[sacw] SACW #2 (23 Sept. 01)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | Dispatch #2
23 September 2001
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

------------------------------------------

#1. Attack Terrorism's Roots & Talibanisation of Pakistan (M B Naqvi)
#2. Eminent Indian historian Mushirul Hasan speaks to
Manish Chand demystifying the "Islamic ogre", debunking popular=20
notions of jehad & ummah
#3. India's Shame: It peddles nuclear armed national security not=20
basic human security;
Starving Orissa family sells children.... (Anand S.T. Das)
#4.India: Hunger strike by activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan
defending rights of adivasis [indigenous people]
5. India - Book announcement: 'Communal Politics: An Illustrated Primer'
6. India: Congress, BJP and Secular Values (Ram Puniyani)

________________________

#1.

The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
23 September 2001

ATTACK TERRORISM'S ROOTS

M B Naqvi, writes from Karachi
A fair resolution of the Afghan problem will greatly ease the nagging=20
fear of the Talibanisation of Pakistan, though it may not finally=20
remove the threat. That can happen only when democracy without any=20
adjective or vested interest demanding prior guarantees returns. A=20
few free elections, without any gerrymandering by the administration,=20
will effectively eliminate the threat of religious extremism.

THE situation regarding the expected American action against Osama=20
bin Laden and the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan remains fluid. After=20
the Pakistan President's initial promise and later Pakistan NSC's and=20
Cabinet's approval, only the extent and particulars of the 'full=20
cooperation' remain uncertain. The question about its extent is=20
actually irrelevant. Americans have to finally decide on precise=20
objectives and means to be employed determining the logistics of=20
which requires time. They may also be giving finishing touches to the=20
international coalition required which might include Russia,=20
Tajikistan, India and others like NATO and the UN, despite Pakistan's=20
objections. Pakistani response is likely to be only a cog in this big=20
wheel. At a pinch, the US juggernaut could have ignored it. It could=20
have carried on regardless of what Islamabad would say or do.

As is shown by the unconditional acceptance of the US demands,=20
Pakistan is a country without options. Its refusal to cooperate in=20
letting the US ground forces use its territory for mounting an=20
offensive action against Taliban, in case the US is actually planing=20
it, could not have halted the US-led invasion; it would use other=20
means like airborne troops and a larger number of Russian and central=20
Asian forces. Pakistan would have lost the 'carrot' that seems to be=20
a part of the US offer. How much is this carrot worth? Initially it=20
might actually be no more than $2.5 to 3.0 billion PRGF loan and some=20
rescheduling of debts. But deft action in facilitating the 'war' can=20
possibly make it include the cancellation of outstanding loans of up=20
to about $10 billion. That is one's own assessment. But sacrificing=20
the 'carrot' could not have altered the denouement.

Irrespective of Islamabad generals' decision, liberal opinion in=20
Pakistan needs to engage the Americans and the rest of the West about=20
the commonly agreed goal of fighting terrorism -a shorter word for=20
Islamic Fundamentalism. Merely killing or capturing Osama or even=20
forcibly overthrowing the Taliban regime an option said to be under=20
active consideration of the Pentagon will be perceived by the rest of=20
the terrorist crowd in Asia and Middle East as an act of revenge.=20
They will make even bigger plans for bloodier carnages; mindless=20
violence can only breed more violence. Massive retaliation as a=20
deterrent is a delusion. Focus should be on preventing the formation=20
of the state of mind in which people take to terrorist methods. To=20
repeat, even forcible overthrow of Taliban will not resolve the=20
problem of religious bigotry, ultra orthodoxy and extremism, though=20
it might provide temporary relief. It might shift the place where the=20
terrorists congregate again and plan a 'suitable' retaliation of=20
their own. Remaining caught up in a cycle of avenging violence will=20
solve no problem. Thinking minds in the West must look at the roots=20
of the main problem and attack it there. Politically, terrorism is=20
primarily a blight for the country where they have seized power and=20
control the state. Ask the ordinary citizens of Afghanistan about how=20
much do their rulers care about their rights and freedoms and their=20
economic wellbeing. Ask their women and minorities. Terrorism in=20
practice is a nightmare for the common people in the country where=20
they seize power. The US is attacked for perceived injustice and not=20
for their own sake or for Islam.

Insofar as the people and government of Pakistan are concerned, their=20
wishes could not be a factor in the likely outcome of the coming=20
venture. But it is not hard to foresee what shape may the US action=20
now take: it can, and probably will, be an international (UN?)=20
invasion. But here a radical solution of the Afghan problem suggests=20
itself if a change of government in Kabul is contemplated that is=20
said to be under active consideration and which may go a long way=20
toward radically weakening the whole phenomenon of religious=20
extremism and terrorism. The idea is worth examining. But first a=20
word about its prerequisites.

Since Taliban government is not democratic its demise will not be=20
mourned by the populace. Whoever removes it must however not be=20
perceived by the Afghans and the rest of the world as a predator or=20
an imperialist nation acting in its selfish interests. All operations=20
must be in the name, and under the charge, of the UN. The UN=20
Secretary General must employ persons of highest integrity for=20
administering conquered areas and not the diplomats of big powers.=20
The UN should apply the solution it imposed on Cambodia: run=20
Afghanistan for about five years under a UN trusteeship; world=20
community must help in reconstructing the Afghan economy so that the=20
people can find jobs and feed themselves; the neutral administration=20
should disarm all the militants and people of weapons, especially=20
defanging the Taliban activists and troops; allow freedom to media,=20
individuals, groups and parties, to express political opinions and=20
engage in politics; and finally hold a free election so as to hand=20
back power to representative Afghans.

But what about terrorism?

This is certainly the fairest solution of the Taliban problem. But it=20
does not look like an absolutely certain way of finally getting rid=20
of all extremists; some will certainly remain and might reappear. But=20
this is the surest way of cutting the roots that sustain extremisms=20
of all kinds. Freedom and democracy radically discourage all=20
extremisms; free scope for political agitation and electioneering=20
radically abridge the scope and appeal of terrorism. Pakistan is=20
directly involved in the problem of terrorism; it is actually the=20
headquarters of the world Islamic Revolution. This is as red hot as=20
they come. But the country has had six general elections. In none of=20
which fundamentalists could gain, all told, more than 8 per cent of=20
national vote. Free election and political liberty are the best=20
antidotes to all terrorism phenomena. Only, other issues like the=20
perception of imperialist exploitation should not be allowed to creep=20
in. Can the Americans, angry and drunk with power as they are, manage=20
so much altruism and national self-abnegation as to give UN the=20
charge?

There is little of significance that any non-official Pakistani can=20
do. The initiative is in mainly official American hands and they are=20
great believers in the doctrine of deterrence: in their view the=20
threat or reality of massive retaliation holds the key to all=20
problems. That is a discouraging factor. But, one hopes, there are=20
keen and realistic minds in that vast rich land of America. May be=20
they can moderate their rulers' overwhelming reliance on violent=20
means to make people change their political or other opinions.

There is a footnote to be added to the bare bones of the idea one has=20
sketched here. There are far too many Afghan experts who propound a=20
mythology of the Afghans having a uniquely different political=20
methodology. It is supposedly consensus seeking through elders,=20
tribal sardars and religious divines. It climaxes over grand national=20
affairs into the Loya Jirga. The latter is nothing but a collection=20
of notables usually the welt-to-do tribal leaders owing allegiance to=20
the person or group convening it.

Scores of them have been held so far without any consensus emerging.=20
One more may add one more group with a militia to so many former=20
Afghan governments. Ordinary poor Afghans are routinely ignored in=20
the process. Loya Jirgas are now factually a dishonest politics of=20
collecting a particular kind of persons (notables) for ratifying the=20
proposals of an interested party convening them. Afghans are not all=20
that unique or different from the rest of mankind. Let ordinary human=20
rights be given them and they will behave normally and predictably in=20
evolving a temporary political consensus in each situation.

One more point. A fair resolution of the Afghan problem will greatly=20
ease the nagging fear of the Talibanisation of Pakistan, though it=20
may not finally remove the threat. That can happen only when=20
democracy without any adjective or vested interest demanding prior=20
guarantees returns. A few free elections, without any gerrymandering=20
by the administration, will effectively eliminate the threat of=20
religious extremism. One more thing may also be required: the US=20
government will have to resist the temptation of being the king-maker=20
in Pakistan, as it was in 1950s, 1960s and later right up to 1980s=20
for the sake of stability in a frontline state. Much wrong is=20
perpetrated in the name of strategy and stability.

Naqvi is a noted columnist in Pakistan.

_________

#2.

Tehelka.com

Eminent historian Mushirul Hasan speaks to
Manish Chand demystifying the "Islamic ogre",
debunking popular notions of jehad and ummah, and the
fashionable but dangerous theory of clash of civilisations
New Delhi, September 22

How do you see the US whipping up the spectre of Islamic fundamentalism?
There is no denying the existence of Muslim fundamentalism. Just as=20
there is no denying of Christian fundamentalism or Hindu=20
fundamentalism or, for that matter, Buddhist fundamentalism in Sri=20
Lanka. So, fundamentalism is of all varieties. Just as one doesn't=20
equate the events leading to demolition of the Babri Masjid with=20
Hinduism, or with the Hindu community, likewise, one should refrain=20
from equating such trends and tendencies with any particular=20
religion, the way Islam has been linked with all this.

The point to remember is that the essentialising of religions doesn't=20
help one to understand the dynamics of the problem. Nor does it help=20
one to arrive at a solution
to the problem. I don't think there is an Islamic injunction that=20
would endorse acts of violence directed against civilians. So, the=20
effort to try and discover the roots of terrorism in Islam is not=20
only an exercise in futility, but also a very dangerous exercise, at=20
that.

Why is there this pronounced tendency to find the roots of terror in=20
Islam and in not any other religion?
This has happened for reasons that not many people have spoken of.=20
There has been, for centuries, a conflict between Islam and=20
Christendom. Now, Christianity knew how to come to terms with Islam=20
per se. But it didn't know how to come to terms with political Islam.=20
And with the rise of the Ottoman empire, Christendom faced a huge=20
problem, which was aggravated by the character of political Islam.=20
Political Islam, in any situation, is linked with territorial=20
expansion of the Muslim community.

Now, if you come to the first half of the 20th century, the Western=20
hemisphere did all it could to thwart socialism and Communist ideas.=20
And with the self-destruction of Communism and socialism in the=20
1990s, the spectre of the "Other Enemy" had to be found. So, the=20
whole lot of theories, of which Samuel Huntington's book is a classic=20
exposition, were revived.

You don't believe in Huntington's "clash of civilisations" theory?
It's a monumental myth reminiscent of the Crusades. It's founded on=20
the superiority of the Western world. It not only reflects anxieties=20
towards the Islamic world, but also serves to preserve the so-called=20
superiority of Western culture and civilisation. There can be no=20
inherent clash between civilisations. The Arabs live in the US, and=20
the Arabs work in the US. The Arabs live in Europe and work in=20
Europe. The clash, if there is one at all, is a created one.

What is it about political Islam that inevitably puts it in=20
opposition to the West?
I am making a distinction between Islam and political Islam because,=20
now, some of the Arabs countries and some of the southeast countries=20
have wealth and resources. This is not something the West is=20
comfortable with. To begin with, the extremely important thing is=20
that the West thought that liberal democracies and democratic=20
democracies as expressions of national identity were at variance with=20
Islam and inconsistent with the needs of the Muslim society.

That's why Gamal Abdul Nasser had to be checkmated; likewise, the=20
democratic and socialist upsurge in Algeria, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon=20
has to be countered. Why? In order to preserve the status quo in the=20
Gulf region, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Arab-Muslim countries.=20
This is where you find the roots of anger. This is why you find that=20
large sections of the Muslim community all over the world are=20
seething with anger and discontent. The point is, you can quell=20
democratic aspirations for a while, but they are bound to surface=20
again and again.

Are you trying to say that even if there was no Osama bin Laden, the=20
West needed to invent him?
He is an invention! Bin Laden is an invention. He has been nurtured=20
by the United States. The Taliban is a creation of the West. No one=20
can justify terrorism. What is happening in Kashmir, the kind of=20
terrorism aided and abetted by Pakistan, is not acceptable. Nobody is=20
going to support it. But then how do you find a solution? The=20
solution doesn't lie in just targeting one individual or one=20
community or one country. Earlier, it was Saddam Hussein and Iraq.=20
Before that it was (Yasser) Arafat and the Palestinians. And now it=20
is bin Laden and the Taliban.

That's why there is this strategy of marshalling all your resources=20
and rhetoric to the destruction of the "Other". This is dangerous.=20
One thing is clear: you can destroy Osama and you can destroy the=20
Taliban, but if you think that by doing so, you have bought security=20
and eliminated terrorism, you are sadly mistaken. The retaliation=20
will only produce more Osama bin Ladens.

This approach of inquiring into the roots of terror has attracted a=20
lot of flak from the hardliner lobby, who see it as a veiled apologia=20
by intellectuals=8A
Just because it's advocated by intellectuals doesn't make the=20
exercise any less relevant. Sober reflection and long-term=20
perspective are what one needs in a crisis-ridden situation. To be=20
swayed by emotions or any kind of jingoism is no solution. The US'=20
sense of rage and anger is understandable, and the world identifies=20
with that rage and anger. But the world must go on. And the world=20
must go on with the Muslim communities and with the Arab nations. And=20
they must figure in your worldwide calculations, not always as=20
enemies but as those who represent a different culture, who have=20
different aspirations and who have desires. And if America wants to=20
fulfil the desires of its own people, it must have some sensitivity=20
toward the desires of the Arab people. What is uppermost in the minds=20
of the Arab people? It is Palestine. Surely, the creation of the=20
Palestinian state is a legitimate demand.

There are powerful emotions invested in the Palestinian cause, and=20
these emotions, mingled with a sense of profound injustice, are often=20
cited as one of the reasons for these attacks. Do you see any=20
concrete changes in the US policy in West Asia?
There will be a change of the US policy. Once the dust settles down,=20
there will be a fair amount of reappraisal. There will be reappraisal=20
about the invincibility of the US. And there will be introspection=20
about what has led to such violent expressions of deep-seated anger=20
by a group of people. And there will be a reappraisal about where the=20
US has gone wrong. I have a strong feeling that something good and=20
lasting might emerge out of this colossal tragedy.

Why is there so much hatred against America?
In a bipolar world, there were many targets against which the anger=20
of a group could be directed. Now the anger of a group is directed=20
against the US because the US is the player. It's like a cricket=20
team. The skipper has to take the rap for whatever the rest of the=20
team does. If the US does recognise the aspirations of the Arab=20
people in the way Clinton did with Israel and West Asia, I am sure=20
frayed tempers can be soothed.

The concept of a transnational Muslim community haunts the US and the=20
West. How far are these anxieties justified?
The idea of the ummah (community) is the greatest myth perpetrated by=20
theologians. There is no unified vision nor is there a single goal=20
among the Muslims that goads the Muslims to act in unison. The=20
Taliban, for instance, is seen as a retrogressive force by many=20
Afghans and many Muslims the world over, and not just by the rest of=20
the world. As enunciated in the Quran, the ummah a very progressive=20
idea. In its original form, it struck at the roots of parochialism=20
and nationalism. It was an effort to create a Muslim personality that=20
would not bear the lineage of race, language colour and other=20
parochial denominations. However, and this is the unfortunate part,=20
its construction in the later centuries was designed to foster not an=20
inclusive notion of Islam, but an exclusive notion. That's where the=20
distortion takes over.

There is this elaborate mythology of jehad being used by radical=20
Islamist groups to justify their existence and terror tactics. What=20
was the original meaning of jehad?
Like the ummah, the meaning and import of the word jehad has changed=20
drastically over the years. The Islamic worldview divided the world=20
between Dar-ul-Islam (the land of the pure) and Dar-ul-Harb (the land=20
of the enemy). In the Quran, there is a distinction between "the land=20
of the peace" and "the land of the enemy". But this distinction made=20
sense at a time when the Muslim communities were trying to evolve a=20
code vis-=E0-vis the rest of the world.

However, once Muslim expansion reached the heartland of Europe, the=20
distinction became difficult to sustain. Historically, jehad was used=20
rhetorically by the imperialist powers to justify their worldly=20
expansionist designs. In its original sense, jehad was more of an=20
inner moral cleansing for the community. This was called=20
jehad-e-Akbar (The Great Jehad). But now, the whole notion of jehad=20
is being used as an instrument for legitimising militaristic,=20
monarchic and dictatorial regimes. As for these radical Islamist=20
groups, jehad is being used as a cynical ruse to whip up religious=20
fervour for their cause.

Khomeini called America "The Great Satan" reflecting the popular=20
feelings in the Arab world. And the US calls bin Laden, and the=20
ideology he represents, America's "Enemy No 1". How do you see these=20
rival demonologies? And is there a way out of it?
The denigration of imperialistic power is at the heart of national=20
liberation struggles. For instance, Gandhi called the British Empire=20
the "Satanic Empire". As a way out of the perceived ideological=20
enmities, you have to create a counter-ideology by invoking the=20
liberal eclectic and Sufi strain of Islam. Any other course of action=20
is a recipe for disaster. There is a need for moral and ethical=20
cleansing, just as there is a need for creating a political order=20
that can only fulfil the aspirations of the people. The myth=20
propagated by the US and some Western powers that Islam and democracy=20
are not compatible has to be exposed and shown up to be dangerous in=20
its implications. On the contrary, the US should try to strengthen=20
democratic regimes in the Arab world. What is good for America can=20
also be good for the Persian Gulf.

There has been pervasive stereotyping of Islam and the Muslims as a=20
certain kind of people. Why do negative images proliferate in public=20
perception and in the media?
The negative images are there because of deeply entrenched biases and=20
a failure to understand a different culture and its belief systems.=20
But even as there are negative images, the dominant images after the=20
September 11 attacks are that of Pakistan offering all help to the US=20
in its war against terrorism. Not only Pakistan but most Central=20
Asian and Southeast countries offering all support to the US. And=20
most of the Arab nations rallying around this global war on=20
terrorism. The dominant image is that of Indonesian President=20
Megawati Sukarnoputri in Washington pledging her country's support to=20
US President Bush. It's important to project these images to expose=20
the myth of the jehad and the ummah. The concept of jehad, as has=20
been used by the Taliban, is not the one most Muslim societies=20
subscribe to. But myths stay despite live images. Popular stereotypes=20
proliferate despite objective evidence to the contrary. That's the=20
sad and distressing part.

The way Arab-Americans have been targeted in the aftermath of these=20
attacks, don't you think America's distrust of the "Outsider" will=20
only be accentuated in the coming days?
Increasingly, the Arab-Americans will occupy the same space as the=20
Turks in Germany. They will not be treated an outsider, but will also=20
be perceived as a byword for an entire constellation of negative=20
traits. On the other hand, such is the dynamic of the American=20
society that it can't afford to allow such tendencies to persist for=20
long.

As a liberal Muslim, how do you see all this impacting on Indian Muslims?
On one level, the Indian Muslim lives in security provided by a=20
secular regime. They enjoy and exercise the prerogative of dissent in=20
any democratic society. For instance, I, as a liberal Indian Muslim,=20
can talk to you freely and criticise the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)=20
government for its saffronisation agenda, and yet can feel secure=20
that such an airing of views will not affect our relationship. This=20
is a feeling shared by a large section of the Muslim intelligentsia.=20
On another level, cultural anxieties of Indian Muslims are heightened=20
by majoritarian tendencies, as reflected in attempts at rewriting of=20
history and the so-called "saffronisation of education". However, in=20
this war against terrorism, Indian Muslims are one with the Indian=20
government's point of view. This further explodes the myth of the=20
jehad and the ummah.

You spoke about something good emerging from this colossal tragedy.=20
Do you see America and the world changing after these attacks?
America will never be the same again. Neither will the world. There=20
has to a major realignment of perceptions. If that realignment=20
doesn't take place, there is nothing that can save us. There is=20
really no other choice. Americans will be more sensitised towards the=20
world. America is not the world. And the Americans better wake up to=20
this reality. They now carry the burden of translating this idea of=20
justice, not through military strikes, but through other means. The=20
US government feels that they are only accountable to the American=20
people. And, therefore, whatever actions they take enjoy their=20
support. Increasingly, from now on, they will be accountable for=20
their conduct to the international community as well. The actions of=20
the American government are going to be under increased global=20
scrutiny. And the Americans on the whole will be more interested in=20
the US foreign policy operations and their consequences.

America has called the war against terrorism "Operation Infinite=20
Justice". Don't you think the code name itself bristles with ironies?
Yes, the irony of America's claim to deliver justice can't be lost.=20
But let's hope they are serious and sincere this time and seen thus=20
by the rest of the world. It's a time for saner reappraisal and=20
introspection. America has to understand that, as the only=20
superpower, it has to behave in an evenhanded and just manner.=20
Justice is the key word here. Any other course of action will only=20
lead to meaningless death and destruction.

________

#3.

[ INDIA'S SHAME: Its peddles nuclear armed National security not=20
basic human Security;
If the below report doesn't wake up the Orissa Government and=20
India's ruling elites, nothing will. !

On the 17 September India's Supreme Court took strong exception to=20
the failure of most state governments to comply with its earlier=20
order relating to the identification of poor families for provision=20
of foodto them from its India's vast reserves of food that are=20
rotting in the silos.=20

On 3rd September, the court had given two weeks to the state=20
governments to identify families eligible for foodgrain distribution=20
under the "Antyodaya" programme (intended for the poorest of the=20
poor). Today, the bench was shocked to find that most state=20
governments were unable to provide evidence of having complied with=20
the order. The government of Orissa, where a wave of starvation=20
deaths have been reported during the last few weeks, came under=20
particularly sharp criticism for its "utter callousness" in this=20
regard. After hearing lame excuses from state after state, Justice=20
Kirpal described their responses as "a tragic comedy".]

o o o o o o o o o

The Hindustan Times (India)
23 September 2001
=20=20=09=20
NATION'S SHAME: STARVING ORISSA FAMILY SELLS CHILDREN
Anand S.T. Das
(Raipur, September 22)

Nothing in the world had prepared me for this. I had gone to=20
Badagamada in Balangir as a curious journalist, but I came back as=20
the owner of two children. Yes, reprehensible as the word is, owner.=20
For, a starving Oriya family had begged me to buy Paree, 4, and his=20
two-year-old sister Jemati so that the two children also wouldn't die=20
of hunger.

Life is cheap in Orissa. For both children I paid Rs 1,100 and 15 kg=20
rice - after some bargaining though - which would help the starving=20
family hold out for a few days more.
On September 10, I had gone to Badagamada to find out what had=20
happened to the three orphans of a tribal widow, Premshila Bhoi, who=20
had allegedly died of starvation in December.
I couldn't believe my ears when the orphans' uncle requested me to=20
take two of the three children with me. Dambaru, Premshila's=20
brother-in-law pointed towards the two emaciated little toddlers. As=20
I took in Dambaru's words, his wife Gangabali and some villagers=20
urged me to take the children.

Paree sat outside the home of his uncle and aunt, leaning against the=20
wall and staring vacantly at the people who had gathered there. Near=20
him sat Jemati.

"We are unable to feed these two children as we do not have enough=20
food for ourselves and our own children," said Dambaru. "Premshila's=20
eldest son Hrudananda, however, is old enough to care for himself,"=20
he said. Hrudananda is just 10.
"Will you sell me your nephew Paree?" I asked Dambaru, who tends the=20
three goats given to him at a 50 per cent discount by an NGO and=20
works as a daily-wage labourer. His wife and two young children also=20
work to supplement his income. His half-acre plot yields one paddy=20
crop a year - enough to feed his family of seven for one whole month.
My offer to buy Paree evoked a quick reply from Gangabali: "Please=20
take both because Jemati will die without Paree's company."
"Taking one will neither solve our problem nor can it change the fate=20
of these two helpless children," said a relative. An old woman=20
started crying: "Their parents died as no help came from the=20
Government."

Paree's uncle and aunt would talk about money only after I promised=20
to buy both children. I assured them that I would take away Paree=20
first and come back for Jemati.
Dambaru and the villagers asked me to purchase coconuts for the puja.=20
I had to fork out Rs 500 to the priest. Then I was asked to pay Rs=20
1,500 as a "parting gift" (bidakhi) before taking Paree with me.=20
However, we settled at Rs 600.
As Dambaru handed Paree to me, the womenfolk started crying, begging=20
me to feed the child well and to come again to take the other child.=20
"When you return, bring 15 kilos of rice for the family," requested=20
an old woman.

As we got into the taxi, I asked Paree: "Do you feel like going back=20
home?" "Naahin" ("No"), he said smiling.
On September 14, I returned to Badagamada. I had come with the rice,=20
which I gave to Dambaru. I had bought some new clothes for Jemati,=20
which her relatives made her wear. I told the villagers who had=20
gathered near Dambaru's house that Paree was being taken care of at=20
my house in Raipur.

The villagers set Rs 1,500 as Jemati's price. I bargained once again,=20
saying that Jemati wasn't a boy. They sold me the child for Rs 500.
As we drove towards Raipur I saw a faint smile on Jemati's face.=20
Perhaps it was in anticipation of meeting Paree. Or was it the=20
promise of regular meals?

_________

#4.

Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001
Subject: ACTION ALERT

Dear all,
Seven main activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan have been on an=20
indefinite hunger strike since
the 17th of September. Today is the 6th day of the hunger strike and the
health of the protestors is fragile.

The hunger strike was initiated to demand the land rights for adivasis in 7=
3
villages of Akrani tehsil, and also to demand the acceptance of the report =
of
Justice Daud Committee on the displacement and resettlement of Maharashtra
oustees of the Sardar Sarovar Project(SSP). Without these land rights, the
adivasis are being treated as encroachers. Thus, by not conferring the lan=
d
rights to the adivasis, the Governments can provide cash compensation to th=
e
adivasis who will be evicted from their lands rather than compensating them
with land as part of the mandatory land-for-land rehabilitation. This
underhanded tactic of the Government needs to be recognized and countered b=
y
all concerned about the fate of the adivasis.

In a meeting with the NBA representatives on September 19th, the Chief
Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh made a commitment in the presence of senior
cabinet ministers to fulfill the process of conferring land rights of adiva=
sis
in 73 villages in Akrani tehsil within 2 days. He also agreed to institute=
a
committee to enquire into the regularization of 'encroachers' in Nandurbar
district. The Government also announced that they would take a formal
decision within 15 days regarding accepting the Justice Daud Committee repo=
rt
on rehabiliation of Maharastra oustees.

But, the agreed upon two days are past and the Maharastra Government has no=
t
acted upon their commitments. It has instead issued a notice through the
police to break the fast in view of the failing health of the activists. Th=
is
should be seen as an attempt by the Government to slither away from the
committments it has made. Rather than trying to divert attention from the
matter by focusing on the failing health of the activists, the Government
should fulfill its commitments which will automatically ensure the good hea=
lth
of the activists besides doing justice to all the adivasis who are demandin=
g
the rights that are theirs.

In view of this situation, we strongly urge everyone of you to take necessa=
ry
action to ensure that the Government fulfills its commitments. The contact
information for the Chief Minister is given below:

Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh,
Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
Mantralaya, Mumbai.

Residence Fax : +91-22-3631446
Residence Phone : +91-22-3634950, +91-22-3633051
Office Phone : +91-22-2025151, +91-22-2025222
Office Fax : +91-22-2029214

You can find complete contact information for the Chief Minister's office a=
t:
http://www.sarkaritel.com/states/maharashtra/chief_minister.htm

You can find the complete contact information for all officials in the
Maharastra Govt. at: http://www.sarkaritel.com/states/maharashtra/index.htm

A draft letter is appended to this alert and could be used as a starting po=
int
for your own letter. However, we encourage you to write your own personal
message to the Chief Minister.

We request you to do the needful,
In solidarity,
Friends of River Narmada.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---
NBA Press Releases : http://www.narmada.org/pressrelease.html
Daud Committee Report : http://www.narmada.org/sardar-sarovar/daud.report.h=
tml
http://www.narmada.org/sardar-sarovar/daud.report.=
rtf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---

Honorable Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh,

I am quite puzzled by the behavior of the Maharashtra Govt. towards
the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) in relation to the issues raised by
them regarding the land rights of Adivasis in the Akrani tehsil of
Nandurbar district and the implementation of the Justice Daud
Committee report on the rehabilitation of SSP oustees of Maharashtra.

You had declared in a meeting with NBA on September 19, that you will
fulfill the process of conferring land rights to the Adivasis of 73
villages of Akrani tehsil within 2 days. This commitment was made in
the presence of several senior ministers of your cabinet as well as
the collector of Nandurbar and several other officials. In spite of
this clear verbal assurance from you there has been no indication that
you are committed to acting accordingly. The villagers of the Narmada
valley have been on a hunger strike for 6 days and yet you chose to
try their patience and resolve instead of acting to honor their rights
sanctioned in the Constitution of India, the Adivasi Self Rule Act and
the ILO Convention 107 to which India is a signatory.

This delay on part of the Maharashtra Govt. is most distressing and
is contributes to the continuing erosion of my faith in the government's
obligation to act in a just and humane manner. The people on hunger strike
are not looking forward to the police forcibly ending their fast, but to
the Government to act according to the law of the land to uphold justice.

I urge you to act immediately to fulfill your promises regarding
conferring the land rights of adivasis in the 73 villages of Akrani
tehsil, regularization of "encroachments" in Nandurbar District and
acceptance of the Justice Daud Committee report and act on what
logically follows from its findings - halt all further construction of
the Sardar Sarovar Dam till the resettlement and rehabilitation of the
oustees is fulfilled according to the stipulations of Narmada Water
Disputes Tribunal (NWDT).

I hope that my plea does not fall on deaf ears.
Sincerely,

_______

#5.

COMMUNAL POLITICS: AN ILLUSTRATED PRIMER
by Ram Puniyani

2001, 104pages | ISBN: 81-86219-32-3 | Price: Rs. 150

Published by
Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust
8 Vitthalbhai Patel House, Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110 001, India

________

#6.

Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 12:25:39 +0530 (IST)

CONGRESS, BJP AND SECULAR VALUES

Ram Puniyani

There have been debates time and over again about Congress and BJP both
being communal parties, time and over again. They are two sides of the
same coin, BJP's communalism is direct while Congress one is subtle are
some of the major formulations which have been thrown up in the recent
past. All this came the fore once again when MP CM Digvijay Singh came to
the defense of Astrology in the Universities, Mr. A.K.Antony's remarks
criticizing left for abusing the term Saffronization and the release of a
training booklet by Congress praising Lord Manu.

These are not isolated instances of obvert communal slant as far as
Congress is concerned. From 80s onwards there are more than enough
instances to cite about the collusion of Congress with communal forces.
Indira herself had used this card in a masterly manner in early 80s
leading the RSS to bank upon her as the major vehicle for Hindutva agenda
for the time being. Rajiv in a series of immature blunders went in to
legitimize the communal practices, beginning with turning the face away
from the plight of innocent Sikhs who were being massacred by Congress
goons (backed up by RSS in a subtle way) in the wake of Indira murder.
Later he did get the locks of Babri opened and let the Shilayanyas
performed under his stewardship. Narsimha Rao, before and after the Babri
demolition by the Sangh parivar combine, went to the extent that the SP
must have thanked him as only one thanks one's own ala mater. His Khakhi
shorts worn under the dhoti could barely be concealed during this tragedy
to the secular ethos of Indian nation.

Going slightly backwards in time, even in the earlier days, there was a
plethora of Soft to medium saffron elements in the Congress during its hey
days of anti British struggle. Many a prominent Congress leaders did
identify Indian nationalism with Hindu nationalism. It was only the
foresight and commitment of Mahatma Gandhi to Secular values that he could
pass the mantle of leadership of Congress and Prime Minister-ship to
Jawaharlal who was amongst the most genuine practitioners of Secular
politics in Congress.

During freedom struggle the secular forces were fairly scattered in
different political formations while those basing their politics on
religion (in real sense on hatred of followers of other religions) were
predominantly in Muslim League(Muslim Communalism) and Hindu Mahasabha-RSS
(Hindu Communalism). Amongst the secularizing forces were Ambedkar-Periyar
movement, Communist movement, socialists of various shades and Congress.
Though their politics differed from each other what can make them to be
clubbed together is their common commitment to the values of Liberty
Equality and Fraternity, their commitment to the concept of Secular
Democratic India. The attitude of different political formations and
social movements to secularism was not uniform. The Dalit movement
(Ambedkar, Periyar etc) and communists were uncompromising on the issue of
secularism, land reforms, social and economic justice while Congress and
shades of socialists though theoretically committed to these showed
different streaks of compromise as for as struggle for secular society was
concerned.

Despite independence and adoption of secular constitution by the
Independent India the communal elements within Congress flourished and
many of them occupied positions of importance and power in the state
apparatus in free India. And this did have important implications in the
approach and attitudes towards minorities and Dalits in the recruitment
and other social opportunities. Nehru correctly pointed out that though
the state is trying to be secular state the society is still under the
grip of priestly class and obscurantist forces. Partition tragedy
accompanied the Independence and with this the Muslim communal elements
left India in large numbers deflating the Muslim Communalism in India, its
leftovers continued to oppress the Muslim community internally and also
kept giving provocations to the Hindu communal forces. Meanwhile
Bharartiya Jana Sangh (BJS) came up as the electoral wing of RSS, whose
agenda is Hindu Rashtra the polar opposite of Secualr democratic India,
and BJS began its political carrier with the aim to supplement RSS project
of Hindu nation at electoral level. Its manifesto came up with opposition
to cooperative farming and need for Nuclear weapons for the country (early
50s). The polarization in society was insignificant as all said and done
Nehru's efforts for rapid industrialization of the country and promotion
of scientific temper did occupy mainstream of the social discourse. After
his demise compromise with secular principles became order of the day.
Meanwhile the RSS struggling to come out from the blemish of Gandhi
assassination found its messiah in Jaya Prakash Narayan who became
instrumental in washing off the sin of Gandhi murder from the fabric of
RSS and also gave its progeny BJS an enviable place in the Janata Party
and made them take an oath for communal harmony and national integration
on the Samadhi of Father of the Nation. But oaths are oaths, mainly to be
violated especially if they are undertaken under the electoral
compulsions. And BJS, which resurfaced as BJP after its cadres refused to
break their links with their alma mater, RSS, quickly resorted to the
communal agenda from late 80s and reaped a rich electoral harvest. To
consolidate its electoral base the communal riots played a major role and
in later period the 'acme' of BJP achievement came with demolition of
Babri masjid and the post demolition violence in which thousand lost their
lives and property worth thousands of crores was gutted.

BJP is the electoral front of Sangh parivar, which is spearheading the
decline towards Hindu Rashtra in the name of traditions etc. Incidently
most of the traditions upheld by SP are Brahminical one's having no place
for the Dalits and other weaker sections of society. BJP in pursuance of
this agenda has given an account of itself mainly in Gujarat, where the
laboratory of Hindu nation is being constructed, though in part only. In,
most of the communal violence, the 'hate minority ideology' is the root of
the trouble though the 'actors' of violence may not be aware of the deeper
Hindu Rashtra agenda for which they are mobilized. At the level of RSS
this agenda is visible in pure form but while coming to BJP it has to keep
expressing it in the terms, which are sugar coated and are aimed to appeal
broad sections of society. Its deeper agenda leads it to promote communal
politics and anti-minority and anti-Dalit moves in deeper sense. It is
pro-active in pursuit of its long term goal of Hindu Rashtra, abolition of
Liberal democratic space and raising question marks on the very concept of
Secularism. It has to do a tight rope- walk between democratic values and
the dictatorial values, which are the logical base of Hindu Rashtra, which
is akin to Islamic state type formations. That's why intermittent demands
for Presidential form of Govt., review of constitution etc. This is
accompanied by the orchestrated cry by its associate organizations for
scrapping the 'Western values ridden Constitution', back to the
Constitution, which has its base in Hindu holy scriptures (Manusmsirit
etc), a demand for restricting franchise to the educated only.(This is the
core of the constitution prepared by RSS and currently being discussed in
their bauddhiks and conventions)

Congress on its own has taken proactive repressive role in Kashmir,
North-East and vis-a-vis Khlistan, Sikh militancy etc., i.e. in situations
where it perceived the need to impose the hegemony of Indian state over
the regional ethnic aspirations. It has played a role of colluding force
in response to the Sangh Parivar (SP) inspired anti-Minority pogroms. It
has tread on the opportunist path with an eye on the electoral
calculations and in turn compromised with secular values left right and
center. Than is it the other side of the coin of the Hindu Rahtra agenda
driven SP, BJP? Is it B team of the Brahminical restoration of Hindutva
politics? The answer to both these is unequivocal no. No electoral
formation in India can be compared to BJP, which at core level is wedded
to anti-Democratic agenda of Hindu Rashtra as it is an electoral face of
SP. Congress at worst is a corrupt policeman accepting bribe from the
thief and dacoit (SP) to let them do their job peacefully. On its own, by
and large, it will not initiate the communal programs and pogroms while it
may not take a principled position against them also. It will let the
thief do its job. At best if the pressure of social movements makes it
clear that people will not accept any play with Indian Constitution or the
democratic and secular principle it can and will tilt in that direction.
Its commitment to Secular-Democratic is not of the variety of Dalit or
Communist movement but it can also not be equated with BJP, whose goal can
be nothing but Hindu Rashtra, a suppression of Human Rights of Dalits,
workers, Women, minorities and Adivasis.

And so there are Digvijay Singh's and AK Antony's in Congress who will
like to win over some of the 'Hindu' votes also to keep their power and
pelf going. And so there will be Sangma clones in Congress who will come
out with an incomprehensible formulation that India is Secular only
because of Hindu values! Congress is wilting under the pressure of
electoral ascendance of Hindutva. This was the same Congress who once had
someone called Mahatma Gandhi, probably the best vehicle of desirable
Hindu values who had to pay the price with his life for his uncompromising
conviction that India can only be a secular democracy and that religion is
a private matter though very precious guiding principle for him all the
same.

(Ram Puniyani is member of EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity, Mumbai)

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

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://groups.yahoo.com/group/act/messages/ . To subscribe send a blank
message to: <act-subscribe@yahoogroups.com> / To unsubscribe send a blank
message to: <act-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com>
________________________________________
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not
necessarily reflect the views of SACW compilers.