[sacw] SACW | 5 Feb. 03

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | February 5, 2003

#1. "Initiative for Peace: No war on Iraq" : Rally in Karachi (Ragni Kidwai=
)
#2. This Is No Time For War. (Angana Chatterji)
#3. Time is running out (Brian Cloughley)
#4. Letters to the Editor - DAWN - Jamali's advice to MMA (Shahid Anwar)
#5. Live from the mosh pit (Ruchir Joshi)
#6. British State and Hindutwa (Amrit Wilson)
#7. India: The victims of 1989 Bhagalpur riots and displacement facing evic=
tion
#8. Basant 2003 - A 4-day festival of Spring, Colour, Music &
Celebration February 6-9, 2003 New Delhi

__________________________

#1.

From: Ragni Kidwai in Karachi
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 21:00:44 +0500

[...]

We're organizing a rally titled "Initiative for Peace: No war on=20
Iraq" on Sunday 2nd March 2003, between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM Pakistan=20
Standard Time (+500 GMT). We plan to hold the rally at the beach and=20
get approximately 5000 people to attend.

The aim of the rally is to show our united disapproval of America's=20
stance on Iraq. In light of the current situation we feel that=20
millions of lives will be lost unnecessarily, and we as the members=20
of the majority world (and beyond) need to raise our voice against=20
this injustice.

If you support and believe in our cause, we want that you should=20
arrange similar rallies in your countries. Try and involve your=20
schools, friends, and the general public as much as possible. The=20
purpose is not only to get a large number of people to attend, but=20
mainly to show solidarity against the potential war in Iraq. The more=20
countries involved in this protest simultaneously, the greater the=20
impact.

Please contact us ASAP and tell us if you are willing to hold a=20
protest/walk-a-thon/vigil in your home country and if you need our=20
support during this process.

[...]
-ragni
(YIP karachi)

"Murder in uniform is heroic...
...in costume it is a crime"
-Sir Abbie Hoffman :)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Freedom is coming... Oh yes I know!
We who believe in freedom shall not rest until it comes (English)
Hum jo azaadi par yaqeen rakhte hain paaney tak naa thehreingey (Urdu)
Saamaya gana adahilla thiyana api eya enkal sitimu (Sinhalese)
Hami jo mukti ruchauchau haar mandainau napaya samaa (Nepali)
Amra jara shadhinotay bish-shash kori amra thambo naa (Bengali)
Nulibinee hen minivan madunukegey e nulibenees (Dhivehi)
Ngachey rangwa rangtse lu tse-medhewodhani maywong mathop tohenstewai=20
(Bhutanese)
Asee je azaadi ich yaqeen rakhey paan tak naa thehraangey (Punjabi)
Focus on South Asia- December 2002]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

URL: http://www.youth.initiativeforpeace.org
For information about YIP, email us at: <yip@i...>
or email me at: <ragni.kidvai@i...>

______

#2.

Op-Ed, The Daily Times, Lahore, February 04, 2003.

This Is No Time For War.
Angana Chatterji

I write this to echo a million voices resolutely calling for peace. I=20
write this in dismay as the United States prepares for another racist=20
and futile war. Why is this administration so eager to bomb Iraq? Is=20
it the insatiable, unsustainable hunger for oil? Is it its misguided=20
attempt to eradicate terrorism through enhanced state violence? Is=20
North Korea next? Iran? Where does it end? If President Bush scorns=20
the United Nations, ignores international criticism, and acts=20
unilaterally in Iraq, we will bear testimony to the continued=20
desecration of democratic process in the 21st century. In the current=20
global order the United States is failing to act for justice, peace=20
and real economic improvement. Democracy is a hollow phrase in these=20
times, bankrupt of meaning for those without privilege.

The United States is a magnificent land, of courage, freedom,=20
resilience, and enormous genius. It is as well an imperial democracy;=20
a state built on genocide and slavery, sustained through inequity and=20
dominance. It is a society divided by history, race, class, religion,=20
gender, and isolationism. Freedom here is made up of increasingly=20
private dreams that remain distant for so many. Freedom is a=20
condition to which they aspire, with their bodies, imaginations,=20
hopes. This nation relies on their labour, often forgetting its=20
promises to them.

The present government in the United States makes peace and justice=20
increasingly vulnerable. It has elected to assail civil rights and=20
affirmative action and remain inattentive to the suffering of Native=20
nations within its borders. The United States, 4.6 percent of the=20
world's population, houses 25 percent of the world's prisoners. 37.6=20
percent of those incarcerated are African-American males, even as=20
African-Americans are just 13 percent of the population. More than=20
300,000 women are raped each year. This government has supported the=20
campaign for a right-wing judiciary, and the privatisation of=20
healthcare and social security. It has exhibited contempt for=20
environmental sustainability and safeguards, remained silent on=20
affordable housing, and shown support for anti-abortion. This=20
government has blurred the lines between 'safety' and 'freedom'. The=20
ethnic profiling of Muslims, registration programs, searches and=20
detentions without charge or due process threaten the civil liberties=20
of all. Such disfigurement of human rights. This administration has=20
participated in the collapse of the economy, offered tax breaks to=20
the rich and inadequately addressed corporate crimes. In the last two=20
months the economy has lost 189, 000 jobs. There is a dramatic=20
increase in homelessness. 41.2 million remain without healthcare. The=20
country's foreign debt totals $2.5 trillion. The world's most=20
affluent nation is the largest defaulter to the United Nations owing=20
more than a billion dollars. Is war this administration's strategy to=20
divert public attention from domestic ills?

Amidst the staggering magnitude of internal disarray, the United=20
States struggles to create support for its war with Iraq. Stories of=20
imminent danger circulate freely. Yet, the dominant 'truths' that=20
American actions are beyond reproach, driven only by good intentions,=20
are frayed. The people are fatigued. Discontent reigns. The health of=20
the union is falling apart. In response, the administration advocates=20
irresponsible corporate and military globalisation that persists=20
through class wars, fomenting the very conditions that breed=20
despicable acts of terrorism.

'Shock and Awe'? 800 cruise missiles in two days to asphyxiate=20
Baghdad? The United Sates is bankrolling international support.=20
Turkey, a critical ally whose citizens are vigorously opposed to the=20
war, was offered a $16 billion loan through the International=20
Monetary Fund and a $4 billion grant. The United States is preparing=20
to attack Iraq not because there is substantial evidence of Iraq's=20
immediate danger to the 'free world', or because UN inspections=20
inscribe it. Neither can this war be a pretext for avenging the=20
horror of September 11. No convincing evidence links Iraq to al=20
Qaeda. The reason offered is that Iraq poses a long-term threat. Yes,=20
Saddam Hussein is contemptible. Yes, that regime must turn. But does=20
the Unites States reserve the right to bomb Iraq? Will the United=20
States sanction all states that attack each other based on potential=20
threat? What about other 'evil' regimes whose power the United Sates=20
is committed to enhancing? What about states whose foreign or=20
military policies the United States does not support? Such arrogance=20
of empire.

If there is a war, what of the aftermath? As the military withdraws=20
while innocent bodies are shovelled into mass graves, the living will=20
face new wars of poverty, disease and rage. Is the United States able=20
to honour its promises for a better tomorrow to those whose lands it=20
invades? Let us ask this of the women in Afghanistan today. What=20
about self-determination for the dispossessed in Iraq? Will the=20
United States uphold the demands of the Kurdish people for a separate=20
state in northern Iraq? Turkey would not approve. Let us remember how=20
the Kurdish people were abandoned to the slaughterhouse when the=20
first Bush administration retracted its support for the Kurds after=20
encouraging their revolt in Baghdad.

What will President Bush's war get America - more hatred? Is=20
violation the only intervention that nations can dream? Destruction=20
and brutalisation the only pathways to 'justice'? The Progressive=20
Caucus, co-chaired by Democrats Barbara Lee and Dennis Kucinich,=20
deserves America's support in its efforts to halt the government's=20
plans to play war without the consent of its people. Can the United=20
States uphold democracy elsewhere if it is incapable of practising it=20
within its borders?=20

Hundreds of thousands march in protest across the United States. Even=20
the corporate media is increasingly critical of Bush's plan. There is=20
no support for terrorism and little support for state terror. Broad=20
based coalitions for peace are emerging in strength. 'Code Pink' is=20
leading a women's delegation to Iraq. Even those frightened of the=20
wrath of their government refuse to let fear stifle protest. There is=20
a movement, growing, reverberating, louder and louder. Dissent,=20
palpable and enduring. This is no time for complicity. This is no=20
time for war.

o o o

[ see:
Code Pink : Womens's Pre-Emptive Strike For Peace
http://www.codepink4peace.org/codepink.html ]

______

#3.

The Daily Times
February 05, 2003=20
Op-ed: Time is running out

Brian Cloughley

Some years ago in Islamabad I drove to the Indian High Commission to=20
pick up the Air Attach=E9, a charming fellow, to take him to luncheon.=20
He got in the car and I carried on down Bank Road, on the side of=20
which there was stationed a line of cars. One of them fell in behind=20
and stayed with me as I turned right on to Constitution Avenue. I was=20
furious. How dare they tail me? So on reaching the roundabout where=20
you turn left to go to the Blue Area I drove round it. Right round=20
it. Seven times, indeed, until I overtook the spooks' car and scowled=20
at them and drove on. When remonstrating with the authorities I was=20
told the usual nonsense about there being no policy of following=20
diplomatic vehicles and so forth. So when I read that the Indian=20
Charge d'Affaires in Pakistan had been boxed in the other day by some=20
aggressively-driven cars I remembered my vexation. This is not the=20
courtesy that should be shown to any foreigner, never mind a=20
diplomat. It is plain downright rudeness. Further, it is provocative=20
and unnecessary.
Just as provocative and unnecessary as the previous day's silly=20
pooping off of a missile by India, and its firing the previous week=20
of another rocket whose development costs could better have provided=20
clean drinking water for a thousand hamlets. Or a few hundred=20
dispensaries. Or... well, almost anything peaceful and productive you=20
can think of, instead of a shiny and useless firework. The eyes of=20
the world are not fixed on India and Pakistan at the moment, and the=20
playground exchanges ("Yah boo, rockets to you!" "Boo yah, missiles=20
to you, too!") raise only sighs of frustration in foreign offices=20
round the globe.
But there is great and growing tension between India and Pakistan,=20
and the situation continues to be grave. Although the world is=20
concentrating on Iraq and the demented scheme to attack it, and on=20
North Korea and the contradictory US decision to provide it with aid=20
("a bold plan", says President George Bush) if its deranged leader=20
agrees to stop making nuclear bombs, the subcontinent remains an=20
extremely dangerous place because the Kashmir problem is as acute as=20
it ever was. Relations between India and Pakistan are appalling, and=20
Islamabad and New Delhi should be seeking ways to start talking=20
instead of tailgating diplomats and firing off rockets. The situation=20
is complicated by the US ambassador to Delhi whose utterances=20
invariably encourage the Indian media to ever greater heights of=20
anti-Pakistan passion. Controversial public pronouncements on=20
sensitive matters by such people do not help things one little bit.
Mind you, some of the Indian passion about Pakistan is warranted,=20
just as are Pakistan's criticisms of India for its official blessing=20
on the appalling Modi, a man whose place in the pantheon of racist=20
fanatics is guaranteed when he leaves this world. He and his=20
analogue, the equally intelligent, benevolent and caring Qazi Hussain=20
Ahmed, are the darlings of millions, and both have achieved power by=20
playing to the lowest common denominator. Mr Modi can thank the BJP=20
alliance for his continuing ascendancy (because they need his support=20
to stay in government), and Qazi Sahib should express gratitude to=20
President Musharraf in the same vein. It was, after all, the grievous=20
strategic error of neutralising the political machines of Benazir and=20
NS that led directly to the maulvis being in a position in which they=20
can improve the health and well-being of so many of Pakistan's=20
citizens by banning music and films. What a humanitarian advance, to=20
be sure, to the seventeenth century.
The time is approaching when neither country will have a government=20
that can propose unconditional dialogue with the other lest they be=20
seen as "giving in" by rabid extremists who are assuming more and=20
more influence concerning what central administrations can do in the=20
sphere of international relations. The influence of the loonies is=20
not critical - yet - to the future of India and Pakistan. But if the=20
slide to extremism continues it may become impossible for national=20
governments to take any initiative without approval of the very=20
people to whom dialogue, moderation, consultation, compromise and=20
rapprochement are anathema. What jolly times lie ahead. But there is=20
a partial solution to at least one of the problems. This involves=20
monitoring of the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
New Delhi insists that infiltration by armed bandits continues from=20
Pakistan-administered Kashmir to Indian-administered Kashmir. It may=20
well be so. Pakistan insists that no such thing occurs, and I don't=20
believe this, although I know that efforts are being made to stop it.=20
But there is abundant evidence that armed men have crossed over for=20
years and although the number has been reduced (as India has noted)=20
there is still a degree of infiltration. This could be detected (and=20
thus stopped) by US technical means in support of a greatly increased=20
number of UN Observers along the LoC. It would be simple to put a UN=20
monitoring system in place. Pakistan is in favour of it. India is not.
The US states it will not engage in the Kashmir dispute. Why? It=20
pokes its nose into everything else around the world, so why not=20
Kashmir? The Kashmir question is still very much on the books of the=20
UN Security Council. If the Bush administration is so intent on=20
spreading peace and eradicating terrorism, why does it not call a=20
Council meeting on Kashmir in which there is lack of peace and=20
abundance of terrorism? The UN, demands Mr Bush, must "show=20
backbone". But the reason backbone has not been displayed about=20
Kashmir is that American administrations have actively discouraged=20
international engagement on the subject.
There is intriguing inconsistency on Washington's part concerning=20
situations that could lead to nuclear war. The situation in the=20
subcontinent is more of a threat to mankind than the posturing of Kim=20
Jong Il and the unnecessary, Bush-induced, "crisis" of Iraq. First of=20
all there must be demonstrations of goodwill on both sides of the=20
border and Line of Control. Mr Bush keeps saying that "time is=20
running out" for Mr Saddam Hussein, and it seems he is intent on war=20
at any cost. But unless India and Pakistan cease childish slanging=20
matches, and there is major involvement of the UN in the Kashmir=20
dispute - which can happen if Mr Bush chooses to influence the UN -=20
then time could well run out for the sub-continent, too.

______

#4.

Letters to the Editor - DAWN
04 February 2003

Jamali's advice to MMA

Although Jinnah and Iqbal had referred to Islam as a progressive,=20
democratic and dynamic force on a number of occasions, does it mean=20
that their vision resembled the conservative and static view of Islam=20
held by the mullahs (as Iqbal himself called them)?
Dr Javed Iqbal recently stated that his father never intended to have=20
a state dominated by the ulema "with their savage recipe". In this=20
backdrop the prime minister's advice to the MMA has provoked an=20
emotive debate over the role of religion in politics.
It is ironic enough that those who opposed the creation of Pakistan=20
on religious grounds have been at pains, on the very same ground, to=20
'prove' that Pakistan was achieved to enforce their version of Islam.
After the death of the Father of the Nation, the leadership of the=20
Pakistan Muslim League, because of its own weaknesses, gave way to=20
religious parties. It was a political bargain, not a meeting of the=20
minds, between the religious and the political elite. This opened the=20
door for doctoring history with the collaboration of the state=20
apparatus.
Since the Objectives Resolution 1949, the rightist conservative=20
groups have incrementally gained disproportionate leverage through=20
manoeuvres in the name of Islam and the ideology of Pakistan. Zia=20
years saw the culmination of the coalition between religious elements=20
and the establishment. No post-Zia regime could dare reverse the=20
process.
However, the aftermath of 9/11 has brought to us our moment of truth=20
to make a fateful choice: whether we follow an enlightened and=20
progressive course as per the vision of Jinnah and Iqbal, or take on=20
a retrogressive way leading to self-destruction. Had we taken a wise=20
course, we would have not been exposed to humiliating questions of=20
the Americans: whether you are with us or against us? This situation=20
was the direct fallout of our obsession with the romantic notions=20
related to our identity, ideology and role in the world.
What is in store for us after Iraq? We are being 'reminded' of our=20
'unfulfilled pledges' by the US State Department. As a=20
self-respecting nation, we should not have to be told by others about=20
'the right path'. However, I am afraid we might be forced yet again=20
to 'rediscover' Jinnah's progressive and liberal vision - as a refuge.
Let us decide whether we want 'Talibanism' or the vision of our=20
founding fathers. It's better to come out with clear conscience than=20
being perceived as taking a U-turn under external pressure. Let us=20
put our own house in order before it is too late.
SHAHID ANWAR
Toba Tek Singh

______

#5.

The Hindustan Times
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
=20=20=09=20
Live from the mosh pit
By Ruchir Joshi
The recent 'debate' carried out in this newspaper between Nadira=20
Naipaul and Tarun Vijay (Query for Lady Naipaul, Jan. 11; It feels=20
like I am back in Pakistan: Nadira, Jan. 12; =8Aas Lady Naipaul misses=20
the point, Jan. 27) would have made for unadulterated hilarity were=20
it not for the reality it obfuscated.

Not unlike the obscenely choreographed WWE wrestling matches on TV,=20
what ensued was farcical yet macabre. It's worth taking a look at=20
what lies behind the fake flips, neck holds and knee-crunches.

On the surface, Srimati Naipaul publicly asked L.K. Advani a 'brave'=20
question - why must Indian Muslims be expected to have Ram and Sita=20
in their hearts? Tarun Vijay,

editor of the RSS paper Panchjanya, took exception to this question=20
and in return asked Nadira (defined by Vijay as a "non-Indian" and a=20
"non-Hindu") why Indian Muslims couldn't love Ram and Sita along with

figures of their own faith. At first glance all this seems very=20
civilised: Lady N. asking a perfectly good question to the deputy=20
prime minister in these times when questioning people in power is=20
getting rarer and rarer; Tarun Vijay, the perfectly

reasonable debater, then replying: "Agreed, Allah is great and=20
merciful, but=8A a Muslim need not feel apologetic to have Ram and Sita=20
in his heart while offering his daily namaaz." All of this very=20
'Let's-

disagree-but-would-you-like-some-more-sugar-in-your-tea?' is very=20
full of tehzeeb and sabhyata. But all of it, actually, is a complete=20
charade.

What surfaces when you treat these two players not as opponents but=20
as two heads of the same Ravan?

One indication of what makes Nadira Naipaul tick came from a PIO, a=20
close sycophant of the Naipauls, who once described her Ladyship to=20
me thus: "You have to understand how Nadira's brain works. If she=20
thinks you are less powerful than she is, she will sh*t all over you.=20
But if she thinks you're more powerful she will ar**lick you with the=20
greatest enthusiasm."

While I'm not sure how true this is of the Killer-Begum, it does seem=20
an extremely accurate analysis of the Sangh parivar in general. The=20
RSS-VHP have defecated with evil brutality on the weak - most=20
recently on poor Gujaratis who happened to be Muslim. In the=20
meantime, they have simpered over everything Senanayak Bush says to=20
the point of bending over backwards (or forwards, take your pick),=20
while also managing to nuzzle the kneecaps of any despot who may=20
serve their export cause, no matter how bloodthirsty an 'Islamic'=20
regime he represents.

In one of his contributions to the 'debate', Vijay writes: "It=20
happens only with the communists and the apologists for semitism=20
(Semitism? Israeli Embassy please take note!) who declare: if you are=20
not with us you are against us." Now who has made this 'with=20
us/against us' ideology famous? Why, the great scourge of Islamic=20
terrorism, Senanayak Dubya, of course.

And who in India has swallowed and repeatedly projected this=20
threatening idea? Not some communist or "apologist for semitism" but=20
the stalwarts of Hindutva, from the current PM and DPM to Narendra=20
Modi and, most spectacularly, Praveen 'Mengele' Togadia. Ever more=20
clearly and stridently since the shame of Gujarat, the message from=20
these Hitler-bhakts has been: agree with us and obey us or you will=20
be treated as the enemy.

On a smaller scale, this is exactly the same attitude the Naipauls=20
wave about - treat Hubby Naipaul as great and beyond critical=20
reproach or it's your neck. When Tarun Vijay reproaches Nadira=20
Naipaul for being an apologist for Naipaul he misses the point.=20
Nadira is as much an apologist for her husband as Sanjay Gandhi was=20
an apologist for his mother. Like the late Sanjay in relation to=20
Indira Gandhi, Nadira is the one who does the rough stuff, the=20
bullying and the street-fighting her husband cannot be seen to be=20
doing. Like Sanjay, Nadira is both the

advance storm-trooper and bodyguard, and there is no trace of=20
anything remotely apologetic about her. In putting the Ram-Sita=20
'question' to Advani, the Killer-Begum was merely acting in her=20
capacity as bodyguard and fig-leaf holder.

Given the embarrassment of having been felicitated by the VHP only=20
days before the Gujarat mass murders began, and given that he had not=20
covered himself in glory by his comments immediately afterwards,=20
Naipaul now needed to make a show of 'balance'. He needed to=20
demonstrate that - as Charles de Gaulle once said of himself - he was=20
neither to the Right nor the Left but Above. There is also the=20
distinct

possibility that Naipaul's secular friends in Delhi might actually=20
have worked up the courage to say something to him. ("I say Vidia,=20
what they did to the Muslims in Gujarat was really, really, quite=20
nasty.")

Like the BJP-VHP-RSS, Naipaul has no ground available behind him to=20
backpedal or own up to any mistake or wrong-doing. For the parivar to=20
do that would be to confess to the gravest crimes against humanity=20
and Hinduism. And for Naipaul to recant would be to admit that his=20
'theories' on Islam and Hinduism are cretinously dangerous. The only=20
option he has is to bludgeon his way forward, and one way to do that=20
is to get his intellectual bouncer to ask a seemingly daring question=20
while maintaining his 'goodwill' towards his admirers in government.

Nadira's little act cannot be compared to the genuinely courageous=20
public questions asked of Narendra Modi recently by Odissi dancer=20
Debashmita Patnaik and historian Jairus Banaji - questions that led=20
to Patnaik being shouted down by the fascist crowd and Banaji being=20
hustled out of the CII forum by the security. In contrast, Advani=20
immediately responded to Lady Napalm by promising that Gujarat would=20
not be repeated and this was good enough for V.S. Naipaul, his=20
'goodwill' towards the BJP remaining magically undented. No sideways=20
glance from either Herr or Frau Nobel laureate towards the repeated,=20
loud, triumphal threats being made by Advani's 'young' Turks that

Gujarat will be replicated across the country.

What Naipaul-Advani's dhishum-dhishum invited in return was a series=20
of equally theatrical kung-fu kicks from the likes of Tarun Vijay:=20
"She (Lady N.) must be rest assured that till she is in Hindustan,=20
she enjoys the full freedom to criticise, use as strong or=20
propagandist words as she likes=8A put questions on having Ram and Sita=20
in our hearts and yet be our honoured guest." Oh yes? Well, maybe her=20
'Non-Indian' Ladyship has that freedom, but ask a few people,=20
non-Non-Indians, Hindus and non-Hindus alike, a little lower down the=20
class and caste order. Do they have the freedom to ask questions to=20
the fascists in power? To use as strong words as they like? Or,=20
alternately, not to ask but to answer one of Vijay's delectable=20
questions: "Why should an Indian Muslim be made to feel more affinity=20
with an Arab=8A than his own blood brother simply because of difference=20
in the way of worship?"

Why indeed? Because you, Mr Vijay and the people you speak for have a=20
one-point agenda of destroying the truth that Indian Muslims and=20
Indian Christians are the 'blood' brothers and sisters of all other=20
Indians. They are not, as you insist, 'Hindu'-Christians and=20
'Hindu'-Muslims, but Indian - repeat Indian - as was every woman=20
raped in Gujarat and every Gujarati child murdered.

Why? Because you are working ceaselessly to bulldoze the spiritual=20
space in the dargah of Nizamuddin where someone can walk through=20
greeting people with "Radhe, Radhe", the space where Gujarati Hindus=20
can go and touch their heads at Salim Chishti's dargah at Ajmer, the=20
space where a devout Muslim family can look after a Devi temple for=20
generations; the space in the heart where Jesus can sit next to Ram=20
and Sita, where Chaitanya can talk to Gautam Buddha, where Radha and=20
Krishna can dance with Ali.

It is a space that most of those you claim as your mentors hated with=20
a venom, a space that V.S. Naipaul, the man you now admire so much,=20
hates without ever having understood it. It is however, a space that=20
many, many, of us will fight for. And, while we cannot and will not=20
fight your violence with return violence, it won't be a WWE=20
show-fight either.

Ruchir Joshi is a writer and filmmaker based in New Delhi

_____

#6.

INSAF * Bulletin [10] February 1, 2003
* International South Asia Forum
Postal address: Box 272, Westmount Stn., QC, Canada H3Z 2T2 (Tel. 514 346-9=
477)
(e-mail; insaf@i... or visit our website http://www.insaf.net)

BRITISH STATE AND HINDUTWA
Amrit Wilson (London

A film broadcast on Britain's Channel 4 news programme on 12 December=20
documented some of the means through which funds raised in Britain by=20
Sangh Parivar organisations are directly used to promote saffron=20
fascist violence, including the genocidal attacks on Muslims in=20
Gujarat last year. The film, shot in Britain and Gujarat by Gopal=20
Menon, focusses on Sewa International, the biggest Indian charity in=20
Britain, which is an offshoot of the RSS's international wing, the=20
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). It gives the example of the Vanavasi=20
Kalyan Ashram in Gujarat: while receiving nearly 100,000 pound=20
sterling from Sewa International, its activists systematically=20
spread communal poison in tribal areas, and subsequently personally=20
led genocidal attacks on Muslims. The broadcasting of the film has=20
given a boost to the ongoing campaign by South Asia Solidarity Group=20
and other South Asian organisations in Britain demanding that the=20
Registered Charity status enjoyed by the HSS in Britain be=20
immediately revoked. The scale and purpose of the transfer of funds=20
is illustrated by the fact that in January last year, a full year=20
after the earthquake and only two months before the planned=20
state-sponsored genocide, a delegation of British MPs and=20
British-based Asian businessmen handed over a donation of 1 million=20
pounds personally to Narendra Modi on behalf of Sewa International,=20
ostensibly for earthquake relief.

The rise of the Sangh Parivar in Britain has been facilitated and=20
encouraged by British state policies, with 'Hindu' identity=20
strengthened by state interventions in a variety of areas, from=20
community organisations to education to welfare services. In the era=20
of global anti-Muslim racism and the adoption of the 'clash of=20
civilizations' approach by the ruling classes in the West, the=20
British state's multicultural policies, always an instrument of=20
social control, have been used to encourage people to identify and=20
organize as 'faith communities'. In the process substantial local=20
government funding has been cornered by the Sangh Parivar in the name=20
of 'community work'.

Unlike in the US, the major source of fundraising for the Sangh=20
Parivar in Britain is the predominantly working class and petty=20
bourgeois Gujarati Hindu communities. In the 1970s, factory workers=20
from these communities, particularly women workers, waged some of the=20
most militant industrial struggles, including the well-known=20
Grunwick's strike led by Jayaben Desai, in the process forcing the=20
racist trade union establishment to take up the demands of Asian and=20
other black workers. However, by the 1990s, with most of the=20
factories closed down and many Gujaratis isolated in small businesses=20
like shops run on the basis of exploiting family labour, the Sangh=20
Parivar has established a strong base, and with the blessing of the=20
British state, has been able to channelise experiences of racism and=20
alienation, as well as the dominant anti-Muslim discourse, into=20
virulent Hindu chauvinism.

The fact that the Gujarati Hindu community is dominated ideologically=20
by those who migrated to Britain from East Africa has also been an=20
important factor in this process. Firstly, this community's role as=20
an intermediate class under British colonial rule in East Africa gave=20
it an enduring sense of themselves as a 'superior race' and a=20
particular susceptibility to fascist ideology. This has fitted in=20
neatly with the idea of Gujarati and '=CDndian' pride and resurgence=20
being promoted by the Sangh Parivar. In the British context, East=20
African Asians not only see themselves as the only 'true' Indians but=20
feel they can reconstruct 'Indianness' because Gujarat is regarded by=20
them as the most modern and dynamic part of India. All this leads to=20
an extreme defensiveness about events in Gujarat and the rise of=20
fascism, so that criticizing the VHP is seen as tantamount to=20
criticizing Gujaratis.

Secondly, Gujarati Hindu communities in Britain have historically=20
been strongly organised around caste. In fact the initial migration=20
to East Africa from India occurred through caste linkages. This means=20
that when they arrived in Britain they were already organised within=20
caste frameworks and quickly set up associations of Rajputs,=20
Lohanas, Mochis, various sub-castes of Patels etc. This has proved=20
significant in the context of fundraising, since historically=20
Gujaratis have sent money back to their villages in Gujarat through=20
these organisations. In general the money has gone to build temples=20
and occasionally schools. For communities used to sending money in=20
this collective caste-based way it is only a step further to sending=20
money through the HSS or Sewa. The HSS built up its network on the=20
ground through these same organisations in places like Birmingham and=20
Leicester, working with essentially working class communities and=20
systematically wooing the lower caste groups. (Reproduced from=20
Liberation, January 2003)

o o o o

Related Material:

The Campaign To Stop Funding Hate (CSFH)
http://www.stopfundinghate.org/
Project Saffron Dollar:
Petition to Stop Corporate Sponsorship of IDRF
http://www.stopfundinghate.org/cgi-bin/WhyStopIt.pl

_____

#7.

Six of the persons to be displaced are on Hunger Strike unto death in=20
Bhagalpur [ India]

The state government of Bihar in India under the leadership of Laloo=20
Prasad Yadav, the self-acclaimed messiah of the poor has issued=20
eviction notice to 500 families of downtrodden people now settlers in=20
a makeshift colony situated on a railway track in the city of=20
Bhagalpur. No one can even remember the year when the railway track=20
was abandoned the by the railway authorities for plying trains of any=20
sort. But now in collaboration with the railway authorities the Govt.=20
of Bihar is all set for evicting 3000 people of 500 families by 17th=20
February of this year.

The victims of 1989 Bhagalpur riot, the families displaced because of=20
change of course of the river Ganges and some other families without=20
having any regular source of income are the settlers in this=20
makeshift colony. All of them are perturbed just guessing what awaits=20
them after February 17th. They are not against vacating the area if=20
it is really needed for some better cause beneficial to the society.=20
They only ask for some alternative arrangements for their=20
rehabilitation. But the govt. appears adamant not to pay any heed to=20
the demands of the suffering people.

Finding no alternative six of the people supposed to be evicted has=20
gone on hunger strike since 30th January 2003
At the courtyard of Bhagalpur District Court. To day is the 5th day=20
of their hunger strike. Anirudh, Lakhanlal Mandal, Mahendra Sah,=20
Rabin Paswan (aged 80), Sugia Devi (60 year old lady), Sankar Tanti=20
are all determined to sacrifice their life to win the just and=20
constitutional demand of proper rehabilitation of all the 3000 people=20
facing eviction.

They only need the support and encouragement from all sympathetic quarters.

Any communication of support and encouragement and or material help=20
may be addressed to

PARIDHI
Nayatola, Bhikhanpur
Bhagalpur. Pin 812001
I N D I A.

______

#8.

PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
New Delhi, India
Basant 2003

A 4-day festival of Spring, Colour, Music &
Celebration
February 6-9, 2003 New Delhi
Organized by Communicators' Cooperative
Co-sponsored by Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi
Few would know that Basant Panchami, the ancient Hindu
festival of spring, is also celebrated by many Muslims
in India, especially at the dargah (tomb) of
Nizamuddin Aulia at Delhi, every year. This 700 year
old colourful tradition is attributed to the Sufis,
especially the Chishti saint Nizamuddin and his
disciple Amir Khusrau Dehlavi, who were probably among
the first Muslims to begin the revival of the
celebration of Basant.

In February 2002, Communicators' Cooperative, a
collective of media and arts professionals, decided to
revive the spirit of Basant festival and to make more
people participate in it, by organizing a public event
in and around the dargah Nizamuddin area. The Basant
Utsav 2002 (held on the 17 February 2002), involved
many activities such as a heritage walk in the dargah
area, an exhibition of books and other material
related to Basant and Amir Khusrau, a screening of
films related to Basant, and finally, an evening of
classical and Sufi music in which eminent artists such
as Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Madan Gopal Singh, Vidya Shah,
Dhruv Sangari and others performed. This event was
attended by about 2000 people, including Delhi's chief
minister Ms. Sheila Dixit.

Buoyed by the success of the 2002 festival, the group
has organized a 4-day festival of Basant this year
(6-9 February, 2003) at two locations in Delhi (around
Dargah Nizamuddin, and at Mehrauli). [...] The entry in all
events in free and all are cordially invited.

For more details
and a final schedule,
kindly visit the site: http://www.cc-india.org, or
contact the organizers at
basant@c... or call Vagish K. Jha at
91-11-26166155)

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