Knowledge is power, and I always hope to empower those who visit my blog in the hope of quenching their thirst for knowledge. I offer my apologies for not updating the blog as regularly as I can/should, since so much has happened that is dear to me, yet I still relegated my duty to empower and let it slip to a lower priority. I am sorry.
But, the good news is that I am back! And with a bang, I hope? My good friend from the UN, Dalai Fazio, a capable, accomplished young graduate of Rutgers and Seton Hall's Whitehead School, has started a great blog on diplomacy and power, titled, quite aptly, "Conversations on Diplomacy and Power Politics". He was awfully kind in asking me to engage in a dialogue for a podcast on the current scenario in India-Pakistan relations, with a focus on relations in the aftermath of the Mumbai attack. Please visit the blog and listen/download, comment, and feel free to spread the word, if you deem it worthy.
Meanwhile, I will update my blog more regularly. Should you come across issues, articles, thoughts that deserve a wider audience, please let me know. Some voices deserve - and need - the greater amplification, and I am happy to provide an alternative platform.
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Hidden Apartheid: Caste Discrimination against India’s “Untouchables” - 4/3
CHR&GJ
Center for Human Rights & Global Justice, NYU Law School of Law
Hidden Apartheid
Caste Discrimination against India’s “Untouchables”
The Center for Human Rights & Global Justice and the International Human Rights Clinic at NYU School of Law invite you to a briefing on the impact of our report on caste discrimination in India. The report, issued jointly with Human Rights Watch, was presented to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva during its review of India’s human rights record on February 23 & 26.
Presenters include:
Prof. Smita Narula, CHRGJ Faculty Director
Jayne Huckerby, CHRGJ Research Director
Stephanie Barbour, Tiasha Palikovic &
Jeena Shah, Clinic students
Reena Arora, CHRGJ fellow
Maithili Pradhan, CHRGJ intern
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007
6:00-7:30 p.m.
NYU School of Law
Vanderbilt Hall, Room 214
40 Washington Square South
I.D. required for entry
In what has been called India’s “hidden apartheid,” more than 165 million Dalits, or “untouchables,” continue to face discrimination, exploitation, and violence simply because of their caste. The report documents India’s systematic failure to respect, protect and ensure Dalits’ fundamental human rights.
Hidden Apartheid and related materials are available at www.chrgj.org
Thursday, March 29, 2007
"South Asian Cooperation and the Role of the Punjabs" by Tridivesh Singh Maini
(Photo of Singh with Ambassador John McDonald)
I recently came across some information about a fascinating book written by an Indian Punjabi fellow by the name of Tridivesh Singh Maini. Singh has studied in England and the US and has worked all over the world in diverse sectors and organizations, and is using his experiences constructively to talk about the role of the two Punjabs - Indian and Pakistani (that were torn apart during the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947) - in South Asian cooperation.
I have yet to get my hands on it, but will leave you with some resources that show you how much of a must-read this book is for anyone remotely interested in South Asia, especially cooperation and peace in that region.
Happy reading!
Links to coverage in Pakistani papers:
Coverage in Indian Papers:
The book is available from the following website;
Friday, March 02, 2007
Article: A blind eye to bigotry
When I read the title of the article, I thought it'd be something about Blacks in America or antisemitism in the Middle East, but alas - it was on the Muslim massacre that took place in Gujarat, India five years ago.
I recall the horrors of that time in South Asian history because I was living in Lahore, Pakistan when it happened. We saw the images, read the stories. And today, to see that the ultimate perpetrator of that tragedy - Chief Minister Narendra Modi - is still in power is revolting. His political party - the BJP - is ultra-right wing and is thankfully no longer in power nationally, yet the ugly serpent still rears its head occasionally.
The article opened my eyes to the fact, no matter what, to make money, people will stoop to the lowest rung on a ladder and not even be hesitant or remorseful about it. Take, for example, China, which buys a lot of oil from Sudan. Likewise, you've got huge corporations from all over the world that continue to do business in Modi's Gujarat.
Some excerpts copied below:
Five years ago this week, across the Indian state of Gujarat, the stormtroopers of the Hindu right, decked in saffron sashes and armed with swords, tridents, sledgehammers and liquid gas cylinders, launched a pogrom against the local Muslim population. They looted and torched Muslim-owned businesses, assaulted and murdered Muslims, and gang-raped and mutilated Muslim women. By the time the violence spluttered to a halt, about 2,500 Muslims had been killed and about 200,000 driven from their homes.
I recall the horrors of that time in South Asian history because I was living in Lahore, Pakistan when it happened. We saw the images, read the stories. And today, to see that the ultimate perpetrator of that tragedy - Chief Minister Narendra Modi - is still in power is revolting. His political party - the BJP - is ultra-right wing and is thankfully no longer in power nationally, yet the ugly serpent still rears its head occasionally.
The article opened my eyes to the fact, no matter what, to make money, people will stoop to the lowest rung on a ladder and not even be hesitant or remorseful about it. Take, for example, China, which buys a lot of oil from Sudan. Likewise, you've got huge corporations from all over the world that continue to do business in Modi's Gujarat.
Some excerpts copied below:
Five years ago this week, across the Indian state of Gujarat, the stormtroopers of the Hindu right, decked in saffron sashes and armed with swords, tridents, sledgehammers and liquid gas cylinders, launched a pogrom against the local Muslim population. They looted and torched Muslim-owned businesses, assaulted and murdered Muslims, and gang-raped and mutilated Muslim women. By the time the violence spluttered to a halt, about 2,500 Muslims had been killed and about 200,000 driven from their homes.
The events of 2002 did not conform to the paradigm of the war on terror, in which India was a prize ally, so never achieved the infamy in the west they deserved. An array of interests - in New Delhi, London and Washington - is dedicated to ensuring the atrocity is consigned to oblivion. For them, the release of Parzania, a feature film centred on the violence, is an uncomfortable development. Despite dramatic flaws, it accurately depicts the savagery of the anti-Muslim violence, its planned, coordinated character, and the complicity of the police and the state government. Cinemas in Gujarat, under pressure from the Hindu right, are refusing to screen the film.
If and when Parzania reaches audiences here and in the US, it will offer a necessary counter-tale to the fashionable fable of the Indian neoliberal miracle, exposing the brutality and bigotry that have gone hand in hand with zooming growth rates and hi-tech triumphalism.
· Mike Marqusee writes a column for the Hindu; his most recent book is Wicked Messenger: Bob Dylan and the 1960s.
Read the entire article from The Guardian.Thursday, January 18, 2007
My article: To proliferate or not to proliferate
My recent column in the Pakistani paper I write for went online earlier this morning and I am copying it below. Many thanks to my friend Christina Madden who provided some latent inspiration for it. Thanks, Christina!
To proliferate or not to proliferate
Nuclear energy is fast becoming a commodity the developing world wants to get its hands on. Iran, much to the chagrin of the rest of the international community, is well on its way to developing power plants to harness power from nuclear energy. And quick to follow suit is India. While both cases differ radically, India’s, much to the surprise of many of us, might prove to be the one to keep a watchful eye on.
This December, American politicians voted in favor of providing the Indians with “civilian nuclear technology”. This event has effectively reversed the US policy where the government would not provide any nuclear technology or know-how to anyone, irrespective of prior track record. While there will obviously be checks and balances every step of the way, the very fact that a country like India will be receiving this technology is cause for concern not only for Pakistan, but also for the entire world.
India has neither signed nor ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It has conducted numerous nuclear tests and the last time it received nuclear technology it proceeded to use it in preparation for a nuclear bomb under Indira Gandhi’s reign. While India is correct in arguing that it is in dire need of hefty power supplies to keep pace with its stupendous economic and industrial growth, it is incorrect in relying on the US for these “civilian” uses. Such a move on the part of the US government can single-handedly trigger an arms race the like of which was witnessed during the Cold War.
Taking advantage of the situation, the Chinese were quick to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan’s government wherein exchange of nuclear technology would take place between the two Asian countries. China has long been an ally of Pakistan and arriving at this current juncture was not difficult for either country. What remains to be seen is how the two countries proceed from here.
What interests me, though, is the use of public relations methodologies by the Indian authorities to garner support for this endeavor. While many recognizable people like US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice did the public bidding for the US-India civilian nuclear energy agreement, the deal was actually sealed behind closed doors with much assistance from lobbying firms and PR agencies. According to Subrata Ghoshroy, who is a research associate in the science, technology and society programme at MIT and directs a project to promote nuclear stability in South Asia, $ 1.3 million was spent on two lobbying firms. He mentions that one of the firms hired was Barbour, Griffith, and Rogers, which is headed by Robert Blackwill, a former US ambassador to India.
Needless to say, the Indian lobby is making its political power quite apparent by flexing its lobbying muscle. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on travel expenses of American political leaders shuttling between India and the US. To add to the pressure being exerted, the American Jewish community also played a leading role in promoting India’s cause.
A lot can be learnt from this whole experience. It is not only representative of the American political process whereby lobbies garner power and exert influence, but also where one can clearly see that the US no longer plays a role where it safeguards the interests of the international community. Today, that same country harms many millions the world over while allowing a minuscule number of them the opportunity to see the “American dream” come true. Today’s America cares, at best, only for itself, or at worst, for its closest allies in the dirty games it plays in the name of “civilization”, “development” and “modernity”.
Tomorrow’s world will be one where states compete for “civilian nuclear technology” while their own populations die for want of food, water and clothing. A shelter from their leaders is what they actually need. Their greed and vanity knows no bounds. At this very moment, I can imagine a child’s eyes closing for one last time as I type these final words. Perhaps, with sustained efforts, a future of non-proliferation can give that child one more chance at a life of peace and prosperity.
To proliferate or not to proliferate
Nuclear energy is fast becoming a commodity the developing world wants to get its hands on. Iran, much to the chagrin of the rest of the international community, is well on its way to developing power plants to harness power from nuclear energy. And quick to follow suit is India. While both cases differ radically, India’s, much to the surprise of many of us, might prove to be the one to keep a watchful eye on.
This December, American politicians voted in favor of providing the Indians with “civilian nuclear technology”. This event has effectively reversed the US policy where the government would not provide any nuclear technology or know-how to anyone, irrespective of prior track record. While there will obviously be checks and balances every step of the way, the very fact that a country like India will be receiving this technology is cause for concern not only for Pakistan, but also for the entire world.
India has neither signed nor ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It has conducted numerous nuclear tests and the last time it received nuclear technology it proceeded to use it in preparation for a nuclear bomb under Indira Gandhi’s reign. While India is correct in arguing that it is in dire need of hefty power supplies to keep pace with its stupendous economic and industrial growth, it is incorrect in relying on the US for these “civilian” uses. Such a move on the part of the US government can single-handedly trigger an arms race the like of which was witnessed during the Cold War.
Taking advantage of the situation, the Chinese were quick to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan’s government wherein exchange of nuclear technology would take place between the two Asian countries. China has long been an ally of Pakistan and arriving at this current juncture was not difficult for either country. What remains to be seen is how the two countries proceed from here.
What interests me, though, is the use of public relations methodologies by the Indian authorities to garner support for this endeavor. While many recognizable people like US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice did the public bidding for the US-India civilian nuclear energy agreement, the deal was actually sealed behind closed doors with much assistance from lobbying firms and PR agencies. According to Subrata Ghoshroy, who is a research associate in the science, technology and society programme at MIT and directs a project to promote nuclear stability in South Asia, $ 1.3 million was spent on two lobbying firms. He mentions that one of the firms hired was Barbour, Griffith, and Rogers, which is headed by Robert Blackwill, a former US ambassador to India.
Needless to say, the Indian lobby is making its political power quite apparent by flexing its lobbying muscle. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on travel expenses of American political leaders shuttling between India and the US. To add to the pressure being exerted, the American Jewish community also played a leading role in promoting India’s cause.
A lot can be learnt from this whole experience. It is not only representative of the American political process whereby lobbies garner power and exert influence, but also where one can clearly see that the US no longer plays a role where it safeguards the interests of the international community. Today, that same country harms many millions the world over while allowing a minuscule number of them the opportunity to see the “American dream” come true. Today’s America cares, at best, only for itself, or at worst, for its closest allies in the dirty games it plays in the name of “civilization”, “development” and “modernity”.
Tomorrow’s world will be one where states compete for “civilian nuclear technology” while their own populations die for want of food, water and clothing. A shelter from their leaders is what they actually need. Their greed and vanity knows no bounds. At this very moment, I can imagine a child’s eyes closing for one last time as I type these final words. Perhaps, with sustained efforts, a future of non-proliferation can give that child one more chance at a life of peace and prosperity.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Article: India's rural poor climb the economic ladder
For a long while, I thought income disparities in South Asia were making the gaps between rich and poor wider. Apparently, this article proves my knowledge wrong!
Some notable points copied below:
According to the NCAER, a new socioeconomic category, the rural rich, has emerged in India, creating a divide within the rural economy, as opposed to just the rural-urban income disparity.
The rural rich are 1,000 times more likely than rural poor to own a motorbike, 100 times more likely to own a color television and 25 times more likely to own a pressure cooker.
Many observers have also said that the reason China has progressed much faster is due to state-led capitalism that makes decision-making quicker. In India, democracy is seen to be a stumbling block to higher growth. However, it seems that the pulls and pressures of various vote banks, social class and caste of voters - inherent in a democracy - has ensured that the growth is more equitable, which is a much more sustainable trajectory.
n China, farmers, who, like in India, form the majority of the population, pay 300 different kinds of taxes. Between the mid- and late 90s, rural citizens saw their taxes go up 800%, when farm incomes rose by 90%.
Thus the consumption share in China has declined from around 50% of GDP in the 1980s to below 40% in 2005, which is completely out of sync with the high GDP growth due to large investments and exports.
In China, rural incomes on average have been a sixth of urban incomes, while a villager usually pays three times more in taxes than an urban-dweller. According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, the reduction in the tax burden due to reform/abolition of rural income tax is more or less balanced by rises in rural taxes on land, asset sales and inheritance. There's been no net relief in the tax burden for rural Chinese.
Indeed, there is a definite trickle-down due to India's consistent 8%+ growth. There are other factors that have contributed to greater economic equity including employment created by large infrastructure development work undertaken by the government in rural areas.
Some notable points copied below:
According to the NCAER, a new socioeconomic category, the rural rich, has emerged in India, creating a divide within the rural economy, as opposed to just the rural-urban income disparity.
The rural rich are 1,000 times more likely than rural poor to own a motorbike, 100 times more likely to own a color television and 25 times more likely to own a pressure cooker.
Many observers have also said that the reason China has progressed much faster is due to state-led capitalism that makes decision-making quicker. In India, democracy is seen to be a stumbling block to higher growth. However, it seems that the pulls and pressures of various vote banks, social class and caste of voters - inherent in a democracy - has ensured that the growth is more equitable, which is a much more sustainable trajectory.
n China, farmers, who, like in India, form the majority of the population, pay 300 different kinds of taxes. Between the mid- and late 90s, rural citizens saw their taxes go up 800%, when farm incomes rose by 90%.
Thus the consumption share in China has declined from around 50% of GDP in the 1980s to below 40% in 2005, which is completely out of sync with the high GDP growth due to large investments and exports.
In China, rural incomes on average have been a sixth of urban incomes, while a villager usually pays three times more in taxes than an urban-dweller. According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, the reduction in the tax burden due to reform/abolition of rural income tax is more or less balanced by rises in rural taxes on land, asset sales and inheritance. There's been no net relief in the tax burden for rural Chinese.
Indeed, there is a definite trickle-down due to India's consistent 8%+ growth. There are other factors that have contributed to greater economic equity including employment created by large infrastructure development work undertaken by the government in rural areas.
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