[sacw] sacw dispatch (25 Sep.99)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Web Dispatch
25 September, 1999
___________________
#1. Narmada Update 23-24 Sept.99
#2. Tribals, Missionaries and Sadhus [in Dangs, Gujrat, India]
#3. Origins of Nationality in South Asia by CA Bayly [reviewed]
#4. Response to Kargil / resources for secularism by Sabrang Com.
#5. Pakistan: Violence Against women in the name of Honour
#6. Book on Cryptography by Simon Singh [reviewed]
_________________
#1.

[Narmada Bachao Andolan] PRESS RELEASE SEPT 23 1999

386 arrested in Dhadgaon as police clamp SEC. 144;
Many beaten up badly, dragged, without food

Three hundred and eighty six people (including 55 women and 11 children)
sitting on an
indefinite dharna in Dhadgaon (Maharashtra) were arrested today morning as the
authorities clamped Sec. 144. in this tehsil HQ. The police behaved in a
very bad manner,
beating and badly dragging the people, including women. Medha Patkar, who
is also
among those arrested, was also dragged by the police. Activists Ravi,
Ashish were
among those badly beaten.

The arrested people were presented before the Magistrate after the arrest.
The people
unanimously refused to take personal bond for the release but demanded that
the police
release them unconditionally as they had committed no crime. The people
have been
charged under Sec. 144, 188 of the IPC and 37/1/35 of Bombay Police Act. It
is not known
what orders the magistrate has made after the people refused personal bond,
but the
police are taking them to some unknown place, possibly Dhule or Aurangabad.

Just outside Dhadgoan, the police stopped for food but as there was not
enough food for
everyone, the arrested people moved on to the roads and blocked the road in
protest. The
people were still sitting on the road block as this note was being written.

It may be recollected that Medha Patkar and 300 people were arrested and
brought to
Dhadgaon, by the police late Tuesday night after an intense fight by people
of the
Narmada valley, as the waters reached neck deep level of the Samarpit Dal
at the
Domkhedi Satyagraha House and as waters entered villages destroying fields and
homes, for the third time this season. After these, hundreds of tribals
started moving
towards Dhadgaoan, and even as Medha Patkar and others were released, had
started an
indefinite dharna in Dhadgaon since yesterday evening.

The dharna was started with a demand that the Government initiate a
dialogue with the
people and answer their questions and to protest against the suppression of
the real
issues through the police actions against the satyagrahis who have been
challenging the
increase in back waters due to the Sardar Sarovar dam.

In a statement, Medha Patkar had said: "When people have been raising the
basic issues
and have been challenging injustice, the response of the State Government
was to
trivialize it with the police actions. This is not at all a law and order
problem but the
situation has arisen due to the wrong policies and actions regarding the
dam and
displacement on the part of Maharashtra rulers. It is the question of
tribals rights."

The people arrested are demanding that the Government stop the
cat-and-mouse game
with them of arresting and releasing and rearresting. People are serious on
their demand
and their resolve. The State Government cannot shirk from its
responsibility by hiding
behind the police. They demanded that the Chief Secretary or some such
functionary of
the State Government must come to Dhadgaon where the people were detained and
answer their questions.

OTHER ACTIONS

Meanwhile, the water levels in the Jalsindhi Satyagraha centre in M.P.
receded today
even as the tribals had braved and stood in 1.5 feet deep water for 24 hours.

About 50 people from Kerala, Bangalore and other places have reached the
satyagraha
centres today to express solidarity and support to the struggle.

>From Thailand, the people affected by the Pak Mun dam, who have occupied
>the dam site
since April this year, setting up de facto township with over 8000 people
demanding that
the dam be removed, have conveyed their solidarity to the Narmada struggle
and have
said that everyday at 7.00 pm, the people sitting at the Pak Mun dam are
offering prayers
in support of the Narmada struggle.

Nandini Oza, Sukumar M.K., NBA
-----------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE DATED SEPTEMBER 24 1999

Dear Friends,
Indefinite program to start at Dhule from tomorrow while all those
arrested are still in jail including Medha. More than 300 people from
the valley will be reaching Dhule by tomorrow. The demands of the
Dharna (sit in) are: 1. Release all those arrested immediately &
unconditionally. 2. Senior Govt official of Maharashtra to come for a
dialogue with the people. 3. The Govt. of maharashtra should survey the
damage caused by the submergence and pay damages. 4. Revoke the section
144 from Akrani taluka, are the main ones.

The program of 27th and 28th September has been postponed as it is not
likely that those arrested will be released by then and also the rest
will be on the indefinite sit-in at Dhule. The next date have not been
fixed. Please inform others urgently. Those who want to still come, can
join the indefinite program at Dhule. The contact at Dhule is Shyam
Patil, Dashrath Tatya and Neelimaben. Phone numbers are -02562-34519 and
37367.

The other development is that Additional Secretary from the Prime
Ministers office Ms. Aditi Mehta visited the jail and met everyone with
a letter from the PM addressed to Medha. She was accompanied by the
secretary of rehabilitation, Maharashtra and Dhule collector. The
meeting in the Jail lasted for two hours. The letter is as below:

*********************************************************************
PRIME MINISTER
New Delhi,
September 22, 1999.
[To:
Ms. Medha Patkar,
Narmada Bachao Andolan.]

Dear Medhaji,

I have been disturbed by the recent reports in the Media that you and
your colleagues in the narmada bachao Andolan have expressed the
intention to offer Jal Samarpan in an attempt to focus attention on the
rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) measures to be taken by the party
states to the Narmada dispute.

As you are aware, the R&R measures for the Project Affected Persons are
primarily the responsibility of the concerned States. However, keeping
in view the enormous human problems associated with large-scale
displacement, a number of mechanisms to monitor the implementation of
the R&R measures have been put in place. An independent Grievance
Redressal Authority headed by Shri.P.D.Desai, retired Chief Justice of
Calcutta, Himachal Pradesh and Mumbai High Courts is also reporting to
the Supreme Court on these measures.

No one can dispute that the displacement of people from their lands and
their communities leads to tremendous upheaval in their lives. Hence
there is a need for great sensitivity in conceptualising and
implementing appropriate R&R schemes. While it is not easy to do this
to the complete satisfaction of the affected people, we are trying to
ensure the best possible rehabilitation package for them. I assure you
that we will continue this process.

You will agree with me that the issue of the Narmada project is highly
complex and is not amenable to any facile solution. At this juncture,
we need the involvement of dedicated and continued social activists
such as you. I would appeal to you not to undertake any course of action
which could involve risk to your life or to the lives of your
colleagues.

With best wishes,

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-
(A.B.Vajpayee)
*********************************************************************

The rehabilitation secretary was bad and said, R&R can be done, there is
land, etc. People confronted him. A delegation of our Dhule support
group also met Ms. Aditi Mehta.

In the mean time, there is news in the times of India today that a
delegation had met the President and had appealed to him to use his
powers under the constitution to protect the rights of the tribals in
the Narmada valley- this reference was of the delegation that met him in
Delhi on 20th of this month. The news says that the President is said to
have instructed the Prime Minister's office to look into the matter and
this has caused Gujarat State lot of alarm and so there was a close door
meeting by Jay Narayan Vyas narmada minisrter, GOG, and it was decided
to send a delegation of NGOs of Gujarat to meet the President and tell
him to keep away from this issue as this is the Project that brings
water to the thirsty regions of Gujarat and that the rehabilitation done
is excellent. The report further adds that it was decided to send the
delegation under the leadership of Chunibhai Vaidya - a Gandhian and
other pro-dam activists like Mr.Gautam Thakkar of People's Union for
Civil Liberties, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce, etc.

It seems that the pressure on the President is working somewhat and it
should be on. The following needs to be done:

1. Maximum people from Gujarat should write to the President that there
is another view in Gujarat also. The people affected by the Project in
Gujarat like one lakh fifty thousand families in canal, thousands of
families particularly fisher people's families in the downstream, those
affected by Kevadia Colony, hundred and four tribal villages to be
affected by declaration of Shulpaneshwar Sanctuary - where the wildlife
displaced in the SSP submergence is to be rehabilitated, those to be
affected catchment area treatment, etc. are not even considered as
Project Affected People and there is no rehabilitation policy whatsoever
for them. Only those affected by the reservoir are considered project
affected and have a rehabilitation policy and their condition is
pathetic in the resettlement sites.

The waters are not going to reach the drought prone areas of Gujarat,
i.e. Kutch and Saurashtra but it is planned to divert the SSP waters to
sugarcane lobby, industrial lobby, big cities like Ahemdabad, Baroda,for
tourism development including water parks, golf courses, star hotels,
motels, etc.

2. Eminent people should continue to write to the President.

3. Many reports have been done by PUCL, PUDR, IPT, AIPRF,National
Women's Commission (NWC) on Maheshwar, NHRC on Bargi, etc. Many of these
organisations should be contacted and asked to send their reports with a
letter to the President. Bombay, Delhi centres should please follow
this up as we are completely short of hands and cannot do this from
here.

4. Many independent researchers have done research on the Narmada issue
and have published either dissertations or papers. They should be
contacted and appealed to send their dissertation or paper with an appeal
to the President.

And any other thing you can think of.

More later.
Nandini & Sukumar
[Narmada Bachao Andolan]
__________________
#2.

Economic and Political Weekly
September 11, 1999
Special Articles

Tribals, Missionaries and Sadhus:
Understanding Violence in the Dangs

by Satyakam Joshi

The above article can be downloaded at:
http://www.south-asian-initiative.org/epw/index.htm
__________________
#3.
The Telegraph
25 Sept.99

GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME/BOOK REVIEW 

BY RUDRANGSHU MUKHERJEE

Origins of Nationality in South Asia: Patriotism and Ethical Government
in the Making of Modern India
By C.A. Bayly, Oxford, Rs 575

C.A. Bayly is a historian who likes the idea of continuity. He prefers
to see colonialism not as a disruptive intervention in the Indian
economy and society but as a continuity of some of the traditions that
had been created before the advent of the British. He also highlights
continuities in his own work.

The concerns of this book, he says, go back to questions which he had
addressed in his first book, Local Roots of Indian Politics: Allahabad,
1880-1920, in which he wrote of networks of older institutions which
propped up the Congress in Allahabad. Nationalism had a pre-history. In
his next book, Rulers, Townsmen and Bazaars: North Indian Society during
the age of British Expansion, 1770-1870 , he made the suggestion that
some features of modern Indian civil society harked back to the
tradition of corporate rights and governance inherent in the
organization and ideologies of the traditional Indian merchant
communities. The third book, Empire and Information: Intelligence
Gathering and Social Communication in India 1780-1870 , analysed the
density of social communication and suggested this to be an important
factor in explaining how nationalism spread in a poor country with a low
level of literacy. Nationalism and colonialism could not be understood
as imports from the West. Both had indigenous roots.

At the heart of this book lies the text of the Radhakrishnan Lectures
delivered in the University of Oxford in 1996. Bayly looks at the
interaction between patriotism and nationalism. He uses the term
patriotism to "describe the sense of loyalty to place and institutions
which bound some Indians, even in the immediate pre-colonial period, to
their regional homelands." Bayly's use of the word is deliberately
provocative since he wants to push the study of Indian nationalism away
from where modernists and their critics have taken it. Historians
inspired by the national movement saw nationalism in India as the
harbinger of the modern nation-state. From the Eighties this position
has been attacked by scholars like Partha Chatterjee, Ranajit Guha and
Ashis Nandy who saw the Indian nation-state as the inheritor of the
centralizing and normalizing tendencies inherent in its European
exemplar since the time of the Enlightenment.

Bayly does not disagree with the view that Indian nationalism, its
organization and its ideology, was derived from Western models. But he
insists "the particularities of Indian nationalism have to be understood
in the context of Indian forms of social organization and ideologies of
good governance that pre-date the full western impact even if they, in
turn, had been modified by colonial rule". In his analysis, nationalism
has a longer history than colonialism.

Bayly shows that identities of and doctrines wider than the village, the
clan and the community were forming and reforming in immediate
pre-colonial India. This patriotism was aware even of parties and crises
in the British domestic political system - witness its reactions during
Warren Hastings's impeachment - and even when coloured by religion,
region or caste was pitched more broadly. These sentiments with the new
mediums of communication created the beginnings of oppositional politics
in India which pre-dated by two generations self-consciously nationalist
critiques of British rule. Bayly reinterprets the revolt of 1857 in this
light.

Bayly accepts now, under pressure from recent work done on the revolt,
that it was something more than a concatenation of grievances. He sees
it now as a set of patriotic revolts picking up on many themes of land
and kingship. This is a welcome acknowledgment of the work done by
Indian historians. Bayly very deftly weaves many of their findings and
conclusions into his own analysis. But very few of these historians will
accept Bayly's minimalization of the impact of British rule on Indian
society. If there is continuity anywhere it is in the debate. 
___________________
#4.
Responses to Kargil:
Pragmatists, Patriots, Nuke-nuts, Jehadis
Dharam Yodhas, Pacifists

Resources for Secularism No.6
August 1999

Compiled by Sabrang Communications Pvt. Ltd.
PO Box 28253, Juhu Post Office
Juhu, Mumbai 400 049, India
___________________
#5.
Pakistan: Violence Against Women in the Name of Honour
by Amnesty International

22 September 1999, 57pp.

Amnesty International
1 easton Street, London WC1X ODW,
UK
___________________
#6.
The Code Book : The Evolution of Secrecy from Mary, Queen of Scots to
Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0385495315/electronicprivacA

"For millennia, secret writing was the domain of spies, diplomats,
and generals; with the advent of the Internet, it has become the
concern of the public and businesses. One cyber-libertarian
responded with the freeware encryption program Pretty Good Privacy
(PGP), and Singh similarly meets a sharpening public curiosity
about how codes work.[. . .] Beginning with such simple ideas as
monoalphabetic substitution, which can protect the communications
of a boy's treehouse club but not much more, Singh underscores with
stories how codemakers and codebreakers have battled each other
throughout history. A tool called frequency analysis easily defeats
the monoalphabetic cipher, and encryptors over time have added the
Vigenere square, cipher disks, one-time pads, and public-key
cryptography that underlies PGP. But each security strategy, Singh
explains, contains some vulnerability that the clever code cracker
can exploit, an opaque process the author splendidly illuminates.
Instances of successful decipherment, as of Egyptian hieroglyphics
or the German Enigma cipher system in World War II, combine with
Singh's sketches of the mathematicians who have advanced the art of
secrecy, from Julius Caesar to Alan Turing to contemporary
mathematicians, resulting in a wonderfully understandable survey."

-- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist

___________________________________________
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