From lawrence at altlawforum.org Thu Jul 1 13:26:58 2010 From: lawrence at altlawforum.org (Lawrence Liang) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 13:26:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Extension of deadline for submission of papers for Lassnet 2010 Message-ID: Dear All, On the requests of a number of people, the deadline for submissions of abstracts for papers and panels for the Second Law and Social Sciences Research Network (LASSnet) Conference to be held in Pune from December 27th - 30th, 2010 has been postponed to July 31st, 2010. Please send in your abstracts to Siddharth or Sruti at lassnet2010 at gmail.com. There wont be further extensions. Please help us bring a closure to this process by sending in your abstracts in time. Please forward this mail. Many thanks. Siddharth and Pratiksha CALL FOR PAPERS LASSnet 2010: Siting Law Second Conference of the Law and Social Sciences Research Network (LASSnet) DECEMBER 27-30, 2010 Venue: Foundation for Liberal and Management Education (FLAME), Pune, India The Law and Social Science Research Network (LASSnet) was established in 2007 to bring together scholars, lawyers and doctoral researchers engaged in the research and teaching of issues connected with the law in different social sciences in contemporary South Asian contexts. The idea was to create a common forum for the exchange of ideas, work, materials, pedagogies and aspirations from a range of different institutional locations and theoretical frameworks. Given how much of our understanding of the law in South Asia has been shaped by the experience of social movements, we also hoped to provide a space in which activists, legal practitioners, and academics of all stripes could get together to share experiences and reflections. The creative tensions that emerged from such conversations, we felt, might lead to new agendas for both research and practice in the future. The inaugural LASS conference was held at the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawarharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in January 2009. In the inaugural conference of LASSnet, we saw a number of conversations across disciplines among legal scholars, practitioners, activists, anthropologists, historians, philosophers, social theorists, political scientists, economists and science and technology scholars. For the second edition of the LASSnet conference we have chosen to continue with such inter-disciplinary excavations, and to venture further afield. By focussing on the multiple sites of law we seek to open out ways of thinking about the social life of law and legality and its relation to questions of violence and injustice in South Asia. We recognize that the project of modern law emerged through the universalizing of a particular form of rationality and established itself in a large part of the world through the violent history of colonialism. The project of law and the project of modernity often became synonymous, and legal scholarship also tended to reproduce this relationship. We are therefore interested in enquiries that critique monolithic forms of legal rationality. If the project of critiquing is to have any relevance, it is in its ability to conjure possibilities and alternatives that have remained unimagined. Thus another way of thinking about the relationship between law and the social sciences would be through the metaphor of ‘sighting law’, which invites us to look at a range of social practices which have either been marginalized as custom or dismissed as affect and hence deemed irrelevant to legal theory. To be attentive to the multiple sites of law is also to be attentive to the role played by the social sciences - particularly anthropology and history- in opening out the way we think of law as a cultural and not merely as a legal process. LASSnet seeks to extend the ways in which the law can be ‘cited’ in other disciplines, and we hope that the sub themes of this edition of the conference allows us to collectively explore the diversity of forms that may exist, both within the formal legal structure as well as outside it. The routes which social scientists and legal scholars took to the sites of law, and the methodologies that they developed have traditionally been accounted for in terms of their differences. We wish to see this difference as being precisely the common ground on which we stand, and as the basis on which we can cite scholarship about legal experience differently. CONFERENCE SUB-THEMES While the Steering Committee will make its selection from as wide a basis as possible, we would particularly welcome presentations that address the following themes, which we see as especially interesting to consider in the contemporary South Asian context. Please note that the sub-themes are merely illustrative of the goals of the conference and are not exhaustive. 1. Law’s Publics: Counter legalities and Counter Publics The law often claims to have an unmediated access to the public, for instance in Public Interest Litigation or in the determination of what counts as legitimate public purpose. Struggles for the recognition of socio-economic rights and dignity have often been premised on the claimants being recognized as legitimate public actors. What role is played by the law in the constitution of a public, and what role is played by the notion of a public in thinking about the legitimacy of the law? Conversely, what role is played by the law in the constitution of the hybrid realm of public-private entities which facilitate the flows of a globalised capital? Is the valorized language of illegality the only means of expressing resistance to law, or can political struggles, marked by their inability to be properly constituted in the sphere of liberal legality, resurface as counter publics who nevertheless stake a claim to legitimacy? In a time of ever more inventive forms of neo-liberal violence, how can counter-publics avoid capture by a legal apparatus intent on re-territorialising the terrain of the political? 2. Law like Love: Law and Affect The ‘affective turn’ in the social sciences is beginning to speak to legal debates. How do we begin to undertake a genealogy of the affective life of law in which reason and unreason intermingle? To explore the affective life of law is to understand the ‘body of law’ not merely as an archive of legal judgments, but to engage seriously with ideas of corporeality in law, and to acknowledge that the power of law emanates as much from its affective force as its symbolic power. How does the law deal with this messy world of affect and emotion, and what are the ways through which inter disciplinary scholarship can redress the historic disavowal of affect in legal scholarship? 3. The Careers of Constitutionalism in South Asia Constitutions as a genre have deep roots within the histories of European universalism. The emergence and experience of postcolonial transformative constitutions, marked by a different relation to questions of justice, time and memory, have significantly altered this universal narrative. How do we account for the various histories of this transformative, and even insurgent constitutionalism? At the same time there seems to be a tension between the constitution as a text of governance and text of rights. How do we critically uncover other histories and sites through which we can understand the careers of constitutionalism in South Asia? Finally, how does contemporary constitutional theory respond to the challenges posed by the emergence of the new global economic constitutionalism? 4. Theatres of Justice Living as we do in an age saturated by hyper-science and hyper-media, we have a plurality of places in which legal norms are produced. The blurring of the lines between media, science and culture makes it imperativefor us to explore the new and emerging sites of legal meaning. There is sometimes even a blurring of these spaces, as evidenced in various reality TV shows that mimic the structure of the courts. How for instance do ideas of expertise move from the laboratory to the court and back? How do images of legality produced in a studio serve as the basis of a new legal imagination? How are we to understand these multiple scenes of the law, in which the formal judicial process appears as one of the many competing actors in the theatres of justice? INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION In keeping with the eclectic spirit of LASSnet, we welcome submissions that address concerns of the LASSnet broadly, including papers, panels, and presentations on the four sub-themes detailed above. We welcome proposals for panels as well as for individual paper presentations. Panel proposals: Panel coordinators should submit a panel description of 300 words as well as a proposed list of panelists (ideally no more than four per panel). The panel description should be accompanied by individual paper proposals for each panelist, following the instructions below. Coordinators may also choose to propose a chair or discussant for the panel as a whole. Individual papers: Paper abstracts (300 words) should be submitted to Siddharth Narrain and Sruti Chaganti at lassnet2010 at gmail.com. Abstracts may be in Word, WordPerfect, or RTF formats, following this order: author(s), affiliation, email address, title of abstract, body of abstract. Abstracts should be submitted no later than July 1, 2010. We will get back to you within eight weeks of receiving an abstract. If an abstract is accepted for the conference, a full draft paper should be submitted to the conference secretariat by November 15, 2010 and distributed to the discussant and fellow panel members no later than December 01, 2010. In the case of pre-formed panels, this will be the responsibility of the Panel Coordinator. The maximum duration of individual presentations within each panel will be 20 minutes. Further announcements about registration, funding and venue related details will be made available at www.lassnet.blogspot.com and (in due course) www.lassnet.org. Please contact Siddharth Narrain or Sruti Chaganti (lassnet2010 at gmail.com) for additional information. STEERING COMMITTEE FOR LASSnet 2010: Lawrence Liang (lawrence at altlawforum.org), Alternative Law Forum (ALF) (www.altlawforum.org) Siddharth Narrain (siddharth.narrain at gmail.com), ALF Sitharamam Kakarala (ram at cscs.res.in), Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS) (www.cscsarchive.org) Sruti Chaganti (sruti at cscs.res.in), CSCS Maya Dodd (mayadodd at gmail.com), Foundation for Liberal and Management Education (FLAME), Pune (www.flame.edu.in) Pratiksha Baxi [LASSnet anchor] (Pratiksha.Baxi at gmail.com), Centre for the Study of Law and Governance (CSLG), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Shrimoyee Ghosh (shrimoyee at gmail.com), CSLG, JNU Stewart Motha (S.Motha at kent.ac.uk), Kent Law School, UK Arudra Burra (arudraburra at yahoo.co.in), Princeton University, US Brenna Bhandar (brenna.bhandar at gmail.com), Kent Law School, UK Anuj Bhuwania (anujbhuwania at gmail.com), Columbia University, US -- Pratiksha Baxi Assistant Professor, Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi - 110067. India. Pratiksha.Baxi at gmail.com http://www.jnu.ac.in/CSLG A 51 Law Apartments Karkardooma Delhi 110092 Landline [H]: 00-11-26741248, 22379471 W: 26704790 -- Law and Social Sciences Research Network, Anchored by the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi lassnet at gmail.com http://lassnet.blogspot.com/ www.lassnet.org -- Alternative Law Forum 122/4 Infantry Road Opposite Infantry Wedding House Bangalore 560001 Phone 22868757/22865757 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "alfexternal" group. To post to this group, send email to alfexternal at googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to alfexternal+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/alfexternal?hl=en. From rama.sangye at gmail.com Thu Jul 1 14:09:47 2010 From: rama.sangye at gmail.com (V Ramaswamy) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 14:09:47 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The Golden Gandhi Statue from America Message-ID: Dear Friends A few years ago I had posted a message about having taken up translating the short fiction of the Bengali anti-establishment writer, Subimal Misra. A collection of stories by Subimal Misra - written in the late 60s and early 70s - translated by me is being published by HarperCollins India, and is due for release soon. The book is titled: The Golden Gandhi Statue from America: Early Stories >From the back cover: "In translating Misra, Ramaswamy has given a significant writer, as well as an extraordinary phase in Bengali literature, a new lease of life ... metculously crafted and fluid." - Amit Chaudhuri 'Misra is one of the unsung heroes of contemporary Indian fiction and finally here is translation that matches the master's raw, searing prose and catches beautifully the black humour and modern cruelty of the original." - Ruchir Joshi Thank you for your attention. Best regards V Ramaswamy Calcutta From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Thu Jul 1 15:57:30 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 03:27:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] The town that gave up bottled water Message-ID: <205024.28439.qm@web57208.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Very interesting.   Might not be even concievable to do in most of India where, in most places, not only is the quality of tapped water highly suspect but even the 'available from nature' sources of water are highly contaminated. And then there are places where water is just not available.   What is educative is that there are places where Plastic Bottles require a Deposit to be paid for them, kind of forcing the customer to return the empty bottle which can be sent for recycling.  In India there is a problem about that too. Manufacturers of bottled water/drinks ask for empty bottles to be destroyed so that they cannot be used for bottling of 'fakes'    Kshmendra     "Viewpoint: Concord, you can give up bottled water" Wednesday, 30 June 2010   A town meeting in Concord, Massachusetts recently voted in favour of banning bottled water from 1 January.   CONCORD'S DECISION The town meeting in April voted to ban bottled water at the urging of 82-year-old Jean Hill Ms Hill began her campaign after a grandson told her about a vast area of plastic waste in the Pacific Town officials say a ban would be hard to enforce, and want advice from the state's attorney general The bottled water industry has threatened to sue, if the ban is put into effect   Here Huw Kingston from Bundanoon, Australia - the first town in the world to go bottled-water-free - offers encouragement.   Hello all Concord residents.   I write to you from Bundanoon, a small town in Australia, a couple of hours south of Sydney. Some of you may know that last year we became the first town in the world to stop selling bottled water.   We called our initiative Bundy On Tap. We're a bit smaller than Concord with a population of about 2,000. We're a town situated on the edge of a huge national park and a town that depends upon tourism.   Last year I had the idea for the town to voluntarily give up the sale of bottled water. We had a well-informed community, given that we'd been fighting a water extraction plant for some years (a company wanted to truck 50 million litres a year from our aquifer to Sydney to stick in plastic bottles and then truck it around the country).   Free water Almost 12 months ago, we held a community meeting to look at how we could do it. It turned into the largest community meeting ever in our small town and resulted in a 355 to 1 vote in favour of getting rid of bottled water.   We did this by convincing the local stores that they'd do better without bottled water. That the sale of refillable bottles, the increased tourism and increased support (by way of dollars across the counter) from the local community would more than make up for any loss of revenue.   Our plan was to make public drinking water more available than ever before.   We did this by installing four beautiful refill stations and water fountains across the town, including one at our local primary school.   Also, many businesses installed chilled, filtered water units in their stores, cafes etc. Bundanoon officially went bottled-water-free on 26 September last year, on a day of great celebration for all ages.   We ran bottled-water-free events such as our big Scottish festival, with 15,000 visitors. Free water was on hand from "water bars" at the festival and from mobile backpacks dispensing chilled water to fill people's bottles or from paper cups. So easy.   Sending a message What we didn't account for was the massive worldwide coverage our plan received. Just about every major media outlet across the world covered the story. I did over 200 interviews in two days and town was crawling with TV crews from across the world.   We had touched a nerve - a small community sending a message upwards.   A message about the environment and a message about people making the right choices for themselves. Our state government followed by announcing the banning of bottled water that same day in all government premises.   We received hundreds of messages of support from across the world. Dozens of communities and municipalities have asked advice on how to reduce their bottled water consumption.   The bottled water industry was not very happy (of course) and has tried various initiatives to try to stop the bandwagon rolling on.   But the movement grows, and you, good people of Concord, are part of it.   To succeed you must maintain the drive. (I'm thinking Jean Hill will not waver.)   You must understand that the industry may try to unsettle you and you must, above all, focus on having good public water sources on the streets and in the parks.   With this, the argument that you are somehow forcing people to drink "sugary" drinks fails completely. If you can look down the main street of Concord and see a water fountain or two then you are on the right track.   No 'ban' Tourists will love it, locals will love it. Have available refillable bottles in your stores and cafes.   In Bundanoon we didn't actually "ban" bottled water. We have no legislation on it, no regulation. It is voluntary.   In bigger towns such voluntary action becomes harder. It's harder to get every business on side. But remember, by just having good public water sources, you will automatically reduce the amount of bottled water sold.   You will impact upon this most crazy and environmentally destructive of products - a product that is perhaps the ultimate manifestation of the consumer age. Selling people what they already can have almost for free - in bottles produced from oil, 70% of which are never recycled.   So next Tuesday, 6 July, we gather again in our community hall for an anniversary party to celebrate a huge year for our small town.   We will tell stories from around the world. Of the Facebook Page in Belgium with 3,000 members supporting a plan to make "I Bundanoon" a verb. Of school children in France learning of Bundanoon in their school books.   Of the last bottles of bottled water from Bundanoon turning up for sale on eBay. We'll raise a glass of beautiful Bundy on Tap to Jean Hill and all you Concord residents. I'm sure you've got the bottle Concord. Go for it.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10444394.stm     From monica at sarai.net Thu Jul 1 17:06:39 2010 From: monica at sarai.net (Monica Narula) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 07:36:39 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] Invisible yellow Message-ID: <4C4576D2-56EA-4D47-98B9-ED51FED1FB03@sarai.net> http://www.seeingyellow.com/ "When you print on a color laser printer, it's likely that you are also printing a pattern of invisible yellow dots. These marks exist to allow the printer companies and governments to track and identify you -- presumably as a way to combat money counterfeiting. When one person asked his printer manufacturer about turning off the tracking dots, Secret Service agents showed up at his door several days later." Read more at link. Monica Narula Raqs Media Collective Sarai-CSDS www.raqsmediacollective.net www.sarai.net From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Thu Jul 1 23:36:09 2010 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 23:36:09 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Arctic ice Message-ID: Sobering info from the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre. Naga May 2010 compared to past years Average ice extent for May 2010 was 480,000 square kilometers (185,000 square miles) greater than the record low for May, observed in 2006, and 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles) below the average extent for the month. The linear rate of decline for May over the 1979 to 2010 period is now -2.41% per decade. The rate of decline through the month of May was the fastest in the satellite record; the previous year with the fastest daily rate of decline in May was 1980. By the end of the month, extent fell near the level recorded in 2006, the lowest in the satellite record for the end of May. Despite the rapid decline through May, average ice extent for the month was only the ninth lowest in the satellite record. Persistent warmth in the Arctic Arctic air temperatures averaged for May were above normal, continuing the temperature trend that has persisted since last winter. Temperatures were 2 to 5 degrees Celsius (4 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit) above average across much of the Arctic Ocean. A strong anticyclone centered over the Beaufort Sea produced southerly winds along the shores of Siberia (in the Laptev and East Siberian seas), resulting in warmer-than-average temperatures in this area. The Canadian Arctic Islands were an exception to the general trend, with temperatures slightly cooler than average over much of the region. From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Thu Jul 1 23:55:26 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 23:55:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 6 Message-ID: Hi I would not be able to put articles regularly, busy as I am with my schedule. I would try and put up articles as and when I can. Rakesh Article Theme: The Excesses of Mining Source: Frontline Date: *Volume 27 - Issue 14 :: Jul. 03-16, 2010* Link: http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20100716271400400.htm Article Content: *COVER STORY* * Plunder & profit * VENKITESH RAMAKRISHNAN * Indiscriminate and illegal mining, aided by the corporate-political nexus, causes extensive damage to livelihoods and the environment. * ON June 16, the Government of India constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to address the issues thrown up by the draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2010, formulated by the Ministry of Mines. The GoM was set up ostensibly to look into the sharp differences among key Ministries such as Law and Steel over the draft Bill, but the sequence of events that led to its formation brought into focus the myriad problems in the mining sector. Experts and observers are unanimous in pointing out the contrasting perceptions and conflicting interests within the government and outside that dominate this sector, leading to lax or near-absent regulatory mechanisms, which in turn cause environmental degradation and large-scale displacement of people. In this chaotic situation, corporates and other business-industrial entities thrive, pursuing legal, extralegal and illegal mining or a combination of all three. This context, characterised by the unbridled pursuit of wealth by a few individuals and organisations at enormous environmental, social and human cost, has also led to the growing alienation of tribal and other indigenous people in the mining areas and to extensive Maoist penetration of these localities. It is a moot question whether the GoM will be able to address this overall context. For, instances abound where the very agencies responsible for bringing in regulation and ensuring its compliance have been found to dither either by design or on account of negligence. Barely three weeks before the GoM was formed, the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Orissa was asked by the Supreme Court to explain why it had allowed 215 of its 341 working mines to operate without statutory government clearances or even a proper mining plan. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) set up by the apex court to look into complaints about these mines was the one that came up with this piece of information in its report. The Orissa government is not alone in this criminal negligence to ensure that rules and regulations are followed. A number of government agencies have estimated that there are about 15,000 illegal mines spread across the country as against 8,700 legal mines. In several parts of the country, the boundaries between legal and illegal mining merge seamlessly. In such situations, an individual or a corporate entity engages both in legal mining with approvals and licences, and in illegal mining, more often than not with political and bureaucratic patronage. A case of seamless merger of legal and illegal mining was unravelled when Madhu Koda, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, was arrested in connection with a Rs.4,300-crore scam. More blatantly, the Gali Reddy brothers – Karunakara Reddy, Janardhana Reddy and Somashekhara Reddy – of Bellary district in Karnataka developed their own political clout in the State and in Andhra Pradesh with the wealth gained from aggressive mining. Karunakara Reddy and Janardhana Reddy are now Ministers in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka. They had tremendous influence over the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy-led Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, too. * Breach of obligations * A recent study by Amnesty International on the Vedanta group's operations in Orissa – the construction of the Lanjigarh alumina refinery and prospective mining of the adjacent Niyamgiri hills – asserted that both the State and the Central government had “breached obligations to respect and protect the human rights of the Dongria Kondh and other communities affected by mining and refinery projects”. It also pointed out that though the Orissa government and its pollution control board had undertaken regular monitoring of the refinery, they had failed to enforce laws to prevent the contamination or pollution of water and air, leading to violations of the right to water and health of the affected communities. In Chhattisgarh, the Raman Singh-led BJP government is said to have scrapped in 2006 a proposal for an elephant reserve in order to facilitate coal mining by a number of industrial houses. The proposal was scrapped after it was found out that about 100 square kilometres of a coal block fell within the proposed reserve. Ironically, the elephant reserve was originally conceived to house elephants migrating from Jharkhand and Orissa on account of the increase in mining in those States. The scale of political and bureaucratic assistance provided to mining corporates and their associates is perplexing in many cases. In Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district, which is a major producer of the Alphonso variety of mango, a government-sponsored study on the environmental impact of a thermal power station being set up by a steel major ruled out any hazard from the plant to mango orchards. It even stated that orchards near major roads with heavy vehicular traffic seemed to be healthier than those situated further away and suggested that the emissions from the thermal plant may actually improve the plantations in its vicinity. The impact of wanton support to individual and corporate entities involved in mining throughout the country has been delineated at length in “Rich Lands, Poor People”, a seminal report brought out by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2008. The extensively researched report addressed the issue of mining in different States and its impact on the environment and people. * Devastation, displacement * The report presented a horrific picture of the devastation brought about by mining in the country. It pointed out that in the first four and a half decades of Independence mining had displaced about two and a half crore people and that not even 25 per cent of them had been rehabilitated. Of the displaced people, more than half were from tribal communities. The report calculated that for every 1 per cent of the mining sector's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the activity displaced three to four times more people than all development projects put together. The report also stated that increase in mining activity in recent years had led to an increase in the diversion of forest land. “An estimated 1.64 lakh hectares of forest land has already been diverted for mining in the country. Iron-ore mining in India used up 77 million tonnes of water in 2005-06, enough to meet the daily water needs of more than three million people. Mining of major minerals generated about 1.84 billion tonnes of waste in 2006 – most of which has not been disposed of properly. Coal is the main culprit: every tonne of coal extracted generates three to four tonnes of waste.” The report also pointed out that air and water pollution is also on the rise in the mining hotspots. According to Sanjay Bosu Mullick of the Ranchi-based Bindrai Institute of Research Study and Action (BIRSA) and the Jharkhand Mines Area Coordination Committee (JMACC), the spread of Maoist extremism in many parts of the country is the result of this large-scale ravaging of natural resources. This plunder is leading to growing conflicts in India's mining zones and informal estimates are that nearly 60 per cent of the country's mineral-rich districts are under the influence of Maoist activity, he says. A number of bureaucrats and non-governmental activists involved in studying and observing mining-related activities pointed out that the socio-economic climate of liberalisation and globalisation had contributed to this excitement to help corporate players and their interests. “That is a factor that has to be looked at comprehensively,” said a senior bureaucrat. But according to Minister of Mines Bijoy Krishna Handique, the MMDR Bill is the product of comprehensive analysis and thinking and will address all the issues and problems relating to the mining sector. In his view, nobody can run away from the need for reform and modernisation in the mining sector and this, he believes, can be brought about only by encouraging investment. He adds that the social costs of the mining projects will be met by ensuring greater involvement of the local community in the projects and making it legally imperative for the miners to provide 26 per cent of the profits to the local community. He avers that the passage of the MMDR Act will strike a blow for sustainable mining (see interview). While there is an acceptance that the Bill does seek to come up with new laws, it has been criticised as not being as comprehensive as Handique and his associates in the Ministry claim it to be. This criticism has emanated from within the government and outside. * Objections to Bill * The principal objections to the draft MMDR Bill have come from the Ministry of Steel. It has found fault with the proposal do away with the need for prior approval from the Central government. The Ministry of Minerals is of the view that the prior appraisal as it exists today is a mere formality, with all the real powers of approval being vested in State governments. According to the Ministry of Steel, this stance will trigger serious trouble for the mining sector as the mineral-rich States will be at liberty to grant concessions on their own. The Law Ministry, too, has expressed reservations and has suggested a change in the nomenclature of the Bill with the objective of highlighting the environmental conservation aspect. A number of social activists and NGOs have questioned some of the basic premises in the Bill. The NGO Mines, Minerals and People (MMP) has submitted a detailed proposal on the MMDR broadly following its charter, which has sought announcement of a complete moratorium on new mining projects in greenfield areas, legally enforceable right to natural resources to local communities, prevention of disinvestment of public sector mining companies in favour of private and multinational companies, ensuring the right to mining for indigenous people and their cooperatives, and prohibition on granting of lease to global mining corporates or their joint ventures. It has also demanded that the issues of compensation and resettlement and rehabilitation be clarified with the formulation of specific rules with guidelines and manuals. The CSE report, which conceded that mining and minerals were necessary, stated thus: “Mining cannot be sustainable or truly environment-friendly: one, because all ore bodies are finite and non-renewable and two, because even the best-managed mines leave environmental footprints.” The real issue is about how mining has to be undertaken in an environmentally and socially acceptable manner. There is little doubt that legislation alone will not ensure this as long as the nexus between politicians and corporate interests remains strong. From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Fri Jul 2 00:03:10 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 00:03:10 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 6 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi I don't agree completely with the ideas mentioned in the given article, yet I post them so that viewers can get a particular take on this issue. Rakesh Article Theme: The Excesses of Mining Source: Frontline Date: *Volume 27 - Issue 14 :: Jul. 03-16, 2010* Link: http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20100716271400900.htm Article Content: *COVER STORY* * Liberalising loot * C.P. CHANDRASEKHAR * The mining sector is seen as one in which the worst features of capitalism as a profit machine combine with illegality and corruption. * AFTER being off the radar of public attention for long, the mining industry in India is now in focus. For example, the controversies surrounding the Posco and Vedanta projects in Orissa, involving the acquisition of large tracts of land for mining purposes, have drawn attention to the damage that could result to livelihoods and the ecology from mining. More recently, in distant Karnataka allegations of collusion between mining interests and politicians in power, leading to large and not always legitimate profits garnered at the expense of the local people and the state exchequer, have led to the resignation of the State's ombudsman. The mining sector is increasingly seen as one in which the worst features of capitalism as a profit machine combine with illegality and corruption to provide a site for primitive accumulation based on plunder and unequal exchange. This is only partly because after economic liberalisation mining has delivered fortunes to those private interests that have been able to find a foothold in the industry. The industry has also drawn attention because mining areas have become the sites of violent political opposition to both private capital and the state. Analyses of the reasons for these developments point in many directions. Displacement, loss of traditional livelihoods of tribal populations and ecological destruction are, of course, prime among them. In addition, in some regions and States mining interests from “outside” reportedly rule the areas they exploit by maintaining private armies or by entering parliamentary politics to win influence and control the administration of mining areas and the framing and implementation of mining policy. Power at one pole, especially if violently exercised, generates dissent and opposition at the other, which too can turn violent. This kind of “carpetbagger capitalism”, in which wealth accumulation by “outsiders” who extract mineral resources occurs at the expense of local populations, whose traditional habitat and means of livelihood are damaged, is not specific to mining in India. It is true of all locations where the state has not either regulated mining firms or interests or even worked in their favour when resources are being mined. Mineral resources are non-reproducible and, therefore, the duration for which they can be exploited is limited and the returns from mining dwindle as the best quality ores and the most accessible strains are exhausted. On the other hand, for geological reasons, individual mineral resources are concentrated in particular regions of the world and in specific areas within those regions and nations. Rising global demand, irrespective of where it emanates from, therefore, encourages the quick exploitation of available mineral resources from a few locations. The difficulty is that in most cases mining, which requires “extracting” the resource, is destructive of the environment in which it occurs. Large swathes of land have to be excavated. If the area has forests, they have to be cleared. If it is inhabited, the local population has to be relocated and rehabilitated. If water is required for mining purposes, local water sources must be drained. And if the process of mining releases toxic material, ecological and human damage through pollution of various kinds will occur unless efforts are made to collect those materials and put them to use or they are disposed of safely. The dimensions of the problem are not easy to understand. Consider the situation in India, for example. Taking a national view, mining does not seem to be an overwhelmingly important activity in the country. The mining and quarrying sector currently contributes only around 2 per cent to India's gross domestic product (GDP). Further, more than 60 per cent of this value is due to fuels, a significant share of which is produced offshore, away from human habitation. Offshore areas accounted for 18 per cent of the value of mineral production in 2009-10. (Though, this seems to shift the problem away from where it affects us humans, the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico should remind us that even this is not true.) The resulting seemingly minimal economic relevance of mining conflicts with the role it is increasingly playing in generating discontent and opposition within the country. * Mining & political conflict * However, the reasons why mining areas are the sites for political conflict are many. To start with, where the adverse effects of mining are inadequately remedied, the consequences for the affected can be dire. Secondly, though, according to the Ministry of Mines, India produces as many as 86 minerals, a few minerals account for a dominant share of non-fuel mineral production. These include coal, lignite and bauxite (in which India ranked third among the world's producers in 2007-08), iron ore (fourth) and manganese (fifth). Moreover, these resources are concentrated in a few contiguous areas. During 2009-10, while mineral production was reported from 32 States and Union Territories, among onshore areas a few States dominated: Andhra Pradesh (with a 12.24 per cent share in production by value), Orissa (11.85 per cent), Chhattisgarh (9.18 per cent) and Jharkhand (8.79 per cent). Together with the offshore areas, they account for 60 per cent of mineral production by value. They also are home to large tribal populations. And they are among the States where violent political movements are on the rise. It is nobody's case that no mining should occur. The case is clearly for restricting the extent of mining, keeping in mind the common good and taking into account immediate and long-term costs and returns. In fact, almost everybody swears by certain principles. While different mineral resources should be exploited to differing degrees, given the technological options and the benefits from production using mineral raw materials, the effort should be to minimise the social costs. Ecologically sensitive areas should not be mined. Deforestation should be kept to a minimum. Compensation, relocation and rehabilitation must be organised in ways that are fair. And pollution should be minimal after abatement. However, recognising all this is not enough. There must be laws, institutions and processes in place, which ensure that decisions on the extent and means of mineral extraction in different locations are taken in ways that ensure social participation, especially of those who will be affected adversely. The fact of the matter is that while lip service is paid to such institutions and processes, they do not work in this country (and in many others in the world as well). In fact, the complex division of labour between the Central and State governments with regard to the framing and implementation of mining policy obfuscates accountability to a substantial degree, only worsening matters. This has become more of a problem in recent years because of the ways in which the post-1991 policy of economic liberalisation and “reform” have affected the mining sector. As noted above, mining is an area where most costs are social and fall heavily on those not directly involved in mineral extraction. If in such an environment private producers operating purely for profit are given an important role, it generates the classic situation where private returns and social costs diverge substantially, especially when private returns are high and social costs are not required to be compensated for. * Preserve of state * This situation is relatively recent in India's post-Independence history. During much of that period mining was largely a preserve of the state. Under the Industrial Policy Resolution, 1956, the mining of major minerals such as coal, lignite, mineral oils, iron ore, copper, zinc and atomic minerals was made the exclusive preserve of the public sector. It was only in the extraction of minor minerals that the private sector was allowed along with the public sector. As a result, much of the mining occurred within the ambit of the public sector. Even today, the public sector continues to play a dominant role in mineral production, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the total value of production. It is of course true that the operations of the public sector, too, resulted in displacement, ecological damage and loss of traditional livelihood opportunities. But with the public sector under managements that were accountable to Parliament, the degree to which it could ignore social costs was limited. Moreover, with the public sector not under pressure to privilege profit above all else, it was in a position to provide for compensation, rehabilitation and abatement. The system was not inherently biased towards discounting the social costs of mining operations. Under that regime, therefore, the problem was largely one of inadequate investment to exploit effectively and safely the mineral resources of the country. In fact, even when shortages in some areas encouraged small-scale illegal mining, it was often more in the nature of petty production, sustained of course by the presence and exploitation of large trading capital. * Mineral policy * Matters began to change in the 1990s, with the post-liberalisation shift to the National Mineral Policy (NMP) of March 1993. Designed to encourage private investment in exploration and mining, the policy opened up 13 major minerals – iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore, sulphur, gold, diamond, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel and platinum – for private investment. Further, the policy expressly provided for foreign technology and foreign participation in exploration and mining. Initially, foreign direct investment (FDI) was allowed, subject to clearance by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), up to 50 per cent of equity (with no limit for captive mines). However, additional FDI holding was provided for on a case-by-case basis. In 1997, FDI up to 50 per cent was taken out of the purview of the FIPB and put on the automatic approval route, and in February 2006 FDI up to 100 per cent was permitted in mining. Though the initial response to liberalisation was lukewarm, there has been a rush of investment into the area in recent years. According to an estimate made by the Indian Institute of Metals in 2009, a sum close to $300 billion is expected to be invested in the metals and mining sectors in eastern India over the next few years. This is six times the aggregate investment made since Independence. Much of this investment is to occur in the mineral-rich States of Orissa and Jharkhand followed by Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. The government has argued that this liberalisation, introduced to attract much-needed investment into the mining sector, has been accompanied by new rules, guidelines and measures to ensure that the benefits are distributed fairly. The opposition and civil society activists, on the other hand, argue that there is no tooth to whatever legislation is in place and little commitment to implementing many of the regulations that are available. The state is most often seen as colluding with private operators at the expense of local populations. As a result, argue critics, in a State like Orissa the rapid pace of mineral exploitation has contributed little to the development of the State. According to a study by Banikanta Mishra ( Economic & Political Weekly, May 15, 2010), from 1993-94 to 2003-04, the extent of mineral exploitation increased by 10.3 per cent a year, with the value of minerals extracted rising at 12.8 per cent per annum. Much of this was for export, with the quantity of mineral exported out of the state rising by 15.7 per cent a year. On the other hand, the number of workers employed in mining fell by 4 per cent annually, even while ecological damage and livelihood loss worsened standards of living. That there is reason for cynicism is illustrated by the delay in formulating and approving appropriate alternative legislation to replace the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957. The Ministry of Mines is pushing for legislation that mandates, among other things, the sharing of profits from mining with the local population and State governments. The new law seeks to make sharing of at least 26 per cent of profits with the local population mandatory. According to reports, the Law Ministry, influenced by other sections in government, is opposed to these changes. Union Minister of Mines B.K. Handique, who has been vocal on the matter, has reportedly received no response to his efforts to get the draft legislation cleared and taken to Parliament. Clearly then, the ethos of liberalisation, which privileges private sector production and celebrates profit–making, is one in which an appropriate mining policy will prove difficult to formulate, let alone implement. Public control over mining rights and mining activity in the pre-liberalisation period was not driven by socialistic motives but by the recognition that a sustainable mining strategy cannot be evolved when the activity is undertaken privately. The retreat from an interventionist policy, the evidence suggests, delivers the kind of outcomes that enhances the wealth of some while increasing the deprivation of the majority in India's mining belt, leading to violent forms of protest. The message is clear. Liberalisation is not a means of increasing the efficiency of the system. It is a policy that facilitates a process of primitive accumulation that leads to social disruption. From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Fri Jul 2 00:08:36 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 00:08:36 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 6 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi The final article for the day folks. Rakesh Article Theme: The Excesses of Mining Source: Frontline Date: *Volume 27 - Issue 14 :: Jul. 03-16, 2010* Link: http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20100716271401200.htm Article content: *The way ahead * R. SREEDHAR * A moratorium on new mines until the contentious issues relating to the mining sector are resolved is the need of the hour. * THE impact of mining spreads across all aspects of the environment – biophysical and psycho-cultural – and is largely by virtue of the geological and ecological conditions of mining. Therefore, accepting the nature of the impact, the industry needs to evolve mitigation measures to contain the damage, and the regulatory authorities are duty-bound to ensure that the sector and the specific industries comply with the highest standards. However, the expectations, both from the industry, of genuine efforts to mitigate the impact, and from the state, particularly the regulators, of enforcing the rule of law are misplaced in the current context. A look at the biophysical environment around mining from across a section of mines in the country is instructive. As an illustration, take the case of water. Mining is one of the major industrial activities impacting the availability and quality of water. Mining, from small-scale quarrying to deep underground mining, and in the new area of coal bed methane extraction, impacts water. The proposed underground coal gasification will also have an impact. The impact is far-reaching, but the governance processes still come from a state of denial. Mining and allied industries are the biggest destroyers of natural water storage capacity and the most important cause for the deterioration of water quality. The future of water resources is seriously at stake. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) suggests that intersection of the water table by the mining industries may be taken seriously as in several places the major resources lie beneath the water table. The breaching of the water table must be subject to stricter regulation than there is at present as the very basis of survival of local communities is sacrificed at this stage. Merely to say that mine water is put to “gainful” use misses the point that such use can lead to unsustainable management of the aquifer. While this may include supplying water to adjacent areas, local communities and water distribution agencies, besides utilisation for dust suppression and other purposes by the industry and for artificial recharge, it will be tantamount to mining water. Neyveli in Tamil Nadu is a good example of how mining has impacted regional water resources and also induced the threat of seawater incursion. The surface topography and drainage have been obliterated and the accompanying power plant, too, adds to the impact on water resources. It is an irony that people from an area where water occurred in an artesian condition and water swelled over land before the initiation of lignite mining are today forced to depend upon the State government and the mining company for water, and that too water supplied at very low pressure and intermittently. However, despite the practise of “precautionary principles” being touted by the government and even the courts, the giant Jayamkondan lignite mining project in Tiruchi district in Tamil Nadu is on the anvil without any serious research or effort to understand the impact and formulate adequate precautionary measures. At the other extreme is the fact that at no mine in the country the issues of resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) have been completed even to some degree of satisfaction of the oustees. The dispossession, impoverishment and trauma attached to displacement can probably never be captured with the level of sensitivity that any mitigation demands. In between lies a whole range of impacts such as pollution from the mining activity and from transportation, which is largely by road. The real concern over the environmental and social impact, whose neglect led recently to the classification of over 70 locations as critically polluted, prominent among them being the mining-industrial complexes, and the often non-violent and sometimes violent protests of the community, with over 200 locations being locked in conflicts, is the scale of expansion being projected in the near future. The massive increase in the power production targets will require the mining of almost twice the amount of coal that is mined at present in the country. The regulators, who are not able to manage the 561 mines at present, will, in the next decade, need to be equipped to handle at least twice as much work. Considering the shortcomings of the entire process, from the prospecting stage to the closure, it can be surmised that more places will come into the category of severely polluted zones. As a corollary to this, more and more States are being linked inextricably to this destructive enterprise for their economic sustenance, and any reversal from it will only add to the worsening quality of life of the people around the mine. While the problems of the legally operating mines themselves look insurmountable, India has the dubious distinction of having more illegal mines than legal ones. There are around 8,784 major mineral leases spread across the country, apart from thousands of leases for minor minerals and quarries. A Parliamentary Committee on Illegal Mining identified 14,504 illegal mines in 2005. Its report states: “The government in its efforts to promote and develop mining sector had taken a number of steps and commissioned studies from time to time under the National Mineral Policy, 1993. But, the impact thereof has been far from satisfactory and the exploration and development of mineral wealth of the country remained unproductive both economically and socially.” It adds: “The conservation as well as systematic and scientific harnessing of mineral resources is the bedrock of economic development of a nation. However, unscientific and unlawful mining has been thriving endlessly causing not only immense loss to the national exchequer but destruction of natural environment.” Figures released recently by the Ministry of Mines estimates the number of illegal mines for major minerals at 2,496 and for minor minerals at a whopping 28,055. The proposed new mining Act will enhance the scale of impact as the limit for a single lease area is sought to be raised to 100 sq km. While the largest mine lease currently is of the order of 2000 hectares, a fivefold increase in the area of lease will have widespread regional ramifications. In the interest of the long-term conservation of the environment and respecting the laws already in place to protect the environment and the community, Mines, Minerals and People (MM&P), an alliance of mining-affected communities, demands a moratorium on new mines. New leases could be given when illegal mining is removed; the closed, abandoned and orphaned mines are restored; strict compliance is sought at the unit level; and brownfield expansion is encouraged as against greenfield mining. These activities, if undertaken seriously, will not diminish economic growth significantly and will pave the way for a more systematic utilisation of non-renewable resources. This calls for a rationalisation of the management of natural resources, stricter due diligence during the grant of lease and accompanying environmental and forest clearances, and a vigilant society to be able to stem the abysmal state of affairs. *R. Sreedhar is managing trustee, Environics Trust, and Convener, Mines, Minerals and People.* From subhachops at gmail.com Fri Jul 2 09:15:41 2010 From: subhachops at gmail.com (Subhash) Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 09:15:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] BP is burning endangered sea turtles alive Message-ID: News has emerged from the Gulf Coast that BP is burning endangered sea turtles alive. That's right. BP is using "controlled burns" to contain the oil spill, and any turtles that are not removed from the area before the fire is lit are literally burned alive. With BP already facing so much public outrage, we can step in and stop this from continuing. But we have to speak up right now. I signed a petition urging BP to stop burning endangered sea turtles alive. Can you join me at the link below? http://pol.moveon.org/seaturtles/?r_by=-17945079-hk3VRUx&rc=paste Thanks! From waliarifi3 at gmail.com Fri Jul 2 10:57:41 2010 From: waliarifi3 at gmail.com (Wali Arifi) Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 10:57:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] India frozen in LeT instigated stone! Message-ID: Now that every Kashmiri is an LeT instigated stone pelter, Chidhabaram now gets a song from the street. Here is for those Indians... A Stone Pelter’s Song BY FEROZ RATHER Out of the last cries Of my fellows, those boys Killed on street yesterday, Out of the sky and the summer rains In my own eyes, In my own voice, I compose a song of freedom Out of these stones, Forged in the brooks of Jhelum, These gifts from the Mountain, Tearing the air apart In fury, with jubilation, Ah! Here I hit their backs, I exist in these stones, I don’t need to tell them, I compose a song of freedom Out of my own blood and brain, Smearing my dead face, Out of a vow of A mother’s love for her son, Against the dagger of Abraham When God ceases to be an assassin, Out of the triumph of truth Rises a song of celebration, I live a song of freedom Out of the rebels’ chants, Against their bullets, Against the shells and the smoke of death, Out of these slogans Sung in unison, These songs of defiance and anger, I’m my own poet, a majnoon Of this country, an unfailing lover, I’m a stone pelter I sing a song of freedom. From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Fri Jul 2 11:59:42 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 23:29:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] "Educating rural India: Can pvt players bridge quality gap?" Message-ID: <319383.9370.qm@web57207.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Educating rural India: Can pvt players bridge quality gap?"   Thu, Jul 01, 2010 By: Malini Goyal , Mitu Jayashankar   (Two schools of thought on how the private sector can make a difference in bringing good quality education to rural India)   Far away from the cut and thrust of running large corporate houses, there’s something that’s keeping Azim Premji and Sunil Mittal, among the most successful entrepreneurs in India, busy. For the last almost 10 years, both have committed serious money, managers and their own time to providing quality education for India’s underprivileged children. They recognise that education has perhaps the greatest “multiplier effect”.   The government’s initiatives so far have been largely tied with the spread of compulsory education. The Rs. 90,000-crore Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan and the mid day meal programmes have achieved a measure of success in bringing more children into schools. But it’s been a victory of quantity over quality. Even though 80% of children aged six to 14 attend government schools where education is free, they remain effectively uneducated and therefore unemployable. Absenteeism is high, as is the dropout rate and those who attend hardly benefit.   According to the Annual Status of Education Report, 2009, more than 30% of the children in class I do not recognise numbers and letters. Half of class V students meet reading standards of just class II.   It is this gap that Premji and Mittal hope to bridge through the work of their philanthropic organisations, the Azim Premji Foundation (APF) and the Bharti Foundation (Bharti).   APF believes the best way to make an impact is by working with the state education departments to improve learning in classrooms. The logic is simple: With 7 million education professionals (teachers and support staff) and an annual spending of USD 13.5 billion (Rs. 62,000 crore), the government has already achieved scale that no private organisation could equal.   Bharti has chosen to build a parallel system of new schools Satya Bharti schools to provide quality education for free to the rural poor and set new benchmarks on how to educate children. Of course, it does still need to engage with local governments as it relies heavily on partnership from the villages. Typically, the village gives the land free on long lease on which the school is built.   It is not that these two are the only organisations working to find solutions in this field.   >From Intel to IBM, Deutsche Bank to ICICI Bank, companies are doing some philanthropic work in the education space. Shriram Foundation works with 25 government schools in Haryana; Thermax runs a few civic schools in Pune.    But what sets APF and Bharti apart is their scale and ambition. “What we do should be reflected in permanent, institutionalised change. It should not be an island of excellence or a one off thing,” says S. Giridhar, head, programmes – APF.   APF is already present in nine states, while Bharti has 236 schools across India and plans to take that number to 550 schools with 2 lakh children.   How can civil society engage with the government to bring large-scale systemic change? There are important lessons to be learnt from both the models.    The APF route APF, started with a USD 125 million (about Rs. 575 crore) stock grant from Premji, was set up in 1999. To fulfil its agenda, it zeroed in on three things: One, train the teachers. A vibrant classroom would lead to better attendance and higher school completion rates. Two, build leadership skills among the education officers they control the resources for government schools (incentives for teachers, mid day meal programmes, supply of text books and uniforms). Three, assess children for critical thinking, not rote learning, as this has a direct bearing on the way they will be taught.    This last was validated through one of its earliest programmes, the Learning Guarantee Programme (LGP) in Karnataka (2002-05). Its aim was to showcase government schools with best practices in teaching. Schools would volunteer for assessment and would be selected if their students (classes I-IV) qualified for a threshold level of enrolment, attendance and learning. In the first year, 40 schools (4.5% of the participating schools) met all the criteria. By the third year, the number had gone up to 144 (7.8%).   APF discovered that changing the way questions were framed in exams led to a change in the way children were taught. For example, if you ask ‘What is the highest 4 digit number?’ Every child can memorise the answer, 9,999. But if you ask ‘What is the highest four digit number you can create from 7, 2, 1 and 9’, the child will need to understanding the concept of unit, tens, hundreds. Schools that participated in this exercise every year showed marked improvement in learning achievements.   Today, the programme has spread to Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, and is onto the next stage of its assessment-led reforms. Instead of expanding to new areas, APF is working towards improving classroom interactions in schools where LGP has been rolled out. It is working closely with the education departments to train teachers and administrators. “It’s the large government system that is actually doing the work, we are merely facilitating or helping,” says Anurag Behar, who joins as co-CEO from July 1.   http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/features/educating-rural-india-can-pvt-players-bridge-quality-gap_467363.html     From akmalik45 at yahoo.com Fri Jul 2 12:12:41 2010 From: akmalik45 at yahoo.com (A.K. Malik) Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 23:42:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] India frozen in LeT instigated stone! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <677810.46809.qm@web112102.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hi Arifi, Which Indian?????????? (A.K.MALIK) --- On Fri, 7/2/10, Wali Arifi wrote: > From: Wali Arifi > Subject: [Reader-list] India frozen in LeT instigated stone! > To: "Sarai" > Date: Friday, July 2, 2010, 10:57 AM > Now that every Kashmiri is an LeT > instigated stone pelter, Chidhabaram now > gets a song from the street. Here is for those Indians... > > > > > A Stone Pelter’s Song > > BY FEROZ RATHER > > > > Out of the last cries > > Of my fellows, those boys > > Killed on street yesterday, > > Out of the sky and the summer rains > > In my own eyes, > > In my own voice, > > I compose a song of freedom > > > Out of these stones, > > Forged in the brooks of Jhelum, > > These gifts from the Mountain, > > Tearing the air apart > > In fury, with jubilation, > > Ah! Here I hit their backs, > > I exist in these stones, > > I don’t need to tell them, > > I compose a song of freedom > > > Out of my own blood and brain, > > Smearing my dead face, > > Out of a vow of > > A mother’s love for her son, > > Against the dagger of Abraham > > When God ceases to be an assassin, > > Out of the triumph of truth > > Rises a song of celebration, > > I live a song of freedom > > > Out of the rebels’ chants, > > Against their bullets, > > Against the shells and the smoke of death, > > Out of these slogans > > Sung in unison, > > These songs of defiance and anger, > > I’m my own poet, a majnoon > > Of this country, an unfailing lover, > > I’m a stone pelter > > I sing a song of freedom. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the > city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net > with subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From taraprakash at gmail.com Fri Jul 2 16:35:36 2010 From: taraprakash at gmail.com (TaraPrakash) Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 07:05:36 -0400 Subject: [Reader-list] India frozen in LeT instigated stone! References: Message-ID: Now that it's time for Amarnath Yatra and summers is a good time for employment generation in tourism industry, why should stone pelters remain unemployed? And why shouldn't the song writers have it too? And why shouldn't the benefits of all this employment go to the other side of the border? We are all happy. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wali Arifi" To: "Sarai" Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 1:27 AM Subject: [Reader-list] India frozen in LeT instigated stone! > Now that every Kashmiri is an LeT instigated stone pelter, Chidhabaram now > gets a song from the street. Here is for those Indians... > > > > > A Stone Pelter’s Song > > BY FEROZ RATHER > > > > Out of the last cries > > Of my fellows, those boys > > Killed on street yesterday, > > Out of the sky and the summer rains > > In my own eyes, > > In my own voice, > > I compose a song of freedom > > > Out of these stones, > > Forged in the brooks of Jhelum, > > These gifts from the Mountain, > > Tearing the air apart > > In fury, with jubilation, > > Ah! Here I hit their backs, > > I exist in these stones, > > I don’t need to tell them, > > I compose a song of freedom > > > Out of my own blood and brain, > > Smearing my dead face, > > Out of a vow of > > A mother’s love for her son, > > Against the dagger of Abraham > > When God ceases to be an assassin, > > Out of the triumph of truth > > Rises a song of celebration, > > I live a song of freedom > > > Out of the rebels’ chants, > > Against their bullets, > > Against the shells and the smoke of death, > > Out of these slogans > > Sung in unison, > > These songs of defiance and anger, > > I’m my own poet, a majnoon > > Of this country, an unfailing lover, > > I’m a stone pelter > > I sing a song of freedom. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From ambarien at yahoo.co.uk Sat Jul 3 08:42:12 2010 From: ambarien at yahoo.co.uk (ambarien qadar) Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 03:12:12 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [Reader-list] Invitation: Cinema City Course Inauguration & Exhibition 9th July, Mini Auditorium, SNDT University, Juhu Campus Message-ID: <241061.90686.qm@web24108.mail.ird.yahoo.com> hi, I thought this might be of interest to some of you.cheers, ambarien. --- On Sat, 3/7/10, ambarien al qadar wrote: From: ambarien al qadar Subject: Fwd: Invitation: Cinema City Course Inauguration & Exhibition 9th July, Mini Auditorium, SNDT University, Juhu Campus To: "ambarien al qadar" Date: Saturday, 3 July, 2010, 8:39 Dear Friends, We are delighted to announce the inauguration of the certificate course on City Narratives in Literature and Cinema on 9th July at Mini Auditorium, Research Unit Building, SNDT University, Juhu Campus. www.cinemacitycourse.com   Programme (Open to Public)   9th July Cinema City Exhibition opens at 5pm   Tea at 6.30pm   7pm Inauguration by Prof Chanda Krishnamurti,  Vice Chancellor, SNDT Women’s University   Cultural Collaboration:  Address by Marla Stukenberg, Director, Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai   City Narratives in Literature and Cinema: a pedagogical initiative.  Introduction by Mitra Parikh, Head of the Dept., English and Dept of Post Graduate Research and Studies, SNDT Women’s University   Film screening: Anna Sound Please Director: Madhavi Tangella Tucked behind the bus stops or under the flyovers of Bombay run illegal / unofficial shacks of cinema that double up for shelter and linguistic refuge for migrant wage workers.     7.40-8.40pm   Panel Discussion: Cinematic Cities and City Cinema Speakers: Madhusree Dutta, Curator, Cinema City project, Rahul Srivastav, author and social scientist and Sadanand Menon, art and media critic. Moderator: Kaushik Bhaumik, Film Historian     Cinema City: Research Art and Archive Exhibition Foyer of Mini Auditorium, SNDT University, Juhu Campus. 9th, 10th and 12th July 3-7pm   The Western Suburb: Video Installation on Sweatshops of Cinema Avijit Mukul Kishore, Mamta Murthy, Rikhav Desai & Found Footage Archive of Majlis Traces the network of production units, hidden in holes in the wall, that produces the Cinema.   Cinema City Lived: Book in the ware house Editor: Rohan Shivkumar, Text: Hansa Thapliyal, Design: Abhinav Shaw, Research: Design Cell, KRVIA Compilation of the marks of cinema in the body of the city as the production process shifts from materiality to digitality.     Bioscope: Cinema-City-Modernity Dateline Kausik Mukhopadhyay The playful randomness in the functioning of bioscope is renegotiated to destabilize the linearity of historicity.   Calendars: Iconography in 20th Century Art Works by Multiple Artists, Research: Shikha Pandey The works are based on found images and the individual artists’ readings of the public imagination of the time.   Interactive Archive Research by Majlis and Design Cell, KRVIA, Graphic Design: Abhinav Shaw Software Design: Thatzit Participatory excavation of the city of entertainment.     Creative Director and Curator: Madhusree Dutta Visual designer: Kausik Mukhopadhyay   Please do come and inform the fellow city enthusiasts.     Marla Stukenberg                               Madhusree Dutta                    Mitra Parikh Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai                  Majlis                           SNDT Women’s University                     -- www.majlisbombay.org -- Ambarien Al Qadar Fulbright Nehru Leadership Development Fellow School of Communication and Theater Philadelphia-PA 19146. 215-939-1064 www.ambarienalqadar.blogspot.com From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sat Jul 3 11:35:14 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 11:35:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 7 Message-ID: Article Theme: Health and Education Source: The Hindu Date: Friday, Sep 17, 2004 Link: http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/17/stories/2004091701431000.htm Article content: *Bangladesh shows the way * By Jean Drèze * In India, social progress is slower and less broad-based than in Bangladesh, despite much faster economic growth. * IN THE context of the recent panic over the growth rate of the Muslim population in India, recent international data on "human development" in India and Bangladesh make interesting reading. Surely, India must be far ahead of Bangladesh in this respect? Indeed, Bangladesh is not only poorer (much poorer) than India, but also saddled with a large Muslim population. India, for its part, is now a "superpower". One would, therefore, expect its citizens to be much healthier, better fed and better educated than their Bengali neighbours. Let us examine the evidence. A good starting point is the infant mortality rate: 51 per 1,000 live births in Bangladesh compared with 67 per 1,000 in India, according to the latest Human Development Report. In other words, infant mortality is much lower in Bangladesh. This is all the more interesting as the positions were reversed not so long ago: in 1990, the infant mortality rate was estimated at 91 per 1,000 in Bangladesh, and 80 per 1,000 in India. India has been neatly leap-frogged, that too during a period when economic growth was much faster in India than in Bangladesh. Other indicators relating to child health point in the same direction. According to the same Report, 95 per cent of infants in Bangladesh are vaccinated against tuberculosis, and 77 per cent are vaccinated against measles. The corresponding figures in India are only 81 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively. Similarly, 97 per cent of the population in Bangladesh have access to an "improved water source," compared with 84 per cent in India; and 48 per cent of Bangladeshis have access to "improved sanitation," compared with 28 per cent of Indians. For good measure, the maternal mortality rate is much higher in India than in Bangladesh: 540 and 380 per 100,000 live births, respectively. Contraceptive prevalence, for its part, is higher in Bangladesh than in India — the "wrong" ranking again! Perhaps all this has something to do with the fact that public expenditure on health as a proportion of GDP is almost twice as high in Bangladesh (1.6 per cent) as in India (0.9 per cent). The reverse applies to military expenditure, also known as "defence": 2.3 per cent of GDP in India compared with 1.1 per cent in Bangladesh. So much for health. But in education at least, India must be way ahead? Can Bangladesh boast a fraction of India's Nobel prizes, famous writers, nuclear scientists, eminent scholars? Perhaps not, but Bangladesh appears to be closer to universal primary education than India: it has achieved a "net primary enrolment ratio" of 87 per cent, higher than India's 83 per cent. What is more, Bangladesh has eliminated the gender bias in primary education, in sharp contrast with India where school participation rates continue to be much higher for boys than for girls. Other gender-related indicators also put Bangladesh in a relatively favourable light, compared with India: Bangladesh, for instance, has a higher female-male ratio and much higher rates of female labour force participation. However, there is a consolation of sorts: the nutrition situation is no better in Bangladesh than in India. In both countries, about half of all children are undernourished. No country in the world fares worse in this respect, but at least India is not alone in the back seat. Some of these estimates may not be very accurate. Perhaps the ranking would be reversed, in some cases, if exact figures were available. But the general pattern, whereby Bangladesh is now doing better than India in terms of many aspects of social development, is unlikely to reflect measurement errors. This pattern is all the more striking as India used to fare better than Bangladesh in all these respects not so long ago — say in the early 1970s , when Bangladesh became independent. Bangladesh is no paradise of human development. Like India, it is still one of the most deprived countries in the world. However, social indicators in Bangladesh are improving quite rapidly. Whether one looks at infant mortality, or vaccination rates, or school participation, or child nutrition, or fertility rates, the message is similar: living conditions are rapidly improving, not just for a privileged elite but also for the population at large. In India, social progress is slower and less broad-based, despite much faster economic growth. This is one indication, among many others, that India's development strategy is fundamentally distorted and lop-sided. From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sat Jul 3 11:41:41 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 11:41:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 7 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Article Theme: Health Source: The Hindu Date: Friday, Mar 12, 2004 Link: http://www.hindu.com/2004/03/12/stories/2004031201851000.htm Article Content: *Health checkup * By Jean Drèze * As a ratio of GDP, public expenditure on health in India is among the lowest in the world — about one per cent. * SOMETIMES THE most important things in life are least talked about. For instance, it is hard to think of anything more important than health for human happiness and the quality of life. And yet, health is virtually absent from public debates and democratic politics in India. To illustrate, consider the coverage of health issues in the mainstream media. In an earlier analysis of 300 opinion articles published in one of India's leading dailies over a period of six months (January to June 2000), it emerged that not *one* of these articles dealt with health-related matters. Just in case, I repeated the exercise this year for the period January-June 2003. This time, I did find an article dealing with health issues — it was about the SARS crisis in China! This silence would perhaps be tolerable if the Indian population enjoyed good health and adequate health services, but nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, India's health indicators are among the worst in the world. For instance, according to the latest National Family Health survey (1998-99), half of all Indian children are undernourished and half of all adult women suffer from anaemia. At the time of the survey, 30 per cent of all children under the age of three had fever, another 20 per cent had diarrhoea, and another 20 per cent had symptoms of acute respiratory infection. Even after allowing for some overlap between these different groups, this suggests that at least half of all Indian children below three suffer from one of these conditions at any given point of time. The condition of health services is no less dismal. As a ratio of GDP, public expenditure on health in India is among the lowest in the world — about one per cent. In fact, the health system is almost totally privatised. To illustrate, only 15 per cent of total health expenditure in India is public expenditure; the rest is private expenditure, such as over-the-counter drug purchases from chemist shops. By contrast, the ratio of public expenditure to total health expenditure is 40 per cent in east Asia, 50 per cent in Latin America, 75 per cent in Europe, and as high as 85 per cent in Britain. In large parts of India, there are no public health facilities worth the name, except for female sterilisation and polio immunisation. Recent health facility surveys conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences (Mumbai) give a chilling picture of the state of health centres around the country. To illustrate, only 69 per cent of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have at least one bed, 20 per cent have a telephone, and 12 per cent enjoy "regular maintenance". These are national averages, and the corresponding figures for the poorer States are much worse. In Bihar, for instance, a large majority of PHCs make do without luxuries such as electricity, a weighing machine or even a toilet. It is worth remembering that a PHC is supposed to be a facility of major importance, serving a population of 30,000 or so. Even when health facilities are available, their utilisation leaves much to be desired. According to a forthcoming Harvard study, absence rates among health workers range between 35 and 58 per cent in different Indian States. A similar picture emerges from an ongoing study of health services in Udaipur district (Rajasthan). More than half of the health sub-centres were found to be closed during regular opening hours, and even in the PHCs and Community Health Centres, 36 per cent of the personnel was absent on average. Meanwhile, local residents suffer from horrendous levels of morbidity: one-third of all adults had a cold during the 30 days preceding the survey, 42 per cent had "body ache", 33 per cent had fever, 23 per cent suffered from fatigue, 11 per cent had chest pains, and more than half suffer from anaemia. Close to one-third would find it difficult to draw water from a well and one in five has difficulty standing up from a sitting position. It is worth noting that even the rich in India often do not have access to decent health services. The technology and the expertise are there, but public facilities are highly inefficient and private services are virtually unregulated, leaving patients at the mercy of unscrupulous practitioners. Fraud, over-medication and unnecessary surgery are the bread and butter of the private health sector. To illustrate, according to a recent study of health services in Mumbai, about 65 per cent of deliveries performed in the private sector end up with a Caesarean, compared with 9 per cent in the public sector (the latter is close to WHO norms). If anything, the neglect of health services in public policy has intensified in the "liberalisation" period. Public expenditure on health declined steadily in the early Nineties, as a share of GDP. The ratio picked up again towards the end of the decade, but mainly because of salary increases (in the wake of the Fifth Pay Commission), without any improvement in real inputs. As the recent budget indicates, the spotlight today is on expensive, high-tech facilities such as modern hospitals, and also on "vertical" programmes sponsored by foreign agencies, such as the pulse-polio programme. Basic health services, for their part, have been grossly neglected, to the extent that the coverage of routine immunisation has shrunk in recent years, according to the Reproductive and Child Health surveys. The decline of infant mortality has also slowed down, after a spell of rapid decline in the Eighties. On the positive side, some States (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, among others) have recognised the importance of good public health facilities, and planned accordingly. In an illuminating study, Leela Visaria has drawn attention to the comparatively good functioning of health services in States such as Tamil Nadu. Last year, I had an opportunity to observe this myself when I visited health centres in three districts of Tamil Nadu. They were clean, lively and well staffed. Plenty of medicines were available for free, and there were regular inspections. The walls were plastered with charts and posters giving details of the daily routine, available facilities, progress of various programmes, and related information. Patients streamed in and out, evidently at ease with the system. It was a joy to see this, in contrast with the bare, deserted, gloomy, hostile premises that pass for health centres in north India. In Tamil Nadu, according to the latest National Family Health Survey, 99 per cent of births are preceded by antenatal checkups and 89 per cent of children are fully vaccinated. The corresponding figures in, say, Uttar Pradesh are 35 and 21 per cent — most women and children there are left to their own devices as far as health is concerned. One reason for this contrast is that, in Tamil Nadu, health care has been brought within the ambit of democratic politics. Health and related issues, such as mid-day meals, are a subject of lively public debate and play an important role in election campaigns. In north India, however, health does not figure on the political agenda, and nor do other basic needs such as elementary education or child nutrition. The Supreme Court gave a useful wake-up call to the Government on November 28, 2001, with an order calling for the provision of a functional *anganwadi * in "every settlement". Active implementation of this order could go a long way in protecting Indian children from hunger and disease. Unfortunately, the Government has taken little notice of it. In fact, according to the Department of Women and Child Development, a recent proposal to expand the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) was "categorically rejected" by the Cabinet, on the grounds that there was "no money". Meanwhile, lavish resources are spent to placate the more influential sections of society — private corporations, the military establishment, public employees, and the so-called "middle classes", among others. Who would have expected the practice of child sacrifice to persist into the twenty-first century? From cashmeeri at yahoo.com Sat Jul 3 11:56:42 2010 From: cashmeeri at yahoo.com (cashmeeri) Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 23:26:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Poet Dr HK Kaul - displaced and in exile Message-ID: <838060.75916.qm@web112615.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> ‘In my ancestral home Of smoked wood, thatched shadow The dead meet every night And die again In distress When the sun rises. … The dead open all the doors. As time goes by The new dead have begun To join the old dead.’     http://apostrophe-o.com/?p=659   Apostrophe’O Profiles: Dr H K Kaul   Jul 2, 2010 By Suhas Munshi   In reply to the question – ‘What is poetry for?’ Judith Palmer, director of  the Poetry Society, said “One of the things poetry gives all of us is a way of developing an attentiveness to life, a way of observing the world, of noticing things and seeing them differently.”   Dr. H.K. Kaul has spent his life observing the world very closely, and because he has a way with words, the wisdom is not lost. His side of the world, the side away from the sun, is vigorous and disheartening. Melancholy memories from Kashmir present themselves throughout his work and haunt the reader by their sheer hopelessness.   ‘In my ancestral home Of smoked wood, thatched shadow The dead meet every night And die again In distress When the sun rises. … The dead open all the doors. As time goes by The new dead have begun To join the old dead.’ (-From ‘When the dead meet’)   The poet started his career as a yoga teacher in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh in early 1960s. After spending some years there, he moved on to further his education and later found a job at the Indian International Centre (IIC) as a librarian. Books moved him and occupied most of his time, and he discovered the joy of poetry. In 1984 Kaul founded the Poetry Society of India.   Kaul, a librarian, author, poet and bibliographer has authored anthologies (Historic Delhi: An anthology, Travelers India: An anthology), bibliographies (Sri Aurobindo: A descriptive bibliography), poetry (In The Islands of Grace, Firdaus in Flames), and books on library keeping (Library Resource Sharing and Networks).   I started the conversation by asking Kaul for his opinions on the present state of poetry in our society. “The situation isn’t most promising. Take a look around the bookstores and you’ll know.” I have and I know. Bookstores in my city maintain a very limited poetry collection, if any at all, and the collection is often relegated to a dusty and morose corner.   “Poetry takes its own sweet time to seep in,” he said, I added that it also does not reveal all its secrets in a nail-biting climax; both being serious impediments to pleasure for a reader accustomed to instant gratification. As the Hungarian poet George Szirtes said, “Nobody reads a poem to find out what happens in the last line. They read the poem for the experience of traveling through it.”   He blames our schools for their unscrupulous approach and misplaced priorities. “Teaching is done out of manuals that clearly state the wrong and right answers. A student is awarded with marks when he regurgitates ‘intentions of the poet’. Poetry doesn’t work this way. It is somewhere in these classes where young poets are lost.” But Kaul hasn’t given up on them yet; he continues to organize workshops, lectures, book readings and competitions (winning entries of which are published in ‘Poetry of the Young,’)   After a little while I tried to direct the conservation toward his own poetry, a subject on which, at his insistence, we didn’t spend much time. But he graciously gifted me some of his books, with which I spent a few quiet hours afterwards.   Like a lot of other writers, Kaul is besieged by loss of his roots as he, like thousands of other Kashmiri pandits, saw Kashmir, their home, burning. Loss of identity, cultural degeneration and exile are predominant in his verse:   Endless web of planes And angles that connect To thought and action To time gone, time coming In a map of unchosen roads I hold on to the key To infinity within, infinity without (-from ‘Crossroads’)   As one goes through Kaul’s poetry, one can almost feel him trembling in a prolonged nightmare of bullet-ridden homes, charred bodies and terrified eyes.   His critically acclaimed poem, Firdaus in Flames, is storyteller’s first hand recollection of the fall of Kashmir. That the subject in ‘Firdaus in Flames’ overpowers his language is undeniable, however Kaul, at times, succeeds in evoking emotions. Its narrative is smeared with tears of a Kashmiri Pandit overwhelmed with emotions, who expresses:   Anguish of a helpless pandit ‘While bombs and cracklings sparks leap up from rags, The watchdogs hide behind piled up sandbags’   Anguish at seeing one’s people fall ‘The old colleagues took a teacher’s life Burnt his roots, stole fragrance of his wife’   Anguish at having to run away and encapsulating one’s cowardice in it ‘This is the way to keep and hold Our great culture in our own fold’   And a final hopeless display of impotency, curse of the crushed ‘They must be acquainted with what the dead feel here and know The wind blows among the words that the dead utter below’   Kaul has devoted his life in understanding and disseminating, what he calls, “the creative impulses and acute perceptions of reality,” echoing Judith Palmer’s response to the question about the function of poetry.   “Poetry will never die,” exclaimed Kaul, reassuringly, as our interview came to a close. I nodded silently. The interview couldn’t have ended more beautifully. And it is typical of Kaul who has a habit of concluding his pessimism with a promise to resuscitate.   But woods I have are all afire I have to grow my woods again Mission is big and time so short Work I will and never retire (-from ‘Woods I love’)     From chintangirishmodi at gmail.com Sat Jul 3 15:18:49 2010 From: chintangirishmodi at gmail.com (Chintan) Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 15:18:49 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] A Girl Story: Donation-based film to support education of underprivileged girls In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: *From* http://www.agirlstory.org/who.php A Girl Story is a unique donation-based film that brings to life the experience of many underprivileged girls in India. This particular story is told through the eyes of Tarla, a young girl who simply wants to go to school and receive an education. Our project's goals are to raise awareness about the challenges that girls like Tarla face, and to drive donations for the nonprofit group Project Nanhi Kali. Project Nanhi Kali (little bud) was founded in 1996 by K C Mahindra Education Trust to provide 10 years of primary education to underprivileged girls in India. Nanhi Kali has successfully evolved over the years into a national girl sponsorship program, which supports the education of girl children by providing not only academic support but also direct material support in the form of uniforms, clothes, note books etc. The project currently supports the education of over 58,000 underprivileged girl children with a goal to grow this number significantly. K. C. Mahindra Education Trust regularly monitors the NGOs giving technical inputs where ever required to ensure that quality education is being imparted to all the Nanhi Kali girls. Please see nanhikali.org for more information. (Source: http://blog.prathambooks.org/) From yasir.media at gmail.com Sat Jul 3 19:05:14 2010 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?INmK2Kcg2LPYsSB+IMm5xLFzyZDKjg==?=) Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 18:35:14 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] ali hujwiri Message-ID: Ali Hujwiri's tomb was attacked day before in Lahore. Its evident why this brand is the most symbolic to be the recipient of the attack. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Hujwiri http://www.maktabah.org/index.php/component/content/article/43/817.html From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sun Jul 4 11:45:34 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 11:45:34 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 8 Message-ID: Article Theme: Right to Food Source: The Hindu Date: Monday, Jul 29, 2002 Link: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2002/07/29/stories/2002072900661000.htm Article Content: *Ending destitution * By Jean Dreze * Food transfers to the destitute are a good way of using the surplus grain stocks. * SAMRI DEVI is a 70-year-old widow who lives in Kusumatand, an impoverished hamlet in Palamau district, Jharkhand. Her son, Bhageshwar Bhuiya, suffers from TB and is unable to work. Her daughter-in-law has taken leave of this world. So the burden of looking after Bhageshwar and his seven children rests on Samri Devi's frail shoulders. She feeds the family, somehow, by gleaning leftover rice from a local rice mill, collecting wild foods and begging from time to time. The children are severely undernourished and none of them goes to school. Except for one cooking pot and a few rags, Samri Devi's family owns absolutely nothing — not even a blanket or a pair of chappals. Samri Devi's is one among millions of households in rural India that might be described as "destitute". These households typically have no able-bodied adult member and no regular source of income. They survive by doing a variety of informal activities such as gathering food from the village commons, making baskets, selling minor forest produce and keeping the odd goat. We met Samri Devi during a recent survey of destitution in five States (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh), conducted by researchers from the Centre for Development Economics and the Centre for Equity Studies. We were shocked to find that even in prosperous villages some households lived in conditions of extreme poverty and hunger. A casual visitor is unlikely to notice them, as destitute households keep a low profile and are often socially invisible. But if you look for them, you will find them, quietly struggling to earn their next meal or patiently starving in a dark mud hut. From this, one point is clear: destitute households cannot rely on spontaneous community support. Social security arrangements are needed. As things stand, however, destitute households are beyond the pale of most development programmes and welfare schemes. They are unable to participate in rural employment programmes, if available. Getting a bank loan is for most of them beyond the realm of possibility. Even "self-help groups" tend to shun them. Some destitute households are able to take advantage of pension schemes such as those meant for widows and the aged, but the coverage of these schemes is very limited and the formalities involved often end up excluding the poorest of the poor. In this sea of neglect, an island of hope has recently emerged — the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. This programme, introduced in early 2001 (despite predictable objections from the Finance Ministry), is addressed to the poorest of the poor, as identified by gram panchayats and gram sabhas. Antyodaya households have special ration cards and are entitled to 35 kg of grain a month at highly subsidised prices (Rs. 2 a kg for wheat and Rs. 3 a kg for rice). The survey mentioned earlier indicates that the programme is doing well, in sharp contrast with other components of the public distribution system (PDS). First and foremost, the selection of Antyodaya households appears to be quite fair: among the 450 Antyodaya households living in the sample villages, a large majority turned out to be very poor. Nearly two thirds of these households are constrained to skip meals from time to time. More than half do not own a single blanket or quilt. Only two per cent of the sample households lived in economic conditions described by the field investigators as "better than average", compared with other households in the village. In other words, the community-based selection procedure is working. Antyodaya also seems to be reasonably successful in terms of the timely and effective distribution of food rations. This is particularly so in Andhra Pradesh, where most of the sample households had received their full quota every month since the programme was initiated. Taking the five sample States together, we estimated that the average Antyodaya household obtained close to 75 per cent of its full entitlement since the programme began. Regarding the quality of grain received, 85 per cent of the respondents described it as "average" or "good". And while the prices charged to the Antyodaya households were occasionally higher than the official issue prices, the extent of overcharging is not very large — about 13 per cent on average. This is not to say that the programme is flawless. In some areas (particularly in Jharkhand), we found that many Antyodaya households had been deprived of their entitlements, as ration-shop dealers took advantage of their powerlessness. Yet, the experience so far strongly suggests that these failures can be addressed and that the basic approach underlying the Antyodaya programme is quite sound. The main limitation of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, seen as a social security programme, is its restricted coverage (less than 5 per cent of the rural population). But there is absolutely no difficulty in expanding and consolidating it. Today, it absorbs less than three million tonnes of food per year — a trivial proportion of the country's aggregate food stocks of 65 million tonnes. An expanded programme of Antyodaya-style social security for the destitute, covering (say) 10 per cent of the rural population with enhanced entitlements of 10 kg of grain per person a month, would require about eight million tonnes of grain per year. This is a small price to pay for protecting the rural population from extreme poverty. It is useful to see the case for a major expansion of the Antyodaya programme in the context of the "problem" of ballooning food stocks in the country. The needs and rights of destitute households should of course be the primary consideration, but as it happens, there are also independent reasons why food transfers to the destitute are a good way of using the surplus grain stocks. First, the overhead costs of these food transfers are low. This is a crucial consideration, because overhead costs have been the main stumbling block in the way of other constructive uses of food stocks, such as mid-day meals and food-for-work programmes. Second, food transfers to the destitute also have the advantage of boosting the aggregate consumption of foodgrains. Indeed, since there is widespread hunger among destitute households, most of the food given to them translates into additional consumption. In contrast, food transfers made under programmes such as school meals or food-for-work create little additional demand for foodgrains, as they substitute to a large extent for food that would otherwise be bought in the market. This, too, is a crucial point, because in the absence of additional demand the only long-term solution to the problem of ballooning food stocks (short of exporting them) is to reduce procurement prices, something that is unlikely to happen in the near future. In short, there is an overwhelming case for introducing a large programme of food-based social security for the destitute. The Antyodaya experience shows that this approach is feasible. A permanent programme along the same lines is likely to work even better, as eligible households learn to claim their entitlements. It would go a long way towards ending the extreme insecurity and deprivation that ruin the lives of destitute households in rural India. In addition, this is an economically attractive way of reducing the country's bloated food stocks. There is little reason for hesitation. From pawan.durani at gmail.com Sun Jul 4 15:21:47 2010 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 15:21:47 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Sinister face of Islamofascism Message-ID: * http://www.dailypioneer.com/266765/Sinister-face-of-Islamofascism.html Sinister face of Islamofascism* *Kanchan Gupta* We Muslims are one community... (*my goal was to*) injure people or kill people... One has to understand where I’m coming from, because… I consider myself a *mujahid*, a Muslim soldier.” It’s unlikely the American judge presiding over Faisal Shahzad’s arraignment was quite prepared for such a candid admission of Islamism *über alles* by the would-be Times Square bomber. But this is not the first time that the *jihadi* impulse has been so baldly stated by those who believe that bloodshed serves the cause of Islam — the more horrific the bloodletting, the greater the piety of the perpetrator of what others consider to be both a crime and a sin. The Fort Hood killer had no qualms about killing fellow soldiers; the underpants bomber was prepared to die to bring down a trans-Atlantic passenger plane, and Faisal Shahzad was comfortable with the idea of blowing up innocent people in New York’s fashionable Times Square. Before them, Mohammed Atta al-Sayeed had led a dozen hijackers on a suicide mission to terrorise America; in London, young Muslims of Pakistani origin had stuffed their backpacks with explosives and pulled the trigger in crowded compartments of underground trains. We in India have known for long what the West has discovered to its horror after the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center were felled on 9/11. Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s sophistry was useful distraction from the Muslim League’s coarse politics of separatism premised on the fundamentals of Islamic exclusivism, intolerance bordering on hatred of the ‘other’, the * ummah*’s presumed right to rule the world and hoist the banner of Islam atop every capital. Tragic as the violence that accompanied partition may have been, far worse has since been witnessed. Islamists from Pakistan have struck again and again, in more ways than one, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. When excessive attention is focussed on 26/11 because it was *jihad*brought live on television screens, their other crimes tend to be glossed over. For instance the ethnic cleansing of Kashmir Valley. Or the subversion of the Indian Muslim’s mind. Jinnah was given to lofty speech if not noble thought, but the lesser among the ranks must have sniggered when he declared on August 11, 1947, in a speech that is often quoted by those untutored in Islamism: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state... You will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the state.” That state is today rapidly sinking into the quagmire of Islamist fanaticism. Pakistan’s citizens have neither ceased to be Hindus and Muslims “in the political sense” nor has the Pakistani state steered clear of religion. The degeneration began within months of the Quaid-e-Azam’s death; a decrepit, derelict Islamic Republic of Pakistan, variously described as the “most dangerous place in the world” and an “international headache”, is now engulfed in the very *jihad* which it thought would destroy India. Jinnah was able to wrench out of India what he despairingly (some would say, disparagingly) described as “a moth-eaten Pakistan”; what remains of Pakistan is being gnawed at from within by those who are so consumed by hate that they find the idea of Muslims cohabiting with Muslims an intolerable idea. Nothing else explains why suicide bombers should target worshippers at Daata Darbar, an acient Sufi shrine in Lahore, drenching a saint’s *dargah* with the blood of the innocent last Thursday, or kill believers gathered at a Rawalpindi mosque. Since by law Ahmediyas are not considered to be Muslims in Pakistan and treated as heretics by *mullah*s, their slaughter while at prayer, as it happened on May 28, is considered to be nothing extraordinary in the ‘land of the pure’. So, when Faisal Shahzad says, “One has to understand where I’m coming from,” he means one has to look at Pakistan to understand what drives Pakistanis to kill with such ferocity and cite Islam as the reason. But Pakistan alone does not breed such monsters; look around and you will find that rare is the Muslim-majority country untainted by the violence propagated by Islamism and perpetrated by Islamists. Secular Egypt thought it would render the seeds of Islamism planted by Syed Qutb sterile by executing the man who called for “offensive *jihad*” as the true assertion of the Islamic identity. But the Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen has flourished, carrying forth Qutb’s message that “true Islam will transform every aspect of society, eliminating everything non-Muslim”, and that Islam is the “ultimate solution”. It would be a folly to believe that every Muslim subscribes to Qutb’s interpretation of Islam or that behind every Muslim name lurks a terrorist waiting for an opportunity to strike. For evidence of the deep schism that sets Faisal Shahzad and his ilk apart from those who just want to get on with their lives and live in peace we just need to look at Pakistan. For every suicide bomber there are thousands who are repelled by his act of terror, who weep at the sight of so much blood being shed for nothing. Muslims in Mumbai, let us not forget, refused to allow the bodies of Ajmal Kasab’s slain colleagues to be buried in their graveyards. Such examples abound. Yet, it would do us no good if we were to gloss over the reality. Islamofascism exists and those who subscribe to it are unfortunately also those who are fashioning policy and influencing society in Islamic countries — individually and collectively. The Organisation of Islamic Conference bears evidence to this: Every time it demands the criminalisation of criticism of Islamist excesses and crimes against humanity because it allegedly “defames Islam”, it strengthens those very elements whom it should be condemning before anybody else does so but won’t because it conflates Islamism and Islam and views the former as a triumphalist, faith-driven assertion of the latter. It’s easy to demonise critics of Islamism as ‘Islamophobes’ and call for global legislation to curb free speech. But if conceded, this will embolden the Faisal Shahzads and the suicide bombers and the fanatics for whom hate is a virtue and tolerance a sin. Rather than lash out at those who find Islamism abhorrent, its champions should ask themselves a simple question: After “eliminating everything non-Muslim”, what shall happen to ‘everything Muslim’? The terrible sight of Muslims killing Muslims in Pakistan, which was supposed to be the homeland of the Indian sub-continent’s Muslims, should provide a clue to the answer to that question. -- Follow the writer on: http://twitter.com/KanchanGupta. Blog on this and other issues at http://kanchangupta.blogspot.com. Write to him at kanchangupta at rocketmail.com < kanchangupta at rocketmail.com> From aliens at dataone.in Sun Jul 4 16:58:20 2010 From: aliens at dataone.in (Bipin Trivedi) Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:58:20 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] PIE CHARTS OF GUJARAT CM TIME MANAGEMENT AND ISO CERTIFIED CMO OFFICE Message-ID: <000f01cb1b6c$0226db70$06749250$@in> ARTICLES BY JUMANA SHAH, DNA BELLOW PIE CHARTS TO ANALYZE NARENDRA MODI'S TIME MANAGEMENT http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pie-charts-to-analyse-narendra-modi-s-t ime-management_1405041 A novel and interesting concept seems to have emerged from the stables of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's office to monitor his time. In tune with revamping the CMO's processes, a special CMs sheduling team has been put in place which manages his appointments, engagements and basically overall time management. Sources in the know of the process claim that in recent times, a lot of focus has been put on maximum utilisation of CM's time and 360 degree evaluation is done. At the end of every month, a detailed analysis of how he spent his time in the last 30 days in the form of a pie-chart is given to him. He then reviews it with his close aides and advisors and decides how to use his time more effectively. "For instance, we closely monitor how many hours he spent on interaction with bureaucrats, visitors, politics, party (BJP), public campaigns like Krishi Mahotsav etc, social campaigns, travelling, public rallies etc. At the end of the month, this is presented in a pie chart to debate if the time was used effectively, and plan ahead," a close aide of the CM said. The team also does daily task planning. A lot of impetus is put on documenting every decision. "The influences while taking any decision are minutely archived for further reference. This was not done earlier and it has indeed helped internal processes," the aide said. Another intriguing aspect is on capturing everything that the CM says, wherever he is. "He tosses up a lot of ideas when talking to people. Earlier these thoughts just bounced off and were only selectively pursued, but now, there is a system that as soon as an idea is aired, it is assigned to the respective department for a feasibility check and entered online in the IWDMS's (integrated workflow and document management system) 'Ideas to execution' programme. Here there is a regular update visible to all in the CMO on the progress of every project. Even in public rallies, he sometimes makes commitments for the said region. We make it a point to ensure that commitments, if feasible, are delivered," says an officer on special duty in the CMO. To sum it up, he simply ensures that the CM is particular about his time. Gujarat'S CMO's SYSTEM IS ISO CERTIFIED TOO http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_gujarat-cmo-s-system-is-iso-certified-t oo_1405045 The success of SWAGAT is inherently linked to the internal seamless functioning of the chief minister's office. It is perhaps not so surprising then that in January 2009, the Gujarat CMO was the first in the country to acquire the ISO 9001: 2000 certificate for its processes. But the notable aspect here is that the certificate was not attained as a piece of paper to flaunt, but the processes in the CMO have actually undergone a distinct change. Officials in the CMO claim six main sections of the CMO have undergone remarkable reforms - the secretariat functions; public relations office; general administration of the CMO like human resource management, training of CMO's 60 employees etc; Jan Sampark - the CM's points of contact with general public - and last but not least, the usage of information technology (IT) for all internal processes. "A gap analysis was conducted before applying for the certification and according to the ISO standards processes were reworked. Majority of CMO is online. 80% of CMO is paperless," says a senior officer on special duty perched behind a compact laptop on a spotless desk. As for IT, an internal system for the CMO called IWDMS (integrated workflow and document management system) is being used since the last five years. 67 new processes have been developed. A lot of impetus is being put on recording every interaction of the CM with visitors, state bureaucrats, ministerial cabinet, politically and even with general public at mass gatherings. A new application called 'ideas to execution' has been developed where the status progression of every idea and activity can be seen. "Any communication with the CM is online. Anyone wants to seek his appointment; any application etc is all done online. CM receives over 500 mails everyday, but after screening and filtering, synopsis of around 150-200 mails is sent to him everyday. He comments and reverts back on every mail daily. He forwards it to respective departments and follows up on a monthly basis. Every mail he receives is archived and docketed properly,' the official says. Elaborating on one of the 67 processes, the official gives the example of campaign monitoring of each department through CMO. "Campaigns like Krishi Mahotsav, Kanya Kelavni etc are monitored from here,' he says. From pawan.durani at gmail.com Mon Jul 5 10:16:52 2010 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 10:16:52 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand Message-ID: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Taliban-writ-in-Gods-own-country/articleshow/6129310.cms KOCHI: A private college lecturer, out on bail after being arrested for preparing a question paper with objectionable reference to the Prophet which triggered protests by Muslims, was attacked and his right hand severed by unidentified persons at Muvattupuzha on Sunday. Mr T J Joseph was dragged out of his car and hacked with sharp weapons by assailants while he was returning from a church along with his family, including his sister and mother. His right hand was severed while he suffered cuts in his left leg, they said. 52-year-old Joseph was rushed to a private hospital here where he is undergoing a surgery. A Malayalam lecturer at Newman College in Thodupuzha in Idukki district, Mr Joseph was arrested in April last after the question paper which he had set for the BCom II year internal exams sparked protests by Muslim outfits who said it had hurt their religious sentiments. He was later suspended from the college, whose authorities also apologised for the mistake. Police said they were searching for the assailants, numbering around eight. The gang, came in a vehicle with knives, swords and other weapons. The gang first pushed the family members out of the car and later severed Mr Joseph’s right hand. Both his hands from the wrist have been severely damaged. According to his sister, the attackers were young men. There had been three attacks against Mr Joseph earlier too. The lecturer was on the run after various Muslim groups protested in Thodupuzha, a town near here. Thodupuzha remained tense after clashes broke out in the town and district authorities ordered a ban on the assembly of people. Political leaders condemned the incident. In a strongly-worded statement, the Indian Union Muslim League said two wrongs did not make a right and it was macabre way of reacting to what the lecturer had done. From pawan.durani at gmail.com Mon Jul 5 10:37:42 2010 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 10:37:42 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ishrat Jahan was an LeT fidayeen: Headley Message-ID: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Ishrat-Jahan-was-an-LeT-fidayeen-Headley/articleshow/6129125.cms NEW DELHI: Pakistani American terrorist David Headley has said that Ishrat Jahan, the Mumbai girl who was killed along with three alleged terrorists in 2004 in a police encounter, was indeed a Lashkar-e-Taiba fidayeen. Sources said Headley told interrogators from the National Investigation Agency that Ishrat, a resident of Mumbra in Thane, was recruited by top Lashkar commander Muzammil who was in-charge of LeT's operations in India till 2007. The statement, while confirming that Headley is a trove of information on Lashkar's plans against India, corroborates the version of Gujarat police as well as the Centre in what has turned into a controversial case because of doubts about the veracity of the police version. Importantly, Headley's statement tallies with claim of Gujarat cops and the Centre that Muzammil had sent Ishrat and her accomplices to Gujarat on a terror mission as part of Lashkar's plan to attack the Indian hinterland and target VIPs. Headley's visits to India for reconaissance missions for Lashkar started in 2006, sources said, when Muzammil was Lashkar's chief commander in India. Lashkar had owned up Ishrat immediately after the encounter, with its Lahore-based mouthpiece 'Ghazwa Times' describing her as an LeT activist and taking umbrage at the action of Indian cops in removing her veil. In 2007, however, Lashkar, in its fresh incarnation as Jamaat-ud-Dawa, disowned her, by issuing an apology to Ishrat's family for calling her an LeT cadre. The timing of the apology was significant. It came just before Gopinath Pillai, father of Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai who was killed along with Ishrat, filed a petition in the Supreme Court, demanding a CBI probe into the encounter. Headley's statement that Ishrat was recruited to be a fidayeen undercuts Lashkar's attempt to disown her, though it may not settle doubts about the genuineness of the encounter in which she was killed. Ishrat and Javed were killed along with two Pakistani nationals -- Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar Abdul Ghani -- both alleged LeT terrorists, on June 15, 2004. According to the police version, they were intercepted on the outskirts of Ahmedabad when they were about to enter the city in a blue Indica on a mission to eliminate chief minister Narendra Modi. In her petition to the Gujarat High Court, Ishrat's mother Shamima Kausar had disputed the version of the Gujarat police as well as the Centre, claiming that her daughter was a saleswoman working for Javed Sheikh who dealt in perfumes. Javed's father told the SC that his son was innocent and sought a central probe. Both Gujarat police and Centre pointed to infirmities in their version. Centre told Gujarat HC that Javed had been recruited by LeT when he was in Dubai. Gopinath Pillai had not disclosed criminal cases pending against his son, or the fact that he had obtained a different passport using his original name even though the one issued to him was still valid. The Centre also disputed the claim of Gopinath Pillai, supported by Ishrat's mother, that he was in the business of perfumes and that this required him and Ishrat to travel across the country. The Gujarat HC had set Monday as the deadline for all parties concerned to submit their replies to the petitions from the parents of Ishrat and Javed, seeking a CBI probe into the alleged encounter. The case has taken on significance after a CBI probe established that Sohrabuddin, an alleged gangster, was killed by Gujarat cops in a fake encounter. It has also established that Tulsidas Prajapati, a small-time criminal who helped Gujarat cops nab Sohrabuddin, was also eliminated by the police to wipe out evidence. Headley's account underlines his importance as a repository of crucial information on Lashkar and its plans on India. His statement to the NIA team that LeT founder Hafiz Saeed was engaged with the 26/11 attackers all through the plot has reinforced India's demand that Pakistan take action against the Lashkar chief. Sources described the information given by the Pakistani American terrorist as "vital inputs" From yasir.media at gmail.com Mon Jul 5 13:44:07 2010 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?INmK2Kcg2LPYsSB+IMm5xLFzyZDKjg==?=) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:14:07 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Sinister face of Islamofascism In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Kanchan is a misplaced writer trying to find feet the emphasis on 80 should have been 20 and on 20 should have been 80 the complaint http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-sZOGBTgcs with apologies to blatant advertising From faiz.outsider at gmail.com Mon Jul 5 13:56:28 2010 From: faiz.outsider at gmail.com (faiz ullah) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:56:28 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: *Hum ke thhehre ajanabi itni madaraaton ke baad Phir banenge aashnaa kitani mulaqaaton ke baad* ** *Kab nazar mein aayegi bedaagh sabze ki bahaar Khoon ke dhabbe dhulenge kitni barasaaton ke baad * *Dil to chaha par shikast-e-dil ne mohalat hi na di Kuchh gile-shikave bhi kar lete munajaaton ke baad* * * *The bohot bedard lamhen khatm-e-dard-e-ishq ke Thien bahut bemehr subahein meharabaan raaton ke baad* * * *Un se jo kahane gaye the “Faiz” jaan sadaqaa kiye Ankahi hi rah gae vo baat sab baaton ke baad* ** Even after much warm hospitality we stand unfamiliar After how many meetings shall we again get acquainted When shall we see a spotless spring in the fields again How many rains shall it take to wash the blood stains off Though the heart wished, it did not allow its defeated self To make complaints after whispering words of prayers Merciless were the moments when the throbbing of love ended Unpitying were the mornings that followed the compassionate nights With the gift of your own life, Faiz, what you went to tell them That matter remained unsaid when all had been expressed Faiz Ahmed Faiz On Mon, Jul 5, 2010 at 10:16 AM, Pawan Durani wrote: > > http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Taliban-writ-in-Gods-own-country/articleshow/6129310.cms > < > http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Taliban-writ-in-Gods-own-country/articleshow/6129310.cms > > > KOCHI: A private college lecturer, out on bail after being arrested for > preparing a question paper with objectionable reference to the Prophet > which > triggered protests by Muslims, was attacked and his right hand severed by > unidentified persons at Muvattupuzha on Sunday. > > Mr T J Joseph was dragged out of his car and hacked with sharp weapons by > assailants while he was returning from a church along with his family, > including his sister and mother. His right hand was severed while he > suffered cuts in his left leg, they said. 52-year-old Joseph was rushed to > a > private hospital here where he is undergoing a surgery. > > A Malayalam lecturer at Newman College in Thodupuzha in Idukki district, Mr > Joseph was arrested in April last after the question paper which he had set > for the BCom II year internal exams sparked protests by Muslim outfits who > said it had hurt their religious sentiments. > > He was later suspended from the college, whose authorities also apologised > for the mistake. Police said they were searching for the assailants, > numbering around eight. > > The gang, came in a vehicle with knives, swords and other weapons. The gang > first pushed the family members out of the car and later severed Mr > Joseph’s > right hand. Both his hands from the wrist have been severely damaged. > According to his sister, the attackers were young men. There had been three > attacks against Mr Joseph earlier too. > > The lecturer was on the run after various Muslim groups protested in > Thodupuzha, a town near here. Thodupuzha remained tense after clashes broke > out in the town and district authorities ordered a ban on the assembly of > people. > > Political leaders condemned the incident. In a strongly-worded statement, > the Indian Union Muslim League said two wrongs did not make a right and it > was macabre way of reacting to what the lecturer had done. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to 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/> -- Faiz From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Mon Jul 5 14:23:54 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 14:23:54 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Such incidents should be thoroughly condemned. If the teacher is saying something which people don't like, they can protest certainly, but not indulge in violence. All those who indulge in this should be immediately put behind bars to send a strong message to any kind of fundamentalism which can provoke violence in our country. From nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Mon Jul 5 15:14:06 2010 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (nmf2010) Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:44:06 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?Program_-_week_28_-__NewMediaFest=27?= =?iso-8859-1?q?2010?= Message-ID: <20100705114407.3B4F219B.E2C0180C@192.168.0.2> NewMediaFest'2010 --------------------------- program- week 28 --> 04 - 11 July 2010 http://2010.newmediafest.org/?p=909 --------------------------- Feature of The Month July 2010 http://2010.newmediafest.org/?p=902 VideoChannel Cologne is happy to launch on 5 July 2010 - part 3 of [self] ~imaging artists portraying themselves in film & video featuring another 25 video artists _________________________________________ Feature of the Week 28 - 04-11 July 2010 http://2010.newmediafest.org/?p=905 VideoChannel Cologne launches on 5 July 2010 in the framework of NewMediaFest'2010 OMFC'2 - One Minute Film Collection 2 featuring 20 films & videos of a duration of exactly 60 seconds ----------------------------------------- Venue of the week 28 - 04-11 July 2010 --> Videoart Festival Miden http://www.festivalmiden.gr 8-10 July 2010 - Kalamata/Greece --> http://downloads.nmartproject.net/Program_teliko_2010_eng.pdf --> VideoChannel is also happy to announce the presentation of a selection from the video show -Found Footage!- in Greece more info on http://2010.newmediafest.org/?p=909 --> Cinematheque - streaming media Cologne is presenting during the festival in Kalamata the interactive show Flash & Thunder Flash as a tool and medium for artistic creations featuring 14 artists more info on http://2010.newmediafest.org/?p=909 ------------------------------------------------- NewMediaFest'2010 10 Years [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne global heritage of digital culture 1 January - 31 December 2010 http://2010.newmediafest.org director and chief curator: Wilfried Agricola de Cologne 2010 [at] newmediafest.org ---------------------------------------------------- From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Mon Jul 5 15:55:28 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 03:25:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <191120.83147.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Faizullah   Zabardast ghazal by Faiz and an excellent rendition by Nayyara Noor.   In this instance, seeing what Muslims have done to Islam and what Hindus have done to Dharma (and what Indians have done to India and what Pakistanis have done to Pakistan) the poem by Faiz (given below) is so relevant.   Kshmendra     Subahe Azadi  1947. Faiz   ye daag daag ujaala, ye shab-gazida sehar vo intezar tha jiska, ye vo sehar toh nahin   ye vo sehar to nahin jis ki arzoo laykar chalay thay yaar ke mil jayegi kahin na kahin falak ke dasht main taaron ki akhari manzil kahin toh hoga shab-e-sust mauj ka sahil kahin toh jakay rukega safina-e-gam-e-dil jawan lahoo ki pur-asrar shaharahon se chale jo yar to daaman pe kitnay haath paday dayaar-e-husn ki bay-sabr khwab-gaahon say pukaratee raheen bahain, badan bulatay rahay bohat azeez thi lekin rukh-e-sehar ki lagan bahut qarin tha hasinan-e-nur ka daaman subuk subuk thi tamanna, dabee dabee thi thakan   suna hai ho bhi chuka hai firaq-e-zulmat-e-nur suna hai ho bhi chuka hai visal-e-manzil-o-gaam badal chuka hai bahut ahl-e-dard ka dastur nishat-e-wasl halal, -o-,azab-e-hijr haraam jigar ki aag, nazar ki umang, dil ki jalan kisi pe chara-e-hijran ka kuch asar hee nahin kahan se aaee nigar-e-saba, kidhar ko gai abhi chirag-e-sar-e-rah ko kuch khabar hee nahin abhi garani-e-shab main kami nahin aaee             najat-e-dida-o-dil ki ghari nahin aaee chale chalo ke vo manzil abhi nahin aaee    --- On Mon, 7/5/10, faiz ullah wrote: From: faiz ullah Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand To: Cc: "reader-list" Date: Monday, July 5, 2010, 1:56 PM *Hum ke thhehre ajanabi itni madaraaton ke baad Phir banenge aashnaa kitani mulaqaaton ke baad* ** *Kab nazar mein aayegi bedaagh sabze ki bahaar Khoon ke dhabbe dhulenge kitni barasaaton ke baad * *Dil to chaha par shikast-e-dil ne mohalat hi na di Kuchh gile-shikave bhi kar lete munajaaton ke baad* * * *The bohot bedard lamhen khatm-e-dard-e-ishq ke Thien bahut bemehr subahein meharabaan raaton ke baad* * * *Un se jo kahane gaye the “Faiz” jaan sadaqaa kiye Ankahi hi rah gae vo baat sab baaton ke baad* ** Even after much warm hospitality we stand unfamiliar After how many meetings shall we again get acquainted When shall we see a spotless spring in the fields again How many rains shall it take to wash the blood stains off Though the heart wished, it did not allow its defeated self To make complaints after whispering words of prayers Merciless were the moments when the throbbing of love ended Unpitying were the mornings that followed the compassionate nights With the gift of your own life, Faiz, what you went to tell them That matter remained unsaid when all had been expressed Faiz Ahmed Faiz On Mon, Jul 5, 2010 at 10:16 AM, Pawan Durani wrote: > > http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Taliban-writ-in-Gods-own-country/articleshow/6129310.cms > < > http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Taliban-writ-in-Gods-own-country/articleshow/6129310.cms > > > KOCHI: A private college lecturer, out on bail after being arrested for > preparing a question paper with objectionable reference to the Prophet > which > triggered protests by Muslims, was attacked and his right hand severed by > unidentified persons at Muvattupuzha on Sunday. > > Mr T J Joseph was dragged out of his car and hacked with sharp weapons by > assailants while he was returning from a church along with his family, > including his sister and mother. His right hand was severed while he > suffered cuts in his left leg, they said. 52-year-old Joseph was rushed to > a > private hospital here where he is undergoing a surgery. > > A Malayalam lecturer at Newman College in Thodupuzha in Idukki district, Mr > Joseph was arrested in April last after the question paper which he had set > for the BCom II year internal exams sparked protests by Muslim outfits who > said it had hurt their religious sentiments. > > He was later suspended from the college, whose authorities also apologised > for the mistake. Police said they were searching for the assailants, > numbering around eight. > > The gang, came in a vehicle with knives, swords and other weapons. The gang > first pushed the family members out of the car and later severed Mr > Joseph’s > right hand. Both his hands from the wrist have been severely damaged. > According to his sister, the attackers were young men. There had been three > attacks against Mr Joseph earlier too. > > The lecturer was on the run after various Muslim groups protested in > Thodupuzha, a town near here. Thodupuzha remained tense after clashes broke > out in the town and district authorities ordered a ban on the assembly of > people. > > Political leaders condemned the incident. In a strongly-worded statement, > the Indian Union Muslim League said two wrongs did not make a right and it > was macabre way of reacting to what the lecturer had done. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to 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/> -- Faiz _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to 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 akmalik45 at yahoo.com Mon Jul 5 19:25:28 2010 From: akmalik45 at yahoo.com (A.K. Malik) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 06:55:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <154823.76016.qm@web112109.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Hi Rakesh, Since there is no law and order in this country and there is reverse Ram Rajya, no body can be and will be punished.If there is lot of hue and cry, then some innocent people would be hanged.Do you think, there can be any witnesses against such fanatics who would dare to go to the court for years together without fearing for their lives.I have my doubts. Regards, (A.K.MALIK) --- On Mon, 7/5/10, Rakesh Iyer wrote: > From: Rakesh Iyer > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand > To: "faiz ullah" > Cc: "reader-list" > Date: Monday, July 5, 2010, 2:23 PM > Such incidents should be thoroughly > condemned. If the teacher is saying > something which people don't like, they can protest > certainly, but not > indulge in violence. All those who indulge in this should > be immediately put > behind bars to send a strong message to any kind of > fundamentalism which can > provoke violence in our country. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the > city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to 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 indersalim at gmail.com Mon Jul 5 20:04:59 2010 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 20:04:59 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand In-Reply-To: <154823.76016.qm@web112109.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <154823.76016.qm@web112109.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Dear Malik sahib i too have my doubts about the courage of the state to bring culprits to justice... but wait what is Law in the first place... dont we see an ' invisible hand ' operating between Religion and the State, everytime...  to enter the power game, we often need some blood of the innocent or a bold mind( professor's hand ) to maintain the adrenaline level of the state-religion embrace ... it dont see the people as problem as Mr. Kshmendra sees... we somehow need to create spaces for the the new voices/rebles to express their opnions freely, without fear... else we have this violence which actually helps the state to throw laws on our faces to make us look more distorted than we are.... the best will always come from people if the state gives the people the confidence which they deserve, but unfortunately we have politicans and religous groups saying that ' two wrongs dont make one right" which is very sad best is On Mon, Jul 5, 2010 at 7:25 PM, A.K. Malik wrote: > > Hi Rakesh, >           Since there is no law and order in this country and there is reverse Ram Rajya, no body can be and will be punished.If there is lot of hue and cry, then some innocent people would be hanged.Do you think, there can be any witnesses against such fanatics who would dare to go to the court for years together without fearing for their lives.I have my doubts. > Regards, > > (A.K.MALIK) > > > --- On Mon, 7/5/10, Rakesh Iyer wrote: > > > From: Rakesh Iyer > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Islamic fanatics hack lecturer's hand > > To: "faiz ullah" > > Cc: "reader-list" > > Date: Monday, July 5, 2010, 2:23 PM > > Such incidents should be thoroughly > > condemned. If the teacher is saying > > something which people don't like, they can protest > > certainly, but not > > indulge in violence. All those who indulge in this should > > be immediately put > > behind bars to send a strong message to any kind of > > fundamentalism which can > > provoke violence in our country. > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the > > city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to 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 kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Mon Jul 5 20:23:08 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 07:53:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?q?=22Where_the_earth_meets_the_sky_?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=93_Timbaktu_Collective=22?= Message-ID: <842929.48391.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Where the earth meets the sky – Timbaktu Collective" By Ranjini Sivaswamy   This is the story of a land that was at one time lying ravaged, drought stricken and forsaken. It was a committed revolution led by a couple, Bablu Ganguly and Mary Vattamattam, which has now transformed this land into an agro forest habitat. The unproductive soil was rejuvenated, rain water was harvested, trees were planted, crops were cultivated and the entire land blossomed.   Timbaktu in 1990 Twenty years ago, Bablu and Mary set their foot on this barren land in the district of Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. People had given up on this land, of which Bablu and Mary decided to buy 32 acres; probably the last thing one would expect from a young couple.   The spark that triggered this initiative was a book – ‘The One-Straw Revolution’, by a Japanese author Masanobu Fukuoka. The book carried a very special message on how humanity can live an enriching life hand in hand with the nature. Bablu and Mary carried this spirit and conceived their vision for this land that they called ‘Timbaktu’, meaning ‘Where the earth meets the sky’. Their aspiration was humble and they wanted to keep everything simple – get closer to the land and help it regenerate itself.   They knew there was potential in the land of Timbaktu which was once part of the rich and powerful Vijayanagara Kingdom. Its forests were considered to be the finest, its fruits were savored across the country and various armies fought to keep control of this once fertile land. But everything was destroyed by ruthless deforestation and use of environmentally damaging pesticides and fertilizers.   Over the years, villages in this region have been tormented by chronic drought, unproductive land, unemployment and poor infrastructural facilities. Bablu and Mary decided to build the Timbaktu land by engaging with the villages around and formed an NGO called The Timbaktu Collective. “Our vision is to stop the degradation of the land in Anantapur district and to find ways to reverse it. We want to green the hills and the land. We want to develop alternative lifestyles. Lifestyles that are sustainable and provide more liberty and happiness, than those based on exploitation. The small farmers see their land degrade and the wells drying up, but they don’t know what to do, so they just continue their patterns of self-destruction. We want to find a path that leads out of this vicious circle, not without but together with them” – they say.     Timbaktu today In 1991, the couple decided to put their first crop in the land of Timbaktu and as everyone around them said, the crop failed. That became even more instigating – Bablu went ahead and bought 7000 saplings. He and Mary brought farmers from the villages to build creative water harvesting structures ensuring that every drop of water was judiciously used. Seed dibbling and such traditional farming methods were practiced – and the colour of the land started changing. Timbaktu was transformed from a barren earth to a lush green forest. It’s heartening to see that birds, snakes and butterflies have come back to Timbaktu and a lost glory is reinstated. This is a true success story of eco-restoration and the experiment is being replicated with community support in a 10,000 acre waste land named as Kalpavalli.   The Timbaktu Collective grew to become a 105 member strong team who serve over 140 villages in Chennekothapalli, Roddam and Ramagiri mandals of Anantapur district. The organization runs two schools, one of which is a residential school for children disadvantaged families. There is also a thrift credit system for the women which has now grown into a well established alternative banking system. Farmers in the villages are given training in organic farming methods and the Collective supports a Cooperative Society that assists the farmers in marketing their organic produce. With youth development, child rights activities, helping the disabled, cultural activities and many such programmes, the Timbaktu Collective has changed the face of humanity here.   Bablu and Mary stay in Timbaktu, in a house that is built with mud, built by them and built using things available in the land of Timbaktu. Their children studied in the school run by the NGO for the villagers. Their organization has made a difference to the lives of over 12,500 marginalized families. How much more purposeful can their lives get? How much bigger role models do we need to start doing our bit for the world around us?   Visit Timbaktu to know the true spirit of this land. Find information about them on their website www.timbaktu.org. Also, watch this video (  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-326270074526442621&hl=en# ) where Bablu and Mary take you through the 20 years of Timbaktu. You can also write to them at timbaktu.info at gmail.com.   http://www.thebetterindia.com/1596/where-the-earth-meets-the-sky-timbaktu-collective/   From javedmasoo at gmail.com Tue Jul 6 08:39:57 2010 From: javedmasoo at gmail.com (Javed) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 08:39:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Muslim leaders condemn the attack on Kerala academician Message-ID: Muslim leaders condemn the attack on Kerala academician Press Statement: They have clearly sinned and defamed Islam by committing this crime which we condemn without reservations The Milli Gazette Published Online: Jul 05, 2010 New Delhi (5 July 2010): We strongly condemn yesterday's violent attack and chopping off of the hand of Mr T. J. Joseph, a lecturer in Ernakulam District of Kerala by some miscreants on the pretext of taking revenge for Joseph's act of blasphemy. We feel that law was taking its due course against the said lecturer for his misdeed and he was already suspended from his college for a year due to his insult to the Prophet of Islam by replacing the word "madman" in a quote with that of "Muhammad" while preparing an exam paper for the students of his college. Those who attacked Joseph forgot that the Prophet of Islam, upon whom be peace, in his own life had pardoned a Jewess who used to throw garbage on him and when she did not do so one day, the Prophet enquired about her and upon being told that she is ill, went to wish her early recovery and good health. The Prophet forgave the people of Mecca after its conquest although they had pained him, expelled him from his hometown and had waged war against him for years. We find that the attack on the Kerala lecturer is against the basic tenets of Islam and the Sunnah of the Prophet which emphasis on forgiveness. Islam explicitly forbids taking law and order into one's hands in the presence of competent authorities to deal with an issue. We hope that law will take its due course to punish the criminals who attacked the professor. They have clearly sinned and defamed Islam by committing this crime which we condemn without reservations. Dr. Manzoor Alam, Secretary General, All India Milli Council Mohammad Jafar, Naib Ameer, Jamaat e Islami Hind & Acting President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan Former President, All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat & Editor, The Milli Gazette Niaz Farouqui Secretary, Jamiat Ulama e Hind Navaid Hamid General Secretary, Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians (MOEMIN) & Member, National Integration Council http://beta.milligazette.com/news/3-muslim-leaders-condemn-the-attack-on-kerala-academician From javedmasoo at gmail.com Tue Jul 6 08:48:27 2010 From: javedmasoo at gmail.com (Javed) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 08:48:27 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] "It was a cold blooded murder": Ishrat's mom Message-ID: Ishrat Jahan's mom seeks Chidambaram's help TNN, Jul 6, 2010, 12.12am IST Mumbra: The TOI report on Ishrat Jahan's Lashkar-e-Taiba links stirred a fresh controversy on Monday, with the slain 19-year-old Mumbra girl's mother seeking a clarification from Union home minister P Chidambaram on the issue. Ishrat's mother, Shamima Kausar (51), without going into the details of the LeT charge, reiterated that her daughter was killed in cold blood in a staged gun battle by the Gujarat Police in 2004. "The news is an attempt to prejudice Gujarat HC, which is looking into my appeal for a CBI probe in Ishrat's death. Already a magisterial inquiry in Gujarat has declared the encounter as fake and proved her innocence. I'll approach the union home minister and ask him to come clean on this issue,'' Kausar told TOI. Ishrat, a collegian, was shot dead along with three others in a shootout in Ahmedabad. Gujarat police claimed that the four were LeT operatives out to kill CM Narendra Modi. Kausar pursued the case in Gujarat courts with support from Jitendra Awhad, NCP MLA from Mumbra-Kausa. "It's only an attempt to scare the mother,'' said Rauf Lala, a Mumbra-based lawyer assisting Kausar in the case against Gujarat government. Kausar said it's not going to cow her down and that it'll strengthen her resolve for getting justice for Ishrat. She said her eldest daughter's death in such circumstances had initially led to much suspicion and scorn from neighbours but a court order by judicial magistrate S Tamang -- doubting the veracity of the encounter -- had cleared those misconceptions. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ishrat-Jahans-mom-seeks-Chidambarams-help/articleshow/6132205.cms ------- Also see the following links: Ishrat Jahan encounter was fake: Magisterial probe 8 September 2009 http://www.twocircles.net/2009sep07/ishrat_jahan_encounter_was_fake_magisterial_probe.html Ishrat fake encounter case: IB inputs were 'manufactured' in Gujarat TNN, Jun 22, 2010 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Ahmedabad/Ishrat-fake-encounter-%20case-IB-inputs-were-manufactured-in-Gujarat/articleshow/6076968.cms Fake Encounter Deaths in India http://fakencounterindia.blogspot.com/ From pawan.durani at gmail.com Tue Jul 6 09:51:36 2010 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 09:51:36 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ishrat was to kill Modi: Headley Message-ID: Bearing out the version of Gujarat Police, American-born Lashker-e-Toiba terrorist David Headley has claimed before NIA sleuths that Ishrat, who was killed in a police encounter in Ahmedabad, was a suicide bomber of the outfit. Official sources said that Headley shared this information with the four-member team comprising officials from National Investigation Agency and Law Department during their visit to Chicago in the US. The girl, whose death had sparked a major controversy, was alleged to be a member of Lashker's suicide squad who had been inducted by top LeT operative Muzamil. Headley's information corroborates the stand of Gujarat Police and the Centre. The encounter had run into controversy after Jahan's family claimed that she was just a student and filed an appeal in the court. Gujarat Police had claimed that the terrorists were in the state to attack Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Sources said Headley's reconnaissance missions for Lashkar in India started in 2006. Jahan was killed along with Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai and two Pakistani nationals -- Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar Abdul Ghani -- on June 15, 2004. As per police records, they were intercepted on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, travelling in a car. When they were confronted, an encounter ensued in which all were shot dead. Ishrat's mother Shamima Kausar in her petition to Gujarat High Court had claimed that her daughter was working as a saleswoman for Sheikh's perfumes business. Ishrat, a resident of Mumbra suburb in Thane district, was a second year B.Sc student at Mumbai's Guru Nanak Khalsa College. Having lost her father two years before her death in 2002, she embroidered clothes and gave tuitions to help support her family of eight -- including her mother and six brothers and sisters. On June 15, 2004, Ishrat and three of her friends, Javed Ghulam Sheikh alias Pranesh Kumar Pillai, Amjad Ali alias Rajkumar Akbar Ali Rana and Jisan Johar Abdul Gani were gunned down by Ahmedabad Police's Crime Branch (Detection) on the outskirts of the city. Police claimed that the four were members of a Lashkar-e-Taiba module and were on a mission to kill Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The new revelation by Headley has come as a big contradiction to what a Ahmedabad court had ruled last year that the killing of Ishrat Jahan was a "fake encounter." Full report on : http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4115029&page=4 From rama.sangye at gmail.com Tue Jul 6 11:52:37 2010 From: rama.sangye at gmail.com (V Ramaswamy) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 11:52:37 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Spivak lecture in Kolkata Message-ID: Dear Friends Please see the details of the Spivak lecture in Calcutta on July 2010 at: http://cuckooscall.blogspot.com/2010/07/spivak-lecture-in-calcutta.html Best V Ramaswamy From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Tue Jul 6 15:31:21 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 03:01:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] " 'Conserve India': Using Fashion Against Poverty " Message-ID: <203101.88998.qm@web57204.mail.re3.yahoo.com> 'Conserve India' says :   "An average rag picker earns $25 a month. A rag picker working for Conserve will earn on average $70 a month."   They also have a campaign "Recognition for Ragpickers" . "Conserve India is calling for an official register of Ragpickers in an attempt to give them the respect that their difficult work deserves."  http://conserveindia.org/news-campaign.html   Kshmendra     " 'Conserve India': Using Fashion Against Poverty " By Rahul Anand   (Santosh Kumar started collecting plastic bags for Conserve India as he could earn three times as much by selling plastic bags to be made into HRP instead of selling the garbage elsewhere.)   Urban India is glaring at a huge waste management problem with no clear policy examining waste as a part of the production-consumption-recovery cycle.  In India, over a million people find employment in rag picking and recycling of waste; and this is an unorganized sector.   Most of the rag-pickers are poor, illiterate and belong to rural immigrant families. Many commence their profession at the young age of five to eight years. Most of them have never attended any school. While collecting rags they are subjected to chemical poisons and infections. Due to malnutrition, they suffer from stunted growth and anemia. These rag pickers have been weaned out of our social fabric and as begging is being abolished more and more beggars are becoming a part of this scavenging community.   Conserve  India, an organisation in Delhi founded by Anita and Shalabh Ahuja  was born of a desire to reduce India’s mountain of waste. Their team, after a lot of research, struck upon the idea of Upcycling by washing, drying and pressing plastic bags into sheets. Handmade Recycled Plastic (HRP) is  made from  polythene bags picked from Delhi’s streets, rubber from old truck tyres’ inner tubes, old denims and saris. The processes used to make ‘Conserve’ bags and accessories have been specifically developed to be as energy efficient as possible and to keep out polluting dyes and chemicals.  This not only helps the environment, it also cuts costs, giving the organisation more money to invest in other social projects.   Ragpickers enjoy working for Conserve as it directly implies that they, perhaps for the first time in their lives, will have enough to feed their families and rent homes that they can be proud of. On an average, a Conserve ragpicker earns around $70 a month compared to a ragpicker who earns somewhere around $25.   The ragpicking community is unorganised; it is hard for them to protect their rights. By giving them ‘Conserve Employee Cards’, Conserve India helps them have a voice in the society. Conserve India has also started a campaign called Recognition for Ragpickers.   As part of this, the organisation is trying to persuade the Delhi government to create an official register so as to recognize Delhi’s 150,000 ragpickers and give them their right to a fair wage.   Conserve also offers training to its workers so they can do better jobs in their organisation. Conserve supports schools in slums where many of its employees live. With an initial funding from Asian Development Bank, Conserve is now starting two new projects for tracking the general welfare of its workers and providing health clinics for those who have no access to healthcare.   In collaboration with top designers, Conserve India makes high-end fashion items like handbags, wallets, shoes and belts from the handmade recycled plastic.   Conserve India has collaborated with Fair Trade for marketing its products, which are available in stores across US, Japan, Europe . Their products can also be bought online through the Conserveshop.   By buying Conserve’s products one not only gets to be a trend setter in fashion, but also gets to help some of India’s poorest people and its environment.   For more information visit their website http://conserveindia.org. Infact if you want do something about the waste clogging the streets of your city, you can set up your own Conserve and be the change that you want to see in the society. Mail Conserve India at info at conserveindia.org or call on +91 11 43095301.     http://www.thebetterindia.com/1630/conserve-india-fashion-against-poverty/   From akmalik45 at yahoo.com Tue Jul 6 16:57:05 2010 From: akmalik45 at yahoo.com (A.K. Malik) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 04:27:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] "It was a cold blooded murder": Ishrat's mom In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <409257.4668.qm@web112113.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Dear Mr Javed, Is it still valid even after Headley's admissions in his interrogation to NIA? If it happens to my near and dear I wouls also do the same but you can never change the truth. Regards, (A.K.MALIK) --- On Tue, 7/6/10, Javed wrote: > From: Javed > Subject: [Reader-list] "It was a cold blooded murder": Ishrat's mom > To: "sarai list" > Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 8:48 AM > Ishrat Jahan's mom seeks > Chidambaram's help > TNN, Jul 6, 2010, 12.12am IST > > Mumbra: The TOI report on Ishrat Jahan's Lashkar-e-Taiba > links stirred > a fresh controversy on Monday, with the slain 19-year-old > Mumbra > girl's mother seeking a clarification from Union home > minister P > Chidambaram on the issue. > > Ishrat's mother, Shamima Kausar (51), without going into > the details > of the LeT charge, reiterated that her daughter was killed > in cold > blood in a staged gun battle by the Gujarat Police in 2004. > "The news > is an attempt to prejudice Gujarat HC, which is looking > into my appeal > for a CBI probe in Ishrat's death. Already a magisterial > inquiry in > Gujarat has declared the encounter as fake and proved her > innocence. > I'll approach the union home minister and ask him to come > clean on > this issue,'' Kausar told TOI. > > Ishrat, a collegian, was shot dead along with three others > in a > shootout in Ahmedabad. Gujarat police claimed that the four > were LeT > operatives out to kill CM Narendra Modi. Kausar pursued the > case in > Gujarat courts with support from Jitendra Awhad, NCP MLA > from > Mumbra-Kausa. > > "It's only an attempt to scare the mother,'' said Rauf > Lala, a > Mumbra-based lawyer assisting Kausar in the case against > Gujarat > government. > > Kausar said it's not going to cow her down and that it'll > strengthen > her resolve for getting justice for Ishrat. She said her > eldest > daughter's death in such circumstances had initially led to > much > suspicion and scorn from neighbours but a court order by > judicial > magistrate S Tamang -- doubting the veracity of the > encounter -- had > cleared those misconceptions. > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ishrat-Jahans-mom-seeks-Chidambarams-help/articleshow/6132205.cms > > ------- > > Also see the following links: > > Ishrat Jahan encounter was fake: Magisterial probe > 8 September 2009 > http://www.twocircles.net/2009sep07/ishrat_jahan_encounter_was_fake_magisterial_probe.html > > Ishrat fake encounter case: IB inputs were 'manufactured' > in Gujarat > TNN, Jun 22, 2010 > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Ahmedabad/Ishrat-fake-encounter-%20case-IB-inputs-were-manufactured-in-Gujarat/articleshow/6076968.cms > > Fake Encounter Deaths in India > http://fakencounterindia.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 abasole at gmail.com Tue Jul 6 19:00:51 2010 From: abasole at gmail.com (Amit Basole) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 19:00:51 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] obtaining official GOI publications in Delhi Message-ID: Dear Reader List Members Does anyone know of bookstores in Delhi that stock official GOI publications? In particular I am looking for 2001 Census Volumes for UP districts. Thanks Amit -- 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 indersalim at gmail.com Tue Jul 6 22:08:03 2010 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 22:08:03 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] It is winter in Kashmir Message-ID: Dear all please click to see the image-- http://indersalim.livejournal.com with love inder salim From anoopkheri at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 01:00:24 2010 From: anoopkheri at gmail.com (anoop kumar) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 01:00:24 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1252?q?The_story_of_=91merit=92_=281950_t?= =?windows-1252?q?o_2004_to_at_present=29?= Message-ID: from www.blog.insightyv.com by *Anoop Kumar* My lawyer father used to tell me about the power of certain surnames and the ‘reservation’ they enjoyed in their public lives in contrast with people who were granted ‘reservations’ through the Indian constitution. I used to get amazed with the stories he narrated of court rooms where the surnames of judges and the advocates often used to determine the outcome of the cases rather than their merits. And these used to happen automatically, no conspiracy, no underhand dealings but pure, unadulturated ‘brotherhood’ of certian surnames. However, more than this ‘brotherhood’ what became more important gradually was the ‘othering’ of people who donot have these surnames and have to suffer prejudices, discrimination at all levels. I myself witnessed the same ‘brotherhood’ and the ‘othering’ while giving vivas in school practicals, interviews in entrance exams and also seen a Dalit candidate being dismissed by the interview board for JNU Mphil entrance exams after being asked just one question saying that , “*Tumhara toh selection ho hi jayega*” (You will anyhow get selected). The student did get selected under SC quota but it is a different matter that he got less than the average marks in his interview while scoring at par with others in written examination. *I am posting two articles* to understand how merit is linked with surnames in this country. The first peice is an article written by a very eminent Dalit writer and ex -bureaucrat Mr. A.K. Biswas that has been published in Mainstream (1993) and later on www.ambedkar.org . Another one is a small interview, taken by our magazine INSIGHT and published in its first issue (2004), of Dalit student Himanshu Gautam who cleared UP civil services exams with an over all 9th rank and broke the record of maximum marks scored in UP PSC interviews by scoring staggering 80% marks as the UP government decided against revealing the background of any candidate except the educational one to the interview board. Case of an IAS Topper By *A.K. Biswas * *[The Author is retired IAS officer, an eminent writer, ex Vice-Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar*. *The article was first published in Mainstream, VOL XXXII NO5, December 18, 1993*.*]* *Fate of the first Scheduled Caste IAS (1950) * The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under the Constitution of free India started functioning from January 26, 1950. The UPSC conducted its first examination to recruit personnel for the IAS and Central Services the same year. The First Report of the UPSC does not mention the number of SC/ST candidates. But it discloses that Achyutananda Das was the country’s first SC to make it to the IAS in 1950 itself. He was, in fact, the topper of his batch in the written examination. Achyutananda Das, from West Bengal, secured 613 out of 1050 marks in written examination whereas N. Krishnan from Madras secured 602. But in the interview, Krishnan secured 260 out of 300 as against 110 by Achyutananda Das. Thus Achyutananda was left miles behind by Krishnan due to the latter’s performance in the viva-voce test. But the case of Aniruddha Dasgupta, also from West Bengal, is both interesting and revealing. The marks obtained by these three may be examined to appreciate the case of the topper in the table below - * * *Name of Candidate* *Total (1050 marks)* *Interview (300 marks)* *Grand (1350)* 1 N. Krishnan 602 260 862 2 Aniruddha Dasgupta 494 265 760 3 Achyutananda Das 613 110 719 The margin of difference of marks between Achyutananda Das and N. Krishnan in written papers being eleven only so in the interview if the latter outstripped the former, there is not much surprise perhaps. But the written and viva-voce marks of Aniruddha Dasgupta in comparison with those of Achyutananda Das raise a number of issues. Dasgupta secured the highest marks in viva-voce among all successful candidates recommended for appointment to the IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. But it was also he who got the lowest aggregate as well as the lowest average of all those qualified for appointment to the IAS and Allied Services. Further, he scored the lowest marks of all the qualified candidates in General Knowledge. Dasgupta scored 26.66 per cent in General Knowledge, 47.04 per cent in written aggregate but an astounding 88.33 per cent in Personality Test as against 52.66 per cent, 58.38 per cent and 36.66 per cent respectively scored by Achyutananda Das. The margin of difference of marks between Das and Dasgupta in written examination was as vast as 119. Reduced into percentage, Das was an unbridgeable 11.33 per cent ahead of Dasgupta. Any candidate strong in General Knowledge is usually expected to face the Selection Board very confidently and to perform competently. Aniruddha Dasgupta’s poorest (26.66 per cent) score amongst all successful candidates in General Knowledge notwithstanding; he must have thrown up the biggest surprise by scoring the highest marks in the interview. His viva-voce score of 265 which was followed by Krishnan with 260, not only helped him make up the vast gap between him and Achyutananda Das but he left the latter far behind. *In the ultimate count, Krishnan topped; Aniruddha Dasgupta occupied the 22nd position in the merit list and Achyutananda Das was assigned the 48th position.* Das was the last man in the list of qualified candidates recommended for appointment in the IAS. He was allotted to the cadre of Uttar Pradesh. There is no published record to examine the questions which were posed by the Selection Board to Das, Dasgupta and Krishnan and the answers offered by them. If those were available, posterity would have benefited by acquiring the tools and techniques adopted by Dasgupta as to how to impress the Selection Board of the UPSC despite miserable written scores. *Fate of the first Scheduled Tribe IAS* *(1954)* Nampui Jam Chonga, from Assam, was the country’s first tribal in the IAS through the examination held in 1954. His case bears striking similarities in certain aspects with that of Achyutananda Das. Nampui Jam Chonga scored third highest marks in General Knowledge but got 160 only in Personality Test. His scores can be compared with that of Rathindra Nath Sengupta, an IAS allotted to the West Bengal cadre. Nampui Jam Chonga scored 747 in written papers as against Rathindra Nath Sengupta who got 692 marks-the difference between them being 53 marks. Sengupta’s score (50) in General English was the lowest of all the qualified candidates; in General Knowledge he was the second lowest, his pride being humbled by Snehlata Puri (Punjab) who scored 37. Nevertheless, Sengupta scored the second highest 240 (80 per cent) in Personality Test, the highest 260 (86.66 per cent) being secured by two candidates-S.K.Chaturvedi, Madhya Pradesh cadre and D.Bandopadhyay, West Bengal cadre. S.K.Chaturvedi was the topper of his batch. Nampui Jam Chonga ultimately was placed at 64th, the last in the merit position for appointment to the IAS whereas Rathindra Nath Sengupta was assigned the 52nd. Notwithstanding their impressive performance in written papers, both Achyutananda Das and Nampui Jam Chonga could not impress the personality Test Board. Both Dasgupta and Sengupta, on the other hand, proved the reverse that their personality impressed the Selection Board more than their pen could impress their examiners. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. *An interview with Himanshu Gautam * ( UPPSC 9th Rank, 2004) P.hD, sem I, Hindi Centre/ SL &CS (JNU, New Delhi) *Congratulation: your success which must have been personally rewarding has also helped break the myth that Dalits are not meritorious and the fact that you secured highest marks in the interview re-affirms this.* I have not done anything great but I do recognize that this is not only personal success helps to dispel the myths that Dalits are not meritorious, it will be real achievement. But I am not the first to tread this path to success. There have been many Dalits before me who have secured better marks then me. But it is a rare that we hear about them. Its only because I am in JNU and there is an attempt by groups like INSIGHT to record these successes, that I am giving this interview. (Smile) *When did you being thinking of writing the civil services exams?* At a very young age my father suggested this career to me and he has remained a crucial support and inspiration since. But it was in JNU that I found an atmosphere that helped me to focus and work consistently. My friends helped me a lot, ESPECIALLY Prashant Sir and Sarwar Bhai. I am proud of my friends and thank them. *There is a feeling among Dalits students that they are at disadvantage during interviews. Many have spoken of awkward question being asked, and some have even accused interviewers of being out-rightly castiest. Did you sense that your caste was under consideration at the UPPSC interviews?* Yes. I am aware of this. I was nervous before the interview. But I was fortunate that this year UPPSC had introduced the practice of not providing the interviewers with information regarding the candidate identity. Hence possibility of being harmed is less. Especially for candidates belonging to the Dalit community. I think this had a part to play in my securing record marks in the interview. [Published in INSIGHT Vol 1, No 1, September 2004 ] -- "Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Obama could run, Obama ran so your children can fly" From akmalik45 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 7 07:04:11 2010 From: akmalik45 at yahoo.com (A.K. Malik) Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 18:34:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] obtaining official GOI publications in Delhi In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <543833.46609.qm@web112117.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Amit, There is one book shop known as Jain Book Depot in Connaught Place opposite to Plaza PVR Cinema which is famous for keeping all types of Govt Publications. There is also a Govt Sales Depot not sure of its location which sells all Govt published material.(Perhaps in Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi) Alternatively you can be in touch with Registrar General ,(Census or so), Sewa Bhawan R.K.Puram, New Delhi-110022 If you need further help, I can make efforts to find out the exact places or availability etc. Regards, (A.K.MALIK) --- On Tue, 7/6/10, Amit Basole wrote: > From: Amit Basole > Subject: [Reader-list] obtaining official GOI publications in Delhi > To: "Sarai Reader List" > Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 7:00 PM > Dear Reader List Members > Does anyone know of bookstores in Delhi that stock official > GOI > publications? In particular I am looking for 2001 Census > Volumes for > UP districts. > > Thanks > Amit > > -- > 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 pawan.durani at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 09:42:41 2010 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 09:42:41 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Lets Remember Captain Vikram Batra - Yeh Dil Maange More Message-ID: Today is the death anniversary of Martyr Captain Vikram Batra http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Galleries/Courage/Batra/ Captain Vikram Batra, PVC Size: 7 items *I'll either come back after raising the Indian flag in victory or return wrapped in it.* - Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra, PVC Twin sons were born to the family of Mr Girdhari Lal Batra and Mrs Jai Kamal Batra, on 09 September 1974 at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The family had two daughters earlier and twin sons were a joyful addition to the family. The family nicknamed the twins as 'Luv' (Vikram) and 'Kush' (Vishal). Luv received his primary education from his mother, who herself is a teacher. He received his education up to Middle Standard at the D.A.V. Public School in Palampur and up to senior secondary stage in Central School, Palampur. Both his sisters are married and his twin-brother, Kush, is undergoing an internship training course as a Junior Executive with Tata Finance Limited. He was very brilliant, diligent, and active from the very beginning of his student life. He was very popular among his friends, students and teachers since, he was ever smiling and respectful to everyone. He was an all rounder, good in studies, always a first divisioner, equally good in sports and all other co-curricular activities. He always kept himself in first line and among the toppers in all the different fields. He was also a green belt holder in Karate. He always kept himself in first line and among the toppers in all the different fields. He used to sweep almost 75% of the prizes from the prize distribution table during his schooling. He participated in 'national level' table tennis (Central Schools) and represented the North Zone. He participated in a national youth parliamentary competition. After passing his 10+2 in 1992 from Central School Palampur, he got admitted in D.A.V. College, Chandigarh in B.Sc where he was adjudged the best N.C.C. Cadet (Air Wing) in two zones. He was selected and underwent a helicopter flight course for 40 days at the Pinjore flying club. He was also selected for the 1994 Republic Day Parade at New Delhi. During his B.Sc. course in 1995, he was selected to join the Merchant Navy at a company in Hong Kong. However in the nick of time, he dropped the idea of joining the Merchant Navy due to his patriotic zeal to serve the Nation. As a true son and soldier of the motherland, he decided to join the Indian Army as a Commissioned Officer. He joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in June 1996 at Dehradun. After passing out in December 1997, he joined the army as a Lieutenant of the 13 JAK Rifles at Sopore, Jammu & Kashmir. Later he was sent for the Young Officer's Course at the Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh where he was awarded alpha grading for his overall performance. Next, he attended a 35-day commando course at Belgaum, Karnataka in February-March 1999 where upon completion of the course, he was placed in Instructor's Grade. On 01 June 1999, his unit proceeded to the Kargil Sector on the eruption of a war-like situation in Kargil, Drass and Batalik sub-sectors from where he was sent along with his company on the first strategic and daring operation to recapture the first peak of utmost importance - Point 5140, which was at an altitude of 17,000 feet. Upon reaching Point 5140, leading a company of troops, he encountered the commander of the Pakistani-backed terrorists on radio. The enemy commander challenged him by saying, "Why have you come Shershah (Vikram's nick name given by his commanding officer), you will not go back." Captain Batra, being the last person to back away from a fight, replied, "We shall see within one hour, who remains on the top." In a short while Captain Batra and his company of troops killed eight enemy soldiers and more importantly captured a heavy anti-aircraft machine gun, neutralising the advantageous peak. Mission Point 5140 was a success! Re-capture of Point 5140 paved the way to the return of the rest of peaks and cleared the Srinagar-Leh highway which sat in motion of successes like capturing Point 5100, 4700 Junction, Three Pimples and the ultimate prize - Tiger Hill. Soon after capturing Point 5140, he radioed his commanding officer and said jubilantly, "Yeh Dil Mange More!" On the successful capture of the vital peak he was congratulated & graced by the Chief of Army Staff, General Ved Prakash Malik on telephone. After taking rest for 4 to 5 days he proceeded towards Point 4750, where he was challenged again by the enemy who said, "Shershah, nobody shall be left to lift your dead bodies," to which Captain Batra curtly replied, "Don't worry about us, Pray for your safety." He captured Point 4750 and hoisted the national flag. He also played a commendable role in the capture of Tiger Hill. He had dedicated himself and was determined for total victory. Captain Batra was on a victory rampage, his heart asking for more honor and victory. He volunteered himself for a third crucial operation, recapturing Point 4875 which was at an altitude of 17,000 feet and had a gradient of 80 degrees. He attacked the peak along with his company and another led by Captain Anuj Nayyar, MVC. They gave the enemy a tough time, killed a number of enemy troops and re-captured the peak on 05 July 1999. The enemy counter attacked the peak on 07 July 1999, but he retaliated the counter attack with vigour. In the heat of the battle, one of his junior officers (Lieutenant Naveen) was seriously injured and he immediately went to his rescue. While dragging Lieutenant Naveen back under cover, he pleaded to Captain Batra to let him continue the fight despite his injuries to which Captain Batra replied, "Tu baal bachedaar hai! Hatt jaa peeche." (You have kids and a wife to look after! Get back). Destiny however had something else in store for him and during the rescue, the brave Captain was hit by a bullet in the chest. With the words Jai Mata Di on his lips, he fell down and was hit again in the waist by an artillery splinter. Before succumbing to his grievous injuries, this brave son of the motherland and a true lion of Bharat Mata killed another five enemy soldiers. Captain Vikram Batra fought with exceptional bravery and magnitude, which is rarely seen. He has set an example before the youth of our nation, which shall inspire generations to come. In recognition of his gallant act, Point 4875 has now been renamed as Captain Vikram Batra Top and has received all credit to capturing this vital peak by his Commanding Officer, Colonel Y.K. Joshi, 13 JAK Rifles. For his sustained display of the most conspicuous personal bravery and junior leadership of the highest order in the face of the enemy, Captain Vikram Batra was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest medal for gallantry, posthumously. His father, Mr. G.L. Batra, received the award from the President of India, on behalf of his brave son. Article *©* Mr Girdhari Lal Batra, father of Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra, PVC From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 11:34:28 2010 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 11:34:28 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Lets Remember Captain Vikram Batra - Yeh Dil Maange More In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Salute this brave Jawan of India who saved our homeland Kashmir from extremist forces, which are hell bent even today to create tension and havoc across the valley. We should be proud of our Jawans from J&K Police, CRPF, Army, BSF and Rashtriya Rifles who tirelessly work day and night to keep us safe. Indeed, we have the best forces in the world with great commitment, zeal and empathy. On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 9:42 AM, Pawan Durani wrote: > Today is the death anniversary of Martyr Captain Vikram Batra > > http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Galleries/Courage/Batra/ > > Captain Vikram Batra, PVC > Size: 7 items > > *I'll either come back after raising the Indian flag in victory or return > wrapped in it.* > - Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra, PVC > > Twin sons were born to the family of Mr Girdhari Lal Batra and Mrs Jai > Kamal > Batra, on 09 September 1974 at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The family had two > daughters earlier and twin sons were a joyful addition to the family. The > family nicknamed the twins as 'Luv' (Vikram) and 'Kush' (Vishal). Luv > received his primary education from his mother, who herself is a teacher. > He > received his education up to Middle Standard at the D.A.V. Public School in > Palampur and up to senior secondary stage in Central School, Palampur. Both > his sisters are married and his twin-brother, Kush, is undergoing an > internship training course as a Junior Executive with Tata Finance Limited. > He was very brilliant, diligent, and active from the very beginning of his > student life. He was very popular among his friends, students and teachers > since, he was ever smiling and respectful to everyone. He was an all > rounder, good in studies, always a first divisioner, equally good in sports > and all other co-curricular activities. He always kept himself in first > line > and among the toppers in all the different fields. He was also a green belt > holder in Karate. He always kept himself in first line and among the > toppers > in all the different fields. He used to sweep almost 75% of the prizes from > the prize distribution table during his schooling. He participated in > 'national level' table tennis (Central Schools) and represented the North > Zone. He participated in a national youth parliamentary competition. > > After passing his 10+2 in 1992 from Central School Palampur, he got > admitted > in D.A.V. College, Chandigarh in B.Sc where he was adjudged the best N.C.C. > Cadet (Air Wing) in two zones. He was selected and underwent a helicopter > flight course for 40 days at the Pinjore flying club. He was also selected > for the 1994 Republic Day Parade at New Delhi. During his B.Sc. course in > 1995, he was selected to join the Merchant Navy at a company in Hong Kong. > However in the nick of time, he dropped the idea of joining the Merchant > Navy due to his patriotic zeal to serve the Nation. As a true son and > soldier of the motherland, he decided to join the Indian Army as a > Commissioned Officer. He joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in June > 1996 at Dehradun. After passing out in December 1997, he joined the army as > a Lieutenant of the 13 JAK Rifles at Sopore, Jammu & Kashmir. Later he was > sent for the Young Officer's Course at the Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya > Pradesh where he was awarded alpha grading for his overall performance. > Next, he attended a 35-day commando course at Belgaum, Karnataka in > February-March 1999 where upon completion of the course, he was placed in > Instructor's Grade. > > On 01 June 1999, his unit proceeded to the Kargil Sector on the eruption of > a war-like situation in Kargil, Drass and Batalik sub-sectors from where he > was sent along with his company on the first strategic and daring operation > to recapture the first peak of utmost importance - Point 5140, which was at > an altitude of 17,000 feet. Upon reaching Point 5140, leading a company of > troops, he encountered the commander of the Pakistani-backed terrorists on > radio. The enemy commander challenged him by saying, "Why have you come > Shershah (Vikram's nick name given by his commanding officer), you will not > go back." Captain Batra, being the last person to back away from a fight, > replied, "We shall see within one hour, who remains on the top." In a short > while Captain Batra and his company of troops killed eight enemy soldiers > and more importantly captured a heavy anti-aircraft machine gun, > neutralising the advantageous peak. Mission Point 5140 was a success! > > Re-capture of Point 5140 paved the way to the return of the rest of peaks > and cleared the Srinagar-Leh highway which sat in motion of successes like > capturing Point 5100, 4700 Junction, Three Pimples and the ultimate prize - > Tiger Hill. Soon after capturing Point 5140, he radioed his commanding > officer and said jubilantly, "Yeh Dil Mange More!" On the successful > capture > of the vital peak he was congratulated & graced by the Chief of Army Staff, > General Ved Prakash Malik on telephone. After taking rest for 4 to 5 days > he > proceeded towards Point 4750, where he was challenged again by the enemy > who > said, "Shershah, nobody shall be left to lift your dead bodies," to which > Captain Batra curtly replied, "Don't worry about us, Pray for your safety." > He captured Point 4750 and hoisted the national flag. He also played a > commendable role in the capture of Tiger Hill. He had dedicated himself and > was determined for total victory. > > Captain Batra was on a victory rampage, his heart asking for more honor and > victory. He volunteered himself for a third crucial operation, recapturing > Point 4875 which was at an altitude of 17,000 feet and had a gradient of 80 > degrees. He attacked the peak along with his company and another led by > Captain Anuj Nayyar, MVC. They gave the enemy a tough time, killed a number > of enemy troops and re-captured the peak on 05 July 1999. The enemy counter > attacked the peak on 07 July 1999, but he retaliated the counter attack > with > vigour. In the heat of the battle, one of his junior officers (Lieutenant > Naveen) was seriously injured and he immediately went to his rescue. While > dragging Lieutenant Naveen back under cover, he pleaded to Captain Batra to > let him continue the fight despite his injuries to which Captain Batra > replied, "Tu baal bachedaar hai! Hatt jaa peeche." (You have kids and a > wife > to look after! Get back). Destiny however had something else in store for > him and during the rescue, the brave Captain was hit by a bullet in the > chest. With the words Jai Mata Di on his lips, he fell down and was hit > again in the waist by an artillery splinter. Before succumbing to his > grievous injuries, this brave son of the motherland and a true lion of > Bharat Mata killed another five enemy soldiers. > > Captain Vikram Batra fought with exceptional bravery and magnitude, which > is > rarely seen. He has set an example before the youth of our nation, which > shall inspire generations to come. In recognition of his gallant act, Point > 4875 has now been renamed as Captain Vikram Batra Top and has received all > credit to capturing this vital peak by his Commanding Officer, Colonel Y.K. > Joshi, 13 JAK Rifles. For his sustained display of the most conspicuous > personal bravery and junior leadership of the highest order in the face of > the enemy, Captain Vikram Batra was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's > highest medal for gallantry, posthumously. His father, Mr. G.L. Batra, > received the award from the President of India, on behalf of his brave son. > > Article *©* Mr Girdhari Lal Batra, father of Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra, > PVC > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to 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/> -- Aditya Raj Kaul India Editor The Indian, Australia Cell - +91-9873297834 Web: http://activistsdiary.blogspot.com/ From indersalim at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 15:26:02 2010 From: indersalim at gmail.com (Inder Salim) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 15:26:02 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] snowmen be aga shahid ali Message-ID: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4qk62qcG9w on aga shahid ali's poem -- From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 7 14:00:59 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 01:30:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] =?utf-8?b?VGhlIHN0b3J5IG9mIOKAmG1lcml04oCZICgxOTUw?= =?utf-8?q?_to_2004_to_at_present=29?= In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <897054.37398.qm@web57203.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Dear Anoop   Thank you for sharing these   Kshmendra --- On Wed, 7/7/10, anoop kumar wrote: From: anoop kumar Subject: [Reader-list] The story of ‘merit’ (1950 to 2004 to at present) To: reader-list-request at sarai.net, reader-list at sarai.net Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 1:00 AM from www.blog.insightyv.com by *Anoop Kumar* My lawyer father used to tell me about the power of  certain surnames and the ‘reservation’ they enjoyed in their public lives in contrast with people who were granted ‘reservations’ through the Indian constitution.  I used to get amazed with the stories he narrated of court rooms where the surnames of judges and the advocates often used to determine the outcome of the cases rather than their merits. And these used to happen automatically, no conspiracy, no underhand dealings but pure, unadulturated ‘brotherhood’ of certian surnames. However, more than this ‘brotherhood’ what became more important gradually was the ‘othering’ of people who donot have these surnames and have to suffer prejudices, discrimination at all levels. I myself witnessed the same ‘brotherhood’ and the ‘othering’ while giving vivas in school practicals, interviews in entrance exams and also seen a Dalit candidate being dismissed by the interview board for JNU Mphil entrance exams after being asked just one question  saying that , “*Tumhara toh selection ho hi jayega*” (You will anyhow get selected). The student did get selected under SC quota but it is a different matter that he got less than the average marks in his interview while scoring at par with others in written examination. *I am posting two articles* to understand how merit is linked with surnames in this country. The first peice is an article written by a very eminent Dalit writer and ex -bureaucrat  Mr. A.K. Biswas that has been published in Mainstream (1993) and later on www.ambedkar.org . Another one is a small interview, taken by our magazine INSIGHT and published in its first issue (2004), of Dalit student Himanshu Gautam who cleared UP civil services exams with an over all 9th rank and broke the record of maximum marks scored in UP PSC interviews by scoring staggering 80% marks as the UP government decided against revealing the background of any candidate except the educational one to the interview board. Case of an IAS Topper By *A.K. Biswas * *[The Author is retired IAS officer, an eminent writer, ex Vice-Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar*. *The article was first published in Mainstream, VOL XXXII NO5, December 18, 1993*.*]* *Fate of the first Scheduled Caste IAS (1950) * The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under the Constitution of free India started functioning from January 26, 1950. The UPSC conducted its first examination to recruit personnel for the IAS and Central Services the same year. The First Report of the UPSC does not mention the number of SC/ST candidates. But it discloses that Achyutananda Das was the country’s first SC to make it to the IAS in 1950 itself. He was, in fact, the topper of his batch in the written examination. Achyutananda Das, from West Bengal, secured 613 out of 1050 marks in written examination whereas N. Krishnan from Madras secured 602. But in the interview, Krishnan secured 260 out of 300 as against 110 by Achyutananda Das. Thus Achyutananda was left miles behind by Krishnan due to the latter’s performance in the viva-voce test. But the case of Aniruddha Dasgupta, also from West Bengal, is both interesting and revealing. The marks obtained by these three may be examined to appreciate the case of the topper in the table below -   * * *Name of Candidate* *Total (1050 marks)* *Interview (300 marks)* *Grand (1350)*  1 N. Krishnan 602 260 862  2 Aniruddha Dasgupta 494 265 760 3 Achyutananda Das 613 110 719 The margin of difference of marks between Achyutananda Das and N. Krishnan in written papers being eleven only so in the interview if the latter outstripped the former, there is not much surprise perhaps. But the written and viva-voce marks of Aniruddha Dasgupta in comparison with those of Achyutananda Das raise a number of issues. Dasgupta secured the highest marks in viva-voce among all successful candidates recommended for appointment to the IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. But it was also he who got the lowest aggregate as well as the lowest average of all those qualified for appointment to the IAS and Allied Services. Further, he scored the lowest marks of all the qualified candidates in General Knowledge. Dasgupta scored 26.66 per cent in General Knowledge, 47.04 per cent in written aggregate but an astounding 88.33 per cent in Personality Test as against 52.66 per cent, 58.38 per cent and 36.66 per cent respectively scored by Achyutananda Das. The margin of difference of marks between Das and Dasgupta in written examination was as vast as 119. Reduced into percentage, Das was an unbridgeable 11.33 per cent ahead of Dasgupta. Any candidate strong in General Knowledge is usually expected to face the Selection Board very confidently and to perform competently. Aniruddha Dasgupta’s poorest (26.66 per cent) score amongst all successful candidates in General Knowledge notwithstanding; he must have thrown up the biggest surprise by scoring the highest marks in the interview. His viva-voce score of 265 which was followed by Krishnan with 260, not only helped him make up the vast gap between him and Achyutananda Das but he left the latter far behind. *In the ultimate count, Krishnan topped; Aniruddha Dasgupta occupied the 22nd position in the merit list and Achyutananda Das was assigned the 48th position.* Das was the last man in the list of qualified candidates recommended for appointment in the IAS. He was allotted to the cadre of Uttar Pradesh. There is no published record to examine the questions which were posed by the Selection Board to Das, Dasgupta and Krishnan and the answers offered by them. If those were available, posterity would have benefited by acquiring the tools and techniques adopted by Dasgupta as to how to impress the Selection Board of the UPSC despite miserable written scores. *Fate of the first Scheduled Tribe IAS* *(1954)* Nampui Jam Chonga, from Assam, was the country’s first tribal in the IAS through the examination held in 1954. His case bears striking similarities in certain aspects with that of Achyutananda Das. Nampui Jam Chonga scored third highest marks in General Knowledge but got 160 only in Personality Test. His scores can be compared with that of Rathindra Nath Sengupta, an IAS allotted to the West Bengal cadre. Nampui Jam Chonga scored 747 in written papers as against Rathindra Nath Sengupta who got 692 marks-the difference between them being 53 marks. Sengupta’s score (50) in General English was the lowest of all the qualified candidates; in General Knowledge he was the second lowest, his pride being humbled by Snehlata Puri (Punjab) who scored 37. Nevertheless, Sengupta scored the second highest 240 (80 per cent) in Personality Test, the highest 260 (86.66 per cent) being secured by two candidates-S.K.Chaturvedi, Madhya Pradesh cadre and D.Bandopadhyay, West Bengal cadre. S.K.Chaturvedi was the topper of his batch. Nampui Jam Chonga ultimately was placed at 64th, the last in the merit position for appointment to the IAS whereas Rathindra Nath Sengupta was assigned the 52nd. Notwithstanding their impressive performance in written papers, both Achyutananda Das and Nampui Jam Chonga could not impress the personality Test Board. Both Dasgupta and Sengupta, on the other hand, proved the reverse that their personality impressed the Selection Board more than their pen could impress their examiners. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. *An interview with Himanshu Gautam * ( UPPSC 9th Rank, 2004) P.hD, sem I, Hindi Centre/ SL &CS (JNU, New Delhi) *Congratulation: your success which must have been personally rewarding has also helped break the myth that Dalits are not meritorious and the fact that you secured highest marks in the interview re-affirms this.* I have not done anything great but I do recognize that this is not only personal success helps to dispel the myths that Dalits are not meritorious, it will be real achievement. But I am not the first to tread this path to success. There have been many Dalits before me who have secured better marks then me. But it is a rare that we hear about them. Its only because I am in JNU and there is an attempt by groups like INSIGHT to record these successes, that I am giving this interview. (Smile) *When did you being thinking of writing the civil services exams?* At a very young age my father suggested this career to me and he has remained a crucial support and inspiration since. But it was in JNU that I found an atmosphere that helped me to focus and work consistently. My friends helped me a lot, ESPECIALLY Prashant Sir and Sarwar Bhai. I am proud of my friends and thank them. *There is a feeling among Dalits students that they are at disadvantage during interviews. Many have spoken of awkward question being asked, and some have even accused interviewers of being out-rightly castiest. Did you sense that your caste was under consideration at the UPPSC interviews?* Yes. I am aware of this. I was nervous before the interview. But I was fortunate that this year UPPSC had introduced the practice of not providing the interviewers with information regarding the candidate identity. Hence possibility of being harmed is less. Especially for candidates belonging to the Dalit community. I think this had a part to play in my securing record marks in the interview. [Published in INSIGHT Vol 1, No 1, September 2004 ] -- "Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Obama could run, Obama ran so your children can fly" _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to 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 javedmasoo at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 18:11:01 2010 From: javedmasoo at gmail.com (Javed) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 18:11:01 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Ishrat's father-in-law contests Headley's claim Message-ID: "My lawyer has told me that media reports of Headley claiming that Ishrat was a member of the terror squad need not be taken as truth and they formed part of a design to weaken my case"..... Ishrat's father-in-law contests Headley's claim PTI, Jul 7, 2010, 05.29pm IST ALAPPUZHA (Kerala): Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley's reported claim that Ishrat Jahan, killed in an encounter with police in Gujarat in 2004, was a suicide bomber of the terror outfit has been contested by the father of the man killed along with her. Gopinatha Pillai said today that the Pakistani-American's reported claim made to National Investigative Agency (NIA) personnel about 19-year-old Ishrat during his questioning in the US was an attempt to derail his struggle to bring to light the "whole truth" about the controversial encounter. Headley has confessed to his involvement in the Mumbai terror attack and is presently in custody in Chicago. "This can only be seen as an attempt to create a smoke-screen when the hearing on the petition filed by me in Gujarat court seeking justice is slated to begin this month", Pillai, who is in his 70s, told PTI from his home at Charumood in Alappuzha district. Pillai had worked in the military service. Pillai's son Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Kumar and Ishrat along with two Pakistanis were killed in the encounter on June 15, 2004. Gujarat police has claimed that Javed and Ishrat were part of a suicide squad on its way to eliminate Chief Minister Narendra Modi to avenge the 'massacre' of Muslims. "My lawyer has told me that media reports of Headley claiming that Ishrat was a member of the terror squad need not be taken as truth and they formed part of a design to weaken my case", Pillai said. Pillai said Ishrat and his son had visited his Kerala home some time before they were killed and he was certain she was not the type of person to have terrorist links. He said he had no reason to deviate from his earlier stand that his son or Ishrat were innocent and that he would continue his struggle for justice. Pranesh married a Muslim woman while living in Pune after which he converted to Islam and changed his name to Javed Sheikh. Pillai has been maintaining that his son and Ishrat were killed in a fake encounter staged by the Gujarat police. Yesterday, the BJP said the "important disclosure" by Headley about Ishrat made it incumbent on the central government to admit or deny the existence of this position. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ishrats-father-in-law-contests-Headleys-claim/articleshow/6139264.cms From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Wed Jul 7 17:32:08 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 05:02:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] "Fashionable dreams in turbulent Balochistan" Message-ID: <589934.86328.qm@web57205.mail.re3.yahoo.com> "Fashionable dreams in turbulent Balochistan" Wednesday, 07 Jul, 2010   QUETTA: Mehtab Kanwal embroiders a women's tunic, dreaming of a prosperous future as a fashion designer with a boutique - albeit in one of the most turbulent and forgotten parts of Pakistan.   Kanwal's dream just may come true thanks to a free design course at a new institute where officers gave journalists a guided tour to showcase development projects undertaken by a military with a chequered record in Balochistan.   “I belong to a lower middle-class family and want to be a help to my parents, who strongly support women's empowerment,” said 16-year-old Kanwal.   “I'll open my own boutique and a school to pass on the skill to other girls of my city and province,” she told AFP.   The army founded the Balochistan Institute of Technical Education (BITE) three years ago in Quetta as part of a pilot programme to turn raw youth into skilled labour in the resource-rich, but insurgency-torn southwestern province.   Although a drop in the ocean of massive challenges facing Baluchistan's eight million people, the institute offers an opportunity for teenagers from low-income families to learn skills that can earn them a decent livelihood.   Balochistan has some of the most remote communities in Pakistan, miserable social indicators and a deeply traditional society where many women, particularly in the countryside, are rarely allowed to leave the home.   BITE opened its doors in 2007 and teaches more than 500 students, including 165 girls, subjects from beauty to sewing and knitting, mechanics and auto electronics.   Tuition is free and a monthly incentive of 2,000 rupees (24 dollars) encourages attendance among poorer students, says head Brigadier Jamil Sarwar.   “I feel lucky to have got permission from my parents to attend the course because we are still living in an environment where girls are not allowed to go out of their homes,” Kanwal said.   Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has suffered from a separatist insurgency for six years. Sectarian killings targeting non-Baloch and non-Sunni Muslims are on the rise in Quetta, the regional capital.   For decades, people have felt excluded or marginalised by the central government and the province has long been a fertile breeding ground for Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants, as well as separatist rebels.   When Baloch rebels rose up in 2004 demanding political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region's natural resources, the government responded by fanning out troops across the region's main cities.   Baloch nationalists resisted. Hundreds of people have died in violence between Pakistani troops and insurgents and the military has been blamed for the disappearance of Baloch activists.   The government says it is working to implement sweeping reforms - criticised by Baluch nationalists as too little too late.   The government agreed to thin out the army's presence, withdraw and halt construction of a new garrison in the gas-rich Sui district and replace the army with paramilitary patrols in troubled areas.   It has promised constitutional, administrative, political and economic reforms in a bid to grant the province more independence and wealth creation.   The government has also increased the development budget for Balochistan from 42 billion rupees (500 million dollars) to 50 billion rupees.   The army recently relaxed requirements on Baluch men signing up, but the numbers who have joined a training academy in Quetta are minimal.   Many Baloch see the army as the problem, not the solution, in a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half its 63-year existence.   “Baloch people don't like the military's presence and interference in civilian affairs. Such efforts will further hatred against the armed forces,”said Hakeem Baloch, a former chief secretary in Baluchistan and political analyst.   “The army is not allowing civilian administration to work independently in Baluchistan and this is where the problems begin to surface.”   http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/03-fashionable-dreams-in-turbulent-balochistan-ss-01   From rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 18:38:23 2010 From: rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com (Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 18:38:23 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Lets Remember Captain Vikram Batra - Yeh Dil Maange More In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Bow my head in great reverence to all the great men and women of defence forces who have made our societal life safe by their sacrifices. it is a shame that leaders in politics make politics of defence forces to pamper their egos, cater vote banks,forgetting that these leaders are safe and surrounded by the SPG, safeguarding the useless lives of these political leaders.! if these leaders are genuine about the concerns of aam admi, it is time that all the perks and salaries extended to these useless MPs and MLAs, ministers and bureaucrats is withdrawn, they should be given jobs under NREGA and salary as per NREGA, then perhaps they will understand the sufferings of tribals and aam admi, how can otherwise those who live in accommodation provided by the exchequer understand the price rise. or the sacrifice of the defence forces who face the stone throwing brigade sponsored by fanatics.!? love and regards, rajen. On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 11:34 AM, Aditya Raj Kaul wrote: > Salute this brave Jawan of India who saved our homeland Kashmir from > extremist forces, which are hell bent even today to create tension and > havoc > across the valley. > > We should be proud of our Jawans from J&K Police, CRPF, Army, BSF and > Rashtriya Rifles who tirelessly work day and night to keep us safe. Indeed, > we have the best forces in the world with great commitment, zeal and > empathy. > > On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 9:42 AM, Pawan Durani > wrote: > > > Today is the death anniversary of Martyr Captain Vikram Batra > > > > http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Galleries/Courage/Batra/ > > > > Captain Vikram Batra, PVC > > Size: 7 items > > > > *I'll either come back after raising the Indian flag in victory or return > > wrapped in it.* > > - Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra, PVC > > > > Twin sons were born to the family of Mr Girdhari Lal Batra and Mrs Jai > > Kamal > > Batra, on 09 September 1974 at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The family had > two > > daughters earlier and twin sons were a joyful addition to the family. The > > family nicknamed the twins as 'Luv' (Vikram) and 'Kush' (Vishal). Luv > > received his primary education from his mother, who herself is a teacher. > > He > > received his education up to Middle Standard at the D.A.V. Public School > in > > Palampur and up to senior secondary stage in Central School, Palampur. > Both > > his sisters are married and his twin-brother, Kush, is undergoing an > > internship training course as a Junior Executive with Tata Finance > Limited. > > He was very brilliant, diligent, and active from the very beginning of > his > > student life. He was very popular among his friends, students and > teachers > > since, he was ever smiling and respectful to everyone. He was an all > > rounder, good in studies, always a first divisioner, equally good in > sports > > and all other co-curricular activities. He always kept himself in first > > line > > and among the toppers in all the different fields. He was also a green > belt > > holder in Karate. He always kept himself in first line and among the > > toppers > > in all the different fields. He used to sweep almost 75% of the prizes > from > > the prize distribution table during his schooling. He participated in > > 'national level' table tennis (Central Schools) and represented the North > > Zone. He participated in a national youth parliamentary competition. > > > > After passing his 10+2 in 1992 from Central School Palampur, he got > > admitted > > in D.A.V. College, Chandigarh in B.Sc where he was adjudged the best > N.C.C. > > Cadet (Air Wing) in two zones. He was selected and underwent a helicopter > > flight course for 40 days at the Pinjore flying club. He was also > selected > > for the 1994 Republic Day Parade at New Delhi. During his B.Sc. course in > > 1995, he was selected to join the Merchant Navy at a company in Hong > Kong. > > However in the nick of time, he dropped the idea of joining the Merchant > > Navy due to his patriotic zeal to serve the Nation. As a true son and > > soldier of the motherland, he decided to join the Indian Army as a > > Commissioned Officer. He joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in June > > 1996 at Dehradun. After passing out in December 1997, he joined the army > as > > a Lieutenant of the 13 JAK Rifles at Sopore, Jammu & Kashmir. Later he > was > > sent for the Young Officer's Course at the Infantry School in Mhow, > Madhya > > Pradesh where he was awarded alpha grading for his overall performance. > > Next, he attended a 35-day commando course at Belgaum, Karnataka in > > February-March 1999 where upon completion of the course, he was placed in > > Instructor's Grade. > > > > On 01 June 1999, his unit proceeded to the Kargil Sector on the eruption > of > > a war-like situation in Kargil, Drass and Batalik sub-sectors from where > he > > was sent along with his company on the first strategic and daring > operation > > to recapture the first peak of utmost importance - Point 5140, which was > at > > an altitude of 17,000 feet. Upon reaching Point 5140, leading a company > of > > troops, he encountered the commander of the Pakistani-backed terrorists > on > > radio. The enemy commander challenged him by saying, "Why have you come > > Shershah (Vikram's nick name given by his commanding officer), you will > not > > go back." Captain Batra, being the last person to back away from a fight, > > replied, "We shall see within one hour, who remains on the top." In a > short > > while Captain Batra and his company of troops killed eight enemy soldiers > > and more importantly captured a heavy anti-aircraft machine gun, > > neutralising the advantageous peak. Mission Point 5140 was a success! > > > > Re-capture of Point 5140 paved the way to the return of the rest of peaks > > and cleared the Srinagar-Leh highway which sat in motion of successes > like > > capturing Point 5100, 4700 Junction, Three Pimples and the ultimate prize > - > > Tiger Hill. Soon after capturing Point 5140, he radioed his commanding > > officer and said jubilantly, "Yeh Dil Mange More!" On the successful > > capture > > of the vital peak he was congratulated & graced by the Chief of Army > Staff, > > General Ved Prakash Malik on telephone. After taking rest for 4 to 5 days > > he > > proceeded towards Point 4750, where he was challenged again by the enemy > > who > > said, "Shershah, nobody shall be left to lift your dead bodies," to which > > Captain Batra curtly replied, "Don't worry about us, Pray for your > safety." > > He captured Point 4750 and hoisted the national flag. He also played a > > commendable role in the capture of Tiger Hill. He had dedicated himself > and > > was determined for total victory. > > > > Captain Batra was on a victory rampage, his heart asking for more honor > and > > victory. He volunteered himself for a third crucial operation, > recapturing > > Point 4875 which was at an altitude of 17,000 feet and had a gradient of > 80 > > degrees. He attacked the peak along with his company and another led by > > Captain Anuj Nayyar, MVC. They gave the enemy a tough time, killed a > number > > of enemy troops and re-captured the peak on 05 July 1999. The enemy > counter > > attacked the peak on 07 July 1999, but he retaliated the counter attack > > with > > vigour. In the heat of the battle, one of his junior officers (Lieutenant > > Naveen) was seriously injured and he immediately went to his rescue. > While > > dragging Lieutenant Naveen back under cover, he pleaded to Captain Batra > to > > let him continue the fight despite his injuries to which Captain Batra > > replied, "Tu baal bachedaar hai! Hatt jaa peeche." (You have kids and a > > wife > > to look after! Get back). Destiny however had something else in store for > > him and during the rescue, the brave Captain was hit by a bullet in the > > chest. With the words Jai Mata Di on his lips, he fell down and was hit > > again in the waist by an artillery splinter. Before succumbing to his > > grievous injuries, this brave son of the motherland and a true lion of > > Bharat Mata killed another five enemy soldiers. > > > > Captain Vikram Batra fought with exceptional bravery and magnitude, which > > is > > rarely seen. He has set an example before the youth of our nation, which > > shall inspire generations to come. In recognition of his gallant act, > Point > > 4875 has now been renamed as Captain Vikram Batra Top and has received > all > > credit to capturing this vital peak by his Commanding Officer, Colonel > Y.K. > > Joshi, 13 JAK Rifles. For his sustained display of the most conspicuous > > personal bravery and junior leadership of the highest order in the face > of > > the enemy, Captain Vikram Batra was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's > > highest medal for gallantry, posthumously. His father, Mr. G.L. Batra, > > received the award from the President of India, on behalf of his brave > son. > > > > Article *©* Mr Girdhari Lal Batra, father of Shaheed Captain Vikram > Batra, > > PVC > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to 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/> > > > > > -- > Aditya Raj Kaul > > India Editor > The Indian, Australia > > Cell - +91-9873297834 > Web: http://activistsdiary.blogspot.com/ > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > -- Rajen. From rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 22:43:35 2010 From: rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com (Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 22:43:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] The Stone Pelter by Meera Kaul Sawhney In-Reply-To: <334458.82777.qm@web112607.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <334458.82777.qm@web112607.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: If all the followers of each faith want to have separate states based on their faith, what is the sanctity of democratic rule and 'seculrism" that the constitution of india that we gave to ourselves for the rule of laws.? Do we want to turn the clock back to kingdoms of the yore which fight with each other and take the help of outsiders, be it british traders, american mercenaries, ? When do we learn to respect the institutions of democratic governance.? Each vested interest group, be it politicians or bureaucrats seem to be trying to denigrade the armed forces which keep some semblance of societsl life as the leaders of all walks of life plunder national wealth, while talking about aam admi.! On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 7:09 PM, cashmeeri wrote: > "So Abba, when did the Indians invade us?" asked little Adil. Abdul Ahad > looked towards the sky and squinted his eyes in an attempt of calculation, > "Millions of years ago" he said. > > > The Stone Pelter > > by Meera Kaul Sawhney > > > Abdul Ahad wakes up every day with a sense of duty. He looks around > himself. His wife is still sleeping and the porous rays of light passing > onto his surroundings are already blinding. Over years, Abdul Ahad has > trained himself not to look at light. It distorted his focus. > > He had a very busy day. Stretching his legs to the length of the new > bedsheets, which still diffused the scent of arabic Itar; he recounted his > agenda for the day. Excited at the prospect of a busy schedule , Abdul Ahad > pushed his feet to the plush carpet and got off the bed. Now was the time to > take to the tasks at hand, he thought with a sense of purpose as he put on > his blinders. > > The day started with a demonstration against Indian occupation. "So Abba, > when did the Indians invade us?" asked little Adil. Abdul Ahad looked > towards the sky and squinted his eyes in an attempt of calculation, > "Millions of years ago" he said. "Why don’t they go now?" Adil quipped > innocently," we have been throwing stones at them for so long." Abdul Ahad > sighs and looks up again. Deep in his heart he knew if this succeeded in > Indians leaving the state, his family may end up on the roads. But he had > hope in his heart. The leaders of the nation will definitely find him > another role to play in the new kashmir. For some reason, this hope didn’t > leave his heart with much hope. > > "Where is the demonstration today?" asked Abida, his wife. In between the > efforts in breaking down the tsochwaroo between his teeth, "Maisuma" saus > Abdul Ahad. His wife gives him a stricken look, "again!" " Why?" she looked > anguished," why choose places where the army is sure to shoot?" > > "It is their strategy", he muttered from within his noon chai cup. "But > only innocents die." blazed on Abida, a terrified look in her eyes , scared > that someday that innocent person might be her husband. > > " We have to fight" , Abdul Ahad reiterated, he swallowed and added . " for > freedom." Abida turned around from the kitchen fire to look at Abdul Ahad. > Her eyes boring into his face made Abdul Ahad flinch. " then why did you go > in the procession for Chief Minister's reception in Sogam?" Abdul Ahad did > not like this question. He stood up. His half eaten Tsochwaroo thrown to the > carpet on which he was sitting. " Just mind your own business, who are you ? > ISI? " , he screamed at her and stormed out of the house. > > Hours later, after successfully completing the stone throwing at Maisuma, > the anger against Abida had still not subsided in his head. Akram, his > friend and colleague, put a hand on his shoulder. "You are charged today," > he commented, " everytime you fight with her in the morning, you are more > aggressive at work." Abdul Ahad looked into Akram's laughing eyes, " These > women will never understand what we do to keep them happy." Akram laughed > loud. "Ofcourse they never will." > > They were making their way towards their next procession. "Which newspapers > are going to be there?" he asked Akram " Yaara ,who knows, who cares. We > will shout slogans, they will record, they will go home, we will go home. " > He said airily. " Ofcourse" . The business of stone throwing is really to > pass on these skills to the younger generations. He thought of Adil and what > he might end of doing in a few years time. His heart shuddered. He needed > money. Enough money for Abida and Adil to leave for the villages maybe . For > that, Abdul Ahad knew, he will need to continue working in this business for > much longer than he had planned. > > They reached Magarmal Bagh. It was'nt difficult to be one of the few > hundreds in a bigger mob. The trick was not to be in the periphery of the > mob, wear running shoes and not carry too much load in the pockets. And > ofcourse keep your eyes alert lest you get hit by a shell. The stone > throwing would generally start with those on the periphery and could start > in any direction. Being in the middle prevented first injuries and gave them > the time to move away from the line of fire, if any. > > "We could start a business now." grinned Akram. " those tourists are coming > back". Smiled Abdul Ahad, " You want to be tourism mafia? will they let us > make money?" Akram laughed loud," so what if they don’t, we will pelt stones > at them." Abdul Ahad smiled. They had a joke. Everyday they went to pelt > stones, they would bet on each others life. If both survived, they set apart > a thousand rupees each for the family fund. The fund for the family of > whoever amongst them gets killed first. > > Once outside the shrine, they covered their faces with scarves and hoods. > An auto rickshaw stopped by and they got together to unload stones out of > it. Another rickshaw followed, and then another. The stones were brought > from a roadside pile a few blocks away, where they have been lying for a > number of years and were originally supposed to fill potholes in the roads. > Soon a number of other boys came out of the adjoining alleys, and joined in. > They spread out and started piling the stones in different places, > strategically located. > > The bronze top of the shrine glimmered in the setting sun. Abdul Ahad and > Akram followed the boys past the shrine to a place where one had a clear > view of the main market. The market had been under strict curfew for the > preceding week. There used to be four CRFP pickets there till the year > before, but two of them were abandoned after protestors pelted stones at > them persistently, despite CRPF shooting directly into the crowds and > injuring many. After they were abandoned ,young men from the town pulled the > ugly sandbag bunkers down and freed up space on the choked road that CRPF > had occupied for 20 years. But there were two pickets still there, one > inside a bank building and another next to a girls’ senior secondary school. > Streets merged into each other further down from where they were standing. > The media arrived. Soon a few hundred people started chanting rhythmic > slogans with stones in their hands. > > First tear gas shells started landing on Abdul Ahad 's vicinity a few > minutes after the slogans began. A few enterprising stone pelters had > brought with them wet jute bags, and instantly placed them over the bursting > tear gas shells. In fact one of them managed to catch a couple of them > straight into his bag. Everyone clapped and whistled. This was an old game. > Both sides were good at it. In the distance, a couple of armored cars > appeared on the scene and started driving fast toward the crowd. The crowd > splintered into the alleys. As the lead car reached where the they had been > standing , a spatter of stones greeted it. The car stood there, unable to > move, unsure of its purpose. No one came out of it. The intensity of rocks > increased. The car retracted. The stone-warriors returned in triumphant joy. > They had won the first round. The slogans became shriller. > > A few moments later a boy came running down the street announcing that the > CRPF was now firing expired shells. The expired shells emit no smoke, but > are used simply as metal projectiles intended to injure. They were dangerous > because you couldn’t see them coming, unlike the tear gas shells. Everyone > ran for cover. Akram and Abdul Ahad ran toward the shrine as metal shells > started hitting the streets with clanking sounds. Abdul Ahad was only a few > meters in when he heard people crying out on the street. “Morukh ho!” ( They > killed him !) He turned around to see if Akram was still behind him. He > was'nt. He leapt out on the road. Akram lay there, hit by a shell in his > face was lying unconscious on the road. A small pool of blood formed around > his head. The CRPF fired shots at anyone who tried to pull the body to > safety. Desperation grew. Akram was going to die right there in front of > Abdul Ahad's eyes. The soldier came close to Akram and saw the pool > of blood. " Come" , he beckoned Abdul Ahad, who stood in the middle of the > road, like a statue. The CRPF retreated for a time long enough to allow the > Akram to be lifted out. Someone from the alley piled him onto a motorcycle > and he was taken away to the hospital. > > Abdul Ahad dragged his heavy feet back towards the shrine. He found a > corner where he could collapse into. He could hear the metal shells and > slogans with the patter of the stone throwing. The media on the periphery of > the action scene clicked and recorded enough footage. The crowd dispersed. > The media wrapped their day. > > > (c) Meera Kaul Sawhney, 2010 > > Reproduced here with author's permission > > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: -- Rajen. From rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 18:43:17 2010 From: rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com (Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 18:43:17 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Fw: ANNUAL REPORTS OF 2010 In-Reply-To: <604320.954.qm@web94904.mail.in2.yahoo.com> References: <604320.954.qm@web94904.mail.in2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: For those of u who need the governance reports of various ministries, love and regards,rajen. ----- Forwarded Message ---- *From:* DELHI INFORMATION BUREAU *To:* raghavametals at yahoo.com *Cc:* raghavan at spel.com *Sent:* Tue, 6 July, 2010 5:23:10 PM *Subject:* ANNUAL REPORTS OF 2010 *DEAR SIR, * * **WE ARE PLEASE TO INFORM YOU THE REALESE OF FOLLOWING ANNUAL REPORTS - :* * * *THE COST OF ANNUAL REPORT IS RUPEES 200 EACH BOOK . * ** *ANNUAL REPORTS OF 2010* * * *1 DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY* *2. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS* *3. 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Free Courier and Postage in Delhi & Other States of India * * * *With kind regards,* * * *CONTACT :-* * * *Nitish Kumar Rai* *Marketing Manager* *M/s DELHI INFORMATION BUREAU* *Stall No. 16, Between Statesman House and New Delhi House * *Barakhamba Road New Delhi -110001 ( India )* *Contact : 91- 011-23324142, 23324153 Mobile : 9968390759 , 9968144355* *Email: **dib747 at hotmail.com* *Web : www.bookskhoj.com* *UNABLE TO FIND THE BOOK OF YOUR CHOICE?? PLEASE MAIL US . * *We shall be pleased to locate the desired book and inform you via mail about the availability status and other details . * -- Rajen. From nagraj.adve at gmail.com Wed Jul 7 17:10:57 2010 From: nagraj.adve at gmail.com (Nagraj Adve) Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 17:10:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] 25% flowering plants face extinction Message-ID: Over 25% of flowers face extinction – many before they are even discovered Scientists say human activity could spell end for a quarter of all flowering plants, with huge impact on food chain * Juliette Jowit * The Guardian, Wednesday 7 July 2010 More than one-in-four of all flowering plants are under threat of extinction according to the latest report to confirm the ongoing destruction of much of the natural world by human activity. As a result, many of nature's most colourful specimens could be lost to the world before scientists even discover them, claims the research, published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The results reflect similar global studies of other species groups by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which estimates that one-in-five of all mammals, nearly one-in-three amphibians and one-in-eight birds are vulnerable to being wiped out completely. Later this year the results of a huge global analysis of all the world's estimated up to 400,000 plants by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is due to be published by the IUCN as part of its ongoing mission to assess the state of all life on Earth. "[This year] marks the International Year of Biodiversity," said Stuart Pimm of Duke University in North Carolina, USA, one of the authors of the report. "The focus of this celebration has often been on the species we know of, along with discussions on the unprecedented challenge of conserving this biodiversity in the face of threats such as habitat loss. However, by asking just how many species we will lose before they are even discovered, our study has revealed a figure that is truly alarming." The researchers started by carrying out an independent review of how many flowering plants – which make up most of the plant kingdom – exist. By considering the rate at which new specimens are being described to science, adjusted to reflect the growing number of scientists over the years, and interviewing experts who focus on different groups such as orchids, irises or grasses, the team calculated that on top of the existing "best estimate" of 352,282 flowering plants there are another 10-20%, or 35,000-70,000, which have still to be officially discovered. The second stage was to assess the level of threats from habitat loss due to clearing land for planting crops or trees, development, or indirect causes such as falling groundwater levels and pollution. They started with a study published in the journal Endangered Species Research in 2008, which estimated that one-in-five known species were vulnerable to extinction. However based on the fact that new species – like recent discoveries – are likely to be found in "biodiversity hotspots", where there are huge numbers of endemic species which are not widely distributed around the world, and a high level of habitat loss, they estimated that all so-far-undiscovered flowering plants were also at risk. "If we take the number of species that are currently known to be threatened, and add to that those that are yet to be discovered, we can estimate that between 27% and 33% of all flowering plants will be threatened with extinction," said David Roberts, one of the co-authors, of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent. The paper adds: "These estimates are based on immediate threat, and do not consider further development of destructive factors - including climate disruption." The paper's third, lead, author was Lucas Joppa of Microsoft Research in Cambridge. The warning comes as there is growing international recognition of the value of the natural world to humans in providing ecosystem services, from flood protection and medicines to spiritual spaces and enjoyment. "Plants are the basis for much of life on earth with virtually all other species depending on them; if you get rid of those you get rid of a lot of the things above them," added Roberts. From babuubab at gmail.com Thu Jul 8 16:07:58 2010 From: babuubab at gmail.com (SUNDARA BABU) Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 16:07:58 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Some Thoughts on "Patriotism" In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Some really Interesting Thoughts ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Riaz Tayob "Some Thoughts on "Patriotism" By William Blum July 06, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- July 04, 2010 -- Most important thought: I'm sick and tired of this thing called "patriotism". The Japanese pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor were being patriotic. The German people who supported Hitler and his conquests were being patriotic, fighting for the Fatherland. All the Latin American military dictators who overthrew democratically-elected governments and routinely tortured people were being patriotic — saving their beloved country from "communism". General Augusto Pinochet of Chile, mass murderer and torturer: "I would like to be remembered as a man who served his country." 1 P.W. Botha, former president of apartheid South Africa: "I am not going to repent. I am not going to ask for favours. What I did, I did for my country." 2 Pol Pot, mass murderer of Cambodia: "I want you to know that everything I did, I did for my country." 3 Tony Blair, former British prime minister, defending his role in the murder of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis: "I did what I thought was right for our country." 4 At the end of World War II, the United States gave moral lectures to their German prisoners and to the German people on the inadmissibility of pleading that their participation in the holocaust was in obedience to their legitimate government. To prove to them how legally and morally inadmissable this defense was, the World War II allies hanged the leading examples of such patriotic loyalty. I was once asked after a talk: "Do you love America?" I answered: "No". After pausing for a few seconds to let that sink in amidst several nervous giggles in the audience, I continued with: "I don't love any country. I'm a citizen of the world. I love certain principles, like human rights, civil liberties, democracy, an economy which puts people before profits." I don't make much of a distinction between patriotism and nationalism. Some people equate patriotism with allegiance to one's country and government or the noble principles they supposedly stand for, while defining nationalism as sentiments of ethno-national superiority. However defined, in practice the psychological and behavioral manifestations of nationalism and patriotism are not easily distinguishable, indeed feeding upon each other. Howard Zinn called nationalism "a set of beliefs taught to each generation in which the Motherland or the Fatherland is an object of veneration and becomes a burning cause for which one becomes willing to kill the children of other Motherlands or Fatherlands. ... Patriotism is used to create the illusion of a common interest that everybody in the country has." 5 Strong feelings of patriotism lie near the surface in the great majority of Americans. They're buried deeper in the more "liberal" and "sophisticated", but are almost always reachable, and ignitable. Alexis de Tocqueville, the mid-19th century French historian, commented about his long stay in the United States: "It is impossible to conceive a more troublesome or more garrulous patriotism; it wearies even those who are disposed to respect it." 6 George Bush Sr., pardoning former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in connection with the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal, said: "First, the common denominator of their motivation — whether their actions were right or wrong — was patriotism." 7 What a primitive underbelly there is to this rational society. The US is the most patriotic, as well as the most religious, country of the so-called developed world. The entire American patriotism thing may be best understood as the biggest case of mass hysteria in history, whereby the crowd adores its own power as troopers of the world's only superpower, a substitute for the lack of power in the rest of their lives. Patriotism, like religion, meets people's need for something greater to which their individual lives can be anchored. So this July 4, my dear fellow Americans, some of you will raise your fists and yell: "U! S! A! ... U! S! A!". And you'll parade with your flags and your images of the Statue of Liberty. But do you know that the sculptor copied his mother's face for the statue, a domineering and intolerant woman who had forbidden another child to marry a Jew? "Patriotism," Dr. Samuel Johnson famously said, "is the last refuge of a scoundrel." American writer Ambrose Bierce begged to differ — It is, he said, the first. "Patriotism is the conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." — George Bernard Shaw "Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage — torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians — which does not change its moral colour when it is committed by 'our' side. ... The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them." — George Orwell 8 "Pledges of allegiance are marks of totalitarian states, not democracies," says David Kertzer, a Brown University anthropologist who specializes in political rituals. "I can't think of a single democracy except the United States that has a pledge of allegiance." 9 Or, he might have added, that insists that its politicians display their patriotism by wearing a flag pin. Hitler criticized German Jews and Communists for their internationalism and lack of national patriotism, demanding that "true patriots" publicly vow and display their allegiance to the fatherland. In reaction to this, postwar Germany has made a conscious and strong effort to minimize public displays of patriotism. Oddly enough, the American Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a founding member, in 1889, of the Society of Christian Socialists, a group of Protestant ministers who asserted that "the teachings of Jesus Christ lead directly to some form or forms of socialism." Tell that to the next Teaparty ignoramus who angrily accuses President Obama of being a "socialist". Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, we could read that there's "now a high degree of patriotism in the Soviet Union because Moscow acted with impunity in Afghanistan and thus underscored who the real power in that part of the world is." 10 "Throughout the nineteenth century, and particularly throughout its latter half, there had been a great working up of this nationalism in the world. ... Nationalism was taught in schools, emphasized by newspapers, preached and mocked and sung into men. It became a monstrous cant which darkened all human affairs. Men were brought to feel that they were as improper without a nationality as without their clothes in a crowded assembly. Oriental peoples, who had never heard of nationality before, took to it as they took to the cigarettes and bowler hats of the West." — H.G. Wells, British writer 11 "The very existence of the state demands that there be some privileged class vitally interested in maintaining that existence. And it is precisely the group interests of that class that are called patriotism." — Mikhail Bakunin, Russian anarchist 12 "To me, it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography." — George Santayana, American educator and philosopher William Blum is the author of: * Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War 2 * Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower * West-Bloc Dissident: A Cold War Memoir * Freeing the World to Death: Essays on the American Empire Portions of the books can be read, and signed copies purchased, at www.killinghope.org Notes 1. Sunday Telegraph (London), July 18, 1999 ↩ 2. The Independent (London), November 22, 1995 ↩ 3. Far Eastern Economic Review (Hong Kong), October 30, 1997, article by Nate Thayer, pages 15 and 20 ↩ 4. Washington Post, May 11, 2007, p.14 ↩ 5. "Passionate Declarations" (2003), p.40; ... Z Magazine, May 2006, interview by David Barsamian ↩ 6. "Democracy in America" (1840), chapter 16 ↩ 7. New York Times, December 25, 1992 ↩ 8. "Notes on Nationalism", p.83, 84, in "Such, Such Were the Joys" (1945) ↩ 9. Alan Colmes, "Red, White and Liberal" (2003), p.30 ↩ 10. San Francisco Examiner, January 20, 1980, quoting a "top Soviet diplomat" ↩ 11. "The Outline of History" (1920), vol. II, chapter XXXVII, p.782 ↩ 12. "Letters on Patriotism", 1869 ↩" http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25888.htm http://snipurl.com/z3rlq From cashmeeri at yahoo.com Thu Jul 8 17:10:18 2010 From: cashmeeri at yahoo.com (cashmeeri) Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 04:40:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] The View from Zero Bridge - poetry of Lynn Aarti Chandhok with the flavour of Kashmir Message-ID: <996436.92250.qm@web112618.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> http://www.lynnchandhok.com/ Three poems by Lynn Aarti Chandhok with the flavour of Kashmir.   1. The View from Zero Bridge   My father made his way to Zero Bridge Before the sun slipped up the riverbed And lighted plum groves — long before the cars, Carts, rickshaws, trucks, and bicycles emerged, Dew-slick at dawn, into the dust. He passed Our shuttered shop, passed Ram Bagh Road, arrived And, with his camera, peered over the edge On long shikaras jostling side by side, Their pointed noses wedged on the stone slab, Their open bellies full — kohlrabi, beets, Red carrots, long green kuddu, string beans — rows Piled patchwork, high as each small boat could hold. The farmers, barefoot, balanced at the edges, Haggling, counting, weighing. He framed and shot   A young man in an orange cabled sweater Swinging a bale of okra to his shoulder; A pyramid of eggplants on a scale; A farmer setting weights to balance them, The wind across the Jhelum billowing His gray pajama. After the shutter closed, The farmers tipped their heart-shaped paddles, turned, And rowed to Dal Lake’s maze of floating gardens.   It must have been our last year. Had he known, He would have waited for the shot he missed: The empty boats, the paddles poised to break Morning’s gold film, laid thin across the lake.     2. Marketplace    Kashmir, 1999   The clattering horse-drawn carriages, the horns, the hawkers all fall silent in the flash, then chaos rises, shattering paradise. My loss is trivial: a childhood home to which return would be a senseless risk just to confirm that paradise was real. True, even as a child I understood that bitterness had bled into the earth beneath the dahlias, leached into the roots of zinnias, marigolds, to murky lakes where lotus lay, flat-leaved, blooming in bright profusions out of quiet pools. I knew that past the ridge we climbed that August day to find a hidden lake one might mistake for sky itself, beyond this, nestled down between the peaks were border guards, two bands of men who, facing off, kept peace: the peace men fought for, not the other peace—the one we found that day along the mountain ridge, the air distilled, the silence cooled by clouds; the peace that let the glaciers age unmoved, and painted Himalayan peaks in grays that shifted off the setting sun to blue; the peace that marked the end of evening prayer, the ancient song drawn down to whispering Om shanti, shanti, shanti, om.   We'll move again. Though the borders haven't changed for more than fifty years, we can't forget the train cars burned—a body for a body. On either side, the only truth is loss, and blame is strewn like wreckage or debris, the storylines, disputed maps, redrawn.   3. The Carpet MasterAt each loom, sitting Buddha-like, there's one old man who reads the pattern off a scrap of paper bag he's tucked into the strings. The penciled letters look like notes. He sings instructions like a prayer—the rag's a map of roads that bleed like watercolor, run the wrong direction, double back, then bloom into a tree in bloom. The workers hear the melody as knots, not notes, the line as dots to be connected. Rows entwine according to a master plan that's clear only to the old man—until the loom recedes, leaving a veil of silk threads bound by what's unspoken, taking shape from sound.----------------------------- Lynn Aarti Chandok teaches high school English in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in Pittsburg and spent many childhood summers in Kashmir   "The View from Zero Bridge" was her first book. It won the 2006 Philip Levine Prize.   "The View from Zero Bridge" :   *  semifinalist for the 2005 Walt Whitman Prize (Academy of American Poets) *  finalist for the Beatrice Hawley Prize, the Colorado Prize, and the Agha Shahid Ali Prize (all in 2005) *  In 2006, it was a finalist for the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Donald Justice Prize, the Prairie Schooner Prize, the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Prize, the Ontario Prize, the Benjamin Saltman Prize, and the Stan and Tom Wick Prize, as well as a semifinalist for the Agnes Starrett Lynch Prize, the University of Wisconsin's Brittingham/Pollack Prize, and the Saturnalia Prize.   In 2006, Lynn received the Morton Marr Poetry Prize (Southwest Review);  was a Distinguished Entry in the Campbell Corner Prize (Sarah Lawrence College); and  was a runner-up for the Spoon River Poetry Review Editor's Prize. From reyhanchaudhuri at hotmail.com Thu Jul 8 18:06:48 2010 From: reyhanchaudhuri at hotmail.com (Dr. Reyhan Chaudhuri) Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 12:36:48 +0000 Subject: [Reader-list] =?windows-1256?q?_The_story_of_=91merit=92_=281950_?= =?windows-1256?q?to_2004_to_at_present=29=FE?= Message-ID: Dear Readers of Reader-list Mr Anoop kumar's very interesting findings maybe expanded (and not expended) - with the fact that much of South India(including Karnataka),do not use surnames.They have initials before their first name.(Which ofcourse,as we know are derived from their native village and father's first name). It would be interesting and pertinent to elucidate whether the results of IAS ,etc and the disparity or dis-correlationin their exams and interview scores,still exist or not.It would substantiate or disclaim the findings of whether there being a lot 'loaded against' a name'.. Sincerely, R.Chaudhuri. _________________________________________________________________ Bollywood This Decade http://entertainment.in.msn.com/bollywoodthisdecade/ From kauladityaraj at gmail.com Thu Jul 8 18:53:48 2010 From: kauladityaraj at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Kaul) Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 18:53:48 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Separatists planned, instigated Kashmir violence? Message-ID: Separatists planned, instigated Kashmir violence?*The Times of India * Link - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Did-separatists-plan-instigate-Kashmir-violence/articleshow/6143623.cms NEW DELHI: Involvement of hardline separatists in engineering some of the violence in the Kashmir valley is indicated by an intercepted conversation between two of them during which they discussed killing of at least 15 people in a procession near Srinagar on Wednesday. A large procession had started in Budgam district on the outskirts of Srinagar in the evening and two senior office-bearers of the hardline Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani discussed how to utilise it to create casualties, according to the transcript of the conversation available with the Home Ministry. According to the transcript, one of the office-bearers, Ghulam Ahmed Dar, was heard telling Shabir Ahmed Wani, another office-bearer, that a procession of nearly 20,000 people had started from Magam and was going towards Budgam. Wani tells Dar, "You guys enjoy payments sitting at home and do nothing." Dar, in his response, says, "The management of crowd becomes difficult later.....it gets difficult to manage the mob later." Dar then ends up by saying, "At least 15 people should be martyred today." However in the event, the police dispersed the procession with a mild cane charge and no untoward incident took place. From kiccovich at yahoo.com Thu Jul 8 19:01:40 2010 From: kiccovich at yahoo.com (francesca recchia) Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 06:31:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Ladakh Confluence Festival Message-ID: <334448.24008.qm@web113210.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> the oranisers of the festival had to cancel it this year. it is a very sad news. for more read below. http://theconfluence.in/ francesca recchia kiccovich at yahoo.com it +39 338 166 3648 iq +964 (0) 750 7085 681 http://www.veleno.tv/bollettini/ From yasir.media at gmail.com Thu Jul 8 23:13:07 2010 From: yasir.media at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?IHlhc2lyIH7ZitinINiz2LE=?=) Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 22:43:07 +0500 Subject: [Reader-list] Ladakh Confluence Festival In-Reply-To: <334448.24008.qm@web113210.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <334448.24008.qm@web113210.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: and across http://www.shandur.com/ but http://tribune.com.pk/story/24250/row-puts-shandur-polo-festival-in-jeopardy/ and they continued without gilgit-baltistan. unthinkable khhh! On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 6:31 PM, francesca recchia wrote: > the oranisers of the festival had to cancel it this year. it is a very sad > news. > for more read below. > http://theconfluence.in/ > francesca recchia > kiccovich at yahoo.com > it +39 338 166 3648 > iq +964 (0) 750 7085 681 > http://www.veleno.tv/bollettini/ > > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to 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 kmvenuannur at gmail.com Fri Jul 9 08:43:51 2010 From: kmvenuannur at gmail.com (Venugopalan K M) Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 08:43:51 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] A Dialogue with God and Dialogues that go missing by Sudeep KS and Bobby Kunju Message-ID: A Dialogue with God and Dialogues that go missing by Sudeep KS and Bobby Kunju [Inviting to a discussion on rhetoric and hate talk versus genuine debate on secularism and terrorism] http://kafila.org/2010/07/09/a-dialogue-with-god-and-dialogues-that-go-missing/ -- 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 nc-agricowi at netcologne.de Fri Jul 9 12:14:10 2010 From: nc-agricowi at netcologne.de (cinematheque) Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:44:10 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] =?iso-8859-1?q?Flash_=26_Thunder__-__interactive_sh?= =?iso-8859-1?q?ow_in_Greece?= Message-ID: <20100709084411.5E171FC6.F90E3AE3@192.168.0.2> Cinematheque - streaming media Cologne http://cinema.nmartproject.net is happy to present the interactive show "Flash & Thunder " Flash as a tool and medium for artistic creations http://cinema.nmartproject.net/cinema_d/index.html on VideoArt Festival Miden Kalamata/Greece - 8-10 July 2010 http://www.festivalmiden.gr The show "Flash & Thunder" is featuring linear and non-linear Flash works by these artists ---> Aaron Oldenburg (USA), Myriam Thyes (Switzerland) Bill Domonkos (USA), Renaud Vercey (F) David Clark (Canada), Roderick Coover (USA) Rita Sá (Portugal), Cynthia Lawson Jaramillo & Stephanie Strickland (USA) Alexander Moton (USA), Alan Bigelow (USA) Chris Joseph (UK), Edmond Salsali (USA) Hermes Mangialardo (Italy), Matthew Randall (UK) Please download also the info on PDF http://downloads.nmartproject.net/Program_teliko_2010_eng.pdf Cinematheque's "Flash & Thunder" show in Greece is part of NewMediaFest'2010 10 Years [NewMediaArtProjectNetwork]:||cologne global heritage of digital culture 1 January - 31 December 2010 http://2010.newmediafest.org director and chief curator: Wilfried Agricola de Cologne 2010 [at] newmediafest.org ---------------------------------------------------- From javedmasoo at gmail.com Fri Jul 9 18:49:14 2010 From: javedmasoo at gmail.com (Javed) Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 18:49:14 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] fast worsening situation in Kashmir Message-ID: Its sad that on this forum most people talk about the plight of Kashmiri Pundits. When it comes to the worsening situation of Kashmiri Muslims, they would say "it was instigated by the separatists". ---------------- Statement on the fast worsening situation in Kashmir As concerned Indian citizens some of whom played a role in solving the Amarnath-related crisis two years back, we are seriously worried at the fast deteriorating situation in the Valley of Kashmir which has witnessed the senseless killing of over two dozen innocent youth by the security forces in as many days. The army has now been directly deployed in many areas of the Valley in a shameful attempt to cover up for the utter political failure of both the central and state governments. This is evident in both the Omar Abdullah government’s inability to handle the situation and the central government’s lack of ideas and initiatives. The Prime Minister’s recent visit to the Valley only underlined the visionless policy of protecting the status quo at any cost. With all emphasis at our command, we urge the central government to at once send the army back to the barracks and out of all inhabited areas in the Valley, release all arrested political leaders, activists and protesters, repeal the black AFPSA which has allowed the army to kill with impunity, and urgently start a real dialogue with both the stakeholders in the Valley as well as with Pakistan to solve this vexed issue once and for all. We believe the situation in Kashmir demands a political, not a military, solution. We hope the UPA-II will not leave this issue burning for another generation to solve it. Dr JK Jain (Chairman, Jain TV), Syed Shahabuddin (President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat), Prem Shankar Jha (columnist), Prof. Ram Puniyani (All India Secular Forum), N.D. Pancholi (People's Union of Civil Liberties), Manisha Sethi (Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association), Yugal Kishor Saran Shastri (Ayodhya), Prof. Nirmalangshu Mukherji ( Delhi University ), Dr. Shamsul Islam ( Delhi University ), Neelima Sharma (Theatre Person), Zafar Mahmood (President, Interfaith Coalition), Kamal Faruqui (Ex-Chairman, Minorities Commission Delhi ), Navaid Hamid (Member, National Integration Council) Dr. M.H. Jawahirullah (President, Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam), Lateef Mohammad Khan (Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee), Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan (Editor, The Milli Gazette). New Delhi, 9 July 2010 =============================== released by The Milli Gazette D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 Tel. (011) 26942883, 26947483, 26952825 Fax: (011) 26945825 Email: edit at milligazette.com Website: www.milligazette.com From aliens at dataone.in Fri Jul 9 21:14:06 2010 From: aliens at dataone.in (Bipin Trivedi) Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:14:06 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] SAVE KASHMIR In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <000301cb1f7d$9213df20$b63b9d60$@in> Recent stone palters was definitely instigated/planned by separatists of Kashmir with support of Pakistan to tarnish the image of military since they are protecting Kashmir from infiltrators. It is now time to act with iron hand in Kashmir without coming to any international pressure. Thanks Bipin Trivedi -----Original Message----- From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net] On Behalf Of Javed Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 6:49 PM To: sarai list Subject: [Reader-list] fast worsening situation in Kashmir Its sad that on this forum most people talk about the plight of Kashmiri Pundits. When it comes to the worsening situation of Kashmiri Muslims, they would say "it was instigated by the separatists". ---------------- Statement on the fast worsening situation in Kashmir As concerned Indian citizens some of whom played a role in solving the Amarnath-related crisis two years back, we are seriously worried at the fast deteriorating situation in the Valley of Kashmir which has witnessed the senseless killing of over two dozen innocent youth by the security forces in as many days. The army has now been directly deployed in many areas of the Valley in a shameful attempt to cover up for the utter political failure of both the central and state governments. This is evident in both the Omar Abdullah government’s inability to handle the situation and the central government’s lack of ideas and initiatives. The Prime Minister’s recent visit to the Valley only underlined the visionless policy of protecting the status quo at any cost. With all emphasis at our command, we urge the central government to at once send the army back to the barracks and out of all inhabited areas in the Valley, release all arrested political leaders, activists and protesters, repeal the black AFPSA which has allowed the army to kill with impunity, and urgently start a real dialogue with both the stakeholders in the Valley as well as with Pakistan to solve this vexed issue once and for all. We believe the situation in Kashmir demands a political, not a military, solution. We hope the UPA-II will not leave this issue burning for another generation to solve it. Dr JK Jain (Chairman, Jain TV), Syed Shahabuddin (President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat), Prem Shankar Jha (columnist), Prof. Ram Puniyani (All India Secular Forum), N.D. Pancholi (People's Union of Civil Liberties), Manisha Sethi (Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association), Yugal Kishor Saran Shastri (Ayodhya), Prof. Nirmalangshu Mukherji ( Delhi University ), Dr. Shamsul Islam ( Delhi University ), Neelima Sharma (Theatre Person), Zafar Mahmood (President, Interfaith Coalition), Kamal Faruqui (Ex-Chairman, Minorities Commission Delhi ), Navaid Hamid (Member, National Integration Council) Dr. M.H. Jawahirullah (President, Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam), Lateef Mohammad Khan (Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee), Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan (Editor, The Milli Gazette). New Delhi, 9 July 2010 =============================== released by The Milli Gazette D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 Tel. (011) 26942883, 26947483, 26952825 Fax: (011) 26945825 Email: edit at milligazette.com Website: www.milligazette.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 ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de Sat Jul 10 05:22:31 2010 From: ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de (Britta Ohm) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:52:31 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] SAVE KASHMIR In-Reply-To: <000301cb1f7d$9213df20$b63b9d60$@in> References: <000301cb1f7d$9213df20$b63b9d60$@in> Message-ID: <15E6D0BB-23BE-4AD4-82F1-6FBDBD9B57E8@zedat.fu-berlin.de> Maybe one should think of distributing magnets in Kashmir, given so many iron firsts and iron hands that are to descend on the area. Welcome Britta Ohm Am 09.07.2010 um 17:44 schrieb Bipin Trivedi: > Recent stone palters was definitely instigated/planned by > separatists of Kashmir with support of Pakistan to tarnish the image > of military since they are protecting Kashmir from infiltrators. It > is now time to act with iron hand in Kashmir without coming to any > international pressure. > > Thanks > Bipin Trivedi > > > -----Original Message----- > From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net > ] On Behalf Of Javed > Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 6:49 PM > To: sarai list > Subject: [Reader-list] fast worsening situation in Kashmir > > Its sad that on this forum most people talk about the plight of > Kashmiri Pundits. When it comes to the worsening situation of Kashmiri > Muslims, they would say "it was instigated by the separatists". > ---------------- > > > Statement on the fast worsening situation in Kashmir > > As concerned Indian citizens some of whom played a role in solving the > Amarnath-related crisis two years back, we are seriously worried at > the fast deteriorating situation in the Valley of Kashmir which has > witnessed the senseless killing of over two dozen innocent youth by > the security forces in as many days. The army has now been directly > deployed in many areas of the Valley in a shameful attempt to cover up > for the utter political failure of both the central and state > governments. This is evident in both the Omar Abdullah government’s > inability to handle the situation and the central government’s lack of > ideas and initiatives. The Prime Minister’s recent visit to the Valley > only underlined the visionless policy of protecting the status quo at > any cost. > > With all emphasis at our command, we urge the central government to at > once send the army back to the barracks and out of all inhabited areas > in the Valley, release all arrested political leaders, activists and > protesters, repeal the black AFPSA which has allowed the army to kill > with impunity, and urgently start a real dialogue with both the > stakeholders in the Valley as well as with Pakistan to solve this > vexed issue once and for all. We believe the situation in Kashmir > demands a political, not a military, solution. We hope the UPA-II will > not leave this issue burning for another generation to solve it. > > Dr JK Jain (Chairman, Jain TV), > > Syed Shahabuddin (President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat), > > Prem Shankar Jha (columnist), > > Prof. Ram Puniyani (All India Secular Forum), > > N.D. Pancholi (People's Union of Civil Liberties), > > Manisha Sethi (Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association), > > Yugal Kishor Saran Shastri (Ayodhya), > > Prof. Nirmalangshu Mukherji ( Delhi University ), > > Dr. Shamsul Islam ( Delhi University ), > > Neelima Sharma (Theatre Person), > > Zafar Mahmood (President, Interfaith Coalition), > > Kamal Faruqui (Ex-Chairman, Minorities Commission Delhi ), > > Navaid Hamid (Member, National Integration Council) > > Dr. M.H. Jawahirullah (President, Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam), > > Lateef Mohammad Khan (Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee), > > Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan (Editor, The Milli Gazette). > > > > New Delhi, 9 July 2010 > > =============================== > > released by > > The Milli Gazette > > D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I > Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 > Tel. (011) 26942883, 26947483, 26952825 > Fax: (011) 26945825 > Email: edit at milligazette.com > Website: www.milligazette.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> --------------------------------------- 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 From javedmasoo at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 14:42:55 2010 From: javedmasoo at gmail.com (Javed) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:42:55 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] RSS top brass under CBI scanner for 'shielding' Ajmer blasts' accused Message-ID: RSS top brass under CBI scanner for 'shielding' Ajmer blasts' accused TNN, Jul 10, 2010, 02.00pm IST NEW DELHI: Two RSS leaders have come under the CBI scanner for allegedly shielding the 2007 Ajmer blasts accused, Times Now reported on Saturday. Times Now report quoted CBI sources as saying that senior RSS functionaries from Uttar Pradesh – Ashok Varshney and Ashok Berry – not only gave shelter to accused Devender Gupta but also organised his stay in Lucknow and Sitapur in the state. Sources also said that Devender made these startling confessions in the presence of Varshney and Berry before the CBI sleuths. Umar Daan, lawyer of the accused, however alleged his clients were being "politically targeted". "'CBI has a political agenda. They are framing the people with certain mindset and notions. These leaders are not involved in any anti-social activities," said Umar Daan. Meanwhile, the CBI director has refused to divulge any details about the case. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said that that the CBI would be submitting its findings before the court soon. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/RSS-top-brass-under-CBI-scanner-for-shielding-Ajmer-blasts-accused/articleshow/6151474.cms From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sat Jul 10 18:47:11 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:17:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] Kashmir - Integral Part Of Global Islamic Khilafa State Message-ID: <419218.27602.qm@web57201.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Sneak a look at the reality behind the so called "Aazadi" movement in Kashmir     http://www.facebook.com/khilafat4kashmir     Kshmendra From fsrnkashmir at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 21:19:06 2010 From: fsrnkashmir at gmail.com (Shahnawaz Khan) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 21:19:06 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Kashmir jounalists condemn state gag, embedded journalism Message-ID: Kashmir journalists condemn state gag, denounce New Delhi's embedded journalism PRESS RELEASE MEDIA PROTEST AT PRESS COLONY *RESOLUTION* * * *Journalist fraternity in Kashmir has condemned strong-arm measures of government to curb smooth functioning of media in Kashmir. It has been made impossible for the journalists to cover news and also publish the newspapers. Therefore, in these circumstances, it has been decided to collectively suspend publication of all newspapers in Kashmir to protest against the draconian measures.* *The decision was unanimously taken at a joint meeting of five representative bodies of media fraternity of Kashmir viz Kashmir Press Association, Press Guild of Kashmir, Kashmir Journalists Corps, Kashmir Press Photographers Association and Kashmir Video Journalists Association.* *The meeting resolved that publication of newspapers couldn’t be resumed unless concrete measures are taken to restore complete freedom of media in Kashmir. Issues confronting media fraternity were discussed in detail particularly the brazen action against News X correspondent Suhail Bukhari and other members of the organization, who have been booked under numerous draconian laws. Fearing their lives, News X has shut its office in Srinagar as members of the staff were being harassed.* *The meeting condemned the restrictions on media and expressed deep anguish over the unashamed approach of the government, which has not shown any respect for the media as an important institution. Instead the government has adopted a discriminatory attitude and not only facilitated entry of Delhi based journalists but has put all help, assistance and full government hospitality at their disposal so as to ensure the coverage of the events, as it deems suitable. The meeting also condemned the curbs imposed on cable TV networks in Kashmir while similar networks in other side of the state are allowed to air whatever they like.* *This situation has completely paralysed the media in Kashmir, which is unprecedented in last 20 years. The meeting resolved that until a public assurance is, not only made but implemented in letter and spirit, that there will be no restriction on media and cases against media persons wihdrawn, media persons in Kashmir will not be in a position to do justice to their profession. * *Srinagar: July, 10, 2010* * * From aliens at dataone.in Sat Jul 10 21:13:09 2010 From: aliens at dataone.in (Bipin Trivedi) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 21:13:09 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] SAVE KASHMIR In-Reply-To: <15E6D0BB-23BE-4AD4-82F1-6FBDBD9B57E8@zedat.fu-berlin.de> References: <000301cb1f7d$9213df20$b63b9d60$@in> <15E6D0BB-23BE-4AD4-82F1-6FBDBD9B57E8@zedat.fu-berlin.de> Message-ID: <000801cb2046$99a3f5d0$ccebe170$@in> Yes, thanks for your suggestion. We must distributes magnets to all the separatists so they can be catch by the iron (hand) and can be kept in easily which will help to prevail peace. Thanks Bipin Trivedi -----Original Message----- From: Britta Ohm [mailto:ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de] Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2010 5:23 AM To: Bipin Trivedi Cc: sarai-list Subject: Re: [Reader-list] SAVE KASHMIR Maybe one should think of distributing magnets in Kashmir, given so many iron firsts and iron hands that are to descend on the area. Welcome Britta Ohm Am 09.07.2010 um 17:44 schrieb Bipin Trivedi: > Recent stone palters was definitely instigated/planned by > separatists of Kashmir with support of Pakistan to tarnish the image > of military since they are protecting Kashmir from infiltrators. It > is now time to act with iron hand in Kashmir without coming to any > international pressure. > > Thanks > Bipin Trivedi > > > -----Original Message----- > From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net > ] On Behalf Of Javed > Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 6:49 PM > To: sarai list > Subject: [Reader-list] fast worsening situation in Kashmir > > Its sad that on this forum most people talk about the plight of > Kashmiri Pundits. When it comes to the worsening situation of Kashmiri > Muslims, they would say "it was instigated by the separatists". > ---------------- > > > Statement on the fast worsening situation in Kashmir > > As concerned Indian citizens some of whom played a role in solving the > Amarnath-related crisis two years back, we are seriously worried at > the fast deteriorating situation in the Valley of Kashmir which has > witnessed the senseless killing of over two dozen innocent youth by > the security forces in as many days. The army has now been directly > deployed in many areas of the Valley in a shameful attempt to cover up > for the utter political failure of both the central and state > governments. This is evident in both the Omar Abdullah government's > inability to handle the situation and the central government's lack of > ideas and initiatives. The Prime Minister's recent visit to the Valley > only underlined the visionless policy of protecting the status quo at > any cost. > > With all emphasis at our command, we urge the central government to at > once send the army back to the barracks and out of all inhabited areas > in the Valley, release all arrested political leaders, activists and > protesters, repeal the black AFPSA which has allowed the army to kill > with impunity, and urgently start a real dialogue with both the > stakeholders in the Valley as well as with Pakistan to solve this > vexed issue once and for all. We believe the situation in Kashmir > demands a political, not a military, solution. We hope the UPA-II will > not leave this issue burning for another generation to solve it. > > Dr JK Jain (Chairman, Jain TV), > > Syed Shahabuddin (President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat), > > Prem Shankar Jha (columnist), > > Prof. Ram Puniyani (All India Secular Forum), > > N.D. Pancholi (People's Union of Civil Liberties), > > Manisha Sethi (Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association), > > Yugal Kishor Saran Shastri (Ayodhya), > > Prof. Nirmalangshu Mukherji ( Delhi University ), > > Dr. Shamsul Islam ( Delhi University ), > > Neelima Sharma (Theatre Person), > > Zafar Mahmood (President, Interfaith Coalition), > > Kamal Faruqui (Ex-Chairman, Minorities Commission Delhi ), > > Navaid Hamid (Member, National Integration Council) > > Dr. M.H. Jawahirullah (President, Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam), > > Lateef Mohammad Khan (Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee), > > Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan (Editor, The Milli Gazette). > > > > New Delhi, 9 July 2010 > > =============================== > > released by > > The Milli Gazette > > D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I > Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 > Tel. (011) 26942883, 26947483, 26952825 > Fax: (011) 26945825 > Email: edit at milligazette.com > Website: www.milligazette.com > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> --------------------------------------- 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 From ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de Sat Jul 10 21:26:16 2010 From: ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de (Britta Ohm) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:56:16 +0200 Subject: [Reader-list] SAVE KASHMIR In-Reply-To: <000801cb2046$99a3f5d0$ccebe170$@in> References: <000301cb1f7d$9213df20$b63b9d60$@in> <15E6D0BB-23BE-4AD4-82F1-6FBDBD9B57E8@zedat.fu-berlin.de> <000801cb2046$99a3f5d0$ccebe170$@in> Message-ID: A magnet is there to render iron immovable, not the other way round. Am 10.07.2010 um 17:43 schrieb Bipin Trivedi: > Yes, thanks for your suggestion. We must distributes magnets to all > the > separatists so they can be catch by the iron (hand) and can be kept in > easily which will help to prevail peace. > > Thanks > Bipin Trivedi > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Britta Ohm [mailto:ohm at zedat.fu-berlin.de] > Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2010 5:23 AM > To: Bipin Trivedi > Cc: sarai-list > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] SAVE KASHMIR > > Maybe one should think of distributing magnets in Kashmir, given so > many iron firsts and iron hands that are to descend on the area. > Welcome > Britta Ohm > > Am 09.07.2010 um 17:44 schrieb Bipin Trivedi: > >> Recent stone palters was definitely instigated/planned by >> separatists of Kashmir with support of Pakistan to tarnish the image >> of military since they are protecting Kashmir from infiltrators. It >> is now time to act with iron hand in Kashmir without coming to any >> international pressure. >> >> Thanks >> Bipin Trivedi >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net >> ] On Behalf Of Javed >> Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 6:49 PM >> To: sarai list >> Subject: [Reader-list] fast worsening situation in Kashmir >> >> Its sad that on this forum most people talk about the plight of >> Kashmiri Pundits. When it comes to the worsening situation of >> Kashmiri >> Muslims, they would say "it was instigated by the separatists". >> ---------------- >> >> >> Statement on the fast worsening situation in Kashmir >> >> As concerned Indian citizens some of whom played a role in solving >> the >> Amarnath-related crisis two years back, we are seriously worried at >> the fast deteriorating situation in the Valley of Kashmir which has >> witnessed the senseless killing of over two dozen innocent youth by >> the security forces in as many days. The army has now been directly >> deployed in many areas of the Valley in a shameful attempt to cover >> up >> for the utter political failure of both the central and state >> governments. This is evident in both the Omar Abdullah government's >> inability to handle the situation and the central government's lack >> of >> ideas and initiatives. The Prime Minister's recent visit to the >> Valley >> only underlined the visionless policy of protecting the status quo at >> any cost. >> >> With all emphasis at our command, we urge the central government to >> at >> once send the army back to the barracks and out of all inhabited >> areas >> in the Valley, release all arrested political leaders, activists and >> protesters, repeal the black AFPSA which has allowed the army to kill >> with impunity, and urgently start a real dialogue with both the >> stakeholders in the Valley as well as with Pakistan to solve this >> vexed issue once and for all. We believe the situation in Kashmir >> demands a political, not a military, solution. We hope the UPA-II >> will >> not leave this issue burning for another generation to solve it. >> >> Dr JK Jain (Chairman, Jain TV), >> >> Syed Shahabuddin (President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat), >> >> Prem Shankar Jha (columnist), >> >> Prof. Ram Puniyani (All India Secular Forum), >> >> N.D. Pancholi (People's Union of Civil Liberties), >> >> Manisha Sethi (Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association), >> >> Yugal Kishor Saran Shastri (Ayodhya), >> >> Prof. Nirmalangshu Mukherji ( Delhi University ), >> >> Dr. Shamsul Islam ( Delhi University ), >> >> Neelima Sharma (Theatre Person), >> >> Zafar Mahmood (President, Interfaith Coalition), >> >> Kamal Faruqui (Ex-Chairman, Minorities Commission Delhi ), >> >> Navaid Hamid (Member, National Integration Council) >> >> Dr. M.H. Jawahirullah (President, Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra >> Kazhagam), >> >> Lateef Mohammad Khan (Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee), >> >> Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan (Editor, The Milli Gazette). >> >> >> >> New Delhi, 9 July 2010 >> >> =============================== >> >> released by >> >> The Milli Gazette >> >> D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I >> Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 >> Tel. (011) 26942883, 26947483, 26952825 >> Fax: (011) 26945825 >> Email: edit at milligazette.com >> Website: www.milligazette.com >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> subscribe in the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >> >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> subscribe in the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > --------------------------------------- > 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 > > > > > > > --------------------------------------- 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 From javedmasoo at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 22:49:44 2010 From: javedmasoo at gmail.com (Javed) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:49:44 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Indian Muslims are not terrorists: Farah Pandith Message-ID: Indian Muslims are not terrorists: Farah Pandith IANS, Jul 10, 2010, 06.20pm IST WASHINGTON: India's 160 million Muslims are not terrorists and are tired of their community being defined as terrorists, asserts a top Indian-American official of the Obama Administration charged with reaching out to the community. "I talk about the bloggers that I meet in India who are tired of Muslims being defined as terrorists," Farah Pandith, US Special Representative to the Muslim Community, said in a web chat Friday. "They're getting out there and talking about what's happening in India, with 160 million Muslims in India - all of whom, by the way, are not terrorists, excuse me," asserted the Indian-American State Department official. Articulating US attempts at fostering a positive dialogue with the world's 1.4 billion Muslims, Pandith made clear that she tries not to speak of a single monolithic "Muslim world". "The narrative has to change by the conversations that we are having, and not to put everything in one big bucket, just because, obviously, somebody maybe of one faith that does something bad does not mean that everybody of that faith is in that same bucket," she said in response to a question. "We have to listen. We have to hear what it is they are experiencing. Their expertise is better than somebody in Washington saying what must be," said the official who has travelled to 25 countries in the last nine months talking to Muslims. Muslims are trying very hard to push away any kind of narrative that would give that impression, Pandith said. "We as Muslims do not support the use of violence in any way, shape or form. "It's talking about diversity, and it's talking about things that this country stands for. When we talk about the West, Muslims are part of the West. There are 30 million Muslims in Western Europe. There are millions of Muslims in America," she said. "It's not us versus them," said Pandith. "It's not the West versus the East. It's not America versus Islam. The president has talked very clearly about the fact that Islam is part of America." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Indian-Muslims-are-not-terrorists-Farah-Pandith-/articleshow/6152102.cms From adityarajbaul at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 22:50:42 2010 From: adityarajbaul at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Baul) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:50:42 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Is Jammu again planning an economic blockade against Kashmir? Message-ID: For Urgent Publication Reality behind the suspension of fuel supply to Kashmir valley Srinagar, July 10 This has happened for the second time in less than one weeks time that the Jammu based Oil Tankers association has cut the fuel supply to the Kashmir valley on the flimsy grounds that some of the drivers of the oil tankers were attacked. The Guru Manyo Granth Society an amalgam of various Sikh organisations of the state under the presidentship of Jasdeep Singh conducted a research on the allegations and found that the allegations of attacks on the drivers of the oil tankers were false and baseless as a remarkable number of the drivers of the oil tankers were Kashmiri Muslims and Sikhs. The society in its research also found that the allegations of attack levelled by the Jammu based J&K oil Tankers association were baseless and the president of the association Anan Sharma was a fundamentalist, who was in the forefront during the Amarnath Land row agitation and was one of the main person responsible for enforcing the economic blockade on Kashmir in 2008. Sharma who is the president of a fanatic Hindu organisation Kranti Dal floated the party after splitting away from the fanatic Shiv Sena which has always taken as Anti minority stand. There are various cases of forgery and fraud registered against Anan Sharma in which he had fraud occupied the petrol pump to the widow of a soldier the case of which is still going on. The Guru Manyo Granth Society has appealed the government to wake up and take stern action against the people who are responsible of dividing the state on communal lines and trying to create a wedge between the two regions by instigating communal sentiments. The government should immediately disband the oil tankers association and take the supply of the fuel to the Kashmir valley in its own hands so that criminal elements should not take advantage of the present situation in the valley as earlier too some Jammu based parties had tried to link the human rights violation in Kashmir valley with Amarnath Yatra. The stoppage of fuel supply to Kashmir valley is a part of well knit conspiracy against the people of Kashmir and the state and the central government should take necessary action against the people who are fuelling the tension and creating the divide between the two regions. ============== Fuel supply to Kashmir suspended again http://www.risingkashmir.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=24901 Rising Kashmir News Jammu, July 09: For the second time in past few weeks, the JK Oil Tankers Association has suspended fuel supply to Valley alleging attacks on tankers by some “miscreants” in South Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu highway. On Friday, the association in a meeting discussed security concerns expressed by the drivers plying their vehicle on the route, President of the Association Anand Sharma said. “Despite assurances by the government,” he said, “some of the drivers were attacked by unidentified persons near Sumbal on Wednesday.” “We have decided not to ply our vehicles on the route till situation improves,” Sharma said. With this hundreds of valley-bound fuel tankers remained stranded at oil depots in Jammu. On June 30, the association had announced indefinite strike after some drivers were allegedly injured in attacks. However, the call was withdrawn on the same day after assurances and payment of compensation from the state government.This is the second time the association has suspended fuel supply to Valley in past few weeks and third time since 2008 after the controversial Baltal land transfer row. ============== July 1: Amarnath Samiti calls Jammu Bandh on Saturday http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/amarnath-samiti-calls-jammu-bandh-saturday_100389289.html But Jammu's lalas said F-O! http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/jammu-rebuffs-shutdown-call_100389923.html For those who may not know about the 2008 blockade: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080807/jsp/frontpage/story_9658536.jsp After the Samiti's handlers in Delhi told them it was backfiring they started claiming there was no blockade From adityarajbaul at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 23:09:57 2010 From: adityarajbaul at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Baul) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:09:57 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Censorship of Media in Kashmir Message-ID: Censorship of Media in Kashmir http://www.countercurrents.org/aisf100710.htm BHOPAL: July 10, 2010: “All India Secular Forum” has criticised the censorship imposed by the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir. To publish, broadcast and telecast news is our fundamental right. Imposing Censorship amounts to depriving the people of their fundamental right of freedom of expression. Censorship was imposed on the country along with proclamation of Emergency on June 25, 1975. But it proved to the counter-productive. If an individual journalist, any newspaper or Radio or TV channel carries any news that jeopardises national interest, it can be dealt with under the existing laws. But to gag the entire media is a deplorable step. LS Herdenia and Dr. Ram Puniyani, in a statement issued here, have demanded immediate lifting of censorship in J & K so as to allow free flow of information from and to that state. Let the Government rest assured that freedom of expression, by equipping the citizens with a legitimate and peaceful means of airing their grievances, would only aid in controlling the combating the violence that is rocking the state of late. From adityarajbaul at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 23:11:24 2010 From: adityarajbaul at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Baul) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:11:24 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Will India again kill protestors in next few days? Message-ID: Hurriyat (G) issues fresh protest calendar Share on facebook Share on twitter Strike on Sunday, civil curfew on July 12, Eidgah Chalo on July 13 KDNN http://kashmirdispatch.com/ShowStory.asp?NewsID=1495&CategoryID=29 Srinagar, July 10: The Hurriyat Conference (G) Saturday issued a fresh protest program for the next six days as part of its “Quit Kashmir campaign” against the recent killings by paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police in the Valley. A spokesman of the conglomerate said that an executive council meeting was held here under the chairman of general secretary Masrat Alam Bhat to decide the future course of agitation. He said that the meeting decided that there would a complete strike on Sunday (July 11). “We urge people to observe civil curfew on Monday while on July 13 (Martyrs' Day), people should assemble at the shrine of Khaja Sahib (Khawajabazar Nowhatta) and march towards Eidgah.” “On Wednesday and Thursday, we urge people to stage sit-in protests on roads in their respective localities,” he said, “On July 16, Friday, people should wear white clothes and stage protests in their respective district headquarters.” “For people in Srinagar, Batamaloo has been designated as headquarter and we appeal people to protest there,” he added. From adityarajbaul at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 23:20:53 2010 From: adityarajbaul at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Baul) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:20:53 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Media protests gag, suspend all publications Message-ID: Media protests gag, suspend all publications Organisations allege discriminatory treatment to local scribes KDNN http://kashmirdispatch.com/ShowStory.asp?NewsID=1498&CategoryID=29 Srinagar, July 10: To protest the draconian measures of the state government, various media associations Saturday announced the suspension of all newspapers published from Srinagar. The decision in this regard was taken by the five representative bodies of media fraternity of Kashmir, Kashmir Press Association, Press Guild of Kashmir, Kashmir Journalists Corps, Kashmir Press Photographers Association and Kashmir Video Journalists Association during a meeting in Srinagar, Saturday. The meeting resolved that publication of newspapers couldn’t be resumed unless concrete measures are taken to restore complete freedom of media in Kashmir. The meeting also discussed various issues confronted by the media persons in the valley. The meeting condemned the restrictions on media and expressed deep anguish over the discriminatory approach of the government. They also condemned the curbs imposed on cable TV networks in Kashmir while similar networks in other side of the state are allowed to air whatever they like. The brazen action against the correspondents of a New Delhi based English news channel also figured in the meeting. “The government has adopted a discriminatory attitude and not only facilitated entry of Delhi based journalists but has put all help, assistance and full government hospitality at their disposal so as to ensure the coverage of the events, as it deems suitable,” the meeting observed. The meeting resolved that until a public assurance is, not only made but implemented in letter and spirit, that there will be no restriction on media and cases against media persons wihdrawn, media persons in Kashmir will not be in a position to do justice to their profession. “It has been decided to collectively suspend publication of all newspapers in Kashmir to protest against the draconian measures,” the resolution passed in the meeting reads. Earlier, scores of journalists staged a peaceful sit-in at the Press Colony, Lal Chowk to condemn the curbs on media by the government. Carrying placards and banners that read “Stop media gag”, “Lift curfew on News,” “We protest - we won’t print,” “Stop intimidation, withdraw police cases against journalists”, “Revoke unwritten government ban on newspapers”, “Stop government harassment of media in Kashmir” , the journalists working with local, national and global organisations protested the media gag. Senior journalists addressed the gathering and condemned curbs on the media. From adityarajbaul at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 23:24:31 2010 From: adityarajbaul at gmail.com (Aditya Raj Baul) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:24:31 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Awesome world cup song, kashmir version! Message-ID: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uclmk0F_t9M From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 23:40:53 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:40:53 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 9 Message-ID: Article Theme: Terror in the nations: India and Pakistan Source: Outlook Link: http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266157 Date: 9th-16th July 2010 Article: pakistan: terror Just Who Is Not A Kafir? The Islamic faultlines in the state widens with extremists attacking minority sects Amir Mir *War On The Kafirs* *The broad Sunni-Shia division does not explain all of it* - Most Sunnis adhere to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Only 5 per cent of the country’s population belongs to the Ahle Hadith sect or Wahabis. - The Sunnis are subdivided into the Barelvi and Deobandi schools of thought - The Deobandis and Wahabis consider the Barelvis as kafir, because they visit the shrines of saints, offer prayers, believe music, poetry and dance can lead to god - Barelvis constitute 60 per cent of the population. Deobandis and Wahabis together account for 20 per cent - Another 15 per cent are Shias, again considered kafir and subjected to repeated attacks - Since 2000, the Sunni-Shia conflict has claimed 5,000 lives - Others considered kafir are the religious minorities—Christians, Ismailis, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Ahmadias, etc, who account for 5 per cent of the population - So, 20 per cent of the population effectively considers the remaining 80 per cent as kafir *** When two suicide bombers exploded themselves in the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh in Lahore, the ensuing devastation—in which at least 50 people were killed and scores injured—rendered meaningless the promise of Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947. Jinnah had said, “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed...that has nothing to do with the business of the state. You are free, free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan.” These stirring words were then perceived as an explicit assurance to the religious minorities of their rights in a country where Muslims constitute over 95 per cent of the population. Six decades later, as Pakistan remains trapped in the vortex of violence, even the Muslims are in desperate need of assurances such as Jinnah’s. Mosques and shrines of saints are targeted regularly, votaries of different Muslim sects are subjected to suicide bombings, and just about every mullah seems to enjoy the right of declaring anyone who he thinks has deviated from Islam an apostate, a non-Muslim, whose killing is religiously justifiable. In the darkness enveloping Pakistan, it won’t be wrong to ask: who isn’t a kafir or infidel, beyond even the religious minorities of Christians, Sikhs and Hindus? Shrapnel from every explosion strains the social fabric, tears its rich tapestry, and undermines the traditional forms of devotion inherited over generations. Take the twin suicide bombings of the Data Ganj Baksh shrine of July 1, which has been blamed on the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) even though it has vehemently denied its involvement. This Sufi shrine defines the spirit of Lahore, which is often called Data ki nagri (Data’s abode). Here lies buried Syed Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery, popularly known as Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh, whose shrine is mostly visited by members of the Barelvi sect of Sunni Muslims. The shrine, famous for mystical dancing by devotees, is a Lahore landmark. However, the adherents of the Deobandi school of thought, to which the Taliban belongs, are opposed to the idea of Muslims visiting Sufi shrines and offering prayers, a practice known as piri-faqiri. The Deobandis deem piri-faqiri to be heretical, a gross violation of Islamic doctrine; ditto mystical dancing. The Deobandis, therefore, consider the Barelvis as kafir whose neck can be put to sword, no question asked. A week before July 1, the TTP had sent a letter to the Data Ganj Baksh administration threatening to attack the shrine, claiming its status was equivalent to that of the Somnath temple in Gujarat, India. The symbolism inherent in the comparison wasn’t lost—the Somnath temple had been repeatedly raided by Sultan Mehmood Ghaznavi, ‘the idol destroyer’, who believed his marauding attacks would sap the fighting spirit of the Hindus. The attack on the Data Darbar was, similarly, aimed at demoralising the Barelvis, besides striking at the root of Lahore’s religious and cultural ethos. *The Daily Times* pointed out, “For 1,000 years, the city has been sustained by the cultural openness and tolerance that Data gave us. For 1,000 years, the shrine has fed Lahore’s hungry, clothed its naked and given shelter to the shelter-less. All that was brought to a halt when the night jackals in straitjackets struck like the cowards they are. Pakistan’s Islamic pluralism is now the target.” “Labelling others infidel has become a preferred task of mullahs. The Quran is wrongly used to disprove others’ faith.” This isn’t the first time Barelvi Muslims have been targeted. On April 12, 2006, for instance, a Barelvi conference organised to celebrate the perfectly orthodox occasion of Prophet Mohammed’s birthday at Nishtar Park, Karachi, witnessed a suicide bombing that claimed 70 lives. Last year, the Taliban attacked the shrine of the 17th century Sufi saint-poet, Rehman Baba, who is said to have withdrawn from the world and promised his followers that if they emulate him, they too could move towards a direct experience of god. He also believed god could be reached through music, poetry and dance. But then music and dance are unacceptable to the Deobandis, and the Taliban extensively damaged the shrine of Rehman Baba with explosives. Soon, they used rockets to ravage the mausoleum of Bahadar Baba, and then directed their wrath against the 400-year-old shrine of another Sufi saint, Abu Saeed Baba, both located near Peshawar. Renowned Islamic scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), which furnishes legal advice on Islamic issues to the Pakistan government, laments, “Labelling others infidel and kafir has become a preferred task of the mullahs. It’s clear that every sect considers others heretical, kafirs and dwellers of hell. Even verses of the Quran are wrongly used to disprove others’ faith and sects.” In a way, a minority of Pakistan’s population has taken to declaring the rest as kafir. Look at the figures—95 per cent of the Pakistani population are Muslim, of which 85 per cent are Sunni and 15 per cent Shia. But for the five per cent belonging to the Ahle Hadith (Wahabis), the Sunnis prescribe to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. They are further subdivided into the Barelvi and Deobandi schools. Most agree on the following composition of Pakistan’s population—60 per cent Barelvis, 15 per cent Deobandis, 15 per cent Shias, 5 per cent Ahle Hadith, and the remaining 5 per cent constituting Ahmadis, Ismailis, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis, etc. This means only 20 per cent of Pakistanis (15 per cent of Deobandis plus 5 per cent of Ahle Hadith) strictly consider the remaining 80 per cent as kafir, even willing to subject them to death and destruction. Renowned Pakistani writer Khaled Ahmed points to the irony: “Within Sunni Islam, the Deobandis and the Barelvis are not found anywhere outside India and Pakistan. The creation of these two sects was one of the masterstrokes of the Raj in its divide-and-rule policy.” He says the Deobandi school took roots in India in 1866 as a reaction to the overthrow of Muslim rule by the British. This school believes in a literalist interpretation of Islam, and apart from Wahabis, considers all other sects as non-Muslim who must be exterminated. “That’s why they work side by side, from politics to jehad,” says Ahmed, adding that though the Barelvi school of thought is the dominant jurisprudence in Pakistan, “it is not as well politically organised as the Deobandi school.” It was the Deobandi-Wahabi alliance, says Rehman, which pressured President Gen Zia-ul-Haq to declare the Ahmadis as non-Muslims. At a stroke of the pen, thus, a Muslim sect was clubbed with other religious minorities. Under the Constitution, they can’t call themselves Muslim or even describe their place of worship as a mosque. Wary of disclosing their identity publicly, the Ahmadis were dragged into the spotlight following devastating attacks on two of their mosques in Lahore that killed over a hundred people. But ‘Muslim’ status doesn’t insulate even mainstream sects from murderous attacks. Ask the Shias, whose Muharram procession in Karachi was bombed in December 2009, killing 33. The Deobandis regard Shias as kafir, claiming their devotion to the clerics and grant of divinely inspired status to them as heretical. The history of Sunni-Shia conflict is as old as Islam, but this has become increasingly bloody in the last decade—over 5,000 people have been killed since 2000—because of the war in Afghanistan. Since Iran had backed the Northern Alliance there, the Deobandis have taken to retaliating against the sect in Pakistan. They also accuse the Shias of assisting the Americans to invade Iraq. Says historian Dr Mubarak Ali, “One consequence of the war in Afghanistan is the fracturing of Pakistan’s religious patchwork quilt. Whereas once the faultlines lay between the Shias and Sunnis, these have now spread to the Barelvis and Deobandis, who are both Sunni.” Since the Barelvis are moderate and against the Taliban, the Deobandis look upon them as the state’s stooges, who as heretics should be put to death anyway, Ali argues. Perhaps the complicity between the state and the Deobandis deterred the latter from targeting the Barelvis till now. Lawyer and columnist Yasser Latif Hamdani says, “There is this potent mixture of Pashtun nationalism and Deobandi Islam. Somehow, there is something intrinsic to the very nature of Deobandi doctrine which the Pakistani military establishment is promoting to advance its so-called geostrategic agenda.” Yet, simultaneously, under US pressure, the state had to crack down on the TTP, which, in pique, has taken to wreaking vengeance on the hapless Barelvis. As long as powerful sections in the establishment persist with their goal of bringing the Pashtun Taliban back to power in Kabul, they will continue, says columnist Imtiaz Alam, “digging the grave of a democratic Pakistan”. Sectarianism and jehadi terrorism will be its consequent wages, he insists. No doubt, the enraged people of Lahore took to the streets protesting against the attack on the Data Darbar, but what’s of greater urgency is that the state must do some really deep thinking. From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 23:44:26 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:44:26 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 9 Message-ID: Article Theme: Terror in India and Pakistan Source: Outlook Date: 9th-16th July 2010 Link: http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266164 Article Content: Opinion A Last Note To A Neo-Colonialist This is a rejoinder the slain CPI (Maoist) spokesperson had penned in response to B.G. Verghese’s article in *Outlook* Chemkuri Azad Rajkumar Reading B.G. Verghese’s article Daylight at the Thousand-Star Hotelin *Outlook* (May 3), one is stunned by the abysmal poverty of thought and colonial mindset of this renowned intellectual. How is it that the illiterate, seemingly uncivilised, backward, half-naked adivasi thinks, analyses and acts a lot better than an established, well-read, highly qualified intellectual like Verghese? The history of freedom in our country presents innumerable such contrasts: of the highly educated white man, with his vast, in-depth knowledge of the world and the natural and social sciences, glorifying the British raj as a regime with a civilising mission; and the half-naked, illiterate Indian who craved for freedom and independence. To justify the oppression of their subjects in the colonies, the “educated” colonial intellectuals invented phrases such as “white man’s burden”, “civilising mission” et al. The freedom fighter, however, was not impressed by the ‘development’ the British colonialists brought to India through their railways, roads, communication networks, plantations, mines etc. Verghese is a typical example of the self-proclaimed civilisers of modern-day India, akin to the white ‘civilisers’ of yesteryear, who would have been the pride of a Rudyard Kipling. He reveals this colonial mindset by vehemently arguing in favour of the civilising mission of the corporate sharks and the Indian State to transform the poor, backward adivasis from savages into civilised people through a ‘development’ that destroys people’s economy, social life, culture and all human values. Ironically, ignoramuses like him imagine that adivasis are the casualties of non-development. The corporate vultures and their police servants have said, through Verghese, what they think of a dialogue with the Maoists. Citing from my interview in *The Hindu*, Verghese gives his own interpretation to my proposal for talks. He derides my statement that “talks will give some respite to the people who are oppressed and suppressed under the jackboots of the Indian State...” and interprets this as “respite for the oppressed (cadres)”. Such is the wishful imagination, cynicism, trivialisation and vulgarisation of a life-and-death question confronting millions of hapless people! Verghese also thinks that lifting the ban on our party, release of jailed leaders for the purpose of participating in talks, and respite for the oppressed are unreasonable preconditions. Would anyone, except Verghese and other war-hungry hawks, imagine that the Maoists had placed respite as a precondition? We had only explained why we think a ceasefire is necessary to give respite to the oppressed and suppressed people in the war-torn zones. In any war, there can be several periods of peace depending on many factors such as natural calamities which affect a significant chunk of the population and need relative peace for reconstruction and assistance to the victims; war of aggression by another country which calls for the united resistance of one and all; war fatigue among the people and even the belligerents; chronic famine conditions for a sizeable proportion of the people arising basically out of prolonged periods of war; the needs of either side for a respite for various reasons, and so on. However, it is only when both sides in the war feel the need for peace that a mutual ceasefire and a situation for initiating a dialogue will arise. Verghese does not speak like an impartial observer but betrays his conscious motive of tarnishing the Maoists with his ideologically bankrupt rhetoric. His inherent bias is clear from several of his remarks, such as his accusation that the Maoists pose like “Robin Hoods but rule by fear and authoritarian command over cowed camp-followers”. He further says: “Many comrades have broken rank in disgust over the Maoists’ brutality and hubris.” Can he cite any authentic source for his accusation, leaving out the disinformation campaign unleashed by the reactionary rulers and their police-intelligence wings? How many comrades have broken rank in disgust over our “brutality and hubris”? We challenge him to furnish a list. Even the church of England got out of Vedanta. The colonialists seem more humane than the slavish intellectuals in former colonies. For a common man who sees nothing but a culture of fear and authoritarianism everywhere, in virtually every party led by one or two authoritarian individuals whether it be Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, L.K. Advani, M. Karunanidhi, Y.S.R. Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, Jyoti Basu and so on, it is difficult to imagine genuine democracy and mutual trust that is the hallmark of a proletarian party like ours. Maoists have never considered themselves Robin Hoods and have even undertaken deep reviews of how the cult of the individual is part of the bourgeois culture, and how the people are the real heroes. Besides a strong ideological-political unity, the Maoists are marked by their conscious effort to promote collective functioning right from the central committee to the mass organisation committees, which is one reason why every attempt to split the party has failed right from the time of K.G. Sathya Murthy and Kondapalli Seetharamayya in erstwhile PW or Bharath and Badal in erstwhile MCCI. One is also dumbstruck to hear Verghese chide Arundhati Roy saying: “Why scoff at a cancer hospital built near Raipur by Vedanta, the aluminium corporate, or the proposed Vedanta University in coastal Orissa? Are these by definition all wicked enterprises?” He then goes on to repeat Ms Roy’s observations on the pathetic health conditions and lack of any healthcare in Dandakaranya and asks: “So where do we begin? By burning down the Vedanta hospital?” Should one think it is because of his innocence or because of his false consciousness derived from the non-stop propaganda by the corporate sharks that Verghese poses such a foolish question? Vedanta might appear as a benevolent enterprise to Verghese, but life has taught the adivasis what it stands for. Even as Verghese comes forth as an apologist for the worst perpetrators of crimes against humanity, we find organisations like the Church of England, and several shareholders in Vedanta exhibiting better rationale by withdrawing their shares from Vedanta. Even the colonialists seem more humane and rational than the slavish intellectuals in their former colonies! Moreover, even the Supreme Court of India and the environment ministry have raised objections to the proposed Vedanta University and mining venture. Only a Chidambaram, who served as a member of its board of directors until 2004, and Verghese, with his “compassionate” colonial mindset of “civilising” the backward people, can stand up in support of vultures like Vedanta, Tata, POSCO, Jindal.... Verghese’s colonial mindset is at its best when he says: “Yes, there will be land acquisition and displacement—that is the story of civilisation; but there will also be resettlement, compensation and training for new vocations.” The adivasis and poor peasants in our country can never imagine how people like Verghese can distort history so shamelessly. Ask the 60 million people who have been displaced by the land acquisition of the “civilisers”. How and why such barbarism is called the story of civilisation, only Verghese knows best. To convince the sceptics, he further says: “Admittedly, this (resettlement, compensation) has not always been done wisely or well. But times are changing. New legal frameworks, better norms, closer monitoring, improved R&R and livelihood packages have continuously been put in place.” Verghese here comes out as an incarnation of the typical Indian bureaucrat, like a G.K. Pillai. All intellectual pretence is shed here and he reveals himself as a loyal servant of the Indian comprador sharks. So why is all this hullabaloo about land acquisition and displacement being raked up by people like Arundhati Roy and others? Where in india is your constitution prevailing? in Dantewada? In Lalgarh, Kashmir, Manipur? where was it hiding for 25 yrs after ’84? Verghese states his imagined virtues of the corporates without a sense of shame: “There is much virtue in translating Gandhi’s concept of trusteeship in a new and evolving idiom of csr to which corporates, the state and courts have variously given expression. The new deals being worked out by the POSCOs, Vedantas, Tatas, Mittals and others are greatly in advance of what was on offer even five years ago.” What Verghese is trying to say is let the corporates enjoy the mineral wealth and loot the country at will as long as they throw some crumbs as charity or ‘social responsibility’ to the poor, helpless, wretched beings who are thrown out of their homes and lands. Why doesn’t Verghese visit Balitutha, Dhinkia and Nuagaon in Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa and convince the anti-POSCO agitators to understand the new paradise that is being built for them by his corporate bosses? Or visit Baligotha, Chandia and Baragadia in Kalinganagar to make the “backward” adivasis protesting against the Tata Steel project see reason? After centuries of rapacious plunder by capitalist gangs that has led to the monopoly control of the world’s resources by a handful of corporations, Verghese can actually call for a trusteeship by corporates! Another interesting instance where Verghese distorts facts is in the growth in tribal populations. In order to disprove Arundhati Roy’s apprehension about the probable genocide of tribals due to the war waged by the Indian State, Verghese asserts that “the tribal population of India was 19.1 million in 1951, rose to 84.3 mn according to the 2001 census and is estimated to be just short of 100 mn (8.1 per cent of the population) today.” Had he exerted a little effort, he would have known that the seemingly huge growth in the population figures of scheduled tribes in India is not because of an increase in the population of the tribes but due to the inclusion of several hitherto non-tribals in the ST category. Verghese’s attitude towards the occupation of schools by the security forces is also criminally casual. He says: “Yes, schools in Naxal-affected areas are often occupied by security forces, not to prevent education but because schooling and other developmental activities, such as they are, have come to a halt.” Even worse, he accuses the Maoists of opposing schools and of being interested only in “agitprop centres to indoctrinate the young”. This reveals the extent of indoctrination this intellectual mind has been subjected to by the omnipotent imperialist media and the servile education system he is a product of. He goes on to say, “Development and connectivity threaten them. Hence they destroy roads, culverts, bridges. Hence the wanton attacks on railway and highway projects that would, if completed, connect and open up remote, backward areas. If education, health services, roads, irrigation, markets and communications are provided and poverty rolled back, the Maoists would be out of business.” Throughout his article, Verghese acts as an apologist for the reactionary deeds of the rulers; and at times his language is indistinguishable from that of Chidambaram. For instance, Chidambaram too said at JNU recently: “Maoists want to ensure the tribals were inaccessible and incommunicado (from mainstream) by blowing up buildings, railway tracks and targeting developmental projects. Are they trying to create an archaeological museum in the tribal areas by keeping the tribals away from development?” While one can understand Chidambaram, as a loyal representative of the corporate sharks, uttering such trash, it’s really amusing to see intellectuals like Verghese imagining such things and drawing fantastic and subjective conclusions. On several occasions, we have clarified these questions. We have explained why we are targeting roads, bridges etc. Let alone opposing, our party has even led people’s struggles demanding the setting up of schools, appointment of teachers, health services, markets, irrigation and so on. In fact, seeing the utter apathy of the rulers, we ourselves have set up schools, dug wells and tanks to develop irrigation and increase productivity and yields of crops, organised cooperatives, trained local doctors, built roads and bridges deep inside the forest. Why would Maoists be threatened by development and connectivity? If Verghese and his brand of intellectuals think that concrete roads are the barometer of development, they are living in a fool’s paradise. He falls prey to the ruling class scheme of development that displaces the adivasis and destroys their lives, lands and cultures. He says roads and railways open up remote backward areas. For whom? For the people or for a handful of mining and industrial companies, forest contractors and police tormentors who make adivasi lives a veritable hell? Even more amusing is Verghese’s allegation that the Maoists are working only among the adivasis and that they will be “out of business” once the adivasi areas become developed. He does not even know the programme of the Maoists, which is to mobilise the vast majority of the suffering people throughout the country. Can the Maoists seize power and establish the “totalitarian state” Verghese is talking of without organising the non-adivasi majority living in the advanced regions of the country? Verghese refers to the Salwa Judum as a savage blot but concludes that “strategic hamleting” was confined to one district and prevented from being extended to any other district, even in Chhattisgarh. But who prevented it and how, he prefers to be silent on. It has been the heroic resistance, armed and unarmed, by the adivasi masses led by the Maoists since the end of 2005 that has upset the devious plans of the reactionary rulers to uproot the entire adivasi population. He doesn’t say that Salwa Judum was defeated and prevented from creating havoc in newer areas because the Maoists and the adivasi masses had dealt a death blow to this state-sponsored terrorist gang by carrying out daring militant offensives such as in Ranibodili and Errabore; that the rulers had never given up their fond wish to drive the entire adivasi population into strategic hamlets; and that Salwa Judum Part II unleashed by the Sonia-Manmohan-Chidambaram gang is precisely to achieve that unfinished goal. Lastly, Herr Verghese fondly hopes: “The Maoists will fade away, democratic India and the Constitution will prevail, despite the time it takes and the pain involved.” If the Maoists fade away by the superiority of your development model, then why are the advocates of your development keen on brutally suppressing the Maoists and the adivasis they are leading? In which part of India is the Constitution prevailing, Mr Verghese? In Dantewada, Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon? In Jharkhand, Orissa? In Lalgarh, Jangalmahal? In the Kashmir Valley? Manipur? Where was your Constitution hiding for 25 long years after thousand of Sikhs where massacred? When thousands of Muslims were decimated? When lakhs of peasants are compelled to commit suicides? When thousands of people are murdered by state-sponsored Salwa Judum gangs? When adivasi women are gangraped? When people are simply abducted by uniformed goons? Your Constitution is a piece of paper that does not even have the value of a toilet paper for the vast majority of the Indian people. Finally, this comment by Verghese—“People’s Tribunals keep mouthing yesterday’s tired slogans.... They do not see tomorrow; maybe they fear it”—applies more to people like him. He keeps mouthing yesterday’s outdated, monotonous slogans like “end of history”, “there-is-no-alternative”, “demise of Communism”, “totalitarian state”, and so on. He does not see tomorrow. He even fears it. The spectre of Communism sends shivers down his spine. From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sat Jul 10 23:52:42 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:52:42 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Reg: Set - 9 Message-ID: Article Theme: Terror in India and Pakistan (and in this article, the attitude) Source: Outlook Link: Date: Dec. 15, 2008 Article Content: Opinion Bombay, Duck The PLUs now know they're no longer safe. That's a beginning.... Ajith Pillai The tragedy of the rich always fascinates, compels and consumes us. Our empathy levels peak, emotions are taken over, all of it often manifesting in outrage. The terror attack on south Mumbai, which targeted the rich and powerful, did exactly that. Hysterical prescriptions were soon offered on TV—the PM should quit, so must the home minister, the national security advisor, the Maharashtra chief minister and so on. Short of suggesting that Manmohan Singh should personally frisk guests at the Taj and Oberoi, everything else has been prescribed. One angry gent on the tube even had this advice for the state—clear the city of slums, particularly the one next to Mumbai airport because that's where the insane people who shoot down aircraft hide. In fact, in the last week the city's plus and page 3 celebs were in competition, offering up quickfix solutions, one more drastic than the other. And it all might be justified. After all, the Taj and Oberoi, where captains of industry and Mumbai's who's who meet, had been hit. Two hotels where mega conferences are held and mega deals inked. The targeting of these two hotspots of India's commercial capital sent out an ominous message: no one, not even the rich and famous, is safe in Mumbai. For sure, the outcry would have been far more tempered if Ajanta Tourist Home in a suburb like, say, Bhayandar had been attacked. Or if the terrorists had trained their AKs on a lunch home in Moradabad, UP. In fact, even as the TV channels captured the live action at the Taj and the Oberoi, a few kilometres away at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly VT station) over 70 people were killed and scores injured by terrorist bullets. But this tragedy was a mere blip on a radar dominated by the two five-star hotels and Nariman House, occupied by Jewish families. Why did the Jaipur serial blasts which killed 66 or the Jodhpur temple stampede (toll 150) this year not arouse the same level of public outrage? Perhaps the victims—the aam admi—did not make for impressive case studies. It was the PLTs (people like them), not the PLUs that had lost their lives. Of course, one presumes the trauma of those who lost their dear ones in the Pink City was as heart-rending as those who found friends and relatives gunned down at the Taj. Very clearly, class matters. Just as a train accident in Bihar would be routine bad luck while a plane crash would be a major tragedy. The death toll doesn't matter. The victims' profile does. Why, even in death hierarchy rules: the cameras followed ATS chief Hemant Karkare's funeral, but what of the six constables who laid down their lives? Unfortunately, their place is in our long list of unsung heroes. After the Mumbai attack, there's now an overwhelming sense that ill luck can fall on even sensible tax-paying citizens (which has shocked many out of their stupor). After all, any upscale Mumbaikar worth his Bombay Duck would have dined at least once at the Taj or Oberoi. And who does not have a story of scoring hash in Colaba's bylanes or slugging beer at Leopold? Now it's the places the PLUs know and frequent that were targets. And that angered them no end. Which in itself is not without a major positive. For the first time in Indian history, the Union home minister and his Maharashtra counterpart were forced to accept moral responsibility and put in their papers. No riot or serial blast has so far caused heads to roll at the very top—not even once. It happened now because Mumbai's elite came out strongly against the tardy establishment—and their views found resonance nation-wide. Could the attack have been foiled? Why intelligence (a difficult commodity to come by and assimilate) alerts were not acted upon will be debated for long. For it's a fact that after every terror strike, the IB and RAW are quick to reveal how their warnings were ignored. This time, though, the introspection seems to be a tad serious. There is talk of revamping the intelligence apparatus so there is effective coordination between the various agencies. The NSG, which played a key role in freeing the hostages, is also being beefed up with additional equipment and manpower. The government claims it is keen to act. At the end of the day, "citizen power" prevailed. The terror strike drove home a cruel truth though: driving a Merc or sipping Blue Label at the Harbour Bar doesn't offer anyone immunity. One only hopes that upper-crust Mumbaikars show the same level of activism and commitment when it comes to aam admi issues like sadak, bijli and paani. From subhachops at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 12:19:16 2010 From: subhachops at gmail.com (Subhash) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:19:16 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir Message-ID: Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary forces http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html Please sign and forward to your networks For more information on the situation in Kashmir, http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents in Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that the bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after his picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from the forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be conducted and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale assault on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any dissent. Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year old Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers were dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in Srinagar while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as young as 12 and 13. For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were beaten up and their curfew passes torn. Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their passes were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos of street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned short messaging services as well (third time in the last three years). Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk to civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate Kashmir from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early 1990’s. For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions of oppression of Kashmiris. Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security agencies against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political solution to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law and order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising fears of increased civilian casualties. The international community has largely remained silent on the plight of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It is time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir issue, to press the Indian government to: *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from populated areas, *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR violations, *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus from Kashmir, *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. Sincerely, Please sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html From rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 12:59:33 2010 From: rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com (Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:59:33 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, for money get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests with violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name or genuine, ? Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest in legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make others, innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans like u and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion against such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, rajen On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash wrote: > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary > forces > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html > > Please sign and forward to your networks > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, > http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ > > http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents in > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that the > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after his > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from the > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be conducted > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale assault > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any > dissent. > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year old > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers were > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in Srinagar > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as young > as 12 and 13. > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their passes > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos of > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three years). > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk to > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate Kashmir > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early 1990’s. > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions of > oppression of Kashmiris. > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian laws > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security agencies > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political solution > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law and > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising fears > of increased civilian casualties. > > The international community has largely remained silent on the plight > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It is > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir > issue, to press the Indian government to: > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from > populated areas, > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR > violations, > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus > from Kashmir, > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. > > Sincerely, > > Please sign the petition at > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> -- Rajen. From c.anupam at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 13:15:49 2010 From: c.anupam at gmail.com (anupam chakravartty) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:15:49 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rajen, what do you precisely mean by this: has subhash a converted name or genuine, ? converted to what? why does it need the conversion tag to speak up against something? why this communal slandering over and over again and that too on this list against any individual? personally, i feel be it north east or kashmir and recently, parts of central india have fallen prey to the excesses by military forces. militarization of any region in the world would bring bad news to you. you may take pride in your military in resolving conflicts but there is a basic flaw in this way of bringing peace for communities which feel threatened in presence of the military forces. i believe you have known military forces only through the brutal show of might on 26 jan celebrations. what goes on to turn a young man into a war machine has never been your concern, will never be. Anupam On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi < rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com> wrote: > why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, for > money > get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests with > violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name or > genuine, ? > Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest in > legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make others, > innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans like > u > and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion against > such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, > rajen > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash wrote: > > > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of > > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary > > forces > > > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html > > > > Please sign and forward to your networks > > > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, > > > http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ > > > > > http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ > > > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered > > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, > > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of > > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards > > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents in > > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that the > > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this > > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, > > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after his > > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, > > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from the > > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. > > > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially > > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the > > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring > > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be conducted > > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale assault > > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any > > dissent. > > > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen > > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent > > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year old > > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, > > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers were > > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the > > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in Srinagar > > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The > > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as young > > as 12 and 13. > > > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on > > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and > > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in > > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and > > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching > > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were > > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. > > > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, > > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. > > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their passes > > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to > > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is > > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos of > > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services > > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned > > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three years). > > > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of > > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a > > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of > > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk to > > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant > > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate Kashmir > > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a > > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early 1990’s. > > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly > > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the > > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and > > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions of > > oppression of Kashmiris. > > > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously > > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and > > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against > > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian laws > > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed > > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security agencies > > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of > > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. > > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political solution > > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of > > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law and > > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising fears > > of increased civilian casualties. > > > > The international community has largely remained silent on the plight > > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news > > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in > > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists > > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It is > > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. > > > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir > > issue, to press the Indian government to: > > > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from > > populated areas, > > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which > > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR > > violations, > > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and > > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus > > from Kashmir, > > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and > > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Please sign the petition at > > > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> > > > > > -- > Rajen. > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to 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 pawan.durani at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 13:43:09 2010 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:13:09 -0700 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: There are so many ficticios ID's in this list. Yesterday many mails of Adiyaraj kaul were infact not posted by him. And speaking about other member s of this groups whom I miss ,Has anyone seen Shivam Vij of late ? He seems to be quite active at varios fronts. Pawan Durani On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: > > Rajen, > > what do you precisely mean by this: has subhash a converted name or > genuine, > ? > > converted to what? why does it need the conversion tag to speak up against > something? why this communal slandering over and over again and that too on > this list against any individual? > > personally, i feel be it north east or kashmir and recently, parts of > central india have fallen prey to the excesses by military forces. > militarization of any region in the world would bring bad news to you. you > may take pride in your military in resolving conflicts but there is a basic > flaw in this way of bringing peace for communities which feel threatened in > presence of the military forces. i believe you have known military forces > only through the brutal show of might on 26 jan celebrations. what goes on > to turn a young man into a war machine has never been your concern, will > never be. > > Anupam > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi < > rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com> wrote: > > > why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, for > > money > > get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests with > > violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name or > > genuine, ? > > Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest in > > legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make > others, > > innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans > like > > u > > and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion > against > > such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, > > rajen > > > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash wrote: > > > > > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of > > > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary > > > forces > > > > > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html > > > > > > Please sign and forward to your networks > > > > > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, > > > > > > http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ > > > > > > > > > http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ > > > > > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered > > > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, > > > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of > > > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards > > > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents in > > > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that the > > > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this > > > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, > > > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after his > > > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, > > > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from the > > > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. > > > > > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially > > > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the > > > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring > > > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be conducted > > > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale assault > > > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any > > > dissent. > > > > > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen > > > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent > > > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year old > > > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, > > > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers were > > > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the > > > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in Srinagar > > > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The > > > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as young > > > as 12 and 13. > > > > > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on > > > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and > > > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in > > > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and > > > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching > > > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were > > > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. > > > > > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, > > > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. > > > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their passes > > > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to > > > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is > > > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos of > > > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services > > > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned > > > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three years). > > > > > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of > > > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a > > > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of > > > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk to > > > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant > > > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate Kashmir > > > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a > > > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early 1990’s. > > > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly > > > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the > > > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and > > > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions of > > > oppression of Kashmiris. > > > > > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously > > > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and > > > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against > > > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian laws > > > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed > > > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security agencies > > > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of > > > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. > > > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political solution > > > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of > > > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law and > > > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising fears > > > of increased civilian casualties. > > > > > > The international community has largely remained silent on the plight > > > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news > > > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in > > > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists > > > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It is > > > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. > > > > > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir > > > issue, to press the Indian government to: > > > > > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from > > > populated areas, > > > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which > > > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR > > > violations, > > > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and > > > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus > > > from Kashmir, > > > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and > > > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > > > > Please sign the petition at > > > > > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Rajen. > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From c.anupam at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 13:48:27 2010 From: c.anupam at gmail.com (anupam chakravartty) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:48:27 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Pawan, I think certain positions taken by certain individuals while vigorously pursuing their own agendas has led to this situation. Perhaps communal slandering should stop here especially in the name of Kashmir. Anupam On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Pawan Durani wrote: > There are so many ficticios ID's in this list. Yesterday many mails of > Adiyaraj kaul were infact not posted by him. > > And speaking about other member s of this groups whom I miss ,Has anyone > seen Shivam Vij of late ? He seems to be quite active at varios fronts. > > Pawan Durani > > > > > On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: >> >> Rajen, >> >> what do you precisely mean by this: has subhash a converted name or >> genuine, >> ? >> >> converted to what? why does it need the conversion tag to speak up against >> something? why this communal slandering over and over again and that too >> on >> this list against any individual? >> >> personally, i feel be it north east or kashmir and recently, parts of >> central india have fallen prey to the excesses by military forces. >> militarization of any region in the world would bring bad news to you. you >> may take pride in your military in resolving conflicts but there is a >> basic >> flaw in this way of bringing peace for communities which feel threatened >> in >> presence of the military forces. i believe you have known military forces >> only through the brutal show of might on 26 jan celebrations. what goes on >> to turn a young man into a war machine has never been your concern, will >> never be. >> >> Anupam >> >> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi < >> rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com> wrote: >> >> > why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, for >> > money >> > get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests with >> > violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name or >> > genuine, ? >> > Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest in >> > legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make >> others, >> > innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans >> like >> > u >> > and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion >> against >> > such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, >> > rajen >> > >> > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash wrote: >> > >> > > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of >> > > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary >> > > forces >> > > >> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html >> > > >> > > Please sign and forward to your networks >> > > >> > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, >> > > >> > >> http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ >> > > >> > > >> > >> http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ >> > > >> > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered >> > > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, >> > > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of >> > > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards >> > > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents in >> > > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that the >> > > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this >> > > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, >> > > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after his >> > > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, >> > > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from the >> > > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. >> > > >> > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially >> > > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the >> > > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring >> > > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be conducted >> > > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale assault >> > > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any >> > > dissent. >> > > >> > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen >> > > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent >> > > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year old >> > > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, >> > > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers were >> > > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the >> > > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in Srinagar >> > > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The >> > > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as young >> > > as 12 and 13. >> > > >> > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on >> > > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and >> > > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in >> > > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and >> > > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching >> > > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were >> > > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. >> > > >> > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, >> > > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. >> > > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their passes >> > > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to >> > > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is >> > > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos of >> > > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services >> > > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned >> > > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three years). >> > > >> > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of >> > > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a >> > > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of >> > > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk to >> > > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant >> > > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate Kashmir >> > > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a >> > > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early 1990’s. >> > > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly >> > > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the >> > > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and >> > > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions of >> > > oppression of Kashmiris. >> > > >> > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously >> > > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and >> > > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against >> > > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian laws >> > > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed >> > > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security agencies >> > > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of >> > > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. >> > > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political solution >> > > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of >> > > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law and >> > > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising fears >> > > of increased civilian casualties. >> > > >> > > The international community has largely remained silent on the plight >> > > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news >> > > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in >> > > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists >> > > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It is >> > > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. >> > > >> > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir >> > > issue, to press the Indian government to: >> > > >> > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from >> > > populated areas, >> > > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which >> > > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR >> > > violations, >> > > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and >> > > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus >> > > from Kashmir, >> > > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and >> > > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. >> > > >> > > Sincerely, >> > > >> > > Please sign the petition at >> > > >> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Rajen. >> > _________________________________________ >> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> > Critiques & Collaborations >> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> > subscribe in the subject header. >> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >> > >> _________________________________________ >> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >> Critiques & Collaborations >> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >> subscribe in the subject header. >> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > From pawan.durani at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 14:58:19 2010 From: pawan.durani at gmail.com (Pawan Durani) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:58:19 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Why s3elective about Kashmir ..is it beacuse Hindus are the victim there ? On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: > > Pawan, > > I think certain positions taken by certain individuals while vigorously > pursuing their own agendas has led to this situation. Perhaps communal > slandering should stop here especially in the name of Kashmir. > > Anupam > > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Pawan Durani wrote: > >> There are so many ficticios ID's in this list. Yesterday many mails of >> Adiyaraj kaul were infact not posted by him. >> >> And speaking about other member s of this groups whom I miss ,Has anyone >> seen Shivam Vij of late ? He seems to be quite active at varios fronts. >> >> Pawan Durani >> >> >> >> >> On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: >>> >>> Rajen, >>> >>> what do you precisely mean by this: has subhash a converted name or >>> genuine, >>> ? >>> >>> converted to what? why does it need the conversion tag to speak up >>> against >>> something? why this communal slandering over and over again and that too >>> on >>> this list against any individual? >>> >>> personally, i feel be it north east or kashmir and recently, parts of >>> central india have fallen prey to the excesses by military forces. >>> militarization of any region in the world would bring bad news to you. >>> you >>> may take pride in your military in resolving conflicts but there is a >>> basic >>> flaw in this way of bringing peace for communities which feel threatened >>> in >>> presence of the military forces. i believe you have known military forces >>> only through the brutal show of might on 26 jan celebrations. what goes >>> on >>> to turn a young man into a war machine has never been your concern, will >>> never be. >>> >>> Anupam >>> >>> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi < >>> rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> > why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, for >>> > money >>> > get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests with >>> > violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name or >>> > genuine, ? >>> > Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest >>> in >>> > legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make >>> others, >>> > innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans >>> like >>> > u >>> > and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion >>> against >>> > such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, >>> > rajen >>> > >>> > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash >>> wrote: >>> > >>> > > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of >>> > > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary >>> > > forces >>> > > >>> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html >>> > > >>> > > Please sign and forward to your networks >>> > > >>> > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, >>> > > >>> > >>> http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ >>> > > >>> > > >>> > >>> http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ >>> > > >>> > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered >>> > > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, >>> > > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of >>> > > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards >>> > > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents in >>> > > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that >>> the >>> > > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this >>> > > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, >>> > > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after >>> his >>> > > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, >>> > > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from the >>> > > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. >>> > > >>> > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially >>> > > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the >>> > > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring >>> > > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be conducted >>> > > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale >>> assault >>> > > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any >>> > > dissent. >>> > > >>> > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen >>> > > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent >>> > > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year >>> old >>> > > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, >>> > > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers were >>> > > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the >>> > > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in Srinagar >>> > > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The >>> > > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as young >>> > > as 12 and 13. >>> > > >>> > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on >>> > > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and >>> > > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in >>> > > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and >>> > > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching >>> > > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were >>> > > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. >>> > > >>> > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, >>> > > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. >>> > > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their >>> passes >>> > > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to >>> > > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is >>> > > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos >>> of >>> > > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services >>> > > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned >>> > > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three >>> years). >>> > > >>> > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of >>> > > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a >>> > > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of >>> > > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk to >>> > > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant >>> > > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate >>> Kashmir >>> > > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a >>> > > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early 1990’s. >>> > > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly >>> > > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the >>> > > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and >>> > > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions of >>> > > oppression of Kashmiris. >>> > > >>> > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously >>> > > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and >>> > > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against >>> > > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian laws >>> > > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed >>> > > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security >>> agencies >>> > > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of >>> > > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. >>> > > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political solution >>> > > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of >>> > > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law >>> and >>> > > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising fears >>> > > of increased civilian casualties. >>> > > >>> > > The international community has largely remained silent on the plight >>> > > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news >>> > > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in >>> > > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists >>> > > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It is >>> > > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. >>> > > >>> > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir >>> > > issue, to press the Indian government to: >>> > > >>> > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from >>> > > populated areas, >>> > > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which >>> > > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR >>> > > violations, >>> > > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and >>> > > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus >>> > > from Kashmir, >>> > > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and >>> > > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. >>> > > >>> > > Sincerely, >>> > > >>> > > Please sign the petition at >>> > > >>> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > -- >>> > Rajen. >>> > _________________________________________ >>> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>> > Critiques & Collaborations >>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>> > subscribe in the subject header. >>> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> > >>> _________________________________________ >>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>> Critiques & Collaborations >>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>> subscribe in the subject header. >>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >> >> >> > From c.anupam at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 15:00:35 2010 From: c.anupam at gmail.com (anupam chakravartty) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:00:35 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Because if i say Gujarat, we will have someone like Bipin Trivedi posting gujarat government ads on this forum. On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 2:58 PM, Pawan Durani wrote: > Why s3elective about Kashmir ..is it beacuse Hindus are the victim there ? > > > On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: >> >> Pawan, >> >> I think certain positions taken by certain individuals while vigorously >> pursuing their own agendas has led to this situation. Perhaps communal >> slandering should stop here especially in the name of Kashmir. >> >> Anupam >> >> >> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Pawan Durani wrote: >> >>> There are so many ficticios ID's in this list. Yesterday many mails of >>> Adiyaraj kaul were infact not posted by him. >>> >>> And speaking about other member s of this groups whom I miss ,Has anyone >>> seen Shivam Vij of late ? He seems to be quite active at varios fronts. >>> >>> Pawan Durani >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: >>>> >>>> Rajen, >>>> >>>> what do you precisely mean by this: has subhash a converted name or >>>> genuine, >>>> ? >>>> >>>> converted to what? why does it need the conversion tag to speak up >>>> against >>>> something? why this communal slandering over and over again and that too >>>> on >>>> this list against any individual? >>>> >>>> personally, i feel be it north east or kashmir and recently, parts of >>>> central india have fallen prey to the excesses by military forces. >>>> militarization of any region in the world would bring bad news to you. >>>> you >>>> may take pride in your military in resolving conflicts but there is a >>>> basic >>>> flaw in this way of bringing peace for communities which feel threatened >>>> in >>>> presence of the military forces. i believe you have known military >>>> forces >>>> only through the brutal show of might on 26 jan celebrations. what goes >>>> on >>>> to turn a young man into a war machine has never been your concern, will >>>> never be. >>>> >>>> Anupam >>>> >>>> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi < >>>> rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> > why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, for >>>> > money >>>> > get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests with >>>> > violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name >>>> or >>>> > genuine, ? >>>> > Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest >>>> in >>>> > legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make >>>> others, >>>> > innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans >>>> like >>>> > u >>>> > and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion >>>> against >>>> > such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, >>>> > rajen >>>> > >>>> > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash >>>> wrote: >>>> > >>>> > > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of >>>> > > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary >>>> > > forces >>>> > > >>>> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html >>>> > > >>>> > > Please sign and forward to your networks >>>> > > >>>> > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, >>>> > > >>>> > >>>> http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > >>>> http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ >>>> > > >>>> > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered >>>> > > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, >>>> > > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of >>>> > > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards >>>> > > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents >>>> in >>>> > > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that >>>> the >>>> > > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this >>>> > > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, >>>> > > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after >>>> his >>>> > > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, >>>> > > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from >>>> the >>>> > > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. >>>> > > >>>> > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially >>>> > > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the >>>> > > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring >>>> > > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be >>>> conducted >>>> > > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale >>>> assault >>>> > > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any >>>> > > dissent. >>>> > > >>>> > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen >>>> > > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent >>>> > > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year >>>> old >>>> > > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, >>>> > > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers >>>> were >>>> > > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the >>>> > > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in >>>> Srinagar >>>> > > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The >>>> > > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as >>>> young >>>> > > as 12 and 13. >>>> > > >>>> > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on >>>> > > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and >>>> > > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in >>>> > > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and >>>> > > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching >>>> > > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were >>>> > > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. >>>> > > >>>> > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, >>>> > > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. >>>> > > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their >>>> passes >>>> > > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to >>>> > > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is >>>> > > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos >>>> of >>>> > > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services >>>> > > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned >>>> > > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three >>>> years). >>>> > > >>>> > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of >>>> > > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a >>>> > > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of >>>> > > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk >>>> to >>>> > > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant >>>> > > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate >>>> Kashmir >>>> > > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a >>>> > > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early >>>> 1990’s. >>>> > > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly >>>> > > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the >>>> > > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and >>>> > > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions >>>> of >>>> > > oppression of Kashmiris. >>>> > > >>>> > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously >>>> > > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and >>>> > > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against >>>> > > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian >>>> laws >>>> > > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed >>>> > > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security >>>> agencies >>>> > > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of >>>> > > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. >>>> > > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political >>>> solution >>>> > > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of >>>> > > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law >>>> and >>>> > > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising >>>> fears >>>> > > of increased civilian casualties. >>>> > > >>>> > > The international community has largely remained silent on the >>>> plight >>>> > > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news >>>> > > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in >>>> > > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists >>>> > > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It >>>> is >>>> > > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. >>>> > > >>>> > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir >>>> > > issue, to press the Indian government to: >>>> > > >>>> > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from >>>> > > populated areas, >>>> > > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which >>>> > > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR >>>> > > violations, >>>> > > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and >>>> > > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus >>>> > > from Kashmir, >>>> > > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and >>>> > > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. >>>> > > >>>> > > Sincerely, >>>> > > >>>> > > Please sign the petition at >>>> > > >>>> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > Rajen. >>>> > _________________________________________ >>>> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>> > Critiques & Collaborations >>>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>> > subscribe in the subject header. >>>> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>>> > >>>> _________________________________________ >>>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>> Critiques & Collaborations >>>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>> subscribe in the subject header. >>>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>> >>> >>> >> > From c.anupam at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 15:03:16 2010 From: c.anupam at gmail.com (anupam chakravartty) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:03:16 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: because i am led to believe that so-called hindus are genuinely concerned about state of democracy in kashmir. because i think someone wouldnt be posting a reply saying that "it is harming the image of kashmir". selective because there have been news posted on this selectively about kashmir. On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 3:00 PM, anupam chakravartty wrote: > Because if i say Gujarat, we will have someone like Bipin Trivedi posting > gujarat government ads on this forum. > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 2:58 PM, Pawan Durani wrote: > >> Why s3elective about Kashmir ..is it beacuse Hindus are the victim there ? >> >> >> On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: >>> >>> Pawan, >>> >>> I think certain positions taken by certain individuals while vigorously >>> pursuing their own agendas has led to this situation. Perhaps communal >>> slandering should stop here especially in the name of Kashmir. >>> >>> Anupam >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Pawan Durani wrote: >>> >>>> There are so many ficticios ID's in this list. Yesterday many mails of >>>> Adiyaraj kaul were infact not posted by him. >>>> >>>> And speaking about other member s of this groups whom I miss ,Has anyone >>>> seen Shivam Vij of late ? He seems to be quite active at varios fronts. >>>> >>>> Pawan Durani >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Rajen, >>>>> >>>>> what do you precisely mean by this: has subhash a converted name or >>>>> genuine, >>>>> ? >>>>> >>>>> converted to what? why does it need the conversion tag to speak up >>>>> against >>>>> something? why this communal slandering over and over again and that >>>>> too on >>>>> this list against any individual? >>>>> >>>>> personally, i feel be it north east or kashmir and recently, parts of >>>>> central india have fallen prey to the excesses by military forces. >>>>> militarization of any region in the world would bring bad news to you. >>>>> you >>>>> may take pride in your military in resolving conflicts but there is a >>>>> basic >>>>> flaw in this way of bringing peace for communities which feel >>>>> threatened in >>>>> presence of the military forces. i believe you have known military >>>>> forces >>>>> only through the brutal show of might on 26 jan celebrations. what goes >>>>> on >>>>> to turn a young man into a war machine has never been your concern, >>>>> will >>>>> never be. >>>>> >>>>> Anupam >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi < >>>>> rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> > why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, >>>>> for >>>>> > money >>>>> > get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests >>>>> with >>>>> > violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name >>>>> or >>>>> > genuine, ? >>>>> > Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest >>>>> in >>>>> > legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make >>>>> others, >>>>> > innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans >>>>> like >>>>> > u >>>>> > and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion >>>>> against >>>>> > such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, >>>>> > rajen >>>>> > >>>>> > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash >>>>> wrote: >>>>> > >>>>> > > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people >>>>> of >>>>> > > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary >>>>> > > forces >>>>> > > >>>>> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Please sign and forward to your networks >>>>> > > >>>>> > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, >>>>> > > >>>>> > >>>>> http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ >>>>> > > >>>>> > > >>>>> > >>>>> http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ >>>>> > > >>>>> > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered >>>>> > > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, >>>>> > > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of >>>>> > > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards >>>>> > > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents >>>>> in >>>>> > > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that >>>>> the >>>>> > > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before >>>>> this >>>>> > > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, >>>>> > > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after >>>>> his >>>>> > > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, >>>>> > > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from >>>>> the >>>>> > > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially >>>>> > > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the >>>>> > > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring >>>>> > > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be >>>>> conducted >>>>> > > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale >>>>> assault >>>>> > > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any >>>>> > > dissent. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen >>>>> > > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent >>>>> > > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year >>>>> old >>>>> > > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, >>>>> > > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers >>>>> were >>>>> > > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the >>>>> > > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in >>>>> Srinagar >>>>> > > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. >>>>> The >>>>> > > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as >>>>> young >>>>> > > as 12 and 13. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew >>>>> on >>>>> > > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and >>>>> > > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in >>>>> > > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and >>>>> > > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching >>>>> > > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were >>>>> > > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, >>>>> > > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. >>>>> > > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their >>>>> passes >>>>> > > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to >>>>> > > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is >>>>> > > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos >>>>> of >>>>> > > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services >>>>> > > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned >>>>> > > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three >>>>> years). >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of >>>>> > > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a >>>>> > > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of >>>>> > > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk >>>>> to >>>>> > > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant >>>>> > > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate >>>>> Kashmir >>>>> > > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a >>>>> > > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early >>>>> 1990’s. >>>>> > > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly >>>>> > > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in >>>>> the >>>>> > > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and >>>>> > > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions >>>>> of >>>>> > > oppression of Kashmiris. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously >>>>> > > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and >>>>> > > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action >>>>> against >>>>> > > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian >>>>> laws >>>>> > > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed >>>>> > > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security >>>>> agencies >>>>> > > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of >>>>> > > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. >>>>> > > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political >>>>> solution >>>>> > > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of >>>>> > > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law >>>>> and >>>>> > > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising >>>>> fears >>>>> > > of increased civilian casualties. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > The international community has largely remained silent on the >>>>> plight >>>>> > > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news >>>>> > > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression >>>>> in >>>>> > > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists >>>>> > > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It >>>>> is >>>>> > > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir >>>>> > > issue, to press the Indian government to: >>>>> > > >>>>> > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from >>>>> > > populated areas, >>>>> > > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which >>>>> > > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes >>>>> HR >>>>> > > violations, >>>>> > > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and >>>>> > > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus >>>>> > > from Kashmir, >>>>> > > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and >>>>> > > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Sincerely, >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Please sign the petition at >>>>> > > >>>>> > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > -- >>>>> > Rajen. >>>>> > _________________________________________ >>>>> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>>> > Critiques & Collaborations >>>>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>>> > subscribe in the subject header. >>>>> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>>> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>>>> > >>>>> _________________________________________ >>>>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. >>>>> Critiques & Collaborations >>>>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with >>>>> subscribe in the subject header. >>>>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list >>>>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> > From kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com Sun Jul 11 15:18:14 2010 From: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com (Kshmendra Kaul) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:48:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <976598.35344.qm@web57202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Pawan   It is Baul not Kaul. Aditya Raj Baul.   Seen some and much of Shivam Vij only on "Kafila" ( http://kafila.org/ ). Some time back I commented on one of his posts. My comment got posted initially. Then it was removed by Shivam. He admitted to doing that and gave some sorry excuse for doing so.   On "Kafila", Shivam continues to spew his venom against India which is a favourite past-time of some who would like to be seen as 'secular-intellectuals'. The selectivity in their secularity makes a mockery of what they propound they are.   Shivam has quite recently made a ten-day trip to Kashmir.   Every good Indian must critique and strongly criticise the nature and quality of governance.  When it is done with obvious prejudice and bias against India and in favour of those who would have India break-up the 'agenda' becomes clear.   Amusingly, the very same people who snigger at journalists "embedded with the State" reveal themselves as being "embedded" with the enemies of the State. The State is little else than the People. The ills of the State are the ills of it's People. These "embedded with the enemies of the State" journalists and commentators are the enemies of the People.   Rajen asked a disgusting question "has subhash a converted name or genuine".   Shivam Vij was equally disgusting when he said to one "Fayyaz" commenting on one of Shivam's posts "That’s not true Fayaaz (if that’s really your name)."  Fayyaz happened to confront Shivam in "Kafila" over Shivam's post "Curbs continue on Kashmir media; is it martial law in Srinagar?"   Kshmendra   (Copy sent to Shivam Vij. Since he cannot handle comments made to his face, he might at least know of comments made behind his back) --- On Sun, 7/11/10, Pawan Durani wrote: From: Pawan Durani Subject: Re: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir To: "anupam chakravartty" Cc: "sarai list" Date: Sunday, July 11, 2010, 1:43 PM There are so many ficticios ID's in this list. Yesterday many mails of Adiyaraj kaul were infact not posted by him. And speaking about other member s of this groups whom I miss ,Has anyone seen Shivam Vij of late ?  He seems to be quite active at varios fronts. Pawan Durani On 7/11/10, anupam chakravartty wrote: > > Rajen, > > what do you precisely mean by this: has subhash a converted name or > genuine, > ? > > converted to what? why does it need the conversion tag to speak up against > something? why this communal slandering over and over again and that too on > this list against any individual? > > personally, i feel be it north east or kashmir and recently, parts of > central india have fallen prey to the excesses by military forces. > militarization of any region in the world would bring bad news to you. you > may take pride in your military in resolving conflicts but there is a basic > flaw in this way of bringing peace for communities which feel threatened in > presence of the military forces. i believe you have known military forces > only through the brutal show of might on 26 jan celebrations. what goes on > to turn a young man into a war machine has never been your concern, will > never be. > > Anupam > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi < > rajen786uppinangady at gmail.com> wrote: > > > why not a petition against those inhuman fanatics in kashmir, who, for > > money > > get their own children killed in stone pelting, unlawful protests with > > violence as main ingredient of protsts, has subhash a converted name or > > genuine, ? > > Is it not the duty of the citizens to live with rule of laws, protest in > > legitimate democratic, non violent protests, or is it fair to make > others, > > innocents "martyrs" for few dollars.? Security forces are also humans > like > > u > > and me, and have been entrusted to maintain order, so this petetion > against > > such lawful action is atrocious, uncalled for.regards, > > rajen > > > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Subhash wrote: > > > > > Please sign a petition against continued repression of the people of > > > Kashmir and killing of innocent civilians by Indian paramilitary > > > forces > > > > > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.html > > > > > > Please sign and forward to your networks > > > > > > For more information on the situation in Kashmir, > > > > > > http://kafila.org/2010/06/30/if-protest-could-kill-what-would-bullets-do/ > > > > > > > > > http://kafila.org/2010/06/29/iptl-statement-on-military-governance-in-indian-administered-kashmir/ > > > > > > This summer Indian troops and police have systematically murdered > > > around 20 people in the streets and forests of Kashmir. In April, > > > three innocent youth were shot in cold blood in Machil forests of > > > north Kashmir, and then portrayed as terrorists, to earn rewards > > > instituted by the Indian government for troops who kill insurgents in > > > Kashmir. It was only after incessant protests by local people that the > > > bodies where exhumed and identified as local youth. Just before this > > > fake encounter, a 70-year old man was also killed in the same area, > > > and projected as a foreign terrorist. His son identified him after his > > > picture appeared in the newspaper. In a similar incident in April, > > > Indian soldiers shot dead a local villager carrying firewood from the > > > forests of Kellar in south Kashmir. > > > > > > In protest against these killings people in Kashmir initially > > > attempted to stage peaceful demonstrations. They demanded that the > > > culprits be brought to book. The government, instead of assuring > > > people that impartial enquiries into the incidents would be conducted > > > and those responsible would be punished, launched a full-scale assault > > > on protest demonstrations and clamped down heavily against any > > > dissent. > > > > > > Indian paramilitary forces (CRPF) have killed more than a dozen > > > teenage boys and a young woman while protesting against this recent > > > spate of fake encounters in Kashmir. One of those killed is 9-year old > > > Tauqeer Ahmed, who was not even part of the protests. In Anantnag, > > > where three boys were killed, eyewitnesses claimed the teenagers were > > > dragged out of their homes and shot in the courtyard of one of the > > > houses. A 24-year old woman was shot in her chest by CRPF in Srinagar > > > while looking at the street protests from a window of her house. The > > > authorities have also incarcerated dozens of teenagers, some as young > > > as 12 and 13. > > > > > > For the last three weeks the government has imposed strict curfew on > > > people’s movement. There have been reports of mass beatings and > > > molestations in a number of localities. Many people, especially in > > > Srinagar and other towns, are facing extreme shortages of food and > > > medicine. The sick and injured have been barred from reaching > > > hospitals. Staff members of various hospitals have said they were > > > beaten up and their curfew passes torn. > > > > > > Indian government has imposed a gag order on the media in Kashmir, > > > only letting a select few pro-establishment journalists to report. > > > Local journalists and cameramen in a joint statement said their passes > > > were snatched and their equipment broken. Government has refused to > > > issue new passes to them. As a result very little information is > > > flowing out of Kashmir. Some Kashmiri activists who uploaded videos of > > > street demonstrations have been sent to prison. Cell phone services > > > have been jammed at various places, while the government has banned > > > short messaging services as well (third time in the last three years). > > > > > > Around 700,000 Indian soldiers patrol the streets and villages of > > > Kashmir. Together they occupy almost 100,000 acres of land. For a > > > population of 5 million Kashmiris the soldier to civilian ratio of > > > around 15 to 1 is extremely disturbing and fraught with heavy risk to > > > civilian life. The Indian government first deployed a significant > > > chunk of its military to battle militants fighting to liberate Kashmir > > > from Indian rule. The armed insurgency itself had resulted from a > > > violent quelling of popular pro-freedom protests of the early 1990’s. > > > For the last 7 years, however, the Indian government has repeatedly > > > said that not more than a few hundred ragtag militants remain in the > > > fight. Yet India maintains a massive military manpower and > > > infrastructure in Kashmir, which has created structural conditions of > > > oppression of Kashmiris. > > > > > > Everyday life in Kashmir is highly militarized. People continuously > > > face risks to their lives and are subjected to threats and > > > humiliation. The Indian government, instead of taking action against > > > human rights violators, shields them from prosecution. Draconian laws > > > like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed > > > Areas Act have been put in place to give immunity to security agencies > > > against any civil prosecution. Over the last 20 years, tens of > > > thousands of Kashmiris have been killed or forcibly disappeared. > > > Thousands are languishing in jails for demanding a political solution > > > to the Kashmir issue. Under the Public Safety Act hundreds of > > > activists remain in jail without trial. For the last few days, law and > > > order in the Srinagar has been handed over to the army, raising fears > > > of increased civilian casualties. > > > > > > The international community has largely remained silent on the plight > > > of Kashmiris. Apart from a few exceptions, the international news > > > media has failed to report on the systematic nature of oppression in > > > Kashmir. It is time the human rights and global justice activists > > > express their solidarity with the struggling people of Kashmir. It is > > > time that we collectively put pressure on the Indian government. > > > > > > We call upon the UN, which has a long association with the Kashmir > > > issue, to press the Indian government to: > > > > > > *End its militarized governance of Kashmir, and withdraw army from > > > populated areas, > > > *Revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), which > > > gives Indian troops immunity from civil legal action and promotes HR > > > violations, > > > *End oppression of Kashmiri people, release political prisoners and > > > young boys from jails, and lift the overwhelming security apparatus > > > from Kashmir, > > > *Initiate meaningful plans to democratically resolve the issue, and > > > include Kashmiris as the primary party to such a process. > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > > > > Please sign the petition at > > > > > > http://www.petitiononline.com/ksn2un/petition.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/> > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Rajen. > > _________________________________________ > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > > Critiques & Collaborations > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > > subscribe in the subject header. > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> > > > _________________________________________ > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. > Critiques & Collaborations > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with > subscribe in the subject header. > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> _________________________________________ reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city. Critiques & Collaborations To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header. To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/> From rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com Sun Jul 11 16:42:20 2010 From: rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com (Rakesh Iyer) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:42:20 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] against continued repression of the people of Kashmir In-Reply-To: <976598.35344.qm@web57202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <976598.35344.qm@web57202.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Kshamendra I have one point to make. You said that a state is nothing but its' people. How I wish that were to be true! But it is not. The Indian state is not necessarily the Indian people. And this is not just essayed in one instance. It is seen in numerous instances. In general, a state is just an entity which has the only authority to conduct violence (legitimately) in order to protect the life of its citizens, and that is as per theory. In reality, the state is seen to be only protecting itself and not necessarily those who have given up their idea of violence in order to seek protection. The Indian state consists of the legislature, executive and the judiciary as well as the agencies which can implement the will of the state such as the police, the army, the CRPF and so on. For example, what is seen in Kashmir is basically this. The Indian state is hardly bothered about Kashmiris, and instead what we see is the idea that Indian state should shed blood in Kashmir, if need be, to protect itself from breaking. Never mind that when the Indian state claims that Kashmir is a part of India, Kashmiris should also be Indian citizens and thus their legitimate grievances must be looked at. If Indian state were to consist of Indian people, would Kashmiris have been asking for azadi after 63 years of Indian Independence? It is the Indian state which decides what is terrorism and what is not. And the media has perfectly colluded with it. The end result is this. Any attack carried out by Ajmal Amir Kasab or his compatriots among the Maoists is an act of terrorism. But any riot or pogrom organized by the members of political parties/social organizations, be it 1984, 1989, 1992-93 or 2002 are not acts of terrorism. Why does no one in this state: be it the legislature, the judiciary or the executive state that these riots are also acts of terrorism? The Indian state decides that people have to be displaced from their homes for the 'larger good of the country' and 'national interest'. Why is it so that only the Indian state has the right to decide what is development? We have chosen the govt., but not necessarily the state, for the state we were born to is our destiny, whether we like it or not. Did God give the right to the state to decide what is development for us? How come the state has appropriated the right to decide what is good for me and what is not, without even discussing with me? If the Indian state were really comparable with the Indian people, India would not have been suffering from the twin scourges of Naxalism and terrorism (in its comprehensive sense). Instead, the Indian state just consists of elites who won't be displaced irrespective of any elections, and will keep deciding on agendas only to destroy the lives of the poor for their own benefit. In return, the poor are only expected to get hapy at the crumbs thrown at them by the state, while remaining quiet and making 'sacrifices in the cause of national interest', as Nehru said to those who lost their lands for the Hirakud Dam. The Indian state is not, was not and if it goes on like this, will never be equal to the Indian people. It is just an Indian version of the British Empire. Rakesh From s at pad.ma Sun Jul 11 17:02:07 2010 From: s at pad.ma (shaina a) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:02:07 +0530 Subject: [Reader-list] Workshop with pad.ma, Bangalore 16-19 July In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: *From Archive to Application* (and Back) A workshop with Pad.ma *Open House * Friday, 16th July, 6:30 pm at 1 Shanti Road , Bangalore With Suresh Jayaram, Nishant Shah, Ayisha Abraham and from the pad.ma team- Namita Malhotra, Sanjay Bhangar, Subuhi Jiwani and Zinnia Ambapardiwala. *Followed by Weekend workshop* *in collaboration with the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore* 17th and 18th July 2010. at Jaaga , Bangalore. (To participate, write to pad.ma at pad.ma) For about two years now, Pad.ma has been running as an online archive of digital video with text annotations. During this period, the focus has been on gathering materials, annotating densely, and building an archive. At present, pad.ma has over 400 hours of footage, in over 600 "events". Almost all of this material is fully transcribed and is often mapped to physical locations. Essays have been written over videos, and narratives created across different clips in the archive. The focus has been on pulling material into the archive. What are ways to start thinking about pulling material out of pad.ma? From the onset, pad.ma has had an API (documented at http://wiki.pad.ma/wiki/API), a programming interface that allows you to pull out videos, perform searches, seek to exact time-codes in any video, fetch transcript and map data, and display all this however you please. Also Pad.ma's General Public License (PGPL, http://pad.ma/license) is designed specifically for the reuse of the material on pad.ma. Through the experience of running the archive, there have been various imaginations of multiple and layered forms of time-based annotation over video, including for: pedagogical tools for learning and discussion; presentation tools that combine text and video in new ways, essays and other writing formats enabled by rich and context-specific media. At this workshop, we hope to explore some of these ideas for video on the web, and video's new qualities as a result of online practices. We invite video-makers, coders, writers, artists, students, and other enthusiasts to participate. Considering the term "application" in a broad sense, we invite video material, texts or software that, combined with existing materials and tools in pad.ma, can become innovative kinds of "output", or new forms. These would also then feedback into the archive, and how we imagine its future. After a hands-on introduction to pad.ma and its possibilities and tools, the workshop will break up into streams for content and code. On day two, these streams come back together. *In the content stream, participants could: * - bring in their own footage, clips from popular or unpopular cinema, science or lab videos, ads or news, artworks or documentary films, to assemble into new forms, using pad.ma's tools. - bring together shots, scenes or sounds from fiction or non-fiction films, and make a new 'movie' or create a 'running commentary' alongside. - write over video in pad.ma critically or creatively: theorise or contextualise footage, write collaborativey, or weave fiction and/or poetry with moving images. - create teaching units or illustrated lectures using pad.ma - begin a research project or map a phenomenon through video and text. *In the code stream, participants could: * - devise new ways in which video and text can speak to each other, and to an online audience. - For developers, this 2-day workshop is an opportunity to experiment with the newest web-video technologies. Concretely, we will cover some background and history of HTML 5