From: t60bss9@mp.cs.niu.edu (Bijoy Sagar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: India-D digest Tue 29 Dec 92
Date: 30 Dec 1992 21:37:46 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


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 Tue, 29 Dec 92       Volume 2: Issue  60

Today's Topics:

      A feeble attempt at translating! ("SEETA BOL")
      Aftermath
      An original Ajit fatta!
      Bulls - A Poem
      Details of the Shah Bano case?
      Indianizing Islam: "sacrilege vs. sacrifice"
      Info required
      Jobs in Transportation Engg
      Mahabharat on TV
      NRI Accounts : Part-2
      Questions on Conversion in Islam
      Regarding open letter to Najid Hussain
      Sambaar
      Stocks and Bonds : Part-2
      Swastik question
      The Roots of the Recent Violence in India - Part 4 of 4
      Truth beckons us all....(part 1 of 2)
      Waste of time - language issue

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Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 12:44:54 EST
From: Atul Mathur <atul@vnet.ibm.com>
Subject: A feeble attempt at translating! ("SEETA BOL")

I will attempt to bring out the essence of the poem in
a feeble attempt at translating this, here it goes ...

                         SPEAK SEETA SPEAK
Speak Seeta, tell us your version of the story,
 We have heard and had enough from others.
Janak got you married into Royalty, and said Stay in the hands of your
 husband, like a bow, bent and understanding. Did you not see the breaking
 of Shiva's Bow by Ram? People say, you were a wife to be emulated, But you
 lowered your head and accepted everything, and left your father's home.
With your hasband you chose isolation, you tolerated everything,
 Sadness, Sorrow, Lack, Kidnaping and finally Rejection. In fire you were
 tested for your purity, The pained was subjected to more pain. Can those
 flames turn into flowers without burning your soul? People say that you
 were an example for a wife, But still, you did not question and accepted
 all his wishes.
That brother-in-law who would loose his temper in favour of his brother at
 any instant, Left you in the thick jungles while you were pregnant, There
 were no words of explanation or consolation from him, just a silent agreement
 on his brother's wishes and suspicion of the subjects ofthe kingdom. Was this
 crime on women not enough for justice loving Lakshmana to enrage him? And you
 Seeta, highly affectionate sister-in-law, kept quite and allowed him to go
 back to his brother without questioning anything.
With love you raised two wonderful children in the open jungles, who could
 challenge the entire army of Ram, they too turned speechless, and left you on
 your own and went away with their father, To head and improve the future of
 the kingdom, Nobody questioned the fatherhood of Ram but everyone had
 suspicions on your purity. You, an affectionate mother did not stop your
 children who were going away with their father, Here too you lowered your
 head, folded hands and readied yourself for the final test,
 Asked the mother earth, to accept you back.
The poets who have written your story said, Women are not fit to read or
 listen to Ramanyan, she is just an object of pleasure and pain,
 How can such a story provide you with the respect due to you, but still they
 continue to tell your story, they have made the lies acceptable to the world.
Speak Sita, Speak. You who could lift the Shiva's dhanush in one hand, you who
 could move the mother earth with a single word, How, How did they manage to
 silence you!

I hope I have done justice here to this powerful poem.

Atul Mathur

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 92 0:52:10 EST
From: sbhati86@Calvin.EDU (Sanjay Bhatia)
Subject: Aftermath

Hi everyone,
        Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!
Well, I am aware of the fact that we are not supposed/allowed to write
any more about the Ayodhya issue.  But this concerns the aftermath and
and some ideas so I really hope that it makes it in the next issue.
        Last week, with the end of the riots, our clothing store
opened up in the Crawford Market area in Bombay.  Within a few hours,
there were a group of people from the local Haj Committe who came by
with petrol cans and stuff.  They demanded that each sindhi shopowner
pay up an ammount from Rs. 10000 to 50000, (depending on the size of
your store), to pay for damages done to the Muslim shops.  Now this
was with the understanding that if you refused, your shop would be set
on fire, and, you have 3 days to make the payment.  Three days because
they understand that some of the shops have a total inventory of like
Rs. 10000 ... they would obviously need time to borrow or make
arrangements for that ammount.  Now mind you only the sindhi shop
owners were approached.  All this because Mr. L.K. Advani is a sindhi
and so his brethren would have to pay the price for his sins.
        Well, that is the way things are turning to be back home for
some of us.  Worst is happening in the old refugee camps in and around
Kalyan and it would take a long time for me to write it all out.
These are not just stories you read about in the press about
happenings far away from home, this is the experience of my parents
and the people who work for us.  Now why is it that we have to go
though all this even though we never had anything to do with the real
thing?  Some of our best friends/business partners are Muslims and we
have never blamed them or held them responsible for anything that
members of their community do.  Some of us might dismiss this as a
need for education.  Well then we go to school and start up new issues
about caps and stuff.  Any other suggestions/comments/reasons?
        Now please dont get me wrong.  I am only bringing up an
incident here for you to think about and not to fight about.  I have
often been branded as a pseudo-secularist on this net and dont want to
start a big netwar here.  Believe me some of my best friends back home
and a couple here are Muslims and I dont hate them or anyone else for
this.  I am not blaming any single community either.

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 12:56:10 -0500
From: Harsha Prem Kumar <eestuud@wam.umd.edu>
Subject: An original Ajit fatta!

This is an original Ajit fatta we made up for one of our
skits at IIT-Delhi :
        Ajit is in a partying mood and has asked Rawbert to get him
Rosy to brighten up his evening. Rawbert returns with many cuties
but without Rosy :

Ajit : Rawbert, Rosy kidhar hai?
Rawbert : Boss, yehan pe mona hai, halen hai, Tina hai, aakhir Rosy
hi kyon?
Ajit : Are Rawbert, SIRFrosy (Sarpheroshi) ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai,
        Dekhna hai zhor kitna bazhue katil me hai !

As requested by the editor, I shall attempt to translate this joke
into English.

Ajit : Rawbert, Where is Rosy ?
Rawbert : Boss, We have Mona, Halen and Tina here, Why then do you
insist upon Rosy?
Ajit : The aspiration for self-determination is now in our hearts,
We have to see how much strenght is there in the arms of the murderer.

DID I PROVE A POINT ?

Harsh Premkumar

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 92 20:51:46 EST
From: srsurapa@mtu.edu (SRINIVAS SURAPANANI)
Subject: Bulls - A Poem

Whats this bull about the Bulls I say     | So O' Bulls, listen to this
 harmless and serene as they bray         |  shepherd now and chew on my
 chewing the bile in leisure              |  verses later for I speak
 in calm and stupor                       |  from the Quran and Gita
 with occasional wagging of the tail      |  harness no hatred for the fakirs
 at the buzzing Bees                      |  even if their magic in Abracadabra
                                          |  is not as mystical as your mantras
Only when it's drunk                      |  and holy hymns
 with the spirits of the past             |  as they are your true brethren
 will it see the red                      |  in flesh and blood
 and off it comes out of stupor           |  for they look and bleed
 with untold chargin                      |  like you and me
 its horns blaring                        |  in shades of brown and red.
 and nostrils flaring                     |
 charging the common folk and             |          Srini Surapanani
 falling for the enemy trap               |
                                          |  (The cowboy from the land of holy
May be the Bull needs a cowboy            |       cows and magic fakirs)
 with a slender cord                      |
 who with the flick of his wrist          | P.S: The sins of mankind
 apply the whip                           |      echo from heaven to hell
 sharp and stinging                       |      and the sounds of whiplash
 painful but effective                    |      ring whoosh, wheesh and
 in sobering the wretched nerves          |      wooooooooooooooooosh.
 of drunken Bull to the realities         |
 of the present and future                |
                                          |
So beware O' Bulls                        |
 and lay off the dark spirits             |
 for they will cause only untold hardships|
 for the holy cows and magic fakirs       |
 and in the present times so wrought with |
 despair and drought                      |
 all they need from you is                |
 not a pair of your horns                 |
 but a share of your corn                 |
 from the harvest in the                  |
 rich green pastures                      |

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

Date: 26 Dec 1992 12:16:37 -0600 (CST)
From: SKK6587%TNTECH.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
Subject: Details of the Shah Bano case?

Will somebody please care to detail the Shah Bano case. It is my
understanding that Shah Bano was divorced by her husband and was not paid
any alimony; and that was why she filed a case against him? under the Indian
Penal Code. But Mr. Mohammed A. Sami (masami@cs.mtu.edu) implies in his
article dated 12/23/92 that she is a widow.

> Take for instance the oft-cited "Shahbanoo case". Islam not just permits but
> encourages widow remarraige, and hence maintenance doesnt have much meaning.

So whom did she file a case against? and what exactly were the twists and
turns taken by the case?

Mr. Sami also asks a rhetorical question

> How can a nation progress by killing its own children or destroying its
  parts.

If the progress he is talking about is of the kind that the western world
has made, then there are two nations which readily come to mind that have
progressed despite the genocide of certain sections of their population -
The USA, and Germany!

In the case of The USA, I think I will not be too far off if I say that the
progress that this country has made is a direct consequence of the mass
murder of Native Americans (about a 100 million of them over a century).
Just imagine what the situation here would have been like, if all of them were
allowed to survive and procreate!!!!

With role models like The USA, and Germany, the particular question asked
above might be brushed aside by fanatics anywhere.

SUJEEV K. KOMMANA

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

Date: 27 Dec 1992 12:39:31 -0600 (MDT)
From: SL24K@CC.USU.EDU
Subject: Indianizing Islam: "sacrilege vs. sacrifice"

Hi folks. I appreciate a recent posting by Z.A.Mohammed. It is true that neo-
muslims are emerging in India. They are driven more by the desire to progress
than by the local clergy's lip service (In this context, a recent issue of
India today provides significant evidence).

While in my opinion there is no doubt that all Indian citizens should eventually
be governed by the same laws (irrespective of rel., caste etc.) the question is
'when and how to implement it'. eg. How and when (not why) should muslims
embrace the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)? Mr. ZAM's vision is to educate the muslims
first and then possibly consider (if need be) implementing it. While it sounds
good, it is not practically possible. Firstly, Hindus (minus pseusecs) will be
left with a powerful tool to point to the injustice meted out to them.
Secondly, consider a society fraught with thugs (we know of many). By ZAM's
logic, policing is not necessary if a thug ed program is in place and until
then people live in constant fear. I realize that Mr.ZAM (and others) would
object to the extension the above to our situation by arguing that Indian
muslims cause no harm to others by not embracing the UCC (atleast rightaway).
Well, the defence is: 'every Indian citizen, irrespective of who or what he
is, is affected by virtually every Indian law'. eg. A child in a dharavi slum
is affected by MRTP act (micro (businessmen) -> macro (Govt.) -> micro (slum
child)). Muslims have increased their proportion in the Indian pop. since
1947 from 10% to 15% by the clergy ratified policy of 'liberal procreation'.
While I understand that in Islam, children are a gift of God I can very well
see how well God has been protecting large muslim families. Does it not affect
the others also in a resourse limited environment ? Let us all work towards
redefining secularism as 'equal opportunity for practicing all relegions with
strict adherence to the Uniform Civil Code, which rules above all'. This might
require that Islam itself may have to be redefined to suit the Indian context,
which is not sacrilege but sacrifice towards a better India, particularly for
the Indian muslims. Remember, one's right is another's duty and vice versa.
Stop stabbing the Indian constitution, it is already bleeding profusely.
Jai Ind.
Arjun Ram.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 14:13:53 CST
From: Kurinji Sathasivam <Kurinji.Sathasivam@eng.auburn.edu>
Subject: Info required

Hi !

        I am writing a piece on "AIDS in India" for our local AIDS
newsletter. I would be grateful if any of you with info on this topic
would share it with me. If you can can guide me to the sources
containing such material, that would be fine too.

        Note, if you are send me anything on this topic, PLEASE do not
forget to mention where exactly you picked it up from (Journal/Magazine
name, Volume #, Issue, Date, Title of the article). If you are expressing
your own views, state that fact clearly.

        I don't wish to be caught in the same position as the person who
initiated a discussion with "50 % of males in India have their first ..."
and failed to substantiate it till the very end. (That had all the
makings of a good discussion though, too bad it took all kinds of detours
because of that dubious claim & got lost somewhere.)

        Reply by e-mail or post it on INDIA-D if you think the matter is
of general interest.

Tks

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

Date: Sun, 27 Dec 92 00:11:29 CST
From: Geethakrishnan <C602165@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Subject: Jobs in Transportation Engg

We are graduate students in transportation engineering interested in
taking up a job in this field soon after graduation (aug 93). We would
like to get in touch with people employed in this field to get some
valuable tips on employment opportunities. We would be grateful to
anybody who could provide us some information in this regard.

                    Thanks in advance.

Geethakrishnan                          Sathish.E.S
c602165@mizzou1.missouri.edu            c603400@mizzou1.missouri.edu
(314)- 449 - 9864                       (314)- 449 - 9864

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

Date: Sun, 27 Dec 92 10:53:53 -0500
From: balaji@mglmmb1.nci.nih.gov (P.V.BALAJI)
Subject: Mahabharat on TV

Dear Netters,
The Indian Television megaserial Mahabharata will be telecast
on the International channel from next Sunday i.e., 3rd January 1993.
It will be telecast every Sunday from 7pm eastern time for a total
of 92 weeks and each telecast will be of 1 hour duration.
Interested netters can watch the serial. I live in Montgomery
county, Maryland and here the channel number is 03. Most probably
you can receive this channel only if you have cable connection but
I am not sure of this. Please check with your cable company or
friends in your area. They also show a Hindi movie every Friday
afternoon around 2.00pm (eastern time).
Bye Bye
Balaji, National Institutes of Health.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 00:12 GMT
From: dsah <NBTORRANCE/NBPOST/dsah%Netbase_Computing@mcimail.com>
Subject: NRI Accounts : Part-2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BENEFITS THAT YOU CAN DERIVE OUT OF YOUR SAVINGS IN INDIA BY WAY OF
NON-RESIDENT (EXTERNAL) ACCOUNT AND FOREIGN CURRENCY NON-RESIDENT ACCOUNT:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Your deposit can earn interest upto 15% (fifteen %) PA, which is much
higher than what the banks can offer you abroad.
   Even this high rate of interest you earn, is free from Income Tax.
   Your investment as also interest on these deposits are exempted from
Indian Wealth Tax irrespective of the account.
   Your principal and interest can be repatriated to any country of your
choice other than Nepal, Bhutan, and South Africa.
   Gifts from these accounts to the close relatives in India are free from
Gift Tax.
   You can avail of loan against Term Deposit upto Rs. 10 (ten) lakhs (one
million) for purposes other than investment. However, for the purpose of
investment and for a loan beyond Rs. 10 lakhs, approval of the Reserve Bank
of India is necessary.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO HOLDERS OF NRAs RETURNING TO INDIA:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   With prior permission from RBI, you can easily reconvert the amount
brought from abroad, if you decide to leave India again within 5 (five)
years from the date of returning to India.
                                    OR
   Under Returning Indians Foreign Exchange Entitlement Scheme (RIFEES),
on your return to India you will be allowed, at your request, to utilize 50%
(fifty %) of the total amount of foreign exchange repatriated by you for
your future trips abroad, your children's education abroad, your medical
treatment abroad and for gift remittances and import of special equipments
(for professional use) and payment of premia on your foreign currency
insurance policies, upto 10 (ten) years from the date of your return. In
order to keep this option alive, you need to fill in a RIFEES form within 90
days of your return to India.

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

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 92 21:01:47 CST
From: mohammed@cs.uh.edu (Zulfikhar Ali Mohammed)
Subject: Questions on Conversion in Islam

Dear Readers,
  It is heartening to note that Hindus are seeking information about Islam as
was done by one Mr.Jay Samudralwar. He has asked for answers to these questions
which I am reproducing verbatim and will try to give the required information.
1. Does Islam favours, orders for converting people by hook or crook to Islam?
2. Does it promise any reward for it?
3. If it want more and more people to turn to it and spread the doctrine of Isl
am, does it give same liberty to other religions? i.e.,to spread their doctrine?
Why, it should close the exits from Islam if a muslim is convinced that he can
achieve more by embracing other religion?
  1. No, definitely not by hook or crook.There is a clear verse in the Quran
whose approximate translation is : "There is no Compulsion in religion.The
right path has been made so distinct from the wrong that whoever goes astray
does so according to his own will".If somebody enforces Islam on someone else,
he is going against this verse.Then again there is a verse telling Muslims that
their duty is only to convey the message.It is up to the God and the other
person whether he accepts the message or not.
  2. No, i.e if you mean reward for converting people; however, Islam does
promise a reward for passing on the message.
  3. Yes.  Islam gives other religions liberty to spread their faith. This is
clearly demonstrated by the fact that even today in Muslim countries Christian
missionaries freely go about spreading their literature, pamphlets, etc.
  The next question requires some explaining.Consider the case of a country, say
the US.It does not force you to become its citizen.But once somebody becomes
a citizen, can he bocome a traitor? Can he go and fight against the principles
of the US (like democracy, equality, freedom, etc)? Similarly, Islam never for-
ces anyone to become a Muslim. But once someone is a Muslim, it expects him to
be loyal to it and not go against it. Is that unreasonable?
  Mr.Samudralwar also asks: "...The question of killing own daughter, just for
marrying with a christian boy...What is your opinion?  Was that right or wrong?"
My opinion is the same as that of Islam: It is definitely wrong to kill in such
a case. And that too an individual taking this kind of action is totally wrong.
Of course, Islam doesn't allow such a marriage - but the penalty is not death.
Finally, remember that in the case of not only Muslims, but any group of people,
there are always some extremists who do certain actions of their own accord, and
attribute them to their religioun. One should not judge the ideologies of the
religion by such actions.  For e.g, just because one person in Rajasthan made
his daughter-in-law commit sati, does it mean the Hindu religion encourages it,
or that the Hindu community approves of it?
Your's in Islam,
Z. Ali Mohammed.

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

Date: Sun, 27 Dec 92 12:52 CST
From: RDHARMAP%UTSIV1.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
Subject: Regarding open letter to Najid Hussain

Dear Mr. Mohmmad,
      Read your posting titled 'reply to a letter to najid',
I appreciate your reply but would also like to make a point that except
for the heading, your letter  does not reply to any of the questions.
The only one thing you have said is ' shut up its none of your business'
(ofcourse in a much nicer way.)!
      Dear Sir, the question was why the muslims who rise against the
ills in their society are outcast by the theologians of your faith?
The question was about "vande mataram' the national prideof India, the
question was burning the effigies of Arif Mohmmad Khan, Shuting the
voice of the poor woman Shah bano. The question was about the vitriolic
speeches of some leaders.The problem is, your kind of attitude is going
to alinate the Muslim community away from the mainstream.
      Ofcourse, I am very sure if Najid would have replied to  this
letter, it would have been with a more open mind.
      Anyway, Thanx for your concern

Rajeev

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 92 13:40:48 EST
From: suryadev@jove.rutgers.edu (Ravi Prakash Suryadevara)
Subject: Sambaar

Hi netters,

If Tamilians are disturbed by the fact that the national language is Hindi
and the national song is a Bengali one and their sweetest (?) lang. is
totally sidelined I have an advice for u guys. Onething (or the only thing)
u can be proud of is ur sambaar. So howbout floating a demand to recognize
sambaar as the national dish. I am sure that the rest of the Indians are
as narrowminded as u people are to support this demand.

I have a straight question. As everybody knows the last state in the country
to respond to the national issues, Mandal or Mandir for instance, is Tamilnadu.
It doesn't mean they are indifferent to the issues. They respond only if the
issue involves Tamilnadu, Kaveri waters or Jayalalitha threatens to quit
politics few to name. Now tell me. Do u really think that u people deserve
representation at the national level other than what I mentioned in the
previous paragraph? Answer urselves.

Where else on the planet the lady opposition leader gets molested by the
fellow assembly members and the Chief minister gets slapped on the assembly
floor by a representative of the people? Tell me where else this could
happen. Have u ever felt that these incidents bring shame on India. Rest of
the country silently wathced when the highest order award was conferred on a
former Tamilian C.M MGR (may his soul rest in peace) though he didn't deserve
it. Why can't u guys be that broadminded?  Please dont mislead the other
people by writing some rubbish stuff that doesn't make sense like Tamil is the
mother language of the other South indian languages. We may have to watch a
meaningless arguement on the net again. I dont know about Malayalam but telugu
and Kannada are definitely not derived from Tamil (Older Telugu scribblings are
available than those of Tamil).

I don't intend to hurt any section of the country in my latter. This is only
an attempt to put some facts together. Though I come from south India, i love
everything that belongs to my motherland. I love my country. I wanna see my
great country in peace not in pieces. Please try to rise beyond the scopes of
nepotism, separatism, sessionalism and regional feelings to love the country.
Dont hesitate to say jai Hind just because it is not ur language. Please join
the millions in singing the national song/anthem th0ugh it is not in ur
language. Let us march ahead united by sinking the differences and burning the
hard feelings over silly issues. __________  Suryadevara Ravi Prakash

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 92 00:14 GMT
From: dsah <NBTORRANCE/NBPOST/dsah%Netbase_Computing@mcimail.com>
Subject: Stocks and Bonds : Part-2

THE SYNDICATE DIVISION
        The corporate and municipal divisions do not sell securities. This task
falls on the syndicate division, which initiates the sale of new securities.
They are further sub-classified as:
        INSTITUTIONAL SALES - which caters to "institutional clients" like
banks, insurance companies, pension plans etc.
        RETAIL SALES - eg. individuals
        PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT - clients who lack the time and/or expertise to
manage their own investments, turn this responsibility over to a portfolio
manager or investment advisor.
        TRADING DIVISION - which is responsible for executing client's
securities orders. This department effects the actual purchases and sales of
securities, in accordance with the client's instructions. In addition, it
tries to buy and sell securities profitably with the firm's own money.
        In addition, there are other divisions which do not deal with the
clients, but are there to look into the smooth running of the firm.

SERVICE COMPANIES
        In addition to brokerage firms, numerous companies provide services to
the brokerage firms. Included in this category are:
        RESEARCH BOUTIQUES that provide research to the small brokerage firms.
        LAW FIRMS and ACCOUNTING FIRMS that specialize in working in the
securities industry.
        RATING AGENCIES that evaluate the credit quality of the various
publicily traded securities.

        The next article will be on the different types of securities.

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

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 92 19:18:25 EST
From: Sheldon Colaco <colaco@elsinore.csee.usf.edu>
Subject: Swastik question

Preeti Nigam asks -

>The symbol used by Nazis was not the Indian swastik but a mirror image
>of the Indian Swastik symbol. Why they used the mirror image, or whether
>it being a mirror image is just a coincidence, I dont know... I'd be
>thankful too if somebody has the answer for it...

According to Nostradamus' prophesies, Hitler was the Second Anti-Christ
(Napolean being the First Anti-Christ, and Saddam Hussein being, arguably,
the Third Anti-Christ). The right-handed Swastik was a symbol of good fortune
in both, Germany & India.  According to Christian belief, left symbolizes evil
while right symbolizes good, stemming from the nature of the robbers crucified
on the right & left of Christ. Hence, Hitler delibrately used the left-handed
swastik as his symbol. This fact is courtesy 'The Man who saw Tommorrow',
which is a documentry about Nostradamus' prophesies.

- Sheldon Colaco

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

Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 14:59:22 -0400 (AST)
From: Girish <bond@jupiter.Sun.CSD.unb.ca>
Subject: The Roots of the Recent Violence in India - Part 4 of 4

    "The Roots of the Recent Violence in India" by Subhash Kak (Copyright)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Likewise the change in the law in 1986 that  removed  Muslim  divorces
    from  adjudication by the Supreme Court will remain a lightning rod to
    channel Hindu discontent with India's legal framework.

    Pakistan and Kashmiri Refugees
    There is another important reason for the rise  of  the  recent  Hindu
    militancy.   This  is  the  general  belief  in India that Pakistan is
    behind the sectarian killings that have racked the provinces of Punjab
    and  Kashmir  for the past decade.  International pressure on Pakistan
    to dissociate itself from such sectarian violence  would  reduce  ten-
    sions.

    Another sore point are the victims of the sectarian violence in  Kash-
    mir.   The  government  of  India  has, for strange electoral reasons,
    decided to ignore them.  The Indian government should be asked to pro-
    vide  a  humane settlement for these Hindu refugees who have been lan-
    guishing in camps in Jammu and Delhi for the past three years.  If the
    government  cannot  guarantee  reasonable  protection even after three
    years of turmoil, it should provide compensation for loss of  property
    and jobs.

    The drama building up to the events in Ayodhya brings into  focus  the
    inadequacy  of  the Indian political and legal systems to resolve con-
    flicts.  Indian politicians have not shown courage or imagination dur-
    ing  the  whole  episode.   The sorry state of the judicial system has
    been made clear.

    The government needs to have a clear policy framework.  A democracy is
    a  covenant  between various interest groups and the colonial practice
    of banning organizations will be counterproductive.

    It is absolutely essential that the government of India undertake ini-
    tiatives  so  that  India  becomes  a  truly secular state.  The cheap
    remedy of righting historical wrongs through the system of caste  quo-
    tas that the Narasimha Rao government has embraced should be dropped.

    The press in India should be encouraged to develop an  editorial  con-
    vention to stop the incessant airing of historical injustices.

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 11:16 CST
From: SXVEF@basin.crc.uno.edu
Subject: Truth beckons us all....(part 1 of 2)

THE TRUTH BECKONS US ALL - A CLARION CALL TO THE YOUNG AND EDUCATED

     In an earlier edition I had reproduced an abstract of a speech by
Mr. Nani Palkhivala which I thought was very relevant for us today. Here is
first part my annexure to it...
     Most of the young and educated readers among us already are, or are
in the process of being, technically very qualified in various fields, be
it science, arts, or business. Thus, given the stench prevailing in the
political scene in India entering public life, now or later, is
admittedly a very difficult and monumental decision to make. It would
involve tremendous sacrifices in terms of career goals, monetary gains,
family life and perhaps, peace of mind forever!
     It would obviously involve jumping into a cesspool, with very little
idea of its depth and turbulence. But then the truth beckons us all. All
we need to do is to take a walk down history lane 45 years ago. If then,
the Mahatma, and umpteen others had continued with their distinguished
careers would we have seen the light of freedom today..the same light in
which we are basking in glory? (or shame?!)
     We require changes. Drastic changes. In India, where politics is
admittedly power, such changes are executed by politicians. No matter how
high we climb the ladder on other pedestals, - the way politics is played
and businesses are (forced to be) run in India - we are still puppets on
strings. Strings which are pulled and controlled by people not all of
whose integrity is unquestionable.
     Obviously there are quite a few people of infallible integrity up
there at the top. But in order to create drastic changes we need more
upright people. Many more. No angel from the heaven is going to come to
make these changes for us. We need, to put in the words of Jayprakash
Narayan, "a social uprising" and this has to start from us, the educated.
Else, most of our efforts will end up being a drop in an abyss, no matter
how magnificent and sincere our individual contributions and concerns.
...(to be continued..).
Sincerely,  Shankar V. Nathan

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

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 92 16:17:23 PST
From: vinodkum@scf.usc.edu (Vinodkumar Ramakrishnan)
Subject: Waste of time - language issue

Hi,
  I am really pained by the war of bits and bytes going on between so many
of our netters on the never-ending and ever-exploitable issue of languages.
Till I landed in the USA, I detested politicians as a tribe who were not
only power-hungry but also issue(s)-hungry.  I land here and I find that
we have the potential within our own netters to supply such politicians
at least for the next forty years.  Is it not sufficient for narrow-minded
people to fight over these issues back in our country?  Having got at least
a minimum of education back there and having made it to this place, shouldn't
we take upon ourselves the task of pushing our country forward in the
international community and earning for it a status of high esteem among all
the other nations. There was once a time when we were described as a nation
"with one foot in the group of developed nations and one foot in the groups
of developing countries".  We were expected to make the next entry into the
comity of developed nations.
  But would our politicians allow that?  Isn't it against the law of
nature!!!!?  Leave alone politicians, would more supposedly saner people from
our country( doesn't matter where they reside; the goal is the same) let that
happen?  No way.  Our politicians have trained us so well that we know how to
take off from where they stop.  So, it goes on.  We keep making circles.  On
an incremental basis, we feel we are making progress but on a macroscopic scale,
we get nowhere.  Think folks.  Is this what we want to do to our nation?  There
are more than enough people in our country to do all that.  Let us contribute
something positive.  If we can do no good, at least, let us stand at zero.
But please, no more on the negative side.  Let's stop wasting our time on the
numerous useless issues and let's discuss more constructive things which are
very much within the limits of feasibility.  And for those who eaglerly wait
to pounce on someone for uttering Hindi, Tamil, Ram, Masjid, etc.,  kindly
refrain for a while. Use your patience.  If you run out of it, maybe we can
have a scheme in which we write to the editor whether or not discussion on
that particular issue should be continued or not.  Let the editor make a
decision on the basis of majority. After all, our country has at least taught
us democracy. I am extremely sorry if I have offended anyone.   But please do
not fight over this on the channel.  E-mail me your comments, if any.

Vinod

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

End of India Interest Group Digest
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