Oct 2009
Critical insights and analyses from India and the sub-continent
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In recent months,
the people of Iran have put up a valiant front against the violence and
terror unleashed by their hated rulers. But rather than
embrace the democratic revolution in Iran, all manner of parasitic
dictatorial regimes are doing everything in their power to protect
Iran's Islamo-fascists. But surely Iran's brave masses deserve better. The world should
instead unite against the forces of medieval darkness and
help usher in a new civilizational ethos in which religious fascism has
no place in modern society. Braving Islamo-Fascist Tyranny in Iran Racist Violence in Australia Even as Indian students in Australia have
presented considerable evidence pointing to racial motives in
several attacks, the Australian Police has been stone-walling, and
several media outlets have resorted to obfuscation and even blaming the
victims in some instances. Read more about Australia's racist past and
the tepid response of the Indian government: The
Ugly Australian and the Indian Political Response
In recent years, there has been a cacophony of voices that seem to blame Israel and the Jews for a host of ills, including what is described as the "illegal" and "immoral" occupation of 'Palestinian' lands. This has led to enormous pressure on Israel
to make concessions that may be detrimental to its long-term survival.
Must Jews continue to be a people denied a safe and secure
homeland? Rights of Biological Minorities Although recent biological research
offers widespread evidence of homosexuality in the animal kingdom, much
of the world continues to treat this natural phenomenon as a "dangerous
crime". In several Asian and African nations,
religious fundamentalism (particularly Islamic extremism) prevents
progress. In India and other former British colonies the situation is
further compounded by the survival of colonial era laws that needlessly
criminalize sexual relations between consenting adults. Homophobia
in India and the World China and Tibet If Chinese propaganda were to be believed, we
might be led to conclude that China (with its population of over 1.35
billion) were the "aggrieved party" vis-a-vis Tibet; that China was the
"victim"...! Is that really so? Chinese
Myths and Tibetan Realities Malaysia - Truly Asia?
Should the people of the
Indian subcontinent
admire China's galoping growth or pay more attention to the
environmental and social price that has entailed? A look at some
of China's wrenching dualities: Oil Hegemony Why Oil-Consuming Nations Must Diversify Alternative Energy Solutions A Possible Answer to Global Oil Dependency Pakistan's Nuclear Blackmail and Western Duplicity As fears of a nuclear war are drummed up in the Western media and reinforced by statements emanating from Pakistan's military government, it is important to examine who might be blame for this tense scenario: Are both India and
Pakistan to blame - as the Western media likes to claim - or is it more
about the Pakistani leadership's antipathy towards of India and Western
duplicity in the matter? Pakistan's Nuclear Blackmail and
Western Duplicity (Published 1999)
International Relations, National Aspirations and Economic Planning In this increasingly uni-polar world, the task of furthering even reasonable and legitimate national aspirations has become exceedingly difficult. Here is a critical look at some of the obstacles in the path of national development in India (and elsewhere in the developing world) International Relations, National Aspirations and Economic Planning Understanding the
Complexities and
Contradictions of the Middle East South Asia and the Middle East not only share many historic connections, their lives have become inextricably linked in recent decades. This analysis explores the
role of colonial and
imperial powers in dividing the Middle East so as to control its oil
wealth. It also discusses the plight of immigrant workers that play a vital role in the economies of these repressive 'Oil Monarchies'. Cheap Labor, Oil and War in the Middle East Challenging Nuclear
Hegemony When India conducted it's nuclear tests a few years ago, it set off a chorus of disapproval in the citadels of global power. The US - which has the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and has been the only nation to actually use them, proceeded to lecture India about the dangers of nuclear weapons and imposed new sanctions on India. Two years after the tests, we offered this in-depth analysis of India's nuclear policy, how it has gradually evolved to a position of a defensive minimal deterrence. This analysis examines India's security concerns in the context of a uni-polar world in which all attempts at universal nuclear disarmament have failed. It also attempts to show how Pakistan's covert nuclear blackmail coupled with its decade-long border war with India impinged on India's decision-makers. LETTERS Astrology and Education in India A reader's comment Rejecting attempts at introducing the study of astrology in publicly funded educational institutions in India, one of our readers calls for an approach that illuminates the scientific and rational aspects of the Indian heritage while eschewing obscurantism and chauvinistic myth-making. Critical of those who suggest that science and technology in India are gifts of the Western World, this reader stresses the need for Indians to be aware of Indian contributions to the development of science and technology. However, we are cautioned to "learn that history from balanced and objective scholars - not exotic myth-makers and noisy religious revivalists": Addressing the Caste Divide Can Outsiders Help? The recent Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa has attracted considerable attention and controversy. Can international efforts help solve the problems arising from India's caste divisions? One of our readers sent in this commentary demanding less sanctimonious preaching from the so-called "international community" but practical and concrete steps that could be of genuine assistance. Caste and Racial Discrimination - Can the UN Help? SECULARISM, SOCIAL AMITY We look at the question: Was Godhra a Pakistan-initiated Conspiracy? The Result of a Study conducted by an investigative team for the Council for International Affairs and Human Rights concludes: The Godhra train carnage in Gujarat on February 27 was an "act of terrorism planned at the behest of Pakistan to foment communal riots all over the country" Godhra - a Pakistan-initiated Conspiracy? Also see: Although some analysts write as though secularism is a uniquely Indian problem, this opinion piece exposes the sanctimonious double-speak of Pakistani and Bangladeshi journalists when they expound on this subject. More importantly, it documents the systematic discrimination and widespread human-rights violations that have been compelling minorities from Bangladesh to flee into India Secularism in the Context of the Two-Nation Theory FROM OUR ARCHIVES India and the US
Unrestricted globalization - boon or hazard? Globalization - i.e external liberalization of the Indian economy has gone hand in hand with the dismantling of the license Raj. This has made it difficult to separate the benefits of de-licensing from the negative consequences of unrestrained globalization. While one may liberate local productive forces, the other may in fact squash or squeeze domestic production. The following analysis examines some of the hype and tall claims made by the proponents of globalization to see if globalization is indeed the panacea for India's ills: Unrestricted
globalization - boon or hazard? The Crisis in Afghanistan This article (now somewhat dated) was published just before the US launched it's war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. As the specter of intensified war in Afghanistan loomed large, it seemed important to look at the genesis of the Taliban, and how the US's obsession with dismembering the former USSR brought death and destruction in it's wake. The US-British Imperial Occupation of Iraq Contrary to what
journalists "embedded" with
the US military might suggest, most Iraqis detest the presence of
foreign occupation troops. Read more about how Iraqis are being
oppressed in their own homeland by US and British occupying troops. Could the US-British Occupation of Iraq ever be called "Liberation"? Anti-War Sentiments in the Subcontinent The United Nations: An Organ for World Democracy, or Imperial Hangover? Anti-war activists throughout the world were shocked and dismayed by the last UN Security Council vote against Iraq. This analysis exposes the thoroughly undemocratic character of the UN body, and points to how it is but a tool of US imperial policy:
Examining Western Democracy Although enormous anti-war protests swept through several Western nations allied to the US, pro-war hawks remained undeterred. What can one infer about "Western Democracy" in this context: Western Democracy: Sham or Real?
The 2001 Census in India Evaluating the Trends Provisional data from the census has just been released. While literacy has risen to 65.4% and the current population growth rate has fallen to 1.85% per year, there are many disturbing trends in the numbers. Read more in this analysis:
INDIA's NUCLEAR TESTS India's nuclear tests drew a chorus of disapproval from the most militarized and aggressive nations on the planet. We bring our readers several perspectives on the subject with reactions and comments from all over the world. We bring you views on the grave inequities in the balance of power in the world and India's well founded security concerns. We include both official statements and other statements from a wide spectrum of the political landscape in India. Finally, we bring together a fascinating compendium of reactions from ordinary Indians and international well-wishers who have posted their views on various Internet bulletin board. Internet users have voted overwhelmingly in support of Indian steps to defend it's national security and we have collected the most articulate expressions of Indian self-determination on this issue. India's
Nuclear
Tests - May 1998 PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL CHANGE Avenues for Social Change in India In the last decade, a growing section of the Indian population has been feeling exceedingly frustrated with India's major political parties. Many rightly feel that the political parties are not responding to the public interest. The following essays look at the some of the emerging alternatives: Are NGO's the answer? Can social change come about without challenging dominant ideas, without generating controversy, through action without political analysis and idealogy? Balaji Sampath critiques NGOs and popular movements for social change. We provide an adaptation of his writings on volunteerism and social change: Volunteerism and Social Change
To send an e-mail, write to india.resource @yahoo.com Also visit our sister-site, South Asian History with important articles on the history of our region. Although the site primarily includes essays on the history of undivided India - some of the material applies equally to India's neighbors in the subcontinent. To South Asian History or Topics in Indian History For a visual glimpse of India's historic legacy, it's art and architecture - see Image India; also see Legacy India For a
survey of Indian
sculpture,
visit India
Revealed: A Gallery of Indian Sculpture Readers are free to send their comments, letters and articles to South Asian Voice. We will periodically include the most interesting of these submissions on the site. Do tell us how you enjoy the material we present.About South Asian Voice South Asian Voice is a non-profit E-zine dedicated to presenting views and perspectives from India and the rest of the Indian subcontinent. From time to time, we will feature news analysis, critical commentaries on public policy and articles outlining historical aspects relevant to the Indian sub-continent. We hope you will find our essays thought-provoking and insightful. |
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INDIA AND THE
SUBCONTINENT Islamic Terror and Vote Bank Politics A Post-Mortem of the 2009
Elections 'Secularism'
or 'Sickularism'? The Lalu Railway 'Miracle' Real or Imagined? Has Lalu really taken India's Railways to 'new heights'? Indian Railways and the Lalu 'Magic' Globalization and Inflation Indian Banking Although the RBI's interest rate policy is driven by the
assumption that overall lending needs to tightened, there are marked
disparities between credit/deposit ratios across states and
regions and point to extreme unnevenness in the provision of
credit, which does not bode well for balanced and equitable growth. Also
see an analysis of a survey on rural education in India that suggests
that Primary enrolment is now at 97% and over 80% stay in school for
ten years or more. However. much work needs to be done in improving
quality of rural schools. Surprisingly, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are
the laggards here. Problems of Indian Agriculture This essay attempts to situate the problems of Indian agriculture in the context of India's history and geography, paying special emphasis on how colonial rule ruined the Indian countryside. Advocating holistic solutions, it recommends land aggregation to ameliorate the problems of the rural poor. Problems of Indian Agriculture Recently, the government has
presented its 60,000 crore farm loan waiver budget. Does this really
address the needs of the nation as a whole or is it simply very
expensive electoral politics? Science and Technology in India What ails the Hindi Belt? Even as other parts of India are showing accelerating growth, why does the Hindi-belt lag behind? Has the Hindi-belt always been a backward region in the subcontinent? Have the region's problems been adequately understood? Are caste-based political mobilizations the way forward? Poverty
and Underdevelopment in the Hindi Belt JAMMU & KASHMIR Baltistan's Linguistic and Cultural Links with Tibet Many hold the mistaken belief that the state of Jammu & Kashmir is a relatively homogenous state. But this paper on the history, culture and language of Baltistan, while shedding valuable light on this region bordering Ladakh, alludes to its considerable diversity. The Language and Culture of Baltistan "Please help
us
restore freedom of expression and political activity to Gilgit,
Baltistan, Mirpur and Muzaffarabad regions of the Pakistani occupied
J&K". A Letter from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir On the Plight of Pakistan's Shias Also see: Jammu & Kashmir: Self-Determination and Secession ( Many analysts write about the "self-determination" of the Kashmiri people as if they were a monolithic force, and equate the right of self-determination to "Azadi" - i.e. the right to secede. This article examines these demands in light of the state's diversity and historical experience and concludes that the demand for secession reflects neither popular will, nor an expansion of democratic rights.) IN FOCUS: PAKISTAN A History of Pakistan and its Origins A critical review of this new volume issued by Anthem Press which explores several aspects of Pakistan's journey as a nation: Election Fraud in Pakistan A compilation of reports from Pakistan's Human Rights groups, election observers and political parties Elections in Pakistan: Real or a Hoax? Human Rights in Pakistan Ever since the creation of Pakistan, long periods of direct military rule have sharply curtailed democratic rights in Pakistan. Especially chilling has been the legal enactment and arbitrary imposition of Pakistan's Blasphemy Code: Blasphemy Laws and Intellectual Freedom in Pakistan The introduction of Islamic Hadood Laws in Pakistan has also led to widespread gender discrimination and abuse of women. Here is a summary of some of the most onerous human rights violations that take place in Pakistan: Constitutionally Sanctioned Gender Oppression Pakistan's oppression of political activists struggling for political representation, and democratic rights in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir seldom attracts media attention. But Gilgit's leader, Amid Hamza Qureshi opines: "It is a fact that people of this region (Northern Areas) are facing more human rights violations and whenever the official (Pakistani) media talks of repression in (Indian) Kashmir, people with strong hearts laugh at this hypocritical attitude, and people with weak hearts cry." The Struggle for Self-Determination and Democratic Rights in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) Also see this report which looks at the situation for trade unionists, and those struggling to liberate Pakistan's bonded agricultural workers and child laborers: Trade Union Rights in Pakistan PEACE AND COOPERATION Towards Greater Unity in the Subcontinent:Can the Bitter Legacy of Partition be Undone? This opinion piece looks at the potential and the problems: Towards Greater Unity in the Subcontinent CONCERNS
ABOUT DEVELOPMENT POLICIES Civilizational Development, Politics and Culture in Modern Society See this critical look at human development and infrastructure in India (and other developing nations): Human Development and Infrastructure in the Indian Subcontinent A look at the recent census report on religion and demographics which reveals aspects that may come as a surprise to many: Religion and Demographics in India Is "India Shining" - or is it confronted with a precipitous cultural decline? Have post-colonial societies been successful in constructing a vision for the future that extends beyond the immediate interests of their elites? Colonization, "Westernization" and Social Culture India's Missing Civilian Aircraft Industry
Gandhi - A critical appraisal Gandhi's legacy has often been presented as something larger than life. This essay offers a more critical perspective on his ideas, philosophy and role in the Indian Freedom Movement. Gandhi - 'Mahatma' or Flawed Genius? National Leader or Manipulative Politician? Human Welfare, Economic Development and Civilized Society Since the demise of the Soviet Union, issues such as hunger, homelessness, mass education, and poverty have received insufficient attention throughout the globe. Analysts have often argued that rapid economic growth can be a substitute for such concerns. But this essay asserts that concern for human welfare is an essential pillar of any civilized society: Human Welfare, Economic Development and Civilized Society
Economic Growth and Social Well-Being Are Economic Growth Rates always indicative of Standards of Living? The news on the economic front has not been very encouraging lately. Even as concerns about slipping growth rates have been mounting, it might be useful to see if economic growth always corresponds to broad-based improvements in living standards. Can all the different indicators of a society's well-being be encapsulated by statistics concerning GDP growth? Will the current growth trajectory bring about all-around improvements in the quality of life for the majority? Economic Growth and Social Well-Being
Is Privatization the "Solution to all Ills?" Or is it just an artful dodge - a favor to certain vested interests? See this critical view: Recent Indian Media Reports have been exulting over the boom in India's Travel Industry. Yet who is concerned about the state of India's Aviation Industry?
POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT Managing Environmental Noise in India This article, sent to us by a New Delhi resident suffering from noise-related ailments for many years, points out that while recently publicized research undertaken by the medical community points to serious physiological and psychological damage caused by excess environmental noise in Indian towns and cities, consciousness on this issue has yet to penetrate sufficiently amongst significant sections of the populace. The author calls on the Indian media to raise public awareness concerning this growing health hazard, and hopes that Indian law-makers and law-enforcers will do more to control this modern menace. Decibel Assault - Noise Pollution in Indian Cities Whose Environment is it? As India prepares to enter a new millennium, the degraded state of India's natural environment cannot escape comment or analysis. This analysis attempts to examine the contradictions between poverty, development and environmental destruction in India. The analysis recognizes that the problems of development in India are exceedingly complex. Class inequities, geographical and political limitations greatly compound India's environmental situation. So how are these contradictions to be resolved? The analysis concludes that the environment is everyone's - to preserve and to keep healthy and sustainable. But it is also to develop and share equitably - not an exclusive preserve of the rich and well-heeled alone to enjoy and exploit. The New 'Population Policy' The NDA government presented its new population policy claiming to incorporate new and more effective incentives for population stabilization. But closer examination revealed little to substantiate such claims. Also see: MORE ON THE ECONOMY, LIBERALIZATION Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) - Unmentioned Pitfalls Since the launch of "Manmohanomics" by the
Narasimha Rao government in 1991 - FDI has been touted as the magic
wand that will transform "under-developed" India into an advanced
nation with
a "modern" infrastructure. But is untargeted FDI - Two recent articles by Sucheta Dalal (in the Economic Times and Financial Express) on the Enron Power Co. and Telecom Tariffs expose some of the pitfalls. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Liberalization, Infrastructure and Quality of Life In recent months, the state of our nation's infrastructure has attracted considerable attention. Several "new schemes" have been floated, ostensibly to bring about rapid improvements in the nation's power and water supply, roads and railways. Yet, there have been few tangible results. This article examines the idealogical predilections that have stifled growth in this most important sector of our economy and how that hinders the quality of life of most Indians. Liberalization, Infrastructure and Quality of Life What has been the impact of "liberalization" on the economy - has it led to all-round gains for the Indian masses, or are there hidden and unexpected costs? These, and other related questions are addressed in this evaluation of the decade-long "liberalization" process. Liberalization: where it has lead us and where it is headed South Asian Voice is hosted by INDIA RESOURCE Last update: Sep 25, 2009 South
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