Founding Editor: Daya Varma (1929-2015)
Editors: Vinod Mubayi (New York) and Raza Mir (New Jersey).
Editorial Board: Ram Puniyani and Irfan Engineer (Mumbai); Pervez Hoodbhoy (Islamabad); Dolores Chew (Montreal); Vamsi Vakulabharanam (Amherst); Ajay Bhardwaj (Vancouver).
Circulation/website: Feroz Mehdi (On behalf of Alternatives, Montreal).
IS GUJARAT DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF INDIA?
Daya Varma
The decisive victory of Narendra Modi-led BJP in the December 2007 Assembly elections in Gujarat may well be a harbinger for India unless democratic forces unite to demonstrate that a Hindu Rashtra is not only dangerous to Muslims but to Hindus as well.
FRIGHTENING EXPANSION OF RSS NETWORK IN AMERICA
Daya Varma
The report “Unmistakably Sangh: the National HSC (Hindu Student Council) and its Hindutva agenda” released by the Campaign to Stop Funding Hate (CSFH) reveals frightening the expansion of Hindutva influence in the second generation Indian in America. (www.stopfundinghate.org.)
ORISSA: ANTI CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE
Ram Puniyani
Gladys Stains, whose husband and two sons were torched to death around a decade ago by Bajrang Dal (an RSS affiliate) appealed to Indian Prime Minister to ensure peace in Orissa, center of anti-Christian violence in the Adivasi area at Christmas time. The BJP is part of the ruling coalition in Orissa., and those involved in the vandalism are part of some or the other organization directly affiliated with the RSS. Punyani argues that anti Christian violence is in the continuation of RSS agenda of Hindu Rasthra.
PAKISTAN: OUR REAL RULERS
Dr Mubashir Hasan
(Dawn, Jan 15, 2008)
Pakistan is not ruled by presidents, prime ministers and chief ministers but by a combine of civil and military services which are self-governing, self-perpetuating and independent institutions with the support of the USA.
ELECTORAL PARTIES AND SECULAR VALUES
Ram Puniyani
The adjective ‘Merchants of Death’, was a bold characterization of Modi/BJP politics in Gujarat. Punyani argues against comparing BJP and Congress notwithstanding many weaknesses of the latter.
COMMUNAL RIOTS 2007
Asghar Ali Engineer
The author recounts all communal riots in India in 2007, which he painstakingly monitors year after year. They seem widespread and often incited by minor disputes.
BANGLADESH: DILEMMA OF DEMOCRACY
G. M. Quader
Despite a noble preamble to the Constitution, Bangladesh continues to slide into autocratic sectarian rule due to a continuous downslide of values in our political culture and a gap between political parties and the people.
SRI LANKA: TIME FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION
(Asian Center for Human Rights –ACHR- Review, Jan 09, 2008)
The killing of Sri Lankan Minister DM Dassanayake and LTTE’s Political wing chief S P Tamilselvam and Intelligence wing chief “Colonel” Charles and the formal withdrawal of the Norwegian brokered Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) has plunged Sri Lanka into a war of attrition.
BENAZIR BHUTTO
Asghar Ali Engineer
Benazir Bhutto was the first Muslim woman Prime Minister in the entire Islamic world. She met a violent death, like her father. We may not agree with her policy, but we greatly admire her grit and courage. She fought her way through the male dominated world of politics.