ACHA PEACE BULLETIN http://www

ACHA PEACE BULLETIN http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACHAPeaceBulletin

A publication of Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) www.asiapeace.org

Editor: Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D.

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ACHA PEACE BULLETIN-Volume V, No. 8, August 6, 2003, (Next issue September 3, 2003*)

*Please note that I will be on vacation August 19-September 20. Therefore, the September issue will be sent on August 18 – Pritam Rohila

Words of Wisdom

Editorial

Let There Be Peace In South Asia!

Peace & Harmony News From & About South Asia

Peace & Harmony Organizations

Asiapeace

Coalition For Peace And Harmony

Insan Foundation Pakistan

Movement For Secular Democracy

Alternate Solutions Institute

Bombay Sarvodaya Friendship Center

South Asia Group For Action And Reflection

Association Of Pakistani Physicians Of North America

Jahangirnagar University Sangskritik Jote

Feature

               Guarding Hope: Muslim Keeper Of Hindu Temples, Monideepa Banerjie, July 22, 2003

               It’s Not Just Noor Fatima, Munnoo Bhai, Daily Times. July 20, 2003

Letters

                    Need To Discard The Baggage, Khurram Chaudhry, Karachi, Pakistan

Awards

The Citizens' Award 2003, Pakistan

2004 Martin Ennals Award For Human Rights Defenders

Books, Reports, & Manuals

Partition and Genocide: Manifestation of Violence in Punjab 1937-1947, Anders Bjorn Hansen

The Tragic Partition Oo Bengal, Suniti Kumar Ghosh, Indian Academy Of Social Sciences

Prisoners of the Nuclear Dream,  M.V. Ramana And C. Rammanohar Reddy (Eds)

Rethinking the National Security of Pakistan: The Price of Strategic Myopia, Ahmad Faruqui

Performative Politics And The Cultures Of Hinduism: Public Uses of Religion in Western India,

Compounding Injustice: The Government's Failure to Redress Massacres in Gujarat, Human Rights Watch Unbecoming Citizens: Culture, Nationhood & the Plight of Refugees from Bhutan

We Are Making Changes: A Handbook for Young Asian Women, Asian Women Unite!

The Peaceful School: Models That Work, Hetty Van Gurp

Freepakistan Newsletter

Calls For Papers

Journal Of Bangladesh Studies

Patterns Of Prejudice On Religion And Extremism

Journal Of Peace Education

Children

Conferences & Symposia

September 6-10, Praia, Cape Verde: Women, Peace and Safety - Women's Human Rights

September 19-21, Oxford, UK: Critical Issues in Pluralism

Courses & Training Programs

September – November: 15 Online Courses

September 15 - October 15, Delhi, India: Peace and Conflict Studies Course

September 29 – December 5, San Diego, CA USA: Women Peacemakers

Documentaries, Films & TV Series

TV Series - Gender Watch (Pakistan), Sachet

Godhra Tak: The Terror Trail, Shubhradeep Chakravorty

Gujarat: A Laboratory of Hindu Rashtra, Suma Josson

Environment

Fellowships & Internships

Scholar of Peace Fellowships

Human Rights

Peace Events

August 15, India: White Ribbon Campaign for Peace

Sep 8-Oct 2, India: From Darkness to Light - Through Reason, Plurality & Togetherness

September 12, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA:  The First Annual Interdependence Day

September 21: United Nations International Day of Peace

Petitions

                    Protection of Places Of Worship

Vacancies

                    Washington, DC Grants Office: Seeds Of Peace

Websites

                    Http://Gandhiserve.Org

Women

REPORTS & ANALYSES

(For a copy send a blank email to pritamr@open.org with its subject as the UPPERCASE word in the article title. Please limit your request to 3 articles)

Communalism

BLAH, blah, blood, Rajmohan Gandhi, The Hindustan Times (India) July 4, 2003

History

The other SIDE of history, Mohammad Badrul Ahsan, The Daily Star, July 4th, 2003

India

Secularism Fairness on TRIAL in India, Editorial, LA Times July 3, 2003

The SOCIAL engineering of Gujarat, Hemant Babu, Himal, May 2002

India-Pakistan Relations

Partition's unresolved BUSINESS, Harris Khalique, The Hindu, Oct 06, 2002

KARGIL: A View From America, Geoffrey Cook PakistanWeekly, 2002

The India-Pakistan ODYSSEY, By Imtiaz Ahmad, The Hindu, July 3, 2003

A JOURNEY towards tomorrow, By Kuldip Nayar, The Dawn, July 5, 2003

Indian delegation leaves for HOME, The News International (Pakistan), July 14, 2003

Pakistan

The minorities in our MIDST, Hafizur Rahman, Dawn, 2 July 2003

RADICAL Muslims Killing Muslims, Zahir Janmohamed, Washington Post, June 25, 2003

Religion

The Kanchi trinity: temple, mosque & a BUST of Periyar, Shekhar Gupta, Indian Express

Women

Judgement against FORCED marriage, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Daily Times, 6 July, 2003,

WORDS OF WISDOM

War does not determine who is right – only who is left - Bertrand Russell

EDITORIAL

*Let There Be Peace In South Asia!

On Sunday, July 20, 2003, in cooperation with other organizations, Peace Café (http://peacecafe.net) invited Jews and Arabs worldwide to reach one another, in their own communities, “in a new spirit of face-to-face listening, compassion, and creativity to rise above alienation at home and in the Middle East.”

In USA, on September 12, Democracy Collaborative (www.civworld.org/day.htm) will organize the First Annual Interdependence Day, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to provide an opportunity for “civic renewal and global cooperation” in “the post- September 11 world.”

Peace One Day (www.peaceoneday.org) urges the involvement of organizations and individuals from all over the world in commemorating September 21, as the United Nations International Day Of Peace, “a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.”

In a similar fashion, we at ACHA propose that the year 2004 be celebrated as the Year of Peace in South Asia.

We urge you to organize, in their own communities, events, activities, projects designed to promote peace, tolerance and respect for diversity among South Asians –Bangladeshis, Bhutanese, Indians, Nepalese, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans everywhere.

You can create a gathering - a picnic, concert, dinner, walk, or whatever they imagine, with time for listening and relating, in a home or public place in your town.

Please send ACHA your suggestions, proposals, plans and reports in this regard to me at pritamr@open.org We will feature them all on our website www.asiapeace.org and or in the future issues of ACHA Peace Bulletin.

Pritam Rohila

Editor

PEACE & HARMONY NEWS FROM & ABOUT SOUTH ASIA

(Readers are invited to submit similar information from other areas of South Asia to help us broaden of our coverage. Please send the info to pritamr@open.org , a week before the date of publication of the next issue of ACHA Peace Bulletin)

*Bangladesh & India

India and Bangladesh decide to resume road links between Dhaka and Agartala

While direct bus service between Dhaka and Kolkata continue, a similar service between Dhaka and Agartala, the capital of the northeastern state of Tripura, will begin in the first week of August, according to an agreement reached between India’s foreign minister Yashwant Sinha and his Bangladeshi counterpart Morshed Khan, meeting in Dhaka, on July 16. Also they agreed to increase trade and communications and attempt to ease tensions on their border. No agreement could be reached on a free trade agreement, trans-shipment of Indian goods through Bangladesh, and tax-free access for Bangladeshi goods in India. (Reuters, via India west, July 25, 2003)

*India

NHRC moves SC seeking Best Bakery retrial http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/31best.htm

Religious amity wedding

Ajay and Manisha of Chandigarh, Punjab couple got married July 20 at a wedding held at Panchkula that included Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Christian rituals to set a “unique example of brotherhood.” (PTI, via India west, July 25, 2003)

Govt extends ceasefire in Nagaland by another year

"We had very good but tough discussions. Both sides have agreed to extend the ceasefire by another year," Centre's emissary K Padmanabhaiah said after three days of talks with NSCN (I-M) General Secretary T Muivah. http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/jul/17naga.htm

Lord Shiva 'cures' Ahmed

Trudging a long narrow rocky path, Sarwer Ahmed joined endless stream of pilgrims, heading towards the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva at Amarnath in south Kashmir after he completely recovered from paralysis after being bedridden for 14 years. Dressed in a dhoti and chanting Jai Bolay Nath, Jai Shiv Shanker, the middle class Muslim businessman accompanied by his wife Abida were the part of first batch to pay obeisance at the holy ice 'lingum' of Lord Shiva. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/15jk3.htm

India to attend SAARC summit in Islamabad http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/10pak1.htm

24 journalists in first bus to Lahore

Indian officials expect many Pakistani journalists in the first bus that will reach Delhi from Lahore on Friday evening. http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/jul/10bus.htm

Pak High Commissioner presents credentials

Aziz Ahmed Khan met President A P J Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/10pak.htm

*India & Pakistan

Paradise wakes up

Every time India and Pakistan take a step towards peace, Kashmir blossoms.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/29sld1.htm

Terrorism should stop: Fazal-ur-Rehman http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/25pak1.htm

Jamali to meet Vajpayee before yearend

The Pakistani prime minister in an interview with The Nation said he had no apprehensions about visiting India or to meet his Indian counterpart anywhere in the world.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/25pak.htm

India eases visa rules for sick children

NEW DELHI, July 24: India announced on Thursday the easing of visa rules for children from Pakistan seeking medical treatment. New Delhi has also decided "at this stage to finance travel, stay and medical treatment" for a group of 20 ailing Pakistani children, the foreign ministry said. The announcements came during talks between Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha  and Pakistan's new high commissioner to India, Aziz Ahmed Khan, foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

http://www.dawn.com/2003/07/25/top8.htm

India to fund travel, stay and treatment of 20 Pakistani children

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/24pak.htm

Let us resume train service: Pakistan http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/24train.htm

Pak airspace to be opened to India: PIA chief

Tourism Minister Rais Munir said train links between the two countries will be restored next month.

http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/jul/23pak.htm

Pakistan condemns attack on Vaishno Devi pilgrims http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/23pak1.htm

Rehman meets VHP chief Dalmiya

Talking to journalists after the meeting, they said only ways and means to achieve durable peace in the sub-continent were discussed. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/21pak1.htm

We want peace in South Asia: Rehman

His host, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, had organised a lavish dinner in his honour in Delhi's Le Meridian Hotel, which was attended by about 150 persons, including Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and former Union minister Ram Jethmalani. http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/jul/18pak2.htm

Positive developments between India, Pak: Menon

The Indian envoy said he would be meeting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokar informally on Thursday to discuss the normalisation process initated by the two countries in the past three months.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/16pak3.htm

India, Pak should have own roadmap: Jamali

The Pakistani prime minister agreed with India's approach of a step-by-step process for dialogue.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/16pak1.htm

Pakistan parliamentarians on goodwill trip to India

The trip will help promote understanding and realisation that all issues between the two countries can be settled through a dialogue, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam said.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/15pak1.htm

 Indian envoy leaves for Pakistan

'If we want the dialogue process to continue, we also need to build a proper atmosphere,' Shiv Shankar Menon said before leaving. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/15pak.htm

Noor's father sets up fund for kids

The Rotary Associates will manage the fund, which is meant for Indian and Pakistani kids with heart ailments. http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/jul/16noor.htm

Pakistani baby treated in India

Indian doctors successfully perform open-heart surgery on a baby girl brought to India after the resumption of ties. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/3067251.stm

Peace buses deliver loved ones http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/11bus2.htm

India, Pakistan team up on court http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/jul/11bopanna.htm

Pakistan ready to help India on gas pipeline: Kasuri

In an interview to All India Radio (AIR), Mr Kasuri said Pakistan supported business relations with India. He also expressed happiness over resumption of the Lahore-Delhi bus service and hoped rail and air links between the two countries would be restored soon.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-7-2003_pg7_4

India ready to discuss Kashmir: Sinha

In an interview with an Indian daily, Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha on Sunday said his country was ready to discuss the Kashmir issue and normalize relations with Pakistan.



Pakistan ready for talks: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India

In an interview to Voice of America (VoA), Aziz Ahmed Khan said on Sunday Pakistan was ready for talks with India on all issues including Kashmir. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-7-2003_pg1_3

India, Pakistan agree over SAARC summit"

http://www.hindustantimes.com/2003/Jul/10/181_303608,00050002.htm

"New Delhi, Islamabad discuss repatriation of 217 Pakistanis"

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-7-2003_pg1_6

India, Pakistan keen to boost trade ties http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/jul/07indopak.htm



Pak team seeks better access to Indian market http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/jul/07indopak1.htm

Pak calls for composite talks

Pakistan believes that a peaceful environment is imperative for the promotion of meaningful economic cooperation, High Commissioner-designate Aziz Ahmad Khan said.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/07pak2.htm

Pakistan agrees to resume Delhi-Lahore bus service from July 11

New Delhi had suggested this date for resuming the service

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/07pak.htm

"Indian students arrive on goodwill visit" http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_4-7-2003_pg7_37

*Kashmir

New Jamaat chief wants end to all forms of bloodshed, denies ruling out third party mediation

Srinagar, Jul 30: Speaking about the current armed struggle in the state, the newly elected Amir of Jamat-e-Islami Syed Nazir Kashani today said he wanted an end to all forms of bloodshed. Kashmir Global Network, KASHNET Digest 1185 August 1, 2003

Dr Goodwill: Kashmir loves this pandit

Even at his Jammu clinic, Dr Razdan says 80 percent of his patients are Muslims from

Kashmir. 'This has never made me feel that I have left my home in Srinagar.'

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/25spec1.htm

Fazlur Rehman meets Jethmalani

The Pakistani hardline religious leader and chief of Jamait-Ulema-e-Islam said the talks were aimed at finding a 'negotiated and durable solution' to the Kashmir problem.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/19pak1.htm

Hurriyat not against Simla Accord

As per the Simla Agreement, all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan should be treated as bilateral ones, while the Hurriyat has been insisting that it be made a party to talks to resolve the Kashmir problem. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/19jk.htm

Hindus in village had no temple, so Muslims built one

Ichhigam, Budgam, July 9: Deep in the Kashmir Valley, 30 km from Srinagar, and just metres away from their own mosque, nine hundred Muslim families constructed a Sharika Bhagwati (Hindu) temple, and even donated money and parted with land and trees, for just eight Hindu families living in Ichhigam.

Village elder Haji Hakeem Ghulam Mohammad, who heads the local wakf, was the moving spirit behind this. ‘‘They wanted to construct a temple. They told us about it and we were more than willing to help our neighbours,’’ he says. ‘‘We have lived together for generations here and there was never any distance. Even the turmoil did not harm this bond.’’

‘‘They have always been helpful. When things went wrong and scores of Kashmiri Pandits left, the Muslims encouraged us to stay back. They stopped us, helped us when we felt scared, took care of our agricultural lands and orchards. They have always been there for us,’’ says 60-year-old Brij Nath Bhat. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=27323 July 10, 2003

95 per cent people in PoK district favour independence from Pakistan

The Daily Excelsior has reported that over 95 per cent of people in a district of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) favour independence from Pakistan. According to a press release issued by the All Parties National Alliance (APNA), in a survey carried out in the Rawalakote district, over 95 per cent of people favoured independence rather than accession to Pakistan. APNA, reportedly an amalgam of various political parties in PoK, had earlier announced that it would be holding a phased survey in all districts, including areas like Gilgit and Baltistan. Daily Excelsior , July 7, 2003.

*Nepal & India

India, Nepal agree to exchange intelligence http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-7-2003_pg4_15

*Pakistan



NWFP governor bans carrying arms in Waziristan

PESHAWAR: Addressing a tribal jirga at Shawal, the border area of North Waziristan Agency, the governor said the ban was necessary to improve law and order and protect life and property. Appreciating the "patriotism" of the Shawal tribes, he said the government had deployed the army in tribal areas to protect tribal people and check illegal cross-border movements from Afghanistan. He also thanked the tribesmen for cooperating with the army. Daily Times, August 02, 2003

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_2-8-2003_pg7_4

Terrorists ruin Pakistan's image: Musharraf

He said such attacks by extremists negated his attempts to get the travel advisories lifted against Pakistan.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/05pak.htm

*Sri Lanka

South Asian church leaders discuss regional peace and security

Enthusiasric about the possibility of reopened peace talks between India and Pakistan, South Asian Church leaders discuss how churches can help build peace and stability in the region at the first of its kind consultation organized by the World Council of Churches, August 2-4, in Colombo. (India West)

Sri Lanka peace proposal offers Tigers power share

The government has offered the Tamil Tiger rebels a power sharing Provincial Administrative Council for the north and east in a proposal aimed at restarting peace talks, according to a The Sunday Times report July 20. The Council will have wide powers (except policing, security, land and revenue) and a majority members nominated by the Tigers. (Reuters, via India west, July 25, 2003)

Lanka grants citizenship to over 1.5 lakh Indians: PTI

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan government has decided to grant citizenship to some 168,141 people of Indian origin who had obtained Indian passports to return home, but could not travel for various reasons since 1983. Another 84,000 people of Indian origin born in Sri Lanka after year 1964 will also qualify for Sri Lankan citizenship, officials  said. The New Indian Express, July 11, 2003

UNICEF to rehabilitate child soldiers in Sri Lanka"

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-7-2003_pg8_5

PEACE & HARMONYORGANIZATIONS

*Asiapeace, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/asiapeace

Moderator: Ishtiaq Ahmed Ishtiaq.Ahmed@statsvet.su.se

Asiapeace, an affiliate of Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA), www.asiapeace.org condemned the dastardly attack on a Shia mosque in the Pakistani city of Quetta on 4 July, 2003, in which 45 innocent worshippers were slain and many more injured. This senseless outrage was preceded by another vicious attack on Shias some weeks ago in which 15 individuals were killed. Asiapeace urged the government of Pakistan “to act resolutely to weed out terrorism in all forms from its midst.”

*Coalition for Peace and Harmony, 6-3-1219/1e, Umanagar, P.O. Begumpet, Hyderabad, 500016, India

In a statement issued on 17 July 2003, the Coalition urged for an amicable solution of the Ayodhya mandir-masjid dispute, which is fair and just, will strengthen the rule of law and is acceptable to secular and constitutional India. It expressed total opposition to any legislation to take over the disputed and undisputed sites for temple construction, and recommended a judicial determination of the dispute, however long it may take.

The Coalition is a group of concerned citizens and organizations, whose objectives are the preservation of our national democratic and liberal values and the plural culture of India.

*Insan Foundation Pakistan (IFP), 160, A-3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan, Phones 92 42 5174076, 5175275, Fax 92 42 5179885, Web: www.insanpk.org, email insan@insanpk.org

Insan Foundation Pakistan (IFP), a non governmental voluntary organization working for the rights of children and peace has initiated a project entitled “National Education Project on Peace and Harmony” aiming at to sensitize educational institutions on the issue of peace and subsequently involve them in spreading out the message of peace at mass level by involving school going youth and other sections of society. Main objective of this program is to orientate the teachers on the issue and need of peace and harmony and bringing the youth in mainstream struggle for their rights and peace

*Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), c/o Narmad-Meghani Library, Opp. Natraj Railway Crossing, Mithakhali, Ellis Bridge, Ahmedabad-380006, Gujarat, India. Tele/Fax: - (079) 6404418, E-mail: dnrad1@sancharnet.net

On July 10, 2003, more than 800 women and men formed a human chain on Nehru Bridge, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to demand reopening of the Best Bakery case. Earlier, at Sardar Baug, a meeting on the issue was held, which was addressed by Ilabehn Pathak, Swaroop Dhrub, Rajani Dave, M Gandhin, and DwarikaNath Rath. Also communal harmony songs were presented by young volunteers.

*Alternate Solutions Institute, Lahore, Pakistan asinstitute@hotmail.com Contact Person: Khalil Ahmad khalilkf@hotmail.com

Alternate Solutions Institute is Pakistan’s first free-market think tank. Its mission is to seek solutions to the challenges in the areas of economics, law, education and health in accordance with the principles of classical liberalism, and to promote the implementation of these solutions. It aims to promote the concept of a limited responsible government in Pakistan under the rule of law protecting life, liberty, and property of all of its individual citizens.

To achieve these ends, the Institute will engage in the translation and publishing of relevant texts from other languages into Urdu; preparation of original research, suggesting particular solutions to particular challenges; and conducting seminars, workshops and conferences to educate interested students, teachers, and journalists in the principles of classical liberalism.

*Bombay Sarvodaya Friendship Center, Friendship Building, Kajupapda Road Kurla, Mumbai 400072, India. Telephone 28513660, Email danielm@vsnl.com & jhang45@yahoo.com

The group has been working on the issue of Communal Harmony in Mumbai slums, especially in Dharavi. Apart from intercommunity programs on National days and intercommunity celebration of festivals they regular screen films giving the message of communal harmony. One such film, Ham Sab Ek Hain, (We are all one) has been made by Mr. Waqar Khan, a basti activist himself, who along with Bhau Korde is the key person conducting these programs. So far nearly 30 shows of the film have taken place. They also plan to broaden this work by undertaking film screening in other Bastis and also by incorporating other films as well.

*South Asia Group for Action and Reflection (SAGAR), 6921 Creekside Rd., Downers Grove, IL-60516; (630) 964-2258, hlamba@aol.com. Contact persons: Harinder Lamba and Dinesh Sampat.

Started in the early nineties by a core group of people of South Asian origin (including Dr. Naved Musharraf, brother of the current Pakistani President), SAGAR promotes dialogues and actions in favor of
political, economic, environmental and social alternatives that will improve the region as a whole, promote harmony among the nations of South Asia (special efforts for India-Pakistan amity) and among South Asians living abroad, and encourage alternative visions and strategies that will help India to prosper so that
it can provide the leadership to help the region to prosper."

*Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA). Acting Executive Director: Rizwan Keratela, , 11242 Edgewater Circle, Wellington, FL 33414. Tel: 561-333-9406.

Dr. Amit Shah and Gautam Desai, peace activists of Indian Origin were invited share their views on peace in South Asia, at the annual convention of APPNA, held on July 4, 2003, in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Shah is a member of the governing body of American Association of Physicians of Indian descent (AAPI). Mr. Desai is co-founder and President of Develop-in-Peace (DIP) developinpeace@yahoo.com , a Charlotte, NC-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace in South Asia. He is also a Senior Co-ordinator of Association for India's Development(AID).

Also, Dr. Pervaiz Hoodboy a noted, South Asian nuclear scientist and peace activist, currently Professor at the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan showed an engaging 35 minutes documentary "South Asia under the nuclear shadow," which is documentary is banned in Pakistan.

*Jahangirnagar University Sangskritik Jote (JUSJ), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Starting August 2, a four-day 'cultural programme against fundamentalism and communalism' organized by JUSJ began with a musical soiree at the university amphitheatre. Also the Jahangirnagar Theatre staged '2nd August' on the first day and 'Trijogmiti' on August 3. On the third day, a musical and recitation programme was held at the foot of Amar Ekushey. On the last day, 'Sei Rater Kotha Bolte Esechhi', a documentary, and 'No Man's Land', a film, were shown at the amphitheatre. The Daily Star [Bangladesh] August 01, 2003

FEATURE

* Guarding Hope: Muslim keeper of Hindu temples, Monideepa Banerjie, www.ndtv.com, July 22, 2003

At a time when temples and mosques are in the middle of controversies, a Muslim resident of Pathra village in West Bengal (India) has made it his life's mission to preserve a cluster of ancient Hindu temples in the area.

For a decade, he has managed with a meagre grant from the Centre. Had it not been for Mohammed Yeasin Pathan, the terracotta bricks from an 18th century temple would have been propping up some thatched roof in Pathra village with its exquisite terracotta statues vandalised beyond repair.

This is one of 34 that Pathan -- a peon at a local school -- has been fighting to save from the elements and vandalism for the last 30 years.

"Many temples have broken and the poor people of this area have taken away bricks to build their houses. We have formed a Pathra Archeological Preservation Committee and at least managed to stop that," said Pathan.

In 1995, Pathan received a central grant of Rs 20 lakh to restore the temples. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) chipped in with its expertise.

Since then, the ASI has been planning to take over the temples and is apparently trying to rope in the tourism ministry's support for the project.

"He is fighting for a big cause. Particularly being a Muslim, his dedication to the protection of our cultural heritage, particularly of the Hindu temples, really, is praiseworthy," said Dr Bimal Bandopadhyay, ASI, Kolkata.

CONTENTS