Monday, June 30, 2008

FREE TIBET


LIGHT A CANDLE FOR TIBET

A global facebook campaign may have millions lighting a candle for Tibet and Freedom on the eve of the Olympics in Beijing.
This is the plan for freedom even as the Dalai Lama's envoys leave for Beijing for the seventh round of talks!

Add to your symbolic message, be proactive and take some effort to write letters to you states men and those in power who can make change. Everyone please read this, if everyone puts in the effort, it can show that change must happen!

Now you can make a difference!
***************************

7/8/2008 at 9 pm WE WILL UNITE OUR LIGHT!

Candle For Tibet is a non-profit, non-violent grassroots campaign that has the aims of helping in the process of Freeing Tibet and to support the value of freedom to all mankind.

We aim to create a unique moment on Thursday 7/8/2008, when at least 100 million people from all over the world will light a candle and say YES to freedom in Tibet and in other parts of the world.

On the day following this global event, we intend to issue letters to every head of state in the world to tell him exactly how many people from his country wish Tibet to be free. We will also demand that each one of them will act for the freedom of Tibet.
We will also issue letters to the general secretary of UN, the government in Beijing and other global organizations with data on global participation.

Join the web site today and make a difference!
http://www.candle4tibet.org/

CFT has started in facebook, but now has presence in Xing, Ning, MySpace, Decayenne, ASW, Bebo, Orkut, InterNation and more.

The center of operation for the campaign is in its own web site: http://www.candle4tibet.org/

The web site is fully multilingual and was already translated by volunteers from all over the world to 20 languages.
--------------------

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Lessons from American History



History Mystery or Strange Coincidents

By email

Have a history teacher explain this----- if they can.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
J= ohn F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was= elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 19= 60.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wi= ves lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presi= dents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head
=
Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln 's secretary was named Kenned= y.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln .

Both were assassinated by Southerner= s.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Joh= nson, who succeeded Lincoln , was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who suc= ceeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wi= lkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln , was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Osw= ald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins we= re known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen lette= rs.

Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theat= er named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln ' made by '= Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid i= n a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran a= nd hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before thei= r trials.

And here's the kicker...

A week before Lincoln wa= s shot, he was in Monroe , Maryland
A week before Kennedy was shot, he = was with Marilyn Monroe.

Creepy huh? Send this to as many people as you can, cause:
H= ey, this is one history lesson most people probably will not mind reading!

Friday, June 27, 2008

33 years of the National Emergency

25 June 1975:

The Most Sordid Day in Independent India

By Rama Reddy

Hyderabad: We, the elite in the social, political, economic, educational and cultural fields of our country, are happy with the environment in which we live, as long as the boat in which we are sailing is not rocked. When our boat is sailing smoothly, we do not think of the less fortunate who happen to be sailing in rickety boats. Our sole objective is to see that our boat does not face rough weather.

Such "sole" objective is dangerous.

Indira Gandhi's sole objective was to see her progeny - initially Sanjay Gandhi and later Rajiv Gandhi - occupying the office of the prime minister. Every move, political or otherwise, of hers was meant to serve the "sole" objective of hers.
Most dynasties, in world history, were able to reach such objective in tragic circumstances. The Indira Dynasty was no different. Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister under tragic circumstances that were the result of Indira Gandhi's "sole" objective and of several steps she had taken in pursuit of her "sole" objective.

The tragic and inevitable end of the lives of Indira, Sanjay and Rajiv seem to have no message for us - the elite of this country. I have least hesitation in stating that the sole reason for Indira Gandhi to impose EMERGENCY on 25th June 1975 was the relentless pursuit of her "sole" objective.

Sonia Gandhi's sole objective to see Rahul Gandhi in the prime ministerial seat may be natural for an individual (particularly, for a mother) or for a group of individuals (particularly, the sycophants), but it is certainly unnatural and alien to the democratic ethos.
Sonia, Rahul and their sycophants have become an unconstitutional, yet powerful, centre of power vis-a-vis the union cabinet. It is an unhealthy trend with immense potential for undermining the democratic process of governance that the people of this country have chosen.

The politics and governance of a country have all-pervasive impact on the market and the civil society of that country. Therefore, an unhealthy practice in politics and governance will have adverse effect on the society at large. The game Sonia and Rahul are playing is not enlightened self interest; it is outrageous selfish interest.

In this political environment, one cannot expect macro-level policies that can be converted into productive micro-level activities. One such macro-level policy is the "Mega Loan Waiver" for a segment of the farming community. The disastrous effects of the "Mega Loan Waiver" will surface very soon. However, very few are in a position to visualise the long-term effects of this national-level policy decision. We are not in the habit of doing such analysis.

We, the elite, are certainly incapable of learning lessons from history. Yet, there is an exception; no politician, however powerful she or he might be, can ever dare to imagine imposing EMERGENCY. In a way, we are fortunate.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Sam Maneckshaw passes away


Remembering India's War Hero

SAM MANECKSHAW - A SOLDIER ALL HIS LIFE

By Manuwant Choudhary

I remember meeting Sam Manecksaw at the Indian Merchants Chamber more than a decade ago but his remarkable glint in his eyes I can never forget so on his passing away I wish to remember him.
On behalf of the Afternoon Despatch & Courier in Bombay I covered his talk on leadership as a cub reporter and I can never forget the way he looked at each one of us in the ante-room of the IMC and then said, "Do you know what makes a leader?"
We stared at him.
"A long nose."
Sam Maneckshaw pointed towards his own nose and then he looked back to a marble bust of Nehru (who also had a rather long nose).
And then he said, "Even Mrs. Indira Gandhi had a long nose."
And I would like to share with you that Mrs. Gandhi wanted us to liberate Bangladesh a year before we actually did. "I told her you don't poke your nose in my affairs and I will not poke my nose in yours."
Maneckshaw said the Indian army wasn't ready then.
Mrs. Gandhi relented and gave Manecksaw time to prepare while she herself built a moral position for India amongst the international community.
But I remember I asked him did he think Mrs. Indira Gandhi was a good leader.
And with a mischievous smile he said, "She made me Field Marshall."

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

INDIA'S MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT CONVICTED FOR MURDER- GETS LIFE TERM



WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A GUN

THE UGLY FACE OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY

By Manuwant Choudhary

Surajbhan Singh, a Member of the Indian Parliament from the Lok Jan Shakti Party, is convicted for murdering Rami Singh, resident of Mathurapur, on January 16 1992. Held guilty by the Begusarai court Suraj Bhan gets a life term after 16 years of committing the crime.
And this judgement comes because it is being tried by a `fast' track court.
However, such is the crime scene in Bihar that last November the public prosecutor in the case Ram Naresh Sharma was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen at his residence, some allege he was murdered at the direction of Suraj Bhan Singh.
Suraj Bhan Singh's journey from the badlands of Bihar to the Indian parliament is the real story but for the people in Bihar he is just a terror.
Todays Times of India reports how this verdict indicates the weakining of the criminal-politician nexus when it should instead be reporting how criminals in Bihar have become politicians. Who are the leaders and which parties have promoted criminals into politics and once they join rival parties then they use the long arm of the law to place them in prison.
One Mokameh resident told me that Suraj Bhan was an ordinary person herding his buffaloes in the countryside and his entry into the crime world was due to a few murders but then there was no looking back.
He evaded arrest for many years and finaly surrendered. Journalists in Patna said he surrendered only because he had a health problem and wanted treatment under full state protection, which he got.
My encounter with Suraj Bhan happened when I joined NDTV in 1999.
There were assembly elections due and I was assigned to interview a dreaded criminal Rama Singh in Hajipur jail who was contesting the elections.
But whe I arrived at the jail the prison superintendant was sitting at his residence. When I asked him for permission to interview Rama Singh I was told only the District Magistrate could give the permission. But Laloo Yadav was in town and the DM `saheb' was busy chasing the leader.
So I went to an open prison window and asked a person that I want to meet Rama Singhji. He said, "Aur Munnaji se nahin mileyega'. (Would you not want to meet Munnaji?
I had not heard of Munnaji but I asked him whether Munnaji too was contesting the elections. And I was told he was. So I said I would meet Munnaji too.
Soon my name was sent on a slip and word came that I be allowed to enter the prison.
Inside weak jail staff put the customary stamp on my hand and the I was led into the jail superintendants office.
A man in white trousers and T shirt and sports shoes with legs on the table, talking on the cellphone and smoking gestured me towards a chair.
"Main Munna hoon".
Munna Shukla, charged with murdering a Bihar minister Brij Behari Prasad.
A full interview and then hesitatingly I asked him that I wanted to meet Rama Singh too.
He replied, "Haan mere bade bhai is standing behind you." My big brother is standing behind you.
A man in kurta-pyjama and bandi was standing behind with folded hands smiling.
I interviewed Rama Singh too.
Both won the elections.
Its that election that had made another criminal enter Indian politics - Suraj Bhan Singh.
He was in Beur jail along with another criminal MLA Rajan Tewari.
As I approached the window where the duo were standing in front of their supporters, I asked them to put colour on their faces as I wanted a photo opportunity. There was a deathly silence.
I then realised that Suraj Bhan was the `Bhaiji' (Big Brother) and how could a Rajan Terwari apply `abeer' (powdered colour) on him.
But suddently Suraj Bhan's big rough hands with full colours reached out and was about to apply colour onto my face.
I stepped back.
Only to hear disapprovals from his supporters behind me. Arre bhaiyyaji se abeer to lagwana hee padega they threatened.
I took the middle path, because I still wanted the interview without offending the sensibilities of the crime king.
So I asked Suraj Bhan to apply a tika on my forhead but nothing more as I am against the practice of playing with colour.
He understood.
My interview was over but I never forgot this man in Beur jail. His face was rough, somone whom you would get scared of if you saw him at night. But more than that for me he represented the ugly face of Indian democracy.
How could such people get elected?
When I followed this man I realsed he could never have won an election without the support of Nitish Kumar's Samata Party, which chose not to field a candidate against Suraj Bhan.
And once elected Suraj Bhan returned the favour - he supported the Nitish Kumar government for the seven days it lasted.
Nitish then as union railway minister gave Suraj Bhan and his men big railway contracts. Money means power and Nitish clearly knows that.
Of course, Laloo Prasad is also a patron of criminals enetering politics in Bihar. Laloo's man in the region was Dilip Singh and some say Nitish chose Suraj Bhan to defeat Laloo's goons.
But now Dilip Singh's brother Anant Singh is a bigger terror and he is with Nitish.
All this is very confusing but in Bihar just as one doesn't know anything if one cannot understand caste, it is equally important to know which criminal is on whose side.
Anant Singh recently attacked journalists and NDTV reporter Prakash Singh was brutally assaulted and held captive for daring to ask him for an uncomfortable interview.
And Anant Singh continues to get state patronage and protection.
Some say that in most of the cases against him no witnesses have dared testify against him.
Bihar's major politicians Laloo, Nitish and Ram Vilas Paswan all believe in promoting criminals into politics. As for the communists the less said the better.
If Guantanamo Bay prison is infamous for cruelty to prisoners Patna's Beur jail can be an example of what prisons can become when the state has disappeared.
Prisoners here generally decide whether they want to eat out, visit home or even stay at the Patna Medical College Hospital.
And they even organise dance shows at the hospital in full media presence.
In Bihar prisoners stay there out of their own will.
Even when the maoists stormed the Jehanabad prison and `rescued' hundreds of their colleagues, a majority chose to stay back.
Recently, the main accused Uday Choudhary in the IIT engineer Satyendra Dubey murder case `escaped', for a second time, from police custody in a Patna court. He is still traceless.
The first time Nitish became chief minister in the seven days the only file he signed on was to release a massacre accused on probate. The man never returned.
And a few days ago a Block Development Officer Arvind Kumar Mishra was killed at his official residence. His anguished wife Puja had just this to say, "Nothing has changed in Bihar."

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Royal Republics 2


NEPAL SHOULD ELECT A KING

BUDDHA'S FATHER WAS AN ELECTED KING

By Manuwant Choudhary

You may be wondering what I mean by Nepal electing its King but yes that is exactly what I mean. Even as Nepal's deposed King Gyanendra vacates his Narayanhity Palace today and ends the 240-year-old dynastic rule of the Shah's I am suggesting that Nepal elect its new monarch.
The new monarch will not be Gyanendra again or his son Paras or even the warrior Maoist Prachanda...the new King of Nepal could be anyone...any ordinary citizen of Nepal could be elected as King through a national vote like the US Presidential elections.
Except that the elected person will be called a Raja or King and not a President and he will be allowed to live in the Narayanhity Palace for a fixed term or a life term!
The Maoist proposal to convert the palace into a museum is not the best option. What is a palace without a living King? Imagine a Buckingham Palace without the Queen? Or the White House without the US President?
I am not a royalist when I sugest this rather a democrat and I feel that Nepal would be losing one of its best institutions plus a tourist money-spinner in the royalty.
I have no desire to visit a Narayanhity museum to see the hall in which King Birendra and his family were senselessly and mysteriously massacred.
I have no desire to meet Nepal's new President either or Prime Minister.
But yes as a foreign tourist a king still facinates maybe because they are already a dying breed.
I also believe most ordinary people in Nepal had a genuine respect for their erstwhile royal family and for the past hundreds of years they worshipped their Kings and Queens as they would worship their gods.
From shops to homes to temples the Kings presence could be seen and felt.
In cinema's in Nepal one had to stand up at the start of the film to respect the King.
There was no compulsion. The Nepalese would do so happily and would be proud to their culture.
So when I say Nepal should elect a new King I am being very democratic.
Some would argue that there is no precedence of electing a King.
And I would like to tell them of Minoo Masani a great Indian liberal who was also a member of India's constituent assembly and a freedom fighter.
Minoo Masani left a tremendous influence on me. He was the first person I ever interviewed even before I decided to become a journalist. But I respect Masani for many reasons but mostly for him sharing his prespectives on history and politics.
Masani preferred to write children's books. His first book for children `Our India' written in pre-independent India became an instant best-seller. As a sequel to that he wrote `We Indian's' in the eighties. And in it Minoo Masani tells us that the President of the Republic was elected by the people and he was called a `Raja'. Some states were so democratic that they actually refused to elect a king or even ministers so when Alexander the Great invaded India they had to send 100 to 150 representatives for negotiating treaties!
Masani also writes that Buddha's father was an elected King!
The King was usually elected only for his own lifetime.
And on coronation day the samiti sang songs in honour of their new king.
"This state to thee is given for agriculture, for well-being, for prosperity, for growth.
Firm as the heaven, firm as the earth, firm as the universe, firm as the mountains, let this Raja of the people be firm.
For firmness the assembly here appoints you."
But yes if the King betrayed the trust of his people he could also be sacked!