[sacw] SACW #2 | 21 May 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire Dispatch #2 | 21 May 2002
http://www.mnet.fr

__________________________

1. Pakistan: Hudood Ordinance review is regime's litmus test
2. India: open letter to the President of India (PS APPU)
3. India: Excuse Me, Ms Jaitly - A 'Secular Fundamentalist' Replies=20
(Bina Sarkar Ellias)
4. India: 1984 and 2002: The Real Issues (Uma Chakravarti)
5. India: Myths About Muslims And The Gujrat Carnage (Dr. Asghar Ali Engin=
eer)
6. India: Appeal - No Material But Money For Gujarat Carnage Victims
7. USA: Fight Back Against The Hindu Right! - Join the Protest (New=20
York, 21 Apr)

__________________________

#1.

The Daily Times (Lahore)
Monday, May 20, 2002 Main News

Editorial: Hudood Ordinance review is regime's litmus test

Delayed though it is, we cannot but welcome the statement by Dr S M=20
Zaman, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) that the=20
Hudood Ordinance is not perfect and there are "human errors" and=20
"faults" in it. This fact has been evident to the liberal sections of=20
this society, including human rights activists, from the very=20
inception of this ordinance. Not only that, the human rights movement=20
has since been clamouring for a repeal of this law. Activists,=20
nongovernmental organisations, women and minority rights activists,=20
journalists and jurists have consistently pointed out, using multiple=20
forums - articles, research papers, talk shows, plays, even street=20
agitation - that this ordinance is flawed and its inception and=20
implementation was, and remains, politically motivated. So far, they=20
have been waiting for Godot. The state has continued to penalise=20
innocent people on the basis of this law and thousands of Pakistanis=20
- women, children, Muslims and non-Muslims alike - have suffered in=20
the past two decades because of it. What is surprising, even as we=20
consider it a positive development that the CII should now be=20
prepared to review the law, is that it should, until now, have=20
ignored the criticism against this law and its horrific consequences=20
and instead actively opposed even a review of it let alone seriously=20
considering repealing it.
We are, therefore, right in concluding that Dr Zaman's statement puts=20
a big question mark on the CII's opposition in the past to any=20
movement on the issue. Of immediate importance, however, is the fact=20
that the CII seems to have agreed to scrutinise the ordinance "to=20
identify all those parts which are not in accordance with [the]=20
Qur'anic teachings and Sunnah". The question really is: Who would=20
determine what is in conjunction with the Quran and Sunnah? The issue=20
can hardly be overemphasised given the specific and literalist=20
exegeses done in the past by the state on the basis of these two=20
sources of Islamic jurisprudence. Moreover, what happens if the CII=20
does indeed find x number of things wrong with the ordinance, meaning=20
not in conformity with the spirit of Islam? How would that affect the=20
hundreds of women already punished under this law, those who are=20
undergoing punishment on its basis or who are being tried under it?
Are we also not justified in thinking that other laws, notably the=20
Blasphemy Law, which has done much harm, may not be in conformity=20
with the true spirit of Islam given the manner in which that law was=20
conceived and has since been implemented? After all, if we are told,=20
after two decades, that the Hudood Ordinance may not be as holy as it=20
was made out to be, could that logic not apply to other retrogressive=20
legislation too?
This also opens up the issue of the status of women in this country=20
on a broader scale. Dr Zaman is also a member of the Permanent=20
Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission was set up under a=20
presidential ordinance and mandated to review all laws relating to=20
women. Before this Commission, there was another one headed by a=20
former Supreme Court judge, Mr Nasir Aslam Zahid. That Commission,=20
too, came up with extensive recommendations in regard to the status=20
of women and the laws affecting their lives. None of those=20
recommendations could ever be implemented. In fact, the chairperson=20
of the present Commission was also a member of the previous=20
Commission. Everyone in this country knows why those recommendations=20
could not be implemented. There was resistance from the CII=20
representative on both Commissions and the governments lacked the=20
political will to implement the recommendations for fear of a=20
backlash from religious bigots. It is time to open up those issues=20
and take them up. The CII also needs to review its opposition to=20
those recommendations and take an integrated approach while reviewing=20
the Hudood Ordinance.
For too long has this country suffered under retrogressive=20
legislation. It is about time that the trend should be reversed. In=20
any case, it will be in keeping with General Pervez Musharraf's=20
avowed agenda to institute reforms in this country. He has already=20
broken through the power of the clergy and should now press ahead=20
with his offensive. The CII's new thinking can be used by the=20
government to its advantage. There will of course be some protests=20
from the rightwing, which is not prepared so far to lose the=20
political space the state allowed it to encroach upon far in excess=20
of what is its due, but then all policy reviews bring protests from=20
entrenched interests. The government, therefore, has to see what is=20
right and stay the course. The process it has begun must not be=20
allowed to derail. Let this be a litmus test for the regime's claim=20
of being progressive.

_____

#2.

The Statesman (Calcutta)
21 May 2002
Editorial and Perspective

Fit case for President's role
In an open letter, PS APPU urges
KR Narayanan to remember his oath to uphold the Constitution as the=20
situation in Gujarat calls for his immediate, effective intervention

Dear Mr President,

Today I hang my head in shame as an Indian, a Hindu and a a former=20
member of the Indian Administrative Service. In the short span of=20
eight weeks the evil men who rule Gujarat, shielded by their patrons=20
in Delhi, have succeeded in besmirching beyond repair India's=20
reputation as the classic land of tolerance and moderation. Hinduism,=20
despite its built-in iniquities, has been noted for its catholic and=20
eclectic beliefs.
By sustained, ill-conceived and diabolic indoctrination spread over=20
several years the Sangh Parivar has achieved a measure of success in=20
converting the mild mannered Gujarati into a violent, reckless=20
fanatic. As a result of persistent, insidious propaganda the simple=20
Adivasis have been turned into mindless tools of the saffron brigade.=20
The poison has spread wide and deep, posing a permanent threat to=20
public peace and social harmony. The most ominous development has=20
been the blatant misuse of the state machinery for carrying out=20
well-planned plunder, mayhem and murder. After visiting many places=20
in the state, Julio Ribeiro, a retired police officer of outstanding=20
ability and impeccable integrity, observed that the state not only=20
sat back and allowed the massacres, but also actively encouraged and=20
participated in the mayhem.
Mr Ribeiro has given several details which confirm the gross misuse=20
of the official machinery. To the eternal shame of the permanent=20
services, the majority of IAS and IPS officers collaborated with=20
their political masters. The few who discharged their duties=20
conscientiously and acted in accordance with the Constitution and the=20
law were subsequently transferred. It is difficult to imagine greater=20
perversity and cynicism in the management of public affairs. As one=20
who has spent more than three decades in the IAS and held several=20
important posts, including that of Chief Secretary, I feel ashamed=20
that the great majority of senior administrators and police officers=20
failed to stand by the Constitution and fearlessly uphold the rule of=20
law.
Mr President, Gujarat has been burning for over eight weeks. Even the=20
presence of a strong Army contingent has failed to restore peace. It=20
is obvious to any impartial observer familiar with Indian=20
administration that there can be no hope of peace as long as Narendra=20
Modi remains the Chief Minister. His replacement by another leader=20
from the same party will serve no useful purpose.
The need of the hour is to dismiss the state government, dissolve the=20
Assembly and enforce President's rule. A tough and impartial Governor=20
of outstanding ability should run the administration for a=20
considerable period. Then only can there be any hope of restoring=20
peace and putting the state back on track.
When the Prime Minister reminded the Chief Minister of Raj dharma=20
there was a glimmer of hope that things might improve. But Mr=20
Vajpayee's pronouncements at Panaji soon belied that hope. Now it is=20
abundantly clear that the Prime Minister will not recommend the=20
imposition of President's rule. He has taken the fatal decision to=20
defend the indefensible.
Since the commencement of the Constitution there have been more than=20
100 occasions when Article 356 was invoked to impose President's=20
rule. There is much stronger justification to impose President's rule=20
in Gujarat than on any one of those occasions.
In the present situation, the President of India is not as helpless=20
as some people are inclined to believe. Under Article 75(I), the=20
President appoints the Prime Minister. The power to appoint includes=20
the power to dismiss. Under Article 78, the Prime Minister is=20
required to furnish information that the President may call for. I am=20
sure that the Prime Minister must have discussed Gujarat affairs with=20
the President on a few occasions. However, guided by narrow partisan=20
considerations, the Prime Minister is in no mood to recommend the=20
imposition of President's rule. The situation calls for immediate,=20
effective intervention by the President.
May I request you, Sir, to recall the oath you took before assuming=20
the office of President? You had solemnly affirmed that you would=20
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. The President is the=20
sole guardian of our Constitution. The time has come for you to act=20
in accordance with that oath. Under our Constitution, the President=20
can act only on the advice of the Prime Minister. But if the=20
incumbent Prime Minister connives at the continuing violation of the=20
Constitution, the President has the power to appoint another Prime=20
Minster willing to give him the right advice.
It was, indeed, very thoughtful on the part of the founding fathers=20
to have made the President of India the Supreme Commander of the=20
Defence Forces.
Mr President, our country is facing the most serious crisis since=20
Independence. The long-suffering people expect you to rise to the=20
occasion and wisely and resolutely exercise the authority vested in=20
you under our Constitution. Your countrymen will support any drastic=20
step you decide to take to defend the Constitution.
Pardon me, Sir, if this letter sounds a little presumptuous. I would=20
crave your indulgence, as it is the outpouring of an anguished soul.
With respectful regards,
Yours faithfully,
PS Appu

(The writer is a former Chief Secretary of Bihar and Director of the=20
Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.)

_____

#3.

Indian Express May 20, 2002
http://www.indian-express.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D2968

EXCUSE ME, MS JAITLY
A 'SECULAR FUNDAMENTALIST' REPLIES

[ In response to Jaya Jaitly's "Secular Parivar, the New
Fundamentalists." Indian Express May 16, 2002
http://www.indian-express.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D2742 ]

By Bina Sarkar Ellias. Editor, Gallerie

"India=92s ordinary people do not wear badges in order to gain
concessions, oppress their fellow citizens or declare their superior
morality, but a small group of self-proclaimed 'secular' writers have
decided for the rest of us what secularism is and how wretched are
those who do not subscribe to their definitions."=97Jaya Jaitly Indian
Express May 16, 2002.

With this declaration, Jaya Jaitly, leader of the Samta Party proceeds
to crush every vestige of human value left in this country today.
Although she has singled out Madhu Kishwar, Arundhati Roy and Tarun
Tejpal for her ire, she has in effect attacked the human values of the
very same ordinary people she alludes to.

As an ordinary citizen of India, I can only respond to Ms Jaitly=92s
article with anger and sorrow. Anger, because her concern lies only in
preserving the credibility of a disgraced government, and in attacking
those in the media who make it transparent. And sorrow, that =93leaders=94
such as her have no concept of the depth of injustice and bestiality
unleashed on innocent people. Whether the horror of Godhra, or the
carnage thereafter in Gujarat, whether the massacre of Sikhs in Delhi,
the Bhagalpur blindings, Bhiwandi or the Bombay riots and consequent
bomb blasts, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh, the single truth
is that all of these were once ordinary people, who died at the behest
of vested interests.

The truth is, that governments facilitate such carnage simply because
they have the power to do so. The truth is, the ordinary citizens, that
Ms Jaitly speaks of, are used as fodder to realize their ends. The rot
begins from the top. It is in the seats of governmental and industrial
power. In the fashionable homes of has-been Maharajas and socialites=97in
these areas of munificence, the circle of hate begins unfurling and
percolates into the insecurities of the middle class where it is made
complete. The poor do not matter=85 They are mere pawns in the grand
game.

In fact, Ms Jaitly further adds, =93Let us have the honesty to admit the
sad truth that Hindus and Muslims attacked each other violently through
a series of events that fuelled each group=85=94 She is here, =93honestly=
=94
propagating lies, deliberately being simplistic to waive off the checks
and balances. The business of accountability.

The sad, honest truth is that Muslims attacked the coach in Godhra after
they were humiliated and provoked into rage by a swagering bunch of
hoodlum Kar Sevaks. The truth is that the act of burning the coach is to
be absolutely condemned. But the horrific truth is?thereafter, a state
government, instead of punishing the guilty, strutted on the streets of
Gujarat to ensure that the police and the mob of wild-eyed Hindus
wrecked, raped, murdered, burnt, chopped people=92s hands and feet,
urinated on them, destroyed minority homes and shops with cylinders and
petrol bombs (how truckloads of these were collected in so short a time
is anybody=92s guess)=85the truth is that the government =93allowed=94 and
endorsed the carnage for over two gruesome months.

The truth is, when the government is looking for a fig leaf to cover its
nakedness, it feels threatened by the smallest breeze blowing its way.

If Ms Jaitly thinks the three writers in question, =93oppress fellow
citizens with their superior morality=94 and are a threat to the =93real=94
secular fabric of a nation which as it were, is increasingly
neo-fascist, then, as an ordinary citizen I would like to tell her that
she couldn=92t be more wrong and her years of experience in positions of
leadership have taught her nothing. She has knowledge of how to hold on
to power but no wisdom to understand the essence of life, ethics and
truth.

More oppressive to us as ordinary citizens is that the RSS and Hindu
Vishwa Parishad rewrite history in text books, when a government creates
nuclear bombs, when peoples=92 money in crores is used for arms
proliferation, instead of for basic human needs, schools, healthcare and
clean drinking water in our villages, when a genocide of the scale we
are experiencing can only elicit hollow mumbles from the government.
When in fact, the state is the instrument of destruction, when Defense
Minister George Fernandes can be brazen enough to dismiss the enormity
of the carnage with a chillingly cynical, =93There have been rapes
before=85=94 And when all these men of power can get away with murder,
nothing can be more oppressive than being at their mercy.

We, the ordinary citizens are to blame for electing a government whose
sinister and insidious agendas are now eating into our ordinary lives.
And we must suffer for it. But not for long, Ms Jaitly. As you know the
old weather-worn good sense: you can fool some of the people some of the
time, you can fool all of the people some of the time but not all of the
people all of the time...

____

#4.

1984 and 2002: The Real Issues
by Uma Chakravarti

Now that the Parliamentary debate on Gujarat is over it is time to=20
address some arguments that came up in the last few weeks which=20
tended to trivialise the seriousness of the tragedy that we are=20
living through. Jaya Jaitly's article 'Remember 1984' (Indian=20
Express, 7-3-2002=20
http://www.indian-express.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D687) is an=20
example of the deflection of the real issues that should have been=20
debated in Parliament but were lost in the allegations and counter=20
allegations traded by the parties against each other. The article=20
used the reports of civil rights groups and the sustained resistance=20
by the victims of the pogrom, the citizens of Delhi and others who=20
refused to give up the search for justice to make the specious=20
suggestion that somehow 1984 cancelled out Gujarat 2002. While she=20
recalled the PUCL-PUDR report, Who Are the Guilty, of 1984 she paid=20
no attention to the series of reports published on Gujarat=20
documenting the Gujarat genocide. It is perverse to obscure the=20
killings which have taken place in Gujarat and focus entirely on=20
killings in 1984. For Jaya Jaitly the horror of killings were merely=20
a matter of one upmanship between political parties. Her singular=20
focus on the denial of the right of the Congress party to indict the=20
BJP government in Gujarat betrayed a total lack of sensitivity=20
towards the suffering and the loss of life of the victims of a pogrom.
Among the most tragic -- and farcical aspects of the genocide in=20
Gujarat is that it has been reduced to a slanging match between=20
political parties-- a cover for justifying the unprincipled political=20
manouevres that they are engaged in. The point Ms. Jaitly needs to=20
pay attention to is what civil rights groups are saying today about=20
the complicity of the state in Gujarat in allowing the mobs to have a=20
free reign for 72 hours so that a genocide could take place. The same=20
civil rights and civil society groups have also reported on the=20
unparalleled nature of the violence in Gujarat in post-Independent=20
India: apart from the systematic killing and arson there has been the=20
brutality of the sexual violence unleashed upon women, a way of=20
terrorising the muslims. And that is not all. Fascist attacks were=20
mounted, first on those people who acted as any citizen of this=20
country ought to act -- providing safety to their muslim neighbours,=20
and thereafter on those segments of civil society who were attempting=20
to stem the unending violence; and most frightening of all the=20
display of patriarchal communal violence in the stripping and killing=20
of hindu women who had married or sheltered a muslim man. The account=20
of Geetaben who was stripped and killed and her body left on the=20
roadside is meant to send a chilling message to all 'hindu' women of=20
their fate if they cross the boundaries set by the self appointed=20
guardians of 'hindu' women's morality. Instead of condemning these=20
events it is tragic that no less a person than the Defence Minister=20
-- whose brief should include defending the people of this country,=20
not excluding its women -- sought fit not only to recall 1984 but=20
also violence in the past (there was nothing new in the attacks on=20
women in Gujarat said the Minister) in order to dismiss the horror of=20
the sexual violence documented by a women's team on the floor of the=20
Parliament. And while the politicians scored debating points even two=20
months after the killings had begun in Gujarat there were reports of=20
threats to rape women streaked across the walls of those who had fled=20
to refugee camps if they tried to return to their homes (Indian=20
Express, 1-5-2002).
If the indictment of the state for its complicity in the killings of=20
the Sikhs in 1984 by civil rights groups is deemed credible for Ms.=20
Jaitly, then by the same criteria a parallel exercise exposing the=20
complicity of the state in Gujarat cannot be ignored. For civil=20
rights groups it is the culpability of the ruling party that controls=20
the state organs in abetting and being complicit in mass murder which=20
is the issue at stake, whether it is killings in 1984 or in 2002.=20
Taking a selective and opportunistic stand on state supported=20
genocide to suit political careers while claiming the high ground of=20
civil rights will fool no one and is most condemnable.

_____

#5.

(Secular Perspective May 16 - 31, 2002)

MYTHS ABOUT MUSLIMS AND THE GUJRAT CARNAGE
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer

A friend came from Gujrat and began discussing measures about=20
bringing Gujrat to normalcy. Among others his suggestion was that it=20
could not be one sided. What he meant was unless Muslims give up=20
their separatist instinct and accept modern education and Indianness,=20
things cannot change and Hindu psyche will remain anti-Muslim. I=20
argued with him at length that it was not so and it was mere Sangh=20
Parivar propaganda. After listening to my arguments it appeared he=20
was convinced. Thus how necessary it was to propagate truth as=20
against myths.

It is my conviction that unless those committed to secularism and=20
communal harmony work hard and round the year we are not going to=20
meet communal challenge. The RSS has been doing its propaganda=20
against all religious minorities in general and against Muslims in=20
particular for close to 77 years with consistency. The RSS pracharaks=20
work round the year without any break. As against this the=20
secularists wake up only when there is screeching headlines in=20
newspapers about major communal riot and become complacent again=20
until next riot takes place.

At least after the Gujrat carnage the secular forces should take=20
communal challenge very seriously and start working consistently. It=20
will also be necessary to train cadre for the purpose. Most of the=20
Hindus including considerable number of secularists the myths=20
propagated by RSS. I would like to throw light on some of these myths=20
in this article.

The first and foremost myth is that Islam teaches violence and=20
separatism and that it justifies violence against non-believers and=20
as our own Prime Minister put it "wherever there is a Muslim=20
population in the world, the countries live under threat of militancy=20
and terrorism." It is obvious that it was not Prime Minister but the=20
RSS pracharak speaking which was constantly drummed into his ears=20
since his RSS pracharak says. It is a matter of shame that the Prime=20
Minister of a country speaks against a section of his country's=20
population. It is clear condemnation of all Muslims, not a section of=20
Muslims, as he later claimed.

A section of Muslims - albeit a small section - could be separatist=20
and there are separatists in all religious communities including the=20
Hindus. A section of Ahom Brahmins of Assam is part of ULFA (United=20
Liberation Front of Assam) which is demanding separation of Assam=20
from India. It is a great myth that all Muslims of India in=20
pre-partition days demanded partition of India. In fact a small elite=20
Muslims, to safeguard their interests like feudal lords, a section of=20
educated middle class, high government officials and a section of big=20
businessmen were, in fact, responsible for partition of the country.=20
Even a section of Hindu elite led by Mahasabha believed in Hindu=20
Rashtra and talked of Hindus and Muslims being two separate nations.

Even Sikhs became very militant and demanded Khalistan. How can then=20
Shri Vajpayee could dub entire Muslim community as separatist and=20
causing militancy. Obviously he said so with a political motive and=20
as part of Sangh Parivar agenda. It is also to be noted that Pakistan=20
was not an Islamic project. No Muslim religious leader of any=20
prominence supported Pakistan. Jami`at al-Ulama-i-Hind (the=20
organisation of Islamic theologians of India) led by Maulana Husain=20
Ahmed Madani vehemently opposed two nation theory and countered=20
Jinnah's arguments by extensively quoting from the Qur'an and hadith=20
(Prophet's sayings and doings). Maulana Madani even wrote a book=20
Muttahida Qaumiyyat aur Islam (Composite Nationalism and Islam) and=20
effectively argued against Jinnah and refuted all his arguments for=20
Islam being the basis of nationalism.

Pakistan was elite Muslims' project in which Muslim masses were not=20
involved, as they saw absolutely no benefit. And precisely for this=20
reason they did not migrate to Pakistan. And Islam was certainly not=20
responsible for creation of Pakistan. Even a fundamentalist=20
orgainsation like the Jamat-e-Islami led by Maulana Maududi did not=20
support Jinnah's Pakistan project as Jinnah conceived of a secular=20
and not theological state.

Another myth popularised by Sangh Parivar is of jihad. It is=20
interesting to note that the word jihad has not been used even once=20
in the Qur'an for war. It has been used in the Qur'an for utmost=20
efforts to spread good and contain evil. For war it used the word=20
qital (which literally means to kill). The Prophet has said that the=20
best form of jihad is to speak truth in the face of a tyrant ruler.=20
It is true that some Muslim rulers legitimised their wars of conquest=20
by projecting them as jihad. But neither Islam nor Muslims can be=20
blamed for it. Those greedy rulers alone should be blamed for it.

Islam stresses peace and not jihad in the sense of war. Qur'an=20
permits defensive war and never aggressive ones. It requires Muslims=20
to lay down weapons as soon as the adversary does so and never to=20
pursue the enemy and never to kill any non-combatant. These things=20
are well known to any serious theologian of Islam. Islam is basically=20
religion of peace though, like other religions, it was misused by=20
certain vested interests.

Another myth is about darul harb and daul Islam (i.e. about abode of=20
war and abode of peace). There is nothing in the Qur'an about such=20
concepts. These concepts were developed by the 'Ulama when people in=20
other countries began to embrace Islam. When some people embraced=20
Islam and were persecuted by the rulers the 'Ulama called it abode of=20
war but also developed another category namely Darul aman (abode of=20
peace). A country where though Muslims were in minority but were free=20
to practise their religion was described as abode of peace and it was=20
duty of Muslims to live in peace and harmony with other non-Muslims.

Most of the 'Ulama in India maintained that India is an abode of=20
peace and Muslims should live peacefully with Hindus. In 19th century=20
when the Indian National Congress was formed Maulana Qasim Ahmed=20
Nanotvi issued fatwa urging upon Muslims to join Indian National=20
Congress and fight against the British rule along with their Hindu=20
brothers. He also collected more such fatwas and published them under=20
the title of Nusrat al-Ahrar (help for the freedom fighters). Thus it=20
is totally wrong that Muslims consider India as darul harb (abode of=20
war) and Hindus as kafirs.

Many Ulama and sufi saints have even accepted Hindus as ahl al-kitab=20
(i.e. people of the book) since Qur'a describes Jews and Christians=20
as people of Book as they possess Torah and Bible respectively which=20
are revealed books from Allah. Many sufi saints like Mazhar=20
Jan-i-Janan of Delhi argued that since Hindus possess Bedas (Vedas)=20
containing truth they are also people of the book. Mazhar Jan-i-Janan=20
argued that Allah has promised in the Qur'an that He has sent His=20
guide to all the nations then how can he forget India, a great nation?

Another myth about Muslims is that they refuse to go for secular=20
education and prefer only madrasa education and madrasa education=20
makes them religious fanatics. This hardly stands any scrutiny. No=20
middle class persons send their children to madrasas; it is only poor=20
Muslims who cannot afford secular education send their children to=20
madrasas. In fact the cause of lack of secular education is poverty,=20
not religion. But so popular is this myth that madrasa education is=20
ascribed to religious fanaticism and orthodoxy rather than to=20
poverty. One will hardly find middle class children of doctors,=20
engineers, accountants, managers, etc. in these madrasas. However,=20
unfortunately the size of middle class among the Muslims in India is=20
very small. Today dalits and Muslims are almost comparable as far as=20
poverty is concerned.

With better economic situation secular education will naturally=20
increase among Muslims. But communal prejudices are so strong and=20
communal violence has become so widespread that whatever economic=20
prosperity a small section of Muslims achieve is destroyed. And then=20
these very people accuse Muslims of sending their children to=20
madrasas. It is in fact communalists who throw Muslims out of=20
mainstream again and again. Muslims are struggling to join the=20
mainstream.

Another related question is of reforms. It is also related more to=20
lack of liberal secular education than to religious fanaticism. As=20
liberal secular education spreads among Muslims religious reforms=20
would also become acceptable. Today, there is much more education=20
among Muslim women than fifty years ago and hence there is mounting=20
pressure from these educated Muslim women for necessary reforms in=20
Muslim personal law like abolition of triple divorce in one sitting=20
and regulation of law of polygamy. However, it is Gujrat like=20
carnage, which pushes Muslims back and make them reluctant to accept=20
reforms. More the security of life and property and more will be=20
acceptability for social reforms. When ones house is on fire, as one=20
Muslim put it, one cannot draw up the plans for interior design and=20
beautification.

And supposing Muslims are as fanatical as the Sangh Parivar projects=20
them to be, can one kill them in mass for that reason? Can Gujrat=20
carnage be justified on these grounds at all? If Sangh Parivar is=20
really sincere for pushing liberal secular reforms among the Muslims=20
they should do everything possible to make them feel quite secure in=20
India and also make sincere efforts to economically uplifting them by=20
providing opportunities in services, professions and businesses.

Educated Muslims should also do serious reflection and make sincere=20
efforts to promote consciousness for modern education, economic=20
upliftment and liberal reforms. They should promote the spirit of=20
dialogue with secular and liberal Hindus to remove stereotypes and=20
misunderstandings both about Muslims and Islam. Reforms are=20
necessary, communal riots or no communal riots. It is for the benefit=20
of the community. No community can survive intellectually in the=20
modern world without reform and change.

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
9B, Himalaya Apts., 1st Floor,
6th Road, Santacruz (E),
Mumbai:- 400 055.

_____

6.

NO MATERIAL BUT MONEY FOR GUJARAT CARNAGE VICTIMS

Dear Friends,

Joint Appeal from Citizen's Initiative Ahmedabad, Shanti Abhiyan
Vadodara, Aman Ekta Manch Delhi.

Please do not collect any clothes, medicines or any other material.=20
The Aman Ekta Manch has decided to collect only cash. Hence please=20
collect only money for relief and rehabilitation.

In Delhi cash donations can be made to members of AMAN EKTA
MANCH >against a receipt. Contact address: c/o Jagori, C-54 (top=20
floor), >South Extension, Part II, New Delhi 1100049.

Telephones: 91-11-6257015 and 91-11- 6253629. Email:
peopleforpeace@r... l.com

Cash donations can also be made to Jaya Srivastava of AMAN EKTA MANCH
by contacting her at Telephone: 91-11-6523395 and 91-11-6523417.
In Ahmedabad cash donations can be made to members of CITIZENS
INITIATIVE against a receipt.

In the name of SAHAJ and sent to Sahaj, 1 Tejas Apartments,
53 Haribhakti Colony, Race Course, Vadodara 390007, India.

Those who wish to give aid to rural relief camps in two of
the worst affected districts of Gujarat - Panchmahals and Dahod -
should make their checks/drafts in the name of ANANDI, and send them to
Anandi, Akshardeep A Apartment, G 3, Jalaram 3, opposite Setu Pani,
University Road, Rajkot 60005, Gujarat

In the name of Action Aid India Society (for Aman Samudaya),
and sent to Action Aid, 71 Uday Park, New Delhi 110049. India.
(note: Only Indian checks can be accepted by Action Aid. Foreign
checks/drafts should only be sent to any of the other three addresses
given above)

ELECTRONIC MONEY TRANSFER

Name of Account: St. Xaviers Social Service Society

Account number: 01100050714, State Bank of India main branch (0301),
Bhadra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001, India
Swift Number: SBININMBBA204

All Indian donations are tax exempt under Section 80 G.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

In Delhi

Kiran Shaheen or Malvika (Action Aid India. Telephones: 91-11-6510254 / 351
Vani Subramanian (Saheli). Telephone: 91-11- 6854504.

In Ahmedabad
Bhavna Ramrakhiani (Ahmedabad Community Foundation/Citizens
Initiative)Telephone: 91-79-7910654. Mobile: 98240-34650. Email:
nagrikpahel@h...

Sejal Dand (Anandi/Citizens Initiative): 91-79-6859794. Email:
anandi@j...

Stalin K.(Drishti/Citizens Initiative): 91-79- 6840002. Email:
drishtiad1@s...

A joint appeal issued by CITIZENS INITIATIVE (Ahmedabad), AMAN
EKTA MANCH (Delhi) and SHANTI ABHIYAN (Vadodara)

_____

7.

[ If you are in New York do come and join the below mobilisation=20
against the Hindu Right !]
o o o

Tuesday, May 21st 5:30 PM
65 5th Ave,
(b/w 13 and 14 Streets)
New York City

FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE HINDU RIGHT!
Protest Their Protest! Show Them That We Won't Be Intimidated

The Hindutva brigade has decided to protest and potentially disrupt the
reading of Shashi Tharoor's "Riot: A Love Story" by Shabana Azmi. The event=
is
scheduled for Tuesday 21st May at the New School and emails on the Hindutva
networks indicate that their people will be there in force.

It is critical that we confront them. Even while the violence in Gujarat
continues, the Hindutvavadis have the gall to come out on to the street. It
points to their mood and the confidence they feel. To not protest their
presence would be a huge mistake. To protest them and stand firm on the
principles of secularism would provide critical support to those in India w=
ho
are working tirelessly to fight the emergence of a confident fascism in Ind=
ia,
not to mention its importance in our struggle against the right wing here i=
n
the US.

We Urge You to Come Out for the Counter Protest in Large Numbers. Come to t=
he
Protest. Bring a Friend. And ask your friend to bring a friend!

--=20
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

SACW is an informal, independent & non-profit citizens wire service run by
South Asia Citizens Web (http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex) since 1996.
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.
\\|//\\|//\\|//\\|//\\|//\\|//\\|//\\|//\\|//\\|//|//\\|//|//\\|//|//\\|//|=
//\\|//|//\\|//