08 December, 2006
The Communist State As A “Developmental Terrorist”
By Aseem Shrivastava
The sorrows of Singur are typical of India’s feudal globalization
It’s Your Nigger Problem Not Hip-Hop’s
By March Anthony Neal
"Debates over the use of the word ‘nigger’ in popular culture which highlight a philosophical divide within 'blackness.'"
Right To Information Emasculated
By Prashant Bhushan
Effectively unconstitutional when it comes to accountability of public servants, the proposed amendments in the Right to Information Act will take the life out of it
07 December, 2006
The Judiciary: Cutting Edge Of A Predator State
By Prashant Bhushan
There was a time, not so long ago, when the Supreme Court of India waxed eloquent about the Fundamental right to life and liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution to include all that it takes to lead a decent and dignified life.Alas, all that seems a distant dream now, given the recent role of the courts in not just failing to protect the rights of the poor that they had themselves declared not long ago, but in fact spearheading the massive assault on the poor since the era of economic liberalization. This is happening in case after case
29 November, 2006
Irom's Iron In The Soul
By Kavita Joshi
A rare interview with Irom Sharmila, the iron lady of Manipur, who is on a fast-to-death for over six years now. Six years without food, without a drop of water touching her lips. Six years of being held under arrest repeatedly on charges of “attempted suicide” by the government, and being forcibly nose-fed
27 November, 2006
Is Jain Minority Right In India
Receiving A Fair Deal?
By Bal Patil
In view of the unimpeacheable constitutional, judicial evidence and the views of the most illustrious leaders and the sitting members of the Government of India I submit that the Government of India should take an expeditious decision on issuing a Notification declaring Jains as a national minority on par with Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians
24 November, 2006
India's Roads Becoming Killing
Fields For The Homeless
By Vidyadhar Date
The media is full of reports of promotion of new car brands glorifying speed, how a car picks up speed of over a hundred km in just a few seconds and so on. But the elite is totally unconcerned with the immobility of the vast majority of people who are crammed like sardines in overcrowded trains
17 November, 2006
Irom Sharmila Chanu's Epic Satyagraha
By Harsh Dobhal
Six years of satyagraha. Sharmila continues her fast, in custody, confined to a room in AIIMS,New Dehli writing poetry, reading books, doing yoga. The struggle against AFSPA continues. In Manipur and in Delhi
Will India-Pak Peace Process Bring
Peace To Indian Muslims?
By Aleem Faizee
Tired of the harassment, trauma and shock, the Muslims in India are now banking on Indo-Pak peace initiatives. But the question that remains to be answered is, will India-Pak peace process bring peace to the Indian Muslims as well?
16 November, 2006
The Death Sentence ForMohammed Afzal Guru
And The Future Of Barbarism
By Aseem Shrivastava
Even if Afzal’s guilt is established, the Indian state must find the maturity to learn from countries like South Africa – which abolished capital punishment 11 years ago – rather than the US, where so many states, including Texas, send criminals to the gallows every year
05 November, 2006
Positively Neglected
By Preetu Nair
Women in commercial sex work are seen as agents of HIV and their clients unwitting victims. But in the absence of any economic rehabilitation or community based services, the HIV positive trafficked victim, the marginalized section of the society, continues to be commercially sexually exploited
31 October, 2006
'And His Life Should Become Extinct'
By Arundhati Roy
There ought to be a Parliamentary Inquiry into the December 13 attack on Parliament. While the inquiry is pending, Afzal's family in Sopore must be protected because they are vulnerable hostages in this bizarre story. To hang Mohammed Afzal without knowing what really happened is a misdeed that will not easily be forgotten. Or forgiven. Nor should it be
30 October, 2006
Books As Crime
By Subhash Gatade
Sunita Narayan, owner of Daanish Books, Delhi stands accused under the section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Ordinance, 2004 for committing the ‘offence’ of selling legally available literature
Child Abuse: As American As Apple Pie
By Lucinda Marshall
In the context of the real enormity of child abuse both in the US and in the world as a whole, it is hardly surprising that we allow the moral of the Foley story to be mis-framed as the sexual proclivities of one man, rather than a symptom of a much larger crime. If we truly valued families and the lives of children, these are the issues we would address
25 October, 2006
Little Fingers Which Used To Pick Rags
From Dustbins Are Learning To Write
By Anil Gulati
In the state of Madhya Pradesh in India more than two lakhs girls are either out of school or have dropped out at elementary level. Though state is doing their bit which when complemented by the efforts of non governmental organizations can help many like Divya and Madhu to go to school which helps add some colour on to the canvass of their lives
21 October, 2006
In Defence Of Afzal
By Colin Gonsalves
Afzal's case before the President must be made on the basis of truth. It needs no embellishments. It certainly needs no falsehoods. The record of the trial court shows undoubtedly that he did not receive a fair trial. The arguments before the President should proceed on the basis of the evidence on record that would shock anyone's conscience
Divide And Rule, But For How Long?
By Jawed Naqvi
In Delhi, Kashmiri Mohammed Afzal Guru, was falsely informed by someone that his lawyer instead of defending him at the High Court had in fact pleaded for him to be put to death by a lethal injection. We do not know how Guru came to that conclusion since he was not present during the proceedings at the high court
20 October, 2006
Attack On India's Parliament:Last Chance
To Know What Really Happened
By Nirmalangshu Mukherji
The attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001 was a major event in contemporary India. As the judicial procedure into this case nears its end, with Mohammed Afzal to be hanged on October 20, our effort to get at the truth as to what really happened is about to be scuttled. Who attacked Parliament and what was the conspiracy? On what basis did the NDA government take the country close to a nuclear war? What was the role of the State Task Force (J and K) on surrendered militants? What was the role of the Special Cell of Delhi Police in conducting the case?
Retributive Violence By The State
By Prashant Bhushan
There are many reasons therefore for commuting Afzal's death penalty. But given the charged opinions on this issue and with the BJP threatening to make this a national issue, I doubt that this government would have the courage to decide this matter on rational and relevant considerations
The Unheard Voices Of"Orang Bangla" In Malaysia
By Md. Saidul Islam, Mazharul Hoque,
Delwar Hossain & Kazi Shahadat Kabir
Bangladeshi labor migrants, locally known as "Orang Bangla" albeit in a derogatory sense, continue to serve Malaysia to perpetuate its status as an "economic tiger" in Asia
19 October, 2006
Afzal Must Not Be Executed
By Praful Bidwai
Afzal is by no means beyond the pale of reform. President Kalam should act sagaciously and commute his sentence. It's his constitutional and moral duty to prevent miscarriage of justice and apply a humane touch
17 October, 2006
Irom Sharmila: 'Iron Lady' Of Manipur
By Subhash Gatade
It is difficult to believe the saga of struggle of Irom Sharmila Thanu In fact it will be nearly six years that she would be on her hunger strike.She has remained without solid food since then, demanding withdrawal from her state, of one of the most draconian laws in the statue books called Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
14 October, 2006
Colin Gonsalves On Afzal Case
A Letter
"I was taken aback to hear that certain persons are spreading a rumour that I did not defend Afzal in the High Court and instead asked for him to be put to death by lethal injection"
13 October, 2006
Belabouring Over Child Labour
By Farzana Versey
The Indian government's recent announcement banning the employment of children as domestic servants and workers in roadside eateries, restaurants, teashops starts with a problem. The age limit is below 14 years. And its figures are 80 per cent off the mark – the verdict talks about 20 million children whereas the number is close to a 100 million
17 August, 2006
A People’s Freedom
By Anthony Ravlich
The introduction of the ‘unspoken’ economic, social and cultural rights in New Zealand
10 April, 2006
The 'Andhra Way' Of Countering
The Naxalite ‘Menace’
By Subhash Gatade
One does not know whether all those people who have been singing euologies to the Andhra model in curbing the ‘menace’ have ever bothered to look for themselves how ferocious it looks at the ground level. One does not know whether they comprehend that the mechanisms to be put in place would just be another name for instituting death squad regime under the canopy of democracy
27 February, 2006
"U.S. Administration Sees Itself As Being
Outside The Rule Of Law"
By Siddharth Narrain & Irene Khan
Amnesty International Secretary GeneralIrene Khan is the first woman, the first Asian, and the first Muslim to head the world's largest human rights organisation. In an interview in New Delhi recently, she spoke of the dangers of American policies, the need to reform the U.N. system, and India's human rights record
23 February, 2006
The Business Of Encounter Killing
By Sorit Gupto
Encounter killing is again a hot topic nowadays. This time it is for the arrest of Daya Nayak the sub inspector from Mumbai on corruption charges,who is better known as a Encounter specialist. According to an unconfirmed 'estimate' he has gunned down some 80-90 persons till date, amassing huge wealth in the process
