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How Journalists may assess Industrialisation in Orissa |
Jharkhand Forum |
How Journalists may assess Industrialisation in Orissa Nilakantha Rath During the last few years there has been a great deal of news about the impending prospect of extensive industrialisation in Orissa. The state government has signed MOUs with some 39 different firms for starting Iron and Steel mills, with capacities varying from 12 million tonnes to a million tonnes or less. There have been MOUs with firms proposing to set up aluminum factories with local mineral. Newspapers in the state have rarely published the complete list of such companies and the substantive contents of these MOUs.. There is more noise than hard fact before the public. The large number of iron and steel factories are to be set up in the district of Keonjhar and the adjacent areas in Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Sundargarh districts.. Moreover, some super thermal power stations are to come up in this area as well, besides near Jharsuguda. That all these iron and steel factories and some super thermal stations, besides a large number of sponge iron factories, will all come up in the geographical area of a little more than one district, mainly Keonjhar, is something that is almost never highlighted in the newspapers. Besides the factories, there will be extensive mines, for iron ore and coal, dug in addition to the ones already in operation. New roads and feeder rail lines will have to come up to service these factories and mines.. In addition, new housing colonies for the employees and for shops and other service establishments will also come up. Has anyone any idea about how this region will look like when all these are in full steam? I do not know if the Government of Orissa has this picture before it. If it has, it seems not to have shared it with the newspapers and the public. The industrial firms in the picture possibly think of only their factory and mines, not about the total scene. Some one must try to piece these pictures together, for every one to realise what the prospects are, before informed public discussion on the implications and policy measures can take place. Is this a very difficult task for the journalists? Surely, it can not be done by sitting in the office or collecting hand outs. But, collection of information from institutions in Bhubaneswar and elsewhere in the state, visits to existing sites of mines and factories to gather information and experience of people will help the enterprising journalist to piece together the picture. There is a very good institution of ISRO in Bhubaneswar which has been mapping the state for a variety of purposes. It is estimating the area under different crops in reasonably small patches of land surface in every village of the state, with the help of satellite pictures and maps. Similar detailed pictures for Keonjhar district and the adjacent areas, put side by side, can give us a fair idea of the existing situation - the roads, railways, the factories, the mines, as well as the villages and towns. The proposed factories and their mines can be located on such maps, with the help of the ISRO institution. This will help one understand the geographical dispersion of these proposed as well as existing factories and mines, and the inevitable need for transport facilities for them. It will help tell the viewer how the area would look like when all these proposed units are in operation. What might happen to the atmosphere in these areas, what will be the change in temperature in the region, can be guessed from this, if the investigator gets similar information about the Angul-Talcher industrial Zone as well as the area adjacent to Rourkela. This central area of Orissa is very hot in summer; 113-114 degrees F. was not a one-day feature in these areas in earlier times. With industries belching smoke and putting out slag and waste, the region's temperature in summer and other months can be gauged from the present day situation in the Angul-Talcher region. What will happen to the rivers and other sources of water supply? Again, Angul-Talcher region can give us an idea of the shape of things to come. The ash ponds of the thermal power stations, the slag and waste near Rourkela, multiplied many times because of the many steel factories and super thermal power stations to come up in the district of Keonjhar, will give an idea of the possible state of the Brahmanee, Vaitaranee and the other smaller rivers there. Can the ash and the slag not be used in any manner, separately or together, for making bricks or toping road surface or any other manner of use? The Regional Research Laboratory at Bhubaneswar can help. While the present public sector producers of these do not appear to have taken initiative in this direction, surely some thing useful can be done, while preventing the huge costs they are imposing on the public. The journalist can highlight this and suggest direction for profit to private enterprise. What about the short and long term effects of mining? The interested investigator can visit the current mine areas in Keonjhar and elsewhere to see what is happening to the discarded waste around the mines which are already 8-10 years old. Are there trees or bushes or at least grass on these soils? What is the dust from these doing to the villages in the neighborhood? What will happen to these areas when mining is over because the material is exhausted? A good example would be a visit to Gorumahishanee and Badam-pahar areas in Mayurbhanj, where the Tatas started mining ore nearly nine decades ago. Is there any vegetation on these lands? What is the experience and opinion of the villagers about the land now? What do the scientists in the Regional Research Laboratory say about the quality of land there for any productive use, without heavy investment? These will tell us what this district may look like at the end of fifty years of industry and mining. Thoughts occur to me as I read the Chapter on Montana (a state in the USA) in Professor J. Diamond's book Collapse. It is a devastating picture of what mining can do to the land. I was, therefore not surprised when I read in the newspapers sometime back, the remark by the Union minister Jairam Ramesh in Bhubaneswar, as he emerged from his meeting with the Chief Minister. He said that a state with extensive mineral deposits is a cursed state.. (I wonder if he had also made this remark to the chief minister earlier). I begin visualising the state of this district of Keonjhar at the end of the current desperate heavy industrialisation , and I shudder. Must one exhaust the entire ore deposit in another fifty-sixty years from now? Surely, India does not have the greatest deposit of iron ore. The industrialist is anxious for the immediate prospect of profit. But, what about the state, which is expected to be custodian of the welfare of the present as well as the future generation of the people of the region? Look at bauxite. India's total deposit appears sufficient to last another hundred years, if used at the current annual rate. But, if the use is increased four-five fold, as appears to be the plan of our state government with its ore resource - which is the biggest in India, it may not last another thirty years. The states with the biggest deposits are in Africa and Australia. Our industrialisation of the type that would demand aluminum in large measure is still in the planning stage. By the time these materialise, we will be without the ore; we will have to depend on the multinationals who hold these elsewhere. Is this our best strategy in the use of important resources? As for the human cost, the sad thing is that the life of the poor in this country, in every country, is cheap. No one is greatly concerned. There is never even the thought of enabling the displaced agriculture-based rural households to have their younger ones trained in alternative employment opportunities, like machining, welding, electrician, carpentry, plumbing, even brick laying and making, computer operation, at industry's cost, with guaranteed employment in the industrial unit or its ancillaries. The journalist-investigator can find out how many villagers are likely to be displaced and how many young persons, boys and girls, will need such training right now. I realise that individual industrialists will not be concerned about all these problems. But the civil society and its representative, the State, must be concerned. The task of the fourth estate is to collect the information, from institutions, villagers and by visiting and carefully observing the field, and present it for public debate and discussion. That will lead to meaningful policies. It requires proper training, competence and understanding and hard work. Dependence on gossip and hand outs will ultimately ruin the fourth estate. Pune 411 004. 10th September, 2008. __._,_.___ Replying to this email will send an e-mail to 6600+ members of Jharkhand Forum. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ About Jharkhand Forum @ http://www.jharkhand.org.in/about-jharkhand-forum Jharkhand Forum's Posting Norms http://jharkhand.org.in/posting_norms.htm Add your Name in Members directory - http://directory.jharkhand.org.in Are U interested to be an online volunteer? http://volunteer.jharkhand.org.in +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Post your Petition Online @ http://petition-online.blogspot.com MAKE FUNDING APPEAL HERE @ http://FUNDING-APPEAL.blogspot.com Get a FREE website for your NGO @ Http://Gift.Jharkhand.Org.In Check previous messages of J-Forum @ http://jharkhandforum.blogspot.com __,_._,___ |
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Re: Jamia University to defend students held on terror charges |
Jharkhand Forum |
Dear Sarwat Phuppo, I stand with you on what you say. I am a muslim in name only - I do not practice any relious rituals but I do practice the ritauls of humanity and that I believe are the crux of any religion. And yet it is not in the way one conducts oneself or what one stands for but what the names reveal is viewed with suspicion . I do hope that even if the Imam Bukhairis of the day do not speak up for the secular harmony of this nation - which I doubt such people ever would - common citizens, and youth should come out and stand together for peace. Thank you for starting this chain - There are many like you from all faiths who believe in the power of humanity and in the power of love rather than in the hatred that is threatening our social fabric. Warm regards |
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In the name of our Religion! |
Jharkhand Forum |
Dear Friends, In response to the issues that are being discussed and to the letters similar to ones below, let me bring to your notice what is happening in Orissa. These are facts that come wtih proofs in papers all these days. - One catholic nun was gang raped in front of the police in Public by hindu fundamenal youth (Bajrang Dal and VHP). - Front page news in THE HINDU, of today, 30th Sept. - One man and his wife were returning from their relief camp to their home. On the way, they were forced to convert from chritiannity to Hinduism. Since this man ( Ishwar Digal) did not accept, he was cut into pieces in front of his own wife and was thrown into a river. The wife ran back to the relief camp to complain to the Police, who refused to file an FIR. Upon insistence they went to the spot next day and seeing just the blood on the ground, they said that he must have escaped and there is no evidence to his death. - This happened on 20th sept around 4.30pm. The Christians are forced to accept Hinduism ( Not by the common hindus who are actually broad minded and who believe in pluralism) by hindu fundamental groups by drinking the water mixed with cow dung and eating rice mixed with the blood of chicken. True Hindu does not kill others! True hindu respects others and other religious traditions under the Sanskrit precept, let wisdom come to me from every side" What is happening today in the name of annihilation of Chrisitans from Orissa is Anti Hindu culture. Actually Hinduism is monotheistic. There are many devas. But God is only one! If God is only one, are we not killing the same God whether it is from Islam or Christianity or Hinduism etc? By the way, who represents Hindus today? Who is the actual leader of Hinduism? |
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Re: OFF-TOPIC: Re: Destruction of Babri Masjid / Ram janma boomi |
Jharkhand Forum |
Quoting Quran "It is only God who can give Izzat or Zillat" ( elevate and humilate) it is beyond the capacity of the human to elevate or humiliate any one it is a complex within our own self , i never feel humilated because we often hear that muslims are being asked to leave this country and go to Pakistan , i pity them those who suggest , as i believe we are as much a citizen of this country as any one else , and no one has right to ask us to leave God has bestowed us with a great capacity to forget, if we live with negative thoughts it ruins our health, and negativity gets into our own system , so try to Forget what Mughals did , they would not have been able to do if there was democrarcy , they did it in when there was Anarchy. Mughal's did not follow the norms of ISLAM , Quran forbids erecting Mosques on the land which is disputed. God resides every where, he does not need these buildings which are built on the hatred , By making temples and mosques after blood shed we can not make God / Ram/ Bhagwan/ Allah happy . These are EGO hassels. it is all power game Ms sarwat ali __._,_.___ Replying to this email will send an e-mail to 6600+ members of Jharkhand Forum. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ About Jharkhand Forum @ http://www.jharkhand.org.in/about-jharkhand-forum Jharkhand Forum's Posting Norms http://jharkhand.org.in/posting_norms.htm Add your Name in Members directory - http://directory.jharkhand.org.in Are U interested to be an online volunteer? http://volunteer.jharkhand.org.in +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Post your Petition Online @ http://petition-online.blogspot.com MAKE FUNDING APPEAL HERE @ http://FUNDING-APPEAL.blogspot.com Get a FREE website for your NGO @ Http://Gift.Jharkhand.Org.In Check previous messages of J-Forum @ http://jharkhandforum.blogspot.com __,_._,___ |
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Now e-corridor for knowledge sharing in Jharkhand |
Now e-corridor for knowledge sharing in Jharkhand
Ranchi: City-based unit of the Steel Authority of India (Sail)-the Management Training Institute (MTI)-has launched the e-corridor system to facilitate the institute to have audio-video session from any top institution of the world for exchange of knowledge.
Although the e-corridor has been equipped with the global connect features, it would primarily be intended to attend live session on project management with the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad (IIM-A) faculty on a regular basis.
Launching the facility from New Delhi and having a live chat with MTI officials at Ranchi, Sail Chairman SK Roongta said that that the facility marked a new initiative in technology enabled learning at MTI and would enable the participants at the institute's programmes to interact with eminent speakers from other locations globally.
The video conferencing facility will support multiple locations connected together to create virtual classrooms with people located in as many as 16 locations.
It can connect to different locations which has the video conferencing facilities either through Internet protocol (IP) system or telephony (ISDN), giving MTI more flexibility in connecting to different locations.
Along the e-corridor, the participants would be able to go to the upgraded computer lab of MTI, which has the latest Xeon-based server and Core2Due Processor based PCs connected in a network not only to each and every computer in MTI but also to the Internet through a high speed broadband connection.
The PC lab could also be used for providing training on Sailnet, the countrywide intranet of Sail. The lab has also been upgraded with the state-of-the-art projection systems and an ambience that reflects excellent standards.
It may be recalled that the MTI and the IIM-A, have come together to address the challenges of human resource development and to enhance requisite skills for meeting the current industry gaps. __._,_.___
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Policing in Jharkhand a formality |
Policing in Jharkhand a formality
Ranchi: One policeman for a thousand people, six chief ministers in eight years, rich in minerals but poor in tackling Maoists menace-yes this is the state of affairs in Indian state Jharkhand.
With such a poor police-public ratio, policing in Jharkhand has become more a formality than a necessity.
Compared to the police-public ratio of 1:480 in Haryana or 1: 450 in Kolkata, here's it is more than double, which comes close to one policeman handling the population of around 1,000.
What is more, even a sizeable chunk of the police personnel are deployed to take care of security of ever-burgeoning VIPs, leaving investigations of cases much to be desired.
In the wake of recent terror strikes, Ranchi also felt its tremors. A couple of prime schools in the city received hoax calls about planting of bombs, sending the police in a tizzy.
However, due to the lack of expertise and special cells like those in New Delhi, the Ranchi police could not do much to track the prank callers.
'We had detained the booth owners to extricate the clue, but could not have much from them. Had there been special cell to investigate such cases, it would have been definitely easy for the police to get hold of the callers,' Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) MS Bhatia said.
A senior police officer said that present strength of Ranchi police is around 3,500 constables and havildars, almost the same as it was at the time of creation of the state.
'Posts of around 1,200 constables and havildars are still vacant as per the sanctioned strength of 2,000. Equally worrisome is the condition with sub-inspectors, inspectors and deputy superintend of police,' he said.
As the Ranchi police struggled to maintain general law and order and ensuring VIP security, it failed to set up specialised wings to deal with piling cases of investigations.
Unlike Patna and other similar cities, which have all the police stations manned by an inspector rank officer, Ranchi has just three inspectors for 16 police stations.
'We have to rely thoroughly on our own intelligence mechanism as we hardly receive any input from the Crime Investigation Department (CID),' another senior police officer said.
State Home Secretary Jyoti Bhramar Tubid while admitting the problem said that the state government was looking into the issue of separating law and order and investigation into two different arms of policing.
'Since it is a time taking process, we are now trying to better coordination between specialised investigation wings at the headquarter-level and the local police,' Tubid said.
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Re: OFF-TOPIC: Re: Destruction of Babri Masjid / Ram janma boomi |
Dear Senthil, You say as a Hindu you have the right to recliam your land. Please tell me what you mean by being "Hindu" so that I can understand your position better. I am also a Hindu and I don't want to reclaim the land in question. As a Hindu I also want that people of other faiths will not dig up history to detsroy Hindu places of worship, or any places of worship for that matter, anywhere in the world. Why do you think you have the right to speak on behalf of all Hindus, or even a majority of Hindus? In history kings practising particluar religions have detsroyed places of worship belonging to other religions - of course there are exceptions such as Akbar and Ashoka and there must be many others. In 1947 we threw out the kings to have a democratic form of government. Don't you believe the intolerance that marked the reign of kings should also be thrown out. If you really want to go in to history and want to allow people revenge for things done to them in the past, India will be torn in to a million pieces. Should people in the South fight against the people in the north for having equated them to Monkeys in the Ramayana? Shoud people of Orissa fight against the people of Bihar to avenge the killings during the Kalinga war? Should Hindu people of the Mughal kingdom fight against the muslims for the misdeeds of Aurangzeb? Should people of central India fight against the Marathas for the plunder they committed in much of Central and Eastern India? Should people of Andhra and Bihar fight against the Oriya people to take revenge against the attacks made by Kharabela against these people? Should people of Jharkhand kill all white skinned people they see to take revenge for the martyrdom of Birsa Munda. Dear Friend! You will never reach any where if you open the Pandora's box of historical revenge. But in case you want to start please go in order. Either start by throwing all foreign companies out from India to take revenge against the misdeeds of British East India Company or start by asking all people other than the Adivasis and the Dalits to leave India and go back to the place they came from. But the problem you'd face in case of the latter would be that you would never be able to know who are the original inhabitants, of the land that has subsequently come to be known as India, and who came afterwards. with warm regards Manas __._,_.___
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Madrasas And Terrorism: Accusations and Realities |
Jharkhand Forum |
The Role of Madrasas in Inter-Faith Dialogue* By Maulana Waris Mazhari (editor, Tarjuman Dar ul-Ulum, official organ of the Old Boys' Association of the Dar ul-Ulum, Deoband) (Translated by Yoginder Sikand) Inter-faith dialogue has become an urgent necessity today. In this regard, what role can or should madrasas play? Can they indeed play any role at all in this? Before discussing this issue, it is important to understand why inter-faith dialogue has become so necessary today. Undoubtedly, in today's world inter-community harmony is a major need and the lack of it has emerged as a major challenge. Inter-faith and inter-community harmony must be built on the foundations and concerns that different faith communities share in common. It must also seek to build bridges of understanding between these communities, and to remove mutual misunderstandings that are a major source of inter-community conflict. In the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11, Muslim religious groups in the West, for instance, have increasingly realized the pressing need for inter-faith dialogue. They have invited people of other faiths to visit mosques and the offices of Muslim organizations so that they can observe what happens therein and can have their questions and concerns about Islam and Muslims answered. This has had a positive fall-out in terms of improving inter-community relations, which is itself something that Muslims themselves require. Several Muslim countries are also developing plans for promoting inter-faith dialogue. In June 2008 the Rabita al-Alami al-Islami ('World Muslim Council') organized an international conference on inter-faith dialogue. This was a very major initiative. At the conference it was decided that an international institution would be established to further promote this sort of dialogue. It was also decided to institute an award for inter-faith dialogue work. Through these and similar initiatives, one hopes that Muslims will now play a major role in promoting inter-faith understanding and peaceful dialogue. Muslims, Madrasas and Inter-Faith Dialogue in India The biggest challenge facing Muslims throughout the world today are the negative and distorted images of Islam. I do not wish to go into the reasons for this. This is a fact and we have to acknowledge it. Even if one claims that this is a result of the machinations of anti-Islamic forces, it does not diminish the danger of this challenge. This is why, as followers of a religion that addresses itself to all of humankind, Muslims must themselves make efforts to change the situation and seriously address this issue. In a country like India, where, for a long time now, religion has been cynically used as a tool for politics, the urgent need for inter-religious dialogue is obvious. At the practical level, however, this sort of work has not even begun. Given the respect and confidence that madrasas enjoy among the public and the fact that they are spread out throughout the country, if inter-faith dialogue work were to be taken up through the madrasas it would enjoy greater public credibility and its impact would be wider and deeper. Ulema with a deep knowledge of religion would be best suited for this task. In addition, dialogue is also the best and most effective method to seek to counter the mounting propaganda against madrasas. Certain extremist religious forces are leading this anti-madrasa propaganda assault. Hence, it is best that the ulema of the madrasas, as well as other Islamic religious leaders, seek to counter this campaign, using dialogue as a means to reach out to others. In March 2003, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad organized a massive rally in Delhi. During the rally, copies of the Quran were distributed to those present. The VHP claimed that the Quran preaches hatred and even the indiscriminate killing of non-Muslims. This was a very opportune moment for the ulema and those related to the madrasas, which they should have used to initiate a dialogue on the actual meaning of the Quranic verses on jihad which the VHP claimed preached such things. Unfortunately, even today the madrasas are not engaged in any serious or meaningful inter-faith dialogue work. Instead, they continue to follow the tradition of polemics which emerged in the medieval period. Polemics are still taught as a separate discipline in many madrasas. Much polemical literature has been produced over the years by the madrasas, but they are today of little practical use. The polemical approach is now almost wholly useless. It centres on verbal duels, and aims simply at defeating one's opponent and seeking to claim victory for oneself. It does not lead to one's opponent being inspired to introspect and review his or her stance. It also results in further widening the distance between the contending parties and building up high walls of hatred and prejudice. In contrast to polemics, dialogue is a serious and, indeed, natural method of relating to people of other faiths. Through dialogue, each partner is able to present his or her own views without obstacle. This enables both parties to understand each other dispassionately. It can thus help dissolve misunderstandings and prejudices that give rise to hatred and conflict. Muslims believe in the universal truth of their faith, and so it is their responsibility to seek to identify, analyse and then do away with the roots of inter-communal hatred. If these roots are allowed to grow unchecked, it will obviously have a seriously negative impact on Islamic mission. Madrasas are the bastions of the faith. But they should not fortify themselves in their own world, cut off from the world around them. In order to carry out the work of inter-faith dialogue, it is imperative for the students, graduates, teachers and managers of madrasas to actively engage and interact with others, including students of 'modern' schools and colleges. One way to do this is to encourage mixed activities, such as sports competitions, essay writing competitions, quizzes etc., in which students from both madrasas and 'modern' educational institutions can jointly participate. Madrasas can also invite the staff of 'modern' educational institutions to visit their campuses and dialogue with their students and ulema. This can go a long way in helping to combat the many misunderstandings that they might have about madrasas. To equip madrasa students, as would-be ulema, with the appropriate skills and knowledge needed to effectively engage in inter-faith dialogue, madrasas must incorporate the teaching of social sciences in their curriculum. The present insularity of the madrasas and the fact that madrasa students are kept unaware of many important aspects of the wider world have led to a crippling sort of self-imposed immaturity. This can be addressed, at least in part, by providing madrasa students with sufficient awareness and understanding of the world around them. For this purpose, too, madrasas must introduce the teaching of comparative religions. Several books have been written on the subject by Islamic scholars, but most of them are centuries old, as for instance the writings on other religions by scholars like Ibn Hazm, Abdul karim Sharastani, Ibn Taimiya, Ibn Qayyim Jauziyya etc.. I do not deny the importance of these books but one has to keep in mind the fact that the world has undergone revolutionary social, political and intellectual changes in the last two hundred years. In the West, modern ideologies such as Communism, Capitalism, Secularism, Liberalism, Modernism, Post-Modernism and so on have assumed the form of virtual religions. For inter-faith dialogue initiatives to be more effective, these ideologies also need to be carefully studied. In India, too, some influential 'ultra-secularists' have adopted these ideologies virtually as their religion. At the same time, the majority of Indians, including a large section of 'modern' educated people, still adhere to religion or at least claim to do so. Hence, dialogue work needs to be engaged in at both levels, and for this our ulema need to have a deep understanding of other faiths as well as of the new Western ideologies that have also come to function as religions. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that madrasas must indeed take an active interest and role in inter-faith dialogue work. It will help them undermine the hostility that they presently face from some quarters. The ulema of the madrasas should take the initiative themselves, without expecting others to do so first. As the popular saying goes, 'My message is love. Let it go wherever it can'. Dialogue is the best practical expression of this message. To combat communal hatred and promote inter-community harmony, people of different faiths, including Muslims, and particularly the ulema, must strive to promote a culture of dialogue. And in this madrasas must play an important part. *This is a translation of a chapter by Maulana Waris Mazhari titled 'Bayn ul-Mazhabi Muzakarat Mai Dini Madaris Ka Role' in Yoginder Sikand & Waris Mazhari (ed.) Dini Madaris Aur Dahshatgardi: Ilzam Aur Haqiqat ('Madrasas And Terrorism: Accusations and Realities'), Global Media Publications, New Delhi, 2008, pp. 137-42.
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Re: fact finding on Kandhamal Violence |
Jharkhand Forum |
I have not directly mentioned VHP but only Hindutva. One can convince a physically blind but can not to an ideological blindness. So it would be futile to waste time to argue with a self proclaimed authority living with ideological blindness. I am neither interested in vote bank politics nor for any name in the history for such hellish warfare, hence need not have any business to challenge. You can come to Kandhamal at any point of time to see thousands of such cases. Keredagada temple entry case in the Kendrapara district would be best example. Denigration of local culture and other points/ questions you have raised can be largely clarified if you spend a few days in mixed villages of Kandhamal without going with any preconceived notion. Finally, I know and practice my Hinduism as a spiritual way of life and tradition but not as a blashphemous, wild cannibal and non-spiritual tradition. I personally condemn and wish the down fall of religious fanatics and humbly pray that "LET ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY". Regards sricharan __._,_.___
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Re:REMEMBERING THE BITTER PAST? Re: Destruction of Hindu temples as rec |
Jharkhand Forum |
I appreciate the spirit with which Nitiya has written this rejoinder. The myth that Hinduism was not a proselytising faith has been propagated assiduously by certain interested groups. In fact many of the Buddhist viharas and Jaina basadis in the South were turned into temples after the kings took on the faith propagated by the Brahminical teachers. The king Vishnuvardhan is one such : according to the Wikipedia, "Scholars believe that Vishnuvardhana was originally a Jain known as Bittideva. Under the influence of the Hindu philosopher Ramanujacharya, Vishnuvardhana converted to Hinduism[6] and practiced Vaishnavism. Numerous Vishnu temples were built during his reign at Belur, Talakad and Melkote. However, Vishnuvardhana's chief queen, Shantala Devi remained a devout Jain, and set a precedent of religious tolerance in the kingdom. " This has been accepted and there is little controversy on this count. But all these things happened hundreds if not thousands of years ago. Why do we have to live in the past? We need to be forward looking and also be able to deal with our present. Thanks again to Nithiya for her intervention. Cynthia Stephen Independent Researcher and writer Bangalore, India |
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Re: fact finding on Kandhamal Violence |
Sricharan, Your mail is detailed. As for the facts mentioned by you, i havent heard it before. I support preserving of the native culture not only for the tribals, but for every other community. Regarding your point on Aryans, and casteism, its a biased view.. None of the outfits like VHP, or the RSS follow casteism or untouchability. I challenge you to prove any one instance of such untouchability, and i myself will take on those vhp persons.. Lastly, i would also challege you to prove if any of the hindu outfits, denigrated the local customs.. or insulted local gods.. They may be unaware of insensitive to the native culture.. But they were not against or they dont have any inferior opinion on the native culture.. the hindu outfits promote their god, without conflicting with native gods.. I personally, support worshipping of the native gods, and following native culture.. Regards, Senthil ------------------------------------
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