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     COMMUNAL RIOT IN UDAIPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN –

 POLICE ENACTS GUJARAT

     by asghar ali engineer  

 

    Secular Perspective SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2010

 

I have before me the PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberties) Report on Communal violence in Sarada Village, Udaipur after a murder of a Meena tribal which was purely of a criminal nature. The PUCL team consisted of senior advocate Ramesh Nandwana, Vinita Srivastav, a lawyer, Arun Vyas, Shyam Lal Dogra, Shri Ram Arya, Hemlata, Rajesh Singh and Rashid. Sarada village had witnessed communal incidents a couple of years ago also.

According to the Report, on 2nd July, one Shehzad Khan and two of his associates murdered Mohan Meena, who was dealing with illegal alcoholic substances during a fight while drinking the said substance. Subsequent to this the Adivasis began setting Muslim shops on fire from 3rd to 5th July. These Muslims had nothing to do with the murder. And on 18th July Amrut Lal Meena, a local BJP leader from and resident of Boripal and others of his colleagues said that their major goal was destruction of Muslim  Read more

WORKSHOP ON “WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT – REVISITED”

The Workshop on Women Empowerment – Revisited was conducted jointly by Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai and Indian Social Institute, Bangalore on the 1st and 2nd July 2010 at the ISI, Bangalore.

The Inaugural function began at 10.30 in the morning.  The guests on the dais included Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Dr. Vasundhara Mohan, Fr. M.K. George & Mrs. Nina Nayak.

Ms. A. Sagaya Shanthy, the Co-ordinator of the women’s Unit of ISI welcomed the guests and gave insight into the purpose of the workshop.  She said that the main aim of the workshop is to revisit the empowering process, as empowerment seems more of a financial empowerment.Read More

Interfaith Dialogue on "Role of Religion and State in Reforms"

An Interfaith dialogue on Role of Religion and State was organized by CSSS jointly with Institute of Indian Culture,   at Institute of Indian Culture, Gyan Ashram Complex, Mahakali caves Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai on 25th June 2010. The welcome note was given by Ms. Ritu Pathak Programme Executive of CSSS, where she mentioned about the need to organize this interfaith. She welcomed the guests after which, Dr Asghar Ali Engineer gave the keynote address, where he mentioned about the importance of the topic and said that there is need for reforms in religion and that can be brought out by us. He gave various examples of reforms brought out during the British period like sati practice, child marriage etc. he also cited various examples from Quran which mentions that it is right based for women and duty based for men. Read more

 Lecture on “Kerala Model of Secularism”

 

CSSS organized a lecture in Calicut, Kerala in collaboration with new setup Forum for Communal Harmony on “Kerela Model of Secularism” on 24th May 2010. It was presided over by Munnawar Ali Thangal.  Dr Asghar Ali Engineer was the chief Guest and the key note speaker. He spoke at length on History of Islam in Kerala and how it entered peacefully unlike in the north. The oldest mis-give is found in Kerala which was built by one of the Companions of the Prophet. He also said that the population of Kerala is well balanced between Christians 20%, Muslims 20%, and Ezhavas 40% and rest are Nairs and Namboodiries upper caste.  This by itself ensures peace and communal harmony. There have been no major riots in Kerala state. He also said that another reason for this is cultural integration, all Muslims Christians, Hindu speak same language wear same dress and each share same food, Music and Dance.

Another speaker was Prof Narayanan a noted Historian of Kerala. He threw light of Kerala’s past history and said there have been no conflicts between Hindu rulers and Muslim Rulers in Kerala. They fought together against foreign invaders. There were 200 participants, Social activists, Scholars, NGO representatives, political leaders etc.

    Seminar on "Sixty Years of Secularism and Pluralistic Democracy in India"

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism jointly with Gandhigram University, Dept. of Political Science organized a two day National Seminar on Sixty Years of Secularism and Pluralistic Democracy in India on 27th and 28th April 2010 at YWCA International Guest House, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. There were 18 papers presented on various aspects of evaluation of secularism in India. Eminent speakers like Mr.N.Ram (Editor-in Chief, The Hindu), Dr.Asghar Ali Engineer (Chairman, CSSS), Prof. K.N. Panikkar (Chairperson, Kerala Council for Historical Research) on the directions and problems that surfaces the Indian Secularism and a long discussion on minority problems. The proceedings of the seminar would be brought out in the book form.

Dr.Asghar Ali Engineer delivered the keynote address at the seminar and also in one of the sessions he elaborately discussed the problems of minorities in a secular society and also the thread to Indian secularism. Read More

   Workshop on "Women Empowerment"

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism in collaboration Committee for Right to Housing organized one day Community Workshop on Women Empowerment on 29 March 2010. The CSSS Research Department entirely coordinated the progamme and the lectures delivered were by the researchers of Department. The topic discussed were Education and Time Management by Mr. Anwar Hussain,    Rights of Muslim Women and their Problems by Ms. Shazia Shaikh and Political Participation of Women  by Ms. Minal Mhatre.

   

Youth camp on "Awareness and Sensitization"

Centre conducted a three day youth camp on ‘Awareness and sensitization’ programme in Mumbai at St. Pius College from 23rd to 25th March 2010. The interesting feature of the three day workshop for the youth was that of varied activities like Peace March, Elocution competition and cultural songs. Participants were there from Pune, Bangalore and Madhurai, which also include foreign nationals from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

All though the participants felt that there should have been an empirical survey to some nearby conflict zone; it could not be done because of paucity of time. The academic lectures on conceptual frame work of Human Rights, Gender Issue, role of youth in civil society and also international ethnic conflicts were discussed. The students thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and all participated in the all three day.

 

 

 ACTIVITIES, NEWS AND EVENTS

 

1) Workshop on Women's empowerment, July 1-2, 2010

2) Interfaith Dialogue on Role of religion and state in reforms, 25th June, 2010

3) Seminar on 60 years of secularism and pluralistic democracy, 27-28th April 2010

4) Youth camp on Secularism, communal harmony, peace and role of youth in Society...

5) Community Workshop on Women Empowerment, Juinagar, Navi Mumbai...

6)  Seminar on "Cultural Diversity and Nation Building". Jan 30, 2010...

7) Workshop on inclusive democracy, secularism and communal harmony on Jan 4-8, 

    2010...

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