The invention of communal ill will
Memories of conflict become long-term sectarian hatred only in very special circumstances, writes Tapan Raychaudhuri Refugees coming to India from Pakistan,1947 Professor Muhammad Habib, in his brilliant essay on Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, concluded…
Where is the beef? Indian books edited
The Washington Times, Shaikh Azizur Rahman, June 22, 2006CALCUTTA -- References to the beef-eating past of ancient Hindus have been deleted from Indian school textbooks after a three-year, high-pitched campaign by Hindu hard-liners.Hindus revere cows,…
Security tightened for Taslima
Statesman News Service KOLKATA, June 23: Security for Taslima Nasreen has been tightened since yesterday following a threat issued by the imams of several mosques and some city-based fundamentalist organisations. They have said they “would…
Militant nationalists need an enemy in order to…
The Hindu nationalists in India fail to realize that the unity that they wish to ensure is most threatened when it is pressed on others in a provocative manner. If history has any lessons, it…
Army shortchanging women officers
Rahul Singh, Hindustan Times, New Delhi, June 22, 2006The army would like you to believe that there is no gender bias within its ranks. But its lady officers have a different story to tell. They…
Right to an adequate standard of living :…
Statement by Mr. Miloon Kothari, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, to the World Urban Forum III (19-23 June 2006) in Vancouver ( Source:…
India backs 'strong, effective' Human Rights Council
By Indo Asian News ServiceGeneva, June 20 (IANS) India has called for making the newly constituted UN Human Rights Council (HRC) 'a strong, effective and efficient body' where 'a new work culture of cooperation' will…
VHP / Bajrang disrupt Orissa tribunal
MGThe Indian People's Tribunal on Communalism in Orissa organized by the Indian People's Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights (IPT) held primary investigations during June 11-14, 2005. Persons from Hindutva organizations, like the Bajrang Dal,…