[sacw] SACW Dispatch | 21 Nov. 00

Harsh Kapoor aiindex@mnet.fr
Tue, 21 Nov 2000 20:19:14 +0100


South Asia Citizens Web Dispatch
21 November 2000
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex)

Tum aao gulshan e Lahore se, chaman bardosh 
Hum aaye subh e Banaaras ki raushni le kar
Himaalaya ke hawaaon ki taazgi le kar 
Phir us ke baad ye poochenge, kaun dushman hai?

Come, bearing the garden of Lahore on your shoulders 
We will bring the light of a Banaras dawn 
And the fragrance of the Himalayan air 
And then we will ask, who is the enemy?

- Ali Sardar Jaffri 

____________________________

#1. Pakistan: Man bites dog

#2. Pakistan: Education Reforms: Yet Another Sham

#3. Sri Lanka: Memorandum on the Massacre of Detainees at Bindunuwewa detention Camp and Recent Incidents in the Nuwera Eliya District

#4. India: Upcoming Women's Demo in Ahmedabad against the Hindu Far Right

#5. India: Secularism or Religion based Nationalism

#6. India: Vedic Astrology: An Open Letter to the Chairman, UGC

#7. India: Bombay film Festival: Hormony 2000. 26th Oct-3rd Nov.2000
____________________________

#1.

Dawn
19 November 2000
Cowasjee Corner

MAN BITES DOG

By Ardeshir Cowasjee

Progress must be applauded.

One military government, that of General Ayub Khan, encouraged by super-bureaucrat Altaf Gauhar (who sadly died last week - may his soul rest in peace) promulgated the draconian black press laws.

Another military government, that of General Pervez Musharraf, has decided to allow the press to print whatever it may choose to print. It has been left to the genius of the people of Pakistan to interpret in their own way what the learned have written and what the editors-in-chief many of whom are proprietor-editors, have deemed suitable and appropriate to print and publish.

Reproduced hereunder is a collection of what is known in local parlance as 'nuggets' culled from the national press.

Courtesy The Nation, November 15, 'Readers Column', letter from Sajjad Khawaja of Lahore:

"A photo published in national English dailies on November 12 depicts the Governor Punjab shaking hands with a foreign lady with her husband looking on. It is un-Islamic to shake hands with women. I request the CE to take due action against the Governor."

Courtesy The Friday Times, November 3, 'Nuggets from the Urdu Press':

"According to 'Khabrain', the prostitutes of Malaysia have started bathing in Coca-Cola because they have solid proof that it prevents AIDS. The paper reports that before they have sex with their clients, Malaysian prostitutes wash themselves with Coca-Cola because they think the bubbles in the drink prevents AIDS."

"According to 'Pakistan', transvestites in Hyderabad were attacked by traffic policemen who tried to sexually molest them. This happened at the annual urs of a local saint. The transvestites were attacked by drunk officers and were beaten in turn. The transvestites ripped off the policemen's clothes and then beat them. They also rained sandals on the policemen. The local people saved the naked traffic policemen."

"It is reported in 'Khabrain' that a race took place in Sikhpur between a donkey and a horse. The donkey won the three kilometer race and was garlanded with rupee banknotes. The owner of the donkey was carried triumphantly to Sikhpur accompanied by beating drums while the owner of the horse that lost the race could not bear the sorrow and lost consciousness. The following day he died. People offered up to Rs.5 lakhs for the donkey but his owner refused to sell him."

TFT 'Nuggets', November 10:

"According to 'Jang', the wealth of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif cannot be calculated by ordinary calculators, and advanced scientific calculators have to be used to do a mathematical tally of their money. This was stated by Mohammad Ali Durrani, Chief Organizer of the Millat Party. Durrani said that the party had to buy special advanced calculators to add up BB's and NS's assets in order to prepare a white paper on their corruption."

"According to 'Aussaf', a man in Chiniot visited a poor family and told them that he had found employment for their ten-year old son. He took the boy and handed him over to a maulvi and then disappeared. The maulvi immediately sodomized the boy, and when the child screamed people from the neighbourhood broke into the maulvi's place. They freed the boy and he ran away crying. But the maulvi waylaid the boy on the way home and kidnapped him. The police were informed, they mounted a search party, and recovered the boy."

"According to 'Khabrain', Mulazim Abbas, an attendant at a tyre shop on Circular Road, Lahore, had a fight with 18-year old Ishfaq. He felled Ishfaq to the ground and forcibly pumped air into his stomach through his rectum. He then ran away. Ishfaq was rushed to Mayo Hospital where his stomach was deflated."

TFT 'Nuggets', November 17:

"According to 'Jang', Pir Pagaro, head of the Muslim League (Functional) is reported to have said that he would never again 'lend' a prime minister to the government of Pakistan because 'his' PMs get nationalized and taken over. He added that those who have the name of God on their lips carry the Quran in one hand and a Kalashnikov in the other. It is they who bring a bad name to religion. He said his understanding with Nawabzada Nasrullah is limited to gupshup and the dining table."

"According to 'Pakistan', a cow gave birth to a calf and a python simultaneously in village Kaleki. Apparently, a baby snake entered the cow's womb at the very moment that she was fertilized by an ox. The snake grew along with the cow's embryo and when it was full term the cow gave birth to a calf along with a fully-grown python."

Courtesy 'Qaumi Akhbar', November 13, and Editor Ilyas Shakir, elected Honorary Secretary of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors :

Headlines - "For taking revenge, Cowasjee has influenced decision to demolish Mosque Aisha. Voice was raised about liquor stores of his relatives, therefore he used his influence. Cowasjee had put pressure on Mohtasib to order mosque demolition, which shall be resisted. Mohtasib Sindh issues directives on behalf of Cowasjee and Mehromal Jagwani. Some weeks back I spoke against Cowasjee at which he has flared up : Moulana Rashid Ansari. Under any circumstances, Khatm-i-Nabuwat conference shall be held in Mosque Aisha, North Karachi, today. Leaders of important religious organizations shall spell out strategy for resisting mosque demolition. Peaceful demonstrations shall be held, and if untoward incident occurs, administration shall be held responsible, leaders have said."

News item - "Leaders of religious organizations have said that Khatam-i-Nabuwat conference shall be held today at Mosque Aisha, Sector 11-B North Karachi, under any circumstances. And today evening, in an emergency meeting, central office bearers of Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam, Sipah-i-Sahaba, Pakistan Shariat Council, Sawad-i-Azam Ahl-i-Sunnat, International Khatam-i-Nabuwat, Tanzeem Ulema-i-Pakistan, Jaish Muhammad, Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami shall declare strategy for resisting mosque demolition."

"Deputy Secretary General of Pakistan Shariat Council and head of Tehrik-i-Ansar-ul-Islam, Maulana Abdul Rasheed Ansari, has said in his statement that in the eyes of Mohtasib, liquor stores are sacred instead of mosque. Mohtasib has issued directions on the advice of English newspaper columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee and minorities member of dissolved Sindh Assembly, Mehromal Jagwani. He said that his crime was that some weeks back he had taken a strong stand and made a speech against Cowasjee in a local hotel and asked Mohtasib Haziq-ul-Khairi to cancel licence of liquor stores established in Muslim neighbourhoods and the selling of liquor to Muslims."

"Mohtasib Sindh was given video film of liquor being sold to Muslims and was told that employees of these stores not only sold liquor to Muslims but these Hindu employees supply illegally to local five-star hotel. Cowasjee got out demolition order for Mosque Aisha by using his influence over Mohtasib Sindh, but licences for these liquor stores have not been cancelled; instead these stores remain open on Shab-i-Barat also."

"Moulana Abdur Rashid Ansari has said that today, November 13, in Khatam-i-Nabuwat conference, prominent religious scholars Maulana Manzoor Ahmed Chinioti, Maulana Fida-ul-Rehman Darkhuasty, Maulana Ajmal Qadri, Maulana Asas Thanvi, Maulana Qari Sher Afzal, Maulana Asfandyar, Maulana Ikram-ul-Haq Khairi, Qari Saeed Qamar Qasmi and other shall address the gathering. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Maulana Azam Tariq and Maulana Masood Azhar have decided to come to Karachi. We want a peaceful demonstration but if administration creates any trouble, then it shall be responsible for any consequences."

Needless to say, I do not know where the Mosque Aisha stands (or stood), I have not spoken to the Sindh Mohtasib, nor do I know Mr Jagwani, nor any of the honourable reverends, nor am I familiar with any of the reverential organizations mentioned in the newsitem. However, the mind does not boggle.

______

#2.

The News International (Lahore)
8 November 2000

EDUCATION REFORMS: YET ANOTHER SHAM

by
Pervez Hoodbhoy

On 31 October 2000, at a meeting presided over by General Musharraf and attended by provincial ministers and governors, the federal minister of education presented the new 'Education Sector Reforms Action Plan'. In the weary tradition of a dozen previous such efforts, this 70-page document sets impossible targets and makes impossible promises. Worse, it is an 'Action Plan' without clear specification of responsibilities, without a definite work-plan, and without a time-table by which progress could be monitored. It is a sham, clothed in the rhetoric of the Dakar Declaration, whose real purpose is to give the impression of policymaking when in fact the policy makers are clueless. 

But first, I have a personal gripe. Together with a dozen other people from all over Pakistan, I had agreed to become a member of the Education Advisory Board (EAB) that was supposed to help prepare the Reforms. I participated in its many meetings in the hope that it could make a difference. Not all these meetings were productive ñ primarily because they were chaired by education ministry bureaucrats who set the agenda ñ but they did result in certain important decisions. However, when it came to the finished product, the EAB may as well have not existed. Sad to say, the whole idea of having a consultative body was eyewash, a waste of time and effort. 

Now to the issues. The Action Plan has a gimmick -- compulsory primary education -- and it is unconvincing. The lionís share of the budget ñ a whopping 29 billion rupees out of a total of 52 billion rupees ñ goes straight into the bricks-and-mortar for 8504 new primary schools. While hungry building contractors and government officials responsible for awarding lucrative contracts will rub each other's hands in glee, the benefits to education are less certain. Study after study has established that the real problem in primary education is the lack of qualified teachers and, to a lesser extent, teaching materials. But teacher training gets only a measly 0.8 billion rupees, and even this is to be spent in the same old unproductive manner with a big chunk going on making hostels for trainee teachers. 

Astonishingly, issues of correcting wholesale corruption and school mal-administration find no mention either in the main document or the accompanying addenda, which call for a staggering 90,000 new schools without buildings, in addition to the 8504 schools mentioned above, at a cost of 8.6 billion rupees. How so many new schools can be properly administered within the present system boggles the mind. In his speech at the Army Education Corps conference held at the National Library in June 2000, General Musharraf claimed that ghost schools constitute 20% of all schools in Pakistan. If taken literally, this amounts to nearly 32,000 schools without students but whose ghost headmasters, headmistresses, and teachers draw real salaries. 

To be sure, there is no real source of quantitative data by which to confirm or refute the Generalís numbers, and the Army Education Corps compiled no report after its blitzkrieg on ghost schools in Punjab in 1998. Even so, few Pakistanis doubt that the education system is massively hemorrhaging from within. In this circumstance, does it make sense to build thousands of new school buildings while keeping intact a wholly dysfunctional system of administration, monitoring, and evaluation? 

Let us now come to the higher education section of this grandiose ìAction Planî. The target is to increase enrollment in universities by 100% over a period of 3 years, at a cost of 10.6 billion rupees. To anyone who knows the real problem of Pakistani universities, and knows the difference between the possible and impossible, this proposed target makes him or her cringe.

The abysmally poor quality of our universities owes primarily to the lack of qualified university teachers, rather than buildings or equipment. This is especially evident in technology and scientific disciplines. Even technical institutions such as GIK and NUST, which pay very high salaries, have failed in attracting quality faculty that could make them remotely comparable even with a B class university in Europe or the US. In our state universities the situation is much more acute. In such circumstances it is unreasonable and irresponsible to claim that enrollment can be doubled in 3 years unless some radical plan, such as importing university teachers, is simultaneously adopted. There is absolutely no indication of any such scheme.

New schools and teachers aside, if one is serious about improving education in Pakistan then action has to be taken in reforming curricula, examinations, and school textbooks. Unfortunately, the Action Plan is no different from previous ones on this score. The currently enforced curriculum contains absurdities sufficient to fill a little book. For example, Class-V children must ìlearn to identify rumour mongersî, to "make a chart of the administrative setup of the province", to "demonstrate by action a fear of Allah", and are asked to ìcollect pictures of soldiers and policemenî. The head of the curriculum wing of the ministry of education flatly refuses to delete any of these items. The minister of education seems pre-occupied with cutting ribbons and foreign visits, and has no time to fight this battle. 

The Pakistani system is strongly examination driven, but poor testing procedures, excessive memorization and widespread cheating have made exam results dubious indicators of student performance and learning. The Action Plan allocates a budget of precisely zero rupees for reforming the countryís 22 examination boards. The rationale given is that these boards, whose mismanagement and corruption is almost legendary, will realize the necessity for self-reform and fund their own rehabilitation. This mighty leap of faith reflects astounding ignorance of the situation, and would be funny if the consequences were not so tragic. 

Elaborate plans for restructuring and improving the examination boards ñ which requires a good bit of money ñ have existed for a decade, the result of careful studies by international teams of educational experts. The reports, representing years of effort and money, lie on the dusty shelves of the Ministry of Education, and no bureaucrat or well-heeled consultant has bothered to read them while preparing the new grand plan for reforming education. Instead, a sum of 50 million rupees shall be spent on a 'National Education Assessment System', NEAS. But pray, shall someone enlighten us as to why the 'National Education Testing System', NETS, has never functioned since its establishment a decade ago? Will substituting 'A' for 'T' really make the difference? Will it smell any sweeter?

One fears for a nation when a semi-literate bureaucracy, which couldnít care less about education, is empowered to write proposals for ìeducation reformî and make decisions that will determine the lives of the young and the yet unborn. One fears its policy makers, in office but too easily willing to be powerless. One fears, most of all, a people who seem not to care enough to act. 

The author is a professor of physics at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.
______

#3. 

Mon, 20 Nov 2000 
From: Institute of Social development [Sr Lanka]

MEMORANDUM ON THE MASSACRE OF DETAINEES AT BINDUNUWEWA DETENTION CAMP AND RECENT INCIDENTS IN THE NUWERA ELIYA DISTRICT

A consultative Meeting of Representatives of Political Parties, Trade Unions, NGOs and other Civil Organisations was held at Kandy on 10th November 2000, on the above to discuss and to make recommendations to restore normalcy in the area. 
At this Consultative Meeting organised by the Institute of Social Development ( ISD), Kandy, the participants exchanged views on the Bindunuwewa massacre of inmates and recent unfortunate incidents in the Nuwarea Eliya district which beside causing heavy damage to lives and properties have disrupted the normal life of many who are now in refugee centres due to fear and loss of homes. This has to some extent affected the cordial relationship that existed between the Sinhala and Tamil communities in the area. The meeting also explored ways and means of restoring trust and confidence among the people of the area. After open deliberations the following recommendations and decisions were arrived at:
(a)The meeting appreciates the swift action taken by the Government to control the situation from spreading to other areas. The meeting considers that the immediate task is to restore mutual trust and confidence between the two communities and to rebuild unity among the people in the areas.
(b). The meeting strongly condemns the massacre of unarmed detainees at the Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Camp and calls upon the Government to take early action to identify and punish the perpetrators of this inhuman attack. The failure to take punitive and preventive actions in the past with respect to similar incidents from Welikada to Kalutara is to some extent responsible for the Bindunuwewa incidents. Therefore, we urge the Government to take early action against those responsible for these attacks irrespective of their position or status. We therefore propose that an independent Commission of Inquiry with the participation of representatives of international organisations such as the International Commission of Jurists 
(c)The meeting recommends that special measures be taken at Kalutara, Boosa and other Prisons and detention centres where Tamil suspects are held or such detainees be transferred to places of safety. (d) The meeting condemns the unfortunate incidents which occurred in the district and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victims. The senseless action of certain unruly elements, who were irresponsibly aroused by some persons, have affected the lives and properties of several innocent families belonging to both communities and rendered some of them homeless. 
(e)The meeting calls upon Her Excellency President Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranayake to take necessary steps to restore normalcy in the affected areas and rehabilitate the victims of violence. An immediate assesment be done of the losses an action plan be drawn up to restore the lost properties and homes.
(f)The arrest of persons supposed to have damaged properties, without action against persons who indulged in similar activities at the time of curfew, will not assist in the restoration of normalcy though both Tamil and Sinhala people have been arrested. The meeting thus appeals that an amnesty be granted to all persons taken into custody by the Police so that conditions conducive for the restoration of normalcy could be created. within the shortest possible time. This is also important since several of these persons who have been implicated as responsible for creating troubles by their rivals may even be innocent, their release is warranted.. .
(C) The meeting further opposes the proposal of issuing special Identity Cards to the estate workers and residents.NICs and Letters of Identity issued by estate management are already there for the identification of these workers and residents. All that is now required is to expedite the issue of NICs to those who do not currently posses them. We wish to emphasize that the issue of special Identity Cards will be discriminatory. Furthermore, it could even be used to harass them by various groups. We would like to point out that there are other mechanisms that already exist to prevent outsiders from entering the estates. We, therefore, are of the opinion that the Government should not proceed with the above proposal of issuing special ICs for the estate workers and residents.
The participants assure their fullest co-operation towards creating better understanding between the communities and Government's efforts towards restoring normalcy 

Participants:

Mr.R.Yogarajan Mr.P.P.Deveraj M.P.
Ceylon Workers Congress 
Mr.T.Jegatheswaran M.P. Mr.O.A.Ramaiha
Ceylon Workers Congress General Secretary
Ceylon Plantation Workers Union

Mr.B.A.Cader Mr.T.Iyathurai
General Secretary President
Workers Front National Union of Workers

Mr.S.Murugaiha Mr.A.K.Velavan
General Secretary Uva Workers Aid Centre
All Ceylon United Workers Congress 

Prof.M.Sinnathamby Mr.Anthony Jeewa
Institute of Social Development
P.Muthulingam 
Institute of Social Development 

______

#4.

ALL INDIA DEMOCRATIC WOMENS ASSOCIATION CALL FOR DEMO IN AHMEDABAD

The All India Democratic Womens Association has given a call for a March to
Ahmedabad for pariticipation in a womens demonstration against the attacks
on minorities being sponsored by the Sangh Parivar and aided and abetted by
the State Government. The demonstration will begin at 2.00 p.m. on the 22nd
November from the Corporation office. All individuals and womens
organisations are welcome to participate. The proposed demonstration has
evoked considerable support and enthusiasm among many organisations and NGOs
who will be pariticipating. Tribal women from the Dangs will also be taking
part. Capt. Lakshmi (INA) and Smt. Mrinalini Sarabhai are some of the
prominent women who will be there. 
Subhashini Ali, Secretary, 
AIDWA

______

#5.

Free Press Journal (Bombay)
8 Nov. 2000

SECULARISM OR RELIGION BASED NATIONALISM

Ram Puniyani

Since the Demolition of Babri Masjid the concept of Secularism has come
under fire. Usually the debate is restricted to labeling the secularists
as saffron baiters, Hindu haters versus the communal nature of parties
operating in the name of religion. It is also asserted that secularism is
a foreign ideology and our founding fathers did not incorporate it in the
Constitution. Undoubtedly myths around the concepts of Secularism are
quite deep rooted in the popular psyche. 
To give a bit of historical backdrop Secularism as a social phenomenon
emerged with the rise of industrial society. From 17th century
discoveries of science were challenging deeply held beliefs and faiths
which were integral part of the broad canvas of religion. With onset of
industrialization process, the earlier ideological chains proved to be an
obstacle to the emerging industrial society. It is in this canvass that
one has to understand the loosening hold of clergy and some religious
traditions on the totality of social life. It also should explain the
newly developing social norms around modern rationality, ideas from
science i.e. the beginning of 'age of reason', in contrast to 'age of
faith', the former having its roots in science and technology and later in
the clergy's interpretation of the word of God, clergy's imposition of
ideologies in the name of religion, clergy's use of emotions of people for
smoothening impact of the exploitative social system of feudalism. One is
using the word clergy in a broad sense and is applicable to all religions
in some or the other way.
Historically this process first occurred in West, where the above
phenomenon manifested itself in the struggle between church and the state.
Church stood for the declining social force of feudal lords, stood for age
of faith, while the emerging 'nation state" (vis-a-vis kingdom) stood
for 'age of reason', for industrialization process based on science and
technology, concretizing newer social relations (industrialists and the
workers) in the process. This process assumed the undisguised role of
displacing some aspects of religion and faith (especially those
manufactured by clergy) to the private lives of people, freeing the social
life from the constraints of orthodoxy and obscurantism towards the
emerging realms of modernity.
Secularization process relegates the role of clergy to the background,
while many other components of religion survive in modified form after the
occurrence of process of secularization. If one is to regard religion as
morality, code of conduct to fellow human beings and ethical values there
is no contradiction between secularism and religion.
As such the word secular has been derived from Latin Sacculum, meaning
span of time or age and by implication present age or the world. Thus the
word secular stands for this world or concerned with the affairs of this
world. As such its antonym is 'other worldly' and not religion or
religious. In societies which have undergone secularization (overcoming
the yoke of faith imposed by priestly class in the name of religion),
religion does survive and state does not "oppose peoples faith and place
of religion in personal life and in its place in 'social space'.

In West, secularization process accompanied the industrialization process
and the culmination of this was diminution in the authority of the Church.
Since India was not free, the movement for secularization was very slow.
Secondly since the clergy was scattered, society was plural and the state
was colonial, the secularization process went on in opposition to the
overall rule of the colonial masters who were ruling in alliance with the
landlords, who in turn were the patrons of priestly class in a broad
sense.

The secularization of society though slow, its political reflection in the
freedom struggle and the National movement was dominantly secular, though
communal, Religion based (Muslim and Hindu) nationalisms also came up in
the wake, as a reaction to the growth of secular nationalism. Initially
secularization process got reflected in movements of Jotiba Phule and
Ramaswamy Naiker. Secular nationalism was finding expression in the
politics of Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Nehru, while Muslim
communalism found expression in the politics of Muslim league and Hindu
communalism was manifested in Hindu Mahasabha and RSS. Some of the Hindu
nationalists were the part of Indian National Congress as well. The
social base of Muslim communal nationalism was Muslim jamindars and
moneylenders; similarly Hindu communal nationalism had its base in
Brahmin, Bania (caste level), Hindu Jamindar & Moneylenders (at class
level). Secular nationalism was rooted amongst the nascent
industrialists, newer professionals and, vast sections of peasantry and
the low castes. It was the aspirations of these classes, which gave
strength to freedom struggle and were translated in the foundation of
Indian State and its constitution. 
As seen above India won freedom under the aegis of secular democratic
movement led by Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma
Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad. Secularism was the guiding
principle of anti-colonial struggle and it thereby succeeded in mobilizing
vast sections of this plural society. It was recognized as an essential
element of platform for multi-religious, multi-caste, and multi-ethnic
population of the subcontinent, as an instrument for unity of the people
at large. It did act as a vehicle for transmitting the common aspirations
of people oppressed by colonialism-landlordism into a broad, powerful
movement targeted at achieving independence from the clutches of colonial
masters.

After Independence, Constituent Assembly was formed which, framed the
constitution. It was diverse in nature, and represented the aspirations of
majority of population. The constitution thus framed after prolonged
debates made different provisions, which formed the base of secular
practice. These secular provisions of Indian constitution right from the
beginning are i) State by itself shall not espouse or establish or
practice any religion, ii) Public revenues will not be used to promote any
religion, iii) the state shall have the power to regulate any economic
financial or other secular activity associated with religious practice
(Article 25 (2) (9) of Constitution), iv) every individual person will
have, an equal right to freedom of conscience and religion.
Jawaharlal Nehru explained it thus "What it means is that it is a state
which honors all faiths equally and gives them equal opportunities; that
as a state, it does not allow itself to be attached to one faith or
religion, which then becomes the state religion..... In a country like
India, no real nationalism can be built up except on the basis of
secularity... narrow religious nationalisms are a relic of the past age
and no longer relevant today." 
Thus though the constitution makers had not used the word secularism
in the explicit fashion, Indian constitution was standing on the firm
foundations of secular principles. The constituent assembly debates made
it amply clear and secular principles were enshrined in our constitution.
Says Gandhi; " Religion and state will be separate. I swear by my
religion, I will die for it. But it is my personal affair. The state has
nothing to with it. The state will look after your secular welfare,
health, communications, foreign relations, currency and so on, but not
your or my religion. That is everybody's personal concern". 

(Dr. Ram Puniyani is Secretary of EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity)

______

#6

Economic & Political Weekly
October 14-20, 2000

Vedic Astrology:
An Open Letter to the Chairman, University Grants Commission [India]

Satya Deva

Dear Sir,

It has been reported that the UGC is considering the starting of a course in 'Vedic astrology' in universities with its support. This raises some important questions relating to the following: (i) The status of astrology and, in particular, Vedic astrology; (ii) The nature of rituals associated with it, and (iii) The social impact of such education. It is hoped that answers or clarifications will be forthcoming.

(i) It is often claimed that astrology is a science. However, a science must have a theoretical framework consisting of testable hypotheses, and evidence that these hypotheses are supported by systematically collected facts, either through induction or non-falsification. Astrology has no such hypotheses. It is made up of religious and magical beliefs, for example, that Saturn (now known to consist of rings of frozen gases) is a demon who can harm us, and that the power of demons can be kept in check through practices like 'yajnas'. Those who seek to legitimise astrology by calling it a science forget that a science, being falsifiable by definition, is subject to change, while the glory of religious beliefs lies precisely in their changelessness. Beliefs which constitute astrology admit of no change. Also, while a science is commonly accepted, astrology is not acceptable to followers of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and reformist Hindu sects like the Arya Sam!
aj. Swami Dayanand and his followers also maintain that astrology is non-Vedic, for it finds no mention in the Vedas: starting a course on 'Vedic astrology' would only be an attempt to establish its Vedic basis through mere labelling.

Beliefs related to astrology, for example, that solar and lunar eclipses happen when the sun and the moon are engulfed by the demon Rahu, one is absolved of sins by bathing in the Ganga at a certain astronomically determined time, and marrying a girl born under the influence of Mars can lead to the husband’s death, are now being given up by many Hindus also. How far is it justified for the UGC to legitimise and revive them through a university course? Is the UGC entitled to the role of a prophet?

(ii) One of the objectives of the proposed course is to impart training in conducting occult practices like yajnas. Yajnas are magical practices: according to the Oxford Reference Dictionary magic is "the supposed art of influencing the course of events by the occult control of nature or of the spirits", 'witchcraft'. Thus, the 'putreshti' yajna is believed to lead to the birth of a son. While yajnas were prescribed by Samhitas, the earliest parts of the Vedas, they were criticised by Upanishads, the latest, thus indicating development of thought. Gautam Buddha and Jain prophets came down heavily on yajnas, particularly those prescribing animal sacrifice, such as the 'ashvamedha' yajna, which involves the burning of a horse. The development of sciences like mathematics and astronomy began to cast more doubts on old astrological beliefs. Modern science, of course, sees no relationship between, say, a yajna and the birth of a son. How would we describe the legitimation and reviv!
al of magical rituals laid down in some old Hindu scriptures, but criticised and rejected by later philosophers and scientists, except as Hindu fundamentalism?

(iii) The role of knowledge in society tends to become more important with every passing day due to the advance of science and technology. Does the UGC perceive no contradiction between propagating nuclear physics and agricultural biotechnology on the one hand, and superstitious beliefs and practices on the other? If the former will help development, the latter will surely help to keep us backward. Even today fertile pieces of land are sometimes not ploughed for fear of spirits, diseases like chicken pox are often not treated for fear of a goddess, old women are burnt as witches, children of others are abducted and sacrificed to help the birth of a son, and a child's potential not allowed fruition due to an astrologer’s injunctions. Legitimation and dissemination of such beliefs through higher education can only strengthen them. Will this exercise not be similar to that by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan? How far is this endeavour justified, especially in view of the '!
fundamental duty' enjoined on every citizen by Article 51(A) (viii) of the Constitution "to develop the scientific temper"?

Yours very truly, Satya Deva 

______

#7.

FILM FESTIVAL: HORMONY 2000.
26th Oct to 3rd Nov.2000
Dear Friends,

In these days when misconceptions about "other" communities abound and
hatred for "others" rules the roost, we need to remind ourselves of the
basic goodness of people belonging to all communities. To highlight some
of these themes we, Center for Study of Society and Secularism and EKTA,
Committee for Communal Amity, with assistance from Nehru Center, are
organising a film festival which will be held at Lecture Theatre
,Basement of, Nehru Planetorium, Worli, Mumbai.
One of the remarkable feature of the Festival is the film from Bangla
Desh, Chitra Nadir Pare (Quiet Flows River Chitra), with English
subtitles. This is on the theme of persecution of Hindu Minorities in
Bagla Desh. Only this film will be shown at SNDT Juhu Campus. We also
propose to show a play in English, adapted from a Malayalam story, written
by Mr. Vaikom Bashir Ahmed, an outstanding Malayali Litterateur.

Inaugural function of the Festival will be held at Nehru Center on 26th
Nov, 6 P.M. Ms. Shabana Azami will be inaugurating, Mr. H.K.Hangal will be
the Chief Guest and Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer will Preside over the
function.

The schedule of the film festival is as follows:-
The festival will be inaugurated on 26th by Ms. Shabana Azmi.
1. Sunday, 26th Nov: Garam Hawa (M.S.Sathu).
2. Monday, 28th Nov, Padosi (V. Santaram).
3. Wednesday, 29th Nov: Salim Langade Pe Mat Ro (Saeed Mirza)
4. Thursday 30th Nov. Mammo (Shyam Benegal)
5. Friday, 1st Dec, "Me Grandad 'ad an Elephant" (Ramu Ramanathan)
6. Sunday, 3rd Dec. Tamas (Govind Nihlani): This will be from 3 P.M.
After the first 3 episodes we will have a beak for 1/2 hr. followed by two
remaining episodes

On 2nd Dec. Saturday, we will have the screening of And Quiet Flows the
River Chitra by Tanvir Mokammel from Bangla Desh at 6 P.M. J.H. Mini
Auditorium, Sir Vithaldas Vidyavihar, SNDT Women's Uni, Juhu Tara Rd.
Santacruz(W)

The films will be by and large introduced by one of the persons associated
with the film and will be followed by a discussion coordinated by
sociologists and film critics. The changes in schedule if any will be duly
intimated.

(Inquiries- Asad: 6630065, 6149668(10 A.M. -6P.M.), Bharat-6340704,
3805635, Ram-5723522,R,5768763,O.)

Kunda P.,Bharat, Asad.
______________________________________________
SOUTH ASIA COMMUNALISM WATCH (SACW) is an
informal, independent & non-profit citizens wire service
run by South Asia Citizens Web (http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex)
since 1996. Dispatch archive from 1998 can be accessed
at http://www.egroups.com/messages/act/
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