[sacw] SACW | 20 Mar. 02

Harsh Kapoor aiindex@mnet.fr
Tue, 19 Mar 2002 21:31:32 +0100


South Asia Citizens Wire - Dispatch | 20 March 2002

* For daily news updates & citizens initiatives in post riots=20
Gujarat Check: http://www.sabrang.com

__________________________

#1. Dealing with the jihadi Frankenstein (Siddharth Varadarajan)
#2. 19th Update (Sonia Jabbar)
#3. VHP Fascists to tour country with Godhra victims' ashes =3D>=20
Objective create terror &mayhem
#4. A group of women, formed a human chain to prevent the possible=20
confrontation between the youth and police at Mecca Masjid,=20
Hyderabad, India
#5. BJP'S Riot - Free India (Asghar Ali Engineer)
#6. M.N.Roy on Fascism (N.D.Pancholi)
#7. Covert Riots And Media: What's so spontaneous about an attack=20
that leaves only the seventh shop on a crowded street burnt down?=20
(Barkha Dutt)
#8. The mad scientists of the Hindutva laboratory called Gujarat=20
create a deadly pathogen
(Priyanka Kakodkar)
#9. Delhi University discussion on "Re-writing of Indian History:=20
Recent Challenges" (21 March)
#10. A concert for the victims of religious violence in Gujarat, India
#11. Publication announcement: India : The Perfidies of Power: A=20
Social Critique / P. Radhakrishnan
#12. India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) # 74

__________________________

# 1.

The Times of India
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2002

DEALING WITH THE JIHADI FRANKENSTEIN
by SIDDHARTH VARADARAJAN
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2002 9:33:29 PM ]
RAWALPINDI: The Shah Najaf masjid here is part of the shifting=20
frontline in President Musharraf's would-be war against extremism in=20
Pakistan.
On February 26, three men entered this small, nondescript Shia mosque=20
and opened fire with automatic weapons. Eleven persons were killed=20
and 35 injured.
A boy who survived the massacre narrated how he heard the men say:=20
"Kaffiron ko mat chhodo (Don't spare any of the kaffirs)." The=20
assailants drove off on a motorcycle and have not been identified or=20
apprehended to this day.
"The killers have sent a message to the government," said Syed=20
Shabbir Zaki, sadar of the mosque and one of those injured. That=20
"just by banning us, you cannot finish us off."
The administration is partly to blame, he said. "For years, there=20
used to be a permanent police picket. Then it was reduced to only at=20
namaz time. Finally, after this Ramzan, it was withdrawn altogether.=20
The government said the problem was solved. They should have realised=20
that after January 12, such things would happen."
The massacre is proof that the new direction the regime has taken=20
since Musharraf's landmark January 12 speech is radical enough to=20
provoke a terrible backlash. But it also symbolises the inherent=20
weakness of the Pakistani state as it seeks to effect what analysts=20
here say is the most dramatic shift in policy in the past 20 years.
"The partnership between the state, the ISI, the military and the=20
Islamic extremists which lasted for two decades has now ended," said=20
Rasul Baksh Rais, professor of political science at Quaid-e-Azam=20
University, Islamabad.
"The corporate interests of the Pakistani military dictate that it=20
can no longer function like it did before 9/11, maintaining links=20
with militants wherever they are," he said. "These groups were=20
auxiliaries of the Pakistani state but now they are no longer an=20
acceptable child."
However, political analyst Hussain Haqqani is not sure how effective=20
the government will be in dealing with them.
"There are demons from the past that need to be exorcised. And the=20
level at which the government is moving so far is really not quite=20
fast enough or strong enough. If the intention and will are there,=20
the capability is very limited."
Zaki blames the army for the problem of sectarianism. "The military=20
for its own benefit sowed this seed of religious extremism and now=20
for their own benefit they want to cut off the plant. But it won't be=20
easy. So many madarsas and Islamic centres have mushroomed at the=20
grassroots level. Children are corrupted with hate from the time they=20
are born."
Zaki said it was unfortunate Musharraf was not being tough enough.=20
"He has used a loose hand, not an iron hand. I always had this fear=20
that if the jihadis are recalled from Afghanistan and Kashmir, they=20
will create chaos in Pakistan. Yahin pe bahut bada dhamaka hoga."
On his part, Prof Rais doubts the extremist groups will be able to=20
launch a terrorist movement like Algeria.
"Don't underestimate the coercive powers of the Pakistani state.=20
These groups have the capability to do mischief (like sectarian=20
killings) but they cannot launch a movement. They cannot threaten the=20
state."

_______

#2.

From: sonia jabbar
Subject: 19th update

Dear Friends,

Even after reading numerous accounts of the Gujrat carnage we were=20
still not prepared for what we saw in Gopal Menon & Vijayan's video=20
footage. I think most of us felt as if we were punched in the solar=20
plexus. All of us left the meeting with tears in our eyes but with=20
our resolve strengthened in our hearts.

We cannot, must not allow another Gujrat. At least in our lifetime.=20
This is something every Indian should pledge. I think the oath taken=20
when politicians assume office and enter Parliament and the=20
Legislative Assemblies should include this. Perhaps this is=20
something we ought to work towards.

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

A resolution was passed after Justice Sachar and others addressed the=20
meeting on the RSS statement in Bangalore, which you will find=20
below. Please feel free to use it. Amend it as a letter to the editor=20
or flood the PM/Home Minister/ President offices with faxes.

The fax numbers for
1) The President of India is (+91)-11-301 72 90/ 301 78 24
2) Prime Minister of India + 91-11-301 68 57/ 301 95 45
3) L.K.Advani, Minister for Home Affairs, 91-11-3015750, 3017763
4) National Human Right Commission-91-11-334 00 16
5) Chief Justice, Supreme Court +91-11-3388922/ 3388942/43

RESOLUTION:

We unequivocally condemn the resolution of the RSS passed at its=20
Bangalore meeting on March 17th 2002. The call to Muslims in India=20
to "behave" themselves, and to earn the goodwill of the Hindus,=20
coming so close on the heels of the massacres of Gujarat, amounts to=20
nothing less than a threat to conform to their diktat or face mass=20
murder.

India belongs to every Indian citizen, whether she or he is Hindu,=20
Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist or atheist. These provocative=20
statements of the RSS made on behalf of the Hindus are, in fact, not=20
only anti national but anti-Hindu as they go against the ethos of=20
tolerance and mutual understanding, and are aimed at creating=20
further communal hatred and inciting violence.

The activities of the RSS and its offshoots, whether the VHP or the=20
Bajrang Dal, that have vitiated the atmosphere from the within when=20
the government claims that India faces a threat on its borders,=20
amounts to terrorism and should be dealt with as such.

We demand that a resolution be adopted in Parliament condemning the=20
RSS statement. We demand that the government take immediate legal=20
action against the RSS. We demand that the government curb the anti=20
national activities of the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal.

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D

FAST FOR PEACE & COMMUNAL HARMONY

Because Muharram (March 25th) processions often degenerate into=20
violence and because the Hindutva brigade have threatened to play=20
Holi (March 28th) with Muslim blood, People for Peace and Secularism=20
have decided to fast for peace and communal harmony between March=20
23rd and 28th. We will appeal to all Indians to ensure that these=20
festivals remain festivals and not occassions for more bloodlust or=20
revenge.

The venue will be the Mandi House circle. Groups of 50-100 people=20
will fast for 24 hours starting at 8 am every day from the 23rd=20
onward. We will spend the night at the circle. Perhaps musicians can=20
join us every evening. The next group can take over the following=20
morning at 8, bringing with them some fruit and juice for the=20
previous group to break their fast.

We would very much like this not to be a Delhi citizens' affair but=20
an action which will have participants from all over India. Groups=20
and organisations from UP have already expressed enthusiasm. Perhaps=20
friends from Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal could also join as they=20
are not so far away.

For friends in the south or in places far from Delhi who are unable=20
to make the journey, I would like to suggest a similar action in=20
your area so that we can have a simultaneous fast for peace happening=20
all over the country. It would send a clear message out to the=20
fundamentalists that the people of India will not be bullied and=20
bashed into accepting their hateful ways and that the philosophy of=20
Buddha and Gandhi will prevail.

We have got a roster going. Please inform us ( and this is esp. for=20
those who live outside of Delhi and wish to join us) about which day=20
you will be fasting and how many friends will be accompanying you.
warmest regards
sj

_______

#3.

The Times of India, MARCH 19, 2002

VHP to tour country with Godhra victims' ashes
BHARAT DESAI
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2002 4:30:28 PM ]
AHMEDABAD: In a move which is bound to evoke security concerns all=20
over India, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is finalising a country-wide=20
programme wherein ashes of victims of the Godhra train massacre will=20
be taken to 750 different places all over the country. However,=20
Gujarat will be left out of this programme for the time being.
The joint general secretary of VHP in Gujarat, Dr Jaideep Patel said=20
the kalash yatras containing ashes of the Godhra victims in urns will=20
be taken out all over the country in the coming weeks and months .=20
"The programme is being finalised at a national level by our central=20
office in Delhi", Dr Patel said.
He said the processions "will be a fitting tribute to the VHP=20
activists who were killed for the cause of construction of the Ram=20
Mandir at Ayodhya". However, he said, Gujarat will not be covered in=20
this phase of the programme because of the disturbances and the=20
tension prevailing in the state. "The programme for ujarat will be=20
chalked out later", he said.

_____

#4.

DECCAN CHRONICLE March 16, 2002
Women win over agitated youth with filial determination
Hyderabad, March 15: [...]
A small group of women, determined to win the agitated Muslim youth=20
[...], formed a human chain to prevent the possible confrontation=20
between the youth and police at Mecca Masjid on Friday.

Trained to face the risk of attack from the highly charged groups on=20
both sides, these volunteers of Cova, a non-governmental=20
organisation, succeeded in ensuring peace during the Friday prayers.

Assisted by their male counterparts and a few activists of Human=20
Rights Forum and local peace committees, the women volunteers, mostly=20
clad in burkhas, were seen persuading the youth to remain peaceful=20
and leave the area.

'Maar lage to bhi hum yahan se hatne wale nahin. Hum yeh sochke aye=20
hain ki hum gadbad nahi hone denge (We won't budge even if we are=20
beaten. We've come here to ensure that there is no trouble)'=20
Noorjahan, a middle-aged volunteer of Cova said even as the slogan=20
shouting youth attempted to surge towards Charminar from the masjid.

At one stage, police squads armed with batons did their best to break=20
the human chain and proceed towards the youth, who intensified the=20
slogan shouting and resorted to mild stone throwing.

'Please don't go. Please maintain restrain, the women volunteers=20
pleaded with the police. They cautioned that situation would turn=20
worse if the police lose temper.

A group of policemen, led by additional DCP (task force) Mohd Iqbal,=20
forced his way to the mob breaking the human chain. But, they were=20
left with no option but come back as the volunteers did not allow=20
them to surge forward.

'It is totally their success,' city police commissioner M V Krishna=20
Rao said acknowledging the effective role played by peace committee=20
members and women volunteers, in particular. He said the incident=20
proved that peace committees could help in bringing a change.

Several old people were also seen pursuading the youth to leave the=20
place without creating any trouble. Banners were also put on display=20
on the fence of Mecca Masjid appealing to people not to spoil the=20
sanctity of the place of worship.

____

#5.

BJP'S RIOT - FREE INDIA
by Asghar Ali Engineer

(Secular Perspective March 16-31, 2002)

The riots in Gujrat in which so far 704 persons have died=20
(official figures, unofficially it is much more) is, perhaps,=20
Independent India's worst riots, both in terms of numbers and=20
brutality of killings. The BJP, in its manifesto of 1999 Lok Sabha=20
elections had promised 'riot-free India', if voted to power. So this=20
is BJP's version of riot-free India. These riots have not taken place=20
in any Congress-ruled or any other party ruled state, but in a=20
BJP-ruled state of Gujrat which, is also a laboratory of Hindutva.

Thus it is the 'laboratory of Hindutva' which became=20
killing fields of people belonging to minority community. To be sure=20
what happened in Godhra on 27th February morning was highly=20
condemnable and no one who respects human life would ever condone it=20
or explain away its occurrence. It was highly inhuman whatever the=20
provocation by the karsevaks.

What followed from next day in Gujarat (when the call for=20
Gujrat bandh was given) was utterly shocking. No secular democratic=20
country would stand such horror killing. In a democratic country law=20
should take its course and people cannot be allowed to take revenge=20
on the street. Those involved in Godhra massacre of karsevaks and=20
some other innocent citizens in those two sleeping coaches (S5 and=20
S6), were promptly arrested and the Chief Minster Narendra Modi even=20
declared that they have been arrested under POTO.

That means the law had started taking its course and soon=20
inquiry was also to be announced. A protest bandh call by the VHP=20
next day was hardly needed. Bandh calls are given when the government=20
refuses to take action against some grave and shocking event. Here=20
the Government was more than ready to take action. And if despite=20
having announced action against the culprits of the Godhra incident=20
if bandh was announced by the VHP, was it necessary to kill hundreds=20
of innocent people so brutally?

And if the VHP had gone blind by animal passion for vengeance what=20
had happened to the Gujrat Government and its administrative=20
machinery? It is more than obvious that the Government was unwilling=20
to take any preventive measures to stop ensuing blood-bath. And=20
knowing the nature of VHP and Bajrang Dal's militancy it was not=20
difficult to imagine the nature of blood bath. And even then if the=20
state government did not take any measure, do we need any more proof=20
for its complicity. Even army was not called for full two days and=20
when called, was not deployed saying enough magistrates were not=20
available to accompany each column of the army.

When Mr. George Fernandese was sent as trouble-shooter of the NDA=20
Government and he pressed for deployment of army his car was stoned=20
publicly. Many insiders felt it was done at the instance of Mr.=20
Narendra Modi. The brutal killings went on for about a week and=20
spread to rural areas where large number of people were burnt alive,=20
one cannot be sure how many so far as bodies are being discovered.

Gujrat has not witnessed communal violence for the first time.=20
Besides smaller incidents of communal violence there have been=20
several major flare-ups, particularly in Ahmedabad. The first major=20
communal carnage took place in 1969 in post-independent India in=20
which about 660 people died officially. The number of dead in the=20
current riots have already reached 704 and which is also likely to=20
exceed as more bodies are recovered from rural areas. This when the=20
Chief Minister's office was busy giving out figures last month when=20
Narendra Modi was contesting by-election to show how peaceful Gujrat=20
has been in last six months since Modi took over as Chief Minister.=20
Thus within six months of Modi's take-over the 1969 record has=20
already been pushed to the second place.

Gujrat witnessed several more riots since 1969, in 1981, in 1985, in=20
1990, in 1992-93 and now in 2002 and several other riots in between.=20
According to the Times of India report under Madhav Singh Solanki who=20
was chief minister on three occasions, 276 people died in 117=20
incidents of mob violence. Under Amar Singh Chaudhuri, 582 persons=20
died in 413 incidents of violence. And under Chimanbhai Patel, who=20
was chief minister twice, 563 persons died in 370 incidents of=20
violence. In 1990 when L.K. Advani-led rath yatra began from Somnath=20
to Ayodhya, 220 people died; in 1992 riots after Babri demolition 325=20
people were dead and in 1993 another 116 people lost their lives.

All these riots which took place during the Congress regimes the=20
Jansangh or the BJP's role was obvious though the Congress also=20
cannot be exonerated by any means. The BJP had chosen Gujrat from=20
beginning as the laboratory of Hindutva. The question is of course=20
why Gujrat was chosen? There could be number of reasons for this.=20
Gujrat is predominantly state of traders where neither left movement=20
had ever in influence nor any movement by lower castes, particularly=20
the Dalit movement. Dalit movement acts as a countervailing force for=20
communal movement. Gujrat never witnessed such a movement. Neither=20
there was any Mahatma Phule there nor any Ambedkar.

The socialist movement was also very weak. No social reform movement=20
as in Maharashtra ever took place in Gujrat. The reform movement=20
called Swami Narayan movement attracted mainly trading classes,=20
particularly the Patels in its fold. It never attacked the caste=20
system. Also Gujrat, including Saurashtra, has largest number of=20
princely states and feudal influence was very strong and since=20
independence the Jansangh allied with Swantantra party which was set=20
up by Rajaji and which was joined in a large number by the princes.

It is, therefore, not very surprising that earlier the Jan Sangh and=20
now the BJP, has systematically used the dalit masses to advance its=20
own political agenda and also have always used them for attacking=20
minorities. The poor dalit youth are always in the forefront of all=20
the riots. The dalit leadership, itself very weak, finds itself=20
almost helpless in controlling the dalit youth to perpetrate communal=20
violence. The job of killing is done usually by dalit youth and upper=20
caste followers of the BJP keep themselves away form this 'dirty job'.

The middle castes are extremely conservative and unhesitatingly align=20
themselves with the BJP and most of the NRIs in U.K. and USA also=20
belong to these castes which help the Sangh Parivar generously. The=20
NRI money has greatly helped the Sangh Parivar financially. They have=20
really helped make Gujrat the laboratory of Hindutva. Also, every=20
communal carnage has furthered the cause of BJP and its political=20
agenda. And it is for this reason that it found it easy to come to=20
power in Gujrat unaligned with any other political party. The Solanki=20
government tried to take help of lower and backward castes and=20
minorities through KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijans, Adivasis and Muslims)=20
formula by giving them reservation in government jobs. However, a=20
powerful anti-reservation movement launched by these middle castes=20
and led by the BJP sabotaged it and Solanki himself was thrown out=20
after more than year and half long communal violence in 1985-86=20
engineered by the BJP. Thus the BJP furthered consolidated its=20
position and Congress was further weakened besides being torn by=20
faction fights.

The recent carnage in Gujrat is culmination of years of unabated=20
communal violence. It was for this reason that Mr.L.K.Advani also=20
chose Gandhinagar constituency for contesting Lok Sabha elections=20
every time. Every time communal violence takes place in Gujrat it=20
surpasses itself in brutality from previous instances of violence.=20
This time all deaths were most brutal, burning the victims alive and=20
throwing even young children into leaping flames.

This time a concerted effort was also made to systematically destroy=20
the economy of Muslims in Gujrat. Incidentally Gujrat is the only=20
state where three trading communities of Gujrati Muslims have=20
flourished over a period of time i.e. the Bohras, Khojas and Memons.=20
All these trading communities are peaceful and almost a-political.=20
They generally do not take part in political movements, let alone in=20
any communal violence. Yet these communities are increasingly=20
suffering in the Gujrat riots and this time it was very systematic=20
destruction of their factories, godowns and shops.

Because of the Sangh Parivar's intense activities in Gujrat all=20
sections of Gujrat civil society and state organs have been=20
thoroughly communalised. Even judiciary is no exception. When Babri=20
Masjid was demolished in 1992 twenty judges, out of twenty three,=20
according to a lawyer of Ahmedabad High Court, felt happy; only three=20
said that they felt sad. No wonder that in all these riots over 33=20
years since 1969 hardly any culprit belonging to the majority=20
community has been punished. The police and civil servants are no=20
exceptions. Whenever riots break out in Gujrat they spread very fast=20
as entire administrative machinery either looks the other way or even=20
helps the marauding mobs. In the carnage which, broke out after the=20
Godhra incident even minority judges and high police officers of the=20
rank of Inspector General of Police were targeted. High court judges=20
belonging to the minority community had to flee from their houses and=20
their plea to the authorities fell on deaf years.

Some people have suggested that only a vibrant civil society can=20
check communal violence but when the civil society itself is so=20
highly communalised how can it check communal violence. There is so=20
much illiteracy, so much poverty and unemployment, how can we have a=20
vibrant civil society. Our politicians, particularly of the BJP=20
variety are misusing religion for political ends recklessly as the=20
Sangh Parivar has done in last twenty years not only by challenging=20
secularism (calling it pseudo secularism since early eighties) and=20
then raising the Ram mandir issue and using it continuously election=20
after election to increase number of seats in parliament.. It is=20
crucial moment for Indian polity and Indian secularism. The BJP=20
politicians are pushing the country to the precipice to climb up to=20
power. The strong resistance is needed now from the people. The=20
secular parties are fighting among themselves the Samajwadi with the=20
BSP, the socialists with the Congress and some of them easily aligned=20
themselves with the BJP to finish of the rival secular parties. This=20
rank opportunism on the part of NDA partners should come to an end if=20
they care for secularism and unity of the country.

(Centre for Study of Society and Secularism,Mumbai.)

_____

On the occasion of 114th birth anniversary of M.N.Roy

21st March 2002

M.N.ROY ON FASCISM

By N.D.Pancholi

M.N.Roy was born on 21st March,1887 in a Brahmin family=20
in a village in West Bengal. He passed through three phases of=20
political life. He started as an ardent nationalist, became an=20
equally ardent communist and ended as an active radical humanist. He=20
was both a man of action as well as a man of thought. He founded=20
the first communist party outside Soviet Russia in 1917 i.e. the=20
Communist Party of Mexico. He also founded the Communist Party of=20
India. Lenin invited Roy to attend the second congress of the=20
Communist International in 1920. Roy differed with Lenin concerning=20
the strategy of the communists in the colonial world. While Lenin=20
urged for broad support to the bourgeois led national movements in=20
colonies, Roy said that workers and peasants were the really=20
revolutionary forces there and that it was not necessary =ECto go=20
through the stage of bourgeois demoracy'. Inspite of such basic=20
differences Lenin moved the adoption of Roy's theses together with=20
his own. Roy came to occupy a high position in all the policy making=20
bodies of the Communist International.

While in Europe during 1920 to 1930 Roy had closely=20
watched the rise and development of Fascism and Nazism in Italy and=20
Germany. He made a deep study of this phenomena and realized their=20
dangerous potentials to human civilization. He propogated total=20
opposition to fascist ideology. In 1928, at the sixth congress when=20
the Comintern declared the social democrats to be worse enemies than=20
the Nazis and Fascists, Roy considered the new line to be highly=20
dangerous. He published a series of articles in the German communist=20
'opposition' press criticizing the new policy. He was officially=20
excluded from the Comintern for having broken party discipline by=20
publishing his views in the opposition press. He was glad when the=20
Comintern later on changed its policy in this regard.

After spending two years in Germany between 1928 to 1930,=20
which period saw the rise of Hitler, Roy returned to India in=20
December 1930. He was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in 1931=20
as accused number 1 in the famous Kanpur conspiracy case of 1924 on=20
the charge of conspiracy to overthrow the British Empire. The=20
sentence was reduced to six years in appeal.

In jail Roy wrote many books, including the one on FASCISM.

The views of Roy on Fascism are not only relevant for understanding=20
the philosophy and practice of Fascism as developed in Europe but are=20
also significant in understanding and evaluating the present crisis=20
in India facing rising tides of fascist tendencies of Indian variety

Roy wrote,"The Fascist movement unites the=20
disillusioned petty bourgeois masses in a fanatical army,=20
demagogically led in the paradoxical crusade for galvanizing the=20
chains of their own slavery. The Fascist movement suppresses with=20
violence the revolt of the slaves of capitalism,and to perform that=20
inglorious role it is patronized by the reactionary bourgeois which=20
helps it to assume dictatorial powers. The 'deep rooted spiritual=20
motive of Fascism' is evidenced by countless acts of violence,=20
committed over a number of years , all for the sacred cause of saving=20
Capitalism, which is vulgar materialism in practice. How are such=20
actions compatible with the 'deep rooted spiritual motive'? The=20
philosopher of Fascism gives the answer: Fascism has no principle. It=20
is not encumbered with a logical system of ideology. Spiritual knows=20
no reason; logic has no place in it. The spiritualist character of=20
Fascism finds its expression in its arbitrariness. Expediency or=20
capitalist domination- is the only law for this mad manifestation=20
of spiritualism. It does not want to encumber itself with the ballast=20
of really philosophical theories and rational principles. It wishes=20
to keep its hand free to wield any weapon in its bloody crusade=20
against forces making for the liberation of society from the vulgar=20
materialism of the capitalist civilization. The doctrine of=20
inscrutable divine will, of religious experience, of spiritual=20
motive, of religious sentiment, comes very handy for justifying the=20
unbounded arbitrariness of temporal power, as simply doing the=20
bidding of a supernatural purpose who knows no law for which man=20
made laws have no validity."

An apt explanation of the theory of 'FAITH' enunciated by the=20
Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its allies for their campaign for 'Ram=20
Mandir'.

Roy broke away with the Indian National Congress in 1940 on the=20
question of War. While Congress wanted to give conditional support to=20
the British government in the war against Fascist powers, Roy=20
advocated unconditional support. He said, "If Fascism succeeds in=20
establishing its domination over the whole of Europe, then good-bye=20
to revolution and good-bye to Indian freedom as well."

Roy wrote in 1942: "The war against Fascism can be won only by=20
rousing in the people their urge for a freer and fuller life. The=20
supreme task of our movement is to develop that urge and to lay the=20
foundations of a free society which is not only free of foreign rule,=20
but also of native tyranny, exploitation and injustice."

Roy was an intellectual giant. Throughout his life he applied=20
his great intellectual powers in the service of ideal of freedom.=20
Freedom was the basic inspiration and consuming passion of his=20
entire life. He died in 1954 at Dehradun.

(Writer is secretary of the Indian Renaissance Institute founded by=20
MN Roy and an advocate).

______

#7.

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=3D20020325&fname=3DColumn+Bark=
ha+Dutt+%28F%29&sid=3D1
Outlook Magazine | Mar 25, 2002 | OPINION
COVERT RIOTS AND MEDIA
What's So Spontaneous About An Attack That Leaves Only The Seventh=20
Shop on A Crowded Street Burnt Down?
by BARKHA DUTT

They came swooping down on us like vultures lunging at a carcass.=20
There were at least 20 of them, faces remarkably indistinguishable.=20
In fact, frenzied though these men may have seemed on your TV=20
screens, they had an almost robotic, rehearsed air about them as they=20
thrust their gleaming swords into our windshield and barked, "What's=20
your religion?" There was only one answer to that. "Hindu," I said=20
(aware that an articulation of my agnostic beliefs would guarantee=20
the unspeakable), privately cringing for my cameraperson Ajmal Jami.=20
What would we do if he were asked to produce an identity card? For=20
the rest of the journey, we mentally made up false names for him, and=20
avoided addressing him in public. In the mob was a 10-year-old boy=20
clutching a bottle of petrol as if it were life itself. "What are you=20
going to do with this?" I asked later when our religious credentials=20
had proved respectable enough for conversation. "It's for=20
self-defence against them," he said.
But along the hundreds of kilometres of (completely unguarded)=20
highway that we travelled there was no "them" anywhere. Instead,=20
every bend in the road would unfold new horrors. We saw saffron flags=20
dug deep into the domes of mosques; pages of beautifully calligraphed=20
Urdu covered with the soot and ash of burnt plastic; and people who=20
did not think it unusual to first set alight a family or a factory,=20
and then walk away calmly with the remains of the day-a sack or two=20
of onions, and if they were lucky, an undamaged Godrej refrigerator.
A milk-van ferrying eight Muslim villagers was set on fire in front=20
of our own helpless eyes. There was only one survivor; a waif-like=20
girl of 15 hunched up under a tree sobbing into her torn=20
salwar-kameez. Alone. When we asked how she had been spared, the=20
villagers said, "She was already half-crazy (paagal thi woh), so=20
there was no point in killing her."
We left much of this out of our TV reports, aware of the impact they=20
could have in a volatile situation. But public commentary seems to=20
argue that the media behaved irresponsibly in the very naming of the=20
community that was being targeted. Press Council guidelines are being=20
quoted to back this.
I disagree. Let's get one thing straight: Gujarat was not a communal=20
riot. A riot by definition must mean incidents of mutual violence, of=20
communities attacking each other in a retaliatory cycle. In those=20
circumstances, yes, it makes sense to be circumspect about naming who=20
is doing what to whom. But there was nothing ambivalent or amorphous=20
about the violence in Gujarat. Several politicians have described the=20
madness that swept the state for those three days as a "spontaneous=20
reaction" to what happened at Godhra. But think about it. What's so=20
spontaneous about an attack that is planned so meticulously that only=20
the seventh shop in a crowded lane gets razed to the ground but=20
everything around it is untouched and undamaged? Wouldn't a so-called=20
spontaneous outburst of anger be somewhat more blind and=20
directionless? Naming the community under siege in Gujarat was moot=20
to the story. In fact it was the story, revealing as it did a=20
prejudiced administrative and political system that was happy to just=20
stand by and watch. Isn't it a journalist's job then to tell that=20
story?
"Andar ki baat hai, police hamaare saath hai." This was the rioters'=20
war-cry to Muslim residents in Vadi, Vadodara, as they soaked shops=20
with kerosene that once sold kites, bindis and bangles for the Hindu=20
festivals of Makar Sankranti and Ganapati Puja. But the mob had=20
missed the irony of what they were destroying, as had the two cops=20
looking on languorously. Once again, the attitude-and in most cases,=20
absence-of the police was inextricably linked to which community was=20
at the receiving end.Was it covert patronage from the establishment=20
or a communalised mindset? How could we in the media ask these=20
questions without stating the obvious?
The other charge against the media is the use of a double standard:=20
different rules for the reportage of the gruesome train attack at=20
Godhra- screamed the critics-and different ones for the violence that=20
followed. RSS man Tarun Vijay said it was the "secular-mullah mafia"=20
at work. Has honest discourse on secularism been hijacked by=20
political correctness? These are questions we can certainly debate=20
but let's look at the specific accusation. Why were no names taken=20
when Godhra happened? Actually they were. Every newspaper and=20
television channel said kar sevaks were killed, once again because=20
the identity of those under attack may have been central to what=20
happened. Then people said it was preposterous to link Godhra to=20
Ayodhya; they said it sounded like a justification for the murderous=20
attack. Fair enough. So why did the same voices then begin drawing=20
links between Godhra and the mobs which took over Gujarat for the=20
next 72 hours? You can't have it both ways.
In both cases, though, I believe the religious identity of the=20
rioters should have been left unsaid, and for the most part it was. A=20
crazed mob does not speak for an entire community, whether in Godhra=20
or Ahmedabad. The government says there is real evidence to suggest a=20
"terrorist link" to the burning of the train. If so, it only=20
strengthens the argument that this was not "Muslims" attacking the=20
Hindu community. Next, we'll begin describing militant attacks on=20
minorities in Jammu and Kashmir in the same language. Similarly, the=20
hate-filled mobs that trampled the soul of Gujarat were not=20
representing the "Hindu community". We all know enough Hindus who=20
braved threats and violence to shield their Muslim friends.
An educated man stopped our crew on the streets of Vadodara, and=20
excitedly leapt out of his car. "You're doing a good job, madam," he=20
said almost kindly, "but why don't you ask the Muslims of Gujarat to=20
apologise for Godhra?" By this time my patience had run thin. "I=20
agree, sir", I said, trying to sound calm, "but will all the Hindus=20
of Gujarat also say sorry for the 600 Muslims who have been killed?"
"It's not the same," he declared, before storming off.
(The writer is with NDTV. The views expressed are her own.)

_____

#8.

Outlook Magazine | Mar 25, 2002
GUJARAT : Divine Tragedy
The mad scientists of the Hindutva laboratory called Gujarat create a=20
deadly pathogen
by PRIYANKA KAKODKAR
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=3D20020325&fname=3DGujarat+%28=
F%29&sid=3D1

_______

#9.

THE DEMOCRATIC TEACHER'S FRONT
Invites you for a discussion on

"Re-writing of Indian History: Recent Challenges"

Speakers: Prof. Satish Chandra, Prof. Namvar Singh,
Prof. D.N.Jha and Prof. Mushirul Hasan

Venue: Seminar Room, S.P. Jain Centre for Management
Studies, South Campus, University of Delhi
Date: Thursday, 21 March, 2002
Time: 1.00 P.M. to 4 P.M.

______

#10.

A concert for the victims of religious violence in Gujarat, India
Neela Bhagwat sings Songs of Kabir at 5 p.m.
on Sunday, April 7th
at Riverside Church (Riverside Drive at 120th Street) New York

The Bombay-based Hindustani classical singer Neela Bhagwat is noted for her
unconventional interpretations and for the infusion of contemporary themes
into her classical singing. The medieval Indian saint-poet Kabir is known f=
or
his powerful humanism and scathing critique of religious hypocrisy, both in
Hinduism and Islam.

Please be generous. Funds are urgently needed in Gujarat.
Suggested minimum contribution: $20
Admission is on a sliding scale; no one will be turned away.

Sponsored by: the SAMAR collective, Apne Aap-Women Worldwide, World Music
Institute, SAHMAT, Riverside Church

______

#11.

India : The Perfidies of Power: A Social Critique / P. Radhakrishnan.=20
New Delhi, Vedams, 2002,272.,p. ISBN 81-7936003-2.

Contents: Preface. Introduction. I. Politics of vendetta: 1. Tamil=20
Nadu's shame. 2. Electoral eccentricities. 3. Conviction politics. 4.=20
Politics of perdition. 5. Coalitions and political skullduggery. 6.=20
Witches' brew or magic potion? 7. The perfidies of power. 8.=20
Practical or suicidal? II. Politics and corruption: 9. Scams and=20
stability. 10. Rao's redemption. 11. The rise and fall of Rao. 12.=20
Marriage and morals. 13. The mother of all scamsters. 14. A=20
'mother's' elegy for the AIADMK. III. Communal, casteist and language=20
politics: 15. A deepening paradox. 16. The conversion bogey. 17.=20
Camouflaging communalism. 18. Census: a costly digression. 19. The=20
language muddle. IV. State and reservation politics: 20. Sensitising=20
officials. 21. White or grey? 22. The quota conundrum. 23.=20
Reservation politics. 24. The Mandal odyssey. 25. Judicial=20
pragmatism, political opportunism. V. Ambedkar, Gandhi and=20
emancipation politics: 26. Political appropriation of Ambedkar. 27.=20
Ambedkar's legacy. 28. Political relevance of Ambedkar. 29. Ambedkar=20
on minorities. 30. The Dalit controversy. 31. Dalits and Durban. 32.=20
The meaning of Vaikom. VI. Conclusion: 33. Putting society together=20
again. References. Index.

[P. Radhakrishnan is Professor at the Madras Institute of Development=20
Studies. His research experience spans more than two decades. He has=20
published widely. His publication include Peasant Struggles, Land=20
Reforms, and Social Change: Malabar 1836-1982, Progress Towards=20
Education for All: The Case of Tamil Nadu, and several articles in=20
edited books and leading journals, research notes, and reviews.]
http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no24975.htm

_______

#12.

India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) # 74
19 March 2002

The complete IPARMW archive is available at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPARMW/messages

--=20
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