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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

[ZESTCaste] Stark pictorial tribute to Jotiba Phule

http://news.in.msn.com/exclusives/it/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5849746

Updated: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:33:56 GMT | By Gillian Wright, India Today
Stark pictorial tribute to Jotiba Phule
Pictorial biography of the Phules who saw education as an antidote to
caste conflict

This startling black and white graphic book is the latest offering
from Navayana, India's first and only publishing house to focus
exclusively on the issue of caste from an anti-caste perspective.
Navayana means New Vehicle, and it was the word that Ambedkar chose to
give to the new school of Indian Buddhists-those who, like him,
renounced the caste system by renouncing Hinduism altogether. Of the
two founders of the Navayana publishing house, one was elected as a
Dalit Panthers MLA to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, and the other is a
former journalist. On their website they invite manuscripts on caste
issues, and this welcoming attitude must have encouraged Srividya
Natarajan and Aparajita Ninan as they created this pictorial biography
of the 19th century Maharashtrian social reformer Jotiba Phule and his
wife Savitribai.

Jotiba Phule had great ambitions for the Sudras and Ati-Sudras, and
saw equal rights to education for all as the means to fulfil those
ambitions. He and his wife ran schools, and stood up not just for
widow remarriage but for a wide range of women's rights. However,
Phule probably never imagined that he and Savitribai would become such
potent symbols in 21st century India for the sections of society they
represented. All over the country, educational institutions are coming
up in their names. I saw one of them beside the highway from Jaipur to
Delhi-the site for a Mahatma Jotiba Phule University.

This book clearly reveals why he and Savitribai, whom he married when
she was just eight years old, were so remarkable and why they remain
such potent symbols today. The title A Gardener in the Wasteland
refers to the fact that they belonged to the Mali caste and spent
their lives trying to clear the wasteland of caste and grow a healthy
society. Their opponents in Maharashtra were the Brahmins, depicted in
the book as hairy, heavily moustached thugs in dhotis, whom Phule
believed had used religion to enslave other castes, especially the
lower castes and untouchables. To fight back, Phule, who himself
suffered oppression, used the pen. In his writings he ridiculed the
scriptures that he was convinced were created as instruments of
enslavement. Ninan and Natarajan's lively pictures illustrate his
spirited and rational demolition of the Vedas, the Puranas, and the
Laws of Manu. For Phule, Parashuram was a genocidal maniac and Vamana
a deceiver and slimebag who destroyed the golden age of Bali. Phule
mocks Brahma's giving birth to the four varnas by arguing that this
meant he had vaginas in his mouth, arms, groin and legs and would have
spent most of the month menstruating.

Natarajan and Ninan also explain why he did not feel any sympathy for
the leaders of the nascent freedom movement. He owed his own education
to a Scotsman and drew inspiration for his cause from the emancipation
of slaves in the United States. He could have had little hope of
justice from any caste Hindu-led organisation.

It's not only the illustrations in this book that are black and white.
The story too is one of stark opposites. The authors admit that in a
graphic book they cannot include all the nuances and details of this
courageous and determined couple's life. For example, although Phule
derided Brahmanism, he remained a Hindu and is said to have adopted a
boy who happened to be a Brahmin. But they can inspire their readers
to try and understand the world from the perspectives of those who
have been underdogs for centuries.

Source:

www.indiatoday.in

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[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar statue defiled at Tellapur

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ambedkar-statue-defiled-at-tellapur/230665-60-114.html

Andhra Pradesh | Posted on Feb 16, 2012 at 07:40am IST
Ambedkar statue defiled at Tellapur
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express

SANGAREDDY: Tension prevailed at Tellapur village in Ramachandrapuram
mandal� following the desecration of Ambedkar statue by miscreants on
Tuesday night.� Dalit organisations staged protests on Wednesday
against the desecration. Deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha,
Patancheru MLA Nandeeswar Goud and senior police officials rushed to
the spot.

The deputy chief minister asked the superintendent of police PJ Victor
to take stringent action against the miscreants, irrespective of their
social status and political affiliations.

He condemned the incident and said the law should be amended to the
effect that people defiling statues of national leaders get severe
punishment.

Meanwhile, TRS MP Vijayashanti, who visited the spot, expressed
unhappiness over the functioning of the state government and demanded
that the miscreants should be brought to book.

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[ZESTCaste] Mayawati: Queen in her cocoon…

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/mayawati-queen-in-her-cocoon-214684.html

Mayawati: Queen in her cocoon…

Akshaya Mishra Feb 15, 2012

Lucknow: The presence of the part of Gomti Nagar which houses the
sprawling 123-acre Ambedkar Memorial and the old city in a single
visual frame explaining Lucknow makes it look like a badly done cut
and paste job. One is, a medieval dream come alive in modern times and
the other, a picture of civic chaos and decay; one a shining symbol of
political hubris and extravagance and the other a tell-tale story of
neglect.

There are enough concrete structures and glass-fronted buildings
making up the middle space. But they fail hopelessly short to provide
consistency to the visual narrative. Both are signs of a
self-indulgent and indifferent government. Between these contrasting
pictures lies the story of the failure of Mayawati.

Election is due in Lucknow on 19 but the excitement about it is not
palpable. The mood seems in agreement with the character of the city —
silent, brooding and comfortable with itself. However, if you scratch
the surface, you detect anger, a lot of it.

"Look around. See the mess. Do you think we have a government that
works?'' asks the gentleman who has become my guide from the Chowk
area to Khala Bazaar. Traffic chaos, damaged roads, piling garbage,
goats moving around aimlessly, shops extending unto the roads and the
general disarray around – yes, all this do not make for a pretty
picture. Old city areas across India are a bit messy but in Lucknow it
is something else.

AFP

The civic body, obviously, has failed. Apparently it is struggling for
funds. "All the money went into those statues," explained the
gentleman helpfully. He was referring to the sand-stone statues at the
Ambedkar Memorial.

The paanwala turns out to be a reservoir of knowledge on political
matters. The BSP is going to lose and the Samajwadi Party will get
good number of seats. The BJP and the Congress will end up third and
fourth, he says, adding, SP and Congress will form government
together. That is the general assessment of the man on the street.

"Mayawati needs to be taught a lesson. People have chosen a chief
minister, not a maharani. This woman spends government money like it
is her father's property. Look at the corruption. Where do her
diamonds come from? From public money obviously,'' he says. His friend
chips in: "Her votes are in the villages. She understands that. She
also understands that urban voters are fickle. Why should she be
worried about this place? She has left it to rot."

Zaheer Mustafa, editor of Urdu daily In Dino, says the anger is in no
way misplaced. He, however, takes the explanation of the popular
disenchantment to another level. Mayawati has deliberately distanced
herself from people by making herself inaccessible, he says.

"She neither goes out often nor addresses public meetings nor meets
the press. It is difficult even for party MLAs to raise their problems
before her, forget the common man. She gets easily irritated and has
no patience to hear things out. She has no ears for news that is
uncomfortable to her. And the punishment for any indiscretion is
swift. This way she has closed herself to the outside world. This kind
of approach certainly hits administration,'' he says.

The Brahmins who joined her in 2007 had expected that she would allow
them to play a role in party affairs, but that has not happened. Even
the Dalits don't play any role in decision-making. That has created a
lot of disenchantment in both the groups. "Basically, she does not
trust anyone. She does not allow the party to address situations that
require a political response. A cabinet secretary reads out her
response and that is how it works in all cases. If she survives, it
will be because of the strong organisation she has created," Mustafa
says.

The spate of corruption charges against her and her brother, Anand
Kumar — who the BJP alleges runs at least 26 companies which
registered phenomenal growth after Mayawati came to power —has dented
her public image. He is alleged to have benefitted from the land deals
in Noida, which later led to farmers' agitations. In addition, there's
the extravagance in the construction of parks. Mayawati certainly has
distanced herself from people more than one way. Her problems are of
her own making.

The fear among people is if she gets a repeat mandate, the state will
be ruined. "Tab to woh aur ek Taj Mahal bana legi. Hum log yahin
baithe rahenge soch soch ke kya ho raha he," says the paanwala's
friend.

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[ZESTCaste] Mayawati ignores common man, promotes corrupt: Rahul

http://twocircles.net/2012feb15/mayawati_ignores_common_man_promotes_corrupt_rahul.html

Mayawati ignores common man, promotes corrupt: Rahul
Submitted by admin4 on 15 February 2012 - 8:25pm

By IANS,

Lucknow : As Uttar Pradesh voted in the third phase of assembly polls
Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi kept up his attack on Chief
Minister Mayawati in his maiden rally at the state capital, accusing
her of neglecting the common man.

Addressing an impressive crowd at the DAV College grounds in the
crowded Moti Nagar locality, he made a passionate appeal to them to
vote the Congress party to power.

"If you want to change Uttar Pradesh and put Uttar Pradesh on the fast
track like Congress-ruled states, rise and vote for Congress," he said
amidst cries of "Rahul tum sangharsh karo; hum tumhare saath hain"
(Rahul you lead the struggle; we are with you).

He hit out at the ruling Bahuijan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party
(SP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for doing "lip service through
their false promises".

In a melodramatic gesture, he even tore off a sheet of paper with
something written on it to convey how poll promises made by those
parties were meant to be treated.

"Whenever there is an election, these political parties go to town
making all kinds of promises, which they never intend to fulfil. That
is the reason these promises deserve what I am doing," he said while
tearing the sheet of paper and flinging it in the air.

Dressed in his usual white kurta-pyjama and sporting an unkempt beard,
he said people being forced to migrate due to lack of employment
opportunities in Uttar Pradesh.

He said the Metro in Delhi was constructed by workers from Uttar
Pradesh and they also played a vital role in agriculture in Punjab and
Haryana.

"He (the worker) eats half a meal but keeps working. He falls sick but
works and one day passes away," he said.

Hitting out at Mayawati, Gandhi said: "Your leaders do not come to
you. They do not talk to you ... How can they talk of development."

Earlier, he also addressed a rally at Bakshi-ka-Talab, one of the
rural assembly constituencies on the outskirts of the city.

"It is after a gap of 22 years that the Congress is in the thick of
the electoral battle for Uttar Pradesh. This fight is aimed at
building a new Uttar Pradesh in order to provide a future for the
people of this state who have remained a target of neglect for more
than two decades," he said.

Attacking the BJP for playing "politics of religion", he charged SP
and BSP of "playing up caste only to serve their short sighted vested
interests".

"The BJP came (to power) four times. It did nothing. It took name of
Lord Ram but did nothing. The Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi
Party came and sought votes on caste. They did nothing," Gandhi said.

Rahul proposes to go a road-show in Lucknow Thursday.

Voting will be held here Sunday in the fourth phase of poll that shall
cover 56 constituencies. The seven-phased poll in Uttar Pradesh ends
March 3. The results would be out March 6.

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[ZESTCaste] Jury is out on UP, but the likely loser is clearer: Mayawati

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/jury-is-out-on-up-but-the-likely-loser-is-clearer-mayawati-215003.html

Jury is out on UP, but the likely loser is clearer: Mayawati

Feb 16, 2012

by Jai Mrug

The core team of IAC (India Against Corruption) that was campaigning
in Barabanki in January had attracted a crowd of almost 7,000 people.
To put the numbers in perspective, this was perhaps far better than
the crowd that the movement attracted at Anna Hazare's sit-in fast in
Mumbai in December.

The substantially high turnout in the Uttar Pradesh polls so far
should, therefore, surprise none. It was clearly a maturing and
younger democracy trying to assert itself. The key question is how
will this higher turnout impact the electoral outcome over and above
the caste calculus and the first-past-the-post Westminster model.
Importantly, one should debate suitable models for sustainable voter
engagement that can survive the complex caste calculus of a vast
state.

In a high turnout, irrespective of party affiliations, the ones to be
hit first will be incumbent MLAs as a higher turnout is a sign of
voter assertion. A high turnout fuelled by revolutionary fervour is
invariably against the incumbent MLAs and, in many ways, against the
incumbent government as well.

Since a majority of MLAs belong to the BSP, the party could be the
worst hit on this count. Importantly, the BSP won one seat for
approximately every 78,000 votes it polled, making it the biggest
beneficiary of the first-past-the-post system. If the same turnout
persists, to maintain its seat tally the party would have to
accumulate anywhere upwards of one lakh votes per winning seat and
retain a vote share upwards of 26 percent.

Secondly, such a high turnout would mean a windfall for parties that
do not have an organisation or a dedicated cadre to help them mobilise
floating voters. It is usually the floating or undecided voter who
chooses to abstain. Parties that have a brand name but do not have a
substantial machinery benefit first. In the case of UP, it means that
these parties could be the Congress and the BJP, in that order.

With the BJP having just wriggled out of the Kushwaha episode and with
porngate still fresh in people's minds, the party to benefit more
could well be the Congress.

With a relatively higher turnout across castes this time, the BSP's
core strength relative to others threatens to shrink. Reuters

However, another nuance one must closely examine is the caste calculus
surrounding the expulsion of ministers by the BSP. While most view
their expulsion as good riddance, members of the native castes of
those expelled see them as victims of her hubris and scapegoats in the
cause of retaining her image at their cost just before the elections.

If reports from the field are to be believed this is creating some
goodwill for their new sponsors on the ground. Thus parties like the
BJP may well pick up in some pockets such as Bundelkhand because of a
new social alignment.

The impact of a high turnout would be substantial on parties that have
depended excessively on caste-based turnout to enhance their seat
tally. These are the BSP and the Samajwadi Party (SP), in that order.
The BSP has always depended on a relatively higher and well mobilised
turnout among the scheduled castes (SCs) to help it gather a golden
core in most constituencies. It augmented this core with the addition
of various other castes to form its core-and-petals rainbow
coalition..

With a relatively higher turnout across castes this time, the BSP's
core strength relative to others threatens to shrink. In addition to
that, over the years the BSP focused on consolidating its base amongst
SCs, with a number of schemes pertaining to housing, scholarships and
awarding land to small agriculturalists. However, in view of the
not-so-pleasant law and order situation, and disillusionment amongst
other castes, the petals, consisting of other castes outside the core
SC vote, seem to be disappearing.

This leaves the BSP in an unrewarding situation with a consolidated
but isolated core base. That would severely impede its ability to
convert its votes into seats.

A back-of-the-envelope calculation: Assuming that the heightened
turnout does not have BSP voters in the same proportion as in the
previous election, that itself would drop the BSP's vote share to
somewhere in the range of 25 – 27 percent even without the incumbency
bias.

Add to that the onset of anti-incumbency and withering away of other
castes, the party could well be whittled to 23-and- odd percent or
even lower. The last time the party had a vote share of this magnitude
it ended up with 98 seats (2002) – 23 percent of the votes. At 20
percent of the votes, the party mopped up 67 seats (1996). The BSP
could well end up as the biggest loser in this election, bigger than
most of us could imagine.

Most politicians in UP might need to take a path that is substantially
different in the days to come. A blend of development and the ability
to break entrenched caste equations and reorganising them deftly based
on economic pursuits, much like the way Nitish Kumar did in Bihar,
would hold the key to the next phase of political stability in UP.

Mayawati's core-and-petals model seems to have outlived its utility.
We require not just social engineering, but its blend with innovation
and engineering in governance to deliver stable political formations
and thus governments.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

[ZESTCaste] Stark pictorial tribute to Jotiba Phule

[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar statue defiled at Tellapur

[ZESTCaste] Mayawati: Queen in her cocoon…

[ZESTCaste] Mayawati ignores common man, promotes corrupt: Rahul

[ZESTCaste] Jury is out on UP, but the likely loser is clearer: Mayawati

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