‘Violent reaction has no place in Islam’: Dr. Fazlur Rehman Madni
By Aleem Faizee, Ummid.com
Widely acclaimed Mufti and renowned Scholar, Dr. Fazlur Rehman Madni is an authentic voice of over 20 million Ahl-e-Hadees Muslims who live in India. An important member of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees Hind, Dr. Fazlur Rehman Madni achieved the doctorate in Islamic studies from Jamia Islamiah Madinah Munawwera in Saudi Arabia before joining Jamia Mohmmadia Mansoora in Malegaon as Shaikh-ul-Jamia.
We need one common central body to recruit police personnel
By Sanjiv Kataria, IANS,
The manner in which the new home minister (P. Chidambaram) went about his Mumbai visit on Dec 5 convinces one that things are in for a big change. His honesty of purpose, resolute desire for action and empathy for families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy is visible to me as an ordinary citizen. A week later, on Dec 11, he made a passionate plea to the country's lawmakers to respect policemen.
A case for Muslim political party
By Karoly,
The options that have been placed for "what should be the future political approach of Muslims" have been (1) vote for UPA, (2) vote for NDA, (3) vote for the third front and (4) form their own secular democratic party.
‘Sir, why are all terrorists Muslims?’
By Firoz Bakht Ahmed, IANS,
"Sir, why is it that all terrorists are Muslims?" Prajvi Bagga Malhotra, a Class 11 student of Modern School, asked me this question during a discussion about current events. This was a very timely, bold but sensible question and being a Muslim, I was accountable to address the curiosity in the minds of a class of 52 students.
Arbitrary and illegal arrest of ‘Nishan’ Editor Lenin Roy
By Dr Nutan Thakur,
Lenin Kumar Roy, the editor of Nishan, a Left oriented quarterly magazine published from Bhuvaneshwar (Orissa state in India) was arrested on 7 December 2008 around 1-1.30 pm and sent to jail on charges of writing provocative literature which as per the police version and the official report would disturb communal peace and harmony.
The police did not stop here.
Assembly elections confirm bipolar trend in India
By B.R.P. Bhaskar, IANS,
Contrary to the fond hopes of Third Front promoters, the Indian polity is moving towards a two-party system. Those who have their eyes focused on the national stage may have missed it, but the results of the just concluded assembly elections confirm the bipolar trend.
Exercising the military option: possible, but not feasible
By A. Vinod Kumar, IANS,
Ever since the Pakistan link in the Mumbai attacks was traced, many strategic analysts have been rooting for punitive action against Pakistan - also referred to as pre-emptive strikes and hot pursuit. This is not the first time such suggestions have been mooted. After the parliament attack in December 2001, India launched Operation Parakram to mobilize its troops along the international border with the assumed intention of a frontal response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Kerala Muslim Marriage Bill: some opposition
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
This is the third and the last part of the series on Kerala Muslim Marriage Bill.
The Kerala Muslim Marriage and Dissolution by Talaq (Regulation) Bill has been drafted by the Kerala Law Reforms Commission (KLRC) in order to regulate indiscreet marriages and divorces among the Muslims of the state.
Rhapsody 2008 – a symphony of different cultures for medical professionals
By Shobha Shukla,
A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and yet we have 'no time to watch at beauty's glance, and see how well her feet can dance'.
Well, this is the price we seem to be paying for our economic development. Today's world of cut throat competition and cutting edge technology has lacerated our soul. Any activity of a non competitive nature with no financial gains is looked down upon. In our quest for professional knowledge, we have given up the pursuit of happiness, feels the legendary teacher and Surgeon Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
BJP in a quandary with temple and terror cards
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) cosy world of emotion-driven politics has been turned upside down by the Mumbai tragedy.
From the late 1980s, the BJP has used ultra-nationalist postures to garner votes. These ranged from the movement to "liberate" the mythical birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya to the pillorying of the Congress for being soft on terror.
Addressing diabetes is vital for strengthening tuberculosis control
By Amit Dwivedi,
Patients with type-2 diabetes may be at increased risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) because they generally have a compromised immune system, which results in life-threatening lung infections that are more difficult to treat
3G: The Untold Story and What it means to a Mobile User
By Hitesh Raj Bhagat, IANS,
Today (Dec 11, 2008) is a big day. Third generation or 3G mobile networks are finally here, for MTNL users in parts of Delhi and NCR. Mumbai will follow as soon as the pilots in Delhi are successful.
India has been making do with ancient mobile technology for long now. The current Second generation or 2G networks were designed to carry only voice, which does not require high data transfer speeds. With the advent of new technologies -- video streaming, mobile TV and mobile gaming, higher transfer speeds were necessary.
Crop insurance is the life insurance scheme for farmers
By Amit Dwivedi,
Uttar Pradesh is one of the most important states of the country in terms of agricultural production. More than 85% of its population is rural based and depends on agriculture for its livelihood. Small and marginal farmers, having less than 2 acres of land are in a majority in the state.
Kerala Muslim Marriage Bill: proposals
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
This is the first part of three part series on the Kerala Muslim Marriage and Dissolution by Talaq (Regulation) Bill. The other two parts will deal with the kind of reaction that the Bill has evoked in the Muslim community.
In a progressive and bold step towards the reform of Muslim Personal Law, the Kerala Law Reforms Commission has drafted a bill which will curb and check the practices of polygamy and divorce through Talaq among Muslims in the state.
We must learn to respect people of other sects and religions: Khalid Saifullah Rahmani
By Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani,
Based in Hyderabad, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani is one of the leading present-day Indian ulema. Author of some 50 books, mainly on Islamic jurisprudence, he is a senior member of numerous important Islamic organizations, including the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, the Islamic Fiqh Academy, the Bahrain-based Association of Islamic Banks and the Council for Inter-Sectarian Dialogue, Tehran, Iran.
Atif’s place in hockey history is assured
By K. Datta, IANS,
Brig. Manzoor Hussain Atif, who died battling cancer in Rawalpindi Saturday at the age of 80, belonged to a bygone era of hockey when India-Pakistan matches were classic exhibitions of the game; when play spread out from wing to wing, when wingers sent in spanking centres for the inner forwards to provide the finishing touches to moves after faking their way past doughty defenders with deceptive feints.
Election results bode well for Congress
By Gilles Verniers, IANS,
With election results in five states in, it appears that the Congress party will be quite unaffected by the recent economic slowdown and the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. This could bode well for the party for the next general elections which are due in April/May next year.
News channels and coverage of Mumbai terror nights
By M. Burhanuddin Qasmi
These were horrendous scenes on all news screens for as long as 60 hours. Our two kids- Bushra and Ammar were asking childish questions. We wanted them away from these scenes for which we did not have much to reply. Yet I couldn’t help keep my eyes off the TV screen.
Poll outcome: the BJP loses its terror plank
By Amulya Ganguli
New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) Prima facie, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not fare too badly in the recent elections in north and central India. It beat the anti-incumbency factor in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to retain power and its vote share in Rajasthan, where it lost, was marginally less than the Congress'.
Jaipur public tribunal on terror in the name of countering terror
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
Last month, the Rajasthan unit of the People's Union for Civil Liberties, along with several other human rights' groups, organised a two-day public hearing in Jaipur on the theme State Responses in the Name of Countering Terrorism and Religious Conversion. It was attended by a large number of activists from various parts of Rajasthan and beyond.
Tackling terrorism: A call to Hindu and Muslim religious leaders
By Maulana Waris Mazhari,
(Translated by Yoginder Sikand)
A history of terrorism in Hyderabad
How Babri Masjid demolition gave birth to violence among Muslims in Hyderabad and how police fanned it further
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: As the country marks the 16th anniversary of the black day when the centuries old Babri Masjid was razed to the ground by the Hindu-militants, for the city of Hyderabad it is an important milestone for another reason. The day also marks the dawn of the era of militancy among the Muslim youth.
‘I am an agonized police-wife fearing for my husband’s life’
By Sharmila Banerjee, IANS,
The aftermath of the terror attack on Mumbai raises fundamental questions: Is our police, which is the first line of defence, equipped to face such trained terrorists?
The death of policemen on the fateful night of Nov 26 is a glaring example of political anarchy prevailing in this country. Mumbai Police lost three of its best officers. Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte and Sub-Inspector Vijay Salaskar were massacred by the fidayeen militants.
Recalling the Babri Masjid movement
By Syed Shahabuddin,
Babri masjid was attached in 1949 and Hindus and Muslims were legally barred from offering prayers there. In 1986 doors to the gates were opened by a court order and regular puja started taking place. It was done on the demands of VHP that Babri Masjid was built on the birth place of Rama and it should be handed over to the Hindus.
In February 1986, on the petition of a local advocate, sessions judge at Faizabad without consulting or hearing the Muslims who were party to this case, passed an order opening the locks of the Babri Masjid.
Zardari must prove he is president, not an army puppet
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
India-Pakistan relations have reached not only their lowest point after the Mumbai massacres but also perhaps their most dangerous phase ever.
Throughout the earlier periods, even during the 1965 and 1971 wars and the 1999 Kargil incursion, Pakistan had a credible government in place, even under Yahya Khan, the military dictator known for his fondness for the bottle.
At present, however, Pakistan is almost dysfunctional - an "international migraine", as former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright has said.
Will Poznan climate conference save the Earth?
By Andrei Fedyashin, RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The UN conference on climate change has been in session in Poznan, Poland, where delegates from 192 countries will prepare the draft of a document intended to replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol on reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG).
The 1997 protocol, known as Kyoto-One, must be replaced with Kyoto-Two in Copenhagen in December 2009. Time must be left for its ratification before it enters into force Jan 1, 2013, as its predecessor expires Dec 31, 2012.
Meher Fatima talks about her book on 150 patriotic Indian Muslims
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
The book Celebrating India: Reflections on Eminent Indian Muslims (1857-2007) provides biographical profiles of 150 patriotic Indian Muslims, many of them unsung heroes – those who did not become party to the two-nation theory. Author Meher Fatima Hussain, Lecturer at Jamia Millia Islamia, talks to Mumtaz Alam Falahi of TwoCircles.net on her book.
What inspired you to write this book?
December 6, 1992: How do Muslims in India recall the day?
By Abdul Hameed and Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
It was an unfortunate day for India when Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by the Hindu criminal elements. The mosque that had existed for hundreds of years could not be seen in the evening of December 6, 1992. It was destroyed by 150,000 Hindutva extremists despite a commitment to the Indian Supreme Court that the mosque would not be harmed.
The demolition was followed by communal riots that erupted around the country with Mumbai being most affected by them. Many Muslims were slain and their families were destroyed.
Mumbai attack: Blame game moving in circles
Syed Ali Mujtaba,
The November 26, 2008 attack on Mumbai that killed nearly 190 people is the most recent episode in long string of high-profile terrorist attacks in India.
India has plethora of disgruntled elements, all planning million mutinies now and the story of grappling with the scourge terrorism is quite long. To cut it short, even then there is no long term vision yet prepared how to tackle this menace in a time bound sustained manner.
Perils in Parallels
By Shakeel Syed,
Calling Mumbai tragedy, an "India's 9/11" is parallel to the chatter of Texan cowboy. Indian Babus, I believe, ought to be smarter than that. 9/11 lexicon is now proven to be perilous.
The ashes in Mumbai raise more questions than the number of dead from several countries. It was an international tragedy. The Indian Government is partly responsible for its sorrowful state of intelligence and law enforcement.
TV blabbering is not journalism: Lessons from the live coverage
By B.R.P.Bhaskar, IANS,
News channel bosses must be patting themselves on the back on their marathon terror coverage. For three days they had treated the viewers to live coverage of the multiple terror strikes in Mumbai. In doing so, they probably set a record in television history.
As the terrorists delivered the heaviest blow yet on the country, the 24x7 news channels rose to the occasion. They took the nation's attention off everything else so that it could concentrate fully on the mayhem in Mumbai. What more could the terrorists have asked for?
Needed: Revamp of national security apparatus
By C. Uday Bhaskar, IANS,
The multiple terrorist attacks that ravaged Mumbai with the death toll overshooting 180 have led to a justified outpouring of anger and anguish across the length and breadth of the country. India is outraged. Period. This is not the first terrorist attack that India has experienced - Mumbai alone recalls 1993 and 2006 with bitter memories. And tragically this may not be the last, given the ruthless determination of the extremist groups ranged against the idea of India.
‘A tragedy to Mumbai, is a tragedy to me’
By Anupam Kher, IANS,
Born in Shimla, in the foothills of the Himalayas, I came to Mumbai 27 years ago in search of a career. That career eventually gave me a chance to showcase my talent, according me national recognition, and also some fame. I am thankful for that chance the city gave me.
Professionalising Urdu Journalism
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
Set up in 2004, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad, is the only institution in India to provide a Master's degree programme in Urdu journalism. Housed in a spacious, brand new building, the School has three Lecturers, a Reader and thirty seven students on its rolls.
Ehtesham Ahmad Khan, Director of the school
Ehtesham Ahmad Khan, Director of the school
Malegaon bomb blasts and Hindutva extremists
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
Now the BJP leaders are protesting, and rightly so, on use of the term 'Hindu Terrorists'. But they would have been indeed more consistent if they had similarly objected to the use of the term 'Islamic Terrorist's. Mr. L.K.Advani who is so exercised at the use of the term 'Hindu Terrorists' is not known to have ever objected to the term 'Muslim Terrorists', let alone 'Islamic Terrorists'. I wish he had objected to use of the term 'Islamic Terrorism', he would have sounded much more authentic.
Enough is enough
Says who to whom?
By Badri Raina
The Light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
(Gospel, Matthew, 6:22)
I
My skimpy acquaintance with the Taj hotel in what was then Bombay goes back to 1962.
I had been selected as a rookie sales executive by the then world's largest corporate house, Standard Oil, whose Asia division was called ESSO.
Our offices, also then the only air-conditioned building in Bombay, was at Nariman point.
One night at the Taj Mahal hotel – survivor narrates terror ordeal
By Mukesh Berry, IANS,
We started our evening casually at The Taj Mahal Palace at the Crystal Ball Room. I got there at 9.35 p.m. Wednesday with my brother Manish for our friend's wedding reception. We hadn't been there 15 minutes when we heard sounds we dismissed as construction work or crackers. When the 'boom boom' went on and got nearer, it was apparent they were gunshots.
Torture in police custody should stop
By M Ghazali Khan,
Reports of police torture of Malegaon blast accused are shameful. The notice issued by the National Human Rights Commission...
Terror in the name of God
By Yoginder Sikand for TwoCircles.net
"Never forget that the life of this world is only a game and a passing delight, a show ….the life of this world is nothing but means of deception:. (The Quran, Al-Hadid: 20)
"There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" (Baba Guru Nanak Sahib)
The fidayeens are back, but we aren’t ready
By A. Vinod Kumar, IANS,
A frontal attack on Mumbai's commercial district prompts a glance over threats to similar landmarks across the country, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The one destination that comes to mind immediately is the corporate street in Gurgaon's DLF Phase-II, which has emerged as NCR's main business hub. In this two kilometre stretch on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway stand offices of major multinational corporations, ranging from Microsoft to Nokia to IBM.
Cry, my beloved Mumbai! It won’t be the same anymore
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
Reminiscing of the Bombay of the good old fashioned gangsters of the 1980s with any nostalgia may sound gratuitously insulting today.
The worst that the mob bosses then did apart from smuggling gold, VCRs and some drugs was to occasionally engage in internecine gangland murders. Crime happened every day but it largely stayed confined to the underworld. Rarely did it spill over to the streets and fatally co-opt innocent citizens.
Jihadistan: A guerrilla nation that Pakistan cannot control
By Harold A. Gould, IANS,
In the face of the mounting military, political and ideological threats emanating from the Taliban-Al Qaeda sanctuary in the tribal areas of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, it is wrong to think that the US should sit on its hands while Pakistan makes timorous efforts to rein in the Islamic extremists.
India’s 9/11: Will this be its wake-up call?
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Just as the images of billowing smoke from the twin towers of New York are seared in the memories of people all over the world, similarly the television visuals of the raging fire in the ornate façade of Mumbai's iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel will be recalled whenever the deadly terrorist attack on India's financial capital Nov 26-29 is mentioned. The booming sound of gunfire as the security forces engaged the jehadis will also become a part of the nation's collective memory.
Failure of Indian intelligence: The buck stops nowhere
By Wilson John, IANS,
Almost a dozen state police units and intelligence agencies were tracking down terrorist groups across India for the past two years but missed to detect the activities of the men who were involved in the Mumbai terror attack.
Though there were reports, based mainly on the interrogation of terrorists arrested in the recent past, about Mumbai being the next target, there were no specific leads about how the terrorists will strike.
V.P. Singh signalled paradigm shift in Indian politics
By Neerja Chowdhury, IANS,
V.P. Singh, the most controversial prime minister India has had, is dead. Though he ruled the country only for a short spell, from December 1989 to November 1990, the 77-year-old leader had brought about a paradigm shift in Indian politics.
The financial crisis: who will help starving countries?
By Vlad Grinkevich, RIA Novosti,
Moscow : In recent months, the financial crisis has pushed back the food crisis, which had dominated the headlines for the past 18 months. But falling prices and corporate bankruptcies cannot hide an appalling fact - if not starvation, a shortage of food looms large in the future.
Last week, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which held its 53rd meeting in Rome, failed to offer a meaningful solution.
Premier NRI event needs big shake-up
By Kul Bhushan, IANS,
In these weeks, selected overseas Indians from across the globe are being invited to attend the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Jan 7-9, 2009, in Chennai. Meant to network with more than 25 million non-resident Indians, called NRIs, round the globe, this is the seventh flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).
Terror is Terror
By Sadia Dehlvi,
I am both amused and terrified as the "Hindu Terror" and "Muslim Terror" debate rages on. Emotions sway between laughter and tears when some leaders talk of " Hindu persecution in India" and make a distinction between terror crimes allegedly committed by members of the majority community and those by Muslims. Nothing can be more dangerous and threatening to a society than religious based intolerance and injustice.
Sustainable agriculture can be the back-bone of Indian economy
By Amit Dwivedi,
"Who said agriculture is a business of loss. I am saving more than Rs 80,000/- (about USD 1,750) every year and providing bread & butter to my 11 family members who are dependent on me," said Prabhavati Devi, who lives in Sardar Nagar block of Gorakhpur district. She has one and half acres land in which she is producing more than 86 types of crops annually. Prabhavati Devi is doing organic farming, which is a very reliable method of sustainable agriculture resulting in high production at low cost.
Pathetic Plight of Muslims in electoral politics of Madhya Pradesh
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Muslims have not, in comparison to their demographic strength, been adequately represented in Parliament or most of the state assemblies. Madhya Pradesh state is no exception to this phenomena.
Hindus in power have little personal engagement with Muslims: Kavita Srivastava
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
Based in Jaipur, Kavita Srivastava is the President of the Rajasthan chapter of the Peoples' Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). She and her comrades have been consistently working in Rajasthan for the cause of human rights, particularly for the state's Muslims, Christians, Adivasis and Dalits, and have taken up the issue of targeting of Muslims by agencies of the state and the media in a major way. She discusses this and more in this interview with Yoginder Sikand.
Madhya Pradesh elections: An analysis of Muslim representations
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
If Muslims are most disenfranchised anywhere in India, it is in Madhya Pradesh. According to the 2001 census, Muslims are 6.4% of the population of the state but only 2 of the 230 assembly seats are represented by Muslims. The dismal Muslim representation is not expected to improve in this year's election.
Can Obama convert his many crises into opportunities?
By Gwynne Dyer,
Tehran : US president-elect Barack Obama inherits the in-box from hell, but an all-points crisis like the present one also creates opportunities for radical change that do not exist in normal times.
As Rahm Emanuel, his newly appointed chief of staff, put it: "Never waste a crisis." Is Obama clever, radical enough to seize those opportunities?
For example, he has promised to shut down the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
While he is at it, why not hand the whole US military base at Guantanamo back to the Cubans?
Widespread fear among Muslims of Rajasthan: M. Salim
By Yoginder Sikand and Nigar Ataullah, TwoCircles.net,
(Mohammad Salim, Associate Professor in Electronics and Communications at the Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, is the Amir (President) of the Rajasthan chapter of the Jamaat-e Islami Hind. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand and Nigar Ataulla he speaks about the targeting of Muslims in Rajasthan by agencies of the state and Hindutva groups in the name of countering terrorism.)
The Politics of Big Capital and the Poor in Narmada Valley
Dr Rahul Pandey,
On the 5th of November I was in Khandwa, a town in central India, taking part in a rally organized by the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), or Save the Narmada Movement. About 20,000 rural people, mostly landless farm labourers or small-medium farmers, many of them tribals, had traveled 50 to 400 km on tractors, trucks and buses to participate in the rally, all at their own expense. Every family carried a packet of food cooked at home to last for a day or two. The women with babies carried them along as well.
The right to life must be guaranteed and culture of impunity must end: Anjuman...
Anjuman Ara Begum is Ph.D scholar of Department of Law, Gauhati University, Assam, India and the Regional Research Associate for the North Eastern states for South Asia Forum for Human Rights for the Project Understanding Impunity. She has researched the armed conflict in North Eastern states and its impact on civilians since 2004. Kashif-ul-Huda of TwoCircles.net interviewed her about her research. Opinions given are her personal. Read some of the cases after the interview.
Q: Why were you interested in this investigation?
For fresh thinking, two cheers for Rahul Gandhi
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Since honesty is not generally associated with Indian politicians, it is always a matter of surprise and admiration when someone deviates from the usual cynical norms to acknowledge a widely accepted truth.
Rahul Gandhi's description, therefore, of the anti-Sikh violence of 1984 as "wrong" is bound to earn him a round of applause. Yet, so pervasive is the prevailing scepticism about political calculations that the comment has been interpreted by some as an attempt to influence Sikhs before the elections to the Delhi and other assemblies.
Hindutvawadis in American politics
By Ayub Khan
The appointment of Sonal Shah to Barack Obama's transition team has rightly garnered the headlines. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Activists, writers, scholars, and others bearing right wing Hindu extremist ideology have been gradually carving themselves a niche in the American politics, academia, and intelligentsia.
Celebrities as brand ambassadors: The ‘hang in there’ mantra
By Sanjiv Kataria, IANS,
As a young management student I was taught that using a celebrity to promote a brand was a risky proposition. The risks, I can recall, included questions like "What if the celebrity's ratings were to drop? What if you could not handle a celebrity's tantrums? What if the celebrity was to become a super celebrity and dump your brand?"
KNP vision of united and independent Kashmir
By Dr Shabir Choudhry,
As a leader of a new party - KNP, time and again we are asked what kind of Jammu and Kashmir we have in mind. When we say that we want a secular and independent Jammu and Kashmir, non Muslims, especially the Pundit Community seriously question our intentions; as in their view the JKLF also talked about the same goals and yet chose to remain silent, and in some cases took active part in campaign against the Pundit community in the Valley in 1990.
South-East Asian Diabetes Summit to open up in India
By Shobha Shukla,
The Diabetes Summit for South East Asia is being organized in Chennai from 28th to 30th November 2008, by the World Diabetes Foundation ( WDF) , in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), South East Asia Regional office (SEARO), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Bank.
Interview: Wali Rahmani on madrasa modernization
Maulana Wali Rahmani is the Chairman of Madrasa Modernisation Committee set up by the Ministry of HRD. This interview was conducted by Anjum Usmani in Urdu. Translated in English by Tarique Anwar of TwoCircles.net
Q: Being the Chairman of Madrasa Modernisation Committee of Government of India what is your opinion on management of madrasas and its curriculum?
A: Each madrasa should become a registered organization or unregistered madrasas should become affiliated with a registered institution. As I see things developing in future, this is essential.
Malegaon arrests: Elephant in the drawing room?
By C. Uday Bhaskar, IANS,
Malegaon has entered the tangled lexicon of the Indian narrative on terrorism but with some distinctive and disturbing features about it. This is the first time that a serving officer of the Indian Army has been arrested along with eight others alleged to have links with Hindu militant groups. This has caused predictable anxiety across the country and the spotlight has been turned on the secular credentials of the army. However, the matter is still under investigation and shrill emotive certitude must be kept on hold.
Will G20 take us out of the woods?
By Andrei Fedyashin, RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The Washington summit of the Group of 20 (G20) industrialised and emerging economies last week arrived at a general agreement on how to cooperate in key areas to strengthen economic growth, deal with the financial crisis, and to avoid similar crises in the future.
The G20 represents 19 of the world's 25 largest national economies, plus the European Union (EU). It comprises 90 percent of global gross national product, 80 percent of world trade (including EU intra-trade) and two-thirds of the world population.
Muslim party: should or should not be
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
These days some Muslim leaders are throwing up the idea of forming a separate Muslim party. Recently some leaders from Maharashtra got together and said Muslims should not vote for Congress-NCP Alliance nor for Shiv Sena-BJP and since there is no third alternative hence a hurried conclusion was drawn to set up a separate Muslim party. Will it be a wise move to form a separate party? It has given rise to this debate.
A conspiracy to halt progress of Azamgarh Muslims: ex-SIMI chief
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Dr Shahid Badr Falahi, an Azamgarh native and former president of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), runs his two Unani medical clinics in Azamgarh. One of his clinic is in a village that is over 90% Hindus. Hindus have no problem coming to him for their medical needs.
Sale of party tickets in Indian democracy
By Syed Ali Mujtaba,
The allegation by the senior Congress leaders Margaret Alva and Yogendra Makwana regarding the sale of party tickets have brought the functional dynamics of the Indian democracy into open, purportedly touted as the largest in the world.
Each ticket was supposedly sold at a premium of 80 lakh to 1 crore rupees. A cheap bargain described a witty scribe when he heard the rates and said in actual practice the price tag are much higher.
Will a Obama presidency be proactive on Kashmir?
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
When Chris Mathews, the host of the popular political show 'Hardball' on MSNBC, mentioned as a throwaway comment that Kashmir is one of president-elect Barack Obama's likely priorities, he unwittingly foreshadowed a potentially significant change in America's South Asia policy.
MCOCA and Malegaon bomb blast accused
By Mubasshir Mushtaq,
The ongoing twist-and-turn in the investigation of the Malegaon bomb blast of September 29 is stranger than a John Grisham novel. At this point of time, it may be difficult to say with certainty in which direction the investigation will lead to, but there are enough inputs and indicators to make an assessment.
Members of Hindu Rashtriya Sena protest outside a Nasik court where the accused were produced on November 15
Members of Hindu Rashtriya Sena protest outside a Nasik court where the accused were produced on November 15
Fighting Fascism
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
Last month, the New Delhi-based human rights' group Anhad, along with some 90 other organizations, held a two-day national convention on the theme, 'Countering Fascism: Defending the Idea of India'. It was attended by scores of social activists from various parts of the country. Predictably, it received hardly any mention in the so-called 'mainstream' Indian media.
Countering Fascist Forces
Countering Fascist Forces
Malegon to host National Integration and Communal Harmony week
By Aleem Faizee, Ummid.com,
Encouraged by the peace and harmony with which people of Malegaon live in the town Malegaon Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sudhir Raut is organising a week-long program focusing Communal Harmony and National Integration in the town.
The saffron brotherhood becomes a hydra-headed monster?
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swings between the conflicting positions of the present and former party presidents, Rajnath Singh and L.K. Advani, on the issue of "Hindu terrorism", the party cannot be unaware that it is dealing with perhaps the most explosive issue in its 28-year life.
India has to worry over New Zealand election result
By Balaji Chandramohan, IANS,
Both the Indian government and New Zealand's Indian community will be concerned that a conservative rightwing government has come to power in Auckland after general elections this month.
The elections heralded the National Party's John Key as the new prime minister, ending the left-of-centre Labour Party's nine-year government of Helen Clark.
What India should expect from Barack Obama, what it shouldn’t
By Girish Bhaskar, IANS,
As president-elect Barack Obama waits to take over the administration of the US, he faces daunting challenges on both the domestic and foreign fronts. The expectations both within and outside the country are very high. In his post-victory speech, Obama cautioned that change will take time. Some of his efforts may prove anti-climactic. People all over the world are expecting big things from Obama as he ran a campaign as an agent for change.
Terrorism: BJP sings a different tune now
By Mubasshir Mushtaq,
One does not know whether Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, September 29 Malegaon bomb blast accused, did 'sing' or she is made to sing but Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already chosen to sing a song. The singer is none other than a Singh who firmly believes that his ability to sing a song of 'cultural nationalism' will save his party. "Those who believe in cultural nationalism," said Rajnath Ram Singh, BJP president, referring to Sadhvi "cannot ever take to terror."
Muslims in introspection mode… now a fatwa on Dr. Zakir Naik
By Sadia Dehlvi,
Something good is happening in the Muslim world. A man with a half Muslim parentage will soon take oath to the highest office in America. The Malegaon blasts are being fairly investigated, something the community has been demanding. The possibilities of" Hindu Terror", are surfacing and being condemned by secular Indians, forming the majority of the country.
World Diabetes Day (14 November): Caring for children and adolescents with diabetes
By Amit Dwivedi,
The theme of this year's World Diabetes Day (14 November) is diabetes in children and adolescents. The global awareness campaign aims to bring the spot light on diabetes and highlight the message that no child should die of diabetes. It also aims to increase awareness in parents, caregivers, teachers, health care professionals, politicians and the common public regarding diabetes.
Celebrating Obama victory
By Niaz Hoda,
Although it has been few days after the historical US election outcome I'm still in awe and admiration for this great nation on earth. I have been religiously voting republican ever since I became naturalized citizen. I voted Republican because of their conservative agenda of family values. This is some what close to my personal beliefs.
Dr. Zakir Naik and the controversy
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net
Renowned Islamic scholar and preacher Dr. Zakir Naik angered a section of Sunnis and Shias by his statement to a private TV channel that a Muslim should seek help only from Allah and no one else, not even the Prophet.
Angered by his statement a section of the community reportedly approached the home minister of Maharashtra RR Patil and demanded a ban on the Islamic conference which he is organizing between November 14 and 24 in Mumbai.
Jehadis could target Obama with psychological warfare
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
President-elect Barack Obama's reputedly conciliatory approach towards international flashpoints can potentially open the door for psychological warfare against the United States by Islamic jehadi groups.
A conversation with K. Rahman Khan
By Nigar Ataulla for TwoCircles.net
“As Muslims and as people who follow Islam, A positive approach should be the motto of our life. Allah Almighty says again and again in the Quran that one should be positive. Negativity is not part of Islamic lifestyle or thinking. Muslims should think positively and be a vibrant community. We should work on the positive motto that we are here to lead, not to be led….” K. Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha.
This is not a credit crisis
By Mansoor Durrani,
Past:
When Mr Warren Buffet, the richest man in the world, called some financial instruments like the Derivates and Credit Default Swaps (CDS) ‘financial weapons of mass destruction’ over three years back, few of us took notice. The world economy was on the roll. European realty and financial markets were booming. US was winning ‘the war on terror’. And rest of the world was blindly aping this mirage called ‘American Dream’.
Obama and Mayawati: a Comparison in Contrast
By SR Darapuri,
It will be apt to mention in the beginning that a comparison between Obama and Mayawati (Dalit woman Chief Minister of UP state in India) is not very appropriate because there is a world of difference between their personalities and deeds. But some over enthusiastic followers of Mayawati have started comparing them and are spreading the dictum that "if Obama can do it why cannot she?" They have started projecting her as the future Prime Minister of India. As such it becomes necessary to make an attempt to make a comparison between Obama and Mayawati.
Has China finally shut the door on Dalai Lama?
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
The door has been peremptorily shut on the Dalai Lama's quest for a "middle path" peaceful solution to the over five-decade-old Tibet dispute with China accusing him of seeking "ethnic cleansing" across the region.
Importance of Surah al-Fatiha
By Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
November 11th being the birth anniversary of Maulan Azad, TwoCircles.net present a chapter from his monumental work, Tarjuman-ul-Quran
The Surat-ul-Fatiha is the first chapter of the Quran and is for that reason styled Fatihatul Kitab or the opening of the book. Because of its intrinsic value, it has been assigned a place of honour in the Quran and allowed to appear on the very first page of it. Indeed, the Quran endorses its importance in the following terms:
National partnership for TB care and control is shaping up in India
By Bobby Ramakant,
A national multi-stakeholder partnership for TB care and control is shaping up in India. Last week on 4 November 2008, representatives from a range of TB stakeholders participated in a day-long meeting at in New Delhi. The meeting was facilitated by the (IUATLD, The Union)'s India Resource Center.
India should soon replace Australia at the top
By Joseph Hoover, IANS,
There can't be greater joy than convincingly trouncing Australia in Test cricket, a game they have dominated since the 90s. That India has consistently and emphatically challenged the cricket superpowers, at home and away, manifests that Mahender Singh Dhoni's conquering legion has the potential, skills and determination to put Indian cricket on a higher pedestal.
Need to reform the madrasa system in India
By M. Burhanuddin Qasmi,
There is a famous idiom “bad news travels fast”, it clearly befits the false propaganda that Ulama have prohibited Muslims from learning English and modern sciences. It is a lie repeated over times by the propagandists to sell their agenda to the commoners.
Obama’s election demonstrates maturity of American democracy
By Madhu Yaskhi, IANS,
The victory of Barack Obama in the US presidential elections signifies once again the depth and maturity of American democracy. For a country which until the early 1920s didn't allow women to vote and had seen multiple suffrage movements to disband all restrictions on race, religion and property to exercise the right to vote, having an African American president is indeed revolutionary.
More police reform required in Rajasthan
By Maja Daruwala, IANS,
It's election time in Rajasthan again. Once more the hopefuls will make their promises. Once more the people will vote in the hope that this time the minimum guarantees of a peaceful life will come true. A good police system is central to making sure this happens. Making it happen has to be a bipartisan effort. What kind of policing is going to be in place over the next five years has to be central to election debates and promises.
Media support for Obama: US differs from India
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
A distinctive feature of the American election scene was the open editorial support given to Barack Obama by such well-known newspapers as Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.
This practice is peculiar to the US. The mainstream media in other democracies usually shy away from such endorsements of individual candidates. The reason for their disinclination is that a show of partisanship may undermine their reputation for impartiality and affect circulation.
Psychological impact of violence on Kashmiris
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
Twenty years of violence between Indian Army and Kashmiri militants has resulted in at least 20,000 deaths and 4,000 displaced, according to the government figures. But the toll is even greater in terms of psychological damage to the population. A recent study that looked at the psychological health found that a third of the study participants had contemplated suicide, a sign of extreme psychological distress.
With proper care, adolescents with diabetes can lead full and healthy lives
By Amit Dwivedi,
Diabetes has a unique impact on the lives of adolescents and requires constant monitoring of blood sugar levels, medication and balancing the effects of food and activity. . With careful management by diabetologists, nutritionists, and psychologists, and with support from parents, these young people can lead full and healthy lives. They can participate in sports and compete for jobs as effectively as those adolescents without diabetes.
How hyderabad police conspiracy failed to make Shoiab and Imran a “terrorist”
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net
Global recession: One of the several crises facing human society
By Dr Rahul Pandey,
I do not remember witnessing this kind of global panic in my lifetime. Among others, a lot of well off people are going to be directly affected by the current financial crisis, hence these high decibel alarm bells. Significant market values of high profile companies have been wiped out, rich individuals who invest actively in stock market have suffered devaluation, many companies have begun to fire employees and cut costs, and as bigger companies face slowdown, their smaller suppliers face greater threat to survival.
Anatomy of Sangh Parivar
By Ram Puniyani,
The arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in the context of Malegaon blasts of September 29, 2008 has been an important step in the investigation of bomb blasts which have been blowing the social peace and communal amity. Along with her the arrest of army officers, retired and serving, has unfolded the whole new dimension about investigation of acts of terror. The involvement of Bhonsala Military School has also come under the scanner of investigating agencies.
Hindu-Muslim unity through religion?
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
For democracy, all secularists agree, secularism is a must and unity in diversity in countries like India is possible only through secular polity. Religion, in secular democracy should be at best a private affair and religion should have no role as far as politics and affairs of state are concerned. And Nehruites also maintained that schools supported by the government should not teach religion and education should be strictly secular.
Zafarul Islam on community, politics, and media
By Yoginder Sikand for TwoCircles.net,
Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan is the President of the All-India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, a platform of several influential Indian Muslim organizations. He is also the editor of the New Delhi-based fortnightly Milli Gazette, one of the few English-language Muslim news magazines in India. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand he talks about terrorism in India, about how the media projects Muslims and what he feels Muslims should do in the current context.
Washington summit: Expect major showdown between US and world powers
By K. Subrahmanyam, IANS,
Whether it is the ASEM summit in Beijing or the G-20 meeting convened by President George W. Bush in his last weeks in office, it is obvious that the present global financial turmoil is recognised as being an international problem that needs to be handled globally in a cooperative manner. It is difficult to find a precedent for such a cooperative approach towards finding a global solution.
Economy not so bleak, but needs balancing act
By Sushma Ramachandran, IANS,
The economy seems to be looking up since last week with some positive gains for stock markets and moderation in inflation, giving the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sufficient confidence to take more steps to infuse liquidity into the system.
The cuts in the cash reserve ratio and the statutory liquidity ratio are expected to bring about an additional Rs.1,200 billion (around $25 billion) into the market. Hopefully this should pep up commercial banks to reduce lending rates and give a spur to demand growth.
It’s a transformational moment for America
By Carolyn Sauvage-Mar, IANS,
New Delhi : Americans love the idea of democracy, and argue all the time about what that democracy should look like. This election gives us a chance to settle the argument, for at least four years, about our vision of America.
I welcome the clear choice before us, as the imperative to change course is stark.
The mortgage meltdown and its impact on ordinary Americans and the global economy have dominated the news for weeks. But as bad as the economic crisis is, the Republican legacy does not end there.
Living on the outside: The impact of diabetes-related stigma
By Amit Dwivedi,
"Who will marry my daughter who has diabetes?" asks Ram Anuj, a native of Ganga Jamuni village, Bahraich district in India. Ram Anuj's 14 years old daughter Munni (name changed) has type 1 diabetes and needs daily insulin injections.
Maharashtra and Orissa: fit cases for President’s rule
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
If there is any justifiability at present in imposing President's rule on a state, it is in Maharashtra and Orissa. But governments at the centre have misused this constitutional provision so often in the past that the present regime lacks the moral authority to take the necessary step.
India’s first moon mission: Chandrayaan-1
By Hidayath Ansari
India launched its first mission to the moon – Chandrayaan-1 (Sanskrit for moon craft) – on Wednesday morning (October 22) from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota off the Andhra Pradesh coast. It has had a flawless week travelling through space so far (orbiting at an altitude of 267,000 kms as of Wednesday), and in another 10 days, it is expected to reach the moon's orbit to conduct several long-term studies related to the moon's surface and atmosphere.
Whither the light of democracy
By Shobha Shukla,
Deepawali is the festival of lights which is celebrated all over India . It marks the advent of the winter season and signifies peace and prosperity and the victory of truth over evil. This year's Diwali (it falls on 28th October) is a bleak one indeed.
Tomb, aerodrome and hospital in his name but few know about him
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: After his name is India’s one of the premier public hospitals in Delhi. An aerodrome in his name is also operational here. Only these two should have attracted people to know about him. But there is a grand mausoleum, among the last few from the Mughal era, where he is lying along with his wife. Yet very few know about him, least that he was prime minister during the Mughal period.
The Thackeray family’s dubious inheritance
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
The Thackeray family's parochial agenda has a long history. It all began with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's father, Keshav Sitaram, who was a member of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, the organisation which spearheaded the agitation for a separate Maharashtra in the 1950s.
Aamir of Shaheen Bagh could have met Sohrabuddin’s fate: expert
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Had the cops succeeded in picking the youth (Aamir) from Shaheen Bagh, the case could have gone the Sohrabuddin way, says filmmaker Shubhradeep Chakravorty who made the documentary “Encountered on Saffron Agenda” based on fake encounters in Gujarat.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Chakravorty said there is a striking similarity between the modus operandi of the Noida Police in Shaheen Bagh case and that of Gujarat Police in Sohrabuddin case and some other similar cases there.
AMU Old Boys Association or AMU Opportunist Boys Association
By Ehtasham Khan,
A few years back a friend asked me if I went to vote for the AMU Old Boys Association elections. The polling was very close to my house in Maharani Bagh in New Delhi. I was about to condemn myself for avoiding the democratic process. Worse still, I was not even a member of the association. And, hence, ineligible for voting. When all these thoughts were moving in my head, my friend added in the same breath: "Wahan goli bhi chali thi (there was a firing also)". Since then, I have kept my ineligibility intact.
Indian Muslims and ‘terrorism’: Some searching questions
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
It was Dhoni all the way
By Kersi Meher-Homji, IANS,
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has that magic touch; whatever he touches turns into victories.
Tamil Nadu ferment stuns Rajapaksa but war will go on
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS,
The sudden tumult in Tamil Nadu seeking an immediate truce in Sri Lanka has hit President Mahinda Rajapaksa where it hurts him most. But he is most unlikely to go for a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, regardless of what India may desire.
Until Tamil Nadu's DMK and its allies dramatically told the Congress-led central government to pressure Colombo to cease its military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by Oct 29, Sri Lanka believed it was on the victory lap, with no roadblock seemingly in sight.
Why the global recession is also an opportunity for India
By Prasanto K. Roy, IANS,
The near recession in the US and the global meltdown will, of course, have its impact on India's high-tech industry, as it is one of the greatest financial crises of our globalised times. But it also presents an opportunity for Indian services vendors to improve their market share, while forcing them to diversify and de-risk across sectors and geography.
Such absurdity on A Wednesday
By Shahrukh Alam,
On Wednesday, I met some young men from Dhule. I am not at all sure where Dhule is and I said as much to them. "There was some violence there. It has been in the news lately," they said. "Did any bombs go off in Dhule?" said I. "No bombs, no. But there was communal violence. It was on the news."
Shaheen Bagh kidnapping case: observations and questions
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
Strange thing about the Shaheen Bagh kidnapping incident is the behavior of the policemen who attempted to kidnap Aamir but even stranger is the behavior of Indian media covering this news. In this particular case UP police is guilty for many unlawful acts and media by not giving the attention it deserves did injustice to the citizens of India.
Next month’s polls will lead to Manmohan-Advani face-off
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
The next round of assembly elections in five states, and also possibly in Jammu and Kashmir, will be of high importance for all the political parties for they will set the tone for next year's general election.
Whichever of the two major protagonists - the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - emerges victorious in most of the states will have the advantage of stitching up the alliance led by it. The loser, on the other hand, may find that some of its allies and would-be allies are drifting away from it.
Ijtihad, freedom of expression and contemporary politics
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan,
(Translated by Yoginder Sikand)
Muslims today suffer from a bizarre sense of loss. Perhaps no other community faces this sort of predicament to the same extent. They have failed to make use of the myriad opportunities provided by modernity. One of these valuable opportunities is freedom.
Jamia residents’ anger on media spills over
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: The Jamia Nagar residents’ anger over the biased reporting by some sections of the media, particularly electronic media, on incidents beginning from the Batla House encounter burst out today at a public meeting in Jamia Nagar when some locals had scuffle with some electronic media people.
How secular is India today?
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
There is always a big gap between theory and practice, theology and history. Indian constitution, no doubt, is one of the best in the world. It is truly secular in spirit so much so it was secular even when word secular was not added to it until 1975 i.e. during emergency. If it were truly implemented India would be an ideal country to live in especially for minorities, both religious as well as linguistic.
India should strengthen its public distribution system to reduce food scarcity
By Sarika Tripathi,
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations has recently issued a report which reveals that currently there are 75 million (7.5 crore) people in the world who have fallen victim to famine and if the current crisis of price rise persists this count may reach the total of 920.25 million (92.25 crore).
Angered over Adilabad riots Muslims warns Congress of withdrawing support
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Angered over the communal flare up in Bhainsa in Adilabad district and frustrated over the failure and inaction of the state government, the Muslim leadership in Andhra Pradesh has put the ruling Congress party on notice.
The Muttaheda Majlis-e-Amal (United Action Committee), comprising of all the major Muslim organizations in the state, after discussing the communal riots in Bhainsa and Vatoli, which claimed ten lives, directly blamed the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and the Home Minister K Jana Reddy for the situation.
Cry, my beloved Mangalore
By Maxwell Pereira, IANS,
The first holocaust for Mangalore Catholics happened in 1784 at the behest of Tipu Sultan. Following his defeat by the British in the first battle of Mangalore, Tipu's wrath had turned on the local Christian community, in the belief that it was their aid and support to the British that cost him his battle.
A train and a resolve: Symbols of hope for South Asia?
By C Uday Bhaskar, IANS,
History was made in South Asia last week by two seemingly different but yet inter-connected events that could become symbols of hope in a region that has been blighted by terrorism and discord for well over a decade.
Muslims of Assam
By Md. Khurshid Ahmed,
The historical backgrounds firmly prove the arrival of the Ahoms and Muslims as invaders in the first half of the thirteenth century CE. Muslims from the west started entering Assam in 1206 few years before the invasion of the Ahoms into the state in 1226. The only difference between the two is that the Ahoms could lay down permanent empire but Muslims failed to establish their rule prosperously. Muslims yet, could conquer some portions in Assam and administrated them temporally. Since that period Muslims began to settle over the region.
Dealing with terrorism
By Abdul Rashid Agwan,
Terror trail is taking toll of human lives city after city. It is now affecting the entire country and becoming almost an indomitable threat to human lives, communal relations, economic progress and even political stability of the country. This calls for civil society, administration, media and law enforcement system to come up with some tangible solution.
World food scarcity and the challenges of climate change and bio energy
By Shobha Shukla,
'Rarely has the World Food Day assumed greater meaning than in present times, as rapidly rising food prices risk increasing the number of hungry in the world,' according to the Food And Agriculture Organization (FAO).
India weighing political impact of tough economic decisions
By Sushma Ramachandran, IANS,
The tsunami like financial crisis engulfing the globe has flooded India as well, virtually drowning the stock and currency markets. The response of the Indian government has so far been somewhat slow. It has set up a committee to study the problem of liquidity as late as Friday, while the central bank has yet to announce a cut in interest rates.
Registration of marriages: A necessity
By Dr. Md. Faiyaz Khan,
India is a signatory to the convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women Which was adopted by U.N. General Assembly in 1979 and ratified on July 9th, 1993. Under this convention India agreed in principal that compulsory registration of marriages was highly desirable, nevertheless, she expressed reservation by stating that to go in for compulsory registration like India with its variety of customs, religions and level of literacy.
World Financial Crisis: Lesson form Islamic Economics
By M. Fahim Khan,
No doubt, riba (interest, usuary) and maysir (gambling, speculative activities similar to gambling) are the major factors leading to the current financial crisis. Islam's prohibition of Riba and Maysir along with Islamic values and morals, and recognizing others' interest in one's economic fortunes, if adhered to, could not have lead the world to the present day financial crisis. Keeping individuals and Society free form financial and economic crises can clearly be seen as one of the objectives of such institutions.
Azamgarh Muslims should turn a new page
By Kaleem Kawaja,
THE PAST:
The city of Azamgarh in eastern Uttar Pradesh was founded in 1665 on the banks of river Tons during the reign of Mughal emperor Shahjahan by Azam Khan, son of Vikramjit, a Rajput Hindu landowner who converted to Islam. Being a primarily rural and agricultural town, Azamgarh district and its villages remained peaceful and were not involved in any of the wars of the era.
India’s nuclear deal – and two worldviews
By K. Subrahmanyam, IANS,
Now that India and the US have formally inked the 123 civil nuclear cooperation agreement and sealed another pact with France following the Sep 6 waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), it is time to look at the fierce debate on the issue in this country with some detachment.
Birds of a feather: Prakash Karat and Mamata Banerjee
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
If Prakash Karat is honest with himself, he will see the similarity between his opposition to the nuclear deal and Mamata Banerjee's scuttling of the Nano automobile project in Singur in West Bengal.
Both the general secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Trinamool Congress president were guided by the interests of their respective parties to the exclusion of all other considerations.
Rs 180 crore- that is the annual earning of beggars in India
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Do you know how many beggars are there in India and what is their collective annual income? How much a beggar spends on his food and where the remaining money goes?
An interesting study by a Hyderabad based sociologist Dr Mohammed Rafiuddin has come up with some interesting and incisive details about the beggars and problem of begging in the country, especially in Hyderabad.
Praja Rajyam makes foray in to MIM stronghold in old Hyderabad
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
After the left parties, the CPI and the CPIM it is now the turn of the Praja Rajyam party of film star Chiranjeevi to attempt a foray in to the old city of Hyderabad, traditionally the stronghold of Majlis-e-Ittheadul Muslimeen (MIM).
Brushing aside the perception that old city was un-breach able for any party other than the MIM, Chiranjeevi's younger brother and Telugu actor Pavan Kalyan made a whirlwind visit through the parts of old city.
Madrasas and allegations of extremism
By Maulana Waris Mazhari,
(Translated by Yoginder Sikand)
Madrasas are a characteristic feature of Muslim societies the world over. They serve as centres for religious and moral instruction. As in other democratic countries, in India, too, all religious communities, including Muslims, are allowed by law to establish such institutions. Thus, there are many Hindu gurukuls in the country, in addition to which are the vast number of centres run by the RSS, where, in contrast to madrasas, training in the handling of weapons is openly given.
Narayana! Narayana!! Prescription by India’s ‘terror experts’!!!
By Sampathkumar Iyangar,
Whatever be the continually sliding rank of India is in indicators like human development index, there can be no dispute that it ranks high in number of 'experts'. Thanks to 'expert' legislators and bureaucrats who usurped control as the British gladly vacated the no-more-lucrative colony, India enjoys top rank in terms of number laws, their total length, antiquity as well as rate of proliferation of new laws.