Design & People

2011-12-27T10:03:00.001+05:30

Gandhi Clan Blamed for Keeping India in Poverty

The Gandhi dynasty that has ruled India for most of the 64 years since independence has kept the world's largest democracy in poverty, leaders of a protest movement said on Monday as they prepared renewed rallies to target the government on corruption. A three-day fast led by 74-year-old activist Anna Hazare and a plan for thousands of people to picket the home of Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi on New Years Eve will be a test of strength for the anti-corruption movement that forced a government U-turn in the summer.

"India was not destined to be a poor country, India was destined to be a developed country but corruption has kept it poor," said Kiran Bedi, a member of Hazare's inner circle. "Who has exercised corruption? The party in power, and the party in power for the majority of the years has been the Congress party and in the Congress party, the Gandhi family."

India's fast-growing economy is Asia's third largest but many of the country's 1.2 billion people suffer from inadequate nutrition and have no electricity. Hazare plans to begin his hunger strike in Mumbai on Tuesday. Almost 100,000 people have signed up online to express support for a the three-day "fill the jails" protest picketing politicians homes and courting arrest. A fast led by Hazare in August brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets. After initially arresting him and dismissing him as an anarchist, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government caved in to his demands to quickly pass a tougher version of anti-graft legislation first proposed decades ago.

The protests also triggering an ongoing debate about the nature of India's democracy. Hazare's supporters say voting in elections must be supplemented by direct pressure on politicians, while traditional parties say the protests risk "mobocracy." "If hundreds of thousands of people coming onto the street can't get their government to hear their voices, there is something seriously wrong with the way our democracy is being implemented," close Hazare aide Arvind Kejriwal told Reuters.

Corruption scandals have tainted Singh's second term, with a multi-billion dollar telecom scam landing a former minister and other senior officials in jail. The focus on the Gandhi family drew criticism from the ruling Congress party, which accused the protesters of being a front for the opposition. Hazare and his aides have turned their fire on Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul ahead of five state elections in the next two months, accusing the family of amassing too much power and watering down a bill in Parliament for a powerful ombudsman to tackle graft. The protesters are pressuring Parliament to bring the federal police force under the remit of the ombudsman, along with other demands. Parliament is due to debate the bill on Tuesday. "There are one or two people in the ruling party who run the government and run the Parliament," this is not democracy, Kejriwal said.

Three of India's prime ministers since the end of colonial rule in 1947 have come from the family.

Sonia Gandhi is widely considered to be at least as powerful as Singh in the current government, and her son is being groomed to lead the country in the future. The Gandhis enjoy almost regal status, and direct criticism of them is rare outside of political campaigns. Rahul Gandhi is now running the party's campaign ahead of an election in Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state, in February. Hazare threatens to campaign against Congress in Uttar Pradesh and four other state elections to be held in the next two months that will serve as a barometer of the government's support half way through its term. "The entire movement has raised very serious and fundamental issues about India's democracy," Kejriwal said. "Is it really by the people, of the people, for the people, or by the party high command, of the party high command, for the party high command?"

Design & People on Arundhati Roy

2011-12-23T13:03:00.003+05:30

God of Small Criticisms

One of the greatest achievements of Anna Hazare movement is that we finally got rid of West-influenced, English-speaking activists such as Arundhati Roy from the traditional leadership role a people's movement in India. Arundhati Roy criticises Kabir for accepting financial support from the Ford Foundation while forgetting the fact she was an integral part of the organising committee of World Social Forum in India sponsored the very same funding-agency.

If Anna has managed to unite the entire nation in less than thirty days, it is simply because he spoke the language of the ordinary Indians, not the language of the elite and the affluent class of this country. English was replaced with Hindi; babus with activists; hypocrisy with simplicity; cowardice with courage and finally — words with action. Victory or failure is not very important in struggles for the goodness of a nation.

(Design & People response to the joint statement issued by Arundhati Roy and The Hindu on Anna Hazare in a story titled "I'd rather not be Anna" published by The Hindu on August 21, 2011)

Occupy Coca-Cola Agitation!

2011-12-18T20:20:00.000+05:30

Activists Occupy Coca-Cola Factory In Kerala
(By NAPM, December 17, 2011, Countercurrents.org)

New Delhi: About twenty two members of Plachimada Coca-Cola Virudha Samara Samithi and Plachimada solidarity forum including Vilayodi Venugopal, Sri NP Johnson, N Subramanyan, Fr Augustine, MN Giri, Sahadevan and others, walked in to the premises of the Coca Cola Factory in Kerala state, India and courted arrest. When produced the Magistrate ordered their release on furnishing personal bond but activists refused to take bail in protest against apathy on the part of state government and the delaying and subverting tactics in favour of Coca Cola. NAPM hails the action of these activists and salutes their courage for choosing to do this to bring home the dire need for quick passage of the ‘Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims' Relief and Compensation Claims Special Tribunal Bill, 2011.

It needs to be noted that based on the report submitted by Plachimada High Power Committee appointed by Goverment of Kerala, 'Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims' Relief and Compensation Claims Special Tribunal Bill, 2011' was passed by the Assembly on 24 February 2011. The Bill sent by the Governor of Kerala to the President via the central Ministry of Home Affairs on 30 March, and the Home Ministry in turn has sent it to various related ministries for their comments on 17 April. They were then supposed to forward the Bill to the President with the consolidated comments.

The decision to send the Bill to the President was taken by the State Law Department, although there was no issue of repugnance and hence there was no need for Presidential assent. There is no question of repugnance as the law deals, in its operative part, with entirely state subjects, namely, losses in agriculture, health care, animal husbandry, job loss and groundwater contamination.

Very recently, the Union government has referred the Bill back to State government but till date State Law Ministry has not done anything on this. We fail to understand this delay, when in the State as well as at the Centre Indian National Congress Party is in power in coalition. Is this delay part of a larger design? Is the government trying to serve the interests of the Coca Cola Corporation? It is extremely shameful that the governments at the State and Centre are neglecting the demands of the suffering communities and the elected Gram Sabha. We all know that continuous Satyagraha has been going on since earth day in 2002, which has now completed almost a decade. How long are they expected to wait ?

Amidst all this Kerala government is planning to give distribution rights to Coco-Cola for providing drinking water to government hospitals in Kerala. Union Minister of State for Food Shri KV Thomas declared that months back. It was after sustained people's movements and pressure from the groups across the country which forced the government to enact this special tribunal Bill. It is high time government brought this enactment to force and justice is done to the suffering communities and Coke is held responsible for their Corporate Crimes and made to pay for this. Our struggle to hold the corporations accountable will continue until justice is done to the people.

2011-12-17T09:13:00.000+05:30

Anna Hazare

By ISHAAN THAROORDec. 14, 2011, Time Magazine

It's hard to imagine this diminutive, celibate octogenarian being the dynamo behind an entire popular movement. But in India, Anna Hazare cut a Gandhian pose that transfixed the world's largest democracy and put its sitting government's feet to the fire. Hazare's repeated fasts against corruption attracted tens of thousands of supporters and paralyzed India's Parliament. While critics spy corruption within his own ranks and point to Hazare's ties to the Hindu right, his protest channeled the widespread exasperation and anger of India's rising middle class, frustrated with the age-old habits of graft that still dominate much of India's calcified bureaucracy. Corruption is endemic throughout Indian society, but high-profile scandals implicating key figures in the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meant much of Hazare's ire was directed at the top. A bill he and his supporters are pushing would install a national anti-corruption ombudsman that could even call the once immune Prime Minister into the dock. Hazare, a former military man who spent much of his life helping govern his tiny village in western India, summed up his 2011 in a recent interview with TIME: "I am still bemused as to how this all came about. A pauper living in a temple, who has no money, no power, no wealth; for him the entire country united and spoke in one voice."

"India's Best Hospitals" (The Week/HANSA Research)

2011-12-11T09:31:00.001+05:30

Kindly see Kolkata section of the Survey. Kindly do not refer this list when in Emergency.

2011-11-17T15:41:00.001+05:30

US-Australia Military Alliance: A New Threat to Asia

(Creative Resistance, November 17, 2011)

Mumbai: Running out of ideas to tackle the growing number of Occupy Wall Street protests back at home, the US President Barack Obama is now on a trip to the Big Brother country Australia with his new 'Asian Mission'.

During his first official visit to Australia, Obama unveiled the American plans to deploy 2,500 US Marines in the Northern Territory in the next couple of years. This was declared during his meeting with the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Though Obama repeatedly said the "latest military ties between US and Australia are not aimed at China or India", it is evident that Washington is determined to teach its Asian 'allies' in the region a military lesson.

While speaking to a small gathering of supporters, Sethu Das, Co-founder of Creative Resistance said "the deployment of American personnel in Australia is a bigger and serious threat to the Asian region than the threat by China. Unity among Asian nations seems to be the only way to deal with this new threat from the United States." He also added that "Pressure Groups in Asian countries particularly in India have already started campaigns to educate people about the growing threat from the presence of American military personnel and the need to secure peace and harmony in Asian region."

According to Wikipedia, the United States military is deployed in more than 150 countries around the world.

2011-11-09T19:47:00.001+05:30

Another Koodankulam Plays Out in Kaiga

(By M Raghuram, DNA, November 6, 2011)

Even as the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is tottering to convince people living around the Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) about the safety issues at Kaiga, 30km from here, people in 20-odd villages around KGS are preparing to launch one of the largest anti-nuclear campaigns, in not just Karwar, but also in Yellapura, Joida, Honnavar, Ankola and Kumta. This is akin to how protest against Koodankulam nuclear plant gained momentum.

In a meeting held in Vajralli, Yellapur taluk, on Friday, representatives of more than 20 villages around KGS converged and voiced their support to the campaign. "We have already secured the support of 41 gram panchayats in Uttara Kannada, mainly in Karwar, Honnavar and Yellapura taluks, out of which 20 have attended the meeting and signed a declaration under the banner of 'Jagruta Janate Horata Samithi' (Action Committee of Awakened Citizens)". The National Health Survey around nuclear power generating stations has already indicated that people living in a 100-km radius are suffering a host of diseases, including cancer, owing to radiation, but KGS authorities are not ready to extend even basic medical facilities to these people, which is a total lack of concern towards the people who live around the KGS,” convenor of the committee, BG Hegade Gerala told DNA.

Nuclear power is cancerous: Pointing at a section of the people in the meeting, Hegade said, "All these people have come from Vajralli and neighbouring villages and each one of them have a cancer patient in their family, if not, they have children born with deformities. This region was full of greenery and sparkling water and perfect weather for healthy living, there is no other pollution but nuclear radiation, so the cause for such cancers and deformities can only be nuclear radiation." Uday Naik, vice-president of the Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat, has welcomed the fact that the people are dissenting. "We do not know if it was even safe to have two more units in Kaiga, after what happened in Japan."

At the meeting at Vajralli on Friday, it was decided to stall all permits and clearances that the Kaiga officials seek for the new units. "The village chiefs say that the panchayat raj institutions have the primary right to give permission to any construction. When we called the Kaiga officials to the meeting and give us the details and information about the two proposed units, they did not even care to attend the meeting," said Shyamnath Naik, a member of the Kadra Grama Panchayat.

This is the second cluster of villages that has raised a voice of dissent against the expansion. The previous meeting held in October at Mallapura had seen participation from 34 villages. "We will not give the KGS permits to take up any more construction in their premises and they should know that without the permission of the panchayats, they cannot take up any construction work even if it was for a high-profile project,” said the committee chief RT Bhat. Only last week, the villagers of Mallapura had raised the flag of dissent in a more vehement manner and had blocked the way of minister for fisheries and Karwar MLA, Anand Asnotikar, when he had come to inaugurate the Mallapuram Primary Health Centre. The PHC has not been inaugurated yet.

Kaiga officials, though worried about the developments, are trying to placate the villagers by pointing at the survey made by the National Disaster Management Authority.

Press Release on Kudankulam Nuclear Reactors

2011-10-31T22:43:00.001+05:30

The Chairmen of Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Power Corporation told the media on 28th October at Mumbai that it is not possible to abandon the Nuclear Reactors under the construction at Kudankulam. This amounts to warning the people that the safety of Kudankulam reactors will be in jeopardy due to the blockades by the people who are agitating against the nuclear plants. The allegation that public agitations cause the nuclear plant to face the risk of being seriously damaged and thereby implying indirectly that it poses a threat to public safety is very misleading. Several nuclear power plants have been closed down in USA on the verge of their completion due to unresolved problems of safety and economic viability. In the wake of Fukushima explosion the German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to close down several reactors after realizing that nuclear safety is a myth. The Russian experts who enquired into the safety aspects of Russian nuclear plants in the aftermath of Fukushima reactor explosion concluded that the Russian nuclear reactors do not satisfy safety consideration in many respects and these findings forced people of South Tamil Nadu to agitate for abandonment of such reactors in Kudankulam. The people anticipate that failure of the reactors due to a maximum credible accident can result in economic damages worth about 60 lakhs crores of rupees and the death of several lakhs of people in southern parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. The victims of Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan are claiming for compensation amounting to more than 3 lakh crores of rupees and the probability of this nuclear accident may render the Southern states virtually economically bankrupt.

The claim of the Atomic energy officials that they have done the hot run for the Kudankulam reactor and that they cannot go from a hot run to a freeze condition is tantamount to an undeclared nuclear war against the people of Southern districts of Tamilnadu and Kerala. By conducting the hot run of the reactor they have just loaded the reactor with dummy fuel assemblies which have the same configuration as the real fuel assemblies excluding the enriched uranium fuel and hence the reactor has not gone critical and is not producing any power and hence there is no threat to public safety. Hence the nuclear plant can be closed down without making any excuses. It is reported that there were more than 430 emergency shutdowns in 1987 in several nuclear plants in the United States and that there were about 500 violations of safety regulations in nuclear reactors in 37 states. The contention of the officials that most of the fears of the local people are not based on scientific facts but on sentiment is wrong because the Chernobyl disaster and the Fukushima explosion proved without doubt that nuclear safety is a cent percent myth and that the nuclear plants are nothing more than silent killers of mankind and eco systems in the long run. Even noble laureates who studied about nuclear safety in depth warned that nuclear plants can become nuclear bombs when there are mechanical, electrical or construction failures or human failures, man-made and natural disasters.

Infact the nuclear authorities in the United States prepared Disaster Management plans for the maximum credible accidents to implement remedial measures not only for the radioactive plume pathway zone of 16kms but also for the radioactive pollution Ingestion exposure zone of 80kms from the reactor site. The Kudankulam nuclear plant authorities have violated these standard safety procedures in case of Kudankulam nuclear plant accident with southerly wind direction and thereby lakhs of people of Tirunelveli city and district were not informed that they have to vacate their villages towns and cities within 24 hours of the nuclear accident and stay in distant safer places for about 20 years and return to their lands and houses after decontamination at an exorbitant cost. If the accident occurs during Southeasterly winds several lakhs of people of Trivandrum city and other towns and villages will have to get evacuated within 24 hours of the nuclear accident and stay in safer places outside for a period of 20 years when they can return for reoccupying their native villages, towns and cities after decontamination of their lands at very expensive cost. While the atomic energy officials are looking at safety of their reactors and components from the engineering safety point of view the environmentalists and social activists are looking into public safety from the probability of not only mechanical, electrical and operational failures but also from the unforeseen accidents due to internal sabotage, human errors, terrorist attacks, bombings and aeroplane crashes which cannot be always visualized in proper time and remedial measures cannot be taken to avert them.

Prof T Shivaji Rao,

Director, Center for Environemntal Studies,

GITAM University, Visakhapatnam-530045

Phone: 0891-2504902, 2738211

Mobile: 9949319038

Mobile of Personal Assistant: 9885324013

Amnesty calls on Canada to arrest Bush

2011-10-12T22:56:00.001+05:30

Amnesty International called on Canadian authorities Wednesday to arrest and prosecute George W Bush, saying the former US president authorized "torture" as he directed the US-led war on terror. Bush is expected to attend an economic summit in Surrey in Canada's westernmost British Columbia province on October 20.

Design & People against
the American occupation of
Iraq (March 2004)

London-based Amnesty made a case for Bush's legal responsibility for a series of human rights violations in a memorandum submitted last month to Canadian authorities but only now released to the media. "Canada is required by its international obligations to arrest and prosecute former president Bush given his responsibility for crimes under international law including torture," Amnesty's Susan Lee said in a statement. "As the US authorities have, so far, failed to bring former president Bush to justice, the international community must step in. A failure by Canada to take action during his visit would violate the UN Convention Against Torture and demonstrate contempt for fundamental human rights." Lee said.

Amnesty, backed by the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, says Bush authorized the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and "waterboarding" on detainees held in secret by the Central Intelligence Agency between 2002 and 2009. The detention program included "torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment (such as being forced to stay for hours in painful positions and sleep deprivation), and enforced disappearances," it alleged.

Amnesty's memorandum cites several cases of alleged torture of individuals detained at the Guantanamo Bay naval facility, in Afghanistan and in Iraq, by the US military. They include that of Zayn al Abidin Muhammed Husayn (known as Abu Zubaydah) and 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, both arrested in Pakistan, and subjected to at least 266 applications of waterboarding between them from 2002 to 2003, according to the CIA inspector general, cited by Amnesty. (AFP, Oct 12, 2011)

The Real Drama is in the Secrecy Games

2011-09-28T15:47:00.001+05:30

(By TJS George, The New Indian Express, September 28, 2011)

There was panic in the Congress camp last week. Terror-stricken leaders were scampering about like a chicken that had its feathers plucked. The apparent reason was that one of their central pillars, P Chidambaram, was directly and officially named in the 2G spectrum scandal that has landed former minister A Raja in jail. Now Chidambaram is not exactly a popular mascot in Congress circles. An ambitious operator primarily concerned with his own power and prospects, he has more adversaries than admirers. So why did the party frantically rally around him when a Pranab Mukherjee note to the Prime Minister blamed him for inaction? The talk is that Congress leaders were scared of Manmohan not being far behind if Chidambaram was caught. Not that Manmohan Singh is all that beloved a leader either. It is known that he carries little weight in the Government. Coalition partners mock him. Congress ministers themselves often ignore him. So the likelihood of the Prime Minister getting tarred by the spectrum scam cannot be the real reason for the panic among Congress bigwigs.

Then what? Logically, and if we take Congress culture into account, the answer is embedded in another question: If Manmohan Singh is caught in an untenable situation, can Sonia Gandhi be far behind? Now there you have the stuff that shakes empires. The remotest likelihood of damage to the edifice of holiness built around Sonia Gandhi would make Congressmen scamper about like a chicken with its head cut off.

Logic does put the Congress President in an uncomfortable position. Consider some recent developments. It now stands proved that three successive sports ministers had opposed the appointment of Suresh Kalmadi as the Commonwealth Games boss. The Prime Minister overruled all of them and personally cleared Kalmadi’s appointment. Rather uncharacteristic of a play-safe Prime Minister. So what happened? It appears that Manmohan Singh overruled the entire governmental system in order to bow to a recommendation put up by a joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office named Pulok Chatterji. And who, pray, is Pulok Chatterji? The IAS officer most closely identified as Sonia Gandhi’s facilitator. Which means that the Kalmadi buck actually stopped at Sonia Gandhi’s desk.

Here’s another conundrum of our times. Suresh Kalmadi is in jail for taking money. Amar Singh is in jail for giving money. The conundrum is why would Amar Singh who was never a member of the Congress give money to buy votes in Parliament so that the Congress government could survive? Was he a fool to spend his money to let someone else benefit? That lends weight to Ram Jethmalani’s open statement in the Supreme Court that the money displayed in Parliament was paid not by Amar Singh but by Ahmed Patel. And who, pray, is Ahmed Patel? Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary. Where does the buck stop this time?

Speculation and all kinds of gossip flourish around Sonia Gandhi thanks to her own addiction to secrecy. The contrived drama about her surgery in America could not have happened in any other democracy. She controls the destiny of every Indian but no Indian has the right to know whether she is in a condition to do so. Citizens are only entitled to dry titbits dished out by Congress spokesmen trained not to speak a word beyond what they are told. They have not even told us what her ailment is. How then do we believe what they say? How do we know that she is really back in India? How do we know that she is cured when cures are rare in cancer cases? Photographs are strictly no-no, so how can we not believe that she has lost hair through chemotherapy? By hiding facts, they feed rumours. This is not privacy. This is secrecy. Evidently Congressmen think that there are things about their ruling dynasty that must remain shrouded in secrecy. That is why they panic at the merest sign of a crack in the wall of secrecy. Unfortunately history shows us that walls crumble some day, somehow.

Water Purifiers Ineffective in Preventing Waterborne Diseases, Revealed through RTI

2011-09-04T15:56:00.003+05:30

Dr Arvind Shenoy, senior chemical and consumer product researcher, had a hunch that Hindustan Unilever was making exaggerated claims about its Pureit water purifier. His suspicions were confirmed by the NIV which has threatened to take legal action if the company does not correct the advertising. That the giant multinational company Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has no qualms about misleading people to sell its product was exposed recently, thanks to the RTI Act. It has even been threatened with legal action for making tall claims that its water purifier 'Pureit' kills/removes one crore viruses in one litre of water.

The esteemed institution that has issued this warning to the company is the National Institute of Virology (NIV), which in its letter dated 2nd June has accused it of "twisting and misrepresenting facts". The facts pertain to a study conducted by the NIV "to evaluate the performance of domestic water purification units with respect to contaminating enteric viruses." HUL has, it seems, exaggerated by about 100 times the efficacy (of its water purifier) as tested by the NIV.

The letter written by Dr AC Mishra, director, NIV, on 2 June 2011 states: "It is brought to my attention that your company is advertising Pureit regularly on TV. The said advertisement is quoting explicitly NIV's report that the purifier kills one crore viruses in a litre of water. We have clearly reported in our paper that experiments were conducted using 0.67x105 Hepatitis E virus particles per litre of water. Hence, your advertisements are not based on facts. You are requested to refrain from twisting and misrepresenting the facts. Failing to take immediate corrective measures may force us to resort to legal action against your company."

Mumbai-based Dr Arvind Shenoy, a PhD in chemistry and a consumer product researcher, with 42 years of professional experience in consumer product testing, both chemical and microbiological, decided to invoke the RTI Act on this matter in October 2010. "It all began with their Rs1 crore safety challenge advertisement, in which the HUL proudly tom-tommed about a test report on eight domestic water purifiers by the NIV. According to HUL, the NIV report claimed that its Pureit water purifier, a gravity-fed water filtration device, was the only water purifier that "removed/killed more than one crore viruses from one litre of water (Ek Crore Virus Ek Litre Pani se Maarta Hai)," Dr Shenoy says.

He explains, "I felt an instant apprehension about HUL's advertising claims. Since NIV was a Government of India (GOI) institution, I sought information under the RTI Act, thrice in 2010. After five months of waiting (he got the information on 25 February 2011), I had all the information, which revealed what I had suspected all along! Indeed, HUL had misrepresented, twisted and blatantly lied to gullible consumers about the quality of the Pureit water purifier. The tone of the advertisements on HUL's Pureit now appears to be a calculated exercise in falsehood and deceit in order to coax as many consumers as possible to buy Pureit."

Strangely, NIV refused to take action against HUL, even after the RTI revelation. So, on 11 May 2011, Dr Shenoy wrote to Dr Vishwa Mohan Katoch, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Delhi, informing him that "Unilever Limited also markets Pureit to Indonesia and Mexico, but, in these countries they don't make such tall claims of killing one crore viruses per litre, probably for the fear of the repercussions from their respective governments."

The RTI information revealed that HUL was making its water purifier appear 100 times more efficient than what was stated in the report. Dr Shenoy says, "the document procured under RTI makes it abundantly clear that the testing was done with only 0.67x10(5) Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) particles per litre of water and not one crore, that is 1x107 HEV particles per litre of water as claimed by HUL in its advertisements."

Asked whether the testing by NIV of the eight water purifier brands was sponsored, V Gopalkrishna, scientist and public information officer at NIV, stated that "it was not a sponsored testing" and that "it was an NIV supported activity". However, Dr Shenoy who has a copy of the test report that was published by NIV researchers in the Journal of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Vol 14, pages 1-7, 2009, suspects otherwise. This is because the brand Pureit has been mentioned in the published test report (4th sentence on page 889). Mentioning a brand in such an internationally reputed journal is a violation of the norms of the US EPA's international ethical and scientific protocol.

Dr Shenoy observes, "I noticed that, curiously, for reasons best known to NIV researchers, in their published test report study on eight water purifier units in the scientific journal, they have specifically mentioned Unit number eight as Pureit, a water purifier developed by Hindustan Lever Limited. This gives an impression that the study was conducted in NIV at the behest of the manufacturers of Hindustan Unilever. It is not ethical as per international research standards to mention the name of a brand and a company specifically; hence the suspicion."

According to information received through the RTI Act, NIV tested eight brands of water purifiers sold in India. The test report was written in the international journal by Vikram Verma and Vidya A Arankalle, both scientists at NIV. (Read the article, "Virological evaluation of domestic water purification devices commonly used in India emphasizes inadequate quality and need for virological standards", from the Journal of Tropical Medicine and International Health.

The units tested were: Unit 1 - Zero B, Unit 2 - Eureka Aqua Flow, Unit 3 - Orpat, Unit 4 - Krystalle, Unit 5 - Eureka Aquasure on Tap, Unit 6 - Anjali B-Free, Unit 7 - Aqua Plus (hollow fibre membrane), and Unit 8 - Pureit (from Hindustan Unilever).

By the way, the conclusions of the report should open the eyes of people as to how ineffective the water purifiers in India are. It says, "These same samples showed free and total chlorine levels that were adequate to ensure proper elimination of bacterial contaminants, but were unable to remove pathogenic viruses. These reports clearly document a definite need for a separate, well-defined virological standard for drinking water as well as for the evaluation of water treatment plants and domestic water purifiers.

"The minimum standards established by USEPA were not designed for developing countries where the microbiological quality of public water supply may not be as good as in developed countries. India and other developing countries should formulate their own standards and ensure strict adherence by all those concerned. This will help both manufacturers and consumers to be quality conscious with respect to drinking water, a basic need for every population and the major source of a variety of infectious diseases taking heavy toll every year in all the under-developed and developing countries.

"Similar study needs to be extended to the water treatment plants/systems used in villages, small cities and the metros to truly understand the quality of water made available to the people. It would be worthwhile judging the performance of the domestic units in field, i.e. houses, with respect to water quality, adherence to the recommended maintenance of the units, as well as time period of usage. We would like to point out here that we have evaluated one unit of each type. The batch-to-batch or unit-to-unit variation was not evaluated. This is a limitation of this study and needs to be extended to several units from one batch as well as different batches.

"In conclusion, our study suggests that even with the limitation of the study pointed out above, the results indicate that six of eight units tested (one unit/type) do not confirm to USEPA standards and emphasises the need for a definite national policy for the evaluation of such devices by the regulatory authorities as well as at factory level. Such an exercise will ensure availability of quality-assured domestic water purification units to the community, thereby reducing the burden of water-borne infections. It is desirable to set up our own national virological standards as well as evaluation of the protocol developed by us in several laboratories followed by strict adherence to the method accepted and approved by the regulatory authorities."

The point here to note is that although the NIV in its letter dated 2nd June has threatened legal action if HUL does not "immediately" rectify the false information, it is nearly two months but the NIV has not yet served even a legal notice to the multinational company. Does that speak loudly of NIV's intentions in conducting the test in the first place? As for Dr Shenoy, he wants HUL to publicly apologise. He has sent HUL a legal notice on 25 July 2011.

(Vinita Deshmukh is a senior editor, author and convener of Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyaan. She can be reached at vinitapune@gmail.com.)

Lessons Anna Has Taught

2011-09-02T13:19:00.001+05:30

(By Aswini K Ray, The New Indian Express, September 2, 2011)

Peaceful mass movements around a popular single issue, insulated from political parties, has been a new experience to Indian democracy surprising all its stakeholders — government, Opposition, bureaucracy (especially police), media and academia. In fact, its scale, prolonged shared focus, and non-violence seems to have surprised even the activists, including its leadership, all unfamiliar with the logic of mass movements in India, as distinct from its recurrent violent political agitations. Their stereotypical initial responses showed it.

The government’s initial response was as against all Opposition-led agitations: to discredit its goals, methods and leadership till they boomeranged. Predictably, the police followed the script: dramatic arrest of the leader to provoke mob-violence and deal with it coercively as another law and order problem; this too misfired, and when the discredited police released the leader, it was faced with the most unfamiliar predicament of the prisoner refusing to be released, and worshipped by the prison staff, their families, and other prisoners, using the jail office to negotiate his own terms of release to emerge as a potential new mass leader of a widely-shared popular anguish who was largely following his instinctive moral judgments than any concerted political strategy. The masses found a new icon outside the targeted power-structure, including the Opposition, and the discredited section of ‘Macaulay’s Children’ in the media and the academia critical of the methods and sceptical about its goals. From a relatively obscure regional public figure, Anna Hazare suddenly emerged as a national leader being the closest approximation to the Gandhian legend to the present generation of the country. It became an all-class and cross-national movement against the Establishment, unlike the earlier ‘Bhoodan movement’ led by Vinobha Bhave which, though based on the Gandhian principle of non-violence, threatened the interests of the powerful landed aristocracy and alienated them. It was also refreshingly different from the Sarvodaya leader JP-led Nav Nirman Samity movement with its all-encompassing goal of an utopian “party-less democracy’ while targeting the Indira Gandhi-led Congress, thus limiting its salience within a section of people in Bihar and Gujarat.

Parliament, media and the intellectual community soon joined the initial bandwagon as a virtuous circle to help its emergence as a mass movement. Yet their initial responses, as in the case of some of the organisers, and many initial critics, showed their unfamiliarity with the momentum of a peaceful mass movement stridently resisting predictable attempts by various political parties and NGOs to hijack it. The excess histrionics of some organisers perhaps matched some of its critics’ charges of “blackmail” against the movement. But the more serious criticism stemmed from two arguments — that it was “unconstitutional” and hence “undemocratic” and the time given to Parliament to legislate on the ‘Jan Lokpal’ issue was unrealistically brief. Both are specious criticisms.

As for the second, many critical Bills have been passed in shorter times, often without quorum, thus violating the principle of ‘procedure established by law’ in the case of fundamental rights. For example, the 59th Constitutional Amendment (1988) allowing the imposition of Emergency in Punjab was passed without a quorum and in the absence of the necessary 2/3rd majority in Rajya Sabha; the amendment of the Indian Post Offices Act (1898), opposed by many parties, was passed in the Lok Sabha with only 20 members present, and in 40 minutes; in 1985, the extension of the ESMA (1980) was done in three hours, and in a lunch hour without quorum; in August 1985, amendment of the TADA was concluded in 59 minutes with 50 members; in 1987, the National Security Act was amended in 82 minutes by 100 members; in 1988, the Lok Sabha took 19 minutes to establish the Special Protection Group. More significantly, the endorsement of the IMF’s ‘conditionality’ clause to launch the ‘economic liberalisation’ agenda was passed by the minority government, and within one month of a general election in which no political party included it in their election manifesto.

The criticism of the movement being “undemocratic”, because it was “unconstitutional” stems from a conceptual mystification between the unconstitutional — as not being expressly provided for in the constitution but possibly implied — and the anti-constitutional, in the sense of being against the spirit of the constitution. In all democratic constitutions the concept of ‘implied powers’ not specifically codified is an accepted principle of jurisprudence; and in India, the Supreme Court judgment on the ‘basic structure’ underscored it. Consequently, even legally, except the ‘basic structure’ as defined by the apex court, all other provisions of the constitution are open to amendments by Parliament.

The liberal criticism of the mass movement as “blackmail” is based on the axiomatic assumption of India’s operational version of parliamentary democracy as a liberal democracy, because of its institutions of western liberal vintage. Empirically, in no non-western society, western liberal democratic institutions have been able to replicate an operational version of any of its original prototype. India is perhaps among the better case-studies of a democracy surviving through continuous innovations to suit local specificities, howsoever aberrant from its original inspiration.

That explains its many constitutional amendments, twice the number in 60 years than the US in over 200. India’s parliamentary and electoral procedures; its three-tier federal system, with variations of regional autonomy; its protective discrimination through reservation; above all, its secularism evolving from its western versions of the state being equidistant from its many religions towards being equally supportive of them with special provisions for minorities, separate civil codes, are creative operational innovations reinforcing its democratic continuity.

Parliament’s sensitive responses to mass movements incubated within the civil society underscores its structural democratic deficit and need for institutional reforms. Such responses, far from capitulation to ‘populist blackmail’ by Parliament reinforce its contested democratic legitimacy, because mass movements are different from pressure groups; and they are legitimate democratic upsurges within its political economy of economic liberalisation and democratic de-liberalisation. The lessons of the recent mass movement, may be useful for India’s political class, institutions of governance, as also its intellectual community still grappling with the problem of interpreting Indian democracy’s specificities with the concepts and categories of western liberal democracy.

Aswini K Ray is a retired professor of political science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Empowerment Is The Key

2011-08-27T20:13:00.001+05:30

(By Mridula Garg, The Hindu, August 27, 2011)

What can explain the upsurge of support from the youth for Anna Hazare's movement? A sense of being part of history-in-the-making.

I must be one of the few survivors who were present at Gandhiji's daily evening prayer meetings in Birla Bhawan. I was there, exactly 10 years old, when the bomb blast took place in the meeting, a week before the assassination on January 30, 1948.

I also had the rare opportunity of filing past his cot, when he undertook his last fast unto death. It happened when India had already gained Independence. Yet the thrill was unmistakable and inimitable. I can still feel the hair-raising prickle of being part of something as unique, overwhelming and empowering as history in the making.

Empowerment! That was the key word. It magnified the thrill of being part of a crowd on the move; made it more intense and meaningful than the usual frenzy of participating in a rally or a mela. It is thrilling enough to be a part of the tumultuous festivities of Ganesh or Durga visarjan. (How cold the English translation, immersion, sounds in comparison.) Indians love festivals, crowds, noise, communal singing, dancing, eating or not eating, for that matter.

Whet the moral appetite

A fast can be thrilling too. Why else do so many of our festivals require fasting before gorging on the goodies? What can whet an appetite more than a moral fast before an equally moral feasting. It is no less breathtaking to be part of a rampaging mob, up against authority. But imagine how much more overpowering it would be to be part of a movement, neither frivolous like a mela nor unethical like a rioting mob.

There lies the answer to the riddle of the appeal of Anna Hazare's movement against corruption for the youth. Of course anyone and everyone from all walks of life is a victim of corruption in our country at many points of time; of course they have all learnt not only to grin and bear it but also allowed themselves to become part of the system and indulged in corrupt practices themselves; some in petty, others in hefty ways. And of course each and every one, from all rungs of the non-homogenous middle class to the multitude of the deprived mass hates it. One would much rather live in a corruption-free environment, where everyday things get done as a matter of course without petty humiliations and greasing of palms.

But the mass disapproval of corruption does not explain the mass convergence of a notoriously apathetic youth to a movement spearheaded by someone totally devoid of glamour and religious sanctity. It can be explained only by the sense of empowerment coupled with the thrill of being part of history-in-the-making bequeathed by it.

It is the second time since India became independent that the youth have had a chance to feel empowered in an ethical, moral and righteous manner. The first call came from Jayaprakash Narayan's total revolution in 1974-75. The declaration of Emergency sealed its fate. Though the country limped back to its pseudo democratic state a couple of years later, we never fully recovered from the warped psyche that had been moulded by cowardice, shame and humiliation of those fateful years of failure.

Now after a gap of 36 years, we feel empowered again as we partake of the thrill of being a participant in a fervent crowd rather than a vociferous or mute spectator. An added excitement comes from the sense of being righteous, moral and austere without the danger of being denounced as a fundamentalist or religious demagogue or of being beaten up or peppered with bullets.

Power and thrill

Who would want to forgo such a magnificent thrill! Certainly not the youth of India brought up for decades on extensive footage of Gandhi's mass non-violent movement, forcing the arrogant and exploitative Empire to its knees. The young have read about it, heard of it and seen it on the screen ad infinitum but never tasted its power and thrill, first hand. Now they can. What exquisite power something as simple as a Dandi March can bestow. A fasting Anna Hazare galloping ahead of the cops at Raj Ghat brought back memories of Gandhi scampering ahead of much younger men and women on the Dandi march; alas, seen only on the screen.

I was only nine when India became Independent but the memory of 1942 Quit India Movement and Bose's call, “Give me blood and I'll give you freedom” can still give me goose bumps as nothing has ever since. I had seen it, I had been part of it, in however small a way. But not they. Never they. Till now. How can you expect them to let this opportunity pass by?

With my first-hand experience of the bomb blast at Gandhi's prayer meeting and his last fast, not to say the earlier Quit India call, I had known the reason behind Anna's appeal from the first day.

But the full confirmation came this morning via the usually polite guard of my building. I requested him not to talk quite so loudly at four in the morning on his mobile under my bedroom window and he snapped back, “I am going for an-shun at Ramlila Maidan and that's that!” What sweet empowerment. “Go savour it as long as it lasts,” I said and withdrew.

Anna vs Dr Singh (Cartoon by Yesudasan)

2011-08-22T00:17:00.003+05:30

Foreign Education Hindering PM's Understanding of India: Anna Hazare

2011-08-06T23:03:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and human resource development minister Kapil Sibal, reformer Anna Hazare on Saturday said their "foreign education" was hindering their understanding of the nation. Meanwhile, activists held rallies and burnt copies of the government's Lokpal Bill in the national capital region.

"As they (Manmohan Singh and Sibal) received their education abroad, they have not been able to understand the workings of the country," Hazare told reporters in Jalgaon in Maharashtra.

Hazare is to go on an indefinite fast against the government's version of the Lokpal bill from Aug 16. Slamming the government's Lokpal Bill, Hazare said the government will either have to bring in a reformed version or step down. "All the citizens of this country have awakened and they want a strong Lokpal Bill. So, the government will have to bring in a reformed version of the bill soon or step down," said Hazare.

Hazare had earlier gone on a fast from April 5 to 9, which forced the government to include civil society members in the drafting committee of the bill. The joint-committee, however, was not successful in drafting a bill amicably as differences appeared over several issues. "Hazare will sit on an indefinite hunger strike from Aug 16 at Ramlila Maidan instead of Jantar Mantar. We have already received a no objection certificate (NOC) from Municipal Corporation of Delhi ( MCD)," Aswathi Muralidharan, member of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Parivartan, which is seeking support for the Jan Lokpal bill, told IANS. She also added that the Delhi Police is likely to grant permission to Hazare to sit on his fast at Ramlila ground, instead of Jantar Mantar.

However, Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said: "Nothing has been decided in this regard." Protesting against the bill, activists from the group India Against Corruption (IAC) held a car and bike rally in Ghaziabad, which was led by Lokpal bill joint drafting committee member Arvind Kejriwal.

In the capital, government's copies of the bill were burnt at Jamia Nagar in south Delhi, and Ajmeri Gate and Hauz Qazi chowk areas of old Delhi. The civil society members are opposing the Lokpal Bill presented by the government, calling it a toothless legislation. Among the points of contention are the non-inclusion of prime minister and judiciary under the Lokpal's ambit. The Lokpal Bill was introduced in parliament Thursday amid vehement protests from the opposition. The bill has been sent to a parliamentary standing committee.

An Open Letter to Baba Ramdev (The Times of India, July 18, 2011)

2011-07-18T22:06:00.001+05:30

Satyagraha is Much More than Hunger Strike

Dear Baba Ramdev,

Just a few weeks ago, you were the envy of politicians, most of who ferry people and rely on bribes to bring people to attend their rallies. In contrast, you had a devoted following who supported your anti-corruption campaign by coming to Ramlila Maidan at their own cost and dipping into their wallets to support movement. The numerous trusts and institutions you have set up are flush with funds. You have an army of dedicated cadres spread across the country who could play an important role as watchdogs of democracy, if guided properly. Yet, you messed it all up. The bizarre drama you enacted to escape arrest by the Delhi Police– jumping down from a 14 ft high stage, expecting your women to form a protective ring around you and finally fleeing the pandal disguised in women’s clothing, leaving thousands of your followers to face the police wrath— was far more shocking than the vandalism and lawlessness Delhi Police or the venality of those who ordered such a crackdown. We are used to governments ordering such crackdowns. We are used to our police behaving like an army of invaders.

But we were not prepared for such undignified behavior by a yog guru, who is loved and revered by millions. This is how petty thieves and pick pockets behave. No amount of explanations will help you live down this ignominy.

Worse still your first response to this public humiliation you invited upon yourself was to announce that for your next round of agitation you will train a private militia to give a fitting response to police action. It must have thrilled the Maoists and Naxalites to hear you say that you finally understood why they have taken to the gun. But then you don’t have the gumption and courage of Maoists most of who are ready to kill and die for their mission. You back tracked your statement the moment you were faced with the Home Minister’s open threat and a hostile media reaction.

Your press conference in Delhi was no less disappointing. Your explanation that you ran away in a woman’s attire because you did not want to be hunted like a wolf by the police, made you sound even more cowardly. Firstly, there was not a chance that if you had allowed yourself to be arrested in full view of TV cameras, any physical harm would have come your way. In fact, you would have emerged a hero in public eye. More importantly, a person who is so afraid of dying ought not to assume confrontational postures vis a vis the government. The quintessential quality of a satyagrahi is not his or her ability to stay without food for a certain number of days but to be absolutely fearless in the face of repression, including prospect of death. Therefore, though yours may have been a peaceful agitation; it was far from being a satyagraha.

Till recently you were considered the advertisement for the miraculous power of yoga. By your undignified behaviour on the night of June 6 you proved to the world that the inner calm of a genuine practitioner has escaped you altogether. Therefore, this is not the time for knee jerk reactions, angry outbursts or forcing yourself on a reluctant Anna Hazare’s bandwagon by announcing that you will join his fast on August 16, 2011. Not long ago, Team Hazare wooed you to join the anti corruption movement because of your countrywide massive support base. Today, they see you as a liability.

This is time for serious introspection. Perhaps, you should start by taking a course in the “Art of Living” from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Like you, he too was an integral part of the anti corruption movement. But he was not agitated by his representatives not being included in the drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill. He not only retained his calm but acted as your healer and saved you from a futile fast in hospital.

To start with, you need to seriously review the manner in which you practice and propagate yoga. Even the most elementary text or instructor, leave alone a real guru, teaches us that yog is not just physical exercise. It involves bringing body and mind in perfect union, with focus on calm breathing, the very manifestation of the life force in each of us. Pranayam is not the same as “breathing exercises” but an endeavour to gain total concentration and inner equilibrium by shutting out the noises and distractions of the outside world. As someone who made a sincere attempt to follow your yog lessons on TV, I gave up in total disappointment because you don’t allow your pupils a minute of peace. For every two minutes of yogasanas, one is subjected to 10 minutes of sermons and harangues on this or that issue.

I admire the way in which you have succeeded in convincing millions to avoid unhealthy food and dependence on allopathic system of medicines whose indiscriminate use does more harm than good. I also admire the way you lighted the spark in millions to stand up and fight corruption in governance. But your excessive demonization of the allopathic system and exaggerated claims for Yog weakens your case. When you mix yog with political or dietary sermons you take away from the seriousness of both and the lessons lose their intrinsic worth.

There is another serious flaw in your style of teaching yog. Bringing several thousand people together for a two hour class transmitted on TV clearly shows that people are expected to follow your complicated yogasanas by watching on giant videoscreens, doing what they can in their own way with very little monitoring. Yog cannot be imparted like you teach PT to school children. Yoga needs close individual attention to ensure that the person who is being taught is able to obtain the correct posture and correct breathing. Otherwise it is like any other exercise.

You have every right to nurture political ambitions or build a wealth generating ayurvedic empire with your marketing genius. But if you wish to succeed in influencing or cleansing the politics of India, you have to understand that electoral politics requires a different genius altogether. First of all you have to learn the art of team work and acknowledge your limitations in dealing with complex political and economic issues. It is naïve of you to assume that you single handedly have a cure for all political ills. The demand list you submitted to the Government sounds like “A Crank’s Manifesto”—with some sensible but many absolutely unviable ideas. It also diverted attention away from your main demand. Most importantly, you have to learn to live up to the honorific title of Yog guru by acquiring inner calm. Otherwise, you become a negative advertisement for Yog.

Silent Majority: The Sri Lankan Catastrophe

2011-07-15T17:02:00.001+05:30

Silent Majority: The Sri Lankan Catastrophe
In this paper, Ravindra Ranasinha of Design & People explores how the present regime in Sri Lanka utilises its ideological labels and the regime's machinery to gag Sri Lankan citizens and the sorrowful transformation undergone by the populace, turning them into silent spectators, by their own choice.
Full Story: http://www.designandpeople.org/creativeresistance/silent_majority.html

Anna Hazare about his June 8 protest

2011-06-06T00:13:00.002+05:30

“How can the government stop anyone from protesting? The land is not their ‘father’s property.’ The citizens are the masters and the ministers are their servants.”

Noam Chomsky: My Reaction to Osama bin Laden’s Death

2011-06-05T13:34:00.002+05:30

We might ask ourselves how we would be reacting if Iraqi commandos landed at George W. Bush’s compound, assassinated him, and dumped his body in the Atlantic. Uncontroversially, his crimes vastly exceed bin Laden’s, and he is not a “suspect” but uncontroversially the “decider” who gave the orders to commit the “supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole” (quoting the Nuremberg Tribunal) for which Nazi criminals were hanged: the hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of refugees, destruction of much of the country, the bitter sectarian conflict that has now spread to the rest of the region.

Throw Shoes, Rather Than Bombs

2011-05-15T12:33:00.003+05:30

Three years after grabbing the spotlight by throwing his shoe at U.S. President George Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraqi journalist Montazar Al Zaidi is in the land of Mahatma Gandhi hawking the philosophy it's better to throw shoes, rather than bombs, at extremist forces. Mr Al Zaidi is in India on a two-day visit on the invitation of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Mr Al Zaidi's book, The Last Salute, detailing his experiences before and after his shoe act, has inspired Mr. Bhatt to produce a play for the first time in a career spanning more than two decades. Getting Mr Al Zaidi to India wasn't easy. The post-Osama developments in Indo-American relations had made it tough to get him a visa. “I wrote to the Home Ministry which gave him a visa in 15 days finally,” Mr Bhatt says, rather relieved. Mr Al Zaidi seems in the pink of health, but rather pensive and a little tired. He admits that his act of throwing a shoe at Mr. Bush was a premeditated move. “After I saw an eight year-old-child, Zohra, killed by the US troops in Iraq, I went mad and decided that even if I am killed, I will teach Bush a lesson.”

Noble Acts of a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate!

2011-05-11T12:33:00.004+05:30

Photograph of Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th President of the United States and the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate enjoying the killing of Osama Bin Laden and his associates on May 02, 2011.

The death of Osama bin Laden gave rise to various conspiracy theories, hoaxes, and rumors. These included the notions that bin Laden had been dead for years, or was still alive. Doubts about bin Laden's death were fueled by the U.S. military's disposal of his body at sea, the decision to not release photographic evidence of bin Laden's death, and a 25-minute blackout during the raid on bin Laden's compound during which a live feed from cameras mounted on the helmets of the U.S. special forces was cut off. On May 2, 2011, An image showing a dead Osama bin Laden broadcast on Pakistani television and picked up on front pages of the Mail, Times, Telegraph, Sun, and the Mirror website, as well the Associated Press though swiftly removed after the fake was exposed on Twitter. On May 4, 2011, the Obama administration announced it would not release any images of bin Laden's dead body. The administration had considered releasing the photos to dispel rumors of a hoax, at the risks of perhaps prompting another attack by al Qaeda and of releasing very graphic images to people who might find them disturbing. Several photos of the aftermath of the raid were given to Reuters by an anonymous Pakistani security official, but though all appeared to be authentic, they were taken after the U.S. forces had left and none of them included evidence regarding bin Laden's fate. The Associated Press and Judicial Watch filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for the photos and videos as of May 3, 2011. Legally, the government has 20 business days to respond to such requests. (Wikipedia)

Government Calls Binayak Sen to Draw Health Plan

2011-05-11T09:28:00.002+05:30

New Delhi: Months after he was charged with sedition and aiding Maoists, Dr Binayak Sen is among eminent health sector experts called in to draw up India’s health policy for the 12th Plan (2012-17). Sen, a rights activist and a pediatrician working with tribal in Chhattisgarh, will be on the Planning Commission’s steering committee on health.

"I’m delighted to hear the news, though I have no intimation of such a development,” Sen told HT over the phone when reached for comments on Tuesday. Sen said he would take a call on joining the panel after consulting his colleagues. The committee’s brief includes review of national health situation and policy and and exploring possibility of adopting a right to health approach — advocated by Sen in a recent issue of Lancet. "I do not think it is recognition of my work but a reminder of the work that needs to be done,” he said.

Sen’s nomination to the country’s highest planning body, which works under the Prime Minister, comes just weeks after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a sedition case. Sen works closely with the Jan Swasthya Sahayog, the Indian unit of Peoples’ Health Support Group worldwide.

(By Prasad Nichenametla, Hindustan Times, May 11, 2011)

When Obama Rules The World

2011-05-07T12:35:00.004+05:30

"In respect of the recent use of deadly force against Osama bin Laden, the United States of America should disclose the supporting facts to allow an assessment in terms of international human rights law standards."

UN Human Rights Investigators

'Turbulent Skies' (hindustantimes.com, May 05, 2011)

2011-05-05T09:33:00.005+05:30

To,

The Web Editor,

The Hindustan Times,

www.hindustantimes.com.

Dear Sir/Madam:

This is with reference to the ten photographs you have published under the title 'Turbulent Skies' in the Hindustan Times website: www.hindustantimes.com. Though the intention was to show Indian leaders perished in air crashes in the past, using the photograph of Netaji Subash Chadra Bose, the great freedom fighter of India and the leader of Indian National Army along with nine other petty criminals of Indian politics who were only looting the nation's wealth is inappropriate and a disrespect to one of the most prominent figures of India's freedom movement. Imagine if we had used the image of Mahatma Gandhi along with a group of Mumbai underworld criminals to make a list of 'Indians who were shot dead' after independence. This is similar to that. Kindly remove the Netaji photograph at the earliest from your esteemed website.

Thank you.

Team Design & People

A few statistics from what was arguably the most expensive manhunt in history, from MJ senior editor Dave Gilson.

2011-05-04T12:25:00.001+05:30

Fomenting Nationalism With Murder

2011-05-04T12:01:00.003+05:30

(Al Jazeera, May 03, 2011)

News of Osama bin Laden's death has brought a surge of nationalism throughout much of the United States, and the Obama administration is using the event to justify its foreign policy in the Middle East. Given that al-Qaeda has claimed the lives of far more Arab Muslims than Westerners, many Muslims and Arabs living in the US are relieved that he is gone.

Yet that relief is tempered by the knowledge that bigotry they face is most likely going to remain. "I hope that his death helps reduce the stereotyping we all face here at times," Said Alani, an Arab and Muslim who is a college student in New York told Al Jazeera, "But even though the symbol [Osama bin Laden] is dead, and that chapter is closed, I imagine there will still be some people who carry the stereotype on against Muslims in the United States. Osama bin Laden was the symbol of the stereotype, but the stereotype will still exist. I even see people here that call Japanese 'Japs' and think that they should be in concentration camps. So even that stereotype is still alive."

U-S-A! U-S-A!

According to the US government, at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time in Pakistan, a US special forces team conducted a helicopter raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the so-called leader of al-Qaeda, where he was staying in a summer resort compound in the town of Abbottabad, roughly 60km north of Islamabad.

Abbottabad is also the home of Pakistan's premier military academy. Bin Laden, an adult son, an unidentified woman, and two other men were killed, according to US officials. However, many Muslims in the US believe the event will not likely function to dispel stereotyping and bigotry against Arabs and Muslims.

Candeace Lukasik, a student of Political Science and International Relations at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, is in the process of converting to Islam. While she expressed relief that the killing of Bin Laden has ended this troubling chapter of US history, she was sceptical that the event would cause a positive shift in negative perceptions of Arabs and Muslims in the US and abroad. "As a US citizen, there was a moment of happiness that this chapter has finally come to an end. But at the same time, the 'war on terror' has already gone way past what Osama bin Laden represented. This event is bittersweet, and I don't know that it's ever a good thing to be excited about someone's death."

But excitement about Osama bin Laden's reported death is rampant around the US, and has been fanned by remarks from US president Barack Obama himself.

US citizens gathered at the site of the World Trade Centre in New York City and at the gates of the White House to celebrate Bin Laden's death. An orgy of nationalism even led some to sing "Amazing Grace" while others cheered and waved U.S. flags.

The chant – "U-S-A! U-S-A!" – echoed in Dearborn, Michigan, a heavily Middle Eastern suburb of Detroit, where a crowd gathered outside City Hall and waved US flags. In another area of Dearborn people honked their car horns while they drove along the main street where most of the Arab-American restaurants and shops are located.

Lukasik, like many Muslim American's Al Jazeera has spoken with, is concerned that the wave of nationalism currently sweeping across the country will increase negative stereotyping of Arabs and Muslims. "I really don't think this will have a positive effect on American's perceptions of Muslims here," she said, "Because the policies of the US government have been totally against Arab and Muslim populations inside the US. So things like Guantanamo, and other questionable intelligence gathering practises will likely continue. It's the same with bigotry and prejudice. I don't think this will change that."

Lukasik believes that racism, bigotry and prejudice against Arabs and Muslims has been ingrained in US society for a long time, and particularly so in the decade that followed the events of September 11, 2001. "These are things that have been ingrained in our society over the last 10 years, and I doubt this will change that," she said, "While I've been on programs that have sent Americans to the Middle East to spend time with people there, that has helped, but that is small compared to the mainstream US media that continues to equate being Arab or Muslim with being a terrorist, and vice versa."

Her comments are reinforced by statements made on Monday by Obama, who declared the killing of Osama bin Laden "a good day for America."

"Today we are reminded that as a nation there is nothing we can't do," Obama said. Obama, who claims to have ordered the operation to have Bin Laden killed, will most certainly benefit politically from the news. Obama also hailed the "pride" of those who broke out in celebrations around bin Laden's death.

Good news or backlash?

Dearborn, Michigan, where some of the nationalistic celebrations took place, is also where the Islamic Centre of America is located.

"I was surprised and satisfied to hear the news, and feel satisfaction for the families of those who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks," Kassem Allie, the Executive Administrator of the Islamic Centre of America told Al Jazeera, "We are gratified this chapter in that horrible event has come to an end." Allie does not believe that the killing of Bin Laden will cause a negative backlash against Muslims living in the US.

"We haven't received any threats," Allie, whose organisation works to educate the general public about Islam, added, "I don't think this is an event that would cause a negative reaction like that to us. People have been clear that this was an incident that had to do with radical lunatics."

However, despite this, there have already been instances of negative backlash from the killing of bin Laden. In Portland, Maine, just hours after Obama announced that Bin Laden had been killed, graffiti that included comments like "Go Home", "Osama Today Islam tomorow (sic)", and "Long live the West", were found painted on the Maine Muslims Community Centre.

Nevertheless, Ahmed Rehab, the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), hopes that recent events will help cause a shift in both US foreign policy, and by doing so, a positive shift in Arab/Muslim perceptions in the US.

"It [Bin Ladens' death] brings closure for the families of 9/11, and all Americans, and hopefully brings closure on an era," Rehab, whose institution works to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance, told Al Jazeera, "I hope now we can usher in a new era that focuses more on the Arab Spring which is the reality now, and less on the so-called War on Terror."

"Bin Laden was more of a symbol than an actual operation leader, and as such his murder is symbolic," Rehab said, "Many analysts say he was not relevant, but nevertheless his murder is symbolic and this could help shift the focus of the public in the United States from the War on Terror over to working with the new fledgling democracies in the Middle East."

Tempered relief

Alani, the college student in New York, said that he, along with all of his friends who are Arab and Muslim, are relieved that Osama bin Laden is dead because of hopes it will bring safety to their loved ones abroad, but remain doubtful that the event will cause a decline in bigotry and prejudice they face in the US.

"Bin Laden's death gives closure to the families of the thousands of Americans who were killed under the name of Islam," he said, "It also gives closure to my friends and relatives who have been killed in the Middle East at the hands of al-Qaeda. But the judgement and racism we see here is not likely to evaporate with this news."

Dr. Hussein, an Iraqi doctor from Baghdad who immigrated to the United States in 2007, now lives and works in Tampa, Florida. He asked that in lieu of his real name, he be referred to as Dr. Hussein, because he did not want his politics be made public for fear of retribution.

"I hope that more people in the US now have a better understanding of the shortcomings of stereotyping and prejudice against Arabs and Muslims by equating them with terrorism," he told Al Jazeera. Of the large segment of the US population that equates Arabs and Muslims with terrorism, Dr. Hussein added, "That's a big lie, that all of us are with al-Qaeda. I cannot tell you how much we in Iraq suffered because of al-Qaeda. They did a lot of harm to us in Iraq. They [al-Qaeda] were killing people in Iraq because they did not have beards, or because they were selling ice."

"This guy was a criminal, he by no means represented myself or other Muslims," he said, "Al-Qaeda do not represent the rest of us that reject what they are about. I'm not a devout Muslim, but certainly those people do not represent us. Everything al-Qaeda has done has hurt Muslims. There is a lot of the stereotyping happening, we have to amend this ugly picture of Muslims. There are extreme people in all walks of life, and this minority group is just that."

Meanwhile, the surge of nationalism sweeping the United States in the wake of the news of the killing of Osama bin Laden has some people manufacturing T-Shirts that read "Obama got Osama" and signs being held up in some of the nationalistic celebrations that read, "Obama 1, Osama 0."

"Osama bin Laden" by Al Jazeera

2011-05-03T14:10:00.002+05:30

Alluding to the United States' hunt for him, the al-Qaeda leader stated his determination to avoid capture:

"I swear not to die but a free man."

His death ends the largest manhunt in history that began a decade ago involving thousands of US troops in Afghanistan and tens of thousands of Pakistani soldiers in the rugged mountains along the border. Whether reviled as a terrorist and mass murderer or hailed as the champion of oppressed Muslims fighting injustice and humiliation, bin Laden changed the course of history. Challenging the might of the US, the most powerful nation ever, he masterminded a string of attacks against it and then built a global network of allies to wage a war intended to outlive him. The man allegedly behind the suicide hijack attacks of September 11, 2001, was the nemesis of former US President George Bush, who pledged to take him "dead or alive" and whose two terms were dominated by a "war on terror" against his al-Qaeda network founded in 1988.

Others Take Care of People, India Takes Care of Lobbies

2011-05-02T22:03:00.000+05:30

(By TJS George, The New Indian Express, May 02, 2011)

The endosulfan controversy is typical of India, of Indian politics, of Indian corruption, and of Indian morality. There were 173 countries in the Stockholm Convention that debated whether or not there should be a global ban on this notorious pesticide. Of these, 125 had banned it outright. All 47 of the remaining 48 sat on the fence and generally kept quiet. Only one argued vehemently on behalf of endosulfan. That one-in-the-world nation was India.

India was further isolated by the silliness of its arguments. It said, for example, that America’s Federal Drug Administration ruled in 1998 that endosulfan posed no health hazard. The US has the most stringent and independent regulatory agencies in food and environmental matters and therefore American rulings are taken as a benchmark in the rest of the world.

But India cited American authority only to mislead. In 1989, a decade before the purported FDA ruling, the US Fish & Wild Life Service had said that endosulfan was fatal to endangered fish species. In 2007 the US Environment Protection Agency began a review of pesticide policies and decided, in 2010, to phase out endosulfan. The industry lobby said this was not a ban, but only a de-registration. The fact was that Bayer, the first and principal manufacturer of the pesticide, closed down its American factory. The only remaining factory, an Israeli company, started winding down as per the phase-out period allowed by the government. The pesticide, it was declared, “poses unacceptable risks to farm workers and wildlife”.

In America and Europe, in China and Japan, scientific studies lead to fairly quick policy decisions. In India about 80 expert study-teams have reported on the Kasaragod victims of endosulfan, examining everything from breast milk to male reproductive systems. Yet the Government kept saying that expert studies were needed before a ban could be considered. Sharad Pawar was the sole fighter for endosulfan initially. Later the Prime Minister and the green warrior Jairam Ramesh joined him. What was going on?

It is true that excessive and careless use of pesticides led to the tragedies in Kasaragod (where children are born with horrible defects) and in Punjab’s Bhatinda area (where cancer is endemic). Civilised societies impose responsibilities on the industry, as well as on government agencies, to ensure proper and controlled use of poisonous chemicals. In Bhatinda, what steps did the industry and the Government take to guide farmers, many of whom could not even read the instructions on the packets?

The Kerala Government’s lapse was even more reprehensible. Irresponsible aerial spraying of the lethal chemical was carried out by a government undertaking, the Plantation Corporation. Was any official of the corporation booked for the offence and punished? The state’s case against the Central Government would have been stronger if it had held its own offenders accountable.

Perhaps we should not be surprised at Delhi’s defence of the indefensible and its indifference to India’s isolation in the world. India already has a shameful record of bowing before multinational lobbies. Drugs that are banned in Western countries become easily available in our country. Field trials disallowed in America are carried out on unsuspecting Indian patients. Genetically engineered products must be so labelled in other countries. In India there is no such rule because the GM lobby has “persuaded” the authorities against it.

Many things happen in India that cannot happen in countries concerned about public welfare. The needle of suspicion must naturally point to the possibility of corruption. We hear pesticide lobby’s arguments from the mouths of government leaders. We hear arguments in favour of chemically engineered brinjal from agricultural experts who have received lucrative research grants from GM companies. World opinion has now forced India to agree to a phase-out of endosulfan over the next 11 years. Given the hold the lobbies have on India’s power structure, there is no guarantee that the phase-out will work as transparently in India as it did in the US. Scepticism is in order when decisions about poisons in our water bodies and soil and food chains are in the hands of people like Sharad Pawar.

"We Are Walking in a State of Famine": Dr Binayak Sen

2011-04-21T16:27:00.002+05:30

After spending nearly four months in the Raipur Central Jail on charges of sedition and aiding the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), health and human rights activist Dr. Binayak Sen was released on bail on Monday evening. In an interview with Aman Sethi at his residence in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Dr. Sen spoke of the need to re-examine the sedition law and build a platform to tackle the structural violence, that he believes, pervades society.

Some of the most significant interventions on ideas of rights and freedom have come in the form of prison writings, for instance Antonio Gramsci's Prison Notebooks. From mundane issues like prison schedules, to your thoughts at the time, what was your time in prison like?

In prison you feel completely cut-off, as if you are only hearing the echoes of what is happening in the outside world. We received three newspapers for our barrack — The Hitavada, The Hindu and the Danik Bhaskar — but we get papers full of holes — literally. They [prison authorities] cut out all news regarding Maoists, naxalites, and anything related to the cases or trial of any of the people in jail…We also had a television that showed Doordarshan, that is how I learnt that the Supreme Court had granted me bail.

At present, the greatest violence is structural violence. Violence is not restricted to a few groups; it pervades the structure of our society. We need to break out of this structure of violence through a process of dialogue.

Could you elaborate on this idea of structural violence?

By structural violence I refer to the fact that half our children and our adults in this country suffer from malnutrition. Malnutrition casts a dark shadow over other diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.

For example, a study by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau says that more than 60 per cent of Scheduled Tribes have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5. According to the World Health Organisation, if more than 40 per cent of the population of a community has a BMI of less than 18.5, the community can be considered to be in a condition of famine. A third of our live births have low birth weights, this is what I mean when I talk of structural violence.

When you speak of dialogue, who must get into dialogue with whom? Also, is it possible to address issues of nutrition in a conflict zone like Chhattisgarh?

This is a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation: the reason we have [overt] violence like we have in Chhattisgarh is because of an underlying problem of structural violence. We need to enter into dialogue with the state and also groups involved in the issue.

Talks [with groups like the Maoists] cannot just be about abjuring arms or violence. We need to have a dialogue on issues like displacement. These problems are much bigger than us. So we need to be able to create a legitimate platform from which we can address these structures of violence.

If we can build the platform, dialogue will follow. I don't want to get into specific solutions at this stage, but how can we tackle issues if we are permanently walking in a state of famine?

A Raipur Additional District and Sessions Court convicted you of conspiring to commit sedition and also invoked provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005. Do you feel we need to rethink such laws?

On of the things that I realised while I was in prison is that there are hundreds of people who are in exactly the same legal situation as I am. I fear that governments are using this law as a short cut to imprison people. We need to find out exactly how many people are fighting such cases. The Union Law Minister, Veerappa Moily, has spoken of reviewing the sedition law. We would like to tackle things from our end by taking the matter before the people.

As for the Public Security Act, the People's Union of Civil Liberties, of which I am one of the vice-presidents, has filed a writ challenging this law in the Bilaspur High Court.

Latest Creative Resistance stories

2011-04-10T18:53:00.002+05:30

"I Believe Violence is A Dead-End-Street": Dolkun Isa
Originally published in the April 2011 edition of Pachakuthira Magazine, this piece is based on a conversation between Design & People Co-founder Sethu Das and Dolkun Isa, Secretary General of World Uyghur Congress (WUC), formed under the leadership of a charismatic woman — Rebiya Kadeer.
Read / PDF

Nation Building of Rajapaksa: Rhetoric of a Power-Project
In this note, Ravindra Ranasinha tries to sum up the total impact of Rajapakse regime's power-project as an 'image building' effort which is proven through so-called 'developmental' plans. The efforts to attract the eye of Westerners has become an primary function of the regime to ensure that funding becomes possible for their construction plan.
Read / PDF

http://www.designandpeople.org/creativeresistance/

Latest Creative Resistance stories

2011-03-05T23:41:00.001+05:30

The Essential Youth
There is a Stuttgart 21 happening in every corner of our country in the name of progress. But not a single creative professional has ever marched to protect our falling monuments and to retain the aesthetic and historical values of our cities. Design & People Co-founder Sethu Das on Stuttgart 21 and the inertia of our generation.
Read

The Forward March of Mahinda
Sri Lankan journalist and educationist Ravindra Ranasinha writes about what is really going on in Sri Lanka after the LTTE rebels were wiped out from the island with the power of the gun and how the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpakse is battling numerous legal charges leveled against his regime by the Tamil Diaspora.
Read

The Great Indian Menu!

2011-01-08T11:52:00.004+05:30

The only place in Delhi, India where food is cheap?

Tea: 1.002
Soup: 5.50,
Dhal: 1.50,
Meals: 2.00,
Chapathi: 1.00,
Chicken: 24.50,
Dosa: 4.00,
Veg Biryani: 8.00,
Fish: 13.00

These items are meant for poor people and are available at the Indian Parliament canteen. Salary of those poor public servants serving the Indian population is only 1,20,000/- per month. (Contributor: Satish Abraham)

Areva in Ratnagiri!

2011-01-03T16:09:00.006+05:30

Do you know you can never completely dismantle a nuclear power plant? Ever. Is it then any surprise that the country which pioneered nuclear technology and nuclear power plants, have not built one in the last 25 years?

A French company, Areva, however is building the world's largest nuclear power plant, that too based on technology that has not been completely tested, in the pristine, beautiful coastline of Ratnagiri (Jaitapur Town), India.

In these videos, Rada Krishna, who was the construction manager in building the last and the largest nuclear reactor of the US in San Onofre, California goes beyond the known clichés for and against the same, to talks about issues rarely, if at all, talked about. He busts many myths surrounding the construction, working, dismantling and the zillion hazards -- economic, social, environmental and political - of a nuclear power plant.

The revelations and repercussions for India are chilling.

• Once a nuclear plant is built it cannot be completely shut down and has to be maintained for perpetuity costing multiple times over the cost of building one proving that Nuclear energy is definitely not cheap.

• Today we don't need missiles to sabotage a Nuclear power plant and a computer hacker sitting in some nondescript corner of the world can do a much better job of sabotage and perhaps destruction of a nuclear power plant as the Stuxnet virus that has delayed the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Russia and threatens to do the same to Iran's nuclear facility in Natanz show.

• Half life of the uranium in the reactor is over 24,000 years i.e. its danger is reduced to only half in that time and they have to be kept for an eternity, literally, before the spent fuel (the used Uranium from reactors) for it to become safe completely.

• The proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant in Ratnagiri district of India, with 6 reactors, is an act bordering on lunacy because even if there is damage to one, all six will have to be closed which besides causing irreparable damage to ecology and the entire region, will lead to a lost of billions of dollars of taxpayers money. It is perhaps best that India does not do something that will go down as one of the greatest blunders in its history.

The question to ask thus is why would any nation consciously build a Damocles sword to hang over its own necks perennially? What is the stupidity and illusion that pervades all our consciousness that forces us into illusions about nuclear power plants? Isn't it more sensible to go for other, safer options that are indeed available?

In the light of these facts, isn't building a power plant today, akin not just to shooting oneself up but actually blowing ourselves up with our families and friends? Can human civilization survive even one single nuclear power plant, let alone many? You decide.

About Rada Krishna:

Rada Krishna, is a retired construction specialist, who is responsible for building many power plants in the United States of America. He began by working with the Tatas in India then shifted base to the US where he was involved with building various types of power plants from those that operate on oil and gas, to building the first solar plants with reflecting mirrors and the first geothermal power plants in the US. His most important job was as the senior construction manager in the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant in California in the early 80s (units 2 and 3), which has the largest nuclear reactors in the US. That was also the last nuclear power plant built in the US, the country that pioneered it in the first place. Incidentally he was also involved in the planning of dismantling a power plant.

Gratitude is due to Vivek Sundara for his help in the production of this video. (Contributor: Satyan K Bordolai)

The Fifth Pillar of Democracy?

2011-01-01T15:53:00.001+05:30

Design & People Poster (December 2010)
Doctor, human rights activist and Vice President of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Dr Binayak Sen started his work in the rural areas of Chattisgarh, India. He dedicated his life for the welfare and health care of tribal community living in that area. Dr Sen, a defender of human rights had criticised the central and state government for the human rights violations during anti-Naxal operations by the paramilitary forces. In May 2007 he was arrested for supporting the Naxalites but was granted bail by the Supreme Court of India only in May 2009. Later on December 24, 2010, the Sessions' Court found him guilty of supporting the Naxalites and charged him with connections with banned organisations in the state. He was sentenced life-term. The politically-motivated court verdict is now challenged by Nobel laureates, doctors, human rights activists, intellectuals and thinking people across India. According to Amnesty International, "Dr Sen, who is considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was convicted under laws that are impermissibly vague and fall well short of international standards for criminal prosecution." Download Design & People poster for the nation-wide campaign demanding the release of human rights activist — Dr Binayak Sen.

Free Binayak Sen Now!

2010-12-27T18:54:00.002+05:30

Citizens from different walks of life from Mumbai and Maharashtra have unequivocally condemned the life imprisonment sentence meted out to Dr Binayak Sen, a human rights activist and defender of deep commitment to the poor and marginalized by a trial court in the central Indian state of Chhatisgarh on December 24. They have demanded that he be granted bail immediately and the appeal to this scandalous pronouncement be heard by the higher courts, forthwith.

The judgement is appalling upholding as it does charges of sedition against a man who struggled for the rights of India’s adivasis and one who moreover, opted for a life among the voiceless. Not only was the case framed by a vindictive state of Chhatisgarh, a false and motivated one u/s 120(b) 124(a) of the IPC and u/s 1,2,3,5 of the Chhatisgarh Special Public Security Act and section 39(2) of the UAPA (2004 amended), the conviction sets a dangerous trend for India’s judiciary. Such signals from our courts are directly aimed at human rights defenders who tirelessly expose state terror, rights violations by counter terrorism forces like salva judum, and the central and state paramilitary, while espousing the path of non violence. Apart from a unjust and unfair persecution of Dr Binayak Sen and his family, such a verdict that ignores the fundamental rights and civil liberties of the people while privileging the brute force of the state machinery actively ensure that the critical spaces for dissent that allow struggle for justice, critical in a living, breathing democracy shrink, pushing persons to extremes.

The verdict sends a warning signal to all those who struggle for the civil liberties and human rights of the disaffected and coming as it does from a court plunges human rights preservation and protection in the country to an all time low. It is time for all who stand for equality and freedom to raise our voices against the brute injustice meted out to Dr Binayak Sen and his family. Make the demand, Release Binayak Sen, NOW!!

2010-11-28T00:26:00.001+05:30

2010-10-21T16:13:00.001+05:30

Design & People Co-founder Sethu Das presents the Indian section of the 'Re-Designing the East: Political Design in Asia and Europe' symposium/exhibition at the Württembergischer Kunstverein at Stuttgart, Germany on September 25, 2010. The section titled 'Swaraj in Design: Opportunities for Conscious Learning and Sharing' is on the work and philosophy of Design & People, an organisation he co-founded in the year 2003. The exhibition will continue till January 09, 2011. (Photo: Sung Hyun Sohn / Activism of Graphic Imagination, South Korea)

Re-Designing the East: Political Design in Asia and Europe

'Re-designing the East: Political Design in Asia and Europe' symposium/exhibition made a grand beginning at the Württembergischer Kunstverein of Stuttgart, Germany. Chris Hans and Iris Dressler, Directors of the institute formally opened the event by presenting the artists, designers and curators to a colourful gathering on September 25, 2010. The event that will explore the work of Polish designer Jerzy Janiszewski who created the historic Solidarity logo; Czech designer Joska Skalník, who was actively involved in the so-called 'Velvet Revolution' and now faced with the accusation of being an informant to Czechoslovakia's secret intelligence; Thai designer Pracha Suveeranont who developed the 2007 boycott campaign and the work; activist projects by the design groupActivism of Graphic Imagination (AGI), South Korea; Laboratory of Imitation of Hungary; and by the artist Noh Suntag; and the work and philosophy of Design & People. The exhibition will continue till January 9, 2011.

Conceptualised by Keiko Sei, the symposium will have Maks Bochenek (Poland), Hans D Christ and Iris Dressler(Germany), Sethu Das (India), Nikolett Eross (Hungary), Tomas Pospiszyl (Czechoslovakia), Keiko Sei(Japan/Thailand) and Nathalie Boseul Shin (South Korea) as curators. Württembergischer Kunstverein is highlighting critical and resistive design practices in Europe and Asia from the 80s to the present with particular focus on the role of both design and designers in the context of sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural upheaval. The event is organised by WKS in co-operation with Trafó Gallery, Budapest; Wyspa Institute of Art, Gdansk and Total Museum, Seoul with financial support from European Commission.

2010-10-18T12:31:00.001+05:30

US Pastor Says Yoga 'Demonic'!

(By Arun Ram, TNN, October 18, 2010)

Seattle: Ever seen a demon in padmasana? A pastor in Seattle, US, is seeing millions of them. Mars Hill Church pastor Mark Driscoll's statement that yoga is an agent of Hinduism, and hence demonic, has many yoga gurus seething and practitioners confused. Adding fuel to the fire, The Seattle Times newspaper last week quoted R Albert Mohler Jr, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky, as saying that yoga was against Christianity. Some see the statements as acknowledgement of the popularity of yoga, which has been growing as rapidly as religions once did.

A system of meditation and exercise passed down generations in India, yoga has been found to give physiological, psychological and therapeutic benefits. An estimated 15.8 million people practice yoga in the US, where yoga studios are proliferating in every city. Those who flock to these studios feel that the pastor's statement is an attempt by the church to interference in their lifestyle. "The church has nothing to do with my choice of exercise," says April Mallery, 32, a yoga practitioner and a regular church-goer at Renton, Seattle. "The benefits of yoga are great and never in contradiction to one's practising religion," she said.

What irked people like Mallery was a recent question and answer session of Driscoll with church members. "Should Christians stay away from yoga because of its demonic roots?" Driscoll asked, before replying: "Totally. You sign up for a little yoga class, and you are signing up for a little demon class."

Contesting the idea of yoga seeking to "connect to the universe through meditation" and not "connecting to God through the mediatorship of Jesus", Driscoll dubbed yoga "a form of pantheism and absolute paganism". Richard Brenin, a teacher at Glow Yoga Center, Washington DC, called Driscoll's comment "a bit of racism".

Contesting the pastor relating yoga with Hinduism because of use of Sanskrit words, Brenin told TOI: "I suspect that there's a bit of racism and nationalism coming from church leaders, who harp on language issues and images of Hindu deities which for many studios are mere decorations or at most stories that inspire and challenge. There is no worship in a US yoga studio."

While many Indians in the US see in Driscoll's sermon a conspiracy against Indian culture, Hari Gopinathan, an Oracle employee in San Francisco, finds streaks of rebellion in Christian yoga practitioners, especially women. "With an increasingly nuclearised society, women, at the first chance of a free choice, rebel. Yoga started off as one such sub-culture avenue for rebelling. It cuts out middle-men when it comes to spiritualism and offers freedom of expression and minimal diktats on things like sex and gender equality. Add to this the health benefits, and you have a potent adversary to organised religion," says Gopinathan.

2010-09-23T23:58:00.002+05:30

India Bribed 72 Nations to Get Delhi CWG

(Press Trust Of India, September 23, 2010)

Melbourne: India bribed 72 Commonwealth countries $100,000 each to get the hosting rights for the scandal-hit 19th edition of the Games which will start in Delhi from October 3-14, a media report claimed in Melbourne on Thursday. A report in the Daily Telegraph claimed that Delhi pipped Hamilton in the bid after offering huge sums of money to the 72 Commonwealth countries during the final presentation in Jamaica. The report also said that Australia received a kickback of $125,000 from India.

"Delhi sealed the right to host the Games when their delegates emerged at the final presentation in Jamaica and offered all 72 nations $100,000 (then about $140,000) each for athlete training schemes if they were the successful bidders," the newspaper reported. "The money, subsequently paid to all nations, was not significant to Australia because it had already decided to vote for India and the payment was not an exceptionally large one. "But for small nations who have minimal interest in the Games, it clinched their vote and India went on to beat Canadian city Hamilton 46-22 in the final poll. Hamilton had offered the nations about $70,000 each," it said.

2010-08-18T18:10:00.000+05:30

Chinese Cellphone Battery Kills Youth Kota

(Times of India, August 18, 2010)

Jaipur: In a first-of-its-kind incident in the country, a 23-year-old youth died when his mobile phone exploded in Banda village in Kota on Monday. Though there are no witnesses to the incident, it was assumed that he was taking over the phone when it got burst, causing serious injuries to his right ear. The body of the victim, Gopal Gujjar, was found near his farm along with remains of mobile phone and battery on Tuesday morning.

It is probably the first incident in the country in which a mobile phone exploded while it was not being charged. However, there have been cases when users sustained injuries as phones exploded. In January this year, a 27-year-old housewife in Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh was killed while she was talking to her husband over a Chinese-made mobile phone and simultaneously charging it.

Deaths due to mobile phone explosion have been reported in a few other countries like China, Korea and Nepal.

2010-08-13T16:14:00.000+05:30

Re-designing The East:

Political Design in Asia and Europe

25th September 2010 - 9 January 2011

Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart

Pracha Suveeranont | Vote No to Draft Constitution Campaign, 2007 | Courtesy: Pracha Suveeranont

From 25 September 2010 to 9 January 2011 is dedicated to the Württemberg Art Society with the exhibition Re-Designing the East. Political Design in Asia and Europe, critical and resistant design practices of the 1980s until today (Eastern) Europe and (South / East) Asia. It is about the role of design and designers in the context of wide-ranging social, political, economic and cultural upheavals.

Re-Designing the East based on cooperation between the Württemberg Art Association, the Trafó Gallery in Budapest and the Wyspa Institute of Art in Gdansk. The exhibition comprises six sections, which are developed by each different curators from Europe and Asia.

Since the early 1990s has become - particularly moved by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the so-called Eastern Bloc countries and in the context of a global neo-liberalism 'and the rapid development of information and communication technologies - the hitherto unknown world order radically and permanently. The old ideological concepts of "East" and "West" have become obsolete. In - from Eurocentric perspective - will be far distant East, in addition to China, even countries like South Korea, Thailand and India long economic positions occupied by global relevance. The former order of the center (the "West") and periphery (the "residual") was broken.At the same time, the much vaunted "triumph" of Western models of democracy and free market economy, prosperity, peace and freedom would bring for all, proved to be a fallacy.

The exhibition Re-Designing the East. Political Design in Asia and Europe in the title refers to the slipping away or at least the questionable nature of geo-political assignments as "the East". Same time, the upheavals of the 1980s and 1990s in Europe and are set to date in Asia in relation to one another, and in light of the question of what role critical and resistant design practices within this breaks play, that is, within the struggles for political, social , economic, environmental and cultural reorganization.

The focus is on contexts such as the political changes of the 1980s and 1990s in Hungary, Poland and the former Czechoslovakia, and to this day, accompanied by multi-layered conflict democratization and rapid economic developments in India, Thailand and South Korea.

The exhibition focuses on this very different design positions. The historical items include, inter alia, the Polish by Jerzy Janiszewski designers developed the logo of the Solidarity movement. Will also investigate the work of Czech designer Joska Skalník, who was active in the so-called "Velvet Revolution" involved, but now faces the accusation of having acted as an informer of the secret of Czechoslovakia.

The current position is one of the Indian Network Design & People, which is committed to socio-political projects. In the spirit of "copyleft" it makes it his creative work and his knowledge for non-commercial purposes for free. The Thai designers Pracha Suveeranont shows a 2007 he developed extensive boycott campaign, which was directed against the election of a new Constitution of Thailand, and other graphic works that relate to current social and political conflicts in the country. The South Korean group of Activism Graphic Imagination (AGI) is involved in activist contexts. Her work in South Korea oppose the ruling repressive policy that an unbridled turbo-capitalism is new awakening and a "cold war" atmosphere due.

The participating curators of the exhibition had in the design of their section and the selection of the designers a free hand. This was followed by the Württembergische Kunstverein one already under On Difference (2005 and 2006) or subversive practices (2009) tested model that explores just in dealing with so-called "non-Western" cultural practices, the possibilities and limitations of a multi-perspective and process-based curating. While Subversive practices highlighted the resistive potential of the visual arts, Re-Designing the East stands now explicitly the characteristics of resistant methods and aesthetics out of the design.

Re-Designing the East is the prelude of a series of projects of the Württemberg Art Society, who wish to move decisively in the coming years on the terrain of neighboring disciplines of visual art. The aim is to examine the ever own and common approaches, discourses and functions in terms of aesthetic and sociopolitical issues.

The opening weekend of the exhibition Re-Designing the East will be accompanied by a conference. A publication of the project appear following the exhibition.

An exhibition of the Württemberg Kunstverein Stuttgart

in cooperation with Trafó Gallery, Budapest; Wyspa Institute of Art, Gdansk and Total Museum, Seoul

within the project in charge. The Role of Political Transformation in Designers

Curators Maks Bochenek (PL)

Hans D. Christ, Iris Dressler (D)

Sethu Das (India)

Nikolett Erőss (HU)

Pospiszyl Tomas (CZ)

Keiko Sei (Japan / Thailand)

Nathalie Boseul Shin (South Korea)

Funded by Ministry of Science, Research and Arts of Baden-Württemberg

Cultural Office of the City of Stuttgart

Institute for Auslandesbeziehungen, Stuttgart

First Foundation, Vienna

RE-DESIGNING THE EAST. Political Design in Asia and Europe is part of the project in charge. The Role of Political Designers in transformation, which is carried out by the Württemberg Art Association in cooperation with the Trafó Gallery in Budapest and the Wyspa Institute of Art in Gdansk and funded by the European Community.

Press tour Friday 24 September 2010, 11:00 clock

Opening Friday 24 September 2010, 19:00 clock

Tour with the curators and the 25th Conference + 26th September 2010

Free guided tours every Sunday, 15 clock

Address Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart

Schlossplatz 2, 70173 Stuttgart

Tel: +49 (0) 711-22 33 70 Fax: +49 (0) 711-29 36 17

info@wkv-stuttgart.de / www.wkv-stuttgart.de

Opening times Mon, Thu-Sun: 11-18 Clock, Wed: 11-20 Clock

2010-08-11T22:49:00.000+05:30

Design & People welcomes
HH the Dalai Lama to Kochi (Sept 04)

2010-08-05T23:26:00.000+05:30

CS Viswam Passes Away

Trivandrum: CS Viswam, national-award-winning sculptor, died in a private hospital here on Monday following ailments related to old age. He was 86. His sculptures, renowned for their ethereal touch, mood and expression, are on display at museums across the world.

An ivory carving, “Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus,” displayed at the Vatican Museum, an ivory idol at Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, an ivory carving presented by India to the UN and an ivory carving ‘Geethopadesh' at the Interpol headquarters in Paris are some of his notable works. A national award in handicrafts came to him in 1968.

He became the chief artist at the SMSM Institute in Thiruvananthapuram at a young age of 21 and went on to become the master craftsman at the Handicrafts Development Corporation in Kerala. Some of his works are on display at the Thunchan Smarakom, Tirur, and the Forest Department's museum here. He is survived by his wife, Santha Viswam, three sons and a daughter.

2010-07-25T20:42:00.003+05:30

Periyar River Patrolling Revived

(Design & People, July 25, 2010)

It was a joyful moment for Periyar Riverkeeper when the river patrolling was revived today with a newly-purchased wooden boat. The Riverkeeper Patrolling and Riverkeeper Action Circle were inaugurated this evening by Kerala’s renowned Political Cartoonist Yesudasan at a colourful event at Eloor Ferry.

VJ Jose, the Periyar Riverkeeper introduced the event by telling his stories and his connection with the dying River. He thanked Friends of Riverkeeper, a newly-formed informal group of Riverkeeper supporters from different parts of the world for taking the initiative to buy a wooden boat and to build an Action Circle. Cartoonist Yesudasan spoke briefly about his association with Jose and the river. He inaugurated the River Patrolling and the Action Circle by cutting a ribbon. A gathering of the members of Eloor Ferry Resident’s Association (EFRA), Kudumbasree and Design & People along with supporters and well-wishers of Periyar Riverkeeper were present to bless the occasion.

Read: “A River Runs Through Him”

2010-07-21T15:23:00.000+05:30

A collective initiative of supporters of Periyar Riverkeeper have come forward to revive the river patrolling and water quality sampling - once again at Periyar, a river which continues to get polluted by 25-odd factories situated nearby. With the support the Friends have gathered for VJ Jose, popularly known as Periyar Riverkeeper, a wooden boat for patrolling was purchased and a Riverkeeper Action Circle was built for regular community interactions. The revival of river activities and the inauguration of Action Centre will be done by Cartoonist Yesudasan on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 4pm, behind my residence at Eloor Ferry. We request your presence on that day.

2010-07-15T16:35:00.000+05:30

Finally, India Gets Its Rupee Symbol

The Indian rupee will have its own symbol, a mix of the Devanagri 'Ra' and Roman 'R', to become the fifth currency in the world to have a distinct identity. The new symbol, designed by IIT post-graduate D Uday Kumar was approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday. The rupee will join the elite club of US dollar, British pound-sterling, The symbol will be printed or embossed on currency notes or coins, Information and Broadcasting Minister told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

2010-07-14T14:40:00.000+05:30

Design & People Begins its Campaign Against the Windows!

Download Eloor Poster

Share

2010-07-06T00:16:00.002+05:30

Dear Swisscom:

We are extremely sorry to see Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Indian nation being dragged to the latest Swisscom BlackBerry advertisements.

Both BlackBerry, from Research In Motion which is considered pioneers of innovation in mobile technology, and Mahatma Gandhi, the most prominent spiritual and political leader of

India

who gifted world the idea of ‘non-violence’ need no publicity from a telecom player in

Switzerland

. Using historic icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln or Mother Teresa in the name of freedom of expression and creativity is nothing new to the advertising world. These are year old, inferior creative tactics of multi-national advertising agencies with the sole purpose of doubling their profits and indirectly generating controversies to sell their products.

While alive, Gandhi used to advise money-minded photographers after photo sessions to contribute a part of their profit to the National Movement for Freedom. Swisscom can consider donating a portion of its profit to charity organisations in

Switzerland

and withdraw from a substandard campaign using an icon of humanity and non-violence.

Thank you.

Design & People

www.designandpeople.org

2010-07-02T11:38:00.000+05:30

Bolti Lakeerain: An Indigenous Comic book

http://boltilakeerain.blogspot.com/

If you think comics is just western art focused on superheroes, you should change your perception now. A new comic book titled 'Bolti Lakeerain' has hit the market now. Completely indigenous creation and you can call it a book for the people by the people. This is the collection of some of the numerous comics gathered together during the last five years. These are not merely ink lines sketched on paper aimlessly but each one narrates a story with a significant meaning behind it. These comics are created by the common people living in distinct places; e.g. from Kakapeer to Kashmir in Pakistan. In these comics they narrate real stories of their day today life.

These are the stories that were narrated to us during the workshops, helped to open debate in the society on several social issues. People who attended the workshop are of the view that this skill has got immense significance in their lives as a unique means to express themselves. This method is so interesting, easy and effective that just with the help of two A-4 sized paper and pen it makes each one of them capable to bring out their perils and plights. Simplicity is in the core of each story and the same echoes in comics they create. Their lifestyle, culture and their verbal relation to the people living in the community- each line they draw covers every aspects of their life.

These workshops were organised in villages, cities, schools, universities in collaboration with different organizations to impart the skill of comics making to the people living in that area and to equip them with the art of self expression. Some of the comics are created by those who cannot even read or write but they successfully expressed themselves through pictures. The editors of the book says “we are printing only few among the numerous comics. The purpose of compiling this book is to spread the thoughts of common people to masses. Book has a foreword by Dr Muhammad Ali Siddiqui.

The book was compiled by Nida Shams and Sharad Sharma who has trained several common people in South Asia in this kind of communication methodology. Published by World Comics Network, which is a collective of cartoonists, media persons and grassroots activists. World Comics promotes comics as a communication tool and as mode of self-expression in remote and difficult areas South Asia and other countries.

Nida Shams

nida.shams@gmail.com

Karachi, Pakistan

2010-06-09T17:59:00.000+05:30

Design for the Other 90%

(May 3rd, 2010, Constructionweekonline.com)

The Soapbox is an opportunity for each of our Advisory Board members to express an opinion on an important industry issue. This month, Conrad Gonsalves suggests that design is also about making a difference in people’s lives.

While we flip through these pages, appreciating the commendable work done by our fellow designers, it will perhaps not go unnoticed that somewhere in the region of 90% of this published work will in reality benefit not more that 10% of our population. We may get defensive and proclaim our commitment to Universal Design. But how universal is our outreach if the physically challenged, little children or the temporarily disabled, whom we are trying to include in our design solutions, still belong to this elite band of urban society?

And while we scream green design and strive to build ZEB or (net) zero energy buildings, are there lessons to learn about indiscriminate consumption from the masses, with no access to power grids, who do live in zero-energy buildings out of sheer necessity?

Everybody benefits from good design, but ‘not-for-profit’ organisations and ‘communities-in-need’ cannot afford professional design services.

Or have we scared them away with our glitzy 3Ds, stylish walkthroughs, and the culturally elite value system we project? Fortunately, while the Corporate World is trumpeting their initiatives in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and Social Entrepreneurs are gaining acceptance as mainstream professionals, it is heartening to know that in the area of design, a host of socially-responsible initiatives have emerged.

Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, takes an approach to design that digs deeper than the surface, explaining that designers need to broaden their reach from the crafting of objects to the shaping of services, experiences and organizations. ‘Design Like You Care A Damn’ reminds us of the greatest humanitarian challenge we face today: to provide shelter. The physical design of our homes and neighbourhoods shapes every aspect of our lives. Yet, too often architects are desperately needed in places where they can least be afforded.

‘Design Revolution’ (D Rev)’s mission is to start a design revolution in the way products are designed, marketed and distributed, and enable new sources of income for the impoverished people who represent the other 90% of the world.

‘Design that Matters’ (DtM) has built a collaborative design process, through which hundreds of volunteers in academia and industry donate their skills and expertise to the creation of breakthrough products for communities in need.

‘Hunnarshala’ in India helps people get together, develop their own relevant solutions and articulate their plans of action not as individuals but as a community. There are many people who are willing to do things hands-on. This is also a process of empowerment and results in habitats that nourish and enrich the lives of its inhabitants.

‘Design Without Borders’ aims at utilising the creative and analytical skills of industrial designers to develop solutions that promote long-term development and increase the quality of emergency aid.

Bunker Roy’s ‘Barefoot College’ was entirely built by ‘barefoot architects’ and encourages practical knowledge and skills rather than paper qualifications through a learning-by-doing process of education.

Some products that have been a result of similar initiatives are the ‘Lifestraw’ - designed to turn any surface water into drinking water by removing particles as small as 15 microns; and the ‘Light Mat’ — created by weaving recycled photovoltaic cells, batteries, switches and LEDs into a blanket that, kept out in the sun during the day, gathers energy and produces light at night.

Sethu Das and Suku Dass, who were recently featured in these pages, remind us that most deserving organisations are handicapped when it comes to design. So in 2003, they founded Design & People with the aim of bringing like-minded designers and architects under one umbrella. Today, D&P is a global network of hundreds of creative professionals working voluntarily towards social and humanitarian projects in India.

‘Do Good Design’ believe that design matters, like never before. Designers can choose one of two: inventing deceptions that encourage overconsumption; or helping repair the world.

Reaching out to the other 90% does not mean sacrificing viable models of business. Could we say that the mobile phone, in a somewhat different though related segment, that is progressively reaching beyond the initial exclusive segments to a wider user base by innovative methods of making both the initial equipment and the service affordable to the masses, is a powerful example of design for all?

In the final analysis, Architecture & Design are not about making it to the covers of glossy magazines but about making a difference to people’s lives. Design should be human-centric.

Although it needs to be both feasible and viable, if it is also to be desirable – then that needs to start with what people need. And the needs we are challenged to consider are not what we want from the next version of iPod or Porsche, but a safer, cleaner, healthier world.

2010-05-23T17:16:00.007+05:30

Children of Christopher Columbus
The ultimate aim of most expeditions and occupations remains the same — destroy other people and replace their indigenous culture with a stock market culture. The 1492 voyage of Christopher Columbus in search of slaves and gold, and the subsequent genocide of Native Americans, is now being continued in third world countries like Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Columbus may be dead, but his children are alive and need to be thrown out from Asia's soil, says Sethu Das, Co-founder of Design & People.

Read the latest Creative Resistance story.

2010-05-21T13:13:00.001+05:30

പൊതു വേദിയില്‍ പ്രസംഗിക്കാനെത്തിയ പ്രമുഖ സാമൂഹ്യപ്രവര്‍ത്തകനും എഴുത്തുകാരനുമായ ശ്രീ. സി. ആര്‍. നീലകണ്‌ഠനെ ഡി. വൈ. എഫ്. ഐ. ഗുണ്ടകള്‍ ആക്രമിച്ച സംഭവത്തില്‍ ഫ്രണ്ട്സ് ഓഫ് ടിബറ്റ്‌ പ്രതിഷേധിക്കുന്നു.

“ചിന്തിക്കുവാനും പ്രതികരിക്കാനും കഴിവുള്ളവരെ നുളയിലേ നുള്ളിക്കളയുക എന്ന ലകഷ്യത്തോടെ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്ന ഡി. വൈ. എഫ്. ഐ. എന്ന സംഘടനയെ ഭീകരസംഘടനകളുടെ പട്ടികയില്‍ ചേര്‍ക്കണമെന്നുള്ള ആവശ്യം ഈ സംഭവത്തോടെ ശക്തിപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുകയാണ്” എന്ന് ഫ്രണ്ട്സ് ഓഫ് ടിബറ്റ്‌ പ്രസിഡന്‍റെ സേതു ദാസ്‌ പറഞ്ഞു. ഡിമോക്രറ്റിക്‌ യൂത്ത് ഫെഡറേഷന്‍ ഓഫ് ഇന്ത്യ എന്ന പേരില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്ന ഈ സംഘടനയുടെ പേരില്‍ നിന്നും ഡിമോക്രറ്റിക്‌ എന്ന വാക്ക് എത്രയും പെട്ടന്ന് എടുത്തു മാറ്റണമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.

പാലേരിയില്‍ തനിക്കെതിരെ നടത്തിയ ഡി. വൈ. എഫ്. ഐ. ആക്രമണം അവരുടെ ഫാസിസ്റ്റ്‌ മുഖം കേരളത്തിലെ ജനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ കാണിച്ചു കൊടുക്കുകയായിരുന്നു എന്ന് മര്‍ദ്ദനമേററ ശ്രീ. സി. ആര്‍. നീലകണ്‌ഠന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. സ്വതന്ത്രചിന്തക്കെതിരായ ഡി. വൈ. എഫ്. ഐയുടെ ഈ ആക്രമനെത്തെ കേരളത്തിനുടനീളം പ്രതികരണശേഷിയുള്ള രാഷ്ട്രീയ-സാമൂഹിക പ്രവര്‍ത്തകര്‍ പ്രതികരിച്ചുകഴിഞ്ഞു.

Friends of

Tibet

condemn the attack on

India

’s known writer and social activist Shri. CR Neelakantan by DYFI goons in the southern state of Kerala,

India

"Democratic Youth Federation of India, which has an official policy to crush and oppress people with the ability to think and react to social and political issues should be added in the list of terrorist organisations," demanded Sethu Das, President of Friends of Tibet in a media release issued by the organisation. He also demanded the word 'democratic' to be removed from the youth organisation’s name to reflect the real ideology of the organisation and to avoid confusion among its own members.

While speaking to the media, Shri. CR Neelakantan said the recent attack on him at Palery shows the real and the fascist face of the DYFI. The attack on 'CR' and the tendency of DYFI to oppress the thinking section of the community in Kerala are already been condemned by people from various fields.

Issued by Friends of Tibet, Bombay.

Friends of Tibet is a people’s movement to keep alive the issue of Tibet through direct action. Our activities are aimed at ending China’s occupation of Tibet and the suffering of the Tibetan people. Friends of Tibet supports the continued struggle of the Tibetan people for independence. Friends of Tibet is also one of the principal organisers of World Tibet Day around the world. To know more, visit: www.friendsoftibet.org

2010-05-10T23:07:00.005+05:30

Today, Design & People Project Site at Kochi, Kerala had a surprise visitor -- Daya Bai, India's maverick social activist. (Photos: Daya Bai at the Design & People Project Site (top) and Daya Bai with Sethu Das, Co-founder of Design & People).

Nandita Das on Daya Bai (July 15, 2005) "Mercy Mathew"

I am often asked “who are your inspirations in life?” in the hope that I will rattle off some famous names that would make a good sound byte! Mercy Mathew or rather Daya bai, (as she’s known in the tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh), may not be ‘famous’, but she is a very very special person who has constantly inspired me and reinforced my sense of commitment in certain values my choices in life.

Mercy looks every inch a tribal woman, behaves like a passionate maverick activist and talks like a razor sharp lawyer. A bewildering combination that never fails to turn heads and get surprised stares. Born into a landed joint family in Kerala with plenty at home, Mercy bucked the family routine and set out to be a nun, like a good Christian. She went to a missionary in Bihar but couldn’t bare the contradictions between the world outside and the one she lived in. Soon she jumped the wall and wandered off for months on end in search of her calling. In that wandering, she worked at refugee camps in Bangladesh after the 1971 war, worked in a couple of NGOs, did an incomplete Masters in Social work…from where she ran away again, this time to the wilderness of central Madhya Pradesh, finally settling in a small village. Reaching the Chindwara district wasn’t part of any master plan. It’s just that she barely had enough money to take a train up to a small town in Madhya Pradesh from where she decided to walk (25kms!) till her feet could take no more. That’s how she came to Barul. That place became her home for the next 15 years. Here she worked with the tribals, sleeping in the verandahs of those who let her in at night and eating whatever they happily gave her. There were no ambitions and importantly no regrets. But being alone and without enough legal knowledge, she felt a little lost in her attempts to fight for the rights of the tribals.

This made her decide to go to Bombay and finish her master’s degree in social work (after a gap of seven years). She returned to Barul to continue her work and simultaneously did a correspondence course in Law. A couple of years ago her father passed away and she was forced by her family to take some money from his will. She decided to buy a little piece of land with this, and built for the first time, her own home.

I went to her village last year. Her mud house was cool and welcoming under the hot summer sun. I spent a week with her and her extended family of chickens, cows, some cats, a little pony and her dog called Athos. To my surprise, she talks to them about everything and they seem to understand it all and respond with all their affection. Her possessions apart from basic knick knacks of a minimalist, are a bright red solar cooker, a self made compose pit for bio-gas and a small well. She has a small farm where she grows wheat, pulses and a couple of vegetables that seem to grow happily! One day I even heard her talk to her tomatoes!

I could go on and on about her, her way of life, her struggles, her joys and her choices. But I am not even sure if this would interest anyone, as the prisms through which we see life are probably so different. Most people would think of her as either being mad or foolish or at the most take pity on her-“What a waste of a life”, “Poor thing! Look at her cracked hands and feet”, “She could have done so much better-after all she’s a double Post Grad and speaks fluent English!” “What a big sacrifice she is making!” When Daya bai hears these comments, she just heartily laughs like a child. She finds it amusing and strange. “Working and caring for people is not work for me, its simply life”, she says. “It is not a sacrifice…far from it…it is the only way I know I can live and be happy.” “Not living this life, not doing what I do, would in fact be huge sacrifice.”

I know that if she was given another life, she would lead it the same way all over again.

2010-05-08T12:28:00.001+05:30

“Osama Bin Laden is in Washington. He was a former partner of Mr George Bush. They were colleagues, in fact. They were in oil business together. Mr Bin Laden never cooperated with Iran but cooperated with Mr Bush.”
(Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran)

Share

2010-05-07T13:23:00.003+05:30

Latest Creative Resistance Story
Newspapers As National Symbols
What are national symbols and what makes them national properties? Do all symbols that belong to a state become national symbols? Why do we think newspapers are national symbols that belong to us? Sethu Das of Design & People looks at some of the Indian national newspapers and the redesign industry. Click Here to Read.

Share

2010-04-30T16:04:00.001+05:30

Rights of Earth
(By Dr Vandana Shiva, April 22, 2010)

We need a new paradigm for living on the earth because the old one is clearly not working. An alternative is now a survival imperative for the human species. And the alternative that is needed is not only at the level of tools, it is at the level of our worldview. How do we look at ourselves in this world? What are humans for? And are we merely a money-making, resource-guzzling machine? Or do we have a higher purpose, a higher end. The world order built on the economic fundamentalism of greed and limitless growth and the technological fundamentalism that there is a technological fix for every social and environmental ill, is clearly collapsing.

The collapse of the Wall Street in September 2008 and the continuing financial crisis signals the end of the paradigm that put fictitious finance above real wealth created by nature and humans, that put profits above people and corporations above citizens. This paradigm can only be kept afloat with limitless bailouts that direct public wealth to private rescue instead of using it to rejuvenate nature and economic livelihoods of people. It can only be kept afloat with increasing violence to the earth and its people. It can only be kept alive as an economic dictatorship. This is visible in India’s heartland as the limitless appetitive for steel and aluminum for the global consumer economy and the limitless appetitive for profits of steel and aluminum corporations is clashing head-on with the rights of the tribals to their land and homes, their forests and rivers, their cultures and ways of life.

The tribals are saying a loud and clear “no” to their forced uprooting. The only way to get to the minerals and coal that feed the “limitless growth” model in the face of democratic resistance is the use of militarised violence against the tribals. Operation Green Hunt has been launched in the tribal areas of India with precisely this purpose, even though the proclaimed objective is to clear out the “Maoists”. Under Operation Green Hunt, more than 40,000 armed paramilitary jawans have been placed in the tribal areas which are rich in minerals and where tribal unrest is growing. Operation Green Hunt shows clearly that the current economic paradigm can only unfold through increased militarisation and by undermining democratic and human rights.

The technological fundamentalism that has externalised costs, both ecological and social, and blinded us to ecological destruction, has also reached a dead end. Climate chaos, the externality of technologies based on the use of fossil fuels, is a wakeup call —that we cannot continue on the fossil fuel path. The high costs of industrial farming is running up against limits, both in terms of the ecological destruction of the natural capital of soil, water, biodiversity and air, as well as in terms of the creation of malnutrition with a billion people being denied food and another two billion being denied health because of obesity, diabetes and other food-related diseases.

I believe that we are all members of the earth family — of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam. And as members of the earth family, our first and highest duty is to take care of Mother Earth — Prithvi, Gaia, Pachamana. And the more we take care of her, the more food, water, health and wealth we will have. “Earth rights” are first and foremost the rights of Mother Earth and our corresponding duties and responsibilities to defend those rights. Earth rights are also the rights of humans as they flow from the rights of Mother Earth — the right to food and water, the right to health and a safe environment, the right to the commons — the rivers, seeds, the biodiversity, atmosphere.

I have given the name “Earth Democracy” to this new paradigm of living as an earth community, respecting the rights of Mother Earth.

Earth Democracy enables us to envision and create living democracies. Living democracy enables democratic participation in all matters of life and death — the food we eat or do not have access to; the water we drink or are denied due to privatisation or pollution; the air we breathe or are poisoned by. Living democracies are based on the intrinsic worth of all species, all peoples, all cultures; a just and equal sharing of this earth’s vital resources; sharing the decisions about the use of the earth’s resources.

Earth Democracy protects the ecological processes that maintain life and the fundamental human rights that form the basis of right to life, including the right to water, the right to food, the right to health, the right to education, and the right to jobs and livelihoods. Earth Democracy is based on the recognition of and respect for the life of all species and all people.

Ahimsa or non-violence is the basis of many faiths that have emerged on the Indian soil. Translated into economics, non-violence implies that our systems of production, trade and consumption do not use up the ecological space of other species and other people. Violence is the obvious outcome when our dominant economic structures and economic organisations usurp and enclose the ecological space of other species or other people.

According to an ancient Indian text, the Isho Upanishad, “The universe is the creation of the Supreme Power meant for the benefits of (all) creation. Each individual life form must, therefore, learn to enjoy its benefits by forming a part of the system in close relation with other species. Let not any one species encroach upon others’ rights. Whenever we engage in consumption or production patterns which take more than we need, we are engaging in violence. Non-sustainable consumption and non-sustainable production constitute a violent economic order. A selfish man over-utilising the resources of nature to satisfy his own ever-increasing needs is nothing but a thief, because using resources beyond one’s needs would result in the utilisation of resources over which others have a right”.

Earth rights are the basis of equity, justice and sustainability. To mark Earth Day 2010, the President of Bolivia, Juan Evo Morales Ayma, is organising a conference on Rights of Mother Earth. The idea is to start a process for adopting a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth on the lines of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Without earth rights, there can be no human rights. Earth rights are human rights.

2010-04-28T22:17:00.001+05:30

Abhilasha: Voluntary Action for Sustainability

Design Requirement: Abhilasha, an Uttrakhand-based non-profit organisation consisting of young and enthusiastic youths from different scientific, research, management, rural, social and professional backgrounds to provide a platform for all to share their thoughts, monetary, emotional values for uplifting the needful individuals, social projects, socially deprived community to make them able and to step with the main stream of the society. The organisation requires an identity that communicates its core activity of promoting social change in the society.

Design & People Solution: 'Abhilasha' means desire and what can be a better metaphor than the desire of a bud to bloom and spread fragrance and love. It is a simplified form of lotus with the central area of flower modified to give the feel of radiance and energy. The vibrancy of colours and multiplicity of petals pointing towards various directions depict the intent and aim behind the endeavor. While the form of a flower is evident in the logo options, the dot represents the bud from where it all started.

(Design & People thank Navin Pangti of Dolka.com for leading this project)

Share

2010-04-08T20:36:00.001+05:30

Global Gandhian Movement for Swaraj
Design & People develops an identity for the Global Gandhian Movement for Swaraj (GGMS) — a network of individuals, organisations, campaigns and movements, subscribes to the vision of 'Swaraj' as explained by Mahatma Gandhi in Hind Swaraj. The new identity that captures the message of the Vedic word 'Swaraj' and the spirit of the movement was developed by Mathew Kutty, Aravind Parvatikar and Sethu Das of Design & People after constant discussions with the GGMS Core Group on various logo options developed over the months by Design & People Team Members from different parts of the country. As a Member Organisation in the Global Gandhian Movement for Swaraj, Design & People is now in the process of developing a website for GGMS (www.gandhianmovement.org) with extensive use of social platforms, a blog, stationary items, presentation templates and materials for Non-Violent Action Trainings. At the moment, we recommend you to enjoy the Gandhian tweets from GGMS: www.twitter.com/swarajpeeth

Montblanc Not to Sell Gandhi Series Pen

2010-02-24T18:08:00.000+05:30

(The Hindu, February 24, 2010)

Montblanc International GmbH, Germany, gave an undertaking before a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday that its “Mahatma Gandhi Limited Edition 241” and “Mahatma Gandhi Limited Edition 3000” luxury pens would not be sold in the country until further orders from the court.

The Bench of Acting Chief Justice P.R. Raman and Justice CN Ramachandran Nair asked counsel for the company and its Rajkot-based distributor to give the undertaking in an affidavit within three days.

Counsel for the company gave the undertaking when a petition seeking a ban on the marketing and sale of the pens in the country came up for hearing. The petition was filed by Dijo Kappen, managing trustee, Centre for Consumer Education, Kottayam. In an affidavit, the pen company and the distributor said they tendered an unconditional apology if the sentiments of any of the citizens were hurt. It said that they had no intention to exploit the name of Mahatma Gandhi or to bring any disrepute to the Father of the Nation. They “never believed for a moment that they would hurt the susceptibilities of certain segments of the public and regret the present controversy.” The affidavit said the company had great regard for Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation and the writing instruments were “intended to pay homage to Gandhi and to his vision and legacy.” Montblanc International launched a set of high-end pens priced at Rs.14 lakh each on September 29 last under the series “Mahatma Gandhi Limited Edition-241.” The 241 pens in the series were made to signify the “241 miles” travelled by Gandhiji during his famous Dandi March. The nibs had an image of Mahatma Gandhi walking with a stick.

The petitioner said the Father of the Nation was considered the epitome of simplicity and making him the symbol of a pen that cost Rs.14 lakh was nothing but an attempt to degrade everything he stood for, and to mock the nation. The affidavit said that through the limited edition series, the company, either directly or through its distributor in India, would be donating about $9,00,000 to charitable institutions in the country, especially those recommended by Gandhiji’s grandson and legal heir, Tushar Gandhi.

The company said the Union government had rejected its request for permission to use the name and image of Mahatma Gandhi on the ground that it would attract the provisions of the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1950. The company sought to review the decision by filing an application on January 13, 2010.

India’s Role in Global Changes

2010-02-07T20:38:00.000+05:30

(By Dr Ravindra Kumar, former vice chancellor of Meerut University in Meerut, India)

For last several years we are witnessing discourses on globalization, global changes and its effect upon individuals, societies and nations. It appears as if globalization is some new phenomenon. Seminars, symposiums and debates are being organized continuously on subjects related to globalization and global changes at various levels all over the world. The effect of globalization on the world at present, and what can be its effect in the future, are the major points of discussions in this context. Individuals are presenting their own viewpoints on these issues, and of course they have the right to do so. But, it would be inappropriate if they neglect the reality of the process of globalization and present their views inappropriately, or with bias in particular the academicians, intellectuals or professors. It thus becomes essential and appropriate that new dimensions of the process of globalization in relation to its effect upon India and the world are discussed and analyzed. But, at the same time it is also necessary that they are examined and evaluated honestly and sincerely having the inevitability and importance of globalization in the centre.

Globalization and Global Change

Globalization [Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in Indian term], is derived from the word Globe [Vishwa]. It is proximate to the words Vishwavyapi, Sarvadeshik, Sarvabhaum or universalism, which are broad concepts. Moreover, they deal with the continuing process of the world. By nature process is dynamic. In dynamism changes are inevitable. The pages of history before us prove this fact and I do not think the need arises to mention more in this context. Hence, it will not be inappropriate to go forward accepting the similarity in purpose between globalization and global changes.

Inevitability of Change

Change is inevitable and is essential at all levels and in all walks of life. It is an endless process. It is continuous and is an eternal law. If not so, life would become static and inactive. Movement of life would discontinue and hence, life would become aimless and meaningless. Hence continuity and changes are necessary. So, if there is a change at global level, there is nothing astonishing or new about it? Similarly it is also true that changes bear an effect too.

Throughout the ages considerable changes have taken place some of which though originated in a particular nation has had its effect worldwide. Mention may be made of the various scientific inventions [of 16th-19th Century A. D.]. We are aware that along with inventions in science, industrialization [in 18th-19th Centuries A. D.] brought about unprecedented changes in social, political and economic sphere all over the world. Despite its many side effects industrialization more or less affected each and everyone in world. But, was it not a step towards globalization?

Citing two examples of change and its effect we can bring to mention two extraordinary political events in the Twentieth Century A. D.: First, the Communist government, which was formed for the first time under leadership of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin [1870-1924] in Russia, which besides attracting the attention of the world affected all walks of life, social, political and economic globally. Second, the British Colonialism, which was thrown away under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in India to pave the way for Swarajya and a democratic form of government in 1947 leaving a profound impact on people all over the world.

In brief, we can talk with certainty about the inevitability of change which is essential at all levels and in all walks of life. It is a rule. Emphasizing on reality of Law of Change, two thousand five hundred years ago Gautama Buddha had said, “Nothing is beyond the process of Law of Change. It is eternal. For, nothing can be the exception to it.”

Development and Dimension

After the security of existence it is the continuous process of development, which leads man towards achieving his goal in life. In its constant process development reaches various dimensions thus widening the scope of cooperation and collaboration, which has affected the whole scenario today. Now, the world looks like a family. Despite the differences of opinion, diversities of faiths and disparities in methods of working, people all around the world are coming nearer to each other. Distance has become less. Moving forward in unison has become a necessity hence bringing the ancient Indian slogan Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam to a reality. This process will not stop; it will continue and will cross halts time and again. Despite the momentary obstacles or hindrances, interdependence will increase and cooperation among people will grow.

Moreover, limitations will decrease at all levels and in all walks, and boundaries among the nations will diminish. The slogan ‘the world is but one family’, I repeat, will transform into reality in one way or the other.

India and Global Change

Since ancient times the process of globalization has taken place in India and it is not a new phenomenon. India’s ancient civilization and composite and harmonious culture are living examples of Hindustan’s pace towards the process of globalization and global change. Dravidian-Aryan confluence and later harmony of cultures of Greeks, Kushanas, Shakas, Hunas, Arabs, Turks and Mongols within the Indian culture is a proof of this. It becomes apparent from the fact that centuries ago India opened door for those who reached its land individually or in caravans with their own beliefs, faiths or tradition from any part of the globe to settle here permanently.

Right from the era of Indus Valley Civilization India has been into trade with almost all countries of South and Southeast Asia, besides having business with countries like Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Greece. Since ancient times along with Vedic [Hinduism] and Buddhism, other Indian schools of thought have been drawing the attention of people around the world. They reached many countries and became the part of many in the world. Similarly, teachings of almost all major religions of the world also reached India from time-to-time and became indivisible part of life of its people. As known to all, people like Huien Tsang, I-Tsing, Fah-Hian, Meghasthenes or Kosmas reached India in ancient times to study the life of Indians and to explore its different schools of thought. They visited many places of the country, gained knowledge and after reaching back to their respective countries paved the way for cooperation and collaboration between their compatriots and India.

In short, the history of India proves that since ancient times it has been on the forefront in the process of globalization. Furthermore, India itself has been guiding the process of change. The general approach of Indians or the nature of its culture is absolutely evolutionary. Leaving impression of their characteristics on others, and learning from the characteristics of others without any prejudice has been the main quality of Indians. Hence, if twenty-five percent of total graduates [approximately ten thousand in number] after completing their studies in the four major Indian IITs [Kharagpur, Mumbai, Chennai and Kanpur] on the strength of their capability and intellect succeed in making place for themselves every year in a country like the United States, there is nothing surprising in it. Moreover, if India after the United States and the United Kingdom becomes the third choice for the investor NRIs and if Indian cinema, life and philosophy play the vital role in the world affairs, it is not surprising.

Change and Side Effects

This process of development affects peoples positively and negatively, both. Moreover when change is major its impact is major too, hence the nature of impact becomes important in this context. With the unprecedented progress in science, the upshots of industrialization had been the root causes of colonialism and imperialism, which were responsible once for political and economic slavery of the majority of the people of the world. They were also responsible for people’s backwardness in socio-cultural spheres. Later, they paved way for competition among nations ultimately resulting in the two World Wars [between 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 respectively]. Moreover, we are witness to the current prevailing situation. Despite passing through the process of unprecedented development and awakening among the people, the world has prepared its path for its own destruction. It is really a dreadful situation for all.

India’s Responsibility

India has always played an important role in the process of globalization. It has added dimensions to this process from time-to-time. Hence, India’s importance in the current global changes is worth mentioning. Its responsibility lies in moving towards the right direction and becoming welfaristic. Furthermore, India is the biggest democracy of the world and is a country of diversities. It has presented unique example of amalgamation of diversities before the world. From economic point of view too it is an emerging super power. Its annual economic growth rate is eight to nine percent. It is a ray of hope not only for poor or developing nations but also the developed countries of the world as it is working as a bridge between the two. Moreover, due to its constantly increasing strength and development in the field of science and communication technology, India has emerged as a leading political power at the global level. Being a responsible nation India has its say in the international affairs too. In this situation it is appropriate that India watch the whole process of globalization minutely so that a situation like that of colonialism or imperialism does not emerge again, and this process and global changes prove welfaristic for all, and particularly for those who are still deprived of their rights .

Today the situation of the world is such that either all can proceed forward towards prosperity, as there is no other alternative left, or they be ready for complete destruction. In this regards, I reiterate, India with its lessons from its past, can contribute tremendously following the policy of non-aggression and non-expansionism. India has the capability of achieving this. Along with resolving its internal problems and simultaneously marching together with other nations of the world in larger interest of common men and their welfare, India with the feeling of responsibility must go forward in this direction.

Cartoonist Ponnappa on GM Foods

2010-01-31T23:49:00.003+05:30

Steve Jobs pushes unprecedented extension of Digital Restrictions Management

2010-01-29T02:11:00.000+05:30

As Steve Jobs and Apple announced their new tablet device, activists opposed to Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) from the group Defective by Design were on hand to draw the media's attention to the increasing restrictions that Apple is placing on general purpose computers. The group set up "Apple Restriction Zones" along the approaches to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, informing journalists of the rights they would have to give up to Apple before proceeding inside.

DRM is used by Apple to restrict users' freedom in a variety of ways, including blocking installation of software that comes from anywhere except the official Application Store, and regulating every use of movies downloaded from iTunes. Apple furthermore claims that circumventing these restrictions is a criminal offense, even for purposes that are permitted by copyright law.

Organizing the protest, Free Software Foundation (FSF) operations manager John Sullivan said, "Our Defective by Design campaign has a successful history of targeting Apple over its DRM policies. We organized actions and protests targeting iTunes music DRM outside Apple stores, and under the pressure Steve Jobs dropped DRM on music. We're here today to send the same message about the other restrictions Apple is imposing on software, ebooks, and movies. If Jobs and Apple are actually committed to creativity, freedom, and individuality, they should prove it by eliminating the restrictions that make creativity and freedom illegal."

"Attention needs to be paid to the computing infrastructure our society is becoming dependent upon. This past year, we have seen how human rights and democracy protesters can have the technology they use turned against them by the corporations who supply the products and services they rely on. Your computer should be yours to control. By imposing such restrictions on users, Steve Jobs is building a legacy that endangers our freedom for his profits," said FSF executive director Peter Brown.

Other critics of DRM have asserted that Apple is not responsible, and it is the publishers insisting on the restrictions. However, on the iPhone and its new tablet, Apple does not provide publishers any way to opt out of the restrictions - even free software and free culture authors who want to give legal permission for users to share their works.

"This is a huge step backward in the history of computing," said FSF's Holmes Wilson, "If the first personal computers required permission from the manufacturer for each new program or new feature, the history of computing would be as dismally totalitarian as the milieu in Apple's famous Super Bowl ad."

Himanshu Kumar’s Satyagraha in Chattisgarh: Report of a Visit

2010-01-23T17:42:00.001+05:30

By Rajiv Vora of Swaraj Peeth Trust

Not so long ago, from 19-22 Nov 2009, we congregated in Surajkund to revisit Hind Swaraj in the centenary year to rededicate ourselves to Gandhian values and principles in order to contribute our mite to the reconstruction of a just and humane order by pursuing the path of truth, love and nonviolence. You may recall the presentation by Himanshu Kumar of the Vanavasii Chetna Ashram (VCA), Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, on the 21st November plenary, sharing the experiences of his continuing Satyagraha in the strife- torn tribal belt of the state of Chhattisgarh in central India. A statement was jointly issued on the conclusion of the Hind Swaraj Centenary by Prof. U.R Ananthamurthy, Ms. Elabahen Bhatt, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Sri PV Rajagopal, Dr. Niru Vora and Sri Rajiv Vora in support of Himanshu’s struggle for making space for a Gandhian path in an environment of violence, lawlessness and impunity.

A committed Gandhian of a Gandhian parentage (his father Shri Prakashbhai worked with Vinobaji), he is relentlessly seeking to intervene and restore peace in the predominantly tribal region of Chhattisgarh, scarred by intractable violence involving the Maoist Naxalites, the State and the Adivasis. In the 18 years of his selfless service and constructive work for tribal community, Himanshu has earned the credibility and goodwill of the people, many of whom are government functionaries and Maoist militants, who silently admire and respect him for his love for the adivasi and his pure motivations, even if they have strong reservations about Gandhian methodology of non-violence to which he is wedded.

In this state of desperation and utter helplessness, when all democratic spaces were being shut, knowing not what to do, he decided upon a fast for atma shuddhi (Self-purification). During this period (26 December 2009 - 04 January 2010) of self-imposed fast against none, simply for soul-searching for an answer; he survived on water, the spinning wheel and books.

After sharing and discussing Himanshu’s resolve to go on a self-purificatory fast in the best Gandhian tradition with Ms. Elabahen Bhatt, Prof. Partha N. Mukherji, Prof. Ashis Nandy, and Dr. Niru Vora, I went to Dantewada and was with Himanshu on the 27 and 28 December. On my return, I shared my experience with them and with Sri M. P. Mathai.

Satyen Bardoloi and Priyanka from Mumbai, Abhay Rathwa from Vadodra, Gangesh from Lucknow, team of VCA’s, fieldworkers and other staff, were by his side providing support in various ways. Satyen and Priyanka were sending regular despatches fom Dntewada.

Himanshu, with his thorough understanding of tribal structure and culture, and the contradictions between modernization and democratic governance that have led to this impasse necessitating such drastic action by the government, is of the view that we need to put our mechanisms of constitutional protection in place. If that is not done, if there is absolutely no way of getting heard without fear or favour about the brutalities that then go unchecked, the ideologically non-committed tribals who were apprehensive of Maoists, will only swell their ranks. From about 5000 odd in 2005, the Naxals are estimated now to be nearly 100,000 strong. In an agonizing voice he observes:

“I stare dumbly at all these people who come to me – the old man who saw his daughter raped and son shot dead; the young wife who was gang raped; the families whose houses were burnt;…They come to me pleading for help. I keep quiet, not knowing what to say or how to help. Nor can I ask them to suffer quietly. It is in such situation of utter despondency and helplessness that I have resorted to this fast. I have no demands, no conditions underlying my fast. I am only trying to collect and strengthen my inner strength for nonviolence.”

His words are reminiscent of what Mahatma Gandhi said when he undertook fast unto death during the 1924 riots in Kohat…(now in Pakistan): ‘how can I ask them to be nonviolent after what they have suffered…’.

It would be instructive to recall that the Bhoodan movement was born in Pochampalli village in Andhra Pradesh in response to the violent communist movement seeking to redress the sufferings of the poor and the landless. Acharya Vinoba Bhave had declared: “The Communists want your head and land both; I am asking for your land only, that too one sixth. Take the landless as the sixth member of your family”.

After more than six decades of democracy in our country, in the forests of Bastar, Himanshu is experimenting with the principles and practice of non-violent Satyagraha to find a way out of the dual challenge from the politics of Naxalism and anti-Naxalism. Going by the violence and terror unleashed on the tribals, by both the Naxal, the anti-Naxal “people’e militia supported by the state, namely Salva Judum, with total impunity and disregard of even minimum democratic governance, it would appear that the onslaught is a war on the very existence of the tribal. If there is any truth in the corporate interests tying up with the government/state or Salva Judum to ‘clear’ the iron and mineral rich areas of all tribal habitation, as some fear, then this must be properly handled. Himanshu is neither denying the development of mining nor the fact that Maoist violence is an impediment to development and democracy. If the intended or unintended consequences of Operation Green Hunt are to terrorise innocent people, chase them out of their villages and livelihoods, then it is duty of citizens to stand by the side of lakhs of tribal brethren who have turned homeless and are uprooted.

Himanshu is seeking justice for victims of rape, arson and murder; he is opposing the savage violence of security forces and Salva Judum, armed and supported by the government against all democratic norms; he is demanding the return of the inhabitants of about 650 evacuated villages; he wants the adivasis, mostly forcibly concentrated in filthy, socially degrading camps, compelled to live on doles, to be able to return to their homes in the villages. He has already demonstrated how to get them back to their villages and begin anew by introducing the programmes of development, anganwadis, health services, schools and the rest. He promised them a non-violent human shield against any violent attack from any quarter.

He invited the Home Minister Sri Chidambaram to visit Dantewada for a jansunwai (public hearing) session with the public assuring him that no harm would reach him, or even any abuse. But the Governor prevailed upon him not to visit the state at this juncture, as this could have a demoralizing effect on their operations. Under the pretext of giving him protection Himanshu is encircled by police, which keeps monitoring his every action or speech. A vicious propaganda against him is being built up to hound him out of Chhattisgarh. First, his ashram was bulldozed in May this year; next, on the 6th day of his fast his landlord approached him with folded hands asking him to vacate his premises as he was being pressured to evict him. Smilingly, Himanshu assures him that he will do so as he did not want him to suffer on his account! On being asked where he will move, he smiled in response, ‘I dont know’.

During the period of his fast, on 3rd January 2010, he organized that Shambho, a tribal lady who had been shot in the leg by the CRPF is sent for her second round of treatment to Delhi. Three times she and her escort were terrorised and prevented from boarding the bus to Raipur. Himanshu decided to escort her personally to Delhi in his jeep. A jeep-full of police kept tailing them most of the 400 km route, until they were prevented from entering Raipur and whisked away to Kanker Police Station, where they took her under police custody.

All this while, Niru and I were in the field, but we were in constant communication with Himanshu. At the same time we alerted some of our friends in Raipur and Delhi. In particular, we connected with Prof. Partha Nath Mukherji and Prof. Ashis Nandy. In turn, Prof. Nandy connected with an important TV journalist, whilst Prof. Mukherji was able to establish contact with the DGP and the DIG of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). As per request of the NHRC, Prof. Mukherji faxed a letter of complaint after sharing the draft with me and Himanshu. The NHRC promptly took action and sent the complaint to the S.P. Dantewada and also obtained some reply, which was to be put before the Commission. Prof Ashish Nandy followed up with NDTV, which gave a good coverage on its Hindi channel. This was the minimum that could be done by way of trying to secure some protective and restraining measures.

The way things are moving, it would appear that the government is doing exactly what the Maoists would like to happen, namely, the increasing oppression of the state on innocent, defenseless tribals who had so far shied away from them, but would now end up in their lap! Himanshu is providing a Gandhian intervention that is against none, only against violence as an instrument of solving the problem. In his conduct and language there is no trace of ill-will against anyone, including his tormentors. He speaks for truth, justice and love. He speaks for the tormented and the agonised. For a satyagrahi there is no scope for desperation, frustration or defeat. His is a win-win model. The Mahatma had once remarked that 80 percent of the consequences of nonviolence are not visible to the eye, they happen beneath the surface. Those who think that nonviolence does not work must grasp the meaning of this very insightful observation of non other than Mahatma Gandhi himself.

Himanshu’s is a test case, for all of us, nay for the nation perhaps. I have no doubt that the more he is tested the more he would shine. How does one reconcile with the fact that a satyagrahi, wedded to Gandhi and ahimsa is being horridly harassed and hunted? Has nonviolent action no legitimacy in a country which is a responsible democracy? Our security forces are fully accountable to our Constitution, not the Maoists who wish to destroy and rewrite it for a state governed by the barrel of the gun. We fully appreciate the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens. Himanshu Kumar, just as any one of us, is asking for the rule of the law. We mourn the casualties of violence, whether they are from among the innocent people, the police or the Maoists. The vicious circle of violence has to be broken. We believe that non-state options and initiatives in resolving problems of deep rooted violence strengthen democratic culture. We also believe that civil society should address its actions and efforts of reforms more in the direction of the society.

In this context, the nonviolent, self less Gandhian force must come forwards and be allowed to intervene in order for the tribal people to share equally the fruits of freedom and democracy and assist the nation in wiping out the alarming democratic deficit that is plaguing the tribal regions of the country. It will be sad if the corporate interests do not factor in the interests of the innocent tribal communities, who for centuries have inhabited these areas protecting national wealth. It is time for the corporate world to proclaim that they are not for the uprootment of tribal life and culture for their gains; that they will make the inhabitants of the soil their partners in their well-being and prosperity. Let them stand behind Himanshu’s Gandhian efforts to restore sanity and peace for the welfare of all.

I propose

That we research rigorously into the causes and consequences of the violent Maoist movement.

That a team of accredited impartial persons visit the area urgently and meet all the concerned parties involved and affected by the situation of violence to prepare a non-partisan report particularly with a view to find possibilities of a nonviolent assistance in reducing violence. In this regard we have two models to learn from; one, the Bhoodan yatra ; and, the Chambal dacoits surrender.

Sri Lanka: A Bitter Peace

2010-01-13T12:16:00.001+05:30

Colombo/Brussels, 11 January 2010: No matter which of the two main Sinhalese candidates wins Sri Lanka’s 26 January presidential election, the international community must take steps to ensure he addresses the marginalisation of Tamils and other minorities in the interest of peace and stability.

Sri Lanka: A Bitter Peace,* the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, examines how eight months after the military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the post-war policies of President Mahinda Rajapaksa have deepened rather than resolved the grievances that generated and sustained militancy. Though the election campaign between Rajapaksa and retired General Sarath Fonseka has now opened up some new political space, Sri Lanka has yet to make significant progress in reconstructing its battered democratic institutions or establishing conditions for a stable peace.

“The victory over the LTTE will remain fragile unless Sinhalese-dominated political parties make strong moves towards a more inclusive and democratic state”, says Donald Steinberg, Crisis Group’s Deputy President for Policy. “Donor governments and international financial institutions should strengthen voices for reform by collectively pressing for democratisation and demilitarisation throughout Sri Lanka, but especially in the north and east”.

The return to their home districts of most of the quarter million Tamils displaced from the Northern Province, and the increased freedom of movement for the nearly 100,000 still in military-run camps, are important steps forward. The resettlement process has failed to meet international standards for safe and dignified returns, however, and the damage from the government’s humiliating internment will require much work to repair.

The brutal nature of the conflict has undermined Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions and governance. All ethnic communities are suffering from the collapse of the rule of law. Disappearances and political killings associated with the government’s counterinsurgency campaign have been greatly reduced since the end of the war. Some Tamil prisoners held under emergency laws have begun to be released. However, impunity for abuses by state officials continues, and fear and self-censorship among civil society and political activists remain widespread. Rajapaksa’s government continues to maintain and use the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations to weaken its political opposition.

Clear international support for reforms that all Sri Lankans would benefit from and might be willing to support are crucial. These include: ending emergency rule, establishing the Constitutional Council and independent commissions, depoliticising the judiciary, preventing everyday police torture and curbing impunity for state offences. International actors need to press for accountability for abuses by both sides during the war, as well as challenge the government’s post-war policies. Donors should condition further development assistance on governance reforms designed to curb impunity and make the government accountable to citizens of all communities.

“There have been no investigations into any of the credible allegations of violations of human rights law by senior government and the LTTE leaders over the course of the war”, says Robert Templer, Crisis Group’s Asia Program Director. “But only when political and legal reforms have begun will there be any chance at a true accounting for the terrible violence that all communities in Sri Lanka have undergone”.

Published by: International Crisis Group

Noble Savages: A Mumbai Girl in Dantewada

2010-01-03T11:59:00.004+05:30

(By Priyanka Borpujari, Times of India | January 03, 2010)

I remember my first periods. For seven days I was treated like a princess, saatvik food was prepared especially for me, school was bunked and I slept with a penknife under my pillow. The knife, mom told me, was to protect me from evil, now that I was a woman.

As I sit next to the kiln, sharing personal histories with Lakhimi, on a cold winter night in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, she tells me she too was fed good food during her first periods. But the knife puzzles the tribal woman, and she asks, protection from

what? “From any man’s lustful intentions that could strip me of my dignity,’’ I say. She laughs, “I thought women in civilised cities didn’t need to protect their dignity!’’

I am left wondering about civilisation in cities where we have specialised NGOs to combat eve-teasing and sexual harassment at the workplace. We have pepper-spray cans. Paedophilia is rampant behind tightly guarded curtains while affluent school kids show off their sexual rendezvous via MMS. Yet, we call ourselves modern; we call tribals uncivilised.

The tall and dusky Lakhimi tells me how men and women are equal in her tribal society, frolicking and even drinking together till late in the night. She does not know what eve-teasing is. Then imagine my surprise at finding victims of rape in her idyllic paradise. It was in Samsetti village, 100 km south of Dantewada, where I made this discovery on Christmas Day. Entering the picturesque village, I saw 100-odd men in military fatigues, carrying automatic rifles walk out of it. Yes, it was a Naxal-infested zone, but 100 guns in a village of a few hundred was a stretch even for the imagination. By the time we halted, an eerie calm had spread over this village, which had been terrorised again, all because of four women.

These four girls in their early 20s have been victims of a concept foreign to their tribal culture—rape. In 2006, each was reportedly gangraped by SPOs (Special Police Officers) of the Salwa Judum, a vigilante militia set up by the Chhattisgarh government to flush out Naxals. Sadly, this sandwiched the tribals between Naxals and Salwa Judum in a macabre way. Rapes and murders havebecome common in villages of Dantewada, which is at the heart of the Naxal conflict today.

Ironically, these SPOs are young recruits from tribal villages, some even child soldiers, who end up beheading fellow tribals, burning their own villages, and raping their own women in an inhuman, statesponsored offensive against Naxals. All this for a hefty salary of Rs 1,800 a month.The women I mention are only four among several such cases of alleged rape. Almost each follows a similar pattern of intimidation and threats to silence them. In this case it took some sustained intervention and counselling by Gandhian activist Himanshu Kumar, currently fasting since December 26 to expose such hushed-up cases.

The rape cases were finally registered in the Bilaspur high court in March 2009, after the cops refused to file FIRs. However, the sessions court, in its last hearing in November 2009, declared the accused as absconding. Absurdly enough, the accused walked into the village in December 2009, beat up the four girls, took their thumb impressions on blank papers and warned them against taking the case further. When Himanshu Kumar tried to make this news public, the accused returned to the village and took the girls to the police station where they were tortured for five days. No wonder that when we finally reached Samsetti the villagers first shielded them from us. Even when we found them, they refused to talk openly about what had happened.

“Forget your rape; save your Muriya tribe from annihilation,’’ is what the villagers had told the scared girls. So a society that was truly independent now faces the scourge of being civilised. While we have exported our ideas of being civilised to the forests, we haven’t yet lent them our sympathies. While one IPS officer goes home scot-free after causing the suicide of a teenager he molested and then threatened, here too in Samsetti the protectors have become the persecutors. At least the cities are agitated enough to debate and gather support for the wronged Ruchika. But have we even heard of these four brutal rapes in Samsetti? Can we even talk of justice for them and the scores of other tribal women who have shared a similar fate? Or is it convenient to ignore them just because they are bow-and-arrow-carrying tribals? There are no easy answers. All we can do is begin with these easy questions.