Of Ganapati on Potty and Kali on Loo, Boo-hoo
Sid Harth
Toilet Seat Company Flushed Offline? By NIRSHAN PERERA 11/18/2000
The owner of Sittin’ Pretty won’t talk, but her Web site may be talking
for her. Lamar Van Dyke’s mom-and-pop e-commerce operation, which sells
designer toilet seats decorated with images of Hindu gods, has been
flickering on and off the Internet since yesterday. On Thursday,
American Hindus Against Defamation discovered the Seattle company’s
Sacred Seat product line only zeros in on the Hindu religion. For $130,
consumers can purchase designer toilet seats emblazoned with bright
artwork depicting Lord Ganesha and Goddess Kali. AHAD convenor Ajay
Shah immediately reached out to Van Dyke, who is the principal owner of
the company, to express the Hindu community’s hurt. But the prominent
Seattle tattoo artist and lesbian activist has maintained a stiff
silence in the face of repeated requests to initiate a dialogue.
Similar entreaties by Rediff.com and the NRI press to comment on the
matter have also gone unanswered. Still, this morning some read meaning
into Sittin’ Pretty’s on-again off-again accessibility. Some wondered
if the Web site was Breaking down due to a traffic overload. Others
pondered the possibility that Van Dyke is closing shop.
Sittinprettydesign.com first went offline Friday evening. The company’s
Web hosting service, Bellvue, Washington-based Oz.net Internet
Services, said it had been taken down temporarily for “modifications.”
AHAD braced themselves for a possible product removal, or at the very
least a press release. But the Web site went back up late Friday night
with no discernable changes. On Saturday morning, however, it appeared
to be pulled off the Internet again. Another phone call to Oz.net did
not yield new information. Yesterday Van Dyke refused to answer a
phone call placed to her primary place of employment, American Beauty
Tattoo in downtown Seattle. A co-worker confirmed that Van Dyke was on
shift and was in fact the owner of Sittin’ Pretty, but told Rediff.com
that she would not speak to the press. In another breaking development,
the Bharatiya Janata Party also blasted Van Dyke this morning from the
other side the world. In New Delhi, party vice president Pyarelal
Khandelwal strongly condemned the Sacred Seat product line and called
for an immediate and unconditional apology. According to a PTI report,
he said the ink of the United Nations resolution acknowledging the
equality of all religions has not dried, yet “here we see a group of
people deliberately denigrating Hindu gods, knowing that they are held
sacred by Hindus all over the world.” Shiv Sena northern region chief
Jai Bhagwan Goyal threatened to demonstrate in front of the American
Embassy in New Delhi, while Vishwa Hindu Parishad senior vice-president
Giriraj Kishore raised the specter of legal action. “We are insisting
on an unconditional apology from them, failing which we will launch an
agitation and sue the American firm,” Kishore said.
Mystery Woman Insulted Hindu Gods By NIRSHAN PERERA 11/17/2000
The owner of a company that sells toilet seats decorated with images of
Hindu gods is a well-known tattoo artist and lesbian activist. A
Rediff.com investigation revealed that Lamar Van Dyke, who is listed as
the principal of Seattle-based Sittin’ Pretty, is an outspoken member
of the city’s gay community who has contributed to sociology journals
and is the subject of a documentary about artists exploring “unusual
forms of body modification.” Van Dyke, who has not responded to
repeated phone calls and e-mails by Rediff.com and the American Hindus
Against Defamation, is employed at American Beauty Tattoo in downtown
Seattle. But in her off time Van Dyke runs Sittin’ Pretty from her
Seattle residence. The one-year-old company employs two people and uses
its Web site (sittinprettydesign.com) as a primary sales channel.
Yesterday, members of the AHAD (formerly the American Hindu Anti-
Defamation Coalition) discovered her company’s Sacred Seat product line
displayed bold pictures of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Kali on the bottom
of lids. The $130 toilet seats protect the artwork with a waterproof
clear coat and come in three colors. “Great as unforgettable gifts, or
as conversation pieces for your own home, these toilet seats are
guaranteed to add a smile to your bathroom décor,” the Web site reads.
Van Dyke was one of four artists featured in Leslie Asako Gladsjo’s
1991 documentary Stigmata—The Transfigured Body. The 28-minute video
looks at body modification as an exploration of beauty, self-
determination, and female sexuality. Her essay, “Contracts and
Contract Negotiating” in The Second Coming: A Leatherdyke Reader
(Alyson Publications, 1996), is a how-to manual for dominants and
submissives in sadomasochistic relationships. As a self-
described “radical S&M lesbian,” the Seattle artist is a member of a
highly visible minority community that is often castigated by
others. “As women, we need to celebrate the fact that we have survived
2,000 years of invisibility. 2,000 years of our contributions being
stolen, overlooked and labeled as insignificant,” she observes in a
bulletin board posting on the Lesbian Resource Center News Online. But
today the Hindu community pondered the irony of a radical lesbian
feminist activist slighting the ideas held precious by another minority
group. Nevertheless, Ajay Shah, who coordinates the AHAD, was willing
to give her the benefit of the doubt. “I don’t want to attach any
labels to her right now,” he told Rediff.com. “For all we know, she
might be Hindu. She may think it’s something really cool and it
propagates Hindu dharma. We just want to give her a chance to explain
herself and maybe withdraw this product. Unless we learn otherwise, we
must assume that is being done out of ignorance and not malice.” “Most
of these people don’t do things like this because they have something
inherently against Hindu dharma,” he continued. “I don’t think Lamar
Van Dyke has some ax to grind against Hindus, or she is doing this on
purpose. But right now Hindu icons and symbols have become part of the
pop culture, from bindis to mehendi and all the other things. What
people might be trying to do is cash in on that popularity without
considering what kind of affect it will have on the Hindu community at
large.” Shah sent Van Dyke a preliminary e-mail almost 24 hours ago and
since then has left several phone messages. “I am not certain if you
realize that this has already caused tremendous hurt in the community
… ” the AHAD e-mail read. “We would like to give you the benefit of
doubt … before we talk with press … and other members of the Hindu
community. As a responsible business, we are certain that you will
withdraw this product immediately from the market.” But Van Dyke has
remained silent. “I’ve been patiently waiting, but I haven’t heard
anything from her yet. Everyone is waiting for her response,” Shah said
this afternoon. As the next step, he said the AHAD will publish a
protest Web site (hindunet.org/ahad/sittinpretty) today, where members
of the Hindu community can learn about new developments and sign a
protest book. The AHAD has already carried out several successful cyber-
protest campaigns. Recently, 15,000 protest petitions forced California-
based Fortune Dynamic to stop importing shoes emblazoned with Hindu
deities. And a 20,000-strong campaign caused the rock group Aerosmith
to issue a public apology for their 1997 Nine Lives album. The cover
art showed Lord Krishna with the head of a cat, breasts and wearing a
woman’s blouse. “The thing that we will do, that we have always done,
is to put a moral public pressure on someone who has been offensive,”
Shah said, describing AHAD’s protest strategy. “We understand the First
Amendment very well, we understand that people have the absolute right
to say whatever they want. But on the other hand, protesting something
is also covered under the First Amendment and that is our right.” Shah
said that if Van Dyke continues to be unresponsive, the next step after
an Internet protest campaign could be on-site picketing. “Our
contention has always been that this causes tremendous harm to Hindus,”
Shah explained. “I think the origin of much prejudice and
discrimination against Indians in this country is the denigration of
Hindu symbols. When people can ridicule your symbols, what stops them
from ridiculing you?”
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov19/anc.htm
Child labourer set afire for demanding wages
DH News Service
BANGALORE, Nov 18
Barely into his teens, Srinivasa came face to face with what anyone
would dread. Doused with kerosene and set ablaze by his employer for
asking what was his due, he is now battling for life in hospital.
Here`s the story of the unfortunate boy whose dreams of a happy
childhood lies shattered.
In a tragic incident which was kept under wraps for over a month,
Srinivasa alias Balaji (14) was allegedly doused with kerosene and set
ablaze by his employer when he sought his salary that was due for him.
The incident occurred at a household business making savouries (chips)
in Laggere in Rajagopalnagar police station limits in the City on
September 25.
The incident came to light only after the intervention of Empowerment
of Children and Human Rights Organisation (ECHO), a social service
organisation. According to Father Antony Sebastion O Praem of ECHO,
Srinivasa was working along with three others in the unit run by one
Shailesh for over three months. On that fateful morning, Srinivasa went
to his workplace to collect Rs 850, the salary amount which was not
paid to him. The owner, Shailesh, turned him away saying that he did
not have the cash. However, after some time Srinivasa was summoned
again and when he entered the house, Shailesh and another employee
pushed him into a room, locked it from outside and sprayed kerosene on
him. Within a couple of seconds he was set ablaze. Shocked by the
sudden twist of turns, Srinivasa ripped apart his shirt and broke open
the door by throwing a stone slab on the door and ran out shouting for
help. Passers-by who saw Srinivasa with his hand and part of his face
ablaze shifted him to a nearby nursing home, Fr Antony added. From
there he was shifted to the Railway Hospital in Okalipuram and
subsequently to Victoria Hospital. According to Dr Gurumurthy of
Victoria Hospital, Srinivasa has sustained 35 per cent burns.
Following the incident, Srinivasams father Raju - a Class IV employee
in the Railways- lodged a complaint with Rajagopalnagar police. A case
was registered under Section 342 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and
Shailesh and another employee were arrested. The police maintained that
the boy tried to commit suicide after he was caught red-handed while
stealing Rs 200 from Shaileshms house. While the victimms statement to
the police is in contravention to the sections under which Rajums
compliant was registered, for Srinivasams family the incident has
struck a hard blow.
Speaking to Deccan Herald here, Raju grieved kmearlier we were at
managing to have three square meals a day, but now it has become very
difficult. For the last 50 days, i have not reported for work and we
are praying for Srinivasams recovery. So far we have spent over Rs
8,000 on him and we have incurred debtsm m. The representatives of Echo
today met City Police Commissioner T Madiyal and were assured that
action will be initiated against the accused.
http://www.deccan.com/edit.htm#Den%20of%20diseases
Den of diseases
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s announcement on the constitution
of three expert committees to study the incidence and causative factors
for three major killer diseases in the State falls into a pattern which
has become very familiar by now.
For each and every issue, the self-styled hi-tech CM has the knack for
adopting a dilatory approach comprising a tortuous and protracted
process of drawing up the action plan for tackling the problem. First,
expert panels are appointed, followed by the constitution of Cabinet
sub-committees. Again, officials’ panels are appointed to vet the
Cabinet sub-panel reports.
Thereafter, the Cabinet takes the decisions. All this makes a mockery
of “smart” governance under Naidu and exposes him as a human robot who
believes in squandering all the time at his disposal in prolonged
review meetings, video and tele-conferences. He does not seem to
realise that he is wasting the precious time of the officials who, if
left to themselves, can at least attend to their normal work and do
something to tackle the problems faced by people.
Naidu is not bored of carrying on his propaganda-oriented programmes,
even if these achieve very little, except becoming a drag on the
administration’s time and resources. Not surprisingly, the Clean and
Green programme, which was confined to a day in the past, has been
extended to a week-long schedule now.
Initially, the programme was launched to make the State a “clean and
green State” by the beginning of the new millennium. However, the
targeted deadline has come and gone without the basic objective being
achieved. In fact, things have gone from bad to worse even as the
government organised 25 rounds of Clean and Green programme. The one-
day programme was shifted from second Saturdays every month to third
Saturdays after the indifferent government employees protested over
missing the holiday they used to enjoy every month.
The insanitary conditions prevailing in the villages, towns and cities,
the ever-increasing pollution, environmental degradation and forest
depletion, the recurring floods and drought, desertification and
irregular monsoons are all indicators that the State is heading for an
ecological disaster, notwithstanding the hyped Clean and Green and
Janma Bhoomi programmes taken up by the government. More than anything
else, seasonal conditions, pollution and insanitary surroundings are
the major causes for the outbreak of diseases which have become endemic
to large areas in the State.
Malaria, gastroenteritis, brain fever (Japanese encephalitis) and
jaundice are the common epidemics which afflict the people in the State
due to air and water pollution and ecological degradation. Children are
particularly prone to these diseases and very often account for large
number of fatalities. Also, etiological studies indicate that people
from weaker sections of society — scheduled castes, scheduled tribes,
backward classes — are vulnerable to these diseases, though other
sections too fall prey to them.
Malaria claimed scores of lives and gastroenteritis hundreds of lives
in the State a few years ago during Naidu regime. Brain fever alone
afflicted 3,862 children and accounted for a death toll of 1,031 in
five years (1995-1999). Besides, over 250 children have contracted JE
this year so far, with the death roll crossing 50 mark already.
Though crores of rupees of the public money is spent every year on
mosquito control measures and provision of potable water, the mosquito
menace and contamination of water sources pose the most potent health
hazards. People may get diseases such as diabetes, cardiac problem,
malfunctioning kidneys, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, epilepsy,
genetic disorders etc. due to their personal habits or hereditary
causes.
But they may get malaria, gastroenteritis or even Japanese
encephalitis, thanks to the inefficiency of various government
departments. Some persons have to pay with their lives for no fault of
theirs except that they live in Naidu’s happening State!
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http://www.indiacyberportal.com/index.html
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Before you buy.