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ELECTION 99
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E-mail from readers the world over'Arundhati Roy equates dams with the Atomic bomb'Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 15:23:31 -0500From: "Uday Turaga" <utt101@psu.edu> Subject: The Rediff Interview with Jayanarayan Vyas The Rediff Interview with the Gujarat minister for major irrigation and Narmada development Jayanarayan Vyas highlights in an exemplary manner the ridiculously extraordinary levels of ignorance of the Indian press, and therefore, the Indian public on the issue. The governments of Gujarat and India have only exploited this ignorance to further complicate the issue and propagate myths and false claims about the Sardar Sarovar Project. It is an appalling instance of discredited journalism that Rediff chose to send a journalist who did not bother to do any homework on the issue to interview Vyas. The incredible ignorance of the journalist permeates pervasively throughout the interview. I point out a few examples: 1. The rehabilitation of the displaced people is fundamentally the responsibility of the Gujarat government, and justly so, since Gujarat is the prime beneficiary of the supposed and claimed benefits from Sardar Sarovar? 2. Vyas says that the Narmada Bachao Andolan has been bringing only a "few" disgruntled oustees from Madhya Pradesh. An informed journalist would have known that of the three states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, it is Madhya Pradesh which is facing the brunt of the displacement with 236 villages slated for submergence. Therefore, the majority of those affected by the completely inhumanitarian rehabilitation programme of the Gujarat government will logically be from Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, all that one needs to do is look up a few of the papers available on the subject to know that most of the villagers from the 19 villages of Gujarat who have been resettled (not rehabilitated) have returned back to their original villages due the quality of the rehabilitation. 3. Vyas is lying when he says that the World Bank withdrew from the project. The Gujarat government failed to meet certain requirements of the World Bank and so returned the loan amount to the bank 24 hours before the bank's decision to withdraw. Technically, the Gujarat government withdrew, and not the World Bank. An informed journalist should have know this. I would like to refer readers to the Morse Report prepared by the World Bank which is the most powerful critique of Sardar Sarovar ever written. No wonder, Vyas never bothered to raise this in his interview. 4. Vyas states that the Andolan went to the media and not the Gujarat government. It would be interesting to look at the money the Gujarat government has spent on full page ads in leading newspapers with all sorts of claims on the project. The Andolan's success in generating media interest is because the Indian media is predominantly composed of conscientious and hardworking journalists who see with their own eyes the genocide that has been taking place in the Narmada valley in the name of the project and development. However, large be the amounts of money that Vyas may spend by going to the media, the truth about this genocide will prevail. 5. Even the most optimistic observers of the issue will laugh at claims of completing Sardar Sarovar in the next two years. 6. What does the minister mean by being "pro-environment?" If indeed Sardar Sarovar is pro-environment why hasn't a single environmental impact assessment been carried out on the dam? What prevents quantitative and scientific analysis of these hollow, political claims of being "pro-environment?" In any case, merely claiming to plant 78 trees for every tree submerged does not recreate a biodiversity system, the appalling lack of knowledge and understanding of this issue is at times frightening. 7. I wonder at times if the interviewer was prodding the minister to say positive things or actually trying to enlighten Rediff readers of the true situation. I say this because of suggestions from the interviewer such as "Why are you not showing off those who are happy with the resettlement?" The problem is that such old, lousy publicity stunts have been tried by the Gujarat government and it has been since several years now that they have failed miserably. I could go on, but the gist of the matter is that by trying to carry such features, Rediff is making a laughing stock of itself. This is in no way credible if that is the professed objective of Rediff. The people who read Rediff deserve better treatment.
Uday Turaga
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Mon, 15 Nov 1999 18:03:44 +0100 I am surprised at the reactions of people. Why does one expect the American media to pay homage to Arundhati Roy? I don't see in what way her talk would interest the American media. Because, despite her claims, she and rest of the Narmada Bachao Andolan are talking about relocation of tribal people due to a dam in a single project deep within India. There is very little global perspective, even little talk about the Narmada being a single example of a global problem. The problem is of little interest to Indians themselves. And there is a reason for this lack of concern. All the efforts of NBA are devoted to highlighting a single problem - relocation of tribal people. For the majority of 'Urban Nomads', who have relocated themselves in search of education and employment, this emotional attachment of a person to his or her homeland sounds quite ridiculous. That is why no government official is able to see the reason of Medha Patkar, Arundhati Roy and countless people involved in the movement. Nor are these people helping in anyway by highlighting this problem and sidelining any other issues that could be of importance. For instance, Narmada Sagar is one of the many dams that form the Narmada River Project. By her own admittance, Arundhati Roy and others are not bothered about other dams since Naramda Sagar is THE LARGEST dam and displaces the LARGEST number of people. She has refused to consider the statistics related to any other dams/projects. This kind of attitude raises considerable doubt regarding the motivation behind involvement of these people. On the other hand, the people who support the dam have equally relevant questions. They ask whether resettlement of tribal people in a place more accessible to rest of the civilization is a crime. Why can't the tribals settle in a place where one can easily build a school and a hospital. Why shouldn't the tribals know of the rest of the world. Of course, the NBA leaders will then have an onus of educating these tribals and ensuring that they do not get 'Corrupted' by the outside world and retain their 'innocence' etc. What Arundhati Roy and Medha Patkar should be demanding is a 'proper' resettlement and not the way it is at present. Though they do point out the shoddy way in which the resettlement is carried out, this question is notably marginal. Yes, the question of 'Cost of Development' and the 'Rights of these people' are definitely relevant. The question why should the tribals be forced out of their habitat has to be asked. But then, it had to be asked years ago, when the project was planned and executed. Now that the project is more than halfway through, the point is raised only in hindsight. Narmada should only be quoted as an example of 'Wrong Development'. Instead, Roy takes on the dams as much as she would towards windmills. She equates 'Dams' with 'Atomic bombs'. Note that it is not Narmada dam which is equated, but dams in general. But the statistics quoted is of Narmada dam alone. She forgets that atomic power has its other uses too, as much as a dam does. She lets herself be carried away by 'Eco-Romantisism' by condemning every form of development while at the same time whining that she is not 'Anti-Development'. None of these people project a pragmatic picture either. Nor do they suggest alternative methods of development. At times, their knowledge is appalling. Recently, at a screening of 'Narmada Dairy', Anand Patwardhan said that the dam uses up a lot of water to produce electricity! Come on, what are we talking about? It is not as if water is evaporated to convert into electricity. This isn't anywhere like the herbal petrol! After using the 'Force' of the water, all the water gets back into mainstream! One doesn't stop all the water either. A part of the water gets into irrigation canals and rest is left into mainstream, which continues as a river! Any naive person can tell you that! - Of course, there is a little wastage at the generators, but that would not amount much! That finally leads to one conclusion. All these people who are emotionally involved in the movement see only the 'Human' side of it. While the people in Delhi, who sit and plan about people whom they have never met and never will, do not see the 'Human' side at all. Both of them are equally wrong. The attitude towards planning is changing, though not at the desired pace. But then, we can't ask to 'Undo' a project that is almost done! A 'Damage Control' exercise is the need of the hour. Not 'charge against the dams'. That, for one, would befit a work of literature, as much as 'charge the windmills' would. Ashok
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Thu, 04 Nov 1999 11:21:29 -0500 The article "The political paradigm has shifted" is excellent and an eye-opener for the Christian community in India. Well done. Prashant Jawalikar
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Mon, 15 Nov 1999 20:27:57 -0500 Rediff has so many "columnists." How about some more from Mr Alikhan? May I ask why his articles are not listed like your other columnists for people go back and read later? I would like you to pass on this info to him - 'I enjoyed your "theory of morphic resonance" article earlier and please write more. They make nice reading. Of course both articles of yours were about Naidu who I like. This concept seems to be resonating in Mr Krishna's (Karnataka CM) consciousness as well. Sampath Kumar
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Fri, 19 Nov 1999 04:37:58 GMT I was rather amused to read Anwar Ali Khan's article on "What if Naidu becomes another Mahathir". I am a Malaysian, thus I am not bothered whatever shape Naidu takes, but I take offence in what Khan mentioned about our prime minister. Has he been to Malaysia and seen how our multi-racial and ethnic society is living without the bombings and killings that is usual nowadays in India as whole. Further, has he seen how our tiny nation of only about 17 million citizens lives a life of security and comfort. Our surrounding neighbours are all in turmoil with much unrest and starvation but you do not see that in Malaysia. Maybe you are only seeing CNN and reading the Western newspapers which make you conclude that Mahathir is a tyrant. You are also a black in the eyes of the West so do not be taken for a ride by their misinformation, just because a developing nation like Malaysia can stand up to them. Come down to my country and see for yourself how we have progressed under the capable leadership of Dr Mahathir Mohammad.
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Thu, 11 Nov 1999 12:03:57 -0500 I shudder to think about the future of Indian cinema, not that I had seen a brighter prospect for it earlier! But whatever illusion there was, whatever hope there was, it all came crashing down with this Barjatya movie Hum Saath-Saath Hain. Coming to think of that movie, it looked like the marriage video cassette of the Tata or the Birla family. Besides, it was cloyingly sensitive, overkilled and an emotional movie. It seemed to me that Sivaji Ganesan (the king of over-acting!!) paled in comparison. Anyday, I would rather have a Kubrick, Xena, or Indiana Jones (Temple of Doom) movie that shows India in a poor light than this HSSH movie. What Barjatya was doing was giving us the same movie of Hum Apke Hain Kaun. In sheer arrogance, Barjatya was yelling out loud and clear all through the movie, "Ye lesser mortals, thou shalt be satisfied with whatever I dish out, intelligence and art, are not for ye". My problem is not so much that a lousy movie has been made, but by the amount of recognition it is receiving. If in the US (where I saw it), where the so-called educated Indians could tolerate and actually like this nonsense of a movie, I wonder what fate India faces against this movie, with all her illiteracy and poverty. To sum it all up, I hope this movie suffers huge losses. I hope India rates this movie as nonsense and salvage her pride. I hope these Laloo Prasad Yadavs of Indian Cinema suffer a huge jolt. Ajay
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Thu, 11 Nov 1999 10:03:52 -0700 I just read your very informative report on the web. It is a very sad thing that Christians are trying to force their religion on Hindu's in India. Sometimes I wonder why India didn't opt to be a Hindu state when the country was partitioned in 1947. Pakistan was sure that they wanted to be an Islamic state. Then at least we wouldn't have had so many riots on the grounds of religion and wouldn't have had a different set of laws for the minorities. The other religions (including Christians) are taking undue advantage of the fact that Hindus are very tolerant and that India is a secular state. If Christianity is truly the religion that the Christians believe it is, then I am sure that people would have converted on their own. They wouldn't need to "preach it" the way they do. And what right does anyone have in saying that "we are lost in the hopeless darkness of Hinduism". What do they know about Hinduism that we don't? Why aren't they able to justify with concrete proof what they say? Today it's the Hindus and tomorrow it will be the Buddhists and Jains. How come Christians have never tried to convert Muslims - aren't they lost in the hopeless darkness of Islam. The fact is, Muslims are more aggressive than the Hindus and trying to convert them might lead to a blood bath, which the Christians can't afford. I am very saddened that they have to resort to such measures to spread their religion. Sulakshan
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Thu, 11 Nov 1999 13:01:04 -0500 The report is excellent and brings out the 'aggressiveness' of the church and their arrogance. Thanks for the nice report. The media needs to take up such issues of concern to the community.
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Thu, 11 Nov 1999 14:20:45 -0500 Why are the Southern Baptists afraid to go after the 'Muslims' who are also in 'darkness'? Shiv
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Thu, 11 Nov 1999 17:42:13 EST Let us all pray for the Southern Baptists. They do not know the difference between light and darkness. They should read the Gita and enlighten themselves. Would they go to preach to Christians other than SB? Would they go to preach to the Muslims and Islamists of the world? Would they preach their faith to people other than themselves?
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Thu, 11 Nov 1999 23:58:58 -0800 The Southern Baptist Church and the pope are both preaching conversion, peace and forgiveness. Let me tell you a story of a brave Brahmin family which forgave a Southern Baptist for murdering one of their kins. One fine night two days prior to Thanksgiving in Charolette, North Carolina, United States a telephone rang, as she answered it, the caller said "come quickly". The woman ran from her apartment to the store where she worked to find her husband brutally and savagely stabbed in the head, lying in a pool of his own blood. Fighting for life with the name of Durga and Vishnu under his breath, her husband survived in the hospital for 7 days just to be put to rest for good. Prior to his departure along with his family, in their hearts they forgave the murderer and prayed that his soul may find peace, from a karmic existence of despair. The Brahmin man was my father and my entire family has forgiven the brutal act. And the strength with which both "Shakti and Preserver" (Durga Mata, and Maha Vishnu) are keeping us, I don't think that this would have even been found in any other "mono-theistic" philosophy. Now I ask the editor who may contact me and research the needful -- the 130 persons who attended the funeral, and his 8 sisters who reside in India have had nothing but pride for their only brother. Why has the mercy shown by the Hindus not been acknowledged? Please, do realise what the Indian Deputy Mayor of my town wanted to publish about my father, but we just wanted to find the joy in knowing that Divine Mother Durga had helped my father reach his destiny in the Divine Father Maha Vishnu. We have fought against all odds and are still praying to the Almighty to give us strength and courage to know that my father's soul was saved, because at the last moment his Karma was to recognise the true wisdom and shun all materialistic dogmas which other 'mono-theists' are trying to enforce upon us. Please respond in kind. Very Truly Yours, S Raja Ram
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Sat, 13 Nov 1999 17:44:11 -0500 Southern Baptists are causing more harm to their own sect by issuing such malafide circulars. They themselves need to improve their own lot and should not worry for others. The almighty god is there to take care of all the human beings.
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Mon, 15 Nov 1999 22:52:19 EST Dear R S Shankar, I understand that you're hurt by the Baptist Prayer Book and that you're angry. But let's try and come out of the curtain of anger and see...since anger shrouds our good judgment. You said: "The Southern Baptists may want to do something about their own families before setting out to provide Christian enlightenment to 900 million Hindus." You're right. And they're doing it to their best abilities. Have an open heart and have a deep look at what they're doing. "When the Baptists issued their infamous Prayer Book, one of my first thoughts was why were they worried about Hindus, Jews and Muslims when there are millions of Christians they could save," said Navneet Bajwa. Let me repeat - they're doing it to their best abilities. Have an open heart and have a deep look at what they're doing. "Several religious leaders and sociologists believe that many people in the south and midwest marry at a younger age than in many states and their rigid lifestyle makes their marriage flounder." Any knowledgeable reader would understand it as "Several anti Christian religious leaders and sociologists believe that many people in the south and midwest marry at a younger age than in many states and their rigid lifestyle makes their marriage flounder." You may want to ask CNN to back up their statement. A knowledgeable reader could also read it as "It's not their rigid lifestyle, but their commitment to independence and intolerance towards unfaithfulness and hypocrisy of the spouse that makes their marriage flounder." "The Southern Baptists and other churches ought to learn from how Indian Americans keep their marriages intact," says Bajwa. Try and tell our Indian youngsters here how our marriages are made (Arranged marriages and how they survive and end --Sathi!). They would be bewildered to know that parents decide whom their children should marry depending on their own whims and fancies like caste and creed etc. In some castes they don't even get to see one an another before marriage. The girl can't leave her husband even if she finds her husband impotent, a drunkard or womaniser or what ever. Do you think she sticks to him due to her loyalty to our culture? NO. She does it because she can't survive otherwise in an awfully male dominant society. Are we to feel proud about it? Whether you accept or not, equal rights and status for women in marriage like what is here in the West is a far cry for us to achieve. Every developmental change in society has a price to pay initially. I'm sorry to say this but we don't have the statistics of our Indian marriages in America as much as in India. Let us try and take the statistics. It should be almost like pollution, crime, AIDS , women abuse, dowry deaths, incest, child abuse and child labour. We do not need more than a little common sense to realise that we should not throw stones at others especially when we are in a glass house. It's not a scriptural injunction, it's a Chinese proverb, but which we should understand. Premalekha
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Mon, 15 Nov 1999 01:54:31 -0500 (EST) About this story: http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/13us1.htm -- the problem is that New York City strictly limits the number of cabbies. If taxi companies could just go into business without a medallion, then of course you would see some taxi companies which would find a way to cater to blacks in bad neighborhoods. But without competition, why should the cabbies try to solve this problem? Russ Nelson
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