the outcome of their visit couldn’t have possibly been more different. Where one has chosen a rooted and low profile approach, the other has chosen political engagement and big words (spoken by the Prime Minister at the opening of the Festival). IraqiKurdistan has been suddenly transformed into a platform to perform western debates on what is art and how to make it. Despite an ancient history, Kurdistan is rather untouched by the contemporary art disputes in the West. Fine Art education is still very conservative and a traditional approach to painting is still the rule. Cold suspicion welcomes any attempt by younger generations to change this. Young artists are keen to explore and thirsty for knowledge. The lack of resources is at times heartbreaking and the role of western intellectual do-gooders depressing. In the give and take game that every interaction implies, it seems to me that those who are gaining are those who already have. I strongly resist the philosophy that little is better than nothing, when that “little” becomes the currency to placate our guilty feelings while pursuing our own interests. It is in this transaction between do-good, placate guilt and make profit that post conflict becomes an easy horse to ride. We come from abroad with pre-packaged models, a smart set of catchy slogans and a pile of good intentions. We have gone to Iraq, we have done art, we have done good. The spaceship lands, gathers information, praises its own bravery for reaching such a dangerous country, takes off and leaves with an awesome bunch of stories to tell back home. The illuminated lot in the Western art system – those who have developed an interest for The Third World, for Developing Countries and now The Post Conflict Zones – indulge in their own open-mindedness, nicely oblivious of what is left on the ground after their departure. Estrangement and Post-War Arts & Culture Festivalhave thus highlighted the necessity of a serious debate around the motivations, strategies and approaches of art in a post conflict developing country. Art heals; art deals with trauma; art unleashes suppressed emotions, joys, pains, enthusiasm; art shapes reality; art reinterprets the world; art is a career; art generates fame; art is a trampoline for further achievements. Art can open possibilities. Art can dictate solutions. There is nothing new in it. What is new here is the vertiginous excitement that only virgin territories generate. The chase for this new El Dorado re-proposes old questions on the ethical and aesthetical stance of artists. However much the art scene in Iraqi Kurdistan needs support and new oxygen, it definitely does not need glamorous events (with very good organic food) that will address only a limited portion of society. Art can be an invaluable tool to trigger debate and participation – through seminars and discussions over a sandwich kebab from the corner shop as Hiwa has successfully tried to do. Relational art doesn’t pay big money and doesn’t give you the front page of newspapers – but it is the only way to make change. If that’s what art is supposed to be about. Of all the economic effort to set up a spectacular Post-War Arts & Culture Festival, the power of Art has still managed to leave me speechless – despite the heavy load of skepticism I was carrying with me. Adalet R. Garmiany brought to Kurdistan Richard Wilson’sinstallation 20:50. I had the chance to see it in Europe twice before – this time it has left me awestruck and reminded me of my love of Art. The installation was exhibited at the same time Iraqi Central Government and Kurdish Federal Government were discussing once again the fate of the oil-rich, disputed city of Kirkuk. The unintentional echo that the piece managed to resonate reinforced the trust in the potentials of art practice in places where trauma is simply swept under the carpet. The evocative power of art doesn’t need verbose statements to make a difference. Opening up spaces of dialogues has to go beyond individual ambitions. The post conflict rhetoric, as disturbing as it is, has somehow given me the opportunity to refocus on how art can be used and misused in the name of “community”; on how there is a possibility of creative change and empowerment if the people in the name of whom we make art are our partners and interlocutors rather than our disguise and alibi. francesca recchia kiccovich at yahoo.com it +39 338 166 3648 iq +964 (0) 750 7085 681 http://www.veleno.tv/bollettini/ From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 14:05:15 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 14:05:15 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Widlife Trust of India needs illustrators and artists Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Subir Ghosh Date: Dec 4, 2009 5:00 PM Subject: [Creativegarh] [Projects] Illustrators / artists needed To: creativegarh at yahoogroups.com The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is looking for illustrators/artists for working on sketches/paintings of wild animals. The requirement is urgent, and the person concerned should be NCR-based. Please contact me subir at wti.org.in at the earliest with scanned samples. Please ensure that the attachments are not too heavy. Thanks. Subir Ghosh __._,_.___ From shuddha at sarai.net Sun Dec 6 15:01:38 2009 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 15:01:38 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1252?q?=8Ei=9Eek=2C_Ranci=E8re=2C_Foucaul?= =?windows-1252?q?t=2C_Bourdieu=85?= In-Reply-To: <1f9180970912040755t28a814cdpaaeb601580b0dee1@mail.gmail.com> References: <1f9180970912040755t28a814cdpaaeb601580b0dee1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <44B984A8-67FA-40B8-9486-4F5A54560682@sarai.net> Dear Venu, No passes or formalities, just arrive early to ensure that you get seats. best Shuddha On 04-Dec-09, at 9:25 PM, Venugopalan K M wrote: > Dear Anand, > Thanks for posting this immensely valuable information. > Can you/anyone else please figure out the formalities if any, for > entry/pass for these events? > (Venu) > > 2009/12/3 Navayana Publishing : >> Navayana presents >> >> Slavoj Žižek >> >> Navayana is delighted to present “the Elvis of cultural theory”, the >> academic “rock star”—Slavoj Žižek. The author of over 40 books, >> many of them >> top sellers, the Slovenian Marxist philosopher and cultural critic >> will tour >> India from 2 to 9 Jan 2010 on the occasion of the launch of his >> latest work, >> First as Tragedy, Then as Farce—a bravura analysis of the current >> global >> crisis. His books deal with topics ranging from philosophy and >> Freudian and >> Lacanian psychoanalysis, to theology, film, opera and radical >> politics. He >> was a candidate for, and nearly won, the Presidency of Slovenia in >> the first >> democratic elections after the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1990. >> According to >> a profile in the New Yorker, Slovenia has a “reputation >> disproportionately >> large for its size due to the work of Slavoj Žižek.” >> >> In the first Navayana annual lecture series, Žižek shall deliver >> two talks >> in Delhi (4 and 5 Jan), and one each in Hyderabad (7 Jan) and >> Kochi (9 Jan). >> Besides, there shall be screenings of films on and by him, and >> discussions >> of his work as pre-event shows. In Kerala, the Malayalam >> translation of >> Žižek’s classic, The Sublime Object of Ideology, will be launched >> during his >> visit. >> >> First as Tragedy, Then as Farce >> Paperback B Format 156 pages Rs 200 >> >> “The title of this book is intended as an elementary IQ test for >> the reader: >> if the first association it generates is the vulgar anti-communist >> cliché >> —“You are right—today, after the tragedy of twentieth-century >> totalitarianism, all the talk about a return to communism can only be >> farcical!”—then I sincerely advise you to stop here. Indeed, the >> book should >> be forcibly confiscated from you, since it deals with an entirely >> different >> tragedy and farce, namely, the two events which mark the beginning >> and the >> end of the first decade of the twenty-first century: the attacks of >> September 11, 2001 and the financial meltdown of 2008. We should >> note the >> similarity of President Bush’s language in his addresses to the >> American >> people after 9/11 and after the financial collapse: they sounded >> very much >> like two versions of the same speech. Both times Bush evoked the >> threat to >> the American way of life and the need to take fast and decisive >> action to >> cope with the danger. Both times he called for the partial >> suspension of >> American values (guarantees of individual freedom, market >> capitalism) in >> order to save these very same values. From whence comes this >> similarity?” >> >> Slavoj Žižek declares: “You’ve had your anti-communist fun, and >> you are >> pardoned for it—time to get serious once again!” >> >> >> >> The Žižek India Tour Schedule >> >> >> 24 Dec 2009. 3 p.m. Screenings >> The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, in 3 parts. 150 mins >> >> Followed by “Žižek!”, 71 mins. >> Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi >> >> >> >> 2 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Screening >> Žižek! A feature documentary directed by Astra Taylor, 71 mins. >> Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi >> >> 4 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture >> “Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood” >> Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi >> >> 5 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Lecture >> “Tragedy and Farce” >> Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi >> >> >> >> 7 Jan 2010. 11 a.m. Lecture >> “Capitalism and Particular Life-Worlds: In Defense of Universalism” >> ICSSR Auditorium, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad >> >> >> >> 9 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture and Panel Discussion >> “Whither Left?” >> Town Hall, Kochi. >> >> >> >> >> >> The Žižek Media Kit >> >> Watch Žižek on BBC News Hardtalk, 24 Nov 2009: >> http://versouk.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/bbc-news-hardtalk-slavoj- >> zizek-communism-a-total-failure/ >> >> Profile in New Yorker: http://www.lacan.com/ziny.htm >> >> Terry Eagleton on Žižek in Times Literary Supplement: >> http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/ >> the_tls/article3800980.ece >> >> A key to the key ideas of Žižek: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro1.htm >> >> A comprehensive Bibliography of Žižek: >> http://www.lacan.com/bibliographyzi.htm >> >> Brief summaries of his key books: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro2.htm >> >> Žižek! The Movie (to be screened at India Habitat Centre on 2 Jan >> 2009): >> http://www.zizekthemovie.com/ >> >> The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema (to be screened at Sarai, CSDS, 24 >> Dec 2009): >> http://www.thepervertsguide.com/press.html >> >> To download pictures of Žižek, click here: >> http://zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=zizek&mode=downloads >> >> >> Along with Žižek’s title (First as Tragedy, Then as Farce), under >> the Other >> Headings series Navayana launches affordable South Asian editions >> of Jacques >> Rancière’s The Future of the Image (Rs 200), Michel Foucault’s >> Abnormal: >> Lectures at the Collège de France, 1974–75 (Rs 490), and Pierre >> Bourdieu’s >> Political Interventions: Social Science and Political Action (Rs >> 490). >> >> For details and further information on the Žižek tour contact S. >> Anand at >> anand at navayana.org >> >> -- >> www.navayana.org >> >> Navayana >> 155, Second Floor >> Shahpur Jat >> New Delhi 110049 >> >> Landline: +91-11-26494795 >> Mobile: +91-9971433117 >> _________________________________________ >> 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/> > > > > -- > > > > You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot > build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you > will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a > whole. > -AMBEDKAR > > > > http://venukm.blogspot.com > > http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur > > http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.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/> Shuddhabrata Sengupta The Sarai Programme at CSDS Raqs Media Collective shuddha at sarai.net www.sarai.net www.raqsmediacollective.net From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 6 15:43:30 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 02:13:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Why nations should pursue "soft" power" Shashi Tharoor talk at TED Message-ID: <638254.62560.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com>   Watch at http://www.ted.com/talks/shashi_tharoor.html   About this talk India is fast becoming a superpower, says Shashi Tharoor -- not just through trade and politics, but through "soft" power, its ability to share its culture with the world through food, music, technology, Bollywood. He argues that in the long run it's not the size of the army that matters as much as a country's ability to influence the world's hearts and minds. From sub_sengupta at yahoo.co.in Sun Dec 6 16:06:07 2009 From: sub_sengupta at yahoo.co.in (subhrodip sengupta) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 16:06:07 +0530 (IST) Subject: [Reader-list] The Quality of NEws in Times of India once again. Message-ID: <436867.70896.qm@web94714.mail.in2.yahoo.com> This is heights of perversion. Plz. visit the links and help yourself. There is a rare humor someone said hehehe. http://in.buzz.yahoo.com/article/1:spice_zee508:f80373febeeb5938b0d2dbb50438ed8c/Tiger-Woods-is-a-sex-addict-says-expert The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. http://in.yahoo.com/ From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Sun Dec 6 16:08:52 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:38:52 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Castillo_=26_Padilla_=28Spain=29?= Message-ID: <20091206113852.2FD328B0.9DA30F75@192.168.0.2> 6 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Scale of Reference".by Daniel Castillo & Carolina Padilla (Spain) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for freee as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From 2tahamehmood at googlemail.com Sun Dec 6 16:41:54 2009 From: 2tahamehmood at googlemail.com (Taha Mehmood) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 11:11:54 +0000 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?b?xb1pxb5laywgUmFuY2nDqHJlLCBGb3VjYXVsdCwg?= =?utf-8?b?Qm91cmRpZXXigKY=?= In-Reply-To: <44B984A8-67FA-40B8-9486-4F5A54560682@sarai.net> References: <1f9180970912040755t28a814cdpaaeb601580b0dee1@mail.gmail.com> <44B984A8-67FA-40B8-9486-4F5A54560682@sarai.net> Message-ID: <65be9bf40912060311o169f0deepf35d0e12f6226073@mail.gmail.com> Saw Zizek, the film, sometime back, he seems more like a Baba Ramdev of cultural theory or a Zakir Nayak of Marxist discourse. Zizek like Zakir swears by concepts encapsulated by a system of thoughts and ideas. There's appears to be a believer's like infection in his ideas. Like Baba Ramdev, Zizek appears to be completely natural when five thousand pairs of eyes are watching him perform. Like Ramdev he regales the crowd with his psychoanalytical Ujjayi breath. The Id, Ego and Super Ego rendered in Zizek's mental gymnastics seems like a diaphragmatic breathing exercise to absorb, contain and let out ideas. No wonder then he is often shown as leading huge eager gushing crowds to experience ecstasy, joy, sadness, insight, amazement and laughter or some combination of these emotions, in a single sitting. Like Osho, Zizek too seems to have a special place for concepts like Love and Fuck. Like Sri Satya Sai baba, Zizek appears to deals in magic and myths but unlike him, Zizek seems to interpret for us, as to what is actually going on. Like Sri Sri Ravi Sankar, Zizek wear similar kind of clothes and postures through out the film except for one section when he is in a bed, half naked, speaking animatedly about philosophy and the role of philosophers. In academia though he seems like a polarizing figure. So if most ardent bkhats have started International Journal of Zizek Studies or Centre for Ideology Critique and Žižek Studies, then his most ardent critics appears to be flooding the market with their books, essays and arguments. Is he a Godman of psychoanalysis, a fad, we don't know, but the film is nice. Thank you Anand for taking this initiative. From rahul_capri at yahoo.com Sun Dec 6 17:10:14 2009 From: rahul_capri at yahoo.com (Rahul Asthana) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 03:40:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Swiss referendum In-Reply-To: <5b0ccd6d57732f2279fa49efa1537408.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> Message-ID: <976871.68328.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi Patrice, Would be interesting to know what the arguments of your friends are.Arguments against referenda are not an argument against democracy itself. In any case I feel uncomfortable if all parts of a constitution is subject to the unfettered tyranny of the majority,without being subject to judicial review. Some of my friends have argued that judicial review is nothing but elitism where the zeitgeist is subject to the snobbery of a few learned people.I do not necessarily see it as such.I see it as a check/balance which can guard against temporal swings in opinion.After all,the judiciary is protecting nothing else but the basic principles upon which a particular constitution is based on. In a country like India, such a "referendum happy" direct democracy is difficult to implement because of reasons of logistics,so here this issue would probably have been framed as a power struggle between the legislature and the judiciary. Here, judicial review is important because legislature is not the same as direct democracy and till the time the legislature goes back to the peoples' court again the judiciary should be there to protect the interests of the people Someone correct me if I am wrong, but AFAIK in India judiciary has the right to review everything.This may probably slow down change but as I said earlier is a good check against temporal frenzy. I have thought about this and probably I would go with a system in which the heart of the constitution is not sacrosanct but it can only be changed after a given number of consecutive referendums(not one) vote for the change. Thanks Rahul --- On Thu, 12/3/09, Patrice Riemens wrote: > From: Patrice Riemens > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Swiss referendum > To: reader-list at sarai.net > Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 3:47 PM > > > Hee Shuddha, > > Funny (I mean just that, funny ;-)  piece you wrote as > reaction on my own. > Yet I beg to disagree with you on your optimism about the > 43 % who voted > in against the ban on minarets. In electoral politics, 57,5 > % is a very > clear and stark majority (unless you live in some sort of > dictatorship - > or in Maguindanao (.ph) - , and in the Swiss case, 19 > cantons out of 23 > makes it even more so. > > At this juncture, like it or not, 'the Sovereign' has > spoken - even if it > has entangled itself in its own irresoluble contradictions. > Denying this, > or even worse, coming with all kinds of arguments against > referenda (i.e > democracy itself) as you did _not_, but many of my (Swiss) > frieds did, is > not very helpful. > > Europe will have to come rather soon to terms with its own > hangups about > wanting to have the immigration cake, keep it, sell it, eat > it, and then > take a triple mortgage on the bloody backery (and then > maybe > 'insure-and-burn' it for good measure...;-) > > Cheers, patrizio & Diiiinooos! > > > _________________________________________ > 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 chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 17:27:15 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:27:15 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Research position open on project on bat communities in the Western Ghats In-Reply-To: References: <377388.50506.qm@web54406.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Archi Rastogi Information below may be of interest. Archi ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Vinatha Viswanathan Date: Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 11:37 AM Subject: Research position open on project on bat communities in the Western Ghats Inviting applications for a JRF position on a research project on bat communities in the Western Ghats We seek a qualified, highly motivated candidate for a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) position on a recently funded research project on bat communities in the Western Ghats. The project is geared towards: i) determining the environmental and biotic correlates underlying bat species distribution patterns in the Western Ghats, ii) quantifying and characterizing spatial variation in bat communities in the southern Western Ghats, and iii) developing an echo-location call library for echo-locating bats in the region. The project is jointly implemented by the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) (Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, http://www.ncbs.res.in), Bangalore, and the Nature Conservation Foundation ( http://www.ncf-india.org/), Mysore. The candidate will be responsible for carrying out acoustic field surveys of bats based on echo-location call recordings across several areas of the southern Western Ghats. The position will require extended periods of field work under trying conditions, and will also involve the synthesis and analysis of data. Candidates with a Master’s degree in ecology, life sciences, botany, zoology, or environmental sciences, with demonstrated field experience and interest in working in the Western Ghats are encouraged to apply. The position provides a monthly stipend of Rs 12,000 plus field expenses. Interested candidates should send their CV and statement of interest by email to: cepfbats at ncbs.res.in. Applications will be reviewed until a suitable candidate is found. From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 6 18:21:02 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 04:51:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Lifer for 5 in Dalit massacre case" Message-ID: <68746.64639.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> I am against 'death penalty' for any kind of a crime whatsoever but I wonder why those found guilty of this 'massacre' were not awarded the death-sentence.   Shameful that it should take thirty years to bring such a case to conclusion.   Kshmendra     "Lifer for 5 in Dalit massacre case"   legal correspondent NEW DELHI, 5 DEC: Thirty years after eight Dalits were massacred by upper caste Thakurs in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court has sentenced to life imprisonment five of the accused and said the caste system must be abolished for the smooth functioning of rule of law and democracy in the country. Reversing an Allahabad High Court judgment that acquitted all 18 accused who were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court for committing the murder, the Supreme Court restored the conviction of six of them as recorded by the trial court. One of the six, however, had died during the pendency of the case. “It is absolutely imperative to abolish the caste system as expeditiously as possible for smooth functioning of rule of law and democracy in our country,” a Bench of Justices Mr Dalveer Bhandari and Mr AK Patnaik said while delivering its verdict on the case. The apex court said: “Unfortunately, the centuries-old Indian caste system still takes its toll from time to time. This case unfolds the worst kind of atrocities committed by the so-called upper caste against the so-called lower caste in a civilised country”. In the case in question, the massacre was carried out to teach a lesson to the so-called lower caste, and to commit dacoity, the judgment noted. “The accused persons belonging to Thakur caste literally butchered seven totally innocent persons belonging to the Harijan caste, and to wipe out the entire evidence of their atrocities, after shooting (the bodies of the victims) were thrown in the river Ganges,” it noted. It was at the intervention of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram that the police had arrested 18 people in connection with the 9 September, 1979 massacre at Lohari village, under Hussainganj police station in Uttar Pradesh. The sessions court convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment 18 of the accused persons in 1982, against which the accused had appealed in Allahabad High Court. The case went on for 19 years in the High Court and on 10 January, 2001, the High Court acquitted all the accused of the charges, ignoring even the evidence of an injured witness whose wife was also killed in the carnage. The Supreme Court, which re-appreciated the entire evidence in the case, said the High Court had taken an erroneous view and wrongly ignored the evidence of the witness, due to certain minor discrepancies in his testimonies like not properly naming the accused. It said minor discrepancies in statements of witnesses should be ignored by courts in such cases as they are bound to be under tremendous fear. “The High Court has neither analyzed the evidence nor the documents on record and without any cogent evidence, the High Court by the impugned judgment has set aside a very well reasoned judgment of the trial court,” the Supreme Court said while reversing the acquittal against the five accused, and directed them to surrender forthwith failing which they would be arrested.   http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=276964     From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Sun Dec 6 21:02:33 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 21:02:33 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Announcing Teach For India's Teacher Development Program Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nidhi Variava Date: Dec 5, 2009 2:43 PM Subject: [learningnet-india] Teacher Development Program - Are you ready for it? To: learningnet-india at yahoogroups.com You know how to teach….now, are you ready for more? You’re an outstanding teacher – but do you sometimes wish you were given greater responsibility in your school? Are there projects you’d like to tackle beyond your classroom but you don’t know where to start? Teach For India introduces the *Teacher Development Program* – an educational and managerial training program for outstanding teachers from all over the world. As a Teacher Development Program Manager, you will learn through experience as you manage 15-20 younger teachers, provide instructional guidance, conduct training workshops, and build relationships with school leadership. After two years of exposure to the most innovative best practices in instruction and management, you will be ready for greater achievement in the classroom and beyond. Contact Nidhi Variava at nidhi at teachforindia.org for more information or send your resume to careers at teachforindia.org to apply! *Nidhi Variava* *Manager, HR **TEACH**FOR**INDIA **- One day all children will attain an excellent education. *+91 98923-48516| *nidhi at teachforindia.org ** * Voltas House C, TB Kadam Marg, Chinchpokli, Mumbai, 400 033, India From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Mon Dec 7 09:56:55 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 09:56:55 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The StoryCorps Project: Celebrating lives through listening Message-ID: Excerpts from http://www.storycorps.org/about StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening. By recording the stories of our lives with the people we care about, we experience our history, hopes, and humanity. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share, and is archived for generations to come at the Library of Congress. Millions listen to our award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, creating a growing portrait of who we really are as Americans. Listening is an act of love. The heart of StoryCorps is the conversation between two people who are important to each other: a son asking his mother about her childhood, an immigrant telling his friend about coming to America, or a couple reminiscing on their 50th wedding anniversary. By helping people to connect, and to talk about the questions that matter, the StoryCorps experience is powerful and sometimes even life-changing. Our goal is to make that experience accessible to all, and find new ways to inspire people to record and preserve the stories of someone important to them. Everybody’s story matters and every life counts. Just as powerful is the experience of listening. Whenever people listen to these stories, they hear the courage, the humor, the trials and triumphs of an incredible range of voices. From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Mon Dec 7 13:37:29 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 13:37:29 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Free access to Anthropology journals Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Avinandan ------------------------------ Dear all, The American Anthropological Association (AAA) has made AnthroSource, its online compilation of published anthropological research, available for free during the months of November and December. This can be accessed at: http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=ANTH-SOUR The following publications are included in AnthroSource: American Anthropologist American Ethnologist Anthropology & Education Quarterly Anthropology & Humanism Anthropology News Anthropology of Consciousness Anthropology of Work Review Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association Bulletin of the National Association of Student Anthropologists Central Issues in Anthropology City & Society CSAS Bulletin Central States Anthropological Society Cultural Anthropology Culture & Agriculture El Mensajero Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Conference Proceedings Ethos General Anthropology Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology Journal of Linguistic Anthropology Journal of the Society for the Anthropology of Europe Medical Anthropology Quarterly Museum Anthropology National Association for the Practice of Anthropology Bulletin North American Dialogue Nutritional Anthropology PoLAR: Political and Legal Anthropology Review SOLGAN Teaching Anthropology: Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges Notes Transforming Anthropology Visual Anthropology Review Voices ------------------------------ -- Avinandan Mukherjee Research Associate Centre for Children's Literature Eklavya E-10, BDA Colony Shankar Nagar Shivaji Nagar Bhopal 462 016 India Phone (0755) 255 1109, 267 1017 Fax (0755) 255 1108 www.eklavya.in From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Mon Dec 7 14:53:35 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:53:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] International Web Conference on Women and Violence, Dec 10 In-Reply-To: <310840.9102.qm@web54406.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <310840.9102.qm@web54406.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: --- On *Sun, 12/6/09, rita banerji *wrote: Hello everyone, On thursday, dec 10, at 7.30 pm (india time) I will be one of 4 speakers in an international web conference on Women and Violence. I will be speaking on female genocide in India and the need for the U.N. to recognize it as such. The other speakers and topics are given on the link below. To participate you have to register with the organization -- A Safe World for Women, that is organizing this conference. The other details are also given here on this site including the registration form (free). http://asafeworldforwomen.org/webinar.html Do register and pass the word on. warmly Rita - The 50 Million Missing Campaign - http://www.50millionmissing.in - http://gopetition.com/petitions/stop-female-genocide-in-india From patrice at xs4all.nl Mon Dec 7 15:51:07 2009 From: patrice at xs4all.nl (Patrice Riemens) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:21:07 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] Swiss referendum In-Reply-To: <976871.68328.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <976871.68328.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: > Hi Patrice, > Would be interesting to know what the arguments of your friends > are.Arguments against referenda are not an argument against democracy > itself. In any case I feel uncomfortable if all parts of a constitution is > subject to the unfettered tyranny of the majority,without being subject to > judicial review. > Some of my friends have argued that judicial review is nothing but elitism > where the zeitgeist is subject to the snobbery of a few learned people.I > do not necessarily see it as such.I see it as a check/balance which can > guard against temporal swings in opinion.After all,the judiciary is > protecting nothing else but the basic principles upon which a particular > constitution is based on. > In a country like India, such a "referendum happy" direct democracy is > difficult to implement because of reasons of logistics,so here this issue > would probably have been framed as a power struggle between the > legislature and the judiciary. Here, judicial review is important because > legislature is not the same as direct democracy and till the time the > legislature goes back to the peoples' court again the judiciary should be > there to protect the interests of the people > Someone correct me if I am wrong, but AFAIK in India judiciary has the > right to review everything.This may probably slow down change but as I > said earlier is a good check against temporal frenzy. > I have thought about this and probably I would go with a system in which > the heart of the constitution is not sacrosanct but it can only be changed > after a given number of consecutive referendums(not one) vote for the > change. > > Thanks > > Rahul > > Rahul, It's a very complex issue, but the (my) bottom line is that you cannot reconcile democracy with rejection of referenda (which doesn't mean you have to introduce them where they dont exist). The problem lies with representation in the broadest sense. And the current crisis in democratic politics is therefore also known as the crisis of representative democracy - where 'the people' feel 'unrepresented', despite elections. Many of my friends take the (elitist) viewpoint that the people at large are stupid, nasty, and brutal, and that democracy can only be salvaged from them thru enlightenend representatives. Which the masses may elect every so many years - and then shut up. Direct democracy is really anathema to them, as it can only mean the onslaught of the great unwashed. And they do think the Swiss are really backward with their system. It is a strange system indeed: as per official doctrine, the government is made up of all parties represented in parliament (save the very marginal ones), and the opposition is ... the People itself (that famous 'sovereign' as it is called in the papers), expressing its desires or disaprovals through 'popular votations' triggered by a 'popular initiatives' or a request for a refrendum (an x number of signatures, depending on the reach of the votation, federal, cantonal, municipal). It is interesting to note that over the past 100 years the 'sovereign' has rejected around 90% of the proposals submitted to its vote. Judicial review: another vexed question. Next time! Cheers, patrizio & Diiiinooos! From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Mon Dec 7 17:18:48 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:48:48 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Holly_Rodricks_=28USA=29?= Message-ID: <20091207124848.3F9A0BD8.D2E61F3D@192.168.0.2> 7 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Partition".by Holly Rodricks (USA) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Mon Dec 7 18:01:59 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:01:59 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 56 newspapers Message-ID: <564b2fca0912070431v2ebd81e7uac1ba6e99536a343@mail.gmail.com> This editorial was I believe carried by 56 newspapers today in 20 languages. Naga Today 56 newspapers in 45 countries take the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice through a common editorial. We do so because humanity faces a profound emergency. Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate changewill ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. In scientific journals the question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage. Yet so far the world's response has been feeble and half-hearted. Climate change has been caused over centuries, has consequences that will endure for all time and our prospects of taming it will be determined in the next 14 days. We call on the representatives of the 192 countries gathered in Copenhagen not to hesitate, not to fall into dispute, not to blame each other but to seize opportunity from the greatest modern failure of politics. This should not be a fight between the rich world and the poor world, or between east and west. Climate change affects everyone, and must be solved by everyone. The science is complex but the facts are clear. The world needs to take steps to limit temperature rises to 2C, an aim that will require global emissions to peak and begin falling within the next 5-10 years. A bigger rise of 3-4C — the smallest increase we can prudently expect to follow inaction — would parch continents, turning farmland into desert. Half of all species could become extinct, untold millions of people would be displaced, whole nations drowned by the sea. The controversy over emails by British researchers that suggest they tried to suppress inconvenient data has muddied the waters but failed to dent the mass of evidence on which these predictions are based. Few believe that Copenhagen can any longer produce a fully polished treaty; real progress towards one could only begin with the arrival of President Obama in the White House and the reversal of years of US obstructionism. Even now the world finds itself at the mercy of American domestic politics, for the president cannot fully commit to the action required until the US Congress has done so. But the politicians in Copenhagen can and must agree the essential elements of a fair and effective deal and, crucially, a firm timetable for turning it into a treaty. Next June's UN climate meeting in Bonn should be their deadline. As one negotiator put it: "We can go into extra time but we can't afford a replay." At the deal's heart must be a settlement between the rich world and the developing world covering how the burden of fighting climate change will be divided — and how we will share a newly precious resource: the trillion or so tonnes of carbon that we can emit before the mercury rises to dangerous levels. Rich nations like to point to the arithmetic truth that there can be no solution until developing giants such as China take more radical steps than they have so far. But the rich world is responsible for most of the accumulated carbon in the atmosphere – three-quarters of all carbon dioxide emitted since 1850. It must now take a lead, and every developed country must commit to deep cuts which will reduce their emissions within a decade to very substantially less than their 1990 level. Developing countries can point out they did not cause the bulk of the problem, and also that the poorest regions of the world will be hardest hit. But they will increasingly contribute to warming, and must thus pledge meaningful and quantifiable action of their own. Though both fell short of what some had hoped for, the recent commitments to emissions targetsby the world's biggest polluters, the United Statesand China, were important steps in the right direction. Social justice demands that the industrialised world digs deep into its pockets and pledges cash to help poorer countries adapt to climate change, and clean technologies to enable them to grow economically without growing their emissions. The architecture of a future treaty must also be pinned down – with rigorous multilateral monitoring, fair rewards for protecting forests, and the credible assessment of "exported emissions" so that the burden can eventually be more equitably shared between those who produce polluting products and those who consume them. And fairness requires that the burden placed on individual developed countries should take into account their ability to bear it; for instance newer EU members, often much poorer than "old Europe", must not suffer more than their richer partners. The transformation will be costly, but many times less than the bill for bailing out global finance — and far less costly than the consequences of doing nothing. Many of us, particularly in the developed world, will have to change our lifestyles. The era of flights that cost less than the taxi ride to the airport is drawing to a close. We will have to shop, eat and travel more intelligently. We will have to pay more for our energy, and use less of it. But the shift to a low-carbon society holds out the prospect of more opportunity than sacrifice. Already some countries have recognized that embracing the transformation can bring growth, jobs and better quality lives. The flow of capital tells its own story: last year for the first time more was invested in renewable forms of energy than producing electricity from fossil fuels. Kicking our carbon habit within a few short decades will require a feat of engineering and innovation to match anything in our history. But whereas putting a man on the moon or splitting the atom were born of conflict and competition, the coming carbon race must be driven by a collaborative effort to achieve collective salvation. Overcoming climate change will take a triumph of optimism over pessimism, of vision over short-sightedness, of what Abraham Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature". It is in that spirit that 56 newspapers from around the world have united behind this editorial. If we, with such different national and political perspectives, can agree on what must be done then surely our leaders can too. The politicians in Copenhagen have the power to shape history's judgment on this generation: one that saw a challenge and rose to it, or one so stupid that we saw calamity coming but did nothing to avert it. We implore them to make the right choice. *This editorial will be published tomorrow by 56 newspapers around the world in 20 languages including Chinese, Arabic and Russian. The text was drafted by a Guardian team during more than a month of consultations with editors from more than 20 of the papers involved. Like the Guardianmost of the newspapers have taken the unusual step of featuring the editorial on their front page.* From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Mon Dec 7 19:46:28 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 06:16:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Tuning out the Taliban" Message-ID: <891087.60477.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> 1. "Tuning out the Taliban" nytimes.com/video   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8CqZQ8XHY   ALSO   http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/11/11/world/1247465633296/tuning-out-the-taliban.html#     2. Connected article: "Tuned out by The New York Times" by Asif Akhtar in DAWN   http://blog.dawn.com/2009/12/07/tuned-out-by-the-new-york-times/           From josh at openvideoalliance.org Tue Dec 8 10:12:37 2009 From: josh at openvideoalliance.org (Josh Levy) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 23:42:37 -0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Free Culture Roadshow Message-ID: <5bac3d940912072042h8cc9271w6f47c6c4d27a836e@mail.gmail.com> *CIS in association with different institutions across India invites you to join in the Free Culture Roadshow from 07th December to 22nd December, 2009 -* *Visit http://fcroadshow.net/ for full details.* **A presentation on The Right to Share and The Promise of Open Video, with Elizabeth Stark, Ben Moskowitz, Dean Jansen, and many guest speakers, plus an invitation to feature your own talk. Abstracts and speaker bios available here: http://fcroadshow.net/?page_id=2 *It will be our pleasure to have you join us.* *The Co-hosts, Dates and the Venues for the Talk are given below –* 1. Co-Host: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay Date: 07th December, 2009 from 10am to 2pm Venue – IIT-B, Mumbai 2. Co-Host: Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay Date: 07th December, 2009 from 4.30pm to 7pm Venue – TISS, Mumbai 3. Co-Host: Department of Media Sciences, CEGC, Anna University, Chennai Date: 08th December, 2009 from 9.30am Venue – Seminar Hall, Dept. Of Media Sciences, Anna University, Chennai 4. Co-Host: Dept. Of Management Studies, IIT-M, and BodhBridge Espl. Date: 09th December, 2009 from 9.30am to 01.30pm Venue – Central Lecture Theatre, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. 5. Co-Host: Dept. Of Journalism, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore Date: 14th December, 2009 from 10am to 01pm Venue – Golden Jubilee Hall, Bangalore 6. Co-Host: National Law School, Bangalore Date: 17th December, 2009 from 2.30pm onwards Venue – National Law School, Bangalore 7. Co-Host: Faculty of Architecture, Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad Date: 18th December, 2009 from 4pm to 7pm Venue – Auditorium, CEPT 8. Co- Host: Magic Lantern Foundation Date: 20th December, 2009 from 9am to 1pm Venue - Conference Room 2, India International Centre, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi 9. Co-Host: The Media Lab, Jadavpur University, Kolkata Date: 22nd December, 2009 from 11.30am to 3.30pm Venue – Jadavpur University, Kolkata From jeebesh at sarai.net Tue Dec 8 12:48:57 2009 From: jeebesh at sarai.net (Jeebesh) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 12:48:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Feeding the 5000, a Free Lunch in Trafalgar Square Message-ID: <05135315-502A-4A85-9E4D-9A57D648870B@sarai.net> You are cordially invited to Feeding the 5000, a Free Lunch in Trafalgar Square, London, December 16th – all made from ingredients that otherwise would have been wasted. Invite all your friends! Tristram http://www.feeding5k.org http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208423695114&ref=ss From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 8 13:43:04 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:13:04 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Boris_Sribar_=28Serbia=29?= Message-ID: <20091208091304.BE1F4083.F8005294@192.168.0.2> 8 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"I love you so much I could kill for you", 2009.by Boris Sribar (Serbia) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Tue Dec 8 18:43:04 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 18:43:04 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Klein in Copenhagen Message-ID: <564b2fca0912080513p7da5a654v7d945084662c3e79@mail.gmail.com> The Copenhagen deal may turn into the worst kind of disaster capitalism, Naomi Klein said last night. In her speech to Klimaforum09 , the "people's summit" she told the thousand or so campaigners and activists that this was a chance to carry on building the new convergence, the movement of movements that began "all those years ago in Seattle, fighting against the privatisation of life itself". Here was an opportunity to "continue the conversation that was so rudely interrupted by 9/11". "Down the road at the Bella Centre [where delegates are meeting] there is the worst case of disaster capitalism that we have ever witnessed. We know that what is being proposed in the Bella Centre doesn't even come close to the deal that is needed. We know the paltry emissions cuts that Obama has proposed; they're insulting. We're the ones who created this crisis... on the basic historical principle of polluters pays, we should pay." Around the city, opening events were kicking off a fortnight of negotiations, debate and protest. In the morning Rajendra Pachauri, the chair of the IPCC, and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the prime minister of Denmark, opened the conference with a plea for action. Later, in the centre of town special UN envoy Gro Harlem Brundtland and climate change UN chief Yvo de Boer declared the heavily branded Hopenhagenopen, as a globe bearing a large Siemens logos was illuminated. The popular Danish band Nephew kicked off (to bigger cheers than Brundtland or de Boer). And in the evening Klein joined with Henry Saragih, the general convenor of the Via Campesina movement, and international Friends of the Earth chair Nnimmo Bassey, to declare Klimaforum09 the "real event in Copenhagen". Saragih called for food sovereignty - greater power for small farmers - and said that changes to agricultural practices could reduce carbon emissions by up to 50%. Bassey said that crude oil only appeared cheap because we do not pay the true price, and told the audience; "Leave the oil in the soil, leave the coal in the hole, leave the tarsand in the land". And Klein finished up: We have to be the lie detectors here. Let's not restrict ourselves to polite marches and formulaic panel discussions. If Seattle was the coming out party, this should be the coming of age party. And, as a friend of mine called John Jordan says, I hope that we have grown up to be even more disobedient. Why are thousands of us burning fossil fuels to get here? Because we have to build a global mass movement that will not allow leaders to get away with what they are trying to get away with. Think of it as the mother of all carbon offsets. From phadkeshilpa at gmail.com Tue Dec 8 19:13:54 2009 From: phadkeshilpa at gmail.com (Shilpa Phadke) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 19:13:54 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Save the Date: 17th December 2009: Talk by Cultural Theorist Ien Ang In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Apologies for cross-posting. * The Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, TISS and Chauraha, NCPA invite you to a Talk Beyond the ‘Blame Game’: Reflections on the complexities of the Australia-India relationship in the era of globalisation by Ien Ang Venue: Little Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai Date: Thursday, 17th December 2009 Time: 6.30 pm Abstract: Beyond the ‘Blame Game’: Reflections on the complexities of the Australia-India relationship in the era of globalisation Ien Ang and Nayantara Pothen The recent attacks on Indian students in Australia, and the subsequent media coverage that followed, has done much to damage the Australia-India relationship. Responses in the Indian media to the attacks raised the spectre of racism as the root cause of these attacks; a charge Australian officials were keen to dismiss as they continually emphasised the tolerant and multicultural make-up of Australian society in the 21st century. At the same time members of the established Australian-Indian community negotiated their own complex set of responses to the Indian students, framed around the latter’s perceived class inferiority. As each group sought to construct an ‘Other’ to blame for the troubles any nuanced understanding of the complexities of the situation has been lost. This paper will reflect on these responses, seeking to go beyond the blame game and demonstrating the need to use these critical incidents as an opportunity for complex intercultural dialogue, not just between India and Australia, but among Indians and Australians themselves. In the process what will be highlighted are urgent issues related to race and class, migration and globalisation in the context of the ‘rise of India’ and its implications for Australia. About Ien Ang* http://www.uws.edu.au/centre_for_cultural_research/ccr/people/researchers/professor_ien_ang Distinguished Professor Ien Ang, Professor of Cultural Studies and the founding Director of CCR, is currently an Australian Research Council Australian Professorial Fellow. She is one of the leaders in cultural studies worldwide, with interdisciplinary work spanning many areas of the humanities and social sciences. Her books, including Watching Dallas, Desperately Seeking the Audience and On Not Speaking Chinese, are recognised as classics in the field and her work has been translated into many languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Turkish, German, Korean, and Spanish. Her most recent book, co-authored with Gay Hawkins and Lamia Dabboussy, is The SBS Story: The Challenge of Cultural Diversity (UNSW Press, 2008) Professor Ang’s innovative interdisciplinary work deals broadly with patterns of cultural flow and exchange in our globalised world. Professor Ang has had the title of Distinguished Professor conferred on her by the University of Western Sydney in recognition of her outstanding research record and eminence. She is the first person at UWS to be conferred with this honour. From kmvenuannur at gmail.com Tue Dec 8 22:28:38 2009 From: kmvenuannur at gmail.com (Venugopalan K M) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 22:28:38 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?b?RndkOiAgxb1pxb5laywgUmFuY2nDqHJlLCBGb3Vj?= =?utf-8?b?YXVsdCwgQm91cmRpZXXigKY=?= In-Reply-To: <1f9180970912080857y3cf6e241gf74859333657153e@mail.gmail.com> References: <1f9180970912040755t28a814cdpaaeb601580b0dee1@mail.gmail.com> <44B984A8-67FA-40B8-9486-4F5A54560682@sarai.net> <1f9180970912080857y3cf6e241gf74859333657153e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1f9180970912080858q6b6cb6e8j186f06580d274e13@mail.gmail.com> Thanks, Suddha. Regards, (Venu) 2009/12/6 Shuddhabrata Sengupta : > Dear Venu, > No passes or formalities, just arrive early to ensure that you get seats. > best > Shuddha > > On 04-Dec-09, at 9:25 PM, Venugopalan K M wrote: > > Dear Anand, > Thanks for posting this immensely valuable information. > Can you/anyone else  please figure out the formalities if any, for > entry/pass for these events? > (Venu) > 2009/12/3 Navayana Publishing : > > Navayana presents > Slavoj Žižek > Navayana is delighted to present “the Elvis of cultural theory”, the > academic “rock star”—Slavoj Žižek. The author of over 40 books, many of them > top sellers, the Slovenian Marxist philosopher and cultural critic will tour > India from 2 to 9 Jan 2010 on the occasion of the launch of his latest work, > First as Tragedy, Then as Farce—a bravura analysis of the current global > crisis. His books deal with topics ranging from philosophy and Freudian and > Lacanian psychoanalysis, to theology, film, opera and radical politics. He > was a candidate for, and nearly won, the Presidency of Slovenia in the first > democratic elections after the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1990. According to > a profile in the New Yorker, Slovenia has a “reputation disproportionately > large for its size due to the work of Slavoj Žižek.” > In the first Navayana annual lecture series, Žižek shall deliver two talks > in Delhi (4 and 5 Jan), and one each in Hyderabad (7 Jan) and Kochi (9 Jan). > Besides, there shall be screenings of films on and by him, and discussions > of his work as pre-event shows. In Kerala, the Malayalam translation of > Žižek’s classic, The Sublime Object of Ideology, will be launched during his > visit. > First as Tragedy, Then as Farce > Paperback   B Format   156 pages   Rs 200 > “The title of this book is intended as an elementary IQ test for the reader: > if the first association it generates is the vulgar anti-communist cliché > —“You are right—today, after the tragedy of twentieth-century > totalitarianism, all the talk about a return to communism can only be > farcical!”—then I sincerely advise you to stop here. Indeed, the book should > be forcibly confiscated from you, since it deals with an entirely different > tragedy and farce, namely, the two events which mark the beginning and the > end of the first decade of the twenty-first century: the attacks of > September 11, 2001 and the financial meltdown of 2008. We should note the > similarity of President Bush’s language in his addresses to the American > people after 9/11 and after the financial collapse: they sounded very much > like two versions of the same speech. Both times Bush evoked the threat to > the American way of life and the need to take fast and decisive action to > cope with the danger. Both times he called for the partial suspension of > American values (guarantees of individual freedom, market capitalism) in > order to save these very same values. From whence comes this similarity?” > Slavoj Žižek declares: “You’ve had your anti-communist fun, and you are > pardoned for it—time to get serious once again!” > > > The Žižek India Tour Schedule > > 24 Dec 2009. 3 p.m. Screenings > The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, in 3 parts. 150 mins > Followed by “Žižek!”, 71 mins. > Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi > > > 2 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Screening > Žižek! A feature documentary directed by Astra Taylor, 71 mins. > Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi > 4 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture > “Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood” > Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi > 5 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Lecture > “Tragedy and Farce” > Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi > > > 7 Jan 2010. 11 a.m. Lecture > “Capitalism and Particular Life-Worlds: In Defense of Universalism” > ICSSR Auditorium, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad > > > 9 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture and Panel Discussion > “Whither Left?” > Town Hall, Kochi. > > > > > The Žižek Media Kit > Watch Žižek on BBC News Hardtalk, 24 Nov 2009: > http://versouk.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/bbc-news-hardtalk-slavoj-zizek-communism-a-total-failure/ > Profile in New Yorker: http://www.lacan.com/ziny.htm > Terry Eagleton on Žižek in Times Literary Supplement: > http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article3800980.ece > A key to the key ideas of Žižek: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro1.htm > A comprehensive Bibliography of Žižek: > http://www.lacan.com/bibliographyzi.htm > Brief summaries of his key books: http://www.lacan.com/zizekchro2.htm >  Žižek! The Movie (to be screened at India Habitat Centre on 2 Jan 2009): > http://www.zizekthemovie.com/ > The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema (to be screened at Sarai, CSDS, 24 Dec 2009): > http://www.thepervertsguide.com/press.html > To download pictures of Žižek, click here: > http://zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=zizek&mode=downloads > > Along with Žižek’s title (First as Tragedy, Then as Farce), under the Other > Headings series Navayana launches affordable South Asian editions of Jacques > Rancière’s The Future of the Image (Rs 200), Michel Foucault’s Abnormal: > Lectures at the Collège de France, 1974–75 (Rs 490), and Pierre Bourdieu’s > Political Interventions: Social Science and Political Action (Rs 490). > For details and further information on the Žižek tour contact S. Anand at > anand at navayana.org > -- > www.navayana.org > Navayana > 155, Second Floor > Shahpur Jat > New Delhi 110049 > Landline: +91-11-26494795 > Mobile: +91-9971433117 > _________________________________________ > 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/> > > > -- > > > You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot > build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you > will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a > whole. > -AMBEDKAR > > > http://venukm.blogspot.com > http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur > http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.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/> > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta > The Sarai Programme at CSDS > Raqs Media Collective > shuddha at sarai.net > www.sarai.net > www.raqsmediacollective.net > > -- You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a whole. -AMBEDKAR http://venukm.blogspot.com http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.com -- You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a whole. -AMBEDKAR http://venukm.blogspot.com http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.com From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Tue Dec 8 23:29:24 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 23:29:24 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Human Rights Parade on 10th Dec, Dadar East, Mumbai In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: From: Priyanka Borpujari Date: Tue, Dec 8, 2009 Subject: Press Invite: Human Rights Parade on 10th Dec, Dadar East, Mumbai All human beings are born equal and free All human beings can be what they want to be On International Human Right's Day Let's uphold our own dignity, our own freedom You have the right to dissent! You have the right to speak out! You have the right to fight it out! Come, join us in our celebration of our freedom and our fight to safeguard the rights of our brethren Songs! Dance! Lejhim! Tableau! Be a part of this mobile gathering *When:* December 10 at 5pm *Where:* Outside Dadar station (E) *What:* Walk from Dadar station (E) - Sharda Talkies - Asiad Bus Depot - bylanes of Bhoiwada - ground next to Bhoiwada police station Bring along your friends and family Come and celebrate the essence of humanity *Contact:* Priyanka - 9820741992 Vivek - 9821062801 Sanober - 9969067166 Ruchi - 9967546415 ----- From: Jyoti Punwani Date: Tue, Dec 8, 2009 In Chhattisgarh, para military forces embark on a war against their own citizens, backed by a Centre that is bent on driving the original inhabitants of the mineral-rich forests out of their homes, to pave the way for mining companies. In Mumbai, a peaceful demonstration against the inequal distribution of water leads to the death of one demonstrator in a police lathi-charge; petty thieves are paraded on the street with placards round their necks. On December 10, declared by the UN as International Human Rights Day, when people across the world will commemorate every individual's right to life and liberty, across India too, people will affirm their rights. Mumbai will witness a grand Human rights Parade, a first of its kind, with song, dance and floats across the streets of the city's original working class area, Dadar. Participating in the parade will be intellectuals and workers, students and artists, academics and executives. The Parade will begin from Dadar Station (E) at 5 PM, and end at the ground near Bhoiwada Police Station at around 6PM. Organised by the Committee for the Release of Binayak Sen along with a host of other groups, the parade is a small endeavour to remind people that this city belongs first to those who contribute the most to it but get the elast out of its grand ``development'' schemes. Please send your reporter and photographer to cover this unique parade. For more information and directions contact: Priyanka: 9820741992, Sanober 99690 67166 From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Tue Dec 8 23:40:59 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 23:40:59 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Panel Discussion on Disabilities, Dec 15, Bombay Message-ID: Details at: http://psychologynews.posterous.com/panel-discussion-on-disabilities-dec-15-bomba December Hub Happenings *Event*: Differently-abled panel discussion *Date*: Tuesday 15th December* Time*: 5:30 - 7:30 PM *This round table will host some of the leading lights in innovative models tackling disablity related issues. Topics of the discussion will cover innovative / emerging models tackling disability realted issues, similarities and differences from traditional models and the challenges for the innovative models in this field. Panelists include Sachin Malhan co-founder and CEO of Inclusive Planet (www.inclusiveplanet.com), Dhruv Lakra - founding director of Mirakle Couriers (www.miraklecouriers.com), and Partho Bhowmick - founding director of Blind with Camera ( www.blindwithcamera.org).* -- *Event*: Hub Taster & TED screenings *Date*: Friday 18th December* Time*: All day * Come experience The Hub! Use our Taster Day to work free of charge from Mumbai's most unique space for collaboration. We will provide work spaces, wireless internet, stimulating conversations, interesting people to speak with and of course lots of chai! As part of our Christmas Special Offer anyone who signs up at the Taster will be given a free Hub 5 membership for three months! Drop by anytime between 9 AM - 8 PM. Plus, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM we're screening **TED talks* * and hosting a series of inspiring speakers.* From 2tahamehmood at googlemail.com Wed Dec 9 00:23:34 2009 From: 2tahamehmood at googlemail.com (Taha Mehmood) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 18:53:34 +0000 Subject: [Reader-list] On Facebook and Faux Friendship Message-ID: <65be9bf40912081053r64c0f0dav207297278a887695@mail.gmail.com> http://chronicle.com/article/Faux-Friendship/49308/ December 6, 2009 Faux Friendship By William Deresiewicz "…[a] numberless multitude of people, of whom no one was close, no one was distant. …" —War and Peace "Families are gone, and friends are going the same way." —In Treatment We live at a time when friendship has become both all and nothing at all. Already the characteristically modern relationship, it has in recent decades become the universal one: the form of connection in terms of which all others are understood, against which they are all measured, into which they have all dissolved. Romantic partners refer to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. Spouses boast that they are each other's best friends. Parents urge their young children and beg their teenage ones to think of them as friends. Adult siblings, released from competition for parental resources that in traditional society made them anything but friends (think of Jacob and Esau), now treat one another in exactly those terms. Teachers, clergymen, and even bosses seek to mitigate and legitimate their authority by asking those they oversee to regard them as friends. We're all on a first-name basis, and when we vote for president, we ask ourselves whom we'd rather have a beer with. As the anthropologist Robert Brain has put it, we're friends with everyone now. Yet what, in our brave new mediated world, is friendship becoming? The Facebook phenomenon, so sudden and forceful a distortion of social space, needs little elaboration. Having been relegated to our screens, are our friendships now anything more than a form of distraction? When they've shrunk to the size of a wall post, do they retain any content? If we have 768 "friends," in what sense do we have any? Facebook isn't the whole of contemporary friendship, but it sure looks a lot like its future. Yet Facebook—and MySpace, and Twitter, and whatever we're stampeding for next—are just the latest stages of a long attenuation. They've accelerated the fragmentation of consciousness, but they didn't initiate it. They have reified the idea of universal friendship, but they didn't invent it. In retrospect, it seems inevitable that once we decided to become friends with everyone, we would forget how to be friends with anyone. We may pride ourselves today on our aptitude for friendship—friends, after all, are the only people we have left—but it's not clear that we still even know what it means. How did we come to this pass? The idea of friendship in ancient times could not have been more different. Achilles and Patroclus, David and Jonathan, Virgil's Nisus and Euryalus: Far from being ordinary and universal, friendship, for the ancients, was rare, precious, and hard-won. In a world ordered by relations of kin and kingdom, its elective affinities were exceptional, even subversive, cutting across established lines of allegiance. David loved Jonathan despite the enmity of Saul; Achilles' bond with Patroclus outweighed his loyalty to the Greek cause. Friendship was a high calling, demanding extraordinary qualities of character—rooted in virtue, for Aristotle and Cicero, and dedicated to the pursuit of goodness and truth. And because it was seen as superior to marriage and at least equal in value to sexual love, its expression often reached an erotic intensity. Jonathan's love, David sang, "was more wondrous to me than the love of women." Achilles and Patroclus were not lovers—the men shared a tent, but they shared their beds with concubines—they were something greater. Achilles refused to live without his friend, just as Nisus died to avenge Euryalus, and Damon offered himself in place of Pythias. The rise of Christianity put the classical ideal in eclipse. Christian thought discouraged intense personal bonds, for the heart should be turned to God. Within monastic communities, particular attachments were seen as threats to group cohesion. In medieval society, friendship entailed specific expectations and obligations, often formalized in oaths. Lords and vassals employed the language of friendship. "Standing surety"—guaranteeing a loan, as in The Merchant of Venice—was a chief institution of early modern friendship. Godparenthood functioned in Roman Catholic society (and, in many places, still functions) as a form of alliance between families, a relationship not between godparent and godchild, but godparent and parent. In medieval England, godparents were "godsibs"; in Latin America, they are "compadres," co-fathers, a word we have taken as synonymous with friendship itself. Enlarge Photo The New Friendship 2 The classical notion of friendship was revived, along with other ancient modes of feeling, by the Renaissance. Truth and virtue, again, above all: "Those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship," wrote Montaigne, "for to undertake to wound and offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him." His bond with Étienne, he avowed, stood higher not only than marriage and erotic attachment, but also than filial, fraternal, and homosexual love. "So many coincidences are needed to build up such a friendship, that it is a lot if fortune can do it once in three centuries." The highly structured and, as it were, economic nature of medieval friendship explains why true friendship was held to be so rare in classical and neoclassical thought: precisely because relations in traditional societies were dominated by interest. Thus the "true friend" stood against the self-interested "flatterer" or "false friend," as Shakespeare sets Horatio—"more an antique Roman than a Dane"—against Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Sancho Panza begins as Don Quixote's dependent and ends as his friend; by the close of their journey, he has come to understand that friendship itself has become the reward he was always seeking. Classical friendship, now called romantic friendship, persisted through the 18th and 19th centuries, giving us the great friendships of Goethe and Schiller, Byron and Shelley, Emerson and Thoreau. Words­worth addressed his magnum opus to his "dear Friend" Coleridge. Tennyson lamented Hallam—"My friend … My Arthur … Dear as the mother to the son"—in the poem that became his masterpiece. Speaking of his first encounter with Hawthorne, Melville was unashamed to write that "a man of deep and noble nature has seized me." But meanwhile, the growth of commercial society was shifting the very grounds of personal life toward the conditions essential for the emergence of modern friendship. Capitalism, said Hume and Smith, by making economic relations impersonal, allowed for private relationships based on nothing other than affection and affinity. We don't know the people who make the things we buy and don't need to know the people who sell them. The ones we do know—neighbors, fellow parishioners, people we knew in high school or college, parents of our children's friends—have no bearing on our economic life. One teaches at a school in the suburbs, another works for a business across town, a third lives on the opposite side of the country. We are nothing to one another but what we choose to become, and we can unbecome it whenever we want. Add to this the growth of democracy, an ideology of universal equality and inter-involvement. We are citizens now, not subjects, bound together directly rather than through allegiance to a monarch. But what is to bind us emotionally, make us something more than an aggregate of political monads? One answer was nationalism, but another grew out of the 18th-century notion of social sympathy: friendship, or at least, friendliness, as the affective substructure of modern society. It is no accident that "fraternity" made a third with liberty and equality as the watchwords of the French Revolution. Wordsworth in Britain and Whitman in America made visions of universal friendship central to their democratic vistas. For Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of feminism, friendship was to be the key term of a renegotiated sexual contract, a new domestic democracy. Now we can see why friendship has become the characteristically modern relationship. Modernity believes in equality, and friendships, unlike traditional relationships, are egalitarian. Modernity believes in individualism. Friendships serve no public purpose and exist independent of all other bonds. Modernity believes in choice. Friendships, unlike blood ties, are elective; indeed, the rise of friendship coincided with the shift away from arranged marriage. Modernity believes in self-expression. Friends, because we choose them, give us back an image of ourselves. Modernity believes in freedom. Even modern marriage entails contractual obligations, but friendship involves no fixed commitments. The modern temper runs toward unrestricted fluidity and flexibility, the endless play of possibility, and so is perfectly suited to the informal, improvisational nature of friendship. We can be friends with whomever we want, however we want, for as long as we want. Social changes play into the question as well. As industrialization uprooted people from extended families and traditional communities and packed them into urban centers, friendship emerged to salve the anonymity and rootlessness of modern life. The process is virtually instinctive now: You graduate from college, move to New York or L.A., and assemble the gang that takes you through your 20s. Only it's not just your 20s anymore. The transformations of family life over the last few decades have made friendship more important still. Between the rise of divorce and the growth of single parenthood, adults in contemporary households often no longer have spouses, let alone a traditional extended family, to turn to for support. Children, let loose by the weakening of parental authority and supervision, spin out of orbit at ever-earlier ages. Both look to friends to replace the older structures. Friends may be "the family we choose," as the modern proverb has it, but for many of us there is no choice but to make our friends our family, since our other families—the ones we come from or the ones we try to start—have fallen apart. When all the marriages are over, friends are the people we come back to. And even those who grow up in a stable family and end up creating another one pass more and more time between the two. We have yet to find a satisfactory name for that period of life, now typically a decade but often a great deal longer, between the end of adolescence and the making of definitive life choices. But the one thing we know is that friendship is absolutely central to it. Inevitably, the classical ideal has faded. The image of the one true friend, a soul mate rare to find but dearly beloved, has completely disappeared from our culture. We have our better or lesser friends, even our best friends, but no one in a very long time has talked about friendship the way Montaigne and Tennyson did. That glib neologism "bff," which plays at a lifelong avowal, bespeaks an ironic awareness of the mobility of our connections: Best friends forever may not be on speaking terms by this time next month. We save our fiercest energies for sex. Indeed, between the rise of Freudianism and the contemporaneous emergence of homosexuality to social visibility, we've taught ourselves to shun expressions of intense affection between friends—male friends in particular, though even Oprah was forced to defend her relationship with her closest friend—and have rewritten historical friendships, like Achilles' with Patroclus, as sexual. For all the talk of "bromance" lately (or "man dates"), the term is yet another device to manage the sexual anxiety kicked up by straight-male friendships—whether in the friends themselves or in the people around them—and the typical bromance plot instructs the callow bonds of youth to give way to mature heterosexual relationships. At best, intense friendships are something we're expected to grow out of. As for the moral content of classical friendship, its commitment to virtue and mutual improvement, that, too, has been lost. We have ceased to believe that a friend's highest purpose is to summon us to the good by offering moral advice and correction. We practice, instead, the nonjudgmental friendship of unconditional acceptance and support—"therapeutic" friendship, in Robert N. Bellah's scornful term. We seem to be terribly fragile now. A friend fulfills her duty, we suppose, by taking our side—validating our feelings, supporting our decisions, helping us to feel good about ourselves. We tell white lies, make excuses when a friend does something wrong, do what we can to keep the boat steady. We're busy people; we want our friendships fun and friction-free. Yet even as friendship became universal and the classical ideal lost its force, a new kind of idealism arose, a new repository for some of friendship's deepest needs: the group friendship or friendship circle. Companies of superior spirits go back at least as far as Pythagoras and Plato and achieved new importance in the salons and coffeehouses of the 17th and 18th centuries, but the Romantic age gave them a fresh impetus and emphasis. The idea of friendship became central to their self-conception, whether in Words­worth's circle or the "small band of true friends" who witness Emma's marriage in Austen. And the notion of superiority acquired a utopian cast, so that the circle was seen—not least because of its very emphasis on friendship—as the harbinger of a more advanced age. The same was true, a century later, of the Bloomsbury Group, two of whose members, Woolf and Forster, produced novel upon novel about friendship. It was the latter who famously enunciated the group's political creed. "If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend," he wrote, "I hope I should have the guts to betray my country." Modernism was the great age of the coterie, and like the legendary friendships of antiquity, modernist friendship circles—bohemian, artistic, transgressive—set their face against existing structures and norms. Friendship becomes, on this account, a kind of alternative society, a refuge from the values of the larger, fallen world. The belief that the most significant part of an individual's emotional life properly takes place not within the family but within a group of friends began to expand beyond the artistic coterie and become general during the last half of the 20th century. The Romantic-Bloomsburyan prophecy of society as a set of friendship circles was, to a great extent, realized. Mary McCarthy offered an early and tart view of the desirability of such a situation in The Group; Barry Levinson, a later, kinder one in Diner. Both works remind us that the ubiquity of group friendship owes a great deal to the rise of youth culture. Indeed, modernity associates friendship itself with youth, a time of life it likewise regards as standing apart from false adult values. "The dear peculiar bond of youth," Byron called friendship, inverting the classical belief that its true practice demands maturity and wisdom. With modernity's elevation of youth to supreme status as the most vital and authentic period of life, friendship became the object of intense emotion in two contradictory but often simultaneous directions. We have sought to prolong youth indefinitely by holding fast to our youthful friendships, and we have mourned the loss of youth through an unremitting nostalgia for those friendships. One of the most striking things about the way the 20th century understood friendship was the tendency to view it through the filter of memory, as if it could be recognized only after its loss, and as if that loss were inevitable. The culture of group friendship reached its apogee in the 1960s. Two of the counterculture's most salient and ideologically charged social forms were the commune—a community of friends in self-imagined retreat from a heartlessly corporatized society—and the rock'n'roll "band" (not "group" or "combo"), its name evoking Shakespeare's "band of brothers" and Robin Hood's band of Merry Men, its great exemplar the Beatles. Communes, bands, and other 60s friendship groups (including Woodstock, the apotheosis of both the commune and the rock concert) were celebrated as joyous, creative places of eternal youth—havens from the adult world. To go through life within one was the era's utopian dream; it is no wonder the Beatles' break-up was received as a generational tragedy. It is also no wonder that 60s group friendship began to generate its own nostalgia as the baby boom began to hit its 30s. The Big Chill, in 1983, depicted boomers attempting to recapture the magic of a late-60s friendship circle. ("In a cold world," the movie's tagline reads, "you need your friends to keep you warm.") Thirtysomething, taking a step further, certified group friendship as the new adult norm. Most of the characters in those productions, though, were married. It was only in the 1990s that a new generation, remaining single well past 30, found its own images of group friendship in Seinfeld, Sex and the City, and, of course, Friends. By that point, however, the notion of friendship as a redoubt of moral resistance, a shelter from normative pressures and incubator of social ideals, had disappeared. Your friends didn't shield you from the mainstream, they were the mainstream. And so we return to Facebook. With the social-networking sites of the new century—Friendster and MySpace were launched in 2003, Facebook in 2004—the friendship circle has expanded to engulf the whole of the social world, and in so doing, destroyed both its own nature and that of the individual friendship itself. Facebook's very premise—and promise—is that it makes our friendship circles visible. There they are, my friends, all in the same place. Except, of course, they're not in the same place, or, rather, they're not my friends. They're simulacra of my friends, little dehydrated packets of images and information, no more my friends than a set of baseball cards is the New York Mets. I remember realizing a few years ago that most of the members of what I thought of as my "circle" didn't actually know one another. One I'd met in graduate school, another at a job, one in Boston, another in Brooklyn, one lived in Minneapolis now, another in Israel, so that I was ultimately able to enumerate some 14 people, none of whom had ever met any of the others. To imagine that they added up to a circle, an embracing and encircling structure, was a belief, I realized, that violated the laws of feeling as well as geometry. They were a set of points, and I was wandering somewhere among them. Facebook seduces us, however, into exactly that illusion, inviting us to believe that by assembling a list, we have conjured a group. Visual juxtaposition creates the mirage of emotional proximity. "It's like they're all having a conversation," a woman I know once said about her Facebook page, full of posts and comments from friends and friends of friends. "Except they're not." Friendship is devolving, in other words, from a relationship to a feeling—from something people share to something each of us hugs privately to ourselves in the loneliness of our electronic caves, rearranging the tokens of connection like a lonely child playing with dolls. The same path was long ago trodden by community. As the traditional face-to-face community disappeared, we held on to what we had lost—the closeness, the rootedness—by clinging to the word, no matter how much we had to water down its meaning. Now we speak of the Jewish "community" and the medical "community" and the "community" of readers, even though none of them actually is one. What we have, instead of community, is, if we're lucky, a "sense" of community—the feeling without the structure; a private emotion, not a collective experience. And now friendship, which arose to its present importance as a replacement for community, is going the same way. We have "friends," just as we belong to "communities." Scanning my Facebook page gives me, precisely, a "sense" of connection. Not an actual connection, just a sense. What purpose do all those wall posts and status updates serve? On the first beautiful weekend of spring this year, a friend posted this update from Central Park: "[So-and-so] is in the Park with the rest of the City." The first question that comes to mind is, if you're enjoying a beautiful day in the park, why don't you give your iPhone a rest? But the more important one is, why did you need to tell us that? We have always shared our little private observations and moments of feeling—it's part of what friendship's about, part of the way we remain present in one another's lives—but things are different now. Until a few years ago, you could share your thoughts with only one friend at a time (on the phone, say), or maybe with a small group, later, in person. And when you did, you were talking to specific people, and you tailored what you said, and how you said it, to who they were—their interests, their personalities, most of all, your degree of mutual intimacy. "Reach out and touch someone" meant someone in particular, someone you were actually thinking about. It meant having a conversation. Now we're just broadcasting our stream of consciousness, live from Central Park, to all 500 of our friends at once, hoping that someone, anyone, will confirm our existence by answering back. We haven't just stopped talking to our friends as individuals, at such moments, we have stopped thinking of them as individuals. We have turned them into an indiscriminate mass, a kind of audience or faceless public. We address ourselves not to a circle, but to a cloud. It's amazing how fast things have changed. Not only don't we have Wordsworth and Coleridge anymore, we don't even have Jerry and George. Today, Ross and Chandler would be writing on each other's walls. Carrie and the girls would be posting status updates, and if they did manage to find the time for lunch, they'd be too busy checking their BlackBerrys to have a real conversation. Sex and Friends went off the air just five years ago, and already we live in a different world. Friendship (like activism) has been smoothly integrated into our new electronic lifestyles. We're too busy to spare our friends more time than it takes to send a text. We're too busy, sending texts. And what happens when we do find the time to get together? I asked a woman I know whether her teenage daughters and their friends still have the kind of intense friendships that kids once did. Yes, she said, but they go about them differently. They still stay up talking in their rooms, but they're also online with three other friends, and texting with another three. Video chatting is more intimate, in theory, than speaking on the phone, but not if you're doing it with four people at once. And teenagers are just an early version of the rest of us. A study found that one American in four reported having no close confidants, up from one in 10 in 1985. The figures date from 2004, and there's little doubt that Facebook and texting and all the rest of it have already exacerbated the situation. The more people we know, the lonelier we get. The new group friendship, already vitiated itself, is cannibalizing our individual friendships as the boundaries between the two blur. The most disturbing thing about Facebook is the extent to which people are willing—are eager—to conduct their private lives in public. "hola cutie-pie! i'm in town on wednesday. lunch?" "Julie, I'm so glad we're back in touch. xoxox." "Sorry for not calling, am going through a tough time right now." Have these people forgotten how to use e-mail, or do they actually prefer to stage the emotional equivalent of a public grope? I can understand "[So-and-so] is in the Park with the rest of the City," but I am incapable of comprehending this kind of exhibitionism. Perhaps I need to surrender the idea that the value of friendship lies precisely in the space of privacy it creates: not the secrets that two people exchange so much as the unique and inviolate world they build up between them, the spider web of shared discovery they spin out, slowly and carefully, together. There's something faintly obscene about performing that intimacy in front of everyone you know, as if its real purpose were to show what a deep person you are. Are we really so hungry for validation? So desperate to prove we have friends? But surely Facebook has its benefits. Long-lost friends can reconnect, far-flung ones can stay in touch. I wonder, though. Having recently moved across the country, I thought that Facebook would help me feel connected to the friends I'd left behind. But now I find the opposite is true. Reading about the mundane details of their lives, a steady stream of trivia and ephemera, leaves me feeling both empty and unpleasantly full, as if I had just binged on junk food, and precisely because it reminds me of the real sustenance, the real knowledge, we exchange by e-mail or phone or face-to-face. And the whole theatrical quality of the business, the sense that my friends are doing their best to impersonate themselves, only makes it worse. The person I read about, I cannot help feeling, is not quite the person I know. As for getting back in touch with old friends—yes, when they're people you really love, it's a miracle. But most of the time, they're not. They're someone you knew for a summer in camp, or a midlevel friend from high school. They don't matter to you as individuals anymore, certainly not the individuals they are now, they matter because they made up the texture of your experience at a certain moment in your life, in conjunction with all the other people you knew. Tear them out of that texture—read about their brats, look at pictures of their vacation—and they mean nothing. Tear out enough of them and you ruin the texture itself, replace a matrix of feeling and memory, the deep subsoil of experience, with a spurious sense of familiarity. Your 18-year-old self knows them. Your 40-year-old self should not know them. Facebook holds out a utopian possibility: What once was lost will now be found. But the heaven of the past is a promised land destroyed in the reaching. Facebook, here, becomes the anti-madeleine, an eraser of memory. Carlton Fisk has remarked that he's watched the videotape of his famous World Series home run only a few times, lest it overwrite his own recollection of the event. Proust knew that memory is a skittish creature that peeks from its hole only when it isn't being sought. Mementos, snapshots, reunions, and now this—all of them modes of amnesia, foes of true remembering. The past should stay in the heart, where it belongs. Finally, the new social-networking Web sites have falsified our understanding of intimacy itself, and with it, our understanding of ourselves. The absurd idea, bruited about in the media, that a MySpace profile or "25 Random Things About Me" can tell us more about someone than even a good friend might be aware of is based on desiccated notions about what knowing another person means: First, that intimacy is confessional—an idea both peculiarly American and peculiarly young, perhaps because both types of people tend to travel among strangers, and so believe in the instant disgorging of the self as the quickest route to familiarity. Second, that identity is reducible to information: the name of your cat, your favorite Beatle, the stupid thing you did in seventh grade. Third, that it is reducible, in particular, to the kind of information that social-networking Web sites are most interested in eliciting, consumer preferences. Forget that we're all conducting market research on ourselves. Far worse is that Facebook amplifies our longstanding tendency to see ourselves ("I'm a Skin Bracer man!") in just those terms. We wear T-shirts that proclaim our brand loyalty, pique ourselves on owning a Mac, and now put up lists of our favorite songs. "15 movies in 15 minutes. Rule: Don't take too long to think about it." So information replaces experience, as it has throughout our culture. But when I think about my friends, what makes them who they are, and why I love them, it is not the names of their siblings that come to mind, or their fear of spiders. It is their qualities of character. This one's emotional generosity, that one's moral seriousness, the dark humor of a third. Yet even those are just descriptions, and no more specify the individuals uniquely than to say that one has red hair, another is tall. To understand what they really look like, you would have to see a picture. And to understand who they really are, you would have to hear about the things they've done. Character, revealed through action: the two eternal elements of narrative. In order to know people, you have to listen to their stories. But that is precisely what the Facebook page does not leave room for, or 500 friends, time for. Literally does not leave room for. E-mail, with its rapid-fire etiquette and scrolling format, already trimmed the letter down to a certain acceptable maximum, perhaps a thousand words. Now, with Facebook, the box is shrinking even more, leaving perhaps a third of that length as the conventional limit for a message, far less for a comment. (And we all know the deal on Twitter.) The 10-page missive has gone the way of the buggy whip, soon to be followed, it seems, by the three-hour conversation. Each evolved as a space for telling stories, an act that cannot usefully be accomplished in much less. Posting information is like pornography, a slick, impersonal exhibition. Exchanging stories is like making love: probing, questing, questioning, caressing. It is mutual. It is intimate. It takes patience, devotion, sensitivity, subtlety, skill—and it teaches them all, too. They call them social-networking sites for a reason. Networking once meant something specific: climbing the jungle gym of professional contacts in order to advance your career. The truth is that Hume and Smith were not completely right. Commercial society did not eliminate the self-interested aspects of making friends and influencing people, it just changed the way we went about it. Now, in the age of the entrepreneurial self, even our closest relationships are being pressed onto this template. A recent book on the sociology of modern science describes a networking event at a West Coast university: "There do not seem to be any singletons—disconsolately lurking at the margins—nor do dyads appear, except fleetingly." No solitude, no friendship, no space for refusal—the exact contemporary paradigm. At the same time, the author assures us, "face time" is valued in this "community" as a "high-bandwidth interaction," offering "unusual capacity for interruption, repair, feedback and learning." Actual human contact, rendered "unusual" and weighed by the values of a systems engineer. We have given our hearts to machines, and now we are turning into machines. The face of friendship in the new century. William Deresiewicz writes essays and reviews for a variety of publications. His essay, "The End of Solitude," ran in the Review in January. From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 9 00:54:34 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 00:54:34 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] PeaceWorks Theatre Workshop by Seagull, Kolkata Message-ID: >From *Bishan Samaddar* ** *The PeaceWorks Theatre Workshop with Anubha Fatehpuria: A Workshop for Motivated Teens* ** Theatre is arguably the most vibrant form of community art. At Seagull, we believe in engaging young people in theatre, so that it can become a mode of self-expression and empowerment for them. Through its long-running programme PeaceWorks, we have worked again and again with youth, using theatre as a means of exploring, understanding, and talking about burning social issues—be it communalism or human rights—and as a means of learning to ‘live with difference’, and thereby positively addressing value systems in our civil society. It is essential for young people to have a lived experience of ‘difference’ in their daily lives, and that is why we believe in working with young people from diverse backgrounds, bringing them together, making them interact with each other, and producing something together, experiencing first hand what it is to live amicably with difference. Noted theatre actor and director Anubha Fatepuria will workshop with young people in the age group 13 to 18 for 10 days to produce a play on the theme of human rights and learning to live with difference. The exact dates and timings for the workshop will be decided once we have substantial enrollment, and it will be communicated to the participants. So, contact us right away if you are interested in being part of this motivating new project! Call Bishan Samaddar at 9831490725 or 2455 6942 or email at theproseandthepassion at gmail.com Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/event.php?eid=196251082702 From indersalim at gmail.com Wed Dec 9 08:30:43 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 08:30:43 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Feeding the 5000, a Free Lunch in Trafalgar Square In-Reply-To: <05135315-502A-4A85-9E4D-9A57D648870B@sarai.net> References: <05135315-502A-4A85-9E4D-9A57D648870B@sarai.net> Message-ID: <47e122a70912081900i7d7366acpfc9ad7e97d99bf2b@mail.gmail.com> feed from a friend in London : This has been going on for awhile, it was triggered by a television reporter....and they take food [not meat] that has been throw away by the supermarkets because they have passed their sell by date and cock it and feed people. He has now turned his attention to throw away furniture from people's home. Greta On Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 12:48 PM, Jeebesh wrote: > You are cordially invited to Feeding the 5000, a Free Lunch in > Trafalgar Square, London, December 16th – all made from ingredients > that otherwise would have been wasted. Invite all your friends! > > Tristram > > http://www.feeding5k.org > > > > > http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208423695114&ref=ss > > _________________________________________ > 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 nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Wed Dec 9 13:15:02 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:45:02 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Pekka_Ruuska_=28FI=29?= Message-ID: <20091209084502.9FA0EB14.18036B69@192.168.0.2> 9 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Rebirth", 2009.by Pekka Ruuska (Finland) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From monica at sarai.net Wed Dec 9 14:07:45 2009 From: monica at sarai.net (Monica Narula) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 14:07:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Feeding the 5000, a Free Lunch in Trafalgar Square In-Reply-To: <47e122a70912081900i7d7366acpfc9ad7e97d99bf2b@mail.gmail.com> References: <05135315-502A-4A85-9E4D-9A57D648870B@sarai.net> <47e122a70912081900i7d7366acpfc9ad7e97d99bf2b@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <25C65EAE-8334-4056-B71B-2D26865B8C46@sarai.net> Hi Inder Actually this is a project by Tristram Stuart, the writer of "Waste". And i don;t think he has turned his attention to furniture :) M Monica Narula Raqs Media Collective Sarai-CSDS www.raqsmediacollective.net www.sarai.net On 09-Dec-09, at 8:30 AM, Inder Salim wrote: > feed from a friend in London : > > This has been going on for awhile, it was triggered by a television > reporter....and they take food [not meat] that has been throw away by > the supermarkets because they have passed their sell by date and cock > it and feed people. He has now turned his attention to throw away > furniture from people's home. > > Greta > > On Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 12:48 PM, Jeebesh wrote: >> You are cordially invited to Feeding the 5000, a Free Lunch in >> Trafalgar Square, London, December 16th – all made from ingredients >> that otherwise would have been wasted. Invite all your friends! >> >> Tristram >> >> http://www.feeding5k.org >> >> >> >> >> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208423695114&ref=ss >> >> _________________________________________ >> 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 > _________________________________________ > 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 prabhatkumar250 at gmail.com Wed Dec 9 16:14:22 2009 From: prabhatkumar250 at gmail.com (prabhat kumar) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:44:22 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] Conference on History of Work/Labour in Brazil Message-ID: <418f44e20912090244j7b09204cg8b1c359f65ee7608@mail.gmail.com> Call for papers: *Place*: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC (Florianópolis, SC, Brazil) *Date*: 25th to 28th October 2010. *Promoting Institutions*: · GT Nacional Mundos do Trabalho - Working Group "Worlds of Labour" (ANPUH - Brazilian National History Association) · History Graduate Program - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; · History Graduate Program - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; · History Graduate Program - História da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro; · Projeto PROCAD – CAPES “Cruzando fronteiras”. The members of the GT Nacional Mundos do Trabalho - Working Group "Worlds of Labour" (ANPUH - Brazilian National History Association) invite scholars and researchers to submit paper proposals for their first *International Seminar *, to be held in Florianópolis, 2010, on the theme: *“Labour Histories from the Global South”*. The purpose of this conference is to bring together researchers who are interested in a variety of issues involving the historical studies of labour in a global perspective. The genesis of such a meeting in Florianópolis arose from the interactions with Indian and South African researchers, in international symposiums with similar objectives, which had taken place in these countries during the last few years. Our explicit intention here is to deepen such initial exchanges, widening them further with the collaboration and networking with other researchers from Latin America. Keeping in mind that a limited and constraining nationalist framework--which had characterized a considearble proportion of the historiography of labour--has been largely unable to engage with the fundamental dimensions of the working class experiences-- such as its ethnic and cultural diversity, their displacements and the multiplicity of its experiences and identities. We therefore propose discussing the current challenges in the field of labour history from a transnational or global perspective as a general approach . The emphasis on the connections and comparisons is also stressed from the realization that, in spite of the evident disparities, there are overlapping areas highlighting the distinctive place that the world of labour occupies in the societies of the so-called Global South – that is, in the post-colonial and “developing” countries, especially in Latin America, Africa and Asia. These regions show strong similarities in their contemporary labour experience. Apart from varying periods, forms and practices of the slave labour, compulsory or heavily exploited labour have characterized the trajectories of these societies during the processes of capitalism and the development of market society. The classical themes and frameworks of labour history had been till recently formulated from the working class experience of the North. The recent attention attributed to the specificities of the worlds of labour from the Global South, opens the possibility of engaging with various new themes, such as the ambiguous boundaries that exist and define slave work and the so-called free-work, the multiple forms of compulsory work (including indigenous), domestic work, compulsory migration, as well as circulation and transnational sociability networks, cultural and ethnic diversity of workers and a fluidity between rural and urban. In addition to these themes, we are interested in issues that would enrich the analyses of the historians of work, such as the experience of the working class and their diversity, leisure, and their forms of association less directly related to the workplace (parties, recreational, dance and sport clubs, etc.) We further intend to focus on the intense traffic of such associations with organized political parties, the gendered relations as conflict and intra-class solidarities instruments of analysis; the associative culture and public powers; the diverse set-ups and the daily survival strategies (including the utilization of legal forms) adopted by workers in urban and rural settings. Besides the South-South comparative perspective to highlight specificities of the Brazilian reality, the comprehension of global circulation of ideas, people and commodities is a move to transgress the national boundaries, revealing the complementary aspects of its inner working; on the one hand, of production, distribution and control processes, and on the other, the multiplicity of the experiences shared by the workers. Our aim, therefore, is to encourage proposals that discuss the world of labour in all its potential magnitude. *General objectives and expected results:* · To promote collaboration amongst Brazil, Latin America, Africa and Asia Labour/Work Historians · To promote the development of comparative studies with the history of labour in Brazil as a reference for other countries of the so-called Global South; · To rethink the agenda of the historical research of labour in Brazil in the light of the specific processes and connections that emerge from the global debate; · To introduce new approaches and debates within the field of labour history and, more specifically, Brazilian and South-American historiography related to work; · To propose the creation of a space to follow up international historiographical discussions through their regional unfolding, also contributing with this to build a more inclusive notion of work and working class. *Works contemplating the following possible subjects will be welcomed:* - Compulsory workers migrations, including traffic of women and workers in the contemporaneity; - Work and diasporas in the Southern Hemisphere; - Slave labour, indigenous labour and coercive labour in the Americas, Africa and Asia; - Labour and the multiple meanings of ethnic and racial identities; - Labour History in “post-emancipation” societies; - Race, gender and nation in labour history; - Prostitution, infant labour and domestic labour; - Informal and precarised labour - Labour market and migrations; - Immigration and politics in the formation of national identities; - Labour, colonialism and post-colonialism; - Political ideologies and social movements; - Political actions and organizations; - Anarchism, communism, socialism, syndicalism and internationalism; - Diversity of workers associative logic; - Labourig classes and their relations to the State and Political Institutions; - Labour legislation in comparative perspective; - Work and militarization; - Work and the environment; - Work places, forms and processes; - Class cultures; - Workers biographies and trajectories; - Workers in the arts and in the media; - Sociability and politics networks; - Conflicts, solidarities and rivalries amongst workers; - Diversity and fluidity of countryside/city relationships in the labour world configuration; - The concept of working class in the light of new discussions about the Global South; We will accept proposals dealing with specific aspects of the above mentioned areas, both in the locall as well as in the global comparative framework. Proposals about correlated subjects will be equally analyzed. The presentations can be in the official languages of the event: Portuguese, Spanish and English. Partial or full sponsoring for foreign speakers unable to meet their travel and stay expenses in Brazil will be requested to the event sponsoring agents. Proposals selected by the scientific committee might obtain such sponsoring. Therefore the symposium organizers strongly advise the submission of papers coming from universities and research institutions from other Latin American countries as well as India and African countries. Speakers of scientific institutions from the Northern Hemisphere will not be sponsored, but are equally welcome to present their proposals. The organization of the event will support the international participants in their requests for sponsoring to their respective sponsoring agencies and institutions. *Participants:* Papers from any proponents that have conducted research on the wide subjects contemplated on the event will be considered. Due to limitations of space and time, the acceptance of papers will be conditioned to the evaluation by the event’s scientific committee, which will select the papers to be presented. Obs.: The presentation of the complete text will be, to all participants, the final condition for the inclusion of papers previously accepted during the event scheduling. *Important dates:* Proposals forwarding: 01/12/2009 – 20/01/2010 Replies: 31/01/2010 Final deadline for sending papers in: 15/05/2010 Confirmation of the final presentation schedule: 20/05/2010 Disclosure of papers which will be partially or fully sponsored will be performed in time for travelling. *Proposals formating*: The presentation proposals must be sent by email to the event organizers and must include a résumé of up to 300 words, containing title and name of author, as well as a brief résumé of the proponents’ CV. Proposals should be sent to: *trabalho.global at gmail.com* *Texts formating*: Digital (Word compatible), Times New Roman 12, 1½ spacing, 2,5 cm margins, 12-20 pages long. Presentations formating: The texts will be displayed on the event’s web Page; presentations will be 15 minutes long, followed by commentary of the readers chosen by the organizing commission. http://www.labhstc.ufsc.br/sulglobaleng.htm -- Prabhat Kumar PhD student (Department of History, SAI, University of Heidelberg) Address Cluster of Excellence, Karl Jaspers Centre University of Heidelberg, Room No. 118, Voßstraße 2, Building No. 4400 69115 Heidelberg Germany kumar at asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de Mobile: +49 176 850 500 77 Office: +49 6221 54 4306 Fax: +49 6221 54 4012 http://www.asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de/research/areas/b/projects/b1-gauging-cultural-asymmetries/prabhat-kumar From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Wed Dec 9 22:39:56 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (VideoChannel) Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:09:56 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?Christmas_on_VideoChannel_Cologne=3A?= =?iso-8859-1?q?_Found_Footage!?= Message-ID: <20091209180956.7851B202.217A060F@192.168.0.2> VideoChannel Cologne is happy to present its Christmas show online during December, entitled: "Found Footage!" http://videochannel.newmediafest.org/blog/?page_id=667 "Found footage is a filmmaking term which describes a method of compiling films partly or entirely of footage which has not been created by the filmmaker, and changing its meaning by placing it in a new context. The term refers to the "found object" (objet trouvé) of art history." [Wikipedia] The show includes 50 video works curated by Wilfried Agricola de Cologne featuring these artists/directors --> Agricola de Cologne (Germany), Borja Alexandre (Spain), Michael Brynntrup (Germany), Jon Keith Brunelle (USA), Maria Canas (Spain), Larry Caveney (USA) Sebastian Clej (Romania), John Criscitello (USA), Dr. Boston (USA) Bill Domonkos (USA), Angie Eng (USA), Clint Enns (Canada) Enrique Freaza (Spain), Rajorshi Ghosh (USA), Doron Golan (Israel) Juan David Gonzalez Monroy (Colombia), Grace Graupe-Pillard (USA) Constantin Hartenstein (Germany), Denise Hood (USA), Leslie Huppert (Germany) Andrea Huyoff (Germany), Katrina Inagaki (USA), Jeremiah Jones (USA) Ellen Lake (USA), Irad Lee (Israel), Fumiko Matsuyama (Japan) Alistair McClymont (UK), Alexander Mouton (USA), Owen Mundy (USA) Toban Nicols (USA), Jonas Nilsson (SWE), Jun Ho Oh (South Korea) Renata Padovan (Brazil), Lobo Pasolini (Brazil), Joao Ricardo (Portugal) Jasper Rigole (Belgium), Joshua Rosenstock (USA), Benjamin Rosenthal (USA) LoBo Pasolini (Brazil), Johanna Reich (Germany), Anthony Rousseau (France) Davor Sanvincenti (Croatia), Benjamin Schultz-Figueroa (USA), Jennifer Schwed (USA), Ran Slavin (Israel), Dennis Summers (USA), Sonja Vuk (Croatia) Philip Widmann (Germany), James Woodward (USA), Andreas Zingerle (Austria) --> http://videochannel.newmediafest.org/blog/?page_id=667 VideoChannel Cologne and its team wish all its visitors, friends and partners happy hours while surfing through the "Found Footage! universe, a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Peaceful New Year 2010. ----------------------------------------------------------- VideoChannel Cologne http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is a corporate part of [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne - www.nmartproject.net - the experimental platform for art and new media - which will celebrate in 2010 its 10th anniversary! info[at]nmartproject.net ----------------------------------------------------------- From uddipana at gmail.com Thu Dec 10 11:13:57 2009 From: uddipana at gmail.com (Uddipana Goswami) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:13:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Why Bangladesh slams Nobel laureate Yunus Message-ID: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/why-bdesh-slams-nobel-laureate-yunus/42063-2.html -- Uddipana Goswami www.jajabori-mon.blogspot.com From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Thu Dec 10 12:11:52 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:41:52 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_two_days?= Message-ID: <20091210074152.6AC9427D.E0274476@192.168.0.2> VideoChannel Cologne announces:: Invited by Rui Guerra CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival - launch on 13 November 2009 http://coff.newmediafest.org - will screen three festival programs in the framework of "unCraftivism" - a project context by Rui Guerra running on 12 & 13 Dezember at Arnolfini Bristol/UK. Selection 1 featuring - http://coff.newmediafest.org/blog/?page_id=379 Casey McKee (USA), Alex Lora (Spain), Frank Gatti (France), Jym Davis (USA), Erika Yeomans (USA), Margarida Paiva (Portugal), Istvan Rusvai (Hungary) Selection 2 featuring - http://coff.newmediafest.org/blog/?page_id=382 Nitin Das (India), Ascan Breuer (Germany), Marita Contreras (Peru) Masha Yozefpolsky (Israel), Anna Porzelt (Ger), Heidi Kumao (USA) Les Riches Douaniers (France), Soumendra Padhi (India), Boris Sribar (India) Selection 3 including the guest curator Ali Zaidi (Motiroti/London) featuring One Minute Films chief curated by Wilfried Agricola de Cologne http://coff.newmediafest.org/blog/?page_id=385 Shobna Gulaty (UK), Hetain Patel (UK), Nikesh Shukla (UK), Nitin Das (India) Nila Madhab Panda (India), Abhilash V. (India), Monika Dutta (UK), Ali Zaidi (UK) Sukanya Ghosh (India), Vishwajyoti Ghosh (India), Shazieh Gorji (Pakistan) Syed Ali Nasir (Pakistan), Eternal Immigrant, 2008, 1:00 by Sehban Zaidi (Pakistan) Roshaan Khattak (Pakistan) Istvan Rusvai (Hungary), Katherine Sweetman (USA), Luisa Mizzoni (IT) Adrian Zalewski (Poland), Junho Oh (South Korea), Yin-Ling Chen (Taiwan) Lukas Mateijka (SK), Kriss Salmanis (Latvia), Veena Shekar (India), Tanja Koljonen & Joe Candido (Finland), Louis Hubert (France) Erik Peterson (USA), Suzon Fuks (AUS), Mores McWreath (USA), Sreedeep (India), Kika Nicolela (Brazil), Henry Gwiazda (USA), Lemeh42 (Italy) Harriet Macdonald (UK), Péter Vadócz (Hungary), Johanna Reich (Germany) Anders Weberg (SWE), Ron Diorio (USA), Baptist Coelho (India) J.R., 2007, 1:00 by Roderick Coover & Nick Montfort (USA) Pierre-Laurent Cassière (France), Sonja Vuk (CR), Antti Savela (SWE) CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival - direct access--> http://coff05.newmediafest.org ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From ysaeed7 at yahoo.com Thu Dec 10 14:09:12 2009 From: ysaeed7 at yahoo.com (Yousuf) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:39:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Hindi scholar pledged his mortal remains to AMU for research Message-ID: <401277.15741.qm@web51401.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I find this news significant in many many ways: ---- Life beyond death Eminent Hindi scholar K.P. Singh pledged his mortal remains to Aligarh Muslim University for research Some people give of themselves in life, and others go on giving even in death. In an unprecedented gesture of gratitude to his alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University, the late Professor K.P. Singh, eminent Hindi critic and scholar, pledged his mortal remains to the university's Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College,for research. His wife Dr. Namita Singh, an accomplished Hindi short story writer, lived up to the promise made by the non-conformist scholar who died recently. But it is not only in the realm of physical sciences that his memory will live on. He lives on through his writings too. Singh, who taught at AMU for over three decades, applied his immense learning and speculative intelligence to analyse Hindi fiction. He never lost his commitment to Marxist aesthetics. A cool, lucid and economical expository style coupled with incise analysis is the hallmark of his writings — a quality not frequently encountered in Marxist critics. Propagating a shared cultural legacy, keeping culture separate from religion and turning attention to the medieval Bhakti Movement are the three aspects of Singh's contribution to Indian literature. In search of some panacea for human suffering, he became a Leftist and became highly suspicious of claims to universal truths. He rejected the modernist notion that literature has a life of its own which cannot be securely anchored to a world of things. For him, utility was the ultimate determinant of all human actions. Singh wrote extensively on literary criticism and aesthetics, history of Hindi literature, Hindi prose and Hindi fiction, and published six books. He edited eight books and co-edited 20 anthologies. Rahi Masoom Raza was his favourite writer, and two of his books and several articles are on Rahi. The Sahitya Akademi has published his monograph on Rahi in several Indian languages. Analysing the creative works of Rahi, who also wrote the dialogues for Ramanand Sagar's tele-serial “Ramayan”, Singh observed that Rahi's fiction betrays an anxious and loving concern for the well-being of the common man. True literature heals wounds, wipes away every tear from every eye, and does not provides hedonistic pleasure to the elite. Analysing Premchand's proclivity towards Gandhian ideology, Singh observed that Premchand was at variance with Gandhiji when he concluded that nothing could be resolved without a sustained struggle, and emancipation of the masses was only possible with complete tapering off of feudal society. Conversely, Gandhi tried to ensure the well-being of the common people without economic and social change. To him, Premchand and Gandhi are two planets rotating in opposite directions. “Marxist Aesthetics and the Hindi Novel” is a philosophical and rhetorical tour de force of his scholarship, sharp critical insight and painstaking research plumed with quotations culled from a plethora of Hindi novels. Equally perceptive are his other books: “Bhakti Movement and Folk Culture”, “Literature and our Time”, “The Hindi Novel: Social Consciousness and Premchand” and “Contemporary Hindi Fiction”. and Widely known as one of the illustrious scholars produced by AMU, Singh, through his writings, unfailingly exposed misguided assumptions on how to evaluate a literary text in the backdrop of Marxist aesthetics. Eminent Hindi and Urdu critics appreciated his immaculate research and sparkling prose. Noted creative writers Nagarjun, Trilochan Shastri Shaharyar, Kamleshwar and Rajendra Yadav were his close friends. In recognition of his contribution, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice-Chancellor, AMU, has announced the commencement of the annual K.P. Singh Memorial Lecture. SHAFEY KIDWAI http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/12/10/stories/2009121050980300.htm From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Thu Dec 10 19:39:50 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:09:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Sanskrit As A Language Of Science - Justice Markandey Katju Message-ID: <435228.75179.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Sanskrit As A Language Of Science   Justice Markandey Katju   (There is a misconception about the Sanskrit language that it is only a language for chanting mantras in temples or religious ceremonies. However, that is less than 5% of the Sanskrit literature. More than 95% of the Sanskrit literature has nothing to do with religion, and instead it deals with philosophy, law, science, literature, grammar, phonetics, interpretation etc. In fact, Sanskrit was the language of free thinkers, who questioned everything, and expressed the widest spectrum of thoughts on various subjects. In particular, Sanskrit was the language of our scientists in ancient India.)     http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262393   Full text of the speech delivered by Justice Markandey Katju, Judge, Supreme Court of India  on 13.10.2009 in the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore      From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Thu Dec 10 19:54:23 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:24:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Comics for Social Change Message-ID: <773608.93800.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com>   WEBSITE http://www.worldcomicsindia.com/     CAMPAIGNS http://www.worldcomicsindia.com/campaigns.htm - Girl Child Right Campaign - Corporat Punishment Capaign   RESOURCES http://www.worldcomics.fi/home_resources.shtml     From c.anupam at gmail.com Thu Dec 10 20:54:09 2009 From: c.anupam at gmail.com (anupam chakravartty) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:54:09 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Comics for Social Change In-Reply-To: <773608.93800.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <773608.93800.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <341380d00912100724w6adb9e76h69102802d38f604a@mail.gmail.com> Thanks Kshmendra for sharing this :) On 12/10/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > > WEBSITE > http://www.worldcomicsindia.com/ > > > CAMPAIGNS > http://www.worldcomicsindia.com/campaigns.htm > - Girl Child Right Campaign > - Corporat Punishment Capaign > > RESOURCES > http://www.worldcomics.fi/home_resources.shtml > > > > > > _________________________________________ > 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 chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 10:58:53 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:58:53 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Entry level jobs for youth from low-income communities Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Chandni Parekh Posted by: "Kapil Marwaha" munsarservices at yahoo.in Thu Dec 10, 2009 Dear All, 1. About us: We specialise in helping youth from low-income communities only to get entry level jobs with companies. In the past two and a half years we have placed about 700 candidates in various cities with reputed Retail, Hospitality and other companies (such as Cafe Coffee Day, Yum! Restaurants [KFC], Jumbo King, Smokin' Joe's Pizza, Westside Stores, The Loot Stores, Eureka Forbes, and S.R. Facilities). We assist several NGOs in getting jobs for the youth they support. 2. Jobs available: There exist several vacancies for youth between 18 to 30 years in different cities with reputed companies in the Retail and Hospitality (fast food outlets) sectors. Vacancies exist for 10thstandard educated or not, and English / non-English speaking. Gross salaries range between Rs. 48,000 to Rs. 72,000 p.a. plus performance incentives. No placement fees is payable by the candidates. 3. Soft skills training: We also conduct training classes in Mumbai for youth in spoken basic English, confidence building and interview appearing skills thereby strengthening the candidates' communication skills leading to better job prospects for him/her. Seriously interested persons / NGOs may kindly contact: munsarservices at yahoo.inor 09321539390. Kind Regards, Kapil Marwaha Munsar Services . . . . Helping Hands [An initiative of Kapil Marwaha and Associates] From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 12:53:10 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:53:10 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Helplines in Chennai for women in distress In-Reply-To: <6292b08b0912102320o400eedcnd284e333a877632c@mail.gmail.com> References: <6292b08b0912102320o400eedcnd284e333a877632c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Chandni Parekh ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Prajnya Outreach Date: 2009/12/11 Subject: Call for Help: A Prajnya Listing To: prajnya.16days at gmail.com On the penultimate day of the 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence, Prajnya invites you to access, save and circulate Call for Help: A Prajnya Listing of helplines and other support services in Chennai for women in distress. http://prajnya.in/chennaihelplines.htm Please circulate widely. Swarna Rajagopalan, Ph.D. Managing Trustee, The Prajnya Trust Honorary Director, Prajnya Initiatives for Peace, Justice and Security http://www.prajnya.in Anupama Srinivasan Campaign Coordinator 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence www.prajnya.in/16days.htm prajnya16days.blogspot.com 0091-9791017202 From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Fri Dec 11 13:43:34 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:13:34 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Abhilash_V=2E_=28India=29?= Message-ID: <20091211091334.F1B8295B.D8CC3ECC@192.168.0.2> 11 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Rope Trick", .by Abhilash V. (India) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 15:28:19 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:28:19 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Contribute to SAGE's Green Series: Green Education, Green Ethics and Philosophy, Green Health Message-ID: If you're interested, email Ellen Ingber at green at golsonmedia.com ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Archi Rastogi Date: Dec 10, 2009 11:52 PM Subject: [Opportunity937] Publishing Opportunity: SAGE Green Series ? Green Education, Green Ethics and Philosophy, Green Health -- ATTENTION FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS We are inviting academic editorial contributors to the Green Series, a new electronic reference series for academic and public libraries addressing all aspects of environmental issues, including alternative energies, sustainability, politics, agriculture, ethics, and many other subjects that will comprise a 12-title set. Each title has approximately 150 articles (much like encyclopedia articles) on major themes, ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 words. We are starting the assignment process for articles for Volumes 7 - 9 in the series with a deadline of February 1, 2010: Volume 7: Green Education Volume 8: Green Ethics and Philosophy Volume 9: Green Health This comprehensive project will be published in stages by SAGE eReference and will be marketed to academic and public libraries as a digital, online product available to students via the library?s electronic services. The Series Editor is Paul Robbins, Ph.D., University of Arizona, and the General Editor for Volumes 7 and 8 is Julie Newman, Ph.D., Yale University, and General Editor for Volume 9 is Oladele Ogunseitan, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine. Both the series editor and general editors will be reviewing each submission to the project. If you are interested in contributing to this cutting-edge reference, it can be a notable publication addition to your CV/resume and broaden your publishing credits. SAGE Publications offers an honorarium ranging from SAGE book credits for smaller articles up to free access to the online product for contributions totaling 10,000 words or more. The list of available articles is already prepared, and as a next step we will e-mail you the Article List (Excel file) from which you can select topics that best fit your expertise and interests. Additionally, Style and Submission Guidelines will be provided that detail article specifications. If you would like to contribute to building a truly outstanding reference with the Green Series, please contact me by the e-mail information below. Please provide a brief summary of your academic/publishing credentials in environmental issues. Thanks very much. Ellen Ingber Author Manager Golson Media green at golsonmedia.com -- From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 15:49:23 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:49:23 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] CBSE Project to get kids to read more Message-ID: *CBSE Project to get kids to read more* Excerpts from http://blog.prathambooks.org/2009/12/cbse-project-to-get-kids-to-read-more.html If you are a book lover, then imagine reading Harry Potter in school with your teacher’s blessings. If you are not an avid book reader, then the time is now to read books — from Panchatantra to Huckleberry Finn to Sherlock Holmes. For, the Central Board of Secondary Education plans to introduce a reading project for upper primary and secondary classes by recommending a series of books ranging from Mark Twain to contemporary writers like Sudha Murty. The project allows schools either to choose the recommended books or suggest their own. The schools can vary the level but every child has to read at least one book per term. The objective is to inculcate the reading habit among children. The board feels the project will lead to independent learning or reading skills. It’s not enough to offer children a good selection of reading texts, the board feels, as this will not ensure the child will read a passage and become a good reader. Children will be encouraged to read on science, technology and politics too. Teachers can give students books of one genre which can be read by the whole class. The books under this project should not be taught in class but introduced through activities. “It should be left to students to read at their own pace. Teachers may, however, choose to assess a child’s progress in reading the book by asking for verbal or written progress reports, looking at the diary entries of students, engaging in a discussion about the book, giving a short quiz or a worksheet about the book/ short story,” the board said. For more, check out http://blog.prathambooks.org/2009/12/cbse-project-to-get-kids-to-read-more.html From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Fri Dec 11 15:59:39 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:59:39 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Call for Ideas: Workable User-Verification system for Bookbole Message-ID: From http://inclusiveplanet.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/workable-user-verification-system-for-bookbole-a-call-for-ideas/#comments Bookbole.com is seeking ideas on creating a sustainable and scalable user verification system. The goal is to ensure that Bookbole is reaching its intended users i.e. print-impaired, caregivers of print-impaired or organisations /individuals accessing for the print-impaired and NOT sighted users who are none of the above. *The Problem Statement* Currently, Bookbole.com requires a user to self-certify whether he/she is print-impaired i.e. visually impaired or unable to read because of a non-visual problem or accessing the content on behalf of print-impaired persons or a part of an organization accessing content on behalf of print impaired persons (‘intended users’). This system is chosen because Bookbole connects users from across the world and there is no way to check whether every user is an intended user. Requiring every user, across potentially all the countries in the world, to submit some sort of documentary proof would: (a) be difficult for the users and would discourage users from adopting the platform; and (b) result in different ‘proofs’ from across the world – necessitating verification cells in every country in the world, an expensive and unwieldy solution. The core challenge of the current self-certification system on Bookbole is that sighted users, who are not intended users, can claim to be print impaired and access content shared by the visually-impaired community for itself. Hence Bookbole is seeking a better system of verifying whether the user is an intended user. *Call for Ideas* We are looking for a system that is: (a) Cost-effective (b) water-tight (c) Preferably technology or community-driven rather than manual (d) Easy on the user Please share your solutions with us at team at bookbole.com. Your solution will be a long way in ensuring that Bookbole can achieve its vision of enabling the global print-impaired community to overcome their challenges viz accessible content. SM From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Sat Dec 12 14:43:26 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:43:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Disability sensitisation workshops Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Chandni Parekh To organise disability sensitisation workshops in your community or fund any of NGO Trinayani's activities, read founder Ritika Sahni's mail at http://bit.ly/8xdQIh From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Sat Dec 12 14:54:40 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:54:40 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Film Screening & Discussion on Indian Legal System, Dec 13, Ahmedabad In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: >From Gopal I am happy to announce the screening of the first movie from "SOCIAL CANVAS PRODUCTIONS'. " Has the Indian Legal System failed our Constitution" ? at Ahmedabad Management Association, this Sunday the 13th at 11 am. The film has been made in partnership with an NGO called RFGI ( Research Foundation for Governance in India ) and explores the problems and challenges facing our Legal System today. The film will set the tone for a Panel Discussion on the same topic. Panelists: Shri Sunil Parekh - Eminent Business Consultant Professor Dileep Mavalankar - Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Shri Girish Patel - Senior Counsel, Gujarat High Court The event is open for all and free to attend. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201336583362 From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 12 16:18:06 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:48:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Kashmir struggle not for secularism: Mian Qayoom" (spitting on secularists) Message-ID: <327826.38253.qm@web57208.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Mian Abdul Qayoom is being honest when he is reported as describing "Kashmir struggle for freedom as an Islamic struggle"   Those who are familiar with Kashmir would recognise Mian Abdul Qayoom (President High Court Bar Association) as a prominent activist voice.   His statement exposes the hypocrisy of the likes of Yasin Malik and Maulvi Omar Farooq who would have everyone believe that the so called "Aazadi" movement in Kashmir has "secular" aspirations.   Mian Abdul Qayoom's exhortation  ‘if we want to achieve freedom we should have clarity about our goal.’ emphasises that this Islamic Separatist movement (so called "Aazadi") 'doesn’t have its foundation in the concept of secularism'   In this Mian Abdul Qayoom spits in the face of those in Kashmir, elsewhere in India and on SARAI List who (directly or indirectly) imply that the so called "Aazadi" movement in Kashmir is not an Islamic Separatist movement.   Kshmendra       "Kashmir struggle not for secularism: Mian Qayoom" ‘India accepts our animal existence only, denies us our human existence’   GK NEWS NETWORK Srinagar, Dec 10: The High Court Bar Association president Mian Abdul Qayoom today described Kashmir struggle for freedom as an Islamic struggle, saying ‘if we want to achieve freedom we should have clarity about our goal.’ Addressing a seminar on human rights day at Sadder Court here, Qayoom said the resistance struggle demands fortitude. “Here is no room for becoming tired, bowing before occupation and to make a sell-out,” Qayoom said. He said the resistance movement doesn’t have its foundation in the concept of secularism. Qayoom traced roots of the present movement in 1931 struggle and said at that time people had raised voice against the then government’s decision to impose ban on Eid Khutba and desecration of the Holy Qur’an. But in 1938, he said, Sheikh Abdullah turned it into a secular movement and Choudhary Ghulam Abbas temporary supported Sheikh. Choudary Abbas, he said, was soon to realize his mistake and he formed Muslim Conference to continue the struggle on Islamic pattern. India in 1947, Qayoom said, took the dispute to the United Nations with an intention to declare Pakistan as aggressor. “India didn’t take Kashmir to UN for securing freedom for Kashmiris,” he said. But the brilliant Sir Zaffarullah Khan, Qayoom said, sabotaged all the plans of India and UN passed resolution on the right to self-determination. Qayoom said on December 10, 1948, the United Nations passed a declaration on human rights. He said the UN has not fixed any punishment as such for its violators. “India which is signatory of the declaration should under responsibility adhere to it,” he said. He said we should raise our voice and force India to adhere to the UN declaration. “Our case is strong and we are weakening it by remaining silent,” he added. He said this time no leader would be allowed to commit mistake. “That era has gone when Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah had no one to advise and make him understand. He continued to make mistakes, from 1947 to 1975 and till his death in 1982,” Qayoom said. He described mainstream leaders – Mufti Sayeed, Dr. Farooq Abdullah- as friends of India and ruled out any rapprochement with them. Qayoom said people like O.P Shah were working for Indian interests and there was no need to meet them. He said, “Under Indian Independence Act, 1947, Kashmir was part of Pakistan.” The High Court Bar Association General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, said that Government of India ‘accepts our animal existence and denies us our human existence.’ Shaheen described the CBI report on Shopian case as “legal, constitutional and institutional denial of justice.” He condemned the attack on Fazal Haq Qurashi and said none should be condemned for his views. The JKLF Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, said the HCBA should invite intellectuals from India next time on this day. “It is they who should be questioned and asked about their role on human rights violations in Kashmir,” he said. He described the HCBA as an intellectual institution and asked the lawyers to come up with intellectual discourse for the movement. Malik said there was no requirement of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in JK. He said in 2008 Kashmir showed transition from the violence to non-violence but the response of Indian State continued to be violent. Referring to an incident of Budgam, Malik said villagers in Beerwah were beaten up by army irrespective of age and gender. He said army has no role ‘in our villages and cities.’ Senior lawyer Muhammad Ameen Bhat said Kashmiris should hold public inquiry of Shopian case. He said leadership should assign the inquiry to some judge and lawyers. “Those who are parties to the criminal act can’t be entrusted with the responsibility of justice,” he said and urged the leadership to devise strategy to tackle the issue. Speakers during the function lauded the role of Bar in fighting the cases of detainees. This year alone the Bar has filed 257 writ petitions. Members nominated by Bar have been regularly visiting the jails and filing reports about the condition of detainees. Former Joint Secretary Bar, Bashir Sidique, pointed towards various incidents highlighting the gross human rights violations in Kashmir. He said recently some children arrested on October 27 were forced to sodomise each other in custody. He said he took up their case. “I received threats but I have decided to punish those involved in the crime,” he added.     http://www.greaterkashmir.net/full_story.asp?Date=11_12_2009&ItemID=52&cat=21          From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 12 17:05:23 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:35:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] How teenagers were lured by Taliban Message-ID: <986755.26755.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> This is an amazing read.   This is the first time I have come across an authentic first-hand report of how the indoctrination of "Jihadi" suicide-bombers includes the promise of "Jannah" (Paradise) filled with """""" lakes overflowing with milk and honey and scenic valleys inhabited by ‘hoors’ (beautiful women)""""".   "Sex-in-Paradise" seems to be the name of the motivational game.   Perhaps a more potently lethal brain-washer is assurances for the potential "Jihadi" suicide-bombers  that "  after their death in suicide attacks their stature would be equal to Sahaba-i-Karaam and that they would enjoy the company of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)."   "Sahaba-i-Karaam" are, after Mohammed, the most reverred personalities in Islam. They are also known as "Companions of the Prophet".   Kshmendra       "How teenagers were lured by Taliban" Saturday, 12 Dec, 2009   PESHAWAR: An artificial paradise (Jannat) established by terrorists for brainwashing would-be suicide bombers has been captured by security forces in South Waziristan Agency.   The ‘Jannat’ in the Nawaz Kot area was shown to a visiting team of Peshawar-based journalists by ISPR authorities.   The journalists, who were taken to the place in a helicopter on Friday morning, took a round of the so-called paradise and later were briefed about the modus operandi for churning out suicide bombers.   The make-believe heaven consisted of four rooms. Each room contained exquisite paintings of lakes overflowing with milk and honey and scenic valleys inhabited by ‘hoors’ (beautiful women).   Religious teachers in the training centre used to show would-be bombers around and dupe them into believing that after their death in suicide attacks their stature would be equal to Sahaba-i-Karaam and that they would enjoy the company of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).   The term ‘Sahaba-i-Karaam’ refers to close associates of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).   Boys aged between 12 and 18 were trained to become suicide bombers under the supervision of Hakimullah Mehsud.   The TTP chief would keep hammering away at ‘an unending bliss awaiting you in Jannat dotted with lakes of milk and honey’, said Major Saleem in a briefing for journalists.   He told journalists the building also had a ‘slaughterhouse’ for killing kidnapped security officials. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized from there.   In reply to a question, Major Saleem said the security forces faced tough resistance before capturing the militant stronghold. Two bombers and their trainers were taken into custody.   The troops came upon a significant quantity of hashish and compact discs after they set about securing the building. Books and magazines in Arabic, Pushto and Uzbek languages were strewn all over the place.   Later the visiting journalists were taken to Makin and Ziarsar area of Spin Kamar. Colonel Asif Mehmud, the operation commander, told the journalists that Makin was believed to be the hub of Taliban and the forces overcame stiff resistance before its fall.   Makin harboured a training centre that was run by Baitullah Mehsud when he used to live nearby in the house of his uncle. The forces had taken all hilltops and purged the area of militants, Colonel Mehmud said.   Anti-tank mines, rockets, missiles and other weapons of foreign make were shown to the visiting journalists.—APP   http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/12-how+teenagers+were+lured+by+taliban--bi-13         From asitredsalute at gmail.com Wed Dec 9 19:27:08 2009 From: asitredsalute at gmail.com (Asit asitreds) Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 19:27:08 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Protest against attack on the women's fact finding team and police atrocities in Narayanpatna. Message-ID: Dear friends As you must be knowing the Chasi Mulia Adi vasi Sangh (CMAS) is a democratic mass organisation of Adivasis in Narayanpatna Block of Koraput dist Orissa. for the past many years the CMAS has been fighting a relentless battle to reclaim their lands from money lenders, landlords, and the liquor mafia. Legally tribal lands cannot be occupied by non tribals in Narayanpatna area. but the money lenders and landlords has been doing this with the active connivance with the police, dist Administration and different ruling parties like congress and BJD. In the name of tackling Maoist problem the Orissa police along with the central paramilitary forces like CRPF, COBRA, India Reserve Batallion etc.. have been attacking tribal villages in Narayanpatna Block in the name of Combing Operations. this combing operations in Narayanpatna Block has been extremely brutal and sadistic. the poli ce enter the houses throw the belongings out beat up the men folk ruthlessly and rape women . This story of sexual violence against women is extremely horrifying. where Adivasi women are subject to gang rape by the police and paramilitary forces. On 20th November around 200 adivasis along with the leadership of CMAS went to the police station to protest against the police atrocities and sexual violence on adivasi women without any rhyme or reason, the police opened fire and killed two prominent adivasi activists. After that it has been a trail of absolute sadistic attack on the adivasi villages of Narayanpatna. The police have been going around raiding peoples home , torturing, arresting and raping adivasi women. They have arrested 67 activists of CMAS without any reason. Adding salt to the injury the Shanti Commitee (equivalent of Salwa Judum in Orissa) which has been formed by the local landlords, money lenders, liquor mafia and the dist leaders of congress and BJD has been terrorising people has forcibiliy harvested the paddy crop of the adivasis and carrying on relentless atrocities on adivasis with ac tive support of the police and the dist Administration. On 9 December an All india Womens Fact Finding team went to Narayana patna. when they were at the police station, they were badly treated and asked them to come at evening. They were beaten up and harrassed by the Policemen in plainclothes. they have been chased by the Shanti commitee goons and a senior member of the team named Kusum from Pune around 72 years old got injured. when the women team came out of the police station and was proceeding towards Bandhugaon, they were followed by plain clothes police men in motor bikes. the shanti commitee had blocked the road before Bandhugaon by a bullock cart. when the vehicle in which the womens team was travelling stopped near the bullock cart, the local landlords, the shanti commitee goons attacked the vehicle and in the process Ms. Kusum Karnik, Mamta Dash and other women member were injured. the driver of the vehicle was badly beaten up. when the team reached the Andra Pradesh border, the Andra police team arrested them and when members of the team spoke to higher police officials they were released. We request all the Women's, Peasants, students, workers and Human rights organisations to write to the Governor and Chief Minister of Orissa to immediately stop the combing operations in Narayan patna Block, take action against the polie and Paramilitry forces who have raped adivasi women, arrest the police officials who killed the activists of CMAS on 20th November and book them under Section 302 of IPC and immediately take action against the police officials and shanti commitee members who attack the all Indian Women's fact finding team. we also request you to send maximum number of Fact Finding teams to Narayanpatna and also please circulate this mail to your friends and other activist groups. regards. Asit (social Activist and researcher Delhi) Anand (Student JNU) From ali at alimander.com Sat Dec 12 20:07:54 2009 From: ali at alimander.com (Alexandra Crosby) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:37:54 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] Videochronic: Video Activism and Video Distribution in Indonesia Message-ID: Videochronic: Video Activism and Video Distribution in Indonesia by: KUNCI Cultural Studies Center and EngageMedia Date Of Publication: Nov 2009 ISBN: 978-0-646-5200 EngageMedia and Kunci Cultural Studies Center are pleased to announce the launch of Videochronic. This publication is the result of a collaborative research project charting how activists are engaging with video technologies in Indonesia, addressing some of the issues of technology-mediated social movements, and exploring the potential and limitations of online video distribution. The past decade in Indonesia has seen a dramatic increase in the use of video as a social change tool by community, campaign and activist organisations. Access to the tools for producing video have become increasingly democratised over this period, and rapidly adopted. Since the fall of Suharto’s New Order regime, space has been opened up for a host of new media projects to emerge. Individuals and organisations dealing with issues such as the environment, human rights, queer and gender issues, cultural pluralism, militarism, poverty, labour rights, globalisation and more have embraced video as a tool to communicate with both their bases and new audiences. What groups are currently active in producing social and environmental video in the archipelago? What are the histories of that work? How is it currently being distributed? How are activists thinking they might approach distribution in the future? This 140 page book presents both English and Indonesian versions of the research as well as colour illustrations including a visualisation of the development of video activism and online video. To order a copy of the book, please contact ali at alimander.com (AUS$10 + postage) To download pdfs, please visit http://www.engagemedia.org/videochronic From indersalim at gmail.com Sat Dec 12 23:06:01 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:06:01 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] How teenagers were lured by Taliban In-Reply-To: <986755.26755.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <986755.26755.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <47e122a70912120936u41cf0fe3pdf9504a87983cbf1@mail.gmail.com> 'what ' Jannat' ( paradise) promises them after life, 'American Dream' offers us before death, and cost of that too????? perhaps, much more than what we are scared of by the way, what is this bird called 'environment', these days in the news? is there a way to insert the argument about that in each and every things that happnes on our planet. perhaps, now we dont have a connection between page one of a book with say page 3 of the same book. quite, amazing that we drifting within the changing layers and layers of different realities, where each person has a legitimate view of the reality, as per her/his own experiece, strange, that we cant move an inch without ignoring the facts with love is On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 5:05 PM, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > This is an amazing read. > > This is the first time I have come across an authentic first-hand report of how the indoctrination of "Jihadi" suicide-bombers includes the promise of "Jannah" (Paradise) filled with """""" lakes overflowing with milk and honey and scenic valleys inhabited by ‘hoors’ (beautiful women)""""". > > "Sex-in-Paradise" seems to be the name of the motivational game. > > Perhaps a more potently lethal brain-washer is assurances for the potential "Jihadi" suicide-bombers  that "  after their death in suicide attacks their stature would be equal to Sahaba-i-Karaam and that they would enjoy the company of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)." > > "Sahaba-i-Karaam" are, after Mohammed, the most reverred personalities in Islam. They are also known as "Companions of the Prophet". > > Kshmendra > > > > "How teenagers were lured by Taliban" > Saturday, 12 Dec, 2009 > > PESHAWAR: An artificial paradise (Jannat) established by terrorists for brainwashing would-be suicide bombers has been captured by security forces in South Waziristan Agency. > > > The ‘Jannat’ in the Nawaz Kot area was shown to a visiting team of Peshawar-based journalists by ISPR authorities. > > The journalists, who were taken to the place in a helicopter on Friday morning, took a round of the so-called paradise and later were briefed about the modus operandi for churning out suicide bombers. > > The make-believe heaven consisted of four rooms. Each room contained exquisite paintings of lakes overflowing with milk and honey and scenic valleys inhabited by ‘hoors’ (beautiful women). > > Religious teachers in the training centre used to show would-be bombers around and dupe them into believing that after their death in suicide attacks their stature would be equal to Sahaba-i-Karaam and that they would enjoy the company of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). > > The term ‘Sahaba-i-Karaam’ refers to close associates of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). > > Boys aged between 12 and 18 were trained to become suicide bombers under the supervision of Hakimullah Mehsud. > > The TTP chief would keep hammering away at ‘an unending bliss awaiting you in Jannat dotted with lakes of milk and honey’, said Major Saleem in a briefing for journalists. > > He told journalists the building also had a ‘slaughterhouse’ for killing kidnapped security officials. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized from there. > > In reply to a question, Major Saleem said the security forces faced tough resistance before capturing the militant stronghold. Two bombers and their trainers were taken into custody. > > The troops came upon a significant quantity of hashish and compact discs after they set about securing the building. Books and magazines in Arabic, Pushto and Uzbek languages were strewn all over the place. > > Later the visiting journalists were taken to Makin and Ziarsar area of Spin Kamar. > Colonel Asif Mehmud, the operation commander, told the journalists that Makin was believed to be the hub of Taliban and the forces overcame stiff resistance before its fall. > > Makin harboured a training centre that was run by Baitullah Mehsud when he used to live nearby in the house of his uncle. The forces had taken all hilltops and purged the area of militants, Colonel Mehmud said. > > Anti-tank mines, rockets, missiles and other weapons of foreign make were shown to the visiting journalists.—APP > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/12-how+teenagers+were+lured+by+taliban--bi-13 > > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > 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: -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 8 14:01:11 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (soundLAB) Date: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:31:11 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?=5BAnnouncements=5D_Final_call=3A_So?= =?iso-8859-1?q?undart_for_SoundLAB_VII?= Message-ID: <20091208093112.6B57CDAF.4C45C470@192.168.0.2> Call for entries extended deadline: 31 December 2009 2010 - 10th anniversary of [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne SoundLAB - sonic art project environments is happy to launch the call for its next edition to be part of this anniversary celebrations, entitled: SoundLAB VII - soundCELEBRATION sound compositions made for the 10th anniversary! For its 7th edition, planned to be launched in March 2010, SoundLAB would like to celebrate the power of sound as a tool for artistic creations and communications on occasion of the 10th anniversary of the global network it is embedded in and invites soundartists, musicians and composers to create for the 10th anniversary a special sound composition. Please find detailed information, the regulations and entry form on http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=1423 ------------------------------------------------ SoundLAB - sonic art project environments http://soundlab.newmediafest.org is a corporate part of [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne, the experimental platform for art and new media from Cologne/Germany http://www.nmartproject.net in(at)nmartproject.net ----------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ announcements mailing list announcements at sarai.net http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/announcements From cubbykabi at yahoo.com Mon Dec 14 11:15:35 2009 From: cubbykabi at yahoo.com (kabi cubby sherman) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:15:35 +0530 (IST) Subject: [Reader-list] Fw: [ReachIndia] Petition/Fax to Allow the Peaceful Padyatra in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh In-Reply-To: <5dee80ec0912132029v7fddc763wa47850b0c7c92d2f@mail.gmail.com> References: <5dee80ec0912132029v7fddc763wa47850b0c7c92d2f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <826780.77450.qm@web94709.mail.in2.yahoo.com> ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Somnath Mukherji To: ReachIndia at lists.aidindia.org Sent: Mon, 14 December, 2009 10:01:43 AM Subject: [ReachIndia] Petition/Fax to Allow the Peaceful Padyatra in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh Petition to Allow a Peaceful Padyatra in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh Dear Friends, As you know Himanshu Kumar and many other social activists from all over India are planning a padyatra (march on foot) through the conflict zone of Southern Chhattisgarh, in an effort to bring peace and normalcy to the Adivasis communities there. The administration is trying everything in its power to stop the padyatra from happening. Solidarity groups headed for Dantewada are being stopped and harassed. A few days ago, Kopa Kunjum an active volunteer of VCA along with his lawyer Alvan Toppo were arrested on trumped up charges and beaten up in custody. Please read and sign the petition to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and send a free fax, if you agree with the contents. Signing the petition will send a free fax...>> Also, please call the administration and the police authorities asking them to ensure the safety of the padyatris. Ask why people wanting to join the Padyatra peacefully are being stopped and harassed? Also ask why Kopa was arrested on trumped up charges and beaten while in custody? Amresh Mishra (Superintendent of Police Dantewada) 09425285793 Superintendent of Police Bijapur +91-9425285791 Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh Vishvaranjan 09424207222 -- ~Somnath Mukherji www.otherindia.org -- ~Somnath Mukherji www.otherindia.org The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. http://in.yahoo.com/ -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ Reachindia mailing list Reachindia at aidindia.org http://lists.aidindia.org/mailman/listinfo/reachindia From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Mon Dec 14 12:03:50 2009 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:33:50 +0700 Subject: [Reader-list] Dec 19/Kolkata: Raqs Media Collective (Shuddhabrata Sengupta), Bani Abidi, Naeem Mohaiemen Message-ID: If you are in Kolkata, please do join this conversation and audience discussion. - Naeem ############## EXPERIMENTER presents Artist Conversation: Raqs Media Collective (represented by Shuddhabrata Sengupta), Bani Abidi, Naeem Mohaiemen Dec 19th, 6pm Experimenter Gallery, Kolkata ================================================= “Often, when asked an uncomfortable question, or faced with an unsettling reality, the rattled respondent ducks and dives with a stammer, a mumble, a sweat, a scrawl, or a nervous tic. The respondent may not be lying, but neither may he be interested in offering a captive legible truth either to the interrogator or to his circumstances.” [Raqs Media Collective, E-flux journal] Shuddha, Bani and Naeem discuss issues of form, impact, and measurability that influence their own art practices: the turn to documentary forms in visual arts, the clash between evolving new mediums and earlier forms, the question of impact vs. the liminal spaces of immeasurability. Public interventionists in the visual arts deal with political issues with varying degrees of impact and friction. Artists can take public positions in expected forms (the letter to the editor, the petition, the essay, the interview) and this ruffles few feathers. But when the political concerns are fused through the work within the gallery walls, but yet operate within modes of illegibility, the audience can have varied and unexpected responses. This has also led to debates about the problem of use-value within work, and the necessity (or not) of separating activist work from art practice (for example in conversation between Martha Rosler & Paul Chan in DAP’s “Between Artists” series). This conversation is hosted by Experimenter, in the context of their current show “Freedom of Notional”, which features Shilpa Gupta, Bani Abidi, Naeem Mohaiemen. http://www.experimenter.in/freedom/1.html http://www.indianexpress.com/news/inventing-freedom/546882/0 BIOGRAPHIES -------------------------- SHUDDHABRATA SENGUPTA is a media practitioner, filmmaker and writer with the Raqs Media Collective, and one of the initiators of Sarai. His recent work involves textual explorations of aesthetics, surveillance and cyberculture. His essays have been published in various venues, including '13 Decemeber- A Reader: The Strange Case Of The Attack On the Indian Parliament'. Along with Jeebesh Bagchi and Monica Narula, he is a member of Raqs which has presented work at most of the major international shows, from Documenta to the Venice Biennale. Raqs were co-curators of Manifesta 7, The European Biennial of Contemporary Art. Based in Delhi since its foundation, Raqs Media Collective nonetheless has a complex relationship to location. The city of Delhi is very often the subject of their work, and in their engagement with modernity they often display a lived relationship with myths and histories from South Asia and its wider region. They are, however, resistant to the label "Indian" since, they argue, it represents an abstraction so enormous that it can explain nothing about them, and prefer to talk about themselves simply as "from Delhi". [raqsmediacollective.net] BANI ABIDI was born in Karachi. She received her BFA from the National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan and an MFA from the School of Art Institute of Chicago, USA. Working primarily in video, Abidi seeks to address issues of national and cultural identity in relation to the history of Pakistan and India's partition as well as the broad impact of American culture and power in a global context. Her group exhibitions include: 7th Gwangju Biennale; Thermocline of Art - New Asian Waves, ZKM, Karlsruhe,Germany; Singapore Biennale; Sub-Contingent- The South Asian Sub Continent in Contemporary Art, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo;Contemporary Commonwealth, National Gallery of Victoria, Australia; 3rd Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale; ‘A Place Called Home’ - Group Show, National South African Gallery. Solo shows include: Gallery Ske - Bangalore; Green Cardamom- London; TPW Gallery- Toronto, Haines Gallery,San Fransisc, V.M Art Gallery. Recent acquistions of her work include Museum of Modern Art, New York; Patricia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo,Turin; Marguelies Collection, Miami; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and Devi Art Foundation. [baniabidi.com] NAEEM MOHAIEMEN is a writer and artist working in Dhaka and New York. He uses photo, video, and archives to explore histories of the international left, utopia/dystopia slippage, post-partition South Asia, and globally interlinked security panic. His work has shown at Finnish Museum of Photography, Scope Basel, Frieze Art Fair, Dubai Third Line, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, etc. Working between two countries, Naeem sometimes explores the contradiction of Bengalis in marginal migrant status, and majoritarian (and authoritarian) roles in their own country. He writes on Bangladesh’s religious and ethnic minorities for the Ain Salish Kendro Annual Human Rights report (askbd.org), and on activist blogs (unheardvoice.net/blog). As part of this work, “Muslims or Heretics: My Camera Can Lie” was screened in a side-session of UK House of Lords. His essays include Islamic Roots of Hip-Hop (Sound Unbound, MIT Press), Beirut: Illusion of a Silver Porsche (Men of Global South, Zed Books), Why Mahmud Can't be a Pilot (Nobody Passes, Seal Press), Adman Blues Become Artist Liberation (Indian Highway, Serpentine Gallery), Everybody Wants To Be Singapore (La Buena Vida, Carlos Motta, ICA), and the book Collectives in Atomised Time (with Doug Ashford, Idensitat, Spain). [shobak.org] 2/1 Hindusthan Road, Kolkata – 29 (under Gariahat flyover, next to Kanishka’s sari store) +91 (33) 4001 2289 / 2463 0465 prateek at experimenter.in http://www.experimenter.in From vishal.rawlley at gmail.com Mon Dec 14 19:25:39 2009 From: vishal.rawlley at gmail.com (Vishal Rawlley) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:25:39 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Learn to make your own Interactive Media project In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <31d5ea920912140555k5b340070gdd7fa6e4800a388f@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Khoj International Artists' Association Date: Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 7:23 PM Subject: Learn to make your own Interactive Media project To: KINDLY FORWARD WIDELY | ITS A RARE OPPORTUNITY | ONLY FEW DAYS LEFT TO APPLY | ITS FREE OF COST *Call for Workshop Participation: Interaction Design with VVVV* *Thomas Eichhorn*, will lead a two days intensive workshop on Interaction Design using the VVVV programming environment and interfacing it with audio, video and micro-controllers. Participants shall learn how to create media environments with physical interfaces, real-time motion graphics, audio and video that can interact with many users simultaneously. Thomas Eichhorn is a designer currently based in Halle Germany. He recently graduated as Multimedia / VR-Designer at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design. His work is about interfaces, user interaction, virtual reality, augmented reality, physical computing and multimedia installations. See: http://www.tomeic.de/ Thomas also works with Indian artist Shilpa Gupta. Documentation of their show *Shadow 3* can be viewed at www.flyinthe.net/07sh3.html. Currently they are showing their project *Shadow 2* as part of the even titled *Lo Real Maravilloso: Marvelous Reality *being held at* Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi *from* December 9-18, 2009*. *Workshop Dates, Timings, Venue: *on 19th-20th December 2009 at Khoj Studios, S 17, Khirki Extn., Saket, New Delhi-17 from 11am to 6pm Lunch shall be provided* * *How to apply:* Send an email to interact at khojworkshop.org with the subject line: Interaction Design with VVVV Kindly state your name, qualification/ current occupation/ interests and a short note on why you would like to be part of this workshop. Participants having some background in working with design, media or technology shall be preferred. The email should reach us by 17th Dec. Applicants shall be informed by the 18th. We have limited seats so kindly apply in advance. * Requirements for the workshop: *Participants should download VVVVon their computers, install it, and have a look at the example files. Download the latest version of the software along with all the 'additional downloads'. Participants should bring their laptops to the workshop with VVVV installed. Those who do not have laptops can share a computer. *Participants can also propose their own interactive projects that they require assistance with. Thomas shall shortlist some of these projects (that fall withing the scope of the workshop) for actual execution and to demonstrate problem solving techniques. If you have any ideas about what you would like to execute, then kindly send a note on it along with your application.* For further inquiries please email us or call Vishal on 9953996123. -- KHOJ Studios S-17, Khirkee Ext. New Delhi - 110017 Ph: 29545274 email: interact at khojworkshop.org http://khojworkshop.org From peter.ksmtf at gmail.com Mon Dec 14 23:03:58 2009 From: peter.ksmtf at gmail.com (T Peter) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:33:58 -0800 Subject: [Reader-list] A Climate Call from the Coast Message-ID: <3457ce860912140933v745b8ff6h7f904b54575205b2@mail.gmail.com> A Climate Call from the Coast Video Documentary Directed by K.P. Sasi Duration: 14 Minutes You can watch through the net from http://thefishpond.in/admin/2009/a-climate-call-from-the-coast/ Synopsis: This documentary film is a call from coastal communities in Kerala state of south India, who are beginning to see the impacts of global warming and climate change at close quarters. Many houses are already destroyed. While scientists have yet to establish how exactly weather, wind and waves change, the fisherfolk find an angrier sea carving out more and more of their land. They are concerned about the changing course of ocean currents and disappearance of small fish from the coastal waters. Pollution and construction along the shore make things even worse. Though their carbon footprint is very small, these local coastal communities bear the brunt of mounting emissions worldwide. They call for leaner, cleaner production processes and demand a place in the climate change debate http://thefishpond.in/admin/2009/a-climate-call-from-the-coast/ From vivek at sarai.net Mon Dec 14 22:39:03 2009 From: vivek at sarai.net (Vivek Narayanan) Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:39:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Philosophy prof wont go to jail for unofficial Derrida translations Message-ID: <4B26712F.6030904@sarai.net> Question: I wonder who gets to authorise the translations? --Vivek http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/14/philosophy-prof-wont.html Philosophy Prof Won't Go to Jail for Making Unofficial Derrida Translations Available to Students Horacio Potel, the Argenine philosophy professor who was facing a possible prison sentence for posting unauthorized translations of unavailable Derrida works for his students to read, has been exonerated by an Argentine court: On 13 November, the Argentinean justice decided that Potel's actions did not justify penal prosecution, and he was declared free of charges, according to the Fundación Vía Libre, an Argentinean nongovernmental organisation focussed on civil rights in the digital area, who posted the court decision [pdf] on their website... "In our legal system," Beatriz Busaniche of Vía Libre told Intellectual Property Watch this week, "this case will not be considered as jurisprudence, but the case as a whole helped us spread the word about copyright issues." "One of the main results is that now social sciences universities here are aware of this conflict and really committed to open the debate around copyright," she said. Restoration Of French Philosopher's Work Online In Argentina Seen As An Opening (Thanks, Carolina!) (Image: File:Derrida-by-Pablo-Secca.jpg, Wikimedia Commons) Previously: * Argentine philosophy prof faces prison time for posting unofficial ... From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 10:41:18 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:41:18 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The Zinn Education Project: Free Resources on Teaching a People's History Message-ID: Excerpt from http://www.zinnedproject.org/about The Zinn Education Project promotes and supports the use of Howard Zinn’s best-selling book A People’s History of the United States and other materials for teaching a people’s history in middle and high school classrooms across the country. The Zinn Education Project is coordinated by two non-profit organizations, Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change. Its goal is to introduce students to a more accurate, complex, and engaging understanding of United States history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula. The empowering potential of studying U.S. history is often lost in a textbook-driven trivial pursuit of names and dates. Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States emphasizes the role of working people, women, people of color, and organized social movements in shaping history. Students learn that history is made not by a few heroic individuals, but instead by people’s choices and actions, thereby also learning that their own choices and actions matter. For more, visit: http://www.zinnedproject.org/about From parthaekka at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 13:14:24 2009 From: parthaekka at gmail.com (Partha Dasgupta) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:14:24 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] FREE CULTURE ROADSHOW Message-ID: <32144e990912142344y48468d66w169c8e488818276c@mail.gmail.com> Dear All, The Centre for Internet and Society and the Magic Lantern Foundation take pleasure in inviting you to the Free Culture Roadshow, a presentation on ‘The Right to Share’ and ‘The Promise of Open Video’. Venue: Conference Room 2 India International Centre 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi -110003 Date: 20th December, 2009 Time: 9.00am to 01.00pm Entry Free: All Welcome For more details and profile of the speakers please visit: http://www.magiclanternfoundation.org/Events/cisroadshow.html A Brief Abstract of the two discussions is given below: The Right to Share: What Does Copying Have to Do with Freedom? by Elizabeth Stark The Internet has unleashed the potential to communicate and collaborate like never before, and the result has been an unprecedented flow of culture and information. Millions of individuals are now sharing and creating culture: copying, cutting, remixing, and participating in new and different ways. Sometimes this activity is transformative. Sometimes it's straight copying. In either case, there is a clear connection between this sharing of culture and personal freedom. This talk will explore how various conceptions of "freedom" have shaped the social movements for free software, free culture, and free knowledge, and how this ideology has manifested itself in real action. It will connect theory with practice, exploring the cultural innovations and political changes that have spawned forth from these movements. Lastly, it will make the case that the broad-based availability, accessibility, and abundance of culture is a good thing for our global society. The Revolution Will Be Recorded, Remixed, and Redistributed: The Promise of Open Video by Dean Jansen and Ben Moskowitz Between news, cinema, television, and documentary film, we find ourselves swimming in a sea of moving images. This has been the story of the 20th century. Yet in this age, the tools for creating and sharing video are becoming widely distributed in the hands of millions of individuals. Desktop video editing software is pervasive; webcams and video-equipped mobile phones abound. Video now belongs to everyone. It is becoming a powerful medium for self-expression, a kind of cultural currency. How will this phenomenon change the Internet? How will it change society? What questions persist for the architecture of the Internet, and how will public policy address this ultimately political transformation? This talk sets forth a vision of networked video as a truly participatory medium, one that will power the next 10 years of innovation on the web. Dean Jansen and Ben Moskowitz introduce some core technologies for open video, and the obstacles they face on the road to mass adoption. Speaker Profile: Elizabeth Stark is a leader in the global free culture movement. She is a Fellow at the Yale Information Society Project and a Lecturer in Computer Science at Yale University. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Stark founded the Harvard Free Culture Group and served on the board of directors of Students for Free Culture. While at Harvard, she was Editor-at-Large of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, and worked on using new media to promote human rights with the Harvard Advocates for Human Rights. Elizabeth has worked extensively with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society and has taught courses in Cyberlaw, Digital Copyright, Technology and Politics, and Electronic Music. She recently produced the inaugural Open Video Conference in NYC, garnering over 8000 viewers across the web. Elizabeth regularly gives talks around the world on free culture, and has collaborated with myriad organizations on promoting shared knowledge and the open web. Dean Jansen is a Free Culture activist and guerrilla artist based in New York. He attended Harvard University and was a leader in the Harvard Free Culture Group. Dean assisted in teaching media studies and law courses at MIT and Harvard, and has organized numerous academic conferences. He currently serves as outreach director at the non-profit Participatory Culture Foundation, makers of the Miro internet TV player. His art projects can be viewed at www.notthemessiah.net. Ben Moskowitz is general coordinator at the Open Video Alliance, a coalition to democratize the moving image. Ben co-founded the UC Berkeley chapter of Students for Free Culture and taught a seminar on the politics of piracy at Berkeley's School of Information. He currently serves on the board of directors of the international organization Students for Free Culture, dedicated to promoting access to knowledge, technological freedom, and participatory culture. Partha Dasgupta +919811047132 From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 15 14:22:36 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:52:36 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Sinansi_Gunes_=28Turkey=29?= Message-ID: <20091215095236.185FB8DD.8C211456@192.168.0.2> 15 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->Sacrificial", .by Sinasi Gunes (Turkey) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- Read the recent review on Furtherfield --> Art Cinema Everywhere, All The Time. Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and CologneOFF V http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=370 --------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF -> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 15 14:42:38 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (VideoChannel) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:12:38 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?Call=3A_=5Bself=5D_=7Eimaging?= Message-ID: <20091215101238.3355073D.2551C36@192.168.0.2> Call for entries Deadline 2 March 2010 VideoChannel Cologne [self ] ~imaging // artists portraying themselves in film and video Like in the classical artistic media, self-portraying takes also in film & videoart a prominent position, the own "self" is not only representing the cheapest model, but basically self-reflecting belongs to the essential artistic processes and activities of an artist. Thus, there are good reasons why artists self-portraits can be counted often to the best and most intimate works of an artist, at all. VideoChannel Cologne would like to invite artists working in the field of the moving images to submit their Selfportrait in video. VideoChannel Cologne is planning to extend an already existing collection of artists video self-portraits through new exciting films and videos to be launched in May 2010 on VideoChannel online, optional screenings in sequence. Find the details and the entry form on http://www.nmartproject.net/netex/?p=1852 ----------------------------------------------- This new feature will stand in the context of NewMediaFest 2010 10 Years [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne. ----------------------------------------------- VideoChannel Cologne - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is a corporate part of [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne www.nmartproject.net - the experimental platform for art and new media operating from Cologne/Germany From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 16:14:28 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:14:28 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Monbiot on peak oil Message-ID: <564b2fca0912150244j53071ef6ub5c2339d1ff21aa8@mail.gmail.com> Slightly long piece but worth having a look at. Naga If Nothing Else, Save Farming Posted November 16, 2009 It’s probably too late to prepare for peak oil, but we can at least try to salvage food production. By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian 16th November 2009 I don’t know when global oil supplies will start to decline. I do know that another resource has already peaked and gone into freefall: the credibility of the body that’s meant to assess them. Last week two whistleblowers from the International Energy Agency alleged that it has deliberately upgraded its estimate of the world’s oil supplies in order not to frighten the markets(1). Three days later, a paper published by researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden showed that the IEA’s forecasts must be wrong, because it assumes a rate of extraction that appears to be impossible(2). The agency’s assessment of the state of global oil supplies is beginning to look as reliable as Mr Greenspan’s blandishments about the health of the financial markets. If the whistleblowers are right, we should be stockpiling ammunition. If we are taken by surprise; if we have failed to replace oil before the supply peaks then crashes, the global economy is stuffed. But nothing the whistleblowers said has scared me as much as the conversation I had last week with a Pembrokeshire farmer. Wyn Evans, who runs a mixed farm of 170 acres, has been trying to reduce his dependency on fossil fuels since 1977. He has installed an anaerobic digester, a wind turbine, solar panels and a ground-sourced heat pump. He has sought wherever possible to replace diesel with his own electricity. Instead of using his tractor to spread slurry, he pumps it from the digester onto nearby fields. He’s replaced his tractor-driven irrigation system with an electric one, and set up a new system for drying hay indoors, which means he has to turn it in the field only once. Whatever else he does is likely to produce smaller savings. But these innovations have reduced his use of diesel by only around 25%. According to farm scientists at Cornell University, cultivating one hectare of maize in the United States requires 40 litres of petrol and 75 litres of diesel(3). The amazing productivity of modern farm labour has been purchased at the cost of a dependency on oil. Unless farmers can change the way it’s grown, a permanent oil shock would price food out of the mouths of many of the world’s people. Any responsible government would be asking urgent questions about how long we have got. Instead, most of them delegate this job to the International Energy Agency. I’ve been bellyaching about the British government’s refusal to make contingency plans for the possibility that oil might peak by 2020 for the past two years(4,5), and I’m beginning to feel like a madman with a sandwich board. Perhaps I am, but how lucky do you feel? The new World Energy Outlook published by the IEA last week expects the global demand for oil to rise from 85m barrels a day in 2008 to 105m in 2030(6). Oil production will rise to 103m barrels, it says, and biofuels will make up the shortfall(7). If we want the oil, it will materialise. The agency does caution that conventional oil is likely to “approach a plateau” towards the end of this period(8), but there’s no hint of the graver warning that the IEA’s chief economist issued when I interviewed him last year: “we still expect that it will come around 2020 to a plateau … I think time is not on our side here.”(9) Almost every year the agency has been forced to downgrade its forecast for the daily supply of oil in 2030: from 123m barrels in 2004, to 120m in 2005, 116m in 2007, 106m in 2008 and 103m this year. But according to one of the whistleblowers, “even today’s number is much higher than can be justified and the IEA knows this.”(10 ) The Uppsala report, published in the journal Energy Policy, anticipates that maximum global production of all kinds of oil in 2030 will be 76m barrels per day. Analysing the IEA’s figures, it finds that to meet its forecasts for supply, the world’s new and undiscovered oil fields would have to be developed at a rate “never before seen in history.”(11) As many of them are in politically or physically difficult places, and as capital is short, this looks impossible. Assessing existing fields, the likely rate of discovery and the use of new techniques for extraction, the researchers find that “the peak of world oil production is probably occurring now.” Are they right? Who knows? Last month the UK Energy Research Centre published a massive review of all the available evidence on global oil supplies(12 ). It found that the date of peak oil will be determined not by the total size of the global resource but by the rate at which it can be exploited. New discoveries would have to be implausibly large to make a significant difference: even if a field the size of all the oil reserves ever struck in the USA were miraculously discovered, it would delay the date of peaking by only four years(13). As global discoveries peaked in the 1960s(14), a find like this doesn’t seem very likely. Regional oil supplies have peaked when about one third of the total resource has been extracted(15): this is because the rate of production falls as the remaining oil becomes harder to shift. So the assumption in the IEA’s new report, that oil production will hold steady when the global resource has fallen “to around one-half by 2030″(16) looks unsafe. The UKERC review finds that just to keep oil supply at present levels, “more than two thirds of current crude oil production capacity may need to be replaced by 2030 … At best, this is likely to prove extremely challenging.”(17) There is, it says “a significant risk of a peak in conventional oil production before 2020.”(18) Unconventional oil won’t save us: even a crash programme to develop the Canadian tar sands could deliver only 5m barrels a day by 2030.(19) As a report commissioned by the US Department of Energy shows, an emergency programme to replace current energy supplies or equipment to anticipate peak oil would need about 20 years to take effect(20). It seems unlikely that we have it. The world economy is probably knackered, whatever we might do now. But at least we could save farming. There are two possible options: either the mass replacement of farm machinery or the development of new farming systems, which don’t need much labour or energy. There are no obvious barriers to the mass production of electric tractors and combine harvesters: the weight of the batteries and an electric vehicle’s low-end torque are both advantages for tractors. A switch to forest gardening and other forms of permaculture is trickier, especially for producing grain; but such is the scale of the creeping emergency that we can’t afford to rule anything out. The challenge of feeding 7 or 8 billion people while oil supplies are falling is stupefying. It’ll be even greater if governments keep pretending that it isn’t going to happen. www.monbiot.com References: 1. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/09/peak-oil-international-energy-agency 2. Kjell Aleklett et al, 2009. The Peak of the Oil Age - analyzing the world oil production Reference Scenario in World Energy Outlook 2008. Energy Policy. http://www.tsl.uu.se/uhdsg/Publications/PeakOilAge.pdf 3. David Pimentel, Marcia Pimentel and Marianne Karpenstein-Machan, 1999. Energy Use In Agriculture: An Overview. Agricultural Engineering International: The CIGR EJournal., Volume I. http://www.cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/article/viewFile/1044/1037 4. I first began pestering the government about this in May 2007, as you can see here: http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/05/29/what-if-the-oil-runs-out/ After that, I lodged an FoI request, and returned to the theme in these articles: 5. http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2008/02/12/the-last-straw/ http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2008/05/27/majesty-we-have-gone-mad/ http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2008/12/15/at-last-a-date/ http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2009/04/14/cross-your-fingers-and-carry-on/ 6. International Energy Agency, 2009. World Energy Outlook 2009. Page 73. 7. Figure 1.5, page 82. 8. p87 9. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2008/dec/15/fatih-birol-george-monbiot 10. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/09/peak-oil-international-energy-agency 11. Kjell Aleklett et al, 2009. The Peak of the Oil Age - analyzing the world oil production Reference Scenario in World Energy Outlook 2008. Energy Policy. http://www.tsl.uu.se/uhdsg/Publications/PeakOilAge.pdf 12. Steve Sorrell et al, 2009. Global Oil Depletion: An assessment of the evidence for a near-term peak in global oil production. UK Energy Research Centre. http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/support/Global%20Oil%20Depletion 13. p134 14. See Figure 2.8. page 24 15. p7 16. International Energy Agency, 2009, ibid, p80. 17. Steve Sorrell et al, 2009, p169. 18. p164. 19. p18. 20. Robert L. Hirsch, Roger Bezdek and Robert Wendling, February 2005. Peaking Of World Oil Production: Impacts, Mitigation, & Risk Management. US Department of Energy. Available at http://www.hubbertpeak.com/us/NETL/OilPeaking.pdf From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 16:15:14 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:15:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Promoting women's access to technology Message-ID: Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT) is a pioneering organization committed towards empowering women through technology. This organization for women, by women, believes in breaking the stereotype that women can’t be adept in technology. FAT aims to fill the chasm that the lack of technical awareness in women has created in terms of their rights, access to resources, career choices and emancipation at large. Website: http://www.fat-net.org/ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Feminist-Approach-to-Technology/92094187593?v=info&ref=mf From indersalim at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 16:57:39 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:57:39 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape Message-ID: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shopian-rape-murders-Women-died-of-drowning-says-CBI/articleshow/5336004.cms The findings of Central Intellegence agency that the two women have actually drowned in knee deep shallow stream, which had no histroy of any death by drowining so far, so, for this enquiry, the CBI themeselves should die in Knee deep water ( Chiloo Bar Pani mein doob jaayen ) shame.. this all is happening in the INTERST OF THE STATE. sad, so, we have becasue of treatments like these, murderers like Bitte Karate who roam freely in the world, who openly confess killing of 43 odd Hindus in Kashmir and yet the Centre finds no case against him. there are many examples..... so, unless we condemn such murderous state inquiries, we are bound to face murder and rape of our innocent people in our society regards inder salim http://indersalim.livejournal.com From pawan.durani at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 17:12:55 2009 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:12:55 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> Dear Inder , You seem to be justifying Bitta Karate and ridiculing the Govt in the same breath . Is that so ? Just Curious ! God Bless Pawan Durani On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 4:57 PM, Inder Salim wrote: > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shopian-rape-murders-Women-died-of-drowning-says-CBI/articleshow/5336004.cms > > The findings of Central Intellegence agency that the two women have > actually drowned in knee deep shallow stream, which had no histroy of > any death by drowining so far, > so, for this enquiry, the CBI themeselves should die in Knee deep > water ( Chiloo Bar Pani mein doob jaayen ) > shame.. > > this all is happening in the INTERST OF THE STATE. sad, > so, we have becasue of treatments like these, murderers like Bitte > Karate who roam freely in the world, who openly confess killing of > 43 odd Hindus in Kashmir and yet the Centre finds no case against him. > > there are many examples..... > > so, unless we condemn such murderous state inquiries, we are bound to > face murder and rape of our innocent people in our society > > > regards > inder salim > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://indersalim.livejournal.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 kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 15 17:31:48 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:01:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Hans Rosling: Asia's rise -- how and when" Message-ID: <642694.60120.qm@web57203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Delightful presentation.   Hans Rosling ( http://www.ted.com/speakers/hans_rosling.html ) is one of the founders of "GAPMINDER", the free software for data presentation. Monica Nirula posted on it on 8th june '09   Kshmendra     "Hans Rosling: Asia's rise -- how and when"   VIDEO at : http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_asia_s_rise_how_and_when.html   TRANSCRIPT Once upon a time, at the age of 24, I was a student at St. John's Medical College in Bangalore. I was a guest student during one month of a public health course. And that changed my mindset forever. The course was good, but it was not the course content in itself that changed the mindset. I was the brutal realization, the first morning, that the Indian students were better than me.   (Laughter)   You see, I was a study nerd. I loved statistics from a young age. And I studied very much in Sweden. I used to be in the upper quarter of all courses I attended. But in St. John's, I was in the lower quarter. And the fact was that Indian students studied harder than we did in Sweden. They read the textbook twice, or three times or four times. In Sweden we read it once and then we went partying.   (Laugher)   And that, to me, that personal experience was the first time in my life that the mindset I grew up with was changed. And I realized that perhaps the Western world will not continue to dominate the world forever. And I think many of you have the same sort of personal experience. It's that realization of someone you meet that really made you change your ideas about the world. It's not the statistics, although I tried to make it funny.   And I will now, here, onstage, try to predict when that will happen, that Asia will regain its dominant position as the leading part of the world, as it used to be, over thousands of years. And I will do that by trying to predict precisely at what year the average income per person in India, in China, will reach that of the West. And I don't mean the whole economy, because to grow an economy of India to the size of U.K., that's a piece of cake, with one billion people. But I want to see when will the average pay, the money for each person, per month, in India and China, when will that have reached that of U.K. and the United States?   But I will start with a historical background. And you can see my map if I get it up here. No? I would start at 1858. 1858 was a year of great technological advancement in the West. That was the year when Queen Victoria was able, for the first time, to communicate with President Buchanan, through the Transatlantic Telegraphic Cable. And they were the first to "Twitter" transatlantically. (Laughter) (Applause) And I've been able, through this wonderful Google and Internet, to find the text of the telegram sent back from President Buchanan to Queen Victoria. And it ends like this: "This telegraph is a fantastic instrument to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty and law throughout the world."   Those are nice words. But I got sort of curious of what he meant with liberty, and liberty for whom. And we will think about that when we look at the wider picture of the world in 1858. Because 1858 was also watershed year in the history of Asia. 1858 was the year when the courageous uprising against the foreign occupation of India was defeated by the British forces. And India was up to 89 years more of foreign domination.   1858 in China was the victory in the Opium War by the British forces. And that meant that foreigners, as it said in the treaty, were allowed to trade freely in China. It meant paying with opium for Chinese goods.   In 1858 in Japan, was the year when Japan had to sign the Harris Treaty and accept trade on favorable condition for the U.S. And they were threatened by those black ships there, that had been in Tokyo harbor over the last year. But, Japan, in contrast to India and China maintained its national sovereignty.   And let's see how much difference that can make. And I will do that by bringing these bubbles back to a Gapminder graph here, where you can see each bubble is a country. The size of the bubble here is the population. On this axis, as I used to have income per person in comparable dollar. And on that axis I have life expectancy, the health of people. And I also bring an innovation here. I have transformed the laser beam into an ecological, recyclable version here, in green India.   (Applause)   And we will see, you know. Look here, 1858, India was here, China was here, Japan was there, United States and United Kingdom was richer over there. And I will start the world like this. India was not always like this level. Actually if we go back into the historical record, there was a time hundreds of years ago when the income per person in India and China was even above that of Europe. But 1850 had already been many many years of foreign domination, and India had been deindustralized. And you can see that the countries who were growing their economy was United States and United Kingdom. And they were also, by the end of the century, getting healthy, and Japan was starting to catch up. India was trying down here. Can you see how it starts to move there? But really, really natural sovereignty was good for Japan. And Japan is trying to move up there.   And it's the new century now. Health is getting better, United Kingdom, United States, But careful now, we are approaching the First World War. And the First World War, you know, we'll see a lot of deaths and economical problems here. United Kingdom is going down. And now comes the Spanish flu also. And then after the First World War, they continue up. Still under foreign domination, and without sovereignty, India and China are down in the corner. Not much has happened. They have grown their population but not much more. In the 1930's now, you can see that Japan is going to a period of war, with lower life expectancy. And the Second World War was a really terrible event, also economically for Japan. But they did recover quite fast afterwards. And we are moving into the new world. In 1947 India finally gained its independence. And they could raise the Indian flag and become a sovereign nation, but in very big difficulties down there.   (Applause)   In 1949 we saw the emergence of the modern China in a way which surprised the world. And what happened? What happens in the after independence? You can see that the health started to improve. Children started to go to school. Health services were provided. This is the Great Leap Forward, when China fell down. It was central planning by Mao Tse Tung. China recovered. Then they said, "Nevermore, stupid central planning." But they went up here, and India was trying to follow. And they were catching up indeed. And both countries had the better health, but still a very low economy.   And we came to 1978, and Mao Tse Tung died, and a new guy turned up from the left. And it was Deng Xiaoping coming out here. And he said, "Doesn't matter if a cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice." Because catching mice is what the two cats wanted to do. And you can see the two cats being here, China and India, wanting to catch the mices over there, you know. And they decided to go not only for health and education, but also starting to grow their economy. And the market reformer was successful there. In '92 India follows with a market reform. And they go quite closely together, and you can see that the similarity with India and China, in many ways, are greater than the differences with them. And here they march on. And will they catch up?   This is the big question today. There they are today.   Now what does it mean that the -- (Applause) the averages there, this is the average of China. If I would split China, look here, Shanghai has already catched up. Shanghai is already there. And it's healthier than the United States. But on the other hand, Guizhou, one of the poorest inland provinces of China, is there. And if I split Guizhou into urban and rural, the rural part of Guizhou goes down there. You see these enormous inequity in China, in the midst of fast economic growth.   And if I would also look at India, you have another type of inequity, actually, in India. The geographical, macrogeographical difference is not so big. Uttar Pradesh, the biggest of the states here, is poorer and has a lower health than the rest of India. Kerala is flying on top there, matching United States in health, but not in economy. And here, Maharashtra, with Mumbai, is forging forward. Now in India, the big inequities are within the state, rather than between the states. And that is not a bad thing, in itself. If you have a lot inequity, macrogeographical inequities can be more difficult in the long term, to deal with, than if it is in the same area where you have a growth center relatively close to where poor people are living.   No, there is one more inequity. Look there, United States. (Laughter) Oh, they broke my frame. Washington, D.C. went out here. My friends at Gapminder wanted me to show this because there is a new leader in Washington who is really concerned about the health system. And I can understand him, because Washington, D.C. is so rich over there but they are not as healthy as Kerala. It's quite interesting isn't it? (Applause) I can see a business opportunity for Kerala, helping fix the health system in the United States.   (Laughter) (Applause)   Now here we have the whole world. You have the legend down there. And when you see the two giant cats here, pushing forward, you see that in between them and ahead of them, is the whole emerging economies of the world, which Thomas Friedman so correctly called the "flat world." You can see that in health and education a large part of the world population is putting forward, but in Africa, and other parts, as in rural Guizhou in China, there is still people with low health and very low economy. We have an enormous disparity in the world. But most of the world in the middle are pushing forwards very fast.   Now, back to my projections. When will it catch up? I have to go back to very conventional graph. I will show income per person on this axis instead, poor down here, rich up there. And then time here, from 1858 I start the world. And we shall see what will happen with these countries. You see, China under foreign domination actually lowered their income and came down to the Indian level here. Whereas U.K. and United States is getting richer and richer. And after Second World War, United States is richer than U.K. But independence is coming here. Growth is starting, economic reform. Growth is faster, and with projection from IMF you can see where you expect them to be in 2014.   Now, the question is, "When will the catch-up take place?" Look at, look at the United States. Can you see the bubble? The bubbles, not my bubbles, but the financial bubbles. That's the dot com bubble. This is the Lehman Brothers doorstep there. You see it came down there. And it seems this is another rock coming down there, you know. So they doesn't seem to go this way, these countries. They seem to go in a more humble growth way, you know. And people interested in growth are turning their eyes towards Asia.   I can compare to Japan. This is Japan coming up. You see, Japan did it like that. We add Japan to it. And there is no doubt that fast catch up can take place. Can you see here what Japan did? Japan did it like this, until full catch-up, and then they follow with the other high-income economies. But the real projections for those ones, I would like to give it like this. Can be worse, can be better. It's always difficult to predict, especially about the future. Now, a historian tells me it's even more difficult to predict about the past.   (Laughter)   I think I'm in a difficult position here. Inequalities in China and India I consider really the big obstacle because to bring the entire population into growth and prosperity is what will create a domestic market, what will avoid social instability, and which will make use of the entire capacity of the population. So, social investments in health, education and infrastructure, and electricity is really what is needed in India and China.   You know the climate. We have great international experts within India telling us that the climate is changing, and actions has to be taken, otherwise China and India would be the countries most to suffer from climate change. And I consider India and China the best partners in the world in a good global climate policy. But they ain't going to pay for what others, who have more money, have largely created, and I can agree on that.   But what I'm really worried about is war. Will the former rich countries really accept a completely changed world economy, and a shift of power away from where it has been the last 50 to 100 to 150 years, back to Asia? And will Asia be able to handle that new position of being in charge of being the most mighty, and the governors of the world? So, always avoid war, because that always pushes human beings backward. Now if these inequalities, climate and war can be avoided, get ready for a world in equity. Because this is what seems to be happening.   And that vision that I got as a young student, 1972, that Indians can be much better than Swedes, is just about to happen. And it will happen precisely the year 2048 in the later part of the summer, in July, more precisely, the 27th of July. (Applause) The 27th of July, 2048 is my 100th birthday. (Laughter) And I expect to speak in the first session of the 39th TED India. Get your bookings in time. Thank you very much.   (Applause) From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 19:57:58 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:57:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear Inder This is no way to debunk a report by the CBI. When the commission initially set up by the State govt. gave its' report, it was debunked. Then when CBI reluctantly took up the investigations, its' report too has been debunked. How many reports will be debunked this way? And more importantly, are there issues with the report in terms of having misinterpreted evidence, or having not taken certain facts into consideration. It would be much more useful to bring these things to notice, rather than blaming the CBI for acting as a stooge of the Indian state. Frankly, I am at the end of my patience now. I don't understand certain things, which I wish to ask here to all Kashmiris and others as well: 1) All the time it seems 'azadi' is the only thing Kashmiris (and particularly it seems to be Kashmiri Muslims, or a section amongst them) want. Can they specify what 'azadi' means? If not for a group, can somebody at least specify what it means for an individual at least, on this forum? And how this 'azadi' is taken away by the Indian armed forces? Please explain it 2) Secondly, some Kashmiris seem to want independence from India, that seems to be their 'azadi'. If there is any supporter of any such notion of seceding from India, can I know why do you support that notion? In other words, why do you feel a separate Kashmiri nation-state is the solution? Is it because there is a sense of religious discrimination by Indians (read Hindus)? Is it because there is a lack of freedoms? Is it because you feel affinity for Pakistan? Or is it because of the lack of trust on India due to its' actions (other than religious or including religious)? If yes, please mention the actions. Please mention any thing in proper detail. One more thing. If you want a separate state, can you tell me what will be achieved in such a separate state, that can't be achieved as being part of India? Will it be more democracy? Will it be better governance? Will it be simple demilitarization? Will it be better protection of minority rights, as compared to India? Or something else? 3) Every single move taken by someone from the rest of India has been doubted in Kashmir, at least among a section of people. Now the CBI report has been burnt. Tomorrow, it seems even if the FBI conducted investigations into the incident, and came to the same conclusion, it will be regarded as the 'stooge of the Indian govt.' May I know why this attitude of interpreting every report, which goes against the common belief, as state-sponsored and doctored? May I know why even the killing of a Hurriyat leader allegedly by terrorists sponsored by Pakistan, leads to a bandh where stones are thrown on Indian soldiers? Or do the people there believe Indian army orchestrates the killings? 4) My last question is important. While it's not as if minority rights are any different from majority rights, we always quote minority rights as a matter of principle only to make them feel assured. The same argument extends not only for India, but also for Kashmir. This is for those asking for a separate nation-state of Kashmir. Will Kashmiri Pandits and their identity and culture be respected in event of an independent Kashmiri state being formed? Will they be accepted with open hearts and minds, if they are willing to be a part of the Kashmiri society? Or will they be simply treated as Indian nationalists, and asked to not return back to the Valley? I am beginning to feel that none of the actors is at all interested in any solution; all just want to ensure they have power. Such power hungry people should have no place in our society. Rakesh From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 19:59:03 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:59:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: My last point in the last mail, should also be seen in the context of other minorities like Sikhs and Buddhists who may be living in the Valley, so also people of other religious denominations. Will they too be accepted wholeheartedly in the Kashmiri society if they wish to return? Rakesh From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Tue Dec 15 20:44:21 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:44:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Sustainable Agriculture Officer position at NCF In-Reply-To: References: <831FC94A-DB4A-48D0-9617-1F2AF8E1B97F@rtns.org> Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Archi Rastogi ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kalyan Varma Date: Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 2:35 AM Subject: Sustainable Agriculture Officer position at NCF The Nature Conservation Foundation has a full-time 2-year contractual position of Sustainable Agriculture Officer for a project related to conservation in plantation landscapes in the Western Ghats. The project is carried out in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance (http://www.ra.org), a leading international conservation organisation involved in propagation of sustainable agricultural practices and certification of plantation produce. We are looking for a highly motivated person with a keen interest in biodiversity conservation and environmental issues, with knowledge of and experience in working in productive agricultural landscapes. Desirable qualifications are a graduate with at least 5 years experience in agriculture, preferably in tea, coffee, or cardamom plantations. The person must have excellent communication skills, a well-rounded personality capable of working in a team and bringing diverse stakeholders together to achieve project goals in a timely manner. The job entails communication with various stakeholders from the plantation sector, government, and conservation community, and arranging and conducting meetings, training, and workshops. The person shall assist other project staff in the creation and updating of database, website, and internet resources. preparation and printing of publications, auditor training and outreach activities, and assisting with field training and monitoring as required. The work shall involve periodic travel and field visits (travel and related accommodation costs will be borne by project as per norms). The selected candidate will be provided an attractive salary commensurate with experience. Kindly send detailed curriculum vitae with a covering letter explaining your interest in the project to T. R. Shankar Raman by email (trsr at ncf-india.org) by 20 December 2009. Project leaders Drs Divya Mudappa & T. R. Shankar Raman Senior Scientists NCF Rainforest Restoration Research Station 8/364 Cooperative Colony Valparai 642127, TN, India From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 02:49:46 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:49:46 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Permaculture and Natural Building Workshop in India: Jan 9 to Feb 22 Message-ID: Details here: http://www.panyaproject.org/spip.php?article62 From indersalim at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 11:52:49 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:52:49 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <47e122a70912152222x13bdc884vbed23827a387cbe1@mail.gmail.com> Dear Rakesh ji thanks for a long mail on Kashmir strangely, Shopian protest had only one demand: Justice to the two slain women. which has been denied by the CBI, and other state agencies. This particular case has clearly outwited the usual State calculations which have ready made doors to a safe exit. i find a strange link to all that has been happening in Kashmir since 1947. At every stage, the power of the state does a thing or so IN THE INTEREST OF THE COUNTRY which creates another reason to gloss a lie , and then another and then another. Khalistan movement was created by Indira Gandhi ji, if i am permitted to say so, and that movement which not only saw the Khalistan State almost happening, but thousands of sikhs and Hindus being killed for for fault of theirs. We are indeed, ruled by a very stupid class . If if beleive Ram Jethmalani who recently said that Indians have deposited 1500 billion USD is IN Swiss banks, which is too large a sum for us get rid of lot of poverty and ills, but its return will never happen,and so many other things, even spiritual , which have disappeard from our landscape will never return because, we are too materialistic society, as much as American are, if not less. So,who am i to analyze how and why every variation of the society can live a respectable life in a free kashmir. No people on eath guarantee that, and there is no ideal life on earth. We are full of voilence, which is operating inderectly at every level of our beings..... and yet, it is the very people who talk peace, justice and all that, .... let us listen to the later part of it... Tn kashmir, the people have seen it all, and once they settle for a peaceful life, again , the state adds salt to the injury. The When British were ruling India, it was the same question, how can India rule? after all , Indians are Snake charmers and beggers and what not. This is true even today. and truly we never deserve a free and great country like INDIA to be ruled by Brahims and Babus like us . But were Britishers competent ever to rule us. They were as selfish and ruthless as our present day rulers are. But they had to go, that was the hysteria of the pre 1947 era. I still love that movement, the glorious sentiment of throwing British rule out of India. Alas, it was only a step towards a corrupt bunch of congresswallas to rule the just freed masses. the same is perhaps going to happen in Kashmir as well, if it gains freedom in future... I really dont believe that Kashmirs will change their Anti India Sentiment, and Kashmiri Pandits and other Budhits, Sikhs who are natually tagged as Indian in Kashmir, so there is a real impediment to their free merger in a free kashmir society. I really , wish a honourable return for Kashmiri pandits , but i guess Indian state has always created problems for them. If they are homeless, it is because of the corrupt rulers in Delhi. who sometimes rigged the elections and sometimes closed their eyes to the violence which was unleashed in Kashmir in 1990. The fradulent nature of the the nexus between the politican and the sate is too deep, sorry, we both dont have access to that... Bitte Karatte ( murederer of 43 KPs ) is a living example . so how to trust the CBI , and other agencies . There is always a hidden nexus between the obvioius and political IN Babri demolition case we took 17 odd years to say that it was VHP/BJP combine that were responsible for that ugly act in Ayodha, The fact is now a GK question in the books all over the world. How to see the facts, through the lens of State commissions etc with love and regards inder salim On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:59 PM, Rakesh Iyer wrote: > My last point in the last mail, should also be seen in the context of other > minorities like Sikhs and Buddhists who may be living in the Valley, so also > people of other religious denominations. Will they too be accepted > wholeheartedly in the Kashmiri society if they wish to return? > > Rakesh > -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 11:54:42 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:54:42 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1252?q?Connections_through_Culture=3A_Ind?= =?windows-1252?q?ia_=96_UK_=28British_Council_initiative=29?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Altaf Makhiawala Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 5:43 AM Subject: [Opportunity947] Connections through Culture: India – UK (British Council initiative) Connections through Culture: India – UK *Connections through Culture* is the British Council’s new programme to provoke and support collaborative exchanges between the UK and India in the arts. It is focused on generating long-term partnerships between arts organisations and producers in the UK and their counterparts in India. Further information about the programme, including a ‘how-to’ guide to working within India, can be found on the* **new Connections through Culture * * * website. A *pilot grant scheme* for Connections though Culture: India - UK is now * open*. Any arts producer or representative from an arts organisation is eligible to apply, see each scheme for further information and criteria details. The *closing *date for the first round of applications is *Monday 11 January 2009*. The grant scheme available offers support in three principle areas: •*Bespoke Visits* * *– There are a number of small grants available towards the costs of research visits to the partner country. These are aimed at helping organisations further potential partnerships with face to face discussions needed to develop projects beyond initial interest. •*Development Support* * *– There are also a number of grants available to help with developing collaborative work and which is primarily aimed at contributing towards travel and production costs. •*Showcasing Collaborative Work*– While Connections through Culture is primarily about the development of relationships to enable collaborative work to happen, there are cases where we can support showcasing of work in India, through small grants which can form part of overall costs. http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-connections-india-uk.htm From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 12:17:29 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:17:29 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: <47e122a70912152222x13bdc884vbed23827a387cbe1@mail.gmail.com> References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> <47e122a70912152222x13bdc884vbed23827a387cbe1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear Inder ji Let me specify my own views on the points you raised: 1) Firstly, you again have made a very strong allegation here, that the Indian govt. and those who are against the notion of secession of Kashmir in the Indian establishment, have manipulated the probe of the CBI in order to ensure that justice never gets done. Unfortunately, sentimentalism can never take the place of rationality. And most importantly, while human beings can be sentimental, people should take decisions based on rationality, while keeping sentiments in mind. If I were to go along with Kashmir's sentiments that the report is doctored, without any evidence or basis to claim that facts in the CBI report are wrong, then I should accept this gem which Lal Krishna Advani gave to us at the peak of the Rath Yatra and before the Babri Masjid demolition: 'It doesn't matter whether Ram Mandir existed or not. What matters is that the people believe a Ram Mandir existed on the spot. (where Babri Masjid exists).' And at that time certainly, there would have been more no. of people supporting Advani's stand. So does that mean the demolition should be conducted? 2) I accept that India has broken the trust of the Kashmiri people at every account. And when I say that, it refers to both the Kashmiri Muslims, as well as the Kashmiri Hindus. However, the return of the Pandits today is dependent on both the Indian Govts. at the state and the centre, as well as the local populace and certainly, the Pandits themselves. You have stated that you would like to welcome them. I am happy. Let others, including Kashmiris, answer that question as well. 3) The Indian govt has certainly not done anything to win trust. And may be that's the reason Shopian report is suspected. But don't you think this means that irrespective of whoever investigates the case, the outcome in the minds of the local populace is decided: Rape has occurred and it has been done by men of the armed forces. (Paramilitary or otherwise is not the point I am bothered to discuss here). In other words, any report which doesn't accuse them of rape is 'doctored'. Will such biased judgements actually help? When you already have decided a particular point of view, and have refused to budge from it, is there any point in discussing on such a thing? After all, one of my teachers clearly stated that for a discussion, not only is it necessary to go with an open mind, but importantly, be ready to accept the view of the others if the argument offered by them is rational and correct, with respect to the facts. (Which in themselves should be verified). When the section of Kashmiri Muslims protesting have already decided the perpetrators of the crimes in their minds, is it any use even trying to discuss the issue with them? 4) The blame for the Pandit mess has been imposed on the Indian state. I feel that not only the Indian state, but also the people who went around killing them are responsible. If in Gujarat riots, we can blame both the Modi administration as well as those perpetrating the killings and rapes (and those who condoned them); if in Orissa we can blame both the Naveen Patnaik administration and the killers who unleashed violence on the tribals; and if in Delhi pogrom in 1984, we can blame the Congress both at the administration and at the cadre level for having allowed the pogrom to take place, then Kashmiri Muslims, at least the section amongst them which did unleash violence on the Pandits (and those who condoned or supported them), can't escape blame for what they did: murder of innocents based on perception. 5) Finally, there are many on this forum who have repeatedly stressed that the Kashmiri Muslims who have independence from India in mind, are actually seeking out a religious state. By your statement that since Pandits and other minorities like Buddhists and Sikhs would be considered pro-India and hence anti-Kashmir, and hence would not be accepted (or may not be accepted), I think you have accepted that Kashmir will be a religious state. In other words, now we can have the formation of a junior Pakistan state, the only difference between Pakistan and Kashmir valley (junior Pakistan) being a difference in their history and evolution of cultures. Is that a cause of celebration and support? Or is it a matter of shame? Is that justifiable? After all, the idea all the time seems to be of a religious state, when the arguments raised are about human rights, as if trying to hide what the real foundations of the state would be. Is Islam in danger in Kashmir thanks to India? Rakesh From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 12:20:48 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:20:48 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "Disability is not a barrier to sport" Message-ID: http://www.thinkchangeindia.org/2009/12/11/think-sport-disability-is-no-barrier-to-sport/ From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 13:29:21 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:29:21 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> <47e122a70912152222x13bdc884vbed23827a387cbe1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear Inder ji When I asked you for whether there was any evidence or any thing against the report legally, here's a fact which seems in my mind as doubtful, which has been raised by the CBI report. Here it is, along with the article: http://telegraphindia.com/1091216/jsp/frontpage/story_11871616.jsp Shockers in CBI report - Doctor claimed she used own smear: Agency MUZAFFAR RAINA *Srinagar, Dec. 15: *The CBI report in the Shopian case has sucked six doctors — most of them alumni of a prestigious medical college — into a maelstrom rarely seen in India. Among the listed charges — so incendiary that a court-imposed media gag was in place till yesterday — is a claim that a doctor at one point told the CBI that she had used her own vaginal smear in an attempt to reaffirm the perception that two women were raped and murdered at Shopian in Kashmir. The central investigative agency had concluded in the chargesheet-cum-report that the two women had drowned — a claim greeted with incredulity and violence in the Valley today. If the CBI report springs any hole under microscopic scrutiny, the charges levelled have the potential to ignite an unparalleled scandal that will put the country’s investigation system under global glare. Perhaps aware of the implications, the CBI has included exhaustive details in its report. Referring to the deposition of Nighat Shaheen, a 40-year-old lady doctor, the CBI report says: “Dr Nighat has not truthfully revealed the source of the vaginal smears used for making the slides, as she has made false statements, initially to the effect that the slides had been prepared by her in Pulwama hospital on 31-5-2009 by using two gloves lying in the dustbin of her room, and later that she had prepared them of her own vaginal smear using a glove lying in the dustbin of her room.” However, the CBI report adds, the claim was found to be untrue. “The second statement has also proved to be false as per the report of CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory), CBI, New Delhi, which did not find any match between the DNA profiles generated from the blood samples obtained from Nighat and her husband, and those present on the slides.” Shopian, 50km from Srinagar, used to be part of Pulwama – where Nighat worked – before becoming a separate district. Shopian has been on the boil since May 29, when the two women were reported missing and later found dead. Five of the chargesheeted doctors — Ghulam Mohammad Paul, 59, then chief medical officer of Pulwama, Ghulam Qadir Sofi, 56, then deputy medical superintendent, Bilal Ahmad Dalal, 40, assistant surgeon, Mohammad Maqbool Mir, 54, then district health officer and Nighat — have graduated from the prestigious Government Medical College in Srinagar. Nighat is also a postgraduate in gynaecology. The sixth, Nazia Hassan, 30, completed her MBBS from the premier SKIMS Medical College in Srinagar. Bilal and Nazia were posted at the Shopian district hospital on May 30, when the bodies of Neelofar, 22, and her sister-in-law Asiya, 17, were brought for post-mortem. The CBI charges the two doctors with submitting four different post-mortem reports. The CBI report accuses the other four of fabricating evidence. “…It has been conclusively established… that the slides sent for scientific examination were fabricated by Dr Nighat with active connivance of Dr Ghulam Qadir Sofi, Dr Maqbool Mir and Dr Ghulam Mohammad Paul…. Dr Nighat Shaheen was examined repeatedly on the issue of the source of the slides but she did not reveal it,” says the report. On the basis of the fabricated evidence, five policemen were jailed but the CBI has given them a clean chit. The investigations say Bilal and Nazia had claimed to have performed a floatation test of lungs but the viscera showed they were pieces of heart. “…the piece of viscera preserved by Dr Bilal as lungs of Neelofar has actually been found to be of pieces of heart,” says the report. The government has already suspended Bilal and Nighat. Paul has retired and Nazia has resigned. One of the accused doctors, who refused to be named, said: “There was (sexual) assault on the ladies. I wanted to be part of the exhumation but they (CBI) refused. The slides were not fudged but made from the gloves used on those ladies. The CBI has tortured me all through.” [image: Top] From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 14:08:18 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:08:18 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Read this article in Hindu Message-ID: http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/16/stories/2009121655370900.htm *Violence and threats bring a government to its knees * Vidya Subrahmaniam *Rajasthan had emerged as a model for transparency and accountability in NREGS implementation. Tragically, entrenched interests have been allowed to hijack the process. * Through the second half of October and for most of November this year, Rajasthan was engulfed in an unusual form of protest, spearheaded in the main by gram panchayat officials. Joined in some places by elected MLAs and MPs, and backed covertly by a section of District Collectors, the panchayat staff held meetings, sat in dharna, issued threats, and when these did not suffice, blocked highways, to get a single point across. They would not tolerate civil society participati on in social audit of works done under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). The protestors filed cases in two courts and obtained stay orders against the inclusion of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social activists in future social audit exercises. It would have been easy enough for the Ashok Gehlot Government to convince the courts that civil society participation brought credibility to the audit exercise. Not only did the government not do that, it went a step further and called off the audits it had announced for one panchayat each in 32 of the State’s 33 districts. It was clear to those who incredulously watched the action-reaction sequence that the Government had succumbed to pressure from a small yet powerful group of people who had made it plain that they would not have their wrongdoings investigated. It was a classic case of an entrenched power bloc flexing its muscles — and getting reward points for it. Ironic turn of destiny For Rajasthan, seen up until then as a model for transparency and accountability in NREGS implementation, the cancellation was an ironic turn of destiny. Only two months earlier, the Gehlot government had gone into overdrive, gathering NGOs and social activists for an unprecedented joint social audit conducted under blazing arc lights in the panchayats of Bhilwara. State Ministers conveyed their congratulations to the audit teams from decorated podiums, as did C.P. Joshi, Union Minister for Rural Development and Member of Parliament from Bhilwara, who was the guest of honour at an October 11 rally that marked the conclusion of the audit. Enthusiasm ran high as thousands of NGO volunteers, who had banded together under the Aruna Roy-led Rozgar Evum Suchna Adhikar Abhiyan (right to employment and information campaign), or the RESAA, set out into rural Bhilwara for the audit. Of the district’s 381 panchayats, 11 were chosen for focussed attention while the rest were covered over 10 days by teams of padayatris tasked with checking compliance with the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 — both by means of physical inspection of works, job cards, muster rolls and so on, and through feedback from villagers. As the 11 audit teams got to work, they realised that they were on to something big. Damning evidence was emerging of diversion of NREGS funds by a defrauding mechanism that went all the way up from the sarpanch at the bottom to block and district-level staff. The padayatris reported missing job cards, fudged or absent muster rolls and improper maintenance of other NREGS documents. (Later reports from other districts would corroborate the corruption, and it would come to light that two District Collectors had been recommended for suspension for irregular use of NREGA funds.) By-word for hope The corruption and the irregularities unearthed in Bhilwara were alarming, but the silver lining was that the social audit had zeroed in on them, as was in fact envisaged by the job guarantee Act. Indeed, the ecstatic public response to the audit, and the official stamp on it, made Bhilwara a by-word for hope and inspiration — as much for civil society advocates of the largest guaranteed job employment scheme in the world as for the many millions of poor people drawing sustenance from it, and already feeling its impact, despite the corruption involved in the scheme and its patchy and half-hearted implementation. Perhaps it was too good to be true. The Bhilwara exercise was itself a product of struggle. The sarpanchs had tried hard to block the audit, and failing in that, they had openly raised their voices at the *jan sunwais*(public hearings) where the preliminary audit results were read out. In some places audit teams reporting irregularities were heckled and intimidated. But the audit sailed through because the Rajasthan government put its weight behind the project. Post-Bhilwara, Ms. Roy and others in the RESAA had been flooded with requests for similar audits to be done in their districts. One such request came from Congress MP from Alwar Jitendra Singh. He was not to know then that this small act would unleash a storm that would take him in its sweep. The Bhilwara social audit ended on October 11, and with that went out the message that the audit juggernaut was moving to Alwar. Within a week, sarpanchs of panchayats in Alwar had organised themselves into a sarpanch maha sangh. On October 25, Independent MP from Dausa Kirorilal Meena addressed a meeting of State panchayati raj staff, where he announced a formal boycott of civil society groups. “We will not let Aruna Roy and her team enter Alwar,” he thundered, and promised to get the Chief Minister to intervene and stop the audit. Ms. Roy and other RESAA activists also met Mr. Gehlot, following which both sides decided to drop the idea of saturation social audit in favour of a model social audit to be conducted in one chosen panchayat from each district in two batches through late- November and December. Each audit team was to consist of 10 Block Resource Persons (BRPs), 10 gram panchayat members chosen from neighbouring panchayats and two civil society representatives. Civil society participation was kept to the minimum to satisfy the protestors. And, since the purpose of the audit was to examine how NREGS funds were being utilised, the choice fell on the panchayat showing the maximum material expenditure. The highest-spending panchayat in Alwar was Madhogarh. The audit here was to start with a two-day November 21-22 training programme for gram panchayat staff. But the sarpanchs had already made up their minds to block the audit. On November 18, the gram sevak of Madhopur locked up the panchayat office, reported sick, and disappeared with the NREGS records. The Block Development Officer (BDO) broke open the locks in the presence of the District Collector, and finding the records missing, filed an FIR against the gram sevak, the sarpanch and the rozgar sahayak (NREGS secretary). But with pressure mounting on the BDO, he himself would flee to Gwalior to escape being present when the audit team arrived. Around this time came news that the NREGS Commissioner for Rajasthan, Rajendra Bhanawat, had twice recommended the suspension of the District Collectors of Chittorgarh and Dholpur for irregular employment of NREGS funds. This inflamed sections of the IAS fraternity, adding more muscle to the anti-social audit campaign. Mr. Bhanawat has since been transferred out. By November 24, the mood had turned ugly in Madhopur. Congress MLA Tikaram squatted in dharna while a crowd of 300 people led by sarpanchs and other panchayat staff blocked the Alwar-Delhi State highway, relenting only after the Additional District Magistrate announced that no civil society representative will join the audit. Four Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs were among those named by the police in an FIR filed against those who indulged in obstruction. Here was an incredible case of people’s representatives joining hands with village-level government officials to block an audit of funds earmarked for India’s — and the world’s — biggest welfare programme. The NREGS was the United Progressive Alliance’s flagship project. Mr. Gehlot was a Congress Chief Minister. Yet, as it happens with all such cases, the FIR was withdrawn and the case against the obstructors closed. With Alwar showing the way, the agitation spread to Jailsamer, Barmer, Sirohi, Chittor, Rajsamand and other districts. In Barmer, the social audit team was intercepted by a 400-strong armed mob that included panchayat officials and politicians. In Rajsamand, Lal Singh, a civil society representative on the audit team, was surrounded by a violent mob that bundled him into a vehicle with the threat that he would be killed if he returned. Powerful axis A powerful axis of panchayat staff-legislators-district officials had brought the government to it knees. It was evident that those who were meant to be in the vanguard of fighting corruption were fighting to protect corruption. It was evident too that the report of the Bhilwara audit (a copy of which is available with *The Hindu*) had unearthed something that threatened to shake the system. Consider these by way of example. In gram panchayat Para, auditors examining bills for construction material supplied by “Devnarain Krishi Firm,” found no supplier by that name. A phone call to the number listed in the bill was answered by the sarpanch’s son. This single “firm” had billed the panchayat for material supplies worth Rs. 25 lakh. In the same panchayat, suppliers ‘Nakowda Agency’ disputed the statement that they had supplied material. In gram panchayat Sangwa, auditors found hand-written, *kaccha* bills for material supplies amounting to over Rs. 40 lakh from a fake firm called “Dinesh Kumar Trivedi.” Trivedi and Rajkumar Talior, another supplier, were also shown to have sold kerosene. However, a visit to the location showed a ramshackle shop with a single tractor and no stock of materials claimed to have been supplied. In panchayat Devaria, the auditors found no supplier by the name “Tulsiram putr Ramaji Teli.” In the same panchayat, suppliers “Gopi Putr Gokul Teli” gave it in writing that the bills generated in their names were fake. From babuubab at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 14:34:39 2009 From: babuubab at gmail.com (SUNDARA BABU) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:34:39 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] IWIJ Shopian case watch report In-Reply-To: <66ec95310912160058o2eb0a47bt39979f56b1366a0f@mail.gmail.com> References: <66ec95310912141220x410d2ea0o931e4dbce20f392@mail.gmail.com> <66ec95310912160005k7d47934emd506b0ce24ad0c27@mail.gmail.com> <66ec95310912160058o2eb0a47bt39979f56b1366a0f@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <66ec95310912160104j7d18cf7fq37e2626ceb354bf0@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Fwd from Ashok Agrwaal (ashokagrwaal at gmail.com) IWIJ Shopian case watch report Manufacturing a Suitable Story: a report by the Independent Women' Initiative for Justice in Shopian (IWIJ) Dear all The IWIJ comprising of Uma Chakravarti, Usha Ramanathan, Vrinda Grover, Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal, Seema Misra and Dr. Ajita - are conducting a case watch on the Shopian rape and murder of 2 women in May 2009. The first case watch report was released by IWIJ on 10Dec 2009, at New Delhi. If anyone interested please contact back. Or contact Ad. Ashok Agrwaal Thanks SUNDARA BABU From indersalim at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 20:59:02 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:59:02 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> <47e122a70912152222x13bdc884vbed23827a387cbe1@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <47e122a70912160729u332c3c45ib112391a5180e56d@mail.gmail.com> Dear Rakesh ji This is not a first murder mystery in the world and neither it will be the last. Women just happen to be the most vulnerable, we all know. See how the media and adminstration talked about hymen theory, as if a it is the only proof to be a virgin. What saddened me time and again is the fact that the Sate tries to prove its efficiency by saying things that are not there. That happens always in the court. Dont we know how many times innocent people were charged. Dont we know how evidence is created by the police to nail the so called culprit. Dont we know how police can release the most lethal one one pretext or the other. There is a law always, which is so imperfect, and tilted towards the powerful. for me the entire system of forensic process that helps the police to arrive at the conclusion is problematic too. Here, i wont go in the question of what is crime and what is nature of the fabric our socities are made up of. .....but here it is the quetion of how the adminstration tries to give the verdict, even when the system at hand is inadequate. it was prudent on the part the Govt in Kashmir or CBI to say simply that we dont know, The theory of drowing is the most stupid thing to say, and by cricizing that , one cant not be labelled as anti-indian. In routine, we both are beneficiaries of the Indian State, and i beleive some friends in Kashmir who also happn to criticize the CBI verdict perhaps are much bigger beneficieries than both of us, but the question is why the State tries to play God. This is where the concept of God, who by our common knowledge knows all, and we expect him to tell us all about our destines, and he also helps us through its representatives in our respectives belief systems, and sometimes through the State organs. Right. This is how it functions, It does not surprise me, but it surprises those who think about power in a limited way. I beleive that State is truely very powerful and can commit such mistakes, and can even justify these mistakes IN THE INTEREST OF THE STATE We have forgiven Kings in the past, we will forgive our present day systems as well, which is not differnet from the loopholes of the past , which plagued the masses..... always, in the past, in the present. Just keep the pressure, that is the only way out, else we look like a herd of sheep with love and regards inder salim On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 1:29 PM, Rakesh Iyer wrote: > > Dear Inder ji > > When I asked you for whether there was any evidence or any thing against the report legally, here's a fact which seems in my mind as doubtful, which has been raised by the CBI report. > > Here it is, along with the article: > > http://telegraphindia.com/1091216/jsp/frontpage/story_11871616.jsp > > Shockers in CBI report > - Doctor claimed she used own smear: Agency > MUZAFFAR RAINA > > Srinagar, Dec. 15: The CBI report in the Shopian case has sucked six doctors — most of them alumni of a prestigious medical college — into a maelstrom rarely seen in India. > > Among the listed charges — so incendiary that a court-imposed media gag was in place till yesterday — is a claim that a doctor at one point told the CBI that she had used her own vaginal smear in an attempt to reaffirm the perception that two women were raped and murdered at Shopian in Kashmir. > > The central investigative agency had concluded in the chargesheet-cum-report that the two women had drowned — a claim greeted with incredulity and violence in the Valley today. > > If the CBI report springs any hole under microscopic scrutiny, the charges levelled have the potential to ignite an unparalleled scandal that will put the country’s investigation system under global glare. > > Perhaps aware of the implications, the CBI has included exhaustive details in its report. > > Referring to the deposition of Nighat Shaheen, a 40-year-old lady doctor, the CBI report says: “Dr Nighat has not truthfully revealed the source of the vaginal smears used for making the slides, as she has made false statements, initially to the effect that the slides had been prepared by her in Pulwama hospital on 31-5-2009 by using two gloves lying in the dustbin of her room, and later that she had prepared them of her own vaginal smear using a glove lying in the dustbin of her room.” > > However, the CBI report adds, the claim was found to be untrue. “The second statement has also proved to be false as per the report of CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory), CBI, New Delhi, which did not find any match between the DNA profiles generated from the blood samples obtained from Nighat and her husband, and those present on the slides.” > > Shopian, 50km from Srinagar, used to be part of Pulwama – where Nighat worked – before becoming a separate district. Shopian has been on the boil since May 29, when the two women were reported missing and later found dead. > > Five of the chargesheeted doctors — Ghulam Mohammad Paul, 59, then chief medical officer of Pulwama, Ghulam Qadir Sofi, 56, then deputy medical superintendent, Bilal Ahmad Dalal, 40, assistant surgeon, Mohammad Maqbool Mir, 54, then district health officer and Nighat — have graduated from the prestigious Government Medical College in Srinagar. Nighat is also a postgraduate in gynaecology. The sixth, Nazia Hassan, 30, completed her MBBS from the premier SKIMS Medical College in Srinagar. > > Bilal and Nazia were posted at the Shopian district hospital on May 30, when the bodies of Neelofar, 22, and her sister-in-law Asiya, 17, were brought for post-mortem. The CBI charges the two doctors with submitting four different post-mortem reports. > > The CBI report accuses the other four of fabricating evidence. “…It has been conclusively established… that the slides sent for scientific examination were fabricated by Dr Nighat with active connivance of Dr Ghulam Qadir Sofi, Dr Maqbool Mir and Dr Ghulam Mohammad Paul…. Dr Nighat Shaheen was examined repeatedly on the issue of the source of the slides but she did not reveal it,” says the report. > > On the basis of the fabricated evidence, five policemen were jailed but the CBI has given them a clean chit. > > The investigations say Bilal and Nazia had claimed to have performed a floatation test of lungs but the viscera showed they were pieces of heart. “…the piece of viscera preserved by Dr Bilal as lungs of Neelofar has actually been found to be of pieces of heart,” says the report. > > The government has already suspended Bilal and Nighat. Paul has retired and Nazia has resigned. > > One of the accused doctors, who refused to be named, said: “There was (sexual) assault on the ladies. I wanted to be part of the exhumation but they (CBI) refused. The slides were not fudged but made from the gloves used on those ladies. The CBI has tortured me all through.” -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Wed Dec 16 21:12:14 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:12:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Shopain ( kashmir ) Murder and Rape In-Reply-To: <47e122a70912160729u332c3c45ib112391a5180e56d@mail.gmail.com> References: <47e122a70912150327k66f70bc1t1c3c4c5028dd14d@mail.gmail.com> <6b79f1a70912150342ob9fb9cbnc9aaaa1589982168@mail.gmail.com> <47e122a70912152222x13bdc884vbed23827a387cbe1@mail.gmail.com> <47e122a70912160729u332c3c45ib112391a5180e56d@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear Inder ji With all due respect, yes I agree that our nation-state has not fulfilled many of its' goals since independence. It has forgotten the man whom it has crowned the Father of the Nation. Not only that, it has forgotten the very ideals and dreams it had sold to its people in the name of creating it. And today, all those lie in despair, as if something has been raped and beaten black and blue. Probably our hopes. Probably our honour and dignity. Probably our enthusiasm. Something else as well. Having said that, as I said, sentiments can be respected, but these sentiments must be backed by facts. I still request you to kindly provide news headlines and other clippings at least, if no report, of the kind which can certainly put the point across that there has been mishandling of the cases and that the CBI report is not worth what it is claimed to be. As for keeping pressure, we certainly must keep pressure. I feel that Indian democracy is not a democracy, but simply an autocracy where people have simply gifted their so-called representatives a chance to loot and rape the country's resources as much as they can, and sell it off like prostitutes. We haven't realized it ourselves. And before I sound off like a Leftist, let me claim that even the Left in India has done the same thing, like the Right and the Centre. Any democracy is actually a democracy when citizens engage themselves in the day-to-day activities of the govt. and the state. That has been completely lacking, and when I say that, it's not only the rich and the middle classes which have not engaged themselves. Even the poor can share that part of the blame. It's time we wake up from our slumber, wherever we are. Otherwise, I don't know about being a world power (and I hardly care), but we are going to be the country with the largest no. of world poor, largest no. of people suffering from malnutrition, anaemia, TB and AIDS, and the country with largest scale of corruption as well. And we would deserve it, like it or not. Rakesh On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 8:59 PM, Inder Salim wrote: > Dear Rakesh ji > > This is not a first murder mystery in the world and neither it will be > the last. Women just happen to be the most vulnerable, we all know. > See how the media and adminstration talked about hymen theory, as if a > it is the only proof to be a virgin. > > What saddened me time and again is the fact that the Sate tries to > prove its efficiency by saying things that are not there. That happens > always in the court. Dont we know how many times innocent people were > charged. Dont we know how evidence is created by the police to nail > the so called culprit. Dont we know how police can release the most > lethal one one pretext or the other. There is a law always, which is > so imperfect, and tilted towards the powerful. > > for me the entire system of forensic process that helps the police to > arrive at the conclusion is problematic too. Here, i wont go in the > question of what is crime and what is nature of the fabric our > socities are made up of. .....but here it is the quetion of how the > adminstration tries to give the verdict, even when the system at hand > is inadequate. > > it was prudent on the part the Govt in Kashmir or CBI to say simply > that we dont know, The theory of drowing is the most stupid thing to > say, and by cricizing that , one cant not be labelled as anti-indian. > > In routine, we both are beneficiaries of the Indian State, and i > beleive some friends in Kashmir who also happn to criticize the CBI > verdict perhaps are much bigger beneficieries than both of us, but > the question is why the State tries to play God. > > This is where the concept of God, who by our common knowledge knows > all, and we expect him to tell us all about our destines, and he also > helps us through its representatives in our respectives belief > systems, and sometimes through the State organs. Right. > > This is how it functions, It does not surprise me, but it surprises > those who think about power in a limited way. I beleive that State is > truely very powerful and can commit such mistakes, and can even > justify these mistakes IN THE INTEREST OF THE STATE > > We have forgiven Kings in the past, we will forgive our present day > systems as well, which is not differnet from the loopholes of the past > , which plagued the masses..... always, in the past, in the present. > > Just keep the pressure, that is the only way out, else we look like a > herd of sheep > > with love and regards > > inder salim > > On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 1:29 PM, Rakesh Iyer > wrote: > > > > Dear Inder ji > > > > When I asked you for whether there was any evidence or any thing against > the report legally, here's a fact which seems in my mind as doubtful, which > has been raised by the CBI report. > > > > Here it is, along with the article: > > > > http://telegraphindia.com/1091216/jsp/frontpage/story_11871616.jsp > > > > Shockers in CBI report > > - Doctor claimed she used own smear: Agency > > MUZAFFAR RAINA > > > > Srinagar, Dec. 15: The CBI report in the Shopian case has sucked six > doctors — most of them alumni of a prestigious medical college — into a > maelstrom rarely seen in India. > > > > Among the listed charges — so incendiary that a court-imposed media gag > was in place till yesterday — is a claim that a doctor at one point told the > CBI that she had used her own vaginal smear in an attempt to reaffirm the > perception that two women were raped and murdered at Shopian in Kashmir. > > > > The central investigative agency had concluded in the > chargesheet-cum-report that the two women had drowned — a claim greeted with > incredulity and violence in the Valley today. > > > > If the CBI report springs any hole under microscopic scrutiny, the > charges levelled have the potential to ignite an unparalleled scandal that > will put the country’s investigation system under global glare. > > > > Perhaps aware of the implications, the CBI has included exhaustive > details in its report. > > > > Referring to the deposition of Nighat Shaheen, a 40-year-old lady doctor, > the CBI report says: “Dr Nighat has not truthfully revealed the source of > the vaginal smears used for making the slides, as she has made false > statements, initially to the effect that the slides had been prepared by her > in Pulwama hospital on 31-5-2009 by using two gloves lying in the dustbin of > her room, and later that she had prepared them of her own vaginal smear > using a glove lying in the dustbin of her room.” > > > > However, the CBI report adds, the claim was found to be untrue. “The > second statement has also proved to be false as per the report of CFSL > (Central Forensic Science Laboratory), CBI, New Delhi, which did not find > any match between the DNA profiles generated from the blood samples obtained > from Nighat and her husband, and those present on the slides.” > > > > Shopian, 50km from Srinagar, used to be part of Pulwama – where Nighat > worked – before becoming a separate district. Shopian has been on the boil > since May 29, when the two women were reported missing and later found dead. > > > > Five of the chargesheeted doctors — Ghulam Mohammad Paul, 59, then chief > medical officer of Pulwama, Ghulam Qadir Sofi, 56, then deputy medical > superintendent, Bilal Ahmad Dalal, 40, assistant surgeon, Mohammad Maqbool > Mir, 54, then district health officer and Nighat — have graduated from the > prestigious Government Medical College in Srinagar. Nighat is also a > postgraduate in gynaecology. The sixth, Nazia Hassan, 30, completed her MBBS > from the premier SKIMS Medical College in Srinagar. > > > > Bilal and Nazia were posted at the Shopian district hospital on May 30, > when the bodies of Neelofar, 22, and her sister-in-law Asiya, 17, were > brought for post-mortem. The CBI charges the two doctors with submitting > four different post-mortem reports. > > > > The CBI report accuses the other four of fabricating evidence. “…It has > been conclusively established… that the slides sent for scientific > examination were fabricated by Dr Nighat with active connivance of Dr Ghulam > Qadir Sofi, Dr Maqbool Mir and Dr Ghulam Mohammad Paul…. Dr Nighat Shaheen > was examined repeatedly on the issue of the source of the slides but she did > not reveal it,” says the report. > > > > On the basis of the fabricated evidence, five policemen were jailed but > the CBI has given them a clean chit. > > > > The investigations say Bilal and Nazia had claimed to have performed a > floatation test of lungs but the viscera showed they were pieces of heart. > “…the piece of viscera preserved by Dr Bilal as lungs of Neelofar has > actually been found to be of pieces of heart,” says the report. > > > > The government has already suspended Bilal and Nighat. Paul has retired > and Nazia has resigned. > > > > One of the accused doctors, who refused to be named, said: “There was > (sexual) assault on the ladies. I wanted to be part of the exhumation but > they (CBI) refused. The slides were not fudged but made from the gloves used > on those ladies. The CBI has tortured me all through.” > > > > -- > > http://indersalim.livejournal.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 babuubab at gmail.com Thu Dec 17 11:19:29 2009 From: babuubab at gmail.com (SUNDARA BABU) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:19:29 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Twenty Years of SC ST Prevention of Atrocities Act In-Reply-To: <66ec95310912162144l299cb5e5sc1e6f29dcb549958@mail.gmail.com> References: <246745.96941.qm@web94911.mail.in2.yahoo.com> <740974.11010.qm@web32904.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <66ec95310912162144l299cb5e5sc1e6f29dcb549958@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <66ec95310912162149u25895fc8k30eb8a9071b1576a@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Regi P George *Twenty Years of SC ST Prevention of Atrocities Act* * * *K Veeraiah* THIS year the dalit advocacy groups are celebrating the 20th year of SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. In implementing the universal human rights and the rights and protections guaranteed by the constitution, this Act is a milestone. The act itself came in the backdrop of inhuman incidents such as Kilvenmani, Tchuduru, Karamchedu which shocked the nation in late 1980s and early 90s. Indian constitution, under article 17, prohibits untouchability where as article 15 prohibits any kind of discrimination on the grounds of caste. In pursuance of this constitutional mandate, the central government adopted protection of civil rights act way back in 1955. The philosophy behind the inclusion of these articles under Fundamental Rights implies the recognition of state’s dual role, protector as well as facilitator when it comes to depressed classes. The PCR (Protection of Civil Rights) act applies to all underprivileged classes, its main focus is the protection of rights guaranteed to SC and STs. The 1955 act recognises the violation of rights against SCs and STs as crimes to which the policy makers outlined remedial measures as well as protective measures under law of the land. Four decades of its implementation supported by the governmental efforts generated awareness about civil rights of depressed classes. At the same time violation of SC, ST rights kept going on. The social and democratic awareness fueled by anti emergency struggle in the country widened the ambit of civil rights. Followed by the increased activism of dalit advocacy groups, apparently those who headed such groups are the first generation beneficiaries of opportunities under reservation policy, there was a success in differentiating between civil rights and atrocities. The dalit movements of the late 70s and early 80s centered around self respect apart from graded equality. Self respect movements fueled by inhuman atrocities such as mentioned above paved way for new debate about protecting the dalit rights at the same time protecting the dalits from atrocities unleashed against them. Thus the necessity for a new act came up and parliament at that time acted promptly recognising this need, thus came in to existence the prevention of SC, ST atrocities which empowers the State to use its powers to see that the perpetrators of atrocities do not go unpunished. The conflicts debated at that time and redressal or remedial mechanisms outlined in those acts are basically individual centric. Despite these guarantees and protections, the 21st century India is witnessing an increase in atrocities against SCs and STs. The table given below reflects this increase. The major change that needs to be recognised in these atrocities is that they changed from individual sphere to social sphere. In other sense atrocities against group have increased as against individuals. Particularly this change is evident in the case of developed states such as Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh as well as the states where predominantly feudal social relations are in tact. The data covering the major states, compiled from national crime bureau records as well as annual reports of National SC, and ST commissions, Human Rights Commission confirms the same. The data for the year 2001 is compiled from National Commission for Scheduled Castes whose figures are contestable because of its abrupt reduction of incidence of crime against SC/STs in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan. State 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 Andhra Pradesh 591 1764 1880 1417 3791 3383 Bihar 751 747 785 523 2691 2786 Karnataka 905 1171 1148 1294 1816 1844 Kerala 634 696 1148 135 520 477 Madhya Pradesh 4571 3979 4057 681 6363 4106 Gujarat 190 207 694 465 1549 1038 Maharashtra 1231 1622 683 148 949 1164 Orissa 220 497 772 814 1917 1355 Punjab 18 9 23 50 134 177 Rajasthan 4379 5197 5586 3630 5391 4174 Tamilnadu 550 1293 1562 706 1183 1737 Uttar Pradesh 9296 14215 6511 4972 3790 6144 West Bengal 29 0 0 6 23 3 With the globalisation and economic reforms there is a sea change in the debate on dalit rights. Globalisation facilitated the marginalisation of dalits and adivasis from socio-economic and cultural fields at the same time consolidating the opportunities in the hands of privileged. This is the time when the state retreated from its duty to cater to the social needs, thus opening the earlier restricted field for open competition which resulted in creating new areas of conflict. As mentioned earlier, in this period escalation of atrocities against the dalits and adivasis from being individual centric to group centric gained momentum. As this is far beyond the limits of modern jurisprudence which is basically individual centric, the establishment also refuses to register the cases of group violence in nature thus leaving the field open for direct confrontation at some times. This is resulting in conflict of interest for limited opportunities which in turn is expressed in terms of caste based conflicts due to the absence of democratic ways of mobilisation, and proper grievance redressal mechanisms. Thus under globalization, caste conflicts and atrocities against SC and STs have moved from individual ethical space to social and economic space. That is the reason for enormous increase of incidence of crime against SC/STs over this period. This is confirmed by National Crimes Bureau records. According to National Crime Bureau Records, as *The Hindu* reported on July 20, 2004, statistics available with the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Commissions indicate that Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu recorded high incidence of atrocities against SC/STs between 1996-2000. In Uttar Pradesh, where dalit population is nearly 21 percent, 17 cases were registered per each lakh of SC population, where as this ratio peaks for Madhya Pradesh with 45 cases for a lakh population. In Bengal where *SC population stood at 23 per cent as per 2001 Census, this ratio stands at 0.01 cases / lakh population*. In Andhra Pradesh where 16 per cent population consists of SCs, 26 cases were registered per each lakh of SCs. Apart from that the analysis of data on incidence of crime against SC/STs reveals a fundamental character. The stubborn persistence of deprivations, poverty in its different manifestations, marginalisation in access to resources, both traditional and newly available, denial of benefits of development are producing the conditions for continuous escalation of conflicts across the country. Prevention of atrocities act mainly concentrates on redressal mechanisms. But if we look at the data provided by National Bureau of Crime Records, the progress is not satisfactory. As on 2007, December, 1,04,006 cases are in courts out of which in 6505 cases convictions were announced, and in 14,217 cases culprits were acquitted. The rest of 82,472 cases are still pending before the courts. This performance is after the majority of states established special courts to deal with offences under PCR and POA acts. Globalisation opened up new opportunities for the upper caste cluster. The same upper caste clusters are having the inward linkages available under the existing state structure. The changed scenario helped them to sustain their hegemony over the economy as well as over the social life in rural India with the coupling of upward linkages made available to them under globalisation with already existing inward linkages within the state systems. With the State retreating from the managing of social and public life, in the economic sphere this retreat opened up new opportunities for the private capital and in social sphere opened up new opportunities for non governmental agencies to intrude in to social life. Thus we can now see that the nature of NGO activities are wide spread across the sectors from helping the disabled to microfinance institutions. On the other hand, this retreat of state also opened up new opportunities for caste forces which are striving for restoring the old identity and group based loyalties instead of striving for democratic grievance redressal means, thus consolidating the politics of identity. This identity politics in turn is reinforcing the divisions and sub divisions from the existing underprivileged caste clusters there by weakening their bargaining power in its encounter with the State as well as civic life. This inturn, is further dividing the socially and economically weaker sections and ST, SCs by juxtaposing the interests of these sections, at a time when there is a need to develop solidarity cutting across the castes to protect the underprivileged. This underscores the need for developing sustained movements based on building sustainable movements by developing strong solidarity among the under privileged castes. In this back ground the governments have to factor in the changed scenario in social life over the last two decades while formulating the policies including multidimensional programs to address the structural roots of violence. To be precise, in case of protecting civil rights of underprivileged and prevention of atrocities against them, it needs reconsideration in the backdrop of experiences of implementation of prevention of atrocities act over the last two decades. Movements coercing the state to discharge its duties in true constitutional spirit need to be built up. And such movements shall be in a position to address and accommodate the multidimensional aspirations of the constituent participants. From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Thu Dec 17 13:55:43 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:25:43 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Soumendra_Padhi_=28India=29?= Message-ID: <20091217092543.4E8B460A.E12E0A37@192.168.0.2> 17 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"The Tunnel", .by Soumendra Padhi (India) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- Read the recent review on Furtherfield --> Art Cinema Everywhere, All The Time. Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and CologneOFF V http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=370 --------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Thu Dec 17 15:55:06 2009 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:55:06 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks SC permission to die Message-ID: <6353c690912170225m48701398t28fb3dd20d4f800e@mail.gmail.com> Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks SC permission to die*Press Trust Of India* New Delhi, December 17, 2009 Should a woman who has been lying unconsious in a Mumbai hospital for 36 years be allowed to die or be left in the current vegetative state? That was the question put before the Supreme Court today when it said that “under the law of the country, we cannot allow a person to die”. The remarks by a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices A K Ganguly and B S Chauhan came when a direction was sought that the woman be not fed. The Bench sought a response from the Centre and Maharashtra government on a petition moved by 59-year-old Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug who has been lying in a vegetative state for last 36 years in Mumbai’s KEM hospital after being sexually assaulted by a sweeper. The Bench, which was hesitant to entertain the petition, agreed to issue the notice after advocate Shekhar Nafde explained it is not the case of “euthanasia” and the plea on behalf of the hapless woman was moved by her next friend Pinki Virani. “This is no human right. Her life is worse than animal existence,” the advocate said referring to Shanbaug. He said Shanbaug, who had joined as a nurse in the KEM hospital in 1966, was sexually assaulted in 1973, rendered immobile and unconscious and has been lying on bed after the incident. The petition sought a direction for the state government and Municipal Corporation of Brihan Mumbai to carry out tests to ascertain the medical condition of the woman. From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Thu Dec 17 16:43:10 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:13:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan Message-ID: <588551.44028.qm@web57201.mail.re3.yahoo.com> In two weeks of December 2009 there have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil.   The first was the consensus reached between the four Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces and the Federal Govt.   It is extremely unfortunate that this significant achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the Indian Media.   With this, the only major contentious issue between the Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of Dams.   http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01     The second major development is a 17 member bench of Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).   The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law).   The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen.   President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal prosecution action against him till the time he is President.   Kshmendra     From akmalik45 at yahoo.com Thu Dec 17 18:02:23 2009 From: akmalik45 at yahoo.com (A.K. Malik) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:32:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks SC permission to die In-Reply-To: <6353c690912170225m48701398t28fb3dd20d4f800e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <819277.49754.qm@web112118.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hi Mr Kaul, What a justice system in our country? The victim woman gets 36 yrs to live as a veggi and the culprit who did all this to her gets 7 yrs only for attempt to murder and lives happily after the sentence. Regards, (A.K.MALIK) --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: > From: Aditya Raj Kaul > Subject: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks SC permission to die > To: "sarai list" > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 3:55 PM > Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim > seeks SC permission to die*Press Trust > Of India* > New Delhi, December 17, 2009 > > Should a woman who has been lying unconsious in a Mumbai > hospital for 36 > years be allowed to die or be left in the current > vegetative state? > > That was the question put before the Supreme Court today > when it said that > “under the law of the country, we cannot allow a person > to die”. > > The remarks by a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G > Balakrishnan and > Justices A K Ganguly and B S Chauhan came when a direction > was sought that > the woman be not fed. > > The Bench sought a response from the Centre and Maharashtra > government on a > petition moved by 59-year-old Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug who > has been lying > in a vegetative state for last 36 years in Mumbai’s KEM > hospital after being > sexually assaulted by a sweeper. > > The Bench, which was hesitant to entertain the petition, > agreed to issue the > notice after advocate Shekhar Nafde explained it is not the > case of > “euthanasia” and the plea on behalf of the hapless > woman was moved by her > next friend Pinki Virani. > > “This is no human right. Her life is worse than animal > existence,” the > advocate said referring to Shanbaug. > > He said Shanbaug, who had joined as a nurse in the KEM > hospital in 1966, was > sexually assaulted in 1973, rendered immobile and > unconscious and has been > lying on bed after the incident. > > The petition sought a direction for the state government > and Municipal > Corporation of Brihan Mumbai to carry out tests to > ascertain the medical > condition of the woman. > _________________________________________ > 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 Dec 18 02:32:31 2009 From: shuddha at sarai.net (Shuddhabrata Sengupta) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:32:31 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks SC permission to die In-Reply-To: <819277.49754.qm@web112118.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <819277.49754.qm@web112118.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <00F7109F-7434-418D-B689-56F2F1936D2D@sarai.net> Dear Aditya, Thank you for forwarding this story. I personally support euthenasia and the right to die with dignity, and am saddened at the Supreme Court's decision not to let those close to Aruna Shanbaug extend to her the ultimate solidarity and succour of a peaceful, dignified, assisted end to her suffering. best, Shuddha On 17-Dec-09, at 6:02 PM, A.K. Malik wrote: > Hi Mr Kaul, > What a justice system in our country? The victim > woman gets 36 yrs to live as a veggi and the culprit who did all > this to her gets 7 yrs only for attempt to murder and lives happily > after the sentence. > Regards, > > (A.K.MALIK) > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: > >> From: Aditya Raj Kaul >> Subject: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks >> SC permission to die >> To: "sarai list" >> Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 3:55 PM >> Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim >> seeks SC permission to die*Press Trust >> Of India* >> New Delhi, December 17, 2009 >> >> Should a woman who has been lying unconsious in a Mumbai >> hospital for 36 >> years be allowed to die or be left in the current >> vegetative state? >> >> That was the question put before the Supreme Court today >> when it said that >> “under the law of the country, we cannot allow a person >> to die”. >> >> The remarks by a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G >> Balakrishnan and >> Justices A K Ganguly and B S Chauhan came when a direction >> was sought that >> the woman be not fed. >> >> The Bench sought a response from the Centre and Maharashtra >> government on a >> petition moved by 59-year-old Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug who >> has been lying >> in a vegetative state for last 36 years in Mumbai’s KEM >> hospital after being >> sexually assaulted by a sweeper. >> >> The Bench, which was hesitant to entertain the petition, >> agreed to issue the >> notice after advocate Shekhar Nafde explained it is not the >> case of >> “euthanasia” and the plea on behalf of the hapless >> woman was moved by her >> next friend Pinki Virani. >> >> “This is no human right. Her life is worse than animal >> existence,” the >> advocate said referring to Shanbaug. >> >> He said Shanbaug, who had joined as a nurse in the KEM >> hospital in 1966, was >> sexually assaulted in 1973, rendered immobile and >> unconscious and has been >> lying on bed after the incident. >> >> The petition sought a direction for the state government >> and Municipal >> Corporation of Brihan Mumbai to carry out tests to >> ascertain the medical >> condition of the woman. >> _________________________________________ >> 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/> Shuddhabrata Sengupta The Sarai Programme at CSDS Raqs Media Collective shuddha at sarai.net www.sarai.net www.raqsmediacollective.net From rohitrellan at aol.in Fri Dec 18 07:47:50 2009 From: rohitrellan at aol.in (rohitrellan at aol.in) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:17:50 -0500 Subject: [Reader-list] The Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) : 12th Theatre Utsav 2010 : Plays , Schedule & Events ( Delhi & Bhopal ) In-Reply-To: <8CC4D9C44E8A0E6-3F9C-3EC0@webmail-d064.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CC4D9C44E8A0E6-3F9C-3EC0@webmail-d064.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <8CC4D9F68BCA8CE-3F9C-43E4@webmail-d064.sysops.aol.com> The Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) : 12th Theatre Utsav 2010 The Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) was started a decade ago by the National School of Drama in order to contribute to the growth and development of theatre across the country. From being an annual national festival that presented the most creative of recent work in India, it has grown into an international event, hosting theatre companies from around the world. It is today acknowledged as the largest theatre festival of Asia – dedicated only to theatre – and is firmly established on the global theatre festival map. Over time it has evolved into an opportunity for audiences and students alike to enjoy and critically engage with the process and practice of the theatre arts as reflective of the issues and concerns of our troubled times. GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA The idea to set up an institution in theatre first germinated in a seminar on ‘Education’ organized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1956. With the help of UNESCO and committed to the cause of helping students realize their aspirations in the field of theatre, the theatre institute itself, finally came into existence two years later on the 20th of January 1958. In July 1958, the ‘Asian Theatre Institute’ (ATI) was taken over by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) - India’s premier institute of music, dance and drama – to meet the growing needs for developing a National Theatre in the country. A year later, in April 1959, the ‘National School of Drama’ (NSD) came into being and was housed at 25/A, Nizamuddin West, New Delhi, from where it functioned under the supervision of SNA. At that time it was called the ‘The National School of Drama and Theatre Institute’, the latter half of the name being dropped eventually, when the two were merged to form single entity. The Institute was officially recognized in December 1975 under the erstwhile Ministry of Culture and Education, Department of Culture. WHO WE ARE Over the years, the School has made advances on various fronts including a rapid expansion of its activities in all parts of the country. It has produced a galaxy of talents - actors, directors, script-writers, designers, technicians, educationists - who work in theatre, films and television and have been the recipients of several awards, national and international. The central aim of the training given at the NSD is to prepare students for the practice of theatre. To this end it offers a Three-Year Full-Time Diploma Course in the Dramatic Arts for entrants intending to make theatre their profession. During the course of their training students are helped to develop a variety of practical skills and acquire a corpus of knowledge ranging over the allied areas of Modern Indian Drama, Western Drama, Yoga, Mime & Movement, Voice & Speech, Theatre Music, Production Process, Acting & Improvisation, Theatre Architecture, Scenic Design, Make-up, Costume Design and Stage Lighting. The syllabus takes into account the methods of great theatre personalities who have shaped contemporary theatre in all its variety of expressional forms. The systematic study and practical performing experience of Sanskrit drama, modern drama, traditional Indian theatre forms, Asian drama and Western drama give the students a solid grounding and wide perspective in the art of theatre. While all areas of study are assessed separately and a high standard of work demanded in each, the most important intention of the course is the development of the intangible concept of creative imagination and its expression within the collective framework of a group. The School has a Repertory Company and Theatre-in-Education Company in Delhi and a Regional Resource Centre at Bangalore. NSD’s Extension Programme seeks to extend and diffuse its activities in all regions of the country. A programme for research, documentation and publication is a recent addition to strengthen the academic activities of the School. The School’s publications include anthologies of plays in different Indian languages translated into English; reference works; theatre studies in Hindi; and two regular periodicals, viz. Rang Prasang in Hindi and Theatre India in English, in their eighth and seventh years respectively. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ 2008: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EXISTENCE The 10th BRM, which coincided with 50 years of the School’s existence, was organized last year and had as a special feature a salutation to the School’s alumni for their phenomenal contribution to the theatre movement, and showcased the work of over 60 of its alumni from across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Mauritius. Starting with the inaugural performance of Prologue, the first part of Ratan Thiyam’s Manipur Trilogy, the Festival went on to present 76 productions over a period of 17 days. Rooted firmly in their cultural specificities, the Indian component comprised a riveting mix of technical perfection and histrionic skills; drawing on adaptations of Indian and foreign plays alike—classics and contemporary, correspondence, autobiography, short stories, nonsense verse. One of the highlights of the international component was Pina Bausch’s work Bamboo Blues, that was an expression of her artistic interaction with India over the past 25 years. Other highlights of the 10th BRM included a 360-hour long performance of The Glass House Project: A Reality Performance by a Practicing Actor, exhibitions, interactions with foreign festival directors and a satellite festival in Mumbai, where 26 performances from the main repertoire traveled. 2009: BLENDING EMERGENCE AND EMINENCE In 2009, the BRM was host to sixty-three plays spread over six venues in Delhi and two in Lucknow. One of its objectives was to showcase the work of young directors, of whom ten presented their work. They dealt with subjects ranging from social issues like caste, gender, communalism and exploitation in a feudal society to interpersonal interactions and relationships. The overall fare included a revisiting of the Classics; a new negotiating of the traditional performance space through improvisations and installations; revisiting of mythology and history from new perspectives; and creative tributes to individuals like Manto, Basheer and Brecht, through new exploration of their ideologies in contemporary contexts. From the fantastic to the historical, from the romantic to the tragic, from the amusing to the disturbing, the repertoire of the 11th BRM allowed us to explore the angst of modern existence, the tryst between the old and the new, conflicts born of changing realities, introspections and retrospections. A special feature of the Festival was an exhibition, Third Theatre, on the life and work of the eminent writer, director, actor and theoretician, Badal Sircar, to help widen our understanding of his holistic view of political engagement as personal commitment. The BRM also released two books -- Collected Plays by Satish Alekar and Mahesh Elkunchwar by Oxford University Press. 2010: CELEBRATING THEATRE NOW In keeping with the tradition of presenting outstanding theatre that allows for meaningful engagement, this year also the BRM will be presenting a rich fare of creative, dramatic representations and interactions drawn from over 350 proposals received from both India and abroad. Based on the enthusiastic response to the ‘Young Experimenters’ component last year, we will be taking forward the initiative by showcasing the work of ten young directors, distinguished by the manner in which they access and interpret classic texts, new work and their own socio-cultural and psycho-political realities. A special focus in the 2010 festival will be evenings of theatre music and songs, that will include stalwarts like B.V. Karanth, Jagmohan Upreti and Habib Tanvir. Also, in recognition of the increasing importance played by technology in every area of contemporary existence, including the arts and creative expression, we will be holding backstage tours and technical/sound/light workshops. These shall be accompanied by exhibitions, interactive sessions with directors, one-to-one meetings for experts on special requests and video screenings, in addition to the performances comprising the rest of the BRM repertoire. In addition the BRM will also be host to a special round-table conference that will include eminent people from the world of theatre and the allied arts coming together in panels to discuss issues of current interest to practitioners. The 2010 Festival, on the whole, aims to showcase the synthesis of experience, tradition, new energy and vision, which infuses the dramatic form while creating a new language that pushes the boundaries of the known, the expected and the usual. 2011: ANTICIPATING NEW HORIZONS The 13th BRM slated for 2011, in addition to other performances, plans to have a special segment on ‘Theatre in South-East Asia’, that will draw upon the rich dramatic traditions, styles and diversity of forms in the region. We will also be inviting proposals from young theatre practitioners with new work in playwriting, devised texts and collaborative performances. The Festival also intends to focus on the eminent playwright, Vijay Tendulkar, whose plays we will be staging and on whose work we will be releasing a book. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ FOR THE PLAY Schedule IN BRM 2010, 6-22 JANUARY , Kindly Check the Link http://www.nsdtheatrefest.com/delhi.html ( For Delhi Schedule ) , http://www.nsdtheatrefest.com/bhopal.html ( For Bhopal Schedule ) From rahul_capri at yahoo.com Fri Dec 18 09:13:00 2009 From: rahul_capri at yahoo.com (Rahul Asthana) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:43:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks SC permission to die In-Reply-To: <00F7109F-7434-418D-B689-56F2F1936D2D@sarai.net> Message-ID: <561684.6595.qm@web53605.mail.re2.yahoo.com> IMHO according to Indic theology the notion of euthanasia is not amoral. Some excerpts from the script of the movie "The Sea Inside" http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/s/sea-inside-script-transcript-javier.html "and we take to ridiculous extremes the bourgeois definition of private property You are killing me But if Church was the first one in secularizing the private property - I can't tell him that - How come? Should I tell him that? Freedom to choose my beliefs...no, his beliefs and decide over his life Ok, now you tell him Why does the Church keep that posture of terror of death with such passion? Because it knows that it would lose a great amount of its customers if people lose their fear to the Great Beyond He reminds you that according to the polls, % of the Spanish are in favor of euthanasia Very well, very well. Now you tell him that moral issues are not resolved through polls Because most of the German people were also in favor of Hitler Now he is going to compare me to Hitler. That is very rude No, not that Ask him what Hitler has to do with all this No wait... Padre Francisco, do you hear me? Yes. Ramon I can hear you Why do you mix pears with apples? I hope you didn't come here to do demagoguery. Because you Jesuits know a lot about that. No, no. Of course not. But since you bring up demagoguery, my dear Ramon. Don't you think that what's really demagogic, is to say "Death with dignity" Why don't you leave the euphemisms aside and call things by its name, with all its rawness "l take my life" and that's it... Your interest in me keeps surprising me, while the institution that you represent accepts the death penalty and condemned those who didn't think the right way, to the bonfire for centuries Now you are the one doing demagoguery Yes of course, but leaving the euphemisms aside, as you say that's what you would have done with me, right? Burn me alive Burn me for defending my freedom Ramon, my friend... Friend? Ramon, my friend. A freedom that eliminates life is not freedom And a life that eliminates freedom is not life either --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Shuddhabrata Sengupta wrote: > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim seeks SC permission to die > To: "A.K. Malik" > Cc: "Sarai List" > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 2:32 AM > Dear Aditya, > > Thank you for forwarding this story. I personally support > euthenasia  > and the right to die with dignity, and am saddened at the > Supreme  > Court's decision not to let those close to Aruna Shanbaug > extend to  > her the ultimate solidarity and succour of a peaceful, > dignified,  > assisted end to her suffering. > > best, > > Shuddha > > > On 17-Dec-09, at 6:02 PM, A.K. Malik wrote: > > > Hi Mr Kaul, > >            >    What a justice system in our country? The > victim  > > woman gets 36 yrs to live as a veggi and the culprit > who did all  > > this to her gets 7 yrs only for attempt to murder and > lives happily  > > after the sentence. > > Regards, > > > > (A.K.MALIK) > > > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Aditya Raj Kaul > wrote: > > > >> From: Aditya Raj Kaul > >> Subject: [Reader-list] Unconscious for last 36 > yrs; victim seeks  > >> SC permission to die > >> To: "sarai list" > >> Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 3:55 PM > >> Unconscious for last 36 yrs; victim > >> seeks SC permission to die*Press Trust > >> Of India* > >> New Delhi, December 17, 2009 > >> > >> Should a woman who has been lying unconsious in a > Mumbai > >> hospital for 36 > >> years be allowed to die or be left in the current > >> vegetative state? > >> > >> That was the question put before the Supreme Court > today > >> when it said that > >> “under the law of the country, we cannot allow a > person > >> to die”. > >> > >> The remarks by a Bench comprising Chief Justice K > G > >> Balakrishnan and > >> Justices A K Ganguly and B S Chauhan came when a > direction > >> was sought that > >> the woman be not fed. > >> > >> The Bench sought a response from the Centre and > Maharashtra > >> government on a > >> petition moved by 59-year-old Aruna Ramchandra > Shanbaug who > >> has been lying > >> in a vegetative state for last 36 years in > Mumbai’s KEM > >> hospital after being > >> sexually assaulted by a sweeper. > >> > >> The Bench, which was hesitant to entertain the > petition, > >> agreed to issue the > >> notice after advocate Shekhar Nafde explained it > is not the > >> case of > >> “euthanasia” and the plea on behalf of the > hapless > >> woman was moved by her > >> next friend Pinki Virani. > >> > >> “This is no human right. Her life is worse than > animal > >> existence,” the > >> advocate said referring to Shanbaug. > >> > >> He said Shanbaug, who had joined as a nurse in the > KEM > >> hospital in 1966, was > >> sexually assaulted in 1973, rendered immobile and > >> unconscious and has been > >> lying on bed after the incident. > >> > >> The petition sought a direction for the state > government > >> and Municipal > >> Corporation of Brihan Mumbai to carry out tests > to > >> ascertain the medical > >> condition of the woman. > >> _________________________________________ > >> 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/> > > 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: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From rahul_capri at yahoo.com Fri Dec 18 10:36:56 2009 From: rahul_capri at yahoo.com (Rahul Asthana) Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:06:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <588551.44028.qm@web57201.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <560862.70793.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> In the opinion of some analysts the scrapping of NRO could be the beginning of a coup in Pakistan. http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > From: Kshmendra Kaul > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > In two weeks of December 2009 there > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will > have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil. >   > The first was the consensus reached between the four > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces > and the Federal Govt. >   > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the > Indian Media. >   > With this, the only major contentious issue between the > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of > Dams. >   > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 >   >   > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). >   > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty > in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). >   > The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. >   > President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal > prosecution action against him till the time he is > President. >   > Kshmendra >   >   > > >       > _________________________________________ > 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 Fri Dec 18 13:55:50 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:25:50 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Marianna_=26_Daniel_O=27Reilly_=28UK=29?= Message-ID: <20091218092550.4284557.C34ABAB8@192.168.0.2> 18 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->Delivery" by Marianna & Daniel O’Reilly (UK)--> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- Read the recent review on Furtherfield --> Art Cinema Everywhere, All The Time. Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and CologneOFF V http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=370 --------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From yasir.media at gmail.com Fri Dec 18 15:31:54 2009 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?eWFzaXIgftmK2Kcg2LPYsQ==?=) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:01:54 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <560862.70793.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> References: <588551.44028.qm@web57201.mail.re3.yahoo.com> <560862.70793.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <5af37bb0912180201mbedbea8jc85a268a56bf7af4@mail.gmail.com> these are generally speaking supporters of the Zardari faction of the PPP, who are corrupt by any standards. but it also includes those people, including other left party activists and others, who fear the army stepping in. there is correct apprehension that it weakens the politically elected government and may give space to the army. In fact the correct course would be that the Rule of Law process, known by its absence, should extend itself across the board to all parties and entities. including to the conduct of the Army and its officials. The army has over the years become a large commercial-corporate-consumer, in addition to having military operations and purchases it normally should deals with. Besides its intervention in government has implicated military officers and governement bureaucrats and associated people in what are illegal decisions. but this should not mean that the accountability process should stop. the NRO amnesty, now struck down by the SC after being sent to parliament to ratify which it did not, affects 8000 criminals, whose cases are being sent to courts all over the country. It already includes president zardari, his clique, misters, bureaucrats, supporters of PPP, many from MQM, and a some stray others from Musharraf's clique (sherpao) and one from Nawaz sharifs camp. So it is a tall order for the courts, the judiciary having made a come back during 2007-9 when Gen Musharraf had thrown out 60 judges from the Supreme and High Courts, and brought in political criminals under the NRO - National Reconciliation Ordinance- intending to bring in Benazir and her ilk, only to support this operations, until things went out of hand... best yasir On Fri, Dec 18, 2009 at 10:06 AM, Rahul Asthana wrote: > In the opinion of some analysts the scrapping of NRO could be the beginning > of a coup in Pakistan. > http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" > > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > > In two weeks of December 2009 there > > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will > > have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in > > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil. > > > > The first was the consensus reached between the four > > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission > > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces > > and the Federal Govt. > > > > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the > > Indian Media. > > > > With this, the only major contentious issue between the > > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of > > Dams. > > > > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 > > > > > > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the > > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). > > > > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty > > in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. > > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as > > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). > > > > The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. > > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases > > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. > > > > President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal > > prosecution action against him till the time he is > > President. > > > > Kshmendra > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > 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 chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Fri Dec 18 19:07:57 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:07:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Book Cover Design Contest: Send entries by Dec. 31 Message-ID: >From http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/12/18/stories/2009121850780100.htm *Book design contest * Chanda Pustaka is holding its annual book cover design contest. The participants this year will have to design a cover for Radhesh Tholpadi's children's book “Hello Hello Chandamama”. The dimension of the design should be 11.5 centimetres in width and 19 centimetres in height. Those who want to see samples of poems to aid in designing can log into http://raghuapara.blogspot.com or http://avadhi.wordpress.com. The best entry wins Rs. 5,000 and the last date for entry is December 31. Entries can be sent to chandapustaka at yahoo.com. From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Sat Dec 19 10:21:19 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:21:19 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] You are so much more Message-ID: Excerpt from http://thejoyofchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-am-big-advocate-of-public-education.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheJoyOfChildrensLiterature+%28The+Joy+of+Children%27s+Literature%29 "I am an big advocate of public education and have dedicated many years of my life to teacher preparation and school improvement. But, sometimes schools can be places that define a child in purely academic terms--you're either a good reader or not, good at math or not, a good test taker or not...especially in this time of state mandated testing. The pressure on schools, teachers, parents and ultimately children, can be overwhelming. When my son was in elementary and middle school, he would come home so worried about the state test. Weeks and months leading up to the test would be spent on test taking skills and drills. I remember sitting down and talking with him about the fact that he is so much more than someone who does or doesn't do well on a test. He is a violinist, a runner, a soccer player, a best friend, a writer of poetry, a son, a grandson, a volunteer, a dog lover and on and on. Yes, school is important and many decisions are made based on tests, but we are so much more than the sum of our test scores. This seems to be the message in Looking Like Me written by Walter Dean Myers and illustrated by his son, Christopher Myers." For more, visit http://thejoyofchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-am-big-advocate-of-public-education.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheJoyOfChildrensLiterature+%28The+Joy+of+Children%27s+Literature%29 From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Sat Dec 19 14:02:41 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:32:41 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Priscilla_Pomeroy_=28Mexico=29?= Message-ID: <20091219093243.6EA4CDD7.521B6538@192.168.0.2> 19 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"Pigs Feet" by Priscilla Pomeroy (Mexico) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- Read the recent review on Furtherfield --> Art Cinema Everywhere, All The Time. Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and CologneOFF V http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=370 --------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Dec 19 16:09:51 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:39:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <560862.70793.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <444631.23571.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Rahul   Seems highly unlikely. At least for now.   The Military in Pakistan continues to be both Holy Cow and Dirty Pig. Not being served in any known menu for investigation against corrupt practices.   Kshmendra --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Rahul Asthana wrote: From: Rahul Asthana Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan To: "sarai list" , "Kshmendra Kaul" Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:36 AM In the opinion of some analysts the scrapping of NRO could be the beginning of a coup in Pakistan. http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > From: Kshmendra Kaul > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > In two weeks of December 2009 there > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will > have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil. >   > The first was the consensus reached between the four > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces > and the Federal Govt. >   > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the > Indian Media. >   > With this, the only major contentious issue between the > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of > Dams. >   > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 >   >   > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). >   > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty > in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). >   > The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. >   > President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal > prosecution action against him till the time he is > President. >   > Kshmendra >   >   > > >       > _________________________________________ > 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 nagraj.adve at gmail.com Sat Dec 19 21:57:49 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:57:49 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Copenhagen text Message-ID: <564b2fca0912190827m4990e0a0o5e883eb675d9b8b8@mail.gmail.com> This according to the Guardian is the accord at Copenhagen. For what it is worth, it's copied below in the link. It's both a farce and a tragedy. Naga http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Environment/documents/2009/12/19/copenhagenaccord.pdf -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiaclimatejustice" group. To post to this group, send email to indiaclimatejustice at googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to indiaclimatejustice+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiaclimatejustice?hl=en. From rahul_capri at yahoo.com Sat Dec 19 23:30:17 2009 From: rahul_capri at yahoo.com (Rahul Asthana) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:00:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <444631.23571.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <526352.25843.qm@web53604.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Hi Kshamendra, Please look at this. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/16-minister-for-defence-first-victim-of-revived-ecl-829-hs-12 The defense minister is barred from leaving the country by some ordinary immigration officials! It seems highly unlikely that the army has nothing to do with this. Yousuf , what do you think? Thanks Rahul --- On Sat, 12/19/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > From: Kshmendra Kaul > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" , "Rahul Asthana" > Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 4:09 PM > Dear Rahul >   > Seems highly unlikely. At least for now. >   > The Military in Pakistan continues to be both Holy Cow > and Dirty Pig. Not being served in any known menu > for investigation against corrupt practices. >   > Kshmendra > > --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Rahul Asthana > wrote: > > > From: Rahul Asthana > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo > Pakistan > To: "sarai list" , > "Kshmendra Kaul" > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:36 AM > > > In the opinion of some analysts the > scrapping of NRO could be the beginning of a coup in > Pakistan. > http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul > wrote: > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo > Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" > > Date: Thursday, > December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > > In two weeks of December 2009 there > > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which > will > > have far reaching consequences in bettering the > situation in > > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of > turmoil. > >   > > The first was the consensus reached between the four > > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance > Commission > > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the > Provinces > > and the Federal Govt. > >   > > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in > the > > Indian Media. > >   > > With this, the only major contentious issue between > the > > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location > of > > Dams. > >   > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 > >   > >   > > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring > Un-Constitutional the > > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). > >   > > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek > amnesty > > in cases registered against them for various > criminal acts. > > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described > as > > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). > >   > > The Court has directed that all such cases be > reinstituted. > > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported > cases > > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. > >   > > President > Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any > criminal > > prosecution action against him till the time he is > > President. > >   > > Kshmendra > >   > >   > > > > > >       > > _________________________________________ > > 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 rahul_capri at yahoo.com Sat Dec 19 23:32:24 2009 From: rahul_capri at yahoo.com (Rahul Asthana) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:02:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan Message-ID: <111169.5395.qm@web53606.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I meant to address Yasir in the earlier message. Apologies.Also, thanks Yasir for your earlier comments. --- On Sat, 12/19/09, Rahul Asthana wrote: > From: Rahul Asthana > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" , "Kshmendra Kaul" > Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 11:30 PM > Hi Kshamendra, > Please look at this. > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/16-minister-for-defence-first-victim-of-revived-ecl-829-hs-12 > > The defense minister is barred from leaving the country by > some ordinary immigration officials! > > It seems highly unlikely that the army has nothing to do > with this. > > Yousuf , what do you think? > > Thanks > Rahul > --- On Sat, 12/19/09, Kshmendra Kaul > wrote: > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo > Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" , > "Rahul Asthana" > > Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 4:09 PM > > Dear Rahul > >   > > Seems highly unlikely. At least for now. > >   > > The Military in Pakistan continues to be both Holy > Cow > > and Dirty Pig. Not being served in any known menu > > for investigation against corrupt practices. > >   > > Kshmendra > > > > --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Rahul Asthana > > > wrote: > > > > > > From: Rahul Asthana > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo > > Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" , > > "Kshmendra Kaul" > > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:36 AM > > > > > > In the opinion of some analysts the > > scrapping of NRO could be the beginning of a coup in > > Pakistan. > > http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ > > > > > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul > > wrote: > > > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo > > Pakistan > > > To: "sarai list" > > > Date: Thursday, > >  December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > > > In two weeks of December 2009 there > > > have been two major developments in Pakistan, > which > > will > > > have far reaching consequences in bettering the > > situation in > > > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot > of > > turmoil. > > >   > > > The first was the consensus reached between the > four > > > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance > > Commission > > > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen > the > > Provinces > > > and the Federal Govt. > > >   > > > It is extremely unfortunate that this > significant > > > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage > in > > the > > > Indian Media. > > >   > > > With this, the only major contentious issue > between > > the > > > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > > > River-Waters and the building (or not) and > location > > of > > > Dams. > > >   > > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 > > >   > > >   > > > The second major development is a 17 member bench > of > > > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring > > Un-Constitutional the > > > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). > > >   > > > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > > > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek > > amnesty > > > in cases registered against them for various > > criminal acts. > > > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and > described > > as > > > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). > > >   > > > The Court has directed that all such cases be > > reinstituted. > > > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such > reported > > cases > > > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. > > >   > > > President > >  Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) > is > > > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from > any > > criminal > > > prosecution action against him till the time he > is > > > President. > > >   > > > Kshmendra > > >   > > >   > > > > > > > > >       > > > _________________________________________ > > > 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 yasir.media at gmail.com Sat Dec 19 23:51:02 2009 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?eWFzaXIgftmK2Kcg2LPYsQ==?=) Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:21:02 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <444631.23571.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <560862.70793.qm@web53603.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <444631.23571.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <5af37bb0912191021n3d696d7cu32a2a8d25d7f70b9@mail.gmail.com> rahul, kshmendra: i am not sure what K's argument is. I agree, i dont buy the coup argument. it is only politically obfusctory. the army is on the defensive since musharraf and hesitant to play a open role in politics. secondly, it has taken liberties during the war in FATA along the afghan border and killed indiscriniately and caused massive displacement of people 6-7 million ! without adequate redress or arrangement. some were made. So everyone here knows that its is no holy cow, which might be the impression across the border. The army knows this and is trying to clean its image. besides its massive budget takes away from the education and health budget (there is 50% illiteracy !). Its proper place is the border and barrack, and so it is also not a dirty pig, while it may have to return to being a guard dog ! good dog ! third, oversight of army is desirable and its the right direction at the moment. would require more stability tho. rahul, the defence minister incident is some underlings acting up, its made to be seen as judiciary vs executive :) it will be played down. best On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 3:39 PM, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > Dear Rahul > > Seems highly unlikely. At least for now. > > The Military in Pakistan continues to be both Holy Cow and Dirty Pig. Not > being served in any known menu for investigation against corrupt practices. > > Kshmendra > > --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Rahul Asthana wrote: > > > From: Rahul Asthana > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" , "Kshmendra Kaul" < > kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:36 AM > > > In the opinion of some analysts the scrapping of NRO could be the beginning > of a coup in Pakistan. > http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" > > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > > In two weeks of December 2009 there > > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will > > have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in > > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil. > > > > The first was the consensus reached between the four > > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission > > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces > > and the Federal Govt. > > > > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the > > Indian Media. > > > > With this, the only major contentious issue between the > > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of > > Dams. > > > > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 > > > > > > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the > > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). > > > > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty > > in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. > > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as > > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). > > > > The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. > > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases > > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. > > > > President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal > > prosecution action against him till the time he is > > President. > > > > Kshmendra > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > 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 nagraj.adve at gmail.com Sun Dec 20 09:20:32 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:20:32 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Critiques of Copenhagen Message-ID: <564b2fca0912191950p4da9652qfa0749f79b8692ca@mail.gmail.com> A number of responses to the Copenhagen 'deal'. One correction: in the Naomi Klein, it probably should read 3.5 degrees C, not 33.5 C. Naga With climate agreement, Obama guts progressive values * Bill McKibben 18 Dec 2009 4:20 PM The President of the United States did several things with his agreement today with China, India, Brazil and South Africa: * He blew up the United Nations. The idea that theres a world community that means something has disappeared tonight. The clear point is, you poor nations can spout off all you want on questions like human rights or the role of women or fighting polio or handling refugees. But when you get too close to the center of things that count the fossil fuel thats at the center of our economy you can forget about it. Were not interested. Youre a bother, and when you sink beneath the waves, we dont want to hear much about it. The dearest hope of the American right for 50 years was essentially realized because in the end coal is at the center of Americas economy. We already did this with war and peace, and now weve done it with global warming. What exactly is the point of the U.N. now? * He formed a league of super-polluters, and would-be super-polluters. China, the U.S., and India dont want anyone controlling their use of coal in any meaningful way. It is a coalition of foxes who will together govern the henhouse. It is no accident that the targets are weak to nonexistent. We dont want to get too far ahead of ourselves with targets, he said. Indeed. And now imagine what this agreement will look like with the next Republican president. * He demonstrated the kind of firmness and resolve that Americans like to see. It will play well politically at home and that will be the worst part of the deal. Having spurned Europe and the poor countries of the world, he will reap domestic political benefit. George Bush couldnt have done thisthe reaction would have been too great. Obama has taken the mandate that progressives worked their hearts out to give him, and used it to gut the ideas that progressives have held most dear. The ice caps wont be the only things we lose with this deal. ****************************************** ALBA and G77 Denounce Copenhagen Sham December 19, 2009 * Obama, acting the way he did, definitely established that theres no difference between him and the Bush tradition (from Links International Journal of Socialist Revewal) Speaking on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela took the floor at the plenary of the COP15 climate talks in Copenhagen to denounce the final deal that was soon to emerge and be imposed on the majority poor-country delegates, and which would fall far short of their demands. Chavez accused US President Barack Obama of behaving like an emperor who comes in during the middle of the night & and cooks up a document that we will not accept, we will never accept. Chávez declared that all countries are equal. He would not accept that some countries had prepared a text for a climate deal and just slipped [it] under the door to be signed by the others. He accused them of a real lack of transparency. We cant wait any longer, we are leaving & We are leaving, knowing that it wasnt possible getting a deal, he said. Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, also took the floor to express annoyance at the way a climate deal was being thrashed out by a small group of world leaders at the last minute. If there is no agreement at this level, why not tell the people?, he said at the plenary meeting. He called for further consultations with the people. Who is responsible?, Morales asked. Concluding that the responsibility lies on the capitalist system we have to change the capitalist system. **************************************** Sham deal The so-called Copenhagen Accord was pushed by the US and Australia, and sealed in meetings behind closed doors with the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa. It was announced by Obama late on the evening of December 18, and presented as final even before the COP15 delegates had a chance to vote on it. It does not commit governments to interim 2020 carbon emissions-reduction targets, or to legally binding reductions and only expresses a general aim of limiting the global warming increase to 2 degrees Celsius well above the 1 degree C-1.5 degree C target most delegations were calling for. Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, delegation head of the G77 group of developing countries, rejected the accord and vowed to fight it. Obama, acting the way he did, definitely established that theres no difference between him and the Bush tradition, he told Time magazine. ****************************************** Nnimmo Bassey, prominent Nigerian environmentalist and chair of Friends of the Earth International, described Copenhagen as an abject failure. Justice has not been done. By delaying action, rich countries have condemned millions of the worlds poorest people to hunger, suffering and loss of life as climate chang accelerates. The blame for this disastrous outcome is squarely on the developed nations. We are disgusted by the failure of rich countries to commit to the emissions reductions they know are needed, especially the US, which is the worlds largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases. In contrast African nations, China and others in the developing world deserve praise for their progressive positions and constructive approach. Major developing countries cannot be blamed for the failure of rich industrialised countries. Instead of committing to deep cuts in emissions and putting new, public money on the table to help solve the climate crisis, rich countries have bullied developing nations to accept far less. Those most responsible for putting the planet in this mess have not shown the guts required to fix it and have instead acted to protect short-term political interests. The only real leadership at the conference has come from the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people whove come together to demand strong action to prevent climate catastrophe. Their voices are loud and growing and Friends of the Earth International will continue to be part of the fight for climate justice. Greenpeace criticized the accord for not having targets for carbon cuts and no agreement on a legally binding treaty. Oxfam International called the deal a triumph of spin over substance. It recognizes the need to keep warming below two degrees but does not commit to do so. It kicks back the decisions on emissions cuts and fudges the issue of climate cash. The accord confirms the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Developed countries commit collectively to providing US$30 billion in new, additional funding for developing countries for the 2010-2012 period. It also says developed countries support a goal of mobilizing jointly 100 billion dollars a year by 2020 from a variety of sources. ------------------------------------------------------------ Erich Pica, president of the Friends of the Earth (USA), said: The climate negotiations in Copenhagen have yielded a sham agreement with no real requirements for any countries. This is not a strong deal or a just one it isnt even a real one. Its just repackaging old positions and pretending theyre new. The actions it suggests for the rich countries that caused the climate crisis are extraordinarily inadequate. This is a disastrous outcome for people around the world who face increasingly dire impacts from a destabilizing climate. With the future of all humans on this planet at stake, rich countries must muster far more political will than they exhibited here. If they do not, small island states will become submerged, people in vulnerable communities across the globe will be afflicted with hunger and disease, and wars over access to food and water will rage. The devastation will extend to those of us who live in wealthy countries. The failure to produce anything meaningful in Copenhagen must serve as a wake up call to all who care about the future. It is a call to action. Corporate polluters and other special interests have such overwhelming influence that rich country governments are willing to agree only to fig leaf solutions. This is unacceptable, and it must change. Fortunately, while the cost of solving the climate crisis rises each day we fail to act, the crisis remains one that can largely be averted. It is up to the citizens of the world especially citizens of the United States, which has so impeded progress to mobilise and ensure that true solutions carry the day. I firmly believe that together, we can still achieve a politics in which climate justice prevails. ************************************* Press release - La Via Campesina Traders failed in Copenhagen The future lies in peoples hands (Copenhagen, 19 December 2009) The Copenhagen climate talks ended up in failure. Governments of the world showed themselves incapable or unwilling to make the changes necessary to find a just solution to the climate chaos. The talks have been driven by self interest and trade solutions that have so far proven useless and even damaging. ------ Josie Riffaud, a leader of the farmers movement Via Campesina said: Money and market solutions will not resolve the current crisis. We need instead a radical change in the way we produce and we consume, and this is what was not discussed in Copenhagen. The governments of the industrialized and industrializing countries showed themselves to be unwilling to tackle the model of development which has created and economic and environmental disaster. They were incapable to consider real solutions and to see that carbon markets will not solve the climate crisis. The drastic emissions cuts (included in a binding deal), reorientation of agro-export economies, agrarian reform and other measures which could really contribute to slowing the heating of the earth were not discussed or considered. Once again governments acting in individual self interest have failed to consider the real alternatives offered by International social movements, environmental groups, indigenous peoples and others in creating a more just and fair society. Even though the Copenhagen deal doesnt mention agriculture explicitely, it seemed during the two weeks talk that the UNFCCC wanted to include soils in the carbon capture methods, and include agriculture in it's technology transfer opening up space for transnational companies to receive subsidies for introducing GMO seeds and industrial agricultural methods such as non-till agriculture. This is exactly the type of agricltural development that has led us to the current environmenent and social crisis in the countryside. ------------------------------------- The real power in Copenhagen was expressed in the streets and in the halls of the Bella centre on the 16th of December, when activists, community groups, international and local social movements and NGOs from the North and south pushed to meet each other in a symbolic 3rd space outside the Bella center. The vicious repression of the police, including the preemptive arrest of many of the spokespeople of the movement Climate Justice Action further showed the desperation of governments to prevent the voices of real solutions to be heard. We cannot look to governments to provide a magical solution to the Climate Crisis. Under the guidance of transnational corporations, they only prepare a further round of capital speculation, this time using Carbon, the building blocks of life itself as their stocks and shares. In front of the failure of the COP 15 international social movements are more ready than ever to tackle the problems of the world and will mobilise for the next climate conference in Mexico due at the end of 2010; their time has come and governments will have no choice but to listen. ******************************** Johann Hari Columnist, London Independent Posted: December 18, 2009 06:54 PM So that's it. The world's worst polluters - the people who are drastically altering the climate - gathered here in Copenhagen to announce they were going to carry on cooking, in defiance of all the scientific warnings. They didn't seal the deal; they sealed the coffin for the world's low-lying islands, its glaciers, its North Pole, and millions of lives. Those of us who watched this conference with open eyes aren't suprised. ---------- Every day, practical, intelligent solutions that would cut our emissions of warming gases have been offered by scientists, developing countries, and protesters - and they have been systematically vetoed by the governments of North America and Europe. It's worth recounting a few of the ideas that were summarily dismissed - because when the world resolves to find a real solution, we will have to revive them. ------------------------------------------------ Discarded Idea One: The International Environmental Court. Any cuts proposed at Copenhagen were purely voluntary. If a government decides not to follow them, nothing will happen, except a mild blush, and disastrous warming. After all, Canada signed up to cut its emissions at Kyoto, and then increased them by 26 percent - and there were no consequences. Copenhagen could unleash a hundred Canadas. The brave, articulate Bolivian delegation - who have seen their glaciers melt at a terrifying pace - objected. They said if countries are serious about reducing emissions, their cuts need to be policed by an International Environmental Court that has the power to punish people who endanger our shared stable climate. This is hardly impractical. When our leaders and their corporate lobbies really care about an issue - say, on trade - they pool their sovereignty this way in a second. The World Trade Organization fines and sanctions nations severely if (say) they don't follow strict copyright laws. Is a safe climate less important than a trade-mark? ------------------------------------------------ Discarded Idea Two: Leave the fossil fuels in the ground. At meetings here, an extraordinary piece of hypocrisy has been pointed out by the new international chair of Friends of the Earth, Nnimmo Bassey and the environmental writer George Monbiot. The governments of the world say they want to drastically cut their use of fossil fuels, yet at the same time they are enthusiastically digging up any fossil fuels they can find, and hunting for more. They are holding a fire extinguisher in one hand and a flame-thrower in the other. Only one of these instincts can prevail. A study published earlier this year in the journal Nature showed that we can only use - at an absolute maximum - 60 percent of all the oil, coal and gas we have already discovered if we are going to stay the right side of catastrophic runaway warming. So the first step in any rational climate deal would be an immediate moratorium on searching for more fossil fuels, and fair plans for how to decide which of the existing stock we will leave unused. As Bassey put it: "Keep the coal in the hole. Keep the oil in the soil. Keep the tar sand in the land." This option wasn't even discussed by our leaders. -------------------- Discarded Idea Three: Climate debt. The rich world has been responsible for 70 percent of the warming gases pumped into the atmosphere - yet 70 percent of the effects are being felt in the developing world. Holland can build vast dykes to prevent its land flooding; Bangladesh can only drown. There is a cruel inverse relationship between cause and effect: the polluter doesn't pay. So we have racked up a climate debt. We broke it, they paid. At this summit, for the first time, the poor countries rose in disgust. Their chief negotiator pointed out that the compensation offered "won't even pay for the coffins." The cliche that environmentalism is a rich person's ideology just gasped its final CO2-rich breath. As Naomi Klein put it: "At this summit, the pole of environmentalism has moved South." When we are dividing up who has the right to emit the few remaining warming gases that the atmosphere can absorb, we need to realize that we are badly overdrawn. We have used up our share of warming gases, and then some. Yet the US and EU have dismissed the idea of climate debt out of hand. How can we get a lasting deal that every country agrees to if we ignore this basic principle of justice? Why should the poorest restrain themselves when the rich refuse to? A deal based on these real ideas would actually cool the atmosphere. The alternatives championed at Copenhagen by the rich world - carbon offsetting, carbon trading, carbon capture - won't. They are a global placebo. The critics who say the real solutions are "unrealistic" don't seem to realize that their alternative is more implausible still: civilization continuing on a planet whose natural processes are rapidly breaking down. Throughout the negotiations here, the world's low-lying island states have clung to the real ideas as a life-raft, because they are the only way to save their countries from a swelling sea. It has been extraordinary to watch their representatives - quiet, sombre people with sad eyes - as they were forced to plead for their own existence. They tried persuasion and hard science and lyrical hymns of love for their lands, and all were ignored. Yet their discarded ideas - and dozens more like them - show once again that man-made global warming can be stopped. The intellectual blueprints exist just as surely as the technological blueprints. There would be sacrifices, yes - but they are considerably less than the sacrifices made by our grandparents in their greatest fight. We will have to pay higher taxes and fly less to make the leap to a renewably-powered world - but we will still be able to live an abundant life where we are warm and free and well-fed. The only real losers will be the fossil fuel corporations and the petro-dictatorships. But our politicians have not chosen this sane path. No: they have chosen inertia and low taxes and oil money today over survival tomorrow. The true face of our current system - and of Copenhagen - can be seen in the life-saving ideas it has so casually tossed into the bin. ------------------------------------------------- Copenhagen negotiators bicker and filibuster while the biosphere burns George Monbiot The Guardian (UK) 19 December 2009 First they put the planet in square brackets, now they have deleted it from the text. At the end it was no longer about saving the biosphere: it was just a matter of saving face. As the talks melted down, everything that might have made a new treaty worthwhile was scratched out. Any deal would do, as long as the negotiators could pretend they have achieved something. A clearer and less destructive treaty than the text that emerged would be a sheaf of blank paper, which every negotiating party solemnly sits down to sign. This was the chaotic, disastrous denouement of a chaotic and disastrous summit. The event has been attended by historic levels of incompetence. Delegates arriving from the tropics spent 10 hours queueing in sub-zero temperatures without shelter, food or drink, let alone any explanation or announcement, before being turned away. Some people fainted from exposure; it's surprising that no one died. The process of negotiation was just as obtuse: there was no evidence here of the innovative methods of dispute resolution developed recently by mediators and coaches, just the same old pig-headed wrestling. Watching this stupid summit via webcam (I wasn't allowed in either), it struck me that the treaty-making system has scarcely changed in 130 years. There's a wider range of faces, fewer handlebar moustaches, frock coats or pickelhaubes, but otherwise, when the world's governments try to decide how to carve up the atmosphere, they might have been attending the conference of Berlin in 1884. It's as if democratisation and the flowering of civil society, advocacy and self-determination had never happened. Governments, whether elected or not, without reference to their own citizens let alone those of other nations, assert their right to draw lines across the global commons and decide who gets what. This is a scramble for the atmosphere comparable in style and intent to the scramble for Africa. At no point has the injustice at the heart of multilateralism been addressed or even acknowledged: the interests of states and the interests of the world's people are not the same. Often they are diametrically opposed. In this case, most rich and rapidly developing states have sought through these talks to seize as great a chunk of the atmosphere for themselves as they can – to grab bigger rights to pollute than their competitors. The process couldn't have been better designed to produce the wrong results. -------------------------------------- I spent most of my time at the Klimaforum, the alternative conference set up by just four paid staff, which 50,000 people attended without a hitch. (I know which team I would put in charge of saving the planet.) There the barrister Polly Higgins laid out a different approach. Her declaration of planetary rights invests ecosystems with similar legal safeguards to those won by humans after the second world war. It changes the legal relationship between humans, the atmosphere and the biosphere from ownership to stewardship. It creates a global framework for negotiation which gives nation states less discretion to dispose of ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Even before the farce in Copenhagen began it was looking like it might be too late to prevent two or more degrees of global warming. The nation states, pursuing their own interests, have each been passing the parcel of responsibility since they decided to take action in 1992. We have now lost 17 precious years, possibly the only years in which climate breakdown could have been prevented. This has not happened by accident: it is the result of a systematic campaign of sabotage by certain states, driven and promoted by the energy industries. This idiocy has been aided and abetted by the nations characterised, until now, as the good guys: those that have made firm commitments, only to invalidate them with loopholes, false accounting and outsourcing. In all cases immediate self-interest has trumped the long-term welfare of humankind. Corporate profits and political expediency have proved more urgent considerations than either the natural world or human civilisation. Our political systems are incapable of discharging the main function of government: to protect us from each other. Goodbye Africa, goodbye south Asia; goodbye glaciers and sea ice, coral reefs and rainforest. It was nice knowing you. Not that we really cared. The governments which moved so swiftly to save the banks have bickered and filibustered while the biosphere burns. --------------------------------- New Copenhagen accord 'a sham' YOLANDI GROENEWALD | COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Dec 19 2009 09:46 The new Copenhagen accord, hammered out late on Friday night, is a sham -- leading climate change observers said. South Africa took centre stage in the accord as one of five countries to broker it, together with the US. ------------------------------------------------- The European Union has also accepted the accord. But the accord split nations in the last plenary, which was still going strong on Saturday morning. Many nations was hesitant to sign the deal, and there was a lot of bitterness from Venezuela, many African delegations and the small island states lead by the sad voice of Tuvula. The accord was negotiated between South Africa, the USA, China, India, Brazil and the US in a day of high drama that saw the Obama illusion shatter into a million pieces. The onus to get a legally binding agreement has now shifted to Mexico City in a years time. ------------------------------------------ Scepticism in action Charismatic Sudanese lead negotiator and chief negotiator for the G77 group Lumumba Di-Aping, called the deal a sell-out. "This deal will definitely result in massive devastation in Africa and small island states," he said. "It has the lowest level of ambition you can imagine. It's nothing short of climate change Scepticism in action. It locks countries into a cycle of poverty for ever. Obama has eliminated any difference between him and Bush." It is understood that some of the African delegates were unhappy that South Africa was involved in the brokering of the accord, as it presented a break from the unified African position. The South African delegation was not available for comment. President Jacob Zuma was reportedly involved in high-level talks with President Barack Obama among others, in drafting parts of the Copenhagen accord. --------------------------------------------------- Greenpeace was scathing about the turn of events. 'Not fair' --> "Not fair, not ambitious and not legally binding," Greenpeace International executive director, Kumi Naidoo, said of the accord. "The job of world leaders is not done. The city of Copenhagen is a climate crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to the airport in shame," he said. Naidoo said world leaders produced a poor deal full of loopholes big enough to fly Air Force One through. "We have seen a year of crises, but today it is clear that the biggest one "facing humanity is a leadership crisis." In the final document the accord shies away from committing nations to a 1.5C temperature rise, as argued for by small island states and contained in earlier drafts. Instead the accord commits to 2C. The earlier 2050 goal of reducing global CO2 emissions by 80% was also omitted from the final draft. About $30-billion in funding in 3 years for poor countries to adapt to climate change will start flowing next year, the accord promised and $100-billion a year after 2020. ------------------------------------ Full adoption ? -- It was unclear whether the 192 countries in the full, final plenary session would adopt the accord. Oxfam International said the so-called 'climate deal' "is a triumph of spin over substance". It said the deal provides no confidence that catastrophic climate change will be averted or that poor countries will be given the money they need to adapt as temperatures rise. "This agreement barely papers over the huge differences between countries which have plagued these talks for two years," said Jeremy Hobbs, executive director of Oxfam International. Shorbanu Khatun, a climate migrant at the summit with Oxfam said: "I came all the way from a displaced persons camp on the flooded coast of Bangladesh to see justice done for the 45 000 people made homeless by cyclone Aila. How do I tell them their misery has fallen on deaf ears?" Other observer organisations such politicians was not trying to spin a nothing agreement into something that looked acceptable to the world and wrongly convinced them that progress had been made at Copenhagen. ------------------------------ Toothless -- Kate Horner of Friends of the Earth, who had earlier the week been thrown out of the conference said the accord was a toothless declaration. "This is the United Nations and the nations here are not united on this secret backroom declaration. The US has lied to the world when they called it a deal and they lied to over a hundred countries when they said would listen to their needs. She said the accord being spun by the US as an historic success, reflects contempt for the multilateral process and we expect more from our Nobel prize winning President." Much had been expected of Obama to save the talks from its impasse, but apart from brokering what critics called a weak deal, Obama did not bring much to the table at Copenhagen that differed from the USs previous position. He also chose not to speak to the worlds press corps, but only briefed Whitehouse journalists on his way back to the US, late last night on Air Force One. He blamed the expected bad weather conditions in Washington as an excuse for leaving early. ----------------------------------------------- China blamed -- It was reported that he told the US journalists that an unprecedented progress had bee made, but he also said "we have much further to go. Though he didnt say it outright, veiled remarks indicated that Obama blamed China for the weak outcome. He said if delegates had waited to reach a full, binding agreement, "we wouldn't have made any progress." There might be such frustration and cynicism that rather than taking one step forward, we ended up taking two steps back," he told US reporters. ------------------------------- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she begrudgingly accepted the accord, calling it a first step. But the small island state of Tuvulu complained bitterly that his country's future was not for sale. President Hugo Chavez from Venezuela also led a trio of Latin American countries that included Cuba and Bolivia who complained that they were excluded from the process and that they believed president Lula da Silva from Brazil didnt represent their interests. --------------------------------------------------------- The biggest challenge, turning the political will into a legally (binding agreement has moved to Mexico, WWF said in a statement. After years of negotiations we now have a declaration of will which does not bind anyone and therefore fails to guarantee a safer future for next generations. The organisation said what was good about Copenhagen was the level of national pledges for climate action in most countries. Politically, we live in a world that agrees to stay below the danger zone of two degrees but practically what we have on the table adds up to 3C or more. It said a gap between the rhetoric and reality could cost millions of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and a wealth of lost opportunities. We are disappointed but remain hopeful. The civil society will continue watching every step of further negotiations. Getting a strong outcome of the follow-up process will take a lot of bridge-building between the rich and the poor countries. We expect that the Mexican hosts will be ideally placed to play that role. ******************************************* ... Rasmussen, as head of Venstre, the right wing party, and a coalition including the rabid anti-immigrant party in Denmark, had become the official host of the meeting. Until midway through the second week of the COP, that role had fallen on the more capable shoulders of Denmarks former environmental minister, Connie Hedegaard. With years of experience at the UN, and in the Kyoto process particularly, Hedegaard knew the players, the positions, and was respected as fair and impartial. Rasmussen would, in contrast, become known for high-handed demands, back-room wheeling and dealing, mass arrest and detention of protestors on suspicion of future traffic obstruction, demoting Hedegaard on the eve of the final high-level talks, and then abruptly bringing her back in to try to salvage a deal, barring the civil sector IGOs and NGOs from the meeting midway through the second week, after putting them through torturous and repeated dawn-till-dark outdoor linestandings in freezing cold and blowing snow, and then breaking with the EU and G-77 to back the USA's coalition of the willing approach. Leaving the NGOs out in the cold literally meant that none of civil society's detailed ideas could rise to the surface when they were most needed to break out of government sector's impasse. Instead, the US came in and tried to bully China, and China, in a geopolitical-orbit-shifting rebuke, stood firm and did not blink. The US limped home with a spin-doctored document, while China was revealed as the emerging world power to be reckoned with. Some of that had to do with Chinas massive investments in Africa and the two-thirds world over the past decade, which had built it a large store of political capital. Unfortunately, it spent a big hunk of that when it sold out Africa to the 5-party outcome. Naomi Klein said, Africa was sacrificed. The position of the G77 negotiating bloc, including African states, had been clear: a 2C increase in average global temperatures translates into a 33.5C increase in Africa. That means, according to the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, an additional 55 million people could be at risk from hunger, and water stress could affect between 350 and 600 million more people. Rasmussen and the G8 powers led by the Obama delegation, made their case for colonialism. What was being colonized and divided between occupying powers was not the G77, but the sky. For a mere ten billion dollars per year, G8 shareholders were sold a carbon market worth $1.2 trillion per year. Matthew Stilwell of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable development said that rich countries were allowed to exchange beads and blankets for Manhattan, adding, [They]'ve carved up the last remaining unowned resource and allocated it to the wealthy. With a $100 billion/year buy-out (first payment 2020, a US election year) or one army-year in Kabul, shared out between 193 countries, citizens from the Maldives will be offered hotel rooms in Houston the way New Orleans hurricane refugees were. Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo said, In a cruel irony I have just learned that the three Greenpeace activists who, posing as world leaders, entered the Danish Palace for the State Dinner on Thursday night to unfurl a banner calling for a real climate deal are to spend the next three weeks in jail. They will be away from their families over Christmas and the New Year. The real leaders, who attempted to get real action are now in jail, while the alleged 'leaders' got clean away, and are fleeing the Copenhagen climate crime scene in private jets and 747s. ... ================================================== -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiaclimatejustice" group. To post to this group, send email to indiaclimatejustice at googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to indiaclimatejustice+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiaclimatejustice?hl=en. From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 14:33:39 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:03:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <526352.25843.qm@web53604.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <214389.17450.qm@web57203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Rahul   As Yasir has pointed out in his mail, it was over-enthusiasm by the Secretary of Interior and his juniors at the Airport. They have been suspended from active service.   In any case, Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar has no roots in the Military so his being treated any which way does not affect the 'izzat' (respect) of the Military.   Yes there are some voices who are daring to say that the Military should also be brought under the preview of (Anti-Corruption) Accountability. I personally think it will be quite some time before that happens.    The confrontation that seems to be brewing up is one between the Executive and the Judiciary with it being openly articulated that the Supreme Court has over-stepped it's Constitutional Role in some of it's directives such as 'Transfer of Officials' and asking for cases to be pursued in the Swiss Courts (suggests cases against President Zardari who has Constitutional Immunity) .       Kshmendra --- On Sat, 12/19/09, Rahul Asthana wrote: From: Rahul Asthana Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan To: "sarai list" , "Kshmendra Kaul" Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 11:30 PM Hi Kshamendra, Please look at this. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/16-minister-for-defence-first-victim-of-revived-ecl-829-hs-12 The defense minister is barred from leaving the country by some ordinary immigration officials! It seems highly unlikely that the army has nothing to do with this. Yousuf , what do you think? Thanks Rahul --- On Sat, 12/19/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > From: Kshmendra Kaul > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" , "Rahul Asthana" > Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 4:09 PM > Dear Rahul >   > Seems highly unlikely. At least for now. >   > The Military in Pakistan continues to be both Holy Cow > and Dirty Pig. Not being served in any known menu > for investigation against corrupt practices. >   > Kshmendra > > --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Rahul Asthana > wrote: > > > From: Rahul Asthana > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo > Pakistan > To: "sarai list" , > "Kshmendra Kaul" > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:36 AM > > > In the opinion of some analysts the > scrapping of NRO could be the beginning of a coup in > Pakistan. > http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul > wrote: > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo > Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" > > Date: Thursday, >  December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > > In two weeks of December 2009 there > > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which > will > > have far reaching consequences in bettering the > situation in > > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of > turmoil. > >   > > The first was the consensus reached between the four > > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance > Commission > > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the > Provinces > > and the Federal Govt. > >   > > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in > the > > Indian Media. > >   > > With this, the only major contentious issue between > the > > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location > of > > Dams. > >   > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 > >   > >   > > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring > Un-Constitutional the > > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). > >   > > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek > amnesty > > in cases registered against them for various > criminal acts. > > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described > as > > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). > >   > > The Court has directed that all such cases be > reinstituted. > > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported > cases > > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. > >   > > President >  Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any > criminal > > prosecution action against him till the time he is > > President. > >   > > Kshmendra > >   > >   > > > > > >       > > _________________________________________ > > 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 kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 14:51:09 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:21:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <5af37bb0912191021n3d696d7cu32a2a8d25d7f70b9@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <186002.29705.qm@web57201.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Yasir   Holy Cow and Dirty Pig. You say the Military is neither. That would mean that they are following the 'on border or in barracks' role and have no say and do not try to impose a say in Civilian Matters, beyond the specified Constitutional Position.   Do not agree with you on that. Publicised disagreement on 'Oversight of Intelligence Agencies' and 'Kerry Luger Bill' are just two examples of the Military throwing it's weight at the Civilians.   My argument was that, (throwing their weight around aside, in addition) the Military continues to be a much reverred Holy Cow for many and so will stay outside the ambit of "Accountability", be it for Purchases, Land Grabs or Business Conglomerations. And that even if some consider the Military as Dirty Pigs, it is unlikely (at least for now) that they will be hauled up.   I will agree with you, once the 'hauling up' starts.   Kshmendra     --- On Sat, 12/19/09, yasir ~يا سر wrote: From: yasir ~يا سر Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan To: "sarai list" Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 11:51 PM rahul, kshmendra: i am not sure what K's argument is. I agree, i dont buy the coup argument. it is only politically obfusctory. the army is on the defensive since musharraf and hesitant to play a open role in politics. secondly, it has taken liberties during the war in FATA along the afghan border and killed indiscriniately and caused massive displacement of people 6-7 million ! without adequate redress or arrangement. some were made. So everyone here knows that its is no holy cow, which might be the impression across the border.  The army knows this and is trying to clean its image. besides its massive budget takes away from the education and health budget (there is 50% illiteracy !). Its proper place is the border and barrack, and so it is also not a dirty pig, while it may have to return to being a guard dog ! good dog ! third, oversight of army is desirable and its the right direction at the moment. would require more stability tho. rahul, the defence minister incident is some underlings acting up, its made to be seen as judiciary vs executive  :)  it will be played down. best On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 3:39 PM, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > Dear Rahul > > Seems highly unlikely. At least for now. > > The Military in Pakistan continues to be both Holy Cow and Dirty Pig. Not > being served in any known menu for investigation against corrupt practices. > > Kshmendra > > --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Rahul Asthana wrote: > > > From: Rahul Asthana > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" , "Kshmendra Kaul" < > kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:36 AM > > > In the opinion of some analysts the scrapping of NRO could be the beginning > of a coup in Pakistan. > http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" > > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > > In two weeks of December 2009 there > > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will > > have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in > > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil. > > > > The first was the consensus reached between the four > > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission > > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces > > and the Federal Govt. > > > > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the > > Indian Media. > > > > With this, the only major contentious issue between the > > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of > > Dams. > > > > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 > > > > > > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the > > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). > > > > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty > > in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. > > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as > > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). > > > > The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. > > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases > > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. > > > > President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal > > prosecution action against him till the time he is > > President. > > > > Kshmendra > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > 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 nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Sun Dec 20 15:52:48 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:22:48 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Sarah_Adetola_=28Germany=29?= Message-ID: <20091220112249.C22F1B8E.699945CB@192.168.0.2> 20 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"No Pigeonholes (Extracts from a Life) " by Sarah Adetola (Germany) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- Read the recent review on Furtherfield --> Art Cinema Everywhere, All The Time. Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and CologneOFF V http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=370 --------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- CologneOFF and its team wish all their friends and partners all over the world a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! -------------------------------------------- From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 16:07:23 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:37:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Aid group tries to reduce carbon footprint of weddings in Kashmir Valley Message-ID: <492433.28158.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Aid group tries to reduce carbon footprint of weddings in Kashmir Valley"   By Emily Wax Friday, December 18, 2009   SRINAGAR, INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR -- During every wedding season in the Kashmir Valley, love is in the air -- along with a thick cloud of grey smoke from thousands of cooking fires as platoons of wedding chefs, or wazas, slow-cook lamb and chicken over wood fires, sometimes for days.   Epic wedding banquets, each with dozens of courses that include succulent lamb kebabs, mutton meatballs and chicken curries, are an engine of Kashmiri culture. But they are also an environmental hazard: About 15,000 trees a day are cut down for these nuptial feasts, say researchers from Mercy Corps, an international aid group.   So now, in its latest attempt to find creative ways to fight climate change, the group is trying to reduce the carbon footprint of Kashmiri weddings.   "The Big Fat Kashmiri Wedding is going green," said Usmaan Ahmad, who is overseeing program development for Mercy Corps in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir. "If wazas go green, it's the perfect way to demonstrate the substitution of cleaner energy not just for weddings but for heating households, too."   As world leaders at the U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen struggle to hash out a plan for cutting emissions on a global scale, leaders in ecologically fragile regions such as Kashmir are coming up with small-scale solutions to shrink their carbon footprint and stave off or survive the effects of global warming, largely thought to be caused by greenhouse gases.   In Bangladesh, for instance, aid groups are building "floating villages," with schools and health clinics on boats, and offering special classes to help educate farmers and women about building shelters to survive flooding expected to be caused by warming.   Kenya built its first wind farm atop the Ngong Hills. It harnesses the breezes that sweep through the Rift Valley to generate clean power for the energy-starved East African nation. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is home to glaciers that provide fresh water for one-fifth of the world's population. But scientists and United Nations researchers say the glaciers are shrinking faster than expected and, at the current rate, could disappear within 30 years.   "If we don't stop the glaciers from disappearing, this could become another potential for conflict over water supply," said Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, a glaciologist at the University of Kashmir. "If we can get weddings to go green, that means we are motivating people on the ground. That is a powerful thing."   Mercy Corps workers are persuading wazas to cook their wedding delicacies with something they had never thought possible: weeds from Dal Lake and other household waste such as potato and fruit peels that are mixed with clay, heated, then crunched into cleaner-burning briquettes.   The project is part of grass-roots efforts here to fight global warming in places that are most affected by the phenomenon.   In the nearby region of Ladakh, retired civil engineer Chewang Norphel, known as "Glacier Man," came up with a novel way to artificially create glaciers.   He builds small stone walls to slow the downhill flow of glacier runoff, causing it to freeze faster during the winter months.   "Norphel is a real, live example of acting locally and not just waiting to see what happens on the international level," said Nawang Rigzin Jora, minister for tourism and culture in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.   To bring attention to the plight of those suffering most from the adverse effects of climate change, Mercy Corps and the state's Tourism Ministry organized the first-ever rock concert in Srinagar, to coincide with the opening of the Copenhagen talks. U.S. singer-songwriter Terra Naomi teamed up with Kashmiri crooner Waheed Jeelani for a local rendition of her hit single "Say It's Possible," inspired by the award-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."   In Kashmir, social activists fear that the valley's natural beauty -- its apple orchards, stream-laced pine forests and lakes filled with pink lotus flowers -- is quickly disappearing. Many scientists say man-made greenhouse gases are causing weather patterns to become more extreme.   In Kashmir, subtle changes in temperature have affected the region's vegetation. For centuries, Kashmiri folklore and botanical records show that the valley's narcissus flower usually blooms in April and May. But in recent years Kashmiri farmers and horticulturalists say the flower is blooming as early as January.   "That shows just how much nature's calendar is in disarray," said Ahmad of Mercy Corps. Standing over steaming caldrons, the wazas at a local kitchen said they were skeptical of cooking their beloved dishes over biomass fuel briquettes made from weeds and food scraps.   "It might change the taste," said Fayaz Ahmed, 30.   "We've been cooking this way for over a hundred years, but if people want their wedding dishes cooked in a new way, we can try it," he said, ladling a massive mutton meatball out of a steaming pot.   "We will see what the lamb tastes like."   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/17/AR2009121704675.html   From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 16:16:51 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:46:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] India is 'thailand' to Asia, say scientists Message-ID: <573119.9812.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "India is 'thailand' to Asia, say scientists" By Raja Murthy MUMBAI - Since "thai" means "mother" in classical Tamil, the language of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu and said to be the oldest living language in the world, "thailand" means motherland. However, India could be an ancient "motherland" of Thailand and Asia in a more literal sense, according to a new investigative study, "'Mapping Human Genetic Diversity in Asia". The findings, from an unprecedented collaboration of over 80 researchers and 40 scientific institutions across Asia [1], reveal a twist in the history of human migration. It points to India, then Thailand and Southeast Asia, being the ancestral home to most Asians. The paper, titled "Mapping Human Genetic Diversity in Asia", published in the Science journal issue of December 10, is the first of its kind on Asian populations. Undertaken by the Singapore-based Human Genome Organization (HUGO), the study follows earlier multiple genetic studies on European populations. The HUGO Pan-Asian SNP Consortium, as the project is called, overturns accepted knowledge that multiple migrations of populations directly went to East Asian countries from Africa, nearly a hundred thousand years ago. According to the new study, Dravidians - the race of people who inhabit south India, including Tamils - could be a common ancestral link to most modern-day Asians. The news would be an early mega Christmas gift to chauvinistic Dravidian political parties, such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhalgam (DMK, or the Dravidian Progressive Party) and its 85-year-old chief, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, currently ruling Tamil Nadu. Historically, Dravidians are considered India's original settlers. A more disputed theory says Dravidians were the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley civilization. Aryan invaders from Europe pushed them south of the Vindhaya Mountains into the Deccan Plateau in southern India, over 3,500 years ago. But while the new HUGO study could support anthropological knowledge of Aryans invading India, the findings also say modern India shares a closer genetic ancestry with Europe than with Asia. "Most of the Indian populations showed evidence of shared ancestry with European populations," observed page four of the six-page report in Science. "The current Indians received more genetic input from Aryan invasions which brought more Caucasian genes," says Dr Edison Liu, executive director at the Genome Institute of Singapore and president of HUGO. "So in fact, excluding modern-day Indians, there is clear indication that we are all genetically related in Asia." Modern-day Indians, Liu says, would mean those in post-Aryan India. In effect, the new HUGO study could point to India having a large Eurasian population, like Russia. "We have redefined the genetic history of Asian migration," declared Liu. "Previously, it was thought - because of archaeological, anthropological, and limited genetic data - that Asia was populated by two waves of migration. One wave was from Southeast Asia, called the Southern route, and the second from Central Asia, called the Northern route." Liu informed Asia Times Online that the HUGO Pan-Asian SNP Consortium findings now point to a single wave of migration from Southeast Asia. "This places disparate ethnic groups like the Negritos [in the Philippines], Dayaks [in Borneo, Indonesia] etc. within the Asian fold," says Liu. "The reconstruction is out of Africa to India." Caucasians and Asians were then divided, with the Caucasians moving to the Levant, or the Asian side of the Mediterranean Sea. The people wave continued to India, and then to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines. From Southeast Asia, settlers migrated to other parts of Asia, including China. If the study is accurate, the Han Chinese - the single-largest ethnic group in Asia and in the world - have ancestral linkages to southern China, northern Thailand and earlier in India. Sections of the Indian media highlighted the Chinese angle in the HUGO report. The Times of India, with a readership of 13.3 million, headlined its report as "Ancestors of Chinese came from India: Study". The Mumbai-based Daily News and Analysis went further, calling its report "The Chinese evolved from Indians: Study". So do Chinese have Indian ancestors? "It is probably more correct to say that Dravidians [in southern India] and Chinese had common ancestors, than to say that Chinese ancestors originated in India," said Liu, who was born in Hong Kong and emigrated to the United States in 1957. "What we are seeing is the transit of our ancestors in their travels out of Africa through India and into Southeast Asia and North Asia," Liu explained. "Along the way, they deposited progeny that later expanded, or contracted." Benefits from the findings include unified health solutions across Asia. A common ancestral link enables clinical trials for medicines that would be applicable across a wider region. Liu has worked on leukemia and breast cancer research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "This research is also significant for furthering the research in medicine," Samir Brahmachari, director general of the New Delhi-based Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, told Indian media. "The findings have great potential for collaboration with these countries in finding treatment to many diseases like flu, HIV and other pandemics," said Brahmachari, who is also a member of the 18-person HUGO governing council, and a professor of molecular biophysics and genetic engineering. "The paper not only presents a fantastic genotype database but also provides vital clues to scientists of diverse fields - from linguistics to archeology to human genetics," says Vikrant Kumar, a post doctoral fellow of the Genome Institute, Singapore, and an investigator in the study. Kumar, who earned his doctorate from the University of Calcutta, calls this the only effort of its kind where 73 populations scattered across 10 Asian countries are studied together. About 2,000 samples covering almost the "entire spectrum of linguistic and ethnic diversity" were genotyped for about 50,000 single nucleotide polymorphic markers, [2] he said. Apart from redefining the migratory origins of Asian people, the HUGO project marked a new high in pan-Asian scientific collaboration. "This study was very unusual," Liu says. "Perhaps the proudest achievement was that 10 Asian countries mounted this study on our own steam, funded and completed it internally, with each member working as equal partners." Liu, whose academic career includes stints at Washington University, Stanford University, University of California and University of North Carolina, calls this study a "milestone not only in the science that emerged, but the consortium that was formed. We overcame shortage of funds and diverse operational constraints through partnerships, good will, and cultural sensitivity." One of the hurdles was the disparity in technological access among the project team in various countries, with their varying access to expensive technologies. The problem was resolved by developing a host-guest structure, in which the technologically better off countries hosted working scientists with lesser technology access. "We transferred technologies, expanded capabilities, forged friendships and now have an Asian scientific network of considerable worth," says Liu, a nice enough initial outcome of a project that found a common ancestral link to Asians. Notes 1. Apart from over 80 individual researchers and scientists, the project involved 40 leading scientific organizations in Asia. It included Malaysia's Human Genome Center in Kelantan; India's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in New Delhi; Thailand's National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Pathumtani; the Korean BioInformation Center in Deajeon; the University of Philippines in Manila; Taiwan's Institute of Biomedical Sciences; the Genome Institute of Singapore; Japan's National Institute of Genetics and the Chinese Academy of Medical Science. 2. A genetic marker, a gene or a known DNA sequence in a chromosome (a chromosome is a DNA unit found in cells), can be detected in the blood and are generally used to see if an individual or a group are vulnerable to a particular disease. A genetic marker may be a short DNA sequence (single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP), or a long DNA sequence. The shorter SNP (pronounced snip) - used in this study - refers to a variation of genetic traits within an individual or a group. The study used 54,974 SNPs from 1928 persons representing 73 Asian populations. SNPs are the most frequent type of DNA variation. The HUGO study used the 'Affymetrix GeneChip Human Mapping 50K Xba Array' technology to analyze SNPs. The Affymetrix technology is available to scan SNPs of various densities, from 10,204 SNPs to a million. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KL19Df03.html   From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Dec 20 17:17:05 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:47:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?=22There=E2=80=99s_a_method_to_their_madn?= =?utf-8?q?ess=22_=28Vir_Sanghvi_on_Pakistan=29?= Message-ID: <300421.36675.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com> EXCERPTS:   - Nobody India speaks to (in Pakistan)* wants war or terror. But there is always some uncontrollable force that does and, sure enough, war and terror follow. (* - added)   - Because the Pakistanis maintain a careful ambiguity about where power actually resides within their society, they are able to speak in many voices at the same time.   - Pakistan has perfected the Madman theory so completely that even the Americans have now been taken in. Islamabad says: “If you don’t give us billions of dollars and lots of arms and extract some concessions from India, then our country will self-destruct and you will have instability and Islamic extremism in the region.” And the US gives in.   - So gullible Indian intellectuals say things like “It is our job to save Pakistan.” Or even, “A strong and stable Pakistan is in India’s best interests.” (Is it? Why? So it can send more terrorists here and keep shifting the blame? Would India really be worse off if Sindh seceded? If Baluchistan revolted?)   - If history has taught us anything, it is this: talking peace with Pakistan gets us nowhere. Every peace talk is followed by war or terror. About the only time in recent memory when we have had a degree of peace was between 1972 and 1989. And how did we achieve nearly two decades of peace? By winning the Bangladesh war.   Kshmendra     "There’s a method to their madness"   Vir Sanghvi December 12, 2009   Most of us forget nearly everything we learned in university within months of graduating. I doubt if I am an exception. But there’s one particular Politics tutorial that comes back to haunt me again and again each time Pakistan is discussed.   I was at university during the Cold War so all dons were slightly obsessed with the way in which the rivalry between Nato and the Soviet bloc would play out. One of them told us that he was an admirer of Henry Kissinger’s strategic thinking.   In those  days, we were taught the doctrine of MAD or Mutually Assured Destruction. The US and the Soviets both had so many nuclear weapons that each could easily destroy the other. Any Russian leader or American president who ordered a nuclear strike knew that he was, in effect, ordering the destruction of his own country. The other side would retaliate with so much force that the original attacker’s country would be destroyed.   If neither side could afford to go to war — because the nuclear destruction that followed would devastate both countries — then the threat of war could not be used ‘as a negotiating tool’. After all, only a madman would start a nuclear war that would lead to total destruction.   Kissinger’s bright idea, my don explained, had been to convince the Russians that President Richard Nixon was unstable. He drank late into the night, flew into rages, went down on his knees in the Oval Office to ask Jesus for instructions. In other words, Nixon was a madman.   The moment one of the players in this game of MAD is mad or unstable, then the threat of war suddenly becomes a negotiating ploy again.  Who knows, Kissinger would tell the Russians, if you provoke this mad Nixon, he might just press the nuclear button after he has had too much to drink!   The strategy had worked, my don said. And he was now convinced that the Cold War would not be ended by visionary statesmen but by tacticians who pretended to be mad for strategic advantage.   Can it be a coincidence that when the West finally won the Cold War, it was after eight years of sabre-rattling Ronald Reagan who most liberal commentators (and the Russians) regarded as a foolish, unstable, reactionary, war-monger?   I thought back again to this Madman theory of politics on the first anniversary of 26/11 as  I witnessed the sorry spectacle of Pakistani commentators and defence experts appearing on Indian TV to deny all responsibility for those monstrous attacks. I first thought: are these people mad?   Then, remnants of my education kicked in. Oh my God, I said to myself. They are using the Madman theory of politics!   Look at it this way. When our prime ministers (whether it is Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Manmohan Singh) talk to Pakistan, they act like statesmen. They are reasonable, flexible and willing to go the extra mile. When Pakistanis talk to us, it is an entirely different story. Whoever we talk to, always plays the Kissinger role and warns us that there is a mad Nixon-like figure hovering in the background, who could go off the handle at any time. Even as we talked peace to Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan was sending militants into Kashmir. Years later, when I asked Benazir about it, she said: what could I do? It was the ISI. They don’t listen to us.   Then, when Vajpayee went to Lahore and held hands with Nawaz Sharif, the photo-ops were followed by the invasion of Kargil. What a tragedy but there’s nothing I can do, said Sharif. The army acts on its own. They are all mad!   Then, when General Musharraf turned  up in Agra, I asked him how we could trust him after what he had done in Kargil. He denied the army’s involvement. There was a mujahideen factor, he said. The Pakistani army could not be blamed.   A year ago, Asif Zardari talked peace at the HT Leadership Summit. He offered a hand of friendship, he said. Weeks later, 26/11 happened. Zardari’s explanation: he wanted peace but what could he do? There were powerful Islamic groups that he had no control over. And they were lunatics and fanatics.   And so on. Nobody India speaks to wants war or terror. But there is always some uncontrollable force that does and, sure enough, war and terror follow.   Because the Pakistanis maintain a careful ambiguity about where power actually resides within their society, they are able to speak in many voices at the same time. Time after time, Indian leaders fall for this. Even as astute a tactician as Indira Gandhi bought Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s claim that he would not include the acceptance of the Line of Control in Kashmir as the international border in the Simla Agreement because “public opinion in Pakistan is so strong that I will be lynched when I go back”. Now Pakistan denies Bhutto ever agreed to this.   Can you imagine Indian leaders behaving like this? Can you conceive of Vajpayee saying “I know I promised peace but my generals attacked you anyway”? (As Sharif did after Kargil.) Can you conceive of Manmohan saying “I want to talk peace but the Hindu fundamentalists will kill me if I appear too reasonable”?   Because we’re a stable nation with a single centre of democratic authority, we talk with one voice. And each time, that works against us.   Pakistan has perfected the Madman theory so completely that even the Americans have now been taken in. Islamabad says: “If you don’t give us billions of dollars and lots of arms and extract some concessions from India, then our country will self-destruct and you will have instability and Islamic extremism in the region.” And the US gives in.   Within the Indian intelligentsia, Pakistan uses a variation of the same argument: if you don’t do as we say, then our country will self-destruct.   So gullible Indian intellectuals say things like “It is our job to save Pakistan.” Or even, “A strong and stable Pakistan is in India’s best interests.” (Is it? Why? So it can send more terrorists here and keep shifting the blame? Would India really be worse off if Sindh seceded? If Baluchistan revolted?)   If history has taught us anything, it is this: talking peace with Pakistan gets us nowhere. Every peace talk is followed by war or terror. About the only time in recent memory when we have had a degree of peace was between 1972 and 1989. And how did we achieve nearly two decades of peace? By winning the Bangladesh war.   In this day and age, war may not be possible. But, let’s be realistic: peace is not possible either.  It’s time to stop acting like statesmen when we are dealing with cunning madmen. There’s only one language that works in these situations.   And that, sadly enough, is the language of strength.   http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=13_12_2009_016_002&kword=&mode=1There   From yasir.media at gmail.com Sun Dec 20 18:07:02 2009 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?eWFzaXIgftmK2Kcg2LPYsQ==?=) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:37:02 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan In-Reply-To: <186002.29705.qm@web57201.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <5af37bb0912191021n3d696d7cu32a2a8d25d7f70b9@mail.gmail.com> <186002.29705.qm@web57201.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <5af37bb0912200437x70f8f56bp74af2d9d642a4a3e@mail.gmail.com> my point was that the military may be a holy cow, and its personnel untouchables in their own assessment of their raw power, not because people think so. i see this thing happening continuously, not as a bygone conclusion. The attempts by Rehman malik to put the intel agencies under the ministry and ambassador haqqani towing the US line on monitoring promotions of Pak officers by US, was just too much and outrageous enough, to only make a circus. the attempt was too feeble, and based on twisted footing, rathetr than political consensus. The first was refused. The second became ok when hillary spent 3 days socializing here and local media in further comedy.. best On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 2:21 PM, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > Dear Yasir > > Holy Cow and Dirty Pig. You say the Military is neither. That would mean > that they are following the 'on border or in barracks' role and have no say > and do not try to impose a say in Civilian Matters, beyond the specified > Constitutional Position. > > Do not agree with you on that. Publicised disagreement on 'Oversight of > Intelligence Agencies' and 'Kerry Luger Bill' are just two examples of the > Military throwing it's weight at the Civilians. > > My argument was that, (throwing their weight around aside, in addition) the > Military continues to be a much reverred Holy Cow for many and so will stay > outside the ambit of "Accountability", be it for Purchases, Land Grabs or > Business Conglomerations. And that even if some consider the Military as > Dirty Pigs, it is unlikely (at least for now) that they will be hauled up. > > I will agree with you, once the 'hauling up' starts. > > Kshmendra > > > --- On *Sat, 12/19/09, yasir ~يا سر * wrote: > > > From: yasir ~يا سر > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > To: "sarai list" > Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 11:51 PM > > rahul, kshmendra: > > i am not sure what K's argument is. I agree, i dont buy the coup argument. > it is only politically obfusctory. > > the army is on the defensive since musharraf and hesitant to play a open > role in politics. > > secondly, it has taken liberties during the war in FATA along the afghan > border and killed indiscriniately and caused massive displacement of people > 6-7 million ! without adequate redress or arrangement. some were made. So > everyone here knows that its is no holy cow, which might be the impression > across the border. The army knows this and is trying to clean its image. > besides its massive budget takes away from the education and health budget > (there is 50% illiteracy !). Its proper place is the border and barrack, > and > so it is also not a dirty pig, while it may have to return to being a guard > dog ! good dog ! > > third, oversight of army is desirable and its the right direction at the > moment. would require more stability tho. > > rahul, the defence minister incident is some underlings acting up, its made > to be seen as judiciary vs executive :) it will be played down. > > best > > > > On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 3:39 PM, Kshmendra Kaul > >wrote: > > > Dear Rahul > > > > Seems highly unlikely. At least for now. > > > > The Military in Pakistan continues to be both Holy Cow and Dirty Pig. Not > > being served in any known menu for investigation against corrupt > practices. > > > > Kshmendra > > > > --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Rahul Asthana > > wrote: > > > > > > From: Rahul Asthana > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > > To: "sarai list" >, > "Kshmendra Kaul" < > > kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com > > > > Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:36 AM > > > > > > In the opinion of some analysts the scrapping of NRO could be the > beginning > > of a coup in Pakistan. > > http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/a-military-coup-in-pakistan/ > > > > > > > > --- On Thu, 12/17/09, Kshmendra Kaul > > wrote: > > > > > From: Kshmendra Kaul > > > > > Subject: [Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan > > > To: "sarai list" > > > > > Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 4:43 PM > > > In two weeks of December 2009 there > > > have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will > > > have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in > > > a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil. > > > > > > The first was the consensus reached between the four > > > Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission > > > (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces > > > and the Federal Govt. > > > > > > It is extremely unfortunate that this significant > > > achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the > > > Indian Media. > > > > > > With this, the only major contentious issue between the > > > Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the > > > River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of > > > Dams. > > > > > > > > > http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01 > > > > > > > > > The second major development is a 17 member bench of > > > Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the > > > National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). > > > > > > The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator > > > Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty > > > in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. > > > Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as > > > "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law). > > > > > > The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. > > > Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases > > > are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen. > > > > > > President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is > > > protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal > > > prosecution action against him till the time he is > > > President. > > > > > > Kshmendra > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________ > > > 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.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.netwith 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 trishagupta at gmail.com Sun Dec 20 20:34:37 2009 From: trishagupta at gmail.com (trisha gupta) Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:34:37 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 29 Dec: Faiz and his Poetry Message-ID: <1c67b91f0912200704l3d4e8019tb32c1392ae18cc1@mail.gmail.com> Jana Natya Manch 1973 — 1989 — 2009 The Safdar Janam Talks on Culture and Politics a talk by Sohail Hashmi on Faiz and his Poetry 29 December 2009, Tuesday 6.00 p.m. Muktadhara Art Gallery Banga Sanskriti Bhavan 18-19 Bhai Veer Singh Marg New Delhi 110001 Between Gol Market and St. Columba's School Jana Natya Manch ALL ARE WELCOME Email: jananatyamanch at gmail.com From phadkeshilpa at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 00:10:10 2009 From: phadkeshilpa at gmail.com (Shilpa Phadke) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:10:10 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Call for Entries: Cut.In Students' Film Festival In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Shilpa Phadke Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 12:08 AM Subject: Fwd: Call for Entries: Cut.In Students' Film Festival To: Shilpa Phadke , sameera khan < sameerakhan at gmail.com>, Shilpa Ranade , vinita bhatia , Fleur D'Souza , asg < asg1989 at gmail.com> Dear all: Please circulate widely The Second Cut.In *Students’ Film festival* *Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.* The second Cut.In Students’ Video Festival will be held at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai on the 30 and 31 January 2010. The festival is being organized by the Centre for Media and Cultural Studies (CMCS), Tata Institute of Social Sciences. CMCS is an independent centre of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, engaged in media teaching, production, research and dissemination. This national level video festival aims to encourage talent among this group and also to bring them together. The competition is for short documentaries, short films, public service messages and music videos produced between 1 January 2008 to 15 December 2009. Entries are invited for the following categories: a) Best Documentary (under 45 min) b) Best Short fiction (under 45 min) c) Best Public Service Message (Under 2 min) d) Music Video (under 6 min) The festival will feature works by graduate/postgraduate/diploma students all over the country selected by a panel of judges. Two prizes will be given in each category. The prize consists of a trophy and a citation. In addition there are prizes for Best Camera, Edit and Sound Design. Entry Form and other details on http://cutinfest.wordpress.com/ -- _____________________ From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 11:00:57 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:00:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Story Contest by Karadi Tales, India: Send entries by Feb 14, 2010 Message-ID: >From http://karaditales.com/contest.aspx *A story is waiting to be completed… It’s waiting for you! *Here is an opportunity to become a published author with Karadi Tales! All you have to do is finish what we’ve started! Here’s how it works. A renowned author has written the first half of a story for us… but we don’t know how it ends! Read the story and tell us what you think should happen next. Complete the story *within 800 words* and send it to us. The entries will be* judged by an eminent panel of your favourite writers*. The four best entries will be* published as an audiobook by Karadi Tales.* And that’s not all! We also have a *celebrated Indian icon* waiting in the wings to lend voice to your story in the audio track! So what are you waiting for? Get cracking and email in your entries to us at contest at karaditales.com. Send us your entries latest by 14 February 2010! From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Mon Dec 21 13:32:14 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:02:14 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_V_-_features_for_one_day_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?-_today=3A_Sarah_Adetola_=28Germany=29?= Message-ID: <20091221090215.674CD2EA.90994A97@192.168.0.2> Sorry!, on 20 December 2009, the server was down and the network sites were not available. Therefore, the feature of 20 December will be the feature of 21 December again. ------------------------------------------------------ 21 December 2009 ------------------------------------ CologneOFF V - Taboo! Taboo? 5th Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest.org proudly presents CologneOFF V - video features for one day on VAD - Video Art Database Today-->"No Pigeonholes (Extracts from a Life) " by Sarah Adetola (Germany) --> http://vad.nmartproject.net/?p=974 ---------------------------------------------- Read the recent review on Furtherfield --> Art Cinema Everywhere, All The Time. Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and CologneOFF V http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=370 --------------------------------------------- The CologneOFF V festival catalogue can be downloaded for free as PDF –> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf --------------------------------------------- VideoChannel - http://videochannel.newmediafest.org is presenting CologneOFF V - 5th Cologne Online Film Festival also on --> Microwave - New Media Arts Festival 2009 Hong Kong - 13 Nov - 11 Dec 2009, and --> Fonlad - Digital Art Festival Guarda Portugal - 14 Nov 2009 - 03 Jan 2010 --> unCraftivism at Arnolfini Bristol/UK - 12 & 13 December 2009 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- CologneOFF and its team wish all their friends and partners all over the world a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! -------------------------------------------- From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Mon Dec 21 14:25:58 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (the-network) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:55:58 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?Season=27s_Greetings?= Message-ID: <20091221095558.9F960756.6C6F00B3@192.168.0.2> Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and the team of [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne the experimental platform for art and new media wish all their friends and partners all over the world a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful Happy New Year 2010! Please find your personal Christmas message on http://www.nmartproject.net/blog/?p=290 Welcome back in 2010 to New MediaFest'2010 -->10 Years [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne -->10 Years JavaMuseum - Forum for Internet Technology in Contemporary Art -->5 Years CologneOFF - Cologne Online Film Festival -->Launch on 1 January 2010 - running until 31 December 2010 --------------------------------------------------- [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne http://www.nmartproject.net the-network(at)koeln.de --------------------------------------------------- From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 15:12:23 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:12:23 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ice Message-ID: <564b2fca0912210142r788a4952j38cd377ef7519b14@mail.gmail.com> 2 October 2008 Arctic Sea Ice Down to Second-Lowest Extent; Likely Record-Low Volume Despite cooler temperatures and ice-favoring conditions, long-term decline continues This is a press release from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), which is part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Arctic sea ice extent during the 2008 melt season dropped to the second-lowest level since satellite measurements began in 1979, reaching the lowest point in its annual cycle of melt and growth on September 14, 2008. Average sea ice extent over the month of September, a standard measure in the scientific study of Arctic sea ice, was 4.67 million square kilometers (1.80 million square miles) (Figure 1). The record monthly low, set in 2007, was 4.28 million square kilometers (1.65 million square miles); the now-third-lowest monthly value, set in 2005, was 5.57 million square kilometers (2.15 million square miles). The 2008 season strongly reinforces the thirty-year downward trend in Arctic ice extent. The 2008 September low was 34% below the long-term average from 1979 to 2000 and only 9% greater than the 2007 record (Figure 2). Because the 2008 low was so far below the September average, the negative trend in September extent has been pulled downward, from –10.7 % per decade to –11.7 % per decade (Figure 3). NSIDC Senior Scientist Mark Serreze said, “When you look at the sharp decline that we’ve seen over the past thirty years, a ‘recovery’ from lowest to second lowest is no recovery at all. Both within and beyond the Arctic, the implications of the decline are enormous.” Conditions in spring, at the end of the growth season, played an important role in the outcome of this year’s melt. In March 2008, thin first-year ice covered a record high 73% of the Arctic Basin. While this might seem like a recovery of the ice, the large extent masked an important aspect of sea ice health; thin ice is more prone to melting out during summer. So, the widespread thin ice of spring 2008 set the stage for extensive ice loss over the melt season. Through the 2008 melt season, a race developed between melting of the thin ice and gradually waning sunlight. Summer ice losses allowed a great deal of solar energy to enter the ocean and heat up the water, melting even more ice from the bottom and sides. Warm oceans store heat longer than the atmosphere does, contributing to melt long after sunlight has begun to wane. In August 2008, the Arctic Ocean lost more ice than any previous August in the satellite record. NSIDC Research Scientist Walt Meier said, “Warm ocean waters helped contribute to ice losses this year, pushing the already thin ice pack over the edge. In fact, preliminary data indicates that 2008 probably represents the lowest volume of Arctic sea ice on record, partly because less multiyear ice is surviving now, and the remaining ice is so thin.” (See Figure 4.) In the end, however, summer conditions worked together to save some first-year ice from melting and to cushion the thin pack from the effects of sunlight and warm ocean waters. This summer’s weather did not provide the “perfect storm” for ice loss seen in 2007: temperatures were lower than 2007, although still higher than average (Figure 5); cloudier skies protected the ice from some melt; a different wind pattern spread the ice pack out, leading to higher extent numbers. Simply put, the natural variability of short-term weather patterns provided enough of a brake to prevent a new record-low ice extent from occurring. NSIDC Research Scientist Julienne Stroeve said, “I find it incredible that we came so close to beating the 2007 record—without the especially warm and clear conditions we saw last summer. I hate to think what 2008 might have looked like if weather patterns had set up in a more extreme way. ” The melt season of 2008 reinforces the decline of Arctic sea ice documented over the past thirty years (Figure 6 and Figure 7). NSIDC Lead Scientist Ted Scambos said, “The trend of decline in the Arctic continues, despite this year's slightly greater extent of sea ice. The Arctic is more vulnerable than ever.” From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 15:22:02 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:22:02 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] business deals of Dr Pachauri Message-ID: <564b2fca0912210152o6807d790rf6918cedf76397ea@mail.gmail.com> Questions over business deals of UN climate change guru Dr Rajendra Pachauri The head of the UN's climate change panel - Dr Rajendra Pachauri - is accused of making a fortune from his links with 'carbon trading' companies, Christopher Booker and Richard North write. Published: 8:30AM GMT 20 Dec 2009 Telegraph No one in the world exercised more influence on the events leading up to the Copenhagen conference on global warming than Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and mastermind of its latest report in 2007. Although Dr Pachauri is often presented as a scientist (he was even once described by the BBC as “the world’s top climate scientist”), as a former railway engineer with a PhD in economics he has no qualifications in climate science at all. What has also almost entirely escaped attention, however, is how Dr Pachauri has established an astonishing worldwide portfolio of business interests with bodies which have been investing billions of dollars in organisations dependent on the IPCC’s policy recommendations. These outfits include banks, oil and energy companies and investment funds heavily involved in ‘carbon trading’ and ‘sustainable technologies’, which together make up the fastest-growing commodity market in the world, estimated soon to be worth trillions of dollars a year. Today, in addition to his role as chairman of the IPCC, Dr Pachauri occupies more than a score of such posts, acting as director or adviser to many of the bodies which play a leading role in what has become known as the international ‘climate industry’. It is remarkable how only very recently has the staggering scale of Dr Pachauri’s links to so many of these concerns come to light, inevitably raising questions as to how the world’s leading ‘climate official’ can also be personally involved in so many organisations which stand to benefit from the IPCC’s recommendations. The issue of Dr Pachauri’s potential conflict of interest was first publicly raised last Tuesday when, after giving a lecture at Copenhagen University, he was handed a letter by two eminent ‘climate sceptics’. One was the Stephen Fielding, the Australian Senator who sparked the revolt which recently led to the defeat of his government’s ‘cap and trade scheme’. The other, from Britain, was Lord Monckton, a longtime critic of the IPCC’s science, who has recently played a key part in stiffening opposition to a cap and trade bill in the US Senate. Their open letter first challenged the scientific honesty of a graph prominently used in the IPCC’s 2007 report, and shown again by Pachauri in his lecture, demanding that he should withdraw it. But they went on to question why the report had not declared Pachauri’s personal interest in so many organisations which seemingly stood to profit from its findings. The letter, which included information first disclosed in last week’s Sunday Telegraph, was circulated to all the 192 national conference delegations, calling on them to dismiss Dr Pachauri as IPCC chairman because of recent revelations of his conflicting interests. The original power base from which Dr Pachauri has built up his worldwide network of influence over the past decade is the Delhi-based Tata Energy Research Institute, of which he became director in 1981 and director-general in 2001. Now renamed The Energy Research Institute, TERI was set up in 1974 by India’s largest privately-owned business empire, the Tata Group, with interests ranging from steel, cars and energy to chemicals, telecommunications and insurance (and now best-known in the UK as the owner of Jaguar, Land Rover, Tetley Tea and Corus, Britain’s largest steel company). Although TERI has extended its sponsorship since the name change, the two concerns are still closely linked. In India, Tata exercises enormous political power, shown not least in the way it has managed to displace hundreds of thousands of poor tribal villagers in the eastern states of Orissa and Jarkhand to make way for large-scale iron mining and steelmaking projects. Initially, when Dr Pachauri took over the running of TERI in the 1980s, his interests centred on the oil and coal industries, which may now seem odd for a man who has since become best known for his opposition to fossil fuels. He was, for instance, a director until 2003 of India Oil, the country’s largest commercial enterprise, and until this year remained as a director of the National Thermal Power Generating Corporation, its largest electricity producer. In 2005, he set up GloriOil, a Texas firm specialising in technology which allows the last remaining reserves to be extracted from oilfields otherwise at the end of their useful life. However, since Pachauri became a vice-chairman of the IPCC in 1997, TERI has vastly expanded its interest in every kind of renewable or sustainable technology, in many of which the various divisions of the Tata Group have also become heavily involved, such as its project to invest $1.5 billion (£930 million) in vast wind farms. Dr Pachauri’s TERI empire has also extended worldwide, with branches in the US, the EU and several countries in Asia. TERI Europe, based in London, of which he is a trustee (along with Sir John Houghton, one of the key players in the early days of the IPCC and formerly head of the UK Met Office) is currently running a project on bio-energy, financed by the EU. Another project, co-financed by our own Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the German insurance firm Munich Re, is studying how India’s insurance industry, including Tata, can benefit from exploiting the supposed risks of exposure to climate change. Quite why Defra and UK taxpayers should fund a project to increase the profits of Indian insurance firms is not explained. Even odder is the role of TERI’s Washington-based North American offshoot, a non-profit organisation, of which Dr Pachauri is president. Conveniently sited on Pennsylvania Avenue, midway between the White House and the Capitol, this body unashamedly sets out its stall as a lobbying organisation, to “sensitise decision-makers in North America to developing countries’ concerns about energy and the environment”. TERI-NA is funded by a galaxy of official and corporate sponsors, including four branches of the UN bureaucracy; four US government agencies; oil giants such as Amoco; two of the leading US defence contractors; Monsanto, the world’s largest GM producer; the WWF (the environmentalist campaigning group which derives much of its own funding from the EU) and two world leaders in the international ‘carbon market’, between them managing more than $1 trillion (£620 billion) worth of assets. All of this is doubtless useful to the interests of Tata back in India, which is heavily involved not just in bio-energy, renewables and insurance but also in ‘carbon trading’, the worldwide market in buying and selling the right to emit CO2. Much of this is administered at a profit by the UN under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) set up under the Kyoto Protocol, which the Copenhagen treaty was designed to replace with an even more lucrative successor. Under the CDM, firms and consumers in the developed world pay for the right to exceed their ‘carbon limits’ by buying certificates from those firms in countries such as India and China which rack up ‘carbon credits’ for every renewable energy source they develop – or by showing that they have in some way reduced their own ‘carbon emissions’. It is one of these deals, reported in last week’s Sunday Telegraph, which is enabling Tata to transfer three million tonnes of steel production from its Corus plant in Redcar to a new plant in Orissa, thus gaining a potential £1.2 billion in ‘carbon credits’ (and putting 1,700 people on Teesside out of work). More than three-quarters of the world ‘carbon’ market benefits India and China in this way. India alone has 1,455 CDM projects in operation, worth $33 billion (£20 billion), many of them facilitated by Tata – and it is perhaps unsurprising that Dr Pachauri also serves on the advisory board of the Chicago Climate Exchange, the largest and most lucrative carbon-trading exchange in the world, which was also assisted by TERI in setting up India’s own carbon exchange. But this is peanuts compared to the numerous other posts to which Dr Pachauri has been appointed in the years since the UN chose him to become the world’s top ‘climate-change official’. In 2007, for instance, he was appointed to the advisory board of Siderian, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm specialising in ‘sustainable technologies’, where he was expected to provide the Fund with ‘access, standing and industrial exposure at the highest level’, In 2008 he was made an adviser on renewable and sustainable energy to the Credit Suisse bank and the Rockefeller Foundation. He joined the board of the Nordic Glitnir Bank, as it launched its Sustainable Future Fund, looking to raise funding of £4 billion. He became chairman of the Indochina Sustainable Infrastructure Fund, whose CEO was confident it could soon raise £100 billion. In the same year he became a director of the International Risk Governance Council in Geneva, set up by EDF and E.On, two of Europe’s largest electricity firms, to promote ‘bio-energy’. This year Dr Pachauri joined the New York investment fund Pegasus as a ‘strategic adviser’, and was made chairman of the advisory board to the Asian Development Bank, strongly supportive of CDM trading, whose CEO warned that failure to agree a treaty at Copenhagen would lead to a collapse of the carbon market. The list of posts now held by Dr Pachauri as a result of his new-found world status goes on and on. He has become head of Yale University’s Climate and Energy Institute, which enjoys millions of dollars of US state and corporate funding. He is on the climate change advisory board of Deutsche Bank. He is Director of the Japanese Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and was until recently an adviser to Toyota Motors. Recalling his origins as a railway engineer, he is even a policy adviser to SNCF, France’s state-owned railway company. Meanwhile, back home in India, he serves on an array of influential government bodies, including the Economic Advisory Committee to the prime minister, holds various academic posts and has somehow found time in his busy life to publish 22 books. Dr Pachauri never shrinks from giving the world frank advice on all matters relating to the menace of global warming. The latest edition of TERI News quotes him as telling the US Environmental Protection Agency that it must go ahead with regulating US carbon emissions without waiting for Congress to pass its cap and trade bill. It reports how, in the days before Copenhagen, he called on the developing nations which had been historically responsible for the global warming crisis to make ‘concrete commitments’ to aiding developing countries such as India with funding and technology – while insisting that India could not agree to binding emissions targets. India, he said, must bargain for large-scale subsidies from the West for developing solar power, and Western funds must be made available for geo-engineering projects to suck CO2 out of the atmosphere. As a vegetarian Hindu, Dr Pachauri repeated his call for the world to eat less meat to cut down on methane emissions (as usual he made no mention of what was to be done about India’s 400 million sacred cows). He further called for a ban on serving ice in restaurants and for meters to be fitted to all hotel rooms, so that guests could be charged a carbon tax on their use of heating and air-conditioning. One subject the talkative Dr Pachauri remains silent on, however, is how much money he is paid for all these important posts, which must run into millions of dollars. Not one of the bodies for which he works publishes his salary or fees, and this notably includes the UN, which refuses to reveal how much we all pay him as one of its most senior officials. As for TERI itself, Dr Pachauri’s main job for nearly 30 years, it is so coy about money that it does not even publish its accounts – the financial statement amounts to two income and expenditure pie charts which contain no detailed figures. Dr Pachauri is equally coy about TERI’s links with Tata, the company which set it up in the 1970s and whose name it continued to bear until 2002, when it was changed to just The Energy Research Institute. A spokesman at the time said ‘we have not severed our past relationship with the Tatas, the change is only for convenience’. But the real question mark over TERI’s director-general remains over the relationship between his highly lucrative commercial jobs and his role as chairman of the IPCC. TERI have, for example, become a preferred bidder for Kuwaiti contracts to clean up the mess left by Saddam Hussein in their oilfields in 1991. The $3 billion (£1.9 billion) cost of the contracts has been provided by the UN. If successful, this would be tenth time TERI have benefited from a contract financed by the UN. Certainly no one values the services of TERI more than the EU, which has included Dr Pachauri’s institute as a partner in no fewer than 12 projects designed to assist in devising the EU’s policies on mitigating the effects of the global warming predicted by the IPCC. But whether those 1,700 Corus workers on Teesside will next month be so happy to lose their jobs to India, thanks to the workings of that international ‘carbon market’ about which Dr Pachauri is so enthusiastic, is quite another matter. From ravikant at sarai.net Mon Dec 21 18:01:13 2009 From: ravikant at sarai.net (ravikant) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:01:13 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Talk at CSDS: Prof. Aamir Mufti on Said's missing homeland Message-ID: <4B2F6A91.9090106@sarai.net> You are cordially invited for a hurriedly organised (apologies) talk by Aamir Mufti, Associate Professor in Comparative Literature, UCLA. Aamir will speak from his current book project tentatively called Edward Said in Jerusalem. So, Please come to the CSDS library on 23 December, 2009; 4.00 pm, to listen to and chat with Prof. Aamir Mufti on: “The Missing Homeland of Edward Said.” Note on the speaker: http://www.complit.ucla.edu/people/faculty/mufti/ Aamir Mufti pursued his doctoral studies in literature at Columbia University under the supervision of Edward Said. He was also trained in Anthropology at Columbia and the London School of Economics, and his research and teaching reflect this disciplinary range. His work reconsiders the secularization thesis in a comparative perspective, with a special interest in Islam and modernity in India and the cultural politics of Jewish identity in Western Europe. His areas of specialization include: colonial and postcolonial literatures, with a primary focus on India and Britain, and nineteenth- and twentieth-century Urdu literature in particular; Marxism and aesthetics; Frankfurt School critical theory; minority cultures; exile and displacement; refugees and the right to asylum; modernism and fascism; language conflicts; global English and the vernaculars; and the history of Anthropology. His most recent contribution to the study of secularism is a book, *Enlightenment in the Colony: The Jewish Question and the Crisis of Postcolonial Culture (*Princeton University Press). Current work includes two book projects—one concerning exile and criticism and the other, the colonial reinvention of Islamic traditions. He edited “Critical Secularism,” a special issue of the journal *boundary 2* and has also co-edited *Dangerous Liaisons: Gender, Nation, and Postcolonial Perspectives *(University of Minnesota Press). His work has appeared in such periodicals as S*ocial Text, Critical Inquiry,* S*ubaltern Studies*, *boundary 2*, the *Journal of Palestine Studies*, *Theory and Event*, and the *Village Voice.* He has happy memories of serving for several years as a member of the editorial collective of S*ocial Text*, but has long since changed his loyalties to *boundary 2*. ravikant CSDS, Delhi From peter.ksmtf at gmail.com Mon Dec 21 22:20:20 2009 From: peter.ksmtf at gmail.com (T Peter) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:50:20 -0800 Subject: [Reader-list] Despite govt assurances, fishermen smell something fishy in marine Act Message-ID: <3457ce860912210850v6adf0052hc8ffdac348e74c6e@mail.gmail.com> Monday December 21, 02:54 AM Source: Indian Express Finance Despite govt assurances, fishermen smell something fishy in marine Act By Rajesh Ravi The controversial Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act 2009 does not have any takers among the fish workers even after the Centre announced that it was willing to discuss it with all concerned parties. While the Tamil Nadu government has welcomed it, traditional fish workers all over the country under the banner of National Fish Workers Forum have threatened to launch a nation-wide strike against the bill, which they say infringes upon the rights of traditional fish workers. According to the ministry of agriculture, major objective of the legislation is to ensure that there is no unregulated fishing in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) beyond territorial waters, and to conserve fisheries resources through a fisheries management plan. At present, there is no such legal or regulatory framework to govern fishing in the EEZ waters beyond 12 nautical miles and up to 200 nautical miles, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Centre. The state governments have jurisdiction over 12 nautical miles from their respective coast and have several regulations to protect the resources and rights of the traditional fish workers. The major point of conflict is the need for a special permit for the fish workers to fish beyond the territorial waters and the penalty proposed for any violation. This implies that though fishermen who are issued fishing licences to operate within the territorial waters of states will not be allowed to fish beyond 12 nautical miles without getting another licence under the new act. "It is our traditional and customary right to fish where the resources are found. The act infringes on our right to livelihood while opening up the sector to foreign operators," T Peter, secretary of the National Fish workers Forum (NFF) told FE. The NFF wants the traditional fishing sector to be excluded from the purview of the Act, he said. Fish workers are not against conservation of resources and security of the coast, but the act in its current format would make them vulnerable to the authorities. "This regulation would create duplication of licensing system and create confusion. It will compound the misery of fishermen. It is also not practically possible to prevent the fishermen from fishing beyond 12 nautical miles," Peter said. The penalty proposed for vessels fishing beyond 12 nautical miles is harsh. It also goes against the Murari Committee recommendation, which called for more participation of traditional fish workers in deep sea fishing, he added. ME Raghupathy of the Chennai Mechanised Boat Fishermen's Association said the act prevents fishermen with permits to fish in the territorial water to use long-lining nets. "We use gill nets for fishing in the waters near the coast, while we use long-liners for fishing in deep waters. Fishermen venture out into the sea depending up on the availability and nature of fish. It is seasonal and we cannot stick to the use of a single net," he added. Marine resources are limited near the coast and in some parts, they have been almost completely exploited, fishermen having mechanised fishing crafts have been venturing into the sea beyond 12 nautical miles for gaining access to under-exploited offshore fishery reserves, Raghupathi said. "Limiting us into the territorial water would be devastating. It can also lead to more corruption and misery as the workers are mostly illiterate," he added. Moreover, the act also calls for maintaining a log book and a master of vessel for fishing vessels above the length of 42 feet. "Such things are not practical in the current system of operation," he said. Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal, president of Kerala Boat Owners Association feels that management of marine resources from above is not practical and good. "Stakeholders have to be included in effective conservation of resources. Fishermen know the sea and efficient management of its resources calls for their participation," he added. http://www.keralafishworkers.org From sonia.jabbar at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 08:14:45 2009 From: sonia.jabbar at gmail.com (S. Jabbar) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:14:45 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The other Shopian story Message-ID: Indian Express 8 killed, Shopian village stays indoors after dark Mir Ehsan Posted online: Monday , Dec 21, 2009 at 0440 hrs Keller (Shopian) : Eight killings around Shopian¹s remote Keller village in the past eight months have struck fear in the villagers who now hardly venture out of their houses after dusk. On Tuesday evening, Sheeraza Akthar, 21, was shot inside her house by unidentified militants. Three days later, militants again struck in the neighbouring Kadipora village where, police said, two unknown masked gunmen entered the house of Nazir Ahmad Chopan and shot him. Like Akthar, Chopan also died on the spot. ³After the series of killings, everyone here is scared. We do not dare to move out from our houses during the evening hours. Villagers now bolt the doors of their house before dusk,² said Khurshid Ahmad, an agricultural labourer, who lives at Hirgam Keller. ³The killings, especially of women, have left people worried. We want to know why civilians are being killed like this?² he asked. Another villager, Jalaluddin, who runs a grocery shop in the village, said, ³After the killings, our friends and relatives from outside villages have stopped visiting our village.² He said after the killings, government officials too are reluctant to visit Keller. Keller, with some 800 households, is fringed by forests and is one of the most landscaped villages of south Kashmir¹s Shopian district. Police have held a militant module active in the area responsible not only for the recent killings. The module is reportedly headed by a foreigner and comprises five to six militants. From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 13:16:44 2009 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:16:44 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] My name is not Khan, I am Mr Kaul In-Reply-To: <6353c690912212344r6d66f946s3f8dbe89df5a36b0@mail.gmail.com> References: <6353c690912212344r6d66f946s3f8dbe89df5a36b0@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6353c690912212346m6c565e02q911a0719a676ff6e@mail.gmail.com> My name is not Khan, I am Mr Kaul Tarun Vijay Tuesday December 22, 2009, 08:55 AM *Link* - http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/my-name-is-not-khan I am not Khan. My name bears a different set of four letters: K A U L. Kaul. As those who know Indian names would understand I happened to be born in a family which was called Hindu by others. Hence, we were sure, we would never get a friend like KJ to make a movie on our humiliations, and the contemptuous and forced exile from our homeland. It's not fashionable. It's fashionable to get a Khan as a friend and portray his agony and pains and sufferings when he is asked by a US private to take off his shoes and show his socks. Natural and quite justifiable that Khan must feel insulted and enraged. Enough Masala to make a movie. But unfortunately I am a Kaul. I am not a Khan. Hence when my sisters and mothers were raped and killed, when six-year-old Seema was witness to the brutal slaughtering of her brother, mother and father with a butcher's knife by a Khan, nobody ever came to make a movie on my agony, pain and anguish, and tears. No KJ would make a movie on Kashmiri Hindus. Because we are not Khans. We are Kauls. When we look at our own selves as Kauls, we also see a macabre dance of leaders who people Parliament. Some of them were really concerned about us. They got the bungalows and acres of greenery and had their portraits were worshipped by the gullible devotees of patriotism. They made reservations in schools and colleges for us. In many many other states. But never did they try that we go back to our homes. They have other priorities and 'love your jihadi neighborhood' programmes. They get flabbier and flabbier with the passing of each year, sit on sacks of sermons; issue instructions to live simply and follow moral principles delivered by ancestors and kept in documents treated with time-tested preservatives. They could play with me because my name is Kaul. And not Mr Khan. I saw the trailer to this fabulous movie, which must do good business at the box office. There was not even a hint that terror is bad and it is worse if it is perpetuated in the name of a religion that means Peace. Peace be upon all its followers and all other the creatures too. So you make a movie on the humiliation of taking off shoes to a foreign police force which has decided not to allow another 9/11. The humiliation of taking off the shoes and the urge to show that you are innocent is really too deep. But what about the humiliation of leaving your home and hearth and the world and the relatives and wife and mother and father? And being forced to live in shabby tents, at the mercy of nincompoop leaders encashing your misery and bribe-seeking babus? And seeing your daughters growing up too sudden and finding no place to hide your shame? No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie, a telling, spine-chilling narration on the celluloid, of five-year-old Seema, who saw her parents and brother being slaughtered by a butcher's knife in Doda. Because her dad was not Mr Khan. He was one Mr Kaul. Sorry, Mr Kaul and your entire ilk. I can't help you. It's not fashionable to side with those who are Kauls. And Rainas. And Bhatts. Dismissively called KPs. KPs means Kashmiri Pandits. They are a bunch of communalists. They were the agents of one Mr Jagmohan who planned their exodus so that Khans can be blamed falsely. In fact, a movie can be made on how these KPs conspired their own exile to give a bad name to the loving and affectionate Khan brothers of the valley. To voice the woes of Kauls is sinful. The right course to get counted in the lists of the Prime Minister's banquets and the President's parties is to announce from the roof top: hey, men and ladies, I am Mr Khan. The biggest apartheid the state observes is to exclude those who cry for Kauls, wear the colours of Ayodhya, love the wisdom of the civilisational heritage, dare to assert as Hindus in a land which is known as Hindustan too and struggle to live with dignity as Kauls. They are out and exiled. You can see any list of honours and invites to summits and late-evening gala parties to toast a new brand. All that the Kauls are allowed is a space at Jantar Mantar: shout, weep and go back to your tents after a tiring demonstration. Mr Kaul, you have got a wrong name. A dozen KJs would fly to take you atop the glory - posts and gardens of sympathies if you accept to wear a Khan name and love a Sunita, Pranita, Komal or a Kamini. Well, here you have a sweetheart in Mandira. That goes well with the story. And you pegged the movie plot on autism. I wept. It was too much. I wept as a father of a son who needed a story as an Indian. Who cares for his autistic son, his relationship with the western world, his love affair with a young sweet something as a human, as someone whose heart goes beyond being a Hindu, a Muslim or a proselytizing Vatican-centric aggressive soul. Not the one who would declare in newspaper interviews: "I think I am an ambassador for Islam". Shah Rukh is Shah Rukh, not because he is an ambassador for Islam. If that was true, he could have found a room in Deoband. Fine enough. But he became a heartthrob and a famousl star because he is a great actor. He owes everything he has to Indians and not just to Muslims. We love him not because he is some Mr Khan. We love him because he has portrayed the dreams, aspirations, pains, anguish and ups and downs of our daily life. As an Indian. As one of us. If he wants to use our goodwill and love for strengthening his image as an ambassador for Islam, will we have to think to put up an ambassador for Hindus? That, at least to me, would be unacceptable because I trust everyone: a Khan or a Kaul or a Singh or a Victor. Who represents India represents us all too, including Hindus. My best ambassadorship would be an ambassadorship for the tricolour and not for anything else because I see my Ram and Dharma in that. I don't think even an Amitabh or a Hritik would ever think in terms Shah Rukh has chosen for himself. But shouldn't these big, tall, successful Indians who wear Hindu names make a movie on why Kauls were ousted? Why Godhra occurred in the first place? Why nobody, yes, not a single Muslim, comes forward to take up the cause of the exiled and killed and contemptuously marginalized Kauls whereas every Muslim complainant would have essentially a Hindu advocate to take on Hindus as fiercely as he can? If you are Mr Khan and found dead on the railway tracks, the entire nation would be shaken. And he was also a Rizwan. May be just a coincidence that our Mr Khan in the movie is also a Rizwan. Rizwan's death saw the police commissioner punished and cover stories written by missionary writers. But if you are a Sharma or a Kaul and happened to love an Ameena Yusuf in Srinagar, you would soon find your corpse inside the police thana and NONE, not even a small-time local paper would find it worthwhile to waste a column on you. No police constable would be asked to explain how a wrongly detained person was found dead in police custody? Because the lover found dead inside a police thana was not Mr Khan. No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie on 'My name is Kaul. And I am terror-struck by Khans'. Give me back my identity as an Indian, Mr. Khan and I would have no problem even wearing your name and appreciating the tender love of an autistic son. *The writer can be reached at tarun.vijay at gmail.com* From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 13:22:36 2009 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:22:36 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-2?q?Fwd=3A_=AEi=BEek_in_India=3A_24_Dec_?= =?iso-8859-2?q?2009--9_Jan_2010?= In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <564b2fca0912212352k2170498jfb42f2f3af22c1fe@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Events Navayana Date: 21 Dec 2009 17:45 Subject: Žižek in India: 24 Dec 2009--9 Jan 2010 To: navayana publishing Navayana presents preeminent Marxist philosopher Slavoj Žižek in its 1st Annual Lecture series. The lectures, beginning 4 Jan 2010, are preceded by screenings of films on/with Žižek starting 24 Dec 09. All the events are open to public. 24 Dec 2009. 3 p.m to 7.15 p.m. Screenings "The Pervert's Guide to Cinema," in 3 parts. 150 mins, to be followed by "Žižek!", 71 mins. Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 2 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Screening "Žižek!" A feature documentary directed by Astra Taylor, 71 mins. Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 4 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture "Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood" Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 5 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Lecture "Tragedy and Farce" Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 7 Jan 2010. 11 a.m. Lecture "Capitalism and Particular Life-Worlds: In Defense of Universalism" ICSSR Auditorium, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad 9 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture and Panel Discussion "Whither Left?" Town Hall, Kochi. Žižek's latest book, First as Tragedy, Then as Farce < http://navayana.org/?attachment_id=768>, already available in bookstores, will be for sale at all venues. Also available from 24 Dec 2009: *In Pursuit of Ambedkar* by Bhagwan Das < http://navayana.org/?p=801> And launching on 2 Jan 2010, the first title in the "Navayana Ambedkar Library" series. *Thus Spoke Ambedkar, Volume 1 A Stake in the Nation* Edited and Selected by Bhagwan Das With annotations 7.5" x 7.5" Hardback with dust jacket, 224 pages ISBN 9788189059187 Rs 395 *'In India, there are castes. These castes are antinational.'* - Navayana presents the first ever annotated edition of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar's speeches. This is the first of the four volumes selected and edited by Bhagwan Das, a veteran chronicler of the dalit movement who in 1955-56 worked as a research associate with Ambedkar. The twenty speeches here showcase the wide range of issues one of modern India's founders engaged with. Delivered between 1930 and 1956, they unravel a story that is jettisoned by mainstream 'nationalist' narratives that valorise the 'idea of India'. At times like a gorilla fighter who hacks away at everything around him, sometimes like a swordsman who strikes to defend but not wound, and at other times like a surgeon who seeks to get rid of the one single rotten organ - caste - that endangers the entire body, Ambedkar grapples with questions of inequality, democracy, labour, minority rights, constitution-making and brahminism in speeches that address various publics: dalit workers in Nashik, British lawmakers in London, and college students in Jalandhar. The prose spans different registers--lyrical and polemical, combative and poignant, of reason and affect. This volume, the first in the Navayana Ambedkar Library series, is essential reading for anyone keen on understanding India. www.navayana.org -- www.navayana.org Navayana Publishing 155, Second Floor (Near DDA Park) Shahpur Jat New Delhi 110049 Landline: +91-11-26494795 Mobile: +91-9971433117 From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 22 14:13:16 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (CologneOFF) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:43:16 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?Christmas_on_CologneOFF?= Message-ID: <20091222094317.1CB04E14.905C5A69@192.168.0.2> CologneOFF V is excited to announce the Christmas 2009 update: On 22 December 2009, CologneOFF V is launching the new Program 5 - featuring 14 outstanding One Minute Films selected and curated by the charming guest curator Alysse Stepanian (Iran/USA) herself not only video artist´and participant in CologneOFF V, but also a talented curator who is running her own curatorial project "Manipulated Image" at the Complex in the city of Santa Fe/New Mexico (USA), see also the MI profile on netMAXX - networked magazine - http://maxx.nmartproject.net/?p=110 A new version of the PDF catalogue is also available for download http://downloads.nmartproject.net/CologneOFF_5th_edition_2009.pdf The new selection is featuring following films -> Blast, 2009, 1:00 by Johanna Reich (Germany) Wormwhole, 2009, 1:00 by Bill Domonkos (USA) My Way, 2006, 1:00 by Sonja Vuk (CR) White, 2009, 1:00 by Lin Fangsuo (China) Pass, 2009, 1:00 by Istvan Rusvai (Hungary) Wall of China, 2009, 1:00 by Yoko Taketani (Japan) Mimnemesis, 2007, 1:00 by Pierre-Laurent Cassiere (France) An Application As Self-portrait, 2009, 1:00 by Fumiko Matsuyama (Japan) My identity by web application, 2009, 1:00 by Junho Oh (South Korea) A Face, 2009, 1:00by Yin-Ling Chen (Taiwan) Continuum Continuus (Trailer), 2007, 1:00 by Toni Mestrovic (Croatia) 1 minute crash-course on SEDUCTION, 2009, 1:00 by Sreedeep (India) Crosslegged, 2008, 1:00 by Baptist Coelho (India) God's Wax, 2009, 1:00 by Antonio Alvarado (Spain) ---------------------------------------------- Read the recent review on Furtherfield --> Art Cinema Everywhere, All The Time. Wilfried Agricola de Cologne and CologneOFF V http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=370 --------------------------------------------- In 2010, CologneOFF V will become part of NewMediaFest'2010, after Hong Kong/China, Guarda/Portugal and Bristol/UK in 2009, the next physical venue will be in 2010 --> CeC - Carnival of eCreativity Sattal/India - 19-21 February 2010 -------------------------------------------- The entire festival can be accessed online directly via http://coff05.newmediafest.org info[at]coff.newmediafest.org -------------------------------------------- CologneOFF and its team wish all their friends and partners all over the world a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 14:14:22 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:44:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] The other Shopian story In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <345414.582.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> It must be one amongst the many sinister plots of INDIA.   These bloody Hindu Indians want to kill the Muslims of Kashmir, one by one; by one; by one; by ...... and are killing the Muslims of Pakistan bomb blast by bomb blast; by bomb blast; by bomb blast; by bomb blast; by ......   I think India should see some sense, rectify it's ways and handover Kashmir to the Al Qaeda and the Taliban (Afghan).    Of course Arundhati Roy, Richard Shapiro, Angana Chatterji, Inder Salim, Sanjay Kak should be made citizens of this Islamic Kashmir. They will be sure to receive full protection with honour dignity and equality, as is exemplified by all Islamic countries.   Who would be the Ameer ul Momineen? Sheikh Osama? Mullah Omar? Maulvi Omar? Syed Geelani? Maybe Asiya Andrabi.   K --- On Tue, 12/22/09, S. Jabbar wrote: From: S. Jabbar Subject: [Reader-list] The other Shopian story To: "Sarai" Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 8:14 AM Indian Express 8 killed, Shopian village stays indoors after dark Mir Ehsan Posted online: Monday , Dec 21, 2009 at 0440 hrs Keller (Shopian) : Eight killings around Shopian¹s remote Keller village in the past eight months have struck fear in the villagers who now hardly venture out of their houses after dusk. On Tuesday evening, Sheeraza Akthar, 21, was shot inside her house by unidentified militants. Three days later, militants again struck in the neighbouring Kadipora village where, police said, two unknown masked gunmen entered the house of Nazir Ahmad Chopan and shot him. Like Akthar, Chopan also died on the spot. ³After the series of killings, everyone here is scared. We do not dare to move out from our houses during the evening hours. Villagers now bolt the doors of their house before dusk,² said Khurshid Ahmad, an agricultural labourer, who lives at Hirgam Keller. ³The killings, especially of women, have left people worried. We want to know why civilians are being killed like this?² he asked. Another villager, Jalaluddin, who runs a grocery shop in the village, said, ³After the killings, our friends and relatives from outside villages have stopped visiting our village.² He said after the killings, government officials too are reluctant to visit Keller. Keller, with some 800 households, is fringed by forests and is one of the most landscaped villages of south Kashmir¹s Shopian district. Police have held a militant module active in the area responsible not only for the recent killings. The module is reportedly headed by a foreigner and comprises five to six militants. _________________________________________ 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 kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 16:15:20 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:45:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] The other Shopian story In-Reply-To: <66ec95310912220105vc501883s603cced0efd6fc54@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <558654.56859.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Sundara   If material from a site like rupeenews.com is your reference source, then I do not have much to say to you. Nevertheless:   1. I apologise for the lack of clarity in my write-ups.   2. What Peace? Where Peace? Not clear to me.   3. I would be an idiot to waste my time on the writings of Moin Ansari.     4. "Raw at War-Genesis of Secret Agencies in Ancient India" is a ten year old essay by (then) Gp. Capt. S M Hali (since retd.) It is an interesting read in some parts. Been floating around for a long time.   Kshmendra --- On Tue, 12/22/09, SUNDARA BABU wrote: From: SUNDARA BABU Subject: Re: [Reader-list] The other Shopian story To: "Kshmendra Kaul" Cc: "Sarai" , "S. Jabbar" , bdmailer at gmail.com Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 2:35 PM Dear Mr. Kaul , Your write-ups are interesting, but not clear to me. I am interested in your vision of a peaceful future and ways/paths towards that direction. Further, I came across the below pasted Article, Would like to hear your opinion on it. warm regards, sundarababu From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Dec 22 17:52:56 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:22:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Pakistani Court verdict - chop-off nose and ears Message-ID: <889905.58121.qm@web57203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Pakistan court orders a nose for a nose"   Tue Dec 22   LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) – A court in Pakistan's most liberal city ordered two men to have their nose and ears chopped off as punishment for inflicting similar injuries on a woman they abducted, an official said Tuesday.   An anti-terrorism court headed by judge Khalid Naveed Dar handed down the ruling in the eastern city of Lahore on Monday, sentencing them to life in prison and fining them each 700,000 rupees (about 8,300 dollars).   "The court ordered that the nose and ears of Sher Mohammad and Ammanat Ali be chopped off as part of an Islamic punishment of a nose for a nose and ears for ears," court official Azhar Ameen told AFP.   The men were found guilty of kidnapping a woman who had refused to marry one of them, then hacking off her nose and ears.   Pakistani courts have handed down similar punishments in the past but none were actually enacted and they are frequently revoked on appeal.   Pakistan struggles with religious conservatism. Since July 2007, Islamist militants have waged a campaign of bomb attacks killing more than 2,700 people to avenge the government's alliance in the US-led war on Al-Qaeda.   http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091222/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanislamcrime_20091222073006   http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=94170   From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 19:20:17 2009 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:20:17 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] My name is not Khan, I am Mr Kaul In-Reply-To: <6353c690912212346m6c565e02q911a0719a676ff6e@mail.gmail.com> References: <6353c690912212344r6d66f946s3f8dbe89df5a36b0@mail.gmail.com> <6353c690912212346m6c565e02q911a0719a676ff6e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear all The real problem with the RSS lies in breast-beating. When my own grandmother died, then on the day of the funeral, one woman stated in Tamil (my mother tongue), that women of the house must cry. Hearing this, my two aunts (my father's sisters) started crying like anything. The RSS also wants such kind of breast-beating and showing of emotions. Probably in their world-view, anybody who doesn't talk of terrorism is a supporter of terrorists. Equally, any Kashmiri Muslim who has never come out on the streets to protest against any injustice meted out to a Kashmiri Pandit is simply against the Kashmiri Pandits. Why is it necessary for me to show my emotions in front of others? Is it really necessary at all? If I have grief for having lost someone or feel that something is wrong, which Constitution states that it's my duty to go out and express myself loudly and clearly? And there are many issues I am not concerned with. According to this kind of belief, I would be someone who supports what happened at Godhra, because I didn't go out and protest on streets against it. And this kind of breast-beating is simply unacceptable. It should be thoroughly condemned. As far as the atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits is concerned, let me state this very clearly: the Kashmiri Pandits have been a victim of the general Indian apathy which can be seen for any issue. You look at development, you will find this apathy. You look at issues of improving literacy rates and health indicators amongst all communities, including Muslims, you will find this apathy. Look at the issue of corruption, you will find this apathy. This apathy cuts across all Indian sectors and problematic areas. It is not confined to the Kashmiri Pandits. Look at the issue of others who have been displaced as well: Muslims in Gujarat after 2002, Sikhs post-1984, Muslims due to various riots, tribals due to so-called 'development projects', and others. It is unfair to say that Kashmiri Pandits are suffering because they are specifically ignored. They are suffering because of the basic lackadaisical attitude of we Indians. This does not mean that such an attitude of apathy be appreciated. It should be condemned and rectified. But instead of that, the RSS wants to portray a completely different situation. They want to prove that no apathy exists for the Muslims. If it were so, then Muslims should have had the best development indicators, especially with regard to human development. Statistics show otherwise. Rakesh From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 19:25:48 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:25:48 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Project Madurai: Archiving ancient Tamil literary classics Message-ID: >From http://www.projectmadurai.org/ Project Madurai is an open and voluntary initiative to collect and publish free electronic editions of ancient tamil literary classics. This means either typing-in or scanning old books and archiving the text in one of the most readily accessible formats ("ETEXTS") for use on all popular computer platforms. All etexts will be distributed in both web/html and PDF formats.- Distributed through the World Wide Web servers , anyone located anywhere may download a copy for personal use or read what we publish on the internet, free of charge. Source: http://blog.prathambooks.org/2009/12/project-madurai-archiving-tamil.html From kmvenuannur at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 22:09:27 2009 From: kmvenuannur at gmail.com (venukm) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:39:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: 'Constitution of India Against Moralistic Terror' In-Reply-To: <1f9180970912220832q58ed91b6s7975167f992506d2@mail.gmail.com> References: <1f9180970912220832q58ed91b6s7975167f992506d2@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <4001ffb3-3e3b-4675-9a51-e512cc8dc8b5@z10g2000prh.googlegroups.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Venugopalan K M Date: Dec 22, 9:32 pm Subject: 'Constitution of India Against Moralistic Terror' To: കേരളം UNNITHAN EPISODE AND THE MORALISTIC MOBOCRACY A recent  story from Kerala as reported by the Malayalam press and electronic media    should perhaps remind us the need to uphold    Constitution of India Against Moralistic Terror Just look at the horror stories in the media which tell us that Rajmohan Unnithan (a Cong leader)was caught for being in the company of a woman in a rented house. The local people led by  DYFI and PDP activists surrounded the house and they summoned  the police to stop the alleged 'anaashasyam...'. Police have reportedly booked Unnithan and the owner of the house for committing/abetting  ‘anasaasyam’. Don’t ask neither the media nor the police what is the section under which the case is booked here, though we are expected to assume that the crime as defined  in the statute book is about racketeering  on women by third parties with motivation for profit, is invoked. But this is routinely done by the police  and an  overenthusiastic moral brigade cutting across political spectrums from far right to left to ‘feminists’(?), in all cases of extra marital relationships. ‘Anaasasyam’literally means undesirable activity, and in the common parlance, it simply means extra marital sex even with mutual consent! It is also among the most favourite items that make news for the evening dailies in every small/big town in Kerala. Several pro CPM womens’  activists indeed did loudly protest the act of 'anaashasyam' by a Congress leader... (According to their logic, women in such cases can neither have the  agency nor claims to rights as subjects. They are invariably seen as just the victims of ‘sthreepeedanam’, which means ‘harassment of women’ by a capitalist and sex tourism- oriented racket. These protesters would have cared a damn for communal profiling of Muslims and dalits as terrorists. -- You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a whole. -AMBEDKAR http://venukm.blogspot.com http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.com From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Tue Dec 22 23:04:27 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:04:27 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Looking for science enthusiasts to develop hands-on learning activities Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: De Paul Kannamthanam Date: Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 8:56 PM Hey Chintan, Here is a brief about the company. Yardstick is an organization started by IIT/NIT alumni, with the vision of making learning an enriching and joyful experience. We believe that children deserve a better education, and it is our responsibility. Our major work is promoting hands-on learning (experiential learning), in science and mathematics. Students explore concepts by participating in activities that stimulate their curiosity. They are actually allowed to experience science as something that is relevant and interesting, as they construct meaning and acquire understanding. Activities focus on core concepts, allowing students to develop thinking processes and encouraging them to question and seek answers that enhance their knowledge, and thus acquire an understanding of the physical universe in which they live. We are looking for science enthusiasts who are passionate about education to work with us. We have the challenging task of igniting those young curious minds. Here is a brief of the job profile and responsibilities. *Role: Content Developer* Heading the content development in their specialized area. Developing hands-on activities for core science concepts (such as a working model hydraulic lift for pascal's law) Developing worksheets for activities (This would include the scientific explanation, discussion, observations, real life applications etc) Lesson plan for delivery of the activity (Introduction to the activity, questions to be discussed, conclusion etc) Assessment (based on Bloom's taxonomy) Ensuring the quality of the content * Qualification:* Any graduate (BSc/MSc/BTech/.... ), interested in science, passionate about education, and having a curious mind Good understanding of basic scientific concepts. Good communication and presentation skills *Compensation: * We can afford to pay 20 to 25K per month. I don't find anything more rewarding than the joy of being with kids and seeing their smiles. You will have absolute freedom at work. Lots and lots of space for innovation and creativity. Those who are interested may call De Paul Kannamthanam at +91 97038 69996 or email me at depaul at yardstick.co.in From indersalim at gmail.com Wed Dec 23 00:48:14 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:48:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The other Shopian story In-Reply-To: <345414.582.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <345414.582.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <47e122a70912221118v1f8e5d77q754298d45ab70c4@mail.gmail.com> Dear Kshmedra Frankly, could not understand how you derived the infrences ( in your post below) from Indian Express write up, please eloborate.. well, the chances of survival for Inder Salim in a your future " Islamic Kashmir " are really bleak in comparision to person like Mr. Kshmendra, beleive me. To initiate a healthy debate why i support ' dissent' , i want to say simply that even the present seemingly secular but robustly consummerist culture in Delhi is suffocating as well, let alone the fundamentalist forms of life ,which never suits the free human spirit. i have been writing time and again, that we need to seriously engage 'environmental issues ' in our debates around 'radical thoughts' which otherwise remains limited to rehtoric at the best. The issue is life on earth, not the hell we have been told to beleive blindly, or even identify ourselves with so tentatively. Even scientifically, we, those who are a little learned people, need to know that the reality, ( cosmic ) is manifested in 11 dimentions, and we cant perceive those beyond 4 at the most. so, we really need to free our selves from the bondages, so that we serve our existential cores to understand after all who we are ... with love inder salim On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 2:14 PM, Kshmendra Kaul wrote: > It must be one amongst the many sinister plots of INDIA. > > These bloody Hindu Indians want to kill the Muslims of Kashmir, one by one; by one; by one; by ...... and are killing the Muslims of Pakistan bomb blast by bomb blast; by bomb blast; by bomb blast; by bomb blast; by ...... > > I think India should see some sense, rectify it's ways and handover Kashmir to the Al Qaeda and the Taliban (Afghan). > > Of course Arundhati Roy, Richard Shapiro, Angana Chatterji, Inder Salim, Sanjay Kak should be made citizens of this Islamic Kashmir. They will be sure to receive full protection with honour dignity and equality, as is exemplified by all Islamic countries. > > Who would be the Ameer ul Momineen? Sheikh Osama? Mullah Omar? Maulvi Omar? Syed Geelani? Maybe Asiya Andrabi. > > K > > --- On Tue, 12/22/09, S. Jabbar wrote: > > > From: S. Jabbar > Subject: [Reader-list] The other Shopian story > To: "Sarai" > Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 8:14 AM > > > Indian Express > 8 killed, Shopian village stays indoors after dark > Mir Ehsan Posted online: Monday , Dec 21, 2009 at 0440 hrs > > Keller (Shopian) : Eight killings around Shopian¹s remote Keller village in > the past eight months have struck fear in the villagers who now hardly > venture out of their houses after dusk. > > On Tuesday evening, Sheeraza Akthar, 21, was shot inside her house by > unidentified militants. Three days later, militants again struck in the > neighbouring Kadipora village where, police said, two unknown masked gunmen > entered the house of Nazir Ahmad Chopan and shot him. Like Akthar, Chopan > also died on the spot. > > ³After the series of killings, everyone here is scared. We do not dare to > move out from our houses during the evening hours. Villagers now bolt the > doors of their house before dusk,² said Khurshid Ahmad, an agricultural > labourer, who lives at Hirgam Keller. > > ³The killings, especially of women, have left people worried. We want to > know why civilians are being killed like this?² he asked. > > Another villager, Jalaluddin, who runs a grocery shop in the village, said, > ³After the killings, our friends and relatives from outside villages have > stopped visiting our village.² > > He said after the killings, government officials too are reluctant to visit > Keller. > > Keller, with some 800 households, is fringed by forests and is one of the > most landscaped villages of south Kashmir¹s Shopian district. > > Police have held a militant module active in the area responsible not only > for the recent killings. The module is reportedly headed by a foreigner and > comprises five to six militants. > _________________________________________ > 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: -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 23 10:04:23 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:04:23 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Travel fellowships to explore Asia Pacific issues In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Altaf Makhiawala Travel fellowships to explore Asia Pacific issues Posted on: 22/12/2009 Access to Information, Business and Economic, Environmental, Fellowships and Awards Deadline: 27/01/2010 Region: Asia and the Pacific Working print, broadcast or online journalists from Asia Pacific have until January 27 to apply for the chance to travel to the U.S. and throughout Asia to explore issues facing the U.S. and Asia Pacific regions in the wake of the global economic crisis and in the face of the growing challenge of climate change. The fellowship will last from April 17 to May 9, 2010. The Jefferson Fellowships, a program of the East-West Center, will bring journalists to Honolulu, Hawaii; for one week of dialogue sessions at the East-West Center, followed by an opportunity to attend the East-West Center's International Media Conference in Hong Kong on the theme “Reporting New Realities in the Asia Pacific Region.” Participants will then travel to Shanghai and Jakarta to explore some of these new realities. Interested applicants will be expected to provide a letter of interest, a letter of recommendation, references, and an employer's statement of support. For more information including information on application materials visit http://www.eastwestcenter.org/jefferson. From ravikant at sarai.net Wed Dec 23 12:27:31 2009 From: ravikant at sarai.net (ravikant) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:27:31 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Smart cards in higher education Message-ID: <4B31BF5B.3010704@sarai.net> http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/23/stories/200912235483 *Smart cards in higher education * Shahid Amin and Shobhit Mahajan / The latest flashy proposal of Delhi University — biometric smart cards to ensure teacher attendance and reward those who work overtime — reminds us of Sanjay Gandhi’s Emergency, certainly not of Harvard Yard or Oxford’s dreaming spires. / A recent piece by an ex-energy adviser on India’s carbon intensity reduction holds lessons for our educational CEOs. It makes the point that India’s low carbon growth in recent decades has left untouched 500 million Indians without electricity, and 700 millions who use some sort of biomass for the bulk of their domestic energy requirements. The lesson is not that we should abjure, mock Gandhi-style, energy-efficient gadgets. It is rather that a sub-continental polity like ours can ill afford to clone enclaves and islands, surrounded by a stagnant water body of disprivileged citizenry. Quick-fix solutions are being flashed on websites of the HRD Ministry and several front-ranking universities. In both instances, there is a gesture towards openness and feedbacks from stakeholders and civil society. But instead of the responses being placed on the same website — creating an open access — these inputs are shredded into files or simply ignored. This seems to be the case with the Ministry’s plan to create 14 world class universities, funded by the state but “unencumbered by history or culture of the past” — something that no world-class institution would dare boast about. The underlying idea is to build islands of excellence by relying on “the highly skilled Indian diaspora.” While other publicly funded universities – even premier ones like Calcutta and Delhi — are clearly hobbled by their sheer size, teacher politics, and professorial apathy, the new ‘national’ edifices will simply skip over resident Indian talent. The message is that even those who returned home with research degrees from world-class universities to put their shoulder to the wheel before the new dispensation need not apply. For their part, older institutions such as Delhi University cannot quite effect Bertolt Brecht’s sardonic suggestion: if dissatisfied with the existing lot, “elect another people.” For /desi vishwa vidyalayas/, the parameters are given: a national intake of students from unequally diverse backgrounds and a sudden doubling of enrolments to accommodate all categories of reservations. And of course the problematic lot: more than 7000 teachers, as with Delhi University, some of them of indifferent quality, but a large number of dedicated professionals who are responsible for the brand of the university’s flag-ship undergraduate Honours courses. Naturally, our Vice-Chancellors are not immune to the buzz about India as an emergent knowledge giant. And so they no longer see their role as one of steering an overburdened ship buffeted by the squall of equity, access, and quality. For them, it is not the receding horizon that is the limit. If they could, they surely would abandon ship and ‘take off’ from the crowded deck. As that is not possible, the basic contours of a university need to be quickly altered. This, it is argued, will help improve our ranking on the international table of world class universities. ‘You cannot lift a bucket of water from mid-air; you have to lift it from the ground’ — this modern Chinese saying has a lot to commend to our educational planners in a hurry, especially those advocating a Great Leap to catch up with China. It is against this background that Delhi University is currently being genetically modified by its administrators, to make it conform to the highest Ivy League, Oxbridge standards. Its flagship undergraduate Honours courses in more than two dozen disciplines, affecting a 100,000 students in some 80 Colleges, have to be slashed, and retrofitted into smaller, 15-week-long semester courses. The current practice of allowing Honours students to specialise in one basic subject, leaving a quarter of the scores to a wide choice from specially designed units in other disciplines, is to be replaced by a Major and one Minor, from the very point of entry. That in the United States an undergraduate is not required to decide on a Major straightaway; that there is, in fact, a medley of ‘Minor’ subjects that she or he could choose from seems of no consequence. The fluffy mantra, “A critical level of knowledge of a second discipline is being increasingly realized globally,” is supposed to take care of any criticism. Clearly a hybrid semester system cannot remedy all that ails India’s universities. The vast number of first-generation learners has to be enabled to develop core competences; teacher truancy has to be curbed; and new pedagogical synergies need to be developed. The latest flashy proposal of Delhi University: biometric smart cards to ensure teacher attendance (and reward those who work overtime), as reported recently, is no doubt front-page news. Beyond that, it reminds one more of Sanjay Gandhi’s Emergency, certainly not of Harvard Yard or Oxford’s dreaming spires. Somebody needs to tell Manmohan Singh about this ‘fingerprint and thrive’ strategy being chalked out for India’s premier university, which is proud to count the Prime Minister among its scores of distinguished faculty. (/The authors are respectively Professors of History and Physics at Delhi University./) From navayana at gmail.com Wed Dec 23 13:02:10 2009 From: navayana at gmail.com (Navayana Publishing) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:02:10 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?Navayana_presents_=C5=BDi=C5=BEek_in_Indi?= =?utf-8?q?a=3A_24_Dec_2009_to_9_Jan_2010?= Message-ID: Navayana presents preeminent Marxist philosopher Slavoj Žižek in its 1st Annual Lecture series. The lectures, beginning 4 Jan 2010, are preceded by screenings of films on/with Žižek starting 24 Dec 2009. All the events are open to public. Come early to get a seat! 24 Dec 2009. 3 p.m to 7.15 p.m. Screenings “The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema,” in 3 parts. 150 mins, to be followed by “Žižek!”, 71 mins. Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 2 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Screening “Žižek!” A feature documentary directed by Astra Taylor, 71 mins. Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 4 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture “Ideology in the Post-ideological World: The Case of Hollywood” Sarai-CSDS. 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi 5 Jan 2010. 7 p.m. Lecture “Tragedy and Farce” Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 7 Jan 2010. 11 a.m. Lecture “Capitalism and Particular Life-Worlds: In Defense of Universalism” ICSSR Auditorium, English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad 9 Jan 2010. 5 p.m. Lecture and Panel Discussion “Whither Left?” Town Hall, Kochi. Žižek’s latest book, First as Tragedy, Then as Farce < http://navayana.org/?attachment_id=768>, already available in bookstores, will be for sale at all venues. Also available from 24 Dec 2009: *In Pursuit of Ambedkar* by Bhagwan Das < http://navayana.org/?p=801> And launching on 4 Jan 2010, the first title in the "Navayana Ambedkar Library" series. Thus Spoke Ambedkar, Volume 1 A Stake in the Nation Edited and Selected by Bhagwan Das With annotations 7.5” x 7.5” Hardback with dust jacket, 224 pages ISBN 9788189059187 Rs 395 *‘In India, there are castes. These castes are antinational.’* Navayana presents the first ever annotated edition of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s speeches. This is the first of the four volumes selected and edited by Bhagwan Das, a veteran chronicler of the dalit movement who in 1955–56 worked as a research associate with Ambedkar. The twenty speeches here showcase the wide range of issues one of modern India’s founders engaged with. Delivered between 1930 and 1956, they unravel a story that is jettisoned by mainstream ‘nationalist’ narratives that valorise the ‘idea of India’. At times like a swordsman who strikes to defend but not wound, and at other times like a surgeon focused on eliminating the one single rotten organ – caste – that endangers the entire body, Ambedkar grapples with questions of inequality, democracy, labour, minority rights, constitution-making and brahminism in speeches that address various publics: dalit workers in Nashik, British lawmakers in London, and college students in Jalandhar. The prose spans different registers—lyrical and polemical, combative and poignant, of reason and affect. This volume, the first in the Navayana Ambedkar Library series, is essential reading for anyone keen on understanding India. -- www.navayana.org Navayana 155, Second Floor Shahpur Jat New Delhi 110049 Landline: +91-11-26494795 Mobile: +91-9971433117 From ysaeed7 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 23 13:53:22 2009 From: ysaeed7 at yahoo.com (Yousuf) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:23:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] A feminist maulvi? Message-ID: <415869.80488.qm@web51404.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Maulvi Mumtaz Ali- A Nineteenth century advocate of women’s rights By Asghar Ali Engineer, It is generally thought that movement for women’s rights began with western educated people and in 19th century. But very few people know about Maulavi Mumtaz Ali Khan, a traditional ‘alim, product of Darul ‘Uloom Deoband who was very enthusiastic supporters of gender equality. There are two things to be noted here: one, he was a traditional ‘alim and was not under the influence of western thought and two, he was advocating gender equality purely on the basis of Islamic traditional sources i.e. Qur’an and hadith. The Maulavi was enthusiastic supporter of women’s rights and was one of the colleagues of Sir Syed. However, Sir Syed had lot of troubles on his hand due to his campaign for a modern educational institution for north Indian Muslims. He was facing stiff resistance from orthodox ‘ulama and did not want more trouble and so he advised Mumtaz Ali Khan not to publish his book Huququn Niswan the manuscript of which he showed to the Syed. However, the Maulavi was very enthusiastic about women’s rights and wanted to educate Muslim men and women and went ahead with its publication. Huququn Niswan, I dare say without any exaggeration, is like charter of rights for Muslim women. Mumtaz Ali Khan proves from Qur’an through his interpretations of relevant Qur’anic verses that men and women have equal rights and that women have no authority over women, as believed by Muslim men. This book, because of its advocacy of women’s rights, soon went into oblivion and was not available. I obtained its copy from a US library and published it. It must be read by all Muslim women to get duly armed with Qur’anic arguments to fight for their case. He had married to a woman who was not educated but he not only educated her but also made her editor of a women’s magazine which had become quite popular in those days. This magazine, besides educating women in their rights also made them aware of contemporary events, especially socio-cultural. Maulavi sahib’s arguments were quite ingenious based on his interpretation of Qur’anic verses. He took all traditional arguments by which men asserted their superiority over women. He called such superiority as mardon ki jhuti fazilat (false superiority of men ). For example men usually argued that if women are equal to men why Allah did not grace any woman with prophethood (nubuwwat)? Mumtaz Ali Khan gives quite an ingenious reply to this argument. He says according to tradition there have been one lakh and twenty four thousand prophets and we know names of only about a dozen prophets. How can then we say there were no women prophets at all unless we know all the names. Similarly his reply to the argument that why women are half the witness, if they are equal to men, his argument is as follows: The Qur’an itself does not say that women are half witness but only recommends that in financial transaction have two women and one man if two men are not available. This according to Mumtaz Ali is a privilege for women rather than any stigma as two women have been recommended because often women have certain problems like menstruation or pregnant and cannot go to the court to bear witness. Such privilege is not available to men. Thus according to Maulavi sahib, it is privilege, not stigma for women. He also refutes the argument that Allah first created Adam and then Eve and hence Adam has superiority over Eve. Mumtaz Ali Khan also refutes this argument and says these are stories taken by commentators of Qur’an from Christian and Jewish sources and Qur’an itself does not say Adam was created first and then Eve for his comfort and company. From Qur’an one can not prove who was created first and who was created later. Similarly the argument about permissibility of four marriages simultaneously is also effectively refuted as he says there is no clarity in the verse (4:3) whether it allows four wives simultaneously, or one after the other or divorcing one and marrying second and so on. According to him four wives simultaneously is not the intention of the Qur’an for which he gives elaborate arguments. In any case it is most interesting book with alternate interpretations of Qur’anic verses as far as women’s rights are concerned. One can say it is first feminist interpretation of Qur’an in the Indian subcontinent as early as 19th century. === http://www.twocircles.net/2009dec07/maulvi_mumtaz_ali_nineteenth_century_advocate_women_s_rights.html The Supremacy Myth: an article by Mumtaz Ali http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2009/oct09/cover1.html Huqooq e Niswan: free download: http://www.archive.org/details/HuqooqENiswan From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 23 14:28:25 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:58:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Muslim woman demands 4 Husbands Message-ID: <12193.38611.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> It is unlikely to amount to much but it is very significant piece of news.   It should be seen as part of an increasing effort by many a Muslim women and men to reform some of the 'traditions' that have been followed and which they strongly feel should be discarded.   A Muslim man having four wives is a Quranic dispensation and not a Law. Most (sensible) commentators are in agreement that it was an allowance given for War-Time when men would die in battle and their families could be looked after by other men.   The conditions specified in the Quran for a man having four wives are so strict that it would be near impossible for any man to fulfill them.   I recollect at least one Hadith which reports that when Mohammed fell ill when residing with one of his wives, he asked permission for staying on with that wife from another wife who's turn it was next for Mohammed to live with.   Kshmendra     " Polyandry call is 'akin to blasphemy'  "   (Lawyer files complaint over article questioning why polygamy is allowed for men and not women)   By Duraid Al Baik, Associate Editor December 23, 2009   Dubai: A 790-word opinion article by a female Saudi writer, Nadine Al Bdair, might start a fierce legal and social confrontation between traditionalists and reformists.   In her weekly article published on December 11 in the Egyptian newspaper Al Masri Al Youm, Nadine cynically urged religious scholars to issue a verdict allowing women to marry four men simultaneously to equate them with men in the Sharia, a move that was considered by many Muslims as blasphemous and a blunt call to wreck the foundations of the religion.   Her argument was that women could now marry more than one man thanks to scientific developments.   "Traditionalists argue that Islam forbids women to marry more than one man at once to determine the fatherhood of the child in case the woman becomes pregnant. This argument has now collapsed because modern science can identify the father of any child through DNA testing," she said.   Nadine, a Dubai-based Saudi journalist, who started her career as an opinion writer in a number of Saudi and Gulf newspapers, has lived in Dubai, Cairo and Washington. She also works as a presenter of a TV show at the Virginia-based Al Hurra TV Arabic Channel. Nadine's weekly programme, Mosawat, that translates into equality, focuses on issues related to women's rights in the Arab world.   Lawyer Khalid Fouad Hafez, who is also the secretary general of the People Democratic Party in Egypt, filed a complaint against Nadine and Magdi Al Galad, editor-in-chief of Al Masri Al Youm, for his role in publishing the opinion article in the newspaper.   In a telephone interview, Hafez told Gulf News the literal meaning of the article is blasphemous and includes a call for an immoral act, which, he stressed, is a violation of the Egyptian criminal code.   He said the case was filed at the public prosecutor office on December 15 under the number of 21663.   "I am waiting for the decision of the public prosecutor in order to start legal investigations in the case," he said.   "Regardless of the nationality of the writer and the place of her residency, the prosecutor has to take action against a crime committed in Egypt and has to do whatever is possible to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.   Hafez believes that Egyptians have every right to secure the society against Nadine's call to ‘legalise adultery' and allow women to marry four husbands at the same time.   "People who have little knowledge about Islam might be seduced to think that Islam permits polygamy for women based on the advancement of science and DNA test technology according to [Nadine's] call," Hafez said.   This a crime and unless Nadine repents it in the same newspaper, he said the law must take action to protect the society. Hafez said he has never been against freedom of expression. He said he had volunteered to defend many journalists in the past in court cases.   Free speech   "I am known amongst journalists as the ‘lawyer of journalists'. I represented journalists in courts free-of-charge in a number of major cases in the past and won verdicts in their favour. In this particular case which I filed against [Nadine], I would not have reacted this way if Nadine limited her call to expressing her own views without calling for fatwa to alter the religion in accordance with her sexual desires," he said.   Gulf News contacted Nadine to comment on the complaint filed against her in Egypt and if she was willing to appear in courts to defend her views, but she declined to comment.   Staff members at Al Hurra TV in Dubai and in Washington, who were reached for a comment on the case refused to give an official statement.   A senior official from Al Hurra told Gulf News on condition of anonymity that the Nadine issue this time is related to her activities outside Al Hurra and the station has nothing to do with it.   "We will review the level Al Hurra would support [Nadine] once the legal action starts against her," he said.   Salwa Al Lubani, a female Jordanian writer based in Cairo, told Gulf News that she believes Nadine has the right to discuss any issue and the society has the right to discuss the points being highlighted.   "Filing a case against [Nadine] or any other writer is inappropriate and such a move in the 21st century reflects the rise of fanatics in the Muslim world. In the 60s and 70s [of] the past century, writers [had] more freedom of expression than we have nowadays.   "I read [Nadine's] articles and I have a feeling that she sometimes expressed her views in a confrontational manner that diverts her aim from the main course, but this is not an excuse to refer [Nadine] or any other writer to courts.   "We have crisis in the Arab and Islamic world and we should work together to resolve them before they hit the nerve of the society which is about to explode."   http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/polyandry-call-is-akin-to-blasphemy-1.556934   From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 23 14:33:11 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:03:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Equal rights for Saudi Women - Nadine Al Bdair (Video) Message-ID: <389858.40622.qm@web57206.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Equal rights for Saudi Women - Nadine Al Bdair (Video)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK8uo_vvryg   From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 23 19:20:04 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:50:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] A feminist maulvi? In-Reply-To: <415869.80488.qm@web51404.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <764864.97050.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Yousuf   Thanks for sharing this.    About Maulvi Mumtaz Ali Khan's "Huquq un Niswan",  Ali Asghar Engineer states, "One can say it is first feminist interpretation of Qur’an in the Indian subcontinent as early as 19th century." That makes it extremely interesting. >From within Islam itself, the codified and enhanced Rights of Muslim Women, came into reckoning from the earliest of Islamic times; during the lifetime of Mohammed and formalising of the Quran.   Ali Asghar Engineer disregards this fact and trivialises the contribution of Islam towards Muslim Women's Rights by not highlighting this.   Did Islam however bring in scriptural Gender Equality? It would be extremely difficult to say Yes! to that.   Maulvi Mumtaz Ali Khan's 'ingenious' argumentations in "The Supermacy Myth" are interesting though.   Thanks again.   Kshmendra     --- On Wed, 12/23/09, Yousuf wrote: From: Yousuf Subject: [Reader-list] A feminist maulvi? To: "sarai list" Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 1:53 PM Maulvi Mumtaz Ali- A Nineteenth century advocate of women’s rights By Asghar Ali Engineer, It is generally thought that movement for women’s rights began with western educated people and in 19th century. But very few people know about Maulavi Mumtaz Ali Khan, a traditional ‘alim, product of Darul ‘Uloom Deoband who was very enthusiastic supporters of gender equality. There are two things to be noted here: one, he was a traditional ‘alim and was not under the influence of western thought and two, he was advocating gender equality purely on the basis of Islamic traditional sources i.e. Qur’an and hadith. The Maulavi was enthusiastic supporter of women’s rights and was one of the colleagues of Sir Syed. However, Sir Syed had lot of troubles on his hand due to his campaign for a modern educational institution for north Indian Muslims. He was facing stiff resistance from orthodox ‘ulama and did not want more trouble and so he advised Mumtaz Ali Khan not to publish his book Huququn Niswan the manuscript of which he showed to the Syed. However, the Maulavi was very enthusiastic about women’s rights and wanted to educate Muslim men and women and went ahead with its publication. Huququn Niswan, I dare say without any exaggeration, is like charter of rights for Muslim women. Mumtaz Ali Khan proves from Qur’an through his interpretations of relevant Qur’anic verses that men and women have equal rights and that women have no authority over women, as believed by Muslim men. This book, because of its advocacy of women’s rights, soon went into oblivion and was not available. I obtained its copy from a US library and published it. It must be read by all Muslim women to get duly armed with Qur’anic arguments to fight for their case. He had married to a woman who was not educated but he not only educated her but also made her editor of a women’s magazine which had become quite popular in those days. This magazine, besides educating women in their rights also made them aware of contemporary events, especially socio-cultural. Maulavi sahib’s arguments were quite ingenious based on his interpretation of Qur’anic verses. He took all traditional arguments by which men asserted their superiority over women. He called such superiority as mardon ki jhuti fazilat (false superiority of men ). For example men usually argued that if women are equal to men why Allah did not grace any woman with prophethood (nubuwwat)? Mumtaz Ali Khan gives quite an ingenious reply to this argument. He says according to tradition there have been one lakh and twenty four thousand prophets and we know names of only about a dozen prophets. How can then we say there were no women prophets at all unless we know all the names. Similarly his reply to the argument that why women are half the witness, if they are equal to men, his argument is as follows: The Qur’an itself does not say that women are half witness but only recommends that in financial transaction have two women and one man if two men are not available. This according to Mumtaz Ali is a privilege for women rather than any stigma as two women have been recommended because often women have certain problems like menstruation or pregnant and cannot go to the court to bear witness. Such privilege is not available to men. Thus according to Maulavi sahib, it is privilege, not stigma for women. He also refutes the argument that Allah first created Adam and then Eve and hence Adam has superiority over Eve. Mumtaz Ali Khan also refutes this argument and says these are stories taken by commentators of Qur’an from Christian and Jewish sources and Qur’an itself does not say Adam was created first and then Eve for his comfort and company. From Qur’an one can not prove who was created first and who was created later. Similarly the argument about permissibility of four marriages simultaneously is also effectively refuted as he says there is no clarity in the verse (4:3) whether it allows four wives simultaneously, or one after the other or divorcing one and marrying second and so on. According to him four wives simultaneously is not the intention of the Qur’an for which he gives elaborate arguments. In any case it is most interesting book with alternate interpretations of Qur’anic verses as far as women’s rights are concerned. One can say it is first feminist interpretation of Qur’an in the Indian subcontinent as early as 19th century. === http://www.twocircles.net/2009dec07/maulvi_mumtaz_ali_nineteenth_century_advocate_women_s_rights.html The Supremacy Myth: an article by Mumtaz Ali http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2009/oct09/cover1.html Huqooq e Niswan: free download: http://www.archive.org/details/HuqooqENiswan       _________________________________________ 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 anoopkheri at gmail.com Thu Dec 24 02:06:02 2009 From: anoopkheri at gmail.com (anoop kumar) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:06:02 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] An interview with leading Dalit Activist Manjula Pardeep from Gujarat Message-ID: “Why the Dalits only should take the entire burden and responsibility in fighting against caste system?” *An Interview with Manjula Pradeep * By *Gomathi Kumar & Sanjay Kabir* Manjula Pradeep is the Executive Director of Gujarat-based Dalit organisation Navsarjan. After receiving her Masters in Social Work (MSW) she joined the organisation in 1992 and has been working on different issues since then. Apart from leading organisation’s legal cell on Dalit atrocities, she has been in forefront of the movements for agricultural labourers, bonded labourers and developing women cooperatives in the rural areas of Gujarat. In 1997, she completed her law degree to be able to take up cases related with caste and gender atrocities. Leading Navsarjan since 2004, Manjula Pradeep has trained hundreds of grassroots activists and has represented Dalit and Dalit women issues at various national and international fora. ** ** *Recently, your organisation has been in news for the study on untouchability practices in Gujarat? What are the findings of this study? * *Our study on untouchability practices covered 1655 villages in Gujarat and took three years to complete. We have shared some of its findings with the mediato create awareness. In the study, we found 99 forms of untouchability practices and have tried to identify the specific regions where these are practiced. Most prevalent practices are related to right to equality in religion and religious affairs. In more than 90 % of the villages, Dalits are not allowed temple entry or to touch the idols and worship articles. They are not allowed in the religious processions and other rituals.* *Then comes the issue of touch. Dalits are not allowed to sit on the chair or cot before any non-Dalit. They necessarily have to sit on the ground. The other practice that comes out very prominently is on food. Dalits are never invited in the community meals or if invited they are seated separately and have to carry their own vessels. They are served tea in cups, ironically called Ram patras, that are kept separately in non-Dalit households. Then we find untouchability being practiced against Dalits in providing basic amenities like drinking water, use of ration shops, postmen not providing their services, not allowed to touch the vegetables in shops etc.* Every one knows that there is untouchability in our country but somewhere this whole issue is being put aside and portrayed as thing of the past. So we carried this study to give authenticity to our claim that untouchability practices are not only alive and kicking in this country but also present everywhere and in every sphere of our social life. We just cannot wish away from the reality. *What was the methodology used for this study?* While initiating the study we were clear that it should be done scientifically, without any bias. A thorough training was provided to 200 field workers of Navsarjan for the survey and to collect information. We prepared a detailed questionnaire of 6 pages and whatever information that was collected was then scanned and feeded in computer. Also the study was carried by a mixed group of Navsarjan activists because we knew that if the team consisted only of men then the women in the village would not talk and if the research team had only women, the village men usually would not respond. So we had teams of two activists, a man and woman, going to each village and collecting the information through community based interviews and household surveys. Within the community, the study stratification was based on sub-castes, age and gender and within household surveys it was on age and gender. So it took 4-5 days for our colleagues to complete the survey in one village. The study was carried through the support of Prof C. Davenport (Professor of Peace Studies & Political Science at the Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, USA). He has already done a marvellous study on ethnic cleansing in Rwanda and has authored numerous well-researched documents on Afro-Americans and their struggles. *The untouchability practices are found in almost every part of the country. Did you find any peculiar form of untouchability being practiced in Gujarat? * *One peculiar form of untouchability we have come across is that, in many villages, milk sellers from the shepherd community do not sell milk to Dalits during the navratri festival. Navratri is celebrated for nine days across the state with great fervour and for all these nine days the milk sellers believe that they would get polluted if they sell milk to Dalits. Then there are some villages where when a rajput dies, Dalit men have to shave their heads to mourn the death. I don’t know whether this is practiced anywhere else in the country. * *Apart from the untouchability practices against Dalits, did you focus on any other issues in your study?* *We also focused on untouchability practices within Dalits. Though we knew about the prevalence of untouchability among different Dalit sub-castes but still it was shocking for us to know the extent of the practice. Within the Dalits also there is a hierarchy, for example, the vankar caste practices untouchability against balmikis in Gujarat. This gives us the challenge of how do we address the issue of sub-caste divisions within the Dalits while fighting for overall Dalit rights. * *What are the major Dalit sub-castes in Gujarat? * Major sub-castes are weaver (vankar), leather tanner (chamar or rohit), senwa, nadia and balmiki. There are various other Dalit sub-castes but these are the major ones. *What have been the responses on the findings of this study in Gujarat? * *The study is yet to be published. But we have shared some of its major findings with the press. In response to that we have been getting some media attention. Apart from that, I have received letters from the State Social Welfare Board and Director General of Police asking for a copy of the study so that they could take action. I am waiting for the study to get translated in Gujarati and then share it with media, to the community, to people from across castes. * *The findings of this study must reach to common person in Gujarat. Then, probably, there will be some challenges before us as the study not only highlights the private practices of untouchability but also that in public sphere – panchayats, schools, temples etc. I know it will create some tension. Read more… » * * * *Read the entire interview at www.blog.insightyv.com * -- "Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Obama could run, Obama ran so your children can fly" From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Thu Dec 24 20:24:58 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:24:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Panel Discussion: Building a Culture of Peace, Jan 8-9, Bombay In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: The mailer's at http://psychologynews.posterous.com/panel-discussion-building-a-culture-of-peace *From:* alan at melange.org.uk *Sent:* 24 December 2009 *Subject:* Mumbai Festival Forum - Building a Culture of Peace Seasons Greetings Could you please put this booking document for the Forum out round your current network? Are there any further networks we should be targeting? Thanks Alan From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Thu Dec 24 22:07:53 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:07:53 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Sadho Poetry film festival, Dec 26-27, Delhi In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: See the mailer at http://chandni.posterous.com/sadho-poetry-film-festival-dec-26-27-delhi ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nandan Saxena Date: 2009/12/24 Subject: Sadho Poetry film festival this weekend. Dear friends, Treat yourself to two-days of international Poetry Films from across the globe. Once in two years...it's an event not to be missed! Please feel free to forward this mail to lovers of art and cinema. Cheers, Kavita & Nandan Saxena. 098103 67244 From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Thu Dec 24 22:49:10 2009 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:49:10 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Panun Kashmir statement on 'Justice Sageer Ahmed Report' on Autonomy Message-ID: <6353c690912240919h139c879by61ad57af423e6e5c@mail.gmail.com> fyi ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Ajay Chrungoo *To:* *Sent:* Thursday, December 24, 2009 7:07 PM *Subject:* statement of Dr Chrungoo on Justice Sageer Ahmed Report Editor, The reported submission of the report of the Working Group on Centre State Relations chaired by Justice Sageer Ahmed has come as a rude shock to me. I have been a Member of the Working Group since its inception in 2006 and have attended all the meetings, till they abruptly stopped in September 2007. At no point of time were the Members told that the Working Group work was concluded. In fact, in the last Working Group, we were given to understand that the Group would meet again to finish the remaining agenda of the Group. The Chairman in the very first meeting had assured us that there would be either a full consensus or no consensus, and no voting ways would be adopted. In other words, we were assured that there would be not even a majority report. It is intriguing that the Report which has been submitted to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has not been discussed with the Members. No attempt to drive a consensus was made at any point of time. The agenda which was left uncovered was also not attempted to be finished in the last two years. It seems from the above that this Report is a personal view of Justice Sageer Ahmed. It cannot be called a Report of the Working Group. I dissociate myself from all the contents of this Report in totality. I also condemn the entire process which was followed to conclude this Report in secrecy and submit the same in secrecy without taking the Members of the Working Group into confidence. Dr Ajay Chrungoo Chairman, Panun Kashmir Member, Working Group on Centre State Relations From indersalim at gmail.com Thu Dec 24 23:09:46 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:09:46 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Nightmare before Christmas Message-ID: <47e122a70912240939n2ccabe2an13ffb7dc1949bb6@mail.gmail.com> Dear all Happy Christmas to all may click to see Nightmare before Christmas part 1 t0 7 ... on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7xLiBIFGTY&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH2qebDpwYA and .... with love is -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com Fri Dec 25 10:41:38 2009 From: naeem.mohaiemen at gmail.com (Naeem Mohaiemen) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:11:38 +0700 Subject: [Reader-list] India tightens tourist visa rules Message-ID: http://www.livemint.com/2009/12/23122936/India-tightens-tourist-visa-ru.html From patrice at xs4all.nl Fri Dec 25 15:05:11 2009 From: patrice at xs4all.nl (Patrice Riemens) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:35:11 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] India tightens tourist visa rules In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <43a08efb2248845e6d3c6bb7432044bd.squirrel@webmail.xs4all.nl> > http://www.livemint.com/2009/12/23122936/India-tightens-tourist-visa-ru.html I posted the following comment on LiveMint's website: "The ministry has made no change to short-term visa rules". Actually I understand that it did: re-entries within two months would not be allowed either, meaning that a tourist can no longer come to India, then take a trip to Nepal or Sri Lanka (what i used to call 'a holiday withint the holiday') and then re-enter India again, f.i. because the tourists holds a return air ticket to & from Delhi or Mumbai... India had already far stricter visa rules than most other tourist destination in Asia, most of which do not even demand a visa. This last 'securocratic' measure is not going to make things better for the Indian tourism industry.... From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Fri Dec 25 20:21:44 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:21:44 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Inviting Contribution for an Online Campaign on Child Abuse... Message-ID: Their mailer is at http://psychologynews.posterous.com/inviting-contribution-for-an-online-campaign-0 From: FACSE Date: 2009/12/18 Subject: We are Children Campaign Dear All, Child sexual abuse is a crime that most of us keep reading in the papers about. Some of us push it aside as it is a crime, like many others that don't seem to fit into our scheme of problems. Some of us want to do something about it but just don't know how a single person can make a change. And some of us just plain don't understand it. But that's exactly what we have to do. It is a reality that has its arms closer than you may think. Forum against Child Sexual Exploitation (FACSE) is an unregistered network comprising of different professionals and organizations, working towards addressing the concern of sexual exploitation and abuse of children. The aim of FACSE is to create awareness about the issue of child sexual abuse among different target groups as well as the general public and to handle individual cases through home visits, psycho-social intervention and referral to other NGO’s. “We are Children” is a national Campaign attempting to understand how child sexual abuse affects a person and a community by collecting narratives of reactions, experiences or perceptions of child sexual abuse. A story not only concerns the survivor but understand that even denial or misconceptions make the issue what it is today. Every voice counts – the dissenting and the supportive, the skeptical and the hurt. FACSE is a part of this Campaign and would like to introduce it to its world. Awareness about Child Sexual Abuse is a good starting point. Visit *www.wearechildren.org* Join the campaign. 19th Nov 2009 to May 2010 Contribute your story at *mappingstoriesmumbai at gmail.com* Take a stand against child sexual abuse. Make a difference. PS - Please forward this mail to everyone on your contact list. -- Regards Ketki 9820996223 www.facse.com From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Sat Dec 26 13:10:18 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:10:18 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Workshop on Free Software by Comet Media Foundation and Mahiti: Jan 11-13, Mumbai Message-ID: Mail Pooja for the pdf, in case you're interested. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Comet Media Foundation Dear Chintan, Here is the attachment. If you want it in the email, I'm pasting the content as well. See you soon. Thanks, Pooja =================================== *NGO-IN-A-BOX A Free Software Workshop* Date : From 10.00am-6.00pm on 11-13 January 2010 Venue: Comet Media Foundation, 1st Floor Topiwala School Building, Topiwala Lane (Opposite Lamington Road Police Station, near Grant Road Railway Station) Mumbai 400 007 *What is Free Software?* Free software as a concept and a practice is particularly appealing to those with an education and social work orientation due to its advantages as well as the philosophy it embodies. Its main idea is that the intellectual achievements of any age are public property and should be open to all. This is also known as the intellectual commons. In these days when intellectual capital and its property rights are being enclosed in more and more forcible ways, a counter movement is also gaining strength. Known as Free Culture, it covers a range of human creations: music, art, literature, science and technology. When it comes to software, proprietary software, whether 'legal' or not is ubiquitous in most workplaces today. NGOs find it prohibitive in cost and it comes with restrictions in use. Apart from these problems, proprietary software also has low security, as in periodic virus and cracking attacks. There is also the issue of formats becoming fast obsolete and the need to update the software frequently, with payments. Free software, which is continuously upgraded by an international community of software developers, frees users from these difficulties of obsolescence and old documents are always accessible, unlike those in obsolete proprietary formats. *NGO in a Box* NGO-in-a-box is a collection of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) tools selected for use by individuals and organisations in the social sector, along with workshops conducted to help users effectively deploy the software in their organisations. * Objectives:* This workshop is intended to enrich your knowledge and help your organisation to effectively leverage free software without licensing hassles. To learn about free software components and methodologies and how to enable it in your everyday work, join us for the workshop. For details of previous workshops, visit http://ngoinabox.mahiti.org *Participant profile*: This learning event is geared towards individuals and groups who have a need to migrate from proprietary software to open source alternatives and need to know how. *Faculty*: Rajeev Nair and colleagues from Mahiti Preeti Kotian and colleagues from Comet *Coverage*: The workshop will cover the following broad domains: - Introduction to Linux-based distribution Ubuntu, along with hands on installation sessions - Open Office Tools - documents, spreadsheets and presentations - GNUKhata free and flexible financial software - Internet Tools (firefox/chrome, pidgin, thunderbird). - Photo editing with the GIMP, Web publishing (CMS and blogs). The trainers would be ready to shift or add content based on participants' demands. *Methodology:* Illustrated and interactive lecture-demonstrations, hands-on practice and assignments, case studies and experience-sharing, group discussions, review of websites, readings. *Organisers:* This workshop is being organised jointly by Mahiti Infotech, Bangalore. http://www.mahiti.org with Comet Media Foundation, Mumbai. *Registration:* Please contact Pooja Das Sarkar, Comet Media Foundation 2382 6674 or write to cometmediafdn at gmail.com. A registration fee of Rs. 350 will be charged to cover meals and other expenses. Payments are to be made by cheque/DD payable in favour of Comet Media Foundation at Mumbai or transferred directly to our account no. 317 902 010 059 242 at Union Bank of India, Mumbai Samachar Marg Branch, Mumbai. From kmvenuannur at gmail.com Sat Dec 26 20:11:22 2009 From: kmvenuannur at gmail.com (Venugopalan K M) Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:11:22 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Can We Rescue the Republic Before the Dark Politics Take Over? By Kirk Nielsen, Miller-McCune.com. Posted December 25, 2009. In-Reply-To: <1f9180970912260630l44e5d703v64034e8d1a706f82@mail.gmail.com> References: <1f9180970912260630l44e5d703v64034e8d1a706f82@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <1f9180970912260641y350c536do89a4ae7e877d02dc@mail.gmail.com> http://www.alternet.org/politics/144809/can_we_rescue_the_republic_before_the_dark_politics_take_over_/?page=entire "Did America slip into a semiliterate, polarized, pre-fascist state over the past decade or so, allowing greedy oligarchs and corporate elites to run the government? Two books I recently read offer reasonably persuasive evidence and arguments that the country did, and a third suggests that dictatorial mindsets could besiege Americans, with an assist from the Internet, if they don't come to their more deliberative senses. Each of the books offers an informed diagnosis of the dangers that widespread ignorance and ideological polarization pose for American democracy, though none offers a comprehensive treatment for the malaise.." .."The latter list includes some of the spectacularly mind-numbing American pursuits that Chris Hedges examines in *Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle*. Hedges submits that while they mesmerized large portions of the American citizenry, CEOs being paid millions of dollars a year to run companies that feed on taxpayer money usurped our government — with the help of elected officials bought by campaign contributions and tens of thousands of corporate lobbyists who now write many of the nation's laws..." "..So are we drifting along in a pre-fascist state? Has our democratic system really fallen under the control of corporate America? Hartmann's take obviously starts and stays (far) to the left of center, and we'll just have to stay tuned and see whether future events support the dire view he and Hedges have of America's political direction. Meanwhile, I'll be on the lookout for a persuasive book telling me how it isn't exactly so, and why America can escape from the economic and ecological spectacle it has made itself.." -- You cannot build anything on the foundations of caste. You cannot build up a nation, you cannot build up a morality. Anything that you will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a whole. -AMBEDKAR http://venukm.blogspot.com http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.com From prabhatkumar250 at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 16:50:20 2009 From: prabhatkumar250 at gmail.com (prabhat kumar) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:20:20 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] Researcher with conscience humiliated by Police Message-ID: <418f44e20912270320j1a965348s86844ce14b63230@mail.gmail.com> From: Rahul Ramagundam > To: Rahul Ramagundam > Sent: Thu, 24 December, 2009 6:17:21 PM Subject: something on Bihar (instant reaction) How big a crime could it be to ask the police in Bihar if their ongoing action is legally informed? Such an innocent enquiry, as my experience on the afternoon of 22nd December in Khagariya’s Amosi village affirms, could lead to personal humiliation and physical violence. In the salubrious wilderness that Khagariya’s rural stretch is you could be called a Naxalite, done to anonymous death in a brave police encounter. Something similar happened to me. I was physically assaulted, abused with filthiest of swear words, called a Naxalite, and my local companion was slapped, man-handled and beaten with blows from ferocious lathi-wielding police officers and constables. Amosi is a village which came recently under spotlight when some of its wretched residents were accused of massacring some others from another nearby village in early October this year. Amosi is a tola populated by some three hundred Musahar families. They live in thatched huts. Some 34 male residents of Amosi tola have been accused of carrying out the massacre of sixteen people of the nearby village. The names of the accused apparently were given to the police by the relatives of the victims of massacre. Of the 34, a few have been arrested and put in the jail; and few others are on run. A police party had come to the village to apprehend or to enforce a kurki-jabti order against the absconding accused. One reaches Amosi after crossing the river Bagmati twice. The village is some five kilometers further up from the Etuwa Dhalla, an embankment that contains the Bagmati when she is in spate. During annual floods, Etuwa Dhalla is where people seek refuge. In normal times, like this December, a nylon rope is tied to bamboo stumps on each bank of the stream. Boats are plied not by rowing but by pulling the tied rope. Anyone desirous of crossing the river can use the boat. It ferries people, fodder and vehicles. Vehicles do not go beyond Etuwa Dhalla as motorable road exists no more after that; taxis wait at the foot of the embankment to take people to Khagariya town, some ten kilometers further down. On 22nd December, I rode pillion on a motor bike of Varun Choudhry, a grassroots activist with a Khagariya based NGO Samta, to reach Amosi. As an associate professor at the Dr. K R Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Milla Islamia, a central University in Delhi, I teach a course on social exclusion to post-graduate students. During my post-graduate days at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, I worked in grassroots movements for long years. Based on my field-experiences as a grassroots activist, in 2001 I wrote my first book, Defeated Innocence, on the adivasi struggle for land rights in Madhya Pradesh. In the latter-half of the 2005, for close to six months, I traveled into the interiors of Bihar’s Gaya district to explore the issues surrounding production of poverty in India’s rural hinterland. In 2008, Orient Longman published my book Gandhi’s Khadi: A History of Contention and Conciliation. And presently, along with my teaching assignment at the university, I am working on a history of the socialist movement in India. Given these credentials, I did not think twice in venturing out into the interiors of a Khagaria, a terrain known for its torturous rivers and endemic poverty. Moreover, my interest in Amosi was also dictated by the recent political happenings in Bihar. The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar in order to target the most deprived had at first created a new category called Mahadalits that included Musahars alone. Although at present, the category of Mahadalits include 20 of 22 Scheduled Castes, the move to forge a new political identity in the shape of Mahadalits is said to have backfired, culminating in electoral setback to JD(U) in the recently held by-election. Was it a policy failure of the Nitish government? Contrary to the general reportage on the matter, the electoral setback could also be an outcome of government’s failure to access its targeted population. But then in early October the massacre happened. The midnight massacre of sixteen people, it is said, threw the Nitish government’s political applecart out of gear. The victims of massacre were the people belonging to Kurmi-Koiri communities; in the caste ridden polity of Bihar it was seen as attack on Nitish Kumar’s core political constituency as Nitish belongs to Kurmi caste. The perpetrators of the massacre were said to be Musahars of Amosi village. Some termed it a ‘piquant’ situation for Nitish government. As the core support group is attacked by the newly minted supporters, what would be the response of the government? When we arrived, the village was in excited turmoil. The police party was going about breaking the thatched houses of the people who were said to be absconding. Shankar Sada, to whom Varun met in the village, took us to the spot where the police party after their arrival had dined and rested before taking up the rip and strip job. Just as we talked, I saw a most atrocious scene. The police party at the head of a procession of the village onlookers had arrived at a house and were pulling down the thatched roof and walls of a hut. I couldn’t contain myself. I suggested to those few who sat with me that we should at least ask the police if they have the written order to take apart the houses of the absconding accused. Shanker Sada understandably was non-committal. I rose from my plastic chair and walked upto the house that was being vigorously shaken to make it fall. A tall uniformed man was staring at me. He could be the leader, I thought. I most humbly asked him, if he has some written court order to dismantle the thatched houses of the poor, even if they have been accused of grave crime. Instead of answering me, he asked me to divulge my identity. I teach in Delhi, I told him. Name? I told him. Father’s name? I told him. Seeing his inability to spell my name properly, I asked if I could write in his diary. No, he said, he would write it himself. But even before I could take out my identity card from my wallet and show him, he turned aggressive and hostile. By then I was surrounded by the rest of the team. They were yelling and gesturing at me. The leader held my collar. He shoved me, pulled me, yelled at me, raised lathi to hit at me. Just then he was held back by one of his senior colleague. Police constables in khaki uniform and green fatgue surrounded me, swearing at me, amusingly at my failure to prevent the massacre. They had guns slung over their shoulders. An excited constable in green fatigue called me a naxalite, and moved menacingly to break the cordon that surrounded me. The village onlookers watched in silent spectatorship. No one raised a voice. It was police that were in excitement. How come he is in this village? How has he come? Who has brought him here? The leader shouted at me to leave the village immediately. He shall not be held responsible if something happened to me, he said. But by then somebody had shouted and gestured towards Varun. The leader took me by collar, pulled me towards the spot where Varun was standing, silently, watching, in total incomprehension. The leader left my collar. Now his eyes fell on Varun. The police attention was veered towards Varun. I saw him being held by neck, and the leader shouting at him, spewing venom, his raised lathi bashing at his legs. Some policemen came towards me, asked if I would not flee the village immediately. In that few seconds, I was in dilemma. Should I leave Varun in the clutches of the police and run away. But the terrain was such that I had no chance at running away. Further I go from the village, more were the chances of being declared a naxalite and done to death in an encounter. I held back myself, fear flowing through my spine. But if I stayed, and refused to be spectator to Varun’s beatings, things could go to the extent of cold-blooded murder. My presence was provocation. My questioning was threatening to the authority of the police. I calculated, in fear, in confusion. In that split-second moment, I had the option of instant attack and startegic defense, and pushed by a constable, I began to walk out of the village, rudderless, with lowered head. Few minutes later, I heard the sound of Varun’s bike approaching me. He stopped. I rode pillion. We rode the bike on a sandy patch, crossed two river streams on boats by pulling the rope, and reached to Etuwa Dhalla. By then, in silence, in humiliation, in violation, I resolved to fight back. My friends in Patna provided me the numbers of SP/DM of the district. The SP, after hearing me out, asked me to leave a ‘petition’ in her office. The DM asked me to come over to his office when I asked for an appointment. From the DM’s office, I went to SP’s residential office. She met me there, was offensive; orders have come straight from the headquarters, whose human rights violation I am talking of, what about those who have been massacred, aren’t me taking sides of murderers. Won’t you be revengeful if someone murders your family members? I retained my calm. I asked if the ‘absconding accused’ been convicted of murders, isn’t it still at the investigation stage? Her colleagues joined her in buttressing the arguments in the police favour. Difficult terrain invites some extra-legal measures, they chipped in, naively though. I asked if police can help me to get Varun medically examined. It was kind of her to ask the inspector in-charge of the town police station to get a medical report on Varun’s injuries. It was done at 9 pm, some six hours after the incident. Following is the text of the application written immediately after the incident and that I submitted to the SP, Khagariya Ms. Anusuya Rannsingh Sodhi for her cognizance 22/12/2009 To, The SP, Khagariya District, Bihar, Subject: Ripping apart the thatched houses of Musahar residents of Amosi village and violation of rights of common citizens Dear Madame, This is to affirm you about the atrocious and deplorable action of the police personals in the village Amosi of which I am a witness. The police party was in the village to attach property of some absconding accused. Along with attaching property, I saw the police party, in most deplorable violation of human rights, ripping the thatched houses to ground. When they were taking down one of the house, I went to the police and most humbly asked them if they also have a written order to rip the houses apart. The police began to ask for my identity and began getting aggressive in their approach. One of the policemen who asked my identity turned hostile and began pushing me. He held my collar. But then another officer intervened to stop his raised lathi. The hostile officer even said that I should just run away from the village and he shall not be accountable if something happened to me. By then all the constables surrounded me and began to abuse me in most filthy words. Then they asked who has brought me to the village. As their eyes turned to my companion, Varun Choudhry, they all turned to him. And began to blow their lathis on him. They also thrashed him by their hand. I was asked to go out of the village if I want to save myself. I began to walk out of the village, most humiliated and feeling violated. After some time, Varun Choudhry came behind me on his bike. He was most shaken. He told me that some fifty blows were set on him. We silently rode bike, crossed two rivers, and came to Etuwa Dhalla. From there I contacted my friends in Patna and got the telephone numbers of SP/DM and others. There are two issues that needs your attention: 1. Does police have right to dismantle and rip the houses of the absconding accused? 2. Does not people have right to ask if police has come with proper, written order for dismantling of the houses of the most poor of this state, who have been accused of cases of whatever nature? I would like to request you to initiate an enquiry into the whole affair and action to be taken. Sincerely yours’ (Rahul Ramagundam) Associate Professor, Dr. K. R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025, Phone: 09818907590 -- Dr.Rahul Ramagundam Associate Professor, Programme for Studies in Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies, Dr. K. R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, Noam Chomsky Complex, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Marg, Jamia Nagar New Delhi-110025 ____________________________ -- Prabhat Kumar PhD student (Department of History, SAI, University of Heidelberg) Address Cluster of Excellence, Karl Jaspers Centre University of Heidelberg, Room No. 118, Voßstraße 2, Building No. 4400 69115 Heidelberg Germany kumar at asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de Mobile: +49 176 850 500 77 Office: +49 6221 54 4306 Fax: +49 6221 54 4012 http://www.asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de/en/research/b-public-spheres/b1/subprojects/kumar.html From kalakamra at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 17:37:05 2009 From: kalakamra at gmail.com (shaina a) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:37:05 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Seeking a content coordinator for Pad.ma In-Reply-To: <33eee40c0912270354y3deae1f4ydc475dcffd7fbc93@mail.gmail.com> References: <33eee40c0912270354y3deae1f4ydc475dcffd7fbc93@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <33eee40c0912270407r32ff13b2qd461e01717fb77be@mail.gmail.com> Dear Colleagues, Seasons greetings. Please forward to friends and associates* *who may be interested*. Pad.ma (the public access digital media archive) is seeking a content coordinator, based in Mumbai or Bangalore. * Pad.ma is a web-based video archive, launched as a public website ( http://pad.ma) in February 2009, working primarily with footage and not finished films. Pad.ma offers some exciting new ways in which moving images, dialogue, timelines and annotations can relate to each other. At the same time it offers a practical technical and legal framework through which video footage can be shared, cited and reused. Pad.ma is an archive looking to the future, proposing that film and video-based "production" can be thought of as an expanded field of activity. For example, as a filmmaker publishing video that is not a film, a researcher probing documentary images, a film editor organising footage using the archive, a writer commenting on one or many video pieces, a film student working online, or an institution offering material for public use. Pad.ma as an interpretative archive opens up all these possibilities, encouraging recirculation and debate around material that is often easily forgotten. Currently the archive has some 400 contributions of densely-annotated video material. Starting in 2010, Pad.ma enters a new phase, with new software features, and a focus on new content, writing fellowships and collaborations. * The content coordinator's role* would be to take immediate charge of all activity related to content contributions and relations with contributing archives, collections or individuals. This would include: > researching and dialoging with independent filmmakers in the region. > seeking and managing collaborations with existing archives that have a video component. > inviting researchers and others who are interesting in writing, theory, or education using moving images. > travelling (mostly domestic), to facilitate above meetings. > helping to plan and execute pad.ma offline and online events, and writing fellowships. > assisting with fundraising, proposal-writing and long-term planning of content focus areas. > overall, facilitating the growth of the archive and building relationships with related initiatives. *We are looking for a person who:* > Is passionate about moving images, and life around them. > Has 5 years or more of experience working with film/documentary as a filmmaker, scholar, activist or archivist. > Is comfortable working with both computers and people. > Is a good manager of their own time and resources. > Is interested in the conceptual and organisational aspects of the Pad.ma project. The job location is Mumbai, or Bangalore, in that order of preference. Remuneration will be on par with similar responsibilities within the non-profit sector. The position is available as full-time only, although flexible hours can be discussed. The work is with an exciting group of people and institutions, and within the dynamics of an ongoing interdisciplinary, international collaboration. The day-to-day interactions of the coordinator will be with CAMP, Mumbai (http://camputer.org) and the Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore (www.altlawforum.org). *Please send us:* 1. A detailed CV. 2. A paragraph about your motivations to work with, and responses to, the Pad.ma project. *Or recommend *someone you think might be interesting. *By: January 10, 2010.* Please write to us with any queries you may have. Reply to this mail or email pad.ma at pad.ma The shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in Mumbai in January. See for more: http://pad.ma/about and a report on pad.ma's 2009 meet: http://camputer.org/event.php?this=padma09&tab=optBtn2 The Pad.ma project was initiated in 2008 by a group consisting of Oil21.org Berlin, the Alternative Law Forum Bangalore, and Majlis, Point of View, and Chitrakarkhana/ CAMP from Bombay. Pad.ma is supported by HIVOS. ______________________ -- camputer.org pad.ma chitrakarkhana.net From peter.ksmtf at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 18:25:15 2009 From: peter.ksmtf at gmail.com (T Peter) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:55:15 -0800 Subject: [Reader-list] Law to regulate marine fishing opposed Message-ID: <3457ce860912270455saa98d5bk9c6bf0cc14b98594@mail.gmail.com> Law to regulate marine fishing opposed Date:26/12/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/12/26/stories/2009122653650400.htm Special Correspondent THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Federation and the National Fish Workers Forum are on the warpath against the proposed law to regulate marine fishing. T. Peter, president of the Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Federation, asked the Centre on Friday to withdraw the bill prepared for the purpose as it would adversely affect the traditional and small fishermen and bring forward a law for protecting the livelihood and job security of those sections. He said these fishermen now operated in places that were 30 to 40 nautical miles away. The provision that they should obtain the Centre’s permission for operating beyond 12 nautical miles could be seen only as interference in the traditional rights of the fishermen. He wanted them to be allowed to operate freely in the Indian Ocean. He wondered how the Centre could ignore even the recommendations of the Murari Committee appointed by it to encourage traditional and small fishermen to take up deep-sea fishing. The bill provided for the imposition of a fine of up to Rs.9 lakh on those who violated the 12 nautical mile limit even if it was due to strong wind or currents. Even though Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had promised to hold talks with the fish workers on the bill, it was yet to take place. He also called for extending the savings-cum-relief scheme being implemented during lean months to all fish workers. After shifting 60 per cent of the fishermen to the APL list, the government was saying that it would be given only to the BPL sections. He called for correcting the stand. All fishermen should be brought to the BPL list. From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Sun Dec 27 22:57:31 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 22:57:31 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Conference on "Mumbai in Literature, Art and Film", Jan 8-9, Sophia College In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: From: Sharanya Murali Date: Sun, Dec 27, 2009 Subject: Invitation for National Conference on Mumbai Department of English, Department of Mass Media and Sophia Centre for Women's Studies and Development SOPHIA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN, BHULABHAI DESAI ROAD , MUMBAI 400 026 Tel: 23512642, 23513280, Fax: 23513183 9th November 2009 Dear Friends, The Departments of English and Mass Media, Sophia College, along with the Sophia Centre for Women's Studies and Development are organising a two-day National Conference on "Mumbai in Literature, Art and Film". Mumbai has loomed large in the imagination of both Indians and foreigners, both as physical reality and as metaphor. The fascination she exerts has found expression in art, in fiction and poetry, in films and in plays. The Spirit of Mumbai becomes the rallying-cry in the wake of every catastrophe – and it is inevitable that Mumbaikars would identify deeply with the theme. The programme will span two days, and will include paper readings/ presentations by eminent academicians, well-known critics, and creative artists. There will also be a panel-discussion during which creative artists will speak about their engagement with Mumbai. Dates: 8 th and 9th January 2010 Venue: Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Sophia College Campus, Mumbai 400- 026 Registration: Rs. 300/-(for teachers and general public), Rs. 150/- (for students) Registration may be done in advance at Sophia Centre for Women's Studies and Development, Sophia Campus, Mumbai 400 026 (Tel: 022 -23513280). Alternatively, you may register on the spot on 8th January. However, if you could let us know that you plan to attend, over the phone beforehand, it would help us to make the necessary arrangements. We look forward to having you with us at the Conference. Yours sincerely, Dr. Margarida Colaco Co-ordinator, Department of Mass Media Dr. Shireen Vakil Department of English Dr. (Sr.) Ananda Amritmahal Head, Department of English Co-ordinator, Sophia Centre for Women's Studies and Development From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Mon Dec 28 14:59:09 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:29:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Villagers can fire ofiicials (China draft rules) Message-ID: <795585.34534.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "China draft rules allow villagers to impeach chiefs" Sun, Dec 27 2009   BEIJING (Reuters) - China has published new draft rules for village elections, allowing villagers to fire officials who don't perform as promised.   When village elections were rolled out nationwide in 1998, to improve local officials' responsiveness to local concerns, some Chinese reformers hoped they would open the door to democracy in rural townships and urban districts.   However, elections have been frozen at the most basic level.   The new rules allow for one-fifth of villagers with voting rights, or one-third of village representatives, to impeach a village chief, according to the draft published on the legislature's website, www.npc.gov.cn.   He or she would be dismissed if a majority of those attending a meeting made up of at least half the village vote to do so.   The draft also calls for more transparent accounting.   Some Chinese reformers who had high hopes for elections were disappointed that once in power, an elected chief tended to remain in power, with abuses like vote buying and intimidation reported in the Chinese press. Some also worry that the system benefits already powerful village clans.   On the positive side, many credit the elections with helping rationalize local decision-making and allowing more local input on decisions that directly concern villagers.   Power at the county level and above still remains firmly in the hands of the Communist Party of China, which books no opposition.   Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Friday, for his writings and authorship of the Charter 08 manifesto, which called for civil rights and multiparty elections in China.   Comments on the draft regulation are due by Jan 31, 2010.   (Reporting by Lucy Hornby; Editing by Sugita Katyal)   http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BQ0KW20091227   From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Mon Dec 28 15:19:35 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:49:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Nigerian Bomber - A devout Muslim Message-ID: <98684.49285.qm@web57202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Nigerian 'bomber' devout, broke contact: family"   by Aminu Abubakar Aminu Abubakar – Sun Dec 27   KANO, Nigeria (AFP) – A Nigerian charged with trying to blow up a US airliner was a devout Muslim who had broken contact with his family several weeks ago, relatives stunned by his attempted attack told AFP on Sunday.   Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, was charged Saturday at the US hospital where he was being treated for burns sustained while trying to detonate a powerful explosive on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit with 290 people on board.   "He was such a brilliant boy and nobody in the family had the slightest thought he could do something as insane as this," a relative told AFP from Nigeria's northern city of Kaduna.   "Farouk was a devoted Muslim who took his religion seriously and was committed to his studies," he said on condition of anonymity.   Most of the family only met up with him on his return to Nigeria on holidays from his studies abroad but found him to be easy-going and passionate about Islam, a cousin said.   "He was of course a very religious, polite and studious fellow but it was unthinkable that he would do anything close to attempting to bomb a plane. I still can?t believe this is for real," the cousin said, also asking anonymity.   US security officials told the media on Saturday that Abdulmutallab had confessed to training with an Al-Qaeda bombmaker in Yemen.   Abdulmutallab had announced he wanted to pursue a summer course in Arabic in Yemen in July and his banker father had consented given his flair for the language, said the cousin, who also did not want to be named.   But the family had become concerned when the young man announced that he wanted to stay on in Yemen and drop his post-graduate programme in business administration at Dubai University.   "We became worried when in August Farouk called and said he was no longer interested in his post-graduate studies anymore, saying he would be staying in Yemen to pursue another course he did not disclose," said another relative who gave his name only as Sani.   Their alarm was heightened when he sent a text message a few days later informing his family that he was severing all contact with them, he said. Since then they had not been able to get in touch with him, he said.   His father Umaru Mutallab, a former chief of the United Bank for Africa and First Bank of Nigeria, later decided to tell the US embassy in Nigeria and Nigeria Intelligence Agency about his concerns about his son.   The family was stunned by the young man's attempt to blow up the Northwest Airlines as it descended into Detroit. He had caught the plane in Amsterdam after flying in from Lagos.   "We could not believe it when we learnt that Farouk had boarded a flight from Lagos to Amsterdam while all along we had the impression that he was in Yemen," Sani said.   http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091227/wl_africa_afp/usattacksnigeriayemenfamily_20091227165847   From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Mon Dec 28 16:41:25 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:11:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Telephone Pyaar" Message-ID: <945242.56570.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Insightful article by Taimur Sikander   Kshmendra     EXCERPTS:   - The huge growth in Pakistan's telecom sector is characteristic of many developing countries. But there are few other places where phone calls and connections have had such an impact on a nation's foreign policy, crime, pop culture, entrepreneurship, and more. Indeed, Alexander Graham Bell probably never imagined that his invention could one day bring Pakistan and India to the brink of war, as almost happened on November 27, 2008, when a jailed militant made hoax phone calls from his prison cell to the presidency.   - Of course, before leapfrogging into the mobile era, phone connections in Pakistan have played a major role in shaping society, influencing politics, directing foreign policy and more. Long before the Nawaz Sharif-Atal Bihari Vajpayee hotline (which later became the Pervez Musharraf-Vajpayee hotline) made headlines in the 1990s, the telephone was being used by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the first Governor General of Pakistan, and India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to calm communal tensions in the post-Partition environment. “Nehru was in fact the first prominent leader to have called Jinnah after independence,” recalls Mian Ata Rabbani, the first aide-de-camp to Jinnah. “Riots, finances, and border issues were all on the agenda,” he adds.      - Two decades later, in 1970, the Americans ‘called’ upon Pakistan, this time to normalise its strained diplomatic relations with China. Pakistan’s then President Yahya Khan was approached by US President Richard M. Nixon to start a dialogue with China. President Khan conducted his role of intermediary largely on the phone, flying to the US and China after the ground work for talks was laid.   - East and West Pakistan were also ‘connected’ in June 1970, President Yahya Khan laid the foundation for satellite communication at Deh Mandro, near Karachi, following a similar move in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in East Pakistan. “I am sure that satellite communication will play a significant role in creating a feeling of unity and openness among our people and in speeding up the process of inter-wing integration,” Khan said at the time. However noble the intention, by this point the gulf between the two wings was too great. Khan’s policy of governing the eastern wing using telephonic channels failed to have any impact. East Pakistan, agitated by the socio-economic neglect by the central government in the western wing, eventually slipped out of Khan’s control as he tried to govern it over the phone. The agitation flared into a bloody struggle and eventually resulted in the formation of Bangladesh on March 25, 1971.   - In the 1980s, fixed line telephones had made enough of an impact on Pakistani society to find reflection in popular culture. Ongoing poor service ensured that phones became the butt of comedians’ jokes, particularly on ‘Fifty Fifty,’ a popular Pakistani television series.     - The depiction of a ‘wedding by telephone’ is also a good indication of how profoundly the technology had been assimilated into Pakistani culture.    - Similarly, pop sensation Nazia Hassan’s hit song, ‘Telephone pyaar,’ from her second-most successful album Hotline, picked up on an urban phenomenon during General Ziaul Haq’s regime. Her song touched on how a society constrained by the Islamisation of the country and the imposition of draconian laws was coping via telephone. The idea of a telephonic love hinted at how couples, now denied the opportunity of mingling in public, were continuing to stay in touch over the phone.     - In 1991, Instaphone, a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular based in Luxembourg, started the first mobile phone service in Pakistan. The huge mobile phone sets that came with the service were outlandish, a status symbol that only the wealthy could afford. But this luxury was to soon be the undoing of many wealthy businessmen who were kidnapped for ransom in droves. The police soon determined that the kidnappers, armed with the new phone technology themselves, could track and pinpoint the location of high-value targets as well as use mobile technology to better coordinate the pick-ups. As a result of the spikes in kidnappings, the mobile phone service was phased out by the government of Pakistan in the mid-1990s, though, sadly, kidnappings for ransom remained a constant.   - When Pakistan lost the World Cup cricket quarter final to India in Bangalore, our players received innumerable death threats - all via their phones. Many changed their numbers and requested police protection, but largely lived in fear. Wasim Akram, the captain of the team who was injured for the quarter final was the worst affected: his father was kidnapped. As had become the norm by the mid-1990s, deliberations with the kidnappers and the police continued over the phone and Akram's father was released a day later.    - Meanwhile, politicians began to take advantage of the reach of communications technology. After fleeing Karachi for Britain in 1992, the chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, ensured that his presence was still felt in the country thanks to long distance phone calls. In the mid-1990s, he kicked off what are still regular ‘telephonic addresses’, attended by thousands of party workers in pin-drop silence. “The authorities keep cutting me off and making noise on the line, but mostly we get through,” Hussain has said of his attempts to garner support for the MQM during the 1996 elections via phone addresses. Even in the present era of video conferencing, Skype, and live streaming online, Hussain's supporters’ old-fashioned technique of attaching loud speakers to the receiver of the telephone still draws huge crowds.   - While phone calls no doubt helped orchestrate the many military coups that have punctuated Pakistani history, the true potential of the telephone in staging a coup was realised in 1999. On October 12 that year, Nawaz Sharif, then prime minister of Pakistan, tried to remove General Pervez Musharraf as the army chief and appoint Ziauddin Butt in his place. Musharraf, who was in Sri Lanka, boarded a commercial airliner to return to Pakistan, but Sharif had the Karachi airport sealed to prevent the plane landing, routing it to Nawab Shah Airport instead. But General Musharraf phoned top army generals from the plane, commanding them to oust Sharif's administration. General Musharraf then assumed power for the following nine years.   - Can one phone call forever alter the course of a nation’s domestic and foreign policy? In Pakistan’s case, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Days after the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York on September 11, 2001, General Musharraf’s intelligence director reportedly received a late-night call in which the US government threatened to bomb Pakistan “into the Stone Age” if it failed to cooperate. The threat was made by then US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage, who contacted the Pakistani administration in the lead up to the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. In response to that phone call, Pakistan decided to join hands with the US in its ‘war against terror.’    - In the past decade – the era of mobile connectivity in Pakistan – SMS text messages have had the same social impact that fixed line phones did in the 1970s and 1980s. The perceived power of communication via SMS can be judged by the government’s many attempts to monitor and control text messaging. In 2003, for example, civil rights activists cried foul when words such as MMA, Shia, and Balochistan were blocked in mobile text messages.   - Again, in 2009, the promulgation of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Ordinance (legislation aimed at curtailing cyber crimes) had many concerned – and outraged – that they could face 14 years’ imprisonment for sending offensive text messages. The ordinance barred using digital devices and internet or communications services to criticise the state or rulers. The Federal Investigation Agency also formed a special cell to monitor text messages for content that was offensive to the Pakistani leadership – a move that caused widespread concern about the FIA’s growing powers and the infringement of the Pakistani public’s privacy.    - At the same time, text messages were also used in a revolutionary way, particularly during the movement in 2007 to restore Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, deposed from his post by General Musharraf. On July 20, 2007, when the Justice Chaudhry was first reinstated to his position, 400 million SMS messages were sent nationwide, which according to the PTA, is the highest number of messages sent in one day in Pakistan.   - Later that year, after General Musharraf imposed emergency rule on November 3, bloggers, activists and community organisers used SMS to coordinate protests and send updates on the political situation since most of the media channels were blocked. Indeed, the threat of mobile phones was such that the government used jammers at the Supreme Court, protest sites, and the homes of opposition politicians and lawyers.   - Since then, SMS text messages have been a vital tool for spreading knowledge about and organising protests during lawyers’ movements to restore the chief justice in 2008 and 2009.   - While previously a tool for diplomacy, phones most recently have strained relations between long-time rivals Pakistan and India. Soon after the Mumbai attacks of November 26, 2008, news of how ‘connected’ the terrorists were spread like wildfire. According to eye witnesses, once the coordinated attacks across Mumbai began, the terrorists were constantly on their phones, sometimes juggling a handset in one hand while firing off rounds with the other. The terrorists also used BlackBerries to monitor international reactions to their actions and keep an eye on police response. A satellite phone was found on the boat the terrorists allegedly used to enter Mumbai, and much of their attack was planned using voice over internet protocol (VOIP).   - In the wake of the attacks, the discovery of five cell phones helped establish links between the Mumbai attackers and Pakistan-based militants. One witness told an Indian court that the five Nokia phones had been made in China and shipped to Pakistan. Phone records were also used to prove that the terrorists had been ‘handled’ by commanding militants in Pakistan.   - Post-26/11, Omar Saeed Sheikh, a detained Pakistani militant, further heightened Indo-Pak tensions by placing hoax calls to President Asif Ali Zardari and COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani using a mobile phone from his Hyderabad jail cell. Pretending to be the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Sheikh called and threatened the Pakistani leadership.   - In the past year, many Pakistanis have received SMS text messages warning them not to take calls on their mobile phones from unfamiliar numbers. According to the message, the calls could be a remote trigger for a terrorist attack or even a suicide bombing. The fear that phones control us – rather than the other way around – is an indication of how deeply embedded they are in Pakistani culture and society.   - But it’s not all bad news. There was a time when Pakistanis who wanted to communicate had to head to the PCO, or gather around the phone after a ‘booking’ a call with an operator. Nowadays, people are setting up mobile businesses, conducting mobile money transfers, i-reporting in the name of citizen journalism, navigating via GPS, and even sexting! As such, a history of the Pakistani phone is a history of progress. var href = document.location.href; href = href.substring(0,href.indexOf("?")); document.write(href); http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/art-culture/08-Telephone-Pyaar-ts-01   From rohitrellan at aol.in Mon Dec 28 21:39:18 2009 From: rohitrellan at aol.in (rohitrellan at aol.in) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:09:18 -0500 Subject: [Reader-list] The Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum : Call for Proposals Message-ID: <8CC55EF3E7A59E2-3670-A2CE@webmail-d047.sysops.aol.com> Many conferences and workshops in this area of work are concerned with the concepts, themes, trends, techniques and technicalities of open and distance learning. The previous PCFs (1-5) focused on purpose, and specifically on the unique contributions that open and distance learning (ODL) can make towards achieving the development goals of the international community and related themes. PCF6 aims to consider what ODL has done and still can do in terms of success, rather than simple access that can provide opportunities to millions of people of all ages and diverse backgrounds, particularly from developing countries. Gender, disabilities, social, economic and cultural diversities and skills development play a key role in ensuring quality as well as success and, thereby, social justice through ODL policies and practices. PCF6 has four main themes, all grouped under the overarching theme of ‘Access and Success: Global Developmental Perspectives'. Each contribution may address one or more of these. Some may take a forum-wide perspective. Others may address individual themes, or one of the three cross-cutting topics, identified by the Programme Committee as being relevant to all of these themes. There may be several special sessions relevant to the specific context of PCF6. Four Main Theme Cross-cutting issues Social Justice Community Development Skills Development Formal Education Gender Disabilities Quality Description of Main themes Under the overall theme of Access and Success: Global Developmental Perspectives, four main themes will have a number of sub-themes or topics as follows: 1.Social Justice •Access to Justice: Life, Liberty & Livelihood •Scaling up Quality Education for All •Education & Employment of Persons with Disabilities •Assistive and Affordable Technologies 2.Community Development •Community based Learning and Outreach •Open Education Resources: Models to Choose Adopt and Adapt •Innovative Pathways to Knowledge Society 3.Skills Development •Skills Development for National Development •Global Development Discourses; North-South Dialogues •Regional Cooperation: Who can benefit from whom? 4.Formal Education •Revamping Teacher Education •Open Schooling •Technologies for Scaling up ODL programmes •Quality Issues The cross-cutting issues which could be considered under the above main themes will be: Gender, Disabilities & Quality. Short description of the four main themes: Social Justice: Access to education is usually understood as an opportunity to get admission for various courses and programmes leading to certification. In non-formal situations it may mean creating awareness among the participants on a mass scale regarding livelihood, basic health, legal rights, including human rights and participation in all spheres of a democratic society which places emphasis on inclusive growth and development. However, often we find that educational access to the majority of people living in poor and developing countries does not go beyond formal admission or certification. Access in this sense does not lead them to success because of the shortcomings and failures of institutions and programmes which suffer from many weaknesses in terms of policy making, planning, execution, evaluation and governance. As a result, in many developing countries of the Commonwealth, the Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees do not provide justice to many who are otherwise academically qualified. Poor self-esteem, lack of job opportunities and poor standards are the negative indicators of the value and quality of the educational programmes in the developing countries. Where awareness programmes are aimed at mass audiences to improve their livelihood through day to day activities such as farming and skills-based economic activities, the common people are not sufficiently aware of the guarantees provided by the constitutions and the laws of the respective countries. In order to provide them with their fundamental rights as citizens of an equal society, there should be arrangements to give them access to education, health and employment. ODL is ideally placed to make an impact on this dismal scenario through effective and imaginative use of different modes of education as well as appropriate and affordable technologies. Community Development: Over the centuries, universities played a social role but indirectly through creation, preservation and extension of knowledge to society in general and communities in particular. However, for various reasons, universities gradually started looking more and more inward in the name of specialization and have turned themselves into ivory towers. Though the importance of research, discovery of new knowledge and application of it in controlled situations of experimentation need specialisation, with the growing demand for democratisation of education at all levels, universities can ill afford to remain as islands of excellence, when the communities sustaining then are silently turning into deserts due to global warming, climate change and various forms of industrial/ nuclear pollution. The link between the universities and the communities has never been felt as keenly important as it is today. The universities have to reach out to the communities by making their own policies and structures more flexible and relevant to community development in all aspects. Different types of educational institutions such as new forms of university campuses, community colleges, virtual universities/colleges, online/e-learning institutions etc. need to be created to effectively respond to the needs of the community, keeping in view the geographical, social, economic, political and cultural specificities in view. Mindless homogenisation certainly leads to a weakening of the different spheres of human learning and also results in the extinction of traditional economic activities, cultural mores, languages , art and culture of people. In order to arrest this process– a perhaps inevitable part of the impact of globalization - ODL philosophies and practices need to rethink their role, potential and possibilities with the view to reversing the present negative trends and ensuring as far as possible the continuity of communities with their individual identities. Skills Development: To achieve the previously described goals, the members of the community need the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes. In order to bridge the disconnect between traditional skills and modern literacy or vice-versa, we need to fill the gaps in order to recognize prior skills and integrate them with the final goals of abstract theories to ensure learning for development in the real sense. Appropriate, affordable and assistive technologies play an important role in addressing the issues of disabilities, gender and other inequalities. Traditional knowledge, native wisdom and experiences need to be recognised and certified. Formal Education: Teacher education at all levels is crucial to assure quality. Scaling up of teacher education provision is possible only through information and communication techonoligies (ICTs). However, we need to consider qulity issues and new ways of addressing teacher education. Without scaling up teacher education, quality cannot be assured. Open schooling is one way of assuring quality education of the under priviledged, whereas ODL is the methodology to scale up. Without adequate number of trained teachers, the Millenium Development Goals will remain a distant dream. In this context, revamping teacher educaton becomes a priority. We look forward to participating with you in this Forum and working together on the ideas that emerge. Please send your Abstracts to: Conference Manager PCF6, latest by 31st January, 2010 as per Guidelines. E-mail ID: abstract at pcf6.net Please note most sessions will involve short presentations by panels of speakers followed by discussion of key questions addressing the key theme of access to learning for development, or specific aspects of the main Forum themes. All the Forum papers will be available on-line/under a Creative Commons license which means that they can be shared, adapted and reused freely. Many of the authors may like to publish open access versions of their papers in wikiEducator which means that the community can make contributions to the papers, provide links to other topics and websites and discuss the issues online. The PCF6 website shall enable the participants to add their own commentaries and provide links to the papers and to other relevant research, learning resources and websites. For more details about the themes and the cross-cutting aspects, write to us: pcf6 at pcf6.net From sub_sengupta at yahoo.co.in Tue Dec 29 11:48:40 2009 From: sub_sengupta at yahoo.co.in (subhrodip sengupta) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:48:40 +0530 (IST) Subject: [Reader-list] Fw: Researcher with conscience humiliated by Police In-Reply-To: <418f44e20912270320j1a965348s86844ce14b63230@mail.gmail.com> References: <418f44e20912270320j1a965348s86844ce14b63230@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <22676.37863.qm@web94711.mail.in2.yahoo.com> ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: subhrodip sengupta To: reader-list-request at sarai.net Sent: Tue, 29 December, 2009 11:46:47 AM Subject: Fw: [Reader-list] Researcher with conscience humiliated by Police ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: subhrodip sengupta To: prabhat kumar Sent: Tue, 29 December, 2009 11:45:23 AM Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Researcher with conscience humiliated by Police Dear Prbhat plz forward my Sympathy n humble suggestion, U go to Sp's to fight goons? Find more practical ways n tell us about ur feats. Yor running was a wise decision but asking goons for compensation wasn't sir quite remarkable, they do it all the time....  All that illuminated me was 'thus goes the mind of a (presumably) educated SP sitting in an air conditioned office of honour'.  Thank GOD, I never complain to SP about police! Then I thought, 'Poor thing! Apart from keeping up the repute of the post among juniors, there is a gender role too, which We musn't forget. She might be obeying the dictums in fear of loosing her dignity and coming from, presumably feudal high class background. The people who shook huts down r not police, but Goons, violators of others space and perpetrators of disturbing social peace. How can we call such people police, just because of some uniform, listing, or some special category, Imagine what would have happened in the North east mwhere things like special 'powers' for armed forces are in force. In delhi, do you find things better. I fond them outright Goons. Somehow Uniform gives them a right to use abusive and offensive language and gestures.  Governance of people or for people is the question. In populated places like India where people care less about others in person, governance can afford the luxurious assumption of taking masses as granted, as no vaccum is ever created by people who leave, die of cold, or even Murder. Sociaal exclusion is only one sided. Governance in such cases is not definitely by the people. I wonder what such fethism of owning means by throwing off others can achieve, at least on counts of respect, popularity and confidence. I ask a more pertinent question, in an age and state where people do not have a clear cut conception of economic classes: How many in and across the institutes of Delhi have been informed. How many of the faculty or student members shall care to mention their dissaproval publicly. Neh Naxalite is now a taboo means trouble, though people do not understand it. A humble request to ALL ................ Next time while going in direct confrontation take some conditioned goons with U too... for your own defence. At least the perpretrators should have casualties on their side too. Fear like exclusion, remains one sided, till present. I love the administration for not flaterring anyone and making mistakes the way it has been made, defending it's servants..... This way it breaks and brings in room for change some positive change, some inclusion. Unless we question values how can we break them?                                                                              My humble empathy to the injuries to the dignity & body of Varun. Beyond the ambit of this list, I muttered some vulgar utterance of these people whom we have long exlcluded from our trust for being demonly by virtue of the special pwers granted to them.........B.......! What law can mix up goons and enforces. Even Indian court6s do not, Alas they still have to depend on a system with a complex network of influences of Goons. Bade bhai Sahab(khadus bhai Sahab0 I'd say! Love and regards Subhrodip. : reader-list at sarai.net Sent: Sun, 27 December, 2009 4:50:20 PM Subject: [Reader-list] Researcher with conscience humiliated by Police From: Rahul Ramagundam > To: Rahul Ramagundam > Sent: Thu, 24 December, 2009 6:17:21 PM Subject: something on Bihar (instant reaction) How big a crime could it be to ask the police in Bihar if their ongoing action is legally informed? Such an innocent enquiry, as my experience on the afternoon of 22nd December in Khagariya’s Amosi village affirms, could lead to personal humiliation and physical violence. In the salubrious wilderness that Khagariya’s rural stretch is you could be called a Naxalite, done to anonymous death in a brave police encounter.  Something similar happened to me. I was physically assaulted, abused with filthiest of swear words, called a Naxalite, and my local companion was slapped, man-handled and beaten with blows from ferocious lathi-wielding police officers and constables. Amosi is a village which came recently under spotlight when some of its wretched residents were accused of massacring some others from another nearby village in early October this year. Amosi is a tola populated by some three hundred Musahar families. They live in thatched huts. Some 34 male residents of Amosi tola have been accused of carrying out the massacre of sixteen people of the nearby village. The names of the accused apparently were given to the police by the relatives of the victims of massacre. Of the 34, a few have been arrested and put in the jail; and few others are on run. A police party had come to the village to apprehend or to enforce a kurki-jabti order against the absconding accused. One reaches Amosi after crossing the river Bagmati twice. The village is some five kilometers further up from the Etuwa Dhalla, an embankment that contains the Bagmati when she is in spate. During annual floods, Etuwa Dhalla is where people seek refuge. In normal times, like this December, a nylon rope is tied to bamboo stumps on each bank of the stream. Boats are plied not by rowing but by pulling the tied rope. Anyone desirous of crossing the river can use the boat. It ferries people, fodder and vehicles. Vehicles do not go beyond Etuwa Dhalla as motorable road exists no more after that; taxis wait at the foot of the embankment to take people to Khagariya town, some ten kilometers further down. On 22nd December, I rode pillion on a motor bike of Varun Choudhry, a grassroots activist with a Khagariya based NGO Samta, to reach Amosi. As an associate professor at the Dr. K R Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Milla Islamia, a central University in Delhi, I teach a course on social exclusion to post-graduate students. During my post-graduate days at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, I worked in grassroots movements for long years. Based on my field-experiences as a grassroots activist, in 2001 I wrote my first book, Defeated Innocence, on the adivasi struggle for land rights in Madhya Pradesh. In the latter-half of the 2005, for close to six months, I traveled into the interiors of Bihar’s Gaya district to explore the issues surrounding production of poverty in India’s rural hinterland. In 2008, Orient Longman published my book Gandhi’s Khadi: A History of Contention and Conciliation. And presently, along with my teaching assignment at the university, I am working on a history of the socialist movement in India. Given these credentials, I did not think twice in venturing out into the interiors of a Khagaria, a terrain known for its torturous rivers and endemic poverty. Moreover, my interest in Amosi was also dictated by the recent political happenings in Bihar. The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar in order to target the most deprived had at first created a new category called Mahadalits that included Musahars alone. Although at present, the category of Mahadalits include 20 of 22 Scheduled Castes, the move to forge a new political identity in the shape of Mahadalits is said to have backfired, culminating in electoral setback to JD(U) in the recently held by-election. Was it a policy failure of the Nitish government? Contrary to the general reportage on the matter, the electoral setback could also be an outcome of government’s failure to access its targeted population. But then in early October the massacre happened. The midnight massacre of sixteen people, it is said, threw the Nitish government’s political applecart out of gear. The victims of massacre were the people belonging to Kurmi-Koiri communities; in the caste ridden polity of Bihar it was seen as attack on Nitish Kumar’s core political constituency as Nitish belongs to Kurmi caste. The perpetrators of the massacre were said to be Musahars of Amosi village. Some termed it a ‘piquant’ situation for Nitish government. As the core support group is attacked by the newly minted supporters, what would be the response of the government? When we arrived, the village was in excited turmoil. The police party was going about breaking the thatched houses of the people who were said to be absconding. Shankar Sada, to whom Varun met in the village, took us to the spot where the police party after their arrival had dined and rested before taking up the rip and strip job.  Just as we talked, I saw a most atrocious scene. The police party at the head of a procession of the village onlookers had arrived at a house and were pulling down the thatched roof and walls of a hut. I couldn’t contain myself. I suggested to those few who sat with me that we should at least ask the police if they have the written order to take apart the houses of the absconding accused. Shanker Sada understandably was non-committal. I rose from my plastic chair and walked upto the house that was being vigorously shaken to make it fall. A tall uniformed man was staring at me. He could be the leader, I thought. I most humbly asked him, if he has some written court order to dismantle the thatched houses of the poor, even if they have been accused of grave crime. Instead of answering me, he asked me to divulge my identity. I teach in Delhi, I told him. Name? I told him. Father’s name? I told him. Seeing his inability to spell my name properly, I asked if I could write in his diary. No, he said, he would write it himself. But even before I could take out my identity card from my wallet and show him, he turned aggressive and hostile. By then I was surrounded by the rest of the team. They were yelling and gesturing at me. The leader held my collar. He shoved me, pulled me, yelled at me, raised lathi to hit at me. Just then he was held back by one of his senior colleague. Police constables in khaki uniform and green fatgue surrounded me, swearing at me, amusingly at my failure to prevent the massacre. They had guns slung over their shoulders. An excited constable in green fatigue called me a naxalite, and moved menacingly to break the cordon that surrounded me. The village onlookers watched in silent spectatorship. No one raised a voice. It was police that were in excitement. How come he is in this village? How has he come? Who has brought him here? The leader shouted at me to leave the village immediately. He shall not be held responsible if something happened to me, he said. But by then somebody had shouted and gestured towards Varun. The leader took me by collar, pulled me towards the spot where Varun was standing, silently, watching, in total incomprehension. The leader left my collar. Now his eyes fell on Varun. The police attention was veered towards Varun. I saw him being held by neck, and the leader shouting at him, spewing venom, his raised lathi bashing at his legs. Some policemen came towards me, asked if I would not flee the village immediately. In that few seconds, I was in dilemma. Should I leave Varun in the clutches of the police and run away. But the terrain was such that I had no chance at running away. Further I go from the village, more were the chances of being declared a naxalite and done to death in an encounter. I held back myself, fear flowing through my spine. But if I stayed, and refused to be spectator to Varun’s beatings, things could go to the extent of cold-blooded murder. My presence was provocation. My questioning was threatening to the authority of the police. I calculated, in fear, in confusion. In that split-second moment, I had the option of instant attack and startegic defense,  and pushed by a constable, I began to walk out of the village, rudderless, with lowered head. Few minutes later, I heard the sound of Varun’s bike approaching me. He stopped. I rode pillion. We rode the bike on a sandy patch, crossed two river streams on boats by pulling the rope, and reached to Etuwa Dhalla. By then, in silence, in humiliation, in violation, I resolved to fight back. My friends in Patna provided me the numbers of SP/DM of the district. The SP, after hearing me out, asked me to leave a ‘petition’ in her office. The DM asked me to come over to his office when I asked for an appointment. From the DM’s office, I went to SP’s residential office. She met me there, was offensive; orders have come straight from the headquarters, whose human rights violation I am talking of, what about those who have been massacred, aren’t me taking sides of murderers. Won’t you be revengeful if someone murders your family members? I retained my calm. I asked if the ‘absconding accused’ been convicted of murders, isn’t it still at the investigation stage? Her colleagues joined her in buttressing the arguments in the police favour. Difficult terrain invites some extra-legal measures, they chipped in, naively though. I asked if police can help me to get Varun medically examined. It was kind of her to ask the inspector in-charge of the town police station to get a medical report on Varun’s injuries. It was done at 9 pm, some six hours after the incident. Following is the text of the application written immediately after the incident and that I submitted to the SP, Khagariya Ms. Anusuya Rannsingh Sodhi for her cognizance 22/12/2009 To, The SP, Khagariya District, Bihar, Subject: Ripping apart the thatched houses of Musahar residents of Amosi village and violation of rights of common citizens Dear Madame, This is to affirm you about the atrocious and deplorable action of the police personals in the village Amosi of which I am a witness. The police party was in the village to attach property of some absconding accused. Along with attaching property, I saw the police party, in most deplorable violation of human rights, ripping the thatched houses to ground. When they were taking down one of the house, I went to the police and most humbly asked them if they also have a written order to rip the houses apart. The police began to ask for my identity and began getting aggressive in their approach. One of the policemen who asked my identity turned hostile and began pushing me. He held my collar. But then another officer intervened to stop his raised lathi. The hostile officer even said that I should just run away from the village and he shall not be accountable if something happened to me. By then all the constables surrounded me and began to abuse me in most filthy words. Then they asked who has brought me to the village. As their eyes turned to my companion, Varun Choudhry, they all turned to him. And began to blow their lathis on him. They also thrashed him by their hand. I was asked to go out of the village if I want to save myself. I began to walk out of the village, most humiliated and feeling violated. After some time, Varun Choudhry came behind me on his bike. He was most shaken. He told me that some fifty blows were set on him. We silently rode bike, crossed two rivers, and came to Etuwa Dhalla. From there I contacted my friends in Patna and got the telephone numbers of SP/DM and others. There are two issues that needs your attention: 1. Does police have right to dismantle and rip the houses of the absconding accused? 2. Does not people have right to ask if police has come with proper, written order for dismantling of the houses of the most poor of this state, who have been accused of cases of whatever nature? I would like to request you to initiate an enquiry into the whole affair and action to be taken. Sincerely yours’ (Rahul Ramagundam) Associate Professor, Dr. K. R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025, Phone: 09818907590 -- Dr.Rahul Ramagundam Associate Professor, Programme for Studies in Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies, Dr. K. R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, Noam Chomsky Complex, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Marg, Jamia Nagar New Delhi-110025 ____________________________ -- Prabhat Kumar PhD student (Department of History, SAI, University of Heidelberg) Address Cluster of Excellence, Karl Jaspers Centre University of Heidelberg, Room No. 118, Voßstraße 2, Building No. 4400 69115 Heidelberg Germany kumar at asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de Mobile: +49 176 850 500 77 Office:  +49 6221 54 4306 Fax: +49 6221 54 4012 http://www.asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de/en/research/b-public-spheres/b1/subprojects/kumar.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: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> ________________________________ The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. ________________________________ The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. http://in.yahoo.com/ From indersalim at gmail.com Tue Dec 29 18:29:35 2009 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:29:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] in the light and shadow of earth's homless yearly revolutions Message-ID: <47e122a70912290459k4d10e9d1q5cbc4d0cdb81fa85@mail.gmail.com> New year greetings to all plz press to see the image ( a ghazal numa) http://pics.livejournal.com/indersalim/pic/000p72r8/ with love inder salim -- http://indersalim.livejournal.com From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Tue Dec 29 19:18:04 2009 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (artNET) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:48:04 +0100 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?CologneOFF_on_30_December_2009__in_N?= =?iso-8859-1?q?orway?= Message-ID: <20091229144805.ED9A8C77.78329E58@192.168.0.2> CologneOFF - Cologne Online Film Festival is proud to be presented by Art Video Exchange Norway curated by Mona Bentzen and Rauland Kunstforening at Rauland Kunstforening Rauland/Norway during 30 December 2009 - 11h -17h http://www.raulandkunstforening.no/monabentzen/germany_program_web_NEW.htm featuring the exciting selection from CologneOFF IV - Here We Are!! including "Etude" by Dario Bardic (2007, 3:20, Croatia) "JOINED AT THE HEAD" by David Jakubovic (2008, 4:40, USA) "Small Room Tango" by Gabriel Shalom (2004, 3:40, USA) "Switch" by Yu Cheng Yu (2008,3:50, Taiwan) "Stranger" by Guiseppe Girardi (2008, 6:56, Italy) "Pass" by Isvan Rusvai (2009, 1:00, Hungary) "Mimnemesis" by Pierre-Laurent Cassière (2006, 1:00, France) "Silent Cry" by Wilfried Agricola de Cologne (2008, 3:05, Germany) "Testimony" by Nhieu Do (2008, 7:12, Vietnam/USA) "Kassandra" by Johanna Reich (2008, 3:05, Germany) "My Way" by Sonja Vuk (2006, 1_00, Croatia) -------------------------------------------------- CologneOFF - Cologne Online Film Festival http://coff.newmediafest,.org Art Video Exchange Norway http://www.artvideoexchange.com/ Rauland Kunstforening Rauland/NO http://www.raulandkunstforening.no/ ------------------------------------------------- From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Tue Dec 29 22:14:06 2009 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:14:06 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Exhuming the truth on Shopian Message-ID: <6353c690912290844r3c99c360y54aeb6247bcc4037@mail.gmail.com> *Exhuming the truth on Shopian * Praveen Swami * Politicians in Kashmir who set off fires after the death of two women in Shopian must be held to account. * Last summer, the bodies of two women were washed ashore on the banks of the Rambiara river in Shopian. Eight people were to die, and some 400 suffer injuries as the embers fanned by the deaths set off fires across urban Kashmir. For the angry young Islamists who spearheaded the protests, the deaths of the two women were murders — murders, moreover, carried out by a predatory Hindu state in its campaign to annihilate Kashmiris. The body of one of them, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association’s investigation recorded witnesses as stating, “was lying half naked on dry sand. Her clothes were torn and hair, clothes and body were dry. Blood was dripping from her nose and it appeared sindoor had been thrown in her forehead.” “During our investigations,” association leader G.N. Shaheen said, “we found that the perpetrators belonged to a particular community and they had even vandalised the bodies of the victims.” In case anyone had missed the point, Mr. Shaheen added the rapists were “fanatic Hindus.” Now, the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a charge sheet which rips apart the claims of the secessionist-linked Bar Association, politicians like People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti and much of the media. Backed by forensic detective work by the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory in New Delhi, the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Madhuban and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the CBI has concluded that the women were neither raped nor murdered. Inside the bodies of the victims, AIIMS forensic experts found several pieces of evidence suggesting drowning. Pin-sized petechial haemorrhages were found on the membranes of their lungs and bronchi. Larger patches of Paltauf’s haemorrhages — bluish-red areas found in the lungs of about half of all drowning victims — were also visible. Doctors also discovered accumulations of fluid within the alveoli, suggesting pulmonary oedema, another sign of drowning. None of the findings in themselves was conclusive. So, experts at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in New Delhi and the Forensic Sciences Laboratory at Madhuban proceeded to conduct tests which matched the soil recovered from the victims’ lungs with the earth in the Rambiara. Further tests showed that diatoms — a kind of eukaryotic algae — inside the victims’ lungs were similar to those found among some organisms in the river. During autopsy, the doctors also recovered small insects from the victims’ lungs. Experts at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute identified the insects as silverfish — small, wingless creatures commonly found under the bark of trees, under rocks, in rotten logs and among leaf litter. But the finding that the victims were drowned did not rule out the possibility of murder — or rape. The AIIMS evidence shot down the first possibility in short order. The body of one victim did indeed have a lacerated wound in the forehead, likely caused by hitting against a hard surface but the forensic examiners believed it was “not sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course.” There were no external ante-mortal injuries on the other victim. No evidence of rape, the experts stated, emerged either. The hymen of one of the victims was found intact. Four Shopian hospital staff members — Javed Iqbal Malik, Tariq Ahmad Tantrey, Mohammad Ismail Sheikh and Mohammad Ismail Sodagar — corroborated the findings, telling the CBI that there were no injuries on the private parts of the victims. Their clothes, six other witnesses told the CBI, were also intact at the time the bodies were found. Faked evidence How could the AIIMS findings be so different from that of two separate teams of doctors who carried out earlier autopsies? Breathtaking incompetence may have played a role. Shopian doctors Bilal Hassan and Nazia Hassan ruled out drowning as a cause of death, claiming to have carried out a flotation test using samples of lung tissue from a victim. In fact, the AIIMS team determined, the tissue was from the heart. Moreover, the lung flotation test has long been known to be less-than-conclusive proof of drowning — especially in fresh water, which has a lower density than salt water. Janson Payne-James, Anthony Busuttil and William S. Smock’s *Forensic Medicine: Clinical and Pathological Aspects * explains that the test rests on the fact that lung weights are usually higher in people who were drowned. But “a normal weight is possible in some drowning cases.” The more sophisticated tests conducted by the CBI experts were either unavailable or unknown to the Shopian doctors. Nighat Shaheen, Ghulam Qadir Sofi and Maqbool Mir, who made up the second autopsy team, are also charged by the CBI with fabricating evidence. The team insisted that a victim’s hymen was damaged — an assertion the AIIMS experts’ videotaped autopsy debunks. Evidence that Dr. Shaheen had fabricated evidence, first reported in *The Hindu*, also figured in the CBI investigation. She claimed to have taken vaginal swabs from the victims, but later tests revealed that they had in fact been lifted from unconnected women. The CBI claims that Dr. Shaheen offered them three contradictory accounts of how this had come about — including a claim, now disproved, that she had supplied a vaginal swab from her own body under duress. The CBI investigators were unable to arrive at a precise determination of just how the women were drowned. Human rights groups who have investigated the case say water in the Rambiara was just ankle-deep. But official records gathered by the CBI show that the river was flowing at its year-high flood, 228 cubic feet per second, just days before the women’s death. There is, of course, no direct relationship between the flow of water in the river and its depth. However, the CBI discovered multiple witness testimonies suggesting that the river was indeed flowing at dangerous levels — the most important being a videotaped media interview given by the husband of one of the victims the day after her death. He asserted that the water level in the river was so high that “even a man could not have crossed it.” Independent witnesses, the CBI states, corroborated this claim, with one adding it was also the opinion of the victim’s family. They also noted that two separate witnesses earlier said the victims had froth around the nose, a classic sign of drowning. Efforts to link police personnel to the crime went nowhere. Much of the case rested on the testimony of Ghulam Mohaiuddin Lone and Abdul Rashid Pampori, who claimed to have heard the women crying for help from inside a police vehicle parked on the Zawoora Bridge. However, the CBI noted, their testimony was contradictory on at least five issues. Later, the CBI says, it acquired statements from the men that they had been coerced into making the allegations. Forensic tests on 23 police vehicles and 47 officers posted in the area also threw up no evidence that they were in any way linked to the deaths. The Kashmir High Court Bar Association says it has a letter from AIIMS forensic medicine expert Sudhir Gupta, casting doubt on the forensic findings. Dr. Gupta has offered no independent corroboration of this claim; indeed, in an in-house AIIMS correspondence obtained by *The Hindu*, Dr. Gupta asked for a copy of the letter so he could give a “legitimate reply.” The AIIMS spat has led to some bizarre media allegations, including assertions that its experts helped to rig forensic evidence in the murder of a Delhi teenager — a case the institution had nothing to do with. Dr. Gupta, whose name was struck off the rolls of the Medical Council of India in 2004, on plagiarism charges, may or may not be a credible witness, but if there is any serious critique of the evidence marshalled by the CBI, it must be assessed and responded to. Failing this, many must hold themselves to account for the bloodshed that followed the deaths in Shopian. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his government must take part of the blame. The government buckled under pressure from Islamists, transferring senior police officials who insisted that the deaths were an accident, suspended others on charges of destroying evidence and paving the way for the judicially-mandated arrests of four suspects, now exonerated. Politicians in the PDP, and among the secessionists, who cynically cashed in on the deaths to further their agenda must also be held to account. Media and civil rights groups, which paid little attention to evidence that from the outset cast doubt on the rape-murder story, cannot evade responsibility either. Many in Jammu and Kashmir, reared on the half-truths and deceits fed by large sections of the media, are likely to believe the CBI account. It is imperative that proceedings from here on be carried out with complete transparency to avoid further muddying of the waters. From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 00:34:50 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:34:50 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Win a two week teacher development course at Cambridge Message-ID: >From http://www.schools.cambridgeesol.org/news/25.html *English language teachers invited to tell their story in new competition. * English language teachers from around the globe are being asked why a teacher development course in Cambridge would benefit them and their students, as part of a competition launched by Cambridge ESOL. The School Sector team at Cambridge ESOL is offering five top prizes of a residential language and methodology course for teachers for the best stories received. Each prize includes: two weeks of tuition from Bell, en-suite accommodation at Cambridge University (Homerton College), morning and evening meals and travel costs up to a maximum of £200. There are also 100 runner-up prizes of Cambridge ESOL teaching materials for use in the classroom. The competition is open to all non-native English language teachers working in compulsory education and entrants must have at least an intermediate level of English (CEFR Level B2) – such as the First Certificate in English (FCE). To enter, teachers need to submit up to 150 words on why a teacher development course in Cambridge would benefit them and their students. *For an online entry form and full terms and conditions, please click here .* The closing date for entries is *Friday 15 January 2010* Winners will be notified by *Friday* *22 January 2010* Courses run from *Sunday* *18 July to Saturday 31 July 2010.* *Click here* to learn more about the teacher development courses at the Bell and to hear the 2009 winners talking about their time in Cambridge. *FURTHER INFORMATION* 1. For more information on courses running throughout July and August, visit the Bell Centres website at: *www.bell-centres.com* 2. Comenius Funding For EU Nationals Are you a European Union national? Are you a language teacher, trainer, inspector or advisor? If so, you are eligible to apply for funding to attend a teacher development course, including those offered by Bell Centres, as part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme. For more information about Comenius funding, visit the *Bell Centres website * or contact your local agency via the *European Commission website*. Funding is not guaranteed for all applicants. For courses between April and August 2010, applications for Comenius funding must be received by *Friday 15 January 2010.* From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 00:42:52 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:42:52 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] British Council's art competition for college students studying in South India: Submit entries by January 8, 2010 Message-ID: >From http://www.britishcouncil.org/india-common-thebigpicture.htm *HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BRITISH COUNCIL IN SOUTH INDIA?* Here's an opportunity to express your thoughts and win an attractive *cash prize of Rs 50,000/-.* And hey! Don't reach out for a pen, just look for your paints, colours, pencils, crayons and express your answer in any artistic form. We are delighted to announce a one-of-a-kind art competition for college students between 18 and 25 years studying in South India. Submit your entries in a Jpg and Tiff format (600 dpi) as per the specification: Width: 8.739 ft and Height: 7.054 ft in a CD/DVD with a note about your work and a hard copy of the artwork in A-4 size. Our expert panel will decide the winning entry which will be showcased at the British Council Library in Chennai. Last date for submission has been extended until Friday 8 January 2010. From babuubab at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 10:22:14 2009 From: babuubab at gmail.com (SUNDARA BABU) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:22:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Representation of Religious and Caste Minorities in Malayalam Media In-Reply-To: <66ec95310912242119n38861870re7f2d67586e06276@mail.gmail.com> References: <66ec95310912242119n38861870re7f2d67586e06276@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <66ec95310912292052q5c76a8b3od908ad36603119eb@mail.gmail.com> Concerned Citizens Group *Representation of Religious and Caste Minorities in Malayalam Media* *Indian Womens Press Corps* *Raisina Road, New Delhi* *23rd December, 2009* Some of us concerned citizens had issued a statement on 18th December, 2009, appalled by the mainstream media reportage of the anticipatory bail hearing of Soofiya Madani in the Kerala High Court in connection with her alleged involvement in a conspiracy that led to the burning of a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus at Kalamassery, Kochi in September 2005. Many of these reports bordered on pronouncing her guilt with complete disregard for Judicial processes and the Rule of the Law. This kind of reportage can be understood only in the backdrop of a disturbing new trend in the Kerala media and civil society vis-a-vis representation of issues and concerns affecting religious and caste minorities. This press conference has been convened to present some of our concerns regarding this and to appeal to the media and civil society actors to be more sensitive and balanced in their coverage of various events. Apart from vitiating the communal harmony of the state, this trend also encroaches upon the fundamental rights of people to fair trial, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of association, freedom to practice and preach a religion and right to equality regardless of caste and religion; along with other fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India. In this context, we would like to enumerate a few of these media campaigns and the obvious religious and caste bias present in them. *Love Jihad* It was 2 cases of inter-religious love affairs that the media took up and blew out of proportion to create the bogey of “Love Jihad.” In both these cases, what was involved was love and attraction between Hindu women and Muslim men, which led to marriage and the conversion of the Hindu women into Islam. Following this the mainstream media in Kerala went on a rampage, claiming that thousands of women were being lured into converting to Islam by Muslim boys who were doing this as part of “Love Jihad.” This led to Justice K T Sankaran’s remarks on “Love Jihad” and directions to the police to conduct investigations on it. This campaign not only vilifies women as being incapable of decision-making, but also portrays young men of the Muslim community as members of “Love Jihad,” without any proper investigation or proof for doing the same. This regressive campaign was not stopped even after the Kerala Police clarified that such a phenomenon does not exist. It has come to a temporary end only after another judge of the Kerala High Court put a stop to all investigations on the issue, saying that saying that one could not target any particular community and that “inter-religious marriages are common in our society and cannot be seen as a crime.” . *Dalit Terrorism* Following the murder of a middle-aged man in Varkala, the media in Kerala came out with a new term called “Dalit Terrorism.” Regardless of the identities of the Victim and the offender, media reportage on this case very often appeared to have been written in the police station. The press bought into the police story that it was activists of one dalit organization who had committed the murder. They joined hands with the police in reproducing unsubstantiated reports of the existence of a “Dalit terror network”. This legitimized the large scale persecution of the organization’s activists by the police and also led to violent attacks on them by members of the local Shiv Sena. The media in Kerala is party to these atrocities as it had stood with the police in accusing the organization and its activists, failing to control the excesses of the police and reinforcing the existing prejudices against a historically marginalised community. *Beemapally* On May 17, 2009 6 Muslim men from a fishing community were killed and 47 others injured (27 of them had bullet injuries) in a police firing in Beemapally. Later studies by Human Rights organizations brought out “the extremely unjust and criminalized violence” committed by the police in Beemapally (NCHRO, Kerala Chapter). The government also suspended some police officers as a token measure. However, when the incident happened, most of the Malayalam media observed silence on this issue. A few others reported the police version of the firing, branding it as “communal tension”. They promoted the assumption that it was the provocation by a communally charged mob that had made the police resort to firing, and it was wise to keep silence. There was no analysis or even proper investigation of the whole incident. In this way, one of the worst incidents of state violence in Kerala against Muslim fish workers virtually went unnoticed in the mainstream media. All this shows the impunity with which the Malayalam media is treating issues related to caste and religious minorities. It easily communalizes every issue related to the Muslim community and works to spread hate and suspicion about them. Similarly, it also misrepresents caste issues and works to reiterate existing prejudices. Here, we would like to reiterate that we do not hold a brief for any individual or organisation and would like to see the Law take its own course and we would urge proper investigation, trial and conviction of any person mentioned above, provided that the procedure established by law and Constitutional guarantees are upheld and they are not singled out by virtue of their religious or caste identities. We call upon the media to fulfil its role and check excesses committed by the State, its agencies or other formations that is likely to infringe upon the quality of our democratic polity and uphold values of plurality enshrined in the Constitution of India. by *John Dayal, Member, National Integration Council* *K. Satchidanandan, Poet &* *A. K. Ramakrishnan, Professor, JNU* From babuubab at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 08:59:18 2009 From: babuubab at gmail.com (SUNDARA BABU) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:59:18 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The Concept of Autonomy is an Absolute Fallacy: Dr. Fai Message-ID: <66ec95310912291929k76a784e5nc20252dff374661b@mail.gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- The Concept of Autonomy is an Absolute Fallacy: Dr. Fai Granada, Spain, December 29, 2009. “The concept of autonomy or self rule for Kashmir is an absolute fallacy. Here one has to rely on a provision of the Indian Constitution. All Constitutions of the world are subject to amendments and Indian Constitution is no exception. If not now, in the foreseeable future, the Indian legislature can delete this provision in the Constitution and the move will not even need a debate in the Parliament,” said Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director, Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center at Alhambra Hotel, Granada, Spain. Dr. Fai said that other ideal non-existent solution is the concept to convert the existing cease-fire line into a permanent International boundary, as Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India says ‘not to redraw the border’. “One cannot imagine a better formula for sowing a minefield in South Asia that will lead them to a nuclear disaster,” Fai added. Also, Kashmiris wish to emphasize that their land is not a real estate which can be parceled out between two disputants but the home of a nation with a history far more compact and coherent than India’s and far longer than Pakistan’s. No settlement of their status will hold unless it is explicitly based on the principles of self-determination and erases the so-called line of control, which is in reality the line of conflict. The Executive Director emphasized that his opinion was confirmed by a poll conducted jointly by major news outlets on Aug 12, 2007: CNN-IBN and Hindustan Times in India and Dawn and News in Pakistan. A majority of those polled in Kashmir Valley (87% to be precise) preferred (Azadi) freedom from occupation. Fai added that the poll was consistent with another poll that was conducted on November 5, 2004 by the Monthly Outlook, when 78 percent demanded Azadi. Dr. Fai clarified that Azadi means both the rejection of concept of autonomy and rejection of line of control into an international border. Dr. Fai stressed that Kashmiris are open to a constitutional dispensation that answers all of India's legitimate national security and human rights concerns. With regard to the former, they are willing to explore permanent neutrality for Kashmir along the model of the 1955 Austrian State Treaty and a renunciation of war or the threat of force in international affairs along the model of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. They are willing to consider abandoning a military force like Costa Rica, Haiti, and Panama. Moreover, they hold no objection to providing community quotas in government offices along the lines of the 1960 Constitution for the Republic of Cyprus to safeguard against invidious discrimination of any religious or ethnic group, i.e., Pandit, Buddhist, Sikh, and Muslim alike. Dr. Fai reminded that some discerning observers perceive a growing awareness in the Indian middle class that the persistence of the Kashmir problem weakens India by diminishing its stature among the great powers. Ms. Arundhati Roy, an Indian thinker wrote in the Daily Guardian, London on August 22, 2008, “After 18 years of administering a military occupation, the Indian government's worst nightmare has come true. Having declared that the militant movement has been crushed, it is now faced with a non-violent mass protest.” Mr. Gautum Navlakha, of Economic and Political Weekly, New Delhi said, “Long and short of it is that Indian state has become its own worst enemy. There is no point blaming Pakistan, fundamentalists, human rights activists and the usual alibis used by the Indian state. It is time to acknowledge that ‘national security’ paranoia cannot hide the reality that Muslims of Jammu & Kashmir have no confidence in the Indian state.” Therefore, Dr. Fai suggested that there is but one fair, just, legal, and moral solution to Kashmir: The employment of peaceful means to bring about a self-determination with the inclusion of the genuine leadership of Kashmiris as an equal partner in all negotiations with the Governments of India and Pakistan; and the mediation of a person of commanding international stature, like Bishop Desmond Tutu, to be appointed by the United Nations. Dr. Fai can be reached at gnfai2003 at yahoo.com From babuubab at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 10:20:16 2009 From: babuubab at gmail.com (SUNDARA BABU) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:20:16 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] BEYOND KILVENMANI: SUBALTERN IDENTITY, CASTE VIOLENCE AND THE STATE In-Reply-To: <66ec95310912252144l1a8fb9cewf7b58c6a2a5ea6f4@mail.gmail.com> References: <66ec95310912252144l1a8fb9cewf7b58c6a2a5ea6f4@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <66ec95310912292050q7d76a66ey354a741e3bb1e16b@mail.gmail.com> *BEYOND KILVENMANI: SUBALTERN IDENTITY, CASTE VIOLENCE AND THE STATE: AN ANALYSIS OF ANTI-DALIT VIOLENCE IN TAMIL NADU* * * * * BAHU VIRUPAKSHA Caste violence has become an important element in the political life of contemporary Tamil Nadu. We may define caste violence as systematic, organized and sustained acts of physical and cultural violence directed against the less powerful, marginal, and in a hierarchical sense lower social groups by members of the dominant landed groups. Though the latter are classified as Backward Castes and Most Backward castes in the case of northern Tamil Nadu, the BCs and MBCs are by far the most powerful social groups in the political and agrarian structures of rural Tamil Nadu. Both NGOs and the academic interpreters of the endemic caste violence in the countryside, conceptualize the growing social distance between Dalit castes and the BCs and MBCs as instances of “caste” conflict implying thereby that caste identities and loyalties are at the root of this problem. Such an interpretation while not inaccurate, skirts the more potent question pertaining to the structural linkages between the politically organized sections of the Backward landed communities and the violence directed against the Dalits in different parts of the Tamil region. Rural violence is not a new and novel feature. Medieval inscriptions record numerous instances of burning down of entire villages in the fifteenth century during clashes between the idankai and valankai groups. Caste hierarchy was reinforced through a range of measures that included dress codes, restrictions on the use of certain musical instruments, habitat ional exclusion by creating *tindacheris* in which particular social groups were sequestered, limited access to common areas such as the sacred space of the temple, educational institutions and the like. Indeed the social history of the Tamil region can be plotted along the axes of caste, community and sect, though the boundaries between the three conceptual categories were always fluid and permeable. In the nineteenth century we find identity formation crystallizing itself around the twin poles of caste and race with the ethno linguistic category of Dravidian glossing over the different castes and sub castes of the society. Uniting in the divided population in the name of language, the concept of Dravidian defined the Tamil identity in terms of the cultural practices of the dominant non Brahmin castes thereby excluding the dalits and other communities. Dalit intellectuals have in recent years mounted a serious challenge to the hegemonic claims relating to the libratory potential of the Aryan/Dravidian dichotomy in which the discourse on Dalit liberation and political praxis takes place. The literaey critic Raj Gauthaman in his excellent work entitled *Dalit Parveyil Tamil Panpattu *has shown that even in the earliest corpus of Tamil bardic poetry there is a stratum of communal and caste consciousness which effectively marginalized tribal groups which came to form the basis of dalit caste of the historical times. This interpretation alters the framework in which the emergence of caste consciousness is placed by conventional historians in that it situates caste in the context of autochthonous social trends. The importance of Raj Gouthamn’s work lies in his effort to reclaim the historical memory of the Dalits in order to assert an identity that is distinct from the one existing in the dominant Dravidian discourse. In his counter reading of Tamil literary and social history, Raj Gauthman is infact re interpreting the claims of Iyothee Das that Tamil cultural practices as depicted in the early bardic works are just as oppressive as that of the Aryan/Sanskrit other. He goes on to add that the ethic of valor and conquest enshrined in the *puram*genre of poems are mere ideological shibboleths to validate and legitimize the appropriation of agricultural surplus from the tribal sections of Tamil society, who he says were the ancestors of the present day dalit population. While this interpretation may not have all the sophistication of a well thought out historical thesis, it certainly points to a rupture in the dominant paradigm. In this paper we attempt an analysis of the violence in the Tamil region in which the caste conflict between the BCs and the Dalits are contextualized in terms of (a) the groups inv9lved and (b) the reaction of the state. We examine the frequent outbreak of social conflict in terms of the denial of the dominant discourse of the very basis of this conflict. We examine the issue of the Kilvenmani Massacre in terms of the response of the state as well as the social groups which took part in the massacre. I also examiner the response of Dalit intellectuals and political leaders such as Comrade Tirumavalavan to the growing instances of anti Dalit violence. On Christmas Day 1968, when C N Annadurai was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, an incident took place that is regarded today as emblematic of caste relation in this part of India. A few days prior to this incident, a group of farm workers began agitating for more wages. 1967 had been a particularly bad year for the region because of the sustained drought. The workers of the CPI felt that it was an opportune moment to organize the peasants, particularly the landless pallan and other castes in view of the collapse of the communist led insurrection in the Tanjavur district led by Jeevanandham and other leaders. A day prior to the Kilvenmani Incident one of the petty land owners was assaulted and killed, allegedly by the organized group of landless workers. An armed gang was sent to the *cheri* where the landless laborers resided. However they had by that time taken refuge in a barn along with their wives and children. In a gruesome act of retaliation the building was burnt down killing 44 men, women and 8 children. The DMK government which was in power in the state was reluctant to register the case and even the news of the horrific massacre reached the public only through the questions raised in the Assembly by the CPI MLA of the neighboring Nagapattinam constituency. Left and Secular liberal hagiography sees the Kilvemanni Massacre as a mere class oppressor versus worker issue. In fact the CPM has even appropriated for itself the memorial for the 44 victims of the December 25 Incident and is reluctant to admit the caste identity of the victims. In short, the incident itself has become a bone of contention between those who prefer to see it as the Dravidian Movements ambiguity with regard to the question of Dalit identity and human rights and those who view it in ideological terms.Social conflict is also predicated upon the very morphology and distribution of social groups across the territorial limits of the region. The great historian, Burton Stein has argued that the territorial segmentation, a structural feature of South Indian Tamil society, reinforces the dominance of certain groups in specific regions and sub-regions. The introduction of Panchayati Raj in this kind of a socio-political configuration through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment introduced yet another volatile arena of conflict and violence. * II* *VIOLENCE AND THE STATE* *The Kilvenmani* Incident is just one of a whole litany of violent encounters between socially dominant landed groups and lower status landless and marginal social sodalities such as dalits. After Independence the Tamil region has seen episodes of violent upsurge against dalit societies in alarming propotions. Given below are a few of the more prominent incidents: 1. Mudalukathur Massacre of 1957 2. Melvalavu Massacre of July25,1997 3. Gundupatti Incident of 1998 4. Tambraparini River Massacre of July 23, 1999 5. Kodiyankulam Incident of 31 August, 1995 6. Thinniyan Incident of October 25, 2002 In all these and other incidents the local dominant group was clearly involved in and complicit in acts of unspeakable cruelty and violation of human dignity, and in all these case there was hardly any action/reaction from the state. In one case however, the Tambraparini River Massacre, the then DMK regime was seen as the main instigator of the violence in which 17 people were killed.. The State appointed the Justice Mohan Commission of Inquiry and it camr to the magnificent conclusion that the “police were not at fault”and that the victime drowned because they “did not know how to swim”. The irony of the situation is that the very parties that soundly condemned the violence against the workers of the Majoli Tea Estate are today local allies of the very regime that perpetrated the massacre. Once again this reinforces the point I am arguing that there is considerable ambivalence with regard to the issue of state violence directed against the dalits. The Kudiyankulam Incident fared no better at the hands of the rival ADMK regime. The Gomathinayakam Inquiry declared the police innocent of any act of violence and thereby the state machinery that was deployed so ruthlessly against the dalits was absolved of all blame. It may be pointed out that even in the case of the Kilvenmani Massacre the state was at pains to absolve the perpetrators of any guilt. And the naidu landlord was declared innocent by the Madras high court after a lackadaisical trail. Shri Tirumavalavan,a noted dalit politician of the region has observed. “Only the explanation given by the court for releasing Gopalakrishana Naidu who committed such horrid murders is amusing and strange. It was: It is not possible to accept that a mirasdar who was very highly respected in the society could have involved directly in the murders”. He goes on to say that *without a shred of evidence, and based on this conjecture, the court pronounced its judgement that day*.From this we can say with some conviction that a general consensus with regard to violence against dalits had also infected the judiciary which by 1968 had come under the stress of Dravidian politics. The sad fact that the SC&ST Atrocities Suppression Act in Tamil Nadu has secured so far a single conviction shows that the administrative and political will to enforce compliance is lacking. The introduction of Panchayatiraj government at the local level through the 73rd Amendment has resulted in the opening of yet another level of inter societal violence and there is no let up in the intensity of the attacks. The position of the president of the village governing council inappropriately called the panchayat, after the gandhian metaphor for the Indian version of village democracy,is increasingly becoming a contested one between sections of the dominat castes groups and the dalit groups in the case of reserved seats. It is obvious that a great deal of government contracts are routed through the Panchayats and hence the competition for the post. The murder of Leelavathi, a councilor of Madurai by DMK workers was direct fallout of the war over government funds and local development that ruffled the feathers of vested interests. In this case too the response of the then DMK government was luke warm and no one was either arrested or prosecuted for the murder. Certain features of Dravidian political culture are deeply implicated in the rise of anti-dalit violence in parts of the state. Competitive electoral politics between the DMK and AIDMK has resulted in a situation wherein the two major formations account for nearly 56% of the votes polled, with an average electoral strength ranging from24% to 26% for each of the two parties. This polarized electorate has made it possible for weak political actors like the Congress and the BJP to forge alliances with the two giants of Dravidian politics. Further, the social morphology of the Tamil region, already alluded to with dominant castes and communities concentrated in specific regions of Tamil Nadu such as the vanniyars in the north, the mukkulathors in the south and specific zones in which the kallars and maravars are numerically dominant in areas of Madurai, Puddukkotttai and Ramanathapuram, has provided a fertile soil for the proliferation of caste and clan based political parties. We may add here while the political rhetoric of such parties in couched in the language of egalitarianism with regard to the elites in the areas where they operate, the practice of social and personal discrimination is prevalent in the context of dalit groups. Social domination and the resultant caste violence is predicated upon the situational strategy of asserting equality towards the upper castes and enforcing the ‘inferior” status of the lower castes, particularly that of dalits. Dravidian political ideology has not been able to bridge the yawning chasm between the imagined ideal of social justice and equality and the appalling reality of caste division and hierarchy that operates at the local panchayat levels. The social scene of village Tamil Nadu is riven with the visible symbols of identity and oppression. The flourishing industry of human rights activism has already documented the existence of the “two tumbler” system in most parts of rural Tamil Nadu. The enforcement of the two tumbler system in parts of Madurai and Ramanathapuram and in the vanniyar dominated regions of South Arcot and Dharmapuri districts is a constant source of tension and violence. Along with this there are other visible markers of status that are enforced. In the habitation areas of the dominant castes the dalits are forbidden to wear footwear and the men folk are made to tie their upper cloth round their waists. Such conventions become the cause of violence, when educated youth resist such display of deference to the higher castes they invite serious retribution. The temple festival is yet another arena that generates conflict. In fact the southern districts see a spate of violence particularly during the annual festivals of the *amman** *shrines or clan temples. Status assertions vis-à-vis the higher castes and its negation is another reason for the outbreak of conflict and in such conflicts the local police and the administration side with the dominant groups. Given the highly politicized nature of the society with caste factionalism and party based rivalries any local issue can become the starting point of a caste conflict. The Ministry of Home Affairs in its Annual Report for the year 1996-97 has reported 282 violent castes conflicts in Tamil Nadu, and out of this figure 238 or 84% involved conflict between dalit groups and powerful landed groups such as the Maravars, the Kallars (often clubbed together as Thevars), Nadars, Vanniyars and Pallans and other SC communities. The table given below from the *Justice Mohan Inquiry *Report provides an index of caste violence in contemporary Tamil Nadu: *District* *Number of violent anti-dalit incidents* *Number killed in clashes* Madurai 18 9 3 Theni 41 NA NA Dindigul NA NA NA Virudhanagar 382 12 24 Ramanathapuram 18 2 NA Sivagangai NA NA NA Tirunelveli 60 14 NA Tudikudi 1 1 Nil * * *III PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS AND VIOLENCE* The violence unleashed against Dalit aspirants to the post of President of the Panchayat is symptomatic of the larger issue of dalit empowerment under the Dravidian political dispensation. A problem that considerably complicate the issue is that the Tamil communities referred to as *Adi-dravidas* are themselves divided along lines of hierarchy and there is ethnographic and anecdotal information to show that the practice of social exclusion permeates even to the door step of communities that bear the brunt of anti-dalit violence. Thus arundhitiyars are generally regarded with a degree of socil distance by other members of the dalit communities. In the case of panchayats that are revered for the SC communities the dominant landed groups are quite willing to support an arunditiyar candidate and make him virtually a rubber stamp of the local vested interests. Thus the differences within the dalit communities are exploited by the dominant landed backward caste groups, supported by the political parties across the Dravidian spectrum. Shri P Jaggaiyyan, an* arunditttiyar* who was elected to the Presidentship of Nakkalamuthanpatti in Tirunelveli was killed by the dominant Maravar group when he refused to let his Vice President, a Maravar himself, to preside over the Panchayat meetings. This case has not been solved and the DMK regime is currently trying to arrange a compromise. Similarly, Shri M Servanan, President of Maruthankinaru village Panchayat was killed when he refused to allow the husband of the Panchyat vice president, a kallar, to act as [president in all but name. In this case also no arrest has been made. In Tirulelveli 10 Panchyat presidents have complained to the Government about threat to their lives, and all of them are arundittiyars. The State Government is yet to act. In the case of Shri Chinnan, President of Vakarai village in Dindigul district, even as President he could not occupy his chair and made to sit on a stool when the meetings were conducted. The compromise worked out by the state government when the dalit presidents complain of being threatened or humiliated involved getting the president accept his own subordination to the Vice President from the dominant castes. This unfortunate aspect of Panchayat Raj in Tamil Nadu needs to be investigated further. In the report of Vishwanathan in Frontline of May 5, 2007 is the following observation and it is certainly woth quoting: “The ill treatment meted out to elected dalit panchayat presidents indicates that untouchability is still practiced in Tamil Nadu villages, 60 years after the constitution abolished it.”. We may add that 40 of those 60 years were under the rule of parties representing the forces of landed castes classified in the argot of Tamil Nadu as BCs and MBCs. Therefore we may be right in being cynical about the claims that these parties represent the forces of equality and social justice. It is well worth exploring whether the competitive electoral politics in India, with its first-past-the-winning-post system servers to increase rather than decrease caste tension and its consequent violence. The most horrific case of anti dalit violence engendered by the Panchayat election is the Melavalavu massacre of the dalit president and 6 of his associates on June 29, 1997.Melavalavu was a maravar dominated village that was reserved for the SC caste. Dalits who had earlier filed their nomination for the post of the President of the Panchyat had withdrawn their nomination when intimidated by the locally dominant groups who were also patronized by the ADMK. In spite of booth capturing and other acts of electoral malpractice, Shri K Murugesan was elected President. As has become routine in Tamil Nadu he was prevented from taking charge of his office and offered a representation to the government. A small police picket was posted at the village. Shri M Karunanidhi the Chief Minister of the state was informed of the threat to the lives of dalit presidents but no action was taken. On a bus on the way to Madurai Shri K Murugesan and 6 of his followers were killed in a brutal manner. In the violence that followed several buses of the state transport corporation were burnt. The real cause for tension in the region was the decision of the Government to name a road transport corporation after Shri Veeran Sundranarlingam, a noted dalit leader. In the mayhem that followed caste violence was unleashed all across the southern districts.These instances show quite clearly that caste tension is simmering under the surface and that the political parties exploit cast in order to create disturbances that can be used to generate cast blocs and thereby consolidate the political base. *IV Conclusion* In this paper we have argued that contrary to popular perception, the political mobilization in the Tamil region takes place along caste lines and the Backward caste that form the backbone of the political support base for the 2 dravidian parties are not above using violence in order to generate electoral gains. We have also documented that the social morphology of the state with its layered and concentrated distribution of dominant castes allows for the exploitation of caste as a political resource. It may be said that the shift to proportional representation will considerably reduce the dependence of political parties on organized violence as a strategy for capturing political power. We have examined the several instances of caste violence starting from the Kilvanmani Incident of December 25, 1968 to the more recent instances of such violence and have shown that there is little possibility of anti dalit violence declining as it is predicated upon the very logic of the political parties that compete for power. In a larger theoretical sense we can even argue that the post colonial nation state is in reality an engine of destruction in which innocent lives are lost. © Bahu Virupaksha., all rights reserved.Source: http://bahu-virupaksha.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/04/beyond-kilvenmani-the-dialectics-of-anti-dalit-violence.htm From tasveerghar at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 14:05:58 2009 From: tasveerghar at gmail.com (Tasveer Ghar) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:05:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Greetings; Tea anyone? Message-ID: <484c1050912300035i6faca5fbr1a285ee9844afbb1@mail.gmail.com> Dear friends A very happy new year to all of you from the Tasveer Ghar team. To warm up your new year celebrations, may we invite you for some garam chai vai (hot tea and so on...) Tasveer Ghar presents a brand new visual essay: Chai Why? The Triumph of Tea in India, as Documented in the Priya Paul Collection of Popular Art by Philip Lutgendorf, University of Iowa http://tasveerghar.net/cmsdesk/essay/89/ Philip Lutgendorf takes us through a visual exploration of tea and its popular consumption in India, as depicted in popular advertisements and calendar images, especially from the early 20th century. We hope this brings some warmth into the new year. Please keep visiting Tasveer Ghar's online archive for exciting visual essays about South Asia's popular visual culture. And do write in your comments and feedback about the essays and images. Thanks Sumathi Ramaswamy, Christiane Brosius, Manishita Das, Yousuf Saeed, Suboor Bakht -- http://www.tasveerghar.net From postbodhi at yahoo.co.in Wed Dec 30 14:11:45 2009 From: postbodhi at yahoo.co.in (Bodhisattva Kar) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:11:45 +0530 (IST) Subject: [Reader-list] New Cultural Histories of India: Conference at CSSSC Message-ID: <109310.7655.qm@web8501.mail.in.yahoo.com> Please do come. Apologies for cross-posting!       Conference at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta January 5 – 7, 2010 New Cultural Histories of India     Day One 5 January 2010   10:00 – 10:30 INAUGURAL ADDRESS PARTHA CHATTERJEE   10:30 – 10:45 Tea Break   PANEL 1: WHAT IS NEW? Chair: Partha Chatterjee   10:45 – 11:45 CHRISTOPHER PINNEY, ‘Empire Follows Art’: A Visual and Material History of Modern India Discussant: Tapati Guha-Thakurta   11:45 – 12:45 MOINAK BISWAS, The Database Form and Cultural Histories Discussant: Manas Ray   12:45 – 2:00 Lunch Break   PANEL 2: CIRCULATING CULTURES Chair: Anjan Ghosh   2:00 – 3:00 RAJAN KRISHNAN, MGR-Sivaji: Faciality Machine and the Many Plateaus of Tamil Popular Culture Discussant: Rajarshi Dasgupta   3:00 – 4:00 BODHISATTVA KAR, Cultural Objects?: Heads in the Naga Hills Discussant: Kaushik Ghosh   4:00 – 4:15 Tea Break   4:15 – 5:15 TAPATI GUHA-THAKURTA, Conceits of the Copy: Travelling Replicas of the Past and the Present Discussant: Sanjay Srivastava     Day Two 6 January 2010   PANEL 3: PLOTTING THE POLYGLOT Chair: Sibaji Bandyopadhyay   10:00 – 11:00 FRANCESCA ORSINI, How to Do Multilingual Literary History? Discussant: Rosinka Chaudhuri   11:00 – 11:15 Tea Break   11:15 – 12:15 PRACHI DESHPANDE, Modi in the Colonial Archive: Towards a Cultural History of Scripts? Discussant: Bodhisattva Kar   12:15 – 1:15 ISHITA BANERJEE-DUBE, The Vernacular and the Sacred: On the Making of Modern Oriya Identity Discussant: Samantak Das   1:15 – 2:30 Lunch Break   PANEL 4: SUBJECT TO TEXTS Chair: Keya Dasgupta   2:30 – 3:30 ROSINKA CHAUDHURI, Poet of the Present: The Self-Division of Iswarchandra Gupta (1812-1859) and the Bengali Modern Discussant: Sibaji Bandyopadhyay   3:30 – 4:30 ASHLEY TELLIS, Affirmative Abjection: Exploring the Dalit Subject through Autobiography Discussant: Anirban Das   4:30 – 4:45 Tea Break   4:45 – 5:45 GAUTAM BHADRA, The Bengali Almanacs in Historical Vision: Performances, Images and Reading Practices in 19th and Early 20th-Century Bengal Discussant: Partha Chatterjee     Day Three 7 January 2010   PANEL 5: REGIMES OF LISTENING Chair: Mollica Dastider   10:00 – 11:00 KATHERINE BUTLER-BROWN, Towards a Historiography of Pleasure in Mughal India: Suggestions from Music History Discussant: Amlan Dasgupta   11:00 – 12:00 LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN, Constructing New Subjects: Studying the Politics of Performance in Modern South India Discussant: Rajan Krishnan   12:00 – 12:15 Tea Break   PANEL 6: MAPPING THE CONTEMPORARY Chair: Manabi Majumdar   12:15 – 1:15 SRIRUPA ROY, Channeling Politics: Television News and Democratic Transformation in India Discussant: Abhijit Roy   1:15 – 2:30 Lunch Break   2:30 – 3:30 SANJAY SRIVASTAVA, New Urban Spaces, Post-nationalism and the Making of the Consumer-Citizen in India Discussant: Anjan Ghosh   3:30 – 4:30 KAUSHIK GHOSH, Economies of Anticipation: “Nano” the Story of the Big Small Car Discussant: Priya Sangameswaran   4:30 – 4:45 Tea Break   4:45 – 5:45 Chair: Tapati Guha-Thakurta OPEN DISCUSSION The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. http://in.yahoo.com/ From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 30 14:48:59 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:18:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Art, Power and Single Women In Pakistan" Message-ID: <408265.49123.qm@web57203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Art, Power and Single Women In Pakistan" H M Naqvi 25 December 2009   In Karachi, men might buy art, but it’s the women — many single and young — who control the market   Defying the global downturn in art and perhaps common sense, another gallery opened in Karachi last month, the second in three weeks. Both are run by women.   More intriguing than dynamics of the market is the fact that the entire Pakistani art scene is run by women — single women. Sumbul Khan is a spritely 30-something of vaguely Pathan extract. She returned to Karachi several years ago after completing a masters in art history in the United States. After teaching art history and theory, she pitched a programme on art in Urdu to Indus TV, the first independent channel in Pakistan. After the programme was aired, the head of Indus TV, the legendary Ghazanfar Ali, asked her if she was interested in setting up a gallery in a cove of vacant rooms within the premises of MTV Pakistan (owned, in part, by Indus TV). Khan readily agreed. She named it Poppy Seed.   After knocking down walls, plastering and painting the space, and installing a hardwood floor,  Khan contacted seven mostly up-and-coming artists for a show entitled ‘Moving Image’. The pieces in the show were supposed to “critique the pervasive influence of the moving image in the lives of uncritical audiences.”   Although a few pieces seemed maladroit — there was an installation featuring drips labelled with polysyllabic social ills — the theme mostly managed to fuse disparate styles of the seven artists into theoretical coherence. In any event, the show was well attended and generally well received. Khan seemed quite pleased afterwards. Art Chowk, the second gallery that opened in November, is run by a mother-daughter team who are, in ways, refugees from Dubai’s economic crisis. When the market there had been white hot, the two began a virtual gallery online, sourcing Pakistani art to buyers with deep pockets from the Middle East to Hong Kong. “They had expensive cars,” averred Shakira Masood, “and they wanted expensive art.” After the market went south, Masood moved east. Masood, the mother in the mother-daughter team, is a divorcee and a recognised painter. She says the infrastructure of the art world was dramatically different when she was starting out.   “There were no galleries, no magazines. All of us had second jobs.” In the old days, she continued, “we did it by pure will.”   When asked how the Pakistani art world is run by women, she replied, “I do find it strange but then 51 per cent of Pakistanis are women. My landlady is a woman.” Buyers and collectors, she noted, are mostly men.   Art Chowk caters to young urban professionals whose sensibilities have been shaped by a different milieu than those of an earlier generation. Art exhibits are now covered by TV channels, reviewed in magazines, critiqued in journals like Nukta (which, of course, is edited by a woman). There are dedicated art schools and even an art collective: run by prominent contemporary artists including Adeela Suleman and Naiza Khan, VASL funds workshops, seminars, and residencies. As a result, a cultural shift has taken place. There are, for instance, two if not three openings a week in the city.   Karachi’s two major commercial galleries, Canvas and Chowkandi, hold exhibitions like clockwork. The former is owned and operated by Sameera Raja, a chic, no-nonsense single mother, while the latter is owned and operated by Zohra Hussain, a widower and veritable sari-clad institution. Both are pioneers; both have endured.   But perhaps the most innovative gallery in Karachi is a not a commercial venture. Tucked away in a quiet canton of the city, V M is financed by the Rangoonwalla Trust and run by Riffat Alvi, an old-school artist who often employs new-fangled techniques. Her recent work at Canvas strangely featured smoke on paper.   She certainly thinks about  curatorial practice in a novel way. In a recent show entitled ‘Size Does Matter’, she encouraged four emerging artists who don’t work with scale to work with scale. The results were spectacular. Another show inspired by Lollywood movie billboards travelled to Green Cardamom, a gallery in London. And in the first week of December, doors opened to the annual, VASL-sponsored Taza Tareen exhibition, featuring the work of five recent art school grads, including three women.   Women, V M’s Alvi whimsically maintains, are more organised than men. Although that might be correct, does organisational acumen or ‘pure will’ explain why women run the art scene? A critic suggests otherwise: the single women who now run things probably found refuge in art at a time when art was not considered a serious venture or
vocation. Those who had persevered, propelled by pure will, serious-mindedness and brisk business, have become influential figures, arbiters of taste, doyennes.   Musing on the phenomenon, however, Raja of Canvas declaimed, “Women are prettier, smarter, have better social skills and know how to get things done.”   http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=diversions&xfile=data/diversions/2009/December/diversions_December28.xml       From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Dec 30 15:56:38 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:26:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Kashmiri florist gets Stree Shakti Award" Message-ID: <29753.71364.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Kashmiri florist gets Stree Shakti Award" Afsana Rashid Srinagar, December 29   Nusrat Jahan Ara, a Kashmiri florist, is among eight women entrepreneurs who have been recently conferred with the TATA TiE Stree Shakti Award by the Tata Group and the TiE Mumbai chapter.   This award is given to outstanding women entrepreneurs across the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise). These awards are given to recognise the growing aspiring role of Indian women in business and comprise a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, each.   “It is great to receive the award. It is encouraging for entrepreneurship. I joined the field that was new, but my family supported me throughout. Without their support I may not have succeeded in getting this position,” said Nusrat.   Nusrat (petals agritech) received the award under the small enterprise category at a function in Mumbai recently. Her work was highly appreciated. Thirtyfour-year-old Nusrat is regarded as the founder of cut flower industry in the state. She entered cut flower business in 2000 with literally no financial support. Now, she is recognised as the most successful women entrepreneur in the Valley.   With her determination, she has established herself as a successful businesswoman with the annual turnover of her business unit touching Rs 2 crore. She now owns the state franchise of the country’s largest chain of fresh flower stores ‘Petals n Ferns’.   “As a Pan India initiative, the programme aims at connecting women entrepreneurs from different socio-economic strata and celebrate inspiring women entrepreneurs in the country,” believe the organisers.   A graduate in computer applications, Nusrat comes from Dadoora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. She broke all odds and went on to set out an example. She started a business that was unheard in Kashmir. “I wanted to start a business that was new. Cut flower was the best option”.   The Grassroot Entrepreurship Monitor (GEM), commissioned and conducted by Indian consulting group, identified the needs of women entrepreneurs across three segments that is, aspiring, grassroots and mid rung across the country.   According to a press release, the conference is part of a larger platform. “The Tata TIE Stree Shakti seeks to reflect the growing role of women in Indian entrepreneurial eco-system and enabling aspiring businesswomen to realise their dream of running own enterprise successfully through educational programmes”.   http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091230/jkplus.htm#7   From jalvaer at yahoo.com Wed Dec 30 16:25:47 2009 From: jalvaer at yahoo.com (jesper alvaer) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:55:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] "Kashmiri florist gets Stree Shakti Award" In-Reply-To: <29753.71364.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <29753.71364.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <470584.94078.qm@web37405.mail.mud.yahoo.com> ----- Original Message ---- From: Kshmendra Kaul To: sarai list Sent: Wed, December 30, 2009 11:26:38 AM Subject: [Reader-list] "Kashmiri florist gets Stree Shakti Award" "Kashmiri florist gets Stree Shakti Award" Afsana Rashid Srinagar, December 29 Nusrat Jahan Ara, a Kashmiri florist, is among eight women entrepreneurs who have been recently conferred with the TATA TiE Stree Shakti Award by the Tata Group and the TiE Mumbai chapter. This award is given to outstanding women entrepreneurs across the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise). These awards are given to recognise the growing aspiring role of Indian women in business and comprise a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, each. “It is great to receive the award. It is encouraging for entrepreneurship. I joined the field that was new, but my family supported me throughout. Without their support I may not have succeeded in getting this position,” said Nusrat. Nusrat (petals agritech) received the award under the small enterprise category at a function in Mumbai recently. Her work was highly appreciated. Thirtyfour-year-old Nusrat is regarded as the founder of cut flower industry in the state. She entered cut flower business in 2000 with literally no financial support. Now, she is recognised as the most successful women entrepreneur in the Valley. With her determination, she has established herself as a successful businesswoman with the annual turnover of her business unit touching Rs 2 crore. She now owns the state franchise of the country’s largest chain of fresh flower stores ‘Petals n Ferns’. “As a Pan India initiative, the programme aims at connecting women entrepreneurs from different socio-economic strata and celebrate inspiring women entrepreneurs in the country,” believe the organisers. A graduate in computer applications, Nusrat comes from Dadoora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. She broke all odds and went on to set out an example. She started a business that was unheard in Kashmir. “I wanted to start a business that was new. Cut flower was the best option”. The Grassroot Entrepreurship Monitor (GEM), commissioned and conducted by Indian consulting group, identified the needs of women entrepreneurs across three segments that is, aspiring, grassroots and mid rung across the country. According to a press release, the conference is part of a larger platform. “The Tata TIE Stree Shakti seeks to reflect the growing role of women in Indian entrepreneurial eco-system and enabling aspiring businesswomen to realise their dream of running own enterprise successfully through educational programmes”. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091230/jkplus.htm#7 _________________________________________ 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 aliens at dataone.in Wed Dec 30 17:15:58 2009 From: aliens at dataone.in (Bipin) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:15:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] no response Message-ID: <000301ca8945$a7ed0e80$f7c72b80$@in> Dear Sir, Since last 1 week, I am not receiving mail post from members. Look into the matter. thanks Bipin Trivedi From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 20:03:32 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:03:32 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Library in Thailand built from local materials Message-ID: http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/8585/rintala-eggertsson-architects-library-in-thailand.html From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 20:26:36 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:26:36 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The Little Green e-book Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Anand Vijayan the Little Green e-Book: http://www.morganstanley.com/about/community/littlegreenebook/ needs adobe flash player.. can't find a pdf version... :-( From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Wed Dec 30 20:39:35 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:39:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Jaipur Literature Festival, India: Jan 21 to 25, 2010 Message-ID: Details here: http://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/program/ From chandni.parekh at gmail.com Thu Dec 31 12:17:11 2009 From: chandni.parekh at gmail.com (Chandni Parekh) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:17:11 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Seeking help for a research project on railway hawkers Message-ID: From: "rachel dsilva" > Dear Karmayog, I, Rachel D’silva am a student of Mass Media at St.Xavier’s College, Mumbai. For my project on Contemporary Issues I have chosen to do a seminar paper on Railway Hawkers (Particularly those that hawk their wares on trains in the city of Mumbai). I have gone through substantial material on Street Vendors (hawkers on streets) which has helped me in the ground work. At the moment I need to speak to a person well versed with this or having worked with Train Hawkers. I will be grateful if Karmayog could put me through to some of their contacts. I am looking forward to your help. Thanking you in anticipation. Rachel D’silva Mob-9975231198 Res Address-F/3, Prabhu Kripa Nagar Vasai(w) 401202 From babuubab at gmail.com Thu Dec 31 12:33:37 2009 From: babuubab at gmail.com (SUNDARA BABU) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:33:37 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Seeking help for a research project on railway hawkers In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <66ec95310912302303y6cce1699m134cb388589364a4@mail.gmail.com> Chandni/Rachel, You can contact/write to Shri Shaktiman Ghosh, General Secretary of National Hawkers Federation for assistance. He is a very committed, knowledgeable and resourceful person on this topic. regards, Sundara Babu 2009/12/31 Chandni Parekh > From: "rachel dsilva" > > > Dear Karmayog, > > I, Rachel D’silva am a student of Mass Media at St.Xavier’s College, > Mumbai. > > For my project on Contemporary Issues I have chosen to do a seminar > paper on Railway Hawkers (Particularly those that hawk their wares on > trains in the city of Mumbai). > > I have gone through substantial material on Street Vendors (hawkers on > streets) which has helped me in the ground work. > > At the moment I need to speak to a person well versed with this or > having worked with Train Hawkers. > > I will be grateful if Karmayog could put me through to some of their > contacts. > > I am looking forward to your help. > Thanking you in anticipation. > > Rachel D’silva > Mob-9975231198 > Res Address-F/3, Prabhu Kripa Nagar > Vasai(w) 401202 > _________________________________________ > 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/> -- SUNDARA BABU NAGAPPAN From jeebesh at sarai.net Thu Dec 31 13:55:49 2009 From: jeebesh at sarai.net (Jeebesh) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:55:49 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] ChotuKool Message-ID: <221CEA37-8A2B-4983-9024-F04208DD2AC4@sarai.net> ChotuKool: the $69 fridge for rural India http://www.gizmag.com/refridgerator-rural-india-chotukool/13680/ From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Thu Dec 31 14:07:38 2009 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:07:38 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Vacancy for Innovation Associate at Source for Change Message-ID: Details here: https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByLvResLd-d0ZmQ4NGIyNmMtZDVmZC00MDYyLWEyMzEtMTI1OGRhZTk2Zjg4&hl=en From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Thu Dec 31 16:52:02 2009 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:22:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Reader-list] Kashmir Festival "Shuhul Taaph" Concludes in Delhi Message-ID: <653665.30157.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Kashmir Festival "Shuhul Taaph" Concludes in Delhi (on 27/12/09 ???) Kashmir Observer   New Delhi- A two day Kashmiri festival “Shuhul Taaph” concluded here with an exciting performance by the cultural troupe of the Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Academy. The hall was jam-packed last night at the Lal Ded Centre and emotional scenes were witnessed after people watched the performance of more than 40 artists. There were many moist eyes and emotional scenes were witnessed in the Hall as the troupe brought to the fore the glory of Kashmiri culture. The team led by the young and dynamic secretary of the Cultural Academy Zafar Iqbal Manhas received a standing ovation from the audience at the end of the presentation. Manhas announced that Academy will continue its efforts to showcase the rich and diverse culture of Kashmir across India. He urged the people to come forward and join cultural dialogue to bridge the gap among different communities in the wake of turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir state.  Santoor Maestro Abahy Rustum Sopori and Noted Sufi Singer Dhananjay Kaul earned great applause from the audience during their performances in the two day event, organized by Kashmir Education, Culture and Science Society in South Delhi in close ollaboration with the Cultural Academy. The musical part of the festival was dedicated to legendry singer Ghulam Hasan Sofi, who passed away recently. Painting exhibition depicting the evolution of Kashmiri Schools of Paintings was another important highlight of the event .Art works of 20 painters from Kashmir including those of Veer Munshi, Mir Imtiyaz, Shabir Santosh and P N Kachru were part of this exhibition which was applauded by the large number people particularly art lovers and artists from other parts of the country. This section of the festival was dedicated to G R Santosh and Bansi Parimoo two prominent painters who passed away in the last 20 years. A mehfil-i Mushaira was also organised in which prominent poets including Fayaz Dilber, Vijay Saqi and Balkrishan Sanyasi participated. The first Autobiography in Kashmiri titled Shej Wath by celebrated poet and author Moti Lal Saqi was also released on the occasion. In his book Saqi deals at length on political upheavals in Kashmir apart from his personnel life in which he has witnessed an extreme poverty and deprivation. Secretary Cultural Academy Zafar Iqbal and the Secretary Culture, GOI, Jawahir Scircar were the chief guests on the occasion who also released Academy's calendar. Speaking on the occasion Secretary Culture Mr. Scircar assured all help and support to the NGO's from his ministry for promoting Kashmiri Culture and literature. He said that are specific schemes with his ministry for the promotion culture and urged the Cultural Academy and other NGO'S including KECSS to come forward with the proposals in this regard. Three prominent personalities including S N Bhat Haleem Poet and broadcaster, Dr. Sushil Razdan noted neurologist and Dr R N K Bamzaie an expert scientist on genome were conferred with the prestigious KECSS Awards for their outstanding contribution to the respective fields. Secretary Bio Technology Dr. M K Bhan and secretary Cultural Academy Zafer Iqbal Manhas presented the awards amidst huge applause from the audience. The two day festival was not only an attraction for the Kashmir people alone but also many prominent personalities including three time Green Oscar Winner Mike Pandey, Noted Film Maker Muzaffar Ali and several ambassadors among others.     http://www.kashmirobserver.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4028:kashmir-festival-shuhul-taaph-concludes-in-delhi&catid=3:regional-news&Itemid=4   From anoopkheri at gmail.com Thu Dec 31 18:03:18 2009 From: anoopkheri at gmail.com (anoop kumar) Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:03:18 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The Day We Defeated Brahminism: The Battle of Bhima Koregaon: 1st January, 1818 Message-ID: The Day We Defeated Brahminism *The Battle of Bhima Koregaon: 1st January, 1818* By *Pardeep Singh Attri* *“If we wish to be free, we must fight. Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” – Patrick Henry (March, 1775)* [image: bhima-koregaon1] Bhima Koregaon Pillar: Honouring the Bravery of Untouchable Soldiers History of India is nothing but the struggle between untouchables and so called upper castes. However the Indian historians have always misled us by not showing the true face of Indian History. The glorious victory of few hundred untouchable soldiers over numerically superior Peshwa’s army in the battle of Koregaon, fought on 1st January, 1818, is one such chapter in Indian history whose significance has been carefully hidden. On that day, when many were busy celebrating the new year, a small force of 500 mahar (an untouchable caste in Maharashtra) soldiers in the British army were preparing for a war against the most brutal Indian state of that times – Brahmin Peshwa rulers of Pune, Maharashtra. In the history books, this battle is considered an important one and is known as second Anglo-Maratha war that resulted in the total destruction of Peshwa kingdom and sealed the victory of British Empire in India. However, there is a different historical dimension to this war that all of us need to be aware of. Read more… » -- "Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Obama could run, Obama ran so your children can fly"