Gandhi memorabilia to be auctioned in New York

MPs urge Gandhi sale intervention


Gandhi's simple lifestyle inspired a generation of Indians
A number of Indian MPs are calling for Mahatma Gandhi's personal possessions, due for auction in New York next month, to be returned to India.
Mahatma Gandhi's spectacles, which he once said gave him "the vision to free India", a pair of his sandals and his pocket watch are among the items.
MPs across Indian parties have said that all efforts should be made to retrieve the possessions.
Auctioneers have put an estimate of £30,000 ($42,000) on the items.
Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York will stage the sale on 4-5 March.
'Worldwide interest'
The BBC's Paddy Clark says Gandhi holds a unique status in India as the leader of the independence movement against British rule and the planned sale of his personal effects has created some concern.
One minister suggested the government should enter the auction and buy the items, which he described as part of India's heritage.

MPs say all efforts should be made to retrieve the articles
Mani Shankar Aiyer told the Times of India: "It would be a pity if these items were to pass into private hands abroad and leave India bereft of an important part of his legacy."
Former Speaker and Shiv Sena MP Manohar Joshi told the paper: "The persons who own these articles should be contacted to see if they are willing to give them to India, perhaps for a price."
The auctioneers say there has been worldwide interest in the sale, particularly as Gandhi's ascetic philosophy meant he had very few personal possessions.
They think the items could go for much more than the estimate.
In 2007, India managed to obtain another piece of Gandhi memorabilia - a manuscript of an article he wrote - after persuading the auctioneers to withdraw the document from sale.
Gandhi's modest lifestyle - epitomised by his simple white robe and few possessions - helped to inspire a generation of Indians to peaceful resistance against British rule in the 1930s.
The glasses, sandals and watch, along with a bowl and plate, are owned by an unnamed collector and all have letters of authenticity.
Gandhi presented the spectacles to Indian army colonel HA Shiri Diwan Nawabin in the 1930s, after he had asked the great leader for inspiration.
The Zenith pocket watch, made in about 1910, was given to Gandhi's grand-niece, Abha Gandhi, who was his assistant for some years.
Gandhi was pictured wearing the pocket watch and it is expected to be the highlight of the auction.
The bowl and plate were also gifts to his grand-niece.
The sandals were given to a British army officer in 1931 before talks in London about Indian self-rule.
Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, aged 78, by a Hindu radical. Source

School Principal, Thomas Malancheruvilla, arrested for disrespecting the National Anthem

ABVP activists ransack missionary school over national anthem
2 Feb 2009, 1703 hrs IST, PTI

BHOPAL: Protesting against the alleged insult to the National Anthem in a missionary school in the Govindpura area of the city, Ahkhil Bhartiya

Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers today created ruckus in the school by indulging in violence, police said.

The ABVP workers staged a demonstration before the school for allegedly insulting the National Anthem during the Republic Day function on January 26.

As the ABVP activists indulged in ransacking the school property, police cane-charged them to disperse from the spot and arrested nearly 15 of its workers, Bhopal Superintendent of Police (SP) Jaideep Prasad said.

Police also arrested the school Principal, Thomas Malancheruvilla on the issue of allegedly disrespecting the National Anthem, the SP said.

Two Godhra Accused Gujarat ministers declared absconders

Gujarat ministers declared absconders
3 Feb 2009, 0323 hrs IST, TNN

AHMEDABAD: Minister of state for women and child development and higher education, Maya Kodnani, and a senior VHP functionary Jaideep Patel on

Monday filed for anticipatory bail before the city sessions court after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court to probe the 2002 riots, sought to arrest them.

Kodnani, who is also a practising ophthalmologist, has filed two bail pleas — for the Naroda Gaam and Naroda Patia cases in which all 95 persons were killed after the Godhra carnage. Patel has filed for bail only in the Naroda Gaam case. Both the leaders had been evading arrest for the last one week, said investigating officer of SIT, PL Mall.

The SIT recorded Kodnani and Patel’s statements in December but they were found to contradict statements of witnesses. Kodnani and Patel had claimed they were not present in Naroda when the riots were on and the allegations against them were politically motivated. Read it all

Netaji died in Taihoku air crash in 1945: Alessandro Quaroni

Netaji died in Taihoku, no need for more research: Italy envoy

"I personally do not see the point of research because unfortunately, the person Netaji died, but his message lived on and still remains," Quaroni told newsmen.

As doubts prevail over Subhas Chandra Bose's mysterious disappearance, Italy's Ambassador in India Alessandro Quaroni, whose parents were close to Netaji, today said he saw no point in further research claiming that the leader had died in 1945 in an air crash at Taihoku.

"I personally do not see the point of research because unfortunately, the person Netaji died, but his message lived on and still remains," Quaroni told newsmen after delivering the 'Netaji Oration' at the leader's ancestral house here.

Stating that an Australian historian had conducted 'the most extensive research' in establishing the exact circumstances of Netaji's death, Quaroni said, "I think inspite of the legend that (Subhas) Chandra Bose has not died, probably his death really happened in August '45."


Following a public outcry against the government's view that Netaji died in the Taihoku air crash, it set up three enquiry commissions -- the Shah Nawaz Commission, the Khosla Commission and the Justice Manoj Kumar Mukherjee Commission -- to look into the matter.

While Shah Nawaz and Khosla agreed that Netaji was, indeed, killed in the Taihoku air crash, the Mukherjee Commission, however, concluded that Netaji was actually alive when the crash is said to have taken place.

Quaroni replied in the negative when asked whether his parents were in possession of any document indicating Netaji's death in the Taihoku crash.
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Anna Hazare on Marathi-nonMarathi issue

Hazare backs Raj Thackeray's tirade against Non-Marathis

Sun, Jan 18 04:22 PM
Varanasi, Jan 18 (IANS) Veteran social activist Anna Hazare backs Maharashtra Navnirmaan Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's campaign against non-Marathi 'Dadagiri' (dominance) in Maharashtra, but opposes the violent means being used to achieve the purpose.

The 71-year-old social activist expressed support for MNS's programme, while talking to journalists Saturday night after addressing students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on 'Gram Swaraj and Experience in Ralegan', his native village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra which he transformed into a model village through persistent efforts.

'Some ideas of Raj Thackeray were correct, but damaging public and national property was not right,' Hazare said.

When asked which ideas of the MNS chief were correct, Hazare noted people from many states live in Maharashtra, but 'outsiders trying to prove their dominance in the state was not at all acceptable'.

In a reference to North India-based political parties like Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal trying to show their strength in Maharashtra by holding rallies and other programmes in the state, he said such activities were not acceptable. more

Democracy and violence by Ramachandra Guha

War and Terror: Democracy and violence by Ramachandra Guha: "Vigilantism of Salwa Judum has divided and very nearly destroyed tribal society.
All sensible humans—not just Indians—agree that there is no place for violence in the settlement of political disputes. If a particular group feels victimised or discriminated against, it has all kinds of democratic means of redress open to it—the circulation of its grievances by the means of speech or print; the canvassing of politicians, political parties, and public officials; and petitions in court. If (and only if) all these means fail, the group may yet take recourse to non-violent protest or satyagraha. But they have no business to use weapons, whether they are AK-47s or trishuls." more from the Hindu

Cambridge announces Manmohan scholarships

The Hindu Staff Reporter Jan 13, 2009



NEW DELHI: The University of Cambridge on Monday announced a new scholarship programme for Indian students in honour of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Manmohan Singh Under-Graduate Scholarship Programme starting from 2010 will provide full funding, covering fees and means-tested maintenance for under-graduate study in any subject at any of the colleges that are part of the university.

A £1.5 million fund has been set up to support Indian students. It will be launched with gifts from Sir Evelyn and Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild through the Eranda Foundation and from the Sunil Bharti Mittal-led company Bharti Airtel. This was announced by Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Alison Richard at a press conference here.

“The university is honoured that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is such a distinguished Cambridge alumnus, has agreed to lend his name to this important initiative. This is another great example of the breadth and depth of the Cambridge-India partnership. As the programme develops, there are expected to be up to 10 Manmohan Singh under-graduate scholars studying at the university,” said Prof. Richard.

“This scholarship will be a need-based programme. Interested students can apply to the university or any of the 28 colleges under it. Of the selected students, scholarships will be awarded on the basis of their financial aid need, which will be assessed by the Cambridge Overseas Trust,” she pointed out.

In a message released by the university, Dr. Manmohan Singh said he was humbled by the honour and expressed confidence that the programme would not only help strengthen relations between the peoples of India and the U.K. but also serve “our shared objective of creating a better world based on equity and justice”. more

Vinita Kamte- Mumbai hero's wife uncovers the story behind his death

My husband died a hero’s death: Vinita Kamte

Meena Menon
It was made out that the 3 officials went into the attack without thinking
“The police should have come out with the true facts much earlier”

“Only the brave were leading from the front”




PUNE: “We are proud of you, you are our hero,” says a small board in the Kamte living room in Pune’s Rakshak Society. A garlanded picture of Ashok Kamte, Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai East, who was gunned down by terrorists in the November 26 attack near Cama Hospital is next to it. His ceremonial swords and caps are in front along with a collage of pictures.

In this quiet yet poignant manner, Vinita Kamte, 43, and her two sons mourn the death of a man they believe died a hero’s death that night.

Yet Ms. Kamte, a labour lawyer by training, feels that neither her husband nor the two senior police officers who were killed along with him — Hemant Karkare and Vijay Salaskar — have got their due. “The police should have come out with the true facts much earlier, on the next day, instead of waiting for me to uncover the facts,” she told The Hindu in an interview.

In fact, after the incident, she and her sister who is a practising lawyer, spent several days meeting eye-witnesses and people involved in the Cama Hospital incident and they have come up with some shocking facts. In the police force you need all kinds of people and that day, she says, only the brave were leading from the front. “My husband always carried his AK 47, handling weapons was second nature to him. Once someone asked him why he always carried a weapon and he said in Mumbai you never know what will happen,” recalls Ms. Kamte. He would even carry a weapon to a restaurant, keep one in his bedroom, and he would keep saying he would hate to go down unarmed in the event of an attack.

On that night he was called to the Oberoi Hotel by Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor, she said. At the last minute he went to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and from there to Cama Hospital where he met up with Mr. Karkare and the others at the gate of the hospital. Ms. Kamte believes he was summoned from his residence at Chembur because somewhere the police knew he would deliver the goods. “When I heard the news of his death, the first thing I asked was did he hit back. I was told he shot Kasab and he had injured him in both the hands,” she says.

However, it was made out that the three senior policemen went into the attack quite by coincidence and without any thinking. “I felt these three men along with others had given their lives, don’t make them look like amateurs,” she points out. “My husband fired towards the Cama terrace where the terrorists were firing and that deterred them.”

“That’s why they rushed down. No one else there knew how to handle a weapon like the AK 47. They then spent nearly 40 minutes planning a strategy. It was all dark there and they tried to figure out how to enter Cama and knocked on many doors there. However, there was no help and no reinforcements were sent,” she says, after her own investigations.

Worse still, there were many calls made to the control room by people near the Cama Hospital who saw the two terrorists. Yet no one told these police officers that they were there. Once the jeep carrying Mr. Karkare and the others was in the lane near Cama, they were sitting ducks. Ms Kamte says she is a very private person and was not keen on any publicity. Yet she feels those who did their duty must be projected as such. more

Congress demands Patnaik's resignation over Orissa violence

Congress demands Patnaik's resignation over Orissa violence

Bhubaneswar, Jan 6 (IANS) The Congress party Tuesday demanded that Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik resign over the communal violence in Kandhamal district as the Supreme Court had held the central and state governments responsible for the security of minorities.

A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice Markandey Katju and Justice P. Sathasivam had Monday said that the central and state governments should 'ensure the minority's safety'.

'The apex court's observation is quite clear. Chief Minister Naveen Pantaik has no right to stay in power for even a minute,' state Congress president Jayadev Jena told IANS.

He added that the state government woke up to the matter only after thousands of Christians in Kandhamal, about 200 km from here, had fled to nearby forests following the communal riots.

'He (Patnaik) should resign immediately. If he doesn't resign, the Congress will take the issue to the public,' Jena said.

The Supreme court bench was hearing a petition by Cuttack Archbishop Raphel Cheenath, seeking Christians' safety in Kandhamal, the district that was ravaged by anti-Christian violence following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates Aug 23.

While police blamed Maoists for the killings, some Hindu organisations held Christians responsible for the crime and launched attacks on the community. Christian organisations have repeatedly denied their involvement in the murder.

At least 38 people were killed and thousands of Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs. Over 6,000 people are still living in government-run relief camps.

source

Politics of hatred has left India bleeding

Politics of hatred has left India bleeding (Comment)

December 30th, 2008 - 4:49 pm ICT by IANS - Send to a friend:

The year 2008 can easily be marked as an unforgettable year in the annals of Indian christianity for the simple reason that the Christian community here faced its most trying and testing time in its 2,000 years of history. It is not the case that Christianity had not faced hostility and opposition earlier in India; it did right from the very start when St Thomas, an Apostle of Jesus, came to our shores in the first century to preach the good news: he was martyred by those who opposed to his presence and teachings. However, as in several other parts of the world, Christianity in India did not face an orchestrated and protracted persecution for the most part of the last two millennia. That is partly because Christianity for the first 15 centuries or so was mostly confined to the south western shores of India, the Malabar coast to be precise. It was only after the arrival of the Portuguese missionaries in the latter part of 15th century AD that Christianity began to make its presence felt in other parts of India. more