Rahul Babu,
Boro chomothkar bhhabe, you described your prospective.
Like you, I too , am disturbed at the undemocratic practices of our politicians too-- the result is degradation both at moral and system/administration/governance level. If you are a CPI(M) worker you must be familiar with Joti Basu, I guess the "Man" who could keep the central Goverment in India on the toes for the development and honor of Bengalis in West Bengal. The book "An Autobiography of Jyoti Basu" written excellently by a Lady( I forgot the name) carries a detailed picture of the degeneration of Poltics in WB and I should say that contents in that book amply describes the exact political environment in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh we have or get opposition after elections but instead of playing their proper role "Check and Balance" of the Goverment in power it resorts to boycott,hartal and breaking of public and private property.Thats only what the older generation does and what the present new generation learns-- so thats an awful situation here too as you have described in serila no:2 of yr comments.
With reference to yr comments in serial no:4; it also pains me to see violence, be it instigated for religious or political sentiments; and I agree with you hundred percent that this system should be PROTESTED.
The misuderstanding about you( being somewhat a cheap person) resulted from Biplab Pal's statement that a special Issue on Taslima will be issued soon with Rahul as the Editor.
Your clarification reveals that you have greater responsibilty than this cheap publicity.
I agree with you that "gare dhore change kora jai na"; kinthu blind support kora to bhul-- onen must be informed what is right and what is wrong. Freedom of speech doesnt mean that one would freely abuse people/society/caste/religion etc--- it means free to speak about injustice in society but in a manner that all could be made aware of and then eventually the the need to change that unjust system would delve in the minds of the people. But if you write in foul language or phornographic style the main purpose of drawing attention or awareness of an issue is defeated. No sane person would read it and would take care that younger generation are not exposed to such writings.
My suggestion is not to prolong this topic and to take in better topic which is moreurgent like Governance,Democracy, improving services ofn the country etc.
You ahevinvited men to write in Vinnomot- I have forwarded my post Why Bangladesh Voter's are non-chalant?- please do read and let me have your comments. These would be more constructive.
Take care
Badrul Islam
Rahul Guha <rahulguha@responze.com> wrote:
Badrul Saheb,Ami amar perspective boli ...Ami personally Taslima kimba Salman Rushdi kimba Islam ... konota niyei bindumatro excited/bothered noi. I am disturbed by the political (or should I say un-political) status of Bengal (I mean WB) politics. I use to be an active worker of CPI(M) during my college days and even after that.But now I realize few things:1. For last 30 years we have created a generation of anti-politics people ... that's very bad for a society.2. We don't have any opposition in WB - another aweful situation3. The leaders of CPM are old and not trustworthy anymore. Young leadership is same.4. Finally ... this is the first time we saw such a violence in the name of religion (probably after Babri Masjid days ... when I literally witnessed the riot) and government + party + intellectuals cave in to that for vote ... THIS NEEDS TO BE PROTESTED.Personally I read only part of Taslima's work ... I have little respect for her work mostly because I haven't read any. As a writer, I don't like her way of expression ... her way of using words and so forth. But that's my personal opinion ... and I can't expect her to change her way of writing because I don't like it ... and why should she? I believe in complete freedom of speech. Let PEOPLE decide whether they will take it or not. If Taslima's 2 pages are so bad, people will reject it. Why suppress it?Badrul saheb ... Please write for Vinnomot ... and we will surely publish your "motamot" ...ThanksRahul
On 12/2/07, Badrul Islam <badrul_islam2001@yahoo.com > wrote:Dr.Biplab Pal,You have already in you U--tube dopcumentary declared openly and bodly that you are aethist.Therefore Religion/or Religious matter should be your least concern and I am confident that Rahul Guha are in the same category as you. What you and Rahul as good Indians should be doing is raise awareness of the defects of your won society. The story herein forwarded should encourage you both on this matter before you go on to try to set others. Taslima is a politcal issue as you have guessed in your comments indicated within the brackets.Taslima and Salman Rushdie andn there are and would be many more who earn their living in this style-- tomorrow they will change and can write against the Hindu religions too-- depends on how much money is paid for their stunts that helps politicians purpose--after a while they will be useless and another new Taslima and Rushdie will replace them. Its a sad profession they have choosen for themselves but they as you have right to choose and face their problems.The crowd that jolted Kolkatta comprised of people who had combination of long/short beard n caps and dress that would make them look like Islamist and even would be having names like Islamist--- whenever a villian is shown in Indian picture he is dressed as such and obviously named Akbar-- the good guys are the Aamar and Anthony (now a days even Anthony also remains under attack in India). You know it and so does Rahul.What seems to be justified is for you and Rahul to be aware of you own defects as can be seen by the story herein and rectify your own first. Here is the reality:----A pink crusade for justice
The several hundred vigilante women of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state's Banda area proudly call themselves the "gulabi gang" (pink gang) and are striking fear in the hearts of wrongdoers and earning the grudging respect of officials.
The pink women of Banda shun political parties and NGOs because, in the words of their feisty leader, Sampat Pal Devi, "they are always looking for kickbacks when they offer to fund us".
Two years after they gave themselves a name and an attire, the pink women have thrashed men who have abandoned or beaten their wives and unearthed corruption in the distribution of food grains for the poor.
They have also stormed a police station and thrashed a policeman after they took in an untouchable man and refused to register a case.
Justice for the poorest
"Nobody comes to our help in these parts. The officials and the police are corrupt and anti-poor. So sometimes we have to take the law in our hands. At other times, we prefer to shame the wrongdoers," says Sampat Pal Devi, between teaching a "gang" member on how to use a lathi (traditional Indian stick) in self defence.
Banda is at the heart of the blighted region that is Bundelkhand, one of the poorest parts of one of India's most populous states.
It is one of the poorest 200 districts in India which were first targeted for the federal government's massive jobs for work programme. Over 20% of its 1.6 million people living in 600 villages are lower castes or untouchables. Drought has parched its already arid, single-crop lands.
To make matters worse, women bear the brunt of poverty and discrimination in Banda's highly caste-ridden, feudalistic and male dominated society. Dowry demands, domestic and sexual violence are common.
Locals say it is not surprising that a women's vigilante group has sprung up in this landscape of poverty, discrimination and chauvinism.
Sampat Pal Devi is a wiry woman, wife of an ice cream vendor, mother of five children, and a former government health worker who has birthed and led the "pink gang".
"Mind you," she says, "we are not a gang in the usual sense of the term. We are a gang for justice."
'Uproot the corrupt'
Her seeds of rebellion were sown very early on when in face of her parents' resistance to send her to school, she began writing and drawing on the walls, floors, and dust caked village streets.
She finally ended up going to school, but was married off when she was nine in a region where child marriages are common. At 12, she went to live with her husband, and at 13, she had her first child.
To keep the home fires burning, Sampat Devi began to work as a government health worker, but she quit after a while because her job was not satisfying enough.
I wanted to work for the people, not for myself alone. I was already holding meetings with people, networking with women who were ready to fight for a cause, and was ready with a group of women two years ago," she says.
Sitting outside a home in Attara, Sampat Devi waves her calloused hands, breaks into a rousing song to "uproot the corrupt and be self reliant", and animatedly talks to women - and men - who flock to her with their problems.
'No handouts'
The pink sorority is not exactly a group of male-bashing feminists - they claim they have returned 11 girls who were thrown out of their homes to their spouses because "women need men to live with".
That is also why men like Jai Prakash Shivhari join the "gulabi" gang and talk with remarkable alacrity about child marriages, dowry deaths, depleting water resources, farm subsidies, and how funds are being stolen in government works.
"We don't want donations or handouts. We don't want appeasement or affirmative action. Give us work, pay us proper wages, and restore our dignity," he says.
The women in the "gulabi gang" echo the same sentiment - but Sampat Devi has a separate agenda for women.
"Village society in India is loaded against women. It refuses to educate them, marries them off too early, barters them for money. Village women need to study and become independent to sort it out themselves," she says.
Where do the pink women go from here?
They already claimed to have done some work in combating crime and corruption in the area. Last year, Sampat Devi contested the state polls as an independent candidate and mustered only 2,800 votes.
"Joining politics is not my chosen way to help people. We will keep up our good work, so the state does not take us for granted," she says.
In the badlands of Uttar Pradesh where nothing seems to work for the poor, this itself is a laudable aim.
Source: Chattisgarh.net "Nijer khuti shokhto koro." - look at NDTV and other Indian channels for local news and you would find umteen number of human casualties inspite of devoted Indians within the country.Take care and remain well. Say hello to Rahul too and let him know my advise.This forumm is for exchange of ideas and good advise- I have done just that.Kobi Guru Rabindronath bloegeche-- "Sath koti manush ke Bangali korecho, hey Probu Manush to koro ni."Badrul Islam
Dr Biplab Pal <biplabpal2000@yahoo.com > wrote:We will be soon publishing a special issue on Taslima ( Rahul Guha as edior: rahul.guha@gmail.com )She is not just a writer but an icon of secularism and human right.Her case is the litmus test of whether Bengalis will be able to defeat the evil force of Islamism. Unless you raise your voice and millions of protests be heard to shake the Islamist protector rulers of West Bengal ( may be worst-because it is high possible they might have planned this violence to win minority vote bank in la Jamati style and divert Nandigram issue), we deserve no secularism but a society captive in the hand of Islamists.Choice is yours. If you feel strongly for Taslima and her cause, this is not the time to seat back and think and watch what would happen next. History demands that you must take active participation in this process or be prepared to be kicked out by the Islamists in near future. Article, recorded voice, video--all forms of media are welcome. Please also circulate this email among your friends who want to protest in the Taslima issue. Millions and millions of voice must be heard in support of Taslima--or be ready to live a life of doom-- captivated by the Islamists.ThanksBiplab Pal
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