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Approved-By:  Uma Ramamurthy <uma@ORION.STJUDE.ORG>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.india-d
Date:         Mon, 25 Jan 1993 19:46:31 -0600
From:         Uma Ramamurthy <uma@orion.stjude.org>
Subject:      India-D Digest - Jan 25

India Interest Group Digest Mon, 25 Jan 93       Volume 2: Issue  84

Today's Topics:

      60 Min./Dowry Story
      Ashuddha travels faster then the speed of light!
      Boycott of R-Day celebrations ?
      Didn't Nehru oppose linguistic division of States ?
      Gangsters!!
      India Map
      India needs no dictators
      Konkanis - GSB
      Language And Religion Issue - Reply To Mr. Deivan Durai
      Language Debate - Part 5 of 6
      Most racist race
      On secularism & Future of India - Part 2/4
      Problems facing India
      Reply to Cliffs query on South/North music
      Responses ....
      SUBCO...JEOPARDY: HOST KamalX Trebek
      Telephone rates to India
      Tell me ...
      TOKTEN and INRIST programs of UNDP and Govt of India
      Truth and Living it
      Wake-up India-D, Bombay riots

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Date: 24 Jan 1993 21:56:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: "A.A. SIDDIQUI" <siddiqui@uwovax.uwo.ca>
Subject: 60 Min./Dowry Story

Just finished watching a 60 minutes (CBS) story on dowry related deaths
in India.  Well! to put it bluntly, I felt disgusted and thought that
perhaps our preoccupation with religious, regional, linguistic and
political conflicts is to be blamed for not even talking about this
social evil on the newsgroup.  Wouldn't it be wiser if we discuss this
outrageous practice and educate people on this subject instead of
undermining each others religions.

Mahatma Gandhi once said that,"any man who makes dowry a condition
for marriage discredits his education and his country and dishonours
womanhood.  Young man who soil their fingers with such ill-gotten
greed should be excommunicated from society".  Although many Indians
concede that dowry is an awful custom because it can lead to
impoverishment, indignity and in too many cases to violence, anguish,
grief and murder it still continues to flourish unchecked. Why? In my
opinion, primarily because it has been an integral component of our
social and religious heritage for centuries.  Bigger dowry means
family pride and higher social position.  This tradition is unlikely
to change in the near future because a large number of people want
to preserve it or can envision no way out of it.  But we the educated
and perhaps civilized bunch should do something about it.  May be refuse
to accept and give dowry?  How about a full page advert in Indian Express
or Hindustan Times deploring this practice?

Sincerely,
Dr. Afzal A. Siddiqui

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 13:48 -0800 (PST)
From: gna@vardhan.intel.com
Subject: Ashuddha travels faster then the speed of light!

Hi

A funny story told by my father again and again illustrtaing the snobbery
of the people who think they are upper caste because they are born so!!

The speed in which Ashuddha (Maili(ge)- Hindi(Kannada)) travels is faster
then the speed of light. To illustrate this let us conduct an experiment.
A holy priest has just had his holy dip in Ganga and is adorned in a
silk dhothi. However a single thread of cotton (Cotton is a very good
conductor of Ashuddha!! like metal is of electricity!) is stretched all
the way from the Sun to this priest. A person who has not taken a bath is
standing on the Sun. The moment he touches the Cotton thread this priest
becomes Ashuddha!! Whereas it is a known fact that light takes somthing
like 8 minutes to travel whilest Ashuddha is next instance! Manovega
(Thought Speed) we call it. Thus we have conclusively established that the
speed of Ashuddha is faster then the speed of light.

This story is a extract from TP Kailasam's (Karnataka's poetic/literary/
dramatic genius!) collections.

"Your work and only work will determin your caste not the biological
connections" -- Koodal Sangama Deva.

ananda

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 14:22:18 -0800 (PST)
From: sparikh@ucrengr.ucr.edu (saurabh parikh)
Subject: Boycott of R-Day celebrations ?

I just read in the NEWS digest that, "BABRI MASJID COMMITTEE CALLS FOR
BOYCOTT OF R-DAY CELEBRATIONS".

Can anybody explain me (on the net) that how can one "true Indian" ask
his "fellow Indians" to boycott REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS.

Any "BRIGHT" ideas ??

SAURABH PARIKH

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 12:33:43 -0500 (EST)
From: soumya@paul.rutgers.edu (Soumya V. Chakraborty)
Subject: Didn't Nehru oppose linguistic division of States ?

I fully agree with Mr. L Ramsundar that we Indians should stop
bragging over our local origins. But, I have a small doubt
regarding one of his comments - it said that Nehru supported
linguistic division of states, but I remember that the opposite
was true. Can someone elucidate the point ?

Soumya.

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 20:43 -0500 (CDT)
From: CHRMNVK@engvms.unl.edu
Subject: Gangsters!!

    Mr. Sivakumaran in his posting regarding Shiv Sena says that those
who stand behind it(shiv sena) merely earn the sobriquet of gangsters.
I am tempted to write and bring about the fact that 1/3 rd the Bombay
voters and 1/5th the Maharashtra voters, support Shiv Sena. Thus if
Mr. Sivakumaran is to be beleived, one fifth of Maharashrta population
support the gang called shiv sena and are gangsters. Really amazing.

    All Indian political parties irrespective of their philosophy and
belief, have supported and taken help of criminals and goondas at some
point or the other. Janata Dal had given tickets to a person charged with
murder. Therefore, a few bad elements do exist in every organization.
We donot judge any organization by handful of people in them but by
general populace supporting it. I think we must apply this philosophy
before stigmatizing any organization.

Nitin

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 14:49:07 -0700 (MST)
From: sreddy@unmvax.cs.unm.edu (Sridhar T Reddy)
Subject: India Map

Hi !

It came to me as no surprise that Punjab and Kashmir haven't been
included in India Map. I heard about this some 4 years back thru
my cousins who have been brought up in US. May be we have to do
more than just writing a letter to New York Times.

--Sridhar

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 13:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: VSINGH <@cunyvm.cuny.edu:VSINGH@UCLABIO.BITNET>
Subject: India needs no dictators

Dear Netters:

        There have been many postings regarding the communal violence in
India (post-Ayodhya), and the need to solve the problems through
dictatorship. I agree with D.Karanth's statement that what India needs is
not a dictator, but just a better democracy and a better economy. Actually,
both go hand-in-hand: improvements in economy help bolster democracy.
We have a reasonably working democracy; what we need today is a rapidly
growing economy.

        Soon after independence, our country turned to socialism. It probably
was a nice way to impress on people coming out of 200 years of slavery, that
India belonged to all her citizens. A democratically elected government
decided to regulate all economic activities, hoping to improve participation.
It happened just the reverse. Entreprenuership got throtled, people deseiring
a better lifestyle and ready to work hard for it, were sidelined. Instead,
well meaning policies designed by policiticians, and implemented by
beaurocrats stifled economic growth. How often have we heard:
(1) "Prime Minister asks industries to increase productivity";
(2) "Minister urges to increase crop yields";
(3) "PM asks employees to work harder";
(4) "Minister asks to increase exports".

        The truth of the matter is that economic laws do not heed economists
or politicians! No government can simply order the economy to improve, the
prices to fall down and exports to improve. We, unfortunately, have been led
to believe so. The sooner the Indian government and the people realize that
regulations decrease participation, decrease competetion and decrease
productivity, the faster can the economy improve.

        It was reassuring that the Prime Minister is urging a continuation of
market liberalization. Economy now has a chance to improve; and along with it
our democracy. Not something a dictator can do!
                ...Vishvamitra.

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 11:32:57 -0500 (EST)
From: shenoy@ecn.purdue.edu (Jayarama N Shenoy)
Subject: Konkanis - GSB

 The irony of "Konkanis" from Karnataka is much deeper. They are also
in substantial number in the coastal districts of Uttar _Kannada_
 (where in some places they constitute a majority apparently ) and
akshina _Kannada_ too!

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 10:40:55 -0800 (PST)
From: "Vivek R. Prabhu" <vivek@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Subject: Language And Religion Issue - Reply To Mr. Deivan Durai

> Reply To: Deivan Durai <DURAI@KSUVM.KSU.EDU
> > Moghuls gave a written script by incorporating Arabic and Persian
> > characters.  This constituted Urdu.  It was the efforts of Sanskrit/Hindu
> > scholars who appropriated Devanagiri characters to Urdu creating Hindi.

In fact it is the other way around.  Hindi  was derived from combining
Sanskrit and Khari Boli a simplified dialect of Sanskrit. In fact Urdu
has been derived from combining Arabic with Hindi,  to get the version
of Urdu, in this synthesis, both the languages are richer.

> > Tamils feel that it is a put-down of Tamil and that Tamil might become
> > a second-grade language.  It is their feeling that with all its richness,
> > maturity, and age, Tamil must not be allowed to become devalued.  And
> > the supreme place cannot be given to Hindi, a very young language.

Well the argument is not against Tamil vis-a-vis Hindi, but is in the
imposition of Tamil over non-Tamil speaking people in Tamil Nadu, and
who constitute a large segment of the populace. For instance,  any of
us who has resided in Tamil Nadu for long periods of time, can vouch,
for the imposition of Tamil over everyone, so much so that it is well
nigh impossible to get by. Thankfully all that has now changed.  What
is necesary is a liberal attitude towards all languages.

> > The lack of serious interest in RSS and other Hindu groups in Tamil Nadu
> > is also due to the fact that these fundamental groups adamantly support
> > the imposition of Hindi and transact primarily in Hindi.

The Hindu Munnani is there,  which is slowly gaining strength.  It is
wrong to blame the RSS, or the BJP for trying to impose Hindi as well
as accusing them of fighting for a Hindu Rashtra. That is just unfair
and mostly untrue. Nowehere has either the RSS,  or the BJP ever been
advocating this. They are only trying to cultivate an ethos of Indian
Nationalistic culture,  which has its roots in the ancient,  and rich
heritage that India has. Freedom to practice any religion is  the aim
in India and which one it should be's a matter of one's personal wish
and not something that would infringe upon someone else's right.

Regards,
Vivek.

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 22:50 -0600 (CST)
From: Deivan Durai <DURAI@KSUVM.KSU.EDU>
Subject: Language Debate - Part 5 of 6

11. There were also minor official pronouncements that offended Tamil sensibil-
    ities.  The common titles "Shri" and "Shrimathi" have been in wide use in
    Tamil Nadu for a long time.  However, sometime in the 60s there was an
    official requirement--I don't know in what official form the requirement
    came out--that all government and official notifications, press releases,
    etc., must carry the titles of "Shri" and "Shrimathi" when referring to
    individuals.  This was viewed as belligerence at its worst by many Tamils.
    Hindi-pushers were blind not to see the popularity and wide use of "Shri"
    and "Shrimathi" in Tamil Nadu and instead promulgated that these titles are
    the ones to use officially.  It became another sore point that someone
    would officially force them to use certain titles.  While it was common to
    see "Shri" and "Shrimathi" even in wedding invitations in Tamil Nadu, these
    terms were quickly replaced by their Tamil equivalents, "Thiru" and "Thiru-
    mathi".  Imposition may work in the short run but it is bound to have the
    opposite effect in the long run.

12. The view from Tamil Nadu of the North Indian-dominated Congress Party was
    so negative that it lost power in the state quickly despite famous Congress
    leaders such as Mr. Kamaraj.  Please note that the party has never regained
    its base.  The only way it can ever dream of regaining its base is by
    noting the language sensibilities of Tamils and not by abandoning it in
    favor of Hindi.  At least, the election debacle of Congress Party indicated
    how badly offended Tamils' sensibilities had been. The then ruling Congress
    Party was even reluctant to change the state's name from "State of Madras"
    to "Tamil Nadu".  Tamils saw the local Congress leaders as pawns of their
    compatriots in the North incapable of stopping the offense being committed
    by "Hindi-mongers"!

13. The fact that government-owned corporations appoint Hindi officers and
    allow increments or promotions on the basis of passage in certain Hindi
    examinations is one example of the continuation of Hindi-pushing practice.
    It is absolutely unacceptable and unfair.  There is no need to pay someone
    for learning a specific language when every linguistic group is paying its
    share to govern the country.

14. It is wrong to brand that Tamils detest learning other languages.
    Nevertheless, they any detest official push for and favoritism granted to
    any single language.  No one in Tamil Nadu has objected to singing the
    national anthem even though it is in Bengali and they continue to sing it
    in most public schools at the morning gatherings.

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 18:24:30 -0600
From: Krishna@higgsq.phy.olemiss.edu
Subject: Most racist race

Hi netters ,

During the spring break I went to my cousins place and had this
interesting conversation about racism. It goes like this -

My cousin asked us as to who should be regarded as the most racist race
in the world. I said it has to be Britishers or the Americans. But my
cousin's daughter (she is born in America and has gone to India only
couple of times) had a different view and she said IT HAS TO BE INDIANS.
I just could not believe my ears. Her argument is that we Indians
have divided ourselves into four groups  ( Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas, Shudras ) and discriminated the fourth group just because
they were poor by the nature of their work. We made them untouchables
and did not allow them to drink water from the same wells and even
never allowed them into the places of worship. But the Britishers never
discriminated their own people and their racism was based on the color
of the skin. INDIANS ARE THE ONLY RACE WHO DISCRIMINATED THEIR OWN
PEOPLE who are in no way different from each other. I said in a way we
were racist but when it comes to the point as to who were the most
racist it will not be Indians because in the preindependence time
hardly 10% of the Indians were educated and they practiced this
discrimination because of the preachings by the narrow minded educated
people and the crown of the most racist race should be placed on the
Britishers head because they were educated.

Now I'm having a feeling that she is more correct than me  I would like
to get the view of the netters on this.

krishna

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 23:23:24 -0500 (EST)
From: seetam@ece7.eng.wayne.edu (Seetamraju Uday Bhaskar Sarma)
Subject: On secularism & Future of India - Part 2/4

That's just like the secularists, who never hesitate to denounce the
religion which shaped them.  Now they swear allegience to western notions,
and are confidently sermonizing about it, completely ignoring the innumerable
pronouncements of people right from gandhiji to economists of repute
(all over the world).  No, its gotta be western style democracy and
the ideals that the western cultures believe in.  None of the notions
of cultural diversity, cultural variedness, etc... ever stands a chance
of their true unemotinal scrutiny.

I cant see any difference between these modern secularists and J.Nehru.
All are clones of that man (maybe he was a clone of someone else).  I dont
see anyone of the so called secularists indulge in cultural discussions
on the net.  To them, their reason to live is secularism, and their cultural
depth is the width of the word secularism.  They talk for hours about
the rule of law and this and that.  Their analysis of events is based
only on events starting on the 15.Aug.1947 and after.  I think their
cultural activities is not worth studying, as we have all seen sheep dogs.
BTW, jinnah, was a worse person than Nehru.  The pakistanis know best.
Ask one.  He was the worst among all brown sahibs.

The secularists are fools.  If the british, left behind a `country' that
included burma, and afganistan included, and called it Boozland, then our
dear secularists will today, (in that alternative time/history) be yelling
from the rooftops about the ideals and ideas that made up boozland.
If instead it was a Trashland, and is not today's india, then, U wont
see any change in their mouthings, save some pattern-search-replacements.

What the heck happened to the millenia of history in this part
of this world.?  Do U see any trace of it in the govt, the lifestyle of
the city people? Do U see it in the education?  DO U see it in the
outlook of people, do U see in the dreams of the future of these people?
No trace of it.  It might as well not have existed.

I am serious.  Lets suppose, india had a totally different history. Now
what would change in today's india? -- suppose that india had
a majority religion called Sada, and that there is a clash between the
sad-ists and the muslims (for some god-forsaken thing, or whatever).  Can
someone please tell me if the secularist's behaviour or their lives would be
different. Can U show me one institution, in that country we ran away from,
that is based on THE PRESENT CULTURAL MILIEU (Leave alone the history).

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 14:28:33 -0600
From: narayan@amazon.ee.utexas.edu (Narayanan G. Kaniyur)
Subject: Problems facing India

Dear Netters,
        I am a new subscriber to India-D and this is my first contribution.I
would like to make this very short.
1.According to a WHO report, one third of India's  population goes to bed
hungry every night.
2.Except for kerala, the literacy rate is a major problem in all parts of our
country.
3.Economically our country is in poor condition with an extremely low per
capita income.
4. Children who are supposed to be the future are treated very badly and child
labour is another issue.

The above list is representative of the huge problems facing India.
1.Language is a medium of communication of thoughts and ideas between people
and should be treated as such.
2.Religion is a personal belief and in my opinion should be confined to the
four walls of one's house.
3.For too long the above issues have been used as a smokescreen to hide the
real problems facing our country.
4.My personal feeling is that the only way to remedy the situation is for
people to get involved in the process of governing.By people, I mean
people of all shapes, sizes, colors, races, sects, professions, lawyers,
doctors,farmers, scientists, bankers, businessmen, teachers,housewives,
etc.The government should be in the hands of these people and not in the
hands of career politicians as has been the case in India.

Any comments are welcome.
Regards
Narayanan.

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 14:31 -0800 (PST)
From: gna@vardhan.intel.com
Subject: Reply to Cliffs query on South/North music

Hi
    Since I could not send it directly to Cliff I am putting it on the
open net.
    I am South Indian, brought up in a music lover family setup. My father
was a strict South Indian music lover and never listned to North Indian.
I was with them for 25 years of my life and then got out on my own. Then
only I was exposed to North Indian. I do not understand the North Indian
languages but still if you asked me which one you appreciate I would say
North Indian semi-classical. Why??
    I neither like South/North pure classical.
    South Pure classical: It is too rythmic, very fast amd full of
gimmicks. It is not a soul searching music at all. The artists whole
concentraion is on to display his vocal cord/violin cord/etc cord
capability!! The accompanying music makes more noise then required.
    North Indian Pure clsassical: Is too dragging and I (probbably any
body) cannot make any meaning out of it!! Only thing it is soothing as it
goes on and on for ever till you nod off to sleep!!
    South Semiclassical: This is good. Especially of M S Subbulakshmi, and
some others. They have undestandable meaning and filled with devotion
(Bhakthi Bhava) and tenderness. You are moved to tears of sadness or joy
when you hear them.
    North Semi Classical: Too good. I dont understand the meaning but they
are very good. I am referring to Bhimsen Joshi, Jasraj etal. Bhimsen Joshi
sings in Kannada (His and my mother tongue) Bhajans in North Indian raga -
they are too good and very inspiring. I feel like dancing when he sings.
You can't sit and listen.
    This is my personal opinion, my wife does not agree to this (-:)
Hopefully when lots of people respond to your question you can make me a
part of some statistical theory and draw a generalised conclusion.

Good luck
ananda

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 16:20:21 -0600 (CST)
From: imani@cis.uab.edu (Salim Imani)
Subject: Responses ....

        This is reply to Dr. VidhyaShankar P. R. and Anilkumar
Sivakumaran on their views on the riots in Bombay, where they felt
that the reason for fundamental organization like the ShivSena and
the VHP is the Minority Leaders.
        I respond by saying that I couldn't agree with them more,
there are a lot of people who don't subscribe to these "leaders"
and some who have to for fear of being ostracized.  These leaders
DO NOT REPRESENT THE FEELING OF MOST OF THE PEOPLE, they also belong
to the cadre of politicians who want to weild their power.  However,
when a riot breaks out they are not harmed at all but it is the
common people who pay the price.  I am pained by the sufferring
and pain caused to the common people even though they have nothing
to do with their leaders ideologies.  Terrorism and fanatism in
any form deserves to be condemned.
        These power will die down sometime but the change will be slow
and the price paid will be with human life, unfortunately.  I am pained
when I read about the miseries inflicted on the common people in
"India Today", it depresses me.  With common sense we can end these
bickerings and have more cheerful news to read about India.

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 20:26:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: Prasad@biologysx.lan.nrc.ca
Subject: SUBCO...JEOPARDY: HOST KamalX Trebek

Time for SUBCO....[for Subcontinental or in Hindi:'Sabko' (for all)] JEOPARDY
with your host, KamalX Trebek [where X=a: Kamala-to satisfy feminists;
X=Nath: to satisfy Hindus; X=Hussein: to satisfy Muslims; and Trebek to
satisfy Christians and Alex Trebek, who I am hoping, wouldn't sue me for
violation of copyright ('intellectual property')].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 1. KamalX: Is there anything that travels faster than light on the
            subcontinent ?
    Answer: Yes, a rumour.
 2. KamalX: Which of the following states was the most peaceful in Dec'92/
            Jan '93 in India: a) U.P. (b) M.P. (c) Maharashtra (d) Punjab
    Answer: (d) Punjab
 3. KamalX: What did Nawaz Sheriff say to Advani on phone on Dec.7 ?
    Answer: Shukriya, Thank You, Dhanyavad, Arigato, Merci. God Bless You.
 4. KamalX: In which state in India were 'Pakodies' first fried.
    Answer: I don't know and I don't care.
 5. KamalX: Complete the following proverb: "Those who live in glass
            houses..."
    Answer: "...... should not undress".
 6. KamalX: What does the abbreviation 'AIDS' stand for ?
    Answer: Any Idea that can Divide Society Syndrome or Acquired Indianness
            Deficiency Syndrome
 7. KamalX: Which of the following 'Dal's is the least toxic ?
            (a) Akali Dal (b) Bajrang Dal (c) Janata Dal (d) Kesri Dal
    Answer: (d) Kesri Dal, in my opinion.
 8. KamalX: Shakespeare, some people claim, is not British but one of the
            following. Which one is correct ?
            (a) His actual name is Sesh(adri) P. Iyer and he is a Tamil.
            (b) Sheikh S. Peer and he is a Muslim, actually.
            (c) Shekhar S. Pyare and he comes from U.P.
    Answer: No Comments. Can I go now.
KamalX: I have no clue or comments either. But you are a winner!!!!!
Congratulations. Here is what you get.....A free unlimited travel 'DiscovAir
India' ticket on Indian Airlines flown by the experienced Uzbek Air pilots,
whenever they fly and wherever they land. Bon Voyage!!!!! So Long Folks.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                                            Krishna Prasad
------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 22:26:41 -0500 (EST)
From: chand@physics.att.com
Subject: Telephone rates to India

For long time, I have been reading a no. of messages on the above subject
concerning the cheaper rates to India. Almost everyone says that AT@T is more
expensive.These messages may be very misleading. What are we trying to save
a few pennies or a couple od dollars.Do we want our lives to be controlled
by a few dollars. Do we have any idea what AT&T is doing in India and what
MCI or Sprint have done.AT&T has set up a copany in India with TATAs and is
offering many services over there. Indian Government is eager for AT&T to
set up an R&D facility in India. Do you know Bell laboratories invite a lot
of Indian sceitists to come and work here. Two out of four executive
directors in Bell Labs are Indians. The name of AT&T you can now read on
the walls, bus stops, etc in all big cities of India. Your family over there
can dial just 001-00711 and talk to an AT&T operator in US who can then dial
your number or provide another service.It is in the interest of India and
Indians to continue with AT&T which is a true global company and offers a
wide range of products and services. If you want to reduce your bill, join
AT&T reach out world plan which offers low rates not only for INDIA but for
a large no. of other country. If one co. has enough traffic, the rates will
go down further. AT&T operator gives credit also if you had problem with
your call. Many people use this to reduce their bill. You can also use AT&T
universal card to make phone calls and get discount. Yes I work for AT&T Bell
Labs. and I help a lot of sceintists ie through AT&T.

Naresh Chand

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 15:06:44 -0600 (CST)
From: maria@lonestar.utsa.edu (Maria M. Ancheril)
Subject: Tell me ...

"LIFE IS THE LIVING YOU DO.  DEATH IS THE LIVING YOU DON'T DO."
                                            "The Magic Box"
                                             J. Pintauro

Our words have become Death.  While we sit here and mumble amongst ourselves
there is a little baby somewhere in India, religion unknown, crying blood
drops because God is not responding to the wails;  there is a terrorizing
silence in the returning sounds of our own empty echoes.

I am scared.  I am scared because I sit and write - then I sit and read.
Then I walk around my life full of ideals and dreams -- not just dreams of
mySelf -- but dreams for what I must do for others.  It is all so easy --
to dream up others' realities and think "one day they will come .. now is only
NOW."  Wake UP!!   Their NOW lasts a lifetime and our dreams last as long as
snowflakes that appear and disappear each Snowfall.

Tell me how to make my words, thoughts, dreams into Action.  Show me how to
wipe the blood from that baby's eyes.  Tell me Now and I will listen - but no
more noise; I want to Hear not Read.

God does not care for colors of humanity, God does not care that I am He and
you are She, God does not care that you call yourself Muslim and I call Myself
Christian, God does not care that you come to the temple in a "Benz" and I come
walking.   God CARES for us to find the divine Self within all of us; God cares
for us to go into each other and seek the divine Other -- then we can really be
Together.

Help Me; Show me; Allow me to Hear how Words can becomes Actions and Actions
can become Love; for then Hope can become Reality.  Let us let out God and
answer each empty echo -- realize that in Sadness and Joy we can come together
as God comes together in each of ourSelves, at all times.

"It is not the ones who throw roses on your grave who realize your life did'nt
die....it's the ones you rode the roller coaster with, who you made love with,
it's the children who learned from you to laugh exactly the way you do ...they
are where your life went."
                      "The Magic Box"
                       J. Pintauro

Peace & God Bless...

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 22:51:19 -0500 (EST)
From: chand@physics.att.com
Subject: TOKTEN and INRIST programs of UNDP and Govt of India.

Indian Government has many programs to invite NRI professionas to visit
and interact with all kind of institutions at her cost. The program is
designed so that both parties benefit.
I visited India last month as a TOKTEN expert and my visit was very fruitful
to me and my hosts in India.
If you are a distinguished scientist, technologist or other professional of
high calibre. you may contact:
The Head
Interface for NRI Scietists & Technologists (INRIST) Centre
CSIR Complex
NPL Campus
Pusa
New Delhi 110012
Fax 574 3481 & 371 0618

You may not receive an invitation right away, but your name will go in their
register and in a book which they update every year.
If someone is interested in you, you should that party to approachask that
party to the above centre. contact the above centre.
This is an opportunity to do something for India through fun and profit.
The people in INRIST are very efficient.
You are paid through UNDP and thus their is no problem with payments.
The payments include your travelling and living expenses at UNDP rates which
vary from place to place ( for example, Rs 2950 per day in Delhi or Bombay).

Naresh Chand

------------------------------

Date: 24 Jan 1993 22:09:27 +0000 (GMT)
From: ramkumar@blaca1.SINet.SLB.COM
Subject: Truth and Living it

Hi brothers and sisters,

        At the outset Shri Chandra's "A step in the search for common ground"
is a step in the right direction at the right time. I wish to share in the
following lines an interesting incident that occurred.

        About a couple of years ago a few of my friends attended a course on
Advanced Strategies in Effective Marketing, a six-week part time course. It
involved rigorous exercises and field work. With just one session to go which
was to be held the next morning, from 7-30 am to 11-30 am and in the evening a
grand graduation ceremony, my friend Umar was at the top of the class almost
certain to grab the Gold Medal. The day of the final session was the final day
of Ramadan and Umar was in a dilemma. The other participants and the course
director too were clear that Umar should some how attend the final session and
win the Gold Medal. But Umar thought about it and this is now he put the
dilemma to rest.

        He said, "If I attend the final session, there is no doubt that I will
win the coveted Gold Medal. But if I attend the prayers at the Mosque I will
have the chance of winning the kingdom of God. So I shall rather skip the
final session of the course".

        A lot of theorizing about his action can be done looking at it now,
but to me it is "living" the Truth that religion talks about.

        The point I wish to drive at here is -

        "ekam sat vipraH bahudha vadhanthi" - Truth is one but the wise
        talk about it differently. Irrespective of the apparent differences
        in our faiths and thoughts, the underlying Spirit is ONE.

        It is worthwhile setting aside a few moments daily to meditate on
        That and let our actions speak about that unity of Spirit, rather
        than bicker about the garbs we have put on.

        thanks,
        ramkumar

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 1993 23:23:23 -0600 (CST)
From: dseeth@iastate.edu
Subject: Wake-up India-D, Bombay riots

Dear Netters

        It is unfortunate that so many lives have been lost in Bombay, in
the recent riots.  This should never happen in future, nor should we Indians
allow this in future, for the following reasons :

1)  A land which was known for Mahatma Gandhi, and his non-violence.
2)  Each and every human life is important, irrespective of their caste or
creed (Is it possible to give life to a human being ?   There is a saying
"If you can't create, don't destroy").
3)  We are all Indians, and we  would like to see India on top of the world
(There is no point in killing our own brethren, if we wish to see OUR INDIA).

United we stand, Divided we fall !

Jai Hind.

Dhiraviam Seetharaman.

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End of India Interest Group Digest
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