Monday, July 5, 2010

[ZESTCaste] RESIST FORCED EVICTION OF STUDENTS IN THE NAME OF COMMONWEALTH GAMES [2 Attachments]

 
[Attachment(s) from CHITTIBABU PADAVALA included below]



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tanya Matthan <tanyamatthan@gmail.com>
Date: 6 July 2010 09:22
Subject: Fwd: RESIST FORCED EVICTION OF STUDENTS IN THE NAME OF COMMONWEALTH GAMES
To: Ayesha Matthan <ayeshamatthan@gmail.com>, yasmin matthan <ymatthan@hotmail.com>, Arun Matthan <arunmatthan@yahoo.co.in>, anoop kumar <anoopkheri@gmail.com>, CHITTIBABU PADAVALA <afchittibabu@gmail.com>, Bindu Menon <binmenen@gmail.com>, lalit batra <lalitbatra@gmail.com>, bhamati.s@gmail.com, bendangtu@gmail.com, Deepti Mehrotra <deeptipm@gmail.com>, Vidyun Sabhaney <vidyunsabhaney@gmail.com>




Please do read this and pass this on to as many people as possible.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Down with eviction of students from College Hostels!
Onwards to students self-activity!!

The current administration of Delhi University has attempted to reshape the University through a series of sinister agendas - be it the introduction of semester system, the European Studies Programme or the biometric identification system. All of them have shared one thing in common:
the thwarting of democratic debate on proposals for change, and the routine violation of regulatory protocols.

The latest episode has been the eviction of students (2,000 students according to reports) from a number of hostels in Delhi University in order to make them available for the Commonwealth Games. Hostels are being renovated and beautified for the officials and visitors of the Games,
while students are scrambling around for their own accommodation. The students, like the 40,000 families on the Yamuna bank, are now among the many that have been displaced in the name of national glory. What comes into question is the fact that the University has agreed to avail of 20
crores of rupees from the Commonwealth Games project without taking any cognisance of how and where such resources are generated. It has thus become an accomplice in the larger process of reckless corporatisation that the whole city is undergoing in the bid of becoming a "global city".

This has left students at the mercy of private accommodation, with its unregulated rents and precarious guarantees. Rents are rising in anticipation of the increased demand for PGs and flats, forcing many existing residents to move out and making accommodation unaffordable for incoming residents as well. The University has made no attempt to devise a mechanism to control or subsidise rents. The inflated prices that students pay are in effect the costs they bear for the cosmetic surgery DU is undergoing, and by extension, the hidden burden they carry for the
Commonwealth Games. Some newspaper reports even indicate that hostel fees may increase after the hostels have been "upgraded". Moreover, the lack of a viable and safe alternative has compelled many girls seeking admission in DU to rethink their decision. The University has also failed to consider living conditions around campus, especially from a gender-sensitive perspective. We can only begin to imagine what it must be like for those with physical disabilities to navigate around dug-up roads, unmarked holes and hazardous construction material.

The students are told that their eviction is "for their own good". It is "for them" that the authorities are "improving student infrastructure", making "world-class" hostels. Where was this concern for well-being when the college authorities took the decision to evict students? Not once was there
any dialogue with students about this "upgradation", or about the best and most suitable way to go about it. Instead, the whole decision-making process was shrouded in mystery, leading to utter chaos and confusion: while Hansraj made its hostel residents sign a bond last year declaring they had no objection to being evicted between July and October 2010, Miranda House students have still not been officially informed about the eviction!

We cannot allow the University to get away with such deliberate and avoidable irresponsibility. We
make the following demands from the University:
• We demand the provision of alternate accommodation for evicted students.
• This accommodation should be at par with the hostels, both in terms of prices as well as
qualitative conditions such as basic amenities and safety.
• We also demand, as conscientious members of a larger community, that this provision not be met at the cost of another section of society.

On our part, let us work towards creating another space, a commune perhaps, an imaginative and practical alternative that is self-governed by members of the university community, a cooperative living space that meets its own needs and conducts itself in a responsible and
democratic fashion.

If you are angered by what you see around you in the University, and indeed, in the city, if you want to speak out against the shrinking of democratic space and are ready to reclaim what is rightfully yours, please come and join us!

THIS IS OUR UNIVERSITY! LET'S SPEAK OUT!!
University Community for Democracy
Contact: cwgresistance@gmail.com * Malay 9871924612 * Naina 9313356046 * Praveen 9911078111


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Attachment(s) from CHITTIBABU PADAVALA

2 of 2 File(s)

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[ZESTCaste] Re: Caste count hits sub-quota hurdle

 


I think this problem will never end. Take the example of Haryana state. Still we are slave. Who want to job under cast mark? but reserved person have to make their livibghood. We are reserved, we are untouchable and remain till Indian politics is in survival.
No one consider us Human being by heart, every thing is on paper and for political isssues.

Dr Vinit Prakash
assistant Professor

--- In ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com, Jagatheesan Chandrasekharan <bspnow@...> wrote:
>
> For Equal Distribution of Wealth, if the Master Key is handed over to the right
> political party that believes in equal distribution of wealth among all sections
> of the society, for their welfare and happiness and ultimate peace, the problem
> will come to an end.
>  MAY YOU BE EVER HAPPY, WELL AND SECURE
> MAY YOU LIVE LONG
> MAY ALL SENTIENT AND NON-SENTIENT BEINGS BE EVER HAPPY
> MAY YOU BE ALWAYS HAVE CALM, QUIET, ALERT,ATTENTIVE AND
> EQUANIMITY MIND WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT
> NOTHING IS PERMANENT
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Siddhartha Kumar <mailsiddhartha.k@...>
> To: zestcaste <zestcaste@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sat, 3 July, 2010 5:20:33 PM
> Subject: [ZESTCaste] Caste count hits sub-quota hurdle
>
>  
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Caste-count-hits-sub-quota-hurdle/articleshow/6121166.cms
>
>
> Caste count hits sub-quota hurdle
> TNN, Jul 3, 2010, 03.57am IST
>
> NEW DELHI:

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[ZESTCaste] Amar claims life threat from Maya and Mulayam

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Amar-claims-life-threat-from-Maya-and-Mulayam/articleshow/6128974.cms

Amar claims life threat from Maya and Mulayam
TNN, Jul 5, 2010, 12.20am IST

LUCKNOW: National president of the recently launched Lok Manch (LM),
Amar Singh has claimed that he faces serious threat to his life from
UP chief minister Mayawati and his former boss, Samajwadi Party chief
Mulayam Singh Yadav.

In Lucknow on Sunday to inaugurate the state headquarters of Lok
Manch, Amar Singh said: "They cannot see me emerging as an independent
leader." The threat was not limited to his life alone. "If anything
happens to me, my family or my fellow leaders of Lok Manch then these
two leaders must be held directly responsible for it," Amar Singh said
while talking to mediapersons.

One doesn't know what is the basis of Amar's claim, but fellow
politicians in the state are taking it with a pinch of salt. One of
them even went up to the extent of saying that `Amar was most
threatened politician' -- obviously not in the true sense of words.

When asked to comment about Mulayam Singh Yadav's move to write to the
Centre for removing the security cover that is provided to him, Amar
Singh said: "Mulayam Singhji koi Bharat sarkar ke grih mantri to hain
nahi," (Mulayam is not the home minister of the central government).

About his stance on a separate Poorvanchal state, Singh said that now
on, only promising support to its formation will not do. He said Lok
Manch was all set to launch a "padyatra" starting December 1 next from
Allahabad to Gorakhpur to press for its demand for early formation of
the new state.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit woman assaulted over construction of house

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Allahabad/Dalit-woman-assaulted-over-construction-of-house/articleshow/6125931.cms

Dalit woman assaulted over construction of house
TNN, Jul 4, 2010, 12.29am IST

Allahabad: Tension mounted in Seetalpur Tikri village under Tharwai
police station on Saturday when a group of persons belonging to an
upper caste allegedly assaulted a 35-year-old Dalit woman and
ransacked her temporary house.

The woman alleged that she was paraded naked in the village but the
the police found this allegation as false.

Superintendent of police, trans-Ganga, VK Mishra said that the woman
was assaulted by one Devi Prasad Mishra and his family members. They
also ransacked her temporary house and damaged the household items.

Mishra is the owner of the land. His family had allowed the dalit
woman to stay in the corner of the land. When Devi Prasad and his
family members noticed that the woman was trying to construct a
permanent house at the behest of the gram pradhan, they raised
objections and asked the woman to desist from doing so.

About a fortnight back, the woman made an attempt to construct a
permanent structure. Mishra and his family members stopped her.

On Saturday, the woman again started the construction work and the
land owner raised tried to stop her. When she refused to stop the
construction, Mishra and his family members allegedly assaulted her
and ransacked the temporary structure.

In the meantime, a group of villagers spread the news that the dalit
was allegedly paraded naked. On receiving this information, senior
police officials rushed to the spot and found that it was a dispute
between Mishra and the woman over constructions.

A case was lodged against Mishra under SC/ST Act. The police would
also initiate action against the persons involved in spreading the
rumour that a dalit woman had been paraded naked.

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[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar’s complete works a bestseller

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/ambedkar%E2%80%99s-complete-works-a-bestseller/187006.html

Ambedkar's complete works a bestseller

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 05 Jul 2010 12:40:26 AM ISTLast Updated :

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The writings of Dr B R Ambedkar are attracting
book-lovers to the annual book fair organised by the State Institute
of Languages at the VJT Hall here in the city. Among the 18,000 books
exhibited in over 2,500-odd titles, 'Dr. Ambedkar: The Complete Works'
is becoming one of the main attractions. The collection, which spans
over 34 volumes, is the first of its kind in Malayalam. No other
publisher has so far published the complete works of Dr Ambedkar for
Malayalam readers.


M Rajendran, the coordinator of the exhibition, told 'Expresso' that
it was for the first time the 34 volumes of Ambedkar's complete works
were put for exhibition in Kerala. "The response from the public is
very warm that by the third day of the exhibition, many volumes in the
complete works have been sold out," he added. The paperback edition of
all 34 volumes together costs Rs 1,200 at the exhibition.

Shamlal T A, a research aspirant from Kochi, was delighted to find the
complete works of Ambedkar in the exhibition. He said that he had been
searching for it in many other places, but he found it only here.

The Institute has sold books worth more than Rs 1.5 lakh within three
days, according to the coordinator of the exhibition. Apart from Dr
Ambedkar's works, the exhibition presents books ranging from science
and technology, literature, history to folklore. Books on health,
fisheries, agriculture, music, films and biographies of famous
personalities are also kept for sale. The exhibition offers 20 to 60
percent discount on selected books for the visitors. It is on till
July 10.

trivandrum@expressbuzz.com


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[ZESTCaste] Glitches in Babasaheb Ambedkar photo biography

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_glitches-in-babasaheb-ambedkar-photo-biography_1405382

Glitches in Babasaheb Ambedkar photo biography

Alok Deshpande / DNAMonday, July 5, 2010 1:37 IST

Mumbai: The photo biography Babasaheb Ambedkar published by the state
government was supposed to be a great guide for students and
researchers to the leader's life. However, it has turned out to be a
storehouse of factual and grammatical glitches.

The 212-page book, brought out by the Babasaheb Ambedkar Source
Material Publication Committee on April 14, carries some rare
photographs depicting Ambedkar's eventful life. But some of the
pictures don't carry basic information such as names of the people
present, the date the photograph was taken and the event.

"Just have one look at the book and you will find many mistakes,"
Ramesh Shinde, aresearcher on Ambedkar, told DNA.

Page 143 of the Marathi edition of the book says Ambedkar brought the
Khoti system abolition bill in 1936. "How is it possible? The assembly
elections were held on February 2, 1937. How could he introduce the
bill in 1936 without getting elected? The bill was actually introduced
on September 17, 1937," Shinde said.

Citing another major mistake on page 187, Shinde said the book does
not mention the very important fact that after getting converted to
Buddhism on October 14, 1956, Ambedkar himself converted the
congregation of his followers to Buddhism by reciting 22 pledges to
them. The book does not mention this at all.

"This will misinform the reader as the book suggests that Mahasthavir
Bhikku Chandramani converted the mass to Buddhism," said Shinde.


On page 25, the book says that Ambedkar had to return to Mumbai from
Baroda after his father's demise on February 2, 1913. But all the
biographers of the leader have mentioned that he started his journey
from Baroda after receiving the news of his father's serious illness.
He missed the train at Surat, but still managed to come to Mumbai
where he met his father. His father died after the meeting.

The publisher of Ambedkar'sthesis 'The problem of the rupee' was PS
King and Sons Ltd, London, and not King and Company, London, as the
book mentions.

Moreover, page 27 and 28 mention two professors, JA Hobson and LT
Hobhouse, from London School of Economics. "Who are these people? None
of the biographers knows about these two," tells Shinde. The book
mentions the years of his visits to Sri Lanka and Rangoon as 1954 and
1955, which in reality are 1950 and 1954.

There are a few misses inthe translation also. The first paragraph on
page 151 of the English edition of the book is not included in the
Marathi edition.
A photo biography is meant to provide some exclusive and rare photos.
Some of the photos in this book are without any caption. Page 116 and
118 carry the same photo. The quotations on top of the page are
without context. There's no information on the article or speech from
where the quotations have been taken.

This book is a government publication, which people consider as
authentic. The wrong information could provide a twisted version of
the leader's life, feel activists and researchers. They want
re-editing of the book by experts.
When contacted, the editor of the book, professor Hari Narke, agreed
that there could be some printing errors in the book.

"If there are factual errors, then let us study them. We will try to
correct the mistakes we detect," said Narke. He emphasised that this
was not a critical biography of Ambedkar but just a photo biography.
"We will clear the mistakes, if any, in the next copy," added Narke.


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[ZESTCaste] Video-Bathukamma, A Backward Caste Festival says Kancha Ilaiah

 
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Re: [ZESTCaste] Caste count hits sub-quota hurdle

 

For Equal Distribution of Wealth, if the Master Key is handed over to the right political party that believes in equal distribution of wealth among all sections of the society, for their welfare and happiness and ultimate peace, the problem will come to an end.
 
MAY YOU BE EVER HAPPY, WELL AND SECURE
MAY YOU LIVE LONG
MAY ALL SENTIENT AND NON-SENTIENT BEINGS BE EVER HAPPY
MAY YOU BE ALWAYS HAVE CALM, QUIET, ALERT,ATTENTIVE AND
EQUANIMITY MIND WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT
NOTHING IS PERMANENT



From: Siddhartha Kumar <mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com>
To: zestcaste <zestcaste@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, 3 July, 2010 5:20:33 PM
Subject: [ZESTCaste] Caste count hits sub-quota hurdle

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Caste-count-hits-sub-quota-hurdle/articleshow/6121166.cms

Caste count hits sub-quota hurdle
TNN, Jul 3, 2010, 03.57am IST

NEW DELHI: The proposal to include caste in the ongoing census seems
to have hit a serious hurdle with concern being expressed that the
exercise may not only set off jostling for quotas among sub-castes but
may not be effective in changing the overall constitutional ceiling on
reservation.

As the government gets down to considering the cost-benefit of a caste
enumeration, fuller implications of conceding the demand led by
powerful OBC lobbies are being considered. The political agendas at
work may not only be contentious, but prove to be unworkable as well.

One of unsaid arguments behind the census demand is that a truer count
of backward castes would establish claims for a greater share of the
reservation pie. This means that caste enumeration may lead to
political demands that the current Supreme Court-mandated 50% cap on
quotas be breached in the future.

Well-placed sources said the argument was flawed as even if the
popular claim of OBCs accounting for 52% of the population -- though
some surveys peg it at less -- was actually exceeded, it may not
translate into an expanded quota. This was because the SC ruling was
now part of the basic structure of the Constitution and not open to
being amended by Parliament.

The group of ministers (GoM) on enumerating caste on Thursday saw the
point being made that caste numbers were not going lead to backward
empowerment in the manner in which some votaries of the proposal felt
it would. What would be the purpose of a caste count if the quota
aspirations were going to prove to be non-starters, it was pointed
out.

A cautionary note was also held out on the sub-caste counts that would
be a result of changing the census process. The sub-categorisation of
backward and other castes could see demands for proportional
representation. This would mean competing claims for entitlements on
the basis of quotas within quotas, something the government may not be
comfortable with.

It is understood that none of the ministers who expressed their views
were unequivocal in supporting a caste census though law minister M
Veerappa Moily, a strong votary of the proposal, attended the GoM
meeting briefly. Even ministers who spoke in favour of the move
pointed to the political commitment of the government rather than the
merits of the case.

Home minister P Chidambaram spoke of his reservations about a caste
census but said he would go along with the GoM's consensus. Defence
minister A K Antony, often seen to reflect the Congress brass'
thinking, made it clear he was offering his personal view that a caste
census was not a good idea.

Corporate affairs and minority affairs minister Salman Khurshed argued
the government will have to go ahead with a caste count as it was
important in terms of numbers in Parliament. He could have been
alluding to the support extended to Congress by OBC-centric parties
like Samajwadi Party and RJD. But the assessment in government seems
to be that the caste census was not likely to be settled in a hurry.

The decision to seek responses from political parties is a sure
indicator of this as apart from Mandal-oriented parties, others are
likely to ask Congress to spell out its stand first. The caste count
demand is sure to gain momentum during the monsoon session, but with
the first round of the census over, government has time till December.


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