tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11743350173739630052024-03-13T06:52:47.989+05:30DemosAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-33331815969814824032015-06-19T13:21:00.001+05:302015-06-19T13:24:19.312+05:30Why we should support Raif Badawi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSaClt-bxomGQdZIcY_tFV9FFe1Jw7LJSIdJMISzNgNKhfNyVNDjTIPqeMDdWIWlTvnEpizTOSTlPbn50euPlrBcaPuDW-DyPv3eJvMRAn0gQ4gB-zXIO5LvBDtS35o-fYMCNTztE6GK7/s1600/raif.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSaClt-bxomGQdZIcY_tFV9FFe1Jw7LJSIdJMISzNgNKhfNyVNDjTIPqeMDdWIWlTvnEpizTOSTlPbn50euPlrBcaPuDW-DyPv3eJvMRAn0gQ4gB-zXIO5LvBDtS35o-fYMCNTztE6GK7/s400/raif.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On 17 June 2012, a Saudi Arabian Blogger Raif Badawi was
arrested under the charge of “insulting Islam”. Raif Badawi had created “Free Saudi
Liberals”, a website which encouraged debates on religious and political issues
in 2008. The website promoted the idea of secularism and criticized religious
extremism. He was charged of insulting Islam through this website. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Saudi Supreme Court held him guilty and p</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ronounced
a sentence of 10 years in prison, 1000 lashes (50 lashes on every Friday) and a
fine of 1 million riyals. After he serves a decade in jail, he is also
forbidden to travel for the following decade and from participating in the
media.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He had been previously charged for “apostasy” in 2008 as well
but was released after questioning. “Apostasy” which means renunciation of
one’s religion is chargeable with death sentence in Saudi Arabia. In 2012, the
prosecutors wanted to charge him under apostasy as well but in 2013, he was
cleared for it. According to sources, he may face the charge of apostasy again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Raif Badawi is undergoing the punishment for the charge of
“insulting Islam”. He is imprisoned. He had received the first 50 lashes in
January. But since his wounds remain unhealed, the punishment has not been
repeated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Badawi has support from the international community. He
receives support from the United Nations, United States, the European Union,
Canada and several other countries. Human Rights Activists and Organisations
around the globe have expressed their support with him. In January 2015, the
United Nations had issued a last-minute appeal to Saudi Arabia to stop the
scheduled second round of flogging for the activist. They had also appealed the
Saudi Government to review this type of penalty. However, the Government
remains unmoved. While the punishment is being delayed, there is no news of any
relief. Infact, the Saudi officials have asked the international community not
to “interfere” in the ‘internal’ matters of the country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Badawi’s case is or should be for everyone who speaks and
respects “Freedom of Speech”, “Secularism” and “Justice”. Here’s why we all
should support him and demand his immediate release:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Freedom of Speech and Expression is one of the most important
rights given to an individual. It is one of the important rights given in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the article 19 of which states, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It applies to all member countries of United Nations. Since
Saudi Arabia is a member country, it is applicable for it as well. Going by
this, Raif did nothing wrong. He has the right to freely express himself and to
have an opinion. As the right mentions, he also had the right to seek
information, learn from other sources regardless of the frontiers and this is
what he had done. No Government should try to define the boundaries of
knowledge. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Badawi has the right to think and decide for himself. He has
the right to form his own opinion, choose what he may believe in. His website
conducted debates on different issues. It cannot be regarded to be illegal and
unacceptable. What is unacceptable is the behavior of the Saudi Government to
restrict knowledge. Controlling freedom of speech, dissent is a mark of
autocratic and barbaric states, not modern nation-states. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is a difference between
“Insult” and being “Critical”</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Badawi has been accused of “insulting
Islam” but how has he done so? There are no concrete evidences available to
prove that he had “insulted” Islam. There is a difference between insulting and
being critical and the latter cannot be regarded to be illegal or
objectionable. Everyone has the right to be critical. It is important to
understand and know what exactly had Badawi said that is considered to be
against Islam. What was objectionable? Was his way of holding a debate over
religious practices objectionable? If yes, then this very thinking is against
Islam. Islam was born out of questionings, as a response to the contemporary
sociopolitical situation. Islam is rational in its essence. Every practice that
Prophet Mohammad had ascribed was given with reasons which were clearly
specified. This method meant that he wanted that people should know why a
certain practice has been prescribed. The underlying motive seems to be to
challenge blind acceptance and to promote thinking and rationality. Thus,
debates cannot be considered to be un-Islamic. Debates to think about the
religious practice, to explore the true essence of islam cannot become
unacceptable. A true Muslim who knows about the life and teachings of Prophet
Mohammad will know it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Prophet Mohammad laid down several
practices and they all responded to the specific conditions at that time. The
overarching ideology was to promote peace and justice. Even if Badawi may have
challenged some of the practices, he did so by being under the ideological
paradigms of Islam. So he could not have “insulted” Islam. He may have been
critical which is allowed not only by the Universal Right to Freedom of Opinion
but by Islam itself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">His writings targeted extremism, not
Islam</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As about the claims, it is again
important to re-iterate the fact that no concrete evidences are available to
show how he had “insulted Islam”. His website was shut down. What remains are
some of his writings that have appeared in other websites. What emerges from
his writings are his rejection of extremism of all sorts. He had not insulted
islam, he had insulted extremism, blind following which as stated earlier, is
antithesis to the spirit of Islam. Here are some extracts from his writings:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the Israel-Palestine issue, Badawi
wrote, “I’m not in support of the Israeli occupation of any Arab country, but
at the same time I do not want to replace Israel by a religious state ... whose
main concern would be spreading the culture of death and ignorance among its
people when we need modernisation and hope. States based on religious ideology
... have nothing except the fear of God and an inability to face up to life.
Look at what had happened after the European peoples succeeded in removing the
clergy from public life and restricting them to their churches. They built up
human beings and (promoted) enlightenment, creativity and rebellion. States
which are based on religion confine their people in the circle of faith and
fear” (Source: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/-sp-saudi-blogger-extracts-raif-badawi"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/-sp-saudi-blogger-extracts-raif-badawi</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In another account, Badawi wrote on
an incident in which an astronomer was punished on the grounds of being
critical of sharia beliefs, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I advise NASA to abandon its
telescopes and, instead, turn to our Sharia astronomers, whose keen vision and
insight surpass the agency’s obsolete telescopes. Indeed, I advise all other
scholars the world over, of whatever discipline, to abandon their studies,
laboratories, research centres, places of experimentation, universities,
institutes etc. and head at once to the study groups of our magnificent
preachers to learn from them all about modern medicine, engineering, chemistry,
microbiology, geology, nuclear physics, the science of the atom, marine
sciences, the science of explosives, pharmacology, anthropology etc. –
alongside astronomy, of course. God bless them! They have shown themselves to
be the final authority with the decisive word in everything, which all mankind
must accept, submit to and obey without hesitation or discussion.” (Source: </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/-sp-saudi-blogger-extracts-raif-badawi"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/-sp-saudi-blogger-extracts-raif-badawi</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Through his writings, Badawi had criticized
persecution of other religions in Saudi Arabia and the conservatism of Saudi
Clerics, their attitude towards secularism. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is not to argue that all his
writings were unproblematic but what is true is that his larger ideas were
right. There were no false claims. A glance at the Saudi Arab’s human rights
record can testify it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">More importantly even if his ideas
were problematic, his writings were one-sided or biased, the fact is that they
were only articles. They were also not provocative. He also did not have the
same authority as Saudi clerics did. Unlike them, he could not issue any fatwas
to impose his view. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Death sentence for ‘Apostasy’ is
barbaric</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Saudi authorities are trying to
charge Badawi for apostasy for which he can be granted death sentence. Badawi
would not be the first to be the victim for apostasy. Saudi Arabia has a
terrible record of executing people. As reported by Amnesty, Saudi Arabia </span>ranks
among the top five executioners in the world. In 2014, 90 people were executed.
So far in this year, 54 people have been reportedly executed in the first three
months of 2015. (Source: <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/articles/blogs/2015/04/the-ultimate-punishment-saudi-arabia-ramps-up-beheadings-in-the-kingdom/">https://www.amnesty.org/en/articles/blogs/2015/04/the-ultimate-punishment-saudi-arabia-ramps-up-beheadings-in-the-kingdom/</a>
)<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Apostasy is one of the top
charges for execution. Apostasy means the renunciation of one’s faith and
conversion to another. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Simply put, it is a barbaric
practice. Everyone has the right to think and decide for oneself. Secondly, it
again cannot be a rule that may have been given by Prophet Mohammad. The
rationalist that he was, he would not have forced people to follow his
teachings. He wanted people to follow his teachings by understanding them,
their importance. Prophet Mohammad was also not opposed to people of other
religions. His teachings did mark a deviation from them but he had not
permitted the use of violence against them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Killing people over their religious
beliefs is un-Islamic and inhuman. More importantly, if one is truly religious,
one will know that religion is a sacred thing. All religions teach the same
thing. They teach love, justice and humanity. Only a person who is not familiar
with his/her religion will fight over it. Religion is not an identity, it is a
belief. If someone does not believe in or follow the religious practices, how
does it matter if he/she is a follower or not? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A last point is that by giving death
sentence or lashes as punishment, will the glory of Islam be established? Will
people who do not believe or respect Islam start respecting it? There are
better and more civil ways to tell people that what they are thinking is wrong.
Violence is never the solution. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Badawi punished for opposing Saudi
Arab authority, not Islam</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Saudi Arabia has one of the worst
human rights’ record. The Saudi Arab authorities severely restrict freedom of
expression, impose censorship, have discriminating laws against women and
non-muslims, have detained and sentenced without trial, many Government critics
and political activists. Badawi had written about this at length. He had
particularly criticized the government for suppressing dissent. There is a
possibility that Saudi Arabian authorities have suppressed Badawi not for his
views held to be against Islam but against itself. The lack of concrete
evidence as well as the writings of Badawi hint at it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Badawi’s case, thus, needs to be seen
in a more complex way and should be supported by anyone who supports Freedom of
Speech, Secularism and understands Islam. While Badawi’s case is not the first
case, there is a chance to make it the last one or move towards a better
tomorrow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">References</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amnesty International’s Annual
Report: Saudi Arabia 2013 </span><a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/research/reports/annual-report-saudi-arabia-2013"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.amnestyusa.org/research/reports/annual-report-saudi-arabia-2013</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“A look at the writings of Saudi
blogger Raif Badawi – sentenced to 1,000 lashes” by Ian Black published in
The Guardian </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/-sp-saudi-blogger-extracts-raif-badawi"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/-sp-saudi-blogger-extracts-raif-badawi</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“What Blogger Raif Badawi’s new book
reveals about Saudi Arabia” published in Deutsche Welle (DW) </span><a href="http://www.dw.de/what-blogger-raif-badawis-new-book-reveals-about-saudi-arabia/a-18353234"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.dw.de/what-blogger-raif-badawis-new-book-reveals-about-saudi-arabia/a-18353234</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 300.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Why Saudi Arabia is so afraid of
Raif Badawi” by Sara Yasin published in Los Angeles Daily News </span><a href="http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20150119/why-saudi-arabia-is-so-afraid-of-raif-badawi"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20150119/why-saudi-arabia-is-so-afraid-of-raif-badawi</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-21015453617778878572015-06-15T18:17:00.001+05:302015-06-15T18:17:04.439+05:30What About India’s Daughters In The Conflict Zones?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiactE8V2vYIERaOiaqmDfkDceCSAirw5S_bfcJs8VUkEW2UIf7XcHW-DOb-5fdEXHbxmOYhM1E9Mapz8SkSHOwKWEULanTPC6t1rFQr1SZViGX8sA-Kl6CmRXUhgGRU8TiG_LHOqAvYF7h/s1600/manipurrapes_afpsa_pkg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiactE8V2vYIERaOiaqmDfkDceCSAirw5S_bfcJs8VUkEW2UIf7XcHW-DOb-5fdEXHbxmOYhM1E9Mapz8SkSHOwKWEULanTPC6t1rFQr1SZViGX8sA-Kl6CmRXUhgGRU8TiG_LHOqAvYF7h/s400/manipurrapes_afpsa_pkg1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="style113">W</span>ith the
Government’s ban on “India’s documentary”, made around the 16 December
gang rape case known as the Nirbhaya case, the case is once again in the
public sphere. The BBC documentary was scheduled for release on the
International Women’s day. The documentary led to a controversy
pertaining to the statement of one of the rapists who still blamed the
victim. Another controversy attached with it has been the permission
issue, the Government denies having given the permission to interview
the rapists. In the light of these controversies, the Government decided
to ban it. However, the people have resisted the ban. Since its release
online, the documentary claims a viewership of about a million.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
The documentary has also been a point of
talk because of the controversial statements. Since its release, people
have shared their views, debated on the statement, on how the statement
may not be an unusual mentality. The mentality is embedded in the
patriarchal society. It is recognized that this mentality is also shared
by people’s ‘representatives’, the politicians and those who are
supposed to defend us or impart justice. People have also been
suggesting that the system needs to be improved, needs to be empowered
to curb these incidents. While this is true, what is still required to
recognize and highlight is that not just the mentality to justify rape,
the inefficiency of the system but how the very system has also used
rape as a weapon to control dissent or voice against the oppression of
the State.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
This is to point at the cases of rape and
sexual violence in the conflict zones of India – the North-East states
(except Sikkim), Jammu & Kashmir and Naxalite zones. To tackle the
challenges in the conflict zones, the Indian State has adopted draconian
laws which in the garb of restoring law and order have led to gross
violation of human rights’. One such law is the Armed Forces Special
Powers Act (AFSPA). Enforced in the North-East states (except Sikkim)
and the state of Jammu & Kashmir, AFSPA gives the right to the armed
forces to shoot at sight, torture, raid houses, arrest without warrant
AFSPA also protects the army persons with legal impunity. These
extra-ordinary and unrestrained powers to the armed forces have led to
extra-judicial killings, fake encounters, extra-judicial disappearances,
tortures and rapes.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
This has been corroborated by the reports
of the national and international human-rights’ commissions and
organisations, Government’s own appointed committees and the Judiciary.
The Justice J.S. Verma Committee that was set up to suggest amendments
to laws relating to crimes against women, has recommended review of the
continuance of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the
context of extending legal protection to women in conflict areas. It
also recommended that the security forces should not be able to take
cover under the AFSPA in cases of rape and sexual assault and that cases
of sexual violence against women by members of the armed forces or
uniformed personnel should be brought under the purview of ordinary
criminal law.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
Similarly, the laws used to control
naxalism have also led to the violation of human rights. Innocent
tribals are falsely implicated in cases, tortured, raped and killed.
While there are thousands of cases of sexual violence, known and
unknown, reported and unreported, here are some of the known cases that
still await justice:</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
Thangjam Manorama from AFSPA-affected
Manipur – On 10 July 2004, Thangjam Manorama, a Manipuri woman, was
picked up from her home by the Indian paramilitary unit, 17th Assam
Rifles on allegations of being associated with a militant group. The
next morning, her bullet-ridden corpse was found in a field. There were
bullet marks even in her private parts. An autopsy revealed semen marks
on her skirt suggesting rape and murder. It has been 10 years now but
justice is yet to be done.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
Rape and Killing of Asiya and Nilofar Jan
- On 29th May 2009, in Shopian (J&K), two women named Asiya (age
17) and Neelofar (age 22) went missing. Their dead bodies were found
next morning. The people alleged it to be a case of rape and murder by
security forces who were camped nearby.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
Initially, no FIR was lodged and police
told that postmortem report cleared injuries over private parts.
However, the people believed that police report about postmortem is fake
and so they continued protests and forced J&K Government to form a
judicial panel. Under judicial inquiry, the Forensic lab report
established that they had been gang-raped. Apart from few suspension and
transfers from police department, nothing has happened in this case. </div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
Victims of the mass-rape of Kunan
Posphora Village - During the intervening night of February 23 and 24 in
1991, the twin villages of Kunan and Poshpora in north Kashmir’s
Kupwara district witnessed mass rape of over 40 women by the soldiers of
the Army’s 4 Rajputana Rifles of 68 Brigade. The victims included young
female children, pregnant women and even aged women. This incident has
been acknowledged even by the Former Union External Minister, Salman
Khurshid’s who said, “I am ashamed that it happened in my country. I am
apologetic and appalled that it has happened in my country.” However,
justice continues to evade them.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
Sexual Harrasment of Soni Sori, an
Adivasi Civil Rights’ Activist - Soni Sori, a 35-year-old Adivasi school
teacher in Chhattisgarh, was alleged to be a Naxalite. While evidence
shows that she was against them, she was framed by the Chhattisgarh
police. She was sexually harassed by the police and was also given
electric shocks. In the medical examination, small stones were found in
her vagina and rectum. The main person who had supervised the torture
was Ankit Garg, the Superintendent of Police. What did the state do? He
was honored with the President's Award on Republic Day.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
As stated previously, sexual violence in
the conflict zones are not an aberration. They are widespread. Yet, they
do not evoke the same outrage that this particular incident in a
non-conflict zone has received. The Government, the judiciary and even
those people who are aware of this reality remain silent. Aren’t these
the daughters of India too? Aren’t they women as well? This hypocrisy
needs to be addressed. Respect and rights cannot be exclusive or the
entitlement of only a particular section of women.</div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="style1" style="text-align: justify;">
This article got published on <a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/mittal080315.htm">Countercurrents</a>, <a href="http://womensurvivorsnetwork.org/articles.php?event=det&id=115&page=1">Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network</a>, <a href="http://www.cafi-online.org/articles.php?event=det&id=76&page=1">Control Arms Foundation of India</a> and <a href="http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.opinions.Opinion_on_Killing_of_Manorama.What_about_India_daughters_in_the_conflict_zones_By_Devika_Mittal">E-Pao</a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-32629865118203426092015-05-10T21:38:00.001+05:302015-05-10T22:47:31.672+05:30She is my inspiration..my mother my hero<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>This article has been written as part of <a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/">Indiblogger</a> and <a href="http://godrejexpert.com/single_used_pack.php">Godrej Expert</a>'s #MyFirstExpert contest.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While I do not believe in celebrating days by just giving a card or doing something nice on just one day to prove one's love or respect, I appreciate the essence, the motive behind the day which is to reflect on the person, the relation we share with him/her. Today, on Mother's Day, I would reflect on the bond that I share with my mother. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We tend to take our mother's care and love for granted.. we think that mothers are supposed to be loving, caring, responsible and sacrificing. It is not true. They are not born like that. It is something that they acquire. Love definitely comes natural to people but the qualities that we often attribute are imposed, they are not something inherent. This is a fact and when I learnt this, my respect for my mother grew much more.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While I have not been a perfect daughter, I think my mother has been more than being just perfect. There are not few but several wonderful and inspiring memories that I share with my mother. My mother was a working woman and she had many struggles in her life. Due to some reasons, she was solely responsible for caring for her three daughters and which she did without ever telling us about how difficult it was for. She always did the best for us. She ensured that we studied in good schools, colleges, study as much as we can and always motivated us to follow our dreams. However, what I feel is best about my mother is her attitude. She has been a very strong and determined person and this is what she has also tried to inculcate in us. She always taught us to speak against wrong, against any kind of injustice. While there have been several such instances, I would like to share one such instance:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was in 10th class and during our pre-boards, we were expected to go back ourselves because the bus timings were fixed. On my bus route, there was a private mini bus which was ready to accomodate students who would go in school bus for pre-board time. It was charging higher for us than for the regular passengers. We thought it was fine as atleast it was convenient. However, during the second pre-board time, they asked for a price which was more than double the previous amount. My mother raised an objection about it and she was the only one to do. As a result, the bus person told me to not board the bus. I felt a bit sad and embarassed though I knew it was their fault. I was sitting in my class and my teacher came and asked me why was i still there and where are my friends. I told her the entire story and that my friends had left. She said that you are here because you mother dared to raise her voice, and stood for what is right and just. I thank my teacher because she made me realise what a gem my mother is. I felt proud of what my mother did. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My mother has not only always stood for what is right but has always been just. She has always believed in helping people, trusting them and has always thought good of everyone. I feel proud of my mother. We differ sometimes in our opinions but it is a fact that I respect her a lot and derive great inspiration from her. Now when i reflect back, I feel it was my mother who is actually #myfirstexpert. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-84061394529232199022014-08-27T11:08:00.000+05:302014-08-27T11:18:11.616+05:30Need to recognise different narratives of partition - The way forward<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiTEonTuPtSWv1gtbC1nx-eIaovgFtSWk98RHT9giX3mOhEiWZpHNNhATz0JOdmaiALs48qKaF46UxH_bKxUl8UnQGHAqV8JAVR4RRuzM2_lqPGfhWBvn3gnHcr7YKV7FB4lZ1-IsTYwR/s1600/partition+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiTEonTuPtSWv1gtbC1nx-eIaovgFtSWk98RHT9giX3mOhEiWZpHNNhATz0JOdmaiALs48qKaF46UxH_bKxUl8UnQGHAqV8JAVR4RRuzM2_lqPGfhWBvn3gnHcr7YKV7FB4lZ1-IsTYwR/s1600/partition+books.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: justify;" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 0.825em; text-align: justify;">
As I think of writing about partition, I pause to think if it is still a relevant issue? Partition of India and Pakistan happened 67 years ago and was succeeded by many other major clashes so should I instead talk about the wars? Is partition an outdated issue or does it still hold any relevance?</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: justify;" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 0.825em; text-align: justify;">
<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Talking of relevance, another debate that came to my mind was whether it is fine to keep talking about it? Should we not just move on?</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: justify;" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 0.825em; text-align: justify;">
<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">I will begin by answering the second question first. Prof. Krishna Kumar in his book “Battle for Peace” (2007) has argued and I agree with him that while a lot has been written on partition, we have not been encouraged to engage with it. We have, especially on the Indian side, continued to see and develop it further without challenging the basic proposition. There is now an emphasis on oral history. There is also the angle of class that has been used to explore partition. It is argued that it was the Hindu dominating class v/s the Muslims dominated. While the Indian scholars have debated upon the inevitability of the partition, there hasn’t been any significant attempt to imagine India if partition had not happened. This should not be surprising because the narrative of partition is tied up with the foundation of two countries. While partition is a moment of “crisis” for one, it is a moment of “liberation” for another. This discourages attempts to see partition from the side of the “other”. This discourages any critical dialogue on the narrative of the partition. But it is relevant a discussion? Should we not just forget and move on?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">The fact is we can’t. Before forgetting about the partition, we need to engage in a dialogue with it. We need to understand the complexities of the past because it shapes our present perspectives. 67 years after, India and Pakistan still seems to live in the past. 67 years after, we still compare ourselves. On both sides, there are still people who debate if the decision to part ways was right or not. On the Pakistan side, the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah is constantly reminded. As Prof. Krishna Kumar in his book “Pride and Prejudice” (2001) had shown that the idea of Pakistan shared by Quaid-e-Azam during the formative period of Pakistan is still invoked. This is not true for the Indian side. But on the Indian side, many people still remember partition and the existence of Pakistan but in a more negative light. Many people have the misconception that Pakistan came out of India whereas on partition, undivided colonial India had been partition into two nations – India and Pakistan and imagine a “father-son” relationship which is used in a derogatory sense. There are still many people who would point at any negative news from Pakistan and would say that Pakistan has failed and it will soon “merge” with India.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">67 years after, we still carry a stagnant picture of each other. Because the partition happened on communal lines, on both sides, people imagine a conservative or hypocrite other. So the talk of partition is still not irrelevant. It is very much alive. The narrative of partition continues to shape our perceptions about each other.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">When I say narrative, I mean the “official” narrative. As stated above, both sides have constructed an opposing narrative. The Indian side “officially” sees partition as a sad event. It views it as a significant break in the ‘secular’ fabric of the country. It views it largely as the conspiracy of the British. This is the dominant and official view on partition in India. On the “Pakistan” side, the partition is far from being a moment of “crisis”. It was the partition that led to the birth of Pakistan as a separate country. It is seen as “liberation”. Liberation from whom? As the official narrative of partition says, liberation from both British and Hindu dominance. The book “Pride and Prejudice” (2001) gives the content of history textbooks in both India and Pakistan. Both countries have given different interpretations for same historical events. Both have chosen to emphasise or neglect certain events. Both have used history for their project of nation-building. While India used it to save itself from fragmenting any further, Pakistan used it for legitimizing its decision of separation and for sovereignty. All countries use history for its own national ends and India and Pakistan are no exception.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">It is important at this stage to clear that my intention is not to challenge any narrative. It is infact to state that different perspectives exist and we must recognize that. It is to say that none of the narratives can be entirely refuted. One cannot really argue that whose interpretation of history was correct. It cannot be argued that there was no Hindu dominance. It cannot be argued that before the British, there were no problems between Hindus and Muslims. The British may have encouraged the division but they cannot be alone blamed for it. Similarly, the complete difference and opposition theory cannot be accepted either. There cannot be such a simplistic division of population, lived experiences into Hindu and Muslim. The religious identity cannot be assumed to be primary. We need to view these interpretations more critically. History as a discipline has many schools of thought. It accommodates several interpretations and we must respect that.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Besides these two official narratives, we have the narrative of partition that many people on both sides did not and still do not accept the decision of partition. Many did not want to migrate and wanted to live in the place that they had been living for since years. There are many who did not want to migrate but had to or were forced to. We must also respect this. This narrative seems to be more dominant and “accepted” in India. The reason was stated above.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">The reason why we need to recognize the different perspectives on partition is because it seems to be the way forward for peace. We need to engage with the narrative of partition, understand it, view it critically and accept that the past was very complex. We need to engage with the past before moving on because the past shapes our present perceptions. We cannot see partition simply as either a sad and disruptive moment in the secular fabric of Indian society or as a moment of liberation accepted by all. On the Indian side, we find it is fine to refute partition without thinking that refuting partition refutes the very existence of a country. This pertains more to ignorance on the Indian side because of the existing official narrative. Similarly, on the Pakistan side, there is a need to realize that while partition is a reality, it was not accepted by all at that time for different reasons. This does not refute the existence of Pakistan. We need to accept that different perspectives exist. We need to engage more critically with our past. We cannot see partition from one view and talk of peace. The past was complex and we need to recognize that for a simpler future.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">References</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Kumar, Krishna. 2001. <em style="color: #222222; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Prejudice and Pride</em>. India: Penguin Books.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Kumar, Krishna. 2007. <em style="color: #222222; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Battle for Peace</em>. New Delhi: Penguin Books.</span></div>
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This article was published on <a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/mittal110814.htm">Countercurrents</a>, <a href="http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=emerging&nid=8816">South Asia Monitor</a> and <a href="http://www.eurasiareview.com/22082014-partition-need-engage-critically-past-oped/">Eurasia Review</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-48912817014144510902014-07-17T09:16:00.003+05:302014-07-17T09:16:58.055+05:30Sexual violence by army is a reality and cannot be justified<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">In 2004, Thangjam Manorama, was brutally raped and murdered by Assam Rifles. She was arrested from her house at around 3 am on the allegation of being a “militant”. Her body was found a day later. There were bullet shots in her vagina and semen all over her skirt. To protest against this brutual rape and killing, a group of about 50 women had staged a nude protest in front of the Kangla fort. They had raised slogans like “The Indian Army rape us”. This protest had forced the Manipur Government to act. The Manipur Government had ordered an inquiry and submitted a report but the Guwahati High Court had rejected it saying that the Manipur Government does not have the authority. After continuous pressure, there were some developments in the case but they have not led to any result. Till now, justice has not been granted. This case was not an exception. Such incidents have happened before and continue to happen in areas where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA) has been imposed. Many believe this is because AFSPA provides the armed forces with legal impunity.</span></div>
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The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) rules over eight states in India – North East India (except Sikkim) and the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In the name of “upholding law and order”, the law gives the right to armed forces to arrest without a warrant, shoot to kill any person on mere suspicion. The law protects the army persons with legal impunity. The officers found guilty can be punished only after the central government issues a sanction. This is one of the main reasons why today AFSPA has become a symbol of army arbitrariness and cruelty in AFSPA areas. AFSPA has resulted in fake encounters, rapes, torture, extra-judicial killings and disappearances.</div>
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Much has been written about how the army is misusing its power not only to disregard the civilians but also the government and judiciary. We have had instances where the armed forces have refused to co-operate even when the judiciary has taken up such cases and have been accused of destroying or manipulating evidence. Even in the case of Manorama, it is alleged that the guilty officers had shot her several times in the vagina to destroy evidence. The state government too has acknowledged cruelty of the army in some instances. State government officials have in some cases in Manipur paid compensation to the victims of AFSPA. Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had acknowledged that he felt “ashamed” of the Kunan Poshpora incident of Kashmir wherein atleast 50 women were raped by the soldiers of Rajputana Rifles in a single night. But the army alone cannot be blamed. In many cases, the central government has also refused to sanction the right to punish the guilty officers.</div>
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There is a sense of hypocrisy, when India talks about human rights, and criticizes China for the atrocities committed in Tibet, and gives shelter to political refugees. While we are proud to call ourselves a democracy, the truth is that the army is very powerful. Also, while AFSPA, an anti-human law, does permit killing, the law does not permit sexual violence. How can the sexual violence be justified at all? This should not come under legal impunity. This was also one of the recommendations of the Justice Verma committee that was appointed in December 2012 to review laws for sexual crimes. The committee had recognized sexual violence by armed forces in AFSPA areas and had recommended that the cases of sexual violence be brought under ordinary criminal law.</div>
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The army being held responsible in cases of sexual violence will, in no way, “degrade” or “disrespect” the army as the army officials would like us to believe. We must respect our army. They do sacrifice their lives for us, whatever the motivation may be. It does not mean all their acts are right or should be justified. These incidents are real, they are not fabrications and the guilty army personnel should be punished. The cases of sexual violence have not only been reported from AFSPA states. There have been several reported cases of army men raping civilians in non-AFSPA states. While this does not mean that all army persons misuse their power, some definitely do. The glorification of army and army persons serves like impunity even in non-AFSPA states. Army personnel should never feel insulted or degraded because of measures to ensure transparency and accountability under certain circumstances. But the army cannot and should not have criminals in uniform, they cannot be above the law. This is a democracy and the army being a part of the state must respect it. </div>
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This article was published in <a href="http://www.thenewsminute.com/stories/Army%20and%20sexual%20violence-%20criminals%20in%20uniform%20must%20be%20weeded%20out">The News Minute</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-81314010363703943622014-07-13T12:16:00.001+05:302014-07-13T12:16:30.118+05:30Contributing To A Culture Of Mutual Peace And Understanding : Zindagi Channel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: inherit;">The Zee network has recently launched a new channel by the name of Zindagi. With the theme of “Vasudeva Kutumbkam” or “The whole world is my family”, Zindagi channel promises to bring in stories from around the world. The channel theme and the tag line “Jodey Dilon ko” or “to connect hearts” clearly indicates that this channel has a clear mission. It is trying to use the medium of television to create a culture of peace. The channel was launched on 23rd June and is initially bringing in Pakistani content. The channel has selected some famous serials from Pakistan and is now broadcasting them in India. In this article, I will attempt to analyse the mission of this channel in the context of Indo-Pak relations.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Indo-Pak relations doesn’t need an introduction. Even those who may not belong to either of the countries may know about the fluctuating relations that the two countries have. The Indo-Pak relations is characterized by love and hatred, peace and war. An important element of the Indo-Pak relations is that of “curiosity”. Both sides are ever curious about each other. Even if one may hate Pakistan, one will still be curious about it and any mention of Pakistan will definitely evoke an interest. This is another interesting bond that India and Pakistan shares and this is because both countries have very limited means of communication or knowing each other. There are severe visa issues. Other means of communication are also bound with several restrictions. Because of this, people in both countries do not know each other and have painted an opposing picture of the other. Both have constructed stereotypes for each other. But as I had previously said, even with hatred and suspicion, they remain ever curious and interested to know about the other.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Now what happened when Zindagi channel was launched? Indian channels and serials have been broadcasted both legally and illegally in Pakistan. The Pakistan Electric Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has from time to time tried to enforce strict restrictions on the telecast of Indian serials because of several reasons including the petitions by local channel producers but they have met with little success. According to a Times of India report dated 19 November 2013, a no. of channels in Pakistan were fined for airing too much of “Indian content”. The people of Pakistan have also resisted these restrictions by shifting to DTH cable system or by watching them online. In contrast to this, India has had few such opportunities to access Pakistani channels and serials.</span><br style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">So while people in Pakistan had a sense of what India was like, what Indians think, people in India were largely clueless. And so with this initiative of Zee, with this opportunity to know the “other”, their enthusiasm seems to have crossed the boundaries. There was a huge enthusiasm from people of India for this new channel. This can be inferred from the response that can be seen on social networking sites and ofcourse, the TRPs. A Times of India report dated 1 July 2014 had argued that not only the channel has received good response from the public but even bollywood and television celebrities are welcoming the new channel.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Saying so, the first step towards the mission of the channel seems to have been completed. It has established itself to become the platform through which people will know about the other side of the border. Now comes the second and more important step. What is the content?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Zindagi channel is currently running 4 shows – Zindagi Gulzar Hain, Aunn Zara, Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain and Kaash Main Teri Beti Na Hoti. All the four serials given an insight into the everyday life and struggles that people in Pakistan go through. It presents the problems existing there. It is presenting the extreme rich and poor divide, the problem of polygamy and the problems faced by women. Why did the channel pick on these shows? What is the relevance?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By picking up these shows, the channel is doing something more important. By presenting the everyday struggles, the everyday stories of pain, the Zindagi channel is able to show that we, Indians and Pakistanis, are not only similar in our language, culture, values but also in our problems. These problems are relatable. We are also struggling with them here. There is an extreme level of rich and poor divide in our country as well. The problems of marriage are also as relevant here. There is a serial by the name of “Kitni Girhain Baaki Hai”. The stories in this serial are as relevant to Indian audience. The stories presented in this serial pertain to the struggle of women, the changing society and human nature.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This representation of struggle has another element to it. It breaks the image of Pakistan that has been painted by our biased media. Pakistan has been painted as a Muslim conservative country. It is being seen as riddled with severe problems which people in Pakistan have accepted and glorified. This image of Pakistan is quite problematic. While Pakistan has its problems, the people of Pakistan have not accepted it and are struggling to change it. There does exist a counter culture in Pakistan that is trying to oppose the forces of religious fundamentalism and intolerance. These serials are also representing this counter culture. It is breaking several myths about Pakistan. While polygamy is prevalent in Pakistan, there are voices against it. People are struggling against it. It is being popularly rejected. Same goes for women’s rights. In all the four serials, women are not being shown as passive and submissive.</span><br style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Thus, this representation of women in sarees will also have another important connect. It will break the stereotype that muslims are “conservative”. One of the most common stereotypes about muslims is that muslim women would always wear a burqa or atleast a hijab. It must be noted that while considering burqa and hijab as a sign of “conservatism” is a debatable issue but popularly it is seen as “conservative”. This stereotype is also very apparent in the representation of muslims in Indian electronic media. The representation of women in sarees breaks this popularly-held stereotype. It also again shows that how Indians and Pakistanis share a similar culture even in terms of their dress.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The representation of the counter voices and elements of cultural similarities like the saree are extremely important details that are breaking the popularly held views about Pakistan and Pakistanis. In one of our aman chaupal sessions in which we tell Indian students about Pakistan, when asked about the official language of Pakistan, several students were confident that it is Arabic. With this and some other views expressed, it was clear that how they had stereotyped Pakistan to be a “conservative” country with one religion and one language (Arabic). They had a completely opposing picture of Pakistan. For them, Pakistan was completely different from India and there were no similarities. This was also not just an experience of one school but in all the other schools that we have done sessions, students had more or less the same views. Their views reflect the popular conceptions.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Thus, I feel that Zindagi Channel is a great and an important initiative that has been taken by the Zee network. By breaking these stereotypes and emphasizing on similarities in terms of language, culture and challenges that people of India and Pakistan share, it will become an important contribution to creating a culture of mutual peace and understanding among the people of India and Pakistan.</span></div>
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This article was published at<span style="color: #222222;"> <a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/mittal100714.htm" style="color: #004477; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Countercurrents</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-64561822374828527992014-06-21T02:08:00.001+05:302014-06-21T02:09:28.201+05:30When "East" met "West" at Pondicherry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It was last year when I enrolled for a peace and conflict course being offered by a norweigian think tank in Pondicherry. Though I had quit the 3-months long course way too early, I managed to have some interesting experiences/encounters with my fellow coursemates who, except for 4 South Asians, were all from European countries.</div>
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As a person hailing from social science background, Edward Said's orientalism made me both apprehensive and interested to meet people from European countries. We all know about orientalism more popularly the East-West dichotomy. East and West are seen as complete opposites of each other. While east is definitely glorified and exoticised, it is also seen as backward and inferior to west. Even though this East-West was a colonial conception but even in this post-colonial world, it continues to exist. Our minds are still "colonised" and "colonising". People in western and former colonising countries equate India with yoga, culture, festivals and a "third world country" that comes with many underlying stereotypes. This entire conception or stereotyping of India is very problematic.</div>
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I must admit that I did think that I will have a hard time dealing with this stereotyping. I also had my own reservations about people from western countries because of the working of UN and the bias towards the third world and south asian countries. How we are reduced to being seen as helpless nations that require the patronage of western countries. How we were and are still seen as largely incapable of ruling ourselves and ofcourse, the drones.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I went with my own set of stereotypes and biases to Pondicherry, a former french colony. So what sort of "colonial" encounter did I have?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a two-way learning, a two-way process of breaking stereotypes. There were some important lessons that I learnt. While they were certainly the "expected" with people asking stereotypical questions, thinking that Indians are a homogenised population in terms of language, religion, customs and getting over-excited about anything "Indian", there were also those who did see things from our view, who did try to understand India and Indians. I remember asking someone from Denmark about the welfare state that exists in her country. She told me several things and then I asked her to share her experience about India. She said that it is the complete opposite. While scandinavian countries are about "order", here it is about "disorder". Before I could respond, another person from her country interrupted and said, "You know, that's our problem. Too much "order"".</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In other instances, whenever I would ask them about India, they would say that they were amazed by diversity. I would then ask them about their country and they would not always put forth a very glamorised picture. They did share the existing problems in their country. Aa for diversity, it turned out that they were not simply fascinated by it. They admired it and moaned that they wish their country was also more tolerant of diversity.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I also met people who opposed the drones, who did find a problem with the way UN was working, who were aware of the bias that exists. I admit that I was deeply moved by it. That time I felt guilty of having stereotyped all of them.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As about those who had a stereotypical thinking, it was great to burst their stereotypes. I was happy to tell someone from Norway that we also celebrate Christmas. I shared with her my own childhood memories of christmas and she was visibly amazed but had also become very happy. She was happy to know about the multiculturalism that exists in India.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As for me, I had a lot to learn from them. I got to learn about welfare states of the scandinavian countries which our state must learn from. I got to learn their perspective on several issues like migration, multiculturalism, culture which is very important as in order to understand an issue, I feel that we must see it from different perspectives. Another important thing that definitely learnt was that things are never black and white. While i detested the tendency to stereotype India, I had also stereotyped them. I learnt that not just the west but Europe itself is very diverse.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But most importantly, a lesson for me was that they are not different from us. They have a different lifestyle, dfferent values, cultural ethics but there are many things that goes beyond all these boundaries of difference. There are many values that appeal to all of us as human beings. We may be different but we are all the same. We all have our struggles. We may be different but cultures do not differ in terms of desire for peace and culture. They do not differ in terms of respect to humanity.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyScI_M9iCLUqnQUrPBZgt_l3dVQWw-G7NfLmCo2qA4sYaks9DqOiRqMsdn8CpaCNtBoB18We5DILvRLXbJrsybghbJBnub-qbkoj03xW53ER1_-ydb8EKgzKM_M5pJDasULvO2HXxt0gO/s1600/pondicherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyScI_M9iCLUqnQUrPBZgt_l3dVQWw-G7NfLmCo2qA4sYaks9DqOiRqMsdn8CpaCNtBoB18We5DILvRLXbJrsybghbJBnub-qbkoj03xW53ER1_-ydb8EKgzKM_M5pJDasULvO2HXxt0gO/s1600/pondicherry.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am thankful that I did get this opportunity to interact, to know about what they think. Miscommunication and lack of communication is what breeds hatred and suspicion. So I was happy that I was given a chance to know them and to burst my myths, to change my thinking. The root of all problems is lack of communication. Communication binds people, it creates the platform for understanding. In this regard, I am very happy with the launch of <a href="http://zindagitv.in/">Zindagi Channel</a> that will be bring stories from Pakistan. I believe that miscommunication sustains the Indo-Pak conflict. People in both countries are under the misconception that the other hates them but this is not true. They have portrayed a negative and opposing picture of the "other" and there are less opportunities to challenge this conception. I hope that <a href="http://zindagitv.in/">Zindagi channel</a> will be able to become this opportunity and will be able to bridge this gap of miscommunication. It will be able to show the side of Pakistan that most Indians are yet to see. It will be able to make us realise that we people are just the same. Not just our language, our religion, our culture and values but even out thinking is just the same. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-63870905146676954152014-06-12T16:37:00.003+05:302014-06-12T16:37:40.730+05:30This too is Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It
is quite common for most of 'us', the non-Pakistanis and those who have known
Pakistan mainly through our national or international media, to stereotype
Pakistan with religious fundamentalists, the Taliban, intolerance to
religious minorities, men with moustache and topis, all women in burqa etc etc.
Being an Indian, as my national media would tell me, I would also expect all
Pakistanis to have venom against India and to be solely responsible for all
military clashes. I would be taught to expect "Pakistan" to be of a
certain type. So the Indian as well as International media would try its best
to give us answers for "What is Pakistan". I, through this article,
would try to tell "what is also Pakistan".</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
basic conception about Pakistan pertains to the official religion i.e. Islam.
Pakistan today is seen as being controlled by religious fanatics, the mullahs
and their violent extreme - the Taliban. We hear about Malala, the ban on
youtube, the persecution of religious minorities. There is no denial to this
dismal reality. Yes, there is a lot of religious influence in several spheres.
But what is equally important is the constant struggle by people of Pakistan
against them. There is a section of the population who do not believe in them,
who have rejected and struggle against their authority. Like in India and
globally, people of Pakistan do not feel that their political and religious
heads represent them. There are many civil society organisations and
individuals who have constantly raised their voice and have protested against
them. The virtual world - Facebook and Twitter have emerged as the
counter-platforms. There are several pages on Facebook that criticize these
acts and challenge the claim of representation. There are several alternatives
to youtube. There are counter-voices and they represent Pakistan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2tzYaGoJ2otvlK0unC7WtjnTlpyzZ6tB0oXs9YA9Dg-iaPG6WhNDjAolzYHkAydtSKRWgwiQBNyVn99hDt97RI4XB43C9dgOZCRf8r1RjLIiJtCdTqsZYz9nNdBOi8ZysIjfGSVGogE1/s1600/after+peshawar+church+attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2tzYaGoJ2otvlK0unC7WtjnTlpyzZ6tB0oXs9YA9Dg-iaPG6WhNDjAolzYHkAydtSKRWgwiQBNyVn99hDt97RI4XB43C9dgOZCRf8r1RjLIiJtCdTqsZYz9nNdBOi8ZysIjfGSVGogE1/s1600/after+peshawar+church+attack.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protest after Peshawar church blast. Source: Express Tribune</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
essence of Pakistan is not religious conservatism, it is religious tolerance.
The white portion in the national flag of Pakistan represents the religious
minorities. In the universities, there is also quota for religious minorities.
The Constitution of Pakistan grants them the freedom to profess any religion.
It is true that religious minorities have been subjected to atrocities but that
is not the entire story. That is not Pakistan. The persecution has been
condemned by people of Pakistan as well. They also protest against the
persecutions and that is Pakistan. Recently, a virtual anti-terrorism campaign
has emerged in Pakistan by the name of “Awaz Uthe gi”. It condemns the
discrimination and violence meted out to the minorities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv905GI0Wye1tUuVAW2L8YRxlnRS-XzNmcLOlzJ-4w62uEbOW1E9H86lxrMnk2xdBTPVF4g3wuQ1qMbbE4A_xJuARZnMirNRL166MFDvD8onO6cgbyV6mdaLkh2D_bjOOifKMXFJWTOMgR/s1600/Sikhs+at+Punj+Sahib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv905GI0Wye1tUuVAW2L8YRxlnRS-XzNmcLOlzJ-4w62uEbOW1E9H86lxrMnk2xdBTPVF4g3wuQ1qMbbE4A_xJuARZnMirNRL166MFDvD8onO6cgbyV6mdaLkh2D_bjOOifKMXFJWTOMgR/s1600/Sikhs+at+Punj+Sahib.jpg" height="410" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sikhs at Punj Sahib, Pakistan. Source: Express Tribune</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
is widely-believed among Indians that Pakistan and people of Pakistan have a
lot of venom for India and Indians. All they cite are the wars, the border
clashes and acts of terrorism. It is not entirely their fault because this is
all that they have been shown. It is always hatred that is cited. What is not
cited are the instances of goodwill, peace and friendship that have been
initiated by Pakistan. What they don't know or don't remember is that the
school in which the present PM, Manmohan Singh, had studied had been renamed
after him. What they don't know so widely that there has been a long-standing
struggle for a "Bhagat Singh chowk" in Pakistan. They don't know that
there is a samadhi for Sir Ganga Ram in Lahore. They are unaware that Pakistan
allows hundreds of sikh pilgrims to Nankana Sahib every year. What they don't
know is that the soldiers on wagah border exchange sweets on Holi, Diwali and
Eid. What they don't remember is that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had
sent a bouquet for Sonia Gandhi when she was ill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJF126lpb1oQJTE1DVihANIKNdtX7snDdeVS0IuuE6hfMM94Sfhbd1tDuJ6XnojjKydNVP31wR0eE1UOc_ZuCRwPTQNVdRwf31xJ4uBsg5tp7-tceVVficYBxRuDw6dsIcavEjKFQdNSj/s1600/Pak+army+officers+giving+sweets+on+holi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJF126lpb1oQJTE1DVihANIKNdtX7snDdeVS0IuuE6hfMM94Sfhbd1tDuJ6XnojjKydNVP31wR0eE1UOc_ZuCRwPTQNVdRwf31xJ4uBsg5tp7-tceVVficYBxRuDw6dsIcavEjKFQdNSj/s1600/Pak+army+officers+giving+sweets+on+holi.jpg" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchanging sweets at Wagah Border</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
for gender, it has been quite easy to talk about women empowerment in an
Islamic country. The parameters to judge it have mostly confined to the
existence of burqa and hijab. While we must recognise that we fail to
acknowledge the agency of those women who do not find it discriminating and
may, on the other hand, find it liberating as it does not objectify their body,
but even if that has to be taken, we must know that not all women in Pakistan
do wear the burqa or hijab. There have been voices against it. Contrary to
stereotypes, women in Pakistan also appear significantly in education,
politics, army and other spheres. We must also acknowledge that we have failed
to see the progress that Pakistan has been doing in terms of giving rights to
LGBTQ community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
have failed to see Pakistan. We have failed to see how it struggles like any
other country. There is a lot more to be explored. Yes, there are problems with
Pakistan but so do we. The people of Pakistan are struggling and challenging
the existing evils like us. You may ask, why does it concern us? It concerns us
because there is a war industry out there that operates on these weapons of
miscommunication. There are people out there who will paint Pakistan as an evil
and themselves as saints and 'saviours'. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This article was published on <a href="http://www.thealternative.in/society/this-too-is-pakistan/">The Alternative</a></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-81394348208328813712014-05-17T10:55:00.000+05:302014-06-12T16:38:54.043+05:30India, Pakistan share a culture, language - and the same evils<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; text-align: justify;">"Pakistan ke log bhi ladai se utni hi nafrat karte hai jitni ki hum" (Pakistanis condemn war as much as we do)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; text-align: justify;">"Pakistan mein bhi kuch log dharm ke naam pe ladai karte hai par ye ger-kanooni hai" (In Pakistan also, some people fight in the name of religion but this is illegal)</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">These were the thoughts expressed by Indian students when asked to write something about Pakistan, at the end of an Aman chaupal session, an initiative of an India-Pakistan friendship platform named Aaghaz-e-Dosti. As part of the initiative students are told about the other side of the border which their biased and political media will never tell. Though generally the students are not told but are encouraged to ask questions from someone who is from or has been to the other side of the border. In this session, students in a Delhi school were told about Pakistan - its geography, politics, culture and people. They were told about Pakistan's rich diversity in terms of language, religion and culture, a reality contrary to the popular conception of Pakistan in India. In order to address the misconceptions that students had about Pakistan, they were also told about religious minorities, religious fundamentalism in Pakistan. They were told that like in India, there are problems in Pakistan. Like in India, there are people who use religion for their own interests, and that the people of Pakistan condemn violence like we do.</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">The students who were hardly 15 years of age understood this and wrote this when they were asked to write a message for Indo-Pak peace. They could have written something more common and moderate, but this is what they wrote; they shared their solidarity with the people of Pakistan. But it surprises me that people much older and much 'wiser' have not understood this. People in both countries use the other country as their measuring rod. Their view about themselves is shaped by the condition in the other country. One of the most famous examples would be the discussion on religious minorities. Any talk on religious minorities in India would mean a comparison with treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan. And the same goes in Pakistan. This tendency of comparison holds true for many issues. But the fact is that in all this comparison politics, we must know who is suffering. We must know that this comparison is against progress, against humanity. If the other country is treating a certain community badly, it doesn't give us the legitimacy to treat ours horribly too.</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">This comparison politics has other vices. Recently, I read a news item in India about the unfair treatment meted out to Hindus in Pakistan forcing their migration to India. However, the news report was silent on their struggle within India, their demands from the Government of India. Similarly, a news item in Pakistan stated that Muslims and Dalits are not allowed education in India. It was a clear exaggeration. While it had happened only in a particular case the heading seemed to suggest that all Muslims and Dalits in India are denied education. This was a clear exaggeration and miscommunication but this is what frames the popular mindset. I must state that here too, the students turned out to be smarter than these older and "wiser" people as they themselves said that media exaggerates for the sake of TRPs. But the older and "wiser" people do not understand this. They fail to see the politics within. They get trapped in this half knowledge and miscommunication which is then used by religious fundamentalists for their own motives. The religious fundamentalists will use this hatred for legitimizing their own evil. This happens in Pakistan, just like in India. This is also used by the state to divert attention from more important concerns in both countries. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">We need to realise that both India and Pakistan are diverse countries. We cannot form a homogeneous picture. It is diverse not only in terms of culture, religion but also in terms of people's thoughts and opinions. True, that in some parts of India or in Pakistan, something wrong and condemnable may be happening; but that may not represent the view of the entire population. There are contrasting voices in both countries. There is religious fundamentalism, sectarianism, conservatism in both countries. Social, political and economic problems exist in both countries. But more importantly, we need to realise that this comparison politics will not lead us anywhere. If the feeling of humanity calls Indians talk about the rights for Pakistani Hindus, then the same humanity should also call them to care about the religious minorities in their own country. Humanity should also call them to reach out to those who are suffering irrespective of their religion. We need to be a bit more bothered about our own domestic politics before intervening into what is happening on the other side. We need to be a bit more wiser to understand this conspiracy that is being played out. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Both India and Pakistan are developing countries. They are both lagging behind. Both have failed to give basic rights to their citizens. Both countries have communal politics. Both have marginalised several sections of the society. Both are also diverse countries. Let's spare each other for our own good. The students realised it and its time that the older and "wiser" do as well.</span></div>
</span><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.719999313354492px; min-height: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />
This article was published on<span style="color: #454545;"> <a href="http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=emerging&nid=8000" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3c78a7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">South Asia Monitor</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-81675910136180726312014-05-12T10:09:00.000+05:302014-05-13T16:21:19.147+05:30We all should be out and proud<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">The Supreme Court of India has recently recognised transgenders to be the third gender. They have been recognised as full citizens of the country who will be entitled to equal rights. This decision has been warmly welcomed by not just people of LGBTQ community but also by many amongst the heterosexual community. It is being seen as the realisation of a true and just democracy. It is being hailed as a progressive move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">However, I think that there is much more that the heterosexuals should derive out of this commendable judgement and the larger LGBTQ movement. This decision and the struggle for the equal rights should not just be seen and labelled as 'liberal' or 'progressive' by the heterosexuals. I always feel that the LGBTQ movement is a liberating experience not just for the people of non-heteronormative or diverse sexualities but for all genders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I consider it important to state that I claim no expertise in this matter. My understanding over the issue is based on basic scholarly literature and the little experience that I have had. In this article, I attempt to share the lessons that I derive from the LGBTQ movement. What it means to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The most basic lesson that I derive from the movement is in its very nature. The LGBTQ movement, as the name suggests, is not a homogeneous movement. There are many sub-groups within and they vary greatly in terms of their issues. The LGBTQ community represents and celebrates the diversity that nature has shown in everything including sexuality. Contrary to popular misconception, diverse forms of sexuality are natural. There are several forms of evidence available including the fact that diverse sexualities is present both in plant and animal kingdom. Theorists like Foucault have discussed how heteronormatity has come in a certain historical time in Europe. There are others who have shown how this was disseminated in different societies through colonialism. Other factors like religion, over-emphasis on fertility and several other social factors led to non-heteronormative sexualities being regarded as a deviant. The LGBTQ movement challenges this and brings to light the truth about the extent of diversity that nature has shown. The nature loves diversity in every aspect including sexuality. Heteorsexualty may appear more prominent but it is just one form of the diverse sexualities that are present in the nature. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The LGBTQ movement is a movement of liberation for all. The LGBTQ movement not only challenges the heteronormative society but also the patriarchal society. This is because it challenges the notion of gender as determinants of behaviour. It challenges the gender-based roles and stereotypes. It challenges that sex and gender are natural. It proves that they are social constructions. While we are born with a particular genital, our behaviour, preferences has been constructed by the society. The society makes a man or a woman. It is the society that expects a person with a vagina to take care of the household. The LGBTQ movement disrupts all binary and opposing notions. It does so in several ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A homosexual person often challenges the stereotypes conforming to their gender. However, it must be noted that not all homosexuals will do so. A transgender female may be born with a penis but does not feel or consider herself to be a man. Then there is also the case of inter-sex people. They clearly transcend the binary notion of gender.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Another fundamental essence of the LGBTQ movement is the emphasis on individual agency. Who gets the right to decide whether a person is a man or a woman? They would say that the person himself/herself. I find it empowering and extend it beyond this. I see it as this beautiful idea of “I am what I think I am”. It talks about the self breaking the constructed barriers. It celebrates the individual that challenges the biased and discriminatory notions, norms constructed by the society. It gives importance to the individual’s perspective. It celebrates the voice against injustice and inequality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To conclude, I think that the LGBTQ movement should be seen as the liberation of us all. It is a movement tied not just to the issue of sexuality. It is waging battles far beyond. It exposes the society and its norms that we take as “primordial” and “natural” as a construct. It encourages us to come out and speak against the injustice. It encourages us to be ourselves, to respect ourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This article was published on <a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/mittal110514.htm">Countercurrents</a> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-57353865206239593542014-03-11T20:09:00.001+05:302014-05-13T16:21:58.993+05:30Open Letter to Chief Justice of Allahabad regarding the norm of women covering their head in Bara Imambara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Open Letter to Chief Justice of Allahabad regarding the norm of women covering their head in Bara Imambara</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Kind Attn:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Justice Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Respected Sir,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This is with reference to the news report in the Hindu dated 11<sup>th</sup> March 2014(<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/women-entering-bara-imambara-will-now-have-to-cover-their-heads/article5771209.ece" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/<wbr></wbr>news/national/other-states/<wbr></wbr>women-entering-bara-imambara-<wbr></wbr>will-now-have-to-cover-their-<wbr></wbr>heads/article5771209.ece</a> ) stating that now women visiting the bara Imambara, a famous tourist site in Lucknow (U.P.), will have to cover their heads. This rule suggested by the shia community has been accepted by the Imambara administration and this rule has become applicable now. The shia community suggested this regulation on religious grounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">However, we think that this is not acceptable. Our concerns are following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333333015441895px;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">First of all, Bara Imambara, in its entirety, cannot be regarded as a religious site. The mosque next to it can be regarded as a religious site but not the labrynith (bhulbhulayah) and the bowli. Imambara is a historical site and so a heritage of the country not of any particular religious community. So if this is accepted then this rule may also become applicable to most of the other monuments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333333015441895px;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Secondly, while the mosque bars non-muslims from entering , the imambara permits and is visited by people irrespective of their religious faith. So such a rule cannot be accepted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333333015441895px;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Third, even for muslim women, we think that hijab and head covering should be a matter of choice. It should not be imposed, women should be given the right to decide for themselves. They are equal to men and have the right to form their own decisions. Such a rule should be seen as a violation of their rights. Infact, some progressive women rights’ groups have already registered their opposition against it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We believe that visiting of monuments and sites protected by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) cannot be made 'private' on such basis with the 'autocratic' rules by religious groups. We also believe that equality on gender basis should come first and such rules cannot be made compulsory. We believe that it is against the fundamental right of practicing religion itself as even non hindus and atheists will be forced to enter a tourist place as per the rules of a particular group on religious basis. Moreover, rights of women cannot be ignored and their choice and desire cannot be compromised on such basis. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In view of this, we hereby through this letter, condemn the decision of Imambara administration and hereby appeal to you to kindly intervene in this matter and roll-back this decision to safeguard the rights of citizens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thanking You</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Regards,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mission Bhartiyam </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-5569282286299397962014-03-09T00:05:00.001+05:302014-05-13T16:22:29.955+05:30When Cricket 'threatens' The 'Integrity' Of A Country<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="style55"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"W</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">here the
head is held high and mind is without fear”, wrote Noble Prize Winner and
Renowned Poet Rabindranath Tagore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rabindranath Tagore doesn't need an
introduction for any Indian. The nation respects him and his thoughts. However,
today it turns out that the nation that derives or rather claims to derive
inspiration from his thoughts, have reduced this thought to mere words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The reference is to the action of the State
Government of Uttar Pradesh and Subharti University (a private university in
meerut) taken against the kashmiri students who cheered for the Pakistani
Cricket Team. Both the government and the university have maligned the concept
of fearless minds. They have instilled fear in the minds of the citizens who
shall now think before praising any country for any reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For the state government regarded the act of
praising Pakistani cricket team and cheering upon its victory to be so
dangerous that it booked the students with the charge of sedition. Similarly,
the university had expelled these students. It had also not taken into account
the fact that other students in their protest against the act of kashmiri students
had broken windows and vandalised their hostel rooms. For it, their act was
much more dangerous than their right to life that was also under threat. Isn’t
that a problem?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This incident has several other aspects to
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A very basic thing that comes to one's mind
is that it is clear violation of freedom of expression. They were merely
expressing their choice and preference. How can a government tell us whom we
should cheer for? Will the state now govern our choices and preferences? It is
yet another blot on the world's largest 'democracy'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Also constitutionally speaking, supporting
Pakistan or any country with whom we have a diplomatic relation and which India
has duly recognized as a sovereign state, in no way constitute any crime unless
and until it coupled with hatred or motive to destruct and a will against the
Elected Indian Government or Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXPRESSION OF RESISTENCE</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">While it cannot be assumed that kashmiri
students were cheering for Pakistani cricket team as a way to show their
resistance against Indian oppression. However, even if they were, I think India
should care more much about the oppression than the expression of resistance
against it. They should be bothered more about why they are protesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Another point is that even if it was an
expression of resistance can this method be seen as seditious? Cricket is
afterall a game, just that and if not then may be we should start solving our
international issues through it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCREASING STATE’S ROLE</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If we accept this today, let's be prepared
for more such acts. Today, they do it with Kashmir and so we are silent but
tomorrow, the state will come up with more definitions of sedition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="style1" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">IS SEDITION ONLY FOR THE
CITIZENS?</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="style1" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If merely speaking or cheering in favor of another
country or condemning one's own country counts to sedition, then there have
been innumerable situation wherein the Indian government itself should to be
charged under sedition. Violating human rights of kashmiris, applying force on
peaceful demonstrations of people and suppressing vioces should come under
sedition because it degrades the fundamental essence of democracy that are the
citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="style1" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EDUCATION SYSTEM AND NATIONALISM</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="style1" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The action taken by the university clearly
shows how we are generating hatred, intolerance and radicalism through our
knowledge-systems. Our knowledge systems should emphasise on the values of
equality, justice and humanity. They should not become an apparatus of the
oppressive state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="style1" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">HARMING THE 'DEMOCRATIC' IMAGE OF
INDIA</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="style1" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Needless to say, this incident has also
raised questions on the country in the international sphere. The country or the
so-called democracy is being condemned for this shocking and unacceptable
reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="style1" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As we noted, this incident raises several
issues. It forces us to think that where are we heading to? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-70445701898880712422014-02-20T23:46:00.002+05:302014-05-13T16:22:48.838+05:30Pakistani Hindu Refugees in India appeals for humanity <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A group of Pakistani Hindu
Refugees are sitting on a protest at Jantar Mantar. They had started the
protest yesterday and it will go on till tomorrow. The protest is being organized
by a group called Seemant Lok Sangthan – Universal Just Action Society that has
been working for the rights of Pakistani Hindu Refugees for a long time. The
protest is to demand rights for the Pakistani Hindu Refugees for their
“survival, protection and development”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCyiDso1Y-CvUILHXKu4RYs1bC9aP_ucxMAFVZXhHhDAJA2KTu4PsWm4FTw7-K8JHOODH3YOTTWRwkgsfLg3ZozKkntEMMrq8tSxH-PAx4vZkK_nWROfkZQq1Aw4FRhpon5x_0vTwsIrl/s1600/DSC03395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCyiDso1Y-CvUILHXKu4RYs1bC9aP_ucxMAFVZXhHhDAJA2KTu4PsWm4FTw7-K8JHOODH3YOTTWRwkgsfLg3ZozKkntEMMrq8tSxH-PAx4vZkK_nWROfkZQq1Aw4FRhpon5x_0vTwsIrl/s1600/DSC03395.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I along with three other
persons – V Arun Kumar, Ghazanfar Abbas and Seema Chandra went to the protest
to know about their issues. We spoke to the president of Seemant Lok Sangathan.
Hindu Singh Sodhi, the president, was himself a Pakistani Hindu migrant who had
migrated in 1970s. He told us that because of the increasing religious
fundamentalism and terrorism in Pakistan, religious minorities have been
subjected to unspeakable atrocities. There are cases of forceful conversions,
killings, abductions and rapes. None of the guilty have ever been prosecuted
for the same. Because of this, Pakistani Hindus are migrating to India for
refuge. He told us that in 1971, there was an exodus resulting in the migration
of about 90,000 Hindus in India. Hindus are coming in large numbers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouQM4j46sH75iOYA3a5lLKrdT0yXi3jYI0z4CWGXOVgu0ZIENt4FdiSvjyr52eiKJ6HzPlQnLXBcDVYe4vtXMMz-wv5KWyOuCUecAFYleQQ07GK_JKwpD_qwxzA79xZbHr8Umg_vjI-qY/s1600/DSC03394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouQM4j46sH75iOYA3a5lLKrdT0yXi3jYI0z4CWGXOVgu0ZIENt4FdiSvjyr52eiKJ6HzPlQnLXBcDVYe4vtXMMz-wv5KWyOuCUecAFYleQQ07GK_JKwpD_qwxzA79xZbHr8Umg_vjI-qY/s1600/DSC03394.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But even here, there is no relief
for them. The intelligence is always after them. Because of their nationality,
they are unable to get jobs and their mobility is restricted. They are not
being given any refugee rights. He told us that the Indian Government does not
have policies to deal with them and because of this, they are facing hardships.
They are struggling for basic amenities. A majority of the migrants are farmers
and daily wage workers. They are not getting help from any source. UNHCR has
not even declared them as refugees. They are demanding amendments in the
citizenship act, laws for their protection and help. The statement with their
demands can be read at <a href="http://www.indiaresists.com/an-appeal-by-pakistani-hindu-refugees-in-india/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; text-align: left;" target="_blank">http://www.indiaresists.<wbr></wbr>com/an-appeal-by-pakistani-<wbr></wbr>hindu-refugees-in-india/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />There is a need to rise above these barriers of religion, caste and nationality and see each other as human beings. In this scenario, not just the Pakistan Government but even the Indian Government needs to be criticised for their actions which are opposed to humanity. They need to be criticized not because this is the case of Pakistani Hindus but of human beings. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We feel that we must extend our
support to them not because of their nationality or religion but on
humanitarian grounds. The people who talk about Indo-Pak peace do often negate this tragic fact thinking that this will create contempt for Pakistan. There is also a tendency that w</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">hen one talks about the plight of Pakistani Hindus, the counter is to talk about the treatment meted out to religious minorities in India. While there is no denial to the dismal reality of India, this tendency needs to go because this is not helping anyone. Infact, it is only doing much more damage. </span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-51089744328315899152014-01-20T15:35:00.001+05:302014-05-13T16:22:57.176+05:30Caste rules, whether you see it or not <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Power is not a difficult or an
unusual concept to be understood. Power as domination, is generally understood
to be recognizable. It is a lived experience for all of us, whether in the form
of exercising it or experiencing it. However, it is argued that while power is
a lived experience, it cannot always be seen. It is not always recognisable as
there are some forms of power which we internalise and normalise, making it a
social fact, which let alone resist, we cannot even recognise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sadly, this seems to be the case
for caste in modern urban India. A
generally-held view among young, upper-caste urbanites is that caste is a
problem of rural India. While a general survey would suffice to prove my point,
the voices against caste-based reservations definitely shows this. Going by the
slogans and opinions of the anti-caste-based reservation, it seems that most
are unaware of the very logic behind reservation. They see it as a privilege
being extended to some because they were discriminated centuries back. They see
the reservation as "discriminating" the general category. It is
viewed as "anti-progressive". Infact, reservation has almost become a
joke for many. Recently, Aam Aadmi party had proposed reservation for Delhi
students in Delhi University. Reservation is being seen as a privilege, rather
than as an opportunity for the deprived. It is sad to see these views but the
truth is that, this is the popular view of most of the upper-class urbanites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is sad but not shocking that the
rationale behind caste-based reservation is not understood because this again
comes from the dominating section who had not only dominated but is still
dominating. The caste-based domination is not an evil of yesterday, it is going
on. It is the reality of today that still there is a discrimination against
students of backward castes in schools. The report of a mainstream and popular
Newspaper, Times of India, dated 25 June 2009 talked about the discrimination
faced by backward caste students across India. In the report titled "Dalit
kids cannot use school loo but have to clean them", it is stated how not only the students but the teachers also
indulge in caste-based discrimination. They are made to sit on the floor, punished
unnecessarily, forced to clean the classrooms, the toilets, and are refrained
from attending several school programmes. Similarly The Hindu, had released its report titled
"In Perali village, Dalits can't cycle in upper caste areas"
in this very century. These are not the discriminations of the past, but the
realities of today. Upper-caste men raping dalit women is almost a norm in
villages even today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As about caste being a problem only
of the rural India, these upper-caste, educated urbanites should ask the caste
of the people who come to collect garbage from their house or clean the mess on
the roads, in their schools/colleges and workplaces. According to The report '<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Upper castes pose problem
for sanitation in BMC' published in The Hindu dated 27 July 2009, while the upper-caste would be appointed,
they would not clean roads and drains because they felt that it the work of the
lower-castes. The class of sweepers is still largely dominated by the people of
underprivileged or backward castes. This is not all. It is wrong to think that
discrimination happens only in villages. According to the report titled "</span>Suicide
by Dalit students in 4 years" published in The Hindu dated 5 September
2011, 18 students in some premiere educational institutions had committed
suicide in four years because of traumatic experience of caste-based
discrimination. One of the victims, a Dalit student in AIIMS was taunted by
both the faculty and class mates:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“How could Chamars
become doctors? You have come here only because of quota, you cannot go ahead”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This was not a one of its kind
report. There are hundreds of such reports and thousands of unreported stories.
How many of the 'progressive, educated' upper-caste youths do even realise that
their abuses are also caste-based? The abusive words "bhangi",
"chamar", "chuda" are names of some underprivileged castes.
Caste is not just limited to the rural. It is very much present in the urban
areas. Another way to 'see' it is in the institution of marriage. Even today,
inter-caste marriages are a problem. Contrary to the view, honor killing and
the 'milder' forms of abuse and discrimination are not limited to rural areas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It has been argued that class, not
caste, should be given reservation. Do the urban, educated, upper-caste youth
realise that a large section of the poor comprise of the under-privileged or
backward castes? Caste is not such a social identity. It is tied to political
and economic identity as well. They need opportunities to come up. Reservation
based on caste will ensure them economic liberation and may also lead to their
social liberation. When they will get opportunities to prove themselves, to
break this myth that they are good only for 'menial' tasks, they will be able
to provoke a change in thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I would like to conclude by arguing
that caste is still a reality of the today, whether the urban, upper-caste
people can 'see' it or not. The reason why the urban, upper-caste youth cannot
see it is not because it does not exist, but because they are not affected by
it. Ask a Dalit, what caste is. As about this constant debate of going 'beyond
caste', as Social Scientist Surinder Jodka had rightly pointed out, the beyond
framework seems to be a conspiracy of the upper-caste. We cannot go beyond the
caste because caste still exists and determines the life of a large section of
population". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This article was published on <a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/mittal190114.htm">Countercurrents</a></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-77705453877914177102014-01-01T00:54:00.000+05:302014-05-13T16:23:06.260+05:30My New Year Hope... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wywsLfVeIt-pGJEF4nrsTDPwkmnE8ELngjbYG5JyaNTdgR2TpTK9TPg_8rrK9cSPnLBnkZeQbk4CRZFSKabxDVtXokJSHHOhsoxhEA3CeC3GCwzbHcxTcDJnSW6suHIIJpZgZZKT1gOn/s1600/new+year+hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wywsLfVeIt-pGJEF4nrsTDPwkmnE8ELngjbYG5JyaNTdgR2TpTK9TPg_8rrK9cSPnLBnkZeQbk4CRZFSKabxDVtXokJSHHOhsoxhEA3CeC3GCwzbHcxTcDJnSW6suHIIJpZgZZKT1gOn/s640/new+year+hope.jpg" height="467" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
13 years have passed...but they have been unbothered. 13 years of her sacrifice...her heroic struggle, it must come to an end. Her demands be heard. Justice be done. Salute to the Eche Irom...the Iron Lady. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-38767410941193900842013-12-16T20:48:00.002+05:302013-12-16T20:55:37.601+05:30My prayers for your happiness and healthy life, Ericana and Eludi!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcRYURj09fMMeZxHEkKsEwmKpzJyToOYmxfn_WmZHOeIRnj2NA7tj5a03iXbFHXr21tbn5RrFq2ikehhXptDAy2N6VfjotBPaZZjxeGceNofwb9yIzwJaTn2Ivm0htYjnNRu550f8FQOw/s1600/Conjoint+Twins.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcRYURj09fMMeZxHEkKsEwmKpzJyToOYmxfn_WmZHOeIRnj2NA7tj5a03iXbFHXr21tbn5RrFq2ikehhXptDAy2N6VfjotBPaZZjxeGceNofwb9yIzwJaTn2Ivm0htYjnNRu550f8FQOw/s400/Conjoint+Twins.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ericana and Eludi with their mother</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Life is full of struggles, challenges and pain for all us.
But unfortunately for some people, the struggle is greater. In Tanzania, for
two male babies - </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px;">Ericana</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px;">Eludi</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, the struggle had began with their birth. They were born as
pygopagus twins which means that they are conjoined at the buttocks.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Since their birth, their mother has
been struggling to get them separated and lead a healthy life. The pain
suffered by the twins and their mother is unspeakable and unimaginable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But
thankfully, the babies can now be said to be in safe hands. The mother had
learnt about <a href="http://www.apollohospitals.com/">Apollo healthcare</a>, one of the most efficient and trust names in
modern healthcare today, and came to the A<a href="http://www.apollohospitals.com/">pollo Hospital</a> in Chennai with her
two beautiful babies and with her trust and hope. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
<a href="http://www.apollohospitals.com/">Apollo Hospital</a>, on its part, is also doing its best. This case is one of the
most challenging cases that not only Apollo but that the world has seen. Conjoined
twins is a rare condition and most of the babies with this condition are either
still-born or die soon after birth. This specific condition of conjoining at
the buttocks known as pygopagus is even more rare. It is also generally found
more in females. Till now, only 4 male pygopagus twins have been reported. So
this case is definitely one of the rarest and the most difficult. But Apollo is
doing all that it can to ensure a normal and healthy life for the babies. For
this case, Apollo has appointed a </span></span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">team of 20 doctors from the specialties of neurosurgery, plastic surgery,
paediatric surgery and pediatric urology. They have also sought the guidance of
Dr. Edward Kiely – Paediatric Surgeon and Dr. Richard Howard –
Anaesthesiologist both from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for the safe
separation. Apollo has been taking care of the babies for 5 months now and on
16th, it will conduct the most important stage i.e. the separation surgery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But Apollo has not just been giving them medical care, it has also given
the babies and their mother an emotional support. The nurses have developed a
bond with the babies. The nurses have nicknamed the babies as 'Ammukutty’ and ‘Chellakutty’.
In turn, the babies have also bonded with the nurses. They and their mother have
also picked up a few tamil words. But this is not new about Apollo. Apollo has
not just been one of the world's most efficient health-care provider, it is
actually a "care-taker" and of not just the patients but of the
society. Apollo has many social initiatives like Disha, SACHi, SAHI, CURE and
other initiatives to care for everyone, irrespective of their economic and
social profile. Infact, the babies' mother had learnt about Apollo because of
its presence through the Save a child's heart initiative of SACHi in Tanzania. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So the babies are in efficient and caring hands. My wishes with Apollo. I
wish them all success. I also pray that the pain being suffered by the two
babies should end and they lead a happy and healthy life. My wishes also for the mother. May God bless all of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-13895980280657916902013-12-14T18:16:00.001+05:302014-07-13T12:27:22.419+05:30Statement by Mission Bhartiyam condemning the the SC verdict criminalizing gay sex<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEimsbfX8kFBetsbyCFt-fwPUEIUQikbzIp_NiHhdhQN6HLzZ_BGMu0KAfif15vfBd53uEDxXZXpICx5X0rWelqm3lyAJ-4WSOEHgcd6hpHmd5_77ef5G_Jy0nSRY6VVBmwcAOWHzjCZ7A/s1600/tg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEimsbfX8kFBetsbyCFt-fwPUEIUQikbzIp_NiHhdhQN6HLzZ_BGMu0KAfif15vfBd53uEDxXZXpICx5X0rWelqm3lyAJ-4WSOEHgcd6hpHmd5_77ef5G_Jy0nSRY6VVBmwcAOWHzjCZ7A/s400/tg.png" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">On 11th December 2013, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed the Delhi High Court Ruling of 2009 to uphold IPC section 377 that prohibits “carnal acts against the order of nature”. Doing so, it criminalises the sexual acts of LGBTI community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Delhi High Court in its ruling had held that the provision violated the sexual minorities’ fundamental rights to life, liberty, equality, and discriminating between people on grounds of sex. But the Supreme Court has overturned the verdict arguing that it is not against the constitutional norms. The SC has upheld the allegations of the social and religious organisations that consider non-heteronormativity to be against the "cultural and religious values of the country". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We condemn the SC verdict. We feel that the verdict is not "non-liberal", conservative or "non-progressive" but is against the fact of nature and is historically baseless. Non-heteronormativity is not unnatural, it is not a choice or a "lifestyle". It is a fact..it is a way a person is. Non-heteronormativity has been observed in several animal and bird species as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Homosexuality and other forms of non-heteronormativity are not against our culture.. they were a part of our culture and for this, there is enough historical evidence. The ban on non-heteronormative forms of sexuality has its origin in the colonial era. But we think that even if we may think it is, it is against our culture just like the ban on sati, child marriage, devdasi tradition and other social evils. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been argued that non-heteronormativity is against the religious norms. Some religions like Islam and Christianity have prohibited it but there was a certain context to it. In Islam, all the obligations were made in a certain socio-political context which needs to be studied. Other religions like Hinduism cannot be said to be against non-heteronormativity and there is enough evidence in the scriptures to prove it. We also feel that even if the religions do not permit it, it does not mean that it is wrong. We must remember that religions also promote several other forms of discrimination and inequality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also think that even if a certain religion does not permit non-heteronormativity, it should be concern only for the people who ascribe to that religion. The individual following that religion should decide if he/she wants to leave his/her religion or suppress his/her sexuality. Their religious values and opinions should not be imposed on others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We state that people with non-heteronormative sexuality are not "abnormal", "diseased" and deviants.. what is abnormal, unnatural and a "mental disorder" is this homophobia. As we know, the nature loves and celebrates diversity. The non-heteronormative sexualities represents these diverse forms of sexuality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This verdict is a verdict against the nature, against knowledge and against humanity. </span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-10414916689785693292013-10-11T08:12:00.000+05:302014-05-13T16:24:14.416+05:30Is homosexuality really an import?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9HSjYUfnzbvaWFwDianP2SFfNoscenT50ivfWdH64NX_nUOEo637J9MB4k6xvwGHF-qEKA2TbLfoSjeKVdchtpaGTG56ZOSUuKSRD6LdkeaueFTWpcZtYRzF7XigWTQ4r_cP6xqVx75t/s1600/Hand_on_Bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9HSjYUfnzbvaWFwDianP2SFfNoscenT50ivfWdH64NX_nUOEo637J9MB4k6xvwGHF-qEKA2TbLfoSjeKVdchtpaGTG56ZOSUuKSRD6LdkeaueFTWpcZtYRzF7XigWTQ4r_cP6xqVx75t/s400/Hand_on_Bars.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The Gulf nations are planning to conduct "gay tests" for foreign tourists. It is claimed that the test will "recognise" gays and transgenders who will be then denied entry. This will be applicable in all the GCC or Gulf Cooperation Council countries that includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. In all the GCC countries, homosexuality is outlawed.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
While this news is becoming a talk of the world, I fear that it will be largely discussed as a symbol of conservatism and related to a particular religion. I feel that the focus needs to be shifted to the accusation that homosexuality is an important. My article intends to burst this myth.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
The proposal of GCC is inherent with the assumption that homosexuality is an import of the west. It is not a practice of the land. This assumption and notion is true not only for the Arab countries but is also quite widespread in many South Asian countries. However, this is not corroborated by facts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The movement for the rights of the LGBTI (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex) community is not very old. It was only in 2003 that all the states of America had legalised homosexuality. Marriage equality is banned in countries. Many states of USA are yet to legalise it. Russia has recently passed the anti-Gay bill. Even if western countries have some provisions, there is still social stigma attached to people of LGBTI community. In a recent news, it was reported that a Christian College in California had banned a student after it was found out that she was a transgender. Infact, it has been argued that homophobia or fear of homosexuality and diverse sexualities was a product of colonialism. Thus, it would be more apt to say that homophobia, not homosexuality, is an import of the west.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
Homosexuality as an "import" also conveys that homosexuality is a kind of trend or lifestyle. It is generally believed that like the concepts of a nuclear family and an individual life, homosexuality has also "come from the west". It is not true because homosexuality is not a concept. It is not a trend that can be followed. It is the way a person is. What can be said to be imported from the west is the acceptability and recognition that some western societies have shown for diverse sexualities.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
Related with this concept is the basic assumption that homosexuality is "unnatural". This assumption has been long challenged through inter-disciplinary researches. The fact is that if homosexuality is unnatural, then why is it found in about 1500 species ranging from primates to parasites? Homosexual behaviour is found to be quite widespread in the animal kingdom. One quarter of black swans engage in homosexual unions.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
If homosexuality and diverse sexualities are unnatural then why do we need religion, culture, media, law and the state to enforce this "fact"? Diverse sexualities are reflective of the beauty of the nature. We are mesmerized by the diversity in flowers, animals, birds, landscapes but then why do many of us reject and condemn diversity in the sexual orientation of human beings. There is enough literature available on the history of sexuality, about a more accommodating past followed by the period of suppression of sexuality. There are reasons that explain the suppression. In the past, due to the existing political circumstances, many societies lay emphasis on fertility and so they condemned any union that was not productive. They had intertwined this with the moral and social. It was incorporated in many religious systems. However, even when the situation changed, the moral and the social was not adequately challenged. Thus, the taboo remained.</div>
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This move to bar the entry of gay tourists shows that there is a sense of "fear" and we must inquire about it. Who is fearful and of what? How is someone's sexuality affecting a society or people around him/her? Homosexuality is being seen as a threat to the "moral good". When a homosexual person is brutally harassed, where does the morality go? There are many incidents of rapes of people of LGBTI community. This proposed move to "control" homosexuality by barring the "agents" of homosexuality makes some sense if we accept that homosexuality has buyers in the land.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
Thus, it is important to realise that homosexuality is neither a threat to any culture or system of 'morality' nor an import of west. It is important to protest against this illogical and "unnatural" disease called homophobia that still grips many countries. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-62052679758159411532013-07-26T15:08:00.001+05:302014-05-13T16:24:26.766+05:30Weapon of Miscommunication<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldr0FF_VusCoX954UbH_eLA0i7mToaShziKtC_92Wkz-84C_c8OP2DxILpdDRTRY-hg2bLUxq5VmefXi6Zyo9oNLR0aa1K3YdWemEq-_5aDDThlUJM4obhZcU9QGFj5FV5ttHSJem7EVO/s1600/Aman+Chaupal+at+Columbia+Foundation+School.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldr0FF_VusCoX954UbH_eLA0i7mToaShziKtC_92Wkz-84C_c8OP2DxILpdDRTRY-hg2bLUxq5VmefXi6Zyo9oNLR0aa1K3YdWemEq-_5aDDThlUJM4obhZcU9QGFj5FV5ttHSJem7EVO/s400/Aman+Chaupal+at+Columbia+Foundation+School.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aman Chaupal with Saeeda Diep ji</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Do
Hindus live in Pakistan?", asked a young girl to Ms. Saeeda Diep, a Peace
activist from Pakistan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With
a smile, she replied, "Yes, my dear. Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and people
of many other religious faiths live in Pakistan".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"How
are they treated?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Why
doesn't the Pakistan Government control terrorism?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Why
did the army behead Indian soldiers?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">These
were some of the many questions that students of a school in Delhi had asked
the peace activist during an interactive session called Aman Chaupal, an
initiative of Aaghaz-e-Dosti aimed towards Indo-Pak friendship. It was a small
room with about 50 students heavily-equipped with questions and a lady with a
serene and smiling face. She answered all the questions with an unchanging
expression of calmness and with a warm smile. This was because she was on a
mission. She was out to face the weapon of miscommunication. "We have
about 20 Indian channels but you people do not have a single channel so you
know nothing about Pakistan. We have not been able to present ourselves to
you." So after each question, she would say, "please ask more
questions".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Having
some level of communication with people from Pakistan, I could not help
laughing when the politically-charged questions didn't stop. But I was not
surprised at those questions. Infact, I, like Saeeda ji, was happy that they
asked these questions because then they won't think that we were there to
"pacify" or "convince" them. Yet, I must admit that I was
surprised to see that she had a calm and beaming face throughout the session. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Her
words as well as those questions have stayed with me. She had emphasised on the
lack of communication and the hawkish media that our Indian democracy has
granted us. I would completely agree with her on this. The media is the fourth
pillar of democracy yet in our country, it is not independent and is biased. It
carries the burden of invoking nationalist fervor and in doing so, it often
ends up with arousing jingoistic sentiments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
media was at its worst best during the case of Sarabjit Singh when Sarabjit was
made a "national martyr" and the attack on Sanaullah Ranjay was seen
as a "reaction". The same can be said for the border clash of
January. There was no reporting at that time. The news channels were busy
running documentaries. I often find it a little surprising that the media which
is desperate to do something 'innovative" does not ever attempt to consult
the "other" side. There is a clear divide between what the major
newspapers of both the sides report. Yet, no attempt is made by either sides to
come up with a neutral source. No-one ever gets to know the "truth"
and actually, it seems that no side is even interested to know. Why? There are
reasons and the reasons are political. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
is a weapon and a far lethal one. The military clashes are short-lived. There
is a ceasefire but this weapon is not short-lived. It is a slower process but
much more effective. It allows for the proliferation of hatred to people beyond
the direct sufferers. It is effective enough to make peace, a fantasy of the
"liberal". A resource for many, it helps to create an unchallenged
"need" for war, for hatred. The war mandate rests on the unchallenged
assumption that the "other" hates us. Thus, it is an important raw
material for what Saeeda ji had said, a "war industry". This also
explains why there are attempts to disrupt any efforts to enhance
people-to-people communication between the countries. Miscommunication is
essential for hatred and suspicion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
contrast to this is communication. It would be hard to find someone who has
been to the other side of the border or has had some level of communication,
with a negative opinion about them. With so much to talk about, share, in one's
own language (Hindi for us, urdu for them), it becomes difficult at ground
level to find differences. Infact, when one meets someone from Pakistan, one is
pleasantly disappointed because the image of a different "other" is
shattered. Communication is the key to all our problems and so Saeeda ji had
concluded the session with the statement, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"We
will make efforts to connect you with children of your age so that you can see
Pakistan from our eyes, not from your media's eyes." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-76503828942213056662013-07-13T12:24:00.000+05:302014-07-13T12:30:27.269+05:30The time when children were innocent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC61CUvN5ZQXKQHlZVohzS8ZELn8bVlQYHWZVc8t3Dcr5z_xHi5Qjk4tIqIo32u85T3xS3lgwDH4NrFrlo8TFQuRDZ5gwokjR6QBVb870oQO-cY6Cx8yfEUdyabk7oWH2GNVH1KjEse3Gh/s1600/Kid-walks-the-ramp-to-showcase-a-creation-by-designer-Rocky-S-on-day-1-of-Kids-Fashion-Week-showcased-in-Mumbai.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC61CUvN5ZQXKQHlZVohzS8ZELn8bVlQYHWZVc8t3Dcr5z_xHi5Qjk4tIqIo32u85T3xS3lgwDH4NrFrlo8TFQuRDZ5gwokjR6QBVb870oQO-cY6Cx8yfEUdyabk7oWH2GNVH1KjEse3Gh/s320/Kid-walks-the-ramp-to-showcase-a-creation-by-designer-Rocky-S-on-day-1-of-Kids-Fashion-Week-showcased-in-Mumbai.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717466924132445794" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As kids, we had a desire to speed up the growing part and become adults. Adulthood meant an escape from the boring homework, having a lot more freedom and the power to decide. Ofcourse, now as adults, we like to laugh on that silly desire. It was silly but it was a very innocent one. We were too innocent to understand what adulthood would really mean. How that “freedom” would mean very little in front of that ever-increasing tension. We realize it now but it seems that parents these days don’t. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Recently, I came across an article in a TOI supplement, Education Plus, dated 12<sup>th</sup> January 2012, about preschoolers and little kids learning to cook, wash cars and doing computers. I anyway never understood the concept of pre-schooling as 14 years of schooling is torturous enough for kids but this came as a major shock to me. I wondered what has gone wrong with parenting these days. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I remember how our parents would talk about their ‘golden’ childhood and would totally discard our idea of ‘fun’ in childhood. My mother had a serious disapproval for Cartoon Network and my computer buddies, Dave and Aladdin. They would talk about their vacations back in the villages and the “real” fun, as they used to put it. Every vacation, I was forced to engage in some ‘fun’ activity like dance, music or playing casio. We all grew up being compared with a neighborhood kid or a cousin. This was our childhood. We were more ‘privileged’ than our previous generation but the next and the current generation have a lot more, like cellphones before college, facebook accounts much before their teen years, the obsession with branded and fashionable clothes, in short, an over-exposure! <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Now, I think that we were so much better-off. And I don’t feel any kind of happiness as I write this. I feel really sad that what they are losing out on what happens to be what kids are famous for i.e. innocence. Now, when I think of my childhood, I review all the mistakes that I ever made. Some of them were stupid and others, quite serious, yet I don’t feel any remorse because I was innocent. I was not trained enough to see all aspects of things. I realized and learned from my mistakes only with time. I learned all that, at the right age. I was ignorant, immature and imperfect. It was only with time that I started shedding some of them. I now feel that growing up is so beautiful. And as I realize this, I feel sad for these kids. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It’s not their age to learn how to cook or how to wash a car. Why do they need to do that? Are they being expected to be independent? I see kids in reality shows trying to express emotions which they are not even supposed to understand and I have nothing but pity for them. Why are they being expected to behave like adults? Most of the times, the judges don’t seem to know how to talk to kids. They end up discouraging the kids. But Why? Why are kids supposed to be perfect today! They are expected to sing their throats out, dance till their legs give away and express emotions which are way-ahead than their ages. So we have a preteen TV actress playing the role of a wife(not child bride) on a popular TV show. Is there a dearth of better actresses, I wondered. What was the need for playing with the psychological mind-set of the young actress? <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I see preschoolers having their ears pierced and I wonder the need. I remember having the ear-piercing done when I was in third standard. I fail to understand why things are growing so fast. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I don’t think one can blame the kids! The questions should be directed to their parents, their guardians and these schools. What are they playing at? The World is moving on very fast… there is an upsurge in technology and one needs to be updated but not at the cost of destroying the beautiful child-like innocence. Why are we exposing them to a world for which they are not yet ready? Why are they taking away from their own kids what they cherish the most… the “golden” childhood? Why are the parents in such a hurry?<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The schools consider this as a step to better ‘prepare’ the students. They are ‘preparing’ the students for what? This competitive world? The world is definitely become ‘meaner’ day by day and the competition is a reality. But this does not mean that we end up producing miniature adults, rather than kids. And all this is only worsening the competition. The schools may claim “innovative” methods to make learning “fun” but actually, it is indulging into a lot of “learning” for the kids, with these “extra-curricular” activities. The “Extra-curricular” activities which sometimes also include personality development, a concept which again I fail to accept for kids. If immaturity is bad, so is over-maturity. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Why cant we just let them be themselves… and enjoy their innocent childhood which they will cherish later in their lives, when they will ultimately struggle in this notorious, demonic world? Why cant we let kids be kids again?</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-37253052405332267482013-07-12T14:45:00.003+05:302014-05-13T16:24:37.148+05:30Do Hindus live in Pakistan?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zzwoh2OfinI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Why is there so much of terrorism in Pakistan?<br />
<br />
Did the Government know about Osama Bin Laden living in Pakistan?<br />
<br />
What do people of Pakistani think about us?<br />
<br />
Watch this video wherein a renowned Peace activist from Pakistan, Ms. Saeeda Diep interacts with students of Columbia Foundation Sr. Sec. School. This was an event of Aman Chaupal, an initiative under Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-pak peace and friendship initiative by Mission Bhartiyam. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-81818852877623179982013-06-30T11:46:00.001+05:302014-05-13T16:25:15.817+05:30Appeal to stop the telecast of serial "Jodha Akbhar" on communal grounds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmnEBy4in5lDsu-tuDixXY8Cdc6FGckJGFX6rvd2fJhvtBqIeISzt3EYU5NI3SN7w_tGcqBZ4_eBWBMz8F7DlIqO5IRZxUzjbJKDMHJ_G1QAsx-yU2ZeHrCL0IAoqfVP-Mz-pnER0Qu1X/s500/Jodha-Akbar-Serial-Star-Cast-Story-Video-%E2%80%93-Zee-Tv-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmnEBy4in5lDsu-tuDixXY8Cdc6FGckJGFX6rvd2fJhvtBqIeISzt3EYU5NI3SN7w_tGcqBZ4_eBWBMz8F7DlIqO5IRZxUzjbJKDMHJ_G1QAsx-yU2ZeHrCL0IAoqfVP-Mz-pnER0Qu1X/s400/Jodha-Akbar-Serial-Star-Cast-Story-Video-%E2%80%93-Zee-Tv-2.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I am writing this to appeal to
urge you to stop the telecast of the recently launched serial "jodha
Akbar" being aired on Zee TV as it can have a negative impact on the
society. To begin with, the serial itself runs on the disclaimer that it lays
no claim to any historical event. This disclaimer came after there were
protests from the Rajput community and from some historians against the
inauthenticity of the story being presented. The main argument is that there
was no mention to "Jodha Bai" in the historical sources. This debate
was also raised for the movie "Jodha Akbar" starring Hrithik Roshan
and Aishwarya Rai. It is important for the producers to state the historical
source of the story. It should be binding for them to mention the exact
historical accounts as history, we know and have seen, is not just the past. It
has or is made to have serious implications in the present. One of the most
shameful example is that of the demolition of Babri Masjid and the communal
riots.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As stated previously, the
producers of the serial "Jodha Akbar" has "negotiated" with
the protestors and now there is a disclaimer before and during some scenes in
the serial stating that the serial does not have any historical backing. The
question then is, why is there a need to telecast such a serial? Why is there a
need to use the names? Even if Jodha may not have ever existed, Akbar did.
Where is the need to demonise him? It is shocking that this has been allowed in
a communally-sensitive country. India is threatened with the forces of hindutva
which claims the country to be the ancestral and "rightful" property
of only Hindus, negating the claims of all other religious groups. It also
demonises muslims and have used (or misinterpreted) history to serve their
purpose. Even a "liberal" Hindu will agree to this baseless nonsense.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The fact is that history is too
hazy. There is so much that can be said about these things. The fact that can
be safely established is that religion was not a big deal when the rulers
invaded the "country" (which did not exist at that time) in 14th-15th
century. Also, desecration of temples was a political statement than a
religious one. Historian Richard Eaton has talked about conquest mosques which
were built by desecrating the earlier monument because it is quite a rule that
an invading ruler establishes throne by destroying the symbols of the previous
ruler. The fact is that the word "muslim" in a religious sense for
the rulers did not emerge in the historical sources before 16th century. For a
native in a kingdom in the now-Gujarat, a ruler from rajasthan was as much a
foreigner as a turk. There is so much written on these issues. There is
literature on how it were the British who had divded the history into hindu and
muslim. But nothing has been read because the historical truth is not in line
with the political motives. The historical truth negates Hindutva as baseless. One
major point is that V D Savarkar, the founder of the ideology of Hindutva, had
himself written in his book on Hindutva that whatever he is writing is for a
political reason. Yet, nothing has been read. People have carried the biased colonial
legacy and as a result, thousands of innocent people have lost their lives. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Thankfully, the forces of
Hindutva seem to be resting with BJP focussing on "development" and
the recent unpopularity of other Hindu fundamentalist groups. Some years back,
the court had also passed a "secular" verdict on the ayodhya issue
which was, thankfully, welcomed. But this serial seems to revive these forces
as it re-iterates the baseless stereotypes about mughals. Akbar is shown to be
this demon. He is shown to be a "Muslim" ruler. It is historically
incorrect to use terms like "secular", "conservative" or
"liberal" for rulers as these terms are of recent origin but if I do
commit the sin, just for this time, I will not be wrong to say that Akbar is
popular for being "secular". He is known for Din-i-ilahi, for
rejecting the teachings of the ulama, for rejecting conservative Islam and for
rajput-mughal alliances. If we read the history, we will know that this
happened for many reasons. But according to the serial, it was Jodha, a Rajput
princess who forced him to become "good". Jodha had swore to some
goddess that she will behead Akbar and throw the head on the feet of the
goddess, bringing a very strong religious angle. It is also historically inauthentic.
But a more important concern is the dangerous effect that it will entail. The
serial re-iterates the notions about "muslim" rulers who invaded,
discriminated, dishonoured women and tried to destroy the "hindu"
culture. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Therefore, I appeal that this
serial should be banned from being telecasted on the grounds that it is
historically inauthentic, demeaning and has the potential to revive communal
tensions in the country.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
See <a href="http://muslimmirror.com/eng/broadcast-body-urged-to-stop-telecast-of-communal-serial-jodha-akbar/" style="text-align: left;">http://muslimmirror.com/eng/broadcast-body-urged-to-stop-telecast-of-communal-serial-jodha-akbar/</a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-83857267662186469502013-06-17T22:26:00.000+05:302014-07-13T12:17:04.271+05:30Some thoughts on the "royal" Rajasthan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are based on my recent
short trip to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. The trip was not an
academic venture. I had gone for some personal reasons so it will be a
reflection based entirely on observations.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An economy of forts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6eXUO5MCWsQZDe3DYhKo4NhT_JtCwixaXmEudZt0mIhdfkUsvHoEXcs0b4MsDY0stYIlPHyzQIIEA2f8NdPlhZc-w-l9Q95BHy8vMIj-hmLHiPZxmTfABRcr3HJMZe_7URRDcUfI0IKE/s640/969694_661355003879938_1027019932_n.jpg" height="424" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albert Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rajasthan makes up to be one of
the most historically-conscious, as one may put it, state in India. The pink
city is famous and known for its forts. Infact, one of the most obvious images
that conjures up when one thinks of Rajasthan is that of the innumerable forts
and not to forget, "tradition". The desert, women in lehenga, the
traditional rajasthani turban, katputli, bajre ki khichdi...Rajasthan, to an
outsider, is synonymous with the traditional Rajasthan. There is also a haunted
side to Rajasthan with legends and haunted stories weaved around medieval
forts, the best known being that of Bhangarh. Rajasthan is a much-glorified
place but what is interesting, but not new, is how the glorification is
encashed. It will not be anything new to mention how forts are being converted
into hotels, or how hotels have tried to ape the architecture of forts, the
most-famous chowkidhaani that promises you a glimpse into the
"traditional" village and the over-priced rajasthani food. What I
intend to do in this write-up is to reflect on the glorification of tradition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whose tradition?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIn2RfUw6XmsFyPELHoRRx1jqXFuiNN8Nc_6wtDXS_ZoAOY1Id9TIUaQEktpksGkxjbW1zNgmF0fLFGpHQt7sUxnnp47RYlXCsFFGnLUYSqLfUrisRz4RFbJRYrS_jaIfd42SjtJFlQsx/s1600/946422_661356480546457_1019123723_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIn2RfUw6XmsFyPELHoRRx1jqXFuiNN8Nc_6wtDXS_ZoAOY1Id9TIUaQEktpksGkxjbW1zNgmF0fLFGpHQt7sUxnnp47RYlXCsFFGnLUYSqLfUrisRz4RFbJRYrS_jaIfd42SjtJFlQsx/s320/946422_661356480546457_1019123723_n.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were near Rajasthan, not sure
if we were in Rajasthan, when I, through the window of cafe coffee day, saw a
camel. I also saw a man wearing the traditional rajasthani turban. I was a bit
shocked with the contrasting images. I would notice the dress of women as our
car passed by villages. It was nothing like the glamorised ethnic wear. They
wore bright-colored but simple lehenga with a tight-fitting blouse (that we
(should i say delhites?) wear with a saree) with a bare midriff. All throughout
my journey, I saw this style and needless to mention, I only saw women of not
from a very high economic background opting for this dress. The men who would
wear the turban would also be generally from a modest economic background. It
was not that I was expecting everyone in Rajasthan to be dolled-up in ethnic
wear but I found this interesting. All the tradition seems to be now carried
off by people who live at the margins. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What about the people of the
middle and elite classes? Well, they hop in western clothes or in kurta-pyjama to
the malls and the World Trade Park. The World Trade Park, is a mall with no
place to sit but to roam about, admiring the expensive shops, the chandliers
and the egyptian, chinese and other unnamed but "foreign" (and that
is enough!) statues. Out of the four restaurants that I visited, only the one
of the hotel included a rajasthani dish in its menu. As about shopping in a
regular place, not the famous jowhri bazaar, there was also nothing
"rajasthani". The point is... the traditional seems to be the burden
of the underprivileged. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chowkidhaani - The glamorised village <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlIqObcFLxvj7fW8aDlKycW4U79XzruDFVdsyBXoaUpAuw8WnQ1PImUCYOno_-MBdsylHbuBVi0G49T4o2MXFomiDQAsq6GxB39GI7wJhlw2OYOwEILI9_Uv6JwpnB7D7gdpyK5GJD7yQ/s1600/1011067_661357450546360_421103563_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlIqObcFLxvj7fW8aDlKycW4U79XzruDFVdsyBXoaUpAuw8WnQ1PImUCYOno_-MBdsylHbuBVi0G49T4o2MXFomiDQAsq6GxB39GI7wJhlw2OYOwEILI9_Uv6JwpnB7D7gdpyK5GJD7yQ/s400/1011067_661357450546360_421103563_n.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chowkidhaani</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You go to Jaipur and you don't
visit chowkidhaani, that's not possible! I have been to Jaipur many times and
each time, I have been there, I have visited chowkidhaani to get the
"rajasthani" feel. Chowkidhaani promises a "glimpse" into
the traditional village. But you will be disappointed if you think through
because the glamorised replica does not talk anything about the farmer suicides
and the social evils that exists. It reminded me of the ideal image of the
self-sustaining and peaceful village that many western thinkers including marx
had hold onto. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember that last time, we
were welcomed by a group of ladies dressed in traditional clothes, a smiling
face who would put teeka on our forehead. This time, it was just a young girl
who was severely disinterested. She had left the lot before us as she didn't
want to waster her energy calling out to them. Nevertheless, she had put the
teeka on our forehead like a machine stamping a barcode on a product. I wasn't
disappointed seeing the prospering business until I saw three varying prices -
500, 600 and 700. I thought it was the ticket but it was actually the price for
the food per head. The highest was for the traditional Rajasthani thali. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was fun to be in the ideal and
dream-like village (a dream especially for those who actually live in
villages). It was "exciting" to be in the line to hurt a camel (read
camel ride). But the genuinely exciting part was the rajasthani thali. Drenched
in rain, with our wet and mud-soaked clothes, we dined on the feast that was
once only the right of the "royal". While we feasted on bajre ki
kheechdi which was swimming in ghee, the ghee-soaked daal baati churma and many
other dishes, a guy was singing the ethnic songs. I do remember his face and
the songs that he played. It is a daily ritual for him. However, then and now a
thought that crops up in my mind is that has things changed for him? Then and
now, he played for the privileged. Then and now, he doesn't have an option. He
is sticking on to the tradition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The forts and the farce of blue-bloodedness </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMlmJTWSAQFaehEHLRQEa3vnq1x2OStH06D8Dfv-OiR0506f_SvVD_WpD7okclbHrfnzbnDB_7AQRonAcnmzB3_S3hQDjzoL4_W2n_rf9PJP0bmT1bUTmN7eRm83Gk1Jbkkk20RM9e_d4/s1600/988604_661355760546529_147082078_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMlmJTWSAQFaehEHLRQEa3vnq1x2OStH06D8Dfv-OiR0506f_SvVD_WpD7okclbHrfnzbnDB_7AQRonAcnmzB3_S3hQDjzoL4_W2n_rf9PJP0bmT1bUTmN7eRm83Gk1Jbkkk20RM9e_d4/s320/988604_661355760546529_147082078_n.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coming back to forts. As I saw
the forts, especially the amber fort with the long-running ramparts, I was lost
trying to imagine the past. But not "my" past. If I were what I am today,
in terms of my economic status, in those centuries, I wouldn't have been even
allowed to enter the forts with respect. Being a woman, my status would have
been even lower. So how is this a past that I should be expected to be proud
of? We went to the Albert museum and were expected to be in awe of the
"royal" items of daily use. Yes, I was in awe of the fact that they
sucked money from the commoners and created a nice royal world for themselves
while the commoners suffered during a famine. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But one definite thing that I was
happy to realise is that how this farce of blue-bloodedness has been shunned by
the recent trend of marrying in forts. Today, it is common for the economically
privileged to realise this "dream". Ofcourse, it is still extended
only to a few. But I feel happy imagining how the souls and ghosts? of the
royalty would react when people of non-rajput or "high" blood share
the same privilege. </span></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Concluding with an epic statement </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I would just like to end with
what a man who sells chunni/gudiya ke baal (candyfloss in english) had said to
two people who were debating about what to call the item that he sold. He said,
"Haan, chunni ke baal hi kehte hai par kuch vilayati bandar ise candy
floss keh gaye". (Yes, it is called chunni ke baal but some foreign
monkeys gave it the name of candy floss.) I think his statement sums it up
well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-28132624995822958242013-06-01T13:42:00.001+05:302013-06-01T13:49:22.740+05:30Little Ani learns a lesson...never ignore warning signs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
This is the entry for "The Moral of The Story Is...!" contest of <a href="http://indiblogger.in/">Indiblogger </a>and <a href="http://www.myhealthyspeak.co.in/">Colgate Total</a></h4>
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"AAAAAAAAAH!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Spit in the basin"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"AAAH!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"I said spit in the basin"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Beta, co-operate. I will buy you that doll"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Mummy! AAAAHH"</div>
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<br /></div>
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And it was over! Her mom had been
furious with little Ani. The moment that they were out of the dentist's cabin,
her mom had started scolding her. The dream of the doll was shattered but
nevertheless, she did enjoy the big cup of chocolate ice cream. Ani was six
year old at that time. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
"AAAAAH!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"What happened!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"My tooth is aching!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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The second visit to dentist was when she was in tenth
standard. The doctor told her that plague had destroyed her teeth. The doctor
had informed her that since her teeth were crooked, she was more prone to tooth
plague and decay. He had advised her for braces.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Braces!?"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Yes or you will face many dental problems later in
your life"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Oh ok, then I will put braces"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Good girl! Please come on Thursday"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Sure, Doctor! Thanks"</div>
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<br /></div>
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She never went. She had hated the sound of it. She had heard
about the problems that people with braces face - the problem in speech, the
maintenance, and the other related <i>natak</i>.
"I am not getting those braces!", she said to herself. She thought
that the doctor was emphasising only because crooked teeth looks bad. It is not
"aesthetically-pleasing". As for other problems, she assumed that
they wouldn't be as bad.</div>
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<br /></div>
She would ignore the essential visit to dentist even when she
would have some dental problems because of the fear of the plan. She would assume
that she would be forced to get braces or undergo some complicated and painful
treatment. She had been ignoring it for years. But now she has started
experiencing the problems that she was being warned of, some years back. She has
been noticing bleeding of gums and she can no longer ignore it. Why? Because
she had chose to ignore the first sign and the first advice. She went to the
dentist and is required to visit every month. She no longer ignores the warning signs and also uses <a href="http://www.myhealthyspeak.co.in/">Colgate total</a> every day which eliminates all possibilities of tooth problems.<br />
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<br /></div>
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So the moral of the story is...never try to ignore warning signs. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174335017373963005.post-67034005353215553612013-05-27T14:02:00.002+05:302013-06-12T11:42:42.232+05:30A theoretical memoir from Benaras<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteHFXIiwCkfkMKzT34u-Vnuxdeb4HPa54GtFOhxneiZyKgiqc__APvBU_FkfaOZb6muinq_nTvxVlHiUj0jvWGtxYO6Ic4Ud7ezTTxbmQn16NxoEhfSD220-g8pI_g0ELC-6PjF7F2V0b/s1600/DSC01270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteHFXIiwCkfkMKzT34u-Vnuxdeb4HPa54GtFOhxneiZyKgiqc__APvBU_FkfaOZb6muinq_nTvxVlHiUj0jvWGtxYO6Ic4Ud7ezTTxbmQn16NxoEhfSD220-g8pI_g0ELC-6PjF7F2V0b/s640/DSC01270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: justify;">When I was leaving for benaras,
my mom strictly told me not to buy statues of God in large number. I was also
advised to visit kasha vishwanath temple. Benaras, in popular view, is almost
synonymous with “Religion”.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">In my
imagination as well, Benaras was a small city with temples, aghori babas and a
gypsie culture(“hare ram hare Krishna” culture). I knew that I’ll see a lot of
Durkheim in this place. Benaras would be exciting. It did turn out to be
exciting but not so predictable. Every moment spent was a different experience.
Besides Durkheim, I met a lot of other known sociologist and also found
theoretical food which is yet to be served. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
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As we stepped out of the station,
I looked back to see the station and found religion in the very architecture of
the main railway station. It revealed how the city wanted to present itself. It
was presenting itself not just as a religious city but essentially as a “Hindu”
city. The ‘secular’ in me, however, did not have a problem with it. Benaras is
known to be a sacred city for Hindus. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As we moved towards our guest
house, I was trying to grab the new environment and I saw, though not much to
my surprise, an over-emphasis on religion. Religion was there in the names of
the shops – “kuber optics”, “swastika tailors”, “shivam chashma Kendra” etc.
Again, the names were essentially hindu. However, I did find some “modern”
names and a few with muslim names – “Islam auto engineering”. I also saw a
church, a jain temple and Sikhism on a motor bike. So I wouldn’t narrow down to
one religion but I would definitely say that it was all heavy with religion. The
architecture of the main university – Benaras Hindu University was also in the
form of a temple. The entrance was that of a gateway of a temple. There was
also a temple within the campus. It was too much of “religion” for me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq02N-MokP50tsX4O21dqMQ-0k1R-7ArPm-s8BRdvQB9Iw19gYpjMU7DyDLtRdOCKLWxf7jJu8ysYlyiMosUqiJqG0t7llEwIcnqZ9MmfLAfNc1idT2muygndsfhAtrSJ_hMN2nualr3af/s1600/DSC01318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq02N-MokP50tsX4O21dqMQ-0k1R-7ArPm-s8BRdvQB9Iw19gYpjMU7DyDLtRdOCKLWxf7jJu8ysYlyiMosUqiJqG0t7llEwIcnqZ9MmfLAfNc1idT2muygndsfhAtrSJ_hMN2nualr3af/s320/DSC01318.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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This trip to benaras was a field
trip. We had come to try and find ‘answers’ to two sociological questions concerning
Buddhist site of sarnath, 15 kms away from Benaras – religious syncretism in
Buddhist sarnath and the concept of a religious economy. But since we stayed in
Benaras, we extended our research(‘unofficially’) to Benaras. I was a part of
the group exploring religious syncretism. What I found was that religious
syncretism is a ‘historical’ process. It is historical in the sense that
religions have interacted with each other historically and almost, ‘naturally’.
They have interacted for centuries and still do, instead of dying out. Religion
and religious identity is very strong. And this is when I saw Durkheim.
Religion is a social fact. It is inevitable. It exists and will always exist. </div>
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The second group had explored the
link between religion and economy. They found that there was definitely a deep
bond between the two. Religion sells in Benaras. So the Hindu shopkeeper in
Sarnath worshipped Buddha because Buddhism meant livelihood for him. Religion
is also commercialized to a large extent in Benaras. A temple on the ghat bore
the advertisement of Rupa, a company for underclothes. Near any temple, we
would be called out by shopkeepers asking us to buy goods “important” for puja.
They would tell us how the puja would be incomplete without them and would sell
them at exorbitant rates. In the holy Ganga, we saw “muthoot finance” and
“airtel” flowing. Here, we would get the
impression how religion affects economy. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Roaming on the streets of Benaras
at night, eating street food, observing people who seemed ‘less liberal’,
chewing on the local paan and then going back on the rickshaw…it seemed
‘ideal’. Roaming about in the campus in the moonlight, with wind flowing in
your hair, it is a romantic memory now. I feel like Marx…romanticizing
incessantly about the ‘pre-industrial’ society. But Benaras has also been
changing. The economy has been changing, though not at a very great speed as
there were no factories there. But things have been changing. ‘Modernity’ is
coming in but it co-exists with tradition. A peaceful co-existence is taking
place. So I saw a monk, with a jacket added to his traditional attire, smoking
‘peacefully’.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtc1XBcDrPfP2_aS5xbw9s-ykJpXrpCTeKORK4Xf2Zy1uNADpWEmwQ0uP-hsYCuEjrP7zJR7SKqnIBXx5pFGp40AwiM97Hsn4QmnmHO4SzN1u9RtUJhgki_b3Ufiz0q-F22fSeVItoYhv/s1600/DSC01453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtc1XBcDrPfP2_aS5xbw9s-ykJpXrpCTeKORK4Xf2Zy1uNADpWEmwQ0uP-hsYCuEjrP7zJR7SKqnIBXx5pFGp40AwiM97Hsn4QmnmHO4SzN1u9RtUJhgki_b3Ufiz0q-F22fSeVItoYhv/s320/DSC01453.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Another thing which was though
predictable for me about Benaras was the people. In contrast to the “big bad
world” of Delhi, I found that people here were more friendly or maybe this was
just my good fortune. But one thing which is certain is that people here were
much more affiliated to their caste and region. So one of my classmates who was
from Chapra was an instant hit with most people. I accord this to the fact that
maybe this is because economic changes are not very rapid in Benaras. There are
not many of Marx’s industries to alienate men from themselves and from each
other. I feel that maybe Durkheim’s religion may also be a reason. Religion
leads to social solidarity. It binds people and even checks on them. Though a thug for whom I wrote a letter in
English wherein he pleads with foreigners to help him financially does force me
to re-think. </div>
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Overall, I would say that it’s
really difficult to explain this city with just one theory. It is difficult to
do that for any place, situation but Benaras particularly has been a difficult
case. With order and disorder(aghori cult), orthodoxy and syncretism, economy
and social values, I feel that it is difficult to really say what goes around
in benaras, how things work here. It is tradition and it is ‘modern’. It is
communal harmony and communal clash. It is conservative and it is liberal. Benaras…
it is simple but contradictory. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Theoretically, Benaras represents
a stage which is capitalist(to some extent) but has retained its
social/religious values. In benaras, it is economy with religion or religion
with economy. It is tradition with modernity and modernity with tradition. </div>
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<br /></div>
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*All pictures clicked by Sunam Thapa</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109598283995881893noreply@blogger.com0