[sacw] SACW #1 | 20 Nov. 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire #1 | 20 November 2002

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

An important investigative report regarding the funding of Hindutva=20
circuits of RSS /VHP is to be released to media in India on 20th=20
November at 3.30 pm at the Constitution Club, New Delhi. The report=20
will be simultaneously available at a number of web sites=20
internationally.
This report uncovers the evidence on how American corporate funds are=20
being used promote the project of Hindu right groups in India.

So look out for the online report,
It will be available in the coming hours at:
Sabrang Communications (India) http://www.sabrang.com
South Asia Citizens Web (France) http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/

The report will also be made simultaneously available at a number of=20
other web sites worldwide. A list will be made available soon.
More details follow in the next dispatch in the next 10 hours

For all further information write to : <idrf_fx_report@y...>

__________________________

#1. Are the People of India and Pakistan Poles Apart? (Badruddin R. Gowani)
#2. India Sabka Festival in Bombay (17th - 18th November)
#3.India: The Challenge of the Past A lecture by Prof. Krishna Kumar=20
(23 Nov 02, Bombay)
#4. India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) No.102
19 November 2002
__________________________

#1.

[18 November 2002]

Are the People of India and Pakistan Poles Apart?

Badruddin R. Gowani

The custodians of power with elements of communalism and military=20
interests in India and Pakistan would want us to believe that there=20
are irreconcilable differences between Pakistanis and Indians and=20
also between Muslims and Hindus; hence all these hatred, wars, and=20
enmity.

To ascertain whether this hateful and destructive thesis has any firm=20
logic to stand on its own or is it, simply a policy to control and=20
keep people of both countries apart by exaggerating the normal=20
differences one can find in any society or even a household, we have=20
to ask few questions: 1. Is there an enmity? If yes, how widespread=20
it is? 2. Do Hindus and Muslims in both countries have anything in=20
common? 3. Is reconciliation impossible?

Is there an enmity, and how widespread? Out of India, Pakistan was=20
created in 1947 when the British colonial rule ended. It was a bloody=20
partition in the true sense of the word: about a million people died=20
and more than 10 million people migrated in the opposite direction =96=20
Hindus and Sikhs to India, and Muslims to Pakistan. Still millions of=20
Muslims decided to stay in India for various reasons. In East=20
Pakistan (now Bangladesh), about 15 percent of the population was=20
Hindu and there remained a tiny fraction in West Pakistan. The=20
British =96 being honorable and civilized=ADleft for India and Pakistan a=20
one-time alimony in the form of Kashmir, for which both are still=20
fighting while gradually destroying the alimony.

After the partition, there was some trade between both countries and=20
an exchange of films. The 1965 War resulted in a ban on Indian movies=20
in Pakistan and vise versa. To say that the partition did not create=20
any ill feelings would be a big lie. Nevertheless, it was an internal=20
problem among the same people who had lived together and survived for=20
thousands of years. Once the Partition trauma was over, the hate=20
intensity was never that severe. However, to maintain it, the=20
governments relied on propaganda and wars; to some degree, they=20
succeeded too. Later on, also the religious bigots joined in this=20
dirty war.

However, many people, both ordinary and intellectual, have always=20
wished that peace would prevail in South Asia =96 where a fifth of the=20
world's people live but in a wretched condition.

Due to wars, travel restrictions, and little trade, most of the=20
avenues for any meaningful contact between the two neighbors had=20
ceased for a long time. The things that kept the people of both=20
countries in some contact were music, movies, and TV dramas.

Pakistanis have always craved for Indian movies. The members of the=20
elite class would slip into the Indian embassy and consulates quietly=20
to watch movies. Then there were those who would visit India on a=20
pleasure trip and fulfill their entertainment needs, and yet others=20
who would go to meet their relatives and would try to see as any many=20
movies as possible. This was when the visa restrictions were not in=20
force. In the 1970's, with the advent of VCRs, the Indian movie=20
cassettes became a household thing<1. On the other hand, in India, TV=20
dramas from Pakistan, because of their high =96 and in many cases=20
intellectual=ADquality became common. The availability of satellite=20
channels in the 1990s has enabled people in Pakistan to watch several=20
Indian channels. During visits to Pakistan, one can notice that in=20
most places people watch Indian channels<2. The satellite TV has done=20
a wonderful job of letting people know both beautiful and ugly sides=20
of the "enemy" =96 rather than relying on the official media.

For a long time many people on both sides of the border have pointed=20
out that the common people of both countries do not want adverse=20
relations between them; "it is the politicians who have created this=20
mess.

"An incident which happened this August says a great deal about this=20
mess. Since last many years, peaceniks from both Pakistan and India=20
have regularly gathered at the Wagah border around 14th and 15th of=20
August (Pakistan's and India's Independence days, respectively) with=20
the aim of bringing both countries closer. This year, a Pakistani=20
journalist wanting to see more people on the border, published a news=20
item that Madhuri Dixit and Shahrukh Khan (famous Indian actors) were=20
also expected at the border <3. Playwright Shahid Nadeem writes that=20
the march-organizers and the rangers were caught unawares when=20
thousands of "patriotic Pakistanis" converged at the border. It was=20
uncontrollable and the mounted police was called in<4. Madhuri is=20
Hindu and Shahrukh is Muslim<5.

Before delving any further, one thing need to be understood: India=20
and Pakistan =96 that is, the governments of both countries, a section=20
of over and/or pretentious patriots, and religious nuts=ADare=20
archenemies. Both nations have gone to war four times, or three and=20
half times as M. J. Akbar (editor, "Asian Age") puts it. <6. But=20
majority of the people in both countries do not have ill feelings=20
towards each other. However, one has to admit that the establishments=20
in both countries have succeeded in poisoning quite a few people's=20
minds. Contributing further, since late 1970s in Pakistan and early=20
1980s in India, (Bangladesh is not far behind), is the menace of=20
communalism =96 with a great increase in both the number of fanatics=20
and of violent activities. Additionally, the historical baggage is=20
still there: the Indian establishment holds a grudge against Pakistan=20
as a breaker of the "Akhand Bharat" or the pre-partitioned India=20
portraying it as a villain; where as the Pakistani establishment's=20
strategy is to present Hindus in bad light and thus implying Islam's=20
superiority.

However, as can be seen from the above incident=ADeven after fifty-five=20
years =96 the Pakistani establishment has not succeeded totally: (a)=20
People in Pakistan are well aware that Madhuri is Hindu. They also=20
know that sometime back she got married to a Hindu doctor. (b) They=20
know that Pakistan was created out of India. (c) They know that India=20
is an "enemy."
(d) They know that India is committing atrocities in Indian held=20
Kashmir. (e) They know what happened to Muslims in Gujarat. Still=20
they thronged in thousands to the border<7. Nevertheless, they also=20
know that there is a difference between the Indian government and the=20
common Indians, as there is a divergence between the rulers and the=20
common Pakistanis.

(In old Pakistani films, one could hear phrases like "Ram naam satya=20
hai" or Lord Rama's name is truth<8. After 1965 war, things started=20
to change and especially, after the loss of East Pakistan.)

It is not a wholly one-sided affair. Pakistani artists are also=20
immensely popular in India. Mehdi Hasan, Ghulam Ali, Munni Begum,=20
Farida Khanum, Abida Parvin, late Noor Jahan, and Nusrat Fateh Ali=20
Khan are household names in India. Pop singers, including Ali Haider,=20
are recognized names. Pakistani female artists have played hosts on=20
Indian TV programs interviewing Indian artists. There has been=20
collaboration between artists of both countries in making music=20
albums. More Pakistani artists perform in India than their=20
counterparts perform in Pakistan =96 not that they would not like to,=20
but because of restrictive atmosphere, clergy's street power, and=20
government's cool response, their number is small. Singers Jagjit=20
Singh, Chitra, Lucky Ali, late Talat Mehmood, tabla maestro Zakir=20
Hussain, and others have performed in Pakistan. However, sometime=20
back, internationally acclaimed Indian actor and activist Shabana=20
Azmi and Farooq Shaikh were to act in Feroz Khan's play, "Tumhari=20
Amrita," but was cancelled because the sponsors could not guarantee=20
their safety.

(Think about this ironic tragedy: Pakistan was created for Indian=20
Muslims; the Muslim sponsors were arranging the play; Azmi, Shaikh,=20
and Farooq are Indian Muslims. Their Muslim ness does not count, but=20
their Indianess definitely bothers the Muslim fanatics.)

In India, hostile reaction to Pakistani artists is rare. In 1998, the=20
Shiva Sena party supremo Bal Thackeray's goons known as Shiva Sainiks=20
stopped Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali's show in Mumbai. Few years back,=20
a Pakistani filmmaker offered the Nepali born Hindu Indian actress=20
Manisha Koirala to act in a Pakistani film. Thackeray<9 refused=20
permission. (Recently, a Pakistani filmmaker came up with a novel=20
idea: he is using footage of Manisha from a Nepali film and would=20
somehow connect it in his film.) Not long ago, Indian singers Kavita=20
Krishnamurti, Sonu Nigam, and Kumar Sanu recorded songs for=20
Pakistani films. Famous Indian singer Asha Bhonsle sang for Zeba=20
Bakhtiar and Adnan Samii's film "Sargam, but the government=20
controlled PTV (Pakistan Television) refuses to play her songs.=20
Bhonsle and Sami also have few music albums together. Sami is in=20
India and has applied for a citizenship. He is very popular over=20
there without losing any popularity in Pakistan. In India, one of his=20
songs has been on the top slot for months now. Another one of his=20
video song "Lift karade" is also immensely popular. (In 1997, I=20
bought an audio cassette with that song from Pakistan, however, it=20
needed huge Indian market to gain worldwide popularity among the=20
South Asians.) Zeba Bakhtiar has worked in few Indian movies too.=20
(Bakhtiar is the daughter of former attorney general of Pakistan,=20
Yahya Bakhtiar.) The Bollywood Awards held every year in New York=20
invites few Bangladeshi and Pakistani artists to perform on stage. In=20
a recent interview, Pakistani actor Mira has openly expressed her=20
desire to work in an Indian movie. I used the word "openly", because=20
many of them are afraid of being labeled as "non-patriotic." Actress=20
Rima was accused as such for taking part in Indian Zee TV's program,=20
"Antakashari," on which she sang few lines of both Indian and=20
Pakistani national anthems. The famous Pakistani music group Junoon=20
experienced similar wrath for its interview given in India in which=20
they expressed their support for Indo-Pak friendship.

Is there anything in common? Yes. There are many things common=20
between them=ADand up until 1947, they had the same history.=20
Geographically, they are tied; linguistically, they are linked;=20
culturally, they are connected. Of course, there are differences=20
between Hindus and Muslims, and between Pakistanis and Indians. Then,=20
there are also differences between Hindus and Hindus =96 that is,=20
between the high caste Brahmins and the low caste Dalits (keeping in=20
mind that even within the same caste there could be lack of unity),=20
and between Muslims and Muslims =96 that is the majority Sunnis and the=20
minority Shias. Within India, different states have differences as=20
there are between the provinces in Pakistan. However, it is the=20
similarities between Pakistanis and Indians and between Hindus and=20
Muslims which pricks the fundamentalists=ADwho are hell bent on=20
bringing uniformity among their co-religionists to segregate the=20
"other." The ruling classes work on not very dissimilar pattern. On a=20
broader level, there are similarities in food, clothes, customs,=20
ingenuity <10 corruption, entertainment, etc. One has to keep in mind=20
that South Asia is made up of several ethnic groups, multiple=20
languages, innumerable dialects, variety of food dishes, many=20
religions, uncountable denominations, infinite customs and=20
traditions, and so on and so forth. It is a huge medley. So on a=20
broader level one may find quite a few similarities between people of=20
different religions and different ethnicities, one may find more=20
affinity among the same ethnic group, even though the religions may=20
be different. A Sindhi Muslim or a Sindhi Hindu in Pakistan may be=20
able to converse with a Pushtun Pakistani on a general level,=20
provided both can converse fluently in Hindi/Urdu, but both Sindhi=20
Hindu and Sindhi Muslim would be more comfortable in talking to each=20
other despite the difference of religion =96 unless one or both of them=20
are religious zealots. It is also true for Pushtun or any other=20
group. However, same cannot be said for a Pakistani Muslim and a=20
Muslim from Saudi Arabia. May be, they'll pray together=ADprovided they=20
are practicing Muslims, but then what? They can converse only if they=20
know each others' language, and even then they will be lacking that=20
cultural affinity, which a Hindu and a Muslim (and a Sikh, and a=20
Buddhist, and a Christian) has whether they share the same language=20
or not.

In some places in India, even the religious customs are similar.=20
There are some Muslims who burn their dead and there are some Hindus=20
who bury their dead. There are Muslim shrines in India which are=20
visited by Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, and others. Now=20
imagine a Saudi Wahabi seeing this. Either he will have a heart=20
attack or he will kill himself. Every religion has its own peculiar=20
brand of religious practices, and they differ in each region of the=20
world. The Islam in South Asia with its shrines and Sufis has its own=20
specialties. In addition, throughout the history of South Asia, there=20
have been people of all religions and without religion who have tried=20
to bridge the gap. The poet Akbar Allahabadi (1846=AD1921) once wrote:=20
"I asked the water of the Well of Zamzam Why did you mix with the=20
water of the Ganges?" It replied, "Sir, don't you see, I was shut up=20
in a bottle, And have now begun to flow"
(Muhammad Sadiq's translation. Zamzam is a well, considered holy by=20
many Muslims and is situated in the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi=20
Arabia, Ganga or Ganges is a river in India, considered holy by many=20
Hindus. One explanation for the United States' corporations: the=20
Zamzam well has just the water in it!) Just recently, writer Mukul=20
Dube made this suggestion: "Is it too far-fetched to visualize an=20
on-going exchange of children between the two religions? A Hindu=20
child could go to spend two days in a Muslim household, possibly one=20
in which there is a class-mate or age-mate. Traffic could be reversed=20
over the next weekend. There might be no monsters left after this,=20
only Uncles and =85" ("The Hindustan Times," September 5, 2002.) The=20
custodians of both religions would want their co-religionists to do=20
otherwise!

In these circumstances, for the governments and the fundamentalists,=20
it becomes a full time job to manufacture differences =96 it is not=20
only a matter of bread and butter but also of power and politics. So=20
what they do first is to distort history. For the Pakistan government=20
and the Muslim fundamentalists, the whole universe was created just=20
fourteen hundred years ago when Muhammad, Prophet of Islam, emerged=20
on the world scene. On the other hand, for the Hindu fundamentalists,=20
Indian history began with the Aryans =96 easily forgetting the Indus=20
Valley Civilization and the original tribal people residing in India=20
for thousands of years.

Irreconcilable Differences? Many years back, a thought struck me that=20
if Islam would have never come to India, probably South Asia would=20
have been relatively peaceful, or if it came then it should have=20
succeeded in converting everyone to Islam. Well, any irrationality,=20
if attacked on time, has an effervescent existence, and so the next=20
thought was about the religious violence being committed among the=20
followers of the same religions: in Pakistan, Muslims are gunning=20
down Muslims not only on the streets but also in the mosques; and in=20
India, barring few, majority of the Dalits are still awaiting humane=20
and equal treatment from their higher caste fellow religionists.

Most probably, it was poet Sahir Ludhianwi (1921=AD1980) who once=20
wrote: mandir ko jala do, masjid ko gira do, dunya se mazhab ka nam o=20
nishan mita do or the temple, burn it; the mosque, demolish it every=20
trace of religion from this world, erase it

The main issue of contention between both countries is the Kashmir=20
problem. At the time of partition, Pakistan's claim on Kashmir =96=20
where majority of the population was Muslim=ADwas fully justified and=20
India was wrong in getting Prince Hari Singh's assent for joining=20
India, because the basis of partition was that areas with Muslim=20
majority would go to Pakistan and areas with Hindu majority would go=20
to India. The British should not have left this problem. But then=20
they should not have come to South Asia (or for that matter anywhere=20
else) in the first place.

However, the subsequent events in South Asia have changed the whole=20
basis upside down. Pakistan's claim on Kashmir rested on it being a=20
Muslim majority province, but then the West Pakistan based rulers=20
could not treat their fellow Muslims, the Bengalis (in the eastern=20
wing or East Pakistan), as equal human beings. In 1971, East Pakistan=20
separated and became Bangladesh, On the other hand, India's claim=20
that loss of Kashmir would injure its secular nature, is nothing but=20
a hoax. Since partition, India has witnessed numerous religious and=20
caste riots or more appropriately violence where the victims are=20
mostly members of minorities, especially Muslims, and low caste=20
Hindus. In the last two decades, there have been four major=20
incidents<11. So at this juncture in history, both Pakistan's and=20
India's claims are flawed and should be thrown into the trash bin.=20
The probable solution is to make the Line of Control or LoC, which is=20
the ceasefire line, a permanent border. The Kashmir problem is not of=20
such nature that it cannot be resolved; it is simply in the hands of=20
the ruling classes in both countries to permanently solve this=20
problem =96 provided that they really want to.

Just look at Pakistan and Bangladesh; both governments have amicable=20
relations. It is hard to believe, but it is true. Here it becomes=20
necessary to give a brief synopsis about what had happened between=20
them. The East Pakistan's population was about 55 percent, mostly=20
Bengalis ("non-martial" race, the British colonialists labeled so)but=20
the power rested in the hands of the Punjabis, about 27 percent (the=20
"martial" race.) Bengalis were economically exploited, socially=20
humiliated, politically subjugated, and religiously ridiculed.=20
Gradually, they started demanding autonomy. In the 1970 election, the=20
first fair one since 1947, the East Pakistan based Awami League won=20
the majority of seats. It was denied power and instead in 1971, the=20
West Pakistan based army, mostly Punjabis, went on a killing and rape=20
spree. Thomas Payne says the "massacres" went on for months in all=20
areas. "Muslim soldiers, sent out to kill Muslim peasants, went about=20
their work mechanically and efficiently, until killing defenseless=20
people became a habit like smoking cigarettes or drinking wine.=20
Before they had finished, they had killed three million people. Not=20
since Hitler invaded Russia had there been so vast a massacre"<12.=20
And thousands of Muslim women were raped by the Muslim soldiers from=20
the Land of the Pure or Pakistan because those women were not proper=20
Muslims =96 according to the rulers-due to their cultural traits which=20
were same as those of West Bengali Hindu women of India. None of the=20
Pakistani government has ever repented or asked for forgiveness from=20
their victims =96 let alone trying those criminals. A few years back,=20
Nawaz Sharif said a few words to the Bangladeshis and recently=20
Pakistan's ruler, Pervez Musharraf used the word "excesses.

"If these Punjabi Muslim soldiers would have been asked =96 that is,=20
before the atrocities began =96 to marry the Bengali Muslim women, they=20
would have thought about all the negative labels imposed on that=20
ethnic group and would have refused. But they would not mind raping=20
those same women =96 because rape was an act of patriotism and of=20
degrading Bengali women. So where is religion in this? Where is the=20
"Islamic brotherhood" in this?

India is beset with similar contradictions. Just recently, five Dalit=20
Hindu men were murdered by the high caste Brahmin Hindus. Their crime=20
was that they were skinning a dead cow! More surprising or rather=20
more tragic is that one of the Hindu fundamentalist, VHP leader=20
Giriraj Kishore justified the murders on the ground that dead cow is=20
more precious than those Dalits!)

No doubt, the agony and bitterness of Partition created immense=20
hatred in many people, but with the passage of time, the wounds=20
healed. One cannot deny that there would always be a group of people=20
who would nurse the past pain and would hold grudge and/or oppose=20
amiable relations. However, as we can see among most of the people,=20
the bond of music, movies, and TV dramas is still intact and is=20
helping to fight back the religious insanity. Just by changing=20
religion, one cannot escape from a set of patterns, which has a=20
history of thousands of years. There are too many commonalities among=20
the Hindus and Muslims (and Jains, and Jews) of South Asia. It would=20
take many Ashok Singhals and Fazlur Rahmans and Samiul Haqs and=20
Praveen Togadias to really break the link totally. And if Bangladesh=20
and Pakistan can establish normal relations =96 realpolitik is there,=20
of course =96 why cannot the governments of India and Pakistan do the=20
same =96 if for nothing else than at least for realpolitik.

End notes:
<1. Occasionally, police officers conduct raids to stop stores from=20
carrying Indian movies, but usually they are there to extract money=20
from the owners. Moreover, everybody knows it. Many a times it has=20
happened that when a new movie was released on Friday, somebody in a=20
cinema house in Bombay was tapping that film in the three o clock=20
show and would then fly to Karachi the same evening. The same night,=20
pirated copies were available. (Distance between the two cities is=20
about 500 miles.)

<2. In 1998, in one of the Karachi neighborhood I was visiting, for a=20
couple of days due to some clash between the local channel operators=20
and the TV networks Indian channels disappeared. The people came to=20
know the stories of the missed segments of their favorite TV serials,=20
particularly, "Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu thi or "Once, a Mother-in-Law was=20
a Daughter-in-Law too," from their masis. (Literally, aunt, i.e.,=20
mother's sister, but is also used for domestic female workers who=20
clean houses and wash dishes and clothes. Here it is used in the=20
later sense.)

<3. The Indian actors and actresses are very popular in Pakistan and=20
other South Asian countries, and among people of South Asian origin=20
residing in other countries. The Indian movies are also popular in=20
the African countries, the Middle East, the Central Asia, and the Far=20
East.

<4. "Culture Vulture: Let the Children Play," "Daily Times," August 15, 200=
2.

<5. Basically, Indian film industry is quite secular and the=20
inter-religious marriages are common. Shahruhk, Amir Khan ("Lagaan"=20
fame), Nasiruddin Shah ("Monsoon Wedding" fame), Arbaaz Khan have all=20
Hindu wives; Saif Ali Khan is married to a Sikh actress; Salman Khan=20
has a Hindu actress as a girlfriend whom he wants to marry; Hrithic=20
Roshan (a Hindu) is married to a Muslim girl. Three of the top four=20
heroes are Muslims (Shahrukh, Amir, and Salman; Hrithic is the fourth=20
one. In her 1959 novel, "Aag ka Darya" or "River of Fire" (her own=20
translation), Qurratulain Hyder has compared the Muslim presence in=20
the Indian film industry with that of the Jewish presence in=20
Hollywood.

<6. Two months after independence in October 1948 over Kashmir, in=20
1965 over the same issue, in 1971 over East Pakistan (which became=20
Bangladesh when the war ended), and in 1999 a small battle in the=20
Kargil area of Kashmir. However, there have been times when the=20
leaders of India and Pakistan decided that they wanted to end=20
hostilities, and were courageous enough to meet. Somehow, they have=20
proved themselves more courageous in blowing up =96 that is, always=ADat=20
the last minute.

<7. Ninety-seven percent of the people in Pakistan are Muslims and so=20
it is safe to assume that most of the people who went to border were=20
Muslims =96 besides, the minorities have never been aggressive in=20
Pakistan, and especially after mid seventies they lost any faith they=20
might have had in the justice system. In addition, they would not=20
want to take any risk in this charged atmosphere. <8. It was used in=20
Khwaja Khurshid Anwar's beautiful film, "Ghunghat." One of the finest=20
music director of South Asia, he gave music in Indian films and after=20
partition moved to Pakistan. He was multi-talented and made many=20
movies which he himself wrote, directed, and gave the music.

<9. Thackeray's party is one of the coalition partners in the central=20
government made up of about two dozen parties, the biggest is BJP or=20
Bhartiya Janata Party of Atal Behari Vajpayee. Basically, Thackeray=20
is a roguish communalist who is famous for issuing hateful and=20
provocative statements against the Muslim minority, Pakistan, and=20
against various ethnic groups. Though his street power is limited to=20
Mumbai, his political influence is slightly more. He openly boasts of=20
controlling the central government through "remote control." His hold=20
on Mumbai's film industry or Bollywood is phenomenal. He has also=20
successfully opposed holding of cricket matches in Bombay.

<10. Few years back, in the restroom at the Karachi airport, a person=20
gave me paper towels for wiping hands. I could have taken it myself,=20
but it was his way of earning a living; one cannot blame him. After=20
few hours, I was at the Bombay or Mumbai airport, where I had an=20
exactly similar experience. If I were a believer in telepathy, I=20
would have thought that this person's counterpart in Pakistan would=20
have given him the message to serve me.

<11. In 1984, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by=20
her Sikh bodyguards, more than 2,000 Sikhs were massacred, Rajiv=20
Gandhi, the successor and son of Indira, said, "when a big tree=20
falls, many suffers." In 1991, after the Babri Masjid was demolished,=20
more than 2,000 people were killed, mostly Muslims. In 2000, many=20
Christians were murdered and their churches were burnet down or=20
demolished. This year, more than 2,000 Muslims were massacred in=20
Gujarat.

<12. Robert Payne, "Massacre: The Tragedy at Bangladesh and the=20
Phenomenon of Mass Slaughter throughout History" (New York: The=20
Macmillan Company, 1973).

______

#2.

INDIA SABKA.
We, the citizens of India; have been watching in silence for a long=20
time. We have been watching the gradual indignity to which our land=20
has been subjected: the Rathayatra of 1990 and 1992 to the Babri=20
masjid demolition in 1992 to Bombay riots in 1992 and 1993 to Bombay=20
bomb blasts to the revival of Ram Janmabhoomi rhetoric in 2001-02 to=20
the Godhra train burning to the four month long carnage against=20
Gujarati Muslims to the attack on Akshardham temple. And we realise=20
that in this regime of violence in the name of religion, nobody, no=20
value, no work, no tradition is safe. We have realised that the=20
society which cannot provide security to its own minority community=20
is bound to fail as the moral and physical custodian of all its=20
citizens. As citizens we find it imperative to protest, and to defend=20
our multicultural, multilingual, and multireligious civilization.

This is our country, our abode, our neighbourhood, India sabka. Our=20
country is celebrated because it is not bigoted, and is instead a=20
cultivated, sophisticated and plural civilization. Let us protect=20
this national pride. We shall not allow anybody to snatch away our=20
heritage of multiplicity and plurality. We do not want to be orphans=20
in this culture of neo-Hindutva. Let us remember the national shame=20
of the Babri Masjid demolition on 6th December =B992 and pledge not to=20
let such an act happen again.

The voices of those who destroy are generally louder than those who=20
protect and those who build and create. But the time has come for the=20
silent majority to regain its voice and actively protect the=20
wonderful Hindustani heritage against the destructive powers.

Our weapon against violence will be our creativity, our protest will=20
be our art and our slogans will be our music. Please join us in the=20
India Sabka Youth Festival on 17th-18th December 2002 at the Rang=20
Bhavan, NirmalaNiketan, Patkar Hall, SNDT University, Churchgate.

Youth Competitions

1. Newspaper Front page Design
Theme : Date - 6th December 2002, Special 10th anniversary issue
Awards : Best entries will be published in leading news papers / Book=20
Coupons worth Rs. 10,000 /- from eminent publishers.

Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open to graduate and post graduate students of all discipline=
s.
Submission Format : White chart paper / The title of the news paper=20
will be ' INDIA SABKA' / The size of the paper should be 11.5 X 15.5=20
inches / The participants can work in groups of maximum 5 students /=20
The layout, number of articles, cartoons etc. will be decided by the=20
participants / Digital artworks or printouts permitted / Last date=20
for submission - 5/12/2002

2. Fiction Writing a fiction piece on multi- cuisine culture of India
Theme : 'The food that my neighbors eat=8A.'
Awards : Best entries will be published in leading magazines / Book=20
Coupons worth Rs. 10,000 /- from eminent publishers.

Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open for graduate and post graduate students of all disciplin=
es.
Submission Format : On A4 size papers / The text should not be more=20
than 3000 words / The form of writing can be of an essay, story,=20
verse, etc. / Last date for submission - 7/12/2002Newspap

3.Performance
Theme:'MumbaikarKaun?'
Awards : Best entries will be performed at the India Sabka Youth=20
Festival on the 17th - 18th December 2002 / A guided (expenses paid)=20
exposure trip of four days to Asian theatre festival, New Delhi in=20
January 2003.
Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open to students from all disciplines and youth=20
associated with social organisations.
To enroll : A Concept note with details like title of play, duration,=20
minimum technical requirements, etc. Maximum duration of the=20
performance or play should be 30 minutes / Maximum number of=20
participants should be 10 / The form of the performance or play can=20
also be dance, monologue, mime, etc. / Last date for submissions of=20
entries will be 1/12/2002 / Elimination rounds will be held in North=20
zone, South zone and Central zone on the 10th and 11th of December.=20
Venues will be announced at the time of submission.

4. Script for a Video Loop
Theme : Refer to the above images and text.
Awards : The winners will make the film with technicians provided by=20
Majlis between 3rd and 12th December. Production and distribution by=20
Majlis and premiere at the India Sabka Youth Festival on the 17th /=20
18th December 2002.
Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open only to graduate and post graduate students of=20
Mass media, Communication, Fine Arts and professionals below 25 years=20
of age.
Submission Format : Script or concept note in case of documentary /=20
The max. duration of the film should be 5 mins / The form of the film=20
can be documentary, fiction, commercial, awareness message, musical=20
or any other / Professional help not permitted except for script=20
writing. Each individual or group can give maximum two entries / Last=20
date for submission - 1/12/2002 5. Billboard Design

5. Billboard Design
Theme : India Sabka
Awards : Best entries will be displayed on billboards at prominent=20
locations Book Coupons worth Rs. 10,000 /- from eminent publishers

Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open to any one under 25 years of age.
Submission Format : On paper or CD / The sizes of the Bill Board are=20
60' X 20' and 50' x 7' feet
Last date for submission - 5/12/2002

6. Art Installation

Theme : Refer to the above images and text.
Awards : Best entries will be installed at prominent public spaces by=20
Open Circle.

Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open to only graduate and post graduate students of=20
Mass media and communication, Applied Art and Fine Art and=20
professionals below 25 years of age.

Submission Format : Sketch or CD with a break up of costs not=20
exceeding Rs.10,000/- and concept note / The installations have to=20
be designed for public spaces / The installations should be temporary=20
in nature and can be constructions, interactive, mobiles etc. / The=20
participants can work as Individuals or in collaboration / Last date=20
for submission - 3/12/2002The participants can work as Individuals=20
or in collaboration / Last date for submission =AD

7. Fielding a Question
Theme : The rights and responsibilities of the majority community=20
Awards : 20 entries will be selected for the debate on 17th Dec.=20
moderated by Barkha Dutt. All speakers will be awarded book coupons=20
worth Rs. 3,000/- each.
Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open to all under 25 yrs of age.
Submission Format : One question related to the topic on email or on=20
paper / The last date of sending the question is 2/12/2002 / Names of=20
selected speakers will be declared by 9/12/2002 and they should be=20
present at Patkar Hall, SNDT University, Churchgate on 17/12/2002,=20
2pm to take part in the final session.

8. Music Instrumental
Theme : Write lyrics and make a musical composition on 'India Sabka'.
Awards : Best entries will be recorded in a professional studio by=20
eminent sound technicians / Broadcasts on a radio channel
Rules and regulations
Eligibility : Open for graduate and post graduate students of all disciplin=
es.
To enroll : Details of format, duration, etc / The presentation=20
should be 5 to 10 minutes / The style of rendition can be classical,=20
Indian or Western contemporary, folk, fusion, remix, etc. / Last date=20
for submission of entries will be 25/11/2002 / Elimination rounds=20
will be held in North zone, South zone and Central zone on the 12th=20
December. Venues for this will be announced at the time of submission=20
of entries

POST ENTRIES TO :
India Sabka, A-2/4 Golden Valley, Kalina, Mumbai - 4000 98
Phone No: 26661252 / 26662394 Fax: 26668539 | Email:=20
indiasabka@y... | Website: www.opencirclearts.org
Include personal details of all participants - name, age, college,=20
stream, address, phone numbers and email

Youth Festival

17th December

FILM FESTIVAL
Patkar Hall, SNDT, Churchgate
Inaugurated by Mahesh Bhat and Pooja Bhat
2 pm - 3 pm

Music Competition Finalists
3 pm - 5 pm, Patkar Hall, SNDT, Churchgate
Shiamak Davar

Entry Free

5 pm - 6:30 pm, Churchgate Talk by Kapil Sabal

Prize Distribution of Competitions
by JOHN ABRAHAM

7: 30 Rang Bhavan

Alyque Padamsee's
Romeo & Juliet

Entry Free

18th
2 pm =AD 3.30 pm, Patkar Hall, SNDT, Churchgate=A0=A0=A0=A0

Fielding the Question with Barkha Dutt

TOPIC: THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAJORITY COMMUNITY (IN ENGLIS=
H)

4.00 pm - 6 pm, Patkar Hall, SNDT, Churchgate=A0

Plays and performance Finalists

6 pm - 6:30 pm

Prize Distribution of Competitions by AJAY DEVGAN

7: 30 Rang Bhavan

India Sabka concert by
Taufiq Qureshi and friends

Entry Free

STALLS FULL OF MASTI, NIRMALA NIKETAN COLLEGE
GROUND FLOOR, CHUCHGATE

Get your photo taken with Bhuvan & Zubeida

Be a DJ
Make your own T-shirt
Spare a thought for food
Draw a cartoon
Think a bit and improve your hair quality
Be the computer bug
Write a slogan and toast for India Sabka
and many other items with awesome prizes !

VIDEO ART & Art Installations
COMMITTEE ROOM, SNDT, CHURCHGATE
FILM FESTIVAL
11AM ONWARDS
H.T. PARIKH HALL, 8TH FLR, SNDT, CHURCHGATE

17TH
Great Dictator Charlie Chaplin 128 min
Zakhm Mahesh Bhat 123 min
I live in Behrampada Madhusree Dutta 46 min

18TH
Fahrenheit 451 Francois Truffaut 109 min
Boy in the Branch Lalit Vachani 30 min
Night and Fog Alain Resnais 30 min
Mammo Shyam Benegal 124 min

India Sabka organised by Majlis and Open Circle

_____

#3.

The Challenge of the Past

A special lecture by Prof. Krishna Kumar
based on his widely acclaimed book Prejudice and Pride

11 am on 23rd November, 2002

at Santa Cruz West Education Society=92s Taraben Master School
opposite Balkan-ji-Bari, Juhu Road, Santa Cruz West, Mumbai [India]

Long before children have the capacity to make sense of the past,=20
they are socialised into its many legacies. The past, dispensed as=20
history in the schoolroom, is a powerful form of acculturation that=20
shapes the response of individuals and societies to events in the=20
present.

Dr. Krishna Kumar, the well-known thinker on education in India, will=20
examine the socialising forces at work in early childhood and the=20
problems that arise later in adolescence in the context of studying=20
history as a subject. He will present an alternative vision of=20
education as a way of promoting amity, peace and prosperity between=20
people and nations.

The lecture will be followed by a question and answer session. Copies=20
of Prejudice and Pride will also be available at the venue.

The Challenge of the Past is part of bal vividha 2002 being held from=20
22nd to 25th November, 2002. The theme of the festival this year is=20
living in harmony with one another and with nature.

bal vividha 2002 is the fifth of Comet's annual festivals celebrating=20
alternative approaches to learning. The theme of the festival this=20
year is living in harmony with one another and with nature.

Comet organises bal vividha each year hoping to reach out to parents,=20
teachers, students, school managements and NGOs working in education=20
and others. That is, everyone who is looking for alternative ways of=20
enhancing the learning experience of children in formal and=20
non-formal settings should find something of interest here.

The highlights of bal vividha 2002 are:
=B7 a mela with over 20 interactive corners, exhibits where=20
children can learn through hands-on activities, conducted by=20
well-known educational institutions and NGOs. Children=92s literature,=20
educational toys and learning aids will also be on sale.
=B7 an amphitheatre with open-air performances: puppet shows,=20
street plays, slide shows and book readings.
=B7 a film festival=97the bal chitrapat mela featuring a=20
selection of films for children along with workshops on film making.
=B7 a special lecture by the well-known thinker on education=20
Professor Krishna Kumar, The Challenge of the Past.
=B7 the history of science exhibition from the Homi Bhabha=20
Centre for Science Education.
=B7 a mini-planetarium with a night sky programme from the=20
Nehru Planetarium.
=B7 a set of almost 50 learning workshops for teachers, teacher=20
trainees, NGO workers, parents and others, where leading experts will=20
pass on their skills and insights on various aspects of education.

For more information, phone 2369052 or 23826674 or visit our website=20
<http://www.cometmedia.org>www.cometmedia.org.
Please forward this to all your friends who may be interested

______

#4.

India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch (IPARMW) # 102
19 November 2002
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPARMW/message/113

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