[sacw] SACW | 28 August 02

Harsh Kapoor aiindex@mnet.fr
Wed, 28 Aug 2002 00:19:17 +0100


South Asia Citizens Wire | 28 August 2002

__________________________

#1. Bangladesh bans third Taslima book
#2. India: The march of the Right (V. Krishna Ananth)
#3. India: Who will clean up the Bhopal mess? (Fakir Hassen)
#4. In death as in life Ehsaan Jaffri symbolized India's battle with=20
fascism (Jawed Naqvi)
#5. India: Activists Workshop on Gujarat (29 Aug, Bombay)
#6. India: VHP to target film posters (Meena Misra)
#7. India: Book Announcement: 'Hindutva Lab : Untold and Retold=20
Stories of Gujarat' by John Dayal

__________________________

#1.

BBC
Tuesday, 27 August, 2002, 13:07 GMT 14:07 UK

Bangladesh bans third Taslima book

The authorities in Bangladesh have banned the latest novel by the=20
controversial exiled feminist writer, Taslima Nasreen.
The political parties use religion for their own interests and=20
whenever they find any criticism about religion, they can't tolerate=20
it
Taslima Nasreen Police have been told to confiscate all copies of=20
Wild Wind, after the Home Ministry declared its publication, sale and=20
distribution illegal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2218972.stm

_____

#2.

The Hindu
Aug 28, 2002
Opinion - Leader Page Articles=20=20=20=20

The march of the Right

By V. Krishna Ananth

Those on the other side are letting the communal-fascist forces=20
entrench themselves in the political discourse and expand making full=20
use of all the institutions in the democratic edifice.

IN THE autumn of 1944, Ulrich von Hassell, a former German Ambassador=20
to Rome and a courageous anti-Nazi, was executed in the aftermath of=20
the July plot, an attempt to kill Hitler by exploding a bomb in the=20
conference hall of a Prussian fortress where he was in a meeting. The=20
plot failed. In accordance with an ancient German law, Ulrich's=20
daughter, Fey von Hassell, who was married into a prominent Italian=20
family (and living on their estate near Venice), was picked up as a=20
"special prisoner" of the SS. She and several others including the=20
famous Pastor of the Bekenntniskirche (the confessional church),=20
Martin Niemoller, were shuttled across Hitler's burning empire in=20
trucks and cattle cars.

Fey von Hassell, by no means a committed anti-fascist, survived to=20
write "A Mothers War". Recalling Hitler's birthday celebration on=20
April 20, 1937, hosted by her father (the then German Ambassador to=20
Rome), Fey notes: "Ettel, the chief Nazi among the German residents,=20
has obviously learned the whole of Mein Kampf by heart. It states=20
that the best method of persuasion is to hammer the same slogans over=20
and over again into people's heads. Ettel's idiotic speech consisted=20
of an incredibly boring recital of Hitler's public appearances..."=20
She then stresses: "Unfortunately, most people there did not see how=20
absurd the whole affair was."

This, in a sense, seems to be the reality today. The articulate=20
sections of our society and even a section within the political=20
stable, with years of political experience (including those who were=20
victims of authoritarian terror themselves), are now celebrating=20
every time the state is revealing its oppressive claws; taking it out=20
against those holding political views other than that of the=20
establishment. Take for instance the recent detention and deportation=20
of a few activists linked to the Maoists (in Nepal). There was not=20
even a whimper of protest from any quarter in the mainstream=20
political establishment. The deported men also happened to include=20
journalists known to be fighting against the "end" of democracy in=20
Nepal. Similarly, the refrain recently by the BJP leader from Tamil=20
Nadu, L. Ganesan, on the detention of the MDMK chief, Vaiko. Mr.=20
Ganesan termed the use of POTA against Mr. Vaiko as a case of abuse=20
of the law; he went on to describe the MDMK leader as a patriot=20
beyond doubt simply because he was unflinching in his support to the=20
May 11-13 nuclear tests and then the weaponisation programme, the=20
Kargil saga and the steps initiated by the Union Government in the=20
aftermath of December 13, 2001.

In other words, the message was clear: that POTA and its provisions=20
can be invoked, any day, against all those who oppose militarism as a=20
political enterprise. Following from this, those opposed to the=20
nuclear adventure and those who stand up for peace in the region=20
(particularly with Pakistan) are vulnerable to being branded as=20
anti-national and detained under POTA.

The same mindset is behind the construction that those who view=20
Narendra Modi's recommendation for elections in Gujarat (earlier than=20
scheduled) as a cynical manipulation of the democratic edifice are=20
part of a conspiracy to deprive Gujarat of peace. The strategy here=20
is to first redefine such concepts as nationalism and democracy from=20
a point of view that suits the ruling ideology (in this case the=20
majoritarian world view), reducing them to mere slogans in the=20
process, and then appropriate them to suit partisan interests. This=20
indeed is the rhetoric indulged in by L. K. Advani in Parliament=20
accusing the Opposition of conspiring to prevent Mr. Modi from=20
seeking the people's mandate.

"Going-to-the-people", after all, is the ultimate in a democratic=20
set-up. But then, history is replete with instances when individuals=20
and platforms had managed to distort democracy beyond redemption by=20
resorting to the slogan of "let-the-people-decide" in a context=20
witnessing a crisis of political legitimacy. The fact that the BJP's=20
fascination for early elections in Gujarat emanates out of its plan=20
to cash in on the communal polarisation (and the siege mentality that=20
has afflicted the minority community quite naturally after the=20
massive violence against it during March 2002) is sought to be pushed=20
under the carpet by its pretensions to democratic values. The rise of=20
the Nazis in Germany and the Fascists in Italy making use of the=20
economic crisis leading out of the Wall Street crash is an experience=20
that cannot be forgotten. The National Socialists destroyed the Third=20
Reich (the bourgeois democratic edifice in Germany) by making full=20
use of all the institutions that existed then; the point is that they=20
were able to destroy the Reich's foundations too once they took over=20
the edifice. This they could do by pretending to be the most=20
democratic of all the parties of the time. The Narendra Modi project=20
in Gujarat is no different.

While informed sections among the articulate middle classes may agree=20
(even if they do so grudgingly) that the apprehensions over the BJP's=20
agenda are just not visceral and may find some parallels between=20
these developments in India - the curtailment of civil rights, the=20
redefinition of nationalism and patriotism from the majoritarian=20
standpoint and the enterprise of reducing such concepts as democracy=20
and the "people's right to decide" into slogans - and the events that=20
led to the fascist takeover in Europe during the 1920s, the tragedy=20
is that the political stable continues to be occupied by those who=20
ignore the larger crisis.

Take, for instance, the spectrum of parties in the Opposition=20
(barring the Left to a certain extent); even while attempting to=20
resist the BJP's game plan in Gujarat, such parties as the Congress,=20
the Samajwadi Party, the Telugu Desam and the DMK refused to resist=20
the temptation, whenever the opportunity came, of indulging in=20
dangerous games such as war mongering (read Pakistan-bashing) or even=20
playing ball with the Right on some other occasions. An instance of=20
this kind in recent times was the decision by the Madhya Pradesh=20
Government to order the closure of the Hoshangabad Science Teaching=20
Programme that was in vogue in all Government-run middle schools in=20
two districts (and also in select schools elsewhere in the State) run=20
by a group called Ekalavya, only because the Chief Minister, Digvijay=20
Singh, had received complaints against them from a BJP MLA. The=20
Digvijay Singh Government is guilty, in a way, of the same acts as=20
the Murli Manohar Joshi regime; distorting the curriculum to serve=20
the right-wing agenda.

It is this inability of the Opposition parties (or is it their own=20
approach to politics that is innocent of ideology?) that should raise=20
concern. While the right wing is clear about its agenda and the=20
battle lines are drawn so clearly, those on the other side are=20
letting the communal-fascist forces entrench themselves in the=20
political discourse and expand making full use of all the=20
institutions in the democratic edifice. That they have been able to=20
succeed in a big way in destroying some of the critical aspects of=20
the democratic project in the course of this - the curtailment of=20
civil liberties in much the same way as Indira Gandhi could do for a=20
short while from June 25, 1975, - is something that cannot be glossed=20
over.

The consequences of such short-sightedness could lead the nation into=20
a perilous course that provoked Carl Friedrich Goerdeler, one of the=20
leaders of the civilian resistance against Hitler, to note before his=20
execution: "May the world and the Germans take my own and my friends'=20
deaths as a penance for the sins that have been committed under the=20
Swastika".

_____

#3.

Who will clean up the Bhopal mess?

By Fakir Hassen

Rashida Bee, a survivor of the Bhopal gas tragedy, is at the Earth=20
Summit, carrying a broom. Bee, who has been campaigning ceaselessly=20
for justice for the Bhopal victims, hopes to hand over the broom to=20
the head of multinational Dow Chemicals, in a symbolic suggestion=20
that they clean up the mess they've left behind
=09=20
=20=20=09=20
Rashida Bee, a survivor of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, carries a=20
broom when she speaks at meetings in Johannesberg linked to the World=20
Summit on Sustainable Development beginning August 26.

Bee, who lost most of her family in the gas leak that killed hundreds=20
that very night, is one of the activists taking part in the Global=20
Peoples Forum organised by civil society to run parallel with the=20
10-day summit.

She hopes to be able to hand the broom over to the head of=20
multinational company Dow Chemicals -- which took over Union Carbide=20
-- as a symbolic move to suggest they should sweep away the mess his=20
company left behind in Bhopal.

Her weathered features show the battle Bee has waged for years in an=20
attempt to get justice for the victims of the Bhopal tragedy, the=20
world's worst industrial disaster.

Union Carbide owned the Bhopal pesticide plant, which emitted tonnes=20
of lethal methyl iso-cyanate (MIC) gas in the heart of the central=20
Indian city on the night of December 2-3, killing about 1,750 people=20
instantly. The death toll has since climbed to several thousands and=20
left many more maimed for life. Activists say the victims have not=20
been adequately compensated for their suffering.

Dow Chemicals later took over Union Carbide's assets but refused to=20
accept responsibility for its liabilities in respect of Bhopal.

As the head of the Gas Peedith Mahila Stationery Karamchari Sangh=20
(Gas-Affected Women's Stationery Workers' Association) in Bhopal, Bee=20
promotes the cause of women who were most seriously affected by the=20
gas leak.

"Now 18 years later, we are still finding children being born without=20
lips, noses or ears. Sometimes complete hands are missing, and women=20
have severe reproductive problems. The result is that women are=20
discriminated against through no fault of their own," Bee told a=20
gathering at the Brixton mosque here after Friday prayers.

She emphasised they are not looking for South African and world=20
support through financial contributions only, but also for moral=20
support to strengthen their case against Dow Chemicals.

"On August 15 we launched the 'Jaroo Maro Dow' (Hit Dow with a Broom)=20
campaign in India. This is to remind Dow Chemicals that it has a lot=20
of mess to clean up in Bhopal. It has to clean up the contamination;=20
take responsibility for long-term medical care, economic=20
rehabilitation of the people and answer the criminal charges that it=20
has inherited from Union Carbide," said Bee.

"We want to hand over this broom to Bill Stavrapoulus, president of=20
Dow, who is expected to play a major role at the Earth Summit through=20
his involvement in the World Business Council on Sustainable=20
Development."

Bee also addressed a gathering attended by a number of delegates from=20
all over the world who have arrived here to participate in the Global=20
People's Forum.

She was joined by Satinath Sarangi, who was so moved by the Bhopal=20
deaths that he gave up his studies at Benaras University to go and=20
help there as a volunteer. He ended up establishing the Sambhavna=20
Clinic in Bhopal.

Sarangi explained how the clinic faced tremendous difficulties=20
because Union Carbide would not release the findings of research=20
studies into the gas leak and its effects.

"It has done many tests that remain unpublished on the claim that=20
they are trade secrets. Because of that there is no treatment, except=20
for irrational drugs being used in Bhopal.

"We are trying non-drug therapies like yoga and ayurveda, which we=20
are finding very effective. We are using a combination of modern=20
medicine with it while we undertake the research that has been=20
abandoned by everyone, including the Indian government."

Sarangi said girls affected as teenagers in 1984 were now=20
experiencing a range of reproductive health problems, including=20
menopause coming in as early as 25 or 30.

(Indo-Asian News Service)

_____

#.4

DAWN
27 Aug 2002

In death as in life Ehsaan Jaffri symbolized India's battle with fascism

Jawed Naqvi

At the end of his lecture to a rightwing Hindu group that invites him=20
religiously on every Independence Day as a symbolic Muslim guest,=20
Maulana Waheeduddin Khan broke into tears. "I hope and pray to=20
Almighty Allah that this country comes out from its fathomless=20
difficulties. I hope and pray that the walls of hatred will come down=20
and people will live in harmony with each other," said the aging man=20
of God before handing over the microphone to Ashok Singhal, who we=20
all know as the head of the rabid and essentially fascist Vishwa=20
Hindu Parishad group.
Just before winding up, the Maulana had finished recounting for his=20
scarcely interested audience the number of times the Holy Quran=20
refers to Insaan and how many times to Annas. He tried to argue that=20
from these references it was clear that Islam was all about human=20
beings and about fellowship between people, Insaan and Annas.
"Utter nonsense," proclaimed Singhal without losing a moment, even=20
before the Maulana had finished wiping his last tear. "I carry this=20
piece of paper every day of the year. It contains verses from the=20
Quran," Singhal thundered. Then he read something from a single sheet=20
of paper on which paragraphs were typed in Hindi. "It says here=20
clearly that a Muslim should kill a kafir when he sees one."
The heads nodded in approval at this "unmasking" of the true face of=20
Islam. Maulana Waheedudin squirmed. The function over, he shook hands=20
with Singhal and they went their different ways.
Not many years ago, there was a poet, a Muslim poet, who was not too=20
happy with Islam either. But he had a different way, and clearly a=20
different motive for, putting across his point of view.
Sab tere siwa kafir, akhir iska matlab kya?
Sar phira de insaa'n ka aisa khabtey mazhab kya?
(Everyone except you is an infidel, how stupid can you get? What is=20
this obsession you have with religion, this silly fascination that=20
seems to have gotten to your head?)
Yas Yagana Changezi, the Urdu poet, was tormented and tortured by his=20
predominantly Muslim, orthodox clerical Muslim, detractors for=20
speaking his mind.
In the United States the University of North Carolina chose a book=20
about Islam as summer reading for incoming freshmen this fall.
The school's critics object that the book selected by UNC,=20
Approaching the Quran: The Early Revelations by Michael A. Sells, is=20
a sanitized view of the religion, leaving out those parts of the text=20
that advocate slaying of infidels. The author, in fact, has explained=20
that he purposely concentrated on older sections of the text that=20
don't deal with violence.
This particular point of view is apparently supported by the=20
Christian Science Monitor: "It's hard to imagine that student=20
discussions won't delve into the contrast between what they've read=20
and radical Islamists' call for jihad against perceived enemies of=20
Islam. That's a useful discussion. Some students may recognize=20
parallels in their own sacred texts - for example, grimmer sections=20
of the Old Testament versus passages like the 23rd Psalm.
"Those who would keep students from gaining some insight into Islam=20
have to take care they're not mirroring the intolerance they profess=20
to abhor. Learning about another religion should be no threat to=20
one's own. It should give a broader understanding of mankind's search=20
for the divine," said the CSM recently.
At any rate, going by Singhal's argument that Islam preaches hatred=20
of kafirs, an idea that is fast gaining ground in the West too, the=20
mobs in Gujarat should have targeted the groups of Muslims who are=20
supposed to be preaching hatred. But Singhal's men killed Ehsaan=20
Jaffri in Ahmedabad on Feb 28. Jaffri was not calling for the murder=20
of kafirs. He did not even subscribe to the idea of kafirs as=20
distinct from other fellow humans.
They first beheaded him, then cut him into pieces and finally set his=20
remains on fire. Some of Jaffri's close relatives were similarly=20
dealt with. It was ironical. All of us knew what was going on in=20
Gujarat that day, at approximately the same time as the nation was=20
riveted to the budget speech of Yashwant Sinha in parliament.
It was only after the speech was over, well past 12 midnight, when=20
politicians decided that it was time they also looked at what was=20
happening in Gujarat. When they subsequently met to discuss Gujarat,=20
not a word on the 73-year-old Jaffri's death came from the government=20
or the speaker, a courtesy usually shown when fellow parliamentarians=20
pass away.
Jaffri was elected Congress MP from Ahmedabad when Indira Gandhi, his=20
very own leader, was routed in the 1977 elections. Before that he was=20
a communist trade unionist. He was also the secretary of the=20
Progressive Writers' Association, an organization that still remains=20
officially banned for whatever good reasons Nehru saw in his decision.
Jaffri's book of verse is called Qandeel, (The Lamp.) Published in=20
1994, it is a collection of his poems from the time of his=20
association with progressive writers. It carries a forward by Majrooh=20
Sultanpuri, himself a notable progressive poet.
The book was sent to me by Mohammad Hasan Jauhar, a leftist social=20
worker, who said it was the last copy available with Jaffri's widow.=20
Jauhar is a banker by profession. He and his wife have called off=20
their migration to New Zealand to help found an organization in=20
Ahmedabad to tend to the victims of the pogrom. It is called Society=20
for the Promotion of Rational Thinking. Its main purpose is to keep=20
the influence of mullahs minimal in the relief operations, a tough=20
call made tougher by the Hindu right's assault on the liberal face of=20
India - Muslim, Christian, Hindu Sikh doesn't matter.
Thanks to the book I am able to put a face to the name that has been=20
haunting so many of us. Jaffri appears to be in his mid-50s in the=20
picture. A dark jacket and a tie, worn around a crumpled collar,=20
intense eyes, a full but graying crop of hair, neatly combed with a=20
side parting and a clean-shaven face. He could pass for a cousin of=20
Kundan Lal Sehgal.
As the poems would tell you, Jaffri was no narrow-minded religious=20
bigot. From what we gather he was a communist romantic and,=20
therefore, an atheist. His house was burnt down twice during communal=20
violence in Gujarat. In the violence of 1969 he spent some time in=20
refugee camps.
Singhal's bigoted notion of Islam and Waheeduddin Khan's romantic=20
idea of a Muslim have little to do with Jaffri's reality, as they do=20
indeed with a majority of Muslims both in India and abroad. Yes, at=20
times Jaffri could be accused of maudlin nationalism, the kind, for=20
example, that Arundhati Roy would reject.
Here's one example from Jaffri's nationalist personality, which only=20
heightens the irony of his lynching:
Geeton Se Teri Zulfon Ko Meera Ne Sanwara
Gautam Ne Sada Di Tujhe Nanak Ne Pukara
Khusro Ne Kai Rangon Se Daaman Ko Nikhara
Har Dil Mein Muhabbta Ki Ukhuwat Ki Lagan Hai
Ye Mera Watan Mera Watan Mera Watan Hai
Jaffri was an anti-nuclear peace campaigner too. In this poem he=20
commands a young man to join the battle against a conspiracy being=20
hatched to make a bomb. If this poem was published in 1994, and there=20
is no date given to suggest it could be older, then Jaffri was=20
acutely aware of an issue that had not yet engaged the attention of=20
many a latter-day peacenik.
Aye Nau Jawan
Kya Khabar Hai Tujhey
Tu To Befikr Apney Hathon Mein
Phoolon Ka Ghuncha Liye
Pur Amn Sadak Par Gaatey Huey
Gungunatey Huey
Apni Shaffaf Kanchan Si Ankhon Mein
Aaneywaley Haseen Lamohon Ki Jhalak
Basaaye Huey
Kharama Kharama
Shaadman Chala Ja Raha Hai
Shaadman Chala Ja Raha Hai
Ghar Par Tere
Nigahein Sadak Par Bichchaye Huey
Muntazir Hai Koi
Tere Liye
Aur Khush O Khurram
Tanomand Beta Tera
Apni Maa Key Zanoo Par Kasmasaye Huey
Chamkti Hui Apni Aankhon Mein
Neeley Aakash Ke
Saarey Tarey Basaye Huey
Aur Apni Masoom Hasti Ki
Dilkash Khushbuein
Fiza Mein Rachaye Huey
Chahchaha Raha Hoga - Papa Papa
Aur Tu Soch Raha Hoga Ki Tu
Yekayak Pahonch Kar
Apni Mehabooba Ki Zulfo'n Mein
Saja Dega Phoolon Ka Ghuncha
Aur Apney Lakhtey Jigar Ko
Apni Baaho'n Mein Bhar Lega Tu
Magar Kya Khabar Hai Tujhey Ai Nau Jawaan
Kaisi Saazish Ho Rahi Hai
Tere Peechchey
Apni Is Haseen Duniya Ko
Jahaan Hum Sab Ke Ghar Hain
Jin Gharon Mein
Hamari Mehboobanein Apney Bachcho'n Ko Liye
Ghar Ki Dahleezon Par Sar Lagaye Huey
Khwabon Ki Duniyaen
Sajaaye Bhaithee Hain
Aur Hamari Munatzir Hain
Pal Bhar Mein Sab Khatm Ho Jayega
Kaisi Saazish Ho Rahi Hai
Aitam Bum Banaye Ja Rahey Hain
Abhi Waqt Hai
Waqt Baqi Hai Kuchch Karney Ke Liye
Apney Khwabon Se Bahar Nikal
Aur Qabl Iskey Ki Atum Bum Girein
Gharon Par Hamarey
Hoshiyar Ho Jaao
Abhi Waqt Baqi Hai
Ghar Bachaney Ke Liye.

____

#5.

FORUM OF ACIVISTS FOR CHANGE AND EMPOWERMENT
(FACE)
11, SUJATA NIWAS, S.V.ROAD, BANDRA WEST, MUMBAI- 50
Tel: 6555789. 6433933 fax: 6422110 Email: cahr@v...

August 12, 2002

Dear Friends & Colleagues

Greetings,

The carnage that swept across Gujarat in the 'aftermath' of the=20
Godhra tragedy is still fresh in our minds. We have read all the=20
reports in every newspaper and seen all the news channels. We are=20
anguished by the hatred and mistrust spread there. We are overwhelmed=20
by the sheer magnitude of brutality and display of barbarism against=20
the minorities. The situation cannot be normal and conducive for=20
holding an election as acknowledged by any sane person or the media.=20
But still the ruling state and the central governments proclaim=20
normalcy and demand election. With communal divide and polarization=20
complete with and through the recent riots, they hope to reap success=20
in the election if it is held at the earliest.

We are all too familiar of the rise of fascism on the path of Nazism=20
in the first half of this century. The shrewd manipulators spread the=20
poison of ethnic supremacy under the garb of nationalism, erected=20
concentration camps and gas chambers for imperialist ambitions=8A. Even=20
today, we are faced with a similar shrewd manipulative and=20
well-planned disciplined propaganda in our society, the cunning=20
manipulators forcing a back-door entry in our country and spreading=20
the ethnic supremacy poison called "Hindutva-ism." Disseminated in=20
the name of nationalism, this 'ism' should be recognized as fascism=20
and fought with an explicit agenda. But, during the last two decades=20
fascism is almost raising its ugly head by spitting the poison of=20
communalism, nationalism, and casteist supremacy. Unfortunately, many=20
are unable to recognise it. Our Gujarati Dalits, minorities and=20
Adivasis have been converted into frogs and rats and dissected in the=20
laboratory of fascism. At the same time the eyes and wings of our=20
intellectuals and middle class were flying in the jazzy skies of=20
liberalization and globalization. On the one hand, our students and=20
youth believe that 'politics' is' dirty' and 'untouchable'; while on=20
the other hand, they are actively engaged in anti-reservation=20
agitation, communal riots, Ram rath yatras, and mass meetings and=20
demonstrations for Hindutva mobilization.
After the communal mobilization and polarization, as successfully=20
proved by the communal carnage for many months now, the communal=20
forces are ready to reap the fruits of years of their labor through=20
their fascist laboratory. If and when it succeeds, it will=20
undoubtedly be on their national agenda. In this context what is our=20
duty and role as the citizens of this secular and democratic country.=20
Hence FACE, a forum for mutual support and solidarity for the social=20
activists in Mumbai, in association with Bombay Urban Industrial=20
league for Development (BUILD), an urban social action group involved=20
in Mumbai for 29 years, is organizing a planning meeting on the theme=20
"Gujarat Elections: challenges before the secular and democratic=20
forces" on August 29, 2002 at Diocesan Pastoral Centre. The details=20
and tentative program schedule is attached. Your participation and=20
presence for this meeting will be highly appreciated. For further=20
details and confirmation please contact the undersigned at the above=20
given address and contact phone numbers.
Thanking you and looking forward to your Solidarity and Support

Mr.S.M.Doss
Prof. Jalinder Adsule
(CONVENORS)

Workshop for Social Activists

Theme: "Gujarat Elections: Challenges before the secular and democratic for=
ces"
Date: August 29, 2002 Time : 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Venue: Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 4, Kane Road, Bandra West
Opp.Mount Mary Church, Mumbai - 50

Programme Schedule
4.00 pm: Arrival & Tea
4.15 pm: Welcome & Introduction Mr. Maria Doss
4.25 pm: Orientation through video show -
5.00 pm: " Gujarat Riots: a manifestation of laboratory of=20
communal a fascism"
Ms. Asuntha,=20
5.25 pm: Audience Response
6.00 pm: "Gujarat Elections and its political implications to=20
the country"
Mr. Dolphy D' Souza
Dr. Uday Mehta
6.50 pm: Audience Response
7.00 pm: " Gujarat Elections & The challenges for the Democratic forces"
Justice H. Suresh,
7.30 pm: Our response - Group action plan Dr. Jalinder Adsule

**********
Organised by Forum of Activists for Change and Empowerment (FACE)

In association with
Bombay Urban Industrial League for Development ( BUILD)
Endorsing Organisations
CHANGE, CAHR, CRH, SALOKHA

_____

#6.

THE TIMES OF INDIA
AUGUST 27, 2002

VHP to target film posters
MEENA MISRA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2002 1:18:16 AM ]
KANPUR: After Valentine's Day and New Year celebrations, posters of=20
film stars will be the next target of the cultural police of Vishva=20
Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Concerned about the increasing 'cultural pollution' with vulgar films=20
and also the western impact, the VHP has resolved to inspire Hindus=20
families to display pictures of great Indian leaders, heroes of=20
freedom struggle and Hindu gods in their houses to save the young=20
generation from the western culture.
Earlier, the VHP and other Hindu organisations had raised protests=20
against celebrations on Valentine's Day and New Year, as, according=20
to them these kind of events promoted western culture and=20
contaminated young Indian minds.
The newly elected office bearers of the executive committee of Vishwa=20
Hindu Parishad for Kanpur held a meeting here on Monday to ponder=20
over the challenges before Hindutava. The new secretary of the VHP=20
for the region, Kamal Kishore Gupta expressed concern at the growing=20
impact of western lifestyle among the young girls and boys of Hindu=20
families in the country and stated that Hindi films and western=20
electronic channels were showing 'polluted cultural dirt' in the=20
houses of Hindus. He called upon the VHP workers to come forward to=20
curb the increasing cultural pollution and protect the young=20
generation.
The VHP leaders said it was a matter of grave concern that the youths=20
of Hindu families consider filmstars as their role models and opined=20
that Hindu families should be inspired to remove the posters of film=20
stars from their houses.
It was also decided that teams of the VHP workers would appeal to=20
Hindus to display the posters and photographs of great Indian=20
warriors, noted thinkers, philosophers and heroes of freedom struggle=20
whose contributions towards the development of the country is=20
noteworthy. The VHP leaders opined that the younger generation must=20
know about the great Indian men and women instead of blindly going=20
after film stars.
Besides, the VHP leaders also resolved to start a dharma jagran yatra=20
from November 14 to December 15 in the whole of Kanpur to make people=20
aware about the e great Hindu values.

_____

#7.

MEDIA HOUSE
375-A, Pocket 2, Mayur Vihar Phase I, Delhi - 110 091.
Ph : 011-2750667, 2751317 Fax : 011-2757040
E-mail :=20
<mailto:indiancurrents@h...>indiancurrents@h...,=20
<mailto:indiancurrents@v...>indiancurrents@v...

Date : 27.08.2002

Dear ..,

The Indian Current Publications, the publishers of Indian Currents=20
National Weekly, in collaboration with Media House and Justice &=20
Peace Commission (JPC), Delhi, are happy to announce the publication=20
of the book Hindutva Lab : Untold and Retold Stories of Gujarat. It=20
is edited by the well known writer and human rights activist John=20
Dayal. This book, we are sure, will take its place as compulsive=20
popular reading, and a definitive reference book and information=20
manual on the shelves of international and national NGOs, government=20
agencies, University and academic libraries, Human Rights and Civil=20
Liberties groups, activists, advocacy networks, religious leaders and=20
religious freedom organisations, scholars and citizens who are=20
concerned at the growth of bigotry and communal polarization in=20
India. Attrocious events of this nature ought to be kept in memory=20
and in the annuls of history in order to achieve lasting peace and=20
harmony in our continent and in our world torn by strife and=20
conflicts. Keeping in memory what we human beings are capable of=20
doing to our fellow humans in animal fury would be a constant=20
reminder to us to work for peace and concord. We hope that this=20
publication would help in the long run to add at least a drop to=20
achieve a state of harmony, peace and fellowship.

On the eve of publishing this volume, which is about 1100 pages, we=20
seek your collaboration and cooperation to ensure that we can keep=20
the price as low as possible to reach out this very important=20
documentation to as many people, groups and institutions as possible.

We hope you will be able to support this cause by co-sponsoring this=20
project by placing an order for copies of this book at subsidiced=20
rates given below. The post publication price is Rs.495/- per copy.

Special Pre-publication rates :

1-10 copies : Rs.345/- per copy
11-20 copies : Rs.325/- per copy
21-50 copies : Rs.295/- per copy
51-100 copies : Rs.275/- per copy
101 and above: Rs.250/- per copy

The above rates are postage paid and this offer on e-mail is valid=20
upto 10th September 2002. A demand draft in favour of Media House,=20
Delhi should accompany every order and intimation on email in the=20
following addresses.

indiancurrents@h..., indiancurrents@v...

We look forward to your cooperation.

With warm regards,

Sr. Mary Scaria, Advocate
JPC, Delhi
Dr Xavier Vadakkekara
Media House, Delhi

About the Book:

Title : Hindutva Laboratory UNTOLD AND RETOLD STORIES OF GUJARAT

Edited by John Dayal

Published by Media House

JPC, Delhi, Media House, Delhi & Indian Currents

Pages : 1100

Price : Rs. 495/-

Date of Publication : 15.09.2002

Gujarat 2002 is a defining moment in Indian history. For the first=20
time, perhaps, the State itself is indicted in the mass murder of=20
Indian citizens. By mid August 2002, NGOs and peace groups have held=20
over 40 public enquiries. Ministers have testified before People=92 s=20
commissions that they attended meetings where chief minister Narendra=20
Modi told officials to let a backlash assume its full fury after the=20
burning of a train coach at the Godhra Station. The Indian Railways=20
have taken six months to release the list of passengers who had=20
reserved berths in that coach, and most of whom have remained=20
unscathed by the fatal fire, compounding the mystery of who triggered=20
massacre in the home state of Mahatma Gandhi. While an enquiry by=20
women NGOs and activists has painstakingly, and in chilling detail,=20
listed the atrocities against Muslim women, the worst victims of the=20
violence, others have documented the conspiracy to break the economic=20
backbone of the Muslim community. It was left to the National Human=20
Rights Commission, and the Chief Election Commissioner to understand=20
and comment on the total collapse of the state and the magnitude of=20
the tragedy that has befallen India and its people.

Told and Untold Stories put this violence in perspective, which began=20
on 27 February 2002 and was still continuing on Independence Day=20
2002. Carefully scrutinizing the dozens of People=92s report and non=20
formal investigations, this book documents the most thorough and=20
definitive reports, and juxtaposes them with the history of anti=20
Minority violence in Gujarat in recent years, beginning with the=20
tirade of hate against minorities which culminated in the wave of=20
anti Christian violence in 1998. Commentaries by some of India=92s=20
leading advocacy experts and activists in Human Rights and Civil=20
Liberties =96 among them Seema Mustafa, Ambrose Pinto, Shamsul Islam,=20
and Supreme Court advocate M P Raju and the introduction by John=20
Chathanatt - will help the reader understand why Gujarat happened,=20
and why it may be repeated, unless an awakened and enlightened people=20
act now to contain the neo nazi and fascist forces whose actions=20
threaten not just the world=92s biggest democracy, but world peace=20
itself.

Untold and Retold Stories of Gujarat would demand its place as=20
compulsive popular reading, and a definitive reference book and=20
information manual on the shelves of international and national NGOs,=20
government agencies, University and academic libraries, Human Rights=20
and Civil Liberties groups, activists, advocacy networks, religious=20
leaders and religious freedom organisations, scholars and citizens=20
who are concerned at the growth of bigotry and communal polarization=20
in India.

The Editor, John Dayal, Political Journalist, documentary film maker,=20
is known internationally for his documentation of the Emergency in=20
India (1975-77), the writings on Bhopal gas tragedy and the violence=20
against Sikhs and Christians, the violence in Palestine and in Sri=20
Lanka, and his critique of the growth of the Sangh Parivar in India.=20
He is a highly respected Human Rights and peace activist.

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

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