This Bulletin is being relayed to you as a part of ACHA's South Asian community service program.  It is sent out on the first Wednesday of each month. It goes to individuals in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, U.K., and USA, and Zimbabwe. Please let us know (pritamr@open.org),  if you want to have your name removed from our email distribution list. Also, please let us know if someone should be added to the list. Comments, letters to editor, and short articles are also welcome and can be sent to the same address.

The Bulletin consists primarily of material selected from the printed and the electronic media. It aims  to highlight the news of peace and harmony in the world, to shed light on issues of concern to South Asians, and to provide them information of general interest. 

The Bulletin is edited by Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D. Its editorials and the selection of its material are his sole responsibility and do not necessarily represent the views of or an endorsement by any other Director, or member of ACHA or Dr. Ingrid H. Shafer, who has graciously donated space for it on her server and is volunteering her time to maintain our Web Page. 

ACHA is a non-profit, non-political organization. It is dedicated to promote peace and harmony among South Asians regardless of where they live. ACHA Board of Directors appreciates people's goodwill and support for this cause. 

For more information about ACHA and comments about ACHA Bulletin, please contact us at by telephone at 503.362.4635, or 503.251.0070, or by email at pritamr@open.org, or visit our Web Page at http://ecumene.org/ACHA/ACHA.htm.

CONTENTS: Section A

GREETINGS
PRAYER
 I celebrate and give thanks for the diversity that God has created. (Daily Word 2/8/00)
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
PEACE ORGANIZATIONS
 Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD)
FEATURE
 Towards peace in Kashmir by Abdul Majid Siraj.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 03/11-13, 3rd National Convention of National Alliance of People's Movements, Chotta Badada, MP, India
 10/19-28, International Youth Parliament 2000, Sydney, Australia
  01/27-30/ 2001, Fifth International Conference on Dowry, Bride- Burning and Son-preference in India,  New Delhi, India

CONTENTS: Section B (This section will be sent only to those who request it with a blank email to <pritamr@open.org> with words "Section B" as the subject.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
 Till 03/22, South Asia Film Festival, Berkeley, CA  03/04, Shivanjali, Tigard, OR
 03/04, HOLI, Torrance, CA   03/05, Carnatic Veena Concert, Palo Alto, CA
 03/05, Bandh Mutthi Lakh ni, Bellflower, CA 03/06, Dance Expression, Seattle, WA
 03/10, Throne of Death, Berkeley, CA  03/11, Sitarist Sujaat Khan, Los Angeles, CA
 03/11, Dharmayuddh, Hayward, CA  03/12, Dharmayuddh, La Mirada, CA
 03/18, Indian Classical Music, Sacramento, CA 03/19, Holi, Mountain Park, AZ
 03/19, Indian Classical Music, Portland, OR 03/26, Ghazal, San Francisco, CA
 03/31, Masters of Percussion 2000, Portland, OR 04/01, Masters of Percussion 2000, San Francisco, CA
AWARDS
 M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award 2000 nominations
BOOKS & JOURNALS
 Rogue states and U.S. foreign policy: Containment after the cold war, by Robert S. Litwak
  The New Cambridge history of India: Architecture and art of the Deccan Sultanates, by George Michel and Mark Zebrowski
 The house I grew up in by RAHI (Recovering and Healing from Incest)
  Transcending boundaries: Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar's theories of individual and social transformation, edited by Sohail Inayatullah and Jennifer Fitzgerald
 Situating Sarkar: Tantra, macrohistory and alternative futures by  Sohail Inayatullah
 Profitability in Indian Industries by Vishnu Kanta Purohit
 Humanscape
 Akhbar
CONTESTS
 Cricket
DID YOU KNOW 
 Babur    Moon sighting information for Muslims
 India's software industry  West Bengal's Widows
 Adult Literacy rate in India
EVENTS
  03/01, IMMORAL MAID & ABUSIVE EMPLOYER:  Fictions of Sri Lankan Migration to the Middle East, Vancouver, WA
 03/21, JAN SANSAD (PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT), New Delhi, India
HOLIDAYS 
PEOPLE
 Ujjal Dosanjh, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Khalid Azim, Sunil Garg, Chaitan Khosla, Gurbux Singh, Neena Gill, Neelaksh Varshney, Jacob Chacko, Nadarajan Chetty and Mahesh Shenai.
WEBSITES
 <moonsighting.com>, <www.musalman.com>, <www.ncasindia.org>, <www.solidarity.freeserve.co.uk>, <www.ins.usdoj.gov>
WORDS OF WISDOM
 Empathy by Ambalal Rawal

GREETINGS

EID MUBARAK!   HAPPY PAKISTAN DAY!  HAPPY HOLI!

PRAYER

* I celebrate and give thanks for the diversity that God has created. (Daily Word 2/8/00 <www. unityworldhq.org>)

No two people on earth are exactly alike. Thank God for such diversity, for the world would not be as interesting if everyone looked, sounded, and acted the same. 

And one way we can be sure that our differences do not cause conflict is to honor the diversity of one another's beliefs and characteristics, cultures and traditions. Supported and encouraged with this kind of acceptance, we live together in harmony. 

We perceive and appreciate the magnificence of one another as God's creations. Treating all people as children of God, we are acknowledging that all are unique expressions of divine life and creativity. 

As we extend unconditional love and acceptance to others, we honor the spirit of God within them and celebrate the diversity God has created.

PEACE & HARMONY NEWS

*November 29-30, Kathmandu, Nepal: Sponsored by the Institute for Media Policy and Civil Society with support from CIDA and organized jointly by the International Centre for Peace Initiatives, Mumbai, Citizens Media Commission, Karachi and South Asia Media Association, Colombo, the second workshop of the editors of the INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE PRESS in South Asia was held here, according to a report by Sundeep Waslekar <icpi@bom5.vsnl.net.in>. The editors of 30 publications from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka  participated.  At the workshop South Asian Editors Forum (SAEF) was established with Vijay Darda, Member of Parliament and chairman of Lokmat group (India) as president and Qazi Mohammad Aslam (editor-in-chief of Pakistani Daily Kawish), Sivanesalvan (editor-in-chief of Sri Lankan Thinnakkural), and Rajendra Sharma (editor-in-chief of Nepalese Gorkhapatra) as vice-presidents (Via Communalism Watch and Governance <www.saccer.org>).

* January 29, Delhi, India: Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights  (NPMHR) organized a conference to initiate a peoples to peoples dialogue between the Indian and  the Naga civil society, on January 29, here at Vishwa Yuvak  Kendra (Circular Road, Chanakyapuri). A delegation of about 60 members,  from various walks of life, from different districts and organizations (Naga Hoho, United Naga Council, Concerned Citizens Forum, Mokokchung  Naga Mothers Association, Naga Women Union of Manipur, Naga Students' Federation, All Naga Students Association of Manipur, Patkai Christian College, Oriental Theological Seminary and agaland Baptist Church Council of the Naga areas) came to Delhi to exchange their views with their counterparts in India. (Via South Asia Citizens Web  www.mnet.fr/aiindex)

* January 30, Dhaka, Bangladesh: According to a Reuters report, the Bangladeshi parliament passed a law on clamping down on the widespread torture, mutilation and sale of WOMEN AND CHILDREN. It introduced stiff penalties for offences including using flammable chemicals, rape, murder, amputating children's limbs to make them more effective beggars, trafficking and kidnaping. Women in Bangladesh are often tortured to death for their dowries or by jealous husbands. Many are doused with corrosive acid and suffer incurable burns, police say. The Bangladeshi National Women Lawyers' Association says at least 7,000 women and children are smuggled out of the country each year and many are sold to brothels. Children are often abandoned when marriages break up and end up in criminal gangs. Some boys are picked up by traffickers and sold abroad to be jockeys in camel races, according to police.

*February 1, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Leaders of public opinion  from  South  Asian countries here to participate in  the Neelan Tiruchelvam commemoration program today called upon India and Pakistan "to take urgent  and decisive measures to defuse the tensions'' between  the  two  countries "before it is too late,'' according to a report by V. S. Sambandan in the Hindu. The appeal termed the LAHORE SUMMIT as one  which  demonstrated the "political commitment'' of the prime ministers  of the two countries "to transcend the burden of their tensions- ridden relations of the past 50 years.''  The "time  has come for South Asia to make  a  critical  choice  between war and peace, destruction and development, poverty  and  prosperity,  the appeal said, calling upon the "public  and  the  media to play a positive role in molding a climate of peace''. The appeal was signed by I.K. Gujral, Justice P. N. Bhagwati, .  Devaki  Jain, Bishnu  Mohapatro, A. G.  Noorani, Ashish Nandy and Veena Das  from India; Asma Jehangir, Farida Shaheed, I. A. Rehman and Niaz  Naik from Pakistan; Kamal Hossein and Imitiaz Ahmed from Bangladesh,  Radhika   Coomaraswamy,   Gnananath  Obeyesekere, Stanley Thambiah, Kumari  Jayawardene,  Jayadeva Uyangoda, P. Saravanamuttu, Shibley Aziz and Deepika Udagama from Sri Lanka. (Via South Asia Citizens Web Dispatch www.mnet.fr/aiindex>).

*February 4, Colombo, Sri Lanka: On the occasion of 52nd anniversary of her country's Independence, president Chandrika Kumaratunga, in a nationally televised speech from her home, called upon all Sri Lankans to help her find peace, according to a Voice of America report by Vandana Chopra. She said she will also invite the Tiger freedom fighters to participate in the process, saying they have a vital role in ending the sadness of the people. The Sri Lankan Government has been discussing with other political parties a new Constitution that aims to give more powers to the REGIONAL COUNCILS in the country, including one administered by the Tamils in the north. The Tamils want a separate homeland in the north and east and this has been the main rebel demand in the civil war which began in 1983. (Via Information Times <www.InformationTimes.com>).

*February 6, New Delhi, India: This year 72,000 (10,000 more than the last year) Muslims from India will go to Mecca for HAJ.  For their convenience, according to the government of India sources, two more gateways at Ahmedabad and Cochin to be opened for Haj pilgrims, in addition to the five existing ones at Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Madras and Calcutta. Also, a permanent Haj terminal has been set up at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Delhi is the most important center for Haj pilgrims from India, as 57 Air India flights carrying approximately 26,278 pilgrims would be leaving from here. There will be two flights taking off every day carrying 470 passengers this year. The fare being charged from the pilgrims this year has been kept at same level (Rs 12,000)  as in 1994 (<www.rediff.com/news/ 2000/feb/07haj.htm>).

* February 13, Jakarta, Indonesia: President Abdur-rahman Wahid announced suspension from the cabinet of his powerful security minister, GENERAL WIRANTO, according to an announcement late tonight by the cabinet secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak. General Wiranto, has been accused by several sources of failing, last September, in his capacity as commander of the country's armed forces, to prevent the East Timor violence. Hundreds of people were killed and much of the province was devastated by anti-independence militants after East Timor's vote for independence August 30. Indonesia with a population of more than 210 million is the world's fourth most populous country (The Associated Press, Via Orange County Register <www.ocregister.com>).

* February 18, Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India: The DALAI LAMA, in a message in Tibetan to his people, at a ceremony held here today, at Namgyal Monastry at the seat of his government in exile, asked people to develop goodness in their hearts and share it with others. The four-hour ceremony was held to mark the 60th anniversary of his enthronement at age 4 as spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists (The Associated Press, Via Statesman Journal <www.StatesmanJournal.com>).

* February 19, Tehran, Iran: According to the  results of recent ELECTIONS for the Majlis (Iran's parliament) announced so far, president Mohammad Khatami's reformist faction has routed the hard liners. The election is expected to boost Iranian program of greater social and political freedoms and provide economic relief. Under the rule of the hardliners, since 1979 overthrow of the U.S.-backed shah, the country's economy has stagnated and unemployment has become rampant. Seventy percent of Iran's 62 million people are below the age of 30 (The Associated Press, Via Statesman Journal <www.StatesmanJournal.com>).

*February 20, Colombo, Sri Lanka: PEACE TALKS between the Sri Lankan Government and Tamil Tiger freedom fighters might take place in the city of Oslo after Norway said it was willing to try to broker a political solution between the two warring sides. The state owned newspaper "Sunday Observer" says no time frame for peace talks has been set yet. 

Norway's Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek was in Colombo last week for discussions with the government and the main opposition, United National  Party,  over the possibility of starting peace talks. Before coming to Sri Lanka, the Norwegian Foreign Minister met Anton Balasingham, the London-based representative of the Tiger freedom fighters.

* February 20, Dhaka, Bangladesh: Some 150 pace activists from Bangladesh and 13 other countries ended a three-day disarmament conference here today with a declaration urging India and Pakistan to dismantle their nuclear programs and sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Also they held demonstrations against the nuclear race in the region outside India and Pakistan embassie (Reuters, Via India West <www.indiawest.com>). 

President Kumaratunga and United National Party leader Ranil  Wickremesinghe are to meet this week for talks about a draft peace package to be presented to the freedom fighters.  President Kumaratunga has proposed a new constitution which would allow the Tamil Tigers to administer a region of the country. (Voice of America, Via Information Times <www.InformationTimes.com>).

* February 23, Vitoria, Spain: Thousands of Spaniards nationwide observed FIVE MINUTES OF SILENCE today to protest the latest car bombing blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA. In Spain Square here at the Basque capital, where a Socialist politician and his bodyguard had been killed by the blast yesterday, several thousand huddled under umbrellas as a steady rain fell (Statesman Journal <www.StatesmanJournal.com>).

* February 24, Kaduna, Nigeria: CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM leaders promised today to work together to restore peace in this troubled city, in northern Nigeria, as residents trickled back into the debris-strewn streets after two days of religious clashes left at least 200 people dead. The violence had erupted here yesterday  morning during a demonstration by local Christians against aproposal to bring Islamic law to Kaduna state (Statesman Journal <www.StatesmanJournal.com>).

* February 27, Jerusalem: Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak suggested today that he would agree to a full withdrawal from the GOLAN HEIGHTS, the clearest indication yet of his willingness to meet a key Syria demand for peace. Also, he told his cabinet that previous four Israeli prime ministers effectively agreed to the withdrawal, if certain conditions were met (Statesman Journal <www. StatesmanJournal.com>).

PEACE ORGANIZATIONS (In this section of each issue of ACHA Bulletin we feature one organization that is engaged in promotion of peace and harmony among South Asians. If you know of any such organizations, please send information about it to <pritamr@open.or>).

*Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD)

Pakistan: 11-Temple Road, Lahore, Pakistan, Phone 042-735-7926 Fax: 042-722-3455, Email <pakindo@brain. net.pk>, and Website <http://brain.brain.net.pk/~pakindo/>

India: Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy, K-14 (First Floor), Green Park Extension, New Delhi, India.

PIPFPD is an independent platform of citizens from Pakistan and India to help develop direct links to work together and to promote friendship between the people. It has been active over the last few years despite the continuing cold war between the Pakistani and Indian states. In both countries it has national chapters and local chapters. 

The Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy upholds the following OBJECTIVES: 

1. The politics of confrontation between India and Pakistan has failed to achieve benefits of any kind for the people of both countries.

2. The people of both countries increasingly want genuine peace and friendship and would like their respective governments to honor their wishes.

3. Peace between the two countries will help in reducing communal and ethnic tension in the sub-continent. 
4. Peace in the sub-continent will help the South Asian region to progress economically and socially, especially in the face of the new economic order. 
5. Governments of Pakistan and India must agree to an unconditional no-war pact immediately without yielding to any third party pressure. 
6. A democratic solution to the Kashmir dispute is essential for promoting peace in the sub-continent. 
These objectives portray a clear vision of what course the people of the sub-continent consisting of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bengalis should follow so as to play an effective part and useful role in the economic development and social evolution of the entire South Asia and move ahead to come at par with the Western World.
Since its inception, PIPFPD has held CONVENTIONS in New Delhi, Lahore, Calcutta, and Peshawar. Right after the Kargil flare up, that engulfed the whole sub-continent, a good number of students from Pakistan visited India in a GOODWILL  MISSION. In November 1999 a similar goodwill mission, under the aegis of its Bangalore chapter, a group of Indian students visited Pakistan. Also, exchanges of journalists and eminent personalities have been organized to explore the resumption of the peace process through  people to people dialogue. 
This year, on January 21, its West Bengal chapter, organized a MEETING at Muslim Institute in Calcutta, for exchange of views between Pak peace activists and their Indian counterparts. On February 1, it organized one-day colloquium on "Peace Imperatives to Resume the Dialogue" India-Pakistan New Delhi. A resolution adopted after the colloquium noted "Growing tensions between the two states along with a virtual suspension of the official dialogue has always encouraged forces inimical to democracy and people's freedom." It urged the governments of India and Pakistan to "resume dialogue at the earliest on all matters of concern including Kashmir to ensure peace in the sub-continent" and to allow "free exchange of people, goods and information." The colloquium was attended by Afrasiab Khattak (Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan) and Ifteqar ul Haq (General Secretary, Pakistan Chapter of (PIPFPD) and was inaugurated by Nirmala Deshpande. The keynote address was delivered by Admiral A.L.Ramdas.
The Forum has formed JOINT COMMITTEES consisting of Pakistani and Indian representatives to formulate proposals and plans of action in the following four areas of work:
1. Demilitarization, denuclearization and promotion of peace 
2. Democratization and decentralization of governance
3. Elimination of religious intolerance 
4. Resolution of Kashmir dispute

FEATURE

*Towards peace in Kashmir. A summary of the paper prepared by Abdul Majid Siraj. Mr. Siraj lives is an MA student of Peace Studies at Bradford University, U.K. He wrote this paper "to facilitate an unbiased understanding of  issues based upon theoretical analysis and empirical research done in other conflict areas and use them to focus on the possibilities and advantages of peace." He invites comments, chapters for a possible book on the subject and papers for a possible international conference at Bradford University some times in near future. (For the full version of this 19-page paper send a request to the author at <Majid@kashmir.demon.co.uk> or an email with words "Towards Peace" to <pritamr@open.org>). 

INTRODUCTION
Every day with more violent incidents, and more dehumanising revelations and increased political instability, Kashmir dispute becomes more intractable and complicated.  More deaths harden attitudes, more atrocities enhance hostile imagery. South Asia is on the brink of a nuclear war.  Early warning and preventative diplomacy may be ominously too late.  
Historically, Treaty of Westphalia, The Vienna Congress, Versailles and UN resolution on Kashmir all forged multilateral agreements to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.  All UN did for Kashmir is that a cease- fire came in effect each time a resolution was passed, only  foreboding  another war soon in the future, because the issue remained unresolved.  Fourth war between India and Pakistan is on its way and this time it may end up in a major human disaster....
Peace is not divisible but to be realistic in conflicts like Kashmir,  it can only be achieved in degrees.   Basic tenets of peace making like  'stop fighting, and lay down arms ' ( Pax )  or more complete  with cultural and structural freedom  can be achieved.  The difficult goal to aim for in Kashmir is  Peace with Justice.   All  protagonists in the dispute are bound to lose something and feel injustice has been done to them.
The job of even making a start for the peace  promoters is wrought with impediments.  The first obstacle to overcome is public stereotyped hostile imagery and then to establish an amicable detente between the politicians of all parties....(But) Kashmir dispute has some built-in positive features  like  commonalties of culture shared by the whole subcontinent and elements of homogeneity....  
India and Pakistan became enemies over who controls Kashmir.  The defacto position remains the same today after half a century of three major wars and an open rebellion by the local people to the level of a major conflict against India.   More than 60,000 people have died in the insurrection and the last violent skirmish in Kargil ( July 1999 ) cost more than two thousand lives....The cost of the conflict is colossal and crippling the economy of  the subcontinent.  One days expenditure in Kargil for India was RS. 1 billion.   The Human cost has been very high.  It is in the civilian sector most of the casualties have been reported (3).  

THE PEACE PROCESS
We now have to create an atmosphere of synthesis in this difficult dialectics....In order to build a synthesis in the evolution of  this  conflict we have to put the antithetical facets of the issue in the back burner and concentrate on the commonalties between the populations and governments of the parties concerned.  Kashmir  dispute has  potential  ingredients exploitable synthetically which peace makers have to seek.  They have to  find ways out to ameliorate  antithetical attitudes and  prevailing stereotyped  hostile imagery, challenges of identity and mass  hysteria created by vested interests....
Peace making process has to adopt 'conflict managers' approach as ' realists' and be inclusive, to be receptive to bad guys as well, be reconciliatory rather than seeking justice for victims and respond to all cultures of the society assuming their moral equivalence....

PARADIGMS
Suggested models for solutions (1. Three commissioners, 2. Asian Parliament in Kashmir, 3.  Modified Dixon plan, 4. Independence, 5. Partial autonomy, 6. Emulate models of political structure elsewhere, 7. Third party intervention)  which can be worked on or used as sketches for the architects building bridges for peace.  Assumptions, Blue print, Functional strategy, Advantages, Feasibility, and Future are discussed for each pradigm separately.

MODEL 1:   THREE COMMISSIONERS
The conflict is an interactive process with an escalator, self perpetuating dynamic.   There is very little trust between disputants....Media it is hoped will be used extensively and world leaders invited, religious priests and academics involved to bring home message of peace and advantages of peace to all people concerned.

MODEL - 2:  ASIAN PARLIAMENT IN SRINAGAR
There is arguably need for a close knit alliance between  South Asian countries, because they have problems and challenges peculiar to them....The Asian  parliament would base their offices in Kashmir on the same pattern as Brussels for Europe (and) ... may agree to sanitise all civilian territory and decommission weapons... In return Kashmir will host such a parliament within its beautiful surroundings.  The parliament may initiate a debate on current contentious issues  and help intrastate skirmishes of member countries.  They will have co-operation and work in conformity as benevolent neighbours.

MODEL     3: MODIFIED  DIXON PLAN
The plan was suggested by Sir Owen Dixon Australian Jurist and UNCIP representative in September 1950 .  Jammu & Ladakh would remain with India, Pakistan would keep all parts in its control except Muzafarabad.  Vale of Kashmir and Muzafarabad  would decide their future independent of other regions...

MODEL 4:   INDEPENDENCE
In this model India and Pakistan will lose control of the whole state and  both will recognise it as a separate country.   The flip side of the coin is that India Pakistan confrontational rivalry will end and when one party perceive that their enemy has not won, it may be easy for them to accept conceding territory or as the 
phrase goes  'Land for peace' formula applied as in Palestine.... 

MODEL  5:   PARTIAL AUTONOMY
Political and territorial units of J&K belonging to a sovereign federation will fill in spaces in the jigsaw including the joint suzerainty of India and Pakistan.  Federation joined in both federal unions by treaty or compact.  Union or confederation call it Asian Union where a group of confederate governments form  a league of Asian Nations can live together.  In whichever model it fits, it will be a nation of many masters , only their influence will be (13) cryptic and imperceptible.   There would not be the presence of military in the streets and gunmen in the bushes.  Joint control between India and Pakistan may be worked out in the fields of  macro-economy, communications, foreign affairs and defence.  Each country taking portfolios or sharing responsibility in some ways.  This model may have a trial run in a workshop, only then will its drawbacks become manifest.   Impediments in politics can be overcome with a flexible attitude and many treaties can come into effect....

MODEL 6:  EMULATE MODELS OF POLITICAL STRUCTURE ELSEWHERE
Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Mann, Bhutan, Falkland Islands and Palestinian Authority, all  have a different constitutional relationship with parent country or countries.  Some elements from these models could be  used in Kashmir, in entirety  or modified to fit into new circumstances. 
Channel Islands (C.I.) consider themselves as part of Great Britain, yet they have complete autonomy, their own constitution,  electoral system, national health service, customs and excise and currency.  They are not even a part of the European Union.   It is possible to divorce the satellite country from as many rules and constraints of parent countries that apart from not having to obtain a visa to enter the country , it is a separate country in its own right.  In  C.I.   British citizen has no right to buy property or stay in the country without being employed.  The C.I.  ruling council admit about five new persons every year to adopt citizenship, provided they bring a substantial amount of money in cash and invest it.   Every other such  country have  some similar arrangements.

MODEL 7    THIRD PARTY INTERVENTION
India is one of the three parties who oppose mediation .  The benefits of this approach are so overwhelming that the world community may be able to lobby India to accept a representative from UN or any other neutral country to facilitate dialogue.  This proposal will not be taken any further or discussed in any detail.   It is obvious,  if a mediator does become a reality than the whole complexion of the conflict will change.  The parties will have already come half way up the road to peace process and accepted some of the essential ingredients of the dispute, including the historical background, the legal  facts, ethical norms and  emphasis on the welfare of the local natives  who live  there.  It may be that a way is found which does not entail holding a plebiscite and yet will have universal acceptance....

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*March 11-13, Chotta Badada, Madhya Pradesh, India:  3rd National Convention of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) to be held in a small village, near Anjad/Badwani, in Narmada Valley will discuss the present politico-socio-economic situation of the country and the threats the people are facing from wrong development concepts and plan strategies, communalism and casteism, to challenge those. NAPM, according to the organizers consists of people's organizations and individual academicians, artists, media-persons, professionals from different walks of life, youth and women, who have come together to build a unity of secular organizations against global imperialism and a development paradigm exploitative of nature and humans, especially the downtrodden, towards a new, alternative vision and path.  More info from NAPM ational Alliance of People's Movements, c/o Chemical Mazdoor Sabha,  Haji Habib Building, ‘A' wing,   First Floor,   Naigoan Cross Road,   Dadar (E),   Mumbai  400 014, Tel: 022-4150529 (O)  022-5369724, Email:  <admin@sanjay.ilbom.ernet.in>.

* October 19-28, Sydney, Australia: Applications are invited before May 31 from youth age 15 to 28 for selection as delegates to the INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT 2000. Two delegates will be selected from each country. Applications and more info from Community Aid Abroad-Oxfam Australia, GPO Box 1000, Sydney NSW 1043, Australia +61 2  9264 1399 or parliament@caa.org.au

*January 27-30, 2001, New Delhi, India: Fifth International Conference on DOWRY, BRIDE- BURNING AND SON-PREFERENCE IN INDIA, sponsored jointly by Arya Samaj of India, Asiatica Association, Bandhua Mukti Morcha, Delhi University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Kurukshetra University,  Punjab University,  Tagore Research Institute, Women's Action Research & Legal Action for Women (India), Perugia University (Italy),  Durban University (South Africa), University of London (UK), and Harvard University (USA) at India International Centre, 40 Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate. Ideas for a work plan, and articles and research papers should be submitted by June 30, 2000 by mail to Werner F. Menski, PhD, School Of Oriental & African Studies, University of London, Russell Square, London WC 1 H 0XG, UK, and by email to <wm4@soas.ac.uk>. More info from, Swami Agnivesh < bmm@del2.vsnl.net.in>, Himendra Thakur <hthakur@shore.net>, or Dr. Enrica Garzilli <www.asiatica.org/dowryconf.thp3>.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

* Till March 22, Berkeley, CA, USA: SOUTH ASIA FILM FESTIVAL screening  old and new Hindi films on Wednesdays with English subtitles, 6-9 p.m., at Wheeler Hall, U.C. Berkeley. More info from 510.642.3608.
* March 4, Tigard, OR, USA:  S H I V A N J A L I, a classical Indian dance concert by Dr. Jayanti Raman and traditional Indian dinner presented as a fund raiser for the Association for India's Development, at 6:00 p.m., at Deb Fennel Auditorium, Tigard High School, 9000 SW Durham Rd.  Tickets $18.00 at the door, and  at  $7.00(Children 5-12 yrs), $15.00(Single), $25.00(Pair) in advance from Fred Meyer Fastixx outlets (224-8499), India Direct, and Srider's. More info from 591-2394 or 613-2567.
* March 4, Torrance, CA, USA: HOLI festival 5:30 - 10:00 p.m. at Torrance Cultural Arts Center  James Armstrong Theater, 3330 Civic Center Drive. More info from 310.541.0201, or 310.370.3856.
* March 5, Palo Alto, CA, USA: CARNATIC VEENA CONCERT by Veenai Jayanthi with Lalgudi  Rajalakshmi on violin, and Bangalore Arjun Kumar on mridangam, and hosted by South India Fine Arts, at 4:00 p.m. at Cubberley Theater, 4000 Middlefield Road. Tickets at $13 ($8 children and seniors). More info from 510.656.6169 and 408.863.0288.
* March 5, Bellflower, CA, USA: BANDH MUTTHI LAKH NI, a Gujarati drama at 6:30 p.m., at William Bristol Auditorium, 16600 Civic Center Drive. Tickets at $15-$25. More info from 562.860.1135 or 213.243.1212.
* March 6, Seattle, WA, USA: DANCE EXPRESSION, an Indian modern dance performance by Astad Deboo performed to the music of Dhrupad sung by the Gundecha Brothers, a presentation of Indian Students Association of the University of Washington, at 7:30 p.m., at UW Ethnic Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave. Admission is free. More info from <sascuw@u.washington.edu>.
* March 10, Berkeley, CA, USA: THRONE OF DEATH, a  film set and filmed in Kerala and directed by Murali Nair at 7:00 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft Way. Tickets $8.50. More info from 415.255.4299.
* March 11, Los Angeles, CA, USA: SITARIST SUJAAT KHAN with tabla masetro Zakir Hussain at 8:00 p.m. .at UCLA Royce Hall. Tickets at $11-30. More info from 310.825.2101.
* March 11, Hayward, CA,USA: DHARMAYUDDH, a Gujarati drama hosted by Prem Darshan Entertainment at 7:30 p.m. at Chabot College Performing Arts, 25555 Hesperian Bvd. Tickets at $15-$35. More info from 559.924.3339.
* March 12, La Mirada, CA, USA: DHARMAYUDDH, a Gujarati drama at 6:30 p.m. at La Mirada Performing Arts Theater. Tickets $15-$25. More info from 562.809.1648.
* March 18, Sacramento, CA, USA: INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT by Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on Guitar with Sukhwinder Singh on Tabla at 7:30 p.m. at California State University Music Recital Hall. Tickets at $15. More info from 916.484.6669.
* March 19, Mountain Park, AZ, USA: HOLI celebration, 11:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m., at the Activity Complex. More info from 480.460.2688.
* March 19, Portland, OR, USA: INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT by Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on Guitar, a presentation of Kalakendra. More info from <www.kalakendra.org>.
* March 26, San Francisco, CA, USA: GHAZAL, a musical fusion concert with Persian and Indian  improvisations featuring Sujaat Khan on sitar with Swapan Chaudhari on tabla and Kayhan Kahlor on violin, sponsored by World Music Institute, at 5:00 p.m., at Yerba Buena Center for Arts Theater, 701 Mission Street. More info from 925.828.6127.
*March 31, Portland, OR, USA: MASTERS OF PERCUSSION 2000 concert featuring Zakir Hussain on tabla, a presentation of Kalakendra. More info from <www.kalakendra.org>.
* April 1, San Francisco, CA, USA: MASTERS OF PERCUSSION 2000 concert featuring Zakir Hussain on tabla, with Vikku Vinayakram on ghatam at 7:30 p.m., at Herbst War Memorial Theater, 401 Van Ness Avenue. More info from 925.947.1908.
* A 24-hour channel, B4U (Bollywood 4 USA), has been launched in USA by Eros Entertainment for all-digital DVD quality Hindi movies. Available for free review until March 17, for now it is accessible only to the current Zee TV and TV Asia subscribers. More info from <www.b4utv.com>  or <b4u@b4utv.com>. 

AWARDS

* M.A. THOMAS NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 2000. Nominations are invited, before April 28, about  individuals and organizations in India who have made significant contribution for protection and promotion of human rights in the country in the recent past and continues to be working on issues directly related to human rights. The Award instituted by Vigil India Movement Trust in 1993, carries a cash award of Rs. one lakh and a citation. More info and nomination forms the National Office of Vigil India Movement, 61, Charles Campbell Road, Cox Town, Bangalore – 560 005 and Saji Thomas <vigil@vsnl.com>.

BOOKS & JOURNALS

*Rogue states and U.S. foreign policy: Containment after the cold war, by Robert S. Litwak, cloth, Woodrow Wilson Press, 2000, $49.95, ISBN 0-943875-97-8; paper, Johns Hopkins University Press. $18.95 ISBN 0-943875-98-6 From a review by Jordan Tama. Request the full version from <pritamr@open.org> with the word "Rogue." 
The term "rogue state," used by U.S. policymakers in recent years to refer to a group of aggressively recalcitrant authoritarian countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, and Cuba, is counterproductive and distorts American foreign policy, argues Robert Litwak in his new book, Rogue States and U.S. Foreign Policy.
The book is an expert analysis of the conceptual basis of the U.S. rogue state policy. It traces the policy's evolution and assesses its effectiveness in case studies of Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. Litwak, director of the Division of International Studies at the Woodrow  Wilson Center and formerly the director of nonproliferation and export controls at the National Security Council, asserted that the United States "rogue state" policy limits U.S. strategic flexibility and ultimately damages America's relations with its allies (Via  Information Times <www.InformationTimes.com>).
* The New Cambridge history of India: Architecture and art of the Deccan Sultanates, by George Michel and Mark Zebrowski. Cambridge University Press, 1999, Pp.297. From a review by Ayyub Malik, London. Request the full version from <pritamr@open.org> with the word "Deccan."
In this volume - the first wholly devoted to the region -  the authors  put forward a fresh assessment of the artistic and architectural achievement  and patronage in this once vibrant region and set  these in their proper historic framework and cultural context. Of the two authors of this work, George Michel is an architect, archaeologist and art historian with a long term interest in Indian architecture, and Mark Zebrowski is an art historian who has studied Mughal India and the art of the Deccan for many years...
The Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates includes a detailed map of the region, 16 very good colour and 200 black and white illustrations many of which being published for the first time. The first Chapter sets out an excellent chronology of the Deccani Sultanates - the Bhamanis, the Nizam Shahis, Imad Shahis, and Faruqis; the Adil Shahis and Baridis; the Qutb Shahis and the Asif Jahis (1724-1950). Keeping within this dynastic framework, the next five chapters cover forts and palaces, mosques and tombs; architectural decorations; miniature paintings in Ahmed Nagar, Bijapur, Golconda and other centres; a detailed chapter on textiles and printed cottons, metal and  woodwork and carved stone objects. One of the chapters is wholly  devoted to the temples, Shivaji and his descendants, the Peshwas, Holkars and other Maratha families. The brief final chapter deals with the stylistic influences and evolution which occurred within the various sultanates. There is an excellent appendix with a very useful dynastic list of the Deccan rulers starting with Jalauddin Firuz Shah Khilji in 1290 and ending finally with Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asif Jah VII of Hyderabad in 1950. The book concludes with an excellent bibliographic essay, over six pages of references and a detailed index.
The Sultanates of the Deccan were founded well before the Mughals and, with an extraordinary resilience and creative vibrancy, survived the whole of the Mughal and most of the British period. The Art and Architecture of the Deccan Sultanates by George Michel and Mark Zebrowski is an outstanding contribution toward a deeper understanding of the artistic heritage of this much ignored region which, together with The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and  Military History by Professor Peter Jackson (CUP, 1999; reviewed MWBR 20, no.1, 1999) will provide a unique source of reference and inspiration for the general reader as well as for the students and scholars of the artistic culture in this region.
* The house I grew up in by RAHI (Recovering and Healing from Incest), Delhi, India. From a review by Soma Wadhwa in Outlook, 2/14/2000. Request the full version from <pritamr@open.org> with the word "House."
Human relationships, their intricacies, always resist being hammered into stereotypes. There are no conventional abusers, nor hackneyed victims in homes riddled with secrets of incestuous abuse. These terrible betrayals of  love and trust happen in families like ours-maybe even in our own families. And it's this truth that rings clear in the moving testimonies made by five Indian women who suffered childhood incest in the recently released book, "The house I grew up in." It is the first-ever record of the experiences of those who survived abusive incest in our 'well-knit-Indian homes' brought out by  Delhi-based NGO, RAHI (Recovering and Healing from Incest). According to Anuja Gupta, director of RAHI, "They're meant for women everywhere, for those who've taken steps into recovery and those who think perhaps there's no way out."
*Transcending boundaries: Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar's theories of individual and social transformation, edited by Sohail Inayatullah and Jennifer Fitzgerald, Gurkula Press, Gurkula Press (<gkpress@ gurukul.edu> & <www.amps.org/suv/gurukula/ index.htm> Aus$24.50 ISBN 0-9585866-0-8
*Situating Sarkar: Tantra, macrohistory and alternative futures by  Sohail Inayatullah, Gurkula Press (<gkpress@gurukul.edu> & <www.amps.org/suv/gurukula/index.htm> Aus$20.50  ISBN 0-9585866-1-6
The work of Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar, well known in India as a challenging and progressive thinker, is now stimulating debate and providing new frameworks for analysis in a wide range of academic disciplines.  Many believe his contributions to the knowledge base may be compared to that of  seminal thinkers such as Foucault and Marx.  His breadth of philosophical  understanding compares well to Rudolf Steiner and Shri Aurobindo. 
Two new titles by Gurukula Press, are among the first books to present Sarkar's thinking within the context of current paradigms of academic thought.  These books examine the  parallels between Sarkar's thinking and other thinkers, yet also critically examine the ways in which Sarkar challenges and extends those paradigms. They open up an exciting new mindway between Eastern and Western thinking, bringing much-needed fresh perspectives to global discourse on critical and emerging issues
(Dr. Sohail Inayatullah <s.inayatullah@qut.edu.au>).
*Profitability in Indian Industries by Vishnu Kanta Purohit, 1999, ISBN 81-85930-06-6, Pp 125,  Rs 200 (US $ 20), Gayatri Publications, P.O. Box 8495, Ashok Vihar, Delhi-110052, <Gayatri3@vsnl.com>.
Using data from Bombay Stock Exchange Directory, the author (Associate Professor in economics at Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi) analyzes the relationship of size and profitability in a sample of large-scale public limited manufacturing companies selected from cement, sugar, textiles, engineering, and chemicals industries in India. In addition to size, many other variables such as sales, age of the firm have been used to explain the variations in profitability (<Gayatri3@vsnl.com>).
* Humanscap (<www.humanscapeindia.org>) is described by its producers to be a monthly magazine "for every thinking, responsible citizen is a window to the world of ideas, alternatives and action about social change and development." Its February 2000 issue is about grassroots environmental efforts and innovative ideas witnessed in different parts of India.
*The new issue of Akhbar (http://members.xoom.com/southasia/), includes the following items:  Wages of Neglect: South Asia at the turn of the Millennium, Capitalism in Asia at the End of the Millennium by Prabhat Patnaik, Jeremy Seabrook on the women workers of Dhaka, KN Panikkar on the right wing cultural project, Ashok Nehru on the role of media in the selling of the fascist  ideology of Hindu Right in India, a review by Kalindi Deshpande of the joint convention of six women's  organisations held in New Delhi to work out a national charter of demands (Via South Asia Citizens Web <www.mnet.fr/aiindex>).

CONTESTS

*<www.cricketgurus.com.cricketgurus.com> is a web site that runs contests based on international cricket through the year. Each contest is based on the actual player performances in one international cricket series or tournament. The contest opens when the teams for a tournament/series are announced and closes for entries at midnight (IST) after 10 days or at midnight (IST) before the first match is played (whichever is  later). More info from Kuruvilla Abraham <tnq@vsnl.com>.

DID YOU KNOW 

* The first MUGHAL king of India, Zahiruddin Mohammed Babur, was born on February 14, 1483. 
* The website <moonsighting.com> gives moon sighting information, free of charge, to over 1,200 cities in 93 countries including the polar regions, and also provides a prayer schedule and qibla direction In January, during a night in Ramadan, 70,000 people logged onto his site. MUSLIMS from 165 countries. 
Moon sighting is a phenomenon that marks the beginning of an Islamic month, which goes by a lunar cycle of 29 or 30 days. Islamic months are associated with worship. For example, the ninth month is the month of fasting of Ramadan. In the first month, the tenth day is considered as one of the biggest worship days. Similarly, the ninth day of the twelfth month is Haj Day, when people go to Mecca. 
Moon sighting data provided by computer programs like Shaukat's help Muslims to prepare for festivities in advance, but tradition requires that the moon be actually sighted. In America, where Eid-ul-Fitr requires booking convention centers and halls for thousands of Muslims well in advance, not knowing the exact date can be a logistical headache. Naturally, people book halls for successive days.  It is a dilemma that Muslims face twice a year, at Eid-ul-Fitr and during another moon-dependent holiday, Eid-ul-Adha. 
The site was created by Khalid Shaukat in 1996 after years of research, calculations and computer programming. He has an  American passport, and has lived in Pakistan, but according to him, his roots are in U.P., India, where he was born (www.rediff.com/us/2000/feb/22us1.htm).
*India's SOFTWARE INDUSTRY which has grown at annual rates of 50% over the past four years from $1.3 billion to $5.6 billion, according to James A. Harmon, chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), who was in India recently. He said technology has enabled India to leapfrog some of the traditional developmental stages to join the information age immediately. He  predicted India will be one of the top five global targets for technology investment by 2008.
*Strong growth in demand in India, Pakistan, and USA helped to raise consumption of GOLD in the world to a new high of 3,278.4 tons in 1999, according to a February 17 report from the World Gold Council. India officially imported 478.9 tons of gold in first three quarters of 1999.  It is estimated that India's gold holdings are estimated at 10,000 tons, accumulated over generations as family heirlooms and dowry jewelry (Reuters, Via India West <www.indiawest.com>. 
* With as many as 16,000 West Bengal tops all states of India in the number of WIDOWS living in pathetic conditions  at ashrams at Mathura, Vrindaban and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Many live on 250 grams of rice, 50 grams of lentils and Rs. 2, which they get in exchange of bhajans twice a day, according to a report published in February 18 issue of India Post. 
* In spite of the growth in population, ADULT LITERACY rate in India has risen from 52 percent in 1991 to 62 percent in 1997, according to the latest figures from the national Sample Survey Organization. 

EVENTS

* March 1,  Vancouver, WA, USA: IMMORAL MAID & ABUSIVE EMPLOYER:  Fictions of Sri Lankan Migration to the Middle East, a River Cities Anthropological Society lecture by Michele Gamburd of Portland State University at 7:00 p.m., at Lecture Hall SS110, Washington State University campus at Vancouver. More info from Debra Barnett, <barnett@vancouver.wsu.edu>.
* March 21, New Delhi, India: JAN SANSAD (PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT), is being organized by National Alliance of People's Movements, Azadi Bachao Andolan, Lokayan, Lok Tantrik Samajwadi Party and others, to coincide with US President Bill Clinton's address to the Indian Parliament, to  voice public concern about US imperialism, destructive effects of corporate-sponsored globalization, looting of people's resources, military interventionism, the destruction of Iraq, the social pathologies of US society, etc. More info from <mrpvp@del2.vsnl.net.in>.

HOLIDAYS 

*March 4 Shivratri, 8 Ash Wednesday, 15 Eid ul Azha, 17 St. Patrick's Day, 19 Holi, 23 Pakistan Day 

PEOPLE

* UJJAL DOSANJH has been elected premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Since 1995, he had been attorney general of the province (India West <www.indiawest.com>).
*PANDIT RAVI SHANKAR, the world-renowned Indian sitarist is being honored by the French Legion of Honor for his contribution to global culture. After film-maker Satyajit Ray in 1989, he is the second Indian recipient of this prestigious award (Rediff on the NeT <www. rediff.com/news/2000/ feb/09ravi.htm>).
* KHALID AZIM and SUNIL GARG were among those president Clinton declared White House Fellows for 2000 <www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/01us3.htm>.
* CHAITAN KHOSLA has been named by American Chemical Society as winner of this year's Pure Chemistry Award. He is the co-founder of Kosan Bio-sciences, and associate professor of chemical engineering, chemistry and biochemistry at Stanford University (India West <www.indiawest.com>).. 
* GURBUX SINGH, a non-resident Indian has been appointed the new chairman of the British Commission for Racial Equality. A graduate of the University of Sussex, currently he is the chief executive of Haringey Council in North London (India Journal).  
* Originally from Ludhiana, Punjab, India, NEENA GILL has been elected from Britain to the legislative body of European Union (India West <www.indiawest.com>). 
*  Four Indian students have been selected for All-USA College Academic Team, established by the USA Today  newspaper.  The team has two tiers, of 20 each. Neelaksh Varshney and Jacob Chacko are among those in the First Track The second track includes Nadarajan Chetty and Mahesh Shenai.. 
NEELAKSH VARSHNEY, spent three summers studying the brain and last summer, created a neural network model of how the brain processes motion. He is bound for Oxford on a Rhodes scholarship. 
JACOB CHACKO, who is passionately committed to helping underprivileged teenagers in Los Angeles, is another winner in the First Team. He is a winner of the Marshall scholarship, considered as prestigious as Rhodes, and will go to England later this year to study for two years. 
NADARAJAN CHETTY, a Harvard University student, has a grade point average of 4.00, is a co-founder of Harvard Currents and has developed an economic model of corporate investment choice and timing. 
MAHESH SHENAI, who is at Johns Hopkins and has a 3.93 GPA, has developed a mathematical model of diseased heart tissue and designed a cardiac implant aimed at reducing heart failure (www.rediff.com/us/2000/feb/25us3.htm).

WEBSITES

*<moonsighting.com> is a website that gives moon sighting information, free of charge, to over 1,200 cities in 93 countries including the polar regions, and also provides a prayer schedule and qibla direction. (www.rediff.com/us/2000/feb/22us1.htm).
*<www.musalman.com> is a web site currently a unique Search Engine that provides information regarding Islam and links to sites that are of Interest to Muslims,  updated daily news about the Muslim world, matrimonial links, employment opportunities, and appeals from organizations serving the interest of the Muslim community.
* <www.ncasindia.org> is the website of the National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS), located in Pune, India. It was founded in 1992, through the efforts of over 50 established grassroots organizations and social action groups from different parts of India. It works with social action groups and professionals, as well as public spirited   citizens to strengthen people centered public advocacy, and to empower people who are struggling for the creation of a just and humane society in South Asia.
* <www.solidarity.freeserve.co.uk> is a website devoted to anti-militarization, democracy, human rights and social justice, in Pakistan. A section called 'Poetry of Resistance' contains poems by Zbigniew Herbert, Faiz, Wole Soyinka, and others. More info from <aajkaynaam@yahoo.com>.
* <www.ins.usdoj.gov> is the website of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service where one can not only get important information but also complete and download various forms.

WORDS OF WISDOM

* Empathy by Ambalal Rawal~* ACRAWAL@aol.com
Empathy is the act of suspending ones own point of view while trying on another's. It's a powerful way of allowing oneself to mentally trade places with someone else's thoughts, feelings and behavior.
It has been said that empathy is the act of walking in someone else's shoes. The difficult part is that in order to put on someone else's shoes, we must first take off our own.
Another way of understanding empathy is to remember that it must be preceded by letting go of our ego. This is really the act of letting go of our fears. 
Its when we're able to let go of thinking about and protecting ourselves that we find ourselves able to practice empathy. Its when we allow ourselves to be  vulnerable that we allow ourselves to be powerful. 
Of course, another word for this is love the act of love. By using empathy we can be with someone in their thoughts & their feelings. We care for their welfare & we want things to come out the way they would like things to come out.
Empathy teaches us not to treat others the way we'd like to be treated. Rather, it teaches us to treat others the way they'd like to be treated. 
Empathy is our servant in the day to day ways we express our love. What the world needs now isn't love, sweet love. Love is always here & it's always in abundance. What the world needs now is to remember to access all this abundant love that is surrounding us. Empathy is the process that provides us that access.
So, go ahead, try it. Be with that other person as though you were that person. Because you are.