NAC’S draft is rabidly communal
By Shyam Khosla
THE obnoxious Prevention of Communal Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparation) Bill 2011 drafted by the extra-constitutional “National Advisory Council” Chaired by Sonia Gandhi is based on the horrendous presumption that communal trouble is created only by the majority community and never by the minority community. Can a drafting committee be so biased and contemptuous of rationality and facts of life? How can a Bill to deal with a hugely sensitive issue like communal riots discriminate on religious and caste considerations? Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, famous for his legal and political acumen, has torn the Bill to shreds by his incisive analysis of the Bill’s several vicious provisions and questioned the very premise of the draft that implies that only majority community is responsible for all communal riots. The proposed law, he points out, will incentivise some communities to commit heinous offences encouraged by the fact that they would never be charged under the law and will encourage terrorist groups to incite communal riots knowing fully well that they too wouldn’t be covered under this pernicious piece of legislation. Church supported terrorist outfits operating in north-eastern states will be amongst the greatest beneficiaries as they too are outside the purview of the proposed law. They can indulge in crimes against the majority community with impunity. The Bill, if it is enacted as law by the Parliament, would keep jehadies who conspired and indulged in the Godhra carnage outside its purview. The NAC Bill would neither cover Shia-Sunni riots nor the heinous crime of chopping off the hand of a Christian professor by a Muslim radical group in Kerala as both the victim and the offender belong to the minority communities.
Hate propaganda against minorities is punishable under this stringent law. The law is likely to be abused in cases in which one were to make legitimate criticism of certain practices like discrimination against Muslim women under the Muslim Personal Law. However members and groups belonging to minority communities would not be liable to be booked under the law for spreading hatred against Hindus and their religious faiths and icons. Foreign funded Christian missionaries who indulge in fraudulent conversion of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other deprived sections of the Hindu society though a systematic hate campaign against Hindu beliefs and practices can gleefully continue to do so as they too would not be covered by the law on communal violence. Minority community groups would be free to spread hatred against Hindus by calling them kafirs and heathens without any fear of being hauled up under the law.
Yet another fundamental infirmity form which the draft suffers is that it equates communal conflicts with terrorism. Communal flare ups may be triggered by minor incidents and rumours spread by mischief mongers. Instead of curbing communal divisions and identity politics, the Bill is bound to widen the gulf between communities and would lead to communal tensions. That is perhaps the hidden agenda of the drafters of the Bill most of whom are guilty of promoting vote bank politics. Congress party’s untenable defence of the draft is that there is no point in discussing each and every provision at this stage and that these objections could be taken up when the Bill goes to the Parliamentary Standing Committees. Why publicise such an atrocious piece of legislation full of infirmities, if the purpose is not to illicit public opinion on its concepts and premises. Or is it meant to send a strong message to communal-minded Muslims and Christians that UPA II is out to appease them even at the cost of hurting national interests? The other argument that is equally bogus is that the draft is based on the experience that most riots are initiated by the majority community and it is the minorities that are always at the receiving end.
One of the provisions in the draft is that it would be enforced by a seven-member national authority of which at least four members, including the chairman and the vice chairman, must be from a minority community, It has raised the hackles of all right thinking citizens who believe in the principle that law must have a level-playing field. It is a dangerous and mischievous move. The authors are so biased and contemptuous of Hindus that they presume that an enforcement authority with a Hindu majority would not ensure fair play. The Bill is so irrational and biased that even the pro-Congress English language daily Hindustan Times has editorially condemned the NAC draft saying, “Its biggest flaw is that it makes provisions for punishment only for violence against minorities. Surely, if communal violence were visited on members of the majority community, the law can’t ignore this fact. This could mean that subversive elements in the minority community could indulge in communal violence without any fear of the law”. It goes on to point out that the most disturbing aspect of this Bill is the underlying presumption that it is only the majority community which is responsible for communal violence. No law should have different yardsticks for wrong doers on the basis of religion, ethnicity, language or gender. Further it negates the federal structure of the Union as it infringes on the powers of the State governments that are bound to resist Centre’s attempt to interfere in matters pertaining to law and order that is the domain of the states.
Critics have rightly raised serious objections to the very source of the draft – the National Advisory Council comprising of NGO types unelected and unelectable so-called representatives of the civil society. All of them have been hand-picked by Sonia Gandhi who enjoys enormous power without accountability. NAC is an extra constitutional authority that has been mandated to provide policy and legislative inputs to the Government. It is accountable to none but Sonia Gandhi. Its functioning has never been subjected to any review by Parliament. Its policy announcements and legislative initiatives exert coercive pressure on the Government. The very concept on which NAC was constituted is undemocratic and totally unacceptable in a parliamentary democracy.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Binayak Sen
Binayak Sen: Convicted of sedition, advising the plan panel
By R Vaidyanathan
WITHIN weeks of getting bail from the Supreme Court in connection with charges of sedition, Binayak Sen has been made a member of the Planning Commission’s steering committee on health, which will advise the panel on the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-2017). Interestingly the mainstream media reported Sen as a human rights activist — whatever it is — rather than his conviction for sedition. The steering committee will review the National Health Policy, 2002, and explore the possibility of adopting the right to health as an approach with special focus on women, children, life-cycle care and preventive and curative healthcare.
Other than doing seditious activities, Sen is supposed to be running a healthcare organisation in Bilaspur and so Syeda Hameed, another jholawala (silk variety, not jute) in the Planning Commission, has appointed him as a part of the 40-member committee on health chaired by her. Hameeda’s claim to fame is being from Miranda House and a human rights activist, and a founder of the South Asian Human Rights group other than researching on Bhutto. None of it has anything to do with health.
His appointment has been confirmed by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, and the chairman of the Planning Commission, namely the PM, will claim, as usual, that he knows nothing about such events. Binayak Sen himself has also been gracious to accept it.
Many of the civil society groups, both in the NAC and outside, are silent. The rule of law is primary and critical for these groups if it is pertains to Narendra Modi’s Gujarat but not to the naxals of Chhattisgarh. The session’s court has convicted Binayk Sen for sedition and facilitating Maoist insurgency, which seeks to destroy the Indian State and replace it with the dictatorship of the proletariat, where power stems from the barrel of the gun controlled by the politburo.
The conviction (remember these are not allegations) was upheld by the Jharkhand High Court and he was refused bail. There was a hue and cry after the high court judgment, with reports mentioning him as a doctor and globally known right activist who has won several awards. As if a Nobel Laureate, for instance, cannot be a murderer.
Suddenly, the mainstream media (MSM), which is part of the civil society jholawalas, forgot about the rule of law and the need to respect judicial verdicts. Then the Supreme Court gave him bail, which was reported by the MSM as Sen “walking free”. That is a distortion since he is still a convicted person and is out on bail.
Sedition, as we all understand, is a serious charge and there are civil rights groups that carefully tabulate the number of convicts and accused criminals standing for election. They have reported the number of persons with a criminal background in the various legislative assemblies and even in Parliament. Civil groups and MSM routinely condemn their presence in these august bodies.
Sen has not committed a misdemeanour but felony, or a very serious crime. Unless he is acquitted, he is a convict for sedition.
He may be the national vice-president of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties, but he cannot work to destroy all our liberties under a Maoist rule.
The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh, has expressed his indignation at the appointment of a convict for sedition by the Central Government in the Planning Commission. Baijendra Kumar, principal secretary to the Chief Minister, said that “the Chief Minister had disapproved of Sen’s nomination as he is convicted and out on bail. The case against him is pending in court.”
But Raman Singh is merely an elected Chief Minister and not an unelectable jholawala — who currently hold de facto power at Delhi. It is all the more surprising that the Ministry of Home Affairs is silent.
What next? Arundhati Roy, who is accused of treason, can be put in the National Integration Council and of course, Kasab can be part of the Foreign Ministry panel on Indo-Pak Aman ki Asha. And rule of Law - what is that?
By R Vaidyanathan
WITHIN weeks of getting bail from the Supreme Court in connection with charges of sedition, Binayak Sen has been made a member of the Planning Commission’s steering committee on health, which will advise the panel on the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-2017). Interestingly the mainstream media reported Sen as a human rights activist — whatever it is — rather than his conviction for sedition. The steering committee will review the National Health Policy, 2002, and explore the possibility of adopting the right to health as an approach with special focus on women, children, life-cycle care and preventive and curative healthcare.
Other than doing seditious activities, Sen is supposed to be running a healthcare organisation in Bilaspur and so Syeda Hameed, another jholawala (silk variety, not jute) in the Planning Commission, has appointed him as a part of the 40-member committee on health chaired by her. Hameeda’s claim to fame is being from Miranda House and a human rights activist, and a founder of the South Asian Human Rights group other than researching on Bhutto. None of it has anything to do with health.
His appointment has been confirmed by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, and the chairman of the Planning Commission, namely the PM, will claim, as usual, that he knows nothing about such events. Binayak Sen himself has also been gracious to accept it.
Many of the civil society groups, both in the NAC and outside, are silent. The rule of law is primary and critical for these groups if it is pertains to Narendra Modi’s Gujarat but not to the naxals of Chhattisgarh. The session’s court has convicted Binayk Sen for sedition and facilitating Maoist insurgency, which seeks to destroy the Indian State and replace it with the dictatorship of the proletariat, where power stems from the barrel of the gun controlled by the politburo.
The conviction (remember these are not allegations) was upheld by the Jharkhand High Court and he was refused bail. There was a hue and cry after the high court judgment, with reports mentioning him as a doctor and globally known right activist who has won several awards. As if a Nobel Laureate, for instance, cannot be a murderer.
Suddenly, the mainstream media (MSM), which is part of the civil society jholawalas, forgot about the rule of law and the need to respect judicial verdicts. Then the Supreme Court gave him bail, which was reported by the MSM as Sen “walking free”. That is a distortion since he is still a convicted person and is out on bail.
Sedition, as we all understand, is a serious charge and there are civil rights groups that carefully tabulate the number of convicts and accused criminals standing for election. They have reported the number of persons with a criminal background in the various legislative assemblies and even in Parliament. Civil groups and MSM routinely condemn their presence in these august bodies.
Sen has not committed a misdemeanour but felony, or a very serious crime. Unless he is acquitted, he is a convict for sedition.
He may be the national vice-president of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties, but he cannot work to destroy all our liberties under a Maoist rule.
The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh, has expressed his indignation at the appointment of a convict for sedition by the Central Government in the Planning Commission. Baijendra Kumar, principal secretary to the Chief Minister, said that “the Chief Minister had disapproved of Sen’s nomination as he is convicted and out on bail. The case against him is pending in court.”
But Raman Singh is merely an elected Chief Minister and not an unelectable jholawala — who currently hold de facto power at Delhi. It is all the more surprising that the Ministry of Home Affairs is silent.
What next? Arundhati Roy, who is accused of treason, can be put in the National Integration Council and of course, Kasab can be part of the Foreign Ministry panel on Indo-Pak Aman ki Asha. And rule of Law - what is that?
North-east
North-east secessionist outfits take a beating in US action against Al Qaeda
By Jyotilal Choudhury
THE dramatic killing of Al Qaeda chief, Osama bin Laden, the icon of terror for the world, at Abbottabad, 60 kms from Islamabad, in a midnight operation by the elite US Navy Seals has vindicated the stand of India that Pakistan is the epicentre or cockpit of terrorism and has been exporting jihadi elements to its neighbour for subversive activities across the country. 26/11 is among the deadliest acts of mayhems in Mumbai. Unless America reigns in Pakistan and forces it to shut down and dismantle camps and sanctuaries of terrorists on its soil, the fight against terrorism will remain a half done job. Latest information speaks of 140 terrorist camps in Pak-occupied Kashmir alone and all this within the knowledge of the government of the country.
Reports often emanating from international and national intelligence agencies have gone to hint how various militant groups of north-east have been receiving logistic and material support from Pakistan and Bangladesh from dreaded outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Huji, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jammat-ud-Dawa through ISI operatives. The JuD activists led by its chief openly vowed for vengeance on the streets of Islamabad. It is to be recalled Mumbai blasts were carried out by Dawood Ibrahim at ISI’s behest in 1993. Besides, top militant leaders of north-east outfits have been frequenting Pakistan on arms mission from their safe hideouts in Bangladesh.
The huge stockpiles of lethal arms and ammunitions detained by the Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh at Chittagong for shipment to ULFA in 2002 during BNP regime is a glaring instance of Pak based jihadi groups’ involvement. With the return of Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina, a full fledged investigation and trial in process has exposed the involvement of high profile political, civil and police officials in this nefarious gameplan.
Though Bangladesh has cracked down on the hideouts of north east extremists and even arrested top guns from some frontline outfits, jihadi and terrorist forces, though lying low, continue to hold ground. BNP’ come back will provide them all the leverage and ground support.
Though no concrete evidence has come about the visits of Pak based mastermind—Dawood Ibrahim, Hafiz Saeed, Zakir-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, Masood Azhar, Yusuf Muzammil, Sajid Mir and the likes, known for their anti-India operations, to Bangladesh, their being in the proxy role to prop up extremists of the region is not denied by intelligence agencies. But the outfits have been maintaining close links with terror groups of Pakistan. The confessions of several detained ISI agents in Assam have lent credence to it.
Insurgency analysts feel unless terrorism is completely eliminated from Pakistan, its dark shadows will continue to encourage the anti-India operatives on Bangladesh soil and play second fiddle to the north-east extremists. ULFA C-in-C Paresh Barua and his diehard supporters are still flexing their muscles in Myanmar with China back up.
America’s war against terrorism, a blatant realisation and shake up after 9/11 holocaust, has yet another significant fall out. The UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and People’ Organisation, a win of UNO, at Pentagon’s behest is no more hosting militant leaders of north east to internationalise their so-called fight for homelands. NSCN(IM) and NSCN(Khaplang), ULFA and UNLF got seal and approval of the global forum to draw support and in the process strengthen terrorism and expand its base.
Osama’s death acclaimed across the continents and America hardening its stand on terrorism is expected to push the militant outfits of the region in peace-process and still in wilderness to rethink and redefine their strategy for dialogue for peace. USA’s resolve against terrorism should include check on the open sale of deadly weapons in international markets which come handy for the extremists of the region. Once the conduits for arms and ammunitions from the infamous Golden Triangle are choked, extremists still underground will be left with no option than to sit for dialogue. If America can go deep inside Pakistan territory to kill Osama, the mastermind of 9/11, should not India dare strike at the hideouts of the perpetrators of 26/11 and serial mayhems across the country?
By Jyotilal Choudhury
THE dramatic killing of Al Qaeda chief, Osama bin Laden, the icon of terror for the world, at Abbottabad, 60 kms from Islamabad, in a midnight operation by the elite US Navy Seals has vindicated the stand of India that Pakistan is the epicentre or cockpit of terrorism and has been exporting jihadi elements to its neighbour for subversive activities across the country. 26/11 is among the deadliest acts of mayhems in Mumbai. Unless America reigns in Pakistan and forces it to shut down and dismantle camps and sanctuaries of terrorists on its soil, the fight against terrorism will remain a half done job. Latest information speaks of 140 terrorist camps in Pak-occupied Kashmir alone and all this within the knowledge of the government of the country.
Reports often emanating from international and national intelligence agencies have gone to hint how various militant groups of north-east have been receiving logistic and material support from Pakistan and Bangladesh from dreaded outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Huji, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jammat-ud-Dawa through ISI operatives. The JuD activists led by its chief openly vowed for vengeance on the streets of Islamabad. It is to be recalled Mumbai blasts were carried out by Dawood Ibrahim at ISI’s behest in 1993. Besides, top militant leaders of north-east outfits have been frequenting Pakistan on arms mission from their safe hideouts in Bangladesh.
The huge stockpiles of lethal arms and ammunitions detained by the Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh at Chittagong for shipment to ULFA in 2002 during BNP regime is a glaring instance of Pak based jihadi groups’ involvement. With the return of Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina, a full fledged investigation and trial in process has exposed the involvement of high profile political, civil and police officials in this nefarious gameplan.
Though Bangladesh has cracked down on the hideouts of north east extremists and even arrested top guns from some frontline outfits, jihadi and terrorist forces, though lying low, continue to hold ground. BNP’ come back will provide them all the leverage and ground support.
Though no concrete evidence has come about the visits of Pak based mastermind—Dawood Ibrahim, Hafiz Saeed, Zakir-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, Masood Azhar, Yusuf Muzammil, Sajid Mir and the likes, known for their anti-India operations, to Bangladesh, their being in the proxy role to prop up extremists of the region is not denied by intelligence agencies. But the outfits have been maintaining close links with terror groups of Pakistan. The confessions of several detained ISI agents in Assam have lent credence to it.
Insurgency analysts feel unless terrorism is completely eliminated from Pakistan, its dark shadows will continue to encourage the anti-India operatives on Bangladesh soil and play second fiddle to the north-east extremists. ULFA C-in-C Paresh Barua and his diehard supporters are still flexing their muscles in Myanmar with China back up.
America’s war against terrorism, a blatant realisation and shake up after 9/11 holocaust, has yet another significant fall out. The UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and People’ Organisation, a win of UNO, at Pentagon’s behest is no more hosting militant leaders of north east to internationalise their so-called fight for homelands. NSCN(IM) and NSCN(Khaplang), ULFA and UNLF got seal and approval of the global forum to draw support and in the process strengthen terrorism and expand its base.
Osama’s death acclaimed across the continents and America hardening its stand on terrorism is expected to push the militant outfits of the region in peace-process and still in wilderness to rethink and redefine their strategy for dialogue for peace. USA’s resolve against terrorism should include check on the open sale of deadly weapons in international markets which come handy for the extremists of the region. Once the conduits for arms and ammunitions from the infamous Golden Triangle are choked, extremists still underground will be left with no option than to sit for dialogue. If America can go deep inside Pakistan territory to kill Osama, the mastermind of 9/11, should not India dare strike at the hideouts of the perpetrators of 26/11 and serial mayhems across the country?
Census 2011: Trends from the Provisional Data
Muslim growth far above the average, slight improvement in gender ratio, Hindu decline
By Dr J K Bajaj
THE census of India has released provisional population data for almost all the districts of the country. In addition to the total population of the districts, the census has provided breakup of the population into males and females, the proportion of population in the 0-6 age group, and some literacy data. This information allows calculation of provisional growth rates of population, of gender ratios and of literacy rates up to the district level. Much has been said about the trends in these three parameters.
Growth Rates, Gender Ratios and Literacy
Decadal growth of population in India has declined to 17.64 per cent compared to 21.54 per cent during the previous decade. More importantly, some of the northern states, where the growth rates had remained persistently high, have shown remarkable decline in growth. Thus Haryana and Rajasthan, which had both grown by 28.4 per cent during 1991-2001, have recorded growth of only 19.9 and 21.4 per cent, respectively, during the current decade. The sharp decline of growth in several populous and high growth states of the north has contributed to the considerable decline in the growth rate of the total population of India. Remarkably, however, Tamil Nadu, where the growth rates were sharply declining, has recorded a considerable rise in decadal growth from 11.7 during 1991-2001 to 15.6 per cent during 2001-2011. The only other large State that has recorded a higher growth than the previous decade is Chhattisgarh; decadal growth there has gone up from 18.3 per cent to 22.6 per cent. This is probably a consequence of the new urban and industrial development activities being undertaken in that State.
There is only a slight improvement in the gender ratio of the Indian population, from 933 in 2001 to 940 in 2011. Gender ratio among children in the 0-6 years age group, which is probably more significant, has however shown a further decline from 927 to 914 female per 1,000 males.
Literacy rate has improved from 64.83 to 74.04 per cent. But this indicates only bare literacy. The more significant data in this respect is about the levels of attainment in literacy, which tells us about the proportion that have passed primary school level and above. Our record in improving the percentage of population that has passed senior secondary level, for example, has not been very good. We have to await more detailed data to know whether more of the young of India have been able to complete schooling.
Urban-Rural Divide
The census has not yet provided urban-rural breakup of population. However, the data that has been released shows a very significant trend of decline in the growth of population in all metropolitan districts. Thus, Delhi has grown by a mere 20.96 per cent during 2001-2011 compared to 47.02 per cent during the previous decade; the New Delhi and Central Delhi districts have recoded large negative growth of minus 25.35 per cent and minus 10.48 percent respectively. Mumbai and Kolkata have also shown negative growth of minus 5.75 per cent and minus 1.88 per cent, respectively. Hyderabad has grown by only 4.71 compared to 21.74 per cent in the previous decade. Chennai has recorded a growth of 7.77 per cent compared to 13.07 per cent during the previous decade and the State average of 15.7 per cent. Among the major metropolises only Bengaluru has shown a higher growth rate of 46.68 per cent compared to 35.09 per cent of the previous decade.
It seems that the larger metropolises are now going out of the reach of the ordinary people; much of the growth is probably happening in the districts adjoining these. There has also been much slum clearance activity during the decade, with large numbers being pushed out of the metropolises. The census report for Delhi has in fact recorded that “a major reason for the fall in growth rate is the wide-ranging removal of slum (jhuggi-jhonpari) clusters from various parts of the city since 2001”.
The impact this decline of growth rate of major metropolises may have on the growth of urbanization would be seen only when the detailed breakup of population by urban or rural residence becomes available. But it is already clear that notwithstanding all the talk of inclusive growth that we have heard during the last several years, the larger and well-provided metropolises have become entirely inhospitable for the ordinary people.
Religious Demographic Changes
The census has so far released no data on the religious composition of the population. But, some significant trends can be clearly seen in the district wise provisional population data that has been made available. The regions and districts that have a high Muslim presence seem to show a much higher rate of growth than the neighbouring regions and districts. Below, we give some of the most striking examples of this.
Outside Jammu and Kashmir, there are 3 districts in the country that were predominantly Muslim in 2001. One of these is Mewat in Haryana, the other Malappuram in Kerala, and the third Dhubri in Assam. Decadal growth during 2001-2011 in all three of these has been far above the average of their respective states. Mewat has grown by 37.9 per cent against the average of 19.9 per cent for Haryana; Malappuram has grown by 13.4 per cent as against the average of 4.9 per cent for Kerala; and, Dhubri has grown by 24.4 per cent as against the average of 16.9 per cent for Assam. It is instructive to look at these three districts in some further detail.
Mewat is a new district of Haryana. It was formed after the 2001 census, and comprises of the four tahsils of Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka, Punhana and Taoru. Proportion of Muslims in the first three of these in 2001 was 71, 83 and 85 per cent, respectively. Taoru, which lies on the northern end nearer Gurgaon, has a relatively lower Muslim presence of 49 per cent. The district as a whole was thus 75 per cent Muslim. There is no other district of Haryana which comes anywhere near Mewat in terms of the proportion of Muslims in its population. The district is dominated by Meo Muslims who are one of the earliest converts to Islam; they are said to have been converted at the time of Ferozeshah Tughlak.
The decadal growth of the population of Mewat at 37.9 per cent is nearly double that of the average of Haryana. Only Gurgaon has grown at a higher rate of 73.9 per cent; but that is because of its development as a major urban centre of the NCR region. Faridabad, for the same reason, has shown somewhat high rate of growth of 31.7 per cent. All other districts of Haryana have grown at a much lower rate.
Mewat district also has the highest proportion of children in the age group of 0-6 years in its population. There are 22.3 children of this age group for every 100 persons in the district. The figure for the State is much lower at 13.0 per cent. This ratio is around or less than 13 per cent for all other districts of Haryana, except Palwal. The latter includes Hathin, which is an extension of the Meo Muslim region, and was at one stage included in Mewat district. The proportion of children in the population of Palwal is the second highest in the State at 16.5 per cent.
Malappuram of Kerala had Muslim presence of nearly 69 per cent in its population in 2001. Though the northern districts of Kerala in general have higher presence of Muslims than the southern districts, yet no other district of Kerala compares with Malappuram in this respect. The districts with next highest presence of Muslims in 2001 were Kozhikode and Kasargode, where they formed 37.5 and 34.3 per cent of the population respectively.
The decadal growth of Malappuram at 13.39 per cent is nearly thrice the average of the state at 4.86 per cent. The district has shown a similar trend during every decade since its creation in the 1960s. During 1971-81, the district grew by 29.43 per cent against the State average of 19.24 per cent; during 1981-91, it grew by 28.87 per cent against the State average of 14.32 per cent; and, during 1991-2001, it grew by 17.09 per cent against the State average of 9.43 per cent. Thus, while the growth rate of the district has indeed been declining, the disparity between the growth of the district and that of the State has only been widening. Incidentally, the southern districts with low Muslim presence have in general recorded very low growth during the current census. Idukki and Pathanamthitta have in fact recorded a decline in the population of 1.93 and 3.12 per cent.
Dhubri of Assam had a Muslim presence of 74.3 per cent in 2001. The district has been since reorganised. In the process of creating the new Bodo districts some of the northern parts of Dhubri with relatively lower Muslim presence have been added to Kokrajhar. The district therefore is likely to have a much higher Muslim presence than 74 per cent recorded in 2001.
During 2001-2011, this predominantly Muslim district has recorded the highest growth among all districts in the State. Population of Dhubri has grown by 24.40 per cent against the state average of 16.93 per cent. The census has published a map of Assam showing growth rate of population in different districts. The Muslim majority districts of lower Assam and Cachar in the map clearly show much higher growth rates than the new Bodo districts and districts like Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Sibasagar of upper Assam. Four of such districts, including Kokrajhar and Udalgiri in the Bodo areas and Jorhat and Sibasagar in upper Assam have recorded growth of less than 10 per cent. The 2001 census data for Assam was already showing rather low growth of Hindus in several districts, and even a decline in their population in several tahsils. The trends of the current census seem to indicate an even wider differential between the growth rate of Muslims and others in the State.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Muslim majority districts of the Valley have shown much higher growth rate than the Hindu majority districts of the Jammu region. Anantnag district has shown the highest rate of growth of 37.48 per cent, while Jammu has grown by only 12.48 per cent. Many districts in the state have been reorganised, more detailed numbers and analysis is required to further quantify the trend.
The trends I have indicated above are based on the limited provisional data released so far. But they already seem to tell a very interesting, and perhaps a very disturbing, story.
The census has promised that most of the data shall be released within a year and a half. This has become possible because of the complete computerisation of census records. Earlier it used to take several years. We should expect to soon get a complete picture of the various aspects of Indian demography, including the changing religious demographic patterns in different parts of India.
By Dr J K Bajaj
THE census of India has released provisional population data for almost all the districts of the country. In addition to the total population of the districts, the census has provided breakup of the population into males and females, the proportion of population in the 0-6 age group, and some literacy data. This information allows calculation of provisional growth rates of population, of gender ratios and of literacy rates up to the district level. Much has been said about the trends in these three parameters.
Growth Rates, Gender Ratios and Literacy
Decadal growth of population in India has declined to 17.64 per cent compared to 21.54 per cent during the previous decade. More importantly, some of the northern states, where the growth rates had remained persistently high, have shown remarkable decline in growth. Thus Haryana and Rajasthan, which had both grown by 28.4 per cent during 1991-2001, have recorded growth of only 19.9 and 21.4 per cent, respectively, during the current decade. The sharp decline of growth in several populous and high growth states of the north has contributed to the considerable decline in the growth rate of the total population of India. Remarkably, however, Tamil Nadu, where the growth rates were sharply declining, has recorded a considerable rise in decadal growth from 11.7 during 1991-2001 to 15.6 per cent during 2001-2011. The only other large State that has recorded a higher growth than the previous decade is Chhattisgarh; decadal growth there has gone up from 18.3 per cent to 22.6 per cent. This is probably a consequence of the new urban and industrial development activities being undertaken in that State.
There is only a slight improvement in the gender ratio of the Indian population, from 933 in 2001 to 940 in 2011. Gender ratio among children in the 0-6 years age group, which is probably more significant, has however shown a further decline from 927 to 914 female per 1,000 males.
Literacy rate has improved from 64.83 to 74.04 per cent. But this indicates only bare literacy. The more significant data in this respect is about the levels of attainment in literacy, which tells us about the proportion that have passed primary school level and above. Our record in improving the percentage of population that has passed senior secondary level, for example, has not been very good. We have to await more detailed data to know whether more of the young of India have been able to complete schooling.
Urban-Rural Divide
The census has not yet provided urban-rural breakup of population. However, the data that has been released shows a very significant trend of decline in the growth of population in all metropolitan districts. Thus, Delhi has grown by a mere 20.96 per cent during 2001-2011 compared to 47.02 per cent during the previous decade; the New Delhi and Central Delhi districts have recoded large negative growth of minus 25.35 per cent and minus 10.48 percent respectively. Mumbai and Kolkata have also shown negative growth of minus 5.75 per cent and minus 1.88 per cent, respectively. Hyderabad has grown by only 4.71 compared to 21.74 per cent in the previous decade. Chennai has recorded a growth of 7.77 per cent compared to 13.07 per cent during the previous decade and the State average of 15.7 per cent. Among the major metropolises only Bengaluru has shown a higher growth rate of 46.68 per cent compared to 35.09 per cent of the previous decade.
It seems that the larger metropolises are now going out of the reach of the ordinary people; much of the growth is probably happening in the districts adjoining these. There has also been much slum clearance activity during the decade, with large numbers being pushed out of the metropolises. The census report for Delhi has in fact recorded that “a major reason for the fall in growth rate is the wide-ranging removal of slum (jhuggi-jhonpari) clusters from various parts of the city since 2001”.
The impact this decline of growth rate of major metropolises may have on the growth of urbanization would be seen only when the detailed breakup of population by urban or rural residence becomes available. But it is already clear that notwithstanding all the talk of inclusive growth that we have heard during the last several years, the larger and well-provided metropolises have become entirely inhospitable for the ordinary people.
Religious Demographic Changes
The census has so far released no data on the religious composition of the population. But, some significant trends can be clearly seen in the district wise provisional population data that has been made available. The regions and districts that have a high Muslim presence seem to show a much higher rate of growth than the neighbouring regions and districts. Below, we give some of the most striking examples of this.
Outside Jammu and Kashmir, there are 3 districts in the country that were predominantly Muslim in 2001. One of these is Mewat in Haryana, the other Malappuram in Kerala, and the third Dhubri in Assam. Decadal growth during 2001-2011 in all three of these has been far above the average of their respective states. Mewat has grown by 37.9 per cent against the average of 19.9 per cent for Haryana; Malappuram has grown by 13.4 per cent as against the average of 4.9 per cent for Kerala; and, Dhubri has grown by 24.4 per cent as against the average of 16.9 per cent for Assam. It is instructive to look at these three districts in some further detail.
Mewat is a new district of Haryana. It was formed after the 2001 census, and comprises of the four tahsils of Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka, Punhana and Taoru. Proportion of Muslims in the first three of these in 2001 was 71, 83 and 85 per cent, respectively. Taoru, which lies on the northern end nearer Gurgaon, has a relatively lower Muslim presence of 49 per cent. The district as a whole was thus 75 per cent Muslim. There is no other district of Haryana which comes anywhere near Mewat in terms of the proportion of Muslims in its population. The district is dominated by Meo Muslims who are one of the earliest converts to Islam; they are said to have been converted at the time of Ferozeshah Tughlak.
The decadal growth of the population of Mewat at 37.9 per cent is nearly double that of the average of Haryana. Only Gurgaon has grown at a higher rate of 73.9 per cent; but that is because of its development as a major urban centre of the NCR region. Faridabad, for the same reason, has shown somewhat high rate of growth of 31.7 per cent. All other districts of Haryana have grown at a much lower rate.
Mewat district also has the highest proportion of children in the age group of 0-6 years in its population. There are 22.3 children of this age group for every 100 persons in the district. The figure for the State is much lower at 13.0 per cent. This ratio is around or less than 13 per cent for all other districts of Haryana, except Palwal. The latter includes Hathin, which is an extension of the Meo Muslim region, and was at one stage included in Mewat district. The proportion of children in the population of Palwal is the second highest in the State at 16.5 per cent.
Malappuram of Kerala had Muslim presence of nearly 69 per cent in its population in 2001. Though the northern districts of Kerala in general have higher presence of Muslims than the southern districts, yet no other district of Kerala compares with Malappuram in this respect. The districts with next highest presence of Muslims in 2001 were Kozhikode and Kasargode, where they formed 37.5 and 34.3 per cent of the population respectively.
The decadal growth of Malappuram at 13.39 per cent is nearly thrice the average of the state at 4.86 per cent. The district has shown a similar trend during every decade since its creation in the 1960s. During 1971-81, the district grew by 29.43 per cent against the State average of 19.24 per cent; during 1981-91, it grew by 28.87 per cent against the State average of 14.32 per cent; and, during 1991-2001, it grew by 17.09 per cent against the State average of 9.43 per cent. Thus, while the growth rate of the district has indeed been declining, the disparity between the growth of the district and that of the State has only been widening. Incidentally, the southern districts with low Muslim presence have in general recorded very low growth during the current census. Idukki and Pathanamthitta have in fact recorded a decline in the population of 1.93 and 3.12 per cent.
Dhubri of Assam had a Muslim presence of 74.3 per cent in 2001. The district has been since reorganised. In the process of creating the new Bodo districts some of the northern parts of Dhubri with relatively lower Muslim presence have been added to Kokrajhar. The district therefore is likely to have a much higher Muslim presence than 74 per cent recorded in 2001.
During 2001-2011, this predominantly Muslim district has recorded the highest growth among all districts in the State. Population of Dhubri has grown by 24.40 per cent against the state average of 16.93 per cent. The census has published a map of Assam showing growth rate of population in different districts. The Muslim majority districts of lower Assam and Cachar in the map clearly show much higher growth rates than the new Bodo districts and districts like Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Sibasagar of upper Assam. Four of such districts, including Kokrajhar and Udalgiri in the Bodo areas and Jorhat and Sibasagar in upper Assam have recorded growth of less than 10 per cent. The 2001 census data for Assam was already showing rather low growth of Hindus in several districts, and even a decline in their population in several tahsils. The trends of the current census seem to indicate an even wider differential between the growth rate of Muslims and others in the State.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Muslim majority districts of the Valley have shown much higher growth rate than the Hindu majority districts of the Jammu region. Anantnag district has shown the highest rate of growth of 37.48 per cent, while Jammu has grown by only 12.48 per cent. Many districts in the state have been reorganised, more detailed numbers and analysis is required to further quantify the trend.
The trends I have indicated above are based on the limited provisional data released so far. But they already seem to tell a very interesting, and perhaps a very disturbing, story.
The census has promised that most of the data shall be released within a year and a half. This has become possible because of the complete computerisation of census records. Earlier it used to take several years. We should expect to soon get a complete picture of the various aspects of Indian demography, including the changing religious demographic patterns in different parts of India.
Protecting the Mainos from Indians
The political misdeeds of the Congress first family are never put to public scrutiny
By M D Nalapat
THE external image of the Maino family, which runs the country that claims to be the world's biggest democracy, has been carefully and expensively cultivated. Interviews are bestowed only to those journalists who can be expected to lob softballs and to assist in the creation of the aura of saintliness and patriotism which suffuses each of the numerous official accounts of UPA chairperson Sonia Maino.
Space within the internet gets filled up with laudatory accounts, even while—mysteriously—snide references crop up in sites which feature the handful of individuals who challenge the Maino Myth. Union Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram is believed to be behind several of the numerous commands made to website administrators to expunge negative references to the individual whom Chidambaram expects will catapult him to the prime ministership. He has masterminded an internet control law that would make it legally possible for the central and state police agencies to send to prison almost any surfer of the world wide web. Surprisingly, Opposition in India has remained silent over this egregious assault on individual freedoms.
Whenever Sonia’s two sisters, or mother, or nephews and nieces or close personal friends such as the Quatrocchi clan come and go from India after visiting with The Madame, the media are kept far away. Indeed, so are the ordinary people of India, so complete is the security surrounding this privileged group. Their reliance on corporate jets goes unrecorded, as does the fact that exit and entry formalities are minimal, even for individuals who have no security clearance. The numerous foreign visits they make are conducted in secrecy, as is the guest list at the pricey locations where they are put up in by obliging ‘friends’. Not surprisingly, thus far there have been no photographs or news reports about any of the extended Maino clan, while items about Sonia Maino and her two children are almost always in terms that would bring a smile of approval to known admirers of the family, such as Sunil Khilnani or Amartya Sen. Those running media outlets know the baleful consequences of treating Sonia Maino the way the UK media treats David Cameron, or the US media sees Barack Obama. Such lack of teflon is reserved for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has far less sway over his ministers than political secretary to Congress president Ahmed Patel.
Lately, when Rahul Gandhi was informed by his entourage that a heap of cowdung was actually charred human remains, his find was breathlessly covered by the entire media, with a few outlets still reluctant to admit that a Maino could get facts so spectacularly wrong after it was shown that the claim was false. This columnist admits to sympathy for Rahul Gandhi, who may yet bloom into an effective leader. However, this can take place only if he escapes from the protective shadow of his mother and treats the people of India as people deserving of rights and respect, rather than see them the way his mother does, as a seething mass of people who need to be constantly kept under the control of the state. In the guise of ‘security constraints’, Sonia Maino has insulated herself from the very people who have given her entire family status.
Talk of a good horoscope, Sonia Maino has been protected by every Prime Minister of India from Indira Gandhi onwards. The fact that she and Rajiv kept away from the country during most of the 1975-77 Emergency endeared her to Morarji Desai, while Narasimha Rao saw to it that Ottavio Quatrocchi was enabled to escape from India with his secrets still intact. Later on, Manmohan Singh presided over a similar miscarriage of justice in Argentina. The two Law Ministers responsible for this have each been rewarded.
Indeed, it is the Ministry of Law that has become the most effective means of protecting the in-law. The CBI has to rely on the Law Officers of the Government of India for the pursuit of cases, and these usually report to shadowy individuals rather than go by the Constitution of India. During the Vajpayee period, it was National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and his Italian connection, while later on, that responsibility devolved on Ahmed Patel, whose nod is needed for most important posts to be filled. The reality in Maino Bharat Mahan is that the “Manmohan Singh Cabinet” is—thus far—an Ahmed Patel Cabinet, which explains the prominence within it of elements such as Vilasrao Deshmukh.
An examination of the travel records of the son of a former Maharashtra CM, will show frequent visits to Dubai, and some to London. Usually, another prominent son would accompany him, the two being business partners who in Mumbai discuss deals in the Oberoi Hotel. Dubai is of course the place where the operational headquarters of a particular conglomerate are located (the spiritual HQ being Karachi), and it is there that discussions can take place away from prying eyes. This conglomerate ‘owns’ two Union Cabinet Ministers and at least six from the cabinet of a large state, yet none of these individuals is ever the subject of an enquiry by agencies tasked with responsibility for the nation’s security. Indeed, at least two of the agencies of the state have voluminous data on the two sons, and on others from VVIP families, but these are kept concealed from the public. Small wonder that the Mainos seek to ensure that the CBI and other investigative agencies be kept out of the (sadly weak) provisions of the Right to Information law. Charactertistically, Sonia, Nadia and Annoushcka ensure this through a trusted agent, in this case Home Minister Chidambaram, whose pre-occupation since 2008 has been to fill the agencies with loyalists. In the process, morale is hitting dangerously low levels, while errors such as bogus names in most wanted lists or outdated arrest warrants multiply.
Why is the opposition as silent as the media about the Maino clan? One reason may be the fact that several within this august group are themselves vulnerable to blackmail. A senior office-bearer of a prominent opposition party was recently linked to an individual jailed for his connection to undesirable elements located abroad. This individual recently became the proud owner of a Rs 30 crore apartment in Mumbai. Of course, he is hardly the only leader of that opposition party to have gained control over expensive flats in Mumbai during the past decade. There are many others, including those who travel near-exclusively by corporate jet, when a decade ago, they could not even afford airfare.
The Mainos know that Sabse Bada Rupaiya. Hence the attempted coup in Karnataka, which of course has been attributed to Governor HR Bharadwaj. That hapless individual is known to be faithful to whomsover is his boss, whether it be PV Narasimha Rao in the 1990s or Sonia Maino these days. To expect Bhardwaj to take a decision on his own would be to believe that he helped Quatrocchi escape because he liked the aftershave lotion used by the fixer from Milan. The fact is that the Governor of Kaenataka followed orders, and the reason why the command was given to bring down the BJP government in Karnataka was because the Congress leadership had been given information (by a top BJP office-bearer) that “60 per cent of the cash required for the operations of the party” were sourced from that state. It was to choke off this flow of funds that Bharadwaj was ordered to create a crisis, not once but repeatedly, until Presidents Rule could be imposed. That it was not was because—in a rare show of independence—Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refused to repeat his 2005 mistake of going along with Buta Singh in Bihar. In the Maino universe, it is all about money, and lots of it.
Fortunately, for them, the protective wall around them is too powerful for mere Indians to breach. The media are cowed and silent about their doings, while the agencies of the government ensure that the few who point out facts about the Ruling Family face the consequences of their effrontery. Until those within the government gain the courage to be free persons, casting off the shackles of fear, and until civil society demands that the powerful in India face the same level of transparency as do their US and UK counterparts, this sorry state of affairs will continue. The Election Commission will continue to bar ‘negative references’ during campaigning, and even the Supreme Court can be relied upon to decree that the people of India do not have the legal right to know even the religion of their leaders. Why blame the Mainos? The fault lies within the rest of us.
By M D Nalapat
THE external image of the Maino family, which runs the country that claims to be the world's biggest democracy, has been carefully and expensively cultivated. Interviews are bestowed only to those journalists who can be expected to lob softballs and to assist in the creation of the aura of saintliness and patriotism which suffuses each of the numerous official accounts of UPA chairperson Sonia Maino.
Space within the internet gets filled up with laudatory accounts, even while—mysteriously—snide references crop up in sites which feature the handful of individuals who challenge the Maino Myth. Union Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram is believed to be behind several of the numerous commands made to website administrators to expunge negative references to the individual whom Chidambaram expects will catapult him to the prime ministership. He has masterminded an internet control law that would make it legally possible for the central and state police agencies to send to prison almost any surfer of the world wide web. Surprisingly, Opposition in India has remained silent over this egregious assault on individual freedoms.
Whenever Sonia’s two sisters, or mother, or nephews and nieces or close personal friends such as the Quatrocchi clan come and go from India after visiting with The Madame, the media are kept far away. Indeed, so are the ordinary people of India, so complete is the security surrounding this privileged group. Their reliance on corporate jets goes unrecorded, as does the fact that exit and entry formalities are minimal, even for individuals who have no security clearance. The numerous foreign visits they make are conducted in secrecy, as is the guest list at the pricey locations where they are put up in by obliging ‘friends’. Not surprisingly, thus far there have been no photographs or news reports about any of the extended Maino clan, while items about Sonia Maino and her two children are almost always in terms that would bring a smile of approval to known admirers of the family, such as Sunil Khilnani or Amartya Sen. Those running media outlets know the baleful consequences of treating Sonia Maino the way the UK media treats David Cameron, or the US media sees Barack Obama. Such lack of teflon is reserved for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has far less sway over his ministers than political secretary to Congress president Ahmed Patel.
Lately, when Rahul Gandhi was informed by his entourage that a heap of cowdung was actually charred human remains, his find was breathlessly covered by the entire media, with a few outlets still reluctant to admit that a Maino could get facts so spectacularly wrong after it was shown that the claim was false. This columnist admits to sympathy for Rahul Gandhi, who may yet bloom into an effective leader. However, this can take place only if he escapes from the protective shadow of his mother and treats the people of India as people deserving of rights and respect, rather than see them the way his mother does, as a seething mass of people who need to be constantly kept under the control of the state. In the guise of ‘security constraints’, Sonia Maino has insulated herself from the very people who have given her entire family status.
Talk of a good horoscope, Sonia Maino has been protected by every Prime Minister of India from Indira Gandhi onwards. The fact that she and Rajiv kept away from the country during most of the 1975-77 Emergency endeared her to Morarji Desai, while Narasimha Rao saw to it that Ottavio Quatrocchi was enabled to escape from India with his secrets still intact. Later on, Manmohan Singh presided over a similar miscarriage of justice in Argentina. The two Law Ministers responsible for this have each been rewarded.
Indeed, it is the Ministry of Law that has become the most effective means of protecting the in-law. The CBI has to rely on the Law Officers of the Government of India for the pursuit of cases, and these usually report to shadowy individuals rather than go by the Constitution of India. During the Vajpayee period, it was National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and his Italian connection, while later on, that responsibility devolved on Ahmed Patel, whose nod is needed for most important posts to be filled. The reality in Maino Bharat Mahan is that the “Manmohan Singh Cabinet” is—thus far—an Ahmed Patel Cabinet, which explains the prominence within it of elements such as Vilasrao Deshmukh.
An examination of the travel records of the son of a former Maharashtra CM, will show frequent visits to Dubai, and some to London. Usually, another prominent son would accompany him, the two being business partners who in Mumbai discuss deals in the Oberoi Hotel. Dubai is of course the place where the operational headquarters of a particular conglomerate are located (the spiritual HQ being Karachi), and it is there that discussions can take place away from prying eyes. This conglomerate ‘owns’ two Union Cabinet Ministers and at least six from the cabinet of a large state, yet none of these individuals is ever the subject of an enquiry by agencies tasked with responsibility for the nation’s security. Indeed, at least two of the agencies of the state have voluminous data on the two sons, and on others from VVIP families, but these are kept concealed from the public. Small wonder that the Mainos seek to ensure that the CBI and other investigative agencies be kept out of the (sadly weak) provisions of the Right to Information law. Charactertistically, Sonia, Nadia and Annoushcka ensure this through a trusted agent, in this case Home Minister Chidambaram, whose pre-occupation since 2008 has been to fill the agencies with loyalists. In the process, morale is hitting dangerously low levels, while errors such as bogus names in most wanted lists or outdated arrest warrants multiply.
Why is the opposition as silent as the media about the Maino clan? One reason may be the fact that several within this august group are themselves vulnerable to blackmail. A senior office-bearer of a prominent opposition party was recently linked to an individual jailed for his connection to undesirable elements located abroad. This individual recently became the proud owner of a Rs 30 crore apartment in Mumbai. Of course, he is hardly the only leader of that opposition party to have gained control over expensive flats in Mumbai during the past decade. There are many others, including those who travel near-exclusively by corporate jet, when a decade ago, they could not even afford airfare.
The Mainos know that Sabse Bada Rupaiya. Hence the attempted coup in Karnataka, which of course has been attributed to Governor HR Bharadwaj. That hapless individual is known to be faithful to whomsover is his boss, whether it be PV Narasimha Rao in the 1990s or Sonia Maino these days. To expect Bhardwaj to take a decision on his own would be to believe that he helped Quatrocchi escape because he liked the aftershave lotion used by the fixer from Milan. The fact is that the Governor of Kaenataka followed orders, and the reason why the command was given to bring down the BJP government in Karnataka was because the Congress leadership had been given information (by a top BJP office-bearer) that “60 per cent of the cash required for the operations of the party” were sourced from that state. It was to choke off this flow of funds that Bharadwaj was ordered to create a crisis, not once but repeatedly, until Presidents Rule could be imposed. That it was not was because—in a rare show of independence—Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refused to repeat his 2005 mistake of going along with Buta Singh in Bihar. In the Maino universe, it is all about money, and lots of it.
Fortunately, for them, the protective wall around them is too powerful for mere Indians to breach. The media are cowed and silent about their doings, while the agencies of the government ensure that the few who point out facts about the Ruling Family face the consequences of their effrontery. Until those within the government gain the courage to be free persons, casting off the shackles of fear, and until civil society demands that the powerful in India face the same level of transparency as do their US and UK counterparts, this sorry state of affairs will continue. The Election Commission will continue to bar ‘negative references’ during campaigning, and even the Supreme Court can be relied upon to decree that the people of India do not have the legal right to know even the religion of their leaders. Why blame the Mainos? The fault lies within the rest of us.
IPS Bhatt’s notary on Teesta NGO’s payroll
(Courtesy:The Pioneer)
GUJARAT has hundreds of notaries, but when it comes to choosing one, controversial IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt settled for a man who has been notarising affidavits of social activist Teesta Setalvad in post-Godhra riot cases against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
On the face of it, there is nothing wrong in handpicking any notary. But inquiry by The Pioneer revealed that notary Sadikhusen R Sheikh was on the payroll of Teesta. From 2006 onwards, Sheikh was regularly paid Rs 7,500 per month salary from Teesta’s NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP).
The notaries are appointed by the Government and they charge a fee for notorising any document. However, it is very unusual that they received monthly payment from anyone. The disclosure is significant in the light of the fact that Teesta is facing a criminal inquiry for allegations of manipulating the affidavits of the riot witnesses.
The cheques to Sheikh were sent by Teesta from CJP bank account No. 01410000105705 of IDBI Bank branch at Dharni Nivas, Plot No. 77, RK Mission Marg, Khar (W), Bombay. Teesta also made payment to Sheikh from her other NGO’s account “Centre for Education”.
The payments were stopped for two months when Teesta removed her close associate Rais Khan as chief coordinator of the CJP in January 2008. Sources said Sheikh’s payment was stopped under suspicion that he was too close to Khan. But after two months, Sheikh’s payment resumed when he reportedly convinced Teesta that he shared no relationship with Khan.
Sheikh, who notarised the affidavit of Sanjiv Bhatt, IPS, on 14/04/2011 (Sr. No. 631/2011) in which the IPS officer said Modi wanted the Muslims to be taught a lesson, notarised several affidavits for Teesta.
Before 2006, all affidavits filed by Teesta were notarised by another notary, YA Sheikh.
Sadikhusen R Sheikh also notarised the affidavit filed by one Imtiyaz Khan Pathan on November 11, 2010 in the Supreme Court against Rais Khan. Imityaz Khan had sought stay on an order of metropolitan court, Ahmadabad, on a petition of Khan to examine him as witness in Nerula gram riot case. Khan had alleged that many witnesses did not know the contents of the affidavits sent to him by Teesta for notarising before these were filed in the courts.
GUJARAT has hundreds of notaries, but when it comes to choosing one, controversial IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt settled for a man who has been notarising affidavits of social activist Teesta Setalvad in post-Godhra riot cases against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
On the face of it, there is nothing wrong in handpicking any notary. But inquiry by The Pioneer revealed that notary Sadikhusen R Sheikh was on the payroll of Teesta. From 2006 onwards, Sheikh was regularly paid Rs 7,500 per month salary from Teesta’s NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP).
The notaries are appointed by the Government and they charge a fee for notorising any document. However, it is very unusual that they received monthly payment from anyone. The disclosure is significant in the light of the fact that Teesta is facing a criminal inquiry for allegations of manipulating the affidavits of the riot witnesses.
The cheques to Sheikh were sent by Teesta from CJP bank account No. 01410000105705 of IDBI Bank branch at Dharni Nivas, Plot No. 77, RK Mission Marg, Khar (W), Bombay. Teesta also made payment to Sheikh from her other NGO’s account “Centre for Education”.
The payments were stopped for two months when Teesta removed her close associate Rais Khan as chief coordinator of the CJP in January 2008. Sources said Sheikh’s payment was stopped under suspicion that he was too close to Khan. But after two months, Sheikh’s payment resumed when he reportedly convinced Teesta that he shared no relationship with Khan.
Sheikh, who notarised the affidavit of Sanjiv Bhatt, IPS, on 14/04/2011 (Sr. No. 631/2011) in which the IPS officer said Modi wanted the Muslims to be taught a lesson, notarised several affidavits for Teesta.
Before 2006, all affidavits filed by Teesta were notarised by another notary, YA Sheikh.
Sadikhusen R Sheikh also notarised the affidavit filed by one Imtiyaz Khan Pathan on November 11, 2010 in the Supreme Court against Rais Khan. Imityaz Khan had sought stay on an order of metropolitan court, Ahmadabad, on a petition of Khan to examine him as witness in Nerula gram riot case. Khan had alleged that many witnesses did not know the contents of the affidavits sent to him by Teesta for notarising before these were filed in the courts.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
New methods of incentivising proselytization
Cash prize for Hindus to throw photos of Hindu Gods
Extra money for wearing cross lockets
By R Guru Prasad
IT is said that marketing is an art of making people ‘buy’ without knowing ‘why’ and Christian missionaries are proving it right. Christian missionaries have adopted the latest marketing strategy to hood wink the gullible, poor, uneducated Hindus in Bangalore by offering cash prize for those who dump the photos of Hindu gods and replace with photos of Jesus in their houses. This is not enough. A bonus cash prize will be offered to those Hindus who wears cross symbol secretly! These are the samples revealed in the recent case study conducted by Dr M Chidanandamurthy, noted thinker, Philosopher, researcher, columnist and a social activist from Bangalore.
Dr M Chidanandamurthy unmasked the new avatar of Christian missionaries in his new findings and shared a few points with the media on March 19, 2011 and requested the Hindu youths to protest against an uncivilised way of converting Hindus by allurement of cash prizes. Murthy has exposed immoral acts of Christian missionaries, conversion agents, pro-Christian lobby and evangelists working overtime in Bangalore on a conversion spree. Murthy, however, not specified the exact amount of money given as a cash prize for those who throw Hindu gods and wear Christian symbol. Murthy mentioned that he came to know about this cunning act from his friend Ramachandra Upadhya who lives at Wilson Garden, Bangalore. Both Murthy and Upadhya went to Manjunathanagar locality near Marathhalli, 3-km away from Bangalore HAL old airport on March 15, 2011 and witnessed a shock of their life.
According to Murthy, conversion agents identify Hindu families who are financially weak and promise to provide them with cash prizes for displaying ‘some’ photos. After capitalising on their weakness, evangelists carry a sweet box and an attractive framed photo of Jesus and go to homes belonging to lower strata of the society along with a local conversion agent. By offering money on the spot, agents manage to include Jesus photo in the middle of Hindu gods. After few weeks the round two operation starts by releasing another installment money and influencing them to place the photo of Jesus on the top most lane above Hindu gods in a more visible manner. Again after few weeks, the conversion agents lands there with huge money and convince them to discard photos of Hindu gods and goddesses. Fearing to throw photos and idols of Hindu gods into dustbin, poor gullible Hindus place them in the premises of Vasuki Subramanya Temple, which is situated on the national Highway.
Conversion agents offering huge sums of money and manage to get photos, idols, stickers, symbols of Hindu gods removed from the Hindu homes is just the beginning for yet another round of cheating. They give additional money for embracing Christianity and displaying Christian symbols in their house. "It is a bargain and if converted Christian willing to wear a cross around his neck, will be entitled to claim a bonus which will be happily given to him by agents and will also earn incentive from foreign funds used by Christian Missionaries" Murthy explained in his letter. He has charged the conversion agents with ‘agenda to misuse the situation’. According to him agents play a major role during ill-health of Hindus and offer a free prayer meeting to get rid of diseases only to get them converted to Christianity with a bogus healing power of Jesus.
Murthy has given his address, contact number and the telephone number of his friend Upadhya and requested general public to inform them about illegal conversions anywhere in Karnataka to take appropriate action against the immoral acts. Ramachandra Upadhya is available on his mobile number: 09902400072 and Murthy can be contacted at 1013 B, 4th Cross, 11th Main, Hampinagara, Bangalore - 560040. Landline 080-23300687. To prevent further attack on the Hindu society he urged the Karnataka Government to legislate Anti-conversion law with immediate effect.
Extra money for wearing cross lockets
By R Guru Prasad
IT is said that marketing is an art of making people ‘buy’ without knowing ‘why’ and Christian missionaries are proving it right. Christian missionaries have adopted the latest marketing strategy to hood wink the gullible, poor, uneducated Hindus in Bangalore by offering cash prize for those who dump the photos of Hindu gods and replace with photos of Jesus in their houses. This is not enough. A bonus cash prize will be offered to those Hindus who wears cross symbol secretly! These are the samples revealed in the recent case study conducted by Dr M Chidanandamurthy, noted thinker, Philosopher, researcher, columnist and a social activist from Bangalore.
Dr M Chidanandamurthy unmasked the new avatar of Christian missionaries in his new findings and shared a few points with the media on March 19, 2011 and requested the Hindu youths to protest against an uncivilised way of converting Hindus by allurement of cash prizes. Murthy has exposed immoral acts of Christian missionaries, conversion agents, pro-Christian lobby and evangelists working overtime in Bangalore on a conversion spree. Murthy, however, not specified the exact amount of money given as a cash prize for those who throw Hindu gods and wear Christian symbol. Murthy mentioned that he came to know about this cunning act from his friend Ramachandra Upadhya who lives at Wilson Garden, Bangalore. Both Murthy and Upadhya went to Manjunathanagar locality near Marathhalli, 3-km away from Bangalore HAL old airport on March 15, 2011 and witnessed a shock of their life.
According to Murthy, conversion agents identify Hindu families who are financially weak and promise to provide them with cash prizes for displaying ‘some’ photos. After capitalising on their weakness, evangelists carry a sweet box and an attractive framed photo of Jesus and go to homes belonging to lower strata of the society along with a local conversion agent. By offering money on the spot, agents manage to include Jesus photo in the middle of Hindu gods. After few weeks the round two operation starts by releasing another installment money and influencing them to place the photo of Jesus on the top most lane above Hindu gods in a more visible manner. Again after few weeks, the conversion agents lands there with huge money and convince them to discard photos of Hindu gods and goddesses. Fearing to throw photos and idols of Hindu gods into dustbin, poor gullible Hindus place them in the premises of Vasuki Subramanya Temple, which is situated on the national Highway.
Conversion agents offering huge sums of money and manage to get photos, idols, stickers, symbols of Hindu gods removed from the Hindu homes is just the beginning for yet another round of cheating. They give additional money for embracing Christianity and displaying Christian symbols in their house. "It is a bargain and if converted Christian willing to wear a cross around his neck, will be entitled to claim a bonus which will be happily given to him by agents and will also earn incentive from foreign funds used by Christian Missionaries" Murthy explained in his letter. He has charged the conversion agents with ‘agenda to misuse the situation’. According to him agents play a major role during ill-health of Hindus and offer a free prayer meeting to get rid of diseases only to get them converted to Christianity with a bogus healing power of Jesus.
Murthy has given his address, contact number and the telephone number of his friend Upadhya and requested general public to inform them about illegal conversions anywhere in Karnataka to take appropriate action against the immoral acts. Ramachandra Upadhya is available on his mobile number: 09902400072 and Murthy can be contacted at 1013 B, 4th Cross, 11th Main, Hampinagara, Bangalore - 560040. Landline 080-23300687. To prevent further attack on the Hindu society he urged the Karnataka Government to legislate Anti-conversion law with immediate effect.
In the Muslim world the armies call the shots
By Dr Jay Dubashi
The Americans have their army all over the place, with perhaps the largest contingent in Saudi Arabia, from where the Americans get most of their oil. Which is also why the Americans spend two billion dollars, or about Rs. 10,000 crore, on the Egyptian armed forces every year, and also, of course, on the armed forces of Israel. The Americans spend more money on armed forces in the Middle East, including, of course, Iraq, than our entire expenditure on defence.
I have strong doubts about the so-called revolution that is supposed to be sweeping the Arab World, which means essentially the Muslim world. Revolution is a strong word and takes you back to what happened in France two hundred years ago and in America about the same time. Nothing of the kind seems to be happening in, say, Tripoli, where an old-time tyrant is facing the all-suffering citizenry, and where his army is the only organised force protecting him.
We had more or less the reverse of what is happening in Libya, earlier in Egypt and before that, in Tunisia, where it all began. There it was the army which had refused to side with the ruler, and forced him to resign. In all the three cases, the so-called revolution was triggered not by Face book, but by the army, whatever the westerners might say. Ultimately, it is the army that matters, for it is the only really organised force in those countries and therefore sets the pace for "revolutionary" changes.
In all Muslim countries, the local dictators are under the thumb of their armies, and while dictators come and go, the armies call the shots. Pakistan is a very good example of how an army rules a country. I have always believed that Pakistan is not a country at all - in fact, it does not exist except on paper, and of course, on the maps. The only thing that works in Pakistan is its army. Take away the army and the country, or the so-called country, will cease to exist and vanish even from the maps. Presidents - so-called presidents - may come and go, dictators may come and go, but the army remains. But for the army, there would be no Kashmir problem, in fact, no problem at all of any kind with Pakistan, and we should rest in peace.
This is true of all Muslim countries, from Tunisia to the west to Indonesia in the east. These countries have oil, and often the only thing they have is oil. But even more than oil, what matters is the army, which is why all their dictators come from the army, or armed forces, and rule the country, though the real ruler is the army, and the man rules on behalf of the army.
Which is why, the Americans have their army all over the place, with perhaps the largest contingent in Saudi Arabia, from where the Americans get most of their oil. Which is also why the Americans spend two billion dollars, or about Rs. 10,000 crore, on the Egyptian armed forces every year, and also, of course, on the armed forces of Israel. The Americans spend more money on armed forces in the Middle East, including, of course, Iraq, than our entire expenditure on defence. The Westerners have always looked at the Middle East through the prism of armed defence in an uncertain world. For them, Face books and Twitters are frivolities indulged in by the cybernetic world of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, a wonderful world to write about but totally worthless when you come to brass tacks.
Which is why, as I said at the start, I have strong doubts about this so-called revolution in the Arab World. In Egypt, only a few hundred people died - maybe not even a hundred - because the whole show was scripted by the Egyptian army behind the back of Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak had proposed, or was about to propose, his son, Gamal, to succeed him and was said to be grooming him for the job. The army didn’t like this as Gamal had no military background and had never tried to get close to the military.
The army is supposed to have warned Mubarak about this several times but the man apparently took no notice. The crowds in Tahrir Square, never more than 50,000 according to some observers, were apparently manipulated by the security forces, though there is no tangible evidence about this. The fact remains that it was a peaceful show, except on occasions when the army suspected that the leaders of the so-called uprising were getting too big for their boots and had to be told to fall in line. Within hours of Mubarak’s resignation, the crowds disappeared, as if on cue, though Mubarak himself was still very much in Egypt, under the strict supervision of the army, and more or less its prisoner. It was the army that won in Egypt, and it is the army that is still calling the shots, and will probably do so until the next elections.
Things are a little different in Libya, which, unlike Egypt, is headed by a mad man, who also controls the army and whose stake in power in more precious to him than, say, that of Mubarak. Mubarak was head of the airforce when he took over, and was the choice of Anwar Sadat, the incumbent President at the time. This is not the case with Muammar Gadaffi, a self-designated illiterate colonel in the army, who was no more than a corporal when he took over. He was never really accepted by the army as its boss, which means he has been at odds with it right from the start.
This explains why Gadaffi is now engaged in a civil war, which means he is fighting his own people. Nobody trusts anyone-the king does not trust his government, the dictator does not trust his commander-in-chief, brother does not trust brother, and husband does not trust wife. So they all kill or try to kill, each other, as Aurangzeb did. The man slaughtered his brothers and their sons, and imprisoned his father. Had the people of Delhi risen against him, he would have killed them too. Murders, massacres and holocausts are an ancient tradition in the Islamic world. Perhaps, this is something they have inherited from Taimur and Genghis Khan and is now so much an integral part of their DNA that it comes to them naturally. It is not an accident of history that a man like Mohammed Ali Jinnah was the instigator of mass slaughter of Hindus before partition, though, for almost throughout his previous political career, those who knew him never had an inkling of this murderous side of his character.
Gadaffi may or may not remain in one piece when the smoke has cleared in Tripoli and the guns have fallen silent. It all depends on the Libyan army, if indeed there is an army. In Islamic countries, only the armies matter and everything else - constitutions, courts of justice, human rights etc-are mere scraps of paper. The French have a saying: when there is a problem, look for the woman. The Muslim have a saying too: look for the army. In the Muslim world, nothing matters more than naked force. Which is why, since force begets force, the Muslim world is never at peace with itself, nor with the world.
The Americans have their army all over the place, with perhaps the largest contingent in Saudi Arabia, from where the Americans get most of their oil. Which is also why the Americans spend two billion dollars, or about Rs. 10,000 crore, on the Egyptian armed forces every year, and also, of course, on the armed forces of Israel. The Americans spend more money on armed forces in the Middle East, including, of course, Iraq, than our entire expenditure on defence.
I have strong doubts about the so-called revolution that is supposed to be sweeping the Arab World, which means essentially the Muslim world. Revolution is a strong word and takes you back to what happened in France two hundred years ago and in America about the same time. Nothing of the kind seems to be happening in, say, Tripoli, where an old-time tyrant is facing the all-suffering citizenry, and where his army is the only organised force protecting him.
We had more or less the reverse of what is happening in Libya, earlier in Egypt and before that, in Tunisia, where it all began. There it was the army which had refused to side with the ruler, and forced him to resign. In all the three cases, the so-called revolution was triggered not by Face book, but by the army, whatever the westerners might say. Ultimately, it is the army that matters, for it is the only really organised force in those countries and therefore sets the pace for "revolutionary" changes.
In all Muslim countries, the local dictators are under the thumb of their armies, and while dictators come and go, the armies call the shots. Pakistan is a very good example of how an army rules a country. I have always believed that Pakistan is not a country at all - in fact, it does not exist except on paper, and of course, on the maps. The only thing that works in Pakistan is its army. Take away the army and the country, or the so-called country, will cease to exist and vanish even from the maps. Presidents - so-called presidents - may come and go, dictators may come and go, but the army remains. But for the army, there would be no Kashmir problem, in fact, no problem at all of any kind with Pakistan, and we should rest in peace.
This is true of all Muslim countries, from Tunisia to the west to Indonesia in the east. These countries have oil, and often the only thing they have is oil. But even more than oil, what matters is the army, which is why all their dictators come from the army, or armed forces, and rule the country, though the real ruler is the army, and the man rules on behalf of the army.
Which is why, the Americans have their army all over the place, with perhaps the largest contingent in Saudi Arabia, from where the Americans get most of their oil. Which is also why the Americans spend two billion dollars, or about Rs. 10,000 crore, on the Egyptian armed forces every year, and also, of course, on the armed forces of Israel. The Americans spend more money on armed forces in the Middle East, including, of course, Iraq, than our entire expenditure on defence. The Westerners have always looked at the Middle East through the prism of armed defence in an uncertain world. For them, Face books and Twitters are frivolities indulged in by the cybernetic world of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, a wonderful world to write about but totally worthless when you come to brass tacks.
Which is why, as I said at the start, I have strong doubts about this so-called revolution in the Arab World. In Egypt, only a few hundred people died - maybe not even a hundred - because the whole show was scripted by the Egyptian army behind the back of Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak had proposed, or was about to propose, his son, Gamal, to succeed him and was said to be grooming him for the job. The army didn’t like this as Gamal had no military background and had never tried to get close to the military.
The army is supposed to have warned Mubarak about this several times but the man apparently took no notice. The crowds in Tahrir Square, never more than 50,000 according to some observers, were apparently manipulated by the security forces, though there is no tangible evidence about this. The fact remains that it was a peaceful show, except on occasions when the army suspected that the leaders of the so-called uprising were getting too big for their boots and had to be told to fall in line. Within hours of Mubarak’s resignation, the crowds disappeared, as if on cue, though Mubarak himself was still very much in Egypt, under the strict supervision of the army, and more or less its prisoner. It was the army that won in Egypt, and it is the army that is still calling the shots, and will probably do so until the next elections.
Things are a little different in Libya, which, unlike Egypt, is headed by a mad man, who also controls the army and whose stake in power in more precious to him than, say, that of Mubarak. Mubarak was head of the airforce when he took over, and was the choice of Anwar Sadat, the incumbent President at the time. This is not the case with Muammar Gadaffi, a self-designated illiterate colonel in the army, who was no more than a corporal when he took over. He was never really accepted by the army as its boss, which means he has been at odds with it right from the start.
This explains why Gadaffi is now engaged in a civil war, which means he is fighting his own people. Nobody trusts anyone-the king does not trust his government, the dictator does not trust his commander-in-chief, brother does not trust brother, and husband does not trust wife. So they all kill or try to kill, each other, as Aurangzeb did. The man slaughtered his brothers and their sons, and imprisoned his father. Had the people of Delhi risen against him, he would have killed them too. Murders, massacres and holocausts are an ancient tradition in the Islamic world. Perhaps, this is something they have inherited from Taimur and Genghis Khan and is now so much an integral part of their DNA that it comes to them naturally. It is not an accident of history that a man like Mohammed Ali Jinnah was the instigator of mass slaughter of Hindus before partition, though, for almost throughout his previous political career, those who knew him never had an inkling of this murderous side of his character.
Gadaffi may or may not remain in one piece when the smoke has cleared in Tripoli and the guns have fallen silent. It all depends on the Libyan army, if indeed there is an army. In Islamic countries, only the armies matter and everything else - constitutions, courts of justice, human rights etc-are mere scraps of paper. The French have a saying: when there is a problem, look for the woman. The Muslim have a saying too: look for the army. In the Muslim world, nothing matters more than naked force. Which is why, since force begets force, the Muslim world is never at peace with itself, nor with the world.
Gita is the source of all existing religions
Islam akin many ways to Sanatan Dharma, says noted Muslim Sanskrit Scholar
SEVERAL principles laid down in Gita and Koran, both the sacred books are surprisingly similar, noted Sanskrit scholar Dr Mohd Hanif Khan Shastri has said.
Dr Khan, a devout Muslim who teaches at the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, a deemed university under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, was delivering a talk on ‘Gita, Koran and Civilisational Harmony’ organised by the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH-INDIA), in collaboration with Vivekananda International Foundation on the eve of Holi on March 19, 2011 in New Delhi.
Maintaining that Gita held the key to entire Indian philosophy and ancient religious discourse, Dr Khan said the sacred book can be hailed as a source for all the existing religions in the world.
Dr Khan also recited extensively from his poetry collection in Hindi ‘Mohan Gita’ which has 700 poems based on 700 shlokas from the ancient Indian scripture. The book is under publication and will soon be available in the market.
"The extract of all the existing religions of the world has been accommodated in this small book (Gita) but still 90 per cent of people cannot read it. The messages of Gita are followed in all the religions in one way or the other," said Dr Khan.
Asserting that Islam was no different from Sanatana Dharma, he pointed out that while Koran highlighted the importance of ‘Roza’ or fasting in leading a pious and virtuous life, the Gita in the Shlokas 59-62 of Part 2 elaborated the way and importance of Vrat (religious fasting). In Patanjali’s Yoga Darshan the importance and process of Namaz or offering prayers to the Almighty has been thoroughly elaborated. "While Koran emphasised on the importance of Namaz, the Gita in Chapter eight explained the spirit in which it is to be done, Dr Khan said, adding that all the religions were similar in their basic philosophy and guideline for leading a better life with harmony.
"What is Panchkarma (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aprigraha and Brahmacharya) in Jain, Buddhist and Yam in Hindu tradition is Hukukul Ibaad or Hukukul Naass (The right of humans) in Koran. And the five Niyam (Shauch, Santosh, Tap etc) are Hukukul Allah (the rights of the God) in Islam," argued Khan.
Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Head Priest at the Delhi Jewish Synagogue, and founder patron of GFCH India said all religions taught good principles to enable human beings to lead a peaceful and harmonious life. "We must understand the principles of coexistence and harmony. One can not reform the society by speeches alone. We have to practice good things and attract the others to follow. This is the only way to reform the society particularly youngsters who are increasingly being driven by materialistic western philosophy,".
Industrialist and philanthropist Puneet Dalmia highlighted the need to instill pride for our culture among the youth. He expressed satisfaction that that such events were being organised to maintain civilisational harmony when the entire world was suffering from greed, violence, terrorism etc.
KG Suresh, Director of GFCH (INDIA), said the organisation, which is a partner organisation of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilisation, worked towards removing misconceptions about each other among followers of different faiths. Like its effort to highlight the service aspect of Hindu spiritual organisations, GFCH India now planned to organize in Delhi a fair entitled ‘Islam in the Service of Mother India’, he said.
VIF Secretary Mukul Kanitkar said it was easier to find differences and disparities but essential to highlight the commonalities so as to bring about better understanding and civilizational harmony.(FOC)
SEVERAL principles laid down in Gita and Koran, both the sacred books are surprisingly similar, noted Sanskrit scholar Dr Mohd Hanif Khan Shastri has said.
Dr Khan, a devout Muslim who teaches at the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, a deemed university under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, was delivering a talk on ‘Gita, Koran and Civilisational Harmony’ organised by the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH-INDIA), in collaboration with Vivekananda International Foundation on the eve of Holi on March 19, 2011 in New Delhi.
Maintaining that Gita held the key to entire Indian philosophy and ancient religious discourse, Dr Khan said the sacred book can be hailed as a source for all the existing religions in the world.
Dr Khan also recited extensively from his poetry collection in Hindi ‘Mohan Gita’ which has 700 poems based on 700 shlokas from the ancient Indian scripture. The book is under publication and will soon be available in the market.
"The extract of all the existing religions of the world has been accommodated in this small book (Gita) but still 90 per cent of people cannot read it. The messages of Gita are followed in all the religions in one way or the other," said Dr Khan.
Asserting that Islam was no different from Sanatana Dharma, he pointed out that while Koran highlighted the importance of ‘Roza’ or fasting in leading a pious and virtuous life, the Gita in the Shlokas 59-62 of Part 2 elaborated the way and importance of Vrat (religious fasting). In Patanjali’s Yoga Darshan the importance and process of Namaz or offering prayers to the Almighty has been thoroughly elaborated. "While Koran emphasised on the importance of Namaz, the Gita in Chapter eight explained the spirit in which it is to be done, Dr Khan said, adding that all the religions were similar in their basic philosophy and guideline for leading a better life with harmony.
"What is Panchkarma (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aprigraha and Brahmacharya) in Jain, Buddhist and Yam in Hindu tradition is Hukukul Ibaad or Hukukul Naass (The right of humans) in Koran. And the five Niyam (Shauch, Santosh, Tap etc) are Hukukul Allah (the rights of the God) in Islam," argued Khan.
Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Head Priest at the Delhi Jewish Synagogue, and founder patron of GFCH India said all religions taught good principles to enable human beings to lead a peaceful and harmonious life. "We must understand the principles of coexistence and harmony. One can not reform the society by speeches alone. We have to practice good things and attract the others to follow. This is the only way to reform the society particularly youngsters who are increasingly being driven by materialistic western philosophy,".
Industrialist and philanthropist Puneet Dalmia highlighted the need to instill pride for our culture among the youth. He expressed satisfaction that that such events were being organised to maintain civilisational harmony when the entire world was suffering from greed, violence, terrorism etc.
KG Suresh, Director of GFCH (INDIA), said the organisation, which is a partner organisation of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilisation, worked towards removing misconceptions about each other among followers of different faiths. Like its effort to highlight the service aspect of Hindu spiritual organisations, GFCH India now planned to organize in Delhi a fair entitled ‘Islam in the Service of Mother India’, he said.
VIF Secretary Mukul Kanitkar said it was easier to find differences and disparities but essential to highlight the commonalities so as to bring about better understanding and civilizational harmony.(FOC)
A story in the backdrop of Kerala's 1957 Communist government
Litanies of Dutch Battery, N.S. Madhavan, Penguin Books India, Pp 312 (PB), Rs 350.00
THIS is a historical-political novel set against the story of a newly independent India and the Communist Party forming the government in Kerala. Narrated by Edwina Theresa Irene Maria Anne Margarita Jessica in first person, this is a captivating novel though at times the political and historical details tend to mar the narrative. This young Catholic girl takes birth at Dutch Battery, hearing the last sound in her Amma’s belly of Tata Company’s 5 o’clock siren. "The sound of the siren tapering into a whimper lingered a little longer in the water in which I lived."
As she grows up, "she finds that in her life outside, these sirens would break up my days into dusk and dawn." Days pass and she becomes heir to stories carried over by the wind and the sea which surround her environment and her life.
She passes her childhood pestering her Amma to tell stories of the movies she has seen. When she becomes six-year old, she is sent to school, much to her Amma’s sorrow. In 1965, she passes her exams to enter the tenth grade, while she dispassionately continues to watch the victories, failures and redemption of the other islanders. Her life is connected to the lives of other ‘bridgeless’ islands, disconnected from the mainland every night with the departure of the last ferry boat.
Jessica narrates the story of the inhabitants of the Malabar coast, beginning from the ancient times to the present - from its caste-ridden Hindu past to the advent of Arab traders who bring Islam and construct mosques to dot the island. She talks of the second influx of foreigners comprising the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, who build churches of their own. She also tells the tale of India’s independence, about Nehru and Hindi films and songs sung by Kundan Lal Saigal.
Soon she finds herself caught in a current of events in which she has no say. Amma engages Pushpangadam Master to teach mathematics to her. While teaching her, the master tries to get familiar with her but Sarika spurns his attention. She announces to all who would listen to her that the master has misbehaved with her. She even visits the church to admit her so-called sin to the priest.
One day a suicide note is found. It has been written by the master saying he was going to commit suicide. After his death, the villagers begin to praise him and shun Jessica. The days that follow now are the loneliest for her. "One by one people deserted me...sound became scarce in our house." Her Appan would get up early in the morning and leave for the boatyard at the Western River where he works as a carpenter and return late at night. "Amma, almost every time, banged plates on the table to let me know that my food was served."
So frustrated is she that she decides to commit suicide and tells this to Appuppan, who advises her to go mad instead. "To go mad is a conscious decision. Insanity doesn’t catch you like fever and cold. You have to will it. It is an alternative to taking one’s life and requires just as much strength of mind."
She takes to the latter course and is taken to hospital to be given electric shocks. A gripping narrative
THIS is a historical-political novel set against the story of a newly independent India and the Communist Party forming the government in Kerala. Narrated by Edwina Theresa Irene Maria Anne Margarita Jessica in first person, this is a captivating novel though at times the political and historical details tend to mar the narrative. This young Catholic girl takes birth at Dutch Battery, hearing the last sound in her Amma’s belly of Tata Company’s 5 o’clock siren. "The sound of the siren tapering into a whimper lingered a little longer in the water in which I lived."
As she grows up, "she finds that in her life outside, these sirens would break up my days into dusk and dawn." Days pass and she becomes heir to stories carried over by the wind and the sea which surround her environment and her life.
She passes her childhood pestering her Amma to tell stories of the movies she has seen. When she becomes six-year old, she is sent to school, much to her Amma’s sorrow. In 1965, she passes her exams to enter the tenth grade, while she dispassionately continues to watch the victories, failures and redemption of the other islanders. Her life is connected to the lives of other ‘bridgeless’ islands, disconnected from the mainland every night with the departure of the last ferry boat.
Jessica narrates the story of the inhabitants of the Malabar coast, beginning from the ancient times to the present - from its caste-ridden Hindu past to the advent of Arab traders who bring Islam and construct mosques to dot the island. She talks of the second influx of foreigners comprising the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, who build churches of their own. She also tells the tale of India’s independence, about Nehru and Hindi films and songs sung by Kundan Lal Saigal.
Soon she finds herself caught in a current of events in which she has no say. Amma engages Pushpangadam Master to teach mathematics to her. While teaching her, the master tries to get familiar with her but Sarika spurns his attention. She announces to all who would listen to her that the master has misbehaved with her. She even visits the church to admit her so-called sin to the priest.
One day a suicide note is found. It has been written by the master saying he was going to commit suicide. After his death, the villagers begin to praise him and shun Jessica. The days that follow now are the loneliest for her. "One by one people deserted me...sound became scarce in our house." Her Appan would get up early in the morning and leave for the boatyard at the Western River where he works as a carpenter and return late at night. "Amma, almost every time, banged plates on the table to let me know that my food was served."
So frustrated is she that she decides to commit suicide and tells this to Appuppan, who advises her to go mad instead. "To go mad is a conscious decision. Insanity doesn’t catch you like fever and cold. You have to will it. It is an alternative to taking one’s life and requires just as much strength of mind."
She takes to the latter course and is taken to hospital to be given electric shocks. A gripping narrative
Arriving as pregnant tourists, leaving with American babies
By Jennifer Medina
SAN GABRIEL, Calif.: The building inspectors and police officers walked into the small row of connected town houses here knowing something was amiss. Neighbours had complained about noise and a lot of pregnant women coming and going. And when they went into a kitchen they saw a row of clear bassinets holding several infants, with a woman acting as a nurse hovering over them.
A diaper box outside houses in San Gabriel, Calif., where officials say Chinese women stayed to have their babies born as citizens.
For months, officials say, the house was home to "maternity tourists," in this case, women from China who had paid tens of thousands of dollars to deliver their babies in the United States, making the infants automatic American citizens. Officials shut down the home, sending the 10 mothers who had been living there with their babies to nearby motels.
"These were not women living in squalor - it was a well taken care of place and clean, but there were a lot of women," said Clayton Anderson, a city inspector who shut down the house on March 9. "I have never seen anything like this before. We really couldn’t determine the exact number of people living there."
For the last year, the debate over birthright citizenship has raged across the country, with some political leaders calling for an end to the 14th Amendment, which gives automatic citizenship to any baby born in the United States. Much of the debate has focused on immigrants entering illegally from poor countries in Latin America. But in this case the women were not only relatively wealthy, but also here legally on tourist visas. Most of them, officials say, have already returned to China with their American babies.
Businesses in China, Mexico and South Korea advertise packages that arrange for doctors, insurance and postpartum care. And the Marmara, a Turkish-owned hotel on the Upper East Side in New York City, has advertised monthlong "baby stays" that come with a stroller.
For the most part, though, the practice has involved individuals. The discovery of the large-scale facility here in the San Gabriel foothills raises questions about whether it was a rare phenomenon or an indication that maternity tourism is entering a new, more institutionalised phase with more hospital-like facilities operating quietly around the country.
Signs of a makeshift maternity houses were evident everywhere. In one kitchen, stacks of pictures showing a mother holding her days-old baby sat next to several cans of formula. In another, boxes of prenatal vitamins were tucked into rice cookers. Several bedroom doors had numbers on them. Some rooms were rather luxurious - B9, for instance, had a large walk-in closet, a whirlpool and a small personal refrigerator.
The Center for Health Care Statistics estimates that there were 7,462 births to foreign residents in the United States in 2008, the most recent year for which statistics are available. That is a small fraction of the roughly 4.3 million total births that year.
Immigration experts say they can only guess why well-to-do Chinese women are so eager to get United States passports for their babies, but they suspect it is largely as a kind of insurance policy should they need to move.
Angela Maria Kelley, the vice president for immigration policy and advocacy at the Center for American Progress, a liberal-leaning research group, said the existence of businesses helping foreign women give birth in the United States had only just begun to enter the public consciousness.
(http://www.nytimes.com)
SAN GABRIEL, Calif.: The building inspectors and police officers walked into the small row of connected town houses here knowing something was amiss. Neighbours had complained about noise and a lot of pregnant women coming and going. And when they went into a kitchen they saw a row of clear bassinets holding several infants, with a woman acting as a nurse hovering over them.
A diaper box outside houses in San Gabriel, Calif., where officials say Chinese women stayed to have their babies born as citizens.
For months, officials say, the house was home to "maternity tourists," in this case, women from China who had paid tens of thousands of dollars to deliver their babies in the United States, making the infants automatic American citizens. Officials shut down the home, sending the 10 mothers who had been living there with their babies to nearby motels.
"These were not women living in squalor - it was a well taken care of place and clean, but there were a lot of women," said Clayton Anderson, a city inspector who shut down the house on March 9. "I have never seen anything like this before. We really couldn’t determine the exact number of people living there."
For the last year, the debate over birthright citizenship has raged across the country, with some political leaders calling for an end to the 14th Amendment, which gives automatic citizenship to any baby born in the United States. Much of the debate has focused on immigrants entering illegally from poor countries in Latin America. But in this case the women were not only relatively wealthy, but also here legally on tourist visas. Most of them, officials say, have already returned to China with their American babies.
Businesses in China, Mexico and South Korea advertise packages that arrange for doctors, insurance and postpartum care. And the Marmara, a Turkish-owned hotel on the Upper East Side in New York City, has advertised monthlong "baby stays" that come with a stroller.
For the most part, though, the practice has involved individuals. The discovery of the large-scale facility here in the San Gabriel foothills raises questions about whether it was a rare phenomenon or an indication that maternity tourism is entering a new, more institutionalised phase with more hospital-like facilities operating quietly around the country.
Signs of a makeshift maternity houses were evident everywhere. In one kitchen, stacks of pictures showing a mother holding her days-old baby sat next to several cans of formula. In another, boxes of prenatal vitamins were tucked into rice cookers. Several bedroom doors had numbers on them. Some rooms were rather luxurious - B9, for instance, had a large walk-in closet, a whirlpool and a small personal refrigerator.
The Center for Health Care Statistics estimates that there were 7,462 births to foreign residents in the United States in 2008, the most recent year for which statistics are available. That is a small fraction of the roughly 4.3 million total births that year.
Immigration experts say they can only guess why well-to-do Chinese women are so eager to get United States passports for their babies, but they suspect it is largely as a kind of insurance policy should they need to move.
Angela Maria Kelley, the vice president for immigration policy and advocacy at the Center for American Progress, a liberal-leaning research group, said the existence of businesses helping foreign women give birth in the United States had only just begun to enter the public consciousness.
(http://www.nytimes.com)
Bihar leading the way
By Shivaji Sarkar
BIHAR, not so long ago supposed to be a laggard, most uninnovative, lacking will to take a new initiative, may become leader in setting new trends in agriculture and create food safety for the country that Centre has failed to do.
Two developments are taking place. The people of Bihar as seen in the Nalanda district are breaking away from the past by growing new kinds of crops. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken up the cause of farmers in opposing the Seeds Bill as tabled in Parliament.
Another event that has not caused much stir is the visit of Microsoft chief Bill Gates, now heading his Philanthropic Foundation with his wife and foundation co-chair Melinda to the state. They announced to partner with the state in agriculture sector. The foundation has invested $ 80 million worth partnership to the state in health sector during his last visit to Bihar in May last year.
Endowed with good soil, adequate rainfall and good ground water availability Bihar has now realised its agricultural potential. Its agricultural productivity is one of the lowest in the country, leading to rural poverty, low nutrition and migration of labour.
The change in political culture and improvement in law and order situation has started reversing the process of migration of skilled farm labourers, who have turned Punjab and Haryana into granary of the country.
Nitish Kumar believes that the hungry bowl of Bihar would turn into the bread basket of the country. He feels the Seeds Bill as drafted now is too favourable to the multi-national genetically modified seed producers and "is brazenly anti-farmer". He has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar asserting that the bill in its present form would lead to unrestricted commercialisation of varieties in public domain. It would make seeds expensive with doubtful qualities.
He advocating the cause of public sector says their seeds are affordable and scientists take keen interest in interacting with the farmers to improve the seed quality and farm output. "The cost of private sector seeds runs into hundreds or several thousands rupees in case of hybrid seeds while public sector seeds are affordable".
He took up the cause with Bill Gates who visited some Bihar villages and met farmers. "The foundation has shown interest in seed improvement in agriculture sector," Nitish Kumar says.
This new road map is aimed at triggering processes of development in agriculture and allied sectors.
The state is trying to revolutionise the farm sector by creating self-help groups (SHG), many being led by women. Nalanda has emerged as the pioneer. The district administration and the Agriculture Ministry have also come forward to help farmers in finding the markets for their produce.
BIHAR, not so long ago supposed to be a laggard, most uninnovative, lacking will to take a new initiative, may become leader in setting new trends in agriculture and create food safety for the country that Centre has failed to do.
Two developments are taking place. The people of Bihar as seen in the Nalanda district are breaking away from the past by growing new kinds of crops. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken up the cause of farmers in opposing the Seeds Bill as tabled in Parliament.
Another event that has not caused much stir is the visit of Microsoft chief Bill Gates, now heading his Philanthropic Foundation with his wife and foundation co-chair Melinda to the state. They announced to partner with the state in agriculture sector. The foundation has invested $ 80 million worth partnership to the state in health sector during his last visit to Bihar in May last year.
Endowed with good soil, adequate rainfall and good ground water availability Bihar has now realised its agricultural potential. Its agricultural productivity is one of the lowest in the country, leading to rural poverty, low nutrition and migration of labour.
The change in political culture and improvement in law and order situation has started reversing the process of migration of skilled farm labourers, who have turned Punjab and Haryana into granary of the country.
Nitish Kumar believes that the hungry bowl of Bihar would turn into the bread basket of the country. He feels the Seeds Bill as drafted now is too favourable to the multi-national genetically modified seed producers and "is brazenly anti-farmer". He has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar asserting that the bill in its present form would lead to unrestricted commercialisation of varieties in public domain. It would make seeds expensive with doubtful qualities.
He advocating the cause of public sector says their seeds are affordable and scientists take keen interest in interacting with the farmers to improve the seed quality and farm output. "The cost of private sector seeds runs into hundreds or several thousands rupees in case of hybrid seeds while public sector seeds are affordable".
He took up the cause with Bill Gates who visited some Bihar villages and met farmers. "The foundation has shown interest in seed improvement in agriculture sector," Nitish Kumar says.
This new road map is aimed at triggering processes of development in agriculture and allied sectors.
The state is trying to revolutionise the farm sector by creating self-help groups (SHG), many being led by women. Nalanda has emerged as the pioneer. The district administration and the Agriculture Ministry have also come forward to help farmers in finding the markets for their produce.
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