November 30th, 4-6 pm , room 208, Encina West
Bio of Professor Anjoo Sharan Upadhyaya
Anjoo Sharan Upadhyaya is a Professor of Political Science and Director, Centre for the Study of Nepal, Banaras Hindu University. She holds a Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University in International Studies and Master's from Allahabad University, India. She has undertaken post-doctoral research at London School of Economics and Politics, U.K. and The Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden, and Brown University, USA. Currently Dr Upadhyaya is a Fulbright Nehru Exchange Professor at Wellesley College MA
Conflict in Nepal and its Transnational Ramifications
Nepal has been in the throe of political turmoil spanning over six decades which frequently ignited conflicts between people and the state as also between different groups. Mostly waged around the unquenched demand of democracy and development, these conflicts marked an intense jostling for political power by various social and political entities. By the nineties these conflictual impulses proliferated amid the common masses across regional and socioeconomic barriers. The depth and breadth of people's involvement came out vividly during the so-called people's war spearheaded by the Maoists during 1996-2006. This violent transference in people's movement successfully brought on board the hitherto neglected demands of progress, justice and inclusion in public discourse as also the state policies. The transition from people being treated as 'subjects' thriving on state dispensed welfare to the assertion of their legitimate rights as 'citizens' has been quite an achievement in the erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom. This critical shift is often acknowledged by the analysts as one of the positive attributes of the conflict in Nepal. However the ambiguities in Maoists agenda and the frustrating pace of the peace process have disillusioned those who found transformative prospects in the people's war. While the polemical utterances of Maoists leaders continue to spell ominous portents, the sudden spurt of violence and lawlessness in the plains of southern Nepal has raised security anxieties within and across Nepalese borders. Seemingly the culture of violence held high by the Maoist has imbued the way social and political conflicts are to be played out in Nepal's fragile and rudderless polity.
There is a fin-de-siecle feeling in the air, of a change of guard. America's self-confidence is at a low, and its strategists and policymakers are conceding the world stage to China. Caught in two nasty and difficult-to-win wars, it suffers from imperial overstretch; and there are parallels between the rapid decline of Britain in the 20th century and a likely diminution of American power in the 21st century.
Several incidents in the recent past suggest that American power may diminish even more precipitously than the British power did. Consider America versus the insurgent, China.
In three major wars since 1950, Chinese proxies have faced Americans. In Korea, Chinese allies fought the Americans to a standstill; the North Vietnamese (then friends of China) defeated the Americans; in Afghanistan, Pakistan,China's ally, is humiliating the Americans after getting $25 billion in largesse from them. In other words, score: China 3, America 0.
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Dr.Manmohan Singh,
Prime Minister
South Block,
New Delhi.
Dear Prime Minister:
I am happy that you finally acted and went over the head of your Home Minister P.Chidambaram (who malafide vacillated), to order the arrest of Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Mr.Ravi Inder Singh IAS., for betraying the country.
It is now high time for you to consider all my earlier letters regarding Mr.Chidambaram, regarding his being guilty of conduct unbecoming of a Minister. I had written to you earlier about his visiting massage parlours in a seedy Government hotel where Uzbeki girls frequent, driving off in jeans and dark glasses without a driver or anyone else to Greater Kailash in New Delhi-- without informing anyone, and beating up a Times of India photographer for taking pictures of him late night in a Bangalore discotheque and thereby fracturing his own toe in the scuffle. You may also be aware of what I wrote to you about a lady IAS officer in Finance Ministry whose husband (also IAS) had requested her transfer of posting because she was being harassed.
I have been recently informed by my friends in London that the British Intelligence MI-6 had video photographed Mr.Chidambaram while he in the company of an escort service European girl provided by an Indian company with which he has had a formal fiduciary relation, as a paid Director. You also must know that his 2009 elections to Lok Sabha is a complete fraud. His certificate of election from the Returning Officer was extracted under duress by the DMK CM, Mr.Karunanidhi despite Mr.Chidambaram losing the election by 7000 votes to the AIADMK candidate.
But now, it is disturbing to learn that your Government has through Mr.Chidambaram conveyed approval to J&K CM Omar Abdullah to allow return from PoK of all those who had left the troubled State since 1989.
This is a dangerous step that seems to have been decided by a back channel person who has been hell bent on India parting with J&K by hook or crook. It seriously undermines and jeopardizes the national security of the nation. It will help the ISI of Pakistan to better co-ordinate subversive and terrorist activities in India. The agencies of Pakistan have been meeting Omar Abdullah in Dubai and London. I never thought this promising youngster will go to seed like this. Who has been the baneful influence on him? In any case, I urge you overturn this decision.
Most of all, as a safeguard, I urge you to obtain the resignation of Mr.Chidambaram because has de-facto become a national security risk. He has consistently failed to concentrate on the work of the Ministry.
Yours sincerely,
(SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)
Tribute to 26/11 victims!!!!
We will not forget.........
http://satyameva-jayate.org/2010/11/25/ramaswamy-parameshwaran/Saluting our Heroes: Maj R Parameshwaran, PVC25 November 2010 From the Indian Army website: The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air. The decoration may be awarded posthumously. *** Saluting our Heores – Major R Parameshwaran, PVC ***
This is my humble tribute to Major R Parameshwaran, a Param Veer who sacrificed his life on this date, 23 years ago. Late October 1987, somewhere in northern Sri Lanka: "Operation Pawan" – the campaign in Jaffna that began with LTTE firing at Indian Patrols and killing 4 CRPF Jawans and five unarmed para commandos – is finally winding down. The IPKF have prevailed in spite of the intense and vicious opposition from the Tigers. Although the town has now been secured, operations are continuing against the LTTE cadres. Jaffna Fort is still under LTTE control and casaualties continue to mount with every passing day. To compound IPKF's problems, it is becoming impossible to distinguish between the guerillas and civilians. IPKF commanders are worried by increasing instances of surprise attacks by the Tigers in which they open fire on IPKF units and merge back into the civilian population. Sepoy Govindan, Madras Regiment, says :
In deployment since August, the men of 8 Mahar have been facing some of the toughest resistance from LTTE cadres in the last few weeks. It is late into the night of 25th November, 1987. Major Parameswaran is returning back to the camp with his column after a search operation. Unbeknownst to them, their path leads straight to an LTTE ambush. As the column of 8 Mahar finds itself trapped, their commander Major Parameshwaran exhibits remarkable presence of mind and exemplary courage. He encircles the Tigers from the rear and boldly charges at them. The LTTE cadres are taken completely by surprise. In the hand-to-hand combat that follows, Major Paramehwaran is shot in the chest. Undaunted by his serious injury, he snatches a rifle from a LTTE cadre, shoots him dead and although critically wounded, continues to give orders, inspiring his command to fight. He kills 2 more LTTE cadres before breathing his last. Hours later, the ambush is finally cleared, leaving in its wake five dead LTTE cadres and Major Parameshwaran. The men of 8 Mahar also seize a cache of arms, including three rifles & two rocket launchers. CITATION Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, 8 MAHAR (IC-32907)
As you go about your day today, please spare a moment to remember our heroes..and please share this story of extraordinary courage and valour with your friends and family. |
| These 2 videos are freakin hilarious.. |
nov 25th, 2010
Malik reviews security arrangements for Chinese
ISLAMABAD (updated on: 2010-11-23 17:04:35 PST):
Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik on Tuesday reviewed security arrangements made for Chinese nationals performing their duties at different projects in Pakistan.
He was chairing a high-level meeting, which was attended by Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian, Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Director General of National Crisis Management Cell and representatives of National Highway Authority, WAPDA, PEPCO, Rangers, police and provincial administrations.
The minister said Pakistan gave great importance to its relations with China and both the countries were enjoying time-tested, deep-rooted and ever-green friendship. "China is Pakistan's trustworthy friend," he added.
He apprised the meeting about seriousness of the government to ensure fool-proof security arrangements for the Chinese workforce, which is playing an important role in various developmental projects.
Malik directed the authorities concerned to further tighten the security of Chinese workers and added that no negligence would be tolerated in this regard.
The Chinese ambassador appreciated Rehman Malik for taking keen interest in improving security measures for Chinese workforce.- app
| http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-new-andhra-cm-reddy-vows-to-deliver-make-rahul-pm/20101125.htm |
In the US, the scent of decline is in the air. Imperial overreach, political polarization, and a costly financial crisis are weighing on the economy. Some pundits now worry that America is about to succumb to the "British disease".
Doomed to slow growth, the US of today, like the exhausted Britain that emerged from World War II, will be forced to curtail its international commitments. This will create space for rising powers such as China, but it will also expose the world to a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
In thinking about these prospects, it is important to understand the nature of the British disease. It was not simply that the US and Germany grew faster than Britain after 1870. After all, it is entirely natural for late-developing countries to grow rapidly, as is true of China today. The problem was Britain's failure in the late 19th century to take its economy to the next level.
Britain was slow to move from the old industries of the first Industrial Revolution into modern sectors such as electrical engineering, which impeded the adoption of mass-production methods. It also failed to adopt precision machinery that depended on electricity, which prevented it from producing machined components for use in assembling typewriters, cash registers and motor vehicles. The same story can be told about other new industries such as synthetic chemicals, dyestuffs and telephony, in all of which Britain failed to establish a foothold.
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Also read
1. How India became a poor country by sanjeev nayyar - examples of how British exploited India economically. http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/Why-India-is-a-poor-country-1.aspx
via Seesmic Web |
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