Dear Lolly ,
Thank you for your communication . This is an ongoing dialogue which is vital
and necessary for the country .I sat through the interviews of the General
V.K.Singh Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Air Staff Naik , noting that
they painstakingly explained the priority role of the Armed Forces , echoing in
an intelligent way what a Bench of the Supreme Court firmly told the Attorney
General : " You cannot be at war with your own people ...........where is the
development ........all that you are saying is the use of security forces
......."
The two Chiefs explained the issues so well that Vishnu felt that it was no
longer necessary for him to articulate the position when organizations urged
him to come to New Delhi , as he said that his views were so well known on the
Armed Forces who are there to protect the sovereignty and security of the
people in all situations not to endanger their lives and livelihood . Even
before the interview of the two Chiefs , Admiral Tahiliani had firmly taken the
same position in a public meeting held in New Delhi .
I have seen so much which I thought I would never see , the shaken
citadels of financial centres functioning as the world's rapacious money
lenders , that I have no doubt that we are on the verge of a breakthrough for
human society .Though all attempts as of now are on the cards to derail that
process including the extension of war to new regions and even the possibility
of a nuclear attack .
I am presently reading an inspiring book about the Sarhad Gandhi ,
the Frontier Gandhi , Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan , titled " A Man to Match His
Moutains " and the famous movement which he led of his Red Shirts the Pathans
for freedom where the only violence was perpetrated on them by colonial troops
. Yet interestingly I heard many years ago a first person account of an officer
who related how a famous regiment deployed by the British had refused to fire
on this movement .In 1962 Amnesty declared him the Prisoner of the Year when he
was jailed by the government of Pakistan . Following communal pogroms in India
when he came to visit India as a State guest , he openly said that you should
know that these are strategies to divide the weaker sections of society .At
such times one needs the inspiration of giants of our history .
This was one of his messages :
" I have one great desire .
I want to rescue these gentle , brave patriotic people from the tyranny of the
foreigners who have disgraced and dishonoured them .
I want to create for them a world of freedom , where they can live in peace ,
where they can laugh and be happy .
I want to kiss the ground where their ruined homes once stood , before they
were destroyed by savage strangers.
I want to take a broom and sweep the alleys and the lanes , and I want to clean
their houses with my own hands.
I want to wash the blood from their garments .
I want to show the world how beautiful they are , these people from the hills,
and then I want to proclaim : SHOW ME , IF YOU CAN ANY GENTLER, MORE COURTEOUS
, MORE CULTURED PEOPLE THAN THESE ".
As of now Lolly this is what I feel about our own Indigenous people being
called all kinds of names and about the peasantry and agricultural workers
among others ......I have walked for miles in my childhood and as an adult in
the vast tribal heartlands of Maharashtra . My father as a Civil Servant had a
show down my years ago with a Minister for Forests who desired that the police
should be deployed to clear the Adivasis from forest tracts . The Chief
Minister , Yeshwatrao Chavan, a freedom fighter who had led an underground
movement against British Rule , intervened to protect the tribal people and
supported the note which said that the forest areas were a part of the
community lands of the Tribal people , the question of dispossessing them did
not arise the need was for special development projects in these areas
respecting their knowledge of forestry . I know of no people more cultured
than these and completely non -violent. I also believe that natural justice
awaits those who destory their homes and habitats thereby destroying the
ecological foundation of South Asia and India . which justice the Metropolitan
cities will not escape as this in turn will affect their lives and their urban
habitat .Unlimited greed is incompatible with human civilization and with life
itself .
Niloufer Bhagwat
----- Original Message -----
From: Lollyramu Ramdas
To: [email protected]
Cc: NILOFER BHAGWAT ; vbhagwat
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: [humanrights-movement:2509] ONLY ONE VIEW POINT...........
WENEEDA BROADER DIALOGUE ONALTERNATIVE STRATEGY FOR BALANCED AND
JUSTECONOMICGROWTH AND PROSPERITY
Dear Nilofer,
What can one say - except that you are spot on in what you write and thanks
for forwarding this excellent piece by Himanshu.
For a start - these are the kinds of things that need to be read and pondered
by a larger audience of socalled `people like us'.
And ofcourse, sitting with people like Sagari and Madhoo here in Hyderabad -
interacting with some amazing tribal leaders whom they work with and have built
capacity in over the past two decades - further confirms the analysis that you
make, that Himanshu offers, and even casual vistors like Arudhati point out so
powerfully.
The challenge is to make our arrogant leadership sit up and listen before we
are overtaken by a blood bath.
Love to you both
Lolly
On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 2:45 PM, Niloufer Bhagwat <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Colleagues ,
For those who have not read this impassioned address
from Himanshu Kumar who like Dr.Binayak Sen has worked
in the region , I am forwarding the article .It is valid to understand
the ongoing debate to which many have contributed,who have
knowledge of the region and have lived and worked in the region .
1. It is this very affected region which saw the brutal murder of an
unusual trade unionist Niyogi( wholly dedicated to unorganized workers )
organizing the unorganized in mines among others , to access to minimum
wages and health facilities, all perfectlyconstitutional activity , by
hired agents
of business houses and coal mining mafia by a hired mercenary, as per he
facts
ofthe case presented by theProsecution after Police investigation on
behalf of the
State to the Sessions Court and all the way put to the Supreme Court by the
CBI .
2.Yet ,we have to understand that self annihilation by continuous
confrontation with Para military/police officers of the State is not a
wise political strategy,even if state violence on a large scale has been
imposed . There have to be alternative political strategies and linking
up with other movements andcauses to ensure overwhelming political
support for the Indigenouspeople whose lands and resources are supposed
to be protected not only by the Constitution of India , statutes in
different
regions ,but also by the Resolution on the Indigenous territories and
resources
passed by the United Nations , observance of which is mandatory .
3.Political isolation , is what has been imposed on the affected regions,
by creation of so called Tribal states to better exploit them , so as
to deprive the people in the so called "Tribal belt", the advantage
of linking up with diverse political movements for renewal of the Indian
economy and political democratic space to prevent the strengthening
of the voices of those who seek development for all ,including in the
tribal
and peasant belt . It is necessary for the political leadership in these
areas to break out from their isolation.
4.In the name of carving out tribal states ,the better to indiscriminately
expropriate mineral , land and water resources there is a predatory
approach
of land seizure of community land ,allied with corrupt political cabals
signing
MOUs , insteadof a well conceived plan for overall development which will
have as its
objective the removal of abject poverty with a satisfactory human
development
index and a balanced ecological and industrial plan for the affected
regions,
making use of the local resources in a measured and balanced policy with
support to agriculture ,forestry and industrial development using mineral
resources sparingly so that they are not depleted and do not upset the
ecological balance or poison the region . This objective requires among
other strategies an overwhelming mass movement which tilts the
balance in favour of development for all instead of MOUs only for
a few.
5.There is now a discussion all over the world on what
"Malignant development and growth " are all about ,
which destroys vast areas ecologically and many are questioning
the hitherto paradigm of development without balance and regulation
ignoring the needs of people who must always be at the core of any
developmentpolicy .For the first time economists, ecologists and scientists
all over the world are expressing the view that the dominant system with
its concept of growth without limits poses a danger to the planet
earth our common home itself .
6.In Punjab even as food grains were rotting in the open , it was
liquor which was stored in the warehouses and godowns evidence
of the priority of the ruling elite all over the country .
7.It is necessary and urgent to prevent the ongoing Americanization of
Indian democracy and the financialization of the Indian economy , we have
seen that the US economy is in total collapse with Sovereign Debt Default
facing the US , UK among other G 7 countries .
8.This is the time to raise the issue what kind of development , for who ,
with what priorities, even while understanding that Industrialisation ,
manufacture,and even rational exploitation of mineral wealth benefiting
the regions where these resources are found are not antagonistic to
enriching areas of agricultural prosperity , while simultaneously
preserving
and developing biodiversity , forestry with assistance from tribal
populations
who have a rich store of knowledge about forestry and agriculture which
will
otherwise be lost to human civilization.
9. The knowledge which exists in rural India and in the forest belts is
a valuable storehouse though most in urban India do not value it .
10.We need power , industrialization and mineral resources but not
in a manner so as to inflict displacement and refugee status for millions
and decimation of once agriculturally rich regions and verdant forest cover
.
It is possible to harmonize industrialization with agriculture , forestry
and
fisheries by creating a stake for local communities in these projects.
11. Every Indian needs a stake in India 's growth and development ,
a stake which will only come with participation at the local
and other levels of decision making for growth, linked with
economic and social justice and democratic decision making
in economic policy .Turning agriculture and forests into deserts
is not the way to increase industrialization and manufacture .
12.We have outstanding experts in our country on agriculture , land
reforms , food security , sustainable development , industrialization,
agro-industry and balanced mineral exploitation so as not to deplete
reservesand harm the ecology ; we need to take their advise to construct
a manifesto with the objective " Prosperity for All" .....beginning
with those who are presently below the poverty line taking the
assistance of those entrepreneurs who themselves are honest
enough to understand , that islands of affluence and indecent
wealth will be swamped by floods of poverty, disease and
degradation .
13. A distinction must be maintained between entrepreneurs
who are constitutionalists who will not stoop to violence
and desecration of community land and resources and those
who openly support political violence and seizure of resources .
14.This is the 21st Century , time to realize and propagate
that human povertyand degradation are not god made,
but man made and man has the intelligence to rationally
reorder the consumption and distribution of resources .
What are people are immediately seeking are
not planes and private yachts , just livelihood, basic
housing ,reasonable food prices ,public health facilities
and education to the utmost of one's ability .Is this too much
of an aspiration , then what is the Constitution of India , a
manifesto of our Freedom Movement all about ?????????
15. On one aspect there can be no compromise and that
is the financial control of the economy must at all times
be in public hands which includes the Bank and financial
institutions and that instruments of production and finance
are subject to regulation in public interest . That just
as there are no Princely houses democracy cannot
co-exist with Corporate domination and control of government .
16. While being ready to struggle for justice let us widen
our support base to those who believe that democracy
must extend to economic and social policy and to the justice
system . It cannot be limited to the electoral process
financed by special financial interests .Without political education
and transformation of our inner selves and an intelligence and
compassion to convert even some of our worst enemies , the road
will be even longer and littered with the lives of the innocent.
As Brecht the famous writer said"Man Can Think "
Indiscriminate violence by the State and by the victims can
never be the only strategies .Every movement requires
critical mass of support .
With solidarity and Greetings ,
Niloufer Bhagwat
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Ramu and Lalita Ramdas
`Lara' - Ramu Farm
Bhaimala Village
P.O.Kamarle,
Alibag 402201
Raigad Dist, Maharashtra, INDIA
Phone: 0091-2141-248711
Fax: 0091-2141-248733
Cell: [L] 0 9422495315
Cell: [R] 0 9860170969
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