From: t60bss9@mp.cs.niu.edu (Bijoy Sagar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: India-D digest Mon, 28, Dec 1992
Date: 29 Dec 1992 19:29:05 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


From: uma@orion.stjude.org (Uma Ramamurthy)
Newsgroups: niu.maillist.indianet
Date: 29 Dec 92 02:00:15 GMT
Reply-To: The India Interest Group at UKCC <INDIA-D@UKCC.BITNET>
Distribution: niu
Organization: Mailing list <INDIA-D@UTARLVM1.UTA.EDU>

India Interest Group Digest Mon, 28 Dec 92       Volume 2: Issue  59

Today's Topics:

      A Culture Shock !
      Ajeet is Alive
      Ajeet joke with a translation
      A Joke
      Hinduism as a term
      Hindu Students Council 1993 Annual National Students Meet
      How to manage remotely a S/W company in India
      India's democracy-Nani Palkhivala
      Indian notions of beauty
      Let's project her beautiful parts !
      NRI Accounts : Part-1
      Rejoinder to Sriharsa/Ravida's defense of tamil et al
      Root Cause by Parvatiyar Atul
      Solutions to Fun Puzzles from SABA
      Stocks and Bonds : Part-1
      The poem as promised ! ("SEETA BOL")
      THE Problem of Multiple Languages in India
      The Roots of the Recent Violence in India - Part 3 of 4
      XLers are the best

___________________________________________________________________________
 To subscribe:
   BITNET users:        send a mail message to LISTSERV@UKCC
   Internet users:      send a mail message to LISTSERV@UKCC.UKY.EDU
  In the mail msg, leave the subject line blank. The first line of the mail
  msg should be:            { Here, Personal name should be a 2-part name }
   SUBSCRIBE INDIA-D Personal Name  { To subscribe to Discussion and News }
   SUBSCRIBE INDIA-L Personal Name  { To subscribe to News Digest alone }

 To unsubscribe:
  Follow the above procedure, but the first line of the mail msg should be:
   SIGNOFF INDIA-D (GLOBAL
   SIGNOFF INDIA-L (GLOBAL

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 Discussion Digest contributions     :  editor@andy.bgsu.edu
 News Digest contributions           :  india-news@andy.bgsu.edu
 Looking for requests                :  looking@andy.bgsu.edu
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 India-D is an OPEN and FREE forum for discussion of issues related
 to India and the Indian community. You can express your religious
 beliefs, viewpoints and ideologies in a totally secular environment
 on this network. No personal attacks and insults will be allowed on
 the Digest. Dr K V Rao is the co-ordinator of the Network. Editors--
 for the Discussion & News Digests, Ms U Ramamurthy; for the News
 Headlines, Mr M G Balakrishna Rao.

 Please include your full name in the header or as a signature.
 Postings should be kept to a max. of 30 lines. A maximum grace of 10
 lines is allowable at the discretion of the Editor. Articles longer
 than this limit would be sent back to be condensed. No more than one
 posting per person per topic would be accepted in a 24-hr period.
___________________________________________________________________________

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 19:23:31 GMT
From: pkumar@blaca1.SINet.SLB.COM
Subject: A Culture Shock !

Hi fellow Indians,

   I received a culture shock today.
   I got the following MAIL from one of the netters about my article
( I guess this is the response to one  of my articles. I don't know this
guy and there is no reference in the mail ! ) in India-D :

---------------------------start of the mail-------------
From:   PSI%SNDSU1::UMRVMA.UMR.EDU::S107734 "Chandramohan R Adulla"
        24-DEC-1992 11:03:58.49
To:     "Mr. Prasannakumar" <blaca1::pkumar>
CC:
Subj:         What ??

Are you NUTS ??
---------------------------end of the mail---------------

Sometime back I read an article in India-D saying that "cream of the cream
from India " are coming over to US. I just want you people to know that
such dirty creams are also creeping in.
  Let me ask one question to all of you : Should this be our culture here ?
We better discuss this to shut off this kind of 'Educated-AIDS' before it
spreads to others.

P.V.PRASANNAKUMAR

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 10:27:09 -0600
From: barwey@wuchem.wustl.edu
Subject: Ajeet is Alive

Hi !

A new Ajeet Joke.

Ajeet:   raabert, tum 'kar seva' ke liye kyon nahi gayaa ?
Raabert: bass, kaise jaata ? mein christian hoon |
Ajeet:   koi baat nahin | mein manmohan singh se baat karoonga | woh tumhe
         'partially convertible' bana degaa |

---- English Translation ---

Ajeet:   Robert, why didn't you go for 'kar seva' ?
Robert:  Boss, how could I have gone ? I am a Christian.
Ajeet:   No problem. I will talk to Manmohan Singh. He will make you
         'partially convertible'.

--- Dinesh Barwey

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 09:30 CDT
From: Dasari Tej <DTEJ@VAX2.CSTP.UMKC.EDU>
Subject: Ajeet joke with a translation

Rawbert: Boss, ise kaise maar du.
  Ajeet: Rawbert, ise varnish pilado, varnish ise maar dalegi aur finish bhi
         karega.
Translation: Robert: Boss how shall I kill this fellow.
             Ajeet : Robert, give him varnish to drink.
                     Varnish will kill him and finish him too.

Friends, this joke may have appeared before but I wanted to repeat
it with the mandatory translation.
For those who dont know,  Sona in Hindi has two meanings
                          Sona=Gold, Sona=Sleep (verb)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!
Tej

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 17:07:04 PST
From: Makarand Gadre <a-makag@microsoft.com>
Subject: A Joke

This is one of my favourites.

In a jungle, there is a tiger resting under a tree. A monkey sitting on
the tree wants to play a prank of the tiges so it sneaks down, kicks
the tiger in the butt and jumps back on the tree. The tiger is furious.
But he can't do anything so he goes back to rest. The same thing
happens again and at the third instance of kicking, the tiger starts
climbing the tree. Monkey jumps from one tree to another & the tiger
keeps on chasing him from tree to tree. Suddenly there is a clearing in
the woods and there is a small house in front of a lake. There is a man
swimming in the lake with his belongings like clothes, hat, glasses
etc. on a chair on the patio. The monkey goes up to the chair, wears
the clothes, puts on the hat, glasses and sits on the chair reading a
newspaper. The tiger reaches there panting and exhausted from the
pursuit and thinking that the monkey is a human, asks him "Sir, did you
see any monkey around here?" The monkey asks back "Are you talking
about the one that kicked you in the butt ?" The tiger is amazed "Oh
No. It already came in the papers Hmmmm.!!!"

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 11:21:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Frank Conlon <conlon@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Hinduism as a term

It is unlikely that any discussion regarding defining specificially what
or what not "Hinduism" is or ought to be, will ever result in a readily
acknowledged agreement among participants.  I would offer one historical
note concerning the term "Hinduism".  In the nineteenth century of the
Current era, under the collective impact of new knowledge from
Europe--primarily in the sciences and humanistic studies--as well as the
activities of Christian missionaries, many Indians were directly
challenged to define for themselves what it was that was their religion.

For the past two years I have been studying the life and career of one
religious thinker and teacher who flourished in Maharashtra around the
middle of the 19th century, Vishnu Bhikaji Gokhale, popularly known as
Vishnubawa Brahmachari (1825-1871).  At present I am working on a
translation of a lengthy book in Marathi published by Vishnubawa in 1859, the
VEDOKTA DHARMA PRAKASH (Bombay: Ganpat Krishnaji's Press, 1859) in which
he set forth his understanding of Vedic religion (Vedokta dharma) in terms
of both belief and practice, as an attempt to help his audience live and
act within their ancestral faith.  This project is not completed, but I
hope in the future to complete a book on Vishnubawa and his contribution.

At any rate, Vishnubawa specifically asks his readers to avoid the term
"Hinduism" which he characterizes as a mleccha (barbarian) word,
preferring vaidika or vedokta dharma. (VEDOKTA DHARMA PRAKASH, p. 248).
About a decade later, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, founder of the Arya
Samaj, in his SATYARTH PRAKASH and other teachings, also took exception to
the terms Hindu and Hinduism.

Frank Conlon

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 01:26:06 EST
From: Hindu.Students.Council@um.cc.umich.edu
Subject: Hindu Students Council 1993 Annual National Students Meet

           Hindu Students Council 1993 National Students Meet
    (Incorporating 1993 National Coordination Council Meeting)

 Place: Hare Krishna Temple, Maryland
 Date: January 1-3, 1993

 Contact:
         editor@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
         hindu.students.council@um.cc.umich.edu
         cbando@lynx.northeastern.edu
         phone: (617) 227 3023

 Workshop and Group Discussion Topics:
         Swami Vivekananda's Message to the West
         Introduction to Hindu Scriptures
         World Vision 2000 Program, Global Youth Conference 1993
         Condition of Refugees From Kashmir
         Environmental Awareness
         Karma Yoga
         Need for a Hindu organization on Campus
         + more

 Cultural Program:
         Dandia Raas January 2, 1993 9:00 pm.

 Students Are Welcome to Attend All the Sessions of the Meeting
 Public Meeting (Non students are welcome)
         January 2, 1993 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
 (Note: Prior registration is required for participation in the meet.
 No registration required for public meeting).

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 12:05:52 MET
From: D.Radjou@frmy.bull.fr (Djearamin Radjou)
Subject: How to manage remotely a S/W company in India

Dear Network Friends,

I will be very greatful if any one in the net can give the following info

        How To Remotely manage/operate a Software Company doing Man Power
        Export Business based in India ?
                (Excepting Recrutement of Engineers)

Email me directly to : D.Radjou@frmy.bull.fr
Thanking You in advance
Djearamin RADJOU

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 13:37 CST
From: SXVEF@basin.crc.uno.edu (Shankar V. Nathan)
Subject: India's democracy-Nani Palkhivala

I am reproducing below an abstract of a speech by Mr. Nani Palkhivala which
given today's India is more relevant for all of us than ever before. I hope this
will motivate some of us to search within for a meaningful purpose and goal to
life and help in deciding the important priorities in life. After all...
One life to live!!....Shankar V. Nathan
                Indian democracy - its problems and prospects
                        N. A. Palkhivala
  Dr.N.B. Parulekar Memorial Lecture _ Pune, September 19, 1981
  "The national conscience has to be aroused to such a degree that it will cease
to tolerate falsehood and dishonesty in public life. Standards of ethics and
decency in public life are less easy to enforce by law than by public opinion.
Obedience to values - which is enforced not by the machinery of criminal justice
but by the national ethos - is the ultimate guarantee of a clean public life.
What India today badly needs, and sadly lacks, is not political leadership but
moral leadership which can lead to a renaissance of true Indian culture.
   It is difficult to believe that we are living in the same country which
produced the galaxy of talent and character at the time when we gained our
independence. It is a vicious circle. Men of talent and integrity will not
enter public life because of the filth and the stench;and yet public life cannot
be cleansed unless men of talent and integrity enter it.
   I have great hopes in our young men and women. To the young of this country I
would like to make an earnest appeal to enter publiclife and would commend for
their consideration three maxims:
* You must not desert the ship because you cannot control the winds.
* It is better to try to do something and fail than to try to do nothing and
  succeed.
* For the rebirth of morality in Indian politics, the period of gestation will
  prove lengthy and the delivery promises to be painful, but you cannot dedicate
  your life to a greater cause.
 If experts imbued with a spirit of dedication and wisdom were to be allowed the
requisite freedom of action, they could transform this country into one of the
great economic powers. Disraeli said" Money is not the measure of a man, but it
is often the means of finding out how small he is." By this measure, our
politicians must be amoung the smallest on earth. Our political scene presents
an incredible army of pudding-headed mercenaries.
  We must somehow replace them by men of honour and knowledge."
  Mr. Nani Palkhivala is himself a living example of his above speech. People,
especially in Bombay, can't forget his annual budget critique speech. His
great contribution to spread across India the message of the value of free
enterprise in all aspects of a nation, is well known!...Any takers?..I'm for 1.

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 14:55:30 -0500
From: Ashokvardan Rao <arao@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Indian notions of beauty

        It has always striked me as odd and somewhat offensive that India, with
all its diversity, has adopted an undeniably western notion of physical beauty.
Throughout childhood and high school, the idea that a fair complexion was an
attribute of beauty was reinforced through television, newspaper matrimonials,
and Amar Chitra Katha comics. The bias goes deeper than that. Rakshases in
comic books, villians/goondas in popular movies (with the important exception
of the "boss") were not only dark-skinned but were also chosen for their feature
s, which had traces of Negroid/Australasioid stocks [keeping the Caucasoid,
Negroid, Mongloid distinction as a frame of reference]. These features included
nose type, lip and hair type, and to get technical, encephalic ratios (ratio of
length of the face to the width). Growing up as a child, one is not aware of the
influence of this aesthetic bias, which makes it all the more insidious.
        As an undergraduate in the U.S., I was removed from the subtle influence
of Indian racism into a more openly prejudiced society. But at the same time,
the culture shock was a learning experience. Even the subtle influences of
"aesthetic indoctrination," for lack of a better term, can be unlearned. I
was able to break away from stereotypes of beauty, and LEARNED to be attracted
to all kinds of people. I am sorry to say, however, that the majority of Indians
I have been in contact with have not (and I want to know why not from all of you
guys). I invariably hear the comment that blacks remind people of "bais" "ayahs"
or other menial workers. Even genuinely unbiased Indians have told me, somewhat
shamefacedly, that they are not attracted towards blacks, or if they are, it is
only towards blacks with distinctively "white" features. They seem to have no
problems with East Asians. Indian parents in the States don't seem to mind (as
much) their children dating Caucs or East Asians(orientals), but have a real
problem with blacks.
        What's going on here? Where does this bias stem from? How far back does
it date? We didn't cover this in History for the ICSE. some of you chaps seem
to be very well informed in areas concerning language, culture, and history.
What's the story. I especially would like to hear women's thoughts on this.

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 12:19:48 CST
From: kannan@engr.LaTech.edu (Venkatesh Kannan)
Subject: Let's project her beautiful parts !

Dear Editor,
   This is in response to PV Prasannakumars views on projecting India's image
among Americans.
   The media in US has been, probably ignorant of the good aspects of life at
India. All the news papers, even those meant especially for India also portray
India with poverty, poor culture etc. (I remember few months back there was a
big article in India Abroad newspaper about girls being teased in the middle
of the road by elite class guys; a photo also appeared with few guys from
Maruti car pulling a decent office going girl).
   I can assure that there are very few incidents in India happen like this
when one compares to the dreadful things happen at US. Such news only further
gives a poor image about India. It is disheartening to see that our own
Indians abroad propagate such news in the news papers. By reading such papers,
the ABCDs and their parents too, think that India is a bad country..... India
is much much great!. It has very strong cultural background! Life in India is
very peaceful for an individual. One need not be afraid when he will be mugged
at gunpoint in the night. In India a girl can walk peacefully at 9.00 pm.
   The kind of education offered in India, especially engineering, is so good
it offers very good foundation for a bright career in future. You find that
more Indians are coming to US because our education standards are very good.
When you compare an average Indian with average American, Indian has knowledge
in a variety of subjects, apart from mastering in one.
   The professional job scene in India is really challenging. One can see that
the technology in India is growing so rapidly. People are becoming more rational
and prudent. The industrial sectors like Larsen & Toubro, Tata group, Hindustan
Lever are growing competitive as the managers are becoming highly professional
and offer great freedom for the thought and skills of young engineers. It is
difficult for anyone to find such a job here. One can see the art coming out in
Technology through the globally competitive car, Maruti 1000, which is so fuel
efficient and so luxurious, equalling or exceeding the cars here.
   As one of the Tata's top official Mr Patiawala, presented about India's
growth challenge in London few weeks ago, India's economy is going to have a
turning point by next 10 years. As Singapore prime minister quoted,
     "India is only a sleeping Lion. You will see it in action soon"
It is time we do something to project India in the right way it is, without
any distortions.

Kannan Venkatesh

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 00:12 GMT
From: dsah <NBTORRANCE/NBPOST/dsah%Netbase_Computing@mcimail.com>
Subject: NRI Accounts : Part-1

Hi Netters,
         This is in response to the information requested, on opening an NRI
account in India. It will exceed the restriction of 30 lines, but I believe,
the editor will allow it on the net as it is all essential information.
         Most of the foreign banks in India allow you to open an NRI account,
if you have completed 180 days of stay after landing in a foreign country. The
other nationalized banks do not have such a restriction. You are an NRI the
moment you land in a foreign country. The information I present over here is
true for the nationalized banks. It is not clear to me, to what extent it is
true for the foreign banks. These investments in a bank, by NRIs, attract a
package of incentives declared by the Government of India (GOI), in addition
to the return that you earn from deposits with them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU ARE A NON-RESIDENT INDIAN IF YOU ARE -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        an Indian citizen staying abroad for employment, business or vocation,
in circumstances indicating an indefinite period of stay outside India, or
an Indian citizen who has taken up a job on completion of higher studies
abroad;
        an Indian citizen working with international organizations like UN,
IMF, WHO etc.;
        an official of the Government or a Public Sector Corporation
temporarily deputized/posted abroad;
        a person having held at any time, an Indian Passport i.e. if you had
settled abroad permanently or gone abroad on emigration or if you are or
either of your parents or grandparents was an Indian and a permanent
resident in Undivided India at any time, or;
        the wife of a Non-Resident Indian or of a person of Indian origin
though you may actually be of Non-Indian origin.

        Corporate bodies with atleast 60% (sixty %) holding by NRIs are also
eligible to open NR Accounts (NRAs) and enjoy the benefits.

Dinesh Sah.

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 17:21:01 -0600 (CST)
From: DINESH@charlie.usd.edu
Subject: Rejoinder to Sriharsa/Ravida's defense of tamil et al

Dear Netters,
I am not surprised at Balasubramaniam aggressive denfense of his
culture,language . I followed the strategy and amunition of his arguments
** Does he know Tholkappiam is the authentic text written 5000 years ago.
obviously it is logical-  the language is old & so is its grammar.
** Does he know that Tamil is older than Sanskrit itself..
This is the standard line of defense adopted by tamilians - it is blind
oafish and rather presumptuous of one self
To this I can only respond by saying well coackroaches developed a medium
of communication which is much older than tamil, and since all languages
spoken by living beings are beautiful, lets begin by honoring coakroaches.
** Does he know that Tamil has no roots in Sanskrit and it can stand
alone repeat alone on itself.
Well Mr. Subramaniam that does not entitle you to play your jaaring tamil
trumpet. if one wants to live in a complex social/lingual/ethnic/ culture
like ours one must be very broad minded & should have inbuilt ability,instinct
to imbibe good aspects of other cultures and yet maintain distinct identity.
Thanks to tamilians all the south indians are looked upon by people
north of Vindhyas as Madrasis which we strongly detest and  protest.
           With this let me tell you a little bit about my background.
I belong to the State of Karnataka where apart from Kannada there
three different languages - Kodava, Konkani, Tulu and various dialects
of kannada - Dharwad, Mysore ,Malnad and Mangalore dialect.Apart from
these languages we have vast majority of Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam,
Hindi and other north indian and ofcourse tamil speaking people.
Kannada literature has won 5 Jnanapeeth awards . Among them 2 did not
have Kannada as their Mother tounge -D.R. Bendre spoke Marathi.
Masti Venkatesha Iyengar or Masthi Thaata - I have the fondest and most
pleasent memories of my childhood - fun and frolick we children at
Gavipuram,Basvanagudi had in vast courtyard of his house...
Well Masthi's mother tounge was tamil and his family communicated in tamil.
We are proud of G.P.Rajaratnam,G.Ramaswamy Iyengar, R.K.Narayanw-all had
non Kannada roots but all contributed to enrichment of Kannada culture,
language.The only common thread which binds us all together is Kannada Language.
Despite the unity - In 1983 Govt. of Karnataka wanted to implement
the Gokak committee reccomendations making Kannada as official state
language.Kodavas, Konkanis, Tulus,Telugus, Malyalees , other north indians
did not protest. Guess who were the only ones who shouted loud ....
As a result we still do not have Kannada as official official language
But we are still proud to be Kannadigas.

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 11:24:10 EST
From: sray@betty.Prime.COM ( Subharanjan Ray )
Subject: Root Cause by Parvatiyar Atul

Atul:

I think you are right. India-digest holds living proof
to your hypothesis.

Ray.

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 14:46:12 EST
From: saba@shrsys.hslc.org
Subject: Solutions to Fun Puzzles from SABA

Here are the solutions to puzzles that I posted a couple of days ago.
I give solutions below each puzzle:

1. How would you obtain twenty by removing one from nineteen?
Soln: Remove I from XIX to get XX.
2. If it is 8 AM now, what time will it be 99, 999, 999 hours from now?
Soln: It will be 11 PM; because, by dividing 99, 999, 999 hours by 24 hours,
you obtain a reminder of 15 hours, and 15 hours from 8 AM is 11 PM.
3. A man wants to board a plane with a 5-ft rod, but airline regulations say
that the maximum length of any object or parcel checked on board is 4 ft.
Without bending or cutting the rod, or altering it in any way, how did the
man check it through without violating the rule? (Of course he did not cheat!)
Soln: He used a 3ft by 4ft suitcase and put the rod diagonally without any
problem whatsoever. (Use of Pythagorus Theorem!)
4. A person buys 100 birds for $100.  A rooster is worth $10, a hen is worth
$3 and chicks are worth $1 a pair.  How  many roosters, hens, and chicks did
he buy, if he bought at least one of each type?
Soln: 5 Roosters, 1 Hen and 94 Chicks.
5. My son's father is your father's only child. How am I related to you?
Soln: I am the wife and you are my husband!

How many of you did how many right? Do you want to see some mind bogglers
on the network?  Please let me know.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 00:14 GMT
From: dsah <NBTORRANCE/NBPOST/dsah%Netbase_Computing@mcimail.com>
Subject: Stocks and Bonds : Part-1

Hi Netters,
    I had previously written that I will be posting this article. The
article was so long that it was requested to be shortened. So here's the
first piece.
    Before going into the tradings business, I would like to write
something about the business infrastructure. All acknowledgments, references
will be mentioned in the last posting (on this subject, from my side). The
information presented in this, and subsequent, postings need not be
exhaustive.
    The firms that specialize in creating, trading, and selling
"securities" are often referred to as BROKERAGE FIRMS. A brokerage firm has
various departments to perform different functions. Not all firms have every
department that follows. Infact, many small firms, called SPECIALITY FIRMS
or BOUTIQUES, perform just one of the functions.
    VENTURE CAPITAL division provides very small companies with "seed
money". Newly formed companies often need to research, develop, test, and
market new products or ideas - all of which needs money. In exchange, the
firm usually acquires a partial ownership interest in the new company.
    CORPORATE FINANCE division is responsible for raising capital for more
established companies. It advises the corporate clients on the most
cost-effective way for them to raise the capital needed to finance their
growth. Usually, this means selling new shares of stocks or bonds.
    MUNICIPAL FINANCE division is responsible for assisting state and local
goverments in raising the money they need to build schools, roads,
hospitals, and the like. Capital is raised primarily by selling bonds, which
receive interests that can be exempt from income-tax.

...To be continued...
Dinesh Sah.

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 10:29:12 EST
From: Atul Mathur <atul@vnet.ibm.com>
Subject: The poem as promised ! ("SEETA BOL")

Seeta bol, suna apni kahani
 bahut sunli humne auron ki jubani
Janak ne byaha tujhe rajputra se aur kaha,
 pati ke haath mai rahana, dhanush si jhuki, mudi, namansheel.
 Kya dekha nahin tune Ram ka Shiv-dhanush bhanjan?
 kahte hain tune jo thi ek adarsh suta,
 sur jhuka sub svikara, pita ke ghar se hui vida.
Pati ke sang vanvaas chuna, kya na sahaa,
 Dukh, Abhav, Apharan aur phir Bahishkaran.
 Dahakti lupton mein li gayi satya ki pariksha,
 pidit ko di gayi dohri pida.
 Ban sakti thi kya phool woh lupten bin jhulsaye aatma ko?
 Kahten hain tu thi adarsh roop patni,
 tune koi savaal na poocha, maan li uski hur itcha.
Wah dewar jo bhai ke paksha bhavetaan ho jaata tha kshan mein,
 Chod gaya tujhe jo thi sagarbha ghane jungalon mein akelaa.
 Na koi safai, na shabd santvana ke, bus bhai ka adesh, kuch nagrikon ka sandeh.
 Kya aurat par atyachaar nahin tha is yogya ki jaga sake nyayapriya lakshman
 ka kop?
 Aur tune Sita, param-snehmayi bhabhi,  sahti rahi chupchaap hur santaap,
 Laut jaane diya use phir bhai ke paas.
Mamta se sinche, khule vanon ke neeche, paale tune jo do putra,
 Poori sena ko chunauti dene ki jinme thi kshamata.
 Ek shabda se nirastra ho gaye, bin hitchkitchahat chale gaye pita ke paksha,
 Bhavishya ke raja, raj-pidhiyan savarne,
 Unke pitratva par utha na koi sawaal, phir bhi tere satitva par tha avishvas.
 Snehmayi Maa tune unhe bhi na roka, sur jhuka haath jod, li vida,
 Kaha dharti ko, phut pad, sharan de!
Jin kaviyo ne likhi teri katha, woh bole
 Aurat nahin hai Ramayan sunene ke yogya,
 Woh to matra pashuvat kewal prahar ke yogya.
 Kya de sakti tujhe garima aisi katha, phir bhi nirvirodh ve kahte rahe katha.
 Aise jhooth ko banaa diya pratha.
Sita kuch to bol, Tu jo khel khel mein utha leti thi Shiv-Dhanush ek haath se,
 Tu jo hila sakti thi dharti ko ek shabd se,
 Kis tarah unhonen kar diya tujhko maun!
** Guys, I hope you like this short poem. It gives a whole new meaning to
  Sita's character in Ramayan. It also elaborates on the plight of the women.
  I hope this poem springs open a lively debate on Women in India, their
  liberation, hopes, trials and triumphs.

Atul Mathur

[Mr Mathur has provided the Editor with a translation for the above poem.
 The translation will appear in tomorrow's Digest. Thank you.
                                                                 - Editor ]

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

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 10:41:37 -0800
From: govind@hpindsh.cup.hp.com
Subject: The Problem of Multiple Languages in India

The barrage of "I hate your language" views expressed in this forum has
led me to also believe that there some people around looking for ways to
fix this multi-language problems/issues in India.
There is little doubt in my mind that the root cause of the language
problems that are affecting the Union of India stem from the nature of
events during the Indenpendence period and thereafter. While this may
look like a lot of questioning of basics I would like you to read on
with your passions under check and your analytical and creative thinking
at the best. The answer seems not so much in revolution as in evolution.
Our constitution does not seem to have evolved out of the psyche and
internal struggle of the people of India as much as our freedom struggle
did. The character that does stands out in the free India is the spirit
of Independence and also aspects of democratic values. The worry is the
the principles and psyche related to unity among the people.
I always felt that many aspects of our constitution were synthetic
adoption of constitutions of other democratic countries existing around
that period who had seemingly been successful in embracing certain basic
tenets of democratic thinking. We wanted independence from British Rule
but we left our fate to be decided by a bunch of constitution experts
and political leaders. The leaders knew how to stir the masses against
the British Rule but were not very studied in the way things had to be
governed thereafter. We had mastered some things such as disobedience
but were still learning self rule. The die was being cast during the
process of gaining Independence when our constitution was being drafted
and accepted. The question of self rule approaches and its acceptance
had not preoccupied our mind much during the Independence struggle.
Remember the Hindu-Muslim riots just around the time of Independence.
Mahatma Gandhi told free Indians certain things about self rule at that
time. He also paid the price for this learning experience with his life.

Based on this interpretation I would like to learn about your views on
the following: a) The Indian leaders of "free India" had chosen
administrative division of the union into states based on the language
criteria alone. Why ? b) What should be the basis for approach to
resolve the language issue ?
Thanks for your audience. I am waiting to hear your views. Happy
Holidays and Happy New Year.

Govind T. Chari

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

Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 14:58:23 -0400 (AST)
From: Girish <bond@jupiter.Sun.CSD.unb.ca>
Subject: The Roots of the Recent Violence in India - Part 3 of 4

    "The Roots of the Recent Violence in India" by Subhash Kak (Copyright)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    The leftist parties take it as axiomatic that India's backwardness  is
    due  to  the nature of the Hindu religion.  The Hindu right feels that
    the caste politics of the leftist parties is a ploy to destroy India's
    heritage.   It  has  countered  by seizing on the emotive issue of the
    historical wrongs by certain Muslim kings like Babar and Aurangzeb  to
    divert the attention from the caste politics of the left.

    Observing the events of the past three years one sees that the Ayodhya
    temple  issue  has  often heated up following the moves of the left on
    the caste quotas.

    There is a feeling that the Congress party will not  remain  in  power
    too  long because of the international collapse of the socialist model
    of economy, which was the foundation of the party's policies.  What we
    witness  then is a bitter fight between the left and the right for the
    heart of India.

    An asymmetric law

    Now imagine the U.S. with a law that allows only the religious minori-
    ties  to  run their tax-exempt parochial schools.  In such a situation
    it will be natural for the Christian majority  to  consider  this  law
    discriminatory  and  have  it  expunged.  Such an asymmetry is another
    reason behind religious discord in India today.

    An obscure Article [30(1)] in the Indian Constitution was used in  the
    70's  by  the  Communist provincial government of West Bengal to chal-
    lenge the right of the Hindus  to  run  their  schools  and  colleges.
    According to this Article members of the majority religion do not have
    the right  to  establish  their  own  religious  schools  whereas  the
    minority  religions  do.   When  the Supreme Court of India upheld the
    interpretation of the Communists, several Hindu sects (such as Ramakr-
    ishna Mission) that ran schools filed for or received status as minor-
    ity religions  to prevent the government takeover of their schools.

    The government of India did not respond to this ruling of the court to
    try  to change the law so that all religions would be treated equally.
    This has led to a great resentment amongst the Hindus.
                                                        ( To be continued )

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

Date: 24 Dec 1992 10:03:57 -0700 (MST)
From: SANDEEP KRISHNAMURTHY <KRSNA@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: XLers are the best

Hi everybody!!!!!!

We had a posting on the network asking all XLers to contact us with info on
themselves and their friends in the US. We have got a number of responses.
Hey guys! It was great heraing from you.

This posting is for those who did not get it the first time around.

We guys (me and Nidhi) are trying to get to know all the XLers in the US.
This is an informal campaign to get to know people and not in any way
related to official fund raising ones. We just want to get to know all the
XLers in the US to keep in touch and exchange valuable batch gossip and
get nostalgic about the passions we all share as XLers.

SO, DO FIND THE TIME TO SEND US MAIL GIVING THE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR BATCH,
YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NO. AND E-MAIL ADDRESS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVEUS
DETAILS OF FRIENDS YOU KNOW.

Hoping to hear from you.

My e-mail  address is : krsna@ccit.arizona.edu(Internet) or
                        krsna@arizvm1.ccit.arizona.edu (Bitnet).
Bye

Non-Illegitmis Carborundum.

SANDEEP KRISHNAMURTHY

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

End of India Interest Group Digest
**********************************


Newsgroups: purdue.forsale,soc.culture.indian