|
|
|
|
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 Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, India, Kenyya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Sweden, U.K., and USA, Zambia, 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. ACHA Bulletin consists primarily of material selected from the printed and the electronic media. It aims to highlight the news of peace and harmony, to shed light on issues of concern to South Asians, and to bring together information of general interest. It 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, which is dedicated to promote peace and harmony among South Asians regardless of where they live. For more information about ACHA and comments about ACHA Bulletin, please contact us at by telephone at 503-362-4635, or 503-658-4715, or by email at <pritamr@open.org>, or visit our Web Page at http:/ecumene.org/ACHA/ACHA.htm.
ACHA BULLETIN 7/7/1999 Special issue: The Kashmir Conundrum (Next issue on 8/4/1999) CONTENTS
Poetry
POETRY
Do you know why flamingos are so pink?
EDITORIAL
The Kashmir issue has plagued India and Pakistan for more than 50 years. Yet it is no closer to solution than it was in 1947! Kashmir, typically included in Indian empires since at least the 3rd century B.C., was a part of the Sikh kingdom until 1846, when the British defeated the Sikhs and sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh, the ruler of Jammu. After his death, he was succeeded by Ranbir Singh in 1857, Partap Singh in 1885, and Hari Singh in 1925. On October 20, 1947, a several thousand tribesmen from Pakistan attacked the frontiers of his state, presumably with the assistance of Pakistan government. Six days later, as provided in the Indian Independence Act of 1947 (3), Maharaja Hari Singh decided to accede to the Dominion of India and signed the instrument of Accession (6). Also, he wrote a letter (5) to Lord Mountbatten, the then Governor General of the Dominion of India, formally requesting immediate assistance. His request was accepted and the first batch of Indian troops landed at Srinagar airport the next day. After winning the battle of Shaltang on November 7, 1947, and recapturing Baramulla three days later, the raiders had started retreating. On the advice of Lord Mountbatten, India lodged a complaint against Pakistan to the UN Security Council. In its letter of January 15, 1948, Pakistan rejected the Indian charges. On August 13, 1948, a cease fire was ordered (6), and a UN Commission for India and Pakistan was established, and an agreement to hold plebiscite was accepted by both parties. Several resolutions have since been passed by the Security Council, but none has effectively improved the situation. In 957, J&K was formally incorporated into the Indian Union. In 1965, India and Pakistan fought another war over J&K, which led to Tashkent Declaration (9 ) signed by the two parties on January 1, 1966. A limited war occurred again in 1971. It was settled by Simla agreement (10) signed on July 2, 1972. A practical state of war exists currently, in spite of the Lahore Declaration (11) of February 22, 1999, which like the previous two agreements binds the parties to settle the matter with bilateral negotiations. Bordering China, India and Pakistan, J&K occupies an important strategic location. Also, it is the source of some major rivers. Some of the area have been annexed by Pakistan and some ceded by Pakistan to China . Currently the total area is 151,360 square kilometers. About 63 percent of the territory is under Indian control, and 37 percent is under Pakistan control. Pakistan controlled area is called Azad Kashmir, and according to 1990 figures had a population of 2.58 million. The portion under India, is had the estimated population of 7.7 million in 1991. There are many refugees in India, Pakistan and other countries. Buddhists predominate Ladakh area, and Hindus in Jammu area, while Srinagar Valley is predominantly Muslim. Many Pakistanis have settled in Azad Kashmir. The Indian position on Kashmir has been explained in its government publications (12, 13) and also can be found on the Web Page of the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., USA. Recently, a series of articles written by Arvind Lavakare for Rediff on the NeT (1) provided more details about it. Pakistan's case is described in publications 14-18. Also, it can be accessed from info@pakistan embassy.com. Citing several sources (2) and documents, Lavakare argues that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to India initiated on October 27, 1947, by J & K Maharaja Hari Singh, was in accordance with the procedures specified in the July 25, 1947 meeting of the Chamber of Princes and was legal and irrefutable. Pakistan claims this accession was not legal, primarily because it did not follow the principle on which the Indian subcontinent was partitioned. They argue that since Kashmir's majority population is Muslim, Kashmir belongs to Pakistan. In 1990, Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) declared its desire to have Kashmir an independent state. Pakistan insists on plebiscite as proposed in the UN Resolutions. According to India, the question of plebiscite does not arise, since Pakistan has not so far met the conditions before it could be held, i.e. the withdrawal of its troops from Azad Kashmir. Also, Indians may be afraid that it is Pakistan's way to capture Kashmir after getting the Indian military out of Kashmir under the pretext of a plebiscite. The idea of plebiscite probably appeals to Pakistan because of the hope that its majority Muslims will want to become a part of Pakistan. But, a survey done by Alice Thorner (2) as early as August 1948, had indicated that the public opinion in Kashmir had been "sharply divided along political and religious lines" and "Both India and Pakistan had substantial support." Even now, there are significant disagreements among Muslim leaders in Kashmir Valley. Even if India accepted plebiscite, several details will have to be worked out before it can be implemented. The questions to be answered include, for example, who will be allowed to vote? Will the people of non-Kashmiri origin now living in the area (e.g. the Mirpuris and Pakistanis in Azad Kashmir) and/or the Kashmiris living outside the area be allowed to vote? Who will make the voters list, and who will conduct the election? What percentage of popular vote will be required for a definitive determination? Would the fate of each region be decided separately? Or, will the decision be made on the basis of statewide majority? If the latter, would it not, like in 1947, lead to massive dislocation, massacre or disability of minorities? Would any part be allowed to not join either India or Pakistan? What will happen to the areas of Kashmir, ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963 or the "northern area" consisting of Gilgit and Baltistan which have been annexed by Pakistan? What will be the recourse, if everything does not happen as agreed? If the principle under which plebiscite is being asked is accepted, how far can this be taken. Would that mean that the people of different ethnicity or sects or religious groupings be allowed to ask for independent countries of their own. For examples, would not Sindhis and Balochs in Pakistan, Shias, Buddhists and Parsis in the whole subcontinent also demand independence. Also, we need to remember that being of the same religion, ethnicity, sect or other grouping does not necessarily guaranty peace or prosperity. Others have suggested alternative solutions.(1) Division of Kashmir between India and Pakistan along the existing Line of Control; or (2) Giving Hindu and Buddhist areas to India, Azad Kashmir to Pakistan and declaring Kashmir Valley independent. While it may not be as difficult to implement the first suggestion, the second is not likely to be acceptable to India, on account of the disintegration of the territorial cohesion of the state. Also, there is no guaranty that Pakistan will be able to or want to keep militants out of Ladakh and Jammu. Whatever has happened and is happening in Kashmir is the direct responsibility of India as well as Pakistan. The successive Indian governments through their short-sighted and selfish reasons, have alienated many people of Kashmir Valley. Therefore, Pakistan has been able to find a fertile land for its seeds of discontent. Also, intoxicated by their size and military strength, they may have shied away from negotiation and compromise for too long. On the other hand the dependence of the successive governments of Pakistan on subversion or military adventurism have led to a lot of distrust and suspicion among Indians. Since the Kargil affair many Indian feel betrayed. Besides, the governments in both countries have turned Kashmir into a matter of so much "national" importance, that, under the circumstances of the last few decades no government can last for long, if it makes any significant concession to the other party. Kashmir is not a simple matter. A solution to this conundrum, that keeps everyone happy, would require at the same time Sulaiman's wisdom, Chanakiya's diplomacy, Akbar's foresight, and Ashoka's piety. It has not happened, and it cannot happen as long as either party continues, in spite of all the agreements signed so far, to make overt or covert threats against the other. REFERENCES
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
* May 31, Jerusalem: A group of Christian from the Western countries, bearing apologies printed in Arabic, Hebrew and English, participated in the RECONCILIATION MARCH to ask forgiveness from the Jews, Muslims and Eastern Christians living in the area, whose forefathers were killed in the Crusades, nine centuries earlier. * June 2, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka: Thousands of Tamils marched in the two-mile long PROCESSION FOR PEACE through the streets of this town, located 138 miles northeast of Colombo. Also, speakers at a public meeting called for an end to the 16-year ethnic war in Sri Lanka between government troops and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam rebels. The march and the meeting were organized by a former rebel group and now a recognized political party, the Elam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front. * June 14, Singapore: At the ROTARY INTERNATIONAL's convention in Singapore its Indian and Pakistani members today called for peace between their two countries, according to a Reuter. ''We want to create an atmosphere that will bring people together,'' said Abu Mohsin, a legal consultant from Pakistan. "People of our countries have no problem with each other,'' the Pakistani Rotarian added. Rotarians from India and Pakistan so far have organized a number of exchange programs for the two countries' students, youths and children with learning disabilities. ''Our co-operation has shown that a dialogue can go on, that it is possible to talk,'' said O P Vaish, a lawyer from Delhi. * June 18, Jakarta, Indonesia: EAST TIMOR'S bitterly opposed faction agreed today to lay down their weapons by July 5, in a bid to salvage a U.N. sponsored independent referendum to choose between independence and autonomy. Fighting in this former Portugese colony which had been annexed by Indonesia in 1975, had increased with the approach of August 8 ballot. * June 19, Dhaka, Bangladesh: An India-Bangladesh BUS SERVICE was inaugurated with a reception here today by prime ministers Atal Behari Vajpayee and Sheikh Hasina of a flower-bedecked bus carrying eminent personalities for a distance of 360 kilometers from Calcutta. A colorful ceremony for this occasion was organized at the Osmani Memorial Complex. In an emotional speech, prime minister Hasina recalled India's role in providing food, shelter and moral support to over 10 million Bangladeshis who had fled to India in 1971. Earliet the bus had been given a warm send off by Indians at Karunamoyee International Terminal at Salt Lake in Calcutta, and cheered by thousands of people at Benapole, the Bangladeshis border checkpoint. * June 20, Stanford, CA, USA: The six-day, Fourth Annual UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE Summit at Stanford University was attended by about 100 delegates to fine-tune the charter of organization. Among other things, they considered the draft of its statement of purpose, which had read "To create enduring cooperation among the people of the world, to honor the sacred, end religious violence, build community, and generate new possibilities for the flourishing of all life." Previous drafts were reviewed in regional meetings held in Caracas, Venezuela, and Nairobi. * June 21, Falls Church, VA, USA: About 50 INDIAN CHEERED FOR PAKISTAN during World Cup game, despite the violent border dispute in Kashmir and a long history of discord between the two countries, according to the Washington Post story by Emily Wax. "I fully support the Pakistan team," says Prakash Rao, 44, who moved to Fairfax from India 15 years ago. "I see much of the tensions as artificial. We share food, music, cricket, so many of the same things when we're in this country." "I'm so depressed," said Zubair Solanki, an Indian immigrant who lives in Frederick with his roommate, Ashtaq Ashmed, 27, who is from Pakistan. "More than anything, I wanted the [World] Cup to stay in South Asia." "If India was playing against Australia, we would cheer them," says Zulkernain Mohammad Bhatti, 37, a Pakistani who lives in Arlington. "I'm glad there are so many Indians here." In particular, Indian and Pakistani youth tend to be pro-South Asia rather than nationalistic. "I've seen so many Indian teens hang pictures of Pakistani players in their bedrooms," says Hita B. Roy, a former U.S. political analyst in Calcutta. "It's a pride they can share here." * June 24, Chamliyal, Jammu & Kashmir, India: Pilgrims, including troops, from India and Pakistan, gather every year at the 200-year-old holy shrine of mystic Baba Dileep Singh Manhas near the border in Jammu & Kashmir, 60 miles from Jammu. Pakistani border troops offer a traditional chadder (a sheet) with embroidered Koranic verses, and Indian authorities give prasad of shakker and sherbet (sugar and syrup) to them. But, this year, like earlier in 1865 and 1971, Pakistani troops did not send chadder. Pilgrims also were fewer this year. Only 3,000 Indians and 25,000 Pakistanis came. Last year their number was 20,000 and 70,000 respectively. FEATURE
( The author is the Editor of Pakistani weekly "The News on Sunday" (Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad) and a human rights activist based in Lahore) "We don't want war," said a woman from Peshawar University. "We don't want to send our children to be killed." "Why don't they ask the women what we want?" said another angrily. The point was unanimously accepted and included in the resolution passed at a recent women's seminar on activism in journalism, organized in Lahore by the prominent lawyer-activist Asma Jahangir. The resolution called for "a peaceful atmosphere both domestically and externally so that a democratic culture can take root." "The apprehension of war with India is disturbing," it continued. "Both countries are using the electronic media to confuse people and to fan war hysteria. There is no transparency in the events that led to the current hostilities. Both governments have not taken the people into confidence and are pursuing their agendas by encouraging hawkish elements on both sides of the border." The terminology reaffirms one perception: that India and Pakistan are mirror images and that their worst traits feed on each other, however much the concept of "us" and "them" is propagated. Other issues discussed during the two-day workshop also provide an insight into the issues of media, culture and society in Pakistan -- religious extremism, how the mainstream media portrays victims of rape and other forms of violence, child abuse, the rights of the child, to mention a few. An outsider listening in would have had a good idea of how ordinary Pakistanis are dealing with these problems, and how loathe they are to allow the country to succumb to the two main threats it faces today: Talibanization and tribalism. These threats loom apart, of course, from the more immediate war-clouds darkening the Line of Control at Kargil. Far away from the fighting, villagers are fleeing their homes along the Wagah border which Vajpayee crossed just a few months ago with such bonhommie. The assurances of Pakistani officials and army jawans urging them not to evacuate prove futile; the villagers can see threatening sight of troops build-up across the border, where the Indian government has reportedly evacuated 85 villages. Yet, in Islamabad, the grounds outside the Indian High Commission bustle with visa-applicants camping there for days in the hope of visiting loved ones in India. The people obviously don't want war, but the two governments refuse to budge from their respective positions. Kargil again highlights that Kashmir is a major issue. But it deserves to be treated as such not because it is territory to be retained or acquired: it must be seen as a matter of the lives and aspirations of its people. Apart from Punjab in Pakistan, and the central Gangetic plain dwellers
in India, the people are largely indifferent to it; their more immediate
concerns are where the next meal is coming from. This reality is not reflected
in the official media, on either side of the border. But then, the government
controlled and influenced media is not known for its rational or questioning
stance. If India has over-reacted to
Email and the web, in fact, do serve to counter official censorship and propaganda, even though the Internet cannot match the outreach of radio or television. In Pakistan too, independent analysis and reporting are being actively discouraged in "the national interest", even though the government hasn't banned Indian television channels. Ironically, it has attempted to use the Vajpayee government's banning of PTV to score media points, gleefully and selectively flashing the Indian media's criticism of this move on PTV - despite the long running ban on Indian publications here. Playing up the Indian media's critical voices serves only to highlight its freedom, even though much of it is unquestioningly toeing the official line. There's little space for those working for peace. On May 28, there were rallies all over Balochistan protesting the nuclearization of South Asia and the world, including some 5,000 men, women and children in Quetta. No national or international newspaper (forget television) bothered to mention this in the face of the official celebrations announced by the Nawaz Sharif government. It was only in the weekend issue of one Pakistani newspaper that the event was highlighted through a couple of feature articles, with some prominence. The 300-strong peace rally in Lahore on May 27, organized by the Pakistan Labor Party, and the May 28 peace demonstration in Islamabad, attended by some 80 brave souls despite threats and misgivings, merited only single column news items in the inside pages. Yet threats against these demonstrations and calls for the heads of the organizers had no trouble getting space in the papers. It is these trends that civil society in Pakistan has to combat, further curtailed now by limitations imposed by "the national interest". * Passions and paranoia by Irfan Husain from Dawn 6/12/99
But whatever the legal status of these individuals, it is clear the Indian authorities are having a lot of trouble evicting them from their mountain redoubts. While their exploits might provide some solace to Pakistanis still smarting from the hammering their cricket team received from the Indians in the recent World Cup encounter, the fact is that their continuing presence across the Line of Control is raising the stakes in the unending confrontation between India and Pakistan. As you read this, our Foreign Minister will be in New Delhi in an attempt to defuse the situation. But given the heady rhetoric and the sound of sabres rattling in both capitals, it is difficult to see what will be achieved through these talks. Basically, Pakistan is saying that we are only providing the fighters in Kashmir `moral and political' support, while the Indians accuse Islamabad of not only arming and training the `ghusbaithyas', but also sending Pakistani soldiers across the LoC. The truth, as always, probably lies somewhere in between these two positions. Television in both countries is overflowing with crocodile tears as newscasters solemnly inform us of the plight of Kashmiri civilians on both sides of the Line of Control separating the two armies. Day in and day out, we are told about the devastation shelling is producing among civilians. Obviously, PTV makes no mention of the casualties our shells are causing while Doordarshan and Zee TV are equally silent on the mayhem the Indian Bofor guns are dealing out to the villagers on our side of the LoC. This approach is the one constant factor in this conflict since it erupted over a half century ago: both sides have pretended to be greatly concerned about the fate of the Kashmiris, while in reality all they have ever cared for is the land. As a consequence, they are both prepared to fight until the last Kashmiri. Had they an iota of genuine feeling for the people caught up in this debilitating and draining conflict, they would have asked them what they wanted. Instead, both India and Pakistan cling stubbornly and blindly to their respective positions, repeating them like mantras that have lost all their original meaning, but continue to be mumbled like incantations against evil spirits. Having mortgaged our past, present and future to the Kashmir conflict, generations of leaders and successive governments in New Delhi and Islamabad are now locked rigidly into their respective positions. Powerful vested interests militate against any flexibility. Instead of moulding public opinion to accept change in South Asia when the world is in flux, opportunistic politicians in both countries have used Kashmir as a stick to beat their opponents with. The result is that whenever there is a crisis, leaders respond with a series of knee-jerk reactions that are as unimaginative as they are predictable. Whoever planned the current escalation apparently forgot that India is currently (and, it seems in recent years, perpetually) in election mode. This puts the caretaker BJP government under pressure not to appear soft on Kashmir. As it is, Mr Vajpayee is taking flak for his famous bus ride to Lahore, and his Defence Minister has not helped the BJP cause by his conflicting signals. Congress is in the enviable position of criticising the government from the sidelines for not having been aware of the `intrusion' initially, and then not responding effectively enough. The danger is that in order to limit the political damage it has suffered, the BJP might choose to escalate further. In Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif's government is apparently in the comfortable position of denying any complicity while offering to send Sartaj Aziz to New Delhi. Indian commentators are already asking that since Pakistan says it has nothing to do with the `ghusbaithyas', what is the point of holding talks with its Foreign Minister? Benazir Bhutto is advocating prudence from her self-imposed exile; while she was in power, she made the most bellicose noises over Kashmir and has repeatedly accused this government (wrongly, alas) of wanting to reduce the defence budget. While abroad, she talks of peace and co-operation in South Asia because that is what her Western audiences want to hear. At home, the opposition is willy-nilly supporting the government. But this endless domestic point scoring obscures the real dangers posed by this posturing and muscle flexing. Given the potential the current crisis has of spiralling into the unknown territory of nuclear conflict, one would have expected a little more sense of responsibility in New Delhi and Islamabad. But alas, it is politics as usual. Judging from the macho talk emanating from both capitals, one would imagine that the nuclear tests simply did not take place last year. Do we really want such immature people to have their itchy fingers on the atomic trigger? However, we cannot afford to say "a plague on both their houses", and wash our hands of the whole affair. The people of the two countries share a subcontinent; ultimately, it is their lives, their land and their destinies on the line here. Already, three generations have been blighted by this mindless conflict. But if we have suffered, the people of Kashmir have suffered even more through this unending confrontation. We have to stop blaming each other and get on with solving this problem once and for all. Leaders and opinion makers in both countries have to grasp the simple fact that neither side can get what it wants through force now that nuclear arms have entered the equation. If they consult the people of Kashmir instead of the defence and foreign policy establishments, they will come to the conclusion that a resolution is not impossible, given political will and a degree of humanity. Unfortunately, both commodities are in short supply in the two capitals. According to an Indian opinion poll, 72% of Kashmiris interviewed in Indian-controlled Kashmir wanted independence. If the Hindu and Buddhist areas of the state go to India, we keep Azad Kashmir, and the Vale (that beautiful bone of contention) is declared independent, we could have the contours of an agreement. Both sides would have something to appease public opinion, and the Kashmiris would have something to show for their long struggle. Open borders would reduce the pain of partition. This is not a new proposal, but unfortunately, it has not been sufficiently debated because reason and logic are constantly being overtaken by passions and paranoia. OPINION
(This letter was written to the editor of Pakistan Journal in response to a letter on 6/21/99 by Bashir A. Syed, a senior aerospace physicist in Houston, Texas.) I read Mr. Bashir A. Syed's thought-provoking ideas (Pakistan Journal, June 21, 1999) regarding how to counter Hindu-Indian propaganda. Although I applaud Mr. Syed's sincerity and genuine desire to portray a correct picture of the affairs, I believe that his suggestions are emotional, not practical. I agree that Pakistanis, as a united community, should patronize businesses run by their countrymen, but the declared policy of Hindu-Indian bashing is not going to be of any help. Pakistanis watch Indian movies or go to cultural or social programs organized by 'Hindu-Indians'. Likewise, 'Hindu-Indians' participate in Pakistani cultural shows and shop at Pakistani businesses. The participation in each others activities is because of an affinity to common culture and language, and the business dealings are dictated by the economics. Muslims, like all other U.S. citizens, do contribute diligently for the progress of the United States; they pay their share of taxes. A significant amount of these taxes are used for the stability of Israel. Muslims go to Hollywood movies, watch TV shows and sports -- the institutions either owned or governed by Jews, some of whom have Zionist leaning. Does that mean that Muslims should try to create a mini world of their own and shun themselves? The policy of isolationism or division might be feasible in a totalitarian or feudalistic country; it has no appeal in a free, democratic and capitalistic system. Mr. Syed is very correct in suggesting that all out efforts should be made to counter false propaganda. It is, however, not clear to my simplistic mind that why Pakistanis have to be always defensive, why not pro-active. It appears that every action Pakistan takes is a reaction to "Hindu" India. The time has come to outgrow the 'sibling' rivalry. It is a reasonable perception that the forces that are interested in curbing the progress of Muslims and Muslim countries, including Pakistan, hound the Muslim world. However, it must be realized that the biggest enemy lies within the community. India bashing or loudly criticizing every one in sight is good for emotional release as it provides comfort and satisfies the ego, but in the real world it comes back to haunt the entire community. Why not address the real issues with some depth? Why not focus to remove the corrupt system and the leaders who are pushing Pakistan towards bankruptcy? Some of these leaders, who raise slogans for tightening of belts, are known to be feverishly transferring money into 'numbered' accounts and purchasing prime properties overseas. The cool-minded, intelligent well-wishers of Pakistan should realize that it is high time to redefine national priorities. Instead of allocating scanty national resources for the benefit of a few elite (and generals and colonels), it is very crucial to protect the fast-declining education system in Pakistan. Sadly, Pakistan has the unique distinction of having a reduction in the literacy rate in the past few years. One can understand the motives of waderas and feudals to prevent the public from getting education; however, a country desiring progress cannot afford to have increasing illiterate masses. We, as Muslims, know the importance of education. The first Ayah that came to our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instructs us to read (Sura Alaq). Why not pay some attention to this command? There is hardly any denial regarding Indian hegemony, but the idea of Akhand Bharat is nothing more than an empty slogan to mobilize support of Sangh Parivar (Shiv Sena, BJP, Rashtriya Swam Sewak Sangh and Bajrang Dal, etc.). The Think-Tank of elite Hindus realizes that Akhand Bharat will not be in their political interest, for it will alter the ratio of population. India that prides itself as the biggest democracy will have to yield to Muslims and give them a bigger share in decision-making bodies. This is not what the Sangh Parivar would tolerate. On the other hand, many Sangh Parivar supporters are always very eager to blame Pakistan, Islam and Muslims in general for all the evils in the world. Some of them even use profanity on the Internet. However, the silent majority of educated and level-headed Hindus do not associate themselves with these zealots. We should take pride in being civil, not abusive of others. Finally, I would also like to point out an error. Mr. Syed writes, "the thinking of Western policy-makers is very much against Muslims, which is confirmed by the Ayas 51 and 58, in Sura Maida." It is my strong belief that the Quran does not need to confirm anything. The Quran is Allah's command. ZAFAR IQBAL, Ph.D.
HOLIDAYS: July 1 Canada Day, 4 U.S. Independence Day, 14 France National Day, India Rath Yatra, 27 India Guru Purnima, August 14 Pakistan Independence Day, 15 India Independence Day ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
* Till August 14, Portland, OR, USA: TANA BANA/WARP AND WEFT: THE WOVEN SOUL OF PAKISTAN, an exhibition of traditional textiles of Pakistan, curated by Noorjehan Bilgrami and Dr. Jonathan Kenoyer, at Pacific Northwest College of Art, 1241 NW Johnson Street. Special events include a public lecture by Bilgrami at 7:30 p.m. on July 8, and a performance on Sitar and Tabla by Ikhlaq Husaain and Ustad Bashir Khan at 7:30 p.m. on July 9 . More information from 503.226.439. * July 17, Los Angeles, CA, USA: FESTIVAL OF INDIA, the UCLA Hammer Museum's summer festival for children and families, including dances, stories and handicrafts, starts at 11 a.m., at 10899 Wilshire Bvd. Admission is free. More info from 310.443.7000. * July 24, Portland, OR, USA: VOCAL CARNATIC MUSIC CONCERT by Padmashri Dr. J.K. Yesudas at 7:30 p.m., at Newmark (Intermediate) Theater, at 1111 SW Broadway. Advance Tickets at $35, $25 and $20 from Music Millennium. More info from www.rasika.org. OTHER EVENTS
* July 26, Portland, OR, USA: COMPASSION & THE INDIVIDUAL, a lecture by Venerable Geshe Kalsang Damdul, who is an ordained monk, a close associate of the Dalai Lama and the Assistant Director of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India, at 5:30 p.m. at Vanpart Room (#338), Smith Memorial Center, Portland State University. The lecture explores how the Buddhist concept of compassion can be used in daily life to look at friends and enemies alike, promote peace and happiness within, and discover one's inner truth. Admission free. More info from 503.725.4081. ANNOUNCEMENTS
* December 31, 1999 - January 2, 2000,: 72 HOURS OF INTERFAITH PEACE-BUILDING, a millennium celebration of United Religions, an organization to promote interfaith cooperation for peace, will hold events around the world. The proposal includes a interfaith peace walks in Pakistan, voluntary surrender programs in Brazil, prayer vigils in Thailand, walks in California Bay area from bridge to bridge. More info from www.united-religions.org. * March-April 2000, Washington, D.C., USA: INDIAN COINS covering the period 500 BC to 1947 collected by Dr Navin Shah along with the gold coins from the National Museum in New Delhi will be exhibited in collaboration with the Smithsonian at the World Bank gallery. This collection of thousands of coins includes those from India's Turk, Greek French, Portuguese, and British rulers and over 1,000 native kingdoms. * September 2, 2000. Houston, TX, USA: WORLD MILLENNIUM KANNADA CONFERENCE of Kannada speaking non-resident Indians from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Singapore and USA is being organized by the Association of Kannada Kootas of America. More info from N.S. Vatsa Kumar of Houston Kannada Vrinda. RESEARCH HELP NEEDED
PEOPLE
* OSMAN SIDDIQUE, a Bangladesh native, now living in McLean, VA, has been appointed by President Clinton as U.S. AMBASSADOR to the south pacific countries of Fiji, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu. * On June 1, SANJAY RAJARAM, an Indian wheat scientist was honored by China with its Friendship medal, the country's highest honor for foreigners, in recognition of his contributions to China's agricultural sector. In collaboration with Chinese experts, he has developed five new strains of wheat that are being used on over 271,000 acres of land each year. Also, he has helped in training of the nation's agronomists. * FAROOQ KATHWARI the 54 year-old Indian-American, who is a native of Kashmir and chairman and CEO of Ethan Allen, Inc., a leading furniture manufacturing and retailing company, has been listed among the 50 top CEO's by Worth magazine. * A prominent Pakistani scientist, ATTA UR RAHMAN will share the UNESCO's 1999 science cash prize of 15,000-dollar with his Brazilian counterpart, Jose Leite Lopes, according to a Panafrican News Agency report from BUDAPEST, Hungary. Rahman was honored for his work in organic chemistry which has contributed to the development of plant-based therapies for cancer, AIDS, diabetes as well as the development of a major science center in Pakistan. * The Indian film star and peace activist, SHABANA AZMI has been appointed by the UNFPA as its goodwill ambassador for India. In this capacity she will visit the United Nations Population Fund sites, and advocate population control and development, reproductive health and gender equality issues. DID YOU KNOW
* A project for putting a COMPUTER inside every Indian home and designed to make Indian parents more aware of the need to be computer savvy has been launched in Singapore. But, according to Patrick Daniel, the editor of The Business Times, who heads the project's board of directors, they have not been able to interest as many families in the project as the computers they have collected. * India entered an elite club of commercial SATELLITE LAUNCHING nations on May 26 when a Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle (PSLV-C2) lifted off from Sriharikota, AP with a South Korean mini-satellite and a German research satellite along with the oceanographic Indian Remote Sensing P-4 satellite. The rockets were put in their respective orbits within 100 seconds of the launch. * Working with psychologists, authorities at Tihar Jail, located near New Delhi, India have started painting classes for PRISONERS age 16-21 to keep them busy, to help them ease tensions and to give them an opportunity to do something they can be proud of. * NEPALI Congress Party won 110 of 205 Pratinidhi Sabha seats in the recent national elections. and its leader, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was appointed by King and Birendra as the head of the country's new and ninth government. He has also served Nepal's first Prime Minister, after multi-party democracy was established in Nepal in 1990. * Two NUCLEAR POWER units of 220 MW each will become operational in India this summer at Kaiga in Karnataka and near Kota in Rajasthan. Two more units will go critical next year. The country currently has installed capacity of 1,840 MW of nuclear power. India is estimated to need 8 to 10 times more electricity to be able to achieve the quality of life prevalent in advanced nations. * The world's largest SOLAR COOKER consisting of 84 parabolic mirrors has been installed, with the assistance of the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, by the Brahamakumaris at their headquarters at Taleti, near Mt. Abu in western India. During trial conducted in March and April the system cooked as many as 33,800 meals and boiled 3,000 liters of tea water and saved 400 liters of diesel on a single day. * Baked terra cotta tiles bearing swastika motifs and Kharoshti script and believed to be from a BUDDHIST settlement dating between second and third century AD were recently unearthed on the left bank of Shali Ganga Nallah in Badgam district in central Kashmir, India. * Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo, in Bhatinda district of Punjab, India, has been declared by the government of India to be the fifth takht of SIKHS. The other four important spiritual and temporal Sikh seats are Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur, Patna Sahib, and Hazur Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra. * World Bank has granted $32 million in interest-free loan to help BANGLADESH diversify its exports. * Each day 65,000 children in India start SMOKING as compared to 3,000 in USA, according to a study completed by the Indian Society on Tobacco and Health. About five million Indian children under age 15 are addicted to tobacco. The country has the world's highest rate of oral cancers and annual mortality of 80,000. India produces one trillion bidis, and 90 billion cigarettes a year. With its annual production of 604,500 metric tons, it is the world's third largest tobacco. * With annual consumption of 20,000 tons of CHOCOLATE, and the average
rate of growth of chocolate industry at 15 percent a year, India
has become a net importer of during the last few years, according to B.V.
Mehta, the executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association of
India.
* U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has announced that its 115,000 annual cap on the H-1B VISAS for the fiscal year 1999 was reached June 15, and it will not accept more application this year. Forty-six percent of the 1999 H-1B visas were given to Indian, 10 percent to Chinese, and 2 percent to Pakistan. * POPULATION of India is estimated to grow to 986, 611,000 at the end of 1999, to one billion by May 2000, to 1,167,335,000 in 2010 and 1,414,274,000 in 2025, according to Washington, D.C.'s Population Reference Bureau's 1999 World Population Data Sheet. Pakistan's current population estimated to 146,488,000 this year, 181,092,000 in 2010, and 224,494,000 in 2025. Projection for Bangladesh are 125,721,000, 150,333,000 and 177,025.000, respectively. * India's first indigenous language computer keyboard has been developed in TAMIL by the Tamil Nadu government, according to a recent press release. * "Basti," "Bidi," "Dhobi," and "Durzee" are among 80 new INDIAN WORDS listed this year's Concise Oxford Dictionary of the English Language. * The scientists at the Indian Statistical Institute at Calcutta have developed an automatic SPELLING CORRECTION system for Bengali. * A global job clearinghouse has been set up by CampusCareerCenter at www. campuscareercenter. com. The site also offers job interview tips and career counseling. * A team of researchers from the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute at Pune, Maharashtra, India, and the University of Cambridge, UK, has put the entire MAHABHARATA on the Internet. For more information see www.bombay.oriental.cam.ac.uk. * "India Means Business: Investment Avenues for NRI's," a FREE BOOKLET produced by India's Ministry of External Affairs can be requested from the Indian Consulate at www.indianconsulate-sf.org. * New California Media, a network of ethnic news organizations, has launched a MULTI-ETHNIC NEWS web site at www.ncmonline.com TRAVEL
Home | Activities
- Current | Awards | Board
of Directors | Bulletin
| Chapters
|