[ZESTCaste] FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) 2008 function - update
Dear donors, friends, and supporters, I am extremely sorry for the delay in conducting 2008 Scholarships function due to various reasons. Though I am not comfortable with the venue of the function (a hotel), I am sorry to say that that is what we got for this year. Date: Saturday 30th May 2009 Chief Guest: Mr A Vidya Sagar, IAS (Commissioner, Social Welfare Department, Andhra Pradesh) Venue: Hotel Pepper Mint, Opp. RR District collectorate office Lakdi-ka-pool Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh 500 004 Tel: 040-4435-1234 Other details will be followed. Please mark your calendars to attend the function and to encourage these exceptionally intellectual students coming from socially and educationally backward sections of Indian society. As always, we still accept any donations, books, or any others items useful in education to distribute among them. Also, we have several other projects that need your support. With regardsBen Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org --- On Fri, 5/1/09, Adidela Devadas devadas1...@gmail.com wrote: From: Adidela Devadas devadas1...@gmail.com Subject: ASS-FUNCTION DATE-FINALISED To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com, P.Vijayavardhan Rao pvv@idbi.co.in, PVV Rao pvv...@gmail.com, vijayavardhana rao pvv...@hotmail.com, kaila anand paulka...@yahoo.com Date: Friday, May 1, 2009, 7:13 AM Dear Paul Rao, Today I have booked the banquet hall and the details are as folows: HOTEL NAME: PEPPER MINT ADDRESS: OPP TO R.R.DIST COLLECTRATE OFFICE LAKDI-KA-POOL, HYDERABAD-500 004 PH: 040-4435-1234 WEBSITE: WWW.PEPPERMINTHOTELS.COM DATE: 30.3.09 TIME 3 PM TO 9 PM FACILITY: 100 CHAIRS WITH SOUND SYSTEM, AC HALL, STATE, PODIUM, WATER, COFFEE/TEA,LIGHT MUSIC SNACKS: TO ARRANGE ON OUR OWN IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED, GOOD PARKING, GOOD AMBIENCE. SO, PLEASE NOTE AS ABOVE/REGDS -- Looking forward, ** Thanks Regards, A.DEVADAS, 302,Chandra Ganga Enclave, Brundavan Colony, Dr.A.S.Rao Nagar,ECIL Post HYDERABAD -500 062 MOBILE: 0-924620- 3884
[ZESTCaste] The grip of change
http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/02/stories/2009050253461200.htm Front Page The grip of change B. Kolappan Party: Bahujan Samaj Party Constituency: Kanyakumari State: Tamil Nadu Mission statement: I want to be an instrument of change P. Sivakami got a head start over the others. She completed the first round of her campaign in Kanyakumari, while other candidates were waiting for their parties to finalise alliances. A former IAS officer, she quit the service to join politics. And she chose Kanyakumari because of its high literacy rate (next only to Coimbatore) and the fact that it has the highest per capita income in the State. “These two aspects make me believe that people in the constituency will go for a candidate like me,” says the 53-year-old Bahujan Samaj Party contestant. This explains why she chose this general constituency despite being a Dalit. The author of four novels and a hundred short stories, she has published the English version of her Tamil novel, Pazhaiana Kazhithalum with the title “The grip of change.” Ms. Sivakami rejects the argument that in this communally sensitive constituency — where Christians and Hindus are always waiting for an opportunity to settle political scores — she does not stand much chance. “Tell me which constituency is not communally sensitive? The problem persists across the country. If it is not religion, it is caste. This should change. In the last 10 years, the world has changed a lot and you cannot afford to remain unchanged. In Kanyakumari, I want to be an instrument of change,” she stresses. In contrast to the high-voltage campaign of the main political parties, hers is restrained. But even so, her name is familiar to all the households in the district. She meets leaders and office-bearers of various organisations and addresses street corner meetings. She rejects the argument that she is an outsider in the constituency, saying her husband belongs to the district. “I have close contacts with many social organisations in the district. I am also aware of its problems,” she says. Ms. Sivakami says she has no regrets about quitting the IAS to test political waters. “Many asked me why I quit the service when the pay commission recommendations were being implemented. They say I would have benefited heavily. But I know what I am doing.” She says that as ex-IAS officer, she has had the advantage of working closely with politicians. “I have studied politicians and how they function. I am better equipped for the job,” she says. INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:zestcaste-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:zestcaste-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zestcaste-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[ZESTCaste] DSS to Observe Exploitation Awareness Day on May 3
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=59466n_tit=Mangalore%3A+DSS+to+Observe+Exploitation+Awareness+Day+on+May+3 Saturday, May 02, 2009 4:52:49 PM (IST) Mangalore: DSS to Observe Exploitation Awareness Day on May 3 Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SN/SP) Mangalore, May 2: The Awareness Day of the Exploited will be observed at Samrat Ashok Chakravarti auditorium of Siddarthanagar, Bajpe near here on Sunday May 3. The event is being organized by Dakshina Kannada district branch of the State Dalit Sangharsh Samiti. Venkatagiriyaiah Mandya, convener will inaugurate the event to be conducted as part of the 118th birth celebrations of Dr Ambedkar. Sundar Salian, district convener, M Devdas, organizing convener, V Narayanaswami Kolar, Hennoor Srinivas Bangalore, Satya Shimoga, Sundar Ullal, divisional convener and J Srinivas, state committee member, will participate in the programme. A meeting to re-constitute the committee will be conducted after the programme. The district unit of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti has requested the dalits to take part in the prorgramme in large numbers and contribute to its thumping success, stated in a release.
[ZESTCaste] SP, BJP have tacit understanding: Maya
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/SP-BJP-have-tacit-understanding-Maya/articleshow/4476619.cms SP, BJP have tacit understanding: Maya 2 May 2009, 2146 hrs IST, PTI LUCKNOW: Alleging that the Samajwadi Party and the BJP have a tacit understanding, BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday said the SP was trying to UP chief minister Mayawati (TOI Photo) split the Muslim votes in order to help the saffron party. The SP and BJP have a tacit understanding to strengthen each other and the two parties have also fielded candidates with this aim in mind, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said addressing election rallies in Muzaffarnagar and Meerut. Citing the SP decision not to field candidate against BJP president Rajnath Singh from Ghaziabad as an example of the understanding between them, she said the SP was trying to split the Muslim votes in order to help the BJP and appealed to the minorities to foil the SP gameplan. She warned the Muslims against SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying that he had never been their well-wisher. Promising to formulate policies aimed at the welfare of all sections of society if voted to power at the Centre, she lashed out at the Congress for using the minorities as mere vote bank and claimed that non-implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations were indicative of its intentions. The BSP chief said Congress was misleading the people by claiming that Rs 72,000 crore meant for uplift of the Dalits have been misused by the BSP government. The funds have not been wasted by the 'elephant' (her party symbol) but by 'panja' (Congress symbol), she said.
[ZESTCaste] Mayawati invokes Ambedkar, asks Dalits not to support Cong
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Mayawati-invokes-Ambedkar-asks-Dalits-not-to-support-Cong/articleshow/4479435.cms Mayawati invokes Ambedkar, asks Dalits not to support Cong 3 May 2009, 2042 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: Invoking leader Baba Saheb Ambedkar, BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday targeted Congress for being anti Dalit and asked people to teach the party a lesson to get justice for its opposition to Ambedkar in the past. Baba Saheb Ambedkar had told Dalilts not to vote for Congress even after his death after a Congress-fielded candidate defeated him in the 1952 Lok Sabha elections with the gross misuse of the government machinery, Mayawati said while addressing an election rally here and asked people to avenge the defeat of Ambedkar. She alleged that Congress led by Nehru and Company had attempted to block the entry of Ambedkar in the Samvidhan Sabha of the country through various measures. These are the facts after knowing which, people from Dalit community can never forgive Congress, she said. In an apparent attack on AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, the BSP supremo criticised top Congress leaders visiting Dalit 'bastis'. Few Congress leaders who are visiting Dalit basits should understand that the problems of Dalits will not be solved by eating from their hands, sleeping in their houses or carrying Dalits'children on their shoulders, she said. Mayawati alleged that the UPA government did not release Rs 72,000 crore rupees for Dalit's welfare from the special component plan and said it exposed Congress' love for Dalits. Congress hand embezzled this money.
[ZESTCaste] Dalits’ concern at Durban Review failure
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=4348 Dalits’ concern at Durban Review failure Friday, 1st May 2009. 1:13pm By: Paolo Gallini. All India Christian Council (aicc) representatives recently returned from the UN Durban Review Conference and expressed disappointment at the silence on “work and descent based discrimination” which affects about 250 million people in India. Scheduled Castes, or Dalits, are 166 million and Scheduled Tribes are 84 million people. The conference, held last month in Geneva, was designed to assess the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action made during the 2001 World Conference Against Racism. Dr Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs, said: “We appreciate efforts by the United Nations to bring together member states and non-government organisations to review anti-racism strategies from the 2001 Durban conference. We also agree that progress must be monitored and programs adjusted as societies around the world fight the serious problem of racism and related intolerances.” The Durban Review Conference “outcome document” was released on April 21, the second day of the conference. Many NGOs were upset that their input wasn’t received and the document was issued before the end of the conference. “We acknowledge that NGOs gave some input to the Durban Review Conference outcome document during UN sanctioned preparatory meetings. However, there wasn’t enough discussion with NGOs and we, like many participants, were shocked to be holding the final document in permanent black and white print before the conference even ended,” said Paul. “We are deeply disappointed that the Durban Review Conference outcome document doesn’t mention work and descent based discrimination. Racial discrimination based on descent was included in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action from the 2001 UN conference. Sadly, the elimination of this terminology excludes India’s Dalits from the attention and resources of international bodies. We hope this language is reinstated immediately so that millions of Dalits will benefit from assistance through the IMF, World Bank, USAID, and other relevant organisations,” he said. Media reports suggested that the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights rushed to issue the “outcome document” to re-focus the conference after comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad created controversy during the opening session on April 20. However, the High Commissioner denied this in a press conference. Sam Paul noted, “A leader from a member state with unquestioned success at fighting racism could have provided inspiration instead of controversy. But we understand that UN officials don’t have control over keynote speakers who raise issues which sidetrack the attention of attendees. Other forums exist for raising serious issues not directly related to racism.” Delegates spent much time discussing issues not related to racism, including a defamation of religions campaign, instead of hearing about the plight of major groups facing “related intolerances.” Sam Paul said, “Besides millions of Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes communities in India, many people suffer from work and descent based discrimination from Nepal’s large untouchable population to the Buraku community in Japan. Even in Sri Lanka’s conflict, there are innocent ethnic victims. Since UN committees have repeatedly said that work and descent based discrimination is a form of racism, these people deserve the focus of any future anti-racism conferences.” Aicc representatives also suggested that the conference needed a systematic presentation by each member states on the progress made since 2001. They collected several documents given to attendees that profusely praised India’s record and treatment of Dalits. The documents were unsigned and not on letterhead leading to the suspicion that Indian government sources may have distributed them. The aicc sent Mr K Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs, and Mr B Dhanaraju, Chief Patron of aicc Andhra Pradesh chapter, to attend the Durban Review Conference in Geneva (www.un.org/durbanreview2009/). The conference reviewed progress made by signatories to the UN International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) since the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held Aug. 31 – Sept. 7, 2001, in Durban, South Africa (www.un.org/WCAR/). Both men attended under the auspices of the Indian Social Institute, Bangalore, which has Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC. The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders. INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of
[ZESTCaste] BSP may struggle to cross 30 seats in UP
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/BSP-may-struggle-to-cross-30-seats-in-UP/articleshow/4473964.cms BSP may struggle to cross 30 seats in UP 2 May 2009, 0214 hrs IST, TNN NEW DELHI: After it rewrote the grammar of heartland politics by capturing power on its own steam in Uttar Pradesh, BSP was widely reckoned to be UP CM Mayawati addresses a press conference in Lucknow. (PTI File) the favourite for at least half of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state. It retained its top seeding till the polls began. But with half the exercise over, a strong consensus seems to be taking shape that the party may not live up to the billing. Its `secular' rivals — SP and Congress — believe that BSP is not crossing the 30-seat mark. Even BJP is of the same view, leading to an agreement of sorts that SP may remain the largest group despite a dip in its tally of 37 from the last encounter. While poll estimates can go wrong and few had the prescience to forecast BSP's remarkable performance in the assembly polls barely two years ago, there is no mistaking the downward revision of Mayawati's prospects. Inputs from three phases of voting in 48 of 80 seats suggest that BSP has not taken the kind of lead in east, around Lucknow and Bundelkhand, as to jump way ahead of others. In fact, BJP and Congress claimed to have waded into what promised to be a bipolar polity, each hoping to net a near-15 figure. If the projections come to bear, it will not only put paid to Mayawati's aspiration to be the first Dalit prime minister, it will also mark a blow for Left's plan to have a decisive say in government formation. The change in the script is being attributed to a drift of Brahmins, whose support was one of the main factors behind Mayawati's win in assembly polls and the perception that the party had reneged on its pledge to abolish goonda raj. Observers say that while there is nothing to suggest that Brahmins as a constituency have turned their back on the party, BSP has failed to emerge as their natural preference. The community is voting strategically, casting fresh glances at BJP and Congress. The turnaround on law and order with Mayawati courting dons and glamourising them as Robin Hoods — at least in the case of Mukhtar Ansari — has put off people who trusted the party for its `` chadh goondon ki chhati par, mohar lagegi haathi par '' battle cry. Bahujan hopefuls don't agree, arguing they are set to benefit from Muslim and EBC mobilisation behind SCs. The low polling will favour BSP because its committed voters will turn out in any case giving it an edge in close contests. The party also fancies its chances in 17 reserved seats which have a higher concentration of dalits. A low-turnout, strong Muslim card in eastern and western UP on the back of dalit mobilisation are real imponderables which can play havoc with even informed estimates. At the same time, Congress has inserted itself in the battle and division of votes may cut both ways. Congress is not waiting for May 16 though, as insiders say, they are gearing up for a partnership with SP, a serious shift coming on the back of the verbal blood-letting that followed the failure of seat-sharing talks. In the assessment of AICC, SP's score will almost rival what Mayawati may notch up. The strategists will, of course, have to rush to the drawing board if BSP defies the fresh projections to return with a tally of 40-odd seats. They are unlikely to be deterred by either BSP's membership of the Third Front or that the dalit outfit poses a long-term threat because of its ambition to become the sole vehicle of dalit assertion across the country. Every MP this time would be valued in the absence of big allies like RJD, DMK and Left. If Congress is forgetting the bitterness to plump for SP in a haste, it is also because Mulayam Singh is expected to be more dependable as a coalition partner if only because of the limited options he has. The SP boss cannot have an overt partnership with BJP while he is wary of Third Front, which he sees as a packed house of ambitious satraps, and is critically dependent on Congress. A Third Front, without Mayawati, can be an option but not that attractive. Mayawati is just the opposite. The Dalit maverick can play on all power fronts — UPA, Third Front and NDA. With a good number in her bag, she is likely to first explore the leadership option with Third Front — her best bet as Congress and BJP would be scared of ceding a key leadership position to her for fear of its impact on their dalit and Brahmin votebanks nationally. But she can surprise with an innovative arrangement with UPA or NDA. The BJP performance would decide a lot of things, including SP's fate. In fact, its ability to tap seats which Mulayam loses from his bunch of 39 would determine how much Congress and BJP pocket. A failure on that score may see SP lose numbers without the commensurate increase in BSP tally. It would be advantage Mulayam. And thereby Congress.
[ZESTCaste] 'In UP, Brahmins do tactical voting, not Muslims'
http://election.rediff.com/report/2009/may/02/loksabhapoll-in-up-brahmins-do-tactical-voting-not-muslims.htm 'In UP, Brahmins do tactical voting, not Muslims' Dr Abdul Waheed | May 02, 2009 | 10:18 IST Dr Abdul Waheed, reader in the department of sociology and social work at the Aligarh Muslim University, is an authority on socio-political issues related to the Muslims of Uttar Pradesh. He has done his MPhil on 'The Phenomenon of Dowry among Muslims in India' and his PhD thesis was on the 'Social Structure and Economy of an Urban Muslim Community: A Case Study of Muslim Banjaras of Baheri, District Bareilly, UP.' His two books -- Muslim Artisans, Craftsmen and Traders: Issues in Entrepreneurship and Muslims of Uttar Pradesh provides good reference material for serious studies. In his gloomy office at AMU, Dr Waheed spoke to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt: Uttar Pradesh has more than 3 crore (30 million)Muslims. That amounts for around 23 percent of Indian Muslims. According to the 2001 census, UP's population was 16 crore (160 million) and Muslims are 18.5 percent of the population. In UP, according to the 2001 census, out of 70 districts (UP now has 71 districts) 21 districts have a sizable population of Muslims and are recognised by the government as districts having 'minority concentration'. Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar, Bijnore, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Bulandshahr, Badaon, Lucknow and Bahraich districts have more than 25 percent but not more than 50 percent Muslim population. Rampur has the highest concentration of Muslims in UP along with Bijnore and Moradabad. I belong to Bareilly, so I have observed the politics of neighbouring areas like Rampur, Pilibhit and Moradabad quite closely. Muslims of western UP are in a precarious position this election. Why? Because they believe that no secular party -- whether it is the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party or the Congress -- has done anything for them. They thought the Bharatiya Janata Party is their enemy party. Now, they are confused what to do? Whether to defeat the BJP or not? To do so, they are forced to vote for candidates and parties whom they don't like. That is why I say the Muslim voters are in a very precarious position. They are not supporting any party or candidate of their choice. They are under compulsion and they know that the secular parties for whom they cast their votes have not done anything for them. But what is the choice? The BJP? They tend to think the BJP is the greater evil amongst these choices. Invariably, Muslims are not voting for Muslim candidates either. In Bareilly district, Praveen Aron is the Congress candidate. Muslims are going to vote for Aron. The BSP candidate, Islam Sabir, is not confident of getting Muslim votes. In Pilibhit, Maneka Gandhi was always supported by Muslims. Even in Sanjay Gandhi's time Muslims received the couple well. I don't know who provoked Varun to make those (anti-Muslim) statements. Sanjay and Maneka used to stay in (BSP MP) Akbar Ahmed 'Dumpy's farmhouse. Muslims were shocked when their son Varun Gandhi made those statements. Neoriya Hussainpur town, which is located on the Pilibhit-Almora highway, has a 90 percent Muslim population. Maneka Gandhi used to get 90 percent of their votes. From the same town, Haiji Riyaz, an MLA, is contesting on a Samwajwadi Party ticket against Varun. Riyaz belongs to the Banzara caste; it is a trading community who have 60,000 votes. After Varun Gandhi's speech many Banzaras will not vote for Riyaz. They realise if they vote for him, then Varun Gandhi will win the election so they are shifting their votes to the BSP or V M Singh of the Congress, whoever they think can defeat Varun. Muslims think now no Hindu will cast their vote for the Samajwadi Party because of the communal polarisation brought in by Varun. The Samajwadi Party candidate is dependent on Muslim votes. Precisely for that reason Muslims don't find him good enough and winnable. Yadav voters are few in this area so Riyaz can't bank on their votes. Pilibhit has got many Lodhs, so the BSP gave a ticket to Budhsen Varma. It seems that the division of Muslim votes between the BSP and Congress will help Varun win. Muslim voters are intelligent; they know (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Mayawati put Varun in jail to get their votes. No political logic will apply across the board in UP. BSP or no BSP, Muslims will not cast their votes for a candidate they feel will lose. Unless there is an issue like the Babri Masjid, Muslims do not vote en masse. Like Hindus they are also divided into castes. If they think that the BJP will win a seat, generally, not specifically, they vote negatively. If they have a choice, then they may vote undivided. I think the Brahmins of UP vote tactically, not Muslims. Brahmins number 9 percent of Hindus in UP. They are more organised because they are literate, have been in power, are cautious and well-informed. Muslims in UP
[ZESTCaste] Book exemption-seekers under SC, ST Act: Dalits
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Book+exemption-seekers+under+SC,+ST+Act:+Dalitsartid=fFHYrd1p3Go=SectionID=e7uPP4%7CpSiw=MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=SectionName=EH8HilNJ2uYAot5nzqumeA==SEO= By Express News Service 02 May 2009 08:00:43 AM IST Book exemption-seekers under SC, ST Act: Dalits TIRUPATI: The petition filed by some TTD employees in the High Court seeking exemption for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams from implementation of reservation rule, is snowballing into a major controversy with several Dalit organisations demanding action against the petitioners for questioning the constitutional right of SCs. The AP Scheduled Castes Welfare Association has demanded that action be taken against the 332 TTD employees, who approached the court in this regard without the knowledge of TTD Trust Board. Addressing a press conference here today, association president P Paramasivan and secretary P Chengalrayulu demanded the suspension of Tirumala OSD C Ramana, who is also TTD Officers Association secretary, and other union leaders for furnishing `erroneous facts’ to the High Court with regard to GO No 1060 (Employees Service Rules). In their petition, the TTD employees had contended that the rule of reservation was not applicable to the autonomous religious organisation as the TTD was not getting any funds from either Centre or State Government. “The employees should be booked under the SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act for showing `disrespect’ to the Constitution and `insulting’ Dalits,’’ the leaders said. The Dalit organisations would chalk out an agitational programme, if the TTD Executive Officer failed to take action against the employees within 48 hours. The TTD SC and ST Employees Association also demanded action against the petitioners. Despite OSD Ramana’s clarification that he was in no way connected with the petition and he was not against Dalits, the SC association leaders refused to relent on the issue. TTD Executive Officer KV Ramanachary was also accused of being lenient to the 332 employees who approached the High Court seeking exemption from reservation rule. Condemning the move of TTD employees, Republican Party of India State secretary P Anjaiah threatened to launch a stir, if the employees failed to withdraw their petition. The AP SCs Welfare Association brought out a pamphlet criticising the employees move against the rule of reservation. More Dalit organisations are likely to join issue posing a serious problem to the TTD. INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:zestcaste-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:zestcaste-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zestcaste-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[ZESTCaste] 2553 birth anniversary of Buddha to be celebrated on May 9
http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=6160 2553 birth anniversary of Buddha to be celebrated on May 9 Bhopal Posted On Friday, May 01, 2009 By Our Staff Reporter Bhopal, May 1: The 2553 birth anniversary of world messenger of peace Lord Gautam Buddha will be celebrated with enthusiasm at Karuna Buddha Vihar 1250 Tulasi Nagar, Bhopal on May 9 under the aegis of the Buddhist Society of India at 11 am. The Chief Guest of the Ceremony will be the Cultural and Public Relation Minister MP Government Laxmikant Sharma. The Mayor of Bhopal Municipal Corporation Sunil Sood will be the special guest. On this occasion the former Minister and the MLA Bhopal South- West Zone Umashankar Gupta and the Ward Corporator Amit Sharma of ward 32 will be present. In this ceremony the litterateur and head of Dr Ambedkar Department, Nagpur University Dr Pradeep Aaglawe will be the chief speaker. The National President of the Buddhist Society of India Chandrabodhi Patil will preside over the meeting. In the ceremony the guests would distribute prize to the winner participants of different sports competition concluded on April 28 prize. After the anniversary ceremony free medical check up camp will be organised. Candle rally will be taken out at 7 PM for the world peace from Karuna Buddha Vihar, which will reach at Dr Ambedkar anniversary ground at 8 PM passing through the different paths of Bhopal.
[ZESTCaste] Of reform and resistance
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/of-reform-and-resistance/453151/ Of reform and resistance Inder Malhotra Posted online: Friday , May 01, 2009 at 0003 hrs Only the surviving witnesses to the era know how crucial a role the Hindu Code Bill, aimed at a comprehensive reform and codification of Hindu personal law, played in this country’s political evolution in the early years of Independence. The relentless, often bitter, fight over this hyper-controversial legislation also settled the delicate issue of Presidential powers under the Constitution. To drastically summarise the fascinating story, the Hindu Code Bill was a logical outcome of the struggle since the 19th century for reform of Hindu personal law and social customs that had already given the country laws against child marriages and for widow remarriage. There was rampant confusion about what exactly the Hindu law was. Verdicts on its various facets were scattered over countless and sometimes contradictory judgments of Britain’s Privy Council. However, by the time the voluminous Hindu Code Bill was ready in 1948, vociferous opposition to it had risen to a crescendo. For instance, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who hadn’t said a word against the Hindu Code while he was a member of Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet (1947-50) thundered in 1951 that the Bill would “shatter the magnificent architecture of the Hindu culture”. By then he had founded the Jan Sangh, the forerunner of the BJP. Equally passionate in the Hindu Code’s defence were its supporters, with Nehru and his extremely able law minister, B. R. Ambedkar, in the forefront. The battle lines were clearly drawn, and neither side was prepared to give in. But primarily because the opposition to the Hindu Code within the Congress party was strong and widespread, its progress was glacially slow. In December 1949, when the Constituent Assembly, doubling as the Central Legislative Assembly, discussed it at length, 23 out of the 28 members who spoke were opposed to it. Most of them were Congressmen. Soon thereafter, India became a republic, and the Constituent Assembly yielded place to the provisional Parliament. The Bill lapsed but was immediately reintroduced in the new House. Ironically, this brought into play President Rajendra Prasad who was an inveterate opponent of the Hindu Code and had repeatedly told Nehru that it must not be passed. As it happened, it was on a relatively minor matter that the President fired his first shot. On receiving the draft of his address to Parliament, he wrote to the prime minister to drop the reference in it “to the passing of the Hindu Code Bill in this session”. Nehru firmly refused. In the previous article (April 17) Prasad’s various objections to the Hindu Code, including his threat to withhold assent to it even if it was passed, have been discussed. Nehru, backed by the opinion of the then Attorney-General, M. C. Setalvad, had made it clear to the President that in discharge of his functions he had to be guided by the “aid and advice” of his council of ministers. The prime minister had also put paid to the President’s desire to send a message to Parliament outlining his “fundamental” objections to the Hindu Code Bill by the simple expedient of threatening to resign himself. Setalvad, in his autobiography, Story of My Life (1970) has recorded that since the Indian system is modelled on the Westminster parliamentary democracy, his study of the British constitutional conventions and case law established that the position of the Indian president was no different from that of the British monarch. Both must act according to advice of council of ministers “except in the extremely rare situation when the council might not exist”. He also refused to accept President Prasad’s argument that the provisional Parliament, elected on a restricted franchise, had no right to make “such revolutionary changes” as the Hindu Code Bill did. Setalvad asserted that the provisional Parliament was a “continuation of the constituent assembly that had enacted the entire Constitution”. Another eminent jurist, Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar, was of exactly the same view. And some years later the Supreme Court broadly endorsed their position. As the session during which, according to the President’s address, the Hindu Code Bill was to be passed began in the first week of August 1951, Ambedkar grew restive because of the Congress party’s growing pressure on the prime minister to defer it. He requested Nehru that the debate on the Hindu Code should begin immediately and at least the part dealing with marriage, divorce and monogamy be enacted. Nehru agreed but pointed out that discussion could start only on September 5. Actually it began only on September 10. Seven days later it became clear that the Congress party did not want to adopt any part of the measure before the general election. Ambedkar resigned on September 27. On October 11, he was prevented from making a statement on reasons for his
[ZESTCaste] Fwd: upsc separate interview system
-- Forwarded message -- From: kamal makwana kamal_makw...@ymail.com Date: May 3, 2009 10:31 AM Subject: upsc separate interview system To: mailsiddharth...@gmail.com Respected sir, i wanted to know the current developments on the issue of Commission's (UPSC) current practice of conducting Civil Services interviews separately for general, OBC, SC and ST candidates. what is upsc's stand ? can parliamentary panel's recommendations be implemented by central government ? can the practice be stopped? how much time may it take ? can upsc resort to delaying practices like it did in cut off in prelims?
