Daily Online Alochona: Mar 10, 2008

Monday, March 10, 2008

[mukto-mona] "Smoke screen by Gujarat Government" - PRESS RELEASE

Prashant . The Province Office for Integral Social Development of the Gujarat Jesuits

. A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace

Post Box No. 4050, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India

Tel. : +91 (079) 66522333, 2745 5913 . Fax : +91 (079) 2748 9018

Mobile : 9824034536 . e-mail : sjprashant@gmail.com . www.humanrightsindia.in

PRESS RELEASE

Smoke Screen by Gujarat Government

In typical fashion, the Government of Gujarat has indulged in another smoke screen act by proclaiming that it has withdrawn the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Amendment Bill, 2006.

The fact that such a Bill could have been considered is indicative of the Government's unconstitutional behaviour and its insensitivity to the religions of India. It is thanks to the fact that the Governor of Gujarat refused to give his assent to this Amendment that, the Government had no choice but to announce its withdrawal.

The original Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act 2003, however, still remains ! Almost five years after its promulgation, the Government has not been able to cite a single instance of "forced conversion" in the State. Moreover, it has not yet framed the bye-laws / rules which are necessary for the implementation of this Act.

This draconian law characterizes the Government's total disregard for Article 25 of the Constitution and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

If this Government is serious about protecting and respecting the rights of its citizens, it should withdraw the Act of 2003 in its entirety immediately.

Fr. Cedric Prakash sj

Director

10th March 2008

__._,_.___

***************************************** Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm ***************************************** Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf ***************************************** MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona. ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm ***************************************** Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/ ***************************************** MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm ***************************************** German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/ Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm ***************************************** Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona: http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm **************************************************** VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/ **************************************************** "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

Re: [mukto-mona] Re: 'Council of Ex-Muslims gives me hope'

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/47062

Religion is always political. In the name of spirituality, all religions
distort public opinion to form political groups. The religious leaders are
as helpless as a common person when facing death, how can they be expected
to help a soul afterwards?

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:mukto-mona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mukto-mona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
mukto-mona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[mukto-mona] H R Khanna

He stood up to Indira Gandhi

A Surya Prakash 11 Mar 08 (http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit3%2Etxt&counter_img=3)

The news of the demise of Justice HR Khanna, one of the greatest heroes of the second freedom struggle that India's citizens were called upon to wage after Mrs Indira Gandhi imposed her infamous Emergency, brings back memories of the sacrifices that this judge made in order to preserve core constitutional values and uphold the democratic rights of citizens. As students of constitutional law are well aware, a tribute to this great judge will necessarily revolve around his valiant defence of the citizen's right to life and personal liberty even as his brother judges bartered away this right in that indefensible majority-decision of the Supreme Court in what is known as the Habeas Corpus case.

In this case, also known as ADM Jabalpur vs Shiv Kant Shukla, the Supreme Court was called upon to determine whether citizens had the right to move the courts to safeguard their right under Article 21 of the Constitution, when Emergency was in force. While four of his colleagues on the Bench said "No", Justice Khanna dissented and said, "The Constitution and the laws of India do not permit life and liberty to be at the mercy of the absolute power of the Executive."

While all Articles in Chapter III of the Constitution dealing with Fundamental Rights are important, Article 21 is rather special. It says, "No person shall be deprived of his life and personal liberty except according to procedure established by law." This is a kind of constitutional provision that highlights the distinction between democracy and dictatorship, between rule of law and the law of the jungle. Such is the importance of this fundamental right that no nation that does not have such a provision in its Constitution can ever claim to be a democracy. The first act of Mrs Gandhi after imposing Emergency was to get the President to rubber stamp an order suspending all Fundamental Rights, including the right to life and personal liberty.

However, those jailed by the Government moved the High Courts, challenging this order and claiming that Article 21 cannot be suspended. Many political leaders like Mr LK Advani and Madhu Dandavate were among the petitioners. Nine High Courts rejected the Government's contention. The Supreme Court directed the transfer of all these cases to itself. A five-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice AN Ray and Justice HR Khanna, Justice MH Beg, Justice YV Chandrachud and Justice PN Bhagawati heard these petitions. During the hearing then Attorney-General Niren De contended that so long as Emergency was in force, no citizen could knock on the doors of a court to seek enforcement of the right to life and personal liberty.

Any democrat would have been aghast to hear such an argument. But most of the judges heard the Attorney-General in silence. Justice Khanna notes in his autobiography, Neither Roses Nor Thorns, that he found some of his colleagues, otherwise vocal about human rights and civil liberties, "sitting tongue-tied". Their silence "seemed rather ominous". He, therefore, decided to confront the Attorney-General. He asked him whether, in view of his submissions, there would be any remedy "if a police officer because of personal enmity killed another man"? Justice Khanna says the Attorney-General's answer was unequivocal. Consistent with his argument, he said, "There would be no judicial remedy in such a case so long as Emergency lasts". De further said, "It may shock your conscience, it shocks mine, but consistent with my submissions, no proceedings can be taken in a court of law on that score."

Although it "shocked" the conscience of the Attorney-General, it did not stir the conscience of the majority on the Bench. Chief Justice Ray and Justice Beg, Justice Chandrachud and Justice Bhagwati upheld the Government's contention that courts cannot entertain such petitions. Justice Khanna dissented. The case raised questions "which impact the basic values affecting life, liberty and the rule of law", he said while rejecting the Government's contention.

Even as he did so, Justice Khanna knew the consequences that would follow. This judgement was delivered in the last week of April, 1976. Nine months hence, Chief Justice Ray was to retire and Justice Khanna, as the senior-most judge in the court, was in line for the office of Chief Justice. The Congress wanted "committed judges" and had, therefore, superseded Justice Hegde, Justice Shelat and Justice Grover soon after the court delivered the judgement in the Keshavananda Bharati case on April 24, 1973. Justice Khanna was also on this Bench; he was a key player in formulating the doctrine of "basic structure" propounded by the majority. Now, in the Habeas Corpus case, too, Justice Khanna had displeased the Government.

The Government's response was as anticipated. It superseded him and appointed Justice Beg as Chief Justice in January 1977. Soon after Justice Beg's appointment was announced, Justice Khanna sent in his resignation.

But even before his supersession, the Congress Government did everything possible to tell Justice Khanna that he was persona non grata. It struck his name off the list of invitees for official functions and Congress Ministers and Government officials shunned him like the plague. Justice Khanna bore all this humiliation with utmost dignity. However, what really gave him solace in those trying months were the congratulations conveyed clandestinely to him by some persons in Government for his "bold" judgement. The supreme irony was the conduct of the Attorney-General, who had argued in court that citizens had no right to life during Emergency. He drew Justice Khanna aside at a judge's party and said, "Judge, may I express my admiration and congratulations to you for that great judgement."

Granville Austin, the author of the most definitive book on India's constitutional history, Working a Democratic Constitution -- The Indian Experience, offers an explanation for the Attorney-General's apparent dishonesty. He says, "The Attorney-General feared he and his foreign-born wife might be harassed if the Government and the coterie became aware of his doubts about Emergency and its Constitution Amendments. His friends noticed his tension and heavy smoking."

Justice Khanna's sacrifice for the sake of democracy and constitutional principles is best understood when one notices that after Justice Beg, the other two judges who concurred with the Government in this case -- Justice Chandrachud and Justice Bhagawati -- also went on to become Chief Justices of the Supreme Court. Later, after the ouster of the Congress in 1977, Justice Khanna got the successor Government to embed safeguards vis-à-vis Article 20 and Article 21 in Article 359, which deals with the imposition of Emergency. He thus ensured that his dissenting judgement had not been in vain.

The story of Justice Khanna's judgeship must be told to every new generation so that it may inspire citizens in different walks of life to stand up and be counted when there is a threat to democracy and the rule of law.

__._,_.___

***************************************** Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm ***************************************** Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf ***************************************** MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona. ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm ***************************************** Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/ ***************************************** MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm ***************************************** German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/ Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm ***************************************** Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona: http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm **************************************************** VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/ **************************************************** "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190

__,_._,___

[mukto-mona] Re: 'Council of Ex-Muslims gives me hope'

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/47062

Dr. Roy,

I already explained to you. You don't call yourself ex-muslim unless
you have rejected Islam. These people are calling themselves
ex-muslims. No ifs and buts. If they wanted to reject political Islam,
they could have called themselves muslims-against-political islam or
some such.

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[mukto-mona] Re: Dr. Jiten Roy masquerading as a humanist

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/47061

Dr. Roy,

Wrong again. The older generation took much longer. I believe you
mentioned Chinese and china town etc in another post. Chinese were
brought in as rail worker in mid part of 19th century. They seem to be
taking a long time to assimilate by your standards.

All the previous wave immigration had to endure the accusation that
you are hurling to the current wave. Irish, Italians, Jews, Polish,
Japanese - all of them.

Your favourite nationalist would support whole heartedly the Japanese
imprisonment during wwii. No matter how long these Japanese people
have been US citizens and how much they sacrificed, they were all
deemed as enemies. Just like you and Savage want the muslims to be
deemed as. You are quite an anti-muslim person. Whether you realize or
not you are pre-judging people based on their religion.

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[mukto-mona] Re: Reply to SC

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/47049

Dr. Roy,

Without going into whether Savage was right in his portrayal of
moderate muslims, I believe you are leaving out some important fact in
this incident. CAIR (not that I support their agendas), put on their
website Savage's anti-muslim rants - which is protected under fair use
clause (all sorts of organization use this tactics against their
ideological opponents). Savage sued CAIR for copyright violation. CAIR
counter-sued Savage defamation. Nothing to do first amendment even
though Savage and his supporters are trying to portray it as such.

Does Savage complain about fundamentalist christians wanting to remove
seperation of church and state by establishing laws based on Bible?
Does he rant about when fundamentalist Jews talk openly about
establishing of greater Israel? All are equally bad as fundi muslims
wanting to create Darul Islam. Yes, Savage is a nationalist. But, his
nationalism is not without race/religion bias. Extreme nationalism
breeds hate and leads to fascism. Savage often crosses that line.

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[mukto-mona] Re: Dr. Muhsi of Agri. University Died

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/47054

I am very saddened to hear the demise of Prof. Muhsi. He was one of
my professors in Mymensingh. I was a student during 1962 through
1968. Prof. Muhsi joined the department of Crop Botany. He was in
his thirties when I was a student at EPAU (now BAU). His field of
specialty was Plant Biochemistry and Physiology. The department of
crop Botany in which Dr. Muhsi was a professor was one of the best
departments. His colleagues were one Oxford don, Prof. Ashraful Huq
(Departmental Chairman at the time), Prof. Shamsul Huda Chowdhury,
Prof. A. Razzak, and Dr. Arshad. I also did my MS in Crop Botany in
1969.

Professor Muhsi was truly an academician. With his demise Bangladesh
lost a true scholar, academician, and a decent human being.

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[mukto-mona] Taslima Nasrin's Present Plight - A Conversation With Me

Taslima Nasrin's present plight: A conversation with me
- Ajoy Roy

On twenty-ninth February 2008 around 3 p.m. Bangladesh time, my
telephone rang. A female sweet voice inquired, "May I speak to
Professor Ajoy Roy please? `Speaking' was my answer.

`Ajoy babu, Ami Taslima' (Mr. Roy, I am Taslima), the anxious female
voice imploded.
`Kon Taslima' (which Taslima)?, was my query ?

`Ami Taslima Nasrin' (It is me, sir, Taslima Nasrin).
`What a pleasant surprise, where from are you calling'?

Her voice sounded so clear and distinct that for a moment I thought
as if she is in Dhaka. `My god, are you in Dhaka by any chance'. I
could not believe it!

`No, sir. I do not know exactly where I am. Only thing I know, as
told by the security people, that I am somewhere in Delhi', I heard
melancholy Taslima's lamenting voice. .

Honestly speaking, this is the last thing I expected even in my dream
Taslima would be in touch with me in her present unbearable inhuman
sufferings. Any way miracle does happen, it seems. If you,
materialists, however agree to call this a miracle. Let us call it a
chance phenomenon. I wish I had many more such chance but pleasant
phenomena or events.

`Ajoy Babu, Ami gato koyek mas jabat, apnake jogajoger chestha
korchhi, kintu parchhilam na. Ami prai bondini. (Ajoy Sir, I have
been trying to contact you for the last few months since I was
forcibly taken away from Calcutta. I am almost a captive now in a
solitary small house.' Only contact device I have now, are my laptop
and a cell phone.' she continued.

When I reminded her that last time I saw her in Kolkata I left with
her my telephone numbers and emails, she answered,

"I had to leave Kolkata in a hurry, could not bring my notes and
diaries except some personal belongings. As a result I lost all your
contacts.'

`How come then you got me on telephone'?, my inquisitiveness
continued.

`At time I thought of writing to Avijit, your son, whose email
address I had for your email address. But all on a sudden, I got your
telephone number in a corner of some personal papers. Perhaps I wrote
it down when you contacted me from Dhaka before coming to Kolkata
last year in March. (hotath korei peye gelum. Dhekhi ekta kagojer
konai apnar phone numerti lekha royechhe)"

Readers, last year when I was in Kolkata, I saw her in her Kolkata
residence. We had a long chat on Bangladesh, India and on
international affairs. Our main theme of discussion moved around `how
to combat worldwide aggressive fundamentalism, especially Islamic
fundamentalism mixed with terrorism, a phenomenon that has almost
swallowed the civilized world. We agreed that at present, the Islamic
fundamentalism with its octopus-like limbs and Ravanic twenty hands &
ten mouths has become a threat to civilization & culture and all that
stands for good, great, beauty (Satyam Shivam Sundaram), fineness,
logic and rationalism. Our talk lasted not less than three hours
during which she served with excellent Indian dishes cooked by
herself, as she told me. She is really very nice cook apart from her
poetic talents. I always considered and still of the opinion that
above all she is a poet of rare talents. Had she been not gone
through such plights she would have been bloomed into one of the most
creative poets in Bangla literature? She touches your hearts as well
as your intelligent mind.

Though I found her little home sick, but never could foresee what was
waiting for her in a few months time last year. It all started, as
you readers remember, with a small incident in Hyderabad. But the
central government failed fore read what is in store for Taslima
Nasrin and failed to measure the strength of the communal and Islamic
fundamentalists' grand design. How a secular democratic government in
Delhi could fail to deal with strong hand the evil forces of
communalism and fundamentalism. Net result is after returning to
Kolkata she had to leave the city for fear of fundamentalist and anti
secular forces. It is shame on the part of Union government and the
WB government led by Bhudhadev Bhattacharya, a darling of many WB
intellectuals.

During my last meeting with Dr. Taslima, Nasrin one thing again and
again popped up was her strong desire to return to Dhaka. He
requested me to do some thing for her safe return to Bangladesh. I
replied to her, "I am a small man and I have very little influence
over the policy makers. Even then I tried to carry her message to
many corners but alas no one took the matter very seriously
saying `this is not the right time to raise the issue. This will give
the Islamic fundamentalists a key to feign ant-Taslima campaign.
Every one advised me to wait for suitable time after a new elected
government takes over the administration>"

In an almost hour long conversation she narrated her present plight.
Now virtually she is leading an isolated and solitary life confined
in a small hose surrounded by the security people.

She said in a lamented voice, "Sir, you know, I am not allowed to
move out freely. No one is allowed to visit me, even my close friends
in India and writers."

"Why are they doing it to you. You are neither a terrorist nor a
violent personality, rather you are one of the most pleasing and mild
personality I have ever crossed over.?"

"They are doing it to me so that out of disgust I decide to leave
India. Then the government India would say that she intends to leave
India on her own. The government will feel relieved to get rid of me."

"What is the reason, can you think off?", I inquired. Her reply was:

"Amar dharona paschim banga sarkar ebong bharat sarkar musalman vote
harabar bhoye moulabadi musalmander toshan korchhe. Tai amake tara,
bishe kore CPIM er netara amake kolkata tyage badhya korechhe. Hoito
tader paroksha madate Kolkatai etobara demonstartion hoyechhe amar
birudhe. Amar sunischit, CPIM shahayata chhara moulabdider eto sahas
hoto na amake tarate." ( I think that WB government and Indian
government influenced by the CPIM leaders are appeasing the Muslim
fundamentalists for the fear of loosing Muslim voters. It is quite
possible that with their tacit approval the Muslim fundamentalists
could arrange such a big demonstration against my stay in Kolkata.
Without CPM support it could never be held forcing me to leave the
city, I believe for certain.

"The West Bengal Government forced me leave Kolkata, which I had to
very reluctantly", DR, Nasrin concluded with a broken voice. I could
listen to her weeping sounds in silence. I felt so distressed and
helpless. A girl of my daughrtr's age, so celebrated a person, all on
a sudden became a childlike entity?"

In a chocked voice she appealed to me, "sir please does something for
me so that I could return to Bangadesh with full honour and dignity
and have course, safety."

When I tried to convey her that it is really very difficult for her
to return to Bangladesh, unless a new elected liberal government
takes over the Bangladesh government. I asked her until such time, we
would try to do our best to return her to Kolkata, the second best
choice of her living, just a few hundred km from Dhaka. She kept mum
for a while and then said in a sobering voice,

"Apnara ja bhalo mone karen, tai karun. Ami katha dichhi, Bhrate ba
kolkatai thaka kale emon kichhu korbona ja Paschim bangiya sashakder
ba Bharatiya sarkarke bibrata kore."

I told her in assuring voice, "We in Bangladesh do our best for your
good. Do not give up hope and courage."

She kept silence a few minute, and then said, "Bhalo thakun, good
buy".

"Apnio Bhalo thakun. Hatash hoben na. Jene rakhun apnake koti koti
manush bhalobashe. Tader subechha apnake barmer mato raksha korbe.
buy.

"Buy', she hang up the phone. I hard the click sound of the cradle.
My god, why the world is so cruel, I wondered in despair

In my next episode I will forward the recent thoughts of Dr. Nasrin
that she has forwarded to me yesterday.

Mukto-mona readers, please take up your pen and flood the Indian
President's PM's and WB Chief Ministers' and CPIM Kolkata office with
emails and faxes demanding Taslima's safe return to Kolkata where
she really belong next to Bangladesh.

Here is her desire to return to BD found expression in one of recent
poem (a few lines translated by me for my non Bengali readers:

.... I will return may be even as a bird..

Wait for me, please, Madhupur, Netrokona
Cross road of Jayadevpur, please wait
I will come back.

.. ... .. .. .. ..

Listen, mighty Bramhaputra, I shall return.
Shalbana Vihar, Mahasthangar, Sitakunda-pahar – I shall come back.

If I fail to return as a human being, must I return even in the form
of a bird?

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[mukto-mona] Watch out of arch-conservative Hindus masquerading as nationalists

Watch out of arch-conservative Hindus masquerading as nationalists

A.H. Jaffor Ullah

Mukto-mona forum came into being in May 2001 to promote secular values among South Asian Internet-goers. The first Internet forum that made a splash was NFB forum (News From Bangladesh Readers' Opinion Page) in late 1996 with which this scribe was affiliated. Of course, we had another forum by the name Bangladesh Newsgroup (soc.culture.bangladesh) that goes back 2-3 years prior to NFB's birth. But the focus of those forums was socio-political vis-à-vis Bangladesh. NFB however should be credited for opening a healthy dialogue and debate on Muslim fundamentalism. A handful of NFB alumni decided to join Mukto-mona in 2001 when Avijit Roy, then a grad student from Singapore, spearheaded this secularist forum. Undoubtedly, much water has flown through Padma-Meghna since the inception of Mukto-mona.

Initially, the forum's main thrust was on Islamic fundamentalism. Then after the blasting of twin tower on September 11, 2001 by Arab terrorists, the forum received a shot in the arm which catapulted it to stratospheric height. Many of the earlier posts in Mukto-mona dealt with the evils of Jihadism; therefore, when 9-11 took place, there was a vindication of the group's tenet vis-à-vis the ills of religious fanaticism especially that of Wahabi brand of Islam. This forum that espouses secular humanism as a guiding principle for modern world had became a watering hole, so to speak, for many freethinkers from South Asia. A few westerners have also joined this Internet congregation and the rest is what most folks would say history.

Mukto-mona took up some causes starting from October 2001. One of these was the repression against minorities in Bangladesh on the wake of the nation's parliamentary election. Scores of articles and protest notes were posted in the forum on this perennial issue. There were however many detractors of Mukto-mona in the cyberspace who labeled the forum-goers as alarmists who are simply the proverbial faultfinders of Islam. Some even showered the epithet – Forum of Islam Bashers. The forum lends its support to the thesis propounded by three foreign journalists namely Bertil Lintner ("Bangladesh: A Cocoon of Terror," April 2002), Alex Perry ("Deadly Cargo," October 2002), and Eliza Griswold ("Bangladesh: The Next Islamist Revolution," January 2005) who wrote that a brand of radical Islam is growing in Bangladesh. A torrent of protests deluged the newspapers in Bangladesh demonizing these western writers. However, a handful of Mukto-mona forum members congratulated the western reporters for their fine reporting; indeed they called a spade a spade.

In Bangladesh throughout early 2000, a spate of homemade bombs was blasted in political rally, musical soiree, secular programs, and movie theaters. A handful of Mukto-mona writers including this scribe boldly asserted that the bombings in Bangladesh were the handiworks of Islamic fundamentalist groups aided by the Islamic-leaning political parties that made an alliance to rule Bangladesh from 2001 to 2006. On August 17, 2005, the Islamists detonated about 400 or so homemade crude bombs simultaneously allover Bangladesh and only then did the editors of Dhaka's newspapers join the ranks of Lintner, Perry and Griswold to denounce the Islamic radicals.

As the spates of bombings were continuing in Bangladesh starting from 1999, there were other developments that took place, which needs elaboration. The radicalization of Islamic preachers and students at madrassahs were continuing unabated and we witnessed how this evil force made their affronts to secular elements of the society. In early 1990s the Islamists campaigned to oust Taslima Nasrin, a feminist writer, from her birthplace. And they were very successful in their effort to send her in exile with the help of some political parties in Bangladesh. In February 2004, Prof. Humayun Azad, an outspoken critic of religious fundamentalism were attacked by a band of Islamists goon right outside the February Book Fair inside Dhaka University campus. The injured professor never did recover fully from the attack and he died few months later in Munich, Germany on August 11, 2004. The Mukto-mona forum again raised its voice by writing articles, publishing them in Dhaka's newspapers, and translated Dr. Azad's last write-up that he penned before visiting Munich Germany.

We also gave the forum's intellectual support to the struggling and protesting people of Kansat (Chapai Nawabganj, Rajshahi, Bangladesh) in April 2006 where the rural folks were deprived of their legitimate demand of securing electricity to perform myriads of agricultural operation.

The emergence of Bangla Bhai and Islamist goons in western edge of Bangladesh in 2004 brought a deluge of condemnation from Mukto-mona writers. In fact, it was the forum writers who through their writings publicized the cause in the West. The lawmakers in America and EU learned about the evils of JMB goons who operated in Rajshahi, Bogura, Noaga area with the able help of police under the directive of BNP-Jamaat alliance who were in powers when Bangla Bhai/JMB started their campaign and reign of terrors.

Mukto-mona's stature as a think-tank organization went up when in October 2006 a caretaker government was formed in Dhaka. Many members voiced their concern over the selection of President Iajuddin Ahmed as the chief of caretaker government because he was a overtly partisan man. Again when the military-backed caretaker government set its foot in the catbird seat of power on January 11, 2007 many Mukto-mona scholars wrote articles demonizing the evil influence of Bangladesh military in politics. The forum vigorously protested the heavy-handed dealings of the military-led government to muzzle the voice of Garo Hills people. The forum protested the death of a minority community leader, Cholesh Rachill, in the hands of the military.

Turning back to political developments in America, many Mukto-mona writers opposed the Iraq War in late 2002 when Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Wolfowitz gang was trying to campaign for invasion in Iraq under the pretense of a bogus claim of Saddam amassing a huge amount of WOM (Weapons of Mass Destruction) to destroy western societies. These articles and posts are still there in Mukto-mona archive. In November 2004, a majority of writers in Mukto-mona supported the candidacy of Senator John Kerry over President George W. Bush citing the invasion of Iraq on a false pretense. Quite a few articles were written in those tumultuous days supporting Senator Kerry's candidacy. It turns out that Mukto-mona writers had a unique perspective as far as Iraq War was concerned. Needless to say, these writers are liberals of high order.

In a nutshell, after 6-7 years of existence, Mukto-mona forum had gained its reputation for championing liberal causes. The forum became a proverbial waterhole for secularists and liberals from not only South Asia but also from western nations. Under this backdrop an interesting development took place in February/March of 2008. I will describe this new development as I saw it unfolding right before our eyes.

The presidential election in America is only 8 months away and knowing the power of the US president to shape the political events in the world many of us took interest in the political debates that go on in America in the days during the primaries. Due to Bush's failed policy the American government started a war in Iraq that is costing about 500-600 million US dollars everyday. On top of it, America lost about 3000 GIs in this unpopular war. Consequently, the Republican Party was losing grounds in popularity contest. Is it a small wonder that the Congress changed hands from Republicans to Democrats in 2004? The independents who really decide the outcome of the election were becoming disillusioned with George Bush and his failed policies. In the meantime, the sub-prime woes and the fear of recession had gripped the nation. The financial market had trodden a downhill journey and there is a sense in the nation that George Bush's unsound economic policy that resulted in 15 trillion dollars national debt is hardly working anymore. Couple this negativity with uncertainty in Iraq and you get a dismal picture of the infirm economy. Hard economic times mean voters' dissatisfaction. Therefore, the voters in America are in no mood to elect a conservative to the White House. Under this dire backdrop, the Democratic leading candidates, Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, were making headlines in newspapers and TV news. Of the two Democrats running in the primaries the young and first time voters were attracted to the message of hope given by Senator Obama. The independent voters who helped George Bush to become the president in 2004 in a tight contest are now siding with Senator Obama. On top of it, the African American voters were lending their support overwhelmingly for Barack Obama. This alliance of young voters, independents, educated white voters, and blacks have helped Obama to win in many states. The results of the primaries thus have evoked an interest among Mukto-mona forum-goers. Quite a few of the writers including this scribe have openly supported the candidacy of Senator Obama.

Seeing this new development in Mukto-mona, a few conservatives who normally maintain a safe distance from ultra-liberals of this forum have decided to post their write-ups. One of them had written his ad hominem commentary telling the forum-goers why he thinks Senator John McCain will be elected in the fall election. When a deluge of posts started to grace the pages of this secularist forum we saw how quickly a debate was spawned between the supporters of the Democratic and Republican Parties.

Thus far, two Hindu gentlemen from New York City supported the candidacy of Senator John McCain and they said that they are conservatives. Mind you, there is nothing wrong being a conservative. However, the trouble started to brew when one of the Bengali conservatives started pontificating in our forum telling us the hallmarks of being a liberal and conservative human being. When the secularists took the person to task for being so blunt about who qualifies to be in liberal or conservative camp. Many of us in the liberal camp thought that the criteria put forth by one of the Bangladeshi neo-cons need to be further analyzed and critiqued. Before one could hardly count ten, a full blown debate was spawned. Ultimately, no one was talking about John McCain or the Democratic candidates, Obama or Clinton, but the debate went for who qualifies as liberals or conservatives.

The liberals were anathematized by two Hindus from New York City who also proclaimed that they have an open mind when the issues are of socio-political nature. In the course of the debate the liberals received a severe black eye from the conservatives. Liberals were called delusional by one of the debaters who borrowed lines from Michael Alan Weiner who uses pen name "Michael Savage" to write books and host conservative radio talk show.

More and more it looked as if these two conservatives have some hidden agenda when they boisterously mocked the liberals. Later, the debaters started to call themselves Hindus, strictly from the social point of view. They lambasted two groups, namely, the secularists and the communists of Bengal. This scribe has given one of the Hindus enough rejoinders but later it became quite obvious that these people came with a mal-intent. They were coming down hard on Muslims while no unkind words were spoken against Christians, Hindus, Jews, etc. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to fathom out that these debaters have a hidden agenda. They simply wanted to take down secularists along with the communists and Muslims. These so-called savants knew that there is no direct or indirect connection between the Mukto-mona secularists and Islamists but they took a broad swath against three groups of people namely, the communists, the secularists, and the Muslims.

Realizing that no good results will emanate from this worthless debate, Professor Ajoy Roy sounded the alarm bell. It however did not elude the mind Prof. Roy that these two Hindus have come to Mukto-mona forum to roil us all. I hope others in the forum will clearly see the modus operandi of these two participants. Furthermore, it has not escaped the rapt attention of this scribe that there may be one or two more persons who are very eager to join the debate on behalf of the Hindu alarmists but thus far they are submitting innocuous posts in the same thread that spawned the big debate.

In summary, the two arch conservative Hindus who came to Mukto-mona forum masquerading as nationalists and conservatives are indeed the haters of communist, secularist, and Muslims. The sooner we unmask their demeanor, the better it would be for forum-goers. This article is an attempt by this scribe to expose these extremists who tried to confuse many of our readers by submitting their recondite write-ups.

------------------

A.H. Jaffor Ullah, a researcher and columnist, writes from New Orleans, USA

__,_._,___

[mukto-mona] Mukti judder somoyer lekha kichu kobita

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/abdul_khaleque/jongi.pdf
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/abdul_khaleque/mukti.pdf
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/abdul_khaleque/palli.pdf
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/abdul_khaleque/sahidder.pdf

*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm

*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

*****************************************

MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************

Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Daily Online Alochona

Banner Advertiser

Monday, March 10, 2008

[mukto-mona] "Smoke screen by Gujarat Government" - PRESS RELEASE

Re: [mukto-mona] Re: 'Council of Ex-Muslims gives me hope'

[mukto-mona] H R Khanna

[mukto-mona] Re: 'Council of Ex-Muslims gives me hope'

[mukto-mona] Re: Dr. Jiten Roy masquerading as a humanist

[mukto-mona] Re: Reply to SC

[mukto-mona] Re: Dr. Muhsi of Agri. University Died

[mukto-mona] Taslima Nasrin's Present Plight - A Conversation With Me

[mukto-mona] Watch out of arch-conservative Hindus masquerading as nationalists

[mukto-mona] Mukti judder somoyer lekha kichu kobita

Blog Archive

Link List

Addvertise

Reffaral Link